Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-06-08
REVOLUTIONARY DEWEYS.
STORIES OF ADMIRAL DEWEYS GREEN
MOUNTAIN ANCESTORS.
THEY WERE TERRlBhE Fighters.
Their doughty Friend, Ethan Alicn-ail OF
Them We're Brave and Loyal Men.
From tho New York Voice.

Tho achievements Of the hero of
Manila during the last year, his per-
sistoncy of purpose, the daring with
which he executed his plans and The
sanity of his public uttcrances, have
their counterpart in tho perform
anccs of his Green Mountain auccs-
tors in the early hours of revolution
ary history. The Rcv. Jcdcdiah
Dewey, the "fghting parson" of
Bennington, and Col. Ethan Allen
wcro the backbone Of tho rugged
Green Mountain spirit in those wild
days. Both lived in Bennington,
and quaint pair they were. Their
homes were but a stones throw
apart, and between the two build
ings was the parsons church.
P"rson Dewey was g rugged New
England character. When his sal
ary was not forthcoming he rcsortcd
to his trade of carpentering to keep
the wolf from the door. When
Aaron l.. IIubbell had his "raising
bce," the parson was present to
superintcnd the job. Joe Rudd and
his bctrothcd, Sarah Wichwirc, were
also present at the function.
"Joc, if you will lead Sarah over
here l will marry you for nothing,"
remarked the parson as the men sat
on the t;mbcrs at lunch.
"Its a bargain," said Joe, aud
forthwith he went after the blushing
girl. Some planks were arranged
for platform, under the parsons
direction, and the ceremony was per-
formed.
1t was during the famous New
Hampshire grant troubles that the
friendship of Dewey and Ethan
Allen first developed. The Ben
nington district was claimed by DO h
New Hampshire and New York;
in fact, the place was owned by both,
because the royal grants ovcrlappcd.
In the conflict Of authority that fol-
lowed the Green Mountain boys
were driven to take care of them
selves, and to defy the powers Of
both New York and New ITamp-
shire, being squatters by right of
conquest and possession. The inter
est in those stormy times was divided
between the old Catamount tavern
near by, kept by Dave Fay, and
Dcwcy's church. The committees
of safety would meet at the tavern,
headed by Allen and Dewey, and on
Sundays the parsons war sermons
would fling defiance to the authori-
ties at Albany under Governor
Tryon.
In January, 1770, the grand jury
at Albany returned indictments
against both Allen and Parson
Dewey. Allen went to Albany to
contest the case, but he was in the
encmy's country, and had no success.
The encouragement advised him to
ego home and be good" declaring
that "might often prevails against
right" "The gods Of the valleys arc
not the gods of the hills," rctcrted
Allen. The official asked what he
meant by such parable. eff you
will come back to Bennington with me
you will find out what it means"
was tho response.
Then the angry governor issued a
proclamation offering a reward of
ego for the capture of Allen, Dewey,
and seven others. He offered Il
reward of .c100 for the apprehension
of Allen, and ESQ for each Of five
others, including Seth Warner,
Remember Baker, and Parson
Dewey. Allen rctortcd by Offering
reward OF E5 for the capture Of
the attorney general.
The New York assembly there
upon outlawcd Alien, Baker, War
ner and others, and another reward
was offered for their lives. The
"outlaws" promptly issued a counter
proclamation, in which they declared:
"Printed sentences Of death will not
kill us, and if the cxccutioncrs
approach us, they will az likely fall
victims to death as We"
In spite of this hostile feeling,
thcBo same "Outlaws" were among
the first to seize their muskcts for
the commons defense when the echo
Of the Bunker Hill cannon reached
their ears. While Dave Fay was
running his Catamomt tavern, ELI
jah Dewey, the parsons son, mad
opened the old Dewey Inn just
across the street. Inspired by ano-
thcr "war sermon" of Parson
Dowoy's, the famous expedition
against Ticondcroga was there
planned. Ncighbor Allen led the