Stafford Hill Monument is a photograph by Len Stomski which was uploaded on August 5th, 2011.
Title
Stafford Hill Monument
Artist
Len Stomski
Medium
Photograph - Photo/graphics
Description
Stafford Hill Monument
Cheshire, Massachusetts
The Stafford Hill Monument was erected in 1927 by the Sons of the American Revolution in memory of Colonel Joab Stafford. Built to commemorate Col. Stafford's military leadership, the Monument also honors "the Pioneers and Patriots" who settled the region. Col. Stafford helped train and lead the Silver Greys, a local company of Berkshire County men who volunteered to fight for the rebels during the American Revolutionary War, most notably, the Battle of Bennington. The men were trained on the level fields atop Stafford Hill, and later marched to the Battle from the hilltop.
The Battle of Bennington was fought on August 16, 1777 in Walloomsau, NY about 10 miles from Bennington, VT. Instigated by the Loyalists in an effort to capture much needed supplies, horses, and draft animals, the battle was significant because it resulted in a loss of almost 1,000 men from the Loyalist forces. This galvanized colonial support for the independence movement.
The Monument sits atop a hill now known as Stafford Hill. Purchased in 1766 by settlers from Rhode Island, the acreage was named New Providence Plantation. Col. Stafford was hired to survey the original 4,660 acres, and divided the acreage into 31 lots. Col. Stafford purchased one of these lots and established his family farm on land which would later include the Monument site. Later in his career, Col. Stafford worked as a commissioner of Land Patents in Albany, NY. He returned to Cheshire, MA late in life to live out his remaining years.
Col. Stafford passed away in 1801, and was buried in the old cemetary used by the original settlers. Almost 126 years later, on Memorial Day in 1927, Colonel Joab Stafford's remains were carried to the newly built Stafford Hill Monument, and reinterred with military honors. His sarcophagus has the following inscription.
In Memory of Col
Joab Stafford who
Fought and bled in his
Country's cause at
the Battle of Bennington
Aug 16, 1777 who
departed this life Nov 22
1801 aged 72 years.
He descended to the tomb
with an unsullied Reputation.
The Stafford Hill Monument was added to the National Historic Register in 1986. (NHR reference #86000260)
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August 5th, 2011
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