USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Pittsford > History of the town of Pittsford, Vt., with biographical sketches and family records > Part 13
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The Continental troops having been withdrawn from the
* Manuscript "Genealogy of the Houghton Family" by the late Fisher M. Rice. + July, 1780.
158
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
State the inhabitants were left, during the year 1780, to their own resources for protection against the enemy from Canada. Measures were immediately taken for strengthening the forts at Rutland, Castleton and Pittsford ; two companies of rangers were raised and kept in constant service guarding the frontiers and watching the movements of the enemy, and the great body of the militia was continually held in readiness to turn out en masse whenever their services were required. The first alarm this year occurred in the month of March, but we can learn nothing of the cause or of the circumstances attending it. Several companies of militia were called out, but the alarm subsiding, they were soon discharged.
The following is the "Pay Roll of Capt. Benjamin Cooley's company in Col. Ebenezer Allen's Regiment called out on the alarm of the 23d of March, 1780, commencing the 23d and ending the 28th, inclusive:
Capt .- Benjamin Cooley,
Lieut .- Moses Olmstead, Ensign-James Hopkins, Sergt .- Silas Mosher,
Barzaleel Richardson,
David Crippen,
66 Samuel Ellsworth,
Clerk-John Barnes,
Corp .- James Stevens,
Ashbel Hopkins,
66 Aaron Parsons,
Samuel Wiswell, Abel Stevens,
Jeremiah Parker,
Solomon Story,
Jona. Partridge,
Ephraim Story,
James Smalley,
William Cox, Adonijah Brooks, Luther Drury, Nehemiah Hopkins, Ebenezer Ambler, Samuel Sheldon, Gershum Beech, Timothy Miller,
David Gilmore, Gideon Cooley,
Daniel Stevens, Jabez Olmstead, Samuel Crippen,
Benjamin Stevens, Stephen Jenner.
p
159
PITTSFORD COMPANY AT MOUNT INDEPENDENCE.
Total amount of compensation for 6 days service £38- 12s-8d.
AUGUST 10, 1781.
The within Pay Roll examined and approved and the Treasurer is directed to pay the same which is £38-12s-8d. THOS. CHITTENDEN.
Date above mentioned received of Ira Allen, Treasurer, the contents of the above which is £38-12s-8d.
BENJ. COOLEY, Capt."
In the month of May, the enemy in considerable force came up the lake, made an incursion into the valley of the Mohawk, and ravaged the country in the vicinity of that river. The Governor of New York, with some militia then at Albany, hastened to Lake George for the purpose of intercepting him on his return. When near the lake he sent a message to the commanding officer at Castleton, requesting that he should meet him at Ticonderoga with such force as he might be able to collect. On receiving this communication Major Ebenezer Allen immediately called the roll of his men and took up the line of march for the lake. At the same time he sent orders to the officers commanding the militia in the vicinity, to collect their men and join him at Ticonderoga. The next day he wrote the Governor "that he had reached Mount Independence with over two hundred men, and was in the immediate expecta- tion of being joined by one hundred more, but that he had no boats, which he trusted the Governor would furnish to enable him to cross over to Ticonderoga." But the enemy taking a northerly course reached Lake Champlain at Crown Point and made his escape. Among the one hundred by whom Allen was in immediate expectation of being joined, was the company from Pittsford, and it reached Mount Independence but a very few hours after the arrival there of the forces from Castleton.
160
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
The following is a copy of the "Pay Roll of Capt. Benja- min Cooley's company in Col. Ebenezer Allen's Regiment of Militia, called out on the alarm of the, 30th of May, 1780, commencing the 30th of May, and ending the 6th of June, 1780, inclusive, the money being due from the State of Ver- mont :
NAMES.
NO. Days.
Amt. of Wages.
Miles Travel.
Tr. Fees.
Total.
Capt. Benj'a. Cooley,
8
2-2-8
56
0-18-8
3- 1-4
Sergt. Bezeleel Richardson,
66
0-12-8
66
66
66
66
1-11-4
Corp. Ashbel Hopkins,
66
0-11-8
66
66
66
1-10-4
Ebenezer Drury,
0-10-8
66
66
1-9-4
Darius Crippen,
0-10-8
66
66
66
1-9-4
Solomon Stacy,
0-10-8
66
66
1-9-4
Caleb Cooley,
66
0-10-8
1- 9-4
Abdon Owen,
66
0-10-8
66
66
66
1-9-4
16-11-4
Received of the Treasurer of the State the contents of the above, August 10, 1781.
BENJAMIN COOLEY."
It does not appear that any considerable body of the enemy invaded Vermont during the summer ; but the frontier towns were exposed to sudden irruptions of small parties of Indians and Tories and rumors of their depredations kept the people in a continual state of alarm. In July one of these marauding parties visited Pittsford, took Isaac Matson prisoner and carried him to Canada, where he was compelled to run the gantlet, receiving wounds which nearly proved fatal .*
About this time Mr. Samuel Crippen set out to walk from his hay-field to Fort Vengeance. Shortly after he left, a hay-rake, which he had left standing in the field, was observed to fall without any apparent cause. Mrs. Crippen construed this as an ill omen and prophesied that her husband would
* Hendee's MS.
66
1-11-4
Jabez Olmstead,
0-12-8
0-11-8
66
66
66
1-10-4
." Gideon Cooley,
£ s. d.
& s. d.
£ s. d.
66
161
CAPTURE OF MR. CRIPPEN AND MISS COX.
never return. On reaching the house of John Barnes, Mr. Crippen was offered the use of a horse and saddle, which were accepted, and from thence he proceeded on horseback. As he was passing a high rock, which may now be seen near the northwest corner of the woods that are situated north of the present town alms-house, a party of Indians and one Tory* darted out from behind the rock, seized the horse by the bridle, pulled Mr. Crippen from the saddle and led both man and beast around behind the rock. Detaining Mr. Crippen as a prisoner, they cut the throat of his horse and besmeared their hands and faces with its blood. The saddle-tree they took with them after stripping off the leather. A short time after, Mrs. Sarah, wife of Joshua June, and her sister, Betsey Cox, came along, each on horseback, Mrs. June being in advance and having her infant son John in her lap. As they were passing the rock before mentioned, the Indians and the Tory rushed out from behind it and attempted to capture them. Mrs. June having a spirited horse quickly left them in the rear, while Miss Cox was made a prisoner. The throat of her horset was cut, after it had been wounded by a musket ball. The bandits with their two prisoners then commenced a retreat northward, going over Cox Mountain that they might keep clear of the fort, going thus by a circuitous route to their camp- ing ground about a mile east-or perhaps a little north of east -of the site of Brandon village. The Indians, through the influence of Stevens, released Miss Cox, and having given her some food, they allowed her to return home, but with a caution to proceed slowly lest, probably, that the knowledge of their violence and their whereabout be too promptly conveyed to the fort, and the garrison thus be enabled to fall upon them. She started slowly for home, but had proceeded only a short dis- tance when she saw coming towards her from the south a large, fierce-looking Indian, fully armed; he was acting as a rear
*It is understood that there were four Indians and one Tory, the latter being Roger Stevens, Jr.
t This horse belonged to Jonathan Rowley.
12
162
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
guard to the hostile party. When, however, he saw in her hand the food she had just received, he seemed to regard that as her passport; and, stepping aside from the path she was traveling, he motioned her to pass by. As soon as she got out of his sight, she stopped and divested herself of every article of clothing-save the gown-that might impede her flight. Winged with all the speed which the fear of a hideous captivity and the sweet hope of escape could inspire, she flew towards the fort some five miles distant, and at the gate of it she pres- ently fell exhausted. Her father caught her in his arms and carried her within the enclosure, where she received such kindly attention as her circumstances required.
Miss Cox was the first to bring the garrison news of the capture of Mr. Crippen. Information of this and other outrages committed by the enemy soon ran abroad, and an additional military force under the command of Capt. John Spofford, was sent to assist in protecting the inhabitants.
The following is the "Pay Roll of Capt. Spofford's com- pany, Col. Ebenezer Allen's Regiment of Militia in the service of the State of Vermont, in the month of August, 1780, from the 4th to the 18th, Pittsford.
Capt .- John Spofford,
Lieut .- Nathaniel Blanchard,
Ensign-Jedediah Jackson, Sergt .- Peabody Kinne,
Alfred Hathway,
Job Candor,
Samuel Swift,
William Boyd,
Jacob Patridge,
66 John Barns,
66 Elisha Wright,
Isaac Harwell,
Corp .- Peter Powell,
66 Timothy Winter,
66 Elisha Johnson,
66 Luther Drury,
Seth Chandler, Benjamin Whipple,
Jacob Johnson,
David Whipple,
Samuel Pratt,
Silas Pratt,
Comfort Smith,
Abraham White,
Silas Whitney,
Seth Kenne,
Elisha Allen,
Ichabod Kendall,
163
MR. CRIPPEN'S ESTATE.
James Fitch, Cephas Smith,
Ziba Parsons,
Enos Ives,
John Trask,
Gershum Obs,
Samuel Owen,
John Ward,
Miles Leet,
John Dagget,
Joshua Southwort,
James Olmstead."
The Indians were pursued, but they succeeded in escaping with their prisoner to Canada. It is understood that Mr. Crippen was not subjected to very cruel treatment during his captivity, and that within less than a year he was permitted to return home on his parole. He then moved to Wallingford where he would be less exposed to attacks, and there he died of typhus fever early in 1783. Mr. Crippen was intending to make Wallingford merely a temporary residence, as he wished to return to Pittsford as soon as peace should be restored. Accordingly he did not dispose of his real estate here, so that we find the following account of the disposition of it by the administrator :
" Inventory dated 25th Nov. 1784. Real estate as follows :
Home Lot appraised £87-10s-0
Half Pitch undivided land £4-0-0
Half Pine Lot £0-15-0 Half acre Town Plot £0-12-0
Set off to Widow Esther 22} acres & buildings.
By order of Legislature sitting at Windsor dated 8th of April, 1784, the Administrator was authorized to sell to the amount of £70-0-0 to pay debts, which was done and sold as follows :
One half acre of Town Plot bid off by Widow ;
One half acre Pine Hill Lot sold to James Ewings.
Fifty acres of Undivided Land to Caleb Hendee ;
Home Lot to Samuel Campbell including Widow's Third with the incumbrance."*
* Probate Records.
164
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Isaac Matson, after being held a prisoner in Canada over two years was released, and returned to his family in Pittsford. During his captivity one of his sons, Joshua, had died, and the family were in mourning, not only for him, but also for the father who they supposed was likewise dead.
Early in October the enemy, about one thousand strong, under the command of Maj. Carlton, came up the lake, took Fort Ann, with its garrison of about fifty men, and then pro- ceeded to Fort George* which was also compelled to surrender. On their way to Fort George they had laid waste the country ; and they now kept up indications of making further advances. This invasion created great alarm, and the militia of Vermont were called out and ordered to rendezvous at Castleton, under the command of Ethan Allen. Capt. Cooley of Pittsford received this order on the 11th, and the next day he was at Castleton with his men.
The following is a copy of the "Pay Roll of that part of Capt. Benjamin Cooley's Company in Col. Ebenezer Allen's Regiment of Militia, called out on the alarm of the 12th of October 1780, and commencing the 12th, and ending the 18th inclusive, the money being due from the State of Vermont:
Entered 1780.
Left 1780.
Days.
Wages per
Month.
Amount of
Wages.
Amount of Subsistence.
Total.
Capt. Benjamin Cooley, Oct. 12. Oct. 18. 7
Lient. James Ewings,
=
= 5-8-0 1-5-1 0-4-8 1-9-9
Sergt. David Crippen,
66 2-8 -- 0 0-11-1 0-1 -- 0 0-11-1
Corp. Ashbel Hopkins,
Nehemiah Hopkins,
=
66 2-0-0 0-9-4 0-1-0 0-9-4 2-0-0 0-9-4 0-1-0 0-9-4
Ephraim Strong,
=
66 2-0-0 0-9-4 0-1-0 0-9-4
David Gilmore,
2-0-0 0-9-4 0-1-0 0-9 -- 4
Edward Owen,
66
66
2-0-0 0-9-4 0-1-0 0-9-4
Adonijah Brooks,
= 2-0-0 0-9-4 0-1-0 0-9-4
£ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d.
8-0-0 1-17-4 -9-4 2-6-8
Caleb Cooley,
66
2-4-0 0-10-2 0-1-0 0-10-2
Total 8-3-0
* Fort George was situated at the head of Lake George.
165
BRIDGE ACROSS OTTER CREEK.
Received 10th August 1781, of the Treasurer of the State of Vermont the contents of the above.
BENJAMIN COOLEY, Capt."
The enemy, however, kept to the westward of the Vermont settlements, and soon retired to Ticonderoga and Crown Point. While at Castleton Gen. Allen entered into negotiations with the British commander for an exchange of prisoners, and it was mutually agreed by the two commanders that hostilities should cease during the continuance of these negotiations. The enemy did not resume hostile demonstrations, but soon returned down the lake to Canada, when Gen. Allen, in conformity to a resolution of the Vermont Assembly, discharged the militia and volunteers raised for the defence of the northern frontier.
The fort at Center Rutland was made the principal depot of supplies for the troops in this section of the State, and from this central storehouse ammunition and provisions were con- veyed to the forts at East Rutland, Castleton and Pittsford as they were needed. But it was found inconvenient to transport supplies to the fort in Pittsford, in consequence of there being no bridge across Otter Creek within the limits of the town. Usually, teams could cross at Pitt's ford, but in time of high water even this was impracticable.
This subject was brought before the General Assembly at its session in October, and a committee was appointed to investi- gate the matter and report. The following is the record : " Friday October 20, 1780.
The committee appointed to examine into the necessity of building a bridge in Pittsford &c, brought in the following report, viz :
That it is our opinion that there ought to be a bridge fit for ox teams to pass over in said Pittsford with the greatest possible expedition.
Signed, JEREMIAH CLARK, Clerk."
166
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
" Whereas it is represented that it is dangerous transporting provisions across a creek near Capt. Benjamin Cooley's in Pittsford to the garrison in said town by reason of there not being a good and sufficient bridge over said creek ; Therefore,
Resolved, that a bridge sufficient for ox teams with a loaded cart to pass over, be built over the said creek near Capt. Cooley's on the State's cost, and that Ebenezer Drury, Capt. Joseph Safford and Capt. Benjamin Cooley be, and they are hereby appointed a committee to see that said bridge is imme- diately built; and the commander of the garrison in Pittsford is hereby requested to detach such a number from the garrison from time to time, as he can spare to work on said bridge, under the direction of said committee."
It would appear from the record that Capt. Cooley superin- tended the construction of the bridge, and the following is his bill :
" State of Vermont to Benjamin Cooley Dr.
For building a bridge in Pittsford by order of the General Assembly.
To 114 days work Chopping £22-16s-0d
" 20 days work Hewing 6-0-0
" 42} days Ox Work 4- 5-0
" 6 Gallons Rum 4-16-0
" Flour and Sauce 1-0-6
" 100 wt. Pork 2-10-0
" 38 wt. Beef
0-12-4
" 2900 ft. Plank 4- 7-0
" 1500 ft. Boards
1-10-0
" Paying for two axes which were broke at Bridge 0-12-0
" One Hoe lost 0- 6-0
167
PROVISIONS FOR THE TROOPS.
" Pine Timber for said Bridge 1-10-0
" Wintering one pair of oxen for State 5 -- 0 -- 0
54-18-0
Credit. By 19 Bushels Corn 3-17-0
Balance due 51- 1-0"*
Capt. Cooley receipted this bill Aug. 10, 1781.
That this bridge was built over the Creek near the present Gorham bridge there can be no doubt. One or two men now living remember that there was a bridge there about the year 1790, and that its location was fifteen or twenty feet further south than the present bridge, and indeed a portion of one of the abutments is still visible.
At this time the finances of the country were in such a condition that it was found difficult to procure provisions for the army, and the Legislature, then in session at Bennington, passed the following : "Act for the purpose of procuring Pro- visions for the Troops, to be employed in the service of the State for the year ensuing.
Whereas, the state of the present currency, or medium of trade, is such that it is difficult to procure necessaries to supply the army, without calling on each town for a quota of such supplies. Therefore,
Be it enacted, &c. that there be seventy-two thousand, seven hundred and eighty one pounds of good beef ; thirty six thousand, three hundred and eighty-nine pounds of good salted pork, without bone, except back bone and ribs; two hundred and eighteen thousand, three hundred and nine pounds of good merchantable wheat flour; three thousand and sixty-eight bushels of rye; six thousand, one hundred and twenty-five bushels of indian corn, collected at the cost and charge of the respective towns in this State, and at the rates or quotas hereafter affixed to such towns; and that there be a Commissary General
* This bill does not include labor furnished by the commander of the fort.
168
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
appointed, who shall take charge of the same. And it shall be the duty of the selectmen of each respective town, to procure such quota by the time or times hereafter directed by this act ; which selectmen are hereby empowered to levy a tax on their respective towns, for the procuring such quota ; and also such quantity of salt, and number of barrels, as shall be found nec- essary for that purpose, and all the attending charges, either in the articles before described, or in silver or paper currency.
And be it further enacted, that if the selectmen or other person appointed by the Governor and Council, shall collect, store up, or deliver to the Commissary General or his order, any provision, except such as is of a good quality, and well packed and saved; or of any other than the quality required in this act, and be thereof convicted, he shall pay treble the value of the article he should have procured, to be disposed of as aforesaid, unless it appears that it was not through his neg- lect, or for want of properly attending to his duty.
Provided always, it shall be the duty of the selectmen to warn a town meeting, and consult the inhabitants on the method of procuring such provision. That the time for the flour, pork, rye and indian corn to be provided and stored in each town, be the first day of January next ; that the time for the beef to be provided and delivered, be, for the towns of Manchester, Sand- gate and to the northward in the county of Bennington, the eighteenth day of December; that the time for the beef to be provided and delivered for the towns of Arlington, Sunderland and all the towns to the southward thereof in said county, be, on or before the fifteenth day of January next; that the time for the beef to be provided and delivered for the county of Cumberland, be, on or before the fifteenth day of January next. And that all such beef be delivered on the foot, except such towns shall otherwise agree with the Commissary.
169
THE FORT A PLACE OF REFUGE.
And be it further enacted, that to the end it may be known which town is guilty of embezzling, or misapplying, or being any ways concerned in collecting, storing up, or deliver- ing to the Commissary, any provisions, except such as is of good quality, and well packed as aforesaid ; each town shall mark their barrels of provision, to be delivered as aforesaid, with the same mark as is established by law to brand* their horses.
The Assembly fixed the quota for every town in the State ; that for Pittsford was of Flour 900 lbs; of Beef 300 lbs; of salted Pork 150 lbs; of Indian Corn 24 bushels; of Rye 12 bushels.
The year 1781 is marked by no very formidable invasions by the enemy, but military operations were mostly confined to marauding expeditions by small parties of Indians and tories who improved every opportunity to harass the settlers. Fort Vengeance was kept garrisoned, and the few families remaining in the township resorted there for protection on all occasions of alarm. The land was often cultivated by men working in com- panies, well armed, over whom sentries were placed to sound an aların in case the enemy made his appearance. Few families spent the night in their houses when it was known that the Indians were hovering in the vicinity ; the most went to the fort, though occasionally a few betook themselves to some thicket in the woods; and in the morning perhaps they would find one or more of their dwellings in ashes.
In the month of May Jabez Olmstead, then living some two hundred rods east of the residence of his father, discovered in the evening several Indians in the vicinity, and not deeming it safe to repair to the fort in consequence of the Indians lurk- ing in that direction, with his wife and one child he proceeded some distance in an opposite direction, and lay in the woods
* The General Assembly, in February, 1779, passed an act establishing town brands for horses. The brand for Pittsford was the figure 3.
170
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
through the night. The next morning he found his home destroyed and gave notice of the event at the fort when the soldiers went immediately in pursuit of the destroyers. During their absence the Indians attacked the fort, and as there were but three men remaining in it, the women seized muskets, fought with the men, and made a successful defence.
A few days later, as men were at work at Fassett's saw- mill,* one of the men, who had been placed as sentry, discov- ered on the top of the hill, some twenty rods west of the mill, the heads of some six or eight Indians, with feathers in their caps. A swift messenger was immediately dispatched to notify the commander at Fort Vengeance of the presence of the sav- ages, and to ask him to send a company to intercept their return to the north. The Indians finding the workmen in considerable force and prepared for defence, slowly withdrew. The mill party, well armed, went in pursuit, and followed close upon them till they arrived near the brook, just south of the present town farm, where the Indians discovered, advancing upon them from the north, the company which had been sent out from the fort; and finding their retreat northward cut off, they quickly plunged into the channel of the brook, and by holding their heads low, succeeded in making their escape unobserved eastward.
In the month of June, the Indians in considerable force planned a vigorous assault upon Fort Vengeance. The force engaged in this daring undertaking was a troop of the Coughna- wagas, under the command of that renowned chief, "Tomo," who had established for himself the reputation of a shrewd, bold and powerful leader. The attack was planned for the night and was designed to be a complete surprise to the gar- rison. But some of the soldiers, who had been out on a scouting tour, discovered the enemy at some distance from the fort, and,
* This mill stood where Smith and Barber's mill now stands.
171
INTENDED ASSAULT UPON FORT VENGEANCE.
readily divining their intention, hastened back and communi- cated the intelligence to Capt. Brookins. The latter at once laid his plans to give the savages a warm reception. Early in the evening he sent a detachment of his men a little distance from the fort in the direction from which he supposed the Indians would advance, and ordered them to lie in ambush and wait the approach of the red-skins. As soon as they should come within range the soldiers were to fire upon them and retreat immediately within the fort. A little past midnight the listening soldiers heard in the distance the cautious tread of agile feet, and soon appeared dimly the dusky forms of the foe, in single file, pressing on towards the fort. The signal was given, when an unexpected volley threw the braves into confu- sion, during which the whites retreated within their fortification, and the garrison held itself in readiness for an assault. But when the Indians had felt the fire of the ambuscade the air was rent with their hideous yells; and as those sounds died away, there died also their purpose of attacking the fort. Early in the morning the soldiers sallied out to the scene of the night's adventure, when they discovered blood with other indications that their volley had been effective. They were satisfied that one Indian had been killed and others wounded.
The following is the "List of names in Capt. James Brook- ins' Pay Roll of himself and company in service of the State of Vt. from the beginning of the Campaign in 1781 to the 30th of June, in said year.
Capt .- James Brookins,
John Haynman,
Lieut .- Elias Hall,
Samuel Swift,
David Powers,
Jona. Shephard,
Saml. Philips,
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