| Battle: | Battle of Dunbar in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland |
| Ship/Arrival: | Unity, Dec 1650 |
| Prisoner and List: | |
| Name Variations: | |
| Residences: | |
| Other SPOW Associations: |
Published: 02 Jul 2014, Updated: 23 Jan 2019
Page contributors: Doug Cahoon, Suzanne Cummings, Justin Maitland, Jean McKenney, Dr. Andrew Millard, Teresa Rust
William Cahoon, #12 on George S. Stewart’s Captured at Dunbar list
IMPORTANT UPDATE! (July 2018)
According to Christopher Gerrard, Pam Graves, Andrew Millard, Richard Annis, and Anwen Caffell, Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650, (England: Oxbow Books, 2018), on page 249, William is categorized as:
Probable [that he is a Dunbar prisoner transported on the Unity]
Cahoon/Cahoone/Cohoon/Colhoon/Carhoone/Colquhoun/Calhoun/Cohoun, William. Residences: Taunton MA, Block Island RI. Appears: 1661. D.1675. Migrated to Block Island with other Scots. [Exiles; DR; SPOWS; Ch.8]
For explanations of the category, abbreviations and references see List of Dunbar prisoners from Lost Lives, New Voices.
For more information about your ancestor it is HIGHLY recommended that you join the 500+ descendants of the Scottish Prisoners of War Society Facebook GROUP where you may be able to get some advice and possibly more information about your Scottish prisoner of war ancestor. Our small website team is unable to do further research at this time.
Surame variations: Cahoon, Cahoone, Cohoon, Colhoon, Cahoone, Colquhoun, Calhoun, Cohoun
DNA Study:
Group 1-B, Haplogroups R-L21 and R-M269
First Generation in the New World
1. WILLIAM CAHOON, was presumably born in Scotland about 1633 and died at Swansea, Bristol County, Massachusetts on 22 June 1675. He married at Swansea by 1665, _____. (It has been suggested that he married DELIVERANCE PECK, but no known record at this time.)
Biographical Notes:
William lived on Block Island, Rhode Island from about 1663 to 1675 where his children were born. William fathered SEVEN children. See: William Cahoon at Blogspot.com.
Children of William and (_____) Cahoon:
2. i. SAMUEL CAHOON, b. at Block Island, abt. 1663; m., MARY HUNTER.
2. ii. MARY CAHOON, b. at Block Island about
2. iii. JOSEPH CAHOON, b. at Block Island about 1669, m. 1st by 1690, HANNAH KENT; m. 2nd at East Greenwich, Rhode Island, by 1701 , ELIZABETH (_____).
2. iv. WILLIAM CAHOON, born about 1665 d. 1702; m. at Chatham, Massachusetts after 1690, ELIZABETH NICKERSON.
2. v. JAMES COHOUN, b. at Block Island on 15 Feb 1670 See MVR below
2. vi. CAPT. JOHN COHOUN, b. at Block Island on 9 March 1673 See MVR below
2. vii. NATHANIEL CAHOONE, b. 1674/5; m. at Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island, on 25 Feb 1702, JANE JONES.
Second Generation
2. i. SAMUEL CAHOON, (William¹), was born at Block Island, Rhode Island about 1663. He married, MARY HUNTER.
2. ii. MARY CAHOON, (William¹), was born at Block Island, Rhode Island about
2. iii. JOSEPH CAHOON, (William¹), was born at Block Island, Rhode Island about 1669. He married, first, by 1690, HANNAH KENT, she died about 1700. He married, second, at East Greenwich, Kent County, Rhode Island, by 1701, ELIZABETH (_____).
Children of Joseph and Hannah (Kent) Cahoone:
3. i. SAMUEL CAHOONE, (Joseph², William¹), b. 1 May 1699; m. SUSANNAH (_____).
Children of Joseph and Elizabeth (_____) Cahoone:
3. ii. WILLIAM CAHOONE, (Joseph², William¹), b. at East Greenwich on 22 Aug 1701
3. iii. BENJAMIN CAHOONE, (Joseph², William¹), b. at East Greenwich on 12 May 1703; m. DINAH (_____).
3. iv. EBENEZER CAHOONE, (Joseph², William¹), b. at East Greenwich on 8 Oct 1706; m. MERCY (_____).
3. v. JUDEA CAHOONE, (Joseph², William¹), b. at East Greenwich on 7 Mar 1708
3. vi. BARBARA CAHOONE, (Joseph², William¹), b. at East Greenwich on 27 Nov 1709
2. iv. WILLIAM CAHOON, (William¹), was born about 1665 and died in 1702. He married at Chatham, Massachusetts after 1690, ELIZABETH NICKERSON.
2. v. JAMES COHOUN, (William¹), was born at Swansea on 15 Feb 1670 See MVR below
2. vi. JOHN COHOUN, (William¹), Captain, was born at Swansea on 9 March 1673 See MVR below
2. vii. NATHANIEL CAHOON, (William¹), was born in 1674/5. He married at Warwick, Rhode Island, on 25 Feb 1702, JANE JONES.
Children of Nathaniel and Jane (Jones) Cahoone
3. i. REBECCA CAHOONE, (Nathaniel², William¹), b. in RI on 11 Dec 1702
3. ii. MARY CAHOONE, b. in RI on 25 Feb 1703 (This date is too close to the birth of Rebecca???, this is what the Vital Record below shows though?)
3. iii. SARAH CAHOONE, b. in RI on 14 Mar 1704
3. iv. PATIENCE CAHOONE, b. in RI on 20 Jan 1706/7
3. v. ELIZABETH CAHOONE, b. in Ri on 17 May 1708
3. vi. ANNE CAHOONE, b. in RI on 28 Aug 1709
3. vii. MARY CAHOONE, b. in RI on 11 Dec 1711
3. viii. DELIVERANCE CAHOONE, b. in RI on 1 May 1713
3. ix. MARTHA CAHOONE, b. in RI on 25 May 1715
Third Generation
3. i. SAMUEL CAHOONE, (Joseph², William¹), born 1 May 1699; m. SUSANNAH (_____).
Children of Samuel and Susannah (_____) Cahoone:
4. i. DELIVERANCE CAHOONE, (Samuel³, Joseph², William¹) b. in Rhode Island on 8 Nov 1723.
4. ii. JOHN CAHOONE, (Samuel³, Joseph², William¹) b. in RI on 19 Oct 1726
4. iii. MARY CAHOONE, (Samuel³, Joseph², William¹), b. in RI on 4 Sep 1728
4. iv. JONATHAN CAHOONE, (Samuel³, Joseph², William¹), b. in RI on 13 Oct 1732
4. v. BENJAMIN CAHOONE, (Samuel³, Joseph², William¹), b. in RI on (month unknown) 24th 1735.
4. vi. DANIEL CAHOONE, (Samuel³, Joseph², William¹), b. in RI on 1 July 1737
4. vii. JONATHAN CAHOONE, (Samuel³, Joseph², William¹), b. in RI on 29 Sep 1739
3. ii. WILLIAM CAHOONE, (Joseph², William¹), b. at East Greenwich on 22 Aug 1701
3. iii. BENJAMIN CAHOONE, (Joseph², William¹), b.at East Greenwich on 12 May 1703; m. DINAH (_____).
3. iv. EBENEZER CAHOONE, (Joseph², William¹), b.at East Greenwich on 8 Oct 1706; m. MERCY (_____).
Children of Ebenezer and Mercy (_____) Cahoone:
4. BENJAMIN CAHOONE, (Ebenezer³, Joseph², William¹)
3. v. JUDEA CAHOONE, (Joseph², William¹), b.at East Greenwich on 7 Mar 1708
3. vi. BARBARA CAHOONE, (Joseph², William¹), b.at East Greenwich on 27 Nov 1709
3. i. REBECCA CAHOONE, (Nathaniel², William¹), b. in RI on 11 Dec 1702
3. ii. MARY CAHOONE, (Nathaniel², William¹), b. in RI on 25 Feb 1703 (This date is too close to the birth of Rebecca???, this is what the Vital Record below shows though?)
3. iii. SARAH CAHOONE, (Nathaniel², William¹), b. in RI on 14 Mar 1704
3. iv. PATIENCE CAHOONE, (Nathaniel², William¹), b. in RI on 20 Jan 1706/7
3. v. ELIZABETH CAHOONE, (Nathaniel², William¹), b. in Ri on 17 May 1708
3. vi. ANNE CAHOONE, (Nathaniel², William¹), b. in RI on 28 Aug 1709
3. vii. MARY CAHOONE, (Nathaniel², William¹), b. in RI on 11 Dec 1711
3. viii. DELIVERANCE CAHOONE, (Nathaniel², William¹), b. in RI on 1 May 1713
3. ix. MARTHA CAHOONE, (Nathaniel², William¹), b. in RI on 25 May 1715
SOURCES AND NOTES:
On 13 Feb 2017, Justin Maitland wrote, “Here is how I trace back to John Cahoon and Grace Fuller:
Justin Theodore Maitland born in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan
Theodore Kurt Maitland born in Muskegon, MI and Lori Close
Jerry Muril Maitland m. Meredith Mae Wilcox
Florence E. Miller (8-10-1903 in Chase, Lake Co., MI d. 3-8-1986 Egelston, MI) m. Charles Nelson Maitland
John Hamilton Miller (7-15-1837 in Milo, Yates Co., NY to 7-5-1910 in Everett, Newaygo Co., MI) m. Clara Bell Bristol
Benjamin S. Miller (5-31-1811 Penn Yan, NY d.c.1880 in prob. Rush Co., IN) m. Eleanor Hawkins: March 30, 1837 in Yates Co., NY
Sarah Calhoun (b. 4-21-1784 in Kent, Litchfield Co., CT d. after 1840 in Benton, Yates Co., NY) m. John Miller (c. 1775 in Germany d. about 1-1819 in Yates Co., NY)
Nathaniel Cahoon (c.1752 in Kent, Litchfield Co., CT d. 5-24-1827 in Erie Co., PA, buried in Mill Creek, PA) and Abiah Stuart (d. 9-18-1803 in Jerusalem, Yates Co., NY) Married: December 29, 1774 in Kent, Litchfield Co., CT by Zachariah Winegar, J.P.“
The following was submitted by Doug Cahoon – .
Added 1 July 2014:
“William Colquhoun (pronounced Ca-hoon) born 1633, was the first Cahoon to come to the colonies from Dunbartonshire, Scotland. His descendants are now in almost every state in the union. His descendants spell their name Cahoon, Cahoone, Cohoon, Colhoon, Cahoone, Colquhoun and sometimes Calhoun.
Seventeen year old William was one of 5,100 Scotsmen captured by Oliver Cromwell following the Battle of Dunbar during the Kirk’s War. William was among the those purchased by Bex & CO. They arrived at Saugus (Lynn) Iron Works in early April 1651.
William’s older brother John, was captured as well. It is believed that John either died at sea aboard the English ship “John & Sara” or very shortly after arriving in the colonies. William worked in the colonies as an iron smith, brick maker, boat builder and other trades for many years, eventually earning enough money to buy his freedom. He married Deliverance PECK, daughter of Joseph PECK, in 1662 and fathered seven children.
William was one of the first property owners on Block Island, which is just off the shore of what is now Rhode Island. William sold his property on the island and brought his family to Swansea, Massachusetts. On Dec. 24, 1673 William contracted with the town of Swansea to make all the brick for the town and its residents. A brick believed to be one that William made can be seen in Luther’s Museum in Swansea, Mass.
In June of 1675, hostilities broke out between the Native Americans and the Colonist. As a group of settlers headed home from a “A Day of Prayer” at the Baptist Meeting House, they were attacked by Indians. Some were killed immediately and others were seriously wounded. They took refuge in Rev. John Myles‘ garrison house hoping to treat their wounded and protect themselves from further harm. After a while it became apparent that more were going to die without the help of a physician. William, who was in the house with his wife Deliverance and their seven children, volunteered to make the journey from Swansea to Rehoboth, Massachusetts to bring back a doctor.
William was ambushed by Indians very near this cemetery. He was killed and mutilated. His body was discovered the next day. This attack was the beginning of “King Philip’s War” which saw almost every building in Swansea burned to the ground.”~ Doug Cahoon
From Suzanne Cummings: “I am a descendent of William Cohoon/Calquhoun. (William -son Joseph -son Ebenezer -son Benjamin -son Joseph -son Stephan -son Charles David Cohoon -my great grandmother Julia Anne Cohoon born 1832 in Quincy illinois -only child of Charles David.
My mother showed me her how grandmother Julia Anne Cohoon always lifted her chin to show her how to pronounce Co WHOOON. She said her Grandma was little and lively, had learned to dance to her fathers fiddle playing. Julia was a midwife in Ringgold County Iowa.”
From Jean McKenney: “My connection to William Cahoon is as follows: William Cahoon (SPOW) b 1633 and Deliverane Peck b 1645; James Cahoon b 1670 Swansea, MA and Mary Rich b 1702; James Cahoon b 1721 Chatham and Rebecca Eldridge b 1723; MA, James Cahoon b 1742 Harwich, MA and Deborah Marchant; James Cahoon b 1778 Harwich, MA and Lettice Bassett; Freeman Cahoon b 1800 Harwich, MA and Lucinda Chase Robbins b 1802; Freeman Wilson Cahoon b 1839 Harwich, MA and Deborah L Moody b 1843; Charles Henry Cahoon b 1871 Harwich, MA and Alice May Atkins b 1877; Effie May Cahoon b 1899 Harwich, MA and Roger Weston Tillson, Sr b 1898.”
From Teresa’s research:
“Plymouth Colony Records, page 635-636” Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016).:
Children of William C. Cahoon and Clarisa J. (she died 23 July 1876) his wife:
William M Cahoon, b. 6 Oct 1850
Clara Louise Cahoon, b. 14 Nov 1853
Edgar Cahoon, b. 30 Nov 1861
Russell M. Cahoon, b. 24 Sep 1863
Nellie E. Cahoon, b. 21 Feb 1866
Frank W. Cahoon, b. 21 Aug 1874
More information about William Cahoon:
William Cahoon (Colquhoun) First Colquhoun in the Colonies at Blogspot.com.
Scottish Prisoners including William Cahoon at the Miner Descent WordPress Blog.