Notes by Sarah G. Bagnall, sent to Rosalind (Bagnall) Jackson
Date Unknown

Transcribed by Erica Altschul, July 2008



I. Benjamin Bagnall (Senior)

Benjamin Bagnall (a quaker) was born in England in 1689. He came to
this country in 1714. His wife was Elizabeth Shove. He died July 11,
1775 aged 86 years. Benjamin was a clock-maker, the first clock-maker
in New England, and there is no record of any other in the other
Colonies. There is an old Bagnall clock in the New England
Genealogical Society Rooms in Boston made by Benjamin Bagnall. It is
their only timepiece -- is in perfect running order -- made entirely
by hand -- and has the name Benjamin Bagnall across the face of the
clock. He was the official timekeeper of the town of Boston. (I
visited the rooms of the N. E. Gen. Soc. a year ago and saw the clock.
S.G.B.)

The children of Benj. & Eliz. Bagnall were:
  1. Benjamin Jr. born in Boston Mass. March 1714
  2. Elizabeth S.  "   "    "      "   Dec. 7 1716
  3. Samuel        "   "    "      "   Dec. 16 1718
  4. Martha        "   "    "      "   Jan. 23 1720
  5. Sarah         "   "    "      "   Jan. 13 1723
  6. John          "   "    "      "   July 21 1726
  7. Thomas        "   "    "      "   Jan. 12 1728

In the records of baptisms in Kings Chapel, Boston, is that of
Benjamin, infant son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Bagnall. (From this
entry I infer that the mother was not a quaker, but possibly a member
of the Church of England, or of Kings Chapel.)


II. Benjamin Bagnall Jr.
Benjamin Jr. was the oldest son of Benjamin & Elizabeth (Shove)
Bagnall. He followed his father's business as watch-maker or
clock-maker. Born in Boston in 1714, and baptized in King's Chapel
March 3, 1715, which fact seems to posit that the mother (Eliz. S.)
was not a quaker as were the Bagnalls. The other sons of Benj. Bagnall
(Senior) -- Samuel, John, & Thomas -- either were not married or died
without heirs.

The oldest daughter of Benj. & Eliz. S. (as per record of Benj.
Senior) was named Elizabeth Shove after her mother. She married John
Mifflin, a "Friend" or Quaker, who was very prominent in the early
government of Pennsylvania, being a member of the Supreme Executive
Council. Their oldest child a son named THomas. He responded to the
call of his country with his wealth and also with personal military
service. After the battle of Lexington, he raised a regiment of Penn
quakers for immediate service, was commissioned as Major, repaired to
the Encampment before Boston, and was appointed First Aide-de-Campe to
General George Washington. In 1775 he was appointed Quarter Master
General and rec'd his commission in Brig. General May 19 1778. He was
made Major Gen later in 1778. He had been elected a member of the
COntinental Congress in May 1775, and in November 1785, he was elected
its President. In 1787 he was elected a member of the Convention which
framed the Constitution of the U. States. He was elected President of
the Supreme Executive Council of Penn. and later served as Gov. of
Penn. for 3 terms of 3 yrs each. (9 years) He died Jan 20. (The
Constitution of Penn limited the holding of the office as Gov. to 3
terms)

The following memorial & quote -- "It may be claimed for him that he
was the leading citizen of his own state, and one of the leading
citizens of his country."

This Gov. Mifflin you can readily see was a Bagnall through mother
Eliz. S. Bagnall, and it was with this Thomas Mifflin that his cousin
Rob't Bagnall (our great-grandfather) of Boston served in the
Revolutionary War. Also that from him Grandpa Bagnall rec'd his middle
name -- and the reason that your father (George) also sometimes wrote
his name Thomas Mifflin.


III. Robert Bagnall
Robert Bagnall was son of Benj. Bagnall Jr. He was a quaker and served
under his Cousin Thomas Mifflin in the Penn line of the Continental
Army. He was probably induced to enlist with the Penn troops when they
came from Penn to Boston rather than with the Mass troops, by the
influence of his kinsman, and because there were so many of his
religious faith (quakers) in the troops from Penn. It is known that he
enlisted at the very outset of the war and before the British
evacuated Boston, and that in consequence his family were driven from
Boston and his property seized by the Crown while the British occupied
the town. He moved his family to Newport, R.I. where some of his
children were born. Returning to Boston after the War he was engaged
for some years as a grover on Change St. near Essex St., Orange St.
(named for [Dupa?] of Orange) being the name at that time of that part
of Washington St. from Essex St. to the boundary line between Boston &
Roxbury. His death occurred in Ohio in 1789.

In the [Mars?] Magazine for July 1789, published in Boston, we find
"Died in Ohio, Mr. Rob't Bagnall of this town." Also the Independent
Colonials of Boston June 4 1789 says, "At the Ohio, after a short
illness, Mr. Robert Bagnall of this town."

He had 5 children: Nancy, Sarah, Mary, Eliza Chase, and Thomas. (I
remember Nancy -- Grandpa Bagnall's sister who married a Houghton and
lived in Chelsea and Sarah whom we called Aunt Sally. She lived with
Grandma Bagnall until Grandma took up housekeeping and then lived with
Aunt Eliza until her death -- a very old lady. Grandpa
Bagnall (Thomas) was the only son, and only 3 yrs old when his father
died.

Taken from "Soldiers & Sailors of the American Revolution in
Massachusetts" -- "Bagnall, Robert. Conductor (late) Deputy Quarter
Master. Generals' Department at Boston. Enlisted June 1 1778,
discharged Spt 23 1780. Service 28 mos. Also reported as service as
Wagon Master."

Records of the Am. Rev. show that most of the men enlisted for 6 mos.
and then returned to their [haitis?] or farms for awhile, re-enlisting
again in many cases, but Rob't Bagnall has a record of continuous
service 28 mos, nearly 5 times the usual terms of service. It
is from this ancestor that we can claim to be Sons or Daughters of the
Revolution.


IV. Thomas (Mifflin) Bagnall (Our Grandfather)
Thomas Mifflin Bagnall was the youngest child and only son of Robert
Bagnall. He was born in Boston Dec. 22 1786. The name given him by his
parents was Thomas Mifflin Bagnall after Gov. Mifflin of Penn. For
some reason, when baptized on joining the Methodist Church in Boston,
he dropped the Mifflin and always afterwards signed his name simply
Thomas Bagnall.

In 1811, he married Mary Rowell Tucker of Boston. He was a [fisnif?] &
blockmaker by trade, carrying on business for himself (Commercial St.
near Chelsea & East Boston ferries) from 1813 to 1842 when he returned
from business, having acquired a competence (for those days). He died
Sept 17 1849. His children were
  Thomas (Mifflin)  born June 29 1814  died Jan 17 1884  69 years
  Elijah Hedding    born Dec 25 1815   died July 2 1965  50 years
  William Rhodes    born July 17 1819  died Aug 1892     73 years
  Eliza Chase       born 1824          died Summer 1864  40 years
  Mary Tucker (twins)


V
Thomas Mifflin Bagnall had 4 children by Bethia G. Dyer: Thomas Jr.,
Bertha, Harriet, & George

Elijah Hedding Bagnall had 4 sons & 2 daughters by Ann Brigham:
Wilbur, Emma, Edward, Anna, Chas., and Henry

William Rhodes Bagnall had 4 children by Sarah F. Goodridge: Wm R Jr.,
Sarah G., John G., & Frances A.

Eliza Chase had 1 son & 3 daughters by William Reed: Thomas Bagnall
Reed, Anna, Alice, Lilla F.

Mary Tucker (twin to Eliza) did not marry.

Of the present generation:
  Charles   married and had one daughter
  George W  married and had two daughters
  Frances A married and had three daughters
So that with the present generation the name dies out.