Franklin County MA Archives Biographies.....Goodell/ Goodale, Ebenezer May 12, 1734 - 1800 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ma/mafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com November 12, 2009, 1:46 pm Source: various books, and town, county, state archives Author: Nancy Poquette, compiler EBENEZER GOODALE / GOODELL Birth: BEF 12 MAY 1734 in Salem, Essex Co, MA Baptism: 12 MAY 1734 Salem, Essex Co, MA, from: "Vital Records of Salem, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849," vol. 1, pg. 368: "Goodall (see also Goodell), Ebenezer, son of Isaac and Deborah, bapt. May 12, 1734." also from: "Vital Records of New Salem, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849," pg. 196 under a category called "Public Records": "Goodale, Ebenezer, son of Isaac and Deborah (Hawkins), bapt. May 12, 1734; removed to New Salem 1739." Residence: 1739 parents moved family to New Salem, from: "Vital Records of New Salem, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849," pg. 196 under a category called "Public Records": "Goodale, Ebenezer, son of Isaac and Deborah (Hawkins), bapt. May 12, 1734; removed to New Salem 1739." Grantee 1767?1772 New Salem, Franklin Co, MA, from: "Vital Records of New Salem, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849," pg. 196 under a category called "Public Records": "Goodale, Ebenezer [Goodell, dup], grantee 1767-1772, and 1790-1799." Census: 1790 New Salem, Hampshire, MA, listed as Ebenr. Goodale. Census: 1800 New Salem, Hampshire, MA, listed as Ebenezer Goodale. Death: AFT 1800 in New Salem, Franklin Co, MA Burial: AFT 1800 New Salem, Franklin Co, MA, "Abstract of American Patriots," Senate Document 264, Serial 9337, 1930, 91, Nat'l No. 155974. Father: Isaac Goodale b: 23 JAN 1692/3 in Salem, Essex Co, MA Mother: Deborah Hawkins b: 8 SEP 1700 in Marblehead, Essex Co, MA Marriage 1 Grace Phelps b: 17 JAN 1735 in Northampton, Hampshire Co, MA Married: ABT 1754 in Northhampton, Hampshire, MA Children Grace Goodale b: 11 JUL 1756 in New Salem, Franklin Co, MA Last Will of Ebenezer's father, Isaac Goodale '...I, ISAAC [III] GOODAL of New Salem... in the fifty-first year of my age in the free use of my reason and understanding, in the fear of the great God, do freely and voluntarily dispose of all my temporal interest and concerns as follows viz... ...3. I give to those of my sons who have trades given to them one half as much in my estate as those of them who have no trades given to them... ..."Know all men by these presents, that we, Gideon Clark of Southampton and Benjamin Simmonds of Northhampton and Isaac Goodale of Hadley, all of the County of Hampshire... are holden and stand firmly bound and obliged unto Timothy Dwight, esq... in the full sum of 400 pounds to be paid unto the said Timothy Dwight... in the office of Judge of probate of wills and for granting letters of administration on the estates of persons deceased..." etc. Dated the 18th day of February, 1754. "The condition of this obligation is such that if the above Gideon Clark, nominated and allowed to be guardian unto Ebenezer Goodale, a minor above 14 years of age and one of the heirs of ISAAC GOODALE, late of New Salem in the County of Hampshire, deceased, shall and do well and truly perform and discharge the trust and office of guardian unto the said minor, and that in and by all things according to law; and shall render a plain and true account of his said guardianship upon oath... etc. Signed by Gideon Clark, Benjamin Simonds and Isaac [IV] Goodale in the presence of George Miller and T Dwight, Jr." From: "Heare Lyes Salim New Grant," by Dr. Kenneth Wetherbee, 1980: In 1744, the French and Indian Wars commenced. Although not about Ebenezer himself, the following accounts describe events that occurred to other residents of New Salem, as illustrations of the times they lived in: Two of the settlers of New Salem, "David Rugg (father of Joseph Rugg) and Robert Baker were discovered (by the French or Indians) crossing the Connecticut River in a canoe. They were fired upon and Rugg was killed; Baker escaped. Rugg was scalped and his scalp was placed on top of a long pole and carried through Charlestown, NH to Crown Point. On the underside of the scalp they had painted with red paint the likeness of a face." (Wetherbee, quoting out of Hoyt, with no additional citation.) In July 1746 the 16-year-old fatherless Isaac [IV], Ebenezer's slightly older brother, enlisted in Captain Seth Pomeroy's company, for an expedition against Canada. [Four years earlier he had been listed as under age 14]. The expedition was later canceled. From: "Heare Lyes Salim New Grant," by Dr. Kenneth Wetherbee, 1980, again illustrating the circumstances occuring in the vicinity of New Salem: "John and Rebecca Perry (of New Salem) were at Fort Massachusetts when it was surrounded by 800 French and Indians. On that Tuesday, August 19th, the fort was left with only a small guard of Sgt. Hawks and 22 soldiers, 3 women, and five children, half of them sick "with bloody flux." For three days they tried to fight them off, but on the 20th decided to surrender. Norton's account says: "We heard that if we were taken by violence, the sick, the wounded, and the women would most, if not all of them, die by the hands of the savages; therefore our officer concluded to surrender on the best terms he could get…" "The French and Indians took away John Perry and his wife, and they were separated from the others and each other. A witness spoke with Perry's wife, and she felt that she was almost ready to give out on the long march, and was still sick with the flux. On Saturday, the 23rd, Perry was released from his pack, was allowed to help his wife. In Quebec, on Dec. 23, 1746, Rebecca Perry died. [From the account of Sergt John Hawks, Mass. Archives]." In 1746, Isaac Goodale [IV] [Ebenezer's brother] again enlisted in His Majesty's Service under the command of Captain William Lyman, from Nov.1 to January 25, 1747 [Mass. Archives]. He was also paid for his services in rebuilding Fort Massachusetts, for five days [Forbes Library]. Isaac [IV], at the age of fourteen, is reported by Myrtle Stevens Hyde in "The Ancestors of Isaac Goodale" as serving "with the area military commander in King George's War. In April of 1747 he was among the soldiers who helped build, for protection against the Indians, a fort at what is now Easthampton. In that enterprise soldiers and citizens labored together." Ebenezer Goodale married Grace Phelps in 1754. Their only child Grace was born in 1756. From the Franklin County Courthouse in Greenfield, MA, the "Grantee Book, Abstracts of 1663-1786," Volume 2, page 243, 9-83, Ebenezer Goodale, Benjamin Prescott, May 12, 1755: "Benjamin Prescott of Danvers to Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem, consideration of 15 pounds, ten shillings, May 12, 1755. One certain lot of land lying and being in New Salem aforesaid, containing 35 acres more or less, being the whole of House Lot bearing No. 46, in said district of New Salem, originally drawn and entered to Ezekiel Fowler, deceased." [The original Proprietor records burned in 1856.] Of the sons of ISAAC [III] and DEBORAH, the following military services are identified: Isaac (IV) already mentioned above; and Ebenezer served in the French and Indian War in 1755 (as reported in Heare Lyes Salim New Grant, by David Kenneth Wetherbee), under Capt. Howe. From: "Heare Lyes Salim New Grant," page 317: "A Muster roll of the Company under the command of Samuel Howe, Captain, viz. Ebenezer Goodale private August 13- Dec.12 Cotton Kellogg private August 13- Dec. 12 Joseph Ballard clerk August 13- Dec.12 James Holton sergt August 14-Oct. 28 Travel from Albany to Rutland 150 miles at 15 miles per day. Colo. Willard's Regt." Mass. Archives. From: "Heare Lyes Salim New Grant," page 319, illustrating Ebenezer's probable circumstances: "John Burke's Diary Monday, 8th. Col. Williams was sent out with 1000 men in search of the enemy; determined to march toward the south bay. They marched so in the road 3 miles, when they were waylaid by the enemy and fired upon; the enemy having the advantage of the ground, obliged our men to retreat to the camps; killed and wounded a great many by the way. The enemy made a very smart attack upon the camps, but we stood ground and drove them back. Took the general and aid-de- camps, and about 25 prisoners. New Hampshire and York men at the other forts at the carrying place, heard the great guns, came up and met the enemy stripping our dead; drove them from the ground and took 2 prisoners. They fought them three hours, and we fought them from between 10 and 11 till between 6 and 7 afternoon. No such battle before in North America." "Tuesday, 9th. About 3:00 we sent out to bury the dead. I went with them. The men forward took a start, ran back; were stopped by the officers. Found it too late to do the business. Returned to the camps, brought one wounded man of ours, a great deal of plunder, and etc." "Wednesday, 10th. We went out again, buried 136 dead of ours, and some French. Brought in a great deal of plunder and French provisions, and one of our wounded, a scout from the other fort and from Hoosuck [Hoosic], Capt. Wyman. I sent a letter to my wife. All afortifying at the camps. Col. Willard, Capt. Symers, came up with a number of wagons with provisions, and etc. The wagoners went back, the Indians went off home. A great number of men went plundering; found a great deal. Buried 4 more of our men." From: "Heare Lyes Salim New Grant," page 320: "Return of the sick taken in the camp at Lake George, November 21, 1755. The names of the sick not likely to be of service this winter and towns they came from: In Captain Dwight's company: James Meachum of New Salem William Page of New Salem In Capt.-Lt. Simon Davis's company: Jonathan Meachum of New Salem Solomon Gibbs of Greenwich "Capt. Dwight is the same Captain, Surveyor whose wonderful survey and field book has come down to us of the "Virgin forest" in northern Roadtown, Wendell and New Salem." "Septr 10th, 1755. Then I took a commission (or it was dated at that time) to go to reinforce the army under the command of Major General Johnson destined to Crown Point who are now at the end of the Lake Sant Sacrament, alias Lake George, as I suppose, with about 3 or 4000 men which was there from in the late fight and it is likely 2000 more troops are arrived there from Connecticut and also are going from this government." "Septr 15th, Monday. All the companies in this government were mustered in order to enlist 200 of the aforesaid 2800. Capt. Wm. Lyman and I went head of those out of Col. Williamses regiment, viz, about 124 men, my men chiefly out of the towns East of Connecticut River and his men west of the river." "22nd day, Monday. I left home with a design to Deerfield that day, but went to Hatfield, there being some difficulties by reason of news from the army. We did not march to Deerfield, but I went to Northampton. It rained some toward night." "17th Day, Friday, fog in the morning. John Trask died the last night. Capt. Nathaniel Dwight New England Genealogy and Biographical Record, 1902 From: "Heare Lyes Salim New Grant," page 314: "Almost every able bodied man in New Salem took part in the French and Indian Wars of 1743-48 and 1755-63, the last of the four wars. In 1746 John Perry and Rebecca were taken into captivity and she died thus. In 1747, New Salem men were at the siege of Fort Number 4 in Charlestown, New Hampshire and several New Salem men formed a company to scout around New Salem for many months. In 1755 Isaac Gibbs and Samuel Southwick were killed in the Bloody Morning Scout described above, and John Trask died in Albany. In 1756, William Meacham was scalped at Fort Massachusetts and Joseph Houlton died in Albany. Amos Foster lead a company of 22 New Salem to Albany in 1757, the same year that Benjamin Goodenough was killed at the capitulation at Fort William Henry, as was also, Elisha Chase. Both Cotton Kellogg and Isaac Southwick succumbed from wounds. In 1758, Joshua Conkey was captured and John Ganson and Joseph Owen killed. [The next page of text is missing from both surviving copies of Wetherbee's book.] From: "New Salem First Parish Church Society (now Unitarian), in the possession of the Unitarian Society, New Salem, Mass:" Ebenezer and Grace Phelps Goodale's daughter, Grace was baptized July 11, 1756. From: "The Massachusetts Archives," Volume 77, page 338: Petition of John Savage, Concord, dated Dec. 13, 1756: "For pay while sick at Crown Point, Captain Ballard's company, Colonel Bagley's regiment. Taken sick August 23 of jaundice and fever. Unfit for duty 6 weeks. Was obliged to employ a surgeon of the King's army at our expense. He was removed to a place called Half Moon where, at a Dutch house he lay sick 4 weeks and was obliged to send to Albany for all medicine expended on him at his own cost. When something [somewhat] recovered, he was sent home by the committee. On his way home, he was obliged to assist two sick men along, one of them riding his pack horse. The amount expended was not less than 9 or 10 dollars. Ordered to pay Savage the sum of 36 shillings." From: "The Massachusetts Archives," Volume 77, page 517: "Petition of Peter Newton: Served the year 1756 under command of Major General Winslow in Colonel Ruggles regiment, Captain Barnard's company. Was taken sick and sent to Albany. Was in hospital several weeks. Was unfit for duty and by advice, went home in September. Went to Sunderland and cared for by his mother. Was unable to do business for two months. Following is the amount asked for:" L S P Expense on return 0.12.0 Subsistence 2 weeks 1.12.0 Expense at doctor 1.06.8 Loss of time, 8 weeks 2.13.4 Committee reported 2L 18s 8p. Was ordered paid to Colonel J. Baney(?) From Dr. Kenneth Wetherbee's "Heare Lyes Salim New Grant," page __: In 1759, there were the following entries in the accounts of Drs. Crouch and Kellogg: May 31, Mr. Ebenezer Goodale, N. Salem, wife, Em. Gal. Dors, Tinct Antipth, child Ent." In William Tyrer's (of Green Valley, AZ) notes for Ebenezer Goodell, there is the following sentence: "Only Ebenezer and JONATHAN had polls and real estate in New Salem in 1759. The other three brothers must have left town. [In truth, they had. Ezekiel was dead, Isaac moved to Amherst and owned and conducted a saloon, and James moved back to Danvers]. Also, a "Goodale House" is shown on the 1759 road plan [The source for this is: Heare Lyes Salim New Grant, by David Kenneth Wetherbee, pg. 150.] From Dr. Kenneth Wetherbee's "Heare Lyes Salim New Grant," page 384-387: In April 1761, from Samuel Pierce's Account book-"Then paid to Ebenezer Goodall the sum of Eleven Shillings and six pence in part of an order from the selectmen." "May 1761-Paid to Ebenezer Goodall for boarding Prudance Chace, 1 pound, 8 shillings." This suggests that Ebenezer took in an orphan, acting as her guardian, just as, later, his niece, RUTH GOODALE TYRER would have two of her youngest children 'auctioned' off at 'vendue,' to be supported by the townspeople during her rough financial period. From the Franklin County Courthouse in Greenfield, MA, "Grantee Book, Abstracts from 1663 to 1786," Volume 2, page 243, 9-84: "Jeremiah Meacham of New Salem to Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem, consideration of ten pounds, September 25, 1761. Eight acres of land lying or being in New Salem, beginning upon the east end of one of the 1st Divisions or House lots, No. 63, originally drawn by John Buxton and extending west across the whole lot till it contains the eight acres." "Dec. 1761 Then paid to Ebenezer Goodall the sum of sixteen shillings and six pence the remainder of his order from the selectmen." From the Franklin County Courthouse in Greenfield, MA, "Grantee Book, Abstracts from 1663 to 1786," Volume 2, page 243, 9-82: "John Turner of Salem, Elizabeth Berry of Ipswich, Ebenezer Bowditch, et ux, Mary of said Salem, Nathaniel Balston, et ux, Eunice of Boston, to Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem, consideration of 12 pounds, October 6, 1762. The homelot known by No. 62 in said New Salem, containing by estimation about 35 acres, bounded northerly on land of John Buxton and easterly, southerly and westerly on highways or townways, being a Homelot drawn on a right which formerly belonged to Colonel John Turner, deceased." From the Franklin County Courthouse in Greenfield, MA, "Grantee Book, Abstracts from 1663 to 1786," Volume 2, page 243: "Joseph Barnard of Deerfield to Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem, consideration of 21 pounds, 12 shillings, February 3, 1767. A certain tract or parcel of land in New Salem aforesaid [viz.] the House lot no. 61, said lot was drawn by and recorded to Benjamin Houlton. It is bounded west on the meeting house lot, north and east on highway, and south on House lot No. 60, Said tract of land contains 35 acres, be the same, more or less." From the Franklin County Courthouse in Greenfield, MA, "Grantee Book, Abstracts from 1663 to 1786," Volume 2, page 243, 9-85: "Levi Walker of New Salem to Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem, consideration of 10 pounds, March 3, 1767. A certain tract or parcel of land in New Salem aforesaid, [viz.] the east end of House lot No. 60, bounding north on lot # 61 and east on highway and south on Lot No. 59, and west on a two pole road, running across said lot as it is now laid." [There is a Hampshire County probate, 152:31, in which Levi Walker died, in 1778, and Captain Ebenezer Goodale was chosen as guardian for the minor children on October 30, 1778. Perhaps Levi Walker was killed during the war, and the children, Samuel Walker and Nathan Walker, were over the age of 14 and were permitted to select their own guardian. They chose Ebenezer Goodale.] From the Franklin County, MA "Grantee Book, Abstracts from 1663 to 1786," Vol. 4, page 128, 2-3-289: July 5, 1768, JONATHAN GOODALE, et al, to Ebenezer Goodale, New Salem- JONATHAN GOODALE, Isaac Goodale and Daniel Curtis of New Salem, and Amherst to Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem, in consideration of 10 pounds, July 5, 1768. Our parts of the Lot No. 40, 43, and 44, lying in said New Salem, the whole of lots containing 150 acres, being the 4th Division lots originally drawn by Jonathan Waters of Old Salem." From the Franklin Co, MA "Grantee Book, Abstracts from 1663 to 1786," Book 3, page 141, 16-296, New Salem: "Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem to JONATHAN GOODALE of New Salem, consideration of twenty pounds, January 20, 1770. All of my part or share of a first division, lot 19 originally drawn by Capt. Benj. Pickman and all my of two 3rd Division Lots No. 95 and 94 originally drawn by Jonathan Waters. Also all my part or share of the 1st Division lot of said waters right bearing No. 28." From: "The Diaries of Isaac Backus," Vol. II, edited by William G. McLoughlin, page 835-837: "Thursday, May 1772. Met at Brother Ebenezer Goodale's with Elder Jacobs and his brethren William Chamberlain [whose son, John, married Ebenezer's daughter, Grace],and Isaac Easty from the church in Roylston; Elder Ebenezer Smith and Brother Lyon from Ashfield and Brother Daniel Streeter from Elder Nathaniel Green's church in Charlton; and having committed our case to God, they chose me as moderator and Brother Richard Montegue as clerk, proceeded to look into the state of things here. Found that a church of 5 males and 3 females, dismissed from Petersham church was constituted in New Salem on January 24, 1772, to which one brother has been added since, and several more who belong to other churches only wait for dismissions in order to join with 'em." "Obtained good satisfaction concerning their faith and order, and the grounds or principles of their proceeding in choosing Mr. Bigelow for their pastor. Then he gave a very distinct account of his experiences and views in religion as to his call into the kingdom of grace, into the ministry, and to take charge of this flock; and tho' he once lived very much by his frames, yet his ideas now seem remarkably clear, his mind well established, and accomplished to instruct and lead souls, with a very good character as to his practicing what he teaches; he and the people are well united; so that we had very clear satisfaction in proceeding to the ordination. In which I preached, and then laid on hands with Elders Jacobs and Smith, and I gave the charge, Elder J.'s the right hand of friendship and Elder Smith made the last prayer. The whole was conducted with decency and solemnity with as little disturbance from the world as I have seen at any ordination. Glory to God alone." A secondary source called "Among the Dry Bones: Liberal Religion in New Salem, Massachusetts," by Mark W. Harris, gives us a glimpse of the Goodales' life in New Salem in the years just before the American Revolution. The passages are extracted from the letters of Samuel Bigelow, a Baptist preacher who wrote letters to Isaac Backus, of the Baptist church administration. The excerpts from pages 26-27 follow: "Samuel Bigelow, who held a preaching license from the Petersham church, moved to New Salem in 1771 and began holding services in his house. Bigelow was born in Watertown in 1738, and had been converted in 1763. As a result of his labors, the New Salem Baptist Church was formed on January 24, 1772, and Bigelow was ordained as pastor at Ebenezer Goodale's house on May 21, 1772. Goodale was a proprietor of New Salem and rather wealthy, but he had never joined the First [Congregational] Church." "The Original Baptist group consisted of five men and three women, all of whom belonged to the Baptist Church in Petersham, but presumably they were taxed to support the First Church of New Salem. That type of tax oppression is reflected in a letter written by Ebenezer Smith of Ashfield on December 5, 1770. [See the letter by Smith above.] From: "Among the Dry Bones: Liberal Religion in New Salem, Massachusetts": "'At New Salem, one [man named] Goodale [this could also have been JONATHAN] told me a little while ago, that he looked every day to be carried to jail or have his goods taken by force for ministerial rates.'" …"The church developed internal difficulties soon after its founding. Ebenezer Goodale, one of the organizers, struck a man with an 'ax helve' [Webster's defines 'helve' as the handle of a tool or weapon] during the summer of 1772, and did not confess his sin to Bigelow's satisfaction. A controversy developed and Bigelow reported: 'Goodale is averse to walking with us-But practically and professedly appears most inclined to go with the other Denomination… he denies that ever we were a church.' Goodale's opinion that they were not a true church was probably the prevailing one in town, and thus led to the taxation problems mentioned previously." From the notes of Elizabeth Kellogg Dunne, of the Washington office of the DAR [at the Swift River Valley Historical Society - SRVHS]: Still missing the specific source citation in the Backus Papers, the exact text of the Bigelow letter is as follows: "Apparently in the summer of 1772, 'being at work in his enclosure, there came a young man of loose tongue, and talked somewhat saucily, at which the Brother got provoked and warned him to depart off his land. He [the interloper] told him he should not go. So at last after many words on both sides, ye Brother struck him with his ax helve, at which ye fellow went away and got a warrant for him." "But, to pass that by, it got to my knowledge, and the brother confessed it so that I thought it was done with, as to me. But not long after, he was talking in my hearing with some persons about it, and said he was sorry he struck him with the ax helve, but he wished, after he had warned him off and he did not go, that he had taken a good walnut stick and licked him off, and if it was to do again, he would do so.'" "Bigelow took him to task, the church split and they had a council come from Montague. Two sisters Pierce, Brothers Coller [and] Sampson Pierce, and Barrows were for Bigelow [and] against [were]: Goodale, Sibley and Chamberlain. Powers and Chase took no side. By December 1772, Brother Goodale had decided not to walk with us, but practically and professedly, at the present, appears to go with the other denominations. (There is no record of Goodale joining the Congregational Church.). Goodale apparently made up with Bigelow in 1790, after a church council. [More enticement from the Andover-Newton School of Theology, that there remain more letters and documents not yet transcribed here!!!] Whoever typed this up did insert a reference, but it appears to be the start of a different subject. However, it is included here in case it is the source of the above text: A Church History of New England, 1796, by Isaac Backus, Volume 3, pages 188-189. From the notes of Elizabeth Kellogg Dunne, of the Washington office of the DAR [at the Swift River Valley Historical Society -SRVHS]: "By 1773, however, EG [Ebenezer Goodale] and Bigelow were feuding over EG's assaulting a young man (anonymous) who "came into his enclosure" and baited him until EG ordered him off the premises, and took off after him with an ax helve, so that he got served with a warrant." Mrs. Dunne's letter also notes that the 'Feud last for yrs. Above incident shows plenty of appetite for trouble'. Letter dated 7/15/1967. [This researcher thinks that is rather an expansive extrapolation unless more evidence than this incident is provided. Does the warrant still exist? It is not located at the Franklin County Courthouse in Greenfield, MA. One clerk thought perhaps it was sent to the Massachusetts archives along with all the early records of the Court of Sessions and the Court of Common Pleas.] Dr. David Kenneth Wetherbee's book, page 76, "Heare Lyes Salim New Grant," and it's corresponding footnote #98: "At the advent of the American Revolution, the Goodale family appears to have become divided in their loyalties to England, with Isaac [IV] who resided in Amherst being labeled as a Tory, even though his sons enlisted for the service of the revolution." The brothers Ebenezer (of New Salem) and James (of Danvers) were clearly revolutionists, as will be shown in the following pension depositions. Captain Ebenezer Goodale in the American Revolution: at Boston Before proceeding with the pension depositions, I shall begin with the proof of Ebenezer Goodale's loyalty to the American Revolution. A myth was created in a newspaper account of the locals responding to the first alarm after Lexington. The original story was published by the Barre Gazette between 1834 and 1840, and the paper no longer exists, nor are any copies known to exist. From the above mentioned newspaper article, the story was next reported in 1839, by John Warner Barber in "Barber's Historical Collections": "The news of the battle at Lexington flew through New England like wildfire. The swift horseman with his red flag proclaimed it in every village, and made the stirring call upon the patriots to move forward in defense of the rights so ruthlessly invaded and now sealed with the martyr's blood. Putnam, it will be recollected, left his plough in the furrow and led his gallant men to Cambridge. Such instances of promptness and devotion were not true. We have the following instance of the display of fervid patriotism from an eyewitness, one of those valued relicts of the band of '76, whom now, a grateful nation delights to honor.'" "When the intelligence reached New Salem, the people were hastily assembled on the village green by the notes of alarm. Every man came with his gun, and other hasty preparations for a short march. The militia of the town were then divided into two companies, one of which was commanded by 'Capt. G.' This company was paraded, before much consultation had been had upon the proper steps to be taken in the emergency, and while determination was expressed on almost every countenance, the men stood silently leaning on their muskets, awaiting the movement of the spirit in the officers. The Captain was supposed to be tinctured with toryism, and his present indecision and backwardness were ample proof, if not of his attachment to royalty, at least of his unfitness to lead a patriot band." "Some murmurs began to be heard, when the first Lieutenant, William Stacy, took off his hat, and addressed them. He was a man of stout heart, but of few words. Pulling his commission from his pocket, he said: 'Fellow soldiers, I don't know exactly how it is with the rest of you, but for one, I will no longer serve a King that murders my own countrymen"; and tearing the paper in a hundred pieces, he trod it under his foot. Sober as were the people by nature, they could not restrain a loud, wild hurra, as he stepped forward, and took his place in the ranks. 'G.' still faltered, and made a feeble endeavor to restore order; but they heed it as little as the wind. The company was summarily disbanded, and a reorganization begun on the spot. The gallant Stacy was unanimously chosen Captain, and with a prouder commission than was ever borne on parchment, he led a small but efficient band to Cambridge. He continued in service during the war, reaching, before its close, the rank of lieutenant colonel, under the command of Putnam." Even more regrettably, the story was picked up and repeated in "A History of Western Massachusetts," page 214, by Josiah Gilbert Holland giving it the veneer of fact, but again, with no documentary evidence to back it up. As far back as 1980, David Kenneth Wetherbee suggested in "Heare Lyes Salim New Grant," on page 150, that "the stories to the contrary, probably printed in the Barre Gazette, two generations later, were myths invented by overzealous descendants of Stacy. The plaque in New Salem based on that myth should be destroyed along with all the other myths promulgated on the hill. See 1775 in Later Censuses for further discussion." This fable may have arisen through personal differences between the Goodales and the Stacys, but further evidence that will be provided below suggests that William Stacy was not involved in such an incident. Today, we must try to remember that while those old soldiers of the Revolution were still living, they remained loyal friends to Ebenezer, and respected him. Included among these friends was the former justice of the peace of New Salem, Ezekiel Kellogg. It was only after their deaths or the departure of his remaining loyal friends from New Salem, that this story was able to gain a foothold. This story was meant to honor the man William Stacy, but he had already earned many accolades that did not require the dishonoring of the memory of another man. In fact, this story has a tarnishing effect on William Stacy, because it causes blemish to the reputation of another. This researcher hopes that the disrespect will end with the distribution of the muster list entries and sworn depositions which follow, taken in courts of law at the time when these men were still around to tell the true story. From a document which appears to be someone's school report, perhaps a college paper, at the SRVHS. The name was not on the portion that was given to me: "William Stacy already held the rank of major and was on Woodbridge's regimental muster roll of field officers on April 19, the day of the battle and one day before the local towns, including New Salem, received the alarm." "Ebenezer did lead the minutemen company as captain. He held the rank in a subsequent expedition in 1777, with some of the same men under his command." "Two questions: Where was William Stacy on April 19, 1775? Was he closer to the battle area in one of the eastern towns, thus getting on the rolls on April 19? The event, described by an 'eyewitness' could not have happened on April 20. Why would he be tearing up his commission as a major to accept the rank of captain for any company in April? It is more logical to assume he tore up his royal commission in the provincial militia at a time prior to this date, when the minutemen companies were being formed. (See Everts, Amherst and Pelham). The original copy of the "Barre Gazette" is apparently not extant. Dr. David Wetherbee of New Salem instituted a thorough and careful search for this issue, without success. "Barber in 1839, was some years removed from the actual events, and the eyewitness of very advance years…" Dr. Wetherbee: "Item-William Stacy was the son on Nymphas and Hannah (Littlehale) Stacy. William Stacy, however, had a son called Benjamin, who died in New Salem in 1844." "Item-Included in the minute men of New Salem, April 1775, was Rufus Stacy, his cousin and brother-in-law, who remained in New Salem after the war. His son, Nathaniel, wrote of his early years in New Salem and about his family, but never mentioned an incident of this type, which quite logically could be part of a family's tradition and story-telling." [And no mention of minutemen in Rufus Stacy's pension application.] "Item-Rev. Bigelow, during this time was the Baptist minister. He related the story of Ebenezer getting into trouble with his temper, and also the bad feeling between them, but he never wrote about this incident, which is rather contrary to human nature. It seems he certainly would have recorded this, just to prove what kind of a man he was." "Item-'Notes of alarm.' A bell? A horn? [They reportedly used conch shells from one house to another.] The eyewitness could not have been a resident of New Salem. At that time it was 13 miles long and about 3 miles wide. John King, on what is now West River, Orange, never would have heard a note, much less the North Shutesbury and Ervingshire (Wendell) men, to say nothing of the men living in the extreme southern end (Prescott)) or the east (South Athol)." "Item-The Barre Gazette was first published in 1834." "Item-The minute-men company was formed in accordance with instructions from the Provincial Congress in October of 1774. Towns, following these instructions, formed the special group in the fall of 1774. These were the men taken from the regular militia. Captain Goodale was known to the militia at that time and would not have been made captain by vote of the men unless they were sure of his attitudes. The committee of Safety would have made it their business to ascertain his loyalties." "Item-The muster roll, prepared in accordance with the instructions from the General Court, was made out by Goodale, sworn to its accuracy by him in December 22, 1775, and approved by a Committee at Watertown for this purpose, February 7, 1776. He listed himself as captain, with 22 days service and was paid at this rate. [Massachusetts Archives.]" A possible explanation for the misunderstanding can be found in the pension application of Elizabeth (Stacy) Page, from the notes of Carolyn Chouinard, of the SRVHS: "In later affidavit she says she thinks service in 1775 'was under Captain William Stacy instead of Capts. Meacham and King as Capt. Stacy is said to have had the command of a company from New Salem that year. That as regards the period of service in the fall of 1777 she thinks it may have been under Capt. Ebenezer Goodell, but is not positive of the facts.' Pension record is #W14116, National Archives microfilm series M-804, and the pension application was dated 1837. Another possible source of the story comes from the actual muster listings of that time, in which the men of an artillery unit refused to serve under a Captain Willard, for lack of confidence in him. Since this reported lack of faith is written during the time frame in question, and not at a later time, this may be the true source of the story. Someone may have confused Captain Goodale for Captain Willard. The DAR Patriot Index, vol.? Pg.273, lists Ebenezer Goodale, of Massachusetts, born 1734, died about 1792, married to Grace Phelps. In Senate Documents 264, 71st Congress, 3rd session, serial #9337, vol. 5, Report of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Ebenezer Goodale's headstone is listed as National Monument No. 155974, and the year of death is listed as 1792. However, after visiting the cemeteries, this researcher sadly reports that all evidence of Ebenezer Goodale's headstone and Revolution marker are missing or have been destroyed since the DAR placed the marker. It will require some searching in the DAR records to pinpoint where it should be, and request and /or purchase replacement markers. At the time of the replacement, it would be hoped that the town selectmen of New Salem would reinforce the replacement by publicizing the documentation that can be found at the SRVHS and at the Massachusetts Archives and the National Archives. There are three listings for Ebenezer Goodell/Goodale: From: "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War," pg. 559: "Goodall, Ebenezer, New Salem (probably), Captain of a company of Minutemen, Col. Woodbridge's regt., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775, service 22 days." From: "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War," pg. 554: "Goodale, Ebenezer, Captain in a regiment commanded by Lieut. Col. Samuel Williams; service, 1 mo. 9 days, 6 days of travel included; company engaged July 11, 1777, marched to join Northern army and discharged Aug.12, 1777, 110 miles from home; also Captain, in Col. David Well's regiment; service, 1 mo. 1 day, 6 days travel included; company engaged Sept. 24, 1777, marched to join the Northern army, and was discharged October 18, 1777." The Muster List of the Company of Ebenezer Goodale [The misspellings are intentional, to aid in locating them as they were printed online]: Name Pension App. Name Pension App. Ballard, Daniel pension Bartlet, David S21063 Beeman, Lemuel no Chase, Abner R1884 Cidder, Francis no Claflin, Daniel no Cleveland, Benjamin no Cory, Francis pension Curtice, Asa. no Curtis, Daniel pension Curtis, Moses, corp S34138 Drury, Zachariah no Emerson, Jesse no Foster, Amos no Ganson, John no Glazier, Benjamin pension Goodal, Jonathan, Sgt no Goodall, Jesse no Haskall, Benj. Sgt W13400 Holt, Humphrey no Holt, Jonathan no Holt, William no Jackson, Nathaniel pension Johnson, Ebenezer no Johnson, Joseph pension Jonson, Nathaniel pension Kellogg, Ezekiel S13601 King, John, sergeant W12021 Larned, William no Meacham, Jeremiah,corp no Nickels, George no Nurs, Asa no Osgood, Jonathan no Osgood, Josiah, Lieut. 19948 Page, William no Pearce, Jonathan pension Pearce, Samuel no Pearce, Stephen no Pearce, Verney no Prinles, John no Richardson, Israel no Ross, Ephraim no Rugg, Joseph no Stacy, Rufus S33714 Stiles, Josiah BLW bounty land Thomson, Isaac no Upton, Benjamin no Vorce, Asa no Washburn, Elisha no Wheeler, Benj., corp. Wheeler, Joshua no Wier, Adam, sergeant no Wildder, Silas no Wyat, Stephen W14209 The men from Goodale's company who re-enlisted under Meacham/King are as follows: Ballard, Daniel Bartlet, David Cory, Frances Curtice, Moses Emerson, Jesse Ganson, John Haskall, Benj Holt, Humphery Holt, Jonathan Holt, William Jonson, Ebenezer King, John Meacham, Jeremiah Nurs, Asa Pearce, Jonathan Pearce, Samuel Pearce, Stephen Pearce, Verney Stiles, Josiah Thomson, Isaac Upton, Benj Vorce, Asa Washburn, Elisha Wheeler, Benj Wheeler, Joshua The portions of the muster list that marched under Captain Ebenezer Goodale and Col. Samuel Williams in 1777 are as follows: Name Pension Name Pension Ballard, Josiah BLW 35720-160-55 Boyce, Jacob missing Chase, Abner R1884 Clark, Lemuel W2757 Crosset, Samuel no Foster, Joseph Ganson, Nathan, sgt W47937 Hamilton, John Harwood, Jacob W14870 Hascall, Jacob missing Haskins, Shadrach gave testimony for others Hoith, Francis King, John, Lt. 12021 Meachum, Jno, sgt Newton, Eliphaz Pearce, David, corp. Pierce, Amos Peirce, Jonathan Peirce, Samuel Perry, Joseph missing Richardson, Lysander Rogers, Samuel Sampson, Peter, sgt no Stiles, Foster Thomson, Caleb no Townsend, Isaac Trask, James Trask, Jesse S29516 Trask, William, corp. Washburn, Arthur, sgt These men were discharged on August 12, 1777, service 1 month, 9 days. These are the few men serving under Captain Ebenezer Goodale, that the program found under Col. David Wells, keyword 'wells's, enlisted Sept. 24, 1777: Name Pension Name Pension Abbott, Eli no Ballard, Dane no Barnerd, Samuel no Boyce, Jacob missing Bradley, Daniel, Corp. Bridge, George, sgt no Bridge, Thomas no Cadey, Samuel no Cadey, Jason no Chamberlin, Samuel missing Church, John Curtis, Daniel pension Curtis, Moses no Day, James, corporal no Dickinson, Stoughton Goodale, Jonathan, Sgt no Greaves, Gideon, Sunderland Hamilton, John Holt, Humphrey no Holt, Jonathan no Jones, Levi Kellogg, Ezekiel S13601 Kellogg, William Manning, Samuel, Lt. Marshall, Clement Meachum, Jeremiah Pearce, Jonathan Pebbles, Robert Perry, Joseph Putnam, Jacob Rugg, Joseph no Stacey, William Wheeler, Benjamin, corporal It is fitting that this researcher should give a description of the research method used to locate the pension depositions of these far-flung old veterans of the Revolution. The first source used was accessed on Ancestry.com's online version of the 17 volume Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolution. This is an important research tool for looking up other soldiers in the militia units that served with one's own ancestor. As the volumes are structured in book form, one must know the last names of the people one is searching for. With the online or CD version of these 17 volumes, one can instead use key words to bring up the men from individual militia units or hometowns. In this case, the researcher used the names of the captains of the militia companies, or when necessary, resorted to the names of the Colonels of the units. Hence, typing in Goodale's, Coney's and Shays's brought up lists of men who served under these captains. This researcher also used the keywords of the towns of New Salem, Ervingshire, Montague, Orange, Athol, and so on. Part two of this search switched to a second source, the Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files. Using the lists produced from the first source, this researcher culled the second source for the men who applied for pensions. This produced a second list, which still had to be narrowed down. Often times the names of certain men would be duplicated in other branches of the same families, so some were tossed out because the abstract or the microfilm evidence showed this was not the soldier from New Salem or from the militia unit in question. Finally a much shorter list remained, from which the researcher moved to her third source, below. The pension applications of the soldiers of the Revolution have been microfilmed by the National Archives, in microfilm series M804. All of the following are from this series, with roll numbers included herewith. Upon investigating the pension applications of all the men that I could find listed as serving under Captain Ebenezer Goodale, the 1832 application of Ezekiel Kellogg (roll #1464, S13601) provides the richest description of the activities of each of the two companies of men. He later became the Justice of the Peace for New Salem, then a resident of Littleton, New Hampshire: "April 1775, I lived in New Salem in Massachusetts, where I was born. I belonged to a company of minutemen, commanded by Captain Ebenezer Goodale, John King, Lieutenant, and on the news of the Lexington fight, our company were called to go down to Boston. How long I stayed, I cannot remember. I do recollect I stayed until the enlistment of eight months men had gone so far that minutemen were dismissed. Our headquarters was at Cambridge. Our general was Artemus Ward, Major Stacy of the field, and I remember no more. I was gone several weeks in this service, how many, I dare not say, perhaps two, three or four." As of this writing, the only outside source which provides a little more description of this tour of service comes from Angel in the Whirlwind, by Benson Bobrick, page 119: "The men who chased the redcoats back to Boston now settled down before it, and the formation of an army began. From far and near, armed companies of patriots set out to join them, as riders galloped from farm to farm and the white-spired New England churches rang their bells to call the men to arms. Farmers left their fields, where they had been plodding sturdily behind their plows; veterans took down their long guns with powder and horn. They made their way to the outskirts of Boston from Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, as well as Massachusetts-in such numbers that within a few days Gage found himself invested [laid siege by] a motley patriot army of more than 10,000 men." "On April 20, General Artemas Ward of Massachusetts took charge of the gathering force and, at a council of war made up of himself and other New England militia officers, established a plan of guard posts, fortifications, and earthworks to blockade the roads out of Boston and imprison the British in place. Within a few days, troops had been distributed among encampments that extended from Dorchester through Roxbury, Brookline, Cambridge, and Charlestown, down to the Mystic River in a semicircular line. Ward established his headquarters at Cambridge, where some of the Harvard College buildings were turned into barracks and the kitchen furnished pots, kettles, and other cooking utensils for the general staff." The muster list that produced the names of the men who marched under Captain Ebenezer Goodale, (Col. Benjamin Woodbridge) to Boston in 1775 may be found in the appendix under Ebenezer Goodale. From a paper in found at the SWVHS, in New Salem, MA, simply titled "1776", and noted signed by an author, but probably written by 'scouts', page 2: "In January and February John King and Ebenezer Goodale had their muster rolls approved by the General Court for the service performed in 1775 and warrants were drawn on the State Treasury for payment." This shows that Goodale did march to Boston. There is another clue to the disputed paragraph in the Barre Gazette here. Many of the men who served in Ebenezer Goodale's company from April 1775 re-enlisted in John King's company in May 1775, including John King himself. John King served as a sergeant in Goodale's company in April, and was still a sergeant when he re-enlisted in Captain William Meacham's company in May. Meacham was killed on June 17th and King was promoted to captain at that time. See the appendix under Ebenezer Goodale for the men from Goodale's company who re- enlisted under Meacham/King. If any differences of opinion occurred during the march to Boston, it did not involve William Stacy and Ebenezer Goodale. It also appears that it did not happen [if it ever did happen] until after Ebenezer had served for a one month term. Returning to the pension deposition of Ezekiel Kellogg concerning his additional service under Captain Ebenezer Goodale in 1777, in which Jonathan (II) Goodell also participated: "In 1777, volunteers were called for by Capt. Ebenezer Goodale to go and stop General Burgoyne who had taken Ticonderoga and was forming his legions on our northern frontier, and a great alarm run through the land, and the volunteers in his company debarct [debarked?] the first of July. We marched with about 40 men from New Salem under Capt. Goodale and Lt. Samuel Manning and Ensign Coney joined us with ten or twelve men from Shutesbury, H____(?) and Erving, and I was orderly sergeant. We marched to ch______ Mines (Nines?) at Northampton, marched over thro Pegrum (?) Hadley (?) and Pittsfield to Solomon (?) Springs and from thence through Williamstown to Bennington, VT, from thence to Manchester, VT. Burgoyne was advancing slowly towards North River. It was somewhere about the 10th to 15th of July we started on this service (?). We went to Pawlett, Vt., From there, joined to Col. Wells regiment and brigade of Gen'l [John] Fellows and continued in that service until after Burgoyne was taken the last of October. We were dismissed, having been over three months on the ground (?) in service in said company, nearly four months from home (?) I was out a few days at a time one mon_?. "…After Bennington Battle, our regiments marched to Schagticoke from thence to Battenkill and were continually scouting up as far as Fort Edward and Fort Miller, until the 1st(?) of October, when our regiment forded the river and joined in the Battle against the British. Gen. Gates was the Commander in Chief. We received orders from him thru Major Coffren, his aide-de-camp, who soon after the Battle of the 7th, ordered us to take possession of Fort Edward, to cut off Burgoyne's retreat, in doing of which, we had a battle with the Canadians across the river. I knew Lt. Stacy who commanded a regiment of regulars there. I have no written documents, nor do I find persons alive who has personal knowledge of my service". Additional details can be found in the application of Jacob Harwood, in 1832, (roll # 1214, pension # 14870) in Franklin County, MA: "…That he was in the regiment commanded by Colonel Williams, Major Locke, and in the company of which Ebenezer Goodale was Captain, and John King, Lieutenant. That he left the service in the latter part of August A.D.1777. That he resided in said New Salem when he entered the service. That he was a volunteer. That he marched through Hadley and Pittsfield, Mass to Hoosic [Hoosick River] and from thence through Stillwater and Fort Miller to Moses Creek, where he joined the Regiment under the command of Col. Williams. That he had no discharge." In the same application, we find the deposition of Samuel Pearce, who testified: "…That between the 1st and 10th day of July 1777, he enlisted at New Salem aforesaid, in Capt. Ebenezer Goodale's company, of which John King was Lieutenant. In Colonel William's Regiment of which regiment John Locke was Major. Marched to Moses Creek, near Fort Edward, met the retreating American army, and fell back to Saratoga, and from thence to Stillwater, and continued in that vicinity until about the expiration of the term of enlistment." In the appendix under Ebenezer Goodale, can be found a muster list of men from 1777 under Captain Ebenezer Goodale and Colonel Samuel Williams. One month later, Ebenezer Goodale marched again. Another muster list of men who served under Ebenezer Goodale, in the latter part of 1777, under Colonel David Wells may also be found in that appendix under Ebenezer Goodale. Several men enlisted in more than one term in Ebenezer Goodale's company: Daniel [or Dane] Ballard, Abner Chase, Daniel Curtis, Moses Curtis, Jonathan [II] Goodale, John Hamilton, Humphrey Holt, Jonathan Holt, Ezekiel Kellogg, John King, Jeremiah Meachum, Joseph Perry, Jonathan Pierce, Samuel Pierce, Joseph Rugg and Benjamin Wheeler. [Jeremiah Meachum was probably the Junior. His aunt was DEBORAH (HAWKINS) GOODALE]. If the men of Ebenezer Goodale's company marched through Pittsfield at the same time that the Pittsfield militia volunteers headed out, then they would have been involved in the entire Battle of Bennington. [Although Ezekiel Kellogg merely mentioned Bennington in his deposition, this was not unusual among the thousands of depositions filed. The men only mentioned battles that could be verified by documentation on file with the US government or by the testimony of living witnesses]. It is well documented that the militant parson of Pittsfield, Thomas Allen, commanded the Pittsfield Militia Company at the Battle of Bennington. From: "Saratoga: The Decisive Battle," by Rupert Furneaux, page 119, concerning the British Army movements: "When, on August 11th, Baum paraded his men, preparatory to marching from Fort Miller, Burgoyne rode up and gave him new verbal instructions, countermanding the previous order. These directed Baum to proceed to Bennington, thirty miles south-east of Fort Edward, where Burgoyne said, a Tory officer had reported a magazine of provisions and a large number of horses inadequately guarded by three to four hundred men." From: "Angel in the Whirlwind," page 259: "Informed that a large quantity of arms and supplies, including horses, which he needed for his artillery, were being held at Bennington and 'guarded only by militia', Burgoyne dispatched about 800 men-including 300 Queen's Loyal Rangers, 374 Germans, 50 marksmen, and about 75 Indians-under Colonel Friedrich Baum…" Later, Baum learned that the guard of militia had grown to 1500 to 1800 militia, but pressed on ahead on his mission (Saratoga: The Decisive Battle page 121). The American General Stark, leading the guard at Bennington, learned of the approaching British detachment. "Realizing that it was no mere Indian raid, he despatched Colonel Greg with 200 men to Sam Coick's Mill to delay the enemy's advance while he mobilized his troops. He also sent orders to Warner at Manchester to come at once to Bennington (per Ezekiel Kellogg's testimony, Ebenezer Goodale's company came from Manchester to Bennington) a distance of twenty miles, despatched messengers to rouse the countryside, and rallied his own brigade for action next day." From: "Saratoga: The Decisive Battle," page 124: "Marching until midnight, Warner's regiment reached to within one mile of Bennington, and Warner himself hurried on ahead to join Stark. At 11 p.m., Lieutenant Hageman reached Baum's (the British) camp to report that Von Breymann was on his way to help him. During the night, or early next day, Colonel Skene rode back to meet and hurry on Von Breymann." "Stark also had a visitor that night. Amongst the militia who had answered his call from the surrounding countryside, came a contingent from the town of Pittsfield, commanded by no less a person than their minister, Parson Thomas Allen. [Captain Goodale's company may have already been on the field along with Parson Allen's men of Pittsfield, or marched in from Manchester later, as will be described]. Allen entered Stark's cabin and demanded to be allowed to attack the enemy which, previously, he and his men had not been permitted to do. 'Would you go out on this dark and rainy night?' enquired Stark. He told the warlike minister to 'go back to your people, and tell them to get some rest if they can, and if the Lord gives us some sunshine, and I do not give you fighting enough, I will never ask you to come out again.'" "At dawn on the 16th rain was still falling heavily…" ["Saratoga: The Decisive Battle," page 125]: "During the morning, Stark, who had been joined overnight by contingents of local militia from Vermont and New York, pursued the plan he had formed to surround and destroy Baum. His troops numbered over 2000 men, more than double those of the enemy. Keeping 100 men in reserve, he 'detached Col. Nichols with 200 men to attack them in the rear. I likewise sent the Colonels Hubbard and Whitney with 200 men on their right, and sent 100 men in their front, to draw away their attention that way, and about 3 o'clock we got all ready for the attack. Col. Nichols began the same, which was followed by all the rest. The remainder of my little army I pushed up in the front, and in a few minutes the action began.'" "According to legend, which lacks documentary authentication, Stark said jokingly: 'We'll beat them today or by night, Molly Stark's a widow.' "Whether or not by preconceived design, many of the American militiamen adopted the ruse of pretending to be Tories coming in to join Baum and Skene. Placing pieces of white paper in their hats, which identified them as Loyalists, the simple shirt-sleeved farmers worked their way in between the scattered enemy posts, infiltrating the position, and mingling with the men they had come to kill. Though he was warned that the armed men in shirt-sleeves, whose 'demeanor as well as their dress and style of equipment plainly and incontestably pointed them out as Americans', Baum refused to heed, most of all', stated the Tory leader Jessup…" From: "Saratoga: The Decisive Battle," Page 127-131: "Firing from the flanks notified the infiltrators that the moment had come to throw off their masks. Raising their muskets, they shot down the unsuspecting Germans and Tories whom they had duped...The posts were attacked on all sides, and the flanking parties wormed their way up Hessian Hill, firing from behind trees at Baum's dragoons who were sheltering behind their crude breastworks. Most of the soldiers in the exposed posts threw down their arms and fled into the woods, and the bridge was quickly occupied by the main contingent led by Stark himself…" "The Tories, who occupied the redoubt to the south of the river, were attacked by an American party led by Ebenezer Webster, the father of the more famous Daniel, which included the warlike Parson Allen. "Recognizing some of the Tories who came from his own district, he went forward, stood on a log and exhorted in his best pulpit manner to defect to the American cause. 'There's Parson Allen. Let's pot him,' came the cry from the redoubt. His neighbor's volley failed to harm Allen, and Webster led the rush over the breastwork. The Tory Captain Peters takes up the story: 'A little before the Loyalists gave way, the rebels rushed with a strong party on the front of the Loyalists which I commanded. As they were coming up, I observed a man fire at me, which I returned. He loaded again as he came up, and discharged at me, crying out, 'Peters, you damn Tory, I have got you.' He rushed on me with his bayonet, which entered just below my left breast but was turned by my bones. By this time I was loaded and saw it was a rebel Captain, Jeremiah Post by name, an old schoolmate and playfellow, and a cousin of my wife. Though his bayonet was in my body I felt regret at being obliged to destroy him.'" "The Tories were forced to abandon their redoubt. The majority were taken prisoner; some succeed in escaping down the road to join von Breymann; and others fled up the hill to throw in their lot with Baum who was by now fiercely assailed by Stark's men who had reached the summit. As their assailants stormed in, the dragoons lumbered off down the hill, running into Stark's reserve, advancing along the road. The battle became a confused melee. Baum and a party of dragoons put up a stiff fight till their ammunition was exhausted. He then ordered his men to sling their carbines and fight their way out with swords, a maneuver, which gained them a little time because of the Americans' lack of bayonets. Baum was shot through the stomach and fell mortally wounded, and the dragoons lumbered off into the woods, hotly pursued by their light-footed foes." "The battle had lasted for two hours and 'it was the hottest I ever saw in my life', reported Stark, who in 1759 had stood with Wolfe on the Plains of Abraham… The Americans halted to plunder the enemy's posts… Other parties pursued the fleeing dragoons whose heavy swords and scabbards became entangled in the trees, bringing them to a halt. Stark ordered his men to rally to secure the victory, but in a few minutes I was informed there was a large reinforcement on their march within two miles of us. Luckily for us, that moment Colonel Warner's regiment came up fresh, who marched on and began the attack afresh.' [This is probably the point at which Captain Ebenezer Goodale's company, if with Warner coming from Manchester, joined the fight]. Stark ordered a hogshead of rum to be broached to refresh his exhausted men, but according to Captain Barnes', so eager were they to attack the enemy, upon their being reinforced, that they tarried not to taste it, but rushed on the enemy with an ardor unparalleled.' Parson Allen secured a German surgeon's horse, the panniers of which were filled with bottles of wine, which he carried to the wounded soldiers." "Warner's regiment had reached the bridge captured by Skene's men at 5 p.m., and after stopping to drink at the river, had pushed on along its bank. It was becoming dark and both sides were exhausted. The Germans had fired all their ammunition, many had been killed or wounded, and their artillery horses were either dead or too done-up to be useful. Von Breymann ordered his contingent to retreat, leaving their cannon behind. Warner's Vermonters [and perhaps Goodale's company] followed, Stark observing 'I pushed forward as many of the men as I could to their assistance. The battle continued obstinate on both sides till sunset. The enemy was obliged to retreat. We pursued them till dark. But had daylight lasted one hour longer, we should have taken the whole body of them…" "Fearing that his men would shoot each other in the darkness, Stark called off the pursuit. His victory had been prodigious… An army of rustic marksmen had defeated two armies, composed largely of disciplined regular troops and led by experienced soldiers." As Ezekiel Kellogg testified in his deposition, after the battle of Bennington, they were joined to Col. David Wells regiment, and under the brigade leadership of General John Fellows, while at Powlett, VT. They marched from there to Schagticoke, and thence to Battenkill, and were continually scouting up as far as Fort Edward and Fort Miller, until October when their regiment forded a river and joined in the battle against the British. General Gates aide-de-camp ordered them to take possession of Fort Edward [to cut off Burgoyne's retreat], in doing of which they had a battle with the Canadians across the river. According to Furneaux, in "Saratoga: The Decisive Battle," page 243: "Burgoyne had decided to withdraw to Ticonderoga, sixty miles to the north, if that was still possible, as American detachments were gathering in his rear. Prior to the battle on the 7th, Gates had ordered Brigadier General John Fellows to march his 1300 militiamen up the east bank of the Hudson to Battenkill, and to cross to the west bank at Saratoga. Burgoyne sent Lt. Colonel Nicholas Sunderland, with the 47th and 9th regiments to reconnoiter the road to Saratoga." From: "Saratoga: The Decisive Battle," page 247-248, quoting the Baroness von Riedesel, concerning the British army retreat: "'At last, the army again began its march, but scarcely had we proceeded an hour on the way, when a fresh halt was made, in consequence of the enemy being in sight. They were about two hundred men who had come to reconnoiter, and who might easily have been taken prisoner by our troops, had not General Burgoyne lost his head. It rained in torrents…'" "'…For the enemy at once availed themselves of this delay to send as many troops as possible behind the English across the river; and thus they not only prevented them from building a bridge, but rallied the nearest townships on the opposite side, and effectually opposed the crossing of the army. The gathering of the Americans on the eastern shore could easily be seen; while, at the same time, firing on the patrols and the bateaux became more frequent.' Burgoyne explained later that he ordered a halt until four o'clock in the afternoon, in order to refresh the troops and to give time for the boats, which had not been able to keep pace, to come up with the troops." From: "Saratoga: The Decisive Battle," page 248: "Gates too, came in for criticism his failure to pursue the retreating enemy, and for leaving Fellows and his small force of militiamen alone to block the road beyond Saratoga. Fellows left his camp so ineffectively guarded that Lt. Colonel Sutherland and his men were able to march round it without being halted. His entreaty to Burgoyne to be allowed to attack Fellows was refused, and the militiamen escaped across the Hudson. Thus, both Gates and Burgoyne missed golden opportunities to catch and elude each other." "After reaching Dovecot, the retreating [British] army spent the whole day in pouring rain… the march was resumed at 4 pm." From the Baroness, "Saratoga: The Decisive Battle," page 249: "'Toward evening, we at last came to Saratoga, which was only half an hour's march from the place where we had spent the whole day…'" From: "Saratoga: The Decisive Battle," page 253: "Gates, on the 10th, decided at last to take the bold course and to pursue his enemy. To that end, he sent Learned, Nixon, and Glover, with their brigades, and Morgan with his riflemen, with orders to cross the Fishkill Creek, and to attack the British at Saratoga, a movement that was hindered by the early morning fog…" From: "Saratoga: The Decisive Battle," page 254: "Still believing he could escape from the American encirclement, Burgoyne sent a detachment of artificers… to open a road to Fort Edward and to repair the bridges across the creeks over which the retreat to Ticonderoga would need to be effected. He left this important operation until too late, for, by the time Sutherland reached Fort Edward, the place had been strongly garrisoned by the enemy." From: "Saratoga: The Decisive Battle," page 255: "During the 11th the army was under constant fire the whole day, both front and rear, from the American artillery and from the marksmen who had concealed themselves in the woods…" "Burgoyne planned a breakout in the following days, but (page 257): His hopes were dashed that night when the scouts reported that the enemy's position on the right was such, and they had so many small parties out, that it would be impossible to move without their march being discovered." "The breakout had been left too late, due to Burgoyne's fatal delay in allowing Colonel Sutherland to attack Fort Edward. Falling back, on Burgoyne's order, he had been abandoned by the Tories, who made their way safely to Ticonderoga." "Burgoyne's diminishing and wasting army was encircled by 16,000 Americans." Burgoyne finally surrendered." From the papers of Timothy Page, in the possession of the New Salem SRVHS, there is evidence that Captain Ebenezer Goodale served at least one more tour of duty in 1781: "Captain Goodale, 2 pr stockings". This listing occurs on a requisition note (orders on the Constables) described as "The above is Cloathing for Soldiers, etc." It is dated October 20, 1781. The muster lists for this tour have not been turned in to the National Archives, if they still exist. The above evidence should dispel any lingering doubts that "Capt. G. was a Tory or a coward". Thanks to modern access to the records of the past, local historians will hopefully find it fruitful to ferret out these additional sources that this researcher has mentioned in these notes, and rewrite the local history to reflect the new findings. From the Franklin County Courthouse in Greenfield, MA, the "Grantor Book, Abstracts from 1663 to 1786," Vol. 4, page 128, 2-3-289: "Isaac Goodale of Amherst to Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem, in consideration of thirteen pounds, December 12, 1782. All my share or part (which is one half thereof) of a 3rd Division lot No. 94, originally drawn by Jonathan Waters, lying in New Salem aforesaid." From the "1787-1889 Grantee's Index," page 118: 1790, March 15-From Samuel Kendall, Jr to Ebenezer Goodale, Volume 1, page 392, New Salem. From the "1787-1889 Grantor's Index," page 130: 1790, July 3-Ebenezer Goodale to Isaac Townsend, Volume 3, page 448, New Salem In 1792, Elizabeth Goodale Newton's husband died, according to some typed notes found at the SRVHS by Jane Cherichetti, and which this researcher missed. Unfortunately, the husband's name was not given in the notes. According to these notes [possibly Carolyn Chouinard's or Elizabeth Kellogg Dunn's], there is a Hampshire County probate, 105:18, in which Ebenezer Goodale was selected as the guardian of the minor children, even though their own grandfather, JONATHAN GOODALE was living. The will was dated January 21, 1792, and the children are listed as Alpheus Newton, aged 14 and Ebenezer Goodale was appointed guardian to Alpheus April 2, 1793. Lydia Newton was aged 12; Richard Newton, aged 9; Vina Newton, aged 8; Betsy Newton aged 2, and John Newton, who received $44 from his grandfather JONATHAN, in his will in 1813. John was likely to have been over the age of 14. From the "1787-1889 Grantor's Index," page 130: 1793, Nov. 19-Ebenezer Goodale to Benjamin Remington, Volume 6, page 325, New Salem. From: "Hampshire County, MA Court of Common Pleas," Volume __, page 292, SLC Microfilm #0886411: "Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem in the County of Hampshire, gentleman plaintiff, vs. Silas Smith late of New Salem, aforesaid, husbandman and Solomon Sibley of the same New Salem, yeoman agent of said Silas, defendants. In a plea of the case for plaintiff, that said Silas at New Salem aforesaid, on April 24th, cash by his note for value received promised said Ebenezer to pay him on order twelve pounds lawful money in this month with interest, yet said Silas, though requested, has never paid the same, but hath absconded out of the commonwealth and his goods and effects are concealed and cannot be ___ at to be attached and that said Solomon, agent aforesaid, hath goods, effects and credits of said Silas in his hands, and etc." "This case was entered at January term last when the said Solomon appeared in court and being sworn as the statute requires declared upon his oath that at the time of the ____ of the ___ ____ he owed said Silas a note dated April 22 last for 13 pounds payable in ___ ____ within two years; that the same is still due. And the case was from thence continued from term to term to this time, and now the plaintiff appears and that the said Silas being three times called to come into court makes default of appearance here. Wherefore it is considered by the court that said Ebenezer do recover against said Silas, twelve pounds, nineteen shillings and ten pence lawful money, damages and costs of suit taxed at 3 pounds, 15 shillings and 1 pence, and thereof and etc. Sept. 10, 1794." From: "Hampshire County Court of Common Pleas," Vol. 2, pg. 127: Case No. 379: "Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem in our County of Hampshire, gentleman plaintiff, vs. Moses Curtis of the same New Salem, yeoman defendant, in a plea of this case for, that the said Moses at New Salem aforesaid on the 4th day of November in the year of our Lord 1793, made his note in writing with his name thereto subscribed, wherein for value received he promised the said Ebenezer to pay him the sum of seventeen pounds ten shillings equal to fifty- eight dollars and thirty three cents, within two years from the date of said note, with cost of interest for the sum until paid; Yet the said Moses, though often thereto requested, hath never paid the same, but neglects and refuses so to do to the damage of the said Ebenezer, one hundred dollars." "The plaintiff appears by Edward Upham, gentleman, his attorney and the defendant, although three times publicly called to come into court, makes default of his appearance here, whereupon it is considered by the court that the said Ebenezer do recover against the said Moses sixty dollars and nine cents damages and costs of suit taxed at seven dollars, seventy-six cents and thereof, and etc." "After which, the said Moses by William Ward, gentleman, his attorney comes here into court and appeals from the judgement of this court to the Supreme Judicial Court to be holden at Northampton within and for the county of Hampshire on the 4th Tuesday of September next, and he recognizes with sureties for said Moses, presenting the same appeal with effect." From the "1787-1889 Grantor's Index," page 130: 1795, February 24-Ebenezer Goodale to Benjamin Sibley, Volume 8, page 210, New Salem. From the Franklin County Courthouse in Greenfield, MA, the "Grantor Book," Volume 8, page 395: "Know all men by these presents, that I, Joseph Perry of New Salem in the county of Hampshire, yeoman… for and in consideration of Seventy pounds… paid to me by Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem, gentleman, do hereby grant, sell and convey unto the said Ebenezer Goodale…" "A certain piece of land lying in New Salem containing sixty acres of land being the west end of a 3rd Division Lot being No. 75 bounded as follows: beginning at the northeast corner at a stake and stones bounded upon land of Asa Merriam, then running southwardly about one hundred rods to a pitch pine tree spotted on three sides bounded upon lands of said Merriam and Isaac Townsend on the east, then running westwardly to the highway, then running northwardly about one hundred rods, bounded upon the highway, then running eastwardly to the first mentioned stake and stones…" etc. August 20, 1795. From the "Hampshire County Court of Common Pleas," Vol. V, pg. 44, SLC microfilm # 0886410: "January 1796: Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem in the County of Hampshire, gentleman plaintiff, vs. Joshua Wheeler of the same New Salem, yeoman defendant. In a plea of the case for: That Joshua Wheeler of said New Salem on October 10, 17?? By his note for value received, promised said Ebenezer to pay him on order, 15 pounds [equal to fifty dollars] within two years with interest, yet said Joshua though requested ___ ___ paid ___ same being ___ to the damage of said Ebenezer sixty dollars. This list on who ??? about the last term of this Court and continued to this time, and ___ the plaintiff appears and the defendant though three times called to come into court ___ default of appearance here, wherefore it is considered by the Court that the said Ebenezer do recover against the said Joshua, fifty-one dollars and eighty-four cents damages and cost of suit taxed at doll. 10.76 and thereof, and etc. May 28, 1796." From the "1787-1889 Grantor's Index," page 131: 1798, Feb. 5-Ebenezer Goodale to John Chamberlain [his son-in-law], Volume 9, page 594, New Salem. 1798, September 5-Nathan Goodale to Ebenezer Goodale, Volume 11, page 554, New Salem. From the "1787-1889 Grantee's Index," page 113: 1798, September 5-Henry Prescott to Ebenezer Goodale, Volume 11, page 556, New Salem From the "Grantee's Book," Volume 11, page 555: Know all men by these presents, that I, Joseph Perry of New Salem, County of Hampshire, yeoman, in consideration of twenty pounds paid to me by Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem, County of Hampshire, gentleman… I do hereby give, grant, sell and convey unto the said Ebenezer Goodale…" "A certain piece of land lying in New Salem containing sixty acres of land… being the west end of a 3rd Division lot being No. 75, bounded as follows, beginning at the northeast corner at a stake and stones bounded upon land of Asa Merriam, then running southwardly about one hundred rods to a pitch pine tree spotted on three sides, bounded upon lands of said Merriam and Isaac Townsend on the east, then running westwardly to the highway, then running northwardly about one hundred rods bounded upon the highway, then running eastwardly to the first mentioned stake and stones." September 5, 1798 From the "1787-1889 Grantee's Index," page 118: 1798, October 22-Colonel William Larned to Ebenezer Goodale, Volume 11, page 552, New Salem, tax sale From the "1787-1889 Grantee's Index," page 118 1798, October 22-Jonathan Meacham to Ebenezer Goodale, Volume 11, page 553, New Salem, tax sale. From the "Hampshire County Court of Common Pleas," Vol. 2, pg. 127: Case No. 379: "Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem in our County of Hampshire, gentleman plaintiff, vs. Moses Curtis of the same New Salem, yeoman defendant, in a plea of this case for, that the said Moses at New Salem aforesaid on the 4th day of November in the year of our Lord 1793, made his note in writing with his name thereto subscribed, wherein for value received he promised the said Ebenezer to pay him the sum of seventeen pounds ten shillings equal to fifty- eight dollars and thirty three cents, within two years from the date of said note, with cost of interest for the sum until paid; Yet the said Moses, though often thereto requested, hath never paid the same, but neglects and refuses so to do to the damage of the said Ebenezer, one hundred dollars." "The plaintiff appears by Edward Upham, gentleman, his attorney and the defendant, although three times publicly called to come into court, makes default of his appearance here, whereupon it is considered by the court that the said Ebenezer do recover against the said Moses sixty dollars and nine cents damages and costs of suit taxed at seven dollars, seventy-six cents and thereof, and etc." "After which, the said Moses by William Ward, gentleman, his attorney comes here into court and appeals from the judgement of this court to the Supreme Judicial Court to be holden at Northampton within and for the county of Hampshire on the 4th Tuesday of September next, and he recognizes with sureties for said Moses, presenting the same appeal with effect." From the "Hampshire County Court of Common Pleas," Vol. 2, pg. 168: "May 1799, Case No. 30_: Ebenezer Goodale of New Salem in the County of Hampshire, gentleman, plaintiff, vs. Eli Russell of said New Salem, yeoman, defendant, in a plea of the case as by the writ on file. This case was entered the last term of this court and continued to this term and now at this term, the plaintiff, by Edward Upham, gentleman, his attorney, appears and the defendant although three times publicly called to come into court, makes default of his appearance here, whereupon it is considered by the court that the said Ebenezer do recover against the said Eli, eighty-four dollars, thirty- five cents damages and costs of suit, taxed at $11.26 and thereof, and etc. ____ September 12, 1799." From the "Hampshire County Court of Common Pleas," Vol. 2, pg. 168: 1799, December 11-Eli Russell to Ebenezer Goodale, Volume Executions, page 32 From the :1787-1889 Grantor's Index," page 131: 1803, April 6, Ebenezer Goodale to Abner Chase, Volume 9, page 668, New Salem. From the "1787-1889 Grantor's Index," page 131: 1808, September 5-Ebenezer Goodale to Moses Curtis, Volume 26, page 116, New Salem. 1808, December 23-Ebenezer Goodale to Jonathan Foster, Volume 26, page 217, New Salem. 1811, May 27-Ebenezer Goodale to John Lazell, Volume 20, page 327, New Salem. From the "1787-1889 Grantor Index," page 131: 1818, August 4-Ebenezer Goodale to Salmon H. Chamberlain [?his grandson], Volume 31, page 258, New Salem DAR application Member #155974 Piatt, Lula Dot Fay MA: "GOODALE, EBENEZER Ancestor #: A046251 Service: MA Rank: CAPTAIN Birth: (CIRCA) 1734 Death: (POST) 1792 NEW SALEM -PROB MA Service Description: 1) MINUTE MEN LEXINGTON ALARM 2) COL WOODBRIDGE 1)GRACE PHELPS Member (Sort By Member ID) id Docs Add Vol. Child/Spouse Number/Spouse 155974 GRATIA / [1] JOHN CHAMBERLIN File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ma/franklin/bios/goodellg113gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mafiles/ File size: 80.4 Kb