Jonathan REMINGTON

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, Remington researcher, and to other sources as noted herein.)

Jonathan served during the American Revolution from 1777 to 1779 as a Sergeant in Captain Thomas Carlisle's and Captain Garzia's companies, and in Colonel Robert Elliott's artillery regiment. The Revolutionary War Pension file for Jonathan Remington can be viewed at the National Archives and Records Administration (microfilm #W7559). His widow, Sarah (Rhodes) (Potter) (Remington) Greene, was age 86 in 1850 when application for the pension was made. Because Jonathan had died many years previously, in 1808, she told what she knew about Jonathan's Revolutionary War service. A statement was also made by Sarah's brother, William Nehemiah Rhodes, in which he said that Jonathan had served in the artillery with his brother John Remington.

These statements were attested to by Seth Burke, who was "well acquainted with John and Jonathan formerly of Warwick. They were brothers, and neighbors to me." Reportedly, John was a Lieutenant and Jonathan a Sergeant. Jonathan's military service was also attested to by Mary Aborn of Pawtuxet, age 82 at the time of the pension hearing in 1850. Born around 1767/68, she would have been approximately age 9 in 1776. She stated that John and Jonathan (probably stationed at Pawtuxet, Warwick, RI) "were in the habit of visiting at the house of my grandmother where I used to often see them, and they used to talk to me. I was a child of 9 or 10. My grandmother and husband was their uncle." (She was probably Mary/Marcy/Mercy Rhodes, d/o Malachi Rhodes & Waite Fenner. This makes sense, because her grandmother would have been Mercy Fenner, who married Stephen Remington as her second husband.)

Note:
Remington, Jonathan, private, Col. Elliott's regiment, 1776; pay due L 39 8 11 (Arnold's "Vital Record of RI" Vol. 12, Revolutionary Rolls & Newspapers, p. 240; also "Colwell's Spirit of '76")

Sometime before 1780 Jonathan relocated to Berkshire County, MA. Town histories give evidence that he also served in the military there.

See "History of the Town of Cheshire, Berkshire County, Mass.," by Raynor & Petitclerc, Clark W. Bryan & Co, 1885:
An abstract of the pay due to the company under Captain Daniel Brown, in Colonel Benj. Simond's regiment on the alarm at Berkshire on the 13th of October 1780 . . . Hezekiah Pierce, Levi Green, Daniel Wood, George Shearman, John Tibbits, Jonathan Remington . . . (etc.)

See also "Knurow Collection," Vol. 38, p. 120, 128, 129, 130, 132, 133, 134:
Jonathan Remington - 6th Regiment in Division & 3rd in Brigade
Jonathan Remington - 2nd Regiment in Division & 2nd in Brigade

Jonathan Remington is in the 1790 census at Adams, MA: 2 free white males 16+, 1 free white male <16, and 7 free white females. I suspect his brother John and family may have been living with them, and they aren't listed separately in this census.
Since the 1790 Census at Hancock, MA, lists another Jonathan Remington (possibly s/o Jonathan & Lorana), it may be that some of the above military records for Berkshire County, MA, could refer to him. However, the names listed for Col. Simond's regiment are names known to be of the community established by Rhode Islanders at Cheshire. It is also known that Jonathan and his brother John came to the Adams/Cheshire area and established families. John stayed in this area, but Jonathan relocated to Lansingburgh/Troy, NY around 1796, after his first wife died.

He was known in Adams and Cheshire as Colonel Jonathan Remington, and is referred to as such in the town records. He is also named as Jonathan Remington, Esq. Jonathan was owner of a tavern and store located on the southwest corner of the crossroads at the summit of the hill in Cheshire; this also may have included a hotel. At various times he served as the Town Moderator (chosen 1 Apr 1793), Justice of the Peace, Representative to the General Court at Boston, and sealer of brick molds. He is listed as a charter member of the Franklin Lodge of Masons. The names of "Jonathan and Phebe Rementon" appear in the early membership records of the First Baptist Church in Cheshire.

On 7 Aug 1792, Jonathan Remington Esq. was appointed one of a committee of nine to meet at Col. Remington's on the first Monday of September. On 5 Nov 1792, Col. Remington was nominated to issue a warrant to call the town together.

In 1793, subscribers to incorporating Cheshire as a town included Jonathan Remington (18s pd) and John Remington (4s pd).

Jonathan is mentioned in the book "The Life and Times of Samuel Gorton," by Adelos Gorton, p. 191. It states his birth date and that he married (unknown wife); settled in Berkshire Cty., MA; served in the Rev. War; and frequently represented the district of Cheshire in the Legislature previous to 1793.

While in Lansingburgh, Col. Jonathan Remington was a subscriber to "The Gleaner" by Judith Sargent Murray.

Note from Lois Remington Smith dated 9/2004: "Land Records of Adams, MA" Bks #1 thru #10, deeds signed in:
Jonathan and Phoebe Remington 1788
Thomas and Sarah Remington 1789
Jonathan and Phoebe Remington 1793
Jonathan and Mercy Remington 1797
"I found these somewhere in the past years and made a brief note of them. It may have been in 'The Berkshire Quarterly.' Thought you might be interested if you don't already have them."

For a history of Lansingburgh, NY, see the following: http://history.rays-place.com/ny/ren-lansingburgh.htm

An "inventory of visible effects late the property of Col. Jonathan Remington deceased appraised by us the subscribers appointed by the Honourable Town Council of the Town of Providence -- July 14th 1808" -- total $357.15; Administrator of the estate was William Blodget Jr. (docmuents are viewable at ancestry.com).

Jonathan married Phebe UNKNOWN Abt 1780. Phebe was born Abt 1758; died 8 Jun 1795, Cheshire, MA; was buried , Stafford's Hill, Cheshire, MA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

It is possible that Jonathan & Phebe were married in RI, or in Cheshire or Adams, MA. The vital records of Cheshire were destroyed in a fire, and there are no early records of Adams, except the Cooke Collection at the Pittsfield Athenaeum.

1. Maplet REMINGTON was born 2 Mar 1782, RI or MA; died 20 Dec 1861, West Greenwich, RI; was buried , Pine Grove Cemetery, Washington St., Coventry, RI.
2. Elizabeth "Betsey" Remington was born 24 Dec 1785, Berkshire Co., MA; died 7 Oct 1870, Apponaug, Warwick, RI; was buried , Warwick, RI Historical Cemetery 60, off Cowesett Rd. at Bald Hill.
3. Suky Remington was born 10 Sep 1789, Berkshire Co., MA.
4. Aurelia Remington was born 13 Dec 1792, Berkshire Co., MA.

Jonathan married Mercy Angell Nov 1795, Cheshire, MA. Mercy (daughter of Nedebiah Angell and Bethiah Luther) was born 9 Jan 1761; died Aug 1797, Lansingburgh, Rensselaer County, NY. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The newspaper announcements say she married Col. John Remington, but her death notice in 1797 identifies her as the wife of Col. Jonathan of Lansingburgh, NY. John did not move to Lansingburgh as Jonathan did, so the original marriage announcement should have read Col. Jonathan. Also, I have found no documentation that John's first wife died prior to this time.

Added evidence from Cheshire town records:
October 21, 1795 Marriage intended between Jonathan Remington Esqr of Cheshire and Mercy (?) Comstock of Providence Rhode Island.

1. Timothy Remington was born Between 1796 and 1797, NY; died 1797, NY; was buried , The Village Cemetery, Lansingburgh, NY.

Jonathan married Sarah Rhodes 3 Dec 1797, Providence, RI. Sarah (daughter of Nehemiah Rhodes and Abigail Thomas) was born Abt 1765; died 10 Aug 1854, Cranston, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

According to James N. Arnold's "Vital Record of RI," this marriage was published (banns read) on Nov. 28 & 30 1797. It is also documented in Jonathan's Revolutionary War Pension File (#W7559), in which Sarah's brother William N. Rhodes testified that the marriage took place at his home.

1. Edward Scott Rhodes Remington was born Apr 1799, RI; died Aft May 1860.

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, Remington researcher, and to other sources as noted herein.)

A Remington family Bible record says that this Thomas Remington was one of triplets, the other two of whom died young. This Bible belonged to Mrs. Mary E. Remington, wife of James D. Remington, great-grandson of Thomas. However, Fuller's "History of Warwick" says that his son Thomas was one of triplets.

He is undoubtedly the Thomas Remington who in March 1744 agreed to take over management of the estate of his brother Stephen Remington, laborer of Warwick, who was "non compos mentis." The original document is witnessed and co-signed by Stephen and Daniel Remington, probably Thomas Jr. and Stephen's uncles.

Thomas was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, along with some of his sons. Oliver Payson Fuller, in his book "The History of Warwick, RI," says four of the Remington brothers (sons of Thomas III, likely the four oldest) were in the American army during the war of the Revolution. According to the manuscript "Revolutionary War -- Burial Place & Service of RI Patriots," found at the Knight Library in Providence (now at Providence Central Public Library), Thomas was a Private in the Pawtuxet Rangers in 1778. It says he was buried in the family lot on the Remington Farm, north side of Cowesett Road near Quaker Lane (Route 2).

This historical cemetery is located behind the Stop & Shop plaza at the intersection of Cowesett Rd. and Bald Hill Rd./Quaker Lane/Rt. 2. Thomas's gravestones (headstone and footstone) have been photographed.

In the RI Genealogical Register, Vol. 17, pp. 204 & 205, there is a list of graves at or near this location. It refers to "the Remington farm now owned by George Dawley," and mentions an Arnold family burial plot northwest of his house, and another cemetery "on the Remington farm north of the house." This is where Thomas & Abigail are buried. This lot has about 15 marked burials, Remingtons and Arnolds, plus some unmarked graves.

According to early records described in "Family Notes" (formerly at Knight Library, now at Providence Central Public Library), this family's "Remington Farm" extended from Cowesett Rd. (at Quaker Lane) northward to the next road (probably the location of present-day Rt. 117) for a mile, then eastward a 1/2 mile, so that it was rectangular in shape. This was on the east side of Quaker Lane. According to Oliver Payson Fuller's "The History of Warwick, RI," it was Cowesett farm #2 on the old plat map laid out in the 1600s; it was originally owned by John Smith, and later by the heirs of Lieut. Eliza Collins, and subsequently by Samuel Barnes of Swansea, from whom it was purchased by Thomas Remington II (who died in 1723 at age 41).

Also on Cowesett Rd. but west of Quaker Lane (Rt. 2) was the "Col. Waterman Place," where our ancestors Capt. John & Mercy Waterman are buried (near the corner of Kulas & Cedar streets). This was on the south side of Cowesett Rd., roughly across from where Evelyn's Villa and the Cowesett Inn are today. Across from the Waterman place was the Arnold farm (the area where Pep Boys and the Ricci home are now located), purchased from Robert Potter's heirs by Israel Arnold of Pawtuxet in 1707.

An entry in Elder John Gorton's pastoral journal notes that he preached 23 Sept 1764 on I Peter 4:18 at Thomas Remington's [house]. Editor Cherry Fletcher Bamberg writes, "Although Thomas and Abigail Remington, who lived at Cowesett, were not official members of the church, they hosted occasional meetings and had a substantial running account with Elder Gorton in the mid-1760s. Purchases included needles of silk, thread, flour, 'Bisket,' snuff, wooden plates, and sundries" (p. 56). Gorton was a tailor by trade, but also a merchant who sold various foods, household items, and sundries.

In his will, dated 11 June 1798 proved 9 May 1808, Thomas Remington of Warwick, yeoman, gave to his [second] wife Sarah the household furniture, all she brought with her "at the time of our marriage," and all she has acquired since, a cow, heifer, etc. His son Thomas received lands in Coventry, with buildings thereon, he to pay legacies to his brothers John & Jonathan and to sisters Maplet Rice, Sarah Holden, & Mary Rice. Sons John and Jonathan were each given $10, as they already had their share [perhaps when they moved to Berkshire County, MA]. Each of his three surviving daughters was given $100 and the household furniture after the death of their [step] mother. Henry was given $240 and land; Benjamin received his father's mansion house and clock and all remaining of the homestead farm and rest of all his possessions, he to be executor.

Death notice, transcribed in Arnold's "Vital Record of RI" Vol. XIX p. 85: Providence Phenix - Deaths: "Thomas Remington d 12 Apr 1808 in his 85th year."

RI Cemetery Database: Thomas Remington, 2nd, h/o Abigael Eldrege, c.1724 - 12 Apr 1808, 85th yr

Thomas married Abigail ELDREDGE 14 Dec 1744, Warwick, RI. Abigail (daughter of Robert ELDREDGE and Hannah RATHBONE) was born Abt 1723; died 14 Apr 1766, Warwick, RI; was buried , Warwick, RI, Historical Cemetery 60 off Cowesett Rd. near Rt. 2. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The Warwick marriage record gives her maiden name as Eldred, but the gravestone says Eldredge. Capt. Samuel Tillinghast had this entry in his diary for April 15, 1766: "This Day died Thomas Remingtons Wife. Had been Long Ill with the Consumption." The entry for the 17th says: "This day Thomas Remingtons Wife buried. Elder Holden Preachd."

Death notice in the Providence Phenix: "Mrs. Abigail Remington wife of Mr. Thomas & dau of Mr. Robert & Mrs. Hannah Eldredge
d 14 Apr 1766 in her 45th year."

Abigail's gravestones (headstone and footstone) have been photographed.

Notes:

BSR has his name as Thomas William Remington.

According to "The History of Warwick, RI" by Oliver Payson Fuller, Thomas Remington, Jr., bought farm #2 on the Cowesett plat. It was purchased from Samuel Barnes of Swansea, but had originally been granted to John Smith and then to Lieut. Eliza Collins's children, namely Eliza (Eliezar or Elisha?) & William. This large plantation was on the northeast corner of Route 2 (Quaker Lane) and Route 3 (Cowesett Rd.,) and adjoined the farm to the east which had been purchased by his father Thomas.

Thomas married Maplet GORTON 28 Dec 1710, Warwick, RI. Maplet (daughter of Benjamin GORTON and Sarah CARDER) was born 1690, Warwick, Kent County, RI; died Aft 18 Aug 1723. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The surname is sometimes spelled "Eldred." Possibly there was another son and another daughter whose names have been burned from the will. One of the daughters married Eber Sherman.

Robert was an ensign in the militia.

Robert married Hannah RATHBONE Abt 1722. Hannah (daughter of Joseph RATHBONE and Mary MOSHER) was born 21 Mar 1705/06, New Shoreham, RI; died Abt Feb 1764. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The surname is sometimes spelled "Rathbun."

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to other sources as noted herein.)
According to Oliver Payson Fuller's "The History of Warwick, RI," published in 1875, Thomas Remington in 1692/3 bought Cowesett farm # 1 consisting of 240 acres for the price of 57 pounds, from John Warner & Philip Sweet. As nearly as I can determine, this property was at the northwest corner of Post Rd. (Route 1) and Cowesett Rd. The next farm westward, bordering Route 2, was later purchased by the Remingtons -- probably Thomas Remington, Jr., who married Maplet Gorton.

According to the early town records of Portsmouth, RI, "Thomas Rimmington of Prudence is Admitted a freeman in this town" at a Town Council meeting held 6 June 1692 at William Corey's house (also William Allin of Prudence at the same meeting). Later that same year, the records of a Town Council meeting held on 22 Aug 1692, again at William Corey's house, show that three men were chosen to serve on the next Jury of Tryals at Newport: John Vaughan, Thomas Rimmington, & Joseph Sheffield.

These references likely refer to our ancestor, if in fact he was at Prudence Island and a freeman of Portsmouth in the early 1690s. If this is so, then he must have bought property in Warwick shortly after this and later settled there (possibly c1704 -- see note below). His wife was of Portsmouth, so it is reasonable to assume that this is our ancestor and that they were married at Portsmouth.

In 1701, Thomas Remington was Constable on Prudence Island.

Similarly, genealogist Armand Lariviere says that Thomas initially settled on Prudence Island, Rhode Island, then relocated to Warwick, where he purchased farm #1, the Cowesett Plot, containing 240 acres, in 1693, for 57 pounds. He was deeded land in Haverhill, MA, by his father John in 1695 & 1709. Thomas became a freeman of Warwick in 1704.

Sources for information on this family:
"Gorton Family Genealogy"
"New England Historical and Genealogical Society Register," Vols. 29, 42, 43
"The History of Warwick, RI" by Oliver Payson Fuller

Thomas's will mentions his "dearly beloved wife Mary"; names eight sons, six of whom were under age 21 on 20 May 1710; and his two daughters, both under 18. Thomas gave all his lands to sons Thomas, Jr., William, & John -- they to pay legacies to the other children. Based on this will, I have estimated the birth years for his children. Wife Mary and son William were co-executors.

John, still under age 21, received 40 acres, and would pay his brother Thomas 10 pounds when Thomas reached age 21. Thomas received 1/2 of all the remaining land, across the north end, and he is to pay 11 pounds to five of his brothers when they reach age 21 -- Daniel, Joseph, Stephen, Matthew, and Jonathan; he also is to pay his sisters Mary and Prudence 7 pounds each when they reach age 18 or earlier if they marry younger than 18. William received the mansion house with the remainder of lands; he is to pay to each of the 5 brothers 11 pounds each at age 21 and the two sisters 7 pounds each at age 18. All the rest of the estate is left to dearly beloved wife Mary and well-beloved son William who are appointed joint executors. Thomas signed his will with a capital R -- the mark of "Tho Rimington." It was witnessed by Samuel Gorton, Edward Earle (his mark), and Elizabeth Gorton (her mark). On 26 Sep 1710 the witnesses appeared before the Town Council of Warwick and made oath that they saw Thomas Rimington sign and seal the will.

According to Oliver Payson Fuller's "The History of Warwick, RI," William sold his share of the farm in 1712, but reserved the burying ground where his father and grandfather are interred. Portions of the Remington land were later bought by Thomas Jones Spencer & Thomas LeValley.

His gravestone has the inscription T R 23 July 1710. Although recorded by James N. Arnold in 1893, in 1996 the cemetery could not be located. Supposedly, there were four graves -- Thomas and his wife, and son John and his wife. James Arnold described the location as "north of the David Bennett Lot in open pasture without any protection one tomb two graves at feet that of Thomas Remington and his wife and his son John and his wife." The David Bennett Lot is 1400 feet south of Cowesett Rd. across from Hardig Road and west of I 95.

Thomas married Mary ALLEN Abt 1681. Mary (daughter of William ALLEN, I and Elizabeth Unknown) was born Abt 1661, Prudence Island, Portsmouth, RI; died Abt 1710, RI; was buried , Historical Cemetery WK14, Remington Lot, Cowesett Rd., Warwick, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The Allen family were of Prudence Island, according to "Representative Men of Old Families of Southeastern MA," V. I, p. 173.

I have estimated Mary's year of birth, assuming that she was about 20 when she was married, and that none of her children were multiple births. Martha Benns gives her year of death as 1710, the same as for her husband Thomas (see Remington book at Rhode Island Historical Library). She is called Marie in her father's will (William Allin, 2 June 1685 Portsmouth, RI), but Mary in her husband's will (1710 Warwick, RI).

It is unclear exactly where she was born.

Notes:

According to the book "New England Marriages Prior to 1700" (by Clarence Almon Torrey, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1985), their first child on record was born in 1682; Mary's year of death is given as 1710+. Places of residence were Portsmouth and Warwick, RI.

Notes:

In 1677 he was one of 48 who, along with his brother John, received a grant from the colony of 5,000 acres in East Greenwich, "in consideration of their services in King Philip's War." In 1686 he was Deputy (member) to the Upper House of the RI Legislature, and was captain of the military company, a position he held to the time of his death. His will names his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren. It contains details such as bequeathing his spectacles to his son Benjamin, and his "biggest silver spoon" to his grandson Benjamin Greene.

Benjamin married Sarah CARDER 5 Dec 1672, Warwick, RI. Sarah (daughter of Richard CARDER and Mary Unknown) was born Abt 1652; died Aug 1724, Warwick, Kent County, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The Gorton book says she died on 8 Aug 1724, the day after her husband's will was probated. However, the probate date for her will is the same day, 7 Aug 1724. Her will mentions her children and several grandchildren.

Notes:

John was a captain in the militia.

John married Margaret HOLDEN Abt 1689. Margaret (daughter of Randall HOLDEN and Frances DUNGAN) was born Jan 1662/63, Warwick, RI; died 1740. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Joseph's will mentions the names of his children and one granddaughter.

Joseph married Mary MOSHER 19 May 1691, New Shoreham, RI. Mary (daughter of Hugh MOSHER and Rebecca Unknown) was born Abt 1670; died Abt 1748. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

RATHBUN Joseph, and Mary Moshier; m. by Robert Guttridge, D. Warden, May 19, 1691.