All the Tufts Revolutionary soldiers Frederick to James Tufts

My next blog installment will be done in several parts and added to and edited often. I hope to work my way through All the Tufts Revolutionary Soldiers alphabetically and present them as I find the information. This second post will start with Frederick and George.

As always, I recommend to all readers and researchers to verify any information found here. I have done my best to provide source information and verify it myself. If errors are found, please forward them for editing. With this new format, I may be editing often and will try and note any changes from previous research. Check back often for updates.

I will try to present here, a record of all the soldiers who fought in the American Revolution of the Tufts family of Charlestown, Massachusetts. While no record could ever be complete, I will do my best and hope that it serves as a good reference for readers to find information on their ancestor or just to enjoy the stories of these heroes. I will also add the soldiers of the name Tufts that may not be from this family.

I am fortunate enough to be able to draw on the research of historians before me. Herbert Adams compiled the most accurate and thorough guide to the Tufts families in TuftsKinsmen. The family listings there have short biographies that often list military service. I will do my best to quote that reference briefly as allowed by copywright and give credit to the book. The book is available in 2 volumes by sending an e-mail to tuftskinsmenbook@comcast.net and can be found in some libraries in the Boston area.
The internet allows great opportunities for research and often includes images of the actual records. I use ancestry.com and fold3 and quote them often here.

The family of Peter Tufts the immigrant to Charlestown, Massachusetts before 1638 lived in Medford, Malden, Somerville and other local towns so were in the heart of the turmoil in Boston and every available man and boy answered the call in some manner. There was a record of at least one Tufts Loyalist who decided against the Revolution. His story will follow the list of Patriots. There is also the story of Ann Tufts the nurse at Bunker Hill.

We know of at least three Tufts who gave their life in the fight for independence: William Tufts died in the Battle of Bennington in 1776. Aaron Tufts died in an English prison in 1781, and Adam Tufts died in service in 1778. Ichabod Tufts may have died at the battle of Bunker Hill.

I do not have a total number of Tufts sons who served in the war. I may have that number by the end of this part of the blog. There certainly could have been more than I have found but this research accounts for the eligible sons of the families in the colonies at that time and matches them to the records readily available. The story of William Tuffs/Tufts suggests that some men could have served and not been recorded. http://tuftsgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/03/william-tuffs-history-or-mystery.html Some young boys could have tagged along with their fathers and beat the company drum, and some old timers could have supported the militia close to home without serving in any unit.

The best way to detail all these Tufts is alphabetically. I have added as much as I have on each soldier. Because there were many repeated names and records it was often difficult to assign the correct soldier to each record so there may be mistakes or duplications. As always I strongly recommend researchers to seek out the actual record when possible or contact me for source information.

Frederick Tufts

Fredrick Tufts was the last son of Thomas Tufts born in Medford Massachusetts June 27, 1731. Thomas was the son of Peter Jr. from Peter. Tufts Kinsmen states he was a Sergeant in the Revolution but no other information is provided. His parents died in 1731 and 1734/5 so the record for probate in Massachusetts in 1736 and 1749 labeled “guardian” must be when someone was made his guardian. I can only imagine he may have been absorbed into some Tufts family but there is no Frederick in any other record until 1796. He had half brothers and sisters but none that I think could have been close to bringing him into their family. His oldest sister Katherine Tufts married Thomas Sherman in 1737 in Christ Church, Old North, in Boston but had no children and remarried in 1758. So this soldier remains a mystery until further research can be done.

Ancestry

Peter Tufts (the immigrant) (1617-1700) Tibenham, England, Charlestown, Massachusetts and Mary Pierce (1626-1702)

Peter Tufts Jr. (Captain) (1648-1721) and Elizabeth Lynde (1650-1684)

Thomas Tufts (Reverend) (1683-1733) and Mary Lynde (1680-1718) (Elizabeth Lynde (above) was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Tufts) Lynde, the sister of Peter Tufts the immigrant. Mary Lynde was their son Thomas and Elizabeth Lynde’s daughter.)

 

George Tufts

George Tufts was born January 10, 1746/7 in Medford Massachusetts. He was the son of William from James, Jonathan and Peter.  He served around Boston in 1776 and enlisted for 3 years in 1777 but returned home sick and was listed as deserted which was not uncommon.

George married Elizabeth Hartwell in 1767 in Cambridge, MA and had 8 children and died August 25, 1796. Two of his great-grandsons, may have been killed in the Civil war. (They were George D. and Jeriah Tufts, the sons of Joseph from George’s son George.)

·         Tufts, George. Loaned money to pay bounty, July and Sept., 1776; enlisted for 3 yrs., 1777; reported deserted; was at home, sick, Dec. 10, 1780. Son of William and Catherine (Wyman); married Elizabeth Hartwell, 1767; married, 2d, Mary, who survived him:
·         Tufts, George, Private, Capt. Isaac Hall's co.; service, 4 days; company marched from Medford by order of Gen. Washington at the time of taking Dorchester Heights in March, 1776. Account of money paid by persons to hire men to go to Canada [year not given], examined and allowed by a committee at Medford Oct. 8, 1776.
·       Tufts, George, Medford, List of men raised to serve in the Continental Army from 1st Middlesex Co. regt., as returned by Lieut. Stephen Hall; residence, Medford; engaged for town of Medford; joined Capt. Bancroft's co., Col. Jackson's regt.; term, 3 years; also, list of men mustered by Nathaniel Barber, Muster Master for Suffolk Co., dated Boston, March 16, 1777; Capt. Bancroft's co., Col. Jackson's regt.; reported received State bounty; also, Private, Capt. James Bancroft's co., Col. Michael Jackson's regt.; Continental Army pay accounts for service from Feb. 21, 1777, to —; reported deserted.

      Ancestry
Peter Tufts (the immigrant) (1617-1700) Tibenham, England, Charlestown, Massachusetts and Mary Pierce (1626-1702)
Jonathan Tufts (1660-1722) Malden, Massachusetts and Rebecca Waite (1662-1775)
James Tufts (1681-1733) Medford, MA and Ruth Grimes (1681-1721)
William Tufts (10 June, 1713-29 October, 1783) and Katherine Wyman (1717-1748/9)


Children:
George Tufts Jr. (1768-1818) married Rebecca Frost (1766-1838) and had 9 or 10 children.
Joseph Tufts (1770-1824) married Sarah Turner (1722-?) and had a family (un-researched).
John Tufts (1773-1773)
Elizabeth Tufts ( 1778-1796) unmarried
John Tufts (1781-1826) married Betsey Johnson (1796-1824), had Augustus and ? in                 Billerica MA.
Call Tufts (1785-1858) married Mary Saunders (1787-1868) and had 3 children in Billerica.
Aaron Tufts (1788-?) may have died young.
Hannah Tufts (1791-?) may have died young.

Grimes Tufts
Grimes Tufts was born in Medford, Massachusetts December 4, 1748. He was the son of William from James, Jonathan and Peter. Many of this family have gallantly served their fledgling nation including his brother George (above). Grimes name comes from his grandmother Ruth Grimes the wife of James Tufts. Grimes settled in Lynn, MA and had 7 children with his first wife Mary Witt, and none with his second wife Mary Ballard. Mary Witt died in 1783 when the children were all young. Tufts Kinsmen states he was a brick maker. Many of his family were. He is buried in the Western cemetery in Lynn MA. (His grandfather named a son Grimes who died young and is in Salem Street burying ground and can be seen at findagrave.com.) Grimes turned out for Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 and served in 2 regiments. He is on the record as Ensign in Mansfield’s (5^th MA) Regiment from April to August around Boston, then again as 2^nd Lieutenant in October, 1775. The 5^th MA regiment was sent as reinforcements at the Battle of Bunker Hill in June 1775, but was not in action. The Lynn MA historical site has a good description of the action that day and a biography of Colonel Mansfield who was an experienced Indian war soldier. They were sent to support the retreat of Bunker Hill but stopped short of the action as the British ships were having effect on the town. Mansfield was put out of the army for his action on that day and the regiment went to his subordinate Colonel Israel Hutchinson. They afterwards were stationed on Winter Hill (Somerville) and I am sure Grimes Tufts was instrumental in their assignment making bricks for defenses. Grime is later on the roll serving as 2^nd Lieutenant in Hutchinson’s Regiment (27^th MA) in 1776. No later service of this hero was found.
·         Tufts, Grimes, Lynn, Sergeant, Capt. Ezra Newhall's (Lynn) co. of Minute-men, which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, 5 days; also, Ensign; list of lieutenants and ensigns in Col. Mansfield's regt.; ordered in Provincial Congress June 7, 1775, that commissions be delivered said officers; also, Ensign, Capt. Newhall's co., Col. John Mansfield's regt.; muster roll dated Aug. 1, 1775; engaged April 24, 1775; service, 3 mos. 15 days; also, 2d Lieutenant, Capt. Newhall's co., Col. Mansfield's (19th) regt. commanded by Lieut. Col. Israel Hutchinson; company return dated Oct. 6, 1775; also, Ensign, Capt. Asa Prince's co., Col. Mansfield's regt.; list of officers [year not given, probably 1775].

 

Ancestry

Peter Tufts (the immigrant) (1617-1700) Tibenham, England, Charlestown, Massachusetts and Mary Pierce (1626-1702)

Jonathan Tufts (1660-1722) Malden, Massachusetts and Rebecca Waite (1662-1775)

James Tufts (1681-1733) Medford, MA and Ruth Grimes (1681-1721)

William Tufts (10 June, 1713-29 October, 1783) and Katherine Wyman (1717-1748/9)

 

Children:

Grimes Tufts (1771-1773)

Grimes Tufts (1773-1803) married Margaret Turell (1776-1804) and had Margaret, Nathaniel and Grimes)

Ivory Tufts (1775-1818) married Elizabeth, Betsey Turell (1774-1808) (sister of Margaret-above). They had Ivory, Eliza, Sarah T, Margaret, Aaron, and George. He then married Nancy Turell (1888-1858) (sister of both above) and had Albert, Francis, Sarah T. Ebenezer T, and Nancy T. He was a trader and is buried in Charles St burial ground, Boston.

Aaron Tufts (1777-1816) married Sarah Ward (1785-?) had a daughter, Mary.

William Tufts (1779-1823 married Sarah, Sally Burden (1778-1877) and had Sarah, William, Richard P, Samuel, Samuel C, Mary A, Harriet, and Nathaniel.

Mark Tufts (1780-1804) unmarried.

Mary Tufts (1782-1828) married George Meek of CT and had a family of 5 in Lynn.

 

 

Henry Tufts (2)

There were 2 Henry Tufts that served in the Revolution. They were father and son. This is the family of Henry Jr. who was a horse thief, bigamist and army deserter. His story was one of my first presented.  http://tuftsgenealogy.blogspot.com/2012/10/henry-tufts-blacksheep-of-otherwise.html

Henry, the father, was born in Medford, Massachusetts September 24, 1716. He was first apprenticed to his uncle Simon Tufts to be a doctor but the money ran out when his father died. He became a tailor on Fleet Street in Boston then followed his brother Thomas to Newmarket, NH by way of Exeter. Succeeding in business, he bought a farm in Lee, NH near the Durham line and is recorded there by petitions and association tests. According to Tufts Kinsmen he did serve in the war even though he was 59 years old. I haven’t found the record of this service. There is a record that a Henry Tufts went to Seavey’s Island in Portsmouth, NH in November 1775 and was a private in Captain Smith Emerson’s Company. There is also a record from Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors… which list an enlistment from Salisbury (MA). It is believed that these are for Henry Jr. who often enlisted for the bonus then deserted. According to his book, Henry Jr. went to Seavey’s Island then served 2-2month terms around Boston, then returned to Lee and details his life there and in Canterbury NH. He also talks about his enlistment from Salisbury for a term of three years but never actually leaving Massachusetts, he returned home. On the run after this he was put in the Exeter jail for desertion at least twice and escaped. He spends the rest of the war on the run (If you believe the book).

Henry Sr. and his wife, Mary Wedgewood of Newmarket raised a family of 6 in Lee. It is believed their farm is on the Lee Hook Road near the town line. There is an old cape and barn down a small lane. I was friends with the family there and was able to find the old graveyard out behind their place in the sheep meadow. In one half the stones are newer and reflect the later owners of the home at the roadside but there is a half of the cemetery which probably contains graves. I hope to someday find the means to determine if the family is buried there as it would contain at least 2 Revolutionary veterans (Henry Sr. and Eliphalet).

·         Tufts, Henry, return of men raised in Essex Co. for Continental service, agreeable to resolve of Dec. 2, 1780; engaged for town of Salisbury; engaged March 26, 1781; term, 3 years.

Ancestry

 

Peter Tufts (the immigrant) (1617-1700) Tibenham, England, Charlestown, Massachusetts and Mary Pierce (1626-1702)

Peter Tufts Jr. (Captain) (1648-1721) and Elizabeth Lynde (1650-1684)

Thomas Tufts (Reverend) (1683-1733) and Mary Lynde (1680-1718)

 

Henry Tufts Sr. (1716-1780) married Mary Wedgewood (1722-1782) and had Henry Jr, Jonathan, Thomas, Eliphalet, Molly, and John.

 

Henry Tufts Jr. (1748-1831) married Lydia Bickford (1741-1834) and had Simeon, Thomas, Deborah, Nancy A, and Catherine.

More information is available on this family.



 

Ichabod Tufts

Ichabod Tufts was born in May 16, 1731 in Medford, Massachusetts. He was the son of John, from James, Jonathan, and Peter. He was the brother of William the hero at Louisburg, Nova Scotia and Barnabas.

Ichabod Tufts is reported to have died at the Battle of Bunker Hill. In Tufts Kinsmen it is noted that he was “probably killed there and his death not recorded in the confusion”. That reference lists his death as June 17, 1775, the date of the battle. Given his family of Patriots, it would be hard to believe he would be far from the action. For now I will keep seeking his death record or anything about how he died. Please forward anything about ichabod if you come across it.

Ancestry

Peter Tufts (the immigrant) (1617-1700) Tibenham, England, Charlestown, Massachusetts and Mary Pierce (1626-1702)

Jonathan Tufts (1660-1722) Malden, Massachusetts and Rebecca Waite (1662-1775)

James Tufts (1681-1733) Medford, MA and Ruth Grimes (1681-1721)

John Tufts (1706/7-1761 Charlestown MA and Sarah Pierce (1709-1747)

Children:

John Tufts (1754-1805) married Sarah Hoyt (1752-1829) and had a family in Newburyport MA

Samuel Tufts (1758-1808) married Mary, Polly, Follings (1756-1823) and had 4 children

Rebecca Tufts (1760-1821) married John Blanchard and had 7 children in Medford, MA.

 

Isaac Tufts

 Isaac Tufts was born October 10, 1744 in Medford Massachusetts. He was the son of James from James, Jonathan and Peter the immigrant.  He answered the alarm on April 19, 1775 for Lexington and Concord, and served around Boston in the following years. He is referred to as Sergeant Isaac in Medford in the Revolution, but served as a 2^nd Lieutenant in 1778 and if the Wenham Mass enlistment record is for him, in the Continental Army. The only other Isaac Tufts of record alive then were born in 1771, and 1772. Isaac married Martha Cutter Frost on April 16, 1769. They had 8 children in Menotomy (Arlington) Massachusetts. Four of the children would have been very young when war broke out so it’s not surprising that at 31 years of age he stayed close to home but paid the bounties. He died July 22 1823 in Medford.

·         Tufts, Isaac. Sergeant, Lexington alarm ; at Dorchester Heights, March 1776; loaned money for bounty paid to men going to N. Y., Sept., 1776; loaned money to United States Government. Born 1744; son of James and Lydia (Hall); died 1823; married Martha C. Frost April 16, 1769. He lived on College Hill, which was then called Walnut Hill, near site of Tufts College. (Medford in the Revolution, Wild.)

·         Tufts, Isaac, Medford, Sergeant, Capt. Isaac Hall's co., Col. Thomas Gardner's regt., which assembled April 19, 1775; service, 5 days; also, 1st Sergeant, Capt. Hall's co.; service, 4 days; company marched from Medford by order of Gen. Washington at the time of taking Dorchester Heights in March, 1776; also, 1st Lieutenant, Capt. Joseph Tufts’ 8th (Medford) co., Col. Samuel Thatcher's (1st Middlesex Co.) regt. of Mass. militia; return of officers chosen by the several companies in said regiment, dated Watertown, April 26, 1776; ordered in Council April 29, 1776, that said officers be commissioned; reported commissioned April 29, 1776; place taken by Stephen Hall, 4th, June 17, 1776; also, account of money paid by persons to hire men who went to New York in Sept., 1776, examined and allowed by a committee at Medford Jan. 13, 1777; also, 1st Sergeant; list dated Medford, Dec. 9, 1776, of men drafted from town of Medford Dec. 9, 1776, to march to Cambridge and join Capt. John Walton's [p.135] co. and go to Noddle's Island; also, Sergeant, Capt. Walton's co.; engaged Dec. 9, 1776; discharged Dec. 21, 1776; company detached for service at Noddle's Island; also, company receipt, given to Capt. Walton, dated Cambridge, May 9, 1777, for wages and rations for service at Noddle's Island in Dec., 1776; also, 2d Lieutenant, Capt. Stephen Frost's co., Col. Thatcher's (1st Middlesex Co.) regt. of Mass. militia; commissioned June 29, 1778.

·         Tufts, Isaac, Wenham List of men raised to serve in the Continental Army [year not given]; residence, Wenham; engaged for town of Wenham.

Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution

Ancestry

Peter Tufts (the immigrant) (1617-1700) Tibenham, England, Charlestown, Massachusetts and Mary Pierce (1626-1702)

Jonathan Tufts (1660-1722) Malden, Massachusetts and Rebecca Waite (1662-1775)James Tufts (1681-1733) Medford, MA and Ruth Grimes (1681-1721)
James Tufts (1703/4-1769) Medford, MA and Lydia Hall (1705-1753)

 

Children:

Martha Tufts (1770-1821) married Phlemon Robbins Russell and had 8 children in Charlestown MA.

Isaac Tufts Jr. (1771-1788) died single.

Lydia Hall Tufts (1773-1775)

Hannah Tufts (1775-1841) died single.

Seth Tufts (1776-1823) married Lydia Hutchinson and had 6 children. (Died 2 months before his father)

Lydia Hall Tufts (2) (1778-1817) married Isaac Floyd and had 7 children in Medford.

Abigail Tufts (Nabby) (1782-1815) single.

Unnamed child (1796-1796)

James Tufts (2)

There were 2 James Tufts Revolutionary soldiers. They were father and son. James the father was born January 15, 1726 in Medford. The son was born May 24, 1755. They are actually James III and IV because they are descended from Peter the immigrant through Jonathan, James (1688), and James (1703/4). To be even more confusing, two James married a woman named Tabitha Binford and they all are referred to as Junior in different references. The grandfather (1703/4) first married Lydia Hall who is the mother of the James (1726), then in 1757 married Tabitha (Hall) Binford (1699), widow of William Binford, and mother of Tabitha Binford (1724) who in 1750 married James (1726). (So the widower grandfather married his son’s widowed mother in law.)James, the father died November 5, 1786 and was 40 years old while the son was 20 for the war so it is sensible that most of these records are for James, the son (1755).

The son is listed as one of the Medford Minutemen and memorialized on their tablet and in the book Medford in the Revolution.

·         Tufts, James, Jr. Private, Lexington alarm; served S mos., 1775-76; loaned money for bounty, July and Sept., 1776. Son of James and Tabitha (Binford) ; born 1755; married Elizabeth Hay; died 1810. With son James he kept a public house, and afterward had a pottery on south side of Mystic river, just off of Main street; property taken for Mystic River Reservation, 1900; buried in Salem Street Cemetery.

Tufts Kinsmen has the following notation for the father (1726):

JAMES was undoubtedly the earliest Medford man to defend acknowledged liberties in March, 1775. The ledger of Benjamin Hall states “Paid James Tufts for going to Charlestown twice for gunsmith’s tools.” In the Revolutionary War he assembled on Prospect Hill [now in Somerville] and marched to Dorchester Heights [South Boston] and to Noddle’s Island [East Boston].

This may be accurate for the father’s errands, and appears to come from Medford in the Revolution, but the last portion may be wrong here as the following records from Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, Vol. 16 seem to indicate the Boston area records are for the son (1755). I would expect they both turned out for the Lexington alarm and actions around Boston, whether recorded or not, they were in the midst of it.

·  Tufts, James (also given James, Jr.), Medford,  private, Capt. Isaac Hall's co., Col. Thomas Gardner's regt., which assembled April 19, 1775; service, 5 days; also, Corporal, (late) Capt. Hall's co., Lieut. Col. William Bond's (late Col. Gardner's) 37th regt.; company return dated Prospect Hill, Oct. 6, 1775; also, order for money in lieu of bounty coat dated Medford, Jan. 3, 1776; also, Corporal, Capt. Hall's co.; service, 4 days; company marched from Medford by order of Gen. Washington at the time of taking Dorchester Heights in March, 1776; also, account of money paid by persons to hire men who went to New York in Sept., 1776, examined and allowed by a committee at Medford Jan. 13, 1777; also, list dated Medford, Dec. 9, 1776, of men drafted from town of Medford Dec. 9, 1776, to march to Cambridge and join Capt. John Walton's co. and go to Noddle's Island; also, Capt. Walton's co.; enlisted Dec. 9, 1776; discharged Dec. 12, 1776; company detached for service at Noddle's Island.

There are also the following 2 records from the same reference:

·         Tufts, James, Private, Capt. Samuel Barnard's co. Col. Thomas Gardner's regt. which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775, service, 1 day. Roll endorsed “Watertown.”. Account of money paid by persons to hire men to go to Canada [year not given], examined and allowed by a committee at Medford Oct. 8, 1776; also, account of money paid by persons to hire men who went to New York in Sept., 1776, examined and allowed by a committee at Medford Jan. 13, 1777. Private, Capt. Benjamin Blaney's co., Col. Eleazer Brooks' regt. of guards; joined Jan. 15, 1778; service to April 3, 1778, 79 days, at Cambridge.

·         Tufts, James. Lieutenant, Col. Michael Jackson's regt.; Continental Army pay accounts for service from Jan. 1, 1780, to Oct. 30, 1780; reported as serving 2 mos. as Lieutenant, 8 mos. as Captain.

James Tufts Jr. (1755) married Elizabeth Hay of Watertown so that may be the connection to that town. They were married just a month before the battles at Lexington and Concord and he could have been living with his wife’s family before they settled in Medford where their children were born from September 1775 to 1798.

 

Ancestry:

Peter Tufts (the immigrant) (1617-1700) Tibenham, England, Charlestown, Massachusetts and Mary Pierce (1626-1702)

Jonathan Tufts (1660-1722) Malden, Massachusetts and Rebecca Waite (1662-1775)

James Tufts (1681-1733) Medford, MA and Ruth Grimes (1681-1721)

James Tufts (1703/4-1769) married Lydia Hall (1706-1753) and Tabitha (Hall) Binford.

James Tufts (1726-1786) married Tabitha Binford (1724-1806)

James Tufts (1755-1810) married Elizabeth Hay (1753-1828)

 

Children:

Mary Tufts (1775-1813) married Benjamin Reed and had 9 children in Medford

James Tufts (Jr.) (1777-1825) married Mary Manning (1785-1856) and had7 children

Elizabeth Tufts (1779-1819) married Captain Samuel Newhall  (1774-1822) and had 9 children.

Lucretia Tufts (1780-1848) married Reuben Richardson (1769-1830) and had 8 children.

Mercy Tufts (1782-1855) died single.

Sarah Tufts (1784-1784)

Sarah Tufts (1785-1864) married Solomon Townsend and had 2 children in NY.

Elias Tufts (1787-1868) married Abigail Symmes (1785-1863) and had 2 children.

Frances Tufts (1789-1869) married Luke Richardson (1781-1830) and had 4 children.

Lucy Tufts (1791-1791)

Lucy Tufts (1792-1837) died single.

Nancy Tufts (1792-1837) married Amasa Joslyn Boynton(1781-1867) and had 3 children in NY.