Pawlet (VT) One Hundred Years
Hiel Hollister
1867
J. Munsell, Albany
GIFFORD, GIDEON, from Ponaganset, Mass., 1792; was by trade a blacksmith, and served through the war of the revolution. He married Ruth Butts, of Rhode Island, who died in 1796, leaving eight children.
Next, he m. Betsey, da. of Asa Willey, and raised another family of ten children. The only survivors are Noah and Mrs. Kelley.
GIFFORD, Capt. NOAH, is one of the few surviving veterans of the war of 1812.
He deserves special mention for his zeal, fidelity and efficiency in collecting and reporting much of the material of this chapter.
He has attained the age of 74. We may be permitted to relate a war anecdote, in which his son, Warren, was a party concerned.
At the battle of Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1864, while desperately engaged in close contact with the enemy, Sergeant Gifford took a stand of colors belonging to the second North Carolina regiment, which were planted directly in front of his position.
He despatched the color bearer with his bayonet, seized the colors and bore them off in triumph, amid the cheers of his comrades.
He has the colors now in his possession.
