This an update to James Bagley of Westmoreland County Connecticut
In 1780, a James Bagley from Wyoming sent a petition to Congress requesting a discharge from the Connecticut Rangers.1 The document looks like it might be an original rather than a copy. The following sentences are important for family historians:
The Humble Petition of James Bagley an Inhabitant of wioming Now a Solder in Capt Simon Spalding Company stationed at this time at wioming to the Honorable Congress of United States of America
...I enlisted Expecting that I might be able In Sum measure to carry on bisness at Home Not withstanding in this I was mistaken & deceived. I have an aged Father & mother & Nine Children which land In Neade of Daly assistance & also wife & one child of my one...
[Original spelling, punctuation added for clarity.]
This petition tells us the man in Wyoming is fairly young - he has a wife and a single child. He is the primary support for his father's family. His father's family is fairly large. His father is "aged".
James Bagley of Nobletown purchased a partial share of the Susquehanna Company in 1773.2 James and his wife had two children baptized in Nobletown, Elias and Bethia.3 In 1780, Elias would have been 9; Bethia, 7. The man living in Wyoming only has one child. James of Nobletown had at least two. We can conclude the man in Wyoming is not the father of Elias and Bethia. The man might be the son of James in Nobletown.
If James of Nobletown is the father of James of Wyoming, we should be able to test whether he matches the description given in the petition. There a couple possibilities for the father:
- James is the husband of Bethia Monroe born about 1704 in Fairfield, Connecticut.
- James is the son of James and Bethia Monroe
Which seems reasonable depends on how we interpret the term "aged". The husband of Bethia would be about 76 in 1780. Bethia Monroe was baptized in 1711. If she was born that year she could comfortably be a mother in 1728. Her son would be at most about 50 in 1780. Does 50 qualify as aged?
On April 12, 1773, James Bagley of Nobletown took out a loan with Stephen Hogaboom of Claverack.4 Stephen Hogaboom's lawyer filed a suit in Dutchess county to collect on January 31, 1786. This might mean James Bagley was still in New York in 1786. If so, this would be the husband of Sarah. In 1797, Jesse Bagley filed a deed that is witnessed by James and Sarah Bagley.5 This might be Jesse's father and mother, his brother and mother, or his brother and sister-in-law.
Military records might give us a clue to the age of James of Nobletown. James Bagly was granted land by New York for service in the Albany Ninth Militia.6 Compiled service records indicate James likely received the land because he was a prisoner of war in Albany on Aug 1, 1776.7 James Bagley was on the Pittston tax roles in Aug. 1776.8 James is first listed in the rolls for the rangers on 18 February 1777.9 The younger man was likely in Wyoming at that time. The James Bagley in the Albany Ninth is probably James Bagley of Nobletown. If he was serving in the militia, he would have been between the ages of 16 and 60. It is then unlikely James is the husband of Bethia and is possibly their son born after 1728. James may have also suffered ill effects from his incarceration explaining why he was being supported by his son.
3 Great Barrington, Mass. St. James' Church. St. James' Church records. p. 58.
