The history of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Part 69

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton
Number of Pages: 956

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to the Genesee country : Abigail, b. Oct. 15, 1760 ; Eunice, b. April 30, 1763 ; m. Timothy Smith, of Amherst, Mass., 1786; she d. June, 1788, aged 22. years ; had son Timothy : Thomas, b. May 19, 1765 ; sons, Smith, Anson and Thomas ; Thomas resides in Sunderland, Mass. ; Smith and Anson went to Ohio : Rachel, b. Ang. 4, 1767.

JOHN, 6 b. Sept. 5, 1736. Children-Martin,22 m. Mercy --; 8 children or more ; removed westward : Luther, m. Polly Ryder ; had William, Roxa, Esther, Cynthia, Julia : Elizabeth, m. Solomon Pearl ; Tryphosa, m. Ebenezer Starkes, who resided near Lake Champlain : Tryphena, d. unmarried : Cal- vin, 23 b. 1767 ; m. Esther Davis ; he d. May 25, 1835, aged 59 ; she d. Nov. 24, 1849, aged 73 : John, d. unmarried.

ZACHEUS,7 b. Aug. 17, 1745; m. Hannah Drake, May 4, 1768 ; joined Shakers at Enfield, with his whole family. Children-Hannah, b. May 14, 1769 ; Zacheus, b. April 16, 1771 ; Susanna, b. Aug. 14, 1773; Levi, b. Sept. 9, 1775 ; Agnes, b. Feb. 23, 1778 ; Submit, b. June 17, 1780.

ALPHEUS, 8 b. Oct. 12, 1749 ; m. Eunice Hayden, 1783; he died Dec. 1, 1807, aged 58 ; was a soldier in the Revolution. Children-Deborah, baptised July 19, 1795 ; m. Elihu Roberts, Feb. 2, 1801 : Rodney, baptised July 19, 1795.

HEZEKIAH,9 b. Jan. 17, 1753; m. Irene Bissell, Jan. 24, 1777 ; he was a soldier of the Revolution ;* resided at E. W., where he d. April 14, 1844,

* Hezekiah Munsell, at the time of his death was the oldest male inhabitant of East Wind- sor. There were many things so remarkable in his life and character, that several persons visited him to gather the particulars of his personal history, and the facts which they elicited were published in the Connecticut Courant. He was tall and erect, and used frequently, after the age of seventy-five, to compete with young men in the field. He had an instinetive aversion to rum and tobacco ; such was his antipathy to cider and vinegar that they were never placed on his side of the table, although the former was the common beverage of New England, and used on every farmer's table. His memory was very tenacious, and he retained his faculties in a remarkable degree till within a week of his death. In the war of the Revolution he was out in four campaigns, and gave the following account of himself :

At the time when the news of Lexington battle renehed us, in East Windsor, I was in the 23d year of my age. In 1775, when the war commeneed, there was but one newspaper printed in Hartford, the Courant. By reading that, my own mind was principally prepared to repel the British invasion. It is true there was much said in every situation and station in life by the people, in relation to our condition to the mother country, at this crisis. I re- member reading one or more letters, from Governor Trumbull to Governor Gage, which had a powerful influence on my mind, and did mueh to prepare me for the seenes in which I afterwards took a part. The stamp aet, duty on tca, Boston port bill, and the massacre of citizens, in the town of Boston, by British soldiers, in 1770 : all tended to prepare us to de- fend what we considered our common rights, and liberties. At this juneture, I felt and BO did others, that there must be war. For the feeling was quite general, that unless we de- tended our rights and liberties, we must be slaves : and as unnatural as some may think of it, we chose to decide the question by "au appeal to arms." In his state of mind, the news of Lexington battle reached me.

Capt. Lemuel Stoughton, who then commandeil the company of militia in the north part of the town, called out his company, and we paraded half a mile north of Scantie meeting- house. Names were soon called for volunteers, and as many as forty volunteered to march to the battle field with their captain. We left our homes the next day, for the field of con- flict - this day was Saturday - most of this little company were full of patriotism and ambition. On Monday we reached Shrewsbury, where we met Col. Nathanlei Terry, of En- field, who had been to Roxbury, which was the head quarters ot the Provinciale. He brought haek to us, on the way to the rendezvous, advice, that we should so arrange that those who came on should stay two or three weeks. This brought our company to a stand, and the Sergeant, Ebenezer Watson, jr., beat up for volunteers. Eleven ot our number turned ont to march to Roxbury. We chose E. Watson as our lieutenant, and N. Phelps, ser- geant. Tuesday we left Shrewsbury, and reached head quarters Wednesday. On this oxpedition, we bore our owu expenses, and lived for the most part of the time on what our

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aged 91 ; she d. March 17, 1847, aged 91. Children-Hezekiah,11 b. Sept. 17, 1777 : Irene, b. Feb. 21, 1779 ; m Martin Green ; resided at W., where

wives and mothers put into our knapsacks when wo left home. On reaching Roxbury, we found that many of the inhabitants had fled - we soon found a bouse empty, and prepared to oennpy it. Two more of the volunteers soon joined our number, and we prepared to take up our quarters in a school house. We were not much exercised in military tactics at this time. I stood as a sentinel two or three times, which was most that I did in the soldier's lino at this campaign. What was then a curiosity to me, we drew for our rations sea bread, which I was told was taken from the British on their excursion to Concord. It was so much of a enriosity, I brought soms home when I returned. When in this campaign, I remem- ber of seeing several tories brought into Roxbury, by the soldiers, from the neighboring lowne. I then supposed that they were considered as dangerous men in our state affairs, to have their liberty in the community. They wore their white wigs; and for some reason or other a mmmber had settled down in Marshfield. The inhabitants now liv- ing in Massachusetts and Connecticut, can hardly eonceive the spirit of indignation which was enkindled in the community at the news of the march of the British troops from Boston to Concord, in April 1. 1775. [He wore a hat to the field of conflict, with this motto on a brass plate : " Liberty, Property, and all America."]

The second time I entered tho army, I enlisted in the month of May, 1775, for seven months. Colonel George Pitkin of East Hartford was onr eaptain. The company numbered one hundred men, rank and file; and all of them lived to return to their homes, at the expiration of the time for which we enlisted. We were stationed at Roxbury and Brookline, at our first going into actual service; during this campaign the American army was reduced to discipline. I recollect, that the light house at Boston harbor was burnt by a party of Americans, not far from this time. This was dons to vex the enemy's shipping, but it never amounted to much in that way. A part of the regiment to which Colonol Pitkin's company belonged, went to join the northern army. It was the duty of the company to which I belonged, to guard the coast near Boston. I was not in the battle of Bunker Hill ; our company was not called to take part in that conflict. I heard the cannon, and was standing on the bell deek of Brookline meeting-house during . that battle, from whence I saw tho burning of Charlestown, We had not much fighting with the enemy during this campaign. Winter was approaching, the weather was cold ; we had three stalione to guard, and our guard honss uot being supplied with wood, we burnt rails from the fence. Complaint was made by the owners to the officers, and orders were given not to burn any more rails. The sergeant in giving the orders to the guard about the rails, remarked that nothing was said about posts, and advised us to keep a fire. We burnt posts that day, and after that bad a supply of fuel. We did not always draw our rations of rum ; but though it was a soures of complaint with some, I was never troubled on this point, for I did not drink it. Our food at tlus time was good enough, but was not so always during the war. Our chaplain was the Rev. Mr. Boardman, whom the British called the cannon, or the gun, of the gospel, on account of the power and compass of his voice. While we were stationed at Roxbury, one of our company, Moses Huxley, was killed by a cannon ball which the British fired from Boston. He belonged to Capt. Hanehet's company. and was trom Suffield. At the expiration of my terin, I received two or three bills of Continental mouey, tbe first I remember to have seen.

In the year 1776 I joined the army again for seven months, under Capt. Simon Wolcott. It was now more difficult to obtain soldiers for tho campaign tban at any previous time ; for the war continued longer thun was at first anticipated. The novelty of the campaign and field of action had gone by. Men who enlisted now expected to have hard fighting. With theso things in view, I left home in June, and arrived in New York just as the declaration of independence was published to the army. On the evening of the day it was made public there the city was illuminated. In the month of July we were employed oight days in crecting Fort Independence, after which we were ordered over to Long Island, where we were quartered more than a month, during which the troops suffered much from sickness. This division of the army was under the command of Gen. Sullivan and Lord Stirling. Our company was divided, so that one half would go from the barracks at Brooklyn, to Flatbush to keep garrison one day, and the next day the other half would come to relieve them. We were daily expecting that we should be annoyed by the enemy. Some one of our company went every day to get milk for the siek soldiers at an old Dutchman's. About tbe time the enemy began to land on the island, I went on the errand myself, wben the old Dutchman remarked that there would " be tousands and tousands of 'em."

On the morning of tho battle on Long Island, the soldiers were busily employed in throw- ing up a breast work, and in cutting and drawing into a line before the breast work, a row of apple-trecs, the brush turned from us. I worked both on the breast-work, and drawing in the trees. Col. Hart had command of our regiment at the time, Col. Gay being sick in New York, where he died.

We wore all now prepared for an engagement with the enemy. It has been said by some that Geu. Washington never left his saddlo during the day ; but I saw him walk along the lines and give bis orders in person to the colonels of each regiment. I heard bim give orders to Col. Hart, which were much like the following : " If the enemy come to attack ne, let them approach within twenty yards before you fire." It was thought to be a stratagom of the enemy to draw our fire, and then force us from the entrenehment ; but Washington was too old for them. I also heard Washington say, " If I see any man turn his baek to-day I will shoot luim through ; I have two pistols loaded ; but I will not ask any man to go further than I do ; I will fight so long as I have a leg or au arm." This is but a serap of what the brave Washington said on that occasion. He said the time had come wben Americans most

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he died ; 8 children : Joel, d. young : Joel.12 b. Jan. 14, 1783 : Ezra,18 b. March 27, 1785 : Timothy,14 b. July 1, 1787: Luke,15 b. June 4, 1790 : Eli-

be freemen or slaves : quit yourselves like men, like soldiers; for all that is worth living for is at stake.

During the day of the Long Island hattle, on the right wing where I was stationed, there was but little firing. The position which we held at the time was near a tide-mill - the yellow mill. While Washington was giving his orders to our colonel, there was in the pond, where this mill stood, a man who was attompting to eseapo from the enemy, an inhabitant of the island probably, who was stuck in the mnd. Some proposed to go and help him. Washington said no, knowing that they would be in the same predicament, and thus liable to be taken by the enemy. What hecame of the poor fellow I never knew.

I did not see the British on the day of this battle ; the ground was such, and a grove in- tervening, as to ent off the prospect. I was not porsonaily knowing to anything more relating to the battle, of any interest, but what i . generally known. On the night we retreated I wasjust relieved from the breast-work, when I heard an officer remark that we were going to retreat. The next. person I heard speak of it was Gen. Putnam, when we were on the march. He then spoke. I thought imprudently, for some one might have carried his report to the enemy. We left. the island for New York between cight and nine o'clock in the eve- ning. The retreat was conducted without any difficulty. When tho morning came I went to the grand battery, and looking over to the island, saw two of nur men plunge into the water, and swim to get away from the British. The enemy fired at them, but. they swam till our hoats picked them up. I don't know as auy of our men were lost on the i-laud by being left.

When we had safely landed in New York, we felt ourselves freed for a moment from the cuomy. But we had not long to rest. This was as late in the season as the first of Septem- her. The main army was now in the city. Our barracks were at Bull's Head in Queen street, which was then quite the upper part of the city. When we left this street we moved to the cast, and pitched our tents. On our retreat from New York, hy some misdirection these tents were carried to the wrong place, and we lost them.

The enemy landed in New York early in September, and as we had no means for effectually resisting such superior forees, Gen. Washington was obliged to retreat before them. The enemy from Long Island passed up the East River, and landed a party at Turtle Bay. Col. Knowlton was killed and his troops dispersed He had chased the British somo distance ; they were reinforced and he was killed in the vicinity of Harlem Heights. This skirmish was called tho Monday fight. It was the day after we retreated from New York, which was on Saturday. I saw his dead body in a wagon, just as it was brought from the field of battle, his clothes covered with blood. He was a brave officer.

Tho British landed their troops at Turtle Bay under cover of two ships of war On the even- ing previous to Gen. Washington's retreat to Harlem. I was stationed as sentinel, about cight or nine o'clock, at the southern part of our fortification. Early next morning I looked toward the place where our regiment lay on the previous evening, and saw that the camp was broken up. I went in pursuit of my pack, which was left in that direction when I went on duty, and having found it returned to my post. Early in the day, while on guard, one of the enemy's ships was occupied in tiring her stern guns on our works, opposito our post. The fortification extended from north to south more than a mile. Our gnard was stationed opposite Bull's Head, at the upper part of the entrenchments. Our sentry consisted of seven men. Col. Hart, our field nilicer, was taken prisoner. In this condition we stood more than two hours and were not relieved, when one of the guard, whose name was Foster, onme to me and said, " Munsell, what shall we do ?" I replied, " I don't know ; we must stay hero till we djo for aught I know." Soon after, the enemy were seen marching into tho upper part of the entrenchment, and we were more than ever in a quandary what to do. It was not long before Foster came again, and enquired, " What can we do ?" The officer of the guard had not done his duty ; where he was we knew not. Meantime tho man of war was firing at us It w is not long before Lnomis, one of the sentinels, said to me, as soon as we were within sight of each other, " Munsell, the guard has gone." I replied, "It is then time for us to go." In our retreat we started for the North River. Somo of the party threw away their packs ; hut I kept mine, though it was tomewhat heavy. There was great disorder iu tho flight of our company. I ene not say how it was with the other troops fiom personal observation, though I was told at the time, that Washington enquired, when retreating from New York to Harlem Heights, "Have I got to depend on such troops ?" so great was the disorder and confusion in the retreat. To return to my story-we soon reached the maiu road which our troops were traveling, and the first conspicuous person I met was Gen. Put- nam. He was making his way towards New York, when all were going from it. Where he was going I could not conjecture, though I afterwards learned he was going after a small gar- rigon of men in a crescent fortification, which he brought off enfe. And when I passed him he was conversing with a field officer, who, as I judged from their conversation, was thinking it best to make a stand and face the enemy. This officer was crying, and I thought then, rather fuddled. Putnam in harsh language told him to " go along about his business." We soon came up with a regiment of Western Virginia troops in a grove on the road. The colonel of this regimeut was at their hond ; they were marching in single file. They would not allow us to pass them, though we were moving much faster than they were when we came up with them. The colonel called out " halt !" His men stopped and we went on.

Hero I will state a curious incident : One of our fellow soldiers came up with us, an ac- quaintance, who was chased by the enemy. The Hessians pushed him hard ; he ran through swamps and mud, through brush and wood, and lost pack and coat, shoes and stockings. He kept bis arms, and onee fired on his pursner. I was able to furnish this destitute sol-

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sha,16 b. March 13, 1793 : Kezia, b. Feb. 15, 1796 : resides on the old home- stead : Laura, b. April 29, 1798 ; do.

HEZEKIAH,11 b. Sept. 17, 1777 ; m. Mary Hull, 1814; he d. April 16, 1858, aged 81 ; resided in Hoosick, N. Y., where he practised law .* Children-Mary

dier with shoes aud stockings. Wo reached Harlem Heights this day before sundown ; hero we staid something like three weeks. Our cooking utensils went with our tents, I never knew where. For a few days we fared hard. We, however, pulled chestnut bark from the trees, wet our flour, and made them in eakes on it, and in this way baked it by the fire. We had for meat fresh beef, and for this we drew salt. One great pot whu h our lieutenant and his men found, served for many as the utensil to cook our meat at this emergency Some- times our beef was roasted on the coals. We did not stand then about hard fare, for we were fighting for liberty.

No sharp fighting occurred at this station ; the enemy came near us, and we were soon on the march. The next move was to Mile Square. Here we drew tents and some cooking uten- sils. It was not long before we removed to White Plains. This move of the army was in the night. In this march, which was very slow, all our camp equipage we were obliged to carry on our backs.

White Plains .- Col. Gay was dead, Col. Hart taken, and the command devolved on Maj. Mott. Previous to the battle in this place, the enemy one morning made a feint for a battle. Our entrenehment was a stone wall. Washington ealled his men ont and put them in readi- ness to fight; but no battle was fought that day. Our regiment was ordered out on fatigue the morning of the battle. We, however, enw the enemy in the field prepared for action ; and they made a most splendid appearance. It was not Washington's plan to come to a general engagement; be therefore did not call out all of his force into this action. McDoug- ald's brigade bore the brunt of this battle.

From White Plains the regiment to which I belonged marched to Wright's Mills. At this Blation we did not tarry many days, hut moved to Philipsburg. Here we remained a month or more, and t en we removed to North Castle, where our enlistment expired, December 25, 1776. I immediately started for home, and before wo reached East Windsor, the news of Trenton battle reached us Our chaplain was Rev. Mr. Storrs.

August, 1778 .- I was drafted to take care of the artillery taken from Burgoyne, which we received at Farmington, Ct., and delivered at White Plains, then headquarters of the army. We were the whole month taking down these field pieces to the Park at White Plains. While at that place we met a whole guard of Hessians who came over to our army, of- tieers and all. They were received kindly and sent to a place of safety. No other incident of interest, occurred on this expedition. I received teu dollars in continental money for this month's service for my country, which would then buy a bushel of corn ! I also re- ceived the suno month, of the proper authority, for a gun which was lost in the northern army the year before, which was appraised at four pounds, twenty dollars ! Equal to two bushels of corn !

September, 1780 .- I was drafted and marched to Horse Neck, to guard a number of royal- ist refugees. They were collected together from New York, Connecticut, &c., and some of the soldiers called them cow boys and bull drivers. Here we staid a few days, and then went by order of Arnold, who was theu working his card, to North Castle. Soou after reaching this place, myself with others were sent to Peekskill for flour. Breadstuff was short amongst us. While on our way to Peekskill, we staid one night in the woods, to avoid the refugees. On this tour we fared hard, both going and coming. We could not get near the quantity of flour we wanted, an.I tho quality of that was very poor. By means of Arnold and others, we were in a confused state at this time, and we soon eame back to Horse Neck. While at this last named place, I drew one pint of hominy in ten days, and this was all the breadetuff that I could get | The last of this militla tour I spent in threshing wheat for my living and for the support of my comrades. In November I returned to my family, and this was the last of my going nito the Revolutionary war I received for my pay for this tour of service for my country, some trash in the shape of continental money, which would pay taxes. Near the close ot the war, I had a tax of forty dollars to pay in continentul money, and others with me, my neighbors, had not mouey of this description to pay this tax. We got some specie together, sent a man to Springfield, where continental money was to be hought, and purchased what wo wanted ; so that I paid my forty dollar tax for about forty cents.

Names of three of the heroes who took Stony Point, with Gen. Wayne their leader These inen have said that they were in the forlorn hope. Alexander Thompson, East Windsor, first to enter the fort ; William Burns, Coventry ; and Charles Brown of Connecticut.

Continental Money .- In 1781, in the months of February or March, I drove a team to Bos- ton, with a load, and brought one baek for a merchant in Springfield, Mass. I had a five cattle team. Returning home, I stayed in Roxbury one night ; my team was fed, I had one meal and lodging ; my bill in the morning was equal to two silver dollars, and continental money had so depreciated, that I paid in it the round sum of $140 for that single night's entertainment.

* He was not only a well read and shrewd lawyer, but a elassieal scholar, and taught his children plenty of Greek and Latin. He was also a politician of the Jeffersonian school, at a time when politics ran high, and numerous anecdotes are told of his pleasantries. At a 4th of July dinner he gave the following toast : " Federalists-May they hang by the rim of the

MUNSELL. 717

Hull, b. 1815 : Irene Stiles, b. 1817; m. Wmn. Daniell, 1841; 5 children : Addison, b. 1822 ; d. 1824 : Addison Tillotson, b. 1824; m. 1, Mary Heath 1851; she d. 1854 ; 1 child ; m. 2, Jane Gibbs, 1856.

JOEL, 12 b. Jan. 14, 1783 ; m. Cynthia Paine, May 5, 1807 ; removed to North- field, Mass. Children-Joel,17 b. April 14, 1808; Cynthia, b. June 29, 1810; Son, b. Aug. 30, 1812; d. young : Cyrus,18 b. June 10, 1813 ; Luke,19 b. Oct. 27, 1816 ; Elijah Bisbee, 20 b. Sept. 21, 1819 ; Mary Edwards, b. Nov. 11, 1822 ; m. Henry Sutliff; 1 child.

EZRA, 13 b. March 27, 1785 ; m. Chloe Squires, 1811 ; she d. Nov. 11, 1857, aged 72; resided in Wapping. Children-Henry, b. Oct. 30, 1811; twice married, in Ohio : Irene Bissell, b. Sept. 6, 1818 ; m. Stephen Farnham : Mary Ann, b. April, 1825 ; m. Franklin Beckwith.

TIMOTHY, 14 b. July 1, 1787; m. Abigail Sad, 1812; he d. Aug. 12, 1839, aged 52; resided in Wapping. Children-Timothy Edwards, b. April 24, 1813 ; m. Mary Hollister, Ang., 1838 : Eveline, b. Aug., 1815 ; m. Charles Starr, 1834 : Charlotte, b. May 12, 1819 ; m. Daniel Brown, May 9, 1841 ; she d. Oct. 5, 1847 ; 2 children : Louisa, b. Feb., 1822; d. Feb. 21, 1844, aged 22: Hezekiah, b. July, 1824; m. Abby Geer, 1853 : Elijah, b. Jan., 1830 : Abigail, b. July, 1832 ; d. Sept. 19, 1834.

LUKE, 15 b. June 4, 1790; m. Eliza T. D. Z. N. Sneed, 1820; resided in Kentucky, where he was engaged in a survey of that state, and published the first map of Kentucky in 1818 ; d. in Jeffersonville, Indiana, June, 1854, aged 64. Children-Alexander John Mitchell, Sarah, Eliza, Laura, Indi- ana, Maria Louisa.

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The history of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Part 69

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909 Publication date: 1859 Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton Number of Pages: 956

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton
Number of Pages: 956