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 27
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Meanwhile the General Assembly met at Hartford, on the 13th of * Trumbull's Hist. Conn., Vol. 2, pp. 416-422.
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March, when Judge Ebenezer Silliman and Colonel Andrew Burr were present as Assistants, with Mr. David Rowland as deputy. \ letter was read from the Right Honorable William Pitt, calling for further efforts from the colonies for the entire reduction of Canada. Without hesitation the Assembly, " firmly relying on the royal assurance for reimbursement, & zealous to promote to the utmost these important designs," resolved to raise and equip five thousand men with all possible dispatch, to co- operate with the King's forces. The troops to be raised were to be divided into four regiments, each regiment to consist of twelve companies. Each enlisting officer was granted five shillings for every able-bodied man he should enlist; and every non-commissioned officer and soldier, who had been in any former campaign, was granted full pay from the 15th of December, 1759, until the 4th of April. To every volunteer, who should furnish his own clothing, etc., a bounty was granted of four pounds, and " a further bounty of thirty-five shillings for a lapelled coat for the service."
The sum of seventy thousand pounds in bills of credit was ordered to be struck off, bearing five per cent. interest and made payable March I, 1765. A tax of six cents on the pound was levied on all polls and rat- able estates in the colony, with the additions to be raised and paid into the colony treasury the last day of December, 1761. " And also that one other tax of nine pence on the pound be granted and levied on all polls and ratable estates in the colony, to be brought into the Assembly in October, 1763, with the additions, and paid into the colony treasury by the last day of December, 1764. In case Great Britain sent in a sufficient sum of money to redeem this issue of bills of credit before the taxes were collected, they were to be made null and void. To supply the immediate need of the treasury & to pay the officers & men for the present expedi- tion, a further tax was levied of ten pence on all polls & ratable estates."
Phineas Lyman was commissioned major-general of the colony forces. James Smedley of Fairfield was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Cap- tain Ebenezer Couch, Jr., of Green's Farms first lieutenant. Peter Fair- child of Stratfield second lieutenant, and Stephen Thorp of Fairfield ensign of the second company, under the command of Colonel David Wooster of the Third Regiment .*
Inoculation for smallpox was made a punishable offence, unless done under a certificate given by a major part of the civil authorities of each * Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 355.
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town, and every person thus inoculated was required " to be assigned to such house or houses, & kept there until the nurses & tenders, after their cleansing, should deem it prudent for them to go out."
The Assembly met again at Hartford on the second Tuesday in May, when Judge Ebenezer Silliman was also present in his office as an as- sistant, and was appointed one of the Judges of the Superior Courts of the colony. Colonel Andrew Burr was made Judge of the County and Probate Court of Fairfield.
Mr. Daniel Wheeler was commissioned ensign of the train-band in the northern part of the parish of Greenfield, in the Fourth Regiment of the colony .*
Great quantities of onions were raised in the colony at this time and sold in ropes or bunches of five pound weight by orders of the Assembly, well cured, dry and firmly bunched, under a penalty of six pence falling short of the weight.
Governor Fitch laid before the Assembly a letter from the Governor of Massachusetts, appealing for aid for the poor among the inhabitants of Boston, who had suffered severe loss by a great fire in that city on the 20th of March. It was recommended that each town raise a contri- bution in their several churches. Mr. David Rowland was appointed to receive the contributions for this purpose in the County of Fairfield. t
Since the taking of Fort William Henry some trouble had existed in filling the regiments on account of the large demand which had been made upon the colony. The Assembly, therefore, offered an additional bounty of forty shillings to those already granted, provided volunteer officers and men, who had already served in the army, should offer them- selves to fill the ranks before June. An increase of four shillings a month was also added to the pay of non-commissioned officers, who had or should enlist for the expedition. #
Upon the opening of spring General Amherst planned for the reduc- tion of Montreal, where the main part of the French army was concen- trated. Three routes were decided upon by which to reach Montreal. General Haviland was detached and sent by way of Lake George, Crown Point and Champlain. General Murray was ordered to march with as large a force as he could safely withdraw from Quebec, through the river St. Lawrence; while General Amherst himself was to lead his re-
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 376. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 385. # Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 387.
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maining forces by way of Lake Ontario and down the St. Lawrence. 1 large number of small vessels and batteaux had been built for conveying troops, artillery, baggage, etc., up the lake, while Captain Loring cruised on Lake Champlain with three armed vessels.
Early in June General Amherst moved with several regiments of troops from Albany to Schenectady, by way of the Mohawk and Oneida River to Oswego. The difficulty of conducting so large an army with its necessary equipment from Albany to Oswego was very great, but the General accomplished his march in less than three weeks. He now found himself at the head of an army of ten thousand regular and pro- vincial troops, and one thousand Indians under General Johnson. Pro- ceeding cautiously through the St. Lawrence, he destroyed the French vessels which he encountered, and attacked and reduced Isle Royal on the 25th of August. He repaired the fort at that point, and made every preparation to convey his troops and stores down the St. Lawrence, be- tween which point and Montreal he had to encounter the dangerous falls of that river. With all his precautions, some " ninety men, nearly fifty batteaux, seventeen whale boats and one galley, some artillery, provisions and ammunition were lost." AAfter a tedious voyage of two months and seventeen days from the time the army left Schenectady they encamped within six miles of Montreal.
Meanwhile General Haviland had taken possession of the Isle Noix while crossing the country to the St. Lawrence by the most direct route. General Murray landed on the island the same day that General AAmherst took possession of it. General Haviland with his forces reached the other side of the river at a point opposite the city. Mr. Trumbull re- marks : " Thus, through winding & devious routes, after many hardships through the enemy's country, had the three divisions simultaneously reached the place of rendezvous Sept. 6."
Seeing this formidable army surrounding Montreal, Governor Vau- dreuille sent a letter of capitulation to General Amherst. By the end of a week, after many letters had passed between the two generals, the articles of capitulation were agreed upon, and on September 8th the whole country. embracing Quebec, Montreal and all the French posses- sions, surrendered to Great Britain. The troops were allowed the honors of war, although " to be treated as prisoners, & to be sent back to France on condition of their not serving during the war." They also were al- lowed to retain the worship of the Roman Catholic Church.
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The magnificent manner in which this campaign was conducted, with the loss of so few men and with so little shedding of blood, reflects the highest praise upon the generals of each ariny.
A fleet which had been sent out by France with troops and military stores for the relief of Montreal, upon learning of the capitulation, at- tempted to form a settlement on the Bay, hoping to reach the main army by land. In this plan, however, they were discovered by Lord Byron, who, with three ships of the line, broke up their settlement and obliged the whole fleet to surrender.
The victory which had crowned the brave efforts of the colonies spread universal joy throughout the country. Gladness followed weary hours of anxiety and perplexity. Connecticut became then, as it always has remained, the banner state. Fairfield furnished a liberal share of men, arms, money and provisions. Her sons stood out among her sister colonies as the bravest of the brave.
The General Assembly met in New Haven on the second Tuesday in October, when it was agreed to send a letter of congratulation from the Governor and Company of the Colony to the King, on the glorious suc- cess of his arms, specially in North America. It was also resolved to address a letter to General Amherst, " congratulating him upon the happy success of his Majesty's arms under his care & direction, & giving him thanks for the beneficent care & wise conduct & protection of the troops under his command, & especially the provincial troops of this colony."
A special thanksgiving was appointed in all the churches of the colony on the 23d of October.
A committee was appointed to receive and sell seventeen thousand pounds sterling of the money granted by Great Britain in the service of 1759, to be paid into the treasury as soon as it should be received by the agents of the colony.
David Rowland of Fairfield was appointed, with Jonathan Trumbull and John Ledyard, to pay and discharge the treasury notes for the money borrowed by them, " from whom & on what account," out of the colony treasury .*
The taxable estates of Fairfield were valued at £55,072 IIS. 6d.
Mr. Benjamin Fairweather was commissioned ensign of the train- band of the parish of Stratfield in the Fourth Regiment. t
No sooner had the colonists hoped that war was at an end than the * Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, pp. 437-439. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 467.
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ill-usage of the Indians by the Governor of South Carolina infuriated the Cherokees, who had in vain endeavored to make honorable peace with them. They attacked Pontiac, a famous Ottawa chief, who, by his native skill and eloquence, had united all the north-western tribes to conspire against the English in their newly-invested posts, all of which, except Detroit, Fort Pitt and Fort Du Quesne, at a secret preconcerted plan, fell under the vengeance of Indian fury. Their garrisons were massacred and the frontier settlements were attacked and suffered greater devasta- tion than ever before. Troops sent out to quell them were put to death in the most cruel manner.
1761. Governor Fitch held a special Assembly at New Haven, March 26th, and read before them a letter from the Right Honorable William Pitt, urging upon the colony the necessity of holding the enemy in check, and calling for two-thirds of the number of men raised during the pre- vious year, to protect his Majesty's possessions in America. He repre- sented that the British troops would be required to further " some great & important enterprise against the enemy." To this request, although the colony had been taxed far beyond its capacity in men and money, the Assembly agreed to raise twenty-three hundred men, to be enlisted and equipped with all possible dispatch, "to march to such places in North America as his Majesty's Commander-in-Chief should appoint, in the absence of his regular forces." The forces were to be formed into two regiments of twelve companies each, with their officers. The sum of five shillings was given to each enlisting officer, and a bounty of eleven pounds to every volunteer officer and private who furnished their own clothing and arms, and had previously served in the army; while a bounty of seven pounds was granted to every newly enlisted volunteer furnished in the same manner .*
To further this expedition a sum of forty-five thousand pounds in bills of credit was ordered to be struck off and made payable on or be- fore March 26, 1761, with five per cent. interest, to redeem which a tax of five pence was levied on all polls and taxable estates in the colony, to be paid into the treasury the last day of December. 1763. Also a tax of seven pence on the pound was ordered to be levied. according to the list of taxable estates in 1774; with the additions paid into the colony treas- ury the last day of December, 1774. Still another tax of four pence on the pound was levied to pay the soldiers to be immediately enlisted.t * Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 450. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, pp. 452-474.
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which tax was to become null and void in case timely money from Great Britain reached the colony to pay the troops.
Phineas Lyman was commissioned colonel of the First Regiment, Nathan Whiting colonel of the Second Regiment, James Smedley was made lieutenant-colonel of the Second Regiment and captain of the second company, with Noble Bennedict as first lieutenant, Benjamin Summers second lieutenant and David Rumsey ensign. The Rev. William Cooke was made chaplain of this regiment, and Gideon Wells of Fairfield surgeon .*
The Assembly requested the Governor to cause to be read the King's proclamation for the encouragement of piety and virtue, and the suppres- sion of vice and immorality, in all the ecclesiastical societies in the colony, on the Sabbath days next preceding the first Mondays in January and June.
" The books of Heads of Agreement & Articles of Discipline &c .; called the Saybrook Platform, which had been printed, were ordered to be packed in bundles, & sent to each town according to their portion in the list of taxes in 1760."
Thirty-four thousand pounds, including seventeen thousand pounds of the money which the colony agents in London had received and banked there for safe keeping, was ordered to be sold, and the Governor was empowered to draw proper bills of exchange on their agents for such purchased sums. +
The regular General Assembly met May 14th at Hartford. Colonel Andrew Burr and Judge Ebenezer Silliman were present as Assistants, and Mr. David Rowland and Mr. David Burr as deputies from Fairfield. Ebenezer Silliman was made one of the Judges of the Superior Court of the colony, and Colonel Andrew Burr Judge of the County and Probate District Courts of Fairfield.
Phineas Lyman was commissioned major-general of the Connecticut forces for the ensuing campaign. Dr. Gideon Wells was appointed di- rector of the hospital stores, medicines and instruments for the army. #
A committee was appointed to receive of the colony treasurer " all such bills of credit as were ordered to be sunk whether brought in by rate or exchange, & to burn them to ashes."
A memorial was presented to the Assembly by Nathan Adams and others of the town of Fairfield and Norwalk, praying that they might
* Col. Rec. Conn .. Vol. XI, pp. 484-487. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 4S9. # Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 503.
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build a bridge across the Saugatuck River between the county and post road to New York .*
Mr. David Rowland was appointed one of a committee to examine the sutler's accounts with the soldiers, and to protect them against over- charges.t He was also made one of another committee, with Jonathan Trumbull and William Woolcott, to receive the sterling money sold by order of the Assembly in 1759, which amounted to £22,000 sterling money with the receipts taken for the money paid into the colony treasury to deliver them into the hands of the secretary of the colony, that it might be known what amount of money was in the treasury. +
The frightful and pitiless fury of Indian vengeance still continued and spread along the entire western and southern frontiers of the English settlements. General Amherst was urged to send immediate assistance to the southern colonies. He dispatched Colonel Montgomery without delay with a force of twelve hundred chosen men. Other companies from North and South Carolina and Virginia joined his forces, and al- though he attacked the Indians with great bravery and unsparing sever- ity, he was unable to subdue them, and returned to Fort Prince George, leaving the southern settlements to the mercy of the infuriated Indians. Early in January another expedition was sent by General Amherst, under Colonel Grant, against the southern and western Indians; and so vigor- ously and savagely were they pursued by rifle, sword and fire, that over fourteen Indian settlements and fourteen hundred acres of corn were burned. Their women and children fled to the forests to starve and live on nuts and such food as they could find.
Even after this inhuman attack upon the Indians, although their chiefs had previously in vain attempted to make peace with the Virginians and the South Carolinians, did they find it an easy task to yield to honorable terms of peace. "What a scene of bloodshed and desolation, both with respect to them & to the colonies," says Dr. Trumbull, " was the conse- quence of the haughty, unjust and perfidious treatment of the Indians. by a few base & murderous people among ourselves."-" Pride, injus- tice & bloody measures, in the course of providence, commonly met a recompense in their own way." And now that peace was agreed upon " both parties wished that it might last as long as the rivers should run or the sun shine."
Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 560. + Col. Rec. Conn. Vol. XI, p. 562. # Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 563.
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The northern colonies pursued a wiser and more pacific course with the Indians, whose friendship they had cultivated, and with whom they were now able to enter upon terms of friendly alliance. Trade was again opened with them. The border planters returned to their plantations. Wider fields were opened west of the Alleghanies and the lakes, by which the enterprising New Englanders found homes and advantageous trading posts and farms .*
The mother country had not prospered in her war with France. The great powers of Europe favored France. Spain also now became the friend and ally of the latter country; in fact, Great Britain was under a war-cloud with all the European powers. She was greatly reduced in her resources, having incurred a debt of over a hundred million. In her misfortunes and surrounding dangers she turned to her American colo- nies for assistance, and resolved to employ them to her utmost advantage.
The General Assembly met at New Haven on the 8th of October. Judge Ebenezer Silliman, Colonel Andrew Burr and David Rowland, Esq., were appointed a committee to assist the Governor in reviewing and completing answers to the queries sent this year to the Governor and colony, by the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations in Great Britain. The selectmen were ordered " to make a list of the in- habitants of each town, whites and blacks, and send them to the Gov- ernor on or before the first day of January next."+
A reply to the inquiries sent to the Governor and Company of Con- necticut from the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, was dated Connecticut, September 7, 1762, a summary of which gives an account as follows :
" The situation & boundaries of the colony, the nature of its soil, climate, principal rivers, harbors, value of exports & imports; 114 small ships of 3527 tonnage, with 651 sea- men; the principal employment of the colonists being in subduing & improving the land ; & that nothing was done in the woolen or linen manufactory, than to supply the deficiencies of what our produce enables us to purchase from abroad, mostly made for laborers & servants : 'no work of any kind being carried on hurtful to Great Britain.' The imports from Great Britain 'were almost all sorts useful in common life, valued at about £100,000 sterling; but little other trade with the nations; exports about £150,000. The natural products, timber, grain, cattle, horses & swine; plenty of iron ore; 141,000 whites, & about 4,590 blacks. The muster roll of militia is 20,264, 'who spend their own time, supply them-
* Trumbull's Hist. Conn., Vol. II, Chapt. XXI.
+ Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 573. These answers may be found in the Appendix. "No re- turns," reports Mr. Charles J. Hoadley, " of this census are to be found in our archives, and the following details are all that I have obtained from other sources."-Note, vol. XI, p. 574.
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selves with arms, &c., & are no expense to the colony.' The principal seaport. New London : Indians about 931, many living in families & in small tribes, peacefully & generally orderly; no Indians bordering on the colony ; revenues raised by tax on polls & personal estates; duties about f4000, one-eighth of which was appropriated to schools & the remainder to support the government, except in time of war. The constitution of the government, a General Court, its officers, other courts, laws, &c .; a military force of thirteen regiments, officers, &c."
This reply to the Lords of Trades and Plantations was signed by Governor Fitch and Deputy Governor William Pitkin. The following officers signed from Fairfield: Judge Ebenezer Silliman and Colonel .An- drew Burr as Assistants of the General Assembly, Ebenezer Silliman one of the Chief Judges of the Supreme Court; Colonel Andrew Burr, David Rowland and John Read Judges of the Inferior Courts, and Thomas Hill Sheriff; military officers Colonel John Read, Lieutenant- Colonel Robert Walker, and Major James Smedley of the Fourth Regi ment .*
General Amherst applied to the Assembly for more troops to be for- warded, "& kept in winter quarters for the protection of the forts & country in general." It was agreed to enlist two hundred and twenty- six able-bodied men, including two captains and four lieutenants of the troops in the service and pay of the colony. A bounty was offered of forty shillings and one month's pay in advance to each enlisting officer and soldier. General Amherst was advised to dismiss the other troops of the colony then in camp.
The forces raised in the colony this year employed their time in mak- ing new roads, strengthening the fortifications and posts which had been taken from the French, erecting other forts and, in fact, placing the country in every possible degree of strength against a further invasion from without.
The taxable estates of Fairfield were valued at £56,684 18s. 4d.
Asa Spalding of Fairfield was appointed surveyor of lands within the County of Fairfield.
While the Rev. Mr. Hobart still continued ably defending the cause of the established church of the colony by long controversies with the ministers of the New Light churches, the members of the Church of England at Fairfield made the following appeal to the General Assembly :
"On the memorial of Nathaniel Perry & Zaccheus Morehouse, &c., church wardens & vestrymen of Trinity Church, so called, within the first society in Fairfield, showing to this * Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, pp. 628-633.
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Assembly the great difficulties the professors of the Church of England belonging to said Church labour under, with respect to repairing their said church or meeting-house for divine worship, for want of power & authority to tax themselves for such purpose; pray- ing for relief in the premises :"
It was resolved by the Assembly :
" That the church wardens & vestrymen of said church, or the major part of them, be & hereby are (on five days' notice) fully authorized & impowered to call the members & professors of the Church of England, belonging to said church, to meet at such time & place as they shall appoint, when & where being so met, they shall be & hereby are fully authorized & impowered by their major-vote to grant such rates & taxes to be levied & collected from such professors as aforesaid as shall be necessary for the purpose of repair- ing such meeting-house or church. And they are also hereby further authorized & im- powered to choose a committee to manage the repairing of such house, & to appoint a collector to collect such rate or tax, who shall have the same power & authority to collect such rate or tax & be accountable therefor in the same manner as other collectors by law are; & any one Assistant or justice of the peace is hereby empowered & directed, on application to him made by such committee, to issue such warrant for collecting such rate as by law they are empowered & directed for collecting other rates & taxes." *
The northwestern part of the town, afterwards called Nortlı Fair- field, had increased in population to such an extent that they at this time applied to the Assembly for parish privileges as follows :
"Upon the memorial of John Gilbert, &c., inhabitants of the northerly part of the parishes of Stratfield & Greenfield, & of the westerly part of the parish of North Stratford, in the county of Fairfield, praying this Assembly that they may be made a distinct ecclesi- astical society & that their limits may be defined; & that a committee may be appointed to view their circumstances & situation & make report, &c."
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