WHAT BECAME OF THE EPAULET?

A GENEALOGICAL MYSTERY

Roger Hibbard, son of Moses Hibbard and Hannah Murdock, was born 4 Apr 1757 in Windham, Windham County, Connecticut. He married Sarah Davison about 1779 and died 19 Nov 1832 in Brookfield, Orange County, Vermont. Sarah Davison, the daughter of Oliver Davison and Eunice Spaulding was born 7 May 1755 in Mansfield, Tolland County, Connecticut. She died 3 Jun 1838, Brookfield, Orange County, Vermont. They are both buried in the East Hill Cemetery, East Brookfield, Orange County, Vermont.

There is a biography about Roger Hibbard that goes into a great deal of detail about his Revolutionary War Service. The problem is that I can find no proof of that service. It is said that he was one of the bodyguards of General Lafayette. When the General was getting ready to return to France, it was said that he tore an epaulet from the shoulder of his uniform and gave it to Roger Hibbard. He told Roger that if he ever returned to America, all Roger had to do was to bring him the epaulet and he would need no other introduction. Roger Hibbard was said to have cherished the epaulet. By the time General Lafayette did return to America, Roger so old and infirm that he was not able to go to him. It was said that Roger Hibbard grieved about this for the remainder of his life.

Reference: The "GENEALOGY of the HIBBARD FAMILY Who are DESCENDANTS of ROBERT HIBBARD of SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS," Compiled and Published by Augustine George Hibbard, Woodstock, Connecticut, U.S.A. and Printed by The Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company, Hartford, Connecticut, page 60.

Surely this story must have had some basis in fact since it is so detailed. The epaulet must have become a family heirloom. The problem is that I can find absolutely no proof of any Revolutionary War service for any Roger Hibbard. I have checked all spellings of the surname that I could think of, such as Hebard, Heberd, Hebbard, Hebberd, Hibard, Hiberd, Hibbard, Hibberd. I have checked the Pension Application Files and the General Index to Compiled Military Service Record of the Revolutionary War Soldiers at the Denver Branch of the National Archives. I have written to the National Archives in Washington, DC. I have even created an itinerary of where General Lafayette was while he was in this country and when. The only thing that even comes close to being possible proof of this Revolutionary War service is General Index Card number 5475. It contains the surname Hibbard without a given name.

If you have any information that will help me solve this mystery, please e-mail me at any of the following addresses. I pick up my mail more frequently at aol.com.

fthompson4@aol.com or fthompson@ifreedom.com or geniefaye@yahoo.com