USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut, Volume II, 1760-1880 > Part 17
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" 1. All charters are sacred to serve the end for which they were given and no farther. 2. No charter from the King can be found by which the grantees have a right to the seas, as all our charters bound us upon sea- coast as that runs. 3. The duty laid on teas is not a tax upon America because it grows not within the limits of America. 4. Since they have not placed a tax upon ours but their own specie which they certainly have a right to do, it is our duty not to purchase their teas unless we have a mind to do
it. . . 11. Bostonians would be able to support their own poor after Windham and other towns have paid them their legal demands. 12. We cannot find any good reasons why the good people of Windham undertook to arraign and condemn Governor Hutchinson and others for ignorance, insult and treason against law and common sense only for differing in sentiment with some of their neighbors-since there ' were a few names in Sardis.' 13. Farmington burnt the Act of Parliament in great contempt by their common hangman, &c. We sincerely wish and hope a day may be set apart by his Honor very soon for fasting and prayer throughout the Colony, that the sins of those haughty people may not be laid to our charge as a govern- ment, and we recommend a due observation of said day to all our neighbors, by giving food and raiment to the indigent poor in every town in Connecticut, and also to draw up resolutions that for the future we will pay the poor their wages and every man his due."
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father in Woodstock. Captain Clark in hot haste bore it on to Captain Keyes of Pomfret, and he-at 11 a. m., Saturday, Sept. 3-brought it to Colonel Israel Putnam. Hitherto the news had gone from mouth to month like the Highland war-cry :-
Boston, our Boston is in need ! Speed forth the signal ! Patriots, speed !-
But now Putnam gave it a more tangible form by serawling off the following lines to Captain Aaron Cleveland of Canterbury :-
" POMFRET, Sept. 3, 1774. Captain Cleveland :
Mr. Keyes has this a. m. bro't us the news that the Men of War and troops began to fire on the people of Boston last night at sunset, when a post was sent immediately off to inform the Country. He informs that the artillery played all night, that the people are universally [rallying] from Boston as far as here in arms and desires all the assistance possible. It [alarm] was occasioned by the country people's being robbed of their powder [from Boston] as far as Framingham, and when found out people went to take the soldiers and six of our people were killed on the spot and several were wounded, Beg you will rally all the forces you can and be on the march immediately for the relief of Boston and the people that way.
I. P."
" Fast as hoof could fly " this was conveyed to Cleveland, counter- signed by him, and sent by express "along to Norwich and elsewhere." Reaching Norwich at 4 r. M., it was forwarded by Captain John Dur- kee. At New London, it was endorsed by Richard Law, Nathaniel Shaw and Samnel Parsons, and hurried on to New Haven and New York. Gaining credence and fresh signatures at every stopping place it speeded southward, and at nine o'clock Tuesday morning-just seventy hours from Pomfret-it was laid before the Continental Con- gress, just assembling in Philadelphia. Thus from Boston to Penn- sylvania, the whole country had been aroused. From the great een- tres the news had spread in every quarter. The hour of conflict had come; Boston was attacked and all were summoned to her relief. Never was rallying cry more effective. Coming from Putnam and en- dorsed by prominent and responsible men it was everywhere received and obeyed. "To arms!" was the quick response, and thousands hur- ried to the rescue. A thousand men took up arms in the three lower counties of Delaware. Twenty thousand were reported en route in Connecticut. The summons coming on Sunday it had the effect of putting that Puritanic colony "into alarm and motion on the Lord's Day." Colonel Putnam's missive was read publicly in most of the congregations, and furnished the text for many a stirring exhortation. In many of the more distant towns the messenger brought the tidings
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to the meeting-honse in the midst of divine service, and worthy mem- bers of the church militant left the sanctuary for the battlefield. Even ministers were said "to have left their pulpits for the gun and drum, and set off for Boston." In Norwich, Putnam's letter was " printed off, and circulated through the town in handbills," and on Sunday morning over four hundred men, well-armed and mostly mounted upon good horses, started for Boston under command of Major John Durkee. Two hundred ardent volunteers, well-armed and mounted, left Windham town at sunrise, and bodies of men were dispatched from all the other towns of Windham County.
Putnam, having sent the dispatch, set out himself with four com- rades for the scene of action, and had proceeded as far northward as Douglas, when he heard " that the alarm was false and Massachusetts' forces returning." He immediately turned back and after a sixty miles ride reached home at sunrise, and " sent the contradiction along to stop the forces marching or rallying." The Norwich troops were met seven miles from their town, with the intelligence via. Providence, that the report was without foundation. The Windham men marched on to Massachusetts line before receiving counter-tidings. This revelation that the great mass of the people was ready to take up arms whenever occasion called them greatly cheered the patriot leaders and stimu- lated them to farther resistance. The report of this uprising excited much interest at home and abroad. "Words cannot express." wrote Putnam and his committee in behalf of five hundred men under arms at Pomfret. "the gladness discovered by every one at the appearance of a door being opened to avenge the many abuses and -insults which those foes to liberty have offered to our brethren in your town and province. But for counter intelligence we should have had forty thousand well-equipped and ready to march this morning. Send a written express to the foreman of this committee when you have occasion for our martial assistance." The rapid transmission of the news was considered very remarkable. On Nov. 12, it reached England, and the report of its reception there came back to New York on January 20. A few affected to treat the whole affair with ridicule. Colonel Malbone of Pomfret received the news from Putnam. Though so opposed in character and political sentiment there existed a certain personal sympathy and good fellowship between these neighbors, and many verbal skirmishes were interchanged between them. Before tak- ing the field Putnam sent this missive :-
"SAT., 12 P. M.
To COLONEL MALBONE :
Dear Sir-I have this minute had an express from Boston that the fight be- tween Boston and the Regulars [began] last night at sunset, and the cannon
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began to [ ] and continned all night and they beg for help-and dont you think it is time to go?
I am, sir, your most obedient servant,
I. PUTNAM."
" Go to the Devil," was the prompt and emphatic answer. [These doughty church members and church builders were equally expert in strearing.]
The opposition of Rev. Samuel Peters was more pronounced and bit- ter. On that memorable Sabbath when all Connecticut was in motion, Peters forbade his flock to take up arms in behalf of High Treason, and insulted " the public grand cause of Liberty by calling it rebellion." This offence filled the measure of his political iniquities. The patriots of the neighboring towns, roused to fever heat by the late alarm and uprising, felt that they could bear with him no longer. Yet as usual at this period nothing was done without some show of official authority. Timothy Larrabee, Hezekiah Ihuntington, Vine Elderkin, Ebenezer Gray and John Ripley of Windham -. men of high character and posi- tion-together with Captain Seth Wright, Captain Asahel Clark and Mr. Hill of other towns, were appointed a committee by the Sons of Liberty in their respective towns " to visit and deal with Rev. Samuel Peters of Hebron," and on Tuesday, Sept. 6. proceeded to his house accompanied by some hundreds of their fellow-citizens from all the surrounding country. They found the house barricaded and filled with people said to be armed, and sent in a deputation of their principal men to make known to Mr. Peters " their determination to obtain .re- traction and satisfaction" for his late condnet. A parley was held through the window. Mr. Peters attempted to justify himself and argue with the gentlemen, assuring them that he had no arms but two old guns out of repair. They replied that they did not care to dispute with him, and advised him to address the people who thronged about the house. assuring him at the same time "that it was not for his religious sentiments, or because he was a churchman " that they de- manded this satisfaction, " for some of the people were of that denomi- nation, and they were so far from hurting or injuring anyone that did profess it that they were ready to defend and protect them with all their strength, but for the things and matters before mentioned."
Assuming his white priestly robe, Peters now came out to the people with all his official dignity, and with his usual address and facility pro- eeeded to plead his cause till the discharge of a gun within the house startled his hearers. The indignant patriots tore down the barricades, rushed in and searched the house, finding loaded guns and pistols, swords and heavy clubs. In spite of this discovery he was allowed to finish his harangue and retire unmolested with the understanding that
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he should draw up and sign a satisfactory declaration. Peters delayed, equivocated and quibbled till the waiting crowd weary and hungry lost all patience, and proceeded " to deal" with him in more summary fashion, forced their way again into the house, seized the struggling divine, tearing his clothes and sacred Episcopal gown, put him upon a cart and hauled him by his own oxen to the meeting-house green, where they sat him upon the public horse-block, and compelled him to sign a declaration and humble confession framed by the committee to the intent that he repented his past misdeeds and would give them no farther cause of complaint. He was then made to read this paper aloud, sentence by sentence, to the great crowd surrounding the horse- block, which thereupon gave three triumphal cheers and quietly dis- persed. Peters in reporting the affair declares that the Sons of Liberty not only " destroyed his windows and rent his clothes even his gown, but almost killed one of his church people. tarred and feathered two and abused others, but his word cannot be taken with- out corroborative evidence." In response to his appeal to Governor Trumbull for protection, the civil authority of Hebron were directed "to preserve peace and good order, and put the laws in execution." Notwithstanding this charge Mr. Peters thought best in a few days to retire to Boston, and sailed for England in November. The rancor of his subsequent letters is the best apology for his assailants. To his mother he writes that "six regiments were now coming from England and sundry men-of-war, and as soon as they come hanging work will go on : destruction will first attend the seaport towns-lintel sprinkled on the side-ports will preserve the faithful : " to Dr. Auchmuty, New York,-" the clergy of Connecticut must fall a sacrifice with the several churches very soon to the rage of the Puritan mob-ility, if the old Serpent, that Dragon is not bound. . Spiritual iniquity rides
in high places, halberds, pistols and swords. . . Their rebellion is ob- vious, and treason is common and robbery their daily devotion. The bounds of New York may directly extend to Connecticut River. Boston must then . . . and Rhode Island be swallowed up as Dothan."
"The means of making the contents " of these very letters known furnished another striking example of "Puritan mob-ility " and spirit. According to authentic published report these letters were brought back by two friends of Peters who had accompanied him to Boston, and were intercepted on their return by a suspecting party of patriots who met them at a tavern, questioned them and suffered them to depart, but as they went on their way they were overheard by a man behind a fence to say " that they might yet be searched before they got home, might be brought into trouble and therefore had better hide the letters." From his hiding-place this man saw them alight near a
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
stone-fence, remount and hurry onward. Help was called, letters found in the wall, the men followed, brought back and again questioned. They denied having any letters, even offering to declare upon oath that they had none, but upon these being produced were forced to own the bringing and hiding. Tradition gives the town in which this incident occurred and other attendant ciremmstances. Windham Village, the home of famous military veterans, the seat of most flam- ing and aggressive patriotism, claims the credit of search and seizure. Hler account ignores the intervention of non-resident parties. Her own vigilant citizens were the sole detectives and judges. The story of the capture of Peters's spies was quickly borne through the neigh- borhood and brought all its inhabitants, young and old, men, women and children, to the scene of action. The convicted tale-bearers. beset by the angry throng, begged in vain for release and mercy. Public sentiment demanded their instant and effectual punishment but differed as to its nature. Ordinary delinquencies might be satisfied by a public whipping at the townpost, but so flagrant an offence seemed to demand a more signal and characteristic penalty. "Running the gauntlet," suggested probably by the experience of some French war captive, met the views of the populace but the victims were allowed their choice. Between two evils they chose the least familiar, greatly to the delight of the great crowd of people who could all take part in its infliction. Men, boys, perhaps women and girls, every body that fancied, were straightway formed in two opposing lines, stretching from the tavern across the great street and green to the meeting-house, and Peters' unfortunate emissaries were made to run between them, receiving from each in turn a cuff, kick or poke, with every insult- ing epithet that could be devised by the ingenuity or malice of their tormentors.
[An additional item, showing the position of Windham County leaders towards the Stamp Act, deserves notice and preservation. When Governor Fitch called his Council together to decide what to do with the king's law, there was difference of opinion and warm discus- sion. After a day of fierce debate Governor Fitch avowed his deter- mination to enforce the Act, and called upon Trumbull to administer the needful oath. "No," said Trumbull, " I will take no part in, nor witness such a scene as this "-and with Colonel Dyer, Shubael Conant and four other members of the Council, withdrew from the chamber ; thus emphasizing their belief "that the Stamp Act contravened the chartered rights of the Colonies," and their determination to give no countenance to its execution.]
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II.
PREPARATION FOR THE CONFLICT. ONWARD TO CAMBRIDGE. BUNKER HILL. HOME AFFAIRS. DEATH OF REVEREND JOSEPHI HOME.
"THE revelation that the great mass of the people were ready to take up arms whenever occasion demanded, greatly encouraged the patriot leaders, and also showed them the necessity of making all possible provision for the inevitable conflict before them. A conven- tion of delegates from New London and Windham Counties was held at Norwich, September 9, a few days after the alarm, wherein the greatest harmony and unanimity of sentiment appeared, and "the cheek of every member glowed with resentment and martial fire," and "not a man among them but was willing with . the utmost alacrity to fly to the relief" of oppressed patriots in any Colony. In prepara- tion for future emergency the convention recommended,
" 1. That the Selectmen of every town in these counties should as speedily as possible supply their town stock with a full complement of ammunition and military stores as by law required. 2. That every particular troop and military company within said counties, both officers and soldiers, should as speedily as possible arm and equip themselves, agreeable to the direction of the laws of the Colony. 3. It was seriously recommended to such, as a mat- ter of very great importance, that as expeditionsly as might be they should improve in and learn the use and design of their arms by artillery exercises or otherwise, that so they may answer the important purpose of their instruc- tion when occasion shall require. And as very great and special advantage must arise from regimental reviews and exercises in the militia of this Colony, as the law requires, and the same having been neglected and omitted, it was earnestly recommended to the officers of the regiments that during the pres- ent Autumn they should call together their respective regiments for this pur- pose, and also that these officers should issue orders to the captains of the several companies in their regiments that their companies should immediately comply with legal requisitions, both as to their equipment and ammunition, and a due attention to the cultivation of military skill and the art of war; and that said chief officers should exert themselves in every proper and legal way for a general improvement in, and cultivation of, the noble and im- portant art of military skill and discipline."
The General Assembly, at its October session, enacted that each military company in the Colony shall be called out twelve half-days and exercised in the use of their arms, between this time and the first of May. It was also resolved, "That the several towns in this Colony be and are hereby ordered to provide as soon as may be, double the quantity of powder, balls and flints that they were heretofore by law obliged to provide." Four additional regiments were now organized. A convention of delegates from Hartford, New London, Windham and Litchfield Counties was held in Hartford, September 15, which most earnestly supported the Non-Importation Agreement, and denounced "such mercenary wretches" as purposed to evade it, declaring its deter- mination to defeat their designs if possible. Yet while entering upon
18
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these "aggressive methods " for resistance to oppression, they declared it " the warmest wish of our hearts that the wisdom and equity of the British Parliament may relieve us from our fears and dangers, and that we may once more and forever look up to our parent country with con- fidence and pleasure, and, secure in our own rights, contribute all in our power to promote the honor, interest and happiness of our elder brethren in Great Britain." The General Congress at Philadelphia, of which Col. Dyer was a member, while also expressing its loyalty and attachment to the king, published an elaborate declaration of the rights of the Colonists, agreed "that all America ought to support the inhabit- ants of Massachusetts," requested the merchants to suspend all importa- tion of merchandize from Great Britain, and further stipulated that all exportation of merchandize to Great Britain, Ireland and the West Indies should cease after September 10, 1775, unless the wrongs that called out these agreements should be redressed prior to that period.
The report of the proceedings of this Congress was accepted by the several towns. Windham, December 5, voted, "That this town does accept, approve and adopt the doings of the Continental Congress held at Philadelphia in September last, and agree and oblige ourselves religiously to keep and observe the same." Joshua Elderkin having now manifested a proper repentance for his violation of the Agree- ment, it was voted, "That the vote passed June 26, 1768, respect- ing said Elderkin, be repealed and made null and void," and he was again held amenable " to office of trust or profit." Plainfield approved of the methods proposed, and pledged herself to strict adherence thereto. She also voted with but one dissenting vote, "That we will not in future purchase for ourselves or families any Eust India tea, until the Port of Boston is opened, and until the unreasonable Acts of the British Parliament are repealed." " Agreeable to the eleventh Re- solve of the General Congress," Canterbury elected David Paine, John Herriek, Thomas Adams, Jabez Fitch, Jr., Joseph Burgess, and Captains Obadiah Johnson and Joseph Cleveland, a committee of inspection. Captain Asa Bacon, Thomas Bacon and Samuel Ensworth were added to the committee of correspondence. Woodstock, at an adjourned town meeting, December 26, 1774, Captain Lyon, modera- tor, expressed her views with greater fullness, viz :-
" Being sensible and deeply impressed with the late cruel and oppressive measures taken by the British Parliament, and as cruelly attempted to be exe- cuted upon the most loyal and affectionate subjects any prince could ever boast of, by which cruel measures to enslave millions of free-born subjects and their numberless posterity, in opposition to which the tongues, the pens, the hearts and hands of every true Briton, both in Great Britain and America, we trust are engaged, and especially the grand Continental Congress con- vened at Philadelphia on September 5th, as appears by the number of their resolves, for which and to whom, we, the inhabitants of Woodstock, as a
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part of their constinents, return to them onr warmest thanks; and that we, the inhabitants of Woodstock, may give the strongest proof of our zeal and attachment and in defence of the great and common cause :-
Resolved, nem. con., That we do approve of and oblige ourselves to the utmost of our power, and all persons for and under us shall comply with association of the aforesaid Congress in every part and paragraph thereof, and more especially in Non-Consumption Agreement by them recommended. Nehemiah Lyon, David Holmes, Ephraim Manning, Elias Mason, Silas Bowen, Amos Paine, Timothy Perrin, Nathaniel Marcy, David Perry, Samuel Harding, Shubael Child, Daniel Lyon, Stephen May, Samuel Corbin and Thomas May were appointed a Committee of Inspection, who were attentively to observe the conduct of all persons, and conduct towards them agreeable to the advice contained in said association agreement."
A penny-rate to purchase arms and other warlike stores for the use of the town, was also ordered.
The suggestions with regard to military preparations were carried out with promptness and alacrity by all the towns. The military ardor of the citizens needed little stimulus, but there was great lack of drill and discipline. Company trainings had been statedly observed in every neighborhood, but the prescribed regimental reviews had been to a great degree omitted. A grand military parade had indeed been held in Plainfield some time in 1773, especially memorable for inciting the first stirrings of military enthusiasm in the heart of a young Rhode Island Quaker, Nathaniel Greene, who rode many miles, with hundreds of other spectators, to witness the scene. A review of the eleventh regiment had also been held at Woodstock the following May, very notable for the large numbers present and patriotic enthusiasm. The troop of horse under Captain Samuel Mcclellan figured largely on this occasion. A mock fight was carried on under the direction of Capt. McClellan. A party dressed up like Indians appeared upon the Common and caught and carried away some of the children present, but were pursued by the troops and the frightened children rescued and brought back. The success of these gatherings and the increasing interest in military affairs encouraged the officers to meet the recom- mendation of the Norwich convention by a more general and elabo- rate review than anything yet seen in Connecticut. Field officers and commissioners from New London and Windham counties elaborated a plan for a great regimental meeting to be held at Windham town in the latter end of April, or first of May. Details of the proposed plan were completed January 20, when ten colonels, representing as many regiments, "appeared and signed it." The military companies in Plainfield, Canterbury, Voluntown, and the south part of Killingly now formed the twenty-first regiment. The other regiments remained as before, viz: companies of Windham, Mansfield, Coventry and Ash- ford formed the fifth regiment-Jedidiah Elderkin, Colonel ; Experi- ence Storrs, Lieut .- Colonel ; Thomas Brown, Major. Pomfret, Wood-
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