USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Danbury > History of Danbury, Conn., 1684-1896 > Part 3
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BEANTOWN.
Danbury's nickname is Beantown. There are various theories for the origin of this unsentimental title. One theorist claims that it comes from the pretty general disposition of the Danbury people in the past to cultivate beans. He says that he has seen great stacks of them in fields hereabouts, like stacks of hay, and has seen boys armed with pails and baskets gathering up the beans when the stalks were removed, like Ruth gleaning in the field of Boaz. Another observer, who takes a similar view, writes :
" According to the 'oldest inhabitant, ' the name originated from the fact that there were large quantities of beans raised here in the early settlement of the town. Norwalk, being the parent town, was often visited by Danbury people, and trade to a considerable extent was carried on between the two places in the way of exchanging productions. No Danbury load was complete without beans, and half a century ago it was a common remark by those living on the road, when a team was passing, ' Here goes a Danbury wagon, for there is a bag of beans on the top.' At that time there was a kind of bean known throughout the country as the ' Danbury bean.' It was a very small, round white bean of excellent quality, and farmers raised them in pref- erence to others."
Another explanation is that the site of our town was bought from the Indians with a peck of beans, something like the bar- gain between Esau and Jacob.
Of the years between the settlement of Danbury in 1684 and the beginning of the Revolution, we have little knowledge save
13
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
that contained in the famous century sermon of the following chapters, the probate records of Fairfield to 1740, and our own probate records of later date. From these we glean the follow- ing, which, although meagre in detail, may be of interest to the descendants of our Danbury pioneers.
Nearly two hundred years ago, when Danbury had been but eleven years settled, one of the " original eight"' died, for we find among the probate records of Fairfield that " Thomas Bar- num, of Danbury, died December 26th, 1695." He left a widow, five sons, and five daughters, some of them " under age."
In October, 1697, Francis Bushnell, another of the original settlers, died, leaving seven daughters.
The next to go of the first eight settlers was John Hoit, who died in March, 1711-12, leaving widow and children.
" Deacon Samuel Benedict," of the originals, died in 1719.
James Picket, of Danbury, died February 15th, 1701, leaving a widow, son John, and other heirs.
John Bouton, of Danbury, died in 1704-1705 leaving " eldest son John," Nathanell, Eliazer, and daughters Sarah, Abigail, and Mary.
Joseph Forwards, of Danbury, died October 3d, 1704, leaving a widow, Lidia, who afterward became the wife of Thomas Wild- man. He left four daughters, the eldest only six years of age. Ann, who at the time of her father's death was four years old, became the wife of Benjamin Barnum.
Nathaniel Hillyer, of Danbury, drew his will October 30th, 1709, and died the next day. He mentions "Brothers Wake- field and Ebenezer Dibble," James and Andrew Hillyer, also " Sister Elizabeth Palmer."
Nathaniel Hoit, of Danbury, died in 1712, his estate being inventoried on May 16th of that year.
Thomas Bennedick, of Danbury, died in 1714, leaving widow Elizabeth, one son and three daughters.
Inventory of the estate of Thomas Picket was made January 22d, 1711-12. He left a widow Sarah, six sons and three daughters.
John Picket died May 23d, 1712, leaving widow Catharine, three sons, and two daughters.
The estate of Samuel Weed, of Danbury, was inventoried September 9th, 1708. Widow Mary ; sons Jacob, Samuel, and
14
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
Jonas, the latter two under age, as Jacob was made their guard- ian. Elizabeth, the daughter, made choice of her mother for guardian.
Inventory of the estate of Captain Josiah Starr, of Danbury, was made July 3d, 1715-16, by John Cornwall and John Gregory. He had " property at Pocono by Ensign Knap, propy near Ben- jamin Stevens, propy next Thos. Hoit, propy at Pocono next Abraham Wildman, propy at Grassy Plain by John Benedick, propy bought of James Crofoot, propy bought of Samuel Beebe, propy bought of Thos. Picket, propy bought of Thos. Taylor, propy next . . . Benedick, propy next Daniel Taylor." He left widow Rebeckah, six sons and two daughters.
The estate of Benjamin Hoit, of Danbury, was inventoried February 20th, 1722-23. He left widow Mary, two sons and two daughters, all under age.
James Crofoot, of Danbury, died in 1724. His estate was in- ventoried by Israel Curtiss and John Hoit ; Norwalk estate by Benjamin Lines and Matthew Gregory. Widow and eight chil- dren, three sons, five daughters.
Joshua Hoit died in 1726-27, leaving widow Sarah, and three daughters.
Estate of Daniel Green inventoried March, 1724-25. Jasper Green (only surviving brother) sole heir. Property also at Newtown.
Thomas Barnum, Sr., of Danbury, drew his will December 17th, 1730, when about 67 years of age. Will was probated December 27th, 1731. Widow Sarah, eldest son Thomas, daughter Sarah Hoyt, children of daughter, Esther Judd, de- ceased-youngest daughter, Mary Barnum-grandson John Wilks. Sons Thomas and Ephraim sole executors.
Estate of Thomas Starr inventoried April, 1734. Elizabeth Starr administratrix.
Will of Samuel Benedict, Sr., of Danbury, dated March 4th, 1734-35. Inventory April 4th, 1735.
Widow Abigail, daughter of Thomas Picket ; sons Ebenezer and Samuel ; daughters Hannah and Mercy. Grandson Mat- thew Wildman, only child of daughter Mary, deceased, and under age.
The will of Wakefield Dibble, of Danbury, dated in Stratfield, January 31st, 1733-34, mentions "sons Ebenezer, Ezra (oldest
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
son), Nehemiah (he is very lame), John (has property at Pocono, between Danbury and Newtown)." Will probated May 2d, 1734.
Benjamin Picket died in 1724, leaving his estate to be divided between his five brothers, sisters Sarah Vidito, Abigail Benedict, wife of Samuel Benedict, and "nephew Thomas Noble, of New Milford, an only son of sister Hannah."
The will of John Wildman, of Danbury, drawn August 26th, 1730, and probated the same day, mentions wife Joanna, father Abraham Wildman, brothers Abraham, John, Thomas, Isaac, Jacob, and Matthew ; and sister Mercy Gregory, wife of Ephraim Gregory.
Rev. Mr. Seth Shove, deceased, of Danbury. Inventory of Estate March 4th, 1735-36. Madam Abigail Shove, widow. Also mentioned Mary Minor, Hannah Starr, and Lydia Bouton. Inventory of his library made by Daniel Boardman, John Graham, and Ebenezer White.
Captain John Starr. Inventory September 23d, 1739. Men- tions daughters Mary, Sarah, and Rachel.
Mr. Ezra Dible, of Danbury. Will dated August 3d, 1739 ; probated in November of same year. Wife, Elizabeth ; eldest son, Wakefield ; under age, Elisha, John ; and daughters, Rebecca and Freelove. A posthumous child.
Samuel Knap, Jr., drew his will January 8th, 1739-40. Wife Sarah ; sons Samuel, James, Elnathan, David. Brothers John and Francis Knap administrators. Will probated February 12th, 1739-40. A posthumous child.
" Mr. John Anderson, a transient person, now a resident of Danbury," drew his will on February 8th, 1739-40. Mentions " Mother Margaret Henderson and sister Elizabeth Anderson, living in parish of Dunfarm by Lime in ye shire of Feife in North Britton," giving them "} of estate." "To Deacon Elnathan Mead, of Horse Neck, my best suit of clothes now at Ridgefield. . . . "
" To Town of Danbury
Parish of Horse Neck ye
remainder of my estate between them, for a Presbt" school."
Will probated March 6th, 1739-40. Inventory made by Israel White, Comfort Starr, and Abraham Hayes.
Nicholas Bates, of Danbury, drew his will June 17th, 1741, which was probated January 25th, 1741-42. " Wife Abegail ;
16
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
only daughter Mary, now wife of Jonathan Pierson, of Derby ; sons Elias, John, Henry. Brother Henry Bates, of Wallingford, and Lieutenant Ebenezer Hickock, of Danbury, executors."
The will of Stephen Curtiss, of Danbury, was drawn January 23d, 1740-41, and probated April 7th, 1741. Wife Abigail; "only son Stephen a double portion ;" remainder divided be- tween two daughters. "Brother Francis Knap and Joshua Knap executors."
Isaac Wildman, of Danbury. Will dated February 23d, 1742- 43. Wife Elizabeth ; " daughter Sarah, now ye wife of John Towner, of Oxford Parish. Daughter Olive under 18. Sons David, John, and Benjamin. Wife Elizabeth and my brother-in-law, Benj. Bouton, to be exrs." Father Abra- ham Wildman, deceased, brother John Wildman, deceased, had legacies from estate. Will probated June 20th, 1743.
Nathaniel Stevens. Will drawn February 1st, 1742-43, pro- bated July 5th, 1743. Wife Ruth ; sons Nathaniel, Nathan, Abraham, Timothy ; daughter Hannah Stevens. "Grand- daughter Elizabeth Stevens £20 if she lives with us until 18." Youngest sons John and Ezra.
Ensign Nathaniel Stevens's estate was inventoried July 24th- 26th, 1743.
Josiah Nickolls, of Danbury, died in 1743. Mehitable Nickolls swears to inventory, January, 1744-45.
February 12th, 1755, Seth Kellog, a minor of Danbury, chose Ezra Kellog, of same place, as guardian.
In 1760 Rev. William, Moses and Martha Gaylord witnessed the will of Joseph Atherton, of Danbury.
On October 15th, 1704, Benjamin Scrivener died at Danbury, but belonged to Norwalk. He left a widow, four sons, and a daughter. Scrivener was probably the original of Scribner of to-day.
Besides the names already mentioned in these abstracts of wills, we find, as administrators, guardians, and witnesses, the following belonging to Danbury : Platt, Raimond, Copp, Hub- bell, Jackson, Haris, Hayes, Bennit, and Waller.
EARLY WARS.
In Queen Anne's War, 1702, and in the call for more troops to attack Quebec in 1709, Connecticut promptly filled her quota,
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17
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
and perhaps the little village of Danbury may have contributed to this number, but of this we have no knowledge, and little of what Danbury may have done in sending out soldiers to King George's War in 1744. We find in the records of the Starr family that Captain Josiah Starr (born 1693) was appointed by the General Assembly of Connecticut in July, 1745, " to be cap- tain of one of the companies now to be raised and sent to Cape Breton to reinforce the troops there ;"' and in May, 1746, he was appointed " to be captain of the Fifth Company in the regi- ment to be raised in the expedition against Canada." He died in Danbury in 1778, " full of honors and full of years."
At the beginning of the French and Indian War, in 1755, Connecticut was called upon for one thousand men, which she promptly furnished, and in the unfortunate campaigns of 1756 and 1757 regularly raised more than twice the number of men assigned to her quota, and we may be sure that Danbury sent her share into this war.
We find Josiah Starr (son of the Josiah previously mentioned) was appointed in 1755 " second lieutenant of the Fifth Company, to be raised to go against Crown Point."
In 1757 Jonathan Starr, of Danbury, " volunteered as a soldier for the relief of Fort William Henry," and Major Daniel Starr (born 1724) was "in the expedition of 1757 for the relief of Fort William Henry."
Thomas Barnum, third, " fell in the French War in Canada." A descendant writes that he " was killed at the Heights of Abraham." His will was drawn on June 23d, 1755, and pro- bated October 1st of the same year, so that his death occurred between these dates.
" Job Northrop, of the District of Danbury, having listed myself a soldier on an expedition for Cannoday," etc., drew his will May 19th, 1760, which was probated in November of the same year, going to prove that he met his death on the battle- field, either in the summer or autumn of that year.
Abel Sherwood, of the Probate District of Danbury, was a member of the Sixth Company, Second Regiment of Connecti- cut, under Captain Thomas Hobby. He was mustered in at Horse Neck in April, 1761, and was one of a company of " one hundred effective men." He was with General Montgomery when the latter met his death at Quebec. In September, 1761,
18
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
he was discharged, but died soon after from the effect of wounds received in battle.
In 1756 " John Wood was captain and John Benedict, third, second lieutenant of the Eighth Company, Fourth Regiment," of the forces raised against Crown Point.
In 1758 Joseph Hoit was captain-lieutenant, Ezra Stephens sec- ond lieutenant, and Noble Benedict ensign of the First Company of the Fourth Regiment.
In May, 1758, the General Assembly appointed John Wood, Jr. (son of Captain John Wood), of Danbury, second surgeon's mate in the Fourth Regiment. The Misses Comstock, of this city, have in their possession a powder-horn which bears the following in pen and ink : A sketch of a full-rigged ship, coat of arms, with lion and unicorn, and the motto, " Honi soit qui mal y pense." It bears also this inscription : "The Privateer Snow Royal hester Docr John Wood Surgeons mate to the 4th Regiment, Ætatis Suæ 23. Made at Lake George, August the 15th 1758.
" ' Subdue old Gallick haughty looks Then beat your spears to pruning-hooks.'"
In March, 1759, the following were the officers of the Fifth Company, Third Regiment, Samuel Hubbell, captain ; Noble Benedict, first lieutenant ; Nathan Gregory, ensign.
In 1760 Samuel Hubbell was captain ; Noble Benedict, first lieutenant ; and Lemuel Benedict, second lieutenant, of the Sev- enth Company, Third Regiment.
In 1764 Joseph Hoit was captain and Noble Benedict first lieutenant of the Fourth Company, - Regiment, "in the forces now ordered to be raised against the Indian nations who have been guilty of perfidious and cruel massacres of the English,"
The lists of soldiers in these old wars give the names but not places of residence, so that our certain information in regard to our fighting ancestors is meagre ; but our faith in them leads us to believe that all who were needed went with promptness and courage.
CHAPTER III.
DANBURY'S FIRST HISTORIAN.
ABOUT all that we know of Danbury in the first century of its existence is presented in an address called the "Century Ser- mon," which was delivered in the Congregational Church by Thomas Robbins.
It has been the impression here for many years that Mr. Rob- bins was the pastor of the Congregational Church in Danbury. This is an error. Mr. Robbins was licensed to preach, but he was not a settled pastor here.
He was born in Norfolk, Litchfield County, Conn., on August 11th, 1777, and was the son of Rev. Amni Ruhanah Robbins, and Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Lazarus, and granddaughter of Dr. Francis Le Baron .*
His paternal grandfather was the Rev. Philemon Robbins, of Branford, Conn., who married Hannah Foot, and died in 1781. The following incident we copy from "Notes of the Baptists," by Rev. F. Denison :
"In 1742 Mr. Philemon Robbins, a minister of the Standing Order in Branford, preached by invitation to the Baptist Church in Wallingford ; for this the ministers of the New Haven Con- sociation called him to an account, and his trial was continued for a long time. In 1745 they called him before them and de-
* Governor William Bradford = Alice Southworth,
of Plymouth, Mass.
née Carpenter (second wife).
William = Mary Holmes, née Atwood.
(First) Elkanah Cushman = Lydia = Lazarus Le Baron (second), born December 23d, 1719.
Elizabeth = Amni Ruhanah Robbins.
Thomas Robbins, born August 11th, 1777.
20
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
manded that he should ' confess that he broke the law of God in preaching to the Baptists against their consent.' "
Such was the broad and liberal spirit of our stern forefathers. Thomas Robbins pleasantly called his birth year " the year of the three gallowses," from its lugubrious array of sevens.
He graduated from Yale College in 1796. At the age of nine- teen he began school-teaching. In November, 1779, he accepted a call to the Congregational Church in Brookfield, as a tem- porary supply, and remained there for the several weeks he was engaged. As the parish was too poor to pay for a preacher through the winter, and receiving a call to teach the public school in Danbury, he left Brookfield and arrived here on Decem- ber 25th. Christmas could not have been much of a day here- abouts at that time, as Mr. Robbins does not refer to its signifi- cance in his diary, which he began in 1796, and faithfully con- tinued until 1854, two years before his death.
In his entry for that day he simply says he rode horseback to Danbury in the morning, and took charge of the school that afternoon. At the same time came confirmation of a report that Washington was dead.
Mr. Robbins must have created a remarkably favorable im- pression upon the people of Danbury, for, although a stranger and only twenty-two years old, a committee of citizens invited him to deliver a eulogy on the character of the dead Washing- ton. He accepted the invitation and delivered the discourse to an audience that completely filled the "meeting-house" of the Congregational Church. This all took place within a week after his arrival. The following extracts from his diary may be of interest :
" Dec. 31st. In the forenoon no school for want of wood. Wrote on my oration. Adieu, 1799."
" Jan. 21st, 1800. Was invited to supper with a great com- pany. O, that I may not be permitted to dishonor the religion I have professed."
" Feb. 18th. Am invited out to tea almost every day."
" Feb. 25th. It is customary here for little children to have dances, even the youngest in my school."
" Feb. 28, 1800. Mrs. Whittlesey's mother, the wife of E. R. White, my father's classmate, died in the afternoon of a con- sumption."
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
" April 5. Dined with the military company. The militia here appears very well. Training here on the green to-day. In the evening all hands dance. Even the least of my school join the game. No less than four different sets [companies] are dancing this evening. In the morning a little frost."
" July 13. Very warm. Much worried. People here appear to be exceeding stupid and thoughtless about divine things."
"July 15. This town is peculiar for good gardens. . . . "
"July 30. Excessive hot. The thermometer rose to ninety- four."
"July 31. Wrote to my father. Wrote a piece for publica- tion. Thermometer at ninety-seven. Eat succotash."
" Aug. 13. . . . Had a hat made for my father."
" Sep. 1. Had no school, it being training day. The greater part of my school children dance. It being customary here, I cannot prevent it. I do not believe a town in the State can produce so respectable a militia as this. Two companies of infantry, one of cavalry, and one of artillery, all in uniform, belong to this society."
" Sep. 24. The regiment met here. Dined with the field officers."
" Dec. 22. The frost all out of the ground. Collecting mate- rials for a Century Sermon. Invited out to supper."
" Dec. 24. Wrote on my Century Sermon."
" Dec. 25. Considerable labor to make all the collections for my Century Sermon. Boys played ball."
" Dec. 30. Still engaged on my Century Sermon."
" Dec. 31. Finished my Century Sermon on Gen. 1 : 14 at three quarters after eleven o'clock P.M. The year is now closing."
" Jan. 1, 1801. Afternoon preached my Century Sermon to a very large audience."
" Jan. 9. Have lived more than a year in this town, and all at one house, very agreeably. What shall I render to the Most High for all his mercies ? . . " * *
"Jan. 31. Left Danbury." * * * *
" May 25, 1812. Received a new hat from Danbury for
* * which I paid $10.00. It is all beaver. . . . "
" May 1, 1835. Received a letter from Mr. Whittlesey, of Danbury. "י.
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
" May 4. Received a good hat from Danbury by New York, for which I paid $7.00. . . . "
A foot-note says : "Dr. Robbins first had a hat made in Dan- bury at the beginning of the century. He liked the Danbury hats so well that he generally had his hats made there, but they cost him more than good hats do now."
His journal observes of his Danbury school that the attendance was small, and the children ignorant in spiritual matters. Sev- eral times during the winter he writes of the school being closed "on account of no wood."
The single public school building which the village had at that time stood on Wooster Street, between the graveyard and the old jail. The scholars were thus constantly reminded on one hand of the certainty of death, and, on the other, of the uncer- tainties of life.
While Mr. Robbins remained in Danbury he boarded with Matthew Beale Whittlesey, a noted lawyer, and father of the late Ebenezer Whittlesey.
In January, 1801, he gave up the charge of the school here and retired from Danbury. While he was here he on sev- eral occasions preached in the Congregational Church, the settled pastor, Rev. Mr. Langdon, being ill with consumption. He also acted as an occasional supply to churches in neighboring towns, but did not become a settled pastor until after he left Danbury. In 1844, after teaching and preaching for forty-five years, he retired from active life, became librarian of the Con- necticut Historical Society in Hartford, and remained at the Athæneum in that city until 1854, when the weakness of ad- vanced age obliged him to relinquish the office. He died in Col- brook on September 13th, 1856, and was buried in Hartford. He gave his large and valuable library to the society. His jour- nal has been preserved in print by the family, and copies are in the library of this city.
Mr. Robbins was but twenty-three years of age when he pre- pared the remarkable century discourse. He never married. While here he fell in love with an accomplished young lady, who did not return his passion. She afterward married Knapp Boughton, and in course of time became the mother of our late fellow-citizen, Lucius H. Boughton.
Mr. Robbins seems to have maintained an affectionate remem-
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
brance of Danbury, if we may judge from the frequent mention of both place and people in his remarkable diary.
An enthusiast in matters of historic lore, he builded better than he knew when he wrote that Century Sermon, which will live as long as Danbury itself shall exist.
CHAPTER IV.
MR. ROBBINS'S SERMON.
THIS sermon, which comprised about all the record of Dan- bury in the first century of its existence and will forever iden- tify his name with Danbury, was delivered in the " meeting- house" of the Congregational Society. The building was erect- ed in 1785, at the foot of West Street, where now stands the soldiers' monument. In 1858 the society removed into its pres- ent place of worship, and the old church became a place of amusement, and was named "Concert Hall." In 1878 it was removed, and at this writing is used as a livery stable on Main Street, near Centre.
When young " Tom" Robbins delivered his facts the building had its tower built square out at the Main Street front, and the principal entrance was on the south side, the pulpit being oppo- site on the north side. Inside the appearance was stiff enough to suit the most strait-laced. The pulpit was a heavy, cumbrous affair, with a sounding-board frowning from above. Galleries ran round three sides of the room. In the centre of the main floor were seats, and about them were several rows of high box- pews into which the worshipper was shut up as being dangerous to the community at large.
Outside the scene presented was far different from that of to-day. The Main Street was a country road above Wooster Street, and West Street was another country road emptying into it. Deer Hill Avenue was a cow path, and the greater part of Main Street in the neighborhood was ploughed land and meadow, with a stone wall in the place of the present front of plate glass.
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