Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-01-21
SETH sTURTevANT.
ONE OF GEN. wAsHrseroN's LIFE GUARD.

I'm the Oxford Democrat Of Aug. 6. you Sci
out Invitation "to all persons Interested,
forward any inscription on gravestone or monl
ment 70 the memorv Of known patriot dunn
ing to the Invitation before, publicly. hav
made some Inquiry from time to time. In this an
other towns, and with what success the foliov
ling biographical sketch will th1W.. j wrote I
my cousin, Mrs. Fl. Maxim. In regard 70 he
grandfather Sturtevan'. whom I knew In m
boy hood. and she kindly furni he'd the desire
Information. for which favor she has my heart
thanks. Further comments are unnecessar!
since the article in question will speak Tor nsel
ami tell It's own story.-L. ID.
I was born in Halifax, Plymouth
County, Mass, June 4, l760. My parent
were Of Scotch descent, and were com
mon farmers, with whom lived until
was sixteen years old. The Revolution
airy spirit ran so high that entered tn
service at sixteen, in the year 11I6, IL
Capt. James Harlow's Company a
Plympton, of Col. Cary's Regiment o
Bridgewater.
enlisted for five months, marched t.
New York, was present at the time o
the fight on Long Island, made a re
treat from New York when the British
took the city, Sept. 16, 1II6. Served ou
L Tie i've luOutue duu iCSCtfSu " NAcSh@A .
on the first of December, 1II6.
17T7, June 9, second enlistment, To-
three years, Capt. Amos Cogswelr'
Company, Col. James NELSON'S Regi
ment, Gen. Arnold's Brigade, of Massa
chusetts. We marched from Boston ant
Joined Gen. Gates army at Saltwater il
the State of New York. Was in the bat
tie of Ith October, l777, when we gained
complete victory over the British
Army under the command of Burgoyne
and was present at the surrender OF his
army ten days after the battle. This
surrender was on the II of Oct, lit. A
good haul upon the British boys of ovel
5000 men.
About the first of November in this
wear. marched with Gen. Gates army to
Pennsylvania at a place called White
Marsh, a long, tedious march. Suffered
greatly for shoes, clothes and provisions,
Some of the soldiers died on the way and
some were obliged to leave on account OF
their sufferings.
At White Marsh we joined Gen. Wash
ington's grand army and soon after our
whole army marched to Valley Forge,
about thirty miles from Philadelphia, on
the Schuylkill River, where we built
huts and wintered. Gen. Washington
divided his men into parties of twelve,
and ordered each party to build hut for
its own accommodation. These rude
structures. sixteen feet long and four
teen feet wide, with walls six and half
feet high, were built of logs and lined
with clay with rough chimneys. The
officers quarters were like these but a
little larger. The weather became bit
terly cold and the sufferings almost be-
yond endurance. Both Washington and
Congress were powerless to provide new
clothing. Our bare feet were through
our WORKOUT shoes, nearly naked from
the tattered remains of our only pair of
stockings, our breeches hanging in
strings, our faces thin from hunger, and
a forsaken look on all. The horses died
of starvation, and the men harnessed
themselves to sleds and hauled their
wood and scanty provisions.
Surely we, who enjoy the blessings OF
liberty, will remember the terrible winter
at Valley Forge, IT'S.
About the first of April l was trans
ferred from this regiment to Gen. Wash
ington's Life Guard, commanded by the
following officers:
Caleb Gibbs. Major. belonging to Mass.
William Livingston Of New York, Captain
William ColfaI Of Conn.,, LIST Lieut..
John Grimes of Virginia, I'd Lieut.
- Edwards of Conn. 81 Lieut..
- Notch Of Virginia, % Sergeant.
- Harris Of G nm, Sd Sergeant.
- Young Of Virginia, 4th Sergeant.
- Jones OF Virginia, 5th Sergeant.
Seth Sturtevant Of Mass, LIST Corporal.
Ephraim Eddy Of Mass. 2d Corporal.
- Forbes Of Rhode leland, 81 Corporal.
- Randolph Of Virginia, 4th Corporal.
- Law Of Conn.,. 5th Corporal.
All told, one hundred and fifty. rank and hle
HEADQUARTERS remained at Valley
Forge until the British Army evacuated
Phil'a in June and then Gen. Washing
ton pursued the British Army and over
took them at Monmouth, New Jersey, on
the IS of June, where severe battle was
fought. Gen. Washington's army had
the pre-eminence, causing the British to
retreat to Sandy Hook at night, where
they went on board Of their shipping
which carried them to the city OF New
York.
Seventy-two of the Life Guard, my.
self among the number, were detached
to Col. Morgan's Reg. of Riflemen, as
flank guard at the battle of Monmouth.
Gen. Washington's army then marched
up the west side of the Hudson River
and crossed the ferry to White Plains,
Ny. | remained in the Life Guard
until my three years enlistment had ex-
pired, when received an honorable dis
charge. The following is copy:
Corporal Seth Sturtevant of the
Corps of Guard, having served the time
out for which he was engaged, is dis
charged the service of the United States.
Given under my hand at Headquar-
tiers, Morristown, this first day of June,
lTS0.
C. GIBBS, NJ. C. Guards.
RECOMMENDATION.
| do certify that Corporal Seth Sturte-
want has served two years and three
months in his Excellency's, Gen. wash
ington's, Life Guard, under my COM
mand, that during this period of time he
has not been absent from the Guard "a
hours unless on duty.
furthermore say that he has been
yieilant and attentive to every duty OF
his office, and is worthy of the esteem OF
his country.
Headquarters, Morristown, New Jer-
sey, June LIST, 1850.
c. GIBBS, NJ. C. Guards.
Soon after peace was made l married
Miss Abigail Gushing of Duxbury, Mass,
by whom had three children in Mass.
one of them died and moved my fami-
ly from Halifax, Plymouth Co., Mass,
on to the Province of Maine to West
Butterfield, now Sumner, goth July,
1895. Two years later my honored
mother, Joanna Sturtevant, came to 1--we
with me. She died May IL, 1915, aged
10 years, and was buried at East Sum
ner.
1902, Apr. 22d, was baptized by i'm
mersion and joined the Baptist church
at Buckfield, May 22d. l had two
children born in this county.
have outlived my wife and all m!
children but one. lived in Sumner 81
years. -,
am living in Hartford with my onl!
living child, Martha, wife of Capt. Hope
still Bisbee.
write this statement of my life at the
age of 81 years. With the few date
kept while in the service it has beef
written from memory and without TIT
aid of glasses.
81 wish we'll to my Country's good.
SETH STURTEvANT.
A true copy.
BY HARRIET BIsBRE MAXIM.