THE DAY FAMILY IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR by Carol Gillies Handke.

The Day Line. Robert Day, Mary Day, Capt. Day etal Page 2

Contributed by Anna Kent Winsemiusm, Grand Rapids, Mich

-My 7X great grandfather, 6 of his 8 sons, and a son-in-law, all served in the Revolutionary War. This is something our family is very proud of. Here is a copy of their Bible records:——————-

Children of Robert Day:

Mary, M.Capt. Eleazor Warren, and D.Jul.8, 1744

II. Sarah, Bap. Sept.23, 1722

III. David

IV. James (mentioned below)

V. Elizabeth, Bap. 1717, M. Ar.Whitmore

VI. Patience, B.Sept. 1717, M.John, son of Andrew Phillips

VII. Jonathan, B. 1719, D. Jul. 6, 1745

VIII. Robert, B.1719 (Sept 23, 1722)

IX. Susanah

X. Thomas, B. Feb 19, 1727

James (2) son of Robert (2) Day, was born about 1717, died in

Killingly, Conn. Dec. 25, 1782.

His tombstone has this inscription:

“I sought the Lord in early youth,

nor did I seek in vain;

He leads me in the path of truth

and great has been my gain”

He was a blacksmith by trade; married in 1740 to

Mary Parkhurst, of Plainfield, Conn. B. about 1721,

D. in Killingly Jul, 28, 1818, aged 97 years, Bur. Dayvill

Children:

1. Nathan, Bap. Jul 28, 1744 in Putnam Heights Church

Was a Corporal in Capt. Jas.Cady’s Co. the 3^rd, 11^th.Regt

Moved to Granville, N.Y. M. in Brooklyn, Conn. Sept.20

1770, Hannah Hewitt

2. Jonathan, bap.Mar.12, 1745, Corp. in Revolution

3. Elias, B.Sept.25, 1746 “ “ “

4. Mary, B. Mar21, 1753

5. Thomas, B.Jun 19^th, 1755 Private “ “

6. John, B. Mar. 12, 1757 “ “ “

7. James, B.Aug 23, 1758

8. Asa, B.Jul 23, 1760 “ “ “

9. David, B. Jul 20, 1762

James Day (1717-1782)was the father of this family, son of Robert Day and Elizabeth Dresser. He married Mary Ann Parkhurst in 1740. Their children were born between 1744 and 1762. When the Revolutionary War began, he was 59 years old. James was one of the Connecticut men who marched to Boston for the relief of the town in the Lexington Alarm. He was recruited from New Haven and served as Adjutant to Col. Samuel Parsons, Sixth Regiments. James was commissioned on May 30, 1775. He also served in the Battle of Long Island, New York in 1776. James remained stationed in the Hudson River area until his term of service expired on December 31, 1776.

Children of James and Mary Ann Parkhurst:

1. Nathan Day (1744-1821). He married Hannah Hewitt in 1770. They had 3 children before he served in the Revolutionary War. In 1776 he was a Corporal in Capt. Jas. Cady’s Co when they marched from Connecticut to West Chester, New York. There are no records of how long Nathan served, but he was home by 1777 when his 4^th child was born and in 1779 when their 5^th child was born. He re-enlisted in 1780 as Private in Capt. Stillwell’s company. He was on the muster roll for August 1780 as a “Waggoner.” Nathan was discharged in 1781 at 37 years old. Four more children were born after his discharge but two died young. In 1790 Nathan and his family moved to Granville, New York with the State Bounty Land Grants. He became Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church. Nathan’s wife Hannah died in 1796. Nathan died in 1821 at 77 years old.

2. Jonathan Day (1745-1825). He may have married Tamar May, but records are sketchy. There is no record of children. The family Bible and headstone shows that he was a Corporal in the Revolutionary War. Compiled war records state that he was a Private in Capt. David Cady’s company and also with Capt. Ephriam Warren’s company with the Connecticut militia. Jonathan was a pensioner in 1818. He died in 1825 at 80 years old.

3. Elias Day (1745-1838). Elias was a private in the 9^th and 18^th Connecticut Regiments, at one time under Capt. Abraham Mead. He signed up as early as August 13, 1776. After the war he married Percey “Esther” Blanchard in 1781. They had 7 children. They moved to Dayville, CT, the town named after his brother John Day, in about 1830. Elias’ wife Esther died in 1815. He died in 1838 at age 92.

4. Mary Day (1753-~1820. She married Nathaniel Maine and they had 5 children. Her husband was a Corporal in Capt. Dixon’s company.

5. Thomas Day (1755-1830). He was a private under Capt. Crosby. Records also show him with the Wadsworth Brigade and Johnson’s Regiment in 1778. After his military service he married Susannah Buck in 1783. They had 10 children. Thomas was one of the Deacons at Brandy Hill Baptist Church in Thompson, CT. He died in 1830 at 75 years old.

6. John Day (1756-1838). There are records that he was in Capt. Warren’s Company. After his time served, John married Annis Bowman on Jan. 25, 1781. John and Annis had eleven children. On Oct. 17, 1793, he was commissioned Captain of the local militia by Governor Samual Huntington. The village of Dayville, CT, near Killingly was named after John. He built the first house there, about 1830. He also built and operated a small mill. Capt. Day bought himself a large tract of land in East Brooklyn, where his brother Thomas was a Deacon. John took a prominent part in local affairs and was very successful in his business ventures. John died on March 10, 1838. Annis died 10 years later in 1848.

7. James Day Jr. (1758-1808). James Jr. was 18 years old when the Revolutionary War began. There are no records that show that he served. Perhaps his mother needed at least one son to stay home. It appears that his sister Mary was still living there. There are also no records that he married, although there are some incorrect records that he married Deborah Carter in Pennsylvania. He lived in Connecticut and it’s unlikely that he traveled that far to meet her. James died in 1808 at 50 years old.

8. Asa Day (1760 – dec). Asa signed up as a private in 1778 at 17 years old in Johnson’s Regiment of militia. Records are sketchy but he may have been a Capt-Lt in Capt. Elisha Elys’ company on Sept 1, 1780. On August 7, 1782 he was a Captain. Some family trees state that he died before 1783 in England, but there are no records to prove that.

9. David Day (1762-1831). David was 13 years old when the Revolutionary War started and did not serve in the military. He married 1) Lurana Warren in 1788. They had 2 children. Lurana died in 1793 at 24 years old when the youngest child was 6 months old. David married 2) Sarah Sharpe 5 years later in 1798. They had 5 children together. He died on Apr 27, 1831 in Dayville.

My soldiers are so far:

Hugh Truesdale, Pvt., Pennsylvania

David Hunnel, Pvt., New Jersey

Josiah Woodworth Sr., Pvt. Connecticut

Nathaniel Cox Sr., Pvt. Massachusetts (Maine)

Most notable was Nathaniel Cox:

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.

By Roger Newman

Revolutionary War Ancestor – Anthony Sizer

Anthony Sizer was the 5^th great grandfather of Stanley Dean Sizer (husband of Kathleen Weddle Sizer).  Anthony Sizer served in the 7^th 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 28^th 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 12^th 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 21^st Feb 1783, and another pass dated 15^th 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 5^th 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.

by: Kathleen Sizer from: sizer@bentonrea.com.