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 35
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The General Assembly met at Hartford on the IIth of October. They proceeded to lay an embargo on the exportation of grain, vege- tables, live stock, etc., sent out of the colony until June, except by order of the Governor for necessary purposes.
Having been favored by three thousand stands of arms manufactured in the colony, further orders were issued for all that could be manu- factured. §
One hundred and fifty pounds in Continental money was ordered to be sent to the infirm and sick soldiers at Fort Ticonderoga and vicinity.
* Fairfield Christ Church Parish Records.
+ Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 15, p. 125.
# Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 15, p. 128.
§ Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 15, p. 137.
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Provision was also made for the support of prisoners of war sent into Connecticut.
Judge Ebenezer Silliman died October 11, 1775, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His handsome tombstone in Burial Hill Cemetery men- tions his upright Christian character, and his distinguished career as an Assistant and Senator of the General Assembly for many years, Judge of the Superior Court, a member of the Council of War, and of other high offices of trust in the colony of Connecticut.
Jonathan Sturges was appointed to succeed Judge Ebenezer Silliman, deceased, in the Probate Office at Fairfield .*
Captains Stephen Thorp, Increase Bradly and Peter Whitney, owners of sloops at Fairfield, were given liberty to sail to Massachusetts with their sloops loaded with rye, Indian corn and rye flour, to be delivered at Falmouth, Machias or Sheepscut, provided they each gave a bond of £500 for the faithful discharge of their cargoes.t
Constant demands were made through the Assembly upon the towns in Connecticut from Massachusetts and New York for money, army supplies, care of prisoners and every possible assistance they could ren- der. Many of the governors of the other provinces had either aban- coned their posts or favored and cooperated with the enemy, and in a measure changed their form of government, but Connecticut and Rhode Island retained their old chartered mode of government. At a later date the other colonies retained their chartered form of polity modified, and " rendered necessary for the transition from a state of partial to one of total independence." To call on Jonathan Trumbull for advice, money or supplies from Connecticut for all emergencies became constant, so that the oft-repeated saying of Washington, " We will see what Brother Jonathan will do," fixed upon the Governor the soubriquet of "Brother Jonathan."
The expedition against Canada was set on foot in August. "Generals Schuyler & Montgomery with a small body of troops made their way to Montreal by way of Lake Champlain. About a thousand men under Colonel Arnold from the camp at Boston ascended the Kennebec river, and after enduring great hardships and privations through a trackless wilderness, they at last reached the shores of the St. Lawrence, opposite Quebec. St. John's had been besieged and captured November 3d by
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 15, p. 147. See Hist. Fairfield Vol. I, p. 407. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 15, p. 170.
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Montgomery's forces, General Schuyler having been taken ill. Montreal surrendered to Montgomery without resistance. The two armies met December 31st, and resolved to attack Quebec as soon as possible. In about three weeks, during a blinding snow-storm, they seized upon the lower town and attempted to carry the heights by assault, but were driven back by the British cannon. Montgomery, who bravely led a division, was killed while attempting to scale the heights. Arnold had a leg broken, and with about six hundred men retreated a few miles up the river, where he kept up a blockade of Quebec during the winter. Colonel Aaron Burr, then but nineteen years of age, was one of the heroes of this expedition, and gained the admiration of every one by his courage and power of endurance .* Among the other sons of Fairfield was Colonel David Dimon and his young son Ebenezer Dimon. t
The time of many of the men who had enlisted had expired, and although urged to remain in the army some insisted upon returning home. Thus the country was obliged to call for raw recruits to fill the ranks of well-disciplined troops.
The General Assembly met at New Haven, December 14th, and proceeded to raise "a body of Minute Men for the defence of this & the rest of the United Colonies."+
A bounty of ten pounds was offered for every hundred pounds of saltpetre or nitre manufactured in the colony before January, 1777. Every town was ordered to set up and carry on the manufacture of nitre or saltpetre, and the selectmen of each town were commanded to see that such works were erected and the manufactories sustained. \ pre- mium of thirty pounds was offered to the first and second person who should erect the first powder-mills in the colony and manufacture five hundred pounds of powder. These powder mills were only allowed to be erected by an order of the General Assembly ..
A stringent law was passed against persons found to be rendering assistance of any kind to the enemy, " either by furnishing navy or army stores, enlisting in the service of the British, giving information to them or piloting their vessels," under a penalty of forfeiting their estates, and
* The adventures and hardships of this expedition are graphically described in Parton's Life of Aaron Burr. Special mention is made of Colonel Burr at this time. In an interview a few years after with a Mrs. Benson of Fairfield, Colonel Burr related to her the fact that he was born in Fairfield while his mother was visiting Mr. Isaac Burr, a near relative, during the summer.
+ Appendix-Dimon, Genealogical.
§ Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 15, p. 190.
# Col. Rec. Conn .. Vol. 15. p. 187.
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by imprisonment in any of the jails in the colony for three years. Any overt act, speaking or writing of a libelous character against the Honor- able Congress of the United Colonies, was punished by disarming such persons, rendering them incapable of holding civil or military offices, and further punished by fine, imprisonment or disfranchisement, as well as to pay the cost of being tried before the General Assembly. The selectmen and committee of inspection in each town were required to carry out these acts, and after seizing upon the estates of such offenders to improve them, and render the rents and profits to the colony treasury. Deserters from the army were ordered to be seized, imprisoned or re- turned to their companies. For harboring deserters a fine was imposed of fifteen pounds. Non-commissioned officers and soldiers who faith- fully discharged their duty for the year 1775 and 1776 were released from paying poll taxes .*
During the fall General Gage had ordered British men-of-war to harass and ravage the coast towns of New England. He was soon after superseded by Sir William Howe, who took command of the forces in and around Boston. Governor Tryon used every possible persuasion, threat and bribe to induce the Province of New York to remain loyal to the King, but the Continental Congress immediately passed laws making it a punishable crime to render any assistance to the British.
To meet this emergency Governor Trumbull and his Council of War and Safety ordered vessels and four row-galleys to be purchased or built, manned and equipped for the coast defences. It was agreed that all the principal towns from Groton to Milford should be supplied with cannon and military stores; but as yet Fairfield was overlooked. Coast- guards were, however, daily and nightly appointed in Fairfield to watch the approach of vessels or boats. Green's Farms, Greenfield, Norfield, Redding, Stratfield and Fairfield all furnished men from their companies for this duty. Vessels and boats were manned and armed for any attack which might be made.
Ephraim Middlebrook was appointed lieutenant and David Nichols ensign of the tenth company in the Fourth Regiment. +
The estates of Fairfield this year were valued at £51,472.
1776. On the 27th of January the Governor and Council of War, by order of Congress, raised a battalion to reinforce the northern army. Cap- tain Samuel Squire, commissary of Fairfield, applied to the Council for * Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 15, p. 192. + Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 15, p. 206.
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directions and orders for money necessary to make provisions for the march and support of the men raised to aid General Lee in his expedition to New York, and was granted five hundred pounds to make provision for that purpose .*
Cannon and cannon ball having been cast by Mr. Richard Smith of Salisbury; the Governor and Council ordered that every necessary mate- rial for promoting their manufacture should be provided.
On February 16th letters from Colonel Gold Sellick Silliman and Mr. Thaddeus Burr were read before the Council, setting forth "the exposed situation & necessary defence of the Fairfield harbor at Black- rock, the second best in the colony; & requesting cannon-ball, etc .; & at least twenty-five men to be raised, & sundry things."
" It is voted, allowed & ordered that twenty-five able-bodied men be raised by volun- teer enlistment at the discretion of the authorities & selectmen of said town, under the command of a lieutenant & two sergeants, be improved in erecting works of defence at such place & manner in said town as the said authorities, &c., shall direct, for watching, &c., as shall be necessary, to continue until the first day of November next, unless sooner released by the General Assembly of this board; to have the same pay & wages as the army near Boston, & to be allowed 8d. per day for their provision & support during said term." This fortification was called Fort Black Rock, and was situated on Grover's Hill, which commanded from a high point of rocks and land at the mouth of Black Rock harbor a magnificent view of Long Island Sound. t
By letter, General Washington was requested to replace the four tons of powder loaned from Connecticut, one ton of which was to be sent to Fairfield.
On the 24th of February the Governor and Council appointed Eben- ezer Bartram of Fairfield to be first lieutenant, under Captain Harding of New Haven, of the brig " Defence."#
Throughout the country every eye was still turned towards Boston in daily expectation of an engagement. General Washington, while using every energy and means to be prepared for an attack, and strongly urged by Congress to do so, wisely refrained from offering battle for want of ammunition and other necessities. On the 4th of March, how- ever, he dispatched General Thomas by night to throw up intrenchments on Dorchester Heights, which commanded the city and harbor. Though the ground was frozen the soldiers made rapid progress in their work. and on the following morning Sir William Howe saw to his astonish-
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 15, p. 232. + Col. Rec. Conn., XV, 241. # Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XV, pp. 242, 245.
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ment the work which the American soldiers had accomplished in a single night. He resolved to dislodge them without delay, but a severe snow- storm set in, lasting for two days, giving the ardent workers time to strengthen their fortifications. Believing it to be impossible to hold the city, on the 17th of March Lord Howe evacuated Boston, carrying with him his entire land and naval force, with about fifteen hundred loy- alists. Great was the rejoicing of the Bostonians and of the defenders of American liberty throughout the country. Congress passed a vote of thanks to General Washington and his army, and ordered a gold medal to be struck off in commemoration of this joyous and gratifying event.
Strong fears were entertained that Lord Howe would sail with his fleet for New York, but he sailed for Halifax to await the arrival of reinforcements.
Meanwhile Governor Trumbull and his Council of War and Safety, fearing an attack upon New York, which might "in its consequences determine the fate of America," decided to give immediate orders to the commanding officers of seven Connecticut regiments to assemble 360 men from each of the Fourth and Ninth Regiments, and 180 from the Sixteenth, to be formed into one regiment consisting of ten com- panies of ninety men each, including officers, to be placed under the command of Colonel Gold Sellick Silliman, Lieutenant John Mead and Major John Chandler, and such other officers as the field officers of the several regiments from which they were to be drafted should appoint. Another battalion, under the command of Colonel Mathew Talcott, from four other regiments was ordered out, consisting of ten companies of ninety men each, with their respective commanders and officers. Both regiments were ordered to proceed without delay by land or by water to New York, and be placed under the commander-in-chief there, and then under General Washington, when he should arrive with his forces. Captain Samuel Squire of Fairfield with Jonathan Fitch were appointed to make proper provisions for their march and subsistence, either by land or by water .*
John Mills was appointed lieutenant of the troops employed for the defence of the fortifications at Fairfield. Samuel Smedley was appointed lieutenant of marines on board the brig " Defence."t
The Governor and Council of War set on foot every possible effort to secure cannon, ammunition, duck and cordage for rigging the new * Col. Rec. Conn., XV, pp. 249-251. + Col. Rec. Conn., XV, p. 254.
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vessels of war. Every regiment was made ready for any emergency, to march on the shortest notice for the relief of the colony or any of the neigboring provinces.
Captain Ebenezer Bartram was given orders to receive and to de- liver to Captain Seth Harding of the brig " Defence " eight swivel guns, fifteen hundred pounds of powder and four hundred swivel shot, with one hundred of the six-pound shot belonging to the colony.
The commission of Ebenezer Bartram as lieutenant bears date March 3, 1776. Samuel Smedley as second lieutenant, March 10, 1776, and Joseph Squire as lieutenant of marines for the ship "Defence," was ordered dated April 10, 1776. Orders were given for the "Defence " to proceed to Stamford to enlist men, to take in shot at New Haven and to sail with all convenient speed for New London, and there to enlist as many men as were needed to fill the number to one hundred and fifty .* Thaddeus Burr, Esq., and Major David Dimon were two of a committee of four to be "furnished with five hundred pounds of powder to send out an armed vessel against the enemy.t
Each of the row-galleys were provided with twenty lances and poles and twenty tomahawks or hatchets. #
Intelligence was brought to Governor Trumbull "of the arrival in America of seventeen hundred Hessians, Waldecks & Hanoverians from Germany, hired out to England for the purpose of pulling down the re- bellion in America." This proceeding served only to further exasperate the colonies. The Governor and his Council no longer hesitated to en- tertain hope of an entire separation from Great Britain. Further orders were issued for enlisting and equipping men as speedily as possible, to be placed under orders from General Washington.
General Washington arrived in New York April 4th, and finding it impossible to maintain an efficient army on short terms of service which were constantly expiring, induced Congress to allow him to enlist officers and men for three years, giving a bounty of ten dollars to each recruit. The fortifications along the coasts of New York supervised by General Lee, largely assisted by the Connecticut forces, in which Fairfield bore its proportion, had been completed. Defensive works were also erected on Long Island opposite New York. The American forces in New York now numbered about twenty-seven thousand men.
* Col. Rec. Conn., XV, 259. + Col. Rec. Conn., XV, 262.
# Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 15, p. 263.
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The first act of General Howe, according to his instructions, was to issue a proclamation offering pardon to all who would return to their allegiance to the King. Upon this proclamation being presented to General Washington, he replied that " He had heard that General Howe was empowered to grant pardons; but, as those who were guilty of no fault needed no pardon, he did not see the necessity of any communica- tion."
The General Assembly met at Hartford, May 9th. Mr. Samuel Squire and Mr. Thaddeus Burr represented Fairfield. Jonathan Sturges was appointed Judge of the Probate Court of Fairfield.
All the troops of horse belonging to the several regiments were or- dered to be formed into five distinct regiments of light horse. A body of minute-men was ordered to be raised and equipped for the defence of the colony .*
Benjamin Hinman was appointed colonel, Philip Burr Bradley lieu- tenant-colonel and David Dimon major " of one of the regiments about to be raised."+
Orders were given to print sixty thousand pounds in bills of credit on the colony, dated June, 1776, without interest made payable on or before January 1, 1781, to redeem which a tax of 8d. on the pound was levied on all polls and ratable estates, according to the list of 1778, to be paid into the colony treasury December, 1780.+
Special forms of commissions for " The Governor & Company of the English Colony of Connecticut in New England in America " were pre- sented and established for future use. §
By an order of John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress. it was resolved by the Assembly that the selectmen of each town in the colony, on or before the Ist of September, should render to Governor Trumbull an exact account of all persons, whites, colored and slaves, and to distinguish the number of those under the age of twenty and above that age, whether married or single, those in the militia, all able- bodied men not belonging to the militia and all men in actual service. Il
In order to support the credit of Connecticut, the Assembly also re- solved, " That the treasurer of this Colony may & is hereby directed to receive the paper-bills of the Continental currency, when offered in pay-
* Col. Rec. Conn., XV, 284. + Col. Rec. Conn., XV, 300.
# Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 15, p. 306. § Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 15, P. 307.
Į Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. 15, p. 313.
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ment of Colony taxes, or any debt payable to the treasurer of the Colony, until otherwise instructed by this Assembly."*
Captain Samuel Squire was appointed one of a committee to purchase five thousand pair of yarn stockings, to be sent to the Governor of New York for the use of the army in Canada.t
In addition to the premium of one shilling and sixpence for gun- locks, a further premium of two shillings and sixpence was offered " for each double bridled, good, & well made gun-lock manufactured in the Colony between June & the 20th of October."
The Governor was given power during the session of the Assembly, " to fill up blank commissions for privateers of War, & Letters of Marque & Reprisal, agreeable to the resolutions of the Continental Congress.":
Mr. Thaddeus Burr was appointed one of a committee to procure eighteen hundred pounds of lawful money in specie in exchange for bills to be used in the northern army by request of Congress; the repayment of which was to be in continental money. Mr. Burr was also appointed to collect postage money from all the postmasters from Hartford to Greenwich on the road to New York, between June 15th and November 15th, 1775, and render an account of the same to the treasurer of the Colony.5
Eliphalet Thorp was made captain, Samuel Penfield lieutenant, and Daniel Dimon ensign of the fourth company in the Fourth Regiment. Beach Tomlinson was made captain, Ephraim Curtiss lieutenant, and John Judson ensign of the seventh company in the Fourth Regiment. |
Phineas Beardsley was commissioned captain. Peter Penfield lien- tenant and Gideon Beardsley ensign of the sixth company in the Six- teenth Regiment.
Liberty was given Robert Fairchild and his associates to erect a powder mill at Stratford.T
The Assembly, fully alive to the perils of the colonists, now "being threatened with the whole force of Great Britain, united with all such foreign mercenaries as they are able to engage-to burn & destroy our seaport towns, & to spread rapine & destruction through the whole country-earnestly recommend that all persons of every rank & de- nomination furnish themselves, with all possible expedition, with good & sufficient fire- arms, & other war-like accoutrements, & with bullets to fit their guns; that all able- bodied men, not of the standing militia, & those who had been dismissed from common
* Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XV, 313. # Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XV, 318. Į Col. Rec. Conn., XV, 341, 343. " Col. Rec. Conn., XV, 350.
t Col. Rec. Conn., Vol. XV. 317. § Col. Rec. Conn., XV, 327.
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military exercises, form themselves into companies, choose their officers & equip them- selves, so as to be in readiness for mutual defence against the enemy ; that all field-officers place themselves in readiness to lead their respective corps on the most sudden call, in the meantime using their utmost endeavors with the assistance of the commissioned offi- cers in their respective regiments to encourage military skill & every warlike preparation, & to see that all defective arms be immediately repaired." The committee appointed to procure firearms made in the colony were ordered "to purchase all good arms to be obtained."
The Assembly adopted the following most earnest resolutions to be printed and read in every Society in the Colony : "That as the events of this year may prove most decisive to these colonies, & that all human care, efforts & exertions are but fruitless attempts for our security & defence, & will prove vain & abortive unless attended with the blessing of Heaven, which we have no reason to expect but on a sincere repentance & reformation : Wherefore in this day of darkness & threatening calamity it is most earnestly recom- mended to & pressed upon all persons of every rank & denomination in this Colony to promote & cultivate charity & benevolence one towards another, to abstain from every species of extortion & oppression, sincerely to repent & break off from every sin, folly & vice, to live together in peace, love & harmony among themselves, to look up with earnest importunity to Heaven for help, success, salvation & deliverance, & with careful attention to the use of means, hope & trust in the Lord of Hosts, who presides over universal nature, guides & governs all, & we not fear or be dismayed at all the attempts or numerous hosts with which we are threatened."*
This appeal to the citizens of the colony was ordered to be printed, read and published in all religious societies in the colony.
These instructions were made to appear most necessary at Fairfield at this time. " About the 8th of May it was discovered that one Cable had sent a vessel load of provisions to the ministerial plunderers, & was loading a second time for the same purpose; but was discovered by a Tory concerned in the affair, who made oath before one of the Fairfield town magistrates of the scheme in agitation. Cable had been observed to be sounding in deep waters about the channel of Black Rock, through which place he was to pilot a gang of miscreants, chiefly from Newtown, Connecticut, & Dobbs Ferry on the North River, whose orders were to massacre men, women & children. The signal for their time of landing was to be three cannon fired in the night." Cable was arrested without delay and confined in Fairfield jail. +
At a meeting of the Governor and Council of War and Safety, June 6th, at Hartford, it was decided to furnish and man three new row- galleys with fifty men, each to consist of one captain, two lieutenants, one master, one gunner and mate, one steward, two sergeants of ma- rines, two corporals of marines, one boatswain, one drummer, one fifer,
* Col. Rec. Conn., XV, 398. t Moore's Diary of the American Revolution, p. 240.
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one cook, one carpenter's mate, one surgeon or mate, besides able sea- men and marines .*
The General Assembly met at Hartford, June 14th. An embargo was immediately placed on all grains, beef, pork, live cattle, butter, cheese, flour and every kind of meal, either by land or water, without consent of the Governor, except necessary stores for vessels bound to sea.
After making a summary of the grievances of the colony, and a solemn protest against the impositions of the King and Parliament, it was :
" Resolved unanimously by this Assembly, That the Delegates of this Colony in General Congress be & they are hereby instructed to propose to that respectable body to declare the United American Colonies Free & Independent States, absolved from all allegiance to the King of Great Britain, & to give the assent of this Colony to such declara- tion when they shall judge it expedient & best, & to whatever measures may be thought proper & necessary by the Congress for forming foreign alliances, or any plan of opera- tion for necessary & mutual defence. And also, that they move & promote, as fast as may be convenient, a regular & permanent Plan of Union & Confederation of the Colonies for the security & preservation of their just rights & liberties & for mutual defence & security : saving that the administration of government & the power of forming govern- ments for & the regulation of the internal concerns & police of each Colony, ought to be left & remain to the respective Colonial Legislatures; & also, that such plan of con- federation be laid before such respective legislatures for their previous consideration & assent." +
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