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Henry Champion (general)
Encyclopedia
General Henry Champion was born to Colonel Henry Champion and Deborah Brainard. He is a descendant of the Henry Champion who settled in Connecticut
in 1647. He sailed to the colony from Norwich, Norfolk, England.
. He was the eldest of 7 children born to Col. Champion. His brother General Epaphroditus Champion
was born in 1756 and also became a staunch Federalist.
On October 10, 1781, Henry married Abigail Tinker, daughter of Sylvanus and Abigail (Olmstead) Tinker. On October 10, 1781, Henry married Abigail Tinker (1758-1818), daughter of Sylvanus and Abigail (Olmstead) Tinker. Their family included four sons and four daughters, all born in Westchester:
July 15, 1779, Captain Champion was detached from his old regiment and appointed Acting Major of the First Battalion Light Brigade. The Light Brigade had been organized by General George Washington
to attempt the capture of Stony Point
on the Hudson. The corps was composed of men picked from all regiments and under direct command of General Washington. Major Champion continued his career in the army until the close of the Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Connecticut Society of the Cincinnati
.
He was largely interested in the Connecticut Land Company
to which he subscribed over $85,000, and the towns of Champion, NY and Champion, OH, named in his honor.
After his death, in 1836, the Champion Homestead was sold to the Loomis Family and Henry's male line had died out in 1865.
was built by Colonel Henry Champion. The house was built in the Colonial Federal style. Today the Champion house still stands and is located on Westchester Rd in Colchester, CT. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house in now privately owned and not open to the public.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
in 1647. He sailed to the colony from Norwich, Norfolk, England.
Biography
Henry Champion III was born in Westchester, Connecticut, at his family's magnificent Federal style house which is placed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. He was the eldest of 7 children born to Col. Champion. His brother General Epaphroditus Champion
Epaphroditus Champion
Epaphroditus Champion was a U.S. Congressman from Connecticut, serving from 1807 to 1818. He was born in Colchester on April 6, 1756 and educated by private tutors and in the common schools....
was born in 1756 and also became a staunch Federalist.
On October 10, 1781, Henry married Abigail Tinker, daughter of Sylvanus and Abigail (Olmstead) Tinker. On October 10, 1781, Henry married Abigail Tinker (1758-1818), daughter of Sylvanus and Abigail (Olmstead) Tinker. Their family included four sons and four daughters, all born in Westchester:
- Henry (1782-1823); who married Ruth Kimberly Robbins (1782-)
- Aristarcus, twin (1784-1871); he died in Rochester, NY, unmarried
- Aristobulus, twin (1784-1786); died young
- Abigail (1787-); married General David Deming
- Harriet (1789-1823); married Joseph TrumbullJoseph Trumbull (governor)Joseph Trumbull was a U.S. lawyer, banker, and politician from Connecticut. He represented Connecticut in the U.S. Congress and served as the 20th Governor of Connecticut.-Family:...
(1782-1861), governor of Connecticut - Maria (1791-); married Robert Watkinson
- Elisa, twin (1797-); married Elizur Goodrich
- William, twin (1797-1798); died young
Military service
Henry Champion entered into service in the Continental Army at the Lexington Alarm. He served as Ensign for 22 days before being promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of the Eighth Company, Second Regiment on April 26, 1775. In May, he became a 1st Lieutenant of the same. He was one of the men who fought at Bunker Hill. January 1776 be was again promoted to Adjutant on the staff of Col. Samuel Wyllys. One year later, he was Captain of the First Connecticut Line.July 15, 1779, Captain Champion was detached from his old regiment and appointed Acting Major of the First Battalion Light Brigade. The Light Brigade had been organized by General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
to attempt the capture of Stony Point
Stony Point
Stony Point may refer to:in Australia*Stony Point railway line, Melbourne**Stony Point railway station*Stony Point, New South Wales, Australiain the United Statesor it may refer to:* Stony Point, California, former name of Lakeport, California...
on the Hudson. The corps was composed of men picked from all regiments and under direct command of General Washington. Major Champion continued his career in the army until the close of the Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Connecticut Society of the Cincinnati
Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a historical organization with branches in the United States and France founded in 1783 to preserve the ideals and fellowship of the American Revolutionary War officers and to pressure the government to honor pledges it had made to officers who fought for American...
.
After the War Years
After returning home to Westchester, Gen. Champion entered the life of politics. He was Deputy from Colchester to the Connecticut Assembly in 1789, 1793 to 1798 and 1800-1805. From 1806 to 1817 he held the office of Assistant. From 1813-1828 he was a deacon in a church in Westchester. General Champion always celebrated July 15 which he called Stony Point Day, in due and ancient form at his famous old country seat in Westchester. He obtained a charter for the Phoenix Bank of Hartford, because the State Bank had refused him the accommodation of $2,000. "Well," said he, "if this bank can't accommodate me, I will have one that can."He was largely interested in 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...
to which he subscribed over $85,000, and the towns of Champion, NY and Champion, OH, named in his honor.
After his death, in 1836, the Champion Homestead was sold to the Loomis Family and Henry's male line had died out in 1865.
Henry Champion House
The Henry Champion HouseHenry Champion House
The Henry Champion House was built by Colonel Henry Champion. The house was built in the Colonial Georgian-Federal style. Today the Champion house still stands and is located on Westchester Rd in Colchester, CT. The house in now privately owned and not open to the public.Champion served in the...
was built by Colonel Henry Champion. The house was built in the Colonial Federal style. Today the Champion house still stands and is located on Westchester Rd in Colchester, CT. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house in now privately owned and not open to the public.