Solomon Mack

Solomon Mack (15 September 1732 – 23 August 1820) was a resident of eighteenth-century New England and a veteran of the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War.

Early life

Solomon Mack was born on September 15, 1732, to Ebenezer Mack and Hannah Huntley[1] in Lyme, New London County, Connecticut.[2] According to Solomon's memoir, his parents once "had a large property and lived in good style", but by the time Solomon was four, the family had fallen on hard times. Solomon was "bound out" to a nearby farmer, whom he lived with until age 21.[3]

War and marriage

From 1755 to 1759, he served in the French and Indian War, initially enlisting "under the command of Capt. Henry and was annexed to a regiment commanded by Col. Whiting".[2][3] In 1759, he received "a large separation pay" and purchased the town of Granville, New York, with the money; however, a leg injury prevented him from building up Granville, and soon the land was "completely lost."[4] He married schoolteacher Lydia Gates that same year.[5][6] The couple had around four children. Solomon Mack was the grandfather of Joseph Smith Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement.[4]

From 1771 to 1776, Mack lived in Marlow, New Hampshire.[4] Then, in 1776, he fought in the American Revolutionary War.[2] During the war, he and his sons Jason and Stephen Mack "embarked on a privateering expedition" to obtain cannons for the American army.[4] Throughout his life, Mack worked as a farmer, freighter, merchant, and more.[2] Around 1799, he moved to Tunbridge, Vermont.[7]

Later life

In 1811, he self-published his memoir, "Narrative of the Life of Solomon Mack", which detailed his history and his conversion to Christianity.[3][8][9]

Solomon Mack died on August 23, 1820, in Gilsum, New Hampshire, at the age of 87.[4] He was buried in the Bond Cemetery in Gilsum.[2] Today, there is a historic marker in Vermont at the site of the Solomon Mack home.[10][11]

References
  1. Anderson, A. Gary (1992), "Smith Family Ancestors", in Ludlow, Daniel H, Encyclopedia of Mormonism, New York: Macmillan Publishing, pp. 1361–1363, ISBN 0-02-879602-0, OCLC 24502140.
  2. "Biography: Mack, Solomon Sr.", References: People (Interim Content), The Joseph Smith Papers [JosephSmithPapers.org], Church History Department, LDS Church, retrieved 7 January 2014
  3. Broadhurst, Dale R. (20 May 2003), "A Narrative of the Life of Solomon Mack", Olivercowdery.com, retrieved 7 January 2014
  4. McCune, George M. (1991). Personalities in the Doctrine and Covenants and Joseph Smith–History. Salt Lake City, Utah: Hawkes Publishing. p. 73. ISBN 9780890365182.
  5. "MACK, Lucy". Joseph Smith Sr. Genealogical Website [Josephsmithsr.com]. Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith Historical Society. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  6. Anderson, A. Gary (1992), "Smith Family Ancestors", in Ludlow, Daniel H (ed.), Encyclopedia of Mormonism, New York: Macmillan Publishing, pp. 1361–1363, ISBN 0-02-879602-0, OCLC 24502140.
  7. Mays, Kenneth (15 July 2010), "Portraits of the past: Solomon Mack", Deseret News, retrieved 7 January 2014
  8. Mack, Solomon (1810), A narraitve [sic] of the life of Solomon Mack..., Windsor, Vermont: Windsor Printed at the expence [sic] of the author, OCLC 31942595
  9. Peck, Lisa J. (2004), Lucy Mack Smith (Biographical fiction), Springville, Utah: Cedar Fort, Inc., ISBN 9781555177683, OCLC 54500360
  10. http://frodsham.us/LDSimages/images/Sharon,%20Vt/medium/solomon%20mack%20sign.JPG
  11. "Vermont". Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
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