RODEKOHR ANCESTORS

Captain Asa⁵ PAYSON (Asa⁴, Jonathan³, John², Edward¹ PAYSON) was born to Asa PAYSON and Mary JOHNSON on 10 April 1756 at Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut.[1]

During the American War of Independence (1775-1783), responding to the first call of troops by the Connecticut Legislature, Asa PAYSON, on 11 May 1775, enlisted as a Fifer in General Putnam’s Third Regiment of the Connecticut Militia, 7^th Company, under Captain Ephraim Manning of Woodstock, Connecticut. In May, in the opening phase of the war, the 7^th Company marched to the camps forming around Boston which was occupied by British troops, and was stationed in Putnam’s Center Division at Cambridge, during the Siege of Boston. In July, the Regiment was adopted as part of the Continental Army. Asa was discharged on 15 December 1775.[2]

On 23 August 1777, Asa PAYSON enlisted as a Fifer in Colonel Jonathan Latimer’s Regiment of Connecticut Militia in Captain Stone’s Company. In the Battle of Saratoga:

Two large regiments of militia, composed of detachments from all the brigades, were ordered to re-enforce Gen. Gates at Saratoga in the summer of 1777. They were assigned to Gen. Poor’s Continental Brigade in [Benedict] Arnold’s Division, and fought in both the battles with the enemy, Sept. 19 and Oct. 9, ’77. In the first battle, they lost more than any two other regiments in the field. Upon their dismissal, after the surrender of [British General] Burgoyne, Gates spoke of them as “two excellent militia regiments from Connecticut.” They were commanded by Colonels Jonathan Latimer, of New London, and Thaddeus Cook, of Wallingford. Some of the company rolls are on file as given below.

On 29 August 1778, Asa PAYSON enlisted as a Corporal in Colonel Chapman’s Regiment of Connecticut Militia, in Captain Bowen’s Company.

In Aug., '78, a body of militia under Brig.-Gen. John Tyler served under Gen. Sullivan, and engaged in the attempt to dislodge the British at Newport. It was present at the battle of Rhode Island Aug. 29, '78.[4]

General George Washington learned that one-hundred British ships loaded with troops and supplies, were sailing for Newport, Rhode Island. On 29 August 1778, General Sullivan attempted to recapture Aquidneck Island from the British in an attempt secure Narragansett Bay for American and French ships, to prevent the British from using the port. The battle ended inconclusively, and, although the Americans had to withdraw, they slowed the British.

Asa married Lucy BISHOP, in 1779.[6] In 1790, Asa and his family are living in Woodstock Township, Windham County, Connecticut.[7] Asa lived at Woodstock until his death.[8] He died on 17 May 1824, at 69 years of age, and is buried at Woodstock Hill Cemetery, Woodstock. On his gravestone, he is referred to as Captain Asa PAYSON.[9] It is assumed that he was appointed Captain in the local militia.

Lucy BISHOP was born 0n 4 April 1755 at Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut, according to her husband’s DAR report, but no source is given for this.[10] Her birth year, calculated from her gravestone, is 1755.[11] In an attempt to find her parents, a search was made of all births to Bishops living in Woodstock at that time. Two Bishop families had records of births in Woodstock between 1754 and 1756, David and John Bishop, brothers. The only possible parents of Lucy would be John Bishop and his wife, Sybel Holmes, married in Woodstock on January 8^th 1741/42.[12] They have a record for the birth of a daughter, but both sides of the page had deteriorated and the name of the daughter and date of birth were destroyed. The record reads “[ ] Daughter of John Bifhop by Sybbil his wife [ ].”[13^] That Asa and Lucy named a son, John, and a daughter, Sibbyl, adds support to this.

Children of Captain Asa⁵ PAYSON and Lucy BISHOP were as follows:

+ ii. Asa PAYSON was born on 22 March 1782 in Woodstock, Windham Co., Connecticut. He married Tamer Howe WARREN.

iii. John PAYSON was born on 6 November 1783 in Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut. Nothing more is found.[14]

iv. Polly PAYSON was born on 14 April 1786 in Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut.[15] She died on 19 January 1789 in her 3rd Year and was buried in Woodstock Hill Cemetery, Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut.[16]

v. Sibbyl PAYSON was born, calculated from her gravestone, on 23 March 1790 in . She died on 9 April 1790 in aged 17 days and was buried in Woodstock Hill Cemetery, Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut.[17]

+ vi. William PAYSON, was born 8 November 1791 in Woodstock Township., Windham County, Connecticut. He married Betsey CRANSE.

+ vii. Thomas PAYSON was born on 8 February 1793 in Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut. He married Luranah (--?--).

viii. Lucy PAYSON was born on 12 March 1795 in Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut. Nothing more is found for her.

ix. Charles PAYSON was born on 18 April 1798, calculated from gravestone.^[18] He died on 28 June 1798 in 2 mo 10 days. He was buried in Woodstock Hill Cemetery, Woodstock, Windham County.^[19]

[1] Barbour, Lucius, Vital Records of Woodstock, Hartford, CT, 1914p. 111, [ ] Son of Asa Payson by Mary his Wife Born April 10th, 1756. Certification that the annexed instrument [above] is a true copy of the original. 16 May 2007 by Christine G. French, Assistant Town Clerk, Town of Woodstock, CT.

[2] Johnston, Henry P., A. M., Edited Under the Authority of The Adjutant-General of Connecticut, Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the I. Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1783. Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company Hartford, 1889: p. 53, THIRD REGIMENT - GEN. PUTNAM'S - 1775. Regiment raised on the first call for troops by the Legislature at special session of April-May, 1775. It was recruited in Windham County, with one Company from New London County, as indicated by the residences of the officers. Marching in May by companies to the camps forming around Boston, it was stationed during the siege in Putnam’s Center Division at Cambridge until the expiration of term of service, Dec. 10, 1775. In July it was adopted as Continental.; p. 56, 7th Company, , Continental Regiments -1775, Captain Ephraim Manning, Woodstock; p. 57, Fifer Asa Payson, Time enlisted May 11, When Discharged Dec 15.,

[3] Johnston, Henry P., A. M., Edited Under the Authority of The Adjutant-General of Connecticut, Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the I. Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1783. Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company Hartford, 1889: p. 504, MILITIA AT SARATOGA. 1777. Two large regiments of militia, composed of detachments from all the brigades, were ordered to re-enforce Gen. Gates at Saratoga in the summer of 1777. They were assigned to Gen. Poor’s Continental Brigade in Arnold’s Division, and fought in both the battles with the enemy, Sept. 19 and Oct. 9, ’77. In the first battle, they lost more than any two other regiments in the field. Upon their dismissal, after the surrender of Burgoyne, Gates spoke of them as “two excellent militia regiments from Connecticut.” They were commanded by Colonels Jonathan Latimer, of New London, and Thaddeus Cook, of Wallingford. Some of the company rolls are on file as given below. Gen. Oliver Wolcott also joined Gates with a body of volunteers, and several militia regiments were sent to Putnam on the Hudson during the campaign. COLONEL LATIMER'S REGIMENT - ["General abstract of a regiment in the service of the United States of America - in the Northern Department commanded by [Col. Latimer] in the months of Aug., Sept., Oct., and Nov., A.D. 1777."; p. 505, Captain Stone's Company , Fifer Asa Payson, Commencement of pay Aug 23 , Paid to Nov 9.

[4] Johnston, Henry P., A. M., Edited Under the Authority of The Adjutant-General of Connecticut, Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the I. Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1783. Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company Hartford, 1889: p. 530, COLONEL CHAPMAN'S REGIMENT, In Aug., '78, a body of militia under Brig.-Gen. John Tyler served under Gen. Sullivan, and engaged in the attempt to dislodge the British at Newport. It was present at the battle of Rhode Island Aug. 29, '78;

[5] Johnston, Henry P., A. M., Edited Under the Authority of The Adjutant-General of Connecticut, Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the I. Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1783. Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company Hartford, 1889: p 531, Militia Regiments, 1778, Captain Bowen's Company, Corpl. Asa Payson, Entered Service Aug 4, Discharged Sept 12.

[6] Application for Membership to the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, National Number 443077, Grace Budd Graham, Penn., Accepted by National Board of Management, 1 Feb 1956:

[7] 1790 United States Federal Census, Connecticut, Windham County, Roll M637_1, Woodstock Township, Page 331, Image 558, Line 32, Asa Payson, 131

[8] 1800 United States Federal Census, Connecticut, Windham County, Roll M32_2, Woodstock Twp., Page 780/801, Image 405, Line 5, Asa Payson, M20310 F10012; 1810 United States Federal Census, Connecticut, Windham Co., Woodstock Twp., Roll: 3; Page: 429; Image: 429/231.00, Line 9, Asa Payson M00201 F01011; 1820 United States Federal Census, Connecticut, Windham Co., Woodstock Twp., Roll: M33_3; Page: 391/1939; Image: 291, Line 5, Asa Payson, 010011111010101

[9] New England Historic Genealogical Society, NewEnglandAncestors.org, Cemetery Transcriptions from NEHGS Manuscript Collections, Woodstock Hill Cemetery, Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut, Copied by Lucius B. Barbour, 1908-1911: PAYSON, Sacred to the memory of Capt. Asa Payson who departed this life May 17, 1824 in the 69 Year of his age.

[10] Application for Membership to the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, National Number 443077, Grace Budd Graham, Penn., Accepted by National Board of Management, 1 Feb 1956: The said Asa Payson was the child of Asa Payson born 4-15-1757 at Woodstock, Conn. died at Woodstock Conn. on 5-7 1834 and his first wife Lucy Bishop born on 4-4-1755 at Woodstock, Conn died at Woodstock, Conn on 5-7-1834 married on 1779.

[11] Hale, Charles R. Woodstock Headstone Inscriptions for the Town of Woodstock, Connecticut, Hale Collection, Headstones at “Woodstock Hill Cemetery” in Woodstock, Ct., located in Woodstock. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/4791/halecollectiondeathindexwoodstock.html :Payson, Lucy, wife of Capt. Asa, died May 7, 1834, age 79 yrs.

[12] Barbour, Lucius, Vital Records of Woodstock, Hartford, CT, 1914: p. 77, December 19: 1741: John Bifhop Entered his Intention of Marriage with Sybel Holmes both of this town.; A List of marriaged confummated by Reverand mr. Abel Stiles; January 8^th 1741/42 John Bifhop and Sybel Holms both of Woodstock

[13] Barbour, Lucius, Vital Records of Woodstock, Hartford, CT, 1914: p. 103, [ ] Daughter of John Bifhop by Sybbil his wife [ ]

[14] Barbour, Lucius, Vital Records of Woodstock, Hartford, CT, 1914:p. 512, [172] John Son of Asa Pason By Lucy his wife Born Novembr 6 1783

[15] Barbour, Lucius, Vital Records of Woodstock, Hartford, CT, 1914: p. 174, Polly Daughter of Afa & Lucy Payfon Born April ye 14th; 1786.

[16] New England Historic Genealogical Society, NewEnglandAncestors.org, Cemetery Transcriptions from NEHGS Manuscript Collections, Woodstock Hill Cemetery, Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut, Copied by Lucius B. Barbour, 1908-1911In Memory of Polly, | Dautr of Capt. Asa Payson | & Mrs. Lucy his wife: | who died Janry 19, 1789, | In her 3rd Year.| Also Sibbyl died April | 9, 1790. Aged 17 days.

[17] New England Historic Genealogical Society, NewEnglandAncestors.org, Cemetery Transcriptions from NEHGS Manuscript Collections, Woodstock Hill Cemetery, Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut, Copied by Lucius B. Barbour, 1908-1911: PAYSON - In Memory of Polly, Dautr of Apt. Asa Pay & Mrs. Lucy his wife: who died Janry 19, 1789, In her 3rd Year. Also Sibbyl died April 9, 1790. Aged 17 days

^[18] Woodstock Headstone Inscriptions for the Town of Woodstock, Connecticut copied by Charles R. Hale http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/4791/halecollectiondeathindexwoodstock.html. Hale Collection, Headstones at “Woodstock Hill Cemetery” in Woodstock, Ct., located in Woodstock.: Payson, Charles, son of Asa & Lucy, died June 28, 1798, age 2 mos 10 days.

^[19] New England Historic Genealogical Society, NewEnglandAncestors.org, Cemetery Transcriptions from NEHGS Manuscript Collections. Woodstock Hill Cemetery, Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut, Copied by Lucius B. Barbour, 1908-1911: PAYSON - In Memory of Charles, Son of Capt. Asa Payson & Mrs. Lucy his wife who died June 28, 1798 Aged 2 months & 10 days.

^[20] See Death Record.

Asa PAYSON 1756-1824

Asa PAYSON
1756-1824