Person:Benjamin Whitcomb (4)

+85. BENJAMIN,5 born July 2. 1737.

"was the most prominent pioneer, trapper and hunter of his time in New Hampshire and Vermont. He was a successful scout and spy during the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars. He won his Major's commission" [See narritive concerning Major Whitcomb in Appendix - have copy] "by shooting Gen. Gordon in Canada. This commission was offered by Gen. Washington as a reward to any American soldier who would kill a British General in retaliation for the wanton butcheries and massacres of women and children in the frontier settlements by the Indians under the British. Benjamin Whitcomb, after he had ambushed and killed Gen. Gordon, was captured by the Indians and expected to forfeit his life, but was set free by an Indian whom he had befriended many years before. This account of him is gleaned from Hemanway's 'Vermont', but the incident of his being set free by the Indian was the basis of a story in the Vermont School Readers of a generation ago."

"He received the promised commission and was generally known as 'Major Ben,' and died in Lisbon, N.H., in 1827, over ninety years of age. He was allowed a pension for four years' actual service as Major in New Hampshire troops, according to Pension File 42614."

"He served in the French and Indian war in 1755, under General Johnson, and again in 1757, in Capt. Wilder's Co., Mass., and again in Capt. Reed's Co., Mass. in the expedition against Montreal. In July 1776 he was living in Newbury, Vt., and was in command of a scout on the Sorel [see below], and had mortally wounded Gen. Gordon as he was riding between Chambly and St. Johns, and took his watch and sword. Several attempts were made to capture him, but without success. Oct. 14 1776, he was captain of an Independant Core of Rangers until they were taken from under his command to join the Continental army by order of Congress. He was promoted Major, Nov. 10, 1777, and commanded a body known as Major Benjamin Whitcomb's Independant Core of Rangers from Nov. 10, 1777 to Feb. 1, 1781, the date of his last muster roll. He came to Lisbon about 1782, and settled on Lot 1 in the gore, and on the west side of the river, and opposite of Samuel Young's lot. Here he built the first two-story house in Lisbon. He finally sold out to Moses Emery, and located in Savageville, so-called, where the late Edward Knight lived. He was a miller, and ran the first grist mill in Lisbon Village."

"He was pentioned June 23, 1818, $240 per year."