James Sanderson (1746 - 1794)

Born 22 Jan 1746 in Leicester, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Powers) Sanderson — married about 1771 in Hartland, Windsor Co., Vermont

Descendants

Died 6 Nov 1794 at age 48 in Woodstock, Windsor, Vermont, United States

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Biography

Corporal James Sanderson served with Vermont Republic Militia during the American Revolution.

James Sanderson was among the first settlers of Woodstock, Windsor County, Vermont; by some accounts, he was the first to stake his claim and take possession of it. After leaving his birthplace of Leicester, Mass., he spent a short time in Hartland, Windsor County, Vermont, where he probably married Sally Powers, the daughter of Andrew Powers of Hartland. Their first child, Benjamin, was born in Hartland on what was then the Simeon Willard farm. In the fall of 1768, James built a brush cabin on his claim in Woodstock, near the spot where Richardson's red tavern afterwards stood. He moved into this cabin on the 1st of December, along with Sally and Benjamin, then only six weeks old. According to the local history of the area, he brought all of his worldly belongings with him on a hand-pulled sled. Some of these belongings might very well have included books; James had the reputation of being a great reader.

Until the later part of his life, James also had the reputation of having loose feet. The local history of Woodstock had nothing to say what Sally thought of all of the family's moving. The couple's second child, James, was born in the Woodstock area; however, by 1774, James and Sally left Woodstock and went to Hartland, Vermont; from there, they made their way to Lancaster, Coos County, New Hampshire, where their daughter Sally was born, September 20, 1775.

Vermont Revolutionary War Rolls (1904) lists James as enlisting 7 Aug. 1776 in Capt. Wait's Company of Rangers (New York Archives, P. 129); also as a corporal, Aug. to Oct. 1777 in Capt. John Benjamin's Co., Col. Joseph Marsh's Reft.; in Oct. 1780, ten days service and fifteen miles travel with duty at Barnard, Vermont, under Lt. Abisha Sampson; and 16 Oct. 1780, three days and forty-five miles from Woodstock.

After his service, the family was again living in Woodstock. In the time spent at Woodstock during these years, the town council voted on two occasions to make James the official "hog-driver" for the town. This position was known by various descriptions, including hog-grief, hog-committee, and the hog-hayward. The chief task was to make sure that the wild pigs that rove around the area were under some degree of control. What a change from the days of his military service as a Revolutionary Way soldier!

James must not have recognized the benefits of this position, because in 1778, he and his family left Woodstock again and moved to Hartland, where Sally's brother, William, had already moved earlier that year. The family lived in Hartland for another year or two; their son Asa was born there on July 2, 1780.

Woodstock must have had a special place in James's heart, for on September 16, 1780, he bought a hundred-acre lot (No. 187) in Woodstock township; this was the same lot that Andrew Powers, Sally's father, had purchased from Oliver Willard in 1768. James and Sally lived on this farm until 1784, when they purchased part of Lot 185 from Moses Evans. After this, James stopped his wanderings; he died on his farm on November 6, 1794 at the age of forty-eight.

Biography written by his 5th great grandson, David Pierce.

Sources

• Massachusetts Town Vital Collections, 1620-1988. James Sanderson; Birth; 22 January 1747; Leicester, Massachusetts; father: Benj Sanderson; mother: Elizabeth Sanderson.
• Title: History of Woodstock, Vt., Author: Henry S. Dana, editor, Publication: N.p.: n.p., n.d., Title: History of Woodstock, Vt., Author: Henry S. Dana, editor, Publication: N.p.: n.p., n.d.
• Military Service: Hartland in the Revolutionary War: Her soldiers, their homes, lives and burial places: the muster rolls of Captain Elias Weld's and Lieutenant Daniel Spooner's Hartland companies, by Dennis Flower, published 1914, page 23.
• Gazetteer and Business Director of Windsor County, Vt, for 1883-84, vol. 1, had an excellent write up on the Sanderson Family of Woodstock, Vermont.
• Find A Grave Memorial for James Sanderson. Find a Grave #86888163.

Note on Military Service

The following is quoted verbatim from "Hartland in the Revolutionary War"

In October, 1780 Captain Abisha Sampson, in command of a company of militia, marched to Barnard on the occasion of the Indian attack at that place; his company was composed of fifyt-one men, several of whom were from Hartland, while others were from Windsor and West Windsor. Five at least were from Woodstock, namely, Phineas Williams, James Harwood, Timothy Knox, James Sanderson, and Elias Thomas. Of the last-named man we copy the following statement from Child's Windsor County Gazetteer: "During the Revolutionary War Elias Thomas and about twenty others from Woodstock marched through the forest to Saratoga, N.Y., and tendered their services to General Gates, and assisted in taking Burgoyne's army October 17, 1888. For this service they neither asked nor received any compensation."

Note on Sanderson Family Origins

The Sanderson family is of ancient English origin, the greater number of those in America bearing this name tracing their descent from two brothers, Robert and Edward. Robert Sanderson and his first wife Lydia were among the first settlers of Hampton, New Hampshire, in 1638 and his eldest child was born there. Soon afterward he removed to Watertown, Mass. of which he was a proprietor in 1642, remaining there 'till 1653, removing to Boston where he held the office of deacon. Robert Sanderson died 7 Oct. 1693. His will was proved 20 Oct. l693. His will left bequeaths to wife Elizabeth and children and brother Edward.

I. Edward, (brother of Robert) Sanderson, was born in England, came to Watertown about same time as his brother Robert. He sold his land and house in Watertown to William Shattuck Sr., and probably removed to Cambridge. The name is frequently spelled Sanders and Saunders on the early records. He married. 15 Oct. 1645 Mary, believed to be the eldest daughter of Bagot and Bridget Eggleston, of Dorchester, later of Windsor, Conn. Their children were Jonathan and Hester, baptized 20 Mar. l686-87.

II. Jonathan, son of Edward and Mary (Eggleston) Sanderson was born in Watertown 15 Sept. 1646, died 3 Sept. 1735. His will was dated 2 Apr. 1728, and his grave and that of wife are in the old or lower graveyard at Waltham, formerly Watertown. He settled at Piety Corner, Watertown, about 1689, was constable in 1695, and selectman from 1703 to 1719. He married in Cambridge 24 Oct. 1669, Abia, bom 28 May 1651, died 13 Sept. 1723, youngest daughter of Ensign Thomas and Hannah Bartlett of Watertown. Their eight child, including twins , were all born in Cambridge, Mass.