M. 22 Jun 1738 in Northampton, Massachusetts2
Wife: Thankful Pomeroy
D. 24 Oct 1791 in Goshen, Massachusetts3
Gad Lyman’s life touched several bits of history in 18th century Massachusetts. He was born on February 13, 1713 in Northampton to John Lyman and Mindwell Sheldon.1 His parents’ families were among the town’s earliest settlers. Gad was the youngest of ten children, and his father was 52-years-old when he was born. The family lived in a section called South Farms.4 Gad’s father ran a tavern and inn;4 being around lively gatherings of people were likely a part of his childhood.
On June 22, 1738, Gad married Thankful Pomeroy in Northampton.2 She was also descended from several of Northampton’s founding families, and her father was the town gunsmith. Between 1739 and 1749, Gad and Thankful had six children — two sons and four daughters.
Gad was mentioned several times in Northampton town records. He was on a list of 8 tithing men in 1740, appointed a ‘“fence viewer” in 1743, served as constable in 1746, and was a surveyor in 1750.4 And on January 30, 1749, Gad received 17 acres when the town of Northampton voted to divide up its common land into private ownership.5
One of the most prominent people in Northampton’s history was Reverend Jonathan Edwards, a minister who presided over the church during the mid-18th century.6 In the 1730s, Reverend Edwards led what was referred to as the First Great Awakening in Northampton. He preached heavily about the “wickedness” of people, and he lectured to his congregations that if they didn’t mend their ways, they’d spend eternity suffering the torments of hell.5 He wrote several pamphlets expressing his views which were widely distributed around New England.5
Reverend Jonathan Edwards of Northampton, Massachusetts.
A few years later, though, Reverend Edwards became too extreme for the people of Northampton. He began censoring young church members for reading what he deemed to be “immoral books.”5 What made it worse, was that he read out the names of the “offenders” during Sunday service.5 Some of them were from the oldest families of Northampton, and by 1749, people were calling for him to resign. On October 16th, a petition was put forward calling for a meeting to decide on his status as their minister.4 Eleven men signed it, and the second name among the signatures was Gad’s. Four of the other signers were his brothers and brothers-in-law, and by extension he was related to four others. The petition started the process that ousted Reverend Edwards from the pulpit at Northampton.
Nearly 20 years later, Gad was involved in another civic matter. The Stamp Act of 1765 had shaken up all of Massachusetts and for the first time, colonists began to unite around the idea of self-government. After riots broke out in Boston, the English Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, but now wanted to be compensated for the damage caused by rioters. The legislature in Massachusetts proposed a bill agreeing to raise money only if the rioters were pardoned.4 To see if people in Massachusetts supported it, a draft of the bill was sent to several towns, and Northampton was one of them. Gad served on a committee of five men to consider it.4 The decision of the committee was to not support the bill outright, but to suggest they leave the matter to the judgment of their representative. The bill was voted on by the Massachusetts legislature and passed, but the king annulled it.4
Late in his life, Gad bought a “large tract of wilderness” in Goshen, Massachusetts and moved there, living with his son, Timothy.7 Gad’s wife Thankful passed away on August 12, 1790,8 and Gad died on October 24, 1791.3 They are both buried in Goshen Center Cemetery.
Children:
1. Oliver Lyman — B. 1 Apr 1739, Northampton, Massachusetts;9 D. 22 Jun 1799, Charlotte, Vermont;10 M. Eleanor Lyman (1737-1813), before 18 Apr 1762, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts11
2. Jerusha Lyman — B. 16 Nov 1740, Northampton, Massachusetts;12 D. 30 May 1769, Westfield, Massachusetts;13 M. John Phelps (1734-1802)13
3. Thankful Lyman — B. 9 Jan 1742, Northampton, Massachusetts;14 D. 9 Sep 1770, Westfield, Massachusetts;15 M. Alexander D. Grant (1735-1801), 21 May 1768, Westfield, Massachusetts16
4. Timothy Lyman — B. 4 Jul 1745, Northampton, Massachusetts;17 D. 23 Feb 1818, Goshen, Massachusetts;18 M. Hannah Colson (1743-1818), before 2 May 1771, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts19
5. Eunice Lyman — B. 27 Mar 1747, Northampton, Massachusetts;20 D. 11 Mar 1812, Chesterfield, Massachusetts;21 M. (1) Benjamin Mills (1739-1785), 6 Mar 1781, Hampshire County, Massachusetts;22 (2) Jedediah Southworth (1744-1809), 20 Jul 1788, Hampshire County, Massachusetts23
6. Tryphena Lyman — B. 30 Apr 1749, Northampton, Massachusetts;24 D. 5 Jan 1830, Warwick, Massachusetts;25 M. (1) Samuel Williams (1742-1786), 4 Jan 1773, Warwick, Massachusetts;26 (2) Timothy Dutton (1737-1814), 7 Aug 1802, Warwick, Massachusetts27
Sources:
1 Birth record of Gad Lyman, Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of Gad Lyman and Thankful Pomeroy, Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
3 Find-a-Grave listing of Gad Lyman
4 Genealogy of the Lyman Family in America and Great Britain, Lyman Coleman, 1871
5 History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From its Settlement in 1654, Vol. 1, James Russell Trumbull and Seth Pomeroy, 1898
6 Jonathan Edwards (theologian) (Wikipedia article)
7 History of the Town of Goshen, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, Hiram Barrus, 1881
8 Find-a-Grave listing of Thankful (Pomeroy) Lyman
9 Birth record of Oliver Lyman, M.B. & C.
10 Death record of Oliver Lyman, Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954, FamilySearch.org
11 Estimated marriage of Oliver Lyman and Eleanor Lyman based on birth of oldest child Abigail, M.B. & C.
12 Birth record of Jerusha Lyman, M.B. & C.
13 Find-a-Grave listing of Jerusha (Lyman) Phelps
14 Birth record of Thankful Lyman, M.B. & C.
15 Find-a-Grave listing of Thankful (Lyman) Grant
16 Marriage record of Alexander Grant and Thankful Lyman, Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1925, FamilySearch.org
17 Birth record of Timothy Lyman, M.B. & C.
18 Find-a-Grave listing of Timothy Lyman
19 Estimated marriage of Timothy Lyman and Hannah Colson based on christening of oldest child Thankful, M.B. & C.
20 Birth record of Eunice Lyman, M.B. & C.
21 Find-a-Grave listing of Eunice (Lyman) Southworth
22 Marriage record of Benjamin Mills and Eunice Lyman, M.S.V.R.
23 Marriage record of Jedediah Southworth and Eunice Mills, M.S.V.R.
24 Birth record of Tryphena Lyman, M.B. & C.
25 Death record of Widow Tryphena Sutton, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
26 Marriage record of Samuel Williams and Tryphena Lyman, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
27 Marriage record of Timothy Dutton and Tryphena Williams, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
