USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Stamford > History of Stamford, Connecticut : from its settlement in 1641, to the present time, including Darien, which was one of its parishes until 1820 > Part 20
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66 Nathaniel Capt.
Weed, Charles was a pensioner.
66 James was a pensioner.
Abishai was pensioned. He died here Jan. 31, 1840, aged 80 years.
Abijah who been in the old French and Indian war, early entered the revolutionary service. He after-
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CATALOGUE OF SOLDIERS.
wards joined the British and went to Canada and died there.
Weed, Asahel.
Benjamin went in '75 to defend New York city and served as serg't in that year 170 days. Ile was wounded in the Ridgefield skirmish by a ball which he carried the rest of his life. He was pen- sioned.
66 Annanias went in '75, to the defense of New York city and served 222 days in '76. Ile was serj't and commissary and served thro' the war. He died here in 1820.
Daniel was pensioned.
Hezekiah was a pensioner.
Elnathan served 212 days in '76.
Ezra was captured and imprisoned in Canada.
Gideon enlisted July 6, '75. He was the youngest member of Capt. How's company and during the absence of the captain he was appointed to take his place on the sudden appearance of a gang of tories. He drew up the company near the school house in Darien and was himself shot down as he stood between two of his brothers, Hezekiah and Jonas.
66 Henry was pensioned.
Jabez.
Jared.
66 Joel.
John was a pensioner. He served under Lafayette.
Jonas was wounded and carried a buekshot in his arm all his life. He was a pensioner.
Jonathan was a pensioner. IIe died here Jan. 31, 1840, aged 80 years.
Hezekiah 4th, went in '75 for the defense of New York city, and was wounded with a shot he car- ried all his life.
248
IIISTORY OF STAMFORD.
Weed, Seth Lient. served 161 days in '76. He died Dec. 26, 1822.
Silas went in '75 to defend New York city and served 220 days as corporal and 80 days as serg't in '76. Stephen was made insane by his exposures. See Biog. sketch.
White, Jacob was a pensioner.
Whiting, Jonathan, 2nd Lieut. in Col. Waterbury's regi- ment in '75.
Woolsey, Gilbert was a pensioner. IIe bears the name of the pioneer of the family who settled here.
Weeks, Henry died in 1824.
Wheaton, Samuel, sergeant in Capt. Hoyt's company in '75. Young, Samuel, was in the service, he died July 8, 1827.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE LOYAL ELEMENT OF OUR REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
The Loyal element in that trying day was muel more gener- al and troublesome to the patriot cause, than our current history shows. In all of our towns it existed, and in a large number of them it was a serious hindrance to the effective prosecution of the war. In the immediate vicinity of the British lines, and elsewhere soon after British successes, it asserted itself with great distinctness; and at all times and in all parts of the land, it was sufficiently demonstrative to embarrass the patriot cause. It showed itself in many ways, and most unexpectedly. Stam- ford was of course not without this element. Indeed, it would not be strange if it existed here more offensively than in many other of our Connecticut towns. The British lines for several years were very near, at times even within hearing of the vil- lage. The Episcopal Church, which had already attained here a prominent position both in numbers and influence, and which as a matter of conscience had all along been acenstomed to pray for " Our good King George the Third," were in their religious sentiments opposed to any such revolution as the war aimed to achieve.
Accordingly we find the very opening of the great struggle seriously cheeked, and the cause of Colonial independence con- stantly endangered by this secret or open opposition of those who could not or would not espouse it. They opposed enlist- ments into the army for independence. They concealed their neighbors who had been drafted or aided their escape from the service after they had been sworn into it. As a good illustra-
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HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
tion of this style of opposition to the war let the following in- stance answer. James Scofield's son Gilbert, a mere boy, had been drafted and sent with our recruits to New York. The father who was notoriously opposed to the war, mounted his horse and pursued. By adroit management he found his son and succeeded in releasing him and putting him beyond reach of those whose duty it was to find and arrest deserters. As this could not be done safely on the patriot side of the lines, the youth was transferred to the other side where for about two years he rendered such service as his years and ability would allow.
Witness also another fact in the very opening of the war for independence. I shall simply quote from the record of the gene- ral assembly, their action in March 1775.
"It having been represented to this assembly that Isaac Quintard of Stamford, iu the County of Fairfield, Capt. of the 2nd military company, in the town of Stamford, in the 9th regt. in this colony, and Fyler Dibble of said Stamford, Capt, of the first military company of Stamford, in said re- giment, at said Stamford, in January last, in contempt of the authority in this colony, did attempt and endeavor to prevent the introduction of certain barrels of gun powder into this colony for the government's use, agreeably to the orders and directions of legal authority, which condnet is inconsist- ent with the duty of their said office and of dangerous tendency ; where- upon it is resolved by this assembly, that Gold Selleck Silliman and Jona- than Sturgiss, Esquires, be and they are hereby appointed Commissioners, and are fully authorized and empowered to notify said Quintard and Dibble to appear before them at such time and place as shall be by them appointed and to examine the witnesses relative to said conduct and examine into the truth of said representations and to report what they shall find to the gene- ral assembly at the session iu May next."
No record of the arrest and trial of the captains has been found ; but from the American Archives we learn that Fyler Dibble, Sept. 26, 1775, asks the forgiveness of the people for op- posing the appointment of a committee of inspection, and pro- mises to yield hearty obedience to the continental association. Captain Quintard, also, waived his further opposition and made a humble confession.
Yet these were by no means the only citizens who were op-
251
LOYAL ELEMENT OF THE WAR.
posed to the war, as abundant records of that day testify. The first Tuesday of June, 1775, must have been a day of no little excitement in this usually quiet town. The patriotism of the citizens had been outraged by the sale among them of that onee innocent, but now proscribed article, tea.
Stamford must purge herself from the vile treason. She had not, like Ridgefield, refused to represent herself in the county convention which had in the preceding February sounded so clearly the toesin for war, rather than a base submission to the taxation of the British Crown ; nor had her select men like those of Newtown, contemptuously set up at vendue for a pint of flip, a copy of the patriotic address sent out by the general assembly, to indicate to all good citizens their future duty. But the occasion now offers for her citizens to make signal proof that their hearts and means are with all who will unite to sunder the ties which had held them as mere vassals of the English crown.
It appears, that though mainly ready for any personal sacri- fice which the struggle might call for, there was one among them, whose greed out-weighed his patriotism. Sylvanus Whit- ney, more thrifty than patriotic, ventured to traffic in contra- band goods. He thought he knew when it would be a money making thing to dispose of good tea for a good price, and he supplies himself. His friends or his traffic betray him. He is summoned to answer to his townsmen for his treasonable prae - tice. Under the pressure of the moral or stringently physical force used on the occasion, Mr. Whitney submits himself and his, to their disposal, as follows :
" Whereas I, the subscriber, have been guilty of buying and selling Bo- hea tea, since the first of March last past, whereby I have been guilty of a breach of the association entered into by the continental congress ; and sensible of my misconduct, do in this public manner, confess my crime and humbly request the favor of the public to overlook this my transgression, promising for the future to conduct myself as a true friend to my country ; and in testimony of my sincerity, I do now deliver up the tea I have on hand unto the said committee of inspection to be by them committed to the flames."
" SYLVANUS WHITNEY."
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HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
On this confession and pledge the committee released the ar- rested culprit from further prosecution, but procceded to arrange for the evening entertainment which had already been announ- ced. We will report the festivity which followed in the words of the contemporaneous record, now preserved in the American Archives.
" About 8 o'clock, in the evening, a gallows was erected in the middle of the street, opposite the Webb tavern ; a large concourse of people collect- ed, and were joined by a number of soldiers quartered in the town. A grand procession soon began to move. In the first place, a large guard under arms, headed by two captains, who lead the van, while the nnfortu- nate tea hung across a pole, sustained by two unarmed soldiers. Secondly, followed the Committee of Observation. Thirdly, spectators came to see the great sight. And after parading through part of the principal street, with drums beating and fifes playing a most doleful sound, they come to the gallows where the common hangman soon performed his office to the general satisfaction of the spectators. As it was thought dangerous to let said tea hang all night, for fear of an invasion from our tea lovers, a large bonfire was made under it, which soon reduced it to ashes ; and after giv- ing three loud huzzas, the people soon dispersed to their respective homes without any bad consequence attending. The owner of the aforesaid tea attended, during the execution, and behaved himself as well as could be ex- pected on the occasion."
The next year, also, witnesses a trial in Stamford. Munson Jarvis and David Pickett are summoned before the committee of inspection, April 3, 1776. They had signed a seditious pa- per pledging themselves " to assist the king and his vile minions in their wicked, oppressive schemes to enslave the American colonies," and to discourage any military preparation to repel the invasion of the British forces and to dissuade persons from observing the orders, of the continental congress. They ac- knowledged their signatures to the paper, when they were pro- nounced guilty of a great crime.
Mr. Jarvis prepared a confession, professing himself sorry for what he had done and promised to obey every order of the continental congress, excepting as he was held back by a " re- ligious tie of conscience."
Mr. Picket, also, makes confession and begs to have the past
253
LOYAL ELEMENT IN THE WAR.
overlooked and he will henceforth "conduct himself agreeably to the good and wholesome laws and rules now in the colonies, which may be for the good of his country "
They were then asked what they meant by that "tie of con- science" which was to control their future course, and what were the laws "for the good of the country," which they were pre- pared to obey. In their reply, they protested that they could not join with the country in pursuing the measures adopted by congress in defense of the just rights and privileges of the colo- nies; and upon this explanation, the committee pronounced their confession and promises unsatisfactory The charges against them were sustained. The committee voted to advertise them as enemies of their country, and conclude their sentence thus : " and we hereby recommend it to all persons to break off all commerce and dealing with them, and to treat them agreeably to the resolves of congress for those who are deemed enemies of their country." The original record of the transactions is signed by John Haight, jr., clerk of the committee.
The following transaction, preserved in the American Ar- chives, shows that the opposition to the war went still further. William Budd Lucas was a marked patriot, then temporarily living in Stamford. He was red hot against all tories, and his zeal maddened them beyond control. They therefore united with some of the same faith in Norwalk and gave him a most unmerciful whipping. For which offense they were arrested and brought to the following confession :
"Mr. Lnke Raymond, Ebenezer Raymond and Billy Saunders of Nor- walk in Conn. having in a ernel and nnjustifiable manner been guilty of attacking, beating and manling William Budd Lneas of Stamford, for which crime we are heartily sorry, and in the first place carnestly beg the for- giveness of said Lucas, and of all other persons whom we have offended, and furthermore we, William Starr, James Hoyt, jr. Prince Howes and Samuel Beebe of Stamford, and John Bigclow of Norwalk, having been guilty of being drawn into the riotons company above written, for which miscondnet we are sincerely ashamed and heartily sorry, and humbly ask forgiveness of all whom we have offended. Furthermore, we, Prince Howes, Jas. Hoyt, jr. and Samuel Beebe aforesaid, having imprudently subscribed
254
HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
a certain paper said to be drawn up by Capt. Fyler Dibble, for which mis- conduct we are sorry and humbly ask the forgiveness of all whom we have offended. And furthermore, we, one and all, solemnly promise and declare that we will, to the ntmost of our power and ability, exert ourselves in the defense of our country in opposition to the King's troops. Signed, Stamford, Sept. 15, 1775."
After these records it ean scarcely be doubted that some stringent measures would be justified by the patriots of that day in putting down this opposition to their cause. Accordingly, the assembly for the state, in December of this year passed their famous aet, for restraining and punishing persons who are inim- ical to the liberties of this and the rest of the united colonies. That aet made it a treasonable offense to " libel or defame any of the resolves of the congress of the united colonies or the aets and proceedings of this assembly, which are made for the de- fense and security of the rights and privileges of the same." Any person found guilty was to be disarmed, and rendered in- capable of holding or serving in any office eivil or military, and he could be further punished by fine, imprisonment or disfran- ehisement.
If such legislation seems needlessly harsh, we must remem- ber the necessity which called for it. The tories of that day were as earnest and as honest in their opposition to the inde- pendence of the American colonies as the British themselves. They not only did their utmost by tongne and pen, to oppose the patriot eause, but they openly furnished arms and men to the now declared public enemy. Whole regiments of them joined the British cause. Incidents often oceurring in this town showed conclusively that either the tories must be restrained or the cause of colonial independence abandoned.
Witness the capture of the patriotic Dr. Mather and his four sons, taken from their own home, and that, the parsonage, and hurried to New York, where they could no more preach treason against their sovereign, or aid his rebellious subjeets in resist- ing his abjured authority. Five of the eight agents engaged in this capture were parishioners of the venerable man against whom they were executing this vengeance of the king.
255
LOYAL ELEMENT IN THE WAR.
Witness, also, this well accredited fact. When the enemy landed at Campo Bay, May 30th, 1781, at the same time that our patriot company under their gallant captain, Daniel Bouton, were on their forced march to repel the invaders, two of the loyalist portion of the town were actually piloting the miscre- ants to the best farms of the neighborhood for sneh plunder as they could appropriate. That such opposition should greatly try and exasperate the patriots of that day and lead to severe punishment would be most natural. We shall find abundant proof of such results in many occurrences of the times, as is evident from the following case.
David Newman, a man of good repute for all that appears, had a son, Joshua, who in a freak of youthful temper early in the war had gone over to the enemy, on Long Island. Here he soon found a gentle damsel whose attractions only served to weld the bonds which already held him in the British power. The months swept on and the fair enchantress wins a pledge of marriage and the nuptial day is appointed. Not being yet fully absolved from all ties of home, the gallant Joshua ventures to brave the dangers of a return that he may have the blessing of " the old folks at home," to add to the cheer of the approaching wedding. He reaches Stamford and safely enters what had once been a safe altar of refuge for him. Eagle-eyed vigilance is arons- ed. The presence of the young traitor is suspected, and the swift footed ministers of the patriotic citizens are ont on the search. The house is surrounded and explored, but the anxious parents, whose love was as keen and vigilant as the sharpest patriotism, had so skillfully screened or adroitly removed their " boy, still," that he could not be found. But what could the ontraged citi- zens do? The traitor son had escaped The father must have aided him, and he was in their power. For this offense, that of shielding his son and so giving aid and comfort to the enemy, he was arrested and thrown into the county jail. No plea of his family and no pledge of his personal loyalty could avail. Weeks and months he paid in confinement the penalty of his offense, that of holding the calls of parental affection above the
256
HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
demands of the public safety. Not until his jailor had testified to his loyalty and his uncomplaining readiness to suffer yet loug- er, if so his townsmen required, would the stern sense of the people consent to his release.
Another instance which shows how determined was the po- pular indignation against the loyalists towards the close of the war is found in a petition, signed Jan. 2nd, 1782, by thirty-seven Stamford and Greenwich men, in which the petitioners remon- strate against allowing "tories" who had served in the British armies to return again as citizens of either town. The remon- stranee states that "since the capture of Cornwallis and his army many unprincipled wret ches from us who had with arms joined the common enemy," had returned home, and that a number of them belong to the most infamous banditti, called Delancey's corps. The names of the petitioners are ;- Benj. Mead, jr., Abr. Mead, Caleb Lyons, Jesse Mead, Silas Mead, jr., Eb. Mead, Isaac How, Abner Mead, Wm. Weed, Richard Mead, Abr. Weed, Daniel Bouton, Reuben Weed, Jared Mead, Deodate Davenport, Jas. Ambler, Holly Scofield, Jos. Seely, Timothy Reed, Daniel Chichester, John Mather, Sen. Webb, Samuel Young, Philip Jones, Israel Weed, Zebulon Husted, Jona. Sco- field, Benj. Weed 3rd, Thaddeus Husted, Jehiel Mead, Soame Fountain, Chas. Smith, Benj. Marvin, Andrus Powers, Eli Reed, Theodore Hanford and Jona. Weed.
But as the struggle approached its close, and it begau to be seen that the colonies would maintain their independence, those who had allowed themselves to oppose the struggle began to repent. They sought every opportunity to excuse and palliate the guilt of their course. How completely they had been sub- dued by the progress of the war the following incidents will fully show.
John William Holly, in a document dated Sept. 30, 1782, testifies that when he was fourteen years old his father went over to the British and put him under the protection of the British army. He had continued to live in New York and at Lloyd's Neck, until a month ago. He then resolved not to op-
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LOYAL ELEMENT OF THE WAR.
pose his country longer, as his father was now dead and his widowed mother was living alone at Stamford. He therefore begs to be allowed to return, as a loyal citizen of the new gov- ernment. The request was granted by the legislature. Mr. Holly afterwards became the proprietor of the Cove Mills, and a prominent and honored citizen.
Elnathan Holly a youth of nineteen years, in 1776, joined the enemy, and was employed in the army. In April, 1782, he abandoned the British service, returned to Stamford and was imprisoned. He forwards to the legislature a penitent confes- sion, his sacred oath of future allegiance, and a fervent plea for his liberation. The petition was granted.
In May, 1782, widow Mary Wooster, pleads before the legis- lature the case of her son then in New York. He had been carly drawn over the lines and into the British service. He had never taken up arms ; and of late had lived in New York, ear- rying on his trade as tailor. He had made money, and is now anxious to visit his mother and make Stamford his future home. He is ready to give pledges of his loyalty to the new govern- ment and is by vote of the legislature allowed to return.
After the depredations committed by the British in the east- ern part of the town, as reported in our chronological record under date of Nov. 30, 1780, the legislature appointed a com- mittee to report all dangerous persons from Stamford. This was done, when the following names were reported ; Gideon Leeds, Admer Stevens, Sam'l Hoyt 3rd, Sam'l Crissy, John Selleck, Anthony De Mill, Daniel Selleck, Josiah Scofield 3rd, Josiah Scofield, John Bates, Nathaniel Dan, James Scofield, junr., Jonathan Lewis, David Hoyt, Gideon Lounsbury and Sylvanus Seeley. Our chronological record shows that Gideon Louns bury was acquitted of the charge. In the State Archives I found other papers respecting these tories worth reporting.
One contains an appeal from Samuel Crissy and Gideon Leeds, demanding an examination, which was granted. At the trial they brought forward such proofs of their substantial
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HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
agreement with the patriots that their names were, also, erased from the black list. Thus encouraged the remainder of the list, April 29, 1782, urge upon the governor and his council their claim to be acquitted of the charge made by the assembly's com- mittee, and demand an early re-examination. Accordingly the Governor immediately issues a warrant to the Sheriff of Fair- field county or a constable at Stamford, to summon John Hoyt, junr., town clerk, and the rest of the inhabitants to appear be- fore the general assembly in May and show reason why the prayer of the petitioners should not be granted.
At the same time, the question of opposing the petitioners before the legislature was discussed by the select men of Stam- ford and by a majority vote they decided not to furnish John Iloyt with funds to prosecute the opposition. Sheriff Elijah Abel, executed his writ of summons in person, and the case went before the legislature. After examination the legislature voted to refer the petitioners to the county court, with the suggestion that if the court should see fit, they should cause the names of the petitioners to be erased from the town clerk's books and all monies expended by them in the suit to be refunded. It is pro- bable that the court did not adopt the advice of the legislature. At any rate, the names still occupy their original position, with no line of erasure, or word of palliation.
In view of the strong feelings which these recurring collis- ions must produce it is not strange that the popular indignation at times broke out into acts of violence for which the law made no provision, and which the local authorities were impotent to control. Of such was that summary vengeance inflicted on that leader among our loyalists, Joseph Ferris, when our usual- ly sober-minded citizens, after dipping him to their content in our mill pond, substituted for his comfortable home-spun, a full and close fitting wardrobe from head to toe, of nicest down, made wearable for the time being, by softest tar. Of such too was the spontaneous reception which our neighboring Nor- walkers gave our loyalist townsman, Increase Holly, who had visited his brethren after his British confreres had burned the
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LOYAL ELEMENT OF THE WAR.
town, to rejoice with them at the success of our good King George. He had gone down, as he announced on leaving home, to bear them the olive of peace. He sorrowfully reported on his return that all he knew of an olive branch, he felt from the twigs, with which the patriot, Norwalk wide-awakes, so merci- lessly tingled his exposed parts.
At the close of the war some of the most determined tories left town with such of their families as could not be content to remain here. Of those who remained the most soon yielded to the demands of the new government and rendered as loyal ser- vice as though they had aided in its establishment. The aliena- tions which had sprung up in families and among neighbors were gradually healed, and the former mutual confidence and affection were restored; so that the grand-son of the most pa- triotic whig could find in the grand-daughter of the hottest tory, the most attractive and lovable maiden of his youth, and the most congenial and affectionate wife of his later years.
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