History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 92

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 92

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" In this meeting comes Jesse Hallock and presents himself to set up the Salt Peter works in this town, on encouragement Given by act of As- sembly."

March 11, 1777, the town voted to send for the six- pounder and shot for the same, which had been granted to them on account of a memorial addressed to the General Assembly.

At a special town-meeting of the inhabitants of Greenwich, legally warned and held at the town- house in said Greenwich, on Monday, the 14th day of April, 1777, the town, by vote, made choice of Ne- hemiah Mead to be moderator for this present meet- ing. Further, the town, by vote, made choice of Messrs. Titus Mead, Nehemiah Mead, John Mackay,

James Ferris, Enos Lockwood, Roger Brown, Daniel Merritt, to be a committee to inspect into and see that the families of those who enter into the Conti- nental army shall be supplied with the necessaries of life at the prices as stated by law according to the Governor's proclamation. Further, that this meeting assist and support the ministers of justice in putting into execution the act of the Assembly respecting the stating prices. Same was repeated at the next regu- lar town-meeting.

During this year, Col. Enos, of Hartford, was sta- tioned in this town with Connecticut troops. His quarters were during a part of the time at Palmer's Hill, and a part of the time at the old Esquire Knapp place, now occupied by J. K. Stearns, Esq. The for- aging of Col. Enos' troops was so excessive that the town, at a legal meeting, voted : .

" Whereas the troops of Col. Enos regiment quartered in this town have committed great ontrages upon the property of some of the Inhabit- ants of this town (viz.), in burning rails, cutting young growth of timber, etc. Therefore, it is proposed to this meeting, whether they will recom- mend unto the Select men of this Town, to apply to the Field Officers, for redress of the aforesaid grievances. Voted in the affirmative."

" At a special Town meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Green- wich, legally warned and held in said Greenwich, on Monday ye 12th day of January, 1778, in pursuance of the Requisition from his Excel- lency the Governor, of ye 15th of December, 1777, communicate to the Inhabitants the Introduction to, and the Articles of Confederation & Per- petual Union between the States of America, that the sense of the Town might be known thereon, the town by vote made choice of Bezaleel Brown to be Moderator of this present meeting. The said Articles being in said meeting deliberately read and considered, wcre by vote, Nem. Con. (no one opposing), accepted and approved.

"It is proposed whether this meeting is willing, that non-commissioned officer and soldier who is draughted and voluntarily serves in this two months expedition, receive a proportionable part of all the fines paid in consequence of said draught. Voted in the affirmative, and that the Selectmen receive the said fines of the Town Treasurer and pay them out accordingly.

" Voted that the artillery men may have the Town House for a guard- house, and have liberty to build a chimney to it, and that the Town will be at the cost of having Masons for that purpose. The Town, by vote, made choice of Bezaleel Brown to be Barrack-Master, to supply the troops with wood and other necessaries. Meeting then adjourued."

" At a Town meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Greenwich' holden in the Town House of said Greenwich, on Monday the 19th day of December, 1778, having made a choice of Bezaleel Brown for Mod- erator, and Jabez Fitch for Clerk, the meeting adjourned to the Meeting- House. This meeting taking into serious consideration the danger & distress of the inhabitants of this town, and the great loss and damage sustained by many of the good citizens thereof, occasioned chiefly by a number of vile abandoned wretchies, who have gone over to and joined the common enemy of the United States of America, against the laws of this State, and the liberties and privileges of the good people thereof. Thereupon, it is resolved by this meeting, that it is, in their opinion, dangerous to the safety, liberties, Peace and good Government of this town, that any person that hath gone over to, and joined, aided, or as- sisted the common enemy of the United States, or takeu Protection under them to remain in this town, or to return to it or ever be capable of ob- taining any settlement in it. Resolved, that it is the opinion of this meeting that the authority and selectmen take all proper and legal steps to free the town of all such vile Miscreants. Further the town then voted for Capt. Sylvanus Mead to be Barrack-Master for the year ensuing. For Messrs. Sylvanus Mead, Isaac Howe, Reuben Rundall, Abraham Mead, Josiah Ferris, Matthew Mead, Edmund Mead, to be the Committee of Safety."

" At a special town-meeting, etc., on the 12th day of August, 1783, the town voted for Benjamin Mead, Esq., to be their moderator," etc.

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" The town taking into consideration the distress to which the inhab- itants were reduced by the war-ring and plundering of the enemy, and the constantly quartering of troops for the defence of this State In the town during the late war with Great Britain and the great injury done thereby, and that it was brought to the town during the course of a war undertaken for the defence and security of the common liberties of the State in which it was understood and expected that the whole body should bear the extraordinary burden and whereas the General Assembly make a grant for the whole and make payment of a part of the damages done at Danbury accidentally thrown on any particular part and considering it is altogether just to us, have thereupon agreed and voted that Briga- dier-General Jolin Mead be agent for the town to make use of such measures by memorial to the General Assembly or otherwise to obtain redress of the town grievances in this behalf and for a repair of the damages to the sufferers occasioned by the war excepting to those suf- ferers who are known to be inimical to the liberties and independence of the United States of America. This meeting is adjourned to next Frec- man's meeting day in September to begin immediately after freeman's meeting is over."

" At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Greenwich convened in town meeting September the 16th, 1783. The inhabitants resumed the consideration of the grievances partly discussed at the preceding meeting and on reading a copy of the resolve of the Honorable General Assembly of this State on a memorial preferred to said Assembly by the representatives of this town in May last, the Inhabitants thereby agree in the following propositions:

" First, That the commission granted to the committee decrecd by said resolve does not empower said committee to enter fully into the griev- ances complained of, and damages done to the inhabitants during the late war (not heretofore estimated) as it extends only to losses and dam- ages occasioned by the enemy but does reach the losses and damages oc- casioned by this being a garrison-town and its inbabitants harassed and distressed hy both parties.

"Second, That from the confidence that the inhabitants of this town have in the wisdom and justice of the Legislature of the State they are persuaded that nothing but the misrepresentations of some men either through ignorance of their real suffering or worse motives could have in- duced that Honorable body to appoint a committee with such limited powers as only warranted to consider partially a subject that ought in Justice and Equity to be takeu upon a larger scale.

" Thirdly, That the burden of a war carried on for the General defence of a State whether occasioned by friends or foes ought to be borne as equal as possible by the citizens at large and that uuless the principle is adopted and applied to the sufferings of the inbahitauts of the town they are so far from being on equal footing with the greater part of their fel- low citizens in the State,that the contrary must doom them to a species of oppression incompatible with the equitable maxims of legislation.

" Fourthly, That the inhabitants of this town do not entertain the most distant thought of an exemption from such part of the public burden as they are able to bear but when they view the present alarming situa- tion of the town for want of resources occasioned by the check put upou their industry for years past and the powers of Providence on their labor in permitting their crops of wheat on which they chiefly depended to be cut off this season should they under these circumstances be called upon for a collection of their full proportion of the state taxes they will be re- duced to such hardships as must terminate iu uncomfortable ruin to themselves and families ; .

"Whereupon it is agreed and voted by the said inhabitants that Brig .- Geu. Mead the town agent do pursue such means by memorials to the General Assembly at the ensuing October session predicted on the fore- going sentiments or otherwise as be may judge most eligible for the purpose of obtaining redress of the grievances aforesaid by the appoint- ment of a judicious committee invested with such power as the com- plicated distresses of this town evidently require or in such other way as the Honorable Legislature may in their wisdom direct."

It was also

" Resolved by this meeting that it is their opinion that the selectmen do not take bonds of any person or persons that have gone over to the enemy for the purpose of making said person or persons inhabitants of this town, or giving bim or them a residence therein."

On July 12, 1784, the people, having passed through the troubles of the war, and now having some oppor- tunity to turn their attention to other topics, met and preferred the following solemn charges against their

minister, the Rev. Jonathan Murdock. The original copy of these charges is in the possession of Col. Thomas A. Mead, and reads as follows :

" Whereas, At a meeting of the Church of Christ, In the West Soclety, holden at the llouse of Mr. Benjamin Peck, in said Soclety, on the 12th day of July, 1784. The said church Voted, That the Armelation of the Western District, in Fairfield County, be called to meet on the Zond Teusday of August next, at the house of Capt. John Hobby, in saldl so- ciety, at 12 o'clock, at noon, then and there to Enquire Into all matter of Difference and Grievance Subsisting between Mr. Jonathan Murdock, the Pastor, and the Church of Christ in this place, and to give their pas- toral advice thereon; and that it was also Voted that Amos Mead and Benjamin Mead, Esqrs., be a Committee to call the sall Association and to lay all matters of Difference and Grievance before them.

" Prenant to the above said appointment take leave to offer the fol- lowing matters of fact as the canse of the Difference and Gilevances sub- sisting between the said Church and the sail Pastor,-viz. :

"Ist, with Respect to his the said Pastor's public performances as a Minister of the Gospel in this place.

" 2d, with Respect to his conduct since he was settled in the Worke of the ministry in this place.

"Ist, as to the first, it is the opinion of this church that the said pas- tor liath not followed the apostolick advice of Studying to make hin- self approved. Rightly dividing the word of truth, etc.,-for instance, In a discourse from the 13th chapter of Luke and the 24th verse, 'Strive to enter in at the straight gate, for I say unto you that many will seek to enter iu and shall not be able.' In which discourse he said that striving and seeking meant the same thing, and attempted to prove it. In an- other sermon against oppression and high prices, he observed that it was the crying sin of the land, for which the judgments of God were on the land; and in the close observed that everybody had gone into it, so that some must practice it, and could not live without it. Ile has lately in two sermous attempted to describe Evangelical Repentance, and did it in these words, viz., that it consisted in an unfeigned sorrow for sin & sin- cere intention to forsake it. There are many others that might be mentioned.

" 2oud. His general mode of proof has not been taken from the Scrip- ture or Reason of things, But that he has heard so, that he believes it, and that he verily believes it.

" 3d. That he dwells on general leads and does not descend into par- ticulars, or adapt them to the Consciences of the licareis; lut so de- livers himself that it hath been frequently observe'l by his hearers that a person might be a Deist, & not be offended, but joiu with him.

"Secondly, with Respect to his conduct since he was settled in the work of the ministry iu this place.

"Ist. That soon after lie was Installed in this place he began to enter into a multiplicity of Business, and wickedly neglected his study. and has continued so to do to this time.

" 2ond. That although he early took the Oath of Fidelity to this State, and in the beginning of the late War showed nruch zeal in the American Canse in the pulpit as well as elsewhere, yet contrary to his said oath of Fidelity, in 1779, on or about the 10th day of July, he voluntarily went to a British officer with a flagg then at the house late Seth Mead's, in this place, and there acknowledged his Political Friendship to the British, and that soon after he began to justify trade with the then enemies of this State among the people iu this place, and Incouraged it by his own example.

"3d. In May, 1780, he was (with his own consent) taken by Delancy's Core and Paroled, only to come to their lines a prisoner when called for, but under uo restraint by his parole as to his preaching or prayer. Yet after that he totally neglected in public to pray for protection to us, Dis- cretion to our Councils, or Success to our arms, to the great Grievance of the people here.

" 4th. That he was offered an exchange, but his friendship to the Brit- ish interest prevailed over his oath of Fidelity & duty to his country as well as people, and he refused the exchange.

"5th. That on or about the 10th of October, 1779, his cows were (as he said) taken fromr him on a Friday night, and on the next Sabbath he went after them down among the Enemy, he obtained a permit to take them, he found them and sold them and bo't British Goods with the money & brought the Goods into this State, contrary to law, and in thus doing he broke the Sabbath, set an ill example, and broke covenant with the church in neglecting his duty on the Lord's day.

"6th. In 1780, in the summer season, he frequently left the House of God in this place vacant in the afternoon of the Lord's day, & without

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the consent of the Church, in neglect of his duty here, went and preached to the separate Baptists at their place of worship, thereby countenancing that separation, to the great Greife of this Church and all the good peo- ple here.

"7th. In 1780, between fore and afternoon worship on the Lord's day, he sent Mr. Samuel Peck, jun. and called Mr. Silas Mead to his house, Mr. Benjamin Peck being present ; he dunned him for what they owcd him, and desired them to do the same to their neighbors. Yet not far from that time he reproved Mr. Theophilus Peck for breaking the Sab- batlı only for bringing back a sermon book in his pocket on the Lord's day. In other instances he admonished Mr. Philips, the Baptist min- ister, against marrying upon the Sabbath as a great Immorality, since which he has frequently practised it himself.

" 8th. He has frequently and abroad knowingly misrepresented and traduced this Church & society, in perticular Capt. Marsh, before the or- daining Committee at North Stamford, in declaring that this Society had never paid him in any thing but Continental money, which words so spoken, he Mr. Jonathan Murdock then knew were false, he himself being possessed of the means of knowledge that they were so.

"9th. He has frequently, as this Church takes it, been guilty of the breach of the 9th command in denying facts and appealing in an un- clnistianlike manner to the father of lights for confirmation of what he said. Viz .:- On or about the 30th of April last, before the Society's meeting in this place, he publicly declared that the report that he had refused to settle accounts with the people of this society was withont foundation, groundless and false ; which declaration he, the said Mr. Jon- athan Murdock, at the House of Mr. Henry Mead did in a publick mau -. ner make a few days before.

"10th. That the foregoing matters of Greivance and many more which might be mentioned have so disaffected the people in this place that there are many who have left the Society and gone over to and joined other denominations, and but few who attend Mr. Jonathan Murdock's min- istry in this place.

"11th. That in the opinion of this church the breach is become so great between the said Mr. Jonathan Murdock & this Church & great part of the said Society that it can not be healed, but that his usefulness is at an end in this place."

Says Mead's "History," "Upon these charges Mr. Murdock was heard, and he was dismissed, being found guilty. He appears to have been a man of but little mind and energy, and at the time when dis- missed had no friends in the church whatever. He graduated at New Haven in the class of 1776, with Dr. Timothy Dwight, Dr. Backus, David Ely, Dr. David Macclure, and Dr. Nathan Strong. Soon after his settlement at Greenwich he fell in love with Miss Ann Grigg, a bouncing girl of sixteen or seventeen, who was a much greater lover of fun than of Mr. Murdock. He persecuted her with epistles of love by bribing the blacks to bear his messages to her, or, when that was impossible, by thrusting them under her room-door. The blacks gladly carried his notes, and greatly enjoyed the reading of them with Miss Grigg herself. Once, on seeing him coming in at the door, she hid away in the garret, while a favorite negro woman politely informed Mr. Murdock that she, in a spirit of fun, had climbed up the chimney to hide from him. He, innocent of any thought of a joke, really believed the story, and put his head up the large winding chimney to find her. Finally rais- ing himself high enough in the chimney with the greatest difficulty, he not only found her not there, but also found his clothes covered with soot and liis throat exceedingly well choked with hot smoke.

" He visited considerably in his parish ; and on a certain visit at Mr. Theophilus Peck's, where he was obliged, on account of the distance, to take dinner, he

was much surprised, when being seated at the table, that Mr. Peck did not ask his pastor to implore the divine blessing, but that Mr. Peck performed the duty himself, using the following words: " O Lord! we have a wolf in sheep's clothing amongst us. Put a bridle in his mouth and a hook in his nose, and lead him back to the place whence he came."

INCIDENTS OF THE REVOLUTION.

Thus far we have given to our readers the simple records of the town-meetings held during these times so trying to true patriotism. At the outbreak of the war some, from their loyal and religious zeal, imme- diately sided with the enemy. However, they did not at that time openly avow their design. So little spirit was shown on the part of the Tories within the limits of the town up to 1777 that a vote sustaining the Declaration of Independence and the Continental Congress was passed in town-meeting without a dis- senting voice. Yet there were disaffected ones, as the event proved, and before the war was finished ninety- two men had gone over to and openly joined the ranks of the enemy from the Second Society alone. A com- plete list of the names of these was made years ago by one of the committee of safety. The number of family names in the list is thirty-four, and twelve of these names are not now to be found in the town. The immediate descendants of the others are but few, and in many instances the race is quite extinct. There seems to have been a doom upon them and their de- scendants.

After the British had occupied New York there arose another class of men, much worse than the first. This body was composed of certain lawless characters, who seized with avidity upon every opportunity for plunder. They committed their depredations upon both the Americans and their enemies. Old grudges contracted before the war were now satisfied with re- lentless vigor. Hence the Americans suffered most from these wretches. And, inasmuch as they did by far the greater injury to the Americans, they were often assisted by British troops to carry out their foul cruelties and barbarities, and were always sheltered by the enemy when hotly pressed by the citizens. They banded together to carry out their nefarious designs. Skulking about at night in the woods and by-places, they would shoot down the inhabitants when they least supposed an enemy near. Their mode of warfare can only be compared with that of the Indians in the early history of the country. A few instances will show the refinement of blood- thirstiness which they liad attained about the close of the war.

Shubal Merritt, whose family is now extinct, was one of these. With one of his boon companions, he was once lurking about the village of Rye for the accomplishment of some hidden purpose. An aged man was plowing a field hard by their hiding-place, and as he diligently pursued his labors backward and

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forward across the lot they were whiling away the time by playing cards. Finally, Shubal proposed a game to decide which should shoot the victim. The result was against Shubal, who, as the old man ap- proached them slowly with his team, deliberately raised his musket and shot him through the heart. After the war was over the murderer suffered his just deserts. A son of his victim met him face to face at White Plains, and shot him dead upon the spot, and so great was the feeling of hatred to him on the part of the citizens that no notice was taken of the act.

Dr. Amos Mead, one of the committee of safety, was so chased and hunted by these men as to be obliged, with dog, horse, gun, and blankets, to travel about back in the country for a whole winter. He retraced by night the tracks he had made by day, and then, moving off a short distance in another direction, spent the night in the first sheltered place that could be found. At the close of winter he came down to look at a field of wheat, but when arriving at a certain point he turned back, deeming it unsafe to proceed farther. Soon after, one William Sackett, a refugee, met him, and told him that five men bent on his life had been hidden in that field of wheat with their muskets all aimed at a certain point in the road where he must have passed had he proceeded on- ward. Sackett had not become so hardened but that he gave this timely warning, and Dr. Mead wisely retired again into the country.

Among the most inveterate Tories were a family of the name of Knapp, living on what is now known as the Tracy place. One of them, Timothy Knapp, had been paying attentions, with a view to marriage, to a daugliter of Titus Mead, then living in the old house, at present Mr. Solomon Mead's, a little northeast of the village, and on her refusing his hand he proudly told her that she should yet speak to him and he would in his turn take no notice of her. This threat was verified in a more terrible way than he intended. Horses were the most valuable booty that the refu- gees could lay their hands upon, and, knowing that Mr. Mead possessed a fine animal, which he every night led up the oaken stairs to his garret, Knapp with two of his brothers went to the house to take it. Mr. Mead had knowledge of their approach, and stationed a man who was with him at a back window up-stairs. It was at dusk, and when the three men had come to the door-step, after some words, Mr. Mcad fired, the ball passing through the door and entering the heart of Timothy Knapp. Without waiting to see the result of the shot, his brothers ran off in an easterly direction, and at the same time the man stationed at the back window sprang out and ran with all his might. The remaining refugees, see- ing him and supposing it to be their brother, called out, "Run, Tim, run!" which made him run the faster. At last the daughter, opening the door and seeing Timothy lying there, asked him if he were badly hurt, and he, making no answer, was found

dead. She had spoken to him and he had taken no notice of her. On finding him dead, word was sent to the family that his body was lying as it fell on the door-step. They paid no attention to the messenger; and after the body had lain there for a considerable length of time, Mr. Mead buried it in a lot belonging to the Knapps in a pair of bars, where they must have driven over it in going out and in. Afterwards the family took up the body and buried it close by the house where he was shot, and his bones still rest there. A line of willow-trees now marks the spot, a little way south of the house.

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 92

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