USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Canaan > The history of Canaan, New Hampshire > Part 32
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LAWYERS.
with money, but with his personal presence. His generosity towards the Street is proverbial; he was ready at all times to make up any deficiency. "If you want any more, come to me," I have heard him say many times. He took great pleasure in books in his library, which he had built just before his death on the north end of his barn.
Frank B. Clark, son of Henry W. and Emily E. (Rowe) Clark, was born in Enfield September 30, 1873. His education was obtained from the Enfield High School and a three years' course at the New Hampshire State College, after which he taught school, and in September, 1896, began the study of law in the office of Charles A. Dole at Lebanon; was admitted to the bar in July, 1899 ; he came to Canaan September 15, 1899, and has continued the practice of the law here since that time. He was married September 15, 1897, to Bernice E. Trescott, daugh- ter of James A. and Abbie E. (Lamphiere) Trescott; she was born in Lyme, May 3, 1870. They have four children, Hugh T., born in Hanover, August 1, 1899; Earl L., born in Canaan April 26, 1901; Frank K., born May 1, 1905 ; Bernice P. A., born July 29, 1909. Mr. Clark has been a member of the school board of the High School District for five years, and tax collector for 1909 and 1910.
James Burns Wallace, son of William Allen and Mary (Cur- rier) Wallace, was born in Canaan August 14, 1866; was edu- cated in the district schools of the town, Canaan Union Academy, Hanover High School, New Hampshire Agricultural College; from 1881-82, St. Johnsbury Academy, graduating in the class of 1883; then entered Dartmouth College and graduated from the academic department in the class of 1887; taught one term of school on the Street in the winter of 1885; went to New York City in the fall of 1887, and for thirteen years was an instructor in mathematics in Cooper Union ; was employed in the Seventh National Bank, and in the Bank of the State of New York until August, 1888, when at the instance of his cousin, William J. Wallace, presiding judge of the United States Court of Appeals, entered Columbia Law School in the fall of 1888. He studied there two years, and the last year was in the law office of Tracy, McFarland, Ivins & Platt; was admitted to the bar in New York County in November, 1890, and continued in the practice of the
.
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HISTORY OF CANAAN.
law in that city until 1905, when he removed permanently to Canaan. In 1900 was admitted to practice in the courts of New Hampshire, and although never having hung up any shingle, does not refuse to practice his profession. He married Decem- ber 22, 1889, Alice Hutchinson, daughter of Lucius B. and Alice M. (Rollins) Hutchinson of New York City. He has been trus- tee of the town library since 1907; was a member of the town school board in 1907 and 1908; representative to the General Court in 1909, and was chairman of the committee on liquor laws and a member of the committee on revision of statutes ; was appointed justice of the police court June 19, 1907. Mr. Wallace is a thirty-second degree Mason, with membership in Summit Lodge of Canaan; St. Andrew's Chapter, and Washing- ton Council at Lebanon; Sullivan Commandery at Claremont, and the New Hampshire Consistory at Nashua ; he is also a mem- ber of Kimball Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, at Lebanon, and a noble of Bektash Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Concord.
CHAPTER XXI.
SOLDIERS.
Canaan ought to be a loyal and patriotic town. It has been largely fertilized with the remains of patriotic men. In all her graveyards repose the dust of those who in the gloom of the un- certain result of the Revolution, enlisted in the three New Hamp- shire regiments and went forth from pleasant homes to fight and win liberty and independence for themselves and the un- born millions with whom their most prophetic visions would never have dared to people this great country. They went forth cheerfully, supplying their own necessities. It is a list to be proud of and each one of them is deserving of more honor than we are able to bestow. Their example and habits of thought doubtless did much towards forming the character of our people. As citizens, they are known to have been law-abid- ing, and to have exercised a powerful influence for good morals. They were not educated men, but they were reverently religious and were constant attendants upon the service of God. The re- mains of forty-three of these soldiers lie buried in Canaan; some of the graves are marked by stones and many of them rest in unmarked graves and their ashes mingle with the com- mon soil of the town.
Thomas Baldwin, died in Waterville, Me., and was buried in Boston, Mass. Joseph Wheat, Joshua Richardson, John May, Reynolds Gates, Robert Martin, Salmon Cobb, Eliphalet Rich- ardson, Enoch Richardson and Ezra Nichols, were buried in the Street Cemetery; the last two have no headstones, but Enoch Richardson is undoubtedly buried beside his wife. Daniel Blais- dell, John Worth, Daniel Colby, Henry Springer, Ezekiel Wells, Jonathan Dustin, David Dustin, Josiah Clark, Joshua Wells, Jonathan B. Cross, Richard Whittier and Robert Barber, lie buried in the Wells Cemetery; the grave of the last is not marked by any stone, and the headstone of Ezekiel Wells is not over his grave. Warren Wilson, Samuel Meacham and Richard Otis lie in the Cemetery at West Canaan. William, John and
-
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HISTORY OF CANAAN.
Moses Richardson, brothers, Nathaniel Bartlett, Moses Sawyer, Daniel Kimball, Mathew Greeley and James Woodbury, lie in the cemetery on Sawyer Hill. William Longfellow and Abra- ham Knowlton (Mrs. Knowlton died in Pembroke) lie buried on West Farms. Thomas Miner lies in the Cobble Cemetery.
From the recollections of men who were contempory with many of these veterans, valuable information was obtained ; from Charles W. Richardson, son of Joshua; George Harris and Mrs. Harris, a daughter of one of them; from Joseph Dustin -of the War of 1812, son of one and grandson of another; from Jacob Richardson, son of William, an officer; and from Jacob Trussell, whose memory was very retentive up to the day of his death, at the great age of ninety-one years and eleven months.
The names of these soldiers are given below :
Elisha Bingham
Asa Kilburn
Daniel Blaisdell
Richard Clark
John Richardson
Parrott Blaisdell
William Richardson
Joshua Wells
Joshua Richardson
Abraham Knowlton
Eliphalet Richardson
Joshua Springer
Enoch Richardson
Samuel Meacham
Ezra Nichols
Josiah Clark
William Longfellow
Joshua Harris
Moses Sawyer
Mathew Greeley
Warren Wilson
Jonathan Dustin
Caleb Welch
John May
Richard Otis
Robert Barber
John Worth
Ezekiel Gardner
Benoni Tucker
Samuel Lathrop
William Ayer
Nathan Follensbeę
John Beedle
John Hoyt
Daniel Colby
Samuel Hinkson
Robert Martin
Joseph Walters
Robert Hoyt
John Bartlett
Henry Springer
Jehu Jones
John Follensbee
Caleb Welch, Jr.
Samuel Jones
Samuel Gates
Daniel Kimball
Francis Smith
Gideon Rudd
Thomas Gates
Thomas Miner
Thomas Baxter
John Scofield, Jr.
Asa Williams
Jeremiah Meacham
James Jones
Benjamin Robert Birts
Jedidiah Hibbard
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SOLDIERS.
Thomas Baldwin
Jacob Clifford
Mesheck Blake
Nathan Durkee
Nathan Springer
Daniel Hovey
Reynold Gates
Richard Whittier
James Woodbury
Jonathan B. Cross
Joseph Wheat
Jonathan Lock
Salmon Cobb
Theophilus. Currier
David Dustin
Daniel Parker
Ezekiel Wells
Moses Richardson
Nathaniel Bartlett
Parrott Blaisdell and Joshua Springer were mustered out in Vermont; Nathan Follensbee lies in Enfield, while his brother John (who a hundred years ago lived on the Howard farm), Mescheck Blake, Robert Hoyt, and John Beedle, have passed beyond recognition and their names only are known.
In 1780 twenty men of Canaan marched to Rutland and Royalton, Vt., under the command of Capt. Joshua Wells, and then marched back again. The enemy did not wait for them, but they came back greatly exasperated against their captain, whom they charged with being ignorant of his duties and very overbearing, giving many vexatious orders for the purpose of exercising his authority. The following is a pay roll made for part of Capt. Joshua Wells' Company in Col. Chase's Regiment of Militia, who were called forth in an alarm October 20, A. D. 1780:
A Pay Roll Made for Part of Capt Joshua Wellse's Company in Col Chases Regiment of Militia who were Called forth in an Alarm Oct 20 A D 1780
Days Milds out. travel.
Days Milds out. travel
Capt Joshua Wells
9 90
Nathaniel Bartlett
9 74
Lt Saml Jones
9 90
Caleb Welch Jr
9
74
Ensgn Thomas Baldwin 9 90 Jonathan Sprague
9 90
Sergt Caleb Welch 9 90 Daniel Blaisdell 9 90
Samuel Hinkson Private 9 90
Thos Miner 9
90
John Scofield Junr 4 30
Sam1 Gates 9 90
Jehu Jones 9
90
Ezek Gardner 9
90
Samuel Meacham 9 90 Benj Robert Birts
4 30
Robert Barber
9 90 Joshua Harris 9 90
John Bartlett
9 74 Francis Smith 9 90
N. B. Thirty Mild allowed out of said Travail on account of Draw- ing Provisions on the way for a distance of Thirty Milds.
A true Return Errors Excepted, Signed in behalf of the Company CANAAN Decr 15 A D 1783
JOSHUA WELLS Capn
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HISTORY OF CANAAN.
Thomas Baldwin came home an ensign, Samuel Jones a lieu- tenant, Caleb Welch a sergeant, and Thomas Miner was after- wards called "leftenant." Thomas Miner was in Captain Rus- sell's Rangers in 1776; sergeant in Colonel Chase's Regiment at Saratoga in 1777, and one of the scouts mentioned in the fol- lowing :
To the Hon the General Court of the State of New Hampshire-
The Petition of the Town of Canaan Humbly Sheweth that we the inhabitants of Said Town the Summer past Conceived our Selves in Danger From the Canadain and other Savages (our Frontier being in great measure Neglected) and therefor by a vote of the Town Did agree to Raise and pay Three men for Six months to Scout and Guard &c to which men we have paid and are obligated to pay ten pounds Each - the men were raised by no order nor by the authority of No State but only by the vote of the Town - Altho they went into a Regiment Raised by The authority of Vermont but Should your honors think they Rendered any Service to This or the United States your Petitioners pray that their Money Paid sd Soldiers may be Reimbursted them or abated on thier Taxes. All which is Humbly Submitted and your Petitioners as in Duty bound Shall Ever Pray &c
THOMAS BALDWIN Come in behalf
WM AYER of Said Town
CANAAN STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE June 8th 1782.
(Recd and ordered to lay)
Abraham Knowlton was in Captain Lunt's Company, Colonel Little's Regiment, in Massachusetts and was at Bunker Hill. Early in 1776 he enlisted in the naval service and made one cruise under Captain Williams. In the latter part of the year he enlisted under Captain Skinner and made two cruises on the schooner Lee. On the last cruise he was captured, carried to Halifax, imprisoned a year, then impressed on the British ship of war Culloden, and sailed for Wales, where he was taken sick, was taken ashore and detained as a prisoner until the close of the war.
The following anecdotes are told of Enoch Richardson by the Rev. Charles W. Richardson: "He was, perhaps as daring and persevering a patriot and soldier as has been found in any war. When quite young, at the battle of Bunker Hill, he was one of the bravest. He said many soldiers would say they did not know that they ever killed one of the enemy, but said he : 'I know that I killed one at Bunker Hill. I was one of the last
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SOLDIERS.
who left the breast works when our ammunition failed. I had put my last charge in my gun, and attempted to fire it, but my gun, an old-fashioned flint-lock, missed fire; snapping two or three times. I dropped on my knees behind the breast works, catching out my jack-knife and picking the flint with it, by which time the soldiers near me had all retreated. At that in- stant a red-coat soldier, who had run forward of the British ad- vancing column, came up to the breast work and thrust his gun and bayonet over at me, exclaiming: "D-n you! now I've got you !" I struck his gun aside, springing on my feet and fired my gun, the muzzle touching his body, making a hole through him, I should judge, as large as my arm. As my last charge was gone and my gun old, I jumped over and seized the dead man's gun and cartridge box, sprang back and loaded and fired his few remaining cartridges, sending his British bullets among the British as they advanced, and then I turned and retreated.' This same Enoch Richardson was one of the soldiers who went in that daring expedition up the Kennebec River, and through the awful, woeful forest to Quebec. He was one who entered the city, but as it became necessary to escape immediately, he jumped down about eighteen feet, where his fall was broken by about three feet of snow and made his escape, and after a long time made his way back to his home after great hardship and suffering. When he was a soldier at Ticonderoga, the time of his enlistment, and of two of his brothers and some of their old neighbors expired a very short time before the taking of Bur- goyne's Army. They came home across Vermont by hilly and rough roads without shoes, and begged what food they had by the way, as their money was worthless. They arrived home weary and destitute. Three days after their arrival a recruiting officer came for volunteers to hasten to Ticonderoga, as there was a prospect of capturing Burgoyne's whole army. This Enoch Richardson put down his name, turned around and walked di- rectly back over those hard and hilly roads and was there at the surrender of Burgoyne's Army. Few soldiers ever had such courage and perseverance as Enoch Richardson, whose remains are in Canaan Broad Street Cemetery. I have often, when a child, listened with, as it were, a breathless attention to anecdotes of that war by my father Joshua, who was one of the army who
348
HISTORY OF CANAAN.
were successful in driving the British out of Boston. He said that just previous to the cessation of hostilities, and the agree- ment to evacuate Boston, our army threw shells into the town for three nights in succession, and that from the hill they oc- cupied, Copp's Hill, he could hear the rip and tear of the roofs of the buildings as those shells entered. The last evening of the time the British were allowed in which to get on board their fleet and depart was a busy, noisy night in Boston. He said that he and many of the soldiers remained up and listened all night to the rattle of wheels on the pavements, to the voices of men and women, to the barking of dogs, etc., two miles distant, as the air was favorable to make the sounds distinct. It was a kind of music under the circumstances which pleased our soldiers well.
"He used often to tell of toils and hardships and sufferings at or near Ticonderoga. He was with our army in its retreat some time previous to the surrender of Burgoyne. The British were successful in fortifying a high eminence, where they could play upon a portion of our army without any danger of being reached in return. Our troops were under the necessity of leav- ing in great haste, and were pursued some distance and annoyed by the enemy. Men were frequently killed and wounded by cannon shots. While on the march one soldier, marching at his side, was shot through the body by a cannon ball and pitched against him as he fell, pushing him out of the ranks. They were under the necessity of passing through a considerable forest to reach a place where they could obtain food and rest. This forest was infested by Indians, in what numbers they did not know, and this part of the army was under the necessity of scattering and getting through the woods as best they could. He was in the rear and after they got into the woods and night was ap- proaching, he and a few with him, found a soldier who had just been killed and scalped by an Indian. It soon became dark; they lost their small path and not agreeing in their opinions, which way the path was, they became separated and my father found himself alone hunting for the path in perfect darkness. He got down and crept on his hands and knees, feeling for the foot-path and immediately caught hold of a man's leg. He and the other were both frightened, thinking of the Indians in the
349
SOLDIERS.
woods but he soon learned that the man he had found was his brother, John Richardson. He told him to stay where he was till he crept on and found the path which he believed was near. He soon found it and called softly to his brother and they felt their way along together, until the path led them out into a small low meadow. At length the path seemed to be gone, and he being forward, suddenly stepped off into a creek of deep mud with a little water, falling on the breech end of his gun and driving it down, muzzle foremost the whole length into the mud. He clambered out with the assistance of his brother, being care- ful to save his gun and they traveled up the creek until they felt out a place where they could get across. They soon saw a light up on higher ground and carefully picked their way till they arrived at the place where there was a house and barn filled with soldiers who had arrived there and were packed close in almost every place where a man could lie down for rest under shelter; and none of them had any food that day unless it was some small and hasty lunch in the morning as they were starting. But he said there was an officer and assistant there with a light beside of a cask of good wine, which they had obtained and they told him and his brother that it was the rule for each one as he arrived to drink a pint of wine, which they did, and find the best place they could and lie down. The house was full and the barn also. In the house his brother crowded down between two soldiers. He could find no place for a time, but at length he discovered some low shelves, far enough apart so that a man could crowd in between them, but not long enough for him to straighten himself in. He crowded himself in between two of these shelves with his feet drawn up considerably and lay until his limbs began to ache from contraction and then he crept out and got his feet down on the floor between some of the men and stood a short time, and then crawled in between the shelves again. He passed the night without any sleep. By morning some provisions had been obtained, though they were then poorly supplied, and soon after they reached Fort Edward."
Enoch and his brother were stationed at Newcastle for three months, in November, 1776, Enoch was a corporal there and at Saratoga. He was sergeant in the Rhode Island campaign from March, 1778, to January, 1779. John was stationed at Great
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HISTORY OF CANAAN.
Island in November, 1775, and was also at Saratoga and Rhode Island. On the evening of May 2, 1777, dispatches were received by the Committee of Safety of this state, informing them that the garrison at Ticonderoga was threatened with capture by the enemy, and urging immediate reinforcements to that important post. The matter was considered by the committee and on the following day the chairman, Hon. Josiah Bartlett, dispatched messengers to Colonels Ashley of Winchester, Benjamin Bellows of Walpole, and Jonathan Chase of Cornish, entreating them "by all that is sacred to raise as many of your militia as possible and march them to Ticonderoga." In accordance with that re- quest, Colonel Ashley marched with 109 men, Colonel Bellows with 112, Colonel Chase with 159, and Capt. Josiah Brown with fifty-four men from Col. Enoch Hale's regiment.
In the pay roll of Colonel Chase's regiment are the names of Ezekiel Wells and Daniel Kimball, sergeants; James Jones, cor- poral; William Richardson, Asa Williams and Josiah Clark, privates. These men were in the company commanded by Joshua Hendee of Hanover. They marched to Ticonderoga May 7, 1777, 112 miles, and finding the alarm premature, were dis- charged after service of forty days. For this service they re- ceived eight pounds, six shillings.
The second alarm from Ticonderoga was more serious than the first. Maj. Francis Smith of Plainfield took command of Colonel Chase's regiment and marched to Ticonderoga on the 27th of June and with him were the following men: Thomas Baldwin, who was discharged an ensign after seven days' serv- ice, and Corp. Thomas Gates. The latter was one of the grantees in the charter. Jeremiah Meacham and Asa Kilburn, who served eight days each; Jedidiah Hibbard, William Rich- ardson, John Scofield, Samuel Lathrop and Daniel Hovey. The ferriage of 209 horses over the Connecticut River is put down at two cents each, amounting to three pounds, nine shillings and eight pence.
Ticonderoga was garrisoned by 3,000 men under General St. Clair. General Burgoyne was approaching with an army of 8,000, and on the 4th of July planted a battery on Mt. Defiance, 750 feet above the American works. St. Clair, seeing that re- sistance would be hopeless, abandoned the fort on the night of
351
SOLDIERS.
July 5th and escaped with the garrison into Vermont. The British pressed upon the fugitives and overtook them at Hub- bardton, seventeen miles from the fort. Here a sharp engage- ment ensued in which the Americans fought so obstinately as to check the pursuit. We learn from Rev. Charles W. Richardson's tale that the brothers Enoch and John Richardson were there.
In September, 1777, there was a call for help from the army of General Gates at Saratoga. Colonel Chase's regiment re- sponded with enthusiasm; Joshua Wells was captain; Jedidiah Hibbard, sergeant-major; John Scofield, Josiah Clark, Richard Clark and Enoch Richardson were privates. These men are be- lieved to have joined in the battles of Bennington and Saratoga. On July 23, 1777, Capt. Joshua Hendee of Hanover, of Colonel Hobart's regiment, with two-months men, marched to join Gen- eral Stark's brigade. In this company were Sergeant Ezekiel Wells and Privates Nathaniel Bartlett, Josiah Clark and Elisha Bingham. Ezekiel Wells also served in the defense of Ports- mouth two months from September 27, 1777. In Captain Webster's company were John Hoyt, sergeant, and Robert Bar- ber. Thomas Baxter, Ben Rob Birts, and Gideon Rudd were in Captain House's company, Colonel Chase's regiment of Stark's brigade, in September, 1777, from Canaan.
Among the absentees from Colonel Cilley's regiment at Valley Forge, January, 1778, was Thomas Baxter, who was then thirty years old, left sick at Albany in hospital. He enlisted in 1777 for three years under Colonel Chase. Birts was crippled in his campaigns. He enlisted in 1777 for three years when twenty- six years old. He returned to Canaan, where he had a wife and child, and became a charge upon the town. Gideon Rudd married Delight, eldest daughter of John Scofield, the old settler, who "for divers good causes me thereunto moving, but more so especially for the love and good will I bear unto my well-beloved daughter Delight, wife of Gideon Rudd," conveyed to her one hundred acres of land. Mr. Rudd lived in Hanover afterwards, and his name is commem- orated in the "Rudsboro Road." John Richardson served in Rhode Island in August, 1778, under Captain Page of Colonel Gates' regiment. In 1779 volunteers were slow in coming for- ward. An earnest call was made for reinforcements. It was
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HISTORY OF CANAAN.
not advisable to enforce a draft; Congress voted $200 and the state $300,- $500 for recruits. William Ayer of Plaistow, after- wards of Canaan, served in General Whipple's brigade in the expedition to relieve Rhode Island in 1778. He was at Winter Hill in Colonel Burnham's regiment as second lieutenant in December, 1775. Nathaniel Bartlett was at Saratoga, was a sergeant in Captain Runnell's company on the western frontier, and served from Bunker Hill to 1780.
John Beedle was in Captain Osgood's company of rangers and joined the Northern army in July, 1775; afterwards he was in Captain Russell's company of rangers for service in New Hampshire, then in Captain Richardson's company for the de- fence of the frontier adjacent to the Connecticut River.
William Richardson was in the Revolution before he came to Canaan. He was in Capt. Ezekiel Gile's company of Col. Stephen Peabody's regiment, as second lieutenant; enlisted January 1, 1778, for service in Rhode Island, and was dis- charged January 6, 1779. He enlisted from Hampstead in Hezekiah Hutchins' company of volunteers, as a corporal, and marched from Hampstead to Saratoga in September, 1777. He was appointed second lieutenant in the Rhode Island campaign when he was thirty-two years old. He was at Bunker Hill and Ticonderoga at every alarm. He died February 25, 1829, nearly 83 years old.
Daniel Blaisdell enlisted from Hopkinton in Captain Clem- ent's company and served at Newcastle and was at Ticonderoga. His brother, Parrott, was in Captain Marston's company and marched to Rhode Island in June, 1778. He re-enlisted in Cap- tain Downe's company and served up to January 1, 1779.
Elisha Bingham was in Captain Hendee's company for two months and was at Stillwater as a corporal. Jonathan B. Cross enlisted from Methuen, Mass. He resided in Enfield and was town clerk of that town in 1784, but the pay rolls give him as serving from Canaan.
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