Jonas Hastings (1726 - aft 1790)

We will follow direct descendants who had military service first.  Following that we will return and add sons, daughters and other relatives.  Our direct line from Robert Hastings is John Hastings (1691 – 1726/27).  I have not come across any record of John’s participation in military matters.  His death at age 35 provides only for a short history.  That brings us to John’s son Jonas Hastings.

Jonas Hastings (1726 – aft 1790)

Jonas was born in western Haverhill, MA.  Shortly after his birth that part of Haverhill was broken off and became the new town of Methuen.  A short time later Massachusetts and New Hampshire agreed to the state boundary lines and without moving Jonas was then a resident of Salem, New Hampshire.  Jonas married Lydia Corliss in 1751.

In 1755 Jonas Hastings enlisted in Captain John Goffe’s company, Col Joseph Blanchard's regiment in the French & Indian War.  He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.  They first traveled to Albany with the intentions of attacking Fort Carillon (Ticonderoga).  Those plans didn’t pan out and on September 8, 1755 Sir William Johnson commanded the army at the southern shores of Lake George.  Hearing that a French army was headed for Fort Edward he sent a detachment commanded by his brother Col Ephraim Williams to intercept them.  They fell into an ambuscade where many were killed including Col Williams.

Jonas Hastings was in a detachment sent out to clear trails.  Hearing the sounds of gun fire they hurried back to the site of the battle where they were able to force the French into retreat.  The site of this battle is often called “Bloody Pond.”  Returning to their camp Sir William Johnson’s soldiers threw up log breastworks and the following day beat off an attack by the French.  This action is referred to as “The Battle of Lake George.”

Jonas Hastings and the rest of his company spent the rest of the Fall of 1755 building Fort William Henry.

Jonas Hastings was one of the first settlers in Newbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire.  He served in many municipal positions and was most often referred to as Captain Jonas Hastings.