by Timothy Page

An Addison County woman witnessed the Battle of Bennington and a War of 1812 smugglers’ riot and told both accounts in her pension application.

Sally Kellogg Markham, a woman of remarkable resilience, chronicled her arduous journey in her pension application, which offers a captivating narrative. Born in Connecticut, Sally’s family relocated to Addison, a region in upper Vermont, when she was merely three years old in 1770. However, their settlement was situated in the Abenaki lands, a territory seized during the French and Indian wars. With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, Sally’s family was forcibly displaced from their land.

During the British-American conflict on Lake Champlain, Brigadier General Benedict Arnold engaged the enemy off Valcour Island. Seizing the opportunity, the Kellogg family hastily gathered their belongings and found themselves caught between Arnold’s fleet and the British armada. Sally vividly recalled the intense exchange of gunfire between the ships, remarking, “the gunfire from both vessels could be seen and heard, but fortunately, the cannonballs sailed harmlessly over us, their ominous whizzing filling the air.” Forced to retreat, the Kelloggs joined Arnold’s defeated forces, seeking refuge first at Fort Ticonderoga and then in Bennington, Vermont.

Sally vividly described the aftermath of the Battle of Bennington, where General Stark achieved a significant victory against a portion of General Burgoyne’s troops. Among the wounded soldiers, Sally witnessed a grim spectacle: “a sight to behold, some with broken legs, some with bullets piercing their bodies, others with bandaged heads. Some men were carried on stretchers, while others rode on horseback, their heads also wrapped in bandages, their countenances filled with sorrow. Every house was crammed with wounded soldiers.”

Upon returning to Addison, Sally’s father and brother fell into enemy hands, with her father ultimately perishing in captivity. The British, in a devastating raid, ravaged the area, burning homes, slaughtering livestock, pillaging the colonists’ possessions, and taking the remaining men and boys captive, leaving the women and girls bereft of shelter and sustenance.

After enduring three harrowing days, the women received news that two boats would be provided to transport over 50 individuals to safety. Rowing southward alongside two Loyalists, they reached Wood Creek. Desperate for shelter, they encountered a house guarded by a man brandishing a bayonet. Despite being initially threatened with harm, the resolute women refused to depart and were eventually granted refuge from the inclement rain.

Sally’s mother remained resolute in reuniting their fragmented family. They resettled in Bennington, where the Kelloggs had to toil as servants to make ends meet. Reflecting on their second stint in Bennington, Sally remarked, “we sought shelter wherever it could be found. We never truly had a home, and we often fell into the hands of strangers. At times, we endured the abuse and scorn of Tory sympathizers. I was given a single sheet of paper on which to learn how to write. Our sufferings were unbearable.”

Sally found love and companionship in Ebenezer Markham, who, like the Kelloggs, had lost everything during the American Revolution. Sally, determined to provide her children with knowledge, ensured they were well-educated in reading and writing. Frequently an active participant or witness to historical events, Sally’s family owned a tavern. In the early 1800s, during the fervent political climate of the War of 1812, the tavern was occupied by Customs agents. A group of rioters, known as the Smugglers Riot, planned to attack the establishment and apprehend the agents. To thwart their efforts, Sally strategically illuminated the tavern’s windows with candles, preventing the rioters from stealthily approaching the unsuspecting officials.

Sally’s exceptional ability to write with clarity and conciseness earned her the respect of many prominent political figures of her time. Vermont notary figure Henry Sheldon, in admiration of Sally Markham, extolled her astute perception of public affairs, stating, “Mrs. Markham possessed remarkable insight into various matters of public concern. Her letters were articulate and succinct.” Sally Kellogg Markham concluded her life account with a poignant declaration: “My entire existence has been one of political warfare.”