Gad Austin

Gad Austin was christened/born on October 15, 1733 in Sheffield, Berkshire, Massachusetts. He was the son of Captain Nathaniel Austin and Agnes Adams. Gad died in 1828. He married Susana Callendar on December 8, 1763 in Sheffield, Berkshire, Massachusetts and is buried in the Sheffield Plain Cemetery. They had 4 children: Nathaniel Austin, Phillip A. Austin, Amos Austin, and Stephen Austin. The name Gad was commonly used to abbreviate Gurard. Gad is also an Old Testament name (a son of Jacob). This Gad appears in various records as Grard, Gad, and Gurard. Gad was living alone in Sheffield, Berkshire, Massachusetts per the 1820 census. In Gad’s grandson’s biography, Charles mentions that Gad was a pensioned Revolutionary War Veteran, and that he died at 95, probably at the old homestead of Sheffield, Massachusetts. In 1758, Gad was mustered on roll of Captain Daniel Burt’s Foot Company, Col. Wm. William’s Regt. Connecticut Militia. Sargent Gad Austin mustered April 14, and discharged November 5 (years not given). No record of Gad’s burial have been found so far. It is suggested that the broken head and foot stones in the Sheffield Plain Cemetery could mark Gad’s grave site. The stones, are located between the graves of Susanna Callendar Austin (his wife), and Elijah Austin (brother). The letters “D” and “AUS” can be seen roughly etched into the footstone.