Who was Moses Hazen?

Moses Hazen (June 1, 1733 – February 5, 1803), was a Brigadier-General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Hazen was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts. During the French and Indian War, he served as an officer in Rogers' Rangers at Fortress Louisbourg and Quebec. For his services in the war, Hazen was given a commission as a Lieutenant in the 44th Regiment of Foot in the British Army.

Hazen fought at the Battle of Sainte-Foy where he was severely wounded.

At the start of the Revolutionary War, Hazen was living on half-pay in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, in Canada. He joined the side of the Americans after being arrested by both the United States and later by the British as a spy during 1775.

In 1776 Hazen received a commission as a Colonel of the 2nd Canadian Regiment of the Continental Army. His property in Iberville, Quebec was soon taken by the royal government. Colonel Hazen led his regiment at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown.

In 1779 or 1780, Hazen constructed the Bayley-Hazen Military Road from Newbury, Vermont, to Hazen's Notch in northern Vermont. This purpose of this road was to invade Canada. It was never used for that purpose, but was instrumental in the settlement of that area.

Thompson, deceived by Hazen's baptismal name, Moses, thought that he was a Jew. He was, however, of an old New England Puritan family.

On June 29, 1781, Hazen was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned command of a brigade under Lafayette during the Battle of Yorktown.

After the war, General Hazen received a grant of land in northern New York. He died in Troy, New York, where he was buried.

On May 26, 1828, Congress authorized a payment of $3,998.81 to Hazen's legal representatives to recover the 1/2 pay lost to him when he joined the American forces.