Jonathan Diman

Jonathan Diman (or Diamond, Dimond 1742-1819) was the fifth child of Jeremiah Diman and Sarah Giddens. He was a cordwainer by trade. In 1771, he married Dorothy Fales. Jonathan and Dorothy had seven children: Jonathan, Benjamin, Jeremiah, Sarah, Elizabeth Fales, Dorothy, and Hannah In 1774, as part of a town-wide effort, Jonathan sent a sum of 6 shillings to support the people of Boston (that city’s port having been recently closed by the British). In 1777, he was commissioned as ensign of the Bristol Militia Company, serving in that position through at least 1781. During this time, he was deployed to Aquidneck Island as part of the Rhode Island Campaign of 1778. At this time, he briefly served as lieutenant, taking the place of Joseph Reynolds, who had served earlier in the campaign. In 1780, he commanded a force of militia deployed to Prudence Island. After the war, Jonathan was referred to in official documents with the title “gentleman”.