Prince Haskell (1758 - 1841)

Born 26 Apr 1758 in Rochester, Plymouth, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 23 Mar 1841 at age 82 in Norwalk, Huron, Ohio, United States

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Biography

Prince Haskell lived in Hardwick, Massachusetts, until 1780, when he moved to Barnard, Vermont.^[1]

Revolutionary War Service

"Affidavit of Prince Haskell of Bernard in the County of Windsor, State of Vermont. "Under oath and testifieth — "First. That in the year of our Lord Christ 1775, I Prince Haskell, was then an inhabitant of the town of Hardwick in the County of Worcester, State of Massachusetts; that I enlisted in Capt. Simeon Hazeltine's Company as a Drummer for the term of eight months and joined Col. Fellows Regiment at Roxbury in and constituted a line of the Army there blockading or investing the Town of Boston which was then in the posses sion of the troops of Great Britain, sent there to subject the then Colony of Mass. Which term I faithfully served my Officers and Country in good and cheerful obedience.

"Secondly. At the expiration of the first eight months service there was a request some of the troops to enter their names for another months service as the lines were like to be left too destitute of soldiers. I entered my name for another months service, which I faithfully served and then returned home (with the consent of my Officers) to my father's house in Hardwick.

"Thirdly. In the year 1776 there was a call for men to serve against Our Common Enemy on Lake Champlain, I then entered the service of my Country in the Company of Hamilton Joined the Regiment of Col. Brewer and was stationed at Mount (Hope?) about one mile west of Ticonderoga Old Fort. Which term of four months I faithfully served for which I engaged and returned home with one of my officers, Lieut. Hodges.

"Fourthly. I resided at my father's house in Hardwick (1777) hearing of the alarm at Bennington, I turned out a Volunteer under Capt. Paige of Hardwick and went on horse-back with about thirty other men in speed to defend our Frontiers from British invasion. We, however, did not arrive (it being about 70 miles) until the bloody victory was obtained by Our Revolutionary Heroes—I returned home to Hardwick.

"Fifthly. Immediately on my return from the Bennington Alarm there was a loud call for men to reinforce our then army to stop the junction of the British General Burgoyne with the British on the North River. I then turned out for three months in Capt. (if I recollect right) Crawford's Company, joined Col. Cushing's regiment, General Warner's Brigade, and Gen. Lincoln's division at Bemis Heights on the west side of the North River, State of New York. I there witnessed the bloody battle and the Glorious Triumph of the American Army. After the surrender of Burgoyne, Warner's Brigade moved down the North River to White Plains and there I completed the term of my enlistment. All which terms I cheerfully and faithfully served, I never had the mortification to be arrested or ever receive a reprimand from any of my superiors. (Signed) Prince Haskell "and that I am reduced in circumstances and stand in need of assistance from my country.

"Acknowledged and Sworn to April 7, 1818.

"Memorandum. Also in the year 1780, while working on the land I now live on, was taken by the Indians from Canada. Lost by the Indians between seven and eight hundred dollars of Continental money and my surveying instruments books and all clothing. I was carried to Montreal and confined in jail from the last of August until the 15th of the next July. I was exchanged by the order of the Gov. of Vermont and returned to Hardwick, Mass. the last of Sept. in the year of 1781."

A summary of the record of his military service:

From State of Massachusetts Archives:....Haskell, Prince. Receipt dated Ticonderoga Mills, Nov. 3, 1776, signed by said Haskell and others belonging to Capt. Hamilton's co., for wages for Oct., 1776; also. Drummer, Capt. Nathan Hamilton's co.. Col. Samuel Brewer's regt. ; pay abstract for travel allowance, etc., dated Brookfield, Feb. 17, 1777 ; 140 miles travel allowed said Haskell.^[2]

Barnard, Vermont

Prince Haskell was an early settler of Barnard,VT. He moved there in 1780 from Hardwick, Massachusetts. While working his land, he was captured by Indians Aug 9, 1780 in the "Barnard Raid". Also captured were Thomas Wright and Timothy Newton, both of Barnard, and David Stone of Bethel. Their wives were unharmed, but all family valuables were taken or destroyed. Prince Haskell was a surveyor, and surveyed many of the Barnard lots. He lost all his surveying instruments in the raid. The men were taken to Canada as prisoners. The woman returned to Hardwick. The Indian raiding party was believed to be led by Tories and/or British solders. The American War for Independence was still being fought at the time, and Indian raids from Canada into the colonies were still part of the British war tactics. It is believed that the raiding party was also searching for Benjamin Whitcomb, to collect a substantial reward offered by the British. Whitcomb had assassinated a British officer, General Gordon, in Canada. The Benjamin Whitcomb story is told on his WikiTree page. Asa Whitcomb lived in Barnard, was related and resembled Benjamin, and was probably mistaken for Benjamin by a spy who reported to the British in Canada. Asa Whitcomb was not found by the raiding party, but his property was destroyed. Thomas Wright, Timothy Newton, and David Stone were well treated as prisoners, Prince Haskell was confrontational, and turned over to the British as a prisoner of War. On the honor system as prisoners, Wright, Newton and Stone were allowed all sorts of liberties, such as hunting and fishing. Not wanting to spend the winter in Canada, in November (1780) the three made their escape. Their weeks long journey was fraught with danger. They were actively being pursued by Indians, and they dared not to shoot game for food in fear that they would be discovered and recaptured. And they feared to stop at any dwelling they passed, less the occupants be favorable to their return to Canada. Loyalties were unknown, and still ran deep on both sides of the American Revolution conflict. Five days into their journey, David Stone came down with a fever and at his request he was left in the woods in a makeshift shelter. Wright and Newton made their way to Barnard, and then to Hardwick, Massachusetts, and reunited with their families. They later returned to Barnard with their families. David Stone recovered, made his way home and located his family. He continued to farm his land in Bethel for the remainder of his life. Prince Haskell was released in a prisoner's exchange July 15, 1781, and returned to Hardwick, where he married Leah Wilder Oct, 1781. He did not return to Barnard with his young family until their second child was born. In 1824 he was living on the same farm from which he had been captured by the Indians. ^[3][4]

Prince Haskell's son, Edward, married Timothy Newton's daughter, Elutheria, Dec 1, 1815 in Barnard.^[3]

Peru, Ohio

Prince Haskell left Barnard in 1835 and moved to Peru, Ohio. In Peru he found and repurchased the surveying instruments that had been stolen from him during the 1780 Indian raid in Barnard.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ History of Hardwick, MA, Lucius R Paige, copyright 1883. pg 391.
2. ↑ Massachusetts Soldiers And Sailors Of The Revolutionary War, A Compilation From The Archives, Prepared And Published By The Secretary Of The Commonwealth, In accordance with Chapter 100, Resolves Of 1891: Vol 7, pg 444
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Newton, William Monroe, History of Barnard, VT. Copyright 1928.
4. ↑ Barnard notes recorded by Viola Dutton Ives Huff.

• Find A Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79615849/prince-haskell