Shem Kentfield (1750 - 1782)

Born 1750 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Lurana (Dibbell) Kentfield — married 1777 in Charlestown, Sullivan, New Hampshire

Died 1782 at about age 32 in Albany, Albany, New York

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Biography

Shem Kentfield was born in 1750 in Northampton, Massachusetts. ^{[citation needed]}

He married Lurana Dibbell. ^{[citation needed]}

The History of Charlestown, New Hampshire ^[1] (Pg: 103) lists Shem Kentfield as having settled in town between 1760 and 1776.

Shem died in 1782, hanged by order of George Washington after trial at West Point on charge of desertion. He was discharged for desertion 16 Apr 1781 and hanged Jun 1782. ^[2]

Trial and Hanging

He is mentioned but one time in correspondence of Gen. George Washington, and the general's message makes it clear that Kentfield's trial is already over.

To COLONEL BENJAMIN TUPPER

Head Quarters, Newburgh, May 20, 1782.

Sir: I have recd your Letter of the 11th. Inst and another without date the former inclosing the proceedings of a Court Martial held for the Trial of Shem Kentfield. Inclosed you have copy of the General Orders approving the proceedings and a Warrant for the Execution of the Prisoner. The place of Execution is left to you; the necessity of the Contractor's furnishing Hard Bread when required has been mentioned to Mr Morris who will doubtless take measures accordingly.

I am &c.

George Washington

From History of Charlestown, New-Hampshire ^[1] (Page: 435) the old No. 4, Henry Hamilton Saunderson:

Shem Kentfield, who was one of the men whose counterparts are

found in most places, whose business is just what they can find to do,

had for about ten years been a resident of Charlestown, where he had

often been employed by Col. Walker and Col. Hunt, and occasionally

by the Stevenses, Samuel and Solomon, to accompany them on their

tours in surveying. He was a daring hunter and expert fisherman,

but was most distinguished as a hanger on at the public inns, where

if he could get an occasional drink, and food sufficient to supply present

hunger, he was very happy and was content to let the day pass without

taking any thought for the morrow. But his habits were not only bad,

but in his disposition he was jealous and revengeful, and never ceased

to exercise the antipathies which he had once imbibed ; and, being withal

suspected of being a tory, he became in the community, not only a butt for

their ridicule, but a mark for their most cutting gibes. Under these circumstances the society of Charlestown at length became so distasteful to him that he felt

that it was not to be endured longer, so helping himself to one of the best horses

of Col. Hunt, against whom he had a peculiar grudge, he, one night, while the

villagers were wrapped in sleep, took a silent leave of his old acquaintances, and

did not stop by any unnecessary delay till he was within the British lines, in Canada.

Here he had leisure to lay his plans for the future and plot his revenge. Having

engaged five others to assist him, they started late in the following autumn for

Charlestown, their object being to entrap and seize Col. Hunt, if they could, and

take him within the British lines, and if that could not be accomplished, to take

revenge by burning Charlestown. They were armed with the best guns and prepared

with snow shoes aud also with a pair of handcuffs, for securing their prisoner, should

they be so fortunate as to secure him. On reaching Weathersfield. Vt., while travelling

in the night, they fell in with Dr. Abram Downer, who had been out to see a patient,

who was very sick, and at a very late hour was returning home. The Doctor, who had

practised in Charlestown a number of years, and knew Kentfield well, immediately

recognized him and addressed him by name, whereupon thinking their plot would

be discovered, they immediately made the Doctor a prisoner, and then consulted

what they should do. They did not like to kill him, but what safety was there for them

unless they did ? The Docter saw his danger, and besought them to spare his life,

promising in the most solemn manner, that he would not tell any one that he had

seen them, nor reveal anything concerning them. They at length put the Doctor under

the most fearful oath, by which he invoked the most dreadful imprecations upon himself,

should he betray them, and then released him, and they passed on. The Doctor was

true to his oath, for it made such an impression upon his mind, that he did not dare

to be otherwise, and never mentioned the circumstance of his having met them, till

after Shem was dead. They came down on the west side of the river, and sought a

place of concealment on Schitchawock, a small but picturesque mountain, lying near

the Connecticut, opposite Charlestown, in what was known by the name of " Tory's Cave,"

from which place Shem, who was well acquainted with all the region, hoped to get into communication with some well known tories, from whom he was expecting to receive

aid in carrying out his most adventurous attempt. But before ascending the mountain, in

order to be the more secure against discovery, they took the precaution to invert their

snow-shoes, so as to have it appear as if they had come down, instead of having gone

up the mountain. But this precaution which they took for the more effectual concealment

of their whereabouts, was the very means of preparing the way for their discovery ; for a

hunter coming along fortunately fell into their tracks, which he followed on, till at length he

came to the spot where their snow-shoes had been changed, when he saw the strange

phenomenon of several tracks passing towards the same point, and none passing out from it.

His suspicions were excited, and feeling that all was not right, he hastened to the village,

to inform Col. Hunt, who on receiving the information, mounted his horse, and taking with

him Col. Abel Walker and Major Jotham White, put out under the pilotage of his informant,

to discover what such a phenomenon might mean. On reaching the place, they soon

discovered that the persons with the snow-shoes, had gone up the mountain, instead of

coming down, as they evidently wished to make it appear. " They are spies", said Col. Hunt,

"who wish to have communication with Tory Parker." They therefore concealed themselves

where they had a good view of Parker's premises, and waited for further developments.

For some time all was still and they saw nothing. At length Parker came out with a pail in

his hand, and proceeded towards his hog pen, which was situated at a short distance

from his house. On arriving at the pen, he looked carefully around, as if to assure himself

that there was no one near, when taking up a club, he knocked heavily upon the boards,

at the same time calling the hogs with a very loud voice. This it appears was a signal ;

for no sooner was it made, than Shem Kentfield was observed to leave his place of

concealment, and proceed towards the house. Of course Col. Hunt and his aids lost no

time in placing themselves in the most convenient position they could, for his arrest.

He was therefore, on his attempt to return to the mountain, immediately summoned to

surrender. Shem saw he was caught, and nothing in the circumstances but the most

desperate daring, could save him. Pointing, therefore his musket with an air of bravado,

he most positively asserted that he would shoot the first man that approached him.

" No, Shem you wont," replied Col. Hunt, and with that courage for which he was

distinguished, marched straight up to him, and took him prisoner.

Perhaps had Shem been left to suppose that he had only three men to contend with,

he would not have been taken so easily. But the shout of Col. Walker, " Come on, boys !"

as if he had a battalion at his heels, leading him to suppose that all possibility of escape

was cut off, he doubtless conceived that it was the part of wisdom to surrender without resistance,*

He was placed in jail at Charlestown, but after remaining there a few weeks, an order

came, to send him to West Point, as it was found that he had enlisted in some company

there, from which he had deserted. He was there tried and condemned to be hung.

Lemuel Rovce of Charlestown, was placed over him as guard the last night of his life.

Mr. Royce told him the next morning after he had taken his breakfast, that is was his

last day on earth. He replied " I thought the Devils intended to kill me."

An incident is told of him which shows that the impression was strong on his mind,

that it was his destiny ultimately to be hung. Being out on Lake George one time, the

boat in which he was, from some cause or other, was upset and Shem and all the crew

were in great danger of being drowned. He kept above water as long as he could,

but at length feeling that unless he had some assistance, he must sink, it is said that

something prompted him to exclaim, " Now gallows assert your claim," which words

he had no sooner uttered, than he felt himself buoyed up, as if some hand had been

placed under him, and he was preserved for the doom to which for many years he had

been looking forward.

It is said that William W. Whitney of Spencer Hollow, Springfield, Vt., has now in possession

the gun that Kentfield brought from Canada, when he came to Charlestown, on his

expedition to take Col. Hunt. Judge Closson of Springfield, Vt., who gave me this information,

says it is one of the longest muskets he has ever seen.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} History of Charlestown, New-Hampshire, the old No. 4 by Saunderson, Henry Hamilton, 1876
2. ↑ "New Hampshire Revolutionary War Records, 1675-1835," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q242-JWYC : 15 March 2018), Shem Kentfield, 16 Apr 1781; citing New Hampshire, United States, Military Service, New Hampshire State Archives, Division of Records Management and Archives, Concord; FHL microfilm 005833018.

• WikiTree profile Kentfield-7 created through the import of BDM7-7-11.ged on Jul 8, 2011 by Brian McCullough. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Brian and others.