Huling, George

Other Events and Attributes:

• DAR Ancestor Number: A059427
• Tombstone Photo: Shaftsbury, Bennington Co., VT; Center Shaftsbury Cemetery

Notes:

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=zmottel&id=I1347
Alexander was born January 29, 1737/8 at North Kingstown, Rhode Island. He first married Susannah Brown, prior to April 9, 1762 when as Susannah Huling she gave a receipt for a legacy by the will of her grandfather, Benjamin Congdon, to her Father Ebenezer Brown. She died in 1773, having had one son, John, who was born in October, 1764. Alexander's second wife, Mary Havens [Allen] was the widow of his first cousin once removed, John Allen. They were married at North Kingstown by Elder Phillip Jenkins on March 31, 1777.

Alexander was a private soldier in the French and Indian War, and later the captain of a privateer in that same war. After the war, he was master of the sloop Lucinda, owned by John Brown. In 1777 he moved to Vermont, arriving at Bennington on August 16, 1777, where he and his son John participated in the Battle of Bennington as volunteers. He later served nine days in Captain Jonas Galusha's Company (October, 1780). Thus, however brief his service, he was a veteran of the American War for Independence.

In 1878, our ancestor George M. Huling dictated a letter to his son Edwin, which was addressed to Ray Greene Huling, containing reminiscences of his grandfather Alexander. An excerpt follows:

My father says his first remembrance of Capt. Alex was about the year 1810 or 12 (when) he was living in Shaftsbury, Vt. ... Capt. Alex soon became a cripple after I remember him but with all his suffering...he had a remarkable facility for relating anecdotes and experiences of his early life. He first served as a private soldier in the French war under Johnson. We then find him engaged in the same war as captain of a privateer. One anecdote of the cruise I clearly remember. He says he was cruising off the coast of New England; he being a man of clear eyesight was the first to discover a speck on the water. After sailing on the direction indicated a few hours the rest of the crew were able to discern it; they put on all the sail and made for it when they soon found out it was a large French man-of-war. He told his officers they had better give up the chase as he thought she carried too many guns for them. When they intimated a want of courage on his part; he then resolved to test their own courage, let the result be what it might. Keeping after the stranger, who made no effort to get out of the way, they soon came near enough to convince the whole crew she was too strong for them and they all admitted their inability to cope with them. The captain replied that they were so anxious to get a taste of the enemy's gunpowder that they should now have an opportunity. They sailed close enough to give the Frigate a broadside and receiving one themselves in turn they concluded to change their course and being faster sailer than their enemy they soon got out of reach but not without loss of life, as one of the enemy's cannon balls passed through the kitchen breaking a stone jar and cut a Negro cook in two parts. Afterward they were taken by a large French frigate and made prisoner of war. He lost all his property .... he remained prisoner but a short time when he was exchanged. After peace was declared he engaged in the service of sailing a ship for John Brown of Providence, R. I. He made several successful voyages to the West Indies, New Orleans, and other parts. (He) was engaged in Brown's service several years, but when on a homeward trip from the Indies, he experienced such terrific seas off Cape Hatteras that he expected every moment the ship would be lost. He then resolved if he ever reached port he would forever quit sailing: he kept his promise....

Another incident happened when he was sailing which perhaps would be worth mentioning, when out at sea he picked up a crew of 6 or 7 sailors in an open boat whose vessel had been struck with lightening; they were nearly famished; he kindly took care of them. They being French, fortunately he fell in with a French ship within a few days who received them and took them home in safety. Capt. Alex. being short of provisions, the French captain supplied him freely.

Capt. Alex. was a man of good habits but he would have his quart of rum every week; a habit he got accustomed to when at sea. My father frequently got it for him when a boy. (He was) honest and upright in his deal; a man of small stature but a compact and wirey frame...

Alexander died May 31, 1816 in his 79th year, and is buried in the Center Shaftsbury Cemetery, Shaftsbury, Vermont.

Alexander married Allen, Mary Havens on 31 Mar 1777 in North Kingstown, Washington Co., RI. Mary was born about 1742; died on 17 Jun 1818 in Shaftsbury, Bennington Co., VT; was buried in Shaftsbury, Bennington Co., VT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Tombstone Photo: Shaftsbury, Bennington Co., VT; Center Shaftsbury Cemetery

Alexander married Spink, ElizabethNorth Kingstown, Washington Co., RI. Elizabeth was born about 1673 in Kingston, Washington Co., RI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Tombstone Photo: North Kingstown, Washington Co., RI; Old Baptist Churchyard

Notes:

From Find A Grave Memorial:
Alexander, the eldest son of James Huling was born in Newport, Rhode Island in 1665. Due to his title as Captain, it is believed he was a military man, although listed as a carpenter and yeoman in the Whightman book.
As early as 23 Apr 1685, Alexander's name appears in the records of Narragansett Country (Kingstowne), being a witness to an agreement by the Humphrey Atherton Land Company. It is thought that he was a resident there, pursuing his trade as a carpenter in this rapidly developing area. It is here in about 1689, he was wed to Elizabeth, the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Updike) Wightman, and by her had issue seven children.
On 28 May 1696, Alexander sold his now dwelling house and settlement, orchards and buildings in the Narragansett Country, and on 18 Feb 1702, according to Austin's "The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island," he was named among "those persons that hold and possess lots of land out of the ancient proprietors and have built large building." His homestead farm was in the northern part of Kingstowne, located about two miles northwest of what was then called Cocumscussoc, now known as Wickford. On 12 Aug 1703, he deeded "for love and good will to my loving friends Jeremiah Wilkie and Valentine Wightman of the Baptist church in the Narragansett Country" a half acre of land about "seventy-six rods (418 yards) north-east of my now dwelling-house in Kingstowne to make use of for building a meeting-house for the worship and service to God." This church, known since that time as the Stony Lane (Six-Principle) Baptist Church, was destined to be the home church of succeeding generations of both the Houses of Huling and of Wightmen; and a kinsman in the latter house, Rev. James Wightman filled the pastorate of this historic church from about 1740 to 1791.
On 29 Oct 1707, Alexander Huling a Deputy to the Assembly seated at Warwick.
Alexander's will, North Kingstown Probate # vi, pages 125-7, is dated 25 June 1725. In this document he named his wife, Elizabeth, as Executrix, and mentioned all of his children listed below, with special provision being indicated for their daughter Mary, called by her father "senseless." Alexander died four days later on 29 July 1725 in North Kingstown. The inventory of his personal property totaled £ 263 and 13 shillings. Alexander is buried in the Old Baptist Yard of the Stony Lane Church.

Alexander married Wightman, Elizabeth about 1689. Elizabeth (daughter of Wightman, George and Updike, Elizabeth) was born on 26 Jul 1664 in Kingston, Washington Co., RI; died in Aug 1755 in North Kingstown, Washington Co., RI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]