Ebenezer Weaver Pierce of Assonet Village, Freetown, Mass., states in his sketches of Fall River and Freetown that "Col. DURFEE removed to Tiverton, R.I., and was elected to a seat in the General Assembly of that State, but spent his last years in and died at Assonet." While living in Tiverton, in 1816, he and his wife, with others, organized the First Congressional Church of Fall River, Mass.
The Commissioner of Pensions, at Washington, D.C., in reply to a request, on August 23, 1895, gave from the records of his office a statement of the military service of Col. DURFEE as follows, viz :
"In the year 1775 he was commissioned as Captain, and raised a company of minute men, which company was stationed at Fall River, Mass., for about 15 months; he then took command of a company of about 60 men and marched to the State of New York, where he joined the regiment commanded by Col. Thomas Carpenter, and in a few days after his arrival was actively engaged in the battle of White Plains; remained in New York State until November, 1776, when he marched with his company to Tiverton, R.I., and joined the regiment commanded by Col. John Cook, which regiment he assisted in covering the retreat of the American troops from that island (probably the island of Rhode Island is meant). Late in the year 1776 he was commissioned as Major in the regiment commanded by Col. John Hathaway, and was stationed at Little Compton, R.I., for about six months; in February or March, 1778, was stationed as a Major with 20 men under his command at Fall River, Mass. In May of that year was engaged in a skirmish with the British troops at that place, and compelled them to retreat with the loss of several men killed and wounded. August, 1778, he joined Gen. Sullivan's expedition to Rhode Is land, and served as a Major in Col. Whitney's regiment about one month. From thence he went to Pawtucket and did duty as a Major until December, 1778, a period of about 3 months. In January of February, 1779, he received a Lieutenant-Colonel's commission, and with his regiment joined Gen. Cornell's brigade at Tiverton, R.I., where he continued to serve until the evacuation of the island by the British troops in October, 1779. From that time until he left the service, late in December, 1779, he was stationed at Newport."
Col. DURFEE's will, dated Fall River, Mass., April 17, 1834, is record ed on page 473, of book No. _", Probate records, at Taunton, Mass., and is in part shown as follows:
"Item.-To wife Elizabeth, house and land bought of Nichols.
"Item.-To son Aaron great arm chair and cushion and round mahogany table and wearing apparel.
"Item-To grandson John DURFEE Wilson watch, desk, high post bedstead and cord; one feather bed, one straw bed, two blankets, two sheets, one bolster, two pillows and pillow case and great Bible.
"Item.-All real and personal estate to wife Elizabeth."A codicil changes executor from Aaron DURFEE, his son, to John Nichols , January 25, 1841.
This change of executor was no doubt made necessary from the fact that his son Aaron, some years before, removed to the State of Illinois .The will of Mrs. Elizabeth DURFEE, widow of Col. Joseph DURFEE, dated Freetown, Mass., March 3, 1854, at Taunton, Mass., and the following items are embraced in it.
"To son William Nichols $1.00. To grandson Eleazer Nichols $1.00. To daughter Chloe Hills wife of David Hills all other estate &c. Appoints son-in-law David Hills executor."
Mr. S.A. Chace, in an article on the Military History of Fall River previous to 1824, published in the Fall River "Evening News," March 24, 1897, mentions the period of the Revolutionary was as follows, viz :
"During the early part of the war which followed the Declaration of Independence, Tiverton and the part of Freetown now included in the city of Fall River was constantly harassed and distressed by the enemy, whose ships were often at Newport and farther up the Narragansett Bay .
"On a Sunday morning, the 25th of May 1778, about 150 British troops came up the bay in boats and landed at Fall River. They first set fire to the house of Thomas Borden, near the shore, and to his grist and saw-mills located near where the Metacomet mill is now standing. These buildings were entirely destroyed. The men of the place rallied under the command of Colonel, then Major, Joseph DURFEE, and after a brave and spirited resistance, repulsed the invaders and compelled them to retreat. They left two men killed, near what is now the junction of South Main and Pocasset streets. In their retreat they were closely pursued to the shore, and another man was killed after stepping on board one of the boats. In their retreat they also set fire to several houses, one of which was the house of Richard Borden, then an old man.
"These fires were all extinguished by the vigilance of their pursuers, but they did secure the old man as a prisoner and carried him off in one of their boats. As they approached Bristol Ferry, the Americans on shore began to fire on the boats, and Mr. Borden, with the grit and sagacity of his race, which has been so efficient in the development of this city, laid himself down in the bottom of the boat. To this his captors objected, and attempted to force him to sit up and take the same chances for being hit that they had. In this he would not aid them, and they attempted to stand him up by main force. During this operation two of the Englishmen who were holding him up were shot and fell overboard. Mr. Borden was soon after released on parole. The Englishmen who were killed in the engagement before the retreat were buried on the same day near the place where they fell, the head of one laid beside the feet of the other.
Joseph was the captain of a company of minute men stationed in Fall River in 1775. He later commanded a company of 60 men in Colonel Thomas Carpenter's Regiment which joined Washington in White Plains, NY, and fought in the battle there a few days after arriving. In November 1776, he returned to Rhode Island and served in Colonel Cook's regiment in the battle of Rhode Island. Late in the year 1776, he was commissioned Major in Colonel John Hathaway's Regiment and was stationed in Little Compton, Newport County, RI, for 6 months. On Sunday morning May 25 (or May 31),1778, a British force of about 150 soldiers landed at Fall River and began burning the houses of Thomas Borden and Richard Borden and several other buildings. Major Joseph DURFEE, who was stationed at Fall River, with a hastily gathered force of 20-25 men that included his brother Benjamin, successfully drove off the British, killing three and wounding several others in the process. The size of Joseph's force increased as more men, hearing the noise of the battle and seeing the smoke of the burning buildings, rushed to the scene. In August 1778, he went on the Sullivan Campaign in Rhode Island.He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in January 1779, of Light Infantry in Colonel John Jacob's regiment, and then full Colonel in 1782. The record of Joseph's military service is from the National Archives Revolutionary Service Records # 4263 and 4264. Also from an article by S. A. Chase in the March 24, 1897, issue of the Fall River Evening News with the title the Military History of Fall River.
When the U. S. 1790 census of Tiverton, Newport County, RI, was taken Joseph's family was 2 males over 16, 3 males under 16, and 7 females.
Elizabeth's father was a physician. Reed states that they were married in Tiverton, Newport County, RI, but Mrs Helen Thomas of East Freetown, Bristol County, MA, in 1985, states that they were both of Freetown, and were married in Freetown, September 24, 1772. Elizabeth's death was noted in the May 28, 1817, issue of the Rhode Island Republican newspaper which stated that she was 64 at the time of death.
Walter Chaloner, of Freetown, Bristol County, MA, was the master of the sloop Swallow, 47 tons, built in 1786. It hailed from Freetown and was owned by Walter and his brothers-in-law Joseph DURFEE and Benjamin DURFEE, both of Freetown , MA. From The Shipbuilding Business, page 174, cited by Mrs. Helen Thomas of East Freetown, Bristol County, MA, in 1985.
When the U. S. 1800 census of Newport County, RI, was taken Joseph DURFEE's family was 1 male 10-16, 2 males 16-26, 1 male over 45, 3 females under 10, 2 females 10-16, 2 females 16-16, and 1 female over 45.
In her will dated April 23, 1801, and proved October 5, 1801, Patience (Borden) DURFEE, widow of Thomas, left " ... to eldest son Joseph DURFEE a History of England, a stone sledge and claims against the Government in the hands of Pardon Gray. To two sons Joseph DURFEE and Samuel DURFEE interest in a wharf at Newport, Newport County, RI. Her daughter Abigail DURFEE was executrix. Registry of Probate, Taunton, Bristol County, MA, Book 39, page 243.
When the U. S. 1810 census of Tiverton, Newport County, RI, was taken Colonel Joseph DURFEE's family was 1 male under 10, 2 males 16-26, 2 males over 45, 1 female under 10, 3 females 16-26, and 1 female over 45.
A Joseph DURFEE was Justice of the Peace in Tiverton, Newport County, RI, in May 1811, May 1812, and in 1817. From Smith's Civil and Military List of Rhode Island in Volume 2, pages 151, 155, and 251.
While residents of Tiverton in 1816, he and Elizabeth were among the organizers of the First Congregational Church of Fall River.
In January 1819, when he married Elizabeth Nichols, Joseph was a resident of Tiverton, Newport County, RI, and she was a resident of Freetown, Bristol County, MA.
When the U. S. 1830 census of Troy (Fall River), Bristol County, MA, was taken Joseph's family was 2 males 15-20, 1 male 80-90, 1 female 30-40, and 1 female 60-70.
In his will dated April 17, 1834, Joseph left " ... to wife Elizabeth house and land, to son Aaron a chair, table and clothing, to grandson John DURFEE Wilson a watch, desk, bed etc. All personal and real property to wife Elizabeth ... ". Taunton Wills Book 83, page 473. In a codicil dated January 25, 1841, Joseph names John Nichols to be executor, replacing his son Aaron.
When the U. S. 1840 census of Freetown, Bristol County, MA, was taken Joseph's family was 1 male 5-10, 1 male 40-50, 1 male 90-100, 1 female 40-50, and 1 female 70-80. He was identified as a Revolutionary War pensioner and age 90.
Elizabeth ( ... ) (Nichols) DURFEE was granted a military pension based on the service of her first husband Eleazer Nichols.
When the U. S. 1850 census of Freetown, Bristol County, MA, was taken Joseph was dead and Elizabeth DURFEE 85, born MA, was living in the house of Samuel and Clarissa S. White.
In her will dated March 3, 1852, and proved January 3, 1854, Elizabeth left " ... to son William Nichols $ 1.00, to grandson Eleazer Nichols $ 1.00, to daughter Chloe Hills wife of David Hills all other estate ... ". David Hills was executor. Taunton Wills Book 100, page 201.
According to Mrs. Helen Thomas of East Freetown, Bristol County, MA, in 1985, Joseph DURFEE and his widow Elizabeth (Nichols) DURFEE were both buried in the Nichols - Deane Cemetery on North Main St. in Assonet Village, Freetown, Bristol County, MA. She further stated that Joseph was buried near the entrance and his headstone was removed " ... a few years ago when there was vandalism and that he was born April 27, 1750, and died December 10, 1841 ... ". Elizabeth (Nichols) DURFEE's stone says that she died July 23, 18- -, age 89. According to Charles Benns' Rhode Island Cemetery Records Volume 6, page 85, Joseph and his first wife Elizabeth (Turner) DURFEE were both buried in the cemetery on the corner of Brightman St. in Fall River. Obviously one or the other must be wrong. According to an Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots on the internet at Ancestry.com, January 2000, Lt. Col. Joseph DURFEE was buried in North Cemetery in Fall River, Bristol County, MA.
The Descendants of Thomas DURFEE. William Field Reed. Washington, DC. Two Volumes. 1902 and 1905. Volume 1, pages 188 and 248.
Reed states that all of Joseph's children were born in Tiverton, Newport County, RI, but in all of his military records (1775-1785) he was of Freetown, Bristol County, MA. Apparently he lived in Tiverton, before the Revolution and moved back to Tiverton after the Revolution, staying there until about 1820, when he moved back to Freetown. It is probable that at least some of his children were born in Freetown.