New Horizons Genealogy

"Specializing in New England and New York Colonial American Ancestry"


Bennington Vermont Biographies

Bennington Vermont Biographies of early settlers, copied from the Vermont Historical Gazetteer, by Abby Maria Hemenway.


Try our genealogy search engine


Introductory

The following Biographical Sketches embrace only deceased persons who were inhabitants of Bennington. Those deceased individuals who were considered most prominent in their professional characters have been mentioned under the respective heads of Ecclesiastical history, Physicians and Attorneys at Law. These sketches are necessarily mere skeleton notices. If time and space had permitted, most of these might have been made much more interesting and instructive by fuller and more characteristic details.

Although living residents of the town have been excluded from our biographical notices, it may not perhaps be improper to mention the names of some individuals who were natives or descendants of Bennington inhabitants, who have acquired distinction abroad. Those of missionaries have been already named in our account of ecclesiastical affairs.

Among the natives of this town may be mentioned ANN C. LYNCH of literary and poetic celebrity, now the wife of Professor Botta of New York. The distinguished clergyman and orator Ray. E. H. CHAPIN is a son of Bennington.

THEODORE S. FAY a popular author and now resident minister of the United States in Switzerland, is a descendant of Stephen Fay, and by the female line of the Rev. Jedediah Dewey two of the early prominent inhabitants of this town.

The father of PRESIDENT FILLMORE (Nathaniel Fillmore) was born in Bennington April 19, 1771. He married here and emigrated to Western New York about the year 1798, and is still living at Aurora, Eric Co. Nathaniel Fillmore, the grandfather of the President, an early and reputable inhabitant of this town was Ensign in Capt. Dewey's company in the battle of Bennington. One of his sons and many of his descendants are still living in town.

The parents of the HON. KINSLEY SCOTT BINGHAM, formerly Governor of Michigan and now Senator in Congress from that state, were both natives of Bennington, the mother being a sister of the late. Col. Martin Scott, who lost his life in the Mexican war.

The HON. REUBEN H. WALWORTH, late Chancellor of New York, once had his residence in this town.

JOHN LOVETT who was aid to Gen. Stephen Van Rensselaer on the Niagara frontier in the war of 1812, and afterwards until 1817 a member of Congress from the Albany district, a man of decided talent, resided in this town as a merchant for 3 or 4 years ending in 1807, when he removed to Albany. He was a graduate of Yale College and had also studied the profession of law. He was not successful as a merchant, but is kindly remembered here for his interesting and amusing conversational powers and his genial wit. One of his brief poetic effusions, exhibiting a coarse phase of human vanity, has come down to us as follows:

I sing the Indian, great Bob Konkepot
That used to swear he'd rather fight than not,
'Cause't made folks talk Konkepot
Great much, great deal, —
Dis make Bob Kenkepot great man, big feel.

There are doubtless other natives or descendents of Bennington who might properly be noticed here.


SAMUEL ROBINSON, SENIOR

CAPT. SAMUEL ROBINSON was born at Cambridge, Mass., in 1705, removed to Hardwick about 1735, and emigrated to Bennington in 1761, the acknowledged leader of the band of pioneers in the settlement of the town; and he continued to exercise almost a controlling authority in the affairs of the town during the remainder of his life. He had served as Captain in the troops of Massachusetts in the French war during several campaigns and was at the head of his company in the battle of Lake George, September 1755, when the French were defeated by Generals Johnson and Lyman. He was commissioned as Justice of the Peace by Gov. Wentworth of New Hampshire Feb. 8, 1762, being the first person appointed to any judicial office within the limits of this State.

In the summer of 1764 a controversy in regard to jurisdiction arose in Pownal between claimants under New Hampshire, and others under New York, in which the authority of Esquire Robinson as a magistrate seems to have been invoked. Mr. Robinson being at Pownal was together with Samuel Ashley a New Hampshire sheriff's deputy and two other persons arrested by the New York sheriff and his assistants and carried to Albany jail. This collision of officers produced a correspondence between the Governors of the two provinces, which appears to have resulted in a sort of compromise by which Mr. Robinson and those with him were released on moderate or nominal bail, and though indicted for resisting the New York officers, were never brought to trial.

In December 1765 when it was ascertained by the settlers under New Hampshire that their lands were being granted from under them by Lieut. Gov. Colden, Mr. Robinson was deputed by those of Bennington and the neighboring towns to go to New York for the purpose of trying to persuade him to save their possessions from the grasp of the city speculators, but his efforts were unavailing. He was the next year appointed by the whole body of the settlers and claimants, their agent to repair to England and present their petitions for relief to the king. He left for England late in the fall of 1766 and reached London early in February following. In conjunction with William Samuel Johnson, then in London as the agent of the Colony of Connecticut, and with the aid of "the Society for the Propogation of the gospel in Foreign Parts," he so far procured the ear of the crown that Lord Shelburne on the 11th of April 1757 addressed a letter to Sir Henry Moore, who had then become governor of the province of New York, forbidding him in the most positive terms from making any new grants of lands in the disputed territory, and from molesting any person in possession under a New Hampshire title. On the 20th of July following, upon a hearing before the king in council an order in council was made prohibiting the governor of New York, "under pain of his majesty's highest displeasure," from making any such new grants. While Mr. Robinson was still prosecuting the business of his mission, he unfortunately took the small pox and died in Landon October 27, 1767.

Mr. Johnson in communicating the intelligence of his decease to his widow under date of Nov. 2 1767, says of him: "He is much lamented by his friends and acquaintances, which were many. You may rest assured no care or expense was spared for his comfort and to save his life, had it been consistent with the designs of Providence. After his death as the last act of friendship to his memory, I took care to furnish him a decent funeral at which General Lyman and other gentlemen here from America attended with me as mourners. He is intered in the burial ground belonging to Mr. Whitfield's church, where he usually attended public worship."

Capt. Robinson was an intelligent enterprising and energetic man of exemplary moral and religious character, and well suited to be the leader of a band of emigrants to a new country. His loss was deeply felt and de­plored by the whole body of settlers on the New Hampshire Grants. Capt. Robinson left six sons and three daughters who were all born at Hardwick, all emigrated to Bennington, and all became heads of families. His descendants are very numerous, some of them are to be found in almost every state and territory in the Union. Of the sons Leonard, the oldest and Silas, the fourth, removed from Bennington to Franklin Co., and died there. Marcy, the eldest daughter married Joseph, son of Deacon Joseph Safford, Sarah, the second daughter married Benjamin son of Stephen Fay, and after his death Gen. Heman Swift of Cornwall Connecticut. Anna, the youngest married Isaac Webster of Bennington. The other children were Samuel, Moses, David and Jonathan, who will require separate notices.


COL. SAMUEL ROBINSON

COL. SAMUEL ROBINSON, son of Samuel Robinson, Senior, was born at Hardwick, Mass., Aug. 15, 1738, was one of the first company of settlers who came to Bennington in 1761, married Esther, daughter of Dea. Joseph Safford, and died in Bennington May 3. 1813. He was an active man in the New York controversy and in the other early affairs of the town; in 1768 was chosen town committee in place of his father deceased, commanded one of the Bennington companies of militia in Bennington battle, performed other important military services during the war, and rose to the rank of Colonel. In 1777 and 1778 he had charge as "overseer," of the tory prisoners and in 1779 and 1780 represented the town in the General Assembly and was for three yearn a member of the Board of War. He was the first justice of the peace appointed in town, under the authority of Vermont in 1778, and was also during the same year one of the judges of the Special Court for the South Shire of the County, and in that capacity sat on the trial and conviction of Redding. Col. Robinson was a man of good natural abilities and of much activity and enterprise in early life; upright and honorable in all his dealings, possessing undoubted personal courage, and beloved by all for the kindness, generosity and nobleness of his nature and conduct. He left numerous worthy and respectable descendants, some of whom reside in this town, and others in different parts of this and the United States.


GOV. MOSES ROBINSON

MOSES ROBINSON, son of Samuel, Senior, was born at Hardwick, Mass., March 26, 1741, married Mary, daughter of Stephen Fay, and after her death Susanah Howe; and died at Bennington May 20, 1813. He was chosen Town Clerk at the first meeting of the town March 1762, and held the office 19 years until March 1782. In the early part of 1777 he was Colonel of the militia and was at the head of his regiment at Mount Independence on its evacuation by Gen. St. Clair. He then became a member of the Council of Safety, which held continued sessions for several months afterwards, and was succeeded in his military rank by Col. Nathaniel Brush of Ben­nington. On the first organization of the Supreme Court in 1778 he was appointed Chief Justice; which office he held (with the exception of one year) until 1789, when there being no choice of Governor by the people be was elected by the Legislature to that office, but was succeeded the next year by Thomas Chittenden, the former governor. He had in 1782, attended the Continental Congress as one of the agents of Vermont and on the adjustment of the controversy with New York was in January 1791 elected one of the Senators to Congress, (Stephen R. Bradley, being the other.) Gov. Robinson was a political friend of Jefferson and Madison, and when in Congress united with them in their favorable views of the French revolution and government, and in their hostility to Jay's treaty with England. He not only voted against the treaty in the Senate in June 1795, but after its ratification by that body, was instrumental in procuring its condemnation by a Bennington town meeting, and by a convention of the county, in order, in connexion with similar demonstrations in other parts of the country, to induce Congress to withhold the necessary appropriations for carrying the treaty into effect. In June 1791 Mr. Jefferson, then Secretary of State and Mr Madison a member of the House of Representatives, in making a horseback tour through New England, stopped in Bennington and spent the Sabbath with Gov. Robinson, who had then been recently elected to the Senate. Gov. Robinson was a zealously pious man and scrupulously exact in the performance of his religions duties, while his visitors, especially Mr. Jefferson, were accused of not only sympathising with the French republicans in politics, but also in religion, or rather in the want of it. This visit of these distinguished gentlemen, in connex­ion with the subsequent political course of Gov. Robinson was afterwards made the occasion of sundry newspaper squibs of the opposite party, particularly in reference to his intercourse with his guests during the Sabbath. According to one of them, Gov. Robinson, who was a little proud (as Bennington people are still apt to be) of the performance of the choir of singers, insisted upon having their opinion upon its merits and especially how it compared with the church music in other places, upon which it was said both of them were obliged to confess, that they were no judges of the matter, neither of them having attended church before in several years!

Another rather characteristic story was told of him by his political opponents. It ran in this wise: At the close of the session of Congress in which he had voted against the appropriations for Jay's treaty and had given other votes which it was thought indicated hostility towards Washington's administration, he rode on his way home from Philadelphia in a carriage in company with a portion of the Connecticut delegates, among whom was Uriah Tracy, then a member of the house, long noted for the sarcastic keenness of his wit. In the course of the journey to New York, Governor Robinson as was his wont fell to discoursing upon religious matters and particularly upon doctrinal points, insisting with great earnestness upon the truth of the doctrine of total depravity. Tracy's patience being somewhat tried he suddenly broke in upon him with the question "Gov. Robinson do you think you are totally depraved." The Governor appeared somewhat confused, but after a little hesitation felt obliged to answer that be thought he was. To which Tracy promptly replied "I know that your friends have thought so for some time past, and I am glad you have become sensible of it yourself." This sharp reply is said to have changed the subject of conversation. Gov. Robinson though sustained in his political views by his neighbors of the town and county, found himself in a minority in the state, and accordingly resigned his office of Senator in October 1796, a few months before the expiration of his term, and was succeeded by Isaac Tichenor. He represented the town in the General Assembly in 1802, and was not afterwards in public life.

Gov. Robinson was a man of exemplary moral and religious character, intelligent and upright in the performance of all his duties, both as a public man and private citizen, always possessing the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He died May 26, 1813, in the 73d year of his age, and was extensively lamented.

By his first wife, Mary Fay, Governor Robinson left six sons, Moses, the eldest was a member of the Council in 1814 and was several times in 1820 and afterwards representative of the town in the General Assembly. He died January 30, 1825, aged 62. Aaron, the second son, was Town Clerk seven years, in 1815 and afterwards, a justice of the peace 23 years, a representative to the Assembly in 1816 and 1817, and Judge of Probate in 1835 and 1836, and died in 1850, aged 83. Samuel Robinson, the third son was clerk of the Supreme Court for the County, from 1794 to 1815. He died January 7, 1820, aged 53. Nathan Robinson, another son, was a lawyer by profession; represented the town in 1803 and died Sept, 27, 1812, aged 40. The other sons were Elijah and Fay.


GENERAL DAVID ROBINSON

GEN. DAVID ROBINSON (son of Samuel Senior) was born at Hardwick, Mass., Nov. 22, 1754, and came to Bennington with his father in 1761. He was in the battle of Bennington as a private in the militia and afterwards rose by regular promotion to the rank of Major General, which office he resigned about 1817. He was Sheriff of the County for 22 years ending in 1811, when he was appointed United States Marshall for the Vermont district, which office he held for 8 years until 1819. Gen. Robinson was a very active energetic man, and well fitted for the executive offices he was called upon to fill. He sustained through life an unexceptionable moral and religious character, and died. Dec. 12, 1843, at the advanced age of 89.

By his wife Sarah, a daughter of Stephen Fay, he had three sons who became heads of families, viz: David, a lawyer by profession, who died in March 1858, aged 81, Stephen who was successively a member of the Assembly, for several years, a Judge of the County Court, and a member of the Council of Censors in 1834, and died in 1852, aged 71, and Heman, who died Feb. 26, 1837, aged 50.

The two latter left numerous descendants.


JUDGE JONATHAN ROBINSON

JUDGE JONATHAN ROBINSON (the youngest son of Samuel Senior) was born at Hardwick, Mass., Aug. 11, 1756, and same to Bennington as one of his father's family, in 1761. He was admitted to the bar in June 179? and was early in public life; was Town Clerk 6 years from 1795, represented the town 13 years prior to 1802, was chief judge of the Supreme Court from 1801 to 1807, when he was chosen Senator to Congress to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Israel Smith then elected governor of the state, and was also Senator for the succeeding term of 6 years which expired March 3, 1815. In October 1815 he became Judge of Probate and held the office for 4 years, and in 1818 again represented the town in the General Assembly. He died Nov. 3, 1819 in the 64th year of his age.

Judge Robinson was a man of pleasant and insinuating address, and by his talent and political shrewdness occupied a leading position in the republican party of the State for many years. While in the Senate be was understood to have the ear and confidence of President Madison, and to have a controlling influence in the distribution of the army and other patronage of the administration within this state, which in consequence of the war with England was then very great.

He married Mary, daughter of John Fassett, Senior — His children were Jonathan E. who was a lawyer by profession, was Town Clerk 9 years, Judge of the County Court in 1828 and died April 27, 1831, Henry, who was successively paymaster in the army, Clerk in the Pension office, Brigadier General of the Militia and for 10 years Clerk of the County and Supreme Court, and died in 1856; a daughter, Mary married to Col. O. C. Merrill, but now deceased, and another son Isaac T. Robinson, is still living in Bennington.


GOV. JOHN S. ROBINSON

GOV. JOHN S. ROBINSON was son of Nathan and grandson of Gov. Moses Robinson, and was born at Bennington, Nov. 10, 1804. His great grandfather, Samuel Robinson, served several campaigns as captain of Massachusetts troops, in the vicinity of lakes George and Champlain, in the French war which terminated in the conquest of Canada; was leader of the band of pioneers in the settlement of Bennington, and died in 1767 in London, while on a mission to implore the aid of the crown in behalf of the New Hampshire settlers, against the oppressions of the New York government.

Mr. Robinson, the subject of this brief notice, graduated at Williams College, in 1824, was admitted to the Bennington County Bar, in 1827, and was in the active practice of his profession in his native town during the remainder of his life.

He was twice elected a representative of Bennington in the General Assembly; was twice a member of the State Senate, and in 1853, on the failure of an election of Governor by the people, he was chosen to that office by joint ballot of the two houses. Mr. Robinson belonged to the Democratic party, and was frequently supported by his political friends for Member of Congress, Governor and other important offices, but his party being generally in the minority, he was unsuccessful except as before stated.

In April, 1860, he attended the National Democratic Convention at Charleston, South Carolina, was Chairman of the delegation from Vermont, and died in that city, of apoplexy, on the 24th of that month.

The legal attainments and high order of talent of Mr. Robinson placed him at an early day in the front rank of his profession, which position he always maintained. Generous of heart, amiable in disposition, and with integrity undoubted, he, by his uniform courtesy and kindness, endeared himself to all with whom he had business or intercourse. His remains were brought for interment to his native town, where his funeral was attended by the members of the bar in a body, as mourners, and by a large concourse of acquaintances and friends — an impressive funeral discourse being delivered by President Hopkins, with whom he had received his college education.

Gov. Robinson was married to Julietta Staniford, in October, 1847, then widow of Wm. Robinson, who survives him. He left no children.


CAPT. JOHN FASSETT AND FAMILY

CAPT. JOHN FASSETT AND FAMILY. Among the settlers in Bennington of 1761, was the family of John Fassett, at whose house the first town meeting was held in March 1762. He resided about half a mile south of the meeting house near what has been lately known as the Doctor Swift place. He kept a tavern and the town meetings were at the house of "John Fassett Innholder" until 1767, when they were at the meeting house. In October 1764, Mr. Fassett was chosen Captain of the first military company formed in the town, by which title he was afterwards distinguished. He was one of the two representatives of the town chosen to the first state legislature which was in March 1778. He died at Bennington Aug. 12, 1794, in the 75th year of his age. He had a numerous family of children, among whom were the following, viz:

John Fassett, Jr. was born at Hardwick, June 3, 1743, came to Bennington with his father in 1761, married Hannah, daughter of Dea. Joseph Safford, and removed to Cambridge, Vt., in 1784, where he died. He was one of the two representatives from Arlington in 1778, and was elected one of the Council in 1779, which office he held with the exception of the years 1785 and 1786, until 1795 and he was also a Judge of the Supreme Court for 8 years from 1778 to 1786. He was father of Elias Fassett who was Colonel of the 30th Regiment of United States Infantry in the war of 1812. Col. Benjamin Fassett was born at Hardwick, and came to Bennington with his father Capt. John Fassett, in 1761. He was a Commissary in the war of the revolution, and served in other capacities in military and civil life, was an active business man and died in Bennington many years since leaving numerous descendants.


STEPHEN FAY

STEPHEN FAY came from hardwick to Bennington about the year 1766, kept a public house in the center of the town, known in the language of the time as "Landlord Fays." The house built by him is still standing and occupied by his grandson Samuel Fay. It was the usual place of meeting of the settlers in their early contest with the Yorkers, and known as their head quarters. Ethan Allen made it his home for a great portion of the time for several years from 1770, when he first came to the New Hampshire grants. Mr. Fay occupied an influential position among the early inhabitants of the town, and died in 1781. He had ten children in the order of their ages as follows, viz:

John, the eldest who was killed in Bennington Battle Aug. 16, 1777, aged 43. He left a widow and children and many of his descendants are now living in the northern part of this State. Jonas, the second son; Stephen, who died at Charlestown, Mass. Mary, married to Gov. Moses Robinson; Sarah, married to Gen. David Robinson; Elijah died in Bennington July 5, 1835, aged 85; Beulah married to Samuel Billings of Bennington; Benjamin, born Nov. 22, 1750, was the first Sheriff appointed in the County and State and held the office from March 26, 1778 until October 1781, and died in 1786. He left several children among whom was Samuel Fay above mentioned, born Aug. 16, 1772, and who has been more particularly spoken of in the sketch of the town. The other children of Stephen Fay were Joseph and David.


DR. JONAS FAY

DR. JONAS FAY, son of Stephen Fay, was born at Hardwick Mass., Jan. 17, 1737, and removed to Bennington in 1766. He occupied from an early day a prominent position among the settlers on the New Hampshire Grants, as well in the contest with New York as in that with the mother country, and also in the organization of the state government. In 1772 when Governor Tryon invited the people of Bennington to send agents to New York to inform him of the grounds of their complaint, he, with his father, was appointed for that purpose. He was clerk to the convention of settlers that met in March 1774, and resolved to defend by force, Allen, Warner and others who were threatened with outlawry and death by the New York Assembly, and as such clerk certified their proceedings for publication. At the age of 19 he had served in the French war during the campaign of 1776 at Fort Edward and Lake George, as Clerk of Capt. Samuel Robinson's Company of Massachusetts troops, and he served as Surgeon in the expedition under Allen at the capture of Ticonderoga. He was continued in that position by the committee of the Massachusetts Congress who were sent to the lake in July 1775, and also appointed by them to muster the troops as they arrived for the defence of that post. He was also surgeon for a time to Col. Warner's regiment.

In January 1776, he was clerk to the convention at Dorset that petitioned Congress to be allowed to serve in the common cause of the country as inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants and not under New York, and also of that held at the same place in July following. He was a member of the convention which met at Westminster in January 1777, and declared Vermont to be an independent State, and was appointed chairman of a committee to draw up a declaration and petition announcing the fact and their reasons for it to Congress, of which declaration and petition he was the draughtsman and author. He was secretary to the convention that formed the constitution of the State in July 1777, and was one of the Council of Safety then appointed to administer the affairs of the State until the Assembly provided for by the constitution should meet; was a member of the State Council for seven years from 1778, a Judge of the Supreme Court in 1782, Judge of Probate from 1782 to 1787, and he attended the Continental Congress at Philadelphia as the agent of the State under appointments made in January 1777, October 1779, June 1781 and February 1782.

Dr. Fay was a man of extensive general information, decided in his opinions and bold and determined in maintaining them. His education was such as to enable him to draw with skill and ability the public papers of the day, of many of which, besides the declaration of independence before mentioned, he was the reputed author. In 1780 he in conjunction with Ethan Allen prepared and published in their joint names a pamphlet of 30 pages on the New Hampshire and New York controversy which was printed at Hartford, Conn. Dr. Fay was on terms of friendship and intimacy with Gov. Thomas Chittenden the Allens, Warner and other founders of the State. He was twice married and has left numerous descendants. On the occurrence of the birth of twin sons, Jan. 12, 1779, he named one of them Ethan Allen and the other Heman Allen, after his two friends of those names. The latter, Major Heman A. Fay, graduated as a cadet at West Point in 1808 and was appointed a Lieutenant in the army in which he served through the war of 1812, and soon afterwards became Military store keeper at Albany, which office he held until within a few years past, when he returned to Bennington, where he now resides.

Dr. Fay resided in Bennington in a house that stood on "the blue hill" a mile south of the meeting house until after the year 1800 when he removed to Charlotte for a few years, and afterwards to Pawlet, but returned again to Bennington where he died Marsh 6, 1818, aged 82.


COL. JOSEPH FAY

COL. JOSEPH FAY, son of Stephen Fay, was born at Hardwick about 1752, and came to Bennington a member of his fathers family in 1766. He was Secretary to the Council of Safety and of the State Council from September 1777 to 1784, and Secretary of State from 1778 to 1781. He was the associate of Ira Allen in conducting the famous negociation with Gen. Haldimand by which the operations of the enemy were paralyzed and the northern 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 appearance and agreeable manners and address, and well calculated to manage such a diplomatic adventure with adroitness and ability. He built and resided in the house now occupied by the widow 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. Theodore S. Fay well known as a popular writer, and now Minister of the United States to Switzerland, is a grandson of Col. Fay.


JUDGE DAVID FAY

DAVID FAY, youngest son of Stephen Fay, was born at Hardwick, Mass., December 13, 1761, and came to Bennington as one of his father's family in 1766. He was in the battle of Bennington, though less than 16 years old, his name being found on the roll of Capt. Samuel Robinson's company, designated as "fifer." He was admitted to the bar in June 1794 and was States Attorney for four years previous to 1801, was United States Attorney for the Vermont District under Mr. Jefferson, Judge of the Supreme Court for 4 years from 1809, Judge of Probate in 1819 and 1820, and a member of the Council for 4 years ending in 1821. He died June 5, 1827, leaving no descendants.


GEN. EBENEZER WALBRIDGE

GEN. EBENEZER WALBRIDGE was born at Norwich, Conn., Jan. 1, 1738, and came to Bennington in 1765. He was early in military service. He was an officer in Col. Warner's regiment of Green Mountain Boys in the winter campaign of 1776 in Canada, and from the fragment of an original muster roll still in existence, it appears that on the 3d of March of that year he was before Quebec a Lieutenant in Capt. Gideon Brownson's company and adjutant of the regiment. He also served as adjutant in Bennington battle, where his brother, Henry Walbridge was killed. In 1778 he was Lieutenant Colonel in the militia, and in 1780 succeeded Col. Herrick, in command of the Bennington regiment and afterwards became Brigadier General. He was in active service on the frontiers at several periods during the war, and in December 1781 when troops were called out by both New York and Vermont to sustain their respective claims of jurisdiction over "the Western Union," as it was called, Col. Walbridge commanded those of this state. But for the decided superiority of the Vermont force, and a disposition to forbearance on the part of the Vermont authorities, it seems probable an actual military collision would have occurred. The matter was, however, compromised for the time being, through the mediation of Gen. Stark, who was then in command at Saratoga, and the troops on both sides were withdrawn. The correspondence of Col. Walbridge with the New York authorities, which is creditable to his intelligence and decision of character, as well as forbearance, is preserved among the papers of Gov. Clin­ton, in the State Library at Albany. Gen. Walbridge also served the state faithfully and well in civil life. He was a representative of the town in the General Assembly in 1778 and 1780, and a member of the State Council for 8 years from 1786 to 1795. He was an active and enterprising businessman. In 1786 he was joint proprietor with Joseph Hinsdill in the first paper-mill erected in the state, he having built a gristmill some 4 years previously. These mills were at what has since been called Paper Mill Village, near his then residence, now occupied by his grandson Stebbins D. Walbridge. He died Oct. 3, 1819.


NATHAN CLARK

NATHAN CLARK was a resident of Bennington is early as September 1762, but the place of his birth or that from whence he emigrated has not been ascertained. 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 tradition to have been "a pen and ink man," and to have been the draughtsman of many of the published papers of the early time. He was chairman of the committee of safety of Bennington in 1776, and as such held correspondence with Gen. Gates, then commander, at Ticonderoga, rendering him substantial and efficient aid in collecting and forwarding supplies for the army. He was representative 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 a man of decided energy of character, and of verb 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 afterwards known as "Old Rifle," and served as Colonel in the war of 1812. Nathan Clark died at Bennington April 8, 1792, aged 74, leaving many descendants.


JAMES BREAKENRIDGE

JAMES BREAKENRIDGE came to Bennington in the fall of 1761, and settled in the northwesterly part of the town, being the owner by purchase of several rights of land. He was of Protestant Irish descent and there afterwards settled about him the families of Henderson, Henry and one or two others of the same ancestry, which gave to the neigh­borhood the name of "the Irish corner," and which it has ever since retained. Mr. Breakenridge was a man of quiet and peacable disposition and habits, though his property be­ing covered by the old patent of Walloomsack, necessarily placed him in a belligerent attitude towards the New York claimants. Although indicted as a rioter and outlawed with Allen, Warner and others by the New York government, he does not appear to have over taken any part in their active proceedings.

He was sent to England by a convention of the settlers with Jehiel Hawley of Arlington, as his associate in 1772, to ask relief from the crown against the New York claimants and government, but the ministry were too much absorbed with their project of taxing America to give their attention to the matter. Mr. Breakenridge was chosen Lieutenant of the first military company formed in Bennington in 1764, and is therefore frequently designated in the records of the town by that title. He was a man of exemplary moral and religious character, and died April 16, 1783, aged 62, and has left numerous descendants.


COL. SETH WARNER

COL SETH WARNER was born in Roxbury, then Woodbury, Conn., May 17, 1743, came to Bennington to reside in January 1765, and remained here until the summer of 1784, when being in failing health he returned to his native town where he died the December following, being in the 42d year of his age. The life of Warner has been written by Dan­iel Chipman and by others and is too well known to justify any detailed notice of him in this sketch. As a military leader he was honored and confided in above all others by the people of this state, and his bravery and military capacity appear to have been always appreciated by the intelligent officers from other states with whom he served. In the disastrous retreat from Canada in the spring of 1776 he brought up the rear, and he was placed in command of the rear guard on the evacuation of Ticonderoga, by which he was involved in the action at Hubbardton. At Bennington he was with Stark for several days before the battle, and was his associate in planning the attack upon Baum and in carrying it into execution, and it was by his advice and contrary to the first impression of Stark that Breyman was immediately opposed, without first retreating to rally the scattered American forces. Stark in his official account of the battle was not the man to overlook the valued services of his associates. In his letter to Gates he says that Warner marched with him to meet the enemy on the 14th, and of the battle on the 16th, "Warner's superior skill in the action was of great service to me." Cotemporaneous histories confirm the account given by Stark. Gordon in his history of the revolution takes a similar view of the services of Warner on that occasion, and Dr. Thatcher in his Journal, in commencing his account of the actions, says, "On the 16th Gen. Stark assisted by Col. Warner matured his arrangments for the battle," and then describes it as was done by Stark.

It is to the credit of the state of Connecticut, that its legislature have caused a neat and substantial granite monument to be erected over Warner's remains at Roxbury. It is an obelisk about 21 feet in height with appropriate base, plinth die and mouldings, with the following inscriptions:

East (front) side — "Col. Seth Warner of the army of the revolution; born in Roxbury, Conn., May 17, 1743; a resident of Bennington, Vt., from 1765 to 1784; died in his native parish Dec. 26, 1784."

North side — "Captor of Crown Point, commander of the Green Mountain Boys in the repulse of Carlton at Longueil and in the battle of Hubbardton; and the associate of Stark, in the victory at Bennington."

South side — "Distinguished as a successful defender of the New Hampshire Grants; and for bravery, sagacity, energy and humanity, as a partisan officer in the war of the revolution."

West side — "His remains are deposited under this monument, erected by order of the General Assembly of Connecticut, A. D. 1859."

Col. Warner came to Bennington a single man in 1765, was married within a year or two afterwards to Hester Hurd of Roxbury, and settled in the northwesterly part of the town. He was a near neighbor of James Breakenridge, his house being on the corner opposite the present school house at "Irish Corner." It was lately known as the Gibbs place, and the house erected by him was standing, though in a dilapidated condition, until the fall of 1858, when it was destroyed by fire. This residence of his was within three quarters of a mile of New York line, on the outskirts of the settlement, where he appears to have lived in security throughout the New York controversy, notwithstanding numerous indictments were found against him as a rioter and large rewards offered for his apprehension. This freedom from attack is to be accounted for by the terror with which his boldness and resolution and that of his brother Green Mountain Boys inspired his land claiming enemies, coupled with the well known fact that the great body of the inhabitants of the bordering county of Albany sympathized with him in his hostility to the unjust demands of the speculators, and would sooner aid in his rescue than in his arrest.


ETHAN ALLEN

ETHAN ALLEN came to the New Hampshire Grants about the year 1769, and made it his home in Bennington while within the territory until he was taken prisoner at Montreal, Sept. 25 1775. After his return from captivity in the spring of 1778, he was at Bennington for a time, then at Arlington, then again at Bennington from about 1784 to 1786 when he removed to Burlington.*


GOVERNOR ISAAC TICHENOR

GOVERNOR ISAAC TICHENOR was born at Newark N. J., Feb. 8, 1754 and educated at Princeton College, then under the presidency of the celebrated Dr. Witherspoon, for whom and whose memory he always had the highest veneration. He graduated in 1775 and while pursuing the study of law at Schenectedy, N. Y. he was early in 1777 appointed assistant to Jacob Cuyler, Deputy Commissary General of purchases for the Northern department, having for his field of service an extensive portion of the New England States. In this service he was obliged in behalf of his country to incur great pecuniary responsibilities, which occasioned him serious embarrassment for many subsequent years. In the performance of his official duties he came to Bennington the 14th of June 1777, and was here superintending the collection of supplies for the army during the principal part of the summer of that year. On the 13th of Auguest be left Bennington with a drove of cattle for Albany, and returned the 16th by way of Williamstown, arriving on the battle ground about dark just as the fighting had ceased. From this period his residence was in Bennington when not in actual service in the Commissary department. Not long after the close of the war he commenced the practice of law and soon became active and prominent in public affairs. He represented the town in the General Assembly in 1781, 2, 3 and 4, and was one year speaker of the House. He was agent of the state at Congress in 1782 and was the same year appointed by the legislature to visit Windham Co. and advocate the claims of the state with the Yorkers in that section, in which mission he appears to have met with considerable success. He was a member of the State Council for 5 years from 1787, a judge of the Supreme Court from 1791 to 1796, the two latter years holding the position of Chief Justice: a member of the Council of Censors in 1792, and again in 1813, was one of the Commissioners of the state for adjusting the controversy with New York in 1791, and in 1796 was chosen Senator in Congress to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Moses Robinson, and also for the ensuing 6 years, which place he resigned on being elected governor in October 1797. He held the office of governor for 10 successive years until October 1807 when Israel Smith was his successful competor. He was, however, elected again in 1808, making his whole term of service in the executive chair 11 years. In 1814 he was again chosen Senator in Congress, which office he held until March 3, 1821, when he retired from public life.

Gov. Tichenor was a man of good private character, of highly respectable talents and acquirements, of remarkably fine personal appearance, of accomplished manners and insinuating address. His facinating personal qualities early acquired for him the sobriquet of "Jersey Slick," by which he was long designated in familiar conversation. He was a federalist in politics, and his popularity was such that he was elected governor for several successive years after his party had become a minority in the state. His peculiar talent in commending himself to the favor of others, is alleged to have been, sometimes used with considerable effect for electioneering purposes. He is said to have had remarkable tact in discovering and lauding the extraordinary good qualities of the farms, horses, cattle and other property, and even of the not very promising children of those whose support he desired to obtain. Many anecdotes in relation to this matter were formerly told of him, one of which may serve as a characteristic specimen. While travelling in a distant part of the state he contrived to pass the residence of a farmer of great influence in his town, who had formerly supported him for governor, but who was now supposed to be wavering. On his approach to the place he discovered the farmer at some distance build­ing stone wall by the road side. Leaving his carriage the governor began to examine the wall with great care and earnestness, looking over and along both sides of it and exhibiting signs of excessive admiration. On coming within speaking distance the governor exclaimed with much apparent emotion, "Bless me friend what a beautiful and noble wall you are building — I don't believe there is another equal to it in the state." "Yes, governor," was the reply of the farmer, "its a very good wall to be sure, but I can't vote for you this year."

Gov. Tichenor was very fond of hunting and fishing and continued to range the moun­tains and streams in these pursuits, generally with some friend, until quite late in life. He was very unwilling to come off second best in either of these sports. On one occasion when going out trout fishing with one of his neighbors they laid a small wager that each would catch the largest. On weighing the fish at landlord Dewey's the governor was found to have lost the bet, which he readily paid, though considerably disappointed. "I don't see" said he to his friend M., "how your trout should weigh the most. Mine certainly looks the largest, and besides I filled it full of gravel stones." "Ah governor," said his friend, "I was too much for you this time, I stuffed mine with shot."

Gov. Tichenor was in easy pecuniary circumseances and during the latter years of his life was in the receipt of an officer's pension for revolutionary services. He continued to the last to enjoy the confidence and esteem of all who knew him, and died Dec. 11, 1838, aged 84. He was married early, but survived his wife many years, and left no descendants.


GEN. SAMUEL SAFFORD

GEN. SAMUEL SAFFORD was born at Norwich, Conn., April 14, 1737, and was one of the early settlers of Bennington. He took an active part in the land title controversy with New York, and on several occasions represented the town in conventions of the settlers for defence against the Yorkers and also for forming the territory into a separate state. When the committees of the several towns met at Dorset in July 1775 to nominate officers for the battalion of Green Mountain Boys recommended by Congress, he was named as Major under Warner as Lieut. Colonel, and served in the corps with him in Canada. And when Warner's Continental regiment was raised in 1776, he was commissioned by Congress as Lieut. Colonel, and served as such in the battles of Hubbardton and Bennington and throughout the war. After the war he became a General of the Militia. He was a representative of the town in 1781 and 1782 and in 1783 was elected a State Councillor and served as such for 19 years in succession, and for 26 successive years ending in 1807, he was Chief Judge of the County Court for Bennington Co. He was an upright and intelligent man of sound judgment and universaly respected. He died at Bennington March 3, 1813, and some of his descendants are now inhabitants of the town.


CAPT. ELIJAH DEWEY

CAPT. ELIJAH DEWEY, son of Rev. Jedediah Dewey, was born at Westfield, Mass., Nov. 28, 1744, 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 20 years of age. He was Captain of one of the Bennington companies early in the war of the revolution, was at Ticonderoga with his company in the fall of 1776 and again at the evacuation of that fort by St. Clair in July 1777, and he was at the head of his company in the battle of Bennington Aug. 16, 1777. He was also in service at Saratoga on the sur­render of Burgoyne in October following.

Capt. Dewey also served the public in various stations in civil life. He represented the town in the General Assembly in 1786, '7 and '8, in 1796 and again in 1812 and 1813, and was a member of the Council of Censors in 1792. Capt. Dewey was a federalist in politics and headed the list of Presidental Electors of this state in 1797 and also in 1801, voting on both occasions for John Adams. Capt. Dewey was a man of sound and discriminating judgment, and of undoubted integrity, who did well and faithfully whatever he undertook. He was uniformly respected, and died Oct. 16, 1818.


COL. SAMUEL HERRICK

COL. SAMUEL HERRICK was an active and prominent man in the early military affairs of this state. He came to Bennington prior to March 1769 at which time his name is found on the town records, but from what place and what had been his previous history, is not known. He left the town soon after the close of the revolution, removing to Springfield, Montgomery Co., N. Y., and in regard to him since that time, nothing has been ascertained. His residence here was in the west part of the town at what has lately been known as the Dimick place. He served as Captain at the taking of Ticonderoga in 1775, and on the evacuation of that fort by St. Clair in 1777 he was appointed Colonel of a Regiment of Rangers raised by the Council of Safety of this state. At the head of these and of the militia of this town and vicinity as a separate detachment, he led the attack on the rear of Baum's right in Bennington battle, and was distinguished for bravery and skill in both engagements of that day. Gordon in his history in giving an account of the battle, speaks of the "Superior military skill" of Cols. Warner and Herrick as being of great service to General Stark. Col. Herrick was subsequently in command of the regiment of militia of this vicinity, and in that capacity as well as at the head of his corps of Rangers was in active service on several occasions during the war.


ANTHONY HASWELL

ANTHONY HASWELL, whose memory deserves a much more extended notice than can be given in this sketch, was born at Portsmouth, England, April 6, 1756. He came to Boston when about 13 years of age, and served his apprenticeship as a Printer with that veteran of the type Isaiah Thomas. He established the Vermont Gazette in Bennington in 1783, the first number being issued June 5, of that year. The publication of this paper was continued by Mr. Haswell, with occasional brief interruptions, during his lifetime, and afterwards by members of his family until it was finally discontinued by his son John C. Haswell in 1849, having a much longer life than any other paper ever printed in the state. In 1784 the Legislature passed an act establishing Post Offices at Bennington, Rutland, Brattleboro, Windsor and Newbury; under which Mr. Haswell was appointed Post Master General with exten­sive powers, his commission under the official signature and seal of Gov. Chittenden is now in possession of his son, Wm. Haswell, Esq., bearing date March 10, 1784. This office he is believed to have held until the admission of the state into the Union in 1791.

In the summer of 1792 Mr. Haswell started a paper in Rutland, called the "Herald of Vermont" of which the 13th or 14th number was printed ready to be distributed the ensuing Monday, but a fire on Sabbath evening of Sept. 21, destroyed the office and most of the papers. The Legislature which met in Rutland a few weeks afterwards granted him a lottery by which he was allowed to raise $200, as a compensation for his loss, from which, however, he never derived any pecuniary benefit.

In March 1794 Mr. Haswell commenced the publication of a periodical entitled "the Monthly Miscellany or Vermont Magazine." It was printed in double columns of the ordinary Magazine size and type of that period, each number containing 56 pages, almost exclusively of selected matter. Again in January 1808 Mr. Haswell commenced another Monthly Magazine called the "Mental Repast" which was similar in character and size with the former, though containing more original matter, some of which would still be of an interesting character. Its publication was, however, found to be unprofitable and was discontinued at the end of the first half year.

Mr. Haswell for many years had a share of the public printing of the state it being devided into equal portions between his and a press established at Windsor about the same time that he commenced his paper in this town. Numerous books and pamphlets were published by him on various subjects, some of which were reprints of valuable works, and others from original matter. Among the latter may be mentioned an interesting Memoir of Capt. Matthew Phelps of 300 pages, of which Mr. Haswell was himself the writer. Mr. Haswell in the course of his life furnished much matter for the news paperpress, on moral, religious and political subjects, both in prose and verse, some of which might now be reread with pleasure and profit. He wrote, or rather composed with great facility, for most of his printed matter was that of thoughts set up by himself in type, as they flowed from his mind without having them first committed to paper.

Mr. Haswell early imbibed the principles of the old republican party, and was active and zealous in their defence and promulgation. He was a man of strong feelings and impulses and was censured by his opponents as a violent partizan. During the existence of the sedition law he published an article in relation to the imprisonment of Matthew Lyon under that law, and another on the conduct of President Adams in making appointments to office, which though manifesting considerable warmth of feeling, would not now be noticed as possessing a criminal character. For these he was indicted before the United States Circuit Court, and in 1800 at Windsor was sentenced by Judge Patterson to two months imprisonment and to pay a fine of two hundred dollars and costs. He was allowed to serve out his term of imprisonment in the jail in this town, which term expired the 9th of July. The celebration of the anniversary of the declaration of independence was post­poned until that day, when his fine and costs being paid, he was liberated from jail amidst the roar of cannon and the acclamation of his neighbors and political friends. He was by a large portion of the community considered as a martyr in the cause of freedom and his prosecution instead of strengthening the adminstration in this state, served greatly to increase the number and zeal of its opponents. The fine and costs have within the last 20 years been refunded to his descendants by act of Congress.

Mr. Haswell was a kind and obliging neighbor, and a warm, ardent and faithful friend. He was through life active and zealous in the discharge of his moral and religious duties, and died May 26, 1816. Mr. Haswell was twice married and left numerous descendants who are now to be found pursuing different avocations and professions in almost all parts of the world.


HON. WILLIAM HENRY

HON. WILLIAM HENRY deserves to be mentioned among the worthy and useful inhabitants of the town who have passed from the stage of life. He was son of William one of several families of Scotch Irish descent who came from Massachusetts and settled at an early day in the northwest part of the town, from whom the neighborhood took the name of "Irish Corner," which it still retains. William the younger was born Oct. 5, 1760.

He represented the town in the General Assembly for 7 successive years from 1805, and was a Justice of the peace for 39 years in succession ending with the year 1840, being for a longer period than the office has ever been held by any other person in town. He was also Judge of Probate for 2 years, and being familiar with legal forms of business was the draughtsman of most of the deeds, contracts and wills of persons in his quarter of the town for many years. He was a man of sound judgment and of undoubted integrity, and was universally respected. He died May 11, 1845, and has many descendants, a portion of whom reside in town.


COL. MARTIN SCOTT

COL. MARTIN SCOTT, son of Phineas Scott, one of the early settlers of Bennington, was born here Jan. 18, 1788. His youth was spent on his father's farm during which he received only a common school education. He was fond of hunting from his boyhood and in early life became an expert and noted marksman. He was always accustomed to aim at the head of game, and considered it disgraceful to make a wound in the body. He would drive a nail into a board part way with a hammer, and then taking the furthest distance at which his eye could distinctly see it, drive it home with his unerring bullet. His skill with his rifle was such that be was excluded from the common sport of turkey shooting, no owner of a turkey being willing to risk his shot for any sum short of its full value.

In April 1814 he was appointed second Lieutenant in the army, become Captain in 1828 and afterwards rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, always sustaining the character of a brave and active officer. From about the year 1820 he was for 12 or 15 years stationed at Green Bay, Prairie du Chien, and other military posts on the Western frontier. Here he had great opportunities for indulging in his favorite amusement and became famous in all that region for his extraordinary success in the pursuit of all kinds of game. Like all hunters from Nimrod down he was fond of relating his field adventures, which he often did to the great entertainment of his hearers. One of his stories must be repeated here, though it loses much of its interest in attempting to put it on paper.

He said that many of the wild animals throughout the forests he frequented had become so well acquainted with his skill as a marksman that they would surrender on be­ing introduced to him, without requiring the waste of any powder, and that this was particularly the case with raccoons. When he discovered one on a tree he would hollo to it. "Coon come down!" to which the animal would say, "Who is it that's calling me?" His answer would be, "I am Martin Scott." "What," the coon would inquire, "Captain Martin Scott of the army?" "Yes," would be the answer. "Well Captain Scott," says the conquered animal, "you needn't fire, I'm a gone Coon, and may as well come down," and down he would come at once.

Col. Scott lost his life in the Mexican war at the Sanguinary battle of Molins del Rey, and his remains were brought to Bennington and intered in the old center burying ground beside those of his own family relatives. A neat marble column has been erected over his grave, with the following inscription, which is but a just tribute to his memory.

"Col. Martin Scott, born in Bennington January 17, 1788. Died in Mexico Sept. 8, 1847."

Brevet Scott, Col. 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, Reseca de la Palma, Monterey, Vera Cruz, Cherabusca, and was killed at Molina del Rey. He commanded his regiment in nearly all these engagements and received two brevets for gallant conduct. No braver or better officer fell in the Mexican war."

Col. Scott was married in 1840 to Miss McCracken of Rochester, N. Y., who survived him, but was lost in the steamer Artic on her return from a voyage to England.


"TWO FOR ONE CHENEY."

About the beginning of the present century there resided in Bennington one William Cheney who had a very extensive notoriety as a cheat and swindler. He lived with his family for several years in the northwest part of the town, in different tenant houses, possessed of but little visible property, but seldom appearing wholly destitute of money. He was known as a horse jockey and idler, and was suspected of almost every kind of iniquity and crime.

One of his devices was to apply to some close fisted avaricious man for the loan of a small amount of money — informing him he had an opportunity of secretly making a large sum by the use of it for a few days — so much that he could well afford to return him double the sum for it by a certain short day which he named. Having obtained the loan he was prompt to repay the double amount at the day appointed. After a while he would ap­ply for and obtain from the same man a rather larger sum for which double the amount would be refunded, as before. Having thus acquired the confidence of the greedy lender, he would go to him again in great want of a much larger sum on the same terms, from which he said he was sure to obtain an immense profit in a few days. This larger sum thus obtained Cheney would be as sure to forget to return as he had been to remember the others. This mode of operation which was believed to have been practiced on many individuals acquired for him the name of "Two for one Cheney," by which he was extensively known.

He was supposed to be the ring leader of a gang of thieves and counterfeiters, but the mystery in which his shrewdness enabled him to involve his transactions for a long time prevented his detection and punishment.

He was generally bold and defiant towards his accusers, daring them to do their worst. On one occasion, which may serve as a specimen, he was brought before Esquire S., a dignified magistrate who calling upon him to stand up, said to him with great solemnity and emphasis, "William Cheney, you are brought before me on the suspicion of having tools in your possession for counterfeiting money," to which Cheney promptly replied, I don't care a d—n for your suspicions if you have any proof bring it on." The proof failed and Cheney was consequently discharged.

Justice, however, overtook him at last. He was arrested for crime in the state of New York, tried and convicted at Troy in the spring of 1802 and sentenced to ten years imprisonment in the state prison, but lived to serve out only a portion of his time.