Surg Mate Jedediah Ainsworth/Ensworth
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Birth:
Jedediah Ensworth, son of Tyxhall & Jerusha Ensworth, was born at Canterbury, Connecticut on 01 September 1758 and baptized on 03 September. His siblings included sisters Abigail (b. 22 April 1768), Alice (b. 21 July 1752), Elizabeth (b. 26 June 1750), Jerusha (06 May 1746), and Lydia (b. 03 July 1748) and brothers Ephraim (b. 01 December 1760) and Peris (b. 26 November 1754).
Death:
Dr. Jedediah Ensworth died on 26 October 1795 at Pomfret, Connecticut.
A report of his funeral was carried in the Windham Herald:
Died, at Pomfret, on Monday the 26th ult. In the midst of an useful and active life, Dr. Jedediah Ensworth, ae. at 37; and on Wednesday his remains were interred. A sermon pertinent to the occasion was delivered by the Rev. Walter Lyon, to a large concourse. The Brethren of Moriah Lodge, of which he was a officer, esteemed and respected, attended with their usual badges, and performed the obsequies with a decorum and respect due to a worthy brother. A short, but comprehensive eulogium was pronounced at the grave by brother Wm. P. Cleaveland. The tokens of respect manifested on the mournful event, evinces the regret of a feeling public who sincerely sympathize with afflicted widow, children and relations in the loss of an affectionate husband, parent, brother and friend.
Marriage:
Jedediah Ensworth was married to Lucy ______. The date of their marriage is not yet known.
Children:
Jedediah Ensworth had at least three children born at Pomfret: Lucy Adams (b. 18 June 1785), David Augustus (b. 10 February 1787) and Jedediah Sabin (b. 17 January 1792).
Occupation:
Physician.
Military:
Heitman carries two entries for this propositus:
Ainsworth, Jedediah (Conn.). Surgeon’s Mate 8th Connecticut, 10th June, 1778; transferred to 5th Connecticut, 1st January 1781, and served to — June, 1782, and
Ensworth, Jedediah(Conn.). Surgeon’s Mate 8th Connecticut, 10th June, 1778; transferred to 5th Connecticut, 1st January 1781, resigned 15th January, 1783.
The Surgeon of the 8th Connecticut, David Holmes of Woodstock, on 20 March 1779, and Jedidiah Ensworth assumed his duties until the arrival of his replacement. Col. Giles Russell, 8th Connecticut, recognized this duty when he issued an undated statement marked “Dr. Ensworth Account”. The statement noted that Dr. Ensworth was due $308.00 for doing the duty of a Surgeon and receiving only Mates pay from the 20th of March to the 1st Sept 1779.
Discussion:
Dr. Jedidiah Ensworth was a member of one of two traveling Masonic Lodges at West Point, American Union No. 1. Among the other members were Dr. John Simpson, Col. Samuel Wyllys, Major Jonathan Heart, Lt. Robert Allyn, Capt. Stephen Betts, Col. Rufus Putnam Lt. Isaac Tiffany and others of the Connecticut Line.
References:
Connecticut. Adjutant-General’s Office. Record of Service of Connecticut Men In the I. War of the Revolution, II. War of 1812, III. Mexican War. Hartford: [Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co.], 1889. pp. 220, 343, & 351.
Connecticut Vital Records to 1870 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.) From original typescripts, Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection, 1928. Canterbury, Ensworth, Jedediah.
Connecticut Vital Records to 1870 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.) From original typescripts, Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection, 1928. Pomfret, Ensworth, Jedediah.
Gary L. Heinmiller, Membership in American Union Lodge No. 1 during the Revolutionary War. (http://www.omdhs.syracusemasons.com/sites/default/files/history/American%20Union%20Lodge%20No.%201%20-%20Membership.pdf)
Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution April, 1775, to December, 1783. Washington, D.C.: The Rare Book Shop Publishing Company, 1914. pp.64 & 217.
Miscellaneous Numbered Records (The Manuscript File) in the War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records, 1775-1790’s, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 93. Fold3.com( http://www.fold3.com/image/312839554/). Dr. Jedidiah Ensworth.
Norwich Packet, 12 November 1795. p. 3, col. 3.
Windham Herald, 7 November 1795. p. 3, col. 3.
Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: 2013, Jedediah Ensworth.
Biographical information compiled by V. Allen Gray.