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1779 Performance Bond in the Amount of 10,000 Pounds for Raising Connecticut Recruits for the Continental Army

June 23, 1779-Dated Revolutionary War Period, Partially-Printed Document Signed, "Bezaleel Beebe," being a Performance Bond in the amount of 10,000 Pounds to Bazaleel (sic) Bezaleel Beebee, "is appointed to raise recruits to join the Continental Army", at Litchfield, Connecticut, Choice Extremely Fine.

June 23, 1779-Dated Revolutionary War Period, Partially-Printed Document Signed, "Bezaleel Beebe", being a Performance Bond in the amount of 10,000 Pounds to Bazaleel (sic) Bezaleel Beebee, "is appointed to raise recruits to join the Continental Army", at Litchfield, Connecticut, Choice Extremely Fine.

BEZALEEL BEEBE (1741-1824). Soldier, born in Litchfield, Connecticut, 1758 French & Indian War was stationed at Fort St. George. Afterward, with Rogers's Rangers, engaged in the bloody fight where Israel Putnam was captured, and was at the capture of Montreal in 1760. In 1775 ordered to Boston after Lexington, taken prisoner at the Capture of Fort Washington, and often met with his fellow-prisoner, Ethan Allen. After being exchanged, made Major in August 1777, he became Lt-Colonel in 1780, Colonel in 1781, and Appointed to the Commander of all Connecticut troops raised for Sea-coast defence, with the duties and pay of a Brigadier-General.

This Troop raising financial Performance Bond is boldly completed in brown ink by hand, 1 page, measuring 13" x 8.25, being a bond obligating Bezaleel Beebee to, in part:

"... truly and faithfully pay over all the Monies he shall receive from the Treasurer by Orders from the Pay-Table, agreeable to the Trust reposed in him by his Appointment aforesaid to raise recruits to join the Continental Army, and his Account thereof render to the Committee of the Pay-Table when required, then the above Obligation be void." Docket on the blank reverse reads, in full: "Bond - Major Beebee - June 23rd, 1779".

Clearly, Captain Beebee was using this Connecticut Treasury money to raise troops to serve in the Connecticut Line of the Continental Army. As long as he performed his duties well and accounted for all the money, he need not worry about having to come up with any bond money. Nicely and clearly Signed at the bottom, "Bezaleel Beebe" with a red wax abd paper seal aside his name, and two witnesses. An excellent quality document with bold, crisp writing and signatures on clean laid period paper.

In all, 507 men from Litchfield, Connecticut served the Patriot cause between 1775 and 1783. The first to serve were the men of the company led by David Welch of Milton, who were called up soon after news of Lexington and Concord arrived. A second company enlisted in January 1776 to serve for the defense of New York City. They drafted a contract specifying the terms of their service under Major General Charles Lee, stating that they were convinced of "the Necessity of a body of Forces to defend against certain Wicked Purposes formed by the instruments of Ministerial Tyranny." They specified, however, that they would not serve for more than 8 weeks and stated that General Lee had "given his Word and Honor" to uphold these terms.



Additional Information:

BEZALEEL BEEBE was a Soldier, born in Litchfield, Connecticut, April 28, 1741" died there, May 29, 1824. In 1758 during the French and Indian War, having joined the Army, he was stationed for some time at Fort St. George. Afterward, as one of Rogers's celebrated rangers, he was engaged in the bloody fight where Putnam was captured, and he was also at the capture of Montreal in 1760. At the close of the French war he retired to his farm, but in 1775 was commissioned lieutenant, and sent to Boston soon after the Battle of Lexington.

In July 1775, he accompanied an expedition to man the forts on Lake Champlain. He was made captain in 1776, attached to Hinman's regiment, and saw active service in New York and New Jersey. He was taken prisoner at the capture of Fort Washington, and was confined in New York nearly a year, during which time, when on parole, he often met and consulted with his fellow-prisoner, Ethan Allen.

After being exchanged, he was made major 13 August 1777, became Lieutenant-Colonel in 1780, colonel early ill 1781, and soon afterward was appointed to the command of all the Connecticut troops raised for sea-coast de-fence, with the duties and pay of a brigadier-general. After the war he was frequently a member of the legislature. His son, Ebenezer (major United States army), died in service during the war of 1812.

In all, 507 men from Litchfield, Connecticut served the Patriot cause between 1775 and 1783. The first to serve were the men of the company led by David Welch of Milton, who were called up soon after news of Lexington and Concord arrived.

A second company enlisted in January 1776 to serve for the defense of New York City. They drafted a contract specifying the terms of their service under Major General Charles Lee, stating that they were convinced of "the Necessity of a body of Forces to defend against certain Wicked Purposes formed by the instruments of Ministerial Tyranny." They specified, however, that they would not serve for more than 8 weeks and stated that General Lee had "given his Word and Honor" to uphold these terms.

The Entire Garrison Captured by British:

In November 1776 another company of Litchfield men under Captain Bezaleel Beebe set off for New York. Thirty-six handpicked men of the company under Captain Beebe were sent to reinforce the American garrison at Fort Washington (today the Manhattan end of the George Washington Bridge). The men marched into a trap and were forced to surrender with the entire 2,600-man garrison of the fort. Although the men were exchanged about a month later, only 11 of these men made it home to Litchfield.

In March 1777 a new call for troops went out, and Litchfield was tasked with enlisting 92 of its men. The town voted to pay 12 pounds per year to each soldier and to supply "necessaries" to each soldier's family. A final call for troops reached town in 1781, and a "selective draft" took place, in which the town was divided into three classes and each class was expected to raise a certain number of men. In addition to those men who were killed and wounded in battle, 20 Litchfield men died while on the dreaded British Prison Ships.

Today, a small stone marker stands at the foot of the tree dedicated to these soldiers.

_______

James Little, along with twenty-five volunteers from Captain Bebee's Company, were brought across the Hudson River from Fort Lee to northern Manhattan to participate help in reinforcing defenses of Fort Washington at the northern tip of the island. Fort Washington was hurriedly constructed to cover General Washington's retreat off the island towards White Plains, New York. Following the escape of General Washington's army, James Little and nearly three-thousand other defenders were surrounded by a far superior British army. Laying siege to the fort, the defenders of Fort Washington surrendered on November 16, 1776.

1832 Pension Statement of James Little, modified to first person writing style and revised with 1833 corrections statement:

Born and raised in Litchfield, Connecticut, I volunteered in that town on May 2, 1776 for Revolutionary War service the Connecticut State troops under Captain Besaleel Bebee for an eight months enlistment. With Captain Bebee's Company we marched from Litchfield through New Preston, New Milford, Danbury, and Bethel in Connecticut to Norwalk, where we boarded a ship and sailed to New York. We were in New York when independence was declared on July 4th. His Company marched from there to a place I think was called Bargaintown Point, where we were stationed to defend in the event that the enemy coming from Staten Island. While there our Company was attached to a Regiment commanded by Colonel Bradley. In August 1776 my Company was moved to the Hudson River to assist in building Fort Lee, in New Jersey.

While at Fort Lee I volunteered with twenty-five others in the Company to cross the Hudson to Manhatten as reinforcements for Fort Washington, commanded by Colonel Macgaw. When the attack was made upon that Fort, I was in the battle on the lower lines. There I was ordered to retreat while the enemy were firing upon us. I was hurt in his right side, but succeeded in reaching the Fort. I was taken prisoner the 16th of November and was conducted with many others to Harlem where I was kept three days, and then marched to New York.

It took four days of a forced march to reach New York, and during that time I had nothing to eat. I was there locked in North Chapel in New York for six days, a facility filled with other prisoners. Then, along with many others, I was put on board a prison ship called the 'Grovenor', where he was kept till into January following. Onboard the 'Grovenor' I suffered every inconvenience but death. In January I, and many others, in consequence of having the Small Pox were placed on shore and put into a private house where I was kept. I think I was held there till about the 20th of February. That was when I was taken to sign a parole agreeing not to take up arms again until exchanged. I was permitted to go home. I started for Litchfield traveling four or five miles a day, which is all my health would permit., and reached home about the first of March, having been gone ten months. That six of Captain Bebee's Company as nearly as I can recollect went on board the prison ship with me, and all died excepting myself, and one Oliver Woodruff, who is living, residing now in the state of New York.
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