Revolutionary War Monument at The Mechanic Street Cemetery, Westfield, Massachusetts. John Dewey's name is inscribed there. Although his father, grandfather and great grandfather were buried here, John was not. John was buried in Leyden, New York, the place of his death, at the Locust Grove Lord Cemetery, also called Leyden Hill Cemetery. Also buried at that cemetery is John's wife Achsah, Lester Dewey, John's youngest son, and his wife Emily and their daughter Lydia and John's eldest daughter Sally Dewey Lord and her husband Gurdon Lord.
John Dewey was born in Westfield, Massachusetts on 20 January 1754. John was the son of Aaron Dewey and Sarah Noble. John was a selectman in Westfield from 1797-1798 and in 1801. In a deed dated April 15, 1789 Datis Ensign of Chester Massachusetts, clothier, and Isaac Ensign of Westfield, yeoman sold to John Dewey "a certain fulling mill in Westfield on two mile brook, adjoining Bagg's mill, with all utensils belonging to the same; liberty to use sd-mill for fulling cloth, when the water runs over the dam of the grist mill, adjoining." This cost John 11 pounds to make this purchase. You can read more about the profession of John Dewey here.
John Dewey was a private in Porter's Regiment during the Revolutionary War. John Dewey not only fought in the American Revolution, but he kept a diary of his experiences during his service. His diary is too important not to publish here. The diary was written during his service from April 4, 1776 through February 20, 1777. In it he writes of his travels, battles and experiences which include the famous crossing of the Delaware River with General Washington and the battle that transpired after. The diary can be read here. Also available will be some of his Revolutionary War records.
During the Revolutionary War John marched through New York. It must have left an impression on him because in the spring of 1802 he brought 2 of his sons John and Chester to Leyden, New York to clear land to build a home. About a year later,he packed up his family and moved to Leyden in Lewis County, New York. He was one of the earliest settlers in Leyden. John's brother Aaron was also an early settler of this area. In New York John became a clothing merchant. While in Leyden John Dewey was the town supervisor during the years 1804 and 1811. John Dewey died in Leyden, New York at the age of 67 on December 31, 1821. He is buried in Locust Grove Lord Cemetery.
John Dewey married Achsah Clapp in Westfield, Massachusetts on September 16, 1780. Achsah was born in Northampton on January 3, 1758 and was the daughter of Aaron Clapp and Jemima Bartlett. John and Achsah had 8 children, all born in Westfield. They are listed below.
John married Achsah Clap(p) on 16 September 1780. Achsah was the daughter of Aaron Clap and Jemima Bartlett Clap of Easthampton. Achsah was born in Easthampton on 31 January 1758. Her date and place of death were unknown until recently. I have read all the Dewey, Clap and Bartlett genealogies as well as all the books available from Northampton and Easthampton, Massachusetts and Lewis County, New York, the D.A.R. databases and there is no mention of her death anywhere. In October, 2011, a Find A Grave volunteer found the grave of Achsah Clapp Dewey right next to the grave of her husband. The stone had fallen flat and was covered with debris and moss. The date of her death is no longer a mystery. Achsah died 28 July 1833. Her Find A Grave Memorial and headstone can be viewed on the Find A Grave website here.
Go to John's diary written during the Revolutionary War here.
Go to the page about the profession of John Dewey here.
A page about the Last Will and Testament of John Dewey is coming soon
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