USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 127
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514
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
"The memorials before alluded to represent 'that many of the inhabitants of Norwalk went over to the enemy' during the war. Their estates were eonfis- eated. Some trouble arose about these afterwards, necessitating the interferenee of the General Assem- bly. The disposition made of a part of one of them will be seen in the action of the Assembly on the pe- tition of Abraham Benedict, given below.
"The destruction of the town seems to have been fin- ished by noon of Sunday. Tryon withdrew his forces and recrossed the Sound. The character of this raid may be judged from the following testimony and me- morials eopied from the originals in the State Li- brary.
"The first is that of Capt. Betts himself:
"'FAIRFIELD COUNTY, {
"'Norwalk, July 26, 1779. . SS.
"'Capt. Stephen Betts, of Col. Z. Butler's Regt., in ye Continental service, personally appeared and made sol- emn oath 'that on the 11th inst., while ye enemy invaded Norwalk, he with about fifty Continental troops and some militia engaged a superior number of ye enemy, which obliged them to give way to un- equal force. As they retreated, John Waters, a Con- tinental soldier, fell into ye enemy's hands, delivered up his arms, and begged for life. But ye enemy, not- withstanding, assaulted him with a bayonet, with which they stabbed him in sundry places, and then one of them presented his Piece and aimed (as ye Captain sup- posed) at his Body, but inissing that ye ball shattered his arm. Whereupon finding no Quarter he made a strong effort to escape, which he happily effected. Soon after ye above aceident John Lick (Rich ?), an- other Continental soldier, was shot so as to fall, and, as ye enemy were nigh and crowded fast on our People, he desired Capt. Betts to leave him, as they could not take him off without ye greatest Hazard. Capt. Betts saw Liek no more, but says Capt. Eels, of Col. Wylly's (?) Regt., told him he saw Liek after ye enemy had retreated, about two hours after Capt. Betts saw himn. He was then dead and ye top of his skull torn off, sup- posed to be blown off by a musquet to dispatch him, and further saith not.'"
"'Before me, Thaddeus Betts, Justiee of Peace.'
" Abraham Benedict made a personal memorial that ' he had his dwelling-house burnt down and consumed by the cruel and barbarous enemy on the 11th day of July last past. That before that time he could but just support himself and his wife and a numerous fam- ily of small children, by reason of a slender eonstitu- tion that he has labored under for many years past, and that . .. by means of having his house burnt up, and the loss of considerable part of his house- hold furniture and all his provisions, has reduced him so low that he is altogether at present unable to build him a home, and that he finds it almost next to im- possible (by means of so many dwelling-houses being burnt by the enemy in said Norwalk) to get a cover- ing or shelter to screen himself and family from the
inclemency of the approaching season. . . . That on the 11th day of July last past one Ebenezer Street, then in said Norwalk, joined the said enemy and went with them over to Long Island, and that on the said Ebenezer Street's homestead, in said Norwalk, there stands a small barn which your Honor's Distressed Memorialist is extremely desirous to obtain for the purpose of making a dwelling-house of it, to eover himself and family, and that said barn and the other estate of the said Ebenezer Street has lately been adjudged and declared forfeit to his State by a special County Court held at Fairfield,' etc.
"The memorialist goes on to say that he thinks he ean so join the barn 'to his chimney,' which has been left standing, 'as to take advantage of it and of his eellar, and that he can so fix up said barn that he im- agines he ean tolerably well live through the approach- ing winter in it.' So he wants the barn appraised as confiscated property and sold to him, which the As- sembly ordered to be done.
"Oct. 18, 1779, a memorial signed by one hundred and twenty-one persons was sent to the General As- sembly asking relief, by exemption from taxes and in such other way as the Assembly should see meet, on account of the destruction of their property, etc. The names of the signers eonneet us with a large number of Norwalk's present families. They are such as Betts, Butler, Raymond, Mallory, Fiteh, Hanford, Smith, Gregory, Gruman, Seymour, Marvin, Bene- diet, St. John, Lockwood, Hoyt, Jarvis, Hyatt, Whit- ney, Comstock, Beers, Jennings, Quintard, 'Heirs Rev. Mr. Dickenson,' and many others.
"In answer to the memorial the Assembly appointed Col. Benjamin Hinman, Col. Nehemialı Beardslee, and Mr. William Heron to inquire into and estimate the losses of every individual in said town of Nor- walk, in consequence of the late hostile invasion of the British troops.
"Later, in 1792, the Assembly voted to the suf- ferers by Tryon's raid half a million aeres of land, owned by the State and lying south of Lake Erie,- the tract afterwards known as New Connecticut. The valuation allotted to Norwalk, as the greatest sufferer, was over twenty-six thousand pounds. There are families here, we believe, who are still enjoying the benefit of that apportionment.
" It is difficult to estimate the influence of Tryon's incursion during that memorable week, from the 5th to the 12th of July, on the future history of the war and of the country. Like the Indian barbarities, it tended to intensify and consolidate the hostility to England, and to strengthen the patriotism that had so little to expect from the suceess of its enemies. And so in the long outworking it is sure that the bitter losses of that day, so hard for us now to realize, were not a waste and the lives that went out were not lost. But those lives deserve a memorial that they have not received. Is there anything nobler in the history of war than the act of that Continental soldier
515
NORWALK.
whose very name is obscure,-Jolin Liek or John Rich,-who, wounded and pressed by the enemy, 'desired Capt. Betts to leave him' and save his own life, and who was found by Capt. Eels, 'after the enemy had retreated,' with his skull blown off by a musket to dispatch him? Noble fellow! He de- serves a monument. Let him have it."
ORIGIN OF "YANKEE DOODLE" IN AMERICA.
It is a sober faet in history that the now world-wide famous song of " Yankee Doodle" was composed in derision of the Conneetieut troops which served thie English army at Albany in 1758, in the war against the French and Indians. All the colonial troops were under the command of Col. Thomas Fitch, son of Governor Thomas Fiteh, of Norwalk.
The dress, mareliing, aceoutrements, and general appearance of the Connectieut troops greatly amused the officers of the English army, as well as the citizens of Albany. An Albany newspaper wrote of the new- comers that "some wore long eoats, some wore short coats, and others were with no eoats at all. Their dresses were as varied in color as the rainbow. Some of the men had their hair cropped like Cromwell's Roundheads, others were in wigs or wore eurls in the style of the cavaliers."
Dr. Shackburg, attached to the English army, in derision of these motley-arrayed Connectieut regi- ments, composed the first four verses of the now famous song and ealled it "Yankee Doodle." The musie was not original with Shackburg, but was an adaptation from a song composed upon a noted lady in the reign of Charles I. in England, preserved in nursery rhyme :
" Lucy Locket lest her pocket ; Kittic Fisher found it; Nothing in it, nothing in it; But the binding round it."
It is supposed to have been written to satirize Cromwell, and first appeared in his time beginning :
" Yankee Doodle came to tewn Upen a Kentish pony : Hle stuck a feather in his hat, And called him Maccoroni !"
CHAPTER LII.
NORWALK (Continued). DOCUMENTARY AND CIVIL HISTORY. DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.#
THE following are extraets from the ancient ree- ords of the town, and refer to a variety of interesting subjects. From these records the reader may learn the amount paid by the ancient dwellers in the town
for "fetching the cows ;" the sum paid as wolf-boun- ties ; the attention given to " keeping young people still in meeting;" the amount allowed for "beating ye drum" on Sunday, etc.
SWINE IN THE PLANTING-FIELD.
" At a meeting 9th of May, 1653, it is agreed and ordered, that if there shall be found any swine in the -+ and planting field without youkes on, such - have been agreed upon formerly, that it shall -¡ lawful for any inhabitant to kill any of such aforesaid swine being found in the above said woods, after the date hercof, provided the person killinge any such swine shall immediately endeavor to in- forme the owners of such swine, that they may take them and make meate of them; and this order to continue untill the companie shall repeale it."
MR. HANFORD'S HOUSE.
"Desember the 18th, 1653, agreede by the Towns- men about Mstr. Hanford's house with Ralph Keciler and Waltar Haite as followeth,-viz., Ralph Kceiler is to fell all the Timber, and hewe what is to hewe, and frame all. The timber to be laied by and shinekles to be laied by in -,t and he to raise the house, and to hange the shinckles with pinnes, and -t them -t in elay and to make the mortar, and -¿ house is to be in lenth 26 feete, and bredtli 16 and for the saied worke, he is to have - in wheate at the marehants priee, - rest in eurrent pay, and he is to finish the - by the 10th of Aprill next; and the said -t is to do all the - worke belonging to the - Frame, in such eonvenent time as may sute - Keeiler, for which worke he is to have ye - for which worke he is to put it in his rates, - provide 800 of board, at 7s a hundred for it im- Uppon further consideration the aforesaid frame is to be 31 foote in lenth, and 18 foote in bredthe, and Ralph Keeiler is to have 20 more; and Math. Marvin, Jr. now hath undertaken to lay in 2000 of good suff- shinckles at Ralplı Keeilers ready to have at
THE POUND.
" It was ordered and voted allso at the foresaied meetinge, that there shall be a good and sufficient pound or pinnefold ereeted and sett up, as soon as the season will permitt ; at the place where the Towns- men shall appoynt, the saied pound to be thirtie foote square, six foote in height, six rayles in every lenth ; the sayed rayles to be 11 foote in lenthi, and the postes to be about 10 inches square; and for the saied pound the Towne are contented, and doe promise to pay, to any that shall undertake to finishi, sayed pound, the some of Twoe pounds.
"Memorandum : that in regard there is a conveni- ence to have the saied pound made and that with ex- pedition,-Nath. and Math. Camfield, Nath. Richards,
* For a large portion of the following compilation the editor is in- delted to Rev. Edwin Hall's Ancient Ilistorical Records of Norwalk.
+ Obliterated.
516
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
and Thos. Fitch have undertaken to have the saied pound maid accordinge to the agreement."
FELLING TIMBER.
" Agreede and voted at the aforesayed meetinge, that if there shall be any timber felled in any of the commonage belonging to the TOWN of NORWAKE -or uncorded beyond the space of three mounthes, from the date hereof, that is to say Desember 29th 1653, then it shall be lawfull for any planter to use and earry away the said timber as their proper owne.
" Agreed and voted also that if any timber shall be found in the commonage aforesayed, lyinge and con- tinuing above three mounthes after it is hewen and corded, that then allso it shall be lawful and free for any inhabitant or planter to take it and carry away, as their proper owne.
" Agreed and voted at the aforesaied meetinge that if any inhabitant shall fall or cause to be fallen any tree into any eommon eart way, and not eause said tree to be removed within the space of - howres, so as it to be noe annoyanee to the saide cart way, that then it shall be lawful for any of the inhabitants to remove the saied tree, and - planter that did fall the saied tree - to the - that removed the tree the some of - in good current pay."
BURNING THE WOODS.
" And that the Townsmen shall see the woods burned in the fitting season; and of the time of burning to give eonvenient notice to the inhabitants that they may seeure their fences."
TOWN OFFICERS IN 1054.
" At a meten helde by the inhabitants of Norwake on the 13 April, 1654, when they maid ehoyce of Mr. Fiteh, and Goodman Moore to be townsmen for the insuen yere; at the same time they chose - Ely as eonstable for the ensuing yere."
MAKING DRAINS.
" At a meetinge holden the 24th of April, 1654, it was ordered and agreed and voted that there shall be a drain made through every man's lott in the meadows -- and of the lottes in the meadows on the other side -- that whenever those men that are chosen to appoynt the same, and also the breadth and depth of the same to be made as such indifferent men ehosen - appoynt ; provided also that whenever the saied draines are to be made, there shall be allow- ance afforded to every man, in meadow, for the losse of the ground by reason of the said drains ; also that the same drains are also to be kept and sustained by the owners thereof, for perpetual as they were ap- poynted; and those men that are to vewe and ap- poyent the saied drains Mr. Camfield, Nath. Eli, Tho. Fitch."
ALLOTMENTS OF LAND.
" Ordered allso that the allottments to beginne to be layed out as following : Videlicett to beginne
at the end of the hither plaine where John Greggory mowed the last year, &c."
THE MILL.
" At a meetinge held the 6th of January, 1654, it was voted and agreed, that the -" mill shall desist - * and not to be caryed on, and Richard Web, Tho. Fiteh, Nath. Richards, shall send upon the first opportunities to Leeiftenant Swaine, and aequaint him with the minds of the Towne concerning saied mill.
"Voted, ordered, agreed, and concluded at the aforesaied meetinge, that the three undertakers of the mill in the behalfe of the Towne, with Leeiftenant Swaine, should with all convenient speed agree with the said Leeiftenant Swaine for the desystinge and leavinge of the said mill, as well as they could ; and what charges the saied agreement amounted to, the said Towne would satisfy & pay."
TOWNSMEN IN 1655.
" At a meetinge held the 29th of March 1655, voted and agreed that Riehd. Web, and Riehd. Seamer, are chosen Townsmen for the ensuinge yeere. " Agreed and voted also at the saied meetinge that Walter Haite and Ralph Keeiler are to worke the fence for the yeere ensuinge.
" Agreed and voted that Robt. Beaeham is Gate Keeper for the yeere ensuinge."
THE TOWN HERD.
" At a meeting held ye 30 of May 1655, agreed and voted that all dry cattle exeepting 2 yeer ould heffers shall be herded together on the other side of Norwake river; and ther keep by the owners of the cattle; every man keping according to his proportion of eat- tle ther herded. It is also agreed at ye same meeting that for the lodging and wonting of ye sayed herd in the place fore named there shall be a pound erected by the first Wednesday in June, every man sending in help for ye efecting of the pound according to his pro- portion of eattle ther herded. It is also agreed that there is -* to be employed in keeping the herd -* but suficient able man. It is also agreed that whoso- ever, after lawfully warned, shall negleet his day in keeping, shall forfeit five shillings to ye use of the towne, and for every our that a man is defeetive after sun halfe an our hye, by not going forth of the towne to the keeping of his herd, he shall forfeit six penee for the town's use."
FETCHING THE SMITH'S TOOLS FROM HARTFORD.
" At the same meeting agreed and voted by the towne of Norwake to give Matthew Camfield and Nathaniell Hayes six and twenty shillings for the fetehing of the tools pertaining to the Smith from Hartford, and is to be payd the next rate."
LANDS AND ACCOMMODATIONS.
" The estate of lands and accommodations - in the hands of as followeth [in 1665] :
* Obliterated.
517
NORWALK.
£
8
£ 8.
Mstr. Hanford 300 00
Matt. Marvin, jr. 139 10
Nath. EIi
293 00
Thes. Hales ..
118 00
Math. Campfield 283 10)
Walter Hajte. . ......... obliterated.
Nathl. Richards. 282 00
Dan. Keilogge ....
Rich. Web. 255 10
Nath. Haics ..
Isacke More
252 00
Jonath. Marsh.
Math. Marvin, sen.
279 00
Ralph Keciler.
Sam. Iales.
250 00
John Bowton.
Tho. Fitch
314 00
Richd. Homes
Richd. Olmsted
219 10
Mathew Sention
Mathias Sention, sen ...
189 00
Steph. Beck with ...
John Griggoric ..
188 10
Thos. Seamer.
Robt. Beacham 173 00
John Ruskoe ..... 150 00
Wid. Morgan ..
Math. Sention, jr 150 00
To dispose of.
200 00
Ralph Keeiler
150 00
75 00 Summ total is 5475 00 Gee. Abbitt.
LADDERS PROVIDED.
" At a meeting holden the 21st of January, 1655, by the inhabitants of Norwake, voted and agreed that every householder shall provide, ereet, and sett up a good and sufficient ladder reaching up to the chimney above the house, the said ladder to be made and sett up within one mounthe after the date hereof, and that if any householder shall be defective herein, the said householder shall - of five shillings to the use of the town.
" At the same meetinge, it was fullie agreed, voted and eoneluded, between the inhabitants of Norwake of the one syde, and Waltar Haite of the other syde, that the said Waltar Haite is to ereet and sett up a good and sufficient gate leading into the meadows of the other side, &e. . .
"Feb. 5, 1657. Voted and agreed that Robt. Beacham shall enjoy and possess that pareell of lande lyinge betweene his home lott and the Coafe Baneke, as his owne; being given and granted by the Towne at the saied meetinge ; and the saied Robt. Beaeham has promised and ingaged to keepe and maintaine the gate leadinge into the necke for the yere ensuinge.
"Mareh 5, 1657. At the saied meetinge, Isaeke More, Matth. Sention, Mark Sention, Ed. Nash, with eonsent of the Towne, have undertaken to make and provide a good and sufficient wolfe-pitt upon the other side in some eonvenient place, &e.
" (1657.) Memorandum. That Jonathan Marsh does ingage to build a eorne-mill - and suffic- ient
"Memorandum. That Jonathan Marsh is to have - upland to be laied out adjoininge to the mill
" At a Towne meetinge held the first day of Marelı, -58, agreed with Goodman Marsh about grinding our eorne, and he hath agreed to attend the towne 3 dayes in the week, that is to say, the 2d, the 4th, and the 6th day of the week, and these days he is to at- tend, that we may have to feteh and earry eorne to the mill."
THE INDIANS.
" At a Towne meetinge the 18th of April, 1655, voted and ordered Leeiftenant Olmsted and Thos. Fiteh are to take care and look after the Indians
are permitted to plant butt such as properly - belongs to the towne; that those that doe plant doe
speedily make up the fence, and so allso keep it up sufficient, and also that noe Indian within a quarter of a mile of the towne.
NAILS FOR THE MEETING-HOUSE.
" At a Towne meetinge held the 224 of May, '55, voted and instructed - the Townsmen to procuer nayles, with all speed, for the meeting-house, and at as reasonable rate as they can - Towne's account. Allso, Thos. Fitch, sen. and Leeiftenant Olmsted are desired to be helpful unto Nath Richards in-the proeuringe helpe for the making up the mill Damne."
THE COWS TO PASTURE.
" Memorandum. The eowe keeper began to herd the eowes the second Monday in May, being the 8th or 9th day ; and the dry herde began to be driven out by 3 men - to Rooton, that was Marke Sention, Math. Sention, and Walter Haite - to be al- lowed 6d. a turne."
ADMITTING MR. REED.
" At the aforesayed meeting, voted and agreed that Math. Reed is admitted to eome into the towne as an inhabitant."
MUST COME TO TOWN-MEETINGS.
" Anno 1656, April 1st. At the same meeting agreed and voted, that all the inhabitants of Norwake shall all be present at the town meetings lawfully warned, and answer to their names, upon the forfeit of 12 penee a man, on such default; and there re- mayn till the townsmen or townsman shall - the meeting, upon the same forfeit."
MR. HANFORD'S SALARY.
" At a meeting held by the inhabitants of Norwalke (1656), agreed and voted, that Mr. Hanford shall have three score pounds allowed for the yere insning, by them for his rate, and he is to be paid as followeth : 30 pounds in wheat, and pease, and barley, at the priees - 4 shillings per bushell for wheat and barley, and for pease, 3 shilling per bushell. The other 30 pounds is to be payed, 8 pounds in - and the other 22 pounds is to be payed in beefe and pork at the common currint prise that it brings, when it is dew."
THE MEETING-HOUSE.
" At a meeting of the inhabitants of Norwake, the 3d of January- (1659) agreed and voted, that there shall be a meeting-house built by the joint concur- renee of the inhabitants, 30 foot in length, and 18 foot in ... to be set upon posts in the ground, 12 foot in length, that there be 10 foot distance from the ground to the - to the effeet of the building, the inhabitants - having engaged 48 days worke, which each is to performe as he may be ealled there- unto by - ehosen and appointed by the towne - to eall them forthe, provided that the said men give warning two days at least beforehand."
66
Thos. Lupton.
518
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
WOLF-PITS.
" At a meeting held on the 16th of September, 1659, voted and agree that it shall be lawful for any person or persons to make any wolfe pitt or pitts in con- venient places, and what wolfes shall be taken and killed by the sayed persons, they shall be allowed for every wolfe 10s. by the towne."
CLAPBOARDING THE MEETING-HOUSE.
"At a meeting held the 12th of December, 1660, the towne hath agree with Mr. Fitch, and Goodman Richards, and John Rusco, to clapboard the meeting- house with inside so hy as the window; to find the bords, and to have 3l. 6s. for the doing of itt; this worke to be don by the last of January next."
DIFFICULTY WITH FAIRFIELD.
" At a meeting held the 6th of May, 1664, voted and agreed, that the deputies made choice of to attend the General Court are authorized by the said votc, that if they have an opportunity to issue the difference between the Towne of Faierfield and our- selves concerninge the bounds, they are impowered to issue the same, either by agreement with them according to former propositions propounded unto them, if accepted, and if not accepted, then to issue . it in the court if it may be; and Thomas Fitch is voted to be assisting in the business, etc.
" At the same meeting, voted that the Townsmen are hereby empowered to hier a man, or man and horses, at the towne charge, for the sending for Mstr. B- .and bring him again to'Fairfield, for so many times as he may be procured, while Mstr. Hanford is ab- sent."
ADDITION TO TIIE MEETING-IIOUSE.
" At the same meetinge (1664), voted and agreed, that there shall be an addition made and sett up to the meeting-house, and that - ende sett up and joined unto the forc part of the meetinge house, the sayed building to be in breadth 20 or 22 foote, and in lenthi 16 foote at least; and tlie towne engages, and every person to worke twoe days a man, if need be; and there being appoynted Thomas Fitch, sen., and Mathew Marvin, sen., to call out so many men as they think fitt - to fell and cutt the timber, and allso to summon cach to drawe the saied timber."
NATH. RICHARDS BUYS THE MILL.
" At the same meetinge, the Townc doth approve and consent unto Nath. Richards of his purchasinge and buyinge of the mill and land, both upland and meadow of Jonathan Marsh; the saicd Nath. Rich- ards being to give and pay unto Jonathan Marsh for the sayed mill and all that belonges unto the sayed mill, with the upland and meadow, being 6 akers and 2 roodes of upland lying upon the mill hill, and 3 parcells of meadow, and called Cranbury swamp, &c."
HENRY WHITNEY'S MILL.
" At the sayed Meetinge (July 24, 1665), Henry Whitney hath agreed and Ingaged with the Towne,
to make, build, and erect a good and sufficient ground corne mill, and that at the mouth of Norwake River by the falles; and that upon certain conditions, which conditions are to be fullie drawn up, by Thomas Fitch, Leciftennant Olmsted, Mstr. Fenn, Mr. Whit- inge, to confirme . . . signed by the Towne or thosse they shall depute their ... which conditions were fully agreed upon at the sayde ... between the Towne and Henry Whitney. . .
" Also at the sayed meetinge the Towne voted and granted unto the said Henry Whitney a Homelott, consistinge of twoe akers, the sayed lott to be layed out upon the mill plaine upon the right hand of the path leading down to the old mill, being over the Runlett 2 or three rodd from the sayed Runlett and also from the cart way; and so the grant of the other Lott is relinquishede."
BEATING THE DRUM.
" Also (1665), Walter Haite has undertaken to beate the drumm for meetings when all occasions required, for which he is to have 10s. Also Tho. Bennidict has undertaken to have the meeting house swept for the yeere ensuing ; he is to have 20s."
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