Elijah Wadsworth
Encyclopedia
Elijah Wadsworth was a Captain in the American Revolutionary War
and a Major General in the War of 1812
. He was a prominent military officer, Ohio pioneer, local organizer and leader, and wealthy land speculator.
family of Connecticut and a descendant of one of the Founders of Hartford, Connecticut
, William Wadsworth
. Elijah was the son of Joseph Wadsworth, III and Elizabeth Cook. His father was the grandson of Captain Joseph Wadsworth of Charter Oak
fame. His son Frederick Wadsworth
later became the Mayor of Akron, Ohio
.
at the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War
. He immediately volunteered after news of the Battle of Bunker Hill
. He served as a Lieutenant in Captain Benjamin Tallmadge's
company during the war. He was also in command of the guard who held Major John André
upon his arrest and trial. He served with zeal throughout the entire war having earned the rank of Captain. The home that Elijah had built in Litchfield was later purchased by Dr. Lyman Beecher
and was the birthplace of Henry Ward Beecher
and Harriet Beecher Stowe
.
" in Ohio, he being a member of the Connecticut Land Company
. He moved to Ohio in 1799 to survey his lands and lived at the village of Warren, Ohio
for some time. He moved to a portion of his properties at Canfield, Ohio
in October 1802 and made his permanent home there. He owned the largest share of the lands that became Medina County, Ohio. Though he never lived there, the city of Wadsworth, Ohio
was named in his honor.
He was heavily involved in organizing the local government of that area and in the creation of its post offices, schools and militia. He was the Postmaster at Canfield for several years. In 1803 Elijah was elected Master of the Erie Lodge of the Free Masons. His house was the first Wood-frame house built in Ohio. He was chosen Major General
of the 4th Division of the State militia on January 7, 1804. He served in this capacity when the War of 1812
broke out.
s built for the protection of its citizens. He ordered roads to be built and networked between them. He procured the munitions and supplies necessary for the maintenance of the militia. He commanded at the "Battle of the Peninsula" on September 10, 1812, at the mouth of the Huron River
. He had to resign his position in February 1814, before the war was seen through, due to his age and failing health.
He died at his home in Canfield, Ohio
on December 30, 1817 at the age of 70.
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
and a Major General in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. He was a prominent military officer, Ohio pioneer, local organizer and leader, and wealthy land speculator.
Family
Elijah Wadsworth was a member of the wealthy and prominent WadsworthWadsworth (surname)
Wadsworth is a surname. Notable persons with that surname include:*Alexander S. Wadsworth , U.S. Navy officer; fought in the War of 1812; eponym of three ships*Andre Wadsworth , American professional football player...
family of Connecticut and a descendant of one of the Founders of Hartford, Connecticut
Founders of Hartford, Connecticut
Here are the 163 men and women listed in the Book of Distribution of Land as being those who settled in Hartford, Connecticut before February 1640. Their names are on a monument in Hartford's Ancient Burying Ground....
, William Wadsworth
William Wadsworth (patriarch)
William Wadsworth was an early pioneer of New England, a founder of Hartford, Connecticut and the patriarch of numerous and prominent Wadsworth descendants of North America, including the poet Ezra Pound.-Origins:William’s exact origins have challenged descendants and researchers over the centuries...
. Elijah was the son of Joseph Wadsworth, III and Elizabeth Cook. His father was the grandson of Captain Joseph Wadsworth of Charter Oak
Charter Oak
The Charter Oak was an unusually large white oak tree growing, from around the 12th or 13th century until 1856, on what the English colonists named Wyllys Hyll, in Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
fame. His son Frederick Wadsworth
Frederick Wadsworth
Frederick K. Wadsworth was an Ohio militia officer, businessman, banker, and politician.-Family:...
later became the Mayor of Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
.
Revolutionary War
Elijah was a resident of Litchfield, ConnecticutLitchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is known as an affluent summer resort. The population was 8,316 at the 2000 census. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are located within the town...
at the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He immediately volunteered after news of the Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
. He served as a Lieutenant in Captain Benjamin Tallmadge's
Benjamin Tallmadge
Benjamin Tallmadge was a member of the United States House of Representatives. His birth date is alternately listed as February 25, 1754....
company during the war. He was also in command of the guard who held Major John André
John André
John André was a British army officer hanged as a spy during the American War of Independence. This was due to an incident in which he attempted to assist Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York to the British.-Early life:André was born on May 2, 1750 in London to...
upon his arrest and trial. He served with zeal throughout the entire war having earned the rank of Captain. The home that Elijah had built in Litchfield was later purchased by Dr. Lyman Beecher
Lyman Beecher
Lyman Beecher was a Presbyterian minister, American Temperance Society co-founder and leader, and the father of 13 children, many of whom were noted leaders, including Harriet Beecher Stowe, Henry Ward Beecher, Charles Beecher, Edward Beecher, Isabella Beecher Hooker, Catharine Beecher, and Thomas...
and was the birthplace of Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher was a prominent Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, abolitionist, and speaker in the mid to late 19th century...
and Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American abolitionist and author. Her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was a depiction of life for African-Americans under slavery; it reached millions as a novel and play, and became influential in the United States and United Kingdom...
.
Ohio Land Speculator
He was a part owner of lands of the "Connecticut Western ReserveConnecticut Western Reserve
The Connecticut Western Reserve was land claimed by Connecticut from 1662 to 1800 in the Northwest Territory in what is now northeastern Ohio.-History:...
" in Ohio, he being a member of the Connecticut Land Company
Connecticut Land Company
The Connecticut Land Company was formed in the late eighteenth century to survey and encourage settlement in the Connecticut Western Reserve, part of the Old Northwest Territory. The Western Reserve is located in Northeast Ohio with its hub being Cleveland. In 1795, the Connecticut Land Company...
. He moved to Ohio in 1799 to survey his lands and lived at the village of Warren, Ohio
Warren, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,832 people, 19,288 households and 12,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,912.4 people per square mile . There were 21,279 housing units at an average density of 1,322.9 per square mile...
for some time. He moved to a portion of his properties at Canfield, Ohio
Canfield, Ohio
Canfield is an affluent suburban city located in Mahoning County, Ohio,[United States, at the intersection of U.S. Route 224 and State Route 46/U.S. Route 62, about ten miles southwest of Youngstown. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,374. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman,...
in October 1802 and made his permanent home there. He owned the largest share of the lands that became Medina County, Ohio. Though he never lived there, the city of Wadsworth, Ohio
Wadsworth, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,437 people, 7,276 households, and 5,144 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,940.5 people per square mile . There were 7,613 housing units at an average density of 801.3/sq mi...
was named in his honor.
He was heavily involved in organizing the local government of that area and in the creation of its post offices, schools and militia. He was the Postmaster at Canfield for several years. In 1803 Elijah was elected Master of the Erie Lodge of the Free Masons. His house was the first Wood-frame house built in Ohio. He was chosen Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
of the 4th Division of the State militia on January 7, 1804. He served in this capacity when the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
broke out.
War of 1812
Under General Wadsworth's command the military infrastructure of Northeast Ohio was built. He recruited and organized the 3000-man militia and was responsible for the defense of one third of the state of Ohio. He ordered several forts and blockhouseBlockhouse
In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...
s built for the protection of its citizens. He ordered roads to be built and networked between them. He procured the munitions and supplies necessary for the maintenance of the militia. He commanded at the "Battle of the Peninsula" on September 10, 1812, at the mouth of the Huron River
Huron River (Ohio)
The Huron River is a waterway in the north central Ohio in the United States. The watershed drains large portions of Erie County and Huron County, the northeast corners of Seneca County and Crawford County, and northern portions of Richland County....
. He had to resign his position in February 1814, before the war was seen through, due to his age and failing health.
He died at his home in Canfield, Ohio
Canfield, Ohio
Canfield is an affluent suburban city located in Mahoning County, Ohio,[United States, at the intersection of U.S. Route 224 and State Route 46/U.S. Route 62, about ten miles southwest of Youngstown. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,374. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman,...
on December 30, 1817 at the age of 70.