Roger Enos

Roger Enos, Sr. was born in Simsbury, Connecticut in 1729, the son of David and Mary (Gillet) Eno.Edwin W. Strickland, editor, [https://books.google.com/books?ei=K64UUqSjL_DeyAHyx4CICg&id=GiMZAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+simsbury+1729&q=%22roger+enos%22 Some Descendants of Capt. John Bissell], Volume 1, 2007, page 100 David Eno participated in King George's War, and died in the 1745 Cape Breton campaign. Roger Enos was raised in Simsbury and Windsor, and became a farmer. In 1759 Enos joined the militia for the French and Indian War.John Moses, [https://books.google.com/books?id=v7YyAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22&pg=PA332-IA22 Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of the Representative Men of the United States: Illinois Volume], Volume 1, 1896, page 344 He rose to sergeant major, was commissioned as an ensign, and soon advanced to regimental adjutant.Stephen Darley, [https://books.google.com/books?id=AzuqL46feiMC&dq=%22roger+enos%22+sergeant+major&pg=PA203 Voices from a Wilderness Expedition], 2011, pages 203–204

In 1762 he took part in the British expedition against Cuba during the Seven Years' War. In 1764 Enos was promoted to captain in the regiment commanded by Israel Putnam.Washington Irving, [https://books.google.com/books?id=QOJaAAAAMAAJ&q=%22roger+enos%22+cuba Life of George Washington], Volume 19, 1982 edition, page 633William Farrand Livingston, [https://archive.org/details/israelputnampio00livigoog/page/n224 Israel Putnam: Pioneer, Ranger, and Major-General,1718–1790], 1901, page 166

In 1773 he served on a commission that included Israel Putnam, Rufus Putnam and Phineas Lyman. The commission surveyed lands along the Mississippi River to identify sites for the grants promised to French and Indian War veterans, and their work led to Lyman's founding of the city that is now Natchez, Mississippi.The Magazine of American History, [https://books.google.com/books?id=YXJIAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+lyman+putnam+commission&pg=PA464 General Roger Enos: A Lost Chapter of Arnold’s Expedition to Canada, 1775], May 1885, page 464

At the start of the American Revolution, Enos was a major in the 2nd Regiment of Connecticut Militia.Francis Bernard Heitman, [https://archive.org/details/historicalregis02heitgoog/page/n24 Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During the War of the Revolution], 1914, page 17 He joined the Continental Army and was commissioned lieutenant colonel of Connecticut's 22nd Regiment.Hartland Historical Society, [https://books.google.com/books?ei=d7YUUuSnBrCayQGvxoD4Cw&id=J2sjAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+lieutenant+colonel+22nd+regiment&q=22nd+regiment In Sight of ye Great River: History & Houses of Hartland, Vermont], 1991, page 127 In the summer of 1775 he took part in the Battle of Bunker Hill and other activities around Boston,Bud Hannings, [https://books.google.com/books?ei=d7YUUuSnBrCayQGvxoD4Cw&id=eFsrAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+lieutenant+colonel+22nd+regiment&q=%22roger+enos%22+bunker+hill American Revolutionary War Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary], 2009, page 108 and then joined Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec as commander of the rear guard. In October 1775 Enos and the soldiers under his command left the struggling expedition because of a shortage of food and supplies.Lance Q. Zedric, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ccVm7FTnz4AC&dq=%22roger+enos%22+arnold+canada&pg=PA54 Elite Warriors: 300 Years of America's Best Fighting Troops], 1996, page 54

After marching his troops through the Maine wilderness and home to Connecticut, Enos was called a traitor and a coward, and court-martialed for "quitting without leave." He defended his decision to leave Arnold's expedition because of poor early winter weather, the lack of boats for transporting soldiers and supplies by river to Quebec, and the shortage of food that had reduced men to near starvation. He was acquitted and returned to service as lieutenant colonel of the 16th Connecticut Regiment.Maine Federation of Women's Clubs, [https://archive.org/details/trailofmainepion00main/page/297 The Trail of the Maine Pioneer], 1916, page 297Bruce Lancaster, [https://books.google.com/books?id=qSe4n1h-I0UC&dq=%22roger+enos%22+coward&pg=PA111 The American Revolution], 2001, page 111Robert P. Broadwater, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RfMQAQAAMAAJ&q=%22roger+enos%22+16th+connecticut American Generals of the Revolutionary War: A Biographical Dictionary], 2007, page 37

John Sullivan, the president of the court-martial, later made public a written statement in support of Enos' conduct, and a number of other officers also issued a public circular supportive of his actions, including William Heath, John Stark, Joseph Reed, and James Reed.J. Almon, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RZQrAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+military+reputation&pg=PA79 Remembrancer, or Impartial Repository of Public Events], Part III, 1777, pages 76 to 79

In an oration commemorating Richard Montgomery, which was later published, the Reverend William Smith made comments about Enos' actions in Maine which Enos found objectionable, and he subsequently argued against Smith's speech in letters to the editor.Sarah J. Purcell, [https://books.google.com/books?id=V9iDHSmSgboC&dq=%22william+smith%22+%22Roger+Enos%22+montgomery&pg=PA32 Sealed with Blood: War, Sacrifice, and Memory in Revolutionary America], 2010, page 31Lorenzo Sabine, [https://archive.org/details/biographicalske03sabigoog/page/n324 Biographical Sketches of Loyalists of the American Revolution], Volume 2, 1864, page 317

Enos subsequently commanded the 1st Connecticut State Regiment in 1777, and Enos' Regiment of Connecticut Troops, a militia unit that served in the Hudson Valley during 1778.{{cite book |last=Johnston |first=Henry P. |date=1889 |title= The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1783 |url=https://archive.org/details/waroftherevolution00recorich |location=Hartford, CT |publisher=Case, Lockwood and Brainard Company |page=[https://archive.org/details/waroftherevolution00recorich/page/537 537]}}

Enos resigned from the Connecticut Militia in 1780 and moved to Windsor County, Vermont, settling on a farm in Hertford, the town that later became Hartland. He was almost immediately appointed colonel in command of a regiment of the Vermont Militia.Nancy Darling, The Vermonter magazine, [https://books.google.com/books?id=CI0eAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+hartland&pg=PA228 History and Anniversary of Hartland], November 1913, page 228

In 1781 he was appointed brigadier general and commander of the Vermont Militia.Hartland Historical Society, In Sight of ye Great River, page 127 In 1782 he commanded the militia as it took up defensive positions at Mount Independence and other locations along Lake Champlain to ensure that British troops commanded by Barry St. Leger at Fort Ticonderoga did not attempt an invasion of Vermont.Rutland County Historical Society, [https://books.google.com/books?id=YqMtAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+castleton&pg=PA184 Proceedings of the Rutland County Historical Society], Volume 1, 1882, page 184Vermont Historical Society, [https://books.google.com/books?id=hY46AQAAMAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+castleton&pg=PA168 Collections of the Vermont Historical Society], Volume 2, 1871, page 168

St. Leger's movements were tied to the Haldimand negotiations, which Enos was aware of and may have participated in. With Vermont unable to attain admission to the union and vulnerable to invasion by the British in Canada, Thomas Chittenden, Ira Allen, Ethan Allen and others conducted talks with the British Governor of Canada that if successful would have had Vermont become a British colony or dominion. Some informants told Haldimand that Enos was willing to raise a regiment for British service if he received a commission in the British Army and if his regiment was treated as a regular Army organization, not as militia.Gavin K. Watt, [https://books.google.com/books?id=XMDwh3d0HAwC&dq=%22roger+enos%22+vermont+brigadier&pg=PA346 I Am Heartily Ashamed: The Revolutionary War's Final Campaign as Waged from Canada in 1782], 2010, Volume 2, page 346

In historical terms, it is debatable whether Chittenden and his allies were serious about joining the British, or whether they were pretending to negotiate in good faith as a way to prevent British troops from entering and occupying Vermont while also pressuring the Continental Congress to consider Vermont's requests to join the United States. In fact, the negotiations ended with no action taken once the British had left New York City and the Revolution was officially ended.John J. Duffy, Samuel B. Hand, Ralph H. Orth, [https://books.google.com/books?id=uTBCXqOou0YC&dq=haldimand+negotiations+chittenden+allen&pg=PA148 The Vermont Encyclopedia], 2003, pages 148–149

In the 1780s Enos was a proprietor of the towns of Waitsfield and Enosburg.Lee S. Tillotson, [https://archive.org/details/ancientcraftmas00tillgoog/page/n23 Ancient Craft Masonry in Vermont], 1920, page 17

When Vermont reorganized its militia in the late 1780s, Enos was appointed commander of the 1st Division and later the 4th Division as a major general.Horace Edwin Hayden, [https://books.google.com/books?id=IvIOAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+1st+division&pg=PA149 General Roger Enos], The Magazine of History with Notes and Queries, 1916, page 149Vermont General Assembly, [https://books.google.com/books?id=f8UgAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+4th+division&pg=PA435 Records of the Governor and Council], E. P. Walton, editor, Volume IV, 1876, page 15

In 1791 he relocated to Colchester and resigned his commission. He was a Member of the Vermont Board of War from 1781 to 1792, served in the Vermont House of Representatives, and was a Trustee of the University of Vermont.Vermont General Assembly, [https://books.google.com/books?id=IJkTAAAAIAAJ&q=%22roger+enos%22+%22board+of+war%22 Journals and Proceedings of the General Assembly of the State of Vermont], edited by E. P. Walton, Volume 3, 1925, pages 9, 11

After resigning from the militia and his other offices, Enos lived in retirement in Colchester, where he died on October 6, 1808.Abby Maria Hemenway, editor, [https://books.google.com/books?id=lNQbAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+died+vermont+1808&pg=PA475 The Vermont Historical Gazetteer], Volume 1, 1871, page 475Helen M. Lu, editor, [https://books.google.com/books?id=19pmAAAAMAAJ&q=%22roger+enos%22+died+vermont+1808 Revolutionary War Period: Bible, family & marriage records gleaned from pension applications], Volumes 9–13, 2006, page 81 He is buried in Ethan Allen's plot at Greenmount Cemetery in Burlington.Marilyn Hatch Schmidt, [https://books.google.com/books?ei=fM0UUvvPOdCFyQGK-IHADA&id=QLBRAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+burlington+cemetery&q=is+evident Ozias Mather Hatch and Julia Riley Enos: Some of Their Ancestors and Their Descendants, 1620–2003], 2003, page 57 (Some references incorrectly state that he died in Colchester, Connecticut.)Illinois Society, Sons of the American Revolution, [https://books.google.com/books?id=520wAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+simsbury+1729&pg=PA24 Year Book], 1897, page 24

The inscription on Enos' gravestone reads:

:Major General Roger Enos, whose remains are deposited here, was a Patriot of the Revolution and assisted in the founding of this State. He died at Colchester, on the 6th day of October, 1808, aged 73 years. This testimony of respect is paid by his surviving children.John Warner Barber, [https://archive.org/details/ourwholecountry02howegoog/page/n222 Our Whole Country: Of the Past and Present of the United States, Historical and Descriptive], Volume I, 1861, page 214

(Note: The age given on the gravestone does not compute with the usually accepted year of birth. If Roger Enos was born in 1729, he would have been 78 or 79 when he died.)

In 1763 Enos married Jerusha Hayden.Orrin Peer Allen, [https://books.google.com/books?id=kF0xAAAAMAAJ&q=%22roger+enos%22+jerusha+hayden+1763 The Allen Memorial: Descendants of Samuel Allen of Windsor, Conn., 1640–1907], 1907, page 54

Their children included:

Jerusha Enos (1764–1838), the wife of Ira Allen.Caryn Hannan, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Pd_ETIlgTxgC&dq=jerusha+enos+wife+ira+allen&pg=PA16 Connecticut Biographical Dictionary], 2008, page 16

Sibil Enos (1766–1796). She lived in Windsor County, Vermont and was the wife of Noadiah Bissell (1761–1837), a merchant, innkeeper and militia officer. Her name is variously spelled as Sibil, Sybil, Sibbell, etc.Douglas C. Richardson, [https://books.google.com/books?ei=rs4UUpTiNqa6yQGj0IGADA&id=vlFKAAAAMAAJ&dq=sibil+enos+bissell&q=Sybil The Eno and Enos Family in America: descendants of James Eno of Windsor, Conn.], 1973, page 108

Roger Enos, Jr. (1768–1841) was a proprietor of Irasburg, Vermont. He served as a Justice of the Peace, a Deputy Collector of Customs during the Madison administration, and a member of the Vermont House of Representatives.Abby Maria Hemenway, [https://books.google.com/books?id=vJUbAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+customs+collector&pg=PA245 The Vermont Historical Gazetteer], Volume 3, 1877, pages 241, 254Marjorie A. Orcutt, Edward S. Alexander, [https://books.google.com/books?ei=i9AUUpriGMKiyAHV7YGABA&id=Q2sjAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22roger+enos%22+irasburg+representative&q=%22roger+enos%2C+jr%22+ A History of Irasburg, Vermont], 1989, page 27

Pascal Paoli Enos (1770–1832) graduated from Dartmouth College in 1794, practiced law in Vermont and St. Louis, and was one of the founders of Springfield, Illinois as Receiver of the United States Land Office in Illinois during the Monroe administration.Newton Bateman, Paul Selby, Charles Linnaeus Hostetter, editors, [https://books.google.com/books?id=tRMVAAAAYAAJ&dq=pascal+enos+dartmouth+springfield&pg=PA158 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois], Volume 1, 1913, page 158

{{reflist}}

• {{Find a Grave|13997270}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Enos, Roger}}

Category:1729 births

Category:1808 deaths

Category:People from Windsor, Connecticut

Category:People from Hartland, Vermont

Category:People from Colchester, Vermont

Category:Members of the Vermont House of Representatives

Category:People of Connecticut in the French and Indian War

Category:People of Connecticut in the American Revolution

Category:People of Vermont in the American Revolution

Category:American militia generals

Category:American militia officers

Category:People from colonial Connecticut

Category:Military personnel from Connecticut