Patriot Story – Balmarine Judd

The Sarah Riggs Humphreys-Mary Silliman Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution celebrates America 250! In anticipation of the July 4, 2026, 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the 13 Colonies, the DAR wishes to remind everyone of the sacrifices and heroism of everyday men and women who fought for our freedoms that we enjoy today.

This is a story about Balmarine Judd, a 21 year old from Waterbury, who was drafted in Captain Stephen Matthews Company on March 1776, went to Brooklyn, NY where he was stationed until troops arrived from Boston. Over the years he was either drafted or enlisted and was also sent to RI and eventually served on the sea coast at Wells Tongue in 1780 in Black Rock Harbor.

Balmarine Judd was born in Waterbury, now Watertown, on 20 Sep 1755 and died at the age of 85 on 19 Mar 1840 in Huntington, CT. He married Abigail Thompson. She was born circa 1757 and died at the age of 66 on 22 Nov 1823. They had 10 children. [Judd, Sylvester, Thomas Judd and his Descendants, 1856, pp26, 27]

Balmarine Judd’s tombstone is at the Old Cemetery of Huntington (previously called Huntington Burial Ground). In anticipation of our Sarah Riggs Humphreys-Mary Silliman Chapter’s October 8th Day of Service, we will return to the Old Cemetery of Huntington where, in past years, we located and identified over 45 Revolutionary War Patriots. Our plan for October 8th DAR Day of Service is to photograph the tombstones for FindAGrave as a service to those researching their genealogical past.

From Judd’s Revolutionary War pension affidavit Balmarine and his brother, Demas, enlisted in May 1776 for seven months in the CT State Troops under Lt. Nathaniel Edwards and Col. Philip Burr Bradley. This was Bradley’s Battalion, Wadsworth Brigade in 1776. The troops were stationed at Bergen Heights and Paulus Hook (now Jersey City). In the night, Balmarine wrote, they marched up river near Fort Lee which was evacuated on Nov 20. He was taken sick and joined the Invalid Co under Captain Mills at Fishkill. However, his brother and most of the men in the Regiment, was sent across to defend Fort Washington which fell on Nov 16. Balmarine’s brother, Demas Judd (A063286), was taken prisoner and was confined on a Jersey prison ship.

In Aug 1778 Balmarine was drafted and marched to Warwick, RI under Captain Norton where a Regiment was formed and then marched to Providence. On 5 Jul 1779 he participated in the New Haven Alarm and marched to Fairfield and was discharged after six days service.

He and his family moved to Huntington 16 Jul 1779 and on 1 Oct 1780 he was drafted for 40 days and sent to Stratford (now Bridgeport) to Wells Tongue and served in the Coast Guard under Captain James Booth of Stratford.

In addition to his military service, Balmarine Judd’s Patriotic Service includes taking the Freeman’s Oath 16 Sep 1783 (Vol. 2, Mullen, CT Town Mtg Records - Stratford – p 405.)

The DAR is a non-profit women's service organization dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism. Any woman over 18 who can prove lineal descent to an ancestor who served in the American Revolution is a prospective member. For more information on the DAR visit http://www.sarahriggshumphreysDAR.org

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution asks everyone to celebrate the 250th Birthday of the United States of America and the Patriots that achieved American Independence. For more information visit https://honoringourpatriots.dar.org/