History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 20

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 20

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

copal Churches in Norwalk and Stamford. He also read the service occasionally in Stratfield in a private house. The University of Oxford conferred the de- gree of M.A. upon him in 1735, and in 1766 the addi- tional title of D.D. After twenty years of faithful service in Fairfield and vicinity he was appointed, in 1747, rector of King's Chapel, Boston.

Mr. Caner's successor in Fairfield was the Rev. Joseph Lamson, a native of Stratford and a graduate of Yale College, who in 1744 sailed for Europe for ordination, but was taken prisoner by the French. His ministry in this vicinity lasted from 1747 until his death, in 1773. He usually preached in Stratfield every fourth Sunday.

In 1748 a church was erected here by his advice, ' the principal subscribers towards building it being Col. John Burr, John Holburton, Timothy Wheeler, Joseph Seeley, John Nichols, Richard Hall, and Sam- uel Beardsley. It was called St. John's church, and was located upon a common of about half an acre in extent npon the east side of "Church Lane," a little 1 toleration was distinctly laid down by the General

north of the old "King's Highway," and about a quarter of a mile west of the Congregational church, or, as we should now say, upon Wood Avenue, just above North Avenue. It is described as being a small wooden structure without a steeple or bell. " It had a pulpit, but no reading-desk ; it was furnished with high-backed pews on either side, the body of the church being filled with slips. Seats were also pro- vided for the colored people apart by themselves." Another account speaks of a steeple surmounted by a gilt weathercock, perhaps added afterwards. This church continued to be used until 1801, when it was torn down, and the congregation removed to a more commodious edifice on the site now occupied by the First Baptist church of Bridgeport.

A romantic story is told concerning the Rev. Mr. Lamson. Before entering the ministry, perhaps while still in college, he became engaged to Miss Abigail Ramsey, of Fairfield, a beautiful young girl of good family, only sixteen years of age. While on a visit to friends in Stratford, she was suddenly taken very ill, and it soon became evident that there was no hope of her recovery. Mr. Lamson was summoned to her bedside to bid her farewell, and before her death she directed that her gold beads-ornaments greatly prized at that day-should be taken from her neck and given to her lover. It is said that he wore them around his neck for many years afterwards. The remains of the young lady repose in the burying- ground at Stratford, and the stone above her grave bears this epitaph :

" Wasting sickness spoiled thy beauteous form, And death consigned thee to thy kindred worm. The day advances when the same shall rise With sparkling glory, and ascend the skies."

Mr. Lamson afterwards married a Miss Wetmore, daughter of the Episcopal clergyman at Rye, N. Y.

His successor in the ministry at Fairfield and as

missionary of the Gospel Propagation Society was the Rev. John Sayre, who had previously been sta- tioned at Newburg, N. Y. Mr. Sayre was a Royalist during the Revolution, and as such encountered con- siderable hostility. He was stationed in Fairfield from 1773 until 1779, and in the latter year, after having vainly endeavored to prevent the wanton de- struction of Fairfield by British troops, he took the ill-advised step of embarking with them for New York, and never returned to the colony.

Respecting the persecutions said to have been in- flicted upon the early churchmen by the Congrega- tionalists in this vicinity, it may be proper to say here that statements of this kind, if not wholly without foundation, are certainly much exaggerated. By the colonial as well as by the English law every person was required to pay according to his ability for the support of public worship, and in default of payment was proceeded against in the same manner as for any other species of debt, but the principle of religious Court as early as 1669, and reaffirmed in 1708 .*

At the May session, 1727, it was enacted that in every parish throughout the colony where worship according to the order of the Church of England was maintained by a resident clergyman, the entire tax collected from members of that denomination should be paid over to the Episcopal clergyman for his sup- port. The members of the denomination were also allowed to tax themselves such further sum as they might elect. In Stratford and Fairfield the law went into immediate effect.

In Stratfield, there being no resident clergyman, the churchmen appear to have paid rates for the sup- port of the established order down to the closc of the year 1752. After that date their share of the tax was always paid over to them, as shown by numerous re- ceipts like the following :

"STRATFIELD, May 8, 1755.

" Then Reed of Mr. daniel Sumers, Colector of the parish of Stratfield, the sum of fifteen pounds thirteen shillings, old Tenor, in full of all my Demands for Rats from sd. parish, for the year 1753. I say Recd pr. me, " Jos. LAMSON, MissTy."

"FAIRFIELD, Octobr. 30th, 1773.

" then Recd of Benjamin Lacey, Collector for the Church of England in Stratfield, the sum of teu pounds fifteen shillings & 4d., Lawfull money, in full for the Rates Due from Stratfield parish to my Father Joseph Lamson, Dest for ye year 1773. I Say Recd pr. me, " WILLIAM LAMSON, Exectr."

"This is to certify whom it may concern that Mr. Stephen Somers, Collector for the Minister's Rates of the Church of England in the Parish of Stratfield, on the List for the year 1778, hath made me a full satisfac- tion for the same, and this is his sufficient discharge for eighteen pounds, seventeen shillings, and three pence, the amount of it.

" JOHN SAYRE, Rector of sd Parish.

"Fairfield, June 21, 1779.

" £18, 17, 3."

This was written less than a month before Fairfield was laid in ashes by British troops.

* See the published Colonial Records of Connecticut, ii. 109; v. 50, 87; and, in particular, vii. 106, 107, etc.

BRIDGEPORT.

How Mr. Sayre's place was filled, is shown by the receipt which follows:

"STRATFIELD SOCIETY, 16th of April, 1781.

"Whereas there is no Missionary to Officiato in the District to which we belong of the Profession of the Church of England, We Ozias Burr, Elijah Burritt, and Jonathan Smith, a Committee appointed by tho Pro- fessors of the Church of England, agreeahle to a vote of sd Society, and Philo Shelton, of Stratford, offissiator in the Church in said Soeioty have Recd of Benjamin Lacy, Collector of the Church of England, Forty three Pounds 118. 514d. Currant Money of Bills immetted hy the state of Con" neeticut, it being in full of Sallery Due to the said Church Ministerial Rate for the year 1780.

" Reed pr Us

"OZIAS BURR, " ELIJAH BURRITT, " JONATHAN SMITH,

Cometey."

Mr. Shelton was ordained in 1785 by Bishop Sea- bury, and is believed to have been the first clergy- man to receive episcopal ordination upon this side of the ocean. He continued to offieiate as rector of St. John's Church until his resignation, at Easter, 1824. He died Feb. 27, 1825, in the seventy-first year of his age.

The third church organized in Stratfield was of the Baptist order, and was gathered in October, 1751. Most of the original members-ten in number-had been connected with the Congregational Church, but withdrew, I am inclined to think, on account of the troubles connected with the dismissal of Rev. Lyman Hall in June of the same year. It was "upon the second Sabbath of October, at the house of John Sherwood, of Stratfield,"-the same Capt. Sherwood whose encounter with the Indian has already been related,-that Elder Joshua Morse, of New London, at the close of the usual service, "proceeded and went on in the ordinance of baptism by plunging under water each particular person" composing the church, -viz., Zachariah Mead, Nathaniel Seeley, Elihu Marsh, John Sherwood, Ebenezer Sanford, Samuel Beardsley, Elizabeth Seeley, Mary Sherwood, Sarah Beardsley, and Martha Jennings. Previous to bap- tism each of the candidates came forward and "in the presence of a large assembly gave out a particular relation of the work of God upon his soul." After baptism they united in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Passages in their church covenant are very impres- sive. It commenced thus :

" O most dreadful God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God in three Persons, I give up myself, soul, body, and all that I have and am, to be Thine, and forever Thine, in everlasting eovenant nover to he forgotten. I entirely and unreservedly dedieate myself to Thee and Thy service, and, seeing no other way of reconciliation with the Father but in and through the Son, I come on the bended knees of my soul unto the Lord Jesus Christ for justification, sanetification, aud eternal redemption. . . .

" And now, O Saered Majesty, omniseient and omnipresent God, in Thine awful presence and in the presence of angels and men I dedicate myself as thy dutiful servant and child (and by Thy grace in Jesus Christ I am Thy covenant ehild). And may what is done here upon earth this day be ratified in heaven. Amen."

The record goes on to state that at another meeting the members of the church " gave in their testimony coneerning a minister, from which it evidently ap-

peared that Brother John Sherwood was called to be a witness in the Gospel of Jesus Christ," and that upon the third Tuesday of December he was ordained and set apart to the work of the ministry by solemn prayer and fasting, elders and messengers from the baptized churches of New London and Groton being present by invitation.

Elder Sherwood is described as a man of large stature, of superior physical strength, and of no small degree of energy and firmness in carrying out his views of right and duty. His wife is said to have possessed remarkable gifts, both in exhortation and in prayer, so that frequently the people desired to hear her preaeh instead of her husband. At her death, in 1767, he resigned his office, and was suc- eeeded by Rev. Benjamin Coles.

Elder Sherwood died Sept. 18, 1779, aged nearly seventy-four years.

CHAPTER IX.

BRIDGEPORT (Continued).

BRIDGEPORT AND VICINITY IN THE REVOLUTION.

The Village of Stratfield one hundred Years ago-Military Companies- Petition for a Harbor Guard in 1777-The Guard established-Departure of Volunteers-Horrors of Smallpox-Fairfield pillaged and burned hy the British-Ahduction of Gen. Silliman, and Capture of Judge Jones-Naval Services of Capt. David Hawley-Escape of David Ma- thews, the Tory Mayor of New York-Rev. Lyman Hall, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence-Partial List of Revolutionary Sol- diers-Epitaphs from the old Cemeteries-Anecdotes of Gen. Washing- ton.

IT may seem rather presumptuous to speak of Bridgeport in connection with the Revolution, when, strictly speaking, one hundred years ago to-day there was no such plaee as Bridgeport in existence. This beautiful city, the third in the State in size, and, as we believe, second to none in many respects that make it desirable as a dwelling-place, was then not only unknown to fame, but the ground now occupied by the busiest streets and most stately warehouses was either overflowed by the rising tide or was, at best, but a dense morass ; while Golden Hill, now erowned by so many spacious mansions, was only a craggy eminence surmounted by nothing more palatial than a few Indian wigwams. Fairfield and Stratford were indeed places of some importanee, especially the former, which was a business eentre, and for more than a hundred years had been the county and court town ; but Bridgeport was as yet represented only by Stratfield, a plantation upon the western border of our present township, embracing some one hundred and fifty houses and a population of perhaps a thou- sand persons.

Let us for a few moments dismiss the present from our thoughts, and try to call np before us this settle- ment of Stratfield as it existed a hundred years ago. We find it rather a farming community than a com-

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

pact village, and the houses are somewhat widely scattered, though most of them either front upon the old Boston stage road, now known as North Avenue, or else extend along Park Avenue to a point far up the slopes of Toilsome Hill. The houses themselves were of that antique type of which a few speeimens yet remain,-unpainted and covered with clapboards of riven oak, with sloping roofs descending nearly to the ground in the rear, and windows of diamoud glass set in leaden frames and swinging upou hinges. Fre- quently the upper story of the house overhuug the lower, and in every case the only means for securing warmth and ventilation, especially the latter, was the immense fireplace in the great stone ehimney, some- times twelve feet square, which occupied the centre of the building.

As elsewhere throughout the colony, the people of this vicinity were almost entirely of English descent. The occupation of the men was either agriculture or seafaring, for, with the exception of the miller, the blacksmith, and the tanner,-important personages in every new community,-manufacturers and me- chanics were almost unknown, everything required for use being either produced on the homestead or brought by exchange from foreign countries. Sheep- raising was a much more important branel of in- dustry than at present, and broad fields of flax waved upon every farm. The spinning-wheel and the loom were indispensable articles of furniture, and with these the women of each family produced all the clothing and linen needed for the household. Negro slavery was common. Almost every family of means held one or more slaves, who were in general kindly treated, and were sometimes members of the same church with their owners.

Besides the churches and the school-house, which have already been described, the only other public building in Stratfield was the taveru kept by John Niehols, where, on week-days and in the evening, when the work of the day was done, the meu used to assem- ble to talk politics or discuss the news of the day as obtained from some passing traveler, or read aloud from the columns of the Connecticut Journal and Post-Boy, a weekly newspaper published in New Haven. This tavern may still be seen on the western side of the parade-ground, not far from the cemetery. It is a building of antique style, but in such good re- pair that it ean hardly look a day older than when Washington was entertained within its walls; and if preserved from fire and from the spirit of modern im- provement, it bids fair to withstaud the storms of still another century.

Politieal debate used sometimes to run high within its walls ; as, for instance, on a certain evening, when among the company present were Rev. Mr. Ross, pas- tor of the Congregational church, and the village blacksmith, Nathan Bangs, whose two sons, Nathan and Heman, afterwards rose to sueh eminence in the Methodist denomination. Some doubts having been

expressed as to whether the people of New England were prepared to make the sacrifices necessary to insure their country's independence, the sturdy blaek- smith arose, and with flashing eye and a glowing coun- tenance proelaimed that for his part he would not only be willing to shed his blood, but to endure the pains of perdition eternally, if by such a saerifiee he eould set Ameriea free.

"It is a good thing to be zealous, Brother Bangs, but not too zealous," replied Parson Ross, who was perhaps a little scandalized at the vehemence of his parishioner ; and, calling for his hat, the reverend gen- tleman took his departure.

It should not be inferred from this incident that Mr. Ross was indifferent to the issue of the contest. On the contrary, he was a strong Whig, and throughout the Revolution in his public services never failed to pray for the success of the cause of independence. A sermon of his, preached about the commencement of the war, and afterwards printed, from the text, "For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart," had reference to the painful state of uneer- tainty in which many found themselves in regard to their future political action, and endeavored to remove it.

Stratfield possessed at this time one military com- pany, the Stratfield Train-Baud, which for nearly eighty years before the Revolution used to drill on the village parade-ground, a tract of common, still uninclosed, a short distance east of Mountain Grove Cemetery. It was organized in the year 1697, in obedience to the following order of the General Court :

"Ordered by this Court, that the souldiers inhabiting within the bounds of Stratford on the west side of Pequonnack River, and those inhabit- ing within the bounds of Fairfield Village westward, be united togetber and exercised in one band and company, and Lieut John Beersley to be their Lieut, and Ensign Isaac Wheeler to be their Ensign, and to be com- missionated respectively."

Besides the Stratfield Train-Band, several other military companies and detachments were raised here during the Revolution. One of these was a company ealled the Householders, made up entirely of elderly I men and designed for home defeuse. It was organ- ized Aug. 13, 1776, with the following officers : Cap- tain, Hezekiah Hubbell ; lieutenants, James Hamil- ton and Stephen Burroughs; elerk, Joseph Strong. It was not disbanded until the elose of the war.

Another company was the guard of about twenty- five men stationed on Stephen Burroughs' wharf at the foot of State Street. At that time Burroughs' wharf was the only landing-place for shipping in this harbor below the present Berkshire Bridge. Above the site of this bridge the depth of water used to be much greater than at present,-so much so that ves- sels designed for the foreign trade were built and launched where now a skiff could scarcely float. The design of this guard was to break up contraband traffie with the enemy, to hinder the Tories of Newtown and vicinity from communieating freely with their breth-

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BRIDGEPORT.

ren on Long Island, and to proteet the place from sud- den attaeks by marauding-parties from over the Sound.

Following is a copy of the petition for this guard, signed by fifty-seven patriotie individuals living near Newfield (now Bridgeport) Harbor. For convenience of reference the siguatures are arranged alphabeti- eally :

PETITION FOR HARBOR GUARD.

" The memorial of the people living near Newfield Harbor, in the township of Stratford, in Fairfield County humbly showeth : That New- field Harbor is distant from Stratford between three and four miles, and there are a few inhabitants settled near the water, and this harbor is con- venient for and almost the whole navigation of the town is carried on from this barbor; and though there has been oceasion enough given by our Tory enemies, yet no effeetual measures have been taken to secure this harbor, although there has within a few months past been taken and carried away out of this harbor in the night season nine vessels and hoats by our Tory enemies from among ourselves, who bave gone off to the enemy. The last was a sloop of about twenty tons, taken off and carried away in the night to the enemy, about eight days ago, by forty-four Tories; and there is great reason to believe that Mr. Mat- tbews. Mayor of New York, and several other prisoners bave made their escape from this harbor in some of the boats and vessels that have been taken away, together with our Tory enemies ; that there are so many persons liviug but a little way from this harbor that are unfriendly to their country ; that these enemies of their country always be secreted until a favorable night arrives for them to steal a vessel and go off; and there is no possible way to prevent further mischief of this kind but by a eon- stant guard being kept at the harbor. Unless this is done we have reason to believe that what has been done by the Tories is but the beginning of the mischiefs that are to be apprehended from these deserters of their country's eause. The friends of the deserters will sometimes threaten tbat those who have gone off in this way will soon return in circum- stances to make themselves respected and feared, and that it will not be long before new laws will be established here that will prevent people being oppressed, ete.

"This barbor bas already been the place for Newtown, so famous for Tories, to resort to in all their trade and traffic, and it is now the capital place of resort for all our Tory enemies to go out. We have great reason to believe that great numbers more are now watching a convenient opportu- nity to get out and go off with Maj. French, who is lurking abont not far off we have reason to believe : and there are ships every day hovering abont, and at night oftentimes eones to within a few miles of this harbor; and we have reason to believe that as soon as the weather moderates, those Tories, with the aid of our other enemies, will return again into this harbor and destroy the lives and property of the friends of our own gov- ernment.

" We are therefore humbly of opinion that the safety of the people requires that there should be a guard of twenty-five men constantly stationed at this harbor, with two small cannon, mounted on traveling carriages, to protect the people and harbor ; and earnestly entreat that your Honor and Council (or Assembly if sitting), will be pleased to give orders for it.

" For the particular state of facts we beg leave to refer your Honor to the bearers, Messrs David and Aaron Hawly, Abraham Hubbell, and William Worden, who live at and near the harbor.

" We humbly pray your Honor's attention to these matters, for they are important; and we as in duty bound shall ever pray.

" Dated iu Stratford this 14tb day of January, A.D. 1777. Jabez Beach, Abel Lewis,

Andrew Beardsley,

Gilbert Mckenzie,

Squire Beardsley,

Jolın Nichols,

Thaddeus Bennett, Jr.,

Johu Odell,

Samuel Cable,

Samuel Odell,

Elnathan Eawards,

Zeehariah Sanford,

Ebenezer Gregory, John Hall,

Nathan Seeley, Abijah Sherman,

Elijah Hawley,

David Sherman,

Ephraim Hawley,

Ebenezer Sherman,

Ephraim Hawley, Jr.,

Eluathan Sherman,

Ezra Hawley,

Elnathan Somers,

Samuel Hawley,

Jabez Somers,

Lewis Sturgis,

Stephen Starlin,.

Wolcot Hawley,

Joseph Strong,

Benjamin Hubbell,

David Treadwell,

Gideon Hubbell,

Zeeharialı Treadwell,

Hezekiah Ilubbell,

Josiah Treadwell,

John Hubbell,

Lemuci Treadwell, Jr.,

Richard Hubbell, Jr.,

Abel Wakeley, David Wakeley,

Walter Hubbell,

William Hubbell,

Samuel Wakeley,

N. l'eet Jackson, Jededialı Wells,

James Knapp,

Benjamin Wheeler,

Joseph Knapp,

Timothy Wheeler,

Benjamin Laeey,

Ezra Winton,

Josiah Lacey,

Samuel Wordin,

William Wordin."

The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and the command of the guard was given to Lieut. Aaron Hawley, of Newfield. An order was also given him on the foundry at Salisbury for two small cannon, fifty round-shot, and a hundredweight of grape-shot. The company was stationed in Stephen Burroughs' store, a small wooden building, upon the only wharf at that time in the place, near what is now the foot of State Street. Several sentinels were posted upon this wharf, with orders not to permit any boat to pass out of the harbor if unprovided with a proper clearance. If the boat did not stop wheu ehallenged, it was to be fired upon.

In May, 1778, Amos Hubbell and other residents of Newfield petitioned the Legislature to have this guard dismissed, elaiming that it was stationed in a plaee poorly ealeulated to diseover the approach or to resist an attaek of the enemy, and that great uneasiness had been eaused, in consequence, among the people of the place. It was therefore requested that this company might be disbanded, and a small guard posted upon the shore of the Sound uear the boundary-line between Stratford and Fairfield. This request was granted, and Lieut. Hawley ordered to dismiss his men and turn over the publie property in his charge to the colonel of the Fourth Regiment of State troops, who was directed to detail twelve soldiers aud station them on the site of the present Seaside Park.

Probably this arrangement failed to inspire complete satisfaction, for the old guard was afterwards revived, uuder command of Lieut. William Hall, and again took up its quarters on Burroughs' wharf. They cap- tured many boats attempting to run out of the harbor, which, with their contents, became the property of the soldiers.

One of these captures is said to have beeu attended with loss of life. It oeeurred at two o'clock on the morning of the 28th of July, 1782. A boat attempt- ing to run the guard was hailed by one of the senti- nels, and, refusing to stop, was fired upon. Two men, named Stoddard and Judson, were killed by the shots. A third man, named Phineas Baker, was grazed by a bullet, but eseaped uninjured. He was captured, with the boat, and after the war was over resided in New- field. Gideon Hawley is said to have been the senti- uel who fired the fatal shot.

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 20

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1572

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572