Married 10 May 1835 Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts to Martha Gibbs. To their union was born 7 children: Cyrus F, Martha, Betsy B, Malvina, Daniel, Thankful, and Joseph Westgate. Daniel was a farmer who enlisted in Company D, Massachusetts 32nd Infantry Regiment on 24 Dec 1861. Mustered out on 19 Dec 1862 in Georgetown, DC He died in Defense of the Union. The 32nd Infantry Regiment of Massachusetts was the outgrowth of the First Battalion, Massachusetts Infantry which was organized in November of 1861, to Garrison Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. Major Francis J. Parker, commander of the battalion, became the first colonel of the regiment. The members of the original battalion, Col's A, B, C, D, and E, were mustered in mostly in November and December, 1861, as was Daniel on December 24, 1861. The first six companies left for the seat of war May 26, 1862. They were encamped near Washington City until June 30, 1862 and were here given a regimental status. Taking boat for Fort Monroe on June 30, 1862, they arrived July 2, 1862. Proceeding at once to Harrison's Landing the regiment was assigned to Griffin's Brigade, Morell's Division, Porter's (5th) Corps, Army of the Potomac. During the six weeks of its stay here the regiment suffered much from malarial diseases. August 15, 1862 it started to join Pope's army near Culpepper, proceeding via Yorktown, Aquia Creek, and Stafford Court House to Barnett's Ford on the Rappahannock. Though within hearing of the second battle of Bull Run, August 29 and 30, 1862, it was not engaged. Retiring with the army to the outskirts of Washington, it was encamped at Miner's Hill where it received the remaining companies of the regiment. It participated in the Maryland campaign of September, 1862, but was not engaged either at South Mountain or Antietam. After the Confederate army had re-crossed into Virginia and Gen. Burnside had succeeded Gen. McClellan in command of the Army of the Potomac, the 32nd Regiment went into winter quarters at Stoneman's Switch near Potomac Creek. On Dec. 13, 1862, it participated in the assaults on Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg, losing 35 officers and men, of whom 6 were killed or mortally wounded, on of whom was Daniel Westgate. Daniel died from wounds he suffered in Georgetown, Montgomery, Washington, DC on December 19, 1862.