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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.

CHAPTER IV.

RETREAT OF THE SETTLERS-EMPLOYMENT IN THEIR ABSENCE-OTHER EVENTS DURING THE WAR-MISS TORRANCE'S STORY-JUDGE PAINTER-COL. CHIPMAN.

A
FTER the retreat of the American army in June 1776, from the disastrous expedition into Canada, the inhabitants of this and the neighboring towns were somewhat exposed to depredation from scouting parties of British, tories and Indians, and especially after the defeat of the American fleet under Arnold, in October following. And it is not improbable, that some of the more timid families retreated from the country during that season. But they were vastly more exposed, the following year, when Burgoyne, with his formidable army sailed up the lake, dispersing every form of opposition. For this reason we have been forced into no little incredulity as to the exact correctness of the following statement of Dr. Merrill. He says-"Agreeably to advice from head quarters of our army at Ticonderoga, all the inhabitants of Middlebury and Cornwall, except Daniel Foot and Benjamin Smalley, removed in June 1776. Some of them on the Cornwall side of the river did not leave one extreme of their farms, till the Indians in search of booty were lurking in the other. Foot and Smalley after being pillaged of most of their moveable property, abandoned their homes in September of the same year. These two individuals however, with their families, returned in the following winter and remained until the spring of 1778." This is a representation of events which might be supposed to have existed in June of the year following. But the histories of that period do not furnish any adequate reason for such general alarm and sudden retreat in June 1776. The last of

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the American troops did not leave St. Johns until the 18th of June. From the reduced and enfeebled state of the army, it was decided to relinquish Crown Point and concentrate the whole army at Ticonderoga; but they did not leave the former place until after the 12th of July, and retained possession of Ticonderoga until driven from it by Burgoyne's army on the 6th of July of the following year. The American Navy had the control of the lake until the British had constructed their fleet and defeated the former in October. Until this time the British had no organized force south of Canada, and their fleet, which then came out, remained only about a month, and returned to Canada with their whole force, without attacking the American fortifications at Ticonderoga. There were, at the time of the invasion of Burgoyne in 1777, American families at Crown Point and on the opposite shore in Addison, Bridport and Panton, who for the first time fled on the approach of the Indians so near, that they hardly escaped with the utmost haste. At the time of the evacuation of Ticonderoga, on the 6th of July of that year, the Convention engaged in forming the first constitution of the State were thrown into a state of excitement and disorder because the families of some of the western members were exposed by the invasion. After this, and perhaps before, foraging and scouting parties, composed of British, Tories and Indians, were often roaming through the country to obtain supplies, who stole and carried away every moveable thing they could lay their hands on, but there was no general destruction of property or capture of prisoners until the fall of 1778. Even at this time, there were residents in several of the neighboring towns who were taken prisoners and sent into Canada.

By
the records of Cornwall, it appears that Judge Painter surveyed a lot of land in that town on the 11th of April, 1777, which was entered of record the same day, but was recorded afterwards. The records of that town previous to February 1778 being burnt furnish no further evidence previous to that time. At the meeting of the proprietors held in that town on the 14th and 15th of April 1778, much important business was transacted relating to their lands. But we are not able to call to our aid any
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living witnesses or records in Middlebury to offset against the better testimony which Dr. Merrill had an opportunity to obtain.

Whatever
the correct date of the retreat may be, it is true that on a sudden alarm most of the settlers tied from the country in great haste. The privations and hardships of their recent settlement in tile wilderness were sufficiently appalling, but were fearfully aggravated by their being so suddenly banished from their homes into exile by the ravages of war. It is to be regretted that some one did not, before it was too late, collect from the sufferers the stories of their trials. Philip Battell, Esq., more thoughtful than others, several years ago collected some facts from a few individuals since dead. These, with such others as we have been able to obtain from other sources, we intersperse with our narrative.
Miss
Olive Torrance, daughter of Robert Torrance, whom we have mentioned as a settler, is the only witness who had any knowledge of the events before the war, or during the retreat. The following is a part of her story as reported by Mr. Battell:
Her
father, she says, came to this country from Ireland in 1754, when he was eighteen years old. He became a resident of Woodbury, Conn., and married Sally Peck, of that place. He removed to Middlebury with his family, with the first parties in 1774. They descended Otter Creek on a boat or raft, and made their beginning in a log house, which he had built on the spot where the family still live. She was then five years old.
The
retreat from the country occurred three years after, upon the invasion of Burgoyne. She thinks the removal was in August; it might have been in June or early in July. Her mother went out, before they left, among the garden vines, which were numerous and promising, regretting to leave them. The state of apprehension had been previously such that one Evarts, belonging to that neighborhood, and then in a company at Ticonderoga, arriving and visiting at their house early in the morning, produced great agitation among them. As a further alarm was to be given, the men, before hoeing was finished, turned out and dug out six basswood canoes near the river, and decided not to go until further notice, when all were to be in readiness. When the final message
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came their goods were taken to the river, the raft constructed, on which the women and children were placed, and the journey commenced, Otter Creek being again their common highway. The party landed at Pittsford, where there was a military post, and Mrs. Torrance followed the train of women and children towards the settlement. She was carrying a child two years old in a sort of doublegown, brought over her shoulders, and in this plight saw a regiment of soldiers drawn up in front of her. She sat down by the way on a log and wept. A neighbor, Mr. Boardman, coming up on a horse, carrying an ox yoke behind him, insisted on laying off his yoke and taking her instead, bidding her not be down-hearted, but expect that things would turn out better than she feared. As they passed the regiment, the Colonel recognized her and called out, "My God, there's Sally Peck. It makes a man's eyes run to see you brought to this." The soldiers, at his instance gave up their quarters to the women and children, brought them water for their washing and cooking, and made them as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. Many of them knew Mrs. Torrance as their towns-woman, and sympathized with her and felt for the distresses of the people. Miss Torrance's father joined his family the next day, bringing with him his stock of cattle. From this place the family went to Rutland, and from that place communicated with a brother-in-law in Richmond, Mass., who came on with horses for their party. The family was under the protection of an uncle in Litchfield for a time, and then joined her father, who was then employed, during the war, in one of the furnaces in Salisbury, casting ordnance for the army. He was absent eight years. He was employed seven years in the furnace, the eighth he took a farm. His cow he had sold on his flight at Rutland, his oxen in Connecticut. These were replaced by the produce of a cow bought in Salisbury, which, by letting, had multiplied with her issue to twenty one, having but a single male in the number.

The
first child born in town, as Miss Torrance thinks, was with them on the raft. This was Hannah Bentley, the only infant among fifteen or sixteen children, and of course much noticed among them. Mr. Slasson, whose child is said by Dr. Merrill to
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.


have been the first born in town, lived in the immediate neighborhood of the Torrance family, after they came to town, and she is certain had no child born there.

The
first school house was built of logs, before the retreat of the settlers on "Tallow Hill," on the road leading from the poor house to Jonathan Seeley's. Eunice Keep, daughter of Samuel Keep, the first clerk of the proprietors, was brought from Crown Point, where the family then resided, to teach in it. She had commenced her school, but left on the alarm. Miss Torrance had not begun to attend. After their return, a school, the second in town, was kept by Mrs. Torrance, in their own neighborhood.
Some
kinds of provisions were left concealed by the inhabitants, on their retreat. Sugar and flour, left by her family, she says, were taken from their storage, under the floor and consumed. Their pewter, and other articles, buried for safe keeping, were also taken up and appropriated. The house itself suffered no injury, except, as she thinks, from a party of immigrants, who had it for a shelter some cold nights, and took a board from the chamber floor for kindling wood. Otherwise they found it as they left it.
The
Story and Smalley families remained through the war. Mrs. Story's cave, on the bank of the creek in Salisbury, Miss Torrence supposed to have been intended for a storehouse for goods only, rather than for the concealment of individuals. Mrs. Smalley told her of a visit from a scouting party of the enemy, chiefly Indians. An Indian took a milk-skimmer she was using and put it in his bosom. On which she complained to the commander, who compelled him to restore it. A part of the Foot family staid at John Foot's to secure the crops. They visited her mother's garden after the family had gone and found the melons ripened by thousands. Thus far Miss Torrance.
It
is represented by all, that the flight of the inhabitants was sudden and made in great haste. It was the common practice to dig into the ground, and conceal such articles as they could not carry with them. The family of Daniel Foot, before they left, dug into the ground, in a thick hemlock grove, and built a large crib with poles, into which they put a half barrel of soap, such
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.

part of the furniture and other articles as they were compelled to leave, covered the crib with plank, and on the top of the whole piled hemlock branches, so as to resemble a large brush heap. On their return, after the war, they found their soap and other articles uninjured. Mr. Allen Foot, a grandson of Daniel Foot, has now in his possession a chest, which was thus preserved. A case of drawers, preserved in the same way, still remains in the possession of some of the relatives.

Mrs.
Loomis, daughter of Col. John Chipman and wife of Horace Loomis Esq., of Burlington, represents, that her family fled in great haste, and, like the other inhabitants, buried such articles of value, as they could not in their haste take with them. She showed us a small looking glass, which was thus preserved. The frame was rotted off, and it has since been put into a rough frame, apparently "whittled out" with a jack knife.
William
Douglass, before he left, concealed the family articles in the same way, but his family not returning until after he was killed, the place of deposit was never discovered by them.
While
the British had control of the lake, probably in 1777, foraging and scouting parties, composed chiefly of Indians, made excursions into the several towns, appropriating to themselves such moveable property, as suited them belonging to those, who had left, or in the possession of those who remained. Daniel Foot had remained for some time after the settlers had generally left. A British party sent out to obtain supplies, came upon him, seized and drove off his oxen, while he kept out of the way to avoid being captured. Other similar depredations were made. Several other persons remained in the different towns, without other molestation, until the fall of 1778.
In
the fall of that year, two British vessels came up the lake with troops, designed it was said, to march upon Rutland; but being, in some way, thwarted in their purpose, the troops consisting of British, tories and Indians, were landed on both sides of the lake, and spread themselves, in scouting parties, over the whole region, where settlers had located themselves. They destroyed all the buildings and other property they could find; and made prisoners
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.

of all the men, who had had the temerity to remain, and sent them to Canada. In Middlebury, the whole population by this time had retreated, and none were taken prisoners. But all the buildings in the town were destroyed, except the houses of Joshua Hyde, Bill Thayer and Robert Torrance in the same neighborhood, in the south part of the town, to which probably their excursion did not extend. The frame of a barn of Col. John Chipman, recently built of green timber, which they could neither burn or chop down, also escaped. It is still standing on the farm of Jonathan Seeley, with marks of the hatchets on its timbers.

Judge
Painter, although driven from his home, like the others, did not immediately leave the State, but remained for a time to watch the movements of the enemy, as well as of the New York claimants, and to aid by his co-operation and advice, in measures to thwart the purposes of both. He was acquainted with Ethan Allen, in Salisbury, the common residence of both, before either came into Vermont, and was intimately associated with him, Seth Warner and Remembrance Baker in their movements. He did not leave the State, until the British forces under Burgoyne, had obtained such extensive and dangerous control over all Western Vermont, that he was forced for safety to cross the mountain by Onion River, and went south on the east side of the State. While living, he related to his friends many anecdotes of his adventures; but many of them are forgotten, especially in their dates and details. He was intimate with Hon. Horatio Seymour, in the later period of his life, and freely communicated to him many of the events of his life. Mr. Seymour relates the following:
While
the British were in possession of Crown Point, probably in 1777, Judge Painter, in a feigned character, several times visited that post as a spy, to ascertain the condition and plans of the British troops. The last time he went, he feigned the character of a half idiot, and took with him a basket, with a little butter and a few eggs, and other small articles to sell to the soldiers. He pretended to belong to a family of poor settlers, who needed the proceeds of his articles for their support, as was indicated by his own dress. The under officers had been charged to arrest every suspicious
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.

person, who appeared, and bring him before the commanding officer. When Painter arrived at Chimney Point opposite the fort, and had made known his wishes, he was put into a boat with seine British officers and soldiers, as he supposed, to go to the fort. When he went on board, he threw himself down on the boat, and began to examine his articles for sale, and talk with himself about his treasures, and to calculate the proceeds of his traffic. His articles were kept in separate parcels, and, as he was soliloquizing, he said, this butter is mother's, so many pounds at such a price will bring so much; these eggs are sister Susey's, so many and I shall get so much money for Susey. It is claimed only, that this is the character and purport of his words. Instead of going directly to the fort, he soon discovered, that the bolt was directed towards a vessel lying in the lake, on which the superior officers were; and where they were taking him for examination. He became alarmed. He was then in the power of the enemy, and it would be easy for them to prove that the history he had given of himself was false. But he continued his soliloquy and feigned manners. After a time, one of the officers watching him said to another,-"This is a perfect idiot, it is not best for us to take him up there. I should be ashamed to take such a fellow there." The other officer assented to this view, and after a further consultation, they directed to change the course of the boat for the fort. After going on shore, Painter finished his traffic with the soldiers as soon as possible, and left them with a determination never to put himself in so hazardous a position again.

The
following anecdote is recorded chiefly because it illustrates the character of Judge Painter, as well as that of the times, in which he lived. Having occasion to go the south,-probably when he attended the convention in Dorset, in July 1776,-he passed through Clarendon. Here was located a nest of tories. As he was drawing near he met two or three men on horseback, whom he suspected to be of that class. In order to avoid a suspicion of his own character, he inquired of them, "Can you tell me where Esq. S-lives ?" as though he was his friend. This Esq. S- was the leader of the tories, and his house their place of rendezvous. The men

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gave him the information asked of them and he passed on unmolested. Judge Painter was a delegate from Middlebury to a convention of members from the west side of the mountain. The convention was called by a circular sent to the several towns, to consider the delicate and difficult position of the "New Hampshire Grants." The congress of the United States had made their declaration of independence, and left the Grants without any government, except by submission to the government of New York, to which that body had advised, and to which the Green Mountain Boys made a determined opposition. The convention was held at Dorset, on the 24th of July 1776, and adjourned to the 25th of September following. At this time delegates were present from both sides of the mountain, and it was "resolved to take measures, as soon as may be, to declare the New Hampshire Grants a free and separate district." Judge Painter was also a member of the convention, on the 2d of July 1777, which formed the constitution of the State.

In
the revolutionary war, he "held a captain's commission and served in the quartermaster's department." We have no details of his service.
Col.
John Chipman was also extensively engaged in the war of the revolution. We copy the following summary of his services from a paper left by him in his own hand writing, and preserved by his daughter, Mrs. Loomis.
"I
turned out the commencement of the war, as a volunteer with Colonel Ethan Allen, in the spring of 1775, to take Ticonderoga and Crown Point. In May or June I received a second lieutenant's commission in Capt. Grant's company, Colonel Seth Warner's regiment, went into Canada, was at the taking of St. Johns and Montreal; was discharged at Montreal, and returned home the first part of December. In the summer of 1776, I received a first lieutenant's commission, in Capt. Smith's company, Seth Warner's regiment, and joined the army at Ticonderoga, in March 1777. I was in the retreat with the army, and was in the battle of Hubbardton. I was also in the battle of Bennington so called, on the 16th of August of that year, and was at Saratoga at the taking of Burgoyne
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in October. We were ordered to Fort Edward and Fort George in 1778 and 1779. I was promoted to a captain, and served in that capacity until October 1780, when I was taken prisoner, at Fort George. I remained in this situation until the summer of 1781, when I was exchanged and remained a supernumerary until the close of the war."

Col.
Chipman had the command of Fort Edward and Fort George successively, and was in command of the latter, at the time of the capture of the garrison. Not suspecting the enemy was in the neighborhood, he had sent out a large portion of his troops, on scouting parties, which left him a force of only sixty or seventy men. In this condition he found himself surrounded by an overwhelming force and the garrison was forced to surrender. After he was exchanged in 1781 he was raised to the rank of major. While he was in the command of these forts, in a comparatively settled state, Mrs. Chipman remained with him. After the close of the war, Col. Chipman retained in his possession the orderly book, containing a record of general orders, court martials and other proceedings of the garrison, and when he was appointed clerk of the proprietors, the book, not being filled up, was used by him for the record of surveys. After his death, Mrs. Loomis, understanding the fact, procured that part containing the proprietors' records to be taken out and re-bound, leaving the orderly book by itself, which she still retains. This she kindly showed us, and we regret that we had not time more thoroughly to examine it. Among the records was an order for a court-martial, signed by Col. Warner; supposed to be in his own hand-writing.