Elisha Houghton1,2,3,4,5,6

M, #731, b. 5 June 1748, d. 18 November 1826

Family 1: Moriah Peirce b. 19 Oct 1748, d. 12 Apr 1781

Family 2: Elisabeth Rice

Biography

A Contributor to Houghton Surname ProjectY
Corresponded with authorN
BaptismJun 5, 1748Harvard, Worcester Co., MA, USA, First Congreg. Church7,8,9
MarriageNov 30, 1768Bolton, Worcester Co., MA, USA, marriage of an Elisha Houghton and a
Meriah Pairs in Bolton, Ma on 30 Nov, 1765. (Her name is also given as Moriah Peirce
or Pierce in other records.)10,4,11,12,13,14
Milit-BegApr 19, 1775Harvard, Worcester Co., MA, USA, Mass. Soldiers: "Houghton, Elisha (alias Elijah), Lancaster (also given Harvard). Private, Capt. Benjamin Houghton's co. of Minute-men, Col. John Whitcomb's regt., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775, to Cambridge; service, 13 1/2 days; also, Capt. Benjamin Hastings's co., Col. Asa Whitcomb's regt; return of men in need of cartridge boxes, dated Camp at Cambridge, June 18, 1775; also, Private, same co. and regt; muster roll dated Aug. 1, 1775; enlisted April 27, 1775; service, 3 mos. 12 days; also, company receipt for wages for Aug., 1775, dated Camp at Prospect Hill; also, company return dated Oct. 6, 1775; also, petition dated Bolton, June --, 1776, signed by said Houghton, asking remuneration for loss of a gun taken from him while assisting wounded men from the field June 17, 1775; also, return of men raised to serve in the Continental Army from Capt. Samuel Hill's co; residence, Harvard; engaged for town of Harvard; joined Capt. Joshua Brown's co., Col. Bigelow's regt; term, 3 years; also, Sergeant, Capt. Joshua Brown's co., Col. Timothy Bigelow's regt; Continental Army pay accounts for service from May 1, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1779; reported served 28 mos. 21 days as Sergeant, reduced and served 3 mos. 6 days as Private; also, same co. and regt; muster roll for Jan.-Aug., 1777, dated Van Schaick's Island; enlisted May 1, 1777; reported recruiting; also, same co. and regt; pay roll for Feb., 1779 sworn to at Providence; also (late) Capt. Joshua Brown's co., Col. Bigelow's regt; muster roll for March and April, 1779, sworn at Providence; also, Private, Colonel's co., Col Bigelow's regt; Continental Army pay accounts for service from Jan. 1, 1780, to May 1, 1780."; DAR: MM MA; DFPA: private in Capt. Benj. Houghton's Company of Minute Men, Col. John Whitcomb's Regiment. Served in other regiments until May 1, 1780. He was Sergeant May 1, 1777, Capt. Joshua Brown's Regiment.
See Nourse, Hist. of Harvard, p. 184-192, 323

Enlisted at Harvard Ma as a Private in May of 1777 in the Massachusetts militia and was at the Battles of Bunker Hill and Stillwater. He then enlisted for three years in the infantry company commanded by Captain Joshua Brown in Colonel Timothy Bigelow's 15th Regiment of the Massachusetts line. and took part in the Battles of Monmouth and Newport and was at Valley Forge. He twice was promoted to Sergeant and twice was busted back down to the ranks:
story about him in History of the Town of Harvard, Massachusetts
1732-1893 by Henry Steadman Nourse (p323):

"Coliney of the Massachusetts Bay.

To the Honnorabel General Coart seting at Watertown the Petion of Elisha Houghton a Solder under Comand of Captan Hastings in Conl
Whitcomb's Rigement in the year 1775 and I was in the fight on Bunkers hill So Called in Charlston on the 17 of June in the year 1775 as above
sd and on my Return I and others Lited on one Jacob Davis who was wounded who requested our help and in tacking Care of the sd Davis
Caused me your Petinor to take Mistick Road to convey the sd Davis to where he thought he could be tacken Care of and in so Doing 1 came
acros by Winter hill to go to head Quater at Cambridge and in Coming by the Gard of Connal Starks which was set on sd hill they took away
my Gun which I and others that Knew sd Gun Judged to be worth teen Dolers. I Endevuered to Recover my Gun again but was Denied the
Same which may be made Evident to this Coart by Reading the Paper acompining this Petition. 1 also Sertify this Coart that I have Never
Reseved my Gun since Nor any Consideration for the same. I therefore your Poor Petitioner Humbly Pray that this Coart would be Pleased to
take my Case into your Consideration and alow me Pay for my Gun and your Petitioner as in Duty bound Shall Ever Pray. Bolton Jan. the —
1776 Elisha Houghton

This may Certify that Elisha Houghton of Col Whitcomb's Regiment in Capt. Hasting's Company was in the Action on Bunker's hill and
helping bringing the wounded men off to Cambridge went mistick Road over Winter hill and the Guard that was set on winter hill took away the Guns, and this sd Houghton's Gun was among the Rest, the next Day with 26 number of others sd Houghton went in order to Get his Gun with an officer with him, but could not find it and have Never heard of it since—as I know of.
Josiah Whitney, Lt. Col. of sd Rgmt.
Dorchester Camp Febury 29th. 1776"15,5,16,17
NoteJun 13, 1777Refused role of executor to father's will (in his own written script).18,19
ResidenceFitchburg, Worcester Co., MA, USA20
MarriageDec 13, 1781Princeton, Worcester Co., MA, USA21,14
1790 Census1790Adams, Berkshire Co., MA, USA, 1 male 16+, 1 male under 16, 2 females22
1800 Census1800Adams, Berkshire Co., MA, USA, 00102/00001 (4 total); 1 male 16-25; 2 male 45+; 1 female 45+23
1810 Census1810Adams, Berkshire Co., MA, USA, 00001- 00001;1 male 45+,1 female 45+24
PensionInxMay 6, 1818Adams, Berkshire Co., MA, USA, allowed pension; "S39725, MA Line"; Actual Documents: On May 6, 1818, Elisha Houghton, aged 68, resident of Adams, MA; enlisted in Revol. War as a private in May 1778 in Harvard MA under Capt. Joshua Brown of the 15th Reg. of Infantry under Col Timothy Bigelow until 1781, discharged at West Point, NY. He was in the battle of Bunker Hill, Stillwater, Monmouth and Newport; On 3 Jul 1820, Elisha Houghton appeared in court, aged 71, resident of Adams MA, swore he served in Revol. War in the company of Capt. Brown, in the regiment of Col. Bigelow, pension certif. number 4189; that he was impoverished; occupation a laborer; lived alone; Pension List of 1820: priv., MA

His testimony from his Pension Request file as given to Justice Samuel Putnam :


"Commonwealth of Massachusetts
(“District of” crossed out) Berkshires of Commonwealth of Massachusetts .
On this sixth day of May 1818 Before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of said Commonwealth personally appears Elisha Houghton aged sixty eight years resident in the town of Adams in said district who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the late act of congress entitled `an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval services of the United States in the revolutionary war ‘ that the said Houghton enlisted as a private in May 1778 in the town of Harvard in the state of Massachusetts in the company commanded by Captain Joshua Brown of the fifteenth Regiment of commanded by Col. Timothy Bigelow.That he continued in the service of the United States until May 1781 when he was discharged from service
at West Point in the State of Newyork. That he was in the Battles of Bunker Hill Stillwater Monmouth and Newport and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and that he has no other evidence now in his possession of his said services and relinquishes all claim to any other Pension but what he now asks for.

Sworn to and declared before me this day and year aforesaid
Berks.ss S. Putnam Just
May 6 1818 S.J. Court of Massts


I Samuel Putnam one of the Justices of the aforesaid Court do certify that it does appear to my satisfaction that the said Elisha Houghton did serve in the Revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration against the Common enemy and I now transmit it the preceding and testimony taken here before me to the Secretary of the Department of War. Given under my hand at said Court.

S. Putnam Justice S.J. Court of Massachusetts"


He enlisted at Harvard Ma as a Private in May of 1777 in the Massachusetts militia and was at the Battles of Bunker Hill and Stillwater. He then enlisted for three years in the infantry company commanded by Captain Joshua Brown in Colonel Timothy Bigelow's 15th Regiment of the Massachusetts line. and took part in the Battles of Monmouth and Newport and was at Valley Forge. He twice was promoted to Sergeant and
twice was busted back down to the ranks

Chronological order of Elisha Houghton's military career with the Massachusetts 15th Regiment of the Continental Army in a company commanded by Captain Joshua Brown:

1 May 1777 enlists for 3 years
1 Nov 1777 appointed Sgt
10 Dec 1777 Sick at Albany.
Jan 1778 reduced to ranks as Pvt.
21 Feb 1778 On command at Albany Jan 1778
5 Mar 1778 Sick in Albany Feb1778 Valley Forge
Apr 1778 Sick in camp March 1778 Valley Forge
2 May 1778 On Guard Apr 1778 Valley Forge
2 Jun 1778 Sgt May 1778 Valley Forge
25 Sep 1779 reduced to ranks as Pvt.
1 May 1780 discharged at"Camp near Robinson's Farm(?)"
(This doesn't include his previous service with the militia at Boston.); Elisha was either on a special detail or detached duty from his company during those periods he was "on command".16,8,25,26
Living1820Adams, Berkshire Co., MA, USA, "in 1820 he had no family living with him"16
ImmigrationJul 10, 1823Bennington Co., VT, USA, Jan Beebe supplied copy of Application for a transfer of his pension for Elisha Houghton (mark, not signature); recevied 8 dollars a month. MLM: Tr. to Vermont from the Mass. Agency, Berkshire Co., 4 Sep. 1822

Elisha Houghton's Revolutionary War Pension file, Elisha's request to be transferred from the Massachusetts Veterans Roll to that of Vermont where he had relocated.He made the request in January of 1823 and it was granted by September of the same year.
4.189 From
Massachusetts
_______________________
to Vermont
Elisha Houghton
Capt Brown
private,
Massachusetts line 1778 3 years
in the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
________________________________________________
Subscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of -8- Dollars per month to commence on
the 6th of May, 1818.
_________________________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 17th of Nov. 1818,
and sent to Jo. Woodbridge, Esq
Stockbridge, Ma.
_________________________________________________
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1818 31.76
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4th Mar 1819 48.00
_______
Continued $79.76
_______
O.C. Merrill, Justice of Peace.
NOTE. The oath to be taken before a duly qualified magistrate, whose
official character and signature must be properly authenticated."

Then on the back is a handwritten note:

"State of Vermont
I, Joel Pratt Clerk of Bennington County Court do hereby certify that Orsamus C Merrill Esquire is a Justice of the peace acting under the Authority of this State & that the within signature is his. In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand & affix the seal of said county court this 28th day of January AD1823- Joel Pratt Clerk"

Pension file:
"District of Massachusetts,ss1

On this day Sixth day of July 1820:Personally appeared in open Court before the circuit Court of Common Pleas, begun and holden in Lenox ,within and for County of Berkshire ,in the Western Circuit, on the 4th Monday of June 1820, the same Court, being a Court of record for said Circuit; preceeding according to the course of the common Law, with a jurisdiction, unlimited in point of amount, kereping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment,

Elisha Houghton aged 71 years, resident in Adams in the County of Berkshire aforesaid, who being first duly sworn, according to law,doth on his oath declare, that he served in the revolutionary war as follows; that he enlisted in the company commanded by Captain Brown in the regiment commanded by Colonel Bigelow in the line of the State of Massachusetts on the Continental establishment. That his original declaration is dated May 6th 1818 and that his pension certificate is numbered 4,189.

And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident Citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818, and I have not since that time, by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof with intent, thereby to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons, engaged in the land and naval services of the United States, in the Revolutionary war," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me, nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule, hereto annexed, and by me subscribed-schedule of property,
necessary clothing and bedding excepted-to wit:

1 Tub and firkin --------.33
1 Iron pot--------------- -.75
1 Salt mortar-------------.12
1 Tea kettle--------------.75
1 Sugar box of Plates---.19
1 Tin tumbler ------------.6
1 Old Pail------------------.13
­­­­­­­­­­­
2.33

That I am by occupation a Labourer that I am not able to labor, that the number of my family residing with me is none. (signed) Elisha Houghton

Sworn to, and declared on the Five day of July 1820, before the said Court
Parker L Hall (illegible) pro tem

I Parker L Hall Clerk of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Berkshire do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of said Court; and I do further certify,that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is two dollars and thirty three cents.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court on this ninth day of August 1820.

Parker L Hall Clerk of the Court for the County of Berkshire."

The text above the first fold appears to be an earlier version of Justice Samuel Putnam's certification of Elisha's testimony. Apparently he decided to
write it on the bottom of the first side instead. He didn't sign this version:

"I do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Elisha Houghton did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the within declaration against the common enemy and I now transmit the procedings and testimony taken and had before me to the secretary for the department of war
pursuant to the directions of the (illegible) out of Congress-"

The second panel served as a cover to the document when it was folded up. As such the writing is at a right angle to the rest of the page:

"Elisha Houghton
Bigelow's Mass. Regt.
Correct."

The third and fourth panels are statements by two witnesses as to the character of Elisha Houghton and the truth of his story.

"I Asa Dean of Adams in the County of Berkshire Physician do certify that I have known Elisha Houghton within mentioned a number
of years & that his reputation(?) for truth is good and I have no no doubt of the truth of this notation(?) made by him within
mentioned as his story has always been the same (can't read) his (can't read) Asa Dean

May 6th 1818
Sworn to before me
S. Putnam Just. S.J.C."

"I Nathan Putnam of Adams also do certify that I have known Elisha Houghton a number of years & I have no doubt but the certificate of Dr. Asa Dean above is true
Nathan Putnam
May 6. 1818
Sworn to before me
S. Putnam J.S.J.C."

"Commonwealth of Massachusetts
(“District of” crossed out) Berkshires of Commonwealth of Massachusetts.On this sixth day of May 1818 Before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of said Commonwealth personally appears Elisha Houghton aged sixty eight years resident in the town of Adams in said district who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to
obtain the provisions made by the late act of congress entitled `an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval services of the United States in the revolutionary war ` that the said Houghton enlisted as a private in May 1778 in the town of Harvard in the state of Massachusetts in the company commanded by Captain Joshua Brown of the fifteenth Regiment of commanded by Col. Timothy Bigelow.That he
continued in the service of the United States until May 1781 when he was discharged from service at West Point in the State of Newyork. That he was in the Battles of Bunker Hill Stillwater Monmouth and Newport and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and that he has no other evidence now in his possession of his said services and relinquishes all claim to any other Pension but what he now asks for.

Sworn to and declared before me this day and year aforesaid Berks.ss S. Putnam Just
May 6 1818 S.J. Court of Massts


I Samuel Putnam one of the Justices of the aforesaid Court do certify that it does appear to my satisfaction that the said Elisha Houghton did serve in the Revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration against the Common enemy and I now transmit it the preceding and testimony taken here before me to the Secretary of the Department of War. Given under my hand at said Court.

S. Putnam Justice S.J. Court of Massachusetts"

The file covers his original filing in his native state of Massachusetts, and then his application to have his pension transferred to the state of Vermont. The pages are a mixture of preprinted text and handwritten additions, [boldfacing the preprinted words and italicizing the added parts. Words or phrases that are illegible are in parentheses]



The first image is the file cover with the following:
Service Number
Mass. Elisha Houghton S39725


The second image is of the beginning of Elisha's paperwork. It's folded in thirds, with no writing on the left hand panel. The middle is a preprinted
form.The file number 3925 is written above the printed word INVALID. To the left of that is the abbreviation Revy for Revolutionary.


File No. 39725
Elisha Houghton
Pri Rev War
_________
Act: 18th March 18th
Index:--Vol.S, Page 232
(Arrangement of 1870)

On the right hand fold someone wrote:

27-Aug-25 Hist. to Kate
Starbird. Her letter in (illegible) of Elias Monk (illegible).

This last part refers to a researcher named Kate Starbird. Apparently she'd written a letter inquiring about the records of Elisha Houghton and Elias
Monk. A copy of a typewritten reply to her on Elisha's record is included in Elisha's record. It is dated August 25th, 1927.16,27,8
Will1826Bennington Co., VT, USA, This Elisha signed with his mark only.28
DeathNov 18, 1826Shaftsbury, Bennington Co., VT, USA, MLM: Jul 17 1810, Harvard [CJV: error]16,29,8,30
Probate1Mar 7, 1827Shaftsbury, Bennington Co., VT, USA, late of Shaftsbury, VT; Caleb Vaughn, administrator31
ResearchGuardianship papers for Elisha in W. P. #30960. For Ephraim, 1762, #309608
ContributnJan Beebe contributed some of the genealogy of Elisha Houghton and Timothy Houghton32
ResearchJan Beebe: "I have had the info on Elisha Houghton and his marriages to both Moriah Pierce and Elizabeth Rice for ages but don't have the proof that Elisha is one and the same.  Same thing with him being the son of Ephraim.  Though I highly suspect that the lineage is correct.  By the way Elisha was not a Captain in the RW.  I have checked the Edmund Rice book for Elizabeth and haven't come up with anything concrete on her either.  I have also climbed the hills in the cemetery at North Adams and written to the town clerk to no avail.  They have no record of either Elisha, Relief or my Goyer family. "
Pedigree

Citations

  1. [S1] Dr. John Wesley Houghton M.D., Houghton Genealogy of 1912, p. 100 #172.
  2. [S11] Lancaster MA VRs, p. 294.
  3. [S43] Thomas W. Baldwin, Harvard MA VRs, p. 61, 182.
  4. [S67] Vital Records of Bolton, p. 140.
  5. [S213] National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Centennial Admin., DAR Patriot Cent. 2, p. 1495.
  6. [S460] Marshall L. McClanahan, Ralph & Jane (Stow) Houghton - MLM, p. 9 #123, 13, 16.
  7. [S43] Thomas W. Baldwin, Harvard MA VRs, p. 62.
  8. [S460] Marshall L. McClanahan, Ralph & Jane (Stow) Houghton - MLM, p. 16.
  9. [S747] Rev. Frederick Lewis Weis Lancaster MA Early Families II- Weis, p. 341, 344.
  10. [S43] Thomas W. Baldwin, Harvard MA VRs, p. 182.
  11. [S153] Pierce, Seven Pierce Families, p. 281.
  12. [S460] Marshall L. McClanahan, Ralph & Jane (Stow) Houghton - MLM, p. 8, 13, 16.
  13. [S524] DFPA Lineage Book, 27 [1943]: 146.
  14. [S747] Rev. Frederick Lewis Weis Lancaster MA Early Families II- Weis, p. 344.
  15. [S39] Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, p. 300.
  16. [S249] White, Geneal. Abstr. of Revol. War II, p. 1718.
  17. [S524] DFPA Lineage Book, 27 [1943]: 147.
  18. [S415] E-mail to Charles Vella from Jane Woodward, 9/1998: Probate.
  19. [S681] Will: of Ephraim Houghton, Case 30969, Vol. 14, p. 54.
  20. [S1] Dr. John Wesley Houghton M.D., Houghton Genealogy of 1912, p. 100.
  21. [S162] Princeton MA VRs, p. 108.
  22. [S1220] 1790 U.S. Federal Census , Adams, Berkshire, MA, p. 23.
  23. [S1221] 1800 U.S. Federal Census , Adams, Berkshire Co, MA, Reel 13, p.138.
  24. [S1222] 1810 U.S. Federal Census , Adams, Berkshire Co, MA, p. 164.
  25. [S920] Murtie J. Clarke, Pension List of 1820, p. 163.
  26. [S946] Unknown compiler, Rev. War Pension Application Index, p. 273.
  27. [S415] E-mail Transfer application sent by Jan Beebe, July 1998.
  28. [S415] E-mail Will sent by Jan Beebe, July 1998.
  29. [S415] E-mail Document sent by Jan Beebe, July 1998.
  30. [S654] Electronic Web Site, , www.fold3.com: Final Payment Vouchers Index for Military Pensions, 1818-1864.
  31. [S415] E-mail Probate document sent by Jan Beebe, July 1998.
  32. [S415] E-mail Jan Beebe, 6/1998.
  33. [S11] Lancaster MA VRs, p. 311.
  34. [S1] Dr. John Wesley Houghton M.D., Houghton Genealogy of 1912, p. 110.
  35. [S601] Family Group Sheet, from Jan Beebe, 10/1998.
  36. [S460] Marshall L. McClanahan, Ralph & Jane (Stow) Houghton - MLM, p. 103.