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 28
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It was resolved by the Assembly,
" That Samuel Olmstead Esqr. of Ridgefield, Samuel Fitch Esqr. of Norwalk & John Fowler Esqr. of Milford be & are hereby appointed a committee to view the circumstances of the memorialists, & make a report of their opinion to the General Assembly to be holden at Hartford in May next." +
At Greenfield the Rev. John Goodsell, now well stricken in years, saw the fruits of his past labors blessed in the goodly numbers which filled the old meeting-house. Under the pastorate of his assistant, the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, the society continued to flourish; and although many of the congregation had become members of the Congregational churches at Norfield and North Fairfield, it became apparent that the old meeting- house was no longer large enough for the congregation. Many repairs, too, were needed, and the propriety of building a new church became a subject of serious consideration.
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p.528.
t Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 586.
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SEVEN YEARS' WAR AND REVOLUTION
1761]
On the 14th of February, 1760, a parish meeting was called, and after due deliberation they
-- " voted to build a new meeting-house, & to have it stand on the place where stands a monument of stones; & that Samuel Bradley, Jr., be a committee to apply to the County Court in behalf of the parish to affix & establish the described place for the meeting hou e to stand on. Also voted that the dimensions of the new meeting-house shall be sixty feet in length, 42 feet in breadth, & have a good proportionate, well built steeple " In Novem- ber following it was voted " that as many pews as can with convemence be laid out, on the ground floor of the new meeting-house, by joiners that understood the business, & the spots or places so laid out shall be fairly sold to the highest bidder, and the money raised to defray the expenses of the house. Also voted, that those who purchase the spots or places be obliged to build their pews by a limited time, & to build them uniform & alike "
The arrangement made about the pews in November. 1761, was as follows :
We the subscribers being appointed at the meeting on the 10th of November last to sell the spots or pews then voted to be laid out in our new meeting-house for pews to be erected on, have, according to the vote of the parish at their above said meeting relating 1) said pews, laid out & sold the above said spots or places in the manner following, namely. with the assistance of David Bradley, Jr. : Beginning at the east side of the south doubk door, have laid out the spots or places for pew No. 1. & so successively laid out & numbered all around the house till we come to the west side of said double door, they being No. 20; & have also this day sold the above spots or places, except pew No. 15. for the purposes aforesaid to the following persons, with the sum of each spot or place annexed to his name, which persons are obliged by the conditions of said vendue to have their pews well built & completed upon their own cost or charge by the first day of October next, or forfeit the same to the society.
The owners of these pews were as follows:
£. s.
£. s
Gershom Banks, pew No. I 14 15
Gershom Bradley, No. 14. . 20
3
Samuel Bradley, No. 2. 16 10
Reserved for Society, No. 15.
Obediah Hull, No. 3. 20 7
Nehemiah Banks, No. 16. 2.1 O
Daniel Sherwood, No. 4 12
2
Ebenezer Banks, No. 17. 20 10
Joseph Hill, No. 5 .. 20
7
Joseph Bradley, Jr., No. 18. 27 10
Cornelius Hull, No. 6. 17
3
John Banks, No. 19 .. 17
0
Daniel Sturges, No. 7. IO 0
Samuel Whitney, No. 20. 15
1
Moses Wakeman, No. 8. 15 0
David Williams, No. 21. 15
0
David Bradley, No. 9. 2.4 0
Benjamin Sherwood, No. 22 17 14
Gershom Hubbell. No. 10. 26 12
Hezekiah Bradley, No 23. . 12 II
Gershom Bulkley, No. II . . 23 15
Samuel Bradley. Jr., No. 24 23
I
Jonathan Diamond, No. 12. 23 I
David Banks, No. 25. 20
John Jennings (2), No. 13. 20
7
Daniel Bradley. No. 26. 1 2 5
* From the Rev. Henry B. Smith's Discourse of the "One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of Greenfield Congregational Church, May IS, 1876. 16
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1762
During the following year (1762) this church was completed. It was a fair and elegant edifice for those times, and in point of architecture greatly superior to that of the neighboring churches. Its tall, well-pro- portioned spire became a beacon alike to travelers and to sailors. From its belfry the steeples of the churches at Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, Long Island, New Canaan, Reading, Northfield, Green's Farms and Canaan could be seen; and such a variety of charming views of Long Island Sound and the surrounding country that it has been justly re- marked by Mr. Barber: "No other spot in Connecticut can show such a commanding, extensive & beautiful prospect." Five light-houses were also seen from the belfry-viz., one on Norwalk Islands, Eaton's Neck, Black Rock, Stratford Point and New Pasture Light. On a clear day the East Rock near New Haven is distinctly seen.
A most interesting poem was written of this extensive view by the Rev. Dr. Dwight,* entitled " Greenfield Hill."
1762. Again Governor Fitch was urged by Great Britain to raise all the forces possible for the protection of his Majesty's possessions in North America.
Twenty-three hundred men and officers were ordered to be raised and equipped forthwith, and formed into two regiments of twelve com- panies each.
A larger sum of money being required for this purpose than the treasury could afford, it was ordered that sixty-five thousand pounds in bills of credit should be raised, payable on or before March 4, 1767, to refund which a tax of six pence on the pound was levied on all the polls and ratable estates in the colony, according to the list to be brought into the Assembly in 1763, with the additions, and paid into the treasury by December, 1764. "One other tax of eight pence " on the pound was also levied on all the polls and ratable estates of 1765, with the addition to be paid into the treasury at the end of December, 1766.
Fearing that another issue of bills of credit might decrease the value of those already ordered to be emitted, a further tax of two pence three farthings on the pound was levied on the last October list, to be paid into the treasury by the last of December. It was also voted to appro- priate all the remaining money in Great Britain, granted by Parliament in 1758, 1759 and 1760, not yet made use of, to be used as a sinking fund for the discharge of the bills of credit emitted in those years; and
* Appendix-Genealogical, Dwight.
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SEVEN YEARS' WAR AND REVOLUTION
1762]
that, if the said moneys should be sufficient to redeem the bills, the new taxes should not be collected.
Phineas Lyman was commissioned major-general of the forces and colonel of the First Regiment; Israel Putnam lieutenant colonel, and John Durgee major of the First Regiment.
Nathan Whiting was commissioned colonel of the Second Regiment: James Smedley lieutenant-colonel, and David Baldwin major of the Second Regiment. James Smedley was also made captain of the second company; Noble Benedict first lieutenant, Benjamin Summers second lieutenant, and David Rumsey ensign of the second company in the Second Regiment .*
England at this time was obliged to draw off many of her regular troops from America to serve in her war with France, Spain and her island possessions. In consequence, General Amherst made a demand on Connecticut and the other colonies to fill up his regiments with pro- vincials, promising to give a bounty of five pounds of New York money to each man not under eighteen and not over forty-five years of age. who should enlist for this service, to be clothed and enter into immediate pay during the war, or until his regiment should return from Europe. To this request the Assembly ordered that five hundred and seventy-five effective men should be raised. Besides the bounty offered by General Amherst, an additional bounty of five pounds was granted to each officer and man who should enlist volunteers at this time.t
The town records of Fairfield show yearly collections of taxes to de- fray the war expenses of the colony, according to their taxable polls and estates, ordered by the General Assembly.
The General Assembly met at Hartford, May 13th. Judge Ebenezer Silliman and Colonel Andrew Burr were present as Assistants. and Mr. David Rowland and Mr. David Burr as deputies from Fairfield. Eben- ezer Silliman was appointed one of the Judges of the Superior Court of the colony, and Colonel Andrew Burr Judge of the County and District Probate Courts of Fairfield.
Mr. James Morgan was established captain. Mr. Daniel Lyon lieu- tenant, and Mr. Henry Lyon ensign in the east division of the parish of Reading in the Fourth Regiment; Mr. Nehemiah Sanford ensign of the train-band in the west division of Reading.
Nathaniel Seeley, Jr., was made lieutenant, and Mr. Abel Hall ensign * Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, p. 618. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XI, pp. 613-623.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1762
of the train-band in the north part of Stratfield and North Stratford in the Fourth Regiment .*
That soldiers might be encouraged to enlist in the regiments which had been ordered to be raised on the 4th of March, an additional sum of forty shillings was added to the five pound bounty granted to each volun- teer, in case the regiments should not be filled before the 15th of August.
Four hundred pounds were sent to General Lyman for the comfort of the troops under his command, " who are ordered to the southward."
To prevent the sale of food to the enemy, or carrying it secretly out of the colony by persons desiring to obtain large prices for it, so that the commissaries might find it difficult to supply the army, an embargo was placed upon barrels of pork, beef, wheat, Indian corn and rye until the 15th of July. All such stores found in vessels were ordered to be seized for the use of the King's troops.
Active preparations were made in England to strike a severe blow to the enemy, and thus bring about terms of peace. It was decided to at- tack and reduce the West India Islands. In this undertaking many of the provincial troops of North American colonies were engaged. Mar- tinique was taken February 14th. England declared war against Spain soon after, and her possessions in the West Indies also became a plan of conquest. A powerful fleet, under Admiral Pocock, sailed from Ports- mouth, England, March 4th, and formed a junction, May 27th, with a squadron from Martinique, under the command of Sir James Douglas. The land forces in these ships and transports amounted to ten thousand men, under the command of Lord Albemarle. These were reinforced by General Amherst with four thousand from New York and a consider- able number of provincials, making in all an army of from fifteen to six- teen thousand officers and men. On the 5th of June the troops were landed, and the reduction of Havana begun. For two months a most energetic siege was made against this almost impregnable stronghold. During the month of July one half of the troops died from heat and fever. Five thousand soldiers and three thousand seamen were pros- trated with sickness. The hurricane season was near at hand, and the hearts of the officers and men began to sink within them as sickness and death depleted their numbers. Just as they were almost on the verge of despair, the Northern troops reached them, which revived their hopes and gave renewed animation in carrying on the siege.
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XII, p. 9.
1762]
SEVEN YEARS' WAR AND REVOLUTION
245
Three ships had previously been sent north with sick troops, who, upon recovery, returned with the others, from New England, and made a valiant effort in assisting in the reduction of the citadel. On the 13th of August Havana surrendered, with all the shipping in the harbor and with one hundred and eighty miles of territory to the westward. Scarcely any of the New England troops or officers ever returned, as those who were not killed in battle fell victims to fever and disease.
The General Assembly met at New Haven on the 14th of October. Two hundred and twenty-six men, two captains and four lieutenants were ordered to be enlisted to serve under General Amherst, for the protec- tion of the forts and country in general. A number of the troops be- longing to the colony were stationed at Crown Point, and their officers were instructed to induce their own men to re-enlist for the winter, offer- ing them a bounty of three pounds in addition and a month's pay in ad- vance to that which they had already received. Lieutenant David Rum- sey, and Dr. Ebenezer Jesup as surgeon from Green's Farms, were among those who served at this time under Colonel Nathan Whiting .* Four- teen hundred pounds was ordered to be sent to Colonel Whiting for the return of such of his men that did not care to remain in the fort, and for the comfort of those who should remain during the winter.
It is a matter to call forth the pride of travellers from Connecticut, who now look upon the crumbling fortifications of Crown Point, Ticon- deroga and Lake George, that those of her soldiers who left their homes and went forth to protect these forts were the men who also helped to erect and strengthen them. Our soldiers at this time were never idle. They continued to erect new posts, open up and improve new roads, build houses for the troops and to clear the passage-way to the forts for troops and transportation purposes.
The Assembly had the satisfaction of learning from their agent in London " that he had received on the account of the colony for the ser- vices of 1760, the sum of £44,309 18s." The committee appointed to sell a portion of this grant had already disposed of thirty-five thousand pounds, leaving a balance of £9.309 18s. 6d., out of which the committee were now ordered to sell eight thousand pounds for its full value in sil- ver, gold or bills of credit emitted in 1759. On account of the receipt of this money the five per cent. tax was abated to three pence on the pound.t
Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XII, pp. 75 and 76.
+ Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XII. 78.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1763
The taxable estates of Fairfield this year amounted to £57,158 7s. 9d.
Mr. Ichabod Lewis was established captain, Mr. John Moss lieutenant, Mr. Joseph Tomlinson cornet, and Mr. Samuel Blackman quartermaster of the troop of horse for the Fourth Regiment.
Mr. Samuel Wakelee was established captain and Mr. John Burr lieu- tenant of the train-band in Stratfield in the Fourth Regiment.
Mr. Phineas Chapman was established captain, Mr. Samuel More- house lieutenant, and Mr. Thomas Couch ensign of the train-band of the west parish of Fairfield in the Fourth Regiment .*
1763. To the great joy of the inhabitants of the colony, they had the happiness to learn that preliminaries of a treaty of peace had been signed at Fontainebleau by the British and French ministers; which was after- wards confirmed and signed at Paris on the 10th of February. By this treaty all of North America east of the Mississippi River, which river should be left open to navigation free of duty, was ceded to Great Britain, except the island and city of New Orleans, which was to remain in pos- session of the French. All Louisiana on the left side of the great river, Florida, St. Augustine, the Bay of Pensacola and all the possessions of Spain in North America to the east and northeast of the Mississippi were ceded to England; while England restored all her conquests in the West Indies to Spain, as well as all right acquired by treaty or otherwise, which the King of Spain had over the said countries. The subjects of France and Spain in America were secured the rights of the Roman Catholic re- ligion. In the fourth article of this treaty the King of France renounced all pretensions to Nova Scotia, with its dependencies, to the King of Great Britain, and also ceded to him in full right, “ Canada, Cape Breton, & all the other islands & coasts in the River St. Lawrence."
Great, therefore, was the rejoicing among all the English colonies in America. For eight years every town in Connecticut had been taxed far beyond its strength or proportion in size and number of its inhabitants, besides paying large bounties. " The wealthy gentlemen advanced largely of their means to encourage volunteers to enlist. Many men had left their business & farms to enter the army. At the commencement of the war Connecticut raised one thousand men, and after the battle on Lake George, September 6, 1755, she dispatched two thousand of her militia; and at the close of the campaign she had about three thousand men in active service. Such was her zeal for the undertaking that in 1756 she
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XII, 85, 86, 87.
2.47
1763]
SEVEN VEARS' WAR AND REVOLUTION
sent two thousand five hundred men, which was twice as many as General Amherst requested to be sent ; but this was done fearing the southern colonies might not send their quotas. In 1757, Connecticut not only armed & equipped fourteen hundred men upon the request of the General in-Chief, but upon learning of the attack upon Fort William Henry, she immediately sent five thousand more. For sometime she had from five to six thousand men in service. This readiness to respond so generously to his demands led General Amherst to call upon Connecticut for five thousand men, or all the troops she could spare for the next year's cam- paign. The cost of the war from 1755 to 1762 inclusively, after deduct- ing the parliamentary grants, amounted to upwards of four thousand pounds."
Substitutes were obtained only by private individuals paying large sums. Officers of the militia and private persons in raising and equip- ping volunteers often received no compensation. Many comforts sup- plied by the mothers, wives and daughters amounted to a large sum, for loving care never counts on sums expended. Beside the regularly en- listed men, many others entered into the larger pay of some of the other colonies, and into the regular British regiments, and ships, and on priva- teers. Great was the loss sustained by the death of the flower of her young men, for none responded more freely or bravely than the youth of Connecticut. Greater still was their loss to their families, to the im- provement of their business and farms, besides the demoralization in re- ligion and education which always follows in the wake of a devastating war " for war is unfriendly to literature, destructive to domestic happi- ness, & injurious to piety & the social virtues. The country thirsted for peace."*
In all this large supply of soldiers, in heavy taxes, in employment of substitutes and in donations of money and comforts for them, Fairfield bore a large share. Her magistrates in the General Assembly seemed never weary of the burden laid upon them, using their best talents and wisdom and encouraging every call for the prosecution of the wars of Great Britain to a successful issue. The Meeting-house Green witnessed many drillings of her volunteers by her brave officers; while weeping mothers, wives and children saw their loved ones depart, many of them never to return. The town quartered many of the British soldiers, be- sides many prisoners taken from the French. Penfield's mill baked thou-
* Trumbull's Hist. Conn., Vol. II, 451-457.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1763
sands of barrels of bread to be sent from time to time to the soldiers. From Black Rock Harbor glided vessel after vessel, bearing her soldiers and laden with provisions at New London for Canada by the ocean, and up the Hudson to Albany, for the forts and posts to be stormed and captured for Great Britain. Never were more earnest prayers offered in her churches and homes than went up for the safety, success and return of her brave and loyal youth. For those who never returned, only the peace of the Holy Comforter brooded over and nestled in their homes. For the well, the sick and maimed a joyous welcome awaited their return.
The peace which now followed these years of war, with the pride of success over the great and valuable acquisitions which had been secured, brought a wave of great prosperity to all New England. Fighting, as the American soldier had, under the successful campaigns of a com- mander-in-chief from England, and with English soldiers, produced a feeling of kinship, pride and loyal affection towards the mother country more than ever before experienced. All classes entered with spirit upon the cultivation of their lands, and bore with pride the taxes laid upon them, until the public debt, contracted to carry on the war, was in a short period paid, and the colony was free of debt. Joy, peace and great prosperity prevailed, and the songs of industry and honest labor once more were heard throughout the land and in the homes of the sons and daughters of Fairfield.
The names of Colonel John Burr, Colonel Andrew Burr, Colonel John Read, Captain James Smedley, Judge Ebenezer Silliman and the Hon. David Rowland as leaders, and of many other brave men from Fairfield, during those years of devotion to the success of the colony in Great Britain's wars, will ever stand out to be honored and revered for the good they accomplished.
The General Court met at Hartford, May 12th. Judge Ebenezer Silliman and Colonel Andrew Burr were present as Assistants, and Mr. David Rowland and Mr. David Burr as deputies. Ebenezer Silliman was made one of the Judges of the Superior Court of the colony, and Colonel Andrew Burr Judge of the County Courts and of the District and Pro- bate Court of Fairfield.
A law was enacted at this time which proved most merciful to in- solvent debtors confined in jail, by which upon their exhibiting with their wives' estates, a true copy of their real and personal property, by which their creditors might be in part satisfied, they should then be discharged
2.49
SEVEN YEARS' WAR AND REVOLUTION
1763]
from debt and set at liberty. Necessary wearing apparel and bedding of such debtors and of their wives and children were only exempt from seizure .*
Ten thousand pounds in bills of credit were ordered to be issued at five per cent. interest, payable before May 1, 1765, towards paying the officers and soldiers .in the last campaign and other expenses of the colony, to redeem which a tax of two pence on the pound was levied on all polls and ratable estates, to be paid into the treasury by the last day of December, 1764. A further tax of one penny on the pound was levied on the tax list of the previous October.
Money granted by parliament for 1761 was ordered to be sold, as soon as the colony agent in London notified a committee appointed at this time to receive it.
All persons upon whom had been billeted or quartered his Majesty's regular forces during the past winter were granted three pence a day for each non-commissioned officer and soldier.
The Governor was requested " to issue a proclamation, that Wednes- day the 6th day of July should be observed as a day of Thanksgiving throughout the colony, for the return of peace, suitable to so important an event."t
Dr. Gideon Wells of Fairfield was appointed surveyor of the county.
Mr. Nathaniel Seeley was established captain, and Mr. Abel Ilall lieutenant in the eastern part of North Fairfield, and part of North Strat- ford. +
The General Assembly met at New Haven, October 13th. Colonel Andrew Burr was appointed to inspect the accounts of the pay rolls sent in, there having been a considerable variance between the returns of the number of soldiers raised by the colony in 1761 and those sent to England by General Amherst, and the authentic pay rolls of the sol- diers exhibited to the officers of the pay roll at Hartford the same year. The committee of the pay table also had large accounts of supplies for the hospitals at Havana and Crown Point in the year 1762.
This was the last time Colonel AAndrew Burr appeared in public life. His useful, patriotic and eventful life closed soon after ..
The taxable polls and estates of Fairfield this year were valued at £59,605 12s. 6d.
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XII, p. 127.
# Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XII, p. 139.
+ Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XII. p. 137. & See Appendix-Genealogical.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1764
Soon after peace had been established, and Sir William Johnson had visited the Six Nations to confirm peace with them, it was discovered, through the intrigues of the French and the jealousy among the Indians on account of the English having unjustly settled beyond their treaty limits and in the Indian hunting grounds, that a conspiracy, headed by Pontiac, existed among all the northwestern tribes against the frontier forts and settlements of the English. At an appointed time nine of the western posts and settlements were attacked by the Indians and the garrisons and whites massacred. "More than a hundred traders were massacred, 20,000 persons in western Virginia were driven from their homes by fear of the scalping knife." The English were not favorites with the Indians as the French had been, for the former were more haughty and indifferent to the native pride and rights of the Indians, while the French always treated them with more politeness and confi- dence. In consequence, the border settlements were attacked with a fiercer fury than they had ever before experienced. Bodies of troops sent to the relief of the three belligerent forts of Pitt, Detroit and Niagara were cut to pieces. Two strong expeditions were sent against them, and after hard fighting it was not until the month of August that they were induced to make peace.
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