History of Windsor County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 6

Author: Aldrich, Lewis Cass. ed. cn; Holmes, Frank R
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1260

USA > Vermont > Windsor County > History of Windsor County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 6

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HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.

gether with the slow but steady approach of Burgoyne's army down the valley of Lake Champlain and the Hudson River, had the effect of keep- ing the entire people of Vermont in a state of constant excitement and serious concern for the safety of their lives and property. These stirring events in the region also had the effect of alienating many of the settlers from the cause for which Americans were contending, and, furthermore, imposed upon the council and the committees of the several towns an additional burden in providing defensive measures for the State and keep- ing in subjection and punishing Tory offenders. At Bennington there had been gathered a large quantity of ammunition and military stores and supplies, which fact having come to the knowledge of General Burgoyne, he at once set about gaining possession of them, his army being in press- ing need of provisions. For this object he sent Colonel Baum with a strong force to make the capture. But the council was informed of the British commander's intentions, and every possible effort was made to meet the expected attack. Not having at command a sufficient force to repel an invasion, the States of New Hampshire and Massachusetts were called upon to lend aid to Vermont in her extremity. This appeal met with a generous response, New Hampshire sending General John Stark and a strong force of State militia to aid the distressed people, while Mas- sachusetts likewise furnished a well equipped body of men for the same cause. Without narrating in detail the important events that followed, suffice to say that the combined forces of Americans met the British on the 16th of August, 1777, and, after a severe battle of several hours dur- ation, routed and put them to flight

This has always been known as the "Battle of Bennington," although it was fought on what was then and is now the soil of New York State.

That Toryism was rampant on the east as well as on the west side of the mountains will be seen from the following order addressed to the Committee of Safety of Windsor, by President Thomas Chittenden, on the 27th of August, 1777 : "Gentlemen .- All such persons as you shall have sufficent evidence against on Tryal as to prove them so far Enemies to the Liberties of America as to be dangerous persons to go at Large you will send to Westminster Goal, and put them in close confinement. If you send any prisoners to said Goal, you will send a proper Guard, provided it should happen before any prisoners or Guards should be sent from this."

SURRENDER OF BURGOYNE.

During the year 1777, after the adjournment of the Windsor conven- tion of July of that year, the Council of Safety was so constantly occu- pied with the affairs and occurrences that transpired on the west side of the mountains, that they found but very little time to devote to that part of the State on the east side, except by the issue of an occasional order; so that the administration of affairs in this region was left to the commit- tees of safety of the counties and towns, while the military operations of the locality were under the direction of the colonels of militia regiments, notably the commands of Colonels Peter Olcutt and Joseph Marsh.

The first session of the General Assembly, and the Governor and Council, under the provisions of the State constitution, was commenced at Windsor on the 13th of March, 1778, and after the formalities of organization were concluded the respective bodies at once proceeded to discharge the duties imposed upon them. But most of the business then transacted related to the civil branch of government, and needs no recital here. The session was ended March 26, 1778.

Among the acts of Assembly at Windsor was one that provided for raising regiments of militia on each side of the mountains. On the east side one regiment was to be raised from the towns that extended north to the south lines of Tomlinson, Rockingham and Kent; and the second regiment was to extend north to the south line of Norwich; and the third to the Canada line.

This organization of militia forces in the new State of Vermont became necessary to defend the frontier against possible invasion by the British and Indians. After the decisive battle of Bennington, Burgoyne and his army lay in camp at Stillwater, opposite Saratoga, awaiting supplies and re-enforcements that had been promised him, but which were much delayed in arrival; and it became apparent that he must act, and that quickly, for his forces were gradually diminishing in number. Here his army remained until the 19th of September, when an engagement was had with the Americans, but without decisive victory for either side, the advantage, however, being in favor of the latter. Again, on the 7th of October, the two armies met, and this time the British were badly beaten. This was followed, on the 17th of the same month, by the sur- render of Burgoyne's entire army to the Americans.

This surrender practically ended the war so far as the region of Ver-

HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.

mont was concerned. However, it was found necessary for the new State to maintain a defensive attitude for the protection of her frontiers against the hostile Indians in the northern regions and the few British troops in the vicinity of Canada. But soon was the new State destined to receive immunity from British depredations through the acumen of her leaders, for in the year 1780 she entered a period of practical armis- tice while the somewhat celebrated "Negotiations with Canada" were being carried forward. These proceedings have always been known and designated as the " Haldimand Correspondence," and were kept up until the war was virtually ended.

But while the secret negotiations were in their incipient stage, and before any actual or constructive armistice had been established, there occurred two events of very great importance to the region of Windsor county, the only ones on record of their kind in the county during the period of the early wars, and those known as the Indian attacks upon the towns of Barnard and Royalton, the latter one of the northern tier of towns in what afterward became a part of the county of Windsor, and the former immediately south of it. During this period Indian inva- sions and depredations were not of infrequent occurrence, but prior to the events hereafter narrated no incursions are known to have been made in this region.

The plundering and burning of Royalton occurred during the month of October of the year 1780. and seems to have been an expedition en- tirely distinct from that which resulted in the capture at Barnard. And it seems, too, that the objective point on the last raid was Newbury, one of the northeastern towns of the present county of Orange. On this occasion not only Indians, but British soldiers as well, comprised the at- tacking party, and the chief object of their expedition was to capture an . officer, Lieutenant Whitcomb, who was alleged to have killed and robbed a British officer of some prominence. On journeying toward Newbury the attacking party met several hunters, and by the latter was informed that the town was well protected by an armed force. This intelligence induced them to proceed to Royalton, a place in the interior and less strongly protected. They reached Tunbridge on Sunday, the 15th of October, where they remained until the next morning, at which time the attack was made. Says "Thompson's Vermont": "They commenced

ATTACK ON ROYALTON.

their depredations at the house of Mr. John Hutchinson, who lived near the line between Tunbridge and Royalton. After making Mr. Hutch- inson and his brother Abijah prisoners, they proceeded to the house of Mr. Robert Havens, where they killed Thomas Pember and Elias Button. They then went to the house of Joseph Kneeland, took him and his father, and Simeon Belknap, Giles Gibbs and Jonathan Brown. Pro- ceeding thence to the house of Mr. Elias Curtis, they made him and John Kent and Peter Mason prisoners."

" Thus far," continues the account, " the business was conducted with the greatest silence, and the prisoners were forbid making any outcry upon pain of death. They at length arrived at the mouth of the branch, White River, where they made a stand, while small parties proceeded in different directions to plunder the dwellings and bring in prisoners. One party extended its ravages down into Sharon, took two prisoners and burnt several houses and barns. Another proceeded up the river, made prisoner of David Waller, a lad who lived with General Stevens, plundered and set fire to the General's house, and advanced in that di- rection about three miles, killing the cattle and plundering and setting fire to the buildings as they passed." The result of this invasion to the Indians was the killing of two and the capture of about twenty-five pris- oners, the burning of some forty houses and barns, and the killing of one hundred and fifty head of cattle and a still greater number of swine and sheep, and that without any loss to the invaders. The news of this un- expected and wanton attack having spread through the neighboring set- tlements, an armed force was quickly collected to pursue the now retir- ing British and Indians. Captain John House commanded the pursuing party and succeeded in overtaking the foe, upon whom an attack was at once begun ; but the Indians, after having recovered from their tempo- rary confusion, sent an aged prisoner to Captain House, informing him that if the Indians were attacked every white prisoner in their power would be murdered, and that two had already been killed, one to avenge the death of an Indian slain by House's first fire, and another because he would not march. While House and his party were considering the best course to pursue the Indians began a retreat to Randolph, when they took another prisoner, and then proceeded to the Winooski River, and thence to Canada. The captives, with the exception of one who died

HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.

in Canada, were held until the summer of 1781, and were then released and returned to their homes.

Other towns than those mentioned, both east and west of the mount- ains, likewise suffered from similar Indian depredations, but those above mentioned are believed to have been the only ones of that character oc- curring in the county of Windsor.1

It has already been stated in this chapter that upon the final surrender of General Burgoyne and the British at Saratoga, the people of Vermont were granted comparative immunity from British attacks. That surren- der substantially ended the war so far as the locality was concerned, but the withdrawal of the American army from the vicinity of the Hudson River above Albany left the Vermont frontier at the mercy of an invad- ing army that might approach from the region of Lake Champlain and the Canadas, except for the defense that could be made by the scattered forces of Vermont militia. But, fortunately perhaps, for the people of Vermont their unprotected condition at that period worked to their ulti- mate advantage. The State had absolutely refused allegiance to New York, and the probabilities of her separate existence being soon recog- nized by Congress were grieviously in doubt ; therefore, to the British leaders, it reasonably appeared that there could be but little interest on the part of the people of the new State in the cause for which the other States were contending against England. This led to what has been variously termed the Haldimand Correspondence and the Negotiations with Canada. By these proceedings the astute leaders in Vermont suc- ceeded not only in protecting their own frontiers from the ravages of the enemy, but also in keeping inactive for several campaigns a British army of ten thousand men; and the agents of Congress and the emissaries of Great Britain, both of whom were in Bennington while the subject of Vermont's action was being discussed at a session of the Legislature of the State, were entirely satisfied with the result of the proceedings,-the agents of Congress that Vermont had no intention of returning to alle- giance with Great Britian, and the British emissaries that Vermont in- tended to return to that allegiance. Hence both were satisfied, and both

1 A more full and particular account of the burning of Royalton will be found in the chapter relating to the history of that town, being there compiled from what is known as "Steele's Narrative."

VERMONT'S DIPLOMACY.

were thereby deceived. The State never intended to take up arms against her sister States, but she did intend to convince Congress of her power and, if possible, compel that body to then recognize her independ- ence. In this Vermont was but partially successful at that time, for Congress did not declare her to be a State until some years later. These proceedings, the correspondence and negotiations, were commenced by a letter from Colonel Beverly Robinson, an English officer, to Colonel Ethan Allen, which bore the date of March 30th, 1780; and they were not finally terminated until the spring of 1783. By the latter date the war was virtually at an end, although the treaty of peace was not form- ally signed until the following fall. By the treaty the power of Great Britain in the United States was terminated, and Vermont was at liberty to devote her attention to acquiring a separate existence, and was in no particular manner compromised by the course pursued by her leaders during the closing years of the war; for by that course the United States received as much substantial benefit as did Vermont, and many of the other States of the Union were sensible enough to admit that as a fact.

CHAPTER VII.

The Controversy with New York Resumed-The Situation-Petition to Congress- Its Reception-Governor Clinton's Proclamation -Ethan Allen's Vindication of Ver- mont-New Hampshire Towns Seek a Union with Vermont - The Union Effected-Pro- test by New York-Disaffection in Cumberland County-Withdrawal from the Vermont Legislature-Threatened Union with New Hampshire-The Union with New Hamp- shire Towns Dissolved-Congress Sends a Committee to Vermont-Unsatisfactory Results-Vermont's Appeal to the Candid and Impartial World-Agents Sent to Congress-Union with New Hampshire and New York Towns-Congress Takes Favor- able Action-General Washington's Letter-Conditions of Vermont's Independence- The Eastern and Western Unions Dissolved-Compensation Made to New York-Ver- mont Admitted to the Union.

W HEN, on the 4th day of July, 1776, Congress declared and pub- lished to the whole world the Independence of the American Col- onies, the people then living on the New Hampshire Grants were in a

HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.

decidedly peculiar and embarrassing situation. They had then dis- claimed all connection with or allegiance to the State of New York, and were then in a condition of almost actual warfare against that State. Moreover, all connection with Massachusetts and New Hampshire had been severed. What, therefore, was the political character of the district comprised by the grants? It seems to have been an isolated and ungov- erned territory, not recognized by Congress as having an existence sep- arate from New York, and left, apparently, to shift for itself or return to the allegiance its inhabitants had refused.

But, however much embarrassment this singular relation, or absence of relation, may have produced, it caused no consternation among the leaders of this determined people. In fact, the situation opened for them an avenue through which some of the more discerning leaders saw a sep- arate political existence, in the condition of Statehood, similar to that enjoyed by the other States, the results of the Declaration of Independ- ence, and why should they not benefit by the opportunity. The war was now in progress, and the district of the grants was for the time freed from New York oppression, thereby affording the people an opportunity to perfect their plans for the future. To this end the Dorset conventions followed; and the final result of those, and other later like assemblages, was that in January, 1777, at Westminster, the independence of Ver- mont (as New Connecticut) was proclaimed to the land. Still later a State constitution was adopted and officers chosen in accordance there- with.

This was all very well, but the Congress of States and the State of New York failed to ratify or approve of what had been done, and refused to recognize Vermont as a State of the Union or as a separate jurisdic- tion. And it is the purpose of this chapter briefly to refer to some of the leading events that transpired subsequent to the declaration of Vermont's independence and down to and including the time of her admission to the Union, in the year 1791.

The first step taken by the people, through their representatives in con- vention, was the "Declaration and Petition of the Inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants, to Congress, announcing the District to be a Free and Independent State." The petition set forth : "We humbly pray that the said declaration may be received, and the district described

VERMONT'S PETITION REJECTED.

therein be ranked by your honors among the free and independent American States, and delegates therefrom be admitted to seats in the grand Continental Congress; and your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray."

This proceeding and the prayer of the petition was violently and indig- nantly opposed by the New Yorkers and their representatives in Con- gress; and it was this opposition, seconded by that of a few other States, that so long kept Vermont out of the Union. Congress had taken due notice of the declaration and petition, and had, even before that time, become cognizant of the fact that the district desired a separate govern- ment, but it was not until the 30th of June, 1777, that that body reached a decision concerning the subject, and that, disheartening and unsatis- factory to the people of Vermont, was to the effect that the prayer of the petitioners "be dismissed."

The unwelcome news of the determination of Congress became known to the people of Vermont just prior to the convention at Windsor, July 2, 1777; and whatever action may have been contemplated by that body was obliged to be postponed on account of the intelligence received con- cerning the abandonment of Ticonderoga and the approach of Burgoyne's army. This for several months delayed all political controversies, and turned the attention of all the people to measures for the defense of the State against the impending British invasion. But when the eventful campaigns of the season had ended and the winter had passed, the Coun- cil of Safety resumed the affairs of the civil government as though no untoward events had occurred.

During the latter part of February, 1778, Governor Clinton, of New York, issued a proclamation, by which, through the apparently peaceful and reasonable terms offered, it was hoped that Vermont would cease further opposition to New York jurisdiction. But this measure proved of no avail. Vermont sought and demanded a separate existence, and that alone would pacify her people. In answer to Governor Clinton's proclamation there was, in August following, published Ethan Allen's celebrated "Vindication of Vermont."

And the year 1778 also witnessed for the people of Vermont a proceed- ing theretofore unknown and one that created considerable comment both within and without the borders of the State. This was nothing less than

HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.

a petition to the Legislature on the part of sixteen towns east of the Con- necticut River asking to be taken into union with the State of Vermont. The subject, although it may not have been a surprise to the legislative body of the Commonwealth, was, nevertheless, one that occasioned much discussion and still more embarrassment. To settle the question the mat- ter of the petition was submitted to a vote of the freemen of the several towns of the State; and the result was that the towns, or a majority of them, voted in favor of the annexation. This was approved by the General Assembly at their meeting in June following, by a vote thirty- seven in the affirmative and twelve in the negative.

Of course this proceeding met with an indignant protest from the gov- ernor of New Hampshire and many of the residents of that State; and the result was that the governmental authorities of Vermont became in- volved in a controversy with New Hampshire on her east side, as well as with New York on the west. A number of somewhat pointed letters were exchanged, relating to this trouble, between the governors of the two States, Vermont and New Hampshire, but the difficulty was not set- tled by this means. The annexation measure progressed well enough for a time, but when the Legislature adopted resolutions looking to the division of the State into four counties, there seems to have developed much opposition on the part of a strong minority. This and other prop- ositions created great dissatisfaction, and the feeling became so strong that the minority withdrew from the Legislature and announced them- selves free from obligation to exercise any office or place, either legisla - tive, executive or judicial, in the State.

This action proved not at all conducive to the welfare of the State, and it now seemed that the union with the New Hampshire towns was an un - fortunate one from out of which no great good could come. The matter became the subject of special inquiry and discussion at the Windsor ses- sion of the General Assembly in October, 1778, and a special election was then directed to be held in the towns in which the representatives had declined to act. But the malcontents were not disposed to end their proceedings by simply entering a protest and withdrawing from associa- tion with the State; they held a meeting and arranged for a convention of delegates representing all the towns in the region of the Connecticut River. In accordance with this a meeting was held at Cornish, N. H.,

CONTROVERSY WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE.

and adopted measures by which it was proposed to New Hampshire that they mutually agree upon a dividing line between that State and the grants; or, that they agree upon a court of commissioners, com- posed of members chosen from the three other New England States, to hear and determine the matter of the controversy; or, that the whole question be referred to Congress for adjustment. And the fourth or final proposition was to the effect that if the controversy could not be settled by above named plans, "and in case we can agree with New Hampshire upon a plan of government, inclusive of extent of territory, that we unite with them, and become with them one entire State, re- jecting the arbitrary line drawn on the west bank of Connecticut River, by the King of Great Britain, in 1764."

These proceedings certainly contained nothing comforting for the people who were devoted to the Vermont interests, for by them it was proposed not only to effect a dissolution of the union with towns east of the Connecticut, but there was the posibility that a number of those towns west of the river would separate themselves from Vermont and form a union with New Hampshire ; and any such dismemberment Ver- mont could not afford. But if the latter was at all justified in admitting the New Hampshire towns to membership in her own government, the retaliatory measures proposed above were equally justifiable.

But the people of Vermont were by no means insensible of the mis- take, and immediately took effective means to remedy it as far as possi- ble. The matter came before the next February session of the General Assembly, and that body chose a committee to prepare a draft or bill relative to dissolving the union with the New Hampshire towns. The report of the committee, among other things, says : " And, whereas, your committee has just grounds to apprehend that the .said sixteen towns are, of right, included within the jurisdiction of New Hampshire ; they are, therefore, of opinion that the said union ought to be consid- ered as being null, from the beginning." This report was accepted by the Assembly, and followed by a resolution by which the union with the New Hampshire towns was declared to be dissolved, and made totally void, null and extinct.

It may be stated, by way of explanation, that the position taken by the inhabitants of the New Hampshire towns who sought annexation to

HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.

Vermont was to the effect that they did not consider themselves as rightfully belonging to the jurisdiction of New Hampshire, and that the authorities thereof had no right to exercise control if the residents of the towns opposed it. This position was based upon the fact that the early surveys and grants did not include the territory of the towns that sought to be set off; and it was upon the questions raised by this matter that Governor Chittenden and President Weare conducted their argu- ment. The dissolution of the union of course terminated the contro- versy with New Hampshire.

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History of Windsor County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 6

Author: Aldrich, Lewis Cass. ed. cn; Holmes, Frank R Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 1260

Author: Aldrich, Lewis Cass. ed. cn; Holmes, Frank R
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1260