USA > Vermont > Orange County > Bradford > A history of Bradford, Vermont : containing some account of the place of its first settlement in 1765, and the principal improvements made, and events which have occurred down to 1874--a period of one hundred and nine years. With various genealogical records, and biographical sketches of families and individuals, some deceased, and others still living > Part 14
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Our friend was of a military turn, and rose from the rank of a subaltern to that of Colonel of a regiment, and then to that of Brigadier General. At general musters he was in his glory. In his rich uniform, mounted on his splendid horse, and full of animation, he presented a truly commanding appearance. He never had occasion, how- ever, to engage in actual warfare.
For twenty-three years Colonel Barron executed the office of a Sheriff in Orange County, the last four years of which he was High Sheriff. At that time, especially in the earlier part of his official career, there was much to
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be done by that officer, not merely in the collection of debts, but in criminal prosecutions, and the punishment of offenders. Then disturbers of the peace were liable to be set in the stocks, a sort of frame to confine the feet between two pieces of timber ; and thieves, counterfeit- ers, and such like characters, to be tied up to a whipping- post, and receive a certain number of lashes laid on the bare shoulders with a cat-o'-nine tails, " an instrument of punishment," says Webster, " consisting of nine pieces of line or cord, fastened to a piece of thick rope, and having each three knots at intervals; used to flog offenders on board of ships." In some instances criminals were brand- ed with some ignominious mark on the cheek, as with an R for rogue, or L for liar, or had the rim of an ear cut away. Even in this town were a set of stocks and a whipping-post. They stood on the East side of Main Street, near where you turn to go down to the paper mill. These punishments were more generally inflicted at Chelsea, near the jail, but even here Sheriff Barron occasionally exercised his authority by laying the lashes on the back of some luckless culprit tied to the whipping- post. The names of two or three of these transgressors have been given me, but why should they be perpetuated with dishonor ? It is a matter of rejoicing that such bar- barous corporeal punishments are no longer in use among us.
As " Colonel Mike " had become famous for arresting desperate offenders and bringing them to justice, he was, about the year 1800, induced to undertake the hazardous enterprise of going into Canada to arrest the notorious counterfeiter, Stephen Burroughs. This man, a son of Rev. Eden Burroughs, S. T. D., of Hanover, N. H., pos- sessed good talents and education, was kind, courteous and gentlemanly in his appearance and manners, but was destitute of moral principle, and a most shrewd and ac- complished villain-not in the way of deeds of violence
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and blood, but in diverting tricks of deception, in cheat- ing, and especially in the business of manufacturing and issuing counterfeit currency, both in the shape of coin and bank bills. He had established himself at Shipton, in Lower Canada, and was deluging New England with his finely executed bank notes, greatly to the annoyance and damage of the community, and especially of the banks. In consequence of this, the officers of several of these es- tablishments entered into an agreement to bear the ex- pense of a strenuous effort to have the great counterfeiter arrested, and a stop put to his business. Looking about for a man of the right stamp to accomplish such an un- dertaking, they could see no one so likely to answer their purpose as Sheriff Barron. They accordingly engaged him to make the attempt. The thing was not to be done in a day. He engaged two shrewd men, in whom he had confidence, to go to Burroughs with pretense of favor towards him and his business, and a desire to purchase and deal in his counterfeit currency. As they proved to be constant and profitable customers, they were gradual- ly admitted into all the secrets of the establishment, knew everybody, how everything was transacted, where Bur- roughs slept, at what time in the morning his guard of fifteen men were released from their night watching, where they placed their guns, and retired for repose.
In the meantime Barron, furnished with all necessary testimonials, had been holding interviews with the Gov- ernor General of the Canadas, and obtained from him a warrant for the arrest of the criminal ; a commission ex- traordinary, commanding His Majesty's subjects, especial- ly all officers of the government, both civil and military, to give him support, protection and assistance to any ex- tent he might require, in order to arrest and bring to trial the said Burroughs. Without having excited any alarm, Barron was one night, with twenty-two armed men, in the town of Shipton. He had received full in-
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formation of everything from his spies. They were prob- ably at that time with him. In the darkness of night he drew his company near to the house of Burroughs, and lay concealed till, in the dawn of the morning, his guard of fifteen men went in, set up their guns, as their custom was, in the hall, and retired into the attic for sleep. Then Barron with his company softly entered, and, having se- cured the guns the guard had just before set down, be directly entered the sleeping apartment of Burroughs and seized him in his bed ! Burroughs snatched a pistol from under his pillow to shoot him, and called loudly for his guard, but the pistol was instantly struck from his hand, and the guard, hearing many voices and much con- fusion below, leaped, terror-stricken, from their attic window and fled away. Burroughs was overpowered and firmly bound with cords. When, in the clearer light of the morning, he saw in whose hands he was, for he had before known Sheriff Barrom, he complimented his cour- age, and, promising submission, entreated him to unbind his arms, as the cords had become very painful. " Colonel Mike," he says, " you are a gentleman, and so am I; un- bind my arms, and I give you my word of honor that I will be entirely subject to your orders." Barron trusted him, but came near losing his life by so doing, for shortly after, when standing at a little distance from his prisoner, and looking another way, Burroughs was seen stealthily pointing a pistol at him, when a sharp click was heard, but no report followed. It had missed fire! Barron, being told of his attempt, took the pistol from him, de- manding what he meant by such conduct. The villain replied, " I meant to shoot you." The sheriff, pointing the same pistol to a green birch tree, fired it, when a bul- let was discharged with such force as to sink deeply into the solid wood. The prisoner then being thoroughly searched, was subjected to the closest vigilance, assured that if he made any further attempt of that sort he would
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be instantly shot down. He remained quiet, was taken to Montreal, and delivered to the authority of the Gov- ernor for trial. Barron, both in Montreal and at home, · was regarded as a hero, who had accomplished success- fully a very hazardous undertaking. Burroughs, how- ever, as is generally the case with accomplished villains, had many friends, and through their management, after a confinement of some duration, escaped through the mesh- es of the law with impunity, and returned to his old busi- ness of counterfeiting.
I have been told that Barron was sent a second time to arrest him, when, coming suddenly upon him, Burroughs at once thrust his hand into his bosom to seize a deadly weapon, when Barron cried out, adapting his action to his word, " If you stir you are a dead man !" Burroughs, looking up into his determined countenance, replied, "Colonel Mike, I had as lief see the devil as see you," and without resistance submitted. He was again impris- oned, but contrived to escape. In his old age he became a Roman Catholic, and is said to have been in the habit of giving good advice to young men, telling them not to do as he had done, for he had found the way of the trans- gressor to be hard.
General Barron was in person rather a large man, erect and strongly built, his countenance open, and expressive at once of boldness and good nature. On one cheek was a singular spot, large as the print of one's finger, and bright as a ripe English cherry. He wore his hair combed directly back from his forehead, and did not need a shaggy beard to give evidence in any company that he was a MAN. He possessed a good share of general intelli- gence, and was in conversation social and interesting. After the close of active business he lived for some time in Boston, but spent his last days in Bradford, where he died November 26, 1839, aged seventy-six years and eight months.
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Mrs. Barron died at Bradford, March 10, 1832, aged seventy-two years. She was a member of the Congrega- tional church, and universally esteemed as an excellent woman.
General Barron and wife had but two children. Their daughter Elizabeth married David Hartwell, a respectable man, then in business with her father. She died early in life, leaving no child. The son, Colonel William Barron, a gen- tleman well known in this town and vicinity, was in early manhood occupied in mercantile business with his father, and for some years traded at Corinth, East Village. He first married Miss Bailey, a daughter of Isaac Bailey, Esq., of Newbury, and by her had two daughters. After her de- cease he returned to Bradford, and was for some years devoted to the business of a sheriff, and gave so good sat- isfaction that he was promoted to be High Sheriff of Or- ange County. He had also a liking for military affairs, and was promoted to the rank of a Colonel. He was a wide awake, very affable and polite sort of a man, fond of society, and spent more than the first half of his life in the ways of the world ; to the neglect of one thing need- ful. After the decease of Captain William Trotter, in 1822, he married his widow, a pious lady, who possessed a considerable estate, which he seems to have managed for her interest as well as his own, judiciously. In the time of a powerful revival of religion, about the beginning of the year 1837, he became hopefully converted, and, with many others, united with the Congregational church here, to which his wife had for years belonged. From that time till the close of his life, some thirty-six years after, he remained a praying man. After the lapse of several years Colonel Barron and wife sold their real estate in Bradford, and purchased a pleasant homestead in Nor- wich, Vt., where they lived for some time, but finally settled in Hartford, Conn., where, in very agreeable cir- cumstances, they passed their few remaining years, and,
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sustained by the promises and consolations of the Gospel, died about the same time ; Colonel Barron October 25, 1873, in the eighty-sixth year of his age, and Mrs. Bar- ron on the 28th of the same month, aged eighty-three. , The remains of both were brought for burial to Norwich, Vt., and there laid down together to their final repose, where their daughter Isabelle had been laid before them.
· By his first marriage Colonel Barron had two daughters, namely, Elizabeth, who married Joseph M. Bean, then of Lyme, N. H., and Mary, who became the wife of Silas Burbank, a merchant in Montpelier, Vt., both of whom were left in widowhood before the decease of their par- ents. By his second marriage he had two sons and two daughters. The eldest son, William Trotter, graduated at Vermont University, studied law, became settled in business at Chicago about the year 1852, rose to distinc- tion, was promoted to be a County Judge, accumulated considerable property, and was esteemed a capable, up- right, and honorable man; but by a terrible railroad dis- aster was, at about the age of thirty-eight years, suddenly killed; his head being actually severed from his body, and his person otherwise shockingly mangled. He had never married, and is understood to have seasonably made his will in regard to the disposition of his property. This sad event occurred near Chicago, in January, 1862.
Everett Barron, brother of the Judge, has for years been a hotel keeper at Fairbault, Minnesota. Remains unmarried. His sister Charlotte married a Mr. Rogers, of Massachusetts, was a talented, pious lady, and died in widowhood at Hartford, Conn., not long after the decease of her parents ; leaving an only son, Willie. Isabelle died at Norwich, Vt., years before. Thus families rise, flourish for a little season, and pass away.
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CAPTAIN WILLIAM TROTTER.
Captain William Trotter was born in Broughton, Lan- cashire, England, June 29, 1769, but his subsequent home, during his residence in his native land, was in Working- ton, Cumberland County. From this port, in the vicinity of coal mines, great quantities of coal have for a long time been yearly shipped to Ireland and the Isle of Man. At the age of nine years he was bound to a ship-master, engaged in this trade, to be learned the business of a mariner. His first employment was that of a cabin boy. Finding his master, as he thought, unreasonably severe, and the business disagreeable, he made complaint to his step-father, Matheson, and desired him, if possible, to procure his release and obtain for him a situation under
some other captain, who would treat him better, but was silenced by the following laconic and singular reply : "Bill, it is better for thee to remain in the power of a devil whose ways thou knowest, than to fall into the hands of another whose ways thou dost not know." In this busi- ness he continued for about ten years, when, at the age of nineteen, he emigrated to this country, seeking employ- ment. He soon found favor with Clark & Nightingale, of Providence, R. I., who were engaged in foreign commerce. From the rank of a boatswain he rose in a few years to that of captain, and by his ability, activity, and faithful- ness in their service gained the high esteem and full con- fidence of his employers. He made some distant voy- ages, in one of which he visited the Sandwich Islands, long before the light and manifold blessings of Christian- ity were imparted to them, and many were the anecdotes which he could tell respecting the manners and customs of the people. By his kind treatment of them, and the respect which he paid to their king, Tomahamaha the 1st, he became a favorite with the people. A spear made of very hard, heavy wood, curiously wrought, presented to
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him by that proud savage monarch may probably still be seen at the house of Col. Barron, of Hartford, Ct. His principal business, however, was to carry articles of com- merce from this country to Europe, to exchange for other articles better adapted to the South American markets, and sell them there at high prices, taking pay not merely in hides, and other commodities of lawful traffic, but as far as possible in gold and silver, which at that time the Spanish colonists were not allowed to dispose of to the citizens of any foreign country but their own. It is said the first United States flag ever seen in the harbor of Buenos Ayres was raised by Capt. Trotter.
The trade in which he was there engaged was hazard- ous, and could be conducted only with great caution. On this account his employers allowed him a liberal per cent- age on all the profits accruing from his management of their business. While trading with the South Americans, he formed intimate friendships with some of the officials and merchants, who for their own interests were ready to aid him in the prosecution of his purposes. At times they would invite him, with his wife and some of the officers, to private entertainments at their houses, and then he would invite them to dine on board of his ship. These seasons were faithfully improved in carrying specie on board in a clandestine manner, generally in belts beneath their clothes. On one occasion Mrs. Trotter had got her pocket so heavily laden that, as she was about to go on board, her pocket string broke, and she instantly fell, ap- pearing to have fainted away, when the Captain, with some of his men, who understood the case, immediately gath- ered her up, taking care to keep her skirts closely wrap- ped about her, and carried her on board without exciting suspicion. Had hoops then been in fashion, they might have proved a sad annoyance. In this contraband trade the Captain was so successful that in the course of a few years he accumulated the means of a handsome support
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during the remnant of his days. Mr. Clark remained dur- ing life his fast friend ; and, many years after these trans- actions, died at his house in Bradford.
Capt. Trotter on leaving the sea purchased a beautiful situation in Attleborough, Mass., where he resided a few years, when, travelling through this part of the country, he was much pleased with the valley of the Connecticut river, and purchased for himself a situation in Bradford village, with a large farm adjoining. When he settled down here, February 2, 1804, he was worth about forty thousand dollars, which was at that time esteemed by the people a great fortune. He built a commodious house in the central part of the village, which has been much en- larged, and for years occupied as a hotel, styled the "Trotter House." He also built and put in operation a cotton factory, just above the lowest bridge for ordinary travel across Waits river, on the south side of the stream, where the scythe-stone and kit factories now stand. This business proving unprofitable, was in the course of a few years abandoned. He also set up an extensive distillery for converting grain into whiskey, and prosecuted that business for several years. The long row of buildings for this purpose stood a little south of his house, on the bor- der of the meadow at the foot of the hill. This under- taking proved in various respects worse than the other, and for a long time the old, deserted and decaying build- ings stood as a warning to every beholder. The Captain for some time had a store on the west side of the street, a little north of where "Prichard's store" now stands, and afterwards traded on the opposite side. But so far as his estate in Bradford was concerned, his principal income must have been derived from his farm and grist-mill. Probably from his coming into this town to the time of his decease, a period of eighteen years, his property was gradually diminishing. By the inhabitants of the town he was highly respected, and occasionally elected to offices ,
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of trust and importance. For a time he officiated as one of the selectmen, and again had command as captain of a military company.
Captain Trotter was a man of great natural kindness and liberality. 'Some few instances in proof of this I will mention.
On a certain occasion an Irish boy came along, poorly clad, selling needles and pins, while diligently seeking for his father, whom he hoped to find in this part of the country. The Captain was pleased with the smartness of the boy, and on learning his condition and business, gen- erously detained him for several days in his house. In the meantime he sent the little fellow with a good bundle of materials to a tailoress, who made for him a new suit of clothes, greatly to his delight. In a few days the fa- ther came along inquiring for his boy, and was over- whelmed with joy and gratitude, when he found how generously he had been cared for. The name of the boy was Francis Kelley. He and his father were from Ire- land, seeking, I believe, a home in Canada.
On another occasion a great fire in Newburyport, Mass., reduced many persons to, distress for food and other nec- essaries of life. Captain Trotter, on learning the fact, im- mediately dispatched a two-horse team, heavily loaded with flour and meal, entirely at his own expense, for the re- lief of the sufferers. Joseph Jenkins was the man he sent.
A Mr. Ford, a poor man in Bradford, had the misfor- tune to lose his only cow, and on the morning of a town meeting day came to Captain Trotter with his sorrowful story, asking if he would be so kind as to draw up a sub- scription, and give it a start to help him buy another cow. The Captain, always ready for such an emergency, took his pencil and wrote: "Fellow Townsmen:
Charity never knocked louder than now, A poor old couple have lost their cow., The cow belonged to Deacon Ford, Give to the poor, and lend to the Lord."
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This he publicly read, to the great amusement of the men assembled, and signing his name, with a liberal sum annexed, handed round the paper, when to the great joy of the poor man enough was shortly subscribed to buy another cow, and hay to keep her through the Winter.
Captain Trotter, though not a professor of religion, was ever ready to give liberally towards its support. His regular subscription towards his minister's salary was fifty dollars a year. He also gave the minister the use of a house, barn, and garden, and the privilege of having all grinding at the Captain's mill, toll free. He made many other presents besides. The first time the Association of ministers met in Bradford after my settlement, Captain Trot- ter and his lady furnished gratuitously the entertainment in a very handsome manner. Being at church one com- munion day, and observing how poorly the table was pro- vided with furniture, glass vessels being used, and one of them having got broken on the way, he immediately sent to Boston an order for silver furniture for the Lord's ta- ble, which he presented to the Congregational church. It cost him about two hundred dollars. An inscription on the large tankard indicates that the donation was made as a testimonial of gratitude to God for his goodness in the preservation of the life of the giver in the four quar- ters of the globe. May these precious articles of solid silver long remain a pleasing memorial of his liberality.
He seemed to have a great respect for religion, and for those whom he esteemed truly pious people, but did not like to be very closely approached on the subject of per- sonal piety. When his young pastor, at a certain time, tried to be faithful to him in that respect, he was evidently much disturbed, and in effect said, " What right have you to ask me such questions?" A storm seemed to be gath- ering, when, taking my hat and silently bowing him good bye, I turned toward the door, to leave him alone to his re- flections. Just as I reached the door, I felt some one gent-
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ly pull the skirts of my coat. I turned to see what was wanted, when he said to me, with a smile, " Mr. McKeen, if at any time you should want any favor of me, be as- sured I will esteem it a pleasure to oblige you." My obligations to him on the score of benefits received, dur- ing the course of some eight years were many and great.
Captain Trotter was in person tall and erect, of light complexion, blue eyes, and reddish hair, gentlemanly in his manners, and much given to hospitality, having an in- tolerable dislike of all meanness. He was in the habit of reading extensively the current news, had been about the. world a great deal, possessed much general intelligence, and delighted in conversation. . He was in most respects an admirable man.
" Large was his bounty and his soul sincere, No farther seek his merits to disclose, Or draw his frailties from their dread abode.
(There they, alike, in trembling bope repose), The bosom of his Father and his God."
He died June 11, 1822, lacking but eighteen days of being fifty-three years of age. His remains repose by the side of those of his first wife, the lady who voyaged with him to foreign lands, and assisted him in the acquisition of his wealth. For some years before her decease she manifested a deep interest in religion, and died enjoying its consolations, November 9, 1813, aged forty-four years and ten months.
The widow of Captain Trotter, whose maiden name was Hannah D. Brooks, a very estimable lady, married Colonel William Barron, of Bradford. They continued to reside here for several years, but finally disposed of their estate, and purchased a very eligible situation a little West of the University in Norwich, Vt., for their home. They finally removed to Hartford, Conn., where she died Octo- ber 25, 1873, aged eighty-three years. See the account of the Barrons.
At the time of Captain Trotter's decease there was a
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statute in existence in Vermont to the effect that if a per- son died intestate, leaving no heirs, or a man thus died leaving no heirs but his widow, his estate, after the pay- ment of all debts, should escheat to the town to which he belonged, for the support of schools, allowing in the latter case the widow the use of one-third of the property dur- ing her life time.
These conditions were all found to exist in the case of Captain Trotter, as he had left no will, no issue, and no relatives having legal right to claim any portion of his estate. All was left in the hands of the widow. In this state of affairs the town of Bradford preferred a claim to what the law above named allowed them. The claim was resisted as unjust. A suit, involving serious expense on both sides, ensued, which was finally settled by compro- mise ; the town of Bradford agreeing to take the sum of $4,355.99 as satisfactory. This sum was duly invested for the benefit of schools, and the interest is annually ap- plied towards their support. The law was soon after re- pealed, and this is said to be the only case decided under it. The town have caused the burial place of Captain Trotter and his first wife to be handsomely enclosed, and otherwise improved.
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