In 1662 Hampshire County, Massachusetts was formed from the western section of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Parts of the original county became Hampden, Franklin, Berkshire and Worcester Counties.
The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) was between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the 13 colonies which became the newly formed United States.
New Hampshire was first settled by Europeans in 1623. It was separated from Massachusetts in 1679.
She married Patrick McMichel (McMichael, McMitchell, McMighill, McMihill, McMcikell, McMickall, McMickell, McMighel) on April 2, 1772 in Palmer, Hampden County, Massachusetts. If she were born in 1756, she would have been 16 when she got married.
Patrick's parents were William McMichel and Margaret Smith. According to Papers and Proceedings of the Connecticut Valley Historical Society, Volume 2, "William McMitchell and wife Margaret Smith came from Ireland in 1718, and settled in Palmer."
Patrick McMitchell appeared on the muster and payroll of officers and men belonging to Colonel Samuel Ashley's Regiment of Militia in the State of New Hampshire who marched from the county of Cheshire at the requisition of Major General Gates to reinforce the Army of Ticonderoga, New York who were engaged October 21 and returned November 16, 1776. He served as a private under his father-in-law, Captain Isaac Davis.
Some reseachers believe the family dropped the "Mc" and became Mitchells. Patrick's brother, Robert, Jr., apparently moved to Vermont and used the name Mitchell. Ldwis Aldrich in History of Franklin and Grand Island County, Vermont (1891) said Robert Mitchell and his wife Susan Wheelock, born in Palmer, Massachusetts, died in Sheldon, Vermon.
A Patrick Mitchell was in Bethlehem, Albany County, New York, in 1800. The household consisted of:
a man over 45- Patrick age 60
a woman between 26 and 44 - Jemima would have been about 44
two boys and a girl between 10 and 15
and 3 boys under 10
Patrick and Jemima were married in 1772 so they probably would have had older children.
The Association Test
“We, the subscribers do hereby solemnly engage and promise that we will, to the utmost of our powers, at the risque of our lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies."
Chesterfield, Sullivan County, New Hampshire was incorporated in 1752. It is on the Connecticut River and bounded on the southeast by Swansey and Keene.
In 1790 during the first census, Sullivan County was part of Cheshire County.
A militia is a military unit composed of citizens who are called up in time of need.
Connecticut's first European settlers were Dutch.
from History of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts
William McMitchel m. Margaret, a dau. of Robert Smith, in Ireland. They came to this district with the family in 1718. The names of their children were:
1, Joseph;
2, William, Jun.;
3, Robert;
4, Margaret;
5, Patrick.
from History of Franklin and Grand Island Counties, Vermont by Aldrich, Lewis Cass (
1891)
Robert Mitchell, who was born in Palmer, Mass, died in Sheldon, Vermont at
the age of seventy-eight. He was by occupation a farmer and a
blacksmith. His wife was Susan Wheelock of the above place, who died in
Sheldon, Vermont at the age of seventy-six. His children were Alolphus,
Joseph, Hernan, Robert, Lucretia, Ameretta, Sarah, Marcia, and John.
Patrick McMitchell’s parents were William McMichell and Margaret Smith (1700) She was the daughter of Robert Smith.
They were part of a group of about 100 families who left northern Ireland in 1718 to settle in Massachusetts. They were descendants of people who had left Scotland and England in the 1600's when the British were encouraging new Protestant settlements in Ireland They sailed in five ships to Boston, arriving on August 4, 1718.
They spent their first year in Boston. Some remained in Boston, but a group including, the McMitchells, moved to Worcester where they attempted to form a distinct Presbyterian settlement.
