Benjamin Westgate / Westcoat (1764-1823) and His Wives Rhoda Hall / Hawl and Temperance (—?—) of Dartmouth, Rochester, Freetown, and Plymouth, Massachusetts

Benjamin Westgate, also seen as Westcoat, was born Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts on 31 August 1764, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Braley) Westgate. I see this birth date for Benjamin everywhere but I cannot find its original source; it is not in the published Dartmouth vital records. If paperwork regarding his age when enlisting in the Revolutionary War is correct, he was born about 1761. Benjamin is one of those ancestors that I’ve spent a lot of time researching yet always end up with more questions than answers. 

Benjamin is referred to in records as a laborer and a shipyard worker. The Westgate surname is spelled in a variety of ways including Waistcoat, Westcoat, Wasgate, Wasgate, and Westcott.

He was of Dartmouth when he served in the Revolutionary War from 1780 to 1783. As an adult Benjamin moved between Rochester, Plymouth, and Freetown. He was likely living at Rochester by 1786 when his marriage intentions were published there and he is not noted as living elsewhere. He was in Plymouth in 1800, 1810 (census), 1807 (court record), and 1818 (letter of testimony for a soldier’s pension). He is of Freetown in 1820 [Circuit Court of Common Pleas appearance for his pension and in a pension document the same year it is mentioned that he was poor and received support from the town of Freetown. He was of Rochester 1823 [probate record]. 

In 1786 Benjamin “Westcat” married, first, Rhoda “Hawl“—intentions published 21 January 1786 at Rochester, Plymouth County Massachusetts. [Rochester VR p 314] Rhoda, whose last name is also seen as Hall, was born about 1760 based on her age at death. There are different theories on the identities of Rhoda’s parents, but thus far I haven’t found anything conclusive. I believe Benjamin and Rhoda are my fifth great-grandparents on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

Rhoda and Benjamin had at least eight children. Their births are not recorded but they are confirmed as offspring from a variety of records and Davis’ Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families. Birth order uncertain. Birth locations for Ruth, Rhoda, and Darius gleaned from their, or their children’s, death records. 

1. Ruth born 1786 Rochester; m. 1st William Barrett 30 May 1812 at Plymouth [MA US Town and Vital records on Ancestry] and 2nd Martin Gould; died Plymouth 29 Dec 1861
2. Rhoda born 1789 Plymouth; m. Plymouth 1 Aug 1812 David Haskins PVR p 131; Rhoda Haskins died 13 Aug 1867 at New Bedford, widow, 78, paralysis, parents listed as John Westgate and Rhoda of Plymouth [MA Death Records 1841-1915 on Ancestry]
3. Benjamin born about 1790 Plymouth; m. 1st Lucinda (Maxim) Tinkham and 2nd Abigail Haskins
4. Elizabeth born 1795; m Samuel Liscom/Luscombe 6 October 1818 Plymouth [PVR 1:321]
5. Darius born 1797 Plymouth; m. Laura Edson; died Plymouth 24 April 1865 [PVR vol 184 p 302]
6. Amos born 1800; perhaps this Amos Westgate of Plymouth who enlisted in the Army in 1819, age 19
7. Lucy born 12 February 1803 (calculated from age at death); m. 1st James Haskins, 2nd Stephen Westgate; died 10 Sept 1894 at Plymouth, daughter Benjamin Westgate and Rhoda Hall [PVR p 137] 
8. Charles born 26 March 1805 (calculated from age at death); married Lydia Paulding/Polden; died Plymouth 9 February 1879 [PVR 1:465, no parents listed]

I descend from Charles whom I wrote about here.  William T. Davis includes Charles as a son of Benjamin. This seems generally accepted but documentary evidence is lacking. I have not found another Westgate/Westcott to be a strong candidate for Charles’ father; it was not a very common surname in the Plymouth area.

Rhoda Westgate died 16 September 1814 at Plymouth as “Benja Westgate’s wife aged 54.” [Plymouth First Church Records p 736] 

Benjamin married, second, after September 1814 a Temperance —?—. His 1820 pension application names his wife as Temperance, age 47, giving her a circa 1773 birth year. 

At the Plymouth Common Pleas Court begun on 7 August 1807, Benjamin Westcoat (Plymouth laborer) vs. Noah Perkins (Dartmouth laborer) case, on note dated “4th 1806” [month omitted from this date] for $35.73. Default by deft. Judgment for $37.05 and $7.75 costs. [PCR 12:9]

In the 1800 Federal Census, Plymouth, Benjamin Westcoat household has 2 males under 10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 26-44, 2 females under 10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 26-44, 1 female 45 and over. 6 total members under 16; 3 over 25; 9 total number of household members. Perhaps Benjamin’s mother or mother-in-law were living with them. 

In the 1810 Federal Census, Plymouth, Benjamin Westcote household has 3 males under 10; 2 males 10-15, 2 males 45 plus; 2 females under 10; 1 female 10-15; 2 females 16-25, 1 female 26-44; 1 female 45 plus, total 14 white members of household which perhaps indicates they had four additional children. I don’t see Benjamin in the 1820 census.

As a 14-year old living with his family in Dartmouth, Benjamin would have experienced the September 1778 British attack on New Bedford, Padaram, and Fairhaven, then part of Old Dartmouth. Many houses, businesses and ships were burned to the ground and several Patriots defending the town were shot or bayonetted to death. Perhaps this experience motivated Benjamin to join the Army.

The book Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War has Benjamin “Waistcoat,” private, Capt. Hartshorn, Massachusetts line, 3 years, pension at the rate of 8 dollars per month to commence on 10 April 1818. Certificate of pension issued 21 January 1819 and sent to Judge Nahum Mitchell, East Bridgewater. Arrears 4 September 1818. 

Summary of Benjamin Westcoat’s pension file, no. S33872 [digitized on Ancestry]: Benjamin Westcoat was age 19, of Dartmouth, when he enlisted in April 1780 [if his birth date is correct he would be 15 but not unusual to lie about age to join up], had fair hair and complexion, was 5 ft 1 inch tall, and worked as a farmer. He was a private in the 4th Company of the 8th Regiment, Massachusetts Line. He served in Major Winslow’s/Capt. Amasa Soper’s Company [conflicting names provided in documents], Col. Thomas Marshall’s Regiment; transferred to Capt. Thomas Hartshorn’s Company, Col. Michael/Micah Jackson’s regiment. Benjamin served 3 years and was honorably discharged at the end of the war, 13 June 1783.

In 1820 he was 56 and of Plymouth, previously of Freetown, when applying an invalid pension, the process which began in 1819. The pension he had been receiving was $8 a month, approved by Judge Nahum Mitchell to begin retroactively to 10 April 1818. His reason for the change in status was because of poor health, “a broken constitution,” which left him unable to work for the last three years. He had a lame left leg from a previous fracture and strained his side carrying timber at a shipyard. He provided a letter and an inventory of his belongings on 17 July 1820 which included a 2 acre lot of land and a house that he calls an unfinished hut. His possessions valued at a total of $62.56. His wife Temperance, age 47, is mentioned as being in poor health. He signed one document by his mark (a cross) but used a signature on the rest. At this time in 1820 he had been supported by the town of Freetown in Plymouth [should be Bristol County]. 

From a 6 July 1820 letter to Benjamin from Captain Thomas Hartshorn of Salem, it is clear the Captain went through a good deal of work to provide Benjamin with a certificate to apply for his invalid pension. He also tried to honor Benjamin’s request to obtain a certificate for Thomas Westcot [Benjamin had a brother named Thomas] by visiting a General in Salem several times but was not successful. He seemed to hold Benjamin in high regard to go through the trouble and signed the letter ”I remain with esteem your friend.” Hartshorn also wrote an official document to the government about Benjamin’s service. No indication if the pension was approved.

Benjamin's signature on 1820 pension form, unless it was a copied by a clerk

The 1835 Pension Roll (digitized on Ancestry) states Benjamin died 13 April 1823. At first I thought this was another man of the same name he is called a Corporal, but it fits with Benjamin dying between 17 July 1820 [signed a pension document] and 7 September 1824 [estate administrator appointed at Rochester]. It lists his age as 59 and he was 4 months shy of 59 when he passed away.

There are some inconsistencies that made me wonder if there were two Benjamin Westcoats of Massachusetts who served in the war, but I believe it is one man with some inaccurate record keeping, The issues: Benjamin’s age at enlistment should be 15 rather than 19 (if birth date correct); being called a Corporal when his pension records state he was a private. In support of just being one man: towns he lived in of Dartmouth, Rochester, Freetown, and Plymouth are consistent, his age as 59 in the 1835 Pension Roll is a close match to his age at death of 58, he was a laborer which matches various records, being in Capt. Hartshorn’s company is mentioned in multiple documents from different sources, Hartshorn was helping Benjamin by trying to obtain a certificate for Thomas Westcot and Benjamin had a brother by that name. 

Benjamin died at Rochester 13 April 1823. [probate record] He was 58 years old. I haven’t found any burial information; likely the family was too poor to purchase a gravestone. It saddens me when a veteran does not have a gravestone—if I could find the burial location, I would be able to order one for him which is something I did for one of my Civil War ancestors. 

Benjamin Westgate’s probate file offers little information but does state he was of Rochester. In a letter dated 7 September 1824, Wilkes Wood, judge of Probate, granted letters of administration to Zacheus Bartlett of Plymouth for the estate of Benjamin Westgate late of Rochester who died intestate. Witnessed by John Russell and Thomas Russell. [Plymouth County probate file no. 22326] 

The file also includes a form letter dated 7 September 1824 with some handwritten information filled in: Zacheus Bartlett Esqr, John Russell gentleman, Thomas Russell merchant, all of Plymouth, bound and obliged unto Wilkes Wood, Judge of Probate, granted administration, the sum of $2,000 to be paid to Wilkes Wood.  

Zacheus Bartlett is the administrator of the estate of Benjamin Westgate, late of Rochester, and charged with conducting an inventory. Witnessed by Wm Mayo and Beza Hayward. Signed L Bartlett, John Russell, Thomas Russell. The opposite side of one document has names written on it: Temper Westgate, John Russell, Tho Russell.  

Temperance Westgate, widow, died Rochester on 2 February 1842. [Rochester VR 2:443]

Sources:

William T. Davis, Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families, [part II of Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth], 1899, Part II, p 279-280

Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of Revolutionary War, Boston, 1907, 16:905

“Old Dartmouth Historical Sketch, Number 23,” proceedings of the Old Dartmouth Historical Society meeting at New Bedford, 12 Jan 1909

Ancestry “US Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrants,” pension file no. S 33872 of Benjamin Westcoat/Westcott