MILITARY IN BRATTLEBORO FROM 1724. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Tina S. Vickery, Thursday, March 18, 1999. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Brattleboro Windham County, Vermont Early History with Biographical Sketches of some of its Citizens by Henry Burnham Brattleboro Published by D. Leonard 1880 page 44-47 MILITARY IN BRATTLEBORO FROM 1724. The circumstances in which our early settlers were placed, rendered necessary a constant appeal to force. Frequent attacks from Indians, French Canadians, growing out of old French War difficulties, claims and aggressions of New York, & c., so exercised their organs of combativeness, there was probably but little time or disposition to cultivate other departments of the brain. The military was, with them, the earliest and most important institution. The first operations were commenced here 29 years before this town was chartered by the royal governor of New Hampshire. To protect her northern frontier from attacks form Canada, Massachusetts built a fort on grounds within the present limits of Brattleboro East village, on ground now owned and occupied by Simon Brooks, Esq. In honor of Sir William Dummer, who was at that time Lieut. Governor of Massachusetts, this fort received the name of "Fort Dummer." Sixteen years after the erection of this fort, the command devolved upon Col. Josiah Willard, and, we have been informed, his remains, with those of other early occupants of this fort, were placed in a cemetery upon the eastern bank of the Connecticut river, nearly opposite the site of the old fort. Some of the monuments in this ancient cemetery are covered with lichens, and the inscriptions so effaced it is not possible to read them. The earliest date legible is 1759, upon a stone erected to the memory of Moses Palmer, of Little Compton. Several headstones have inscribed thereon the name of Willard, and they were probably erected to the memory of the connections of the old commander. Though from some of these headstones we cannot learn who was placed beneath them, yet the following inscription, copied from one of these monuments, furnishes good presumptive evidence that we have been correctly informed as to the last resting place of Col. Josiah Willard: "Here lies the remains of MADAM HANNAH WILLARD. Relict of Col.. Josiah Willard, of Fort Dummer. She was an affectionate, faithful, wife, a tender mother, a cordial friend, and a sincere Christian, and quitted mortality, May 13, 1772, in the 78th year of her age, leaving behind her a numerous progeny and a noble example." "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." Of the numerous progeny," this moss-covered record of a hundred years informs us, one with well-known to several citizens now living in this village, and we well remember an aged gentleman, known as "Mr. Willard," who lived with is son-in-law, Asa Green, Esq., near the entrance of High from Main Street. There was in the possession of Mr. Willard, a musket with a barrel of unusual length. This interesting relic of the olden time had proved a very effective weapon in the hands of his father, Col. Willard, as several Indians, thereby assisted to their happy hunting grounds, could testify. Mr. Willard several times visited the "Dummer Farm: when it was owned by the father of the present proprietor. As here was the dawning light, the first foot-print of civilization in this town, if not the fist in the State, all interesting details of facts respecting it must ever be precious to the inhabitants of Brattleboro to all future time. For this reason, we present some particulars from "HALL'S HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT" "Col. John Stoddard, of Northhampton, was ordered to superintend the building of the block-house. The immediate oversight of the work was committed to Lieut. Timothy Dwight, who, with a competent force, consisting of four carpenters, twelve soldiers, with narrow axes, and two teams, commenced operations on the 3d of Feb'y, 1724. Before the summer had begun, the fort was in such a condition as to the habitable. It was built of yellow pine, and was nearly 180 feet square. Within were four province houses, as they were called, two stories in height, comfortable, and, for those days, even convenient; besides which there were smaller houses containing a room each, which could be occupied when the garrison numbered more than it usual complement of men. Without, the fort was picketed. Posts, 25 feet in height, placed perpendicularly in the ground, side by side, and sharpened at the upper end, surrounded it on either side. Openings were left in the pickets through which to fire on the enemy, and at opposite angles of the fort, 25 feet from the ground and five feet above the tops of the pickets, square boxes were placed in which sentinels kept guard. To the patereros, with which the garrison was originally furnished, several swivels were added in 1740, which enabled the inmates of the fort to receive the enemy with an enfilading fire, rendering the place comparatively secure. There was in the fort a great gun whose report could be heard for many miles. This gun was never fired except as a signal for assistance, or on the reception of some news. The force of Capt. Dwight, the first commander, numbered in all 55 effective men, of whom 12 were Indians of the Maquas tribe. October 11th the fort was attacked by the enemy, and four or five of the occupants either killed or wounded. A trading or truck-house was built in 1731, for receiving articles of traffic from the Indians, and they came hither in large numbers to trade, bringing, to exchange for the products of the white man, deer, beaver and moose skins, and tallow. This traffic was carried on many years under the charge of Joseph Kellogg, who was captain and truck-master. The Rev. Ebenezer Hinsdill was chaplain 12 or 14 years from 1730. Capt. Josiah Willard assumed the command in 1740, and its former commander, Joseph Kellogg, was Indian interpreter until 1794. In 1746, some of the block-houses on the river were burned, and during several months Fort Dummer was the most northern post provided with a garrison. In 1747, Brig. Gen. Joseph Wright, by order of the governor, directed Lieut. Dudley Bradstreet to take command of 40 men, and with them garrison Fort Dummer in place of the guard then stationed there. April 5th, Col. Josiah Willard was superseded by Bradstreet, but after five months the fort was again placed in care of it former commander, Col. Josiah Willard. In the year 1748, the Rev. Andrew Gardner was appointed Chaplin, and Col. Willard added two more swivels to the munitions. He also at this time made needed repairs to the fort. Dec. 8, 1750, Col. Josiah Willard died, and ten days thereafter was succeeded by his son, Maj. Josiah Willard, who formerly had charge of a garrison at Ashuelot. In 1751, there was much alarm for the safety of the fort, but in consequence of vigilant activity in measures of defense, no incursions were made during the summer. In February, 1752, the garrison was reduced to five men. In this condition it remained, under the command of Major Josiah Woodard, until January, 1754, when the General Court of Massachusetts voted, 'that from and after February next, no further provision be made for the pay and subsistence of the five men now posted at Fort Dummer, and that the Captain-General be desired to direct Major Josiah Willard to take care that the artillery and other warlike stores be secured for the government.' In consequence of renew hostilities on the part of the Indians, late in the summer of 1754, the garrison was increased and continued until 1757, under the command of Nathan Willard. Records at Concord, N. H., show petitions, about this time, from the grantees of Brattleboro, asking in consequence of trouble with the Indians, for further time in which to comply with the terms of the charter of 1753. Gov. Shirley, of Massachusetts, repeatedly requested New Hampshire to assist in the defense of Fort Dummer. Gov. Wentworth, of New Hampshire, was willing and anxious to render requisite aid to Fort Dummer and other forts in the western part of State, but the Assembly of New Hampshire doggedly and obstinately refused to grant any appropriation for this purpose, or in any manner to second the proper and reasonable request of the governor. Application was then made to the Massachusetts Legislature by Nathan Willard, and in a memorial by him, presented in August, it was stated that the enemy were continually lurking in the words near the fort, and that during the past summer, 19 persons, within 2 miles of it, had been either 'killed or captivated.'" Thus, in the dark wilderness, surrounded by dangers, the infant Brattleboro sent forth its imploring cry for help. Her mother heard it, but she heeded it not; but Massachusetts, that magnanimous, ever-faithful old nurse, heeded that cry from among the tall pines, and in her powerful arms she folded and guarded the wailing child. During five or six years, after the last petition of the grantees for father time in which to fulfill the conditions of the charter, there must have been a rapid increase in the population of Brattleboro, for in 1766, there was in this vicinity an organized regiment under the command of Col. Thomas Chandler. Major John Arms, grandfather of the late Dr. Willard Arms, who died in 1863, aged, 83 years, received his commission as major of the afore-mentioned regiment in 1766. At the time John Arms received this commission, he kept a tavern, which stood at the foot of the first descent in the road a few rods north of Vermont Asylum for the Insane. He owned the extensive meadows now in the possession of the Asylum. The occupants of this house, since the death of John Arms, in 1770, we name: Widow Susannah Arms, Josiah Arms, Peleg Kingsley, Joseph Goodhue, Nelson Crosby, Newman Hall. Mr. Allen sold the house and farm to the Vermont Asylum, and the venerable old house, which was standing at a recent date, was torn away by the present owners of the estate., and a new building erected upon the same ground. Col. Ethan Allen, it has been said, made this tavern-house his headquarters when he came here with a detachment of the "Green Mountain Boys," to enforce obedience to the authority of Vermont, and we can furnish evidence that military companies in this town were warned to appear at this house "armed and equipped as the law directs."