Person:Tryal Tanner (1)

Military Service

Revolutionary War - 2nd Lt. Adj., Militia, Capt. Woodbridge's Co., CT Line, etc. Note: "At the breaking out of the revolutionary war, he was a sergeant in Gen. Arnold's disastrous campaign in Canada, and in common with all the soldiers with him, suffered incredible hardships in the retreat of 500 miles. At the close of this campaign he enlisted in a Continental Connecticut regiment as a lieutenant and was promoted to the adjutancy of the regiment, and in this capacity was in the battle of Monmouth. The pay of soldiers in Continental money did not support their families. In 1780, Lieut. Tanner, for the purpose of more effectually supporting his family, resigned his commission in the army and returned to his home and engaged in farming, kept a tavern and in a small way in merchandising."

Biographical Sketch

Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 7 May 1897 - Article No. 16
Scraps of History by Dr. Jackson Truesdale
Re: The Tryal Tanner family

Editor Dispatch: - The Tanner family, for the past 95 years, has occupied a prominent and creditable position in the history of Canfield and to some extent that of Trumbull county, before being reduced to its present limits. The family is said, on the authority of one of its number, to be of Welsh extraction. The founder of the family in Canfield and whose descendants are now distributed among a number of states was Tryal Tanner, who was born in Connecticut in 1751. At the age of 51, in 1802, he settled in Canfield where he died Nov. 22, 1833, aged 82 years. His first wife (Huldah), the mother of nine children, eight of whom grew to maturity, died in 1803. In January, 1805, he married Lydia (sic Mary "Polly") Doud, who died in July, 1848 (sic 1843), aged 87.

Tryal Tanner's father died when he was a lad, after which his uncle, Deacon Justus Sackett, took him into his family where he was raised to manhood; for a few years he worked on a farm in summer and taught school in the winter. At the breaking out of the revolutionary war, he was a sergeant in Gen. Arnold's disastrous campaign in Canada, and in common with all the soldiers with him, suffered incredible hardships in the retreat of 500 miles. At the close of this campaign he enlisted in a Continental Connecticut regiment as a lieutenant and was promoted to the adjutancy of the regiment, and in this capacity was in the battle of Monmouth. The pay of soldiers in Continental money did not support their families. In 1780, Lieut. Tanner, for the purpose of more effectually supporting his family, resigned his commission in the army and returned to his home and engaged in farming, kept a tavern and in a small way in merchandising.

In the spring of 1801, he exchanged with Judson Canfield his farm in Connecticut for 400 acres of land in Canfield and the same number of acres in Johnston, with $400 in money or its equivalent. In the same year, he in company with Elijah Wadsworth, Herman Canfield, Eli Baldwin and others came to Canfield on horseback and selected the 8-acre lot now partly owned by Mrs. Geo. Edwards and the old Tanner farm.

Having located his land he set about building a cabin on his center lot in the usual style of the locality, perhaps something better, as we are told that Oswald Detcheon with his pit-saw, sawed 2-inch planks for the floor and 1-inch boards for the doors, which were hung on wooden hinges, and greased paper was used in lieu of glass for the windows. Mrs. Lydia [Lay] Doud was employed as housekeeper for the inmates of this cabin, consisting of himself, Herman Canfield, Nathan Steele, Homer Hine and Jonah Scoville.

Caleb Palmer was hired to clear three acres clean, at $14 per acre. Mr. Tanner also cleared and sowed in wheat and grass 10 acres on the farm. While doing so honors were awaiting him. A territorial organization was effected in 1801 by men subject to military duty in Canfield, Boardman and Poland, and lieutenant or adjutant Tanner was elected captain, but for some reason refused to accept a commission. Perhaps this election gave him the title he afterwards bore as Captain Tanner. In the fall of the same year he returned to Connecticut.

On the 22nd of April, 1802, Capt. Tanner and his revolutionary comrade Wm. Chidester each with eight children, started together in their long journey to Ohio. Including parents and a man by the name of Paine, who drove a team and came out to build a brick chimney for Capt. Wadsworth and another who joined the company enroute, the party was made up of 22 persons. The conveyances used for the Tanner family were two wagons, one drawn by a yoke of oxen and one extra horse to assist either team in case of emergency; and an additional horse, with side-saddle for the women to use alternately. The journey occupied 39 days, which would then be called good time. Archibald Tanner, the oldest son of Tryal, was then a bright lad something more than 16 years old.

In a letter bearing date of 1859, to Mr. Whittlesey, he relates his recollections of this journey. The party came by the southern route, as all or nearly all of the Canfield settlers did. The northern route was through central New York state to Buffalo, from thence to Conneaut or Cleveland by sail or row boats. Sometimes the whole distance was made by land to point of destination.

We will use largely Archibald Tanner's language as a fair description of all of the emigrating parties; "Our route to our new home was by Newburg, on the Hudson river, Easton, Harrisburg and Bedford to Fort Pitt; thence on the south side of the Ohio river, (there being no road on the north side), which we crossed near a town then building called Beaver Town. Many incidents of course occurred on our long journey of 38 days to be remembered by the family, such as the peculiar dialect and costume of the friendly people. On the way the question was asked, where are you flitting? or flitting far back? Many we saw going to mill or meeting on pack-saddled oxen, with rope bridles on horses. Those who saw it were astonished to see the Yankees eat jammed potatoes mixed with butter, codfish and pepper, and said it was equal to pork and molasses. We then felt our way through mud and mire to the line between Pennsylvania and the Northwestern Territory. We formally proclaimed ourselves out of the jurisdiction of Gov. McKean and acknowledged fealty to Gov. St. Clair. Our next stopping place was at Poland, at a public house kept by Jonathan Fowler, a very good one for the times, being the first and last one to the imaginary city of Cleveland. Although the house was the best the country afforded, yet Judge Toot, a land proprietor going out, complained of lack of beds, beef and brandy. Leaving Poland, we plunged deeper into the mud, having often to lift out our wagons and drag our horses by hand out of the mire. Arriving at Canfield about 100 rods west of the center, we found our long-wished-for home, and dinner of pork and beans provided by our neighbor, Mrs. Scoville, on two puncheon boards with plenty of three-legged stools. After dinner, on looking out, we found our little field of wheat nearly cut down by the frost of the 29th of May. Our flour came from Georgetown, on the Ohio river. Pork from Washington county, Penna., if pork it could be called, for it was deficient in many things, but heads and tails. Generally a half dozen of the former, and the same of the latter. The road from Poland to Canfield was only dotted here and there by little log huts near which the trees were cut down and corn planted among the fallen timber."

We would be glad if space would permit to quote more of Mr. Tanner's letter. He mentions in detail some of the settlers. The appearance of the center, the "brimstone well" at the center, of Gen. Wadsworth, a wealthy gentleman being liberal with his means, of Judson Canfield's visits, and words of encouragement, and prophecy of better times and much other interesting matter.

Tryal Tanner's experience as an early settler, private citizen and farmer was much the same as others of that day, with plenty of hardships, privations, and discouragements, but ending by perseverance and hard labor by himself and family in the opening up of a good farm and surrounding himself with the comforts of life. The log cabin gave way in 1806 or 7 to a large frame structure. A few old people will be able to recall the appearance of this building. My memory reaches back to it, nearly 70 years, and then it seemed like an old house. The reason, perhaps, was for the want of paint. It stood lengthwise with the road and back from it several rods, and between the present residences of Dr. Cessna (now J. I. Manchester's) and Mrs. Geo. Edwards, a beautiful site, but the dwelling and grounds were destitute of ornamentation. At the state election in October, 1807, Capt. Tanner was elected sheriff of Trumbull county, then embracing 35 townships. The total vote was 873 (probably a light vote). Of these the captain received 826 votes. At the election held in 1809 he was again a candidate and was re-elected. The whole number of votes cast was 1198, Capt. Tanner got 595; Sterling G. Bushnell 572; scattering 31. The reason of this close opposition was not based on the ground of dissatisfaction towards Capt. Tanner's official administration but was sectional, the north part of the county thinking that in the past the south was getting more than its proper share of political preferment.

Capt. Tanner in business affairs and social life was a plain, blunt, out-spoken man, severe in criticism when he thought needful, but with all a man with a kind heart, honest and incorruptable; in official transactions well informed as to his duties, which he dispatched with punctuality and decision. As an instance of directness in making a statement, one instance may be referred to. He with other citizens were together engaged in making prescribed and formal application and proof in order to obtain long-delayed justice, towards a revolutionary soldier. Ignoring forms, he took a sheet of paper and wrote, "I declare on the honor of an old revolutionary officer that I know Eleazor Gilson to be a private soldier in the 5th Connecticut regiment, 2nd brigade, in the army of the United States from the year 1777 until 1780, and have had personal acquaintance with him seventeen years last past, and know him to be a man of truth and that he is unable to support himself. TRYAL TANNER, late Lieut. and Adj't in Conn, Reg't. Some years before his death he became a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church.

Capt. Tanner and wife Huldah were the parents of nine children, all born in Cornwall, Conn. Three sons, namely, Archibald, Edmund Prior, and Julius. One of the daughters died in infancy. The five who came with the family to Ohio were Nancy, the oldest, who married James Skinner and are the grandparents of Miss Mary Skinner of Canfield; Peggy, the second daughter, married Benjamin Banning of Vernon, O. They were the parents of Dr. Banning, a celebrated physician and lecturer; Laura, the third child, first married Morgan Banning of Vernon, and a number of years after the death of her first husband married George Stillson of Boardman. Panthea, the fourth daughter, married Joseph Bassett in 1822. She died in 1829, Bassett in 1852. Bridget, the youngest child, died in the bloom of young maidenhood in 1815. Before death she and Comfort Mygatt were engaged to be married but before the event was to occur he died of the "prevailing fever". When Bridget died the following year, by the request of the father, C.S. Mygatt, she was buried by the side of his son Comfort. Death, it would seem destroyed their fond hopes in this life, and very properly they were laid by each others side in the village cemetery; but who knows to the contrary but that their love for each other survived the pangs of death and a happy reunion awaited them in the spirit land ? To prevent confusion it is proper to say here that Comfort S. Mygatt, Sr., had two sons with somewhat similar names.

We know but little of Capt. Tanner's life for many years previous to his death. The infirmities of age and almost total blindness no doubt subdued the energies and enterprise of this sturdy soldier, patriot, and citizen. In our next we hope to say something of his sons.

Canfield, Ohio. J. TRUESDALE

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Cornwall Vital Records, in Connecticut, United States. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records
   p.400 [1:16].

   TANNER, Tryal, s. William & Hannah, b. Dec. 20, 1751

2. ↑ Canfield Village Cemetery, in Find A Grave.

   Tryal Tanner