SAR group hears talk by Harry Lent about his Vermont ancestors
CASSADAGA — Recently, members of the Chautauqua County Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution heard a talk — “New England Visit” — by Harry Lent, registrar and secretary, about his ancestors, John Roberts Sr. and his wife, Mrs. Mary Susanna (Mayhew) Roberts, last of Vermont.
Roberts was an early settler of Vermont and served under Col. Ethan Allen and Col. Benedict Arnold when the Green Mountain Boys captured Fort Ticonderoga in May 1775. Roberts also served during the Battle of Bennington, actually fought at Walloomsac Heights, which, nowadays, is a serene site. Ticonderoga was manned by 48 British soldiers, easily overwhelmed by the American patriots, just 83 Green Mountain Boys, who entered the fort with little resistance. The fort’s cannons were later transported to Dorchester Heights by Col. Henry Knox, ending British occupation of Boston.
A legal battle ensued between New York and Vermont over the land grants for a number of years, but the Green Mountain Boys prevailed. Vermont was admitted to the Union on March 4, 1790.
Brigadier General John Stark was the commander of the Americans at the Bennington battle, and would defeat the British, or “Molly Stark would be a widow that evening.”
Stark’s unit, with help from Col. Seth Warner and his Green Mountain Boys, won the battle. Thirty Americans were killed and several wounded. The British lost with 207 killed and a number wounded.
The Green Mountain Boys and their victories contributed to British General John Burgoyne surrendering for his British army following the Battle of Saratoga on Oct. 17, 1777.
The Bennington Monument site features statues for Seth Warner and John Stark. Lent’s ancestors, John and Susanna Roberts, are buried at the Old First Church Cemetery in Bennington, as is Robert Frost, the renowned New England poet.
In other business, chapter president Steve Boothe announced the DAR’s luncheon held on Feb. 18 at noon at the First Lutheran Church. Also, plans are underway to look into the status of the Children of the American Revolution (CAR) chapter.
Doug Arters, chapter secretary, gave a brief review of the book written by Joseph Plumb Martin, who served about seven years as a Revolutionary War soldier, starting as a private and ending as a sergeant. Evidently, his book is one of the few accounts of the war written by an enlisted man.
Lent noted that there is a need for photo posting for the SAR site at www.chautauquasar.org.
The SAR is a fraternal organization whose members trace back to an ancestor who served as a soldier, militiaman, minuteman, congressman or other person who benefited the cause of liberty during the Revolutionary War.
The group closed its meeting with the Pledge of the SAR.
The next SAR meeting is set for 11 a.m., March 4 at the Cassadaga Country Club, 55 Frisbee Road. Guests are welcome to attend.
For more information, call Boothe at 574-7995 or Arters at 490-3880.
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