The Genealogy of one Vermonter, Darrell A. Martin

Nathaniel was born in England probably 1753.¹ He was probably a resident of Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts prior to 1776, as his enlistment was "for the town of Groton".² He served with Captain Blood's Company, Colonel Reed's 6th Middlesex County Regiment, Massachusetts militia, and enlisted from that unit into the Continental Army.³ He enlisted 27 April 1776 in Captain Whiting's Company, Colonel Whetcomb's Regiment, according to the November 1776 muster roll.⁴ On 17 November 1776 he was re-enlisted by Ensign Phelps (or Philips) for three years as a Private in Captain Fairfield's Company, Colonel Wigglesworth's (or Wigleworth's) Regiment, but to remain in Colonel Whetcomb's Regiment until the end of the year.⁵ He was in a muster roll at Fort Ticonderoga 27 November 1776 as a Private in Captain Whiting's Company, Colonel Whetcomb's Regiment.² He was in a muster roll at Boston 30 March 1777 in Captain Fairfield's Company, Colonel Wigglesworth's Regiment; it was reported he received the state bounty.² He was in service 15 August 1777 with (then) Captain Fairfield's Company, Colonel Wigglesworth's Regiment, and received a gratuity for same as provided in a warrant allowed in Council 8 February 1779.² In October of 1777, the 13th Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army was part of Glover's Brigade at the crucial Battles of Saratoga; the regimental commander was Colonel Edward Wigglesworth. The regiment was not heavily engaged with the enemy, on October 7 probably helping to hold the American fortification at Bemis Heights during the decisive action. Nathaniel Williams was very likely present.⁶ He was in a muster roll at Valley Forge for December 1777 as a Private in Captain Fairfield's Company, 13th Massachusetts Regiment (Colonel Wigglesworth).⁷ He was in a muster roll at Valley Forge in May 1778 for Captain McNall's Company, Colonel Wigglesworth's Regiment, noted "enlistment during war".² He was in a muster roll for October 1778 for Captain McNall's Company, Colonel Wigglesworth's Regiment.² He was in a muster roll at Providence for March 1779 in Captain Page's Company, Colonel Wigglesworth's Regiment.² He was in a muster roll at Providence for April 1779 in Captain Page's Company, Colonel Wigglesworth's Regiment.² He was in the Continental Army pay accounts for service 1 January 1777 to 31 December 1779 in Captain Page's Company, Colonel Smith's (previously Colonel Wigglesworth's) Regiment.² He was in the Continental Army pay accounts for service 1 January 1780 to 31 December 1780 in Captain Fowler's Company, Colonel Smith's (13th) Regiment.² He is found in a descriptive list at West Point 25 January 1781, in Colonel Greaton's (3rd) Regiment, where he is said to be age 29, 5 feet 4 inches in height, dark complexion, dark hair, and grey eyes.² He married Hannah Lawrence in Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, on 26 August 1784. Nathaniel died on 6 November 1817 in Shirley, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.