USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > Black Rock, seaport of old Fairfield, Connecticut, 1644-1870; > Part 6
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May 11-James Penfield, senior (1732-1794), son of Peter and Mary (Allen) Penfield, managed the Penfield mills on Ash Creek. He was brother of Samuel Penfield, keeper of the Sun Tavern, and both suffered great losses from the British invasion.
May 22-Ellen (Burr) Lewis, first wife of Lothrop Lewis, aged thirty-seven.
June 13-Possibly the occasion of the search mentioned May 15, 1788. He was about twenty years old.
Aug. 23-Rebeckah, daughter of Ozias and Sarah (Nichols) Burr.
Aug. 24-Loretta, daughter of Captain Nathaniel and Chloe Silliman, aged three.
Sept. 13-Philo, son of Ozias and Sarah (Nichols) Burr. March 5-Abigail, daughter of Jeremiah Oakley and widow of Nathan Wheeler (son of Capt. Jabez and Charity (Beach) Wheeler).
June 22-Eleanor Lacy (1768-1795) first wife of Amos Wilson.
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This week, 6 men on their way from York to Boston, passed through this Town, who had been 4 years in captivity at Algiers, chained together as sail-makers.
The money they earned more than their daily task purchasing spirits made their Master drunk, & after being 5 days at sea with only 2 1b. bread & a little Beef in a small sail boat, almost famished, they were taken up by a Portu- guese man-of-war.
They saw Benjamin Gould, formerly of this place there who was on a Plantation. His Friends had not heard of him for 15 years.
Many Americans died there last year, among whom was Capt. Sandford of Milford, who had been a slave there for 20 years.
Near this time a man died at Millriver with the Yellow Fever which he caught in New York.
Sept. 10-Near this time died Esther Thorp of the yellow Fever, supposed to have caught it from her father who died a week before & caught it from the man before- mentioned.
Sept. 27-The Yellow Fever rages more now than ever in New York. People are leaving that city by hundreds, the vessels and stages are full.
Cherry Street (1/2 a mile in length) is entirely empty. Very little business done-20 or 30 buried in a Day-As soon as they die they are carried to the Grave by a waggon covered with tarrd canvass.
Communication prohibited between that City & Philadelphia, Newhaven, & Newfield.
By the report of the Committee of Health there died last week 159.
Sept 29-Aboard of the Dolphin, C. B. Commander (Caleb Brewster).
Sept. 10-Esther, daughter of Capt. Eliphalet Thorp who died Sept. 1st, aged fifty-six years. Capt. Thorp's sudden death resulted in a curious mortgage, made out by Capt. Joseph Squire, Sept. 3, 1795, "whereas Eliphalet Thorp, decd. did article & indent with sd. Joseph Squire to build a certain vessel & to launch said Vessel afloat in the Water; & whereas sd Vessel is now ready & into the water & whereas sd. Thorp after a very short sickness about 48 hours since died intestate "
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1766-The Joseph Silliman homestead (7) (Photographed 1873)
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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
Oct. 5-News of Captain (Nathaniel) Silliman being found murdered in Spain (where a privateer carried him May 9th) the 18th of June at 8 in the evening by the guard, robbed of his watch & buckles.
N. S(illiman) came often to my father's to relate his ocean stories, among others he told of a captain from Connecticut river who swore he never was afraid of anything whatever but he being three days sail from the W. Indies, as they set the second watch in the night, they saw a man forward whom they hailed who answered not-then they called all hands & the Capt. on deck and they had one more than the Brig's crew-
who could the stranger be?
none durst approach for some time, then said N. (his large black eyes glistening) the poor Capt. was afraid-at last one, more bold than the rest, went up to him, and behold-it was a Negro run away from his master, who had secreted himself in the hold forward, & being almost famished, came on deck to get something to eat. . .
This same N. Silliman, after going 14 voyages was murdered.
Oct. 6-General rendezvous of rust at Reading. (Training Day) Carson outrun- Standard shot to pieces.
Oct. 10-'Tis computed that 10,000 bushels of Oysters will be caught in the Gut of Stratford this fall-500 were taken in a day.
Oct. 17-15 Hhd. of run (i.e. smuggled) Rum found at Derby by N. Rowland.
Nov. 6-Moved !!
Nov. 13-Holberton married to Bathsheba Peet.
Dec. 1-Bees in search of honey-Winter comes in like a lamb-No bad paymaster at last- Winters more mod- erate than formerly-Wheeler's Ship seized as a Smug- ler a few days since at New York.
Hardly a child escapes the hooping cough.
Dec. 9-Launched a sloop (10 tons) with 15 men, on two slushed logs from the graving banks where she had been driven by a most violent storm the day before. Which storm reachd as far as Portland-in Massachu-
Oct. 5-Nathaniel, son of Capt. Joseph and Christiania (Hubbell) Silliman, born 11 Aug. 1763.
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setts the most severe there that ever was known and did 15,000 dollars damage.
See another year is gone Quickly have the seasons past This we enter now upon Will to many prove their last.
1796
Jan. 11-Very moderate weather & no snow but one small storm till today when old hoary Winter lets us know he is in earnest
Jan. 15-Saild a Sloop with 50 Germans who are to be sold for their passage (10 Guineas) They were cast away at Southampton (L.I.) in a Brig about a week before; two days previous to which one of the Company was delivered of a Child whose father died of a cold caught in the Storm.
Jan. 17-Saild a Ship built for N. York by Hull & Lyon Newfield
Jan. 18-Saild for W. Indies Dav. Barlow
Jan. 21-Snow level 8 inches-Winter has been so moderate that two crops of apples have been gathered, the last of the size of grapes from some trees.
Jan. 23-Two brothers tried for murder of a brother by the Grand Jury-found unworthy of a trial
Feb. 1-About this time several people have paralytic shocks, owing to the sudden changes in the Atmosphere- Several unbristled Swine have the measles.
Feb. 12-Sailed Capt. Tabur for Bedford, with 800 bush of Corn-Bank of 100,000 Dolls talkd of at Millriver.
Feb. 19-James Smedley is in Town-Three boys inoculated for the Small Pox at Capt. Squier's A piece in the Tele- graph on Millriver bank.
March 12-A Dunning Sermon-"Unloose your Purse- Strings"
March 14-Benedict attempting to serve an Execution on N.
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Burr, had his arm broken by a hoe-News of his son's death in W. Indies
March 15-E. Bartram at home.
March 17-Foggy, Thunder, heavy Rain, violent driving snowstorm & severe cold all in 24 hours
Ducks are all ashore- Why ?- Powder is 12. per 1b.
John Wilson's Barn blown down on 5 horses-one Meeting- House window blown in- Geese plenty as black ducks & ducks innumerable: Near this period a boy 12 years old of E. Burrs has his skull broke by a horse & a per- foration therein the size of a Dollar, he was trepanned, never lost his senses, & is likely to do well.
March 31-Recd. a letter from James Squier
April 18-In 25 days from St. Bartholomew (via Bermuda) arrived the Anson, Capt. Dvd. Barlow.
June 4-Capt. Barlow movd from my house.
June 23-Of the Measles died Betty Brewster-her death had been expected some days, when the day before her decease an Ulcer breaking and discharging, much relieved the respiration and indicated a hope of recovery. July 6-Several persons arrive from N. York, sick with the Yellow Fever.
Sunday, July 17-Great quantities of wheat got in.
July 25-Moses Sturges (fidler in chief) in a scuffle with Eb. Bradley, a rake of 19, received the length of a pen knife through his ribs. (about this date) In a few weeks he recovered.
Sept. 2-The dryest Summer that has been for 17 years, the leaves of corn in some places are dead. Potatoe mon- gers hardly get their feed- Roads appear to be burnt- Apples, of which there is great plenty, fall early, ripe but not full grown-Rain plenty back but none here since harvest till this Day. Very healthy with cool Breezes. Sept. 8-The Shop of D. Deforest (Newfield) about ten in the evening was discovered to be on fire, & Shelton Edwards,
March 14-Nehemiah Burr, Jr. (?).
June 23-Elizabeth Burr Brewster (1792-1796), daughter of Capt. Caleb Brewster.
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a boy who kept store, with three bruises on his head, his throat cut, dead, & a bed thrown over him, & 100 dollars in banknotes with 200 in silver missing, but no Goods.
A bottle of wine, some tea, & a Shoemaker's hammer were found on the counter-
Printed handbills were dispersed everyway next morning.
Sept. 9-Two of their Nighest Neighbors-J. J. a noted Swearer, Gambler, wife-abuser, etc. of Greenfield, and J. C., ditto, a noted Whoremaster, Polygamist, one that outrun everything but Justice, these two boarded together, were suspected that night, and cross examined next day.
A bloody shirt was found, their evidences (C.'s wife and a girl's) disagreed, they were out 1/4 of an hour when the deed was committed-
11/2 yd. of cloth, bloody, was found at a distance from the house-J. washed the blood from the Corpse.
Business stagnates & Attention is excited to the highest pitch. Sept. 10-Funeral sermon at the boy's father (North Strat- ford). Mr. Sly of North Stratford, a man aged, respect- able & religious, unacquainted with C., came for no other purpose to Newfield than to relate a Dream in which this boy appeared staggering & told him that he was killed by a hammer, the name of the person that killd him he told, which Sly forgot.
Twice did he dream the same with the appearance of the Murderer whom he said he could distinguish among a thousand.
Sly being introduced to J. said "That is not he"; accidentally seeing C. and a number more-"That certainly is the man," & approaching him exclaimd, taking hold of his
hand, "God forgive you, you have murdered the boy !" C. almost black in the face said "Perhaps you are mistaken." Sly seemd almost crazy-Tears running off his chin.
Sept. 8-The Deforest store stood at State & Water Streets, Bridgeport. The brothers, David & John Deforest, were ruined by the robbery, but David subsequently made a fortune in South America and returned to Connecticut, settling in New Haven. Orcutt says that no one was convicted of the murder.
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Oct. 24-The bones of the Schoolhouse divided.
Oct. 30 -- J. Squier married to E. Wakeman.
Nov. 22-E. Dimon cut his throat.
Dec. 30-The Wetmores broken-Merchants
1797
Jan. 9-Began school at Black Rock for 9 Dollars a Month. Feb. 10-Capt. Allen Nichols touched in here-had his cargo taken from him by the French in Guadeloupe.
Bankruptcy the prevailing epidemic among Merchants more universally than ever (probably) was known here before. Cause-Fires, Fall of Provisions, & Capture of American property by the French.
March 7-Died at Greenfield Deacon Hill, aged 98 years. March 18-Finished school.
April 9-In divine service P.M., J. Smith's house near the meetinghouse caught fire & was burnt with all that was in it-in three days he had another covered gratis.
Same day, Ira Jones, printer, Norfield, nearly expired by a large dose of Laudanum taken the night before.
April 14-Good Friday-Fast- Thomas Bulkley broke his arm by riding over a cow.
April 22-Raised my barn.
May 27-An African having broke his ankle by a cart over- turning thereon as he rode therein, Dr. Spalding cut it off & he died immediately.
Aug. 21-Began school Black Rock.
Pigeons of which at this season 20 years ago one might take 20 Dozen in a morn, seem entirely to have deserted us. A Tax laid on notes, deeds, etc. by Congress,-gradually draw- ing our nose to the Grindstone- Posterity, suffer it not,-as we fought for our liberty, so must ye- 'Tis time to begin!
Oct. 30-James Squire, son of Capt. John and Lydea (Taylor) Jarvis Squire, married Eunice Wakeman.
Dec. 30-Broken == bankrupt. Prosper Wetmore & Bros. (Prosper, Victory, Robert & William) were merchants in the China & West India trade in Bridgeport and New York City.
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Oct. 3-Two Regts. meet on the bog parade, North Stratford. 3 men in one company faint away by the heat, only standing still, in a long valley with trees surrounding it. Nov. 16-Thomas Bartram married to Sarah Burr.
Died at New York Capt. Wasson with the Yellow Fever-A goat on board had the same and the hair came off. Annabel cut a piece out of his throat; his drink (after it was stich'd) ran out. He stuck a Spindle through his Gullet first.
He was a soldier at the Capture of Cape Breton, he was nearly 76 years of age, sensible & industrious, not very indi- gent-His motive for such an action I know not-He was alone at the time-he lived only a few days & died sensible & penitent.
Dec. 1-About this time a daughter of J. B. trades out at Newfield, 15 pounds (pretending to be another woman) on credit.
Dec. 25-A negro of Gen. Abel by the splitting of a gun, blows off three fingers.
1798
Mar. 5-Mrs. Thorp, having cut her finger slightly, mortifica- tion succeeded. 3 Doctors attended-it was cut off with a chizzel & the finger not touching the black, it rather broke than was cut. She recovered.
Aug. 9-Thermometer at 97.
1799
May 5-Died my Mother
May 9-Uncle Wakeman Burr found dead in a Lot, supposed to die in a fit.
May 24-Died about 1 the following night, my brother John's wife in an apoplectic fit.
Nov. 16-Sarah, born 29 March, 1771, daughter of Nehemiah and Sarah (Osborn) Burr. Nov. 16-Capt. John Wasson, 1754-1797. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Squire) Bartram.
May 5-Deborah (1730-1799), daughter of John and Catherine (Wakeman) Burr, wife of Ichabod Wheeler whom she married, 1752.
May 9-Wakeman Burr (1743-1799) was her brother.
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Aug. 22-Married John Wheeler to Catharine Holberton. Oct. 20-An excessive gale moved J. Wheeler's store 50 feet along, carried my father's batteau 7 or 8 rods.
1800
Jan. 11-Barlow Sturges raises his tavern flag. March 16-A Sloop caught fire by Lime Slacking. This week Mrs. Wakelee, aged 90, had fire in the afternoon snap on her, burnt to death-got as far as the door. Nov. 22-Married Eleazar Edgington to Miss Patience Wheeler.
1801
To Mr. Reader- We are entered upon a new Century- Ah, what changes will happen before this 100 shall run out.
Old Book, long before that time you must expire-but how ?- Perhaps cut out, leaf by leaf for shaving paper-perhaps used up as a wrapper, or maybe burned all at once, or- oh ignominious fate !- devoted to Cloacine. Be that as it will, live as long as you can,-So I go on again. Jan. 11-Died Abraham Parrit's wife.
Feb. 10-A case before Dr. Allen, Esq. John Wheeler sued Barlow Sturges for damage done in wheat by geese where the fence was insufficient- 'Twas proved that the geese went around by water & over his fence, there- fore the plaintiff recovered Damage & Cost. Feb. 19-Died Thaddeus Burr.
Aug. 22-John Wheeler's first wife was Lydea, daughter of Capt. John and Lydea (Taylor) Jarvis Squire. Catherine, his second wife, was daughter of Capt. Thomas and Ruth (Wilson) Holberton.
March 16-Tabitha, widow of Zebulon Wakelee.
Nov. 22-Patience, daughter of Capt. David Wheeler. Her husband's name appears elsewhere as Edgerton.
Jan. 11-Ruhamah, mother of Rhoda (Parrit) Wheeler, wife of the diarist. William Wheeler married Rhoda Parrit 13 April, 1800.
Feb. 19-Thaddeus Burr, the distinguished resident of Fairfield, at whose home during the Revolution John Hancock married Dorothy Quincy. He was distantly connected with the Thaddeus Burr who later lived in Black Rock (see Families).
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March 27-A storm of 14 Days.
May 27-Died Capt. Samll Squier, respectable as seaman, merchant & magistrate.
July 24-Two stores (Perry's & Osborn's) raised at Black Rock.
Aug. 29-Died Daniel Osborn, Jr.
Sept. 23-Married Capt. Sellers to Mrs. Lucy Sanford.
Oct. 10-Measuring for a road to Greenfield
Nov. 30-Died of a hectic fever, Mrs. Lucy Sellers.
Number of inhabitants in Black Rock: Capt. Squiers 7 Burrs 4- Sillimans 2- Gold 4- J. Bartram 4- Sturges 3- Chancy 2- H. Osborn 5- J. Wheeler 2- W. Wheeler 3- Brewster 7- C. W. 2- Mrs. Bart- (ram) 1- T. Bartram 4- J. Wheeler 6-Total 56 (57?)
1802
March 4-A continued storm of 12 days except one-Nor sun, Moon, nor blue sky appeared.
July 27-Died Andrew Rowland, Esq.
Aug. 22-Fairfield Bridge fell with a Load of Boards-Tur- ney had his leg broke & bruised in a shocking manner. Fairfield town paid him 200 dollars.
Dec. 20-Town meeting-road from Wm. Wheeler's to Read's established. For one acre & 30 rods of my land & 138 rods of fence only 80 dollars allowed. Formerly for village road by Read's 122 dollars.
1803
Jan. 23-Married Barnabas Bartram & Deborah Squier. Feb. 22-Died at Bridgeport, Daniel Young.
Oct. 10-This road now upper Brewster Street.
July 27-Judge Andrew Rowland (1737-1802), graduate of Yale, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Governor Fitch.
Dec. 20-This road, formerly Church, now lower Ellsworth Street.
Jan. 23-Barnabas, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Burr) Bartram, married Deborah, daughter of Ebenezer and Mary (Wheeler) Squire. To her for her "care and services" Capt. Ichabod Wheeler, her grandfather, deeded his house.
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March 5-In a pleasant night, 4 miles from Boston, Capt. Woodhull turning a boat over, fell backward over- board-A seaman soon went in the Boat after & almost recovered him when his oar broke-the Seaman was not taken up till next morning.
March 11-Moved 50 feet on Rollers Mr. Riley's store.
April 1-About this time came Mr. Riley from Staten Island to take possession of John Wheeler's house, store &c, for which he gave 2500 Dollars.
We now expect that Black Rock will flourish as a place of trade, as there are 6 stores now built & 5 wharves & 4 vessels.
The Families are James Squiers, Nehemiah Burrs, Christiania Sillimans, Job Bartrams, Hezekiah Osborns, Barlow Sturges, Wolcot Chaunceys, Terence Rileys, Ebenezer Bartrams, (Charles Wakeman a black) N. Adams, Caleb Brewsters, William Wheelers, Ichabod Wheelers, Widow Woodhulls, John Wheelers, Samuel Reads, David Wheelers & Chauncey Wheelers, 16 (19?) families & 15 dwellinghouses, & 54 inhabitants besides those by Mr. Reeds, exclusive of about 20 boarders.
April 23-Saturday night at Burrs ware, E. Patchin & Chaun- cey Wheeler trying to fish, the boat sunk-
They hung on by the poles for an hour when Wheeler attempt- ing to swim to this side was drowned. Three hours or more afterwards, Patchin, just alive, was taken off by a boat from the upper wharf.
Thus expired the father of 9 children. He was on board of the Alliance frigate in the American war & came to the relief of Paul Jones when engaging the Serapis Man-of- War.
He had been in many dangers at sea, and off Branford swam ashore three-quarters of a mile from a vessel owned by Capt. Hobby, which was very soon after taken possession of by the enemy, who poured several volleys of shot upon
March 5-Abraham Cooper Woodhull of Brookhaven, L. I., married in 1782 Eunice, daughter of Seth and Mary (Burr) Sturges.
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them while swimming & likewise while climbing a steep bank.
He was a man brave from nature, indefatigable in exertions for the support of his family, for which the deepest recesses of the Earth, neither cold, heat, nor fire nor water could ever deter him while alive.
-Ye for whom he excavated the Earth & pierced the solid rock & hazarded his health, limbs, & life to procure that most useful of all fluids for you & your families-the Orphans & Widow claim the hand of Charity & benevo- lence,-generously throw in your mite.
No man was more witty than he-& Melancholy must have screwd up that face to an extreme degree which a touch of his brilliant mirth could not relax. Some failings he had- Charity, over these draw the veil of Oblivion.
May 20th-Road from Wm. Wheelers to S. Reads opened & mended.
July 17-B Bibbins' house struck.
Dec. 2-Died Ebenezer Squier.
Dec. 3-Moved to my house Lewis Goodsell & family to build a vessel.
1804
April 27-Died Deacon Daniel Osborn.
May 10-Died Seth Sturges-about a week before, having a cold, he was taken delirious in the night, went out in his shirt, & staid out some time, which occasioned his death. June 12-Died Hannah Wheeler.
July 3-Lewis Goodsell & family left my house.
July 25-Danll Lacy, blowing a rock near, this day, the charge went off & hurt his hand very much.
April 23-Chauncy, son of Capt. David and Lois (Chauncy) Wheeler. His occupation, so poetically described, may need interpretation in these days of reservoirs and plumbing. He was a well-digger.
Dec. 2-Ebenezer (1754-1803), son of Capt. Joseph and Mehitable (Burr) Squier, married 29 June, 1776, Mary Wheeler, sister of the diarist. She is later mentioned as "Sister Squire."
May 10-Seth (1737-1804), son of Seth, Sr. He married Mary, daughter of Peter Burr. Three of their sons, Benjamin, Barlow, and Gershom, and one of their daughters, Eunice Woodhull, lived in Black Rock for longer or shorter periods of time.
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Aug. 8-James Knap took my father, aged 80, for a rate made when Black Rock was joined to old Fairfield & myself was also taken & paid 7/6d.
N.B. Black Rock district was joined to the middle district without notice & against their will to get our money to build their schoolhouse !
Nov. 15-Tide ran into our spring.
1805
Feb. 27-Died widow Christiania Silliman.
May 2-Moved to Black Rock David Penfield.
About this time the town ware (fish-weir) which had been gone for years was new stuck by Danl. Lacy, Jr. of this place.
May 18-Upwards of 70 Methodists embark at Black Rock for a camp meeting at Hempstead Plains, L. I.
June 29-Died of the Yellow Fever in the W. Indies, Barna- bas Bartram of Fairfield.
July 20-Drowned Terence Riley of this place- His store, Vessel, &c were attached soon after the news came.
Aug. 19-Died Wolcott Chauncey of this place of a violent relax-a disease thought to originate in the heat of this summer which has continued longer & with less inter- ruptions than for many years.
Sept. 5-Near this time a boy 10 years of Age of Danl Wil- son's going in a swimming, contrary to his father's com- mand, was drowned in the whirlpool near the mouth of Ashhouse creek.
Sept. 6-Died Rev. Andrew Eliot of Fairfield.
Feb. 27-Christiania, daughter of Richard Hubbell and widow of Capt. Joseph Silliman. May 2-David Penfield, son of James and Ellen (Burr) Penfield. He bought the house at the head of the Middle Wharf from Barlow Sturges and eventually purchased from Barlow, Benjamin and Gershom Sturges their shares in the Middle Wharf which he managed until his death.
May 18-This camp meeting is mentioned in the Journal of Lorenzo Dow who crossed the Sound and landed at Black Rock after its conclusion.
June 29-Barnabas (1773-1805), son of Ebenezer and Mary (Burr) Bartram.
Aug. 19-Wolcott (1732-1805), son of Robert and Hannah (Wheeler) Chauncy. Sept. 5-David Jennings Wilson (1794-1805).
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1806
March 10-Died of a relax, Mary Bartram, aged 73.
Nancy Annabel cut her throat from ear to ear with a razor- a Physician being called, fainted away at the sight.
April 13-News of Robert Wetmore putting a period to his existence at New York. He had been a large merchant at Bridgeport.
May 10-Died David Wheeler, aged about 79.
June 16-Total eclipse of the sun. Very clear. Two stars were seen.
July 1-About this time came 2 letters from Mr. Francis Forgue, now on board of a man of war in the English channel-he had not been heard of in 15 years.
July 13-One of Green's cooper's broke his arm scuffling.
Sept. 14-At 7 in the morning died my father. ... His constant temperance until his last moments is a strong satire on the drunkeness of the present day.
Sept. 19-Lightning continued some hours.
Nov. 25-Died, aged 69, of a fever, Rebeckah Wheeler.
1807
March 21-J. Maltbie & 6 men besides go in a boat to Nor- walk Islands to dig off a Vessel-they got her off.
March 24-Died of a Consumption, Huldah Gould, wife of Jo. Gould.
April 16-Heman Humphreys ordained.
May 10-Nat. Sherwood aged 20 & Nicols Lacy a Boy, fish- ing at Burr's ware, by some means unknown, the batteau upset & both were drowned; they were not found till
March 10-Mary (1732-1806), daughter of John and Catherine (Wakeman) Burr and widow of Ebenezer Bartram.
May 10-Capt. David (1726-1806), son of David and Esther (Nichols) Wheeler.
Sept. 14-Capt. Ichabod (1725-1806), son of John and Lydia (Porter) Wheeler.
Nov. 25-Rebeckah (1737-1806), daughter of John and Abigail Whitear and widow of Abel Wheeler.
April 16-Dr. Humphreys succeeded Rev. Andrew Eliot as pastor in Fairfield.
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Tuesday morning, lying on the mud near the mouth of the ware- They were both good swimmers.
Aug. 13-Died at Bridgeport, Nehemiah Strong, for a long time noted for an Almanac Maker, philosopher, etc. Sept. 20-Onesimus Hubbell related to me (a man of honesty and veracity) that he was fishing at Burr's ware about a week after those two Youths were drowned mentioned before, from one-o'clock in the night until daylight about three hours & heard the whole time a little below the mouth of the ware a noise like a person struggling under the bottom of a boat to get out-he was so frighted he durst not stir nor speak-it was no fish-it was a star- light night.
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