The Robbery
Captain Dayton's residence was on the
eastern side of the meeting-house Green,
about three fourths of a mile south from the
present churches in Bethany. At a later period it became
the abode of Colonel Elihu Sanford, the father
of Elihu and Harvey Sanford, Esqs., long known as
among the most respectable citizens of New Haven.
On the other sides of the Green were the houses of
the pastor, Rev. Mr. Hawley, and the physician, Dr.
Hezekiah Hooker.
The party described in the last chapter reached
their destination a little before midnight. They were
seven in number, viz.: Alexander Graham, their leader;
David and Henry Wooster, Jr., Samuel Doolittle,
Jesse Cady, Amasa Scott, and Graham's companion
from the island, whom we will call Martin, his real
name not being known to us. Graham was armed
with a pistol; two or three of the others carried muskets.
The moon shone brightly, and the newly fallen
snow, which covered the ground, rendered the night
almost as light as day.
Lights were still visible at the houses across
the Green, and it was apparent that the work in hand
must be performed as noiselessly as possible, and without
permitting any member of the household to escape.
It was agreed that entrance should be effected into the
bed-room where Dayton would probably be sleeping,
and while two of the party remained in charge of him,
the rest were to pass directly through into the chambers,
and seize upon the men who might be lodged
there. These were to be secured at whatever cost,
while the women and children of the family should be
frightened into silence, but not otherwise hurt.
The attack, as thus planned, was carried into execution.
Stationing one of their number outside to give
an alarm in case of danger, Graham procured a heavy
bludgeon from the wood-pile, and with a single blow
dashed in the bed-room window, sashes and all,
through which he instantly sprang, followed by the
rest. Fortunately for them, neither Captain Dayton
nor the other persons supposed to be staying there
were at home. The former had gone to Boston on
business, and the latter had, a day or two before, removed
with their effects to Waterbury. In fact, there
was no one in the house at that time but Mrs. Dayton
and three young children, one an
infant six months old,
and two young colored servants, a boy and a girl.
The robbers were thus spared the severe, perhaps
bloody, struggle which they anticipated.
Graham sprang to the bed, and before Mrs. Dayton
could recover from her fright, clapped his hand over
her mouth, commanding her to be silent under pain
of instant death, at the same time assuring her that if
she obeyed no personal violence was intended to her
or her children. The rest of the gang, meanwhile,
searched the chambers above, but found nobody.
After again charging Mrs. Dayton on her life to
give no alarm, Graham retired from the bed-room,
to afford her an opportunity to throw on her clothes;
but the instinct of fear proved too strong for her prudence,
and rushing to the broken window, she shrieked,
"Murder! Help!" hoping that her voice might
be heard by the neighbors across the Green. It was
afterward ascertained that such was the fact, but owing
to the distance and the murmur of the rude March
wind the sound was not heeded. With a terrible oath,
Graham burst again into the room, and seizing the
frantic lady by the arm, drew her into the family room,
and placed her in a chair; then set David Wooster
by her side with a musket pointed at her breast,
and orders to fire if she moved or made the least
noise again. Her infant child, which had been sleeping
by her side, was now awake and crying, to get rid
of which he carried it out and deposited it in her arms;
then ordering the sheets to be torn into strips, he
bound her feet together, and tied her into the chair
where she was sitting. The other children and servants
were gathered into the same room and placed
under Wooster's surveillance, with the assurance that
if they did not keep still they should have the sharp
bayonet put through them on the spot.
The way was now prepared for work, and right vigorously
did they set about it. They were in high spirits
at the success they had achieved, and the apparent
ease with which the adventure was likely to be completed.
From cellar to attic the house was ransacked.
Large quantities of goods were found, and the most
valuable packed into sacks and bundles. They were
mostly manufactured articles of foreign production –
coats, cloaks, ladies' gowns, laces, worsted hose, silk
handkerchiefs, hollands or linen goods, several pairs of
silver shoe-buckles, a spy glass, two muskets with accouterments,
four halberds, a sort of pike with a
hatchet near the point, etc. Much that they could
not take away was destroyed. Diligent search was
made for money; chests and closets were broken open,
and every place where it seemed likely to be deposited
examined. Nor was the search in vain. Between
four and five hundred pounds in gold, silver, and copper
coin, and two hundred Continental paper dollars
were obtained.
Nor was this all. Their fatigue and excitement had
given them keen appetites, which they resolved to appease
before they left. The servants were ordered to
bring upon the table in the kitchen whatever the pantry
and the cellar afforded, one of the men accompanying
them, to make sure of their obedience and silence.
Others, seizing a light, went below to see what they
could find. Liquors in abundance were discovered,
and what was not wanted was destroyed, the faucets
of their casks being opened, so that the earth received
their contents.
During their repast a brief consultation was held as to
the expediency of setting fire to the house and so completing
the work of devastation they had begun. But
there were practical difficulties in the way. Graham
was hardened enough for any crime, and would not have
hesitated to murder the whole family and leave them
a prey to the flames. But the rest were less abandoned
in villainy than he. Whatever was necessary for the
accomplishment of their purpose they would have
done, but deliberate and needless cruelty they shrunk
from. They concluded, therefore, to leave Mrs. Dayton
and the servants securely bound, with one of their
number to guard until the remainder, with their
heavy luggage, had gone out of sight, when he could
follow at a rapid pace and overtake them.
Having at last satisfied their appetites, the robbers
shouldered their packages and departed, first charging
the lady, with fearful threats, not to attempt giving
an alarm, or to leave the house till morning. They
did not start in the direction they intended to go, but
set off westward, as if bound again for Derby; but
after a half mile, they turned northward by a side
highway, and soon emerged upon the main road leading
to Waterbury.
Meanwhile David Wooster, who had remained to
guard Mrs. Dayton, not satisfied with what had already
been accomplished, executed a little supplementary
plundering on his own account. As she sat bound,
in undress, before him, his cupidity was excited by the
personal adornments which she wore in rather unusual
profusion. He stripped the rings from her fingers,
the jewels from her ears, a pair of gold sleeve-buttons
from her chemise, and a string of gold beads, with a
locket attached, from her neck. The lady was highly
indignant at this outrage, which she regarded as a
personal insult; but her anger availed no more than
her fright. Having accomplished this, and deeming
his comrades by this time sufficiently advanced on
their way, he bade her good night and hastened onward
to overtake them.
It was now past midnight. The air was sharp, the
road in some places blocked with snow, and a hard
two or three hours' journey was before them. What
they most feared was, that they might meet some person
on the way, especially as the brightness of the
moon would make it impossible to avoid being seen.
Two or three times they were thus alarmed; but by
keeping a sharp lookout, and hiding in the bushes, or
behind a fence, they managed to escape notice. Lights
were occasionally visible in the homes they passed,
and several times they excited a violent barking from
dogs; but silence and speed were their best friends.
Passing through the wild gorge of the Beacon Mountain,
usually denominated the "Straits," they reached
the "bridge" in Judd's Meadow, where they turned
westward toward Gunntown, and shortly after met our
young friend, Chauncey Judd, on his way homeward
from Mr. Webb's, in the manner already related.
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