Lt. Daniel Gookin, 2nd Regiment N.H. Continental Line – Original Member
Daniel was born March 2, 1756 in North Hampton, New Hampshire. He was the son of the Reverend Nathaniel Gookin of North Hampton, New Hampshire, by his third wife, Love Wingate, who was the daughter of Col. Joshua Wingate. Early in 1777 he enlisted in the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment, Continental Line. He was promoted to Sergeant, and is listed as the Sergeant Major of the 2nd New Hampshire, Continental Line when it was encamped at Valley Forge. No doubt he had some form of education to advance so quickly in the enlisted ranks since he was only 21 years of age when he was a Sergeant Major. He continued as Sergeant Major of the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment until March 19, 1779 when brevetted by New Hampshire Committee of Safety as an Ensign. On June 16, 1779, Daniel Gookin was commissioned an Ensign in the 2nd New Hampshire to date from May 6, 1777. He would later petition the General Court of New Hampshire in 1785 for the difference in pay between Sergeant Major and Ensign for the period of backdate and start of his commission. This Petition granted Feb 17, 1786. Not long after he was commissioned an Ensign, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant with duties as Paymaster on July 12, 1779. He resigned his commission on March 12, 1782.
At the close of the Revolution, 1st Lieutenant Daniel Gookin was elected as one of the 30 Original Members of the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire on November 18, 1783.
After the Revolution, 1st Lieutenant Gookin found his martial services once again called upon by his country. He was commissioned a Captain of Artillery in the Army of the United States on October 20, 1786. He was appointed to the bench of the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Rockingham, by Governor Langdon on June 6, 1809. He was further made the Judge of Probate for Rockingham County by Governor Gilman on December 19, 1815. He retained this office until he was constitutionally disqualified due to age.
His married Abigail Dearborn on December 4, 1787. Abigail was the daughter of Dr. Levi Dearborn, a noted Physician. Daniel Gookin received a pension for his services. He died on September 4, 1831 in Saco, Maine.
A fragment of his journal from 1779, which survived, was published by the New England Genealogical and Historical Register in 1862 as part of Volume XVI.
Sources: Masassachusetts Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, Historical Memoranda with lists of Members and their Revolutionary Ancestors (Boston, 1897), 275; The New England Historical and Genealogical 16 (1862):27-33; Selected Wartime Service Records for 1st Lt Daniel Gookin.
