Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-09-24

vor of Skenesborough, with signers over
all the territory, from Crown Point and
Middlebury to Bennington, and among
them one from Skenesborough, signed by
Skene and seventy-one other persons, all
tenants of Skene, and therein it was
stated that of the $40 inhabitants of
Skenesborough, fourty- four were members
of Ssene's own family-a state of society
suggestive of feudal baronles and southern
plantations, rather than of embryo repub-
hes.
But storm is now looming up in the
horizon between the colonists and the
mother country, overriding all domestic
questions of jurisdiction or internal i'm
provement. Where will Skene be found
in this hour of need and peril, to his
American neighbors and associates 2 He,
a British soldier for thirty years, for al
most a score OF years resident of Amer
ca, for more than dozen years dweller
upon the lake, the builder OF roads and
mills, the political and social 'monarch of
all he surveys will he who forsook the
profession of his youth and of his pride,
for this favorite home in new world !;
will he, the descendent of Scotland's
great champion, the world-renowned Will
ham Wallace, prove recreant to his lin
cage, and strike with hirehngs against
liberty? Alas, for his sympathy with
humanity, He who fought against his
countrymen at Culloden, will be found
among Americas foes at Bennington and
Saratoga.
According to the letter of Edward
Mott, chairman of the Council of War
held at Casteten on Monday, May Sth,
ITS, by Ethan Allen, Seth Warner,
James Eaton and others, it was then ar
ranged that Capt. Herrick, with thirty
men should capture MAJOR Andrew P.
Skene, son of Philip, with the party boats,
&C., at Skinesborough-Philip Skene be-
ing then absent. Any published account
of Herrick's doings, do not remember to
have seen.
Elias Hall of Castleton, related the fol-
lowing incidents as having occurred:
Capt. Noah Lee argued with the coun-
sci above named, that as MAJOR Skene had
been recently appointed Governor Of
Crown Point and Tlconderoga, his cap
would technically be the capture of those
| military posts-an argument of course not
quite so satisfactory to Allen and the 9TH
ers as their actual capture-but Lee was
sent with about dozen men to sieze the
Major, the buildings, &c., at Skenesbo-
rough. Arrived at Skene's house, Lee is
informed by the family that young Skene
is out with two or three gentle
men hunting he goes to the place Of
hunting indicated, finds the gentlemen, but
although he is we'll acquainted with Philip
Skene, he does not recognize his son and
inquiries for him young Skene promptly
announced himself, and after hearing Lees
story submits to be taken prisoner with
out resistance. He and his two sisters
were sent as prisoners into Connecticut
In June, ITS, Philip Skene is arrested
in Philadel phia, sent to New York. thence
to Hartford, and paroled in Middletown
Connecticut
On the 9TH of November, 1775, Andrew
Z: Skene, from On board the British ship,
var Asia, writes to Hugh Games, de,
nying that he broke his parole, in his es-
| cape from Connecticut, as was published
in Gaines newpaper a fort night before,
and appealing to the Hartford Convention
! to corroborate his statement
Andrew 2. Skene reached Quebec in
April, 1776.
Philip Skene's parole expired in May
l776. Towards its expiration various
rumors unfavorable to the propriety of his
conduct being in circulation the Govern
or and Council Of Connecticut appointed a
committee to investigate the matter.
The committee wait upon Skene, and
find some circumstances indicating secret
clandestne transactions, not sufficiently
patent to convict him of actual overt Of
Tense, but suggestive of the danger Of
,,e,;..ying 50 capable and hostile q man at
liberty, to plot against the country.
Among other more serious and DANGER
GUS things, it appears that Skene's negro
man, John Anderson, had heard Of the
elections Of Governor, and the idea having
been suggested to him by another negro,
that he might be elected Governor of the
negroes in Conneeticut,he promised to pay
twenty dollars in treating if elected. The
story circulates, and at dinner at Skene's
the day before election, Skene promises
half a joe, and his two guests two dollars
each, to pay Jacks election expenses,
but the whig negroes refuse to elect a
tory Governor, yet the treat and the fun
must be had, and therefore Jack must be
Governor somehow, and so his Excellency
Mr.. Caf of Hartford, claiming to have
been Gov of his States negroes for the last
ten years ISSUES a commission in writing,
drafted by an illiterate white soldier. du-
ly appointing John Anderson his guberna
torial successor, with sufficient array of
attesting darkey witnesses, and thereup-
on-election day being over,-the colored
pussoas have good time an evening
dance and treat-John Anderson pays the
bill, and what seems magnified by rumor,
sinister tory conspiracy, exploded in
smoke.
But the Governor and council of Con-
necticut alarmed at the possible injury
Skene may do, very wisely require him in
his new parole, to agree, not only to stay
in Middletown, the piece of his choice,
but also not to do ANYTHING. directly or in