News:
Now in the library; "Genealogy of the Cooke and Cook family". New under the Moments in Time section: my "I Love Me Wall". (purely self-indulgent, I know.)
honoring our relatives that have served this country. This list is "in progress" and by no means comlete. If you feel we've overlooked someone please contact us using the "Suggest" tab on the top of their page.
Was one of the "Minute Men" who responded to the call in April, 1775, under Capt. Daniel Burns and Col. Henshaw, Massachusetts Militia. Enlisted April, 1775, to Feb., 1776, serving as private in the Company of Capt. Barns and Col. Artemas Ward. Enlisted Oct. 2, 1777, as private under Capt. Morse and Col. Read. Residence at time of enlistment, Marlborough, MA. Was at the battles of Bunker Hill and Saratoga. Applied for pension, April 30, 1818, at which time he was a resident of Chautauqua County. He moved from Oneida County, N. Y., in 1810, and settled in the town of Sheridan, Chautauqua County, and in 1813 moved to Mayville.
He marched on the Lexington Alarm in Captain William Brigham's Co. He was 2nd Lieutenant in Captain Paul Brigham's Company. He was commissioned 5 Sep 1776.
He had serious thoughts of enlisting early in the conflict, but delayed doing so until the call came for the 300,000 nine months men. He then went into the 52d regiment, Co. G, being mustered in, Oct. 11, 1862. He went to Louisiana surviving some of the hard marches, and picket duty, but died, a victim of illness.
At the age of 41 years old, he was Cornet of the Shrewsbury Troop of Horse, commanded by Captain Benjamin Eager, attached to the 3d regiment of Militia of the counties of Middlesex and Worcester. He served as delegate from Northborough in the Provincial Congress during its 3 sessions. He was commissioned Lieut. Colonel in the 6th Worcester County regiment under Col. John Goulding and Major Job Cushing of Shrewsbury (later promoted to Colonel). In 1778 Col. Brigham received £27 from the town of Northborough for his services in the war since 19 Apr 1775.
Mary was distinguished for heroism in the Indian War. When her father died he left her $375 in his will.
18 Aug 1707 Mary, two of her children, and Miss Mary Goodnow, daughter of Samuel Goodnow were gathering herbs in a meadow when they saw twenty or more Indian warriors stealthily approaching. They immediately ran for the fortified home of Samuel Goodnow. Mary who was six months pregnant, and her children succeeded in reaching it and closing the gate before their pursuers could overtake them. There was one man in the garrison at the time. The rest of the men were at work in the field. The savages attempted to break through the enclosure. They were however repelled by the heroic defenders inside. Mrs. Fay (Nee Brigham) loaded the muskets handing them to her male companion who was able to maintain constant fire upon the enemy. Hearing the gun fire the men in the field returned and the enemy retreated. The name of the male companion was not recorded.
Mary Goodnow being lame from birth could not escape her pursuers. She was overtaken, seized and dragged into the woods.
The same day the Indians surprised and took two men who were laboring in the field. Jonathan Wilder, a native of Lancaster and a Mr. Howe of Marlborough. Mr. Howe was able to escape but, Jonathan was killed.
The next day Capt. Thomas Howe, of Marlborough and about twenty men pursued the Indians. They were joined by another twenty or so men from Lancaster. They overtook the enemy who now numbered thirty-six., a battle ensued in which two white men (John Farren and Richard Singeltary) and ten to twelve Indians died. The packs of the Indians fell into the hands of the whites. In one of them was the scalp of Miss Goodnow.
A few days latter her mangled body was found and buried.
From History of the Brigham Family Vol 1: "He was a Lieut, in the first French War and a distinguished officer. In the service he became warmly attached to Capt. Thomas Gage, afterwards Gen. Gage. To avenge the massacre at Fort William Henry, he and a party volunteered, under the command of Capt. Rogers, to penetrate into Canada, attack and burn the town of St. Francis, and retreat. Having accomplished the task, they were pursued and overtaken by the Indians, who killed and scalped 30 of their number. The remainder fled into the wilderness, and for the most part perished. Of the few who lived to return was Lieut. Brigham, whose deeds of valor were eulogized in ballads. He settled in Southborough, one-half a mile east of the meeting-house. Among other town offices he was chosen one of a committee to 'seat the meeting' in 1778; and one to revise the constitution reported to the towns, in 1786, for their consideration."
He was a physician and surgeon in the Revolution. He was the leading physician in Schoharie, New York.. He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati. He was Surgeon's mate with Warner in Bailey's 2nd Regiment in 1781.
He was Captain in the war of 1812 and helped to raise troops for the Civil War. He was a prosperous farmer, yet found time to devote to church and town affairs. For 40 years he was superintendent of the first Sunday-school started in Westborough. He was selectman 1827-'28, 1830-'33, 1836-'43; overseer of the poor and moderator of town meetings for many years. He was Representative from Westborough in 1839 and 1840.
2nd Vermont Governor. He was a Captain in the Revolutionary War in a Connecticut regiment commanded, first, by Colonel Chandler and afterward by Colonel Isaac Sherman. He entered the Army 1 Jan 1777 and was discharged 22 Apr 1781. A portion of the time he served under the immediate command of General George Washington, and was engaged in the important battles of Germantown, Monmouth, and Fort Mifflin. He wintered in Valley Forge 1777-1778. He was enlisted by General McDougal from Coventry, Connecticut and his regiment seems to have been largely composed of men from that section of the State.
After the war he moved to Norwich, Vermont, where he became a local and state leader, serving in numerous offices including Member of the Vermont House of Representatives, Delegate to Vermont's constitutional conventions, High Sheriff of Windsor County, presidential elector, and Major General of the Vermont Militia. Brigham was Windsor County Assistant Judge from 1783 to 1786 and 1790 to 1795, Probate Judge in 1800, and Presiding Judge in 1801. He served on the Governor's Council from 1792 to 1796, and was Lieutenant Governor from 1796 to 1813, and acted as Governor in 1797 after the resignation and death of Governor Thomas Chittenden. After losing the lieutenant governorship in 1814, Brigham returned to the office in 1815 and served until 1820. The journal of his Army experiences was published as "A Revolutionary Diary of Captain Paul Brigham, November 19, 1777-September 4, 1778."
He was a soldier of the Revolution. He was a private under Captain Edmund Brigham's Company of Minute Men, and marched on the Lexington Alarm. He enlisted in the army, and in 1777 marched with Captain Brigham to reinforce the Northern Army, but went only as far as Hadley and returned. He saw further service in 1778 in Colonel John Jacob's Massachusetts Regiment.
He enlisted in the United States Navy 1 September 1864 and was hororably discharged 3 July 1865. He served aboard the USS Grampus (1863) a wheel side steamer that operated out of Cincinnati, the USS Great Western, another side wheel steamer out of Cincinnati and, The USS Louisville (1861) an iron clad gun boat.
Served in the 388th Bomb Group, 563rd Bomb Squadron out of Knettishall, Suffolk, England. He was the navigator aboard a B-17 bomber nicknamed "Cock O' The Walk". Killed in action over mission to Frankfurt, Germany.
During Queen Anne's War, Samuel Brigham was one of the committee to assign the inhabitants of Marlborough to the twenty-six log forts erected. Among these, Samuel Brigham's Garrison, Thomas Brigham's Garrison, and Nathan Brigham's Garrison. In this war Samuel Brigham was the lieutenant under Capt. Thomas Howe. He received a bounty for destroying an Indian. While he was called Captain during the years of the Revolutionary war there is no Revolutionary War marker at his grave
According to "The History of the Brigham Family" says he was probably was a private in Captain Job Cushing's Company of Minute-men which marched on the Lexington Alarm.
