History of Kensington, (Hartford County) Connecticut United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Kensington, (Hartford County) Connecticut, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Jonathan Hart, soldier, was born in Kensington, Conn., in 1744; son of Deacon Ebenezer and Elizabeth Lawrence Hart; grandson of Deacon Thomas and Mary (Thompson) Hart; great grandson of Capt. Thomas and Ruth (Hawkins) Hart; and great2 grandson of Thomas Hart, born in 1644, freeman of Cambridge, Mass., and Hartford and Farmington, Conn. He was graduated at Yale in 1768, taught school in New Jersey, 1768-73, and was a merchant in Kensington, 1773-75. He served in the American army throughout the Revolution as a member of the 1st Connecticut regiment, and at the close of the war held the rank of captain. He then became a public surveyor and in 1785 was appointed a captain in the 1st U.S. infantry. He was sent with his regiment to the Indiana territory and was in the Indian campaign under Gen. Charles Scott and Gen. Josiah Harmer. He was promoted major of the 2d U.S. infantry in 1791 and was under Gen. Arthur St. Clair in the Miami expedition. He commanded the regulars in the battle of Nov. 4, 1791, and covered the retreat of St. Clair's army. In obeying an order to charge with the bayonet in order that the rest of the army might escape he lost nearly all his command and was himself among the slain. He married Abigail Riley, who after her husband's death married the Rev. Cyprian Strong of Chatham, Conn. He published The Native Inhabitants of the Western Country and The Ancient Works of Art in the Transactions of the American academy of arts and sciences, Vol. III. His letters to Maj. William Judd of Farmington, some thirty in number, describing the climate, soil and value of lands in Ohio, are preserved in the family in New Britain, Conn. He died on the battle-field at the head waters of the Miami river, Ohio, Nov. 4, 1791.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Kensington, (Hartford County) Connecticut

Biographies: