USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Stratford > A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 35
USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 35
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Then received of Mr. Stephen Middlebrook, the sum of seven pounds, three shillings and ten pence, lawful money, for the purpose of paying the expenses of transporting a donation in provisions, from the parish of North Stratford to the Continental soldiers of that parish, Genl. Washington's Headquarters.
pr. JAMES BEEBEE, Captain."
* Manuscript of Major L. N. Middlebrook of Bridgeport.
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Birdsey ; provided they thus continue on duty the term of two months, or are sooner discharged, and that the fines drawn from the delinquents or to be recovered from them be appropriated for the aforementioned purpose.
October 12, 1778. Voted that Mess8 Capt. Samuel Beers and John Brooks Esqr. be and they are hereby appointed a committee to receive and take into their stores and keeping a certain quantity of salt, supposed to be about seventy-five bushels, the property of the town, and hold and dispose of same in the following way and manner (viz:) to deal and deliver out said salt to every society as nearly as may be according to their respective lists, and that a committee be appointed in each society to receive their proportion of said salt, barter and exchange the same to the inhabitants of said societies respectively for necessary provisions, &c., and no man shall be allowed to purchase by exchange more than half a bushel of said salt, and some less as their circumstances may be, at the discretion of the committee who deal out and exchange said salt ; and the avails of said salt shall be appro- priated to the support of the soldiers' families and poor of the town as the law requires; and said committees to render their accounts to the next town meeting of their doings thereon.
" And for the first society, John Brooks, Esqr., for the society of Ripton Mr. Ebenezer Blackman, for North Strat- ford Mr. Sylvanus Starling, for Stratfield Mr. Wm. Wardon, for New Stratford Capt. Samuel Blackman, and for North Fairfield, part, Capt. John Sherwood, are chosen a committee to receive the proportionable part of salt belonging to each society according to their respective list."
The year 1779 was one of great discouragement to the Colonies because many things seemed to forebode defeat to the objects for which the strife had continued for four years. In July Governor Tryon came up the Sound with several hundred soldiers to burn and destroy the villages along the shore. On the 7th of that month they plundered New Haven and on the 11th burned Fairfield.
Some of the Stratford people were greatly frightened, and engaged in an effort to secure the place against future
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calamity, by entreaty, by circulating a subscription paper, with the following heading :
"We, the subscribers, being exceedingly desirous, if possible, to save the town from the destruction it is now threatened with by the invasion of the British fleet and army, do hereby request and desire Doctor William Samuel John- son, Captain Philip Nichols, Captain George Benjamin, and Mr. Ebenezer Allen to use their influence, either in person or by letter, with the British Admiral and General to save the town. And we do hereby promise and most sacredly engage to support them in the execution of their design, and to protect and defend them from any insult, injury, or abuse, either in their persons, properties, or families, on account of their making such application : as witness our hands this 12th day of July, 1779."4
Intelligence of these proceedings soon reached General Oliver Wolcott's headquarters at Horseneck, who sent Col. Jonathan Dimon to Stratford to make inquiry, and upon his report the General gave him the following order :
"Sir,-Your favour of yesterday is received. I shall make no observations upon the tendency, or rather the conclusive effect of those men's conduct who could wish to supplicate the clemency of an enemy whose unparalleled barbarity has put a dishonor on human nature. To a mind enlightened by science, and which views acts with their consequences, it is impossible that it should not comprehend that the step which was intended to be taken must, by inevitable consequences, involve in it the most abject sub- mission to a tyranny rendered, if possible, ten times more detestable than it was before, by the very means by which it was designed to be established. These are times when the usual forms of proceeding are to give place to a regard for the public safety, and the love of country is to be preferred at all times to the friendship of youth.
" You are therefore, Sir, directed to send, under guard or otherwise, Dr. William Samuel Johnson, of Stratford, to the town of Farmington, and deliver him to the care and custody
4 Life and Times of Wm. Samuel Johnson, 113.
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of the civil authority of that town, and request of them that they would secure or keep him under such proper restraints as to prevent his having any correspondence with the enemy."
The further record of this matter is as follows, as given by the Rev. Dr. Beardsley :
" A detachment of troops was sent to carry out this order, and Johnson was made a prisoner, but conscious of his innocence, and wishing to avoid a public disturbance, he persuaded the officer to accept his word of honor that he would proceed at once to Farmington, and place himself voluntarily in the custody of the selectmen. One of that board was John Treadwell, an acquaintance of his, who declared, after consultation with his colleagues, that they had no business with him, and that if they put him under any restraint it would be a false imprisonment. Johnson said he knew this, but suggested that, for their sakes and his, it was necessary that they should do something; and proposed that they should permit him to pass to the Gov- ernor and Council of Safety, in whose hands at that time was lodged the military authority of the Colony, and whose decision alone would quiet the people."
"Having given his parole® and received his pass, he started on his solitary journey, and arriving at Norwich, where the Council of Safety sat, unfortunately found that body not in session. But he proceeded to Lebanon, the residence of Governor Trumbull, and stated his condition
5 Life and Times of Wm. Samuel Johnson, by the Rev. E. E. Beardsley, D.D., 115.
6 WVilliam Samuel Johnson's Parole.
" Farmington, July 23, A. D. 1779.
"I, the subscriber, having been sent by order from Major General Oliver Wolcott, as a prisoner to the care of the civil authority of the town of Farmington, and by them permitted to go from thence to Lebanon on business with his Excellency the Governor and Council of Safety, do pass my word that on said journey and business I will do nothing directly or indirectly against the interest and welfare of the United States ; and that, on my having accomplished said business, will return and put myself under the immediate care of said authority, unless his Excellency the Governor and Council of Safety, or his Excellency the Governor only, shall direct otherwise.
"Wm. Samuel Johnson."
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and the object of his appearing in his presence. As his Excellency knew his character well, and the principles on which he had acted from the beginning of the war, it did not require any urgent entreaty to enlist his sympathy and gain his favor. He informed Dr. Johnson that the Council would meet again in two days, when he could appear, and the matter would be laid before them, and the result commu- nicated. The Council met, and his own statement went to show that he had no inclination to aid the enemy ; that he had encouraged the enlistment of soldiers ; contributed of his property for that purpose, hired his man to serve for him during the war, and was ready to take the oath of fidelity required by law.
" After hearing the case, the Governor was advised to permit him, until further orders, to return and remain in Stratford, which place he speedily reached to the great joy of his family and friends."
While Dr. Johnson was on his journey to the Governor and returning, the town of Stratford was also in great com- motion, as seen in the following records :
" At a town meeting specially warned and convened at the town-house in Stratford July 21, 1779, for the purpose of exculpating the town from the imputations of some scandal- ous reports spread abroad to the disadvantage of the town, purporting that the people were about carrying on a traitor- ous correspondence with the enemy, and laying down their arms and submitting to the British Government, &c., Daniel Fairchild Esqr. moderator of said meeting :
" Voted unanimously that an address be made to the public for the purpose abovesaid,-and Capt. Ebenezer Coe, Samuel Adams, Esqr. Stephen Burroughs, Esqr. Abraham Brinsmade, Esqr. and Capt. Blakman were appointed a committee to prepare a draft for that purpose and lay it before the meeting in their next adjournment. The meeting adjourned to the 29th instant one o'clock afternoon to North Stratford meeting-house. Test Robert Fairchild, Clerk.
July 29, 1779. The meeting convened and opened at North Stratford meeting-house. Daniel Fairchild, Esqr. moderator. The above committee made their Report which
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was read, received and approved and ordered to be published in New Haven paper with the names of those who had sub- scribed a certain subscription paper as recited in said report now on file, and on motion suggesting that Daniel Judson, Esqr., John Brooks, Esqr. and Mr. George Lewis had so far encouraged the signing said paper recited in said report that their names ought to be inserted in the paper, the said Brooks and Lewis shewed to the meeting to their satisfac- tion, that they were not at all concerned in procuring said paper, nor encouraging the signing thereof, and were dis- charged by the meeting.
The said Judson acknowledged that he had been too forward in encouraging people to sign, but without any design of making a confession to the prejudice of his country, but was innocent of any ill design, and was still a fast friend of the cause of America; and desired the town would over- look his misconduct and receive him into friendship again.
Whereupon voted that the said Daniel Judson, Esqr. should have liberty to insert his name in said paper, and his reflection or leave it out at his election, and Stephen Bur- roughs, Esqr. was desired to fit said report and address for the press, and procure the same to be published."
Test, Robert Fairchild, T. Clerk.
Other Town Acts during the Revolution.
" Town meeting at the Town-house July 29, 1779. In said meeting Elisha Mills, Esqr., Daniel Bennitt, Esqr., Ste- phen Burroughs, Esqr. and Capt. John Benjamin were ap- pointed a committee to meet the county committee, at a time and place to be agreed upon by other towns in this county to consult and devise some proper method to prevent a further depreciation, to retrieve and establish the credit of our currency.
" Resolved in said meeting that Isaac Wells Shelton shall not reside in this town, and Robert Fairchild, Esqr. is desired to inform Hartford County Sheriff thereof.
" Resolved that no inimical person now with the enemy
7 See Appendix for a copy of this address.
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shall return and reside in the town, unless they have the approbation of the town in their meeting."
"Sept. 21, 1779. In said meeting the regulation of prices stated by Reading committee were read. The meeting then chose Capt. Isaiah Brown, Capt. Ebenezer Coe, William Pixlee, Capt. Nathaniel Wheeler, Sylvanus Starling, Stephen Middlebrook, Capt. Zechariah Coe, Capt. W'm. Worden, Abram Hubbell, Capt. Edmund Leavenworth, Benjamin Mallory, James Blakman, Ebenezer Blakman, Samuel Beard, Capt. Phineas Sherman, David Wells, Elijah Curtiss and Elle Curtiss a committee to assist and inform the informing officers of all breaches of laws that shall come to their knowl- edge, that all the wicked tribe of monopolizers, engrossers, forestallers and stock-jobbers who enhance the prices of the necessaries of life, and depreciate our currency, may be brought to condign punishment, that their pernicious prac- tices may be prevented.
" Test, Robert Fairchild, T. Clerk."
In June, 1780, the town in a meeting offered a bounty of "ten pounds lawful silver money, or gold, or provisions equivalent, to each effective man who would enlist and serve, for the town, in the Continental army until the last day of the next December.
" Voted, that each able bodied man who shall enlist to serve in the Continental army for three years or during the war shall receive a bounty, over and above the said ten pounds, of six pounds lawful silver money annually so long as he shall continue in said service."
"On November 20, 1780, the town voted, in addition to other taxes and supplies called for, "to provid 100 shirts, 100 pair of mittens, 100 pair of stockings and 100 pair of shoes, for our soldiers belonging to this town who are now in the service in the Connecticut lines."
In June, 1781, the town authorized the Recruiting com- mittee to fill the quota required "for six months or twelve months on the best terms they can ;" and the same directions were given the next year, and at this time-1782-for the first time the town voted to borrow money to pay the bounties.
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At the same meeting a tax of four pence hard money on the pound was voted, to raise beef supplies for the army, and the town appointed William Pixlee as collector to seize the cattle and have them estimated and delivered to the receiver, and give credit for them, or pay for them from the town treasury.
"Dec. 31, 1781. On motion it was voted that the select- men be directed carefully to inspect all persons who shall come into this town, and such as do not come well recom- mended as being friends to this country, or do not manifest the same to their satisfaction, they do forthwith warn out, and if need be prosecute them."
" December 31, 1781. On motion it was voted that the town treasurer be directed to pay unto John Daskum as a gratuity for his former service in the Continental army from the commencement of the war to the present day, the sum of six pounds, hard money, and to be paid as soon as may be."
Capt. Joseph Hull, whose son Isaac in 1812 became Commodore in the American Navy, was a native of Derby in this state, and commanded one of the light crafts known as " Commission boats," which were employed in privateering service against the British and Tories. Upon one occasion he ran down to an inlet or arm of the sound near Throg's Neck, where the British, then occupying New York, were accustomed to send vessels for firewood. He found there, under convoy of a schooner mounting ten guns, and of ninety tons burthen, which lay at anchor in the stream, a number of these wood vessels loading, and surprised and captured one of them that night. The two sailors who composed her crew, he caused to be secured below, and with his own men num- bering about fifty, carefully concealed on board, he weighed anchor with the captured craft, a little after midnight, and bore down upon the British gunboat.
When hailed his reply disarmed suspicion, although he was warned by the sentry to have a care or he would run foul of them. "No, no! room enough !" he replied, still keeping on his course till he ran under the bows of the
8 Maj. W. B. Hink's Historical Sketches, 42.
Revolutionary War. 389
schooner, and then with all his men leaped on board. After a short but fierce struggle, the schooner was taken ; when, with the two vessels, both under British colors, and his own boat hoisted upon the deck of one of them, Captain Hull set out upon his return, passed unsuspected three armed vessels of the enemy lying at anchor off Eaton's Neck, and brought his prizes safely into Black Rock harbor.
David Blakeman, of Monroe, a descendant of the Rev. Adam Blakeman, the first minister at Stratford, was among Captain Hull's crew upon this occasion. In the act of board- ing he was wounded across the abdomen by a cutlass so that his bowels protruded, but he held the wound together, laying quietly upon his back until the vessel was captured, when the British surgeon dressed his wound. He recovered and lived to be an old man. He, in consequence of a peculiarity of voice, was known as " Squeaking David.""
Zechariah Blakeman, of Stratford, another descend- ant from the same clergyman, was killed by the British on the day when Fairfield was burned, July 11, 1779. His body was brought to Stratford and laid under the shade of an old buttonwood tree on the green, where numbers of people flocked to view it. It was afterward buried in the graveyard near the place where a stone still bears the name of his son Abijah, who was lost at sea. The story goes that when Mr. Blakeman heard that the British had landed at Fairfield, he with others hurried to the scene of action, saying as he did so that he would bring down at least one red-coat, but was shot through the body by one of the enemy's sentinels while in the act of taking aim.
Washington passing through Stratford.
There are related10 two incidents connected with Wash- ington's progress through this part of the country during and subsequent to the Revolution. The first was related by Mrs. Alice Thompson, daughter of George Benjamin, of Stratford,
9 Manuscript of the Rev. B. L. Swan.
10 Maj. W. B. Hink's Historical Sketches, 44.
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History of Stratford.
who died in May, 1862, aged nearly ninety-eight years. She was eleven years of age in 1775, and may have been thirteen or fourteen when she saw Washington. On that occasion she with other girls were picking berries on the banks of the Housatonic near the ferry, when suddenly a cry was heard that soldiers were crossing the river, and presently an officer with a number of others landed and asked the ferryman to direct them to the tavern. He replied : " Yonder is the tavern-keeper's daughter," and calling Alice bade her show General Lafayette the way to her father's house. She walked beside his horse on their way to the village, Lafayette talking to her in his charming broken English, telling her of his chil- dren and asking if she would not like to go to France with him to see them. On reaching home she found that General Washington had arrived by the western road. Her mother thus unexpectedly called upon to provide a dinner for two such distinguished guests would have apologized for her fare, but was reassured by Washington, who told her that all he wanted was simple food, and that what was good enough for her family was good enough for him.
Mrs. Benjamin happened to have some potatoes, then a great rarity, and Alice obtained leave to place them upon the table. In doing this she stepped between Washington and Lafayette, when the former, placing his hand on her head and turning her face toward him asked her name, and after some other questions told her to be a good girl and gave her his blessing. It may easily be supposed that she never forgot the circumstances.
The late Mrs. Benjamin Fairchild, who died a few years since aged over eighty, well remembered another visit made by Washington to Stratford while on his tour through New England in October, 1789. At that time Capt. Alison Benja- min lived at Old Mill, about half-way down the western slope of the hill; the house is still standing and is owned by Mr. Judson. This Capt. Benjamin built a sloop of forty-five tons burthen called the " Hunter of Berkshire," in a field south of the road, just opposite his own door, although there was no water in sight. It was nearly completed when Washington passed, and surprised at the sight, he alighted, went over to
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the place and questioned the workmen as to how they ex- pected to get the vessel to the water. In reply, he was told that strong ways were to be built beneath the craft, to serve as a sled, upon which when winter came it would glide down hill to the creek, a branch of Yellow Mill stream, fully a quarter of a mile away, and in the spring would settle through the ice into the water, and by this plan it was sub- sequently launched.
A Midnight Party of Regulars.
In the winter of 1777 or 1778, the house of Joseph Lewis on Old Mill Hill was visited by a party of British soldiers on one of their plundering expeditions from Long Island. The family being roused at dead of night by the crashing in of the door, were unable to offer the slightest resistance, and there- fore the soldiers not only stripped the house of all supplies of food stored for the winter, but, taking the quilts and cover- ings from the beds, spread them on the floor and emptied into them the contents of all the drawers and chests, and even the wearing apparel in daily use, tied them and carried all away.
Mr. Lewis besought them to leave for his use the Conti- nental bills found in the till of one of the chests, as they could be no service to the regulars, but the officer in command tauntingly answered that they "would serve for a bonfire," and carried them with the rest of the booty.
Phebe Lewis, a girl of twelve years, had that winter fin- ished her first spinning stint. As she lay in her trundle-bed while the soldiers were collecting the goods, she saw the large roll of wool, dyed dark blue, ready for the weaving, tossed upon the heap of plunder. It rolled to the edge near- est her bed, and as the soldier on guard turned his back for an instant, she grasped it, drew it into the bed and lay upon it. Of all the family stores and supplies this was the only article saved. The occupants of the beds were left shivering under a single sheet, and in the morning were fed and clothed by the charity of their neighbors.
Jabez Huntington Tomlinson, a student of Yale, and engaged to be married to Rebecca Lewis, was spending the
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night at the house. The soldiers on leaving ordered him to rise, dress and accompany them. He was taken to Long Island, thence to New York, and imprisoned in the Old Sugar House. After a confinement of nearly two years, he suc- ceeded, through the connivance of a guard, in sending a letter to Sir Henry Clinton, detailing the circumstances of his cap- ture and imprisonment, and praying for release. Clinton, surprised to receive so scholarly an epistle from one of the despised Yankees, granted the young man an interview and subsequently allowed him to return to his friends.11
Gen. David Wooster, son of Abraham and grandson of Edward Wooster, one of the first settlers of Derby, was born at Oronoke, in Stratford, March 2d, 1710-II. His father, Abraham Wooster, from Derby. settled at Stratford about 1706, in the southeast corner of what is now Huntington, where he remained until about 1720, when he settled at Quaker's Farms, in Derby, where he died.
David Wooster was graduated at Yale College in 1738. Something more would probably have been known of his early life but for the burning of all his family papers by the British when they pillaged New Haven in 1779.
When the Spanish war broke out in 1739 he was em- ployed as first lieutenant, and in 1745 as captain of a coast guard.
In 1746, he married, in New Haven, the beautiful and accomplished daughter of Thomas Clapp, president of Yale College; but neither the society of a charming companion, his love of classic lore, nor his youthful inclination for a learned profession could restrain his devotion to the interests of his country. He continued in the service and was ap- pointed captain in Colonel Burr's regiment, which formed a part of the troops sent by Connecticut in the celebrated suc- cessful expedition against Louisburg in 1745.
For a time he was retained among the colonial troops to keep possession of the conquest he had assisted in effecting, and he was soon after elected among the American officers to take charge of a cartel ship for France and England. He was
11 Manuscript of Mrs. Rufus W. Bunnell.
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not permitted to land in France, but was received in England with distinguished honor.
The young American officer, as he was called, was pre- sented to the King and became a favorite of the court and people. The King admitted him into the regular service and presented him with a captaincy in Sir William Pepperell's regiment, with half-pay for life. His likeness at full length was taken and transferred to the periodicals of that day. The peace of Aix-la-chapelle, which took place in 1748, re- stored Louisburg to France, and the young American officer to his home and family.
In the French war of 1756, he was appointed colonel of a regiment raised in Connecticut, and afterwards to the com- mand of a brigade, in which station he remained until the peace of 1763, when he returned again to his family.
Soon after this he engaged in mercantile business in New Haven, and held the office of his majesty's collector of the customs of that port.
When the Revolutionary troubles began, although an officer in the British regular army, entitled to half-pay for life, he did not hesitate to take sides with his native country, and his pen and sword were actively employed in the defense of its rights.
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