USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > Fairfield, ancient and modern; a brief account, historic and descriptive, of a famous Connecticut town > Part 3
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President Washington visited the town again when he made his famous tour of the eastern states in 1789, reaching Fairfield on Friday the 16th of October. His journal refers to the appear- ance of desolation which testified to the recent scourge of war. " The destructive evidences of British cruelty are yet visible in Norwalk and Fairfield," he wrote, "as there are the chimneys of many burnt houses standing in them yet."
THE SUN TAVERN.
Washington was entertained at this interesting hostelry on his last visit to the town. The Sun Tavern, kept by Mr. Pen- field, stood on the south edge of the Green. Here the citizens gathered to do honor to the President. He spent the night in
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this place and pursued his journey to New Haven in the morn- ing.
In 1818 the property passed to Dr. Nathaniel Hewit, pastor of the Congregational Church, who later became the great temper- ance apostle of his day. Dr. Hewit married Rebecca Hillhouse, the daughter of Hon. James Hillhouse, United States Senator from Connecticut. Augustus Hewit was born in this house. This son of such distinguished ancestry entered the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church and became an eminent preacher and scholar-one of the Paulist fathers and professor of Church History in the Catholic University at Washington, D. C. He was sometimes called the " Newman of America".
Dr. Lyman Atwater occupied the transformed "Sun Tavern" for some years. Later it passed through several hands and finally became the property of Mr. Robert S. Manuel. A pri- vate school flourished during a brief period in the place. There is an air of repose and old time dignity clinging to the property to-day so that it is one of the attractive landmarks of our town.
THE NAMES OF DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS.
The leadership and services of many eminent individuals have been identified with the history of the town. Ludlow the "Father of Connecticut Jurisprudence and founder of the town" seems to have transmitted much of his intellectual force to the interesting succession of public men. The Burrs and the Goulds have been conspicuous through the various generations. Major Gold and his son Lieutenant-Governor Gold labored tirelessly for the benefit of town and colony. Chief Justice Burr held a variety of offices and conducted himself with such wisdom and acceptability that his name stands high among New England's worthies. Judge Ebenezer Silliman was another faithful servant on the bench. Soldiership was adorned by numerous brave and splendid sons of Fairfield, conspicuous among them being Col. Andrew Burr of Louisberg fame, General Silliman, Col. Gould, Col. Dimon, Captain Bartram, Commander Samuel Smedley,
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THE SUN TAVERN
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Captain Thorp, Captain Caleb Brewster and a large company of kindred spirits.
The five men who served as ministers for life in the Prime Ancient Society were scholars of excellent parts and most active in town and colonial and state affairs. Aaron Burr the Presi dent of Princeton College was born in this town and spent his early years among its beautiful hills. Dr. Caner first rector of Trinity Church, honored by Oxford University with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, one of the most eminent ministers serving the Church of England in the Colonies during his generation, gave twenty years of his life to this region.
What sturdy, invincible and efficient champions of liberty were Thaddeus Burr and Jonathan Sturges-the first holding office as High Sheriff and member of the Governor's War Coun- cil, the second serving as member of the War Committee, secre- tary of the Connecticut Sons of Liberty, member of the Consti- tutional Convention, member of Congress and Judge of the Superior Court. The Rev. Samuel Sherwood wrought so faithfully in behalf of the colonies that a guard of Continental soldiers was for a time given him to protect his person. He lived near the border line between the old parish of Redding, the hotbed of Toryism. His son Samuel Burr Sherwood became one of the leading jurists of Connecticut and represented this district in Congress. Morris K. Jesup, merchant, banker, edu- cator and philanthropist, grandson of Judge Sherwood, was born in the western part of the old Fairfield parish (now Westport). Dr. Bronson surgeon in the American Army during the War of Independence, a friend of Washington, later a prosperous banker and financier, made his home on Greenfield Hill, where his descendants have continued to reside. On this famous hill Dr. Timothy Dwight established his popular school to which pupils were drawn from many parts of the United States. While preaching and teaching in this place he was called to the presi- dency of Yale College. This hill was likewise the home of Governor Tomlinson who loyally served town and state and na- tion in various public offices, this service culminating in his election to the United States Senate.
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Judge Hobart son of Rev. Noah Hobart was another Fairfield man elected to the United States Senate. It was as a citizen of New York where he had practiced law for many years that he was chosen to this exalted position; but preferring the career of a judge he declined his senatorial honors and served in the sphere more congenial to his taste. The Hon. Lewis Burr Sturges repre- sented this district in Congress for several terms. Judge Thomas B. Osborne who frequently represented the town in our state legislature, sat for two terms as a member of Congress, served as county judge and afterwards became Professor of Law in Yale College. Hon. O. S. Ferry spent pleasant years in Fairfield, and when he attained distinction as a lawyer, member of Con- gress and United States Senator recalled his early days here with peculiar delight.
Judge Roger M. Sherman was undoubtedly the most eminent and conspicuous citizen of the town belonging to the later gen- erations. A modest and reserved person, he preferred the quiet of his study and the society of his cultivated neighbors rather than the publicity of leadership and the burdens of official posi- tion. Senator Hoar has described him as one of the greatest men of New England, the peer of Webster and Mason. Although averse to public office, he gave himself to such labor as his con- stituents put upon him-going repeatedly to the Assembly and State Senate, and serving later as Judge of the Supreme Court of the state. He was earnestly supported by friends as a candi- date for United States Senator, to which position he would probably have been elected had he been willing to yield certain points. A member at the Hartford Convention in 1814 and one of the committee to draw up a report to be presented to the respective State Legislatures he declared on oath that "Its principal object was a more effectual co-operation in the war as to the defence of the New England states. There is not the slightest foundation for impunging the mnotives of these men, or stamping the proceedings of the convention as treasona- ble. The delegates never contemplated an act inconsistent with their obligations to the United States."
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Several of the clergymen settled in the town during the nine- teenth century attained national distinction as preachers, authors, educators and men of affairs.
The Hon. Oliver H. Perry was for years one of the most influential men of the state, serving as Representative, Senator, Secretary of State, and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Connecticut, in which order of public service he has been suc- ceeded by his son Hon. John H. Perry, a member of the House of Representatives, Speaker, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and First Vice President of the Constitutional Convention of 1902.
The present member of Congress from this district, Hon. E. J. Hill, comes of Fairfield ancestors, several of his forefathers being among the early settlers of the town. This strong tie of pioneer ancestry links to the town many great names, for the old families sent their children into all states and territories multi- plying the names of Hill, Burr, Cable, Banks, Gray, Jennings, Barlow, Dickinson, Frost, Green, Jesup, Hoyt, Morehouse, Hawkins, Newton, Pinkney, Nichols, Sherwood, Taintor, Staples, Wilson, Bennett, Jones, Bulkley, Wheeler, Lockwood, Turney, Johnson, Perry, Adams, Andrews, Baldwin, Coley, Dimon, Goodwin, Drake, Ford, Hall, Allen, Hull, Knapp, Hide, Beardsley, Osborn, Rowland, Seeley, Smitlı, Beers, Churchill, Mayo, Clapham, Nettleton, Palmer, Sturges, Pell, White, Bar- num, Meeker, Bradley, Hubbell, James, Norton, Wakeman, Sil- liman, Ogden, Read, Robinson, Sanford, Rumsey, Taylor and other familiar names.
The forceful personality of Judge Jonathan Sturges has re- appeared in several eminent descendants who have attained wide distinction as successful men of affairs, scholars, writers and public servants. A grandson bearing the same name be- came one of the leading merchants of the last century in New York, a generous patron of art, a builder and manager of rail- roads, (President of the Illinois Central R. R.) and a large benefactor to churches, missionary societies, hospitals and other important institutions. This tradition of splendid service has
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been passed down to members of the present generation who continue to adorn the town and enrich both country and city with innumerable benafactions.
Mr. Joseph E. Sheffield, for whom the Scientific School of Yale University is named, was born in this town. A prosperous merchant, one of the men concerned in the organization of the New York and New Haven Railroad and the Rock Island and Chicago road, he amassed a large fortune, giving to Yale College and other institutions more than $1,000,000.
Thomas F. Rowland who built the celebrated Monitor-the boat which changed the destiny of a nation-was a son of Fair- field ancestors and spent many days as a youth in this place.
The name Marquand has been associated with the town since the first Henry settled in the homestead on land now own- ed by the Memorial Library. This was in 1768. The name to- day is widely honored as one suggestive of splendid generosity and devotion to education. Frederick Marquand was a native of Fairfield and like so many other energetic sons of the town became a New York business man. A portion of the wealth which he gathered by a successful career was given into charge of Mrs. Elbert B. Munroe of Southport, Mr. Henry C. Mar- quand, Mrs. Alanson Trask of New York and Mr. D. C. McWil- liams of Brooklyn. This property-managed with great wis- dom and fidelity increased to such an extent that between three and four millions of dollars have been distributed by them to schools, libraries, seminaries, colleges, Young Men's Christian Associations, Churches and other important institutions. Henry C. Marquand the brother became a munificent patron of art, serving as President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art-a posi- tion which he filled to such purpose that he put the whole country under obligations. In this connection it is pleasant to note that his successor in the place, Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan, had intimate relations with Fairfield early in life and married a lady whose summer home was in this place and whose ancestors were for many generations identified with the history of town and col- ony. And it is also worthy of note that the late President of the Metropolitan Museum of Natural History and one of its
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greatest benefactors was born in the western part of old Fairfield 4parish and that his successor as President-Professor Henry Fairfield Osborn, is likewise a native of this town.
A large number of prosperous and enterprising men have been contributed to the world by Fairfield. For generations it was a town well known for its adventurous sea captains-their ships sailing to all ports-their trade a large factor in the life of New England. How familiar are the names repeated many times in various generations-Captain Bartram, Captain Jennings, Cap- tain Burr, Captain Wakeman, Captain Sherwood. Many of these men retired with a competency or with wealth and spent their last days in old homesteads which were filled with treasures gathered from the four quarters of the earth. And the town has been rich in men who shared the characteristic active im- pulse of the typical tradesman and manufacturer -- men like O. W. Jones and Henry Rowland whose names are associated with the flouring inills in New York, and John Sanford, one of the leading industrial masters of his day, whose sole living de cend- ant, J. Sanford Saltns, of New York, has testified his affection for the town by various benefactions.
Mr. Henry Dexter, a generous friend and member of the New York Historical Society, contributed the new hall in honor and memory of his son, Orrando Perry, a descendant of an esteemed Fairfield family. The organizer and builder of the American News Company, Mr. Dexter has manifested special interest in the perpetuation of local history, sharing the upbuilding of the Fairfield Historical Society, and enriching it with numerous and valuable gifts.
A VILLAGE OF PLEASANT HOMES.
Previous to the American Revolution considerable business was done in Fairfield but during the period following that event, it was known as a place of homes, a quiet, lovely town rich in men and women of character-an old fashioned, ideal, colonial town abounding in good society and intellectual life. Business was transacted in Bridgeport, New Haven, Norwalk or New
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York by the citizens of the place. Fairfield invited them to rest. General Parker the Indian chief and soldier who served on the staff of General Grant naturally sought Fairfield as a good place for a home. When the President of the Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine Company returned east, he made his home in Fairfield and it was one of the interesting incidents connected with his home-making here for Mr. Samuel H. Wheeler to discover that he had settled upon the very property which his ancestors had owned and occupied more than two hundred years ago.
THE INTELLECTUAL ATMOSPHERE.
The strong, rich life of the town has manifested itself not only in the men who have commanded ships, built up great enter- prises, shone as statesmen, attained eminence as teachers, phil- anthropists, soldiers and preachers. A large and worthy com- pany of writers have here served their day and generation. Lud- low's Code -- the published serinons of early ministers- the six deliverances of Noah Hobart, the doughty controversialist, books which are filled with the learning and passion of a powerful Colonial leader-these are part of New England history. Joel Barlow's ancestors gave the name to Barlow's plain, a portion of Fairfield ; and the ambitious, witty, buoyant Joel himself haunted the streets of the town, wrote poetry here, studied law, and was admitted to the Bar in Fairfield. His friend the poet, David Humphreys, became a familiar figure in the town, and wrote the elegy on the Burning of Fairfield. Timothy Dwight in his poem entitled "Greenfield Hill," likewise sings his lament over the de- struction of the village. Dr. Sereno Dwight, President of Ham- ilton College, author of the Biography of Timothy Dwight, and numerous other works, was born in Fairfield. Professor Benja- min Silliman, whom Edward Everett called the Nestor of Ameri- can Science, spent childhood and youth in the town of his fore- fathers, gathering strength of body and mind for his arduous in- tellectual tasks. Dr. Atwater, Dr. Lord and Dr. March were all writers of books, some of which attained a wide popularity in
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their day. The Rev. Dr. Samuel Osgood, who made his honte at "Waldstein," in this town was actively engaged for many years in literary pursuits in addition to pastoral duties. His daughter, Mabel Osgood Wright, the present owner of "Wald- stein," has published seventeen volumns of nature studies and fiction.
A goodly company of literary folk, numbering nearly two score, is intimately associated with the old town. These writers cover a wide field of activity in the one hundred and forty vol- umns or more which they have published. Innumerable pain- phlets, sermons, addresses, lectures, papers, reports and similar articles must be added to this collection. These various authors wrote books on theology, horticulture, law, natural history, poli- tics, logic. One writer describes his travels at home and abroad -- another writer, Professor Silliman, puts into ten volumes the results of long and fruitful scientific research-a third, President Dwight, combines religion, travel, education, poetry, history, showing a delightful versatility of mind. There is hardly a de- partment of American literature that has not been enriched at one time or another by some of these workmen.
HISTORIC SITES.
A committee appointed by the Historical Society has recently marked certain interesting historic sites. As the village was burned by the British in 1779 the number of buildings which escaped destruction can be counted on the fingers of two hands. But when the Andrew Ward monument was dedicated twelve markers indicated sites which had particular interest:
(1) Oldest House now standing in Fairfield-1720, property of Mrs. Josephine Brown. (2) First Mill-by side of the inlet near the residence of Mr. Oliver Turney. (3) Homestead Lot of Roger Ludlow-corner place on Main Street and Benson Avenue. (4) Homestead Lot of William Ward, embracing the residence property of Miss Annie B. Jenings and Mr. Samuel H. Wheeler. (5) Andrew Ward's Main Street House, adjoin- ing Sherman Parsonage. (6) Site of First Meeting House, 1644. (7) Burr Homestead, Main Street, occupied by Jehu Burr 1649,
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and Thaddeus Burr, 1759. (8) Trinity Church-second edi- fice, 1738. (7) Philip Pinckney's Lot-1653. (10) King's High- way-1755. (II) Homestead of Henry Marquand-1768. (12) First site of Trinity Church-1725.
NOTEWORTHY HOUSES.
The six colonial houses now standing in the village-tlie Tur- ney house a few rods east of the first mill site, the two Hobart houses on the Green, the two Judson houses on Beach Lane and the Redfield house on Mill Plain-are the last reminders of early simplicity in building.
THE BURR MANSION.
The stately Burr mansion, standing on the site of the former hospitable home belonging to the High Sheriff, (Main Street, west of the Academy), seems to take us back into pre-revolu- tionary days, for Mr. Burr rebuilt immediately after the war and his friend John Hancock assisted him. It was in the old house that Mrs. Thomas Hancock and Dorothy Quincy tarried a good part of the year when Boston was besieged and affairs in that neighborhood were in an unsettled state. Here Mrs. Hancock died only three days after Washington's third visit to Fairfield. Her body lies in the ancient Burying Ground, a stone placed at the head of her grave testifying to the curious fact that Thad- deus Burr put it there at his own expense, although Mrs. Han- cock was a woman of fortune and this fortune is said to have been given to her husband's nephew, the Honorable John Han- cock. It was in the old Burr house that Dorothy Quincy often met Col. Aaron Burr, greatly to the annoyance of her fiance, and the watchful aunt into whose charge she had been given. It was also in the old mansion that the President of the Continental Congress and Dorothy Quincy were united in wedlock- a gay occasion for Fairfield when the terrors of war were forgotten for an hour and the town gave itself up to festivity.
A letter written by Thaddeus Burr to a Philadelphia friend
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' and preserved in the Emmet Collection, now owned by the New York Public Library, refers to the presence of General Lafayette in Fairfield. It is dated the last Sunday of August, 1778 : " The latest accounts we have from Rhode Island are Friday evening last by the Marquis De La Fayette, aid-de-camp, who arrived at my house on Sunday evening on the way to General Washing- ton. He informed me that the determination there was to hold the ground we had got. That General Hancock had gone to Bos- ton to make provision for marching the French troops from there to Rhode Island. That the Marquis was to set out for Boston on Friday to take command of the troops. That it was agreed that all the French fleet which were in a condition to put to sea were immediately to return to Rhode Island.
One of John Hancock's love letters to his fiancee tarrying at Thaddeus Burr's shows that the President of the Continental Congress did not give all his time to public duties :
"My Dr. Dolly,-I am almost prevail'd on to think that my let- ters to my Aunt and you are not read, for I cannot obtain a reply. I have ask'd a million questions and not an answer to one. I beg'd you to let me know what things my Aunt wanted and you, and many other matters I wanted to know, but not one word in answer. I Really Take it extreme unkind. Pray my Dr. use not so much Ceremony and Reservedness. Why can't you use freedom in writing. Be not afraid of me. I want Long Letters. Why did you not write me of the top of the Umbrella. I am sorry it was spoiled, but I will send you another by Express weh will go down in a few days. How did my Aunt like her gown and do let me know if the Stockings suited her ; she had better send a pattern shoe and stocking. I warrant I will suit her. . . I Beg, my Dear Dolly, you will write me often and Long Letters. I will forgive the past if you will mend in future. Do ask my Aunt to make me up and send me a Watch String and do you make up another and send me. I wear them out fast. I want some little thing of your doing. Remember to all Friends with you as if nam'd. I am call'd upon and must obey. I have sent you by Docr Church in a paper Box Directed to you, the
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following things for your acceptance, and which I do insist you wear. If you do not I shall think the Donor is the objection :--
2 pair white silk stockings which
4 pr. white thread I think will fit you
I pr. Black Satin shoes, the other
I pr. Black Calem Co Shall be sent when done.
I very pretty light Hat
I neat Airy Summer Cloak. (I ask Docr. Church)
2 caps
I Fann
I wish these may please you. I shall be gratified if they do, I will attend all your Commands.
Adieu my Dr. Girl, and believe me to be with great Esteem and Affection.
Yours without Reserve,
JOHN HANCOCK.
Remember me to Katy Brackett."
Dr. Church, by whose hand this letter was brought to Doro- thy Q., was shortly after expelled from the Massachusetts Assembly, being accused of treason. Confined in prison for some months he was finally permitted to sail for the West Indies. The vessel and all on board were lost.
The Burr homestead now called "Garden Court," is the coun- try seat of Mr. A. Holland Forbes.
THE SILLIMAN HOME.
The Silliman home on Holland Hill was the center of a gener- ous and abundant life. General Silliman, a man of large affairs and varied interests, entertained in true colonial style-his home, the frequent stopping place for distinguished travelers and a favorite rendezvous for the lively company of young gallants and charming girls, thronging the town. Mrs. Silliman, in whose honor the Bridgeport Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is named, was a woman of fine culture and beautiful spirit. Her journal, giving an account of the burning of Fair- field, the sudden migration of her family to Unity (Trumbull)
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where Benjamin was born, is a precious and illuminating narra- tive. Prof. Fisher quotes freely from it in his biography of Prof. Silliman. The old house on the hill remains in good state of preservation.
In a brief sketch Prof. Silliman describes the capture of his father by the British on the night of May Ist, 1779. "Between twelve and one o'clock a. m. the house was violently assaulted by large heavy stones banging against both doors, with oaths, imprecations and threats. My father being awaked from a sound sleep, seized two loaded guns standing at his bedside, rushed to the front windows, and by the light of the moon seeing armed men on the stoop or portico, he thrust the muzzle of a musket through a pane of glass and pulled the trigger, but there was only a flash in the pan and the gun did not go off. . In- stantly the windows were dashed in and the ruffians were upon him. . and he became their prisoner. William, his son, although ill with ague and fever, was aroused from his bed and became also their captive. These rude men, bearing guns with fixed bayonets, followed my father into the bedroom, a terrific sight to his wife, she being in bed with her little son. The invaders were soothed by my father as if they were gentlemen soldiers and were desired to withdraw from the presence of his wife. They sulkily complied, and my father, by tossing my mother's dress over a basket containing the sacramental silver of the Church of which he was deacon, thus concealed from them what would have been a rich prize." The two captives were hurried down to the whale boat, which lay hidden on the shore of Ash Creek, and carried across the Sound. The following year he returned to his home through an exchange of prisoners.
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