Bethuel Luce (abt. 1741 - bef. 1820)

Born about 1741 in Tisbury, Dukes, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 1820 before about age 79 in North Haven Island, Knox, Maine

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Justin Durand [send private message]

This profile is part of the Luce Name Study.

Biography

He was a fisherman, fish curer and farmer. On 13 April 1759, during the French and Indian Wars, Bethuell Luce, age 18, of Tisbury, appears on a muster roll of Capt. Zaccheus Mayhew's Regiment. He also appears on the muster roll of Capt. Jeremiah Mayhew's Company from March through November of the same year. This unit did garrison duty at Annapolis Royal during the war with the French in Canada, which ended with the British capture of Quebec.

Bethuel Luce and his wife were third cousins. They settled at Vinalhaven on North Fox Island, Maine, probably just after their marriage. The History of Vinalhaven says that Bethuel came in 1765, bringing his three sons. However, his sons were not yet born. Since it is likely that Bethuel came at this date, when the island was settled, his children were probably born there. His lot on North Haven Island was known as Luce and Hooper Farms. He was listed on the 1790 census with 3 males over 16 (probably himself and sons Elijah and Malatiah), 1 male under 16 (probably son Uriah), and 2 females (probably wife Susannah and daughter Lydia). He was listed on the 1800 census with 1 male 16-26 (probably son Uriah), 1 male 26-45 (probably son Elijah), 1 male over 45 (himself), and 1 female 16-26 (probably the wife of Elijah). These sons do not otherwise appear on this census.

Sources

• (Col.) Charles Edward Banks, History of Martha's Vineyard (Baltimore: 1925, reprinted 1966), Vol. 1, p. 313.