I am trying to prove Josiah Pelton's service in the Revolutionary War. All of his brothers, Nathan, Ithamar and John, were soldiers. He stayed home to care for his father, John who died in 1785. I believe he may have been involved in building ships for his brother Ithamar who provided ships for privateers. Any help would be appreciated. He died in OH in 1818, having purchased 6000 acres in NE OH in 1800 from Lemuel Storrs for $1000. Where did he get all this money? Did he serve as a patriot and if so how? Thanks for any help you can offer. Susan K. Spies

Susan, According to Louis F. Middlebrook in his book :Maritime Connecticut During The American Revolution" Vol. II, page 135 Ithamar Pelton & Co of Chatham owned the sloop INDUSTRY. On page 133 "Ithamar Pelton and others of Chatham" are given as the owners of the sloop HUNTER, an armed victualter. On page 157 Ebanezer Pelton is listed as a member of the crew on the Brigantine, MARSHALL, commissioned in 1782. In Volume I, (pages 26, 27) George Pelton (enlisted Sept. 4,1775; discharged Oct. 24, 1775) and Moses Pelton (enlisted Sept. 12, 1775; ran awYy Dec. 6, 1775) are listed as crewmen on the Brigantine, MINERVA [Source: History of maritime Connecticut during the American revolution, 1775-1783, Vol. I & II Author: Louis F. Middlebrook ... Publisher: Salem, Mass., The Essex institute, 1925.] Chatham is across the river from Middletown. The name of Chatham was changed in 1915 to East Hampton. The western part of the town of Chatham was incorporated as the town of Portland in 1841. [Source: Connecticut Towns and Their Establishment" chart from the CT state library < http://www.cslib.org/cttowns.htm > or < http://www.cslnet.ctstateu.edu/cttowns.htm >] You might try looking for Josiah in Chatham. Perhaps he belonged to a local militia group. Building boats would have kept him busy. He could also have been among those who sailed on the private vessels that aided in the American war effort. Who knows how many trips and vessels were never recorded. Marilyn CT > > I am trying to prove Josiah Pelton's service in the Revolutionary War. All > of his brothers, Nathan, Ithamar and John, were soldiers. He stayed home to > care for his father, John who died in 1785. I believe he may have been > involved in building ships for his brother Ithamar who provided ships for > privateers. Any help would be appreciated. He died in OH in 1818, having > purchased 6000 acres in NE OH in 1800 from Lemuel Storrs for $1000. Where > did he get all this money? Did he serve as a patriot and if so how? > > Thanks for any help you can offer. > > Susan K. Spies >