45901.Benjamin Holden. Born 9 Jan 1748/9 in Worcester, MA.155 Benjamin died in Barre, MA on 20 Sep 1783.155
From The Holden Genealogy, pages 241–242:155
Benjamin Holden enlisted 20 April, 1775, in Captain John Black’s company (in which Aaron Holden, later captain, was sergeant), Colonel Jonathan Brewer’s regiment, and was in the service as late as October 26. He reenlisted 2 Sept., 1776 in company commanded by Captain Aaron Haynes (Aaron Holden was lieutenant), Colonel Asa Whitcomb’s regiment, and was at Ticonderoga 1 Dec., 1776. Later rolls are missing. We learn from the pension declaration of his widow, Abigail, 4 April, 1837, when her memory was somewhat dimmed, that during his first enlistment he was a part of the time stationed at the college in Cambridge, and was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and that he served out the full term of his enlistment, which was probably for eight months. She also stated that he returned home from Ticonderoga ill, after having served about five months. She further stated that he was a member of the minute men com- pany before the opening of hostilities, and marched on the Lexington Alarm, but the company failed to reach the scene of the battle until after the British had retired, and that he enlisted the last of April in Captain Aaron Holden’s company, Colonel Buckminster’s regiment. He also served as corporal in Captain Benjamin Nye’s company, Sparhawk’s regiment, 21 to 25 Aug., 1777, on call for reenforcements for Stark at Bennington.
Several papers are filed in the pension case, among them the affidavit of Tilly Mead, for whom, according to the statement of Peter Fessenden (of Barre, aged 75), Abigail had kept house for twenty years. Eli Holden, aged 61, of Barre, Vt., stated that he was present at his father’s death, and that he copied the date from the record in his mother’s Bible.
Administration was granted on his estate, which consisted wholly of personalty and not large, 24 March, 1784, to Thaddeus Partridge, the widow, Abigail, declining.
On 1 Nov 1770 Benjamin married Abigail Bacon, daughter of Ephraim Bacon (5 Sep 1730-) & Mary Brown (ca 1732-), in Barre, MA.155 Born on 21 Jan 1753 in Newton, MA. Abigail died in Barre, MA, on 14 Feb 1842; she was 89.
45902.James Holden. Born on 9 Jun 1750 in Worcester, MA.155 James died in Barre, MA, on 12 Sep 1827; he was 77.155
From The Holden Genealogy, pages 243–244:155
James Holden enlisted 26 Sept., 1777, in Captain Benjamin Nye’s company, which marched under Major Jonas Wilder to reenforce the Northern Army. He was discharged 18 Oet., 1777. He enlisted to the credit of Littleton for six months, July, 1780, and is described as thirty years of age, five feet, seven inches tall, of light complexion. He was at Camp Totoway in October and was discharged 6 Dec., 1780. He was enumerated at Barre, 1790, having the family given above to and including the seventh child.
On 12 Nov 1772 when James was 22, he married Hannah Bacon, daughter of Ephraim Bacon (5 Sep 1730-) & Mary Brown (ca 1732-), in Barre, MA.155 Born ca 1754 in Newton, MA. Hannah died in Barre, MA on 7 Apr 1836.155
45903.Josiah Holden. Born on 30 Sep 1751 in Worcester, MA.155 Josiah died in Newfane, Windham County, Vermont, on 29 Jun 1829; he was 77.155
From The Holden Genealogy, pages 244–245:155
Josiah Holden had sixty-eight acres set off to him in the northern part of his father’s farm in Barre. After the Revolution he removed to Vermont. He may have been that Josiah Holden who marched 28 July, 1777, on the Bennington Alarm, a member of company commanded by Captain Stockwell, in Colonel Cushing’s regiment, but most of that company were Shrewsbury men. He was one of the early settlers of Newfane, and the census of 1790 enumerated his family as himself, four males under sixteen and four females. In 1810 his family consisted of himself, three males between sixteen and twenty-six, one female under ten, and two between sixteen and twenty-six, and one over forty-five years. Distribution of his estate in 1830, and that of his widow’s dower, 28 April, 1842, was to Josiah F. and Lyman, daughter Patty Shumway, and Martha and Mary Houghton, heirs of deceased daughter Polly.
On 20 Jan 1779 when Josiah was 27, he first married Mary Forbes in Barre, MA.155
On 29 Jan 1799 when Josiah was 47, he second married Hannah Smith.155
45904.Moses Holden. Born on 9 Jul 1753 in Barre, MA.155 Moses died in Barre, MA, on 11 Feb 1831; he was 77.155
From The Holden Genealogy, pages 144–145:155
The gravestones of Deacon Moses Holden and of his wife stand side by side in the old Lee Cemetery, near the old Holden farm in Barre. The graves of Seth Holden and his wife are in Glen Valley Cemetery at Barre. The Bible of Deacon Moses, the hall clock formerly his, portraits of his children, and various articles of household furniture which had belonged to him are [in 1923] in the possession of his descendant, Winthrop Wetherbee of Boston.
Moses Holden served from the 21 to 25 Aug., 1777, in Captain Benjamin Nye’s company, Colonel Sparhawk’s regiment on an alarm calling militia to Bennington.
He was constable eight years, assessor four years, and deacon in the church.
On 7 May 1778 when Moses was 24, he married Sarah Perry (62873) , daughter of Seth Perry (54802) (27 Jun 1735-16 May 1797) & Mercy Freeman (27 Mar 1735-Mar 1831), in Barre, MA.155 Born on 18 Feb 1758.155 Sarah died in Barre, MA, on 21 Sep 1842; she was 84.155
45905.John Holden. Born on 17 Dec 1755 in Barre, MA.155 John died in Barre, MA, on 8 Sep 1759; he was 3.155
45906.Nathan Holden. Born on 2 Mar 1758 in Barre, MA.155 Nathan died in New Salem, Franklin County, Massachusetts, on 10 Sep 1808; he was 50.155
From The Holden Genealogy, pages 248–249:155
In the census of 1790, Nathan Holden of Petersham was head of a family consisting of self, three males under sixteen, and three females. The inventory of his estate taken 1 Nov., 1808, disclosed only personal property in New Salem, but that he had 1120 acres in Houlton, Me., valued at $800. He died intestate and his widow, Abigail, was appointed administratrix. Asahel Paige of New Salem appointed guardian 10 July, 1810, of Lucinda (sic) and Julia W., minors over fourteen years, Sophronia, Josiah B., and Stillman, under fourteen years, children of Nathan Holden. Simeon and Lucinda Holden assent to administratrix’s accounts 18 June, 1810.
Nathan Holden of Barre enlisted 5 May, 1777, and was discharged 5 July, 1777. He served in Rhode Island, in company commanded by Captain William Henry, Colonel Whitney’s regiment. He may have been the man of same name in Captain Stockwell’s company which marched on the Bennington Alarm of 28 July, 1777. He did enlist 28 March, 1778, and served in Captain William Marean’s company, in Colonel Stearns’s regiment of guards at Cambridge until 2 July. Their duty was to guard the prisoners taken at Saratoga. He again served from 31 July to 14 Sept., 1778, in Captain Jotham Houghton’s company, Colonel Josiah Whitney’s regiment raised for six weeks’ service in Rhode Island, and again in same company, as corporal, from 3 to 19 Nov., 1778, guarding the barracks at Rutland in which were the prisoners taken with Burgoyne, and as escort to Enfield, Conn. On the 2 July, 1780, he enlisted for six months in the Continental Army. His descriptive list states he was then twenty-two years of age, light complexion, and five feet, six inches in height. He was discharged 29 Dec., 1780, and during this service was stationed at West Point, and was a member of company commanded by Captain Cooper, in Colonel Gamaliel Bradford’s regiment.
It is also possible that it was he, not his cousin of the same name, who marched from Shrewsbury in Captain Job Cushing’s company of Minute Men on the alarm of the 19 April, 1775, and enlisted 28 April, until 31 Dec. Captain Job Cushing commanded a com- pany in Colonel Jonathan Ward’s regiment, If this enlistment in 1775 was by Nathan 12256, it appears strange that his widow did not mention it. As will be seen, it is possible to check the other enlistments by the statements made by her.
“Franklin Co., Nov. 20, 1838, appeared a resident of New Salem, aged 75 years, Abigail Holden, who being sworn says: That she is the widow of Nathan Holden formerly of New Salem. I knew the said Nathan Holden before he went into the army, we both lived in Barre, Worcester Co.; he was absent 8 or 9 months; he was at Bennington; was with the army in Rhode Island; he assisted in guarding the British prisoners at Rutland, Mass., which were taken at the surrender of Burgoyne. I often heard my said husband say that he was at West Point at the time of Arnold’s treachery, and that he saw Major Andre hung. At this time he was absent some 8 or 9 months. My brother Amos Whiting (who has been dead a good many years) was with him at West Point, and I have often heard him say he was in the same company with my husband and in the same mess.
“I further declare that I was married to the said Nathan Holden, Nov. 26, 1782; that my husband, the aforesaid Nathan Holden, died Sept. 10, 1808. That my maiden name was Abigail Whiting.2 ”
“Josiah B. Holden of New Salem, Nov. 20, 1838, says that he was well acquainted with Nathan Holden, the late husband of Abigail Holden who is about to apply for a pension, and that said Nathan Holden died at his house in New Salem Sept. 10, 1808.”
On 28 Nov 1782 when Nathan was 24, he married Abigail Whiting, daughter of Josiah Whiting (ca 1732-25 Aug 1818) & Abigail Perry (16 Jan 1733-), in Barre, MA.155 Born on 11 Oct 1763.155 Abigail died on 2 Apr 1851; she was 87.155
45907.Abigail Holden. Born on 22 Mar 1760 in Barre, MA.155 Abigail died in Barre, MA, on 26 Aug 1838; she was 78.155
On 22 May 1783 when Abigail was 23, she first married Amos Whiting, son of Josiah Whiting (ca 1732-25 Aug 1818) & Abigail Perry (16 Jan 1733-), in Barre, MA.155 Born on 16 Nov 1761 in Sherborn, MA.155 Amos died in Barre, MA in 1787.155