Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-10-28
BURNING OF RoYALToN.
A Monument to be Erected to Mark
the Tragedy Of 1875 Years Ago.


Just I25 years ago Monday, Oct.
10, the town of Royalton, so pictur-
esquely situated on the banks Of the
White river, was sacked and burned
by 800 Frenchmen, tories and In
dams. On the anniversary of this
day of history the inhabitants have
always stopped to consider just what
that tragedy meant to the foretathers,
but this year the observance of the
day was Of unusual importance, for
it was decided to erect a monument,
chronicling, in the best OF Barre
granite, that dire disaster, which
almost wiped out all signs of habita-
ton in the valley.
The originator of the plan for
concentrating the burning of Roy
alton is Daniel Wilde, now Of New
York. He was born in Royalton
and is a direct descendant of the
brave Mrs. Hendee, who dared on
that day of disaster to cross the river
on foot in search Of the command
ing officer of the enemy, and by
sheer force of her eloquence and
persistence, not only regained her
own son, who had been captured,
but secured the release of eight
other small boys, sons Of neighbors.
Mr.. Wilde olvvoye desired TO nave
some fitting memorial of that tragic
event erected, and few months ago
he offered to give $500 for such a
monument. The Woman's club has
acquired a reputation for doing
things, and when the members pro-
posed to erect a monument the town
authorities readily agreed to give
their sanction. The president of
the club, Miss Eastman, will sug-
gest that one face be dedicated to the
burning of the town and the oppo-
site one to the captives. 1t is ex-
pected that the monument will be
placed and dedicated next spring.
A recital Of the tragedy by Mrs.
Charles Joiner was Of especial inter
est to many present, descendants
from those families that suffered on
that day, IFS years ago, when about
300 Indians, French and tories, adj
vanced by the way OF Tunbridge
and, in the early forenoon, began to
pilIage, burn and massacre without
mercy.
The invaders, under the leader
ship of Lieut.. Horton of the British
army, and Frenchman named Lee
Mott, second in command, left Can
ada with the intention of laying to
waste Newbury. Up Lake Cham
plain they went by boat and then
followed the Winooski river to a
point near Montpelier, where they
were informed by hunters that New
bury was well fortified and soldiers
stationed there. This was false
report that saved Newbury, but
proved most disastrous to Royal
ton.
The guide of the invaders was the
same Hamilton who had been taken
prisoner by the Americans at the
time of Gen. Burgoyne's surrender
70 Cen -Gates- at Saratoga. --- Having
visited both Royalton and Newbury
on parole, Hamilton was well ac-
quainted with the ground, and ac-
cording to tradition, the trouble he
had had with Royalton settlers
caused him to seek this opportunity
for revenge. So they travelled via
Barre, over the mountains, through
Orange and Washington, down the
first branch of the White river
through Chelsea and Tunbridge to
Royalton. Their Sunday encamp-
ment was on what is now the Adams
Rowell farm, off the highway from
South Royalton to Chelsea. The
roads on that October day were full
of men, women and children flee
ing for their lives, and the savages
close behind plundering, burning,
shooting, scalping and taking pris-
oners.
About two CLOCK in the afternoon
the invaders started for Canada,
having burned III dwelling houses
and I6 new barns filled with grain.
They killed $50 cattle and many
sheep and swine. They captured 80
horses. The 70 prisoners were
taken to Montreal and vicinity. A
year later, with the exception of
one who died, all returned to Roy
alton.