by Muriel Bristol | March 8, 2026
Amos Bragdon was born in York, ME, September 19, 1758.
Amos Bragdon enlisted in Capt. Eleazar Simpson’s York, ME, militia company, in April 1780. He served eight months in Capt. Andrew [Pepperell] Fernald’s company at Robinson’s Farm, at West Point, NY, at Gen. Benedict Arnold’s headquarters. He was a member of Gen. Arnold’s “life guard,” i.e., his bodyguard detachment, at the time of Arnold’s infamous “treachery and desertion.”
Extract of a letter from camp, Tapan, Sept. 26, “Lost to every sentiment of honor, and disgraced by the inordinate thirst for gold, gen. Arnold has gone over to the enemy. He was to have surrendered the important post of West Point, and entrapped the commander in chief [George Washington], who lodged at the post on the intended night of execution. I am unacquainted with the particulars of the discovery.
In the bottom of one of his boots, letters and plans were discovered, which unfolded the hellish scheme. It soon took wind, and was reported to gen. Arnold, and just before his excellency arrived at the place, the gen. went on board his barge, pushed down the river, and made his escape to the Vulture sloop of war, that lay opposite to Tarallal’s Point. Tom Smith’s brother was an accomplice, and has gone off likewise.
Mrs. Arnold is at West Point, or Robinson’s house, in a very distressed situation; major Parkes is with her. The enemy’s whole force, except a final garrison, had embarked yesterday, and the plan was to have been executed last night.”
Extract of another letter from the same place, dated Sept. 27: “Since writing you yesterday, I am informed that it was Joe and not Tom Smith, who acted as an accomplice in this horrid plot. He is taken, and with major Andre, I suppose, will grace a gallows this day.
No other particulars have come to my knowledge. The commander in chief is still at West Point, providing for its security, and searching the treason to the bottom” (Pennsylvania Post (Philadelphia, PA), September 30, 1780).
Amous Bragdon headed a Sanford, ME, household at the time of the First (1790) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 16-plus years [himself], one male aged under-16 years, and one female [Mary (—-) Bragdon]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John Stanyan and John Sampson.
(The known children of Amos and Mary (—-) Bragdon were: Ivory Bragdon (1797-1875)).
Son Ivory Bragdon was born in York, ME, May 18, 1797.
Mary (—-) Bragdon died, probably in York, ME, before 1810.
Amos Bragdon headed a York, ME, household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one male aged 16-25 years [Ivory Bragdon], one female aged 16-25 years, one female aged 10-15 years, and two males aged under-10 years.
Amos Bragdon married (2nd) in Berwick, ME, November 25, 1812, Sarah Lord, he of York, ME, and she of Berwick, ME. Rev. Joseph Smith performed the ceremony.
[… [Sarah Lord] further declares that she was married to the said Amos Bragdon on the twenty fifth day of November 1812 in Berwick State of Maine by Revd Joseph Smith Minister of the Gospel].
(The known children of Amos and Sarah (Lord) Bragdon were: Charles Bragdon (1816-1893)).
Son Charles Bragdon was born in Milton, May 18, 1816.
Amos Bragdon settled in Milton, “about fifteen years” before September 1832, i.e., circa 1817.
Son Ivory Bragdon married (1st) in Milton, March 5, 1820, Zilpah Ricker, both of Milton. Levi Jones, J.P., performed the ceremony. She was daughter of John and Elizabeth (Pinkham) Ricker. (Her name appeared variously as Zilpha, Zylphia, etc.).
Son Ivory Bragdon signed the April 1820 petition requesting the appointment of James Roberts as a Milton justice-of-the-peace. (See Milton Seeks a Magistrate – 1820).
Son Ivory Bragdon signed the Milton anti-division remonstrance of June 1820. (See Milton Militia Dispute – 1820).
Amos Bragdon headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 50-59 years [himself], one female aged 40-49 years, one male aged 10-14 years, and one female aged 10-14 years. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Thos Leighton and Ich Hayes, Jr. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Ivory Bragdon headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 30-39 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Zylpha (Ricker) Bragdon], one male aged 5-9 years [Zimri Bragdon], one female aged 5-9 years [Nancy Bragdon], two males aged under-5 years [George W. Bragdon], and one male aged 80-89 years. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of John Willey and Jas Downs. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Amos Bragdon was inscribed on the Revolutionary pension roll, March 4, 1831, at the rate of $26.67 per annum; and received his pension certificate, April 19, 1832. (The pension rolls record his receipt of payments through March 1844. Those rolls end by noting that he “Died 23d Augt 1844,” after receiving his final “4 Quarter 1844” payment).
Amos Bragdon of Milton, aged seventy-four years, described his Revolutionary service before a judge in Rochester, NH, September 15, 1832, …
That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1780 with Capt. A. Simpson and served in the militia regiment of the Massachusetts line, under the following named officers: that is to say – For the month of April in said year 1780 – he was residing in the town of York in the territory now the the State of Maine, but then a part of Massachusetts, that he in the month of April of that year enlisted under Eleazar Simpson to serve eight months, as a soldier and served that time, that said service was performed at and in the vicinity of West Point in the state of New York – that the officer of his Company while in actual service was Capt. Andrew Furnald and Lieutenant Wenchell, but the name of the ensign is not recollected – that they were stationed a part of the time at a place called Robinson’s Farm where was General [Benedict] Arnold’s quarters – and that he was one of his life guard at the time of his treachery and desertion – that after his time was out he returned home but never had any written discharge.
He further says that according to his [best] information he was born in the town of York aforesaid on the 19th Sept. 1758 – that he has no record of his age – that after his return from the army he resided in said town of York until about fifteen years ago since which time he has resided in Milton.
Daughter-in-law Zylphia (Ricker) Bragdon died in Rochester, NH, on December 20 of some year between 1834 and 1839. (Her gravestone is broken, such that the year is illegible).
Amos Bragdon headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 70-79 years [himself], and one female aged 50-59 years. His household included a “Pensioner for Revolutionary or Military Services,” i.e., himself, aged seventy-eight years. It appeared in the enumeration between those of Benjamin F. Wentworth and John McMillan. (See Milton in the Sixth (1840) Federal Census).
Ivory Bragdon headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 40-49 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years, one male aged 15-19 years [Zimri Bragdon], two females aged 5-9 years [Mary E. Bragdon], and one female aged 70-79 years. Two members of his household were engaged in agriculture.
Son Ivory Bragdon married (2nd) in Rochester, NH, April 16, 1840, Betsy Whitehouse, both of Rochester, NH. Rev. Francis V. Pike performed the ceremony.
NOTICE. This certifies that I have given my son, Zimri Bragdon, his time, and that I shall claim none of his earnings nor pay any debts of his contracting, after this date. IVORY BRAGDON. Witness – J.H. Henderson, N.V. Whitehouse. Rochester, August 12, 1840. 10 (Dover Enquirer, August 18, 1840).
Amos Bragdon died in Milton, August 23, 1844, aged eighty-six years.
[… and that her husband the said Amos Bragdon died in Milton in said County and State of New Hampshire on the twenty third day of August one thousand eight [hundred] and forty four].
Son Ivory Bragdon married (3rd), circa 1845, Mary [—–].
DEATHS. In Exeter, … A child of Mr. Ivory Bragdon, aged about 1 year (Dover Enquirer, May 4, 1847).
Daughter-in-law Mary [(—–)] Bragdon died in Exeter, NH, September 22, 1849, aged forty-seven years.
Ivory Bragden, a shoemaker, aged fifty-three years (b. ME), headed an Exeter, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Elizabeth Bragden, aged eight years (b. NH), Emily Bragden, aged seven years (b. NH), Helen Bragden, aged seven years (b. NH), Lydia R. Lowell, aged forty-two years (b. ME), Elodia C. Lowell, aged four years (b. MA), and Mary Bragden, aged forty-seven years (b. NH). Ivory Bragden had real estate valued at $600. They shared a two-family residence with the household of Christoper Staples, a laborer, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH).
Charles Bragdon, a shoemaker, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), resided in the Milton household of Robert J. Clark, a farmer, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH), at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census.
Son Ivory Bragdon married (4th) in Rowley, MA, September 28, 1850, Lydia R. [(Clough)] Lowell, both of Exeter, NH. He was a shoemaker, aged fifty-three years, and she was aged forty-two years. She was born in Maine, daughter of Simon and Sarah Clough. Rev. Leonard Withington performed the ceremony.
Son Charles Bragdon married in Rochester, NH, November 15, 1852, Eliza A. Sanborn, both of Milton. Rev. H.H. Hartwell performed the ceremony. She was born in Acton, ME, May 18, 1830, daughter of William and Sally (Crockett) Sanborn.
Ivory Bragdon, a shoemaker, aged sixty-three years (b. ME), headed an Exeter, NH, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Lydia R. [((Clough) Lowell)] Bragdon, aged fifty-two years (b. ME), and Ivory A. Bragdon, aged nine years (b. NH). Ivory Bragdon had real estate valued at $800 and personal estate valued at $60.
Charles Bragdon, a factory operative, aged forty-four years (b. NH), headed a Wolfeboro, NH, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Eliza A. [(Sanborn)] Bragdon, aged thirty years (b. ME), Charles H. Bragdon, aged six years (b. NH), George E. Bragdon, aged four years (b. NH), Sarah E. Bragdon, aged one year (b. NH), and Sarah [(Lord)] Bragdon, house work, aged seventy-nine years (b. ME). Charles Bragdon had real estate valued at $500 and personal estate valued at $100.
Sarah [(Lord)] Bragdon was inscribed on the Revolutionary pension roll, July 27, 1868, at the rate of $96.00 per annum; and she received her pension certificate, November 21, 1868.
Sarah “Sally” (Lord) Bragdon died of consumption in Milton, March 13, 1870, aged ninety years. Per the mortality schedule of the Ninth (1870) Census, she was a widowed housekeeper, aged eighty-nine years, that died of consumption in March.
Ivory Bragdon, a farmer, aged seventy-three years (b. ME), headed a Brentwood, NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Lydia R. [((Clough) Lowell)] Bragdon, keeping house, aged sixty years (b. ME), and Augustus I. Bragdon, blacksmith trade, aged nineteen years (b. NH). Ivory Bragdon had real estate valued at $1,400 and personal estate valued at $300.
Charles Bragdon, a farmer, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Eliza A. [(Sanborn)] Bragdon, keeping house, aged forty years (b. ME), Charles H. Bragdon, a farm laborer, aged fifteen years (b. NH), George E. Bragdon, at home, aged fourteen years (b. NH), Sarah E. Bragdon, at home, aged eleven years (b. NH), and Mary A. Bragdon, aged four years (b. NH). Charles Bragdon had real estate valued at $1,050 and personal estate valued at $470. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of James H. Horne, a farmer, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH), and David Wallingford, a farmer, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH).
Son Ivory Bragdon died of a bowel disease in Brentwood, NH, August 3, 1875, aged seventy-eight years, two months, and fifteen days. He was a married farmer. Moses W. Caverly, M.D., signed the death certificate.
… Moses Varney, Ivory Bragdon, Richard and Jothan Boise, John Ricker, Joseph Bickford, and Richard Horne, tended the grist mill where young Colbath, afterward Henry Wilson, Vice President of the United States, and many who were never Vice Presidents. came to mill. Not a descendent of all these remain in the district, save Mrs. Geo. H. Jones and her children, who are descendants of Richard Horne (Dover Enquirer, August 16, 1877).
Charles Bragdon, a laborer, aged sixty-four years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Eliza A. [(Sanborn)] Bragdon, keeping house, aged fifty years (b. ME), and his children, Charles H. Bragdon, works in shoe shop, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), George E. Bragdon, works in shoe shop, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), and Mary A. Bragdon, at home, aged fourteen years (b. NH). They resided on Portland Street.
Daughter-in-law Lydia R. ((Clough) Lowell) Bragdon died of a chronic bowel inflammation in Kingston, NH, August 20, 1884, aged seventy-seven years. She was a widowed housekeeper. T.O. Reynolds, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Son Charles Bragdon died of stomach cancer in Rochester, NH, June 14, 1893, aged seventy-seven years, and twenty-six days. He was a married farmer. R.V. Sweet, M.D. signed the death certificate. (The certificate noted that his father, i.e., Amos Bragdon, had been “crippled in battle”).
Charles Pearl, a shoe trimmer, aged forty-six years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty years), Nellie S. [(Bragdon)] Pearl, aged forty-one years (b. NH), and his children, Roy F. Pearl, aged fifteen years (b. NH), Olin H. Pearl, at school, aged eleven years (b. NH), Carl Pearl, at school, aged six years (b. NH), and Ruth M. Pearl, aged four months (b. NH), and his mother [-in-law], Eliza A. [(Sanborn)] Bragdon, a widow, aged seventy years (b. ME). Charles Pearl rented their house at 4 Union Street. Nellie S. Pearl was the mother of five children, of whom four were still living.
EAST ROCHESTER. … There is an unusually large number of dead letters at the post office this week. Following are the letters: Mrs. Seward Poorall, Bert Young, Elizabeth Viant, Perley C. Stone, Miss Edith Tebbetts, Miss Mabel Ross, Mrs. Lulu Howe, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Shorey, Eli Adjutant, and Mrs. Eliza A. Bragdon (Dover Enquirer, May 9, 1901).
Daughter-in-law Eliza A. (Sanborn) Bragdon died of senility at the Strafford County Farm in Dover, NH, March 8, 1910, aged seventy-nine years, ten months, and eight days. She was a widow.
References:
Find a Grave. (2010, March 22). Ivory Bragdon. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/50055793/ivory-bragdon
Find a Grave. (2010, March 22). Mary Bragdon. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/50055800/mary-bragdon
Find a Grave. (2011, April 3). Zylphia Ricker Bragdon. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/67867864/zylphia-bragdon
Find a Grave. (2023, January 27). Capt. Andrew Pepperell Fernald. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/248984348/andrew_pepperrell-fernald
Milton Observer 