Person:Abraham Ross (1)

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American Revolution Veteran

Biography of Abraham Ross

Abraham Ross was born 2 Jan 1749/50 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, the tenth child of John Ross and Submit Hoar^[1][16]. He died 14 Jul 1841 at the great age of ninety-seven years^[2]. Note: While the town clerk's records of Jaffrey reflect his age at 97 years, the Rev. Ainsworth's records show a corrected age of 91 years, 5 months and 2 days^[15][21]. Birthday calculators calculate his age at actually 91 years old.

Early Life

His father died in 1759 and his mother kept the family together until 1767 when she died and the old homestead in Sudbury was sold. He removed to Bolton, Massachusetts as a young man of seventeen years of age. Abraham continued to make his home in Bolton^[16] until his marriage to Persis Welch of Charlestown, Mass, daughter of Paul Welch, about 1774^[18]. Betsey, his first child was born in 1775^[3]. The New Hampshire state census of 1776 does not list him, however there are no returns for Jaffrey in 1776. As early as March 27, 1777, he is found in Jaffrey, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. At the town meeting held March 27, 1777, he was named as a road surveyor at Jaffrey^[2][16] where he settled on lot 4, range 7, in the southwest quarter of the town^[16][3].

Revolutionary Service

He served in the American Revolution where he enlisted on July 21, 1777^[3][4] and his record is found in Volume 15, page 217 of New Hampshire State Papers^[5]. He served from July 21, 1777-Sept 26, 1777 in Captain Salmon Stone's Company in Colonel Nichols' Regiment, General Stark's Brigade raised out of the 15th Regiment of New Hampshire milita, under the command of Colonel Enoch Hale. His company marched from Rindge, NH in July 1777 and joined the Northern Continental Army at Bennington and Stillwater where they took part in the Battle of Bennington on August 16, 1777^[2]. On 24 July 1777, he is one of the men listed as being paid four pounds, ten shillings for one month's service, and three pence per mile for travel money. His signature is on an original pay receipt for his company.

Abraham Ross Pay Voucher, Capt. Stone, 21 Jul 1777	Receipt Roll, Marlborough, 21 July, 1777	Capt Salmon Stone's Regiment Pay Roster]]	Capt Salmon Stone's Regiment Pay Roster
Abraham Ross Pay Receipt Roll	Thomas P Treadmill, Sect of State, NH

Town Meetings

"Abram" or "Abraham" Ross is listed as one of the meetinghouse "Gallery" pew owners in 1780, having purchased pew #3^[2]. March 27, 1783 the town record book records Abraham Ross chosen as "Dear Reef". At the same town meeting, he was also appointed as "Field Driver"^[17] which is described as "A town officer especially in early New England authorized to round up and impound farm animals roaming at large". Abraham Ross was again chosen Highway Road Surveyor at the annual town meeting of 30 March 1786^[27]. In July of that same year his last child a daughter, Persis Ross, was born.

U S Census Records

In 1790 Abraham Ross is on the First Census of the United States with two Free White males over 16, one under 16, and four free white females for a total of seven in his household^[7]. In 1793 Abraham Ross is listed in a list of Tax-Payers of Jaffrey as being taxed for £2 8s.^[2] The family is found on the 1800 U S Federal census living in Jaffrey. Abraham is not indexed in the 1800 Census in Ancestry, but can be found on page 892 living with three sons and two daughters, himself and his wife^[8]. Abraham's son, Abraham Jr settled on the homestead, and acquired possession of it in 1807, according to Jaffrey tax records, as Abraham Sr paid his last real estate tax that year and the following year both farm and personal property were assessed to Abraham, Jr. On the 1820 Census, Abraham is living with his son, Jonas Ross, so it would appear that his wife has passed away sometime between 1810 and 1820^[10]. In FamilySearch.org, a married Ross female is indexed as having died 2 Feb 1816, in Jaffrey, so it is probably Abraham's wife, Persis Ross. He is still living in the Jonas Ross household in 1830^[11]. In 1840, Abraham Ross has moved into the household of his son, Abram Ross. He is shown between the age of 90-99^[12].

Death

Abraham died on 14 July 1841 in Jaffrey where he had lived most of adult his life. It is not known where he is buried but it is likely he was buried in the family plot in the old Phillips cemetery or the West Burying yard, but no stone remains^[16] . Two of his sons, Jonas and Abram and some of their children are buried in Phillips-Heil cemetery which was situated near the original Ross farm off of the old Fitzwilliam road. He and his wife are possibly buried there in unmarked or lost graves or on their farm.

MA Town Vital Collections_Abraham Ross Birth

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Abraham Ross, in Wayland, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Vital records of Wayland, Massachusetts, to the year 1850. (Boston, Mass: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1910)
   2 Jan 1749.

   Father: John Ross and Submit Ross

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} Cutter, Daniel Bateman. History of the town of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, from the date of the Masonian charter to the present time, 1749-1880: with a genealogical register of the Jaffrey families, and an appendix containing the proceedings of the centennial celebration in 1873. (Concord, New Hampshire: Republican press association, 1881)
   pp 62, 137, 163, 183, 449-450.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Ross, in Cutter, William Richard. New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of the Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation. (New York, New York, United States: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913-14)
   986.
4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 History of Cheshire and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire. (Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1886)
   p 227.

   Listed as soldier in the Revolution from the town of Jaffrey.

5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Gilmore, George C. (George Clinton). Roll of New Hampshire soldiers at the Battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777. (Manchester, New Hampshire: J.B. Clarke, c1891)
   p34.
6. ↑ United States. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files. (Washington D.C.).

   Private, Capt Salmon Stone's Regiment

7. ↑ ^7.0 7.1 Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States. 1790 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   M637, Roll 5, p127.

   Abraham Ross, Jaffrey, Cheshire, New Hampshire, 1 Male under 16, 2 males 16 and over, 4 females for a total of 7 in his household.

8. ↑ ^8.0 8.1 Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States. 1800 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   p 892.

   Abraham Ross, Free White Males, 0-9, 1; 16-25, 2; 45 and over, 1. Free White Females, 16-25, 2; 26-44, 1; 45 and over, 1, Total 7

9. ↑ Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States. 1810 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Roll 23, page 55.

   Abram Ross, Free White Males: 45 and over, 1; Free White Females: 16-25, 2, 45 and over, 1; Total 5

10. ↑ ^10.0 10.1 Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States. 1820 U.S. Census Population Schedule
    p 364.

    Jonas Ross, Free White Males: 10-15, 1; 26-44, 1; 45 and over, 1; Free White Females: Under 10, 2; 26-44, 1; for a Total of 6

11. ↑ ^11.0 11.1 Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States. 1830 U.S. Census Population Schedule
    p 90.

    Jonas Ross, Free White Males: 10-14, 1; 40-49, 1; 80-89, 1; Free White Females: Free White Females, 10-14, 1; 15-19, 1; 40-49, 1; Total 6

12. ↑ ^12.0 12.1 Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States. 1840 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

    Abram Ross: Free White Males, Under 5, 1; 5-9, 1; 10-14, 1; 50-59, 1; 90-99, 1; Free White Females: 5-9, 1; 40-49, 1; Total 7

13.   Kidd, Coburn. Jaffrey Roads and Streets 1773-1980. (Jaffrey, Cheshire, New Hampshire: Jaffrey Historical Society, 1982).
14. ↑ Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records of Sudbury, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1903)
    127.

    ROSS, Abraham, s. John and Submit, [born] Jan. 2, 1749-50.

15. ↑ ^15.0 15.1 Jaffrey (New Hampshire). Town Clerk. Town records, 1749-1886. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1952).

    Births, Marriages, deaths 1789-1841, page 64

16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6} Annett, Albert, and Alice E. E. (Alice Evelina Elizabeth) Lehtinen. History of Jaffrey (Middle Monadnock) New Hampshire: an average country town in the heart of New England. (Jaffrey, New Hampshire: Published by the Town, 1934-1937)
    Vol 2.

    Biography on page 664

17. ↑ ^17.0 17.1 Jaffrey (New Hampshire). Town Clerk. Town records, 1749-1886. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1952)
    53, 54, 124.

    Town Book 1

18. ↑ Marriage record not found
19. ↑ 1800 U S Census, Jaffrey NH
20. ↑ Abraham Ross Death Record
21. ↑ ^21.0 21.1 Abraham Ross Death, Rev. Ainsworth
22. ↑ Town Book 1, page 53
23. ↑ Town Book 1, page 54
24. ↑ Abraham Ross Death, 14 Jul 1841:Jaffrey Town Births_Deaths 1806-1886
25. ↑ Abraham Ross Chosen Dear Reef
26. ↑ Abraham Ross chosen Field Driver
27. ↑ ^27.0 27.1 Abraham Ross as Highway Surveyor