Asa Cummings: Early Life, Revolutionary War Service, and Legacy

Early Life

Asa Cummings Sr. was born on June 6, 1764, in Stoughton, Massachusetts, to Samuel Cummings Jr. and Elizabeth Cummings. Asa was raised in a rural farming community approximately 17 miles south of Boston, during a time when the American colonies were grappling with growing tensions against British rule.

Family Context: Asa was one of several children in the Cummings family, who were deeply embedded in the agrarian lifestyle of Stoughton. His father, Samuel, was a farmer and a veteran of the early Revolutionary War, serving under Colonel William Prescott during the Siege of Boston and the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Asa’s upbringing was shaped by the values of hard work, resilience, and patriotism.

Community Environment: Stoughton’s economy relied on small-scale farming, sawmills, and gristmills, with most families owning modest plots of land. Asa likely spent his early years assisting on the family farm, learning skills essential for survival in colonial New England.

The town’s close proximity to Boston also exposed its residents to revolutionary ideas and the growing unrest against British authority.

Legacy of Conflict: Asa grew up in the shadow of earlier conflicts, such as the French and Indian War (1754–1763), which his father’s generation had endured. This legacy instilled a sense of vigilance and readiness in the community, as hostilities with Britain escalated toward the American Revolution.

The presence of local militias and stories of earlier skirmishes likely influenced Asa’s decision to join the Patriot cause.

Recommended Images for Early Life

Colonial Farm Life: A depiction of farming in colonial Massachusetts, reflecting Asa’s upbringing.URL: https://www.loc.gov/resource/highsm.32899/

Map of Stoughton, Massachusetts (1785): A historical map showing the town where Asa grew up.URL: https://www.masshist.org/database/1721

Portrait of a Colonial Family: A painting illustrating the lifestyle of farming families in colonial New England.URL: https://americanrevolutioninstitute.org/artifact/revolutionary-war-family/

French and Indian War Skirmish Illustration: A depiction of earlier conflicts that shaped the environment Asa grew up in.URL: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/cfbdc04b04924f0eadff37c71e66cb6c

Revolutionary War Service

At the age of 13, Asa witnessed the outbreak of the Revolutionary War in 1775. Inspired by his father’s service and the patriotism of his community, Asa enlisted in the Massachusetts Militia at just 13 years old.

Enlistment: Asa’s documented service began on August 16, 1777, when he joined Captain Foster’s Company under Major Lithgow’s Detachment. Despite his young age, Asa served until November 30, 1777, during a critical period of the war.

His enlistment highlights the collective effort of families to support the Patriot cause, with even teenagers playing a role in the military effort.

Campaigns and Duties: Asa’s unit likely participated in operations around Massachusetts and Maine, areas vital to controlling trade routes and defending against British incursions. These regions were essential for the movement of troops and supplies.

Asa’s duties would have included manning fortifications, carrying supplies, standing guard, and potentially engaging in skirmishes. His service reflected the broad commitment of the militia to protect their homes and support larger Continental Army operations.

Significance of Service: Asa’s contribution, though brief, demonstrated the commitment of even the youngest patriots to the cause of independence. His willingness to serve at such a young age speaks to the pervasive revolutionary fervor in towns like Stoughton.

Asa’s service also underscores the critical role of local militias in maintaining momentum during the war’s early years.

Recommended Images for Revolutionary War Service

Colonial Militia Young Soldiers: A painting illustrating young soldiers participating in the war effort.URL: https://americanrevolutioninstitute.org/artifact/revolutionary-war-young-soldiers/

Massachusetts Militia Muster Roll: An example of the type of records Asa’s service would have been documented in.URL: https://www.masshist.org/database/287

Fortifications in Maine: A map showing strategic sites in Maine during the Revolutionary War, likely areas Asa’s unit defended.URL: https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/1010

Revolutionary War Battlefield Reenactment: A video showcasing a reenactment of militia duties and battles during the Revolutionary War.URL:

Post-War Life

Following the Revolutionary War, Asa returned to Stoughton, where he resumed the life of a farmer. Like many veterans, he carried the experiences and values of the war into his civilian life.

Relocation to Maine: In the late 1780s, Asa relocated to Maine, then a district of Massachusetts, as part of a broader migration trend. On June 9, 1787, he married Eleanor Magbridges in Waldoboro, Maine, a growing settlement known for its shipbuilding and agricultural community.

Together, they established their household and embraced the challenges of frontier life.

Hallowell and the 1790 Census: By 1790, Asa was recorded as the head of his household in Hallowell, Lincoln County, Maine, during the first official United States Census. This designation underscored his leadership role within his family and the local community.

Hallowell, situated along the Kennebec River, was a bustling hub of commerce and industry. Asa’s position as head of household suggests he played an active role in the town’s economic and social development.

Agriculture and Family: Asa likely took on increased responsibilities on the family farm, contributing to the local economy and supporting his parents as they aged. His work would have been essential to sustaining his family and rebuilding after the economic strains of the war.

Asa’s marriage to Hannah Hewitt suggests a continuation of family traditions, with farming and community involvement central to their lives.

Community Involvement: Veterans like Asa often became respected members of their communities. While specific records of Asa’s civic engagement are limited, his background suggests he contributed to the recovery and stability of post-war Stoughton.

His knowledge of the land and wartime experiences would have been valuable to the town’s collective memory and identity.

Recommended Images for Post-War Life

Farming in Early America: A painting depicting post-Revolutionary War farming life, similar to Asa’s likely experiences.URL: https://www.loc.gov/item/agr170003/

Massachusetts Town Meeting: An illustration showing civic life in New England, where veterans like Asa played a role.URL: https://www.masshist.org/database/372

Colonial Marriage Record Example: A record of marriages from colonial Massachusetts, representing Asa’s union with Hannah Hewitt.URL: https://www.familysearch.org/

Family and Legacy

Asa married Eleanor Magbridges, and they had children, continuing the Cummings family line. Although Asa passed away relatively young in 1795, his life and service left a lasting legacy within his family and community.

Inspiration to Descendants: Asa’s story became part of the Cummings family’s heritage, symbolizing the sacrifices made by ordinary citizens during the Revolution. His service alongside his father, Samuel, exemplifies the multigenerational commitment to the Patriot cause.

Contribution to the Nation: Asa’s service as a young soldier highlights the collective effort of Americans across generations to achieve independence. His life is a testament to the role of ordinary citizens in securing the freedoms that defined the new nation.

Recommended Images for Family and Legacy

Revolutionary War Families: An artistic depiction of families involved in the war effort, reflecting Asa’s multigenerational service.URL: https://americanrevolutioninstitute.org/artifact/revolutionary-war-family/

Revolutionary War Veteran’s Grave Marker: A photograph of typical grave markers honoring Revolutionary War soldiers, representing Asa’s resting place.URL: https://www.findagrave.com/

Here’s the breakdown of new information for the next individual, along with links to recommended images:

Asa Cummings

New Information

Early Life:

• Birthplace: Born in 1764 in Massachusetts, the son of Samuel Cummings Jr., a Revolutionary War veteran. Asa grew up on his father’s farm, where he learned the values of hard work and family loyalty.

• Family Role: As the seventh child in a large farming family, Asa contributed to the family’s agricultural efforts, likely helping with crop production and livestock management.

Revolutionary War Service:

• Service Details: Enlisted as a Private in Captain Foster’s Company under Major Lithgow during the Revolutionary War at the young age of 13.

• Key Engagements:

• Campaign of 1777: Asa served as part of a militia detachment tasked with securing the northern Massachusetts frontier, particularly the Maine District, against British and Loyalist threats.

• Penobscot Expedition (1779): Though there is no direct evidence of Asa’s involvement, his unit may have supported regional efforts tied to this disastrous naval operation aimed at reclaiming Maine from British control.

• Responsibilities: Asa likely performed duties such as patrolling, transporting supplies, and maintaining fortifications in the frontier regions.

Post-War Life:

• Marriage and Family: Married Eleanor Magbridges June 9, 1787, with whom he had several children. His descendants continued to live in Maine and contributed to the development of the local community.

• Farming Legacy: Returned to farming after the war and became a well-respected figure in his community.

• Burial: Interred at a family plot in Manchester, Maine, near his father, Samuel Cummings Jr.

Recommended Images

Early Life:

• Colonial Farm Illustration:

URL: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah_848839

• Map of Massachusetts (1760s):

URL: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3760.ct000110/

Revolutionary War Service:

• Map of the Penobscot Expedition (1779):

URL: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3731s.ar106100/

• Illustration of Frontier Militias:

URL: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah_834321

• Penobscot Expedition Documentary:

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyS2dgPbfaE

• Captain Foster’s Unit Muster Roll:

URL: https://www.masshist.org/database/287

Post-War Life:

• Grave Marker of Asa Cummings:

URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87446321/asa-cummings

• Map of Manchester, Maine (1800s):

URL: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3730.ct000051/