First Social Security

Like cider promised to Hugh and Jane by Alexander and Daniel (Photo:www.atthebarn.com)

(from http://www.somejamesons.com/)
Hugh and his wife, Jane, were both still living November 15, 1782, as appears from the following bond given by their sons, Alexander and Daniel, in consideration of a deed to them of his farm in Dunbarton, NH.

A Bond from Alexander and Daniel Jameson to Hugh Jameson

Know all men by these that we, Alexander Jameson and Daniel Jameson both of Dunbarton in the State of New Hampshire and County of Hillsborough yeomans of joyntly and Severally Bound unto Hugh Jameson of Dunbarton in State and County afore said, Cordwainer, in the Just Sum of a thoughsand Pounds Lawfull money to which Payment well and truly to be made we Bind ower selves Heirs and assigns firmly by these Presents sealed with ower seals this fifteenth Day of November A.D. 1782.

The conditions of the above Bond is such that of the above Bound Alexander Jameson and Daniel Jameson Do we well and Truly Provide and Deliver unto the above named Hugh Jameson and Jane Jameson his wife the following articles that is to say--

Stores of grain and beans (Photo: www.bbc.co.uk/)

firstly to have and Use at their own Discretion the Southwest room in the Dwelling house and Seller under said room and Chamber over said Room with Liberty to Pass from the above Room to Seller and Chamber During there natural life.

Also, to Deliver yearly unto Said Hugh and Jane During there Lives the following articles yearly at their Request, to wit:

Twelve Bushells on Good Indian Corn and Six Bushells of good Rye and one hundred and Eighty wate of Good Pork well salted and sixty wate of good Beef, well salted with a Sufficient Quantity of good Sace such as the farm Produces yearly withy a Sufficient Quantity of Cider as the Farm shall Produce also fifty wate of good flax well Drest such as the farm Produces and Twelve Pounds of good Sheep's wool, and to keep two good Cows for the said Life and in Case of old age or Sickness to find sufficient help to work and all other Things So that they be comfortably Looked after and not Suffer also Suficient Quantey of good fire-wood at the Door Redy Cut for one fire, in Compliance with the above Condition, then the above Bond to be void otherwise to Stand and Remain in full force and Veature.

Signed, Sealed and Delivered in Presents of--

The true intent and meaning of the above Bond is such that if either the above Hugh or Jane his wife Should Die then the one half of all the above articles to be Taken off and not Paid --

Jereh Page

Martha Copp

We know that both Hugh and Jane were alive when they signed the bond and it appears that only Hugh was still alive (and living with Daniel) at the time of the 1790 Federal Census.

On September 23, 1788, Alexander and Danel divided their father's farm. Hugh is mentioned in the division and so is presumed to be still alive, but Jane is not, and so probably was deceased.

It is said that Hugh Jameson aided his third son, Thomas, with his education, at Darmouth College - Class of 1797, in lieu of a stake in the farm.

Alexander Followers Hugh into the Revolution

Alexander's payroll card as a New Hampshire Volunteer after the battles of Bennington and Saratoga

Alexander Jameson (1760-1820) was the first child of Hugh and, his second wife, Jane. He was also the first son born in America to Hugh. Alexander was born in Dunbarton, likely on the homestead, and remained there well after he had a family of his own, having shared the farm with his brother Daniel.

Alexander followed his father into the ranks of the Continental Army (though he enlisted directly into Moore's Regiment of the the New Hampshire Militia). Both father and son could likely and honorably avoided service because it was voluntary and their ages: Hugh was 62 at the time of the Battle of Bunker Hill and Alexander was 17 at the time of the Battles of Saratoga.

As indicated by the Payroll Card (above):
Alexander Jameson
Moore's New Hampshire
Regiment
(Revolutionary War)
================================
Private and discharged as a private



(other side of card)

J Moore's Regiment N.H.

Alex r Jameson

Appears with rank of Pvt on a

Pay Roll

of a Company of Volunteers commanded by Capt.

John Duncan in Col. Daniel Moore's Regiment,

which marched from Bedford, Sept. 1777, to

join the Northern Continental Army,

(Revolutionary War)

dated..........Bedford...................

...................Dec......16.........................,1777

Time of engagement.....Sept....26....,17...

Time of discharge...Oct....25............,17...

Time in the service.....27.......................days.

Rate per month.....L 4, 10

Amount of wages..L 4,....1

Travel from Bedford and Antrim to Beningtown,

135....m. at 3d......L1, 13, 9

Travel home from Saratoga to Bedford and Antrim,

132...m. at 2d....L 1..,2.....

================================

Rations

Whole number ......................................................

Number received..................................................

No. due at 8d.........................................................

Amount..................................................................

=================================

Whole amount ......................6,.....16,.....9...........

Remarks................................................................

................................................................................

=================================

........................................Feaslis.............

(353i)

Brigadier General John Stark

John Starks was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire. His father had emigrated from northern Ireland and settled in the New Hampshire frontier where he owned extensive tracts of land and was the original proprietor of Dunbarton (originally called Starkstown)

Alexander Jameson served as a private with Colonel Daniel Moore's Regiment of the New Hampshire Volunteers. "They marched from Bedford, NH, to join the Northern Continental Army at Bennington, VT, for what became the battles of Bennington and Saratoga in 1777. The militia were originally created to protect the colonies from attacks by the French and their Indian allies. They had more at stake than the regular army, since they were protecting their own homes.

(http://www.womenhistoryblog.com/)

Colonel Stark and his men (without either Jameson) were dispatched to aid the militias of Massachusetts, who were trying to keep the British in Boston. When they tried to push out of Boston by attacking the colonists, the colonists fought back at the Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775).

In July, 1777, Stark was offered a commission as Brigadier General of the New Hampshire militia. He accepted with the stipulation that he would be answerable only to New Hampshire, that is, not the Continental Army. Soon after receiving the commission he was ordered to depart New Hampshire to reinforce the Continental Army at Saratoga, NY. He refused. Instead, he led his men to meet the British at Bennington, VT, where Colonel Frederick Baum with about 500 men were about to attack Bennington storehouses to restock their dwindling supplies.

Gen. Stark sent out men to gather recruits. With about 2200 militiamen (some with their own guns and dressed for tending fields) 1400 from NH, the rest from VT, NY, CT and MA. Catching Colonel Baum and the British commanding General Burgoyne. Both colonel Baum's 500 men and 500 re-enforcements sent hurriedly from Burgoyne were soundly defeated. Not more than 100 escaped.

The battles of Bennington, VT and Saratoga, NY are not far from each other

The loss of soldiers and the inability for General Burgoyne to gain supplies led directly to defeats at the battles of Saratoga and the surrender of Burgoyne.

This map indicates the succession of battles and the sequence which run mostly from north to south. The Battle of Bennington, the Battle of Saratoga

Moore's Regiment (the 9th militia) with Alexander Jameson was called up on September 29 and participated in the last battle of Saratoga, October 7, 1777.

With the surrender of General Burgoyne on October 17 (10 days after the final battle of Saratoga) the regiment was disbanded on October 27, 1777.

The surrender of General Burgoyne to General Gates of the Continental Army.

General John Stark gave to Moore's regiment a brass 4 pounder cannon captured at the Battle of Bennington.

Hugh Becomes a New England Patriot

(From Somejamesons.com) Hugh's wife, Christine, likely died in the late 1740s, relatively soon after their arrival in American and the birth of their last child, Molly. It appears that Hugh remarried a half dozen years later in the mid-1750s to Jane McHenry, a Scot like himself. It is likely that he farmed the 150 acres he had purchased in Dunbarton, NH as well as being a shoemaker. Despite, or maybe because of, his previous brush with the law "...he took a prominent part among settlers in public affairs while living in Dunbarton.

"He was one of the foremost in calling meetings of the area's inhabitants and in the transaction of public business. In 1773, Mr. Jameson was chosen costable and town collector." That is, as constable, he was an officer of the peace, with police and minor judicial duties. It was probably a good thing he had some policing authority if he was also a "collector," presumably of taxes. In a small town that likely included treasurer duties.

Revolutionary Flag of New Hampshire, later adopted in a slightly different form as the state flag

Hugh's sense of civic responsibility and political involvement soon took on a deeper commitment. Tensions with the British were mounting . Unlike the Dakin line of the family, these Jamesons threw their allegiance in with their new countrymen. That allegiance was about to be expressed in their participation in the Revolutionary War.


"Hugh Jameson was a Minuteman from Londonderry, New Hampshire and after the battle of Bunker Hill in 1775, although in his early 60s, marched 90 miles to Boston and back under the command of Robert Wilson and Lieutenant Joseph Hogg." By this account it would appear Hugh didn't see any "action," since his cohort arrived after Bunker Hill was fought and then returned to Dunbarton. That is not true of Alexander whose participation in the Revolutionary War we will consider in the next post.

"Hugh Jameson signed the Association Test at Dunbarton, November 25, 1776 which made him an early and bonefide patriot."

The Association Test Signed by Hugh Jameson

The Sheriff Comes after Hugh

A later version of the courthouse at Portsmouth, New Hampshire (Photo: CW Wycoff)

(somejamesons.com) "In June of 1753, Hugh Jameson and Robert Parinson were summoned into court in Portsmouth, NW, having been sued by Robert Gage of Coleraine, Ulster, Ireland, for not having been paid the monies due per the agreement by Jameson and Parkinson to do so, two years after arriving in America. Although both Hugh Jameson and Robert Parkinson denied owing any money both were found guilty on September 6, 1753 and ordered to pay in the amount of 18 pounds, two shillings and 4 sixpence, new tennor (sic) bills, as damages for both men, including court costs. This was apparently paid as nothing more is (recorded) of this case.

The court summons for Hugh Jameson & Robert Parkinson (Photo: Somejamesons)

"Hugh Jameson arrived in the new world apparently penniless. Documents associated with the above mentioned court case describe how he was nearly pulled off the boat at the very last moment as the ship was actually weighing anchor and about to leave port. Three men arrived unexpectedly demanding money from him. Unable to pay, a collection was taken by several of the other passengers on board to prevent that from happening.

Homestead in New Hampshire

Queen Anne (Photo: CoinLink)

Soon after their arrival in the colony of New England, Hugh Jameson and his family were living in Londonderry in the Royal Province of New Hampshire. If the name of the town sounds a little to familiar there is a reason.

A little historical context from SomeJamesons: At the turn of the century (1700), Queen Anne (1702-1714) evoked the Test Act under which the Scots in Ulster lost every benefit of the Toleration Act (1689) for which William had fought and had been gained under William of Orange (see previous post). The policies included invalidating their marriages and prohibiting them from holding office. Many left Ireland for America settling in New Hampshire in a place called Nutfield which soon became Londonderry. Wouldn't you have changed the name? King William came through again with "exempt farms" for which they paid no money. That is until the Revolutionary War. Hugh and his family, according to one article, made their way immediately upon arriving in America to Londonderry, presumably to join other Jamesons from the Bann Valley.

Dunbarton with Jameson reference at orange spot (photo: SomeJamesons)

In 1748, Hugh was one of several original petitioners to what was known as the Masonian Proprietors, owners of near by mostly unoccupied lands, for the grant of a new Township, northwest of Londonderry. Hugh Jameson's property amounted to one hundred and fifty acres. The terms of the grant were few. First, was that each "right" was with a cost of 30 pounds Sterling. Actual residence on each lot was required of the owner and his family by a certain date, the first of 30 settlers before the end of May, 1752.

Jameson House (Photo: SomeJamesons)

The original house was built in the early 1750's and at least at first may have been quite small, perhaps only about 16 x 16 foot, as was the minimum requirement at that time. We know for certain that by at least 1782 it was a four room house about 30 foot by 30 foot, with a central fireplace. There was a cellar under the structure and a "chamber" above. The current large rambling farm house incorporates in part the original structure as the northwest corner of the house. A floor plan of the current house from 1987 shows it being used as a study and an "L" shaped living room. The original fireplace is still in use.

Passage to America

(Some Jamesons) "Hugh and Christine (Whitehead) Jameson lived in or near Coleraine, County Londonderry, Ulster, Ireland, where all their children except Molly were born. On the map of Ulster in the last posting, Coleraine is to the east-north-east of Londonderry just on the other side of the River Bann. He worked as a cordwainer (shoemaker) and with their children they emigrated to America in 1746.

Sloop of the type of "Molly" (circa 1622)

"They sailed August 4, 1746, on the sloop 'Molly' from Port Rush, on the northern Coast of Ireland, for Boston, New England. The cost of the passage was agreed and bound by a contract ("note of hand" seen below) signed August 4, 1746, the actual day of sailing, with Robert Gage of Coleraine, Ireland, where Hugh and a fellow passenger, Robert Parkinson (his niece's husband), promised to pay the cost, L6-13s (for both), two years from the date of arrival in Boston.

Passage Payment Agreement:

We, Hugh Jamison and Robert Parkinson Doo bind

oursleves our ____ ____ ____ a figures in the fair

and just sum of six pounds thirteen shillings ____

lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto Mr.

Robert Gage Mert (merchant): of Colerain in Ireland or his ______

to be paid in two years from the date here of

and after our arrival in Boston in America

as witness our hands and seals this August 4th ____

There is little to indicate why they left. In 1740-41, cold winters and poor harvests caused the Forgotten Famine during which 400,000 people died in Ireland. However, it is difficult to link that tragedy with the Jamesons' emigration five years
later.

"With him on board were his wife, Christine, and six or seven of their children, his sister, Elizabeth (Jameson) Woods, his niece, Esther (Wood) Parkinson and her husband, Robert Parkinson, as well as what is thought to be his younger brother, Thomas. Among his children were two young sons, whose names are no longer known, who died during the trip. It is said that the second boy died at the grief of the loss of his younger brother. They were both buried at sea. It is interesting to note that about two years after arriving in America, Hugh and Christine had a daughter born to them, to whom they gave the name Molly.

"Their route most likely would have been down the western coast of Ireland, the usual course of ships in those days bound for America from the northern ports of Ireland. This would have been a difficult and dangerous trip in the mid 1750's, lengthy too, especially for smaller ships like those typically sailing from Port Rush. The sloop 'Molly,' with fair sailing, would have reached the American coast in the early autumn of 1746, and probably landed her passengers in Boston, Massachusetts Bay, as that was the intended port, although the ship belonged in Salem, MA."

In the next post, we'll discover the continued influence of Robert Gage in the life of the Jamesons, Hugh's position in the town in which they settled and his role in the Revolutionary war.

Jamesons Arrive in Templemore Parish, Ulster

The website "SomeJamesons" traces the line back to William Jameson, the first Jameson born in Ireland. William's parents came from Scotland in 1619 from the southwestern county called Argyle (or Argyllshire), as in the socks.

Argyle is the archaic spelling of Argyll, which is the southwestern (pink) section on the map

William's parents emigrated to Ireland, or more precisely Ulster (Northern Ireland), in the early 1600's. "At the beginning of the 1600's, James I, of England, began a re-population of northern Ireland with mostly Scottish Protestants. The area was at the time largely occupied by the Desmonds, who had been defeated and depleted in various rebellions with the crown during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. This forced re-population started in 1611 and was an effort by the king to colonize this here-to-fore troublesome area with a more sympathetic and supportive people. The incentives were lucrative with large quantities of land available to each immigrant. Many Scots took advantage of this offer and is undoubtedly why the ancestors of Hugh Jameson found their way to Ireland. This population was largely increased with further immigration over the next 50 years as a result of persecutions by English Kings Charles I and Charles II in their effort to establish the Church of England in Scotland."

The family took up residence and William was born in Templemore Parish of Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The distance across the channel is not very far. Notice Scotland in the upper right hand corner of the map of Northern Ireland. William (1) was born in 1646.

"The Scottish colonists resided in Ireland over several decades during the middle 1600's. They lived somewhat autonomously, retaining their culture and traditions. Intermarriage of Scots with the Irish were exceedingly rare, so that the Scotch race remained nearly as distinct as it was prior to its settlement in this new land. They attended their own churches and continued life pretty much as it was known to them in Scotland... The Jamesons in general were said to have been a robust, active, muscular, and prolific race of people undoubtedly descended from the son of James or Jamie..."

"William Jameson was said to be a vigorous Scotchman, who was thought to have served in the defense of Londonderry during the siege of 1689, and probably the Battle of Boyne in 1690 with distinguished gallantry and such bravery that he was made free from taxation throughout the British dominion by William III, Prince of Orange."

Battle of Boyne (Wikipedia)

The Battle of Boyne was a decisive battle in turning back King James II of England, Scotland and Ireland. He was Catholic and for him the war was an attempt to regain the throne so he could create sovereignty for Ireland, religious freedom and the right to own land for Catholics. No surprise, most of his soldiers were Irish Catholics.

Conversely, for William of Orange and his soldiers, the war was about maintaining Protestant and English rule against the fear that if James retook the throne he would take their land and or kill large numbers of them.

William of Orange (Wikipedia)