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[3991.ftw]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #3991, Date of Import: Oct 25, 1998]

Gideon Ormsby (1736 - 1804) Gideon Ormsby is famous in the annals of Vermont.

In order to give some insight into the time and life of Gideon Ormsby and his neighbors at Manchester, Vermont, a very brief review of the history of Vermont is in order. The region of rugged mountains and trackless forests that is now known as Vermont, originally was claimed by two Royal Provinces, New Hampshire and New York. The region soon became known as the "The New Hampshire Grants". The grant of Manchester township was dated August 11, 1761. The interest of the original grantees was purely speculative and they soon sold their rights to a group of settlers from
Amenia, N.Y.

From the recorded places of birth of the children of Gideon, it would seem that Gideon's father, Jonathan, Jr., moved from Rehoboth, Mas. to the Town of Cumberland, Providence County, Rhode Island where Gideon married and started his family, and then about 1750-55 they all moved to Great Nine Partners (now Amenia) Dutchess County, N. Y. Here they became interested in the opening of the new territory, now called Vermont. Witness the statement that Jonathan, the father, was one of the group who purchased 23,000 acres in 1764, and helped to survey it in 1766. The group of purchasers from Amenia moved to Manchester, Vermont about 1767. Gideon's first child born in Manchester, was born in April, 1768.

Many who had settled in the area during the administration of the Royal Grants, and those who were sympathetic with the rule of New York State became "Tories", while many from the old Eastern States who came seeking independence were "Whigs". During the time leading up to the Revolution, there was continuous strife between these two parties. Gideon Ormsby and his family were Whigs.

From: Vermont Historical Gazetteer, by Heminway Bennington County, Vermont. Town of Manchester.
"Gideon Ormsby of the Town of Manchester, in 1777, was a member of the Committee of Safety here. This Committee met in July 1777. This Council was appointed by the Convention convened at Windsor, Vt. Gideon was appointed also to the Dorset Conventiuon, which convened there in 1776; and also at Windsor, where the State of Vermont was declared "a free and independent State" He was one of the first Representatives to the State Legislature in 1778, and again in 1802."

From: The same reference, Town of Rupert, Bennington County, Vt.
"About 1777, many of the early settlers left their homes here and returned to Conn. because the depredations of the Tories and their Indian allies was so desperate, it was unsafe to remain. This incident illustrates the character of their hostility.
Major Ormsby, who then resided in Manchester was the object of their especial hatred; accordingly 6 or 8 Tories proceeded in the night to the home of the Major, fortunately he was not at home - - they seized his son (a young man), Daniel, and carried him to the wilds of the forest in Rupert. The alarm was given in the morning, and a band set out to rescue him. Fortunately they were able to follow him, as he had marked the trail by breaking twigs and plants whenever possible. They came to the Captor's camp when they were eating on a mountain in the north part of Rupert.

The Tories had dressed Daniel in a red coat so he looked like a British soldier. John Nelson, a member of the rescue party, threw up his gun to shoot Daniel, when he made a sign that he was a friend. They rescued him and returned to Manchester. The Tories escaped.

The application papers of Mrs. Gertrude Brown McIlree, DAR number 49 687, descendant of Daniel Ormsby (of the above story) recounts the same story. Her papers also add:

"The Mary Ormsby Chapter, DAR of Manchester, Vt. is so named, in honor of her act of bravery, when a child, in going alone in the night time to notify her father, Major Ormsby, of the presence of a band of Tories at the house of a neighbor, which information let to their capture." Mary Ormsby was a sister of Daniel Ormsby, mentioned in the accompanying application."

There are several versions of these same stories in the History of Manchester, Vt., but all of sufficient basis of fact to establish that Major Gideon Ormsby and the Tories were in continual conflict. [phelps.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #3991, Date of Import: Oct 25, 1998]

Gideon Ormsby (1736 - 1804) Gideon Ormsby is famous in the annals of Vermont.

In order to give some insight into the time and life of Gideon Ormsby and his neighbors at Manchester, Vermont, a very brief review of the history of Vermont is in order. The region of rugged mountains and trackless forests that is now known as Vermont, originally was claimed by two Royal Provinces, New Hampshire and New York. The region soon became known as the "The New Hampshire Grants". The grant of Manchester township was dated August 11, 1761. The interest of the original grantees was purely speculative and they soon sold their rights to a group of settlers from
Amenia, N.Y.

From the recorded places of birth of the children of Gideon, it would seem that Gideon's father, Jonathan, Jr., moved from Rehoboth, Mas. to the Town of Cumberland, Providence County, Rhode Island where Gideon married and started his family, and then about 1750-55 they all moved to Great Nine Partners (now Amenia) Dutchess County, N. Y. Here they became interested in the opening of the new territory, now called Vermont. Witness the statement that Jonathan, the father, was one of the group who purchased 23,000 acres in 1764, and helped to survey it in 1766. The group of purchasers from Amenia moved to Manchester, Vermont about 1767. Gideon's first child born in Manchester, was born in April, 1768.

Many who had settled in the area during the administration of the Royal Grants, and those who were sympathetic with the rule of New York State became "Tories", while many from the old Eastern States who came seeking independence were "Whigs". During the time leading up to the Revolution, there was continuous strife between these two parties. Gideon Ormsby and his family were Whigs.

From: Vermont Historical Gazetteer, by Heminway Bennington County, Vermont. Town of Manchester.
"Gideon Ormsby of the Town of Manchester, in 1777, was a member of the Committee of Safety here. This Committee met in July 1777. This Council was appointed by the Convention convened at Windsor, Vt. Gideon was appointed also to the Dorset Conventiuon, which convened there in 1776; and also at Windsor, where the State of Vermont was declared "a free and independent State" He was one of the first Representatives to the State Legislature in 1778, and again in 1802."

From: The same reference, Town of Rupert, Bennington County, Vt.
"About 1777, many of the early settlers left their homes here and returned to Conn. because the depredations of the Tories and their Indian allies was so desperate, it was unsafe to remain. This incident illustrates the character of their hostility.
Major Ormsby, who then resided in Manchester was the object of their especial hatred; accordingly 6 or 8 Tories proceeded in the night to the home of the Major, fortunately he was not at home - - they seized his son (a young man), Daniel, and carried him to the wilds of the forest in Rupert. The alarm was given in the morning, and a band set out to rescue him. Fortunately they were able to follow him, as he had marked the trail by breaking twigs and plants whenever possible. They came to the Captor's camp when they were eating on a mountain in the north part of Rupert.

The Tories had dressed Daniel in a red coat so he looked like a British soldier. John Nelson, a member of the rescue party, threw up his gun to shoot Daniel, when he made a sign that he was a friend. They rescued him and returned to Manchester. The Tories escaped.

The application papers of Mrs. Gertrude Brown McIlree, DAR number 49 687, descendant of Daniel Ormsby (of the above story) recounts the same story. Her papers also add:

"The Mary Ormsby Chapter, DAR of Manchester, Vt. is so named, in honor of her act of bravery, when a child, in going alone in the night time to notify her father, Major Ormsby, of the presence of a band of Tories at the house of a neighbor, which information let to their capture." Mary Ormsby was a sister of Daniel Ormsby, mentioned in the accompanying application."

There are several versions of these same stories in the History of Manchester, Vt., but all of sufficient basis of fact to establish that Major Gideon Ormsby and the Tories were in continual conflict.