USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1854 > Part 18
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CHAPTER X.
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
CAUSE OF THE WAR; CONVENTION OF 1766; BOSTON PORT BILL, 1774; TOWN ACTION 1774; BOSTON ALARM, 1774; FIRST MEASURES OF RESISTANCE BY THE TOWN, NOVEMBER, 1774; ASSOCIATION ARTICLES ; CAPTURE OF TICON- DEROGA AND CROWN POINT BY ETHAN ALLEN, 1775; COMMITTEES OF INSPEC- TION, AND ACTS OF THE TOWN; TORYISM ; JABEZ BACON'S SALT SOLD BY THE COMMITTEE OF INSPECTION ; TORY COMPLAINT ; LEVIES OF TROOPS AND BOUN- TIES ; COUNCIL OF SAFETY ; CHARACTER OF HON. DANIEL SHERMAN; COM- MITTEES TO PROVIDE FOR SOLDIERS' FAMILIES; SUPPLIES; COMMISSARY OS- BORN'S PURCHASES; $500,000 WORTH OF PROVISIONS FURNISHED; SALT $100 PER BUSHEL; EVENTS OF 1775; LEXINGTON ALARM; NORTHERN ARMY ; 150 WOODBURY MEN IN THE FIELD; EVENTS OF 1776; ALL THE MILITIA WEST OF CONNECTICUT RIVER GO TO NEW YORK ; 500 MEN FURNISHED BY THE TOWN : DETACHMENT TO STAMFORD ; NEW YORK PRISONERS OF WAR ; BETH - LEM VOLUNTEERS ; CENSUS AND MILITIA ; PRISONERS AT NEW YORK ; ETHAN ALLEN AND OTHERS PRISONERS AT HALIFAX; EVENTS OF 1777; DANBURY ALARM ; SOLDIERS AT PEEKSKILL ; SUPPLIES FURNISHED ; BATTLE OF STILL- WATER ; APPEARANCE OF TROOPS; EVENTS OF 1775; SMALL POX IN THE ARMY ; EVENTS OF 1779; AFFAIR AT NORWALK ; COL. MOSELEY RESIGNS ; ARNOLD TURNS TRAITOR ; £45 BOUNTY OFFERED FOR ENLISTMENTS ; ENLIST- MENTS TILL NEW YORK SHOULD BE TAKEN ; EVENTS OF 1750 AND 1751 ; LA FAYETTE AND HIS ARMY PASS THROUGH WOODBURY ; EVENTS OF 1752; BAT- TLE OF YORKTOWN ; SURRENDER OF CORNWALLIS ; REJOICINGS OF THE PEO- PLE ; PEACE OF 1783; REFLECTIONS.
WE have now arrived at one of the most thrilling and interesting periods of the history, not only of our own town, but of the North Amer- ican continent. Many long years have rolled their slow course away. since the stirring scenes of the Revolution were acted, but they live, engraved in a manner never to be effaced, on the memories of the few individuals who have " come down to us from a former generation," witnesses of the events in the "times that tried men's souls." The brilliant events of that important period shall live, too, on the bright- est page of history, while thought shall endure, or the recollection of human greatness shall remain. Their fame shall be perennial with
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that noble language in which they are recorded, now "spread more widely than any that has ever given expression to human thought," conveying, as it does, the strong tendency to individuality and free- dom, of the Teutonic race, its happy possessor. The representatives of that language have ever been famous for deeds of valor and high renown. In that most beautiful apostrophe of Bancroft, we would most fervently join : " Go forth, then, language of Milton and Hamp- den, language of my country ; take possession of the North American continent ! Gladden the waste places with every tone that has been rightly struck on the English lyre, with every English word that has been spoken well for liberty and for man! Give an echo to the now silent and solitary mountains ; gush out with the fountains that as yet sing their anthems all day long without response ; fill the valleys with the voices of love in its purity, the pledges of friendship in its faith- fulness ; and as the morning sun drinks the dew drops from the flow- ers all the way from the dreary Atlantic to the Peaceful Ocean, meet him with the joyous hum of the carly industry of freemen ! Utter boldly and spread widely through the world the thoughts of the com- ing apostles of the people's liberty, till the sound that cheers the desert shall thrill through the heart of humanity, and the lips of the messen- ger of the people's power, as he stands in beauty upon the mountains, shall proclaim the renovating tidings of equal freedom for the raee !"
It became generally known, that at the end of the war with France, new regulations would be introduced into the governments of the American colonies. The purpose of taxing them, and raising a rev- enue out of them, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the colonial system, and for replenishing its needy exchequer, was now planned. The mother country wished also to punish some of the re- fractory colonies for their insubordination, and to repress the rising sentiments of freedom. Connecticut was said to be " little more than a mere democracy, most of them being upon a level, and each man thinking himself an able divine and politician," and to make its in- habitants a "good sort of people," it was supposed, all that was ne- cessary would be to take care that the " Church should be supported, and that the charters of that colony, and of its eastward neighbors, be demolished."
It was therefore determined to tax the colonies, and human ingen- uity was brought under contribution to invent the most feasible way of doing it. The result of these efforts was the passage of the Stamp Act, a most odious and unjust measure, which it was further deter- mined should be executed among the colonists by men appointed from
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among their own number. This act required all the business of the colonies to be carried on upon stamped paper, on which a duty had been paid to the mother country, and rendered invalid all wills, deeds of sale, and instruments of all kinds, unless they were written on stamped paper. This struck a fatal blow at every interest, and the very existence of the commonwealth, unless the arbitrary provisions of that act were complied with. The passage of this act aronsed the most intense excitement, alarm and indignation throughout the colo- nies. Absolute resistance to the execution of this measure every- where appeared, and the men who had been appointed by the crown as stamp-masters, were everywhere compelled by the excited people to resign their offices, by menaces, and in some instances, by force. Associations of the "Sons of Liberty" were formed in various parts of the country, and measures taken to excite the people to resistance to such an arbitrary and unjust law.
On the 11th of February, 1766, a convention of nearly all the towns in Litchfield county was held, in which the leading men of Woodbury figured largely. By this body of men it was "resolved that the stamp aet was unconstitutional, null and void, and that busi- ness of all kinds should go on as usual." Then, too, the hum of do- mestic industry was heard more and more ; young women would get together, and merrily and emulously drive the spinning wheel from sunrise till dark ; and every day the humor spread for being elad in homespun. Delegates of the " Sons of Liberty," from every town of Connecticut, met at Hartford, and were for establishing a union as the only security for liberty.
No colony submitted to this law save Canada, Nova Scotia, and the Floridas, which were mere military governments. England be- gan to discover, that the law could not be executed, and sought a way to escape from the humiliating position. Pitt, true to the best interests of genuine liberty, took the side of the colonists in favor of the unconditional repeal of the hated and unfortunate law. It was repealed, and great rejoicing arose in all the colonies.
But it soon became apparent to the colonists, that the mother country had by no means abandoned its darling purpose of bringing them under absolute and unconditional subjection. Discontent, jeal- ousies and contentions from various causes, followed till 1774, but the more prominent and immediate cause of the great and ever memora- ble struggle of the Revolution, was undoubtedly the passage of the Boston Port Bill. This outrageous and malicious act excited uni- versal sympathy for that town, throughout the colonies, but nowhere
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was it manifested in a more lively or effective manner than in Con- necticut. The misery brought upon the great commercial emporium of New England, by this unnecessary act of the British parliament, raised a spirit of resistance never before witnessed in this sober " land of steady habits." The General Assembly, which was in session at Hartford, passed strong resolutions against the ernel and nnjust act, and the several towns in the colony called large meetings, and passed resolutions expressing their disapprobation of the act, and their sym- pathy with the people of Boston. Donations were also sent from almost every town in the state, for the relief of the distressed inhab- itants of Boston and Charlestown. These consisted of money, live stock, and provisions of all sorts. The town meetings, during the year 1774, were conducted with the greatest propriety, and though the people continued to use loyal expressions in their resolutions, they breathed the utmost decision and firmness against oppression, and had a very great influence in arousing an almost universal spirit of resistance to British oppression, and a full determination to make common cause with the people of Boston, in their afflictions.
The people of Woodbury caught the prevailing spirit, and a town meeting was called September 20th, 1774, to take into consideration the "unhappy Differences and Difficulties," and the alarming cir- cumstances which threatened the people of the colonies, and espe- cially the sufferings of the inhabitants of Boston and Charlestown. The meeting was fully attended, and the following determination was the result of their assembling :
" At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Woodbury on the Twen- tyth Day of September, A. D. 1774, being Legally Warned, Increase Moseley, Esq' was chosen Moderator, this meeting takeing into consideration the unhapy Diferences and Disputes subsisting between Great Britain and her colonies, and Particularly the unhappy State of Boston and Charlestown and the many Greav- iences and Dificulties the poor People in Each of those Towns Labour under occationed by sundry Late acts of Parliment. Voated that Capt Matthew minor Lient Increase moseley Capt Elias Duning Mr Jonathan Farrand Mr Samuel Hurd and Capt Ebenezer Down be a cointee to Receive Such Gifts and Donations as shall be Delivered to them by the Inhabitants of the Town of Woodbury for the support of the poor of the sd Towns of Boston and Charles town and Shall Send such Donations as they so Receive to the Select men of the Several Towns of Boston and Charles Town to be laid out by them for the Purpose afore sd in Such manner as they jude Right.
" 2d voated that Increase moseley Esqr Gideon Walker Esqr Daniel Everet Esqr Col Benjamin Hinman Thomas Warner Esqr Increase mosely Junr Dea John Pearse and Mr Hesekiah Thompson be a comtee of correspondence to Receive and Communicate Such Inteligence as may Find to maintain peace and union in this and the Neighbouring Colonies. The Right Revd Jonathan
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shipley Bishop of St Asaphs speech in the house of Lords being read to this meeting voted to Desire our Representatives to Recomend to the General As- sembly of this colony at their sessions in october Next that they return publick thanks to the sd Rev Doct Shipley for said Noble Patriotic speech in favour of British Americai and to all other friends of Americai in Great Britain. We Postpone any Particular Resolves Relative to the afair of Americai until the De- termination of the General Congress Shall be Known."
It will be seen by this vote, that although there was sufficient loy- alty in expression, yet the committee of correspondence was expected to perform duties quite different from exciting loyalty to the king, while oppression continued on the part of his government. In ac- cordance with this vote, a respectable amount of " Gifts and Dona- tions" were collected and forwarded to Boston with all possible dis- patch. It is to be noted, that it was not forgotten by the meeting to take especial notice of the " noble, patriotic speech" delivered by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Shipley, of St. Asaph's, in the House of Lords, in favor of the American colonies. Besides, this meeting took place just after the " Great Boston Alarm," which occurred Sept. 3, 1774. On this occasion quite a number of soldiers marched from Woodbury, and joined the companies from the other towns, as not enough to make a full company of their own volunteered in time to march together. The cause of this alarm was a report that the ships of war were cannonading Boston, and the regular troops slaying the inhabitants, without distinction of age or sex. The news spread with the great- est expedition, in all directions, and in less than thirty-six hours, the country for nearly two hundred miles, was thoroughly rallied. " From the shores of Long Island Sound to the green hills of Berkshire, to arms, to arms, was the universal cry. Instantly, nothing was seen on all sides, but men of all ages cleansing and burnishing their arms, and furnishing themselves with provisions and warlike stores, and preparing for an immediate march ; gentlemen of rank and fortune exhorting and encouraging others by their advice and example. The roads were soon crowded with armed men, marching for Boston with great rapidity, but without noise or tumult. By the most moderate computation, there were in the colony of Connecticut alone, not less than twenty thousand men completely armed, actually on their march for that town, with full speed, until counter intelligence was received on the road."'
As it had become apparent to thinking minds, that war with the
1 Hinman's War of the American Revolution.
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mother country was inevitable, their great object had been to form public opinion in favor of a contest with England. To do this, it be- came necessary to infuse into the people a proper appreciation of their just rights. This was best effected in that day of scarcity of newspapers, by holding town meetings, in which they could read publicly such papers as treated upon the subject of common interest, and discuss their rights and grievances. 'In this manner the people became higlily excited and exasperated, and patriotism glowed with more or less intensity in the coldest breasts. "The Congregational clergy of New England were active in the cause of liberty during the Revolution, and taught the people from their pulpits, that the Christian religion was a stranger to mere despotie power, as the great Montesquieu declared." This was to be expected, as they were bound to no " Head of the Church," on the other side of the water, to whom they owed supremacy and allegiance, but were the representatives of a Christian democracy.
Our fathers were fully up to the spirit of the times, and held fre- quent meetings to consult concerning the public weal. As soon as they had learned the action of the Continental Congress, and that of the October session of their own legislature, a town meeting was duly warned to take action in regard to the subjects to which the attention of the several towns had been invited. With entire unanimity and cor- diality, they indorsed the action of the two bodies mentioned, and took the necessary measures to carry it into effect. This meeting was held Nov. 17, 1774, and copies of its votes follow.
" At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Woodbury Novemr the 17th, 1774 being Legally Warned Daniel Sherman Esqr Was chosen moderator.
" The association of the Deligates of the american Colonies in the Late General Congress held at Pheladelphia Was Read to this meeting, and also the Resolves Relative to it in House of Representatives at the Last Sessions of the General assembly of this Colony at New Haven, one of which was in these words Namely, Resolved that it be and it is hereby Recommended to the several Towns in this Colony to Chiuse a Comtee of their own Body agreeable to the Eleventh article of Association for the purposes in sd artiele Expressed. this meeting ap- prove and accept said association and promiss to aet agreeable to it, and that the plan therein proposed may be Effectually Carryed into Eeeecution We Do appoint Daniel Sherman Esq Mr. Hezikiah Thompson Capt Gideon Stoddard Gideon Walker Esq Edward Hinman Andrew Graham Major Increase Mose- ley Daniel Everit Esq Capt. Elias Duning James Hannah Jonathan Farrand Increase Moseley Esq Capt Nathan Hicok Thomas Warner Esq Capt Thadeus Laey Capt David Hurd Eleazer Mitchell, Joseph Pearse Esq and Justus Pearse a eomtee Whose Business it shall be agreeable to the Eleventh article attentive- ly to observe the conduct of all persons Touching sd association &c-and When
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it Shall be made to appear to the majority of ye sd comtee that any Person With- in the Limits of this Town have violated the st association, that sd majority Do forthwith cause the truth of the case to be published in the Gazette to the End that all such foes to ye Rights of British americai may be publikly known and universially Contemned as Enemies to american Liberty, and thensforth we Do bind our selves to break off' all Dealings With Such Persons and also with all Persons in other Towns and Citys who shall be found Guilty as above Ex- pressed, and that it shall be ye Duty and Business of the sd comtee to Receive and Communicate all Such intelligence as they shall judge to be condueive to ye Peace and Tranquility of this and the Neighbouring Colonies ; this meeting presents their most thankfull acknowledgments to those truly Honourable and Worthy Gentleman members of ye Congress who have Shewn themselves able advocates of the civil and Religious liberty of the american Colonys.
" Voted that the doings of this meeting be Recorded by the Town Clerk and a Copy thereof be forthwith sent to one of the printers of the Conneticut Journal to be published accordingly. The Whole of the above Written as voated in said Meeting."
The decisive step seemed now to be taken. Neither party could recede without betraying weakness or cowardice to the opposite party. The Rubicon seemed to have been passed, and all waited the next move with intense solicitude. Darkness and gloom had settled upon the moral vision, the vail of the future was drawn over the re- sult, and it was impossible for the man of greatest wisdom to raise that vail, and penetrate the mystery beyond. The articles of the " General Congress," referred to in the foregoing vote of the town, are of much interest, and were recorded by the town-clerk on the land records of the town. They are as follows :
" Association of the Continental Congress held in the City of Philadelphia on the 5th day of September A. D. 1774-
" In the House of Representatives The Report of the Delegates of this Colony in the State Continental Congress held at Philadelphia being made, accepted and approved, Resolved that the Association entered into and signed by them in behalf of this Colony ought to be faithfully kept and observed, and that the Same may be fully known & understood Resolved that Said Association be printed together with this Resolve and Dispersed throughout this Colony ; and it is further Resolved that it be and it is hereby Recommended to the Several Towns in this Colony to Chuse a Committee of their own Body agreeable to the Eleventh Article of sd Association for the purposes in sd article Expressd.
" Test Richard Law Clerk.
" Association &c.
" We his Majesty's most Loyal subjects the Delegates of the Several Colonys of New Hamshire, Massachusets Bay, Rhode Island, Connectient, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower Counties of New Castle Kent & Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina,
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Deputed to Represent them in a Continental Congress held in the City of Phila- delphia on the 5th Day of September 1774, avowing our allegiance to his Maj- esty, our affeetion and Regard for our fellow subjects in Great-Britain & Ells- where, affeeted with the Deepest anxiety and Most alarmning apprehensions at those Grievances and Destresses with which his Majesty's American Subjects are oppressed, and having taken under our Most Serious Deliberation the State of the whole Continent, find that the present nnhappy Situation of our affairs is occasioned by a Ruinous System of Colony administration adopted by the Brit- ish Ministry about the year 1763, Evidently Caleulated for Enslaving these Col- onies and with them the British Empire, in prosecution of which System vari- ous acts of Parliament have been passed for Raising a Revenue in America, for Depriving the american Subjects in Many Instances of the Constitutional Tryal by Jury. Exposing their lives to Dangers by Directing a new and illegal Tryal beyond the Seas, for crimes alledged to have been Committed in amer- ica and in prosecution of the Same System, several late Cruel and oppressive aets have been passed Respecting the Town of Boston and the Mascehusets Bay, and also an act for Extending the province of Quebec So as to Border on the Western frontier of these Colonys, Establishing an arbitrary Government therein and Discouraging the Settlement of British Subjects in Extended Coun- try ; thus by the Influence of Civil principles and antient prejudiees to dispose the Inhabitants to act, with hostility against the Free Protestant Colonies ; whenever a Wicked Ministry Shall chuse so to direct them.
"To obtain Redress of these grievances which Threatened Distruction to the Lives, Liberty and property of his Majesty's Subjects in North america, We are of opinion that a non Importation, non Consumpsion and non Exportation agree- ment faithfully adhered to Will prove the Most Speedy, Effectually and peace- able Messure and therefore we do for ourselves and the Inhabitants of the Sev- eral Colonies Whom we Represent firmly agree and associate under the Sacred Ties of virtue and Honour & Love of our Country as followeth
" First --
" That from and after the first Day of December Nex we will not Transport into Britishi america from Great Britain or Ireland any such goods wares or Mer- chandise as Shall have been Exported from Great Britain or Ireland, nor will We after that Day Import any East India Tea from any part of the world, Nor any Molasses, Syrups, paneles, Coffee, or pemento from the British Plantations or from Dominica, nor Wines from Mederia or ye Western Islands nor Foreign Indigo " Second
" that we will neither Import nor purchase any Slave Imported after the first Day of December Next . . after which time we will Wholly Descontinue the Slave trade, and will neither be concerned in it ourselves nor will we hire our vessels nor Sell our Commodities or Manufaetuers to those who are Concerned in it.
" Third
"as a non Consumption agreement Strictly adhered to will be an effeetnal Security for the observation of the non importation, We as above Solemnly agree and associate that from this day we will not purehase or use any Tea Imported on account of the East India Company or any on which a Duty hatlı been or Shall be paid, and from and after the first Day of March Next, we Will not pur- chase or use any East India Tea whatever, nor Shall any person for or under
1
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us purchase or use any of those goods Wares or Merchandise We have agreed not to Import which we shall know or have eause to Suspect were Imported after the first Day of December, Except Such as come under the Rules and Di- reetions of the tenth article hereafter Mentioned --
" Fourth
" The Earnest Desire we have not to Injure our fellow Subjects in Great Britain, Ireland or the west Indees Induees us to Suspend a non Exportation untill the tenth Day of September 1775 at which time if the sd acts and part of aets of the British Parliament hereinafter mentioned are not Repealed, we will not Directly or Indirectly, Export any Merchandise or Commodety Whatsoever to Great Britain, Ireland or the West Indies Except Rice to Europe --
" Fifth
" Such as are Merchants and use the British and Irish trade will give Orders as soon as possible to their factors, agents and Correspondents in Great Britain and Ireland, not to ship any goods to them on any pretenee Whatsoever, as they Cannot be Received in america, and if any Merchant Resideing in Great Brit- ain or Ireland Shall Directly or indirectly Ship any goods Wares or Merchan- dise for america in order to Break the sd non importation agreement or in any Manner Contravene the Same, on such unworthy Conduct being well attested it ought to be Made Publick, and on the same being done we will not from henceforthi have.any Commercial Connexion With Such Merchant
Sixth
" that such as are owners of vessels will give positive orders to their Cap- tains or Masters not to Receive on Board their vessels any goods prohibited by sd non importation agreement on pain of emediate Dismission from their Serviss --
"' Seventh
" We will use our utmost endeavours to improve the breed of Sheep and increase their number to the greatest Extent, and to that end we will use them as Sparringly as may be. Especially those of the most profitable kind nor will we Export any to the west Indies or Elswhere, and those of us who are or may be overstocked with or can Conveniently Spare any Sheep will dispose of them to our Neighbours especeally the poorer sort on Moderate terms --
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