Sylvester Richmond Stormed Louisbourg, Canada, In 1745

From the J. B. Richmond book:




153 (Hon. & Col.) Sylvester Richmond 4 (Silvester 3, Edward 2, John 1) was born in Little Compton, then known as Dartmouth, Mass., June 30, 1698. He married Elizabeth Talbut, daughter of Jared 2nd and Rebecca Talbut of Dighton, born June 14, 1699. He was Sheriff of Bristol, County. He died January 14, 1783, in his eighty-fifth year, and she, June 23, 1772, in her seventy-third year. He removed from Little Compton, R. I., to Dighton, Mass., about 1723.

CHILDREN:

359. Ezra 5, born Jan 16, 1711; married Mary Baylies
360. Rebecca 5, born Feb.12, 1723, married. Aug. 15, 1751, Constant Southworth
361. Elizabeth 5, born Dec. 22, 1726; married Thomas Scales
362. Sylvester 5, born Nov. 20, 1729; married Abigail Nightingale
363. Hannah 5, born Sept. 17, 1731; married Joseph Andrews

11. Joseph 6 (Ephraim 5 Thomas 48 Joseph 2 Thomas *), b. in Hing. July 31, 1731. ra. Hannah Richmond of Dighton, Mass. Joseph d. 22 Nov. 1777, aet. 46 yrs. " Farmer." Selectman in 1775, 1776, and 1777. Town Treasurer, 1769. Resided on the paternal homestead, North St. Ch., all b. in Hing., were — i. Hannah, Dec. 28, 1752, d. 2 Oct. 1798. ii. Jane, Aug. 1, 1755. m. March 1, 1772, Samuel Norton, iii. Joseph, Aug. 5, 1757, was a lieut. in active service in the war of the Rev.; and d. 22 Nov. 1777, of wounds received at the battle of Brandywine, aet. 20 yrs. 15. iv. Ephkaim, Sept. 29, 1759.

364. Mary 5, born March 10, 1733-4; married 1st Samuel Buckman, 2nd Col. Jotham Loring
365. Ruth 5, born March 18, 1736-7; died, unmarried, in Dighton
366. John 5, born March 12, 1738-9; married 1st, Margaret Lee; 2nd, Mrs. ___ Atwood
367. Nathaniel 5, born March 12, 1738-9; married 1st, Anna Brownell; 2nd Rebecca Shaw

The first two children were born in Little Compton, and the others in Dighton.

The will of Jared Talbut of Dighton, dated January 16, 1733-4, proved February 19, 1733-4 (Wills, Vol. 8), mentions (among others) wife Rebecca and daughter Elizabeth. He receipted to Capt. Perez Richmond, in 1755, for property left him by his father, Col. Silvester 3.

Sylvester 4 lived at the foot of Richmond Hill, and his son Sylvester lived there after him. He had ninety-two acres of land in Little Compton, and one hundred and twenty-three Dighton.

On August 19, 1723, Col. Sylvester's father deeded "a certain tract of land" to him "being _ lower end of _ three lots on which Samuel Talbut now dwells, said tract being purchased by me of said Samuel Talbut." (See Taunton Deeds, Vol. 55, p. 29_). On the same date, Jared Talbut, Esq., of Dighton, "for good will, etc., to his son-in-law Sylvester and his daughter Elizabeth Richmond, both of Little Compton," deeded to them "four lots of land in the upper division of land in Dighton (so-called), viz., 55-58 (Deeds, Vol. 55, p. 373). Col. Sylvester Richmond 4, acquired considerable property, buying of his brother-in-law, Nathaniel Fisher, in 1735, a tract of land at Stephens' Neck in Dartmouth and from his father another tract in the same town, upon one or both of which his son Nathaniel afterwards settled.

His son, Col. Ezra was his administrator (see estate details here), in 1784, and his property was inventoried at 800 pounds, all real estate.

He was Representative from Dighton in the General Court from 1741 to 1747, and was High Sheriff of the County for many years. He was a colonel in the British Army, and was active in the Spanish and French wars, and distinguished himself at the Capture of Cape Breton. He commanded the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in the campaign against Louisburg, and received the French flag after the capture of the fortress. His son (Col.) Ezra was his aide-de-camp. His commission as colonel was dated February 6, 1744. He was dissatisfied with the management of the siege and the dilatory proceedings of the regular engineer, and proposed a plan---a "coup de main." Accepting his counsel, they made the assault and took the place. His sagacity and and bravery won him a high position and great respect. After the capture of Louisburg and Cape Breton, he was invited to England to receive the thanks of the Crown; he declined for himself, but sent his eldest son, Ezra, to King George II, who gave him a commission.

"In 1745, a full company was raised in Plymouth for the expedition against Louisburg, and they were the first who appeared in Boston for that service, with Capt. Sylvanus Cobb and col. Sylvester Richmond."

Col. Richmond's former connection with the royal troops did not prevent his sympathizing heartily and deeply with the Colonies in their struggle for independence, and he was painfully grieved that one of his sons, who had been an officer of the Mother Country, felt differently, and refused to join the Revolutionary Army. The old soldier said that if he were ten years younger (being seventy-seven) he should not be found at home at that time.

The following anecdote is told of the Colonel, which may help illustrate his character. The other officers, at the siege of Louisburg, wore the white shirts which they brought from home as long as they were clean, and were then obliged to appear in coarser materials. Col. Richmond carefully saved the shirts his wife had prepared for him before his departure, until the army made its triumphal entrance into the place, and then, to the surprise of his brother officers, appeared in a clean white shirt,---the only man who did so on that occasion.

He was a man of exemplary character, and very generous in promoting religious institutions. His house was the home of ministers. He almost wholly supported the Congregational ministry in the town. The pastor lived at his house without expense. He gave seventy acres of land to the church, from which it is benefited to the present time. The lands were deeded in trust for the church to Amos Wright, Ephraim Hathaway, Sylvester Atwood, Jeremiah Fisher, Sylvester Richmond, 2nd, Elkanah Andrews, Sylvester Richmond, 3rd, James Andrews, Thomas Baylies Richmond, Trustees.

The following is from his gravestone:

"In memory of Sylvester Richmond, Esq.,
who for many yrs. served with great approbation
as Sheriff of the County of Bristol.
Deceased Jany, 14, 1783, in 85th year of his age."

"Elizabeth Richmond, worthy consort of
Sylvester Richmond, Esq., who paid the debt
of nature June 23, A. D., 1772 in 73rd yr. of her age.
Sincerely lamented by her Disconsolate brother and children."

The Town Clerk of Dighton writes as follows:__

"The ruins of the old Silvester Richmond house stand on the north side of Richmond Hill. In my boyhood, it was occupied by two old maids, Sally and Nancy, granddaughters of Sylvester Richmond", who removed, I think, to Providence, and died there. The house was afterwards renamed by various parties, and had the reputation of being haunted. One Irishwoman who lived there tells a story about entering one of the front rooms one day and finding there a company of people, dressed in the costume of the last century, sitting around the table, and who took not the last notice of her.

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Correspondence to and from Col. Sylvester Richmond in the William Pepperrell papers (see Pepperell

[Source]

Part of his Mayflower ancestry can be found here.