Henry Champion

General Henry Champion (March 16, 1751 – July 13, 1836) was a military leader, politician, and deacon born to Colonel Henry Champion and Deborah Brainard. He was a descendant of the Henry Champion who settled in Connecticut in 1647. He sailed to the colony from Norwich, England.

Early life Henry Champion III was born in Westchester, Connecticut. He was the eldest of 7 children born to Colonel Henry Champion. His brother General Epaphroditus Champion was born in 1756 and also became a staunch Federalist.

Family On October 10, 1781, Henry married Abigail Tinker, daughter of Sylvanus and Abigail (Olmstead) Tinker. Their family included four sons and four daughters, all born in Westchester:

Henry (1782–1823); who married Ruth Kimberly Robbins (1782-) Aristarcus, twin (1784–1871); he died in Rochester, NY, unmarried Aristobulus, twin (1784–1786); died young Abigail (1787-); married General David Deming Harriet (1789–1823); married Joseph Trumbull (1782–1861), governor of Connecticut Maria (1791-); married Robert Watkinson Elisa, twin (1797-); married Elizur Goodrich William, twin (1797–1798); died young

Military service Henry Champion entered into service in the Continental Army at the Lexington Alarm. He served as Ensign for 22 days before being promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of the Eighth Company, Second Regiment on April 26, 1775. In May, he became a 1st Lieutenant of the same. He was one of the men who fought at Bunker Hill. January 1776 be was again promoted to Adjutant on the staff of Col. Samuel Wyllys. One year later, on January 1, 1777, he was commissioned a captain in the 3rd Connecticut Regiment.

Post-war After returning home to Westchester, Gen. Champion entered the life of politics. He was Deputy from Colchester to the Connecticut Assembly in 1789, 1793 to 1798 and 1800-1805. From 1806 to 1817 he held the office of Assistant. From 1813 to 1828 he was a deacon in a church in Westchester. General Champion always celebrated July 15 which he called Stony Point Day, in due and ancient form at his famous old country seat in Westchester. He obtained a charter for the Phoenix Bank of Hartford, because the State Bank had refused him the accommodation of $2,000. "Well," said he, "if this bank can't accommodate me, I will have one that can."

After his death, in 1836, the Champion Homestead was sold to the Loomis Family and Henry's male line had died out in 1865.

Henry Champion House

The Henry Champion House was built for the general by Colonel Henry Champion, his father, in 1790. The house was built in the Colonial Federal style. Today the Champion house still stands and is located on Westchester Rd in Colchester. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house in now privately owned and not open to the public.