Abel Severance (abt. 1755 - 1842)

Born about 1755 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Bruce) Severance — married 26 Aug 1779 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States

Died 26 Aug 1842 at about age 87 in Bradford, Merrimack, New Hampshire, United States

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Biography

Birth

Abel Severance was born 1755 in Groton, Massachusetts Bay, the son of Ephraim Severance and Abigail Trask. While there is no record of his birth, this information is known from Abel's Revolutionary War Pension file in which he states that he was 65 years old in 1820. In addition, the 1775 muster role of the New Ipswich company of militiamen gives Abel's age as 21 and his birth place as Groton. His family is known to be living in Groton in 1755. (1) (2)

Revolutionary War Service

In April 1775, Abel enlisted for eight months as a private in Capt. Ezra Towne's Company, Col. James Read's Regiment of the New Hampshire Line. (1) (3)

The Battle of Bunker Hill - June 17, 1775 - Col. James Read's Regiment, of which Abel was a member, played a prominent role in the battle. Daniel is memorialized by the National Park Service on a list of soldiers proven to have participated on that day. (1) (4)

Abel re-enlisted in January 1776 in the same regiment for a term of one year. He served in the Invasion of Canada and the Battle and Siege of Quebec. He also served at Mt. Independence, a fort near Ft. Ticonderoga in New York and in Pennsylvania. (1) (3)

Marriage

Abel married Martha Bruce on August 26, 1779 in Stow, Massachusetts. (5)

Residences

Abel and Martha are found living in Washington, New Hampshire in the 1790, 1810, and 1820 U.S. Census'.

After Martha passed away in 1836, Abel settled in Bradford, New Hampshire and is found there in the 1840 U.S. Census.

Later Life

Abel passed away on August 26, 1842 in Bradford, New Hampshire. (6) (7)

Sources

(1) U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900

(2) History of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, Page 78, "Muster Role of New Ipswich Company"; https://archive.org/details/historyofnewipsw00chan/page/78

(3) U.S. Compiled Revolutionary War Military Service Records, 1775-1783

(4) Roster of New Hampshire Soldiers at the Battle of Bunker Hill, https://home.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/upload/bh%20roster.pdf

(5) Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988

(6) U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600's - Current; https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/66570182/abel-severance

(7) The inscription on Abel's gravestone at Find A Grave is impossible to read but "Colonial Gravestone Inscriptions in the State of New Hampshire" on page 22 confirms that Abel "d. Aug 26, 1842, ae. 88 yrs" "Martha, w. of Abel, d. Aug. 2, 1836, ae. 76 yrs."

Other Sources

• History of Cheshire and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire; https://archive.org/details/historyofcheshir00hurd/page/394
• The Invasion of Quebec 1775; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Quebec_(1775)

• WikiTree profile Severance-158 created through the import of ChambersBarneshistory.ged on Oct 19, 2011 by Charlene Chambers. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Charlene and others.