French and Indian War veteran, 1756; Revolutionary War veteran

"William took part in the French and Indian War, in 1756. William was under the command of Wolfe at the siege and capture of Quebec, in 1759. In the mid-morning of Thursday, September 13, 1759, Wolfe and his men gained an advantage and settled on a place of battle. Wolfe stood with his men as the French and Indian troops advanced upon them. He and his men stand [sic] their ground with muskets shouldered and bayonets fixed. The French advanced to within seventy-five yards, of the British line, taking down many soldiers who were immediately replaced by another, Wolfe stood his ground. When the French were within fifty yards, Wolfe still held his men at bay. At forty yards, Wolfe ordered the first rank to drop to one knee and the second rank remain standing; Wolfe gave the command to fire. The first strike was destructive, ripping a hole in the ranks of the French. The last volley was fired with the two armies standing toe to toe and the French lines were broken. With the breaking of the French lines the order to charge was given and the French army was routed and later defeated. Quebec was taken. Wolfe was killed in this battle, but William Hayford lived on to tell the tale.

The next war that William Hayford was engaged in was the Revolutionary War. William entered in to war in 1775 and left the war with his life in 1776. It is not known what regiment William fought but what is known is that he was under the command of Captain Chamberlain in Colonel Cary's regiment. During this time, in this regiment, he fought in the defense of Boston, was involved in operations of Long Island, as well as White Plains. In the end of 1775 and the beginning of 1776, Williams' son William Jr. was only fourteen when he was mustered into the regiment but being of tall size and strong built he passed for the age of sixteen. William Jr. was mustered out of the regiment after six months of service but his father stayed on. William Sr. stayed on for another six months from April to October, where he served under Captain Eleazer Hamlin's company in General Thomas' regiment." ~Hayfords in History, by Ken Johnson

"In the spring of 1777, he with wife and 8 children removed from Pembroke, Ma. to Sylvester Canada, (now Turner, Maine), being the 18th family to settle there. About 1796, the family removed to Hartford, Maine." --Craig Bryant

"After William's service in the Revolutionary War he moved his wife and eight children from Pembroke, Massachusetts to Sylvester Canada in the spring of 1777." --Ken Johnson


NOTE: Some show him b. 16 May 1740 in Duxbury, MA. Some show he d. 12 Oct 1801 but his tombstone shows 14 Oct 1801.


Sources:
1) Craig Bryant Database
http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET &db=can1821&id=I4446
2) Hayfords in History, by Ken Johnson, presented to Dr. Fonvielle in History 201, Apr. 23, 2004 (courtesy of David Johnson)[shows b. 16 May 1740 in Duxbury]