Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-04-12


assemble those free and fearless men who
were at once statesmen and warriors Ethan
Allen-coarse uncOuth, protane, yet brave,
loyal and true, impulsive when in search
OF the . lost children = in the capture of
- Old Ii ready to annoint the back OF
some - Yorker - attorney with the oil OF
birch, or affix to a captured sheriff the
- beach seal . Seth Warner, the valiant
colonel Of the Rangers. the hero of Crown
Point, and the commander OF the Green
Mountain Boys aC LOnguiel and Hubbard
ton ; Moses Robinson, Jonas FAY. John Fas-
sett, Joseph Fay, the Secretary Of the Coun-
cII and the associate of Ira Allen in the
Haldlmand negotiations, and others, whose
names and actions are still in grateful re-
membrancc, though they have long slept with
their fathers.
The old sign was a stuffed catamount sur
mounting tall pole and Crinning toward
the New Work iTOnticr-suggestiv OF the
reception awaiting any mt ddlers coming from
that State. Indeed Allen once said at IA
council where the - Workers " refused to
yield their claims, - You will find that the
gods OF the valleys are not tie gods Of the
NILS. Ills only reply to the question
80 hat does such language mean" was
- Come to bennington and YOU will have IL
fully explained to you" They did not
come. From this novel sign the tavern took
Its name Drawn up to this sign post, close
under this denzcn Cf the forest, ami firmly
bound in IN armchair sat nr. Adalgs, en-
during for two hours IN the heat of the sum
mer's sun, this punishment for his misdeeds
as % Yorker "
have very pleasant recollection Of near
ly "A hall day IN August 1873. spent in the
old bar-room In conversation with "a grand
son OF '' Landlord tav. Mr Samuel Fay
then one ot the oldest men IN the town, and
since gone 10 his rest. Though somewhat
imp tircd physically by length Of years, his
mind was clear and active as ever. and
hlr free, cordial nature with good c0uversa-
tional powers made him pleasant compan-
ion. lie was five years old on the day of
the battle. having been born August IL. l-72.
aud could well rccolcct the unsettled state
OF the times. On the rainy morn iug before
the battle began, Gi~ mother packed all the
yaluahles with some furniture and the small
cr children into an OK cart. and held her
seli IN readiness to depart up thc valley 10
avoid Baum raiders, pa case tie British were
successful. The families Of "a very few of
the men who were actually IN the battle did
leave IN anticipation of defeat
Stephen Foy stood by his tavern. lie had
received a note from Col Baum the day pre-
yIOus, which announced WIth characteristic
c1Olncss and self confidence t NV officers
and myself Will dine with v9u on the 18th.
Please have dinner ready Baum fell in
the hcid, but late M the afternoon oi the 10th
many OF ms officers and men marched through
the village under guard as prisoners Of war.
As they passed the tavern Mr. Fay -teplcd
out into the little porch al the front door.
and removing his three -cJrnerci hat with
profound ho" saId, o. Gentlemen j am glad
90 see You Dinner .- ready
OF ' Landlord Fay Jennings Memorial
oi Century gives the GLOWING account:
'' Among tie early settlers stephen Fay,
WHO came t7 Bennington ln 1906 occupied a
prominent position as landlord 9t the Green
Mountain House, afterwards The taam3unt
Tavern. and as father of am influential family.
As exhibiting "a spontaneous instance 1t moral
suhlmlty ln Connection with the death OF
lIs son John in bennington battle BE has won
for hi- name bright place 10 the history OF
the town lie sent five oi hls sons q the
bloody rescue a' hrs country ou that eyentiul
lay. 'Le o.. them Wa- shot through the
head and died Instantly The following l-
the acc 1unt lu p Connecticut newspaper ut
Nov, I,,,, tarce months after tie battle, by
an eye witness 4 good DID gentleman who
iad 1--WE sons ln the field at the celebrated
at1I'H 'i pennington, Aug ittt, whose
luTr9Wc1 checks and eLFcrcI locks added
vtneTa3ienc-e ~ bus aoary hrJws, being gold
that he was unfortunate In One IT his sons.
replied. " hat, has lee ml-hcaayel Did
De desert hI> posi- ~ ruu from thc charge ?
No, cir, saId TIE informant, worse than THAT
he Us among the SLAIN. DE fell CauJenIIug
nightly in tAc cause. lLen ! am salts
he'd, replied the venerable sire, triuS him
m anu lay him before nc that AT my leisure
may oehoid and survey the darling Of my
Soul upon "hlcA ile corpse was brought
and ldid before him all ht>meareI with dirt
ana gore lie then called for a bowl of
water and napkin and with hls own bands
washed tue gore from hiS son corpse and
wiped ms gaping wounds with a complaccucy
as he himself expressed It which before hc
never telt or experienced Another account
presented by tradition, gives the following
additional expression thank God | had
a son who was willing 10 give his lie for his
country.
OF John Fay reierrei to IN tIis account,
great uncle oi our late worthy townsman
10 ray, whose widow now owns the old
tavern property, MI Jennings has the i.l-
loving taken from the 10th Of August adj
dress OF the Rey- Charles ;. Robinson, d. d.
ne was Hsh'ihS nehihd tree. liis last
"oiuS a. no IHI7eu Hls nusHet' 70 uIe once
lltl.. .. ..e eneuly' were Iecl tha' am
HSu'in9 III Soou c@uSe' anu as ms eye ran
aIons 'Ile "arrf' taKins ann ms head just
= io7eN Ioll o1"lld tHo IFe1' oaII struck
nm ii @ su1 'ViJ eon''e oi ms I"rene"I, ana
- ,i. ".,,I l.ls sun ulluiSci'dT 5eu' QulcH
m; .,,..7. o.o' I"1 i,'@S q ~
- .'i9 ~ oo"H ray I9 S"JV M"u-
uenou e'Il 70 IuIy' tney spIahg from oehind tue
~ = - 1 ''lJ.I sull9 ~ 'ne very l%ces u
,.o- ~ az -. .io Dio1onI9
~ ~ "GiN VIZ" an III Iulse u on
70v ho'nllS lnoi 'di coulu resist.
II = among the fecoHections ol the ia'e
oainuel D ray; taken down from his own lips
9y ueorEe '" hoDihson' Esq that DaVid
80 %lo was nunS SNORT Instance 10