USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The town and city of Waterbury, Connecticut, from the aboriginal period to the year eighteen hundred and ninety-five, Volume I > Part 46
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"The General doubts not the persons who pulled down and mutilated the statue in the Broadway last night were actuated by zeal in the Public cause, yet it has so much the appearance of riot and want of order in the army, that he disapproves the manner and directs that in future such things shall be avoided by the soldiers and be left to be executed by proper authority."
The same book mentions the brigades of Generals Heath, Spencer, Heard, Scott, Wadsworth, Mifflin, Putnam and Phillips, as being at and in the vicinity of New York-also the regiments of Colonels Bayly, Mason, Baldwin, Parsons, McDougal, Learned, Douglas, Kitzema, Malcom, Parker (regiment of artificers), Ward, Huntington, Chester, Sage, Hardenburg, Reed, Prescott, Nixon, Marten, Ward, Mansfield and Van Cortland.
The British soldiers in their gay uniforms, who had just arrived, must have furnished a sharp contrast to our soldiers in their non- descript attire. No wonder is it that on July 12th: "the General was very sorry to observe that many of the officers and a number of men instead of attending to their duty on the beating of the drum continued along the banks of the North river, gazing at the ships," remarking that "a weak curiosity makes a man look mean and contemptible." Nevertheless, the contrast must have been painful, even to General Washington. We quote from Major Por- ter's orderly book under date of July 24th :
The General being sensible of the difficulty of providing cloth of almost any kind for the troops feels an unwillingness to recommend, much more to order any kind of uniforms, but as it is absolutely necessary that men should have clothes
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and appear decent and tight, he earnestly encourages the use of hunting shirts with long breeches of the same cloth made gaiter fashion about the legs to all those who are unprovided. No dress can be had cheaper or more convenient, as the wearer can be cool in warm weather and warm in cold weather by putting on underclothes which will not change the outward dress winter or summer, besides which it is a dress supposed to carry no small terror to the enemy, who think every such man a complete marksman.
Meanwhile the Continental Congress had recommended the Assemblies of the United Colonies to procure clothing, and only five days after the Continental troops were reproved for " weak" curiosity along the banks of the North river, Connecticut had given forth the order for 3000 coats and 3000 waistcoats of homemade cloth,-as far as might be of a brown or cloth color-for all the blankets that could be obtained in the colony, 3000 felt hats, 6000 shirts of checked flannel, or linen, if flannel could not be had, and 6000 pairs of shoes. These articles were proportioned to the coun- ties. But so dire was the need of the troops at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, that all that could be hastily gathered was sent on.
So serious was the outlook at this time that stringent measures were adopted regarding prisoners of war. Hitherto they had not been confined, being allowed to go, within limits, on their own parole of honor. At this time an order went forth that no unknown persons, whether appearing in the character of gentlemen, expres- ses, travelers or common beggars, might pass from town to town, unless upon a certificate from Congress, Committee of Safety or Inspection, or other prescribed officer. Such certificate must men- tion from whence and whither the traveler was passing and that he was friendly to the liberties of the American States. All officers, even to the tithingmen were required to stop and examine all unknown persons and to require a sight of the certificate the trav- eler carried, and unless full satisfaction was given on every point, the officer was to apprehend the person and take him before the civil authority or Committee of Inspection. Watches were kept in towns to apprehend unknown persons who might travel by night and practice mischief.
During this eventful summer Waterbury had her special excite- ment when the militia companies of the township were ordered to New York. The British forces were augmented to such a degree that Washington called for home troops. August 17th, under Lieut. Col. Jonathan Baldwin, the roth regiment marched. All that remains in our state archives of the men who went on this service is the following list of names upon "an abstract of the marching money due the company in Lieut. Col. Baldwin's regiment com- manded by Lieut. Isaac Benham.
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WATERBURY IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
Sergeants Lemuel Nichols, * Stephen Welton, Daniel Bronson, Samuel Leavenworth, Aaron Benedict; Drummer Moses Cook; Cot - porals John Scovill, Amos Prichard; Privates John Adams, Elisha Benham, Moses Frost, Titus French, Samuel Frost, Timothy Frost, Cyrus Grilley, Joseph Hopkins, John Merchant, Samuel Munson, Lue Smith, Jabez Tuttle, Benoni Welton." The only man not of Waterbury on the list is Titus French.
There are in the writer's possession certain receipts and frag- ments of pay rolls once belonging to Col. Baldwin, from which we gather the following facts. The regiment was five days in going to New York, and four in returning; Capt. Stephen Yale's and Capt. Elisha Hall's men were in service forty-two days and were discharged September 25th; Younglove Cutler went, and was allowed "a sickness bill" of three pounds and two shillings; Capt. Jesse Moss received about fifty pounds "toward the sick bills allowed;" Capt. Elisha Hall received pay for "extraordinary sick- ness due to his complaint "-Sergt. Joel Hall commanded Capt. Hall's company; Lieut. Joseph Newton gave a receipt for the "wages and mileage due to Lieut. Job. Yale, Jonas Hills, Lieut. Joseph Newton and Daniel Humiston for their services in the cam- paign to New York in 1776;" Gould Gift Norton gave a receipt for "his own and the services of Doc. Amos Hull in the Continental Army in August and September, 1776;" Benjamin Richards com- manded a company-there is but a fragment of its roll, but enough to give recognition to "Lot Osborn, Alsop Baldwin, Noah Richards and David Buckingham; twenty-four men went of Capt. Joseph Newton's company; Capt. Elisha Hall gave a receipt for the ser- vices of Sergt. Joel Hall, (taken prisoner later at Fort Washington); Lieut. Moses Foot gave a receipt for a company-eleven names only remaining of the roll-which are Joel Humiston, Moses Michel, Jesse Penfield, Ambross Potter, Amos Sanford, Jonah Sanford, John Sco- vill, Jesse Turner, Obed Williams and Giles Mingo; and the roll of Capt. Elisha Hall's company is receipted for by Oliver Stanley. Very many of the men in the militia regiments deserted, being unaccustomed to the rigors of service, but they nearly all returned to duty. With the above papers is the following :
Waterbury 16th of Sep. A. D., 1777, then Received of Lieut .- Col. Jonathan Baldwin fourteen pounds four shillings lawful money in full for the Wages and Milage Due to those men who Deserted the Service Belonging to Cap. Nathaniel Barnes Company and my own in the months of August and Sep. last, and Returned to their Duty agreeable to His Excellency Governor Trumbull's proclamation.
Received by Me, JESSE CURTIS, Capt. “
* The Tory of 1775.
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In regard to these deserters, we learn that they were Lazarus Ives, Aaron Fenn, Benjamin Barnes, Cephas Ford, Paul Griggs and Elnathan Ives. They were at New York in August and in the 10th company of the roth regiment. "By [medical] advice they absented themselves and returned home"-having served a month and traveled 224 miles. They petitioned the General Assembly for their "pay." Appended to the petition is the statement under date of September 5th of Dr. Roger Conant and Dr. Amos Hull that Lazarus Ives had dysentery and rheumatism. There is also the affi- davit of seven of their neighbors that the same men were unable to go to Horseneck in November.
It is estimated that at this time Connecticut had fully twenty thousand men in the service, while her available force did not exceed twenty-three thousand.
Waterbury men enlisted in six of the eight companies forming Col. Douglas's regiment, of which Phineas Porter was major. Every commissioned officer of its 4th company was from Waterbury. They were Capt. John Lewis, Jr., Ist Lieut. James Warner, 2d Lieut. Michael Bronson, Ens. Joseph Beach, Jr. There is no roll of its members, but seventeen names are given of those who received their discharge at a later date. Fifteen of the seventeen were from Waterbury. They are, Samuel Scovill, Selah Scovill, Selden Spen- cer, John Stewart, Abel Sutliff, John Tatterdon (doubtless Fallen- don), John Tucker, Jared Tirrel, Elihu Tirrel, Samuel Tuttle, Samuel Webb, Daniel Welton, Thomas Gould who was mortally wounded Sept. 15th, Titus Mix who was killed Sept. 16th, John Beach, a sergeant, missing Sept. 15th, Stephen Johnson who was killed at White Plains, Oct. 28th, and David Welton who was wounded Oct. 28th.
The militia regiment of Col. Baldwin reached New York about two weeks before the battle of Long Island. In that battle, Major Porter's regiment, in which it will be remembered, Waterbury men fought in six of its eight companies, "was in the thickest of the fight." In the retreat from Long Island to New York, Major Porter is said to have been in the last boat which put off in the fog from the Brooklyn shore. This was about two months after his entrance into the Continental army as major of the 5th battalion of foot under Col. William Douglas .*
* His military record is the following : May 1774, Lieutenant 2d Co. 10th reg. of the Colony. Oct., 1774, captain of the same Co. April 1775 he entered the Colonial army as captain of the 8th Co. in the Ist regi- ment. June 20th, he was major of the 5th battalion of foot, under Col. Douglas. The above appointments are from the Colonial records. Later he appears as major of his old militia regiment, the Ioth. In Jan. of 1780 he became colonel of the same regiment, and, when the Waterbury companies at a later date formed an entire regiment, the 28th, he was appointed its colonel.
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About two weeks later, September 15th, an attack was made upon New York. The 5th battalion, under Col. Douglas, to which Major Porter belonged, and whose 4th company under Capt. Lewis was composed of Waterbury men, the muster roll of which is missing, was stationed at Kip's Bay. This was near Thirty-fourth street. The main body of the army was then at Harlem Heights. The British ships ascended the North and the East rivers, and their fires swept across the whole island, under cover of which, Howe landed near Kip's Bay. The troops fled panic-stricken. This was the occasion on which Washington is said to have become so excited that he threw his hat to the ground, exclaiming: "Are these the men with whom I am to defend America?" At this moment, Washington, when "within eighty paces of the enemy and exposed to capture, was saved by his attendant who turned the head of his horse and hurried him from the field." It is pleasant to know that one Waterbury man-Major Phineas Porter-was between the enemy and the general, for in this retreat he was taken prisoner. He suffered nearly three months of hunger and imprisonment, during which time he parted with his knee buckles and other articles of value for food. Five men are recorded as missing after the retreat, in his regiment.
David Smith, who ultimately was in command of all the militia of the State, was another Waterbury man, who at this time and later, was winning for himself and native town a good degree of respect. He entered service May Ist, 1775, in the 4th company of the Ist Continental regiment, as a private. He was next ensign in the 8th company. We find him captain in 1776 of a company in Col. Elmore's Continental regiment, which took the field in July, under Schuyler, and marched from Albany into Tryon county. Captain Smith's company was composed of seventy men, nearly all from Waterbury. His Ist lieutenant was Nehemiah Royce, and his ensign, William Andrews, both from Waterbury. This company served at "Burnetsfield (German Flats)."
In Wadsworth's brigade was Capt. John Couch of Meriden, with Waterbury men in his company, and our Nathaniel Edwards for his Ist lieutenant. This company was stationed during the summer of 1776 at Bergen Heights and Paulus Hook (Jersey city); in October, at Fort Lee; in November, sent across the river to assist in defending Fort Washington, where Lieutenant Edwards was taken prisoner. He did not reach home until November 10th, 1780. Soon after his captivity he had small-pox and asked for full pay for the time, which was granted. Ira Tompkins, Solomon Trumbull and David Hungerford, Waterbury men, and of his company, were taken prisoners at the same time.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
In the same summer, in June, two State battalions, under Cols. Mott and Swift, were raised to reinforce the Continental troops in the northern department, then stationed at and in the vicinity of Fort Ticonderoga. The 4th company in Swift's regiment, serving under Gen. Gates, was commanded by Capt. Stephen Matthews, who reported eleven of his company killed. He seems to have gone to Ticonderoga a little after our poor army retreated from Canada -in the words of John Adams-"disgraced, defeated, discon- tented, dispirited, diseased, undisciplined, eaten up with vermin, no clothes, beds, blankets, nor medicines, and no victuals but salt pork and flour, and a scanty supply of that."
Stephen Matthews' eleven men were probably of the ninety who were killed in the action on Lake Champlain in October, when the Americans lost eleven vessels. The names of ten of the above men are given by Captain Matthews, when he asks for redress for the arms once belonging to them-which he had saved, but which were afterward lost. He gives four as from Waterbury-"Job Welton, Elihu Robards, Jonathan Roberts and Dan Welton." Benajah Judd was also from Waterbury. The other names are James Warner and John Nichols "of New Haven," Hezekiah Clark, John Parker and Daniel Clapp. These men must have been among those drafted from the army, for the navy.
After the battle of White Plains the roth militia regiment was again called out-"to place itself under General Wooster's com- mand on the Westchester border." In November four battalions of state troops were raised, to serve in Westchester, or in Rhode Island, in the 2d of which Captain Benjamin Richards, Ist Lieut. Isaac Bronson, and Ens. Benjamin Fenn Jr., served.
In December, so appalling was the situation that a very dark- ness of fear fell upon the American people. Connecticut's prisons were crowded with Tories; the term of service of the militia was expiring; some of the New York troops refused to serve, and it was feared that the people would " rise in arms and openly join the British forces;" Washington's little army, "not exceeding four thousand men," was encamped on a plain between the Hackensack and the Passaic rivers; Heath had a division in the Highlands, and Lee had a corps on the east side of the North river, and a British column, led by Cornwallis, was approaching Washington. Under the above circumstances, our General Assembly asked every able bodied man living west of the Connecticut river to go forward and offer himself for the service.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
A MORE PERMANENT ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY REQUIRED - JOSEPH HOPKINS' SERVICES - MOSES DUNBAR : HIS " LAST SPEECH AND DYING WORDS"-SOLDIERS SUMMONED TO PEEKSKILL-WATER- BURY OFFERS BOUNTIES-THE DANBURY ALARM-COL. BALDWIN'S PAPERS-OUR MEN AT TICONDEROGA-IN THE HIGHLANDS-AT STILLWATER AND SARATOGA-WATERBURY FURNISHES CLOTHING -PROVIDES FOR SOLDIERS' FAMILIES-VALLEY FORGE-MONMOUTH -MRS. ISAAC BOOTH LEWIS-ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.
I N 1775 the enthusiasm of the colonists had made it an easy and a natural thing to raise an army, in a day-for a day. Material
that came to hand had been accepted, and had marched away in haste-to meet the horrors of defeat and disaster. Eighteen months had passed since that gala day when half the men of Con- necticut colony called with proffers of assistance at Boston's doors -a year and a half, strewn with battles, assault and siege. Several thousand men had fallen in death and wounds on the field. Bunker Hill, Quebec, Long Island, Harlem Heights, White Plains and Tren- ton had written their gory texts on the hearts of the people-but an older text, written deeper even than battles could write, had been engraven by the God of Battles in the hearts of the colonists, urging them to still loftier endeavors.
General Washington's experience with men who enlisted for short terms, and with the hitherto untried militia regiments, had been disappointing. A more permanent organization was impera- tive. It was resolved to create a standing army, whose members should enlist for three years, or for the war. They who enlisted for the war and served to the end were promised one hundred acres of land. Army life had lost its charms. Connecticut farms grew very attractive, when seen from the field of stern discipline and carnage. Volunteers for the new army did not press to the front. It was said that small pox " more effectually retarded the entering into the service than any other prospect of danger, or fear of the enemy." In Waterbury, it had at this time gotten beyond the control of the selectmen.
During this period, Joseph Hopkins was active in the service of his country. With Capt. Samuel Forbes, he went to the lead mines in New Canaan, examined the quality of the lead, and prepared a
28
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report for the Assembly (which is printed in American Archives); he received 180 votes for nomination for election, as Governor's Assistant; was appointed "to procure fire-arms and gun-locks to be made and manufactured in the colony;" and he was at the head of a committee of five gentlemen who were "severally, or in conjunc- tion, to search after lead mines, and report any discovery to the Gov- ernor," who was to report to the President of Congress.
Waterbury furnished at this time a conspicuous martyr-who died, devoted to the Church of England. It seemed absolutely necessary to find a victim whose death should prove a powerful object lesson to the Tories, and to the political prisoners who filled the prisons. Moses Dunbar was the man selected. The tragedy and the pathos attending his dying will forever appeal to the heart of an American-be he the descendant of Whig or of Tory. While in prison and under sentence of death, Dunbar made an attempt to escape. Elisha Wadsworth was arrested, fined £40, and sentenced to one year's imprisonment for assisting him. Wadsworth, in his own defense, said that "he did not assist him, but simply followed him out"-that Dunbar "effected his own escape as far as he went." Wadsworth was released from prison, Oct. 14, 1777, on paying costs and taking the Oath of Fidelity.
About 1880, in the removal of an ancient house in Harwinton, the following document-containing the farewell words of Moses Dunbar to his children, and to this world-was found.
The "Cause" must indeed have been a sacred one, that re- quired the sacrifice of the man, whose last words were the fol- lowing :
MY CHILDREN : Remember your Creater in the days of your youth. Learn your Creed, the Lord's prayer, and the ten commandments and Catechism, and go to church as often as you can, and prepare yourselves as soon as you are of a proper age, to worthily partake of the Lord's Supper. I charge you all, never to leave the Church. Read the Bible. Love the Saviour wherever you may be.
I am now in Hartford jail condemned to death for high treason against the State of Connecticut. I was thirty years last June, the 14th. God bless you. Remem- ber your Father and Mother and be dutiful to your present Mother.
(A true copy-written by Moses Dunbar).
The last speech and dying words of Moses Dunbar, who was exe- cuted at Hartford ye 19th March, A. D., 1777, for high treason against the State of Connecticut.
I was born at Wallingford in Connecticut the 14th of June, A. D. 1746, being the second of sixteen children, all born to my Father by one Mother. My Father, John Dunbar, was born at Wallingford, and married Temperance Hall of the same place, about the year 1743. I was educated in the business of husbandry. About the year 1760, my father removed himself and family to Waterbury-where, May
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ye 30th, 1764, I was married with Phebe Jearman of Farmington, by whom I had seven children-four of whom are now living. The first year of our marriage my wife and I, upon what we thought sufficient and rational motives, declared our- selves for the Church of England-the Rev. Mr. Scovill being then missionary at Waterbury. May 20th, 1770, my honored Mother departed this life. She was a woman of much virtue and good reputation, whom I remember with the most honor and gratitude for the good care and affection she continually showed me. My joining myself to the church occasioned a sorrowful breach between my Father and myself, which was the cause of his never assisting me but very little in gaining a livelihood-likewise it caused him to treat me very harshly in many instances, for which I heartily forgive him, as well as my brothers, as I hope for pardon from my God and my Saviour for my own offences. I likewise earnestly pray God to forgive them through Christ.
From the time that the present unhappy misunderstanding between Great Britain and the Colonies began, I freely confess I never could reconcile my opinion to the necessity or lawfulness of taking up arms against Great Britain. Having spoken somewhat freely on the subject, I was attacked by a mob of about forty men, very much abused, my life threatened and nearly taken away, by which mob I was obliged to sign a paper containing many falsehoods. May 20th, 1776, my wife deceased, in full hope of future happiness The winter preceding this trial had been a time of distress with us I had now concluded to live peaceable and give no offence, neither by word nor deed. I had thought of entering into a voluntary confinement within the limits of my farm, and making proposals of that nature, when I was carried before the Committee [of Inspection of Waterbury ?] and by them ordered to suffer imprisonment during their pleasure, not exceeding five months. When I had remained there about fourteen days the authority of New Haven dismissed me. Finding my life uneasy, and as I had reason to apprehend, in great danger, I thought it my safest method to flee to Long Island, which I accordingly did, but having a desire to see my friends and children, and being under engagement of marriage with her who is my wife-the banns of marriage having been before published-I returned, and was married. Having a mind to remove my wife and family to Long Island, as a place of safety, I went there the second time, to prepare matters accordingly. When there, I accepted a captain's warrant for the King's service in Col. Fanning's reg't. I returned to Connecticut-when I was taken and betrayed by Joseph Smith, and was brought before the authority of Waterbury. They refused to have anything to do with the matter. I was carried before Justice Strong and Justice Whitman of Farmington, and by them committed to Hartford, where the Superior Court was then sitting. I was tried on Thursday, 23d of January, 1777, for High Treason against the State of Connecticut, by an act passed in October last-for enlisting men for General Howe, and for having a captain's commission for that purpose. I was adjudged guilty, and on the Saturday following was brought to the bar of the court and received sentence of death. The time of my suffering was afterward fixed to be the 19th day of March, 1777-which tremendous and awful day now draws near, when I must appear before the Searcher of hearts to give an account of all the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or evil. I shall soon be delivered from all the pains and troubles of this wicked mortal state, and shall be answerable to All-Seeing God, who is infinitely just, and knoweth all things as they are. I am fully persuaded that I depart in a state of peace with God and my own conscience. I have but little doubt of my future happiness, through the merits of Jesus Christ. I have sincerely repented of all my sins, examined my heart, prayed earnestly to
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God for mercy, for the gracious pardon of my manifold and heinous sins, I resign myself wholly to the disposal of my Heavenly Father, submitting to His Divine will. From the bottom of my heart I forgive all enemies and earnestly pray God to forgive them all. Some part of Th- S-'s evidence was false, but I heartily forgive him, and likewise earnestly beg forgiveness of all persons whom I have injured or offended. Since my sentence I have been visited by sundry worthy ministers of the Gospel, who have discoursed and prayed with me-among whom are the Rev. William Short of Hartford. The Rev. Wm. Veils of Simsbury, my fellow prisoner on account of preaching in favor of the British government, has been indefatigable in affording every possible assistance to prepare me for my terrible Exit. He administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to me the Sun- day before I was to be put to death. To these gentlemen, as well as all others who have shewed me kindness I give my most sincere thanks. I die in the pro- fession and communion of the Church of England.
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