The purpose of this post is to look for clues among the militia and army officers John Gibbs served during the Revolution. My thinking is that Gibbs might have looked to such a person to help him bring Dirlam to Blandford. Or that such a leader might have suggested bringing Dirlam to Blandford to Gibbs.
Why Gibbs? Because Gibbs and Dirlam together bought a farm lot in Blandford in 1780 at a tax collectors sale. Gibbs bought several properties including the one he bought with Dirlam, farm lot 34. Altogether they spent almost £300. I think Dirlam's share might have been £50. I'm assuming Gibbs bankrolled Dirlam who had been taken prisoner just 2 years earlier. So Gibbs must have been, for Blandford, a wealthy man. Incidentally, the properties could have been recovered by the previous owners up to 3 years later, by paying the taxes and penalties.
The three names I found:
1) Captain William Knox(1722, Hopkinton MA - 1802, Blandford MA). William Knox came to Blandford with his parents and siblings, when the town was first settled in 1735. Knox served in the town militia during the French & Indian War [1754-1763].
Why Gibbs? Because Gibbs and Dirlam together bought a farm lot in Blandford in 1780 at a tax collectors sale. Gibbs bought several properties including the one he bought with Dirlam, farm lot 34. Altogether they spent almost £300. I think Dirlam's share might have been £50. I'm assuming Gibbs bankrolled Dirlam who had been taken prisoner just 2 years earlier. So Gibbs must have been, for Blandford, a wealthy man. Incidentally, the properties could have been recovered by the previous owners up to 3 years later, by paying the taxes and penalties.
The three names I found:
1) Captain William Knox(1722, Hopkinton MA - 1802, Blandford MA). William Knox came to Blandford with his parents and siblings, when the town was first settled in 1735. Knox served in the town militia during the French & Indian War [1754-1763].
In 1774 parliament annulled the colony's charter, and the royal governor dissolved the provincial assembly. The members of the assembly met anyway. The governor, a military commander, tooks steps to secure the situation. And in April 1775, Knox led Blandford's militia to defend Lexington, taking his eldest son, a 15 year-old. Later that year, the town sent him as a delegate to a Congress of Delegates from the several Towns and Districts in the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay.
He was made captain of the 6th company of Massachusetts Provincial Militia when they were sent to Ticonderoga in October and November 1776. This was part of an effort to dissuade the British from trying to retake the fort. Two of Knox's brothers served in his company. Wikipedia's article, Second Saratoga order of battle, includes 4 Massachusetts regiments, but not the 6th, confirming that the Knox's didn't see combat there in 1777.
So far, I haven't found individual service records for 1777 and 1778. But the unit seems to have been transferred back and forth between the Highland's Department, formed around the defenses on the Hudson River north of New York City, where the Army had it's biggest materiel and hospital operation; and the Northern Department, farther north toward Albany.
When war in the north didn't produced the conclusive victories the British sought, they moved south, far from Massachusetts; at the end of 1779, the Continental Army planned another reorganization; and Knox resigned his commission, saying "he had served for a considerable time as a Captain of a militia company in Col. John Moseley's (Hampshire Co.) regt., and asking permission to resign is commission on account of age, lameness, and infirmity." He would have been 59 years old, and lived another 23 years.
After the war, Knox was elected twice to the Massachusetts General Court in 1799 and 1801. He and his wife are buried in the Old Burying Ground in Blandford.
William Knox was licensed as a retailer (of liquor?) in Blandford in 1784, 1785 and 1787.* William's brother, John Knox, owned a tavern on the road, now MA23, east to Westfield (a suburb of Springfield). He was reimbursed for caring for soldiers who stopped there; there was no hospital.
2) Captain William Cooley (17 Mar 1736, Springfield - 14 Apr 1825, Granville). Cooley and his wife are buried in Granville at Main Road Cemetery.
3) Captain William Cannon (1722, Blandford - Dec. 7, 1780, Blandford).
Here are service records for John Gibbs and his brothers:
GIBBS, Israel [1738-1818]. Private, in a detachment from Capt. William Knox's co., Col. John Moseley's regt.; service, 28 days; detachment marched to Ticonderoga Oct. 21, 1776, under command of Lieut. Col. Timothy Robison (Robinson) to reinforce Continental Army. Roll sworn to at Blandford. [Gibb's father served the same company. ]
GIBBS, Israel. 2d Sergeant, Capt. William Cooley's co., Col. John Mosley's regt.; engaged Sept. 22, 1776; discharged Nov. 12, 1776; service, 2 mos. 3 days, travel included. Roll dated North Castle [NY, near White Plains]. [Mosley's was the 3rd Hampshire County Regiment]
GIBBS, Israel. Fifer, Capt. William Cannon's co., Col. David Leonard's regt.; service, 70 days; company drafted and marched to Ticonderoga May 6, 1777, and returned home July 14, 1777; roll sworn to at Blandford; also, Capt. Solomon Brown's co., Col. Elisha Porter's (Hampshire Co.) regt.; engaged July 31, 1779; discharged Sept. 1, 1779; service, 1 mo. 6 days, travel included, at New London, Conn. [Cannon's is the Blandford Company and Leonard succeeded Mosley to command the regiment]
GIBBS, Isaac [1744-1823]. Private, in a detachment from Capt. William Knox's co., Col. John Mosley's regt.; service, 28 days; detachment marched to Ticonderoga Oct. 21, 1776, under command of Lieut. Col. Timothy Robison (Robinson) to reinforce Continental Army. Roll sworn to at Blandford.
GIBBS, John [1730-1816]. Private, in a detachment from Capt. William Knox's co., Col. John Mosley's regt.; service, 28 days; detachment marched to Ticonderoga Oct. 21, 1776, under command of Lieut. Col. Timothy Robison (Robinson) to reinforce Continental Army. Roll sworn to at Blandford.
- all from Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of The Revolutionary War, Volume 6, page 382 & 385
Now the service records of the captains:
Knox, William [1722-1802]. Sergeant, Capt. William Cannon's detachment, Col. John Mosley's regt.; service, 28 days; mileage out and home (320 miles) allowed; detachment marched to Ticonderoga Oct. 21, 1776, under command of Lieut. Col. Timothy Robinson to reinforce Continental Army.
Knox, William. Private, Capt. William Cooley's co., Col. John Mosley's regt.; engaged Sept. 22, 1776; discharged Nov. 16, 1776; service, 2 mos 3 days, including 8 days (160 miles) travel home. Roll dated North Castle.
Knox, William. Captain, 6th co., Col. John Mosely's (3d Hampshire Co.) regt. of Mass. militia; list of officers chosen in said regiment, endorsed “April 26, 1776;” reported commissioned April 26, 1776; also, Captain, Lieut. Col. Timothy Robinson's detachment from 3d Hampshire Co. regt., which marched to Ticonderoga Oct. 21, 1776, by order of Gen. Skyler (Schuyler) to reinforce army at that place; [service not given]; also, petition dated Blandford, Jan. 5, 1779, signed by said Knox, stating that he had served for a considerable time as Captain of a militia company in Col. John Moseley's (Hampshire Co.) regt., and asking permission to resign his commission on account of age, lameness, and infirmity.
Knox, William, 2d [1750-1815]. 2d Lieutenant, Capt. Samuel Sloper's (12th) co., Col. David Mosley's (3d Hampshire Co.) regt.; entered service June 12, 1782; discharged June 17, 1782; service, 6 days; company marched to Northampton June 12, 1782, in support of the government, and was allowed horse rations.
- all from Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of The Revolutionary War, Volume 9, page 426
COOLEY, William, [1736-1825] Captain. Mass. Militia; wounded at White Plains Oct. 28, 1776; died 1825.
- from Hist. Reg. of Officers of the Continental Army
COOLEY, William, Captain. 9th and 5th Co., Col. John Moseley's (3rd Hampshire Co.) Regt. (In May 1776 a return was made of a military company in Granville, belonging to the 5th Regt. of Mass. Militia, of which Moseley of Westfield was Colonel. This company was commanded by Capt. William Cooley, Edmund Barlow was first Lieutenant, Samuel Bancroft, Jr., second Lieutenant, Richard Dickinson, Josel Strong and Samuel Williams, Sergeants; Joel Bancroft, John Cooley, Thomas Gilbert and James Coe, Corporals. The company numbered 73 men with 73 guns, 2 bayonets, 4 swords, 680 flints, and 5 1/2 lbs of powder. The strength and flower of the town were under enlistment. (quoted from Vol. II, page 62, Hist. of Western Mass., by Josiah Holland). List of Officers of Mass. Militia. Ordered in Council Apr. 26, 1776, that commission be issued; reported commissioned same day. Captain of detachment from 3rd Hampshire Regt. commanded by Lt. Col. Timothy Richardson; marched Oct.21, 1776, by order Gen. Schuyler, to reinforce army at Ticonderoga; also Col. John Moseley's Regt., engaged Sept. 23, 1776, disch. Nov. 16, 1776; same regt., July 9-Oct. 12, 1777, when company marched towards Bennington on an alarm; roll sworn to at Granville.
- from Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of The Revolutionary War, Volume 2, page 382
COOLEY, William, Captain. A description of his Detachment for 2 mos. 3 days, return of, in which a number of his men were from Blandford.
- from Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolution from Blandford, Massachusetts.
(V) Captain William son of Daniel (3) and Frances (McKintree) Cooley, was born March 17, 1736; died April 14, 1825. He settled in Granville, Massachusetts where he organized a military company for service in the revolutionary war. His commission as captain, issued April 26, 1776, signed by Perez Morton, secretary, assigns him to the Fifth Company, Third Regiment, Hampshire county militia, John Moseley, colonel. November 27, 1759, he married Sarah Mather, born November 26, 1734, died December 2, 1822, daughter of Timothy Mather, of Windsor, Connecticut, and a descendant of Rev. Richard Mather (see forward). The children of this union were: I. Sarah, born 1762; 2 William, 1763; 3 Abigail, May 3,1765; 4 Triphena, May 8, 1767; 5 Dorothy, April 22, 1768; 6 Timothy Mather DD; 7 Alexander, May 2, l775; 8 James, December 2, 1779.
- from Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to The Families of the State of New York, Volume 4, edited by William Richard Cutter, William Frederick Adams, page 2182
Cannon, William (Mass) Captain Massachusetts Militia, 1777.
- from Hist. Reg. of Officers of the Continental Army
Cannon, William. Captain, 12th co., Col. John Moseley's (3d Hampshire Co.) regt.; list of officers of Mass. militia; commissioned April 26, 1776; also, same regt.; company marched to Ticonderoga Oct. 21, 1776, under command of Lieut. Col. Timothy Robinson to reinforce Continental Army; service, 28 days; also, petition dated Blandford, Sept. 30, 1778, signed by said Cannon, asking for a discharge from his commission as Captain of the 12th (Blandford) co. in Col. Moseley's (3d Hampshire Co.) regt.; allowed in Council, Oct. 6, 1778.
Cannon, William. Sergeant, Capt. Samuel Sloper's (12th) co., Col. David Mosley's (3d Hampshire Co.) regt.; enlisted June 12, 1782; discharged June 17, 1782; service, 6 days; company marched to Northampton in support of the government June 12, 1782.
- from Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of The Revolutionary War, Volume 3, page 72
This family name was sometimes spelled Carnachen or Carnahan.
COOLEY, William, [1736-1825] Captain. Mass. Militia; wounded at White Plains Oct. 28, 1776; died 1825.
- from Hist. Reg. of Officers of the Continental Army
COOLEY, William, Captain. 9th and 5th Co., Col. John Moseley's (3rd Hampshire Co.) Regt. (In May 1776 a return was made of a military company in Granville, belonging to the 5th Regt. of Mass. Militia, of which Moseley of Westfield was Colonel. This company was commanded by Capt. William Cooley, Edmund Barlow was first Lieutenant, Samuel Bancroft, Jr., second Lieutenant, Richard Dickinson, Josel Strong and Samuel Williams, Sergeants; Joel Bancroft, John Cooley, Thomas Gilbert and James Coe, Corporals. The company numbered 73 men with 73 guns, 2 bayonets, 4 swords, 680 flints, and 5 1/2 lbs of powder. The strength and flower of the town were under enlistment. (quoted from Vol. II, page 62, Hist. of Western Mass., by Josiah Holland). List of Officers of Mass. Militia. Ordered in Council Apr. 26, 1776, that commission be issued; reported commissioned same day. Captain of detachment from 3rd Hampshire Regt. commanded by Lt. Col. Timothy Richardson; marched Oct.21, 1776, by order Gen. Schuyler, to reinforce army at Ticonderoga; also Col. John Moseley's Regt., engaged Sept. 23, 1776, disch. Nov. 16, 1776; same regt., July 9-Oct. 12, 1777, when company marched towards Bennington on an alarm; roll sworn to at Granville.
- from Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of The Revolutionary War, Volume 2, page 382
COOLEY, William, Captain. A description of his Detachment for 2 mos. 3 days, return of, in which a number of his men were from Blandford.
- from Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolution from Blandford, Massachusetts.
(V) Captain William son of Daniel (3) and Frances (McKintree) Cooley, was born March 17, 1736; died April 14, 1825. He settled in Granville, Massachusetts where he organized a military company for service in the revolutionary war. His commission as captain, issued April 26, 1776, signed by Perez Morton, secretary, assigns him to the Fifth Company, Third Regiment, Hampshire county militia, John Moseley, colonel. November 27, 1759, he married Sarah Mather, born November 26, 1734, died December 2, 1822, daughter of Timothy Mather, of Windsor, Connecticut, and a descendant of Rev. Richard Mather (see forward). The children of this union were: I. Sarah, born 1762; 2 William, 1763; 3 Abigail, May 3,1765; 4 Triphena, May 8, 1767; 5 Dorothy, April 22, 1768; 6 Timothy Mather DD; 7 Alexander, May 2, l775; 8 James, December 2, 1779.
- from Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to The Families of the State of New York, Volume 4, edited by William Richard Cutter, William Frederick Adams, page 2182
Cannon, William (Mass) Captain Massachusetts Militia, 1777.
- from Hist. Reg. of Officers of the Continental Army
Cannon, William. Captain, 12th co., Col. John Moseley's (3d Hampshire Co.) regt.; list of officers of Mass. militia; commissioned April 26, 1776; also, same regt.; company marched to Ticonderoga Oct. 21, 1776, under command of Lieut. Col. Timothy Robinson to reinforce Continental Army; service, 28 days; also, petition dated Blandford, Sept. 30, 1778, signed by said Cannon, asking for a discharge from his commission as Captain of the 12th (Blandford) co. in Col. Moseley's (3d Hampshire Co.) regt.; allowed in Council, Oct. 6, 1778.
Cannon, William. Sergeant, Capt. Samuel Sloper's (12th) co., Col. David Mosley's (3d Hampshire Co.) regt.; enlisted June 12, 1782; discharged June 17, 1782; service, 6 days; company marched to Northampton in support of the government June 12, 1782.
- from Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of The Revolutionary War, Volume 3, page 72
This family name was sometimes spelled Carnachen or Carnahan.
* The Taverns and Turnpikes of Blandford, 1733-1833, by Sumner Gilbert Wood.
