USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > Black Rock, seaport of old Fairfield, Connecticut, 1644-1870; > Part 4
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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
without ceremony. The inhabitants were shy, but when they got warm, the Americans told them they were going to New York.
"No" said the old man, "I know who you are,-you are prisoners from the ship, but fear nothing. The officer you saw has gone for a guard, but cannot be back in two hours,-have something to eat."
Having partook of some refreshment, he piloted them to a Stack where they staid till the search was over, and then retired to a Barn where the Old man fed them all next day, & the succeeding night sent his son to show them where they could cross the Sound which they did, steering by the stars-
They never could hear of their friend the Old man afterwards, whom it would have delighted them to reward.
While in Prison, their allowance was scarce enough to keep body & soul together-their bedclothing was so scant that onehalf had to walk in their shirts while the rest slept, & those that were delicate perished. In those long & dismal nights they were enveloped in total darkness, being allowed no candles.
(Related to me by T. Bartram, brother of the Captain.)
March 18-Capt. Fry & Lieut. Willard & twenty soldiers went to Town, having been here 46 days. (Garrison of the Fort.)
March 27-I begun to study Latin Grammar with Mr. Eliot. I began my studies & so large a portion of the town consumed, the Cats & Rats took to the houses that remained in great numbers. Our master put down his hand to stroke one of the rats, thinking him to be poor Horace, his favorite dog.
When the town was burnt, some were for dismissing their Pastor that they could not pay him, but he courageously told them that he would continue with them even if they gave him nothing.
He was a fine scholar in the Latin tongue and a very social & merry in company-his salary was 420 dollars per Annum.
(This Year there was not any Rain from the 19th of May till the 7th of August.)
April 21-Taking up a Crib, we killd 50 Rats.
May 19-Dark Day-Candles were lighted, & fowls went to roost. The Darkness was greater to the Eastward & less to the Westward. The Clouds appeared of a yellow colour like brass.
July 16-Capt. Whitney's Vessel was carried off from Mill River & himself murdered coming out of the Cabbin.
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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
Capt. (Nehemiah) Whitney at Mill River was sleeping unsuspiciously in his Cabin. Hearing a noise on deck & coming up, he was knocked down & killed. This, though a slight affair contributed to keep up that continued state of fear & alarm which lasted (excepting the hard winter) for several years. What increased the danger more was a number of Tories from every town who could pilot (and often did) the enemy into every place they pleased to come.
Newtown was more particularly famous for these wretches,-the Whigs from Fairfield went & took their fowls & turkeys by force (in a mob) & brought them home.
Greenfield Hill was a place among others where a Liberty Pole was set up & the throng drank confusion to King George & hurra for Liberty !
The Tories by night cut it down-The Whigs set it up again & plated it with iron as high as they could reach, but the Tories with a ladder sawed it off above the plates.
Aug. 17-Capt. (Caleb) Brewster returned from one of his customary cruises & brought news that they had killed Gorham Smith of a party that attempted to take their Boats & lost one of their own taken prisoner.
About this time a large number of Privateers from 4 to 12 Guns of the Enemy's & ours are cruising in the Sound & take almost every unarmd Vessel that enters it-and when opportunity offers, plunder on both sides-
It was customary for the enemy to come from L. Island in Whaleboats (sharp at each end and manned with 8 to 10 oars) These, under cover of night, might be drawn up into some unfrequented nook while the rascals plundered & if pursued they could crawl off & soon be out of gunshot. Sometimes they would bring British goods and among them a species of velvet called Corduroy, from which this was long called the Corduroy trade.
Captain Caleb Brewster of Black Rock with 3 whale-boats about midway of the Sound against Fairfield, met 3 of the enemy's boats, when an engagement commenced. The boat that opposed Brewster had a small piece & was leeward; there was a fresh gale & Brewster reserving his fire till within 8 or 10 rods of Hoyt, poured in a broadside & then another & boarded; there was a large Irishman in the enemy's boat, who walked several times fore and aft, brandishing his broad- sword till Hasselton, a mighty fellow from the State of Massachusetts, snatched it from him & cut his throat from ear to ear; he died immediately.
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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
Capt. Brewster being wounded was several times struck on the back with the steel rammer of a gun by Hoyt. On board of Hoyt's boat all but one were killed or wounded. In Brewster's boat 4 were wounded- one (Judson Sturges) mortally.
Another of our boats had a swivel (gun) which killed 2 men at one shot in another of the enemy's boats & they immediately surrendered : the enemy's third boat escaped.
Capt. Brewster was also at the capture of Thomas, who commanded a privateer of the enemy mounting 14 guns, & manned with 35 men. Our vessel had about 70 men. The enemy hailed & ordered them to bring to.
"Aye, aye, presently."
"Bring to, I say."
"Aye, aye," -- and running their bowsprit across them about amid- ships, the sailing master, Hezekiah Gold exclaimed, "Strike, strike, damn you, or I'll sink you to hell !"
Of the enemy 9 were killed & 5 wounded, not one of ours was hurt; they were taken off Stratford-point & carried into Black Rock; they had taken 2 row-boats bearing the Continental flag that morning & had the men in their hold.
1162747
Sept. 27-The Sun appeared like a Gold Ring.
Oct. 29-2 Rainbows appeared in a Cloud & those vanishing 2 more appeard .-
Nov. 21-8 boats & 100 men under Major Talmadge went to Long Island.
Nov. 23-Returnd, having burnt 400 tons of hay, took a fort with 50 men & got some plunder.
Nov. 28-Came to Mill River 20 Men-took 3 sheep & an Ox & cut the throats of 2 more which they left.
Dec. 9-60 Men landed at Compo-The mail was taken from Stratfield.
1781
Feb. 1-A Boat of the Enemy's dragged across the Beach.
Feb. 18 -- A Boat came to Mill River & took 2 of the Inhabi- tants Prisoners, but 2 more Boats coming in, they left theirs & ran into the woods, & the People from Town went down & took Samll Osborn & another.
March 1-This week the Enemy burnt 2 houses & a Barn,- one of them belonged to Dr. Hill.
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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
March 4-They burnt 2 tide mills on Mill River belonging to the Perrys, their party consisted of 30 in 4 boats.
March 18-Men on Long Beach saw a Boat with something pild up like goods & fird 3 rounds.
March 22-A Boat came to Mill River & plundered 2 houses & took 2 prisoners.
March 26-Eben Bartram Junr. came in a flag from the Prison Ship at New York.
April 18-Capt. Slater fell in with 7 of the Enemy's whale- boats. He fird at them (& they at him) with 6 men & 2 swivels till he got into Newfield. The guards at the upper Wharf fird upon the Boats twice with the Cannon when they went off.
May 16-2 of the enemy's Brigs drove Capt. Sturges in & went off by Stratford Point, fird ashore & killd Cattle,- went to Mill River & took off 37 sheep & 15 lambs of Thaddeus Burr's at Kinsey's point, with 4 horses. 4 of our people collected & fird upon them as they went off & they left 7 cattle dead on the shore.
May 31-At Daybreak, 4 of the Enemy's armed Vessels landed at Compo 200 (men) where they drove on board a number of Cattle, Sheep & Swine, & burnt the Guard House. Our folks drove them off at noon with the loss of one man killed & 2 wounded.
June 27-Near this time a great number of Whale Boats go to Long Island to plunder.
July 11-3 French frigates,-one of them 44 Guns, & a Brig, & a Sloop came off against this Harbor, got some pilots & went to Long Island.
July 12-They returned, having effected nothing.
Aug. 25-2 Sloops & a Brig having taken a Guard at West Haven, coming off by Stratford point, the Brig overset and the Hatches being open, immediately sunk-2 of the Prisoners were drowned with some of the hands. Capt. David Hawley took her Shrouds & rigging off-
March 26-Ebenezer Bartram, Jr .- cf. entry, 1780.
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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
her Masts were seen some time at low water till an easterly storm took them away-
The two prisoners drove ashore about 9 days after, near the place where they were captured.
Sept. 1-A great flight of pigeons-30 dozen taken at once. Nov. 6-Off "The Cows" a vessel upset-6 men drowned.
Dec. 7-A Schooner concernd in illicit trade came in-Capt. Jarvis made her a prize.
1782
Jan. 31-19 Slays came at once to trade. Salt is 4 Dollars a Bushel.
March-7 persons went from Black Rock to Inoculation.
May 1-A privateer of 8 guns takes many Vessels on this shore-Capt. Hobby stove his Vessel.
May 14-David Patchin's house struck.
June 24-Mr. Edwards' wife drowned. Capt. Parks with 10 Guns & 21 men fird at a boat with 10 men-it is thought they killed most of them-off Black Rock.
Let the noise of War no more be nam'd There is a Peace once more proclaim'd.
Four Years at Yale 1781-1785
After 17 months' preparatory discipline (4 books of Virgil, 4 of Tullys Orations in Latin, & four evangelists in Greek, being then required) I entered Yale with about 100 men-being the largest class that at that time ever entered-in the year 1781, under the administration of Ezra Stiles, S.T.D., an aged man, who when abroad wore a large white wig, & used an eyeglass, being near-sighted.
Him to honor (raining or not) we must never approach nearer than ten rods without pulling off our hats; & five rods for a tutor.
The first year after entrance they are called Freshmen-Second year Sophomores-Third Year Juniors-Fourth year Seniors. After four years they take the first degree A.B. or Bachelor of Arts-sometime after they take the second degree A.M. or Master of Arts.
If a scholar be absent from prayers, which commence at the ringing of the bell morning & evening at six o'clock, non audivi campanum, habui amicum, or habui special negotium-which is received as an excuse if it does not occur too often-if it does, he is fined.
They recite three lessons a day at morning, noon & evening.
At meal time in the morning everyone at the ringing of the bell runs with a tea dish-at noon with a knife & fork, & at supper with a spoon. Their food is often indifferent, but cheap (then) only $1.25 a week.
Their hours of relaxation are from 6 till 9, from 12 till 2, & from 5 to 6.
There are three weeks' vacation in January-3 weeks in May-& six beginning in September. Each room in College is furnished with two studios-(or closets) where the students keep their books & pursue their studies.
And as every place furnished some temptation, there is always some female of easy virtue in Town that the Scholars are acquainted with. At the period of my residence there was two-Mima Wedger & Sal Umberfield.
Mima was about 15, well looking, small & a good figure-I have often heard her from her window as I passed on to College from the long wharf.
Sal was a tall brunette-the Scholars called her "Copper Bottom" ---
My father when I was young took great pains to instill into me a hatred of such characters and a proper respect for virtuous females & in this he succeeded fully-
Perhaps no person had a greater antipathy than myself to immodest females of this sort-A young lady whom I tenderly loved lost all command of herself-but the temptation did not succeed.
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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
1781
Sept. 12-The first public Commencement that had been for 7 years-
Sept. 13-I was examin'd & entered-Our Class contains 100-the largest ever known.
Expences fitting for College £
s. d.
2s per week to Mr. Eliot 65 weeks
6/ 10/ 0
An English Tully 1/ 0/ 0
65 weeks board at E.S at 7 sh 22/ 15/ 0
Total Expence
30/ 5/ 0
YALE COLLEGE is 100 feet in length & 30 in breadth built with Brick 3 story high & has 32 rooms & as many apartments in ye Cellar .- Near it stands ye Chappel where divine service is performed.
D. Ezra Stiles is the present President-
The idle Scholars have many tricks to evade their not over-attentive instructors as English leaves, Extracts, etc.
If you have playd, excuse will save you For you may answer non paravi If that won't do it will avail it To have a friend to say non valet.
Mr. Atwater our Tutor at his departure made us a Speech to thank us for a hat we presented to him .-
Some of ye Scholars use us very severe in sending us at errands above a mile in length .-
At ye 1st entrance of a Freshman into this College, he is sure to be ordered up & disciplin'd or as the Sophimores term it Trimming
They endeavour to find some occasion of animadversion against them which they are not long in quest of as he is generally too free with his Superiors-runs in at the Gate before them-sets without leave- or something-
After he has committed the Crime they assemble a dozen good Voices & summon him with a stamp & a step up to my Room-
He entering trembles & is discomposd & 'tis ten to one commits a greater offence than the other .- perhaps he forgets to make a bow, then they all fetch a stamp, asking him what he meant to enter so without bowing,-if he bows to one, the rest are affronted & ask him
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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
if he likes that one better than all the rest-if he bows in an awkward manner they take great pains to shew him-keeping him bowing for half an hour almost to the floor.
They ask him what he was ordered up for, "for insulting the Sophs"-Well what did you insult them for"-
I say you did, don't contradict me, tell me now whether you did or not .- I don't think I did-That is not my question you are obliged to answer all questions, answer me immediately-I didn't mean to-Did you ever do anything without a meaning-
If he confesses they tell him there is 4 parts to a confession-1st to confess ye Crime-2nd to be sorry for it-3d to ask forgiveness & 4th to promise Reformation-
Sometimes a verbal, sometimes a written confession answers.
If he is obstinate they put ye fists in his face, keep him constantly turning around to see those that are behind him-blow tobacco smoke in his face, make him hold a candle, toe a crack, bow to his shadow & when his back is turnd they are continually going in and out to trim him for not bowing,-two or three talking to him at once while he all passive obedience & non-resistance is obliged to stand mute & answer only to the questions they ask him-
In short a Soph is absolute & despotic as ye great Mogul-
The freshmen in ye turn revenge upon them sometimes falling down & breaking ye bottles & they have leave to drink at every corner .-
A few nights since I put round sticks on ye stairs which two of them stepping on, they rolld over & tumbled them headlong to the bottom .---
We pun upon ye word Sophimore, deriving it from ye Greek Sophos & Moros i.e wise fools.
They will silence a common Man in a few Minutes that he shall not have a word to say .-
A few days ago as they were trimming me-Says one-I would trim you if I was not sick-Don't you love to be trim'd-
-No Sir-
-Are you glad I am sick-
-No sir-
-There's one lie says he-
-No sir-
-There's two-
-I didn't mean to lie-
-There's three, for you cannot do anything without a meaning.
FRESHMAN LAWS
Every Freshman after his admission into this College is obliged to conform himself to the following Laws instituted for the preservation of decency & good order .-
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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
It is ye special duty of ye Seniors to teach ye freshmen ye usages & customs of College & they may order them to attend when they think fit .-
Every freshman shall attend, answer, & behave submissively .-
The Senior shall not detain them more than 5 minutes after study time unless by permission-
The freshmen are forbidden to wear their hats in ye front door yards of ye President's or Professor's houses or within 10 rods of ye Presi- dent or 5 rods of a Tutor, nor in College Yard till May vacation-
No Freshman shall wear a Gown or walk with a cane, nor appear out of his Room without being fully drest-And whenever a Freshman speaks to his Superiors or is spoken to he shall keep off his hat till he is bidden to put it on-nor shall a Freshman play with ye upper Classes without being askd .-
A Freshman shall rise when a Tutor enters the Chappel & stand till he is seated .-
If any Superiors are behind them at any gate or door within 3 rods they shall stop without a signal to proceed .-
In passing up or down stairs or throu' any narrow passage they shall give them the bannister side of the stairs-
They shall not run in College Yard or up or down Stairs or call to anyone in or out of a College window .-
They shall not whistle, eat, kick, jump, hop, dance, or sing in any of ye streets of N. Haven.
They must knock at a chamber door & leave it as they found it open or shut, & shall not speak till spoken to & answer all questions, nor stay nor sit without leave .-
They shall always rise when a Superior enters the room nor sit in his presence till permitted.
These rules obtain within the limits of New Haven.
1782
March 29-Mastris secundus was rusticated till ye 10th-40 Scolars made a ring & shouting tore off ye clapboards of ye old College as high as they could reach & broke ye windows broke open ye Buttery & stole ye liquors for which 4 were expelld, 4 made confessions & 8 were admonished-one was readmitted.
April 23-We have got 10 Martin boxes hung up to College big enough to contain 100 Martins
This year ye Freshmen as usual hir'd a negro to clear out ye Yard & gave him 40s.
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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
June 17-begun Mathematics-
June 27-I came home & staid a week.
N. Haven July 22-The Senior Examination was Friday- Hooker had the English Oration Wait Ives & Noyes ye Dialogue-Honeywood ye Latin farewell oration-he addressed ye President first, then ye Professors, then ye Tutors, then his own class & then College in general & bid farewell to them all .-
Our class have begun to study Hebrew once a day, speaking all at once & keeping time .-
The President is our Preceptor who is short sighted and often deceived by one person's answering adsum for several Absentees .-
The Dr. says ye true pronounciation of y is acquir'd by begin- ning it with wrong & of n by speaking as if you had a fishbone in ye throat.
1783
Oh the Charming Month of May In a new Livery when we see every Bush & Meadow Tree & Field
Oh the Charming Month of May When the Breezes in the trees Full of Blossoms fresh & Gay.
June 8-To
Pardon me Madam for my rudeness In thus intruding on your goodness Tis the first time that I appear In paper dress as I do here Present myself & gently bow And kindly ask how do you do Letters to Man at first were given The greatest blessing of kind heaven
Tis thus that friends converse with friends Tho movd to Earths remotest ends Oft hand in hand we've trod the Green With sprightly air & lively mien And may kind Heaven grant my Prayer To save thee still thou lovely fair-
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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
Thou art all fair without defection The brightest image of perfection Calm as eve'ning hours Sweet as morning flowrs Fair as the silver Moon Bright as the noonday Sun
Chaste as the lonely Dove Soft as the melting kiss of Love
Could I behold thee face to face Enjoy one look, one kind embrace Wouldst thou vouchsafe one smiling kiss I might with angels vie in bliss- But hark I hear the nightly bell That bids me take my leave-farewell I am, my Love, with all my pow'rs Forever & entirely yours.
June 16-About this time I broke out with the Measles, suf- fering no damage but weak eyes.
July 10-Begun to live at Mr. Bleakleys by the Long Wharf- Aug. 14-In the evening Mr. Beecher's house, N. Haven was struck with Lightning- The Lightning for 10 minutes was one continued flashing, giving a quivering light about as bright as Moonshine.
Sept. 7-Mr. Wales preached the farewell sermon to the Seniors from Luke 12th & 48th.
Sept. 10-Commencement- The night before the Scholars had a quarrel with the Sailors & 6 of them were knockt down but they soon beat & followed some of them up on the commons where they took 2 & belabourd them well with their canes.
Sept. 11-Vacation begins-Rehearsing Alexander & the Busy Body-
Oct. 9-The highest tide that ever was seen in these parts. It floted the upper bridge.
Oct. 17-We composed & Bulkley spoke an address to the Actors of Alexander at E's.
Dec. 2-I wrote on the negative of this Question "whether Polygamy be just."
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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
1784
March 26-I returnd to College having been lame About this time the Scholars presented a petition to know what was become of the Quarter bill money.
April 2-We had a private anniversary.
April 10-T. B. having diluted the ashes of burnt hay in water, markt his hand the 2 first letters of his name, then pricking the place till the blood came, it so enterd the skin that he could erase but one of the letters, even by a blister.
May 4-I wrote a Latin Composition for the premium upon : Non possum equidem non ingenio prima concedere sed tamen ipsum diligentia etiam ex tarditate excitat.
May 31-B. made up his affairs with E.
June 4-B & F. admonished for going away 11/2 day before Vacation. Perkins is the tutor to our Class. Moni- tors-Bidwell, Newton, Cook, & Pitkin.
Aug. 14-four days next week are appropriated to speaking for the premium (A small book given by the Tutors). Sept. 12-9 weeks Vacation-3 for building the Hall We speak our own Compositions.
1785
March 4-Sham Earthquake
President appointed Tousey, Dickinson & myself to make a Dialogue, but his absence prevented it.
June 4-
From College walls And musty halls Where nought can please the taste Where water from The hose come For breakfast still is placed, I begin this scrabble As well as I'm able Written in haste. Our class is at home Nor are they yet come
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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
Except 10 or 12 that are here Nor Stiles nor Wales Nor anyone else Except the Tutors appear No reciting No meeting No studying for knowledge All walking All talking
Or worse, doing nothing-
For there's no king in college, etc. ....
Friday evening 8 o'clock. The time for us to declare Inde- pendence being almost arrivd, we pass our time merrily away in expectation of the happy event, living like Kings, with 3 rounds of Punch a day,-morning, noon, & evening-
We have variety of all sorts of music, both vocal and instru- mental, & sometimes the Ear is filld, charmd, & delighted by the joint chorus of Martins' Singing Schools, Bag- pipes, Clarionets, Fifes, Flutes, Fiddles, Drums, & Trumpets-Good Night.
July 19-Examination of our Class
for the Diploma commenced-
At 2 P.M. The Tutors & Sirs, with Mr. Wales as the head, began to examine us privately in the Chappel-in Greek 1/2 the afternoon-an intermission of 1/2 an hour-in Horace & Tully de Oratore till Sunset.
The next day (Wednesday begun at 8 in the morning)- English grammar, Geography, Mathematics, Rhetoric, Logic, Algebra, Conic Sections, Geometry, Trigonome- try, Navigation, Philosophy, Astronomy, History, Meta- physics & Ethics, & finished at 12, then the Tutors & 12 Sirs retird to a room in College for about 15 minutes & found us all worthy except B. F. T. & H.
Then we marched alphabetically with Tutor Baldwin as our Head to the Library where he made a short address to the President displaying our numbers & good behaviour in the most advantageous light-
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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
Then the President pronounced, sitting, a most excellent Latin Oration, bidding them a final farewell, wishing them all manner of blessings thro' Life.
At half-past one, we sat down to an agreeable dinner in the hall with the President, Tutors & Graduates, which ended with a suitable portion of old Madeira.
After Dinner, we sang to the tune of Boston, the 133 Psalm, C. M.
At 3 P.M. the usual exercises began-Philosophical Oration by Beebe,-Anthem,-A Dispute by Ellsworth & Hale,- A Dialogue by Noyes, Ely, Eels, & Taylor,-Anthem,- Valedictory oration in Latin by Graves-
We were favored by a numerous & brilliant assembly of Ladies.
Sept. 14-Commencement-Two Barrels of Wine in 2 public rooms free to all Comers & Goers.
EXPENSES at COLLEGE
£
s. d.
Freshman Year In Books etc. r
29/
6/ 0
Sophomore Clothes, Wood
25/
0/ 0
Junior
Board
31/
3/ 8
Senior Quarter Bills &c.
32/
19/ 0
After four years' strict study I was sent into the world but little fitted for a busy & crooked world as this is & will be-
A Scholar who hath learnt to squeak Four books of Latin, one of Greek Through Rhet'ric, Logic, Locke can stammer Or any mood or tense in Grammar Popt on the world with such a cramming Doth know the least of man or woman- Is less equipt for shifts & twists Than any outcast that exists.
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
47
Notes
By courtesy of the Secretary of Yale University, is printed the following roster of the Class of 1785 with which William Wheeler was graduated.
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