USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Bennington > Memorials of a century. Embracing a record of individuals and events, chiefly in the early history of Bennington, Vt., and its First church > Part 19
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1 Vermont Hist Mag., p. 171.
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MR. S. FAY AS HIGH SHERIFF.
Chittenden was governor, Elijah Paine, Samuel Knight, and Isaac Tichenor, judges of the Supreme Court. He held the office of deputy, with the exception of two years, until 1811, when he was chosen high-sheriff, and was annually re-elected for twelve succeeding years, until the year 1823 ; making twenty-eight years' service in the sheriff depart- ment of the county. During this period the position of sheriff was made more important, and its duties greatly more arduous and responsible than at the present day.
" The laws allowing imprisonment for debt were then in full force, and suits were some twenty or thirty times as numerous as they now are. Aside from the hazards that an officer incurred in the service of original writs, which were many, those in the collection of executions were very great. It was not uncommon for an officer to have fifty or more executions in his hands for collection at the same time, ranging in amount from three dollars up to several hundred dollars. If a debtor did not satisfy an execution, within its life of sixty days, it was the duty of the officer to commit him to jail, where he must remain until pay- ment was made, unless he took the poor debtor's oath, which could only be done after a probationary imprison- ment for twenty days, subsequently reduced to six days. If the officer saw the debtor for a moment and then suf- fered him to go at large, he became liable for the debt, unless he should afterward, within the life of the execu- tion, arrest and commit him to prison. The performance of the sheriff's duty to the acceptance of both creditor and debtor, without incurring loss to himself, required a talent and skill which few men possessed. Mr. Fay was remark- ably successful in the discharge of the varied duties of his position. While many of the sheriff's, in most of the other counties in the State, either became insolvent from the want of proper diligence and care, or rendered themselves
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unpopular, and even odious, by their extraordinary harsh- ness and severity, Mr. Fay, by his promptness and energy in the right place, and his uniform kindness and care for the interest and convenience of those against whom he held process, was enabled, through the long period of his service, to preserve the confidence and affectionate regard of all parties. Among the many hundreds of debtors whose bare word he took to meet him at an appointed time to relieve him from his official responsibility, such was the good feeling and gratitude which his unvarying civility and kindness inspired, that instances of failure rarely occurred, and never to his services pecuniary loss. Few if any men in the State have ever performed the duties of so difficult and responsible a station, for so long a period of time, with such uniform success, and with such entire approbation of the public.
" His mental faculties seemed to continue to the last, in almost their original brightness. The unpretending dig- nity and courtesy with which he received the calls of vis- itors, and the cordial greeting which he gave them, always made a pleasant and agreeable impression, and would mark him, in the estimation of mere casual observers, as a favorable specimen of the old-school gentleman. Those who knew him well were fully assured that these pleasing outward qualities had their foundation and source in the natural goodness of his heart, and his integrity of pur- pose. Of him it may be truly said, that in all the affairs of life which his duty required him to perform, he acted his part worthily and well, and that his name is now, after the lapse of more than ninety-one years, enrolled upon the list of the dead, undefaced by any blot.
" Mr. Fay, in early life, married Ruth, daughter of Col. Benjamin Fassett. Their children were Samuel R., Benja- min Fassett, and John."
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SONS OF SAMUEL FAY.
BENJAMIN F. FAY died Feb. 15, 1853, born Oct. 21, 1805. His death was the first in Mr. Fay's family, and gave to Mr. and Mrs. Fay a shock from which they never recovered. He was possessed of much business talent, and had been engaged in wide and extensive business operations.
SAMUEL R. FAY, born Nov. 5, 1802, died Oct. 13, 1860, united with the church March 4, 1827, and was a marked example of purity and conscientiousness of Christian char- acter.
JOHN FAY born Feb. 1, 1815, died Feb. 25, 1866, was, at the time of his death, and had been, for many years, leader of the choir. He possessed a musical ear, so per- fect as probably not to be surpassed ; a tenor voice singu- lar for its musical purity and force, and the degree to which he could make it effective at his pleasure ; and superior common sense and leadership as a conductor of church singing. Besides there was peculiar to him un- affected simplicity and strength of social feeling, and a profound all-controlling attachment to the church and parish of his fathers. His warm and genial companionship was not confined to a few. He had a kind word and cor- dial greeting for all, whether of high or low degree. This was in part the secret of the large congregation - throng- ing the sanctuary - that gathered at his funeral.
His singing was never better than in the last year of his life ; his voiee was never more tender, forceful, or impres- sive. Not only as leader of the singing, but also by per- sonal efforts socially, he appeared to have received new measure of zeal for the unity and prosperity of the church and congregation.
His beloved choir were with him in his last moments, and received from him an affecting farewell. He united with this church July 4, 1858. He was married on his
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death-bed to Miss Alice Robinson, daughter of Col. O. C. Merrill.
BENJAMIN FAY, son of Sheriff Benjamin Fay, united with this church in the revival in 1803, and removed to Chicago, where he died in the eighty-ninth year of his age. He married Amelia, daughter of Gen. Safford. The following is part of an obituary notice of him from the "Benning- ton Banner " : -
" He warmly sympathized with those who are for main- taining and perpetuating the National Union, which his family's blood had been shed to establish.
"On receiving the intelligence of the recent decease of his only brother, -two years his senior, - at Bennington Centre, so great was the shock which he received there- from that he could not rally under it. He lived an honest, truthful, and Christian life ; and, from the commencement of his last illness, had no desire to live, save to comfort and administer to the wants of his aged companion. His heart, during his sickness, seemed to overflow with grati- tude to God for his goodness and mercy for sparing him so many years; and the last audible expressions which passed his lips were those of prayer and adoration to him."
" COLONEL JOSEPH FAY, son of Stephen Fay, was born at Hardwick, about 1752, and came to Bennington, a mem- ber of his father's family, in 1776. He was secretary to the Council of Safety, and of the State Council, from Sep- tember, 1777, to 1784, and Secretary of State from 1778 to 1781. He was the associate of Ira Allen in conducting the famous negotiation with Gen. Haldimand, by which the operations of the enemy were paralyzed, and the north- ern frontier protected from invasion during the three last years of the Revolutionary struggle. He was a man of very respectable talents and acquirements, of fine personal
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NATHAN CLARK.
appearance and agreeable manners, and well calculated to manage such a diplomatic adventure with adroitness and ability. He built and resided in the house1 afterward the residence of the late Truman Squier, next north of the court-house, but removed to New York city in 1794, where he died, of the yellow fever, in October, 1803." 2 He mar- ried Margaret, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Dewey.
HON. THEODORE S. FAY is their grandson. He was re- cently minister of the United States to Switzerland, author of one or more religious publications, and a popular writer.
JUDGE DAVID FAY, youngest son of Stephen Fay, mar- ried Mary Stanniford (daughter of John Stanniford, Wind- ham, Conn.), a member of this church. The following characteristic anecdotes are related of Judge Fay : " He used to say to Gov. Moses Robinson, 'Brother Rob- inson, don't let the church go down ; you take care of the church, and I'll take care of the world.' To William Has- well, addressing him familiarly, 'Let the church be at peace, and there'll be no war with the rest ; the church has a great sway in this world, though there are a good many little men in it.'"
II. NATHAN CLARK " was a resident of Bennington as early as September, 1762. . He was a leading man in the controversy of the settlers with the New York land claimants, and his name appears in nearly all of their public proceedings prior to the Revolution, generally as chairman of their committees and conventions. He is said, by tra- dition, to have been 'a pen and ink man,' and to have been the draughtsinan of many of the published papers of the early time. He was chairman of the Committee of
1 Since destroyed by fire.
2 Vermont Hist. Mag., p. 172.
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Safety, of Bennington, in 1776, and, as such, held corre- spondence with Gen. Gates, then commander at Ticonderoga, rendering him substantial and efficient aid in collecting and forwarding supplies for the army. He was representa- tive from the town in the first legislature held in the State, which met at Windsor, in March, 1778, and was speaker of the Assembly. He is said to have been of decided en- ergy of character and of very respectable talent. One of his sons, Nathan Clark, Jr., died of a wound received in Bennington battle. He had other sons in the battle, one of whom, Isaac Clark, was afterward known as 'Old Rifle,' and served as colonel in the war of 1812. Nathan Clark died at Bennington April 8, 1792, aged seventy-four, leaving many descendants.1 "Mrs. Salem White is a descend- ant and member of this church."
III. PHINEAS SCOTT first came here, at the age of seven- teen, with his father. They returned to Connecticut, whence they came. The old man died there, and Phineas soon returned. He died here June 6, 1819, aged seventy-four. A name, Phinehas Scott, is upon the roll of Capt. Fassett's military company in 1764. Phineas Scott had five sons, Samuel (married Lucretia Harmon), Henry, Hiram, John, Kinsley, and Martin ; also, daughters, Clara (Mrs. Squiers), Betsey (Mrs. Bingham), Mary (Mrs. Hawks), and Rhoda.
COLONEL MARTIN, son of Phineas, was born in Benning- ton January 18, 1788. He was a noted marksman, and many anecdotes are related of his extraordinary skill. It was not a difficult thing for him to kill one bird with one barrel of his gun, and another with the other, when a flock were on the wing. "He would drive a nail into a board part way with a hammer, and then, taking the farthest dis-
1 Vermont Hist. Mag., p. 173.
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COL. MARTIN SCOTT.
tance at which his eye could distinctly see it, drive it home with his unerring bullet." " April, 1814, he was appointed second lieutenant in the army, and rose to the rank of lieu- tenant-colonel, always sustaining the character of a brave and active officer." "He lost his life in Mexico, at the sanguinary battle of Molino del Rey, and his remains were brought to Bennington and interred in the old Centre burying-ground, beside those of his own family relatives." His death took place September 8, 1847. Of the inscription on the massive monument to his memory, the following is a part : "Brevet Col. Scott, of the 5th regiment of infantry, was thirty-three years in the service of his country on the western frontier ; in Florida ; in Mexico, at the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, Vera Cruz, Cherubusco, and was killed at Molino del Rey. He com- manded his regiment in nearly all these engagements, and received two brevets for gallant conduct. No braver or better officer fell in the Mexican war." 1
1 See notice of Col. Scott in Vermont Hist. Mag., pp. 177, 178.
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CHAPTER XVIII. PERSONAL NOTICES.
1763-1765.
APT. ELIJAH DEWEY was the son of the Rev. Jedi- diah Dewey, and was born in Westfield, Mass., November 28, 1774, and came to Bennington with his father in the fall of 1763.
His name is found among the privates in the first military company formed in town, in October, 1764, he being then under twenty years of age. He was captain of one of the Bennington companies early in the war of the Revolution ; was at Ticonderoga with his com- pany in the fall of 1776,1 and again at the evacuation of that fort by St. Clair in July, 1777. He was at the head of his company in the battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777 ; also in service at Saratoga on the surrender of Bur- goyne in October following." 2
Captain Dewey also served the public in various stations
1 " Pay roll of Capt. Elijah Dewey's company, in Col. Moses Robinson's regi- ment of the militia in the service of the United States of America, Mount Inde- pendence, 1776: -
" Elijah Dewey, captain; Ebenezer Walbridge, 1st lieut .; Thomas Jewett, 2d lieut .; Nathaniel Fillmore, ensign; Joseph Rudd, Daniel Harmon, John Fay, sergeants ; John Smith, Jedidiah Merrill, Thomas Story, corporals. Privates, - Samuel Cutler, Ezekiel Harmon, Joseph Wickwire, Daniel Kinsley, Jonathan Parsons, Andrew Weaver, Abner Marble, Phineas Scott, Aaron Haynes, Silas Harmon, Joseph Robinson, Ezekiel Smith, Seth Porter, David Powers, Hopestill Armstrong, Joseph Willoughby, Samuel Hunt, Joshua Carpenter, Othniel Green, Philip Matteson, Roswel Mosely." - Vermont Hist. Mag., p. 153.
2 Vermont Hist. Mag., p. 176.
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CAPT. ELIJAH DEWEY.
in civil life. At the convention of delegates of the inhab- itants of the New Hampshire Grants west of the Green Mountains, at Cephas Kent's, in Dorset, January 16, 1776, it was voted that Simeon Hathaway, Elijah Dewey, and James Breakenridge, be a committee with power " to warn a general meeting of the committees on the Grants, when they shall judge necessary from southern intelligence." 1
He represented the town in General Assembly, in 1786- 87-88, in 1796, and again in 1812-13 ; and was a member of the Council of Censors in 1792.
He was a Federalist in politics, and headed the list of presidential electors of this State in 1797, and also in 1801, voting on the first occasion for Washington, and on the second for John Adams.
Captain Dewey was a man of sound and discriminating judgment, and of undoubted integrity, who did well and faithfully whatever he undertook.2
He did not unite with the church until his last sickness. He deceased Oct. 16, 1818. He received the sacrament at his residence, and united with the church May 17, 1818. His active, earnest, and life-long devotion to the external religious prosperity of the community, entitles him to a prominent place among the supporters here of the means of grace. It was a common remark of his that no one lost anything by going to church. He was very wealthy, nearly as much so as Governor Moses Robinson ; and no one in the place, probably, except the last-named gentlemen, con- tributed more largely to the support of public worship.
There was great wealth in the place. Some one has stated Gov. Robinson's investments were estimated at over $90,000 ; Capt. Elijah Dewey's at $50,000 or $75,000. Capt. Dewey kept a public house during the first session of the Legisla- ture, and as compensation for his services or attentions in
1 Early Hist. Vt., p. 226.
2 Vermont Hist. Mag., p. 176.
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some way, they voted him the "Gore,"- a gore of land, not set off to any towns, in the north part of the State, which ultimately, and before it left his hands, became quite valua- ble. The ministers and councils used to receive accommo- dations and large hospitalities at Capt. Dewey's. He liked to see all things going on in good order, and church matters among the rest. The Rev. Mr. Spaulding and his daugh- ter were his guests, while Mr. Spaulding preached here for a year and more.
His first wife was Eunice Brush, married March, 1766. She died March 7, 1788. His second wife was Mrs. Mary McEowen, and he was her third husband.
Three daughters, Sarah, Ruth, and Betty, married respect- ively Dea. Aaron Hubbell, Capt. Moses Robinson, Jr., and Col. Benjamin Fassett. As will be seen by reference to the notices of these gentlemen, four or five of Capt. Dewey's descendants became preachers of the gospel, - one a deacon in this church, one the wife of a minister of the gospel, and another the wife of a missionary, and as such is now in India, and many of his descendants members of this church.
An anecdote 1 of the Bennington battle connected with Capt. Dewey, and not known to the writer to be in print, is as follows : Benjamin Fay, afterward first sheriff of the county and State, resided at that time in the house now the residence of Norman Crosier, and had in his possession a punch-bowl, an article of British manufacture, on the bot- tom of which was the inscription, "SUCCESS TO BRITISH ARMS." Some of the men (who had just been fighting for victory over British arms, and those hired by Great Britain to keep America in subjection), and Capt. Elijah Dewey with them, passed that way, on their return from the battle, and stopped at Mr. Fay's well to drink. This punch-bowl was brought out for them to drink from. As the bowl, in
1 Related by John Fay.
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MRS. CAPT. ELIJAH DEWEY.
the hands of some one drinking, was turned bottom upward, one of the men espied the inscription, and shouted, " These are tories ; break the bowl; don't let us drink out of it." Capt. Dewey interposed and said, "Tut, tut; no, no! They are all friends here." The bowl is now in the pos- session of John Benjamin Calhoun, the son of Mrs. Sarah Calhoun, who was sister of Benjamin Fay.
ELIJAH DEWEY HUBBELL, a grandson, first son of Deacon Aaron Hubbell, inherited a valuable farm from Captain Dewey. The family also have in their possession a full-length portrait of Captain Dewey, said to be an excel- lent likeness.
The following Bennington battle anecdote is related of MRS. CAPTAIN ELIJAH DEWEY. They kept the tavern, now the Walloomsac ; and she at the time of the battle had large kettles of meat boiling for dinner for the men when they should return from the battle. Captain Isaac Tiche- nor, then a young man, arrived in town late on that day on his business (commissary of the United States), by the way of Lebanon Springs and Williamstown, and stopped at the tavern. He ordered dinner, and was told by Mrs. Dewey he could not have any. He referred to the contents of the kettles boiling on the fire. The spirited reply of Mrs. Dewey was, " That is for the men who have gone to fight for their country, where you ought to be." He quickly explained his business. He had been busy obtaining sup- plies for the army, and had rode hard on horseback all that day to get to Bennington, in the discharge of his duty. Upon learning the facts in the case, Mrs. Dewey relented, and gave the tired commissary some dinner.
MRS. CAPTAIN DEWEY was a remarkably good house- keeper ; an anecdote illustrative of this, told of her, is as follows : A young gentleman, with white pants, was moving around amongst the utensils of her kitchen very circum- 23*
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spectly, for fear of soiling his pants. She spoke up and said, " You need not be afraid of my pots and kettles. They are kept clean outside as well as within."
II. DEACON HEZEKIAH ARMSTRONG and his wife Miriam united with this church in the revival in 1803. He was elected deacon of the church Sept. 6, 1812, and continued in the office until his death, March 4, 1816, aged seventy- one years. He is the first of that name on the roll of the church. He resided in Pleasant Valley, and has numerous descendants. The mother of W. E. Hawks, of North Ben- nington, was daughter of Deacon Hezekiah.
ZEPHANIAH ARMSTRONG, his son, united with the church in March, 1803. Mrs. Catherine, wife of Zephaniah, united with the church March 7, 1824, died May 12, 1862, at the age of eighty-seven. Of a strong constitution, high fore- head, and fair countenance, and possessing great determina- tion ; left a widow at an early age, she reared up a large family, conducting her business with singular energy. She became hopefully pious under Mr. Peters' ministry here. The occasion was the sickness, and hopeful conversion in his sickness, of her youngest son, Hiram, and his death. He had great distress of mind until obtaining peace in Christ. He insisted on seeing Mr. Peters.
MRS. RUTH DICKERSON united with the church March 4, 1827, died Jan. 18, 1868, aged eighty-two ; faithful in her attachment to the church, and in her consistent testimony for Christ ; was daughter of Hopestill Armstrong, and Lyd- ia Haynes, his wife. Their children were Azariah ; Sarah, married Elijah Fillmore ; David; Oliver ; Ruth; Omindia, married Mr. Gerry. Ethan Armstrong, son of David, united with this church Sept. 4, 1841.
The names of JOHN and LEBBEUS ARMSTRONG are on the
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THOMAS HENDERSON.
roll of the military company of 1764. The name Heze- kiah Armstrong is on the list of persons settled here prior to June 1, 1765.1
John and Hezekiah were brothers, and cousins to Hope- still and Lebbeus, who were also brothers. These four came, as early as 1764, from Norwich, Conn., and settled in town, - Hezekiah on the Brimmer place ; Lebbeus on the Lyman Armstrong place ; John on the Dimmick place. They were unmarried when they came. The mother of John and Hezekiah gave them a bed, and directed that whichever of them should be first married should surrender his share of the bed to the other. In the time of the Ben- nington battle Hopestill lived in a log cabin, and was sur- rounded by a wilderness.
III. THOMAS HENDERSON, whose farm was near Irish Corners, united with this church in 1765. He married a daughter of Lieut. James Breakenridge, his next neighbor. His daughter Jennet, a member of this church, married Dr. Noadiah Swift, son of the Rev. Job Swift, D.D. His daughter, Phebe, married Harry Smith, Esq., and after his decease the Rev. J. H. Linsley, D.D. Two of her sons by the first marriage became ministers of the gospel, - the Rev. Albert Smith, D.D., and the Rev. Henry Smith, D.D., Pro- fessor in Lane Theological Seminary. A son by Dr. Linsley, Charles E. Linsley, is a minister of the gospel. Also, the Rev. Abner Henderson was a grandson of Thomas Henderson.
Mr. Henderson was a man of the old Scotch type, - Cal- vinistic, strict in his religious notions, but of amiable dis- position and incorruptible integrity. He threw away an old sword, an heirloom in the family, saying that he was a man of peace.2
1 See Vermont Hist. Mag., articles Bennington and Dorset.
2 Letter of the Rev. C. E. Linsley.
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Lucy and Thena Henderson united with the church in 1803. Lucy Henderson's name is on the diagram as one of the proprietors of pew No. 2, with the Saffords.
IV. THE HARMONS were here at an early date in the his- tory of the town. In the printed list of persons settled in Bennington prior to June 1, 1765, prepared from recollec- tion by Samuel Robinson, Esq.,1 are the names of Barna- bas and Simeon Harmon. The latter name is on the old covenant. It is also among the names of those who united with the Bennington church during the ministry of Mr. Dewey, Aug. 28, 1766 ; together with that of Nathaniel Harmon, united with the church Sept. 6, 1776 ; Daniel Har- mon, united with the church May 30, 1774; and Lucretia Harmon, united with the church May 30, 1774. There are seventeen individuals of this name on the roll of the church for the first century. Silas and Joshua united with the church Jan., 1780. Ezekiel united with the church June 20, 1790. His wife Grace united with the church Sept. 26, 1790. Their daughter Lucretia (wife of Samuel Scott, died 1832) united with the church Jan., 1803, Celinda (wife of James Henry, died Sept. 14, 1865, aged eighty-four) united with the church July, 1803 ; Elizabeth and Rhoda united with the church March, 1803.
Fisk Harmon is a minister of the gospel. He is the son of Austin Harmon, born Aug. 24, 1779, - a respectable citizen, who deceased a few years since at a great age, - and grandson of Austin Harmon, who settled here at an early day, and owned an extensive farm upon the western border of the town, born April 9, 1757.
SIMEON HARMON united with the church Aug. 28, 1766. The following particulars concerning him are stated by a 1 Vermont Hist. Mag.
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DEA. NATHANIEL HARMON.
grandson : 1 "Friday afternoon was set apart for the prayer-meeting at Grandmother Robinson's. He would not allow anything to interfere - leave plough and team, mount one of his colts and present himself in the midst of his be- loved friends, and pray and praise God for one hour, the next hour at home diligently following his plough. . . The last days of his life he travelled from place to place holding religious meetings."
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