John Greaton was an American Revolutionary soldier. He served in the Continental Army.
Background
John Greaton was born on March 10, 1741, at Roxbury, Massachusets. He was the son of John and Catherine (Lenton) Greaton, or Graeton.
His father was the last landlord of the famous Greyhound Tavern and was also a trader, dealing in West Indian goods, with stores in Roxbury and Boston.
Career
The younger John likewise was a trader, a fact which probably accounts for his early interest in the Revolutionary movement.
He joined the Sons of Liberty and was chosen on December 26, 1774, one of a committee of fifteen in Roxbury to carry into effect the non-importation agreement. He had been elected lieutenant of the militia in the first parish of Roxbury, November 18, 1774, and in that capacity or another was actively engaged in the battle of Lexington, along with friends and neighbors.
When the Continental Army was raised, he enlisted and from the very first bore a conspicuous part in the war. He was rapidly promoted, becoming major, then lieutenant-colonel, and on July 1, 1775, colonel of Gen. Heath’s regiment.
During the siege of Boston, he did spectacular work in destroying and carrying away British supplies assembled at various places for the use of the army garrisoned there.
After service in these preliminaries, he went on the expedition to Canada and with the rest of his regiment suffered intensely from the hardships of that campaign.
On January 1, 1776, he was commissioned colonel of the 24th Continental Infantry. Upon his return, he joined Washington’s army at Morristown where he remained through the Trenton and Princeton campaign.
He was with Nixon’s brigade in the campaign against Burgoyne, then became a senior officer at Albany and for a time commander of the northern department.
His further promotion was bound up in the jealousies and diplomacies of the Continental Congress, and the resolve making him a brigadier-general was not finally passed by Congress until January 7, 1783.
During the month of December 1782, while his promotion was under serious consideration, Greaton was among those officers who were beginning to feel the seriousness of the failure of Congress to pay the troops and keep its promises to them.
He was one of five officers of the Massachusetts line, who, together with officers from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and the general hospital, presented a memorial to Congress reporting the dissatisfaction in the army.
They suggested commuting the half-pay for life already pledged for full pay for a certain number of years, or for a sum in gross. Several months later Congress adopted their suggestion and offered the officers full pay for five years.
Shortly after this decision, the army was disbanded and Greaton returned to his home at Roxbury, where he died in December 1783, having commanded his regiment throughout the war.
Achievements
Religion
Greaton was a member of the Anglican Church.
Personality
Greaton's son, Richard Humphrey Greaton, was an ensign in his father’s regiment and later a captain in the United States army, and a daughter, Ann, who married Samuel Heath, son of General Heath.
Connections
Greaton was married in 1760, to Sara Humphreys, by whom he had several children.