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 21
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[1751
The severe laws which had so recently been enacted by the legislature were no doubt intended to prevent, if possible, the encroachments and growing power of the Church of England, as well as to put an end to any further advancement on the part of the separatists from the estab- lished church of the colony.
The new Congregational church at Fairfield was completed about this time, and by the oldest inhabitants of the town is represented as having been of a much richer style of architecture than that of the pres- ent church. Its dimensions were 60 by 44 feet, and its height 26 feet, with a steeple 120 feet high. A bell was soon after furnished, which is said to have been cast in Fairfield by a jeweler and clockmaker by the name of Whiting, whose store stood next to the late Judge Osborne's house. This bell was cast in a lot adjoining that in which the second Church of England stood, and which was afterwards the site of the Marine Hotel. This lot was for many years afterwards called the Bell Lot. The new bell was rung every night at nine o'clock, and also at twelve o'clock at noon .*
Bishop Berkeley died about this time, in the seventy-third year of his age. President Clap, sensible of the benevolent spirit of this good man, thus wrote of him: " This college will always retain a grateful sense of his generosity and merits."
1751. The General Assembly met at Hartford, May 9th. Judge Ebenezer Silliman and Colonel Andrew Burr were present as Assistants, and Messrs. David Rowland and Thaddeus Burr as deputies from Fair- field.
Although peace had been declared between Great Britain and France, and Cape Breton had been ceded to the French under the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in 1748, the French fully resolved to keep a strong foothold in America. They formed a plan to confine the English colonies to the country east of the Alleghanies, and to stretch a line of forts from Lake Champlain at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and westward from the head of the St. Lawrence to the mouth of the Mississippi. They kept up with their Indian allies a constant harassment to the English border settlements.
Meanwhile " a company of English gentlemen & planters from West-
* Mr. Whiting afterwards became a partner of Isaac Marquand, the grandfather of Frederic and Henry Marquand of Southport. One of the old-fashioned tall clocks made by Whiting and Marquand of Fairfield is now in the possession of Mr. Ebenezer Burr of Bridgeport.
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minster, London & Virginia, obtained from the crown a charter for six thousand acres of land on or near the Ohno river.
This step the French resolved to frustrate, as they claimed all the country from the Mississippi and west of the Alleghanes. They pre- tended to have discovered the Mississippi, and to secure their clauns they had erected a fort on the south side of Lake Erie, and one about fifteen miles south of that on a branch of the Ohio river, and still another at the junction of the Ohio and the Wabash.
The planters of Pennsylvania did not look favorably upon the Ohio charter, as they had largely controlled the trade with the Indians of that region, and gave information to the French of their designs.
The Governor of Canada resolved, therefore, to break up this new enterprise in Ohio. English traders among the Twightwees were seized and imprisoned at the French fort on Lake Erie, which the Twightwees resented, being allies of the English traders. They in turn seized the French traders and sent them to Pennsylvania.
The Indians of Ohio, not having received any recompense, or even given consent to the settlement of strangers within their borders, united with the French to oppose the enterprise.
Governor Wolcott having received a letter from Governor Clinton of New York to join with him in securing the Four Nations as allies against the French, the Assembly appointed two commissioners to meet with Governor Clinton's commissioners and those of other colonies, to treat with the Indians of the Six Nations and their allies, " to confirm them in the British interests, & to give a sum of sixty pounds to the repre- sentatives of the Six Nations."
At the October session of the Assembly Mr. Samuel Odell was com- missioned captain, Mr. William Bennet lieutenant, and Mr. Nathan Seeley ensign of the train-band of Stratfield, and Mr. John Jennings second lieutenant of the fifth train-band of Fairfield.
A form and order of prayer to be used for the royal family of King George, was by an order of his Majesty in council, sent " to the Governor & Company of the Colony, forthwith to publish the same in the several parish churches & other places of divine worship within the colony. it to take care that due obedience be paid thereunto." According's, the Governor and the Assembly ordered that a proclamation be issued which should be distributed in all the parishes. Among the people of the
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. X, p. 16
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Church of England this prayer was acceptable; but among many of the established church it, no doubt, was far from agreeable. They bent their necks, however, to the yoke laid upon them; but in their hearts they were even as their forefathers had been, as much opposed to praying for the King as they were resolved upon not having a bishop within their bor- ders. A loud cry for help and protection from the Church of England was sent to the mother country, whose missionaries reported to the Honorable Society, " that at this time there are many in several places, that are at such a distance from any incumbent in orders, that they can- not have the benefit of the law, & so are imprisoned for non-payment to dissenters." And again: "there are now some ministers of the Church of England in prison on account of their persecution from the dissent- ers; " to which was added the statement, " these sort of complaints come by almost every ship."
On the second Lord's day in October a large body of people met at the house of John Sherwood, in Stratfield, to listen to the Rev. Joshua Morse, a Baptist preacher, who had been converted under Whitefield, and who was principally instrumental in gathering a church in that part of New London called Montville. He was not ordained until about 1751. Six men and four women " gave out a particular relation of the word of God upon their souls to the satisfaction & comfort of Elder Morse & each other. Each one particularly gave up himself first to God & to each other by the will of God, to walk together as heirs of the grace of life, in all the laws & ordinances of God's house."
" After solemn dedication & prayer to Almighty God, Elder Morse proceeded & went on in the ordinances of baptism, by plunging under water each particular member." The names of those baptised were Zechariah Mead, Nathaniel Scely, Elihu Marsh, John Sher- wood, Ebeneser Sanford, Samuel Beardsley, Elisabeth Scely, Mary Sherwood, Sarah Beardsley & Martha Jennings. The last named person had been baptized before."
It appears from a "Sketch of the History of the Stratfield Baptist Church," by the Rev. A. N. Benedict, that this was the first Baptist Church in Fairfield County. There was no public recognition by dele- gates from other churches, as at the present time, the nearest Baptist churches being at New London and Groton.
Mr. Benedict states that this church was formed under great opposi- tion, "having sprung out of the New Lights Stir." He represents the Rev. Samuel Cook to have been a strong sympathizer with Mr. White-
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field, and that "he labored to secure his presence & preaching among his people "; but his successor, the Rev. Lyman Hall, proved himself all opposer of the New Lights, in consequence of which several protestol against him, among whom were those who afterwards myted in forming the Baptist Church. The Baptists at this time were called also Separati-te. because, in order to carry out their religious views, they were obliged to separate from the established church of the colony.
In October the Society of Stratfield presented a memorial to tie General Assembly praying to have their parish bounds enlarged. Their petition was granted and the bounds set as follows:
" Whereas in the setting off the parish of Stratfield, Anno 1701, from the list morty in Fairfield. it so happened that the act of this Assembly in setting off said perish did ner settle & fix the line dividing between the said first society & said pirich, an nemer the southwesterly extent of both said societies than where sad line inter ets the fifth road near Jackson's mill so called, though both said societies have mutually agreed on their practice of a line dividing between said societies for more than City se re ht 100. which line runs from said country road southerly as the river or creek rin's on which mol Jackson's mill stood, commonly known by the name of Oncowa River or creek till it comes due west from the north end of the cove in the Black Rock harbor, which Sal cowe lei1 or terminates at or near the place called the Old Fort, & then to run trait from l creek to the head of said cove, & so strait to the head of the sea of sound ; & it hvit that long obtained by the mutual consent & practical agreement of each sail society, ogelt mi to continue. And it is ordered to prevent any further difficulties that non aroe between said societies for want of the settlement of said line by act of this Assembly = It is there fore resolved & enacted by the Governor. Council & Representatives in General Ciet assembled, & by the authority of the same, that the aforementioned & described line fromh the county road southerly by said river or creek to the head. & from thence to the set er sound, shall be & remain to be the dividing line between the first society in Fair el & the said parish of Stratfield." *
1752. The General Assembly met May 14th, at Hartford. Judge Ebenezer Silliman and Colonel Andrew Burr were present as Assistants. and Mr. David Rowland and Captain Samuel Burr deputies from Fair- field. Captain John Glover was appointed surveyor for the County of Fairfield. + Ebenezer Silliman was appointed one of the Judges of the Superior Court, and Colonel Andrew Burr Judge of the County Court and of the District Probate Court of Fairfield.
Mr. Samuel Sandford was commissioned lieutenant of the train band of Reading.+ Mr. Thomas Nash lieutenant, and Mr. Daniel Andrews ensign of Green's Farms train-band, in the Fourth Regiment. S
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. X, pp. 139, 147. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. X, p. 79.
+ Col. Rec. Conn , Vol. X P. 75 $ Col. Rec. Conn. , Vol. A, fe - 1.
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At the October meeting of the Assembly, in New Haven, Mr. Gold Sellick Silliman was appointed surveyor for the County of Fairfield .*
Mr. John Jennings was commissioned lieutenant of the fifth train- band of Fairfield.
The taxable estates of Fairfield were valued at £50,743 Is. 8d.
Mr. David Allen was commissioned lieutenant and Mr. Samuel Hub- bell ensign of the first train-band of Fairfield.
At a town meeting held June 8th, it was voted that Judge Ebenezer Silliman and Mr. David Rowland should be a committee to present a memorial to the General Assembly in October, for an explanation of the law of this colony respecting keeping and maintaining a grammar school in each head or county town in this colony. Passed in the affirmative.
It was also: "Voted that Thaddeus Burr & David Burr should be a committee to inquire into the state & incumbency of the school-land in Fairfield, & make a report thereof to the next town meeting."
The General Assembly: "Voted that instead of forty shillings upon every thousand pounds in the lists of the respective towns in the colony, by law ordered to be paid for the support of schools, that the treasurer should pay ten shillings lawful money (which was silver money) upon every thousand in the several lists, out of the tax rates of three farthings lawful money, & no more."
They also passed the following law against the growing evil of tra- veling on the Lord's day :
-
" Be it enacted by the Governor, Council & Representatives, in the General Court assembled, & by the authority of the same, that every assistant in this Colony, & every justice of the peace, within the limits of their authority, are hereby impowered & directed when they shall have plain view or personal knowledge thereof, either with or without a written warrant, to cause all persons unnecessarily travelling on the Sabbath or Lord's day to be apprehended, & to examine them, &, if need be, to command any person or persons to seize, arrest & secure any such persons unnecessarily travelling on the Lord's day as aforesaid, & them to hold till judgment may be had thereon."t
1753. The General Assembly met at Hartford, May 10th. Judge Ebenezer Silliman and Colonel Andrew Burr were present as Assistants, and Mr. David Rowland and Captain Samuel Burr as deputies from Fairfield. Ebenezer Silliman was appointed one of the Judges of the Superior Courts of the colony and Colonel Andrew Burr Judge of County Courts and the Probate Court of Fairfield.
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. X, pp. 122, 124, 128,
+ Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. X, p. 45.
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A tax of three pence on the pound was levied on all pol- and trade estates of the towns towards the expenses of the colours
Houses of correction were ordered to be created m och county to punishing " rogues, vagrants, common beggars and other land, Bile, In solute, profane & disorderly persons for setting them to work, & for the more effectual preventing & punishment of thieves," Ferons page from any house of correction were ordered " to be whipped upon the naked body not exceeding thirty stripes."
Mr. Gershom Bradley was commissioned lieutenant and Mi John Cable ensign of the seventh train-band of Fairfield.+
The town of Fairfield suffered severely from an epidemie in the months of July and August, two or three being buried dath from it ravages.+
At the meeting of the Assembly in October. Colonel John Real Reading was commissioned major of the Fourth Regiment of the colony
Mr. Thomas Nash was commissioned captain, Mr. Damel Andick lieutenant and Mr. Dennie Chapman ensign of the Green's Farms fram- band.|
Courts of arbitration were established at this session of the Assembly's An act was also passed for curing and packing tobacco. Also an act to prevent a multiplicity of law suits.
A letter was read before the Assembly from the English Secretary of State. " directing that the arms & military stores made use of for the intended expedition against Canada, lodged in the colony, should be sent to Governor Shirley of Massachusetts." This demand was complied with. provided Governor Shirley gave a receipt in full " for sand artis & mili tary stores as had been lodged in this colony."
The introduction of a " newly invented water machine brought trom Scotland & Ireland for dressing flax, was welcomed by a vote of elf- couragement for fifteen years; & to be set & used m all of the towns of the colony. The introduction & control of this machine was to be under the sole care of Jabez Hamlin & Elihu Chauncey "ª
In the year 1751 Lord Chesterfield, assisted by the Earl of Marcies- field and Mr. Bradley, two of the ablest mathematicians in Europe. m troduced into Parliament a bill for the reformation of the calen hir. The
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. N. p. 150
# William Wheeler's Journal of Fairfield. I Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. X, p. 199.
. Ci. Rec. Cnn. V. \ 1 21.
12
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Julian or Old Style calendar, then in use, had been corrected by Pope Gregory XIII. in 1582, and was called the Gregorian calendar or New Style, and adopted by all the countries on the continent except Sweden and Russia. The error of the Old Style had grown to eleven days. In consequence, Chesterfield and his friends arranged to have the year 1753 begin January Ist instead of March 2Ist Old Style, " & nominally sup- pressing II days in September, 1752, in order to bring the calendar in unison with the actual state of the solar year." This change, when ac- cepted by Parliament, displeased many people, who regarded it as popish, and others felt that they had lost eleven days.
Steps were also taken "to maintain in their soundness the faith & church theology of the established church in the chief seat of learning," and to this end the following resolution and grant was made by the General Assembly at this time :
" Whereas one principal end proposed in erecting & supporting Yale College in New Haven was to supply the churches of this Colony with a learned, pious & orthodox minis- try, to which purpose it is requisite that the students of the said college should have the best instructions in divinity & the best patterns of preaching set before them: And whereas the settling a learned, pions & orthodox professor of divinity in the said college would greatly tend to promote that good end & design: And whereas the present incomes of the said college are but in part sufficient to support such a professor : This Assembly being desirous to promote & encourage such a good design, do hereby grant & allow of & order a general contribution to be made in all the religious societies in this Colony, & recommend the same to both ministers & people, & order that the money raised thereby be remitted to the president of said college, to be improved by the corporation towards the support of such a professor." *
The heavy expenses and consequent taxes laid upon the colonists to carry on the French war, which soon after commenced, led to a change in the proposed contributions for the college, and subscriptions to be taken in each town were adopted instead, by which the amount desired was raised, of which Fairfield bore her proportion.
The President and fellows of the college, dreading the effects of the teachings of the New Lights upon the students, as also the efforts of the people that the students of the Church of England should attend their own church, withdrew some of the students from the first society in New Haven. President Clap was invited to fill the place of a professor of divinity until that office was fully established, and the students and faculty from this time attended worship on the Lord's day at the college hall under the teachings of the President. +
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. X, p. 213. { Trumbull's Hist. Conn., Vol. 2, p. 315.
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"At a meeting of the president & fellow of Sie Collge Vin gut De Les Thomas Clap, President; The Res Ma Jel Flat, laph Vare, Solom Soabyd. Benjamin Lord, Wilham Russell, Theantes Roce -. Salomon Willoni. & Nash Tale. fellows, adopted a series of laws requiring that minket at they were hoy the President, the Professor of Divinity, & Fitters, lomed vie Uwer wes ar to ste Ssero minster Catechism & Confession of Faith, & leand reprome all poop & pretende contrary thereto, & pass through such an es.com. omn t fle ireomfald wald vad
The fellows of the college subver bed to the LAWing Firmy VI, AT a fellow of Yale College, do hereby declare that I believe that the \ -mailet seler co the confession of faith received & established in the ellerles of the Him Na college, contain a true & just summary of the mi patill dawn religion : & that the true sense of the sacred scriptures is ju t's elleni & cool op in those compositions. And all expositions of scripture pretending to dedois quy famille or position contrary to the said doctrines laid down in til ce ans ] [done an wrong & erroneous, & I will always take all rehabde mesure, & the may direct in my place & station, to continue & proppent tu diet met to pal summaries of religion in this college, & transmit them to all form Of | & CO . tions: & use the like measures to prevent the contrary dertig fram peut og as the society."
"I do also consent to the rules of Church discipline estad cloud constitution of the churches of this colony "
A fine was imposed upon all students who should attend the Church of England except communicants, and they only were allowed this pin- lege on Christmas, and when the Lord's Supper was administerokt
.A strong feeling of opposition on the part of many in the colony de. raised against the measures taken by the legislature and officers of file college. Their laws were regarded by the people of the Church of Fat land as harsh and intolerant. Nevertheless, the sons of the Puritans were firm in their purpose of allowing no other than the established church of the colony to govern and control its most important institution of learning.
New controversies sprang up, and a feeling of general disquetude prevailed in the colony. The ministers of the established church preached " the awful guilt of separating from them." and heaped upon the Church of England the anathemas of the times. On the other hand, the dercy of the Church of England maintained their ground by strong arguments. and, as English missionaries from the Society of the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, they reported doleful accounts of their op pressed situation; begged for a repeal of the new acts from King George. and many loud voices were raised throughout the colony against the established church.
* President Wolsey's Hist. Dis. rev. p 10. + Dr. Benjamin Trumbull, Vol. 11 11: 321-324
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The Church of England at Fairfield and Reading was at this time in a most flourishing condition. The Rev. Noah Hobart and his congre- gation enjoyed the pleasure of worshiping in their new and beautiful church. The First Congregational Church at Stratfield invited the Rev. Robert Ross to become their pastor. They had been in an unsettled condition since the Rev. Mr. Hall left them, but at length united in call- ing Mr. Ross. This gentleman was of Irish descent, but he was born in America in 1726. He graduated at Princeton College and received his diploma from President Burr in 1751. He was ordained at Stratfield November 28, 1753. Many interesting accounts are given of this re- markable man. He is described as having been a man of great strength of character, fine intellectual attainments, particularly in the classics, warm and generous hearted, kind and benevolent, with an ample share of that native humor so inherent in the nature of an Irishman. His theo- logical views were those of the Old Lights. "He was about six feet in height & well proportioned; wore a wig, cocked hat, ruffled shirt, black coat, vest & breeches with knee-buckles, & white topped boots, cramped so as to set tight on the instep."
Once, while journeying on horseback, he had the misfortune to get his boots so wet that he was obliged to take them off to dry them; but when he attempted to put them on he found he could not, so he tied them with his mail straps to his saddle. On the way he met the Rev. Joseph Bellamy of Woodbury, who was particularly distinguished among the New Lights. "Now," said Mr. Ross, " you think you can reconcile foreordination with free-will?" "Yes," replied Mr. Bellamy, "I cer- tainly do." "Well then," said Mr. Ross, " you cannot even tell me why my boots are tied on behind me! "
While an earnest believer in the doctrines of foreordination, election and free will, Mr. Ross denied the power of man to reconcile them. He advocated the milk of the word of God for his congregation, arguing that strong meat was not to be set before them, thereby causing many to stumble.
He was pastor of the Stratfield Church for more than forty-two years. During the Revolution he was one of the strongest advocates in the colony for their rights and independence. Of his patriotism at that time mention will be made hereafter.
The new church at Reading was not completed until 1752. The Rev. John Bartlett, the second pastor of the Reading Congregational church,
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was ordained May 23, 1753. The Rev. Mr. White of Danbury made the first prayer. The Rev. Mr. Todd of East Guilford preached the sermon Rev. Mr. Kent made the ordaining prayer. Rev. Mr. Willis of Ripton gave the charge. Rev. Mr. Judson of Newtown gave the right hand of fellowship, and Rev. Mr. Ingersoll of Ridgefield made the conchiding prayer.
1754. The General Assembly met at Hartford, May 9th. Judge Eben ezer Silliman and Colonel Andrew Burr were present as -Assistants, and Captain John Read and Captain Samuel Burr as deputies from Fairfield Ebenezer Silliman was appointed one of the Judges of the Superior Court of the colony, and Colonel Andrew Burr Judge of the County and I'ro bate Court of Fairfield.
Mr. Ezra Hawley was commissioned cornet and Mr. Ichabod Lewis quartermaster of the troop of horse in the Fourth Regiment of the colony .*
Mr. Samnel Sandford was commissioned captain, Mr. Daniel Hull lieutenant and Mr. John Read, Jr., ensign of the train-band in the western parish of Reading .*
Mr. Joshua Hall was commissioned captain. Mr. James Morgan lieu tenant, and Mr. Daniel Lyon ensign in the eastern tram band of the parish of Reading .*
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