USA > Vermont > Essex County > Guildhall > A history of Guildhall, Vt > Part 10
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JAS. BLAKE ELIEZER ROSEBROOK ABNER BARLOW Guildhall was to the south of three forts. consequently very little fighting was done within its limits; but in those day's there were no town limits, people living in South Guildhall were almost considered near neighbors to Strat- ford people.
Most acts of violence happened in the town of Mail- stone and Brunswick, and in this connection. we will give some of the interesting incidents. worthy of remen- brance .*
One of the fort- in Northumberland was near the horse of Mr. Caleb Marshall : his young wife, after aring their house and all their household goods burned to the ground. mounted a horse, with a child about two years old. and an infant of three weeks, and went without attendants to her relatives in Hampstead N. I. over 160 miles through the howling wilderness. with har ly a settlement from one day's end to another. The habe afterwards brenne the very hospitable wife of Hon. Moody Rich formerly of Millone.
179
Col. Ward Bailey's activity in supporting the cause of Hi! erty rendered him particularly obnoxious to the British, ail a large sum was offered for him dead or alive, ad well as for many others we might mention. A party of savages came from Canada for the express purpose of capturing Col. Bailey, Mr. Hugh and one or two others. They went to the house of Thomas Wooster and took Mr. Wooster, his hired man John Smith, and Jas. Luther, who was visiting his betrothed. They then proceeded for Col. Bailey. but found the Rangers prepared to meet them. They then took what persons they had secured to Canada. The Rangers followed them up and tried in every way to reserve their friends, but they were unsuccess- fal as the Indian farre was very strong. The sufferings or the party which was that night taken captive were in- tense, particularly from hunger. It is related that when the Indians stopped to eat their meals, Mr. Luther would sit down and watch them; they would now and then throw hin a bit. saying, " You all one dog. take that."
.A Mr. Chapin, who lived in the north part of Maid- stone. while at work chopping wood near his house was most cruelly murdered by Indians who came upon him by surprise. His faithful wife, after secing his head split in two, one half falling upon either side, took her 3 children and fed to the woods. One of the children was a young babe, which she put to the breast, expecting every mo- ment it would ery and disclose her place of concealment. She heard the savages go to the house and imitate her husband's voice, saying-"Come Molly, come back. Molls.
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UISTORY OF GUILDHALL.
the Indians gone; come." She did not come, and they went away. Who em for one instant imagine the suffer- ings of that brave wife and mother at that time. Her nearest neighbors lived on the opposite si-le of the river, and she crossed by wadling through, carrying one child, then returning for another until all were safely over.
John French was secreted in a hay stack for weeks it a time, his wife carrying food to him at night ; there was a large sum offered for bin and the Indians were determine I to get him dead or alive, but did not succeed.
A Mr. Caswell was driving a pair of oxen, attached to a load of bay, and coming to a steep hill his oxen refined to draw the load up. Mr. C. bresse extremely wrath;, and unhitching the oxen, set fire to the hay. It male a great blaze and as a result was suppose 1 by the settlers to be an alarm that Indians were coming, which caused much excitement, all the men rushing to dekal then- selve. As there were no Indians to be fiant, alr. C. was tried for raising a false alarm, found guilty, and severely punished.
Major Whitcomb* the great tropper and hanter of this section, was one of the most daring and courageons men that ever lived in the country. He was very friendly with the Indians. Once he fand an Indian in the windr time alone, and starving, his gun boing broken ; Whit- comb took him to his camp, fed him and gave him a new gun. The Indian remained with him . vonal works, and when he went away White nak gave him food mnich to lait him until he could reach home
ITISTORT OF GUILDHALL. 181
In the old French war Maj. Whitcomb served under Putnam. He was also a scout at Ticonderoga; the comman- der of the fort received a circular from Gen. Washington saying he wished to retaliate upon the British officers for the massacres of women and children by the British Indi- ans. He offered any American soldier who would go into Canada and shoot a British General, a Major's commission. Whitcomb and two others volunteered ; one deserted be- fore reaching the line. When Whitcomb and his com- panion got into Canada they ascertained that a brigade of British, and some Indians were moving toward the line; and the night before they arrived, Whitcomb's associate also deserted, going to the British and informing them of Whitcomb's plans, which greatly annoyed and vexed him. but he did not give up. He went nearer the British camp and selected the place for his ambuscade where a small river made a turn and came near the road. His position was at the root of a large upturned pine tree, and thick allers were all around for many rods, and his selec- tion was a good on'e. It was afternoon before the enemy came in sight and passed slowly along. Several officers passed. but none of the grade he was looking for; finally a mounted officer richly dressed ete., together with several Staff Officers came along ; it was Gen. Gordon: Whitcomb took aim and fired ! The officer fell back dead. The In- dians dashed into the woods after him, and supposing he would run back, did not look for him as he was hid under the tree. As soon as they had passed he crawled along side of the tree into the ravine, and down under the bridge into the river and up it in the water under the thick alders. He had proceedeil but about a half mile when he heard blood hounds boo on his track, but he baffled them.
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HISTORY OF GUILDIIALL.
He pushed forth with all his energies until he reached Royalton, Vt., where he found friends. While escaping, his suffering's were intense, his shoes were entirely worn out and he had nothing to eat for five days.
A thousand crowns were offered for his head, and two thousand crowns for him delivered alive at any British post; and the Indians hunted for him along the lake, and even to the walls of Ticonderoga.
Whitcomb shortly after joined the Rangers at Upper Coos thinking he would not be discovered or known in this part of the State, but unfortunately one day he was suddenly seized from behind, and hurridly carried into Canada down the St. Francis River. The last night before reaching the British post they camped upon au island. Whitcomb's feet and hands were tied to a stake. and to make sure, two Indians were bound to him: escape seemed impossible. About two o'clock he was aroused by gentle taps upon the lips. His bonds were cut. He was silently directed to arise and follow, which he did to the river. The Indian whom he hal formerly aided when starving, turned to him and handed him his gan, powder horn, ball-pouch, knife and a bag of parched corn, ro- minding Whitcomb of his former kindness to him, said "I now pay you:go, go." Whitcomb slipped into a canoe and pushed ont into the river. The Indian gave him a farewell salute, and returned to the camp. Whitcomb pushed back and cut a hole in the remaining canoes, then immediately crossed to the opposite shore, cut a hole in his canoe, pushed it off into the stream aud ran for his
HISTORY OF GUILDHALL. 183
life. About 4 o'clock he heard the Indians' distant whoop of alarm, soon followed the whoop of disappointment when they found their canoes gone. Whitcomb pushed on day and night, not stopping until he had reached the home of his childhood in Mass., where he remained dur- ing the war. In due time he received his Major's commission, and in his old age received a Major's pension. His good friend, the Indian, he never again heard of after their parting on the island.
It should be remembered that the first settlers came to Guildhall April 19, 1764 and that it was eleven years from that date to the breaking out of the war of the Rev- olution ; the battle of Lexington occurring on the 19th of April 1775, and it is no wonder that the early settlers lived in fear during this eventful period, being left (as the necessity of the case compelled the Revolutionary Gov- ernment to leave them, ) to take care of themselves as best they could. It was not possible or for the interests of the Revolutionists to station a force so far from the centers of importance to them in the struggle for Independence, to protect a few settlers so far away and it would indeed have been strange if these settlers should not have receiv- ed the news that the war was over and that the times of peril and danger were passed, with joy, and that they could now go on in doing their part in making Upper Coos what it is at the present time, one of the most pleas- ant and prosperous communities anywhere to be found in northern New England.
184
HISTORY OF GUILDIIALL.
We echo the sayings of Mr. Rich, in his sketch of Maidstone, when he said: "It well becomes those who sit securely by their hearthstones with their children gathered about them, fearing no stealthy attack from an insiducus foe, to thankfully acknowledge that their lines have fallen in pleasant places ; and also to cherish with tenderest feelings of veneration and respect, the memory of ances- tors, who, amidst perils and privations, prepared the way for all they now cujoy."
WAR OF 1812.
In 1790 the population of Guillhall was about 150; in 1791 it was 158; in 1810 it was 544, being the largest number at any time till the year 1860. This large gain from 1790 to 1810 shows a prosperous condition for the future improvement and advancement of all the interests of the town, and everything seemed to work for the wel- fare and general good of the town. It is not to be con- sidered very strange, to every candid, fair and impartial inind, that the leading desiro of the inhabitants was to keep on in the way they had been doing after the close of the war of the Revolution, and the fact , is that. the news of the declaration of war by Con- gress was received with as great a degree of sadness by a very large majority of the inhabitants, as the news of peace had caused them jey only a few years before. This may be accounted for from the fact that being so far away from those who
HISTORY OF GUILDHALL. 185
were immediately and pecuniarily in the policy of the Government, in its resistance to the assumption and aggressive acts of the British Government, the peculiar sensitive excitement which begets a fighting spirit was not brought into action. be the cause what it may have been. The war policy of the Government was not popu- lar with the majority, and those who were in favor of sus- taining the war were evidently willing to do it with their mouths only, doubtless claiming that that was doing all that ought to be expected of them, as very few enlisted and went into the service. It has been claimed that the town was fairly represented at the battle of Plattsburg; if so, the records are not correct, as no list of names of those who enlisted in the war of 1812 from Guildhall is to be found among the records of the town, and nothing in relition to volunteers going from the town to resist the invasion by the British army which was defeated at the battle of Plattsburg. It is a fact however, that Gen. Seth Cushman, who had received a military education, entered the army and was a Pay Master General. Others have drawn pensions on account of service in the war of 1812, but the last one, Mr. David Kent died Sept. 1st. 18*1.
It is to be hoped that the bitter feelings and hatred which were generated by the war of 1812 may never be witnessed in this community again, and to show that this is no fancy sketch, a friend who is well informed as to the feeling which existed at that time, has kindly furnished us the following sketch.
HISTORY
Guildhall, in 1812, was a prosperous community and like uenrly all New England towns was opposed to Mr. Madison's administration and his war policy ; they be- lieved war unnecessary and the sympathy of the leading men was on the side of the British. Beef, cattle and supplies for their army in Canada were gathered here and taken to Canada regardless of the Proclamation of the President against it. To prevent this in some measure, the Government placed an extra force of Customs officers all along the frontier. Party spirit ran high and bitter- ness sprang up between neighbors who had formerly been friends.
An unhappy affair took place at Canaan. Lient. Den- nett was a special Customs officer : Samuel Beach was a well to do farmer at Canaan: he owned land just over the line in Canada, and carried on farming there as he did in Canaan; he would take oxen over for the pretended pur- pose of working them, but always soon sold them, when he would take over another pair. This thing went on for some time when he was remonstrated with by the Customs officers who claimed that Beach's course was contrary to law and against the Government. Beach persisted in his course, and one day while attempting to drive a pair of oxen over the line he was shot and killed by Freut. Den- nett. Great excitement ran all through the county Dennett was arrested on charge of murder and contined in Guildhall jail. Beach's friends channing that Is being killed was a ernel, cowardly act, that he could have been arrested by the Customs officers at any time had they
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HISTORY OF GUILDHALL.
scen fit to do so. Judge Dana was jailor; he hal sympa- thy for Dennett, and used to let him out for exercise and to do some chores about the house; Dennett promising that he would not run away. But after a while Dennett, thinking so much of wife and child at Canaan, ventured to escape. He took to the woods and made his way to Canaan. After a short stay he took some provisions and went through the woods to Averill pond where he built a camp, and busied himself making baskets.
His whereabouts were soon found out; a force of 10 or 12 of his enemies surprised him by shooting him through the hips while he was standing on a log chop- ping ; he was then taken to Canaan, and placed in a t:70 horse wagon, on the baro boards, and hurried back to Guildhall, a distance of nearly 40 miles over very rough roads, where he died in great agony that night in jail.
No one of the party engaged in the shooting and cap- ture of Lieut. Dennett was ever prosecuted, it being claimed hy them and their friends that they were acting under authority of law and nudur the directions of a sher- if; on the other side it was asserted with great bitterness that 10 or 12 men well armel were not obliged to shoot and mortally wound one man in order to capture him, and that the whole gang was a cowardly set of traitors, ready at all times to give aid to the enemy, and oppose the Government in the prosecution of the war.
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188
HISTORY OF GUILDHALL.
WAR OF THE REBELLION, 1861-'65.
It was very different in Guildhall, when the South saw fit to secede in 1861 from what it was at the commence- ment of the War of 1812, and while it is not necessary to rehearse the causes which led to the war, or speculate about what could have been done to avoid it; one thing is certain that the inhabitants of Guildhall were unanimous in supporting the Government in its attempt to put down the Rebellion. Party spirit was set aside and everyone was a Union man, and this fact is conclusively shown from the fact that at the election in September 1862 every vote was cast for Gov. Holbrook, the War, or Uuion candidate for Governor, and there was no difference of opinion relating to the duty of every one to sustain the Government at any time during the continuance of the war, although some were not remarkably well pleased when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, having never had any great amount of love for the abolitionists, and regarding the Proclamation as an interference with State Rights which was not intended at the commence- ment of the war and ought not to have been resorted to, even under the grent necessity in which the Government was placed. But at no time was there any opposi- tion to the Government shown, and all calls for men were promptly filled. The officers of the town at all times showed an carnest zeal in the dis- charge of their duty in keeping the quota of the town full, so that n draft should not
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HISTORY OF GUILDHALL.
be resorted to; that was fully appreciated by those likely to a draft, and not only those, but the whole voting population of the town, who were ready at all times to vote any reasonable sum to encourage enlistments, and the list of names which follows is a remarkable showing for a town of only 552 inhabitants in 1860.
The first man who went to the war from Guildhall, was Joseph Benway, who enlisted in April 1861, at Lancaster, N. H., in the 1st. N. H. Regt., and served during the war, until 1865. If there could be any such place as a "Post of Honor" among the brave men who served the town of Guildhall, and their Country in its great peril, it would seem that he is fairly entitled to it.
LIST OF GUILDHALL'S SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
NAMES. AGE. REG. CO. ENLISTED. MUSTERED. RANK.
REMARKS.
Bailey, Abner
43 3d. Vt. D Aug. 16.62. Sep.30 '62. Private. Mustered out June 19 '65.
Ball, Wilbur F. 40
I
Discharged Aug. 19 '63.
Bartlett, Charles W. 18
8th." K Jan. 18 '62. Feb. 18 '62. .
Died Nov. 29 .62.
Died Nov. 9 .62.
Barrett, C. G. 26
12th. "H Aug. 15'62. Oct. 4 .62.
Musterel out July 11 .63. ·
Beaton, John O. 20
Cav. D Oct. 4 '61. Nov. 19.61. .. Died Nov. 11 .62. OF
Bemis, Joseph T. 25 " " Aug.26.62. Sep.26'62.
Benway, Joseph IstN.H. April 1861.
Bonett, Reuben D. 23 2Vt. Bat. Aug.27.64. same day.
* * 28, 1865.
Buzzell, John W. 27 15 " G. Sep. 7 .62. Oct.22.62.
Chase, Silas A. 37 3d." I. June 1 '61. July 16.61.
Chase, Joseph 17N.H.
Aug. 10, '63. Discharged Oct. 13, 1861. 2Lient. ( Also Qu't'r. Mast'r. Searg. [62Mass1 00days volunteers.
Cook, Jolın 44 15Vt. G Sep. 7 '62 Cutler, James M. 25 3d " I June 1'61.
Oct. 22'62. Private Mustered out Aug. 10 1863.
July 16.61. Deserted April 10 1863.
Drew, William 21 10 " A July 30.62. Oct. 17 '62. " Mustered out June 29 .65.
Ford, George A. 26 3d " I Nov. 7 '61. Nov.20 '61. Corp'l. Musterel out May 23, 1865. 191
GUILDHALL.
Wounded June 30, 1>64. Mustered out July 1865.
HISTORY
Bates, George D. 19
NAMES. AGE. REG. CO. ENLISTED. MUSTERED. RANK.
REMARKS. 192
Fowler, Joseph 27 3dVt. I Jan. 1.64. Jan. 2 '64. Private. Deserted July 22 '64.
Gage, George E. 26 I July 2.61. July 16.61.
Gage, Geo. W.
30 D Aug. 26-62. Sep.31 '62. July 1861. Ang. 1>61.
Grannis. Timothy Grannis, Edward 24 15- G Sep. 17 .62. Oct.22.62. :
Harrison, Wm. W. 20 3 " I June 1 '61. July 16 .61.
Haynes, Benjamin W. 28 1 " May 15'61.
Hartshorn, John F. 20 9 4 G Aug. 27.04. same day
Hendrick, Orrin Scott18 Cav. D Sep.24-61. Nov. 19.61
Hicks, Benjamin F. 41 3Vt " Aug. 28'62. Sep.30.02.
Hutchins, Robt. H. 26 11º L July 1 '63. July1 :'63, 66
Joy, C. IF. 39 15 G Sep.17:62. Oct.22'62.
Lonz. James Navy
.. Mustered out July 27, '64. Mustered out June 19 '65. Died at Washington Jan. 31 .62. Mustered out Aug. 10, 1863. HISTORY Desertell July 22, 61. Aug. 27 '62. Mustered out June 13 '65. OF
" Nov. 18 '64. " July 8 '65.
Diel Feb. 23, .64.
Mustered out Aug 10 .63.
GUILDHALL.
[ Engineer on Gunbont Pow- ( hattan; is now in Navy. Mustered out July 14, '65.
Manogue, Thom is 22 17Vt. G Mch. 7 '65. same day Meacham. Ashbell C. 2) Cav. D Sep. 28.61. Nov. 19.61. Corp'l. [ Killed at Winchester, May 25th. 62.
NAMES. AGE. REG. CO. ENLISTED. MUSTERED. RANK. REMARKS. Murphy, Hugh 22 3dVt. I June1 .61. July 16'61. Private. Discharged October 30, 1:62.
Sawyer, Wm. M. 27
Corp'l.
Shattuck, Joseph 25
Shields, James 20
Smith, Edward B. 36
Stone, Charlce F. 20 8Vt. K Jan.18.62. Feb. 18.62. Private. { Killed at Bayon Des Allemands
Stone, Jared S.
23 3 " I Nov. 12.61.
Stone, Simon
28
" Aug.26462. Sep.30.62.
Mustered out July 5, 1865.
Symes, James R. 26
Turner, Wmn. S. G. 21
" July 5.61. July 16.61.
Promoted to Corporal. Died March 20, 1862.
Webb, James 20 10Vt.A July24'62. Oct.17.62.
Wheeler, Aaron 24 3 " I June 1 .61. July 16.61. Two Men. Names not known.
Deserted Jan.31'62:returnedAug. 12'64 : assigned to Co. B.5Vt. Vol. | to serve out time lost by deser- [ tion : died May 10, 1865. Private. Killed at Wilderness May 5, 'C4. Discharged February 19th. 1862. Searg't. Killed at Winchester May 5. '62. September 4th. 1862. [ Transferred to Invalid Corps, (March 15th. 1864.
HISTORY OF
GUILDHALL.
November 25, 1863. Mustered out May 5th. 1864.
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CHAPTER XIV. A BRIEF SKETCH OF ESSEX COUNTY, VERMONT.
Essex County-County organized in the year 1800-Dimensions -Towns-First Term of Court -- Land given to the County by Hon. Eben W. Judd --- Jails --- Court llouses --- List of County Officers --- Probate Court-Attorneys admitted to the Bar-Population of the County by towns-Principal Vegeta- ble Products-Live Stock and its Productions -- Grand List.
Previous to the year 1764 the lands now FREEDO in the area of Essex County were supposed to be a part of the Province of New Hamp- shire, and the towns were called New Hampshire Grants. Many towns had been by Benning Wentworth, Governor of New Hampshire, granted char- ters.
New York, however, counte lit among i's possessions, in the year above named, and iu 1770 that State included this territory in their Gloucester County.
The people of Vermont declared themselves independ- ent in the year 1777, and two years from that time divid- ed the State into two Counties; Essex was then within the limits of Cumberland County. In 1741 this County was divided into 3 Counties, Orange among them, and Essex was in that County. In 1796 Caledonia County was incorporated and that County included all the north- eastern part of the State, thereby including Ever.
However, in the year 1800 Essex County was organized,
SKETCH OF ESSEX COUNTY. 195
and at the October session of the Legislature of that year the County Officers were appointed.
The County is about 45 miles long and 23 wide. It lies between Lat. 44 º 20' and 45°, and Lon. 4º 51' and 5 º 28' east from Washington.
Guildhall was soon made its shire and thus far it has remained unchanged, although there have been repeated attempts to accomplish this object, but as yet the people of the County aro satisfied that all in all Guildhall is the point where the people of the whole County are most con- veniently accomodated, and it is the best place for the shire town.
The towns of the County are: Averill, Bloomfield, Brighton, Brunswick, Canaan, Concord, East Haven, Ferdinand, Granby, Guildhall, Lemington, Lewis, Lun- enburg, Maidstone, Norton, Victory and three gores : Avery's, Warner's and Warren's.
The first settlement of the County was made in Guild- hall, of which we have previously given an account.
The first term of Court was holden at Lunenburg on the 3d. Wednesday of December, 1800. Daniel Dana of Guildhall was Chief Judge: Samuel Phelps of Lunenburg and Mills De Forest of Lomington, were assistant Judges; Joseph Wait of Brunswick, Sheriff; Haynes French of Maidstone, Clerk. Ambros Grow was admitted to the bar as an attorney, and seven cases were entered for jury trial ; the first case was John Hugh and Anna Hugh v8. James Lucas and Nancy Lucas, for slander, and was continued: John Mattocks, att'y for pl'ffs and Elijah
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HISTORY OF GUILDIIALL.
Foote of Guildhall, for def'ts. 4 The second case was continued, and the third, Woodman vs. Hugh, was the first in which a judgement was rendered-and that by de- fault-by which the plaintiff recovered $46.86 damages, and $8.63 costs ; exception was issued thereon January Ist. 1801.
The names of the first jurors were: James Mills, Gideon Bowker, Moses Quimby, Charles Cutler, Simon Howe, Elijah Spofford, Joseph Parker, John Rich, Jr., Jacob Granger, Wm. Rosebrook, Royal Cutler and John Rich.
The second term of the County Court was holden at Brunswick, commencing on the 3d. Monday of June, 1801. Twenty three new entries appcar ; there was but one jury trial, which was the first case of the previous term, which had been continued, Hugh vs. Lucas, verdict for plff's for $14.41 damages, and $60.70 costs.
The third term was holden at Lunenburg in Dec. 1801.
Meantime Guildhall had been made the shire, and the 4th. term was holden here on the 3d. Monday of Juno,
1802. In Sept. 1797, Eben W. Judd granted to the County land on which 1 to build a Court House, Jail, and for a common .* We have not ascertain-
OLD COURT HOUSE.
.This grant included the hill Just north of the common, on which hill the first Court House was built.
SKETCH OF ESSEX COUNTY. 197
ed in what year the first Court House was built, but prob- a bly soon after the selection of the shire town.
For quite a number of years the first jail for the County was the block house, crected by Col. Ward Bailey : this WAS a substantial structure, and we have yet to learn of anyone escaping from it when placed by authority therein. The first jail was built about 1>08, and in 1834 a brick jail was constructed, but this was destroyed by fire Dec. 1864 and rebuilt in 1866, which was burned Dec. 14, 1878. The present jail was erected in 1879 and 1880 and en- larged in 1855 so that it is one of the best jails in the State.
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