Black Rock, seaport of old Fairfield, Connecticut, 1644-1870;, Part 9

Author: Lathrop, Cornelia Penfield, 1892-
Publication date: 1930
Publisher: New Haven, Conn., Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co.
Number of Pages: 260


USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > Black Rock, seaport of old Fairfield, Connecticut, 1644-1870; > Part 9


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).


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May 24-Died (Millriver) Widow Robinson, 41, consumption. May 29-Five hard claps of thunder (forenoon) one struck B. Perry's Store, set it on fire-soon extinguished-it struck twice in town and once in Bibbins' Lot.


July 27-Died Mrs. Ann Chauncey-at the Navy Yard-N. York-aged 87-long a resident in Black Rock


Aug. 25-night-Store of T. Ransom broke open & robbed of 4 pieces of cotton


July 27-Ann (Browne) Chauncy, widow of Wolcott Chauncy.


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Sept. 2-Married Joseph Bartram to Elizabeth Carpenter of Rye .-


Sept. 10-I found in a mow in my barn 90 yds. Cotton, stolen Sept. 25-Recd. a doll. reward


Oct. 25-Married Lewis Burr to Eliza Olmsted-


Oct. 31-In a heavy N.E. storm-the Beacon was thrown down .-


1830


Jan. 30-Season very mild till this day. harbor soon froze over


Feb. 28-Saw Donald MacDonald 108 years of age the oldest man in New England, very merry, strong voice, walked 10 miles that forenoon .-


March 1-Married Hiram Lewis to Elizabeth Miller-


March 7-Seven hard claps of thunder-Wind N.E.


March 16-Died of a consumption the wife of Noah Burr, 45 March 25-Died John Bulkley


March 26-In a hard N.E. storm, rain & snow, an innumer- able flight of Pigeons such as had not been seen in many years-every gun put in requisition-large flocks of robins also.


June 19-Died Saml Sherwood of Millplain


July 7-Died Capt. Andrew Bulkley


July 24-a week of extreme heat-many people hurt by drink- ing cold water-


Sept. 1-A great drought for 6 weeks-3 people very sick in Black Rock with Typhus fever-


Sept. 4-A drought for 2 months-a fine shower


Off Blackwell's Island the N. Haven steam boat burst her boiler, 7 were scalded & died, 2 jumped overboard & were drowned-Martin Wells of Bridgeport, was among those scalded, he died next Tuesday-


Sept. 2-Joseph, son of Thomas and Sarah (Burr) Bartram.


Oct. 25-Lewis, son of Thaddeus and Rhoda (Meeker) Burr and Eliza, daughter of Hezekiah and Hannah (Smith) Olmstead.


March 16-Anna (Jennings) Burr, b. 22 July, 1785, daughter of Isaac and Abigail (Gold) Jennings.


--


1789-The Joseph Bartram homestead (15) (Photographed 1870)


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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER


Oct. 10-Died Bradley Perry of the bilious fever Age 45


Oct. 13-Frequent flashes of lightning, several hard claps of thunder-some hail


Nov. 25-died a child of Alanson Allen-


Abundance of rain


Dec. 1-The first flake of snow-Extra mild season-


Dec. 31-Ina violent gale from South, Wm. Kelly in the Reaper, midway from Eaton's Neck to Norwalk Islands fell overboard-the boat was turned, but before it reached him he sunk-the sea ran so high, two in the boat could not get in but were towed & one steered the vessel till they got to Norwalk Islands- He was a very active & experienced mariner-polite & cheerful-


Frequent Northern Lights flashing this season


1831


Jan. 4-As wet & warm a season as has been known for several years .-


Jan. 15-A most violent driving snow storm


Jan. 18-Harbor walked upon-


Feb. 1-A great driving snow-harbor opens


Feb. 12-A great eclipse of the Sun-whole duration 3 hours 4 min. Venus seen by the naked eye .-


Feb. 17-Black Rock votes 300 dol. for a Schoolhouse & 40 dolls for ground to set the same on .--


Edward Thorp died at Providence.


March 30-About this time died at N. Y. Walter Perry of Millriver of the pleurisy.


April 16-A violent gale from S., many shipwrecks, it extended from Maine to Virginia & northward to Albany-a Schooner was wrecked on s. side of Block Island, every soul perished, 8 were seen on deck Saturday morning, the sea broke over her 100 ft. high, she parted, the goods came out, the bow held on-4 were seen alive just before sun-set-most of the bodies came ashore-


Oct. 10-Bradley, son of Peter and Sarah (Bradley) Perry.


Nov. 2-Jane, the first of four to die in childhood in the Allen household.


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April 25-4 taken off to New Gate-3 belonged to a gang of 20 who lay in cedars near Mill Plain .- 4 or 5 females who attracted the lascivious from all the country round to their bed-a thing unknown in our State.


May 10-Died Capt. David Minot


May 22-John Moffit preached at Bridgeport-


June 20-A great revival of religion at Fairfield & Bridge- port 42 entered the church at Fairfield at one time. 100 entered the Methodist Church-50 entered ye Epis- copal. Goold Mallory died


July 26-two heavy thundershowers in a dark forenoon, it seemed to strike 6 or 7 times in the last shower .-


Sept. 8-Died Lucy Ann Kennedy 30


Sept. 29-Mackarell-the harbour seems to be full, feeding on the smelts which crowd the shore in infinite numbers, over which hover a prodigious flock of mackarell gulls- A young lady caught 40 mackarell one morning with a hook-two men with a short seine extending from wharf to wharf took near a barrel one morning. To see 3 seines going at once, a bushel caught by a firm at a time-60 people in two vessels (like pigeons on a stage) fishing with hooks-a boy 6 years old catch 2 fish in a minute with his hook-was truly a novel sight- Pen- field took 5 bushels at one haul-they lasted only 3 days. Nov. 7-Nat Huet returned from England-preached at Bridgeport on the state of Religion in foreign lands .... 100,000 converts in U. S. last year.


Nov. 11-Carman alias Barber of Black Rock . (indis- tinct)


Died Johnson Tuttle of Influenza.


Great part of the people have Colds-


1832


Jan. 5-Married John P. Brittin to Lavinia Wilson Jan. 13-Died Mrs. Hull, wife of Dr. David Hull-


Jan. 5-Lavinia, daughter of Daniel and Anne (Jennings) Wilson.


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Jan. 20-After a very warm time for 20 days, snow in one night comes 7 inches deep on a level, snow covered every twig from 2 to 4 inches, a spectacle that had not been seen in 10 years.


Jan. 27-Died Mrs. Joseph Squire 73


Feb .- Word from A. Bibbins 100 days at sea arrived in the West Indies.


Feb. 15-Died a child of T. Ransom-


Feb. 20-Great changes of weather from heat to cold-thir- teen sick in Black Rock, to have a physician, catarrh, scarlet fever- More sick than ever was known. 67 had the measles in Black Rock- 4 children died- Rheumatism, Fever, & Ague.


April 1-Married Rufus Hoyt to Widow Perry-


April 5-have the scarlet fever or ulcerous sore throat .-


April 16-Heavy Thunder at Derby- A man an Ox and a cat struck at that place.


April 7-Died Jane Wilson aged 9


May 17-Died Louisa Lockwood She is the eleventh that has died in 5 Months in this Place-all under twelve years-


June 5-Penfield caught 14,000 blackbellies (fish) at one haul-The weather is remarkable cold & wet almost every day-continually cloudy-Corn & Beans yellow- June 20-D. P. [probably David Penfield] caught 45,000 fish this day.


A little before this the Cholera appears in Quebec & Montreal brought in a ship by emigrants from Ireland-


June 25-about this time the Cholera appears in New York, brought, it is supposed, from Montreal-a new disease in our country, but known for some years in India and afterwards in Europe, confined to N. Y. at present


Jan. 27-Anne (Wetmore) Squire died February 9th.


April 1-Rufus, son of Samuel and Mary (Hoyt) Hoyt of Stamford, and Julia (Thorp) Perry, widow of Bradley Perry.


April 7-Ann Jane, daughter of Daniel and Maria (Keeler) Wilson, died May 8th, according to the family record.


May 17-Louise, daughter of Joseph and Eunice (Barlow) Lockwood. Her twin sister, Lucretia, married David 'Whitney.


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July 19-Fast recommended on account of the Cholera.


Aug. 1-Died Major Saml Beers-Cholera


600 die in N. Y. in a week for several weeks by the cholera


Aug. 20-Died at Bridgeport Sterling Sherman cholera (sick 8 hours only)


Aug. 26-died in Black Rock, Peter J. Kennedy (Cholera) it turned to a fever-he was sick a week-buried in the night-His wife that attended him died of the same dis- ease the next day, She was taken at 2 o clock in the night and lived 14 hours .-


Deaths by Cholera in New York from its commencement to Sept. 1st, 3000


Sept. 21-A whale 20 feet in length & 13 feet circumference was found ashore on the Bar and taken-3 gall of oil only from him-1 in 8 die of Cholera in York.


Oct. 2-50 died of Cholera in N. Y. the past week-


Oct. 7-Married Ann Mills Judson to Geo. Gibbs.


Oct. 9-Married Benjamin Penfield to Henrietta Allen-


Oct. 17-First Peace address delivered by Mr. Yale 12 thousand million doll. expended in 22 years war in Europe-5 Million slain in Bonaparte's wars.


First peace society in N. York 1815, the second in London 1816


1833


Jan. 31-The most moderate Winter for many years-no snow no ice until this day when a violent snowstorm commenced


Feb. 13-The Schooner Planter, Capt. Doane, of the Southern line, in a heavy N. E. storm (night) drifted near the mills Black Rock, ashore after much exertion was towed off by the Debby Ann market boat, George W. Bartram, and brought up to the wharf-


Aug. 26-The Kennedy family lived near the upper wharf.


Oct. 9-Benjamin, son and David and Elizabeth (Bulkley) Penfield, and Henrietta, daughter of Benjamin and Deborah (Disbrow) Allen. Feb. 13-George Wakeman Bartram, son of Job and Ruth (Holberton) Bartram. The traditional linking of the name of the ship with that of the captain is meticulously observed by the diarist.


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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER


Black Rock people made about 200 doll. by the job among 25- all in labour-


Feb. 28-Died M. Godfrey


March 2-Driving snow-very cold-Water froze to the Cows-Skating on the harbour-


April 28-Mrs. Brewster broke her arm, being very fleshy it could not be set- She recovered to be able to walk.


May 15-One Seine in Black Rock harbor this day caught 35,000 fish 20,000 at one haul-blackbellies


May 27-52,000 fish caught in Black Rock harbour- A very rainy season


May 30-36,000 fish caught at one haul-


June 15-Andrew Jackson, President of the U. S. arrived at Bridgeport-went off at noon.


June 22-Fell in the fire (supposed in a fit) and was burnt to death, the widow of Jabez Hubbell-76


Aug. 4-The lightning struck a buttonwood tree E. side of Bridgeport harbour-also a barn in Old [road?] filled to the roof with hay and grain which was burnt .-


Aug. 13-Fair at Fairfield for town poor (Children) 250 dolls collected


Aug. 16-Died of Cholera morbus Sarah Golden (Fairfield) It was thought she poisoned herself by mistake with Arsenic.


Sept. 16-Government surveying the Coast. Very dry, wells fail.


Sept. 18 Hard rain from S. much wanted .-


Oct. 14-E. saw at Bridgeport-A Lion & lioness, Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Rhinoceros, Panther, Polar bear, Zebra, Shetland pony, Cougar, Hyena, Porcupine, Jaguar, & 17 Monkeys and a Camel


Oct. 28-Sailed a Ship for Whales (the first from Bridgeport) Nov. 3-Cut his throat with a razor in a fit of insanity-Mr. Whitney of Stratfield


Aug. 16-Sarah, daughter of Daniel and Charlotte (Travis) Golding.


Sept. 16-The result of this survey is an interesting map of Black Rock, showing con- tours and cultivation, but not checking accurately with the land records as to the location of houses.


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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER


Nov. 12-Hundreds of Meteors (falling stars) seen in all directions, all over the horizon, falling as fast as you would count-some of them large, some of them leaving a trail like a stream of lightning, they fell for several hours.


Nov. 16-Died in Fairfield Aaron Turney aged 82-


Nov. 21-Great fire in Bridgeport-10 Dwellinghouses burnt & 18 families turned out who lost most of their furni- tyre, commenced at 6 in the evening-Wind fresh at S.E .- The Ladies were busy at passing the buckets while some of the men stood with their hands in their pockets- 15 buildings burnt, great & small, consider- able money lost- Little insurance.


Dec. 17-Near the Quarter of the moon violent N.E. wind- highest tide since 1820- Green's footbridge floted- wharves cleared - stores deluged - Schooner went ashore-Incalculable damage at N. Y. and to the South Dec. 18-Died David Hull (67)


1834


Jan. 14-Harbor froze over-Little snow


Feb. 27-Married Ephraim Penfield to Mary Ann Clarke- The warmest February known for many years-People ploughing.


March 4-Murder at Bridgeport- An Irishman a labourer, boarded at Bassets who kept a bad house-all intoxi- cated together-the Irishman beat out B. brains & he died in a few hours-the fellow lay concealed in the swamp (it is supposed) for several days-


March 15-Roads settled, grass growing, birds singing, comes Snow 5 inches depth on a level .-


April 12-H. Osborn left this place for Westmoreland-


April 13-Died Robert Knap-


May 7-25,000 fish caught in one haul


Dec. 18-Dr. David Hull, classmate of William Wheeler at Yale, and brother of Gen. William Hull.


Feb. 27-Ephraim, son of David and Elizabeth (Bulkley) Penfield. Mary Ann Clarke was his first wife.


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May 26-53,000 fish at one haul! 100,000 in a day by two firms. June 2-67,000 fish at one haul-


June 30-a wet & cold season-several people sick with the lung fever at this place .-


July 10-Extreme heat for 3 days-one neighbour had his back blistered through his shirt-


July 17-In a heavy shower (afternoon) a tree was struck with two streams of lightning about 6 rods distant from me-the report was similar to several pistols in quick succession-


Aug. 10-The Cholera appears in New York.


Aug. 27-Died Mrs. T. Burr of the Dropsy


Aug. 30-Mrs. Brewster, taken late in Ye afternoon died next night-thought to be the Cholera. Aged 74


Sept. 23-Raisd Mrs. Brewster's house


Oct. 30-Burnt both houses of Parliament-England.


Nov. 1-John Wheeler came to our house from Westmore- land. Cholera has ceasd at New York.


Loss of Houses of Parliament estimated at 500,000 pounds.


Nov. 25-first snow that covers the earth-2 inches depth.


1835


Jan. 1-Port froze to the Point-sleighing fine


Jan. 5-Extreme cold-Clear-16 degrees below zero, colder by 51/2 than had been for 13 years-a Man burnt to death in his house at Bridgeport.


Jan. 12-Drew a deed (quitclaim) for William Wheeler of Westmoreland.


Jan. 14-Quite warm & pleasant.


Feb. 10-Died Saml Wilson-(Fairfield Woods)


Feb. 27-Mrs. Carman robbed of 104 dolls-no one at the house at that time-at Black Rock.


March 17-Died of a fever, Capt. Gershom Sturges


Aug. 27-Rhoda (Meeker) Burr, wife of Thaddeus.


Aug. 30-Anne (Lewis) Brewster, widow of Caleb.


March 17-Gershom, son of Seth and Mary (Burr) Sturges, b. 1 June, 1773.


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April 11-A man lost his hand, another his eye at Bridge- port, firing a cannon.


April 13-A great Animal show at Bridgeport


April 16-Snow-level 3 inches deep-


April 28-In the night during a most violent gale N.E. packet Paragon, H. Wills went ashore on the beach Black Rock & was lost.


April 29-Hoyt's house raisd 38 by 27


May 3-Sunday betwixt meetings James Knap's house (Fair- field) burnt.


June 12-heavy thundershower barn struck in Fairfield & a house in Bridgeport-it went on the lightning rod to the garret where it was attracted by an iron fender then went down by a post-none hurt .- Beacon building.


About this time the Palmer worms appear in infinite numbers on the apple, Quince & oak trees-


They went off in three weeks, destroyed all the apples.


July 5-Corner Stone of African church laid Bridgeport


July 17-Died Alanson Allen's child.


Aug. 20-About this period-The Baptists bought Bridgeport church for 3500 dolls.


Sept. 19-U. S. Schooner went off-had been here 3 weeks, surveying the place & harbour


About this time died N. and J. Morehouse (father & son) at Fairfield Woods.


Oct. 28-Finished the Beacon-Expense 8,000 dolls, By Danl Wilson & two Downs. [brothers].


Nov. 11-very heavy S.E. Storm-the season thus far has been very warm & calm-delightful


Nov. 23-The mildest season perhaps in the memory of man no frost-good roads till this day a rousing snowstorm- Good sleighing-hay 17 dolls.


Dec. 16-Harbor froze to the point before evening-A great fire in New York-the fire was plainly seen at Black Rock-lighting up against the sky-About 600 buildings in the richest part of the city were destroyed-loss esti- mated at fifteen or 20 millions-burnt 15 hours-the


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flames driven by a strong wind-extreme cold-water froze in the engine-firemen exhausted by fire the night previous-Militia & a troop of horse to greet the thieves- Buildings blown up in advance of the fire tended to arrest the conflagration-it was thought a million of dolls was saved by four hogsheads of wine vinegar put in engine .- no such fire since 1776 when 490 buildings were burnt in N. Y. 24 degrees Montreal Cold-12 degrees below Zero.


1836


Jan. 7-Fine sleighing.


Feb. 3-Sound covered with ice-Steamboat cannot pass- came in


Feb. 4-Widow Godfrey (Millplain) frozen to death Cold-10 degrees below zero.


Feb. 8-Hard rain follows a driving snow, so the seasons change-


Feb. 20-Mrs. Woodhull burnt by clothes taking fire alone- supposed in a fit-died next night-


March 4-Burnt-the house of Eben. Osborn-Mill plain- March 16-Market vessels just begin to go-the coldest Feb-


ruary ever remembered-Ice 8 inches thick now on the harbour-


March 18-House of Alanson Allen (neighbor) caught fire from beam under the hearth-extinguished-


March 23-Snow level 4 inches


April 1-Snow drifts (rather a compound of hail & snow frozen last winter) remains one foot deep.


April 29-Died Thomas Bulkley.


June 8-Storm of 20 days continuance-Wind brisk N.E. the whole time.


Feb. 20-Eunice (Sturges) Woodhull, son of Seth and Mary (Burr) Sturges, b. 4 Aug. 1765, widow of Captain Woodhull. She had at one time lived in Black Rock, but died in Fairfield where she taught school for many years, after the death of her husband.


April 29-Thomas Bulkley, son of Jonathan and Hannah (Hoyt) Bulkley, had been a classmate of William Wheeler at Yale.


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June 9-37,000 fish caught at one haul in this port-warm & pleasant.


July 4-Misty warm, growing season.


July 26-Two children of E. Hendrick die-scarlet fever- four more have been sick-


July 27-A. Jennings firing a cannon had one arm blown off (Bridgeport)


Aug. 13-W. B. Thomas married to Betsey Moore


Sept. 6-Died Uncle Ozias Burr aged 97 years 3 months


Oct. 13-About this time Capt. Brittin's house raised-3 people fell-sleeper broke-one man broke his rib.


Oct. 28-Died Lewis Brewster-Nigh neighbor


Dec. 11-Married Mr. Rufus Fancher to Mrs. Caroline Callon Assembly (extra session) passed a law for each town to take their share of the Surplus Revenue.


1837


Jan. 1-Married Mr. Ward Taylor to Eliza Wells-


Jan. 3-Harbour froze over-


Jan. 22-Earth covered with snow-hardly before this win- ter-Roads excellent for Wheels the whole season-now most excellent for sleighs-


Feb. 10-A wolf killed at Pequonnock by Moses Bulkley- 75 1b.


March 4-Great firing & rejoicing for the Accession of Van Buren. President Jackson sent out farewell Address to the U. S .- he cautions all against any division of the Union-


March 21-I gave Anne Wakeman, wife of Willis Wakeman two deeds of 53 rods of land more or less on Wheelers road for 124 dolls.


March 23-Davd Lockwood deed of land- Great flood- Oct. 28-(Jonathan) Lewis Brewster, son of Caleb and Anne (Lewis) Brewster, b. 5 Nov. 1786.


Dec. 11-Caroline (Wheeler) Callon, daughter of Chauncy and Caroline Matilda (Beers) Wheeler.


Jan. 1-Eliza, daughter of Roswell and Marietta (Gould) Wells. Her husband's name appears elsewhere as Thomas W. Taylor.


March 23-David, son of Joseph and Eunice (Barlow) Lockwood of Westport.


------


1807-The Nichols homestead (13) (Photographed on the original site, 1870)


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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER


Pequonnock river burst its dams one after another- swept away 60 feet of a factory with various shops & barns-the new mill at Berkshire was carried erect 80 rods down the streen- Great damage in various parts. April 8-Morn-Hail storm-preceded by darkness-hail- stones 2 inches in length irregular-thunder


May 6-Great pressure in the money market


May 8-Whale Ship arrives at Bridgeport with 2200 bbls oil. May 10-Great panic- All the banks stopt payment- failures every place-


July 10-Mad dog pursued from Newtown on horseback- killed within 4 miles of Bridgeport-


July 11-An Irishman drowned near Green's Mill in a deep hole whilst bathing-could not swim-


Sept. 20-Died Samuel Rowland Esq.


Oct. 20-Died Walter Thorp Esq. of this place-


Oct. 27-Died James Knap (69) of Fairfield.


Nov. 1-Beach & Webb Downs finished the lighthouse fence-


Nov. 14-Snow Storm-4 inches deep on a level 6 o'clock in evening cloud red like fire-giving light like the moon at her full-only a few minutes-Snow went off entirely in 4 days-quite warm-


Nov. 25-Deep, driving snow.


Dec. 30-Five snow storms-all melted and left the earth green & dry-very fine roads-no mud-nor frost in the ground.


1838


Jan. 26-very fine roads-no snow-mild-fogs-now comes a southeast storm-rain.


Died Capt. Wm. Nichols, after a severe sickness of 2 days, his age was 39-


Dr. Nash broke his leg.


March 26-Married in Fairfield by the Rev. Mr. Atwater, Elihu Sanford to Cornelia Turney-


Oct. 20-Captain Walter, son of Eliphalet and Eunice Thorp, b. 1770.


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March 28-Snow level 3 inches depth


March 31-Swelling extracted from E. [Eliza?]


April 4-Died Capt. Thos. Bartram-67-


April 14-Snow storm


May 1-Died Wife of Thaddeus Hubbell-


June 18-Finished the shingling of my house. George Ensly & wife departed for N. Haven


Arrived Barque Harvest from whaling with 8,000 doll. 4,800 1b whale-bone and 150 barrels sperm oil.


Oct. 20-Died Mrs. Shelton, wife of Parson Shelton. Died also Middlebrooks, dropt dead from his waggon he worked much in poisonous paints.


Nov. 21-Married at Bridgeport Charles May of that place to Sarah Jane Callon of Black Rock


Nov. 25-Died Maria Wilson, wife of Daniel Wilson.


1839


Jan. 1-No snow-fine roads.


Jan. 22-Sold John P. Brittin length 234 feet, Breadth 119 feet 4 inches-North of David Lockwood's Land on Wheeler Street about 100 rods of Ground at 200 per Acre, took a note for 125 dolls.


Few of the Wheelers were Scholars (Book taught) at Weston there was Nathan Wheeler, Judge of the County Court and Stephen Wheeler Representative (Conn.) Whether from dependence on their strong natural powers or want of pecuniary aid-they died poor.


John Wheeler (Isle of Wight) is mentioned in L. Richmond's diary as a boon religious man.


I have a brother John Wheeler now (1839) 74 years of age will travel with ease twenty miles in a day his whole study is Religion-he exhorts wherever he goes-is


April 4-Thomas, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Burr) Bartram, b. 22 Feb. 1764. Nov. 25-Maria (Keeler) Wilson, daughter of David and Esther (Bradley) Keeler, b. 1797.


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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER


now in Allegheny Co. N. Y. he has no property-he has 9 children by 2 wives.


Feb. 18-No snow-pleasant roads-Light Boat in harbour- hole made in her by ice- Revival of Religion in Bridge- port-protracted meetings-14 days) Baptists & Metho- dist.


March 15-Died (Fairfield) Sally Bulkley 70-for 18 years this maiden, recluse by day continued in her chamber, coming down at night to eat-her life was prolonged to old age without fire-she inherited a considerable fortune from her Ancestors-was daughter of Nathan Bulkley, Town Clerk-


April 11-Arrived at Bridgeport Ship Atlantic with 1900 bbls oil & 17,000 1b. bone, absent 21 months.


April 21-Raised Thos. Ransom's house at Black Rock


May 22-3 Persons very Sick-Chronic Rheumatism


June 15-10 A.M. died of a fever in the 36th year of her Age Eliza H. Wheeler-Sick about 14 days. She was supe- rior in most qualities that adorn the female mind


In hospitality affection & kindness inferior to none- As a Poetess good (her works testify) A great lover of Books


Beloved & respected by her numerous acquaintances Habitually cheerful-quick at her needle-


Very industrious & economical-


Very smooth in her temper-and conciliatory in her manner Unrivalled in a firm attachment to her father Wm. Wheeler Well skilled in vocal Music-Laus Deo.


Add to all these she had a Courage that never gave way to difficulties though ever so formidable


Very few were her complaints in her last sickness.


Dec. 15-The Season was never finer- Grass growing fences building Scallops hundreds of bushels caught- fine roads- but now Snow 18 inches depth.


Launched Schooner 200 tons-Danl Wilson & Co.


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THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER


Dec. 22-Another N.E. Snow Storm. Fine sleighing.


Dec. 28-Four A.M. the highest tide for many years 7 inches depth in T. Ransom's store, he lost from the wharf a hogshead of molasses-violent gale from N.E .- Beacon blown down 200 doll. damage in Black Rock


1840


Jan. 13-Steamboat Lexington about 111 crew & passengers took fire 7 evening-sunk off Bridgeport-3 only saved- 18,000 dolls specie on board, 10,000 of the same in Gold in an iron trunk. One person saved (tis said) was 48 hours exposed-3 were saved by a vessel that went for the purpose from Southport next day. Later Accounts 120 lives lost.


(Royal George sunk 1752 with 1200 on board 400 women, blown by powder under water-London paper.)


Feb. 12-Cars on Railroad (from New Milford to Bridgeport) by some mismanagement did not stop-3 men had each a leg broken


March 16-Died in Weston Widow Sarah Treadwell aged 86 (daughter of Jabez Wheeler) had two husbands soldiers of Revolution,-Daniel Treadwell & Danll Hoyt- She was a professor of religion 60 years- She was sick 7 weeks.




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