William H Smead

Ithiel married Sarah Ann Johnson in 1859. Sarah was born in 1844. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1840, , Henry, Iowa, USA
• Residence: 1850, New London, Henry, Iowa, USA
• Residence: 1852, New London, Henry, Iowa, USA

Daniel married Naomi Miller on 14 Dec 1842 in Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, USA. Naomi was born on 4 Jun 1796 in Little Valley, Cattaraugus, New York, USA; died on 2 May 1879 in Salem, Henry, Iowa, USA; was buried in Salem, Henry, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1850, New London, Henry, Iowa, USA
• Residence: 1856, Yellow Springs, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
• Residence: 1860, Yellow Springs, Des Moines, Iowa, USA; Residence Post Office: Northfield

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1787, Guilford, Windham, Vermont, USA
• Residence: 1800, Guilford, Windham, Vermont, USA
• Residence: 1810, Wallingford, Rutland, Vermont, USA
• Residence: 1820, Wallingford, Rutland, Vermont, USA

Notes:

Based on marriage records showing that Amasa Smead and Sarah Deane married in Greenfield, MA on 5 Aug 1779, we can place Amasa Smead in the area at that time.

The following Revolutionaory War record concerning Amasa Greenfield Smead was found.

From: Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, 17 Vols., volume 14, page 323

"Smead, Amasa, Greenfield. Private, Capt. Agrippa Wells's co. of Minute-men, Col. Samuel Williams's regt., which marched April 20, 1775, in response to the alarm of April 19, 1775; left place of rendezvous May 6, 1775, and returned home; service, 15 days; also, Capt. Agrippa Wells's co., Col. Porter's regt.; marched from home July 9, 1777; enlisted July 10, 1777; discharged Aug. 12, 1777; service, 38 days, including travel (80 miles) home; company marched to reinforce Northern army after the evacuation of Ticonderoga."

The following record may have been for a brother of Amasa Smead. Note that they have similar dates of service (this record is on the same page as the above record).

"Smead, Ebenezer. Corporal, Capt. Agrippa Wells's co., Col. Porter's regt.; marched from home July 9, 1777; enlisted July 10, 1777; discharged Aug. 12, 1777; service, 38 days, including travel (80 miles) home; company marched to reinforce Northern army after the evacuation of Ticonderoga; roll sworn to at Deerfield; also, Private, Capt. James Walsworth's co., Col. Elisha Porter's (Hampshire Co.) regt.; enlisted July 22, 1779; discharged Aug. 27, 1779; service, 1 mo. 11 days, at New London, Conn., including 6 days (113 miles) travel home; roll sworn to at Deerfield."

Amasa married Achsa Hill on 17 Mar 1791 in Guilford, Windham, Vermont, USA. Achsa was born in 1771. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jonathan married Mehitable Nims on 19 May 1731 in Greenfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. Mehitable (daughter of John Nims and Elizabeth Hull) was born on 13 Mar 1714 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 5 Nov 1782 in Greenfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Greenfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ebenezer married Esther Catlin about 1694. Esther (daughter of John Catlin and Mary Baldwin) was born on 9 May 1675 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died on 12 Dec 1733 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: John (Twin) Nims
• Married: 1696

Notes:

John Nims, His Capture and Escape
On October 8, 1703, according to the Rev. John Williams ("The Redeemed Captive"), Zebediah Williams and John Nims went into the meadow in the evening to tend livestock and were ambushed by Indians in the ditch beyond Frary's bridge. The Indians fired at them, missed, and took Zebediah right away. Nims ran away to a nearby pond but returned, afraid of getting shot. The Indians wounded the cattle, and marched their captives to Canada. Zebediah died there in 1706. John Nims escaped in 1705, with Joseph Petty, Thomas Baker, and Martin Kellog, all three of whom were among the Feb. 29th captives. The four men walked to New England, via territory that is now Canada, Vermont, and New Hampshire. A letter written by Joseph Petty detailing their experiences survived and was reproduced in The Nims Family Association Book. George Sheldon wrote in his History of Deerfield that they had no weapons, and only meager provisions, but they made it home, more dead than alive from hunger and fatigue. Sheldon says "they were discovered in wisdom in an imbecile condition, and seemed guided more by instinct than by reason...Their appearance when brought in was such as to melt the stoutest heart...Broth, in small quantities, was given at first, and by slow degrees more substantial food, until they were filled. It was a long time before their cravings were satisfied."

Sheldon and the Nims Family Book (more information) also relate the following anecdote, told to Mr. Sheldon by his grandmother:

One day when the fugitives seemed at the last extremity, they discovered and killed a great white owl. This was instantly torn in pieces, which were laid in four piles, and fairly divided, one turning his back, and responding to the query, "Who shall have this?" Each took his share, and hardly waiting to pull off the feathers, tore through the tough fragments with their teeth, like so many ravenous beasts. Grandmother said John Nims always insisted that a wing which fell to him was the sweetest morsel he ever tasted."

source:http://freepages.folklore.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pahlow/nims.htm

Godfrey Nims (John's Father), and the Deerfield Massacre:
Three of his children had smothered to death in the cellar of his home while it burned over their heads, and his son Henry had been slain. His daughter Rebecca Mattoon and her newborn son had been slain. His wife, his son Ebenezer, his infant daughter Abigail, his step-daughter Elizabeth Hull, his son-in-law Philip Mattoon, and his mother-in-law Elizabeth Smead--along with many of other more distant relatives, friends and neighbors--had all been taken away as captives.

Was there, finally, nobody left for Godfrey? Was he all alone? Son John and step-son Zebediah Williams had been captured and carried to Canada a few months ago. His very first child had died shortly after birth; another step-son had died in the first Nims house fire in 1694.

John Nims, the son of Godfrey and Mary Miller. He was born on the14th of August 1679 along with a twin sister, Rebecca. He grew up in Deerfield, Massachusetts and survived. He persevered through sickness, weather, and enemies. John Nims defeated death at every turn; it was meant for him to live. He is our legacy and we are his.

On October 8, 1703 John 24 years old and his half brother Zebediah Williams age 28 were watching the cattle when they were taken by surprise and captured by Indians. They were taken to the Mohawk Fort in Canada. During his time as captive he watched the Indians bring in more prisoners and scalps. He saw many captives brought in from Deerfield, his family and friends among them. He watched their torture and endured his own.

John finally managed to escape on May 14, 1705 with Martin Kellogg, Joseph Petty and Thomas Baker. His return to Deerfield was something short of a miracle. Upon arriving in Deerfield, John found his father Godfrey had passed away early that spring in March.

Zebediah died a captive the following year. And to John’s dismal he was unsuccessful at bringing home his little sister Abigail or his brother Ebenezer. He offered a considerable sum for her ransom and the Indians would have given her up if she had wanted to go. The story was told that she would rather be a poor captive among Catholics than to become a rich heiress of a Protestant family.

John lived on the old homestead and married December 19, 1707, to Elizabeth Hull his stepsister. She too had been a captive at the Mohawk Fort in Canada. Finally, his brother Ebenezer was released in 1714 and came to live with John at the Nims home for a time. John and Elizabeth had twelve children; of which two were born and died on the same day, a daughter died when she was three years old, and his first born, a son named John died when he was two months old. Their last child was Daniel, the son who we descend from. John’s cherished wife, Elizabeth, lived a long and hard life. She passed away at the age of 66 on the 21st of September in 1754; John was 75 years old. John died on the 29th of December in 1762 at the age of 83.

John married Elizabeth Hull on 19 Dec 1707 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of Jeremiah Hull and Mehitable Smead) was born on 23 Dec 1688 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 21 Sep 1754 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Elisebeth Hull