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 8
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In the mean time, matters of local interest and importance were not neglected. The lands were laid out to the sev- eral proprietors, bridges were built, and by-laws were passed.
I have suggested that the establishment of Litchfield as the county seat, was an important event in the history of the town. Several wealthy and prominent gentlemen from a distance, soon after this event, settled in this village-among whom I may mention Elisha Sheldon, Lynde Lord, and Reynold Mar- vin, Esquires, all from Lyme, in the eastern part of the colony. Some of the finest mansions still standing on the Hill, were erected between 1752 and 1760, inclusive. The records give indications of the " march of improvement " in other respects. Liberty was granted to Joseph Pickett " to set up a Barber's Shop anywhere in the Highway except on the Meeting House Green." Lieutenant Stephen Smith, who had figured in the " late war," and was subsequently in the service at the North, received permission to set up a Malt House and Distillery. The first Court House was built on the public square, a little
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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD.
east of the Meeting-House ; but the town passed a vote forbid- ding the erection of a Jail and County House on the square -offering, however, a piece of land for that purpose in any other part of the town which might be selected.
In December, 1740, Messrs. Samuel Culver, Joseph Bird, Ebenezer Beebe and Moses Stoddard, were appointed " to view and lay out a suitable Highway through the north-westerly part of Litchfield leading to Cornwall ;" the same committee were also directed to lay out a road to the east part of Goshen -probably the highway which now connects with Goshen East Street. The principal highways leading to New Milford, Goshen, Woodbury and Harwinton, were all laid out previous to 1750.
In 1752, the Rev. Timothy Collins was dismissed from the pastoral office in this town ; and on the 4th of July 1753, Mr. Champion was settled in his stead. In 1762, a new meeting- house was erected on the Green, which stood sixty-seven years, when it was superceded by the present church-edifice of the First Society.
CHAPTER VI.
THE REVOLUTIONARY ERA.
THE revolutionary spirit early began to manifest itself in Litchfield. A series of oppressive and retaliatory measures on the part of the British Parliament, served to test, to the fullest extent, the patience and patriotism of the people. In conse- quence of the destruction of the tea in the harbor of Boston, that Town was selected as a special object of ministerial ven- geance ; which, as a natural result, served to elicit the sympathy and co-operation of the friends of freedom through- out the country. The subjoined document evinces the spirit of the voters of this town on the occasion, and needs no ex- planation, except that Oliver Wolcott, Esq., was Moderator of the meeting from which it emanated :
" THE Inhabitants of Litchfield, in legal Town Meeting as- sembled, on the 17th day of August, A. D. 1774, taking into consideration the Distress to which the Poor of the Town of Boston may likely be reduced by the operation of an Act of the British Parliament for Blocking up their Port, and deeply commiserating the unhappiness of a brave and loyal People, who are thus eminently suffering in a General Cause, for vin- dicating what every virtuous American considers an essential Right of this Country, think it is their indispensable Duty to afford their unhappy distressed brethren of said Town of Bos- ton, all reasonable Aid and Support. And this they are the more readily induced to do, not only as the Inhabitants of said Town are thus severely condemned for their reluctance to submit to an arbitrary, an unconsented to, and consequent- ly unconstitutional Taxation, but the whole of the great and loyal Province of the Massachusetts Bay have been condemned
12
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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD.
unheard, in the loss of their Charter Privileges, by the hereto- fore unknown and unheard of exertions of Parliamentary Power, which they conceive is a Power claimed and exercised in such a manner as cannot fail of striking every unprejudiced mind with Horror and Amazement, as being subversive of all those inherent, essential and constitutional Rights and Privi- leges which the good people of this Colony have ever held sa- cred, and even dearer than Life itself, nor ever can wish to survive ; not only every idea of Property, but every emolument of civil life, being thereby rendered precarious and uncertain.
"In full confidence, therefore, that no Degree of Evil thus inflicted on said Town and Province, will ever induce them to give up or betray their own and the American Constitutional Rights and Privileges, especially as they cannot but entertain the most pleasing Expectations that the Committees of the several North American Provinces, who are soon to meet at Philadelphia, will in their wisdom be able to point out a Meth- od of Conduct effectual for obtaining Redress of their grievan- ces-a Method to which (when once agreed upon by said Com- mittee ) this Town will look upon it their duty strictly to attend. And in the mean time, earnestly recommend that subscriptions be forthwith opened in this Town, under the care of Reuben Smith, Esq., Capt. Lynde Lord, and Mr. William Stanton, who are hereby appointed a Committee to receive and forward to the Selectmen of Boston, for the use of the Poor in that place, all such Donations as shall be thereupon made for that pur- pose ; and also to correspond with the Committee of Corres- pondence there or elsewhere, as there may be occasion.
" We also take this opportunity publicly to return our thanks to the members of the Honorable House of Representatives of this Colony, for their patriotic and loyal Resolutions, passed . and published in the last Assembly on the occasion, and order them to be entered at large on the Public Records of this Town, that succeeding ages may be faithfully furnished with authen- tic Credentials of our inflexible attachment to those inestima- ble Privileges which we and every honest American glory in esteeming our unalienable Birthright and Inheritance."
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COMMITTEES OF INSPECTION.
At the annual Town Meeting, held December 6, 1774, it was Voted, That the Honorable Oliver Wolcott, Esq., and Messrs. Jedediah Strong, Jacob Woodruff, John Marsh, John Osborn, Jehiel Parmelce, Abraham Bradley, Seth Bird, Archibald Mc- Neile, Abraham Kilbourn, Nathan Garnsey, James Morris and Ebenezer Benton, be a Committee for the Purposes mentioned in the Eleventh Article of the Association Agreement of the Grand Continental Congress in Philadelphia, 5th of September last, and approved, adopted and recommended by the General Assembly of this Colony at their session in October last."
The "Eleventh Article of the Association Agreement," here referred to, provides for the appointment of " Committees of Inspection" in each city and town, " whose business it shall be attentively to observe the conduct of all persons touching this Association ; and when it shall be made to appear that any person has violated its articles, they are to cause their names to be published in the Gazette, to the end that all such foes to the Rights of British America may be publicly known and universally contemned as the enemies of American Liberty, and thenceforth we break off all dealings with him or her." Committees of Inspection were also appointed at the annual Town Meeting in 1775 and 1776. In addition to the above, the following persons were appointed, viz., Messrs. Reuben Smith, Lynde Lord, Andrew Adams, Archibald McNeile, Jr., Moses Sanford, Tapping Reeve, Jonathan Mason, Caleb Gibbs, Nathaniel Woodruff, William Stanton and Nathaniel Goodwin.
The celebrated AARON BURR, (afterwards Vice President of the United States,) became intimately associated with Litch- field during this period. He graduated at Princeton College in October, 1772, and in the following June, his only sister, Sarah Burr, became the wife of Tapping Reeve, Esq., of this own. " In May, 1774," says his biographer, (Davis i, 46,) ' he left the Rev. Mr. Bellamy's, and went to the house of his brother-in-law, Tapping Reeve, where his time was occupied n reading, principally history, but especially those portions of t which related to wars, battles and seiges, which tended to aflame his natural military ardor. The absorbing topics of ixation and the rights of the people were agitating the then
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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD.
British Colonies from. one extreme to the other. These sub- jects, therefore, could not pass unnoticed by a youth of the the enquiring mind and ardent feelings of Burr. Constitu- tional law, and the relative rights of the crown and the colo- nists, were examined with all the accumen which he possessed, and he became a whig from reflection and conviction, as well as from feeling." Burr remained in Litchfield on this occa- sion something over a year. The letters written by him while here, contain frequent allusions to local matters, and to indi- viduals (especially the young ladies) residing in the place. In a communication to Matthias Ogden (dated at Litchfield, Au- gust 17, 1774,) he says-" Before I proceed further, let me tell you that, a few days ago, a mob of several hundred per- sons gathered at Barrington, and tore down the house of a man who was suspected of being unfriendly to the liberties of the people; broke up the court then sitting at that place, &c. As many of the rioters belonged to this colony, and the Supreme Court was then sitting at this place, the Sheriff was immedi- ately despatched to apprehend the ring-leaders. He returned yesterday with eight prisoners, who were taken without resis- tance. But this minute, there are entering the town on horse- back, with great regularity, about fifty men, armed each with a white club ; and I observe others continually dropping in. I shall here leave a blank, to give you (perhaps in heroics,) a few sketches of my unexampled valor, should they proceed to hostilities ; and, should they not, I can tell you what I would have done." After the " blank," the young hero adds-" The above-mentioned sneaks all gave bonds for their appearance, to stand a trial at the next court, for committing a riot."
While Burr remained at the house of Judge Reeve, he was startled by the news of the Battle of Lexington, which took place on the 19th of April, 1775. Immediately thereafter, he addressed a letter to his friend Ogden, urging him to come to Litchfield and make arrangements with him for joining the standard of their country. The Battle of Bunker Hill soon followed-(June 16th.) As Ogden could not come at once to Litchfield, Burr started for Elizabethtown, New Jersey, to assist his friend in arranging for a speedy trip to Cambridge,
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AARON BURR.
where the American army was then encamped. In July, they reached Cambridge ; and in September, Burr enlisted as a pri- vate soldier in Arnold's expedition through the wilderness to Quebec. It may be added, that Litchfield was Colonel Burr's recognized home for some half dozen years .*
On the morning of the 10th of May, 1775, Colonel ETHAN ALLEN, a native of Litchfield, at the head of his brave Green Mountain Boys, surprized and captured the Fortress of Ticon- deroga. Several of this little band of heroes were born and bred in this vicinity. Lieutenant Crampton, who entered the fort by the side of Allen, was also a native of this town, and had resided here during a large part of his life. On this occa- sion was captured the first British flag that fell into the hands of the Americans in the revolutionary contest! The magni- tude and importance of this exploit will be better understood, when considered in connection with the vast amount of time, and treasure, and blood, which the fortress had cost the Brit- ish Government. The day following the capture of Ticonder- oga, the garrison at Crown Point, with all its military stores, were surrendered to Colonel Warner, a native of Roxbury, in this County.
* On the 27th of January, 1776, Judge Reeve wrote to Burr thus-" Amid the la- mentations for the loss of a brave, enterprising General, [Montgomery,] your escape from such imminent danger, to which you have been exposed, has afforded us the greatest satisfaction.' The news of the unfortunate attack upon Quebec arrived among us on the 13th of this month. I concealed it from your sister until the 18th, when she found it out ; but, in less than half an hour, I received letters from Albany acquainting me that you were in safety, and had gained great honor by your intrepid conduct. * * It was happy for us that we did not know you were an aid-de-camp until we heard of your welfare ; for we heard that Montgomery and his aids were killed, without knowing who his aids were. Your sister enjoys a middling state of health. She has many anxious hours on your account ; but she tells me that, as she believes you may serve the country in the business in which you are now employed, she is contented that you should remain in the army. It must be an exalted public spirit, that could produce such an effect upon a sister as affectionate as yours."
For several months in 1781, Mrs. Theodocia Provost (the dashing young widow of Colonel Provost, of the British Army,) was a resident of Litchfield ; and a few of her letters written from this place are preserved in Davis's Life of Burr, vol. i, pp. 224-227. She became the wife of Burr, July 2, 1782.
Aaron Burr, became aid de-camp to General Washington, Attorney General of the State of New York, U. S. Senator, and, in 1801, was a candidate with Jefferson for the Presidency of the United States-the two receiving an equal number of electoral votes. After an exciting contest of several days in the U. S. House of Representatives, Jef ferson was chosen President, and Burr Vice President.
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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD.
In January, 1776, Captain Bezaleel Beebe, of Litchfield, received orders to enlist a company for the defense of New York. The tidings spread rapidly throughout the town, and awakened anew the enthusiasm of the whigs. A veteran who died within the last few years, stated that when the intelli- gence reached him, he started on a run for the Captain's head- quarters, fearing the roll would be full before he could reach there. Captain Beebe's orders reached him on a Sunday, and by the following Saturday, the company had been raised, arm- ed, and equipped, and were on their march toward Fairfield. The following paper, with the names attached, is inserted here for preservation :
" WE, the Subscribers, being convinced of the Necessity of a body of Forces to defeat certain Wicked Purposes formed by the instru- ments of Ministerial Tyranny, do solemnly engage ourselves and enlist as Private Soldiers, in a Regiment to be Commanded by Colonel AN- DREW WARD, Jr., under the command of Major General LEE, for the Term of Eight Weeks at the utmost from the Day we March from Fairfield, which is the place of Rendezvous; the Honorable Major General Lee having given his Word and Honor that we shall not be Detained a single Day after said Term. Dated at Litchfield, 21st day of January, 1776."
Lieut. Jonathan Mason,
Sergt. Benjamin Bissell,
Briant Stoddard,
Elihu Harrison,
James Woodruff,
Roger N. Whittlesey,
Oliver Woodruff,
Charles Woodruff, Jr.,
Phineas Goodwin,
Joseph Sanford,
Zebulon Bissell,
Stephen Brown,
Benjamin Taylor,
William Patterson,
Moses Taylor,
John Lyman,
Frederick Stanley,
Obed Stoddard,
James Crampton,
T. Weed,
Caleb Munson, Abraham Wadhams, Martin Nash,
George Dear,
Oliver Griswold,
Jacob Gaylord, Elihu Grant, Abram Beach, Ichabod Tuttle,
Zadock Gibbs, Jr.
Josiah Bartholomew, Jr. Jesse Stanley,
Chauncey Beach, George Dear, Jr.
Adino Hale,
Elisha Mayo, Nathaniel Newell,
Allen Lucas,
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REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.
Luman Bishop,
William Starr,
Asaph Benham,
Heber Gilbert, Jr.
Joseph Finney,
Zebulon Palmer,
Zebedee Sturtevant,
Joseph Peters,
Martin Curtiss,
Truman Gilbert,
Levi Swan.
Heman Brown,
Joel Barnes,
Luther Comstock,
Peleg Holmes,
Daniel Swan.
Alexander Sackett,
' Those who have a knowledge of the leading men of Litch. field county from forty to seventy years ago, will recognize in the above list the names of many of her most prominent and influential citizens-men of wealth and enterprize, who, though surrounded by the endearments of domestic life, rol- untarily enlisted as private soldiers in that dangers expedition. The roll as here given is not complete. About two-thirds of the persons named in the list belonged to this town; the re- mainder were from Goshen, Torrington and Warren. They were all enlisted from the 21st to the 25th of January, 1776. The names of a few additional members of this company may be gleaned from the following Appraisal :
" Litchfield. 26th January, 1776.
" WE, being requested to apprise the Arms belonging to Capt. Bez- aleel Beebe's Company, in Col. Andrew Ward's Regiment, going on an expedition to New York under the command of General Charles Lee-we accordingly apprized the same, being first duly sworn, viz.,
Elihu Harrison's Gun, Bayonet and Cartridge Box, in his own hands. [Figures omitted.]
Roger N. Whittlesey's Gun in the hands of Briant Stoddard.
Joseph Sanford's Gun, Bayonet and Belt in his own hands.
Nathaniel Allen's Gun, Bayonet and Belt in his own hands.
Obed Stoddard's Gun, Bayonet, Cartridge box and belt. Joshua Smith's Gun in his own hands.
Zebulon Bissell's Gun in his own hands.
James Woodruff's Gun carried by Stephen Brown.
Phineas Goodwin's Gun, bayonet and belt.
Whiting Stanley's Gun carried by James Crampton.
Oliver Woodruff's Gun carried by himself. Hezekiah Agard's Gun carried by John Lyman.
Jedediah Strong's Gun, bayonet and belt carried by Wm Patterson. Lieut. Jonathan Mason's Cartridge box.
Samuel Canfield's Gun carried by himself.
Noah Garnsey's Gun carried by T. Weed.
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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD.
Sergt. Benjamin Bissell's Gun and Bayonet carried by himself. Asa Osborn's Gun and Cartridge box carried by himself. Jedediah Strong's Gun carried by Benjamin Taylor. Jedediah Strong's Gun carried by Frederick Stanley.
Reuben Smith, Esq's, Gun, Bayonet, Case and Belt, carried by Capt. Beebe.
Capt. John Osborn's Gun carried by Moses Taylor.
ABRAHAM BRADLEY, THOMAS CATLIN, Appraisers on
OBED STODDER,
Oath.
In May, 1776, a regiment was ordered to be raised for the defense of the State, "to be subject to join the continental army, if so ordered by the Governor." Captain Beebe was appointed to the command of one of the companies of this regiment, with Jesse Cook for 1st lieutenant, and James Wat- son for 2d lieutenant. Lieut. Watson was soon transferred to another corps, and John Smith, of Litchfield, was commission- ed in his place. The following is a complete list of the officers and soldiers of this company :
BEZALEEL BEEBE, Captain,
James Beach,
Jesse Cook, Lieutenant,
Asa Brooks,
John Smith, do.
Daniel Benedict,
Wait Beach, Ensign,
Samuel Baldwin,
Levi Peck, Sergeant,
Elisha Brownson,
Cotton Mather, do.
Benjamin Bissell,
Heber Stone, do.
Daniel Barns,
Solomon Goodwin, do.
Ebenezer Bacon,
Samuel Cole, Corporal,
Noah Beach,
Ezekiel Bissell, do.
Elisha Bissell,
Elijah Loomis, do.
Frederick Bigelow,
David Hall, do
Hezekiah Bissell,
Joel Taylor, Drummer,
James Davis,
Epaphras Wadsworth, Fifer,
Friend Dickinson,
Nathaniel Allen,
Jesse Dickinson,
Cyrenius Austin,
Solomon Dickinson,
Enos Austin,
Ebenezer Dimon,
Joseph Austin,
Gershom Fay,
Andrew Austin,
Remembrance Filley,
Elihu Beach,
Joel Frost,
Barnias Beach,
John German,
Zebulon Bissell,
Phineas Goodwin,
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.
Beriah Birge,
Joseph Goodwin,
James Birge,
Noadiah Bancroft,
Benjamin Gibbs, Gershom Gibbs,
Ithamar Gibbs,
Henry Plumb,
Moore Gibbs,
Eliphaz Parsons,
Samuel Gleason,
Joseph Sanford,
Isaac Hosford,
Frederick Stanley,
Abraham Haskins,
Timothy Stanley,
Amos Johnson,
Jared Stewart,
Charles Kilbourn,
Joseph Spencer,
Henry HcIntire,
Daniel Smith,
Thomas Mason,
Aaron Stoddard,
Oliver Marshall,
Ira Stone,
Timothy Marsh,
John Strong,
Alexander McNiel,
Peleg Sweet,
Ebenezer Landon,
Stephen Taylor,
Remembrance Loomis,
Joseph Taylor,
James Little,
Samuel Vaill,
John Lyman,
Jeremiah Weed,
Noah North,
John Weed,
David Olmsted,
Gideon Wilcoxson,
Ethan Osborn,
John Whiting,
John Parmeley, Solomon Parmeley,
Oliver Woodruff,
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These names are copied from the account-book and billet- roll preserved among the papers of Col. Becbe. From various accounts and memoranda found in these papers, we are able to gather certain facts in the history of some of these soldiers. Thus-" August 9, To cash paid for coffin for Ira Stone ;" Sept. 7, " Lieut. John Smith was discharged from the army in New York ;" "John German was dismissed from my com- pany by order of a General Court Martial, July 9, 1776 ;" " Aug. 9, James Beach died about 8 o'clock in the morning ;" " Sept. the 5th, 10 o'clock at night, Samuel Gleason died ;" in the account with Joel Taylor-"Paid one dollar to Zebulon Taylor to deliver to the mother of the above Joel Taylor, de- ceased, it being cash that was with him when he died ;" "Sept. 27, 1777, Received of Capt. Beebe 22 shillings for mileage from Philadelphia to Litchfield. (Signed,) Abraham Haskins."
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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD.
From the account of Gershom Gibbs-" Received of Capt. Beebe three dollars that belonged to my husband and son, which was part of the money sent to them whilst prisoners in New York. (Signed,) Tabitha Gibbs." From the account with Nathaniel Allen-" Sept 27, 1777, To cash left with Joseph Agard to be paid to Mrs. Allen, that was left with me when Mr. Allen died." From the account with Phineas Goodwin- " To back rations 16 days at Fort Washington," &c. The fate of some of these individuals, together with that of many others belonging to this company, will be more fully explained in the narrative which follows.
About the 1st of November, 1776, thirty-six picked men, (all of whose names are given in the preceding roll,) were placed under the command of Capt. Beebe and sent to Fort Washing- ton to aid in its defense. This post, together with Fort Lee on the Jersey shore, commanded the mouth of the Hudson, and was hence regarded by the enemy as a tempting prize. In anticipation of an attack, the works had been strengthened and reinforced. At the critical time, the Fort and Harlem Heights were manned by two Pennsylvania Regiments com- manded by Colonels Magraw and Shea, Rawlin's Riflemen from Maryland, some of the militia of the flying camp, and a few companies detailed from the Connecticut Regiments. On the 15th of November, Sir William Howe summoned Colonel Ma- graw, (who had the chief command of the garrison,) to sur- render. That brave officer, acting under the immediate ad- vice of Generals Putnam and Greene, responded, that he would defend himself to the last extremity. On the morning of the 16th the attack was commenced at four different points nearly at the same moment. The Hessians under Knyphau- sen assaulted the south side ; the English Light Infantry, two battalions of Guards, the 33d Regiment, and a body of Grena- diers, commanded by General Matthews and Lord Cornwallis, attacked the east side ; on the south, a feint was attempted by Colonel Sterling with the 42d Regiment ; while Lord Percy, with a very strong corps, directed the assault upon the west- ern flank of the fortress. The assailants were provided with excellent trains of artillery, which were brought to bear with
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FORT WASHINGTON.
effect. The attack was prosecuted with extraordinary energy and spirit, and the Americans continued to defend themselves until resistance became fruitless. During a recess in the fight, the garrison was again summoned to surrender ; and, after a brief consultation with the officers, Magraw capitulated. The entire American force, amounting to two thousand six hun- dred men, surrendered as prisoners of war. During the seige, the enemy lost about twelve hundred, and the Americans about four hundred.
Gorton, the historian, informs us that "while the enemy were advancing to the attack, Generals Washington, Putnam and Greene, and Colonel Knox, with their aids, crossed the river and approached toward the Fort. They were warned of their danger, and, after much persuasion, were induced to return. The garrison, however, was watched with intense interest by Washington, who, from Fort Lee, could view several parts of the attack ; and when he saw his men bayoneted, and in that way killed while begging for quarter, he cried with the tender- ness of a child, denouncing the barbarity that was practiced."
The terms of the capitulation were regarded as liberal and honorable on the part of the victors, and highly favorable to the vanquished. The manner in which those terms were vio- lated, and every principle of humanity set at naught, by the miscreants into whose hands the unfortunate prisoners were placed, is without a parallel in the history of the revolutionary struggle. Crowded, with hundreds of others, into the Sugar- House and on board the Prison-Ships, without air or water and for the first two days without food, contagion and death were the natural consequences. The dysentery, small-pox, and other terrible diseases, broke out among them, and very few of the whole number survived the terrible ordeal. On the 27th of December, 1776, an exchange of prisoners took place. Only eleven of Captain Beebe's Company were able to sail for Connecticut, viz., Marsh, Woodruff, R. Loomis, B. Beach, N. Beach, Marshall, Brownson, Bissell, Little, Benedict and Mason. Six of these died on their way home, viz., Bissell, Brownson, B. Beach, Marsh, Marshall and Loomis. The remainder of those who were living at that date, being too ill to be removed, were
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