USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Cheshire > History of Cheshire, Connecticut, from 1694-1840, including Prospect, which, as Columbia parish, was a part of Cheshire until 1829; > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
It is a well established fact that a story originally reliable and authentic, when repeated from memory by those who heard it re- lated, is not always an exact reproduction. When this process is multiplied through an indefinite number of people, many of whom may have been long dead, the chances are that the orig- inal narrative gets wofully mixed, according to the mental con- ditions of the persons through whom it has been transmitted to our day and generation.
Our ancestors, who went through the trials and tribulations in- cident to the eight years the Revolutionary war lasted, and who subsequently struggled with the problem of paying in good money for the destruction that had been wrought ; little thought
221
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
that those who were to come after them, would be erecting mon- uments to their memory and striving at this day and ex- pending much money to obtain admission into associations, founded upon the evidence that the candidate is, in remote degree, related to one of those brave men who rendered more or less military service to our country in the darkest time of its greatest need.
It will be understood that the History of the Revolutionary War cannot be told here. It must be sought for in other pub- lications and then every reader can connect the men from Wal- lingford, Cheshire and Meriden (whose names we have given), with some part of the conflict which resulted in detaching the Connecticut Colony from England and making us a free and in- dependent nation.
While the inhabitants of some other towns can furnish many letters written during this war, we are not so fortunate. Only a few such documents have come down to us, but the story told by some of the men and a woman of Revolutionary times is evi- dence enough of the patriotism and Christian character of the people who lived in this village of ours one hundred and twenty- five years ago.
At the time these letters were written, the Connecticut troops that had been called out were of the militia companies ; and were more for a show to the enemy than actual warfare, which, how- ever, was imminent, and soldier life quite as dangerous as being under fire. The following year called into action more fighting men from this town and it is to be regretted we have so little in- formation concerning them.
The first of these letters is as follows :
New York July ye 8 A 1775 honnered parents. After my kind Regard to you I take this oppertunety to Let you no that throu the goodness and marcey of God I am well And In good helth And Alltho my Boddey Is Absent from you yet my heart Is with you And I would have you think of me And pray for me that I may Be kept from Sin And from Sickness And from death And
222
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
I hope that God will Return me to you Again In saftey Laden with the goodness of God which time I hope we shall see and Re- joice together. It Is a time of helth In the Camp And has Benn All Along Mr Smith is well And desiers to Be Remembered to his wife And to you All I have Nothing Strange to Right to you But we Expect to march from heare pretty Soon And whare we Shall go we cant say thare is talck of going to Crown pint And i Beleve that we shall go thare if we go Any whare from hear I would have you Right me A few lines to Let me no how you Are. So no more At present But I remain your dutifull And Loving Son til death we part. John gallard
A month later he is sick, and his brother writes:
Harlum august the I Day 1775 Deare and honnoured parrents. I wold inform you that through the goodness of God I am well in helth at present as I hope that these lines will find you so to. But By the providence God John is not well he was taking to the hospittle yesterday he is not very Bad But he has not Bin well this sum Days But I hope with the Blessing of God that he will git well Before long I have not time to rite so much as I wold be glad to rite But so no more at pres- ent But we remain your loving Sons John gaylard Silas gaylard
My ink is poore
After this letter was sent the Connecticut militia were en- camped in the neighborhood of New York until their time was out in November and December, 1775.
The writer then probably came home, and was attached to those of the Connecticut contingent who were detailed to the army then in the neighborhood of Boston. His letter, written at odd times while he was gone, tells the rest of his story.
February ye A. D. 1776. My tale of the townes In going to boston from hartford Bolton Coventry Mansfield ashford wood- stock Dudley Oxford Sutten Grafton Westbury Southbury Fram- ingham Sudsbury Westown Waltham Wartertown and then Cam-
223
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
bridg and then we went to Rocksbury and from there we went back to Brookline and were Stationed there A Bout Nune and Stoped firing In which time there was a man they shot off and dyed In which time we ware a Bilding a Brest work on Dorsester hill Near the casel and there hasent Bin no fiering Sense I was on gard this knight
March ye 8 A. D. 1776 I was on gard at Casel Pint where I staed one Day and all most too Nites having Nothing But the heavens for a Covering Being very mody and wet and Raind
March ye 9 D. 1776 on Saturday knight there was a very heavy fier from the enemy which continued all knight we loast five men, fore of them was killed at one shot a Nother was killed on the march we picked up the Next Day Nine Hundred and more of there Shot from twenty fore Pounders to six Pounders.
they continued fiering every knight till tusday knight I was on gard they fiered all knight the Bals flied clost too me and Struck all Round us and they fierd no more and they killed no man in all this last time this knight there was one of the Enemy Desarted in a Bote and came to us our Sentrys shot at him and shot him through his leag and Brought him tue he Brought a long Bote one 150 weat of Sugar and so much corffe and we Reseved him joyfully
March ye 10 Day 1776 the Enemy Began to Sayl out By the Cassel-there sailed a Bout one haf of them Sun or Monday and sailed No more till the 17 Day and then they all sailed of and left Bunkerhill and left there Brest work on the Neck for I se them Leave It and go on bord-there was three Boys Clymed over the Brest work and Run out and Brought the Nuse
March ye 14 D 1776 there was 2 of the Enemy Deserted from there Sentreys and came to us which inform us that the enemy is going a wayI
This letter was written to one of the New Cheshier men be- longing to the detachment of Connecticut men sent to re-inforce the army at New York. The writer became a widow soon after
IThis was written by "John Gaylard." If there was any more it has been lost.
224
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
this letter reached her husband, if indeed he ever saw it. He died in camp.
New Cheshire September the Ist 1776
Dear and Loveing husband after my (cynd) Love to you be living I take this oppertunity to inform you that I and the rest of the family are well and I should be glad to have these Lines find you So but I Dont expect tha will but I would plead with God to Spare your life and restore you to health a gain and my Desire and prayer to all mighty God is that he will spare in the time of your sore Destress and Deliver you from Sickness and from Death and keep you from sin and if you Live to be cauld in the feild of battle I hope God will shield your head in the Dav of battle.
So I must leave you in the hands of a mercyful God and kind father, who has promised to be unto all who call on him in truth. So Do remember in all your trouble to lift up your heart to God in prayer for your Self that he would spare you in this day of Distress. I have this day had the prayers of Gods people for you and I beg and pray that God will hear and answer but if this parting must be the Last in Life I desire that we may so Live and conduct ourselfs in Life that when we come to Dye we may meet in heaven above So no more at present but I remain your Loveing wife Martha Ives. give my love to all my brothers.
This was directed "To Mr. Titus Ives att New York in Capt. Cooks company."
Cheshire July 30th, 1781.
Dear Brother
I take this Opportunity to Inform you that I am well as I hope these Lines will find you Gaining I was glad to hear you are Bet- ter. On Saturday Foot was bit by a Chunk Head we killed it,
225
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
we have got a new Sythe, I have nothing Special to write and So I Remain your loving Brother Titus Preston P. S.
Mother would be glad to have you try drinking of Snales Boiled in Milk & water.
This epistle was directed "To Mr. Jesse Preston att New Ha- ven" who was probably serving in the "Home Guard Militia," after the attack on New Haven and while our coast was threat- ened.
In a box of papers belonging to the first Probate Judge of Cheshire, Hon. Silas Hitchcock, were found the following pension certificates or portions of them which seem of interest enough to be inserted here.
State of Connecticut, County of New Haven, ss. town of Cheshire Probate District of Cheshire.
On this 23d day of July 1832 personally appeared before the Court of Probate for the District of Cheshire, in open Court said Court being a Court of Record and having by the laws of this State a Clerk & Seal & now sitting-Aaron Hall a resident of the town of Wallingford in the county of New Haven & State of Connecticut aged seventy-one years the IIth day of November 1831 who being first duly sworn according to law-doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832-That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1777 on the 24th day of May of that year-in the company commanded by Captain Stephen Yale-into the Regiment commanded by Col Heman Swift in the Connecticut line-I cannot recollect the number of the Regiment because there was different arrangements made the latter part of my tour & in some cases two Regiments even united into one-Holdridge Lieut Col-Sedgwick Major for 6 or 8 months, after him Woodbridge was Major-Jedediah Hunting- ton Brigadier General of our Brigade-I enlisted into this Regi- ment & company for & during the term of three years-and I
226
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
served in the brigade Regiment & company aforesaid-from the time of my said enlistment to the spring of the year 1780-I think the latter part of April, cannot remember the precise day, when I was honerably discharged-Applicant recd a written discharge but he has lost the same-He was born in the said town of Wal- lingford-Enlisted into the service as aforesaid in that town-and has resided in said town ever since the expiration of his said term of enlistment-He was in the battles of Monmouth and Ger- mantown-the battle of Germantown took place in October 1777-and that of Monmouth on the 28th day of June 1778-be- sides my other skirmishes-He joined the Army at Peekskill in June 1777-In the latter part of summer or first of September- He was marched through Jersey into Pennsylvania-wintered at valley forge-remained in New Jersey & Pennsylvania untile battle of Monmouth-one of the other winters to wit 78-9- wintered in Reading Point-and the winter of 79-80 wintered in New Jersey and during that winter crossd the ice with Lord Stirling-to Staten Island and did nothing after all the trouble- He was dischargd at Springfield, New Jersey-He is now in his seventy-second year-and from being crippled was unable to do anything for ten years past-And he is the only surviving sol- dier of the Revolution who served for three years now residing in said town of Wallingford-and he is induced to make this application by a sense of what is in justice & right due to him for services rendered his country in the hour of her peril-for which he never recd an equivalent-He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an amount except the present and he de- clares that his name is not on the pension roll of any Agency in any state-That his name was placed on the pension roll of the agency of the State of Connecticut-under some of the pension Laws passed since the late war (he cannot say which) and after receiving his pension for once or twice-He was stricken from the roll on account of his property & the papers proving my title to a pension can be found in the records of the Department Sworn to & subscribed Aaron Hall
the Day & year aforesaid
227
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & Served as he states
Silas Hitchcock Judge of Probate for the District of Cheshire
I Clement Peck Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Cheshire-do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Origl proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the applica- tion of Aaron Hall for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Probate office this 23 day of July 1832
Clement Peck Clerk
* * broke up headquarters and moved to Rye were we remained thro the winter and when our Regiment was dis- charged-the Regiment stationed with or near us was Col Eno's- I cannot mention his under officers We had no other brush that winter with the enemy-In this tour there were fourteen persons went with me from this town of Cheshire and not one of theni except myself now survive-the Reason why so many went from here was that 2d Lieutenant Wm Law was from this place-We were verbally discharged on the last day of March 1777 & I have no documentary evidence & know of no person whose testimony we can procure who can testify my having served-My next tour was about 3 weeks-then volunteered under Capt Ephraim Cook-Col Russell of Branford commanded the Regiment-we proceeded to Danbury from thence to fishkill where Genl Putnam took command of us & proceeded with us to Redhook-at Rhine- beck we overtook a militia Regiment & at Poughkeepsie we were united to & ordered to fall in the rear of a Regiment of Regulars and with their troops we advanced up the river at the same rate with the enemy's fleet to Redhook when news reached us that Burgoyne had surrendered-The fleet had takd about & were near out of sight when we got the news-news was brot by two
228
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
messengers one a quartermaster-who having delivd his dis- patches to the Genl gave the following toast and washd it down from his canteen-"Here is a health to the States & the brave Genl Gates-who with courage fought so fine in the year 1777 with the blessing of heaven pulled down the haughty Burgoine." The troops were paraded when the messenger arrived on account of the taking of the enemy's ships-Gen Putnam ordered us a fatige allowance of spirits & I think put us immediately in mo- tion down towards fishkill where we were dischargd in October 1777-In the early part of April 1778 The Applicant again en- listed into a company commanded by Jotham Curtiss captain of Waterbury-David Hitchcock of Cheshire Lieutenant & Joseph Smith of Durham Ensign-into the service of the United States for the term of one year-Whether we were State or U. S. Troops I know not-or whether attachd to any regiment or not I am ignorant-The duty of our company consisted in guarding a portion of the Sound-After our enlistment we were marched to New Haven and joined the remainder of the company-Capt Curtis with a detachment of one half the company was stationed at West Haven & Lieut Hitchcock with another detachment in- cluding those he had raised in Cheshire was stationed at East Haven-and Seargant Crittendon of Durham County of Middle- sex belonging to same company was stationed at the fort at New Haven with a corporals guard & men enough in the fort to han - dle the guns-we remained in this position thro the summer of 1778 & fall untill after thanksgiving which in this State is now & was then the last of Novr-I am able to fix the time of my en- listment at the first of April by my mothers tombstone-She is there stated to have died the 28th of April 1778 & on her death I was sent for to return home & had a furlough of four days & I think we had then been on duty nearly a month & I am confi- dent I kept thanksgiving there-during the season we were fre- quently aroused by the enemies boats, they having possession of Long Island-When we were enlisted it was uncertain whether we should be detained the whole year and we were discharged I think about the first of December 1778-In reply to the queries put by the Department the applicant states that he was born the 2d
229
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
day of February 1760-His father served his apprenticeship in Wallingford & married there & the applicant thinks he was born there-But if so his father & family removed to this place Cheshire when he was quite young & before his remembrance & so has resided here ever since-2d My father kept a family rec- ord in his bible-but when he died, I having a good family bible my brother Josiah took my fathers & before his death a seperation between himself & wife took place & since that affair nothing has been heard of the family record or family Bible-This seperation took place about 6 years since-I know not that there is any other record of my age unless it be found in the seating of our house of public worship which is made according to age & in which I am the next tier after the octogenarians-3 in the town of Chesh- ire County of New Haven State of Connt
4th the first time I was called into service I cannot say whether I was drafted or volunteered or what it ought to be called. The whole Regiment proceeded as I have stated to New York under orders from the commanding officer, upon what I call an alarm. The 2d time I was called out was very much in the same way as the first. I had joined the militia horse & the company to which I belonged as well as some if not all the others in the reg- iment were all ordered out & I went in obedience to the orders of my commanders-on every other tour of duty I was called out after enlistment except when in pursuit of Burgoine this time I volunteered-5th is answd in body of declaration as far as I can answer with certainty 6th I never received more than a verbal discharge & never was more than a private
7th My nearest neighbour and most intimate acquaintance is Samuel A Foot Esq Chairman of the Committee of Pensions in the U. S. Senate-Dr Thomas T. Cornwell-Burrage Beach Esqe-Justice Peace & Notary Public Charles Shelton E. A. Cor- neville Benajah Ives Esq Justices of the Peace To these Gentle- men I refer as my neighbors & acquaintances for my character & their belief as to my having service in the Revolution To the two last terms served I have a witness & his deposition as witness this acclamation.
230
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present-and declars that his name is not on the Pension Role of the agency of any state
Samuel Talmage Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
We Reuben Ives a Clergyman of the Episcopal Church residing in the said town of Cheshire & Aged 69 years and Amasa Hitch- cock residing in said Cheshire hereby certify that we are & ever have been the Neighbours of Mr Samuel Talmage who has sub- scribed & sworn to the above declaration-that we believe him to be seventy-two years of age-that he is a man of unimpeachable integrity & veracity-That he is reputed & believed in the Neigh- borhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolu- tion & that we concur in the opinion & I Amasa Hitchcock re- member Mr Talmage having been out in the war of the Revolution
Reuben Ives Amasa Hitchcock
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion-after the investigation of the matter-and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department-as well as from the high character of the applicant for truth, with which the court is and ever has been personally acquainted-from his Reputation as a soldier of the Revolution-from a personal examination under oath of Jonathan G Bristol whose deposition accompanies this declaration-That the abovenamed applicant was a Soldier of the Revolution and served as he states-The court also certifies to the fact of Jno A Foot being a justice of the Peace when the deposition of Jonathen G Bristol was taken-and the court fur- ther certifies that it appears to them that Reuben Ives who has signd the preceding certificate is next Neighbour to the judge of this court is a Clergyman as he states resident in Cheshire & that Amasa Hitchcock who has also signd the same is also a Resident in the town of Cheshire & is a credible person & that their state- ment is entitled to credit
23I
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
I Clement Peck-Clerk of the Court of Probate for the Probate District of Cheshire do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Sam! Talmage for a Pension-In testimony where- of I have hereunto set my hand & seal of the Probate office for the District of Cheshire this 10th day of July A D 1832
reference to surrender-and they kept up their fire untill just at evening-and there were some killed after we ceased firing among them-Captain Stoddard of the Regular Army and his waiter with one shot. In the following night our army sent their boats across with muffled oars thro the midst of the British shipping & carried off all that was in the fort-The Artyllermen suffered most tho there was great havoc among the other troops and there was much fewer wounded in proportion to the dead than usual-after leaving the fort we lay awhile at the old encampment & from thence we were marchd to valey forge where the Regulars & those whose terms were unexpired wintered and the rest of us were discharged-our whole company was discharged together and orders were given us to draw provi- sions by the way-at particular stores which we did. I recd no written discharge and I was taken sick the 2d day after the dis- charge & was thrown upon the charity of the Quakers & my com- pany left me & I did not get able to travel under two weeks & I did not reach home untill the middle of January we were dis- charged about the last of January-In reply to the queries of the Department Applicant states Ist that he was born within forty rods of where he now lives-It was then in the town of Walling- ford-subsequently the town of Cheshire & now the town of Prospect-on the 7th day of September 1757 2nd-There is a rec- ord of my age in the records of the town of Wallingford I sup- pose-3d I have ever lived within forty rods of this spot in the town of Prospect-4th I have ansd this question in the body of my declaration-5th I have ansd the 5th question as far as able in the body of my declaration-in addition I cd mention I was at
232
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
New Haven & called out at Danbury & some other alarms-for which I do not make a claim not being able to particularise 6th I was a private & never had a written discharge 7th I state the following Gentlemen to whom reference can be had as to my character for veracity & their belief of my having served in the Revolution-Samuel Peck Esqr Albon Hoppins-Joseph J. Doo- little Saml Williams Wm Mix Justices of the Peace in Pros- pect-Revd Mr Bray of Prospect & Samuel A. Foot Esqr of Cheshire Senator in Congress. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present-and declares that his name is not on the pension role of agency of any state Ira Smith
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Mr. John E. Bray a Clergyman residing in the town of Pros- pect and Samuel Peck residing in the same hereby certify that we are acquainted with Deacon Ira Smith who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration-that we believe him to be seventy-five years of age-that he is reputed and believed in the Neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in the opinion and we further state, that he is a member of the Presbyterian church in this place
John E Bray Samuel Peck
And the said Court do hereby declare this opinion after the Investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the war Department that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states-and the Court further certifies-That Deacon Smith the abovenamed ap- plicant is of the most unimpeachable character-and that-it ap- pears to them that John E. Bray who had signd the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Prospect and that Saml Peck Esqr who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town of Prospect & is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit-The court further certify That
233
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
Gideon Bristol & Enos Bunnel persons well known to this Court as unimpeached persons-orally in court, under oath have testi- fied to the truths of Applicants statement respecting the first tour to New York & up to Albany in which tour they were all fel- low soldiers
In the year 1778 In the sumer he was drafted out of one of the militia companies of the town of Cheshire into a company com- manded by Capt Divan Berry for the term of two months and he served out said tour in the towns of Stratford County of Fair- field State of Connecticut and he remembers that Levi Hall now of Middletown was then with him from the circumstance of our having had a severe wrestle together.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.