Mention of Gurdon Bill in North Groton during the War of 1812:
"Though no man was killed, there were two at least who had a very narrow escape, viz., William Avery and Joseph Geer. By direction of the officer in charge, they had gone down to the beach with an ox-team to draw away a field-piece that was lying there to prevent it from, falling into the hands of the enemy. While engaged in this work a cannon ball, fired from one of the British ships, passed over the backs of their oxen, and within a few feet of their own heads, and near where Gurdon Bill, who was doing sentry duty, stood. Mr. Bill was, at the time of this attack, in Stonington, engaged in teaching school, and while not a member of the military company, yet was summoned by the officer above-named to the duty assigned as above. Shortly after the incident referred to a boat-load of British troops started for the shore, with a view, doubtless, to reconnoiter as they landed, and while forming, a company of minute men concealed behind a stone wall near by, opened fire and being, taken completely by surprise the enemy went pell-mell for their boat, and in doing so quite a number lost and dropped their guns which were picked up by our men. Mr. Bill securing one, which was always kept by him as a trophy of the battle, and is now in the possession of Mr. Frederic A. Bill, of Springfield, Mass."
exerpted from: HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD 1650-1900, by Rev. John Avery, published by Noyes & Davis: Press, Norwich, Connecticut, 1901, p. 81
He represented Groton in the General Assembly of 1828. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Universalist Church of Norwich, Conn., of which church he, in 1820, with David Tracy, H. K. Park and Paul Harvey, was among the founders.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD 1650-1900, by Rev. John Avery, published by Noyes & Davis: Press, Norwich, Connecticut, 1901, p. 107
"Though no man was killed, there were two at least who had a very narrow escape, viz., William Avery and Joseph Geer. By direction of the officer in charge, they had gone down to the beach with an ox-team to draw away a field-piece that was lying there to prevent it from, falling into the hands of the enemy. While engaged in this work a cannon ball, fired from one of the British ships, passed over the backs of their oxen, and within a few feet of their own heads, and near where Gurdon Bill, who was doing sentry duty, stood. Mr. Bill was, at the time of this attack, in Stonington, engaged in teaching school, and while not a member of the military company, yet was summoned by the officer above-named to the duty assigned as above. Shortly after the incident referred to a boat-load of British troops started for the shore, with a view, doubtless, to reconnoiter as they landed, and while forming, a company of minute men concealed behind a stone wall near by, opened fire and being, taken completely by surprise the enemy went pell-mell for their boat, and in doing so quite a number lost and dropped their guns which were picked up by our men. Mr. Bill securing one, which was always kept by him as a trophy of the battle, and is now in the possession of Mr. Frederic A. Bill, of Springfield, Mass."
exerpted from: HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD 1650-1900, by Rev. John Avery, published by Noyes & Davis: Press, Norwich, Connecticut, 1901, p. 81
He represented Groton in the General Assembly of 1828. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Universalist Church of Norwich, Conn., of which church he, in 1820, with David Tracy, H. K. Park and Paul Harvey, was among the founders.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD 1650-1900, by Rev. John Avery, published by Noyes & Davis: Press, Norwich, Connecticut, 1901, p. 107
Mention of Gurdon Bill in North Groton during the War of 1812:
"Though no man was killed, there were two at least who had a very narrow escape, viz., William Avery and Joseph Geer. By direction of the officer in charge, they had gone down to the beach with an ox-team to draw away a field-piece that was lying there to prevent it from, falling into the hands of the enemy. While engaged in this work a cannon ball, fired from one of the British ships, passed over the backs of their oxen, and within a few feet of their own heads, and near where Gurdon Bill, who was doing sentry duty, stood. Mr. Bill was, at the time of this attack, in Stonington, engaged in teaching school, and while not a member of the military company, yet was summoned by the officer above-named to the duty assigned as above. Shortly after the incident referred to a boat-load of British troops started for the shore, with a view, doubtless, to reconnoiter as they landed, and while forming, a company of minute men concealed behind a stone wall near by, opened fire and being, taken completely by surprise the enemy went pell-mell for their boat, and in doing so quite a number lost and dropped their guns which were picked up by our men. Mr. Bill securing one, which was always kept by him as a trophy of the battle, and is now in the possession of Mr. Frederic A. Bill, of Springfield, Mass."
exerpted from: HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD 1650-1900, by Rev. John Avery, published by Noyes & Davis: Press, Norwich, Connecticut, 1901, p. 81
He represented Groton in the General Assembly of 1828. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Universalist Church of Norwich, Conn., of which church he, in 1820, with David Tracy, H. K. Park and Paul Harvey, was among the founders.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD 1650-1900, by Rev. John Avery, published by Noyes & Davis: Press, Norwich, Connecticut, 1901, p. 107
"Though no man was killed, there were two at least who had a very narrow escape, viz., William Avery and Joseph Geer. By direction of the officer in charge, they had gone down to the beach with an ox-team to draw away a field-piece that was lying there to prevent it from, falling into the hands of the enemy. While engaged in this work a cannon ball, fired from one of the British ships, passed over the backs of their oxen, and within a few feet of their own heads, and near where Gurdon Bill, who was doing sentry duty, stood. Mr. Bill was, at the time of this attack, in Stonington, engaged in teaching school, and while not a member of the military company, yet was summoned by the officer above-named to the duty assigned as above. Shortly after the incident referred to a boat-load of British troops started for the shore, with a view, doubtless, to reconnoiter as they landed, and while forming, a company of minute men concealed behind a stone wall near by, opened fire and being, taken completely by surprise the enemy went pell-mell for their boat, and in doing so quite a number lost and dropped their guns which were picked up by our men. Mr. Bill securing one, which was always kept by him as a trophy of the battle, and is now in the possession of Mr. Frederic A. Bill, of Springfield, Mass."
exerpted from: HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD 1650-1900, by Rev. John Avery, published by Noyes & Davis: Press, Norwich, Connecticut, 1901, p. 81
He represented Groton in the General Assembly of 1828. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Universalist Church of Norwich, Conn., of which church he, in 1820, with David Tracy, H. K. Park and Paul Harvey, was among the founders.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD 1650-1900, by Rev. John Avery, published by Noyes & Davis: Press, Norwich, Connecticut, 1901, p. 107
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