Zebulon Spalding is listed in the honor rolls of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Exactly how he served during the War is unknown except that we know he served as a private in Colonel John Brown's Regiment from 29 June to 28 July 1777. Zebulon was born 3 Sep 1753 in Dover, Dutchess County, New York, the son of Elijah and Elizabeth Spalding. His brother William was my 5th Great Grandfather and was about 20 years older than Zebulon.
But there are other reasons to honor Zebulon Spalding. Zebulon may have been married to a first wife and may have had a daughter according to the 1790 Census. But we know for sure that he married the widow Rhoda Pope (Dewey). Rhoda had 4 children with another on the way when her husband William died in November 1799. Their son William was born on the 23rd of April, 1800. One year later, on William's first birthday, Rhoda married Zebulon Spalding. Zebulon was not a young man at the age of 47, and neither was Rhoda a young woman at 34. They had 5 children together also.
Zebulon and Rhoda lived in the town of Sheffield, in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, not too far north of where Zebulon was born in Dover, Dutchess County, New York. Rhoda was born and raised in Sheffield and lived there all her life. They raised their children, and made a living until Rhoda passed away in April of 1838 at the age of 71. Zebulon outlived her by 2 years and died at the age of 86 in 1840.
We don't know what Zebulon did for a living, although he was raised by a family of hard working farmers, and he had a large family to help support a farm. There were 4 girls and 6 boys among their chilren, and according to the 1820 Census, the family was engaged in agriculture. In 1810 there were 8 children still living with them, and even in 1830 there were 4 boys and 2 girls still living at home. So it appears that Zebulon lived a quiet existence in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
Zebulon and Rhoda Spalding lived the American Dream. He served in the Continental Army to free his country from the Tyranny of the English King, he made a living the way he wanted to, and together they raised 10 children on the land that they owned and worked themselves. I am honored to be counted among the relatives of Zebulon and Rhoda. They are a good example of why we are Americans, and why we love our country and our families so much. Because of people like them, we also may be able to live our lives the way we want to, free from Tyranny, and free to raise our children in safety and health.
