Benjamin Lincoln (1733–1810) by Henry Sargent, 1806 courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical Society
Article
Paul David Nelson
Lincoln, Benjamin (1733–1810), revolutionary army officer and politician in America, was born on 29 January 1733 in Hingham, Massachusetts, the sixth of eight children of Colonel Benjamin Lincoln (1699–1771), farmer and maltster, and his wife, Elizabeth Thaxter, a widow. Although his father was moderately wealthy and a member of the governor's council, ...
Article
Parsons, Samuel Holden (1737–1789), revolutionary army officer in America, was born on 14 May 1737 in Lyme, Connecticut, the third son of the Revd Jonathan Parsons (1705–1776) and Phebe Griswold (d. 1770). The conversion of Samuel's father from Old Light to New Light Congregationalism during the Great Awakening led to the family's resettlement in ...
Article
Paul David Nelson
Putnam, Israel (1718–1790), revolutionary army officer in America, was born on 7 January 1718 in Salem village, Massachusetts, the twelfth of thirteen children of Joseph Putnam (1670–1723), farmer, and Elizabeth Porter (b. 1674), daughter of Israel Porter. Although his parents were well-to-do, his education consisted of only a few years' schooling. Applying himself to hard farm work, he grew into adulthood as a stocky, courageous, exuberant, fearless, and tenacious citizen. Many stories later were told about his exploits as a youth, all emphasizing his image as a rustic, self-reliant citizen of the soil. In 1739 he inherited from his father's estate ...
