USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A history of the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 5
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
This first meeting-house was probably located on the town line between Fairfield and Stratford, half in one town and half in the other, or directly in the middle of the high- way, on the hill, for the town of Stratford voted the liberty to set part of it on its territory." It was a small house, and was in use only twenty-four years, when the second one was built.
No. 19. Rev. Charles Chauncey was the first pastor of the "Church of Christ in Stratfield." For a sketch of him see page 15 of this book.
No. 20. Andrew Sherwood was a farmer and black- smith. His sons were David and Zachariah Sherwood.
No. 21. The School House of the old south district was located, previous to about 1830, on the westerly side of Division street, a few rods south of the present North avenue. The traveled roadway diverged to the east at that point to avoid a ledge of rocks, under the lea of which, at the southerly side, there was a level space of sufficient size to accommodate the house.
The character of the school at that time was rather supe- rior, since some of the older scholars at the Fresh Pond dis- trict attended here because of the advantages it afforded.
No. 22. The Second Meeting-house'a was located on the old Fairfield and Stratford country road ; was erected in 1717, and taken down about the year 1835. It was occupied by the First Congregational Society until the year IS07, when this society built by subscription a new frame meeting- house in the village of Bridgeport on land donated by Richard and Amos Hubbell, on the corner of Bank, Broad and John
4 See page 474 of the History of Old Stratford.
4a See page 18 of this book.
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streets, which frame church was sold to Christ Church and removed into John street, where a few years later it was burned. The first Congregational Society erected their fourth church, built in I850, on the same site where the third stood.
No. 23. Rev. Samuel Cooke was the second pastor of the Church of Christ at Stratfield. For a sketch of him see page 20 of this book.
No. 24. Lewis Angerine. a Frenchman, and by occu- pation a weaver, left no descendants, if he had any. Mrs. W. R. Bunnell owns the land on which his house stood. An anecdote has been related of him, which gives an insight into his character.
" When he was courting his wife at a place where he was not known, he represented to her that he was well off as to property, and that if she would marry him she should never wash her hands in cold water. Soon after marriage she re- minded him of this promise, upon which he replied that she need not wash in cold water for she could warm it."
No. 25. Capt. Thaddeus Bennett, a shoemaker and farmer, was the captain of the trainband at the commence- ment of the Revolutionary War and went to New York with his company in August, 1776, to defend the city against the British troops. His company suffered considerable loss by death, and the captain died soon after returning home from the campaign in 1777. He left two sons-Joseph Wilson Bennett and Thaddeus Bennett, and two daughters, Grizell and Sarah Bennett, both of whom were pensioners for the service of their husbands in the Revolution. Grizell married Isaac Odell, who was a sergeant in the army, and Sarah mar- ried Nathan Fairchild.
No. 26. Lieut. David Sherman was a farmer, and lieutenant of the militia company of Stratfield, and a leading public man in the town and society. He was the son of Mat- thew Sherman, and died aged 60 years, and was buried in the old parish burying ground. He erected the old two-story, long-back-roof dwelling house in the year 1717. It was in
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the common style of New England farm houses, and stood near the spot where Mr. John H. Beach's house now stands. His homestead contained about one hundred acres, besides woodland at Toilsome and a large farm at Tashua. Lieut. David Sherman was nephew to Deacon David Sherman, who says in his will: " I do make and ordain my well-beloved kinsman, David Sherman, my sole executor of this my last will and testament." He had three sons-Elnathan, Jonathan and David. Jonathan never married. Elnathan married Eunice Gregory.
David married Mary Sterling and occupied his father's house and homestead. He was killed by lightning in the old Pequonnock meeting-house July 28, 1771.
The said David that was killed in the meeting-house had three children-Huldah, who married Doct. James E. Beach, David, the father of Esquire Isaac Sherman, the author of these sketches, and Isaac, who died young.
No. 27. Doctor James Eaton Beach, was a descend- ant on his mother's side of Gov. Theophilus Eaton, of the New Haven Colony, and came from New Haven to Stratfield about the year 1778, where he settled as a parish physician.
He married, about 1780, Huldah, daughter of David Sherman, Jr., and Mary (Sterling) Sherman, and erected his dwelling on the Sherman property a few rods north of the homestead.
He had a wide practice, was a capable and public spirited man. He was especially helpful to young men of good char- acter and habits in starting in business, aiding them by his name, counsel and capital.
He was the responsible member of the following firms, and perhaps others :
Beach and Sterling, in 1794 (David Sterling), who were merchants in dry goods, groceries and drugs.
Beach and Sterling, in 1804 (Jesse Sterling), merchants in dry-goods, groceries and drugs.
Beach and Sterling, in 1815 (Sylvanus Sterling), mer- chants in dry goods, groceries and drugs.
Beach and Sherman (Isaac Sherman and Sterling Sher- man) groceries, grain business, and New York packeting.
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The Juniors in each of these firms were the active part- ners and conducted the business, while Doctor Beach fur- nished the capital and for which he received interest and a share of the profits, which appear to have been very satisfac- tory.
Doctor Beach was active and influential in the Stratfield Congregational Church, and for many years served it as chorister. He was deacon from 1806 to 1830, and gave a sil- ver tankard for the communion service, which is still in use, in the First Congregational Church of Bridgeport. He died in 1838, aged 75 years.
His children were, a son Isaac Eaton, and daughters Polly and Laura.
Isaac Eaton Beach lived at the homestead, enlarged for his accommodation, and his descendants occupy the ancestral lands.
Polly Beach married Sylvanus Sterling and lived at what is now No. 84 Golden Hill street. Mr. Sterling died in 1848, and Mrs. Sterling in 1866, leaving no children, but a consid- erable estate.
By the will of Mrs. Sterling the homestead was given to the First Congregational Society of Bridgeport for a parson- age, and after providing for friends, the residue was given to the society known as the Bridgeport Protestant Widows' Relief Society for the establishment of a Home and for gen- eral aid, and the society has become one of the leading char- ities of Bridgeport.5
Laura Beach married Ira Sherman, a descendant of Lieut. David (No. 26) through Elnathan (No. 34), and always resided at what is now No. 247 Main street, dying at an advanced age. Their only daughter, Mary B. Sherman, married James C. Loomis, Esq.
Both Mrs. Sterling and Mrs. Sherman were remarkable for their large charities while living, giving liberally in the line of the religious charities of the Congregational Church with which they were connected; and also to numerous
" The Sterling Home was incorporated at the January session of the General Assembly in 1885.
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widows, orphans and families whose needy circumstances came to their knowledge.
No. 28. Jabes Sherman was a farmer and removed to New Haven about the time of the Revolutionary War.
No. 29. Josiah Treadwell was a weaver by trade. His house was in the common style, two stories, and lighted with diamond window glass set in lead sash. His children were: Josiah, Jr., Samuel, Elijah, and three daughters. One married Thomas Cook, one married John Wheeler, and one married Mr. Turney, of Fairfield. His house being old was taken down soon after he died in 1798.
No. 30. Samuel Treadicell was a weaver, and son of Josiah. He married first Rachel Barnum, and had sons Sam- uel, Jr., and Barnum. He married second, Mercy Babcock, from Rhode Island. She was high-spirited and used to say she was of high blood, and that she did not come from any mean family.
They were low in circumstances, some years, during which a friend coming to see her, she remarked : " My hus- band is generally a good provider, although he is a little slack just now."
No. 31. Enoch Gregory was a large farmer and slave holder. He had one slave named Neptune, born in Africa, who had a son called after the master's family, Tony Greg- ory, who was an honest Negro. Enoch Gregory's children, Samuel, Daniel and Plumb, and others, settled at Tashua.
No. 32. Andrew Beardsley was a weaver. John W. Beardsley, and Henry and Rufus Burr, and the wife of Mr. Joseph Mott, all residents of Bridgeport, are among his de- scendants.
No. 33. John Hall was a weaver. His descendants are not remembered, except a daughter Julia, who mar- ried Squire Lacey as first husband, and afterwards the Rev. Nathaniel Ruggles, who, in connection with the Rev. John N. Maffit, was the founder of the first M. E. Church in the city of Bridgeport in 1822.
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No. 34. Elnathan Sherman was a son of Lieutenant David. His wife, Eunice (Gregory) Sherman, died in 1793, in a fit, while kneading bread. They had sons: Abijah and Ebenezer, and daughters, Sarah, who married Stephen Ster- ling, Hannah, and Mary. One of these married Thomas Edwards.
No. 35. Joseph Ilall, a farmer and a buckskin leather dresser, died at Toilsome, aged 94 years. He and his children were among the first Methodists in this parish. He had one son, named Hezekiah, and three daughters: Alice, married Ebenezer Brown; Molly married Stephen Wells, and Ruth never married. The whole family lived to a good old age and never disgraced their religious profession.
No. 36. Capt. Samuel Sherwood was a farmer and a slave owner. He married Ann, daughter of Theophilus Nichols, by whom he came into possession of a portion of New Pasture Point, which was afterwards called Sherwood's Point, from which vessels were loaded for the West Indies. His children were : Lucy, who married Capt. David Barlow ; Philemon, who married Hepzibah Burr, a daughter of Justus Burr and granddaughter of Col. John Burr, and David, who never married.
No. 37. The Toilsome School-house, in Toilsome district, was occupied many years by a school-master who bore the honorable title of Master Wheeler. He married Dolly, daughter of Deacon David Sherman ; had a daughter named Dolly, and one named Eunice. Deacon Sherman died in 1753, after which Master Wheeler occupied his house. Also, he had another daughter, who married Abijah Beard- sley. She drew a pension for her husband's service in the Revolution. She lived to a good old age at Fresh Pond, near the brick house now occupied by Joseph Seeley, Esqr.
No. 38. Samuel Brinsmade. a cabinet-maker, mar- ried Peninah Burritt, and had no children. He was the only
' His name was John Wheeler.
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very proud man in the parish ; was a fine looking man. He cultivated peaches, pears and apples for market.
No. 39. Dea. Henry Rowland, a farmer, married Dea. David Sherman's daughter Tamar in 1718. He was the grandson of Henry Rowland, who came to Fairfield from the county of Essex in England. He was chosen Deacon of the Stratfield Church in 1756 and died 1775 at the age of 84 years. Rev. David Sherman Rowland, of Windsor, Conn., was his son. Dea. Rowland B. Lacey, of Bridgeport, is also a descendant, through another son Edmund.
No. 40. Dea. David Sherman was a large farmer and one of the first generation of settlers in said parish. His house and homestead were on the top of Toilsome Hill-a large, two-story dwelling with a long back roof, built in the best style of his day, with a high porch in front and small diamond windows, set in lead sash. He was one of the first nine male members of the first Congregational Church. He was the son of Mr. Samuel Sherman, of Stratford, who came from the town of Dedham, county of Essex in England.
Old Mr. Elijah Burritt, when he was 96 years of age, told me that David Sherman was the first deacon of said Church, that he had been well acquainted with him ; was at his fune- ral, and that he was gifted in prayer and took the lead in the meetings when the pastor was absent ;" and was very much esteemed in the parish. His gravestone, standing in the western part of the old burying-place, bears the titled inscrip- tion, "Capt. David Sherinan." He had nine daughters, all of whom were married and appear to have been well settled in life.
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No. 41. Samuel Edwards was a farmer. His son, Shelton Edwards, when a lad about fifteen years of age, was clerk in the store of David and John DeForest ; the store then standing on the corner of State and Water streets in Bridgeport in 1796. In the autumn of the year about ten o'clock in the evening, young Edwards was murdered in the store by his skull being broken in three places by a shoe-
1 Esquire Isaac Sherman says this.
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maker's hammer, and his throat cut from ear to ear. His body was then wrapped in his bed clothes and put under the counter and the store set on fire. David and John DeForest were young men unmarried, and affirmed that their store was robbed of over one thousand dollars in hard money at the time of said murder. There was no bank-note currency at that time. No clue to said murder has ever been found. The store was soon discovered to be on fire, and the fire was put out before much damage was done. A piece of broadcloth was found under a lot of boards near the store. This casualty caused the failure of the DeForest brothers. David went to the Brazils, where he made a fortune and obtained the title Don David DeForest. He married a Miss Wooster and re- turned to New Haven, where he built a house.
No. 42. Ebeneser Hall was a farmer, and married for his second wife the widow of Capt. Thaddeus Bennett. Seth Hall was his son, and was a poet and post-rider for many years. He and his father were both old men when they died. The Halls in this parish appear to be a long-lived race.
No. 43. Nathaniel Sherwood was an early settler and a farmer. He was the son of Samuel, the son of Matthew. He lived on Toilsome Hill, and married one of the nine daughters of Dea. David Sherman. He had one son, Samuel, and a daughter, Eunice, who married Abijah Sterling.
No. 44. Gurdon Sherwood was a farmer and married Hannah Hawley. He died young, leaving no children. Hle died with the small-pox taken the natural way. His widow married a Mr. Penfield of Fairfield. She gave in her will one share of Connecticut bank stock to the First Congregational Society in Bridgeport, the interest or dividend to be applied to the use of said society forever. She was a member of this Church, and died aged about 83 years.
No. 45. Capt. John Edwards was a native of Scot- land, and came to this country about the year 1700. He was an officer in the army in Scotland when he was taken pris- oner, and as he was a rebel against the government he was sentenced to be shot, and on the way to the place of execu-
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tion, guarded by a company of light horse, he made his escape and hid himself under a bridge. They searched for him under the bridge where he was, but did not find him. From this place he made his way to a vessel, on board of which he came to this country. It is supposed that he landed at Black Rock harbor, and that he built his house on Chestnut Hill, the country being a wilderness, so that he would be concealed from any ships that might be looking after him. From his dwelling he could overlook Black Rock harbor. He was known by the title of Duke, but on his gravestone he bears the title of Captain. He died aged 88 years, about the year 1740, and is buried with his wife Mary in the old Stratfield burying-place, near the southwest corner.
He gave a silver cup to the first Congregational Church in Bridgeport that is now used in the communion service.
He is the ancestor of nearly all by the name of Edwards in this region of country. " He was," says Esquire Sherman, " grandfather to my grandmother, Betty Edwards, who mar- ried my grandfather, John French. So that I am part Scotch blood and part English."
No. 46. Dea. Abel Seeley was a farmer, but left no descendants. He left his estate to Capt. Elijah Peet, his adopted son.
No. 47. Jackson's Mill. The first settler here by the name of Jackson was Henry, who came from Watertown, Mass. The family was prominent and somewhat numerous in the early period of Fairfield and Stratfield, though now scarcely represented.
Henry Jackson, who sold his Fairfield Mill to Thomas ' Morehouse, probably erected a mill on this location about 1667. Mary Jackson was admitted to full fellowship in the Stratfield Church from the Church in Norwalk, Conn., Dec. 20, 1697.
In the Acts of the General Assembly, May, 1701, defining the boundary line of Stratfield Parish : It is ordered and enacted, "That the line to be the west boundary of the said plantation shall run so that it may include within their bounds one Moses Jackson, Miller, his housing and lands, and run on the west side of old Jackson's lotts, viz., pasture, building lot and long lot."
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In Fairfield Town Record, under date Aug. 14, 1731, Moses Jackson is said to have " had quiet possession of his mill for fifteen years last past." In the list of Householders, made by Rev. Samuel Cooke, in 1733 or 1734, the following names occur: Moses Jackson, John Jackson, widow Gabriel Jackson, John Jackson, David Jackson, Sen., David Jackson, Jr. The lands of this family seem to have been located on the westerly side of Truck street.
No. 48. Silas Hawley was a farmer and has no de- scendants now living in this parish. His house was owned and occupied by Amos Burr, Esqr.
No. 49. John Nichols was a farmer, blacksmith and inn-keeper. General Washington stopped at his house as he was going to meet General Lafayette at Rhode Island. Oppo- site to his house there is now standing one of the mile stones
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BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S MILE-STONE.
erected by Benjamin Franklin before the Revolution, when he was Colonial Postmaster General. He measured the old
8 Book B., page 520. 8
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country stage-road from Philadelphia to Boston, by an ingen- ious device affixed to his carriage as he passed over the road, which marked the miles, and at the end of each mile he caused a stone to be erected with the number of miles from one important place to another, cut on each stone.
The Nichols house is still standing on the corner of said road, and the public parade ground is near it and near the old burying-place.
John Nichols owned a slave named Tom, who ran away from his master and was never recovered.
No. 50. William Burr, Esq., was a merchant and justice of the peace, and a descendant of Col. John Burr. The site of his house is now occupied by the new house of Sherwood Sterling, Esq.
No. 51. Joseph Strong, Esq., was a farmer, and jus- tice of the peace. His children were John Strong, the only son ; and daughters Deborah, Sarah, Charity, Ann, and Com- fort. Deborah married David Sterling. Charity married Ira Jones, the first printer of a paper called the American Tele- graph, in Bridgeport, in company with Lazarus Beach, about the year 1796.
No, 52. Rev. Robert Ross was born in America, in 1726, of Irish parents ; was graduated at Princeton College in 1751, receiving his diploma from President Burr, and or- dained pastor of the Stratfield Church, November 28, 1753, and labored as such for more than forty-two years. He was a strong Whig in the Revolution, and when the first military company was raised in 1775 to go to Canada to take Fort St. John's it was mustered in his door yard. where they all kneeled down while he offered prayer, and I believe it to be a fact that all of the company returned in safety, says Esquire Sherman.
He published a sermon, from these words : " And there were great searchings of heart for the divisions of Reuben." He also made a grammar and spelling book for schools.
He was about six feet in height, well-proportioned, and of rather imposing presence. He wore a wig, cocked hat,
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ruffled bosomed shirt, black coat, vest and breeches, with white topped boots, cramped so as to set tight on the instep. As he was once on a journey he got them wet, and, having pulled them off to dry could not get them on again; there- fore he tied them with his mail straps to his saddle, and on his way he met parson Bellamy, when they commenced the old dispute about foreordination and free will.
Parson Ross was of the Old Light party, and was consid- ered orthodox, and parson Bellamy was of the New Light party. "Now," said parson Ross, "You think you can reconcile foreordination with free will?" "Yes." " Well, you can even tell why my boots are tied on behind me?" This he could not do, and in it parson Ross had an illustra- tion, for he believed in election, foreordination and free will, but denied the power of man to reconcile them.
Parson Ross, on a certain occasion preached a sermon before the Association ; and tradition reports that at the close of the sermon he said : " My brethren, we are charged in the text to be wise as the serpent and harmless as the dove, but I think we ought to be cunninger than the serpent, which is the Devil; we ought to outwit him."
Parson Ross was a slave-holder and owned one African slave by the name of Pedro. He held no slaves after the Revolution.
He resigned his pastorate April 30, 1796, and died August 29, 1799, of a fever, and within twenty-four hours Mrs. Ross died of the same disease, and they were both buried in the same grave. Their only son then living, Merrick Ross, died nine days after, and was buried also in the same grave. He had an elder son who was drowned in his father's well. He also had a daughter Sarah.
No. 53. Benjamin Fayerweather was a farmer, and was the owner of Fayerweather's Island, where Black Rock light house now stands. He had one son, Nathaniel, who married Charity Suinmers, and they had, James, Daniel, and Polly, who married William Eaton. Nathaniel Fayerweather was taken prisoner by the British on Long Island Sound and confined in prison in what was afterward Dr. Spring's old
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Brick Church, which was then in possession of the enemy and was used as a prison. He died of small-pox in this prison. His widow died in this parish aged over 90 years. She was a convert of the Rev. Samuel Blatchford, and was a mother in Israel.
No. 54. First Protestant Episcopal Church in the parish. The Episcopalians in the parish of Stratfield, erected in 1748, a small frame church with a steeple surmounted with a gilt weather-cock; that device being used as emblematical of the crowing of the cock when the Apostle Peter denied his Lord.
Said Church was opened for service in 1749, and called St. John's Church. It was built near Church lane, about a quarter of a mile west of the Pequonnock meeting-house. It was not finished until 1789, when it was consecrated by the Right Rev. Bishop Seabury.
This Church was taken down in the year 1801 and rebuilt at the city of Bridgeport on the corner of State and Broad streets, retaining the same name, and it being the same church that is now, in 1856, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Gurdon S. Coit. The Rev. Philo Shelton was its first pastor, who commenced his labors in 1779, and died in 1825, aged about 70 years.
The principal proprietors in building this Stratfield Church were Col. John Burr, John Holburton, Timothy Wheeler, Joseph Seeley, John Nichols, Richard Hall and Samuel Beardsley. The land on which the Church stood was opened to commons on the east side of Church lane, and con- tained about half an acre.
No. 55. John Holburton, from England, was a farmer. He had children, Thomas, William, and one daughter, who married Capt. Stephen Summers, of Cow Hill. She was the mother of one son, Stephen, who married Betsey Young, and of four daughters,-Charity, who married Capt. Wilson Hawley; Polly, who married Capt. Abijah Hawley ; Grizell, who married Capt. Aaron Hawley, and Ruth, who married Mr. Nathaniel Wade.
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No. C. The Parsonage Lot, containing three acres of land at Pequonnock, was given to the Stratfield Society by the wife of the Rev. Robert Ross, for the use and benefit of the pastor for the time being. The deeds are recorded in the Society's book, and in Fairfield and Stratford town records.
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No. 56. Samuel Cable, a cooper by trade and inn- keeper, was a large, strong man and lived to a good old age. He had sons Samuel and William, and daughters Charity and Ann. Samuel Cable, Sen., came here from a place called Compo, near Saugatuck. He married, first, Mary Porter, of Stratford.
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