Ruth Wood

Ruth married FORBUSH, David on 14 May 1734 in Acton, MA. David was born on 6 Jan 1718 in Marlboro, MA; died on 19 May 1803 in Acton, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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A soldier in the Revolutionary War, a member of Capt. Davis' company fr om Acton, that marched to Concord on the memorable 19th of April, 1775. * T he inhabitants of Acton took a prominent part in the struggle for indep endence, and in 1775 there were three companies of militia. The pride o f the town, however, was the company commanded by Capt. Isaac Davis, an d ineluded the young men of that place. The captain was only thirty yea rs of age, a young man in the flush ofearly manhood. This company, of w hich David Forbush was a member, was paid by the town for drilling twic e a week, and was to be ready for dutv upon a moment's notice, and was k nown as the company of minute-men. Week after week during the long wint er months, the company met in some barn and practiced the art of war, t o he ready to stand in the breach and do honor to (heir town if the awf ul arbitrament of arms should come; but probably having little thought t hat a tilt at arms with the troops of King George was really imminent. O n the morning of April 19, 1775, before the dawn of day, a messenger ar oused the inhabitants of Acton to arms. When the sun was half an hour h igh Capt. Davis' minute-men were on their way to Concord, where they ar rived at the North Bridge at 9 o'elock; the company took the left of th e line of the provincial troops-he being the youngest captain-which wer e marshaled on the heights overlooking that spot. A hurried debate ensued. What they ought to do seemed uncertain. There w as no sure knowledge that the British had committed hostile acts. To go f orward might precipitate civil war, most of the officers objected. Capt . Davis had not a man who was afraid to go. Finally the orders were giv en to march and it is said Davis' company led the line. Near the bridge t he British fired into the town; the Americans continued to advance, the n came a shot or two, finally a volley, and Capt. Davis and Aimer Hosme r of the Acton company fell; the Americans returned the fire, and three o f the redeoats were killed and nine wounded. The fight continued until t he British retreated. It was here "By the rude bridge- that arched the flood, Their flags to April breeze unfurled; Here once the embattled farmers stood. And fired the shot heard round the world." According to the inscription on the monument at Acton, erected by the t own and State in honor of Capt. Davis and men. is this: "On the morning o f that eventful day (Apr. 19, 1775), the Provincial officers held a cou ncil of war near the old North Bridge in Concord; and as they separated D avis exclaimed, 'I haven't a man that is afraid to go,' and immediately m arched his company from the left to the right of the line, and led in t he first organized attack upon the troops of George III in that memorab le war which, by the help of God, made the thirteen colonies independen t of Great Britain, and gave polictical being to the United States of A merica."

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GRID=128626618

David married HAYWARD, Sarah in Nov 1762 in MA. Sarah (daughter of HAYWARD, Josiah Hartwell and HOSMER, Mary) was born on 17 Jul 1742 in Acton, MA; died on 11 Jan 1826 in Sudbury, MA; was buried in Acton, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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  101851914
• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=101851914

Lucy married PUFFER, Jonas in 1791. Jonas (son of PUFFER, Lt. James and DAKIN, Marcy) was born on 6 Jul 1765 in Sudbury, MA; died on 21 Feb 1813 in Westminster, MA; was buried in Westminster, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Res. Westminster and Lunenburg. They lived to celebrate their golden wedding.

Mary married MARSH, Samuel on 9 Oct 1814 in Westminster, MA. Samuel (son of MARSH, Samuel and LINCOLN, Sarah) was born on 22 Oct 1791 in Hingham, MA; died on 9 Dec 1877 in Lunenburg, MA; was buried in Lunenburg, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Ref#: 127
• _COLOR: 11
• vital: 23 Apr 1867, Lunenburg, MA

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He began to preach in 1822, was admitted to New England Conference in 1823, and preached for 44 years. He had pastorates in Hingham in 1823 and North Cohasset, Hull and other towns in this section. During the time he was settled in No. Cohasset, and the society among which he labored being poor and weak, he supplemented his church work by some kind of manual labor, the receipts from which thus enabled him to live among people he loved. He had a very strong feeling of attachment for the people of the Hingham society, which he was largely instrumental in establishing, and after his death in 1882 his widow gave the First Methodist Episcopal Society $1,000 for the purpose of building them a parsonage. It is nearly half a century since Mr Puffer preached in the ancient town of Hingham, yet the aroma of his work is fragrant to this day. He and wife Sally deeded his share of the estate of Jonas to his brother James Puffer in 1824 (W.D. 313-547). He was then of Westminster. His will dated April 23, 1867, at Westminster, bequeathed to his brother James, sisters Lucy and Mary.

Stephen married MARSH, Sally Sarah on 3 Oct 1815 in Westminster, MA. Sally (daughter of MARSH, Samuel and LINCOLN, Sarah) was born on 14 Jan 1798 in Hingham, MA; died on 15 Sep 1892 in Fitchburg, MA; was buried in Westminster, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Ref#: 128
• _COLOR: 11

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He succeeded to the homestead in Scrabble Hollow, about two miles from t he railroad station. He was a capable, worthy and trusted citizen; "a s aint on earth"; selectman six years; representative to the General Cour t. He was a Methodist, prime mover in securing the Methodist church an d a liberal contributor to the building fund. His will was proved Apr il 28, 1885. He quit-claimed land to brother Stephen, Jan 25 1819, wit h wife Lucy. They were then of Fitchburg (W.D. 217-69).

According to William S. Heywood’s 1893 History of Westminster, “About the year 1816 the early military division of the town into two sections, each having its respective company, was virtually abandoned, and a more general system was adopted. In place of the old organizations, a Rifle Company was formed, which, though originally composed of men from the northern section of the territory, at length drew its members from all directions, representing in its own field the entire community. It was in existence some twenty or more years, attaining a high standing and an enviable reputation in military circles abroad, while at home it was regarded with much pride by those interested in the profession of arms." James Puffer was one of the charter members in this Rifle Company. The charter was surrendered about 1837.

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GRID=122733349

James married JONES, Lucy on 7 Apr 1823 in Westminster, MA. Lucy (daughter of JONES, William and POLLARD, Susannah) was born on 12 Aug 1795 in MA; died on 20 Mar 1885 in Westminster, MA; was buried in Westminster, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]