The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-08-09

EmplT5 LOyuln'pi -.
took hence the old Royal arms from
Trinity church, and placed them on the
New Trinity at St. John, where they
we're doomed nearly century later 10
destruction by FIRE. Among those ar
IDENTITY devoted to the Royal cause was
Lieut, Col. John Peters, who, in 1855,
vrote-in the form of letter to friend
in Boston-an account of his experience
during the war of the Revolution, now
made public for the first time The man
uscript is in possession of Mr.. s.P, Bell
ofthis CITY, but a copy of it is enabled to
be made public through the offices OF
Samuel ]. Mccormick, Of New Rochelle
Col. Peters was born at Hebron, Conn.,
in 174O, being descendant on the one
side of a brother of Oliver Cromwelrs
chaplain, Hugh Peters, according to one
account, though other authorities deny
that any such brother ever existed, and
ON the other of Thomas Harrison, the
reeicide. He was graduated at Yale IN
1853, and in 1868 settled in Pierpont, NJ
H., removing in ITO to Moortown, where
Tyron appointed him to be Colonel OF
the Militia, Justice of the Peace, Judge OF
Probate, Registrar of the County, Clerk
of the Court, and Judge of the Court OF
Common Pleas" In 1774 the counties
of Cumberland and Gloucester, "since
called Verdmont," desired him to attend
Congress as their representative. Mr.
Peters and his unCles were mobbed by
Gov. Trumbull's Liberty Boys on account
oftheir LOYALTY. 1t is worth while FOL
lowing the Colonel's own story hereafter
nremising that the Rev. Samuel Peters
ia famous as the author of wondronsly
mendacious "History of Connecticut"
London 1871, and is the sole authority
for the only New Haven Blue Laws that
are now popularity known by the name
He was an Episcopal clergyman at He
bron until threats of tar-and-teatherlng
drove him first to Boston, whence after,
wards he fled to England. Says Colonel
Peters.
The Rev. Samuel Peters suffered more
than | did. He and agreed IN opinion
that the bankrupts, dissenting teachers
and smugglers meant to have serious
rebellion and civil and religious separa-
ton from the mother country. My un'
Gle advised me to meet the Congress, to
fnd out what their aim was. did So,
and being certainly convinced that moth;
ing short of independence would satisfy
them, refused to take the oath of seCre-
Nv. and wrote to my uncle, who had been
forced to fly to England, telling him
what to expect. IL April, l775, arrived
At nv home in Moortown, when another
mob seized me and insisted that should
sign their covenant which was to oppose
the King and British Army with my life
and property which covenant | did not
sign, and begged time for consideration,
uHder bonds, which was granted. In
the meantime news arrived that the Brit
ish troops had marched out OF Boston
and were numbering the inhabitants,
both young and old. Whercupon the
committee required me to give orders to
the militia to be ready at an hours warn
ing to march against the Royalists. |
rave them orders. This gained me much
favor for few days with the mob. How
ever, as the report of the massacre near
Boston by the Kings troops diminished
away. the mob renewed their attack upon
me. They searched my house for
letters of secret correspondence with
Gen. Carleton, with whom in fact | new
ar Corresponded, and again visited me,
and ate and drank, and finally plundered
me of most of my movable effects. BY
January, 1776, vexation had hurt my
health, and the madness of the people
daily growing worse, thought of a way
TO make my escape to Canada, and ap.
plied to the rebel Colonel Beadle, who
had been my old and steady friend, and
was going against Canada. He consented
to take me along with him as compan-
ion, and obtained the consent of the COM
mittee. In March, 1776, we left Moor
town. and COL Beadle used me kindly
and honorably. At Montreal l met DIR
Franklin and other Commissioners from
Congress, also Gen. Wooster and Colonel
Arnold, and we dined together, when Ar
mold said, Nothing but independence
would settle these matters, and he wish
ed to God it was DONE" I next went to
Borel, where Gen. Sullivan commanded.
He took me a prisoner on suspicion that
had given Captain Foster and the In
dams information of their intentions,aDd
sent me to st. John, The rebels burned
Chamblei and st. John on their way to
Isle le Motto, where we rested six days,
and where | was liberated because they
had no proof against me, except from a
letter that Deacon Bailey wrote 70 Gen.
Sullivan ito take care of Col. Peters, who
was an enemy to America, and would es.
cape to Gen. Carleton the first opportu-
nifty" Oct 1776, went as volunteer
with Gen. Carleton on Lake Champlain,
as one of the pilots to Gen. Frazer in the
van of the army. March, 1777, two de
serters from the rebel country arrived at
Montreal and informed me that my
property had been seized, ConfsGated,
and myself outlawed, and that Mrs. Pc
ters and the children had been turned
out of my house in the month of January
1777; that she and her children had been
sent off in a sleigh, with one bed, by
Deacon Bailey, to Ticonderoga, 140 miles
through the woods, snow storms and bad
roads; that Mrs. Peters, a small and deli
cate woman, had been compelled to trav'
Ell with her young children in her arms
In deep snow and rain, and were almost
dead when they arrived at Ticonderoga
when the rebel General Wayne received
them with humanity and kindness, till
April, when he sent her and her child
rem thirty miles on their way to Canada
and left them, with three weeks provis
ions, in deserted house, near so miles
from any inhabitants between them and
Canada. Here she stayed eighteen days
with her children only (the Oldest being
fourteen years., her servant having been
detained by Deacon Bailey (for which
Gen. Wayne said he ought to be damn
ed). At length British boat discovered
and carried them to vessel, and thence
to st. John, where they all arrived on
the 4th of May, 1777, well, but naked and
dirty. In May, 1777, | was ordered by
Sir Guy Carleton to raise regiment, o.
which l was to be the Lieut. Colonel Com
mandant. June IAth | was ordered by