Belton Allyn

Died in defense of Fort Griswold, September 6, 1781

"Belton Allyn, a lad 17, hearing the firing at Fort Griswold, went down with a comrade to see the fun, as he said, and was the first to fall." source: United States Congressional serial set, Issue 4618, p 352

"Hearing the alarm he responded at once, as did the son of his brother Rober,t Benadam, born December 16 1761, who inspired by the same feelings, shared the dangers of the defence, and was also killed together with Belton Allyn, son of Deacon Joseph, brother of Robert and Simeon. On the morning of the battle this young man, in company with his cousin Benadam, started for the fort in answer to the signal guns, as he had often before done. On their way they called upon a sister of Benadam, who was teaching school near Gale's Ferry. To her anxious inquiry of where they were going so early with their guns, Benadam replied, "Down to the training to see the fun." "You will never come back alive" said she and burst into tears. Belton was killed on the ramparts, soon after entering the works, and before the storm.

On learning of his departure, his father armed himself and, mounting his horse, followed as rapidly as possible to share his danger; but on his arrival found the fort invested, and he was compelled, through the long hours of dreadful suspense, to await within hearing the result of the conflict to find at last his only son a corpse, when he took the body home on his own saddle; thus the first tidings his mother had of his death was seeing his dead body." source: The Battle of Groton Heights: A Collection of Narratives, Official Reports ...

By William Wallace Harris, p. 259-60