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 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
* Rec. State Conn., I, 472, 473.
# Rec. State Conn., I, 475, 476, 478.
|| Rec. State Conn., 1, 482.
+ Rec. State Conn., I. 474.
$ Rec. State Conn., 1, 482.
*| Rec. State Conn., I, 483.
364
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1778
pany; John Gray captain, Nehemiah Hull lieutenant, and Andrew Barlow ensign of the ninth militia company, all in the Fourth Regiment .*
The list of polls and taxable estates at Fairfield returned to the As- sembly in October, 1777, and January, 1778, were £49,244 IOS. Id., and the fourfold assessments £1,758 IOS.
Several cases of persons confined in jail in Fairfield, and other Fair- field men confined elsewhere for treasonable acts, were liberated upon paying costs, the legal fine and taking the oath of allegiance to the State. The case of David Washburn of Milford, sentenced to death by the Supe- rior Court of Fairfield, must have excited special interest. He appealed to the Assembly for a commutation of his sentence, which was granted. t
On the 15th of January Lieutenant Joseph Squire was commissioned captain of marines on the brig " Defence." Captain Samuel Smedley of the ship " Defence " was granted £400 on account from the treasury.+
The overtures for a treaty of alliance with the United States, made to Benjamin Franklin by the French Court, were happily adjusted to the satisfaction of Franklin and his associates. Dr. Franklin and Silas Dean had been introduced to the French King as ambassadors from North America. "On this occasion they rode in elegant coaches at- tended with a suite, & with domestics in superb French liveries. Upon reaching the royal court-yard martial music struck up; the French flags were lowered as a solemn salute; the soldiers were under arms accom- panied by all the officers. They were received in the inner palace by Les Cents Suisses, the major of which announced: 'Les ambassadeurs des treize Provinces Unis' (The Thirteen United Provinces). Upon being ushered into the royal presence, the college of Paris, the bishops, the nobility, ministers, foreign and domestic, and ladies arose to salute them. Franklin was observed to weep. The Count de Vergennes ap- proached him, and, by waiving certain forms, immediately presented him to the King, who, a l'Anglaise, took the ambassador by the hand, and viewing his credentials entered into conversation. On the 16th Monsieur Gerard, royal syndic of Strasburg, and Secretary of his Majesty's Council of State, waited upon our plenipotentiaries, and in- formed them, by order of the King, 'That after long & full considera- tion of our affairs and propositions in councils, it was decided, & his Majesty has determined to acknowledge our independence, & make a
* Rec. State Conn., I, 485, 486. + Rec. State Conn., I, 490, 493, 498, 499, 508. # Rec. State Conn., I, 511, 515.
1778]
365
THE WAR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
treaty with us of amity & commerce; & that his Majesty was determined not only to acknowledge, but to support our independence by every means in his power; that his doing so might involve him in war with all its expenses & losses, yet he should not expect any compensation from us on this account; that he was not wholly unselfish in danger, but that he felt the power of England should be diminished by our separa- tion from it; that we should make no separate terms of peace for our- selves, & if he engaged in a war on our account, he should ask us, " That we, in no peace to be made with England, should give up our inde- pendence & return to the obedience of that government." '
" Upon such principles & by virtue of full power by the King of France to Monsieur Gerard, Secretary of his Majesty's Council of State, dated the 30th of January, 1778, this minister, with our plenipotentiaries, signed at Paris, 6th February, 1778, a treaty of alliance & commerce between the crown of France & the United States of America, almost in the very terms in which the American plenipotentiaries had been in- structed by Congress."*
Congress, well pleased with this treaty, without hesitation at once passed resolutions not to enter into any treaty with Great Britain. About the same time the British ministry enacted two laws, one that no future tax should be imposed upon the colonies; and appointed commissioners to grant them " almost any terms short of absolute independence." The American Congress refused even to confer with the commissioners " be- fore the British army was withdrawn, & the independence of the country was acknowledged." England now declared war against France, reso- lute in her determination, even at a great sacrifice of life and money, to subdue the States, in which she had hardly a hope of ultimate success.
The Americans were greatly stimulated by their alliance with France, and although their finances were in a depleted condition, large bounties were offered for recruits, and every effort put forth to supply the army with the necessities for prolonging the war. Not one loyal son or daugh- ter even hinted of peace with Great Britain.
Governor Trumbull called the General Assembly together at Hart- ford, February 12th. Too ill to be present himself, he strongly urged by letter the absolute necessity for a large taxation, "as the only ef- fectual & safe method of extricating ourselves from our present diffi-
* Moore's Diary of Revolution. Articles of Alliance etc., p. 571. New York Journal July, 6, 1778.
366
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1778
culties, & of giving value to our currency. Our debts must be paid, & all men will allow that it is more easy to pay a nominal sum when money is plenty & cheaply earned, than when it is the scarcest & consequently the dearest article." He laid before the Assembly the absolute necessity of doing away with the regulation of prices at the last convention in New Haven, and to offer good and fair prices to the farmers as an induce- ment to till their lands; and to merchants so that they might not be led " to risk their fortunes on a small & precarious prospect of gain."*
· Several conventions were held by the New England States to adopt uniformity in prices of labor and other industries, to regulate the rates of State value of money and of bills of credit, and of mutual assistance in the defence of each other, as well as to supply and equip the army in the best possible way.
Acting upon these recommendations, the Assembly immediately passed laws regulating and fixing prices for articles of labor, manufac- tures, internal produce and commodities imported from foreign parts; and that the various kinds of labor of farmers, mechanics and others should not exceed the rate of seventy-five per cent. advance on the prices they were respectively at in the same places in this State in the various seasons of the year 1774.1
These laws were ordered to be printed and six thousand copies cir- culated in the towns by special carriers.
An act was passed to raise six battalions of volunteers, "to be held in constant readiness to march upon the shortest notice upon any tour of duty, wherever they might be called until March, 1779." To each brigade one company of matrosses or artillerymen was ordered to be raised forthwith by enlistment of fifty men, including officers, out of the several brigades, to be commanded by one captain, one captain-lieu- tenant, one lieutenant fire-worker, four sergeants, four corporals, one drum and fife, with four field-pieces, one ammunition wagon and horses, and be furnished with an ample supply of ammunition by the Brigadier- General of the brigade.
By an order from Congress, followed by a proclamation from the Governor, the 22d of April was appointed to be observed as a day of solemn humiliation, fasting and prayer throughout the State.§
By request of General Parsons orders were sent to the Assistants of
* Rec. State Conn., I, 521. + Rec. State Conn., I, 524-528.
# Rec. State Conn., I, 533.
§ Rec. State Conn., I, 536.
1778]
THE WAR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
367
the counties of Fairfield and Litchfield to supply or to impress extra teams for carrying provisions from Connecticut to New York or other places on the North River, for the use of the troops under the command of General Washington .*
Such was the spirit of unrest among many people that a law was enacted to prevent persons in and out of the State from employing so many oxen to carry their effects from place to place, as they not only " lessened the business of agriculture, but shortened the supply of beef for the use of the army." No one was allowed to leave the State or pass through it without taking the oath of fidelity.
Upon the application of Amos Hubbell and others of Newfield Har- bor to have the place for their defence changed to one nearer the divid- ing line between Fairfield and Stratford, it being a better situation for observation to prevent incursions from the enemy, the Assembly ordered General Silliman to station a sergeant's guard near the dividing line mentioned. +
A memorial of redress was presented to this Assembly from the sufferers in the town of Fairfield who, " when the British attacked Dan- bury had plundered their houses of almost everything they had, & had taken their cattle & horses, whereby some persons were reduced to dis- tressing circumstances, which before lived comfortably." Lemuel San- ford of Redding, Colonel Thomas Fitch and Thaddeus Betts, Esq., of Norwalk, were appointed a committee to investigate such cases and make a report to the next Assembly.+
On the 30th of March the Governor and Council, who had held several sessions at Hartford since February 18th, commissioned " John Odell of Fairfield lieutenant of a company of twenty-four matrosses." The next day Captain Seth Harding, on the " Defence," was ordered to pay to Justus Jennings of Fairfield, who had lost a leg in an action in Boston Bay, his full wages of £54.5
A town meeting was held at Fairfield, January 2d, and alarm posts fixed to call the militia together, one at the Meeting-house Green in Fairfield, one on the parade ground at Stratfield, and one at Jesup Wake- man's in Greens Farms. At a town meeting held February 2d. General Silliman was requested to order forty-two men to enlist and guard the coast at Stratfield, Kinsey's Point, Frost Point and Compo each night
* Rec. State Conn., I. 539. + Rec. State Conn., I, 545.
# Rec. State Conn., I, 551.
§ Rec. State Conn., I, 577, 57S.
368
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1778
from sunset to sunrise, each man or guard to be paid six shillings. March 25th it was voted to keep up the town guard until June at the east of the town; and on July Ist the civil authorities and the selectmen were requested to order ten men in addition to the former guard to mount guard each night at such places as directed, each man to be paid five Continental dollars each night. At the same meeting Thaddeus Burr and Jonathan Sturges were appointed a committee to petition the General Assembly " to order some vessel or vessels of force to guard our sea-coast against the designs of the enemy during the summer."*
The efforts of the British to break the spirit of the colonists by de- stroying our shipping and commerce, by burning and destroying our towns and manufactories, by blocking our harbors and by depleting our army by confinement in their loathsome prison ships, aroused a still stronger and more resolute spirit to drive them from the country. The Southern States, Virginia and the Middle States united with New England in re- newed endeavors to place a large body of troops early in the field, well equipped and ready to defeat the enemy. In reality the British had gained nothing but temporary occupancy, which by no means had con- quered the country. They had lost heavily in the destruction of their northern army, and they could not fail to realize that their cause was weakening. It was therefore, decided to concentrate their scattered army in and around New York.
Meanwhile the sufferings of Washington and his army at Valley Forge had drawn to a close. Upon hearing of the treaty with France the heart of the Commander-in-Chief was filled with gratitude. His prayers of supplication for Divine help had been answered, and the spring opened with anticipations of brighter days. General Lafayette had been sent with twenty-one hundred men to Barren Hill on the Schuylkill, about twelve miles from Valley Forge, to hold the foraging parties of the enemy in check, as well as to be prepared for any sudden attack. General Howe resolved to intercept his movements, but Lafayette, learning of his scheme, by a skilful manœuvre retreated to Washington's camp, who hailed his coming with expressions of great pleasure.
On the morning of the 5th of May Washington made preparations to leave Valley Forge. He gave orders for setting apart the following day to be spent in grateful acknowledgments of God's goodness and mercy, and to celebrate His divine interposition in the treaty made with France.
* Fairfield Town Records.
1778]
TIIE WAR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
He gave orders to assemble the several brigades with their chaplains to offer up thanksgivings and to have a discourse delivered suitable to the occasion. The firing of a cannon at half-past ten o'clock was to be given as a signal for the men to be under arms, be prepared to have their dress and arms inspected, and be formed into brigades and battalions by their commanding officers. At half-past eleven another cannon was to be fired as a signal to march, and a third cannon fired as a signal to dis charge thirteen cannon, followed with a running fire of the infantry until another signal should be given, when the entire army were to give an Huzzah! Long life to the King of France! Then another signal and an Huzzah! Long life to the friendly European powers! followed by a run- ning fire, and Huzzah for the American States .*
This was a day indeed of great exultation in Washington's army. The hunger, want and sufferings of the winter were forgotten, " & every heart was filled with gratitude to the French King," and every mouth spoke in his praise.
Governor Trumbull was again in health to open the General Assembly held at Hartford on May 14th. Mr. Thaddeus Burr and Captain Squire represented Fairfield. A\ long list of Justices of the Peace were appointed for Fairfield and the county. +
Congress having recommended the States to confiscate the estates of persons inimical to the independence and liberties of the United States, the Assembly ordered "that the real and personal estates of persons living or belonging to the State, who had gone over to & joined the enemy, or any who should join them after this law was passed, should be confiscated to the use of the State," and the selectmen in each town were required to report all such inimical persons to the Justices of the Peace, for a legal adjustment of their debts after confiscation.#
Monday, the 8th of June, was appointed to be " a day for a general muster of all the militia & alarm list companies within the State."S
Two regiments of 728 men each and three companies of light dra- goons were ordered to be detached from their regiments, militia com- panies, the alarm lists and independent companies of militia, to be held in readiness to march to the posts assigned them.
Owing to a great scarcity of money, the Assembly voted " forthwith
* Moore's Diary Revolution, P. 574. New Jersey Gazette, May 13th, 1778.
+ Rec. State Conn., II, 7.
$ Rec. State Conn., 11, 15.
# Rec. State Conn., II, 9. I Rec. State Conn., II, 15.
24
370
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1778
to borrow one hundred thousand pounds in sums not less than ten pounds, at six per cent. interest per annum, payable in two years after date .*
The Marine Committee, having requested his Excellency the Gov- ernor " that a suitable packet be provided from this State to send dis- patches to France," it was resolved that the "Spy," commanded by Cap- tain Robert Niles, " be got immediately & made ready for that purpose."t
The selectmen of Fairfield having discovered that several persons in the western part of the State were purchasing a large number of cattle, under the pretext of driving them to New Jersey, but believed to be for the use of the enemy, the Commissary-General was ordered to seize such cattle for the use of the United States.#
An embargo was laid upon all kinds of grain, provisions, clothing and goods within the State, except for the use of the United States.
A tax of one shilling on the pound was levied on all the polls and ratable estates of the inhabitants of the State given in 1777, to be paid into the treasury September 1, 1778. An abatement was ordered in cases of indigent persons and others of one-twentieth part of said town's quota, not able to pay so large a tax.
Mr. Thaddeus Burr was appointed one of the Governor's Council of Safety. §
Three hundred and fifty copies of an address of Congress to the in- habitants of the United States of America, dated May 9th, 1778, was ordered to be printed and sent to the several ministers of the gospel in the State, to be read in their respective congregations. !!
Mr. Thaddeus Burr presented to the Governor, etc., sitting at Hart- ford, May 29th, an account "for building the battery & barracks, & for mounting the cannon & field pieces at the Grover Hill Point in Fair- field," which was directed to be paid.I
The movement of the British army from Philadelphia to New York was not accomplished without opposition. General Howe having applied, May 24th, for permission to return to England, his army passed under the control of General Clinton of New York. Howe began the evacua- tion of Philadelphia with his entire army June 18th. He was pursued by Washington, who had been reinforced during the spring, and his army in a fairly good condition, having been trained and disciplined by Baron
* Rec. State Conn., II, 16. # Rec. State Conn., II, 17. || Rec. State Conn., II, 19.
+ Rec. State Conn., II, 17.
§ Rec. State Conn., II, 18.
I Rec. State Conn., II, 88.
1778]
371
THE WAR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Steuben, a brave and skilful Prussian officer. On the 28th of June he came up with and attacked the British at Monmouth, as they were about leaving New Jersey. General Lee conducted the attack, but not pos- sessing the qualifications of a military genius, after making several mis- takes fell back; his troops became panicstricken while fleeing from the pursuing enemy. Washington came up with their rear guard, and angrily rebuking Lee, rallied his broken regiments and led them against the enemy. Although the battle lasted through the day, the Americans held the field when night came on, expecting to renew their attack in the morning. The British lost between five and six hundred men, and the Americans 229. The day having been exceedingly warm, many of the Hessians sank from exhaustion, refused to march in such heat, and de- serted in numbers. When morning dawned Washington found the enemy had silently retreated in the night. Clinton and his army marched to Sandy Hook, and from there were conveyed to New York by British ships of war. Washington led his officers and army through New Jersey by way of the Hudson to White Plains, and encamped upon the same ground on which he engaged Howe in 1776.
The Connecticut towns along the Sound now had cause for constant alarm, anticipating an attack at any moment. Special couriers were re- commended by the Governor and Council to the New England States to open a regular and complete channel of communication with the Con- tinental Congress.
Meanwhile a fleet of thirteen ships and four thousand soldiers irom France, under the command of Count D'Estaing, had reached Virginia. and were received with a warm and joyons welcome. General Gerard. ambassador from France, reached Philadelphia July Hth, and was sa- luted with a military welcome and expressions of great joy by the people. The design of D'Estaing was to make a combined blockade upon the English at New York, but the pilots refusing to take their largest ships over the bar at Sandy Hook, it was decided to sail and attack the Eng- lish army of 6.000 men under General Pigot at Newport.
On the 24th of July Governor Trumbull and his Council received a letter from General Sullivan asking for help, as Rhode Island was threat- ened with an immediate attack from the enemy. Letters from General Washington on the 22d and 24th of July, from White Plains, informing them " that the French Admiral, not having been able to get into New York, for want of sufficient depth of water," etc., was sailing to New-
372
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1778
port, and requested aid to cooperate with the French fleet; that he him- self was sending a detachment from his army, etc. He requested pilots for the fleet, and five hundred men to be sent to Providence. The Gov- ernor and Council immediately dispatched orders by express to furnish pilots to send off the fleet, and for "Captain Pitkin with his company & Captain with his company at Fairfield & Captain Tyler with his company of matrosses, be ordered forthwith to march to Providence & join the forces under command of General Sullivan."* A regiment was ordered, August Ist, to be detached from the standing regiments of the State to cooperate with nine other companies already raised .* At the same time orders were sent to the State agent, Samuel Eliot, at Boston, "to sell the prize goods which had been taken by the ships 'Oliver Cromwell ' & ' Defence ' into Boston."+
On the 6th of August Captain Smedley of the ship " Defence " was ordered to man, fit and clear his ship from Boston, " to sail immediately on a cruise of discretion along the coast from Boston southward."}
D'Estaing entered the harbor of Newport early in August, and block- ading the English fleet forced them to sink some of their frigates. Ad- miral Byron soon arrived with the British fleet from New York, and D'Estaing sailed out to meet him ; but just as an engagement was about to take place a fierce storm set in and separated the two fleets. After the storm abated D'Estaing returned to Newport, while Byron returned with his fleet for New York. The New England militia failed to reach Newport in time to cooperate with Sullivan's forces. D'Estaing refused to await them, and against all efforts made to detain him by Lafayette, Green and Sullivan, he sailed for Boston to repair his disabled ships. General Sullivan was now obliged to defend himself with such forces as he had at command. Meanwhile the British, having received large re- inforcements, attacked him on the 29th of August. Sullivan made a gallant defence, but was forced to retreat, and withdrew his forces in the night without detection by the enemy.
Governor Trumbull and Council ordered a reinforcement of six com- panies to be sent to Sullivan; and fearing an attack on New London, two regiments were sent without delay to their assistance.§
The General Assembly met at New Haven, October 8th. Mr. Thad- deus Burr and Captain Samuel Squire were present as deputies from
* Rec. State Conn., II, 100-106. + Rec. State Conn., II, 101-104.
# Rec. State Conn., II, 108.
§ Rec. State Conn., II, 112.
1778]
373
THE WAR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Fairfield. Orders were issued that companies from severalbrigades should be stationed in the towns along the Sound. Two companies, " by peremp- tory detachment," were ordered from the Thirteenth and Sixteenth Regi- ments in the Fourth Brigade of militia, to be stationed one month at Fairfield and Stratford .*
The Assembly adjourned to Hartford on the 21st of October. An act was passed to prevent the growing evil of horse-racing. "as vices ruinous to individuals & detrimental to the public weal." "That the owner or owners of every horse or horse kind employed in horse racing within the State, upon which stakes, bets or wagers were held, should forfeit such horses; & those engaged in bets of forty shillings should for- feit the same in L money. & in all other cases the value of the bet or wager."t
" October. 1778. An act was passed to prevent the slave trade, kidnap- ping & decoying from this State any persons free or enslaved, and a penalty for fitting out a vessel for such a purpose levied of £500. Every person received on board as a slave £50. Suspected persons placed under bonds of £1,000, & damages to the kidnapped persons. The second house added, in case of failure to pay bonds, that they should be whipped not less than thirty stripes. No negro under 18 years of age allowed to be sold out of the State without his consent, declared at two different times before two justices, unless convicted of a crime, under a penalty of fifty pounds. All births of slaves since the Act of Emancipation must be recorded."
A tax of two shillings on the pound was levied on all polls and rat- able estates in the State given in for 1777. with the additions, to be paid into the treasury by February 1. 1779. The authorities and selectmen of each town were instructed to make just abatements where persons were found not able to pay this tax. +
The selectmen of the town of Fairfield presented a petition to the Assembly urging a restoration of powder and ball to their magazine. which had been exhausted " by reason of their being on the frontier, & the militia having been often called out for the defence of the State." The Assembly ordered out of the State stores " thirty pounds of musket- powder & twenty pounds of lead."§
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.