My Family Tree

Author: David Crandall Schafer

Micah Hamlin was born November 11, 1741, at Barnstable, Massachusetts, a son of Joseph Hamlin and Hannah Lovell. He married Abigail Parker, October 29, 1767. She was a daughter of Samuel Parker and Desire Freeman. They were the parents of: Hannah, Joseph, Micah, George, Thomas and Abigail.1

Micah Hamlin began his service in the War of Independence, April 19, 1775, as captain of a 65-man militia company. They marched from Barnstable toward Marshfield under the command of General Joseph Otis.2 As captain of a 50-man militia company, he served from July 1, 1775 through December 31, 1775, in defense of the seacoast.3 From February 2, 1776 through March 30, 1776, Micah Hamlin was captain of a 69-man company of Colonel Simeon Cary’s Regiment. They were raised to reinforce the Continental Army. From May 14, 1776 through October 11, 1776, Micah Hamlin was captain of a 65-man company stationed at Castle Island, as part of Colonel Thomas Marshall’s regiment.4 General Joseph Otis of Barnstable's report of militia officers, dated January 7, 1777, included Captain Micah Hamblin under Major Winslow of Colonel Doane’s Regiment.

At a December 12, 1777, at Barnstable Town Meeting, Micah Hamlin was chosen to a committee in order to “…supply the families of soldiers that are in the Continental service, with necessaries agreeable to a resolve of the General Court.” At the Town Meeting held February 23, 1778, Micah Hamlin was chosen to a Committee of Correspondence.5

Captain Micah Hamlin’s 51-man company of the first regiment of guards at Cambridge was engaged for three months, beginning April 2, 1778. Hamlin appears in the Militia Officers Commissioned in the County of Barnstable, June 5, 1778, in the regiment of Nathaniel Freeman. In September 1778, Hamlin led his 33-man company of matrosses for 11 days during the alarm at Bedford, Dartmouth, and Falmouth.6 In November 1778, Captain Micah Hamlin led his 24-man company of matrosses guarding prisoners from the British warship Somerset from Barnstable to Plymouth. In March and April 1779, Hamlin was captain of a 35-man company of matrosses on the alarm at Falmouth, with four days of service.

Captain Micah Hamlin led his 57-man company of militia in Lieutenant Colonel Enoch Hallet’s Regiment, July 15, 1780. They detached from Massachusetts to reinforce the Continental Army for three months, according to an Act of the General Court of June 22, 1780. Service was given at Rhode Island by order of the Council of Massachusetts.7

Micah Hamlin died June 6, 1814, at Barnstable, Massachusetts. He was buried at the cemetery of West Barnstable. Abigail Parker Hamlin died April 28, 1820, aged 75 years. She was buried beside her husband.

References:

1. Barnstable Town Records, Vol. 3, Pg. 202.

2. Muster/Payrolls of the Revolutionary War (Massachusetts and Rhode Island) Vol. 12, Pg. 117 (image 188).

3. Ibid, Vol. 36, Pg. 60, 64 (images 87, 94).

4. Ibid, Vol. 20, Pg. 74 (images 181-183).

5. Barnstable Town Records, 1640-1793, Vol. 3, Pg. 382-383.

6. Ibid, Vol. 36, Pg. 216 (image 277).

7. Ibid, Vol. 2, Pg. 77 (images 243-245).