USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut, Volume II, 1760-1880 > Part 16
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. HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
God, of delivering millions from thraldom and slavery, and secure permanent freedom and liberty to America.
We cannot close this meeting without expressing our ntmost abhorrence and detestation of those few in a devoted province, styling themselves minis- ters, merchants, barristers and attorneys, who have against the sense and opinion of the rest of that respectable government, as also of the vast ex- tended continent, distinguished themselves in their late fawning, adulating address to Governor Hutchinson, the scourge of the province which gave him birth, and the pest of America. His principle and condnet (evidenced by his letters, and those under his approbation), are so replete with treason against his country and the meanness of self-exaltation, as cannot be palliated by art nor disguised by subtilty In general, we esteem those addresses a high-handed insult on the town of Boston, and the province of Massachusetts Bay in particular, and on all the American colonies in general. Those styled merchants may plead their profound ignorance of the constitutional rights of Englishmen as an excuse in some degree, but for those who style themselves barristers and attorneys, they have either assumed a false character, or they must in some manner be acquainted with the constitutional rights of English- men and those of their own province-for them to present such an address is a daring affront to common sense, a high insult on all others of their profes- sion, and treason against law : and from that learned profession, (who are supposed to be well acquainted with the English constitution, and have the best means, and are under the greatest advantages to defend the rights of the subject, and who have been famed as the great supporters of English liberty), for any of these to make a sacrifice of ALL to their pagod of vanity and fulsome adulation, is mean, vile and unpardonable, and cannot be accounted for upon any other principles but those of their master, who would sacrifice his country to become the independent head of a respectable province; and the few leaders of this infamous law-band would, it seems, give their aid and support therein to obtain the first places in his new kingdom. The address- ing clergy we leave to the reproaches of their own consciences, but lament to find that they are the first in the ignominious homage of their idol."
These resolutions were unanimously adopted, and measures taken for carrying them into immediate execution. Nine of their most respected citizens in the several parishes of the town were appointed a committee to proceed at once to procure subscriptions for the relief of Boston. Their appeal was most effectual. Windham's fields abounded with sheep, and her hearts with generous sympathy. The poor sent of their poverty and the rich of their abundance, and within five days a bountiful offering was on the road to Boston with the following letter addressed to its selectmen :-
" WINDHAM, June 28, 1774.
Gentlemen :
"Tis with pity mixed with indignation that we have beheld the cruel and un- manly attacks made by the British Parliament on the loyal and patriotic town of Boston, who seem destined to feel the force of ministerial wrath, the whole weight of parliamentary vengeance leveled at them in a manner so replete with cruelty and injustice as must strike every heart with horror, and fill every breast with rage that is not entirely void of every sentiment of honor and justice and callous to all the common failings of humanity. But when we consider the cause of all these calamities-that is nothing less on your part than a strict adherence to the fundamental principles of the constitution, which when attacked you dared openly to assert and vindicate and stand fore- most in the glorious cause of Liberty, in which you are contending not only for your own but ours, and the common rights of every American ; when we refleet that it is this for which you are suffering such horrid cruelties, for which your streets have been stained with blood, and for which you now feel
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the horrors of a military government-we are overwhelmed with a conflict of tumultuous passions, and filled with that manly ardor which bids us join you hand in hand and suffer with you in the common cause; nay, even if the sad exigencies of affairs should ever require it, to determine in defence of every- thing for which life is worth enjoying, to meet that death which will be glo- rious and infinitely preferable to a life dragged on in that low, servile state which is evidently planned for us, and which nothing less than the most heroic fortitude, and the highest exertion of every civil and Christian virtue can pre- vent. Give us leave therefore, to entreat, to beg, to conjure you, by every- thing that is dear, by everything that is sacred, by the venerable names of our pious forefathers who suffered, who bled in the defence of Liberty-not to desert the cause in this trying crisis, but to use your utmost influence in pur- suing and persevering in every measure which may have a tendency to pro- duce the desired effect.
Gentlemen, we hereby assure you, that to the utmost of our power we will assist you in every measure necessary for the common safety, not regarding our own private views and interests when in competition with the public good.
This town is very sensible of the obligations we, and with us all British America, are under to the town of Boston, who have been and still are the generous defenders of our common rights and liberties. We know you suffer, and feel for you. As a testimony of our commiseration of your misfortunes, this Town on the 23d instant, at a legal and very full meeting unanimously chose a committee to procure subscriptions for your present relief. Accord- ingly we have procured a small flock of sheep, which at this season are not as good as we could wish but are the best we have, and the people of this town are almost unanimous in contributing to this purpose.
This small present, gentlemen, we beg you would accept, and apply to the relief of those honest, industrious poor who are most distressed by the late arbitrary and oppressive Acts. And rest assured that if Parliament does not soon afford you relief and there should in future be any need of our assistance we shall with the utmost cheerfulness exert our influence to that purpose.
We are, gentlemen, with great respect your most obedient and humble ser- vants.
SAMUEL GRAY, NATHANIEL WALES, EBENEZER DEVOTION, EBENEZER MOSELY, HEZEKIAH BISSEL, JOSEPH GINNINGS,
WILLIAM DURKEE, JOHN HOWARD, HEZEKIAH MANNING, Committee of Correspondence."
This opportune gift, coming from so great a distance, and apparently the first arriving in Boston, was received with munch delight and grati- tude. The Boston Gazette, of July 4, reported : "Last week were driven to Roxbury two hundred and fifty-eight sheep -- a generous con- tribution from Windham." On the same day the town voted :-
"That the thanks of this town be and hereby are given to our worthy friends. the inhabitants of the town of Windham, Connecticut Colony, for the kind and generous assistance they have granted this town nuder ils present distress and calamity in voluntarily sending two hundred and fifty-eight sheep as a present for the relief of the poor, distressed inhabitants of this place, who by a late oppressive and ernel act of Parliament for blocking up the har- bor of Boston are prevented getting subsistence for themselves and families."
So greatly were the people cheered and comforted by this prompt expression of sympathy from inhabitants of another colony that British sympathizers attempted to detract from its value by slanderous insinua-
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tions, giving out that the present of sheep sent from Windham " came only in consequence of money sent to buy them." The Boston Gazette could only express its sentiments thereupon by exclaiming :-
" How weak, how false, how little and how low !" Indeed, consider- ing the scarcity of money, the insinnation was sufficiently absurd.
Pomfret's gift to Boston soon followed Windham's. A hundred and five sheep were promptly dispatched, and their reception thus aeknowl- edged :-
"JULY 8, 1774.
Gentlemen :
By the hand of Mr. Elias Wells we received your generous and kind bene- faction for the poor of this distressed town. We cannot enough express our gratitude for this instance of your bounty, in which you have liberally contri- buted to the relief of many. What you have thus lent to the Lord, we trust and pray that he will pay you again. It gives us great consolation amidst onr complicated and unparalleled sufferings, that our brethren in the other colo- nies show such Christian sympathy and true benevolence towards us. That we are greatly distressed, need, no comment. Our harbor blockaded by a fleet of ship; our foreign trade actually annihilated; thonsind, of poor re- duced to extreme want ; troops continually pouring in up on us, to insult us in this our distress, is a consideration that must exeite pity in the most obdurate. However, although we thus suffer, we are willing to suffer still more, rather than give up our birth-right privileges. With great regard, we are your brethren and most humble servants.
JOHN SEELY, TIMOTHY NEWELL, SAMUEL AUSTIN, JonN PITTS, Selectmen of Boston."
The remaining towns in Windham County were equally earnest in their resolutions and benefactions. At a meeting in Canterbury, June 17, 1774, the following declaration was unanimously adopted :-
" This town, taking into consideration the alarming situation of the British colonies in North America, respecting sundry late acts of the British Parlix- ment, and especially that for shutting up the port of Boston, which we look upon to be an abridgment of Charter rights and privileges. And considering the inhabitants of Boston as suffering under said Act in the common cause of the Liberties of all America, therefore voted :-
I. That we are willing and desirons to come into any reasonable measures that shall be adopted by the towns in this Colony for obtaining redress of our grievances.
2. That we esteem a general congress of the Colonies the most proper method to adopt an uniform plan for the preservation of the whole; and we recommend it to the Committee of Correspondence in this Colony to choose a committee to attend said Congress as soon as may be.
3. That if it shall be thought best by said Congress to stop all trade with Great Britain and the West Indies, we will most cheerfully acquiesce in this determination.
4. That Solomon Paine. John Felch, Daniel Paine, Dea. Eliashib Adams, Dea. JJohn Herrick, Capt. Ebenezer Spalding and Asa Witter be a committee to correspond with the committees of the several towns in this and the neigh- boring colonies, and that they transmit a copy of their votes to the Committee of Correspondence in this Colony.
5. That the above committee are hereby partienlarly instructed to make diligent inquiry into the distress of the poor in Boston, so far as they appear to be brought upon them by the above Act of Parliament, and to take such
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steps for collecting something for their relief as said committee shall judge the most effective for that purpose."
Killingly, June 29, expressed herself with unusual fervor :-
" At a meeting of the inhabitants of Killingly, having taken into considera- tion the dark and gloowy clouds which hang over and threaten the liberties of this, our native country, in general ; the distressing circumstances of Boston, in particular-their harbors blocked up, cut off from all commercial trade and dealing on which they depended for a supply of bread, principles adopted for its government unconstitutional and oppressive imposed by military power; charters, which we once doted upon as unalterable as the laws of the Medes and Persians, and gloried in as the power and bulwark of these Colonies, we now see failing to protect the liberty of the subject and altered at pleasure; taxes, revenues. imposed without our consent attained or even asked for; and, in short, SLAVERY itself, protected by Tyranny. advancing with hasty steps towards this land of Freedom and Liberty. With the attention such a subject demands, and. at the same time we hope, with the eandor and calm- ness so horrid a scene will admit of-we have thought proper to pass the fol- lowing resolves :-
" 1. That we will choose a Committee of Correspondence to meet with the committees chosen by the neighboring towns, thai they may agree upon some "universal plan that may have the tendency under divine blessing to secure our just rights and privileges.
2. That we will not purchase any goods of linen or woolen manufacture imported from Great Britain, and will break off all trade and commerce with the Indies if it be thought best by the committees in general Congress.
3. That we will to the utmost of our power encourage manufactures amongst ourselves.
4. That we will not sell any flax-seed to any person, except to be sold in the country or ground into oil.
5. That we will religiously abide by these resolves, till the port of Boston is opened and the liberties of the people restored.
Also, voted, That these resolves with the preamble be published in the Providence Gazette.
Voted and chose a committee to take in subscriptions of the inhabitants of this town for the benefit of the poor of Boston, in sheep or otherwise, to be transmitted to the poor in Boston.
Voted to choose Joseph Torrey and Daniel Davis for this committee."
The less effusive Plainfield simply voted :-
" That the resolves of the General Assembly of Connecticut, May last. re- specting the liberties and privileges of the English colonies are most salutary, and very heartily adopted by this meeting, and that it is the earnest desire of this meeting that deputies from the respective colonies meet as soon as possi- ble in General Congress.
That we are willing to contribute our mite to the poor of Boston, and that Captain JJoseph Eaton, James Bradford, Robert Kinsman, Andrew Backus, Abraham Shepard. Ebenezer Robinson, Joshua Dunlap, Perry Clark and Cur- tis Spalding be a committee to receive subscriptions for that purpose."
James Bradford, Isaac Coit, Major John Douglas, Dr. Elisha Per- kins and William Robinson were also appointed Committee of Cor- respondence. Voluntown concurred with the resolves of the Assem- bly, and sent a contribution to the relief of Boston. John Dorrance, Thomas Douglas, Samuel Stewart, James Campbell, James Crary re- ceived and forwarded her gift ; Isaac Gallup and James Gordon served as Committee of Correspondence. Jedidiah Fay, Captain Ichabod Ward, Captain Elisha Wales, Benjamin Sumner, Esq., Amos Babcock
.
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and Ingoldsby Work were chosen Corresponding Committee for Ash- ford.
As the season advanced the several towns sent on their promised re- lief. Briant Brown, Ebenezer Larned, Benjamin Leavens and Perley Howe, committee for Killingly, sent a few sheep as a token of grati- tude, and reported their town "to be well united, and determined to maintain its privileges at the risk of lives and fortunes, and ready to contribute to the necessities of those called to suffer." "Taking into serious consideration the present distressed and suffering circumstances of Boston," the citizens of Woodstock voted unanimously "to contribute to their relief." Captain Benjamin Lyon, Samnel Mcclellan, William Skinner, Timothy Perrin, Samuel Harding, Jonathan Morris, Nehe- miah Lyon, Thomas May, Asa Child and Nathaniel Marcy-chosen to receive and transmit donations-had soon the privilege of forwarding sixty-five fat sheep, which were received by the authorities of Boston as an appropriate peace-offering from their revolted subjects. The selectmen of that town took especial pains to express their " unfeigned thankfulness that Woodstock had expressed such favorable sentiments of their town as laid them under particular obligations to persevere in a firm opposition to the attempts of arbitrary power."
Brooklyn Parish in August forwarded a hundred and twenty-five fine sheep through the hands of Israel Putnam, Joseph Holland and Daniel Tyler, Jun .- meaning therewith " in the first place to attempt to appease the fire (raised by your committing the Indian Tea to the watery element as a merited oblation to Neptune) of an ambitious and vindictive minister by the blood of rams and of lambs ; if that do not answer the cure we are ready to march in the van, and to sprinkle the American altars with our heart's blood if occasion should be." Put- nam remained some days in Boston and was received with high honors. Bancroft reports him " Warren's guest and everyone's favorite." The Boston Gazette informs its readers that " the town has had the satisfac- tion to be visited by the renowned Colonel Putnam so well known throughout North America that no words are necessary to inform the public any further concerning him than that his generosity led him to Boston to cherish his oppressed brethren and support them by every means in his power. A fine drove of sheep was one article of comfort he was commissioned to present us with." Another newspaper cor- respondent reports Plainfield as " preparing to send a flock of sheep," and similar offerings were sent from Ashford, Voluntown and Canter- bury. Captain Aaron Cleveland transmitted in the autumn "a fatted cow," accompanied by the following letter :-
" Gentlemen :
Being affected with a sense of the righteousness of the cause that the people of Boston are suffering under, as it concerns all the people of America to be
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roused to support them that they may not faint under their distress, it took hold on my covetous heart and made mne willing to contribute my little mite, which I have sent by Mr. Green of Malden-a beef cow for the distressed- and ordered him to deliver it to the committee for that purpose ; and may the Lord deliver the people of America out of the hands of a wicked and despotic power, who are exerting all the subtilty and malice of hell to enslave us. O! may Almighty God still rouse and farther unite the people of America as one man to a sense of their liberties, and never give them up as long as sun, moon and stars shall endure ; and never submit to be slaves, but be willing to sacri- fice life and all things to the defence and preservation of them; which is the earnest desire of your humble servant,
Canterbury, Nov. 27, 1774."
AARON CLEVELAND.
Windham's patriotic zeal during this fervid summer was shown in overt acts as well as " resolutions," by deeds of violence as well as those of beneficence. Mr. Francis Green of Boston, one of the " addressers " and adherents of Governor Hutchinson, having ventured into Connec- ticut to collect debts and transact private business, was forcibly expelled from Windham town and Norwich. Upon returning to Boston Mr. Green issued a proclamation offering the reward of one hundred dollars for the apprehension " of five ruffians, calling themselves by the names of Hezekiah Bissell, Benjamin Lathrop, Timothy Larrabee, Ebenezer Backns and Nathaniel Warren," all of Windham, who, aided by a great number of others, "did assault the subscriber, surround the house in which he was stopping, forcibly enter the same, and with threats and intimidations insist upon his immediate departure ; also, of Simon Huntington of Norwich, and other villains and ruffians, who (it was supposed by the instigation of the above) did threaten. assault and lay violent hands upon the subscriber, and by force compel him to quit his lawful business and depart from their town." This proclamation, and the complimentary epithets applied to such men as Bissell, Backus and Huntington, excited much laughter and derision in both towns, and was reprinted in handbills and hawked about the streets with appro- priate comments. Mr. Green's ejection was characterized by the patriot journals as "the cool, deliberate remonstrance of the Sons of Free- dom." An eye-witness reports that in Windham " he was treated with great humanity and courtesy, allowed to stay all night, and reluctantly constrained to do by command what he would not do by courtesy." Colonel Eleazer Fitch, a French war veteran, high-sheriff of the Coun- ty, who loved his royal master and hated violent demonstrations, had the temerity to assert "that the Norwich and Windham people had acted like sconndrels in treating Mr. Green as they did." The people thus stigmatized came together in great wrath, and, though they did not choose to lay violent hands upon one so honored and beloved, showed their displeasure by resolving that they would administer tar and feathers to any blacksmith, barber, miller, or common laborer,
17
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" who should aid said Fitch in any way," and so his wheat and grass were left standing, and " the whole of a considerable trade withdrawn from him."
The speech and conduct of Mr. John Stevens, the proprietor of extensive plantations in Ashford, subjected him to an inquisitorial visitation, resulting in the subjoined declaration :--
" Whereas a number of the loyal people of the towns of Ashford and Mansfield, have convened together on suspicion that Mr. John Stevens of Ashford was an enemy to the constitutional rights of American liberty, and that we chose a committee to which he gave the following satisfactory account, that he never wrote any letters against the rights of American liberty to any person, and that he never received one from any person on that occasion. And furthermore as I, the subscriber, have talked at sundry times against the chartered rights of American Colonists, I do humbly ask their for- giveness, and I further declare that I never will talk or act anything against the Sons of Liberty-but do solemnly declare that I am a true Son of Liberty, and will remain so during my natural life. In witness whereof I set my hand.
JOHN STEVENS. Aug. 5, 1774.
In presence of Stephen Johnson, Jeremiah Howe, Aaron Whitmore, Richard Feleh, John Keyes, Ashford and Mansfield committee."
The zeal of Windham patriots was far too ardent and effusive to be restricted to county limits. Their intense enthusiasm in the popular cause led them to take an active part in all aggressive demonstrations. Inspectory committees were constantly on the alert, and " Windham boys " were ever ready to aid in forays upon suspected Tories. Colonel Abijah Willard of Lancaster, Mass., a man of large wealth and high character, had made himself obnoxious to the people by accepting the office of Mandamus Councilor to Governor Gage. He had business interests in Connecticut which were intrusted to two attorneys in Windham, whom he invited to meet with him for consultation in the town of Union. A report of his intended visit took wing, and when Colonel Willard arrived in Union he was met by hundreds of ardent patriots from Windham and adjoining towns, who took him into their keeping, guarded him through the night, conveyed him next morning over the line into Brimfield, where they formally delivered him over to a body of Massachusetts citizens. A trial was held and the prisoner convicted and sentenced to the Simsbury mines. Finding that his judges were bent upon carrying out this decree, and actually proceeding to carry him thither, Colonel Willard -succumbed, " asked forgiveness of all honest men for having taken the oath of office, and promised not to sit or act in council."
In the dealings with Rev. Samnel Peters, the well-known church missionary at Hebron, Windham was also implicated. This sturdy churchman and Tory not only openly avowed his loyalty to the King and government, but stigmatized the Sons of Liberty as rebels and
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traitors, and presumed to ridicule their fervent resolutions and declara- tions. He was also suspected of sending information abroad and carrying on clandestine correspondence with the agents of govern- ment in several Colonies. " A formidable multitude " of some three hundred men from different towns with vengeance lowering on their brows accordingly waited upon Peters, Monday morning, Aug. 15, and extorted from him various concessions and pledges, together with a copy of certain satirical " Resolves* of Hebron," which he had prepared for the press -- treating him, however, according to the report of his friends "with as much civility as might be expected."
In September, the report of various disturbances in Boston aroused the whole country. Powder stored in Cambridge by the patriots was removed to Boston by a detachment of troops under orders from Governor Gage. The people immediately rushed ont in great excite- ment, loudly denouncing the act and demanding the restitution of the powder. In the clamor aud confusion a report was somehow started that the British fleet and garrison had commenced hostilities. Swift- footed messengers caught this rumor and hurried off with it in various directions. It was afterwards asserted that this story was sent ont by the patriot leaders for the express purpose of showing the British government the temper and spirit of the Colonies. If this were so they gained their end. The rumor flew on three great traveled routes, gaining in flight. Southward, it came to Esquire Wolcott of Oxford, who forthwith posted his son off to Boston, "to learn the certainty," but receiving farther confirmation of the great news at Grafton, the yonng man turned back, and took it straightway on to Curtis's tavern in Dudley. One Clark, a trader, caught it up and hurried it on to his
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