Jeremiah Hatch (Sep 25, 1766 – May 23, 1851) served in the American Revolutionary War as a fifer in the 3rd Massachusett's Regiment. When he was 76 years old he moved to Illinois on a trek with the Mormons to Utah, but died in Pottawattamie County, Iowa at age 83.

[The drawing to the left is by Calvin Groendahl from The Church News week ending Nov. 13, 1982.]

Jeremiah was born in New York in 1766. When he was only 10, his father died while serving in the Connecticut militia during the Revolution.  Since his mother was caring for 7 children, Jeremiah became the servant of a Miller [working at a mill] to learn the trade.  At age 15 Jeremiah ran away and enlisted April 1781 at Worcester County, Massachusetts, as a soldier in the War, playing the fife while marching in Captain Tisdale's Company of militia.  He served until the end of the war, Nov 30, 1782.

[The toy soldier to the right depicts a fifer from the American Revolution (made by W. Britain Co.).]

After the War Jeremiah went to Addison County, Vermont, married Elizabeth Haight on Nov 23, 1789, and they had 9 children. Jeremiah applied for a military pension in 1828 and received an allowance of $ 88.00 per year.  In their old age (Jeremiah was age 73 and Elizabeth was 63), they joined the Mormon Church and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois.  The Mormon saints were forced to leave in 1846 so the Hatch family was living in “Winter Quarters” of the Mormon community in Nebraska in 1847 when Elizabeth died.  Jeremiah moved in with his son, Josephus Hatch, in Pleasant Grove near Council Bluffs, Iowa.  He died there at age 83.  His burial location is not known (see Find A Grave memorial #56908497).

Sources:
(1). Revolutionary War Soldiers and Patriots Buried in Iowa, by the Abigail Adams Chapter of the DAR, Des Moines, IA, 1978, p.65-66
(2). 1810, 1820, 1830 Federal Census, Addison County, Vermont, family of Jeremiah Hatch
(3). 1850 Federal Census, Pottawattamie County, IA, family of Josephus Hatch, including Jeremiah Hatch
(4). Ancestry.com, U.S. Revolution War Pensioners 1801-1815, 1818-1872, Vermont, listing for Jeremiah Hatch #526