The Globe-republican., 1908-04-09
HEROINE OF VERMONT
NOBLE WOMAN APPROPRIATELY
HoNoRED WITH MONUMENT.
History Of Ann Story Little Known 70
the People Of To-Day, But Records
Prove Her Great Services to the
Cause Of American Liberty.

The Vermont Society Of Colonial
Danes dedicated at Salisbury recently
a marble monument to mark the site
Of Ann Story's cabin, says Rutland
(vt.) dispatch to the New York Her
aid.
This woman led life Of patriotism
and hard work seldom equaled, and
there is now a chapter of the Daugh-
ters Of the American Revolution in
this city named for her.
The monument is large square
block Of marble presented by Fletcher
D. Proctor, son of Senator Redfeld
Proctor. 1t bears this inscription:
ION this spot stood the home OF Ann
Story. In grateful memory Of her
service In the struggle Of the Green
Mountain Boys for the independence
of Vermont. Erected by the Vermont
Society of Colonial Danes, May 80,
1906"
The history Of Ann Story is little
known outside the annals Of the town,
yet 1t shows many deeds Of unusual
bravery. She was pioneer In the
town Of Salisbury, one Of the first
towns in Addison county chartered by
King George III. Her husband, with
their fourteen-y ear-old son, went there
in 1774, leaving the rest Of his family
in Connecticut. He was building a
log cabin when he was killed by q
falling tree.
The next year Mrs. Story, with her
three sons and two daughters, contin,
ued the home making in the wilder.
ness begun by her husband. Nightly
they were disturbed by the bowling
Of wolves and panthers, and often
were visited by hostile Indians. but
being a woman of remarkable physi,
cal strength, she was able to swing an
axe as we'll as man, roll logs with
lever or fire musket, SO the little
home prospered In spite OF many set
backs.
When the revolutionary war broke
out most of the families In that part
I! Of the New Hampshire grants moved
: to southern counties, where they were
in less danger from attacks by the
Tories and hostile Indians, but Mrs.
Story and her little family remained.
and many a patriot found shelter
under her hospitable roof.
In the summer Of 1776 party OF
Indians descended from Canada, pill
Laying the abandoned farm houses.
Their presence in the clearing next to
! hers was discovered by Mrs. Story,
and, putting her children and valu.
ables into a canoe, she padded
through otter Creek, which ran by
her door, to a nearby swamp. Lying
hidden she saw the savages destroy
her home. Undismayed. she built an
J other small house. utilizing the
trunks Of trees small enough to be
handled without team. This done,
she and her sons dug a place Of
secret refuge In the bank Of the creek
The entrance was sufficiently large
to admit a canoe.
In the cave the family slept every
night. The retreat was eventually
discovered by q spy named Jenny. He
accosted Mrs. Story, trying to get In.
formation as to the movements Of Ger.
tain Wings. Being unsuccessful. he
threatened to shoot the woman, but
she bade him defiance.
As soon as he left Mrs. Story noti'
fed her scattered neighbors that
Tories were around. A party OF
Wings was soon organized and upon
the track Of Jenny's associates. Their
camp at Mendon. near Rutland
twenty-five miles away, was surround.
ed that night, and fourteen Tory pris.
oners were captured and taken to
Fort Ticonderoga.
Mrs. Story was twice married after
the close Of the war, dying at the age
| ~ ~ Che WAS hurled at Mfddl0bury.