The county was named in 1780 for Benjamin Lincoln, 1733-1810, who was born in Massachusetts and in the War of Revolution took Massachusetts regiments to reinforce New York in 1776, cut Burgoyne's communications with Canada at Saratoga in 1777, held command of the Southern Department in 1778, was commissioned by Washington to receive the sword of Cornwallis at the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781, served as Secretary of War from 1781 to 1784, and led forces that quelled Shays' Rebellion.