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 25
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sad barbaric cruelty of the Indians upon its retreating forces, and all the valuable batteaux and vessels which had been built within the keine at great expense and labor, to convey the army up the lake to brown Point, were destroyed. General Webb, in command of Fort Elosof. although aware of the approach of the French, remained rieky in his fortifications and sent a letter to Colonel Munroe, which was niereeplod by Montcalm, advising him to resign to the enemy. His coniluer chiming the previous year, with his utter neglect either to reinforce tolone Munroe, although he had four thousand troops with him, or to daru the country, gave him the well-earned reputation of having been a traitor. When all this terrible destruction was over, he made Jn guteund to alarm the country. Even Albany was now threatened. lairge rein- forcements were speedily sent from Connecticut, New York mil The northern colonies. Connecticut sent on in a few days five thousand1 10em which, added to the fourteen hundred sent before, amountel jo 4% thousand five hundred soldiers. Although General Wehb was thus largely reinforced, he made no effectual effort for the defence of the frontiers. One expedition after another failed. Devastation, fire and the sword laid waste valuable settlements on the Mohawk river wool sod- ley and along the frontiers. And yet there were twenty thousand regn- lar troops besides the provincials in the field. As the winter approached most of the provincial troops returned home, while the regulars went into winter quarters at Albany.
By this time the colonists fully realized the incapability of their Big lish commanders, as they regarded the loss of the valuable forts taken by the French and all their boats wholly due to their inactivity. bas of enterprise and military skill. They turned with natural pride and confidence to their own military officers, and felt that they would surely have triumphed under their leadership. On all sides the car- duct of the English commanders and officers was an umnemfurdie disgrace.
The General Assembly of Connecticut met at New Haven. October 13th, and continued by several adjournments until November 3d. when it was voted : " Whereas in the late alarm & march of the militia, a great part. perhaps more than half thereof, proceeded either the whole or part of the way on horse-back & the residue marched on foot, & that many either wholly or in part subsisted at their own expense on their march. while others obtained food at public & private houses, besiles blankets
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& knapsacks & other necessaries, they should be suitably remunerated according to their just rights & necessities."
At the request of the Earl of Loudoun that the Connecticut regi- ment should be dismissed, except two hundred and eighty men to re- main with him during the winter as rangers on the frontier, it was voted to detach three companies of ninety-four men each from the troops at Fort Edward until their time expired in March.
A bounty of three pounds was ordered to be paid to each of the volunteer officers & men who should respond to this call, and thirty shil- lings to such men as were retained in the service. These were to be taken from Regiment No. 4, at Fort Edward, under Colonel Phineas Lyman and Lieutenant-Colonel Nathan Whiting. Jonathan Trumbull was appointed to provide all necessary clothing for them, such as " warm cloth & coating, blankets, good flannel shirts, yarn-hose & good shoes."*
The new ship of war which had been built was named the "Tartar," and ordered to be made ready to cruise along the coast to watch the enemy, and to protect our trade in the West Indies.
A tax of one and a half-penny on the pound was levied on the polls and taxable estates of the colony.
.As the continuance and formidable aspect of the war left no reason to expect any long exemption from a further demand for forces, it was agreed that they should hold the colony in readiness to join a Council of War with the other New York and New England colonies when neces- sary. Judge Ebenezer Silliman was chosen one of these gentlemen, as a commissioner, in behalf of the. Connecticut Colony, when notified to attend such gathering. +
Lieutenant-Colonel John Read of Reading was promoted and com- missioned colonel, Major Robert Walker lieutenant-colonel, and Cap- tain James Smedley of Fairfield major of the Fourth Regiment of the colony. Mr. Ebenezer Banks was commissioned captain of the train- band of Greenfield, and Mr. Joseph Squire captain, Mr. Abraham Gold ensign, and Mr. Ichabod Wheeler lieutenant of the first train-band of Fairfield. Mr. Elias Bates was commissioned ensign of the train-band of Reading. #
The taxes raised in the town of Fairfield since the breaking out of the wars with Spain and France were very heavy. In May, 1753, it was
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, pp. 59-62. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, pp. 59-64. # Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, pp. 67-69.
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voted to raise sixpence on the pound, old tenor, on all polls and taxable estates to defray the expenses of the town. In December, 1754, four pence old tenor was levied, and December, 1755, three farthings on the pound was levied in bills of credit in lawful money. In the year 1,54 Nathan Bulkley became the town clerk and collector of taxes. A penny on the pound was levied December 24. 1756.
At a town meeting held at Fairfield. November 14. 1757. the follow- ing vote was taken : That Major James Smedley, Captain Samuel Burr, Captain Simon Couch, Captain Thomas Nash, Lieutenant John Bradiey. Joseph Bradley, Jr., Daniel Morris and Sergeant John Burr be a com- mittee to provide fire-wood and other things necessary to be provided for the soldiers that are expected to be billeted within this town, at the charge of the town .*
At the October session of the General Court, upon the memorial of John Cable and others living in the northern part of the parish of Green- field representing that as they lived near the parish of Norfield and remote from the church at Greenfield, requesting that their own estates and those of others with a small strip of land be annexed to the parish of Norfield, the Court granted that a strip of land bounded as follows should be added to the parish of Norfield, viz. : " beginning at the south- east corner of the said society of Norfield by Aspetuck River, thence north-easterly by said river to the west side of the mile of common. thence following that course to Reading parish line, thence westerly by said Reading parish line, to the northern bounds of said society of Norfield. said tract being about one hundred & sixteen rods & fourteen feet wide from east to west, & bounds westerly on said parish of Norfield." At the same time provision was made that all persons living in the above tract of land should be taxed with the inhabitants of the Greenfield church. according to their contract with that parish for the maintenance of the Rev. John Goodsell. +
The Rev. Mr. Goodsell, who had been the pastor at Greenfield for a period of thirty-one years, and who now labored under the infirmities of age, was granted an assistant. The Rev. Mr. Burrit of New Fairfield was first invited to preach " as a probationer." Mr. Jonathan Elmer was also a candidate; but finally the congregation gave a unanimous vote. which consisted of seventy-seven voters, that the Rev. Seth Pomeroy of Northampton should be invited to preach at Greenfield as a probationer.
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* Fairfield Town Records.
+ Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. So.
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A committee consisting of John Gilbert, Joseph Bradley and Daniel Sherwood were appointed to extend the invitation of the parish to Mr. Pomeroy, and on the 8th of December, 1757, Mr. Pomeroy was ordained pastor of the church at Greenfield.
Captain Moses Diamond, Captain Daniel Bradley, John Gilbert, Joseph Bradley, Jr., and Daniel Sherwood were appointed a committee of arrangements for the ordination.
The introductory prayer was made by the Rev. Samuel Sherwood, the sermon by the Rev. Noah Wells, the prayer of ordination by the Rev. Moses Dickinson, the charge to Mr. Pomeroy by the Rev. Noah Hobart, the right hand of fellowship by the Rev. Daniel Buckingham and the concluding prayer by the Rev. Jonathan Ingalls .*
In the month of August, 1757, the Baptists at Stratfield met at the house of John Sherwood. The Rev. Joshua Morse and Rev. Daniel Whipple being present, received the testimony of the members of the Baptist church, by which they united in the desire that they regarded Mr. John Sherwood " was called of God to be a witness in the Gospel of Christ." But a short time elapsed when the Elders and Messengers from the Baptist churches at New London and Groton met with their brethren at Christ's Church in Stratfield, and " did by solemn prayer & fasting separate the aforesaid Bro. John Sherwood, & ordain him to the work whereunto God had called him, & did in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ commit unto him the watch & care of said church."
The Rev. John Sherwood was about forty-three years of age when he was ordained, and had occupied a prominent place in the Congrega- tional Church at Stratfield, having been on the Committee of Prudentials, clerk of the society and a frequent messenger of the church to the meetings and associations in the county. He is described as having been " a man of large stature, of superior physical strength, & possessing no small degree of energy & firmness in carrying out the convictions of duty & right. t
The Rev. Noah Hobart, with the other fellows of Yale College, met at New Haven June 29, 1757, and after examining and approving the
* Appendix-Genealogical.
t There is a tradition that his wife possessed remarkable gifts both in exhortation and prayer ; and frequently the people expressed a desire that she might exercise her gift in place of a sermon from him. Soon after Mrs. Sherwood died her husband retired from the duties of a pastor in 1767. The house where he lived, where the church was organized, where he was ordained, and where he died is yet standing, occupied as a dwelling, and until quite recently was in the possession of one of his descendants .- History of Stratfield Baptist Church by Rev. A. N. Benedict.
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disbursement receipts of money expended in building Connecticut Hall. they proceeded to thank the president " for his great care, labor & gene- rosity " in the late improvements and prosperity of the college.
1758. By a special order of Governor Fitch, the General Assembly met at New Haven, March 8th, and continued by adjournment until the 24th of the month. Governor Fitch laid before the Assembly a letter dated December 30, 1757, from the Right Honorable William Pitt, his Majesty's principal secretary of state. This letter set forth the King's great disappointment over "the last inactive & unhappy campaign ": that he had nothing more at heart than to repair the losses, " not doubting but that his faithful & brave subjects in America would cheer- fully cooperate with & second to the utmost, the large expense & extraor- dinary succor supplied by his kingdom for their defence & preservation; & his Majesty judging that Connecticut, together with Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, New York & New Jersey, who were more immedi- ately obnoxious to the main irruptions of the enemy from Canada, & to each of which similar orders had been sent, were able to furnish 20,000 men to join a body of the King's forces for invading Canada, & carry- ing the war into the heart of the enemy's possessions. He further sig- nified it was his Majesty's pleasure, that with all possible dispatch a large body of men should be raised in Connecticut, to begin a campaign, as soon as possible, & that no encouragement be wanting it had been re- commended to Parliament to grant a suitable compensation as their active & strennous efforts should justly appear to merit."
The General Assembly voted : " that notwithstanding the colony, when acting with the other northern colonies in their several Expeditions against Crown Point, had raised a much greater number of men than their just proportion, by means of which their men were greatly dimin- ished & their strength much exhausted; yet that nothing may be want- ing on the part of the colony to promote the design, it was proposed by his Majesty that five thousand men be raised as speedily as possible."
The soldiers were to be formed into four regiments, consisting of twelve companies each, for the invasion of Canada by the way of Crown Point. Each volunteer who should furnish himself with clothes, powder- horn and shot bag, was granted a bounty of four pounds, one month's pay in advance and a blanket and knapsack before marching. A table of money was arranged to pay cach officer and private .*
* Col. Rec. Conn., XI, 92-94.
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Phineas Lyman was commissioned major-general of the colony forces. colonel of the first regiment and captain of the first company; Nathan Whiting colonel of the second regiment; Israel Putnam major of the third regiment; John Read colonel of Fourth Regiment and captain of the second company ; James Smedley lieutenant-colonel and captain of the second company; Reuben Ferris first lieutenant; John Burr, 3d, second lieutenant, and Ebenezer Couch ensign of the second company in the Fourth Regiment. Samuel Hubbell captain, John Benedict first lieutenant, Jedediah Hull second lieutenant, and Solomon Morehouse ensign of the seventh company. The Rev. Jonathan Ingersoll was com- missioned chaplain for the Fourth Regiment .*
It being found impossible to raise money otherwise than by an issue of bills of credit, it was enacted that thirty thousand pounds in bills of credit, equal to lawful money, should be stamped, bearing interest of five per cent., payable before May, 1762; to redeem which a tax of eight per cent. on the pound was levied on all the polls and ratable estates in the colony, on the October list of 1760, and paid in the treasury December 31, 1761. As soon as the money expected from England towards de- fraying the expenses of the war should be received it was to be applied towards discharging these bills of credit; and if a sufficient sum should be received before October, 1761, to pay off the borrowed money, this tax was to become null and void.
In order to pay the volunteers upon their return a tax of nine pence on the pound was levied on all polls and ratable estates in the colony of the list of October, 1757, and paid into the treasury on the 31st of December, 1758.
Judge Ebenezer Silliman, Jonathan Trumbull and William Wolcott, Esq., were appointed commissioners of the colony to meet with the com- missioners of other New England colonies, and those of New York and New Jersey, at Hartford, on the 19th of April, to devise ways and means to further this expedition.
An embargo was laid upon all ships and vessels leaving the colony before May, and they were not to sail without the consent of the gover- nors under forfeiture of one hundred pounds. It was also voted that in case the other northern colonies should fail in exerting themselves to raise their quota, so as to prevent the enemy from proceeding, the Governor and Council of War was given power to recall the troops of
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, pp. 95-99.
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the colony. Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., and Colonel Phineas Lyman were appointed to inquire into the siege and surrender of Fort William Henry.
Thus far Great Britain had been most unfortunate in her war with France, both on the continent and in America. A change in her min istry became absolutely necessary. It was at this time that the cele brated William Pitt and his associates were established in the ministry. with power to appoint such able men as they believed would carry out the designs of the nation with success. Able men were selected of known ability and courage. Plans were adopted for a vigorous campaign against the French in America. The reduction of Louisburg was first to be undertaken. General Abercrombie was made commander-in-chief of the American forces.
The General Assembly met at Hartford, May 11th, when Judge Eben- ezer Silliman and Colonel Andrew Burr were chosen Assistants, and Mr. David Rowland and Mr. William Burr deputies from Fairfield. Ebenezer Silliman was appointed one of the Judges of the Superior Court. and Colonel Andrew Burr Judge of the County and Probate Courts of Fairfield.
The full quota of five thousand men not having been raised, the chief officers of each train-band were authorized to impress every sixth man out of his company to fill the full number required. The soldiers thus detached were to be under the command of the colonels of the standing militia of the colony, who were authorized to place them under the control of the next officer in command of the campaigns going into the service.
Mr. Andrew Spalding was commissioned chaplain of station Number Four, and Gideon Wells of Fairfield surgeon of the Fourth Regiment.
It was deemed necessary to send Mr. Jared Ingersoll of New Haven to England to assist Mr. Partridge, who had for several years acted as agent and attorney for the colony of Connecticut, to represent and secure the best interests of the colony before the King and Parliament, and to solicit reimbursement for all the colony had spent in the last unfortunate campaign. Mr. Richard Partridge was authorized by legal papers to receive all moneys granted to the colony of Connecticut and send them to the Governor and Company, to be paid into the treasury.
David Rowland of Fairfield was appointed to accompany John Led- yard to Albany, to make application for the money due the colony " for billeting & carriages supplied to the troops."*
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 129.
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"Considering the awful aspect of Divine Providence on the protestant nations, & particularly in our nation & land in the calamitous & threat- ening progress of a destructive war," the governor was requested to issue a proclamation for a day of fasting and prayer throughout the colony, " suitable to such important & interesting events & prospects."*
The treasurer of the colony was ordered to pay the town of Fairfield for quartering Colonel Frazer's Highland Battalion the sum of four hundred and forty-nine pounds sixteen shillings and three pence. Mil- ford, Stratford, Norwalk and Stamford also received from four to three hundred pounds each for quartering parts of this battalion. t
Mr. Ephraim Sanford was commissioned captain of the train-band of Reading.
The Assembly granted public lottery tickets in the town of Fair- field to raise one hundred pounds by way of remunerating Sarah Keeler of Ridgefield and Thomas Gibs of Milford and his wife Hannah, for the loss by fire of a house belonging to them in Fairfield, in which Captain Saint Leger and his Majesty's Forty-eighth Regiment had been quar- tered. Ebenezer Wakeman, David Burr and Gold Sellick Silliman were appointed to conduct this lottery. #
Jonathan Trumbull was appointed to be paid for the clothing sup- plied to the rangers at Fort Edward and Station Number Four during the past winter.
A committee was appointed to examine the usual roads often traveled by the troops through the towns of Symsbury, New Hartford and Nor- folk, to and through the northwestern part of Canaan towards Albany, " & other towns adjacent, & seek a more direct & convenient way for the benefit of the troops & carriages."
The Assistants or Justices of the Peace in each town were required with all convenient speed to quarter and billet recruiting officers; to supply each captain for his diet and small beer one shilling per day, for each horse six pence sterling, and for each foot soldier for diet and small beer four pence per day. As it was found necessary to quarter some of his Majesty's regular troops during the winter, the Assistants and select- men of each town were ordered to find rooms for them in houses, and to even impress rooms if they could not otherwise be found. They were to provide the officers and soldiers with candles, vinegar, salt, small beer
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 130. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 190. # Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 217.
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and necessary utensils for dressing and eating their meat, at the rate of three pence per day. The enlisted soldiers for the expedition were or- dered to be exempt from poll taxes .*
In November John Whittier was granted liberty from the town " to erect a small dwelling house in Fairfield on the southerly side of the county road, near where his bell foundry-shop is now standing."
While the colonies were making vigorous preparations for the war, England in February sent a powerful armament under Admiral Bos- cawen, with fourteen thousand troops on board, under the command of General Amherst and Brigadier-General Wolfe. They arrived in America, and on the 28th of May set sail from Halifax and appeared before Louisburg June 2d. The French made every possible resistance, but such was the skill and effectual tactics of Generals Amherst and Wolfe, that on the 26th of July Louisburg capitulated. St. John was also taken, and the whole coast from the St. Lawrence to Nova Scotia fell into the possession of Great Britain. General Forbes (commander of the southern forces), with about eight thousand from Philadelphia, was equally successful in his attack upon Fort Du Quesne, over which the English flag floated on the 24th of November. He renamed the fortress Fort Pitt, in honor of William Pitt.
General Abercrombie, with an army of fifteen thousand men, was not as successful in his attack upon Fort Ticonderoga July 5th. Lord Howe was killed July 6th, having fallen in contact with the advance guard of the enemy. The suddenness of the attack, the yells of the In- dians and the fall of Lord Howe so disconcerted the troops, that al- though the provincials made a brave resistance, they retreated to Fort William Henry. General Bradstreet, in command of a force of provin- cials from New England and New York, captured Fort Frontenac Au- gust 27th, opened communication between Albany and Oswego and gave the English the command of Lake Ontario, thus shutting off Mont- real and Quebec from the French fortifications on the west. Peace was established with the Indian tribes along the Ohio and the upper lakes, and a treaty was formed with them by which the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania were secured.
The defeat of General Abercrombie was regarded with intense morti- fication by the New England and New York forces, as they outnum- bered the enemy about four to one. They had never been pleased with * Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. X1, pp. 175, 215.
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this general, and his mismanagement of his splendid army led them to hold him in bitter contempt, as he had proved himself wholly inefficient as a general. "They called him Mrs. Nabbycrombie, implying that petti- coats would much better become him than breeches."
The other victories of this year, however, stimulated the colonies to renew their desire to defeat the enemy at every point, and to drive them from the country.
1759. By special order of Governor Fitch the General Assembly met at New Haven, February 7th. Judge Ebenezer Silliman and Colonel Andrew Burr were present as Assistants, and Mr. David Rowland and Mr. William Burr as deputies from Fairfield.
In consideration of the colony having paid large taxes during the war, and had lately paid two taxes, one towards discharging the expenses of the campaign and the other for discharging the bills of credit emitted in March, 1755, " & not being in a capacity to supply timely money for raising forces for the ensuing campaign," the Assembly voted that twenty thousand pounds in bills of credit equal to lawful money be printed, bearing five per cent. interest, payable at or before the first day of May, 1763; and for sinking and discharging the bills of credit a tax of five pence on the pound was levied on all the polls and ratable estates in the colony, to be paid into the Assembly in October, 1761, with the additions, which were to be paid into the colony treasury by December, 1762.
The colonels or chief officers of each regiment were ordered to de- mand of each captain over a company of soldiers a true and exact roll of his officers and soldiers, and all persons within the limits of their companies were required to exhibit their arms for inspection from six- teen years of age to seventy. They were also required to make a com- plete roll of all such as by law ought to be in the train-band, which rolls were to be attested by the town clerks and sent to the colonels of each regiment .*
The Assembly met again at Hartford March 8th, when a letter from the Right Honorable William Pitt, dated December 9, 1758, was read, in which he set forth " his Majesty's ambition to follow up the victories of the past year, by making vigorous efforts to repair the disappointment at Ticonderoga, & all dangers which might threaten North America from irruptions of the French "; in fact, the entire subjugation of Canada and
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