USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Pittsford > History of the town of Pittsford, Vt., with biographical sketches and family records > Part 12
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143
E. STEVENS ENLISTS IN BRITISH NAVY.
dark night to make their escape, when one of their number, under the influence of liquor,* became unruly, commenced digging in the day time and was discovered. Then all their plans were frustrated and their labor lost. As soon as they found they were discovered, the prisoners threw all their rubbish into one large room, and ladies and gentlemen from all parts of the city came to see what the Yankees-covered with irons- had done. Their keeper offered a reward to any one who would tell where the tool was that had been. used in the work. Ephraim Stevens replied that it was in the chimney, and this was searched from bottom to top without making the discovery, and for aught we know the iron may be there to this day.
The press-gang occasionally called at the prison and beat up for volunteers to man the British navy. On one of these occa- sions Ephraim Stevens declared that he was ready to go. His comrades remonstrated with him and told him he would never return, but he assured them that he would be back within a week. He set out and was conducted on board a vessel in the river, when the Captain, after showing him over the ship, asked him how he would like to be a sailor. "First rate," said he, " but the first chance I have I will put a brand of fire into the magazine and we will all go to h-1 together," and he d-d the king and all on board. An attempt was made to hang him to the yard-arm. The rope was put around his neck and while it was being adjusted Stevens shouted, "Draw away ! I will find neck as long as you will halter! Draw away! 'You are a set of infernal cowards! I dare you to hang me,-thousands of Yankees will be upon the war-path! D-n you and your king." In about a week the captain ordered his men to take Stevens back to prison, declaring that "he would have no such fellow on board his ship."
In the winter of 1781, the prisoners succeeded in digging
* It appears that there were other prisoners here besides the three that have been mentioned.
144
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
their way out of the prison, and eluding the vigilance of the sentinels, they proceeded up the St. Lawrence on the ice, travel- ing in the night and secreting themselves by day. They suffered keenly from cold and hunger. One bitter cold night, Ephraim, being a little in advance of his party, fell through the ice. He promptly reinstated himself on the firm ice before his companions came up; but as he was completely drenched with water which almost instantly turned to ice, he knew that he must get to a fire or perish. This was extremely difficult. The British government had threatened severe pun- ishment to any who should aid escaping prisoners-but there was no alternative save death. A farm-house was seen not far distant. Stevens approached it alone, and knocked for admission. The inmates were asleep, but he aroused them, told his story, and after much importunity, reinforced by the pleading of the man's wife, he was admitted at the muzzle of a gun, a fire was made and Stevens relieved of his sufferings. His companions soon joined him, and the next night they pro- ceeded on their way. At length, when about a day's journey from Vermont, they missed their way, fell in with some British scouts, were recaptured and taken back to their prison in Quebec. Meanwhile, their friends in Pittsford, receiving no intelligence from them, supposed they were dead, and employed Elder Elisha Rich to preach their funeral sermon.
In June, 1782, Benjamin Stevens, Sen., of Pittsford learn- ing that some prisoners were to be exchanged at Whitehall, made the journey thither hoping to hear something respecting the fate of his son, and his companions. While standing upon the wharf a vessel came in, and the first to disembark was his own Benjamin. What imagination can realize that scene? The dead was alive! Ephraim Stevens and Ebenezer Hopkins were also exchanged on this occasion and returned to their families. These young men were of Capt. Thomas Sawyer's company, and received forty shillings per month for the time of their captivity.
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145
CERTIFICATE RELATING TO PRISONERS.
The following is copied from a certificate in the office of the Secretary of State:
"State of Vermont, Clarendon, August 14, 1782.
To the Pay Table. This is to certify that Benjamin Stevens and Ebenezer Hopkins were taken prisoners, while in the State service, on the 12th day of May, 1779, and carried to Canada with Ephraim Stevens, at the same time lost their guns and accoutrements and were exchanged on the 9th of June last.
THOS. SAWYER, Capt."
The following certificate is also extant :
" Certified extract of the Journal of the General Assembly of a resolution of October 19, 1782, to pay Ephraim Stevens, Benjamin Stevens, Ebenezer Hopkins and Jonathan Rowley five dollars each, for guns they each lost in the service of the State, when they were taken prisoners in the year 1779."
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146
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
CHAPTER V.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR CONTINUED.
Act Relating to Tories; Incursions of the Indians; Fort Vengeance ; Murder of Caleb Houghton ; Alarm, Pitts- ford Company marches to Mount Independence; Capture of Mr. Matson, Mr. Crippen and Miss Cox; Bridge built over Otter Creek; Provisions for the Army; Con- templated attack upon Fort Vengeance; Interview between Patriot and Tory; Close of Hostilities.
The people of this State became so exasperated at the tories for the unworthy part taken by them in the great struggle, that the General Assembly, in February of this year, passed the following "Act to prevent the return to this State of certain persons therein named, and others who have left this State or either of the United States, and joined the enemies thereof.
" Whereas [here follow the names of one hundred and eight persons, but only one from Pittsford, viz .; Roger Stevens, Jr.,] and many other persons, have voluntarily left this State, or some of the United States of America, and joined the enemies thereof; thereby, not only depriving these States of their personal services, at a time when they ought to have afforded their utmost aid in defending the said States against the invasion of a cruel enemy, but manifesting an inimical disposition to said States, and a design to aid and abet the enemies thereof, in their wicked purposes.
And whereas many mischiefs may accrue to this, and the
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147
ACT RELATING TO TORIES.
United States, if such persons should again be admitted to reside in this State.
Which to prevent,
Be it enacted, &c., that if the said [the one hundred and eight names repeated] or any of the before mentioned persons, or either of them or any other person or persons, though not specially named in this act, who have voluntarily left this State, or either of the United States, and joined the enemies thereof, as aforesaid, shall, after the passing this act, voluntarily return to this State, it shall be the duty of the sheriff of the county, his deputy, the constable, selectmen, or grand-jurors of the town where such person or persons may presume to come, and they are hereby respectively impowered and directed, to apprehend and carry such person or persons before an assistant or justice of the peace ; who is hereby required to call to his assistance one or more assistants or justice of the peace, who are hereby directed to give their attendance, according to such requisition, and if upon examination into the matter, the said justices shall find that the person brought before them is any one of the before described persons, they shall order him to be whipped on the naked back, not more than forty, nor less than twenty stripes ; which punishment shall be inflicted, and the delinquent shall be ordered to quit this State immediately.
Be it further enacted, that if any person shall continue in this State one month, or shall presume to come again into this State, after such conviction (without liberty first had and obtained therefor, from the Governor, Council, and General Assembly) and be convicted thereof, before the superior court of this State, he shall be put to death.
Be it further enacted, that if any person shall, willingly or willfully, harbor or conceal any of the persons above named or described, after their return to this State, contrary to the design of this act ; such person, so offending, shall, on convic- tion thereof before the superior court, forfeit and pay the sum
148
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
of five hundred pounds ; two-thirds thereof to the use of the State, the other third to the use of him or them who shall prosecute the same to effect."
The Roger Stevens, Jr., who was included in this act of proscription, will be remembered as the brother of Ephraim. In 1774, or early in 1775, he built a grist-mill in the town at the mouth of the Stevens brook, near the old ford. It was on a fifteen-acre lot that had been given by the Proprie- tors in 1772, for a mill-privilege. At the breaking out of the war he espoused the cause of England, constructed a raft upon which he put his millstones, irons, &c., and floated them down the Creek as far as Middlebury. He then withdrew to the British army in which he served as a lieutenant. During the war his family abode in Pittsford, and it was known that he occasionally visited them ; but it was done secretly, as he was aware that he was an outlaw, and liable at any time to be arrested and punished. After the passage of the act of which we have given a copy, his residence here was carefully watched by the inhabitants of the town, who were anxious to secure him ; for it was well known that he was furnishing the enemy with information which was very valuable to them in their work of plunder and destruction.
One dark night in the month of July, Moses Olmstead, discovering a bright light in Stevens' house at an unusual hour, was convinced that he had returned on a flying visit to his family. He communicated his suspicions to the men in the fort who immediately turned out and surrounded the house. Three of their number were chosen to enter, but on doing this, they discovered no one except Mrs. Stevens and her two chil- dren. It was afterwards ascertained that he had been fore- warned of their approach, and was secreted among the weeds close to the logs of his house. It was also ascertained that he had conducted a party of some thirty Indians to the vicinity of the fort, with the design of attacking it; but finding it strongly
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149
ESCAPE OF DEACON HENDEE AND OTHERS.
garrisoned the Indians retired, while Stevens improved the opportunity to visit his family.
The inhabitants of the town were frequently alarmed by the reported approach of small parties of the enemy, and on all such occasions the women and children repaired to the fort, where they remained till the alarm subsided. In the month of November, Deacon Caleb Hendee, Elder Elisha Rich of Clar- endon, and Deacon Murray, late of Orwell, went in company to Neshobe to view a lot of land near the house of George and Aaron Robbins. After an inspection of the land they called at the house of the Messrs. Robbins and then returned to Pittsford. A few minutes after they left the house it was attacked by the Indians, and the two owners were killed. Most of the other inhabitants of Neshobe were made prisoners and their houses burned. About ten o'clock that night the news of this attack reached Pittsford. The same hour, Deacon Hendee, with the assistance of Elder Rich, Deacon Murray and Richard Hendee, the Deacon's brother, who happened to be there at that time, placed his whole family (including his aged mother) on horse- back, and traveled all night as far as the town of Clarendon, where they arrived at the house of Elder Rich, early the next morning .* A company of Col. Gideon Warren's regiment was dispatched to the scene of distress, where it remained three days, but the enemy having retreated the company was with- drawn. Capt. Wright and the Lieutenant being absent, Ensign Blanchard had command of the force on this occasion. We find the name of Stephen Mead of Pittsford on the roll of this company.
Fort Mott was illy adapted to shield the people from the protracted efforts of a powerful foe. Accordingly, being roused by the startling acts of cruelty and bloodshed which had been perpetrated, they resolved to have a fort built that would accommodate a large garrison and afford them adequate pro-
* Hendee's MS.
150
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
tection. This subject was laid before the Board of War in the fall of 1779, with the assurance that if such a fort should be constructed, the inhabitants of Pittsford would contribute liberally towards the expense. This Board appointed a com- mittee to look into the subject and to report the result of their investigations. We have not been able to find the report, but that the investigations were made and the report submitted will appear from the following :
" BOARD OF WAR, ARLINGTON, April 6, 1780. 5
Resolved, that said Board accept of the report of their committee respecting building a fort at Pittsford, &c.
Resolved said fort be built near the north line of Pittsford where Major Ebenezer Allen shall judge proper. That said fort be a picquet with proper flankers with barracks for 150 men inclosed -that said fort be accomplished as soon as may be.
Resolved, to raise one company of 75 men exclusive of officers to join Major Ebenezer Allen for defence of frontiers- 8 men from Col. Warner's regiment to be raised from Wells, Clarendon, Tinmouth and Wallingford, Isaac Clark to be Captain, Benjamin Everst 1st Lieut., Rufus Branch 2d Lieut. and Capt. Jonathan Fassett commissary of purchaser."
The spot selected for this fort was on the farm of Caleb Hendee in the north part of the town, and at the time of taking possession of it, Joseph Safford as the proper officer gave Mr. Hendee the following receipt :
" PITTSFORD, May 3, 1780.
Received of Mr. Caleb Hendee for the use of the State the year ensuing a part of his farm. viz : all his improvements on the east side of the Creek, except 6 acres of plough land on the intervale, and one acre of pasture land adjoining and north of his barn, and five acres of wheat and three quarters of an
151
FORT VENGEANCE.
acre of land whereon he had turnips the year past. For the use of said land I promise, in behalf of the State, to pay him 24 pounds, as specie went in market in the year 1774, Provided we are able to maintain this post so as to secure the troops; if otherwise we are obliged to evacuate this post on account of the enemy, one half of the above mentioned sum shall be due him, which sum is to be paid at or before the first day of December next.
JOSEPH SAFFORD, Barracks Master."
Work was immediately commenced upon this fort, and the following account of it was furnished by the late Gen. Caleb Hendee to Henry Hall, Esq., of Rutland, to whom the writer is indebted for a copy :
" The site selected for its location was on the upland about a mile north-easterly from Fort Mott, and around the very spot then occupied by the dwelling house of Caleb Hendee, Sen., and was between the present residence of Samuel Hendee and that of Chester Thomas. The stage road from Pittsford village to Brandon passes over the ground formerly occupied by this fort. Like all the other forts in Vermont, it was a picket fort; a trench was dug five or six feet deep, the trunks of trees, mostly hard maple and beech, a foot or a foot and a half in diameter, were sunk into the trench as closely together as possible, extending sixteen or eighteen feet above ground and sharpened to a point at the top; between each log a stake was driven to fill the space left by the round, unhewed logs ; within the pickets a breastwork was thrown up about six feet high and about six feet broad at the base, and composed entirely of dirt and logs. At a height convenient for the garrison were loop-holes between the logs, and large enough at the center for the barrel of a musket to pass through, and radiating outside and inside so that the soldiers within could move the muzzles of their guns in the loop-holes and command a wide range without, while the loop-holes were so far from the
152
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
ground on the out-side that the enemy's shots coming through them would pass over the heads of the garrison. The form of the fort was square, enclosing an acre or more of ground. On each corner jutting outside was a flanker, with two stories, that is, a floor was laid across each about eight feet from the ground answering for a ceiling to the space below; above this floor or ceiling was the sentinel's box with loop-holes above and below, from which the musketeers could rake the approach to the fort in every direction with a deadly fire. On the east of the fort was a large double gate of oak plank thickly studded with large headed nails or spikes so as to be completely bullet proof, while on the west side of the fort was a wicket-gate ; within the fort, extending along the north side were the officers' barracks, and on the south side the soldiers' barracks. In the northwest corner was the magazine for the munitions of war, a framed building; in the northeast and southwest corners were wells, but these were soon neglected and the garrison supplied themselves with water from a spring thirty or forty rods east of the fort. The space between the officers' and soldiers' barracks was the parade ground. The fort was finished in June, 1780. After the war the barracks were long used as dwelling houses, and one room of them may even now be seen, standing at the west end of Samuel Hendee's barn yard."*
The new fort was doubtless in a condition for occupancy early in June, though we find the following record of the proceedings of the Board of War at a later period :
" IN BOARD OF WAR, ARLINGTON, July 14, 1780. 5
Whereas, it has been represented to this board that 20,000 brick are wanted to build chimneys in the barracks in the fort on the north line of Pittsford, Therefore Resolved, that this board do recommend to Major Ebenezer Allen to furnish five
* Since the above was written, this, the last vestige of the old barracks, has been demolished.
153
BILLS FOR LABOR, ETC., ON THE FORT.
fatigue men that are accustomed to the business if any there be, to assist the barrack-master in making said brick, who shall be allowed one shilling each in hard money or an equivalent for each day in addition to their pay. Resolved that the com- mandant of said fort be allowed to keep one horse and one cow in the State's pasture and the barrack-master see that there be no other cattle of any kind kept on the State's cost. Resolved, that there be no more barracks built in said fort on the State's cost for the time being."
The following are copies of some of the bills paid by the State for labor, and material used in the fort, and for some improvements afterwards made &c &c. :
" State of Vermont Dr.
To Jonathan Rowley.
By one draft chain " two oxen at 6s.
" one Iron wedge
" one hoe
£0-14s-0d 0-12-0 0-3-0 0-3-0
1-12-0
GERSHOM BEACH, Amr."
" State of Vermont Dr.
To Nehemiah Hopkins.
To labor on fort in Pittsford by request of
Ebenezer Allen in the month of May 1780,
To 6 days work of himself at 3s. per day £0-18s-0d To 4 days ox work at 1s. 6d. 0- 6-0 .
To an axe delivered to Major Allen for the use of the garrison 5-0
1-9-0"
154
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
"State of Vermont Dr.
To William Cox.
To 40} lbs Nails £2-2s-6d
" 20 days work of one pair oxen 2-0-0 " 8 pairs door hinges-19 lbs 1-4-0
" one ox yoke and irons 0-12-0
" one bushel corn 0-3-0
" one piece of chain 0-6-0
6- 7-6"
" The following bills were paid by Jonathan Fassett's order as commissary :
To Jonathan Rowley for wheat £10-15s- 0d
" Caleb Hendee for flour 4-11-10
66 for beef 10-0-0
" Gideon Cooley for transportation 18-9-8
43-17 -4"
This may certify that this state is indebted to Gideon . Cooley eighteen pounds nine shillings hard money for trans- porting provisions from Rutland to Pittsford the last campaign for state troops.
Pittsford, Feb. 19, 1781.
JONATHAN FASSETT, C. P."
" State of Vermont Dr.
To Gideon Cooley.
1780 Sept. 14. To taking 11 rafts of boards from Sutherland's mill in Rut- land to Fort Vengeance at 24s. £13- 4s-0
To 3 quarts 1 pt. and 1 gill Rum 0-14-6 " dressing two wolfs' skins 0- 3-0
14-1-6"
155
BILLS FOR MATERIALS, ETC.
" PITTSFORD, Aug. 8, 1780.
State of Vermont to William Cox Dr.
To finding house room and lodging for Ichabod Downing, a soldier in William Hutchins company, Major Allen's de- tachment, the time he was lame with a broken thigh, it being from the 4th of April to the 3d of July 1780, at 3s. 6d. per week
£1-12s-6d
To one gallon of vinegar and bandage 0-6-0
1-18-6""
" PITTSFORD, October 25, 1780.
This certifies that Jonathan Rowley let
" me have for the use of the state at Pittsford,
22 lbs nails at one shilling per lb. £1-2s-0d
20 bushels Indian corn at 3s. per bu. 3-0-0
2 tons of hay at one pound eighteen shil- lings per ton 3-12-0
To pasturing two yoke of oxen 12 weeks at four shillings per week 1-15-0
To one ox cart 6-0-0
15-10" -- 0
For which he hath received no pay. JOSEPH SAFFORD, JR."
Capt. Benj. Cooley received by order of Pay Table, for labor done by sundry Persons on Fort in Pittsford £3-14s-0d
" After the fort was completed Major Ebenezer Allen, of Tinmouth, with about one hundred and fifty men was put in command of it. They were scarcely established in their new
156
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
quarters before one of their number was missing. Caleb Houghton, a young man aged about twenty years who came from the east part of the State, went unarmed to the residence of Joshua June to obtain some garments which Mrs. June had washed for him. He had been gone from the house but a short time when Mrs. June heard the report of a gun. Stepping to the door and looking up along the road she saw an Indian in the act of transfixing Houghton with his bayonet.
For some time previous to this event the horrid atrocities of the Indians had produced such an effect upon Houghton's mind that he had a frightful dream of being captured and tortured by them, and had been heard afterwards solemnly to declare that he would never be taken alive by them. These facts were recollected at the fort when Houghton's absence was unexpectedly protracted, and sad fears were entertained as to his fate. A party of men were sent out to look for him, and after a while they found his corpse about half a mile south of the fort, bearing marks of a fierce struggle and of savage revenge. This took place beneath an oak tree* which stood about one hundred rods northeast of Mr. June's house, and when the land was cleared this tree was thoughtfully spared, and may still be seen pointing out the spot where Houghton fell a victim to Indian ferocity. The soldiers took the body of their comrade, carried it to the fort and thence buried it on a small knoll, about fifteen rods east of the present residence of Samuel Hendee.
Major Allen, to whom are attributed some of the peculiari- ties of his relative, old Ethan, exasperated by the loss of a good soldier and the audacity of the murder, made strenuous efforts to discover the perpetrators of the deed, but for several days no trace of them could be found. Allen collected his men in front of the large gate on the east side of the fort, and publicly
* The top of this tree has been broken off, but new branches have sprung out from the trunk so that it now presents quite a thrifty appearance.
157
CALEB HOUGHTON.
vowed vengeance against all and every Indian that should come within his power, and then, as a memorial of his vow, he took a junk bottle filled with rum, stepped out in front of his men and dashed the bottle furiously against the gate and christened the establishment 'Fort Vengeance,' and by that name it was ever after known."
Caleb Houghton, the subject of the foregoing narrative, was a descendant of Robert Houghton who was born in 1658. Robert had one son, Ebenezer, who married Susannah Farns- worth, and died May 15, 1790. A son, Cyrus, born in 1722, was the result of this marriage; and he married Hodessa, daughter of Simeon Houghton of Petersham, and settled in Bolton, Mass., where were born the following children, viz .: 1st, Cyrus, born 1745 ; 2d, -- , born 1747 ; 3d, Ebenezer, born 1750, died August 16, 1826; 4th, Olive, born 1752; 5th, Abigail, born 1755; 6th, Mary, born 1757; 7th, Caleb, born 1760; 8th, Aaron, born 1766. The parents, with their children, removed from Bolton to Putney, Vt., before the Revolutionary war .*
The first we hear of Caleb Houghton as a soldier was in the year 1777, when he was enrolled in the company com- manded by Capt. John Patty in Col. Williams' Regiment. This company was called out Aug. 29th, and was in service twenty-five days. Young Houghton received for this service £2. 10s. 8d.
We next hear of him as a member of Capt. Jesse Safford's company of forty-two men, a part of whom were sent to the fort at Pittsford and a part to Royalton. Houghton was with that part of the company which came to Pittsfordt and he was allowed pay for eighty miles travel. The total amount of his pay, drawn by the family, February 20th, 1783, was £8.
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