Caleb S. Arnold

He spent his formative years in Smithfield, RI.

1759, March 9- "Caleb Arnold of Glocester, but late of Smithfield, RI" purchased 150 acres of land from James King, Jr. for 3,000 pounds (a very large sum of money at the time). The property was described as "All the farm where I (James King, Jr.) dwell."

1770, June 1- Caleb deeds land to son, Esek Arnold, which is "part of my homestead farm where I dwell." Unfortunately, this house is no longer standing. It stood near or on Pine Hill in West Glocester along Route 94 (Reynolds Road).

Served in the American Revolution along with eight sons, Esek, William, Nehemiah, Jabez, Caleb, Jr., Edward, Oliver, and three sons in law William Colwell, Jonathan Brown, and Ephraim Williams.

Siblings: Eleazer (named after his grandfather Eleazer Arnold) born 1716 or 17, Joseph, Jr. born 30 April 1717 or 18, Benjamin born 16 March 1719, Joshua born 14 July 1720, Amos born 29 March 1721, Elizabeth born 10 April 1723, Deborah born 15 May 1727, Nathan born 1729, Mercy born 22 April 1734, Stukely born 1735, and Samuel born 12 July 1736.

taking part in war. But the Fighting Quakers of the Revolution were noted

for their warring ability, and the family of Caleb Arnold has a record

probably unmatched in history. [There were] eight sons and three

sons-in-law of Caleb Arnold who served in the War of the Revolution.*

"Caleb the Patriot was fifty-one years old when the call to arms came for

men of sixteen to fifty years of age. But he served his county as Deputy

from 1773 to 1778 and as War Commissioner in 1780 from Gloucester, Rhode

Island, making an even dozen from this one family in the war. Patience

Brown, wife of Caleb the Patriot, and her three daughters, Achsa, Patience

and Lucy, attended to the farms while their men were at war, in the meantime

caring for the wounded and dying soldiers. A Rhode Island account of this

remarkable family of patriots says, 'The hardships encountered by the mother

and daughters are said to have been almost beyond endurance and fired their

husband's hearts to the conflict with unbounded enthusiasm. They were near

neighbors to General Putnam.' (Palen, pg 44, 45)

• (From J.O. Arnold) Arnold family members who served in the War of the

Revolution were: William, Othniel, Jabez, and Edward, who served in Captain

Stephen Kimball's company, Colonel Dan Hitchcock's Regiment, General

Nathaniel Greene's Brigade. William served as sergeant in Captain Kimball's

company and then as Lieutenant under Colonel Elliot. Nehemiah and Ezekiel

served in Massachusetts and Oliver in Company A, Colonel John Topham's

Regiment. Oliver later moved to the Chenango County and then to Olean, New

York. Caleb, the Fife Major was in Captain Kimball's company and later

served under Colonel Elliot.

Achsah married Jonathan Brown, and Patience married Ephraim Williams who

both served in Col. Topham's Regt. and marched to Quebec. Lucy married

William Coldwell, who is thought to have served in the war, but his service

is, so far, not validated." [JO Arnold]

Sources: "Caleb Arnold, the Patriot" by James Oliver Arnold; North Guilford

Pioneers, by Ida Palen, 1906, [no Pension Application found for Caleb

Arnold, Sr. JDW, 2005] The Narragansett Historical Register, James N.

Arnold, Ed., Online, Rootsweb.org. January 2006

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/208709705/caleb-smithfield-arnold

Caleb Smithfield “The Patriot” Arnold
BIRTH
25 May 1725
Smithfield, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
DEATH
5 Feb 1784 (aged 58)
Glocester, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
BURIAL
Arnold Lot
Glocester, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
MEMORIAL ID
208709705 · View Source
MEMORIAL
PHOTOS 2
FLOWERS 1
Excerpts from "The Narragansett Historical Register" Vol IX p. 146: "Caleb Arnold, the patriot, served as Deputy in 1773-78, on War Committee 1780, in Glocester, Rhode Island"
P.145: "served in the Revolutionary War, had eight sons and three sons-in-law, who all served in the same war, making a dozen patriots in one family;"

Son of Joseph Arnold and Mercy Stafford; grandson of Eleazer Arnold and Eleanor Smith; great grandson of emigrants to America Thomas Arnold and Phebe Parkhurst.

Gravesite Details
Fieldstone only; large iron "SAR" marker/flagholder in place. With footstone

Family Members
Parents
Joseph Arnold
1678–1746

Mercy Stafford Arnold
1694–1779

Spouse

Patience Brown Arnold
1729–1771 (m. 1745)

Siblings
Benjamin Arnold
1719–1810

Samuel Arnold
1736–1813

Children

Esek Arnold
1746–1805

Nehemiah Arnold
1748–1833

William Arnold
1751–1836

Othniel Arnold
1753–1776

Edward Arnold
1759–1842

Oliver Arnold
1765–1853

Achsah Arnold Brown
1767–1849