U-H Benjamin - 003

Benjamin Hastings (III) 1728-1806; son of Benjamin Hastings II

     Benjamin Hastings III was born December 7, 1728, in Deerfield to Benjamin II and Prudence Hastings. On May 14, 1751, he married Mary Porter. Mary was born October 15, 1726, in Northfield, Massachusetts to James and Experience (Wright). Her father James, son of Hezekiah Porter of East Hartford, was an early settler of Charlestown, New Hampshire. On March 11, 1752, Benjamin's daughter Submit was born. His first son, Medad, was born on September 6, 1753. On September 24, 1753, he was part of the committee responsible for settling the Reverend Edward Billings as town minister. In 1755, Benjamin was promoted to lieutenant in the militia due to his service in the French and Indian wars. On November 23, 1755, his second son, Oliver, was born.

One of the more interesting stories involving the Hastings in the 18th century involved Benjamin III (See Chapter 13 for the chronological considerations).  On August 23, 1756, he joined Shubal Atherton, Nathaniel Brooks, and Daniel and John Graves, and went up to the Country Farms to harvest grain. As they began the work, they left their guns at a stack of flax and set about harvesting.  A group of native tribesmen, having crept between the men and their weapons, opened fire on them.  Benjamin and John Graves ran through the Green River, across the Irish Plaint westward, and came out at the Arm's place in safety. A first-hand account quotes Benjamin as having said that the fern on the Irish Plain grew as high as his waist, but he was nonetheless able to cross over whole of it. However, Daniel Graves, father-in-law of his sister Prudence, was killed at the scene, as was Atherton.  Brooks was taken captive and brought to Canada.  The same fate befell Benjamin's uncle Samuel in 1704.

Having experienced first-hand the threat from the Indians just two months prior, Benjamin became concerned about the community's defense.  On October 5, 1756, Benjamin and others petitioned the government for aid, claiming that although they had picketed houses, these were insufficient for defense, and only 8 soldiers were present to protect them.  He requested that proper fortifications be built, and that they should be exempt from the general taxes. This led to a petition, signed by Benjamin, requesting relief from taxes due to the hardships caused by the hostilities with the local tribes. A similar situation arose also in 1757.  The hostilities with local tribes had decimated the town's populations; some were killed, some were taken captive.  The only way they could work in the fields was to do so in groups for protection. On November 23, 1757, Benjamin was appointed to a committee to petition the General Court for an abatement of their taxes. On March 6, 1758, Benjamin's third son, Ephraim, was born.  In 1759, Benjamin again became involved in military affairs, serving alongside Timothy Childs in the regiment of Col. Israel Williams. It was also in 1759 that he was promoted to the rank of Captain.

Local tradition records a particularly interesting event which took place on August 8, 1760. Benjamin was summoned to the Inferior Court of Common Pleas by Judge Joseph Lord.  He was charged by Samuel Barnard of Salem with having entered his property and cut down sixteen pine trees, each worth four shillings.  Found guilty, the judge ordered him to pay Barnard 40 shillings for each tree he cut down.

Benjamin's fourth son, Benjamin Jr (IV), was born October 4, 1760. On October 28, 1760, he was appointed to a committee responsible for selling some military fortifications. His fifth son, Selah, was born April 6, 1763.  On July 11, 1765, his son Nathan was born. On March 3, 1768, Benjamin was one of three men chosen to find a proper place to establish a town cemetery.  This resulted in the establishment of the High Street Cemetery.  Interestingly, Benjamin arranged a job for his son Benjamin IV, who was eight years old.  He was paid thirteen shillings and four pence to sweep the meeting house. Benjamin's daughter Mary was born seventeen days later on March 20, 1768.  Tragedy struck the family on November 25, 1768, when Nathan Hastings, not yet three years old, died. On May 29, 1769, Benjamin was appointed to the committee which was responsible for handling the establishment of the town of Greenfield as independent from Deerfield. In 1770, he was elected Selectman. On May 1, 1770, Benjamin's daughter Prudence was born.  In 1772, he was elected to the position of Selectman again, and on February 3, 1772 was appointed to a committee handling taxation issues. Two years later, January 4, 1772, Benjamin's last child, Nathan was born. Finally, Benjamin's daughter Submit married Daniel Pickett on October 14, 1773.

By 1774, the First Continental Congress had met.  It was a time of great fervor and hostility grew between those supporting independence from England on the one hand, and those labeled Tories, supporters of maintaining the relationship with England, on the other hand.  War was approaching fast.  On September 13, 1774, Benjamin was elected to a committee to meet with the Provincial or County Congress, apparently about building a bridge over the Fall River in conjunction with the town of Bernardston.  It also appears that the committee was to inspect the town's supply of ammunition and ensure that it was ready to use.  Tension continued to build until the first armed clash between British troops and Massachusetts Militiamen took place at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.  In Greenfield, Benjamin became a staunch supporter of the Revolution.  Interestingly, Benjamin's cousin Samuel Hastings and his son Samuel Hastings Jr, grandson and great-grandson of John Hastings I, were present with the militia during the battle at Lexington.

After news of the fighting at Lexington reached Greenfield, supporters of the Revolution gather in the town to issue a call for volunteers.  According to the narrative told by Willard, a drummer named Thomas Loveland positioned himself in town and "beat the long roll for volunteers." One must quote Willard's description of Benjamin's response:

        "Upon the first beating of the long roll, first and foremost stood out that hand, industrious and bold yeoman Benjamin Hastings, a William Wallace in intrepidity and determined bravery."

Benjamin's actions led to more volunteers, and the issue of who would lead the group arose.  According to Willard:

        "Benjamin Hastings said one, Benjamin Hastings said everyone,and he was chosen, as it were, by acclamation."

 He was immediately warned by Captain Agrippa Wells of what would befall him if the Revolution failed: “Seargent Hastings, you will have your neck stretched for this." Nonetheless, Benjamin suggested that the volunteers should be led by Captain Timothy Childs, with himself second-in-command.

Thus, Benjamin made it clear that he was in favor of independence.  The towns pastor, Rev. Newton, was on close terms with the Rev. Ashley of Deerfield.  The latter was a known Tory, and it was suspected that Newton was sympathetic with his position. One Sunday Newton invited Ashely to preach a sermon at the service which emphasized caution vis-à-vis the independence movement. The sermon was offensive to those who styled themselves patriots.  So, Benjamin a group of like-minded men responded by boarding up the meetinghouse. At the next service, the attempted to block the entrance to prevent Rev. Ashley from entering.  One of the group, Samuel Hinsdale, actually jostled and shoved the pastor.

Benjamin's role in the developing political and military situation continued.  On March 29, 1775, he served on a Committee of Correspondence. It is within the context of serving on the Committee of Correspondence that an interesting story about Benjamin has been recorded.  Residents noticed smoke rising from the woods near the Fall river, and reported it to the committee.  During the search of the woods, a man named Harrington was arrested for possession of counterfeiting tools. He was taken to Northampton and appeared before Rivere Hawley. Since the jail was full of Tories, the judge suggested that they flog him.  This was done and, after the whipping, they washed the wounds, gave him something to drink, and released him.  It is said that he actually thanked the men for their leniency.   

During the 10-day period April 20, 1775 - May 1, 1775, Benjamin served with Cpt. Agrippa Wells (known as "Captain Grip") in the Massachusetts Rangers. It is interesting to note that his brother Samuel (from Bernardston), and his son Oliver (then 20 years old), served in the same unit. Then on April 22, 1776, Benjamin was made lieutenant in the 5th Hampshire County Regiment of the Massachusetts Milita, and his friend Timothy Childs was chosen as captain.  Their commissions were granted on May 3, 1776.

On February 4, 1777, Benjamin served with Cpt Timothy Childs as part of Colonel David Leonard's regiment through the end of March.  Child's company was called back into the field on May 10, 1777, and served through June at Ticonderoga. Then in July, Benjamin returned to the field, this time in Cpt. Agrippa Well's company of Col. Porter's regiment.  They marched out July 9, 1777, and engaged the enemy on July 10, 1777.  He was discharged on August 12, 1777, after 38 days and having traveled 80 miles, having participated in the campaign against Burgoyne.  In August 1777, Benjamin was called out for service at Bennington but, the unit, having arrived late, were recalled after four days.

His last service was in 1779, when he served in New London.  Benjamin's military career officially ended in 1780.  On June 12, 1780, Benjamin petitioned that due to his current health, he could no longer carry out his military duties, and so resigned his commission.  This was accepted on June 19, 1780. However, Benjamin remained active in the affairs of Greenfield.  On March 5, 1781, Benjamin served on a committee which was tasked with settling the issue of the outstanding salary owed to Reverend Newton. In 1786, Benjamin deeded the place known as Anson Warner (Graves Place) to his son Oliver in 1786. In 1790, Benjamin deeded his farm, called the Long place, to his son Ephraim. 1790 was also the year of the first federal census.  The family of Benjamin III appears with 2 males 16 years and older (Benjamin 62; and Nathan (18); and three females:  Mary (64); Prudence (20); and Mary (22).  His remaining sons all appear in Greenfield: Ephraim, Benjamin Jr, Oliver, Medad, and Selah.

Benjamin III appears again in the 1800 census at 72 years of age, along with his wife Mary (74) and daughter Mary (32). Prudence no longer appears with the family, having married Joshua Rugg on December 5, 1791. Benjamin II died January 21, 1806, and is buried in the High Street Cemetery.  However, Mary Hastings' death is not recorded in Greenfield, and she is not buried in the High Street Cemetery.  One source indicates that she died April 26, 1815, in Northfield. This is plausible, given that she was born in Northfield.  She has not been located in the 1810 census.