Smith and Young Families of northern Rhode Island
The Men of Capt. David Dexter's Company,
Col. Christopher Lippitt's
Rhode Island State Regiment, 1776
by Daniel M. Popek
This web page presents the results of a historical study on one company of the Rhode Island Infantry
Regiment commanded by Colonel Christopher Lippitt in 1776. Col. Lippitt's Regiment was raised by the
General Assembly of Rhode Island in early 1776 as a State Regiment to oppose the naval forces under
Captain James Wallace of the British frigate HMS Rose (24 guns) and other English warships which raided
several coastal villages in Narragansett Bay in late 1775 and into 1776. The two State Regiments
commanded by Col. Christopher Lippitt and Col. William Richmond were subject to Continental Service,
and both regiments were in fact called into Continental Service in September 1776 after General
George Washington's main army was defeated in several battles around New York City during the summer
(Benjamin Cowell, "Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island," 1850, pp. 31 - 32).
Early in 1776, the Regiment that would eventually be led by Col. Christopher Lippitt was commanded by
Colonel Henry ("Harry") Babcock of Westerly, R.I. Col. Babcock was a veteran officer of the French and
Indian War. In 1755, he served as a Captain commanding the 2nd Company in the provincial Rhode Island Regiment
that served in the British campaign against Crown Point, New York (Joseph J. Smith, "Civil and Military
List of Rhode Island," Vol. 1, p. 176). In August 1757, Henry Babcock was appointed "2nd Lt. Colonel" to
a provincial Rhode Island Regiment that went to the relief of Ft. William Henry (Joseph J. Smith, p. 198).
By 1758 Henry Babcock had been promoted to full Colonel in command of the Rhode Island Regiment for that
year in a second campaign against Crown Point (Joseph J. Smith, p. 203). Col. Babcock fought at the Battle
of Ticonderoga in the summer of 1758 with his regiment in General Abercrombie's frontal assault on the French
breastworks. The British attack was a colossal blunder, as many British, Scottish, and American provincial troops
were cut down by French muskets. The Rhode Island Regiment lost 110 men killed and wounded including Col. Babcock,
who got shot in the knee. Col. Babcock recovered and served the next year as well, and he had the satisfaction of
seeing Fort Ticonderoga abandoned by the French. Col. Babcock then spent a year in England before returning to
Rhode Island. Later in life, Col. Babcock became very sick during one winter, and the sickness would cause
negative effects for the rest of his life (Frederic Denison, "Westerly R.I. and its Witnesses for Two Hundred
and Fifty Years, 1626 - 1876," 1878, pp. 120 - 121).
On April 6, 1776, Reverend Ezra Stiles in the town of Newport, R.I. recorded in his Diary, "...Wallace and his
fleet had anchored last Night within half a mile of the Point at Coddington's Cove. Our soldiers under the
Command of the intrepid and gallant Col. Babcock the latter part of the night had carried down from Head Quarters
at Banisters house two eighteen pounders to the shore and began firing on the fleet before sunrise and continued
it for two hours or from 5:20AM to 7:20AM. Before this the Ships weighed or slipt anchors and made off, having
returned half a dozen shot, while we had given them between 30 and 40 shot; I counted 33..." (Franklin Bowditch Dexter,
Editor, "Literary Diary of Ezra Stiles," Vol. II, 1776 - 1781, 1901, p. 5). On April 8, 1776, "Col. Henry Babcock,
Commandant on Rhode Island last night opened Trenches upon the Point, being a Lunette 30 yards and 10. The Tories
have taken amazing Pains to prevent this - but the Inchantment [sic] is broken, and the Town not canonaded and
burnt by the Enemy as was predicted." ("Literary Diary of Ezra Stiles," Vol. II, p. 7). Despite Col. Babcock's
bravery, the injuries from his prior sickness caused episodes of "mental derangement." The political powers in
Rhode Island wanted Col. Babcock removed from command for various reasons. As William Ellery of Newport in a letter
to Gov. Nicholas Cooke on March 29, 1776 wrote:
"Mr. George Irish informed me yesterday morning that Col. Babcock, notwithstanding the act of the General Assembly,
had quartered part of two companies at his house, and desired my advice and assistance about the removal of them. I
told him that it would be best to use soft methods first, and that if they would not avail, then to make the course
which the law prescribes in case of forcible entry and detainer. That I would wait upon Col. Richmond and
Lieut. Col. Lippitt, and know whether they had advised to his placing any troops at Mr. Irish's house, and then would
talk with Col. Babcock on the matter. Accordingly I first [saw] Lt. Col. Lippitt, and talked with him. He told me
that he had not advised him to that step; but on the contrary had told him, when he was about to put one of the
companies in Irish's house, that he understood that there was an act of government which would render his placing
troops in that house unjustifiable; and that he did this without Col. Babcock's consulting him about it. I told him
that I should be glad if he would talk with Col. Babcock, and endeavour to procure a removal of the troops. He told
me that he would. I waited upon Col. Richmond, and desired to know of him, and Major [Christopher] Olney who was
present, whether they or either of them had been consulted upon and advised to the quartering of the troops, above
mentioned, at Irish's house. They said no, and Col. Richmond added, that upon Mr. Irish's sending him a copy of the
act that he had removed the company from thence which had been placed there by Col. Babcock. [Lt.] Col. Lippitt was also
at Col. Richmond's room, and upon reading the copy of the act, he and all the other gentlemen agreed that Col. Babcock
had gone contrary to the act of government, and that no troops ought to be quartered at Mr. Irish's, especially
without their being first consulted and giving their advice thereto. I went then to Mr. Irish's and found that the
troops had taken possession of all the lower part of his house, excepting a little bed-room, and that they had also
taken possession of one of the chambers. That the Captain of one of the companies had entered the house with great
violence, had forced the entry door, and burst the lock off the parlour door. That, previous to his forcing the house
and afterwards, Mr. Irish demanded of him whether he had any any written orders for entering his house and from whom.
He said he had no written orders but verbal orders from Col. Babcock, and behaved with great rudeness. "
"When I saw the situation of Mr. Irish's family, his wife very infirm with a sick child at her breast, several others
of the children sick, heard the insults and abuses she had received, and found a large family cooped up against the
law in a narrow bed-room, I could not wonder that Mr. Irish complained of such violent illegal treatment, and determined,
if it were in my power, to procure a removal of the troops. In the evening I went with Mr. Irish to Col. Babcock's room,
where was [Lt.] Col. Lippitt, and endeavored by telling Col. Babcock of the illegality and cruelty of the measure to induce
him to remove them. But all would not avail. He said that he was not obliged to take notice of any acts of government
unless they came to him through a proper channel, at the same time acknowledging that he knew the act, and that he should
apply to the Assembly to empower justices of the peace to quarter troops, agreeable to the practice in England, and that
was all I could get from him. Lt. Col. Lippitt backed me, but it was in vain. Col. Babcock, as I am informed, returned
[to?] quarters last Monday evening, and Tuesday only intervened before he [moved?] one of the companies into Irish's house,
and Col. Richmond observed in [turn?] that there was sufficient room for them where they were quartered [ ? ] their removal.
I gave myself the trouble of waiting upon Col. Babcock and the other gentlemen officers whose names I have mentioned,
hoping that in making any further application I should be able to answer my purpose, but to two Justices of the Peace in
Middletown, having a jury of 24 men empannelled upon this occasion, and the Sheriff with a posse of the County, and
perhaps the military, if their aid should be wanted and given, entering the house and expelling those military intruders
might excite great clamour and disturbance, I told Mr. Irish that I thought it advisable first to write to your Honour,
and that I would undertake the task, not doubting that your Honour would write immediately to Col. Babcock and order him
to remove the troops from Mr. Irish's, which he hath placed their without consulting the field officer of the brigade, and
against the law..." (Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society, Vol. 6, "Revolutionary Correspondence from 1775 to
1782," 1867, pp. 148 - 151).
Col. Harry Babcock was soon placed under arrest. Rev. Stiles wrote in his Diary of April 19, 1776: "Col. Babcock carried
under Guard to Providence - accused of Rigor to his officers. He is an excellent Officer, well understands his Duty in the
Military way, having been brought up in the Service all the last War. But the poor Gentleman is subject to a species of
Lunacy or Lunatic Frenzy, which has for years past been constitutional with him. This is heightened into Madness and
Distraction by Drink. And though he takes great pains to refrain and keep himself from Liquour, yet at Times he looses
self-government - and in those frieks behaves much out of Character. He is otherwise extremely sensible and of true
military Spirit and fit for a General. He was the first Man that set foot in Boston after its Evacuation. He put his
Lt. Col. [Lippitt] under Guard for a Misdemeanor and deferred the Court Martial too long; upon which the Governor and
Committee of Safety at Providence sent for Col. Babcock." ("Literary Diary of Ezra Stiles," Vol. II, p. 9).
Governor Nicholas Cooke wrote in a letter to Stephen Hopkins a few days later on April 23, 1776: "When General Washington
passed through this town [Providence], he gave me great encouragement that he would use his influence with Congress
to take our brigade into Pay. He and General Gates seemed to have one objection almost insuperable, that was
Col. Babcock's continuing to command the troops, who whould from his having sustained a Colonel's commission in 1758,
take rank of every Colonel in the army."
"The objection is removed, as Col. Babcock's conduct hath put his insanity beyond a doubt. He is now under an arrest,
and will most certainly, in case he does not resign, be dismissed. I have this day written to General Washington, and
urged him to recommend the measure to Congress, which I am confident he will do. I therefore desire you to present our
Memorial and press it with your whole force. The necessity of it is incontestible, for we have already incurred a debt
of near an hundred thousand pounds, and are at the monthly expense of near six thousand pounds, both exclusive of our
quota of the Continental expense. So that, unless the brigade [Rhode Island Brigade of Col. Babcock's Regiment and
Col. Richmond's Regiment with attached artillery companies] be put upon the Continental establishment, it must be
disbanded, and the defence of the Colony [i.e. Rhode Island] given up..." ("Revolutionary Correspondence from 1775 to 1782,"
pp. 154 - 155). Obviously, politics of command had a role in Col. Babcock's dismissal. Nevertheless,
Lt. Col. Christopher Lippitt was soon promoted to Colonel and given command of the regiment.
The Rhode Island Brigade of Col. Lippitt's Regiment and Col. Richmond's Regiment remained on Aquidneck Island through
the summer. Capt. Wallace's fleet had been recalled to New York to cooperate with the British Fleet in their operations
against the New York City area. After the American loss of New York City, Col. Lippitt's Regiment received orders to
march to the north end of Manhattan Island. Col. Lippitt issued orders on September 14, 1776 at Newport: "That the
whole Regiment march to join the Continental Army at New York, agreeably to Resolve of Congress of the 3rd instant.
Capt. Carr, Capt. Gorton, Capt. Dyer, Capt. Arnold, and Companies will form the first Detachment, and cross the ferries
to Narragansett South Ferry, this forenoon, if possible. Major Tew will go forward and have the care of them. Capt. Peck,
Capt. Hoppin, Capt. Martin, Capt. Bailey, and Companies to march this afternoon, and cross the said ferries. The Adjutant
to go with and assist them. The other four Companies to march to-morrow. The Quartermaster to have the necessary care
of the whole, and is hereby fully empowered to impress anything that is needful, for accommodating and enabling the troops
to get to New York as above said. Lieut. Col. Comstock will follow as soon as possible. Commissary Phillips will supply
the whole with provisions, as far as New London, which are to be received here and carried with the Companies. And in the
most feeling manner I hereby order that you, on your way, behave in all respects with that order, decency, and character,
which become a soldier fighting for his bleeding country, sensible of the necessity of supporting their rights, and the
liberties of their country." (Benjamin Cowell, p. 51). Col. Richmond's Regiment remained at Newport until early October,
when it joined other units in Connecticut to make an attack on the eastern end of Long Island.
Organization of Col. Lippitt's Rhode Island Regiment in September 1776
Field Officers
Colonel Christopher Lippitt
Lieutenant Colonel Adam Comstock
Major James Tew
Staff Officers
Adjutant William Tyler
Quarter Master Benjamin Bourne
Captain Nathan Blackmar's Company
3 Officers, 8 NCO's, 1 Musician, 44 Privates
This company was primarily from Providence County.
Captain David Dexter's Company
3 Officers, 8 NCO's, 2 Musicians, 37 Privates
This company was primarily from northern Providence County (Cumberland and Smithfield).
Captain Loring Peck's Company
3 Officers, 9 NCO's, 2 Musicians, 45 Privates
Captain John Carr's Company
3 Officers, 8 NCO's, 2 Musicians, 41 Privates
Captain Thomas Gorton's Company
3 Officers, 8 NCO's, 2 Musicians, 48 Privates
Captain Arthur Fenner's Company
3 Officers, 8 NCO's, 2 Musicians, 34 Privates
This company was primarily from Providence County.
Captain Benjamin Hoppin's Company
3 Officers, 8 NCO's, 2 Musicians, 42 Privates
This company was primarily from Providence County.
Captain Simeon Martin's Company
3 Officers, 8 NCO's, 2 Musicians, 53 Privates
Captain Christopher Dyer's Company
3 Officers, 10 NCO's, 2 Musicians, 28 Privates
Captain Thomas Arnold's Company
3 Officers, 12 NCO's, 2 Musicians, 47 Privates
Captain Lemuel Bailey's Company
3 Officers, 8 NCO's, 2 Musicians, 34 Privates
This company was primarily from Westerly, R.I. and Stonington, CT.
Captain William Jones' Company
3 Officers, 7 NCO's, 2 Musicians, 37 Privates
Totals: 12 Companies = 36 Company Officers, 102 NCO's, 23 Musicians, 490 Privates
Notes: Quite a few men would desert from Lippitt's Regiment by the end of the year, so the above numbers should be viewed as the maximum.
Several of the privates of the Regiment were men of color (although they were certainly a minority, probably less than 20%), so this
unit was an integrated Regiment. This Regimental Organizaton is based on the Regimental Pay List given in Benjamin Cowell, pp. 32 - 41.
A couple of published accounts of wartime service were kept by men in Col. Lippitt's Regiment. I refer the reader to Edwin M. Stone's
"The Life and Recollections of John Howland, Late President of the Rhode Island Historical Society," 1857 (more information on John Howland
of Capt. David Dexter's Company to follow on this page), and the "Diary of John Smith" of Capt. Loring Peck's Company which was
published in the periodical "Mississippi Valley Historical Review," Editor Louise Rau, Vol. 20, No. 2, September 1933, pp. 247 - 270.
One of the Sergeants in Capt. Lemuel Bailey's Company left an excellent description of his service in Col. Lippitt's Regiment, and as it has
never been published to my knowledge before; the following is an excerpt from his pension file.
National Archives Microfilm M805, Pension Files and Bounty Land Warrants of the Revolutionary War
Pension File S11416, Sgt. Daniel Smith
Deposition of Sgt. Daniel Smith October 12, 1832:
"And this Deponent further says, that in the latter part of the month of March 1776 he enlisted again in the Army of the Revolution for
the term of nine months at Stonington in the County of New London [Connecticut] aforesaid, under Lieutenant Reuben Hewitt, in
Col. Harry Babcock's Regiment, in the Rhode Island line, as this Deponent believes, that Deponent did not sign his name on the Company Roll
until he arrived at Newport in the State of Rhode Island when the regiment was there stationed and when Deponent joined it. That this
Deponent was appointed a Sergeant in said Company at that time, the company then being under the command of Captain Dan Tew [James Tew,
who became Regimental Major], that Capt. Tew was shortly afterwards promoted and Lemuel Bailey was the Captain of the Company. That two
or three months after Deponent joined the Regiment, Col. Harry Babcock was deprived of his command, for unofficerlike conduct as Deponent
was informed and believes, and Christopher Lippitt was appointed Col. and had command of said Regiment. That the names of the other officers
Deponent can not now recollect, that after the Regiment left Rhode Island the Major he thinks was named Comstock [Lt. Col. Adam Comstock].
That on or about the fifteenth day of September of the same year, the Regiment received orders to and did march to the city of New York to
join General Greens Brigade there in that city and of which Brigade this Regiment formed a part [actually Nixon's Brigade]. That in the
way down the Regiment marched through New London, New Haven, and Fairfield in the State of Connecticut, Norwalk in the same state, the town
of Rye in the County of Westchester in the State of New York, keeping near the Sound during the march down, thince to Kings bridge when
they crossed Harlem River over to York Island [Manhattan Island] and encamped on Harlem Heights above the city of New York. That Deponents
Regiment did not enter the City, and after they had been encamped as aforesaid a short time, the British took Fort Washington, and Deponents
Regiment with the residue of Greens Brigade was driven back upon White Plains in the County of Westchester. Deponents Regiment was not
engaged at this time, and he believes no part of the Brigade was engaged. The British took many prisoners in the Fort, who were afterwards
as it was reported placed in the Prison Ships and Sugar Houses and poisoned or starved to death. That the English Army came up with the
whole American Army at White Plains aforesaid, that Major Comstock [Lt. Col. Adam Comstock] of the Regiment to which Deponent was attached
had command of the Picket Guard stationed some distance below White Plains. That about six o'clock in the morning this guard was driven in
by the English Cavalry, that Major Comstock was much exhausted and the soldiers brought him in their arms. Deponents Regiment had thrown
up a breastwork and were stationed behind it, that the Army was fronting the East while drawn up and McDougals Brigade was engaged on the
right of the line. That Deponents regiment was not engaged and he believes no part of Greens Brigade. Deponents regiment was ordered on
the Hill nearly behind the main army for the purpose of taking breakfast, there was also several other regiments on the hill and he believes
they were stationed as a corps of reserve. General Putnam and Baron Steuben [Baron Steuben did not arrive in America until early 1778; this
foreign general mentioned by Sgt. Smith could be Brigadier General Matthias Alexis Roche De Fermoy or Brigader General Prud'Homme De Borre]
were both on the Hill part of the time, that the Baron found much fault and swore very much at the manner in which some of our Artillery
were served. A piece stationed on the Hill, that [was put under the command?] of the Genl and Deponent saw him take aim and the shot took
effect by dismounting the English piece and the firing of the enemy from that position ceased. The American Army in that engagement was
ordered from its position at White Plains and retreated up the country and towards the North River, and crossed the river at the
Kings Ferry (so called) into New Jersey and marched through Morristown. The army then received orders to proceed by forced marches towards
Philadelphia for the purpose of preventing the Enemy from crossing the Delaware [River], that Genl [Charles] Lee had command of the army at
Morristown, and while on the retreat, that while at the latter place when the army remained only a day or two, Genl Lee (as it was reported
at the time) was invited to breakfast with a Gentleman in the neighborhood, and accepted the invitation. That the American Army moved from
Morristown early in the Morning and after proceeding a short distance halted for refreshment. That Deponents regiment halted about 40 rods
[about 800 feet] from the House were Genl Lee was taking his breakfast, and just over a small hill. That he Deponent shortly heard the
report of several pistols near the House that there was (some?) commotion in the army and directly one of the Genls Aids [Major William Bradford
of Rhode Island] rode up and stated that Genl Lee had been taken prisoner and carried off by a party the Enemy's Cavalry. That Genl. Green
[actually General Sullivan] then took command of the Army and marched through the Jerseys and arrived at the Delaware near the forks of the
river, at a place called Bethlehem where the Moravians had a school or Nunnery for young ladies. That the Army crossed the River and went
down to Birlington or Bordingtown where they recrossed the River, and remained there several days. On Christmas day the 25th December, and
about sunset, the army was ordered to parade and then were marched up the River five or six miles above Trenton about a mile and crossed the
River on the ice and on the morning of the 26th about four or five o'clock came down to Trenton when the Enemy was taken by surprise and
nearly a thousand Hessians made prisoners, there was but little fighting, the Hessians were taken as fast as their companies were paraded.
The English made some defence but retreated from their position as the American Army advanced and took possession of the city, the Enemy
retreating upon Princeton. That on the morning of the Second of January 1777 and while the American Army still remained at Princeton [Trenton],
Genl Washington then having the command, the English commenced an attack on the Picket Guard stationed out of town. The Guard was ordered to
retreat, but instead of obeying sent in for reinforcements, which the Genl refused to send, and they were driven in. The American Army there
again crossed the Delaware on a Stone Bridge at Princeton [actually crossed Assunpink Creek at Trenton], Genl Green had command of the rear
guard and Deponents Regiment formed a part of this guard. That Col. Lippit, who had command of the Regiment, requested Deponent, being a
Sergeant in the Regiment as above stated, to (leave?) the ranks and assist him in the discharge of his duty, which this Deponent did."
"That this Deponent was but a short distance from the Enemy's vanguard consisted chiefly of Hessians, that as soon as the American Army crossed,
the Artillery which was stationed at the end of the bridge opened up on the Enemy's Van and swept them from the bridge as often as they
attempted to cross with grape shot. That every time the Enemy were repulsed, Genl Washington rode up and ordered the Army to cheer, which
they did several times, the Enemy then gave up the attempt. At sunset the Army was ordered to take refreshments, and during the night the
fires were ordered to be rebuilt, and the Army was paraded as silently as possible and proceeded to march to Princeton. That while on the way
they fell in with a part of the English Army who commenced an attack upon a detachment of Pennsylvania Militia [Cadwalader's Associators]
commanded by Brig Genl Marciau [Mercer], his men deserted him and he was left almost alone and fought until he was bayoneted to death by the
English soldiery. The American Army was immediately formed and Greens Brigade came next to the remnant of this Pennsylvania detachment, the
battle for a short time was very warm. Green's Brigade in which Deponent belonged retook two pieces of Artillery which the Enemy had first
taken from the Pennsylvania Militia and also two pieces of English Artillery at the point of the Bayonet. Deponent received a wound in the
(wrist?) from the broadsword of an English Artilleryman which bled profusely and attracted the attention of the Col. who gave directions to
have it bound up and attended to. The Enemy were driven in to Princeton where the remnant capitulated, the greater part having made their
escape. And this Deponent further says, that the Capt. of the Company to which he belonged [Capt. Lemuel Bailey, who served in Benedict Arnold's
Quebec campaign in Fall 1775 in the Rhode Island Battalion of Lt. Col. Christopher Greene] had been detached to take the command of a company
of Rangers, that the Lieut. Hewitt had the command of the Company. That when the attack was made on the Enemy for the purpose of retaking the
Artillery above mentioned the Lieut deserted his post and did not return. That the Col. on the field ordered this Deponent to take charge of
the Company which this Deponent did until it was discharged. That the Army was broken up at Princeton into companies who were either discharged
or sent into winter quarters. That Deponent with the company under his command recrossed the North River and disbanded the company at Kings Ferry -
giving them separate discharges if requested according to the order of his colonel. That Deponent recd [received] money from the paymaster by the
name of Dexter [Daniel S. Dexter] and paid it out to the men after his return as aforesaid from the State of New Jersey. That Deponent got back
to his father's House [in Stonington, CT] on the 27th day of January 1777 aforesaid...."
Pay Roll of Capt. David Dexter's Company, Col. Christopher Lippitt's Regiment, September 1776 (from Benjamin Cowell, pp. 33 - 34)
Captain David Dexter
Lieutenant David Sayles
Ensign Samuel Dexter
Sergeant Nicholas Jencks
Sergeant John P. Childs
Sergeant Abial Brown
Sergeant Amaziah Weatherhead
Corporal David Cook
Corporal Caleb Raymont
Corporal David Kemton
Corporal Nathaniel Ballou
Drummer Eseck Aldrich
Fifer Otis Dexter
Private Daniel S. Dexter
Private Abiel Baker
Private Abraham Shippee
Private Benjamin Cook
Private Benjamin Fowler
Private Benony Taylor
Private James Greenwood
Private Francis Martis
Private William Shaw
Private Daniel Burlingame
Private David Whipple
Private David Smith
Private David Jencks
Private Davis Brown
Private Hugh McDugal
Private Gideon Dexter
Private Isaac Nishnuman
Private John Dagon
Private Levi Mowry
Private Richard Smith
Private Reuben Smith
Private Eseck Smith
Private James Phillips
Private Silvanus Sayles
Private Jonathan Parker
Private John Lippitt
Private John Howland
Private Thomas Rogers
Private Isaiah Streeter
Private Jonathan Jenks
Private Aden Trask
Private Nathan Munroe
Private Ebeneser Sisko
Private Stephen Cook
Private Ezekiel Harris
Private Squire Aldrich
Private Thomas Mann
Colonel Christopher Lippitt, W24548
Christopher Lippitt was born on October 28, 1744 in Cranston, Rhode Island, the son of Christopher4 Lippitt (Moses3, Moses2, John1),
and Catherine (Holden) Lippitt (Daniel Beckwith, "The Lippitt Family of Rhode Island," NEHGS Register, Vol. 27, January 1873,
p. 72). In June 1767, he served as a Captain for the 3rd Company of the Town of Cranston in the Providence County Militia
Regiment (Joseph Jenckes Smith, "Civil and Military List of Rhode Island," Vol. I, p. 268). He served in the same position in 1768
(Ibid., p. 277), 1769 (Ibid., p. 280), 1770 (Ibid., p. 287), 1771 (Ibid., p. 294), 1772 (Ibid., p. 297), and 1773 (Ibid., p. 301). In May 1773
Christopher served as a Justice of the Peace for Cranston (Ibid., p. 304). In 1774, Christopher Lippitt became the Lt. Colonel of the
3rd Providence Regiment of Militia (Ibid., p. 306), and he also continued as Justice of the Peace for Cranston (Ibid., p. 312). In June 1775
after the start of hostilities at Lexington in April, Christopher Lippitt was appointed the Colonel of the 3rd Providence Regiment of Militia
(Ibid., p. 321). He served in this capacity to the end of the year. Early in January 1776 he was appointed the Lt. Colonel of
Col. Henry Babcock's State Regiment (Ibid., p. 317). After returning to Rhode Island in early 1777 following the campaign of 1776, Col. Lippitt served
on the State Council of War (Ibid., p. 353). He married Waity Harris, daughter of William Harris of Cranston, R.I., on March 23, 1777 (Pension File).
In 1778, Col. Lippitt served as a Justice in the Inferior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize, and General Gaol Delivery (Joseph Jenckes Smith,
"Civil and Military List of Rhode Island," Vol. I, Ibid., p. 363). In 1780, Christopher Lippitt was appointed the Brigadier General of the
Providence County Brigade of Militia (Ibid., p. 387), a position he held in 1781 (Ibid., p. 400), 1782 (Ibid., p. 413), 1783 (Ibid., p. 419), 1784
(Ibid., p. 429), 1785 (Ibid., p. 438), and 1786 (Ibid., p. 448). After the war, General Lippitt served several terms as a Deputy to the Rhode Island
General Assembly for the Town of Cranston (Benjamin Cowell, p. 305). General Lippitt lived at the house that his father built for him on Lippitt Hill
in Cranston; the house is still standing. General Lippitt died on June 17, 1824 (NEHGS Register, "The Lippitt Family of Rhode Island," Vol. 27,
January 1873, p. 72).
View of front entrance to the General Christopher Lippitt House on 1281 Hope Road in Cranston, R.I.
The house was built in 1796. The Lippitt Burial Ground is in the woods to the right of this photo.
View of the General Christopher Lippitt House on Lippitt Hill in Cranston, R.I. on Hope Road between
the intersections with Lippitt Ave. and Laten Knight Road.
View of a portion of the General Christopher Lippitt Lot (CR009) in Cranston, R.I.
illustrating its overgrown state in August 2005.
Another view of a portion of the General Christopher Lippitt Lot in Cranston, R.I.
A photo in August 2005 of the grave of General Christopher Lippitt in Cranston, R.I. The
neglected condition of this historic cemetery (CR009) is a common problem in the great
State of Rhode Island due to the insufficient property laws of the state. The legal
situation is thus: almost assuredly, this family cemetery was deeded out of the
Lippitt property in either the 1700's or 1800's, so the bounds of the cemetery
and the area inside it belong legally to the descendants of General Lippitt, several
of whom are still alive and well today. However, the current owner of the undeveloped
woods that surrounds the cemetery has refused access for the living descendants
and interested parties (like the State branch of the Sons of the American Revolution)
who would like to clean up the cemetery to pass through the woods and visit the cemetery.
So a Revolutionary War hero, a friend of George Washington, whose Regiment saved a good
portion of Washington's Army in a timely charge at the Battle of Princeton, N.J., rests
in an overgrown patch of brush and briars. Meanwhile, the current General Assembly of
Rhode Island continues to do nothing about the problem of protection and fair access to
historic cemeteries in R.I. I call on the General Assembly of Rhode Island to pass a
comprehensive Historic Cemetery Protection Law to allow fair access to the State's
Historic Cemeteries to descendants and interested parties. Our ancesters in Rhode Island
were here way before we came into the picture, and their resting places deserve dignity
and respect.
To get this photo of General Lippitt's gravestone, I had to lean into
the brush with my back.
Detailed information about the men in Capt. David Dexter's Company (where available)
Evidence concerning these soldiers is sometimes available in the form of Revolutionary War Pension
Files and Bounty Land Warrants. Pensions were granted to soldiers who were poor through Acts of Congress
passed in 1818, 1820, 1828, and 1832. Bounty Land Warrants were 100-acre land grants (mostly in
Ohio and New York) awarded to enlisted soldiers or their legal heirs who could prove their service
in the Continental Army. The pension files and bounty land warrants can be viewed on microfilm at
a U.S. National Archives Branch or through Heritage Quest's Online Service.
An additional source of information about the men of Capt. David Dexter�s Company is the military
collection of the Rhode Island State Archives in Providence. The Revolutionary War Transcription
File Index at the State Archives is a compilation of information from many state sources about individual
soldiers who served in Rhode Island military units during the war. For the research on this web page,
I have added information from the collections of the Rhode Island State Archives to soldiers who filed
no pension claims and at other places where appropriate. One other source of information is the
genealogical literature, which was consulted for some of the soldiers of Capt. Dexter's Company.
However, it should be noted that some soldiers just do not have any information about them other than
a name. What became of these soldiers is unknown. I would like to thank Ken Carlson of the Rhode Island
State Archives for his assistance with the Revolutionary War military records at the archives.
Captain David Dexter
David Dexter Jr., the son of David4, James3, John2, Gregory1 Dexter, was born in Cumberland, Rhode Island in 1758
(S.C. Newman, "Dexter genealogy: being a record of the families descended from Rev. Gregory Dexter, with notes and
biographical sketches of each parent," Printed by A.C. Greene, Providence, 1859, pp. 55 - 56). David was commissioned
an ensign in Capt. William Aldrich's Company of Col. Daniel Hitchcock's Regiment in Rhode Island's Army of Observation
(Continental) in May 1775 and served in that unit to the close of the year. He was commissioned a Captain in Col. Henry Babcock's
Regiment on January 15, 1776, and David served as the Brigade Major on October 9, 1776 (Francis Heitman, p. 196). On
February 11, 1777, David Dexter was commissioned a Captain in Col. Israel Angell's Second Rhode Island Regiment (Continental)
(Francis Heitman, p. 196). In August 1777, he led an attack against British and Loyalist forces under Col. Delancey in
Westchester County, New York as part of a diversionary raid for General Sullivan's attack on Staten Island ("Journal of
Dr. Elias Cornelius A Revolutionary Surgeon," Published by Judge Charles M. Tompkins and Chester T. Sherman, Washington, DC,
1903, pp. 3 - 4). Capt. Dexter served in Col. Angell's Regiment until December 1778. In a Brigade Court Martial that ran
from December 31, 1778 to January 2, 1779, "Capt. David Dexter of Colonel Angell's Regiment tried by the same Court, for
leaving his Post on the 25th of December 1778 [this was about the time of the "Hessian Snowstorm"], and not returning
'till the 29th for behaving unbecoming the Carracter of an Officer, and a Gentleman, in frequently associating, with the
Waggon Master of the Brigade: Found guilty by the Court, and sentenced to be discharged the service. The General approves
the sentence, and orders it to take place immediately. The Court Martial in consideration of Captain Dexter's long
Services, and sufferings in the American cause, and the sense they have of his bravery, and activity, have recommended him,
to be entitled, to the same priviledges, as those who are left out in the new arrangement of the Army. The commander in chief
[General John Sullivan] is sensibly mortified that he cannot by complying with the recommendation of the Court, evince the
regard he has for that Officer's former Services, Activity, and Bravery. The sentence being for a dismission, and the
recommendation, not for a restitution to his command, he cannot possibly be intitled to any future Advantages; and the
declaration of it in orders would be deemed a nullity, and could have no good effect in his favour." (Edward Field, ed.,
"Diary of Colonel Israel Angell," Preston and Rounds Co., Providence, R.I., 1899, note, pp. 37 - 38). Capt. Dexter was
discharged from Col. Angell's Regiment on January 7, 1779 ("Diary of Colonel Israel Angell," pp. 36 - 38).
With in essence a dishonorable discharge in his pocket, David Dexter returned to Cumberland, R.I. for a short time. Sometime
before 1787, David moved with his brother Stephen Dexter [Pension File S21159, Stephen was a fifer in Capt. William Aldrich's
Company in Col. Hitchcock's Regiment of 1775; in October 1776 he was impressed from a privateer onto the Ship Alfred under
Capt. John Paul Jones and served two and a half months. Stephen served in the Rhode Island Militia in 1777 including "Spencer's
Expedition" that Fall] to Worcester, Mass., then after seven years to Newport, New Hampshire, where the two men set up a scythe
shop that was run on hydraulic power from the local river (Edmund Wheeler, "The History of Newport, New Hampshire, from 1766 to
1878," Republican Press Assoc., Concord, N.H., 1879, p. 105). The brothers had success in the shop, and they moved to nearby
Claremont, New Hampshire. "In 1800 he and his brother Stephen erected a dam across Sugar River, at the upper fall, put up
suitable buildings for grist, saw and oil mills and a scythe shop, all of which were run by water. This scythe shop was the
first established in these parts, and was a great wonder in those days. The scythe business was continued until 1824, and the
other branches of business above named by the brothers until the death of David in 1831 [1829], when they were succeeded by the
late Moses Wheeler, a son-in-law of David. The Dexters subsequently became interested in other manufacturing enterprises in
Claremont. Colonel David Dexter [obviously New Hampshire militia rank] was an enterprising and influential citizen of the
town for about fifty years. He was one of the Selectmen of the town for thirteen years, between 1800 and 1818, and chairman
of the board every year from 1810 to 1818, both years included; representative in the New Hampshire legislature in 1814, and
each succeeding year up to and including 1820; moderator of town-meeting many times, and a Director in the Claremont Bank
several years." (Anonymous, "History of Sullivan County, New Hampshire," J.W. Lewis & Co., Philadelphia, PA, 1886, p. 124).
The David Dexter House, built in 1790 in Claremont, New Hampshire, was fortunately moved
to its present location and saved from destruction in 1975 during an Urban Renewal
project (National Historic Register Website: http://www.crjc.org/heritage/N07-17.htm )
Grave of "Colonel" David Dexter in the Old Burying Ground in Claremont, N.H.
Grave of Parnel (Strowbridge) Dexter, wife of David Dexter in the
Old Burying Ground in Claremont, N.H.
Lieutenant David Sayles , BLW 1969-300
David was from the old Sayles Family of Smithfield, R.I. He was commissioned an ensign on January 15, 1776
in Col. Babcock's Regiment (Francis Heitman, p. 483), and was promoted to Lt. sometime before September 1776.
David was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in Col. Angell's Regiment on January 1, 1777, serving in
Capt. David Dexter's Company, and he was promoted to 1st Lt. on June 12, 1777 in the same regiment
(Francis Heitman, p. 483). When the remnants of the First Rhode Island Regiment ("Black Regiment") and the
Second Rhode Island Regiment merged to form the Rhode Island Regiment, Lt. Sayles was continued in the new regiment.
He was promoted to Captain of the Rhode Island Regiment on May 1, 1782, and resigned on March 17, 1783
(Francis Heitman, p. 483). He returned to Rhode Island and lived in Cumberland. David died on January 10, 1820.
Grave of Capt. David Sayles in the Ballou Cemetery (CU009) in Cumberland, R.I.
Grave of Silence ( ? ) Sayles, wife of Capt. David Sayles, in the
Ballou Cemetery (CU009) in Cumberland, R.I.
Ensign Samuel Dexter
Samuel was likely the brother of Capt. David Dexter who was born in 1760 in Cumberland, R.I.
Samuel was commissioned as an Ensign of Col. Lippitt's Regiment on August 19, 1776 and served
to January 1777. I believe he had descendants as he is listed in the DAR Patriot Index.
Sgt. Nicholas Jencks, Pension W20176
After his service in Col. Lippitt's Regiment, Nicholas6 Jencks (Joseph5, William4, William3, Joseph2, Joseph1 -
William R. Browne, "Genealogy of the Jenks Family of America," Rumford Press, Concord, N.H., 1952,
p. 126) served another year in Col. John Topham's Rhode Island State Regiment about 1779 (Pension File W20176).
Nicholas was born in Smithfield, R.I. in 1750, and he married Betsey Bryant in Smithfield, R.I. about 1781.
He moved to the State of New York after the war in 1796 and died in July 1819 in Covington, Wyoming County,
New York (William R. Browne, p. 126).
Sgt. John P. Childs
No information.
Sgt. Abial Brown, Pension S21659
Abial was born on April 25, 1755 in Attleboro, Massachusetts. He served in Capt. Caleb Richardson's Co.
of Col. Timothy Walker's Regiment of Massachusetts Troops for eight months in 1775. In 1776, he served
in Capt. David Dexter's Co. of Col. Lippitt's Regiment and participated in the New Jersey campaign into
1777. Abial served as the Adjutant to Col. Chad Brown's Rhode Island Militia Regiment (Providence County)
during Spencer's Expedition of 1777. In 1779 into 1780, Abial served as a private in Capt. Robinson's Co.
of Col. Tyler's Regiment. Abial married Lucy Taylor on July 26, 1801 in Hartford, Connecticut. Abial Brown
died on April 11, 1839 in Providence, R.I.
Sgt. Amaziah B. Weatherhead, Pension S11698
Amaziah was born in 1760 in Cumberland, R.I. Amaziah served out his full term of enlistment in Capt. David Dexter's
Company to early 1777. From 1777 to 1779, he served nine months in Capt. Reuben Ballou's Company in Col. Crary's
Rhode Island State Regiment, then another one year enlistment in the same regiment. In 1779, Amaziah became
a Captain of the First Cumberland Company of Col. Chad Brown's Second Providence County Militia Regiment
(Joseph Jenckes Smith, "Civil and Military List of Rhode Island," Vol. I, p. 377). Amaziah served as a private in the
Six Months Continental Battalion that was annexed to the "Black Regiment" in July 1780 for the Town of Cumberland.
Amaziah was discharged from this enlistment at the end of November 1780. In May 1781, Amaziah served again as Captain
of the First Cumberland Company of the Second Providence County Militia Regiment commanded by Lt. Col. Commandant George Peck
(Ibid., p. 401). After the war, Amaziah served in the Rhode Island Militia as an officer (Captain), commanding the First
Company of Cumberland Militia in 1785 (Ibid., p. 440), and in 1788 (Ibid., p. 460). In May 1789, Amaziah became Major of
the Second Providence County Militia Regiment (Ibid., p. 471), and remained in that office until 1795 (Ibid., p. 530).
He served as a Justice of the Peace for Cumberland from May 1791 to 1792 (Ibid., p. 490, 502). Amaziah achieved the rank of
Lt. Col. Commandant of the 2nd Providence Regiment of Militia in 1795 (Joseph Jenckes Smith, "Civil and Military List of
Rhode Island," Vol. I, p. 546). Amaziah died on September 27, 1843.
Grave of Amaziah B. Weatherhead in the Ballou Cemetery (CU009) in Cumberland, R.I.
Grave of Abigail ( ? ) Weatherhead, wife of Amaziah Weatherhead, in the
Ballou Cemetery (CU009) in Cumberland, R.I. She died January 20, 1817.
Cpl. David Cook, Pension S12528
David was born March 17, 1753 in Cumberland, Rhode Island. He enlisted in Capt. David Dexter's Company on
January 1, 1776. David became sick in November 1776 and did not participate in the Trenton or Princeton
campaigns. In February 1777 he enlisted for 15 months in Capt. Reuben Ballou's Company of Col. Crary's
Rhode Island State Regiment. After the war he moved to Royalston, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Cpl. Caleb Rayment (Raymont)
No information.
Cpl. David Kemton (Kempton)
No information.
Cpl. Nathaniel Ballou, Pension S12060
Nathaniel was born October 18, 1750 in Cumberland, Rhode Island. At the time of his enlistment, he
was living in Smithfield, R.I. He served out most of his enlistment in Col. Lippitt's Regiment and was
discharged on December 23, 1776. Late in the war he moved to Peru, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. He
married first in May 1777 Jane Ware, who died in Peru about 1781 after the birth of her third child.
Nathaniel returned to Cumberland, R.I. where he married second Jane Pickering in May 1783. Sometime
after 1798, Jane died after bearing eight children. Nathaniel returned to Peru, Massachusetts where
he worked at a shoemaker. He retired and lived with a nephew in Peru, where Nathaniel died on
July 17, 1838 (Adin Ballou, "An Elaborate History & Genealogy of the Ballous in America," 1888, pp. 199 - 200).
Drummer Esek Aldrich
No information.
Fifer Otis Dexter
Otis was a brother of Capt. David Dexter. John Howland remembered what happened to him: "It was on the
15th of September [1776] that the British took possession of New York, and we were in possession of the north
part of the island from Harlem to King's bridge, till the 16th of October following. During the greater
part of this time, from bad fare, hard service, and sleeping on the ground, many of our men became sick
of what was called the camp distemper [dysentery], which seizing the bowels soon became fatal. This daily
lessened our numbers, and rendered others unfit for duty. When our regiment was ordered to march to
Westchester [County, N.Y.], our sick were placed in wagons with as much care as circumstances would permit.
Young Otis Dexter, a fine boy of fourteen years, the brother of Captain David Dexter, and who was the fifer
of our own company, we placed in a wagon on some straw, and he expired about the time we crossed King's
bridge. The jolting of the wagon over an uneven and stony road doubtless hastened his exit, and finally
ended his sufferings. Early the next morning, we made his grave in the corner of an orchard in
Westchester [County], in which we placed him with as much decency as possible. His brother, the captain,
was not the only mourner. He was a most pleasant and handsome child, and we all were much afflicted by
his sufferings and death; but like that of the patriarch, no man knoweth of his grave at the present day."
(Edwin Martin Stone, "The Life and Recollections of John Howland, Late President of the Rhode Island
Historical Society," 1857, Providence, R.I., p. 61).
Pvt. Daniel S. Dexter, Pension S15406, BLW 573-300
Daniel Singer Dexter was from Cumberland, Rhode Island. He was the brother of Capt. and later
Major John Singer Dexter, who served in the First Rhode Island Regiment of 1777, in the "Black Regiment"
from 1778 to 1780, and in the Rhode Island Regiment from 1781 to 1783. Daniel was a cousin of
Capt. David Dexter. In the Fall of 1776, Daniel was promoted to the Paymaster of Col. Christopher Lippitt's
Regiment. From March 16, 1779 to April 15, 1779 Daniel served as a Lieutenant in Capt. Thomas Allen's
Company in Col. Crary's State Regiment. On May 9, 1779 Daniel was commissioned a Lieutenant in his brother
Capt. John S. Dexter's Company of the First Rhode Island Regiment ("Black Regiment"). He served in
the "Black Regiment" until it was merged with Col. Angell's Regiment in January 1781 to form the integrated
Rhode Island Regiment. In 1781, Daniel was promoted to a Captain and served as a company commander
and paymaster in the Rhode Island Regiment after May 14, 1781. He served with the Rhode Island Regiment
until November 1783.
John Howland wrote about the two Dexter brothers in a letter to Wilkins Updike dated October 23, 1845:
"Major John S. Dexter, of this state, was for a long time an assistant or deputy in the office of the
Adjutant-General of the United States Army, and consequently had access to all the orders of the
Commander-in-chief collected in that department. During the presidency of Washington and Adams, he
held an important office in the Finance Department of the United States in this state; and after he
resigned the office of chief justice, and removed to his farm in Cumberland, I applied to him for any
papers in his possession, to be deposited in the cabinet of our Historical Society. He informed me that
when he was about removing from Providence to Cumberland, he found himself encumbered with such a vast
mass of old papers and books, for which he had no room in his small house in Cumberland, that he had
burnt them all up, though it took a great while to consume them. And this gentleman had been educated,
and was a man of sense and of pleasant manners, yet he was guilty of this stupid and wicked act. His
brother, Capt. Daniel S. Dexter, performed a similiar act. He was an officer in Col. Greene's regiment,
and being a good writer he performed the office of his clerk or secretary. He had a great amount of
papers, which filled a large trunk. He was appointed Paymaster of Lippitt's regiment before he was
twenty years old. I was then in that regiment, aged nineteen. He continued in the service under
various promotions to the close of the war, when he held the rank of captain. He was a good officer
and a good writer, and careful to preserve all the papers he wrote or copied. In old age he removed
to the house next adjoining me [John Howland House on Benefit Street in downtown Providence, R.I.]; he
was feeble and deaf. I frequently called on him, but did not know of his having any old papers, until
the lady with whom he boarded came in and told me that the Captain had been all day burning up papers;
that he had burnt up more than a bushel. I immediately ran into the house, and to his chamber, if
possible to stop the proceeding. I said everything to prevent any further destruction, but it was too
late; he had reserved only one letter, from General Washington to Colonel Greene." (Wilkins Updike,
"A History of the Episcopal Church in Narragansett Rhode Island including a History of other Episcopal
Churches in the State," 2nd Edition, Boston, Mass., 1907, pp. 134-135).
Side Note: I can relate so well to this story of the document destruction, and I understand
John Howland's feelings completely. A few items of historical value and interest have been lost in my
own Rhode Island families (and God knows how many other items of historic value have been lost through the ages).
Grave of Capt. Daniel S. Dexter in the North Burial Ground (PV001), Providence, R.I.
Location of grave from John E. Sterling, "North Burial Ground Providence, Rhode Island
Old Section 1700 - 1858," R.I.G.S. Special Publication No. 5, 2000, p. 195. With his
death in 1852, Capt. Daniel S. Dexter was the last survivor of the distinguished
Rhode Island Continental Line Officers to die.
Grave of Mary (Coddington) Dexter, wife of Capt. Daniel S. Dexter, in the
North Burial Ground (PV001), Providence, R.I.
Pvt. Abiel (Abial) Baker, Pension W14262
Abiel served out his enlistment in Capt. David Dexter's Company and was discharged in Chatham, N.J.
in early 1777. He served in Capt. George Peck's Co. (presumably the Smithfield & Cumberland Rangers)
of Militia in 1777. Abiel married Lois (Sawyer?) in Attleboro, Massachusetts on September 15, 1778.
He worked as a laborer in Cumberland, R.I. after the war. Abiel died on July 8, 1823.
Pvt. Abraham Shippy (Shippee)
No information.
Pvt. Benjamin Cook
No information.
Pvt. Benjamin Fowler, Pension X269
Benjamin was originally from Kingston, New Hampshire and served in the Rhode Island Army of
Observation (Continental) in 1775. He was a member of Captain John Topham's Company of
Col. Thomas Church's Regiment in 1775. Benjamin participated in Col. Benedict Arnold's March
to Quebec. After his service in Col. Lippitt's Regiment, he enlisted into Col. Israel Angell's
Second Rhode Island Regiment on March 15, 1777. He served in Capt. David Dexter's Company
in 1777 and 1778. Benjamin was court martialled (Regimental) on September 17, 1777
for going AWOL from the General Hospital and disobedience of orders. He was found
guilty and sentenced to 20 lashes on his back (Louise L. Lovell, "Israel Angell Colonel
of the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment," New York, 1921, Appendix II, Orderly Book, p. 258).
From 1779 to 1780 Benjamin served in Major Simeon Thayer's Company. In 1781, he served
in Capt. Thomas Hughes' Company of the Rhode Island Regiment and participated in the
Yorktown campaign. He was discharged from the Rhode Island Regiment in June 1783.
Benjamin lost the sight in one of his eyes during the war because of smallpox. After the
war he had a leg amputated. Benjamin received an Invalid Pension after the war and
resided in Providence, R.I.
Pvt. Benony (Benoni) Taylor
Benoni was born about 1742 in Sandwich (Cape Cod), Massachusetts. After his service in
Col. Lippitt's Regiment, Benoni enlisted for three years on May 19, 1777 in
Capt. Silas Talbot's Company of the First Rhode Island Regiment. In May 1778 at
Valley Forge, Benoni was transferred to Capt. David Dexter's Company of the Second
Rhode Island Regiment. He remained in the same company and reenlisted in May 1780 for
during the war. Benoni served in Capt. Thomas Hughes' Company of the Rhode Island Regiment
in 1781 and was in the Yorktown campaign. He was discharged on January 1, 1783 for disability
reasons and put on a pension. What became of him after the war is unknown.
Pvt. James Greenerod (Greenwood)
No information.
Pvt. Francis Martis
No information.
Pvt. William Shaw
No information.
Pvt. Daniel Burlingame, Pension S40759
Daniel served out most of his enlistment and was discharged in January 1777 at Peekskill, New York.
After the war he moved to Ira, Vermont.
Pvt. David Whipple
No information.
Pvt. David smith
No information.
Pvt. David Jencks
He might be David6 Jencks son of Jonathan5 Jencks and brother of Lt. Oliver Whipple Jencks,
who served in the Rhode Island Continental Line and died of sickness at Philadelphia on February 3, 1782
while in the service of the Rhode Island Regiment. This David died on July 28, 1828 and was buried in the
Ballou Cemetery (CU009) in Cumberand, R.I. (William R. Browne, "Genealogy of the Jenks Family of America,"
p. 56). Another possibility is David6 Jencks son of Joseph5 Jencks who died March 1, 1831
(William R. Browne, p. 64).
Pvt. Davis Brown
Davis was the son of Benjamin5 Brown (Benjamin4, Joseph3, John2, John1 Browne of
Wannamoisett, Massachusetts) of Cumberland, R.I. (Carl Boyer, 3rd, "Mr. John Browne, Gentleman,
of Wannamoisett" in "Brown Families of Bristol Counties, Mass. and R.I., from the Immigrants to
the early 19th Century," 1981, "New England Colonial Families," Vol. 1, p. 39). In 1777, Davis
enlisted in Capt. David Dexter's Company of the Second Rhode Island Regiment. On April 1, 1778
at Valley Forge, Davis was hand-picked to serve in General Washington's Life Guard, which he served
in until war's end. After the war Davis lived in Providence, R.I. until sometime after 1790, when
he disappears from the Rhode Island Records. I am interested in Davis because his brother Benjamin,
who likely served on privateers during the Revolution, married my ancestor Ruth ( ? ), the mother
of my great-great-great-great-great grandfather Col. Junia Young. Capt. Benjamin Brown was a sea
Captain in Providence, R.I. and sailed schooners and brigs to the Caribbean. Benjamin died at
Providence in 1787 and left some property to his brother Davis.
Pvt. Hugh McDugal, BLW 6-100-B, Special Act June 4, 1842
Hugh was born about 1729 in Inveraray, Argyll, Scotland. Hugh enlisted on April 5, 1777 in
Capt. Sylvanus Shaw's Company of the Second Rhode Island Regiment. He was sick in the Spring of
1778 at Valley Forge in Capt. William Humphrey's Company. Hugh remained in the same company
through 1780. In 1781 he served in Capt. William Humphrey's Company in the Rhode Island
Regiment and was with the regiment in Yorktown. Hugh was discharged on June 28, 1783 and was put
on a pension. He sold his bounty land to Israel Pearce in 1784. Hugh was on a List of Invalids
resident in Rhode Island in 1786 for a disability "contracted while in service, which renders him
incapable of acquiring a livelihood" (John Russell Bartlett, "Records of the State of Rhode Island,"
Vol. 10, p. 166). What became of Hugh after this date is unknown.
Pvt. Gideon Dexter
Gideon served in Capt. David Dexter's Company of the Second Rhode Island Regiment in 1777. He
became sick in the Spring of 1778 in the Valley Forge area and died on August 1, 1778 at a
military hospital in Princeton, New Jersey.
Pvt. Isaac Nishnuman
No information.
Pvt. John Dagon
No information.
Pvt. Levi Mowry
No information.
Pvt. Richard Smith
He may be the Richard Smith who enlisted in Capt. Stephen Olney's Company of the
Second Rhode Island Regiment in 1777 and who deserted on September 12, 1777.
No other information has been found for Richard.
Pvt. Reuben Smith, Pension W1505, BLW 3514-100, BLW 59-60-55
Reuben was born about 1761 in Smithfield, Rhode Island. After his service in Col. Lippitt's Regiment,
Reuben enlisted as a Corporal into Capt. David Dexter's Company on January 23, 1777 in the Second
Rhode Island Regiment. In May 1778 he was transferred to Capt. William Tew's Company as a Corporal.
Reuben was promoted to Sergeant of Capt. William Tew's Company on July 1, 1779. Reuben remained in
the same company but was sick the first half of 1780 while the regiment was at Morristown. In 1781,
Reuben served as a Sergeant in Capt. Daniel S. Dexter's Company of the Rhode Island Regiment and
was in the Yorktown campaign. Reuben was discharged in June 1783 after serving over seven years
in the Revolution. After the war Reuben lived in Glocester, R.I. His first wife (unknown) died
before 1821. Reuben married second Sarah Phetteplace at Glocester, R.I. on October 9, 1826. Later
Reuben and Sarah moved to Burrillville, R.I., where Reuben died on September 10, 1835. I believe
Reuben was a descendant of Christopher Smith which would make him a distant cousin of mine. His
grave site has been unfortunately lost. I believe his second wife Sarah Smith is buried in the
Colwell Lot (BU126) in Burrillville, R.I. Reuben signed an affadavit of service for my ancestor
Oliver Smith of Smithfield, R.I.
Pvt. Eseck (Esek) Smith
Esek was my great-great-great-great-great-great Uncle. He was from Smithfield, R.I. His brother Oliver,
my direct ancestor, served as a substitute for Esek in Capt. David Dexter's Company for two months as Esek
had become sick (perhaps with smallpox; see Oliver Smith Pension File W24991). Esek returned to
Capt. David Dexter's Company in the Spring of 1776 and served out his enlistment; he was discharged in
Chatham, New Jersey in February 1777. Esek likely served in the Rhode Island Militia after February 1777,
and he may be the "Eseck Smith" who served on General Sullivan's Life Guard from December 16, 1778 to
March 16, 1779 (Edward Field, Editor, "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the End of the
Century: A History," Boston, Mass., 1902, Vol. 1, pp. 503-504). After the war Esek remained in Smithfield, R.I.,
where he lived next to his father Joshua Smith. Esek married Mary Shippee on September 3, 1780 in Smithfield, R.I.
I don't know much about him in the early 1800's, and I don't know where Esek is buried (possibly in NS028, the
Smith Lot, or in NS048, the Oliver Smith Lot in North Smithfield, R.I.).
Pvt. James Phillips, Pension S39012
Although there are a couple of soldiers of this name (another James Phillips served in Capt. Thomas Gorton's
Company of Col. Lippitt's Regiment), James Phillips of Capt. David Dexter's Company was possibly the James
who enlisted on February 15, 1777 in Capt. Thomas Cole's Company of the First Rhode Island Regiment. James
was born about 1746 in Newport, Rhode Island and was a mariner by occupation. In the Spring of 1778, James
was sick at Yellow Springs near Valley Forge, PA. He was transferred to Capt. William Potter's Company of the
Second Rhode Island Regiment in May 1778. His sickness continued, and James did not participate in the Battle of
Monmouth. James rejoined his company in August 1778. In March 1779, the men of Capt. William Potter's Company
were formed into a new company, Lt. Col. Jeremiah Olney's Company, and Capt. William Potter resigned. In the
Spring and Summer of 1779, James served on a guard detail at Sakonnet (Little Compton), Rhode Island. He rejoined
his company in late November 1779 and served at Morristown, N.J. In 1781 James joined Capt. Thomas Cole's
Company of the Rhode Island Regiment and participated in the Yorktown Campaign. James lived in North Kingstown
and South Kingstown, R.I. after the war and was married.
Pvt. Silvanus (Sylvanus) Sayles, Pension W22158
Sylvanus was from Smithfield, R.I. and was the brother of Lt. David Sayles. He served out his enlistment
in Col. Lippitt's Regiment. Sylvanus also served nine months on the Frigate Providence (28 guns, not to be
confused with the Sloop Providence) beginning in March 1778. The Frigate Providence under Commodore
Abraham Whipple sailed to France carrying important letters and returned to Boston in November 1778. Sylvanus
went on another cruise on the frigate in 1779, and he sailed on the Providence when it went to Charleston, S.C.
in 1780. He and the other members of the crew were captured by the British when the city surrendered in May 1780.
Sylvanus was exchanged in the summer of 1781 and returned to Rhode Island. Sylvanus married Abigail Ballou in
Smithfield in August 1782. Sylvanus died in Smithfield, R.I. on January 27, 1826.
Pvt. Jonathan Parker , Pension S38987?
Jonathan may be the soldier who was from Coventry, R.I. and served 9 months in Capt. Ebenezer Macomber's
Company of the Rhode Island Regiment in 1782. This Jonathan Parker died May 9, 1823 presumably in Coventry, R.I.
Pvt. John Lippitt
John was the youngest brother of Col. Christopher Lippitt. He was born on February 14, 1763. At age 13,
he enlisted as a private soldier in Capt. David Dexter's Company and served out his term of enlistment. He
was at the Second Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton. He was a storekeeper in Providence, R.I.
after the war. He had 11 daughters and two boys. John died on July 29, 1830. (Daniel Beckwith,
"The Lippitt Family of Rhode Island," NEHGS Register, Vol. 27, January 1873, p. 73).
Pvt. John Howland, Pension S21830
John Howland became arguably the most well known private of Capt. David Dexter's Company after the war.
John was born October 31, 1757 in Newport, R.I.; he was descended from an old Mayflower Family of Plymouth,
Massachusetts. In 1770 John became an apprentice to Benjamin Gladding, a hairdresser in Providence, R.I.
John lived with the Gladdings on Weybosset Street in Providence, R.I. As a hairdresser, Mr. Gladding and
young John saw many of the influential and prominent people of Providence. John almost joined the rebellious
group from Providence who rowed out and burned the HMS Gaspee off Warwick in June 1772, but Mr. Gladding
pulled him from a boat before they set off. John joined Capt. Tallman's Company of militia in 1775 and served
in the Fall of 1775 at Newport, R.I. In January 1776 John Howland enlisted into Capt. David Dexter's Company of
Col. Lippitt's Regiment. John left an excellent account of his service of 1776 in Edwin Martin Stone, "The Life
and Recollections of John Howland, Late President of the Rhode Island Historical Society," Providence, R.I., 1857.
After the 1776 campaign, John was discharged at Chatham, N.J., but got sick. Capt. Loring Peck got John into a
house in New York where John spent the next three weeks recovering from his sickness. John Howland then walked
back to Rhode Island in February 1777. In September 1777, John served in Col. Jabez Bowen's Regiment of
Providence County militia in General Spencer's "Secret Expedition" against Aquidneck Island . John Howland was
a member of the lead unit under the command of Col. John Topham waiting in boats in a driving rain to cross over
to Aquidneck Island and begin the attack, but the operation was cancelled due to the bad weather. The campaign of
1777 in Rhode Island came to an end with the British still in possession of Newport. In 1778 John served in
General Sullivan's Expedition against Rhode Island in Col. John Matthewson's Regiment of Providence County Militia.
The second division of Col. Matthewson's Regiment that John served in arrived on the island after the great Hurricane
had swept through southern New England. Col. Matthewson's Regiment was attached to Col. Christopher Greene's Brigade,
but before the Battle of Rhode Island was sent back in reserve under Col. William West.
After the war, John Howland set up a shop in Providence on North Main Street. On January 28, 1788 John married
Mary Carlile, a great granddaughter of James Franklin, brother of the famous Benjamin Franklin. John and Mary
had thirteen children, but eight of them died in early childhood. Mary died on May 28, 1845. John served on
several school committees for the Town of Providence and was appointed Town Auditor in 1803. In 1818 John Howland
was elected Town Treasurer for Providence and served in that office until 1832. John developed a keen interest in
history, and he joined the Rhode Island Historical Society upon its inception in 1822. He served as Treasurer for
the Society for nine years and became its President in 1833. He served as President of the R.I.H.S. until his death.
John was probably most well known for his activities with the Providence Association of Mechanics and Manufacturers
which he joined soon after its formation in 1789. John served on several committees of the association, became its
Secretary in 1805, its Vice-President in 1823, and President in 1824 (he retired from this office in 1830).
John Howland was also a member of the Rhode Island Peace Society, the Providence Institution for Savings, and
a faithful attendee of the First Congregational Church of Providence. In old age, John revisited the Trenton and
Princeton battlefields with one of his daughters. John Howland died on November 5, 1854, aged 97, in a Providence very
much changed from the one he grew up in.
Grave of John Howland in the Swan Point Cemetery (PV003) in Providence, R.I.
A second memorial gravestone to John Howland with his genealogy in the Swan Point Cemetery.
Grave of Mary (Carlile) Howland, the wife of John Howland,
in Swan Point Cemetery. Mary was the great granddaughter
of James Franklin, the eldest brother of the famous
Benjamin Franklin (source: Edwin Martin Stone, "The Life
and Recollections of John Howland, Late President of the
Rhode Island Historical Society," Providence, R.I., 1857, p. 111).
The historic John Howland House on Benefit Street in Providence, R.I.
Plaque on the John Howland House indicating that the house was built in 1784.
Pvt. Thomas Rogers, Pension S14343
Thomas was born in Montville, New London, Connecticut on April 10, 1757. He enlisted as a Sergeant in
Capt. David Dexter's Company in February 1776. Thomas became sick in New London, Connecticut as
Col. Lippitt's Regiment marched south to New York. From September 20, 1776 until the Spring of 1777,
Thomas remained in New London, Conn. where he recovered from his illness. From September to November 1777
he served in the Connecticut State Troops. Thomas later served in the Connecticut Militia at Fort Trumbull
in New London, Conn. Thomas served for a time on the "General Putnam" privateer. After the war, Thomas
served on the USS Trumbull warship from 1799 to 1801 as a Sailing Master/Acting Lieutenant.
Pvt. Isaiah Streeter (Streater), Pension W18803
Isaiah was from Cumberland, Rhode Island. He served out his enlistment in Capt. David Dexter's
Company. From 1777 to 1778 he served in Capt. Reuben Ballou's Company of Col. Crary's State
Regiment. Isaiah married Sally Kimpton after the war on May 6, 1784 in Smithfield, R.I.
Isaiah and Sally moved to Hartland, Windsor County, Vermont, where Isaiah died on January 6, 1802.
Pvt. Jonathan Jencks
Pvt. Aden Trask
No information.
Pvt. Nathan Munro (Munroe)
No information.
Pvt. Ebenezer Sisko
No information.
Pvt. Stephen Cook
No information.
Pvt. Ezekiel Harris
No information.
Pvt. Squire (Asquire) Aldrich, Pension S18685
Asquire was born June 15, 1760 in Cumberland, Rhode Island. He served in Capt. David Dexter's Company until
February 1777 when he was discharged near Morristown, New Jersey. Asquire enlisted and served in Col. Crary's
State Regiment until March 1778, then he served in Col. Topham's State Regiment under Capt. James Parker. Asquire
lived in Richmond, New Hampshire for a time after the war before returning to Rhode Island. He moved again to
St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont, where he died on January 16, 1836/37. Asquire married five times and
had 15 children (Anonymous, "Genealogy and History of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,"
New England Historical Publishing Co., Boston, Mass., pp. 732-733).
Pvt. Thomas Man (Mann)
Obviously, Thomas was from the Mann Family of Smithfield, Rhode Island. No other information.
SOURCES
U.S. National Archives Microfilm M804, "Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files,"
(Specific Pensions and Bounty Land Warrants listed above).
U.S. National Archives Microfilm M246, "Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783" (Original Muster Rolls - -
Col. Christopher Lippitt's Regiment).
Revolutionary War Transcription File Index, Rhode Island State Archives, Providence, Rhode Island.
Benjamin Cowell, �Spirit of �76 in Rhode Island: or Sketches of the Efforts of the Government and
People in the War of the Revolution" (Boston: A. J. Wright (Printer), 1850).
Website: "Rhode Island Historical Society Library Manuscripts Division: Revolutionary War Military Records:"
http://www.rihs.org/mssinv/Mss673sg2.htm
Note: This website is still under construction, so please be patient.