USA > Vermont > Windsor County > History of Windsor County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 5
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"6thly. Voted it is the Opinion of this Body that all Persons wereing the Edition (additions to their names, or title,) of Gentlemen by former Commissions to be exempted from military training.
"Iothly. Took under Consideration a Complaint Exhibited by Will- iam Taggart against Nathaniel Bennet Touching sd Bennet's abuseing sd Taggart's wife, 20 Members being present, resolved that the sd Ben- net be Committed To Prisson,-there Holden till further Orders of this Committee.
" 15th. Voted to recommend to the Capt's of several Companys of Militia in the respective Towns in this County to as soon as possible make return of their minutemen to Mr. Lucas Wilson & Ebenezer Hois- ington, who are appointed by the rest of their Brethren, viz., Arad Hunt, Israel Smith, Joseph Hildreth, Lucas Willson, John Norton, Wm. Si- mons, Sam'el Fletcher, Being Choose a Committee, & Impowered by this Body to se the minute-men Properly Imbodyed in Companys, & Lead them to a choice of Officers in the several Companys when so Formed according to the rules and orders for regulating the Milition, &
' From the "Pingry Papers."
54
HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
to make return to this County Committee-and Likewise Choose Eben'r Horsington, Simon Stevens, Esqr., Jonathan Burk, Israel Burlingames & Eben'r Curtis, to Inspect the Uper Regiment in their proceedings as above directed."
From the meeting of June 22: "Voted that we recommend to the Commanding officers of each Regiment in this County do meet one of Each of the Sub-Committees in the several Towns in the County at the respective Times & places following, namely, the Commanding (officer) of the Lower Regement & one Sub- Committeeman of Each Town in the same regement do meet at Capt. Sergants in Brattleborough on thirsday the 27th Ins't, at one o'clock in the afternoon, then & there to appoint one Cap't, Two Lieuts, of such men as they shall think most suitable to go into the service of their Country, & Let them see if they Can Inlist a Company of men to go to Canady-and the Commanden officer of the Upper regiment, together with one Sub-Committeeman from Each Town in the same regement, do meet at Windsor, at the Townhouse, On thisday the 26th day of this Ins't June, at one o'Clock in the afternoon, there to appoint One Capt, Two Lieuts, of such men as they shall think best for their Cuntrys service, & Let them se if they can Inlist a Company of men to go to Canady ; & those officers so ap- pointed Make return to the Chairman of the County Committee, of the Number they Inlist, at or Before the 16th day of July next."
On the 6th of August, 1776, the committees of Cumberland and Gloucester counties held a joint meeting at Windsor. From the pro- ceedings then had the following extracts are made :
" The Committee of the County of Cumberland In Conjunction with the Committee for the County of Gloucester, meet at Windsor Town- house in Order to appoint Officers, such as Capt's, Lieuts, &c., for a Ranging Department granted by the Provincial Congress at N. York, viz., 252 Out of the Counties of Cumberland & Gloucester, to the Com- mand of Which they have Appointed & Commissioned Mr. Joab Hos- ington (Hoisington) Major.
" Following Members Being Present, Formed into a body & Proceeded to Business : Capt. James Clay, Elkanah Day, Eben'r Fuller, Jon'a Burk, Israel Burllingame, Capt. Curtis, Ebenr Hosington, Mr. Upham, Col. Kent, Mr. Tylden, Lieut Strong, Benja. Emmons, Lieut Powers. Choose Capt. Clay, Chairman, and Dr. Elkanah Day, Clerk.
55
MEETING AT WINDSOR.
" Ist. Agreed to appoint 3 Capts. & 4 Lieuts in the County of Cum- berland, and one Capt. & 4 Lieuts in the County of Gloucester.
"2d. Proceeded to Chuse the Officers for Cumberland County. Ist Appointed Benjamin Wait of Windsor ye It Capt. in the above Depart- ment. Elisha Hawley It & Zebelon Lyon (2d) his Lieuts.
"3dly. Appointed Maj'r Joel Marsh, Capt. in sd Department.
"4ly. Appointed Capt Samuel Fletcher of Townsend a Capt; Ben- jamin Whitney of Westminster Ist Lieut.
"5thly. Voted to Chuse a Committee, & Accordingly Choose Thomas Hazen, Stephen Tylden, Lieut. Strong, J. Winchester Deny (Dana) to join the Committee of Glouster County to appoint their proportion of Officers for the above Arangement, Viz. I Capt. & 4 Lieuts, and to meet at Abner Chamberlains in Thetford Next Tuesday at 10 o'clock Beforenoon & to appoint a Capt. In sted of Maj. Marsh in Case he re- fuse-also appointed Colo. Kent to manage sd meeting & make proper return to New York, signd by the Charman.
"6thly. Voted that the sub-committees of the several Towns in this County to se the Association Containd in the Late Handbill from N. York is Universally subscribed to & the Refusers to sign Proceeded with According to sd Handbill."
The officers mentioned in the above statement from the records were not those that were finally chosen and commissioned. Those who eventually became captains, first and second lieutenants of the several companies, the whole being commanded by Major Joab Hoisington, were as follows: Captains, Benjamin Wait, John Strong, Joseph Hatch and Abner Seelye: first lieutenants, Elisha Hawley, Eldad Benton, Si- mon Stevens, Benjamin Whitney ; second lieutenants, Zebulon Lyons, John Barnes, Amos Chamberlain, Jehial Robbins.
The reader cannot fail to observe, in perusing the pages of this chap- ter thus far, that in all the proceedings of the Committees of Safety there seems to have been no other recognized authority over this region than that of the province of New York. In all their proceedings, both civil and military, the committees seem to have asked for and acted upon the advice only of New York, notwithstanding the influence of the leaders on the other side of the mountains, and even after the independ ence of Vermont had been declared there was for some time no appar-
56
HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
ent recognition of that fact on the part of those who seemed to be the controlling spirits or leaders on the east side of the mountains. But, notwithstanding that, there was an element of the population, and a strong one, too, that was heart and soul in league with the Green Mount- ain Boys, in seeking to free the district from any allegiance to New York, but this was a quiet yet constantly increasing class, who saw diffi- culties in the way of overcoming the sentiments of the opposing people by harsh or rude measures. Still in their peculiar way they were grad- ually accomplishing their sought-for end. New York knew and felt this, and although she made every possible effort, through her adher- ents here and emissaries sent for the purpose, to stem the tide of pop- ular sentiment was impossible; the new State had been established and its permanency was certain from the very first, although it was a long time before the Federal government recognized it as a power, and equally long before New York finally consented to yield her claims to jurisdiction therein. One by one the leaders of the hitherto prevailing party, those favorable to New York, dropped from the meetings of the committee and allied themselves to the cause of the new State advo- cates. This became apparent to the New Yorkers, and they asked the committee of Cumberland county the cause of it. The reply is best stated by quoting from the report of a committee: "To make a true rep- resentation of the broken state of the inhabitants of the county of Cum- berland, and assign some reasons why the county committee did not proceed agreeable to the resolves of the convention of the State of New York in respect to their choosing governor and Delegates to send to convention."
The report says : "We therefore the committee of the county of Cum- berland, and others specially appointed by the towns of Weathersfield, Westminster, Putney, Brattleborough, Hinsdale, and part of Guilford for said purposes, do represent as follows, viz .: That the convention held at Windsor on the fourth day of June, instant, for the purpose of establishing then (the) new State of Vermont, have taken into their pos- session the prison of this county, and have strictly forbid all committees acting under the authority of the State of New York ; so that it is be- come impracticable for the county committee or any other committee to proceed to any public business in this county ; and that several pris-
57
INTERNAL DISSENSIONS.
oners now in prison in the county, who might have been set at liberty, agreeable to the resolves of the convention of the State of New York, are still kept in prison in the most pitiful circumstances, and are so like to continue-and that the public peace is in so far interrupted by the proceeding of this convention at Windsor, and those disorderly persons who are so warmly engaged in supporting the illegal authority of their new State, that it hath already considerably hindered the raising of men for the comnon defense. And we think we have reason to believe that if a stop is not speedily put to this spirit of disorder which rages so vehemently here that a final period will soon be put to any further pro- vision being made in this county for the common defense of America.
"We further represent that a considerable number of the people in this County, who are as warmly engaged in setting up their new State, have not any or but little property which they can claim under any grant whatever ; and that we really believe that the leaders of the people who are for the new State in this county, are pursuing that which they esteem their private interest, and prefer that to the public weal of America; and that they are determined to support the authority of their new State at all events ; and we really believe that without the interposition of the honorable Continental Congress, they will never submit to the authority of the State of New York until obliged so to do it by the sword.
" And we do hereby solemnly declare that we entirely disapprove of the proceeding of the late convention at Windsor, and of all other per- sons whatever acting under authority of said convention ; and that we will at all times do our best endeavor to support the legal authority in the State of New York in this County."
This document was duly signed by the few members constituting the committee on the 26th day of June, 1777, and forwarded by messengers to the New York convention.
At the next meeting of the committee but seven towns were repre- sented. By this time popular feeling in favor of the new State was largely in the ascendency, and those who remained faithful to the New York rule were beginning to be looked upon as guilty of "enimical " conduct, and so at any time liable to the " misfortunes " that overtook that class of persons on the west side of the State. They still had, however, suffi- 8
58
HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
cient courage to continue their meetings, although these were conducted with some privacy. The influence of New York was still felt in the county, but it was seldom rampant.
At the meeting held at Westminster, September 3, 1777, this resolu- tion was offered :
" That this committee send some suitable person to the convention or legislature of the State of New York, to inform them of the conduct of the pretended Council of Safety and pretended Committees of the State of Vermont, and take their advice and direction thereon, but there be- ing four members against the motion, we could not obtain any vote of that nature."
At this time there were no less than twenty-two towns, and perhaps more, entitled to representation in the Cumberland county committee meetings, but at the meeting above referred to at Westminster only seven towns were represented, and of these four members voted against inform- ing New York of the proceedings had by the friends of the Green Mount- ain Boys. And about this time the subject was receiving some atten- tion in town meetings, whether the people should longer act under the New York authority. On the 20th of May, 1777, the freemen of the town of Windsor at the annual meeting voted, " by a great majority," that they would not proceed to act according to the orders from the State of New York. And the freemen of Townshend, in their instructions to Major Joseph Tyler, said: "That you do not act with the County Committee of the county of Cumberland agreeable to the new constitu- tion of the State of New York, because it is our opinion that we do not belong to the jurisdiction of that State," etc.
Other towns took similar action, of which no record is to be found. From all of these it will readily be observed that the influence in favor of the new State was rapidly increasing, while the power of the State of New York was proportionately diminishing. But it was a considerable time further off before the latter was fully wiped out; in fact, it was not until the separate independence of Vermont had been recognized by the United States Congress that all antagonism to her Statehood was finally extinguished. In the year 1779, when Vermont had practically com- pleted her internal organization, and was administering her own affairs, as well as possible in face of the New York and Congressional opposi-
59
ETHAN ALLEN IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
tion, it became necessary for the Governor and Council to send an armed force, commanded by Ethan Allen, to subdue the opposing element ex- isting in some of the towns of Cumberland county. That Allen did all that was required of him there is no possible doubt, but that he was severe as the following letter from Samuel Minott, as chairman of the Cumberland County Committee of Safety, to General Clinton, of New York, would seem to imply, is a question of considerable doubt. The letter only shows the contrary and prejudiced side of the question, and is as follows :
" SIR .- The committee of this county who are now meet for the pur- pose of opposing the authority of the State of Vermont, take this oppor- tunity to inform your Excellency by express, that Colonel Ethan Allen, with a number of Green Mountain Boys, made his appearance in this county yesterday, well armed and equipt, for the purpose of reducing the loyal inhabitants of this county to submission to the authority of the State of Vermont, and made prisoners of Colonel (Eleazer) Patterson, Lieutenant Colonel (John) Sargeant, and all the militia officers except one in Brattleboro, with Mr. (Micah) Townsend and a number of other persons. They have also taken the militia officers in Putney and West- minster with others; the number of prisoners we cannot ascertain. Col- onel Allen declared that he had five hundred Green Mountain Boys with him-we are not able to ascertain the number, but believe there is not quite so many who are come from the west side of the mountains; they are assisted by a number of the inhabitants of this county. Where they will carry the prisoners we cannot tell. Colonel Allen treated the peo- ple here with the most insulting language, assaulted and wounded sev- eral persons with his sword without the least provocation, and bids defi- ance to the State of New York; declares they will establish their State by the sword and fight all who attempt to oppose them. Nothing but the reluctance the people here have to shedding human blood could hinder them from attempting the prisoners' rescue-they had every insult which human mind is able to conceive of to prompt them to it. Our situation is truly critical and distressing; we therefore most humbly beseech your excellency to take the most speedy and efficient measures for our relief; otherwise our persons and property must be at the disposal of Ethan Allen, which is more to be dreaded than death with all its terrors."
60
HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
The truth of the whole matter was that many of the people of Cum- berland county were not only covertly but openly opposing the authority of Vermont. On the 22d of April previously the board of war had or- dered a draft of men to re- enforce the military on the frontier, a portion of whom were to be drawn from Cumberland county. At that time there was a well organized militia in the county, and William Patterson held a colonel's commission from New York to command them. This officer directed that the Vermont draft of men from his county be resisted, whereupon Governor Chittenden sent Allen with a strong armed force to arrest the interfering officers. This was promptly done, and those taken into custody were indicted, tried, convicted and fined.
It was probably true that Allen represented his force to be at least all that it was, for he was not the man to underestimate his own or his State's power and strength; but it is hardly true that he had with him five hundred Green Mountain Boys, as that organization at its greatest never numbered to exceed three hundred and fifty. It may be, how- ever, that the strength of his command was augmented by accessions on this side of the mountains, for many did join his force, and that the ag- gregate of his following was five hundred. Governor Chittenden ordered Allen to take a force of one hundred men to do the business.
Chairman Minott also says in his letter that the persons and property of the friends of New York are at the disposal of Allen, "which is more to be dreaded than death with all its terrors." These words convey to the reader something of the feelings of fear that these New York sym- pathizers must have had for the leader of the Green Mountain Boys; and it may well be asked : " Would the independence of Vermont ever have been an accomplished fact without the bold, determined action such as was always displayed by Ethan Allen and his equally brave associates?"
61
THE BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTION.
CHAPTER VI.
The Period of the Revolutionary War-The Cause of the People on the Grants Be- comes United-Allen's Exploits at Ticonderoga and on Lake Champlain-Singular Sit- uation of Vermont-Military Organizations Formed at the Dorset Convention-Seth Warner elected Colonel-The Rangers Organized East of the Mountains-New York Authority Prevails-First Convention at Windsor-Battles at Hubbardton and Ben- nington-Toryism in Cumberland County-President Chittenden's Proclamation-The Council of Safety-Effect of Burgoyne's Surrender-Exposed Condition of the Vermont Frontier-The Haldimand Correspondence-Negotiations with Canada - Their Effect Upon Vermont and the County-Indian Depredations-Attack Upon Barnard-Burn- ing of Royalton.
A preceding chapter has narrated the leading events of the civil his- tory of the district or territory commonly known as the New Hamp- shire Grants, and has brought the record through that period of its exist- ence down to the time of the declaration of independence on the part of Vermont, the adoption of a State constitution, and to the time that the State under the new dispensation or administration by the Governor and Council and the General Assembly was about to commence. It is there- fore proper that the present chapter should be devoted to a record of some of the military experiences of the district; and inasmuch as this branch of local affairs of the district required as much watchful attention on the part of the district leaders and officers as did its civil affairs, the chapter becomes an important as well as an interesting one.
The reader will remember that it was about the time of and soon after the unfortunate massacre at Westminster, in the county of Cumberland, that the cause of the people of the grants became a united one, and that it was then determined by a part of the residents of Cumberland county to throw off any and all further allegiance to the province of New York. The feelings of the settlers were then aroused to such a high pitch of ex- citement that the followers of New York then in the vicinity were alarmed for their personal safety, although no hostile demonstrations had been made against them. But suddenly there came the news that the intrepid Allen, with his then famous band of Green Mountain Boys, had surprised and captured Ticonderoga, "In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress." This capture occurred on the 10th day of May,
62
HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
1775, the month following that in which the war of the Revolution was actually and earnestly commenced by the battle at Lexington.
At the time these events occurred the district of New Hampshire Grants occupied the somewhat singular position of having neither civil nor military government, except that furnished by the local town organ- izations and the Green Mountain Boys. The latter did not, however, as- sume to control or regulate the affairs of settlers on the grants, but did aim to defend the entire district against the designing authorities of New York as well as against the Tory residents within the limits of the dis- trict. Immediately following Allen's achievement at Ticonderoga, Seth Warner set out on an expedition against the neighboring British out- posts, and succeeded in capturing Crown Point and Skenesborough Then followed the joint expedition of the commanders Allen and Arnold, which resulted in the capture of the entire British fleet on Lake Cham- plain, so that when the Continental Congress was prepared to send an army to protect that region of country, August, 1775, the strongholds of the lake were already in control of Americans, and no strong oppos- ing force of British was stationed south of the Canada line.
But it soon became necessary to have some kind of civil and military government for the settlers on the grants, and for that purpose the Dor- set convention of July 26, 1775, was called; and the result of that con- vention was the perfect organization of a regiment of seven companies, of which Seth Warner was elected colonel, and Samuel Safford, major. None of the companies, however, of Seth Warner's regiment were from the towns east of the mountains, although it is probable that some of the company members may have been from this side. It may have been as an explanation of this that the towns east of the mountains had not yet received an invitation to join with those of the west side in convention, nor were they so invited until the latter part of July, 1776. But a bat- talion of militia, Rangers they were called, was already raised in the towns east of the mountains, and on the 13th of August a convention was held at Thetford for the purpose of nominating the Gloucester county quota of its officers. This was done under the authority of New York.
There was not, however, the greatest possible unanimity of feeling be- tween the people east and west of the mountains. In Cumberland and Gloucester counties the officers and magistrates were still friendly to the
63
ADVANCE OF THE BRITISH.
New York interests, although many of the people of the towns were pro- nounced against that province. The officers were considered as, and in fact were, representing New York, and the towns were allowed repre- sentation in the congress of that province. But the convention at West- minster held in January, 1777, through a sub-committee, of which Eb- enezer Hoisington was chairman, requested the persons representing the eastern counties in the New York Congress to at once withdraw their membership therein. Colonel Joseph Marsh, Deacon John Sessions and Simeon Stevens were the persons upon whom this request was made. They were not elected by the people, but were appointed by the Cum- berland County Committee of Safety, which was organized and controlled in the New York interest. These things being so, it could not be sur- prising that the determined settlers west of the mountains had not the fullest confidence in those on the east side, at least while this divided condition of sentiment and affiliation existed. Still later than the above the county of Cumberland was represented in New York in the years 1779 and 1784.
It was at the time of the convention at Windsor, in July, 1777, while the members were deliberating over the provisions of the constitution, that there was received by them the unwelcome news of the evacuation of Ticonderoga, and other posts on Lake Champlain, by the Americans, and of their occupation and the threatened invasion of Vermont by the army of General Burgoyne. Prior to this the convention had been ap- prised of Burgoyne's approach upon the forts, but, through what was thought to be timely exertions, it was hoped that the onward march of the British would be checked. In this, however, the people were dis appointed; Ticonderoga had fallen and the whole frontier of the new State was exposed to the ravages of the British and their savage Indian allies. This it was that compelled the convention to so hastily conclude their session after having passed the State control into the hands of the Council of Safety.
During the year 1777 the Council of Safety was in almost continuous session from and after the middle of August, the greater portion of the time at Bennington. The retreat of the American army from Ticonder- oga and surrounding posts, the rendezvous and subsequent battle at Hub- bardton, and the final reassembling of scattered forces at Manchester, to-
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