Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-17
Captain John Vincent.

Could the men of Vermont most notable
recalled from their graves aud gathered in
any public place, one of the most striking
figures would be that of an Indian, whose
name and title form the head to this paper !;
aud yet his history is known to but few now
living, even by tradition. In 1904 Vincent
petitioned the General Assembly for relief
stating that under Washington he became
attached to the American cause; guided
Arnold's force through the forests of Maine
to Quebec fought under Montgomery, aud
again under Gates at saltwater and the cap
ture of Burgoyne. The committee to whom
the petition was referred, reported that the
statements of the petition were true, and at
that aud succeeding sessions acts were
passed to aid in his support during life. He
died in Mendon (then Parkerstown), on the
Sd of July, 1910, his age being stated at
ninety-ive years. In his petition of 1904,
he states that seventy-three winters" of his
age had passed, so that in 1910 he would be
at most in his eightieth year only. The follow
ing obituary notice was probably prepared
for one of the newspapers printed at Rut
land, but it is here copied from SpoOner's
Permom Journal of July 23d, 1910:
"Died, at Parkerstown, [Nlendon, on the Sd
inst, at the house of johnson Richardson, Esq.
Captain JoHS VINCENT, an Indian, aged ninety
five. In 1855 he had command among the
Cognawogga tribe, then opposed by French inhu-
ence to these then colonies and provinces. Cen
eral Braddock was at that time defeated at Fort
du Quesne, near where Pittsburg now Is. Cap
tain Vincent had reconnoitered the country south
erly to the north of the Scioto. and had returned
before the engagement. He formed the ambus-
cade which defeated Braddock Upon the death
OF BraddOck he commanded and contended
against Colonel Washington, and has often said
that II Braddock could have known the great
man then advising him, he would have been pre-
served. That Braddock did not consider Colonel
Washington rs soldier, and therefore lost his
life. That Colonel Washington harrassed the
French and Indians, when they supposed them
selves to be conquerors. At that time, Captain
Vincent returned with his warriors to his tribe
That at the commencement of the revolutionary
Washington was commander-in-chief That his
tribe being in British interests he left them, fully
believing that the Great Spirit had preserved Col
one Washington. That number of his young
warriors. after the death of Braddock, had shot
at Washington, but nobody could kill him. That
about the year 1873 Captain John received from
General Washington captains commission. lie
piloted the American troops from Cambridge
through the province of Maine to Quebec lie
was at Quebec when Montgomery fell lie well
understood the history of the revolutionary war
having in 1775 espoused the American cause,
and his tribe being seduced To the British inter
est lie has since secreted himself among our
mountains in Sherburne,
"The legislature Of Vermont having known
this distinguished chieftain, long since made him
pensoner Captain John was early educated
| by Roman Catholic priest In the French Ian
guage and in the tenets of this church These
early impressions were not erased, At no time
was this tenant Of the forest known to rise
without his prisons, to sleep without his yespers,
or to eat without at least offering up his silent
but reverent petition. From this Roman in
structor he had received a large French Bible.
This he often read and preserved as his best in
heritance, and it is said has bequeahed it to the
Rev. Heman liall, Of this village Rutland 1t is
not supposed that Captain Vincent was perfect,
but he was brave, generous, humane, and pious.
He not only knew how To distinguish wisdom from
folly, but could see God in the clouds and hear
Him in the wind uniform coat, presented him
BY General Washington, he bequeathed with
some other articles, to Mr. Richardson. This
proud trophy has been preserved unsuled,"