As Granby prepares to honor America’s 250th anniversary, we remember one of our own: Captain Samuel Hayes, a Revolutionary War veteran whose service and legacy remain woven into the fabric of our town’s history.
Born March 26, 1730, in what is now present-day Granby, then part of Simsbury, Samuel Hayes came from a line of early Connecticut settlers. In 1750, he married Rosanna Holcomb, and three years later built a substantial home at Bushy Hill, two miles west of Salmon Brook. That homestead remained in the Hayes family for nearly a century. Known for his physical strength and athletic skill, Hayes also emerged early as a civic leader.
In 1774, he was elected selectman of Simsbury, reflecting the trust placed in him by his neighbors during a time of rising colonial unrest. Two years later, in the summer of 1776, Hayes was appointed captain of a company in the Eighteenth Regiment of the Connecticut Militia. His unit served from Aug. 22 to Sept. 22 during the New York campaign, a critical period following the Battle of Long Island. The Eighteenth Regiment, drawn from north-central Connecticut towns including Simsbury and Salmon Brook (Granby), was among the militia units dispatched to reinforce General Washington’s forces in Brooklyn.
Connecticut troops played a vital role in the defense and evacuation of Long Island. As British forces overwhelmed American positions, Washington ordered a daring nighttime withdrawal across the East River on Aug. 29. Militia units—including those from Connecticut—held defensive lines and maintained the illusion of a full encampment while the main army escaped under cover of fog. Their discipline helped preserve nearly 9,000 troops and the future of the Revolution.
In 1778, Hayes represented Simsbury in the General Assembly, continuing his public service during the war years. After the Revolution, he served as deacon of the church at Salmon Brook from 1780 to 1786 and, upon Granby’s incorporation in 1786, was chosen as the town’s first First Selectman—cementing his role as a leading citizen in both civic and religious life. Hayes died in Granby on Dec. 25, 1801, and is buried in Simsbury Cemetery. His life spanned the birth of a nation, and his legacy endures in the quiet strength of the community he helped defend.
As part of Granby’s America 250 commemorations, we invite residents to learn more about Captain Hayes and other local veterans whose stories deserve to be told. Whether through reenactments, cemetery tours or classroom projects, their memory calls us to reflect, honor and carry forward the ideals they fought to secure.
Submitted by Bill De Nio