Caledonia

BICKFORD, Eli

Vermont Historical Magazine, No XI, October 1867, pp 316-317

Eli BICKFORD was born 29 September 1754 in Durham [Strafford County], New 
Hampshire. His early life was spent on the farm with his parents; but during 
his twenty-first year, war having broken out with England, aroused at once 
the spirit of independence and resistance against oppression. Being of a 
bold and adventurous spirit, he soon enlisted as a private in his country's 
service. Several months, however, having elapsed, and being called into no 
engagement with the enemy, longing for more exciting scenes, he embarked on 
board a vessel privately cruising on the northeast coast. During their first 
engagement with an England man-of-war, he, with the rest of the crew, were 
taken prisoners, and for a time confined on board the "Old Jersey." Soon, 
with others, he was sent to England, where for more than four years he was 
kept in close confinement. Many pleasing anecdotes are related by him 
concerning this period of his life. Having found a piece of the hinge of a 
door, the prisoners formed a plan to escape, by digging a passage underground 
sufficient to admit of their egress.

One morning the keeper came into the prison and said, "Well, BICKFORD, I hear 
that you are digging out; how soon will you be ready to go?" "Tomorrow 
night," was the reply. "Oh, that is only some of your nonsense," was the 
rejoinder of the keeper. To which BICKFORD first replied, "However, this is 
our intention;" and when the time came the keeper found it true. After 
digging a passage for some distance underground, concealing the dirt in their 
hammocks, made into bags for this purpose, coming under an adjoining house, 
they took up the brick floor, unlocked the door, and passed on. After 
concealing themselves for a time, hoping by some means to escape from the 
Island, but being unable to do so on account of the vigilant watch which was 
instituted, they finally made a contract with a man who should return them to 
the prison, and give them one half of the reward of forty shillings sterling 
which was offered for their recapture. So successful was this game that it 
was afterward played several times, whenever their empty purses needed 
replenishing. At length, when peace was declared, an exchange of prisoners 
being made, he was set at liberty, and returned to New Hampshire, where he was 
soon married to [Miss?] Abigail RAND, of Deerfield [Rockingham County, New 
Hampshire]. Owing to the depreciation in value of Continental money at this 
time, his entire property, personal and real estate, amounted to the sum of 
seven dollars, one of which went to pay the parson's fee.

In 1792 and 1793 many settlers emigrated to Northern Vermont; and he among 
the rest, with his wife and four children,* found a home in what was then an 
almost unbroken wilderness. Selecting a location in the eastern part of 
Danville [Caledonia County], he at once commenced the arduous work of 
clearing up a farm and erecting a log house. Scarcely had he commenced his 
labors before he was prostrated by a fever, and the strong man was laid low. 
Dark was the prospect which opened before him. A long, cold winter had 
already commenced. The settlers, it is true, were kind; but they, too, were 
poor, and so few in number that Mr. BICKFORD has frequently said that he has 
seen all the men in town sit on one log. Added to this, his house was not 
yet completed. One day as a neighbor listened to his delirious vagaries and 
fearful forebodings while his reason was wandering, the man remarked that 
"this house must be finished." The neighbors immediately rallied, the house 
was completed, and Mr. BICKFORD and his family entered upon its occupancy.

Often has he remarked that never was he so happy in his life when he first 
took possession of his new house. With untiring energy he toiled on, until 
he had acquired a competency for himself and nine children, causing his 
wilderness home to bud and blossom as the rose. When in after years his sons 
and daughters left their paternal home to go forth into the wide world, his 
feet still lingered around the old homestead, where were associated so many 
pleasant scenes of the past; and when the snows of more than fifty winters 
had sprinkled the brow of his youngest born, and grandchildren and great 
grandchildren gathered in the old homestead, his cheerful laugh and pleasant 
voice was heard recounting the scenes of the long age, the freshness of youth 
that still lingered about his heart rendering him a fit companion for every 
age; but when a century had passed, and left him still tossed upon life's 
billows, thought left the busy present and wandered back to the bright scenes 
of the past. The old man was a child again. On 03 May 1856, at the advanced 
age of one hundred and one years, seven months, and four days, he [Eli 
BICKFORD] peacefully passed up to the Savior whom he had long loved.

[The section concerned with the history of Danville in the cited source, page 
316, contains the following reference to Joseph BICKFORD, who may be one the 
four children of Eli BICKFORD mentioned in this biography: "Aaron BICKFORD 
was baptized by Elder Joseph CRAWFORD, 30 September 1803, and is probably the 
first person baptized on this circuit." The circuit referred to was served 
by itinerant preachers, and encompassed the towns of Danville, Barton, Burke, 
Cabot, Greensboro, Hardwick, Kirby, Lyndon, Peacham, Sutton (then called 
Billymead), Walden, and Waterford. Both Methodist and Baptist preachers were 
early present in Danville. Bracketed additions by submitter, who is not 
researching these surnames, to support or clarify information given in the 
biography and to raise questions.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly