|
a.
|
Note: At the outbreak of the Revolution he was only 13. His father's tragic death is noted three years earlier. His grandfather, Joseph, a Lieut. under the King was living, and loyal to the colony. Northford was very strong in patriots. In fact I have been told there were only 3 Tories in the town.
Most of the relations of James who could were in the army. His uncles Josiah Linsley and Soloman Linsley also Titus Munson were all in the war, and also his two older sisters married men who served. So it is not surprising that when the British Gen. Tryon invaded Danbury, and swept on towards New Haven, we find our ancestor, though only a boy of 16 years. was in the fight 5 Jul 1779 at New Haven, CT. His name is on the soldiers monument at Northford in the Revolutionary List.
Also in "Record of Service of Conn. Men in the Revolution" Book dated Hartford 1889, page 545-549 which was copied from lists on file in the State Library, we learn that he was in Capt. Ephraim Cock's Company in Col. Russell's regiment. On page 660 it is stated that his wife Sarah was granted a pension when 76 years old. This would be about 1839 long after the war was over.
He returned to the farm, and married, and worked the farm successfully. I have heard my Aunt Hannah Linsley relate how her grandfather James raised apples and carted them to New Haven to be sent to England. And it would seem that the Northford farm was at its best in his years.
He married on 28 Sep 1786 at Northford, Sarah Maltby who was born in Northford on 11 May 1763, and died on 16 Mar 1848 age 85 years. She was the daughter of Capt. Deacon Benjamin Maltby, a Revolutionary soldier, and Elizabeth Fowler. She was born Oct. 1728, and died on 31 Dec 1820, age 93 years. He was born on 20 Jun 1717 and died on 9 Jul 1796, age 79 years. They married on 26 Oct 1752. Both Dea. Benj. and his wife are buried at Northford (T.S.). Deacon B. Maltby was killed by fall from load of hay. Benjamin was the son of Daniel born on 19 May 1679 and died on 25 Dec 1731, and Esther Moss born 5 Jan 1678 and they married 27 Oct 1702.
Daniel was the son of William Maltby, emigrant from England, who settled first in New Haven and later in Branford. He was born 1644-5 and died on 1 Sep 1710. He had three wives, was called Judge and served in many offices in the early colony. He came from an English family and probably brought his first wife with him. He was one of those who signed the reorganized Church covenent at Branford, but probably not in 1667, but after he moved there, (See Maltby Gen.) from New Haven.
Elizabeth Fowler the mother of Sarah Maltby was a Descendant of William Fowler, who settled in New Haven in 1638. He had the first mill in Milford and held many offices in the Colony. His son John also held many important posts in Colony and was Deacon in Guilford Church. John's son, Abraham Fowler, was called "Hon." His son Josiah was Elizabeth's father. Her mother was Hannah Baldwin granddaughter of Josiah Baldwin who settled in Milford in 1639 and descended from Richard Baldwin, who died in England in 1485.
The children of James Linsley and Sarah Maltby all had blue eyes, some had golden brown and others a warm chestnut brown hair, with most of them it was soft, silky and curly. None ever had gray hair. One son was over six feet, the rest were of medium height. No one could have been of "weight" as all were rather thin in flesh.
Sarah Maltby Linsley was most highly loved and respected by her children and grandchildren. Like most of the relatives on both sides she was a Congregationalist, but during her married life, after much thought became a Baptist, and thereafter most of the family likewise are Baptists. James also turned Baptist.
|
