Nathaniel Cox Sr served in the Revolutionary War in Col. McCobb’s Regiment, Brig. Gen. Warner’s Brigade. His name appears in a list titled “Revolutionary Soldiers to the Eastward – A list of the men mustered by Stephen Smith, Muster Master, on the 24th day of July 1777, in Col. McCobb’s Regiment. In Brigadier General Warner’s Brigade.” [Source: Bangor Historical Magazine, Vol. IV, No. 6, Dec 1888, p. 119]
Concerning Nathaniel Cox Sr’s war service, Tibbets and Lamson wrote, “During the Revolutionary times there was active support for the Colonial cause, and a number of Pleasant River men took part in the Battle of the Margaretta 12 June 1775 (4 men from Pleasant River shared in Margaretta prize money of 18 pounds each – Samuel Knowles, Nathaniel Cox, James Nash, & Richard Earl).” [Source: “Early Pleasant River Families of Washington County, Maine,” Picton Press, 1997, p. xxii]
The Battle of Machias, the naval battle involving the capture of the British schooner Margaretta, has been described in detail by George F. Talbot in the Bangor Historical Magazine, Vol III, No. IX, March 1888, pp. 161-167. It is also described on this website: https://www.thoughtco.com/american-revolution-battle-of-machias-2361161
Nathaniel Cox Sr. was also a Mayflower descendant of Allerton & Warren
As for Josiah Woodworth Sr., his family was from Connecticut and as a child he moved with his parents to Nova Scota after the British kick the French out. As an adult he returned to Connecticut and fought against the British during the Rev. War. He never returned to his family. He moved to New York after the war.
Anthony Sizer was the 5th great grandfather of Stanley Dean Sizer (husband of Kathleen Weddle Sizer). Anthony Sizer served in the 7th Connecticut Reg. commanded by Col. Swift, Captain Ephraim Chamberlain from Middletown, Connecticut as a wagoneer [sic] for Elijah Hubbard [Lieut.], Commissary for a two-year period. Congress passed the Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832. Anthony applied and received a pension issued the 28th day of December, 1832 with pension in arrears and semi-annual allowance due him for $160.00. Anthony Sizer was 69 years of age at the time he appeared in the court at Westfield before Honorable Oliver B. Morris, Esq. He stated he was born at Middletown, State of Connecticut on the 12th day of March, 1763 and he has possession of a copy of the town birth record.
He states “In the year 1779 I entered the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution at the request of Elijah Hubbard of said Middletown who wears a commissary in the United States Army and was employed by him in the transportation of Military Stores from said Middletown to the army for the term of two years. …We went several times to Morristown in New Jersey following with the Army in their marched [sic] from Morristown up to West Point Fort and traveling back and forth with same loaded with provisions and military stores to be delivered where ever they happened to be. We went armed …especially …in the state of New York which the rest of us lay under our carts and wagons. …I enlisted and was to have twenty-four pounds which was one years wages provided I brought back a certificate of a years service and a regular discharge. …camped down upon the ground every night – We built cabins of bushes and barks and stayed in them several weeks. …we drew rations of forage and provisions from the public stores at Danbury and elsewhere. We were …going armed and strictly guarded our teams to keep off the cowboys and lay under our carts and wagons at night. …I consider myself a soldier in the service of the United States and claim that I have served my country as such, One year ten months and twenty days, besides the first term of two years.
I know of no person living who can testify to any part of the aforementioned services – Elijah Hubbard died a number of years ago, Samuel Sizer died about a year ago and I can find no person who was with me at that time – nor have I any documentary evidence to prove any part of my service except a pass signed by Elijah Hubbard dated 21st Feb 1783, and another pass dated 15th March 1783, which are neuto [sic] annexed – I have a quantity of Continental money and some other Revolutionary [cannot make out] which I might transmit to the Department. I came from Middletown to Blandford [Massachusetts] about forty years ago and have resided there ever since. I am well known to Rev. Charles A. Turner – Doctor Eli Hale – Ornin [sic] Sage and Enos Boise Esq. of S. Blandford. Anthony Sizer signed his name in a beautiful script. His 5th great grandson found it interesting that “Cowboys” were thieves at that time. His wonderful record is 14 pages long and he is good at detail. He probably could tell some great stories to his grandchildren. Source: Sand Point, Seattle, WA Regional Archives
Source: Penson & Bounty Land, NARA 804, Roll No. 2193 and service in the Revolution under claim 24550, NARA T718, roll 7, FHL microfilm 1,319,387, declaration No. 14080, receiving it and his wife Lucretia Ward Sizer filed after his death for W24550, Index Vol. A, Page 437.
David Smith was said to have been born in Ireland in 1740. He came to America at some time and appeared in Farmington, Hartford county, Connecticut where he married Lydia Orvis Hawley, a young widow of Benjamin Hawley, in January, 1775.1, 2
Two years later, shortly after his first son, Chauncey was born, David enlisted in the Continental army on March 1, 1777.3 At that time there was a significant effort to recruit new volunteers for the army; a number of others were recruited from Farmington around the same time. It appears as if he entered as a corporal, which would not be too surprising for an older volunteer when a new company is being established. He was recruited into Col. Samuel Wyllys’ 3rd Connecticut Regiment in Capt. William Judd’s Company. The third regiment was organized between January and April, 1777 and was composed of 8 companies from Windham and Hartford Counties.
The 3rd regiment was initially assigned on April 3 to the 1st Connecticut Brigade, an element of the Highlands Department.4
The Brigade had two primary tasks: to protect the Hudson Highlands, and to deter British troops occupying New York City from joining up with other British forces, specifically British General Burgoyne’s army which had just captured the supposedly impregnable Fort Ticonderoga and was headed south towards Albany. The Brigade was reassigned to the main army for a few weeks in mid-summer, 1777, when British General Howe and General Washington were maneuvering for position in northern New Jersey, and Washington was concerned about defending Philadelphia.5 Then the Connecticut Brigade was returned to the Highlands Department until July 1778. Most of David’s time in the war was spent in the Highlands (see map), an area where the Appalachian Mountains cross the Hudson River. Because the military records do not indicate David’s whereabouts from in March, 1777 until summer 1778, the only way to determine where he is, is to track his regiment under General Putnam.
The aptly named Highlands Department’s role was primarily to protect the New York Highlands, especially the Hudson River. If the British could penetrate up the River and connect with Fort Ticonderoga which General Burgoyne had just captured, Lake Champlain and Canada , they could split the colonies in two, separating New England from the other colonies. Barely a month after the war started at Lexington and Concord on May 25, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the placement of chains across the Hudson River to deter British ships and protect the Highlands.
During 1776 and 1777 several chains and wooden spike blockages were placed upstream from Peekskill. To protect the chains, the Continental Congress also authorized the construction of Fort Montgomery, which was built by the Army in 1776. Another fort, Fort Clinton, was built nearby on higher ground.
David’s regiment was part of General Israel Putnam’s command and was stationed nearby at Peekskill. British General Sir Henry Clinton, who commanded the occupation troops in New York City, moved a contingent of them in the direction of Saratoga where General Burgoyne was having difficulties. Clinton made a feint that completely fooled Gen. Putnam, who went back into the Highlands where he thought the British were. Then on October 6, 1777, Sir Henry moved in, captured the two forts, and dismantled the chain.6 David almost certainly was in the fooled force and apparently avoided any battle at this time. The British were able to keep the river open and raided as far upstream as Kingston, NY, a distance of about 50 miles north from the lost forts.
In spring, 1778, the very heavy “Great Chain” was stretched across the Hudson at West Point, being supported by huge, floating logs. Each link was 2 feet long and weighed 114 lb. The chain could be adjusted for tides and currents by means of ropes, pulleys, and other devices. It was removed in winter and reinstalled each spring, remaining in place until 1783. The British never tried to “run” the Great Chain.
In June, 1778, General Clinton, now in charge of all British Forces,7 withdrew from Philadelphia, fearing a blockade by French Ships. Because the French officially entered the fray in March8, and because Britain had to divert resources, Clinton could accomplish essentially nothing in the north. He needed his major forces in the mid-Atlantic and South. So the Highlands troops faced no major difficulties. British raiders attacked with some frequency along the coast and inland New England, but these were relatively small events handled usually by militia and local troops rather than bringing in the Continental Army.
In the summer of 1778, David’s unit spent most of its time in the White Plains area, although he had a 15 day furlough in August. By early December, his brigade was at Camp Redding, near Danbury, CT, where it could not only spend the winter, but also could guard a major supply depot at Danbury. Although David missed the opportunity to be at Valley Forge in the very difficult winter of 1777-78, the winter of 1778-79 at Camp Redding, CT was said to be more severe than Valley Forge, although on a smaller scale.9
David arrived at Camp Redding in mid-November. In December, he was reported as sick since Nov 22, 1778. In January, he was reported “Lame at Hartford Hosp since Dec 10, 1778″, but he was back with his company in February, 1779. While he was apparently gone, there was an uprising by the soldiers regarding the lack of adequate food and clothing, along with pay in low value continental dollars. When a group of soldiers started off to Hartford “to air their complaints”, they were intercepted by Maj. Gen. Putnam, who with a stirring speech persuaded the men to return. One unrepentant ringleader was jailed, and then shot dead when he tried to escape. The site was known as “Connecticut’s Valley Forge”.
In May, David’s unit moved to Camp Highlands of New York, then to Camp Nelson’s Point across the river from West Point in June. He spent July, August and September at Camp Robinson’s Farm, a little further downstream near Garrison, NY.10 As typical, the unit largely powered down for the winter. David’s location is unspecified but he is on the rolls until January 22, 1780 when he is discharged by paying Benjamin Perry to replace him.11 He received $32.60 from the paymaster for back pay and for returned clothing.
Fighting in the north was nearly done for the war. David’s captain, William Judd, spent from January 1780 until at least June “on command at home”, or “at Hartford”. In August, he was across the Hudson from White Plains at Orangetown, NY, but then was furloughed from October through the end of the year. Clearly, David would not have faced much fighting if he had stayed in. So, why did he pay someone to cut short fairly easy duty; after all, he was a corporal and would not have the worst of military chores like a private. Maybe it was something at home. That will warrant further investigation.
From January 1780 until April 1782, David was a civilian and presumably in Farmington. In May 1782, he joined the army again for a period of 3 years. A little perspective is necessary here. The “turning point of the war”, in retrospect a few months later, was considered to be the defeat of General Burgoyne and capture of his army at Saratoga in October, 1777.12 Also important to the Highlands, that defeat severely diminished pressure from the north, which combined with limits on British resources resulted in little activity north of New York city, other than British raiding. After a few battles in the mid-Atlantic area in 1779, the British focused on the “Southern Campaign”, while still maintaining control of New York City. Then the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown occurred in October, 1781, effectively ending the war. The British House of Commons voted to end the war in April, 1782, and a preliminary peace agreement was reached in November, 1982.
So, rejoining the army in May of 1782 did not seem very risky for David, but we do not know why he did it. He entered as a private in the 5th Continental Regiment of foot commanded by Lt. Col. Sherman in the 3rd company captained by Nehemiah Rice. In November 1782, he transferred into the 2nd Connecticut Regiment commanded by Col. Heman Swift, serving in Capt Elijah Chapman’s “Light Infantry Company”. His previous unit, the 5th Connecticut was disbanded at the end of the year.
It doesn’t look like David, or anyone else, was seeing any action, but he stayed in nearly to the end. He was on furlough in December 1782 and January 1783.13 In March he was transferred into Capt. Thaddeus Weed’s company. He was present on muster rolls until it was reported that he deserted July 20, 1783; but he “joined from desertion” before Aug 13. This is the last muster card I could find for him. The use of the term desertion seems strange; perhaps it is more like what is currently called AWOL, absent without official leave. Perhaps he had something to do in Farmington. But it also seems strange because the army is disbanding at this time; five regiments were collapsed into three, then one regiment The Connecticut Line was completely disbanded on November 15, 1783. David was already home.
Larry Turner, Feb 21,2021, file Genealogy\Smith\David et al\David Smith War Narrative
1 Descendants of David Smith by Eben C. Farley, Los Gatos, CA 1902 (from DAR Library, printed brochure; no publication information; used to support DAR membership).
2 This narrative includes very little beyond David’s military service. There is much else that will be the subject of a future narrative.
3 All military information comes from muster cards and similar military records obtained from Fold3. There were no muster cards or other Fold3 records for David from his enlistment in March, 1777 until June, 1778. There are also no records for his captain, William Judd or his sergeant, Asa Chapman during that same period; however, there are cards for Captain Judd in 1776, suggesting that the company records for the 1777-early 78 period were lost.
4 A “Department” is composed of 2 or more Brigades, each of which have 3 or more Regiments. A Regiment at full strength will have 8-10 companies each having up to 90 men.
5 Information on the army composition, movement, and battles was derived from a variety of on-line sources. These recommended websites and Wikipedia are considered generally reliable, but they were not always in complete agreement, mostly about details not relevant to David’s service. I have included some of my own thoughts also. While the surrounding history may have some embellishments, all individual information is based factually as determined from the military records.
6 Both forts were destroyed; the modest number of American defenders took significant casualties. General Washington had a new fort built to the north at West Point; the fort that Benedict Arnold tried to give to the British in September, 1780. Sir Henry, having provided General Burgoyne the diversion he thought Burgoyne wanted (actually, Burgoyne wanted the troops to come fight with him), returned his troops to New York City. As a side note, Forts Clinton and Montgomery were defended by brother generals George and James Clinton, after one of whom the fort was named; George also had just been appointed governor of New York. With Gen. Henry Clinton (no known relationship) leading the British, the event was often called the “Battle of the Clintons”.
7 His predecessor, British General Howe had resigned and returned to Britain.
8 The French had long helped the American cause in many ways. But when the French provoked Britain into declaring War against France, it was on a worldwide basis. Britain then had to contend and defend well beyond the 13 colonies. Men and resources in America became a serious difficulty for the British.
9 Private Yankee Doodle; A Narrative of Some of the Adventure, Dangers and Sufferings of a Revolutionary Soldier – Joseph Plumb Martin, edited by George F. Scheer; The New York Times & Arno Press, 1962
00 Camp Robinson’s Farm was one of the largest camps of the Revolution with troops mostly from CT and MA. Benedict Arnold was headquartered at the Robinson House prior to his committing treason.
11 Private Perry began his duty by going on leave for two weeks in February, and then deserted April 1. Not a good bargain for the army. (Perry previously served a six month enlistment from August, 1779 until January 15, 1780, 7 days before David’s discharge.)
22 France officially entered the war in March, 1788, when they provoked Britain into declaring war by recognizing the United States. The decision for France to recognize the United States was greatly influenced by the American victory at Saratoga; thus the “turning point”.
33 Location was not noted on any of his muster cards, nor those of his captains, for his entire second enlistment. We also do not know where he enlisted or where he was discharged.
Israel Ellsworth (1755–after 1832): A Young Green Mountain Boy
When Israel Ellsworth was a young man growing up near what is now Pittsford in Rutland County, Vermont, the excitement surrounding the Green Mountain Boys was impossible to ignore. One of the children of Samuel and Aimee Holliaday Ellsworth, Israel came of age in the turbulent years when the settlers of the New Hampshire Grants were fighting to defend their hard-won homesteads against New York’s competing land claims. Stories of these bold young men—who patrolled the frontier, resisted outside authority, and protected their neighbors—must have stirred the imagination of fifteen-year-old Israel and helped set the course for his early life.
Drawn by both duty and the spirit of adventure, Israel joined the ranks of the Green Mountain Boys, the militia that would soon have an outsized impact on the opening chapter of the American Revolution. In May of 1775, the unit achieved its most famous victory with the surprise capture of Fort Ticonderoga, securing artillery that would later prove vital to the Continental Army. Family tradition holds that Israel was among the men present during this celebrated operation. Like many of the Boys, he later served in the rugged borderlands between Lake Champlain and Canada, where patrols, scouting missions, and foraging parties frequently brought small detachments into contact with British forces.
During one such mission, Israel and the men under his command were captured by a British officer. As was common for prisoners taken along the northern frontier, they were marched into Canada, where soldiers were often quartered in private homes or improvised facilities. Israel may have endured similar conditions before eventually being freed through a prisoner exchange. Once released, he returned to the cause without hesitation, rejoining comrades from his earlier service and taking part in the Battle of Hubbardton in 1777, the only major Revolutionary War battle fought on Vermont soil.
Israel Ellsworth’s wartime experiences place him among the early defenders of the region and link his life to the dramatic story of Vermont’s formation. His service with the Green Mountain Boys reflects the courage, hardship, and frontier resolve that helped shape not only the history of his community but also the legacy carried forward by his descendants
Israel Ellsworth is Jill Ellsworth Scott’s 4th Great Grandfather. He was born in 1 April 1755 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut and died after 15 Oct 1832 Fairfax Co., Virginia. He married Hopestill Stevens in Nine Partners, Dutchess Co., New York on 15 Nov 1778.
Discuss America at 250 and Building for the Future at the Next OrgConnects! Event
Dear NGS Organization Members, Administrators, and Delegates, Plan to join the National Genealogical Society (NGS) for OrgConnects! on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, at 8:00 p.m. (ET) as our community prepares for the America250 commemoration in 2026. Register for OrgConnects! via Zoom* and share the event information with people in your organization. Outreach and Partnerships for America at 250 and Beyond will feature a panel discussion with Marion Noble, Youth250 Bureau Member, Made By Us, and Sociology PhD Student, University of Southern California Madeleine Rosenberg, Director of Research and Strategic Initiatives, American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) Allison DePrey Singleton, Genealogy Services Manager, Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center We’ll have an engaging conversation and time for Q&A to help your organization plan for this once-in-a-generation moment and build interest in genealogy for years to come. Download Family History is America’s Story: An America250 Toolkit for Genealogy and Family History Organizations to learn more about Made By Us and AASLH and find resources and ideas for the United States Semiquincentennial. Every NGS member society, library, archive, museum, and institution is welcome to have leaders, members, staff, and volunteers sign up for this one-hour Zoom* event. Register for OrgConnects! on 17 September*PLEASE NOTE: NGS Zoom event registration requires an authenticated Zoom account. Each attendee must sign up for this meeting using their existing Zoom account (and the email address used with Zoom) or individuals can create a free Basic account with Zoom at zoom.us/pricing.
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