Corporal Asa Eddy

Asa Eddy was born before 1739, probably at Preston, New London, Connecticut, or perhaps in Taunton, Mass. He was over 14 years of age in 1754 when he chose Simeon Fobes as guardian (Probate Record of Preston). He married 2 Aug. 1761, at Preston, to Elizabeth Gore of Norwich, Connecticut, the daughter of Samuel and Desier (Desire?) Gore. She was born 15 Dec. 1738, at Voluntown, Connecticut, and died 14 Mar 1790, at Salisbury, Connecticut (also given as 4 Mar). (See Hist. Col. of Salisbury) It is claimed by one branch of the family that Asa Eddy married a second time Sarah…. and by the second wife had one child, born in Sheffield, Mass. From the French and Indian War Rolls in the Conn. Hist. Soc. Col (Vol. I, pg 191) it is shown that Asa Eddy was a member of the 12th Co. in Col. Lymans' Regiment: Capt. Gallup…that he enlisted 28 March, 1757, and was discharged 2 Dec 1757. On 10 April, 1758, he again enlisted in the 2nd Co..2nd Regiment under Capt. Coit and was discharged 20 Nov, 1758. Capt. Coit was of Preston and Capt. Gallup of Groton, Connecticut. He probably went to Salisbury about 1768 or 1769. Vol. VII and VIII of Land Records show that purchased land in Preston from 1764 through 1769. There are land records showing that an Asa Eddy purchased land in Salisbury, Connecticut, from 1777 through 1801. Besides this Asa Eddy and his son Asa Eddy, Jr., there was living in this section, another Asa Eddy with a son Asa.

This makes it rather confusing to distinguish between the two families. When the 1790 Census was taken, it would seem that the Asa Eddy who was living in Litchfield was this Asa and the one in Sheffield was Asa Jr., while the one in Great Barrington was the younger Asa of the other family, whose father Asa Senior had died earlier. In 1790 Asa Eddy of Litchfield had a household consisting of two males over 16, two under 16, and three females, the one in Sheffield had one male over 16, one under 16, and three females. The records filed at the Connecticut State Library show that Asa Eddy was of the party that went from Conn. to effect the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in April-May 1775. It seems very likely that this record refers to this Asa Eddy, since he had earlier been a soldier and so was a man of experience to whom such work could be intrusted. It is however possible that it was the younger Asa of the other branch.

Served in the American Revolutionary War.

Asa was in the party, along with the Green Mountain Boys that captured Fort Ticonderoga, April and May 1775. Asa also served in the French and Indian War. Enlisted March 28, 1757 and was discharged November 20, 1758.

Asa was a tanner and leather dealer.