Edmond Lewis, about 1601 to 1651, of England and Watertown & Lynn, Massachusetts

Edmond Lewis was born England about 1601, based on his age when he sailed for New England. His birthplace and parents have not been found; some have said he was from King’s Lynn in Norfolk, others from Suffolk or Wales, but nothing conclusive. His last name is sometimes spelled Lewes and first name Edmund. 

By 1630 (first child born about 1631) he married a woman named Mary whose maiden name is unknown. She was a born about 1602 in England, based on her age in 1634. 

Migration

On 30 April 1634, “Edmond Lewis,” aged 33, “Mary his wife,” aged 32, “John Lewis,” aged 3, and “Thomas Lewis, aged 3 quarters,” were enrolled at Ipswich as passengers for New England, sailing on the Elizabeth. [Hotten 280-81]. They first resided at Watertown in Middlesex County where he was admitted a freeman on 25 May 1636. [Mass Bay Colony Records 1:372] His homestead was on the east side of Lexington Street in Watertown. [George Harlan Lewis]

The Lewis family removed to Lynn in Essex County by 29 December 1648 when Edmond served on an Essex grand jury. [Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County/EQC 1:160]. He was on a petit jury 31 Dec 1650 [EQC 1:204] and named Lynn constable 27 June 1649 [EQC 1:170]. They lived on what is now Lewis Street. [George Harlan Lewis] 

George Harlan Lewis wrote Edmond purchased 40 acres of land on Lynn’s seashore and he also proposes Edmond may have been a sailor given the location of his land and the weapons he owned. His sons Nathaniel and Joseph were mariners. Edmond’s WikiTree profile has a map showing the location of his farm here.

Family

Mary and Edmond had seven children, most or all of them boys. 

i. John Lewis born England about 1631 (age 3 on 30 April 1634); married 1) at Lynn 17 June 1659 Hannah Marshall (his name given incorrectly as Jonathan); married 2) Lynn (int) 2 September 1699 Elizabeth (Walker) King, daughter of Richard Walker and widow of Ralph King; married 3) Lynn 10 February 1706/7 Sarah (Merriam) Jenks daughter of William Merriam and widow of John Jenks.  (Essex Institute Historical Collections 43:74). He was an innkeeper, a deacon and served in King Philip’s War. 

ii. Thomas Lewis born England about July 1633 (“aged 3 quarters [of a year]” on 30 April 1634 [Hotten 281]); married 11 November 1659 Hannah Baker at Lynn. He was a builder.

iii. James Lewis born Watertown 15 January 1635[/6] [Watertown VR 4]; presumably one of the “five youngest” children named in Edmond’s 1650/1 will; no further record.

iv. Nathaniel Lewis born Watertown 25 August 1639 [Watertown VR 6]; married by 1672 Mary ___ (eldest known child b. Swansea 6 June 1672 [Swansea VR 8]).

v. Child Lewis, born 27 October 1642 [calc]; died 6 November 1642, “10 days old” (Watertown VR 10]

vi. Child Lewis, born say 1644; presumably one of the “five youngest” children named in Edmond’s will; no further record.

vii. Joseph Lewis born say 1646; married Swansea 13 June 1671 Mary Jones [SwVR 23], daughter of Robert and Ann (Bibble) Jones [The American Genealogist 31:98-99]. He was reportedly the first white man slain in King Philip’s War at Swansea 24 June 1675. Note: Some researchers believe the evidence is flimsy for Joseph as a son of Edmond and Mary, but there are Swansea land records where he is called a brother of Nathaniel Lewis. 

Only the eldest son John is given by name in his father’s 1651 will. Presumably Thomas, James, Nathaniel,  Joseph and a child whose name is unknown are referred to as Edmond’s five youngest children.  I descend from Thomas whom I wrote about here.

Public service

Edmond was elected a Watertown selectman on 30 December 1637 [Watertown Town Records 1:3]. He was named to a committee to lay out farms on 14 October 1638 [Watertown Town Records 1:4].

It seems Edmond served in the militia as his inventory included “a sword, belt & bandoliers” valued at 12s., “two muskets & two rests” valued at 1 pound 16 shillings, “a fowling piece” valued at 1 pound 6 shillings, and “two small guns’ valued at 16 s [Essex County PR 1:124].

Edmond was literate as he signed his will and his inventory included a Bible. [Essex Probate Records 1:125].

Land transactions

On 25 July 1636 Edmond Lewis was granted 30 acres in the Great Dividend in Watertown, Lot No. 26 in the First Division. [Watertown Lands, Grants, Divisions, Allotments, Possessions and Proprietors’ Book 3/WaBOP]  Granted five acres in the Beaverbrook Lowlands lot no 82 on 28 February 1636/7 [WaBOP 7]. Granted five acres in the Remote Meadows lot no 61, on 26 June 1637 [WaBOP 9]. Granted six acres in the Town Plot on 9 April 1638 [WaBOP 11].

In the Watertown Inventory of Grants “Edmond Lewis” held six parcels [WaBOP 29]:

“An home stall of six acres”

“One acre of meadow in Rock Meadow”

“Thirty acres of upland being a Great Dividend in the 1 Division & the 25 lot”

“Five acres of Plowland in the Further Plain & the 91 lot”

“Five acres of meadow in the Remote Meadows & the 61 lot”

“A farm of one hundred acres of upland” 

On 16 Oct 1644 “John Sanders of Hampton” sold to “Henry Dow & Edmund Lewis of Watertowne…all the ground that I bought of William Wakefeild of Newbury which is to say one houselot containing ten acres…with ten acres added to the same adjoining to the north end thereof and twelve acres of planting ground granted in the east field and ten acres of meadow ground granted in the east field and ten acres of meadow ground adjoining to the springs and seventeen acres of salt marsh near adjoining to it together with the commonage & appurtenances to the same belonging” [Ipswich Land Records 1:18] On 22 October 1649 “whereas we Edmond Lewis & Henry Dow as joint purchasers in a bargain of land which he bought of John Sanders of Hampton, the land lying in the bounds of Hampton,” now “Edmond Lewis of Linn” sells to Henry Dow his entire right in the said lands [Old Norfolk County Deeds 1:10].

On 23 Oct 1645 “Edward Lewis of Watertowne” sold to “Daniel Smith of Watertowne one acre of meadow in Rocky Meadow” [Suffolk Deeds 1:64]. On 28 December 1647 Watertown selectmen “ordered that John Sherman shall measure the acre of meadow that was given Edmund Lewes” [Watertown Town Records 1:11]. It seems Edmond was contemplating a move to Hampton (now in New Hampshire) as Dow moved there almost immediately but it seems Edmond did not move there.

Death & Probate

Edmond died between 13 January 1650/51 (when he wrote his will) and 12 Feb 1650/51 (will proved), at Lynn. He was about 50 years old. Mary, widow of Edmund Lewis, late deceased, brought in his will 12:12:1650 [12th month was then February], and it was proved by Edward Burcham and John Deacon. Ordered that the children receive their portions at the age of 21. Inventory of the estate of Edmund Lewis of Lynn, deceased, taken 12 February 1650 by John Deakin, James Axey, witnessed by Edward Burcham and William Tilton (his mark). The inventory, which contained no real estate, totaled  £122 7 shillings 6 pence. [Essex Antiquarian 7:27]

Edmond’s will dated 11th month [January] of 1650/51: ”Line [sic: Lynne] the 13th of the 11th mo 1650 Memorandum that I Edmund Lewis beinge Sick & Weake, but of perfect remembrance, doe make & confirme this my last Will and testymente as followeth first my will Is that my land att watertowen shall be sould & thatt my eldeste sone John Lewis shall have A double portyon & yt the reste of my Children namly the five youngeste to haue every one of them A licke portyon of my estate secondly my deare & Lovinge wife to have the thirds of All my whole estate 3 I desier that my wife may have A cow over & above towards the bringine upe of my youngeste Children 4 my desires Is my wife to be my whole Executor to dispose of my body & goods ackordinge to my will 5 my requeste to my sone John Is to give his mother a Cow to hellpe her towards the bringine upe of my youngeste Children 6 my requeste to my sone Thomas Lewis Is to give his mother halfe of his sheepe to helpe her as Aforesaide 7 my desire & meninge is that the Cow I aske of John & the sheepe I aske of Thomas Is of them that they now have In theare possesion Aliso my requeste is to Thomas Austines [Anderson writes this is a transcription error: should be Deacon Thomas Hastings] to be my supervisor to assiste my Lovinge wife.” 

Signed by Edmund Lewes

Witness John Deakin 

Edward Burchum [Essex Antiquarian 4:63] 

The will is signed "Edmund Lewes.” The reference to Thomas Austines is a transcription error: Edmund was referring to Deacon Thomas Hastings, a fellow passenger on the Elizabeth who settled and stayed in Watertown. [Essex Probate Records 1:123-24]

Find A Grave memorial ID 128784480 has Edmond Lewis buried Old East Burying Ground, Row J, Lot 5, but without a source or photographs. 

Mary Lewis, widow of Edmond, died 7 September 1658 at Lynn. [Lynn Vital Records p 525] She was about 56 years old.

Sources:

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995

Essex Antiquarian, “Salem Quarterly Court Records and Files,” 7:27 (1903)

George Harlan Lewis. Edmund Lewis and Some of his Descendants, 1908

John Camden Hotten, editor, The Original Lists of Persons of Quality 1600-1700,  1874

Edward Small/Smalley, ca 1595-after 1666, of Devonshire, England, Kittery Maine, and the Isles of Shoals

Edward Small (also seen as Smalley and Smale) was born about 1595, probably in Devonshire, England. His parents have not been discovered. His birth year is based on the assumption  Edward was about 30 when his eldest child was born in 1625. He is my 10th great-grandfather on my grandmother Milly (Booth) Rollins’ side of the family. He was an early settler of Maine where he was a founder of Piscattaqua (now Kittery) and was a man of means and strong social standing who held positions of public trust. He was sometimes referred to by the honorific “Mr” in records. 

Wife and Family

Edward married a woman named Elizabeth whose maiden name is unknown. Some people identify her as Elizabeth Shurt, but I haven’t found a source for this. They had six children baptized at St. Mary’s Parish, Bideford, Devon [Bideford Register at Family Search’s “England Births and Christenings 1538-1975”]:

1. “Frances sonne of Edward Smale” baptized 6 October 1625
2. “Elizabeth dau of Edward Smale” baptized 6 July 1627; died young
3. “Mary dau of Edward Smale” baptized 5 May 1629; Wikitree profile has her dying same day as birth/baptism but without a source
4. “Edmond sonne of Edward Smale” baptized 2 March 1630; may have died in 1646
5. “Elizabeth dau of Edward Smale” baptized 10 October 1632; “Elizabeth dau of Edward Smalle” buried 27 Dec 1635 
6. “William sonne of Edward Smale” baptized 4 Feb 1634; Wikitree profile has his death as 1634 but without a source; Underhill believes it may have been 1646

I descend from Francis, an English boy who embraced living in the wilds of Maine. He grew up to become a trader with the American Indians, spoke their language, and was the largest private landowner in Maine’s history. [Underhill] His life would make a good book! 

The original St. Mary’s church was replaced with a new building in 1865, but its 11th century baptismal font and 13th century tower survive. 

St. Mary's Church, Bideford

Bideford is a small port town a few miles west of Barnstaple. The latter was an important port on the Bristol Channel that engaged in late medieval England’s wool trade, and from where a few small passenger vessels left for New England. [Anderson]

In 1646 Bideford was ravaged by a plague. The names of Edward’s sons Edmond born 1630 and William born 1634 were never again found in records, so it is possible they were among the unrecorded dead of that time. No burials of Smales/Smalls were recorded in St. Mary’s between 1637-1650. [Underhill]

Immigration to Maine

By 1639 Edward migrated to New England with his son Francis, presumably to pursue mercantile interests. In addition to the lure of large land grants, there were many economic opportunities in early Maine: fishing, lumber, and deep harbors that enabled trade. [Anderson] 

Early Maine settlers were often from affluent families, in some cases nobility, and received large land grants from Ferdinando Gorges, “Lord Proprietor” and founder of Maine. [Underhill]

It does not seem that his wife Elizabeth ever came to New England. What a challenging life she must have had—her husband gone for decades with their eldest son, possibly her only surviving child. What sorrow she endured, losing so many children. Perhaps the clean, comparatively disease-free air of Maine was a contributing factor of Edward bringing his eldest son with him on his journey, and when plague broke out in their hometown it provided an additional reason to remain. Perhaps Elizabeth was to join Edward there but changed her mind. I do wonder if she felt abandoned. 

Public Service &.  Business Interests

Edward is first mentioned in Maine records when he served on the jury at the first general court was held 24 June 1640. [Province Court Records Maine: Vol 1, page 42] At this time Maine was not a separate state but a province of Massachusetts.

At the 21 October 1645 General Court held at Saco, an election of four additional Councellors or Magistrates were chosen for the upcoming year: Mr. Francis Robinson, Mr. Arthur Mackworth, Mr. Edward Small, and Mr. Abraham Preble. [Underhill]

On 30 June 1747 General Court at Wells, the jury, which include Mr. Edward Smale, heard case against Charles Frost for accidental death of Warwick Heard, age 15. At a special meeting of the court on 5 December 1651, Edward Small appeared as juryman for the last time. [Underhill]

Edward must have had business interests at Pemaquid at an early date as on 18 Oct 1647 an action of debt for £18 was brought against Mr. Edward Smale by Adam Shurt as attorney for his mother Mary Shurt. [Underhill]

Signature of Edward "Smale" 

Land Ownership

Prior to June 1640 a group including Nicholas Frost, Alexander Shapleigh, and Edward Small had founded the settlement at “Pascattaway” or Piscattaqua Plantation from which sprung Kittery, the first town established in Maine (1647).  It also comprised the territory now known as Eliot, South Berwick, and Berwick. [Underhill]

Where the river changes its name from Newichewannock to Piscataqua was Sturgeon Creek. This is where before 1643 Edward Small “built a house and made improvements.” The deed dated 25 July 1643 from Thomas Gorges Esqr Deputy Governor of Province of Maine on behalf of Ferdinando Gorges granted “unto Edward Smale of Piscataqua one hundred Acres of Land or thereabouts to him his heirs and assigns for ever, the said Land lying between ye two creeks on each side of the house of ye said Edward Smale and Soe Backward by all ye same breadth unto Sturgeon Creek.” [Underhill]

On 23 June 1646 Edward Smale sold this entire 100-acre property to Antipas Maverick of the Isles of Shoals. [Underhill]

On 15 March 1649 Edward Small was again before the court, as plaintiff, against Antipas Maverick defendant, action of debt for £20. This may have been money still owed for Antipas’ purchase of Edward’s Sturgeon Creek house and 100 acres purchased for £45. Judgment was acknowledged but doesn’t say what that was. Perhaps Maverick was not a reliable person as “being observed to be often overtaken with drink, at the last in that distemper, fell out of his canoe, and was drowned” in July 1678. 

Where Edward lived after selling his Sturgeon Creek land is unclear, but by 1653 he was at the Isles of Shoals, a group of islands nine miles south from the mouth of the Piscataqua Harbor. Most of the men there were engaged in fishing. 

On 18 May 1653 “Edward Smale” signed a petition to the General Court held at Boston, asking that the inhabitants be invested with the powers of a township having, among other things, a militia. It was ignored; they petitioned again unsuccessfully in 1659 but succeeded in 1661 when they were made into the town of Appledore. [Tuttle] At this time there was a meetinghouse on Hog Island and a court house on Smutty Nose. About 1653 a small fort was built on Star Island. While Massachusetts refused to adhere to the Church of England, the Isles of Shoals were largely royalist and Episcopalian. This made negotiating with Massachusetts for a separate government quite tricky. [Underhill] I’ve taken a boat cruise a few times around the Isles of Shoals and it’s an incredibly beautiful area. 

Deaths of Edward and Elizabeth

Edward ’s death isn’t found in English or American records, which would have shed light on where he lived late in life. After his daughter Elizabeth’s 1635 burial, there is no further trace of him in Bideford. If Edward had returned to England, he would likely appear in records. He doesn’t appear in New England records after he signed the Isles of Shoals petition in 1653, although it is state in the Trelawney Papers that he was living in Dover (then Massachusetts, now New Hampshire) in 1685. It believe he was conflated with his grandson of the same name who lived at Dover for a time.

“Elizabeth wife of Edward Smale” was buried 10 February 1665 at St. Mary’s Parish, Bideford. It is notable that she is called wife, not widow or relict, so it seems he died after that time. It is also possible that no one knew whether he was still living. 

Edward’s son Francis moved to Cape Cod later in life, joining two of his sons there.

Sources:

Lora Underhill, The Descendants of Edward Small and Allied Families, volume 1, 1910

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Newsletter, “Focus on the West Country,” 21-25:108 (2015)

Charles W. Tuttle (communicated by), NEHGS Register, “The Isles of Shoals in the Year 1653,” 25:164 (April 1871)

James Phinney Baxter (editor),The Trelawny Papers,  3-214, (1884)

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