Muster Rolls of the Eighteenth Continental Regiment

Complete Muster Rolls of the Companies

Return to the Regimental History.

THE ROSTER. OF COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S EIGHTEENTH CONTINENTAL REGIMENT -- 1776.

FIRST COMPANY.

SECOND COMPANY.

THIRD COMPANY.

FOURTH COMPANY.

FIFTH COMPANY.

SIXTH COMPANY.

SEVENTH COMPANY.

EIGHTH COMPANY.

SUMMARY.

Field and Staff Officers, 11 men.
First Company, 87 "
Second " 68 "
Third " 69 "
Fourth " 72 "
Fifth " 82 "
Sixth " 82 "
Seventh " 83 "
Eighth " 70 "
Total, 624 "

This regiment was composed mostly of men from the Province of Maine, the others were from towns in what is now Massachusetts. Col. Phinney and his men, by circumstances, had no opportunity to distinguish themselves in an important battle, but from the records that have been preserved, they performed their duty with a fidelity that was honorable to themselves and the Commonwealth. They acted well their part in the struggle for an independent government, and their posterity will always regard with satisfaction that their ancestors were men who had the courage of their convictions and will be proud that their forefathers assisted in making a chapter in the history of the Revolution.

The history of Col. Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot, gives biographical sketches of the commissioned officers, and those there given are omitted here. Those that are given in this history held no commissions in that regiment in 1775, or what is given is additional to that already published.

THE EIGHTEENTH CONTINENTAL OR FOOT REGIMENT IN THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED COLONIES, JAN. 1, 1776.

FIELD OFFICERS.

STAFF OFFICERS.

The above is taken from the original December return in the Massachusetts Archives, Vol. XLVI, page 9.

Of Col. Edmund Phinney a biographical sketch appears in the history of the 31st Regiment of Foot, but it must have been his great-grandfather, who is said to have been a soldier in the Swamp Fight in 1675. His first wife was Elizabeth Meserve, born at Scarborough, September 2, 1730, a daughter of Clement Meserve, the third generation of the name, who married Sarah Decker, October 12, 1726. Clement Meserve was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, about 1703, and lived in the towns of Newington, New Hampshire, Scarborough, Gorham, Standish and Bristol. Col. Phinney's children were Decker, Sarah, Joseph, Betty, Edmund Jr., Stephen, James and Nathaniel.

Surgeon Samuel Adams was born in Killingly, Connecticut, in 1745; studied with Dr. Nathaniel Freeman of Sandwich, Massachusetts, and is said to have practised at Truro, Massachusetts, from which place he entered the army. He is said to have had four wives and nine children. He was surgeon of this regiment January 1 to December 31, 1776, Surgeon of the Third Continental Artillery May 14, 1778, hospital physician and surgeon October 6, 1780, and served until the close of the war. He died at Bath, Maine, March 6, 1819, aged seventy-four years.

Surgeon's Mate John Sprague was from Malden, Massachusetts, where he was born January 13, 1754, and was the son of Phineas and Hannah Sprague. May 1, 1775, he was surgeon's mate to Dr. Walter Hastings, surgeon of Col. Ebenezer Bridge's regiment, and served in Col. Phinney's 18th Continental regiment from January 1 until December 31, 1776. In 1717, he was surgeon of the armed schooner Active, Capt. Andrew Gardner. This vessel was in the unfortunate fleet of Com. Manley, and, with others, he was carried to Halifax, Nova Scotia, as a prisoner. On being exchanged, John Sprague reentered the service, but was again unfortunate, and suffered capture. He was carried to Kinsale, then a naval depot in Ireland. He remained there until the winter of 1781-82. On return, he was again commissioned, this time as surgeon of the Massachusetts sloop Winthrop, Capt. George Little, and was in that position from May 4, 1782, until March 17, 1783. Edward Preble was first lieutenant of the Winthrop.

John Sprague returned to Malden and passed the remainder of his life as a physician there. He died of consumption, October 21, 1803, aged forty-nine years.

Adjutant George Smith was from Cape Elizabeth, and he married Deborah Bayley, daughter of Daniel Bayley of the same town, before the war. He was a tailor by trade, and entered the service May 7, 1775, in Col. Phinney's regiment, served through 1776 in this regiment, was appointed captain in Col. Joseph Vose's 1st Massachusetts regiment, January 1, 1777, and resigned May 3, 1779. He was at the siege of Boston, marched to Fort Ticonderoga, served in the campaign of 1777, and spent the winter at Valley Forge.

Chaplain Jacob Foster was ordained at Berwick, Maine, in 1757, where he preached twenty-one years. He was chaplain of this regiment from January 1 to February 28, 1776, when he resigned.

Chaplain John Carnes was appointed March 1, 1776, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Rev. Jacob Foster.

Quartermaster Sergeant Ebenezer Storer was born in Wells, Maine, July 9, 1758. He was the son of John Jr., and Mary (Langdon) Storer. His mother was the eldest daughter of John Langdon Esq., of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and she married for her second husband Jeremiah Hill, Esq., of Saco, the father of Capt. Jeremiah Hill of this regiment. Ebenezer Storer married first, November 10, 1755, Eunice Titcomb, daughter of Dea. Benjamin Titcomb of Falmouth, and she died November 13, 1798, aged thirty-nine years. He married again, June 16, 1800, Catherine Stevenson, a daughter of Capt. John and Tabitha (Longfellow) Stevenson of Gorham. By both wives he had a large family. He was a prominent merchant at Portland, Maine, for over twenty years, removed to New York, returned to Gorham, Maine, where he died January 20, 1846, aged eighty-seven years. It was said of him that he "was a respected citizen and a gentleman of military tastes and polished manner."

Sergeant Storer served as a private in Capt. Samuel Sawyer's Company, in Col. James Scamman's regiment at Cambridge, in 1775, enlisted January 1, 1776, as sergeant in Capt. Jeremiah Hill's Company, in Col. Phinney's 18th Continental regiment, appointed en-sign in Col. Samuel Brewer's regiment November 13, 1776, and made lieutenant in same regiment, under Col. Sprout, July 5, 1779, transferred to the 2d Massachusetts regiment January 1, 1781, and served until November 3, 1783; almost eight and one-half years' service. He witnessed the battle of Bunker Hill, was at the siege of Boston, marched to Fort Ticonderoga in 1776, served in the Saratoga campaign, was at Valley Forge, and no doubt participated in several battles. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. He also served as the paymaster and clothier of his regiment, and signed the oath of allegiance at Valley Forge.

FIRST COMPANY.

Second Lieutenant Josiah Jenkins was from Gorham, and his wife was Prudence Davis. He married in 1776. They had seven children. He was a sergeant in Capt. Wentworth Stuart's Company in Col. Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot at Cambridge in 1775, second lieutenant in this regiment February 1, first lieutenant April 18 to December 31, 1776, and was captain in the 12th Massachusetts regiment January 1, 1777. He was discharged April 1, 1779, and died in 1831, aged eighty-one years.

Ensign Archelaus Lewis lived at Cumberland Mills. He was born at Berwick, Maine, February 15, 1753; married (1) March 14, 1779, Rebecca Hubbart, who died December 17, 1788; (2) September 18, 1791, Elizabeth Browne, daughter of Rev. Thomas Browne, who died September 15, 1804; (3) October 10, 1807, Frances Angier, who died November 15, 1815. He died at Westbrook, January 2, 1834, aged eighty years.

Ensign Lewis was a minute-man in Capt. John Brackett's Company, April 21, 1775; sergeant under same captain in Col. Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot in 1775; was ensign in this regiment from February 1 to April 18, 1776; second lieutenant to December 31, 1776, and lieutenant and adjutant in Col. Joseph Vose's 1st Massachusetts regiment, January 1, 1777, to February 20, 1779.

Ensign Joseph Stuart of Scarborough was a fifer in Capt. Wentworth Stuart's Company in Col. Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot at Cambridge in 1775, sergeant in this regiment January 1 to April 18, l776, promoted to ensign, and deserted November 6, 1776.

A Muster Roll of the late Capt. Wentworth Stuart's, now Capt. Jonathan Sawyer's Company, in Col. Edmund Phinney's Battalion of Massachusetts Bay Forces. Garrison at Fort George, Dec. 8, A. D. 1776.

SECOND COMPANY.

Capt. Tobias Fernald was born at Kittery, Maine, February 1, 1744, married in 1780 Dorcas McIntire of York, Maine, and had two daughters, Harriet and Juliet. He lived on land now occupied by the Navy Yard at Kittery. He had the small-pox in Boston in April, 1776, and died August 15, 1784, aged forty years.

Capt. Fernald was first a captain in Col. Scamman's regiment at Cambridge, from May to December, 1775, in this regiment January 1, to November 6, 1776, and October 22, was ordered to do the duty of major during the absence of Maj. Brown. He was major in Col. Brewer's 12th Massachusetts regiment, November 6, 1776, promoted to lieutenant- colonel in Col. Michael Jackson's 8th Massachusetts regiment, March 6, 1779, transferred to Col. Marshall's 10th Massachusetts regiment January 1, 1781, and retired January 1, 1783.

First Lieutenant James Donnell of York, Maine, was a first lieutenant in Col. Scamman's regiment at Cambridge from May until December, 1775, in this regiment January 1, to November 13, 1776, promoted to captain and served until December 31. He was commissioned captain in the 12th Massachusetts regiment January 1, 1777, and resigned July 5, 1779.

Second Lieutenant Timothy Remick was born in Kittery, married in 1775 Mercy Staples of Kittery. He came home from the army sick and died in February, 1785, aged twenty- eight years.

Lieutenant Remick was a corporal in Scamman's regiment at Cambridge in 1775, sergeant in this company January 1, to November 13, 1776, when he was promoted to second lieutenant and served until December 31. He was first lieutenant in the 12th Massachusetts regiment January 1, 1777, captain October 14, 1780, transferred to 1st Massachusetts regiment January 1, l781, adjutant July 1, 1781, major and brigade inspector July 8, to December, 1781, and served in the 1st Massachusetts regiment until June, 1783. He signed the oath of allegiance at Valley Forge.

A Muster roll of Capt. Tobias Fernald's Company in Col. Edmund Phinney's regiment. Garrison at Fort George Dec. 8th, 1776.

THIRD COMPANY.

Second Lieutenant Austin Alden was born at Marshfield, Massachusetts, March 25, 1729, and was a descendant of John Alden, the Pilgrim. He married in 1756 Salome Lombard, daughter of Rev. Solomon Lombard of Gorham. She was born at Truro, Massachusetts, June 10, 1734, and died May 18, 1780, aged forty-three years. He settled at Gorham in 1755, and died there March 23, 1804, aged seventy-five years. He was a sergeant in Capt. Joseph Woodman's Company May 2, to November 14, 1757, served in Capt. Wentworth Stuart's Company, in Col. Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot at Cambridge in 1775, enlisted in this regiment January 1, 1776, was promoted to first lieutenant and November 13, 1776, he reenlisted probably for three years in Col. Brewer's 13th Massachusetts regiment. He was a deacon in the Congregational church, selectman, town clerk, and "ever sustained an unblemished character."

Ensign James Perkins of Gorham served in Capt. Hart Williams' Company, in Col. Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot at Cambridge in 1775, was sergeant under same captain January 1, 1776, promoted to ensign and transferred to Capt. Bartholomew York's Company in this regiment, enlisted as second lieutenant in the 15th Massachusetts Regiment January 1, 1777, and resigned February 24, 1778. He died March 4, 1830.

Ensign Ebenezer Hogg of Hamstead, served as a sergeant in Capt. McFarland's Company, in Col. Nixon's regiment eight months, in 1775, joined this regiment January 1, 1776, promoted to ensign May 18, and was cashiered July 31, 1776.

A Muster Roll of Captains John Rice and Bartholomew York in Col. Edmund Phinney's regiment. Garrison at Fort George, Dec. 8th, 1776.

FOURTH COMPANY.

Captain Jeremiah Hill of Saco, was born April 30, 1747. and was the son of Jeremiah and Mary (Smith) Hill. He married, September 6, 1772, Mrs. Sarah Emery, she a daughter of Capt. Daniel and Rebecca (Emery) Smith of Biddeford. He was a captain in Scamman's York County regiment at Cambridge in 1775, became captain in this regiment January 1, 1776, and January 1, 1777, was commissioned captain in Col. Joseph Vose's 1st Massachusetts regiment, and resigned November 4, 1777. He joined the 1st Massachusetts regiment at West Point, and took part in the Saratoga campaign. He was commissary of prisoners in Rhode Island, in 1778, and was adjutant-general of the Bagaduce Expedition in 1779. Capt. Hill was a representative to the General Court, a justice of peace, and was the first collector of Saco, 1789 to 1809. He had the small-pox at Boston in April, 1776, and died June 11, 1820, aged seventy-three years.

First Lieutenant William Baston was from Wells, Maine. He enlisted May 3, 1775, in Capt. Josiah Bragdon's company, in Col. Scamman's regiment, and was commissioned first lieutenant in this regiment January 1, 1776, and served until December 31, 1776.

Second Lieutenant Samuel Stubbs was from North Yarmouth, Maine. He was a sergeant in Capt. John Worthley's company, in Col. Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot in 1775, and served as such in this regiment from January 1, until August 1, when he was appointed as second lieutenant and served until December 31, 1776. He reenlisted in the army November 13, 1776, his service to commence January 1, 1777, probably for three years. He died March 3, 1823.

Ensign Simeon Goodwin of Pepperrellborough (Saco), was a sergeant in Capt. Hill's company, in Col. Scamman's regiment; enlisted May 3, 1775, and served eight months at Cambridge; he enlisted as sergeant in this regiment January 1, 1776, promoted to ensign August 1, and served until December 31, 1776. He was quartermaster-sergeant in Capt. Romery's company, in Col. Storer's regiment August 30 to November 30, 1777.

A Muster Roll of Capt. Jeremiah Hill's Company in Col. Edmund Phinney's Regiment in Garrison at Fort George, December 8th, 1776.

FIFTH COMPANY.

Ensign John Perkins served as sergeant under Capt. Hart Williams in Col. Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot at Cambridge in 1775, enlisted in this regiment January 1, 1776, as ensign, and died at Brookline hospital, April 18, 1776, of small pox. He went from Gorham. He married Lois Hadaway in 1769.

Lieutenant David Watts went from Gorham and served as sergeant in Capt. Williams' company, in Col, Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot at Cambridge in 1775, enlisted as ensign in this regiment January 1, 1776, promoted to second lieutenant April 17, promoted to first lieutenant in Col. Brewer's 12th Massachusetts regiment January 1, 1777, and resigned July 1, 1779. He married, December 9, 1779, Sarah Davis, and had children, Samuel, David and Betsey.

A Muster roll of Capt. Hart Williams Company in Col. Edmund Phinney's Regiment in Garrison at Fort George, December 8th, 1776.

SIXTH COMPANY.

Captain Nathan Watkins was the son of Daniel and Thankful Watkins of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and was born in 1737; his wife's name was Sarah, and he died in 1814. He removed from Hopkinton to Partridgeville, Berkshire, and Naples, New York. He was captain in Col. Patterson's regiment in 1775, in this regiment January 1, to December 31, 1776, and also in the 12th Massachusetts regiment January 1, 1777, taken prisoner July 7, 1777, and was discharged September 8, 1778. He signed the oath of Allegiance at Valley Forge.

Second Lieutenant Jacob Lyon was from Gageborough, named for Gen. Gage, but changed to Windsor, Massachusetts. He was a sergeant in Capt. Watkins' company, in Col. John Patterson's regiment, eight months in 1775, joined this regiment January 1, 1776, and died April 15, 1776.

Second Lieutenant Peter W. Brown of North Yarmouth, served in Col. Phinney's regiment at Cambridge in 1775, enlisted in this regiment January 1, 1776, as ensign, promoted to second lieutenant April 15, and served until December 31, 1776. He enlisted July 1, 1778, in Capt. Benjamin Lemont's company, in Col. Nathaniel Wade's regiment, and served six months and twelve days in Rhode Island. He died February 28, 1830.

Ensign Robert Walker of Gageborough, was a corporal in Capt. Watkins' company, in Col. Patterson's regiment at Cambridge in 1775, joined this regiment as sergeant January 1, promoted to ensign April 15, and served until December 31, 1776. He was commissioned first lieutenant in 12th Massachusetts regiment January 1, 1777, taken prisoner April 7, 1778, exchanged April 4, 1781, promoted captain July 15, 1781, transferred to Col. Sprout's 2d Massachusetts regiment January 1, 1783, and served until the close of the war. He died at Windsor, Massachusetts, in January, 1834.

A Muster Roll of Capt. Nathan Watkins' Company in Col. Edmund Phinney's Regiment at Garrison, Fort George, December 8th, 1776.

SEVENTH COMPANY.

Captain Silas Wilde of Braintree, Massachusetts, was under Capt. Benjamin Lincoln in the Lexington Alarm, then a captain in Col. William Heath's regiment at Cambridge in 1775, captain in this regiment January 1 to December 31, 1776, a committee to raise soldiers at Braintree in 1777, captain in Col. Ebenezer Thayer's 3d regiment July 8, 1777, and a captain in Col. John Brook's regiment, guarding Burgoyne prisoners at Cambridge, February 3 to April 3, 1778. He was a prominent citizen of Braintree, where he died September 30, 1807, aged seventy-one years.

First Lieutenant Daniel Merrill of Brundel, had wife named Sarah, and he died at Kennebunkport, Maine, September 6, 1808. He served in Col. Scamman's regiment at Cambridge in 1775, joined this regiment January 1, and served until December, 1776. He enlisted in Col. Brewer's 12th Massachusetts regiment January 1, 1777, was promoted to captain, and retired April 1, 1779.

Second Lieutenant William Frost of Kittery, Maine, was born May 26, 1747, and married Elizabeth Randall of Berwick, Maine, and died June 2, 1827, aged eighty years. He was second lieutenant in Col. Scamman's regiment at Cambridge in 1775, was in this regiment in 1776, joined Col. Brewer's 12th Massachusetts regiment in 1777, promoted to first lieutenant August 10, 1777, and was discharged in December, 17788. He signed the oath of allegiance at Valley Forge.

Ensign John Pray of Kittery, Maine, sergeant in Capt. Tobias Fernald's Company in Col. Scamman's regiment 1776, joined this regiment January 1, 1776, then became ensign in Col. Brewer's 12th Massachusetts regiment in 1777, promoted to first lieutenant January 1, 1779, and captain July 5, 1779, transferred to the 1st Massachusetts regiment January 1, 1781, serving until June, 1783. He signed the oath of allegiance at Valley Forge, and died in September, 1812.

A Muster Roll of Capt. Silas Wilde's Company in Col. Edmund Phinney's Regiment in Garrison at Fort George, December 8th, 1776.

EIGHTH COMPANY.

Ensign Soloman Meserve of Scarborough was born July 9, 1743; married, December 19, 1769, Isabella Jordan, and had children. He was a sergeant in Capt. Abraham Tyler's Company in Col. Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot at Cambridge in 1775, became ensign in this regiment January 1, 1776, and was dismissed from the service September 30, 1776.

A Muster Roll of Capt. Abraham Tyler's Company in Col. Edmund Phinney's Regiment in Garrison at Fort George, December 8th, 1776.

The story of the Eighteenth Continental regiment is respectfully dedicated to the posterity of those noble, liberty-loving patriots who served and suffered for your good. They were a race of men of whom you have every reason to feel proud, and were as noble as the weaknesses of their natures would admit. In honoring them you honor yourselves. My reward is your gratitude.

They went where duty seemed to call,
They scarcely asked the reason why;
They only knew they could but die,
And death was not the worst of all !