Local Revolutionary War veteran recognized

Connor Linskey, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·2 min read

Oct. 13—COLUMBIA — Several hundred years after his military service, Revolutionary War Veteran Wadsworth Brewster is finally getting some recognition.

Wadsworth Brewster lived from 1737- 1812 and spent a considerable part of his life living in Lebanon Crank, which is now Columbia. Columbia was incorporated in 1804.

During a ceremony at Wadsworth Brewster's grave in the Old Yard Cemetery in Columbia on Saturday, the Jonathan Trumbull Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored Wadsworth with a marker honoring his military service in the Revolutionary War.

The marker highlights the fact that this ceremony was originally scheduled for 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Toni Brewster the greatgreat- great- great grandson of Wadsworth Brewster was also in attendance at the event. Toni highlighted Wadsworth Brewster's time in Lebanon Crank as well as his military service.

Columbia Town Historian Ingrid Wood said that the reason Wadsworth Brewster's Revolutionary War service was overlooked is because his name was misspelled " Bruster" on his payroll records in 1777 and earlier.

Not only did Wadsworth Brewster serve in the Revolutionary War, but he also served in the French and Indian War.

In August 1757, Wadsworth was called up for duty in response to the alarm at Fort William Henry, near Lake George, New York. There, American and British survivors had been mercilessly massacred by Huron Indians. At that time, Wadsworth served under the command of the Earl of Loudon, in Captain Joseph Fitch's company, under Colonel Jonathan Trumbull in the Connecticut Militia.

In 1777, Wadsworth Brewster was called on to serve in the Connecticut Militia during the Revolutionary War.

Wadsworth Brewster served as a corporal during two pivotal battles: at Freeman's Farm near Saratoga, New York on September 19, 1777 and at Bemis Heights, near Saratoga, New York on October 7, 1777, culminating in the surrender of British General John Burgoyne's surrender on October 17, 1777.

Wood said these two battles in Saratoga had a profound impact on the Revolutionary War.

" As you know, the American victories at these two battles of Saratoga profoundly changed the course of the American Revolution," Wood said Saturday. " This American victory was lauded in European countries from France to Russia, and these countries hastened their support to aid this young nation's struggle against English monarchical oppression and imperialism."

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