Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1851-07-16
From iho New London Chronicle.
Memoir of Anna Bailey, of GrOtOn,
Connecticut

Mrs Bailey's name has been so widely spread
over this Union and she has been personally
known to so many individuals, that her life be-
comes part of our domestic history and now
at the time of decease a simple narrative of the
leading incidents of her story cannot be inappro-
pirate.
She was born on the 18th of October, 1853.
Her maiden name was. Anna Warner; but for a
period of time reaching beyond the lives of the
greater part of the living men around her, she
was the wife of the late Bliiah Bailey, soldier
of the Revolution, and for nearly 40 years Post
master and in-keeper on Groton Bank. Her IA
thor, Phillip Warner, was a native of Stafford,
Conn. lie came to New London, young lad,
for the purpose of following the seas, and for
number of years sailed from this port Her moth
or was Hannah Mills, daughter of John Mills, an
emigrant from Boston who had first settled in
Groton and married daughter of the late John
Starr of that place. Her parents had been but
a few years married when they both died of the
small pox within ten days of each other, leaving
two children, of whom Anna was the oldest. The
wife had been taken sick just before the husband
expected to depart voyage; he remained to
nurse her-saw her buried, but died Of the dis
order taken from his wife, five days from land
Mrs Bailey, when over 80 years ofage, shed tears
abundanny as she related the circumstances at
tending the death of her parents The grave of
estimation; often she said when a child she had
gone to weep over it and addcd-"My fathers
mother came down from Stafford to see us; she
went with us to my mothers grave, and | think
/ see her now, as she stood lamenting and crying
20 that my son had been buried in the green
earth, instead of being cast into a watery grave .
When will the sea give up its dead p
The children were brought up by their grand
mother Mills, who had second husband, Cher
cousin James Starry and during the Revolutiona-
ny war, this couple considerably advanced in life
were living about three miles from Groton Bank,
in the woods as it was styled by Mrs Bailey
Two sons of the first marriage James and Ed
ward Mills-the latter with his wife and two chill
dren, one of them babe only a few weeks old,
resided with them.
The women of that day We'd with the men in
their passionate love Of liberty and dread Of Eng
fish rule. Anna Warner was a character for the
times Even in her secluded home she canght
the fire of the nation and nourished it into a flame.
She was one of those who carry every idea and
feeling to an extreme, and do nothing by halves.
When Independence was declared, she was old
enough to take deep interest in that great act of
her country, and during the seven years conflict
that succeeded, the aggressions of the enemy
were SO indeliby marked in her mind as to give
n cooring to her whole life She would often
Revolution were greater patriots than the men,
and that they were accustomed to urge their hus-
bands and brothers to go and fight those inhuman
monsters, the tyrants and tories. Such was the
unmeasured language she commonly used.
Her uncle Edward Mills-a name now found
inscribed on the Groton monument-was an ar
dent patriot and on the morning of Arnolds in
vasion, when the alarm guns sounding at day
break gave notice of the approach of the enemy,
he started instantly and alone (his brother James
being absent from home,) for the scene of danger.
He was n corporal in the militia, and joining his
company, they threw themselves into Groton
Fort, to await the invaders. The fact was learn
ed by his friends at home during the day while
the roar of cannon in the morning, and after
wards the heavy wreaths of smoke rolling up in
the direction of the town filled them with dismal
apprehension and at nightlall, their worst fears
were confirmed as the news came rushing through
the country that New London and Groton village
were burnt, the fort taken, and the garrison put
to the sword.
1t may readily be imagined that the little fpmi-
ly IN tie 1coodS passed Il night Of seepless agony
the breathing Of the wind in the trees, or the
hutter of a night-brd made them often start and
listen, hoping that it would prove the foot-step
of their returning soldier. As soon as the day
dawned, Anna Warner went out MIXED the
COWS, fed the stock of the farm, and without wait
ing for breakfast, or to make any change in her
dress, started for tile bank to obtain some tidings
of her uncle. Clad in striped skirt of linsey-
wolsey short blue linen wrapper, with bare arms
and hands, without stockings and calico bonnet,
she hurried forward to the main road, which she
found full of militia men, and citizens flockng to-
wards the coast. Many women and children were
also there, fastening EDWARDS, moaning & weep
ing, ignorant of what had become Of father, bro
Their, and husband.
AT length Anna met an old man, whom she
knew, (AIr John Bailey,) who informed her that
her uncle, mortally wounded had been conveyed
to q dwelling near the meeting house, and was
still living She fastened thither, and found him
a sad object 10 behold, cut and manged in various
parts of his head, hands, and body. His wounds
had been dressed, but life was fast ebbing away,
and he no sooner saw Anna than he earnestly
asked for his wife and children, pteously entreat-
ing that he might see them before he died. AnX-
ious to crafty him, she turned back with n quick
step, retraced her way home caught and saddled
the family horse helped the young wife upon it
placed the oldest child in her arms, fastened back
again, and never rested a moment, till after her
nine miles walk, she had placed the child in the
arms of its dying parent.
The energy and promptness Of action display.
ed by Anna Warner in this incident were retain.
ed by her as Mrs Bailey, and even to old age
She was noted for bold determined spirit, quick
ness of feeling, prompt repartee, vgor and agility
of frame and voubty Of speech. But the pre-
dominant feeling of her life was deep-rooted
hatred of everything English. Her preiudices
were tremendous the fire kindled in her bosom
in the morning of life nothing could extnguish
The fearful scenes of Jersey prison ship, from
whose noisome hold some of the friends of hei
youth had barely escaped with life, and where
she firmly believed II 800 americans, all toto
and numbered, had periShed; $50 she often re
al 4 an1 4I,a 4 IL ~