The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-01-08

SKETCH OF BENJAMIN HARDWOOD
Was the First White Child Born In
Bennington.

Onthe 18th of June, 1861, band of
immigrants from Massachusetts enter
ed Bennington of the New Hampshire
Grants. Among the twenty-five fam
lilies in this company we find Bridget
Harwood, widow, with five sons and
three daughters. In later years Mrs.
Benjamin HARDWOOD gave an interest
ing account of this event, which reads
as follows:
when Bridget came to town she
rode ON pillion behind her son Peter.
Peters wife, Margaret, rode in an OK
cart with their son Clark. 1t is sup
posed that Margaret and her son came
into town in company with Bridget
and Peter. They left the other party
In Williamstown, Mass, where 1t had
halted for refreshments, thus giving
Bridget distinction not shared with
the other women of the immigrant
party.
Peter occupied log house at the
base of Mount Anthony receiving his
mother as a member of his household.
There on January IL. 1852 the subject
OF our sketch was born and It Is re-
corded of him that he was the first
male child born in Bennington. In
1869 Peter built q frame house some
rods to the north east of the log tene-
ment, into which he moved the follow
ing year. When the eventful battle Of
Bennington occurred Peter was one of
little company that went forth to
meet and subdue the British forces.
The Hiram Harwood Journal says of
him, That venerable Revolutionary
patriot who fought and bled on the i'm
mortal heights Of Walloomsac, August
Is, 1777.'
BENJAMIN lad in his sixteenth
year. assisted in guarding, the store
house on Bennington hill. At night a
company of weary, hungry soldiers
encamped near Benjamin's home. Pet
err pointed them to his field of corn be-
meath the mountain side where the
roasting ears were waiting for the sun
ny days to harden them for grinding.
and babe them enter. When they
passed out there were the stalks and
broad leaves and the tassels left for
fodder.
when the night came on damp and
chill the soldiers came in quietly for
the shelter of the roof, stacked their
muskets with the polished bayonets
outside, but beneath cover, and in
reach, then with knapsack for a pill
low laid themselves away IN closely
packed rows ON the kitchen floor In
the morning they were fed beef broth
thickened like Cruel, departing noise
lessly for Margaret, Peters wife was
i'll.
benjamin was married at the age of
twentyfour to Diadamia Dewey, a
niece OF the Rev. Jedediah Dewey, the
first pastor OF the first church organ
lied within the limits of the present
state of Vermont His early married
life was passed in the log house at Mt.
Anthony's base. Finally the illness
OF the mother demanded his removal
to the frame house which was ever af-
ter his home.
benjamin was one OF the reliable
men of his day, Full of energy. OF
fine moral character. and exercising
hospitality worthy of notice. For
several years he kept journal, re-
linquishing it when his only son
reached mature years. IN his son Hi
rams journal we read something like
this, Father sat down to a meal this
evening with no one present but his
family as il this were rare occur
renee. And in another part of the
jouNal, If our memory serves us cor
rectly, is a record of seventeen unin-
vited guests during the afternoon, and
a gathering of young people in the eve
ming.
benjamin united with the First
church January 3. 1886. AS the years
rolled by his health failed to such an
extent that the care of the farm de.
volved upon his son Hiram, whose fl
nancial ability was considered more
than ordinary. Benjamin was tail
perhaps six feet in height, but late In
life exceedingly bent. The quiet, dig
nified old man would fail to suggest
the stirring business man OF the early
days of his proprietorship.
Thus he lived until January %
1851, when at the age Of SO he died
The farm house stands today, though
surroundings are much changed from
those glorious. happy days Of more
| than past century, so full of brave
deeds and loving memories"
Mrs. Mary Waters Hicks.
| A crayon portrait Of BENJAMIN Har