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     Archelaus Towne was baptized on 19 May 1734 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married first Mary Abbott about 1757.² He married second Martha Abbott, daughter of Ephraim Abbott and Sarah Crosby, before 1764.² He died of dysentery and fever in November 1779 in Fishkill, Dutchess Co., New York, at age 45.^2,3 He was buried in an unmarked grave along with as many as 100 other Revolutionary soldiers in Fishkill, Dutchess Co., New York.⁴
     Hoover notes that the book An Account of Some of the Early Settlers of West Dunstable, Monson, and Hollis, N. H. by Charles S. Spaulding identifies Archelaus Towne's two wives as sisters, daughters of Ephraim Abbott, while the book History of the Town of Amherst by Daniel F. Secomb identifies his second wife Martha Abbott as the daughter of Ephraim Abbott and Sarah Hunt, but does not identify her sister Mary as his first wife. Hoover also notes that Martha's sister Mary was born 20 July 1820, and was thus almost 14 years older than Archelaus, making it unlikely she was his first wife.⁵
     He was a captain commanding a company in Col. John Stark's regiment at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He certified that during the battle on 17 June 1775 he saw Peter Robinson, who served in his company, lose his right hand due to a cannon shot, and was disabled.
     In a petition to the House of Representatives asking for compensation for their services, he stated that he and his son Archelaus, Jr., left Amherst, New Hampshire, on 24 July 1777, and joined the Continental Army under Gen. Gates. They served as scouts, and were at the battle near Stillwater on 19 September 1777 (i.e., the First Battle of Saratoga). About four days before the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne (i.e., about 13 October), he became ill and returned home. His statement was confirmed by Lt. Robert B. Wilkins, who stated that he saw and spoke to Capt. Archelaus Towne at the front of the battle at Bemis's Height on 19 September 1777. Dr. John Hale, a surgeon in Cilley's Regt., also testified to these events. In July 1779 he received £50 for a year's service.
     He enlisted into the Continental Army again on 27 June 1779, and died in Fishkill, New York, about six months later.⁶
     He and his first wife Mary had the following known children, all born in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire: Sarah (b 23 May 1758), Archelaus (b 13 July 1760), Susannah (b 29 December 1762).²
     He and his second wife Martha had the following known children, all born in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire: Abigail (b 18 February 1765), John (b abt 1767), twins Martha and Mary (b 12 September 1771).²

More Information / Background

• Battle of Bunker Hill
  
• Battles of Saratoga
  
• Friends of the Fishkill Supply Depot.
  

     Israel Towne was born on 16 November 1736 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Lydia Hopkins, daughter of Benjamin Hopkins and Hannah Wilson, on 31 July 1760.^2,3 He died on 28 April 1813 in Stoddard, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, at age 76.²
     He bought a large tract of land in Stoddard, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, about 1782², and he and his wife Lydia moved there shortly afterwards.²
     He and Lydia had the following known children: Israel (b 14 June 1761), William (b 25 March 1763), Gardner (b 1 May 1765), Benjamin (b 23 March 1767), Andrew (b 11 July 1769), Lydia (b 11 April 1772, d 28 August 1777), Daniel (20 August 1774), Hannah (b 28 August 1776), Lemuel (b 10 May 1782).²

     Moses Towne was baptized on 6 May 1739 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Mary Gray on 3 December 1761 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.² He died on 9 February 1824 in Milford, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, at age 84.² He was buried at Elm Street Cemetery in Milford, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.²
     He and Mary had the following known children: Sarah (b 10 December 1762), Samuel Gray (b 25 May 1764), Moses (b August 1766, d 14 August 1854), Mary (b 15 September 1768, d 1 March 1777), Elizabeth (b 27 October 1770), Lemuel (b 17 June 1773, d 8 October 1775).²

     Gardner Towne was born on 6 June 1741 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.² He married Abigail Hopkins, daughter of Benjamin Hopkins and Hannah Wilson.²

     Elizabeth Towne was born on 30 June 1745 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.² She died on 16 July 1794 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, at age 49.² She was buried at Center Cemetery in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.²

     Susannah Towne was born on 28 May 1748 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.² She married Timothy Nichols on 2 October 1779.²

     Timothy Nichols married Susannah Towne, daughter of Israel Towne and Grace Gardner, on 2 October 1779.¹

     Mary Towne was born on 20 April 1751 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.² She died on 29 August 1781 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, at age 30.²

     Mercy Foster was born on 23 October 1710 in Boxford, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married Elisha Towne, son of Joseph Towne and Abigail Curtis, on 11 January 1737/38 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died in Milford, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.¹
     She and her husband Elisha moved from Topsfield to Monson (now Milford), Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, about 1748.¹

     Joseph Towne was born on 17 April 1739 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He died as an infant.²

     Bartholomew Towne was born on 8 April 1741 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married his cousin Mary Cummings, daughter of John Cummings and Mary Towne, on 3 October 1771 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He died in 1800 in Milford, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.⁴
     He served "with great credit" during the Revolutionary War, enlisting in Capt. Archelaus Towne's Company, Col. Ebenezer Bridge's Regiment, on 1 May 1775, and serving for three months, eight days.^2,5

     Thomas Towne was born on 8 February 1743 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married first his cousin Betty Towne, daughter of Joseph Towne and Jemima Bixby, on 17 November 1768 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.³ He married second Sarah Burton, daughter of John Burton and Abigail Paine, about 1770 (based on the birth date of their first child).² He died on 28 May 1824 in East Dover, Piscataquis Co., Maine, at age 81.² He was buried at Dow Cemetery in East Dover, Piscataquis Co., Maine.²
     He was an early settler of Wilton, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, which was incorporated in 1762.⁴
     During the Revolutionary War he was in Capt. Benjamin Taylor's Company of the Continental Army, which marched from Amherst, New Hampshire, on 8 December 1775, joining others at Winter Hill near Boston. He appears to have served in this company until 17 March 1776, when the British left Boston.⁴ He later served in Capt. John Goss' Co., Nichols' Regt., Gen. Stark's Brigade, enlisting on 20 July 1777. He fought at the Battle of Bennington on 16 August 1777, and was discharged on 27 September 1777.⁴ He received a pension for his military service starting in 1818.⁴
     He moved to Temple, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, in 1778 or 1779.⁴ In the spring of 1802, he moved to Piscataquis Co., Maine, near the present town of Dover, after seeing the area on a hunting trip the previous fall with his son Moses. During that trip Moses obtained a tract of land from Abel Blood. Thomas, Moses, and another of Thomas' sons, Eli, returned in the spring to clear the land, build a cabin, and plant a crop. In the fall Eli returned to Temple, New Hampshire, while his father and brother stayed the winter in Maine. Eli returned with his family in the spring of 1803. Moses soon sold his share to Eli and bought other land nearby, while Thomas continued to live with Eli.⁴
     He was known as an excellent hunter, and was to have once said "I never lost any game for fear of being bitten or scratched ..." On one occasion he shot at a bear swimming in a pond, but the bear kept swimming to shore. His dog then attacked the bear, and was soon dragged under the water. Thomas jumped into the water with no weapons other than his hands, crying "Drown my dog, will ye!" and soon came to shore "with a dead bear and a live dog."⁴
     His eyesight failed him in his later years, and he was blind the last few years of his life.⁴
     He and his first wife Betty had one known child, Sarah (b 1765 according to the Towne genealogy by Edwin Eugene Towne, although that's three years before their marriage).^2,5
     He and his second wife Sarah had the following known children listed by Edwin Eugene Towne, with additional information from the vital records of Wilton, New Hampshire: Joseph (b 23 February 1771), Thomas (b 19 January 1773), Eli (b 16 August 1774), David Burton (b 5 October 1775), Moses (b 2 June 1778), Abel (b 19 September 1779), Samuel (b 19 June 1782), Frances Pain (b 7 May 1784, d 1802), Abigail Harvey (b 18 December 1785), Betsey/Eliza (b 30 April 1788), twins Sarah and Mary (b 4 March 1790).^6,2

     Mercy Towne was born on 15 February 1744/45 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²

     Sarah Towne was born on 20 November 1747 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²

     Mary Moore was born about 1718.² She married David Towne, son of Joseph Towne and Abigail Curtis, on 21 August 1740 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died on 25 November 1801 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹

     Abigail Towne was born on 27 February 1741/42 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She died on 20 February 1799 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 56.²

     David Towne was born on 17 March 1743/44 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Susannah Averill, daughter of Luke Averill and Sarah Peabody, on 31 March 1772 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He died on 26 February 1815 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 70.² He was buried at South Side Cemetery in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²
     On 19 April 1775 he responded to the Lexington Alarm, serving as a sergeant in Capt. Joseph Gould's militia company, Col. John Baker's regiment, along with his father David and brother Archelaus.¹
     He and Susannah had the following known children, all born in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts: a son (d 23 June 1722), Ebenezer (b 26 June 1773), Sarah (bap 3 March 1776, d 23 July 1778), Mary (b 24 December 1776, d 12 June 1862), David (b 6 March 1780, d 17 March 1862), Sarah (b 10 September 1782), Joseph (b 24 October 1784), Luke (bap 24 June 1787).²

     Archelaus Towne was born on 25 August 1746 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He died on 27 November 1749 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 3.²

     Joseph Towne was baptized on 21 May 1749 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He died on 27 January 1820 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 70.²

     Archelaus Towne was born on 3 January 1751/52 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He died unmarried on 4 October 1804 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 52.²
     On 19 April 1775 he responded to the Lexington Alarm, serving in Capt. Joseph Gould's militia company, Col. John Baker's regiment, along with his father David and brother David.¹

     Eunice Towne was born on 12 May 1754 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She died unmarried on 19 August 1804 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 50.²

     Thomas Towne was born on 26 September 1762 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He died in 1832 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²

     Mary Dean married Jonathan Towne, son of Joseph Towne and Abigail Curtis, on 31 October 1751 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died in 1784.¹
     After their marriage, she and her husband Jonathan moved to Monson (now Milford, Hillsborough Co.), New Hampshire.¹

     Jonathan Towne was born on 28 April 1754 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^1,2 He married Mary Blanchard, daughter of Samuel Blanchard, in October 1783.^1,2 He died on 31 December 1842 at age 88.²
     He was one of the founders of the church in Milford, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.² He and Mary had the following known children: Jonathan (b 6 August 1784, d 10 February 1874), David (b 18 January 1786), Mary (b 10 November 1787, d 4 April 1877).²

     Mary Towne was born on 23 September 1756.¹ She died unmarried on 6 March 1847 in Andover, Windsor Co., Vermont, at age 90.^2,1

     Betsey Towne was born in 1758.^1,2 She died unmarried.³

     Aaron Towne was born on 14 March 1761.^1,2 He married first Abigail Johnson.³ He married second Lois (?).³

     Jane Towne was born in 1763.^1,2 She married Jonathan Thompson.²

     Jonathan Thompson married Jane Towne, daughter of Jonathan Towne and Mary Dean.¹

     Phebe Towne was born on 13 November 1765.^1,2 She married Timothy Ordway.²