44 Wto* Stilt 
 Cbe iforts?"
 
 "WHO BUILT THE FORTS?" 
 
 An Interesting Paper Read Before The Anna Warner Bailey 
 
 Chapter, of Groton and Stonington, D. A. R. Written by 
 
 Miss Mary E. Benjamin. 
 
 In the following most interesting paper by Miss Mary E. 
 Benjamin, of New London, a question of the builders of Forts Gris- 
 wold and Trumbull finds an unquestionable solution. The paper is 
 most timely and is not alone printed because of its interest but at 
 the request of the members of the Anna Warner Bailey chapter, 
 Daughters of the American Revolution, before whom it was read, 
 Thursday, April I4th, 1898 : 
 
 Suns rise and set, days, months and years roll on. The present, 
 to-day, is the past, to-morrow, and history is constantly being 
 evolved. 
 
 Our minds do not grasp, cannot all, that history implies. The 
 earth has been peopled with a seething, surging humanity, where 
 has been the struggle of ages for supremacy. The enormous ex- 
 penditure of money, the rivers of blood through which contending 
 nations have passed, never can be told. Research of the history of 
 past nations, of battlefields immortalized by struggle and death, will 
 never exhaust itself. But the patriotic societies of today deal with 
 " home and country." We are to become better informed regarding 
 the deeds of those who fought for our individual happiness and 
 freedom. 
 
 We have a country (a glorious one) and when we consider that 
 your ancestors and mine, made it what it is, why not 23,000 strong, 
 rise to do them honor ?
 
 The women of today may never experience the hardships, priva- 
 tions and death-loss of husband, son or father, and it seems more 
 than impossible for us to conceive how noble they were. When we 
 look over our own fair town, most " beautiful for situation," how 
 can we realize the bombarding fleets, the burning, pillaged, deserted 
 town. I have endervored to picture to myself the " patriotic Jona- 
 than Brooks," who with " the singed cat," were for a time, the only 
 occupants of the same. Preparations had been made, both sides of 
 the river to repel the invaders. Fort Griswold, then in its birth 
 struggle, was to become a strong contending foe to the on-coming 
 enemy. Who of us know its history? Whose conception it was or 
 who carried the plans into execution ? Here it stands today, with its 
 green ramparts, quiet, calm, serene, little evidence to be seen of the 
 horrors of that dreadful massacre. Who then planned the infant 
 fort, who carried into execution those plans, I repeat ? The im- 
 mortal Ledyard came of good stock; those of that day were " faithful 
 sons of noble sires," for historical records tell us "Mr. Ebenezer 
 Ledyard and Parke Avery built the fort." 
 
 Who built the fort ? Thrice I repeat it, Ebenezer Ledyard and 
 Parke Avery, and it received its baptism with life-blood of friend 
 and brother. Ebenezer Ledyard gave himself on parol for his 
 neighbor and friend, and Parke Avery (of the illustrious family of 
 whom NINE laid down their sword in mortal combat) gave brain and 
 brawn to the service. 
 
 In colonial records of Connecticut, volume xv, page 452, we 
 read "An account of Ebenezer Ledyard, Esq , and Mr. Parke 
 Avery (a committee who built the fort at Groton) laid in, examined, 
 adjusted and allowed thereon, the sum of ,265.7.9 i n discharge 
 thereof, and voted that an order be drawn for that sum." "An 
 order is drawn and delivered Mr. Ledyard, July 3, 1776." 
 
 * * x * * * * 
 
 "On the 25th of July, i"75, three British ships of war came 
 athwart New London harbor and anchored. These were the Rose, 
 commanded by Captain Wallace, the Swan and the Kingfisher. 
 This was a virtual blockade and created much alarm. The town 
 had no defense, but the spirit of her inhabitants. The sole strength
 
 of the fort was its garrison, which consisted chiefly of captains and 
 mates of vessels that lay unemployed at its wharves. 
 
 No other commander on this coast acquired a renown so odious 
 as Captain Wallace of the Rose. He was the terror of the small 
 forts and small vessels, capturing and plundering without discrimin- 
 ation, and threatening various points with attack. On the 3oth of 
 August he verified his threats by a cannonade of the thriving village 
 of Stonington, Long Point. On this exposed peninsula about half 
 a mile in length (formerly a moiety of the Cheeseborough farm) a 
 hardy company of mariners and artisans had clustered together and 
 acquired a creditable share of the trade of the Sound. 
 
 The tender of the Rose, whose business it was to destroy every- 
 thing in the shape of keel, or sail, that came in its way, pursued one 
 of its victims to the wharf of the village. Captain Benjamin Pendle- 
 ton and other brave and true men were there, and the tender was 
 soon driven from its prey. But the Rose came up and, without 
 summons or communication of any kind, opened her broadside upon 
 the village. She continued firing at intervals for hours, until the 
 pursued vessel was cut out and conveyed away. Only sound shots 
 were used and therefore no houses took fire, though several were 
 shattered by the balls. Only one man was wounded, but none 
 killed. 
 
 Hinman, page 162, says: "At the October session of'the 
 legislature, 1775, the sum of .12.4.4 was allowed Jonathan Weaver, 
 Jr., (a music man) in the company of Captain Oliver Smith, who 
 was dangerously wounded at Stonington, Long Point." 
 
 And when Stonington was again cannonaded by the British, 
 August g, 1814, one man only was severely wounded, no one was 
 killed. On the 5th and 6th of August, 1775, a fleet of nine ships 
 and several smaller vessels gathered around New London harbor 
 and appeared as if about to enter. Expresses were sent forth to 
 alarm the country, but it was soon ascertained that the object of the 
 fleet was to secure the stock that was owned upon the fertile islands 
 of the sound. From Pushers Island alone was taken 1,100 sheep, 
 beside cattle and other provisions, for which they made a reasonable 
 compensation to Mr. Brown, the lessee of the Island ; but from
 
 Gardiners and Plum Islands they took what they wanted without 
 payment. This incident, probably, operated as a spur upon the 
 higher powers of the colony in regard to a subject much discussed in 
 their councils, viz : The fortifications of New London. 
 
 Among the heads of inquiry proposed by his " Majesty's Secre- 
 tary of State," to the Colony of Connecticut in 1773 was this: 
 " What forts and places of defense are there within your govemmiKt 
 and in what condition?" To which Governor Trumbull replied, 
 October, 1774, " A small battery at New London, consisting of nine 
 funs, built and supported at the colony's expense." This, then, 
 was the only fortification in Connecticut when the war was com- 
 menced. But the defense of the coast was a subject to which the 
 attention of the legislature was soon called. April, 1775, a com- 
 mittee was appointed to examine the points of defense and report on 
 the best means of securing the country from invasion. Of this 
 committee Messrs. G. Saltonstall, D. Deshon and T. Mumford 
 reported in regard to New London. " That the battery was in a 
 ruinous condition and that the only effective cannon in the place con- 
 sisted of six new pieces (four eighteens and two twelves.') They pro- 
 posed that //tree positions, viz : Mamacock, Winthrop's Neck and 
 Groton Height, should be fortified and that fourteen ne\o cannon 
 (twenty-fours}, should lie purchased ' 
 
 ' This judicious advice was not adopted, probably on account of 
 a void in the treasury. All that was obtained at this time, was an 
 order to repair and complete the old fort. This was done during 
 the summer under the direction of Colonel Saltonstall, who in effect 
 rebuilt the works, and mounted upon them all the cannons in the 
 town. This fortification stood near the water's edge, where is now 
 the ferry landing to Groton. Here was the battlement, the platform, 
 the cannon and the flag-staff ; the magazines stood a little to the 
 west. The garrison consisted of from twelve to twenty men, 
 Nathaniel Saltonstall, captain ; Stephen Hemp'tead, lieutenant. 
 
 On the Groton side of the river, with a spirit of enthusiasm that 
 did not wait for legislative aid the inhabitants voluntarily threw vp 
 intrenchments, excavated ditches and erected breastworks at sundry 
 exposed places which, though they had no ordnance exc pt a few
 
 puces at the principal battery on the heights, obtained frof/i the 
 supply brought in by Commodore Hopkins, they resolved to defend' 
 to the last extremity. On the river below Norwich (at Waterman's 
 Point), a battery was erected under the superintendence of Benjamin 
 Huntington and Ephraim Bill and furnished with four six-pounders. 
 Such were the preparations made to receive the enemy in 1775. 
 
 The governor and council of safety, acceding to the oft repeated 
 request of the inhabitants that something further might be done for 
 them in the way of fortification, sent Colonel Jedediah Elderkin to 
 New London in 1775 to view the premises, and report what fortifi- 
 cations were necessary. After a general survey and consultation 
 with the principal men both sides of the river, he confirmed the 
 judgment heretofore given by the committee and recommended the 
 immediate fortification of the three points designated by them. The 
 neck of land bounding New London harbor on the south, now called 
 Fort Neck, but then known by its Indian name (Mamacock) was 
 then a broad irregular platform of rocks, rising twenty feet above 
 the water, and connected with the main land by meadows and 
 marshes. 
 
 Here Colonel Elderkin proposed the erection of a rampart front- 
 ing east eighty feet, south eighty feet, north eighty feet, but not at 
 right angles, with five embrasures in each bank to be defended by 
 five cannon, eighteen or twenty pounders. 
 
 The point selected on the Groton side was nearly opposite the 
 center of the harbor. The ascent within fifty rods of the water's 
 edge was 120 feet. The summit was tolerably level. Here it was 
 supposed that a breastwork of turf and gravel, with some ten pieces 
 of cannon, would be all that was necessary. It was also recom- 
 mended that a breastwork should be raised on Winthrop's Neck and 
 planted with ten cannon. 
 
 This report of Colonel Elderkin was made to the governor and 
 council, November I5th. In Elderkin's report the land at Mama- 
 cock was purchased of Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., and an acre and a 
 quarter for the works at Groton of Jonathan Chester and Elitha 
 Priof. Groton fort was commenced December $lh, J?7J, and on 
 the 22d orders were issued for the works to be commenced under the 
 
 5
 
 direction of a committee of six persons: Colonel Saltonstall, Eben- 
 ezer Ledyard, John Deshon, Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., Peter Avery and 
 Josiah Watrous (Waters). In December, 1775, the two principal 
 works were honored with the names of the governor, and deputy 
 governor, Trumbull and Griswold, they were imperfect and un- 
 finished. This is not surprising when we note the difficulties which 
 in those revolutionary times stood in the way of public works. The 
 labor was performed by relays of fresh recruits, changed every few 
 weeks, under the direction of the civil authority and field officers. 
 These labors were performed in part by mere boys or in part by aged 
 persons, who had perhaps the judgment, but not physical energy. In 
 the case of these small fortifications, the legislature must first discuss 
 the matter and pass the resolves ; the governor and council of safety 
 must take it up ; Colonel Saltonstall must be consulted ; Mr. Shaw 
 must be summoned to Hartford to give advice ; Colonel Mott must 
 be sent to New London to survey ; Colonel Dyer and Mr. Wales- 
 must examine and report. The works begin, stop, go on. The 
 governor and council direct just the number of sledges, hammers, 
 shovels, spades, crowbars, pickaxes, chains, etc., are to be provided 
 for the work. Timber, tools, teams and other necessary materials, 
 are to be procured by Colonel Saltonstall for Winthrop's Neck ; by 
 Ebenezer Ledyard, for Groton, and Nathaniel Shaw, for Mamacock. 
 The timber was in the forests, and must be selected while growing. 
 The assembly must now apply to Congress for cannon to furnish 
 their works, asking for some of the brass pieces taken at St. Johns. 
 They must apply to Admiral Hopkins for some of the New Prov- 
 idence ordnance. They cannot obtain the necessary complement, 
 and it is decided that the heavy cannon must be cast in Smith's fur- 
 naces at Salisbury, Ct. In order to accomplish this the furnace 
 must be enlarged, new workmen obtained, higher wagjes given, 
 woodland must be bought to obtain fuel for the furnace, and all 
 these details must be performed by the executive officers of the 
 state ; Colonel Elderkin and others must make journeys to and forth 
 from Salisbury to Hartford, to manage the business. In the summer 
 of 1777 the works were regarded as finished.
 
 The digitizer of Foft Trumlndl was Colonel Josiah Waters > of 
 Port Grisu'o/J) Colonel Samuel Mott. Two artillery companies, one 
 for each fortress, were raised, and of these Nathaniel Saltonstall and 
 William Ledyard were the first captains and must be regarded as 
 the first actual commanders of Forts Trumbull and Griswold. They 
 were appointed July 3, 1776. (Afiss Calkin 's Hist, of New London.} 
 ******* 
 
 Our effort has been made to prove who built the forts : the 
 dreadful massacre, and all that pertains to New London and Groton 
 in the siege of 1781, probably even most of the Children of the 
 American Revolution know, but who built the defences that to-day 
 they ramble over how many can tell ? 
 
 In March, 1778, Captain William Ledyard was appointed to the 
 command of the posts of New London, Groton and Stonington, with 
 the rank and pay of major. Under his direction the works were 
 repaired and strengthened and additional batteries erected. William 
 Latham was captain of artillery at Groton and Adam Shapley at 
 New London. 
 
 In Connecticut Colonial Records, volume xv., We read: "Voted. 
 That Ebenezer Ledyard, Esq., apply to Mr. Jonathan Chester, of 
 Groton, for liberty for the engineers at Groton to convey as much of 
 said Chester's land as shall be wanted for the use of the fort there, 
 and agree with said Chester upon some good men to apprize such 
 land on oath to be purchased by the colony and make a report 
 thereof to the general assembly in May next." 
 
 Colonial Records of Connecticut, volume xv., page 205, April 
 16, 1777: " Major Nathan Gallup is appointed, instead of Luke 
 Perkins, deceased, to assist in apprizing damages due to Mr. Jona- 
 than Chester, of Groton, by building the forts at Groton ; by build* 
 ing said forts on his land, and if any objection arises against Major 
 Gallup then the committee is to agree with Captain Chester or one 
 in his room." 
 
 " Voted, To draw an order on the pay-table in favor of Captain 
 Jonathan Chester for 15 in part for his land taken for the forts at 
 Groton. Order delivered to Mr. Thomas Chester inclosed in a 
 letter." 
 
 7
 
 Connecticut Colonial Records, volume xv, page 392 : " At a 
 meeting of the Governor and Council of Safety, September 5, 1777, 
 Voted and resolved, To draw on the pay-table for ninety-nine 
 pounds in favor of Captain Jonathan Chester, of Groton, in full 
 satisfaction (with fifteen pounds already paid him) for the land taken 
 from him for the use of the forts at Groton, for which he has given a 
 deed to the governor and company of this state. Order delivered to 
 Major Hillhouse September 5, 1777." 
 
 The original deed was as follows : 
 
 To all people to Whom these presents shall come, Greeting : 
 Know ye, that I, Jonathan Chester of Groton, in the County of 
 New London, for the consideration of i 14.0.0, Lawful Money 
 Received to my full satisfaction of the Governor and Company of 
 the State of Connecticut, Do hereby Give, Grant, Bargain, sell and 
 Confirm, unto the said Governor and Company of the State of Con- 
 necticut, A Certain Tract or Parcel of Land, Lying and being in 
 Groton, aforesaid, Bounded as follows, (viz): Beginning at the 
 Southwest Corner of the West Battery, thence East 25 Degrees, 
 South 7 Rods and 3 Links ; thence East 8 Degrees, South 31 Rods 
 to a mear stone, thence Nor.'h 24 Degrees, East 8 Rods and four 
 Links to a heap of Stones, thence West 12 Degrees, North 40 Rods 
 and 20 Links to the Edge of the Rock, thence South 24 Degrees, 
 West 9 Rods to the first Bound, containing 2 Acres, i Quarter and 
 3 Rods. To have and to Hold the said Granted and Bargained 
 Premises, with the appurtenances thereof unto the said Governor and 
 Company forever to his and their Own proper use, and I Do hereby, 
 for myself, my hiers, executors and Administrators, Covenant toar.d 
 with the said Governor and Company that at and until the Ensealing 
 of these Presents I am well seized of the Premises as a Good, Inde- 
 feasible Estate in fee simple, and that I have Good Right to Bargain 
 and Sell the Same in manner and form above Written and that the 
 same is free and clear of all Incumbrances Whatsoever, and further- 
 more I Do hereby for myself, my hiers, executors and Administrators 
 covenant and promise to the Said Governor and Company to War- 
 rant and Defend the said Granted premises to him and them Against 
 all Claims and Demands Whatsoever. In Witness Whereof I have
 
 hereunto set my hand and Seal this 7th Day of October Anno 
 Domini 1777. 
 
 Signed, Sealed and Delivered in presence of 
 
 WILLIAM SALTONSTALL, 
 MARVIN WAIT. 
 
 JONATHAN CHESTER. 
 
 [Seal.] 
 New London, County of New London, "th October, 1777. 
 
 Personally appeared Jonathan Chester, Grantee, and acknowl- 
 edged the foregoing to be his free Act and Deed, Before me. 
 
 WILLIAM SALTONSTALL, 
 
 Justice Peace. 
 
 ELISHA PRIOR'S DEED. 
 
 To all people, to whom these presents Shall come, Greeting ; 
 Know ye, that I, Elisha Prior, of Groton, in the County of New 
 London, for the Consideration of fifty-six Pounds Lawful Money, 
 received to my full Satisfaction of the Governor and Company of the 
 State of Connecticut, Do Give, Grant, Bargain, Sell and Convey unto 
 the said Governor and Company, A Certain Tract, or parcel of Land 
 Lying, and being in Groton Aforesaid. Bounded as followeth, 
 (viz): Beginning at a heap of Stones by the Stone wall of Capt. 
 Chester's Land, that he Sold Said Prior, a little Easterly, of the 
 upper Fort, thence W. 12 degrees, N. in the line said Prior bought 
 of Capt. Chester 42 Rods and 20 Links ; to the west Edge, of the 
 Rocks, and battery, thence, Southerly, to a bound Sold by Capt. 
 Chester, to the Governor and Company 5 Rods, thence Easterly, 
 in Chester's line, about 40 Rods, to another bound of Chester's, a 
 heap of stones thence Northerly 5 Reds to the first mentioned 
 bound, Containing one Acre, and One Quarter. To have, and to 
 hold, the said Granted, and bargained premises, with the Appur- 
 tenances, thereof unto the Said Govr. and Comp:X forever to their 
 Own proper use, and I do hereby, for myself, my hiers, Executors, 
 and Administrators, Covenant, to, and with the said Govr. and
 
 Comp-.y that at, apd until the Ensealing of these presents, I am well 
 seized of the premises, as a Good Indefeasible Estate in Fee Simple, 
 and that I have good right, to bargain, and sell the Same, in manner 
 and form as above Written, and that the same, is free and clear, of 
 all incumbrances Whatsoever, and furthermore I Do hereby for 
 myself, my hiers, and Executors Covenant, and promise to the Said 
 GoV. and CompiX, to Warrant and Defend, the said bargained 
 premises, against all Claims, and Demands Whatsoever. 
 
 In witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal 
 this i6th Day of September A. D. 1777 
 
 Signed, Sealed & De-.d] ELISHA PRIOR. 
 
 In presence of 
 
 EDWARD JEFFERY j [Seal] 
 
 YOUNGS LEDYARD. j 
 
 New Londo*n, Sep: m . i6th 1777. 
 
 Elisha Prior, of Groton, in New London County, the Signer 
 and Sealer, of the foregoing Instrument, 
 
 Personally Appeared before Me, the Subscriber, and Acknowl- 
 edged the Same, to be his free Act, and Deed. 
 
 CORAM WILLIAM NOYES, 
 
 Just: c . Peace. 
 Said Deeds from Groton Records, Book g, page 31. 
 
 * ***** * 
 
 Our question, Who built the Forts ? has been answered by 
 " confirmation strong (almost) as proof of Holy Writ." Let us 
 satisfy ourselves thoroughly who was Ebenezer Ledyard, Esq., so 
 prominently active in its construction. 
 
 Ebenezer Ledyard, Esq., the third son of John Ledyard and 
 Deborah Youngs, was a shipowner and West India merchant of 
 wealth and influence. His position was such that in the account of 
 the times his given name is hardly known, being always called 
 " Squire Ledyard." He was among the foremost in all actions tend- 
 ing to help the colonies to success. In the account given, Captain 
 Bromfleld paroled the wounded men who were left and took Ebenezer
 
 Ledyard, Esq., as a hostage for them left on parol " to see them 
 forthcoming if called for." 
 
 " In this he dared to brave the dangers of the British prison ship 
 that his wounded friends and neighbors might have the care of 
 friends in their sufferings." 
 
 Stephen Hempstead speaks of this, and also of the fact of his 
 procuring " a sentinel to guard the wounded from molestation until 
 the last of the enemy had embarked." His house and all other 
 property burnable was destroyed by fire. In the fire land awards 
 his loss was much the largest of any one in Groton. He was the 
 father of thirteen sons." 
 
 " Ebenezer Ledyard, of Groton, one of the committee in charge 
 
 of the construction of the fort in 1775, was also one of its hapless 
 
 garrison. He was taken prisoner, and held to the close of the war, 
 
 as an hostage for a body of wounded prisoners." Morgan Genealogy. 
 
 * * ***** 
 
 Historians tell us there remains today no more complete relic of 
 the Revolutionary struggle than the grassy ramparts of Fort Griswold. 
 The pickets, platforms and barracks are dust, but the ramparts are 
 as perfect as when left by the hands of the builders. 
 
 The tourist who inspects these walls can but admire the skill 
 and judgment of the farmer engineers who constructed them. 
 
 The hill which they crown rises steeply from the water's edge 
 to a height of more than a hundred feet. 
 
 The central area of the fort is nearly square, being 150 feet in 
 length by no in width. The walls are of stone, ten or twelve feet 
 in height, and sodded. 
 
 On the wall was a row of pickets, projecting over twelve feet, 
 and above these was built a parapet with embrasures for guns, and 
 within a platform for cannon. The entrance, twelve feet wide, was 
 in the northern wall, and protected by a gate and a triangular bat- 
 tery, one hundred and twenty yards distant on which was mounted 
 a three pounder. Bastions at each corner enfiladed the walls, and a 
 ditch thirty feet wide and seven feet deep surrounded the fort, except 
 on the southwest where a ledge of rocks formed a natural wall.
 
 UCSB LIBRARY 
 
 X- 
 
 Half way down the hill slope, towards the river, was a small 
 battery communicating by a covered way with the fort, but which 
 was of no service except in case of a water attack. 
 
 The ramparts of Fort Griswold are as perfect as when left by 
 the hands of the builders. Magazine of American History. Vol. 
 VI. page 163. 
 
 ******* 
 
 While then, we give immortal honor to Colonel William 
 Ledyard, let us not forget the unselfish and noble Ebenezer Ledyard 
 who like a seer saw the impending storm and made all haste in his 
 endeavors to construct the fort and save Groton and the surrounding 
 country from the ruthless foe or Youngs Ledyard, who like them 
 exemplified by giving his life that "Greater love hath no man than 
 this, that he lay down his life for his friend." Noble trio ! 
 
 "They sleep their last sleep 
 They have fought their last battle 
 No sound can awake them to glory again." 
 
 M. E. B.