Joseph & Miriam (Lyon) Spurr

Joseph & Miriam (Lyon) Spurr are my 5X great-grandparents. They moved to Otisfield, Maine in 1779 after short stints in Westbrook (Saccarappa) and Windham. Joseph was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts on November 19, 1731 and died in Otisfield on June 17, 1805. He was the son of Capt. Robert & Jemima (Foster) Spurr. Miriam was born in Stoughton, Massachusetts on April 4, 1731 and died in Otisfield on November 6, 1811. She was the daughter of Elkanah & Meredith (Wyatt) Lyon. 

Joseph Spurr served in the Revolutionary War as a Captain in Perez Cushing's Co., Col. Crafts Artillery Regt. from November 9, 1776 to May 8, 1777. He was a matross (gunner's assistant). Like many Revolutionary War soldiers he served several enlistments. He was a Corporal in Capt. Israel Trows Co., John Daggets Regt. from January 12, 1778 to March 31, 1778. 

On April 21, 2016, I took these photos from the Cedar Crest Cemetery in Otisfield. The History of Otisfield,  says that Joseph is buried "in the yard south of Spurrs Corner." However, I found this marker in the Cedar Crest Cemetery where there are many other Spurr family members and other interconnected families from early Otisfield. It is quite possible that it is a memorial placed at a later date. 

Joseph & Miriam (Lyon) Spyrr

An overview of the Spurr section where Joseph & Miriam's stone is found

Joseph & Miriam (Lyon) Spurr
Enoch Spurr
Roxanna (Spurr) Stanley
Mary Frances (Stanley) Carter
Edward Mellen Carter
Thomas Richard Carter - my grandfather

Moving in an Oxcart
Enoch Spurr - Revolutionary Service


Spurr, William Samuel. A History of Otisfield: Cumberland County, Maine from the Original Grant to the Close of the Year 1944 by William Samuel Spurr. Otisfield, Me.: Published by the Otisfield Historical Society, 1994. PDF.

52 Ancestors #23 - Samuel Ackley/Akley

Samuel Ackley (Akley) is my 5th great-grandfather. He was the son of Francis & Tabitha (Bull) Ackley.

Samuel Akley served in the Revolutionary War from 1781 to the end of the war in 1783. He enlisted on the day he turned 18 and was sent to West Point, NY to serve under Capt. Thomas Jackson in Col Crane's Third Continental Artillery. His job was described as "matross." I had to look that up! It is the assistant to the gunner. A matross is the one who assists the gunner with loading, firing, moving, and sponging the guns. They also marched as guards to protect the store-wagons.

When he applied for a pension, his possession consisted of one old horse, one old wagon and one old harness valued at $26 total; One table, two chests, and one trunk values at $2.59 total; One shovel, Some ironware and table furniture valued at $3; One axe and one scythe valued at 75 cents, and eight chairs valued at $2. The total of his property equaled $34.34. This is his signature from his first petition for a pension.

Samuel Akley married Elizabeth Moody on November 18, 1791 in Topsham, Maine and they had at least six children: William, Samuel, John, Susan, Joseph, and Caleb.

My descent from Samuel is as follows:

Samuel & Elizabeth "Betsy" (Moody) Akley

William Ackley

Sarah Ackley

Mary Jane Abbott

Fannie May Capen

Thomas Richard Carter - my grandfather