USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Durham > History of Durham, Connecticut, from the first grant of land in 1662 to 1866 > Part 12
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Item .- I give, bequeath and devise unto the inhabitants of said Durham, the land I bought of the heirs of Mr. Hezekiah Tall- cott, deceased, lying near the meeting house, in said Durham, containing about Three Acres, be the same more or less, to be used and improved by said inhabitants for a burying ground or place to bury their dead in forever,-and with regard to the profits of said three acres, that may arise before the said inhabi- tants shall want to improve the same for a burying place and indeed all the profits that may at any time hereafter arise from the improvement of said land, my will is that all such profits shall forever hereafter be appropriated, used, and improved for the benefit and support of the said Center School annually, in the same manner and on the same conditions as the interest of
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the said One Hundred Pounds is to be improved and applied, reference thereto being had.
Item .- I give and bequeath unto the Church of Christ in said Durham, such sum as shall be sufficient in money to procure a silver cup for the use of the Lord's Table, to be paid to the Dea- cons of said Church for said purpose by my Executor.
Item .- I give and bequeath unto my Sister, Mary Parsons, the sum of Twenty Pounds lawful money as above said.
Item .- I give and bequeath unto my cousins, children of my above said sister, that is to say, to Timothy Parsons, John Par- sons, Hannah Marsh and Tabitha Arnold, the sum of Twenty Pounds, lawful money to each of them. Also to the heirs of Jemima Rowley, I give and bequeath the sum of Twenty Pounds lawful money, to be equally divided between them.
Item .- I give and bequeath unto my cousins Samuel Stow Hawley, Mary Wolcott, Hope Fowler, and Hannah Ward, the sum of Ten Pounds lawful money, to each of them.
Item .- I give, bequeath, and devise unto Jacob Clark, of Dur- ham, his heirs and assigns forever, my dwelling house, which was my Brother Thomas Robinson's, deceased, and Two acres of land adjoining said house.
Item .-- I give, bequeath, and devise to my cousin, Ebenezer Robinson, Jr., son of Capt. James Robinson, and to the heirs of his body, lawfully begotten, my old dwelling house and barn and twenty acres of land, and my will is that he have liberty to take said Twenty acres of land where he shall choose, excepting the land which was my brother Thomas Robinson's. Also I give and bequeath to him, the said Ebenezer, my cloak and my silver tankard.
Item .- All the residue of my estate, both real and personal, I give, bequeath, devise, and dispose of as follows, viz .: to my cousins, the children of my brother David Robinson, deceased, that is to say, to David, Dan, Timothy, Phineas, Noah, James, Asher, Rebecca, Mary and Abigail, I give, bequeath, and devise the one-third part of the said Residue of my said estate both real and personal, to them and their heirs and assigns forever to be equally divided between them share and share alike.
Item .- The one-third part of the Residue of my said estate I
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give, bequeath, and devise to my sister, Hannah Miller, her Heirs and assigns forever.
Item .- The other third part of the said Residue of my estate I give, bequeath, and devise to my cousins, children of my sister Abigail Coe, deceased, that is to say, to Joseph Coe, David Coe, Josiah Coe, Abel Coe, and Abigail Granger, to them and to their heirs and assigns forever, to be equally divided between them, share and share alike.
Finally-I nominate, constitute and appoint my cousin, Capt. James Robinson, of said Durham, Executor of this my last Will and Testament, and I do hereby declare this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 7th day of July, A. D. 1780.
N. B. by lawful money mentioned in my above will I mean silver at six shillings and eight pence per ounce or the value thereof.
EBENEZER ROBINSON. Seal.
Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said Ebenezer Robinson to be his last Will and Testament in presence of us.
ELIHU CHAUNCEY. MARY CHAUNCEY. SARAH CHAUNCEY.
CHAPTER VIII.
DURHAM IN THE WARS.
THE INDIAN WARS.
The war against the Pequots, under their Sachem, Sassacus, ook place in 1637. The war against the Narragansets, under Sur former ally, Miontonimo, took place in 1643. The war
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HISTORY OF DURHAM.
against the Wampanoags, under Philip, aided by other tribes, took place in 1675. Durham was not settled until these wars were over. So that if the Town can claim none of the honor, if it be an honor, of exterminating the Indians, or selling them into slavery, in the West Indies, it did not incur any of the dis- grace. Still, it should be confessed that many of the farms granted to individuals were bestowed upon men who had dis- tinguished themselves in these wars ; some of whose descend- ants afterwards resided in Durham. It should be confessed that some of the people of Durham were under the influence of a common hatred and horror against the race. In more than one instance when the hat, or contribution box was carried round in the meeting-house, on the Sabbath, for money to christianize the Indians, instead of a coin, a bullet was dropped in, as if it were the fittest Missionary. Even in my own recollection, children were sometimes quieted by the cry, "The Indians are coming."
THE FRENCH WAR.
Durham sympathized strongly with the Mother country in the French War; and, according to tradition, sent a considera- ble number of volunteers. The circumstance that Colonel Elihu Chauncey, commanded a regiment, in the year 1755, and that Major General Phinehas Lyman, a native of Durham, was for a period commander in chief of the Connecticut troops du- ring a portion of the war, would lead us to the conclusion, that the tradition is true. I have in my possession a journal kept by one of these volunteers during his campaign, and a cannon ball weighing twelve pounds which he brought in his knapsack, all the way from Ticonderoga, and which had been fired by the French. His name was Charles Squier. Ebenezer Squier dis- tinguished himself in that war. On a certain occasion, a beech trec was to be cut down which obstructed our cannon balls, in an attempt to dislodge the enemy. It was a dangerous service to cut down that tree; for whoever did it, would be exposed to the fire of the enemy while going to and from the tree. Ebene- zer Squier, volunteered to cut it down, when the commander called for a volunteer for this service. He reached the tree in safety, though the bullets flew thick on each side of him. Af-
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ter he had cut down the tree he was exposed on his return to a still more dangerous fire from the enemy, which they were pre- pared to open upon him. Walking back with not a hurried pace, when the balls were flying past him he turned round, shook his axe at the enemy, and then resumed his walk. He was immediately raised to the rank of a sergeant. I once, when a boy, asked him if he ever killed a man. He replied "I do not certainly know, but I blew up a boat in which there were fifteen men." JOSEPH HINE, JOHN HINMAN, one or more of the SEWARDS, one of whom was killed, were in that war. A man whom I have seen, by the name of Dunn, resided here, who was in the battle in which General Wolf was killed. There was a good deal of dissatisfaction in Durham, because General Phinehas Lyman was not treated by the British Government according to his merits.
LETTER FROM GENERAL PHINEHAS LYMAN
TO HIS WIFE.
LAKE GEORGE, OR ST. SACRAMENT, Sept. 9th, 1755. My Dearest :
Since the finishing the enclosed, viz., yesterday morning, we sent out about 1000 men, and about 170 or 180 Indians to intercept the French army, who marched out about three or four miles, and the Indians and French catched them in an ambush, and soon shot down Colonel Williams, who headed the party; and some of the men and Indians, being surprised got into disorder and fled, and the rest were forced to fight on a retreat to the Fort, but lost some considerable number by death and captivity. But when they came up to our camp, we had flung up a breast work of logs and though they came up 1800 of them, that is, 1200 French and 600 Indians, as confident of success as troops could be, headed by a Swiss General, who was a baron sent from old France for that purpose, and a fine gentleman he is. Yet I say, we gave them such a warm recep- tion that we stopped them and fought them from a little before eleven o'clock till half after five, and then they retreated, and we issued out upon them, and took their General, killed his second officer, who was chief Commander of the party, who defeated General Braddock; and when he received his mortal
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wound, cried out to his men to fight, "for," says he, "you have not got Braddock to fight with." Our men brought in large numbers of French guns and wide laced hats, cartouch boxes, &c. Took a number of prisoners, and killed a great many. They made their first attack on Connecticut forces where we were posted. They were so warmly received that after two or three hours' fighting, they went and tried the other wing where the Province troops were posted, and found such a warm re- ception that they retired-and the fight in the woods was from about one-quarter before nine o'clock, till about one-quarter be- fore eleven, when they retired. I believe there never was such a hot and incessant firing with cannon and small arms, in New England, and one that lasted so long. I was forced to com- mand where I was more exposed than any one soldier in the army, to make them save their firing, and behave well; and I believe never any army exceeded them in valor, courage and bravery, in the world. The whole 1800 were repulsed and drove back, by our Connecticut forces in their first attack, and after that by the Province forces; for when they saw they could not fire, as they went to the other wing, where the Prov- ince forces were posted, and met with so very warm reception that they retreated. Gen. Johnson was wounded by a shot into his thigh, and the bullet lodged near the bone, in the fore part of the engagement, and he retired to his tent. Col. Titcomb, Col. Ephraim Williams, Major Ashley, are killed, and Captain Haw- ley very badly wounded. While we fought at the head of the encampment, we lost but two men, and two badly wounded, and a number more received wounds. I believe we have lost no offi- cer. Captain Hitchcock, Doctor Bliss and friends, of Suffield are well. I am well, and so is Phine who went with the doctor to the Hospital and continued there.
Major Nichols is badly wounded. Thus you see how emi- nently God has covered our head in the day of battle, and given us a glorious victory, over his and our enemies, and though the bullets whistled by my ears and body, very near, yet not one so much as touched my clothes. Pray for us and trust in God, for who would not trust such a Friend ? When we come to an ex- act number of the killed and wounded, I will inform you. The re-inforcements have none of them arrived, yet we are about 2300 strong. I have not lost one man in my company.
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DURHAM IN THE WARS.
Sept 10th. After writing the above I am informed by a scout from the lower forts, that news is sent to New England that we were all defeated, but I hope that news will not reach you till this arrives; for I assure you there never was a more complete victory by God's goodness. The party we sent yesterday to bury our dead, think we have lost 100 men. How many we have killed of the French we cannot exactly tell, but doubtless a very great number. The French prisoners say we have ruined their army. Now, my dear, how often have you trusted me with God, and prayed him to cover my head in the day of battle, and how remarkably has God appeared for me; for the battle came on when our men were retreating, and dejected, which is dangerous, but we recovered our men, and forced those retreat- ing, to face and defend the front, and for a long time there was nothing but one continued fire of cannon and small arms. I be- lieve there was never a hotter battle. Phine, &c. Pray, bless and praise God for his wonderful goodness to us and our Coun- try. I am in haste, your Loving Husband, P. LYMAN. Colls. Titcomb and Williams, Major Ashley, Capts. Porter, Hawley, Keyes, killed. Lieut. Burt killed.
SECOND LETTER OF GENERAL LYMAN TO HIS WIFE.
Sept. 11th, 1755.
My Letter of yesterday and day before will convince you, that God is on our side and fights our battles for us, and makes our enemies flee before us. I wrote long, but could not give all par- ticular circumstances. But I can now add some circumstances of the battle not therein particularly set forth.
On Sabbath day last, being the 7th day of this month, the Indians brought us word that a large army marched along the South Bay towards Fort Lyman, as now called, at Lydia's House, on which General Johnson called a council in the afternoon, and we advised to send an express to the other fort, and one Adams, an officer to Indians offered to go. On which a letter was soon wrote, a horse prepared, and he set out and several more sent, one after another, so that if one was attacked the other might hear and send back word to us; and several others, disorderly
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HISTORY OF DURHAM.
set out without leave. When they arrived within about one mile from that fort, the express, viz., Adams was shot down, and heard to cry to Jesus for help, though perhaps he never prayed before; he was killed and his horse, the wagoners all taken, and qr. wagons burnt, the news brought back to us by one behind.
The next morning we fitted out a party of 1000 men, and about 170 Indians after the enemy to cut off their retreat, under the command of Col. Williams, who marched out a little better than three miles in the road to Fort Lyman, and sat down and consulted together, and waited for some to come up till the French, who encamped the night before about thirty or forty rods below, perceived them and almost surrounded them, and so soon as they began to march, rose and fired on them and killed Col. Williams, Major Ashley, Captain Ingersol, and about seven- teen or eighteen on the spot. Old Henderick was there and fought valiantly, and encouraged his men, but in fine was killed. The Indians first began to run, and some of the men after them, the rest fought valiantly on the retreat, from before nine o'clock till about half after ten, and killed a vast many more of the French in the retreat, as the French General owned, than they killed of our men. We heard all the fighting, and soon found they came near to us ; we beat up to arms and all made ready at proper places, so as to be all round the encampment-to be ready on every side, and none to leave his post on pain of death, without order.
The enemy came close to our men, and drew up near. Their arms glistened like the sun, with their bayonets fixed, and as confident, I suppose, of coming straight into our camp and carrying all before them, as ever any army was. My great con- cern was for fear the retreating party by their dejection, would frighten our men, and make them run as Braddock's did, and therefore I spent my time encouraging them, by all arts I was master of, for there was no other officer by to help do the same, but in spite of all I could do, when our men came in in a body, all sank dejected, tired and choked almost to death with thirst; some had shot away all the powder, others the bullets. I was about four rods east of where they came in, encouraging and en- gaging the men. I saw them press right through our men, and our men began to run after them.
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DURHAM IN THE WARS.
I called to some officers to stop them, for I saw the French would be in the camp in ten minutes, if they were not stopped, for our men would have run like Braddock's, but the officers' commands did not influence them any more than the trees. I run about ten rods to the foremost and told him to face to the front, and march up and defend it or I would kill him in one minute.
They told me they were choked and tired to death, no powder, no shot, &c. I told them I would send for powder, shot, water, &c., but if they did not march back and defend the front I would kill them in a moment.
They all marched back, and the fight came on right before me. There was in one minute, nothing but one continual clangor of cannon and small arms which held a long time, in which time, I saw our men shoot so fast, and some of them so 1 carelessly that I was afraid the enemy intended to draw our shot and men, and break in upon us, for I saw that their army was very great and that they had a good commander.
I was forced to run from one end of the firing to the other, and halloo as loud as I could speak, to make them save their fire, and not to shoot unless they had a fair shot, for if the ( French would draw away our fire or make us shoot till our guns were foul, or so hot as to break, they would soon break in upon us. I sent the same order to others whom I expected they would engage if they found they could not find us ; all readily obeyed, and I believe never men nor mortals fought better in the world.
The fight continued as hot as fire till past five, when the enemy slackened and retreated ; our men sprang over the breast- works, and followed them like lions, and made terrible havoc, and soon brought in arms full of guns, laced hats, cartridge boxes, &c .; and brought in the General of the army, and many other prisoners. The General is a Swiss gentleman, educated in France, and had the command of all the forces in Canada; has in his army 3117 men but part were left at Crown Point, and on this side he had but 1800 to fight us of his best chosen men, and we chastised them that about 300, of New Hampshire chiefly and some of them Yorkees, coming from the other fort, met about eight hundred of them, chiefly Indians, and tackled in, and fought and beat them off from their packs, killed many and
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HISTORY OF DURHAM.
took some, so that they never returned to take their packs. Thus, my dear, has God preserved us, thus miraculously has God covered our heads in day of battle, even the God of the armies of Israel in the hottest and most obstinate battle that was ever fought in North America. Alas! who would not trust such a God! Can you think I can desert his cause, who has evidently surrounded us with mercies, and encompassed us with blessings ever since I left you. Praise and bless his name, and forever remember the 8th day of September. This God did, with only the Province troops, about 1000 or little more, and Connecticut forces, about 100 of Rhode Island, and about 200 of the men raised in Connecticut for New York, but they had not much of the battle. The Connecticut forces sustained the whole of the first onset. The French intended to attack us next morning as soon as it was light, but how happy was it that God brought on the battle in open day-light.
But we always watch, set sentries at a distance to give notice, and sleep on our arms, all ready at first start. I was very tired, and faint for want of eating and drinking; when the battle was over I had lost my voice so that you could not hear me one rod, but was forced to be up all night, and all watched through the night. But my voice is almost come to, and I am as well as ever. Never one shot touched the hem of my garment, hat, or any thing about me, but they killed my saddle horse. Gen. Johnson was wounded near the beginning of the battle, and re- paired to his tent at the other end of the encampment. We can not yet tell the number we have lost, but few considering the violenee of the battle, and the loss of the French. The French General is as complete a man as the country affords ; his second offieer killed. They are terribly dressed off, and I hope the re- cruits will soon be here, and we shall soon be masters of Crown Point. I know you must think it terrible to appear before the mouths of guns, shots so plenty and thick ; then so much plainer does God's preserving mercy appear.
P. LYMAN.
P. S .- There are some hopes the French General may recover.
N. B .- The Indians have all left us this day save onc, and gone home, to mourn for their dead. I don't expect them again this fall, but they are well pleased with the noble victory.
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DURHAM IN THE WARS.
These two letters of General Lyman were furnished to the author by Rev. Henry Robinson, of Guilford, formerly a settled clergyman of the Church in Suffield of which General Lyman was a member.
THE VOLUNTEERS TO NOVA SCOTIA. " DURHAM, April 2nd, 1760.
" At a meeting of the subscribers, petitioners for a Township in the province of Nova-Scotia, in Acadia, pursuant to a procla- mation given by Charles Lawrence, Governor, in the year 1759, Jan. ye 11th, at the house of Elnathan Chauncey, in Durham, in the County of New Haven in the Colony of Connecticut, in New England.
" At the incorporation Elnathan Chauncey was chosen Clerk to sd meeting, and proprietor.
"Samuel Dimock, Esq., was chosen Moderator to sd meeting.
" Voted, To be at the Charge and Expense of sending a Com- mittee to inquire and inform themselves, and act as our direc- tions are.
" Voted, That we send two Committee men to request our desire to the Governor of Halifax, and to act according to the directions.
" Voted, That each signer shall be taxed one dollar and a half to support the Charge of the Committee.
" Voted, That Captain Samuel Dimock and James Pelton be the Committee.
" Voted, That the Committee as soon as possible go to Hali- fax, and wait upon the Governor at Halifax, and ascertain what lands he will dispose of to the settlers; and when they have taken a survey of the lands, and find the lands to be good, the title to be such as they may have a peaceable, quiet, and good settlement, then to apply to his Excellency, Charles Law- rence, for a grant to us, the subscribers, for the survey, with all the privileges and appurtenances to said Lands, and in all par- ticulars, and know his Excellency's pleasure in sd lands and set- tlements, and that they return as speedily as possible, and call a meeting at such a time and place, as they shall think proper, and make a report to the proprietors of their expenses and doings.
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" Voted, That Mr. James Bates be the Collector to gather that tax laid upon the polls as soon as may be possible.
" Then this meeting was dismissed by a regular vote. ELNATHAN CHAUNCEY, Clerk."
A TRUE LIST OF THE GENTLEMEN WHO LISTED FOR NOVA SCOTIA.
Samuel Dimock,
James Pelton, Jun.,
James Pelton,
Samuel Squire,
Thomas Stevens,
Zachra Henman,
Benjamin Picket,
John Camp, Jun'r,
Michal Griswold,
Israel Burrit,
David Wood,
Ezra Porter,
Jeremiah Parmele,
John Parmele,
John Bacon, Jun.,
Jonathan Basset,
David Blatchley,
Hezekiah Buckingham,
Abner Kelsey,
Gideon Buckingham,
David Baldwin,
Moses Sheldon,
Aaron Bacon,
Nehemiah Merwin,
Daniel Francis,
Aaron Baldwin,
James Arnold,
William Mitchel,
Jonathan Mitchel,
Daniel Dimock,
Steven Post,
Barzillia Dudley,
John Pelton,
Samuel Seaward, Mark Parmely,
Francis Clark,
John Marcy,
Joseph Blatchley,
Evaight Plumb,
Isaiah Mackleve,
Elnathan Chauncey,
Israel Godard,
Gideon Warner,
Jonathan Walkley,
Sarah Chamberlain,
Richard Hayly,
John Canfield, Abraham Bishop,
Benjamin Royce,
Samuel Spelman, William Bishop.
Andrew Leet,
James Hill,
Elias Austin, William Clark,
Robert Mackleve,
John Norton, 3rd, Charles Squire,
Jonas Bishop, John Birdsey, James Bates,
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DURHAM IN THE WARS.
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
The Second Continental Congress met at Philadelphia on the 5th of September, 1774. The several delegations came pre- pared to act in concert, in opposing the encroachments of the British Government upon the rights of the several colonies. In order to attain a restoration of their violated rights, "They, for themselves and their constituents, agreed and associated, under the sacred ties of virtue, honor and love of country, not to im- port after the first of December, 1774, from Great Britain or Ire- land, any goods whatever, or from any other place, or any such goods as should have been imported from Great Britain or Ire- land." This celebrated " Association " also sent forth very able and stirring addresses to the KING, and to the PEOPLE of GREAT BRITAIN, and to the PEOPLE of the COLONIES.
In view of these doings of the Association, the inhabitants of Durham in Town meeting, Nov. 17, 1774, passed the following vote : "The Association entered into and signed by the delegates of this colony in behalf of the colony, in the late Continental Con- ress, held at Philadelphia, and approved of and recommended to the several towns in this colony, by the Honorable House of Rep- resentatives in their session at New Haven, in October last, to be by the said towns faithfully observed and kept, being laid before the meeting for consideration, and this meeting having seriously and maturely considered,- Voted unanimously, that the meeting do accept and approve of the said Association, and will faith- fully observe and keep the several articles therein contained ac- cording to the true intent and meaning thereof."
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