USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Litchfield > Sketches and chronicles of the town of Litchfield, Connecticut : historical, biographical, and statistical : together with a complete official register of the town > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
Early in the spring of 1780, a train of sleds loaded with provisions for the army, passed through Hartford and Litch- field on their way to Newburgh. Their progress was slow, and the teamsters (among whom were Eleazer Pinney and Ebenezer Nash of Ellington,) suffered incredible hardships on account of the unprecedented depth of snow and the unbroken state of the roads over which they passed. On arriving at the Hudson, they attempted to cross on the ice, when their teams broke through. The horse at the head of Mr. Nash's team, was detached from the oxen and floated under the ice. In
16
·
122
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD.
due time, but not till after a desperate struggle, the oxen were all rescued from their perilous situation. The principal part of the stores were then drawn across the river on light sleds, with but a single horse attached to each. These sup- plies were so much needed by the army, that no risk was con- sidered too great in conveying them speedily to Washington's camp.
" At a legal Town Meeting, holden at Litchfield on Saturday. the 8th day of July, A. D. 1780-the Hon. Oliver Wolcott, Moderator-it was voted, That to every able and effective man belonging to this town, to the number of fourteen, who shall voluntarily enlist himself into the Connecticut Battalions of Infantry of the Continental Army, for three years or during the war, this town will pay every such recruit such a sum in money, including the wages he shall receive from the State or the United States, as shall be sufficient to procure ten bushels of good merchantable Wheat for every month he shall so serve, the price of which Wheat shall be computed and the money paid to such recruit, or his assigns, in Litchfield, in every year, on the 1st day of January, during the time such recruit shall serve as aforesaid ; and that this town will also pay as a Bounty to every such recruit, or his assigns, in Litchfield, on the 1st day of January of every year for so long a time as such recruit shall serve as aforesaid, at the rate of thirty bushels of good merchantable Wheat for one year's service, or the full value thereof in money-for the payment of which monies or wheat as aforesaid to such recruit or his assigns, in case he shall enlist himself into said Battalions by the 15th day of July instant, this town hereby becomes bound as aforesaid."
At the same Meeting, it was
" Voted, That whereas the Militia of this town are required by an order of Colonel Andrew Adams, grounded on an act or order of the Governor and Council of Safety made the 30th day of June, 1780, to furnish fourteen able and effective men to serve in the Connecticut Line of the Continental Army until the 31st day of December next, this town being anxious to give every necessary encouragement to the public service, hereby
*See No. XV, " South Windsor Sketches," in Hartford Times.
123
RAISING RECRUITS.
plight themselves to pay to every suchi recruit, or his assigns, as shall voluntarily enlist himself into said Battalions by the 10th day of July instant, to serve in said Battalions until the last day of December next, such sum in money as shall be suf- ficient, including the wages he shall receive from this State or the United States, to procure as much good merchantable Wheat as might be obtained by the monthly wages of forty shillings in the year 1774-Provided, nevertheless, that the Militia of this town not being called upon by virtue of said order to furnish more than fourteen able recruits to serve in said Battalions. This town will not consider themselves bound by the votes of this day to pay Bounties or Wages to more than fourteen such recruits ; and in case a greater num- ber shall enlist, the preference shall be given to such as shall enlist for three years or during the war-and of them, to such as shall first enlist. And the Colonel or Commanding Officer of this Regiment is desired to discharge any supernumerary recruits, agreeable to these votes.
"Voted, That a Rate or Tax of six-pence on the pound, on the list of 1779, be and the same is hereby laid, and made payable in Gold or Silver Coin or Bills of Credit of this State of the emissions of the present year, by the 1st day of Septem- ber next."
Judson Gitteau, Timothy Skinner, Jonathan Wright and Ozias Lewis, were appointed to collect the said Tax.
" At a legal Town Meeting holden at the Meeting-House in the first society in Litchfield, on the 15th day of November, Anno Dom. 1780-Major David Welch, Moderator-is was
" Voted, That a Tax of one shilling upon the pound be laid upon the Polls and Rateable Estate contained in the Grand List of this town, given in the year 1779, to be collected and . paid to the Town Treasurer by the 1st day of December next, in the Bills of Credit emitted by this State since the 1st day of January last, new Continental Money issued under the author- ity of this State, Gold and Silver, or old Continental Money after the rate of forty shillings in old Continental Money for one shilling Lawful Money, for purchasing Provisions and
124
HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD.
requisite Supplies for the Army, and to defray other necessary expenses of the town.
" Voted, That Messrs. Timothy Skinner, Seth Farnham, Theodore Catlin and Harris Hopkins, be Collectors of the said Tax accordingly.
" Provided, Nevertheless, that any person may pay any part of said Tax in Provisions required, and at the respective prices fixed in the Act of Assembly made at their session in October last, entitled 'An Act for Collecting and Storing a Quantity of Provisions for the use of the Continental Army and the Forces raised for the Defense of this State.'
" Voted, That Messrs. Timothy Skinner, Seth Farnham, Theodore Catlin and Harris Hopkins, be a Committee to pur- chase Provisions agreeable to said Act of Assembly.
" Voted, That Messrs. Miles Beach and Leman Stone be appointed to receive the Salt, procure Casks to contain said Provisions, to receive and inspect the same, see that it is good and merchantable and well put up, and mark and store the casks, and report to the Governor, agreeable to said Act of Assembly.
" Voted, That said Beach and Stone be also employed to purchase any of such Provisions as occasion may offer or op portunity present.
" Voted, That said Timothy Skinner, Seth Farnham, Theo dore Catlin, Harris Hopkins, Miles Beach and Leman Stone be also appointed to purchase the Clothing required for thiel Army, agreeable to directions to be given to them from time to time by the Selectmen."
December 26, 1780-Reuben Smith, Esq., Moderator- " Voted, That Timothy Skinner, Heber Stone, James Stod dard, Reuben Stone, David Welch and Zebulon Taylor, be & Committee to hire, at the cost of the town, the requisite num ber of recruits to complete the quota of this town in the Con- necticut Line of the Army of the United States, for three year: or during the war."
January 9, 1781 .- Colonel Andrew Adams, Moderator .- " Voted, That whereas it is necessary that this town raise : number of soldiers to fill up their quota in the Army of the
125
TOWN VOTES.
United States, the town does promise and engage to each sol- dier that shall enlist into said service in either of the Connec- ticut Battalions, before the 1st day of February next, that they will make good to him his forty shillings per month, by such addition to the pay he shall receive from the State or the Uni- ted States as shall make said pay sufficient to purchase as much Provisions as forty shillings would have done in 1774."
A tax of three pence on a pound was laid on the List of 1779, one half to be paid in Wheat Flour, Rye Flour, and Indian Corn. Captain Abraham Bradley and Leman Stone were appointed Receivers of the Flour and Corn.
Jan. 18, 1781 .- It was voted to divide the town into classes for the purpose of procuring the requisite number of recruits ; and the Selectmen, together with Captain Abraliam Bradley, Captain John Osborn, Ensign Edward Phelps and Dr. Seth Bird, were appointed a Committee for that purpose.
March 26, 1781 .- Nine Foot soldiers and two Horsemen are required of this town, in addition to those already in the field ; and the necessary steps were taken to raise them.
July 9, 1781 .- " Voted, That the men belonging to this town, lately detached for a term of three months by special order of the Captain General, agreeable to a resolve of His Excellency the Governor and Council of Safety of the 19th of Junc, founded on an earnest Requisition of His Excellency General Washington for eight hundred men, &c., have and receive out of the Town Treasury, by the 1st of January next, each the sum of twenty shillings in silver, or other cquivolent, for each month he shall be in actual service agrecable to such detachment."
September 18, 1781 .- " Captain Miles Beach was chosen Receiver of Clothing and Provisions on the 2s. 6s. tax payable in December next; and Leman Stone was chosen Receiver of such part of said tax as shall be delivered to him."
January 3, 1782 .- " Voted, That the Town Treasurer be desired to procure the order or orders drawn by the Commit- tee of Pay Table in favor of this town, for Bounties on raising recruits in the year 1781, now in his hands and office, to be exchanged for small orders to the same amount ; and to de-
126
HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD.
liver out thirty pounds thereof to each of the respective classes, taking proper receipts therefor."
February 25, 1782 .- " Voted, to raise ten men for State Service or the Regiment of Guards for Horseneck, as required by Act of Assembly, by dividing the town into classes on the List of 1781."
Captain Abraham Bradley, Colonel Bezaleel Beebe and Cap- tain Lynde Lord, were appointed a Committee for that pur- pose.
" Voted, That ten men be added to the above Committee, whose business it shall be to notify the respective classes to meet at the time and place by them appointed, to proceed in raising recruits as aforementioned, viz.,
For the 1st class, Ensign Edward Phelps.
.6 2d
Ozias Lewis.
66
66 3d
Benjamin Peck, Jr.
66
4th " Elihu Harrison.
66 66 5th Ephraim Smedley, Jr.
66
6th 66 Leaming Bradley.
66 66 7th Ensign Jonathan Wright.
66 66 8th Lieutenant David Stoddard.
66
66 9th Captain Alexander Catlin.
66
" 10th " Lieutenant Timothy Skinner.
" Voted, That each non-commissioned officer and soldier that is or shall be detached out of this town into actual ser- vice, the current year, shall receive twenty shillings per month for the time he shall thus continue in actual service on sucli draft, or procure a man to serve for him; and that the Select- men draw orders on the Treasurer accordingly."
March 25, 1782 .- " Stephen Stone, Elijah Griswold and Benjamin Kilbourn, having lately been assessed on examina- tion by the Civil Authority and Selectmen, agreeable to law, for each a son gone to the enemy, and having requested a hearing in Town Meeting, and being heard accordingly, the question was proposed relative to said Stone in particular ; and the town by vote did not discharge said Assessment. Whereupon, it being late, and other business requiring atten- tion-adjourned till Thursday the 28th, at 10 o'clock P. M."
127
TOWN VOTES.
At an adjourned Meeting, the vote in the case of Stephen Stone was reconsidered, and he was released from his assess- ment. In the other cases mentioned, the assessment was con- firmed.
April 2, 1782 .- " Messrs. Timothy Skinner, Moses Sey- mour and Abraham Bradley, were appointed a Committee to make enquiry whether any of the Deserters from the Army belonging to this town, and not accounted as part of the quota of the town in the late returns of the army, have joined or are likely to join the army in consequence of the General's Pro- clamation ; and whether this town is not overrated by a mis- take in the Report of the Committee for ascertaining deficien- ces," &c.
" In Town Meeting, 16th October, 1783-Captain Moses Seymour, Moderator-it was Voted, That the present Select- men adjust the claims of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers who lately served in the Eight Battalions of this State as part of the quota of this town and claim a grant of twenty shillings per month agrecable to a vote of this town passed April 15, 1777 ; and having by agreement with said claimants, or otherwise, ascertained the sum to them respectively due, to divide cach man's sum into three equal parts, and give certi- ficates thereof in behalf of the town, payable at three different periods, viz., on the 1st days of January, 1784, 1785 and 1786 -- the last to be on interest ; which certificates shall be paid by the Treasurer according to the tenor of them, the one half of each in money, and the other half in provisions at the mar- ket price; and that the Selectmen for the time being make three Town Rates for that purpose, viz., in the years 1783, 1784 and 1785, to be collected by the Collectors of Town Rates for those years respectively, in December annually, and paid into the Town Treasury and kept distinct from all other Town Rates or Monies, Orders and Accounts, whatsoever."
It will hardly be expected that I should here detail the par- ticular acts and services of our citizens during the important period covered by this and the preceding chapter. A more appropriate place for this, is in the Biographical Sketches which will be found in another part of this volume. In gen-
128
HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD.
eral terms, it may be remarked, that through the entire war Litchfield was represented in the persons of one or more of her sons, on the Committee of Safety, in the Council of State, and in the Continental Congress. At the regular session of the Legislature in May, 1780, the Representatives from this town were Andrew Adams and Jedediah Strong; the former was chosen Speaker, and the latter Clerk, of the House. Ma- jor Moses Seymour commanded a Litchfield Company of Cav- alry at the capture of Burgoyne. Colonel Beebe was, during the latter part of the war, chief in command of the troops raised for the defense of our sea-coast. General Wolcott, General David Smith and Colonel Tallmadge, were active and energetic officers from the commencement to the close of hostilities. Colonel Sheldon, commander of the celebrated corps of Cav- alry known in history as " Sheldon's Regiment of Horse," had been for some twenty years a resident of Litchfield, and his troops were raised almost exclusively in this vicinity. Cap- tains Seymour, Stanton and Wadsworth, of this town, com- manded companies in this corps-Captain Stanton being at the same time Paymaster of the regiment. Colonel
Tallmadge was one of Sheldon's most efficient Majors. This regiment was Washington's favorite corps, and continued to act under his immediate direction till the Treaty of Peace was signed-constituting at once his messengers, his body-guard, and his agents for the accomplishment of any enterprise, how- ever desperate. Captain Morris, also of this town, command- ed one of the companies of the "forlorn hope " at the Seige of Yorktown. Indeed, the citizens of Litchfield were found at the head of their battalions or in the ranks in nearly all the great battles of the Revolution, including those of German- town, Trenton, Princeton, Long Island, and Stoney Point.
The following interesting incidents, (copied from Hollister's " History of Connecticut," vol. ii. pp. 390, 391,) will serve as an illustration of the character of the clergy of that period :
" When the whole country was in a state of alarm at the intelligence that Lord Cornwallis, with a large fleet and ar- mament, was approaching the American coast, Colonel Tall- madge happened to pass through Litchfield with a regiment
-
129
FATHER CHAMPION'S REVOLUTIONARY PRAYER.
of cavalry. While there, he attended public worship with hris troops on Sunday, at the old meeting-house that stood up- on the village green. The occasion was deeply interesting and exciting. The Rev. Judah Champion, then the settled minister of the place-a man of great eloquence and of a high order of intellectual endowment-in view of the alarming crisis, thus invoked the sanction of Heaven :
"Oh Lord! we view with terror the approach of the enemies of thy holy religion. Wilt thou send storm and tempest, to toss them upon the sea and to overwelm them upon the mighty deep, or to scatter them to the uttermost parts of the earth. But, peradventure, should any escape thy vengeance, collect them together again, O Lord ! as in the hollow of thy hand, and let thy lightnings play upon them ! We beseach thee, moreover, that thou do gird up the loins of these thy servants, who are going forth to fight thy battles. Make them strong men, that " one shall chase a thousand, and two shall put ten thousand to flight." Hold before them the shield, with which thou wast wont in the old time to protect thy chosen people. Give them swift feet that they may pursue their enemies, and swords terrible as that of thy De- stroying Angel, that they may cleave them down when they have overtaken them. Preserve these servants of thine, Almighty God ! and bring them once more to their homes and friends, if thou canst do it consistantly with thine high purposes. If, on the other hand, thou hast decreed that they shall die in battle, let thy Spirit be pres- ent with them and breathe upon them, that they may go up as a sweet sacrifice into the courts of thy temple, where are habitations prepared for them from the foundations of the world."
In the course of the revolutionary struggle, Litchfield was visited by most of the principal officers of the army. In one of the letters from Colonel Adams to General Wolcott, dated at Litchfield, May 6, 1777, the writer says-" While I am writing, a Prussian General has arrived in town on his way to headquarters, said to have proper credentials." This is understood to have been Count Rochambeau, who came to this country early in the year 1777. General La Fayette passed at least one night in this village, while en-route toward the Hudson with a train loaded with provisions and stores for the French Army. On this occasion he lodged in the south front room of the Judge Reeve House in South street. On the evening of Saturday, August 23d, 1780, General WASH- INGTON arrived here, on his way from Hartford to West Point, and was (according to Mr. Gibbs,) entertained at the hospit-
17
130
HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD.
able mansion of General Wolcott, in South street. He spent the night in the village, and on the following morning pro- ceeded westward, arriving at West Point about 11 o'clock on Monday morning. It was at this time that he discovered the 4 treason of Benedict Arnold, who commanded at that post. Washington's suite, among whom were Hamilton and Meade, were with him on the occasion referred to .*
Nearly a year later, Washington again passed through this town, as appears from the following extract from his Diary :
" May 18, 1781 .- Set out this day for an interview at Weth- ersfield, with the Count de Rochambeau and Admiral Barras. Reached Morgan's Tavern, forty-three miles from Fishkill Landing, after dining at Colonel Vanderberg's. 19th .- Breakfasted at Litchfield, dined at Farmington, and lodged at Wethersfield, at the house of Mr. Joseph Webb."
It is more than probable that the commander-in-chief was in Litchfield a third time. On the first visit above referred to, (if the dates given at the time, in the Hartford Courant, are correct,) he lodged here on a Saturday night, and took his de- parture for the Hudson on Sunday morning. Our venerable fellow-townsman, Captain Salmon Buel, well remembers to have seen Washington on one of his visits to this town, at which time he is very sure he spent the night at the Gould House, in North street, then occupied as a tavern by Mr. Sam uel Sheldon. At all events, he went there in the morning with about fifty of his school-fellows, for the purpose of seeing the renowned commander. A company of horse-guards were drawn up before the house, waiting for him ; but, as he was not ready to start, the guards rode down North street, and for a considerable distance out West street-returning in & short time to the Gould House. The General now came out mounted his horse, and the cavalcade proceeded down South street-perhaps te enable him to pay his respects to the Wolf cotts. Captain Buel is certain this was not on a Sunday morning.
*See Gibbs' Adm's. of Washington and Adams, vol. i. p. 17 ; also, Hollister's Hist of Conn , vol. ii. p. 387.
131
WASHINGTON'S VISITS TO LITCHFIELD.
The late Rev. Truman Marsh informed George C. Woodruff, Esq., that in one of his visits to this town, Washington put up at the Kilbourn House, in North street, it then being an inn kept probably by Captain William Stanton. This house is still standing, between the Tallmadge Place and the residence of the late Dr. Samuel Buel.
Several incidents connected with Washington's visits to Litchfield have been preserved. "A ludicrous story is told on this subject," writes Judge Boardman, of New Milford. "While Washington was riding through the west part of Litchfield, at the head of his retinue, a man named Clemons sallied out with a square bottle of rum in his hand, and addressed him some- what after this style-" Great and glorious Washington ! will you condescend to take a dram with such a poor dog as I am ?" The General, with his habitual dignified courtesy, took the bottle and put it to his lips, to the immense gratification of his enraptured admirer, who always believed he had drank with General Washington."
The following anecdote has been before published : A staid farmer residing in the upper part of Beach street-well known by the sobriquet of " Uncle App"-set out for the East Mill on horseback, with a load of grain. He was a true patriot, and loved the very name of Washington. On reaching the County House corner, he was informed that Washington had just left the village, and the procession was pointed out to him in the distance. In an instant, Uncle App's horse was sech dashing at full speed to the westward, the bags bounding at every jump, and the long skirts of the rider's overcoat stream- ing in the wind. Gaining the head of the procession, he con- fronted the leader face to face. " Are you General Washing- ton ?" he eagerly asked. "I am, sir," was the reply. " God Almighty bless your Excellency !" was the emphatic response of the farmer, as he wheeled his horse-and the next moment he was quietly jogging toward the Mill.
I recently submitted this incident, as here given, to Captain Bucl, who knew Uncle App intimately. He assures mne that the story is correct except in one important particular, viz., that the officer with whom he had the interview was not Gen .
132
HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD.
eral Washington, but one of his attendants-perhaps the Cap- tain of the Guard ; and that in fact he did not see Washington at all !. If Captain B. is correct in this, (and he is not likely to be mistaken,) the event doubtless took place at the time referred to on page 130, when the Guard paraded through West street before Washington was ready to join them.
It is stated in the Appendix to the Rev. Isaac Jones' Cen- tennial Discourse, preached in this town in 1845, that once when Washington passed through Litchfield, his soldiers, to evince their attachment to him, threw a shower of stones at the windows of the Episcopal church, which then stood about a west of the Court House. He promptly reproved them, say- ing-" I am a Churchman, and wish not to see the church dishonored and desecrated in this manner."
It is a well known fact that during the war which had ilow closed so auspiciously, the American Army received frequent and valuable accessions by desertions from the British ranks. Two English soldiers, named Robert Morris and Richard Mor- ris, at one time applied for admission into the corps command- ed by Captain Beebe of this town. They were accordingly enrolled as members of his company, and proved to be most excellent soldiers. It so happened that on one occasion they were about to engage in battle with the very regiment from which they had deserted. As a guard was to be left behind to protect the baggage, Captain Beebe, well knowing what: their fate would be should they be taken prisoners, proposed that they should remain for that purpose. They begged to be excused from such an inglorious service-preferring to fight, and declaring that they did not intend to be taken. They did fight, and the English captain under whom they had for- merly served, was among the prisoners who fell into the hands of the Americans. On the return of peace, Richard Morris settled in this town, and here for many years pursued his trade
· as a weaver. Being a bachelor, he built himself a little house. and lived entirely alone. In his latter years he became in- temperate. He was found dead in his bed, August 24, 1806. The verdict of the Jury of Inquest was-" His death was oc- casioned by drinking too large a draft of spirituous liquor,
188
JOHN I. GATTA, THE HESSIAN.
taken intentionally from his own hand." The fatal bottle, containing about half a gill of brandy, lay on his breast, round the neck of which one hand was clasped, the other being placed on the bottom. John I. Gatta, a Hessian soldier, also became a permanent resident of Litchfield. He was a native of Hesse Castle, in Germany, and the only son of a wealthy baker, to which business he was also bred. With many others, he was pressed into the military service by order of the reigning Prince, who had stipulated to furnish soldiers to King George of England, at so much per head, to be employed against the colonies. Gatta was soon put to the work of baking for the troops. He seems to have resolved from the first never to fight against America ; but an incident occurred before his arrival on our coast, which doubtless confirmed this resolution and hastened his desertion. He was a young man of spirit, and quite unaccustomed to the discipline which prevailed in the army. On being insulted by a subaltern officer, he sud- denly raised a glass bottle which he held in his hand, filled withi vinegar, and broke it over the head of the offender. For this breach of order, he was sentenced to receive five hundred lashes-whichi sentence was subsequently executed, though he was accustomed to say the flogging "didn't hurt much." On a certain night, while the ship in which he was brought over was lying at anchor near New York, Gatta quietly low- ered a small boat into the water, paddled himself ashore, en- listed into a New York regiment, and served his adopted country faithfully during the remainder of the war. As al- ready stated, he settled in this town ; and here, in 1791, he married Sarah, daughter of Mr. Oliver Collins and grand- daughter of the Rev. Timothy Collins. His descendants are low among our most respected people. Mr. Gatta was a mark- ed character, and somewhat eccentric. He had been so long in the service as to acquire habits of military precision and promptness, and a soldier's proverbial indifference to death. Said he-" When the Lord calls John I. Gatta, I shall answer, ' Here !' " Alas !- he heard the roll-call long ago, which summoned him from a world of vicissitude and trial to the land unseen. He died in this town in 1837, aged 81 years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.