USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > The history of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, from the settlement of the town in 1639 to 1818, Vol. II > Part 18
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At the October session of the Assembly, in New Haven, Joseph Worster was commissioned lieutenant, Hezekiah Treadwell cornet and Daniel Sherwood quartermaster of the troops of the Fourth Regiment.
Mr. Daniel Bradley was commissioned ensign of the tram-band of the parish of Greenfield. Mr. Nathaniel Silliman was commissioned lieu- tenant and Mr. Abraham Morehouse ensign of the first train-band of Fairfield.+
Although, under the Treaty of Utrecht, the French in 1713 professed peace with England, they rendered every possible assistance to Spain. War seemed, therefore, inevitable with France. The Lords Justices ordered the colony to be put in the best posture of defence. A com mittee of war was appointed to make arrangements for the protection of the frontiers of the colony. The sloop " Defence," commanded by Captain David Worster, was ordered to be made ready, with officers. men and stores for defending the coast. The fort at New London was also to be well prepared for defending the coast. Every effort was made to establish peace with the Indians. The militia of each town were or- dered to be placed in readiness for marching orders.
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. VIII. p. 522. 1 Col Rec. Conn., Vol. VIII. p 544
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An act having been passed for the colony expense, the town of Fair- field on December 19th voted to raise a tax of 2d. on the pound on all taxable estates.
1744. At the meeting of the General Assembly in Hartford, May Ioth, Judge Ebenezer Silliman was present as one of the Assistants, and Major Andrew Burr and Mr. Thaddeus Burr as deputies from Fairfield. Major Andrew Burr was again made speaker of the House of Repre- sentatives. Judge John Burr was continued in his office of Judge of the County and Probate Court of the district of Fairfield.
Mr. Samuel Sherwood was commissioned captain, Mr. Benjamin Rum- sey lieutenant, and Mr. Thomas Nash ensign of the train-band of Green's Farms .*
Danbury was made a Probate Court district for the towns of Dan- bury, Newtown and New Fairfield, and allowed one judge and one clerk, from which court all appeals were to be made to the Superior Court at Fairfield.
Major Joseph Worster was commissioned captain, Mr. Hezekiah Treadwell lieutenant and Mr. William Hill cornet of the troop of horse of the Fourth Regiment.
War having been declared March 20th by France against Eng- land and by England the same month against France, the Assembly ordered the colonels of each regiment to hold themselves in readiness to protect the forts, towns and places in the colony. By advice from the Committee of War, two hundred men with officers were ordered to be raised and to be sent to the assistance of the colony of New York.
In October an act was passed that all vessels clearing from any port in the colony or from any place between Philadelphia and Portsmouth in New Hampshire should pay towards supplying powder for the de- fence of the New London harbor. Each vessel between ten and fifty tons was ordered to pay four shillings, between fifty and one hundred tons eight shillings, and all vessels clearing from more remote parts an in- creased sum. This was called powder money. t
Badges of recognition for friendly Indians were ordered to be sup- plied.
Soldiers guilty of mutiny against their officers, disobeying their com- mands, quarreling, swearing, cursing, lying, stealing or drunkenness were
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 9, pp. 7, 8. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. IX, p. 74.
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" to be punished by running the gauntloop, or riding the wooden house or being put under a guard.""
Fairfield having neglected to send in her bst of the polls and tesable estates, it was resolved, as by law required, that the town of Farlicht " shall be doomed, & the said town is thereby doomed, & shall not in the public list the sum of forty thousand pounds." The colony treasurer was ordered to levy and collect the several rates therein, allowing the town to draw forty shillings on each thousand pounds for school money
1745. Before it was known in New England that war had been de- clared between France and England, the French had fitted out an espe- dition from Louisburg and surprised Canso. They then proceeded to take Annapolis, but that post having been reinforced from Massachusetts, the attack proved a failure. They continued. however, to harass the coast settlements, and their men-of-war and privateers to capture man. of our vessels, so that the fishing business was suspended for the sun mer. This caused the colonies of New England to resolve to assault and take Louisburg, and to take it, if possible, before supplies could reach there from France.
On the 26th of February another session of the Assembly was holden at Hartford by the advice of the Council of War, to join Massachusetts in an expedition against Cape Breton and its neighborhood. It was agreed to raise five hundred volunteers. The sloop " Defence." with several hired transports, was ordered to be equipped and provisioned as speedily as possible. Major Andrew Burr was commissioned colonel of the forces, Captain Simon Lathrop lieutenant-colonel and Captain Isaac Newton major. The soldiers were divided into eight companies. Mr. Daniel Bradley of Fairfield was commissioned first lieutenant of a con pany in the regiment of foot.
Jonathan Trumbull and the Rev. Elisha Williams were appointed to visit Massachusetts and confer with the magistrates of that colony as to the best way to expedite the movements of the expedition, and to re port to the Assembly " with all possible speed."
Another session of the Assembly took place March 8th, when Res Elisha Williams was commissioned chaplain, the Hon. William Peppere !! lieutenant-general and the Hon. Roger Wolcott major general of all the forces. Surgeons, physicians and commissaries were also appointedl.
The third day of April was, by proclamation of Governor Jonathan * Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. IX, p. 76. + Col Re, Con Vol IN. j. S. IO
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Laws, appointed a fast, and also the last Wednesday in April, a day of fasting and prayer to implore the blessing of Almighty God on the expedition .*
Twenty thousand pounds in bills of credit were ordered to be issued towards defraying the expenses of the expedition, to be stamped on the new plates, with the addition of the date of the Assembly, March 14, 1745. A tax of twenty-one thousand pounds was levied on all polls and taxable estates to refund this order, to be paid into the colony treasury in four equal payments between May, 1752, and May, 1755, in bills of new tenor with the advance of twelve pence on the pound, or in silver at the rate of eight shillings per ounce Troy weight or gold " equivalent."+
The Assembly met again at Hartford, May 9th. Judge Ebenezer Silliman was present as one of the Assistants, and Captain Samuel Burr and Mr. Thaddeus Burr as representatives from Fairfield. Mr. Andrew Burr was appointed Judge of the Fairfield County Court, and Judge Ebenezer Silliman of the District Probate Court of Fairfield.
John Dimon was commissioned captain, James Beers lieutenant and Gideon Allen ensign of the second train-band of Fairfield. +
Judge Ebenezer Silliman was appointed .one of the Judges of the Superior Court in the colony.
Nathaniel Silliman was commissioned captain, Abraham Morehouse lieutenant and Samuel Wakeman ensign of the first train-band of Fair- field.§
A company of volunteers was ordered to be raised to protect the western frontier towns.
Nathan Disborow of Fairfield was granted liberty " to keep a ferry & build a toll bridge across the salt water lying between the towns of Fairfield & Norwalk, at a place called the Narrows at the Great Rock."
Two more companies of volunteers were ordered to be raised to join in the expedition against Cape Breton. Mr. Jabez Barlow of Fairfield was commissioned lieutenant of one of the companies. | Judge Ebenezer Silliman was appointed one of two to provide for and equip them, and when prepared they were to reinforce the troops of Colonel Andrew Burr's regiment.
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 9, p. 99. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 9, pp. 99, 100.
# Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 9, p. 108. § Col. Rec. Conn., Vol 9, p. 108.
| Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 9, p. 128. T Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 9, p. 144.
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Edmund Lewis, as surveyor of Fairfield County, was appointed to fix the boundary lines of New Fairfield.
On the 2d of July the Assembly met at New Haven, when it was voted that three hundred more able-bodied men and commissioned offe cers should be raised and sent on the expedition against Cape Breton to join Colonel Andrew Burr's regiment. Judge Ebenezer Silliman was appointed one of four commissaries to provision the three companies for the expedition for two months from the date of their embarkation; all also to make further provision for those already away. t
Twenty thousand pounds more was ordered to be issued in new tenor bills of credit on the colony. A tax of twenty thousand pound new tenor was levied on all polls and taxable estates, to be paid into the treasury May, 1756, and in May, 1759. in silver money at the rate of eight shillings per ounce Troy weight, sterling alloy, or in gold equiva- lent.
Meanwhile the troops were placed under Colonel Pepperell as com- mander-in-chief, and Deputy Governor Roger Wolcott second in com- mand. Many of the soldiers who went on this expedition were free holders and sons of wealthy families who had volunteered from patriotic motives. They had also been encouraged by their principal officers, who were men of distinction and wealth. Everything seemed to favor the undertaking. The winter had been unusually mild. It was found diffi cult, however, to obtain provisions for the troops, and, in consequence. " committees of war were authorized to enter houses, cellars & all places where food could be found & seize them for the use of the army." ; For- tunately, vessels arrived with many needed articles. Patriotism ran so high that the people submitted to any measure for the furtherance of the expedition: in fact, the leading spirits of the colony showed them selves willing to make any sacrifice, risk or expense to help towards ac complishing the task they had undertaken.
Connecticut and Rhode Island furnished twelve vessels of war, several of which set sail about the middle of March, to cruise off the harbor of Louisburg. New England. not possessing sufficient artillery, ten eighteen-pound cannon were borrowed from Governor Shirley of New York. In three months the army which had been enlisted was full equipped for service. The troops had been ordered to sail from New
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. IX. p. 135. + Col. Rec. Conn Vol. IX 1 142 Col. Rec. Corn., Vol. 9. p. 150.
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London. As the Massachusetts troops embarked March 23d a dispatch boat, which had been sent out to consult with Commodore Warren, then in the West Indies, arrived with a reply from him: " that as the expecta- tion was wholly a colonial affair, & without orders from England, his squadron having been weakened by the loss of Weymouth, he must be excused from taking part in the enterprise." His reply was suppressed, " & the expedition sailed the next morning, as if nothing had happened." They arrived at Canso April 4th. The New Hampshire troops arrived April Ist, and Governor Wolcott arrived on the 25th. In all the land army numbered four thousand troops, "in health & high spirits."
Soon after Commodore Warren received orders from England to sail with as many ships as he could spare to Massachusetts, to join his Ma- jesty's service in America. He set sail immediately for Boston, dispatch- ing an express boat to his other vessels on the seas to join him. The other ships soon after reached him at Canso. Every New England sol- dier's heart filled with joy and courage at the sight of so formidable a fleet. Without delay the entire fleet set sail for Louisburg. Meanwhile the vessels which had previously been sent to cruise off the harbor had taken several ships laden with West India provisions. They had also attacked the " Renomme," a French ship of thirty-six guns. After a run- ning fire with the New England vessels, and a vain attempt to enter the harbor of Louisburg, she set sail for France to carry the intelligence of what was taking place in America. On her way she fell in with the Connecticut and Rhode Island vessels, with which she exchanged some shots, damaging the Rhode Island sloop-of-war, and then continued on her way to France.
On the 30th of April the fleet, consisting of three thousand two hun- dred men from Massachusetts, five hundred from Connecticut and three hundred from Rhode Island, arrived in Chapeaurouge Bay. The French had had no intimation of this design, having taken the vessels cruising off the harbor as privateers engaged in fishing and trading.
The French General Bouladrie, with one hundred and fifty men, was dispatched to oppose the landing of the New England forces; but General Wolcott, while making a feint at one point, was landing his forces at another. Bouladrie and his force were soon overpowered, many of his men killed and himself and others taken prisoners, the remainder escaping as rapidly as possible before the continued landing of the New England forces. An attack was made the next morning behind the hills
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of the northeast harbor by four hundred men, who burned both houses and stores until within a mile of the grand battery. The smoke presented the French from seeing the attacking force, and believing the whole army was upon them, they deserted the grand battery, which the attacking forces took possession of without the loss of one man.
Although many difficulties presented themselves in making an attack upon the town and its fortifications, which were almost impregnable. nothing daunted, the colonial forces proceeded to drag their cannon. mortars and ammunition through a morass, into which the horses and oxen would sink so as to be useless. The soldiers then dragged them themselves through this morass, and erected five fascine batteries. one of which mounted five forty-two pounders, which did great eve cution.
Meanwhile the fleet had chased and captured the French ship " Vigi- lant," commanded by the Marquis de la Maison Forte with five hundred men on board, and with a large supply of stores for the garrison. This capture was of great importance, as it not only gave our forces valuable supplies, but prevented all expectations of further supplies to the French. thus accelerating the capitulation.
The gigantic labors of the siege decreased the colonial forces. but fresh naval forces continued to arrive, until " eleven men of war, one sixty-four, four sixty, one fifty, & five forty guns," stood off the harbor. It was decided that the ships should now enter the harbor and cooperate with the land forces in attacking the town.
Meanwhile, such damage had been done to the island battery, to the east and west gates of the town, the circular battery of sixteen guns, and the principal battery against the ships, as well as the west flank of the king's bastion, that upon seeing the preparations for a general attack the French, feeling wholly unable to cope with the situation, on the fifteenth of June desired a cessation of hostilities, in order to enter upon articles of capitulation. On June seventeenth. "after a siege of forty-nine days. Louisburg with its strong fortifications & its garrison of six hundred regulars & thirteen hundred militia, with the Island of Cape Breton was delivered over to the King of England." against whom the captives were not to bear arms for twelve months.
This capitulation was most fortunate for the colonies. as the besieg ing forces needed more men, and were, even with the captured stores of the " Vigilant," falling short of provisions and military stores.
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Meanwhile the seven or eight hundred recruits, with provisions and ammunition raised for their relief, did not arrive before the surrender.
The day after the surrender a severe storm set in, and continued for ten days. This saved our forces from great suffering, as their tents were poor and not equal to sheltering them, many men during the siege hav- ing been forced to lie out upon the ground. Their comfortable quarters in Louisburg led many to regard all this as most providential.
This was regarded as a remarkable victory, and one of great im- portance to the country. The colonial troops exhibited a spirit of valor and endurance which won for them the highest praise. During the siege only one hundred men were lost by sickness and in storming the place.
The news of this victory caused great rejoicing throughout all the colonies, and although New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania had taken no part in it, "New York contributed three, New Jersey two, & Pennsylvania four thousand pounds in money & provisions for the sup- port of the troops."
The loss of Louisburg was regarded by the French as a great blow, as it was called the American Gibraltar.
The prizes taken by our ships during this expedition were valued at near a million pounds. Two East India ships captured and one from the South Sea were valued at six hundred thousand pounds sterling. The American fisheries were preserved and the trade of the colonies secured.
Meanwhile Duvivoir returned to France to solicit ships and men for the reduction of Nova Scotia. He was sent back with seven ships of war for the undertaking; but upon receiving news of the reduction of Louisburg he returned to France.
An expedition of nine hundred French and Indians from Canada, to cooperate with this fleet, was prepared by Monsieur Marín, and appeared before Annapolis, but as no ships arrived he returned to France.
More than five thousand men from New England were engaged in this undertaking; and " from the time of the surrender of Louisburg until the twenty-fourth of May, nearly eleven months, it was kept wholly by the New England troops "; but their numbers were greatly dimin- ished by sickness. Connecticut sent more than a thousand men .*
A special meeting of the Assembly was held at New Haven, August 16th, when it was resolved that three hundred and fifty of Major-General
* Trumbull's Hist. Conn., Vol. II, pp. 270-283.
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Wolcott's regiment, then under the command of Colonel Andrew Buir, should be maintained at Louisburg for its protection until June. Judge Ebenezer Silliman with the other commissaries was ordered to provide provisions and necessary guns and ammunition for the men, and all others in the colony who should be sent to protect the fort and town, " & to impress anything needed under just & reasonable terms."
A letter was addressed to the King by this Assembly praying him to assist Connecticut in the expenses of sending and maintaining the forces of this expedition. " for their incredible labors & fatigues, whose loyalty & resolution is inferior to none." having had no share of the plunder taken; whereas the officers and soldiers at sea, beth before and since the surrender, have shared in great and valuable prizes taken to the amount of over a million sterling .*
On the Ioth of October the Assembly met again, when John Sand ford was commissioned lieutenant of the train-band of Reading. and John Sherman lieutenant and Hezekiah Odel ensign of the tram band of Stratfield.
1746. Flushed with the success of this victory, largely gained by the New England colonies, England thought only of the conquest of Canada and conquering everything belonging to France in America. While. on the other hand, France, burning with rage and humiliation, resolved to recapture Louisburg and to extend her conquests the whole length of the New England coast, and in fact from Nova Scotia to Georgia.
England ordered eight battalions of regular troops, which, in con junction with the New England forces, should proceed to Louisburg, and with a squadron under Admiral Warren sail up the St. Lawrence to Quebec. Between Virginia and New York a force was ordered to be raised, the headquarters of which should be at Albany, to be placed under the command of General St. Clair, to march across the country to Mon- treal. It was left to the colonies to raise about five thousand men.
The General Assembly met at Hartford. May Sth. and continued by several adjournments until the 31st of the month. Judge Ebenezer Sith- man was present as an Assistant, and Colonel Andrew Burr and Captain Samuel Burr as deputies. Judge Andrew Burr was appointed judge of the Fairfield County Court and Judge Ebenezer Silliman of the Dis trict Probate Court.
A serious dispute having arisen in regard to settling a minister over
* Trumbull's 1list. Conn., Vol. IX, pp. 155-102
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the North Parish of Stratford, Judge Ebenezer Silliman, Andrew Burr and Thaddeus Burr, Esq., were appointed to settle their difficulties .*
It was resolved by the Assembly that all such soldiers and sailors who had or might return from the expedition against Cape Breton should be provided for, either in some hospital or in their own homes, at the expense of the colony.
Colonel John Whiting was placed in command of the Connecticut forces. It was ordered that six hundred able-bodied men or more should be raised to go on the expedition against Canada, and be equipped as speedily as possible. Colonel Andrew Burr was made one of six com- missaries with full power to impress all necessary supplies needed; and each volunteer was to be paid ten pounds bounty money in old tenor bills.
The Governor was requested by the Assembly to issue proclamations " for keeping days of fasting & prayer to Almighty God for His protec- tion, blessing & assistance in the expedition about to be undertaken against Canada."
Mr. James Church was commissioned captain of the Fourth Regi- ment.
Colonel Andrew Burr's name was added to the Council of War.
Another issue of bills of credit to the amount of £20,000 was ordered to be printed and stamped, and a tax on the polls and taxable estates of the colony of £21,000 was levied on the towns in the colony, to be paid into the treasury by May 1, 1754, to be paid in bills of credit or in silver money.
At the meeting of the Assembly, June 19th, it was resolved to raise and equip one thousand men to go against Canada, as well as to assist in sending men and Indians to protect the frontier towns.
At the October term of the Assembly £35,000 in bills of credit were ordered to be struck off, for the expenses of the colony, to redeem which a tax was laid on all the towns of £36,000. The estates of Fairfield were valued this year at £44,100 14S.
As the winter approached it was not deemed expedient to send the forces raised until they should be required, but they were to be furloughed until ordered to muster in again.
1747. Again the Assembly met, January 28th, at New Haven. Hav- ing received letters from the Governors of Massachusetts and New York in regard to an expedition against Crown Point, it was decided, "that as
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 9, p. 203.
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such an expedition would be attended with great difficulties, hazard= & fatigue, such as would dishearten the troops, & render them unfit for service: & as they had knowledge that the western & southern troops were suffering from small pox, which would prove contagious to our troops, it was therefore thought best to wait until milder weather, & for a more general agreement for a concerted plan of action ; lest they might weaken the forces raised. & so displease his Majesty, as well as to be instrumental in preventing the reduction of Canada.
A letter was drafted and addressed to King George the Second, con gratulating his Majesty on the success of his arms against the Pops pretender, the Duke of Cumberland, over the rebels of Scotland, and to assure him of the devotion to his cause and kingdom.
Meanwhile an expedition from Massachusetts, which had joined with the troops of Rhode Island, had met with disaster and defeat. +
A fleet which had been sent out under the command of the Duke D'Anville of three thousand one hundred and thirty land forces met only with delay, disaster and the loss of several of their best ships. This. with want of cooperation with his officers and fleet, caused the enterprise to end in chagrin and failure.
A part of this fleet under Conflans, one of D'Anville's chief officers. was seen off the New England coast. Alarmed, and fearing the whole feet was about to descend upon the New England towns, the colonists quickly rallied to the situation. Six thousand troops were sent to rem force Boston and six thousand more were ordered to be raised. and. if needed. to be sent with all due dispatch to their assistance. The sea- coast towns were protected by the home militia. Meanwhile the ling lish fleet. under Admiral Listock, was in vain looked for, who was ev pected to assist the fleet at Louisburg to defeat the French, but Listock's fleet never arrived.
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