PUFFER, Pvt. James Edward

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• Burial: Westminster, MA; Address:
  Whitmanville Cemetery
• FindaGrave: Address:
  122640029
• _COLOR: 11

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Civil War soldier, 32nd Mass. Inf., killed while climbing a wall at Gettysburg, PA. Pvt J Puffer was buried in an orchard, in front of a field hospital at York Pike. His remains should have been re-interred at Gettysburg National Cemetery.

When he was killed his sister's husband, Daniel Curtis Miles, traveled to Gettysburg and recovered the body. Daniel dug the grave himself and had the body placed in a box and loaded in a freight car. The box served as Daniel's bed at night. James was laid to rest in his hometown of Westminster, MA.

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GRID=122640029

Other Events and Attributes:

• 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]

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• _COLOR: 11

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FindaGrave:
GRID=122733425

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• FindaGrave: Address:
  85152269
• Ref#: 68
• _COLOR: 11

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He joined the Sudbury church, Aug 9, 1789. He settled afterward in Wes tminster,, where he bought of Daniel Sawyer, Dec 6, 1792, Lot No 59, 2d D ivision , in the valley of the Whitman River. At the time of his death h e was building a new farm-house. He was buried in the cemetery on the r oad from Westminster to Fitchburg. His epitaph reads:
"Stop, kind friend, and drop a tear
On the dust that slumbers here
And when you read the fate of me
Think of the glass that turns for thee."

His widow was appointed administratrix in 1813, and the estate was divi ded among four children. Guardians for sons, Stephen and James were ap pointed Sept. 20, 1814.

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GRID=85152269

Jonas married FORBUSH, Lucy in 1791. Lucy (daughter of FORBUSH, David and HAYWARD, Sarah) was born on 1 Sep 1764 in Acton, MA; died on 10 Sep 1829 in Westminster, MA; was buried in Westminster, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FindaGrave: Address:
  101851914
• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=101851914

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• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=114397044

William married POLLARD, Susannah on 8 Dec 1791 in Howard, MA. Susannah was born in Mar 1772 in Howard, MA; died on 27 Jul 1856 in MA; was buried in Lunenburg, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=114397083

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• Ref#: 32
• _COLOR: 11

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He was a soldier from Sudbury in the French and Indian War, a private in Capt. Josiah Richardson's company, April 25 1757; also an ensign in Capt. Aaron Hayne's company (second Sudbury), Col. Elisha Jones's regt., list of officers, third regt., in 1771, and Second Lieut. on the Lexington alarm in the Revolution, in Capt. Aaron Hayne's company, Col. Elisha Jone's regt, list of officers, third regt, in 1771, and second Lieut. on the Lexington alarm in the Revolution, in Capt. Aaron Hayne's company. His will dated Dec. 22, 1810, bequeathing to wife Submit, son of Jonas of Westminster, daughter Lydia, daughter Mary Conant of Sterling, daughter Rebecca, wife of Nathan Lee; sons James Goddard Puffer, Stephen Puffer. He and his wife Submit with other heirs of Benj. Goddard, quitclaim, Aug. 5, 1800 (W.D. 146-352).

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GRID=90019445 

James married DAKIN, Marcy on 12 May 1757 in Concord, MA. Marcy (daughter of DAKIN, Samuel and MINOTT, Mercy) was born on 24 Apr 1733 in Sudbury, MA; died on 31 May 1790 in Sudbury, MA; was buried in Sudbury, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Name: Mercy Dakin
• _COLOR: 11
• Confirmation: 15 Feb 1752

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GRID=35868735

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• _COLOR: 11

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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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• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=128627270

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• _COLOR: 11

William married STONE, Sarah on 15 Feb 1763 in Lunenburg, MA. Sarah (daughter of STONE, Deacon James and FARWELL, Mary) was born on 12 Jun 1739 in Groton, MA; died on 29 Nov 1789 in Lunenburg, MA; was buried in Lunenburg, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11