P Safford

P Safford

 

1st candidate:

Lt. Philip Safford Sr.

From Find a Grave; 

"Birth: May, 1736, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts

Death: Apr. 18, 1814, Springfield, Windsor County, Vermont
He was the son of Joseph Safford (1705-57) and Mary Challis (1705-78). In Hardwick, MA he took part in the French and Indian war 1755-1759, first as drummer in 1756 in Capt. Samuel Robinson's company, then as drum-major, and in 1759 he was a lieut. His company took part in the sanguinary conflict on the shores of Lake George. Soon after the Peace of Paris, or about 1763, he removed to Rockingham VT in 1781 and took an active part in shaping the civil policy of the town, and was also often chosen as a militia officer. In various deeds on record he is described as " house-joiner," and he was also a farmer. He was one of the first and most ardent agitators of resistance to the rule of the King's courts which culminated in the Westminster massacre. Mar. 13, 1775, and he took a prominent part in that affair in connection with the large number who were present from this town. In addition to the details given on page 208, Hall's History of Eastern Vt. states that Lieut. Saftord, as he fought his way out of the building, taunted the king's minions, saving " he could lick the whole of the king's army if he only had his company of Rockingham militia with him." Still another expression, which comes down in well authenticated history, of the sayings of this bold man of that time is, " Come on, if you dare, you miserable cowards of King George, come on if you want to fight, we can whip the whole posse of you time-serving rascals." To his comrades, he said. " Don't run, boys, don't run, we'll go out the same way we came in," as he was successfully fighting his way out of the front door of the court house, while some were disposed to break their way out at the side door. His name appears among the company of Rockingham men that Marched for Ticonderogue," and also " of Those that Marched to Manchester" in 1777, and in Capt. Jonathan Holton's company Oct. 17, 1780. He was chosen a member of the town committee of safety in 1778; was one of the organizers of the 1st Baptist Church in Rockingham about 1789, and was a brother-in-law of Azariah Wright of Westminster. In 1811 he and his wife Elizabeth Bigelow (1743-1825) removed to Springfield, VT and spent the last years of their lives on a rough farm on Parker hill. They raised 5 children to adulthood. 

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