Abigail Locke

Notes:

Ref: Lexington Munroes, 2nd ed. 13-31-59

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Notes:

Joseph was the son of Joseph and Mary (Butterfield) Locke.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-31-5 - p. 108

(2) Clan Munro files - Raeder, Mildred Munro - Genealogy questionnaire filled
out by Mildred W. Raeder dated 1965

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Joseph married Abigail Munroe on 24 Jun 1801. Abigail (daughter of Capt. Edmund Munroe and Rebecca Harrington) was born on 6 Dec 1777 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died on 14 May 1838 in Arlington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Abigail and Joseph lived in West Cambridge, Massachusetts.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-31-5 - p. 108

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Edmund was distinguished as a military man. He entered the provincial service at an early age, was promoted to an ensign in a corps of Major Rogers Rangers, and saw service in the French War. He was acting adjutant in Colonel Hoar's regiment at Crown Point in 1761, received a commission from Governor Bernard in 1762, and as lieutenant in His Majesty's service, he continued with the troops at Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and vicinity until the peace of 1763.

Besides serving in the French and Indian war, he was enrolled in the company of the Lexington minute men and was with them on the 19th of April. He further served in the Revolution with Rogers Rangers under Rogers and Hoar.

He was commissioned lieutenant 12 Jul 1776 in Captain Mile's company and Colonel Reed's regiment. The 16th of the same month he was made quartermaster and destined to the northern frontier. In a letter to his wife, of 5 Aug 1776 from Charlestown, New Hampshire, he says, "We shall march from this place for Ticonderoga this day."

On 1 Jan 1777 he received his commission of Captain in Colonel Bigelow's regiment. He was in the northern army under Gates, at Stillwater, Saratoga and Benington; and so distinguished himself that after the capture of Burgoyne he was presented by his superior officers with pair of candle-sticks, that were a part of General Burgoyne's traveling equipment or tent ornaments.

After the capture of Burgoyne, Captain Munroe went to the Jerseys, and joined the army under Washington. On 28 Jun 1778 he was slain on the field of Freehold, more commonly called the Battle of Monmouth. The same cannon ball that killed him also took the life of his kinsman George Munroe [3033], and maimed Joseph Cox of Lexington for the rest of his life. The candle-sticks mentioned above, a sword, a curious beaded Indian powder horn, several head belts, pistols and so forth used by Captain Munroe in the French war, were left by his widow, in 1834 to her son Edmund.

One of his original papers left in the family is the oath of office, bearing his signature and that of Baron de Kalb. It reads as follows:

"I, Edmund Munroe, Captain in Colonel Bigelow's regiment, do acknowledge the United States of America to be free, Independent, and Sovereign States, and declare that the people thereof owe no allegiance to George, the Third, King of Great Britain; and I renounce and abjure any allegiance or obedience to him; and I do swear that I will to the utmost of my power to support, maintain, and defend the said United States against the said King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and his or their abettors, assistants, and adherents; and will serve the said United States in the office of Captain, which I now hold, with fidelity, according to the best of my ability, skill and understanding.
(signed) Edmund Munro Capt.
Sworn to, camp at Valley Forge, 18 May 1778.
(signed) The Baron de Kalb Major General

Captain Munroe was very brave, and without enthusiasm. Some of his letters show this coolness. In a letter to his wife from Valley Forge, 17 May 1778, he says, "I am going on command tomorrow morning down to the enemy lines. There are two thousand going on the command. I am of the mind, we will have a dispute with them before we return."

Edmund was killed at the Battle of Monmouth by a cannon ball which also killed his relative, George Munro and maimed for life his fellow townsman, Joseph Cox of Lexington, Massachusetts.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Edmund married Rebecca Harrington on 31 Aug 1768. Rebecca (daughter of Jonathan Harrington) was born on 17 Feb 1751; died on 6 Mar 1834 in Arlington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Rebecca was the daughter of Jonathan and Abigail Harrington, and the sister of Jonathan Harrington, who died in 1854, the last survivor of the battle of Lexington.

When her husband was killed at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778, she was just 27 years old with four children ages nine to three years old. The young fatherless family moved to West Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Honorable mention was made of her in an obituary notice in the Boston Daily Advertiser of 11 Apr 1834, a part of which reads as follows: "The worthy lady who is the subject of this notice, with other families in Lexington, fled on the 19th of April, 1775 with their children, to the woods, while their husbands were engaged with the enemy, and their houses were sacked or involved in flames. Her husband was killed at Monmouth in New Jersey, 28 Jun 1778. On his bereaved partner, in the midst of discouragement, sorrows, and the privations of the times, devolved the task of rearing an infant family. The long life of this venerable lady was a pattern of domestic duties and virtue."

Although entitled to a pension, Rebecca refused it saying that her husband only did his duty.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-31 - p. 46, 48

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

In a paper left by one of the family, it is stated, that William had been just engaged as a committee man to enlarge the burying yard, and taking a sudden cold while haying in his meadow, was attacked with a violent fever, which in a few days proved fatal. He was the first to be laid in the new portion of the yard that he had so recently procured. This account is confirmed by his gravestone, which has this inscription: "William Munroe, d. 18 Aug 1747, aged 44 years. The first buried in this (the new portion) yard."

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

William married Sarah Mason on 3 Jan 1733 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. Sarah (daughter of John Mason and Elizabeth Spring) was born on 17 Jun 1714; died on 13 Apr 1785. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sarah was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Spring) Mason. After the death of William, she married (2) Isaac Bowman, Esq. on 27 Feb 1753.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Jonathan Harrington was a soldier of the American Revolution and a member of the Committee of Correspondence which was appointed by many of the colonial towns to confer with one another as to their common rights and duties. They were formed at the suggestion of Samuel Adams and were the germ of the American Union.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: Jonathan's birth date is an estimate based on the birth date of his daughter, Rebecca.