USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Norfolk > History of Norfolk, Litchfield County, Connecticut, 1744-1900 > Part 8
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Eden Mills, served in latter part of the war.
Jedediah White, pensioner.
Charles Walter, in Conn. line, 3 years, Bradley's regiment.
Eleazer Holt, present at Burgoyne's surrender.
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK.
Nicholas Holt, enlisted in 1775, in Watson's company, took small- pox in crossing Lake George, and leaped into the water, which caused the disease to settle in his hip, and made him lame for life.
Stephen Holt, present at Burgoyne's surrender in Oct., 1777, and also at burning of Danbury.
Thomas Curtis, enlisted Feb., 1776, took small-pox in the army, died, and was buried at Stillwater, N. Y .; also had marched after Lexington.
Hopestill Welch, served in French war, as well as Revolution.
Salathiel Dunbar, May, 1775, to March 19, 1775.
Solomon Curtis, a short term, when under age, in latter part of war.
Titus Watson, Lieutenant in John Watson's company, under Hinman, in 1775, Captain in Burrell's regiment, Feb., 1776, to Feb., 1777, and afterward was Captain in Col. Heman Swift's regiment for three years; also marched after Lexington.
John Trowbridge, private, May, 1775, to Nov. 26, 1775, in Hin- man's regiment; afterwards enlisted in Conn. line for three years, where he was Corporal.
Moses Turner, Corporal Conn. line, was in service three years, April, 1777, to April 6, 1780.
Elijah Knapp, Corporal, Conn. line, three years.
Aaron Aspinwall, private, Conn. line, three years.
Asahel Adams, private, Conn. line, three years.
Caleb Aspinwall, private, under Hinman, May to Sept. 6, 1775. in Canada, and marched after Lexington, and in Conn. line three years.
Joel Hamblin, private in Conn. line, three years.
Nathan Tubbs, private, in Conn. line, three years.
Levi Norton, private, in Conn. line, three years.
Reuben Stevens, private, in Conn. line, three years.
Samuel Orvis, private, in Conn. line, three years.
Caleb Sturtevant, private, in Conn. line, three years.
John Walter, private, in Conn. line, three years.
Elnathan Seward, private, in Conn. line, three years.
Abraham Knapp, private, in Conn. line, three years.
Rufus Trall, private, in Conn. line, three years; also five months and nine days in latter part of 1780 at Highlands.
James Benedict, Jr., a minor, enlisted in May, 1777, for three years, in Titus Watson's company, Heman Swift's regiment, marched to Peekskill, taken sick, suffered much, tried to march, reached White Plains, and Rye, sick again; no friends to help him there, and was finally brought home to Norfolk at his father's expense, with a broken constitution. Assembly granted him special relief.
Hiland Hall, in Conn. line for three years, was Deputy Commis- sary.
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK.
Bates Turner, in Conn. line, April, 1777, to April, 1780, and after- ward in short levy 5 1-2 months at Highlands, July to Dec., 1780.
Silas Cowles, in Conn. line for three years.
Edward Fuller, in Connecticut line, three years.
William Turner, in Connecticut line, three years.
Jonas Hubbard, in Connecticut line, three years.
Lemuel Sperry, in Connecticut line, three years.
Eliezer Orvis, enlisted for three years in 1777, but died Nov. 15, 1778.
Nathan Sturtevant, also enlisted for three years in 1777, but died Oct. 1, 1777.
Daniel Hoskins, was in service four months.
Thomas Tibbals, first was drummer in Theodore Woodbridge's company, Wooster's regiment, from Nov. 18, 1775, to Feb. 29, 1776; then was drum major in the Northern army, in Col. Elmore's regi- ment, from April 15, 1776, to April 27, 1777. Afterward re-enlisted more than once as teamster in the Quartermaster's service, and was out in all nearly four years. Spent one winter at Ft. Stanwix, one at Mt. Independence, and one in Canada.
Samuel Tibbals, an older brother of Thomas, was captain of teams in the Quartermaster's service for a year from March, 1777, and was then discharged on account of broken health.
Elizur Munger was a teamster.
Reuben Munger was sergeant; time of service unknown.
Arial Lawrence served two short terms in special calls on the militia; was at Saratoga on a four months' term when Burgoyne surrendered; was a man of great physical endurance; is said to have walked from a point six miles beyond Troy, where he was discharged, to Norfolk in one day.
Daniel Canfield, pensioner.
Abiathar Rogers, pensioner.
David Heady, pensioner.
Jedidiah Richards, Jr.
Ebenezer Plumbly.
Jeremiah W. Phelps, a short term.
Asher Smith.
John Beach.
Giles Gaylord, served in New York in 1782; also under John Watson, May to November, 1775, in Canada.
Lieutenant Phelps, served in New York in 1782. Possibly was the same as Elijah Phelps mentioned below.
Simeon Mills was in Burrell's regiment, with Rev. Mr. Robbins, in 1776; had small pox, not properly cared for, and it became chronic, producing large, foul ulcers, which remained a long time; was sent home in September, 1776, and was confined to his bed and chair till
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autumn, 1779. Assembly of Connecticut voted him then £300 to pay his bills, of which £200 was doctor's bill.
Isaac Butler, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regiment. William Leach, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regiment. John Minor, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regiment.
James Sturdivant, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regi- ment.
Silas Steward, five and a half months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regiment.
Samuel Taylor, five and a half months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regiment.
Abraham Barden, four months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regi- ment.
Roswell Grant, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regiment.
Giles Thrall, four and a half months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regiment.
Luther Lawrence, four months and twenty-one days at High- lands, in 1780, in Philip B. Bradley's regiment.
Arial Strong, five months, July to December, 1780, at Highlands.
Deacon Samuel Cowles, ensign, was in skirmish at White Plains, and perhaps also in Canada campaign. He marched after Lexing- ton, also.
Noah Cowles, son of Samuel, entered service very young as musician, probably a drummer. Was at Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga.
Jared Abernathy, marched at the Lexington alarm; was in Bur- rell's regiment, 1776-7, a full year in Canada; had hospital expenses, £7 8s.
Ludd Gaylord, son of Justis, enlisted at the age of seventeen, in what portion of the army is unknown. There were many who con- spired together to desert, and in the paper drawn up wrote their names in a circle so that the leaders might not be known. The plot was discovered and all were searched; one who had the paper slipped it into Ludd's pocket; he was offered pardon if he would reveal the leaders' names. On his refusal, he was condemned to die. His friends obtained a pardon from Washington, which had almost reached the boy when he was executed.
Ambrose Gaylord, another son of Justis, was in the Continental line in the latter part of the war.
Gaylord, a third son of Justis, was with Ambrose at the same time.
Elijah Phelps was in Northern army in 1776.
Andrew Moor, lieutenant, went to Canada in February, 1776, and died June 9, following.
Eli Pettibone was in Col. Warner's regiment in 1776.
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK.
Giles Pettibone was captain of the Norfolk militia company when the war opened. Besides his home work for the service (de- scribed in the sermon of Mr. Beach), he led his company to Saratoga in the alarm of 1777. Probably all those here mentioned as present at that fight were under him, besides many others. With the same company he served one or two terms a little later under McDougal, on the Hudson below West Point, keeping a lookout between the American and British lines, a work requiring peculiar vigilance and skill. At the end of his term he received public approbation from his commander in the presence of the army. He obtained the rank of major before the war closed.
Samuel Pettibone, served in Canada and other parts.
The following (besides those already mentioned) marched toward Boston immediately upon the Lexington alarm in April, 1775. It is not known how far they went before they were sent back; the time during which some of them served would indicate that they reached Boston. Their pay was sixteen pence per day.
Captain Timothy Gaylord, fifteen days.
William Hewet, fifteen days.
Ephraim Parker, sixteen days; also in French War.
Elijah Pettibone, sixteen days.
Samuel Hotchkiss, Sen., sixteen days.
Jeffrey Murray, fourteen days.
Ebenezer Hoyt, five days.
Titus Brown, four days.
Brotherton Seward, forty-seven days.
Timothy Gaylord, 2d, thirty-two days. Phineas Norton, thirty-two days.
Benjamin Tuttle, thirty-two days.
David Orvis, thirty-two days.
Michael Mills, captain, at West Point eleven days in June, 1780.
In October, 1780, Norfolk was required to furnish twenty-two more men for Continental service, and in November following three men were sent as quota to cavalry company. It also furnished six recruits for the guard at Horseneck, in May, 1781. Captain Michael Mills' company, of Col. Hutchins' regiment, was ordered to West Point in June, 1780, and remained there eleven days, of which com- pany fifteen were Norfolk men. The names of none of these have been found, though some of them may be the same who appear above in other enlistments.
A boy, Stephen , was servant to Mr. Robbins in campaign of 1776, and probably from Norfolk."
In addition to the foregoing list of Revolutionary soldiers from this town, the following is from the best authorities to be found :
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK.
Capt. Titus Watson was in 1818 living in New York, a Revolu- tionary pensioner.
Jesse Tobey was Quartermaster Sergeant in Col. Moseley's regi- ment, Capt. Stoddard's company, at Fort Clinton on the Hudson for two months, 1778.
Samuel Hotchkiss, marched at the Lexington alarm; was in Capt. Hooker's company, Col. Wolcott's regiment, at Boston, Janu- ary to March, 1776. He was Corporal in Capt. Stoddard's company, Col. Hooker's regiment, at Peekskill, March to June, 1777. Was in Capt. Peck's company, Col. Enos' battalion of minute men, Sept., 1777. Was in Third regiment, Conn. line, 1778. Was in Capt. Brad- ley's company of Artillery at New Haven during Tyron's invasion of Connecticut, Feb., 1779, to 1780. Was living at Burlington, a pen- sioner, age 84, 1840.
Samuel Hotchkiss, Jr., marched at Lexington alarm.
Roger Orvis, was a pensioner, residing in Vermont, 1818.
Jasper Murray was in Capt. Beebe's company, Col. Enos' regi- ment, on the Hudson, for three months, 1778.
Andrew Lester was in Capt. Dickinson's company, Col. Elmore's regiment, 1776. Was Corporal in Capt. Kimball's company, at Fort Dayton, German Flats, 1777 to 1780.
Ephraim Coy was a Fifer in Sixth Continental regiment, May to Dec., 1775. He was then only 13 years old. Was in First regiment, Conn. line, April, 1777, to June, 1778. A pensioner in 1832.
Charles Walter was in Third regiment, Col. Webb's, Conn. line, from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1781. A pensioner 1818.
Nicholas Holt, an invalid pensioner.
Josiah Hotchkiss, in Col. Hinman's regiment, 1775.
Brotherton Seward, was in Second regiment, Conn. Militia, Gen. Spencer's, raised on first call for troops; served from May till Dec., 1775.
Solomon Curtiss, was Corporal in Capt. Abel Pettibone's com- pany, Col. Belden's regiment, at Peekskill, March till June, 1777.
Moses Turner, was a pensioner, residing in Vermont 1818.
Elijah Knapp, was Sergeant in Capt. St. John's company under command of Marquis de LaFayette, Feb. to Nov., 1781; was Ser- geant in Capt. Comstock's company, Second regiment, Jan. to June, 1783.
Aaron Aspinwall, was a pensioner, residing in New York, 1818. Levi Norton, was a pensioner, 1818.
Samuel Orvis, was a pensioner, residing in New York 1818. Caleb Sturdevant, was a pensioner, residing in New York 1818. John Walter, was a pensioner, residing in New York 1818. Edward Fuller, was a pensioner 1818.
William Turner, was a pensioner 1818.
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK.
Jonas Hubbard, was a pensioner, residing in Vermont 1818.
James Benedict, was a pensioner 1832.
Daniel Hoskins, was in Lieut. Case's company, in 18th regiment, Conn. Militia, at New York, Aug. to Sept., 1776; was in 2nd regiment, "Conn. line," along the Hudson, under General Putnam, August, 1779, to January, 1780.
Heman Watson, mentioned in Mr. Robbins' Journal of the "Northern Campaign of 1776," was doubtless a son of Capt. Titus Watson of Norfolk, and was in the service in August of that year.
Lieut. Samuel Pettibone, father of Deacon Amos Pettibone, was in Bradley's Battalion, stationed in the summer and fall of 1776 at Bergen Heights and Paulus Hook (now Jersey City). In October of that year it moved up the river to the vicinity of Fort Lee, then under Gen. Greene's command. In November most of the regiment was sent across to assist in defending Fort Washington. On the fall of the fort, Nov. 16, this regiment, with the entire garrison, was captured, and Lieut. Pettibone was one of the prisoners.
Sergeant Simeon Mills, enlisted in the 7th company of Seventh regiment, Col. Webb, July, 1775. They were stationed at various points along the sound. September 14, on requisition from Gen. Washington, the regiment was ordered to the Boston camps, as- signed to Gen. Sullivan's brigade on Winter Hill. Their term of service expired Dec., '75. "He died in 1788, after enduring great hardship in the service of his country in the Revolutionary War. An old gray stone marks his grave in the Norfolk Cemetery."
Mr. Norman Riggs remembers Capt. John Bradley well, as he lived in their neighborhood, and heard him relate that he and his company arrived near Saratoga in a detachment that came in late in the day, but during the battle that preceded Burgoyne's surren- der. In his company were a number of Norfolk men from the South End District. Gen. Arnold, when told that the men had nothing to eat, ordered that casks of rum be rolled out, cups dis- tributed, that the men drink and hurry into the battle,-which they did, arriving in time to participate and to see men falling all around them.
Luther Lawrence, brother of Ariel, was in Bradley's regiment at Highlands four months in 1780 .- Constantine Mills, born in Nor- folk in 1761, son of Deacon Joseph Mills, enlisted in the army in August, 1778, at the age of seventeen. He was in the battle at the burning of Fairfield by the British, July, 1779 .- Titus Brown, al- though more than sixty years old, was one of those who responded to the Lexington alarm from Norfolk, marching in Capt. Gaylord's company for the relief of Boston. He was also in a short campaign at New York, in the Ninth regiment Conn. Militia, Capt. David Hait's company, in August and September, 1776, and was again in
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK.
the same Ninth regiment, under Gen. Wooster, in Capt. Charles Smith's company, at the Westchester border, from Nov., 1776, to Dec., 1777. He died in this town Feb., 1802, aged 88. (The writer knows of more than one hundred direct descendants now living of his daughter, Betty Brown, who married Daniel Burr of this town).
"Lieut. Giles Gaylord of Norfolk," was in "Wooster's Provisional Regiment," organized for service from Dec., '75, to the opening of 1776; serving before Quebec until operations there were abandoned in May, '76. He was also a conductor of eleven "teamsters of teams for transporting supplies from Conn. to the Continental army in 1777."
Samuel Tibbals was a "conductor of ten teamsters," same time and services as Lieut. Gaylord.
First Lieut. Titus Ives, of Capt. Beebe's company, Col. Roger Enos' regiment, served for three months on the Hudson, from June 25, 1778.
Richard Beckley, originally from Wethersfield, was in Col. Sher- burn's and S. B. Webb's regiments; enlisted Feb. 26, 1778. Served on the Hudson, on Long Island, in Rhode Island and New Jersey. Dis- charged Jan. 1, 1781. Settled in Norfolk. In 1840, at the age of 80, was a pensioner.
John Strong, served in the Conn. line; was a pensioner in 1840, age 79. A sketch of Mr. Strong is given elsewhere.
Reuben Palmer, served in Capt. Gillett's company, Col. Enos' regiment, on the Hudson, 3 months, 1778. Pensioner 1840, age 79.
Joseph Rockwell, served in short campaigns, in New York '75, '76, '77; was Ensign in Capt. Yate's company, Col. Enos' regiment, on the Hudson, 1778. A pensioner in 1840, age 82.
Ichabod Atwater, in Capt. Bryant's company, Col. Thomson's regiment of militia at Peekskill, Oct., '77. Pensioner 1840, age 80.
Hessibah Warner, pensioner in Norfolk 1840, age 79.
Ephraim Brown, in Conn. line July to Nov., 1780.
Daniel White, in Militia '76, '77. In Capt. Mat. Smith's com- pany. Prisoner from Feb., '80, to June, '82. His widow was a pensioner in 1840. Probably this name should be Matthew White.
Capt. Benedict is mentioned in Chaplain Robbins' Journal as at Chamblee, Canada, April, 1776.
Abiathar Rogers, in Conn. line, '77 and '78.
Jedediah Richards, was in Wadsworth's Brigade; served in New York and on Long Island, 1776.
Ebenezer Plumbley was in Bradley's battalion; taken prisoner at Fort Washington, Nov., 1776. In Col. Roger Enos' regiment of Conn. State troops in a three months' campaign on the Hudson, from June 25, 1778. One of Norfolk's prominent citizens, Titus Ives, was First Lieutenant in Capt. Beebe's company.
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK.
Nicholas Holt, another prominent citizen of the town, men- tioned in the list of soldiers as compiled by Mr. Beach, is given only in the "Record" as a "disabled pensioner," under act of Congress, . 1833-4.
Daniel Pettibone, was in Col. Hinman's regiment in the opera- tions of the Northern Department from April to December, 1775.
Joseph Hall was a private in Capt. Beebe's company, as men- tioned above, in 1778.
In the militia service from Norfolk, for defence of the sea-coast and frontiers until March, 1780, were the following:
William French, Jeremiah Wilcox Phelps, Bela Bishop, Elijah Mason, Joseph Phelps and Elijah Pettibone.
Sergeant John Beach, in Capt. Lewis' company, Wadsworth's brigade, time of attack on New York, Sept., 1776.
Elijah Phelps, was in Conn. line, 1781; "marched to southard under LaFayette."
Isaac Butler, was in 2nd company, Gen. Spencer's regiment, 1775.
Jupiter Mars, a slave, father of Deacon James Mars, served in the Revolutionary army, doubtless as servant of some officer.
Silas Cole was in Col. Moses Hazen's regiment, in a "company largely from New Haven County." Served in Washington's main army, from Jan. 1, '77, to the end of the war; was engaged at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and at siege and surrender of Yorktown.
The only mention of Asahel Case in the "Record of Connecticut men in the War of the Revolution" is in the "Seventh regiment, Col. Charles Webb, raised by order of the Assembly, July session, 1775. In the 7th company was Asahel Case. Term of service, July 21 to Dec. 20, 1775."
This regiment was stationed at various points along the sound until Sept. 14th, when it was ordered to Boston. Among the pen- sioners living in 1832 in Litchfield County we find Asahel Case. Mr. Obadiah Smith, a grandson of Capt. Asahel Case, Jun., says that both his grandfather and his great-grandfather, Capt. Asahel Case, Sen., who are mentioned elsewhere, were in the Revolutionary ser- vice, the elder having been Ensign.
Miles Riggs, one of the early residents of the South End District, is reported in the "Record" only as in Col. Roger Enos' Regiment, Capt. Beebe's Company, for a three months' campaign on the Hudson in 1778. It was probably during this time of service that the Colonial army had stretched a chain (the ends securely fastened on either shore) across the Hudson near White Plains, thinking thus
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK.
to prevent the British from ascending the river. Aware of this attempted obstruction, the British, under a strong south wind, sent a number of their strongest ships abreast, under full sail, up the river, and the Americans' chain could in no wise resist their mighty power, but gave way at once. Mr. Riggs frequently in his after life related the above as what he saw when in the service. Upon his discharge at White Plains he returned to his home in Norfolk, reaching here in the evening, to find his two children lying dead in his house and his wife at death's door (from "camp dis- temper," so-called), and she also died before the next morn- ing. Mr. Riggs went with a company of soldiers with a load of baggage and supplies for the army from Norfolk to Saratoga, reaching the latter place about the time of Bur- goyne's surrender. The team for the trip was a pair of oxen and a two-wheeled cart belonging to Capt. Hosea Wilcox, with Mr. Miles Riggs' horse ahead. On the way, above Albany, as they were crossing a small, deep river, perhaps the Hoosac, the bridge over which was insecure and "teetered," the oxen were afraid, and the stronger ox crowded the other off the side of the bridge, the horse pulling in the opposite direction. A projecting plank helped to hold the unfortunate ox suspended by the neck until the bow was removed, when he dropped into the river, and at the same instant the horse dropped off the opposite side of the bridge into the river. Both ox and horse reached the shore, were tackled up again and re- sumed their journey. (Mr. Norman Riggs, who related these incidents to me, heard when a boy his grandfather, Mr. Miles Riggs, relate them repeatedly).
Another of Mr. Miles Riggs' remembrances of the Revo- lutionary war which he used to relate was, that when he was at White Plains in the service he saw there General Washington upon a young, fiery appearing horse, with a long, heavy tail. The horse seemed a little frightened, but Gen. Washington was unmoved. Riding next to Gen. Washington was Gen. Israel Putnam, and the other officers following two by two.
.
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK.
(As is mentioned in another chapter, some of the links of that immense chain which the Americans stretched across the Hudson River to prevent the British from ascending the river are said to have been made in Norfolk, at the old "Iron Works," and some at the Hanchett's Forge, on Canaan Mountain).
Col. Ethan Allen's expedition, in which he surprised and captured Ticonderoga and Crown Point, "in the name of the Lord Jehovah and of the Continental Congress," is a familiar fact to all readers of the history of the Revolu- tionary period. This expedition originated at Hartford, and most of those who entered into it were members of the Colonial General Assembly. J. W. Beach, in his centennial discourse, 1876, gives the following: "Few know that Nor- folk was represented in this expedition, not, indeed, by a man, but by a horse. Capt. Edward Mott of Preston was sent with sixteen men from Hartford to take those forts, and ordered to gather more among Warner's men in Berk- shire and among the Green Mountain Boys under Allen at Bennington. Of course speed was essential to ensure suc- cess. Norfolk was directly in their path to Berkshire, and when they reached this town one of their horses gave out, and Capt. Mott applied to the selectmen for another horse. Samuel Knapp, grandfather of Col. Horace Bushnell Knapp, was the prompt and patriotic man who complied with their request. His horse was loaned, being first ap- praised at £16 10s., Mott paying 15s. cash down. On the return of the animal, a few weeks later, bearing ample evidence of having been to war, the appraisers judged that the owner ought to receive £5, 'the horse being so much damnified.' The bill was sent in to the Colony Treasurer, with the 15s. honestly deducted, and was promptly paid, and Knapp's receipt for £4 5s. is still extant at Hartford."
"While Washington was investing Boston, after the Battle of Bunker Hill, an expedition to Canada was also planned and placed under Generals Schuyler and Mont- gomery. To this Connecticut sent two regiments, and one of them, under Col. Hinman, was recruited from this part
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK.
of the state, in which the first regular Norfolk soldiers were enlisted in May, 1775, for seven months. Their Cap- tain was John Watson of Canaan-we have the names of at least twenty of his company who were from this town, and there were probably more. They participated in the siege of St. Johns, and in a variety of other actions. Three of them were with Ethan Allen in his brave though irregular and foolhardy attempt to take Montreal by surprise, Sep- tember 25th of that year, and were taken prisoners with him. Their names were Peter Noble, Ebenezer Mack and Levi Barnum. Peter Noble was a sharer of Ethan Allen's privations, which are graphically described in the latter's published narrative. They were kept in irons during much of their captivity and experienced constant indignity and insult from those who had the care of them. They were shipped from Quebec to England and thence to Ireland, and were kept there some time, being constantly threatened with hanging. They were finally sent back to this country as prisoners of war in a fleet which anchored in Cape Fear harbor, North Carolina. Noble, either by nature or by association with Allen, was a plucky fellow, and embraced his first chance to escape from his vessel, the "Sphynx," while at anchor, and by what Allen describes as "extraor- dinary swimming," reached the shore in safety, and thence made his way home as best he might, and was prob- ably the first to give information concerning the harsh treat- ment received by the prisoners. Through his affidavit Daniel Mack, father of Ebenezer Mack above mentioned, was enabled to draw his son's back pay, and on learning at a later time that his son was still a prisoner at New York, sent him on a portion of the money, by the aid of which he made his escape and reached home in safety after fourteen months' imprisonment."
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