History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 153

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1317

USA > Connecticut > New London County > History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 153

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N. Shaw was ordered to deliver to the commanding officer at New London, or to Col. Smith, for the use of the fort at Stonington, five hundred pounds of can- non-powder.

The delay in procuring the necessary means of de- fense, and the detention of some of the heavier guns designed for the place, caused great dissatisfaction among the people of Stonington, who memorialized the General Assembly as follows, viz. :

" To the Honorable the General Assembly, now setting at New Haven.

"The memorial of the committee of correspondence and inspection of the town of Stonington, and sundry of the inhabitants of said town, mcst humbly sheweth-That whereas your Honors thought fit in your last session, in May, to grant for the defence and protection of their place, a captain and ninety men; since which one-half have been ordered to New London. Your Honors may remember, that this town, is the only one in this State, that has received any damage from those sons of tyranny and despotism, sent by that more than savage tyrant, George the Third, to deprive us of those unalienable rights that the Supreme Governor of Heaven and Earth has invested us with.

"Your memorialists therefore pray that the number of men ordered and destined as above, may still be continned ; and that the two eighteen pounders and four twelve pounders, and shot, &c., that were ordered in your former session for this place, may be delivered as soon as possible; as the harbor is perhaps more used by coasters, and vessels bound to sea, than any harbor in this State ; and is a place of great consequence, not only to this, but other States. We therefore beg leave to inform your Honors, that several vessels have lately been chased into this harbor by the King's ships, and have here been protected.

" Your memorialists further pray, that the three large cannon (now at New London) belonging to this town, be likewise ordered to this place ; and the two field pieces that were lent by tlus town to the town of New London, be ordered back to the town of Stonington. We therefore flat- ter ourselves that this our most reasonable request will be granted.

" And your memorialists as in duty bound shall ever pray.

(Signed)

"Nathaniel Minor, Paul Wheeler, John Brow Jr., John Denison, Henry Babcock, Simon Rhodes, Committee; Joseph Denison, Alexander Bradford, Robert Stanton, Nathan Palmer, Nathaniel Palmer, Nathan Palmer Jr., John Daviss, Andrew Palmer, Michael Ash, Lemuel Dewey, Jolın Rathbun, John Rathbun Jr., Peleg Brown, Elisha Deni- son, Asa Palmer, Edward Ilancox Jr., Oliver Hilliard, Jolin Dodge, Peter Crary, Clement Minor, Naboth Chesebrough, John Minor (2), Jolin Newmon, Andrew Brown, Elkanah Cobb, Samnel Salterlee, Sands Niles, Thomas Robinson, John Denison (5), Elijah Utley, .James Tripp, Edward Ells, Zebulon Chesebrough, John Hancox, Samuel Chesebrough, Moses Brumley, Jonathan Gray, William Stak, Henry Burtich, William Chesebrough, James Palmer, Nathaniel Crandall, Jared Crandall, Rufus Palmer, Elijah Palmer, Thomas Stanton (4), Asa Lewis, Nathan Hinckley, Elijah Hinckley, John Rock, James Noyes Jr., Edward Crosby, Wiatt Hinckley, Elihu Babcock, George Batolph, Abel Hinckley, James Noyes, Peleg Noyes, John Randall, Eliphalet Budington, James Cornish, John Breed Jr., Isaac Brown, Fish Brown, Hempted Minor, Thomas Randall, John Denison, Joseph Champlin, Walter Palmer, Jededialı Thompson, Thomas Palmer, David Thompson, Charles Thompson, William Thompson, Joseph Vincent, Nathaniel Fanning, Thomas Leeds, Phineas Stan- ton Jr., Stephen Babcock, Joseph Page, Gilbert Fanning, Daniel Habart, Jolin Cotton Rossiter, Eliphalet llobart, James Hancox, John Hailey, Peleg Chesebrough, Nathaniel Fellows, Nathaniel Fellows Jr., Simeon Hiscox, Thomas Hiscox, Israel Lewis, Sylvester Pendleton, Akors Shiffield, William Palmer, Eliphalet Budington Jr., Charles Welch, Job Taylor, William Scovill.

"October 14, 1776."

At a session of the Governor and Council, Feb. 15, 1777, Capt. William Ledyard, of Groton, and Capt. Nathan Palmer, of Stonington, were sent for to con- sult about raising artillery companies.

Gen. Parsons was desired to draw on Cols. Hunting- ton's and Durkee's regiments at the posts and forts at New London, Groton, and Stonington for defense at those places. Capt. Nathan Palmer, at Stonington, was directed to dismiss his company as soon as Gen. Parsons should send to that place a sufficiency of Continental troops for the defense of that post. The Governor and Council also voted to raise a company of artillery to be stationed at Groton and Stonington until Feb. 1, 1778. Capt. William Ledyard was ap- pointed captain of said company.

In session, March 20, 1777, an order was given to Nathaniel Miner to purchase or seize ten thousand pounds of cheese in Stonington for the State. Capt. Nathan Palmer, of Stonington, was directed to pur- chase twenty thousand-weight of cheese to supply the State troops at the price fixed by law ; provided he should be unable to purchase the same, and found in the hands of any person more than was sufficient for their family use, he was authorized to seize and take the same for the purpose aforesaid, and pay them the price fixed by law, and make report of his doings.

In session, March 26, 1777, Capt. Nathan Palmer seized eleven thousand six hundred and eighteen pounds of cheese per order of the Governor and Council, the property of Church & Hakes, at six- pence per pound, with one and a half per cent. for commissions, being £299 16s. 6d .; cheese sent to Nor-

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wich ; also, for services about the fort at Stonington, £15 78. 6d.

In session, May 12, 1777, Capt. Palmer was directed to remove the public stores at Stonington back into the country to a place of safety. Orders were also given to the commanding officers of the forts of New London and Groton to order the troops drafted from northern companies in Stonington to march directly to the forts at Stonington to man that place for de- fense, and those drafted from northern companies in Stonington to return home and hold themselves in readiness to move on the shortest notice for the de- fense of those posts.

In session, May 31, 1777, it was ordered that one- half of the militia at the forts of New London and Groton were ordered to be drawn off by lot and dis- missed, and all the militia companies at Stonington dismissed, and the officers at those posts were directed to execute the same. Their orders were not executed fully, and before the troops were dismissed at Ston- ington they were ordered to remain by Governor Trumbull.

In session, Sept. 27, 1777, it was ordered that a lieutenant and thirty men were to continue at Ston- ington.

Sept. 26, 1777, a ship of two hundred tons, prize to Capt. Conklin, of the privateer "Revenge," arrived at Stonington, laden with seventy-five thousand feet of mahogany and thirty tons of logwood. About an hour after his prize came to anchor Capt. Conklin was chased by a man-of-war and schooner of twelve guns belonging to the English fleet, and the English vessels, in attempting to head Capt. Conklin and cut him off from land, ran on Watch Hill reef, about one mile from Capt. Conklin, who came to anchor within Watch Point, now Sanday Point. A brisk fire was kept up between them for several hours, and the man-of-war came to anchor just without the schooner, to protect her against Capt. Conklin. The schooner remained on the reef until the next morning, when the British set her on fire in the hold, and then went on board the man-of-war's boat and left her, and she was blown up by her magazine. The guns, some small- arms, and anchors were saved, and a man found dead by the side of her. Capt. Conklin escaped unhurt.

At a session of the Governor and Council, Nov. 18, 1777, orders were sent to Gen. Tyler to send from his brigade (by draft) twenty men, to be stationed at Stonington, to serve for two months from the time of their arrival there.

In session, Feb. 6, 1778, Capt. William Ledyard, in pursuance of an act of the General Assembly, on the second Thursday of January, A.D. 1778, was appointed captain of a company of fifty men, including one captain, one lieutenant, one second lieutenant, fire- workers, two sergeants, and two corporals, to be sta- tioned at Groton and Stonington, and to be con- tinued in service until Jan. 1, 1779, unless sooner discharged.

In session, March 25, 1778, William Ledyard, Esq., was appointed to command the forts at New London, Groton, and Stonington, with the rank and pay of major. Achors Sheffield was appointed first lieuten- ant of the company of twenty men at Stonington.

In session, April 21, 1778, Henry Denison, of Ston- ington, was appointed second lieutenant of the artil- lery company under Col. Latham, at Groton, and commissioned. It was resolved that four men should be allowed, in addition to the number of artillerymen under Lieut. Achors Sheffield at Stonington, and said Sheffield was ordered to enlist them. Twelve hun- dred pounds of cannon-powder for William Ledyard, to be used at Groton, New London, and Stonington.

Capt. Nathan Palmer was directed to deliver to Lieut. Sheffield as many guns, over and above the eight guns he had, to arm his whole party of twenty- four men. Owing to the scarcity of the munitions of war, it was with the greatest difficulty that the troops could be properly armed and equipped. The fort or battery at Stonington never received the cannon designed for it; they were used at New London and Groton. Some of the British ships lay off in sight of the town during a greater part of the war, but made no further attempt to take or destroy the place. To- wards its close the danger of invasion was not con- sidered so imminent, and the detail of the men at the fort was discontinued.

Unfortunately, no rolls of the soldiers that served at Stonington during the Revolution has been pre- served. Nor have we any means of knowing the names of all the men of our town who served else- where during the Revolutionary war, or during the French and Indian wars that preceded it. We know, however, that Stonington has in every case, when called upon, filled up her quota of men and munitions of war. Five men from this town were in the battle and massacre at Fort Griswold; Thomas Williams,t Lieut. Enoch Stanton,2 and Sergt. Daniel Stanton

1 Thomas Williams, of Stonington, who was killed at the battle and massacre of Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781, was the son of Col. John and Desire (Denison) Williams, born Sept. 20, 1721, consequently he lacked a few days of being sixty years old when he was killed. He married, Oct. 11, 1742, Miss Mary Raymond, and they became the parents of four chil- dren. Mr. Williams was a farmer by occupation, and engaged with his brothers in the West India trade before the Revolution, and in priva- teering during the war. Ilearing the alarm-guns in the morning, he hastened on horseback to the fort, and though in infirm health volun- teered to defend it, and fell bravely fighting for his country. Mr. Wil- liams descended maternally from the famous Indian warrior, Capt. George Denison, from Thomas Stanton, the interpreter-general, and from John Howland, of the " Mayflower." Paternally, he descended from the same source that Maj .- Gen. Joseph Warren, of Bunker Ilill fame, did maternally.

2 Lieut. Enoch Stanton and his brother, Sergt. Daniel Stanton, of Stonington, fell at the battle and massacre of Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781.

They were the sons of Capt. Phineas and Elizabeth Stanton. Enoch was thirty-five and Daniel twenty-five years of age. Enoch left a widow and seven children; Daniel was unmarried, but affianced to a young lady, to whom, but a few days before, he had presented a pattern of splendid brocaded silk for her wedding dress, which he had taken from the prize ship " Hannah" as a part of his share ot her cargo. The next day after the massacre their mangled bodies were taken to their old

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were killed, and Edward1 and Daniel Stanton were dangerously wounded. After the close of the war the surviving soldiers returned to their homes, finding their families in a destitute condition, and themselves in possession of worthless Continental bills, received of the government for their services. But all of their privations were cheerfully borne, for they had reached and gained the measure of their ambition. They had brought the British lion to his knees, and wrested

home in Stonington and laid ont in the room where they were born, when their aged father, who had been one of the firmest patriots of the Revolution, came in, trembling with the infirmities of years, and laid his hands upon their foreheads, and with uplifted eyes said, " Oh, Father, this is a costly sacrifice for liberty and my country, but it is cheerfully given." Their funeral was attended the next day by an immense con- course of people, who tenderly conveyed their remains to the old Stan- ton burial-place, where they were both buried in one grave. An appro- priate headstone marks their last resting-place, which was erected by their father, and bears the following inscription, written by his own hand :

" Lieut. Enoch Stanton, died in ye 36th year of his age. Sergt. Daniel Stanton, died in ye 26th year of his age.

" Here interred are the bodies of two brothers, sons of Capt. Phineas Stanton and Elizabeth, his wife, who fell with many of their friends Sept. 6, 1781, while manfully fighting for the liberty of their country and in defense of Fort Griswold. The assailants were troops commanded by that most despicable parricide, Benedict Arnold.

" Paternally these brothers descended from Thomas Stanton, the famous 'interpreter-general of New England,' who was one of the most dis- tinguished men of our colonial days, and also from Capt. George Deni- son, who, next to Capt. John Mason, was the most brilliant soldier of Connecticut.

" Maternally they descended from the same sources and John Howland of the 'Mayflower.'"

1 " I read in the New London Telegram of the 22d ult. what purported to be a correct list of the brave men who were killed and wounded at the battle and massacre at Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781. The list was evidently prepared with great care, and yet it does not contain the names of all who were wounded on that memorable day. Sergt. Daniel Stanton, of Ston- ington, received twenty-six wounds. A musket-shell broke his leg at the ankle, which brought him to the ground, when he received twenty- five bayonet-stabs. A British officer seeing his condition drove off the drunken harpies and saved his life. His brother, Edward Stanton (whose name is omitted in your list), received a gunshot wound in his left side, leaving his heart in plain view. The same officer who rescued his brother saw him vainly endeavoring to stop his ebbing tide of life, approached him, and kindly taking a linen night-cap from his pocket, rolled it into a duct, and then pressed it into the orifice of his wound, and refreshed him from his flask. He was at first considered mortally wounded, but a powerful constitution, aided by the best of surgeons and loving care, saved his life. He lived to a good old age, and lies buried on the western slope of Togwonk, in Stonington, in the old Stanton burial-place, and whoever visits that old receptacle of the historic dead will see a marble slab on which is written :

' In Memory of Edward Stanton A Revolutionary Hero And a True patriot, Who died July 27, 1832, aged 71 years.

"' He was dangerously wounded near the heart at the massacre at Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 178I.

"' As a patriot he was justly ranked in the highest order, volunteering to defend his country in her darkest hour and amid the most fearful perils.

from his grasp thirteen of his best colonies. They had laid the foundations of liberty in blood, which has culminated in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

CHAPTER LXXX. STONINGTON -- (Continued).

WAR OF 1812.

NOTHING of interest beyond the ordinary transac- tions of business occurred here until the war-clouds again appeared between the United States and Great Britain. The embargo acts of Congress, which were so severely denounced and resisted in almost all of New England, found active and influential defenders here. In order to give force and expression to tlteir views on that subject, a town-meeting was called and held as follows : " At a town-meeting legally warned and held at Stonington, ou the 27th day of March, A.D. 1809, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted by a major vote :

" At a time like the present, when almost the whole civilized world exhibits a singular state of political and warlike agitation, when a com- bination of events, both foreign and domestic, unprecedented in the an- nals of Nations, threatening our Country from without with the Evils of war, and from within with evils still more to be dreaded of Insurrec- tion, Anarchy and dismemberment of the Union. It behovs the people, who are the only safe repositories of their rights and liberties, to take cognizance of these events, and consider their relative effects upon their rights, and those of posterity. It becomes every friend of these United States to rally around the Constitution and government, and in a firm and decided manner to express his sentiments of, and give his aid to the measures which have been adopted to avert these impending evils, and without hesitation to pledge himself to his country for the support of its Laws, ... . Liberties, and Independence ; and considering that the en- joyment of Liberty and even its preservation and support consists in every Persons being free to lay upon his own opinion and express his own sentiment ; and whereas by the constitution of the United States, the people have a right in an orderly and peaceable manner to assemble and consult for the general good, and considering the legitimacy of Gov- ernment the sovereignty of the People; and viewing it a right we pos- sess, coequal with the Constitution, that whenever the Public exigencies shall require the expression of the individual opinion, it should be fully and freely declared ; and whereas the constitution of the United States and Laws made in pursuance thereof are expressly declared to be the supreme laws of the land, and all Combinations to abstract the same under whatever plansible pretences they may be disguised are destruc- tive of social order, and tend indirectly to the dissolution of the Union ; and whereas the Legislature of the State of Connecticut were especially convened at Hartford on the 23rd of February last, and did during their extraordinary session passed certain resolutions and issued a certain ad- dress to the people of this State, which in the opinion of this meeting is derogatory to the sentiments of the friends of the Union and peace of the Citizens of the United States, inasmuch as said legislature have de- clared that in their opinion the Congress of the United States have es- tablished a system of measures in regard to foreign commerce which contains provisions oppressive and unconstitutional, and likewise have discovered a spirit as unwise as extraordinary to oppose the general gov- ernment, by declaring that persons holding executive offices under this State are restrained by the duties they owe the State from affording any official aid or co-operation in the execution of the acts aforesaid (mean- ing certain laws of the general government), it is the opinion of the freemen of this town that such language and proceedings disclose a plan or determination to foster the favorite principles of the enemies of the Union of the United States, and such sentiments are incongruous with the ideas of every true friend of this Country ; we the inhabitants of the town of Stonington in legal town-meeting assembled conceive and be-

""' Honor to the Brave.' "

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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

lieve it to be our duty as well as the duty of every American peaceably to assemble and protest against, and disavow any belief in principles which can only have a tendency to distract and drench our happy conn- try in blood if persevered in. Therefore, Resolved that we are firmly attached to the constitution of the United States considering it as tho Palladium of our liberties, the ark of our political safety, believing it is admirably calculated to secure our liberties and promote the prosperity and happiness of the community, that in the language of the illustrious Washington, it keeps steady in view what appears to us the best interest of every true American, the consolidation of our union in which is in- volved our prosperity, felicity, safety, and perhaps our national exist- ance-and knowing that it was adopted by the sages and heroes who achieved our glorious revolution, we do hereby solemnly and in the face of the world pledge ourselves to maintain it at the risk of our lives and property.

" Resolved, That we view with deep regret and fearful apprehensions the late extraordinary proceedings of our State legislature as tending to subvert the constitution of the United States, and produce national anarchy ; that we contemplate with horror the idea of the interminable consequences that a division of the Union will produce, and in the language of our departed patriot we will frown indignantly upon those who shall attempt to alienate one portion of our Union from the other or even to enfeeble the sacred ties which link together its various parts.

" Resolved, That the administration of the general government since the 4th March, 1801, hath been wise, dignified, and patriotic, and merits the approbation of the United States, and that the measures and expedi- ents adopted to avoid war were highly judicious and honorable, while their direct tendency, besides annoying those who had rendered a resort to them necessary, bath preserved our seamen and property from the piratical grasp of the belligerent powers.

" Resolved, That in the late aets of Congress and the measures pursued for enforcing them, we recognize no unconstitutional or unjust restric- tions, neither do we discern any new principles to alarm us, or any un- necessary severity.

" Resolved, That the attempt to form a combination of the legislatures of several of the States for the purpose of controling or counteracting the measures of the general government are unjustifiable and foreign to the duties of State legislatures, hostile to the existence of our Union, and if persisted in will produce evils dreadful and fatal in their conse- quences.

" Resolved, That we consider our allegience and duty to the govern- ment of the United States as paramount to all others, and will in times of danger and alarm at the call of its laws, rally around the standard of our country to protect and defend its constitution, laws, rights and lib- erties against foreign and domestic foes, and that we will cordially unite with our fellow-citizens in affording effectual support to such constitu- tional measures as our general government may adopt in the present crisis of our affairs.

" Resolved, That the minority in the late extra session of the legisla- ture of this State deserve the encomiums and unfeigned thanks of their fellow-citizens, in firmly protesting against the proceedings of the ma- jority.

" Resolved, That George Hubbard, Esq., and Mr. Peleg Denison be a committee to draft and forward to the President of the United States, in behalf of this town, a respectful address together with a copy of the doings of this meeting, assuring him of the willingness of at least a small part of the citizens of Connecticut to support the general govern- inent and ils laws."

The determination of the British government to impress American seamen into their service, and other belligerent acts on her part, led to several armed collisions, and finally culminated in a declara- tion of war by the United States government against Great Britain, June 18, 1812. Very little had ever been done by the general government for the defense of our sea-coast. Long Point, since the close of the Revolution, had materially increased in population and wealth. The General Assembly had incorpo- rated the place into a borough in 1801. Mystic was but a small village at the time, composed largely of enterprising seafaring men. Before the embargo the

foreign trade of the town of Stonington was ahnost entirely with the West Indies, and generally pro- ductive of large gains. During the war, and espe- cially after the spring of 1813, our sea-coast was blockaded by a British squadron, which at first wellnigh annihilated all our commerce, but a few brave, resolute, enterprising men ran the blockade and carried on business with New York. Privateers were fitted out, and were successful in most cases in capturing English vessels. We lost the sloop " Fox" in 1813, which was retaken by the privateer " Hero," fitted out at Mystic and manned by Stonington and Groton men. Other feats of heroism and successful daring, by Groton and Stonington men combined, took place on the ocean before the close of the war. During its first year England had her hands full with European conflicts, but in the spring of 1813 she managed to send a formidable fleet to our shores and blockaded Long Island Sound. Stonington borough had received two eighteen-pounders from the general government for the defense of the place. A battery had been erected there during the Revolution which had almost disappeared. But the inhabitants, with the guards stationed there, drafted from the militia of the State, had erected another battery, the north end of which terminated at the southeast corner of the Messrs. Atwood's silk-machinery establishment. So apprehensive were the people of Stonington bor- ough that their village would be attacked and burned by the British fleet that they sought the aid of the State, the Governor of which ordered detachments from the militia to be drafted and stationed there. There were six of these military drafts and detach- ments,-three in 1813, and three in 1814-15,-four of which were commanded by Lieut. Horatio G. Lewis, one by Lient. Samuel Hough, and one by Sergt. Peleg Hancox.

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History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 153

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1317

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1317