DESCENDANT OF MAYFLOWER PASSENGER FRANCIS COOKE
GRANDFATHER OF CIVIL WAR MEDAL-OF-HONOR-WINNER AXEL HAYFORD REED
REVOLUTIONARY WAR VETERAN: PRIVATE, CAPT. WILLIAM REED'S COMPANY, 23RD CONTINENTAL REGIMENT UNDER COL. JOHN BAILEY; LT., CAPT. EZRA EATON'S COMPANY, COL. JEDUTHAN BALDWIN'S REGIMENT, MASSACHUSETTS LINE
HELPED TO MAKE THE FAMOUS CHAIN THAT BLOCKED THE HUDSON RIVER IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
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A BIOGRAPHY OF LT. ELISHA BISBEE, by Laurence Overmire (4th great grandson), genealogist and family historian, updated Dec. 2020:
Elisha Bisbee was born Mar. 4, 1757, in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, the eldest of nine children of Charles Bisbee and his wife Beulah Howland. Charles Bisbee was the great great grandson of Francis Cooke of the Mayflower.
Elisha distinguished himself as an ardent patriot in the Revolutionary War. Such was his Revolutionary zeal that, while a blacksmith's apprentice, he purposely burned the lock of a Tory's gun that had been left at the shop to be repaired.
Elisha went on to become a blacksmith in the Massachusetts Line and helped make the famous chain that blocked the British approach up the Hudson River. His promotion to lieutenant was signed by Gen. George Washington himself.
Elisha married Mary "Molly" Pettingell on Sept. 22, 1779 in Duxbury. She was the daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Gannett) Pettingell. They had ten children:
1) Susan (1780-1860, m. Nathaniel Bartlett
2) Sarah "Sally" Howland (1782-1866, m. Capt. Gad Hayford)
3) Anna (1784-1867, m. Stephen Drew)
4) Elisha Jr. (1786-1874, m. Joanna Sturtevant; Fanny Bryant)
5) Daniel (1788-1824, m. Sylvia Stephens)
6) Mary "Molly" (1794-1832, m. Nehemiah Bryant, Lemuel Dunham)
7) Hopestill (1796-1882, m. Martha Sturtevant)
8) Thursea (1798-1867, m. Barnabus Howard)
9) Horatio Sr. (1800-1881, m. Eunice S. White)
10) Huldah (1803-1842, m. Sampson Read III)
In 1784, Elisha and his family moved with his father to Sumner, Maine. He wrote a letter to his uncle William Ford of Pembroke, Mass., on Apr. 29, 1803, that gives an impression of what life was like in Sumner:
"Dear Uncle: I embrace this opportunity to inform you that we are all well as common. I have nothing new to write. It is a general time of health here. We have had a very moderate winter, and as forward spring as we have had since I lived here. Bread and meat are plenty and cheap, and labor bears a very high price and not to be had at any rate... I have not had a line from you this many a day, and have done looking for any, but I am in hopes my scribbling may stir you up so that I may know how you and our relations fare there in that old worn-out country, and pray don't miss any opportunity of writing to me, as I shall take it very hard if you do. We have had a very exceeding snow storm here. It began on Friday, the fifteenth of this instant, early in the morning and grew hotter and hotter until Sunday about noon, when it abated. The snow fell eighteen or twenty inches deep and there is some of it to be seen now. It was by far the smartest storm we have had for the winter past. Our two oldest girls have got married and each of them got a boy. They married men of property and are in a way to live if no misfortune overtakes them. Remember me to all that may inquire..."
In 1811, Elisha's wife Mary died. Some of the children were sent to live with others to ease the burden of raising them. On Sept. 15, 1812, Elisha married again, to Chloe Sylvester, the daughter of Elisha Sr. and Grace (Ruggles) Sylvester.
Elisha died on either Dec. 1 or Dec. 4, 1826, at the age of 69. Both Elisha and Mary are buried in Chaffin Cemetery (aka Sumnerfield or Bonney Road Cemetery) in Sumner.
GRANDFATHER OF CIVIL WAR MEDAL-OF-HONOR-WINNER AXEL HAYFORD REED
REVOLUTIONARY WAR VETERAN: PRIVATE, CAPT. WILLIAM REED'S COMPANY, 23RD CONTINENTAL REGIMENT UNDER COL. JOHN BAILEY; LT., CAPT. EZRA EATON'S COMPANY, COL. JEDUTHAN BALDWIN'S REGIMENT, MASSACHUSETTS LINE
HELPED TO MAKE THE FAMOUS CHAIN THAT BLOCKED THE HUDSON RIVER IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
------------
A BIOGRAPHY OF LT. ELISHA BISBEE, by Laurence Overmire (4th great grandson), genealogist and family historian, updated Dec. 2020:
Elisha Bisbee was born Mar. 4, 1757, in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, the eldest of nine children of Charles Bisbee and his wife Beulah Howland. Charles Bisbee was the great great grandson of Francis Cooke of the Mayflower.
Elisha distinguished himself as an ardent patriot in the Revolutionary War. Such was his Revolutionary zeal that, while a blacksmith's apprentice, he purposely burned the lock of a Tory's gun that had been left at the shop to be repaired.
Elisha went on to become a blacksmith in the Massachusetts Line and helped make the famous chain that blocked the British approach up the Hudson River. His promotion to lieutenant was signed by Gen. George Washington himself.
Elisha married Mary "Molly" Pettingell on Sept. 22, 1779 in Duxbury. She was the daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Gannett) Pettingell. They had ten children:
1) Susan (1780-1860, m. Nathaniel Bartlett
2) Sarah "Sally" Howland (1782-1866, m. Capt. Gad Hayford)
3) Anna (1784-1867, m. Stephen Drew)
4) Elisha Jr. (1786-1874, m. Joanna Sturtevant; Fanny Bryant)
5) Daniel (1788-1824, m. Sylvia Stephens)
6) Mary "Molly" (1794-1832, m. Nehemiah Bryant, Lemuel Dunham)
7) Hopestill (1796-1882, m. Martha Sturtevant)
8) Thursea (1798-1867, m. Barnabus Howard)
9) Horatio Sr. (1800-1881, m. Eunice S. White)
10) Huldah (1803-1842, m. Sampson Read III)
In 1784, Elisha and his family moved with his father to Sumner, Maine. He wrote a letter to his uncle William Ford of Pembroke, Mass., on Apr. 29, 1803, that gives an impression of what life was like in Sumner:
"Dear Uncle: I embrace this opportunity to inform you that we are all well as common. I have nothing new to write. It is a general time of health here. We have had a very moderate winter, and as forward spring as we have had since I lived here. Bread and meat are plenty and cheap, and labor bears a very high price and not to be had at any rate... I have not had a line from you this many a day, and have done looking for any, but I am in hopes my scribbling may stir you up so that I may know how you and our relations fare there in that old worn-out country, and pray don't miss any opportunity of writing to me, as I shall take it very hard if you do. We have had a very exceeding snow storm here. It began on Friday, the fifteenth of this instant, early in the morning and grew hotter and hotter until Sunday about noon, when it abated. The snow fell eighteen or twenty inches deep and there is some of it to be seen now. It was by far the smartest storm we have had for the winter past. Our two oldest girls have got married and each of them got a boy. They married men of property and are in a way to live if no misfortune overtakes them. Remember me to all that may inquire..."
In 1811, Elisha's wife Mary died. Some of the children were sent to live with others to ease the burden of raising them. On Sept. 15, 1812, Elisha married again, to Chloe Sylvester, the daughter of Elisha Sr. and Grace (Ruggles) Sylvester.
Elisha died on either Dec. 1 or Dec. 4, 1826, at the age of 69. Both Elisha and Mary are buried in Chaffin Cemetery (aka Sumnerfield or Bonney Road Cemetery) in Sumner.
DESCENDANT OF MAYFLOWER PASSENGER FRANCIS COOKE
GRANDFATHER OF CIVIL WAR MEDAL-OF-HONOR-WINNER AXEL HAYFORD REED
REVOLUTIONARY WAR VETERAN: PRIVATE, CAPT. WILLIAM REED'S COMPANY, 23RD CONTINENTAL REGIMENT UNDER COL. JOHN BAILEY; LT., CAPT. EZRA EATON'S COMPANY, COL. JEDUTHAN BALDWIN'S REGIMENT, MASSACHUSETTS LINE
HELPED TO MAKE THE FAMOUS CHAIN THAT BLOCKED THE HUDSON RIVER IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
------------
A BIOGRAPHY OF LT. ELISHA BISBEE, by Laurence Overmire (4th great grandson), genealogist and family historian, updated Dec. 2020:
Elisha Bisbee was born Mar. 4, 1757, in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, the eldest of nine children of Charles Bisbee and his wife Beulah Howland. Charles Bisbee was the great great grandson of Francis Cooke of the Mayflower.
Elisha distinguished himself as an ardent patriot in the Revolutionary War. Such was his Revolutionary zeal that, while a blacksmith's apprentice, he purposely burned the lock of a Tory's gun that had been left at the shop to be repaired.
Elisha went on to become a blacksmith in the Massachusetts Line and helped make the famous chain that blocked the British approach up the Hudson River. His promotion to lieutenant was signed by Gen. George Washington himself.
Elisha married Mary "Molly" Pettingell on Sept. 22, 1779 in Duxbury. She was the daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Gannett) Pettingell. They had ten children:
1) Susan (1780-1860, m. Nathaniel Bartlett
2) Sarah "Sally" Howland (1782-1866, m. Capt. Gad Hayford)
3) Anna (1784-1867, m. Stephen Drew)
4) Elisha Jr. (1786-1874, m. Joanna Sturtevant; Fanny Bryant)
5) Daniel (1788-1824, m. Sylvia Stephens)
6) Mary "Molly" (1794-1832, m. Nehemiah Bryant, Lemuel Dunham)
7) Hopestill (1796-1882, m. Martha Sturtevant)
8) Thursea (1798-1867, m. Barnabus Howard)
9) Horatio Sr. (1800-1881, m. Eunice S. White)
10) Huldah (1803-1842, m. Sampson Read III)
In 1784, Elisha and his family moved with his father to Sumner, Maine. He wrote a letter to his uncle William Ford of Pembroke, Mass., on Apr. 29, 1803, that gives an impression of what life was like in Sumner:
"Dear Uncle: I embrace this opportunity to inform you that we are all well as common. I have nothing new to write. It is a general time of health here. We have had a very moderate winter, and as forward spring as we have had since I lived here. Bread and meat are plenty and cheap, and labor bears a very high price and not to be had at any rate... I have not had a line from you this many a day, and have done looking for any, but I am in hopes my scribbling may stir you up so that I may know how you and our relations fare there in that old worn-out country, and pray don't miss any opportunity of writing to me, as I shall take it very hard if you do. We have had a very exceeding snow storm here. It began on Friday, the fifteenth of this instant, early in the morning and grew hotter and hotter until Sunday about noon, when it abated. The snow fell eighteen or twenty inches deep and there is some of it to be seen now. It was by far the smartest storm we have had for the winter past. Our two oldest girls have got married and each of them got a boy. They married men of property and are in a way to live if no misfortune overtakes them. Remember me to all that may inquire..."
In 1811, Elisha's wife Mary died. Some of the children were sent to live with others to ease the burden of raising them. On Sept. 15, 1812, Elisha married again, to Chloe Sylvester, the daughter of Elisha Sr. and Grace (Ruggles) Sylvester.
Elisha died on either Dec. 1 or Dec. 4, 1826, at the age of 69. Both Elisha and Mary are buried in Chaffin Cemetery (aka Sumnerfield or Bonney Road Cemetery) in Sumner.
GRANDFATHER OF CIVIL WAR MEDAL-OF-HONOR-WINNER AXEL HAYFORD REED
REVOLUTIONARY WAR VETERAN: PRIVATE, CAPT. WILLIAM REED'S COMPANY, 23RD CONTINENTAL REGIMENT UNDER COL. JOHN BAILEY; LT., CAPT. EZRA EATON'S COMPANY, COL. JEDUTHAN BALDWIN'S REGIMENT, MASSACHUSETTS LINE
HELPED TO MAKE THE FAMOUS CHAIN THAT BLOCKED THE HUDSON RIVER IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
------------
A BIOGRAPHY OF LT. ELISHA BISBEE, by Laurence Overmire (4th great grandson), genealogist and family historian, updated Dec. 2020:
Elisha Bisbee was born Mar. 4, 1757, in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, the eldest of nine children of Charles Bisbee and his wife Beulah Howland. Charles Bisbee was the great great grandson of Francis Cooke of the Mayflower.
Elisha distinguished himself as an ardent patriot in the Revolutionary War. Such was his Revolutionary zeal that, while a blacksmith's apprentice, he purposely burned the lock of a Tory's gun that had been left at the shop to be repaired.
Elisha went on to become a blacksmith in the Massachusetts Line and helped make the famous chain that blocked the British approach up the Hudson River. His promotion to lieutenant was signed by Gen. George Washington himself.
Elisha married Mary "Molly" Pettingell on Sept. 22, 1779 in Duxbury. She was the daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Gannett) Pettingell. They had ten children:
1) Susan (1780-1860, m. Nathaniel Bartlett
2) Sarah "Sally" Howland (1782-1866, m. Capt. Gad Hayford)
3) Anna (1784-1867, m. Stephen Drew)
4) Elisha Jr. (1786-1874, m. Joanna Sturtevant; Fanny Bryant)
5) Daniel (1788-1824, m. Sylvia Stephens)
6) Mary "Molly" (1794-1832, m. Nehemiah Bryant, Lemuel Dunham)
7) Hopestill (1796-1882, m. Martha Sturtevant)
8) Thursea (1798-1867, m. Barnabus Howard)
9) Horatio Sr. (1800-1881, m. Eunice S. White)
10) Huldah (1803-1842, m. Sampson Read III)
In 1784, Elisha and his family moved with his father to Sumner, Maine. He wrote a letter to his uncle William Ford of Pembroke, Mass., on Apr. 29, 1803, that gives an impression of what life was like in Sumner:
"Dear Uncle: I embrace this opportunity to inform you that we are all well as common. I have nothing new to write. It is a general time of health here. We have had a very moderate winter, and as forward spring as we have had since I lived here. Bread and meat are plenty and cheap, and labor bears a very high price and not to be had at any rate... I have not had a line from you this many a day, and have done looking for any, but I am in hopes my scribbling may stir you up so that I may know how you and our relations fare there in that old worn-out country, and pray don't miss any opportunity of writing to me, as I shall take it very hard if you do. We have had a very exceeding snow storm here. It began on Friday, the fifteenth of this instant, early in the morning and grew hotter and hotter until Sunday about noon, when it abated. The snow fell eighteen or twenty inches deep and there is some of it to be seen now. It was by far the smartest storm we have had for the winter past. Our two oldest girls have got married and each of them got a boy. They married men of property and are in a way to live if no misfortune overtakes them. Remember me to all that may inquire..."
In 1811, Elisha's wife Mary died. Some of the children were sent to live with others to ease the burden of raising them. On Sept. 15, 1812, Elisha married again, to Chloe Sylvester, the daughter of Elisha Sr. and Grace (Ruggles) Sylvester.
Elisha died on either Dec. 1 or Dec. 4, 1826, at the age of 69. Both Elisha and Mary are buried in Chaffin Cemetery (aka Sumnerfield or Bonney Road Cemetery) in Sumner.
Inscription
"In memory of Lieut. Elisha Bisbee, age 70. An officer in the American Revolution."
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