David Gifford was born November 15, 1745 at Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts to Joseph and Mary Brayton Gifford. He moved from Massachusetts, some time before 1764, to Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island. It was in Portsmouth that he married Sarah Perry in 1764 and they had a daughter Sarah. Mother Sarah died soon after, January 28, 1766, leaving David a widower with a child. He married Abigail Durfee May 25, 1766, at Portsmouth and their children were: Gideon, Elizabeth (#116817366), Jeremiah (#22037830), Ephraim (#116908942), Joseph, Mary (#22113421) and Abigail Durfee (#22037850). David was well thought of by the people of Portsmouth and was chosen by the General Assembly of Rhode Island for various military duties - including appointed a Lieutenant in the First Militia Company of Portsmouth in 1775 and a Captain in 1776. In December 1776 he was given permission to fly a flag of truce to get an exchange of soldiers that belonged to his company that had been captured and were held as prisoners of war by the British. In August 1777 he was appointed a Lieutenant in Major Monroe's company, he was a recruiting officer in 1780 and member of the General Assembly in 1777 and 1780. At the age of forty-four, he died November 17, 1790 at Portsmouth and was buried in the St. Paul's Cemetery there.
Bio by John E. Sherman #47749330
David Gifford was born November 15, 1745 at Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts to Joseph and Mary Brayton Gifford. He moved from Massachusetts, some time before 1764, to Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island. It was in Portsmouth that he married Sarah Perry in 1764 and they had a daughter Sarah. Mother Sarah died soon after, January 28, 1766, leaving David a widower with a child. He married Abigail Durfee May 25, 1766, at Portsmouth and their children were: Gideon, Elizabeth (#116817366), Jeremiah (#22037830), Ephraim (#116908942), Joseph, Mary (#22113421) and Abigail Durfee (#22037850). David was well thought of by the people of Portsmouth and was chosen by the General Assembly of Rhode Island for various military duties - including appointed a Lieutenant in the First Militia Company of Portsmouth in 1775 and a Captain in 1776. In December 1776 he was given permission to fly a flag of truce to get an exchange of soldiers that belonged to his company that had been captured and were held as prisoners of war by the British. In August 1777 he was appointed a Lieutenant in Major Monroe's company, he was a recruiting officer in 1780 and member of the General Assembly in 1777 and 1780. At the age of forty-four, he died November 17, 1790 at Portsmouth and was buried in the St. Paul's Cemetery there.
Bio by John E. Sherman #47749330
Inscription
In Memory of David Gifford
who died May 17, 1790
Gravesite Details
St. Paul's Church was not established until the mid-1800s
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