History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 138

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532

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573

SHARON.

upon our men who were stationed there. Arnold, perceiving the danger to which his men were exposed, brought his artillery to bear upon the new position of the enemy, and firing upon them over the heads of such of his men as were upon the bridge, soon drove them beyond the reach of his cannon. They took new ground a little to the southeast of their first position, and it was determined to attack them there with small-arms. A few regular troops, under Arnold, commenced the action with great bravery, and our men at the bridge were ordered to join them. They marched up the hill with a good degree of reso- lution to sustain the regular troops. As they came within the reach of the enemy's musketry, however, some one, and it was never known who, cried out ' Re- treat !'. As this word was uttered, Lieut. Samuel Elmer, Jr.,* perceiving the effect it was producing, and the trepidation which was taking hold of his comrades, stepped up on a stone wall, and cried out, ' For God's sake, men, don't retreat, don't run, march up the hill and drive them off!' He had barely uttered these words when he was shot through the body. The only words he spoke afterwards were addressed to his uncle, Mr. George Pardee, who was near him : 'Uncle George,' said he, ' I am a dead man.' A general re- treat of our men then followed, and the British, being left unmolested, marched to their shipping, and sailed for New York.

" A large depot of provisions had been established in this town early in the war. The store-house stood a little west of the Messrs. Goodwin's, on the old road that formerly ran through their land, before the present turnpike-road was established, and a guard was con- stantly kept at the depot during the war. The fate of the stores at Danbury caused much apprehension for the safety of those herc. There were frequent alarms, and the citizens frequently collected in arms to defend the public property at the store-house. On one Sabbath day, during the sermon, Jonathan Gillett, who lived directly opposite the meeting-house, came out of his house during the public service, and pro- claimed with a loud voice that the British were coming. A dense smoke was scen rising beyond Tower Hill, a mountain in the State of New York, a few miles

southwest of Sharon, and the belief was general that the enemy was at hand. Parson Smith was foremost in exhorting the people to firmness and resistance, and he entreated them to stand firm, not only as sol- diers of the cross, but as soldiers of their country and of liberty. The alarm, however, proved groundless,

" The approach of a large British army from Can- ada, under Gen. Burgoyne, and the expedition up the North River, under Gen. Vaughan, filled the whole country with terror and despondency, and frequent alarms were spread, requiring the constant and active duty of the militia. The Tories, too, in Dutchess Co., N. Y., where they were numerous, took courage from the prospect of success which the progress of the British arms afforded, and embodied themselves into a formidable force. Information was brought to this town during the summer that four hundred of them had assembled at Carpenter's, as it was then called, now Washington Hollow, and that they were threat- ening destruction to all the Whigs in the neighbor- hood. An expedition was immediately set on foot to break up the gang. Volunteers to the number of fifty or sixty immediately assembled. They marched immediately for the Hollow, and were joined by others in their progress, so that when they arrived at Bloom's Mills, which is about four miles north of the Hollow, their numbers amounted to two hundred men. There they encamped for the night, and marched the next morning to attack the Tories. They found them paraded in the meadow just north of the public-house, and, marching up with spirit, fired upon them. The Tories fled immediately, and as many as could made their cscape. About thirty or forty of them, how- ever, were made prisoners and brought to this town, and locked up in the old church at the head of the street. They were taken to Exeter, in New Hamp- shire, where they were kept in close confinement for two years. This proceeding broke up the gang, and no further trouble was had from this class of persons during the war.

" A company of light-horse, which belonged to Sharon and its vicinity, were kept on duty during the whole summer of 1777, on the North River, watching the motions of the enemy in that quarter. It was commanded by Capt. Dutcher, of Salisbury, and David Boland, of Sharon, was the cornet of the com- pany. The smoke of burning Kingston was distinctly seen from our mountain when it was destroyed by the Hessian troops. Adonijah Maxam belonged to this company.

" A large number of men marched from this town, under the command of Col. Gay, to the Northward to oppose the progress of Burgoyne's army, and shared in all the conflicts which preceded its surrender.t

*" This bravo young officer was a son of Col. Samuel Elmer, and a lieu- tenant in the New York Line of the Continental army. He had returned home on a short furlough the very day the intelligence of the invasion of Danbury was received in Sharon, and was one of the first to volun- teer to drive off the enemy. He was buried on the spot where he was killed by two of his comrades soon after tho battle. His body was after- wards removed to tho burying-yard at Green's Farma, where it reposes to this day.

EPITAPHI.

"' Liout. Samusl Elmer, son to Col. Samuel Elmer of Sheron, was killed at Fairfield, fighting for the liberties of his country, April 28th, 1777, io the 25th year of his ago.

"' Our youthful hero, bold in arms, His country's cause hia bosom warme ; To save her rights fond to engage, And guard hor from a tyrant's rago, Flies to ye field of blood and death, And gloriously rosigna bis breath.1"

+" The following is tho record of an edjourned church-meeting, hotden on the 23d of September, 1777: ' Met according to adjournment, but by reason of n great number being called off into ye service of their country, and but a few niembers met, adjourned to the 4th Tuesday of November Dext ensuing.'"

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

John Hollister, one of the soldiers from this town, was killed at the battle of Stillwater, on the 7th of October.

"The intelligence of the surrender of Burgoyne's army was received here under circumstances which produced a deep impression. Nothing had been heard respecting the state of affairs at Saratoga, excepting that two severe battles had been fought without any very decisive result. This state of uncertainty pro- duced extreme anxiety regarding the issue of the campaign, and many trembled at the prospect of defeat and disgrace to the American arms. The firmness and confidence of Parson Smith, however, never forsook him, and he did everything in his power to rouse the drooping spirits of his people. On Sabbath, the - day of October, he preached a sermon from Isaiah xxi. 11: 'Watchman, what of the night ? the watchman saith the morning cometh.' The discourse was entirely adapted to the condition of public affairs. He dwelt much upon the indica- tions which the dealings of Providence afforded, that a bright and glorious morning was about to dawn upon a long night of defeat and disaster. He told the congregation that he believed they would soon hear of a signal victory crowning the arms of America, and exhorted them to trust with an unshaken and fearless confidence in that God who, he doubted not, would soon appear for the deliverance of his people, and crown with success the efforts of the friends of liberty in this country. Before the congregation was dismissed a messenger arrived bringing the intelli- gence of the surrender of Burgoyne's army. Parson Smith read the letter from the pulpit, and a flood of joy burst upon the assembly.

" During the next year a large part of Burgoyne's army was marched through this town on their way to the South. They were met here by a regiment of Con- tinental troops, under the command of Lieut .- Col. Jameson, who was afterwards somewhat conspicuous in the affairs connected with the capture of Major Andre, and who here took charge of the prisoners .* One of Burgoyne's soldiers, by the name of Robert Gibbs, a Scotchman from Dundee, who was wounded and taken in the battle immediately preceding Bur- goyne's surrender, was here left by his comrades. He died at the age of ninety-four.

" After the campaign of 1777, the seat of the war was removed to so great a distance that no further call was made for the militia of the town, except for the pur- pose of keeping guard on the sea-coast. The burdens and privations of a pecuniary kind, however, which are incident to a state of war, were borne by the peo- ple of this town without a murmur, and the almost

unanimous feeling in favor of the cause which marked the commencement of the war continued with un- abated ardor to the close of it.

" The records of the County Court show that several of the citizens of Sharon were delinquent in respond- ing to the calls for temporary service in the army, but it does not appear that their neglect was owing to any want of fidelity to the cause of the country; but it was probably for some reasons which were deemed satisfactory to themselves, but which were not deemed sufficient by the court. Abner Curtice, David Hol- lister, Elijah Pardee, and Apollos Smith were each fined ten pounds and costs of prosecution 'for refusing to muster and march to the assistance of the Continen- tal army,' about the time of the apprehended inva- sion of this part of the country by Burgoyne's army.

"Stephen Sears was fined ten pounds for not march- ing to the relief of Peekskill. Theodore Elmer, Thomas Hamlin, Jr., Joseph Barrows, Jesse Good- rich, Amasa Hamlin, Robert Whitcomb, David Hol- lister, James Henry, aud Nathaniel Curtis were prose- cuted for the same offenses, but were able to show good reasons why they had not reported for muster, and were discharged."

The following list of names of soldiers of the Revolution belonging to Sharon, who served in 1775, were taken from the controller's books, in Hartford :

Renben Cartwright, David Maaning, Reuben Calkia, sergeant, Jehiel Jackson, Jude Bill, Zenas Goodrich, John Hollister, Isaac Chamber- lain, Solomon Goodrich, Southard Swetland, Aaron Swetlaad, Syl- vanus Gibbs, William Goodrich, corporal, Ebe Everitt, John Tickaer, Jesse Calkin, Asa Rogers, David Ackley, Elisha Calkio, Thomas Heath.

SHAY'S REBELLION.

In the spring of 1787, during the existence of the insurrection under Shay, in Massachusetts, Dr. John Hurlbert, who resided in the town of Alford, Berk- shire Co., Mass., and who was an active partisan of Shay's, came to Sharon for the purpose of awakening a similar spirit in this vicinity, and of producing an efficient co-operation. Having received his medical education here, and possessing qualities calculated to give effect to his representations, Hurlbert soon suc- ceeded in organizing a considerable number of men, under the guidance of one William Mitchell, who was constituted their captain, and who, in as private a manner as possible, and chiefly in the night season, trained and drilled them for service. Hurlbert, Mitchell, and two others were arrested, and taken to Litchfield for examination. Hurlbert was prosecuted under the act against "vagrants, vagabonds, and common beggars," but on his solemn promise to leave the State forthwith he was suffered to depart. The others, being charged with treasonable practices, were bound over to the next term of the Superior Court.

The following account of these proceedings is copied from a Litchfield paper of May 21, 1788:

*" A large proportion of the prisoners of this detachment were Hessians. They were subjected to the most severe discipline, and were entirely offensive. Each regiment was furoished with a chaplain, and divine cer- vice was frequently performed. They encamped here over-night, and when they started in the morning, the whole body saag devotional music on the march. Goveraor Smith informed the author that he, then a lad, followed them come miles to hear their singing."

"Last Thursday evening arrived in this town from Hartford Col. Sam- uel Canfield and Uriah Tracy, Esq., with orders from the General Assem- bly to repair to the town of Sharon and put a stop to the insurrection

575

SHARON.

that appeared to be raising in that town. The same evening they eet off, accompanied by the sheriff and one of his deputies, and arrived at Sha- ron abont daybreak, and soon after arrested five persons who were sup- posed to be the principal actors and abettors in the insurrection. They were conducted to and safely lodged in our gaol on Saturday last, in or- der for examination. It ie hoped the early and spirited exertion of our Assembly will prevent further disturbance in that town. Much praise is due to the gentlemen employed on that occasion for their prudence, bumanity, and judicious proceedings."

The insurrection in Massachusetts was soon after suppressed, and the prosecutions against Mitchell and others were discontinued.

LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS .*_

David Abel was from Lebanon, and came to Sharon in 1760.

Thomas Ackley, from Chatham, came to Sharon in 1768. He had three sons,-Thomas, David, and Abraham. Thomas entered the Revolutionary army in 1776, was taken prisoner at the capture of Fort Washington, and died in captivity.

James Atherton was an early settler from Coventry. William Avery was from Lyme in 1777.

Jacob Bacon was from Canaan in 1741.

Zebulon Badcock was from Coventry, and came in 1745.

Joseph Bailey was from Lebanon, and came to Sharon in 1774.

Thomas Barnes was an early settler in the north- west part of the town, and lived near the present residence of Mr. Roswell H. Hazzard. He came into the town in 1750. He had three sons,-Thomas, Dan, and Jonah. Jonah, the youngest son, was a physician, and a man of great wit and shrewdness. He lived at what is now called the Evertson place, west of the Governor house.

David Barrows came from Mansfield before the Revolutionary war.

Amos Barrows was a brother of the preceding, and lived many years where Stephen White lately lived, in the Great Hollow. He kept a tavern, and was accidentally killed by falling from the hay-loft in his barn, on the 5th day of December, 1779, at the age of fifty years.

Seth Barstow was from Rochester, Mass., in 1771. Ile lived at the lower end of Abel Street, where his grandson, Seth B. St. John, now lives. He had five sons,-Allen, Samuel, Seth, Gamaliel, and Charles. Samuel was a physician, who formerly lived in Great Barrington, Mass., and who died there in 1813. Gama- liel was also a physician, residing in Broome County, N. Y. He was a member of Congress, and a member of the Senate and treasurer of the State of New York.

John Bates was one of the first settlers of the town. He lived a little below Henry Reed's present resi- denec. His daughter Sarah, who was born on the 25th day of February, 1739, was the first white child born in Sharon, except Jchiel Jackson.

Nathan Beard was from Milton, in Litchfield. HIe

came to Sharon in 1779. He for several years carried on the forge in Hutchinson Hollow.

John Beardslee was from Newtown in 1760.

Capt. Edmund Bennet was from the parish of Co- lumbia, in Lebanon, and came to Sharon soou after the Revolutionary war. He was a blacksmith by trade. One of his sons, Hon. Miło L. Bennett, was a judge of the Supreme Court of Vermont.

James Betts was from Norwalk, and came to Sharon at an early day.

Dr. Simeon Blackman was from Newtown, and came to Sharon in 1789, and settled on the moun- tain, where John Jackson, Sr., now lives. He studied medicine with Dr. Shepherd, of Newtown, and here acquired eminence and distinction in his professional career. He enjoyed a large share of the public con- fidence, and represented the town in the Legislature at five sessions. He left no children.

Benjamin Boardman came to Sharon in 1742.

Jacob Bogardus, merchant, came from Amenia, N. Y., in 1764.

David Boland was from Woodbury in 1767.

Ephraim Botsford was from Newtown, and came to Sharon in 1765.

Daniel Bouton was from Stamford, and was the first settler on the lot owned by the late Cyrus Swan, Esq. He died Nov. 14, 1740, at an early age.

Walston Broekway, the first of the Brockway family in Sharon, came from Branford in 1752. He settled in the southwest part of the town, near the line of Kent, and died there in 1813, at the age of ninety. IIis son, the late Asa Brockway, was a soldier of the Revolution, and a pensioner.

Eliphalet Buel was from Salisbury, and was brother of the late Col. Nathaniel Buel, of that town. He came to Sharon in 1767, and settled where Homer Pardee lived. He died of the smallpox, on the 5thr of February, 1777, aged forty-nine. Ilis only son, Nathaniel, died a prisoner in New York, a short time before, and his wife soon after, of the same disease.

Walter Burr was from Fairfield. He lived at what is called the Burr place, in the valley.

Lient. Stephen Calkin was from Lebanon, and was an original proprietor of the town. Ile drew the thirty-first home-lot, and lived where Abraham Wecd lately lived.

Abel Camp, from New Milford, came to Sharon in 1769.

IIon. John Canfield was a son of Samuel Canfieldl, of New Milford, who was one of the judges of the County Court for Litchfield County, and a deacon of the church in New Milford. Mr. Canfield was born at New Milford in 1740, and graduated at Yale Col- lege in 1762. Ile studied law, and established himself in the practice of his profession in this town in 1765, being the first lawyer that lived here. Ile purchased of Parson Smith the lot next south of Judge Ster- ling's, and built the old brick house owned by that gentleman. Mr. Canfield enjoyed an enviable repu-

* Condensed from Sedgwick's excellent " History of Sharon."

576

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

tation, and was held in high estimation by his fellow-citizens. He represented the town in the Leg- islature at ten different sessions. He was a professor of religion, and enjoyed the reputation of a sincere and humble Christian. In 1786 he was elected a member of the Continental Congress, and had he lived to take his seat in that body, would probably have been a distinguished member. He died, how- ever, on the 26th day of October, 1786, at the age of forty-six. The grief of the community at his death was general and deep, and the old men in after-years spoke of him with unbounded confidence and attach- ment. He left but one son, John M. Canfield, Esq., who resided at Sackett's Harber, N. Y., and a number of daughters. The Hon. John C. Spencer, Secretary of War, was his grandson.

Hon. Judson Canfield was a son of Col. Samuel Canfield, of New Milford, and a nephew of Hon. John Canfield. He graduated at Yale College in 1782. He came to Sharon in 1787, and commenced the practice of law. He was a member of the House of Representatives at seventeen sessions, and for several years a member of the Council. He was also a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He left Sharon in 1815, and removed to the State of Ohio, where he died in 1839, at the age of more than eighty ycars.

Col. Samuel Canfield was a brother of the preccd- ing, and came to Sharon in early life. He was an assistant commissary of issues in the war of the Revolution, and towards the close of his life drew a handsome pension. He was for many years a mer- chant of extensive business, and was town clerk from 1792 to 1815, having succeeded Daniel Griswold, Esq., in that office. He was a member of the Assembly at several sessions. He died while on a visit at Pongh- keepsie, N. Y., on the 1st day of October, 1837, at the age of eighty-three.

Deacon Timothy Carrier was from Colchester in 1747. He was appointed a deacon of the church in 1766, which office he held until his death.

Nicholas Cartwright was the common ancestor of the Cartwright family, which have been numerous in the town. He was originally from Barnstable, Mass., and lived a short time on Philip's patent, now South- east, N. Y. He came to Sharon in 1756. He died in May, 1782. He had three sons,-Reuben, Christo- pher, and Samuel. Christopher, in 1775, joined the army under Gen. Montgomery, and was in the battle of Quebec, in which Montgomery fell. He died of the smallpox, in the American camp, on the island of Orleans, before the retreat from Canada. Samuel was also in the army with his brother Christopher, but escaped his untimely cnd.

Joshua Chaffee was from Mansfield, and came to Sharon in 1755.

Deacon Isaac Chamberlain was born in New Marl- boro', Mass., and came to Sharon with his step- father, Mr. John Hollister, in 1756. He was a car-

penter and joiner by trade. He entered the army early in the Revolutionary war, and was sergeant of artificers. He was appointed deacon of the Congre- gational Church in 1799, which office he held till his death.

Obadiah Chapman was from Colchester, and came to Sharon in 1741. He settled in the south part of the town. He had four sons,-Obadiah, Pelatiah, Matthias, and Robert. Robert, the youngest, was a soldier in the old French war.

Samuel Chapman was from Colchester. He came with the first settlers, and settled on the forty-sixth. home-lot.

Amos Chappel was a son of Caleb Chappel, of Lebanon, one of the original proprietors. He came to Sharon in 1760, and settled in Ellsworth where Charles B. Everett lives.

Jehiel Church was from Great Barrington, Mass. He died May 1, 1819, at the age of seventy-seven. He had nine children.

Samuel Cluxton was originally from the old Plym- outh colony. He came to Sharon in early life. He- was a faithful soldier in the Revolutionary war, and died in 1820.

Caleb Cole was from Norwalk, and came to Sharon .in 1748.

Josiah Coleman came from Hebron in 1771. He was a practical surveyor, aud was considerably em- ployed in that business. He was a member of the General Assembly in October, 1783, and in May, 1784, and again in May, 1788. He was also a delegate to the convention which ratified the Consti- tution of the United States, to the adoption of which he was very strongly opposed. One of his sons, Josiah, was taken prisoner at Fort Washington, in 1776, and on his return died at Milford, Jan. 8, 1777, of disease contracted in the British prison-ships.

Samuel Comstock was from Lyme, and came into Sharon with the first settlers.

Capt. Benjamin Conkling was from Norwalk, and lived for many years where Charles Van Dusen lived, in the valley. He was often appointed selectman of the town, as well as to other offices.

John Corbet was from Lebanon in 1743. He built a saw-mill at an early day near Abel Benedict's.

Jabez Crippen was from Colchester, and was an original proprietor of the township. He drew the twenty-first home-lot, and his house stood on the ground now occupied by the Grosvenor house, so called, nearly opposite Governor Smith's. He was the first selectman ever chosen in the town. He had sons Jabez, John, Samuel, Thomas, and Joseph.

Oliver Crocker was from Lebanon before the Rev- olutionary war.

Caleb Curtice was from Hebron, and was an origi- nal proprietor. He drew the thirtieth home-lot, and lived where Ezra H. Bartram, Esq., now lives.

Seth Curtis was from Danbury, and came to Sharon in 1782.

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SHARON.

Thomas Day was from Colchester, and came to Sharon in 1755.

Jonathan Davis was from Rutland, Mass., and came to Sharon in 1746. He purchased of Jacob Bacon the sixth home-lot.

Deacon Thomas Delano was from Wareham, Mass. He lived a short time in Tolland, and came to Sharon in 1759.

Daniel Deming was from Saybrook, and came to Sharon in 1782.

Capt. Ebenezer Dibble was from Salisbury in 1776.

Ebenezer Dibble was a son of Rev. Ebenezer Dib- ble, of Stamford, formerly Episcopal missionary in Sharon. He was a merchant, and owned the brick honse now known as the Taylor honse.

Capt. Samuel Dotey was the ancestor of the Dotey family. He was from the old Plymouth colony, and came to Sharon in 1747. He. had a son David, who was a physician and lived near Hitchcock's Corner, and was for a while a captain in the Revolutionary service.

David Downs, Esq., was from New Haven, and came to Sharon about the year 1768. He was a tailor by trade. He was captain of a company in the Rev- olutionary service, and was, with his company, taken prisoner at the " Cedars," in Canada, in 1776. He was for many years one of the magistrates of the town, and one of its representatives in the Assembly at eleven sessions.

Capt. Jonathan Dunham was from Colchester, and was a leading man in the first settlement of the town. He lived opposite Richard Smith's, and there kept the first tavern in the town. He was the agent to the Assembly to proenre the incorporation of the town- ship, and was appointed to call the first town-meet- ing. He was standing moderator of all the town- meetings held during his lifetime, and selectman of the town during the same period. His race, how- ever, was a short one, as he died on the 28th day of February, 1745, at the age of fifty-nine.

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 138

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1532

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532