USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Pittsford > History of the town of Pittsford, Vt., with biographical sketches and family records > Part 11
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129
STATE DIVIDED INTO TWO COUNTIES.
election holden in December. The convention was, therefore, summoned by the Council of Safety to meet at Windsor, on the 24th of December, 1777. This body assembled, and after revising the constitution, postponed the day of election until the first Tuesday of March, 1778, and the sitting of the Assembly until the second Thursday of the same month. The election was held at the appointed time, and the Legislature met at Windsor on Thursday, the 12th of March. To this, the first General Assembly of the State under the constitution, the representative from Pittsford was Jonathan Fassett.
" The Assembly divided the State into two counties by the range of the Green Mountains, that on the west side being called Bennington, and that on the east, Cumberland. Each county was divided into half shires, for which special courts con- sisting of five judges each, were appointed to continue in office until county officers could be elected as provided for by the Constitution." Rutland shire was bounded on the south by the north line of Dorset and Tinmouth, and the judges appointed for this shire were Joseph Bowker, Heber Allen, Charles Brewster, John Starks and Jonathan Fassett. Among the important acts of this session was one confiscating tory estates. The Council of Safety had the previous year ordered the confiscation of the personal property of tories, and Jonathan Fassett, of Pittsford, was appointed one of the commissioners of sequestration, his commission being dated Nov. 28, 1777. But this year the General Assembly passed (March 26th) a bill empowering the Governor and council "to act respecting tory lands as they shall judge proper or advantageous to this State, and do justice to the persons that owned said lands." Under this bill tory estates might be disposed of and the proceeds put into the treasury of the State. Agreeably to these provisions the following estates in Pittsford were sold by James Claghorn, commissioner of confiscated estates. The first was the home- stead (one hundred and ten acres) of Roger Stevens, Jr., "which
10
130
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
was forfeited to the State by his treasonable conduct," and sold September 9th, 1778, to his uncle, Benjamin Stevens, for £330. The second was an estate (two hundred and twenty acres) belonging to William Marsh, of Manchester, "forfeited by his treasonable conduct," and sold December 7, 1778, to Edward Harris of Londonderry, N. H., for £500. The third was a lot (one hundred and ten acres) belonging also to Roger Stevens, Jr., and sold February 8, 1779, to John Gilmore of London- derry, N. H., for £455. This lot "was bounded south on lands of the heirs of Isaac Buck, east on Otter Creek, north on land said Claghorn sold to Benjamin Stevens," and appears to have been identical with the farm now owned by G. and F. Hendee.
The experience of 1777 served to show the necessity of a thorough organization of the militia; for though the frontier towns might not be invaded by any formidable force, yet they were continually exposed to the depredations of scouting parties, to guard against which it was necessary to have the militia in readiness to march at the shortest possible notice. Early in the year 1778, a company was organized in Pittsford, con- sisting of nearly all the able-bodied men in the township, and the following were the officers duly commissioned :
Captain-Benjamin Cooley.
Lieutenant-Moses Olmstead.
Ensign-James Hopkins.
This company was attached to the Fifth Regiment of the State, of which the following were the officers :
Colonel-Gideon Warren. Lieut .- Colonel-James Claghorn.
Major-Nathaniel Smith. Adjutant-Nathan Smith.
Quartermaster-George Root. .
The constant fear and apprehension of the people will appear from the following :
131
LETTER OF GOV. CHITTENDEN.
.
"LETTER FROM GOV. THOMAS CHITTENDEN TO COL. FLETCHER.
BENNINGTON, 13th June, 1778.
SIR :- Inclosed you have my particular order for drafting 73 men from your regiment. I have received intelligence this morning by express from Head Quarters at Rutland, that a scout of 500 of the enemy are now at Crown Point, who have just returned from a scalping tour in -* County who have brought with them a considerable number of _* as it depended on that attempt an immediate attack on our post at Rutland. I flatter myself you will not lose one minute's time in executing such orders. Pray sir, consider the distress of the poor frontier inhabitants who are hourly in jeopardy of their lives, and let humanity inspire you to exert every faculty to give them immediate relief.
I am sir, your humble serv't, THOMAS CHITTENDEN, Capt .- Gen.
Col. Fletcher."
In the month of March, 1778, an event occurred in the town of Shelburne which proved fatal to two of the inhabitants of Pittsford. One of the early settlers of that township, Moses Parsons, had raised a large crop of wheat the previous year, and soon after it was harvested-on the approach of the British and Indians up the lake-he, with others, deeming it unsafe to remain in that vicinity, removed to another part of the State .. Early in March the following year he returned with his family to Shelburne, and under the protection, and with the assistance of a company of armed men commanded by Capt. Thomas Sawyer of Clarendon, attempted to thresh out the wheat and secure it. While they were engaged in this work Joshua Woodward of Pittsford and Samuel Danielst made a journey to Shelburne for the purpose of purchasing wheat, and were under
* We found this letter, with the blanks indicated, in the State archives at Montpelier.
+ Mr. Daniels had removed from Pittsford to Salisbury.
132
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
the necessity of remaining through the night. Apprehending an attack by the tories and Indians, Capt. Sawyer and his men, and also Woodward and Daniels, lodged with Parsons' family in the log house, which they barricaded and rendered secure at every point, with the exception of one window. The attack was made that night, and through that window Woodward and Daniels were killed at the first fire of the enemy. After a severe encounter the enemy were repulsed, with a loss of one white officer and one Indian chief who were found dead in the field, besides several who were thrown into the lake through a hole cut in the ice. This fight occurred on the 12th of March, 1778, and of those comprising Capt. Sawyer's little band not a man was lost.
"The following day Capt. Sawyer buried the bodies of Woodward and Daniels, also of the two men picked up on the' field, having first cut from the nose of the Indian chief his jewels, and secured his powder horn and bullet-pouch, as trophies of his victory."*
Military operations this year were not of very much import- ance, being mostly limited to a few incursions into the frontier towns by small parties of Indians and tories, but it is not known that more than one of these extended as far as Pittsford. In November a British force came up the lake as far as Ticon- deroga, and ravaged the towns upon the shore; and a small party of British, Indians and tories came to Pittsford, but the inhabitants remaining in the town had received timely notice of their approach, and were collected in Fort Mott prepared for a vigorous defence. The enemy came to the house of Roger Stevens, Jr., which was occupied by Mrs. Stevens and her infant daughter. An Indian seized the child and was about to dash its head against the stone chimney, but upon being informed that the father of the child was in the British
* History of Salisbury.
133
ROLL OF PITTSFORD COMPANY.
service, he smilingly handed it to its mother, and the whole party quietly departed. The near approach of the enemy thoroughly aroused the inhabitants and a strong force was immediately sent in pursuit. That Pittsford contributed fully her share of men will appear from the following :
"Pay Roll of Capt. Cooley's company in Col. Warren's Regi- ment of militia in the service of this, and the United States commencing Nov. 8, 1778, and ending the 13th, both days included.
NAMES.
No. of Days.
Wages per Month.
£. 8.
Total. £. s.
James Ewings,
6
2-10
0-10
Silas Mosier,
6
2-10
0-10
Gideon Cooley,
6
2-10
0-10
Ebenezer Drury,
6
2-10
0-10
Edward Owen,
6
2-10
0-10
Nehemiah Hopkins,
6
2-10
0-10
Ashbel Hopkins,
6
2-10
0-10
Ebenezer Lyman,
6
2-10
0-10
Samuel Ellsworth,
6
2-10
0-10
Israel Ellsworth,
6
2-10
0-10
Hopkins Rowley,
6
2-10
0-10
Sidias Blodgett,
6
2-10
0-10
Benjamin Stevens,
6
2-10
0-10
Ephraim Stevens,
6
2-10
0-10
Aaron Parsons,
6
2-10
0-10
DECEMBER 15, 1778.
The within Pay Roll examined and approved and the treas- urer is directed to pay the same which is £8.
THOS. CHITTENDEN.
. Date above, received of Ira Allen, Treasurer, the contents of this order which is £8.
JAMES CLAGHORN, BENJAMIN COOLEY, Captain."
134
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
We find on the Pay Roll of a company of men raised in a time of alarm to defend the frontiers of this State-Capt. Thomas Sawyer's company, in 1778, the following names : Jonathan Rowley, entered March 9, discharged March 18.
Matthew Cox,
66
James Hopkins,
These men received their pay £2-14s-0 each, December 28, 1778.
The continental troops having been withdrawn from the State, the frontier towns were particularly exposed to the ravages of an enemy that was ever ready to take advantage of their defenceless condition. As the people found themselves left to their own resources for protection, on the 25th of February, 1779, through their representatives in general assem- bly, they constituted the Governor and council a "Board of War with full power to raise any number of men that they should think necessary for the defence of the frontiers, and to make any necessary preparations for the opening campaign."
We copy the following proceedings of the Board of War in reference to Pittsford :
BOARD OF WAR, ARLINGTON, March 12, 1779.
Whereas this state is a frontier to the northern enemy, it is therefore necessary some lines should be ascertained where this state will attempt to defend the inhabitants. Therefore, Resolved that the north line of Castleton, the west and north lines of Pittsford to the foot of the Green Mountains, be and is hereby established a line, between the inhabitants of this state and the enemy-and all the inhabitants of this state living to the north of said line are directed and ordered to move with their families and effects within said lines. This board on the petition of the inhabitants, do also recommend the inhabitants of Castleton
135
ORDERS TO CAPT. SAWYER.
and Pittsford to immediately erect a picket fort, near the center of the inhabitants of each town-and that the women and children (excepting a few near the fort,) move to some conven- ient place south and that the men with such parts of their stocks as may be necessary, remain on their farms and work in collective bodies with their arms.
The following is a copy of "Orders to Capt. Thomas Sawyer commanding at Fort Ranger,* dated Arlington, May 14, 1779 :
The design and object of a garrison's being kept at your post is to prevent the incursion of the enemy on the Northern frontiers and to annoy them should they come within your reach; as there are two other forts, one at Castleton, and the other at Pittsford, dependent on yours, you are to take care that they are properly manned and provided proportionable to your strength at Fort Ranger. You will keep out constant scouts towards the lake, so as to get the earliest intelligence of the motion and designs of the enemy. You will keep the command of Fort Ranger and the other forts depending until otherwise ordered by me, or until some Continental Officer shall take the command. You will post the earliest intelligence of the motion of the enemy to me and guard against surprise. Given under my hand.
THOS. CHITTENDEN, Capt. Gen."
We have already stated that Fort Mott was built by the combined voluntary efforts of the inhabitants of the town in 1777, and that it was afterwards strengthened at the expense of the State and occupied by.a small detachment of State troops. The next year the inhabitants of the town presented a bill to the General Assembly for labor and other expenses which attended the building of this fort. The assembly appointed a committee, consisting of Joseph Bowker and Roswell Post, to
* Name of the Fort at Rutland.
136
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
examine the structure and to inquire into the justice of the claim. The following is the report of this committee :
We the subscribers being a committee appointed by the Hon. General Assembly of this State, to examine the cost expended by the inhabitants of the town of Pittsford in build- ing a picket fort in said town, having been to said fort and examined the committee that was appointed by said town to oversee said business, and likewise examined their accounts.
Beg leave to report that it is our opinion the labor done on said picket fort is not charged higher than is reasonable, and that said accounts have been kept regular.
JOSEPH BOWKER, ROSWELL POST, 1 Committee.
October 1779.
Rutland was made the headquarters of the State troops, and a small garrison was kept at Fort Mott, but whether this garrison was maintained wholly or only in part at the expense of the State, is not now known. As this fort was in part neighborhood property, it is quite likely that those whose inter- ests it was primarily designed to protect, contributed largely towards its support.
In May, 1779, the commander at Fort Mott received information that the enemy in considerable force was coming up Lake Champlain to annoy the settlers in that vicinity; and in order to ascertain the truthfulness of this report he sent a scouting party, consisting of Ephraim Stephens, commander, Benjamin Stevens, Jr., Ebenezer Hopkins, and Jonathan Row- ley, Jr., on a reconnoitering expedition. The commander of this party had orders not to venture across the lake, but to make every discovery that could be made, in that vicinity, without doing it. The route from Pittsford to the lake was nearly north- west, between twenty and thirty miles, through nearly one continued forest. On their arrival at the lake nearly opposite
137
A SCOUTING PARTY.
to the Fort at Ticonderoga, the commander was determined to cross over notwithstanding he was forbidden by his orders to do so, and all his party remonstrating against it, yet he could not be dissuaded, and at that place he procured a canoe and passed over to the Fort, where they spent some time in visiting, and reconnoitering in that vicinity, without discovering any signs of the Indians. They were induced to venture further, and accord- ngly went on board of their canoe, and proceeded down the lake as far as Basin Harbor,* where they made a landing. After examining the shore for some distance up and down the lake, and back into the forest, they become satisfied that there were no savages in that vicinity and returned to their canoe. When they had started out some little distance from the shore, feeling inclined to show their courage, as they had gone thus far without discovering the least trace of any enemy, they con- cluded to give one salute by discharging all their pieces. To their astonishment the echo of their guns had but little more than returned to them, before a party of some fifteen or sixteen Indians appeared on shore, on the very spot of land which they had just left, and their leader called out, "If you wish to save your lives, surrender and come on shore." Stevens and his men disregarded the command and pushed out into the lake amidst a shower of bullets, none of which, however, took effect, and they were soon out of range. The hostile party sprang into a canoe which the Americans had not discovered and began the chase. An Indian lay upon his belly in the bow of the boat, and as others loaded the guns and passed them along to him, he was enabled to repeat his shots rapidly and at the same time with deliberate aim. For a time these shots proved harm- less ; but at length young Rowley who sat in the stern of the retreating craft, steering it, received a shot in the back of the head. He fell so suddenly dead from his seat that his oars and
* This is one of the best harbors on the lake, and is situated on the easterly shore in the town of Ferrisburgh, and three miles north of the southwest corner of it.
138
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
hat fell into the lake. His companions plied their oars with redoubled energy, hoping to reach the opposite shore and escape. But finding their pursuers gaining upon them, they decided to surrender and trust themselves to the mercy of their captors. The Indians, when they came up, with apparent stern- ness, commanded the prisoners to leap from their own canoe into theirs. When they had done this, one Indian sprang into the prisoners' canoe, and, before their eyes, took the scalp from the head of the dead man ; and when he had returned to the Indians' boat, the other, with the dead man in it, was turned bottom-side up, and left to float wherever the winds should drive it. The Indians then, with their prisoners, directed their way back to the eastern shore, and immediately commenced their march into the wilderness. When they had encamped for the night, the prisoners soon perceived that their feelings were about to be harrowed and torn beyond anything they had ever experienced. They beheld with horror the scalp of their com- rade stretched upon the top of a pole, and they were com- manded to follow the Indians in single file, dancing round it in a circle. The prisoners were kicked and pounded becanse they were reluctant to join in their fiendish mirth with all their might. After the dance the prisoners' hands were tied, and they were compelled to lie each one between two Indians, and each had an arm tied to that of an Indian. The next night they arrived at a place where there was quite an encampment of Indians. Among them was an aged squaw pointed out to young Hopkins, (then but sixteen years of age,) and he was told that she was to be his mother. Seeing his extreme youth to be mingling in such scenes, she began to howl and lament most hideously over him, and combing his hair with her long fingers, she sent a chill of horror through his whole frame. Leaving this place, in a day or two, they arrived at a village where were quite a number of inhabitants, and here a new trial awaited the prisoners. They perceived that the leader of the
139
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET.
savage party had obtained by some means, some ardent spirits and had become nearly intoxicated. Of course he was full of courage and bravado, and being destitute of everything like humanity, he seemed to be blood-thirsty and inexorable as a tiger. He ordered arrangements to be made for the massacre of all the prisoners, and it was some two hours before the rest of the party could dissuade him from his purpose. The prisoners were taken to St. Johns, and on approaching the shore-the latter part of the journey to that place was upon the lake- they saw a party of savages-some two hundred-drawn up in two lines, facing each other, with a narrow passage between them extending several rods. Through this passage each pris- oner was to go, the Indians striking him with sticks or clubs, as he passed along to the head of the line, where the Indian chief stood with open arms ready to receive him. Near the edge of the water were placed young squaws who amused themselves by seizing the prisoners and ducking them in the water as they Jumped from the boat upon the shore. Ephraim Stevens was the first to pass this savage ordeal. As he leaped upon the shore he was not only pitched into the water, but was attacked with clubs and soon knocked down. Being, however, a young man of extraordinary strength and activity, he soon rose. To compel him to advance so slowly through the passage that each might have a chance to strike him, a large and stout Indian went directly before him, walking backward. Stevens had scarcely commenced before he threw his feet, by a sudden spring, into the breast of the Indian before him and threw him upon his back, and then by running with great velocity, he received scarcely a blow. For this exploit of agility and cour- age, he received the most marked manifestations of approba- tion from the multitude. They came round him, and slapping him upon the back, gave him to understand that they could not have been better pleased.
Hopkins was the next to follow, and as he jumped upon
·
140
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
the shore he was seized by an aged Indian and directed to follow him. He soon found that the object of this Indian was to hide him, that he should not be compelled to suffer that barbarous treatment. When he had led him slyly back out of the crowd, he pointed to a wigwam standing back some eighty or one hundred rods from the place where they were assembled, and bid him run. He did so, and found in the wigwam to which he was directed an aged squaw, whose locks were white almost as snow, and who exhibited a remarkable sympathy for · him, and immediately got him something to eat.
Benjamin Stevens, Jr., whose turn came next, noticing a squaw ready to seize him, made a false motion to jump, when the squaw, springing to catch him, lost her balance and fell into the water. Stevens then leaped over her, creating so much merriment that he went through the course without receiving a blow, and was accosted by the old chief with "Good Indian! Good Indian !"
The prisoners were taken to the St. Lawrence, in the vicinity of Montreal, and the Indians of that village, male and female, soon gathered together and prepared for the carousal usual on such occasions.
Here, Ephraim Stevens was separated from his companions, his great strength and activity rendering him an object of extreme solicitude, and all his movements were carefully watched. The carousal being ended, he was confined in a small room and a guard stationed at the door. Early the next morn- ing the door was opened and an Indian, who had not been there the night before, entered the room and fixed his eyes long and keenly on the prisoner. Stevens immediately recognized this Indian as one of a party that had visited Pittsford before the war, on a hunting expedition, and one with whom he had there had some quarrel or difficulty.
The visitor soon disappeared and presently two large, stout Indians came and stood in the door apparently as guard. In a
141
EPHRAIM STEVENS, A PRISONER.
short time a young squaw came and stood behind these two with looks of intense sorrow, and which even dissolved into tears. "By this time," says Stevens, "I made up my mind that my old acquaintance, on Otter Creek, was determined to wreak his vengeance on me by a cruel sacrifice of my life, in the barbarous manner the Indians are sometimes wont to do. I determined to place myself in the hands of a less dangerous enemy or lose my life in the attempt. I looked around for some weapon, but saw none sufficient to use. I then thought I would try to pass the two Indians in a quiet and peaceable manner, as if I wanted carelessly to view the premises. Slowly and awkwardly I approached the door, but one of the Indians sprang forward, placed his hand on my breast, and shoved me back into the room. I quietly yielded to his push and made as though I was about to resume my seat, but as he was returning to the door, I sprang with all my might and threw both pros- trate on the ground. I flew like lightning through the door and the young squaw cried 'Run! Run!' but I needed no urging. In the midst of my speed I met a small British guard who had in custody my two companions, B. Stevens and E. Hopkins. I passed them swiftly; their officer hailed me, told me to stop and I should not be hurt. I first intended to leave them all, but taking into view all the circumstances of my situ- ation, I concluded it would be impossible to escape, and being promised that I should receive no harm, I returned and surren- dered to them." He and his companions were soon taken to the British garrison. Here he was visited by his brother, Roger Stevens, Jr., who had turned Tory and was then a Captain in the British service. Roger reproved Ephraim for joining the rebels, and behaving disloyally towards the King. Ephraim retorted, cursing the King, and reproaching Roger for deserting his country. Roger promised Ephraim the liberty of the city if he would give his word not to leave it. Ephraim
142
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
spurned the offer with indignation, and the three captives were sent to prison. Here Ephraim, for his praise of the Americans and contemptuous dispraise of the King and his cause, was hand-cuffed and fettered. His great strength enabled him to break the ordinary iron fetters, and he was loaded down with heavy irons. He and his companions were then put on board a vessel, sent to Quebec and there thrown into a dungeon. Their keepers, supposing them safe in that place, took off their fetters. There they were confined till the following fall, when they were taken out under guard to labor in harvesting corn and grain. In some way they eluded the guard, escaped, took a boat, crossed the river, pushed into the wilderness and after wandering fourteen days with little to eat except roots and the bark of trees, they came in sight of the Green Mountains. But as they were fishing in the head-waters of the Connecticut river, they were recaptured by the Indians, taken back to Quebec and again thrust into prison. They were now ironed, and their guard was commanded to exercise the strictest vigil- ance. In a few months, when the guard had become somewhat negligent, the prisoners managed to get the iron keys out of their bolts, and inserted instead thereof keys made of pewter, smoked in the candle to give them the appearance of iron. Having thus recovered the use of their limbs they improved the nights in digging a hole under the prison wall, which was also the main wall of the city, twelve feet thick. In the prison was a large chimney with a stone mantel, underneath which was an iron bar. This bar the prisoners appropriated to their use during the night, and restored it to its place in the morning before the arrival of their keeper, who found them as usual, in irons and to all appearance secure. The dirt and rubbish taken from under the wall were put in the bunks, and beds made over them, so that they were concealed from view. The prisoners dug to the last stone in the wall, and were only waiting for a
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