M. about 1760 in (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts2
Wife: Eleanor Lyman
D. 22 Jun 1799 in Charlotte, Vermont3
Oliver Lyman served under a variety of commands during the first few years of the American Revolution, and eventually, as captain of his own company. He was present at the second Battle of Saratoga, considered a turning point in the war.
Oliver was born in Northampton, Massachusetts on April 1, 1739 to Gad Lyman and Thankful Pomeroy,1 the oldest of six children. In about 1760, he married his second cousin, Eleanor Lyman,2 and between 1761 and 1775, they had seven children.
Oliver became a member of the Northampton militia, and by 1775, he had risen to the rank of lieutenant.4 It was his job to keep the men ready to fight; there were rumblings of revolt coming from Boston, and no one knew what move the British army was going to make. Then on April 19th, word came that the British had left Boston in an effort to put down the rebellion. Oliver and his men marched towards the action, as did militias of towns all over Massachusetts. The Minutemen from Northampton were too far away to participate in the battles at Concord and Lexington, but everyone made their way to Boston to organize themselves into an army. Oliver enlisted on April 27th, and for the next three months served in Jonathan Allen’s company.4 By March 2, 1776, Oliver was back in the militia as captain of the 3rd Northampton company, and he continued to serve in various militia regiments throughout the next couple of years.4
On August 16, 1777, the Battle of Bennington was fought along the border between New York and Vermont, and Oliver and his men played a part in it.5 The British had thought they could raid the small town of Bennington, unaware that a militia of 1,500 men was stationed there. Before the battle, the British forces were marching near Northampton. On the night of August 13th, word spread to the town that the enemy was in the area. The alarm was sounded and men of all ages assembled at the meetinghouse, ready to fight.
The Battle of Bennington.
Oliver’s company of over 100 men set out in the direction of the action; they didn't take part in the battle itself, only the aftermath when they had "a number of Hessians" delivered to them. It took about three days to bring them back to Northampton, where they guarded them inside the meetinghouse for several days.5
Within a month, action had moved to the upstate town of Saratoga for two key battles in the war.6 The British were trying to drive a wedge that would separate New England from the south, and had over 7,000 men in place. It was important to outnumber them, and Oliver’s company was one of many who made their way there to fight.5 There were two battles, and it’s believed he was at the second one, on October 7, 1777.5 On that day, he was promoted to 1st Major of the Hampshire County Regiment of the Massachusetts Militia.4 The British forces were surrounded by the Americans that day, and were defeated, causing General Burgoyne to surrender. It was a huge victory for the Americans because it kept the colonies from being split in two.
Oliver’s service ended somewhat in disgrace after other officers gave a bad report on him “concerning his conduct at the time of the alarm of September 20, 1777.” The group asked that Oliver be demoted, implying that he wasn’t qualified to act as 1st Major. Rather than that, Oliver submitted his resignation which was accepted by the House of Representatives on April 14, 1778.4
Oliver's grave. (Source: Find-a-Grave)
Children:
1. Abigail Lyman — B. 18 Apr 1762, Northampton, Massachusetts;8 D. 10 Apr 1834, Charlotte, Vermont;9 M. Ephraim Wooster (~1754-1808), 12 Feb 1781, Northampton, Massachusetts10
2. Charlotte Lyman — B. 22 Nov 1763, Northampton, Massachusetts;11 D. 21 Aug 1809, Charlotte, Vermont;12 M. Zenas Clark (1759-1812), 14 Jun 1785, Northampton, Massachusetts13
3. Gad Lyman — B. 23 Aug 1766, Northampton, Massachusetts;14 D. 9 Feb 1813, Charlotte, Vermont;15 M. Prudence Bill (1771-1813)15
4. Oliver Lyman — B. 31 May 1768, Northampton, Massachusetts;16 D. 1793, New Jersey17
5. Medad Lyman — B. 18 Mar 1770, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts;17 D. 5 Feb 1813, Charlotte, Vermont;17 M. (1) Anne Clapp (1773-1802);18 (2) Mrs. Olive Mead (1779-1836), 5 Dec 180518
6. Jared Lyman — B. 6 Sep 1772, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts;17 D. 26 Jan 1813, Bridport, Vermont17
7. Eleanor Lyman — B. 25 Jun 1775, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts;17 D. 177717
Sources:
1 Birth record of Oliver Lyman, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
2 Estimated marriage based on birth of oldest child Abigail on April 18, 1762
3 Death record of Oliver Lyman, Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954, FamilySearch.org
4 Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, 1896, pp. 75-76
5 History of Northampton, Vol. 2, James Russell Trumbull, 1902
6 Battles of Saratoga (Wikipedia article)
7 Find-a-Grave listing of Eleanor (Lyman) Lyman
8 Birth record of Abigail Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
9 Death record of Abigail Lyman Wooster, V. V. R.
10 Marriage record of Ephraim Wooster and Abigail Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
11 Birth record of Charlotte Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
12 Death record of Charlotte Clark, V. V. R.
13 Marriage record of Zenas Clark and Charlotte Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
14 Birth record of Gad Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15 Find-a-Grave listing of Gad Lyman
16 Birth record of Oliver Lyman (younger), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
17 Genealogy of the Lyman Family in Great Britain and America, Lyman Coleman, 1872, p. 251
18 Genealogy of the Lyman Family in Great Britain and America, p.270
