Samuel May Esq. (1739 - 1810)

Born 13 Nov 1739 in Barrington, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah (Unknown) May — married [date unknown] in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island

Husband of Prescilla Reynolds — married 4 Mar 1762 (to about 1765) in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island

Descendants

Died 3 May 1810 at age 70 in Chenango, New York, United States

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Biography

Family

• Wife Priscilla Reynolds, daughter of John and Susannah (Giles) Reynolds. Married Mar 4, 1762 by Rev. Joseph Snow. She was born Jun 3, 1745 and died before 1765. There were no children by this marriage.

• Second Wife, Susanna ?. Children of 2nd wife, Susannah ?; Priscilla, Elizabeth, Sylvester, Richard, Samuel , James, Stephen, Joseph , Asa, Daniel.
• Record Copy from DAR for Sylvester May,

• Third Wife Sarah Pearse. Daughter of William and Lydia (Brown) Pearse. Her first husband was Dr. Thomas Monroe of Bristol, RI. She married Samuel Jul 18, 1781. She was born Dec 21, 1742. There were no children from this marriage

Gloucester, RI

• In 1774 a census was taken by order of the General Assembly and Samuel May is found among the men of the town.

Military Service

Major Samuel May Esq. served with 4th Regiment, Providence County Militia, Rhode Island Militia during the American Revolution.

Samuel May Esq. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A076088.

In 1774 an army of observation was raised in Rhode Island and Gloucester furnished its quota, maintained for self-defense to prevent or repel any further attempts to enforce the acts of the British. A committee was appointed to furnish war equipment and Samuel Mays was one of the men appointed. Several trained bands were formed in the town of Gloucester. Samuel May was Captain of the 2nd Company in 1776, meeting regularly to practice and ready at call. Samuel May was one of the enlisting officers. In 1778 Samuel May is again Captain of the 2nd Company of trained bands in Glocester. In 1781 Samuel May is again listed as Captain of the 2nd Company.

He was present at the Boston Tea Party, helping to throw the tea overboard.( Reported from Rev War Vets of Chenango County, NY ) Fought in the Revolutionary War.

In 1784, 1785, 1786, Samuel Mayes, Esq. is listed as major of the fourth regiment of militia in the county of Providence.

When the Constitution was voted on in 1788, Samuel May's name appears with other from Gloucester voting against it.

New York

Samuel May moved his family to Norwich, Chenango County, New York and settled 2 miles south-west of White Store, near where George Phetteplace now lives. He died there 3 May 1810 aged 71.

Will

Transcription of Samuel May’s will Location of record: Chenango Co Surrogate Office, County office Bldg, State of New York Microfilmed by The Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, Filmed at Norwich, NY 15 Apr 1970 Title of Record: Wills Vol. A. Yrs 1792-1822 N-Yr-4 Roll # 459 page 148-9, Chenengo Co., NY Text: In the name of God amen, I Samuel May of Norwich in the county of Chenango and state of New York yeoman, being in perfect health of body and of sound mind and memory, thanks be to God, calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principaly and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hand of almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buryed in decent Chrisitian burial at the discretion of my executrors, and as touching my worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and disperse of the same in the following manner and form. First I give to my beloved wife Sarah May what the law of the state of New York will give her out of my estate. Second I give and beaueath unto my beloved son Daniel May the one half of my homestead farm wheron I now Live undivided upon these conditions that he my said son Daniel May pay to my daughter Pricillia Bennit the sun of Twenty dollars and two dollars to my grandson Samuel Mawry and two dollars to my grand daughter Susannah Wilby. Third I give and bequeath unto my bevloved son Sylvester May, Richard May, Samuel May, James May, Joseph May, Asa May the other undivided half of my homestead farm whereon I now live. Fouth I give and bequeath unto my said sons Silvester May, Richard May , Samuel May, James May , Joseph May, Asa May and also my son Daniel May after paying all my just debts and funeral charges the whole of my property not as far disposed off that I dis----of everything equally to be divided between my said sons Silvester May, Richard May, Samuel May, James May, Joseph May, Asa May and Daniel May. And I do constitute make and ordain my sons Sylvester May and Joseph May executors to this my last will and testament and I do utterly disalow revoke and isanull all and every other former testament will, legacy bequests and executors by me in any ways before named willed and bequested ratifying and confirming this and on other to be my last will and testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifiteenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and nine. Samuel May LS

Burial

Samuel was buried at the White Store Cemetery (Evergreen) near Norwich, Chenango, NY. Tombstone inscription; In memory of Maj. Samuel May, Died May 3, 1810, aged 71 years 5 months & 7 days.

Sources

• "Rhode Island Births and Christenings, 1600-1914," (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8QF-56X), Samuel May, 13 Nov 1739; citing BARRINGTON,BRISTOL,RHODE ISLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 908,271.

• Arnold. James N. Vital Record of Rhode Island. 1636-1850. Vol. XI Church Records. Page 121.<https://archive.org/details/cu31924098819976/page/n10/mode/2up>

• Arnold. James N. Arnold Collection, Vol. 3. Part 1. Glocester. page 57

• Chenango Co. Surrogate Office, Wills Vol A 1792-1822. 01-N-Yr-4-Roll 459, Pages 141-146.

• Perry, Elizabeth A. A Brief History of the Town of Glocester, Rhode Island. Pages 20-33 & 37.<https://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofto00perr/page/n8/mode/2up>

• The National Archives publication #M881. Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War. ID#570910. Date 1775-1784. State; Rhode Island. Regiment; Captain Samuel May's Company.

Index Cards show Samuel May, Capt. Samuel May's Co., Rhode Island.

• Bartlett, John Russell. Records of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England. Vol. IX. 1864. Alfred Anthony, Printer to the state. pages 98, 410, 544, 694. <https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008376811>
• Bartlett, John Russell. Records of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England. Vol. X. 1784-1792. 1865. The providence Press Company. Pages 24, 97, 195-96.<https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008376811>
• Smith, James H. History of Chenango and Madison Counties, New York Vol. One. 1880. D, Mason & Co. Syracuse, N.Y.<https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/010686269>

• DAR Record Copy for Sylvester May shows birth date of Samuel as 13 Nov 1739 in Barrington, RI., British Colonial America. DAR Record # 678977A691, 698977 A664. DAR Record also shows Susannah ? as second wife, showing no maiden or prior marriage name. This is in conflict with findagrave that gives Aldridge for Samuel's 2nd wife.

• Find-A-Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15407690/samuel-may