James Huzzey (Huzza/Hussey)

Quick Facts

Significance:

Patriot of Color at the Battle of Bunker Hill

Place of Birth:

New Marlborough, Massachusetts(?)

Date of Birth:

Circa 1747

Place of Death:

Townshend, Vermont

Date of Death:

March 11, 1822

The following is from the 2004 National Park Service study Patriots of Color researched and prepared by George Quintal:

James Huzzey was born circa 1747.^I He probably lived on Cape Cod before the war.^II

He enlisted in the eight months’ service from New Marlborough (MA) on 8 June 1775 in Capt. Moses Harvey’s company, in Col. Jonathan Brewer’s regiment.^III His widow stated that he ‘was at the Bunker hill Battle.’^IV On 24 June 1775 his name appeared on an order ‘for cartridge boxes’ dated Cambridge. He was listed on the 1 August muster roll, on the October 1775 company return, and on a 26 October 1775 ‘order for bounty coat or its equivalent in money’ dated Cambridge.^V His wife stated that ‘he served two terms of service as a substitute for the sons of his master … being at that time a slave.’^VI

There is no record of 1776 to 1780 service.

He enlisted from Conway (MA) on 30 March 1781 into the Continental Army for three years, in Capt. Jeremiah Miller’s company in Col. Vose’s 1^st regiment. A descriptive list of men raised in Hampshire county shows him as:

age: 34
stature: 5 ft. 7 in.
complexion: black
hair: black

On 19 April 1775 a receipt for bounty paid to him by the selectmen of Conway (MA) was certified.^VII Various rolls describe his service through the years of 1781 and 1782:

1781:

• May^VIII West Point
• Jun^IX Camp Phillipsborough, reported with forage master
• Jul^X Camp Phillipsborough, reported with forage master
• Aug^XI reported with forage master
• Sep^XII reported with forage master
• Oct^XIII
• Nov^XIV
• Dec (no roll found)

1782:

• Jan^XV York Hutts, reported on command at New Windsor
• Feb^XVI York Hutts, reported on command at New Windsor

His wife stated that he ‘was gone most of the time during the war returning occasionally in the winter season & staying a short time at the close of the war.’^XVII He was honorably discharged in 1783 but his discharge was lost when his ‘house burnt.’^XVIII After the war they remained in Upton (MA) for about a year, then moved to Northbridge (MA) for a year, then to Leicester (MA) for two years, then to Warwick (MA) for almost three years, then to Westmoreland (NH) ‘for a number of years’ and then finally to Vermont.^XIX

He applied for a U.S. Pension on 9 April 1818 when he verified that he served under Capt. Moses Harvey and stated that he was ‘between eighty and ninety years of age – very infirm – wholly destitute of property.’^XX His pension was approved for $96.00 per year.^XXI He reapplied on 19 July 1820 when he listed his occupation as ‘laborer’ and stated that he was ‘dependent on the town and private charity for support’ and that his ‘wife Susannah is not healthy.’^XXII

James Huzzey died in Townshend (VT) on 11 March 1822^XXIII at the approximate age of 75.

His wife applied for the pension on 31 August 1837^XXIV and continued to receive it at the rate of $80.00^XXV per year, seemingly for the rest of her life. On 28 March 1855, while a resident of Shaftsbury (VT) and at the age of 104, she applied for and was granted bounty land.^XXVI

He married Susannah Tobey on 20 January 1776, probably in Barnstable (MA).^XXVII They had at least one child:

• name unknown
  • born during the war and died at the age of 10 months^XXVIII 

Footnotes:

1. Birth date backwardly-computed, based on age in military descriptive roll.
2. United States Revolutionary War Pensions, NARA, Record Group 15, Series M804. 2670 rolls, Roll 1386, Pension# W18091, Frame 626; statement of wife in 1855.
3. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (1896-1908) 8:595, listed as ‘Huzzey.’ Also 2-CD Family Tree Maker^TM set “Military Records: Revolutionary War.”
4. United States Revolutionary War Pensions, NARA, Record Group 15, Series M804. 2670 rolls, Frame 617.
5. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (1896-1908) 8:595, listed under ‘Huzzey.’ Also 2-CD Family Tree Maker^TM set “Military Records: Revolutionary War.”
6. United States Revolutionary War Pensions, NARA, Record Group 15, Series M804. 2670 rolls, Frame 626.
7. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (1896-1908), listed as ‘Huzzi.’ Also 2-CD Family Tree Maker^TM set “Military Records: Revolutionary War.”
8. Ibid 8:571, listed as ‘Hussy.’
9. Ibid 8:594, listed as ‘Huzsa.’
10. Ibid 8:571, listed as ‘Hussey.’
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid 8:595, listed as ‘Huzza.’
13. Ibid 8:571, under ‘Hussey.’
14. Ibid. 
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. United States Revolutionary War Pensions, NARA, Record Group 15, Series M804. 2670 rolls, Frame 617.
18. Ibid, Frame 621.
19. Ibid, Frame 617.
20. Ibid, Frame 621.
21. Ibid, Frame 612.
22. Ibid, Frame 636.
23. Ibid, Frame 627.
24. Ibid, Frame 617.
25. Ibid, Frame 640; she also received an arrears of $520.00.
26. Ibid, Frame 639; Warrant# 7092-160-55.
27. Ibid, Frame 627; this she stated in 1855 – however in 1837 (Frame 617) she stated that they were married in Upton (MA).
28. Ibid, Frame 617.

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