John Haley (1763 - aft. 1810)

Born 4 Apr 1763 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Priscilla (Fellows) Haley — married 21 Oct 1792 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States

Descendants

Died after 1810 after age 46 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joan Stewart Smith [send private message]

Biography

John Haley served with Continental Navy during the American Revolution.

John Haley was born on 4 Apr 1763 in the coastal town of Stonington, New London County, Connecticut Colony,^[1][2] one of the 13 children of John Haley, a U.S. Revolutionary war veteran^[3], and his wife Deborah Fanning.^[4] He had 12 siblings, Joshua, Abigail, Mary, Zerviah, Hannah, Martha, Phebe, Edmund (his twin),^[5] Lucy, Belcher, Deborah, and Content.^[6]

John was a seaman by profession. His 1796 Seaman's Protection Certificate recorded John Haley, aged 33, 5 foot, 8 inches tall, dark complexion, in the New London Custom District, born 1763 in Stonington.^[2] The Mystic Seaport Museum records seaman John Haley of Stonington on the crew list of the schooner Eliza, which departed on 4 Aug 1803 for Lisbon, Portugal under ship master Dudley Babcock.^[7]

Marriage

John Haley, aged 29, married the widow Priscilla (Fellows) Davol, aged 37, on 21 Oct 1792 in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut, with officiant Rev. Hezekiah N. Woodruff.^[8][9][6]

Priscilla was born on 14 Apr 1755 at Stonington, New London County, Connecticut Colony. She was the 10th of the 12 children of Nathanial Fellows and his wife Hopestill Holdridge.^[10]

18 years previously, Priscilla had married John Davol on 15 Dec 1774 in Stonington.^[11] Sgt. John Davol died between 10 Feb 1780, when he was discharged from the 1st Connecticut Regiment after 3 years of service,^[12] and 1792, when Priscilla remarried. It's reasonable to speculate that he died much earlier than 1792, as under normal circumstances, he and Priscilla would have had children.

As a fully functioning older wife, Priscilla immediately had 3 children with her 2nd husband, John Haley, whom she married in 1792, 18 years after she married John Davol.

Priscilla, before she married her 2nd husband in 1792, was most likely one of the two females on the 1790 census in the household of her father, Nathaniel Fellows I. The other female was her father's 2nd wife, the widow Sarah (née Watson) Miner Fellows. ^[13]

Children

John Haley and Priscilla (Fellows) Haley had the following 3 children in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut. Because Priscilla was an older bride of 37, she was fortunate to have three sons by age 42.^[6]

1. John Haley (1793–)^[6]
2. Joshua Haley (1795–1874), married Rebecca Brown^[14][6][15]
3. Elihu Haley (1797-1827)^[16][17]

Death

John Haley died between 1810 and 1820, as the last time he was on the federal census in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut was 1810.^[18]

Priscilla died between 1820 and 1830, as she was (female, 45 and over) in the household of her single son, Elihu Haley, on the 1820 census in Stonington. ^[17] After Elihu died in 1827, she was not living in the 1830 household of her son Joshua Haley, so she must have passed away before 1830.^[14]

John and Priscilla both most likely died in Stonington, where they lived.

Census

1800 United States

Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States. ^[19]

1810 United States

Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States. ^[18]

Military

Continental Frigate Confederacy

John Haley's service in the U.S. Revolutionary War would have been later in the war, as he was only 13 when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. A man called John Haley was listed among the crew of the Continental frigate Confederacy on 27 Apr 1779, then anchored in New London, Connecticut, about 10 miles from Stonington. This may have been 16-year-old John Haley of Stonington, in which case he was part of the Continental Navy, later a seaman by profession.

Built in 1778 on the Thames River below Norwich, Connecticut, the ship was under the command of Capt. Seth Harding.^[20] On 17 Sep 1779, the same year John Haley was recorded as crew, Capt. Harding and the 36-gun sailing frigate Confederacy were ordered to take the French Minister and his family back to France. While enroute, the Confederacy under Capt. Harding ran into a bad storm, lost all masts and sails, but reached Martinique in the West Indies. After repairs, the Confederacy was back in action, but in 1781, British ships forced her to surrender off the Delaware Capes, imprisoning many of her crew.^[21]

Without available records, we can only speculate John was on the ship when it went off course in 1779 (as he was listed as crew that same year) or when it was forced to strike her flag in 1781.

Several sea-faring relatives volunteered their ships and expertise to contribute unofficially to the war effort, including his uncle Ship Capt. Jeremiah Haley, Ship Capt. Benjamin Haley, and his brother-in-law, Ship Capt. Elnathan Fellows. All three transported the effects of war refugees from the Battle of Long Island to Connecticut after the Continental Army's defeat in August 1776.^[22]

Privateer Yankee

According to an 1898 biography of John Haley's grandson, Joshua Haley (1822-1893), John (the subject of this profile) "during the Revolutionary war he served on the American privateer, Yankee.^[6]

There wasn't a ship called Yankee on the List of Privateers fitted out from Connecticut during the U.S. Revolutionary War.^[23] There are records of three privateers in the American Revolution with the word "Yankee" in their names: Yankee, an armed Massachusetts privateer sloop, commissioned 13 Jan 1776, captured 6 June 1776; Yankee Hero, an armed Massachusetts privateer sloop/brig, commissioned 17 Dec 1775, captured 3 July 1776; and Yankee Ranger, an armed Providence, Rhode Island privateer sloop, commissioned 19 July 1776, out of service 6 June 1777.^[24]

Given the dates, it's reasonable that John would have been too young to join a crew of a privateer from another state.

War of 1812

During the War of 1812, many stories were told of a famous 18-gun privateer ship from Bristol, Rhode Island, called the Yankee, the most successful privateer of the war.^[25] If his grandson's bio named the right ship but the wrong war, mistaking the War of 1812 for the American Revolution, John would not have been part of the militia or regular army during that conflict. Privateers were privately owned armed ships commissioned by governments to wage war. Should there be existing crew lists of the Yankee's 120 officers and men, I don't have access to them.

I couldn't find a John Haley among lists of Connecticut men in the Connecticut Militia or regular army during the War of 1812.^[26] On the Fold3 military database, there are military records of men named John Haley serving in the War of 1812, but they were from units in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Kentucky, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Maryland, New York and Virginia.

Father's Service

During the U.S. Revolutionary War, John Haley's father of the same name, aged 59, served in Gallup's Regiment of the Connecticut Militia. Capt. John Haley was in John Williams' Company of detached Militia under the command of Lieut. Col. Nathan Gallup, stationed at Fort Griswold at Groton, New London County, Connecticut in 1779.^[3]

A man called John Haley was also on the payroll of Capt. Prentice’s Company in Col. Samuel McClellan’s Regiment of the Connecticut Militia, who joined 26 Sep 1782 and was discharged 24 Nov 1782. ^[27]

Although John Haley, the subject of this profile, was 19 in 1782, the John Haley in Col. McClellan's Regiment was probably his father, aged 62, as he had been previously stationed at Fort Griswold in Groton. Col. McClellan was ordered to oversee troops in that area after the 1781 Battle of Groton Heights (Fort Griswald Massacre) and invasion of New London, Connecticut.

Research notes by (Joan Stewart Smith), GGGG grandniece of Priscilla Fellows, who married John Haley.

Sources

1. ↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74J-RN5 : 7 January 2020), Jno. Haley, son of John Haley, born 4 Apr 1763 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut Colony
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Web: US, New England Seamen's Protection Certificate Index, 1796-1871. Ancestry.com. (https://research.mysticseaport.org/databases/protection : accessed 31 Jan 2024), John Haley, aged 33, born 1763 in Stonington, Connecticut, Height 5’8”, dark complexion, declaration date 4 Oct 1796, Certificate 190, New London Custom District
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} US, Revolutionary War Service Records, 1775-1783, US, Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783. The National Archives. Record Group 93, Roll: 0368. John Haley, Gallup's Regiment, Conn. Militia. Capt. John Williams' Company of detached Militia to serve under the command of Lieut. Col. Nathan Gallup, stationed at Fort Griswold.
4. ↑ Wheeler, Richard Anson. History of the Town of Stonington, County of New London, Connecticut, The Day Publishing, Co., New London, Conn., 1900 (https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofs00whee_1/page/n430/mode/1up?view=theater : accessed 1 Feb 2024). Haley Family, pp. 408-410
5. ↑ Connecticut, U.S., Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection). Ancestry.com. Stonington Vital Records 1658-1854, p. 173, "Edmond, twin with Jno., s. John, b. Apr. 4, 1763"
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5} Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of New London County, Connecticut. Vol. 26. Biographical Review Publishing Company. 1898. p. 299-300. Joshua Haley Biography, born 5 Sep 1822, son of Joshua Haley and Rebecca Brown, grandson of John Haley and Priscilla Fellows, great grandson of John Haley and Deborah Fanning, great great grandson of John Haley and Mary Saunders. (https://archive.org/details/cu31924028841935/page/n310/mode/1up : accessed 31 Jan 2024)
7. ↑ New London Crew Lists, 1803-1878. Mystic Seaport Museum. (https://research.mysticseaport.org/databases/crew-lists-new-london), John Haley, aged 36, position seaman, birthplace and residence, Stonington [Connecticut], dark complexion, departed on 4 Aug 1803 on the schooner Eliza, destination Lisbon, master Dudley Babcock, crew ID NLC161606, New London Customs Office
8. ↑ Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920. Ancestry.com. Book source: Connecticut Church Records, Stonington, First Congregational Church (“The Road Church”) 1674-1925, Connecticut State Library 1961, p. 190. John Haley married Priscilla Deboll, of Stonington on Oct. [ ], 1792, by Rev. Hezekiah N. Woodruff, v. 4
9. ↑ Wheeler, Richard A. History Of The First Congregational Church, Stonington, Conn., 1674-1874. Norwich, CT: T.H. Davis and Company, 1875, p. 264. Marriages by the Rev. Hezekiah N. Woodruff, Pastor. “Oct. [ ], 1792, John Haley and Priscilla Deboll of Stonington”
10. ↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7W8-KZQ : 7 January 2020), Precilla Fellows, daughter of Nathaniel Fellows, born 14 Apr 1755, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut, British Colonial America
11. ↑ Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920. Ancestry.com. Book source: Connecticut Church Records, Stonington, First Congregational Church (“The Road Church”) 1674-1925, Connecticut State Library 1961, p. 161: Priscilla Fellows m. John Devol, 15 Dec 1774, Stonington, p. 138: John Devol or Devolve, m. Priscilla Fellows 15 Dec 1774 [Same family? – Page 128: Pardon Devol or Devolve m. Nathaniel Williams, 17 Mar 1782]
12. ↑ “United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG2M-TPW4 : 28 Aug 2023), FHL microfilm 101711093, Book source: Johnston, Henry P. The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1788. Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1889, p. 147; Listed under Non-commissioned Officers and Musicians, Sergeants, John Davol, residence, Stonington, Connecticut, Enlisted 10 Feb 1777; Eldridge Company, 3 years service, discharged 10 Feb 1780, member of First Regiment of Connecticut “Connecticut Line”, Formation of 1777-1781, enlisted mainly in New London.
13. ↑ "Nathl Fellows 1" [of 3 Nathl Fellows households], "United States Census, 1790", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKV-CDY : Thu Jul 20 18:49:16 UTC 2023), New London County, Connecticut, United States, TOTAL 3: 1 male over 16 [Inferred NATHANIEL FELLOWS], 2 females any age [Inferred 2nd WIFE SARAH MINER (née WATSON) and WIDOWED DAUGHTER PRISCILLA DAVOL (née FELLOWS) before 2nd marriage to John Haley, Jr.]
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74J-RJP : 7 January 2020), Joshua Haley, son of John Haley and Priscella, born 15 Mar 1795 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1830", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGY-R91 : Sat Aug 26 23:06:02 UTC 2023), Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States, Household of Joshua Haley, TOTAL: 5: 1 male 5-10 JOSHUA JR], 1 male 30-40 [JOSHUA SR], 2 females under 5 [REBECCA JR, MARY], 1 female 20-30 [REBECCA SR]
16. ↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74J-R29 : 7 January 2020), Elihu Haley, son of John Haley and Priscella, born 2 May 1797 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} "United States Census, 1820", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHL6-5J5 : Thu Jul 20 20:41:17 UTC 2023), tonington, New London, Connecticut, United States, Household of Elihu Haley, TOTAL 3: 1 male 16-25 [ELIHU], 2 females 45 and over [MOTHER PRISCILLA & one of Priscilla's sisters?
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1} "United States Census, 1810", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2G-NF2 : Thu Jul 20 15:52:49 UTC 2023), Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States. Household of John Hayley TOTAL 4: 1 male 16-25 [JOHN? (Young John was 17, Joshua, 15 and ELIHU, 13] 1 male 45 and over [Head JOHN and ?], 1 female 45 and over [PRISCILLA]
19. ↑ "United States Census, 1800", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHR8-VQ5 : Thu Jul 20 23:58:41 UTC 2023), Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States. Household of John Hayley Jr. TOTAL 5: 3 males under 10 [JOHN, JOSHUA, ELIHU], 1 male 26-44 [JOHN], 1 female 45 and over [PRISCILLA]
20. ↑ Johnston, Henry P. The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1788. Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1889, p. 601, John Hadley in 1779 crew, under Capt. Seth Harding, of the Continental frigate Confederacy, 36 guns, built in Connecticut (https://archive.org/details/waroftherevolution00recorich/page/601/mode/1up : accessed 2 Feb 2024)
21. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, USS Confederacy Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Confederacy : accessed 2 Feb 2024)
22. ↑ Mather, Frederic Gregory. The refugees of 1776 from Long Island to Connecticut. J.B. Lyon Company, Printers. 1913, p. 243, Captains of Ships ... Fellows, Elnathan, Capt., Haley, Benjamin, Capt., Haley, Jeremiah, Capt.
23. ↑ Johnston, Henry P. The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1788. Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1889, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3Q-C3C2-2?view=index&action=view : accessed 1 Feb 2024), List of Privateers, 1775-1883, pp. 604-607
24. ↑ Index/List/Statistics of American Privateers, American War of Independence at Sea. (https://www.awiatsea.com/Privateers/Privateers_Y.html : accessed 4 Feb 2024))
25. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Privateers," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privateer : accessed 27 Aug 2023)
26. ↑ Johnston, Henry P. The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1788 ... Part II. War of 1812. List, Connecticut Militia, War of 1812, p. 3; List, Connecticut Men in the Regular Army, 1812, p. 142
27. ↑ Johnston, Henry P. The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1788. Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1889, 1. John Hadley reference, p. 555, John Haley on roll of Captain Williams’ Company under command of Lt.-Col. Nathan Gallup stationed at Groton, 11 July 1779 (https://archive.org/details/waroftherevolution00recorich/page/555/mode/1up) 2. John Hadley reference, p. 587, John Haley in Capt. Prentice’s Company, pay roll of his “Company in Col. McClallen’s Regt. of Militia, State of Connecticut, 1789”, joined 26 Sep 1782, discharged 24 Nov 1782. (https://archive.org/details/waroftherevolution00recorich/page/587/mode/1up) 3. John Hadley reference, p. 601, John Hadley in 1779 crew, under Capt. Seth Harding, of the Continental frigate Confederacy, 36 guns, built in Connecticut (https://archive.org/details/waroftherevolution00recorich/page/601/mode/1up : accessed 2 Feb 2024)