Oliver Thurston was born about 1738 / 39 in Stratham, New Hampshire, the son of Moses Thurston and Sarah (Jones) Thurston. He was a large and athletic man, who worked as a butcher in Brentwood, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. As a young man, he was a soldier in the French and Indian War. Before 1768 he married Sarah French (1738 – 1814) and they had seven children.

During the Revolutionary War, Oliver enlisted as follows:

• He was in Capt. Rowell’s company, Col. Nathan Hale’s regiment on 11 Feb, 1778

• He appears on the muster rolls at Camp Valley Forge from April 1778 to Jun 1778 as Sergeant Oliver Thurstin as part of the unit sent to relieve those who suffered through the desperate winter

• In  1779, Oliver was serving as a Sergeant in Capt. Jeremiah Fogg’s company of Col. George Reid’s 2nd NH Infantry Regiment.  In June 1779, the regiment became part of the Sullivan Expedition against the Six Nations of the Iroquois in central New York. They began marching from Easton, Pennsylvania on June 18th. The only real battle of the expedition was the Battle of Newtown (now Elmira, New York) on August 29, 1779. In an entry for that day from the journal of the ensign of the company, Ensign Daniel Gookin is written: “29. Sunday, marched at nine o’clock about 4 miles when our advanced party discovered the enemy’s breastwork which they seemed determined to defend, upon this we formed ourselves and waited for the rear to come up, about 3 o’clock in the afternoon we were ordered with Genl Poor’s and Genl Clinton’s brigades to gain the rear of the enemy. Just as we began our march the cannon began to play on the enemy’s line which drove them from the breast-work before we had time to gain their rear—they took possession of a high mountain which we immediately attacked and gained the summit of—in this attack:

                      Major Titcomb was wounded thro’ the belly and arms,

                     Capt. Clayes thro’ the body,

                     Serjeant Lane wounded in two places,

                    Serjeant Thurstin & Twelve Rank & file wounded.

                    Corp. Huntress Killed.”

Oliver was shot through the thigh, and suffered for many years before the ball could be removed. He did not return to active duty following his injury, and the company muster rolls list him as “Sick at Simsbury”, and then “Sick at N.H.” and “Wounded at N.H.”, after which he received his discharge on February 14, 1781, having served the three years for which he enlisted.  He was later examined and commenced garrison duty on 26 Feb 1783. He received a pension of two dollars per month for his service. His total pension received was 84 dollars. He died of consumption on 02 Oct 1792 in Wakefield, Carroll, New Hampshire. His place of interment is unknown.