USA > Vermont > Addison County > Statistical and historical account of the county of Addison, Vermont > Part 7
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vailing sentiments of these counties, as to the establishment of an independent government.
Soon after ETHAN ALLEN and SETH WARNER returned from the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, they "set off on a journey to the Continental Congress, with the design of procuring pay for the soldiers, under them, and soliciting authority to raise a new regiment in the New Hampshire Grants. In both these objects they were successful." The Congress "recommended to the Pro- vincial Congress of New York, that after consulting General SCHUYLER, they should employ, in the army to be raised for the defence of America, those called 'Green Mountain Boys,' under such officers as the said 'Green Mountain Boys' should choose." ALLEN and WARNER, notwithstanding their outlawry, repaired with the recommendation, to the Congress of New York ; and that body with some delay and reluctanes, resolved that a regiment of Green Mountain Boys should be raised, not exceeding five hundred men, and to consist of seven companies ; who were to choose their own officers, except the field officers. "A lieutenant colonel was to be the highest oficer." The committees of several townships assem- bled at Dorset, and made choice of "SETH WARNER, lieutenant colonel and SAMUEL SAFFORD for major."
"Knowing the value of Colone! ALLEN's experience and activity, General SCHUYLER persuaded him to remain in the army, chiefly with a view of acting as a pioneer among the Canadians."* On the 24th of September, 1775, in an attempt to capture Montreal, with a small body of troops, he was taken prisoner through the failure of Major Brows to co-operate with him, as agreed between them.
By virtue of his election as lieutenant colonel, WARNER prompt- ly raised his regiment, and joined the forces under General ScHUY- LER, in the invasion of Canada, and performed very active and useful services. But neither he or his officers had received their commissions from the government of New York. On the 16th day of September, 1775, General MONTGOMERY commanding the
* SPARK's Memoir of ETHAN ALLEN.
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forces, which were beseiging St. John's, " issued an order appoint- ing WARNER colonel of a regiment of Green Mountain Rangers, requiring that he should be obeyed as such." This, it is presumed, was designed only as a temporary appointment, and on the 20th day of November following, on account of the destitute condition of his troops, General MONTGOMERY discharged them, and they re- turned home. But WARNER was not long permitted to remain in- active. In January, 1776, he received a letter from General WOOSTER, after the defeat of the Americans at Quebec, commend- ing him and his " valiant Green Mountain Boys," in which he says, " let me beg of you to raise as many men as you can, and have them in Canada with the least possible delay, to remain till we can have relief from the Colonics. You will see that proper officers are appointed under you," and promises, that lis troops should " have the same pay as the Continental troops." WARNER promptly complied with the request, and he and his troops were in Canada in a very short time, and remained there until the retreat of the American army. Through the hostility of the government of New York toward the Green Mountain Boys, or for some other culpable cause, he had received no commission, and he and his troops performed those services as volunteers. "Congress, on the 5th day of July, 1776, resolved to raise a regiment out of the troops who had served with so much reputation in Canada, to be commanded by a lieutenant colonel. WARNER was accordingly appointed lieutenant colonel and SAMUEL SAFTORD, major." *
No event had more decided tendency to strengthen the cause of the Green Mountain Boys, and encourage them to hope that Con- gress would finally recognize their independence, or to exasperate the people and government of New York. than the raising of this regiment, separate from and independant of that government. Com- plaints were made by the Yorkers on the Grants, that this measure rendered their condition more uncomfortable and hopeless ; and the government of New York sent frequent remonstrances to Congress, demanding that the regiment should be disbanded.
* D. CatPurAN's Memoir of WARNER.
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In the meantime, reports were in circulation, that a considerable number of the members of Congress, were in favor of admitting Vermont into the Union, as an independent State. On the 11th day of April 1777, THOMAS YOUNG, of Philadelphia, an ardent friend, wrote a letter to the inhabitants, that after learning "the minds of several of the leading members," he could assure them, that they had nothing to do but to choose delegates to a convention, who should choose delegates to the General Congress, and form a constitution for the State." And he added, as a reason, why noth- ing more had been done in their behalf, " until you incorporate, and actually announce to Congress your having become a body poli- tic, they cannot treat you as a free State "
In the meantime measures had been taken preparatory to a dec- laration of independence. and at an adjourned mecting of the con- vention, held at Westminster, on the 15th day of January, 1777, composed of delegates from all the Counties, a formal declaration was adopted, " that the district of territory, known by the name and description of the New Hampshire Grants, of right ought to be, and is hereby declared forever hereafter, to be considered as a free and independent jurisdiction or State, by the name of New Con- necticut, alias Vermont." And at a meeting of the convention afterwards, on the 4th day of June following, it was resolved that the State should be called Vermont. JONAS FAY, THOMAS CHIT- TENDEN, HEMAN ALLEN, and REUBEN JONES were appointed a com- mittee to present to congress the above declaration, with the reasons which induced it.
In pursuance of the advice of Mr. Yousa, the delegates who had been chosen for that purpose, met at Windsor, on the 2d day of July 1777, and adopted a constitution, fixed a time for the choice and meeting of the legislature under it, and appointed a committee of safety to act in the meantime. The session of the convention was closed in haste, occasioned by the news of the invasion of the country by a formidable force under General BURGOYNE; and by reason of that event and the movements which followed, notice for the election and meeting of the legislature was not seasonably given. The con- vention was therefore again called together, revised the constitution,
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and appointed the second Thursday of March 1778, for the meeting of the Assembly. Mr. YouNa had recommended the new consti- tution of Pennsylvania, providing for a single legislative body, with some alteration of the powers of the governor's council. This rec- ommendation was adopted. But the people of Pennsylvania soon be- came dissatisfied with their constitution, and added a senate to the legislature. Ours remained with little alteration until the year 1835, when it was also amended so as to provide for a senate.
Against all these proceedings the New York government sent to Congress their remonstrances. On the other hand, the Green Moun- .tain Boys, continued to urge their claims to be acknowledged as an independent State, and to be admitted into the Union. They claimed, that in declaring their independence, they only imitated the example of the Continental Congress ; that the colonies were oppressed by the British government, and they had been oppressed by the New York government ; that all the civil and political insti- tutions of the country, which had been established under the author- ity of the crown of Great Britain, had been dissolved by their sep- aration from that government, and so far as the government was concerned, all were reduced to a state of nature, and were left to form such government as they might choose; and that, in this re- spect, the people of Vermont were in the same condition as the other territories, and had the same right to establish their own gov- ernment. As early as the 15th of May 1776, and before the dec- laration of American independence, the Continental Congress, re- cognizing the disorganized state of the country, and the propriety of a legal organization, before the adoption of such declaration, had "resolved, that it be recommended to the respective assemblies and conventions of the United Colonies, where no government, sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs, has been hitherto established, to adopt such government as shall, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and the safety of their constituents in particular, and America in general."
But Congress was placed in an embarrassing and delicate position, "between two fires." They saw the danger of irritating either party. Their proceedings were therefore vacillating in the extremo.
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What they did at one time was undone at the next; and no final decision was ever adopted by that body.
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In the meantime the Vermonters continued to adopt measures to reduce the government to system and order, in its operations over all parts of the State. The inhabitants were also becoming, not only accustomed to, but satisfied with, its operation. The settle- ment of the State and its population were rapidly increasing and adding strength to the government, and the claims of New York were thereby becoming every year more hopeless, and the condi- tion of the friends of that government more uncomfortable.
ETHAN ALLEN, who had been captured in Canada in 1775, and held by the British a prisoner of war, being exchanged and re- leased in May, 1778, soon returned home and resumed his posi- tion as leader of all the active operations of the State.
The government of Vermont did not hesitate to extend its juris- diction and authority over the adherents of New York, as well as others. There still remained in Brattleborough, Guilford, and other towns in Windham county, in the year 1779, many individuals of this class, who endeavored to oppose the proceedings of Vermont. These were taxed and drafted into service as others, and "a sum of money was assessed on those who were supposed to have done least in the war." Some "acquicseed in it rather than contend." Among other acts, the Vermont party, in the spring of that year "ordered Capt. JAMES CLAY, Lieut. BENJAMIN WILSON" and another, who were militia officers appointed by New York, "to provide a man to go into the service." But they failing to obey the order, two of their cows were seized, and ordered to be sold, to pay the man hired by the Vermonters. On the day appointed for the sale, Colonel PATTERSON, who commanded the regiment of militia under New York, with his " field officers and a considerable part of the regiment," assembled and rescued the cattle, and delivered them to the owners. Within a week or two, ETEAN ALLEN, with an armed body of troops, appeared there and arrested and imprisoned Colonel PATTERSON, and nearly all the officers of the regiment.
The legislature of Vermont, at their session in February, 1781, passed "a general act of amnesty in favor of such persons," who
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had opposed its authority. Upon which those persons submitted to the authority of the State, and took the oath of allegiance. After- wards, the legislature, for the defence of the frontiers, ordered "a quota of men to be raised in the several towns throughout the State." And thereupon the same "disaffected persons," " in the town and vicinage of Guilford, in the southern part of the County of Wind- ham " raised a formidable opposition " to the raising and paying of them," and for the purpose of aiding the opposition, the govern- ment of New York appointed several of the disaffected persons to " civil and military offices," who undertook to use the laws of the State of New York over the citizens of this State. Upon which ETHAN ALLEN, at the head of a military force was sent by order of the governor "to assist the sheriff of Windham County, in the execution of the laws." TIMOTHY PHELPS, sheriff, TIMOTHY CHURCH, colonel, and more than one hundred civil and military officers and privates, were arrested and brought before the courts, and five of them were sentenced to banishment, and confiscation of property, and others to fines and imprisonment.
These proceedings were occasions for new appeals from Governor CLINTON to Congress for their speedy and efficient interference. On occasion of the latter proceeding, Congress, on the 5th day of December, 1782, adopted resolutions, condemning, in severe terms, the action of Vermont, and among other things, requiring the peo- ple of that State, "without delay to make full and ample restitu- tion . to TIMOTHY CHURCH, TIMOTHY PHELPS, HENRY EVANS, WILLIAM SHATTUCK, and such others as have been condemned to banishment, or confiscation of estate, or have been otherwise de- prived of property," "and that they be not molested in their per- sons or properties, on their return to their habitations in the said district."
These resolutions were answered in a very spirited letter from Governor CHITTENDEN, denying the authority of Congress to in- terfere in the internal proceedings of Vermont, containing a very able argument in justification of their measures, and promptly re- fusing to obey the requirement of Congress. The General Assem-
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bly also adopted a letter to Congress, embracing more concisely the same sentiments.
These are among the last acts of interference, in the affairs of Vermont, on the part of Congress, or the New York government. The legislature of that State, on the first day of March, 1786, thought proper to make the compensation, which Vermont had re- fused, to the last mentioned sufferers ; and granted them a township of land in the county of Chenango, eight miles square, named Clinton, now Bainbridge.
In the meantime the people of Vermont, with quiet and undis- turbed prosperity, continued to press forward in their career of separate and independent existence, with increasing indifference to the hostility or favor of any exterior power. At length on the 15th day of July, 1789, the legislature of New York, tired of the fruitless controversy, giving up all hope of reducing the territory to her jurisdiction, and desirous, it is said, of increasing the north- ern influence in Congress, which Vermont might bring, passed an act appointing commissioners, with full power to acknowledge her independence, and settle all existing controversies. On the 22d of October following, the legislature of Vermont appointed commissioners on their part with similar powers .* On the 7th of October, 1790, the commissioners agreed upon the boundaries and the terms of settlement ; that Verinent should be admitted into the Union, and on sach admission all claims to jurisdiction on the part of New York, should cease, and as a compensation to those, who claimed lands under New York. Vermont should pay thirty thou- sand dollars. On the Esth of the same month, the legislature of Vermont passed an act, accepting the boundaries and settlement, and agreeing to pay 880,000. On the 10th of January, 1791, a convention of delegates chosen for the purpose, passed and sub- scribed a resolution, "approving, assenting to and ratifying" the
* The commissioners appointed on the part of New York were POBERT YATES, JOHN LANSING, JE., GULIES VERPLANS, BIMEON DEW ITT, EGBERT BENSON, and MELANCIEN SMITH, and on the part of Vermont, ISAAC TICHENOR, STEPHEN R. BRADLEY, NATHANIEL CHIPMAN, ELIJAH PUISE, IBA ALLEN, STEPHEN JACOB and IS. ALL SMITH.
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Constitution of the United States ; and on the 18th day of Februa- ry of that year, Congress passed an act, "that on the 4th day of March " following, " the State of Vermont shall be received and admitted into the Union, as a new and entire member of the United States of America."
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CHAPTER VIII.
INCIDENTS OF THE WAR IN THE COUNTY OF ADDISGN.
THE revolutionary war, which had been ended, some years before Vermont was admitted to the Union, furnished but few incidents, which can properly constitute a part of the history of Addison County. Very few permanent settlements had been made in the county before its commencement. It is said that JAMES MCINTOSH, a Scotchman, commenced a settlement in territory now in the city of Vergennes, in the year 1766; and other settlements were made on the creek above the falls in New Haven, now Waltham, as early as 1769. Col. JOHN CHIPMAN, in 1766 made a small clear- ing on his farm in Middlebury, but did not return to it, with his family, until 1773; and in the latter ycar several other families were settled in that town. And it is said that in the charter limits of Middlebury, there were thirteen families, and in that part of Cornwall, afterwards annexed to Middlebury, eight families, before the war. Col. PHILIP STONE commenced preparation for a settle- ment on the border of the lake in Bridport in 1768, and several other families were settled in that town before the war. JOHN CHARTIER also commenced some improvements, on the south end of Mount Independence in Orwell some years before the war, but no permanent settlements, we believe, were made in that town until after the war. As stated on a previous page, JOILY STRONG, ZADOC EVEREST, DAVID VALLANCE, BENJAMIN KELLOGG, and probably a few others, had made preparations for a settlement, on the borders of the lake in Addison, in 1765. and took posses- sion with their families in 1766. The late SQUIRE FIRRIS, of Vergennes, in a statement made to PHILIP C. TUCKER, Esq., to which we have referred elsewhere, says that his father, Pr TER
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FERRIS, came to and settled on the shore of the lake in Panton, in 1765. Mr. FERRIS, and his wife came through the woods from Bennington County, on horse back, he carrying his son SQUIRE then two years old in his arms; and that there were then no settle- ments on the lake, and that the nearest, and only neighbors were the British garrison at Crown Point. A few other families were settled there before the war. The first settlements, by families, in Whiting and Leicester, were in 1773, in Cornwall and Monkton in 1774; in Weybridge, and in that part of New Haven, since annexed to Weybridge, in 1775. In no other towns in the County had perma- nent settlements been made at that time; and in the towns men- tioned, the number of families was small.
After the retreat of the American troops from the disastrous ex- pedition into Canada, in 1776, and especially after General BUR- GOYNE, in 1777, with his formidable army, came up the lake, sweeping away every resistance before him, a large proportion of the settlers deserted their farms, and removed to places of greater safety at the south. The lake and its forts being in possession of the British, the whole country lying opposite was exposed to ma- rauding and foraging parties of British, Indians and tories, who plundered and carried off all such moveable property as was left behind and desired by them. And in 1777, while the British were in quiet possession of the forts, before the surrender of BUR- GOYNE in October of that year, several of the men were taken captive ; and such as remained in captivity until the occurrence of that event were then released. The family of Col. STONE, living on the lake shore, in Bridport, was, among others in that region, frequently annoyed by bodies of Indians, who visited them for plunder. But as they did not generally, molest the women and children, except for plunder, he kept out of the way and remained safe for some time. But in October 1777, having been falsely charged by a tory, as being concerned in burning his house, a British vessel in the lake sent a boat on shore, captured him and carried him a prisoner to Ticonderoga, where he was confined about three weeks, and until the fort was evacuated after the surrender of BURGOYNE.
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SAMUEL BLODGETT. a son of ASA BLODGETT, an early settler in Cornwall, now Middlebury, had built him a log house, just over the present line between Middlebury and Cornwall, where he resided many years afterwards. About the same time, in 1777, a scouting party came upon him and took him prisoner, tied him to a tree, and threatened to burn him. But being a freemason, he made himself known to the British officer commanding the party, who was also a mason, and he was released and taken to Ticonderoga, where ho was set to work with a team.
At the same time JAMES BENTLEY senior, who had settled in. Middlebury, and his daughter were at the house of BLODGETT, and to escape from the Indians, he crawled into a hollow log, and the women threw brush over the entrance and so effectually concealed him, that he escaped.
The following account of the capture of ELDAD ANDREWS, taken in 1777, at the same time as SAMUEL BLODGETT, was furnished by Mr. RUFUS MEAD, who obtained it from those who received it di- rectly from Mr. ANDREWS :
ELDAD ANDREWS, one of the first three settlers in Cornwall, was taken by Indians, and carried across the lake. The savages came to his house, while he was in the field at work ; finding Mrs. A. en- gaged in making cheese they devoured the curd and everything eat- able in the house, without committing any personal violence. Leav- ing the house, they captured Mr. A. and took him to Ticonderoga. He was at length released and an Indian deputed to row him across the lake. Mr. A. had not gone far before he discovered the Indian on his trail, and the conclusion was that the Indian coveted his scalp. He made no sign however, but armed himself with a heavy club. As twilight came on, he passed a deep ravine, in going into which he passed over a large fallen tree, and laid down behind it concealed. His pursuer was soon standing over him on the log. ANDREWS was a man of great physical strength, and did not give the savage a long time to ascertain his whereabouts. when with a heavy blow with his club on the side of his head, he leveled the Indian, and marched home without further molestation, and without inquiring the fate of his pursuer.
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JOSHUA GRAVES and his son JESSE GRAVES, while hoeing corn on the bank of the creek in Salisbury, on the farm since owned by the late JOSEPH SMITH, on which they were among the carliest set- tlers in that town, were captured at the same time by about two hundred Indians. The widow of JOSEPH SMITH was a daughter of the younger, and grand-daughter of the older, GRAVES; and the farm has ever remained in the family. The captives were taken to the settlement of JEREMIAH PARKER in Leicester, where he and his son, JEREMIAH PARKER, Jun. were also captured, and all the pris- oners were taken to Ticonderoga. The two elder captives were soon released; but the two younger were detained prisoners, on board a vessel, for three weeks, until there was time to send to Canada and get a return.
ASA BLODGETT, father of SAMUEL BLODGETT, above mentioned, who had settled on the creek in the south part of Cornwall, and re- mained after the general retreat of the inhabitants, was taken pris- oner also by the Indians. Ilis captors placed him on a stump, with a rope around his neck, the end of which was thrown over the limb of a tree. He remained in this position for some time, expecting instant death, with which the Indians threatened him; but he was afterwards released. The facts we have stated relating to the cap- ture of ASA and SAMUEL BLODGETT, and the escape of BENTLEY, were received from the late ABRAHAM WILLIAMSON of Cornwall, and his wife, who was a daughter of SAMUEL BLODGETT.
But the most serious and extensive depredations, on the inhabit- ants of the County were committed in the fall of 1778. In the early part of November in that year, a large British force came up the lake in several vessels. and thoroughly scoured the country on both sides. Such of the men as had the temerity to remain on their farms until that time they took prisoners, plundered, burnt, and de- stroyed their property of every description, leaving the women and children to take care of themselves as they could, in their houseless and destitute condition. Not a town in the County, where any set- tlements had been made, escaped their ravages. The only building in Middlebury, not wholly destroyed. except two or three in the southeast part of the town, which they scom not to have found, was
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a barn of Col. JOHN CHIPMAN, which had been lately built of green timber, which they could not set on fire and which they tried in vain with their imperfect tools to cut down. The marks of their hatchets, on the timbers, are still to be seen.
As there are no public documents or history, within our know- ledge which give any general account of these proceedings, in other towns, and all the persons concerned in the transactions are supposed to be dead, we have collected information from such sources as were in our power ; and instead of condensing it into a continuous narra- tive, we choose to give it as we have received it from the several sources.
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