USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1854 > Part 19
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" Eighth
" That we will in our Several Stations Encourage frugallity, economy and Industry and promote agriculture arts ; and the Manufacturies of this Country Especially that of Wool, and Will Discountenance and Discourage Every Spe- cies of Extravaganee and Dissipation, Especially all horse Raceing and all kinds of Gameing, Cock fighting, Exhibitions of Shows, plays and other Expensive Diversions and Entertainments, and on the Death of any Relation or friend none of us or any of our famely Willgo into any further mourning Dress, than a black Crape or Riband on the arm or hat for Gentlemen and black Riband and Neck- lace for Ladies, and we Discontinue the giving of Gloves and Scarfs at funer- als --
" Ninth
" that Such as are venders of goods or Merchandize Will not take advan- tage of the Scarcity of goods that may be occasioned by this association, but will sell the same at the rates we have been Respectively accustomed to do for twelve months last past and if any vender of goods or Merchandise Shall sell
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. HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
any Such goods on higher terms, or Shall in any manner or by any Divice Whatsoever violate or Depart from this agreement no person onght, nor will any of us Deal with any Such person or his or her factor or agent at any time there- after for any Commodity Whatsoever-
" Tenth
"in Case any Merchant, trader or other persons Shall Import any goods or merchandise after the first day of December and before the first day of February next, the same ought forthwith at the Election of the owner to be Either Re- shiped or delivred up to the Committee of the County or Town Wherein they shall be imported to be stored at the Risque of the Importer until the non importation agreement shall Cease, or be Sold under the direction of the Comtee aforesd, and in the last mentioned Case the owner or owners of Such goods Shall be reimbursed (out of the Sales) the first Cost and Charges, the profit if any to be applied towards Relieveing and imploying Such poor Inhab- itants of the Town of Boston as are Immediate Sufferes by the Boston port Bill, and a particular account of all goods so Returned, stored or sold to be inserted in the publick papers, and if any goods or merchandize shall be imported after the sd first day of February the same ought forthwith to be sent back again Without breaking any of the packages thereof-
" Eleventh
" That a Committee be Chosen in every County, City, or Town by Those who are quallified to voate for Representatives in the Legislature Whose busi- ness it shall be attentively to observe the Conduct of all persons touching this association, and When it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of a major- ity of any such Committee that any person within the limits of their appoint- ment has violated this association that such majority Do forthwith Cause the truth of the Case to be published in the Gazette to the End that all Such foes to the Rights of British America may be publickly known and universally con- temned as the Enemies of American Liberty, and thenceforth we Respectively break off all Dealings with him or her-
" Twelfth
" that the Committee of Correspondence in the Respective Colonies do fre- quently Inspect the Entries of their Custom Houses and Enform each other from time to time of the true State thereof, and of Every other material Circumstance that may occur Relative to this Association-
" Thirteenth
" That all manufactries of this Colony be Sold at Reasonable prices, so that no undue advantage be taken of a future scarcity of goods-
" Fourteenth
" And we do further agree and Resolve, that we will have no trade, Com- merce, Dealing, or Intercoure Whatsoever with any Colony or Province in North america which shall not acceed to, or Which shall hereafter violate this Asso- ciation, but will hold them as unworthy of the Rights of freemen and as Enemi- cal to the Liberties of their Country-and we do solemnly bind ourselves and our Constituents under the ties aforesd to adhear to this association until such of the several acts of Parliament passed since the Close of the last warr as Im- pose or Continue Duties on Tea, Wine, Molasses Syrup, pameles Coffee, Sugar, Pimento, Indigo, foreign paper, glass and painters colours Imported into Amer- ica, and Extend the powers of the admiralty Courts beyond antient Limits, De-
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
prive the American Subject of Tryal by Jury, authorize the Judges Certificate to Indemify the Prosecnter from Damages that he might otherwise be liable to, from a trial by his Peers, Require oppressive Securities from a Claimant of Ships of goods Seized before he Shall be allowed to defend his property, are Repealed, and until that part of the act of the 12 G. 3d Ch. 24 : Entitled, " an act for the better secureing his Majestys Dock yards, magazines, Ships, ammunition and Stores by which any persons charged With Committing any of the offences therein Discribed in America may be tried in any Shire or Conn- ty within the Realm" is Repealed, and until the four acts passed in the last ses- sion of Parliament (viz) that for stoping the port and blocking up the harbour of Boston, that for altering the Charter and Government of the Machusetts Bay, and that Which is Entitled an act for the better administration of Justice &c.
" And that for Extending the limits of Quebec &c are Repealed, and we Re- commend it to the provincial Convention and to the Committees in the Respect- ive Colonys to Establish sneh further Regulations as they may think proper for Carrying into Execution this association. The foregoing association being de- termined upon by the Congress Was ordered to be subscribed by the several Members thereof, and thereupon we have hereunto set our Respective names accordingly in Congress. Philadelphia October 20th 1771
Signed Peyton Randolph, President.
New Hampshire
S John Sullivan Nathaniel Folsom
Massachusetts Bay
.
Jolm Adams Robert Treat Pain
Rhod Island
Samuel Ward
Eliphalet Dyer
Connecticut.
Roger Sherman Silas Deane
-
Isaac Low John Alsop John Jay
New York
James Dnane William F'loid Henry Wisner S: Boerum
New Jersey .
James Kinsey William Livingston Stephen Crane Richard Smith
Pennsylvania
Joseph Galloway John Dickinson Charles Humphreys, Mifflin Edward Biddle John Morton George Ross -
Cesar Rodney
New Castle &c
Thomas Me Kean George Read
Maryland
Mathew Tiglhman Thomas Johnson William Paca Samuel Chase
V
Thomas Cushing Samuel Adams
Stephen Hopkins
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
[ Richard H. Lee | George Washington
Virginia
P. Henry Junr Richard Bland Harrison
Edmund Pendleton
North Carolina
William Hooper Joseph Hewes R. Caswell
South Carolina .
Henry Middleton Thomas Lynch
Christopher Gadsden
John Rutledge Edward Rutledge"
These articles are a history in themselves. They give us a bird's- eye view of the urgency of the danger that threatened the colonists, and of the extreme, stern measures judged necessary by the coolest and wisest intellects of the colonies. It shows us, too, the caliber of the men who settled this new world, and sought here the supreme blessing of freedom. The colonies had been kept in dependence on the moth- er country for nearly all manufactured goods, and were therefore illy prepared to meet the struggle which must ensue. But putting their trust in the God of battles, and in the justice of their cause, they dared every evil that might befall them, carnestly pledging "their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor" on the issue, and sacrificing all the dearest interests we know in life, on the altar of their country's good.
In the exuberance of the materials in this part of our labor, circum- scribed as one must ever be in a work of local history, he hardly knows where to begin, what to select, or in what manner to arrange the wealth of facts and incidents that come ready to his hand. It will be most perspicuous, however, to continue an account of the action of the town, in the various emergencies which arose in that most event- ful struggle, that resulted in our independence from "every foreign prince and potentate." In that great contest, Connecticut was one of the foremost, if not the very first in the confederacy, in resisting the tyranny of Great Britain, and was lavish of blood and treasure in sustaining the conflict against her oppressions. Her soldiers were applauded by the commander-in-chief of the American armies, for their bravery and fidelity. The honor of the first conquest made by the united colonies during the war of the Revolution, belongs chiefly to Connecticut, and in a distinguishing manner, to the sons of Wood- bury. This was the capture of Ticonderoga, May 10th, 1775-one of the most brilliant exploits of the war. The projectors of this expe- dition were some patriotie members of the General Assembly, which
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
convened at Hartford, in April of that year. They obtained the funds necessary (£810) to carry out the design, from the colony treas- ury, as a loan, and gave their individual guarantee, with security for its repayment. The Assembly, in May, 1777, canceled the obliga- tion and charged the amount to the general government. Sixteen men were collected in Connecticut, who proceeded to Berkshire county, Massachusetts, where forty or fifty volunteers were added to their small force. The expedition continued its march to Benning- ton, Vermont, where it was joined by Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, and nearly one hundred volunteers. This little force of about one hun- dred and fifty men, marched to Castleton, where Col. Ethan Allen, a native of Woodbury, Connecticut, was appointed commander; Col. Seth Warner, of the same place, was chosen to be third in command, and Capt. Remember Baker, also of the same town, held a subor- dinate station in the expedition. A part of this small force was sent to Skeensborough, after having sent Capt. Phelps to examine the fort. The remainder of the troops, amounting to only eighty- three chosen men, having secured the assistance of Nathan Beeman, as guide, and awaited the return of Capt. Phelps, assaulted the fort of Ticonderoga, on the morning of May 10th, 1775, and on the demand of surrender by Ethan Allen, in the name of the " Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress," its capture was secured without the loss of a man. The result of this first military operation of the war was of great advantage to the colonies, supplying them with large quantities of arms and military stores, and opening to them an en- trance into Canada. Connecticut was also obliged to sustain the bur- den of maintaining the post acquired, although it was within the juris- diction of the colony of New York. One thousand men were sent from Connecticut, under the command of Col. Hinman, of Woodbury, in 1775, to garrison the forts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point. Eighty of these went from ancient Woodbury, a list of whose names is in the possession of the author, and will appear in a subsequent part of this volume. So in the war of 1812, in the first naval battle, the first flag struck was to a native of Connecticut ; and on land, the first flag which was taken, was surrendered to a son of her soil. Our State has never had full justice done her Revolutionary career, in any published account. No State did more according to her population than Connecticut, to carry on the war, or more to bring that war to a successful and glorious issue. Her troops were found in almost every battle of the United Colonies.
Woodbury was noted for the vigilance with which it watched the
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
movements of the enemies of the country, or tories within its borders, of which it had a few, as well as for its active cooperation in every- thing necessary to carry on the great struggle which had now begun in good earnest. A committee of inspection and observation of the conduct of the inhabitants of the town was appointed from its chief men and patriots. The duties which this committee felt themselves called upon to perform, were of the most delicate and difficult nature. In the struggle for freedom from the mother country, it seemed to them necessary to suppress all action, and every expression of thought, which did not run in the popular direction-the independ- ence of the country. A species of inspection and interference in men's private affairs thus beeame necessary, which could only be jus- tified in such a case of emergency-a question of life and death-as was then existing. None in any station escaped its exaetions, from " priest to common people." Slight causes often attracted the atten- tion of this body-an unguarded word spoken, or a thoughtless act done, when the delinquent was forthwith brought before the " com- mittee," to be dealt with as the "law directs." There is no doubt that the peculiar dangers and alarms of the period, justified all this, and there is scarcely less reason to doubt that many innocent persons unjustly fell under the odium of suspicion of being enemies to their country. Certain it is, that some of the most respectable and prom- inent citizens fell under the suspicion of toryism, early in the contest. Rev. John R. Marshall, the first Episcopal clergyman of this town, together with a considerable number of his church, fell under the suspicion of " wishing well to the mother country." He was sum- moned before the committee of inspection, and "put on the limits," or forbidden to go beyond certain prescribed bounds. During the war, he petitioned the General Assembly for liberty to go to New York, then occupied by the British army, to see his relatives. In this petition he states, that he lost his parents in New York, when he was four years of age, and was left to the care of three maiden aunts, who gave him a liberal education, and designed to make him their heir ; that the only survivor of these was eighty-two years old, and he wished to go, and return with the property of the deceased. This petition was granted, and he was allowed to go to New York.' Jan- uary 9th, 1783, he petitioned for liberty to go again to New York, to visit his surviving aunt, "whose estate is worth £15,000, and bring home clothing, plate and money." This he was allowed to do on
1 State Archives, Rev. War, vol. 2, p. 150.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
condition that he should only bring articles for the use of his own family. It would seem by this, that the government of the state had full confidence in his word of honor. He was, however, subjected to many inconveniences in this town, in common with others, suspected of being in favor of the home government. One of the regulations of the committee of inspection was, that no grain should be ground for such persons at the gristmills, thus rendering a return to the samp mortars of the "early fathers" necessary. Consequently they were obliged to get this important service done in the names of their whig friends.
The Episcopal church and its ministers, during this eventful strug- gle, fell under great suspicion on account of their subjection in church government to the English establishment. In many places their churches were closed
"From the time when it became unlawful to pray for the king as our king, till the time when the recognition of our independence made it canonical to omit praying for him. Some ministers of that denomination, like the late exe .- lent Bishop White, of Pennsylvania, who was one of the chaplains to Congress. yielded to their patriotic sympathies, and felt that no vow of canonical obedi- enee could be of force to annihilate their duty to their country. Others, whose conscientiousness ought not to be questioned, while their hearts were on the side of the country, were perplexed by their ecclesiastical subjection to the church of England ; and in the absence of any ecclesiastical authority in this country, which they could recognize, they dared not to deviate from the forms and orders of the English liturgy. Nor are those to be judged harshly, whose sympathies in the conflict were altogether with the parent country. England was as their home; thence they had long received their subsistence; thither they had been accustomed to look with grateful and humble veneration ; there wore their patrons and spiritual superiors ; and there were all their hopes of prevailing against the dissenters, and of building up in this western world what they esteemed the only true church. No church has gained more than theirs by the very revolution which they so much dreaded, for that revolution gave to their church ecclesiastical independence, and the power of self-reformation."1
In this view, could Rev. Mr. Marshall and his followers be ex- ensed for any partialities they might possess. There were others who were also supposed to be " conservatives." On one occasion Gen. Arnold, before he turned traitor himself, ordered the deputy commissary general, Peter Colt, to seize certain provisions at Derby belonging to Jabez Bacon and Capt. Isaac Tomlinson, of Woodbury, as they were supposed to be unfriendly to the country, and intended them for the use of the enemy. They were afterward tried as ene-
1 Bacon's Historical Discourses, p. 256.
13
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
mies, but were acquitted.1 Many others at intervals, during the progress of the war were tried, found guilty, and their estates were confiscated. Quite a file of the proceedings in the settlement of such estates is now in the probate office in the district of Woodbury, but as it can serve no useful purpose to drag into the light the names of such as were tories in the Revolution, and as many of their descendants are among the most respectable and useful of our eiti- zens, and among the best lovers of their country, it has been deemed appropriate to omit the list. The number was insignificant when compared with that of the " Sons of Liberty," who rushed forth to fight the battles of their country at every call.
During almost the entire length of the war, the article of salt was one of prime importance, and most difficult to be obtained. As has been seen, it was one the "Articles" agreed upon, not to raise the price of the necessaries of life for a certain period. At the expira- tion of that time, traders, like the rest of the world in other times, demanded such prices as the exigencies of their pockets required, or their avarice deemed most convenient and consoling to its voracious appetite. At one period Mr. Jabez Bacon, the most opulent mer- chant of the town and vicinity, had on hand a large quantity of this article, for which, it was deemed, he asked an exhorbitant price. Accordingly the committee of inspection, in the "due exercise of their powers," as they judged, took possession of the store, estab- lished what they considered to be a sufficiently remunerative price to Mr. Bacon, and gave notice to the inhabitants that on a certain day named, salt in proper quantities, according to the necessities of the purchasers, would be for sale. On the day appointed, a crowd of hungry applicants appeared at the rendezvous, the " Hollow Store" " to be salted." Among the rest, who were in pressing need of the culinary article, eame Doct. Obadialı Wheeler, who was understood to entertain affectionate feelings for the "mother country," and who frequently reprehended mobs,-with his measure for the reception of the " coveted necessary," which should fall to his lot to obtain. On seeing him approach, an ardent whig eried out, " Ah Doctor, I thought you were a hater of mobs; why do you show yourself here ?" The doctor replied, " It is true, I hate mobs like the d-1, but necessity is the mother of many shifts-I must have salt !" The ready answer of the doctor saved him, perhaps, from inconvenience, and concilia-
1 State Archives, Rev. War, 15 vol., p. 66.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
ted the multitude in such a manner, that he was permitted to carry off his share of salt under the same regulations as the rest.
The " Committees of Inspection," it will be seen, were of great consequence during the war, and had manifold duties to perform, which they executed without flinching :
" At a Legal Meeting of the Freemen of the Town of Woodbury, September the 19th. 1775.
" Abijah Mitchell was Chosen Moder itor for said meeting.
" Gideon Walker was chosen Clerk for s' Meeting.
"Capt. Gideon Stoddard, Daniel Sherman, Esqr, Gideon Walker, Esar, Dea. Clement Minor, Capt. Thomas Bull, Doct. Andrew Graham, Col. Increase Mosely, Agur Curtiss, Edward Hinman, Esgr, Timothy Osborn, Daniel Ev- erit Esqr, Capt. Elias Dunning, Amos Clark, James Hannah, Timothy Strong, Increase Mosely Esqr, Jonathan Farrand, Capt Nathan Hicok, Doet. John Calhoon, Elihn Smith, Thomas Warner Esgr, Samll Hurd, Abraham Brown- son, David Hurd, Ebenezer Hull, Elijah Hinman, Thomas Tousey, Capt. Down, Comfort Hubbell, and Robert Edmond, Were Chosen a Committee of Inspection or Observation."
1
IIere we have a committee of thirty of the principal men from all parts of the "ancient town," lawyers, doctors, deacons, farmers and military men. They were men upon whom dependence could be placed in times of difficulty and danger. Well did they play their parts in this and various other capacities during the war. They continued without change in their number, except by death, till the elose of the war. They continued their "fatherly care" over the sentiments of the town even after peace was proclaimed and our in- dependence gained. To their influence, in part, though their office had become vacant, may be aseribed the following vote, though when once proposed it met the unanimous support of the town :
" At a Lawful Town Meeting held April 12, 17 4.
" Doct. Andrew Graham was Chosen Moderator.
"Voted, that those persons who joined the enemies of the United States in the course of the late civil war of what description soever are denyed a resi- dence in this Town from this date until the Genll Assembly shall grant them full liberty for that purpose " 1
This was the last action taken by the town in relation to this por- tion of its citizens. Provision was soon made that they might be restored to the rights of citizenship, and in some cases to their prop- erty, on taking what was called the " Oath of Fidelity." According-
1 Town Journal.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
ly we find them returning at intervals and taking that oath. The records show a number of such instances till some years afterward, when all fear had subsided, it fell into disuse. As a matter of curi- ous record a copy of an original complaint is subjoined which ex- plains itself:
" To the Comtt of Observation in & for the Town of Woodbury in Litchfield County I the subscriber hereunto Do hereby Informe Complain and Give you gentelmen to understand that Doctr Benjamin Hawley of sd Woodbury (in my opinion) has been Guilty of Violating the Association of the Late Continental Congress Recomended by the General Assembly of this Colony by Expressly Disavowing the whole Doings of sd Congress & said Association & Declaring that he would Pay no Regard to the Same and Maintaining the acts of Parlia- ment Complained of as Grievances are Constitutional and that the Brittish Parliament have a Constitutional Authority to impose taxes on the Inhabitants of America & by his Boldly Declaring the Colonists to be in a State of actual Rebellion against the Crown of Great Brittian & by his Treating with open Con- tempt the Measures and Proceedings of the Americans for Obtaining Redress of theire Grievances and by Endeavouring in his Conversation to inspire oth- ers with his above Described Sentiments he Discovers himself to be obstinately fixed in the most Criminal opposition to the Rights and Liberties of america &e which Conduct of said Hawley (in my opion) Claimes the attention of sd Comtt who are hereby Requested to take the matter into their Consideration and proceed there in according to the advice of sd Congress I am Gentelmen your most Obedt Humll Sert Woodbury Angt 2d A. D. 1775.
James Hannah.
To Doctr Benjn Hawely of Woodbury in Litchfield County these are to noti- fie you to appear before the Comtt of Observation for the Town of Woodbury at the Dwelling house of Gideon Walker Esqr in sd Woodbury on the third monday of Instant augt at Ten of the Clock in the fore noon (if you see cause) then and there to answer unto the foregoing Information and Shew Reasons if any you Can why you should not be proceeded against and dealt with accord- ing to the advie of the Continantal Congress Dated at Woodbury the 14th Day of Augt A. D. 1775.
Daniel Everit.
One of Said Comtt
The within is a true Coppy of the origonal Complaint an Citation
Signer of the Complaint & one
Test
James Hannah of the Committe of Observation for the Town of Woodbury."
During the first two years of the war, the larger part of the mili- tia, which comprised all the able bodied men from the age of sixteen to fifty years old, had been called to serve at various posts, and on various expeditions a great part of the time. Early in 1777, enlist- ments for three years, or during the war, were called for, and the quota for each town established. It was a severe levy on the already
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