Simeon Thayer (1737 - 1800)

Born 30 Apr 1737 in Mendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Died 13 Sep 1800 at age 63 in Cumberland, Providence County, Rhode Island, United States

Biography

Major Simeon Thayer served with 2nd Rhode Island Regiment, Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Major Simeon Thayer was a Prisoner of War during American Revolution.

Simeon Thayer is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 303443
Rank: Major

Birth

Simeon was born, 30 Apr 1737, in Mendon, Massachusetts. He was the son of David Thayer and Jean Keith. (Simeon, T.C.), s. of David and (Jean, T.C.), Apr 30 1737 ^[1][2]

Marriage 1

Simeon Thayer and judith Jackson were married, 7 Feb 1759, in Providence, Rhode Island. ^[3]

Marriage 2

Simeon Thayer and Mary Tourtellott(e) (b. December 24, 1742)

Children:

1. William Tourtelott (b. 1767),
2. Susan (d. 1768),
3. Stephen Tourtelott (?–1769),
4. Hannah Tourtelott (January–March 1769),
5. Simeon (1770–1791),
6. Polly (1772–1814),
7. Richard Montgomery (b. 1775)
8. Henry (b. 1785).

Marriage 3

Simeon Thayer and Nancy Angel were married, 8 Apr 1790, in Providence, Rhode Island.

Military

French and Indian War:

In 1756 he volunteered for military service with a Rhode Island regiment. Soon after, he joined Colonel Fry's Massachusetts regiment and served in Rogers' Rangers during three separate clashes with French-allied Indians. He became a prisoner after the Siege of Fort William Henry on August 9, 1757. He survived the massacre of many British prisoners by pro-French Indians that followed the surrender. The captured troops were stripped of their weapons and much of their clothing and made to march from the fort. A tomahawk-armed Native Americans seized Thayer by his under-waistcoat and began dragging him toward a swamp. The garment tore off, allowing Thayer to flee his captor. He soon joined another prisoner and the two were pursued by an Indian who tomahawked his companion to death. Thayer began sprinting and reached Fort Edward in safety. The effort of running a great distance on a hot day impaired his health and rendered him unfit for service for the rest of the French and Indian War.

Revolutionary War:

When war broke out, the Rhode Island assembly commissioned him Captain in May 1775. He personally enlisted his company and marched for Boston on May 19, arriving there two days later. His company became part of Colonel Daniel Hitchcock's regiment in the Army of Observation.

That month his company joined Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec. On 31 Dec 1775 the Americans opened the Battle of Quebec by attacking the city. The main column under Colonel Benedict Arnold and Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Greene was led by Captain Daniel Morgan's His advance guard was followed by the companies of Captains Lamb, Dearborn, Topham, and Thayer. Seven more companies formed the center and rear of the attack column. In the approach march, the column suffered some casualties from enemy fire. Since a snow storm was raging, the head of the column lost its direction before Thayer, who knew the way, led the soldiers on. Presently, they arrived before a barrier armed with two cannons which fired. As the guns were withdrawn to reload, Thayer and Morgan climbed through the gunports, followed by their men, and captured the defenders. The Americans surprised a group of Quebec militia and made them prisoners. A second barrier farther along repelled all their attempts to seize it, partly because so many muskets misfired in the blizzard. After four hours of fighting, the Americans found themselves trapped and they surrendered. American casualties in the disaster were 35 killed, 33 wounded, and 372 captured. For nine months he was held captive by the British. In September 1776 he was allowed to return to Providence. in February 1777, the assembly promoted Thayer to the rank of Major.

Post Revolutionary War:

On October 3, 1780, Congress voted to combine the two Rhode Island regiments, effective on January 1, 1781. On the latter date, Thayer retired from the Continental Army. For three years afterward he held the title of Brigadier General of the Providence militia. ^[4]

Letter to George Washington: “To George Washington from Simeon Thayer, 15 June 1790,Providence R.I.” ^[5]

"May it please your Excellency

An Officer in the Fifty third year of his age after much painful service rendered to his Country and Sufferings in her Cause (a brief Sketch whereof is contained in the inclosed paper) finds himself reduced to the necessity of asking for the means of Support for the residue of Life.

The charges of an expensive Family during the period of his service in the War, besides the support of an aged Father and Mother who with three others of his Family are since Dead incumbered him with Debts—these he could not discharge by no other means than by selling his Securities at the rate of three shillings to three shillings and Six pence in the pound.

He begs Leave further to observe that he has now a wife and Six children Dependent on his Industry for their Support the second a Daughter about 17 years of age in a declining State of health.

The Loss of a Right Eye would entitle your Applicant to a compensation on the Invalid Establishment could he have replaced his securities that was out of his power at the Time of passing the order of Congress, and by their enhansed price is rendered still more so.

Your applicant is fully convinced of your Excellency’s readiness to attend to the redress of all greivances especially those of a Soldier; and cannot doubt of being taken such notice of as may be practicable. Of this be assured Sir that the reluctance with which this application is made is equal in degree to the chearfulness with which the Service was performed.

It is wholly submitted to your Excellency’s Discretion either to provide for your present applicant by giving him a place in the Collection of the Revenue, as Marshal in this State or by recommending his case in any other way that may seem proper and may be calculated to Render the evening of Life comfortable in the enjoyment of a Compentency. With profound veneration and the most cordial attachment, I am your Excellencys most obedient and very Humble Servant

Simeon Thayer "

Death

He was killed, 13 Sept 1800, in Cumberland Rhode Island after being thrown from his horse into a stream where he drowned and was buried in North Burial Ground, Providence, Rhode Island.^[2][6][7]

Sources

1. ↑ Vital Records of Mendon, MA to the end of the year 1849 Birth Record
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Find-a-Grave Burial Record
3. ↑ Rhode Island Vital Records, 1636–1850 - Town and Church Records (V.1-V.12) Marriage Record
4. ↑ Simeon Thayer [http://military.wikia.com/wiki/Simeon_Thayer Sineon Thater}
5. ↑ Founders Online, National Archives, last modified December 28, 2016, [1] [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, vol. 5, 16 January 1790 – 30 June 1790, ed. Dorothy Twohig, Mark A. Mastromarino, and Jack D. Warren. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1996, pp. 528–529.]
6. ↑ Portsmouth, N.H.: Abstracts from Newspapers, 1776-1800 Obiturary
7. ↑ Rhode Island Vital Records, 1636–1850 - Town and Church Records (V.1-V.12) Death Record

• Rhode Island Historical Society Collections (Rhode Island Historical Society, 1867) Vol. 6: "The Invasion of Canada in 1775 including the Journal of Captain Simeon Thayer"
• Wikipedia: Simeon_Thayer Simon Thayer]
• 'https://www.fold3.com/image/9564644 Military Service], shared by Fold3.com

Research Notes

Wives:

1. Huldah Jackson (1738–1771),
2. Mary Tourtelott (b. December 24, 1742), and his third wife was

Huldah's sister: Judith (1763–1803), the former Mrs. Angell.

Children:

1. Nancy (1762–1783),