Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-03-17
MAIDSTONE.
BY HON. MOODY RICH.

Mr.. H. was first taken to Stan
stead. Here he sent across the line
to David Hopkinson his brother-in-
law who then resided in Derby. On
Mr.. Hopkinson's appearance he was
arrested himself on some preteXt
and kept closely guarded by keepers
three days, and could render no as
sistance. From Stanstead Mr.. Hugh
was carried to Montreal, thrown into
prison and heavily loaded with irons.
Here Morrill, Magoon -afterward
notorious for his counterfeiting and
other crimes for which he was ex-
ecuted-was his keeper. During his
stay here, Magoon intimated to him
that for a certain sum he would Sc
cure his escape. This sum was sub
sequently raised and sent on, but be-
fore it came it was decided that Mr..
H. could not be tried at Montreal,
but that he must be sent to Three
Rivers. At the last named place he
was tried, and on their failing to
prove the homicide he was convicted
by the Court of some minor offence
and sentenced to be branded and i'm
prisoned for three months. This con-
viction was to show the petty spleen
the courts of Great Britain had
against our government.
Again Mr.. H.Mwas loaded with
chains and confined in a dark, loath-
some cell. His sufferings from YER
min and filth, with fare that Chris
tians would have hardly offered their
lowest brutes, soon reduced.sMr. H.
to mere skeleton compared with
what he was before entering a Brit
ish prison. In addition to this, all
manner of abuse and indignities
were heaped upon him. Soon after
peace was declared his friends got
up petitions which were forwarded
to the Governor of Vermont, and he
procured what official papers were
necessary and authorized Seth Cush-
man, of Guildhall, to go to Canada
and present them to the Governor
General of that province. This had
the effect to set Mr.. H. at liberty,
who returned to his family, having
been imprisoned upwards of one
year.
The legislature of Vermont grant
ed to his wife, Patty Hugh, $1,000.
Such are some of the stirring events
that characterized the lives of the
patriots on the frontiers, who peril
ed their lives and their property in
behalf of the liberty of their coun-
try.
Samuel Hugh died about eight
years ago, as he had lived, an honor
ed and patriotic man, respected and
remembered by all who knew him.
BENJAMIN BYRON
moved from Bridgewater, Mass. Into
the town of Maidstone about the
year 1850, with his wife and four
youngest children, leaving two
daughters married and settled in
Bridgewater, where they remained.
He settled first on the farm now
owned and occupied by Jacob Rich,
but soon obtained lease of a public
lot in the north part of the town,
where he remained during life. He
was blacksmith, and having built a
log house and little shop, he sup
ported his family mostly by working
at his trade. He was a smart active
man, and somewhat eccentric like
some others of his time, not having
the advantage of an education, but
had fund of originality and ready
wit as substitute. Many anecdotes
are told of him to the present time
The following is one: In time o.
war, he was bearer of dispatches t.
a distance, through long woods il
great haste. Having travelled till h
was weary and well nigh exhausted
he came to a settlement. Entering
house he found company abou
sitting down to a table bountifull,
spread. Hunger, and the impor
lance of his message, would not al
low delay, therefore he immediatel
sat down and commenced helpin!
himself. Someone suggested to hin
the propriety of waiting, as tn
minister would ask a blessing. H
kept on eating, but replied, "Sa
what you are mind to, you won
turn my stomach"
His wife was Rachel Bailey, siste