Maj. Gen. Ebenezer Mattoon

An autobiographical sketch was found among his papers after his death, and was printed in the "Hampshire Gazette" in 1843. It is addressed to William Cogswell, D. D., and reads as follows: "To Wm. Cogswell, D. D. "Dear Sir: -- Your printed Circular, addressed to the graduates of Dartmouth College, requesting them to furnish you with brief biographical notices of themselves, for publication, I duly received. The plan you propose I cordially approve -- when completed, it will, I think, embody facts that will be very gratifying to the Alumni of that institution, and also the friends of literature. "If my own history can add anything to the completion of your plan, it is at your service. In replying to your interrogatories I shall follow their numerical order. "I was born, 1755, in Amherst, then a precinct of Hadley. My parents were Ebenezer Mattoon and Dorothy Smith daughter of Doct. Nath'l Smith of Amherst. The earliest knowledge I have of my ancestry extends back to the year 1676. Then Phillip Mattoon, an unmarried young man (who came I believe from Glasgow, in Scotland) was among 47 men at Marlboro, who, with others from Boston, were sent up under Capt. Wm. Turner to defend the inhabitants on Connecticut river from the invasions of the Indians. The next year, (1677,) he resided at Springfield, and was married to Sarah Hawks. About 1688, he removed to Deerfield, where he died in 1696, leaving several sons, one of whom, Eleazer, settled at Northfield. He was my Grand-Father. In 1734, he removed to Amherst, with his family, my father, Ebenezer, being his only son, then 16 years of age. My studies, preparatory for college, were pursued under the tuition of Rev. David Parson, the first minister of Amherst. I entered college in 1772 and graduated in 1776. In the Spring of '76, after examination for degrees, with three others of my class, I obtained permission of the faculty to go to Canada, and engage in the revolutionary army, receiving a promise that our degrees should be regularly conferred. Soon after my arrival at Canada, I received a Lieutenant's Commission, and performed the duties of an Adjutant for that year. The next yar I was Leiut. in the Artillery in the northern campaign, and was in St. Clair's retreat from Ticonderoga, and in the hard fought battles and capture of Burgoyne. Continuing in the army, I was in the battle fought by Gen. Sullivan on Rhode Island. In 1779 I left the army, returned to Amherst, and was married to Mary Dickinson, of Amherst, where I still reside. I studied no profession except that of arms. In 1780 and '81, I represented the town in General Court. Was made justice of peace in 1782, and held the office till 1796. Was elected Captain in the Militia in 1782, Major in '85, Col. in '89, Brigadier in 92, and in '96 Maj. General of the 4th division Militia in this Commonwealth. In 1816 I resigned my Commission of Maj. Gen. and was appointed Adjutant General, which office I held until two years after, when I was compelled to resign on account of the entire loss of my sight. I was a member of the Senate of this Commonwealth two years, 1795 and '96. In 1766, I was appointed Sheriff of the (old) County of Hampshire, and continued in office nearly 20 years. I was in the 6th and 7th Congress. In 1820, I was a member of the Convention for amending the Constitution of our Commonwealth. In 1792, '96, 1820, and '28 I was one of the Electoral College for the choice of President and Vice President of the United States. I have had six children, two of whom died in infancy. The names of the four are Mary Dickinson, Ebenezer, Noah Dickinson, and Dorothy Smith. Three are still living. Mary D. [since deceased] resides in Philadelphia, Ebenezer in Amherst, and Noah D. in Ohio."

A historical sketch of General Mattoon, written by Zebina C. Montague and published in the "Hampshire and Franklin Express on 21 May 1858, contains many interesting anecdotes concerning his military and civil services. "When he returned to Amherst after his discharge from the army he brought with him an old iron field-piece, a six-pounder, that had seen service in the Northern army. After the capture of Burgoyne, the Americans replaced their old-fashioned ordnance with the more modern and effect cannon captured from the enemy, and the discarded field-pieces were amny of them given to officers in the American army. This old cannon was stored for many years in Genm. Mattoon's barn, and was used in Fourth of July celebrations as well as in celebrating other events of less patriotic interest. It was destined to play an important part in a neighborhood quarrel of which more will be related in succeeding pages. As high sheriff of Hampshire county, Gen. Mattoon officiated in 1806 at the execution of Halligan and Daly at Northamptonh, for murder and highway robbery. This was one of the first executions in Hampshire county. While on a visit to Boston in 1816, in connection with his duties as adjutant-general, he caught a severe cold which settled in his eyes and soon resulted in total blindness. He built the house at East Amerst now owned and occupied by O. P. Gaylord; it was, at that time, esteemed one of the finest residences in the village. During the closing years of his life Gen. Mattoon drew a pension as a revolutionary soldier. He died, Sept. 11, 1843, aged 88 years."

"MATTOON, Ebenezer, a Representative from Massachusetts; born in North Amherst, Hampshire County, Mass., on August 19, 1755; attended the common schools and received private instruction; was graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., in 1776; served in the Revolutionary Army and attained the rank of major; taught school and also engaged in agricultural pursuits; member of the State house of representatives in 1781 and 1794; justice of the peace 1782-1796; served in the State senate in 1795 and 1796; served from the rank of captain to that of major general of the Fourth Division, State militia; appointed sheriff of Hampshire County in 1796 and served twenty years; elected as a Federalist to the Sixth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Samuel Lyman; reelected to the Seventh Congress and served from February 2, 1801, to March 3, 1803; again a member of the State house of representatives in 1812; major general of Massachusetts Militia 1799-1816; adjutant general of the State militia 1816-1818; became totally blind in 1818 and retired from active public life; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1820; died in Amherst, Mass., September 11, 1843; interment in West Cemetery. -- Biographical Directory of the United States Congress."