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 43
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
The support of the families of field officers below the rank of Briga- dier-General serving in the army were also again regulated at a higher rate. One-half of the wages of such officers and soldiers were reserved for the maintenance of their families during their absence.
Pardon was extended to all persons who had left the State and gone over to the enemy, provided they returned and gave themselves up, after having convinced the authorities of the towns in which they had lived of the error they had made, and were willing to take the oath of alle- giance to the United States.
Eight hundred men were ordered to be raised to fill up the State battalions to serve to the end of the war. Each officer and soldier was granted a premium of forty pounds who should enlist to serve during the continuance of the war, in addition to the bounty given by Congress. t In case this number could not be raised for so long a time, a bounty of twenty pounds and a uniform coat was offered to each soldier who should enlist until the 15th of January, 1780. A peremptory draft was ordered to be made out of the several companies of light horse of the State, to serve with the cavalry. A peremptory draft was also ordered from the foot militia to serve the same length of time in the Continental army. The quota of men to be raised from each town to fill this order was fixed. Eight men were ordered from Fairfield, while that of Hartford was five and New Haven seven. An additional premium of four pounds was added, provided each non-commissioned officer and soldier furnished his own gun, etc., knapsack and blanket. These battalions were not to join the army of the United States, unless under urgent necessity, and then only in the adjoining States.#
* Rec. State Conn., II, 271. + Rec. State Conn., II, 280. # Rec. State Conn., II, 281, 282.
383
THE WAR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
1779]
The guards stationed at Fairfield, and the adjacent towns along the Sound, were ordered to continue in service until January, 1780 .*
The wages allowed officers and soldiers in the militia of the State on account of the great depreciation of Continental money seems enormous. A Major-General's wages was £240 a month, a Brigadier-General's £204. a Colonel's £180, a Lieutenant's £144, a Major's £120, etc., etc., and each private's £24. Besides these the rates for subsistence money was set apart for each commissioned and staff officer.t For the maintenance of the Connecticut soldiers in line and the State forces, the treasurer was ordered to borrow from private citizens the sum of £45,000 lawful money. with security at six per cent. interest until paid. +
Heavy taxes were also levied on all the inhabitants of the State for carrying out the enormous expenses of the war ...
The rapid depletion of bills of credit throughout the country, and the rise of prices in articles of commerce and produce necessary for supplying the army, by high prices paid by the British for supplies, who also took pleasure in counterfeiting our bills of credit, as well as the avarice of inconsiderate persons seeking their own gain rather than the good of their country, led to a convention of delegates being called to meet at Hartford, December 20th, from the States of New Hampshire. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York to cooperate in establishing a general reduction of prices within their jurisdiction, by laying an embargo on all exports out of each State, except those sent to the army of the United States. By adopting this agreement, and calling upon the other States of the Union to join them, they hoped to raise the value of the currency of the States. This convention met at the time appointed, and after passing stringent embargo laws, they agreed to call upon the other States of the Union to appoint delegates to join them in convention in Philadelphia, January 1. 1780, to further this purpose.
Mr. Thaddeus Burr was again chosen a member of the Council of Safety.
One-fourth part of the officers and men belonging to the militia and alarm list companies in the Second, Fourth and Sixth Brigades were or- dered to be detached and held in readiness to march at the shortest notice. 11
* Rec. State Conn., II, 282. + Rec. State Conn., II, 283.
§ Rec. State Conn., II, 286, 287.
# Rec. State Conn., II, 285. | Rec. State Conn., II, 28S.
384
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1779
By an application from General Putnam, Samuel Silliman, Jesse Burr, Ebenezer Knapp and Abraham Morehouse, all of Fairfield, were, as prisoners of war, exchanged for an equal number of British prisoners .*
Daniel Dimon was commissioned lieutenant and Samuel Beers, Jr., ensign of the fourth company in the Fourth Regiment. Phineas Sher- man was commissioned captain, Elijah Curtis lieutenant, and John Mc- Urie ensign of the fourteenth company of alarm list in the Fourth Regi- ment.t
William Worden was commissioned captain and John Odell lieu- tenant of the third company of the alarm list in the Fourth Regiment. Thomas Hawley was commissioned captain, Jehiel French lieutenant, and Jonathan Nichols ensign of the fifteenth company in the Fourth Regiment. #
The sum total of the polls and taxable estates in the grand list from the town of Fairfield sent in to the Assembly, August 20, 1778, were £47,951 12s. 3d., single additions £1,453 7s. 3d., and fourfold assessments £785 4s. This was but about three hundred pounds less than Hartford sent in, and not two thousand less than that of New Haven.§
Liberty was granted to several merchants to purchase a large amount of pork, beef and grain raised in the State for the use of the adjoining States.
The Governor and Council of Safety held meetings during the sit- ting of the General Assembly. On the Ist of May it was reported to them: " that on March 10th the ship 'Defence,' owned by the State, in returning from a cruise on the Sound, unfortunately struck on Goshen Reef west of the entrance of New London harbor & bilged : she soon after turned over so suddenly that it was said some of the people in the hold were drowned; her guns & most of her stores were saved, but the vessel, it was thought, will be lost."| The sloop " Guilford " was ordered to take her place.
Thaddeus Burr, Esq., was given a permit to ship on board the Con- necticut sloop " General Stark " provisions for a six months' cruise. T
Major Elijah Abel was appointed to enlist men for the Fourth Regi- ment. **
* Rec. State Conn., II, 289, 290. + Rec. State Conn., II, 298.
Į Rec. State Conn., II, 299, 300. § Rec. State Conn., II, 304.
| Rec. State Conn., 2, 344. T Rec. State Conn., 2, 347.
** Rec. State Conn., 2, 354.
385
THE WAR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
1779]
A petition was presented to the Assembly by the negroes of Fairfield and Stratford humbly begging to be loosed from the thraldom of slavery and be allowed to "rejoice with your Honors in the Participation of that inestimable blessing FREEDOM." This petition was dated May 11, 1779, and signed by Prime, a man-servant of William Samuel Sturges, and Prime, a man-servant of Stephen Jennings, in behalf of themselves and the other petitioners. Dated at Fairfield, 11th May, A. D. 1779.
A report of the loss of the ship " Oliver Cromwell," belonging to the Connecticut navy, reached the Governor and Council June 14th. This ship was cruising south of Sandy Hook with the privateer " Hancock," and fell in with three British cruising ships and a brig. One of the fastest of these ships entered into an engagement with the " Oliver Cromwell," which lasted nearly two hours. The latter made a gallant defence and did much damage to the British ship; but the others com- ing to her assistance, the " Oliver Cromwell " was obliged to strike her colors to the enemy. The British changed her name to the " Restora- tion."* The loss of this ship, " which mounted 20 guns & was manned by about 130 men," with the loss of the " Defence," was very great to the State, but more particularly to the towns along the Sound. The question has sometimes been asked why the coast towns were left so unprotected in 1779. The loss of these fine naval ships, which had been engaged in many battles and taken valuable prizes, subject as they always were to be taken by the enemy, gives an answer to such inquiries.
On the 17th of June Lieutenant-Colonel Noadiah Hooker, who, com- manded a detachment of five hundred men for the protection of Stam- ford, was ordered, if cartridges were needed, to apply to the magazine at Fairfield, "lately under the care of Brigadier-General Silliman."+
On June 18th Mr. Thaddeus Burr was given blank commissions to fill for the names of the commander and officers of the " Guilford," with Captain Smedley, Jas. Squire, or such other as might be properly recom- mended.+
Intelligence reached the Governor and Council, July 7th, then sitting at Lebanon, of an attack by the enemy on New Haven early on the morning of May 5th. Two hundred men were ordered to proceed with- out delay to the assistance of New Haven. The following day, July 8th, they received news that after a terrible attack by fire, plunder and rapine,
* Rec. State Conn., II, 352. + Rec. State Conn., II, 353. # Rec. State Conn., II, 354.
25
386
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1779
" the enemy had left New Haven & landed at Fairfield."* Orders were forthwith given to Major-General Wolcott and Brigadier-General Ward to march to the relief of Fairfield if needed. On the 9th Lieutenant- Colonel Hezekiah Wyllys reported to them the landing of the British and burning the town of Fairfield; & that they had re-embarked probably for New London."
Alas, the order given to Generals Wolcott and Ward was too late, for Fairfield, with its fine churches, new court-house and stately man- sions, was in ashes. From the overlooking hills of Greenfield, to which many of her weeping, terror-stricken inhabitants had fled for shelter. they looked down upon the ascending smoke of their burning homes. The following account is given by an eye-witness :
"About 4 o'clock A. M. on the 7th of July, the British fleet off Fair- field was announced by the firing of a cannon at Grover's Hill. The fleet appeared to be sailing for New York. A thick fog came on until between 9 & 10 A. M., which, when cleared, the fleet was discovered anchoring off Kenzie's Point."t About 4 P. M. they began to land, and marched along the beach until they came to a lane opposite the centre of the town, through which they entered the town and paraded in three divisions on the Green. They were commanded by Sir George Collier by sea and Generals Tryon and Garth by land.
The surprise of the British forces landing and appearing in the town found the inhabitants unprepared for resistance. Upon reaching the Meeting-house Green a proclamation was posted, which had been pre- pared by Commodore Sir George Collier and Major-General William Tryon, calling upon all the inhabitants to swear allegiance to the King" of Great Britain.
" That owing to their delusion in hoping for independence they were deceiving them- selves ; that the existence of a single habitation on your defenceless coast ought to be a con- stant proof of your ingratitude. Therefore we offer you a refuge against the distress which you universally acknowledge broods with increasing & intolerable weight over all your country ; & that whosoever shall be found, & remain in peace at his usual place of residence, shall be shielded from any insult either to his property, excepting such as bear offices, either civil or military, under your present usurped government, of whom it will be further required that they shall give proof of their penitence & voluntary submission, when they shall partake of the like immunity. But those whose folly & obstinacy may slight this
* Rec. State Conn., II, 356.
+ Kenzie's Point lies east of Mill River and the Breakwater at Southport at the foot of Sasqua Jill.
387
THE WAR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
1779]
favorable warning must take notice that they are not to expect a continuance of that lenity which their inveteracy would not now render blameless."
To this proclamation, Colonel Whiting, who was in command of the troops at Fairfield, returned the following reply : " Connecticut has nobly dared to take up arms against the cruel despotism of Britain, and as the flames have now preceded your flag, they will persist to oppose to the utmost that power exerted against injured innocence."
While the British were advancing on the town the militia gathered their small forces as quickly as possible on the hills above the green. " Ilere, with a small field piece & their muskets, for awhile they annoyed the advancing enemy with round & grape-shot, but the latter formed & quickly advanced, while the Fairfield militia retired to an eminence com- manding Beach-lane & the Green, where, joined by a number from the surrounding coun- try, they continued to assail the invaders, who were also considerably galled by the cannon from Fort Black Rock on Grover's Hill. Parties of women & children fled to Greenfield Hill, but a few women remained to protect their houses & valuables. Hessians in small com- panies were first let loose to plunder & for rapine. Every house was entered, desks. trunks, chests & closets were opened, & everything of value taken. Women were robbed of their buckles, rings, bonnets & aprons. Looking glasses, china & furniture were slashed & broken to pieces, & women insulted with the foulest language, their lives threatened & bayonets presented to their breasts.
"A party of refugees, in revenge for their confiscated estates, plundered & destroyed whatever they could find, but were not so abusive to the women.
" The British came last ; & while some of their officers seemed to pity the misfortunes of the people, made the excuse that they had no other way to subdue the country. Some of the troops were exceedingly abusive to the women; but by a vigorous resistance the women protected themselves, although obliged to submit to the most indelicate & rough treatment, & some continued to bear the scars & bruises of their assailants.
"About an hour before sunset the burning of the houses & buildings began. The house of Josiah Jennings * was the first set on fire. In the evening the house of Elijah Abel, Esqr., Sheriff of the county, with a few others: & during the night several houses on the main street were set on fire. Entreaties from men & women to Tryon, begging him to spare their houses, were joined by the Rev. Mr. Sayer, a clergyman zealous in the cause of the British from the S. P. G. The house of Mr. Thaddeus Burr, writer of the above description, was spared by Tryon's consent, who treated the inhabitants with as much humanity as his errand would admit. At sunrise several houses were standing; but in about two hours the conflagration became general. The burning pirates carried on their business with horrible alacrity, headed by two or three persons, who were born and bred in the neighboring towns. All the town from the bridge towards Stratford to the Mill River (a few houses excepted) was consumed.
About eight o'clock the enemy sounded a retreat. The Congregational meeting-house and the Church of England, which had been spared by the entreaties of Mr. Sayer, af- forded some pleasure amidst our woe; but the rear guard, consisting of a band of the vilest that was ever let loose among men, set fire to everything which General Tryon had left. The large and elegant meeting-house, the ministers' houses, Mr. Burr's house, and other houses which had received protection were burned. They tore Tryon's papers of
* Isaac Jennings.
388
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1779
protection in pieces, abused the women shamefully and ran off in very disgraceful man- ner. Happily our men came in and extinguished the flames in several houses, so that we were not entirely destroyed. This rear were chiefly Germans, called Jagers, who carried small rifle guns and fought in a skulking manner, much like our Indians.
"The enemy sent a row-galley to silence the fort on Grover's Hill, between which & the fort a constant firing was kept up all night. Attempts were made to take it by parties of troops, but Lieutenant Jarvis, who had but twenty-three men besides himself, bravely and obstinately defended it. The militia followed the incendiaries to the place of en- barkation, where they galled them considerably. About twelve o'clock the cruel foe em- barked, and about 2 P. M. set sail for Long Island. Many killed on both sides. Several prisoners were carried away, but no one of distinction. Old Mr. Solomon Sturgis, an Irish servant of Mr. Penfield, and an old negro man belonging to Mr. Jonathan Lewis, were put to the bayonet. Mr. Job Bartram was shot through the breast, the ball came out just under his shoulder-blade; he fought bravely, as did also others."*
Instead of sailing to New London, as it had been thought they would, on the morn- ing of the 8th the British landed at Mill River (Southport), where a small battery had been raised, where they plundered and burned eight houses and out-buildings, destroying furniture and whatever they could lay their hands upon.
They then cast anchor off Compo and landed at Green's Farms, where they burned thirteen houses, with their church.
The following account is also given from an eye-witness :
"July 7th, at 7 in the morning, the fog clearing off, the enemy's fleet, just returned from plundering New Haven, appeared. Three guns announced an alarm-everyone busy in moving or throwing their things out of doors-about II o'clock 1,600 regular troops landed at the foot of the bar on town beach. Isaac Jarvis commanded the battery at the point of Grover's hill, Black Rock, who, as soon as the British turned to go up the beach lane fired a 12-pounder with ball & grape-shot, & kept it going till it was so hot you could hardly bear your hand thereon. As they approached the parade, a field piece let go a ball & grapes through them. I was at that time on Toilsome hill, having been just above with my father to drive cattle to our woodland, to keep them from the enemy. As we arrived at Black Rock it was with no pleasant sensation we heard the firing back towards Barlow's- plain, and seemed to be in danger of being hemmed in-this, however, we prevented by taking up the upper bridge. Black Rock people soon assembled on Grover's hill, among whom were several females, where we could see the enemy marching up. A continual cracking from near Round-hill was kept up the remainder of the afternoon, & sometimes from a field piece. The first building that appeared on fire was the guard-house at Kenzy's Point ; next one at Barlow's-plain. You might from Black Rock see the fire shine through the windows & presently the fire on the outside. The town burnt all night-a cloud seemed to remain fixed in the west, from which issued frequent flashes of lightning; this joined to many a column from the flaming buildings, & frequent discharges of cannon & musketry on the British guard placed around the town; the poor inhabitants, with no shelter many of them but the canopy of heaven, with no clothing but what they had on; wives separated from their husbands, & exposed to the indecencies of an infuriated soldiery, rendered truly diabolical by the spirits they found in plenty in the town, formed a scene altogether so shocking that Fairfield will never see again, nor her present silken sons & daughters can form any conception of. There were some instances of great bravery among thie inhabi-
* New London Gazette, Aug. 4. Frank Moore's Diary of the Revolution.
389
THE WAR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
1779]
tants of Fairfield. A Mr. Tucker fired from his shop on the parade at the whole army only a few rods distant, & was wounded by them in the shoulder & taken prisoner. Mr. Parsons fired from a chamber into the road & killed a British officer; then running out the back door made his escape. The enemy coming into the house found an old negro bed- ridden ; they said it was him, he declared it was not: they put the bayonet into him & burnt the house, next day my brother saw him about half burnt up & a beam lying on him. Parsons after this taking a prisoner was conducting him away, when he was taken prisoner himself. . Joseph Gold, a very old man & feeble, going off, stopped at a spring to drink ; they commanded him to stop; he would not ; they shot him. Several women stayed in town to save their houses ; but were so frighted, they said they would never stay again Jonathan Bulkley, living on the Green, stayed, got a protection from General Tryon & saved his house & three adjoining houses. . July 8th. A Row-Galley mounting an 18-pounder of brass lay 34 of a mile from the Battery, & fired upon it, sending some shot over the hill; & the Battery firing on them, & hallooing with a speaking trumpet to turn their broadside towards them & they would give it to them. Isaac Jarvis commanded at the Battery. Had he been a coward to more houses would have been burnt ; Squire's, Burr's, Silliman's. Halberton's, Fowler's, Chauncey's. Widow Wheeler's, Ichabod Wheeler's, E. Wheeler's, Bartram's.
" About noon the enemy returned on board at Kenzy's Point, & were pursued through the burning houses by the enraged inhabitants, and at Sandy Lane the roar of the small arms was continued like the roll of a drum. Our people would have paid them as they were embarking had they not levelled all the stone walls near the shore where our men might get behind, & drew up their armed vessels to keep off the Americans. It is said the Fairfield people fought much better than they did at New Haven or Norwalk, which was burnt soon after. About 40 of the enemy were found dead & 8 or to of ours. No doubt many were wounded & carried off with them, for about a fortnight after, when on guard at the point. I observed the remains of one washed out of the sand where they had buried him. Eighty dwelling-houses, besides barns, stores, etc., were consumed. A Presbyterian meeting-house, Episcopalian Church & a Court-house, Green's Farms with their meeting-house & Mill river were burnt at the same time. Eleven houses were left standing, some of them extinguished by our people, who followed close at the heels of the English, & afforded a refuge to the poor inhabitants from a hard succeeding winter, the most terrible but one (1740) seen since the settlement of New England. The severe cold quieted in some measure our fears from an attack, & made the enemy in New York tremble in their turn for fear our men should march on the ice & attack them-& affording us a long season of excellent sleighing. Thus graciously did a kind Providence favour & defend us from an unrelenting foe, till they were tired out by the contest. . The Sabbath after Mr. Eliot preached ( from ' Our holy & our beautiful house, &c.') at Holland Hill, where Fairfield people assembled, not daring to meet near the shore for fear of being taken prisoners, so fearful were they then & long after, they could hardly sleep in their beds. My father had a place for his silver tankard & some silver therein in a stone wall. Many a time he has gone in a dark night with his gun to see if no enemy's boat came over the beach. Sometimes very few guards at the Battery or anywhere else. Strange that the enemy did not burn us in the four long years that the war lasted after this time. I listed as a soldier in the Guard ( Upper Wharf ) from May 16th till July 7th, when Fairfield was burnt, being 16 years of age. We had a double fortified 3 pounder. which sent a shot over a boat of the enemy's, sounding at the broken place of the beach."*
" It is related that when Fairfield was attacked by the British, Colonel Whiting, the * William Wheeler's Journal.
390
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1779
Commandant, having withdrawn the Americans to the Round Hill, north of the village, called for a captain & 30 men to volunteer for the purpose of reconnoitring the enemy ; that Capt. Thomas Nash immediately stepped forth, followed by more than 100 men. The Colonel would allow only 30 to go. However, more fell in after they left the hill. Capt. Nash advanced to the fence north of the street, near where the meeting-house now stands, & ordered his men to lie behind the fence in the tall vegetation, until the enemy were near the centre of the street, when, as he gave the word, they were to rise & fire, load and fire, & then run. This they did with such effect, & so unexpectedly, that none of his party were injured until they began to ascend the rising ground towards the north, where one was killed. Afterwards, when a squad of the enemy approached to burn his house at Green's Farms, he alone, or with but little help, dragged the company field piece to a rising ground near the house, loaded it with grape, & fired upon them. They, suspecting he had a company to sustain him in so daring an act, retreated, & thus his home was saved. It is yet standing.
"At another time, being on a scout in the night, with only three men, he discovered a whale-boat secreted on the shore, which he thought indicated an enemy near. He therefore stove in the boat, & searched for the foe. Perceiving a faint light from the window of a cabin in a cornfield, he ordered his army of three to pass rapidly round the cabin, making all the noise they could with their muskets, against the building, by which the inmates deemed themselves surrounded by a real force. Capt. Nash then approached the window & told them to hand out their arms, & he would spare their lives. They com- plied & handed out 16 muskets, which he secured & told them to lie down until morning, when it appeared that he & his three men had surrounded & taken 15 Tories & one British soldier."*
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.