Charles Paine, Sr.

first name

Charles

last name

Paine

gender

male

birth, death year

circa 1755 , 1839

first, last year in records

1777, 1839

confidence level

confirmed identity

freed status (year freed)

enslaved, then free (1777)

enslaver(s)

Daniels, Seth; Harper, Joshua;

location(s)

Deerfield, MA

place of origin

Bio

In Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Vol. 11, pg. 784) Charles is described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a dark complexion and eyes, and with brown hair. According to his own account, he was 15 years old when he was sold in 1770 in Providence, Rhode Island, by Joshua Harper to Seth Daniels of Franklin, Massachusetts. Charles purchased his freedom from Daniels in 1777, and enlisted in the Massachusetts Line of the Continental Army for a three-year term. He then served two tours with the Franklin militia. Before he purchased his freedom, Paine married Rachel Hayden "alias Newberry, a Mulatto" also of Franklin.

Paine was struck by lightning while serving at West Point, New York, which apparently disabled him for the remainder of his life. In 1782, he moved his family to Shutesbury, Massachusetts, and then to nearby Deerfield in 1786. Paine and his wife had several children: Melita (1786-1868), Lucinda (1789), Benjamin (1792-1792), Mahala (1793-1833), Timothy (1796), Levi (1800), and possibly Susannah (1803), Charles, and Juda. Charles Paine died in Deerfield, Massachusetts on December 9, 1839. Interestingly, according to Deerfield vital records records Paine died "a. perhaps 105 y." This suggests that the recorder was unaware of the information Paine himself provided about his early life and self-emancipation that helps confirm he was in fact about 84 years old at his death.

Paine applied for aid from the Massachusetts courts several times. In order to receive it, he had to declare his circumstances, which he did on May 19, 1802. The document (from PVMA collections) is trancribed below.

I Charles Pain testify and declare that when I was in my fifteenth year I was sold by Joshua Hacker of Providence in the State of Rhode Island to Seth Daniels of Franklin in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with whom I lived till I was twenty two years old, when I bought my time of said Daniels, and enlisted into the Continental Army in the year 1777, for three years, which time I served in s^d[said] Army under Capt. Nathan Goodale in Col^o [Colonel] Rufus Putnam Regiment; after my return to Franklin in 1780 I served two tours in the Militia from said Town—that in 1777 (a little while before I bought my time of said Daniels) I married Rachel Hayden, alias Newberry, a Mulatto, then living in said Franklin, with whom I lived in said Franklin (excepting when I was in the Army,) till the year 1782, when I removed with my Wife and two Children into the Town of Shutesbury in the County of Hampshire where I lived four Years—In the Year 1786 I came to Deerfield with my Wife and three Children where I have lived since that time, and where I now live

Deerfield May 19th 1802 – Charles Pain

Witness W^m Stod^d Williams

Hampshire ss. May 19 th 1802 Then the above named Charles Paine, made solemn oath to the truth, (according to his best recollection,) of the foregoing Declaration by him subscribed

Before W^m [William] Stod^d [Stoddard] Williams Justice of the Peace

From an 1818 testimonial delivered to the Massachusetts “Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Western Circuit”:

In April 1777 I enlisted for the term of three years in Capt. Nathan Goodale’s company & Col. Rufus Putnam’s Regiment in the Massachusetts line. I continued in the same company & regiment until the expiration of said term, when I was regularly discharged. A short time after I again elisted [enlisted] into the same company and regiment for the term of six months, and was regularly discharged at the expiration of said term. When in the service I was struck with lightning at West Point, and from that cause have been infirm ever since, and am now so infirm as to be unable to support myself by labour.

My wife is dead and I have no children living with me. I have five children living but none of them have any property to my knowledge.

This court valued Paine’s property at $9.25.

In May of 1802 Deerfield’s Overseers of the Poor, who had provided Charles Paine with aid, petitioned the Commonwealth for reimbursement. A detailed list of what Capt. Elijah Arms gave to Paine is below. Monetary amounts are given in dollars and cents.

CaptⁿElijah Arms

April 10^th For 31.h^lb of Rie [rye] Flour… ,88
“ 1 Bush. of Potatoes…………........................ ,33
“ 15 ¾^lb Wheat Flour……......................….. ,65
“ 3^lb 6^oz of Tallow…………............................ ,55
“ 8^lb of salt Pork………................................. 1,
“ 1 Peck of Salt…......................................….…,42
14^th “ 1 Load of Wood…………...…...…..,60
“ 1 Dung Hill Fowl………...........................…,18
“ 22.5 W. I. Rum…………...............................,75
“ a Shirt partly worn……………...........……,40
“ ½ Bush. Indian Meal………................….,37
18^th “ 29.h^lb Rie [rye] Flour…….…….….,61
“ 1.h^lb of Butter………….....…….....….....…,25
26^th “ 29^lb Rie [rye] Flour………….....….,81
“3 ¾^lb salt Pork…………………...........……,47
“ 2 Fowls…………………………..............…..,36

Military Service

April 1777; private in Capt. Nathan Goodale’s Co., Col. Rufus Putnam’s 5th Regiment; served 3 years
May 19,1777- Dec. 31, 1779; private in Capt. Joshua Benson’s Co., Col. Rufus Putnam’s Regiment
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1780; corporal in Capt. Joshua Benson’s Co., Col. Rufus Putnam’s 4th Regiment; in Oct. at Camp Totowa, NJ
July 3-Dec. 6, 1780; re-enlisted in same company as above; served for 5 months, 15 days; paid for travel home (200 miles)
Jan.-April 1781; corporal in Capt. Nathan Goodale’s Co., Col. Rufus Putnam’s Regiment; at West Point, NY

Entry	Source	Vol Name	Date	entry id
• 12 Chas Paine Cat. 3 years	George Sheldon, List of [Deerfield, MA] Soldiers, Revolutionary War	George Sheldon’s list of soldiers	1777	2832
• Chas. Paine 2^d term 6 mos	George Sheldon, List of [Deerfield, MA] Soldiers, Revolutionary War	George Sheldon’s list of soldiers	1781	836
• writt. & S. Tart. & Emp^s Epishart., for Charles Pain	Town of Deerfield, MA, Law Enforcement	Single	1801 Apr 9	2142
• 11^th Vis^t Directⁿ de f^r D^o " 7 6	Town of Deerfield, MA, Law Enforcement	Single	1801 Apr 11	3390
• 14^th Vis^t & Pil. Scter & Tart. 2 dozⁿ f^r D^o " 10 6	Town of Deerfield, MA, Law Enforcement	Single	1801 Apr 14	3391
• 18^th Vis^t Sal Tart. & Flor^o Cham^l f^r D^o " 8 6	Town of Deerfield, MA, Law Enforcement	Single	1801 Apr 18	3392
• 26^th Vis^t Direct^ns de for Charles Paine " 7 6	Town of Deerfield, MA, Law Enforcement	Single	1801 Apr 26	3393
• May 2^nd Vis^t Pils Cathart., Onym^l. Scillit^ers & Efs^a Antⁱ f^r Charles " 10 9	Town of Deerfield, MA, Law Enforcement	Single	1801 May 2	3394
• Sper^o Stom^a opt^a & Sal Tartⁱ for Charles " 2 4	Town of Deerfield, MA, Law Enforcement	Single	1801 May 11	3395
• Aug^t 2^nd D^o f^r D^o " 2 4	Town of Deerfield, MA, Law Enforcement	Single	1801 Aug 2	3396
• The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to the Town of Deerfield in the County of Hampshire D^r viz^t To paying the several Persons hereafter named for services and necessaries, furnished by them, by direction of the Overseers of the Poor of said Town, for Charles Paine (a negro Man) and his family.-- viz^t ^{1801 Eber Allis} April 7 For a horse to go after the Doct^r 1/3 a Pint of Molasses /10 a Load of Wood 4/ 2^lbs Hogs Lard 1/8 3 1/2^lbs of Pork 2/11 10/8= $1,78 Zebadiah Graves June For 25^lbs of salt Pork 18/9= 3,12.5 Ebenezer Barnard j^r April 11^th For 1/2^lbs Chocolate, 1/2^lbs Tea, & 2^lbs Sugar ,78 18^th 2^lbs Sugar ,34 June 23^rd 1/2^lbs Chocolate, 2^lbs Sugar, & 1/4^lbs Tea ,59 Aug^st 13^th 1 P^t Rum & 1/2^lbs Sugar ,25 $1,96 D^r Jonathan Arms May 7^th For 2^lbs Sugar, & 1^lb Chocolate ,66,7 Captⁿ Elijah Arms April 10^th For 31 1/2^lbs of Ri Flour ,88 1 Bush^l of Potatoes ,33 15 3/4^lbs Wheat Flour ,65 3^lbs 6^oz of Tallow ,55 8^lbs of Salt Pork 1, 1 Peck of Salt ,42 14^th 1 Load of Wood ,60 1 Dung hill Fowl ,18 2 Q^ts W.I. Rum ,75 a Shirt partly worn ,40 1/2 Bush^l Indian Meal ,37 18^th 29 1/2^lbs Ri Flour ,81 1 1/2^lbs of Butter ,25 26^th 29^lbs Ri Flour ,81 3 3/4^lbs Salt Pork ,47 2 Fowls ,36 carried over $16,36,2	Town of Deerfield, MA, Overseers of the Poor	Box 9	1801	2114
• Bro't forward $16,36,2 1801 April 27^th 2 Bush^ls of Potatoes ,67 1^lb of Butter ,16 1/2 Bush^l Indian Meal ,37 10^lbs wheat Flour ,41 1^lb of Butter ,14 29 1/2 ^lbs Ri flour ,81 May 2^nd 7 ^lbs 2 ^oz salt Pork ,89 1 Bush^l of Indian Meal ,83 9^th 1^lb 13^oz hog's Lard,24 18^th 13^lbs Ri Flour ,36 1 peck Indian Meal ,20 22^nd 10 3/4^lbs Wheat Flour ,44 1 1/2 Bush^l of Potatoes ,50 1 1/2^lbs of Butter ,21 23^rd 11 1/2^lbs salt Pork 1,43 29^th 11^lbs Ri Flour ,30 June 8^th 1 1/2 Bush^l of Ri 1,50 1 1/2 D^o Potatoes ,50 1 1/2 D^o Indian Corn 1,12 22^nd 21^lbs of Ri Flour ,59 29^th 1 1/2 Bush^l of Potatoes ,50 20 1/2^lbs Ri Flour ,57 30^th 2 Bush^ls of Ri 2, 1 1/2 D^o Indian Corn 1,12 July 23^rd 4 1/4^lbs salt Pork ,53 4^lbs of Butter ,56 30^lbs of Mutton 1,46 Aug^st payd for 1 Pint of Rum ,21 $27,45 Doct W^m Stod^d Williams 1801 April 9^th For vis^t Ol^m Niuni [ounce symbol]i Lau. Ammon. Wso Rad^t serp. Senuh., Glycirrh. Sal Tartⁱ of Emp^m Epispart: 13/8 11^th vis^t & Direct^ns de 7/6 14th Vis^t & Pil. Teter. Tarti dop^s 10/6 18th Vis^t Sal Tartⁱ of Flor^l Cham^l 8/6 26^th Vis^t & Direct^ns de 7/6 May 2^nd Vis^t, Pil Cathart. Onym^l Scillit of Efo^a Antⁱ 10/9 11^th Spu^g Stom^a opt^a Sal Tart^is 2/4 Aug^st 2^nd Spu^g Stom^a opt^a Sal Tart^is 2/4 £3-3-1= 10,51 Philip Smith For 1 Load of Wood , 83 Total $46,32,2 I hereby certify that the several Persons above named wer-	Town of Deerfield, MA, Overseers of the Poor	Box 9	1801	2115
• were allowed for their Amounts above stated land paid for the same out of the Town Treasury- by me Deerfield May 20^th 1802 John Bardwell Town Treas^r We the the Subscribers hereby certify that Charles Paine, before named, (a black Man) came into this Commonwealth from Providence in Rhode Island, in the year 1770 that he resided in the Town of Franklin from the year 1770 'till the year 1782, excepting when he was in the Continental Army; that in the year 1782 he removed from Franklin to the Town of Shutesbury in the County of Hampshire where he lived four years; that in the year 1786 he came into this Town with his family where he has resided ever Since, and now lives- that he has not gained a Settlement in any Town nor District within this Commonwealth in any of the ways pointed out in an Act passed Feb^y 11^th 1794 specifying what shall constitute a Legal Settlement; and that he has no kindred of sufficient ability by Law obliged to support him- which we certify upon the best evidence we can obtain- we also further state that at the time said Charles called upon this Town for help, he had been sick a considerable time and was reduced to a very weak dangerous state- that he had a Wife and seven Children, three or four of whom were wholly unable to provide for themselves, that they were destitute of all the comforts and of almost all the necessaries of Life- Said Charles Deposition will be sent on with this- Deerfield May 20^th 1802. Joseph Stebbins Overseers of the Asahel Wright Jun^r Poor of the Town W^m Stod^d Williams of Deerfield	Town of Deerfield, MA, Overseers of the Poor	Box 9	1802 May 20	2116
• Zenas Mather Pain Clarick Overseers of the Poor-Deerfield By the favour of Lt. C^d Dickinson	Town of Deerfield, MA, Overseers of the Poor	Box 9	1802 Jun 2	2113
• Boston June 2^d 1802 Overseers of the Poor Deerfield Gentlemen, I have, agreeably to your direction presented the Claims which you gave me the charge of to the Committee on Act^s - the one for the support of Jenny Mather & c. with Doct^r Williams have past in the Committee and probably will pass the Legislature- the one for the Support of Charles Paine is rejected, for the Reason entered on the Back of the Papers which I shall inclose- I gave notice to the Member of the House of Representatives from the Town of Franklin what had been done, with a view to ascertain what his opinion might be respecting the measures that would be taken by that Town in the Case- He found, at first not to be able to determine, but when he with another of his Townmen (who happened to be present) looked at the Paper [cantain?] & the Bills of Charge, perceiving that the last Article of Charge, was not within three Months last past, gave me to understand with some degree of exultation that they believed the Town of Franklin was in no great Danger- I leave you gentlemen to judge of the weight of this evasion- I believe that it would be well for you to Send on the Statement of W^m Claretts Case; from my present acquaintance with the Committee I believe they had a disposition to do Justice, as near as the Climate will allow- Am gentlemen with due esteem your most humble Ser^t D. Hoit Jun^r	Town of Deerfield, MA, Overseers of the Poor	Box 9	1802 Jun 2	2112
• Charles Paine Deerfield Rejected the deposition of the within named Charles Paine fully-proving that he gained a habitancy by being held as a Servant in this commonwealth	Town of Deerfield, MA, Overseers of the Poor	Box 9	1802	2117
List of those warned out of Deerfield	Town of Deerfield, MA, Warnings out of town	Box 4	1789	1344
• Charles Paine, a Colored man, in 18[2]8 of Deerfield, aged -- Entered the service in 1777 for 3 years as a Soldier in Co of Capt Goodale or Goodall and regt Col Rufus Putnam, Staff line - dischg at Westpoint - Elijah Arms and Eliphalet Arms testify that	Town of Deerfield, MA, Wars - Revolution	Box 6	1777	1330
• Payne (see Pain, Paine), Charles, Dec. 9, 1839, a. perhaps 105 y. CR2	Deerfield Vital Records to 1850	Deaths	1839 Dec 9	834
• Boston, Nancy of Hadley and Charles Pain, int. Oct. 5, 1820	Deerfield Vital Records to 1850	Marriages	1820 Oct 5	1489
• Among the first documented free black families in Deerfield, the Paines moved here in 1786 and stayed until at least 1830.	Leavitt, Sarah A., The African American Presence in 19th Century Deerfield	Single	1786	2063
• Wrentham. List of men raised for Continental service, as returned by Maj. Metcalf, of Col. Wheelock's regt.; residence, Wrentham; engaged for town of Wrentham; also, list of men mustered by Nathaniel Barber, Muster Master for Suffolk Co., dated Boston, J	Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War	Single	1777	1523
• Wrentham. Return of men raised to serve in the Continental Army from Capt. Asa Fairbank's co., known as the South co. in the WestParish of Wrentham, Col. Benjamin Hawes's (4th Suffolk Co.) regt., dated Feb. 16, 1778; residence, Wrentham; engaged for town	Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War	Single	1778	1525
• Wrentham. Private, Capt. Nathan Goodale's co., Col. Rufus Putnam's (4th) regt.; Continental Army pay accounts for service from Jan. 1, 1780, to May 1, 1780; term, 3 years.	Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War	Single	1780	1528
• Franklin. Pay roll for 6 months men belonging to the town of Franklin raised for service in the Continental Army during 1780; marched July 8, 1780; discharged Dec. 6, 1780; service, 5 mos. 15 days, including travel (200 miles) home.	Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War	Single	1780	1526
• Franklin. List of men raised for the 6 months service and returned by Brig. Gen. Paterson as having passed muster in a return datedCamp Totoway, Oct. 25, 1780.	Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War	Single	1780	1527

Entry

Source

Vol Name

Date

entry id

• 12 Chas Paine Cat. 3 years

George Sheldon, List of [Deerfield, MA] Soldiers, Revolutionary War

George Sheldon’s list of soldiers

1777

2832

• Chas. Paine 2^d term 6 mos

George Sheldon, List of [Deerfield, MA] Soldiers, Revolutionary War