DAR #A048610

Lt Richard Grinnel, known as “Pirate Dick” was a sea captain and privateer. He was a prominent figure in maritime history, operating in the waters around on the east coast during the colonial period. Despite his nickname Richard was not actually a pirate but a privateer who was authorized by the colonial government to attack enemy ships. He was captured at sea a number of times by the British. He would serve as a private with Massachusetts troops, under Captain Avery Parker and Colonel John Hathawway in the 2nd Bristol County Militia, during the American Revolutionary War. For a time he would also served as a private in Rhode Island. It is said that there are many stories told about Richard the Pirate but it seems that most were not true.

Richard Grinnell Jr was born 8 March 1717, in Little Compton, Newport, Rhode Island. His father was Richard Grinnell Sr (1669 Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island‐1 July 1725, Little Compton, Bristol, Massachusetts), and his mother Patience Emery (born circa 1682‐10 March 1749, Little Compton, Newport County, Rhode Island). They married on 25 May 1704, at Little Compton, Newport County, Rhode Island, and were the parents of George, William, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Patience, Richard, Ruth, Daniel Sarah and Comfort.

Richard Grinnell Jr would marry twice. He would marry his first wife, Alice Church, on 18 November 1738, in Little Compton, New Port County, Rhode Island. There were no children from this union. Alice was born 24 January 1718, In Little Compton and died 29 September 1739, in Little Compton. She is buried in the Old Commons Burial Ground, Little Compton. He would marry second, Comfort Billings, on 22 October 1741, also in Little Compton. They would have twelve children: Alice 1742‐1743, Comfort 1744‐ , Hannah 1745‐1794, Mary 1747‐ , Billings 174‐1815, Betsey 1750‐ , Richard 1751‐1828, Ruth 1753‐ , Royal 1756‐1837, Patience 1757‐ , Bailey 1759‐1835, and Benjamin 1761‐1822. Comfort was born 2 December 1716, in Little Compton and died 23 December 1802, in Little Compton. She is buried in the Old Commons Burial Ground along with Richard, who died 15 Mrch1789, in Little Compton.

Billings Grinnell, son of Richard and Comfort was born 27 April 1749, at Little Compton, Rhode Island, where he also died, on 11 July 1815. He is buried in the Union Cemetery, Little Compton, Newport County, Rhode Island, along with his wife, Comfort Wood. They wed on 2 March 1775, in Little Compton. Comfort was born 20 August 1755, and passed 15 November 1832. They would have eleven known children: Molly b 3 Mar 1776, m Edward Cook; Walter b 11 May 1778, m 28 Oct 1804, Sarah Wood; Comfort b 15 Dec 1780, m 23 Oct 1809, Joseph Simmons; Cynthia b 12 Oct 1783; Sarah Billings b 27 Feb 1786; Desire b 1 Oct 1788, m 17 May 1842, Elijah Pearce; Richard b 16 Jan 1791; Benjamin b 17 May 1793; Valentine b 22 Sep 1795; Billings b 29 Aug 1798; and Lydia b 13 Apr 1802, m 5 Dec 1830, John Irish.

Benjamin Grinnell was the son of Billings and Comfort. He was born 17 May 1793, Little Compton, Newport County, Rhode Island. He died 22 April 1863, in Little Compton and is buried in the Union Cemetery there, along with his parents, and his wife, Lydia head. Lydia was the daughter of Daniel Head and Hannah Davenport and was born 10 November 1798, in Little Compton and died there on 15 August 1887. Their children were: Billings 1824‐1879; Mary 1825‐1892; Thomas D 1827‐1908; Phebe E 1834‐1880; Abigail C “Abbie” 1837‐1918; and Deborah B ‐1897.

Benjamin and Lydia’s daughter, Mary was born 8 September 1825, Little Compton, Newport County, Rhode Island. She would pass on 14 November 1892, and was buried, along with her husband, Jethro Sowle, in the Siloam Cemetery, Vineland, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Jethro was the son of Captain Jonathan Sowle and Amy Gifford. He was born 8 August 1818, and passed on 13 January 1902. Together they would raise six children: Eliza M 1849‐1922; Amy G 1851‐1862; Lydia M 1854‐1943; Hannah B 1856‐1948; Benjamin 1862‐1953; and Annie M 1868‐1954.

Benjamin Grinnell Sowle was the son of Jethro and Mary. He was born 24 May 1862, Little Compton, Newport County, Rhode Island. He died in 1953, in Nebraska. In 2 March 1886, he would marry his first wife, Emma Samantha Hartsook, in Lancaster, Nebraska. Emma was born 23 October 1858, in Wisconsin and died 14 October 1896, in Nebraska. She is buried in the White Hill Cemetery, Kearney County, Nebraska, with Benjamin. He would marry second Mable Page Harr, born 1870, in Waterford, Racine County, Wisconsin and died on 9 July 1933, in Nebraska. She is buried at the Kearney Cemetery, Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska. Benjamin was the father of at least three sons and two daughters: Anna Mary 1887‐1988; Andrew Hartsook 1888‐1947, Irl Jay 1892‐1973, Rollin 1894‐1894; and Benjamin Harvey 1909‐ 1995. He lived in the Cottonwood Election Precinct, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States in 1910 and North Platte, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States in 1930.

Andrew Hartsook Sowle was born 11 October 1888, in Greenwood, Cass County, Nebraska and pass on 1 November 1947, in Marion County, Oregon. He is buried in Greenwood Memorial Park, San Diego, San Diego County, California. Like his father Andrew would marry twice: Ella M Nelsen 1889‐1925 (the mother of their three children) and Addie Mae Bell 1884‐1973. Their children were Arthur Andrew 1911‐1995; Marguerite Doris 1912‐2004; and Vera May 1920‐ 1999. Daughter Vera May was born 10 February 1910, in San Diego, California and passed 11 December 1999, Macomb, McDonough County, Illinois. On 5 November 1938, she would marry Roy Lecil St Clair in Burlington, Iowa. He was born 26 January 1920, and passed on 23 October 1998, Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois. Vera and Roy are buried in the LaHarpe Cemetery, LaHarpe, Hancock County, Illinois.