Notable Youngs Kin

Notable Youngs Kin

William Ledyard - Commander at Fort Griswold When Arnold Ravaged the Area

Benedict Arnold was even more despised as a traitor in 1781, when he led British troops into the Norwich / New London area of Connecticut. Soldiers were killed after surrendering, and even the leader of Fort Griswold was run through with his own sword after he had handed it to his captor.

LEDYARD, William, soldier, was born in Groton, Conn., in 1750. He was in command of the state troops defending Fort Griswold and Fort Trumbull in 1781 against the advance of Arnold, and he had hastily gathered 157 of his militia in Fort Griswold when it was surrounded by nearly 800 trained British soldiers under Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre. In the assault Colonel Eyre was mortally wounded, Major Montgomery, second in command, killed, and Major Brownfield, third in command, who effected the entrance to the fort, partially disabled, forty-eight of his men having been killed by the fire of Colonel Ledyard's militia. To save the lives of his neighbors and friends, who formed his little force, after twelve of their number had been killed or wounded, Colonel Ledyard ordered them to lay down their arms and he handed his sword [p.371] to his wounded captor. On taking the sword (as tradition hands down the story), Major Brownfield turned its point on the breast of his unarmed captive and plunged it through his body. His waistcoat pierced by the sword is preserved by the Connecticut Historical society. Not content with a single victim, the British soldiers turned upon their unarmed captives and killed eighty-five and wounded sixty. Many of the wounded, who were cared for by the women of Groton, including Fanny, niece of Colonel Ledyard, died from their wounds. His nephew, John Ledyard (1750-1789) was a navigator, explorer, witness of the death of Captain Cook and author of Narrative of the Third and Last Expedition of Capt. James Cook (1798). Col. William Ledyard died in Fort Griswold, Conn., Sept. 7, 1781. The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume VI page 371

William Ledyard was a double Youngs descendant, being a descendant of both Reverend John Youngs of Southold, Long Island, and Rev Youngs sister, Martha Youngs and her husband, Thomas Moore. Following are his Youngs lines of descent:

1 Christopher Yonges 1545 - 1626

.. +Margaret Elwin 1565 - 1630

........... 2 John Youngs, Reverend 1598 - 1672

........... *3rd Wife of John Youngs, Reverend:

............... +Mary Warren 1600 - 1678

........................ 3 Christopher Youngs 1642 - 1695

............................ +Mary 1642 - 1676

...................................... 4 [2] Benjamin Youngs 1668 - 1742

.......................................... +[1] Mary Grover 1675 - 1706

................................................... 5 [3] Deborah Youngs 1705 - 1747

....................................................... +[4] John Ledyard 1700 - 1771

................................................................ 6 [5] William Ledyard 1738 - 1781

........... 2   Martha Youngs 1613 - 1671
............... +Thomas Moore 1615 - 1691
........................ 3   Elizabeth Moore 1647 - 1699
............................ +Simon Grover 1640 - 1707
...................................... 4   [1] Mary Grover 1675 - 1706
.......................................... +[2] Benjamin Youngs 1668 - 1742
................................................... 5   [3] Deborah Youngs 1705 - 1747
....................................................... +[4] John Ledyard 1700 - 1771
................................................................ 6   [5] William Ledyard 1738 - 1781

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