Connecticut Historical Collections

South Farms was incorporated into an ecclesiastical society, in 1767. In the year 1753, when iMr. Champion was settled in Litchfield, there were but 30 families in the parish ; when it was incorporated, it con- taineil seventy. In 1701, the inhabitants agreed to build their first church. It was only one story high, 34 feci by 32 : the second house of worship was erected in 1785. An academy was begun in South Farms, in 1790, by James Morris, Esq. in which the higher branches of education were taught. This school is still kept up, and is a re- spectable institution. Northjicld parish was incoi|)orated in 1791. It is situated in the southeast corner of Litchfield, and includes within its limits part of the township of Plymouth. The surface of this parish is uneven, and many parts are stony, rougli, and hard for tilhii^e. The soil is generally good, and produces good grass and ^rain. There are two houses for worsliip in this jjlace, 1 Congregational and 1 Episcopal. The first Congregational minister, the Rev. Josej)h E. Camp, was settled here in 1795. * There is an npple tree now standing; on tlie larm of Mr. Solomon Marsh, in Litch- field, supposed U) lie abiHii IIG years olci, and is now in a vi^'oruus stale. Its trunk, two feel from ihe ^rronnd, measures eleven feet five inches in cirennifeiciice. The eir- ruml'erenpe of its liranches is nearly eleven rods in extent. It bore in 1833, one hun- dred bushels of apples of a fine quality. 456 LITCHFIELD. Milton is situated in the northwest corner of Litchfield. It was in- corporated in 1795, and the first minister was Mr. Benjamin Jiidd, who was installed in 180:2. The parish embraces within its limits a part of Goshen, Cornwall, and Warren. The surface of the parish is uneven and stony, with many large primitive rocks, and though good grazing land, is hard for tillage. Tliere is a mineral spring in the west part of Litchfield, near a place called Bradleysville, "which is saturated with iron and sulphur. The water issues from the east side of the mountain in considerable quanti- ties. The mud from the bottom of the spring burns with a blue tlame, and the principal part of it consumes." An Indian relic was found in this town, about a half a mile east of the court house, near Bantam river. It is a rude sculpture of brown stone, neatly the size of life, rep- resenting a female with head and shoulders, extending down to the waist : it is now deposited at Yale College, New Haven. Etkan Allen, a brigadier general in the American service, distin- guished for his daring and intrepid spirit, was a native of this town. Tliere has been a considerable diversity of statements respecting the place of his birth. Cornwall, Salisbury and lloxbury, have been named as places where he was born. By an examination of the Litchfield town records the present year, (1836,) it is recorded that he was the son of Joseph and Mary Allen, and was born Jan. 10th, 1737. The fact of the differing statements, mentioned above, seems to have origi- nated from the circumstance of his residing for a while in those towns. The following sketch of his life is from Allen's Biographical Dictionary. " While he was young, his parents emigrated to Vermont. At|^e cominenceinent of (he disturbances in this territory, about the year 1770, he took a rnosl aciive part in favor of the Green Mouniain boysj as the settlers were then called, in opposiiioji to the govermuent of New York. An act of outlawry against him was passed by this state, and 5l)n guineas were olTered for his a|i|)rehensiun : but his party was lou luunerdiis and faithl'ul to permit him to be distuibcd by any apprehensions for hi.': .safety: in all the struggles ol the day he was successful; and he not only proved a valuable friend to tllll^e wiiosecaii.>c he had espoused, tuil he w,is hiiinane aiui generous touaiils ihnse wall wlKun he h;ul tu eonlcud. When called lo lake ilic field/ he shuwcd himself an able leader and an intrepid soldier. "The news of the battle of Lexington delermined Col. Allen to engage on the side of his country, and inspired liiiii with the desire of deiiKinsiraling his aliacliinciu lu liberty by some bold exploit. While his mind was in this state, a plan lor taking 'J'i- conderogaand Crown Point by surprise, which was formed by several getitlemen in Connecticut, was communicated to him, and he readily engaged in the prujeci. J'e- eciving directions from the Cleneral A.ssembly of Connecticut to raise theGieeii Moun- tain b(jys, and conduct the enterprise, he collected 230 of the hardy settlers and pro- ceeded to Castlelon. Mere lie was unexpectedly joined by Col. Arnold, who had been commissioned by the Massachusetts committee lo laise -lUOmen, and elleet the same object, which was now abuut to be accomplished. As he had not raised the men, he was admitted to act as an assistant to Col. Allen. They reached the lake opposite 'I'l- conderoga on the evening of the i}lh of May, 1775. With the utmost diliiculty boais were pun.ured, and K\ inea Were lauded near the garrison. The approach uf day len- dcring it dangerous to wail for the rear, it was delermined immediately to proceed. The commander in chief ncnv addressed his men, representing that they had been for a number of years a scourge lo arbitrary power, and famed for their valor, and cun- cluded with saying, ' I now propose to advance before you, and in. jierson conduct you through the wicket gate; and you, that will go with me voluntarily in this desperate attempt, poise your lirelocks.' At the head oi' the center file he marched instantly ii/ the gale, where a scniry snapped his gun at him, and retreated through the covered way: he pressed forward into the fort, and formed his men on the parade in such n manner as to face two opposite barracks. Three huzzas awaked the garrison. A ■'1 ^ia L I Tc H F I F. r, n. • 457 sentry, who askeil quarter, pointed out the apartments of the commanding officer ; and Allen with a drawn sword over tlic head of Capt.De la Place, who was undressed, de- manded the surrender of llie fort. ' By what authority do you demand it.'' inquired the astonished commander. ' I demand it (said Allen) in the name of the great Jeho- vah and of the continental Congress.' The summons could not be disobeyed, and the fort, with its very valuable'^toies and 4'J prisoners, was immediately surrendered. Crown Point was taken the same day, and the capture of a sloop of war, soon after- wards, made Allen and his brave party complete masters of Lake Champlain. " In the fall of 1775 he was sent twice into Canada to observe the dispositions of the people, and attach them, if possible, to the American cause. During this last tour Col. Brown met him, and proposed an attack upcm Montreal in concert. The proposal was eagerly embraced, and ('ol. Allen, wiili 110 men, near 80 of whom were Canadia^, crossed the river in the night of Sept. 21. In liie morning he waited with impatience • lor the signal from Col. Brown, who agreed to cooperate with him, but he wailed in vain. He made a resolute defense against an attack of 500 men, and it was not till his own parly was reduced by desertions to the number of 31, and he had retieated near a mile, that he surrendered. A moment afterwards a furious savage rushed towards '. " him, and presented liis lii clock, with the intent of killing him. It was only by making use of tlie body of the officer, to wliom he liad given his sword, as a shield, that he es- caped destruction. " He was now kept for .some time in irons, and treated with great cruelty. He was sent to England as a prisoner, being assured tliat the halter would be the reward of his ■ '■' rebellion, when he arrived there. After his arrival, about the middle of December, lie '• ,- was lodged for asliort lime in Pendennis Castle, near Falmouth. On the 8lh of .Tanu- ary, 1770, he was put on board a frigate, and by a circuitous route carried to Halifa.x. /. . , Here he remained confined in the gaol from June to October, when he was removed ' .' to New York. During the passage to this place, Capt. Burke, a daring prisoner, pro- ' posed to kill the Biitish captain and seize the frigate; but Col. Allen refused to engage ,' ■ in the plot, and was probably the means of preserving the life of Capt. Smith, who hud treated him very politely. He was kept at New York about a year and a half, some- times imprisoned, and .sometimes permitted to be on parole. ♦ ♦ ♦ • "Col. Allen wasexchangedfor Col. Campbell, May (5, 1778, and after having repair- ed to head quarters, and ottered liis services to Gen. Washington, in case his health sliould be restored, he returned to Vermont. His arrival, on the evening of the last of May, gave his friendsgreat joy, audit was announced by the discharge of cannon. As ' ^ - '.', an expression of confidence in his patriotism andmililary talents, he was soon appoint- C . ■' » ed to the command of ihe slate mililia. It does not appear, however, that his intrepid- ' ■'. . r jiy was ever again brought to the test, though his patriotism was tried by an unsucce.ss- .; . h' iVil altemi)t of ihe British to bribe him to attempt a union of Vermont witli Canada. He died suddenly at his estate in Colchester, Feb. 13, 1789. * "Gen. Allen posses.scd strong powers of mind, but they never felt the influence of ' education. Though he was brave, humane and generous, yet his conduct does not . - . • , seem to have been much intluenced by considerations respecting that holy and merci- .; ful Being, whose character and whose commands are disclosed to us in the scriptures. , ' -■ . His notions with regard to religion were such, as to prove, that those, who rather con- • ' ' fide in their own wisduui than seek instruction from heaven, may embrace absurdities, • • •" -which would di.sgrace the understanding of a child. He believed, with Pythagoras, 1 that man after death would transmigrate into beasts, birds, fishes, reptiles, &c., and of-