USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Reading > Centennial celebration, together with an historical sketch of Reading, Windsor County, Vermont, and its inhabitants from the first settlement of the town to 1874 > Part 11
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Being very independent, and living a straight-forward and pure life, he commands the esteem of all men. In the pulpit, as in his writings, he is rather doctrinal than a reformer or essayist ; he in- terests and pleases his audience, not so much through his eloquence as through his satire and wit, of which he posseses an abundance, and furthermore knows just where to use it. But few men hit the popular publie taste as doctrinal preachers, because doctrines to be expounded must be metaphysical and logical, and consequently what many call dry and uninteresting ; but Dr. Sawyer has made himself popular through this style. We think there is one reform of which he is an earnest advocate, or at least has so expressed himself in two college anniversary addresses, and that is the co-edu- cation of sexes in colleges, notwithstanding his strong opposition to woman suffrage.
As a writer Dr. Sawyer is clear, logical and minute, never leaving a difficult point unexplained. Most of his writings have been for papers and periodicals on theological subjects ; many of them are truly valuable, and it is hoped that sometime they will be collected in book form.
Of his social characteristics and personal appearance perhaps the reader knows. He has a cheerful disposition, and this with his good health-the consequence of a temperate life and robust constitution, which is as yet but slightly touched with decay- tends to make him pleasant and agreeable as a social companion.
He is very dignified in his appearance, making the observer feel at once that he is a man of no ordinary ability. He has been a close student, and the amount of work done by him would quite overpower a man of an ordinary cast of mind and body.
The world owes much to him for his deep researches in theology and the history of theology.
G. H. Emerson D. D. says of him : " The man who can write the best octavo of Universalism, who can write it in the best Eng- lish, and make a book that shall have the most durable fame, and a book too that shall have the most to command the attention and respect of appreciative and thinking minds outside of our denom- ination (the Universalist) is Dr. Sawyer." Perhaps we ought not
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to close without stating that ouropinion is that he has done as much if not more than any other person to mould and temper the present belief of Universalists. May his eminent services in the cause of truth and letters never be less, and may Reading's future sons profit by his noble life.
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EBENEZER ROBINSON.
CHAPTER XI .- A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
BY GEO. O. ROBINSON OF DETROIT, MICH.
One of the most remarkable of the early settlers of Reading was Ebenezer Robinson, who was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Ebenezer Robinson was born on the 14th day of February, 1765, in Lexington, Mass., near the place where afterwards occurred the battle of Lexington, and was the sixth son of James and Margaret Robinson, who lived at this time on the old homestead farm, (recently owned and occupied by the late Jonas Gammell, Esq.) which Jonathan Robinson, the father of James, purchased of Isaac Powers in 1706, and on which James was born August 30th, 1715.
Jonathan Robinson, the grandfather of Ebenezer, the subject of his sketch, was the son of William Robinson, and was born in Cambridge, Mass., on the 20th day of April, 1682. This is as far back as the writer of this sketch has been able to trace definitely he record of this family.
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He came and settled in this town in the Spring of 1788, with his elder brother, James Robinson, who was then married. They located on the farm recently owned for a long time by Washington Keyes, Esq., near South Reading, ( now owned by Frank Gould, which was then a wilderness. They built here a log cabin near where stands a barn on this farm, and here, immediately after, was born a son of James Robinson, Ebenezer Robinson, 2d, ( named after the subject of this sketch, ) who for a long time was a resi- dent of Felchville, and was familiarly known as Capt. Eb. In this log house the two brothers lived for several years, Ebenezer clearing and settling the farm adjoining, afterwards so long owned and occupied by himself, ( now owned and occupied by Rev. Ira Carter, ) till the Summer of 1792, when he built a frame house which is still standing as the wing or kitchen part of the present house, and in which in November 1792, having married Miss Han- nah Ackley, he took his bride and established his own happy home. The Ackley family had, previous to this, immigrated fron near Haddam, Connecticut, and settled above South Reading. Ir this frame house this devoted couple reared a large, intelligent prosperous family and spent a long happy life of sixty-six years together. In 1824 he built on a large upright two-story frame mansion as an addition in front, which in those times was consid ered an unusually fine residence, and still stands as a respectable mansion.
The hardships of clearing this hardwood wilderness farm were great, but he was always undaunted, and nothing baffled him. In the forenoon of his first day's work, he unfortunately cut his knee so bad that most persons would have given up in despair, but, noth- ing daunted, in a little over a week, he went out to work again de- spite of his lameness. During this early period he successfully dealt quite largely in the real estate of this vicinity and secured many permanent settlers on the same. At this time Aaron God dard came into this town and purchased the farm south of him and boarded in his family while he made his first improvements thereon and till he married and established his own home. They were neighbors for more than half a century. Likewise, Trum bull Ackley bought of him and settled the present town-farm east and William Goddard, the farm north of him. While there, i: much in his later history that is worthy of note, still his earlier life, previous to his settlement in this town, was full of remarkable vicissitudes and hardships. These were the frequent and favorite topics of his conversation, even to the last days of his long life.
In his ninety-first year, while he was in the full vigor of intel- lect, he gave his grandson, Frank M. Robinson of Dubuque, Iowa the following account of his early life, which was taken down ir his own words :
" I was born in Lexington, Mass., on the 14th day of February 1765. I was therefore only a lad of about ten years, when the great struggle which gave freedom to the American people began, wher
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with injured rights were to be vindicated, when I heard the report of hey musketry, in the opening scene in this conflict for freedom of con- ton science and freedom of country, in the streets and upon the Green of my own native town.
" Well do I remember the roll of the musketry and the noise of this battle of Lexington and the excitement consequent upon the retreat of the British soldiers down the valley past my home to Boston and of the subsequent severer conflict at Bunker's Hill, but a few miles distant.
" Thus early in life did I begin to cherish a warm love of coun- try, amounting even to patriotism, and to be moved by a true sense of the dangers that seemed to threaten, not only the peace and quietude of the family and town, but the ruin of the whole colo- nial fabric.
" The engagements at Lexington, at Concord and upon Bunker's height warmed my bosom with more than a childish ardor to join the contest against British insolence and what savored of perpetual In thralldom. Early in the spring of 1781 I entered the service, ac- ent, companied by my brothers Asa and James Robinson, on board the ears ship Bellasaurias, carrying 20 guns. The number on board, in- amedeluding officers, sailors and soldiers, was 125. We set sail from sid. Boston under the command of Capt. James Munroe.
able " We cruised off south, along the coast of Pennsylvania, and about the mouth of the Susquehanna river, thence still southerly weretill we were in the region of the Equator, where one day we dis- covered at early dawn what appeared in the dim distance to be a ship. We gave chase and after the lapse of many hours so neared he " stranger " that we were within cannon range of her.
" It was a much larger ship than our own and carried many nore guns. We supposed her a heavy man-of-war of the British ine, and began to prepare our noble vessel for an engagement. As is the custom in such instances, or in naval contests, all the ails were furled, except the top-sails and some of the stay-sails, which were just sufficient to govern the ships and change her po- ition when necessary, Our cannon were charged and our torches vere burning, and we waited but a change of position before we hould salute her with a broadside.
", Meanwhile our enemy had ceased her flight, furled sail, cleared leck, prepared for fight, and was the first to discharge her cannon. This assault was unexpected by us, as it was not attended with the isual formalities of naval warfare on the part of the stranger. In view of this cowardly act our commander at once ordered us to fraw alongside the unknown ship, to grapple and board her as uickly as possible, but no sooner was this movement commenced han to our great surprise, not to say our chagrin, the vessel, which ve had regarded all along as an English man-of-war, hoisted Spanish colors, and thereby took away all pretext of warfare, ex- ept the ill-treatment we had received. Capt. Munroe was at first clined to resent this indignity, this violation of the usages of
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allied nations in their intercourse on the high seas in time of war He however gave vent to his irritation and anger by addressing the Spanish Commander in the most pre-emptory and decisive inanner and terms, in relation to his cowardly, dastardly conduct.
" The Spanish Captain very coolly submitted and offered to ac company us and to do us service when he could. The reply of Capt. Munroe was in these laconic words. 'Go your way. I pre- fer rather to be alone than attended by such ad-d coward as you have shown yourself,' and so we separated.
" From the equatorial regions, after capturing one or two small- er prizes, we cruised northward off the West India Islands. We shifted about here for several days, until early one morning we discovered a fleet composed of several ships, yet at the distance they were from us, we could not discern their number. They were steering directly toward us and bore every evidence, as they afterwards proved to be, of being a fleet of the British line. Weet endeavored to make our escape by flight. They gave us chase and followed in hot pursuit until past midday. During their pursuit when they had gained upon us so much as to be within cannon range, they gave us occasional shots from the bow or gunwale of the ship, though without much injury to our ship or crew. One of these shots however, took off both legs, close to the body, of a man who stood next to me, on my left hand, and at the same in- stant a splinter from the side of the vessel struck my foot and benumbed my whole leg, from which I suffered much. The fleet neared us and it being satisfactorily determined that it was a Brit ish fleet consisting of fourteen ships, five of which were larger than our own, and all hope of escape being abandoned, we concluded to surrender. We were divided among the ships of the enemy, being about twenty persons to each. We were well treated while in this situation. The fleet directed its course to New York city, where we were all put on board the " Old Jersey," the notorious British prison ship, then lying up East river, above the city, and entirely without rigging.
" We had been cruising about three months when we were cap tured. Our sufferings while confined in this old hull of a ship were unaccountably severe, and many of our number perished or account of the stench, the damp, deathly atmosphere in which .we were confined, and the miserable food which was furnished us whereby to support life.
" It may not be uninteresting to know of what our fare consist ed and what humanity is capable of enduring, when controlled by the force of necessity. The account is brief, but heart-sickening Bread was a constant part of our ration and the chief source o our nutriment. It came to our hands in any but a palatable con dition. The loaves were badly eaten by insects and then aban doned by them, or well inhabited by vermin on their reception by us. Portions of it appeared very much like honey-comb, fille with the dry refuse matter of worms. What was not in this con
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dition was very full, I had almost said literally alive, with insects, insomuch that it was impossible for us to get them all out, and we were obliged consequently to devour these animated communities, these bee-hives of activity, or be reduced to the utmost of wretch- edness and starvation, the worst of deaths, that of famine. Be- sides our bread we had pease twice a week. When the day came in which we were to have boiled pease, the steward would put about two bushels into a large kettle with a quantity of water and boil them. I have stood by the side of this kettle while its contents were becoming heated, and have seen yellow worms rise to the surface in large quantities, and as the water became more and more heated, they would gather into large clusters, swim upon the surface during the entire process of boiling, affording the only sea- soning or condiment to our repast. I have often found these bunches in my own mess. Many times it was with difficulty that I could prevent nausea. It was under these circumstances that I was induced, indeed, almost compelled to use tobacco, and this is now my best apology for acquiring this habit, as it has followed non me ever since.
" During the latter part of the time of my imprisonment I had One the small pox, but began to recover before arrangements were made fafor our exchange. I was a prisoner aboard the "Old Jersey" in-about six months. We were exchanged, conveyed, and set off, and some time in December, on the coast ef Rhode Island. I remen- fleetper this fact in relation to time from this circumstance, that it was Brit- Thanksgiving time, and the first of sleighing. I was not well than when I was set off, not having entirely recovered from the small ed to box. I could not walk more than five or six miles per diem. Oc- eingfasionally I had an opportunity to ride a few miles.
" When coming through the streets of Providence on a cold, tormy day, with nothing to protect my feet from the snow, ice nd water which then filled them, but some old scuffs, that were ot worthy the name of shoes, a gentleman, observing my condi- ion, hailed me and inquired the cause of my destitution, whence came and whither I was going.
" I told him briefly what circumstances had brought me to this ed orcondition. He assured me that my shoes were good for nothing, ch we ere utterly unfit to wear, and directed me to go into a small gro- ed wery or huckster shop near by, and remain there until he should turn with some shoes for me. I entered as he directed and there onsiste- led by rening und six or eight young men lounging or apparently without any jasiness. They gazed upon me somewhat intently noticed my rag- ed and tattered garments, and soon began to manifest no little in- urce o rest to know what had subjected me to so forlorn and destitute le cor- condition.
a abar "To them also I narrated some of the leading incidents of my tion bife. Excited by pity at seeing me ragged, shoeless and shivering ), fille Ith cold, they gave me a " bitter," a little luncheon and contrib- bis con ed about a dollar in money to procure me food when I could not 14
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beg, or might be turned away without alms. At this point of my interview with the young men the gentleman before mentioned returned with a pair of shoes, a pair of socks and some bread and cheese, all which he presented to me, accompanied with the most cheering language, and expressing a strong hope that I might be sustained and prospered in the remainder of my journey and in a few more days reach my home and friends, we parted. I felt en- couraged and renewed my journey with a more elastic step and a lighter heart.
" I commonly stopped at houses such as gave evidence of thrift and wealth, being less likely to be turned away from such places. than from the beggarly, poor appearing homes. I was obliged to beg my food and shelter nearly the whole of the way. I recollect calling at one house, a kind of tavern or "way-house," at night for the purpose of getting shelter for the night. I went into the kitchen and made known my poverty to the landlady, and asked that she would permit me to lodge upon the floor by the fire. She told me she thought I could be thus accommodated though her husband was then absent and might on his return be unwilling I should remain. He came late in the evening, had apparently been drinking and was very cross. He asked me what I was there for and told me he would not have me in his house. Said he, 'you have the small pox, you must leave, you cannot remain here.' I entreated him not to drive me from his house, leaving me at that hour of the night to the mercy of the cold, bleak winds of Decem- ber. But my appeal was in vain. Finally, however, at my earn- est solicitation he gave me a permit to lie in his horsebarn, and thus I passed the night. His allusion to my having the small-pox, was because that it was plain to be perceived, on account of want and much exposure to cold, that I had recently had that disease, though at that time there was no danger to be apprehended from it. However it served as a pretext for driving me from his house. In the morning, after sleeping in his barn, he gave me some " bit- ters." One man carried me several miles on my journey, and generally I was treated very well.
" I remained at home, being in poor health, through the three win- ter months, and then entered the military service in the Revolution, early in the spring of 1782. I enlisted for the town of Malden for three years, under Capt. Wait. Before entering the ranks in the field, I went to Boston and served as waiter to Lieut. Thomas Rob- inson, who was clerk to the muster-master. I remained here three or four weeks, when I went with twenty-five or thirty others to near West Point, on the Hudson River, and joined the 10th Mass- achusetts Regiment. The 10th wore British coats and was com- manded by Col. Tupper. I was in Capt. Dix's company. We went to Verplank's Point, lay there sometime, then went to Morri- son, or a place of some such name, and remained about a month. Soon after the 9th and 10th regiments " ranged out " or broke up; and I entered the 5th regiment, commanded by Col. Michael Jack-
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son, under Capt. Cogswell. A Grenadier company was formed of the tallest and stoutest men. I had the offer to join, but did not, and was obliged to join another company. The Grenadier con- pany was formed at Newburgh Huts and remained there till after the news of peace.
" When the news of peace came, our huts or camp was knee deep in snow, but we celebrated the event with raising of flags and with guns and music. Then all regiments broke up and one was formed called the American Regiment of young men, consisting of six or seven hundred, under Col. Henry Jackson. I was as- signed to Capt. Williams' company, my term of enlistment not having expired, and we remained at Newburgh Huts till winter, and was then ordered to old Springfield, Mass. Capt. Williams' company then numbered about sixty. I remained at Springfield till I got my discharge, which was the last of June or first of July. The whole company were discharged at the same time. My dis- charge was made out in New York, and was signed by Col. Henry Jackson."
After thus serving the greater part of two years in the Revolu- tionary army, young Robinson returned, with his brothers, to his native Lexington. Here he remained in honest toil, till the spring of 1788, when he removed and settled at South Reading, as above stated.
The hardships of his service during the Revolutionary war, and the fact that he was early in life left an orphan and had to labor hard for his own livelihood, schooled him well for the hardships of his early settlement in this town. What to most men would seem insurmountable obstacles, were often easily encountered by him and regarded as trivial. It was a favorite remark of his that, if you wished to accomplish anything difficult or laborious, you should always say, " Come, boys," and not "go, boys." He believed that success in any calling of life consisted mainly in a good, vigorous, personal leadership of the person to be benefited.
Here, on his productive, well-tilled farm, he spent a long life of usefulness and activity and reared a large family of children, and like many of those old revolutionary pensioners, he was always in his old age healthy and hearty, remarkably vigorous both in mind and body, even to his last brief sickness. Long will his grand- children remember those grand old Thanksgiving days, and the good cheer and the jolly times enjoyed around his festive table and cheerful fireside. A few years before his death, after a residence in this town of nearly seventy years, he again re-visited the scenes of his childhood in Lexington. It was a visit of sad and lonely interest to him. Of all his former large circle of early relatives, friends and acquaintances, he found only two survivors and they were much broken down with age. Yet his visit to those places of historical and local interest, he seemed to enjoy with peculiar zest.
His death occurred on the 31st day of October, 1857, at the age of nearly ninety-three years. Less than two weeks before his
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death, he related in detail the above history to the writer of this sketch and recounted, with wonderful memory and great anima- tion and zeal, the various vicissitudes and hardships of his long life.
His veneration for Washington, the Father of our country, was very great, and it was ever his pride that he was once a member of a company that temporarily acted as a body guard to their no- ble commander.
It was one of his latest remarks, that during the sixty-six years he had lived with the wife of his choice, in that house and upon that farm, he had lived in contentment and happiness, and had never in his life wished to change his lot for that of any other, nor his home for that which any other country or clime could afford. He seemed happy in the society of his numerous posterity and had the satisfaction of seeing them generally prosperous. He had lit- tle or no education in early life except that acquired in the army and by his later experience, yet he could, in his old age, cast up the amount due on promissory notes given at annual interest, with difficult partial payments endorsed thereon, and make a written statement of the same, with an accuracy and dispatch that might well put to shame many of the liberally educated young men of the present day. He learned to write while in the Continental army, by copying the ballads and camp-songs of the soldiers, one of which is now in the possession of, and highly prized by the writer of this sketch.
As a citizen, he was always upright and exact in all his deal- ings, and dignified, though generous and cordial in his intercourse. He was never an office-seeking politician, but held many positions of honor and trust, both civil and military, and always proved himself worthy of the confidence reposed in him. He was one of the earliest representatives of his town in the State Legislature. He was public spirited and a patron of noble enterprise. The bell in the steeple of the church at South Reading was his gift to the people of that village. He was ever a stern lover of justice. He remarked to the writer of this, at his last interview with him, that he had made it a principle during his life, " ever to do right and to cause right to be done. He was a devoted patriot and had personally attended the polls of every Presidential election up to the time of his death, casting his last ballot for Fremont in 1856.
Thus have passed away all of these revolutionary patriots. None remain to testify of their early hardships and struggles for Freedom. Through their labors and sufferings we inherit this, our fair land, and these, our free institutions.
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