USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The history of Waterbury, Connecticut; the original township embracing present Watertown and Plymouth, and parts of Oxford, Wolcott, Middlebury, Prospect and Naugatuck. With an appendix of biography, genealogy and statistics > Part 34
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Capt. John Lewis, Jr., (of Salem,) in pursuance of the or- ders of Lient. Col. Baldwin, complained to the Legislature of his lieutenant, Ira Beebe. "I mustered," Lewis said, " and marched the company under my command to the Fishkills, where we arrived on or about the Sth day of October last past ; and before I had opportunity to make a regimental re- turn of my company, said Lieut. Beebe did in fact come off and lead off a large number of my company without liberty and contrary to my orders," &c. The document is dated at Waterbury, Jan. 1, 1778, and will be found in the 3d Vol. of Revolutionary papers in the State Library. Beebe was or- dered to pay the costs that had arisen.
There was some difficulty about the payment of the 10th regiment, in this year. Gen. Washington wrote a letter, da-
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ted April 7th, 1777, to the governor of Connecticut, declining to pay, on account of the great disproportion of officers to soldiers, &c. The Assembly desired the governor to reply to the letter, " and state the peculiar circumstances of that regi- ment and request payment," &c.
Many from Waterbury were in the northern army under Gen. Gates, and took part in the movements and the battles which terminated so gloriously in the capture of Burgoyne, in October, 1777. Lient. Michael Bronson, attached to Col. Cook's regiment, acted as adjutant, and particularly distin- guished himself.
In November, 1777, the " Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union" were, after prolonged debate, agreed on by Congress. These were to be proposed to the several legisla- tures, approved by them, and again ratified by their delegates in Congress, before they went into operation. Before the Con- necticut Legislature had considered the subject, the town of Wa- terbury held an adjourned meeting "for the purpose of taking into consideration the Articles of Confederation." The Arti- cles were read one by one. The first, second, third and fourth were approved. "As to the fifth article, [says the record,] it is the mind of this meeting that the power of choos- ing delegates to Congress is invested in the people-on this condition we concur."* The sixth and seventh articles were approved. The eighth article was "not satisfactory," on ac- count of "the method of proportioning the tax for supplying the common treasury." "As to the ninth article, where it mentions the number of land forces made by requisition from each state for its quota in proportion to white inhabitants in such state, we had rather choose it should be in proportion to the number of free subjects in each state." The remaining articles were approved. "After going through the whole of said articles, [continues the record,] the whole was put to vote and passed in the affirmative, excepting the above exceptions and reserves."
After the Declaration or Independence and its approval by
* The fifth article provided that the delegates should " be annually appointed in such man- ner as the Legislature of each State shall direct," with a power reserved to each State to recall its members, at any time, and send others.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
this State, in Oct. 1776, a law against high treason was enact- ed and defined. At the same time, an oath of fidelity to the State was prescribed and enjoined, to be taken by the free- men and officers of the same. No person could execute any office after Jan. 1, 1777, till he had taken the oath of fidelity; and no freeman could vote for any officer till he had done the same. This law was repealed in December, but another was enacted in June, 1777. At the session in August, the members of the Assembly took the prescribed oath. Mr. Joseph Hop- kins and Capt. Ezra Bronson were the representatives from Waterbury. On the 16th of September following, (and after- wards,) the oath was administered to the freemen of Waterbury. The list, headed by Rev. Mark Leavenworth, will be found in the beginning of the second volume of town meetings.
During the severe winter of 1777-8, Washington was en- camped with his army at Valley Forge, Pa. Hunger, naked- ness, disease and discontent came near breaking up the army. Capt. David Smith, writing from the "Camp of Pennsylva- nia," under date of Jan. 18, 1778, made a return of the names of persons under his command, from Waterbury. They are as follows: Sylvanus Adams, John Saxton, Ezekiel Scott, Lue Smith, Joseph Freedom, Mark Richards, Ezekiel Upson, Joel Roberts, Elisha Munson, Elisha Hickox, William Bassett.
In 1778, the military companies of Waterbury were formed into a distinct regiment by the name of the 28th regiment. The field officers were Col. Phineas Porter, (of Waterbury,) Lieut. Col. Benjamin Richards, (of Westbury,) and Major Jesse Curtis, (of Northbury.) In this year and afterwards, Waterbury appears to have furnished its full proportion of troops both for the regular army or " continental line," and for militia duty. Those who remained at home contributed, according to their ability, to sustain the burdens of the war. These burdens in the form of regular taxes, provisions, cloth- ing, camp equipage, &c., were heavier, perhaps, than were ever before borne by a numerous people, voluntarily. In the early part of the war, the men were so generally absent on military duty that there were scarcely any persons left except the aged, the infirm and the women to do the farm work-to put in and secure the crops, and take care of the farm stock.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
There was danger of famine, not only in the army, but among the people at large. The disordered condition of the currency, connected with large emissions of irredeemable paper, made (to keep up its credit) a legal tender, added greatly to the embarrassments of the country. Labor was robbed of its re- ward ; honesty and fair dealing were discouraged. Individ- uals took advantage of the necessities of the government and the general destruction of credit. To prevent extortion, the Legislature undertook the business of regulating the prices of all commodities (including labor) by statute. Thus the dif- ficulty was aggravated. Few, at this time, have adequate con- ceptions of the distressed condition of our country in those dark and perilous days. Those who talk flippantly of our in- stitutions ; who disparage our government ; who speak lightly of the blessings of union and the advantages secured by the Constitution -- know little of their worth-know little of the toil and privation, the agony and the blood, which purchased them !
Much of the business in town meetings, during the war, was to provide ways and means for carrying on the contest. Committees were appointed from year to year, to furnish cloth- ing for the soldiers and provide for their families at home, to col- lect provisions for the army, to make tents, &c., &c. When arti- eles could not otherwise be obtained, impressment was resorted to. Much difficulty was experienced in complying with the de- mands of Congress and the State for soldiers. After the first enthusiasm had subsided, men were reluctant to enlist, partic- ularly for three years, or during the war. To make the pay sure, the town guaranteed the wages offered and usually added a considerable bonus. Heavy fines were imposed for delin- quency on those who were drafted. Eli Blakeslee, Samuel How, Ebenezer Bradley, Jr., and Joseph Bradley, were draft- ed to go to New Haven, but neglected to appear. They were arraigned before the County Court in April, 1779, and fined each £10, and costs amounting to £9, 9s.
Of the 1,500 soldiers which the Assembly ordered, in May, 1780, to be raised for the continental army, Waterbury and Watertown were required to furnish 26. At a town meeting held in June, a committee, consisting of Capt. Phineas Castle,
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
Capt. Samuel Bronson, Capt. Isaac Bronson, Jr., Mr. Ira Bee- be, Capt. Josiah Terrel, Capt. Samuel Upson, Capt. Levi Gaylord, Messrs. Michael Bronson, Joseph Beach, Jr., Street Richards, Timothy Clark and Jude Hoadley, was appointed to hire Waterbury's proportion (thirteen) "to inlist into the continental army in any company, battalion or regiment, as they shall choose, for the term of three years, or during the war, and if the men cannot be obtained for so long a term, until the first of January next." At the same time, the town pledged itself that one half of the bounty or wages should be paid in provision or clothing, at the prices such articles com- monly sold for in 1774, and the other half in lawful money, or its equivalent in bills of credit, payable once a year, once in six months, or once in three months, as the committee should agree. In July following, the same committee was directed " to engage ten other soldiers, which are now ordered to be raised by the governor and council of safety."
In November, 1780, Waterbury and Watertown were order- ed to provide 14 soldiers for the continental army.
Early in 1781, there was a pressing demand for troops for Horse Neck. Waterbury resolved to raise its quota, agreea- ble to the act of the Assembly in November preceding. They were to serve one year from the ensuing first of March. Ben- jamin Munson, James Porter, Jr., David Taylor, Daniel Alcock, Jude Hoadley and Ebenezer Porter were chosen a committee to procure Waterbury's quota. At the same time, heavy taxes were laid, and to facilitate the collection, the tax-payers were divided into several " classes" (eighteen) and a collector ap- pointed for each. To help out, the selectmen were desired to make a loan, on the town's credit, of a sufficient sum, in state money, for hiring the soldiers for Horse Neck. Some de- clined to pay the taxes. Capt. Samuel Upson and others of the third class, in Farmingbury, represented that Abraham Wooster refused to pay. His tax was 24s., and he was order- ed by town vote to be assessed for double the amount, accord- ing to law. David Wooster, David Welton, Henry Grilley, Stephen Scovill and Timothy Scovill also refused, and were served in the same way.
In March, 1781, the town voted to raise ten footmen and
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
one mounted horseman for Horse Neck, according to act of Assembly, and engaged that the wages offered by the State should be punctually paid in silver at 6s. 8d. per ounce, or an equivalent in bills of credit. And the committee, Eli Bronson and Joseph Atkins, Jr., was authorized to pledge such addi- tional payment as might be necessary. If said soldiers were not obtained by the first of April, (1781,) the inhabitants were to be divided into classes by Messrs. Ashbel Porter, John Thomson and Daniel Byington, committee, according to the list of 1780, each class to provide for one recruit.
In June, 1781, John Welton was chosen agent to hire seven soldiers for the continental army for one year, "on as reason- able terms as he can." A rate was also laid of four pence on the pound, payable in gold or silver, or good merchantable beef cattle, at the prices fixed by the General Assembly, for the purpose of providing for the continental army.
In July, 1781, six soldiers for continental service were to be furnished by Waterbury, and Capt. John Welton, Dr. Isaac Baldwin, Charles Upson, David Hotchkiss, Isaac Judd and Eli Bronson were chosen to divide the town into six classes, each class to provide one. Another tax was at the same time laid of three pence on a pound, payable in lawful silver money, or provisions, or clothing. In December, one soldier was want- ing to complete the town's quota "for Horse Neck tower," [tour, ] and he was to be provided by Stephen Bronson and others, committee.
Feb. 25, 1782, the town passed a vote to lay a tax of three half pence on the pound "for the purpose of procuring seven men for the post of Horse Neck and western frontier, accord- ing to an act of the General Assembly passed in January last," to be paid in cattle, sheep, swine or grain, " according to the true value thereof in ready money." Joseph Beach, Jr., was chosen a committee to procure them, he to be allowed a reasonable reward for his services .* At an adjourned meet- ing, March 11th, measures were taken to supply seven men, "able bodied and effective," for the continental army. Charles
* The town sometimes contracted with individuals to furnish the required soldiers. In 1780, for instance, Seba Bronson and William Leavenworth were the contractors, as appears from some difficulty in the settlement with them this year, (1782.)
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
Upson and David Hotchkiss were chosen a committee to hire them. To defray the expense, another tax of three half pence was voted, payable as before, in cattle, sheep or swine, or in wheat at 5s., rye at 3s. 4d., corn at 2s. 6d., oats at 1s. 6d.
In the war of the Revolution, no person from Waterbury attained a higher rank in the regular army than that of major. David Smith of Northbury continued an officer during the war, and for some time before its close held the commission of major. He was attached, in the commencement of 1781, to the fifth regiment of infantry of the "Connecticut line," commanded by Lieut. Col. Isaac Sherman.
I give below a list of such names as I have obtained of those persons from Waterbury who were engaged in the war of the Revolution. The list is very incomplete.
Ethan Andruss,
Daniel Barnes,
Israel Calkins,
Timothy Andruss,
Capt. Nathaniel Barnes,
Roswel Calkins,
Jolın Ames,
Thaddeus Barnes, Jr.,
Richard Clark,
Samuel Ames,
Capt. Isaac Bronson,
Capt. Phineas Castle,
Sylvanus Adams,
Dr. Isaac Bronson,
Asahel Chittenten,
Luke Adams,
Lieut. Michael Bronson,
Amos Culver, Cuff Capenny,
James Adams,
Titus Bronson,
Daniel Allen,
Roswell Bronson,
Lient. Thomas Dutton,
Josiah Atkins,
Asahel Bronson,
Lieut. Titus Dutton,
Solomon Aleock,
Joseph Bronson,
Stephen Davis,
Samuel Alcock,
Daniel Bronson,
Jonathan Davis,
John B. Alcoek,
Eliel Barker,
Miles Dunbar,
Lient. Aaron Benedict,
Isaac Barker,
Amos Dunbar,
Obed Blakeslee,
Giles Broeket,
Joel Dunbar,
Enos Blakeslee,
Ebenezer Brown,
Isaae Dayton,
John Blakeslee,
Thomas Cole,
Samuel Dayton,
Amasa Blakeslee,
John Cole,
Nathaniel Edwards,
Joel Blakeslee,
Thomas Chilman,
Elisha Frost,
Benjamin Bates,
Timothy Cook,
Aaron Fenn,
Col. Jonathan Baldwin,
Capt. Thomas Fenn,
Ens. Theophilus Baldwin, Abel Baldwin,
William Cook,
Cephas Ford,
Benjamin Baldwin,
Selah Cook,
Joseph Freedom,
Elihu Benham,
Bethel Camp,
John Fallendon,
Stephen Bristor,
Lieut. Samuel Camp,
Lieut. John Fulford,
William Basset,
Samuel Camp, Jr.,
James Fulford,
Lieut. Ira Beebe,
Eli Curtis,
Israel Frisbie,
Aner Bradley,
Stephen Curtis,
David Foot,
John Beach,
Samuel Curtis,
Moses Foot,
Thaddeus Beach,
Capt. Jesse Curtis,
Bronson Foot,
Clark Baird,
Benjamin Gaylord,
Benjamin Barnes,
Capt. Jotham Curtis, Zadoe Curtis,
Jonathan Gaylord,
Joel Cook, Samuel Cook,
Ens. Benjamin Fenn,
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
Southmayd Garnsey, Jonathan Garnsey, Capt. Joseph Garnsey, Paul Griggs, Simeon Graves, James Grannis,
Elisha Munson, Nathaniel Morris,
Serg. Stephen Scott,
Ansel Spencer,
Levi Marks,
Elisha Spencer,
Philip Martin,
Asa Sawyer,
Samuel Mix,
Nathan Seward,
Titus Mix,
Stephen Scovill,
Gideon Hickox,
Capt. Stephen Matthews,
Timothy Scovill,
Elisha Hickox,
Jonah Mallory,
Ezekiel Sanford,
William Hickox, Jr.,
Joseph Mun,
Stephen Seymour,
Capt. James Hickox,
Timon Miles,
William Southmayd,
Abraham Hotchkiss,
Joseph Minor,
Ezekiel Tuttle,
Truman Hotchkiss,
Abijah Osborn,
Jabez Tuttle,
Ebenezer Hotchkiss,
Joshmua Osborn,
Timothy Tuttle,
Jesse Hotchkiss,
Isaac Osborn, Maj. Phineas Porter,
Hezekiah Tuttle,
Timothy Humaston,
Truman Porter,
Asa Thayer,
Jared Humaston,
Lieut. Pendleton,
Capt. Josiah Terrell,
Lemuel Hopkins,
Daniel Pendleton,
Ichabod Terrell,
Hollingsworth Hine,
Jared Prichard,
Joel Terrell,
Benjamin Hine,
George Prichard,
Jared Terrell,
Hezekiah Hine,
George Prichard, Jr.,
Thomas Terrell,
· Reuben Hine,
Jonathan Pardee,
Isaac Terrell,
Nathaniel Hall, James Hull,
Luke Potter,
Elihu Terrell,
Culpepper Hoadley,
Munson Pond,
William Turner,
Philo Hoadley,
Ward Peck,
Ezekiel Upson,
Ebenezer Hoadley,
Augustus Peek,
Benjamin Upson,
William Hoadley,
Eliel Parker,
Stephen Upson,
Jude Hoadley,
Elijah Parker,
Benjamin Wooster,
Lazarus Ives,
Aaron Parker,
Edward Warren,
Elnathan Ives,
Capt. Benjamin Richards,
Samuel Welton,
Dennis Judd,
Mark Richards,
James Welton,
Samuel Judd,
Joel Roberts,
Stephen Welton, Jr.,
Daniel Judd,
Capt. Neheminh Rice,
Job Welton,
Freeman Judd,
Elijalı Steele,
Increase Wade,
Chandler Judd,
John Stoddard,
Samuel Woodruff,
Stephen Judd,
John Smith,
Lambert Woodruff,
Brewster Judd,
Isaac Smith,
Edward Woodruff,
Samuel Kimball,
Levi Smith,
Capt. John Woodruff,
Capt. John Lewis, Jr.,
Allen Smith,
Abel Woodward, Thomas Warden,
Serg. Samuel Lewis,
Samuel Smith,
Joseph Lewis,
Lue Smith,
Bartholomew Williams,
David Lewis,
Maj. David Smith,
Obadiah Williams,
Joel Lines,
John Saxton,
Philemon Wilcox,
Richard Lawrence,
Samuel Strickland,
Stephen Warner,
Charles Merriman,
Ezekiel Scott,
Justus Warner.
Thomas Merchant,
Uri Seott,
Ens. Timothy Tuttle,
Capt. Gideon Hotchkiss,
Amasa Preston,
Israel Terrell,
Thomas Hickox (of Westbury) and Ezra Bronson were purchasing commissaries ; the first during most of the war, and the last in 1782 and afterwards.
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IIISTORY OF WATERBURY.
In the very commencement of the war, the Royalists or Tories of Waterbury, by their acts and words, aroused the jealousy of the Whigs. There was, at that time, within the bounds of the first society, two military companies. One of these was commanded by Whigs. All the officers of the other, with the exception of one sergeant, were Tories, and took no pains to disguise their sentiments. The General Court, as early as June, 1774, appointed a committee to examine into the facts and report. Thomas Mathewson (Matthews ?) and Timothy Judd were the committee. The next year, a formal complaint was made of their commanding officer to the As- sembly by certain members of the company, Whigs, as follows :
To the Honorable General Assembly, to be holden at New Haven, on the 2d Thursday of October, A. D. 1775.
The memorial of the subscribers, inhabitants of Waterbury, within the limits of the military company or train-band under the command of Capt. Hezekiah Brown, humbly showeth-That your memorialists, sensible of the importance of supporting the natural and chartered rights, liberties, privileges and properties of the inhabitants of the American colonies, and anxious to find any person or persons unfriendly to the continental method of defending said colonies, think ourselves obliged to inform your Honors that the said Brown is disaffected with, and unfriendly to, the present method advised by the Continental Congress, and adopted by your Honors, for the common defence ; which fully appears by the following sentence pronounced by said Brown, in the hearing of sundry people, at sundry times, viz : that the Congress ought to be punished for putting the country to so much cost and charge ; for they did no more good than a parcel of squaws. And some time in the latter end of May last, did say, that he did not see the necessity of this Colony raising soldiers, as it was unnecessary expense, and the Assembly had no right to do it ; and that Boston had wrongfully under- taken to quarrel about the tea, and we had no hand in it ; and by his justifying his brother John Brown in exclaiming against the authority of this Colony for raising men to defend the Colony; and by saying that our General Assembly was as arbitrary as the pope of Rome, when they cashiered Capt. Amos Bronson and Ensign Samuel Scovill; by saying that the Congress, in some of the Articles of their Association, was as arbitrary as ever they were in Rome. And soon after the battle of Lexington, in April last, by saying in the time of the alarm, that he would not go one step further for the relief of the people in Boston than he was obliged to go.
Therefore, your memorialists would humbly observe, that as all military officers in this Colony hold their commissions by your Honors' authority, solely for the purpose of defending the lives, liberties and properties of the people, we think it is very inconsistent that any person should hold a commission who is in- clined to use his influence against the authority that granted it ; and very unsafe for this Colony at the present eritical and important erisis, and is very grievous to
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
your memorialists to be under the command of an officer in whom we cannot eon- fide. And therefore pray your Honors to grant such relief as your wisdom and justice shall direct ; and we as in duty bound shall ever pray. Dated at Water- bury the 3d day of October, A. D. 1775.
[Signed] Joseph Beach, Phineas Castle, Daniel Bronson, Moses Cook, Amos Prichard, Thomas Bronson, Jr. [Historical Collections relating to the War of the Revolution : compiled by R. R. Hinman, 1842, p. 547.]
A warrant was served upon Brown to appear and answer to the charges ; but no decisive action appears to have been had. Afterwards, however, at the May session of the Legislature, on information that Capt. Brown (of the 12th company of the 10th regiment, then commanded by Col. James Wordsworth) had refused to obey certain orders given him by Jonathan Baldwin, lieut. colonel of the regiment, to detach men for the service, said Brown was ordered to be arrested and brought before the Assembly to answer, &c. Col. Baldwin and others were summoned as witnesses. After a full hearing, the delin- quent officer was cashiered, made incapable of holding milita- ry office, and his company disbanded. Soon after, or March 23, 1777 (?), Brown left Waterbury, joined the royal army in New York, received a captain's commission and before long (Aug. 27, 1777) died among his new friends. His real estate was improved, and his personal estate forfeited and sold, for the benefit of the commonwealth. After his death, the real estate was restored to the widow.
In December, 1775, the General Assembly of Connecticut . enacted laws to punish persons inimical to the rights and lib- erties of the Colony or the united colonies. To supply the en- emy (" the ministerial army or navy") with provisions, or military or naval stores ; to give them information ; to enlist into their service or to persuade others to do so; to pilot or assist their naval vessels, or to take up arms against the Colo- ny or the united colonies, was punished, on conviction before the Superior Court, by a forfeiture of estate for the use of the Colony, and imprisonment not exceeding three years. If a person spoke or wrote against, libeled or defamed, the resolves of Congress or the acts of the Assembly, he was to be disarm- ed and disqualified for office, and be imprisoned, disfranchised or fined, at the discretion of the Court, he to give surety for good behavior. If any man sought the protection of the ene-
Vitus Brenden
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
my's army or navy, or aided in the execution of the ministerial measures against the colonies, his estate was to be attached and improved for the benefit of the Colony. The selectmen and com- mittee of inspection were authorized to cause any person, com- plained of as inimical to the liberties of the people to be brought before them and disarmed, if he could not disprove the charge. At the next session, in May, the old colonial law against high treason was repealed, " every part and paragraph thereof."
After the declaration of Independence, the first act that was passed by the Legislature was one against high treason, in which the "State " and the " United States of America " took the place of "our Sovreign Lord and King." Death was the penalty of levying war against the government, betraying it, furnishing its enemies with arms or intelligence, &c., &c. To attempt to join the enemies of the State or United States ; to try to per- svade any person to aid, assist, or comfort them, or to have knowledge of persons doing the same and concealing it, was punished by fine, and imprisonment not exceeding ten years.
In February, 1781, still more stringent laws, aimed at what is called " freedom of speech and the press," were passed. One enacted that if any person, being a citizen, " should by writing profess or declare that the king of Great Britain hath or of right ought to have, any authority or dominion in or over this State, or the inhabitants thereof, or that he or they owe allegiance to the said king within the same," &c., he shall be "put to death." Another law enacted that if any citizen shall " by words profess- or declare that the king of Great Britain hath or of right ought to have any authority or dominion in and over this State," &c., (the same words are used as in the other law,) he " shall suffer imprisonment in Newgate during the present war."
Be it said, to the credit of Connecticut, that its laws di- rected against the enemies of the Revolution were less severe than in most of the other States.
In the course of the year 1776, after the defeat of the Amer- ican forces on Long Island, when the British army was lying in and about New York, the patriot cause looking desperate enough, abont eighty persons, Royalists, left Waterbury with the intention of joining the enemy. Some were taken on the way by the Americans, but most of them reached their desti-
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