USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Pittsford > History of the town of Pittsford, Vt., with biographical sketches and family records > Part 10
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It has been stated that the New Hampshire Grants had been declared a separate and independent State by the name of New Connecticut, but it having come to the knowledge of this convention that there was already a township by this name on the Susquehanna river, it was unanimously resolved that the New Hampshire Grants should ever thereafter be known and called by the name of Vermont.
The convention adjourned to meet at the same place on Wednesday, the 2d of July following.
On the 2d of July the convention met at Windsor and the draft of a constitution was presented and read. While it was under consideration the news of the evacuation of Ticonderoga arrived which occasioned great alarm, as thereby the frontiers of the State were exposed to the ravages of the enemy. But the reading of the constitution, paragraph by paragraph, which was then in progress, was continued to the end. The convention then
116
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
appointed a " Council of Safety" to act during its recess, and adjourned. Neither the journal of this convention nor the list of its members has been preserved, and about all we know of its proceedings is gathered from the brief account given by Ira Allen in his history of Vermont.
In May, 1777, a party of Tories headed by one Benjamin Cole passed through this region on their way to Canada to join the British. Capt. James Bently with a few other individuals resolved to capture them. Their number increased, while they were hastening northward, to twenty-two. They learned by their scouts that the enemy were encamped for the night in a forest at Monkton. Waiting till the tories were all sound asleep, Bently rushed upon them with a terrific noise and made the whole party, thirteen in number, prisoners. The next day they marched them to Neshobe where a court was convened for their examination. This court consisted of Thomas Tuttle, Timothy Barker, Jonathan Rowley, Moses Olmstead and John Smith. After a patient investigation which was continued two days and a half, the prisoners were ordered to be delivered over to the garrison at Ticonderoga, and Capt. Bently and his men marched them directly to that fortress.
The following is a copy of the order compensating the court :
"SIR.
Please pay to Esq. Timothy Barker, Jonathan Rowley, Moses Olmstead, John Smith and Thomas Tuttle thirty shillings each for setting two days and a half to examine thirteen tories taken at Monkton in May, 1777, which amount to seven pounds and ten shillings.
ARLINGTON, 22d Jan. 1779.
THOMAS CHITTENDON.
To Ira Allen, Esq., Treasurer.
Received Jan. 22d, 1779, of Ira Allen seven pounds ten shillings.
THOMAS TUTTLE."
CAMPAIGN OF 1777.
" A Pay Roll of a party of men under the command of James Bentley in taking 13 Tories in Monkton on their way to Can- ada viz. Benj. Cole and his party and for bringing them before the Committee at Neshobe and guarding them to Ticon- deroga :
CAPT. JAMES BENTLEY, JAMES BENTLEY, JR.,
WINCHIP HOIT,
THOMAS BENTLEY,
JOHN BISHOP,
DANIEL FOOT,
. RICHARD BARNUM,
ISRAEL EVERIST,
JEHIEL GREGORY, ROAD,
SOLOMON STORY,
NOAH STRONG,
PHILIP FOOT,
ELISHA WEBSTER,
JR.,
JOSEPH BARKER,
WILLIE HOPKINS,
TIMOTHY BARKER,
SAMUEL BLODGETT,
JESSE TUTTLE,
SIDRONS BLODGETT,
ORIC (OR ORI) BUCK.
The pay of the above was £90. 9s. 0d.
Rec'd Arlington, Oct. 3d, 1778, of Ira Allen, Treasurer, £90. 9s. L. M., it being the contents of the within pay roll.
JAMES BENTLEY, Capt."
Military operations on a very extensive scale had been planned by the British Ministry, for the year 1777. The cam- paign was opened in the north, by the advance of General Burgoyne from Canada, with a well equipped army of ten thousand men, of whom a large number were savages, one corps renegade tories and one-half German hirelings. This formidable force was gradually approaching Ticonderoga which was occupied by about two thousand five hundred and forty continental troops commanded by Gen. St. Clair. This officer immediately called for reinforcements, that he might be able to check the advance of the enemy and save that military post. On the 5th of July, Col. Warner joined him with nine hundred militia hastily collected mostly from Vermont ; but the garrison
:
117
118
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
thus reinforced could hardly expect to stand against the well appointed army of Gen. Burgoyne. On the morning of the .6th, before daylight, the Americans abandoned the fort, all the cannon, most of the provisions and military stores, which fell into the hands of the enemy, and retreated towards Castleton. Col. Warner with the rear guard, consisting of three regiments, was overtaken on the morning of the 7th, at Hubbardton, by a pursuing party of British troops commanded by Brigadier Gen- eral Frazier, and a severe battle ensued, the result of which was for a considerable time doubtful; but the British, receiving reinforcements, renewed the attack with increased vigor, and the Americans being overpowered by numbers were routed at every point, a part fleeing south into Castleton, others escaping over the mountain into Pittsford.
In this engagement the Americans lost, in killed, wounded and prisoners, three hundred and twenty-four; the British loss,* in killed and wounded, was estimated at one hundred and eighty-three.
The day on which Hubbardton battle occurred was one of great excitement in Pittsford. It was well known that Bur- goyne, with a powerful army, was about to invest Ticonderoga, and that, with the fall of that fortress, Pittsford and other frontier towns would be exposed to the incursions, not only of the British, but of their allies, the Tories and Indians. And the lively discharge of musketry at Hubbardton, which was distinctly heard in Pittsford, told but too plainly that the first great obstacle to Burgoyne's progress had been overcome and that the conflict had been brought to the very borders of the township. Should the Americans be defeated in this engage- ment, the enemy might be expected to sweep through the town, spreading destruction and ruin. Every eye was turned towards Hubbardton, and the people were running hither and thither, eager to catch the earliest tidings from the scene of
* A part of these were Germans in the British service.
119
THE ALARM.
conflict. Thus the hours wore away in fearful suspense, till a few fugitives from the bloody field, rushing over the mountain, revealed the sad disaster which had befallen the American arms. Few of the inhabitants of Pittsford slept in their houses that night. Expecting every moment an attack by plundering parties from the British army, or by their more ferocious allies, the Indians, who were known to be hovering in the vicinity, they secreted or carried with them their most valuable personal effects, and betook themselves to the woods where they awaited in painful suspense the approach of morning. And then while the women and children, with a few of the more timid and feeble, fled southward, some to Clarendon, others to Shaftsbury or Bennington, and a few to Fort Edward on the Hudson ; others, more courageous and well armed, went over the moun- tain into Hubbardton and assisted in gathering up and burying the remains of the dead upon the battle-ground .*
Many interesting incidents touching the flight of the inhab- itants are related. As they could carry away only a few of their domestic utensils, many of these were secreted at some distance from their dwellings, which they supposed would be pillaged by the enemy. Mrs. Buck, (widow of Isaac,) in her haste, threw an iron kettle and some pewter dishes into the swale just east of her house, and with her children escaped to Clarendon. On returning, a few weeks after, these articles could not be found ; but in 1838, after having lain there sixty- one years, they were found by Simeon Smith, in digging a ditch through that swale, and identified by Alfred Buck, then living.t
Some of the families returned to the towns from which they had emigrated. Capt. Benjamin Cooley placed his wife upon a horse, and having two children, he put one in each of two bas- ketst which were suspended one on either side of the animal, and
* Hendee's MS.
+ Mr. Buck purchased this kettle of Mr. Smith, and it was kept in the Buek family some years as a memento of that olden time. Mr. Smith retained a pewter dish, which was accidentally melted on the stove some years afterwards.
# These baskets, called pioneer baskets, were about three feet long, twenty inches wide and fourteen inches deep, and had two holes on either side, beneath the rim, to receive straps by which they were suspended from the saddle.
120
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
in this way he accompanied them to Greenwich, his native town. There the family remained some months, but Mr. Cooley returned to Pittsford to assist his fellow-townsmen in defending their possessions. Before escaping, they hid their cooking utensils in the cove near the house, but these could never afterwards be found.
Stephen Jenner and family returned to Stevenstown, Mrs. Jenner and child on horseback, and Mr. Jenner accompanying them on foot; and there they remained till the close of the war. Edward Owen, with his wife and two daughters, after a journey of nearly two days, reached Fort Edward. Samuel Waters and family fled to Shaftsbury ; Samuel Ellsworth and family to Arlington .* The families that remained in the town did not venture to sleep in their houses for several successive nights, as they were fearful of being attacked by the Indians and killed or carried into captivity.
The men from Pittsford who assisted in burying the dead after the battle of Hubbardton were somewhat successful in collecting the debris of the battle-field, as will appear from the following memorandum found in the archives of the State at Montpelier :
* "PITTSFORD, August 11, 1777.
Memorandum of receipts given to the Inhabitants of Pitts- ford, and the number of Guns brought in by the persons whose names are here mentioned. Guns marked with the letters as follows :
No. of Guns.
No. Bayonets.
Cartridge Number kept beside the Boxes. foregoing turned over to the State. .
Capt. Peleg Sunderland S,
12
0
.0
Lieut. Moses Olmstead O,
9
4
3
3 Guns.
Samuel Wisel
W,
4
2
0
Jonathan Rowley
R,
9
1
0
3 66
Jonathan Swett
S,
7
5
5
Asael Blanchard
B,
3
0
0
Ebenezer Drury
D,
6
5
0
Aaron Parsons
P,
3
3
0
7
Adonijah Brooks
B,
8
7
0
1
66
Total,
61
27
8
14
66
* Samuel Montague, some time before, had fled to Bennington.
*
FORT MOTT.
121
The following is a copy of Mr. Olmstead's bill : "State of Vermont to Moses Olmstead Dr.
'To nine Guns found on the ground after the battle was fought at Hubbardton in July, 1777, which Guns I delivered to Maj. Joseph Taylor for the use of the State after my trouble conveying them to Pittsford at three dollars per each Gun,
$27.00
The following entry is found upon the Treasurer's records : "June 15, 1778. There was paid to Moses Olmstead by order of the Governor for Guns delivered to Joseph Taylor for use of State,
£8 2s.
The. other persons who delivered guns to the State were paid in the same proportion.
After the alarm occasioned by the near approach of the enemy had subsided, the most of the male inhabitants of Pitts- ford who had fled from their homes, returned, and their first . care was to prepare a place of refuge to which they might repair whenever threatened with an attack by the enemy. The place selected was the residence of William Cox, on the east bank of Otter Creek. This was surrounded by a high breast- work of hemlock logs set endwise in the ground, and on the west side this work was carried down the bank into the channel of the creek which supplied the inmates with an abundance of fresh water. In form the enclosure was nearly square, and contained about three-fourths of an acre of ground, in the center of which was the log dwelling which took the place of a block-house. This work was accomplished "by the combined voluntary efforts of the neighboring inhabitants* for their
* That the State did something towards strengthening this fort in 1778 will appear by the following :
" State of Vermont, Dr.
To Jonathan Rowley of Pittsford for service done in the year 1778. "To one day's work of his son and two yoke of oxen drawing timber for the fort at Pittsford
£0-7s-0
To one day's work of himself and canoe following a scout for Lieut. 0-5-0 Holms
0-12 -0"-
The above bill has the following endorsement :
" Treasurer's Office.
Received this seventh of March 1781, the within account in full for Jonathan Rowley in State Note.
JOHN MOTT."
122
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
mutual security against the sudden attacks of roaming parties of Indians and British, piloted by the detestible renegate Tories, familiar with every road, by-path, log house and ambush in the settlements." This was afterwards named Fort Mott, from Mr. John Mott who often acted as commander of those collected within it, and whose residence was near where Lorenzo Dyer now lives, within the limits of Neshobe.
From this period to the close of the war the inhabitants of Pittsford saw perilous times. The Indians, instigated by the British, were almost continually lurking in the vicinity, ready at any moment to take advantage of the defenceless condition of the inhabitants, to carry into execution their schemes of plunder and devastation. And this having in former years been their favorite hunting-ground, they were familiar with every part of it, and not unfrequently they were guided by a despicable set of Tories, who understood the exact location and condition of every family in the township. Late in September of this year the Indians seized two boys, Joseph and John Rowley, the former aged fifteen years and the latter eleven years, sons of Jonathan Rowley, and carried them prisoners to Canada. A few days later the same or another party of Indians captured two lads in Whipple Hollow, viz .: Gideon and Thomas Sheldon, fifteen and thirteen years of age respectively, sons of Gideon Sheldon. In this instance the boys were returning to the barn with an ox team loaded with grain; the Indians, approaching stealthily, made them prisoners and then proceeded to the house. As they entered the door Mrs. Sheldon, the mother of the two boys, in her fright sprang out of a back window. The Indians searched the house, took the only spare dress-a calico one-belonging to Mrs. Sheldon, and a web from the loom, partially woven, and retreated with their prisoners and booty. Mrs. Sheldon followed some little distance and entreated them to give up her sons but they refused.
The house of Felix Powell was attacked in the night. Mr. Powell was absent, but Mrs. Powell apprehending an attack
123
CAPT. SALISBURY'S PAY ROLL.
had fled into a thick cluster of bushes in the vicinity, and while there the house was plundered and burnt. In full view of the burning residence she was delivered of a child, before morning.
Intelligence of these outrages rapidly spread, and a com- pany of soldiers was soon sent to protect the inhabitants and if possible to recover the captives. This force was under the command of Abraham Salisbury.
The following is the pay-roll of Capt. Salisbury's company on Otter Creek, raised in Clarendon by advice of the Commit- tee of Safety, and principal inhabitants of the towns of Wal- lingford, Clarendon, Rutland and Pittsford, on being alarmed by the enemy coming to Pittsford, taking some prisoners and plundering some houses. Capt. Salisbury's company came to Pittsford Oct. 17, 1777, and went away the 25th of the same month :
Capt. A. Salisbury, Thomas Sawyer,
Sergt. Joseph Smith,
Jedidiah Jackson,
Jabez Weaver,
Zebidiah Green,
Clerk, Asable Blanchard, Sylvanus Brown, Noel Potter,
Ebenezer White,
Samuel Waters,
Thos. Tuttle,
Jacob Patridge,
Nehemiah Angell,
William Cox,
Abel Spencer,
Thos. Curtis,
Edward Owen, *
Daniel Niles,
Benj. Foster, Oliver Arnold, Jesse Place,
John Squire, Amah Brooks,
Peter Tarbox, Nath'nl Place, Abadiah Gill, William Rounds,
Joseph Barker, Obediah Edwards, Jona. Eddy, Silas Whitney, 66 66 Jr.,
Benj. Stevens, Jr., James Stevens, Joseph Williams,
Joel Foster, Peter Eddy,
124
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Thos. Eddy, Levi Calvin,
Mark Jeney,
Jonah Ives, Newton Drury,
David Warner,
Azariah Brooks, James Rounds,
Ebenezer Cooley,
James Edwards,
Mathew Cox,
Noah Bush,
Daniel Stevens, Abel Stevens,
Aaron Bush, Wallis Sutherland,
Samuel Williams,
Joseph Jackson,
Nathnel Skelter,
Ezekiel Clark,
James Smith,
Elihu Allen.
This company afterwards received of the State as compen- sation for services on this occasion, £37-7s-11d.
The Sheldon boys were carried to Canada where Thomas, the younger, being a feeble child, died in captivity, but Gideon and the Rowley boys, after a few months confinement, were released and returned home.
The battle of Bennington on the 16th of August was a severe blow to the haughty Burgoyne, and gave him some idea of the spirit of the people with whom he had to contend; and the two battles of Stillwater, a few weeks later, so crippled his army that he was not only incapacitated for aggressive opera- tions, but for defending his position ; and on the 17th of October he was compelled to surrender to the American com- mander. On receiving intelligence of the fate of Burgoyne, Gen. Carlton ordered all the posts south of the province line to be abandoned. In conformity to this order, Ticonderoga was evacuated about the middle of November. The rear of the retreating garrison was overtaken and attacked by a com- pany of rangers under the command of Capt. Ebenezer Allen with the result of a loss to the enemy of forty-nine men who were taken prisoners, as well as more than one hundred horses, twelve yoke of oxen, four cows and three boats.
This affair terminated military operations in the northern
125
COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.
department for the year 1777, and Pittsford, with other frontier towns, being relieved from the presence of the enemy, many of the inhabitants thereof who had been driven from their homes, returned and gathered their crops of hay and grain, though the most of these were in a damaged condition.
It is very much to be regretted that the records of the town through this eventful period should have been destroyed, for if existing they would doubtless reveal to us, in clearer light than can now possibly be done, the labors, sacrifices and nameless trials of the early inhabitants, not only in defence of their homes, but in aid of the common cause.
The only record in existence relating to military affairs up . to the period which this history has now reached is found in the proceedings of a Proprietor's meeting held at the house of John Barnes, June 3, 1776. The following is a copy :
"Voted that every poll in town pay one dollar for a stock of powder to be left in town. .
Voted that the committee of safety take care to see that the above vote is carried into execution."
Of the men who composed this Committee of Safety we have no knowledge, but that there were such committees chosen in the several towns from year to year, there can be no doubt, as allusion is frequently made to them in the records of the pro- ceeding of the Council of Safety, Board of War, and Public Con- ventions. The duties of these town committees are set forth in part by the following circular :
"In Council of Safety, Nov. 16, 1777.
Resolved, That it be recommended, and it is hereby recom- mended, to the Committee of Safety, of each town in this State, to take immediately under their examination, all persons who have been to the enemy, or such as are deemed enemies to their country ; each Committee taking under their examination the persons belonging to their own town,-and in such town
126
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
where no committee is appointed to call the assistance of the neighboring committee. No person to be tried short of the number of seven or more committeemen, selected from three different committees. In case any such person or persons cannot satisfy the inhabitants of the town to which they belong, and obtain their liberty to remain at home under proper restrictions, to send such persons, forthwith, to this Council, with their crimes, in writing, and evidences to support the charges against them.
.
The Council further recommend to the respectable Com- mittees of Safety, in this State, to be ever mindful of the wor- thy and laudable example set us by his Excellency General Washington, and the good people, inhabitants of New Jersey ; always bearing in mind to consider the weak capacities of many who have been afrightened into a submission to General Burgoyne, &c .- after which, seeing their error, confess their fault, and are willing to defend their country's cause, at the risk of life and fortune.
By order of Council, THOMAS CHITTENDEN, President.
P. S. No person whatever, included in articles of capitulation, are to be considered.
JOSEPH FAY, Sec'y."
In the journal of this Council we find the following, relat- ing to three of the Pittsford men :
"In Council, Bennington, Feb. 17, 1778.
To Capt. Joseph Bowker-Sir :
Whereas, complaint is made to this Council by Deacon John Burnap, that Moses Olmsted, Jabez Olmsted and Owen, of Pittsford, did in December last, take from him about twelve hundred weight of iron which is detained from him; he therefore desires of this Council, that they would
-
127
RESOLUTIONS OF THE N. Y. ASSEMBLY.
direct him, in what manner he may obtain his property again.
Therefore, this Council recommend to call together the members of the several committees in Rutland and the neigh- boring towns, to the number of five, to judge and determine the case, depending between the above parties, according to justice and equity.
By order of Council, THOMAS CHITTENDEN, President."
The noble efforts made by the inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants in favor of American liberty, as exhibited in the last campaign, and the applause which such efforts had elicited from the people of other States, were not unnoticed by the ruling classes of New York. And it is not unnatural that they should suppose, that a people possessed of such courage and energy would not be very likely to yield to demands involving submission to that State. This feeling was fully exhibited in the General Assembly of New York in February. A series of resolutions was adopted, proposing to the inhabit- ants of the New Hampshire Grants certain terms of accommo- dation in reference to their land titles, which terms were offered (it was so declared) as an inducement to them to submit quietly to the jurisdiction of that State. These resolutions were made known to the inhabitants by proclamation of the Governor February 23d, 1778; and at first view they have the appear- ance of candor and liberty; but in reality they contained proposals for confirming the grants, on the payment of certain specified fees, of a very small part only of the lands that were in controversy. They applied only to such lands as were in actual possession of claimants under New Hampshire at the time these lands were granted by New York. Now the grants made by New York were at a very early date, and a very large majority of the inhabitants settled on these lands, after grants of them had been made by New York, and obtained their titles
128
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
from the government of New Hampshire. Again there were others who honestly purchased lands and held them under titles derived from New Hampshire, but who never occupied them. To these two classes no security was offered by the proposals of the New York government, but the moment the jurisdiction of that State should be recognized they would be completely at the merey of the New York land speculators. This was well understood by the claimants under New Hamp- shire, and served only to strengthen their prejudices against the government of New York. The original resolutions not having the intended effect, the New York Assembly thought it expedient to pass explanatory resolutions, in which they say "their former resolves had been misrepresented by some, and misunderstood by others," and they proposed to submit the . case of each claimant "to such persons as the Congress of the United States should elect or appoint for that purpose." This proposal was also made known by proclamation of the Gov- ernor, dated October 31, 1778. But this arrangement, if carried into effect, would involve each settler in a lawsuit, the cost of which, even if the verdict should be favorable, would quite likely be disastrous to him. It was apparent that no security for the titles under New Hampshire was to be expected from the government of New York, and that in order to pre- serve their property, it would be necessary for the inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants to "stand by and maintain their new State organization." This action, if successful, would invalidate the New York patents, and secure protection to the inhabitants in their persons and property.
Previous to the adjournment of the convention in July it was ordered that the first election, under the constitution, should be holden in December following, and that the General Assembly, thus elected, should meet at Bennington in January 1778. But military operations so engrossed public attention, that the constitution was not printed seasonably to have the
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