Stories of Norton Soldiers in The American Revolution

This is the fourth in a series of stories about local soldiers that served in the American Revolution. As we prepare to celebrate our 250th year of independence it seems a good time to share stories of these patriots. A Rehoboth Commander, Colonel Timothy Walker of the 22nd Regiment of the United Colonies had over 500 local soldiers in his Regiment. Colonel Walker's Regiment served at the siege of Boston. The soldiers were from the towns of Rehoboth, Attleboro, Dighton, Norton, Taunton, Easton and Raynham. The Regiment was formed in July 1775 and served until Jan 1776 The regiment was formed out of Militia units from these local towns. The Norton records show 35 soldiers who served in the 22nd Regiment

I want to thank Chris Carmichael of the Norton Historical Society for researching Norton records to help with this project. Also, thanks to Paul and Louise Fountain of Norton for the information they supplied for these stories

Jazeb Briggs

When fighting broke out in Lexington and Concord the men of Norton’s Militia answered the alarm. All able-bodied men from 16 to 60 were required to serve. Jazeb Briggs was too young to serve as a soldier. He joined the Militia as a fifer, he wanted to do his part to support the patriots.
Jazeb was born in Norton on March 6,1760. He was the son of Jazeb (1723 - 1795) and Tabitha (Babbitt) (1728 - 1765). He has 6 siblings Timothy, Mary, Sarah, Tabitha, Sela and Rachel.

Jazeb enlisted on April 29,1775. He was mustered on August 1, 1775, in Captain Silas Cobb’s Company, Colonel Timothy Walkers Regiment for 3 months of service, at the siege of Boston.
During the next 5 years he served in so many different units it would be hard to list them all. He was listed as a drummer in Colonel Daggetts Regiment on October 6, 1775. After this he appears to serve as a soldier He served with different New England units for short periods. For 3 days, 9 days, 22 days, 1 month, 6 months. He also served as a matross in Captain Smith’s Artillery in Colonel Dean’s Regiment. He is described as 19 years old, height 5’ 9”, hair brown. eyes blue, complexion light and ruddy. He was discharged from service on August 7, 1780.
He was present at many of the alarms and battles that happened in New England.

It appears he left Norton as so many veterans did and moved west after the war. In 1787 we found Jazeb in Sutton Worcester County Massachusetts. On June 19,1787 he married Lucy A. Batchelder (1767 - 1830) Here they raised two children. Sylvia born August 16, 1788, and James born May 11, 1791. The records show that his father Jazeb also joined him in Sutton. In 1800 he moved farther west to Colrain, Massachusetts. Here he settled for the rest of his days. Lucy died on February 12, 1830, and Jazeb July 13, 1835. They are both buried in the Branch Cemetery in Colrain.
Jazeb Briggs the boy patriot from Norton Massachusetts, a fifer, drummer, soldier and matross. He spent the years of his youth serving to establish a free and independent country


Nathan Morey

When the Revolution broke out Nathan joined the Militia in a special position. He was the Chaplin for Colonel Timothy Walker's 22nd Regiment of the United Colonies.
He was born in Norton on December 5,1747 son of Thomas Morey Esquire (1709 - 1775) and his second wife Lydia (White) (1706 -1747). He was born to a. large and prosperous family. Thomas Morey was married three times and had 13 children. He ran a Public House from 1747, he also served as Selectmen, Town Moderator, Representative to the General Court, Justice of the Peace and owned many parcels of land. He was a captain in the French and Indian War.

Nathan had 12 siblings. He married Mary Price in Norton in 1770. She was the sister- in- law of Reverend Caleb Barnum of Taunton. She is described as (a stale virgin, a wintery faced lady) They has one son named Thomas.

When Thomas Morey died 1775. In his will he left his son Nathan “Education to be a doctor”, L20 and my horse. In his will also left Thomas Morey, son of Nathan 20L.
Nathan graduated from Harvard Divinity school and studied under Reverend Caleb Barnum in Taunton.

In April 1775 he joined Colonel Timothy Walkers 22nd Regiment as Chaplin He served with the regiment at the siege of Boston until October 6, 1775. He never settled into life as a Minister. In the autumn of 1777 with his half-brother Lewis (then a member of Yale College) they went on a privateering expedition. The British captured their ship, as prisoners were taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia. They were put on board a prison ship, where they suffered greatly. Nathan and Lewis died around March 1778 as prisoners of war.

In 1778 his widow Mary probated his will. No mention of Nathan’s son Thomas. One Norton record suggests he was adopted by his uncle Benjamin and Priscilla Morey. They moved to Grafton, New Hampshire. Thomas married a Jemima in Norton and also moved to Grafton, New Hampshire. I think this is what happened to his son. There was another Thomas Morey who lived in Tewksbury Ma. so, there is some confusion in the records