Samuel Follett (1757 - 1854)

Born 23 Nov 1757 in Attleborough, Bristol, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Died 30 Nov 1854 at age 97 in Worthington, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bonnie Follett [send private message]

Biography

Samuel Follett served with 3rd New Hampshire Regiment (1775), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Samuel was born in 1757 in Attleborough, Massachusetts. He was the son of John Follett and Rachel Stevens.

Samuel was a farmer in Worthington, Massachusetts but is most known for being the Last Survivor of the Battle of Bunker Hill (fought June 1775 during the Siege of Boston in the American Revolutionary War).

The following is an extract from "Secular and Ecclesiastical History of the Town of Worthington" (Mass.) published in 1853:

"Samuel Follett who is still living in this town was born on the 23rd day of Nov, 1757, in the town of Attleborough, Bristol county. Mass. He joined the army when he was in his eighteenth year, where he remained fifteen months, serving in the regiment commanded by Col. Reed at the battle of Bunker Hill. He came into this town before the close of the war, 1781, where he has resided ever since. His first vote was cast for Gen. Washington for President of the United States, when he was 32; his last for Gen Scott when he was 96".

He died without living issue, as his son Samuel, Jr. (1792-1822) died, unmarried, in Windsor, North Carolina, where he was practicing law. (See Harry Parker Ward source below)

Old Samuel Follett is mentioned in the N.E. Hist. and Gen. Reg Vol. VIII page 376, and Vol.IX, page 99 as being the last survivor of Bunker Hill.

The article, A Survivor of the Battle of Bunker Hill, posted on this page, states about his personality in his old age: "With the exception of a rheumatic infection, which nearly deprives him of the use of his legs, physically there are but few signs of decay; mentally there are scarcely none. He reads without the aid of glasses, his memory serves him with remarkable faithfulness, his conversational powers remain unimpaired, and he still writes a legible hand. Even in his 97th year he is exceedingly entertaining, and his conversation is mingled with facetious allusions and dry wit."

He passed away in 1854 at the age of 97, a Revolutionary War Patriot and pensioner, the death record stating that he was a widowed farmer.

Military Records

The records found, sources noted below, show that in 1775 he served in Capt. Jonathan Whitcomb's company, part of Col. James Reed's Regiment, and later in 1778 in Capt. Nathan Harrington's company, part of Maj. Reed's detachment, and again in 1780, serving in Capt. Daniel Grout’s company, part of Col. Enoch Hallet’s regiment.

He appears on a roll of soldiers in the May 1775 record. This shows him as enlisted prior to the Battle of Bunker Hill.

The September 1775 record shows him on a List for Blankets in relation to service at Winter Hill, Mass.

The Oct. 1775 record states: “1775 Oct 13 Rec of Tim : Walker Ju’ : Fourty-eight dollars for regimental Coats for the twelve men hereafter named viz: . . . Samuel Follet . . . which Money I promise to equally divide to the above named on Demand, said men belong to my Company and are now absent - Jonathan Whitcomb Cap “

The March 1778 records states: “Follet, Samuel. Private, Capt. Nathan Harrington's company of guards, Maj. Reed’s detachment, possibly from Col. Stearn’s regt.; enlisted March 31, 1778; service, 3 mos. 2 days, at Rutland. Roll sworn to in Worcester Co.”

The 21 Aug 1780 record states: “Follett, Samuel. Private. Capt. Daniel Grout’s Co., Col. Enoch Hallet’s regt.; enlisted Aug. 21, 1780; discharged Oct. 30, 1780; service 2 mos. 9 days; company raised to reinforce Continental Army for 3 months. Roll sworn to in Suffolk County.”

Research Note: I have been unable to verify the name or other information on Samuel's wife. His familysearch.org profile says it was a Mary Brown or Mary Adams Brown, without sources. The only likely source I've found is a death record for a "Mrs. Follett, age 94, b. about 1748, died in Worthington, Mass. on 1 Feb 1842.

Samuel and Mrs. Follett had at least one son, Samuel. They may also have had a daughter Elizabeth Follett Brown, who married Julius Hills, but the source information on the relationships are unclear, with her biological parents being Luke and Bathsheba Brown. She may have been related to Samuel's wife. If anyone has further information, please let me know. Follett-757

Sources

• Ward, Harry Parker, The Follett-Dewey Fassett-Safford ancestry : of Captain Martin Dewey Follett (1765-1831) and his wife Persis Fassett (1767-1849), Champlin Printing Co., Columbus, Ohio, 1896, https://archive.org/stream/follettdeweyfass00ward_0#page/n117/mode/2up/ , at pp 111-112.
• "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHY3-BY9 : 7 September 2017), Samuel Follett, Worthington, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States; citing p. 265, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 184; FHL microfilm 14,677.
• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MD9Y-KDT : 12 April 2016), Samuel Follett, Worthington, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States; citing family 542, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHR4-5YW : 10 February 2018), Samuel Follett, 30 Nov 1854; citing Worthington, Hampshire, Massachusetts, reference 14; FHL microfilm 1,872,268.
• "Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N7NP-HH3 : 10 March 2018), Samuel Follett, 30 Nov 1854; citing Worthington, Massachusetts, v 85 p 37, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 960,170.
• "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7FY-K46 : 9 February 2018), Samuel Follett, 18 Nov 1854; citing Death Notice, Middletown News & Weekly Advertiser, Issue 29 Dec 1854, reference 98; FHL microfilm 3,240.
• A Survivor of the Battle of Bunker Hill, in the 1850 Supplement to the Connecticut Courant, Volumes 15-19, vol. XV, p. 63, citing the Springfield Republican, available for viewing at: Google Books .
• The Brattleboro' Eagle (Brattleboro, Vermont) 14 Apr 1854, Fri, Page 2 .
• The Burlington Free Press (Burlington, Vermont) 11 Dec 1854, Mon, Page 2.
• Hartford Courant (Hartford, Connecticut) 19 Apr 1854, Wed, Page 2.
• Evening star., December 08, 1854, Image 2, (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972.
• History of the Town of Worthington, From Its First Settlement to 1874, at p. 22 (Clark W. Bryan & Company, Printers, 1874), available at: http://www.masshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/History-of-the-Town-of-Worthington-1874.pdf .
• Samuel Follett familysearch profile page, person ID LYZ5-7BX, at: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LYZ5-7BX . (includes family members unverified by sources).

Military Service Sources

• ""United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG2M-3G1D : 16 March 2018), Samuel Follet, 3 May 1775, source citing: New Hampshire. Isaac W. Hammond, A.M. Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary War, 1775 to May 1777 : Parsons B. Cogswell, State Printer, 1885.
• "United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGK1-YSB3 : 16 March 2018), Samuel Follet, 11 Sep 1775.
• "United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG2M-D2FM : 16 March 2018), Samuel Follet, 13 Oct 775, citing source: New Hampshire. Isaac W. Hammond, A.M. Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary War, 1775 to May 1777 : Parsons B. Cogswell, State Printer, 1885.
• "United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG2M-Z6Z2 : 18 March 2018), Samuel Follet, 31 Mar 1778, citing source: Massachusetts. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War Boston, Massachusetts : Wright & Potter, 1896-1908.
• "United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG2M-VZBZ : 18 March 2018), Samuel Follet, 21 Aug 1780, citing: Massachusetts. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War Boston, Massachusetts : Wright & Potter, 1896-1908.