Lou Sorrentino: CT History

 

- In the Name of Liberty- -A Mystery of Rocks and Rights- A geological mystery of Connecticut history has finally been solved. Usually, transformation of rocks takes millions of years. Yet, a few ordinary stones in a state park have now been transformed into artifacts of a new American Revolutionary War site in under six years. Devil's Hopyard in East Haddam, Connecticut has long been best known for scenic landscape and quaint myths portraying it as a Devil's playground. Then, the 2004 New York Times article Uncovering a millstone Who Done It jumped the humble Hopyard onto the world stage, etching in stone a new role for the wilds of Connecticut. American freedom is usually thought to begin on July 4, 1776. Yet, it was in October 1774 that the First Continental Congress put forth what we now refer to as the Bill of Rights. Up until earlier that year Abner Beebe owned property where gristmill ruins are today found at Chapman Falls. A broken millstone found below the ruins speak of the fractured nature of those rights. At the time, gristmills were a central focus of daily life. Prior to electricity, nearly everything needed for daily life was directly or indirectly connected to gristmills. A church-going and educated man, his family was prominent in the area for generations. Abner supported the local pauper's graveyard and supplied food for the poor. He was also was wise in deeding the gristmill property to his wife's brother until after the war to avoid confiscation of his property, but was still in control behind the sciences. As a Loyalist supporter of English government who openly rejected the new Bill of Rights, Beebe had the nerve to oppose popular opinion by exercising his free speech. "Doct. Abner Beebe” said he “refused to be tried by said Bill of Rights”, that “government had a right to make whatever laws they pleased” and it was our “Duty to obey.” Concerning jury trials he asserted “they that had a mind to go back might be represented at home”, as noted in the Connecticut Gazette, what is today the Hartford Courant. He got much more than he asked for. Inspired by the example of Patriot leaders, a group the English called a Mob rammed pig dung down his throat and tortured him naked in front of his wife and children. In a previously unproven story, supporters of the cause of liberty violated civil liberties to protect the cause of liberty before we officially had any. The Connecticut State Historian Walter Woodward has recently verified the most important part of this story; the event itself, based on new Primary Source evidence found in Peter Oliver's 1781 Origin and Progress of the American Rebellion. He said; “This is a contemporary account from a Tory who fled Connecticut and wrote a scathing history of Connecticut…. I believe this is powerful evidence to support your thesis, and is exactly what is needed to help clinch the argument. The new evidence includes that, in “Feb. 1775,” Abner Beebe’s only offense was that he “spoke very freely in Favor of Government; for which he was assaulted by a Mob”, ” He was “stripped naked,& hot Pitch was poured upon him, which blistered his Skin and "His Gristmill was broke, & Persons prevented from grinding and broke all Connections with him." Period context of this phrasing is revealing. Throughout the Revolutionary War period, mills were key places of struggle for the control of local resources. General Washington at one point ordered his officers to “remove the running Stones from the Mills” “so the Enemy cannot easily recover them” to prevent grinding and so supply the British army. Washington also supported public humiliation of British sympathizers known as Tories. He and many others thought their righteous cause justified using the same terrible tactics which they revolted against in the first place. As their own leaders and new government led them by example, America quickly fell freely into the same rock-bottom ethical trap as their English oppressor. 1776’s Declaration of Independence was supposed to make real the 1774 Bill of Rights. The first American version of the Bill of Rights was originally proclaimed as the “Declaration and Resolves” in October by the First Continental Congress of 1774. The Resolves were an attempt to convince the existing English government to obey it’s own Constitution. The first Resolve was the right to a trial by jury of one’s peers. In 1774 the English government had suspended jury trials in America, choosing to send political prisoners back to Britian for trials, where the government hadmore control of popular opinion. We still deny fair trials for political prisoners kept outside America . Rubbing feces in the face and ramming it down the throat is reminiscent of today's water-boarding. In modern times, torture by America under the rationale of protecting liberty survives. Children are routinely killed in occupied countries,justified as part of “collateral damage.” Prisoners have been tortured naked in front of women, much like the Mob did to Abner Beebe’s family. Rather than learning from their mistakes by making the Bill of Rights our national standard, we have foolishly fallen into the same trap as the Founding Fathers. Torture, denial of free speech, sending prisoners to other countries to deny fair trials and seizing of private property still have an unbroken history in the Land of the Free. Even the breaking of this story evolved much like the American Revolutioni tself, with many twists, turns and ethical contradictions. After the 2004 NYT article, a DEP panel found the events reasonably verified and linkedt o the artifacts to the event under now retired Dep. Com. David Leff and Nicholas Bellantoni, Connecticut State Archeologist. The panel authorized signage commemorating these important events put up at the Chapman Falls gristmill site in Devils Hopyard State Park. Even though no Primary Source document from the period verified the gristmill's destruction, the strong circumstantial evidence was considered compelling enough. Revolutionary War Historian Ray Raphael, author of A People's History of the American Revolution concluded what Connecticut State Archeologist had already known; "You don't have to have absolute certainty in this arena. We use physical artifacts as a means of telling significant tales, and that can certainly be done in this case... Again, you've got a juicy piece of material history there, and in my mind reasonable linking to tell a big story.” Since the few who still held on tightly to the now disproved local folklore had originally been part of a joint expert panel which approved the signage, they could not justify it being taken down. Then, when the political timing was right, history repeated itself. Much like the so-called "Sons of Liberty" did to Abner Beebe, the likewise titled and now defunct "Friends of Devils Hopyard" took on the role of the Mob of Abner Beebe's day. Mad about their cherished local history being changed, at first these well-connected dissenters just tore down associated posted literature. They became extremely vocal in questioning the research which resulted in signage in the park. They ridiculed the researcher in public gatherings. The President of the Friends of Devil's Hopyard wrote to Connecticut College demeaning the researcher's motives. They disavowed any connection to their former Vice-President and his research which challenged their cherished beliefs, much like the Mob did Abner Beebe. Then, immediately after Dep. Com. David Leff and signage designer Leslie Lewis retired, DEP Bureau Chief of Outdoor Recreation Thomas Morrissey ordered the signage down and the broken colonial millstone taken out of Chapman Falls. With the old leaders out of the way, he justified these actions by hopping on one true fact; so many people were trying to see the millstone by jumping the fence next to Chapman Falls. He cited it as a public health safety hazard. This had nothing to do with the stone-cold facts, but that did not matter. The new Mob had whipped up a frenzy and facts had nothing to do with it. Although nothing had changed about the facts on which the panel based it's signage, the Bureau Chief curiously added to his justification: "The facts that the millstone exists and that a mill existed upstream from the mllstone’s location have been verified. The rest of the story, although fascinating, cannot be tied directly to this artifact (the one broken colonial millstone found below which the expert panel linked to the event) The State Parks Division would be happy to consider an exhibit, at such time as a definite link can be made between the millstone and the story”, provided this definite link is “verifiable by the State Archaeologist and the State Historic Preservation Office”, and said that the story was still “evolving.” Since at the time of this arbitrary over-ruling no Primary Source document had been found, little could be done to enforce the previous panel's decision. Even when confronted in 2007 with the fact of the Connecticut State Historian's scholarly conclusion that the new evidence "is exactly what is needed to help clinch the argument", DEP Bureau Chief Thomas Morrissey STILL refused to re-post the story with new signage. After repeated requests for justification at several government levels, Bureau Chief Morrissey finally promised in writing that a graduate student would do an independent investigative study including “recommendations for future curatorial action and public information.” From early 2007 to 2009, no students had been found, so the original researcher Mr. Louis Sorrentino compiled a lay version of the evidence and submitted it to the DEP and the CT State Archeologist. Still needing independent verification of his research, Mr. Sorrentino found a Master’s degree student at Trinity College. Jamie Furness was not only a colonial era historical re-enactor for the State of Connecticut in her day job, she now had a topic for her graduate thesis. The question has been posed; is the one sickle-furrowed colonial era millstone really the actual one from the 1775 event. The answer is nearly a moot point. The one broken colonial millstone is part of the same gristmill ruins with nearly the same level of certainly as the gristmill foundation stones at Chapman Falls themselves. One could argue that any of the many gristmill foundation stones which are of similar size as the millstone might have been replaced in a later period. Or,one could conjecture that the broken millstone with colonial markings found directly down-slope from the gristmill was thrown in for an unrelated reason. However, there is no evidence to support either unlikely possibility. Based on the premise that the gristmill foundation have a definite link the historical story, so does the colonial millstone found broken below the ruins. Previously, cherished local lore linked two other unbroken millstones across the street at the park caretaker's residence erroneously to the event. The link was published in the otherwise noteworthy book on Connecticut State Parks titled A Shared Landscape. Signage posted at the park since the early 1980's perpetuated the myth of "Aaron Fox's millstone" based only on 20th century writings nearly two hundred years after the event. The myth posed this local man as the Captain of the Sons of Liberty group that tossed the millstone into the falls in the Revolutionary War era. Many local people grew up with this myth as part of what they passionately believed was their home's heritage. The researcher revealed that the design markings on these two unbroken millstones are from after the colonial era, making the one broken millstone with sickle-shape markings the only likely candidate, according to Staff Archeologist Charles Hockensmith, formerly of the Kentucky Heritage Council. The fact that this particular millstone was found broken directly down-slope for the gristmill seems to back up the story, since preventing people from grinding provisions was a goal in this period. In early 1775, the King's troops had just landed and were on the move in New England, so preventing people from grinding to supply provisions to the English army was a goal of the Mob as English propaganda described them. The position, size, markings and unbroken condition of the one millstone with colonial era sickle-shaped markings, and the colonial document evidence, all seem to verify it's sole linkage to the story, according to Connecticut State Archeologist Nicholas Bellantoni. Furthermore, the formerly sacred local hero myth of "Captain Aaron Fox" tossing a huge millstone into the falls toppled as well. It turned out the local Aaron Fox was only eleven years old at the time and never served in the military until the War of 1812. While as a child he may have witnessed the event and blown-up his his role in the events later, there is a key insight to be gleaned here. The very human desire to hold tightly to cherished traditions can block our perception of truth and cause tragic disputes, so we must always remain open to new evidence. An application was submitted to the Connecticut State Archeologist in 2007 for inclusion Beebe’s gristmill and the one colonial millstone on the Connecticut Historic Register, and an exhibit at the park commemorating the site. It has taken until now to get this up front on the agenda. We need to commemorate this important story and the artifacts linked to it; the gristmill foundation at Chapman Falls and the one broken colonial millstone found down-slope from the ruins. Approval as a Connecticut Historic Resource, the research’s validation, signage at the park, internet promotion, pamphlets and other media educating the public are certainly warranted. This historical story is well worth commemorating, since few have as much significance in protecting an essential American truth. The Bill of Rights must apply to all if we are to remain free.

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Concerning this new premise for the exact location of Uncas' grave, the Mohegan Tribe's Archivist said: "Dear Lou Sorrentino, I think you are a good research person...the questions those passages pose is interesting and could be a project for testing the premise in the future..." Faith Damon Davison, 10/5/2007, fdavison@moheganmail.com

There is a monument in Norwich, CT which most people assume was erected over the actual grave of Uncas; Sachem of the Mohegans. While some have long known this is not the exact gravesite, new archival research has produced a compelling circumstantial case for the exact location.

The 1852 book Songs of the Fireside by C. W. Everest contains his poetic account of "A Summer's Day Ramble." It makes clear that the Uncas monument's "cornerstone" was in place years before the actual monument was later erected. More telling is the fact that a plain slate headstone marked with the name ‘Uncas’ was visible "by" the separate "cornerstone" in the intervening years on a mound of "heaving turf." This description is backed up by a period newspaper, as cited in the document titled; Royal Burial Ground: 1842 December 31, (Norwich Courier) “In the Royal Burying Ground of the Mohegans as it existed more than two hundred years ago was a small flat stone set up by early settlers as a memorial to the great Sachem with a simple inscription in rude letters ‘Uncas'. On page 27 of the Ramble the author describes a grave mound of "heaving turf" which was clearly marked as "Uncas's grave, and by it stood The shameful mockery of a cornerstone." He further explains this cryptic reference in his Notes on page 35, where he describes his thoughts upon viewing the new Uncas monument's completion after laid by President Andrew Jackson some nine years earlier. The Ramble ends with an engraved print of the grave on page 34 which seems congruent with a proposed location modern-day gravemound-type site at 24 Sachem Street in size, proximity, and surroundings.

During his Summer's Day Ramble the author passed the river Thames, then describes "resting by the torrent's brink, That gushed, in living freshness from the rock." This description fits well with what is now known as Yantic Falls at Indian Leap, since that is the only waterfall "torrent" gushing from "the rock" situated anywhere nearby. After some time, at "the forest's verge", he "spied a place of graves" where "Mohegan warriors slept in death" marked by "heaving turf"and notes "small slabs of slate stone" were "at the heads of several." It says that the end of day, he was headed back home, but turned back to view the grave one last time. Since the author was headed back home toward the Thames and the "torrent's brink" (Yantic Falls/Indian Leap), then turned and saw the grave site of Uncas, the relative position of the author would situate the newly postulated grave mound in the correct direction of his line of sight looking back. Since he looked behind him to see the actual grave, it seems reasonable to assume the grave he saw must have been slightly further back from the cornerstone, respective to Indian Leap, a prominent Mohegan site where the known major path traversed. This means the Uncas grave mound must be in a directional line which takes these facts into account. The proposed Uncas' grave site is adjacent to the right wall of the building at 24 Sachem Street in Norwich, CT. The mound is about 30 feet to the rear and left of the Uncas monument, about 6'long X 4' wide X 2.5' high and completely covered by a large bush. No marked gravestone is visible, but when the surface leaves are removed, many small slabs of slate stone are visible, a typical gravemound feature. The site is 15' outside to the left rear of the current graveyard boundaries, but the original boundaries are much larger, according to the signage there.

One reference to a excavation of a grave which was previously theorized to have been of Uncas (Royal Burial Ground: 1832 – May 1 below) is not likely his because no "Treasure" was found in it: "as had been their custom" (Royal Burial Ground 1832 , as noted also below) While this new Uncas' grave site proposal is not conclusive, it certainly is the best hypothesis to date.

Re: "Songs of the Fireside, Rev. C. W. Everest, Hartford, Brocket & Hutchinson", "entered according to act of Congress 1852", pg. 27, 33, 34, 35., written around 1845. (per Dedicatory sonnet page 3) & "A Summer's Day Ramble" Re: Royal Burial Ground: 1842 December 31, (Norwich Courier) 1822- The path through one of these ravines emerges from the shades of the dark forest trees opposite a cluster of elms and sassafras's, which mark the burying place of the Mohegan Sachems. There are still remaining many head and foot-stones, some of them bearing English inscriptions in good preservation ; but the greater part are shapeless pieces of granite sunk in the soil and covered with moss, and doubtless mark the graves of Sachems who ruled the country in ages long anterior to the earliest histories and traditions. ......a short walk, where the extensive landscape and the placid water are entirely excluded by the broken banks of the Yantic, whose stream, pouring over a ledge of rocks...... 1734 burying their Treasure with their dead, (as has been their custom) and were advised to save what they had now carefully deposited in the Coffin, and accordingly they complied, and took out Wampum, Gold and Plate, &c. of considerable value, and then proceeded to finish the funeral 1832 – May 1 “While making excavations on the sites for new mills, on the banks of the Shetucket an Indian grave was opened, containing besides a few bones, a pot, spoons and a small box, all of copper, glass bottles and some other articles. It was near this spot that the famous battle was fought between Uncas, Sachem of the Mohegans and Miantonimi, chief of the Narragansetts, in which the latter was slain. – Judging from the thigh bones, which are nearly entire, the person interred must have possessed a gigantic stature and powerful frame. Possibly this grave was the burial place of that renowned warrior. Norwich Courier.” (LS-- Note: no gold or Treasure objects, per 1734 description of "their custom")

An Investigatory Report With Recommendations for Curatorial Action and Public Information

Ordinary people like Connecticut’s Abner Beebe were violently abused simply for what they said in the Revolutionary War era by supporters of the cause of liberty. The Founders later established the Bill of Rights, in attempting to insure that similar abuses are not justified when protecting freedom.The story of Beebe's Mills on both sides of Chapman Falls illustrates the conflicts of people on both sides of the Revolutionary War, and presents a useful way to teach history using archeological and colonial document research.

Beebe's Mills' story has long been been known as folklore, but is now verified by a colonial document source not widely published until the 1960’s.(1) This confirms and adds detail to Dr. Abner Beebe’s 1775 Connecticut Gazette newspaper claims that “the people of East Haddam” did “damage to my person” and engaged in “violent destruction of private property” "as a result of late mentioned vote", "to withdraw commerce", because of his words of loyalty to Engand. He also specified that he was "abused by the Committee of Inspection of East Haddam." (2) Then, as now, loyalty determined perspective. For example, Col. Joseph Spencer, in asking for advice in his 1774 letter to Governor Trumbull, wrote that Dr. Beebe was given “the new fashion dress of tar and feathers” by people who had high “zeal” “for what is called Liberty”. They visited Beebe several times, but he refused to say anything to give them “satisfaction”, and “without help from abroad”, Spencer was unable to protect him. (3) There is no record the Governor ever answered. This is not surprising, since the same source that verifies Beebe's Mills' story also describes Governor Trumbull being "as relentless as the Mob." Rev. Samuel Peters, the Beebe family’s minister, had applied in vain to Trumbull for help after his house in Hebron was attacked and he was taken to "one of their Liberty Poles". (4). When Connecticut’s General Israel Putnam tried to stop the Sons of Liberty's similar abuse of Loyalists, George Washington reprimanded him, saying they were engaged in the “cause of liberty.” (5) The colonial account below verifies the Beebe's Mills story, but judges those involved very differently. It is the last entry in Peter Oliver's Origin and Progess of the American Rebellion 1781 manuscript, one purpose of which was to show how the Mob behaved, and so justify England’s violent response in war.

"February 1775 - A Parish Clerk of an Episcopal Church at East Haddum in Connecticut, a Man of 70 Years of Age, was taken out of his Bed in a Cold Night, & beat against his Hearth by Men who held him by his Arms & Legs. He was then laid across his Horse, without his Cloaths, & drove to a consid­erable Distance in that naked Condition. His Nephew Dr. Abner Beebe, a Physician, complained of the bad Usage of his Uncle, & spoke very freely in Favor of Government; for which he was assaulted by a Mob, stripped naked, & hot Pitch was poured upon him, which blistered his Skin. He was then carried to a Hog Sty & rubbed over with Hogs Dung. They threw the Hog's Dung in his Face, & rammed some of it down his Throat; & in that Condition exposed to a Company of Women. His House was at­tacked, his Windows broke, when one of his Children was sick, & a Child of his went into Distraction upon this Treatment. His Gristmill was broke, & Persons prevented from grinding at it, & from having any Connections with him. All these events occurred prior to the Battle of Lexington, when the rebels say the Rebellion began." (1)

East Haddam land records confirm the gristmill and sawmill at Chapman Falls were owned in the period by Dr. Abner Beebe. The fact that the mills are on opposite sides, but had common interests, can illustrate the Colonists’ dilemma. No matter what side people were on, business and family interests came first. The property on which the mills stand was deeded on 3/21/1774 by Abner Beebe to John Chapman, (6) his brother-in-law via Abner’s sister Ann, wife of John's brother Jabez. (7) Beebe regained title to the mills after the conflict, escaping the legal confiscation of Tory estates late in the War. (8) A Jabez Chapman was also on the key East Haddam Committee of Association, modeled by the First Continental Congress in September 1774. (20)

The Committee's vote decided who was an enemy of the Colonies, and prohibited business being done with them, as both Col. Spencer and Peter Oliver said happened to Abner Beebe. Despite the fact that the Colonies were still English, such Committees were the real governing power; their will often enforced by mobs and riots. Episcopal ministers encouraged loyalty to the Church of England and it's King. In 1774, when an English attack was a real possibility, this was very risky. Several in his Loyalist congregation were tarred and feathered, and one almost killed. Unlike the three Beebe’s who stayed, Rev. Peters fled when his house was attacked by a “Mob”, which he also called the “Sons of Liberty”. Although the Sons of Liberty started as a distinct group in the 1760s, by 1774 the difference between them and mobs became blurred in enforcing the Committee’s findings. Origin and Progress describes a similar 1774 decision to ban commerce as made by a "Mob Committee." Rev. Peters said Spencer and the Governor encouraged such mob abuse. (9) (18) Rev. Peters said local leader Col. Spencer and the Governor of Connecticut encouraged such mob abuse (9) (14) Abner's uncle Jonathan Beebe was very outspoken against the Revolution, declaring that British General Gage was right in shooting at the crowd in the Boston Massacre.The Committee voted Jonathan, Abner and his father William Beebe enemies. (10) With the prospects of no business, and the “new fashion dress of tar and feathers”, Jonathan Beebe was restored to favor when his confession was published in the Connecticut Gazette. (11) Abner's brother Asa refused to recant, despite also being tarred and feathered, and left to settle in Vermont. He was a lay reader for Rev. Peters' Episcopal Parish. (12) Jonathan Beebe was about 70 in 1775, so it is likely that Abner’s uncle Jonathan was the same Parish Clerk mentioned in Origin and Progress. (13) Rev. Peters escaped to live in London. Peter Oliver wrote his history in London's Loyalist refugee community, so it is likely he heard Beebe’s tale there, since Origin and Progress records the same incident. (4)

The first American publication of the mills’ tradition was traced to a Connecticut Advertizer newspaper article of 1881 which explained the "large millstone" which "most visitors at Chapman Falls have noticed" this way; "revolutionists broke open the mill and rolled the principal stone down the falls". (16) This account closely matches that of Beebe's mill in Origin and Progress which specifies that his “gristmill was broke and persons prevented from grinding at it”. Period context of this phrasing is revealing. By late 1774, a pending attack by the English was on everyone's mind. Preventing them from being supplied by Loyalists like Abner Beebe was vital, so private property was often seized or made useless. In 1798 an English army colonel advised that "If an enemy should penetrate far into the country, the mills should be prevented from grinding by breaking the upper stones...On an enemy's landing, the mills should be guarded and prevented from grinding...". (17) A 1781 petition by people of nearby Longmeadow, MA describing similar incidents is worded much like Abner Beebe's complaint of “violent destruction of private property.” The petition noted it was common to "Seize on private property where necessary, and in some Instances prevent people from using their property in such a manner as essentially to injure the whole...Many things were done by the people and their Committees, which could not be justified..." Throughout the Revolutionary War period, mills were key places of struggle for the control of local resources. General Washington at one point ordered his officers to remove the stones from local mills to prevent millers from grinding flour for the enemy.(18) These understandings of historical context and colonial era word usage provide independent confirmation of the 1781 account of Beebe's gristmill attack by the Massachusetts Supreme Court Chief Justice. In his final example of atrocities done by those he called the Mob, Peter Oliver notes that "His Gristmill was broke, and Persons prevented from grinding at it." (at least removing it's millstone)

Over many years the tradition evolved to include myths. Such scenarios illustrate the importance of from the time of an incident. For example, folklore details of the early 20th century named Captain Aaron Fox as the Sons of Liberty leader who personally threw several millstones into the falls in the attack. (19) The local Aaron Fox was merely eleven at the time, and only became a Captain in the War of 1812.(20) The only other Aaron Fox who served Connecticut in the Revolutionary War was from far-away Fairfield County never became a Captain. (21) A review of the Fox family tree revealed a Eunice Beebe marrying East Haddam's Aaron Fox. (22) Beebe's assault occurred in front of his children, one of which “went into distraction”, as Origin and Progress specifies. (1) Purely romantic speculation demonstrating the development of folklore might find the young Aaron Fox meeting his future bride during the gristmill attack, and his heroic role passed on as family tradition.

Another example of speculative folklore resulted in several post-colonial millstones now in the lawn at the caretaker’s residence near Chapman Falls being attributed to the event. The myth of "Aaron Fox's millstone" and it's related photo were erroneously published in the otherwise noteworthy guide to Connecticut State Parks titled A Shared Landscape. (23) Recent archeological evaluation revealed "quarter-dress" design markings from a later period on the two millstones in the lawn, excluding them as related colonial era artifacts. Their relatively intact condition and later design suggest Beebe's sawmill as their place of origin. This left a "sickle-furrowed" stone first documented in 2002 as being down-slope from the gristmill in the falls the only colonial era millstone found nearby. The condition of the sickle shaped grooves on the face of the millstone is revealing. They are not completely worn down, despite many years in the falls. This point could indicate it was thrown in to prevent grinding. It could be that any of the dozens of foundation stones were replaced in a later period, or that the colonial millstone was thrown in for an unrelated reason, but there is no evidence to support either unlikely possibility. The position and condition of the millstone, and the colonial document evidence, all seem to verify linkage to the story. (23) Revolutionary War Historian Ray Raphael concluded; "You don't have to have absolute certainty in this arena. We use physical artifacts as a means of telling significant tales, and that can certainly be done in this case." With these understandings of the archeological evidence, the colonial era millstone found downslope from the gristmill is reasonably linked to it. (24) In fact, the millstone story was so compelling that it had to be removed from the falls for the safety of the many people who took the risk of climbing over the fence to see it, and avoid vandalism. (25) The millstone is now planned to be on loan from the DEP, as part of an exhibit of the East Haddam Historical Society. The Beebe's Mills story received national attention in the New York Times article of 1/25/04 titled “Uncovering A Millstone Who-Done-It.” (26) A joint panel of historical and archeological professionals, the DEP, and lay persons, then decided to commemorate Beebe's Mills' history. (27) The Connecticut State Archeologist later re-confirmed that decision. (28) An independent investigative study was then announced. (29). In 2007 colonial document research verifying the mills’ story was confirmed by the Connecticut State Historian who wrote this was "exactly what is needed to help clinch the argument." (30) While no one piece of the evidence verifies the whole story, when considered together, the evidence is compelling. Re-evaluation of the millstone by an independent Staff Archeologist of the Kentucky Heritage Council concluded "You can still comment in interpretative materials at the park that the position and condition of the millstone seem to verify the story." His examination of photos of the archeological evidence found the sickle furrowed millstone fragment to be the only one with design markings from the colonial era. (23) Revolutionary War historian Ray Raphael commented; "We use physical artifacts as a means of telling significant tales, and that can certainly be done in this case... Again, you've got a juicy piece of material history there, and in my mind reasonable linking to tell a big story." (31) The Connecticut State Archeologist turned out to be correct when he first concluded that ''We have the mill, we have the stone and we have a wonderful story to go with it. It talks about people's attitudes toward each other at the beginning of the Revolutionary War and to tie it to an artifact is pretty cool.'' (32) As a result of further research, at least three artifacts have been reasonably linked to the story; the gristmill, the colonial era millstone, and the sawmill. With the conclusions of the joint panel re-confirmed by stronger evidence, and the validation of independent histiorical and archeological experts, application was made for inclusion of the Beebe’s Mills and the colonial millstone on the Connecticut Historic Register, and an exhibit at the park commemorating the site. Beebe's mills at the top of Chapman Falls, and the colonial millstone, have definite links to the stories of real families on both sides of the Revolution. The verifiable archeological and historical evidence combined teaches history in a compelling way. This project can create a special relationship of time and space for public education and tourism that can be very effective in promoting the state park and it's history. (33)

Recommendations for curatorial action and public information: 1-Posting of interpretive signage in kiosks at Chapman Falls and several other locations in Devil’s Hopyard State Park to reflect this history of Beebe’s Mills, and directing vistors to the East Haddam Historical Society to view a related display. 2-Revision of the park’s website history synopsis, and promotion via other media outlets. 3-Pamphlets and flyers with similar information for distribution at the site and other State Parks. 4-Lending of the colonial millstone to the East Haddam Historical Society for use in the related display. 5-Planning of a larger commemorative display, possibly at the sawmill site, as originally decided by a joint panel, to include the Connecticut Council On Culture and Tourism, the Researcher, the Office of Historic Preservation, the State Parks Division, and any other appropriate members. 6-Inclusion of Beebe's Mills and it's extant artifacts, such as the colonial millstone, on the Connectcut Historic Register. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Footnotes: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1-Peter Oliver's Origin and Progress of the American Rebellion, 1781 Edited by Adair and Shutz, page 157, 1961 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2- Connecticut Gazette newspaper account, September 22, 1775 Abner Beebe states the "recent violent destruction of private property and damage done to me" by "the people of East Haddam" "as a result of late mentioned vote" (of Connecticut Gazette on Jan. 5, 1775), " to withdraw commerce", was because he was "inimical to the Colonies" -Connecticut Gazette newspaper account, October 27, 1775 "Doct. Abner Beebe...abused by the Committee of Inspection of East Haddam." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-Joseph Spencer to Governor Trumbull. East Haddam, September 14, 1774 Force, American Archives, Page v1:787 3. S4-V1-P03-sp25.- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF LOYALISTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, Lorenzo Sabine Volume II, page 478, 1864 Beebe, Doctor. He was tarred and feathered, and otherwise roughly treated, by a mob styled as the Sons of Liberty, at East Haddam, in the year 1774.. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4--Peter Oliver's Origin and Progress of the American Rebellion, 1781 Edited by Adair and Shutz, page 154, 1961 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5- General George Washington seems to have approved mob persecution of the Tories. In 1776 General Israel Putnam, one of Washington's generals, met a procession of the Sons of Liberty parading a number of Tories on rails up and down the streets of New York and he attempted to halt this inhuman proceeding. On hearing this, Washington reprimanded General Putnam, stating that "to discourage such proceedings was to injure the cause of liberty in which they were engaged, and that nobody would attempt it but an enemy of his country." Mark M. Botner III, ENYCLOPEDIA OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (New York: David MacKay Co., 1974, p. 1094. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (6)East Haddam Land Records (Grantor and Grantee), CT State Library, and Parker’s History of East Haddam 1925 (7) VITAL RECORDS OF EAST HADDAM, EAST HADDAM, MIDDLESEX CO., CONN., BARBOUR COLLECTION, Vol. LR7, page 6. BEEBE, Anne, daughter of William (father of Abner)& Phebe, born Jan. 27, 1731. Anne married Jabez CHAPMAN on 2 Apr 1752 in East Haddam (8) Connecticut Loyalists: An Analysis of Loyalist Land Confiscations, John W.Tyler, 1977, Page 45, # 78,79 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (9) Reverend Samuel Peters, in Boston, to his mother, in Hebron, Boston, September 28, 1774, Amer. Arch.,1. S4-V1-P03-sp23. Page v1:716REVEREND SIR: The riots and mobs that have attended me and my house, set on by the Governour of Connecticut, have compelled me to take up my abode And for my telling the church people not to take up arms, &c., it being high treason, &c., ...the Sons of Liberty have almost killed one of my church, tarred and feathered two, abused others; and on the sixth day destroyed my windows, ...." *Note that Rev. Samuel Peters uses the terms "mobs" and "Sons of Liberty" as if they were the same; Likely Jonathan was the one almost killed; Abner and Asa, the other two who were tarred and feathered. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (10)-CT Gazette October 22, 1775 Abner Beebes uncle Jonathan Beebe was voted "inimical”, for approving Gage’s firing on the crowd. Beebes' father William Beebe, was voted "inimical to the Colonies" for persisting in maintaining commercial relations with his son Dr. Abner Beebe. (11) Connecticut Gazette April 12, 1776. Jonathan Beebe recanted, confession published. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (12) REV. MR. PETERS TO THE SECRETARY-EXTRACT. Hebron, in Connecticut, Dec 26, 1776. Documentary History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, Hawks & Perry, 1864, Connecticut Church Documents ii, 106 , “Millington and Middle Haddam,...., have hired Mr. Asa Beebe, who was educated at Yale College,...to read prayers and sermons .............” BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE GRADUATES OF YALE COLLEGE, Volume II, Franklin Bowditch Dexter, page 574 ,1896 , Asa Beebe...of East Haddam...studied theology and also medicine, and settled in his township as a physician. He was employed from 1766 to 1774 as a lay reader to the Episcopal families in the village of Millington, in the same town, and to those of Middle Haddam, in a neighboring town. At the approach of the Revolution he was outspoken in support of the mother country, and as a consequence he was tarred and feathered by the Sons of Liberty in his vicinity in the early part of 1774. (13) VITAL RECORDS OF EAST HADDAM, EAST HADDAM, MIDDLESEX CO., CONN., BARBOUR COLLECTION.The only man, near age 70 in 1774, whom Abner Beebe was the nephew of, was his uncle Jonathan Beebe; born: 1695 at East Haddam, Middlesex Co., CT. His father William's brother. William was born 1699 at New London, CT, Died: 29 Jan 1788 at East Haddam, Middlesex Co, CT) (14) The Papers of Loyalist Samuel Peters, Oct. 1, 1774, At Boston, To Dr. Samuel Achmuty, by Kenneth Walter Cameron, Trancendental Books-Drawer 1080-Hartford. -"Mr. Beebe and Mr. Daniel Jones, Mr. Warren, and Griffin of Millington must draw up a narrative of their sufferings and such words as Col. Spencer, & have spoke by way of encouragement to mobs, and let Dr. Beebe send the same to me, to the care of Mr. Thomas Brown, merchant in Boston. *Note "Beebe" is mentioned twice; a Dr. and a Mr. These are likely Mr. Asa Beebe, who was a lay reader for the Episcopal church, and his brother Dr. Abner Beebe. (15) Peter Oliver's Origin and Progress of the American Rebellion, 1781 Edited by Adair and Shutz, page 154, 1961 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (16)THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY ADVERTIZER, JULY 16,1881 (Connecticut State Library, microfilm) –Millington. "Probably most of the visitors at Chapman Falls have noticed a large mill-stone at the foot of the precipice, but not one out of every ten knows the history of it. During the Revolutionary war, one Beebe owned the grist-mill at the top of the falls. It is said that he was a Tory, and the revolutionists broke open the mill and rolled the principal stone down the falls, where it remains to this day." (17) Memoirs and Correspondence of Vicount Castlereagh, Vol. 1, London, Henry Coburn, Published 1848 Page 194, April 25, 1798, letter of Charles Tarrant, Colonel of Engineers, during the Irish Rebellion (18)- Petition of Nathaniel Ely, Festus Colton, and Azariah Woolworth to the Senate and House..., 1781, Massachussetts Archives, 231: reprinted in the Centeniel Celebration of Longmeadow, 213 -The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor. Head Quarters, October 31, 1777. George Washington to James Potter, October 31, 1777 -- Transcription "...remove the running Stones from the Mills...secure the use of the Mills. To execute this matter at once, you should impress a sufficient number of Waggons for the purpose, without letting any person know what they are for, and send them under good Officers with Sufficient parties... Many of the Mills have spare runners, they must also be removed. The stones should be marked with Tar and Grease or in some other manner, that it may be known to what Mills they belong, that they may be returned and made use of in future. And they should be moved to such distance, that the Enemy cannot easily recover them. If there is any Flour in the Mills, it should be removed, if possible, after the Stones are secured. " ---------------------------------------------------------

(19) Parker’s History of East Haddam 1928 (20) David D. Field's: A History of the Towns of Haddam and East Haddam 1814, Page 15 (21) Connecticut Archives, Revolutionary War 1763-1789, Vol. 3 D-C, Index Photostat Copy, CT State Library, Page 249 and A Muster Roll of Captain Joseph A. Wright's Company...XVIII 312 B (22) July 8, 1792, Millington Church Records, Rathbun Library, Vol. 2, Page 122, and Fox family records ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (23) A Shared Landscape, by Joseph Leary, 2005, section on Devil's Hopyard State Park, (24)Charles Hockensmith,Staff Archaeologist,Kentucky Heritage Council, 300 Washington Street,Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 Phone: (502) 564-7005, Ext. 122, Charles.Hockensmith@ky.gov Dear Mr. Sorrentino: Thank you for the photographs of the two millstones at Devil's Hopyard State Park at East Haddam, Connecticut. I have looked at the photographs and have the following comments. Millstone #1. According to the information that you provided, this millstone may have been rolled over the falls by the Sons of Liberty to intimidate mill owner Abner Beebe. This broken millstone (slightly less than one-half of a millstone) appears to be made from a conglomerate (containing pebbles in a matrix) but I can't tell for sure. The millstone has a "sickle dress" or curved furrows cut into the stone to facilitate grinding. According to Howell and Keller (1977, page 76), "Many millstones used in early colonial mills were dressed withthe'sickle' or circular furrow dress." You have a good point about the grooves not being worn down. However, the millstone appearsto have some wear (smoothing) from many years of water flowing over it. Thus, it would be difficult to determine if it needed sharpening when thrown over the falls. When millstones were resharpened, the grooves were recut or chipped to make the stone rough again. Repeated use of a millstone can polish the grinding surface of the stone so that it would not adequately grind grain. A millstone could have very pronounced furrows that were polished somewhat from use. The referenced mentioned above is: Howell, Charles and Allan Keller1977 The Mill at Philipsburg Manor and A Brief History of Milling. Sleepy Hollow Restorations, Tarrytown, New York. You have done some excellent archival research that hasprovided interesting details about the Sons of Liberty, the Beebe family, and others connected with the story. The millstone could easily support the story since it has a dress style that dates to the colonial period, is broken, and is located below the falls. Unfortunately, there is no way to be 100% sure. The stone could have been thrown over by someone else later in time. You can still comment in interpretative materials at the park that the position and condition of the millstone seem to verify the story. Millstone #2. (Caretaker's residence)This appears to be a conglomerate millstone. The style indicates that it was a runner stone or upper stone that turned. The dress pattern is "quarter dress" which is a very common style. Most millstones that you see in our area has a variation of this dress pattern. Thus, I would assume that it is a later period millstone used at the mill or brought to the site from a another location for display. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (25) Thomas Morrissey, Chief, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, CT DEP, April 26, 2007 email Dear Ms Porto:Thank you for your letter regarding the millstone at Devil’s Hopyard SP in East Haddam..................... When Mr. Sorrentino brought the story of the millstone to light and interest from the press and resulted in widespread publicity, the millstone became an item of significant curiosity at the Hopyard. The Department of Environmental Protection State Parks Division wishes to assure you that the millstone was not stolen. Rather, it was removed from the stream due to public safety concerns for the individuals who tried to climb into the water to get a first hand look and, for fear that the stone would be stolen or vandalized. The millstone is stored in a safe location and is being protected for future study and investigation. The State Parks Division is preparing documentation to show the precise location of the stone prior to its removal. This will also be beneficial for future reference. As you know, the State Parks Division works closely with Mr. Nicolas Bellantoni, State Archaeologist and State Historic Preservation Office Staff Archaeologist David Poirier. All are in agreement that it was necessary to move the stone for safety and security reasons. The three agencies are preparing to embark upon an independent investigative study of the history of the Devil’s Hopyard area and the relationship to the millstone found at Chapman Falls. A graduate student specializing in Archaeology and Natural History, will begin a study likely by the fall of 2007. The outcome of the investigation will be a written report documenting the findings and recommendations for future curatorial action and public information. Yours truly, Thomas Morrissey ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (26) New York Times, Metro Section, 1/25/04, “Uncovering A Millstone Who-Done-It.”, by Adam Bowles (27)) July 29, 2004 David Leff, Deputy Commissioner CT DEP letter, "Dear Mr. Sorrentino, Let me assure you no one disputes the conclusions of Nick Bellantoni (CT State Archeologist (in his letter of 9/19/2003) nor does anyone call into question the significance of the millstone...............The matter at hand is how best to tell the story, not whether the story ought to be told. I sugest we meet with Nick Bellantoni, State Parks Director Pamela Adams, Henry Alves, and a member of the Friends to work out a methodology for arriving at appropriate wording and the best means of displaying the available information...Please contact Jill Carr at my office to set up a meeting time and place. Sincerely, David K. Leff-" On 10/7/04 the referenced meeting was held at the CT DEP's Hartford office with above persons. Also included were DEP's Leslie Lewis, Connecticut College Arboretum's Kathy Dame, Friends of Devil's Hopyard President' Barbara Bloomberg, and Mashantucket Pequot Museum's Head Archivist Jon Ault. This joint panel of experts, government, and lay persons decided to post signage at Chapman Falls in Devil's Hopyard State Park and plan a larger display for future installation. Based on the joint panel's decision, DEP's Leslie Lewis designed signage and it posted at the top of Chapman Falls shortly after. Here is her letter May, 25, 2005 verifying this posting by the DEP Dear Mr. Sorrentino, As requested, I am enclosing a copy of the material posted at Devil's Hopyard State Park. Sincerely, Leslie Lewis cc: David K. Leff, Pamela Adams (28) From Barbara Bloomberg, President, Friends of Devils Hopyard to Kathy Dame, Assistant Director, Connecticut College Arboretum, email from Bbloomberg@aol.com of 2/5/2005 7:01 PM " Lou's "discovery" is not as it may seem......There are major flaws in his claims of research and discovery." From Kathy T. Dame (Conn. College Arboretum) to DEP Dep. Com. David Leff & Commissioner Gina McCarthy "I got a letter from the President of the Friends of Devil's Hopyard (attached) telling me that the research was flawed discrediting the work...However, Nick (Bellantoni) re-confirmed what I correctly believed I had heard that day....(On 10/7/04 as a participant and witness of the DEP joint panel that approved the project.) (29) From Thomas Morrissey,Chief, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, CT DEP, to Louis Sorrentino, April, 5, 2007 Dear Mr. Sorrentin, The facts that the millstone exists and that a mill existed upstream from the millstone’s location have been verified. The rest of the story, although fascinating, cannot be tied directly to this artifact. The story certainly reflects the diverse attitudes of the time and the tensions that existed around the Revolutionary War period. However, the DEP places factual information about the parks on its website and this would not qualify. If at a time in the future, evidence linking the millstone to the event is brought to light and is verifiable by the State Archaeologist and the State Historic Preservation Office, the agency will reconsider its position. Similarly, an exhibit at Devil’s Hopyard State Park would be subject to the same stipulation. The State Parks Division would be happy to consider an exhibit, at such time as a definite link can be made between the millstone and the story. I understand your interest in the millstone and promoting its place in the history of East Haddam. The DEP and State Parks Division has the responsibility to educate the public with factual information. nterpretive signage will reflect the history of a site with verifiable information. Please forward any questions or comments to Ms. Pamela Adams, Director of Connecticut’s State Park Division. Yours truly, Thomas Morrissey ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (30) Walter Woodward, Connecticut State Historian April 30, 2007 to Louis Sorrentino lou@lousorrentino.com "Congratulations! This is a contemporary account from a Tory who fled Connecticut and wrote a scathing history of Connecticut once he was safely in England. I believe this is powerful evidence to support your thesis, and is exactly what is needed to help clinch the argument." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (31) Ray Raphael, Revolutionary War Historian, Tue, June 3, 2008 7:40 am To:lou@lousorrentino.com Subject: millstone, contactray@rayraphael.com Lou, Wow! You've gone far deeper into this than I did. Here are my thoughts: First, you don't have to have absolute certainty in this arena. We use physical artifacts as a means of telling significant tales, and that can certainly be done in this case. So I wish you the best of luck in your efforts. Again, you've got a juicy piece of material history there, and in my mind reasonable linking to tell a big story. But one word of caution: the Oliver quote is not necessarily independent of the newspaper coverage; in fact, I suspect it stems from the papers. Oliver was holed up in Boston at the time, too fearful to venture out of town, and even to attend his own brother's funeral. He wrote Origins & Progress a few years later in London, no doubt using accumulated notes & sources. I've recognized other accounts of his as very close re-statings of press accounts, much of the verbiage intact. But I don't think you need this as an "independent source" for your purposes.Again, you've got a juicy piece of material history there, and in my mind reasonable linking to tell a big story. Best of luck, Ray -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (32) Nicholas F.Bellantoni, Connecticut State Archeologist, New York Times, 1/25/04 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (33) Nicholas F.Bellantoni, Connecticut State Archeologist, letter, 9/19/2003

Ray Raphael, Renowned Revolutionary War Author of 'A Peoples' Guide to the American Revolution' Concerning research about Chapman Falls, Devil's Hopyard State Park, East Haddam, CT. verified by Peter Oliver's 1781 Origin and Progress story of Beebe's attack by the Sons Of Liberty Mob in 1775, and it's link to the gristmill ruins and it's millstone found in Chapman Falls at Devil's Hopyard State Park, CT Lou, Wow! You've gone far deeper into this than I did. Here are my thoughts: First, you don't have to have absolute certainty in this arena. We use physical artifacts as a means of telling significant tales, and that can certainly be done in this case. So I wish you the best of luck in your efforts. But I don't think you need this as an "independent source" for your purposes. Again, you've got a juicy piece of material history there, and in my mind reasonable linking to tell a big story. Best of luck Ray From: "Ray Raphael contactray@rayraphael.com> Date: Sun, June 1, 2008 To: lou@lousorrentino.com

-THE NEW YORK TIMES- "Uncovering a Millstone Who-Done-It" *By ADAM BOWLES (NYT) 1440 words Published: January 25, 2004

SINCE he was a child, Louis Sorrentino has visited Devil's Hopyard State Park in East Haddam to go for a walk, take pictures of the scenery or
enjoy a picnic. His love for the outdoors merged with his interest in history one day in the spring of 2002 when he spotted a large piece of a millstone in Chapman Falls in the park.

Curious about its origins, he called the municipal historian and checked
out an historical marker near the stone. Both sources led him to the story of the Sons of Liberty toppling a stone into the falls to
intimidate a loyalist mill owner.

More than a year and some 30 hours of research later, Mr. Sorrentino, founder and vice president of the Friends of Devil's Hopyard, became
convinced that the stone he found in a restricted area of the park just 200 feet from the marker that referred to it was indeed a Revolutionary
War artifact. ''Apparently from 1881 on it got forgotten,'' said Mr. Sorrentino...

His rediscovery recently caught the attention of top state officials who are fascinated with the story behind the 229-year-old millstone and say it could be used as a valuable teaching tool. The state archaeologist, Nicholas Bellantoni, who visited the park in the summer to see the stone, said while archaeological investigations would not be able to verify the story, it is significant that the millstone is down a slope from gristmill ruins, specifically the foundation.

Either the stone, which is about 50 inches in diameter, dropped into the falls due to natural erosion at the site or it was thrown down, he said, adding the latter appears to be the logical conclusion based on
circumstantial evidence. ''We have the mill, we have the stone and we have a wonderful story to go with it,'' Mr. Bellantoni said. ''It talks about people's attitudes toward each other at the beginning of the Revolutionary War and to tie it to an artifact is pretty cool.''

Mr. Sorrentino researched records at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford and at other libraries, reading newspaper articles, historic commission reports and colonial period documents. The story that unfolded from his studies goes like this: The Sons of Liberty, a group of colonists organized to protest the Stamp Act, were angry with Abner Beebe, a wealthy Tory mill owner who also practiced as a physician.
Mr. Beebe's brother, Asa, was a lay leader in the Church of England who
pledged allegiance to the English monarchy at the start of his church services, a common act for Loyalists but forbidden by the Revolutionists.

Both Beebes had another terrible shortfall, as far as the Sons of
Liberty were concerned. They drank tea, an English import boycotted by the Colonists. Ebenezer Punderson, a traveling minister of the Church of England who preached in East Haddam and Norwich and who was an acquaintance of the Beebes, also indulged in drinking tea.

''They were notorious tea drinkers, the crack smokers of their day,'' Mr.
Sorrentino said.

Mr. Punderson recanted his statements supporting England's right to tax the colonies before the Committee of Norwich, Mr. Sorrentino said. But Abner Beebe initially refused to recant, irking the Sons of Liberty who tarred and feathered him, according to a 1774 letter about civil
unrest from Col. Joseph Spencer to Connecticut Gov. Jonathan Trumbull. His brother, Asa, was also tarred and feathered, according to Dexter's Yale Biographies of 1898.

They also destroyed Abner Beebe's personal property, according to his complaint that was published in the Connecticut Gazette in 1775, Mr.
Sorrentino said. That same newspaper 106 years later referred to the incident in which Revolutionists broke into a mill and rolled a millstone down a hill. It was the last time public records indicated that people knew of the millstone's whereabouts.

Asa Beebe and his family took off for a British colony in Canada, or what is now Nova Scotia. They got as far as New Hampshire, where they settled. ''He more than Abner decided he didn't want to change his loyalties,'' Dr. Karl Stofko, East Haddam municipal historian, said.

Apparently, the Sons of Liberty visited Abner Beebe several times. He eventually sold the gristmill and nearby sawmill to John Chapman and left the Church of England to join the Millington Congregational Church. After the war, he bought back the mill. Still, he stayed in the area throughout his ordeal because he wanted to be with his family, including his three children, Mr. Stofko said. Mr. Punderson went bankrupt and also left for England, returning after the war when the state legislature granted him safe passage home after he explained that the reason he left was he feared for his safety.

Mr. Stofko said just three people in town were loyalists. Mr. Stofko said when Abner Beebe complained of his treatment to the town and the state he did not name names.

The Sons of Liberty also raised a liberty pole and flag at the site of the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse. The pole, one of the tallest in Connecticut in more than 140 feet high, was designed to alert visitors that the town was
pro-independence.

''Today we would call them renegades,'' Mr. Stofko said of the Sons of Liberty. ''They were a group of young men who decided to take the law into their own hands. They more or less disappeared after the Revolutionary War got started. It was an important time in history.
Outside of the liberty pole, it's one of the few stories we have of the Sons of Liberty. They probably existed in every town.''

Mr. Bellantoni said he would be opposed to moving the stone because its location is part of the story. His office, the Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection and the Friends of Devil's Hopyard are
discussing how to promote the millstone as a minor attraction. Mr. Bellantoni said a new trail that would allow visitors to see the stone and pamphlets that tells its story are two possibilities.

Mr. Sorrentino has permission...to redo several kiosks at the park that inaccurately credited a certain Captain Aaron Fox with overthrowing the stone.

David K. Leff, deputy commissioner of the D.E.P., said the stone underscored the history found in many of the state's parks, including Gillette Castle State Park, also in East Haddam, and Fort Trumbull in New London.

''You can't go very far in the New England woods without running into a cellar hole or stone wall with historical significance,'' he said. ''In these days of renewed patriotism that millstone, while it is a very ordinary object, carries with it a very powerful symbol of the struggle for freedom.''

John Ostrout, director of Cultural Heritage Tourism in Connecticut, has also visited the millstone. Mr. Ostrout is working on creating a Revolutionary War Trail in the state that would feature historic sites and
artifacts for tourists to visit in a systematic way. He said the millstone would be ideal for such a trail.

''We know there is a rich history of the American Revolutionary War period in our state,'' said Mr. Ostrout, who created the Connecticut Impressionist Art Trail several years ago. ''It's time to dust off these existing treasures.''

Mr. Sorrentino admires the Sons of Liberty but not for what they did to the Beebes. He said it is important for young people today to realize the atrocities Americans have done in the name of freedom. The Beebes' freedom of speech was denied amid the flurry of zealous colonists at war, he said. ''I think we need to keep the story alive,'' Mr. Sorrentino said. ''We have the seeds of squelching liberty even before 1776.''

Copyright 2005