Carey's 1814 Map of Vermont
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On June 18, 1812, the U.S.Congress declared war on Great Britain and a fairly
unpopular war was begun. Vermonters were particularly unhappy with the war
as the removal of trade with Canada was a strong blow to the economy.
The proximity of the enemy directly across the border was also a source
of considerable alarm for the residents of Coventry and the neighboring
frontier towns. The border towns were open
to direct invasion from the British enemy in Canada. Towns along the
Black and Barton rivers were fearful of attack coming down from Lake
Memphremagog and penetrating deeper into the interior of Vermont. Local
historians have noted the extreme fear which engulfed the population of
the frontier towns, particularly the fear of an imagined "Indian attack"
by the Native American tribes which were allied with the British. Most
families determined to stay and banded together in "forts" fashioned from the more
solidly built dwellings in the towns. Others fled their homes and clearings and
headed south. Some like
SAMUEL THOMPSON.
found it impossible to sell their farms "in consequence of its being on the
northern frontier where no sales of land can be made at this time" (1)
In Coventry, the inhabitants on the west side of town gathered at Samuel McCurdy's house and on the east side at Isreal Ide's. These were strongly built houses, and more defensible than others. Guards were stationed about the area and scouts kept on watch for approach of the enemy. |
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Carey's 1814 Map of Vermont |
| In Coventry at a special town meeting to take action respecting the war, a tax of one cent on the dollar was voted, to be expended in ammunition. The grand list that year of $2857, amounted to the sum of $28.57 raised by this tax. Nineteen militia men were returned as "armed and equipped according to law. Abiathar Dean was a Coventry resident recently immigrated from Westmoreland, New Hampshire. He was a gunsmith by trade, and during the war he did a large business in repairing muskets. Daniel Huestis another resident joined a small Cavalry company which was scattered about Orleans County. On the frontier, 2 border outposts were set up, one in North Troy and the other in Derby Line where a regiment was organized and stationed. It was only in service for about 6 months. And its mission was rather different than would be expected at a frontier outpost in the middle of a war between two countries with a common border. |
| Soldiers From Coventry - War of 1812 |
| Tisdale Cobb |
Lieutenant |
2nd Regt. Detached Milita, Derby Line |
Sep 16, 1812 - Mar 15th, 1813 |
| Zebulon Burroughs |
Private |
2nd Regt. Detached Milita, Derby Line |
2 mos. 12 days |
| Joseph Priest |
Private |
2nd Regt. Detached Milita, Derby Line |
Sep 19, 1812 - Mar 16th, 1813 |
| Timothy Heerman |
Private |
2nd Regt. Detached Milita, Derby Line |
Sep 16, 1812 - Mar 16th, 1813 |
| Rufus Guild |
Private |
2nd Regt. Detached Milita, Derby Line |
5 mos. 28 days |
| Benjamin Baldwin |
Private |
2nd Regt. Detached Milita, Derby Line |
Sep 16, 1812 - Mar 16th, 1813 |
| David Lathe |
2nd Regt. Detached Milita, Derby Line |
3 mos. 16 days |
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| 11th Regt. battles of Chippewa, Williamsburg (wounded) |
?Feb 11 - May 10, 1813? |
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| Daniel Huestis |
Cavalry - Orleans County |
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| Edward Welch |
Sergeant |
Maj. D. Holden's Battalion of Artillery, Bath, Me. |
Jun 20 - Sep 29, 1814 |
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While some later day residents of Coventry were to tell of seeing action against the
British enemy at the battles of Chippewa and Williamsburg, the original residents of
Coventry were mustered into the Second Regiment of Detached Militia stationed at Derby
Line primarily to be used in the effort to prevent the
SMUGGLING.
of goods by Vermonters across the border to and from Canada. The regiment was headed
by Captain Hiram Mason of Craftsbury, and Tisdale Cobb of Coventry was Lieutenant. It was
9 months after the regiment was disbanded that the British actually made an attack on
Derby Line in December of 1813. The army barracks, stables and storehouses were destroyed
and a considerable quantity of military stores were seized. |
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References: 1. - Samuel Thompson's Petition for an Act of Suspension from the Vermont legislature, Oct. 10, 1814, Vermont State Archives, MsVt 8P Vol.50 p.129, Montpelier, Vt. - Pliny White, A History Of Coventry, VT, 1859, Irasburgh, VT - Gazetteer of Lamoille and Orleans Counties, VT.; 1883-1884, Compiled and Published by Hamilton Child; May 1887 - State of Vermont ROSTER OF SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF 1812-14", prepared and published under the direction of Herbert T. Johnson, The Adjutant General, 1933, page 6 |