CHAPTER XVII.

WINDSOR'S SHARE IN THE OLD FRENCH WAR.1

1739-1762.

In the latter part of 1739, England declared war against Spain, and the American Colonies were called upon to assist in the proposed expeditions against the Spanish settlements in the West Indies. Four regiments of troops were to be raised in the north, who were to form a junction at Jamaica with the largest fleet and the most powerful army which had ever been sent into the Gulf of Mexico. The colony of Connecticut seconded the wishes of the royal government with her usual alacrity. The governor issued a proclamation for volunteers, recruiting officers were appointed in each county, and every influence was used to forward the objects of the expedition. In October, 1740, the armament, under the command of the able and popular Lord Cathcart, sailed for the West Indies. At Dominica, Cathcart fell a victim to the climate, and the command devolved upon his second, Wentworth, and vice-admiral Vernon, whom they were to join at Jamaica.

“The enterprise, instead of having one good leader, had two

1 We have endeavored, as far as possible, to designate the parishes of Ancient Windsor, to which individuals belonged, by the following abbreviations: E. W., East and South Windsor; Ell., Ellington; Wby., Wintonbury, now Bloomfield. All others are supposed to have belonged to Windsor proper. The Wintonbury names are mostly gleaned from the MS. pastoral records of the Rev. Hezekiah Bissell, first minister of that parish. The others from town and church records, and the State Archives.

bad ones." Wentworth lacked experience and resolution, Vernon was arrogant and impetuous. There could be no unity between such different temperaments, and the fate of the expedition was virtually sealed before it fairly commenced. Time was foolishly wasted, and when the splendid fleet of over 100 vessels, with 15,000 sailors and 12,000 troops, fully provisioned and equipped, at last set sail, it was on a fool's chase after the French and Spanish fleets, which had already left the fatal climate.

Then, instead of attacking Havana, which was the keystone of the gulf, although poorly defended, Vernon preferred to attack Carthagena, the strongest point in the Spanish power. A brave but rash attempt to storm the town was repulsed, with heavy loss to the assailants; then the rainy season set in, and the fever of the marshes began a havoc among the English troops more deadly and rapid than the heaviest fire of artillery. In two days there died three thousand four hundred men. Of nearly 1000 New England men who left their homes but a few months before, scarce one hundred survived, and before the return of the fleet to Jamaica, in November, 1741, it was estimated that 20,000 lives had been lost, mostly by the pestilence. In every town, and in almost every family in this and the neighboring colonies was heard the voice

"of farewells to the dying And mourning for the dead."

Several citizens of Windsor enlisted in this unfortunate expedition.1

"July 6, 1740. Volunteers appeared in Capt. Henry Allyn's company for Cuba, alias the West India settlements, viz: THOS. ELGAR, ALEX. ALFORD, CYRUS JACKSON, ASAHEL SPENCER, AARON COOK.

From the State Archives we glean the names of RETURN STRONG, NATHANIEL HAYDEN, ROGER NEWBERRY.

The latter gentleman was a distinguished citizen of Windsor, and his death is thus quaintly recorded on the town books:

"ROGER NEWBERRY, Esq., Capt. of one of His Majestie's Companies belonging to Connecticut, and Listed in His Majestie's Service in ye war against ye Spanish West Indies dyed (according to the best account that is yet given) May 6, 1741, In his

1 Timothy Loomis's MS. records.

Return from Carthagena to Jimica about Three days before yo Transport arrived at Jimica."

The character of this excellent man is thus portrayed in the following obituary notice, found by us among some ancient manuscripts in an old garret in South Windsor, and reprinted here verbatim et literatim.

"Windsor, July 29, 1741. Last Monday we had the Melancholy news of the Death of the Worthy Capt. Roger Newberry who went from this Town on the Expedition. He was well descended. The Honorable Major Benjamin Newberry, that had adventured his Life in his Country's Service in the Indian war, and sate several years att the Councill board, was his Grandfather. Capt. Benjamin Newberry, who died of Sickness in the Expedition formed against Canada, 1709, was his father.

"This Gentleman had a Liberal Education Bestowed upon him which he was careful to Improve and was an accomplished mathematician and Good Historian. He always Carryed about with him a Lively Sense of the Divine providence and of man's accountableness to his Maker of all his tho'ts, words and actions, and gave his Constant Attendance on the Worship of God in the Public and Private Exercises of it, was Just in his Dealings, a Sure friend and faithful Monitor.

"He had a very Quick and Clear apprehension of things, a solid Judgement & Tenaceous memory; his Discourse and Conversation was affable and Instructive and so Peculiarly winning that most were his Real friends, as were acquainted with him His mind was formed for Business, which he followed with an Indefatigable aplycation by which he not only discharged to Good Acceptance the public Trusts that were put upon him, but also advanced his own Estate.

"In May 1740, he being then a member of the Generall Assembly was pitcht upon by the Governor and Councill, yea, he had the suffrage of the Assembly to Invite him to Lead one company of the Troops from this Collony in this Expedition. He took it into Consideration and after Sometime appeared Inclined to undertake it, whereupon Some of his Relations to Dissuade him from it Laid before him the Dangers of his own Life and the Great Loss his family would Sustain if he should miscarry. He answered

"I can Leave my Family with the Divine Providence, and as to my own Life Since it is not Left with man to Determine the time or place of his Death I think it not best to be anxious about it. The Great thing is to Live and Dy in our Duty. I think the War is just and my Call is Clear. Somebody must venture and why not I, as well as another." So he took out his commission and Proceeded to fill up his Compiny, and there appeared such a Readiness to serve under him that he said he thought he could have made up his Compiney in [his] own Town.

"He was att the Takeing of Boto Chico, from which fort two Days after he wrote a chearful Letter to his Wife Expressing his Great Hopes of Takeing the Town of Carthagena and thereby finishing the Expedition and opening a way for his Return.

"Butt soon after this he was Taken Sick and Languished untill the fifth of May. When he had almost Completed the thirtyfifth year of his age, he not far from Jamaica Departed this Life and wee Shall see his face no more untill the Sea gives up the Dead that are in it.

"He hath Left his antient mother to Lament the Death of this her only Son. His own Widdow with seven small Children, one att her Breast, a Family to mourne under this heavy Bereave ment and Combat with the Difficulties of an unquiet World."

In March 1744, France, long suspected, by England, of assisting Spain, boldly threw off the mask, and war was mutually declared between the two nations. In the hostilities which followed, success for a time attended the French, who captured Canso, and whose cruisers took many vessels and completely broke up the English fisheries. This of course deeply touched the interests of the New England colonies, who were largely engaged in the fish trade, and it became the general desire of the country that Louisburg should be taken. Having unsuccessfully applied to the home government for assistance, they at length resolved to undertake it alone. The deliberations on the subject were weighty and divided, but the war party preponderated, and preparations were accordingly made. None of the colonies outside of New England would join the hazardous undertaking, but nothing daunted by this or the manifold obstacles which presented themselves, an army of 4000 troops, together with a fleet fully equipped, was raised within the short space of two months. Of this force Connecticut contributed 500 men, under command of Lieutenant Governor ROGER WOLCOTT of Windsor, who was also second in command of the united colonial army. On the 23d of April the army was joined at Canso by Commodore Warren, from his station in the West Indies, with a fine fleet of large ships; and full of joy and enthusiasm the army and fleet set sail for Louisburg. It is needless here to recount the details of that eventful siege. Suffice it to say that after numerous successes by land and water, which seemed like special interpositions of Providence; after miracles of labor, bravery and endurance, Louisburg, the appa

rently impregnable Gibraltar of North America, capitulated to the brave New England troops. Not until the victorious army entered the gates of the city, did they know the extent of their achievement, nor the difficulties which their bravery had overcome. Wonder struggled in their hearts with emotions of adoration to Him who had given them the victory. "God has gone out of the way of his common providence," said they, "in a remarkable and almost miraculous manner, to incline the hearts of the French to give up, and deliver this strong city into our hands." God had indeed granted to an undisciplined army of mechanics, farmers and fishermen, led by a merchant general, a victory almost unparalleled in history. The news was received in England with exultation, and in New England with a frenzy of popular joy. Words can not express the enthusiasm which was everywhere felt.

It was a proud day for Windsor when she welcomed home again her brave son, the Lieut. Governor. His journal affords us a pleasant glimpse of the scene.

"Tuesday 30th. Col. Whiting with his troops and sundry Gentlemen from Hartford and Wethersfield came to me at my lodgings from whence they attended me to my own Home at Windsor, where we arrived about two afternoon. Here we had a Good Dinner, Drank some bowls of Punch, &c, and after the Discharge of the Great Artillery and small arms Gave 3 Huzzas, and parted Good friends."1

Windsor contributed many of her best citizens to this enterprise, but it is impossible to ascertain the names of all.

ALEXANDER (afterwards Dr.) WOLCOTT accompanied the Connecticut troops as surgeon's mate..

ISRAEL STOUGHTON.

Capt. DAVID ELLSWORTH (E. W.).

JOHN WARHAM STRONG, was a first lieutenant in service.

James Eggleston, Jr. (Wby), was impressed into the service. EZRA LOOMIS (Wby) died at Louisburg, aged about 24 years, Dec. 18, 1745.

THOMAS BARBER (Wby) died at Louisburg, aged about 24 years, 1745.

STEPHEN GILLET (Wby) died at Louisburg, aged about 34 years, Feb. 1746.

1 Coll. Conn. Hist. Society, 1.