Sketches from the History of the Cushing Family Chapter IV: Sketch of the Military History of the Ancestors and Descendants of Laban and Nancy Whitney Cushing -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE COLONIAL WARS: David Cushing, Senior, 1727-1800, paternal grandfather of Laban Cushing, was a Commander of Horse, or "Cornet," in the French and Indian War. He served at the Siege of Quebec. His wife was Ruth Lincoln. Joseph Cushing, 1728-1810, Maternal grandfather of Laban Cushing, was also "Cornet of Horse" in the French and Indian War. He was the son of Solomon, and the father of Hannah. Joseph's mother was Sarah Loring. His wife was Sarah Leavitt. THE WAR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: David Cushing, Senior, was Captain, then Lieutenant Colonel, and then Colonel of the 2d Suffolk Regiment. This was the same David who served in the Colonial Wars. He lived and died in Hingham, Massachusetts. David Cushing, 1754-1827, son of Colonel David Cushing, and father of Laban, was Lieutenant in the American Revolution. He served in a Hingham Company, and afterwards as Captain of Militia. His wife was Hannah Cushing, daughter of Joseph. His mother was Ruth Lincoln. He was buried in Ashburham. Samuel Whitney, 1719-1782, grandfather of Nancy Whitney Cushing, served as Lieutenant in the Revolution, enlisting in Westminster, Massachusetts, where he was "a man of influence and affairs," having a large estate. His wife was Abigail Fletcher. They are buried in Westminster. Silas Whitney, 1752-1798, son of Samuel and father of Nancy, also enlisted in Westminster. Both Silas and his father were in Colonel Asa Whitcomb's regiment. They were "Minute Men" of 1775. His wife was Sarah Withington of Stow, Massachusetts. They are buried in the Old Cemetery in Ashburnham. The curious epitaph on his tombstone is quoted in the sketch of his daughter's life given in another part of this book. THE WAR OF 1812: Laban Cushing, 1791-1847, served in the War of 1812 as a musician. His parents were David and Hannah Cushing Cushing. His wife was Nancy Whitney. They are buried in Ashburnham. THE CIVIL WAR: David Cushing, 1839-1886, served in the Civil War, in the 53d Regiment, enlisting from Ashburnham. He was the son of Laban, and the father of Henry W. Cushing. Related to the family by marriage were these men who served in the Civil War: Captain Jonas Corey, father of Waldo C. Corey; George Doe, husband of Hannah Cushing; Robert Jones, husband of Emma Cushing. THE WORLD WAR: Milton Caton, overseas service. He is the grandson of Melissa Munroe Wheeler, granddaughter of Laban and Nancy Whitney Cushing. John Thayer Cushing was Food Conservator of the State of Vermont. Stephen Cushing also served an important administrative position in Montpelier, Vermont. These two young men are the grandsons of Laban and Nancy Whitney Cushing. Milton Whitney Cushing served in the Royal Flying Corps in Canada. He is the great-great-grandson of Laban and Nancy Whitney Cushing. Arnold Cushing Dickinson was Captain, and later Major, in the Gas Defence Service. Edward Dickinson served as an Ambulance Driver in the French, and later in the American Army. These two brothers are great-grandsons of Laban and Nancy Whitney Cushing. Roswell Hawkins was Lieutenant in the 104th Field Signal Batttalion, 29th Division. He is the great-grandson of Laban and Nancy Whitney Cushing. Percy Adams Rideout was Lieutenant, Company F, 101st Engineers, later 116th Engineers, and later 1st Gas Regiment. He was killed in action near Cierges, France, October 8, 1918. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for "extraordinary heroism." He is buried in Romagne Cemetery in France. A tablet to his memory has been placed in the Old Cemetery in Ashburnham. He was the great-grandson of Laban and Nancy Whitney Cushing. Kenneth H. Wilson was 1st Lieutenant in the 303rd Infantry. He is another great-grandson of Laban and Nancy Whitney Cushing. Helen Cushing Nutting served as Graphic Statistician in Washington, D. C. She is the great-granddaughter of Laban and Nancy Whitney Cushing. Milton Leland Cushing served in the Massachusetts State Guard, enlisting in the Boston Cadet Armory. He is the great-grandson of Laban and Nancy Whitney Cushing, and the father of Milton Whitney Cushing. Related to the family by marriage are these men who served in the World War: Captain Joseph Jamieson, of the Ordinace Department; Dr. Marius Smith-Peterson, who served as Hospital Surgeon in France; Leroy Tucker, who served as Secretary in Y. M. C. A.; Frank H. Rideout, who served in the Massachusetts State Guard. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All descendants of Laban and Nancy Whitney Cushing are eligible, through ancestors named in this paper, to join the following patriotic societies: the Society of Colonial Wars in America, the Colonial Dames, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daughters of 1812. Certain of the descendants are eligible to membership in the various societies based on service in the Civil War and the World War. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ancestral Homes still standiong in Ashburnham, Massachusetts: Old Whitney Homestead on Westminster Hill Road; Hotel and Home of Captain David Cushing, now the residence of the James Hare family on Main Street; Home of Laban and Nancy Whitney Cushing on South Ashburnham Road, near the New Cemetery and Cushing Academy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The graves of several of these ancestors may be readily found in the Old Cemetery on Meeting House Hill, Ashburnham, Massachusetts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Further References to Military Records of these ancestors may be found in the following books: Military History of Hingham, Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the American Revolution History of Westminster (Heywood) History of Ashburnham (Stearns) Genealogy of the Cushing Family (James S. Cushing) Genealogy of the Whitney Family (Frederick C. Pierce)