History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 30

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

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" After taking part in the battle of Monmouth, and in the defense of Norwalk (Conn.), Maj. Tallmadge planned and executed an expedition against the en- emy at Lloyd's Neck, on Long Island. Here was a strongly fortified post, manned by about five hundred troops, in the rear of which post a large band of ma- rauders were encamped. For the purpose of break- ing up this band of freebooters, he embarked at Shipan Point, near Stamford, Sept. 5, 1779, at eight o'clock in the evening, taking with him about one hundred and twenty men. The attack was so unexpected, that nearly the whole party were captured. Having destroyed the boats and huts of the enemy, the party re-embarked with their prisoners, and before daylight landed on the Connecticut shore without the loss of a man.

" In the autumn of 1780, Maj. Tallmadge was sta- tioned on the lines in Westchester County. Re- turning from below to the regiment, then near North- castle, on the evening of September 23d, he was informed that a prisoner had that day been brought in by the name of John Anderson. On inquiry, he learned the particulars of his capture by three militia- men,-Paulding, Van Wert, and Williams. He fur- ther ascertained that Lieut .- Col. Jameson (who, in the absence of Col. Sheldon, then had command of the dragoons) had sent the prisoner to Gen. Arnold's headquarters, accompanied by a letter of information respecting his capture. At the respectful but earnest solicitations of Maj. Tallmadge, Anderson was brought back to Northeastle, but Jameson persisted in sending the letter forward to Gen. Arnold. The observation of the major soon Jed him to the conclusion that the prisoner had been bred to arms, and communicated his suspicions to Lieut .- Col. Jameson, requesting him to notice his gait, especially as he turned on his heel to retrace his course across the room. The major remained with him almost constantly, and became deeply interested in his new acquaintance. After dinner on the 24th he requested the use of pen, ink, and paper, which were readily granted him. He im- mediately wrote the celebrated Jetter to Gen. Wash- ington, in which he acknowledged himself to be ' Maj. John Andre, Adjutant-General to the British Army.' This letter he handed unopened to Maj. Tallmadge, who read it with deep emotion. The sad and im- portant sequel of the story is familiar to every reader. A court-martial of fourteen general officers (Gen. Greene presiding) adjudged him to be a spy from the

enemy, and that, 'agreeable to the law and usage of nations, he ought to suffer death.' At five o'clock in the afternoon of October 2d, Maj. John Andre died on a gibbet, in the presence of an immense concourse of sympathizing people. His military suit having ar- rived from New York, he was executed in full uni- form. Maj. Tallmadge walked with him from his place of confinement to the foot of the scaffold, where he bade him an affectionate farewell. Years subse- quently, he wrote, 'I became so deeply attached to Maj. Andre, that I can remember no instance where my affections were so fully absorbed in any man. When I saw him swinging under the gibbet, it seemed for a time as if I could not support it. All the spec- tators seemed to be overwhelmed by the affecting spectacle, and the eyes of many were suffused in tears.'

" In the autumn of 1780, Maj. Tallmadge requested permission of the commander-in-chief to attempt the destruction of the enemy's works at Smith's Manor, L. I., but the general regarded the expedition as too hazardous to be undertaken. Maj. Tallmadge did not, however, abandon the project, but secretly visited Long Island for the purpose of making obser- vations and gaining information. On his return he made another application, and obtained the consent of Gen. Washington. On the 21st of November, with one hundred dismounted dragoons, he embarked at Fairfield, crossed the sound, and marched toward Fort George, on south side of Long Island. The garrison was surprised and captured, the works were de- molished, and the houses, shipping, and an immense quantity of stores were burnt. Some valuable arti- cles of dry goods were made up in bundles and bound upon the shoulders of the prisoners, who were pinioned two and two. The victors then recrossed the island to their boats with their prisoners and booty. While the main body were thus on the march, the major selected eight or ten men, mounted them on horses which he had taken at the fort, and made a digression for the purpose of destroying the king's magazine at Coram, which he accomplished, and in the course of an hour and a half joined his associates at a place where he had ordered them to halt. The whole com- pany arrived in Fairfield, only one person engaged in the expedition having been seriously wounded. Among the prisoners taken were one lieutenant-colonel, one lieutenant, one surgeon, about fifty rank and file, and a host of others in the garrison. For this daring and successful exploit Maj. Tallmadge received the public thanks of the commander-in-chief and of the Congress of the United States.

" He continued in actual service until the close of the war, and was engaged in several other desperate enterprises. Our article, however, is already too long, and we must close the narrative of his Revolutionary services with the relation of a single additional fact. From 1778 to 1783 an important and confidential correspondence was carried on between Gen. Washing-

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ton and Maj. Tallmadge, a large part of which is still in possession of the Tallmadge family.

"In November, 1782, he purchased of Mr. Thomas Sheldon (for the sum of £800) the premises in North Street, in this village, still known as The Tallmadge Place. In the purchase-deed of this property he is styled 'late of Long Island, now of the Continental army.' He continued in the public service about a year longer, when the army was disbanded and the subject of this sketch retired to private life with the rank of colonel. Before separating the officers of the army formed themselves into a national associa- tion, called The Society of the Cincinnati, of which Washington was chosen the first president. At the same time a similar society was formed for each State. Col. Tallmadge was chosen the first treasurer, and subsequent president of the Connecticut society.

" On the 16th of March, 1784, Col. Tallmadge was united in marriage to Mary Floyd (daughter of Gen. William Floyd, of Mastic, L. I., a signer of the Dec- laration of Independence), and at onee took up his residence in this village. Here he engaged exten- sively and successfully in merchandising until 1801, when he was elected a member of the Congress of the United States. For a period of sixteen years (by re-election every two years) he held his seat in that distinguished body. Once more retiring from public life, he devoted himself with even more than his usual zeal to the advancement of every good canse. For many years he was an officer and liberal benefactor of various charitable institutions and societies, while his contributions to the needy in his own town were much more frequent and extensive than were known to the public.

"On the 3d of June, 1805, Mrs. Mary Tallmadge died in Litehfield, leaving five sons and two danghters, viz .: William S., Henry F., Maria, Frederick ., Benjamin, Harriet W., and George W. May 3, 1808, Col. Tallmadge married Maria, daughter of Joseph Hallett, Esq., of New York. He died at his residence in this village, March 13, 1835, in the eighty-second year of his age.

"Col. Tallmadge possessed a tall and portly figure, and a conrtesy and dignity of manner which seemed to have belonged peculiarly to the era in which he lived. At the same time he was as accessible to the humblest as he was to the highest in the land. All loved and reverenced him. The old soldiers of the Revolution were wont to seek his assistance and advice, and they were ever received with cordiality and their wishes nt- tended to. Officers, also, of every. grade frequently visited him, and never failed to meet with a hospita- ble welcome.

" The beautiful homestead where Col. Tallmadge spent more than fifty years of his life adjoins that where his comrade in arms, Col. Sheldon, spent his childhood, youth, and carly manhood.

"TAPPING REEVE, LL.D., became a resident of Litebfield in 1772, and spent more than fifty years of

his life in this town. A son of the Rev. Abner Reeve, of Southold, L. I., he was born in that place in Octo- ber, 1744. He graduated at the college of New Jer- sey in 1763, and spent four years as a tutor in that in- stitution. On the 24th of June, 1773, he married Sally Burr, a daughter of President Burr, of New Jersey College, and a granddaughter of the renowned President Edwards. So long as she lived she was an invalid, and for many years her husband spent a large portion of his time in ministering to her wants.

"Thongh his domestic afflictions withheld him from the active scenes of the Revolution," says Dr. Beecher, in his funeral discourse, "noDe entered more deeply into his country's cause than he. He shared with his generation all the vicissitudes, hopes, fears, self-denials, and losses of that arduous day. lle possessed, though carly in life, the confidence, and participated in the counsels, of the wise and great and good men of that era; and at the moment ol greatest dismay, when Washington fled with his handful of troops through the Jerseys, and orders came for New England to turn out en masse and make a diversion to save him, the judge was among the most ardent to excite the universal movement, and actually went in the capacity of an officer to the vicinity of New York, where the news met them uf the victories at Trenton and Prince- tun, and once more Washington and the country were delivered."

" At one time he had the honor of entertaining at his house in this village Gen. Lafayette and some of his brother officers, who were passing through this region on important public business. In 1784 he opened his celebrated law-school, of which he was the principal for nearly forty years. Though fitted to shine in public life, and though official honors were always within his reach, he seems rather to have shunned than sought promotion. He was once elected a representative, and once only a member of the council. He was an enthusiast in his profession, and had, indeed, but little taste for anything else of a secular nature. In 1798 he was appointed a judge of the Superior Court and of the Supreme Court of Errors. Here his peculiar talents found ample scope for their full development. Until the adoption of the constitution of 1818, all our judges were elected annually by the Legislature. Judge Reeve gave such universal satisfaction that he continued to be reap- pointed from year to year until 1814, when he was promoted to the office of chief justice. On reaching the age of seventy years he retired to private life, still, however, devoting much of his time to his favorite law-school. He died here, Dec. 13, 1823, in the eightieth year of his age. lle was eminently dis- tinguished for his piety and learning. In seasons of revival, and indeed at all times, no layman in the parish was so etlicient as a colaborer with the pastor as Judge Reeve."

Mrs. Sallie Reeve died soon after the war, leaving an only son, Aaron Burr Reeve. The latter died in Troy, N. Y., in 1809, leaving an only son, Tapping Burr Reeve, who received his first degree at Ynle Col- lege in 1829, and died the same year. With him the family of Judge Reeve became extinct. April 30, 1798, the Judge married a second wife,-Betsey Thomp- son,-who survived him a few years.

MAJ. MOSES SEYMOUR was born in Hartford, July

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23, 1742, and became a resident of Litehfield in early manhood. Early in the war of the Revolution, he was commissioned as captain of the troop of horse attached to the Seventeenth Regiment of Connecticut militia. In June, 1776, Elisha Sheldon, Esq., of Salisbury, was appointed major-commandant of the Fifth Regi- ment of Cavalry; and the subject of this sketch re- ceived the appointment of captain of one of the com- panies of this regiment. Though Maj. Sheldon was subsequently transferred to the command of the Second Regiment of Dragoons in the Continental army, Capt. Seymour retained his connection with the Fifth until the close of the war.

In April, 1777, on the occasion of the Danbury alarm, Capt. Seymour mustered his troops and pro- ceeded forthwith to assist in repelling the invasion of Governor Tryon. He participated in the skirmishing which followed the retreat of the enemy towards the Sound. At the eapture of Burgoyne, in October of the same year, he was onee more at the head of his favorite corps, and did good service in that most im- portant and decisive engagement. A day or two after the terms of capitulation were signed, the American officers invited Burgoyne and his associate officers to dine with them. At this interesting festival Capt. Seymour was present. His account of the conversa- tion that took place on the occasion between the con- querors and the conquered, and particularly his minute recital of the toasts given on both sides, are still re- membered with interest by his neighbors. The utmost courtesy and good feeling prevailed on the part of the principal officers, and the responses to the sentiments given were hearty and enthusiastic. At length, Gen. Burgoyne was called upon for a toast. Every voice was for the moment hushed into the deepest attention, as he arose and gave-" America and Great Britain against the world .! " The response which followed may be imagined.

During the night which succeeded the final battle between Generals Gage and Burgoyne, Capt. Seymour watched with a British offieer who had been wounded and carried off the field in the midst of the engage- ment. Soon after he had entered the room the officer, who had not before learned the fate of the day, in- quired eagerly of Capt. Seymour as to the result. On hearing that the British had been defeated, he re- marked, "Then the contest is no longer doubtful ; America will be independent. I have fought earnestly for my king and country, but the contest is ended !" The kindness of Capt. Seymour to him, an enemy, deeply affected him. He thanked him again and again ; and finally offered him his watch and other rewards, which were of course refused. The gallant American did all in his power to relieve the distresses and soothe the mind of his charge, but his wounds proved fatal.

During the greater part of the war Capt. Seymour was stationed at Litehfield as a commissary of sup- plies for the army. In this department of the public

service his zeal and efficiency were conspicuous, and duly appreciated by Governor Trumbull, Gen. Wol- cott, and others. Few men in this section of the State labored as untiringly or accomplished more. I have elsewhere stated that Litchfield was a depot for mili- tary stores and provisions. Capt. Seymour was em- ployed not only in the purchase of these articles, but assisted in storing and guarding them while here, and in superintending their transportation wherever they might be ordered by the competent authorities. In September, 1781, we find him with his dragoons, by order of Gen. Wolcott, guarding a train of wagons, loaded with supplies for the French army, from Litch- field to Fishkill .*

With the peace of 1783, the subject of this sketch retired to private life with the rank of major. In 1789 he was elected by his fellow-citizens to the office of town clerk, a post to which he was annually re- elected during the remainder of his life, a period of thirty-seren years ! This uninterrupted bestowment of an office upon one individual for so long a time is unprecedented in the history of the town. He was also a member of the House of Representatives at sixteen regular sessions, commeneing with the Octo- ber session, 1795. In the early part of the present century Maj. Seymour was occasionally a candidate of the political party with which he was connected for the council of State. In 1805 he received 7426 votes, and at the election of the succeeding year he received 7671 votes, for that office.

Maj. Seymour was a gentleman of the old school, retaining to the last the manners and costume of that now obsolete elass.

On the 7th of November, 1771, he married Molly, daughter of Col. Ebenezer Marsh. Their children were Mrs. Carissa Marsh, wife of the Rev. Truman Marsh ; Moses Seymour, Jr., for many years sheriff of Liteh- field County; Ozias Seymour, also for many years sheriff of the county ; Horatio Seymour, of Vermont, who for twelve years was United States Senator ; Henry Seymour, one of the first canal commissioners of New York, and father of ex-Governor Seymour; and Epaphro Seymour, Brattleboro', Vermont.

Maj. Seymour died at his residence in this village, Sept. 17, 1826, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.

"There is yet another name which should be men- tioned with respect in this connection, that of Elisha Mason, the last of the Revolutionary soldiers in Litch- field. With a patriotism as unquestioned and a zeal

* The French commissary, Jujardy N. Granville (who appears to have possessed a very imperfect knowledge of our language), left the following curious acknowledgment of the service, which is on file in the comp- troller's office :

" WE, Commissary of War, employed in the Army of Rochambeau, Certified that the Detachment composed of 24 Dragons or Light Horses, commanded by Mr. Moses Seymour, capitaine, came on with our teams and stores from Litchfield. We certified beside that the said Capitain Moses has taken a great care for the security of our convoy and baggage while he stay with us till this place.

" FISHKILL, Sep, 22, 1781."

" JUJARDY N. GRANVILLE.

Moses Seymour

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as ardent as can be claimed for the most renowned of our heroes, he performed the humbler duties of his sphere as faithfully as they, though all uncheered by the hope of fame or pecuniary reward. He died in this village, June 1, 1858, in the one hundredth year of his age. I frequently had occasion to consult him on matters of local interest, and found his mind clear and his memory retentive almost to the last. He seemed like one who had come down to us from a dis- tant generation. In the last interview I had with him (Jan. 18, 1858), he assured me that he well rement- bered the first meeting-house ever built in this town, · and which was demolished when he was about three and a half years old. He also recollected the old fort, which occupied the site of the present court-house, as well at that which stood on Chestnut Hill, both of which were erected as a defense against the Indians. In the great struggle for independence he had periled his life in the cause of his country. And what was his reward ? On one occasion, at the expiration of a term of service, he was discharged on the Hudson, and paid off in Continental currency. Starting home- ward, on foot, he reached Danbury, where he spent the night. In the morning, on attempting to settle his bill, his Continental money was refused. He offered larger and still larger sums, and finally ten- dered bills to the amount of forty dollars for his lodg- ing and meals; but the landlord refused to take the currency on any terms. Mr. Mason was finally com- pelled to pawn his rifle to cancel his indebtedness. As his wages were but eight dollars per month, he thus offered the avails of five months' services for his keep- ing for twelve hours ! But, though so poorly requited by the country for which he had fought, the soklier lived to enjoy the blessings of a free government, and in bequeathing them as a rich legacy to his posterity, he felt himself abundantly repaid for all his toils and privations."-KILBOURNE.

CHAPTER XII.

LITCHFIELD (Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

Congregational Church, Litchfield-Congregational Church, Milton- Congregational Church, Northfield-St. Michael's Church, Litchfield- Methodist Church, Litchfield-St. Paul's Church, Bantam Falls- Trinity Church, MIIton - Baptist Church, Bantam Falls - Roman Cntholle Church, Lltchfeld.

THE pioneers of this town brought with them from Lebanon the Rev. Timothy Collins, and at the first town-meeting of which any record is extant, Nov. 6, 1821, he was "called to a settlement in the place in the work of the ministry." He was ordained as pas- tor July 19, 1723.

" There is no evidence, either recorded or tradition-

ary, which would lead us to suspect that aught but the most perfect harmony existed between pastor and people during the early part of his ministry. The first inference to the contrary may be drawn from the doings of a town-meeting held Dec. 25, 1728, when a memorial from Mr. Collins was read, and the consid- eration thereof 'postponed till the next meeting,' which, however, was not called until nearly three months afterward. It appears from the records of the meeting in March that the memorial had reference to ' the discount of money since the agreement was made' between the parties. It was finally resolved to pay him ten pounds per year, in addition to the eighty pounds originally agreed upon as his salary, 'until the town shall see cause to order otherwise.'

"On the 14th of April, 1731, the first vote was passed for 'seating the meeting-house.' In the doings of the same meeting occurs the following entry :

" "Voted, after dark, that Mr. Collins have the choice of the pews for himself and family.'

"The peculiar significance of the wording of this vote will be understood when taken in connection with a previous vote, which provided that 'no act of the town should stand in foree that was passed after daylight failed to record it.'

"The controversy, which began in a dispute con- cerning the salary of Mr. Collins, was continued through a long series of years, and increased in im- portance and acrimony. Though a decided majority of the church and society took sides against their pas- tor, there was still a respectable minority who sus- tained him. In 1744 the town voted 'not to make any rate for Mr. Collins under present ditliculties.' At the same time a committee was appointed to treat with the pastor respecting his salary 'and absence from the work of the ministry.' In December, 1745, a committee was appointed 'to eject Mr. Collins from the parsonage right.' In December, 1750, Mr. Collins was desired to 'resign his ministerial office.' During the succeeding month a committee was appointed to carry a charge against Mr. Collins to the Consociation, 'for unfaithfulness in the ministerial office.' To this last vote Sergt. Joseph Mason, Lieut. Moses Stod- dard, and Messrs. George Marsh, Archibald MeNeile, John Marsh, William Peck, Sylvanus Stone, Asa Hopkins, and Alexander McNeile 'did protest.' Two years later a similar vote to the last was offered in town-meeting, and negatived by a decided ma- jority,-ycas, 13; nays, 41.

" After a ministry in this town of about thirty years, Mr. Collins vacated the pulpit in 1752. Though his pecuniary contest with the town continued for a few years later, he seems to have been not unpopular either as a citizen or civilian. Like many of the elergy of that day, he had received a medical eduen- tion, and he continued here as a practicing physician during the remainder of his life. He was elected by the voters of this town to the offices of lister and selectman, and was appointed by the Legislature a

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justice of the peace for Litchfield County. In 1755 he was appointed a surgeon of one of the Connecticut regiments in the expedition against Crown Point. He is represented to have been a gentleman of good tal- ents and stately demeanor, but with manners by no means conciliatory or popular. It is worthy of men- tion, as indicating that he may have been 'sinned against' in his controversy with the town, that he was successful in the only lawsuit growing out of it. He died in Litchfield in 1776.

"In February, 1753, the town voted a call to the Rev. Judah Champion, of East Haddam, who had graduated at Yale College in 1751. Two thousand pounds, old tenor currency, was voted as his settle- ment, and eight hundred pounds, old tenor, was voted as his yearly salary. Mr. Benjamin Webster was ap- pointed to visit Mr. Champion and deliver to him these votes of the town. Mr. Champion accepted the call, and was ordained as pastor of the First Church, July 4, 1753.

"On the 30th of December, 1760, the town voted to build a new meeting-house on the green, and Mr. Joseph Vaill, Mr. Alexander McNeile, Deacon Peter Buel, Jacob Woodruff, Esq., and Capt. Solomon Buel were appointed a building committee. At the same time Reynold Marvin, Esq., was designated as the town's agent to apply to the County Court for a com- mittee to fix the place for said meeting-house, and Col. Ebenezer Marsh, Timothy Collins, Esq., and Capt. Elisha Sheldon were appointed to wait on the committee of the court. The edifice was erected near the site of the old one, and was sixty-three feet long by forty-two feet wide, with a steeple and bell. It was completed during the autumn of 1762. The old meet- ing-house was sold at auction in November of that year, Mr. Asa Hopkins vendue-master.

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 30

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