Military Records

The record of Spooners of Acushnet in the military service of the Revolutionary War is a remarkable one. The writer believes that more persons of one surname were in the war for our independence of British sovereignty who were natives of the little town of Acushnet than served therein from any other one town in the country. That name was Spooner. A spirit of patriotism, loyalty and courage was predominant in that generation of the Spooners of this town. These soldiers were all descendants of John Spooner, who was among the earliest land owners and inhabitants here. Of the more than a score of native born Spooners of the territory of present Acushnet in the service, were:

Simpson Spooner marched to the relief of Lexington, April 21, 1775.

Caleb Spooner was made a prisoner of war during the Revolution and returned on the cartel "Swift" from Halifax in 1777

Seth Spooner enlisted in August. 1780, in Capt. Thomas Crandon's company, and had other service.

Thomas Spooner was at the battle of Bunker Hill, and at New York when the British forces occupied that city in 1776.

John Spooner was a Minute Man of April 21. 1775. Later he was in Capt. Thomas Kempton's and other companies.

Micah Spooner responded to the Lexington alarm in 1775, and in 1780 was in Capt. Thomas Crandon's company.

Philip Spooner served in the same companies with his brother Micah above.

Samuel Spooner enlisted as Private in Captain Manasseh Kempton's company, and was Sergeant of Capt. Samuel Tubb's company of Col. Timothy Walker's regiment.

James Spooner was in Capt. Benjamin Dillingham's company; later in Capt. Thomas Kempton's company, and afterwards in other companies. He served in the French and Indian war, when he was in Capt. James Andrews's company.

Benjamin Spooner was a drummer of Dartmouth Minute Men who marched to the relief of Lexington, April 21, 1775. Later he was in Col. Denny's regiment on the Hudson river

John Spooner was a Sergeant in Capt. Manasseh Kempton's company in 1777, and a Corporal in Capt. Perez Cushing's company the next year.

Benjamin Spooner was a Sergeant of Capt. Amos Washburn's company of Col. Ebenezer Sprout's regiment.

Jeremiah Spooner was in Capt. Henry Jenney's company of the 2d regiment, Bristol Co. Vol., Col. John Hathaway.

Bigford Spooner was one of Capt. Samuel Reed's company, which "marched to the Jerseys" in 1776. He was also in Capt. B. Woodbury's company.

Ruggles Spooner was in the French and Indian war in 1757. Also in the Revolutionary War.

Lemuel Spooner was killed in the service.

Gardner Spooner served in the companies of Capt. Thomas Crandon and Capt. Benjamin Dillingham of this town.

Nathaniel Spooner was in the Privateer service; was taken prisoner on the "Hope;" exchanged in 1777. Later entered the service, where he continued for some time.

Ward Spooner was one of the Minute Men of April 21, 1775

William Spooner was in Capt. James Lincoln's company. He served nearly three years in the war.

Zoeth Spooner served in Capt. Daniel Drake's company in Col. Drury's regiment. They were on the North river in 1781.

Benjamin Spooner was on the rolls of Lieut. Jackson's company, July 9, 1780.

Samuel Spooner served in Capt. Henry Jenney's company of Col. John Hathaway's regiment.

Of the Spooners in the service whose fathers were natives of the tract which is now Acushnet, there were Micah, Thomas, Ebenezer, William, Alden, Charles, Samuel, Thomas, Jeduthan, Cornelius, Ruggles, Wing, Charles, Clapp, Stevens, Benjamin, Uriah, Walter, Daniel, Eliakim, Wing, and Shearjashub. The last four were sons of Deacon Daniel and his father was Samuel Spooner, whose homestead was bounded on the north by the east and west road through Acushnet village. Also Zepheniah, Samuel, Thomas and Charles, four sons of Amaziah and Lydia (Fay) Spooner.

These persons who had Spooner mothers were in the service: Daniel, Timothy and Edward Ruggles, sons of Lucy Spooner and Edward Ruggles; John, Zepheniah and Elnathan Jenney, sons of Abigail Spooner and John Jenney.

Walter, above, son of John Spooner and his wife Beulah Spooner, served as an officer with Commodore John Paul Jones. In 1776 they captured the brigantine "Active." Commodore Jones then issued the following order:

"Ship Alford, 12 Nov., 1776. Off the Coast of Cape Breton. "Sir:--You are hereby appointed commander of our prize. the brigantine 'Active' from Liverpool to Halifax. You are directed to proceed with all possible dispatch for the State of North Carolina, and deliver your charge (the brigantine Active with my letters) with Richard Smith, the agent at Edenton. I request you to be very careful to keep a good lookout to prevent your being surprised or retaken; and must by no means break bulk, or destroy any part of the cargo or stores, except what may be absolutely necessary for your subsistence during your passage. If you find it impossible to reach and get into North Carolina, you are at liberty to go into any other of the U. S. of N. A. I wish you a safe and speedy passage, and am. Sir, your most obedient and humble
JOHN PAUL JONES."

"To Mr. Walter Spooner, Lieut, of the ship of war, the "Alford" and commander of the "Alford's" prize, the brigantine "Active."

"N. B.--When off the bar Orkicock, you are to hoist the jack or ensign under port of your jib boom, as a signal for a pilot, and hoist your ensign Union down."

Lieutenant Spooner sailed his prize into the harbor of Newport, R. I., where he resided, thirteen days after the date of the above order