1 VOLUME 23, ISSUE 1 MARCH 2012 Quarterly Newsletter of the Captain Amos Lusk of Hudson, Ohio in the War of 1812 By Gwen Mayer The summer of 1812 was a stress-filled time for Hudson, Ohio. As the War of 1812 raged on, the town of less than 500 anxiously awaited news of the American surrender at Fort Detroit to the British. The War of 1812 had arisen due to the rising tensions between the two nations over the frequent Member of the impressments of American sailors, interference with overseas trade and the Ohio Genealogical Society strong belief the British were encouraging Native American attacks on American frontier settlements. In early June, Congress voted its first th Board of Directors declaration of war and the conflict officially began June 18 when President James Madison signed the measure into law. In response, Hudson formed a President local militia company and commenced military training. With the fall of Fort Mary Hughes Detroit, there was great concern that the British and their ally Tecumseh, leader Vice President Helen Soblosky of the Shawnee nation, would advance into Ohio and the Western Secretary Reserve. Several Hudson residents had served during the American Revolution Betty Franklin and were willing to do so again for their country. Over sixty men from Hudson Assistant Secretary under the command of thirty-nine year old Captain Amos Lusk prepared for Carleen Welch Treasurer battle. Jack Bowers Assistant Treasurer Dick Satava This War of 1812 flag flew Trustees Linda Brodine at Fort McHenry and inspired Marion Else the Star Spangled Banner, our John Franklin National Anthem. It has been Ted Minier preserved and is on display at Immediate Past President the Smithsonian National Nancy Brock Museum of American History Honorary Board Members in Washington, DC. Jean Allread Willis I. Else Elsie M. Thomas Captain Lusk, the father of 9 children, had moved to Hudson in 1801 with In this Issue his wife Mary and set up a homestead, farming in the northern part of Veterans of the War of 1812 Who town. Lusk can perhaps best be remembered as the future father-in-law of are Buried in Hudson, Ohio 2 Abolitionist John Brown. Lusk’s second oldest daughter, Dianthe, married President’s Message 5 Brown in 1820, well after her father’s death. Unfortunately, little is known of War of 1812 Ceremony 5 Lusk’s temperament and his death predates photography’s development so there are no known images of him. Recent Acquisitions to Library 6 Nominating Committee Report 6 th Lusk’s militia unit was attached to Ohio’s 4 Division under the command Index to the 2011 Hudson Green 7 of General Elijah Wadsworth and later under Brigadier General Simon Perkins. Field Trip to the The Hudson militia signed up for three months of service (many ultimately Kent State Map Library 8 served beyond the initial time period) and equipped themselves at their own Searching Military Records expense. During the fall of 1812 Lusk and his men were directed to help guard with fold3 8 the frontier from British and Indian attacks. During this time there were War of 1812 Websites 9 skirmishes with both British naval vessels and Indian War parties. Captain National Archives Lusk and his men eventually marched to Camp Avery - near modern day Transcription Pilot Project 9 Huron, Ohio. On September 28, 1812 the Indians raided a frontier settlement in 1 12 HUDSON GREEN MARCH 2012 what is known as Danbury Township, VETERANS OF THE WAR OF 1812 WHO ARE Ottawa County. At the Battle of Marblehead Peninsula, as this was later BURIED IN HUDSON: called, Lusk and his men participated in CHAPEL STREET, DRAPER, O’BRIEN, the fighting. Muskets were fired, a canoe LINDLEY AND MARKILLIE CEMETERIES chase ensued, and men were engaged in Compiled by Sharon Myers fierce hand-to-hand combat. Some men were wounded and died, although none from Hudson. Reverend Joseph Badger, Corp. A.M.H. Baldwin died of senility. He served in the OH a Congregational minister formerly from Militia under Capt. Ira Morse. No burial record found. Hudson, wrote in his journal, “ I found sick and wounded both badly situated; got George Bently was born 1790 in Slonington, CT and died March help, and made the block house 2, 1876 of pneumonia. He served in the OH Militia under Capt. comfortable and provided bunks and Jacob Ulp. He is buried in Markillie Section B-18 Lot 165. regular attendants.” He went on to state, David Bishop married Anne Hinman. He was born 1783 in CT. “I was appointed Chaplin to the brigade He served in the OH Militia under Capt. Amos Lusk. He is buried in and Postmaster for the Army.” In Chapel St. November of 1812 the soldiers were ordered to march through the swamps to James Bishop served in the NY Militia under Capt. Robert Sandusky, Ohio, to defend Fort Wilbus. He is buried in Chapel St, Stephenson. Many men became ill. Shortly thereafter command of the Joseph Bishop was born May 3, 1789 in CT and died March 20, troops was transferred to Brigadier 1862. He married Betsey Hollenbeck. He was one of the first settlers General Perkins. During January & of the township of Hudson and arrived there from CT in 1800. He February of 1813 members of the Hudson was the youngest son of Samuel Bishop, who with David Hudson militia assisted in the building of Fort Esq. and Joel Gaylord Esq. and their respective families settled this Meigs, which was situated on the banks of township. He was a drum major in Capt. Amos Lusk’s Regiment, the Maumee River, located in Perrysburg, OH Militia stationed at Camp Huron for the protection of the frontier. Ohio. Fort Meigs would soon withstand He had a lively, cheerful disposition and was fond of recounting the an attack by British forces under the various incidents connected with pioneer life. He had a friendship command of Brigadier General William with the Indians as an early youth that never left him. He owned and Proctor aided by their Native American lived upon a good farm about a mile west of the Village. He is buried ally, Tecumseh. Markille Section A-18 Lot 30. Lusk’s military unit was involved in William Bunnell was born Sept. 20, 1794 in CT and died Nov. 3, the protection of two of the most 1875. He married Polly. He served in the OH Militia under Capt. important forts in Ohio during the war - David Sutton. He is buried in Draper Cemetery Grave 19A. Meigs and Stephenson. Although Lusk himself did not live to participate in either Corp. Amos Chamberlain was born 1793 in CT and died 1861. battle, his company was present during He married Jerusha Crane. They had 10 children. He came to Ohio these conflicts. Unfortunately, like so in 1809. He served in the OH Militia under Capt. Amos Lusk. He is many others, Captain Lusk contracted the buried in Markillie Section C-33 Lot 235. highly contagious “spotted fever” otherwise known as typhus and died on Jacob Chamberlain was born April 5, 1791 in Sharon, CT and May 24, 1813. During the War of 1812, died Dec. 23, 1877. He married Anna Nutting. He served in the OH an epidemic of typhus, which is a Militia under Capt. Isaac Pancake. He is buried in Markillie Section bacterial infection caused by lice and A Lot 122. fleas, swept throughout military units killing countless numbers of soldiers. This John Chapman was born 1788 in England and died Jan. 15, devastating disease was only recently 1866. He married Elisa Bassett and Mary (Unknown). He served in controlled with the development of a the OH Militia under Capt. James Odell. No burial records have been vaccine during World War II. Captain found. Lusk is buried in Chapel Street Cemetery in Hudson. Richard Croy was born 1786 in CT and died Feb. 9, 1852. He married Luna Kellogg. He served in the OH Militia under Capt. (Compiled from various collections in the Archives.) 2 23 HUDSON GREEN MARCH 2012 Amos Lusk. He is buried Chapel St. Section C-21. Asa Draper was born May 18, 1789 in NY and Ensign Hiram King was born 1787and died died April 2, 1853. He married Margery Burk. He October 19, 1846. He married Ruth Ann Brown. He served in the OH Militia under Capt. Amos Lusk and served in the OH Militia under Capt. Amos Lusk. He is buried Chapel St. Section C-6. is buried in Markillie Section A-12 Lot 73. Elijah Ellsworth was born Nov 22, 1785 in CT Jesse Lindley served in the OH Militia under and died Oct. 11, 1859. He married Elizabeth Capt. Amos Lusk. He is buried in Lindley Cemetery. Oviatt. He served in the OH Militia under Capt. Amos Lusk. He is buried in Markillie Section A 33- Ichabod Lindley – father of Jesse and Abiah. He 47. served in the OH Militia under Capt. Amos Lusk. He is buried in Lindley Cemetery. John Ellsworth was born April 26, 1795 in Torrington, Litchfield Co., CT and died March 6, Abiah Lindley – served as a spy August 1812 to 1848. He came to Ohio in 1830. He was with Hamlin March 1813 under Capt. Amos Lusk. He was born & Dawes Store. He married Sarah Stoughton. He 1795 and died 1817 of consumption. Lindley was served in the CT Militia under Capt. Charles Abel and hiking through the woods on a mission from one camp is buried in Draper Cemetery. to another when he became tired and crawled into the tops of a tree to gain some sleep.