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 46
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The currency of the United States continued to depreciate to such an extent that in order to maintain the credit of the States Congress issued an act or resolution. March 18th, in which they set forth the con- dition of the country :
" These United States having been driven into this just & necessary war, at a time when no regular civil governments were established of sufficient energy to enforce the collection of taxes, or to provide funds for the redemption of such bills of credit as their necessities obliged them to issue, & before the powers of Europe were sufficiently con- vinced of the justice of their cause or of the probable events of the controversy to afford them aid or credit. In consequence of which, their bills increased in quantity beyond the sum necessary for the purpose of a circulating medium; & wanting at the same time specific funds to rest on for their redemption, they have seen them daily sink in value, notwith- standing every effort that has been made to support the same: insomuch as they are now passed by common consent in most parts of the United States, at least thirty-nine-fortieths below their nominal value, & still remain in a state of depletion, whereby the community suffers great injustice, the public finances are deranged, & the necessary disposition of the defences of the country are much impeded & perplexed. And, as effectually to remedy the evils for which purpose the United States are now become competent, their independence well assured, their civil government established & vigorous, & the spirit of their citizens ardent for exertion, it is necessary speedily to reduce the quantity of paper medium in circulation, & to establish & appropriate funds that shall insure the punctual redemption of the bills. Therefore resolved: that the several States continue to bring into the Con- tinental treasury by taxes or otherwise, their full quota of fifteen million dollars annually, as assigned them by the resolution of the seventh of October, 1779, a clause in the resolve of the 23d of February last for relinquishing two-thirds of said quotas to the contrary notwithstanding; & that the States be called on to make provision for continuing to bring into the said treasury their like quotas monthly to the month of April. 1781, inclusive. That silver & gold shall be received at the rate of one Spanish milled dollar in lieu of forty dol- lars of the bills now in circulation. That the said bills as paid in, except for January & February, which may be necessary for the discharge of past contracts be not reissued, but destroyed ; & funds be established to be issued, not to exceed one twentieth part of the nominal sum of the bills brought in to be destroyed. That the new bills to be redeemable in specie within six years from the date of issue, & bear an annual interest of five per centum per annum, to be paid in specie at the redemption of the bills or at the election of the holder annually at the respective continental loan offices, in sterling bills of exchange, drawn by the United States on their commissioners in Europe at four shillings six pence sterling per dollar, etc. These new bills to be issued on the funds of individual States, were ordered to be signed by committees appointed for that purpose, on the pledged faith of each State; & in case any State, by the events of war should be rendered in-
* Rec. State Conn., 2, 510.
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capable to redeem them, the faith of the United States be also pledged for the payment of the said bills; which undertaking of the United States, & that of drawing bills of exchange for payment of interest as aforesaid, shall be endorsed on the bills to be emitted & signed by a Commissioner to be appointed by Congress for that purpose. As soon as the new bills were signed, each State was to retain six-tenths of its bills issued & the remainder made subject to the orders of the United States, & credited to the States on whose funds they were issued, the account of which to be adjusted according to the reso- lution of the 6th of October, 1779. The several States were called upon to provide funds for their quotas of the new bills, 'to be so productive as to sink or redeem one-sixth part of them annually after the first of January, 1781.'"
The General Assembly met at Hartford, April 13th. In their session in January they had not anticipated that the bills of the United States currency had depreciated more than twenty-nine-thirtieths below the nominal value of the State of Connecticut; yet as the mean discount of the currency within the United States had been declared on the 18th of March, less than thirty-nine-fortieths below the nominal value of said bills, it was voted : " That this Assembly do therefore approve of Congress having ascertained the dis- count of said bills upon general principles mentioned in their said act," and being fully convinced of the expediency of having the said bills called in and destroyed, and also of the necessity of having the public credit established upon just and permanent principles, which this assembly are confident will be fully effected in case the measures recommended by Congress to the several States shall be adopted ; it was resolved that although Congress had recommended to Connecticut "an over-proportion of the common debt belonging to the State," but being fully persuaded it would be properly adjusted in the future, it was de- clared, " that as fast as the circumstances of the State would permit to call in & deliver to be destroyed so many of the bills of the common currency of the United States as Con- gress has requested this State to call in & cancel; & that this Assembly will establish & appropriate certain & sufficient funds to redeem the bills of public credit, under the act of Congress, of March 18th." To carry out which, "a tax was granted of seven pence on the pound on the polls & taxable estates within the State on the list of 1780, to be paid into the treasury December 31, 1781. Five other taxes were granted of seven pence on the pound on each respective list which should be brought in from the year 1781 to 1785, inclusive, to be paid in yearly on the 31st of December, from 1782 to 1786 inclusive." These taxes were to be paid in "from the new issue of bills of credit on the faith of the State and under the authority of the United States, according to the act of Congress March 18, 1780, or in Spanish milled dollars, computing each dollar at six shillings lawful money, or in lawful current coins of gold and silver in that proportion; that as fast as any of the bills issued upon the faith of the State were collected by any of these taxes, they should be destroyed by an appointed committee; and any collected bills of the United States be exchanged for State bills. "All specie or as much of it as might be necessary which shall be collected from the taxes was to be appropriated to redeem the bills issued upon the credit of the State as aforesaid; "which shall not otherwise be collected into the hands of the Treasurer & destroyed; & that the Treasurer shall pay the specie so collected upon application of the possessor of such bills as shall have issued upon the credit of the State after the 31st of December, 1786." "Six-tenths of the new bills of credit were to be retained for the use of the State, & four-tenths left on deposit in the hands of the Loan Office of the United States in this State." A further tax was granted of twelve shillings on the pound in bills of the common currency of the United States, on the list of 1779, payable to the State treasury September, 1780: " Provided that any person charged in any taxes for bills of common currency of the United States shall have liberty to dis-
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charge the same by paying one-fortieth part thereof in gold or silver coin as aforesaid. or in bills of public credit which have or shall issue upon the faith of this or any of the United States, according to the act of Congress passed on the 18. of March last, or in bills issued by the General Assembly of this State on the 6th of January." It was further pro vided: "that the last issue of bills of credit in January might be exchanged for the new issue ordered by Congress March 18th." The Treasurer was instructed that after receiving by exchange taxes or any other payment in the bills of January 6th he should not reissue them, but retain them in his hands to be destroyed. The act to borrow one million dollars on the credit of the State in January was repealed .*
The civil authorities of each town were authorized to abate in full or in part the taxes of those least able to pay them "or one-twentieth part of their town's proportion."
At a town meeting held at Fairfield, June 19th, Thaddeus Burr being moderator, it was voted: "that there be a rate of one penny lawful money on the pound raised on all the polls and ratable estates of the inhabitants of this town to be paid in bills of credit lately emitted by this State, or in silver or gold, or in Continental bills at the rate of forty to one, & thiat the selectinen pay to each soldier that shall voluntarily enlist into the Continental service during the war, or for three years, the sum of ten pounds out of said rate, & the remainder of sd. rate to defray the expenses of the town." +
In the journal of a gentleman living at Black Rock at the time of the Revolution, he states: " Continental money from September 1. 1777. till March, 1780, fell from full value to 40 for 1, or, he that in 1777 re- ceived 1,000 dollars & kept it till 1780, or 21/2 years, it would be worth only twenty-five dollars, by which many were ruined."+
* State Rec. Conn., 1, 516-521.
+ Fairfield Town Records.
# "A young lady in Fairfield had five sheep left her by her father, and the money for which they were sold depreciating, it purchased only a roll for her head dress made of wool or tow 10 comb her hair over." This gentleman gives the following as " Fragments of a Song" made af that time :
" The roll it is worn by the great and the small, By girls and ladies and squaws and all : The fleece is all lost and the sheep are all dead ; And the wool it is worn on the Female head ; And what our poor army will do for clothes, There is not a mortal among us that knows. Let them take down their rolls and pull out the tow ; It will clothe a whole army we very well know ; And when you have made so brave a beginning, Then take to your cards, and so to your spinning."
lle goes on to relate "that when Connecticut State money fell about half, my father had a good many dollars of this, and for fear of being robbed stuck it up in the garret between the rafters
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The causes which led to this great depreciation in the Continental money were many. From its first issue, in 1775, extreme opposition was raised against it. Commerce and trade had been almost entirely para- lyzed. The country was without allies, and had been plunged into a war with one of the most powerful nations, whose ships swept the sea, cap- turing many prizes. Every effort was made which art and malice could put forth by the enemy and the Tory element throughout the colonies to prevent its circulation. For nearly a year, however, it passed upon a par with gold and silver, until the amount of its issue became so great as to depreciate its value, but not its credit or its circulation. "The lower it depreciated until it fell to four & to one, the more extensive & freely it circulated, insomuch that the most acknowledged Tories sold gold for it, at the above exchange, & put it into the funds or locked it up in their chests." Another cause for this depreciation was the reso- lution of Congress to call in the emissions of bills of credit in 1777 and 1778 out of circulation. " This was the first shock the money received. Hundreds suffered by it, and although its quantity was diminished by it, yet it fell in a few weeks to four & in a few months from twenty to one." The people began to demand gold or silver, or hard money, as it was called, and tradesmen refused to open their shops or to sell goods unless paid in coin.
In order to bring about a spirit of cheerfulness during this distress- ing war and financial depression, efforts were made by the British officers encouraging social gatherings where they were stationed.
" Their efforts did not avail, however, & they proved but dull & gloomy meetings : the men played cards, but the women but seldom were persuaded to dance. Even in their dresses the females seemed to bid us defiance ; the gay toys which are imported here they despise ; they wear their own home-spun manufactures; & take care to have on their breast knots & even on their shoes something which resembles the flag of the thirteen stripes. An officer told Lord Cornwallis not long ago that he believed if he had destroyed all the men in North America, we should have enough to do to conquer the women, & added : 'I am heartily tired of this country, & wish myself at home.' The gravity of the men & women of our State gave them the soubriquet of 'Indigo Connecticut.""
A requisition from Congress upon the States for supplies for the army was also granted during the sitting of the April Assembly. The
and the roof where the mice found it, and made it into a nest. There were pieces of 40 and 20 shillings, which made a warm couch for the mouse gentlemen. His silver tankard and spoons he hid for some years in a stone wall."-William Wheeler's Journal.
* Pennsylvania Gazette. Moore's Diary Revolution.
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proportion called for from Connecticut was 78,400 weight of beef, I,OII bushels of salt, 68.558 gallons of rum, 500 tons of hay .* John Squire was appointed to purchase the proportion of supplies to be furnished within the limits of Fairfield and Stratford.t
In order to more effectually carry out the design of the January call for volunteers, a bounty was offered to each person who should enlist in the State battalion of infantry during the war since the January ses- sion, and in lieu of the premium then granted " should receive four pounds ten shillings lawful money in State bills, or six hundred dollars in Con- tinental currency, over & above the bounties given by Congress from June to December 1, 1781, with an entire suit of clothing, & be exempt from taxes as many years as they should be enlisted for and continue in the service."#
James Beard, Thaddeus Burr and Elijah Abel were appointed a com- mittee to look into a report " of abuses & injuries done to Thomas & Eunice & other Indians of Golden Hill in Stratford, &c."s
On the evening of November 23, 1780, Major Talmage returned to Fairfield from a splendid and successful enterprise against Fort George on Long Island, having destroyed the fort and stich forage and supplies as could not be carried away by his men or taken off by prisoners. The following is the official account to General Washington :
"On the 16th of November, in obedience to your Excellency's orders, a detachment of Colonel Sheldon's dismounted dragoons, under the command of Captain Edgar, were ordered to march the next day to Fairfield, to which place I directed a number of boats to repair. The troops arrived in the vicinity of Fairfield on the evening of the 18th, at which place, by reason of a very severe storm, we were detained till the 21st inst., on the evening of which, at four o'clock, I embarked the troops in eight boats, the whole number including the crews, amounted to about eighty men. With a favorable wind we landed safely on Long Island, at a place called the Old Man's, about eight o'clock in the evening. After leaving about twenty men with the boats in charge of Captain Sutton, we began our march to put your Excellency's orders into execution, but a very severe storm coming on, however it might have favored an attack on the fort, obliged me to postpone it, as I was well aware that attention must be paid as well to a favorable time for crossing the Sound (which at this place more than twenty fathoms wide) as to attack the fort. I accordingly concealed the troops till the evening of the 22d, when, at seven o'clock, we began our march across Long Island, & at three o'clock the next morning were within two miles of Fort St. George at South Haven. By the most accurate information I found that the forts & other works had been entirely completed but a few days before, & that the garrison consisted of fifty men. It may be necessary here to observe that the works of Fort St. George consisted of two large, strong houses, & a fort about ninety feet
* Rec. State Conn., 2, 521.
# Rec. State Conn., 2, 526.
+ Rec. State Conn., 2, 530. ยง Rec. State Conn., 2, 531.
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square, connected together by a very strong stockade or line of sharpened pickets twelve feet long, the whole forming a triangle, the fort & houses standing in the angles. The fort consisted of a high wall & a deep ditch, encircled with a strong abatis, leaving but one gate, a sally-port which led directly into the grand parade within the pickets. This fort had embrasures for six guns, though but two were mounted; the houses were strongly barricaded. From this description I found it necessary, small as my detachment was, to make three different attacks at the same time. I accordingly detached Lieutenant Jackson with sixteen men with orders to advance as near the fort as he could undiscovered, & there to halt till the alarm was given by the advance of the detachment under the imme- diate command. The van of the detachment, which carried axes to beat down the ob- structions, were led by Lieutenant Brewster * directly against the new house, while the remainder, with Captain Edgar & myself at their head, followed close after. Another small division was directed to file off & surround the other house; Mr. Simons bringing up the rear, with directions to halt where the breach might be made to prevent the garri- son from escaping. Thus prepared, the troops were put in motion precisely at four o'clock, & contrary to my expectations the pioneers advanced within twenty yards of the works before they were discovered. The sentinel firing, the different detachments immediately rushed on, & passing all obstructions, met at the same instant in the centre of the fort, where the watchword was given from all quarters at the same time. The guard in the fort was secured; but the two houses contained the main body of the garrison, which began to fire from the windows. I immediately ordered the troops to enter the houses, the door of which, though strongly bolted & barred, was soon burst open, & in less than ten min- utes the whole garrison were our prisoners. Being informed that a vessel lay within view of the fort, loaded with stores, rum, wine, sugar, glass, etc., 1 detached a party who boarded & took her. Thus master of the whole, my first object was to demolish as much as possible their works, etc. We accordingly set fire to the small garrison buildings, stockade & abatis, consuming at the same time the public stores that could be collected, including a considerable quantity of ammunition & arms, which the troops, so much fatigued & having so long a march to make back could not carry. We remained at the fort from four to eight o'clock in the morning, when, having destroyed as much of it as possible we began our march back. The vessel being aground we burnt.
"I feel particularly happy that I can inform your Excellency that we had not a man killed in the enterprise & but one wounded; him we brought off. The enemy's loss was seven (7) killed & wounded, most of the latter mortally. The surprise was so complete that before they could rally they were our prisoners.
"On our return I mounted ten men on the horses taken at the fort, & while Captain Edgar marched the detachment & prisoners across the island, I filed off with Lieutenant Brewster, to Coram, & set fire to the whole magazine of the King's forage at that place, supposed to contain more than three hundred tons, & joined the detachment again in less than two (2) hours. By this time the militia began to muster, but prudently avoided coming near us. Some guns were fired but no damage received. By four o'clock in the afternoon of the same day we reached our boats, & having embarked the troops & prisoners, arrived safe at this place at eleven o'clock on the evening of the 23d. Thus in about twenty-one (21) hours we performed a march of near forty miles, took Fort St. George, &c., &c., & in less than six hours more were landed at this place.
"I should be remiss in my duty should I omit to observe that the officers & soldiers under my command behaved with the greatest fortitude & spirit, both upon their long & fatiguing march & in the moment of action. Mr. Muirson, a volunteer upon the occasion,
* Lieut. Caleb Brewster of Black Rock.
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deserves commendation. He advanced with a party of Lieutenant Jackson's detachment over the abatis & wall into the fort. In fine, every order that was given was executed with alacrity & precision."
The prisoners taken at Fort St. George were one half-pay lieutenant-colonel, one half-pay captain, one lieutenant, one surgeon, fifty rank and file, one garrison.
The British account gives the following in the " Pennsylvania Packet, December 12th: " A party of rebels, about eighty in number, headed, it is said, by a rebel, Major Talmage, assisted by a certain Heathcoat, Muirson, Benjah Strong, Thomas Jackson & Caleb Brewster, officers belonging to said party, all formerly of Long Island, came across in eight whale-boats, &c., just after daylight arrived at Smith's Point, St. George's Manor, south side Long Island, where they surprised a respectable body of refugees belonging to Rhode Island & the vicinity, who were establishing a post in order to get a subsistence for them- selves & families, &c."*
This design and its successful issue must have caused not only great surprise, but some alleviation to the inhabitants of Fairfield for their own sad fate, while the ruins of their homes were yet to be seen. Every triumph over the enemy gave renewed hope and courage to them in their sufferings as they experienced the prospect of a final triumph.
The remarkable victories of John Paul Jones off the coast of Eng- land and Scotland also served to stimulate the American naval and mili- tary men of the country.
On the 22d of April Brigadier-Generals Wolcott, Ward and Silliman were ordered to send forward to the distressed state of the town of Greenwich from the invasion of the British, one company, with their officers, from each of their brigades for the defence of that post.t
On the 20th of December, 1779, the Governor and Council instructed George Wyllys, the treasurer of Hartford County, to pay over to Joseph Platt Cook, Esq., " all the money & articles which were contributed in that county for the sufferers of New Haven, Fairfield & Norwalk."+
About this time a large number of privateers of from four to twelve guns, of the enemy and of our own, cruised the Sound, and took almost every unarmed vessel that entered it, "thus furnishing opportunity of plunder on both sides." Although coast guards were stationed from Stratfield to Compo, constant raids were made both by the British and Tories. Cattle and sheep were seized, killed and carried away; murders were committed, so that the inhabitants all along the Sound were kept in a constant state of terror. Retaliation followed by the Sons of Liberty, and many armed whale-boats passed from New Field, Black Rock, Mill
* Moore's Diary of American Revolution, 870-873. + Rec. State Conn., 2d, 447.
# Rec. State Conn., 541.
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River, Green's Farms and Compo into the Sound and over to the shores of Long Island for booty and prisoners. New Field was a particularly noted place for the escape of Tories to cross from neighboring towns to Long Island, although its loyal inhabitants had obtained cannon and ammunition to erect a fort to protect its coast .*
" March 14th. Captain Hubbell of the Associated Loyalists, with his little band of true Englishmen, on the 28th of February, with four manned whale-boats, crossed the Sound to Compo, lying between Green's Farms, in the west parish of Fairfield, & landed his party. Being fired upon by the occupants of two guard houses, they attacked & drove their provincial occupants away. The militia of the neighborhood gathered quickly, & Hubbell with his men embarked & sailed towards Mill River on the "General Wolfe "; & on the morning of the 4th of March between 30 & 40 men manned the whale-boats & crossed to Kenzie's Point, where, leaving the boats with a safe guard, Captain Hubbell moved with the rest two miles up Mill River & destroyed two mills & about two hundred barrels of flour, collected there, as they were told, for the French at Rhode Island. After collecting a few sheep they returned to their boats." The mills belonged to the Perrys.t
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