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 32
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The taxable list of estates in Fairfield were £48.884 55. 10d.
Samuel Sherwood was established captain of the train-band of Strat- field. ||
A noted counterfeiter named Thomas Howard Wagstaff, from Philadelphia, was at this time confined in the Fairfield jail for stamping and counterfeiting coins in imitation of Spanish milled dollars; and was not to be released until he should pay the sum of over sixty pounds ; "but as his health had seriously failed, & he had no means to pay this sum. he was released by the General Assembly & allowed to work for his maintenance, provided he did not go beyond the town limits; but if he did so, without the consent of the Assem- bly, he was ordered to be whipped ten stripes on his naked body.""
" The meeting-house at Stratfield was struck by lightning in July. Mr. John Burr was instantly killed. The shoes of his brother Ozias. standing near him, were ripped open. Mr. David Sherman was also killed." **
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 13, p. 430. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 13, P. 436. # Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 13, P. 509. $ Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XIII, pp. 513. 514.
I Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XIII, p. 524. " Col. Rec. Conn. Vol. XIII, p. 543.
** Wheeler's Journal.
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[1772
Colonel James Smedley, one of the most active and brave military men of Fairfield died November 4, 1771 .*
1772. The General Assembly met at Hartford on the 14th of May. Judge Ebenezer Silliman and Mr. Jonathan Sturges were present as representatives from Fairfield. Judge Silliman was appointed Judge of Probate for the district, and also with his son, Gold Sellick Silliman, Justices of the Peace in the County of Fairfield.
Officers of all regiments in the colony were forbidden to hold expen- sive entertainments or to attend such made by persons chosen to office in their respective companies, under a penalty of being considered dis- qualified for promotion. +
Captain David Burr was appointed major of the Fourth Regiment of militia in the colony. Thaddeus Bennet was established lieutenant of the train-band of Stratfield, in the Fourth Regiment.#
The following interesting account of a terrible thunder-storm is given in William Wheeler's Journal :
" Sept. 2nd. In the evening two black clouds on the southwest & northwest, & one seemed to meet them directly over Fairfield from the northeast; at half-past eight it began to thunder incessantly, the flashes of lightning, which seemed to set the room in a blaze, were about a minute's distance from each other, accompanied with bursts of thunder, like the whole broadside of a ship, making the earth to tremble, & at one time lifting one of our family from the seat at the east side of the house on to her feet; at the same time the room was filled with a sulphurous smell. Abel Wheeler was struck down; & then they all stood up & were struck down. The lightning ran in streams through all the rooms, broke all the lower windows, but hurt none of the people. It also struck the sign post. Down rushed the rain, impetuous as if the flood gates of heaven had been opened. Many thought it was the world's last session, & trembling sat expecting every breath to be the last for three long hours; but at half-past eleven it ceased. They all agree the storm to- night has been the hardest one that ever this land has seen. It must have been as nigh as we can guess. It struck ninety times about this place. A barn was struck & burnt in town."
At the October session of the Assembly an act was passed "for forming & regulating the militia, & for the encouragement of military skill in the Colony." Stringent laws were also passed for the protection of ferries.
Major David Burr was appointed lieutenant-colonel, William Samuel Johnson major and Seth Gregory ensign of the Stratfield company in the Fourth Regiment. §
* Smedley, Appendix-Genealogical.
t Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. p. 13, 580.
# Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 13, pp. 581 and 589. § Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 14, pp. 6 and 8.
1773]
THE WAR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
The estates of Fairfield this year were valued at $50.753 78. 7d
1773. On the 13th of May the General Assembly met at Hartford Judge Ebenezer Silliman and Mr. Jonathan Sturges represented the town of Fairfield. Ebenezer Silliman was chosen Speaker of the House of Representatives, and also made the Probate Judge of Fairfield.
Samuel Blackman was established captain, Nathaniel Wells lieutenant, Ezra Kirtland cornet, and Elnathan Nichols quartermaster of the first troop of horse in the Fourth Regiment .*
Sixty-four stands of arms, which had been ordered to be purchased from Great Britain in May, were reported to have reached the colony.
Judge Silliman, as Speaker of the House, laid before his associates a letter dated " Friday, 21st May, 1773, from the Speaker of the House of Burgesses of the Colony of Virginia," for " securing & supporting the ancient legal & constitutional rights of this & the Colonies in general." The House heartily approved and endorsed the measures proposed, and resolved that a Standing Committee of correspondence and inquiry be appointed to consist of nine persons, which was headed by the name of Ebenezer Silliman, "to keep up & maintain a correspondence & com munication with our sister Colonies, respecting the important considera- tions mentioned in this letter from Virginia." Judge Silliman was re- quested "to transmit to the different General Assemblies of the British Colonies on this continent copies of these resolutions. "+
The selectmen of each town in the colony were ordered before the general election in May following, to send in to the Governor an exact account of the white inhabitants in their several towns, besides the negroes and Indians, and to " show the number of those under the age of twenty years from those above that age, their sexes, & whether mar ried or single. The colonel of each regiment was ordered to send the Governor the exact number of officers & soldiers in his regiment." thereby to enable his Honor the Governor to prepare an answer lately received from the Earl of Dartmouth, his Majesty's Secretary of State for America. #
A committee was appointed by the Assembly to assist Governor Trumbull in taking proper steps to pursue the claim of the Colony to what was then called the Western Lands, "lying westward of the Dela- ware River within the boundaries of this Colony." Any three of this
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 14. p. S7. t Cot. Rec. Conn., Vol. XIV. p. 156.
# Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XIV, p. I(0.
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committee were to visit Governor Penn at Philadelphia, "to make an amicable agreement with other claimants concerning the boundaries of this Colony & the Province of Pennsylvania." The Assembly also agreed to assert their claim to the Susquehannah Lands, "lying west- ward of the Province of New York." This claim was sent by the com- mittee appointed May, 1771, having been principally drawn up by Gov- ernor Trumbull to Mr. Life, the colony agent in England, and was, after a few alterations by him, returned " with opinion of counsel favorable to the claims of the Colony."*
David Dimon was established lieutenant, and Eliphalet Thorp ensign of the second train-band of Fairfield; Michael Lockwood ensign of the train-band in Norfield, and John Sherwood lieutenant of the north train- band of Fairfield, in the Fourth Regiment. t
The estates of Fairfield this year were valued at £50,400 IIS. 5d.
Thus far but little attention had been paid to the import tax on tea brought into the colonies. The previous duty before laid had been re- newed, by way of decoying the people into purchasing it at a cheaper rate, but this proved unavailing. The Americans would not import it except in small amounts smuggled into the country; consequently, the use of tea was cheerfully laid aside. Tea rapidly accumulated in the English warehouses. The East India Company, encouraged by the Eng- lish ministry, resolved to send several cargoes of tea to America, think- ing if once landed it would be purchased. In this course they greatly deceived themselves, for the Sons of Liberty were too much on the alert to allow the tea to be landed, " & obliged the consignees to send it back." In New York and Philadelphia the people refused to allow the pilots to guide the ships into the harbor, or to reach the custom-house, and they were forced to return to England. At Charleston it was consigned to damp cellars and quickly spoiled. Governor Hutchinson and Admiral Montague of Boston, against the strongest opposition, would not allow the vessels to leave the harbor. This so incensed the patriots that seven thousand citizens met at a town meeting on the 16th of December to listen to patriotic speeches from Adams, Quincy and others, at the close of which about fifty persons, disguised as Mohawk Indians, with a war- whoop rushed to the three ships in the harbor, tore open the hatchways, and, raising the chests from the holds, broke them open and emptied the tea into the water. This was ever afterwards called the Boston Tea-party. * Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XIV, p. 161. t Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XIV, pp. 164 and 165.
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[774]
News of this patriotic manifestation on the part of the people of Boston spread as rapidly as couriers and newspapers could carry it, and produced the most profound realization of the resolute stand which the Sons of Liberty had taken throughout the country. They now were also classed under the names of Whigs, while those who favored the British rule and impositions were called Tories.
Lieutenant-colonel David Burr, who had for several years been an active and prominent lawyer in the General Assembly and a brave mili tary officer in the Fourth Regiment, died December, 1773, and was buried in the Burial Hill Cemetery of Fairfield, where his tombstone still stands .*
1774. On the 12th of January the General Assembly met at Hartford. Ebenezer Silliman represented Fairfield and was chosen Speaker of the House.
The Governor was authorized to prohibit all persons from taking possession of any lands lying westward of New York without consent of the General Assembly of Connecticut.
The inhabitants of the lands fifteen miles east of the Delaware River. and bounded west by the Susquehanna River, at a place called Wyoming. were joined into a township and called Westmoreland, which was an- nexed to the County of Litchfield. it being bounded south by the south line of the colony. These settlements were formed by men and their families from Fairfield and other towns in the colony. +
Mr. Nathan Bulkley was appointed by the Assembly as a Justice of the Peace in the County of Fairfield. Major William Samuel Johnson was appointed to fill the place of Lieutenant-colonel David Burr. and made lieutenant-colonel of the Fourth Regiment of the militia in the colony. Captain Gold Sellick Silliman was promoted to be major in the same regiment.+
Anticipating the result of the opposition which had followed the ef- forts to carry out the payment of the tea tax, Fairfield, as a seaport town. lost no time in placing her militia under strict military disciphne m preparation for the next step Great Britain should take. They did not have to wait long.
The British Parliament, upon learning of the outpouring of the tea in Boston harbor, were incensed beyond expression.
* Appendix-Genealogical. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 14, pp. 217. 219, and 406. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 14, P. 221.
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In March three bills were introduced in parliament, one to shut up the port of Boston and remove the custom-house to Salem. The second virtually abrogated the Massachusetts charter by giving authority to the Governor of appointing council and all officers and juries, and pro- hibiting town meetings, and to protect the servants of the Crown. All persons charged with murder were to be sent to England for trial. This was afterwards called the Boston Port Bill. The boundaries of Quebec were extended, so as to prevent Canada from taking part with the colo- nies, and called the Quebec Act. Four more regiments were ordered to be quartered in Boston. The usual war of words for and against taxing the colonies was carried to a high pitch by the ministry.
" The bills, however, were carried by a majority of more than four to one."*
General Gage was appointed governor of Massachusetts, and Boston found herself virtually under martial law. Added to these measures, Dr. Benjamin Franklin became the object of bitter invectives in the Privy Council, and was charged with sending letters to America, "written by some officers of the crown in Massachusetts to their friends in Eng- land, which letters had been given to Franklin by some person who had obtained them by strategy or unfair means." Meanwhile Dr. Frank- lin's letters, as well as those of other agents for the colonies, had been intercepted and read. Three days after Dr. Franklin was deprived of his office as deputy postmaster in America. t
General Gage proceeded to call together a General Assembly of his own choosing; but this did not prevent the regularly chartered General Assembly from meeting in October, when John Hancock, one of the most ardent and capable statesmen of the Revolution, was elected presi- dent. Every step was taken to place that colony in a state of defence, " & there was no shrinking from the impending struggle."
Every town and settlement in New England and the provinces sym- pathized with the humiliations under which Boston was placed. The war-cloud darkened, but still firmer became the Sons of Liberty in their sense of justice and freedom, daily increasing in numbers until a mighty army was silently awaiting the inevitable.
The General Assembly met on the 12th of May, at Hartford. Judge Ebenezer Silliman and Captain Samuel Squire represented Fairfield.
* Weber's Outlines of Universal History, p. 361. Student's Hume, p. 618.
t See The Student's Hume, p. 617.
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Judge Silliman was also chosen Speaker of the House, and his son, Wil- liam Silliman, clerk. Judge Silliman was also chosen Judge of the Probate Court of Fairfield.
The Assembly, fully alive to the situation of the country, " & the threatening aspect of Divine Providence on the liberties of the people, & the dangers we are threatened with, call for humiliation & prayer to the God of all mercies, to avert his judgment & save his people," re- solved that the Governor be requested to issue a proclamation for a day of public fasting throughout the colony, " that God would avert his judg- ment which threatens us." Accordingly, Governor Trumbull issued a proclamation on the 20th of July, and appointed August 31st for a day of public fasting .*
The Assembly ordered an exact inventory of all the cannon, small arms, ammunition and other military stores belonging to the colony at New London, and have them properly cared for and placed in safe keeping.
John Andrews was established captain, Stephen Wakeman lieutenant, and Simon Andrews ensign of the train-band in the society of Green's Farms in the Fourth Regiment. t
Dr. Francis Forgue, a native of Toulouse in France, applied to the Assembly for papers of naturalization. Ile had taken up his residence in Fairfield, after having been previously taken prisoner in the war with France and confined for some time at Fairfield. Upon his release he married Mrs. Sarah Dennie, and by her had a son, Francis, Jr. He, therefore, applied for papers of naturalization to secure to himself and make his son capable of inheriting real estate which he had purchased in the colony. Upon taking the oath of allegiance he was declared to be naturalized and entitled to all the privileges of a citizen born in the colony. His son Francis was declared to be " as capable of inheriting & taking by descent or purchase of all & any real estate or estates what- soever, as he might, could, or would have had the said Francis the elder been completely naturalized as aforesaid before the birth of the said Francis the younger." The rent, estates and purchases, therefore, of Dr. Forgue were confirmed to him as a naturalized citizen of the colony. +
On the 3d of June the House of Representatives responded to a proposition from the neighboring British colonies in America to hold
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 14, p. 261. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 14. p. 265. # Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XIV, p. 309 and Appendix-Genealogical.
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a congress of commissioners in some convenient place "to advise on proper measures for advancing the best good of the colonies." A com- mittee met at New London in July and August, and elected Eliphalet Dyer, Silas Deane, Roger Sherman and Joseph Trumbull, any three of whom were empowered to attend the congress in behalf of the colony .* This congress met in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, September 5th. It was attended by fifty-three delegates, representing all the colonies in America but Georgia. The leading and ablest minds of the country were collected to resolve upon the fate of the American colonies. Without a dissenting voice they all resolved never to submit to the oppression & illegal course of the British Parliament. They united in a petition to the King, but without one ray of hope for any sympathy from him.
Meanwhile the closing of Boston harbor to the exclusion of com- merce created universal sympathy, as all masters of vessels were pro- hibited from receiving or discharging cargoes, and their principal liveli- hood and that of many of the citizens was through commerce with home and foreign ports. A sea captain in those days stood as high in his posi- tion as a judge or military officer in his. Such was the indignation aroused by the Port Bill that Salem and Marblehead offered Boston their wharves, and almost every town and settlement raised clothing, provisions and money to send to their relief.
The townsmen of Fairfield met early in the fall. Patriotic addresses were made from some of the principal gentlemen. It was voted to send immediate relief to Boston. The following is a copy of the town reso- lution and of a letter sent to their blockaded friends :
" Donations sent to Boston Oct. 10th, 1774-At a Town meeting held at this date the subscription for the relief of the poor of Boston was closed, and the same sent to Boston in the most prudent and expeditious manner.
Capt. Abraham Gold, Messrs. Joseph Strong and Moss Kent be a committee to pro- vide some vessel or vessels to transport what may be received by the General Committee with all expedition to the overseers of the poor, or such other persons or committee as may be appointed by the Town of Boston to receive such donations as shall be sent for the relief of the poor of said Town; and that the master of such vessel or vessels take a receipt of such overseers or committee and deliver the same to said committee first men- tioned in this vote at his or their return from said voyage."
The voyage was successfully made and proved of great relief to the suffering Bostonians, who replied by the bearers of the bountiful provi- sions sent, in the following grateful terms :
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XIV, p. 324.
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BOSTON, Nov 21. 1774
Gentlemen :-
The testimony which the patriotic inhabitants of the town of Fairfield have given of their attachment to the common & glorious canse of Liberty by their bberal donations of seven hundred & fifty bushels of grain by Capt Thorp, has afforded much comfort as well as seasonable relief to their friends in Boston, who are now suffering under the cruel rod of tyranny & oppression. The sympathy of our friends is a great upport unider ohr trials, notwithstanding the greatness & severity of them; & we trust, through the power of our God, we shall be enabled to persevere in our opposition to the enemies of America. & so answer the hopes and expectations of our friends, of whose generous donations we trust we shall ever retain a grateful sense.
We are particularly obliged by the assurance you give us, that you are not insensible of our sufferings, & the hope you express that you shall consider yourselves bound to afford us such succour & relief as your circumstances & our wants may demand
May a kind Providence bountifully reward your liberality & kindness, and the blessing of Him that was ready to perish come down & rest on the heads of the generous mh. bitants of the town of Fairfield.
We hope the enclosed account of the manner in which the committee are distributing the donations of our friends & benefactors, in whose cause (as our own) this town is suffering, will meet with your approbation, as it will afford great satisfaction to your obliged friends & humble servants,
HENRY 11ILL.
By order of the Committee of Donations. 634 Bushels of Rye. 116 Bushels of Wheat.
750-Bushels. Received 3 pair of shoes of Capt. Thorp. To Mr. Jonathan Sturges & others, Committee for collecting donations in the town of Fairfield, Connecticut." *
The Daughters of Liberty in Fairfield formed themselves into a relief society. Stockings were knit, home-spun garments donated, shirts of fine linen were made by dainty fingers and, in fact, every helpful thing done to give sympathy and courage to their besieged relatives and friends in Boston. +
* Fairfield Town Records.
+ Testimony of Miss Eliza Hull of Fairfield. From the Republican Farmer, April 15. 1520. copied from the Buffalo Republican : "The spinning-wheels and weaving loons of the Daughters of Liberty were never more energetically used. Not one idle moment was allowed, lunt with whir and speed the wheels of the Daughters buzzed to the songs of liberty. Vards an I vards of home spun linen and all kinds of home clothing were spun. Fifteen years before the Revolution the wife of General Washington kept sixteen spinning wheels running, and wore the fabrics male in her house under her own direction."-Quackenbos' Ilist. U. S. A., p. 157.
" Previous to the year 1767 the art of spinning of all sorts was confined to the tingers of the fair alone on high and low wheels. The spinning jenny was at this time invented by James Har- graves of Lancashire, England, containing three spindles. The mob destroyed his works, believing
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[1774
At the meeting of the General Assembly at New Haven, October 13th, a law was passed, calling out all the military companies in the several regiments in the colony, "to be exercised in the use of arms & other exercises proper for a company of infantry," twelve half days from that time until the Ist of May, 1775. A fine was imposed upon all non- commissioned officers or soldiers who should neglect this order of two shillings, to be divided equally between the other members of the com- pany to which they belonged. To those who discharged their duty, a premium of six shillings was allowed each officer and soldier. Every regiment of foot as well as of horse was ordered to meet either together or in parts at the discretion of the commanding officer, for military exer- cises one day before the 10th of May. Each non-commissioned officer, trooper and soldier was allowed one shilling for attending such exercises. The militia of several small towns were formed into regiments, and companies of volunteers were ordered to report to the colonels of the regiment to which they offered their services and to choose their own offi- cers. The colonels of the several regiments were required to collect the firearms and other implements of war of their several regiments, to be repaired and fitted for use, and make returns of their number and con- dition with all convenient dispatch.
On the fourth Monday of November a general muster of all the mili- tary companies was ordered to take place, for the purpose of military exercises and for the inspection of their arms and accoutrements by the officers of each company .*
A most humane act was passed during the sitting of this Assembly,
his success would ruin the laboring classes. He removed to Nottingham, and rebuilt his works, and added to the number of his spindles ; the mob again demolished his frames all above three spindles. But he was not to be overcome ; he turned his attention to carding, and worked four cards on a frame worked by a pulley against four worked by hand, thus saving half the labor, but afterwards constructed cards on rollers or cylinders. This is now only half a century ago, and what a wonderful revolution in the manufacture of cotton ! The manufacturing of cotton in America was first begun in Providence, R. I., in 1786, by Messrs. Anthony Dexter & Peck. Their spinning was done by hand with a jenny of a spindle constructed by a clock-maker of Providence. At length Major Orr of Bridgewater, Mass., imported some cotton machinery of which the com- pany drew new patents, and more largely extended their works, and after a year removed to Paw- tucket and applied water power. In 1783 Samuel Slater, Esq., arrived from England at Provi- dence. IIe could both build and make machinery for manufacturing cotton ; and from that day to this the business has been constantly progressing and extending in Rhode Island and the neigh- boring States. We now manufacture of cotton goods more than is required for home-consumption, exporting large quantities to the Southern Continent."
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