The Cogswells in America - citizen hylbom blog

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was in the army over eight years. He took part at the siege of Boston, and
was in the battles of Trenton, Princeton, and Monmouth. Capt. Cogswell
was present May 13, 1783, in Newburgh, N. Y., on the banks of the Hudson,
when the officers of the American Revolutionary Army organized "The Soci-
ety OK THE Cincinnati," of which organization Washington was elected Presi-
dent-General in 1787. There were present at the organization of this order, and
among its original members, Major Thomas Cogswell, Capt. Amos Cogswell,
brothers, and Lieut. Samuel Cogswell ; the latter was probably Samuel" Cogswell
[ 480], son of Rev. James''' Cogswell, D. I)., of Canterbury, Conn. They
all served through the war with distinction. Subsequently, when the war was
over, Major Cogswell received from Gov. Langdon, of New Hampshire, a com-
mission, dated Oct. 22, 1785, as Colonel of First Regiment of Light Horse.
His under officers were Lieut. -Col. William Brewster, of Portsmouth, Major
Jonathan Cass, the father of Gen. Lewis Cass, of E.xeter, N. H.
Gen. Washington, on his Northern tour in 1789, visited Portsmouth,
N. H., and was escorted, Oct. 30, 1789, from the State line to the town by
Col Cogswell's regiment of Light Horse, Col. Cogswell himself being in
command. Col. Amos Cogswell took up his residence in Dover, N. H , Sept.,
1784. He married, Nov. 20, 1785, Mrs. Lydia (Baker) Wallingford, a daugh-
ter of Col. Otis Baker, of Dover, N H. She was the widow of Capt.
Samuel Wallingford, whom she married July 22, 1775. Her husband, Capt.
Wallingford, was killed on board the " Ranger," under command of John Paul
Jones, in the nav.il battle and capture of the British ship of war " Drake,"
.'^pril 24, 1778, ofT Belfast, Ireland.
Capt. Samuel and Lydia (Baker) Wallingford had one son, who was born
May iq. 1776, and named George Washington. He graduated at Harvard
College in 1795, was admitted to the bar in 1798. and practised law in Wells,
now Kennebunk, Me., until his death, Jan. 20, 1824. FiW. " Wentworth
Genealogy," Vol. II , pp 91, 97, and 98.
The marriage of Col Amos Cogswell and Mrs. Lydia (Baker) Walling-
ford was solemnized by Rev. Jeremy Belknap, D. D, minister of Dover,
and Historian of New Hampshire. Col Cogswell was ca led to fill many
civil offices as a citizen of Dover, N. H. He represented the town in the
State Legislature as Representative in 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1812, 1814, 1815,
and perhaps other years. He was State Senator in 1818, 1819, and 1820, and
Presidential Elector in 1816. He was chosen President of the New Hamp-
shire branch of "The Society of the Cincinnati." There is still extant a
petition of Col. Amos Cogswell to the Secretary of War for his pension, dated
July 8, 1820, in his own handwriting An extract from this petition is copied
on the following page. Vi)^ Memoranda.
Hon. Amos Cogswell died at the age of seventy-three years. Mrs. Cogs-
well survived her husband about two years, and died at the age of sixty-eight
years. Their remains lie side by side in the Cemetery in Dover, N. H., and
the spot is marked by a fitting monument, erected by their distinguished grand-
son, the Hon. John Wentworth, of Chicago, 111.