MAJOR CALVIN NEWTON6 (Marshall5, Obediah4, Thomas3, John2, Richard1), son of Marshall and Hannah (Willard-Roberts) Newton of Shrewsbury, Mass., was born there March 8, 1762, and died at Shoreham, Addison County, Vt, September 12, 1823, aged 61.
He married at Shrewsbury, January 16, 1787 (int. October 4, 1786), Elizabeth, "Betty" Keyes, daughter of Elisha and Catherine (Baker) Keyes of Shrewsbury, where she was born October 31, 1763. She survived her husband twenty-four years, and died ---, 1847, at the home of her son, Daniel S. Newton, at Glens Falls, Saratoga County, N. Y.
Calvin Newton was a soldier of the Revolution. The Roster of the S. A. R. states that he was a private in the Massachusetts Artillery. In a descriptive list he appears as of Shrewsbury; the list as returned by Justin Ely, Commander, by Brig.-Gen. John Glover at Springfield, July 9, 1780; age 18, stature 5 ft. 9 in., complexion ruddy, engaged for the town of Shrewsbury; arrived at Springfield July 8, 1780, marched to camp July 9, 1780, under command of Lieut. Jackson of the Artillery. Also, six months service returned by Brig.-Gen. Patterson, dated Totoway, October 25, 1780; other services; the last discharge, December 11, 1780, having then served five months, fifteen days, including travel home (180 miles). Later he was Major in the Vermont State Militia. He was a Revolutionary pensioner.
After his marriage he continued to reside in Shrewsbury. Both he and his wife were admitted to the church there in 1790. The First United States Census, 1790, has: "Calvin Newton. Shrewsbury, Mass. Two males above 16 years, three males below 16 years, seven females." Of course, as he had only two children at that date, he probably had another family in the house with him -- he being set down as the head of all. He is set down on the town records October 1, 1798, as occupying, but not owning his house. He was assessor for Shrewsbury for the years 1794, 1795, 1796, and held the two offices. Selectman and Treasurer, for the years 1797 and 1798. Six of his children were born in Shrewsbury. In 1798, he moved with his family to Brattleboro, Vt., where his youngest four children were born. In 1807 he removed with them to Ticonderoga, N. Y., where they lived for a while, then moved to and settled in Shoreham, Vt., where he became the Town Clerk. His handwriting on the books there is remarkably good.
Major Calvin Newton, like so many of the Newton name, was a blacksmith by trade -- and a fine mechanic. He helped to iron the first steamboat built by Robert Fulton. He was a strictly honest, hard-working and conscientious man. He and his wife united with the Congregational church in Shoreham, Vt. He died and is buried in Shoreham by the side of his eldest son and his daughter Eunice, where also lie his brother Daniel and wife.
