07/04/2021
On this July 4th, I'm remembering all of the ancestors who came to America to start a new life, and all of the ancestors who fought for a freedom in the American Revolution, including Captain William Gage.
William Gage, son of William Gage and Hannah Davis, was born on October 10th, 1724 in Freetown, Massachusetts. In 1748 he married Mercy Huddlestone (1730–1811). In 1770, William and Hannah moved to Danby, VT where he kept a tavern. He held many prominent positions of trust in the town; In 1775 he was elected as both Highway Surveyor and Assessor. In 1776 he was appointed onto the committee of Safety. He was especially active against the claims of the "Yorkers " to Vermont territory and served as a representative of Danby in the New Hampshire Grants, attending conventions called by the Green Mountain Boys in 1776-1777. He was present at the convention in September 1776 where they aired their grievances against New York and decided action must be taken to declare the New Hampshire grants a free and separate district.
When it was time for the the general convention in 1777, The citizens of Danby chose Captain William Gage and Colonel Thomas Chintendon to represent them. There, on January 15, 1777, representatives of the New Hampshire grants declared the independence of Vermont. For the first six months of its existence, it was called the Republic of New Connecticut., but on June 2, 1777, a second convention of 72 delegates, including William Gage, met and adopted the name "Vermont." On July 4, they completed the drafting of the Constitution of Vermont at the Windsor Tavern, and adopted it on July 8. This was the first written constitution in North America to ban adult slavery, saying male slaves become free at the age of 21 and females at 18. It provided for universal adult male suffrage and required support of public schools. It was in effect from 1777 to 1786.
Captain William Gage served under Col. Ira Allen, having joined the army during Burgoynes invasion. He fought in the battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777. 2,000 men, primarily New Hampshire and Massachusetts militiamen, led by General Stark, and reinforced by Vermont militiamen led by Colonel Seth Warner and members of the Green Mountain Boys, decisively defeated a detachment of General John Burgoyne's army. The battle was a major strategic success for the American cause and is considered part of the turning point of the Revolutionary War; it reduced Burgoyne's army in size by almost 1,000 men, led his Native American supporters to largely abandon him, and deprived him of much-needed supplies- all factors that contributed to Burgoyne's eventual defeat at Saratoga. The victory galvanized colonial support for the independence movement, and played a key role in bringing France into the war on the rebel side. William remained in Danby for some years after the close of the war. William commanded a company from Danby VT to assist the sheriff in 1779. William Gage also served as Representative again in 1779-1781, and as Selectman from 1777-1780. Committee of Safety 1776-1778, and office of fence viewer 1777. He was elected as a petit-juryman in 1780. Captain William Gage died in 1811.
William and Mercy Gage's daughter, Hannah, married Obadiah Allen (born 1761). Obadiah fought in the American Revolution under Captain Nathan Smith, and in April 1778, his company was called to assist Captain Ebenezer Allen. Obadiah was a blacksmith by trade, so after the war in 1790 he and his family moved to Ferrisburg, Vermont where they built a blockhouse and homesteaded. Their son, William Allen,was born February 1792, and Hannah died the same year, possibly in childbirth. Obadiah died 19 AUG 1809 in Ferrisburg, Addison, Vermont, USA.
Which of your ancestors fought in the American Revolution? What are their stories?
