Elijah Stanton (d.1849) -- A Revolutionary Soldier

 

Photo by DJ Paul dated 1 Jun 2024 (not copyrighted)

The rural graves of Connecticut Revolutionary War private soldier Elijah Stanton (1754-1849), his beloved wife Lucy (Goodell) Stanton (d.1836), and their son John Warren Stanton (d.1838) were tended in May/June 2024, the yard work included manually pulling surrounding weeds assisted by a weed/grass string trimmer.  Afterwards, Elijah's moss/mold stained headstone was treated with Wet & Forget brand moss, mold, mildew, & algae stain remover outdoor surface cleaner. Wet & Forget is one product suggested by the U.S. Veterans Cemetery Administration for headstone cleaning. The bleach-free, non-acidic, and phosphate-free product is claimed over time, to kill all sorts of mold, mildew, and moss without scrubbing. We will make a return trip to these graves located in Eatonville Cemetery (aka Eaton's Bush Cemetery), to check the headstone stain removal process.

Also, a strong shout-out is extended to the Herkimer Town Council (of Herkimer County, New York), the Town of Herkimer Highway Superintendent Ken Ward and his highway department employees for keeping the cemetery well mowed – this noted with highest pleasure.  Many thanks!

NOTE: Click HERE to view additional information at Find A Grave.

Pre-Memorial Day Burial Ground Visits To Install Revolutionary War Veteran Grave Markers And Earned American Flags On The Graves Of Five Connecticut Rebellion Heros.

Our Revolutionary Stanton Men Of Connecticut

JULY 2023 UPDATE:

Southeast Connecticut cemetery visits in June 2023 revealed the various Stanton Family Revolutionary War Veteran graves remain in good shape, and each grave had a fresh Memorial American Flag installed.  Many thanks to the unknown and caring Connecticut residents who are actively tending our ancestor's graves. 

   

Metal Revolutionary War Veteran Grave Markers and American Flags were installed in ten inches of concrete during this mid-May 2021 Southeastern Connecticut trip to Groton, New London, Ledyard, North Stonington, and Griswold Connecticut to visit a few older burial grounds.  Each man introduced in this post is a distant paternal cousin and a Revolutionary War Veteran.  The cousin relationships apply to my siblings and to my paternal 1st cousins as cited in the following individual brief biographies.  Other interested family genealogists need to calculate their own personal cousin relationships to these Revolutionary War Veterans.    

U.S. Army Veteran Captain Ebenezer Stanton is a Revolutionary War Veteran serving over three years of active duty as a  junior officer in Captain Amos Stanton's 6th Company of the 2nd Additional Infantry Regiment of the Connecticut Line, under Commanding Officer Colonel Henry Sherburne. Ebenezer later served in the trusted staff positions of Regimental Quartermaster and then as Regimental Paymaster.  Following his three-year tour of Army active duty, Ebenezer Stanton was named Master and Commander of the privateer vessel COUNT de GRASSE in May 1782, a schooner with a crew of about 30 men operating mainly on Long Island Sound.  Official records show that Captain Ebenezer Stanton and his crew captured several small craft and cargo from Yankee wartime profiteers doing business and selling supplies to the British enemy.     

In 1780, General George Washington conducted a massive military reorganization of the patriot army he commanded, and one element of this reorganization was to combine the 2nd Regiment of Connecticut Line with an existing Rhode Island Regiment.  The 2nd Infantry Regiment of Connecticut Line was formally disestablished effective 1 Jan 1781.  All or most of the regiment's officer corps were allowed to resign their commission during 1780, Ebenezer's resignation was effective in April 1780.             

Following the USA victory, Captain Ebenezer Stanton owned and operated an ocean-going trading ship as Master and Commander, a ship that engaged in Mediterranean Trading.  This earns him the Captaincy prefix he used in business and personal communication and as inscribed on his gravestone as found in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London, CT.

Captain Ebenezer Stanton is a paternal 3rd cousin-8xRemoved, and a Great-Great-Grandson of the Stanton Family colonial progenitor Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677, in Stonington, CT).

Captain Ebenezer Stanton's beloved wife Mary "Molly" (Smith) Stanton, the daughter of Colonel Oliver Smith and Mrs. Mary Noyes (Denison) Smith, she is presented in a previous post that some genealogist readers will find interesting.  Click HERE to learn things about wife Mary.    

The memorial gravestones of Colonel Oliver Smith and his lovely wife Mrs. Mary Noyes (Denison) Smith are found in Smith Lake Cemetery, Town of Groton, CT (aka Poquonock Bridge).  OBTW, the wives of Revolutionary military warriors are also the rebellion heroes who single-handedly managed the home and family left behind while their men went to war. Colonel Smith was initially a Captain and the commanding officer of a company of Stonington Militiamen when a British ship (the frigate HMS Rose) cannoned the small seaport community of Stonington, Connecticut.  The Rose attack is reported to have caused little damage to Stonington properties, almost equivalent to what is today called a drive-by shooting.  The 20-gun frigate HMS Rose was likely en route to harass the larger seaports of Newport and Boston. 

In July 1776, Connecticut General Assembly appoints Oliver Smith Lt Colonel and commanding officer of the 8th Connecticut State Militia Regiment of Foot (aka Infantry) in New London County. He is advanced to full colonel grade later in the rebellion. Many pay records of the nine companies assigned to the 8th Regiment of the State of Connecticut Militia, signed by COL Oliver Smith, stand testament to his Revolutionary War command of over 500 Southeast Connecticut Militiamen.  Early in the Revolution, Colonel Smith is reportedly an aide to General George Washington and was with General Washington for a time at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777/78.   

Colonel Oliver Smith is a paternal 2nd cousin-7xRemoved and a Great-Great Grandson of Captain George Denison Sr. (d.1694 in Hartford).  Another cousin-relationship exists via his maternal grandmother Ms. Mary Stanton (d.1724), where via this link Oliver is a Great-Great Grandson of Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677).        

Captain Amos Stanton recieves a new earned bronze Revolutionary War Veteran Grave Marker.  Amos' first commitment to the fledgling rebellion is documented by early 1776 service as a 2nd Lieutenant of Marines aboard the Connecticut State Navy's Row Galley SHARK, a vessel under the command of Captain Theophilus "Theo" Stanton (Theo is Amos' paternal 1st cousin 1xR).  In July 1776, SHARK and two sister Connecticut Navy Row Galley vessels WHITING and CRANE were ordered to the Hudson River (then referred to as "The North River").  In late fall 1776, the Galley SHARK was moved further up river where the crew was apparently relieved and the vessel placed under the care of ship's carpenter Fanning.  In Spring 1777 SHARK was transferred to the Continental Army.  SHARK was not captured by British forces or burned by her crew to prevent capture as some reports speculate.  NOTE: new information suggests that SHARK escaped the three early October 1776 Lower Hudson River battles; whereas, her two sister vessels Connecticut Navy row galley WHITING was evidently burned and row galley CRANE was captured by British Forces after her crew intentionally ran aground and abandoned her.

Early in 1777, Amos was awarded an active-duty Connecticut Line Lieutenant's commission with the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Regiment of the Connecticut Line, a regiment commanded by Colonel Henry Sherburne.  SHARK commanding officer Captain Theophilus Stanton's letter of recommendation to Colonel Sherburne cites Amos' competence with military guns and munitions and was no doubt somewhat responsible for Colonel Sherbunre's appointment.  In late 1777 Amos was awarded a Connecticut Line captaincy and assigned as company commander of the 6th Company within Colonel Sherburne's Connecticut Line Infantry Regiment.  Official records show Company Commander Captain Stanton detailed as "On Command" -- a term then used to indicate detached duty from the regiment, perhaps in performance of special trust assignments.  Records show Captain Amos Stanton served on several courts-martial boards.  Captain Amos Stanton resigned his U.S. Army Connecticut Line military commission in April 1780.  All or most officers under Colonel Sherburne's command resigned their commissions in this mid-1780 period, these and many other U.S. Army resignations are part of a total military reorganization plan authorized by General George Washington. Strong evidence suggests that General Washington's rebel army became unmanageable in the later rebellion years, holding too many Chiefs (officers) and not enough Indians (enlisted men -- aka, the cannon fodder) to carry on an effective fight against the British forces. 

Captain Amos Stanton was killed in action on 6 Sep 1781 in defense of Fort Griswold, Groton, Connecticut in what is now called the Revolutionary War Battle of Groton Heights.  Among over one hundred other local men, Amos Stanton had answered an alarm issued by area commander Colonel William Ledyard for local militiamen to assist in the defense of Fort Griswold.   Captain Amos Stanton's remains were interred at Stanton Cemetery in the Town of Groton, on the property then owned by the Stanton Family.  The burying ground is just a few short miles north of Fort Griswold, this land is now part of the Town of Ledyard since Ledyard was formed from Groton Township lands in the mid-1820s.

Captain Amos Stanton is a paternal 3rd cousin-8xRemoved, and a Great-Great Grandson of the Stanton Family colonial progenitor Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677, in Stonington, CT)     

Footnote: Seems obvious that Captain Amos Stanton should be provided a new federally-supplied memorial gravestone since his present gravestone is both broken and unreadable.  A new suitable federally-furnished gravestone is his earned right.   

Aged 36 years Lieutenant Enoch Stanton and his brother aged 25 years Sergeant Daniel Stanton, were both Killed In Action at Fort Griswold during the Revolutionary War Battle of Groton Heights.  The two Stanton brothers are buried side-by-side at the rural Stanton-Hull Cemetery, Wheeler Road, North Stonington, Connecticut.  This well-kept rural burial ground is about six miles by the best route from where they fell on that early day in September 1781 at Fort Griswold, Groton, Connecticut.

Gravestone Inscription:

"Here Inter'd are the bodies of two brothers Sons of Capt Phineas Stanton and Elizabeth his wife who fell with many of their friends on Sept 6th, 1781 while manfully fighting for the liberty of their Country and defense of Fort Griswold. The assailants were commanded by that most despicable patricide, Benedict Arnold."  

Note: While it is true that British General Benedict Arnold was in overall command of this early September 1781 New London County operation, but to be historically correct, the turn-coat Arnold was never present or in a direct leadership role on the Groton side of the Thames River or at Fort Griswold.  General Arnold was present on the New London side of the Thames River that September day, taking an active leadership role in the capture of Fort Trumbull and in the cowardly unfortunate burning of many City of New London properties. 

The heroes Lieutenant Enoch Stanton and his younger brother Sergeant Daniel Stanton are paternal 3rd cousins-8xRemoved, and the Great-Great Grandsons of the Stanton Family colonial progenitor Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677, in Stonington, CT)    

Ensign Nathan Stanton is thought to be the father of Captain Ebenezer Stanton (d.1811) as cited in the first section of this post.  Official Revolutionary War documentation is found supporting Nathan's gravestone inscription that he is a Revolutionary Soldier and that this Ensign Nathan Stanton in 1776  was assigned as a junior officer serving in the company commanded by Captain William Stanton, 8th Infantry Regiment of the State of Connecticut Militia (Colonel Oliver Smith's New London County, Connecticut Militia Regiment).  Further, we know from the official record that the 8th Infantry of Connecticut Militia was in New York State to support the October 1776 rebellion Battle of White Plains, New York State.  The White Plains battle is strongly significant since it was essentially the delaying action that allowed General George Washington and his rebel army to escape British forces into Pennsylvania.    

No dates are inscribed on Ensign Nathan Stanton's memorial, such dates would naturally be of certain assistance with a more positive ID, but gravestone inscriptions are known to be secondary genealogical references at best.  However, the preponderance of evidence tends to suggest this is the grave of Nathan Stanton (1732-1786), the father of the aforementioned Captain Ebenezer Stanton.  Also, we are currently unable to find the internment site of Ensign Nathan Stanton's wife Mrs. Elizabeth Abigail (Billings) Stanton, who is thought to have passed away in about 1761 (predeceasing Nathan by nearly 25-years).  Elizabeth was likely buried in a presently unknown Billings Family plot near Stonington, Connecticut.  We think that Nathan never remarried; however, this is an unproven opinion. Circumstances regarding why Nathan is not interred near to his beloved wife Elizabeth are unknown. 

Ensign Nathan Stanton is not found in his military unit's official pay records in 1780, this suggests he resigned his commission perhaps due to sickness or advancing age (no formal documents are found to support his military discharge).  A junior grade company officer's military responsibilities are certainly stressful and demanding at times, where a younger man would be better suited. No metal grave marker was installed on Ensign Nathan Stanton's grave at Rixtown Cemetery, Griswold, CT until more identification proofs become available; however, a fresh American Flag was installed on this gravesite in the Town of Griswold. Hopefully, additional research and discovery prove this Ensign Nathan Stanton is the late father of Captain Ebenezer Stanton (d.1811, New London, CT).  Nathan will then be claimed as our distant 2nd Cousin-9xRemoved -- and the Great-Grandson of colonial progenitor Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677).     

         

| Ms. Molly Smith's Denison and Stanton Roots |

Mrs. Mary "Molly" [Smith] Stanton (1761-1850)
Image from the public domain work by Henry Allen Smith,  "A genealogical history of the descendants of the Rev Nehemiah Smith of New London County CT."  Exhibit #61, p.112.

Captain Ebenezer Stanton (1757-1811) married the age twenty Stonington Connecticut beauty Ms. Mary “Molly” Smith (1761-1850) in November 1781 ceremonies. Ebenezer Stanton's three years active-duty military service during the Revolutionary War as an officer and Regimental Paymaster with Colonel Sherburne's Second Regiment of The Connecticut Line was then behind him.  His lovely new bride Molly is the eldest daughter of fifteen children born to the gallant Revolutionary War Veteran and New London County Militia Commander Colonel Oliver Smith and Mrs. Mary Noyes [Denison] Smith.

Molly survived her husband Ebenezer by nearly four decades. Family distress certainly resulted following Captain Ebenezer Stanton's untimely death on May 31, 1811, aged 53 years. Further, Molly's aged 20 son Ebenezer Jr. died in July 1811, and her older brother Edward Smith and father Colonel Smith perished in June and August 1811 respectively.  This personally traumatic 1811 year was later sadly accentuated by the premature deaths of Molly's young adult sons Edward and Elisha, both aged in their early-to-mid twenties. Molly never remarried.  She and her surviving adult children were also likely disheartened by the fact that no children were evidently born to them.  Molly and husband Captain Ebenezer Stanton had no grandchildren to carry on their branch of the Stanton Family as all family children had perished childless before the Fall of 1840.  Molly died on January 24, 1850, aged 88 years and 5 months.  She was interred at the family plot to the right side of her beloved husband Ebenezer at Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London, New London County, Connecticut, USA. 

The following image depicts Mrs. Mary "Molly" [Smith] Stanton's maternal lineage (via her mom Ms. Mary Noyes Denison) linking to her famous 3rd Great Grandfather Captain George Denison (d.1694).  

Additionally, Mrs. Mary "Molly" [Smith] Stanton holds paternal lineages to her Southeastern Connecticut Founding Fathers and 3rd Great Grandfathers Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677) and Captain George Denison (d.1694) in accordance with the following image.  A lineage chart depicting the lineage from Molly's husband Captain Ebenezer Stanton to Thomas Stanton Sr. is also provided as appended to the following image. 

For more information on Captain Ebenezer Stanton click HERE -- and, additional facts on Captain George Denison may be viewed by clicking HERE. 

Summary: Details of Molly [Smith] Stanton's linkage to the early Colonial Connecticut Denison and Stanton families were personally undiscovered until very recently.  Strong researchers likely have known of cousin Molly's ancestry, but this researcher did not find a concise genealogical paper that clearly cites Molly's lineage.  It is certain that all family genealogists with a claimed blood-related ancestry link(s) to Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677) and/or Captain George Denison (d.1694) may refer to this fine lady Mrs. Mary "Molly" [Smith] Stanton -- our Cousin Molly.       

Our Two Cousins Named Ebenezer Stanton-Part Two

Part One of this paper about the Revolutionary War Veterans Ebenezer Stanton, two Great-Great Grandsons of New England Stanton Family Progenitor Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677), Stonington, New London County, Connecticut is available for viewing at this link, click HERE.     

And Now... The Rest Of The Story.

Reference: STONINGTON DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION - by Norman Francis Boas, M.D. Seaport Autographs, 6 Brandon Lane, Mystic, CT. 1990. p.146.

This citation captures some essential facts in this independent research summary by Dr. Boas as related to Ebenezer Stanton (1757-1811) of Stonington and New London.  However, Dr. Boas does make a couple of statements and apparent assumptions that are partially or totally incorrect as indicated by inserted [sic] notations:

"Stanton, Paymaster Ebenezer. He is one of seven [sic] children of Captain Nathan and Elizabeth Billings Stanton.  He married Mary Smith in 1781. They had four [sic] children. Stanton served in Colonel Henry Sherburne's (Rhode Island) [sic] Regiment from 1777 to 1781 [sic].  He was appointed ensign on February 22, 1777, quartermaster June 1, 1777, 2nd lieutenant November 9, 1779, and paymaster April 13, 1779. He was discharged from service on April 24, 1780."

Dr. Doas' four errors are indicated by a [sic] notation within his text, corrections are cited here in the order written: 1. eight children; 2. six children; 3. Sherburne's 2^nd Additional Regiment of Connecticut Line was totally disbanded effective 1 Jan 1781 to form the new Rhode Island Regiment. Most of Sherburne's officers resigned their commission by late spring 1780 and enlisted men transferred to other regiments (2^nd Lieut. Ebenezer Stanton never served in the new Rhode Island Regiment). 

Case 2 – The younger Ebenezer Stanton (1757-1811), until cited differently, hereafter referred to as #2 Ebenezer in this paper –

#2 Ebenezer, born 5 Nov 1757 the son of Captain Nathan Stanton (d.1786) and Mrs. Elizabeth A. (Billings) Stanton (d.1800), is a 5^th generation descendant of New England Stanton Family progenitor and Stonington, Connecticut Founder Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677). #2 Ebenezer's Stanton Family lineage to his colonial progenitor: 4^th generation-Captain Nathan Stanton (d.1786); 3^rd generation-Samuel Stanton II (d.1736); 2^nd generation-Samuel Stanton I (d.1732); 1^st generation Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677). On 7 November 1781 in Stonington, Connecticut ceremonies, #2 Ebenezer married the local beauty Ms. Mary "Molly" Smith (1761-1850), the daughter of Revolutionary War New London County Militia Regimental Commander Colonel Oliver Smith (d.1811) and Mrs. Mary Noyes Denison-Smith (d.1800). The couple is blessed with six children over their 40-year marriage.

Ms. Mary "Molly" (Smith) Stanton (1761-1850)
Note:  More details on the life and times of Molly (Smith) Stanton are set out in a more recent BLOG post -- to view and read click HERE. 

The compelling evidence to support the subject identities are two well-documented wills left by #2 Ebenezer and his wife Mary [Smith] Stanton. Mary [Smith] Stanton's federal Widow's Pension documentation contains valuable identity facts that can not be disputed. #2 Ebenezer's Revolutionary War (RW) service was first as an Ensign appointed in Feb 1777; then, promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant junior officer grade in Nov 1777, tasked as regimental quartermaster and paymaster assigned to Colonel Henry Sherburne's Connecticut Line Second Regiment of Light Dragoons. #2 Ebenezer's three-year+ active duty wartime military service dated early 1777 through Apr 1780. Given his regimental tasking, #2 Ebenezer was an obviously articular young man, strongly capable in English communication and mathematics. His gallant Connecticut Line service also includes assignments as a junior company officer under our hero cousin and 6^th Company Commander Captain Amos Stanton (KIA 6 Sep 1781 at the Battle of Groton Heights – Fort Griswold. Groton, Connecticut). In early 1780, General George Washington spearheaded a total reorganization of the Continental Army structure. The rationale behind this reorganization is there were too many understaffed regiments and too many officers.  Basically, a better U.S. Continental Army command and control structure was required, the army command structure had become too divided, over-staffed with too many senior officers and lacking enough enlisted fighting men. Colonel Sherburne's Regiment is among the regiments targeted for disbanding, this officially occurred 1 Jan 1781, but most soldiers were reassigned to other regiments throughout 1780. Regimental officers were allowed to resign their commissions, most in Shelburne's Regiment doing so in the weeks before June 1780. #2 Ebenezer resigned his commission as 2^nd lieutenant in the Connecticut Line effective 18 April 1780.

Top: Officers assigned to COL Sherburne's Regiment; Bottom: May 1780 Officer Resignations

Additional Revolutionary War research found an Ebenezer Stanton appointed Master and Commander of a Connecticut Navy Schooner. In life thereafter, #2 Ebenezer is referred to as Captain Ebenezer Stanton, this prefix now added in this paper to help separate him from the several other Ebenezer Stanton men that are sometimes merged with this battle-tested war veteran. On May 15, 1782, in official continuation of Revolutionary War service to the United States, Captain Ebenezer Stanton is named Master, Commander, and privateer of the Connecticut Navy Schooner Count de Grasse. The vessel is outfitted with two guns and a crew of thirty sailors.  On 25 May 1782, the Count de Grasse was at sea in the Long Island Sound.  She took a boat engaged in illegal trade, that was sailed to the Port of New London, Connecticut,  The prize was libeled on 20 Jun 1782, and tried on 15 Jul 1782.  (Source: "History of maritime Connecticut during the American Revolution, 1775-1783" Vol. II. The Connecticut privateers, p66.
Reference: Ancestry.com subscribers click HERE

A Typical Rebellion-Era Schooner - from a published postage stamp image.

Source: History of Maritime Connecticut during the American Revolution, 1775-1783, Vol II, 

The Connecticut Privateers, page 66.

Following his honorable Rebellion service, #2 Ebenezer becomes an owner-operator and Master and Commander of an ocean-going trading vessel – he then more appropriately addressed as Ship's Master or Ship's Captain in the parlance of the day. #2 Ebenezer's untimely death at age 53 years, on 31 May 1811 is fully documented, leaving a well-documented last will designating wife Mary as his main beneficiary, where his net worth is accounted at about $17,500 in 1811 dollars (about $350,000 2019 inflation-adjusted dollars). His wife Mary Smith-Stanton survives him by nearly four decades and she never remarries, Mary passing 24 Jan 1850, she also leaving her well-documented last will.

Some additional important references include the couple's internment site.  #2 Ebenezer and wife Mary are forever resting side-by-side at Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London, New London County, Connecticut as photo-documented in memorial profiles at Find A Grave.  Their children Mary S., Ebenezer Jr., Edward S., and Elisha D. are also memorialized at the Cedar Grove Stanton Family plot.  Both cemetery monuments of #2 Ebenezer and Mrs. Mary [Smith] Stanton are inscribed with the Capt. prefix, this refers to #2 Ebenezer's postwar employment as a ships' Master and Commander – this is not his wartime Connecticut Line military title.  His last will names beloved wife Mary [Smith] Stanton three times and provides $300 to their only female child, the married daughter Mary S. [Stanton] Richards, the wife of Mr. Francis "Frank" Richards. The last will of #2 Ebenezer clearly states, apparently in his own hand “...all the rest and residue of my estate... I give to my wife and four sons to be equally divided...”  Mary Stanton receives a Revolutionary War Widow's Pension from the mid-1830s until her 24 January 1850 passing. Two widow's pension documents clearly show Mary Stanton's named husband is Ebenezer, cites his military service as Ensign, 2nd Lieutenant, Quartermaster, and Paymaster. The pension papers confirm Mary Stanton's date of death as 24 Jan 1850. Also important to solidify the certain identity of the married couple Captain Ebenezer Stanton (1757-1811) and Mrs. Mary (Smith) Stanton is Mary's last will where she gives and bequeaths several valued items to many relatives, seven of these identified as follows:

• “To Stiles Stanton of Stonington I give and bequeath a miniature likeness of my late husband Ebenezer Stanton deceased.” [#2 Ebenezer's nephew]
• “To Nathaniel Richards of New London I give and bequeath the portrait of his brother Francis Richards deceased.”  Francis Richards is the husband of Mary S. [Stanton] Richards, daughter of #2 Ebenezer and Mrs. Mary Smith-Stanton. In 1811 Francis Richards also is co-executor of #2  Ebenerzer's last will.
• “To Edward Stanton Smith [Mary's nephew] the son of Nathan Smith [Mary's brother] I give and bequeath Fifty dollars.” 
• “To Sarah Smith [Mary's grand niece] the daughter of Nathaniel Smith [Mary's nephew] late of Groton deceased and granddaughter of Denison Smith [Mary's brother] of Groton I give and bequeath five hundred dollars.”
• “To Fanny Smith the widow of my late brother Isaac Smith deceased I give and bequeath one hundred dollars.”
• “To Frances Smith the daughter of my late brother Isaac Smith deceased I give and bequeath one hundred dollars.”
• “To my brother Denison Smith I have previously given the sum of one thousand dollars.”

Mary Stanton's Revolutionary War Widow's Pension Document

Mrs. Mary (Smith) Stanton died in her 89th year, she outlived her six children by a decade or more as born with her husband Captain Ebenezer Stanton.  Logically her last will mentions no children. Communication with a DAR staff genealogist found no DAR applicant claiming the Rebellion military service of Lieutenant and Paymaster Ebenezer Stanton (1757-1811), a logical conclusion since it is now known this battle-tested war veteran and his lovely wife Mary, sadly have no grandchildren -- this Stanton line stopped.   
   

Our Two Cousins Named Ebenezer Stanton-Part One

Rebellion Era 3rd Cousins
One Name, Two Revolutionary Warriors 

One Connecticut Line Officer, One New York Militia Enlisted Soldier

This post is Part One of a two-part piece covering Ebenezer Stanton (1746, Preston, New London Co, CT - 1819 Coeymans, Albany Co, NY).

Part Two of this analysis is published 9 December 2019 as related to Ebenezer Stanton (1757, Stonington, New London Co, CT - 1811, New London, New London Co, CT).
To View Part Two. Click HERE 

Nicknames appear in public official records making research on distant ancestors more difficult: "Jack" or "Jno" for John or Jonathan, "Sally" for Sarah, "Frank" for Francis, "Ettie" for Henrietta, "Polly" or "Molly" for Mary, "Betsy for Elizabeth, etc., etc., etc. Experienced family genealogists know that the nicknames "Eben" and "Eber" are common historical record abbreviations for the given name Ebenezer. This post reports on two middle Eighteenth Century distant cousin contemporaries named Ebenezer Stanton. These two cousins are 5^th generation descendants (Great-Great-Grandsons) of the early New England Stanton Family progenitor and original Stonington, Connecticut founder Mr. Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677). The two men named Ebenezer Stanton are misunderstood and confused both in some older SAR and DAR records, and in several current family trees at Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, et al.

Note: A significant cause for this cross-merging problem is the subject Ebenezer Stanton cousins are both Revolutionary War Veterans who each married young ladies named Mary. And family tree data on the two wives Mary are likewise interchanged yielding still more published misinformation. A root cause behind current cross-contamination errors is the unfortunate presentation of misleading and wrongly applied Ancestry.com hints. These typically helpful hints can sometimes confuse users when identical hints are presented to the profiles of multiple individuals with the same or similar names. These all-too-helpful Ancestry hints present lesser experienced family genealogists with a direct means toward an unintentional proliferation of ancestral misinformation.

My original very limited distribution email dated 1 Nov 2019 on two Rebellion-Era Ebenezer Stanton men contained a couple of cross-contamination errors – by referring to Ebenezer Stanton (1746-1819, who died at Coeymans, Albany County, NY, USA), addressed wrongly as Captain Ebenezer Stanton, he was never a captain in any context.  This Ebenezer Stanton (1746-1819) is hereafter referred to as #1 Ebenezer in this paper.

Case 1 – The elder #1 Ebenezer –

#1 Ebenezer Stanton (1746-1819), the son of Joseph (d.1798) and Abigail [Freeman] Stanton (d.1806), is a 5^th generation descendant of Stonington, CT Founder Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677) [his all-male Stanton lineage: 4-Joseph Stanton (d.1798); 3-John Stanton Jr. (d.1755); 2-Captain John Stanton Sr. (d.1713); 1-Thomas Stanton Sr (d.1677)]. #1 Ebenezer's Revolutionary War (RW) military service is as an enlisted militia soldier in Captain Henry Van Bergen's Company, Colonel Anthony Van Bergen's Eleventh Regiment, Albany County Militia of Foot, as documented in 1777 in official rolls. #1 Ebenezer's three brothers Joseph, Nathan, and James are also documented as members of the same 11^th Albany County Militia Regiment. All Albany County Militia Regiments were called up for various periods of military service in the days and weeks prior to The Battle of Saratoga in September and October 1777, serving with the New York State Brigade of about 3000 men commanded Brigadier General Abraham Ten Broeck. Few, if any, records apparently exist that name the enlisted soldiers who actually saw action at Saratoga. See: “Albany County's Part In The Battle Of Saratoga” – by B.H. Mills.

Reference: [ https://www.jstor.org/stable/42889531 ].

#1 Ebenezer's parents Joseph Stanton (d.1798) and Abigail [Freeman] Stanton (d.1806), and their eight children removed from Connecticut Colony to New York Colony in the mid-1750s when #1 Ebenezer was about age ten years. The SAR applications of Hiram D. Wing (Nat. # 3634) and his brother Edwin W. Wing (Nat. #27021) as approved in 1894 and 1918 respectively, incorrectly cite #1 Ebenezer's Revolutionary War military service as Lieutenant and Paymaster with the active-duty Connecticut Line (this military service citation is NOT #1 Ebenezer.). Rather, this military service is the fully-documented record of the Continental Soldier and Connecticut Line Officer Ebenezer Stanton (1857-.1811) as later presented in Part Two of this paper. This factual military service credit error by the Wing brothers in their approved public domain SAR applications are the likely root source of significant military misinformation on #1 Ebenezer; however, at least one approved DAR lineage record of Mrs. Maria A. Kretsinger (Nat. ID #37274), dated 1901, the last two lines of her approved app simply cites the wrong Ebenezer Stanton.  Internal DAR database records are more correct, in a classic double negative "not incorrect" -- yet remain highly nebulous.   

Annotated SAR public domain app of Edwin Wing is presented as follows:

Maria Kretsinger's annotated public-domain DAR Record is presented as follows:

Current Errors and Corrective Comments in Revolutionary War Veteran Ebenezer Stanton Record (Ancestor # A108691) errors cited as currently presented in DAR Internal GRS Database: 

#1 Ebenezer's wife Mary [Palmer] Stanton (1751/52-1818, Coeymans, Albany County, NY), is with high certainty NOT a daughter of Daniel Palmer (d.1772) and Mrs. Mary [Hewitt] Palmer (d.1787) as wrongly presented in several Ancestry family trees. Several readings of the difficult-to-read Daniel Palmer (d.Aug1772) probate court asset distribution dated March 1773 is completed, this asset distribution document is NOT Daniel's last will as some claim. His will, if any, was deemed lost by the probate court judge. All of Daniel Palmer's known children are mentioned in the asset distribution, his named eldest daughter Mary Stanton (b.1737) is Mary [Palmer] Stanton, the wife of Samuel Stanton (b.1726). The Mary Stanton cited in said asset distribution papers is “Mary 3” (aka Mary [Palmer] Stanton) mentioned in Lynn Alperin's 27 Apr 2016 analysis to Brian Bonner. Note: Daniel's distribution of assets does NOT mention a second daughter named Mary. The probate court asset distribution record, where all Daniel's known children are mentioned, is strong evidence to rule out Daniel Palmer (d.1772) as the father of #1 Ebenezer's wife Mary [Palmer]Stanton (1751/52-1818) of Albany County, NY, USA. The husband of Daniel Palmer's eldest daughter Mary, aka Mrs. Mary [Palmer] Stanton (1737-1815[?], is with strong confidence Samuel Stanton (1726-1803).

#1 Ebenezer's wife Mrs. Mary [Palmer] Stanton (1751/52-1818) parents are probably the weakly-sourced married couple Mr. Thomas Palmer (1725-1752) and Mrs. Mary Wilbor (aka Wilbur, 1723-1775). Errors noted in some Ancestry family trees mention Nathaniel Palmer (d.1790) or Ichabod Palmer (d.1749) as the father of #1 Ebenezer's wife Mrs. Mary Palmer-Stanton (1751/52-1818) – citations that are untrue. Ichabod Palmer's daughter Mary Palmer died unmarried aged 18 in 1754 Stonington, Connecticut; and, Nathaniel Palmer's daughter Mary Palmer, died in 1839 Stonington, Connecticut, she the wife of Jesse Brown Sr. (d.1822). Neither of these two Mary Palmer women, the daughters of Nathaniel Palmer and Ichabod Palmer is the wife Mary [Palmer] Stanton (1751/52-1818) of #1 Ebenezer.

Mary Palmer's father Thomas Palmer (d.1752) has died when she is aged about one year.  Thomas' will or distribution of assets is settled in probate records dated 1769; whereas, the unmarried Mary Palmer and her elder sister Elizabeth Palmer-Wells are mentioned (Mary is the future wife of #1 Ebenezer).  

#1 Ebenezer (d.1819) and his lovely wife Mrs. Mary [Palmer] Stanton (d.1818) lived their entire married life in New York Colony and State where they are interred side-by-side at Stanton Family Burying Ground, Tracey Road, Coeymans Hollow, Albany County, NY, USA, in lands the family then owned.  No record is found suggesting #1 Ebenezer and/or his wife Mary [Palmer] Stanton ever traveled to Connecticut during their married life.

  

It's far better to leave contradicting or possible uncertain genealogical information as unknown blanks in public family trees, much better to write nothing than to unintentionally misinform another family genealogist through the public propagation of misinformation. At a minimum, warnings or cautionary advisories should be tagged as works-in-progress in published public family trees where more research is needed. Please think about posting something like this warning image to preliminary information added to public family trees:

WARNING: Also, be exceedingly careful in accepting Ancestry.com “hints” on #1 Ebenezer, as most hints presented relate to the second Ebenezer Stanton (aka-the real Capt. Ebenezer Stanton 1757-1811). Ancestry.com is now a strong contributor to errors in subscriber family trees via their fuzzy-logic-search criteria in presenting ancestor profile hints.  Capt. Ebenezer Stanton's (1757-1811) case will be detailed in Part Two of this presentation not-later-than mid-December 2019.  

Note: The image at the top of this post is a collage of two Revolutionary War Era men, found by simple Internet search, and depicted here unaltered for non-profit use under the educational fair-use principle. 

More Information On The Connecticut Line Revolutionary War Hero Captain Amos Stanton

New Image Of The Revolutionary War Connecticut Line Hero Captain Amos Stanton's Gravesite. Photo by DJ Paul dated 20 Sep 2019 (not copyrighted) depicts his badly damaged monument.

As a volunteer Revolutionary War Connecticut Line Soldier, Captain Amos Stanton answered a September 6, 1781 alarm issued by local militia commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel William Ledyard, the military commander at Fort Griswold, Groton, Connecticut. Captain Stanton was released from line officer active duty during General Washington's 1780 military reorganization and was then home spending time at his Groton “Highlands” family lands (now renamed the Town of Ledyard). A vastly superior force of 800 British Regular Soldiers, loyalists, et al. attacked the fort this fateful September day in an armed action now named The Battle of Groton Heights. Variously reported among the 165 Fort Griswold Patriot defenders, eighty-eight Patriots are Killed-In-Action (KIA) in less than an hour, thirty-five Patriots are wounded-in-action (some with ghastly wounds died later), twenty-eight Patriots were carried-off as Prisoners-Of-War (some POWs may also be listed among the wounded), thirteen men escaped the fort carnage and presumed unhurt, and William Latham - an aged 12-years boy was captured and outright released by British officers. Our heroic distant cousin Captain Amos Stanton and many other Patriots were Killed-In-Action some minutes after British Forces breached the fort walls in continued severe fighting and following the formal fort surrender by commander Lieutenant Colonel Ledyard.  From his written first-hand after-action-report, POW and Battle of Groton Heights survivor Sergeant Rufus Avery states in footnote 1 (at the bottom of page 32 in reference 1) “...Captain Stanton, a man of almost gigantic stature and herculean strength, on seeing the slaughter continued after the surrender, is said to have seized a heavy musket by the muzzle, and exclaiming, 'My God, must we die so!' sprang upon the platform on the west side of the fort, and nearly cleared it of the enemy before he was brought down by a musket shot." A rarely published fact is the British battle force engaged were not all from England or the UK as some writers may suggest. The 3^rd Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers (mainly colonial-born British loyalists) was engaged as an artillery unit, their several cannon deployed to the eastern side of Fort Griswold at Avery's Hill (see reference 3).  

Captain Amos Stanton's significant early Southeastern Connecticut ancestry is cited as follows [hereafter reported as “Amos”]:

Amos is a 2^nd Great Grandson of original Stonington, Connecticut founder Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677) and Ms. Ann Lord-Stanton. His Stanton lineage is cited: 04 - Captain John Stanton Sr. (d.1762) and Ms. Prudence Chesebrough; 03 - Joseph Stanton (d.1751) and Ms. Margaret Chesebrough; 02 – Captain John Stanton Sr. (d. 1713) and Ms. Anna “Hannah” Thompson; 01 - Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677) and Ms. Ann Lord.

And secondly--

Amos is also a 2^nd Great Grandson of the famous Mystic, Connecticut original settler Captain George Denison (d.1694) and his first love Ms. Bridget Thompson. His Denison lineage is cited: 04 - Captain John Stanton Sr. (d.1762) and Ms. Prudence Chesebrough; 03 - Joseph Stanton (d.1751) and Ms. Margaret Chesebrough; 02 – Ms. Hannah Denison (d.1715) and Mr. Nathaniel Chesebrough; 01 – Captain George Denison (d.1694) and Ms. Bridget Thompson.

References:

1. “The Battle of Groton Heights.” by William Wallace Harris (1870), revisions by Charles Allyn (1882). New London, CT. For Internet archive version of the battle see -- https://archive.org/details/grotonhieghtscoll00harrrich


2.  Brass plaque casualty list at the main entrance of Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park, Groton, CT.

3. Wikipedia on New Jersey Volunteers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey_Volunteers

4. Find A Grave Internet web-site - https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1322042/stanton-cemetery

Brass Plaque "Veteran - 1776" means Revolutionary War Veteran; whereas, some have incorrectly written 1776 as Amos Stanton's year of death.  The "1776" obviously refers to the official year the Revolution began.  Photo by DJ Paul dated 20 Sep 2019 (now free use).

Gallantry Remembered By Stanton Family Revolutionary Soldiers

LT Enoch Stanton and SGT Daniel Stanton Monument
Enoch and Daniel Stanton are interred at Stanton-Hull Cemetery, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut (Cemetery ID = 2199057 at FindAGrave.com) 

Many thanks to distant cousin Rick Stanton for reminding us about this important Revolutionary War Battle. Remembering the sacrifice this late August day as the 238th Anniversary approaches of The Battle of Groton Heights, fought September 6, 1781. Distant Stanton Family cousins and patriot soldiers were killed and wounded defending Fort Griswold during this bloody Revolutionary War battle between American and British troops.

Among the known eighty-five men Killed-In-Action defending Fort Griswold and Groton is Captain Amos Stanton (of Groton, New London County, CT) and the brothers Lieutenant Enoch Stanton and Sergeant Daniel Stanton (both of Stonington, New London County, CT). Also, Sergeant Daniel Stanton Jr. and Edward Stanton were wounded and carried off as POWs, they likewise hailed from Stonington, New London County, CT.  Furthermore, an unknown number of soldiers were Mortally-Wounded-In-Action and died in the days and weeks that followed.   

The opposing British Force in New London and Groton Connecticut was commanded that day by the Norwich Connecticut native, and despicable American traitor Benedict Arnold.

Please take a look at this interesting six-minute video presentation by Connecticut Tourism: Click HERE

A more complete and better-written description of the battle is available by Wikipedia.  Click HERE

Sept 10, 2019 update:  Captain Amos Stanton was interred in what appears to be a family burial yard called "Stanton Cemetery" at Ledyard Center, New London County, CT -- aka "Stanton-Williams Cemetery," et al.  Amos Stanton's son John (d.1832), a granddaughter Prudence (d.1843), and other relatives are also interred in Stanton Cemetery.  According to Ledyard Township Police Chief John J. Rich, Stanton Cemetery is found as follows "...there’s an opening/drainage easement at the end of the cul-de-sac on Captain Amos Stanton Drive.  Walk into the woods about 25 yards downhill, and as soon as the terrain flattens, the cemetery is on your right."  Stanton Cemetery has been established at Find A Grave, where a free-use image dated 2014 by a contributor "WMitch6" is uploaded.  This image is copied here showing a badly damaged monument:

A presumed DAR Plaque is inscribed:

 "Capt. Amos Stanton

 Veteran - 1776"

Note:  The source of the monument image displayed at the top of this post is presently unknown, and is inserted here for non-profit, educational use only in accordance with educational free-use copyright doctrine. No alterations are authorized to subject image.