Willard Eddy (1760 - 1854)

Born 21 Jan 1760 in Gloucester, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 13 Apr 1854 at age 94 in Richfield, New York

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Biography

Willard Eddy served with Rhode Island Militia during the American Revolution.

Willard Eddy is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-152996
Rank: Soldier

Willard Eddy was born in 1760. He is the son of Enoch Eddy and Hannah Lippett. He passed away in 1854.^[1]

Willard Eddy served in the Revolutionary War. In 1776, at the age of 16, Willard Eddy enlisted in Capt. Nathan Blackman's company, Col. Christopher Lippett's Rhode Island regiment, which rendered important service at Trenton and Princeton. He then entered marine service, served on the "Providence" and on the privateer "Boston". He was blockaded in Charleston Harbor by the British, and when taken prisoner, was defending the fort. He was sent to Philadelphia for exchange.

From SAR application of Otis Judd Eddy (1890, Washington, DC) :

"My great grandfather Willard Eddy enlisted at Gloucester RI in January 1776 for one year with Capt. Blackmar and stationed at Newport, RI until September. Then transferred to the command Col. Lippitt, from there to White Plains, and was in the battle there Oct. 28, 1776 and discharged in NJ. He served for one month from Feb 1777 in the militia as a substitute for Lippitt Eddy under Capt. John Eddy and Col. Brown at Providence and in March 1777 another month with Capt. or Lt. Smith and Col. Morey at Providence, also another month at same place with Lt. Collins and 15 days under Lt. Lacey as a substitute. In Oct 1777 he was one month at Tiverton as substitute. In March 1778, he enlisted on board the ship Providence, Capt. Whipple who sailed April 29th passing the British fleet off Newport, RI harbor, giving them a broadside, which was returned. Arrived in France the last of May 1778. After repairing the ship in 3 or 4 months, started for US with ships Boston and Ranger; he reached Portsmouth, NH then went to Boston and was discharged Oct 1778. In Sep 1779 he shipped on board the Boston, Capt. Tucker, and with the Providence and Ranger, sailed for Charleston SC, where also the British fleet arrived in April 1780 and the city surrendered May 12, 1780 and Eddy was made prisoner, carried in cartel(?) vessel to Philadelphia where discharged in June 1780. Said Willard was a prisoner-see exhibit attached to this paper." (I think he meant what's on the next page below. MEA)

The following is a memorandum of the authority for the above statement: "Records of Pension Bureau, Dept. of Interior, Washignton, SC - also Genealogy of the Eddy Family compiled by Charles Eddy, M.D. (my brother) and published in 1881." (signed) Otis Judd Eddy, MD.

From Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books; Mrs. Mary Louise Shepard Warren. 11974 :

Willard Eddy, 1776, at the age of sixteen enlisted in Capt. Nathan Blackman's company. Col. Christopher Lippitt's Rhode Island regiment, which rendered important service at Trenton and Princeton. He subsequently enlisted as a marine and served on the "Providence" and "Boston." He was blockaded in Charleston harbor, taken prisoner and sent to Philadelphia for exchange, and his discharge papers are now in the family. He died at Richfield N. Y., 1854.

1760 Birth and Parentage

Willard Eddy was b. 21 Jan., 1760, in Rhode Island ^[2]

He was son of Enoch Eddy, grandson of Zachariah Eddy, great grandson of John Eddy, great great grandson of John Eddy, and great great great grandson of Samuel Eddy, who was born in England, and came to Plymouth, Mass., in 1630, in the ship Handmaid, of which John Grant was master. ^[2]

1776 Revolutionary Service

Willard Eddy ^[3]served in the Revolutionary War. In 1776, at the age of 16, Willard Eddy enlisted in Capt. Nathan Blackman's company, Col. Christopher Lippett's Rhode Island regiment, which rendered important service at Trenton and Princeton. He then entered marine service, served on the "Providence" and on the privateer "Boston". He was blockaded in Charleston Harbor by the British, and when taken prisoner, was defending the fort. He was sent to Philadelphia for exchange.

1786 Guardianship

On 3 April 1786, the town council of Glocester, Rhode Island voted that Willard Eddy be appointed lawful guardian over the person and the estate of his brother Enoch Eddy; as by Enoch Eddy’s request.^[4]

1795 to Richfield, NY

About 1795, he removed to Richfield, N.Y., ^[2]

1854 Death

He died 13 April, 1854, at the advanced age of 94 years. ^[2]

From Genealogy of the Eddy Family : Pgs. 36, 37

305. Willard Eddy (85) b Jan. 21, 1760: entered the Federal Army, Rev. War, at age of 16, enlisting for a term of three years. His term of service expired soon after the battle of White Plains; he then entered the marine service and was assigned to duty on board the Providence, a ship fitted out as a privateer in aid of the Colonies; he went with her to France; after returning he was transferred to the Boston, a privateer; was blocked in Charleston, S. C. harbor by a British fleet; was transferred to defence (sic) of the fort, where he was taken prisoner of war and sent to Phila. for exchange. In Phila. he left the service; and proceeded home to R. I. on foot. In 1782 he m Dorcas Mathewson, (the second dau and fourth child of Noah Mathewson, of Johnstown, R. I.); she b Dec. 7, 1762. They settled in Glocester, R. I. In 1765 he removed to Unadilla, N. Y.; thence to Sherburn, N. Y.; from there to Richfield, Otsego Co., N. Y. He purchased a farm there in 1803 and resided on it till death, Apr. 13, 1851. His wife d April 5, 1847, Children:

517. Mathewson (161), b May 8, 1785; d 1842.

518. Otis (162), b Jan. 20, 1787.

519. Rhoda (163), b Aug. 13, 1790.

520. Hannah, b June 2, 1792; m John Hackley Sept. 8, 1826. Had 2 chil; d May 5, 1853.

521. Elizabeth (164), b Nov. 7, 1794.

522. Nancy, b Sept. 13, 1796; d June 28, 1822, unm.

523. Lydia, b May 28, 1798; m Calvin Hawley March 3, 1823; d May 25, 1825.

From The Eddy Family in America, Seventh Generation, Pg. 189:

711 Willard Eddy (Enoch, Zachariah, Zachariah, Zachariah, Samuel, William), b. Jan. 26, 1760; d. Apr. 13, 1854; m. 1782, Dorcas Mathewson, b. Dec. 7, 1762; d. Apr. 5, 1847; dau. Of Noah Mathewson of Johnston, R. I.

An abridged account of his service in the Revolution follows:

Willard Eddy. B. Glocester, Jan, 21, 1760; enlisted Jan. 1, 1776, co. Capt. Nathaniel Blackmar, Col. Lippitt, 1 yr.; served in co.'s of Capt. John Eddy and Capt. Stephen Whipple; also, on Continental ships "Providence" and "Boston"; pensioner, resided in Otsego Co., N. Y.

A full account is given in thr affidavit for his pension which is on file at rhr R. I. State House. He marched from Newport to New York. He was in the battle of White Plains, Oct. 1776. In Feb. 1, 1777, he enlisted as a substitute for Lippitt Eddy. In Mar. 1778 he shipped on board the ship "Providence," sailed from Providence, passed the British fleet at Newport, and gave them a broadside which they returned. Then they sailed directly for France and reached there May 29, 1778. After three to four months in France, a part of the time at Breast, he sailed for the U. S. with the "Boston" and "Ranger" and reached Portsmouth Harbor, N. H., and was discharged Oct. 1778. In Sept. 1779 he again enlisted as a sailor on the vessel "Boston," which sailed from Boston in company with the "Providence," the "Queen of France" and the "Ranger." They arrived at Charleston Harbor, S. C., where they stayed during the winter. About April 1, 1780, British ships appeared off the bar and they were besieged until May 12, 1780, when they surrendered to the British. He was taken a prisoner of war an$ sailed on board a British coastal vessel for Philadelphia. He was discharged June 29, 1780, and given the following pass:

Willard Eddy, or the bearer hereof, late a prisoner of war to the British at South Carolina, hath permission to pass from hence to his Place of Residence in the State of Rhode Island, he behaving as becometh and all Commisaries of Issues will furnish him with Subsistence agreeable to a resolve of Congress of Aug. 4, 1778 till the 12th day of July next, being a reasonable time for him to get Home take a receipt ( - ask the quantity drawn on this pass) and charge the same to the United States of America agreeable to the above resolve.

Given at my office in Philadelphia, this 29th day of J7ne, endorsed Trenton, June 30, 1780, added three days rations. e. Hornwell.

July 5, 1780, served with three days provisions. Sub. For James Forsyth. A. C. D.

Delivered three rations, July 8, 1780 for John Hall. A. C. D.

Willard Eddy's name appears in the Census of 1777 in R. I. As betwwen the ages of 16 and 50 and in the 1790 Census as the head of a household in Glocester consisting of one male over 16, two under 16, and three females.

In 1784 he purchased land of John Howland and Lois (Eddy) Howland and also of Daniel Hunt. This was in the northern part of Glocester in the section which later became Burrillville.

In the Military Records of Glocester, Willard appears as Ensign in 1788, and as Captain in 1791 and 1792. About 1795 he went to Otsego Co., N. Y. He first lived in Unadilla, later at Sherburn and finally settled at Richfield, N. Y. There are deeds on record of his transactions in New York State.

Children:

+1558 Mathewson Eddy, b. May 8, 1785, at Glocester, R. I.

+1559 Otis Eddy, b. Jan. 20, 1787, at Glocester.

+1560 Rhoda Eddy, b. Aug. 13, 1790.

1561 Hannah Eddy, b. June 20, 1792, d. May 5, 1833; m. Sept. 8, 1825, John Hackley.

+1562 Betsey Eddy, b. Nov. 7, 1794.

1563 Nancy Eddy, b. Sept. 13, 1796; d. June 28, 1822.

1564 Lydia Eddy, b. May 28, 1798; d. May 25, 1825; m. Mar. 3, 1823, Calvin Hawley.

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Sources

• Genealogy of the Eddy Family: by Charles Eddy, M. D., Brooklyn, NY, Nolan Brothers, Book and Job Printers, 515 & 517 Fulton Street, 1881. Willard Eddy is Record #305, Pgs. 36 & 37, and the son of Enoch Eddy, Record #190, Pg. 23.
• The Eddy Family in America, by Ruth Story Devereux Eddy, Eddy Family Association, Boston, 1930. Willard Eddy is Record #711, Pg. 189.^[5]
• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970: No. 1887, 16 Jun 1890, Otis Judd Eddy; No. 3919, 7 Feb 1895, Albert Mathewson Eddy; No. 21513, 19 Apr 1910, Charles Wheeler Eddy..^[6]
• Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books (152 Vols.): No. 11974 , Mrs. Mary Louise Shepard Warren, Descendant of Willard Eddy, of New York. Daughter of Floyd Cushman Shepard and Lydia Louise Beardsley, his wife; Granddaughter of Joseph Beardsley and Elizabeth Eddy, his wife; Gr.-granddaughter of Willard Eddy and Dorcas Mathewson, his wife. ^[7]
• Find A Grave: Memorial #64987424; Willard Eddy, Twilight Rest Cemetery, Otsego County NY

See also:

• Genealogy of the Family of Lt. Thomas Tracy, of Norwich, Connecticut, D.S. Harkness & Company, printers, 1888 - Norwich (Conn.), Pg. 436
• U.S., The Pension Roll of 1835: Willard Eddy, Otsego County NY
• 1850 US Census: Richfield, Otsego County, NY, 6 Sep 1850
• The Eddy Family Association
• U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783: Rhode Island, Crarys Regiment, 1777-1779 (Folder 45) - Various Organizations (Folder 66)

• Add sources here.

Derivative Sources^[8]

• Source: S06788 Title: Harvey Wilson's files
• Source: S07722 Title: Emma Stone Ancestry by Bryon Stone.ged Repository: Call Number: Media: Other
• Source: S09898 Title: One World Tree (sm) Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, n.d.

Footnotes

1. ↑ Profile created by Eddy family researcher Nick Dann, 9 Dec 2014.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Hyde Genealogy in Genealogy of the Family of Lt. Thomas Tracy
3. ↑ Information from Eddy family researcher Nick Dann, 8 Dec 2014.
4. ↑ Glocester, Town Council Records, Book 2, 1784-1812, p. 9. Ancestry.com. Rhode Island, Wills and Probate Records, 1582-1932 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015, https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9079/007649095_00226. Original data: Rhode Island, District and Probate Courts.
5. ↑ The Eddy Family in America, Record #711.
6. ↑ National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, Louisville, Kentucky. Microfilm, 508 rolls
7. ↑ National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. Lineage Books of the Charter Members of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Vol. I-CLII (152). Note on Publishing: Since this database represents a compilation of 151 volumes, the years and locations of copyright information varies, according to each volume, i.e. Volume 8 was published in 1899 in Washington, D.C., volume 63 was published in 1923, also in Washington, D.C., and volume 152 was published in 1938, also in Washington, D.C.
8. ↑ These are what are known as "derivative sources", and shound not be considered as true Sources. These intended 'sources' often come from GEDCOM uploads, and also might include "Millennium File, or Family Data Collection or Edmund West, etc." Please see G2G discussion.