M. 13 Dec 1722 in Concord, Massachusetts2
Wife: Mercy Minot
D. 20 Jul 1758 near Lake George, New York3
When England and France went to war in 1755, much of the conflict was played out in their American colonies. This meant that some men who lived in those colonies were involved in fighting the war, and one New Englander, Samuel Dakin, gave his life for it.
Samuel was born in Concord, Massachusetts on September 23, 1700 to Joseph Dakin and Dorothy Worcester,1 one of nine children. He married Mercy Minot in Concord on December 13, 1722.2 They relocated to the town of Sudbury, their farm being on the road running north to Concord very near the edge of town.4 Samuel and Mercy had eight children born between 1725 and about 1744.
As part of his civic duty, Samuel served in Sudbury’s militia, an activity that he likely began as a young man. In about 1745, he was appointed ensign of the "Second Company of Foot" in Sudbury.4 Samuel rose through the ranks over the years, and on September 10, 1755, he was made captain in Josiah Brown's regiment.4 The militia was needed to fight in the French and Indian War. The muster-roll of Samuel’s company shows that he commanded 48 men.4
Samuel's signature and seal.
Shortly after his appointment, Samuel wrote to his wife Mercy in a letter dated September 26, 1755: "I am in good health and my company are so obedient to me and so loving one to another that it makes my life exceeding comfortable and pleasant. I have never yet heard one thwarting word in my company, but they seem all to have a brotherly care one for another, and have never heard one profane word among them, and their forwardness to attend religious exercises is delightful to me so that I have many mercies."4
Samuel’s service took him away from home for the next couple years, but in the spring of 1758, he was able to spend time with his family. He must have been concerned about the prospect of being killed in the war, and on April 25th, he prepared a will. It included detailed instructions for the well-being of his wife and children, down to listing quantities of food to be divided up among them.5 His stay in Sudbury ended when in May 1758, Samuel received orders to march his company to Fort Edward, near Lake George, New York.4 As he set out on the journey, he wrote a memorandum on May 23rd: "This day renew this covenant with God, and while going on an expedition against Canada I have left myself wholly in the hands of God, to be at His disposal in life or death."4
Map showing location of Fort Edward.
Samuel arrived at the fort about the middle of June. He wrote in a letter on June 10th, "[The men of the company] are all well, and I hope I shall be very happy in my company, and they are very ready to attend prayers and singing of Psalms which we have practiced on our journey."4 In another letter on July 11th, he wrote to his family, "And now my dear wife and children, I desire you would not distress yourselves about me but commit me in your prayers to God to be wholly at his disposal and I hope by his preserving providence I shall after awhile rejoice with you again in my own house; but if not I hope we shall all rejoice together in heaven which will be spiritually better."4 Before he closed his letter, he asked for their prayers for himself, his men, and the whole army.
On July 20th, Indigenous warriors attacked a group of 10 soldiers who were out scouting not far from the fort. Some of the men in the fort went out to assist the group, but the warriors shot at them and 14 were killed, and this included Samuel.3 One man fell near the fort and the soldiers were able to retrieve his body, but the others were all scalped by the warriors. When they left, the remains of all of the dead were buried in one grave together.
An epitaph was written for Samuel by his orderly sergeant, William Rice:
Good by, Capt. Dakin Samuell
In a battle near Lake George he fell.4
Children:
1. Joseph Dakin — B. 20 May 1725, Sudbury, Massachusetts;6 D. 22 Aug 1727, Sudbury, Massachusetts7
2. Oliver Dakin — B. 20 Mar 1727, Sudbury, Massachusetts;8 D. 2 Jun 1805, Boylston, Massachusetts;9 M. Elizabeth Keyes (1732-1805), 16 Nov 1749, Sudbury, Massachusetts10
3. Samuel Dakin — B. 17 May 1731, Sudbury, Massachusetts;11 D. 23 Jan 1807, Sudbury, Massachusetts;12 M. Mehitable Eaton (1743-1816), before 5 Jan 1766, (probably) Sudbury, Massachusetts413
4. Mercy Dakin — B. 14 Apr 1733, Sudbury, Massachusetts;14 D. 31 May 1790, Sudbury, Massachusetts;15 M. James Puffer (1734-1814), before Nov 1759, (probably) Sudbury, Massachusetts16
5. Beulah Dakin — B. 22 Mar 1735, Sudbury, Massachusetts;17 D. 1 Aug 1807, Lincoln, Massachusetts;18 M. (1) Thomas Baker (1732-1786), 15 Jan 1755, Littleton, Massachusetts;19 (2) John Adams (1723-1809); 20 Feb 1794, Littleton, Massachusetts20
6. Dorothy Dakin — B. about 1736, Sudbury, Massachusetts;21 D. 13 Nov 1804, Concord, Massachusetts;21 M. Amos Wood ((1737-1806), 24 Feb 1763, Sudbury, Massachusetts22
7. Mary Dakin — B. 28 Aug 1741, Sudbury, Massachusetts;23 D. 1828, Littleton, Massachusetts;24 M. Timothy Baker (1730-1810), 20 Dec 1760, Littleton, Massachusetts25
8. Hannah Dakin — B. about 1744, Sudbury, Massachusetts;26 D. 28 Apr 1767, (probably) Sudbury, Massachusetts26
Sources:
1 Birth record of Samuel Dakin, Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of Samuel Dakin and Mercy Minot, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
3 Find-a-Grave listing of Capt. Samuel Dakin
4 The History of Sudbury, Massachusetts, 1638-1889, Alfred Sereno Hudson, 1889
5 Probate file of Samuel Dakin, Probate Records 1648-1924 (Middlesex County, Massachusetts), FamilySearch.org
6 Birth record of Joseph Dakin, Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
7 Death date is also included on Joseph Dakin's birth record
8 Birth record of Oliver Dakin, M. B. and C.
9 Find-a-Grave listing for Oliver Dakin
10 Marriage record of Oliver Dakin and Betsey Keyes, Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920
11 Birth record of Samuel Dakin (younger), M. B. and C.
12 Find-a-Grave listing for Samuel Dakin (younger)
13 Marriage date based on baptismal record of oldest child Samuel, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
14 Baptismal record of Mercy Dakin, M. B. and C.
15 Find-a-Grave listing for Marcy Dakin Puffer
16 Marriage date based on baptismal record of oldest child Thankful Puffer, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
17 Baptismal record of Bulah Dakin, M. B. and C.
18 Find-a-Grave listing for Beulah Dakin Adams
19 Marriage record of Thomas Baker and Bulah Dakin, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
20 Marriage record of John Adams and Beulah Baker, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
21 Find-a-Grave listing for Dorathy Dakin Wood
22 Marriage record of Amos Wood and Dorothy Dakin, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
23 Baptismal record of Mary Dakin, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
24 Death record of Mary Baker, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
25 Marriage record of Timothy Baker and Mary Dakin, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
26 Find-a-Grave listing for Hannah Dakin
