A Story of the Revolution - Sarah Lucille Keith Allen (1975) (Part I)

This story began two centuries ago. How long it seems to look back. And how remote we feel when we try to peep into the lives of our ancestors who came to the shores of America so many years ago. Strong and stalwart, they left their native lands to seek a spot somewhere on the face of this great round earth where they might worship God in their own way. With the life blood flowing vigorously through their veins with the high ambitions and hopes of youth, our grandfathers and grandmothers came to this vast continent – rich with buried treasured of gold, silver, copper, iron and unknown minerals; its mighty streams un-forded and unexplored; its wonderful woodlands and immense plains of grass and flowers. This choice land was protected by two great oceans; a land of promise to all who came for peace and freedom and to worship God; and a refuge for the oppressed of all nations.

Among those who came and settled in Charleston, Montgomery County, New York, a little Dutch colony, was a young girl, Matilda Collier, who came with her parents to this new land. They were many weeks crossing the great Atlantic Ocean during which time they passed through hardships and privations not a few.

Matilda, as she grew, was trained in all helpful and womanly ways. She was frugal cheerful and had a winning way. We hate to relate it, but truth compels the statement that she was remarkably noted for being the homeliest young lady in the colony.

James Albert Guinal was the most handsome young Englishman that ever set foot in stirrup or shouldered his musket and knapsack in defense of his country. The homely Matilda, with her sprightly ways, womanly dignity, sparkling wit, and above all her true and loving heart and noble soul, won the love of James Albert Guinal and with the consent of her parents they were married. “And merrily rang the bells and happy were the few months of wedded bliss.”

Dark clouds were gathering from the east. From the parent country came oppression and tyranny threatening the existence of all her struggling children who, weak in number but strong in the sense of right, full of faith in that God who rules among the nations of the earth declared that this country should be free. All of her valiant sons armed themselves as best they could and fought for their liberty.

Among the first to enlist in the service of his country was James Albert Guinal. With sorrowful heart but cheerful countenance his loving wife helped and encouraged him all she could. After joining the soldiers in defense of his country he was soon promoted to the rank of Lieutenant under General Washington. Bravely he pressed to the front of the battle; nobly he fought thinking of home, of wife and of the unborn child, dreaming of the peace that would come after the war was over, when he could sit in tranquility by his fireside with his loved ones around him. But that could never be for he fell in the Oriskany battle that was fought near the Mohawk River. “After James Albert Guinal was wounded he arose to his knees and prayed for his wife, his unborn child and or his country.”

His wife Matilda mourned for him. She was grieved that her child should never know his father. She walked alone through the pine-scented forests carpeted with delicate flowers which grow profusely in the rich, damp earth. What an ideal place to rear a family in peace and love.

The time arrived for delivery; after many hours of travail her child was born, not a son, but a beautiful daughter, possessing many of her mother’s virtues and her father’s good looks and manners. As little Cornelia grew, her mother taught her to revere her father’s good traits, for he was an honest man and brave soldier.