JOHN BESSAC MOVES TO THE CHENANGO VALLEY

Tags

Albany, American revolution, Battle of Oriskany, British, Chenango County, Chenango River, Chenango Valley, Cherry Valley, Cherry Valley Massacre, Continental Army, Cooperstown, General Burgoyne, General Clinton's Dam, General Sullivan, Hanau, Indian Territory, Indian Warfare, Jager, Joseph Brant, Loyalists, Montvalant, New York City, Oquaga, Oriskany, St. Leger, Susquehanna River, Tioga, Tory, Walter Butler, William Butler

John Bessac, in 1809, was offered a place to dwell. It was a peaceful valley plot that his son Lewis had purchased. The Chenango River was at its base and the hills, almost mountains, rose above it for several hundred feet.

The Chenango River Valley As Seen From Between the Mountain Top Trees

This was the first movement of people west of the banks of the Susquehanna River. Prior to John Bessac’s move the American Revolution had turned into a very unconventional and nasty war. There were two army officers named Butler. Walter Butler fought for the British and the William Butler for the Continental Army.

All the territory to the west of the Susquehanna River was questionable territory. The white man had moved in and began farming. But with the American Revolution the territory was muddied; and no one wins when drinking muddied water.

There were farming settlements in Cherry Valley, Oquaga and Tioga. The British saw these territories as fair game for deflecting the war. Their thrust was towards those farmers who had no defense. This was especially true after the Battle of Oriskany. The American Revolution had moved from New York City to the midlands of New York.

The British had decided to split New England in half by taking control of the Hudson Valley. General Burgoyne, “Gentleman Johnny”, drove his forces from Quebec, Canada southward. This was timed with Lieutenant Barry St. Leger’s expedition of about 1,800 men that were a mix of British regulars, Hessian Jäger from Hanau, Loyalists, Indians, and hired rangers. St. Leger’s drive was a surprise attack from the west. They were to meet Burgoyne in Albany.

Between June of 1777 and 1778 General Walter Butler, a Loyalist to the British, had created havoc for the small farming communities. In 1778, he and Joseph Brant, a Mohawk chief, led a company of Tories and Indians in the raid that culminated in the Cherry Valley Massacre. He has been blamed for the deaths of the many women and children that were killed on that occasion.

The battles and massacres between the American’s Continental Army and the British mixture of Hession Soldiers of Fortune, Indians and Torys continued.

General Sullivan’s Expedition, which wiped out all opponents, halted these attacks on defenseless small farming communities. The expedition was a “scorched earth” campaign that flooded the entire Susquehanna Valley.

A dam was constructed by General Clinton’s men at the mouth of Otsego Lake. After several months the damn was destroyed. Indian, Tory and Loyalist settlements were wiped out; if not at first by the flood then with follow up troop movements that burned any remaining homes, Indian lodges and fields of corn.

With the opposition finally beaten the United States opened up the “Indian Territory” west of the Susquehanna River. This included the Chenango River Valley where Lewis Bessac, John’s son had purchased property.

When John Bessac moved to the Chenango Valley he found a previous settler already established. That settler was Abram Storms. Storms had hauled mill stones across the Katskill Mountains; from the Hudson Valley to the Chenango Valley. He had established a grist mill in what was to become Brisban, New York. Storms then started farming in what was known as the Stillwater Area of the Chenango River.

John Bessac learned proper farming methods from Storms. Then another farmer moved his family from the Connecticut/New York border; this farmer was Henry Birdsall.

Bessac, Storms and Birdsall learned from each other. Their farms became prosperous.

John Bessac had found a river, hills and friends that reminded him of his boyhood in Montvalant, France.

John Bessac was a happy man.

JOHN BESSAC SAILS TO BORDEAUX

Tags

1779, Baptiste Bessac, Bessac the Pirate, Bordeaux, British animosity, French animosity, French schooner, Letter of Marque, Montvalant, Santander

John Bessac spent very few days in Santander. Just enough time to rest up and book a place on a schooner to Bordeaux.

John could hardly wait to set his brother Baptiste. So much had taken place since the day that John had left everything in Montvalant behind. There was much to talk about.

Seamen were a tight knit group so John asked everyone, including the captain, if they knew of his brother Baptiste and what ship he may be on. No one seemed to have ever heard of a Baptiste Bessac. John became concerned about his situation. He reread Baptiste’s letter several times to make sure that he had not overlooked some word that may change the interpretation of what Baptiste had said.

No sooner had the schooner docked when John leaped off and started making inquiries about Baptiste.

John finally ran across a sailor who seemed to know something about Baptiste.

“Oh, you mean Bessac the Pirate?” said the sailor.

“No, he is not a Pirate. He is a merchant” answered John.

The sailor responded “Well, if you go down to dock four you will find ‘The Letter of Marque’ tied up there. I have heard that Baptiste the Pirate is on board.”

John decided there was no point in correcting the ignorant sailor again.

“Even so, there may be another Baptiste Bessac in this world and he may be a pirate” John thought.

John found dock four and a ship there was named “The Letter of Marque.”

“Ahoy” called John in his best new-found seaman’s vernacular. “Is there a Baptiste Bessac aboard?”

No sooner had he finished his words when his brother’s head popped up over the gunwale. Simultaneously both brothers were overcome by the biggest smiles that either had in the last year. Each of them ran towards the boarding plank; John on the dock and Baptiste on the boat. On that narrow board they hugged each other with deep feeling. Their eyes became a little misty. They both turned their heads and hoped that the other had not noticed.

“Come up and let me show you our enterprise” said Baptiste.

Several men were busy securing canons on the deck and powder below.

“Why all the arms?” asked John.

Baptiste’s answer verified the supposedly ignorant sailor’s words “Oh, you have heard of Bessac the alleged Pirate?”

Baptiste informed John that he and a few other gentlemen had received a letter of marque from the king. The letter gave them a commission to make reprisals on British vessels and cargos. The letter also gave indemnification for any injuries or losses that they may suffer while in the course of their duties.

John was now satisfied that his brother was not a “pirate” but rather a “privateer.” They would be supporting the American cause with the approval of the king. As always, French and British animosity continued.

John was so close to Montvalant that he gave thought to visiting his family. However, Baptiste informed him that they were about to set sail. There was not enough time for a visit.

John considered this dangerous future that he was about to embark upon. Knowing that he had to make amends he sat down and wrote a letter.

To his father he wrote a deep apology and asked for his blessing, forgiveness and all the derelictions of duty that he had made. To his mother he tried to write his love for her. But alas, only a few lines could be completed before he completely broke down. Even those few lines could hardly be read due to the tear stains that fell upon the wet ink.

The privateer “Letter Of Marque” was ready for her dangerous mission. John, fueled with his natural enthusiasm, was aboard.

The brothers Bessac and the Letter of Marque sailed out of the Port of Bordeaux in the early summer months of 1779.

JOHN BESSAC’S FOOTPATH TO FREEDOM

Tags

Agen, Beaumont, Cadiz, Catholic Church, France, Gendarme, Madrid, Montvalant, Shylock, St. Martin's Day, Toulouse

John Bessac walked speedily along the highways all that evening. He made considerable distance. However, as daylight appeared he knew that his father, his uncle and the Holy Roman Catholic Church would be searching for him. Agen was his immediate destination.

He kept up his pace so that he could put more distance between himself and Montvalant. To be safe he departed the highway and walked the fields and solitary footpaths. He wished to see the city of Agen soon; and then Beaumont and Toulouse.

John’s forty mile trip from Montvalent to Agen was without incident. On the second morning he decided to rest after being two days without sleep. He found a comfortable place near a stack of hay and drifted off for a well-deserved rest.

Something brought him out of his deep sleep. Even with his eyes closed he felt a presence of some sort. Slowly opening his eyes he found himself looking at the well-shined boots of a state gendarme. A conversation about John ensued.

After some convincing, the policeman was satisfied that John was on a trip to visit friends. He pointed out to John that a storm was in the air and that he should find a more secure place to rest. John, in his deep sleep, had not noticed the change in the temperature, wind and clouds. He remained a little foggy from his recent awakening and attempted to determine what day it was.

“November 13^th or 14^th; a few days after St. Martin’s Day” he said out loud.

“Pardon me?” responded the policeman.

“Nothing, nothing at all” lied John. “Just forgot the actual date.”

The policeman looked askance at John, excused himself, and departed.

John felt rested up enough to continue his journey towards Toulouse. He was somewhat conflicted as to whether to find shelter or move on. He decided to put more distance between himself and the dreaded plans that the church had for him.

The next sixty miles to Toulouse were windy and cold. John was thankful that it did not rain. He had not thought about a canvas wrap to keep the wetness from soaking him. There was a heavy fall mist coming from the Atlantic side of France but it was not enough to dampen him through.

It took three more days of walking for John to reach Toulouse. He found a reasonable priced boarding room and started making plans. His first task was to write his good friend Barte. Barte’s return letter contained advice and a gift. The advice was for John to head for Cadiz where John had established friends. Barte suggested that John may be able to find a job in the hospital where he had once worked. John did not wish to relive the memories of his brother dying in Cadiz.

The gift was a note that John could cash. It was a second party check drawn on a merchant from Bordeaux. The only person that John could find to cash it was a shylock who extracted an ungodly sum “due to the risk.”

Being desperate, John took the partial amount.

A month had passed while he stayed in Toulouse.

John then departed for Madrid.

 

JOHN BESSAC and the Right Reverend Bishop

Tags

Bishop, Cadiz, Chenango County, Don Quixote, Greene NY, Jean Guillaume deBesse, John Bessac, Montvalant, priesthood, Revolutionary War, St. Martin, vows

John Bessac was eighteen years of age and had already had experiences that other lads his age only dreamed of.

He had played on the hillsides above the Dordogne River in Montvalant. He had studied and mastered languages at the University of Cahors. Not only that but he had made a voyage to Morocco to save hostages from Hammuda ibn Ali, the Monarch of Morocco.

Then he spent a year in Cadiz, Spain, understanding the ramifications of disease and surgery at the largest hospital in Europe.

All were not pleasant experiences in Cadiz. He lost his brother Rufus due to some strange malady. And John had burned his face and hands saving another lad from a laboratory fire.

However, he did have the opportunity to read several medical theses, “Don Quixote” and also some of Alain-Rene Le Sage’s humorous short stories.

Yes, John Bessac had led a full life by the age of eighteen.

Now it was time for him to take his vows of priesthood.

But John had seen too much. He was full of life and spirit, very fond of his amusements and had a deep desire to continue visiting various parts of the world. How was he to keep these desires buried if he were to enter the life of a priest?

The only counsel he could trust to help him make his case were his two remaining brothers; Baptiste and Bertrand. The bond between the three was strong. Many nights were spent with them as John discussed his problem.

Finally Baptiste and Bertrand agreed to speak to their father about John’s dilemma.

No effort was spared by the brothers to convince John’s father to abandon his plans for John. And it almost worked if it were not for John’s Uncle Louis. Louis was an unyielding arch-catholic and had established close friendships high in the church.

The Right Reverend Bishop of the Diocese wrote a pressing letter to John’s father insisting that John take the vows immediately. That settled the matter for John, whether he agreed with the plan or not.

On St. Martin‘s Day a feast would take place in Montvalant.

Saint Martin Croissants

Immediately after high mass John would be given the vows by the Bishop during a solemn ceremony. The Bishop had laid out his plans well.

The speech prior to the ceremony would discuss the generous nature of St. Martin, the saint of the day, while also picturing him as an equestrian knight.

St. Martin Dividing His Cloak For a Naked and Cold Beggar

The Bishop thought “Maybe that will plant the seed of a more exciting calling to John.”

Life sequestered away in some forlorn abbey did not appear to be one of John’s goals.

JEAN GUILLIAUME de BESSE’S (John Bessac’s) EARLY YEARS

Tags

Cohors, Jacques Necker, John Bessac, King Louis XV, Montvalant

On a cold February day a baby was born in Montvalant, France.

King Louis XV was ruling when Jean Guilliaume de Besse, was born.

KING LOUIS XV courtesy of Wikipedia

It was February 4^th, 1760. No one would know, least of all John Bessac himself, what would become of him. His family, especially his father had great plans for him.

Monsieur Bessac, John’s father, would eventually be appointed tax collector for the province of Quercy. A friendship between John’s father and a Monsieur Necker had provided him with a path to that future position. Not directly, because several events had yet to play out in France and the colony of America.

Jacques Duplessis Necker courtesy of Wikipedia

Necker was eventually blamed for France’s debts because of that country’s involvement in the American Revolution. Neither the baby, John Bessac, nor his parents, could have imagined what part the American revolution would play in his life; nor, for that matter, France’s own revolution.

John Bessac had been fortunate enough to be born in a beautiful area of France. The village of Montvalant was beside the Dordogne River. The river itself emerged from the Padirac Cave and joined with the Gironne River to flow through the hills of the province of Quercy.

Quercy

John Bessac had a wonderful environment to learn the lessons of boyhood. The river valleys and hillsides were a great place for a young lad to grow up. Most likely, that was the reason John, later in life, would be drawn to the banks of the Chenango River and the hillsides that overlooked it.

The Dordogne River

The similarities are great. The River Dordogne flows through the hills to meet the River Gironne which then flows into the Bay of Biscay. The Chenango flows through the hills to meet the Susquehanna which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. For John, as he grew older, it must have been a case of deja vous.

Monsieur Bessac had too many duties to pay attention to his household and the raising of his children. Watching over 30,000 residents to ensure they paid their sales taxes, tithes, estates and polling duties kept the elder Bessac quite busy.

He left the management of his household to his wife and the raising of his children to his brother. This appears a little backwards. However, when you consider that Monsieur Bessac’s wife came from an intelligent and well respected family she had the means and ability to care for the household. His brother was a professor of languages in the nearby University at Cohors. Entrusting the raising of his children to an educated man seemed quite prudent at that time.

The Bridge to Enter Cahors

This proved useful for the plans that Monsieur Bessac had for his son. John was a quick learner and had, at the age of fourteen, in addition to his native tongue, accomplished a mastering of Latin, Spanish and Italian.

Monsieur Bessac’s direction of young John’s life was on schedule.