James Tucker

Quick Facts

Date of Birth:

1750

Place of Death:

Stillwater, NY

Date of Death:

September 19, 1777

James Tucker, the son of Isaac Sr. and Sarah Tucker, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1750. Together, the Tuckers had five children: Ebenezer (born 1740), Isaac Jr. (born 1746), Sarah (born 1748), James (born 1750), and Thirza (birthyear unknown). Ebenezer died in 1761 at the age of 21, perhaps while on service in the French and Indian War. Isaac Jr., who followed his father in the blacksmithing trade, was “shot dead in an instant by a cannon ball” in the Battle of White Plains, New York, on October 28, 1776. Their mother, Sarah, died of unknown causes in 1776 as well.

In late August 1777, James either volunteered or was drafted into Captain Wadsworth’s company of Colonel Thaddeus Cook’s Battalion of Connecticut Militia for a two-month term. He repaired to Stillwater, New York, where he joined the Northern Army in time to face off against the British invasion from Canada.

Probably to the surprise of most Americans in camp, when it came time to fight the September 19 Battle of Freeman’s Farm, Cook’s militia was one of the first sent into combat. That this untested unit was sent ahead of nearly 20 Continental regiments present with the army must have raised some brows.

Cook’s troops received so many casualties in the battle that they withdrew back to camp after a sustained firefight; fourteen privates were killed, and five officers and 34 soldiers were wounded. Tucker was the one man of Wadsworth’s company who was killed that day; his remains were probably buried near Freeman’s Farm by the British in the days following the battle.

When 27-year-old James was killed at Saratoga in 1777, his father, Isaac Sr. had lost his wife and most of his children.

Isaac Sr. applied to the Connecticut General Assembly for compensation of money and effects lost when his son was killed at Saratoga. In February, 1778, the Assembly decided upon his petition:

"Upon the memorial of Isaac Tucker of Hartford, administrator on the estate of James Tucker deceas'd, who was killed the last campaign in the northern department and lost forty dollars in money &c., as per memorial: Resolved by this Assembly, that the Treasurer pay to the memorialist, as administrator as aforesaid, twelve pounds money; and the Committee of Pay-Table are directed to draw an order for the same accordingly."

Sarah Tucker, who apparently never married, also predeceased her father, Issac Sr., and passed away in 1790 at the age of 42. Isaac Sr. died in 1799 at the age of 81.