Middletown Patch: Eight Members of the "Samson" Poisoned by British During the American Revolution
Humane treatment of prisoners of war has been an issue that has bedeviled civilization for centuries. Laura Hillenbrand’s recent publication of Unbroken—the amazing story of endurance, courage, and perseverance exhibited by Olympic athlete and airman Louie Zamperini -- revisited the well-known inhumane treatment of POWS by the Japanese during World War II. John McCain’s remarkable courage and determination as a POW during the Vietnam War has been well publicized.
The sad story of the deliberate poisoning of eight members of the crew of the Samson during the American Revolution reminds us that mistreatment of prisoners of war has roots deep in our history and a strong connection to Middlesex County. The incident took place 229 years ago this coming week on June 4th off the coast of New York.
Built in Higganum, the sloop of war Samson, had a crew comprised primarily of men from Haddam and Chatham (now called East Hampton). Captain David Brooks, a native of Higganum, commanded the ship. The 1st lieutenant was Shubael Brainerd; Samuel Arnold was the master gunner onboard in charge of the 6-8 guns of from 9-12 pounders; other crewmembers included Jonathan Brainerd, Jr., Elihu Cook, and James and Nathaniel Stocking—both brothers of the captain’s wife, Jemima Stocking. The Stockings were from Haddam Neck. Timothy Clark, Elijah Green, and William Aikens were crewmembers from Chatham. According to the 1885 Beers History of Middlesex County, the Samson had “a sharp bow for fast sailing” and “gained quite a reputation among friend and foes as a strong fighter.” Her most famous engagement took place in Long Island Sound at night against the British sloop Swallow—a ship with 20 guns. Although out-gunned, the Samson held her own. After several hours, both ships retreated for repairs but soon re-engaged several hours later with the Samson as the aggressor. Having retired to Cow Bay near New York for repairs, the captain of the Swallow decided to scuttle his ship rather than fight the Samson again.
The Samson continued to plague British ships and even crossed the Atlantic to engage British ships in the English Channel! There she was captured and the crew imprisoned in the Jersey prison ship off the New York coast. Captain Brooks, Lt. Brainerd, William Aikens, Elihu Clark, Elijah Green, Jonathan Brainerd, Jr., and the Stocking brothers all died on June 4, 1782, after inadvertently ingesting poison. Some accounts say that their food was poisoned, as the master gunner, Samuel Arnold, did not partake of the food and survived. Dr. Dudley Field, author of a Brainerd genealogy, maintains on p. 106 that the crew of the Samson was poisoned with tainted liquor. Either way, Middle Haddam church records show that all died together under suspicious circumstances.
Jonathan Brainerd, Sr., whose son was among those poisoned, was so distraught at his loss that he sought desperate means to escape military service. When the drafting council came to Hog Hill to draft more men for war, the elder Brainerd leapt from a second story window to avoid the draft. Then he had his other son, Jeremiah, “declared a fool” by a magistrate in order to protect him from military service. Young Jeremiah, “smarting under the indignity, took his father down…and gave him a severe beating.” Jonathan Brainerd, Sr., born May 16, 1737, was married 3 times. He survived his son’s beating and lived to be 88 years old.
The history of the maltreatment of prisoners of war is grim. Prisoners captured during ancient times could expect enslavement or slaughter. Warfare during the Middle Ages brought prospects not much better for prisoners, especially in religious wars where heretics could expect almost certain execution. The Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 brought a beginning of formal attempts over the next 3+ centuries to try to get all nations of the world to agree upon humane treatment of POWS, particularly in conventions held at both The Hague and Geneva. The results have been mixed. Clearly, however, British treatment of American POWS from Middlesex County in June of 1782 was shockingly barbarous, as at least 8 men from well-known families in Haddam and Chatham met their untimely death through poisoning.
