My Revolutionary War Patriots - Abner Poland, Jr. of Essex, Massachusetts

 

Abner Poland's Badge of Merit certificate

signed by General George Washington

This is #9 in my series of Revolutionary War Ancestors. 

Abner Poland, Jr. was born on 17 May 1761 in Chebacco Parish, Ipswich, Massachusetts (now the town of Essex),  the son of Abner Poland and Dorothy Burnham.  Last week I featured Abner Poland, Sr. in  sketch #8 because he was also a Revolutionary War veteran.  Abner, Jr. married Sarah Burnham on 20 March 1783.  She was the daughter of Westley Burnham and Deborah Story.  In a funny twist, Sarah's brother was Westley Burnham, another of my Revolutionary War ancestors.  Also, her sister Deborah was Abner Poland Sr.'s second wife (his first wife was also a Burnham).  Abner Poland was a mariner and fisherman in the coastal town of Essex, which is on the Essex River. 

Abner, Jr. and Sarah had eight children, four boys and four girls.  I descend from their eldest daughter, Sally, who married Henry Burnham (another Burnham!).  

As a young man, before his marriage in 1783 at the age of 22, Abner Jr. enlisted in the local militia on 15 January 1776 (he was barely 15 years old) as a private in Captain Abraham Dodge's Company under Colonel Moses Little's 12th regiment.  He was discharged on 14 May 1776. 

The following year Abner Jr., was listed on the muster rolls of the Continental Army under Colonel Joanthan Cogswell's 3rd Essex Regiment under Brigadier General Farley.  He joined Capt. Burnham's company (another Burnham!) under Colonel Jackson for a term of 3 years. He was listed as "Corporal, age 19 yrs, stature 5 feet 8 inches complexion fair; hair, dark; occupation, farmer, birthplace, Ipswich; residence, Ipswich; enlisted 17 Dec 1779 by Lt. Michael Jackson at West Point".  He ended up serving in the Continental Army for seven and a half years all the way to the Battle of Yorktown!  

Abner Poland, Jr. applied for a pension at age 57 years from his farm in Enfield, New Hampshire.  On his application found in the National Archives he stated "he first enlisted for one year, re-enlisted for three years, re-enlisted for a third time, serving seven 1/2 years total.  He received an honorable discharge in writing at Newburgh, NY.  He was in battles at Hubbardston, Stillwater, Monmouth, and Yorktown.  He received the Badge of Merit, the highest decoration.  W-152-B.L. Wt 48 71-100 1795  George Washington." 

I was excited to learn that he recieved the Badge of Merit from General Washington, and I found the award online, but it was a poorly scanned copy. I couldn't make out the signature.  So I actually took a trip to the National Archives in Washington, DC to see the document for myself. It was really signed by George Washington!  You can read all about this adventure in another blog post (see below for the link). 

The Battle of Yorktown was in 1781, with the surrender of the British on October 19th.  General Washington went to his headquarters at Newburgh, New York, and Abner received his certificate from Washington there in 1783. He married in 1783, probably upon returning home to Chebacco Parish, Ipswich.  

In the Registry of Deeds, Grafton County, Woodsville, New Hampshire, Book 57, page 162, we can read that Abner Poland, 2d of Ipswich, Massachusetts purchased a farm at Enfield, New Hampshire on 4 May 1812 for $850 from William Williams, Jr. of Enfield. Abner is listed in the 1830 census as living in Enfield.  He died at Enfield on 14 January 1835 and is buried in Lot 46 of the Oakgrove Cemetery, bhind the Community Church in Enfield.  

Abner Poland, Jr. became a pensioner, but was removed from the rolls for possessing too much property! Later he was placed back on the pension rolls.  His widow, Sarah, applied for a pension on 1 February 1837 and received $88 per year, which began on 4 September 1837 [Pension number 1586]. She died testate in Canaan, new Hampshire at the home of her daughter, Endor and son-in-law Elijah Gove.  [See The Polands of Essex County, Massachusetts by Lloyd Orville Poland, page 225, and also see The History of Canaan, NH by W.A. and J. B. Wallace].   

Abner and Sarah Poland

Enfield, New Hampshire

For the truly curious:

My trip to the National Archives to see Abner Poland's certificate from George Washington:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/04/national-archives-good-news-bad-news.html  

George Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh, NY:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/george-washingtons-headquarters-at.html  

My Poland lineage:  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/04/surname-saturday-poland-of-essex-county.html  

#1 Colonel Joshua Burnham of Milford, NH:  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/02/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-colonel.html  

#2  Major Andrew Munroe of Lexington, MA:  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/03/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-major.html  

#3 Jonathan Flint of Reading, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/03/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-jonathan.html   

#4 Daniel Glover of Marblehead, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-daniel.html  

#5 Levi Younger of Gloucester, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-levi.html  

#6 Nathaniel Treadwell of Ipswich, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-nathaniel.html 

#7 Captain Westley Burnham of Essex, Massachusetts:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-captain.html  

#8 Abner Poland, Sr. of Essex, Massachusetts    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/05/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-abner_02014071889.html   

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "My Revolutionary War Patriots - Abner Poland, Jr. of Essex, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted May 28, 2026, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/05/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-abner_0416714129.html: accessed [access date]). 

My Revolutionary War Patriots - Abner Poland of Essex, Massachusetts

 

Essex, Massachusetts - The former Chebacco Parish of Ipswich, Massachusetts

This is blog post #8 on my series of stories about my Revolutionary War ancestors.

Abner Poland, baptized 17 October 1736 in the Chebacco Parish of Ipswich (now the town of Essex), on Cape Ann, Massachusetts, was the son of John Poland (1693 - 1777), a weaver from Chebacco Parish,  and Abigail Davis of Gloucester.  She was the daughter of James Davis (1685 - 1742) and Abigail Mettcalfe.  

Abner married Dorothy Burnham on 3 April 1761 and had seven children, three boys and four girls.  I descend from the oldest son, Abner Poland, Jr. (1761 - 1835) who was also a Revolutionary War veteran. Dorothy was the daughter of John Burnham and Rachel Smith, baptized on 26 June 1737 in the Chebacco Parish, and died on 7 April 1789.  Abner remarried for a second time to Deborah Burnham, the widow of Nathaniel Emerson, on 5 December 1792.  She was the daughter of Westley Burnham and Deborah Story.  Deborah Burnham Emerson Poland was denied a widow's pension under Abner's name because she had already filed under Nathaniel's name! I have not found a gravestone for Abner, Sr. or his wives. 

Abner Poland, Sr. served as a private from 1 January 1777 to 1 February 1777, in the Chebacco Parish company of Captain Abraham Dodge, in the 12 regiment of the Massachusetts line under Colonel Moses Little.  Later he served in the militia at Newport, Rhode Island and was at the taking of Burgoyne and his Army, in the Battles of Long Island, White Plains and Harlem Heights.  he was honorable discharged in New Jersey. 

Abner Poland received a pension for his service, number 10,055 at $8.00 per month beginning on 6 April 1818.  His pension application lists that he owned 18 acres of pasture land and tillage, a small house, a small barn and 2 cows in Essex.  He signed his will on 17 May 1804, which was probated on 20 July 1824.  At age 84 years (in 1822) he was blind.  He died on 9 February 1824 at age 86. 

Since both Abner Poland's were in the same war, and both lived in the same town.  The records are sometimes hard to untangle.  An Abner Poland was an American prisoner of war at Forton Prison, England, imprisoned on 2 April 1778.  He was kidnapped off the ship "Hawk".  I'm not sure if this was Abner, Sr. or Abner, Jr.  The older Abner Poland was not in the military records in 1778.  The younger Abner Poland was in the Continental Army from 1 March 1777 to 31 December 1779. There was an Abner Poland, III, but he was not born until 1781. 

 I'll be writing up Abner, Jr.'s sketch for next week's blog post. He will be Patriot #9 in this series. 

For the truly curious:

Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolution, Vol. XII, p. 490 for the line about Abner Poland.

New England Historic Genealogical Society Register Vol. 33, p. 37 ["American Prisoners at Forton Prison, England, Abner Poland, prize of ye Hawk.  Comitted to prison 2 Apr. 1778"]

A blog post with Abner Poland's will:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/10/last-will-and-testament-of-abner-poland.html 

My Poland lineage: https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/04/surname-saturday-poland-of-essex-county.html  

This series about Revolutionary War Patriots

#1 Colonel Joshua Burnham of Milford, NH:  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/02/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-colonel.html  

#2  Major Andrew Munroe of Lexington, MA:  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/03/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-major.html  

#3 Jonathan Flint of Reading, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/03/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-jonathan.html   

#4 Daniel Glover of Marblehead, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-daniel.html  

#5 Levi Younger of Gloucester, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-levi.html  

#6 Nathaniel Treadwell of Ipswich, Massachusetts   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-nathaniel.html  

#7 Captain Westley Burnham of Essex, Massachusetts   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-captain.html  

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "My Revolutionary War Patriots - Abner Poland of Essex, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted May 21, 2026, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/05/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-abner.html: accessed [access date]). 

My Revolutionary War Patriots - Captain Westley Burnham of Essex, Massachusetts

 

The David Burnham house in Essex, Massachusetts

built by Capt. Westley Burnham's grandfather 

This is the 7th patriot ancestor I have written in this series of blog posts. My 6th great grandfather, Westley Burnham, was born on 17 August 1747 in the Chebacco Parish of Ipsiwch, Massachusetts (now the town of Essex), the son of Westley Burnham (1719 - 1797) and Deborah Story.  He was a descendant of Thomas Burnham (about 1623 - 1694) of Norwich, Norfolk England, and his wife Mary Lawrence. On 5 December 1771 he married Molly Woodbury, who was born 29 July 1749 in Beverly, the daughter of Robert Woodbury and Hannah Preston. They had ten children, who all grew to adulthood and were married. 

Westley, Jr., was a mariner, like most of the men in Chebacco Parish.  He worked as a fisherman and as a sailor before his marriage.  When the Lexington Alarm came on 19 April 1775 he served in Capt. David Low's 3rd Company, in Colonel Cogswell's regiment (which was a trainband or local militia).  In 1776 he was a private in Capt. Daniel Giddings' Company, in Colonel Foster's Regiment, which was stationed at Gloucester for seacoast defence. Also in 1776 he served in Captain Ray's Company, Colonel Pickering's Regiment. Then he served again in Capt. Dodge's Company, Colonel Johnson's Regiment in 1777, where he was in the Battle of Bemis Heights, which was part of the Battles of Saratoga in New York.  

Westley Burnham received a pension for his service in the war - Pension number s18750  [Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 9 Feb 2018), "Record of BURNHAM, WESLEY JR", Ancestor # A018081.]  There is a Revolutionary War marker and flag on his grave in the Ancient Burial Ground in Essex. 

epitaph:

In Memory Of

Mr.Wesley Burnham 

who died 

Sept 1, 1835

Aged 83 years

According to the book The Burnham Family, on pages 344 and 345,  Westley Burnham, Jr. became a privateer after the Revolutionary War.  He was eventually captured by the British. "Captain Westley Burnham was in early life a sailor. At the age of seventeen he made a voyage to Lisbon, and rowed in a boat over the site of Old Lisbon, which had been destroyed and sunk by an earthquake in 1755. For a short time he served as a soldier in the war of the revolution. Afterwards he entered the privateering service. In an engagement with the enemy, the vessel in which he sailed was captured, and with the rest of the crew he was carried to England. An order of the admiralty gave permission to any American prisoners to go on board His Majesty's ships and do sailor's duty, except fighting, if they should choose to do so. After remaining some time in the 'Mill Prison,' he took advantage of this order, and entered the seventy-four gunship Preston. While on a cruise on the West India station he was taken sick with the small pox, and was left in hospital in Jamaica. He was so near to dying there, that one man who returned to this country from that island, reported to his family that he was dead. On his recovery he immediately took ship for Boston, and on arriving there walked to Chebacco. His arrival was noised abroad, and, as he expressed it, 'that night all Chebacco was at the house to see one who had risen from the dead.' He became a successful navigator. No vessel commanded by him was ever wreaked or dismasted, and his judgment in maritime matters was very highly esteemed. He afterwards followed the hereditary occupation of vessel-building. For a considerable length of time he was totally blind. He was a man of extraordinary strength."  

This story is also told on the Historic Massachusetts website. 

  "The “skipper” was also a fisherman and made many trips to the Grand Banks. He followed the hereditary occupation of vessel building, and some of these were built in a yard near the house and hauled to the water as was the custom. Westley Burnham served in the War of the Revolution and afterward entered the privateering service. He was captured along with his vessel and crew and carried to England. After remaining in Mill Prison, he took advantage of an order of the Admiralty which gave permission to American prisoners to go board his majesty’s ship and do any sailor’s duty except fighting. While on a cruise to the West Indies, he was taken sick with smallpox, and when the ship sailed, he was left in a hospital in Jamaica. He was close to dying and was reported to be dead by one man who returned to this country from the island. Westley recovered, took a ship to Boston, and walked to Chebacco where he was welcomed by his family as one who had risen from the dead." 

I descend from two of Westley Burnham's sons.  First I descend from Asa Burnham (1778 - 1850) who married Polly Bray in 1801 in Ipswich.  Secondly I descend from Henry Burnham (1783 - 1867) who married Sally Poland on 2 May 1805 in Essex.  Sally was the daughter of Abner Poland, who was also a Revolutionary War Veteran.  The Colonel Joshua Burnham (1754 - 1834),  who was the first ancestor in this series about Revolutionary War ancestors, is also a descendant of the immigrant settlers Thomas Burnham and Mary Lawrence, and a distant cousin to Captain Westley Burnham. 

The photo of the David Burnham House, Essex, Massachusetts,  above, is from Wikipedia and is attributed to  Magicpiano - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20998307

The David Burnham house in the photos above is located on Pond Street in Essex, and was built in 1685.  The land was granted to the brothers John and Thomas Burnham instead of pension money for serving in the Pequot War. Thomas Burnham's son John owned the land where the house was built by his youngest son David.  It then passed to Westley Burnham, Sr., who passed it on to Captain Westley Burnham, Jr.  After Capt. Burnham's death the house went to his daughter Anna Burnham (1785 - 1862) who married her cousin Abner Burnham.  Anna and Abner had fourteen children and 81 grandchildren!  From there the house passed into the hands of the Story family and was restored under the suppervision of George Francis Dowe, curator of the Essex Institute in Salem in 1924, 100 years ago.  It is still standing on Pond Street in Essex.  

For the truly curious:

The Burnham Family: Or the Genealogical Records of the Descendants of the Four Emigrants of the Name, who were among the early settlers in America , by Roderick Henry Burnham, Hartford, Connecticut, Press of Case, Lockwood & Brainard, 1869. (available to read online at Google books)  See pages 344 and 345 for Westley Burham, Jr. 

See also The Historic Massachusetts website  https://historicmassachusetts.org/essex/ accessed 16 March 2026 for the aerial view photo and the story of Westley Burnham's homecoming after being captured by the British. 

This blog post shows my many Burnham lineages:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/05/surname-saturday-burnham-of-chebacco.html 

Patriot #1 in this series, Colonel Joshua Burnham of Milford, New Hampshire:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/02/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-colonel.html  

Patriot #2 in this series: Major Andrew Munroe of Lexington, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/03/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-major.html   

#3 Jonathan Flint of Reading, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/03/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-jonathan.html   

#4 Daniel Glover of Marblehead, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-daniel.html  

#5 Levi Younger of Gloucester, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-levi.html  

#6 Nathaniel Treadwell of Ipswich, Massachusetts:  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-nathaniel.html  

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "My Revolutionary War Patriots - Captain Westley Burnham of Essex, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted April 28, 2026, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/05/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-captain.html: accessed [access date]). 

New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site (the last Continental Army encampment of the Revolutionary War)

 This is the third blog post in a series on the Newburgh/New Windsor, New York area historic sites from the Revolutionary War. 

The New Windsor Cantonment was the last Continental Army encampment of the Revolutionary War.  During the winter of 1782- 1783 over 7,000 soldiers and 500 civilians were encamped here at New Windsor, New York.  On 19 April 1783 (8 years to the day after the Battles of Lexington and Concord) General George Washington issued the cease-fire orders here that ended the War of Independence for the Continental Army.  

In the summer months this historic site has costumed re-enactors demonstrating musket drills, camp life, blacksmithing and other 18th century skills. It is located next door to The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.  This museum explains the history of the Purple Heart, which originated with Washington's Badge of Military Merit, which was awarded to three men at the cantonment in 1783. 

My ancestor Abner Poland was a member of the 8th Massachusetts Regiment, and stationed here at the New Windsor Cantonment.  He had served in the Continental Army for over seven years, and saw action at Trenton, Saratoga and Yorktown. He was awarded the Badge of Merit by General George Washington in August 1783 (see below).   The regiment was furloughed 12 June 1783 at West Point, and disbanded on 3 November 1783.  

This historic military site is just a few miles from Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh, New York.  General Washington was stationed there for over 16 months, the longest time at any of his headquarters during the Revolutionary War.  Abner Poland's Badge of Merit certificate was awarded at the headquarters in Newburgh. 

This historic area has a reconstruction of the log buildings built by the Continental Army at the cantonment, including the "Temple of Virtue" and barracks.

A small graveyard near the Temple of Virtue

It is a short walk to the Temple of Virtue

A transcription:

The name Temple of Virtue may have been derived from a 1757 sermon by David Fordyce called The Temple of Virtue: A Dream.  "A pilgrim traveled to an eminence crowned by a "sacred mansion" of quadrangular form" whose whole fabric was simple and solemn..."  

In part to keep the soldiers gainfully occupied during the long winter months, Army Chaplain Israel Evans proposed the construction of a meeting hall in December 1782.  Unlike the soldier's huts, the building was handsomely finished with a vaulted ceiling and large, glazed windows.  The building was used primarily for church services as well as military functions and occasional musical performances.  Two rooms on one end were offices and a store for the quartermaster and commissary, and two on the other side were used for officer meetings and issuing general orders. 

This reenactor spent a long time with me inside the Temple of Virtue, and we discussed the Badge of Merit, the Badge of Military Merit, and the Massachusetts 8th Regiment.  

The certificate for the Badge of Merit awarded to Abner Poland

at Newburgh, NY by General George Washington

(click to enlarge)

For the truly curious:

A children's book The Medal With a Heart, by Karen Kulinski, 2018, M.T. Publishing Company, Evansville, Indiana (I bought my copy of this book at the Independence Museum in Exeter, NH). 

The New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site webpage:   https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/newwindsor/maps.aspx  

Wikipedia article on the New Windsor Cantonment:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Windsor_Cantonment_State_Historic_Site  

My blog post (part 1) on Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh, New York:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/george-washingtons-headquarters-at.html  

My blog post on (part 2) The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-national-purple-heart-hall-of-honor.html

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site (the last Continental Army encampment of the Revolutionary War)", Nutfield Genealogy, posted April 1, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/04/new-windsor-cantonment-state-historic.html: accessed [access date]). 

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, New Windsor, New York

 This is part two of three blog posts on a visit to the Newburgh/New Windsor, New York historic sites from the American Revolutionary War.  

Entrance to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, New Windsor, New York

Last fall we visited Newburgh, New York to see George Washington's last Revolutionary War headquarters, and the museum staff recommended that we go down the road to see the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor.  I was at Newburgh to see where George Washington had awarded by ancestor, Abner Poland (1761 - 1835) of Essex, Massachusetts a Badge of Merit. General Washington had devised two awards at his headquarters, the first was to signify loyal military service, he ordered a chevron to be worn on the left sleeve of the uniform coat for the rank and file that had completed three years of duty "with bravery, fidelity, and good conduct", two chevrons signified six years of service.  Abner Poland had served more than seven years, through to the Battle of Yorktown.  

The second badge General Washington awarded was for "any singularly meritorious Action"  "The figure of a Heart in Purple Cloth or Silk edged with narrow Lace or Binding".  This Badge of Military Merit was sewn on the left breast of the uniform coat.  Due to the war ending, and many other distractions, Washington only awarded three of these purple badges.  The Purple Heart was reinstated after World War I for soldiers who suffered injuries or death.  

It was at this museum, The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, where I learned about the two awards established by General Washington.  I have a copy of Abner Poland's certificate signed by George Washington, and it is stored at the National Archives in Washington, DC.  Abner's widow, Sarah Burnham Poland (about 1759 - 1846) used this certificate to apply for a Revolutionary War widow's pension. 

This museum is located right next door to the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site.  The Hall and the Cantonment share a parking lot.  Both are worthy of a visit. These sites are only a few miles from General George Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh.  

When you press the button, you can see an actual Badge of Military Merit,

originally awarded to Sergeant Elijah Churchill in 1782.

Badge of Military Merit

General Washington wished to honor 

his enlisted soldier's merit, but Congress

limited his power to do so.  In a general

order dated 7 August 1782, issued in 

Newburgh, New York, Washington

established the Badge of Military Merit.

Only three Badges of Military Merit are

verified to have been awarded.

A close up of the original felt, embroidered 

Badge of Military Merit. 

This Purple Heart medal belonged to

World War I veteran Howard R. Bouton.

As the accompanying letter (facsimile)

describes, Mr. Bouton received this 

medal in 1944 for wounds he had

sustained during World War I. 

A display about the New Windsor, New York Cantonment

at the end of the Revolutionary War

Why Here on 

These Grounds?

At the end of the Revolutionary War, army officers met

here to select the first know recipients of the Badge of

Military Merit.  Three months after the modern Purple

Heart was created in 1932, 136 local World War I

veterans were awarded their Purple Hearts in a 

ceremony held on these very grounds.               

The Hall of Honor continues this tradition of honoring

service and sacrifice.  Purple Heart recipients are those

service members who were killed or wounded by enemy

action.  Our mission is to collect, preserve and share the

stories of all Purple Heart recipients.                           

Badge of Merit certificate for Abner Poland signed by George Washington

For the truly curious:

Last week's blog post on Washington's Last Headquarters in Newburgh, NY:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/george-washingtons-headquarters-at.html  

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor:   https://www.thepurpleheart.com/   

The New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site:    https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/newwindsor/maps.aspx   

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, New Windsor, New York", Nutfield Genealogy, posted March 25, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-national-purple-heart-hall-of-honor.html: accessed [access date]). 

George Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh, New York

This is part one of three blog posts about the historic sites at Newburgh/New Windsor, New York where my ancestor recieved the Badge of Merit from General George Washington. 

Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh, New York

Last fall we visited Washington's Headquarters, a New York state park located on the banks of the Hudson River in Newburgh.  Washington was stationed here for more than 16 months at the end of the Revolutionary War.  Although it was not as famous as his winter headquarters at Valley Forge, it was his longest stay at any headquarters during the war. 

This stone house was built around 1725 and then owned by the Hasbrouck family.  The Continental Army was encamped nearby during the war at the New Windsor Cantonment.  Washington moved into the house on 1 April 1782 and left on 19 August 1783.  While he was in Newburgh he established the Badge of Military Merit, which was to be awarded to enlisted men for long and faithful service.  It was awarded to three men at Newburgh, all stationed nearby in New Windsor. The ceremony took place on the front lawn of the headquarters at Newburgh.  Then, with the war coming to a close, no more Badges of Military Merit were awarded by Washington. The program was abandoned until World War 1.  

It was during Washington's time at Newburgh, New York that the Newburgh Conspiracy occured.  In March some of the New Windsor Cantonment officers wrote an anonymous letter to take action against Congress.  They were angry about lack of pay, and threatened to disband the army. General Washington gave a speech known as the "Newburgh Address" to persude the officers to remain loyal to Congress and to him.   

The house was returned to the Hasbrouck family after Washington left.  The property remained in the family until 1848 when the owners defaulted on a mortgage payment and were forced to leave.  The house became the property of the state of New York, and later became a public historic site.  In 1910 a two story brick museum was added to the property, and the Hasbrouck house was decorated to reproduce how it looked during the Revolutionary War.   A monument "Tower of Victory" was built in 1887.  It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961. 

Several years ago I was researching my ancestor, Abner Poland (1761 - 1835), who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.  His service with the 8th Massachusetts Regiment included the battles at Hubbardston, Stillwater, Monmouth, and Yorktown - a total of seven years and six months.  Abner Poland received the Badge of Merit on 13 June 1783 from George Washington at Newburgh.  The certificate granted to Abner Poland read:  "The above Corporal Poland has been honored with the Badge of Merit for seven years and six months faithful service.  M. Jackson Colonel". You can find the link below for my interesting blog post on this unique certificate, signed by George Washington. 

Years later, Sarah Burnham Poland, his widow, applied for a widow's pension on 1 February 1837, and received $88 per year, which began on 4 September 1837. Sarah lived until 1846.  Sarah and Abner are buried at the Oakgrove Cemetery behind the Community Church in Enfield, New Hampshire. 

The Tower of Victory by the Hudson River

Items on display at the Newburgh museum

The Badge of Merit certificate awarded to Abner Poland

at Newburgh, New York and signed by General George Washington

(click to enlarge)

For the truly curious:

Washington's Headquarters at Wikipedia:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington%27s_Headquarters_State_Historic_Site   

Washington's Headquarters, NY state park website:   https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/17/details.aspx  

For more information on Abner Poland, my 5th great grandfather, in blog posts:

Surname Saturday - POLAND of Essex County, Massachusetts:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/04/surname-saturday-poland-of-essex-county.html   

George Washington Signed Here? A Mystery Document:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/10/amanuensis-monday-george-washington.html   

Tombstone Tuesday - Abner Poland, Enfield, New Hampshire:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/10/tombstone-tuesday-my-5th-great.html    

The National Archives - Good News/Bad News (my trip to NARA to see Washington's signature on Abner Poland's discharge):   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/04/national-archives-good-news-bad-news.html  

The National Archives - They read my blog!?     https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/04/national-archives-they-read-my-blog.html   

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "George Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh, New York", Nutfield Genealogy, posted March 18, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/george-washingtons-headquarters-at.html: accessed [access date]). 

Weathervane Wednesday ~ Another Ancestral Church

I post another in a series of weather vane photographs every Wednesday.  This started with images of weathervanes from the Londonderry, New Hampshire area, but now I've found interesting weather vanes all across New England and across the globe.  Sometimes my weather vanes are whimsical, or historical, but all are interesting.  Often my readers tip me off to some very unique or unusual weathervanes, too!  If you know a great weather vane near you, let me know if you'd like to have it featured on this blog.

Today's weather vane was photographed in New Hampshire.

Do you know the location of weathervane post #361?  Scroll down to find the answer.

This is the Community Lutheran Church in Enfield, New Hampshire.  It was built originally in 1852 as the Universalist Meeting House.

My ancestor, Abner Poland, was buried in the churchyard behind this building in 1835 [see the photo below].  There was no earlier church in Enfield.  The first Meeting House was built in 1837, but there was no resident minister.  The Universalists first became active in 1840, and held meeting above the store on Main Street.  Around this time the first Universalist minister was called to Enfield, and this building was constructed in 1852.  If Abner and the rest of the Poland family attended church services, they must have been held in someone's home.  This was the first church building in Enfield, although the Shakers lived here as early as 1793 on the other side of Mascoma Lake.

The grave of Abner Poland
in Oak Grove Cemetery
behind the Community Lutheran Church
in Enfield, New Hampshire

My Tombstone Tuesday blog post about Abner Poland:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/10/tombstone-tuesday-my-5th-great.html

Community Lutheran Church website:   http://clcenfield.org/

Click here to see the entire collection of Weathervane Wednesday posts!

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Weathervane Wednesday ~ Another Ancestral Church", Nutfield Genealogy, posted May 2, 2018, (https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/05/weathervane-wednesday-another-ancestral.html: accessed [access date]). 

Tombstone Tuesday ~ My 5th Great Grandfather, Abner Poland (1761 - 1835), Enfield, New Hampshire

This tombstone was photographed at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Enfield, New Hampshire.

GOVE

ABNER POLAND

DIED

Jan. 14, 1835

AE. 74

SARAH,

His Wife died

Nov. 10, 1846

AE. 86

ELIJAH GOVE

DIED

May 29, 1845

AE. 58

EDNOR,

His Wife died

Sept. 26, 1865

AE. 72

Abner Poland, Jr., son of Abner Poland (1736 - 1824) and Dorothy Burnham, was born 17 May 1761 in Essex, Massachusetts, and died 14 January 1835 in Enfield, New Hampshire; married on 20 March 1783 in Essex to Sarah Burnham, daughter of Westley Burnham and Deborah Story.  Abner received bounty land in Enfield as part of his reward for Revolutionary War Service.

Abner and Sarah had eight children:  Sally, Abner, Ruth, Mary, David, Ednor, Thomas Emerson, and Beniah.  Their daughter Ednor Poland (1793 - 1865) married on 11 April 1810 in Ipswich, Massachusetts to Elijah Gove, son of Nathan Gove and Rhoda Prescott.  They lived in the nearby town of Canaan, New Hampshire.  After Abner's death, Sarah went to live with her daughter, Ednor Poland Gove in Canaan.  They are all listed on the GOVE family obelisk in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

The Oak Grove Cemetery is located on the hill behind the Community Lutheran Church on Main Street in Enfield, New Hampshire.

Click here for my POLAND genealogy:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/04/surname-saturday-poland-of-essex-county.html 

Click here for Sarah Poland's will:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/10/sarah-burnham-polands-1845-last-will.html

Click here for a fun blog post about finding Abner Poland's military discharge papers at NARA - signed by George Washington!
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/10/sarah-burnham-polands-1845-last-will.html


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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Tombstone Tuesday ~ My 5th Great Grandfather, Abner Poland (1761 - 1835), Enfield, New Hampshire", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 18, 2017, (https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/10/tombstone-tuesday.html: accessed [access date]).

Last Will and Testament of Abner Poland, 1804

Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

[transcription]

In the name of GOD, Amen. ~  I Abner Poland, of Ipswich in the county of Essex and commonwealth of Massachusetts, yeoman, being in perfect health of body, and of a sound mind and memory, thanks be given unto GOD, calling unto mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say: ~ Principally, and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hand of GOD, who gave it; and my body I recommend to the earth, to be buried in a decent Christian burial, at the direction of my executor; nothing doubling but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of GOD.  And, as touching such worldly estate, werewith it has pleased GOD to bless me in this life, I give, demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First of all, my will is, that my executor hereafter named should sell so much of my estate, as shall enable him to pay all my just debts and funeral charges.  After my just debts and funeral charges are paid, I give and bequeath to Deborah Poland, my dearly beloved wife, all the household goods and furniture, which she brought to me, to be her own disposal.  I further give and bequeath to Deborah my wife the use and improvement of all my real and personal estate, which shall not hereafter be disposed of, during her natural life.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Epsabah Poland the feather bed, which was her mother’s for her to come into possession after my decease, and also the looms and tackle thereto belonging, for her to come into possession thereof after my wife’s decease.

And, finally, I give and bequeath to my seven children hereafter named, and their heirs, viz.  Abner Poland, Asa Poland, Parker Poland, Epsabah Poland, Rachal Burnham, Eunice Poland and Anna Spillar, all all my real and personal estate, of what name or nature soever, which has not hereto fore been disposed of, to be equally divided amongst them, or their heirs, according to quantity and quality for them to come into the possession of after my wife’s decease.  And I do hereby constitute, appoint and fully authorize Nathaniel Burnham, of Ipswich in the said county of Essex, gentleman, sole executor to this my last will and testament; and I hereby utterly disavow, revoke and disannul all and every other former testaments, wills, legacies, bequests and executors, by me in any wise before mentioned, willed and bequested; ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.

In witness whereof.  I have hereunto set my hand and seal ye. Seventeenth day of May in the year of our LORD one thousand eight hundred and four.

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said Abner Poland to be his last will and testament, in presence of us, who in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names: ~

Joshua Giddings                                              Abner Poland (seal)

David Giddings

Nancy Giddings

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Essex, ss.  At a court of probate holden at Gloucester in and for said county on the third Tuesday in July AD 1824. – The foregoing instrument, purporting to be the last will and testament of Abner Poland, late of Essex in said county, yeoman, deceased, having been duly presented for probate, and it being made to appear, that notice has been given according to order to all persons interested; David Giddings and Nancy Giddings, two of the witnesses thereto subscribed, being present, make oath that they saw the said Abner Poland sign and seal the said instrument, and heard him declare the same to be his last will and testament, and that they the said David and Nancy, with Joshua Giddings, esquire, subscribed their names together as witnesses to the execution thereof in presence of said testator, and that was then, to the best of their judgement, of sound and disposing mind; and the same is proved. -  It is thereupon considered and decreed by the court here, that the same be approved, allowed, and recorded, as the last will and testament of the before named deceased; and that it have full force and effect as such, agreeably to the laws of the commonwealth aforesaid in such cases made and provide.

                                      D. A. White, judge of probate

Recorded from the original, and examined by Nathl. Lord, Jr. register

To the hon. Daniel A. White esquire, judge of probate for the county of Essex. I the subscriber would represent to your honor, that I am appointed executor of the last will and testament of Abner Poland, late of Essex, desceased, and that it is inconvenient for me to execute that trust.  Wherefore I hereby declare my refusal to undertake it.  June 24, 1924.   Nathaniel Burnham

Essex, ss. Filed in probate court at Gloucester, July 20, 1824

                Attest.  Nathanl. Lord, Jr. register

Recorded from the original, and examined by Nathanl. Lord, Jr. register

----------------------

Abner Poland, my 6^th great grandfather,  was born about 1736 in the Chebacco Parish of Ipswich, Massachusetts.  This town is now known as Essex, Massachusetts.   He was the son of John Poland and Abigail Davis.  He was married first to Dorothy Burnham on 3 April 1761, and had seven children with her- all named in the will.  She died on 7 April 1789 and he remarried to her cousin, Deborah Burnham, the widow of Nathaniel Emerson, on 5 December 1792.   It is interesting to note that Deborah is my 5^th great grand aunt because I descend from TWO of her siblings:  Westley Burnham (1747 – 1835) and Sarah (Burnham) Poland (about 1759 – 1846).   Sarah was married to Abner Poland, Jr (1761 – 1835)!  You can find Sarah's will at this link HERE. 

Nathaniel Emerson had died on 2 September 1778 while serving in the American Revolution.   Both Abner Poland, Senior and Junior, served in the American Revolution.  Abner, Senior, was on the list of prisoners sent to Forton Prison in England in 1778. He served at the Battles of Long Island, White Plains and Harlem Heights, and was honorably discharged in New Jersey.    Abner Poland, Junior, received a badge of merit from General George Washington for his service of 7 years, from Lexington through to Yorktown.   Abner, Junior is my 5^th great grandfather.  You can read about his badge of merit HERE. 

As a yeoman, Abner Poland, Senior, was a farmer.  He received a pension for his military service starting on 6 April 1818.  At that time he owned 18 acres of land, a small house, a small barn and 2 cows.  He went blind in 1822 and died on 9 February 1824 in the Chebacco Parish.

All seven children lived to be named in his will.  Here is an account of the lives of the children:

1.   Abner, Junior, received a land bounty for his military service (see above) and removed to Enfield, New Hampshire where he was buried. He had eight children with his wife Sarah Burnham (see above) who was also his step-aunt.

2.  Asa (1763 – 1853) also served in the American Revolutionary War. He was left for dead in a field after a battle, slashed from head to chest by a sword, but survived.  He removed to Waterbury,  Vermont, where his 8 children were born.  Later in life he lived with his daughter, Electra (Poland) Loveland  in Moira, New York where he died. 

3. Parker (born between 1765 and 1770) I have no further record.

4. Hephzebah (spelled “Epsabah” in the will) (about 1766 – 1856) never married.

5. Rachel (about 1768 – 1797) married William Burnham in 1789, another Burnham cousin.

6. Eunice (about 1770 – 1870) never married and was nearly 100 years old at her death.

7.  Anna (born about 1774) married William Spiller in 1794.

My surname Saturday post on the POLAND family (with the entire lineage):

http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/04/surname-saturday-poland-of-essex-county.html   

---------------------------------

To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Last Will and Testament of Abner Poland, 1804", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 12, 2015, ( http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/10/last-will-and-testament-of-abner-poland.html : accessed [access date]).

Sarah (Burnham) Poland's 1845 Last Will and Testament

Ancestry.com. New Hampshire, Wills and Probate Records, 1643-1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

“Be it known that I Sarah Poland of Canaan in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following.

First. I give and bequeath to my granddaughters Matilda Smith and Lucinda Poland children of my son Abner Poland deceased one hundred dollars and to be paid to them at my decease by my Executor.  Also I do give and bequeath to my grand sons Beniah Poland and David Poland children of my son David Poland deceased one hundred and fifty dollars each to be paid to them at my decease by my Executor.

Also I do give and bequeath to my son Thomas E. Poland two hundred dollars to be paid to him at my decease by my Executor. Also I do give and bequeath to my grand son William W. Poland my desk and fall leaf table and six of my best chairs.  All the rest and residue of my real and personal Estate whatsoever after payment of my just debts and Legacies before mentioned I do bequeath and devise to my daughters Sally Burnham wife of Henry Burnham, Ruth Kehew widow of Paul Kehew , Mary Fitts, wife of Josiah Fitts and Ednor Gove, widow of Elijah Gove, to be equally divided between them hereby revoking all former wills by me made.

And I do hereby constitute and appoint Converse Goodhue of Enfield Frafton County N. Hampshire Sole Executor of this my last will and testament.  In witness whereof I have her unto set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of July A.D. 1845.

Signed, sealed and declared by the above named Sarah Poland to be the last will and testament in presence of us who at her request in her presence here subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.  

William Harris,  Wm. L. Harris, Isaac B. Harris

State of New Hampshire

Grafton SS. At a court of probate holden at Plymouth in this County on the 17^th day of November Anno Domini 1846.

The foregoing instrument purporting the last will of Sarah Poland late of Canaan in said County deceased having been ???ed for Probate in ??? by Converse Goodhue the Executor therein named.”

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Sarah Burnham was born about 1759 in Essex, Massachusetts, the daughter of Westley Burnham and Deborah Story.  She married Abner Poland, also of Essex, on 20 March 1783 in Essex. He was the son of Abner Poland and Dorothy Burnham.  Abner served in the Revolutionary War and won a Badge of Merit for seven years and six months faithful service (signed by George Washington!). He received a bounty land grand in Enfield, New Hampshire as a reward for his service, so the family removed to New Hampshire.   

Abner Poland died in 1835, and Sarah outlived him by eleven years.  She signed this will in July of 1845, and died in November of the following year. Most of the children removed back to Essex County, Massachusetts, but at least one son, Thomas Emerson Poland, stayed in Enfield.  I descend from Sally who married Henry Burnham.  If you look back, that made three generations of Polands marrying Burnhams.  

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Sarah (Burnham) Poland's 1845 Last Will and Testament", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 8, 2015 (http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/10/sarah-burnham-polands-1845-last-will.html : accessed [access date]).