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Benjamin Hastings (of Bolton)
Male
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Overview
No parents shown
Benjamin Hastings (of Bolton)Abigail Sawtell1719–1787Wife
Service
French and Indian War, Revolutionary War · Militia · 1755–1759, 1775 Confirmed
Provincial officer 1755–1759 (identity Likely); captain of Bolton's minute company in 1775.
- Nourse, The Military Annals of Lancaster, Massachusetts (1889), p. 65: 1758 roll of Capt. Asa Whitcomb's company ('Benja. Hastings, lieut., Bolton'). The roll for service from March to December 1758 lists Benja. Hastings, lieutenant, of Bolton.
- Nourse, Military Annals of Lancaster (1889), p. 116: source reference (Massachusetts Archives, Revolutionary Rolls, XII. 135) for the Lexington Alarm company roster. The foot of the Lexington Alarm roster that begins on p. 115, with Nourse's reference to the Massachusetts Archives.
In the story: Everyone in this line · Veterans of the family
Family
Not included
- Rejected as parents: Samuel Thomas Hastings (the tree's parents for Benjamin Hastings of Bolton) (Samuel Thomas Hastings 1665–1723). The tree's Watertown birth of 1702 and its parents belong to a different Benjamin Hastings; the Bolton captain's birth and parents are not known, and nothing shows that Samuel Thomas Hastings and Sarah Coolidge were his parents.
- Rejected as parents: Sarah Coolidge (the tree's parents for Benjamin Hastings of Bolton) (Sarah Coolidge 1668–1724). The tree's Watertown birth of 1702 and its parents belong to a different Benjamin Hastings; the Bolton captain's birth and parents are not known, and nothing shows that Samuel Thomas Hastings and Sarah Coolidge were his parents.
Rejected candidates stay out of the family tree and its charts; the reasons are kept here.
Wife: Abigail Sawtell 1719–1787 Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Daughter: Ruth Hastings born 1753
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Son: Edmund Hastings born 1755
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Daughter: Susanna Hastings 1748/49–1801
Confirmed evidence: show why
Why: The printed Bolton vital records record Susanna as a daughter of Benjamin and Abigail; the tree's Benjamin is the husband of Abigail Sawtell.
Records:
- Vital Records of Bolton, Massachusetts, to 1849 (printed): births of the children of Benjamin and Abigail Hastings, 1744-1757, including Susanna, Feb. 11, 1748-49; marriage of Susanna Hastings and Nathaniel Oak Jr., June 2, 1773; Benjamin Hastings Jr. and Experience Ball, 1782 (view at Internet Archive)
- H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register (Los Angeles, 1906), entries 1, 7, 20 and 72 (record page · view at Internet Archive)
Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: Saved text examined; Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined.
Earlier: Likely (09-23-2026, prior research): Research notes: parents Capt. Benjamin Hastings and Abigail Sawtell, probable.
- Daughter: Abigail Hastings born 1746
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Son: John Hastings born 1744
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Daughter: Grace Hastings born 1757
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Daughter: Elizabeth Hastings born 1750
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Son: Edmund Hastings 1755–1769
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Son: John Hastings 1744–1825
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Life events
| Name | Benjamin Hastings (of Bolton) (the family tree records Rev. Benjamin Hastings) |
|---|---|
| Born | not known Unconfirmed evidence: show whyWhy: The tree's birth (a Watertown baptism of 1702) belongs to another Benjamin Hastings, a Waltham man who married Mary Tainter, not to the Bolton captain, whose own birth is not known. Conflicting records: the tree's 1702 Watertown birth belongs to a Benjamin who, per the tree, died in 1756, but Benjamin and Abigail had a child at Bolton in April 1757. Records:
Review: assessed 10-03-2026. |
| Died | not known Unconfirmed evidence: show whyWhy: The tree's death (21 May 1756) belongs to the other Benjamin Hastings; a man dead in 1756 cannot have commanded the Bolton company of 1775, and Benjamin and Abigail had a child at Bolton in April 1757. Conflicting records: a child was born to Benjamin and Abigail at Bolton on 12 Apr 1757, eleven months after the tree's death date. Records:
Review: assessed 10-03-2026. |
| Marriage | 12 MAY 1743, Waltham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA, with Abigail Sawtell 1719–1787 |
| Military service | BET 1755 AND 1759, Massachusetts, USA |
| Military service | Listed in the provincial rolls as ensign in 1755, lieutenant in 1758 and captain in Willard's regiment in 1759, BET 1755 AND 1759, Massachusetts, USA |
| Military service | Listed in the provincial rolls as ensign in 1755, lieutenant in 1758 and captain in Willard's regiment in 1759, 1755-1759, Massachusetts Likely evidence: show whyWhy: Printed provincial rolls (Nourse 1889; Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors vol. 7) list a Benjamin Hastings of Bolton as ensign in 1755, lieutenant in 1758 and captain in Willard's regiment in 1759 (roll dated 17 April to 30 December 1759). The identification of the 1750s officer with the 1775 captain and with Susanna's father rests on the name and town. The printed page notes that he was dismissed in September 'with Desgrace' for mutinous behaviour; the page does not print the year, and the Hastings Memorial website gives 1760. Records: Review: assessed 10-02-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined. |
| Military service | 19 APR 1775, Bolton, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA |
| Military service | Captain of the Bolton company of minute men in 1775, which marched on the Lexington alarm, 1775, Bolton, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA |
| Military service | Captain of the Bolton company of minute men in 1775, which marched on the Lexington alarm, 1775, Bolton, Massachusetts Confirmed evidence: show whyWhy: The Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors volumes (vol. 7 p. 463) list Benjamin Hastings of Bolton as captain of a company of minute men in 1775, and Nourse's roster of the company (read on the page images) includes one Nathaniel Oakes. That this Bolton captain is the Benjamin who married Abigail Sawtell and fathered Susanna is inferred from the name and town; Bolton's records show only one Benjamin Hastings with a family there. Nathaniel Oak's pension declaration names Hastings only as his company captain; it does not call him a relative (the phrase 'father-in-law' is a later transcriber's wording, not the declaration's). Records:
Review: assessed 10-03-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined; Saved text examined. |
Record images
18 record images to view here. View them larger, one at a time.
Vital Records of Waltham, Massachusetts, p. 214: Abigail Sawtell and Benjamin Hastings, May 12, 1743. SAUTELL (see Sawtell, Sawtle), Abigail and Benjamin Hastings, May 12, 1743.1743 · p. 214
Vital Records of Waltham, Massachusetts, to the year 1850 (1904), p. 167: marriages ('Benjamin and Abigail Sautell, May 12, 1743'). The marriage of Benjamin Hastings and Abigail Sautell (Sawtel in the marriage record), 12 May 1743, intention not recorded.12 May 1743 · p. 167
Vital Records of Bolton, Massachusetts, p. 36: Hastings births (children of Benjamin and Abigail). John (1744), Abigail (1746), Susanna (Feb. 11, 1748-49), Elizabeth (1750), Ruth (1753), Edmund (1755) and Grace (1757), children of Benjamin and Abigail Hastings.1744-1757 · p. 36
Nourse, The Military Annals of Lancaster, Massachusetts (1889), p. 36: 1755 roll of Capt. Joseph Whitcomb's company ('Benja. Hastings, ensign, Bolton'). The roll for service from March 1755 to the close of the year lists Benja. Hastings, ensign, of Bolton.1755 · p. 36
Nourse, The Military Annals of Lancaster, Massachusetts (1889), p. 65: 1758 roll of Capt. Asa Whitcomb's company ('Benja. Hastings, lieut., Bolton'). The roll for service from March to December 1758 lists Benja. Hastings, lieutenant, of Bolton.1758 · p. 65
Vital Records of Bolton, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, p. 204: deaths (Edmund, son of Benjamin and Abigail Hastings, 23 Oct 1769). The Hastings deaths on the page include 'Edmund, s. Benjamin and Abagail, Oct. 23, 1769, in 15th y.'.23 Oct 1769 · p. 204
Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, vol. VII, p. 463: Hastings, Benjamin, Bolton, captain of a company of Minute-men (1775). The entry for Benjamin Hastings of Bolton: captain of a company of Minute-men in Col. John Whitcomb's regiment on the alarm of 19 April 1775, later captain in Col. Asa Whitcomb's regiment, and reported as having been lieutenant with Col. Whetcomb in 1758.1775 · p. 463
Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, vol. XI, p. 600: Oakes, Nathaniel, Bolton (Capt. Benjamin Hastings's co.). OAKES, NATHANIEL, Bolton. Private, Capt. Benjamin Hastings's co., Col. John Whitcomb's regt., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775, to Cambridge; service, 18 days.1775 · p. 600
The Hastings Memorial (1866), p. 123: Benjamin Hastings, son of Samuel and Sarah (Coolidge), married Mary Taynter 1726, will 21 May 1756 (the Waltham/Watertown Benjamin).1866 · p. 123
Lemuel Wood's Journal, 'The Canada Expedition,' Essex Institute Historical Collections, vol. XX (1883), p. 156: Captain Hastens of Willard's regiment tried at Crown Point. A general court martial at Crown Point finds Captain Hastens of Col. Willard's regiment guilty of mutinous behaviour and dismisses him from the service with disgrace.1883 · p. 156
Lemuel Wood's Journal, 'The Canada Expedition,' Essex Institute Historical Collections, vol. XX (1883), p. 157: the sentence on Captain Hastens continues. The continuation of the court-martial entry on p. 156.1883 · p. 157
Nourse, Military Annals of Lancaster (1889), p. 115: Captain Benjamin Hastings's company at the Lexington Alarm (Nathl. Oakes). Captain Benjamin Hastings's Company, Col. John Whitcomb's Regiment: Capt. Benja. Hastings, Nathl. Oakes.1889 · p. 115
Nourse, Military Annals of Lancaster (1889), p. 116: source reference (Massachusetts Archives, Revolutionary Rolls, XII. 135) for the Lexington Alarm company roster. The foot of the Lexington Alarm roster that begins on p. 115, with Nourse's reference to the Massachusetts Archives.1889 · p. 116
Nourse, Military Annals of Lancaster (1889), p. 121: Hastings's company petition, Camp No. 2, Cambridge, June 30, 1775. Benjamin Hastings, Captain; Jonathan Houghton, Lieutenant; Jonathan Meriam, Second Lieutenant.1889 · p. 121
Nourse, Military Annals of Lancaster (1889), p. 122: Captain Hastings's company at Bunker Hill. Nourse quotes an account that Captain Benjamin Hastings led one company of thirty-four and took post at the rail fence.1889 · p. 122
Nourse, Military Annals of Lancaster (1889), p. 77: Captain Benjamin Hastings's company in Willard's regiment (1759). Captain Benjamin Hastings led a company in Willard's regiment; Lancaster and Bolton men are listed under his command.1889 · p. 77
Nourse, Military Annals of Lancaster (1889), p. 78: Lake George, and Captain Hastings dismissed from the service for mutinous behavior. From orderly book and diary: drilling at Lake George, and Captain Benjamin Hastings of Bolton 'Dismissed ye Servis with Desgrace' for mutinous behavior.1889 · p. 78
Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, vol. 7: Hastings, Benjamin, Bolton (captain).1899
Photos & documents
Sources
- Vital Records of Waltham, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (1904), Marriages, p. 167: 'Benjamin and Abigail Sautell, May 12, 1743.* [Sawtel, m.r.]' (asterisk: intention not recorded). Internet Archive item vitalrecordsofwa00walt, leaf n172. Bond (1860), p. 425: 'Abigail, b. Ap. 12, 1719; m., May 12, 1743, Benjamin Hastings.' Birth, marriage and death records Citation only Marriage
- Nourse, Military Annals of Lancaster, Massachusetts (1889), and Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War vol. 7 p. 463 (Hastings, Benjamin, Bolton: captain of a company of minute men) and vol. 11 p. 600 ('Oakes, Nathaniel, Bolton', private in his company); Willard's regiment roll, 17 April to 30 December 1759. Internet Archive Military Citation only Military service
- Nourse, The Military Annals of Lancaster, Massachusetts (1889), p. 36 ('Benja. Hastings, ensign, Bolton', 1755), p. 65 ('Benja. Hastings, lieut., Bolton', 1758), pp. 76-78 ('Captain Benjamin Hastings led a company in Willard's regiment' [April 17 to December 30, 1759]; 'Captain Benjamin Hastings of Bolton was during September 'Dismessed ye Servis with Desgrace' for mutinous behavior'). Massachu Military Citation only Military service
- Nourse, The Military Annals of Lancaster, Massachusetts (1889), p. 115: 'Captain Benjamin Hastings's Company, Col. John Whitcomb's Regiment. Capt. Benja. Hastings, Lieut. Jonathan Houghton, 2 Lieut. Jonathan Merriam, ...' and p. 121 (30 June 1775: 'Benjamin Hastings, Captain'); Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, vol. 7, p. 463: 'Hastings, Benjamin, Bolton. Captain of a company of Minute-men, C Military Citation only Military service
Research sources
- H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register (Los Angeles, 1906), entries 1, 7, 20 and 72 Family histories and trees view at Internet Archive
- Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War: Capt. Benjamin Hastings's company, Col. John Whitcomb's regiment, 1775 (Bolton) Military
- Nourse, Military Annals of Lancaster, Massachusetts (1889), and Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War vol. 7 p. 463 (Hastings, Benjamin, Bolton: captain of a company of minute men) and vol. 11 p. 600 ('Oakes, Nathaniel, Bolton', private in his company); Willard's regiment roll, 17 April to 30 December 1759 Other documents
- Vital Records of Bolton, Massachusetts, to 1849 (printed): births of the children of Benjamin and Abigail Hastings, 1744-1757, including Susanna, Feb. 11, 1748-49; marriage of Susanna Hastings and Nathaniel Oak Jr., June 2, 1773; Benjamin Hastings Jr. and Experience Ball, 1782 Birth, marriage and death records view at Internet Archive
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