David was the fifth of seven children, born to Nathaniel Messenger and Eleanor Griffin. His siblings were: Martha, Nathaniel Jr., Israel, Lemuel, Daniel, and Amos.
On June 3, 1775, at age 15, David enlisted as a private in Capt. Malcolm Henry's Co., Col. David Brewer's 9th Reg., company's return dated October 7, 1775; also served in Capt. Henry's Co., Col. Rufus Putnam's (late Brewer's) Regt.; fought in the siege of Boston; order for a bounty coat or its equivalent in money dated Roxbury, December 23, 1775. [Mass. Soldiers & Sailors, Vol. 10, pg 694]
Also served in Capt. Samuel Hay's Co., Conn. 18th militia regt., commanded by Jonathan Pettibone. Arrived NY: August 22, 1776, discharged September 25. 1776.
In about 1781, David married Hannah Higley, daughter of Dudley Higley and Eunice Stratton of Simsbury, Connecticut. David and Hannah were the parents of eight children: Grove, Sinthy, Hannah, David Jr., Samuel, Campbell, Harriet and Forest.
In April, 1804, David and 34 others signed on and paid $8 each to form the Scioto Land Company. The company intended to explore available land appropriate for settlement in Ohio. In May of that year, three men from that group traveled to the area to view and purchase land. But rather than the intended Scioto Valley, they actually preferred Licking County, Ohio. Eventually 44 more signed up and the group changed their name to the Licking Land Company. David moved his family there in 1804/1805. On December 10, 1805, he received a deed for 500 acres for which he paid between $900 to $1,600*.
David was a town leader and good citizen in the newly-formed community. In 1808, he was nominated to serve as a grand juror and along with six others, was also a supervisor of highways.
David died in 1811. He was only 51. He is buried in historic Old Colony Burying Ground next to his wife and son Campbell. It is noted in town records, that the second person to die in the new community was his granddaughter, Eliza, daughter of his son, Grove. She died in 1806 and it is said that her grandparents are buried in the same plot with her.
*Equivalent to between $22,638 and $40,245 in 2022 dollars.
---------------
Read more about the historical re-creation of David's headstone on Facebook at 'David and Hannah Messenger.' The new headstone was sited in 2016 and a dedication with full military honors took place on April 30, 2017. The Facebook page also has information on the dedication as well as the August 5, 2023 SAR grave marking ceremony.
On June 3, 1775, at age 15, David enlisted as a private in Capt. Malcolm Henry's Co., Col. David Brewer's 9th Reg., company's return dated October 7, 1775; also served in Capt. Henry's Co., Col. Rufus Putnam's (late Brewer's) Regt.; fought in the siege of Boston; order for a bounty coat or its equivalent in money dated Roxbury, December 23, 1775. [Mass. Soldiers & Sailors, Vol. 10, pg 694]
Also served in Capt. Samuel Hay's Co., Conn. 18th militia regt., commanded by Jonathan Pettibone. Arrived NY: August 22, 1776, discharged September 25. 1776.
In about 1781, David married Hannah Higley, daughter of Dudley Higley and Eunice Stratton of Simsbury, Connecticut. David and Hannah were the parents of eight children: Grove, Sinthy, Hannah, David Jr., Samuel, Campbell, Harriet and Forest.
In April, 1804, David and 34 others signed on and paid $8 each to form the Scioto Land Company. The company intended to explore available land appropriate for settlement in Ohio. In May of that year, three men from that group traveled to the area to view and purchase land. But rather than the intended Scioto Valley, they actually preferred Licking County, Ohio. Eventually 44 more signed up and the group changed their name to the Licking Land Company. David moved his family there in 1804/1805. On December 10, 1805, he received a deed for 500 acres for which he paid between $900 to $1,600*.
David was a town leader and good citizen in the newly-formed community. In 1808, he was nominated to serve as a grand juror and along with six others, was also a supervisor of highways.
David died in 1811. He was only 51. He is buried in historic Old Colony Burying Ground next to his wife and son Campbell. It is noted in town records, that the second person to die in the new community was his granddaughter, Eliza, daughter of his son, Grove. She died in 1806 and it is said that her grandparents are buried in the same plot with her.
*Equivalent to between $22,638 and $40,245 in 2022 dollars.
---------------
Read more about the historical re-creation of David's headstone on Facebook at 'David and Hannah Messenger.' The new headstone was sited in 2016 and a dedication with full military honors took place on April 30, 2017. The Facebook page also has information on the dedication as well as the August 5, 2023 SAR grave marking ceremony.
David was the fifth of seven children, born to Nathaniel Messenger and Eleanor Griffin. His siblings were: Martha, Nathaniel Jr., Israel, Lemuel, Daniel, and Amos.
On June 3, 1775, at age 15, David enlisted as a private in Capt. Malcolm Henry's Co., Col. David Brewer's 9th Reg., company's return dated October 7, 1775; also served in Capt. Henry's Co., Col. Rufus Putnam's (late Brewer's) Regt.; fought in the siege of Boston; order for a bounty coat or its equivalent in money dated Roxbury, December 23, 1775. [Mass. Soldiers & Sailors, Vol. 10, pg 694]
Also served in Capt. Samuel Hay's Co., Conn. 18th militia regt., commanded by Jonathan Pettibone. Arrived NY: August 22, 1776, discharged September 25. 1776.
In about 1781, David married Hannah Higley, daughter of Dudley Higley and Eunice Stratton of Simsbury, Connecticut. David and Hannah were the parents of eight children: Grove, Sinthy, Hannah, David Jr., Samuel, Campbell, Harriet and Forest.
In April, 1804, David and 34 others signed on and paid $8 each to form the Scioto Land Company. The company intended to explore available land appropriate for settlement in Ohio. In May of that year, three men from that group traveled to the area to view and purchase land. But rather than the intended Scioto Valley, they actually preferred Licking County, Ohio. Eventually 44 more signed up and the group changed their name to the Licking Land Company. David moved his family there in 1804/1805. On December 10, 1805, he received a deed for 500 acres for which he paid between $900 to $1,600*.
David was a town leader and good citizen in the newly-formed community. In 1808, he was nominated to serve as a grand juror and along with six others, was also a supervisor of highways.
David died in 1811. He was only 51. He is buried in historic Old Colony Burying Ground next to his wife and son Campbell. It is noted in town records, that the second person to die in the new community was his granddaughter, Eliza, daughter of his son, Grove. She died in 1806 and it is said that her grandparents are buried in the same plot with her.
*Equivalent to between $22,638 and $40,245 in 2022 dollars.
---------------
Read more about the historical re-creation of David's headstone on Facebook at 'David and Hannah Messenger.' The new headstone was sited in 2016 and a dedication with full military honors took place on April 30, 2017. The Facebook page also has information on the dedication as well as the August 5, 2023 SAR grave marking ceremony.
On June 3, 1775, at age 15, David enlisted as a private in Capt. Malcolm Henry's Co., Col. David Brewer's 9th Reg., company's return dated October 7, 1775; also served in Capt. Henry's Co., Col. Rufus Putnam's (late Brewer's) Regt.; fought in the siege of Boston; order for a bounty coat or its equivalent in money dated Roxbury, December 23, 1775. [Mass. Soldiers & Sailors, Vol. 10, pg 694]
Also served in Capt. Samuel Hay's Co., Conn. 18th militia regt., commanded by Jonathan Pettibone. Arrived NY: August 22, 1776, discharged September 25. 1776.
In about 1781, David married Hannah Higley, daughter of Dudley Higley and Eunice Stratton of Simsbury, Connecticut. David and Hannah were the parents of eight children: Grove, Sinthy, Hannah, David Jr., Samuel, Campbell, Harriet and Forest.
In April, 1804, David and 34 others signed on and paid $8 each to form the Scioto Land Company. The company intended to explore available land appropriate for settlement in Ohio. In May of that year, three men from that group traveled to the area to view and purchase land. But rather than the intended Scioto Valley, they actually preferred Licking County, Ohio. Eventually 44 more signed up and the group changed their name to the Licking Land Company. David moved his family there in 1804/1805. On December 10, 1805, he received a deed for 500 acres for which he paid between $900 to $1,600*.
David was a town leader and good citizen in the newly-formed community. In 1808, he was nominated to serve as a grand juror and along with six others, was also a supervisor of highways.
David died in 1811. He was only 51. He is buried in historic Old Colony Burying Ground next to his wife and son Campbell. It is noted in town records, that the second person to die in the new community was his granddaughter, Eliza, daughter of his son, Grove. She died in 1806 and it is said that her grandparents are buried in the same plot with her.
*Equivalent to between $22,638 and $40,245 in 2022 dollars.
---------------
Read more about the historical re-creation of David's headstone on Facebook at 'David and Hannah Messenger.' The new headstone was sited in 2016 and a dedication with full military honors took place on April 30, 2017. The Facebook page also has information on the dedication as well as the August 5, 2023 SAR grave marking ceremony.
Inscription
Sacred to the
Memory of
David Messenger
who died
April 1 1811
aged 51 years
Gravesite Details
Original stone found intact in 1972 but had disintegrated by 2011. When excavating, only the base of David's stone was found. New upright stone recreated in the spirit of the original and made of gray granite. Created in 2016 and dedicated in 2017.
Family Members
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Records on Ancestry
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