USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > Black Rock, seaport of old Fairfield, Connecticut, 1644-1870; > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
1785
*Samuel James Andrews
*1832
*Barnabas Bidwell; M.A. and Wil-
*Jeremiah [Mix] Atwater; M.A.
*1832 liams 1797; LL.D. Brown 1805; M.C. 1805-1807 *1846
*1833
*David Lewis Beebe; M.A. 1789
*1803
*Tillotson Blakesley
*181-
*William Pitt Beers
*1810
* Solomon Blakslee
*1835
*David Belden, 1787
*1832
*Peter Bulkley
*1808
*Ebenezer Belknap
*1842
*Frederick Butler; M.A.
*1843
*Caleb Clap
*1787
*Henry Sherburne Langdon; M.A.
*1857
*Abraham Lynsen Clarke; M.A. 1791 *1810
*James Bayne Clarke
*1842 *
*John McClellan
*1858
*John Devotion
*1810
*Matthew Marvin
*1842
* Abraham VanHorn DeWitt
*1820
*Charles Mather
*1853
*John Dean Dickinson; M.C. 1819- 1823, 1829-1831
*1841
*Return Jonathan Meigs ; Chief Just. Supr. Court Ohio 1803-1804; Just. Supr. Court Upper La. 1805-1806;
*Roger Eells; M.A.
*1790 Judge U. S. District Court Mich.
"John Ellsworth
*1791
1807; U. S. Senator 1809-1810; Gov. Ohio 1810-1814; Postmaster- Gen. U. S. 1814-1823 *1825
*Reuben Fairchild
*1788
*Phineas Miller; M.A.
*1803
*Simeon Field; M.D. (Hon.) 1817
*1822
* Daniel Nash
*1836
*Abel Flint; M.A. and Brown; D.D. Union 1818
*1825
*Matthew Noyes; M.A .;
1839
*Hezekiah Goodrich; M.A. 1792
*1812
*Zachariah Olmsted; M.A.
*1831
*Russell Goodrich ; M.A.
*1837
*Benjamin Perkins
*1841
*William Graves; M.A. 1801
*1813
* Samuel Perkins; M.A.
*1850
*Pearley Grosvenor
*1787
*Timothy Pitkin; M.A .; LL.D. 1829 M.C. 1805-1819
*1847
* David Hale; M.A.
*1822
*Nathan Rossiter
*1835
*Joshua Henshaw
*1840
*Elihu Platt Smith
*1795
*David Higgins ; M.A.
*1842
*Robert Spelman
*1803
*Dyar Throop Hinckley
*1847
*Thomas Stedman
*1838
*William Hubbard; M.A.
*1789
*William Taylor; M.A.
*1841
*William Gold Hubbard
*1846
* Abraham Tomlinson
*1820
*David Hull
*1834
*Thomas Tousey
*1844?
*Enoch Huntington; M.A.
*1826
*Decius Wadsworth; M.A.
*1821
*Samuel Huntington; also Dart-
*William Wheeler
*1845
mouth 1785; M.A .; Chief Just.
*Ezekiel Williams; M.A.
*1843
Supr. Court Ohio 1804-1808;
*Timothy Williams; M.A. 1799
*1849
Gov. Ohio 1808-1810
*1817
*Gideon Woodruff
*1847
*Isaac Ives
*1845
*Joel Wright
*1797
*Caleb Johnson; M.A. 1791
*18-
*Jonathan Leavitt; M.A.
*1831
*Micah Jones Lyman
*1851
*Enos Cooke
*Joseph Drake
*1794
*Richard Ely; M.D. Conn. Med. Soc. 1814
*1816
*Roger Newton; M.A .;
*1789
*Levi Hackley, 1786
*1786
By courtesy of the Librarian of Yale University, the contemporary records have been consulted. The Tragedy of Alexander and the comedy of Busybody (two separate plays) were given by the Linonian Society in 1783. There are several references to "Wheeler" in the minutes of the Society, one of the most interesting organizations in academic history.
*Joseph Badger
The Collegian at Home Fairfield and Black Rock Notes-1783-1785
1783
Aug. 14-A little before this, Capt. Eliot's Schooner sunk at sea.
Capt. Eliot commanded the Sloop when she sunk at sea in which N. (Nathaniel Silliman) was. They manned the boat & rowed to a little distance to see if she would sink (some doubting it) when she went down,-there appeared a large hole like a cellar.
In the boat were 6 persons with canvass stretched around above the side to keep off the waves about a foot high; they were in it 6 days & nights, when they arrived at Guadaloupe and laid down on the sand under a high bank, where when N. awaked, he sprung up to run into the sea, supposing the bank to be a high wave --
Among the number was Miah Perry, afterwards the richest merchant of Fairfield and the oracle of four more of his brothers who were rich, happy, and respected,-this distress curing Miah of all inclination for the sea.
Nov. 5-Mr. Dwight ordained at Greenfield.
Nov. 7-Wyat's wife dyed.
Nov. 29-Three-quarters past 11 in a still night we felt 2 small shocks of an Earthquake.
1784
Harbor froze from the 1st of Jan. till the 10th of March. Hundreds of people down in a tide to catch scallops by cutting holes in the ice.
Nov. 5-Dr. Timothy Dwight, later president of Yale.
Nov. 7-Huldah (Wheeler) Mason Wyat, daughter of Abel and Rebeckah (Whitear) Wheeler. Her first husband was Salathiel Mason; her second, Joseph Wyat of New- port, who later moved to Northcastle, N. Y. Of her four children, Alice and Joseph Wyat died in infancy. Rachel and Sally, children of her first marriage, survived her and inherited much of her Black Rock property which had belonged to her father. Rachel Mason married in 1803, John Maltbie, keeper of the lighthouse.
The name of Huldah Mason is included in the list of the guard at the Black Rock Battery in 1779. She was then nineteen years old, and may have served as commissary to the garrison.
49
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
Sept. 11-As 3 persons were coming round from Stratford point in a pilot boat laden with shells, the wind being N.E. raisd such a shock off the point that she overset. The men remained on the masts for 1/2 an hour when a wave washed them all off,-but T. Hill happening to seize an oar, held it fast in his hands before him till he reached the shore, and it bore him safe without swim- ming. The other 2, viz. Lieut. Hawley and Josiah Pen- field, were drowned. Hawley was found among the rocks with his face bruised. The scene was hardly sup- portable to his Wife under the double loss of husband & brother.
1785
Jan. 15-We begun to get ship timber for our Sloop
May 16-Some curtains & a carpet defiled in the Town House. May 17-Mourning Bride & Busy Body acted in the Town House, Fairfield-A man being buried when the play was acted, they would not let them toll the Bell, which raisd some disturbance.
May 25-Holberton's wife died.
May 17-"Busy Body" was the comedy which had been presented by the Linonian Society in New Haven in 1783 as an afterpiece for the more serious drama of "Alexander." Several of William Wheeler's classmates at Yale and "Linonian brothers" were resident in Fairfield.
Sept. 11-Hannah (Penfield) Hawley, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Lewis) Pen- field, married (1) Lieut. Gideon Hawley of North Stratford, whose death is here recorded. Her second husband was Ezekiel Lovejoy of Stratford. Her brother, Josiah, was seventeen at the time of his tragic death.
May 8-Capt. Thomas Holberton's first wife, Ruth (Wilson) Holberton, daughter of Robert Wilson. Their daughter, Ruth, married Capt. Job Bartram.
The Sentimental Schoolmaster
1785
Aug. 19-Capt. Holburton arrived after a voyage of 12 weeks Aug. 20-The thief Johnson received 20 of the 35 lashes due him,
Sept. 10-Died Peter Squier
No more within his native Town to dwell To all its train he bids a long Farewell One gentle grasp, one sighing, sorrowing tear And joys & friends forever disappear Ye, beauteous Youth, the fairer sex Permit me to address you next- Pale, cold & still before you lies The once-lov'd object of your eyes- Ye can't forget His lively Wit Our scenes of Love & Play
Whole hours we sat-
In pleasant Chat We past the time away. But now the hand of Death hath laid him low Nor canst one look nor canst one smile bestow Mortal attend & drop a tear Over the poor bones that moulder here To-day the lot was mine To-morrow may be thine.
Sept. 12-Dr. Beach's Singing School at Blackrock ends. Oct. 1-Capt. Thorp & Capt. Wasson arrived from the W. Indies. About this time a Schooner of 50 tons bottom upwards with her Sails standing was discovered off Newfield. A week after, being stripped of everything, she drifted to L. Island.
Sept. 10-Peter Squier (1765-1785), son of Captain John and his (third) wife, Lydea (Taylor) Jarvis Squire. His sister, Lydea, became the first wife of John Wheeler, brother of the diarist.
51
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
Dec. 1-My School at Blackrock ends.
Dec. 5-Begun school at North Fairfield (Weston)
-for 45 shillings per Month for 3 months. Here I became enamoured to a high degree with but though young I entertained an idea which is now part of my creed, that a light Purse & Matrimony would be but sorry companions-
But the last farewell was melancholy enough, as I stole all pensive & solitary along the gloomy road edged by thick woods in a darksome night, while the Whippoorwill's frequent notes saluted my ear like the tolling of the bell as we follow a friend-
The remembrance even now depresses, and the unbidden tear is ready to start-
What were her sensations I know not-not less, I expect,-for the passion was reciprocal-
She lived in the Youth and the Youth in the fair
Their pleasure was equal & equal their care .-
Dec. 28-I went to J. Osborn's Wedding.
Dec. 29-Continued at Capt. Seeley's-
When David was stricken in Years And loaded with sickness & cares That preyed on his form Nothing was found so fit to rouse him
As a fair maid to lie in his bosom And keep his body warm- And Solomon, the wisest man, This maxim for to teach us At one time had to warm his bed A thousand of the species.
1786
Aug. 18-A case between Ezra Williams & his wife Huldah. Aug. 27-Widow Godfrey of Greens Farms denyd her Pub- lishment.
Sept. 15-Wm. Robinson's Wedding attended by 60 spec- tators.
Sept. 16-Capt. Smedley arrived. Enos Cook arrived.
Sept. 22-Capt. Gould from West Indies.
Sept. 15-William Robinson married Abigail Smith of New London.
52
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
Oct. 10-Launched the Sloop Sally-bottom up.
Oct. 23-Capt. Holburton married to Mary Wakeman.
Oct. 29-Snow 2 in. deep. N. Burr's child died. Nov. 1-Sailed Capt. Smedley in a brig & Capt. Wasson on a sloop, both bound for the West Indies.
Nov. 8-Arrived Capt. Bartram. He had 13 hhds of Molasses stove by salt shifting in the hold.
Baptized this year 53 Married 8 couples
Died 9
Entered the church 6
No Wheat nor Cider.
1787
Feb. 21-Meeker Murrain fell overboard. Near this time W. Bulkley & Mrs. Robbins catch the Smallpox & both die.
March 22-Capt. Smedley gave Butler a thumping.
March 26-Shipt on board our Sloop 25 horses & our 2 Gibbes & 7 horned Cattle.
March 30-Sailed Sloop Sally-Andrew Bulkley Master. April 3-Mr. Eliot this day & the next received 230 skains at his spinning frolic. J. Penfield by making a selection at the Ball put our side Jordan into no petit pet.
April 7-D(aniel) Osborn's and Mary (Bartram)'s Synar- throsis.
April 19-A proper Gambol
At a dancing one Night sir I happened to be Such skipping & hopping was there The old Women as sprigh as young girls of 15 Such fun I ne'er saw I declare
April 22-Very cold. Much ice froze in harbor I evah ni eht tsal 4 sraey 2000 selim & 257 syad tneps retfa eht slrig. Secnad 40.
April 3-Jordan probably meaning Ash Creek. James Penfield (1761-1842) married in 1786 Mary Tucker who may have been his "selection" at the Ball! At this time James, Ephraim, and David Penfield were living at the house near the Mills across Ash Creek.
53
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
May 28-The bones of an Infant found under Mr. Lewis' house, supposed to have been murdered 60 years ago.
Groans and strange noises were heard before that time. June 11-Our Sloop arrivd with 30 Hs Rum.
July 5-J. held on by the Pollypod.
July 22-I went to hear Higby preach-His text was "Yet a little more Sleep."
Aug. 30-About this time we went to Norwalk in our Sloop.
Sept. 15-Sloop saild the 2nd time for Boston.
Sept. 19-Line Storm. A mill at Stamford carried off whole and Norwalk bridge floted.
Sept. 20-Struck up to Trooping & Indian mimicry at Night, joined a Boree of 2 score couple from which at 2 I made myself scarce & joined a 3rd Shakefoot, at the finis of which Mr. fourlegs was found in Mr. Hinman's yard absent & no tidings of his Excellency having arrived, his burden snored.
All Black Rock invited to John Perry's & Lois Wheeler's wedding.
Oct. 12-Jos. Davis boy died in Convulsions of a Wound he received a fortnight before by falling off a table with a pair of sheers he had in his hand which fractured his scull. Near this time I went to L. Island with Brush in a whaleboat.
Oct. 13-Brig Greenfield saild-Joseph Bartram passenger Nov. 15-Capt. Brewster's wife & child fell in the Creek Nov. 20-Our Sloop returnd, in her came passengers,-Capt. Sena (?) and Lady & 2 daughters who had been to Leghorn.
Dec. 12-Died at Weston Z.H .- his death was occasioned by Sleeping on the ground (after spending a night with a beloved female) where a shower fell upon him.
Dec. 30-Capt. Nat. Silliman arrived from Carolina having been absent 15 months.
Sept. 20-Boree-a rustic dance. (The other terms invite exegesis.)
Oct. 13-Joseph Bartram was lost at sea in December, aged twenty-seven. He was the son of Ebenezer and Mary (Burr) Bartram.
54
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
1788
And now the Earth which every Year Sails round the Sun's resplendent Sphere Again sets Sail -may all her Crew In health & Joy the Voyage pursue.
Jan. 19-Hard rain & frozen ground-every bridge from Deacon Hills to the Stores floted.
Jan. 25-Dickinson's schooner drove ashore
Feb. 15-Dickinson had 15 barrels of Beef floted away.
Feb. 22-19 males & 12 females dancd at Burrs.
Feb. 26 Saild for N. Haven with the Sally.
March 4-3 of us dropt 105 wt Flax.
March 7-A letter from Brewster supposed to be lost.
March 22-18 negroes liberated by some of their color at Mill River.
March 23-Died Capt (Joseph) Silliman at 8 P.M.
May 15-Searching for N. Burr.
May 23-Curtain hoisted.
June 18-R. Fairchild at North Fairfield killed by lightning. June 20-Died Capt. Jarvis.
July 15-Eliphalet Olmstead came to work.
Aug. 19-The hardest gale that has been for many years- at 1 o'clock a Sloop & Schooner went on shore- The south side of all the trees, the leaves are dead, some suppose by the spray of the Sea which blew over like a Fog from the Sound to Penfield's Mill. Corn is laid flat & Fruit is chiefly blown off-Many trees bloomed out afterwards. The Gale reached 100 miles up country, in some places shifting from the SE to the NW & twist- ing of trees 9 inches in diameter-it moved Carson's house about 6 feet.
Oct. 17-A fire ball passed over with great swiftness followed by a Report like heavy Cannon.
Nov. 20-Several families arrived from Tory Canaan, their
June 18-Reuben Fairchild, classmate of William Wheeler and son of Captain Robert Fairchild.
June 20-(Capt. Isaac Jarvis of Revolutionary fame.)
1768-The Isaac Jarvis-David Penfield homestead (10) (Photographed 1869)
55
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
good godfather George the 3d ceasing food, a native of the place, one Poverty, crowded them out. Nov. 29-Ezra Wheeler moved to Weston.
Dec. 11-Died of the Dropsy, Billy Squier aged 3
1789
Feb. 16-Begun Black Rock School
Apr. 5-I set out for Red Hook. (N. Y.)
June 10-John's house raised
Oct. 9-Stone & Lewis' advent. Majority of the country complain of colds.
Nov. 2-Married Capt. Nathan Lewis to Miss Rachel Stone.
Nov. 4-Died Mrs. Hull, aged 93 years, 8 months.
A Schooner overset & 2 men on the wreck between the Cows & point.
Married this year 16 couples
Christened 31 Died 8 in Mr. Eliot's congregation.
1790
June 10-My house raised. 30 x 25 feet.
Expences of the House
£ s. d.
Digging Cellar
0 / 9 / 0
For framing
1 / 13 / 0
Stoning cellar
1 / 9/ 0
8000 4z nails
0 / 16 / 0
1300 8z
0 / 7 / 0
Window frames
2 / 7 / 6
Sashes
4 / 3 / 6
5000 shingles
3 / 16 / 0
Nails & brad
3 / 3 / 0
Lath
1 / 12 / 0
Putty
0 / 17 / 0
Glass
4 / 5 / 11
Brick
2 / 0 / 0
Tile
0 / 3 / 0
Dec. 11-William (son of Ebenezer and Mary (Wheeler) Squier, 1784-1788).
56
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
Building chimney
2 / 12 / 0
7 6 B shels
0 / 12 / 0
Manteltrees
0 / 13 / 6
3500 Lath nails
0 / 11 / 4
100 feet plank
0 / 8 / 0
Spanish brown
0 / 6 / 0
White lead
1 / 6 / 0
Oil
2 / 7 / 10
White oak boards
0 / 14 / 9
Clear boards
1 / 8/ 3
Merchantable Do.
1 / 10 /11
Floor plank
3 / 6 / 0
4 pair hinges
0 / 14 / 0
Joiner's wages
11 / 11 / 0
Buttenton's painting
3 / 8 / 0
Plaistering
2 / 12 / 6
Total
61 4 0
Covered & Lower rooms finished, besides what I have done myself. Board of the people unreckoned.
Boards for Chambers 2 / 8 / 0
Room paper
1 / 16 / 0
10 gallons oil to paint house
3 / 0 / 0
Lime for one chamber
0 / 15 / 0
11/2 bush. hair 2/3 plaistering 0 / 14 / 3
(This house, a "saltbox," stood on the corner of what is now Ells- worth and Brewster Street. The house and the land on which it stood were deeded to William by his father, Capt. Ichabod Wheeler, August 9, 1790.)
1792
Feb. 2-Married John Wheeler to Lydia Squier.
Oct. 13-Warm, calm sky & clear.
In the evening a bright Northern Light over the whole north- ern half of the hemisphere, flashing (like smoke arising from a fire)-rising from a cloud in the N. and meeting in the Zenith in the moment.
Feb. 2-Daughter of Captain John and Lydea (Taylor) Jarvis Squier.
57
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
Oct. 14-Gov. Hancock, attended by 4 ship kernels, came to town to take up the Bones of his Aunt & carry them to Boston, agreeable to her desire, but found the Coffin rotten.
1793
Jan. 3-Began Staples Hill School for £50 a year.
I began Staples free school for 166 dollars per year to board myself- kept only 5 months-it being removed to Weston by act of Assembly, the donor being Staples of Weston. It was there called Weston Academy.
He (Staples) was a man of singular sentiments- believing that man- kind by a strict course of temperance might arrive to the age of the antediluvians, not indeed in one life, but in several generations,- his seed he put out to receive for one bushel at the end of the year one and one-quarter, by which extreme parsimony he acquired great riches.
His close way of reasoning & living, his black Dubby did not alto- gether relish, for in his last sickness he cut down the Walnut wood Staples had saved for the Academy, saying: "Massa soon die and ought to have a good fire"-for which, being wrathy, he sold poor Dubby for life.
Feb. 2-Died of Small Pox the natural way, Capt. David Wheeler's wife, & was buried in the Home Lot.
Feb. 10-Dug up & buried in Stratfield Burying Ground. 30 inoculated at the house.
Penfield's Mill chok'd up & the Millstone thrown off. Feb. 18-Selectmen gave Liberty for inoculation at Sam Sherwoods for 20 persons.
Feb. 20-SELECTMEN MET TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE but would not, though they had been imposed upon by Sam by misrepresentation.
Oct. 14-This entry solves a problem for Fairfield antiquarians who have long been interested in the reason for Mrs. Hancock's continued interment in the old Burial Ground. Her tombstone reads "This stone/ Erected/ by Thaddeus Burr/ & Eunice Burr/ to the memory of their dear friend,/ Mrs. Lydia Hancock;/ Relict of the Honble Thomas Hancock, Esq./ of Boston/ Whose remains lie here Interred/ Having retired to this Town from/ the calamities of War, during the/ Blockade of her native City in 1775./ Just on her return to the reenjoyment/ of an ample fortune/ On April 15, A.D. 1776./ She was seized with the apoplexy and/ closed a life of unaffected Piety/ universal Benevolence and extensive Charity./ Governor Hancock and his "4 ship kernels" apparently decided not to carry out their pious intention. Feb. 2-Lois (Chauncy) Wheeler, daughter of Robert and Hannah (Wheeler) Chauncy.
58
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
March 1-The Selectmen met and gave liberty for 28, making 50 more to be inoculated (at Jeremiah Jennings) who had been exposed by J. J.'s boy having as some said the Small pox, others the chicken pox.
March 5-Vote for inoculation to commence today & last till the first of April & to begin again Oct. 1st & last till the Annual Town Meeting. (Whole Town inocu- lated-11 died of the inoculation).
March 7-I was inoculated-in 6 days felt the symptoms- shivering & headache & low spirits, the 9th day had a dozen pock break out-headache, very dull, & finished breaking out the twelfth day. They turnd succes- sively & I had 70 pock in all. Walked out every day but one (a stormy day). Employed no doctor. March 27-Begun school again.
(Of) Number Inoculated, Died Between 20 & 40 1
10 & 20 0
Under 10 3
Above 90 years of age 1 Above 60 2 Between 40 & 60 4
Inoculated from the Infant of 2 days old up the Age of Ninety & both had it light.
People had the symptoms unusually severe, some for 5 days- Cold & hot by turns, shivering, trembling, Headache, Low Spirits, Numbness, & a burning Fever.
Some had hard symptoms & but few pock.
A sore arm was generally a Sign of few Pock.
Some few had Sore Arms 3 Inches in Diameter.
All kinds of experiments in Diet were tried-Bacon, Flip, Wine, Bitters, Saffron, etc. were employed in many Inoculations.
Those without Physicians proceeded as well as those with. Good Nurses the most Essential Point.
Inoculation almost universal in the Old Society in almost
59
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
every house, a very few excepted, 10, 12, & 17 in a family at once, very general in Greens Farms, Green- field,-& Stratfield about half. Doctors' fees reduced from 2 to 1 Dollars by the Favour of Dr. Holbert. People in general had it pretty moderate. Those with- out Salt the Easiest.
Caught the Small Pox the Natural Way-5-of which but one lived.
April 20-Mr. Thos. Hull arrived from the W. Indies.
May 29-Died James Sayre after 4 days sickness of the scarlet fever-This Disease seems generally to go through a family when it begins-The Crisis is generally on the 3d day.
Aug. 3-Capt. Barley Sturges movd his house on rollers to the corner near the middle wharf.
Sept. 26-Mr. Taylor a cooper came to the Bartrams-People universally troubled with Colds,-Symptoms, Headache, sore throat, a lassitude, etc.
Oct. 4 Hull's Schooner 70 tons this day by 8 hands was unloaded because of a leak,-judgd a dangerous vehicle over the great pond. N.B .- she had not been grav'd since last spring.
Oct. 29-A snow storm-The dryest fall I believe ever was known; scarce any rain for several months-many wells dry.
Nov. 14-St. Pumpkin's Day
A little before this, Capt. Amos Hubbell's brig, loaded with salt (returning from the W. Indies) near L. Island, sprung a leak; the Salt dissolving & both Pumps choak- ing, she sunk, but soon after rose that part of her quarter where they left her ... 2 hands bailing were drowned, the rest having their boat made ready on the quarter-deck, rushed it out of her wake & got in with a few bisket & 200 oranges & no water-after 5 days they
May 29-James Dennie Sayre, aged sixteen, son of Rev. James and Sarah (Dennie) Sayre.
Aug. 3-This house became the home of David Penfield.
Oct. 4-grav'd-Scraped and cleaned of barnacles.
60
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
were picked up near the Virginia shore riding before a northeaster.
The brig being old and rotten, was condemned by a Carpenter before she saild.
Nov. 26-Hubbell's ship launched & Silliman Bibbins, a Boy, fell 10 feet from between Decks into her Hold and was taken up bruised & speechless.
His skull was crakd, His senses wrecked, When first he was extracted thence But Wood's trepan, And skilful hand Restored his strength, his speech & sense.
Dec. 5-Dimon Hill, ae 24, after dancing, waiting on a Female home, wet his foot, and not drying it before he left her, he was taken and lived only 7 days.
1794
Began Black Rock School for 40 Dolls. Feb. 21-News arrived that Ebenr Sturges, Hez. Nichols & a boy of J. Sturges (all of this town & belonging to Allen Nichols' vessel) were dead of the W. India fever. March 24-Capt. Squier arrivd from Boston-on his Passage from the W. Indies he found a Brig adrift (about 130 tons) & carried it to Boston .. She belonged to Balti- more. The Captain being washed overboard in a Gale of Wind, the remaining Crew being destitute of provi- sion got on board of another Vessell.
March 28-Express came with Embargo on all W. Indiamen. The consequence of the seizure of our vessels in British Ports. (Held till May 25th.)
March 29-Finished School. Baldwin, Esq. of Greenfield died at New Haven having been sick of a fever but 4 days. Those that attended him at Death were variously
Feb. 21-Hezekiah Nichols (1773-1794), son of Hezekiah and Ann (Penfield) Nichols, and brother of Allen Nichols.
The boy (son of Judson Sturges) was Henry J. Sturges, and the place of his death, Kingston, Jamaica. He was thirteen years old.
Ebenezer Sturges (1752-1794), son of Hezekiah and Abigail (Dimon) Sturges.
61
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
affected, some with Dizziness, others with Numbness, puking, etc.
April 12-W. Sheffield, Saml Squires, & Taylor families left Black Rock.
April 19-Died Mrs. Jennings of an acute fever.
May 11-Died of an apoplectic fit of 2 hours, James Penfield.
May 14-Fairfield Courthouse raised.
May 22-Died L(othrop) Lewis' wife.
June 13-Returned home after an absence of 21/2 years, Nehemiah Burr, Jr.
July & John Wheeler's store raised
Aug. 23-Died Rebeckah Burr of the Dysentery.
Aug. 24-Died Loretta Silliman.
Sept. 13-Died Philo Burr. 7 persons sick with dysentery.
1795
March 5-Widow Wheeler's exit.
Extract from the annals of folly- A subscription is opened to give Penfield 90 pounds to destroy his Mill and open the Creek for the accommodation of Eels, Clams and old Shad !!! Amen.
June 22-died Amos Wilson's wife of the Lockjaw
June 27-Capt. David Barlow movd from the point Newfield to my house.
July 12-A Black of J. Sturges drowned in Mill River, crab- bing on the Sabbath.
April 19-Abigail (Burr) Jennings, born 1736, daughter of John and Catherine (Wake- man) Burr, wife of Deacon Moses Jennings. She was William Wheeler's aunt. The date given on her monument is April 18th.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.