William Ledyard commanded Fort Trumbull and Fort Griswold. On September 6, 1781, both fell to the British after a one hour battle. Ledyard ordered his men to stop firing and lay down their weapons. When the British asked the colonists who commanded the fort, Ledyard said he did and offered his sword to the British, who promptly stabbed him to death with it, and started a massacre of the 80 captured Americans. The marker that honors the town named after him is located in a small plaza with a bench near the entrance to the Ledyard School. It’s a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, with the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The marker dates to 1976. It’s front side is in very poor condition(fading and obliterated lettering), while it’s reverse is in pretty good shape. The marker’s full inscription reads: Settled by New London pioneers in this conquered Pequot Indian country began long the river at Allyn’s Point and Poquetanuck in 1653, then spread down the indian trail to Mystic. Here at the«Center» in 1725 the precise center of that are which became Ledyard was chosen as the site for the new North Parish church of Groton and the training field of the militia was moved. On Septmeber 6, 1781 that militia supported the defender of Fort Griswold. Colonel William Ledyard, when Benedict Arnold sacked New London and Groton. One-third of those massacred came from this North Parish. Its people, recovering slowly, chose in 1836 to name their new town as a memorial to their leader. (Reverse) The first village Gales Ferry(1740) sheltered blockaded Commander Decatur from British attack during the War of 1812. For nearly 100 years(1878 – 1975) Yale and Harvard crews have trained there for their annual four-mile race along the Thames. Ledyard was the birthplace of: SILASDEANE(1737 – 1789) — envoy to France during the Revolution SAMUELSEABURY(1729 – 1796) — first Episcopal Bishop of Connecticut JONATHANWHIPPLE(1794 – 1875) and ZERAHWHIPPLE(1849 – 1879) — Quakers, founders of the Whipple Home School for Deaf Mutes, now the Mystic Oral School Erected by the Town of Ledyard, the Ledyard Historical Society, and the Connecticut Historical Commission, 1976.
