Hazen Family Tree - Bayley Hazen Military Road, Bayley Hazen Blue, and Moses Hazen

Bayley Hazen Military Road, Bayley Hazen Blue, and Moses Hazen

Artist's Rendering of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham

The first time I was asked if I was related somehow to Bayley Hazen Blue was about 20 years ago, at the Eastman Party Store in Midland, Michigan. I've been asked that several times since - so has Dave. We've also been asked about the connection to the Bayley Hazen Military Road in Vermont. So, here's a post about those two things plus the person who ties them together, Moses Hazen.

First, Moses Hazen is not a direct ancestor of Edward Elihu Hazem, Jr. The first Edward Hazen, who immigrated to Rowley, Massachusetts in 1647, had four sons, John, Thomas, Edward, and Richard. Edward Elihu Hazen, Jr. is descended from Thomas, and Moses Hazen is descended from Richard. 

Moses was born to parents Moses Hazen and Abigail White Hazen in Haverhill, Massachusetts on June 1, 1733. His military career began in 1756 as a Lieutenant in Capt. Edward Moore's Company and in Rogers' Rangers in the French and Indian War. For his service. he was commissioned Captain by Sir Jeffrey Amherst, who later regretted granting the promotion when he found out Hazen was responsible for the killing of women and children. 

Hazen was part of the expedition against Quebec in 1759 under General Wolfe. He was noted for his bravery, especially during the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, when he was gravely wounded.

At the end of the war in 1763, Hazen retired on half pay for life and settled on an estate near St. John's in Quebec.

When the American Revolution began, Hazen offered his services again to the British Army. He was assigned to scout the American troop movements along the Canada-New York border. He attempted to give misinformation to the American Army about the size of the British forces in the area, but the Americans arrested him. 

Hazen was freed during a British attack on the American forces, but the British then arrested him for being a double agent. When the British forces abandoned Montreal, he was freed and joined the American side for good. 

He recruited Canadians to join the American Army and brought his forces to join Washington's army at the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown. 

He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1781 and commanded a brigade in Lafayette's Division. He left the army in 1783 and settled in Troy, New York. He died in Troy on January 30, 1802.

So what is the Bayley Hazen Military Road?

In 1776, Jacob Bayley wrote to George Washington about the need for a road to shorten the supply routes. In 1777-1779, Moses Hazen supervised the development of the Bayley Hazen Military Road from Newbury, Vermont, to Hazen's Notch.  Work on the road was abandoned when it was feared that British patrols might use it as an invasion route.

                                       

Hazen's Notch

The road still exists today - it is apparently a mix of pavement and dirt, and is mostly used for recreation. 

And the Bayley Hazen Blue? It is an artisanal blue cheese made by Jasper Hill Farm in Greensboro Vermont, named for the Bayley Hazen Military Road.  

Bayley Hazen Blue

I hope you've enjoyed this digression from the direct family tree - I have enjoyed researching it!