History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 69

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 69

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titles, and spent all his early years in alternate scenes of dissipation and traveling. He engaged in no pub- lic enterprise till he came to America and took part in the Revolutionary contest. The motives which actuated this voluptuous nobleman to this undertak- ing are not understood, very probably the thirst for adventure and personal friendship for Lafayette. He had run the career of pleasure to such an extent that he was perhaps willing to pause awhile and restore the energy of his satiated taste. Certain it is that he embarked in the cause of the Americans with ardor, bore privations with good temper, and made himself very popular by his hilarity and generous expenditure.

" After Lauzun returned to Europe he became inti- mate with Talleyrand, and accompanied him on a mis- sion to England in 1792, where one of his familiar as- sociates was the Prince of Wales, afterwards George IV. On the death of his uncle, the Duke de Biron, he succeeded to the title, quarreled with the court, and became a partisan of the Duke of Orleans. Af- terwards he served against the Vendeans, but being accused of secretly favoring them, was condemned, and executed the last day of the year 1793. Such was the future stormy career of this celebrated noble- man, who, as already mentioned, in the midst of friends and subordinates, enjoyed the banquet made for him by Col. Huntington. After dinner the whole party went out into the yard in front of the house and made the air ring with huzzas for liberty. Nu- merous loungers had gathered around the fence to get a sight of these interesting foreigners, with whom they conversed in very good English, and exhorted to live free or die for liberty.

" It is well known that during the Revolutionary war attempts were made to regulate the prices of arti- cles by public statutes, in order to reduce the quantity of the circulating medium. In Connecticut prices were fixed by the civil authorities of each town in all cases not determined by acts of Assembly.

" April 7, 1777. Voted, strictly to adhere to the law of the State reg- ulating the prices of the necessaries of life; and we do resolve with cheerfulness to exert our best endeavors within our sphere, to support the honor of that good and salutary law.

"Dec. 29. Voted, that the town consider the articles of confederation and perpetual union proposed by the Continental Congress wise and salutary.

"1778. Abstract of instructions to the representa- tives of the town :

" 1. To use their influence to have taxes more equitable.

"2. To have bills of credit called in.

"3. Forfeited estates confiscated.

"4. The yeas and nays on all important questions published.

"5. Profane swearing punished by disability to sustain offices.

"Oct. 1. Voted, to present a memorial to the General Assembly, pray- ing for a just and equitable system of taxation and representation.

" Extract from the memorial :

"'The Poll-tax your memorialists consider at the present day an in- supportable burden on the poor, while a great part of the growing estate of the rich is by law exempt from taxation. The present mode of rep- resentation is also objected to by your memorialists. They believe all

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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

who pay taxes, and are of sober life and conversation, ought to have a voice in all public communities where their monies and properties are disposed of for public uses.'

"It is not surprising that the subject of taxation should be one of exciting interest in a community who were annually paying 6d., 9d., and 12d. on the pound for the use of the army. At one time in Con- necticut, when the currency was at par, a rate of even 14d. was necessary to meet the exigencies of the treasury.

"The town afterwards presented another petition to the Assembly, the substance of which was that every kind of property, and that only, should be the object of taxation. This general principle, they say, is in their view the only equitable one. Committees were sent to several neighboring towns to get their minds on the subject, and they at length resolved to publish, at the expense of the town, the prevalent views of the citizens on taxation, in the form of a let- ter to the freemen of the State, a copy of it to be sent to every town. In this letter the deficiencies of the existing system were ably pointed out.

"* By the present system six of the poorest swine a year old are rated equal to £100 in cash at interest, and 30 such swine equal to a house of £1000. The meanest horse, even 30 years old, is on a par with the best in his prime. An acre of the best land is rated no higher than the poorost that is arable in the State.

"' Industry, which ought to be encouraged, is doubly taxed, and that in a very capricious and vague manner.'

"The objections against the poll-tax were these :

""That it Is a personal tax, and ought to be paid in personal service, that is, in defending the community ; that it is a double tax, the poor man paying for his poll, which is the substitute for his labor, and for the avalls of his labor also; that it is impolitic, as tending to prevent early marriages, which promote industry, frugality, and every social virtue.'

" The committee upon this memorial were some of the choice spirits of Norwich,-Benjamin Hunting- ton, Dr. Theophilus Rogers, Dr. Elisha Tracy, Aaron Cleveland, Jonathan Huntington, and Nathaniel Niles. The document has strong points, but it is not known from which of the members it emanated.

" Again, three years later (1781), the town made another effort to obtain their favorite measures,-the abrogation of the poll-tax, and the extension of the right of suffrage. The instructions given to the rep- resentatives embraced the following measures :

" That polls be struck out of the tax-list or rated low.

" That all who pay taxes be allowed to vote, if of good moral chiar- acier.

" That debates in the House be open.

" That absentees be fined.

" That a regular constitution be formed.

" In October, 1780, a convention was held at Hart- ford to consider what measures should be taken in regard to trade and currency. The delegates from Norwich were Daniel Rodman and Solomon Safford ; the committee to draft their instructions, Elisha La- throp, Christopher Leffingwell, and Aaron Cleveland. They were directed to urge the loaning of money to Congress to defray the public expenses, and prevent the necessity of a further emission of paper money.

"' In town meeting, June 24, 1780,-

"'Voted, that a committee of fifty able, judicious inen be appointed to engage fifty able-bodied, effective men, required of this town to fill up our complement of the Continental army for three years, or during the war; each member of the committee to procure one soldier, and pay him twenty silver dollars bounty, over and above the bounty given by the State, and pay him the same annually as long as he continues in the ser- vice; also 408. per month in silver money, or Indian corn at 38. per bushel, fresh pork at 3d. per pound, and wheat at 68. per bushel.'

" The committee were not able to carry this vote into effect,-the term of enlistment was too long,-nor were the men raised until by a subsequent vote thic term of service was restricted to six months. In July of the same year, upon a requisition of the Governor, twenty-seven more men were enlisted for six months, to whom the same bounty and pay were given.

"The General Assembly had passed an act to ar- range all the inhabitants of the State into classes, each class to raise so many recruits and furnish such and such clothing and other supplies. Norwich at first refused to enter upon this system and remon- strated. With great reluctance, the measure was at last adopted by the inhabitants, and being found to accomplish the end, was continued through the war, though it was never popular with them.

" After recovering from the first stunning blow of the Revolution, the inhabitants of Norwich were not only alert in turning their attention to various indus- trial pursuits, but engaged also in the brilliant chance game of privateering. The war, therefore, while it exhausted the strength and resources of neighboring towns that lay exposed upon the sea- coast, acted like a spur to the enterprise of Norwich. New London, at the mouth of the river, was depressed in all her interests, kept in continual alarm, and finally, by the blazing torch of the enemy, almost swept from the face of the earth; but Norwich, se- curely seated at the head of the river, defended by her hills and nourished by her valleys, planting and reaping without fear of invasion or loss, not only built new shops and dwelling-houses, and engaged with spirit and success in a variety of new manufac- tures, but entered into ship-building, and boldly sent out her vessels to bring in spoils from the ocean.

" In 1781 and 1782 the town was overflowing with merchandise, both tropical and European.1 New mercantile firms were established,-Daniel Rodman, Samuel Woodbridge, Lynde McCurdy, and others,- and lavish varieties of fancy texture, as well as the substantial products of almost every climate, were offered for sale. The shelves and counters of the fashionable class of shops displayed such articles as superfine broadcloths, men's silk hose, India silks, Damascus silks, taffetas, satins, Persians, and velvets, blonde lacc, ganzes, and chintzes. These goods were mostly obtained by successful privateering.

" Another class of merchandise, generally of a

1 In May, 1782, a very large stock and great variety of European goods, imported in the brigantine "Firebrand" from Amsterdam, was sold by auction at the store of Mesers. Zabdiel Rogers & Co., Bean Hill.

NORWICH.

cheaper kind, and not dealt in by honorable traders, but covertly offered for sale in various places or dis- tributed by pedlers, was obtained by secret and un- lawful intercourse with the enemy.

."The coast of Connecticut being entirely girdled by Long Island and New York, and the British and Tories having these wholly under their control, it was very difficult to prevent the secret intercourse and traffic of the two parties through the Sound. In the latter years of the war especially a corrupt, under- hand, smuggling trade prevailed to a great extent, which was emboldened by the indifference or conniv- ance of the local authorities, and stimulated by the readiness of people to purchase cheap goods without asking from whence they came. Remittances for these goods must be made in coin, therefore they were sold only for cash, which, finding its way back to the enemy's lines, impoverished the country. Thus the traffic operated against agriculture and manufactures, against honest labor and lawful trade. Moreover, it nullified the laws and brought them into contempt.

" Against this illicit traffic a strong association was formed at Norwich in July, 1782. The company bound themselves by solemn pledges of life, fortune, and honor to support the civil authority ; to hold no intercourse, social or mercantile, with persons de- tected in evading the laws ; to furnish men and boats for keeping watch in suspected places, and to search out and break up all deposits of smuggled goods ; such goods to be seized, sold, and the avails devoted to charitable purposes.

"The vigorous manner in which this company began to carry out their principles caused great com- motion in the ranks of the guilty parties. Suspected persons suddenly disappeared ; sales were postponed ; goods which before had been openly exposed with- drew into cellars and meal-chests, or were concealed in barns under the hay, and in hollow trees, thickets, and ravines.

' "Several seizures were made during the season, but the treaty of peace soon put an end to this clandes- tine traffic, and the association had but a brief exist- ence.

" Its object, however, was creditable to the patriot- ism and efficiency of the inhabitants, and a list of the signers gives us the names of sixty-eight prominent men who were on the stage of life at the close of the war, and all within the bounds of the present town.

MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION AGAINST ILLICIT TRADE,1 ALPHABETI- CALLY ARRANGED.

Samuel Abbot,

Simeon Carew,

Elijah Backus, Ephraim Bill,

Thomas Coit,

William Coit,

John Crary,

Jonathan Boardman, John M. Breed,

Jacob De Witt,

Michael Dumont,

Thomas Fanning,

Jabez Fitchı,

Joseplı Cale,

Joseph Howland,

Joseplı Peck,

Andrew Huntington,

Andrew Perkins,

Eliphalet Huntington,

Jabez Perkins,

Jonathan IInntington,

Jabez Perkins, Jr.,

Joshua Huntington, Levi Huntington,

Joseph Perkins, Jr., Erastus Perkins,

Simeon IInntington,

William Hubbard,

Russell Hubbard & Son,

Ebenezer Jones,

Daniel Rodman,

Joshua Lathrop,

Theophilus Rogers,

Rufus Lathrop,

Zabdiel Rogers,

Christopher Leffingwell,

Ransford Rose,

Benajah Leffingwell,

Andrew Tracy, Jr.,

Jonathan Lester,

Mundator Tracy,

Elihu Marvin,

Samuel Tracy,

John McCall,

Asa Waterman, Jr., Samuel Wheat,

Seth Miner,

Joseph Whitmarsh,

Thomas Mumford,

Benajah Williams, Joseph Williams,

Robert Niles,

Jacob Witter,

Timothy Parker,

Dudley Woodbridge,

Asa Peabody,

Nathaniel P. Peabody,

Samuel Woodbridge, Alexander Youngs.

"In January, 1781, the inhabitants were divided into forty classes to raise forty soldiers, which was their quota for the Continental army; and again into twenty classes for a State quota to serve at Horseneck and elsewhere. A list of persons in each class was made out, and each taxed in due proportion for the pay and fitting out of one recruit, whom they were to procure; two shirts, two pairs of woolen stockings, shoes, and mittens were requisite for every soldier ; arms and uniforms were furnished by the State or country.

" Each soldier's family was in the charge of a com- mittee to see that they were supplied with the neces- saries of life, for which the soldier's wages to a certain amount were pledged. The whole number of classes this year to procure clothing was sixty-six.

"In 1782 only thirty-three classes were required.

"1783. Instructions were given to the representa- tives to use their influence with the Assembly to ob- tain a remonstrance against the five years' pay granted by Congress to the officers of the Continental army. The manifesto of the town on this subject was fiery, dictatorial, and extravagant. A few paragraphs will show in strong relief the characteristics of the people, -jealous of their rights, quick to take alarm, and sensitively watchful over their cherished liberties.

" Where is the free son of America that ever had it in idea when adopting the Articles of Confederation to have pensions bestowed on those characters (if any such there be) whose virtne could not hold them in service without such rewards over and above the contract which first engaged theni ?

"' For a free people, just rising out of a threatening slavery into free shining prospects of a most glorious peace and independence, now to be taxed without their consent to support and maintain a large number of gentlemen as pensioners in a time of universal peace, is, in our view unconstitutional and directly in opposition to the sentiment of the States at large, and was one great spoke in the wheel which moved at first our late struggle with our imperious and tyrannical foes.'

" Further instructions were given at the same time to the representatives to urge upon the Assembly the necessity of keeping a watchful eye upon the pro-

I Conn. Gazette, vol. xix.

Shubael Breed, Samuel Capron, Eliphalet Carew, Joseph Carew,

285

Joseph Perkins,

Hezekiah Perkins, Levi Perkins,

Lynde McCurdy,

Nathaniel Niles,

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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

ceedings of Congress, to see that they did not exceed the powers vested in them, and to appoint a commit- tee at every session to take into consideration the journals of Congress, and approve or disapprove, ap- plaud or censure the conduct of the delegates.

" At no period during the war were the people of Norwich alarmed with the fear of a direct invasion of the enemy, except at the time of the attack on New London, Sept. 6, 1781. It was then rumored that Arnold, inflamed with hatred against the country he had betrayed, and cherishing a vengeful spirit to- wards his native town, had determined at all hazards to march thither and spread desolation through the homes of his ancient friends and neighbors. Prepara- tions were therefore made to receive him ; goods were packed, and women and children made ready for flight. The fiery patriots of Norwich wished for nothing more than that he should attempt to march thither, as it would give them a long-coveted oppor- tunity of wreaking their vengeance on the traitor. But the undertaking was too hazardous; Arnold, if he had the will, was too prudent to attempt anything but a sudden and transient attempt upon the sea- board.

"The last time that the militia were called out during the war was in September, 1782. A detail of the circumstances will serve as a specimen of the harassing alarms which had previously often oc- curred.

" Benajah Leffingwell was then lieutenant-colonel of the Twentieth Regiment, and at seven o'clock in the morning an express reached him with the following order :

"'To Major Leffingwell: I have certain intelligence that there is a large fleet in the Sound, designed for some part of the Main-would hereby request you without loss of time to notify the regiment under your command to be ready to march at the shortest notice-also send expresses to New London immediately for further news, and continue expresses as occasion may be. Your humble servant in the greatest haste.

"'SAMUEL M'CLELLAND, Colonel.

"' Wednesday morning, six o'clock.

"' I have much more to say if I had time. I am on the road to New London from Windham, where express came to me in the night.'

" Before nine o'clock the whole regiment had been summoned to turn out with one or two days' provi- sions, and be ready to march on hearing the alarm guns.

" The regiment upon the ground that day, as the returns of the orderly-book show, consisted of one field-officer, thirty-five commissioned officers, and seven hundred and fifty-eight men, in eleven com- panies, under the following captains: Joseph Carew, Samuel Wheat, Isaac Johnson, Nathan Waterman, Moses Stephens, William Pride, Jabez Deming, Abner Ladd, Jonathan Waterman, Samuel Lovett, Jacob DeWitt.

"Orders at last came for them to march; they were just ready to start when the order was countermanded. Again an express arrived saying that the fleet ap- peared to be bound in, and orders were issued to

stand ready. One hour they heard that the enemy was making preparations for a descent, the next that the fleet was moving up the Sound. Finally the hostile ships, having explored Gardiner's Bay, flitted out of the Sound, and the militia, after two days of harassing suspense, were dismissed to their homes."

BENEDICT ARNOLD.1-The painful task now de- volves upon the writer to chronicle some of the leading events in the career of one whose baseness has been unequaled since the day that his prototype betrayed his master for thirty pieces of silver. The faithful historian will be just to all; hence no attempt will be made to remove the stain which has long tarnished the history of this fair section of country. Benedict Arnold descended from an honorable Rhode Island family, where one of his ancestors, bearing the same name, held the office of Governor for fifteen years. Two brothers of this family, Benedict and Oliver, re- moved from Newport to Norwich in 1730. The elder Benedict, the father of the traitor, soon became engaged in business, and not long after his arrival in Norwich married Mrs. Hannah King, whose maiden name was Lathrop. Benedict, the subject of this sketch, was born in Norwich, Jan. 3, 1741. Early in life he was apprenticed to Dr. Lathrop, a druggist in Norwich, with whom he remained during his minority. He subsequently embarked in the same business in New Haven, and while there became the captain of a company of militia. After the battle at Lexington he made a hasty march to Cambridge at the head of his company, and volunteered his services to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety. With the rank of colonel in the Continental army, he joined Ethan Allen and assisted in the taking of Ticonderoga in May, 1775. In the expedition against Quebec, in the autumn and winter of 1775, he took a. leading part. Having been wounded at Quebec and at Saratoga, his disability was of a character to render him unfit for active field service, and he was consequently, by Washington, placed in command at Philadelphia after the place had been evacuated by Clinton in 1778. He was at this date a major-general in the Continental army. While at Philadelphia he lived in a style far above his means, and his haughty and overbearing manner involved him in a quarrel with the authorities of Pennsylvania, who accused him before Congress of abusing his official position and misusing the public funds. After a long delay he was tried by a court-martial and was sentenced to be reprimanded by the commander-in-chief. Washing- ton performed this disagreeable task as delicately as possible, but did not lose his confidence in Arnold. While in Philadelphia, Arnold married the daughter of Judge Shippen, a Tory, which connection enabled him to communicate without discovery with the Brit- ish officers. He opened a correspondence with Sir Henry Clinton, signing himself "Gustavus." In the

I By Ashbel Woodward, M.D.

287

NORWICH.

mean time, at his earnest solicitation, he was ap- pointed by Washington, in August, 1780, to the com- mand of West Point, the strongest and most import- ant fortress in America. He sought this command with the deliberate intention of betraying the post into the hands of the enemy. In compliance with a previous understanding, Arnold and Maj. André met at Haverstraw, on the west bank of the Hudson, Sept. 22, 1780, and arrangements were fully com- pleted for an easy conquest of the fortress by the English.

On his return to the city of New York, André was arrested as a spy at Tarrytown, was tried by a court- martial, and sentenced to be executed by hanging. He suffered the penalty of his crime Oct. 2, 1780. When it became known to Arnold that André had been arrested, he fled from West Point in the utmost haste, and in his flight took passage to New York City in the "Vulture," a British sloop-of-war. He was immediately made a brigadier-general in the British service, which rank he preserved throughout the war as a stipulated reward of his treachery.

Early in 1781 he was dispatched by Sir Henry Clinton to make a diversion into Virginia. After his recall he conducted an expedition against Connecti- cut. The objective point was the flourishing town of New London. He took Fort Trumbull, September 6th, with inconsiderable loss. A detachment made an assault on Fort Griswold, on Groton Heights, and with great difficulty entered the works. The brave but conquered defenders of the fortress after their surrender became the victims of a most merciless slaughter. New London was plundered and laid in ashes. After a brief campaign of conflagration and slaughter, Arnold returned to New York, crowned with a description of laurels that no one would covet unless totally lost to a true sense of honor. Arnold died at Gloucester, London, in June, 1801.

"CAPT. OLIVER ARNOLD, of Norwich, the uncle of Benedict, died in 1781. He had long been an in- valid, and left his family with but little for their sup- port. To these relatives Benedict was always liberal, and even after his exile made them occasional remit- tances. The oldest son, Freegift, he assisted in ob- taining a good classical education, and designed him for one of the professions; but the young man joined himself to the Sons of Liberty, entered into the naval service under Paul Jones, and after fighting bravely came home with a ruined constitution to languish and die. The other son, Oliver, had a peculiar talent for making extemporaneous rhymes, which seemed to flow from him without premeditation, in all the ease of common speech, so that his casual remarks and answers to questions would often run in a jingling measure. Many of these familiar rhymes were for- merly current in the neighborhood. They were mostly of a local and transient character. An example of more general interest, which has been often quoted, is the following :

" In a bookseller's shop in New Haven Oliver Ar- nold was introduced to Joel Barlow, who had just then acquired considerable notoriety by the publica- tion of an altered edition of Watts' Psalms and Hymns. Barlow asked for a specimen of his talent, upon which the wandering poet immediately repeated the following stanza :

"' You've proved yourself a sinful cre'tur'; You've murdered Watts, and spoilt the metre ; You've tried the Word of God to alter, And for your pains deserve a halter.'

"Oliver was also a sailor and a patriot, and cor- dially despised the course taken by his cousin Bene- dict in betraying his country.

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History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 69

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