| 2. | Col. Aaron HIBBARD was born on 17 Jan 1761 in Woodstock, Connecticut (son of Seth HIBBARD and Eunice CHILD); died on 12 Feb 1835 in Bath, New Hampshire; was buried in West Bath Cemetery, Bath NH. Notes:
From "The Ancestors of Pearl Hibbard"
In 1784 he settled in on a farm in West Bath, NH that was owned in his family for more than 100 years. In 1926 is was owned by Charles L. Woolson. He was a surveyor and many of the farms in Bath and vicinity were surveyed by him. A handwritten affidavit from Miss E.N. Hibbard of Gorham, ME:
"This may certify to all to whom it may concern that I, Aaron Hibbard this in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire. Formally of Woodstock in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut--enlisted as a Fifer in the Continental Army for the term of 3 years and served my time out. I enlisted in April 1777 and was discharged in April, 1780 at Springfield, New Jersey returned home and that summer after there was an alarm that the British were expected at Bo..land. The militia was called out and I went down to East Kingston opposite Newport and stayed there about 10 or 12 days. The next year, 1781 the year that Lord Cornwallis was taken I went to Monmouth, went to West Point and was there till after Cornwallis was taken, which during the 3 years service I was in the Battle of Germantown on 5 Oct. 1777 and the Battle of Monmouth on 28 June 1778. My Captain that I first enlisted under was Josiah Child of Woodstock and the Colonel that I served under was Wilbur Bealey of Bridgefield, CT when the Army went into winter quarters at Valley Forge in 1778, Capt. Child went home that spring or summer after and the Lieutenant who was Elijah Chapman commanded the company the remainder of the term I was enlisted."
In 1809 he was commissioned as a Lt. Colonel of the 32nd Regiment, NH State Militia and after that always referred to as "Colonel."
His pastor, Rev. David Sutherland, said of him: "He was one of nature's gentlemen."
Submitted by Aaron Hibbard
His father died in his infancy and he was bound out. The term of his service to his master was interrupted by the Revolutionary War. He enlisted as Fifer (Drummer) in the army in April 1777 and was discharged at Springfield, New Jersey in April 1780. In 1781 he enlisted again for 3 months and went to West Point and remained there until after the surrender of Lord Corwallis. During the 3 years service he was in the battles of Germantown and Monmouth. He served during the winter of 1777 and 1778 at Valley Forge. He used to relate many incidents of the suffering of the soldiers and sympathy he received because he was young and small. When on the march the good dames of the country gave him many a piece of bread and butter and dish of hominy because of his boyish appearance.
In 1784 he went to Bath, New Hampshire with his brother Timothy and they settled on adjoining farms. The farm was always held by him and is still in possession of the family, (1900). (In 1899 it was owned by Charles M. Hibbard, son of Frederick (Aaron's grandson). He had learned the art of surveying and many farms in the vicinity were surveyed by him.
By this his time was largely occupied at certain seasons of the year and was the source of considerable income. On June 26, 1809 he was commissioned Lt. Col. of the 32nd Reg. N.H. State Militia and held the office for many years. He was addressed as Colonel to the day of his death. He commanded the respect of all who knew him. At the first town meeting held in Bath he was chosen Fence Viewer and in later years served as Town Clerk and Selectman for several terms. The monument erected in the old cemetery in Bath, N.H. at the graves of Aaron and his wife is the Vermont granite, and is low and substantial in form. The inscription is as follows: Aaron Hibbard 1761 - 1835, a revolutionary soldier in the battles of Germantown and Monmouth and Valley Forge. Sarah Merrill, his wife, 1773 - 1842.
Aaron married Sarah MERRILL on 14 Oct 1789. Sarah (daughter of Maj. Nathaniel MERRILL and Sarah HAZEN) was born on 5 May 1772 in Haverhill, NH; died on 24 Feb 1842 in Bath, NH; was buried in West Bath Cemetery, Bath, NH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1792 - 1883 (90 years)