Litchfield enquirer., 1846-08-27
@fHreIIaMD.
last Speech and Dying Words Of Moses Dun


ri
sncond of sixteen children, all born TO
~ mr. father of one wife. My father,
Iobn lumbar. was born also at Walllng-
ford and married Temperance Hall, OF
tIe SINE place about the year l743. l
'nas Gucated in the business ofhusband-
nv. About the year l76O my father re-
moved himself and family to waterbury
where, May 3Olh l764, ] was married to
Phebe Jerome, of Pennington, by whom
7 had seven children, five OF whom are
now living. .;,o INV
wife and l, upon what we thougnt SUN
Gent and rational motives, declared our
saIves to the church of Eng land. the Rev
NJ ScoveI, being then missionary at wa
,erbnrv. MAY rs, 1910, my mother de-
narted this life; she was woman OF
mich virtue and of good reputation whom
T remember with the utmost honor and
aratitndc, for the care and affection she
Constantly showed me. My joining the
obrrch occasjoned a sorrowful breach be-
tween nv father and ne, which was the
cause that he never assisted me buy very
little in gaining livelihood as likewise
If caused him to treat me very hafshly III
rosnv instances, for which heartily for
Give himas we'll as my brothers, as hope
for nardon from my God and Saviour, tor
NV own offences. likewise pray God TO
forgive them through Christ.
F4om The time the present unhappy mis-
understanding between Great btl'a1h anu
the Colonies, began freely confess new
ercould reconcile my opinion tothe neceS-
ity or lawtulness, Of taking up arms
AGAINST Great Britain, and having spoken
som,hing freely on the subject, was at
tackled BY mob of about forty men; very
much abused-my life threatened and
nearly taken away by which l was OBJ
l;oed to sign q paper containing many
falsehoods. May g6, l776, my vie de-
ceased in full hopes Of future happiness,
If which doubt not in the least, she is in
the eniovment of. The winter preceding
had heen a time of trialand distress with
rs. Myself, my wife and one child, sick
ali winter-another of my children had
a broken leg, with many other Affections
omit relating. l had concluded 10 1--we
peaceably and give no offence, either by
word or deed, and had thoughts OF enter
inc into voluntary confinement WITHIN
The limits of a farm; and making propo-
sails of that kind, was carried uelole 1.ie
committee, and by them ordered 10 Sulle,
Imprisonment during their pleasure no'
exceeding five months. Nheh hao 10
NAMED there about fourteen DAYS, Tue
Authority of New Haven dismissed me;
Finding my life uneasy, and as NAG
reason to apprehend great, danger !
thought it my safest method TO nee 10
Long Island, which accordingly did
But having a desire TO see my IriehGs
and children, and being under am en-
gagement to marry her that is now my
wife, the banns of marriage having been
before published, / returned and was
married. Having desire to remove my
self and family to Long Island, as place
of safe,y,I went there the second 'itn' 10
prepare matters accordingly, where re-
ceiYed Captains warrant tor the KING
service in Col. Fanning's regiment.
then returned 10 Come ctlcu', wnefe
was betrayed by Joseph Smith and was IA
ken before the authority OF Waterbury
They refused Ito have any thing to do
with the matter. was then carried be-
fore Justice Strong and Justice Whitman,
of Pennington and by them committed TO
Hartford, where the Superior Court was
then sitting, where Twas tried on thurs
day the Odd day of January, lI77' Tor
high treason againstthe state OF Connec-
ticu,, by an act passed in October last
Being inlisting men for General Ho,oe,
and having a Captains commission tor
that purpose, was adjudged GUILTY -
and on the Saturday following was
brought to the bar of the court and recei-
we'd the sentence of DEATH ! The time
ofmy suffering was afterwards fixed to be
the 10Th of March, l777-Which lremen-
dous and awful day draws near. when
must appear before the Searcher ofhearts
10 give an account of all things done in
my body, whether it be good or evil.
shall soon be delivered form all the pains
aud troubles of this wicked, mortal state,
and shall be answerable TO one All. seeing
God, who is infinitely just and knoweth
all things.
AS am fully persuaded that depart
in state of peace with God and my own
soul, / have but little doubt of my future
happiness, through the merits of Jesus
Christ. Ihave sincerely repented OF my
sins, examined my heart prayed earnest
ly to God for mercy, for the gracious
pardon of my manifold and helnous
SlnS, anu ToSlSUIllS NY SCH WHo.'J w '"S
disposal of my Heavenly Father, and
submitting TO his divine will, ], from the
bottom of my heart, forgive all my enc
mics and earnestly pray God to forgive
them. Some part of J'h SIS evidence was
false, but heartily forgive him. like
wise earnestly beg forgiveness of all per-
sons whom i have injured or offended.
Since my sentence, have been visited
by sundry worthy ministers ofthe gospel
who have discoursed and prayed with me;
among whom were the Rev. Mr.. Strong,
of Hartford, Rev. Mr.. Vets, of Simsbury,
my fellow prisoner, on account OF preach
ing in favor of the British Government
He has been indefatigablein affording me
every possible assistance to prepare me
for my terrible exit. He administered
the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 10
me the Sunday before l was to die. To
the gentlemen, as we'll as all others, who
have showed me kindness. give most
sincere thanks. Idle in the profession
and communion of theChurch of England.
OF mypolitical sentiments leave the read
er to Judge. Perhaps it is neither reason
able or proper that should declare them
in my present situation.
an