John Ames (captain)
| Captain John Ames | |
|---|---|
| Born |
April 7, 1738 Bridgewater, Massachusetts |
| Died |
June 17, 1805 (aged 67) Bridgewater, Massachusetts |
| Occupation | Blacksmith |
| Known for | Ames Manufacturing Company founder |
| Spouse(s) | Susannah Howard |
| Children |
Oliver Ames, Sr. David Ames |
| Relatives |
Oliver Ames, Jr. (grandson) Oakes Ames (grandson) |
Capt. John Ames (April 7, 1738 – June 17, 1805) was a patriot, Captain in the American Revolutionary War, gunsmith, shovel maker, and ancestor of the Ames family of Easton, Massachusetts.
Biography
Capt. John Ames was born April 7, 1738, second son of Thomas and Keziah Howard.[1] He married Susanna Howard in 1759[1][2] or 1757.[3] Their children were: David, Keziah and Susanna, Huldah, Abigail, Cynthia, John, and Oliver Ames, Sr.[2]
Blacksmith
Ames was a blacksmith in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.[3] After the "nail and splitting mills" were outlawed by the government in Great Britain to give iron manufacturers in Britain a monopoly in 1773, Ames switched to making shovels.[3] Despite having only a crude factory, he was able to make shovels of notable quality.[3] In fact, he was said to have developed a shovel "so perfect that further improvement seems impossible."[2]
Revolutionary War
John Ames made guns for the Massachusetts army during the American Revolutionary War.[1][3][4]
During the war, Ames served in the Massachusetts Militia as a captain in Colonel Edward Mitchell's Regiment in 1776; as captain in Colonel Wade's Regiment, 1778; captain in Major Eliphalet Carey's Regiment, 1780; and Second Major of the 3d Regiment, 1780. Despite being promoted to major, he was known as "captain" for the rest of his life.[5]
Captain John Ames died July 17, 1803 in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.[2]
Ames family and legacy
The Ames family eventually became a very influential and wealthy family in Massachusetts, establishing two factories as well as having influence in the American railroad expansion and government.
Capt. John's son David Ames (born 1760)[3] was appointed by George Washington to be the first head of the Springfield Armory.[1]
Two factories were started by descendants of Capt. John Ames, in different regions of Massachusetts. Ames' son Oliver Ames, Sr. went on to found the Ames Shovel Shop in Easton, Massachusetts. Ames' descendants (grandchildren?), brothers James Tyler Ames and Nathan Peabody Ames, went on to found the Ames Manufacturing Company in Chicopee, Massachusetts in 1835.[6]
His great-grandson Oliver Ames became governor of Massachusetts, 1887–1890.
External links
References
- 1 2 3 4 Clarke, James W. (1885). "Oliver Ames". The New England Magazine, Volume 2: 186.
- 1 2 3 4 Davis, William T. The New England States (Vol 1 ed.). Boston: D.H. Hurd & Co. pp. 375–376. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Representative men and old families of southeastern Massachusetts (Vol I ed.). J.H. Beers & Co. 1912. p. 26. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ Lineage Book, Volume 50. Daughters of the American Revolution. 1919. p. 334. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
John Ames was captain of a company of Plymouth County militia. He served under different commands in the defense of Rhode Island. He was a leading gunmaker and furnished arms for the troops. He was born and died in West Bridgewater, Mass.
- ↑ Society of the Sons of the Revolution in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1897). Register of Members of the Society of Sons of the Revolution in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. p. 62.
Major John Ames (1738-1805), Captain in Colonel Edward Mitchell's Regiment, 1776; Captain in Colonel Wade's Regiment, 1778; Captain in Major Eliphalet Carey's Regiment, 1780; Second Major of the 3d Regiment, 1780.
- ↑ "Stearns-Ames collection, [ca. 1838-1894]". Archives of American Art. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
The Ames Manufacturing Company, Chicopee, Massachusetts, was founded in 1835 by James Tyler Ames and his brother, Nathan Peabody Ames