Historical Register of Units of the Militia, Associators, and Minutemen from 1607 to 1861 Compiler and editor – Walter G. Green III, Ph.D. Copyright 2015 by the Society of Descendants of Militia Officers. All rights reserved. 2016-06-03 Note: This register is currently in an editing process to convert all entries to a standard style. Red type indicates entries which have been edited to the style. We expect the conversion process to be completed by 1 April. In that process information that may require further validation is marked by an asterisk (*). Note to Users: This register is based on the best available information that the Society has been able to access, and is provided as a guide to further research. Users should consult the original sources cited, and make a determination as to whether those sources meet the user’s, or other organization’s or publication’s, requirements. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this register, errors in transcription are possible, even probable, and some sources may be of uncertain reliability. Our intent is to gather as much information as possible from all available sources and refine that information over time. Please call any errors or omissions noted to our attention, providing details and the sources for that information. UNITS – MASSACHUSETTS 1629-1680 Colony/State Date Unit Strength Reference Massachusetts 1641-06-01 Massachusetts Bay Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony) Colony Militia: Militia Roots”. Sergeant Major General John Humphrey Massachusetts (a) 1636/7-03- (a) South Regiment: (a) Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): 09 Colonel John 1 Colonel Militia Roots”. (c) Dorchester, (b) 1643-09-07 Winthrop, Sr.; 1 Lieutenant Roxbury, Redesignated Lieutenant Colonel Colonel Weymouth, (c) 1680-10-13 Thomas Dudley; 1 Hingham, force Mustermaster Captain Mustermaster Dedham, reorganization John Underhill; 5 Companies Braintree, Captain John (b) Medfield, Hull, Underhill’s Company 2 Troops of Milton, probably (Boston); Horse Wrentham, Captain Israel Hingham Stoughton’s Company (Dorchester); pg. 1 Roxbury Company; Weymouth Company; Hingham Company (b,c) Suffolk Regiment: Major William Stoughton Massachusetts (a) prior to (a) Suffolk Troop, Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony) 1652-05-26 Suffolk Regiment Militia Roots”. (b) date (b) renamed Boston unknown Troop (c) 1680-10-13 may be same troop as force Captain Thomas reorganization Brattle’s Troop transferred to Boston Regiment Massachusetts (a) prior to Captain Thomas Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony) 1680-10-13 Brattle’s Troop of Militia Roots”. (b) transferred Horse, Suffolk to Boston Regiment: Regiment Captain Thomas 1680-10-13 Brattle may be same troop as Boston Troop Massachusetts 1679-10-15 Hingham, Weymouth, Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony) and Hull Troop, Suffolk Militia Roots”. Regiment Massachusetts (a) 1631-04-12 (a, b) Captain John Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): (b) 1635 Underhill’s Company, Militia Roots”. Boston and (c) 1652-10-19 South Regiment: Roxbury Captain John Underhill Massachusetts (a) 1631-04-12 (a) Captain Richard Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): (b) 1635 Southcot’s Company : Militia Roots”. Dorchester Captain Richard Southcot (b) Captain John Mason’s Company: Captain John Mason Massachusetts (a) 1636/7-03- (a) East Regiment: (a) Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony) 09 Colonel John Endecott; 1 Colonel Militia Roots”. (b) 1643-09-07 Lieutenant Colonel 1 Lieutenant redesignated John Winthrop, Jr.; Colonel (c) 1680-10-13 Mustermaster Captain 1 force William Trask; Mustermaster reorganization, Captain William Trask’s 4 Companies divided into 1st Company (Salem) pg. 2 and 2nd Essex Captain Daniel Regiments Patrick’s Company (Saugus renamed Lynn 1637); Captain Daniel Dennison’s Company (Ipswich); Captain John Spencer’s Company (Newberry) (b) Essex Regiment Massachusetts (a) 1629-04-17 (a, b) Salem Company Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): (b) 1631-04-12 or Captain John Militia Roots”. Salem (c) 1635 Endecott’s Company, (d) 1674-10-07 East Regiment: reorganization Captain John Endecott into 1st and 2nd (c) Captain William Salem Trask’s Company, East Companies Regiment: Captain William Trask Massachusetts 1674-10-07 1st (East) Salem Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): Company, Essex Militia Roots”. Salem Regiment Massachusetts (a) 1674-10-07 2nd (West) Salem Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): (b) 1677-10-22 Company, Essex Militia Roots”. Salem reorganization Regiment into 2nd and 3rd Salem Companies Massachusetts 1677-10-22 3rd (Salem Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): created from Farms/Village) Salem Militia Roots”. Salem the 2nd Salem Company, Essex Company Regiment Massachusetts (a) 1635 (a) Captain Nathaniel Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): (b) by 1636/7- Turner’s Company: Militia Roots”. Saugus renamed 03-09 Captain Nathaniel Lynn 1637 Turner (b) Captain Daniel Patrick’s Company: Captain Daniel Patrick Massachusetts (a) 1652-10-19 Essex Troop, Essex Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony) (b) 1662-05-07 Regiment: Militia Roots”. force reorganization Massachusetts (a) 1662-05-07 (a) 1st Essex Troop, Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): formed from Essex Regiment: Militia Roots”. (a) Ipswich, Essex Troop (b) 1st (?) Essex Troop, pg. 3 Rowley, (b) 1680-10-13 Regiment unknown Newbury, (c) 1683-05-16 (c) 1st Essex Troop, Andover, force probably 1st Essex Topsfield reorganization Regiment (b) Ipswich only Massachusetts 1683-05-16 Andover and Topsfield Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony) formed from Troop, Essex Regiment Militia Roots”. 1st Essex Troop probably 2nd Essex Regiment Massachusetts 1683-05-16 Newbury and Rowley Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony) formed from Troop, Essex Regiment Militia Roots”. 1st Essex Troop probably 2nd Essex Regiment Massachusetts (a) 1662-05-07 2nd Essex Troop, Essex Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): Formed from Regiment Militia Roots”. (a) Salem, Essex Troop Manchester, (b) 1677-06-01 Lynn, River Head disbanded (d) Salem only (c) 1678-05-09 reorganized (d) 1678-10-07 Massachusetts 1677-10-22 Lynn Troop, Essex Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony) formed from Regiment Militia Roots”. 2nd Essex Troop Massachusetts 1683-05-16 Beverly and Wenham Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony) formed from Troop, Essex Regiment Militia Roots”. 2nd Essex Troop probably 1st Essex Regiment Massachusetts (a) 1680-10-13 1st (South) Essex 1 Major Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): formed from Regiment: General Militia Roots”. Salem, Lynn, Essex Regiment Major General 10 companies Marblehead, (b) 1689 force Dennison; 2 Troops of Ipswich, reorganization 3 Ipswich Companies; Horse Gloucester, into 3 1st Essex Troop of Wenham, Salem regiments Horse; Village Beverly and Wenham Troop of Horse Massachusetts (a) 1680-10-13 2nd (North ) Essex 1 Major Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): formed from Regiment: 9 Companies Militia Roots”. Newbury, Essex Regiment Major Nathaniel of Foot Rowley, (b) 1689 force Saltonstall; 3 Troops of Salisbury, reorganization 2 Newbury Companies; Horse Haverhill, into 3 probably Andover and Andover, regiments Topsfield Troop of Topsfield, Horse; Amesbury, probably Newbury and pg. 4 Bradford Rowley Troop of Horse; Salisbury, Haverhill, and Amesbury Troop of Horse Massachusetts 1681-05-27 Salisbury, Haverhill, Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): and Amesbury Troop Militia Roots”. Massachusetts 1689 force 1st Essex Regiment Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): reorganization Militia Roots”. Salem, Lynn, Marblehead, Beverly, Manchester Massachusetts 1689 force 2nd Essex Regiment Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): reorganization Militia Roots”. Ipswich, Gloucester, Rowley, Wenham, Topsfield, Boxford Massachusetts 1689 force 3rd Essex Regiment Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): reorganization Militia Roots”. Newbury, Salisbury, Haverhill, Andover, Amesbury, Bradford Massachusetts (a) 1636/7-03- (a) North Regiment: (a) Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony) 09 Colonel John Haynes; 1 Colonel Militia Roots”. (b) 1643-09-07 Lieutenant Colonel 1 Lieutenant Redesignated Roger Herlakenden; Colonel (c) 1680-10-13 Mustermaster Captain 1 force Daniel Patrick; Mustermaster reorganization Captain Robert 5 Companies divided into 1st Sedgwick’s Company and 2nd (Charleston); Middlesex Captain William Regiments Jennison’s Company (Watertown); Captain George Cooke’s Company (Newtown renamed Cambridge 1637-09); Lieutenant Simon Willard (Concord); pg. 5 ___ Company (Dedham) (b,c) Middlesex Regiment Massachusetts (a) 1631-04-12 (a, b) Captain Daniel Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): (b) 1635 Patrick’s Company, Militia Roots”. Watertown, (c) by 1636/7- North Regiment: Medford, 03-09 Captain Daniel Patrick Newton (c) split into two companies raised in Watertown and Newtown Massachusetts 1658-05-26 Three County Troop Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): Militia Roots”. Lynn, Redding, Rumly Marsh Massachusetts (a) Prior to (a) Middlesex Troop, Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony) 1662-05-07 Middlesex Regiment Militia Roots”. (b) 1680-10-13 (b) assigned to 1st Middlesex Regiment, may be same troop as Captain Thomas Prentice’s Troop of Horse Massachusetts 1680-10-13 1st (Lower, Eastern) 1 Major Wright “Massachusetts (Bay Colony): formed from Middlesex Regiment: 7 Companies Militia Roots”. Watertown, Middlesex Major Daniel Gookin; of Foot Charleston, Regiment 2 Charleston 1 Troop of Cambridge, Companies; Horse Cambridge Captain Thomas Village and Prentice’s Troop of Woburn, Horse may be same Reading, Malden troop as Middlesex Troop Massachusetts 1680-10-13 2nd (Upper, Western) 1