Captain John Coffeen's Farm

On the South Reading Road in Cavendish near where the Crown Point Road marker lies, there’s a small cemetery (on the left going north – across from the barn with a Black River Locker sign above the door).  Captain John Coffeen is buried there… this spot was his “patch” of land to clear and farm.  As he cleared trees, removed stones & stumps and prepared to build his house and barns, he most certainly wasn’t aware that his cleared spot would play a small part in the American Revolution. 

It happened in early July of 1777.  The American Forces had just abandoned Fort Ticonderoga to British General “Gentleman” Johnny Burgoyne.  The New Hampshire militia and regulars moved east towards the Crown Point Road.  After engaging in a rear guard action against British and Hessian soldiers near Hubbardton the requirements split – New Hampshire men to the east the rest to the south to Castleton.

The soldiers were disgusted with the war thus far.  They were tired of the lack of leadership from the Continental Army, the lack of supplies, and the humiliation of losing Ticonderoga without a shot being fired.  Most of the militia were farmers volunteering as soldiers.  Haying needed to be done and they were going home.

After 3 days of marching along the Crown Point Road through mostly wilderness, they came to John Coffeen’s young farm in Cavendish.  Here they camped for a few days, probably discussed their options and then went back to their farms and mills.

I’ve always felt that the few days they spent with their fellow militia members put them in a position to return to fighting again at the Battle of Bennington later that August.  The British loss at Bennington led to the ultimate surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga in October 1777.

The officers of the men that camped at John Coffeen's farm later commended the Captain for his hospitality and thanked him for his material help.

How do we know this?

Captain Coffeen billed the continental Congress for all his sawn lumber, posts, and hewn beams that the soldiers burned in their camp fires.

What we don’t know is if the Continental Congress ever paid.

Contributed by Bruce McEnaney

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