History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 28

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532

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" Early in the spring of 1780 a train of sleds, loaded with provisions for the army, passed through Hart- ford and Litchfield on their way to Newburgh. Their progress was slow, and the teamsters (among whom were Eleazer Pinney and Ebenezer Nash, of Elling- ton) suffered incredible hardships on account of the unprecedented depth of snow and the unbroken state of the roads over which they passed. On arriving at the Hudson they attempted to cross on the ice, when their teams broke through. The horse at the head of Mr. Nash's team was detached from the oxen and floated under the ice. In due time, but not till after a desperate struggle, the oxen were all rescued from their perilous situation. The principal part of the stores were then drawn across the river on light sleds, with but a single horse attached to each. These sup- plies were so much needed by the army that no risk was considered too great in conveying them speedily to Washington's camp .*

"' At a legal Town-Meeting, holden at Litchfield on Saturday, the 8th day of July, A.D. 1780, the Hon. Oliver Wolcott, Moderator, it was voted, That to every nble aud effective man belonging to this town, to the number of fourteen, who shall voluntarily enlist himself into the Connecticut Battalions of Infantry of the Continental Army, for three years or during the war, this town will pay every such recruit such a anm in money, including the wages he shall receive from the State or the United States, as shall be sufficient to procure teu bushels of good merchantable Wheat for every month he shall so serve, the price of which Wheat shall be computed and the money paid to such recruit, or his as- signs, in Litchfield, in every year, on the 1st day of January, during the time such recruit shall serve as aforesaid; and that this town will also pay as a Bounty to every such recruit, or his assigus, ia Litchfield, on the Ist day of Jaunary of every year for so long a tiare as such recruit shall serve as aforesaid, at the rate of thirty bushels of good merchautable Wheat for one year's service, or the full value thereof in money, for the payment of which monies or wheat as aforesaid to such recruit or his assigns, in case he shall ealist himself into said Battalions by the 15th day of July iustaot, this towo hereby becomes bound as aforesaid.'

" At the same meeting it was

"' T'oted, That wherees the Militia of this towo are required by an order of Colonel Andrew Adams, grounded on an act or order of the Governor and Council of Safety made the 30th day of June, 1780, to fur-

* See No. XV., "South Windsor Sketches," in Hartford Times.

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nish fourteen able and effective men to serve in the Connecticut Line of the Continental Army until the 31st day of December next, this town, heiog anxious to give every necessary encouragement to the public ser- vice, hereby plight themselves to pay to every such recruit, or his assigus, ne shall voluntarily enlist himself into said Battalions by the 10th day of July iostaut, to serve in said Battalions until the last day of December next, such aum in money as shall be sufficient, including the wages he shall receive from this State or the United States, to procure as much good merchantable Wheat as might be obtained by the monthly wages of forty shillings in the year 1774. Provided, nevertheless, that the Militia of this town not being called upon by virtue of said order to fur- nish more than fourteen able recruits to serve in said Battalions. This town will not consider themselves bound by the votes of this day to pay Bounties or Wages to more than fourteen such recruits; and, in case a greater number shall enlist, the preference shall he given to such as shall enlist for three years or during the war, and of them, to such as shall first enlist. And the Colonel or Commanding Officer of this Regiment is desired to discharge sny supernumerary recruits, agreeable to these votes.

" ' Voted, That a Rate or Tax of sixpeuce on the pound, on the list of 1779, be and the same is hereby laid, and made payable in Gold or Silver Coin or Bills of Credit of this State of the emissions of the present year, hy the Ist duy of September next.'

"Judson Gitteau, Timothy Skinner, Jonathan Wright, and Ozias Lewis, were appointed to collect the said tax.

"At a legal Town-Meeting holden at the Meeting-House In the first society in Litchfield, on the 15th day of November, Anno Dom. 1780, Major David Welch, Moderator, it wøe

"" Voted, That a Tax of one shilling upon the pound be laid upoo tho Polls nad Rateable Estate contained in the Grand List of this town, given in tho year 1779, to be collected and paid to the Town Treasurer by tho Ist day of December next, in the Bills of Credit emitted by this State since the Ist day of January last, new Continental Money issued under the authority of this Stato, Gold and Silver, or oldl Continental Money after the rate of forty shillings in old Continental Money for one shilling Lawful Money, for purchasing Provisions and requisito Supplies for the Army, and to defray other necessary exponses of the town.'

"' l'oted, That Messrs. Timothy Skinner, Seth Farnham, Theodore Catlin, and Hurris Hopkins be Collectors of the said Tax accordingly.'

"' Provided, Nevertheless, that ony person may pay any part of said Tax in Provisions required, and at tho respective prices fixed In the Act of Assembly møde ot their session in October last, enlitled " An Act for Collecting and Storing n Quantity of Provisions for the use of the Cont !- mental Army and the Forces raised for the Defense of this State."+

""l'oted, That Messrs. Timothy Skinner, Seth Farnham, Theodoro Catlin, and ITurris Hopkins be a Committeo to purchase l'rovisions agree- able to said uct of Assembly.'

"' Voted, That Messrs. Miles Beach and Leman Stone bo appointod to receive tho Salt, procure Cusks to contain snid Provisions, to receive and Inspect the same, see that it Is good nud merchantablo and well put up, und mark and store the casks, and report to the Governor, agreeable to sald Act of Assembly.'

" ' Voted, Tlint said Beach and Stone bo also employed to purchase any of such Provisions as occasion may offer or opportunity present.'

"' J'ated, That said Timothy Skinner, Seth Farnham, Theodore Catlin, Harris Hopkins, Miles Beach, and Leman Stono bo also appoluted to purchaso tha Clothing required for the Army, agreenbo ta directions to bo given to them from time to time by the Selectmen.'

" Doc. 26, 1780, Reuben Smith, Esq., Moderntor, ' Voted, That Timothy Skinnor, Heber Stone, Jamee Stoddard, Reuben Stone, David Welch, and Zebulan Taylor be a Committoo to hire, at the cost of the town, the requisite number of recruta to complete the quota of this town In the Connectleut Line of the Army of the United States for three years or during the war.'

" January 9, 1781, Colonel Andrew Adama, Moderator, ' Voted, That whorens it le necessary that this town raise a number of soldiers to All up thelr quota In the Army of the United States, tho town does promise and engage to each soldler that shall onlist into suid service in either of the Connecticut Battalions before the lat day of February next, that they will make good to him his forty shlilings per month by such addition to the pay he shall recelvo from the State or the United States as shall muko enid pay sufficient to purchase as much Provisions as forty shillings would have done in 1774.'

to be paid in wheat flour, rye flour, aud Indian corn. Capt. Abraham Bradley and Leman Stone were appointed receivers of the flour and corn.

" Jan. 18, 1781 .- It was voted to divide the town in classes for the pur- pose of procuring the requisite number of recruits; and the selectmen, together with Capt. Abraham Bradley, Capt. John Osboro, Ensign Ed- ward Phelps, and Dr. Seth Bird, were appointed n committee for that purpose.

" March 26, 178I .- Nine foot-soldiers and two horsemen are required of this town, in addition to those already in the field; and the necessary steps were taken to raise them.

"July 9, 1781 .- ' Voted, That the men belonging to this town, lately detached for n term of three months hy special order of the Captain-Gen- eral, agreeable to a resolve of His Excellency the Governor and Council of Safety of the 19th of June, founded on un earnest Requisition of His Excellency General Washington for eight hundred men, etc., have and receive out of the Town Treasury, by the Ist of January next, each the sum of twenty shillings in silver, or other equivalent, for each month he shall be in actual service agreeable to such detachment.'

" Sept. 18, 1781 .- ' Captain Miles Beach was chosen Receiver of Cloth- ing snd Provisions on the 28. 6s. tax payable in December next; and Leman Stone was chosen Receiver of such part of said lax as shall be delivered to lim.'

" Jun. 3, 1782 .- ' Voted, That the Town Treasurer be desired to procure the order or orders drawn by the Committee of Pay Tablo in favor of thie town, for Bounties ou rnising recruits iu the year 1781, now in his hands and office, to be exchanged for small orders to the samo amount; and to deliver out thirty pounds thereof to ench of the respective classes, taking proper receipts therefor."

" Feb. 25, 1782 .- ' T'oled, to raise ten mee for State Service or the Regi- ment of Guards for Horseneck, as required by Act of Assembly, by di- viding the town into classes on tho List of 1781.'

"Capt. Abraham Bradley, Col. Bezaleel Beebe, and Capt. Lynde Lord, were appointed a committee for that purpose.

"* Voted, That ton men be added to the above Committee, whose busi- ness it shall bo to notify the respective classes to meet at the timo and placo hy them appointed, to proceed lu raising recruits as aforemen- tioned, viz. :

For the Ist class, Ensign Edward Phelps.

= 241 Ozias Lowis.

= 3d Benjamin Peck, Jr.

4th Elihu Harrison.

5th Ephraim Smedley, Jr.

Lenming Bradley.

. = Ensign Jonathan Wright.

= Sth Lieutenant David Studdanıl.

= 9th Captain Alexander Catlin.

10th Lieutenant Timothy Skinner.

" ** l'oted, That each non-commissioned officer and soldler that ja or shall be detached out of this town Into actual servico the current year shell receivo twenty shilluge per month for the time he shall thus coptinne in Actual errvice on auch draft, or procure a man to serve for him; and that tho Selectnien draw orders on the Treasurer accordingly.'

" March 25, 1782 .- ' Stephen Stone, Elijah Griswold, and Benjamin Kil- bourn having lutely been nasessed on examination by the Civil Authority and Selection, agreeable to low, for each a son gone to the enemy, and having requested a hearing in Town Meeting, and being heard accord- ingly, the question was proposed relative to said Stone in particular; and the town by vote did nut discharge sald Amesment. Whereupon, It being lute, and other business requiring attention, adjourned till Thuralny, the 28th, at 10 o'clock r.M.'

" At an adjourned meeting, the vote in the case of Stephen Stone was reconsidered, and he was released from his assessment. In the other cases mentioned the assessment was confirmed.

April 2, 1782 .- " Mesera. Timothy Skinner, MIvece Seymour, and Abra- hamn Ifradley were appelusted a committee to make inquiry whether any of the deserters from the army belonging to this town, and not neconuted on purt uf the quota of the town in the lato returna of the army, havo joined or are likely to join the army In consequence of the general's proclamation, and whether this town is nut overrated by a mietako In the report of the committee for ascertaining deficiencies," etc.

" In town-meeting, 16th October, 1783, Capt. Muses Soymonr, moder- atur, It was vuted that the present selectmen adjust the claims of the non- commissioned officers and soldiers who lately served in the eight bat-

" A tax of three pence on a pound was inld on the list of 1770, one-half . tallons of this Sinto as part of tha quota of this town, and cinim a grant

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

of twenty shillings per month agreeable to a vote of this town passed April 15, 1777; and having by agreement with said claimants or other- wise ascertained the sum to them respectively due, to divide each man's eum into three equal parts, and give certificates thereof in behalf of the town, payable at three different periods,-viz., on the 1st days of Janu- nry, 1784, 1785, and 1786, the last to be on interest; which certificates shall be paid by the treasurer according to the tenor of them, the one- half of each in money, and the other half in provisions at the market price ; and that the selectmen for the time being make three town-rates for that purpose,-viz., in the yenrs 1783, 1784, and 1785, to be collected by the collectors of town-rates for those years respectively, in December annually, and paid into the town treasury and kept distinct from all other town-rates or moneys, orders, and accounts, whatsoever."

" Through the entire war Litchfield was represented, in the persons of one or more of her sons, on the Committee of Safety, in the Council of State, and in the Continental Congress. At the regular session of the Legislature in May, 1780, the representatives from this town were Andrew Adams and Jedediah Strong; the former was chosen speaker and the latter clerk of the House. Maj. Moses Seymour commanded a Litch- field company of cavalry at the capture of Burgoyne. Col. Beebe was, during the latter part of the war, chief in command of the troops raised for the defense of our sea-coast. Gen. Wolcott, Gen. David Smith, and Col. Tallmadge were active and energetic officers from the commencement to the close of hostilities. Col. Shel- don, commander of the celebrated corps of cavalry known in history as 'Sheldon's Regiment of Horse,' had been for some twenty years a resident of Litch- field, and his troops were raised almost exclusively in this vicinity. Capts. Seymour, Stanton, and Wads- worth, of this town, commanded companies in this corps ; Capt. Stanton being at the same time paymas- ter of the regiment. Col. Tallmadge was one of Shel- don's most efficient majors. This regiment was Wash- ington's favorite corps, and continued to act under his immediate direction till the treaty of peace was signed, constituting at once his messengers, his body- guard, and his agents for the accomplishment of any enterprise, however, desperate. Capt. Morris, also of this town, commanded one of the companies of the 'forlorn hope' at the siege of Yorktown. Indeed, the citizens of Litchfield were found at the head of their battalions or iu the ranks in nearly all the great battles of the Revolution, including those of German- town, Trenton, Princeton, Long Island, and Stony Point.

".Mr. Hollister, in his 'History of Connecticut, says,-

" When the whole country was in a state of alarm at the intelligence thist Lord Cornwallis, with a large fleet and armament, was approaching the American coast, Col. Tallmadge happened to pass through Litchfield with a regiment of cavalry. While there he attended public worship with his troops on Sunday at the old meeting-house that stood upon the village green. The occasion was deeply interesting and exciting. The Rev. Judah Champion, then the settled minister of the place,-a man of great eloquence and of a high order of intellectual endowment,-in view of the alarming crisis, thus invoked the sanction of lleaven :

"Oh Lord! we view with terror the approach of the enemies of thy holy religion. Wilt thou send storm and tempest to toss them upon the sea and to overwhelm them upon the mighty deep, or to scatter them to the uttermost parts of the earth. But, peradventure, should any escape thy vengeance, collect them together again, O Lord ! as in the hollow of thy hand, and let thy lightning play upon them! We beseech thee,

moreover, that thou do gird up the loins of these thy servants who are going forth to fight thy battles. Make them strong men, that 'one shall chase a thousand, and two shall put ten thousand to flight.' ITold before them the shield with which thou wast went in the old time to protect thy chosen people. Give them swift feet that they may pursue their enemies, ned swords terrible as that of thy Destroying Angel, that they may cleave them down when they have overtaken them. Preserve these servants of thine, Almighty God! and bring them once more to their homes and friends, if thon const do it consistently with thine high purposes. If, on the other hand, thou hast decreed that they shall die in battle, let thy Spirit be present with them and breathe upon them, that they may go up as a sweet sacrifice into the courts of thy temple, where are habitations prepared for them from the foundations of the world."

Several British soldiers became citizens of the town, among whom were Richard Morris, John I. Gatta, John Glass, William Burrell, Henry Poulson, James Glass, and Adam Tilford.

Mr. Kilbourn, in his history, says that at the period of which we are writing, "Litchfield was the home of a remarkable number of educated thinking men, some of whom were already distinguished and others who were destined to act an important part in their coun- try's history. Indeed, no town in the State could boast of a community more refined and patriotic. Within the present borough limits resided Oliver Wolcott, Andrew Adams, Reynold Marvin, Tapping Reeve, Isaac Baldwin, Samuel Lyman, Isaac Bald- win, Jr., Elisha Sheldon, John Pierce, Jr., Dr. Thomas Little, Lynde Lord, Rev. Timothy Collins, Rev. Judah Champion, Dr. Lemuel Hopkins, Dr. Reuben Smith, Moses Seymour, Timothy Skinner, Abraham Bradley, William Stanton, Ambrose Col- lins, Elijah Wadsworth, and Ephraim Kirby.

To this goodly company were soon added Oliver Wolcott, Jr., Ashbeł Baldwin, Ezekiel Woodruff, Julius Deming, Uriah Tracy, and Dr. Daniel Shel- don.

Sixteen of the gentlemen named were graduated at Yale College, and one (Judge Reeve) at the College of New Jersey; three were members of the national Congress, or became such; seven were captains in the Revolutionary war, and four rose to the rank of gen- eral officers; two became chief justices, and two gov- ernors of the State.

CHAPTER XI.

LITCHFIELD (Continued).

Ethan Allen-Elisha Sheldon-Oliver Wolcott-Andrew Adams-Bez- aleel Beebe-Jedediah Strong-Benjamin Talmadge-Tapping Reeve -Moses Seymour-Elisha Mason.

MEN OF THE REVOLUTION .*

" THE historic names of the Revolutionary period most intimately associated with Litchfield are those of Ethan Allen, Oliver Wolcott, Elisha Sheldon, An- drew Adams, Bezaleel Beebe, Moses Seymour, Jede- diah Strong, and Tapping Reeve. This chapter will

* From Kilbourne's " History of Litchfield."

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LITCHFIELD.

be mainly devoted to brief biographical sketches of these eminent and useful men.

" GEN. ETHAN ALLEN,* the hero of Ticonderoga, was born in Litchfield, Jan. 10, 1737-38. He was the eldest child of his parents-Joseph and Mary (Baker) Allen-who, when Ethan was about two years old, removed to the adjoining town of Cornwall. The subject of this sketch spent his youth and early man- hood in Cornwall and Salisbury ; and about the year 1765 emigrated to the 'New Hampshire Grants,' as they were then called, a wild, mountainous region lying between Lake Champlain on the west and the Connecticut River on the east, and extending from the Massachusetts line northward to the Canadas. This territory was claimed alike hy the governments of New Hampshire and New York, a fact which led to a fierce and long-continued struggle between the settlers and Governor Tryon of the latter province. The hardy and resolute pioneers banded themselves together under the name of the "Green Mountain Boys," chose Allen as their commander, and waged a war of extermination against all intruders from New York. This contest continued until the attention of both parties was diverted by the more important events which immediately preceded the Revolution. By this time Allen was famous throughout the North. When, therefore, the seizure of the British fortresses on Lake Champlain was secretly resolved upon by the Whigs of Massachusetts and Connecticut, Col. Allen was, by common consent, selected as the leader of the hazardous enterprise. In another part of this vol- ume I have referred to this subject, and ean here only give it a passing notice. In the twilight of a peace- ful May morning, in 1775, the hero, followed by a little band of trusty soldiers, entered the fortress of Ticon- deroga and thundered at the door of the commander, demanding the instant surrender of the garrison. " By what authority do you demand it ?" asked Capt. Delaplace, as he stood trembling before the giant apparition. "IN THE NAME OF THE GREAT JENO- VANI AND THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS !"' responded Allen, at the same time threatening the captain with instant death if his demand was not forthwith com- plied with. There was no alternative. With a coun- tenance and manner not to be mistaken, Allen stood with his drawn sword ready to execute his threat. The garrison were at once surrendered as prisoners of war, and all the arms, ammunition, provisions, etc., contained in the fort fell into the hands of Allen. The capture of Crown Point by Col. Warner, on the fol- lowing day, gave the Whigs complete possession of Lake Champlain. Col. Allen now visited the Pro- vincial Congress of New York and the Continental Congress at Philadelphia, and was received with marked consideration by both of those illustrious bodies. He was admitted to the floor of eneh, and

permitted to detail his plan for the conquest of Can- ada. His plan was approved, and he was commis- sioned as a colonel in the Continental army. In Sep- tember following he made an unsuccessful attack upon Montreal, was taken prisoner, carried to Eng- land, and confined in Pendennis Castle. As Ticon- deroga had long been a famous place in that country, the renown of his exploit had preceded him thither. On his arrival at Falmouth, so great was the curiosity to see him that crowds of people thronged the high- ways, housetops, and rising grounds in the vicinity, the officers being compelled to force their way through the throng for a mile with drawn swords. He was dressed in a fawn-skin jacket, an underdress and breeches of sagatha, worsted stockings, coarse shoes, and a red worsted cap. On shipboard he was treated with great severity, being a part of the time hand- cuffed and imprisoned in a dirty cell. When angry his rage was terrible. Once, on being insulted by a petty officer, he twisted off with his teeth a tenpenny nail with which his shackles were fastened ! During the spring of 1776 he was brought back to America, but was detained in New York as a prisoner of war until May 6, 1778, when he was exchanged for Col. Campbell. After repairing to headquarters and offer- ing his services to Gen. Washington, Allen visited the Grants (or Vermont), where his arrival was an- nounced by the discharge of cannon, and other dem- onstrations of joy. The newly-organized State of Vermont appointed him to the office of major-general and commander-in-chief of the State militia, and sent him as a special delegate to the national Con- gress. He was also elected a representative to the Legislature, a post to which he was repeatedly re- elected.

"Aside from several pamphlets, which had their origin in the controversy with New York, Allen pub- lished a narrative of his captivity in a volume of two hundred pages, and a theological work entitled 'The Oracles of Reason,' in which he attempts to subvert the doctrines of Christianity. His writings are bold, artful, and egotistical, and, though sometimes crude and unpolished, evince talents of a high order.

" The following anecdote (indicating that Allen in reality had very little faith in his own system of di- vinity) is contained in a note to page 409, vol. ii., of President Dwight's 'Travels in New England and New York' :

" Dr. Elliot, who removed from Gullford, In Connectlent, lo Vermont, waa well acquainted with Col. Allen, and had made him a visit at a time when his daughter was very sick and nenr denth. He was intro- duced to the library, where the colonel rend to him some of hls writings with much self-complacency, and asked, ' Is not that well done ?' While they were thus employed a messenger entered and Informed Col. Allen thal his daughter was dying and desired to see him. Hle Immediately went to her climber accompanied by Dr. Elliot, who was desirona ef witnessing the interview. The wife of Alleu was a plons woman, and had Instructed her daughter in the principles of Christianity. As soon as her father appenred at her bedaldo she sald to lilm, ' I am nbont to die ; shall I believe in the principles you have taught me, or shall I believe In what my mother has taught me ?' He became extremely agitated, his

* Several townn claim hals birthplace. Sco history of Woodbury, elso- where In this work.

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

chin quivered, his whole frame shook, and, after waiting a few moments, he replied, ' Believe what your mother has taught you.'

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 28

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1532

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532