USA > Connecticut > New London County > Stonington > History of the town of Stonington, county of New London, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1649 to 1900 with a genealogical register of stonington families > Part 5
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and others, inhabitants of the first society in Stonington, shewing that they lived'at Long Point in said society and are far remote from the place of public worship there, that said place has greatly increased in numbers within a few years past, that the inhabitants of said point and thereabouts are gen- erally poor and unable to build a house to meet for public worship, that if they had a house to meet in for that purpose they apprehend the growth of irreligion and impiety would be prevented &c, praying for a lottery to build a meeting-house, on which a committee have been appointed who have re- ported in favour of said memorials and affixed a place for building, which report is accepted and thereupon Resolved by this assembly that the memor- ialists have liberty and they are hereby authorized to raise by way of lottery the sum of £400 .. 0 .. 0 lawfull money to be applied for the purpose mentioned in said memorial and also the further sum of £30 .. 0 .. 0 lawfull money, to defray the expense of such lottery, and Nathaniel Miner Esq., Joseph Denison 2nd, John Denison 4th, Peleg Chesebrough, and John Brown Jun, all of said Stonington, or any three of them accepting said trust, are hereby appointed managers and directors of said lotteries who should be jointly holden to make good all benefit tickets drawn in such lotteries and shall be sworn to a faithful discharge of their said trust and the adventurers in said lotteries, shall have their remedy against said managers for the benefit tickets by them drawn in manner aforsaid and the monies so raised by said lotteries shall be laid out and applied to the purposes aforesaid and account thereof be rendered to the General Assembly when demanded."-Conn. Archives, by C. J. Hoadley.
3 "At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, holden at Hartford in said State on the second Thursday of May, being the 12th. day of said month, and continued by adjournments until the ninth day of June next fol- lowing Anno. Dom. 1785. Upon the memorial of Nathaniel Miner, John Den- ison 3rd. & Joseph Denison 2nd. all of Long Point in Stonington, setting forth that they with others of the first Society in said Stonington were on the second Thursday of October, 1774, appointed Managers of a Lottery granted by the Honorable General Assembly to your Memorialists William Morgan and others of the established Religion of the then Colony of Connecticut for the purpose of raising the sum of £400, to build a Meeting-house at said Point. That said Managers proceeded by way of Lottery to raise said sum in Con- tinental Bills towards the close of the Summer of 1777, when your Memor- ialists for whom the Grant was made, not being apprehensive of the depre-
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HISTORY OF STONINGTON.
which was granted, and the money raised. Instead of building a new house at the Point they took down the old meeting-house at the Putnam Corners and took it down there and with their lottery fund, old meeting-house and subscription erected a meet- ing-house at Stonington Point in 1785-6, which work was done under the superintendency of Col. Joseph Smith.
ciation that would attend said Bills and considering the great scarcity and dearness of materials for building said House and the danger they were then exposed to from the enemy who were then at New York, Newport and Long Island, thought best for the Grantees not then to proceed in building said House, since which the Bills in the Hands of your Memorialists have depre- ciated to almost nothing except a part which has been turned into Public Securities, Praying that a Judicious Committee may be appointed to examine into the matters of said Memorial and the true State and Circumstances of the money which they held in trust, put a just value thereon, and that said com- mittee be, enabled to direct said managers, to raise on said Grant such Sums with what they already have as to make up the £400 granted by your Honors as per memorial, &c.
"Resolved, by this Assembly that said Nathaniel Miner, John Denison 3rd, Joseph Denison 2nd, be continued as managers of said Lottery with the addition of James Rhodes and Elijah Palmer of said Stonington, and that the Honorable William Hillhouse and Benjamin Huntington Esqrs, Elisha Lathrop Esq, be and they are hereby appointed a committee to inquire into the state and circumstances of said Lottery and liquidate and settle the accounts thereof, and ascertain the value of the avails thereof in the Hands of said Managers, and in case said Committee shall judge it to be reasonable, they may and they are hereby Authorized and impowered to direct that said Mana- gers proceed to Issue and draw such further numbers of tickets in said Lottery as to raise such sum of money for the purpose of building a meeting-house at said Point as shall be thought by said committee to be proper, not exceeding £400, including what is already on hand as aforesaid and exclusive of the cost of said Lottery, said managers to be accountable to the General Assembly when requested for their Doings in the premises."-Conn. Archives by D. W. Edgcomb.
1149131
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Pending the agitation that preceded the Revolutionary war in all of the colonies, that subsequently united in the Declaration of Independence the town of Stonington was not indifferent to the momentous struggle and in order to give force and effect to their political sentiments assembled in town-meeting, and passed patriotic resolutions.1 Whereupon the meeting elected a Committee of Correspondence who addressed Major General
1 At a legal town-meeting held in Stonington the 11th day of July 1774, the following resolution was passed:
"Deeply impressed with the alarming and critical situation of our Publick affairs, by the many repeated attacks upon the liberties of the English Amer- ican Colonies, by sundry acts of parliament, both for the purpose of raising a revenue in America, as well as the late most extraordinary act for blocking up the port of Boston. Think it our indispensable duty to manifest our sen- timents upon the important occasion and are most clearly of the opinion that they are repugnant to the spirit, freedom and fundamentals of the British Constitution, and in direct violation of Magna Charter. Their surprising ex- ertion of power which so remarkably distinguished the inauspicious times and necessarily alienate the affections of the Americans from their Mother Country, and the British Merchants and manufacturers will of course be ex- treme in losing the most beneficial commerce that they derive from any part of the Globe, We recommend as our best advice to the publick, that a General convention of delegates from all the colonies be convened with all possible dispatch and what they in their wisdom, upon the most mature deliberation shall agree upon as most expedient for the interest of this growing fertile and extensive continent; shall be adopted by us, and that in the interim, as a necessary step to open the eyes of the present administration, and to obtain that justice that is due to the worthy descendants of Great Britain, which has of late through an extreme misguided policy been denied, we Wherefore recommend a suspension of all commerce with Great Britain, to immediately take place.
"We are bound in justice to ourselves to declaire, that we have ever manifested (and are still ready on all occasions) the most affectionate loyalty to the illustrious house of Hanover; which we are truly sensible consists in nothing more evidently than in a well regulated zeal for liberty and the Constitution.
"A sense of real honor grounded upon principals of religion, and experience,
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Warren of Boston, who replied in a letter glowing with the loft- iest sentiments of patriotism.2
The people of Stonington not only sympathized with the in- habitants of Boston in their resistance to British aggression, but furnished men and means to enable them to maintain their liberties. They were represented at the battle of Bunker Hill by true and determined men as they were afterwards, in almost every battle field, of the Revolution. After the battle of Bunker Hill, the American army pressed close around Boston and cut off the supplies of the British army to such an extent that they com-
will warrant us to affirm that their endowments of loyalty public spirit of honor, and religion are no where found in higher perfection than in the British Colonies. Notwithstanding what is past, we are still desirous to remain upon our former good understanding, with the mother country, and continue to them their gainfull commerce, provided a repeal of those grievous acts take place.
"We heartily sympathize with our distressed brethren, the Bostonians, who we view as victims sacrificed to the shrine of arbitrary power, and more im- mediately suffering in the general cause. We rejoice to see so many of the neighboring colonies and even towns vieing with each other in their liberal benefactions to the distressed and injured town of Boston. Wherefore we have opened a subscription for the relief of the inhabitants of the town of Boston, which the Committee of Correspondence, viz. Charles Phelps Esq., Dr. Dudley Woodbridge, Col. Henry Babcock, Joseph Denison Esq., Mr. John Dean, Paul Wheeler Esq., Nathaniel Miner Esq., Capt. Daniel Fish, Joseph Palmer Esq., Mr. Benjamin Clark, and Mr. Samuel Prentice are appointed to receive and forward to the selectmen of the town of Boston, and said committee are instructed to correspond with the committees of the different colonies and transmit a copy of this vote to the corresponding committee of Boston, whose well timed zeal, vigilance, and watchful fidelity in the great and most inter- esting cause of liberty, we cannot sufficiently thank."
Passed in a very full town-meeting without a single dissenting voice.
2 Boston, August 24th, 1774.
"Gentlemen,-Your elegant and benevolent favor of the first instant yielded us that support and consolation amid our distresses which the generous sym- pathy of assured friends can never fail to inspire. 'Tis the part of this people to frown on danger, face to face, to stand the focus of rage and malevolence of the inexorable enemies of American freedom.
"Permit us to glory in the dangerous distinction and be assured that, while actuated by the spirit and confident of the aid of such noble auxiliaries we are compelled to support the conflict.
"When liberty is the prize, who would shun the warfare? Who would stoop to waste a coward thought on life? We esteem no sacrifice too great, no
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HISTORY OF STONINGTON.
pelled them to forage for supplies all along the coast of New England, and farther west and south.
Some of the Tories of this region round about had notified Com. James Wallace of the English navy, who had been ap- pointed and commissioned by Admiral Graves of Boston, and given command of three small frigates, "that Stonington was rich in the requisite food for an army and navy, and was also in receipt of a large number of neat stock from Block Island, which had been brought here in a vessel and landed at Long Point, and driven back into the country."
Upon the receipt of this information Com. Wallace came to Long Point, in Stonington, in the frigate "Rose," Aug. 30, 1775, and sent a boat ashore with a peremptory demand for a delivery of said cattle to him, threatening terrible vengeance in case of non-compliance. Refusal having been returned as peremptory as the demand, Com. Wallace sent his tender sloop up the harbor to seize and bring off the cattle and whatever else they could find. Before they could accomplish their object news of their approach spread through the town which aroused the people, and a large number of men from the country had arrived at the Point, and co-operated with the inhabitants of the village, in its defense. A company of men at the time rendezvoused at or near the Road Meeting House, under the command of Capt. William Stanton, marched directly to the Point and joined the men there under the command of Capt. Oliver Smith. Sergt. Amos Gallup, Wil- liam and George Denison and others to the number of twenty
conflict too severe to redeem our inestimable rights and priviledges. 'Tis for you, brethren, for ourselves, for our united posterity, we hazard all; and permit us humbly to hope, that such a measure of vigilance, fortitude, and perseverance will still be afforded us, that by patiently suffering and noble daring, we may evenually secure that more precious than Hesperian fruit, the golden apples of freedom.
"We eye the hand of Heaven in the rapid and wonderful union of the col- onies; and that generous and universal emulation to prevent the sufferings of the people of this place, give a prelibation of the cup of deliverance. May unerring wisdom dictate the measures to be recommended by the Congress. May a smiling God conduct this people through the thorny paths of difficulty and finally gladden our hearts with success."
"We are, gentlemen,
"Your friends in the cause of Liberty.
"JOSEPH WARREN, Chairman.
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
men composed the company of Capt. Stanton. They were armed with Queen Ann muskets which were very effective at long range. Our troops were at first stationed in the Robinson pasture, a tract of land just north of the old Wadawanuck Hotel, and from there marched down to Brown's wharf, where they opened a very effective fire upon the enemy, which compelled them to leave the harbor as fast as they could with a severe loss, when they reported their ill success to their commander. Com. Wallace had for his pilot, a tory, Stephen Peckham, by name, and he succeeded in mooring the frigate "Rose" in a favorable position,with springs on her cables, from which a severe cannon- ade was opened upon the village, and kept up for several hours. Some of the inhabitants for protection went down into the cellars of their dwelling houses and others sought safety by placing themselves behind large rocks and others fled into the country. The greater part of the houses were more or less injured by the cannonade, but no lives were lost, and only one man was wounded. Com. Wallace did not venture to land and burn the village as he designed, being deterred by the formidable appearance of matters on shore as well as by the drubbing his tender had re- ceived. He hovered on our coast for about a week and then disappeared. Long Point was the only place that resisted suc- cessfully this prince of marauders, whose operations partook of the nature of both land and sea piracy. During the bombard- ment Mr. James Tripp, a friend Quaker, then a resident of the village, though a man of peace, felt his patriotism stir within him as he witnessed the injury to the houses by the shot of the enemy, seizing a musket, he said to those near him, "Can you all bear this, I cannot." He than ran down to the shore and discharged his gun at the frigate "Rose" in token of defiance and resistance to the attack of the enemy. During the Revolutionary war there was a large sycamore (buttonwood) tree standing a little southwest of the store now owned by Mr. James H. Brown, then owned and occupied by the Hon. Nathaniel Miner, who was one of the leading patriots of Stonington, at the time. That tree was called Liberty Tree, because the association of young men, styled "Sons of Liberty" and other patriots were accustomed to meet under it and discuss war measures and pass resolutions relative thereto. Evidence of the attack of Com. Wallace upon the village of Stonington Point remained for a long time; traces
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HISTORY OF STONINGTON.
of cannon shot through some of the houses were plainly visible when the village of Stonington Borough was attacked by Capt. Hardy in 1814. A fort or water battery was erected during the Revolutionary war in the southern part of the village not far from where the lower school house used to stand, with an armament of several long six and nine pounders and one twelve pound carron- ade. A barrack was also erected for the accommodation of sol- diers, which stood between the present edifice of the Baptist church and the residence of the late Mrs. Fanny Kean. No other attack was made on the village during the Revolutionary war. After its close, the battery was allowed to remain without any care and soon run down and went to ruin, and the cannon became dismounted and sunk into the ground. Before the State authorities caused them to be removed, the barrack was altered into a dwelling house, which was afterward burned down. So passed away the forts and barracks of the Revolutionary war in the Borough. During the early days of the Revolution the Stonington Point fort was garrisoned by a strong force and supplied by cannon and munitions of war, for the attack on Long Point had aroused the people of Connecticut to a sense of their danger, especially those residing near the seacoast, which resulted in a special session of the General Assembly, which was con- vened and held at New Haven in April, 1775, the first act of which was "The appointment of a council of safety," consisting of the Hon. Matthew Griswold, Hon. Eliphalet Dyer, J. Huntington, William Williams, N. Wallace Jr., J. Elderkin, Joshua West, and Benjamin Huntington Esq., to assist the Governor when the Assembly was not in session, with power and authority to direct the marshals and stations of the troops, to be raised for the de- fence of the colony, as they should judge best, and to see that they were furnished in every respect and for every purpose. At a session of the Governor and Council at Lebanon, Mr. Hunting- ton reported "That he had found one small vessel that could be purchased for two hundred pounds of Edward Hancox of Ston- ington." After due consideration thereof by the Council he was directed to purchase Mr. Hancox's vessel, which was a schooner called the "Britannia," and in connection with Capt. Deshon and Capt. Niles were authorized to have her speedily rigged and fitted with guns and munitions of war, which was done, and Robert Niles of Norwich was appointed the commander. In session
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Sept. 4, 1775, Col. Saltonstall and Capt. Deshon were present as a committee from New London and Major Oliver Smith and Capt. Palmer of Stonington. Capt. Palmer stated that Stoning- ton had been lately attacked and bombarded by Com. Wallace and asked the Governor and Council for some military company to be stationed there, and both committees prayed for aid to erect works for defence. Again in session, "Sept. 14th, 1775, it was ordered to enlist 50 men under Maj. Oliver Smith for the defence of Stonington, and for carrying on the works begun there until the 29th of Oct. 1775."
The widow Smith of New London stated that the prisoners who had lately been driven to New London by stress of weather in a vessel piratically taken from Stonington by Com. Wallace of the "Rose," man-of-war, were confined at Windham, and prayed that said prisoners might be exchanged for her son, Amos Smith, B. Green and N. Comstock, who had been taken by said Wallace in New London, which was agreed to and so ordered and done. The General Assembly in session at New Haven Oct. 2, 1775, granted a bounty or pension as follows : Jonathan Weaver Jr., of Stonington, who was a musician in the company of Capt. Oliver Smith was dangerously wounded at Long Point, was al- lowed £ 12 4s. and 4d. The Assembly also promoted Capt. Oliver Smith to the office of major.
At a session of the General Assembly at New Haven Dec. 14, 1775, it was ordered that the battery at Stonington should be supplied with six cannon, two 18 and four 12-pounders. At a session of the Governor and Council Feb. 2, 1776, they having been authorized by the Assembly to supply the batteries at Groton, Stonington and New Haven with cannon and munitions of war, which would be very difficult to do unless they should be cast in the furnace of Mr. Smith of Salisbury, Conn. There- upon Col. Elderkin was appointed to go immediately to Salisbury and give the proper orders and directions.
In session Feb. 23, 1776, Maj. Smith of Stonington urged an addition be made to his men in Stonington for the defense of the town and harbor. The Governor and Council ordered said com- pany of forty men to be augmented to ninety men by voluntary enlistment and to be continued in service until the first day of December (next) unless sooner discharged and to be stationed at or near the fortification in Stonington. Nathan Palmer, Jr.,
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HISTORY OF STONINGTON.
was appointed first lieutenant, John Belcher second lieutenant and Clement Miner, ensign of the company above mentioned under Maj. Oliver Smith, who was authorized to enlist said men with all speed. Nathaniel Miner, Esq., was appointed commis- sary to provide supplies for the company at said fort.
In session March 23rd, 1776, Capt. Theophilus Stanton of Stonington was appointed captain of the row galley (then build- ing at Norwich, Conn.)
In session April 10th, 1776, an order was given Nathaniel Miner, Esq., for one hundred and fifty pounds as commissary to the troops at the fort, at Long Point, in Stonington. The order was delivered to Nathaniel Gallup.
In session April 29th, 1776, Mr. Miner, the commissary for the company at Stonington, asked for a further sum of money, and the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds was allowed him to provide for said company.
Zadoch Brewster was appointed lieutenant of the row galley under the command of Capt. Theophilus Stanton, of Stonington.
At a session of the General Assembly held in May, 1776, Rev. Nathaniel Eells of Stonington was appointed chaplain of the regiment to be stationed at or near New London.
At a session of the Governor and Council held July 2, 1776, Oliver Smith of Stonington was appointed lieutenant colonel of the regiment at New London in place of Col. Mott, promoted. Nathan Palmer was appointed captain of the company stationed at Stonington in the place of Col. Oliver Smith, promoted. John Belcher, first lieutenant, Clement Miner, second lieutenant, Moses Palmer, second ensign of said company. N. Shaw was ordered to deliver to the commanding officer at New London, or to Col. Oliver Smith, for the use of the fort at Stonington five hundred pounds of cannon powder. The delay in procuring the necessary means of defence and the detention of some of the heavier guns designed for the place caused great dissatisfaction among the people of Stonington, who memorialized the General Assembly as follows, viz. :
"To the Hon, the General Assembly, now setting at New Haven.
"The memorial of the committee of correspondence and inspection of the town of Stonington and sundry of the inhabitants of said town most humbly sheweth That whereas your Honors thought fit in your last Session in May, to grant for the defence and protection of this place, a Capt. and 90 men,
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
since which one half have been ordered to New London. Your Honors may remember that this Town, is the only one in this State, that has received any damage from those sons of tyranny and despotism sent by that more than savage tyrant George, the Third, to deprive us of those unalienable rights that the Supreme Gov. of Heaven and Earth has invested us with.
"Your memorialists therefore pray that the number of men ordered and destined as above may still be continued and that the two 18 pounders and four 12 pounders and shot etc. that were ordered in your former session for this place, may be delivered as soon as possible as the harbor is perhaps more used by coasters and vessels bound to sea, than any harbor in this State, and is a place of great consequence, not only to this, but other States. We therefore beg leave to inform your Honors, that several vessels have lately been chased into our Harbor by the King's ships and have here been pro- tected. Your memorialists further pray, that the three large cannon (now at New London) belonging to this town, be likewise ordered to this place and the two field pieces that were lent by this town to the town of New London, be ordered back to the town of Stonington. We therefore flatter ourselves that this our most reasonable request will be granted.
"And your memorialists as in duty bound will ever pray."
Signed by
NATHANIEL MINER, PAUL WHEELER,
JOHN BROWN JR, JOHN DENISON,
HENRY BABCOCK, SIMON RHODES.
Comm. of Safety.
and the same was indorsed by 92 men of the inhabitants of Stonington who appended their names thereto.
At a session of the Governor and Council of Connecticut February 15, 1777, Capt. William Ledyard of Groton and Capt. Nathan Palmer of Stonington were sent for to consult about raising artillery companies. General Parsons was desired to draw on Cols. Huntington's and Durkee's regiments at the posts and forts at New London, Groton, and Stonington for defense at those places. Capt. Nathan Palmer, at Stonington, was directed to dismiss his company as soon as General Parsons should send to that place a sufficiency of Continental troops for the defense of that post. The Governor and Council also voted to raise a company of artillery to be stationed at Groton and Stonington until Feb. 1, 1778. Capt. William Ledyard was appointed captain of said company.
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