Little is known of John Lynde"s (Lines) early life but most historians presume he was born as a free man of color. Lynde was definitely educated and literate, as shown by surviving letters he wrote to his wife during his military service.
On December 10, 1776, John enlisted as a Private in Captain Elijah Humphrey's Company, Colonel William Douglas's 6th Regiment of the Connecticut Line. The Regiment went into camp at Peekskill, New York in the summer 1777. On May 28, 1777, Colonel Douglas died from the effects of his previous service. Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs then succeeded to command the Regiment. During the summer of 1777, the Regiment was frequently detached on expeditions or outpost duty on the lines above Kings Bridge.
On August 24, 1777, John was draughted, along with 32 others from Windham, Windham County, Connecticut, and served with them and others from the nearby towns of Mansfield and Coventry, as a Private in Captain Nathaniel Wale's Company, Colonel Jonathan Latimer's Regiment of Connecticut Militia. Colonel Latimer's Regiment was one of two large regiments, composed of detachments from all Connecticut Militia brigades, ordered to reinforce General Gates at Saratoga. They were assigned to General Poor's Continental Brigade in General Benedict Arnold's Division, and fought in both battles with the enemy, September 19 and October 9, 1777. In the first battle, they lost more than any other two Regiments in the field. Upon their dismissal after the surrender of British General Burgoyne and his army, General Gates spoke of them as "two excellent militia regiments from Connecticut." John was discharged from this service on October 22, 1777 and returned to serve in Captain Elijah Humphrey's Company, Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs's 6th Regiment of the Connecticut line. He was discharged from this service, December 10, 1779.
About the middle of October 1780, John enlisted at Windham as a Private in Captain Nehemiah Rice's Company, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Sherman's Regiment of the Connecticut Line. Following the consolidation of Connecticut Regiments from eight to five for the Continental Line establishment effective January 1, 1781, John (Loynes) was paid from March 30, 1781 to December 31, 1781, as being in Captain's Rice's Company, Lieutenant Colonel Sherman's 5th Regiment of the Connecticut Line. The 5th Regiment was composed of the 1st and 8th Regiments of the previous formation 1777-1780. In the 5th Regiment, John served as Colonel Sherman's Waiter.
In the formation of the Continental Establishment, January - June 1783, John served as a waiter to Colonel Zebulon Butler commanding the 1st Regiment of the Connecticut Line while being on the rolls of Captain Jonatan Heart's Company. Colonel Butler's 1st Regiment was composed of the 1st Regiment of the previous formation (January 1, 1781) and a part of his 4th Regiment. During this period, the 1st Regiment remained in camp at West Point, New York and vicinity.
In the Final Formation of the Connecticut Line on the Continental Establishment, June - December, 1783 and the retirement of Col. Butler, John served in the only remaining Connecticut Regiment then commanded by Colonel Heman Swift. In this regiment John served as a waiter to Lieutenant Colonel Ebenezer Huntington and just before John was discharged he served as a waiter to Major John Palsgrave Wyllys.
After serving out his full 3 year enlistment plus about 1 month, John was discharged by the order of Major General Knox at West Point, New York, November 15, 1783.
John married, July 1781 in Colchester, New London County, Connecticut, widow Judith Phillips Jeffords (1756-1838) by whom he had 4 children (3 sons and 1 daughter): Ebenezer (1787-1856), Benjamin (1792-1814, died at the Battle of Chippewa, War of 1812), Samuel (b. 1793), and Susanna (b. 1810)
After the Revolutionary War, John farmed on land in Windham which he had purchased from his father in law. In 1793 he sold his land in Windham and moved his family to Brookfield, Orange County, Vermont, where he farmed for the remainder of his life. John appeared on Brookfield's Grand List as a property tax payer, and in 1808 he was added to the Freedman's List, which enabled him to participate in town meetings and vote in elections.
References:
(1) "Vermont History Volume 88, No.1 - Winter/Spring 2020" pages 1-34 "For colored people [They] had a great many friends:" The Phillips-Lynde family of Windham, Connecticut, and Brookfield, Vermont by Susan Nevins.
(2) US Federal Military Pension File No. W. 26,775.
(3) "The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service during the War of the Revolution 1775-1783." by Henry P. Johnston, 1889, pages 205, 301-311, 343, 345, 359, 368, 504, 508, and 639.
On December 10, 1776, John enlisted as a Private in Captain Elijah Humphrey's Company, Colonel William Douglas's 6th Regiment of the Connecticut Line. The Regiment went into camp at Peekskill, New York in the summer 1777. On May 28, 1777, Colonel Douglas died from the effects of his previous service. Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs then succeeded to command the Regiment. During the summer of 1777, the Regiment was frequently detached on expeditions or outpost duty on the lines above Kings Bridge.
On August 24, 1777, John was draughted, along with 32 others from Windham, Windham County, Connecticut, and served with them and others from the nearby towns of Mansfield and Coventry, as a Private in Captain Nathaniel Wale's Company, Colonel Jonathan Latimer's Regiment of Connecticut Militia. Colonel Latimer's Regiment was one of two large regiments, composed of detachments from all Connecticut Militia brigades, ordered to reinforce General Gates at Saratoga. They were assigned to General Poor's Continental Brigade in General Benedict Arnold's Division, and fought in both battles with the enemy, September 19 and October 9, 1777. In the first battle, they lost more than any other two Regiments in the field. Upon their dismissal after the surrender of British General Burgoyne and his army, General Gates spoke of them as "two excellent militia regiments from Connecticut." John was discharged from this service on October 22, 1777 and returned to serve in Captain Elijah Humphrey's Company, Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs's 6th Regiment of the Connecticut line. He was discharged from this service, December 10, 1779.
About the middle of October 1780, John enlisted at Windham as a Private in Captain Nehemiah Rice's Company, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Sherman's Regiment of the Connecticut Line. Following the consolidation of Connecticut Regiments from eight to five for the Continental Line establishment effective January 1, 1781, John (Loynes) was paid from March 30, 1781 to December 31, 1781, as being in Captain's Rice's Company, Lieutenant Colonel Sherman's 5th Regiment of the Connecticut Line. The 5th Regiment was composed of the 1st and 8th Regiments of the previous formation 1777-1780. In the 5th Regiment, John served as Colonel Sherman's Waiter.
In the formation of the Continental Establishment, January - June 1783, John served as a waiter to Colonel Zebulon Butler commanding the 1st Regiment of the Connecticut Line while being on the rolls of Captain Jonatan Heart's Company. Colonel Butler's 1st Regiment was composed of the 1st Regiment of the previous formation (January 1, 1781) and a part of his 4th Regiment. During this period, the 1st Regiment remained in camp at West Point, New York and vicinity.
In the Final Formation of the Connecticut Line on the Continental Establishment, June - December, 1783 and the retirement of Col. Butler, John served in the only remaining Connecticut Regiment then commanded by Colonel Heman Swift. In this regiment John served as a waiter to Lieutenant Colonel Ebenezer Huntington and just before John was discharged he served as a waiter to Major John Palsgrave Wyllys.
After serving out his full 3 year enlistment plus about 1 month, John was discharged by the order of Major General Knox at West Point, New York, November 15, 1783.
John married, July 1781 in Colchester, New London County, Connecticut, widow Judith Phillips Jeffords (1756-1838) by whom he had 4 children (3 sons and 1 daughter): Ebenezer (1787-1856), Benjamin (1792-1814, died at the Battle of Chippewa, War of 1812), Samuel (b. 1793), and Susanna (b. 1810)
After the Revolutionary War, John farmed on land in Windham which he had purchased from his father in law. In 1793 he sold his land in Windham and moved his family to Brookfield, Orange County, Vermont, where he farmed for the remainder of his life. John appeared on Brookfield's Grand List as a property tax payer, and in 1808 he was added to the Freedman's List, which enabled him to participate in town meetings and vote in elections.
References:
(1) "Vermont History Volume 88, No.1 - Winter/Spring 2020" pages 1-34 "For colored people [They] had a great many friends:" The Phillips-Lynde family of Windham, Connecticut, and Brookfield, Vermont by Susan Nevins.
(2) US Federal Military Pension File No. W. 26,775.
(3) "The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service during the War of the Revolution 1775-1783." by Henry P. Johnston, 1889, pages 205, 301-311, 343, 345, 359, 368, 504, 508, and 639.
Little is known of John Lynde"s (Lines) early life but most historians presume he was born as a free man of color. Lynde was definitely educated and literate, as shown by surviving letters he wrote to his wife during his military service.
On December 10, 1776, John enlisted as a Private in Captain Elijah Humphrey's Company, Colonel William Douglas's 6th Regiment of the Connecticut Line. The Regiment went into camp at Peekskill, New York in the summer 1777. On May 28, 1777, Colonel Douglas died from the effects of his previous service. Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs then succeeded to command the Regiment. During the summer of 1777, the Regiment was frequently detached on expeditions or outpost duty on the lines above Kings Bridge.
On August 24, 1777, John was draughted, along with 32 others from Windham, Windham County, Connecticut, and served with them and others from the nearby towns of Mansfield and Coventry, as a Private in Captain Nathaniel Wale's Company, Colonel Jonathan Latimer's Regiment of Connecticut Militia. Colonel Latimer's Regiment was one of two large regiments, composed of detachments from all Connecticut Militia brigades, ordered to reinforce General Gates at Saratoga. They were assigned to General Poor's Continental Brigade in General Benedict Arnold's Division, and fought in both battles with the enemy, September 19 and October 9, 1777. In the first battle, they lost more than any other two Regiments in the field. Upon their dismissal after the surrender of British General Burgoyne and his army, General Gates spoke of them as "two excellent militia regiments from Connecticut." John was discharged from this service on October 22, 1777 and returned to serve in Captain Elijah Humphrey's Company, Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs's 6th Regiment of the Connecticut line. He was discharged from this service, December 10, 1779.
About the middle of October 1780, John enlisted at Windham as a Private in Captain Nehemiah Rice's Company, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Sherman's Regiment of the Connecticut Line. Following the consolidation of Connecticut Regiments from eight to five for the Continental Line establishment effective January 1, 1781, John (Loynes) was paid from March 30, 1781 to December 31, 1781, as being in Captain's Rice's Company, Lieutenant Colonel Sherman's 5th Regiment of the Connecticut Line. The 5th Regiment was composed of the 1st and 8th Regiments of the previous formation 1777-1780. In the 5th Regiment, John served as Colonel Sherman's Waiter.
In the formation of the Continental Establishment, January - June 1783, John served as a waiter to Colonel Zebulon Butler commanding the 1st Regiment of the Connecticut Line while being on the rolls of Captain Jonatan Heart's Company. Colonel Butler's 1st Regiment was composed of the 1st Regiment of the previous formation (January 1, 1781) and a part of his 4th Regiment. During this period, the 1st Regiment remained in camp at West Point, New York and vicinity.
In the Final Formation of the Connecticut Line on the Continental Establishment, June - December, 1783 and the retirement of Col. Butler, John served in the only remaining Connecticut Regiment then commanded by Colonel Heman Swift. In this regiment John served as a waiter to Lieutenant Colonel Ebenezer Huntington and just before John was discharged he served as a waiter to Major John Palsgrave Wyllys.
After serving out his full 3 year enlistment plus about 1 month, John was discharged by the order of Major General Knox at West Point, New York, November 15, 1783.
John married, July 1781 in Colchester, New London County, Connecticut, widow Judith Phillips Jeffords (1756-1838) by whom he had 4 children (3 sons and 1 daughter): Ebenezer (1787-1856), Benjamin (1792-1814, died at the Battle of Chippewa, War of 1812), Samuel (b. 1793), and Susanna (b. 1810)
After the Revolutionary War, John farmed on land in Windham which he had purchased from his father in law. In 1793 he sold his land in Windham and moved his family to Brookfield, Orange County, Vermont, where he farmed for the remainder of his life. John appeared on Brookfield's Grand List as a property tax payer, and in 1808 he was added to the Freedman's List, which enabled him to participate in town meetings and vote in elections.
References:
(1) "Vermont History Volume 88, No.1 - Winter/Spring 2020" pages 1-34 "For colored people [They] had a great many friends:" The Phillips-Lynde family of Windham, Connecticut, and Brookfield, Vermont by Susan Nevins.
(2) US Federal Military Pension File No. W. 26,775.
(3) "The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service during the War of the Revolution 1775-1783." by Henry P. Johnston, 1889, pages 205, 301-311, 343, 345, 359, 368, 504, 508, and 639.
On December 10, 1776, John enlisted as a Private in Captain Elijah Humphrey's Company, Colonel William Douglas's 6th Regiment of the Connecticut Line. The Regiment went into camp at Peekskill, New York in the summer 1777. On May 28, 1777, Colonel Douglas died from the effects of his previous service. Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs then succeeded to command the Regiment. During the summer of 1777, the Regiment was frequently detached on expeditions or outpost duty on the lines above Kings Bridge.
On August 24, 1777, John was draughted, along with 32 others from Windham, Windham County, Connecticut, and served with them and others from the nearby towns of Mansfield and Coventry, as a Private in Captain Nathaniel Wale's Company, Colonel Jonathan Latimer's Regiment of Connecticut Militia. Colonel Latimer's Regiment was one of two large regiments, composed of detachments from all Connecticut Militia brigades, ordered to reinforce General Gates at Saratoga. They were assigned to General Poor's Continental Brigade in General Benedict Arnold's Division, and fought in both battles with the enemy, September 19 and October 9, 1777. In the first battle, they lost more than any other two Regiments in the field. Upon their dismissal after the surrender of British General Burgoyne and his army, General Gates spoke of them as "two excellent militia regiments from Connecticut." John was discharged from this service on October 22, 1777 and returned to serve in Captain Elijah Humphrey's Company, Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs's 6th Regiment of the Connecticut line. He was discharged from this service, December 10, 1779.
About the middle of October 1780, John enlisted at Windham as a Private in Captain Nehemiah Rice's Company, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Sherman's Regiment of the Connecticut Line. Following the consolidation of Connecticut Regiments from eight to five for the Continental Line establishment effective January 1, 1781, John (Loynes) was paid from March 30, 1781 to December 31, 1781, as being in Captain's Rice's Company, Lieutenant Colonel Sherman's 5th Regiment of the Connecticut Line. The 5th Regiment was composed of the 1st and 8th Regiments of the previous formation 1777-1780. In the 5th Regiment, John served as Colonel Sherman's Waiter.
In the formation of the Continental Establishment, January - June 1783, John served as a waiter to Colonel Zebulon Butler commanding the 1st Regiment of the Connecticut Line while being on the rolls of Captain Jonatan Heart's Company. Colonel Butler's 1st Regiment was composed of the 1st Regiment of the previous formation (January 1, 1781) and a part of his 4th Regiment. During this period, the 1st Regiment remained in camp at West Point, New York and vicinity.
In the Final Formation of the Connecticut Line on the Continental Establishment, June - December, 1783 and the retirement of Col. Butler, John served in the only remaining Connecticut Regiment then commanded by Colonel Heman Swift. In this regiment John served as a waiter to Lieutenant Colonel Ebenezer Huntington and just before John was discharged he served as a waiter to Major John Palsgrave Wyllys.
After serving out his full 3 year enlistment plus about 1 month, John was discharged by the order of Major General Knox at West Point, New York, November 15, 1783.
John married, July 1781 in Colchester, New London County, Connecticut, widow Judith Phillips Jeffords (1756-1838) by whom he had 4 children (3 sons and 1 daughter): Ebenezer (1787-1856), Benjamin (1792-1814, died at the Battle of Chippewa, War of 1812), Samuel (b. 1793), and Susanna (b. 1810)
After the Revolutionary War, John farmed on land in Windham which he had purchased from his father in law. In 1793 he sold his land in Windham and moved his family to Brookfield, Orange County, Vermont, where he farmed for the remainder of his life. John appeared on Brookfield's Grand List as a property tax payer, and in 1808 he was added to the Freedman's List, which enabled him to participate in town meetings and vote in elections.
References:
(1) "Vermont History Volume 88, No.1 - Winter/Spring 2020" pages 1-34 "For colored people [They] had a great many friends:" The Phillips-Lynde family of Windham, Connecticut, and Brookfield, Vermont by Susan Nevins.
(2) US Federal Military Pension File No. W. 26,775.
(3) "The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service during the War of the Revolution 1775-1783." by Henry P. Johnston, 1889, pages 205, 301-311, 343, 345, 359, 368, 504, 508, and 639.
Inscription
Mr,
John Lynde
died
July 13, 1828
aged 74 years.
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