My Family Tree

Author: David Crandall Schafer
Enoch Hinckley was born March 27, 1751, at Barnstable, Massachusetts Colony, the third son of Edmund Hinckley and Sarah Howland. Enoch had six siblings: Edmund, Abner, Mary, Heman, Anna and Benjamin.

Enoch Hinckley was 25 years of age when he enlisted, July 28, 1776, in Captain James Gray’s company of Colonel Thomas Marshall’s regiment in the service of Massachusetts Bay. He was joined by John Lovell and Enoch Lovell, also of Barnstable, and served to November 1.

By the fall of 1778, coastal raids by the British fleet had become a necessary part of supplying their garrisons at Newport and New York. Under the command of British Major-General Sir Charles Grey, the British fleet sailed from Newport, September 3, and made for (New) Bedford, setting ablaze many storehouses and ships while also capturing several heavy cannons in the space of 18 hours. As the British ships sailed off to their next conquest, they left a huge conflagration behind them that burned all night. To Falmouth townsmen, it was a grimly instinctive sign of what was to come. General Joseph Otis moved militias from across the Cape into Falmouth. Enoch along with his brothers Abner and Heman were enlisted in Captain Jacob Lovell’s militia company from Barnstable when it was called to service at the Falmouth Alarm, with Enoch serving six days. Falmouth was spared as Major-General Grey led the British fleet past Falmouth and onto Martha’s Vineyard where they pillaged the island for two days.

Enoch Hinckley married Mercy Crocker, a sister of fellow Patriot William Crocker, December 30, 1779. Together they had one daughter, Anna, born in 1781; and three sons; Edmund born in 1784, Luther born in 1789 and Enoch born in 1793.

At Town Meeting called September 28, 1791, Enoch Hinckley was chosen with four others to “Procure School Masters and settle Town Schools as usual.” At a church meeting held July 6, 1812, Enoch Hinckley was one of seven church members chosen for a committee whose duty was “...to converse with those members of the church who walk disorderly and neglect to commune for an unreasonable time.”

Enoch and Mercy’s children started their own families with their son Edmond marrying Betsy Crocker in 1809, Luther marrying Mary Marston in 1812, and their son Enoch marrying Lucy Ellis in 1820.

Mercy Crocker Hinckley died March 18, 1835 and was buried at the Marstons Mills Cemetery. In May, Enoch wrote his last will and testament, devised to his sons Edmund and Enoch his two tracts of land containing 45 acres and all household furniture and indoor moveables. To his sons Edmund, Enoch and Luther, he devised his wearing apparel to be divided equally, and the rest and residue of his estate, he devised to his son Luther. Luther was appointed to be executor of his estate.

Enoch Hinckley died November 29, 1842 at the age of 91 years, and was buried beside his wife Mercy at the Marstons Mills Cemetery.