Biography - Private Silas Walbridge


	~ Bio - Private Silas Walbridge ~

Silas Walbridge was born on June 27, 1759 at Norwich, New London County, Connecticut. He was the 5th of 11 children (4th son) born of Henry Walbridge (1726/7-1809) and his wife Anna Safford (1730-1817). Silas’ siblings were: Asa (1751-1752), Asa (1753-1755), Solomon (1755-1814), Anna (b. 1756), Lucy (b. 1764), Asa (1766-1850), Esther (1768-1842), David (1769-1829), Sarah (b. 1772), and Mary (b. 1773). When about 3 years old, Silas moved, with his parents, to Bennington on the New Hampshire Grants (now in Bennington County, Vermont).

At the age of 17 years, in late October 1776, Silas served as a Private in Captain Samuel Robinson’s (1st Bennington) Company, Colonel Moses Robinson’s Regiment of Militia when they went from the southwestern part of the New Hampshire Grants to Mount Independence on the east shore of Lake Champlain across the lake from Fort Ticonderoga. This movement of militia was ordered by Colonel Seth Warner, then at Castleton (now in Rutland County, Vermont), upon the earnest plea for reinforcements from General Gates commanding at Fort Ticonderoga. Days earlier the British Fleet operating on Lake Champlain had overcome the American Flotilla under the command of Colonel Benedict Arnold in the Battle of Lake Champlain (Valcour Island). The British Fleet was then attempting to proceed up the lake towards Crown Point, Fort Ticonderoga and beyond. Silas was out about 1 month and 16 days during this period of service.

In mid-June 1777, Silas again served as a Private with the men called out from Colonel Moses Robinson’s Regiment of Militia and went to the defence of Fort Ticonderoga. On July 6, 1777, upon the American Army’s retreat from Fort Ticonderoga from the advancing British Army under the command of General Burgoyne, Silas marched with his Regiment to Castleton and then through Poultney and Wells to Pawlet (now in Rutland County, Vermont). At Pawlet, on July 21, 1777, Silas enlisted for six months as a Private in Captain John Warner’s Company, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Herrick’s Vermont Regiment of Rangers. On August 15, 1777, while headquartered at Manchester (now in Bennington County, Vermont), Herrick’s Regiment, then fielding 4 Companies of Rangers, were ordered to Bennington. They arrived at their destination that evening. The follow day, August 16th, Silas fought in both actions of the Battle of Bennington. During the first action, he was engaged against the breastwork occupied by Colonel Baum’s forces and during the second action he was engaged against the British forces led by Governor Philip Skene of Skenesborough (now Whitehall, Washington County, New York). Two days after this battle, Herrick’s Regiment marched north to Pawlet where they were headquartered for the remainder of their enlistment. Silas was discharged from this service about the 1st of January 1778 and returned to Bennington and the rolls of Captain Samuel Robinson’s (1st Bennington) Company of Militia. During the year 1777, Silas served about 6 months and 21 days.

In the summer and early fall of both 1778 and 1779, Silas was ordered out as a Private serving continuous periods of service with Captain Samuel Robinson’s Militia Company in the field and on garrison duty. In 1778, Silas served about 3 months beginning in mid-July and in 1779, he served about 2 months and 17 days beginning in mid-June at the Fort at Castleton.

Beginning on October 11, 1780, Silas served for 4 days as a Private in Captain Samuel Robinson’s Company, Colonel Samuel Herrick’s 2nd Regiment of Vermont Militia in the service of the State of Vermont at Castleton. Within days, Silas and others of Captain Robinson’ Company transferred into Captain William Dyres’ Company in the service of the State of Vermont on the frontiers, October 12th to the 6th day of November, 1780. That call up was in response to the alarm caused by the raid led by British Major Christopher Carleton into the Lake Champlain valley and beyond.

In the summer 1781, Silas served for 2 days as a Private and then 22 days as a Sergeant in the Militia Company formerly commanded by Captain Samuel Robinson, but then Captain Joseph Safford’s Company, Colonel Ebenezer Walbridge’s Regiment of Vermont Militia, on an alarm, commencing August 2nd and ending the 8th and immediately thereafter for three weeks guarding the inhabitants of White Creek (now Salem, Washington County), New York. This service ended September 9, 1781. A little over a month later, commencing October 14th, Silas again served as a Private in the same Company and Regiment in an alarm to Castleton. While at Castleton, about October 25th, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Robinson then in operational command of the element’s of Walbridge’s Militia Regiment at Castleton was ordered by the overall commander there to send a scout out to Mount Independence to obtain information of the enemy forces then at Fort Ticonderoga. Silas was one of six men chosen for that scout. On their way to Mount Independence, they were ambushed, their Sergeant was killed and the rest were taken prisoner and taken to Fort Ticonderoga. Silas was interrogated by General St. Leager and then allowed to return to his Regiment with a flag and a communication for General Enos in Vermont.

In March 1782, Silas, enlisted as an Orderly Sergeant in Captain Alexander Brush’s Militia Company. On April 8th, while stationed at Fort Warren in Castleton, Rutland County, Vermont he was appointed to Quarter-Master Sergeant. He served in that capacity until mid-June when he was promoted to a higher grade and the double duties of Quarter Master and Adjutant of the Regiment commanded by Major Gideon Brownson. Silas served in that double capacity for the reminder of his 9 months service in 1782. Over all, Silas is credited with serving a little more than 2 years and 4 months during the Revolutionary War from 1776 through 1782.

Silas married, October 2, 1783 at Bennington, Rhoda Gunn (1761-1830) by whom he had 10 children (5 sons and 5 daughters): Rhoda (b. 1784), Silas (b. 1786), Almira, John Jay, Romulus (b. 1803), Septimeous (b. 1804), Remus, Fanny, Polly, and Laura.

Between the 5th of June 1833 and February 3, 1834, Silas moved to Gaines, Orleans County, New York where he intended to spend the remainder of his days with his children. Silas resided in Gaines until a year or two before his death. He then returned to his old farm homestead in Bennington, Vermont and resided there until his death on May 12, 1840. Silas is buried in the Old Congregational Church Cemetery on the hill in Old Bennington Center, Bennington County, Vermont.

- Biographical information courtesy of Herman C. Brown