From Douglas Robinson [email protected]
"Rufus Branch, fourth child of Joseph and Zerviah, b. Feb. 5, 1739, on Branch Hill, Preston, Conn., died 1821, in Castleton, Vt.; burled there. Married, 1760, Abagail Mason, b. 1742, in Preston, Conn.; died in Castleton. Rufus Branch was a minute man during the war of '76, and as such fought at the battle of Hubbardton and White Hall. When the signal sounded announcing the approach of the British on Bennington, he dropped his sickle in the wheatfield, mounted his horse and rode away. Joining Stark's forces he fought through the battle and with the rest of the victors followed Baum's retreating "Redcoats" to Stillwater. While in the vicinity of Stillwater he fell in the hands of the British. He was taken many days' march in the wilderness to a prison camp from which, after long weeks, he made his escape with the assistance of a British officer who furnished him with a musket, a few rounds of ammunition, a chunk of salt pork and last, but not least, a compass to guide him through the forest. This compass was for many years in the possession of the writer, but mysteriously disappeared some years ago. It is useless to remark a very liberal reward would be given for its return. It was of brass, very heavy, about 1/2 of an inch thick, three inches acoss, had a screw cover. It contained a sun dial, so in addition to telling the direction it told the time, in sunshine; on the cover was crudely scratched the letters R. B. After making his escape from the British camp. Great Grandfather Rufus returned to his home near Bennington, where his wife with six children awaited him. During his absence she had, with the help of her daughter, finished harvesting the wheat, butchered their hogs, gather'ed much wood and otherwise made preparations to care for her family, in case her husband did not return."
"Rufus Branch, fourth child of Joseph and Zerviah, b. Feb. 5, 1739, on Branch Hill, Preston, Conn., died 1821, in Castleton, Vt.; burled there. Married, 1760, Abagail Mason, b. 1742, in Preston, Conn.; died in Castleton. Rufus Branch was a minute man during the war of '76, and as such fought at the battle of Hubbardton and White Hall. When the signal sounded announcing the approach of the British on Bennington, he dropped his sickle in the wheatfield, mounted his horse and rode away. Joining Stark's forces he fought through the battle and with the rest of the victors followed Baum's retreating "Redcoats" to Stillwater. While in the vicinity of Stillwater he fell in the hands of the British. He was taken many days' march in the wilderness to a prison camp from which, after long weeks, he made his escape with the assistance of a British officer who furnished him with a musket, a few rounds of ammunition, a chunk of salt pork and last, but not least, a compass to guide him through the forest. This compass was for many years in the possession of the writer, but mysteriously disappeared some years ago. It is useless to remark a very liberal reward would be given for its return. It was of brass, very heavy, about 1/2 of an inch thick, three inches acoss, had a screw cover. It contained a sun dial, so in addition to telling the direction it told the time, in sunshine; on the cover was crudely scratched the letters R. B. After making his escape from the British camp. Great Grandfather Rufus returned to his home near Bennington, where his wife with six children awaited him. During his absence she had, with the help of her daughter, finished harvesting the wheat, butchered their hogs, gather'ed much wood and otherwise made preparations to care for her family, in case her husband did not return."
From Douglas Robinson [email protected]
"Rufus Branch, fourth child of Joseph and Zerviah, b. Feb. 5, 1739, on Branch Hill, Preston, Conn., died 1821, in Castleton, Vt.; burled there. Married, 1760, Abagail Mason, b. 1742, in Preston, Conn.; died in Castleton. Rufus Branch was a minute man during the war of '76, and as such fought at the battle of Hubbardton and White Hall. When the signal sounded announcing the approach of the British on Bennington, he dropped his sickle in the wheatfield, mounted his horse and rode away. Joining Stark's forces he fought through the battle and with the rest of the victors followed Baum's retreating "Redcoats" to Stillwater. While in the vicinity of Stillwater he fell in the hands of the British. He was taken many days' march in the wilderness to a prison camp from which, after long weeks, he made his escape with the assistance of a British officer who furnished him with a musket, a few rounds of ammunition, a chunk of salt pork and last, but not least, a compass to guide him through the forest. This compass was for many years in the possession of the writer, but mysteriously disappeared some years ago. It is useless to remark a very liberal reward would be given for its return. It was of brass, very heavy, about 1/2 of an inch thick, three inches acoss, had a screw cover. It contained a sun dial, so in addition to telling the direction it told the time, in sunshine; on the cover was crudely scratched the letters R. B. After making his escape from the British camp. Great Grandfather Rufus returned to his home near Bennington, where his wife with six children awaited him. During his absence she had, with the help of her daughter, finished harvesting the wheat, butchered their hogs, gather'ed much wood and otherwise made preparations to care for her family, in case her husband did not return."
"Rufus Branch, fourth child of Joseph and Zerviah, b. Feb. 5, 1739, on Branch Hill, Preston, Conn., died 1821, in Castleton, Vt.; burled there. Married, 1760, Abagail Mason, b. 1742, in Preston, Conn.; died in Castleton. Rufus Branch was a minute man during the war of '76, and as such fought at the battle of Hubbardton and White Hall. When the signal sounded announcing the approach of the British on Bennington, he dropped his sickle in the wheatfield, mounted his horse and rode away. Joining Stark's forces he fought through the battle and with the rest of the victors followed Baum's retreating "Redcoats" to Stillwater. While in the vicinity of Stillwater he fell in the hands of the British. He was taken many days' march in the wilderness to a prison camp from which, after long weeks, he made his escape with the assistance of a British officer who furnished him with a musket, a few rounds of ammunition, a chunk of salt pork and last, but not least, a compass to guide him through the forest. This compass was for many years in the possession of the writer, but mysteriously disappeared some years ago. It is useless to remark a very liberal reward would be given for its return. It was of brass, very heavy, about 1/2 of an inch thick, three inches acoss, had a screw cover. It contained a sun dial, so in addition to telling the direction it told the time, in sunshine; on the cover was crudely scratched the letters R. B. After making his escape from the British camp. Great Grandfather Rufus returned to his home near Bennington, where his wife with six children awaited him. During his absence she had, with the help of her daughter, finished harvesting the wheat, butchered their hogs, gather'ed much wood and otherwise made preparations to care for her family, in case her husband did not return."
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