USA > Ohio > Biographical and historical memoirs of the early pioneer settlers of Ohio, with narratives of incidents and occurrences in 1775 > Part 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
After the trial at Richmond, in 1807, he returned to Natchez, where he staid about a year, and then bought, with the remains of his fortune, a plantation, of one thousand acres, in Claiborne county, Miss., seven miles from Gibson Port, at a place called St. Catharine's, and cultivated it with a small stock of slaves. While here he
521
HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT.
continued his literary pursuits, leaving Mrs. Blennerhassett to superintend both in doors and out. The embargo destroyed all commerce, and the war which soon followed put a stop to the sale of cotton, and blasted his hopes of reinstating his fortune from that source. In a letter to his attorney, at Marietta, in 1808, wherein he proposes the sale of his island for slaves, he says, that with thirty hands on his plantation, he could in five years clear sixty thousand dollars. Cotton was then in demand, and brought a high price.
His lady, with her characteristic energy, rose at early dawn, mounted her horse and rode over the grounds, exam- ining each field, and giving directions to the overseer as to the work to be done that day, or any alteration to be made in the plans, which circumstances required. They here had the society of a few choice friends in Natchez, and among the neighboring planters. On this plantation they passed ten years ; in which time one son and daughter were added to the number of their children. The daughter died when young. Retaining still a fond recollection of his Ma- rietta and Belpre friends, he, in the year 1818, sent one of his sons to the college in Athens, Ohio, under the care of W. P. Putnam, the son of his old friend, A. W. Putnam.
Here he remained a year, at the end of which time, find- ing his fortune still decreasing, and means much cramped by his indorsements for Col. Burr, amounting to thirty thou- sand dollars, ten thousand of which were repaid by Mr. Alston, he in 1819 sold his plantation, and moved his family to Montreal; the governor of the province, an old friend, having given him hopes to expect a post on the bench, for which he was well qualified. Misfortune having marked him for her own, soon after his arrival his friend was re- moved from office, and his expectations frustrated.
He remained here until the year 1822, when he removed his family to England, under an assurance of a post from
522
HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT.
the government, which was never realized, and resided in the town of Bath, with a maiden sister.
It was at Montreal, with the prospects of poverty and blighted hopes thickening around her, that she wrote those beautiful and touching lines describing "The Island," and her once happy home, that may well be called her "La- ment," and are given below, as well worthy of preservation.
THE DESERTED ISLE.
Like mournful echo from the silent tomb, That pines away upon the midnight air, Whilst the pale moon breaks out with fitful gloom, Fond memory turns with sad, but welcome care, To scenes of desolation and despair; Once bright with all that beauty could bestow,
That peace could shed, or youthful fancy know.
To thee, fair isle, reverts the pleasing dream; Again thou risest in thy green attire; Fresh, as at first, thy blooming graces seem; Thy groves, thy fields, their wonted sweets respire; Again thou'rt all my heart could e'er desire. O why, dear isle, art thou not still my own ? Thy charms could then for all my griefs atone.
The stranger that descends Ohio's stream,
Charm'd with the beauteous prospects that arise, Marks the soft isles, that 'neath the glistening beam, Dance in the wave, and mingle with the skies ; Sees also one, that now in ruin lies, Which erst, like fairy queen, towered o'er the rest, In every native charm by culture dress'd.
There rose the seat where once, in pride of life, My eye could mark the queen of rivers flow ; In summer's calmness, or in winter's strife, Swoln with the rains, or baffling with the snow ; Never again my heart such joy shall know. Havoc, and ruin, and rampant war, have past Over that isle with their destroying blast.
523
HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT.
The black'ning fire has swept throughout her halls,
The winds fly whistling through them, and the wave No more in spring-floods o'er the sand-beach crawls; But furious drowns in one o'erwhelming grave, Thy hallowed haunts it watered as a slave. Drive on, destructive flood ! and ne'er again On that devoted isle let man remain.
For many blissful moments there I've known ; Too many hopes have there met their decay, Too many feelings now forever gone, To wish that thou wouldst e'er again display The joyful coloring of thy prime array. Buried with thee, let them remain a blot ; With thee, their sweets, their bitterness forgot.
And O, that I could wholly wipe away The memory of the ills that work'd thy fall : The memory of that all eventful day, When I return'd and found my own fair hall Held by the infuriate populace in thrall, My own fireside blockaded by a band, That once found food and shelter at my hand.
My children, (O, a mother's pangs forbear, Nor strike again that arrow through my soul,) Clasping the ruffians in suppliant prayer, To free their mother from unjust control ; While with false crimes, and imprecations foul, The wretches, vilest refuse of the earth, Mock jurisdiction held, around my hearth.
Sweet isle ! methinks I see thy bosom torn, Again behold the ruthless rabble throng, That wrought destruction, taste must ever mourn. Alas, I see thee now, shall see thee long, Yet ne'er shall bitter feelings urge the wrong ; That to a mob would give the censure due, To those that arm'd the plunder-greedy crew.
Thy shores are warm'd by bounteous suns in vain, Columbia, if spite and envy spring
1
.
524
HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT.
To blast the beauty of mild nature's reign, The European stranger, who would fling O'er tangled woods refinement's polishing, May find (expended every plan of taste,) His work by ruffians rendered doubly waste.
In addition to the expectation of office in England, he also had hopes of recovering an interest he held in an estate in Ireland. Both of these, however, failed. He ul- timately resided in the island of Guernsey, where he died in 1831, aged sixty-three years.
Eleven years after his death, in 1842, when his widow and children were reduced to extreme want, she returned to New " York with one of her sons, both of them in very poor health, with the purpose of petitioning Congress for remuneration in the destruction of the property on the island, by the Wood county militia, in December, 1806. The petition is couched in very feeling and appropriate language, in which she sets forth the outrages offered to herself and family, with the damages done to the house and property on the island.
" Your memorialist does not desire to exaggerate the conduct of the said armed men, or the injuries done by them; but she can truly say, that before their visit the resi- dence of her family had been noted for its elegance and high state of improvement, and that they left it in a state of comparative ruin and waste; and as instances of the mischievous and destructive spirit which appeared to govern them, she would mention that while they occupied as a guard-room one of the best apartments in the house, (the building of which had cost nearly forty thousand dollars,) a musket or rifle ball was deliberately fired into the ceiling, by which it was much defaced and injured; and that they wantonly destroyed many pieces of valuable furniture. She would also state, that, being apparently under no
525
HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT.
subordination, they indulged in continual drunkenness and riot, offering many indignities to your memorialist, and treating her domestics with violence.
Your memorialist further represents, that these outrages were committed upon an unoffending and defenseless family in the absence of their natural protector; your memorial- ist's husband being then away from his home; and that in answer to such remonstrances as she ventured to make against the consumption, waste, and destruction of his pro- perty, she was told by those who assumed to have the com- mand, that they held the property for the United States, by order of the President, and were privileged to use it, and should use it, as they pleased. It is with pain that your memorialist reverts to events, which, in their consequences, have reduced a once happy family from affluence and com- fort, to comparative want and wretchedness; which blighted the prospects of her children, and made herself, in the de- cline of life, a wanderer on the face of the earth."
This memorial was directed to the care of Henry Clay, then in the Senate of the United States, enveloped in a let- ter from R. Emmitt, a son of the celebrated man of that name. He says, "She is now in this city, residing in very humble circumstances, bestowing her cares upon a son, who, by long poverty and sickness, is reduced to utter im- becility, both of mind and body, unable to assist her, or pro- vide for his own wants. In her present destitute situation, the smallest amount of relief would be thankfully received by her. Her condition is one of absolute want, and she has. but a short time left to enjoy any better fortune in this world."
Mr. Clay presented the memorial to the Senate, with some very feeling and appropriate remarks ; having been formerly well acquainted with the family, and employed as his attor- ney, when arrested at Lexington, Ky. It was taken up, and
526
MARGARET BLENNERHASSETT.
referred to the committee of claims; of which the Hon. William Woodbridge was chairman. His report on the memorial is a very able and feeling document, in which he advocates the claim as just, and one which ought to be al- lowed, notwithstanding it had now been thirty-six years since the events transpired. He says, "Not to do so, would be unworthy of any wise or just nation, that is disposed to re- spect, most of all, its own honor." This report sets forth all the circumstances attending the " Burr treason," as de- scribed in the foregoing biography. The documents which accompany the report are very interesting, especially the statement of Morgan Neville and William Robinson, jr., two of the young men who were arrested and tried on the island, as partizans of Burr, in December, 1806, and written for the future use of Mr. Blennerhassett, a few days after these events transpired. It is given as a correct history of the outrages on the island.
STATEMENT OF MESSRS. NEVILLE AND ROBINSON, AND AFFIDAVIT OF MARGARET BLENNERHASSETT :
"On the 13th day of December, 1806, the boat in which we were, was driven ashore, by ice and wind, on Backus's island, about one mile below Mr. Blennerhassett's house ; we landed in the forenoon, and the wind continuing unfa- vorable, did not afford us an opportunity of putting off until after three o'clock in the evening, at which time we were attacked by about twenty-five men, well armed, who rushed upon us suddenly, and we, not being in a situation to resist the fury of a mob, surrendered ; a strong guard was placed in the boat, to prevent, we presume, those persons of our party who remained in the boat, from going off with her, while we were taken to the house of Mr. Blennerhassett. On our arrival at the house we found it filled with militia; another party of them were engaged in making fires, (around the house,) of rails dragged from the fences of Mr. Blenner-
527
MARGARET BLENNERHASSETT.
hassett. At this time Mrs. Blennerhassett was from home. When she returned, (about an hour after,) she remonstrated against this outrage on the property, but without effect; the officers declared that while they were on island, the pro- perty absolutely belonged to them. We were informed, by themselves, that their force consisted of forty men the first night; and on the third day it was increased to eighty. The officers were constantly issuing the whisky and meat, which had been laid up for the use of the family ; and when- ever any complaint was made by the friends of Mrs. Blen- nerhassett, they invariably asserted that everything on the farm was their own property. There appeared to us to be no kind of subordination among the men; the large room they occupied on the first floor, presented a continued scene of riot and drunkenness; the furniture appeared ruined by the bayonets, and one of the men fired his gun against the ceiling; the ball made a large hole, which completely spoiled the beauty of the room. They insisted that the servants should wait upon them, before attending to their mistress ; when this was refused, they seized upon the kitchen, and drove the negroes into the wash-house. We were detained from Saturday evening until Tuesday morning; during all which time there were never less than thirty, and frequently from seventy to eighty men living in this riotous manner entirely on the provisions of Mrs. Blennerhassett. When we left the island, a cornfield near the house, in which the corn was still remaining, was filled with cattle, the fences having been pulled down to make fires. This we pledge ourselves to be a true statement of these transactions, as impression was made on us at the time.
MORGAN NEVILLE, WM. ROBINSON, JR."
Charles Fenton Mercer, Esq., also, in September, 1807, soon after the trial at Richmond, made a full statement of
529
MARGARET BLENNERHASSETT.
his knowledge of the events on which the accusation against Mr. Blennerhassett was founded; as they transpired between the 20th of September and 6th of December, 1806, having been himself at the island in November; with his opinion of the objects of the expedition, in which he fully clears Mr. Blennerhassett of any designs against the peace and quiet of the United States. Mr. D. Woodbridge, of Mari- etta, in a letter to the chairman, of the 2d of April, 1842, makes a statement of the loss of property, from the attach- ment of the government, and the riotous conduct of the Wood county volunteers on the island.
In August, 1842, while this subject was under consider- ation, news arrived of the death of Mrs. Blennerhassett at New York; and nothing more was done in the matter. She, who had lived in wealth and splendor, and imparted charity to hundreds of the poor, was indebted to others for a grave. She died in the most destitute condition; and her last days passed under the soothing care of a charitable society of Irish females in New York, by whom she was buried. The reverses in this accomplished woman's for- tune, and in that of her amiable husband, illustrate the un- certainties of human life, and unfold the mysterious doings of Providence with the children of men. More than forty years have passed away since these events were transacted, and not a vestige now remains of the splendid and happy home of Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett. All has passed away like the vision of a pleasant dream ; while the. thousands of passengers who annually travel up and down the Ohio on steamboats, still eagerly inquire after, and gaze upon "the island of Blennerhassett," with wonder and delight.
APPENDIX.
[NOTE A.] The acquaintances formed during his college residence at Cambridge, in many cases ripened into close intimacy and friendship. Among his early friends and correspondents, is the name of John Adams. The following extract of a letter, written by this distinguished statesman, at Braintrec, Mass., December 5, 1760, exhibits at that early period, their mental character and their insatiable thirst for intellectual improvement, upon which were based their subsequent elevation. The perusal may stimulate others to imitate so laudable an example.
BRAINTREE, December 5th, 1760.
SIR : I presume upon the merit of a brother, both in the academical and legal family, to give you this trouble, and to ask the favor of your correspondence. The science which we have bound ourselves to study for life, you know to be immensely voluminous, perhaps intricate and involved ; so that an arduous application to books at home, a critical observation of the course of practice, the conduct of the older practitioners in courts, and a large correspondence with fellow students abroad, as well as conversation in private companies, upon legal subjects, are needful to gain a thorough mastery, if not to make a decent figure in the profession of law. The design of this letter, then, is to desire that you would write me a report of any cause of importance and curiosity, either in Courts of Admiralty or Common Law, that you hear resolved in your colony. And on my part, I am ready and engage to do the same of any such causes that I shall hear argued in the province. It is an employ- ment that gives me pleasure, and I find that revolving a case in my mind, stating it on paper, rccollecting the arguments on each side, and examining the points through my books, that occur in the course of a trial, makes the impression deeper on my memory, and lets me easier into the spirit of law and practice.
In view I send you the report of a cause argued in Boston last term, and should be glad to know if the points, whether the statutes of mortmain were ever stirred in your colony ยง and by what criterion you determine what statutes are, and what are not extended to you." (Here follows the case reported, which is too long for insertion.)
[ NOTE B.] " In the House of Representatives of the colony of Connecticut, Fri- day, 21st of May, 13th, George iii, 1773. Mr. Speaker having laid before the House a letter from the Speaker of the House of Burgesecs of the colony of Virginia, 34
530
APPENDIX.
containing certain resolutions entered into by said house on the 12th of March last ; this House taking into consideration the contents of said letter, the above-mentioned resolutions, and the reasons on which they are grounded, are of opinion that they are weighty and important in their nature and design, calculated and tending to produce happy and salutary effects, in securing and supporting the ancient legal and constitutional rights of this and the colonies in general, do approve and adopt the measure, and thereupon
Resolved, That a Standing Committee of Correspondence and Inquiry, to consist of nine persons, viz. : The Hon. Ebenezer Silliman, Esq., William Williams, Benja- min Payne, Samuel Holden Parsons, Nathaniel Wales, Silas Dean, Samuel Bishop, Joseph Trumbull, and Erastus Wolcott, Esq., whose business it shall be to obtain all such intelligence, and take up and maintain correspondence with our sister colo- nies, respecting the important considerations mentioned and expressed in the afore- said resolutions of the patriotic House of Burgesses of Virginia, and the result of such their proceedings from time to time to lay before this house.
Resolved, That the Speaker of this House do transmit to the Speakers of the dif- ferent Assemblies of the British colonies on this continent, copies of these resolu- tions, and request that they would come into similar measures, and communicate, from time to time, with the said committee, on all matters wherein the common welfare and safety of the colonies are concerned.
[NOTE C.] In the House of Representatives of the colony of Connecticut, June 3, 1774. Whereas a Congress of Commissioners from the several British colonies in America, is proposed by some of our neighboring colonies, and thought necessary : and whereas, it may be found expedient that such Congress should be convened be- fore the next session of the Assembly,
Resolved, by this House, that the Committee of Correspondence be, and they are hereby, empowered, on application to them made, or from time to time as may be found necessary, to appoint a suitable number to attend such Congress or Convention of Commissioners, or Committees of the several colonies in British America; and the persons thus to be chosen, shall be, and they hereby are, directed, in behalf of the colony, to attend such Congress, to consult and advise on proper measures for advancing the best good of the colonies; and such conferences from time to time to report to this House.
[NOTE D.] " NEW LONDON, July 28th, 1774.
DEAR SIR : On the refusal of three of our commissioners to attend the Congress, I have received a notification to attend a meeting of the Committee of Correspond-' ence, at Hartford, next Wednesday, to make a further appointment, and also a de- sire to notify you of the time and place of our meeting. If you will come to New London on Monday, we will go together. I hope no business of a private nature will divert you from attending this important public business. As the eyes of al.
53
APPENDIX.
the continent are upon the Congress for relief, so I think we should be unpardonable, to suffer small things to divert us from attending to make the appointment.
.
I am, sir, your friend,
SAMUEL H. PARSONS.
Col. Joseph Trumbull, Norwich."
[NOTE E.] The following letter, written June 7, 1774, to Samuel Adams, by a member of the Committee of Correspondence, soon after the passage of the resolution of June 3d, by the Connecticut Assembly, illustrates the ardent patriotism which inspired the gentlemen composing that committee, and their earnest desire and effi- cient influence in promoting the important object of a Convention of the Colo- nies, or General Congress. It alludes to a letter which may be found in Force's Archives.
" SIR : You will have received a letter from our General Committee of Corres- pondence before this comes to hand, By that you will find that a General Congress of Commissioners from all the colonies is expected, and that in the opinion of people here, that will be a necessary step to unite the several colonies in the most effectual measures to oppose the designs of Administration ; who doubtless expect that the other governments will sit still, tame spectators, while they wreak their vengeance on Boston, if they are left untouched.
This town had a full meeting yesterday, in which it was easily seen that the spirit of our people is as high as ever, and full as determined to oppose, with vigor and resolution, the wicked and unjust attempts of our enemies. The Committee of Cor- respondence have this day written to the Committee of Correspondence for the town of Boston, on the subject."
[NOTE F.] " TO THE HONORABLE GENERAL ASSEMBLY now sitting, the memo- rial of Samuel H. Parsons, humbly showeth : That in April, 1775, the memorialist. Mr. Silas Dean and Col. Samuel Wyllys, with others, were induced, from the partic- ular situation of public affairs, to undertake surprising and seizing the enemy's post at Ticonderoga, without the knowledge and approbation of the Assembly ; and to prosecute the business, were necessitated to take out a quantity of money from the treasury, for which they gave their promissory receipt; that the whole moneys were delivered to the gentlemen sent on that service, and were actually expended therein. That said receipts are still held against the promissors, notwithstanding the public have taken the post into their own hands, and repaid the expense. Your memorialist therefore prays your honors to order said receipts to be given up ; that the sums thereof be allowed the treasurer in settlement; and he, as in duty bound, &c.
Dated in HARTFORD, the 30th of May, 1777.
SAMUEL H. PARSONS.
The action of the Legislature, and the original receipts, are recorded in the office of the Secretary of State at Hartford.
1
532
APPENDIX
[NOTE G.] Gen. Parsons to Gen. Washington :
" NEW HAVEN, May 25th, 1777.
DEAR GENERAL : Having received information that the enemy were collecting forage, horses, &c., on the east end of Long Island, I ordered a detachment from the several regiments then at this place, consisting of one major, four captains, viz .: Troop, Pond, Mansfield, and Savage, and nine subalterns, and two hundred and twenty men, commissioned officers and privates, under the command of Col. Meigs, to attack their different posts on that part of the island, and destroy the forage, &c., which they have collected. Col. Meigs embarked his men here, in thirteen whale- boats, the 21 st inst., and proceeded to Guilford, but the wind proving high, and the sea rough, could not pass the sound until Friday, the 23d. He left Guilford, at 10 o'clock on the afternoon of the 23d, with one hundred and seventy of his de- tachment, and under convoy of two armed sloops, and in company with another un- armed, (to bring off prisoners,) crossed the sound, to the north branch of the island, near Southold, where he arrived about 6 o'clock in the evening; the enemy's troops on this branch of the island had marched for New York two days before; but about sixty of the enemy remaining at a place called Sagg Harbor, about fifteen miles distant, on the south branch of the island, he ordered eleven whale-boats, with as many men as could be safely transported across the bay, over the land to the bay, where they re-embarked, to the number of one hundred and thirty, and at about 12 o'clock, arrived safe across the bay, within about four miles of the harbor; where, having secured the boats in the woods, under the care of a guard, Col. Meigs formed his remaining little detachment in proper order for attacking the different posts and quarters of the enemy, and securing the vessels and forage at the same time. They marched in the greatest order and silence, and at 2 o'clock arrived at the harbor. The several divisions, with fixed bayonets, attacked the guards and posts assigned them, whilst Capt. Troop, with the detachment under his command, secured the ves- sels and forage lying at the wharf. The alarm soon became general, when an armed schooner of twelve guns and seventy men, within one hundred and fifty yards of the wharf, began a fire upon our troops, which continued, without cessation, for three- quarters of an hour, with grape and round shot; but the troops, with the greatest intrepidity, returned the fire upon the schooner, and set fire to the vessels and forage, and killed and captured all the soldiers and sailors, except about six, who made their escape under cover of the night. Twelve brigs and sloops, one an armed vessel with twelve guns, about one hundred and twenty tons of pressed hay, oats, corn, and other forage, ten hogsheads of rum, and a large quantity of other merchandize, were en- tirely consumed. It gives me the greatest satisfaction to hear the officers and sol- diers, without exception, behaved with the greatest bravery, order, and intrepidity.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.