Commander William Barton of Providence, Rhode Island carried out a daring raid and captured a British general on this day in 1777.

After the Revolutionary War, Barton petitioned Vermont for a land grant. They granted him a town named Providence, but when the charter came through, the town was named Barton.

Commander Barton didn’t sell his shares, like most grantees, but moved to Barton alone, built a cabin and sold land. Unfortunately, Barton sold land he didn’t own and wound up in the Danville jail.

Marquis de Lafayette interceded, allowing Barton to return to his wife in Rhode Island after three decades away.

Photo courtesy the Vermont Historical Society.

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