Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-01-07
SAMUEL GATES continued.)

NAAS
ing which he was present at the
evacuation of Boston by the British,
on the 18th of March-was then or
deled to New York, and witnessed
the battle on Long Island, his regi-
ment not participating in the en-
gagement. On the 18th of October,
Mr.. Gates was one Of the valiant
band that so signally repulsed the
British at White Plans. In TIT, his
term of enlistment having expired,
he for the third time offered his SER
vices to his bleeding country, and
entered his old company-still under
Capt. Barnes Col. Bedell command
ing the regiment. Soon after the
regiment was ordered from it's old
headquarters at Worcester, Mass. to
Saratoga to aid in ~arresting the
progress of the British urder Gen.
Burgoyne. Here on the plains OF
Saltwater our hero again found him
self and comrades opposed to the
enemies OF their country, and parti-
cipated in that bloody fight which
sent the Wanting redcoats back t.
their own borders.
During the winter of 1777 and '78
he with his regiment were quartereu
at Vail y Forge, where he endured,
in common with his fellow patriots.
those terrible sufferings from hunger
and cold which no pen can ever de-
scribe, yet must ever be memorable
in the history of VI country. After
the battle of Monmouth, in which he
took part, he went with his COM
panions to Rhode Island, where the
brigade to which his regiment was
attached was ordered and at the
expiration of his term of service,
was honorably discharged. 1t is
quite remarkable, that in all the
hard fought battles in which he was
engaged he never received a wound.
In 1881 Mr.. Gates married Lucre-
tia Williams of his native town, and
in 1883, seeking for himself and fam
lily a home, he moved to Lunenburoh h,
Vt.-then with few exceptions all
unbroken wilderness-where, cut
ting the first tree on a lot of 100
acres go of which he paid $25 for,
the remainder beng granted him
for settling), he rea, ed a log hou e
and located his little family. -Four
others (three of whom settled in
town. came with him to his forest
homs. Previous to this there were
but tire families residing in Lunen-
burgh. For several years many OF
the necessary articles of life were
brought from Portland. a distance
of over 100 miles, on foot or or
horseback. Mr.. Gates first visit tr
Portland was in June, 1888, when
with two horses he made his way
over Cherry Mountain ard through
the Notch, carrying with him a few
beaver skins and one silver dollar tC
exchange for Goldfish, salt, molasses
and other necessary articles, which
we're placed in bags and strapped or
the horses backs, and thus conveyed
to his home in the wilderness. AL
the grain used by the early settlers
was carried to Lancaster, N. h., tc
be ground, a distance of seven miles
and it was a common task to carry
grist to and from the mill in a day
upon their backs, or to take 1t uE
the river in a canoe to Guildhall, /
distance of some 18 miles by the riv'
er. In 1892 Mr.. Gates built the
first frame house erected in town
on his lot about half a mile east OF
the village, where it now stands
relic of the past, having %outlastec
many buildings of later DAYS, and
far outlived the aged builder anc
his partner who made it their home
for so mgny years. The first session
of the county court and it's sitting;
for a long time, as we'll as most o.
the meetings on the Sabbath, were
held in this time-honored house; anC
many of the noted men OF those
olden times spent days and nights
within its walls and partook of the
good cheer always so freely tender
ed by its liberal occupants. And al
though it has weathered the blasts
of over 70 winters, no marriage
ceremony has ever been witnessed
within its walls, and but twice h
death found its mark among its IN
mates first to the life-companlon O
the aged soldier, who died in 1884
the age of 81, and, lastly, the OF
veteran himself a year later at thu
advanced age of "a. He died honor
ed and lamented by all his acdualnt
ances, for to know him was to low
and respect him. His years were
spent not unproftably for his fellow
men. During his life he was honor