Samuel Leighton papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-2014-030

Staff Only

Dates

Creation: 1775 - 1776

Scope and Contents

This collection contains documents related to Samuel Leighton’s service as a captain of the Thirtieth Regiment of Foot during the American Revolution. Included are accounts of wages, a supply dispersal list, and muster rolls. Additionally, there is an account book, with entries concerning wages and goods purchased.

Creator

Leighton, Samuel (Person)

Restrictions on access

Collection is open for research.

Restrictions on use

These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.

Biographical note

American Patriot Samuel Leighton was born on March 16, 1740 in Kittery, Maine, to John and Mary Hill Leighton. In October, 1767, he married Abigail Frost and together they had nine children. He was a farmer.

Leighton enlisted in the army on May 3, 1775 during the American Revolution and, at the request of Joseph Warren, an American doctor and Patriot, raised a company to fight. Leighton served as captain of this company, part of Colonel James Scamman’s Thirtieth Regiment of Foot, and fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill. In 1776, as the captain of the York County company in Colonel Ebenezer Francis’ militia regiment, he served at the garrison at Dorchester Heights. Leighton became second major to the Seventh Company, in the Second York County militia regiment under Colonel Ichabod Goodwin on June 10, 1778.

He died on February 27, 1802.

Sources:

Goold, Nathan. History of Col. James Scamman's Thirtieth Regiment of Foot : Eight Months' Service Men of 1775 from York County ; with a Full Account of Their Movements during the Battle of Bunker Hill and Complete Muster Rolls of the Companies. Portland, ME: Thurston Print, 1899.

Jordan, Tristram Frost. TextsLeighton Genealogy : An Account of the Descendants of Capt. William Leighton, of Kittery, Maine : With Collateral Notes Relating to the Frost, Hill, Bane, Wentworth, Langdon, Bragdon, Parsons, Pepperrell, Fernald, Nason and Other Families of York County and Its Vicinity. Albany, NY: J. Munsell's Sons, 1885.

Extent

3.75 Linear Feet (3 containers)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The papers contain accounts of soldiers' wages, a supply dispersal list, and muster rolls, all pertaining to Samuel Leighton’s time serving as a captain in the American Revolution. Leighton’s account book of wages and goods purchased is included.

Arrangement

Alphabetical.

Provenance

Purchased from Seth Keller, Inc., December 2014.

Separated Materials

Published works associated with this collection have been transferred within the Burns Library and can be found in the Boston College Library catalog.