James Breakenridge (1721 - 1783)

Born 28 May 1721 in Antrim, Ulster, Ireland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 16 Apr 1783 at age 61 in Bennington, Bennington, Vermont

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Biography

James was born 1721 in what's now Northern Ireland the son of James Breckenridge (bef.1696-1767) and his wife Sarah.

Immigration
James immigrated with his father and two brothers from Northern Ireland with a group of settlers headed for the new world. Written by his father "We departed from Ireland, July 16, 1727, and my child died on the 19th of Aug. (referring to third son Francis 1725-1727)" ^[1]

He lived with his father in Palmer, Massachusetts and is said to have married his wife, Mary Moore about 1745 in Ware, Hampshire, Massachusetts.

Their children were:

1. Janet Breakenridge Henderson 1746-1787
2. Isabel Breakenridge Hubbel 1748-1809
3. Esther Breakenridge Hinman 1751-
4. Mary Breakenridge McNeil 1754-1816
5. James 1756-1816
6. William 1758-1796
7. Francis 1761-1815
8. David 1763-1833
9. Jonathan 1767-1847
10. Daniel Breckenridge (abt.1769-1847)

Together with his father, he bought property in Colrain, now Franklin County, Massachusetts. “James Brakenridge, and his sone James Jr., from Kingstown, now Palmer, bought lots 51 and 52 during the year([1738)” ^[2]

Settler of Bennington, Vermont
In 1761, 30 families following the six pioneer families, settled in Bennington Centre, including James Breakenridge. ^[3]

James Breakenridge attended Town Meeting at John Fassett's Tavern, Wednesday, March 31, 1762. ^[4]

The First Church of Christ was started in Bennington in 1763 and the meeting house was completed much later. "Rev Jedidiah Dewey from Westfield, Mass., was installed, August 14, 1763." Among the names of the original 57 members is James Breakenridge and [his brother] William Breakenridge. ^[5]

"The Breakenridge homestead stood a few rods east of the [Col Seth] Warner house and descended to his grandson, John Breakenridge. He resided there until it burned, about 1884. The farm is known today [c1904] as the Michael Leonard Place." ^[6]

1767 Nov 30, James along with one hundred and one settlers signed "Treaty of the Settlers of English Walloomsac Towns with the Stockbridge Indians for the Schaghticokes' Hoosac Hunting-Grounds" ^[7]

Dispute over Vermont
Bennington was settled based on a charter from the governor of the Province of New Hampshire. New Hampshire was chartered by King Charles II of England separate from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1679. ^[8]

This land was also claimed by the Province of New York and after the French and Indian War, Lt Governor Colden confirmed patents in Bennington and Shaftsbury on NY militiamen. (Privates were awarded up to 50 acres.) "Most grantees sold their land to James Duane and other land agents." Additionally in 1763 Colden published a claim to the Vermont lands that was approved by the English King 20 July 1764. ^[9]

1771 Jul, Mayor of the City of Albany directed Sheriff Ten Eyck and a "posse" of Albany citizens to march on Bennington and evict James Breakenridge of Irish Corners and Dr Josiah Fuller. The Bennington militia, led by Col Ethan Allen (1738-1789) had plenty of warning and fortified Breakenridge's house. They confronted the Sheriff who agreed to hold talks. When asked why he was resisting the King's Writ of Ejectment, Breakenridge replied, "that the township had resolved to take his farm under their protection, and that they intended to keep it." Ten Eyck retreated and the Albany citizens refused to march on Fuller's farm and returned to Albany. ^[10]

On 18 Jul 2021, these events were re-enacted:

• https://youtu.be/vkeHlnyFa9E?t=1259
• https://benningtonmuseum.org/portfolio-items/breakenridge-standoff/
• https://www.benningtonbanner.com/local-news/re-enactment-ceremony-mark-250th-anniversary-of-1771-breakenridge-stand-off/article_115cdbc2-e819-11eb-bff5-4f4f81574ead.html
• https://www.benningtonbanner.com/local-news/1771-stand-off-with-yorkers-at-henry-bridge-to-be-marked/article_64458660-578f-11eb-ad12-3b7895069f15.html

A question of loyalties
"Lieut. James Breakenridge of Bennington and Jeheil Hawley of Arlington were chosen as delegates later to visit England and petition the King in Council for protection against the piracy of the Yorkers." ^[11] Williams states that Samuel Robinson together with Breakenridge and Hawley were chosen. ^[12]

It's unclear if Breakenridge and Hawley traveled to London, although Samuel Robinson did. According to a report of the board of trade, the petition was successful (Jul 1767) but Robinson died of smallpox in London before he could return. ^[13]

Aldrich suggests that Breakenridge and Hawley weren't sent until 1772. ^[14]

While accepted as a DAR ancestor, James' activities have come into question. Letters written about him imply he was in contact with the English General Haldimand during the Revolution. This is not damming on its own - the Allens (Ira and Ethan) wrote letters to the English at this time. ^[15] However, his oldest son James and son David were Loyalists and removed to Canada after the Revolution. He and the rest of his children, including sons William, Francis, Jonathan and Daniel remained in Vermont as part of the United States. The DAR site (as of Dec 2021) states that future applicants must prove correct service. ^[16]

Death
He died in Bennington, Vermont in 1783. He is buried in Old Bennington Cemetery. His gravestone inscription reads "In Memory of Lieu James Breakenridge who departed this Life in the Evening of the 16th of April 1783 and in the 62nd year of his Age". ^[17]

Sources

1. ↑ Hyde, William. Address delivered at the opening of the new town hall Ware, Mass (Merriam and Cook Printers, Brookfield, Mass., 1847) citing the Music Book p49
2. ↑ McClellan, Charles H., The early settlers of Colrain, Mass.; or, Some account of ye early settlement of "Boston township no. 2, alias Codrain." Greenfield, Mass: W.S. Carson, 1885. Viewed on archive.org Dec 2021. page 18
3. ↑ Niles, Grace Greylock, The Hoosac Valley: Its Legends and Its History, GP Putnam & Sons, 1912. p213
4. ↑ Niles p213
5. ↑ Niles p215
6. ↑ Niles p219
7. ↑ Niles p278
8. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Province_of_New_Hampshire
9. ↑ Niles p272
10. ↑ Niles p272
11. ↑ Niles p288
12. ↑ Williams, Samuel. Natural and Civil History of Vermont The 2d ed. Burlington, Vt: Printed by Samuel Mills. Sold at his Bookstore in Burlington, by Mills and White, 1809 p220
13. ↑ Aldrich, Lewis Cass. History of Bennington, VT (Syracuse: D. Mason, 1889) p44
14. ↑ Aldrich, Lewis Cass. History of Bennington, VT (Syracuse: D. Mason, 1889) p58
15. ↑ Wilbur, James Benjamin, 1856-1929. Ira Allen, Founder of Vermont, 1751-1814. Boston: Houghton Mifflin company, 1928. p257, p386
16. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed December 12, 2021), "Record of James Breckenridge", Ancestor # A013941.
17. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22439935/james-breakenridge : accessed 11 December 2021), memorial page for Lieut James Breakenridge (28 May 1721–16 Apr 1783), Find a Grave Memorial ID 22439935, citing Old Bennington Cemetery, Bennington, Bennington County, Vermont, USA ; Maintained by A AAA American (contributor 47337652) .

See also:

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22439935
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L7NY-XK3
• Early Vermont Settlers cards at American Ancestors $ https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/early-vermont-settlers-index-cards-1750-1784/image/?rId=1425782537&volumeId=56489&pageName=140&filterQuery=