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 48
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At a Town meeting held in Fairfield April roth. 1783, it was
"Voted: The inhabitants being called to meet principally for the purpose of con- sidering what measures they would wish to have taken with respect to those persons who, during the war between Great Britain and America, have gone to and joined the enemy. and put themselves under their protection :-
"The question is put whether this meeting is willing that any of those persons who have gone over to and joined the enemy, and put themselves under their protection as aforesaid, should be permitted to return and reside in this Town:
And passed in the negative.
* Gordon, Hildreth, Hollister's Ilist. Conn., Vol. 2, p. 420.
+ Record of Connecticut Men in the War of the Revolution, p. 374.
# Hollister's Hist. Conn., Vol. II, p. 421.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1784-5
" Voted-That a committee be appointed to remove all such persons from this Town who are now in it, or may hereafter come into it, who have gone over to and joined the enemy, & put themselves under their protection during the war between Great Britain & the United States of America."*
Many applications were made by the banished ones, as well as vain efforts to have the taxes abated which had been laid upon the families of those who had joined the ranks of the enemy. These taxes it appears were laid upon the families of those who joined the British forces, in order that some repair might be made for the injury which such a course had done to the Commonwealth. As time passed, however, these griev- ances were pardoned, and many returned to renew their allegiance to the State and to the town of Fairfield.
Through the energy of the leading spirits of the town the churches were rebuilt. Mr. Eliot received from his friends and relatives in Boston considerable aid toward rebuilding Christ Church and parsonage. For a time his people found it difficult to raise money enough to support him after his church was burned by the British. The society sold the iron and nails of the Meeting-house, and applied the proceeds towards building the new Court-house. For more than five years the people were sum- moned to the services of the Congregational Church by the beating of a drum. The new Meeting-house was raised June, 1785, and so far com- pleted by the 26th of March, 1786, that services were regularly kept up. A new bell was purchased, and rung daily, at twelve o'clock in the sum- mer and at nine o'clock in the evening during the year.
The rebuilding of the Episcopal Church labored under many dis- advantages; but by the untiring zeal and energy of the Rev. Dr. Philo Shelton, who had been called to take charge of Trinity Church in Sep- tember, 1779, it was begun, as voted by the town, on the Military Parade Green at Mill Plain. It was so far completed by September 5, 1790, as to be opened for church services and " dedicated to the service of Al- mighty God "; but it was not' formally consecrated by Bishop Abraham Jarvis until October, 1798.+
A new academy was erected on the grounds southwest of the Meeting- house Green, facing on the main street, which became a flourishing insti- tution.
The old jail was rebuilt on the same ground a little to the east of the * Fairfield Town Records.
+ Hist. Sketch of Trinity Church, Southport, Rev. Edmund Guilbert, D.D. Appendix- Genealogical, Shelton. This church was taken down and removed to Southport in 1841.
425
1786-7]
END OF REVOLUTION. FREEDOM OF UNITED STATES
Academy, which in after years, when the county court-house was re- moved from Fairfield to Bridgeport, was purchased by the Episcopalians of Fairfield, and converted into a church, which, when thoroughly re- paired, beautified and adorned, was named St. Paul's Church. The solid brick walls of the jail still form the main portion of the church, while the roof and interior is designed after the Gothic order of architecture. It was beautifully furnished, and presents a thoroughly churchly appearance.
And here within the prison walls, where once the self-sacrificing mis- sionaries and churchmen of the Church of England wept and bewailed the severity of our Puritan ancestors, now rises on every Lord's Day the " Glory be to God on High, Peace, good will to men." Truly the Lion and the Lamb have lain down together, and there is peace in Israel.
In October, 1791, the General Assembly passed a resolution by which " equal rights and privileges " were granted " to Christians of all denomi- nations " in the State of Connecticut. And that all moneys arising from the sale of the territory belonging to this State, lying west of the State of Pennsylvania, be, and the same is hereby established as a perpetual fund, the interest whereof is granted and shall be appropriated to the use and benefit of the several ecclesiastical societies, churches, or con- gregations of all denominations in this State, to be by them applied for the support of their respective ministers or preachers of the gospel, and schools of education; under such rules and regulations as shall be here- after adopted by the Assembly."
About 1787 a newspaper called " The Fairfield Independent Gazette " was published by Miller, Forgue and Bulkley in the Jonathan Bulkley Tavern behind the Court-house. Forgue was a son of the distinguished Dr. Francis Forgue.
New and commodious dwellings were erected on the sites of the old homesteads which had been destroyed by the British, and Fairfield once more presented something of her old time appearance: but it has never been the bustling, thriving town of previous days. Newfield, now Bridgeport, with its fine harbor at the mouth of the Pequonnock River, speedily became a flourishing city, drawing trade and merchandise to its busy marts by sea and by land. But Black Rock continued to be the seaport of Fairfield, and merchantmen sailing to European ports and the West Indies, whaling vessels and sloops for home ports were frequently seen gliding out and returning into its fine harbor. Mill River and Saugatuck also sent out vessels laden with grain, etc., for home ports.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1788-9
From having been one of the most beautiful and industrial towns in New England, Fairfield now became the centre of intellectual culture, refinement and social intercourse. The meetings of the county courts brought together the legal talent of the State, and gentlemen of wealth and distinction settled among its inhabitants, among whom were the late Dr. Isaac Bronson of Greenfield Hill; the distinguished Chancellor James Kent of New York City, whose father, Moss Kent, was one of the patriots of Fairfield in the Revolution, and married Mrs. Hazzard, a daughter of a Mr. Wakeman of Green's Farms, and whose house was burned by the British in 1779 ;* Captain Abraham Dudley Baldwin, an active and energetic officer of Greenfield during the Revolution, who was named after his distinguished uncle, United States Senator Abraham Baldwin, one of the framers of the Constitution of the United States; and General Elijah Abel, an active political and military officer of the Revolu- tion who resided at Fairfield in the homestead of Justice Nathan Gold.
The name of Joseph Earl Sheffield is one which will always be re- membered with pride and gratitude .* He was born in his father's home at Southport, Conn., June 19, 1793, and was the son of Paul King Shef- field, and his wife Mabel, daughter of Captain Eliphalet Thorp. He served when but about twelve years of age as a coast-guard, in the war of 1812 .* Taking advantage of every opportunity for education which the impoverished condition of our families afforded after the Revolution. he raised himself to honor, wealth and distinction. In 1822 he married Maria, a daughter of Colonel T. St. John of Walton, Delaware County, New York. After residing in Mobile, Alabama, some years, he removed to New Haven, Conn., with his wife and children. Some twenty years after he purchased land and a house adjoining his home, enlarged the house and added class-rooms, laboratories and library for the Scientific School of Yale College, and added at a later date additional building. " more extensive, at an aggregate cost, including site, buildings & equip- ment, of over $400,000." He engaged in various large business projects, which increased his wealth. Beside his liberal donations to the Sheffield Y'ale Scientific School, he contributed liberally to the Berkeley Divinity School in Middletown, Connecticut, and to Trinity College, Hartford. He gave twenty acres of land in Chicago to the Theological Seminary of the Northwest ; besides handsome donations to the Young Men's Insti- tute, Trinity Parish School and other institutions in New Haven; and * Appendix.
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END OF REVOLUTION. FREEDOM OF UNITED STATES
1789]
$500 to Trinity Church, Southport, when destroyed by fire in 1854. His amiable wife joined with him in generous deeds of charity to all classes and conditions of men and women, so that it may be truly said of them :
"None knew them but to love; None named them but to praise."
Both Mr. and Mrs. Sheffield lived to a ripe old age. He died in 1882, aged eighty-nine, leaving handsome bequests to the Sheffield Scientific School and other charitable institutions .*
Frederic Marquand whose name as one of the famed jewelers of New York City, is another son of Fairfield to be remembered for his generous gifts of a fine stone public library and valuable books to South- port ; the Marquand Chapel to Yale College, and the Marquand Chapel to Princeton College, New Jersey. To his brother. Henry G. Marquand, the country is largely indebted for valuable pictures and works of art presented to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
The name of Jonathan Godfrey was known as a tower of strength in church and state, and his generous gifts to the Berkeley Divinity School. Trinity College and Trinity Church, Southport, with his warm, sympathetic heart and generosity to the poor and needy, will long be remembered with love and respect.
Still another name is that of Francis D. Perry, loved and cherished for his kindly nature and pure Christian life, who bequeathed his home at Southport for a Rectory to Trinity Church, and left handsome sums of money to Trinity Church and to the Congregational and Methodist churches.
Morris W. Lyon, born in the early part of the nineteenth century, is another name to be remembered with pride, as a generous and prime mover and benefactor in furnishing a beautiful and substantial public library to the town of Fairfield.
There are many other names worthy of mention, but to record their deeds of patriotism and charities would fill a volume. It is with pride and reverence we recall all those who have made themselves pillars of strength in the beautiful historic town of Fairfield.
* Barnard's American Journal of Education, No. 10, July 15th, Vol. 3.
APPENDIX
No. I
POST ROADS
INNS BETWEEN BOSTON AND NEW YORK IN 1697
" The several stages (in 1697) from the city of New York to Boston, & where trav- elers may be accommodated.
" From New York to Boston it is accounted 274 miles, thus-viz .: From the Post Office in New York to Jo Clapp's in the Bowery is 2 miles (which generally is the bating place, where Gentlemen take leave of their friends, going so long a journey) & where a parting glass or two of generous Wine,
" If well applyd, makes their dull horses feel,
One spur i' th' Head is worth two in the heel."
From said Clapp's to halfway House. 7 miles.
Thence to King's Bridge ..
9
..
" Old Shute's at Eastchester. 6
.. " New Rochel Meeting-house 4
" Joseph Horton's .. 4
66 Denham's at Rye. 4
Knap's at Horse Neck 7
" Dan Weedse's at Stamford. 7
.. Belden's at Norwalk IO
..
.. Burr's at Fairfield IO
16
. T. Knowles's at Stratford. 8
Andrew Sandford's at Milford. 4
Capt. John Mills' at New Haven IO
Te Widow Frisbie's at Brandford. IO
" John Hobson's at Guilford. IO
John Grissell's at Killinsworth 10
..
.. John Clarke's at Seabrook IO
..
.. Mr. Plum's, New London. 10
Mr. Saxton's. 15
66
Mr. Pemberton's in the Narragansett Country. 15
66
66 .. French Town 2.1
Mr. Turpin's. 20
.6 Mr. Woodcock's 15
6.
Mr. Billingse's Farm
66 Mr. White's. 6
66
Mr. Fisher's .. 6
€6
& from thence to the great Town of Boston 10 miles where many good Lodgings & Accommodations may be had for Love & Money.
I wish to have preserved in the columns of the "Courant " a list of the inns between
16
66
66
66
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
Boston & New York in 1697. It is copied (original orthography followed) from a New York almanac for that year which, the preface says, is the first almanac ever made in the province of New York. You will see that the route in 1697 is nearly identical with that adopted in 1853 by the recently proposed " new through railroad line from New York to Boston," the projectors of which seem (for railroad people) to have a remarkable regard for the footsteps of their ancestors.
The reader will bear in mind that this route was in 1697 only practicable for travelers upon horseback, who usually accompanied the post rider.
DATCHET.
No. II
FAIRFIELD
The testimony of Mary Beers, wife to Reuben Bcers of Fairfield, of lawful age, is as follows; viz. :
That about one of the clock succeeding the 7th inst. a picket of Hessians in General Garth's division broke into our house & thereupon I came out of the cellar with two small children & a negro child, & on opening the cellar door, they cried out, Kill her, kill her, & came at me with a number of fixed bayonets : I begged & intreated, implored & prayed, to spare my life & run back down cellar & opened the out cellar door & went into the door yard, with the aforesd three children, & 1 found there a number of enemy with an officer : I expostulated with them, I told the officer that my husband was sick, & had not been out for two days then past, that he was a sick man & in bed, when they came to the house, that he was not in arms, & begged his life & property, whereupon the capt. said he was not killed but was a prisoner : whereupon I applied to the gen as I supposed, who was a Hessian called: I asked protection for myself, children, & property, & release of my husband. Said Hessian general & a colonel said my husband should be used well, that my person, children, house & property should be safe, but said he (the gen laying his hand on the head of my little babe) Poor child I pity you, I cannot spare your house it must be burnt : thereupon up came the officer of those who first broke into the house, & he said, Go woman in haste you may perhaps put the fire out of your house: & I went protected by a guard who behaved decently, & I found my house effectually plundered of linnen by them, & great destruction of moveables in the house, & I extinguishi'd the fire. Whereupon I went to the house of David Beers who to my knowledge was in peace at home with his wife & family, & they enter'd the sd house with violence, & took Mr. Beers prisoner, & plunder'd his house, & pretended that he had fired out of his house but it was groundless ; & in the morning, without distinction, they burnt his house & shop, & all moveables left in them. Their behaviour was like distracted or mad men, & pretended many of them not to speak English. And further saith not.
MARY BEERS.
Fairfield July 24th 1779, Personally appeared Mary Beers above named & made oath to the truth of the above.
Before me Andrew Rowland Jus. P.
Reuben Beers above named personally appear'd & made oath that he agrees with the above named Mary Beers, his wife, in all the parts of her narrative so far as he is know- ing & adds that by the intreat & request of David Beers aforenam'd on application to Genl
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APPENDIX
Tryon, & his own request & information that he had a large family of small children & wife, that he supposed his house & property was destroyed, the gen' at the place of em- barkation released him.
Sworn before me Andrew Rowland Jus. P.
The testimony of Abigail Bulkley, wife of Josiah Bulkley of lawful age is as follows, viz. :
That the enemy on their coming to the west end of the town, on the night of the 7th inst. they enquired after my husband. I told them that he was out of the town & was not under arms, however they plundered my house of almost all the moveables in it. I with Mrs. Beardsley who was supposed to be in travel & the officers there behaved decently to me, & by the aid & assistance of one of them, I saved my house, & some trifle of furni- ture from flames. It appeared to me that there was a number of lessians at liberty to act without restraint, & further saith not.
ABIGAIL
her mark BULKLEY Junr .
SS. Fairfield July 23d 1779.
Personally appeared Abigail Bulkley above named & made oath to the truth of the above.
Before me Andrew Rowland Jus. Ps.
The testimony of Jane Bulkley wife to Andrew Bulkley of lawful age is as follows, Viz. :
That when the enemy entered the town of Fairfield that part of the army under the command of General Garth were stationed in the westerly part of the town & a number of officers & men came to my house, & received such refreshment as they required, & said that persons who staid in their houses, should be safe in person & property, & at their request 1 went & milked my cow & gave them the milk, whereupon the cow was led away by them & killed ; my house was fir'd five times & I extinguished it. The men were at full liberty & behaved with great licentiousness. 1 heard a number of under officers at my door, say that before morning every house would be laid in ashes, that we should not fare so well as New Haven: they plundered my house, stripped my buckles out of my shoes, & abused me with insulting language. Their officers had not or did not exer- cise command over them, so as in the least to restrain them. They continued burning houses & barns the whole night. I had a protection from General Garth by word & he ordered a guard for me but it served only to save my property 'till daylight, & then my house was plundered & attempted to be burnt. The latter part of the night the soldiers appear'd to be in drink, they plunder'd a plenty of spirituous liquors. And further saith not.
JANE BULKLEY.
Fairfield July 24th 1779.
Fairfield July 24th 1779.
Personally appeared Jane Bulkley & made oath to the truth of the above. Before me Andrew Rowland Jus. Ps.
The testimony of Eunice Burr wife of Thaddeus Burr Esq. respecting the proceed- ings of the enemy at Fairfield on the 7th & 8th days of July 1779, is as followeth viz.
On Wednesday morning between 9 & 10 o'clock the 7th July some friends came in
432
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
& told me that they believed that the enemy's shipping were standing in, & that it was their opinion, that the enemy wo'd land; being formerly well acquainted with a number of the British officers, & ever finding them of a polite humane disposition, & observing the good order they kept up among their soldiers, I was induced, once, to act against all the entreaties of my friends, & risque my life & all that is dear to me, in hopes to save an ancient pleasant mansion house, with its valuable furniture & stores. This I was the more willing to undertake, as I had been told, "that if people would stay in their own houses, they, the enemy, would not molest nor disturb them, & their property would be safe."
By the time that the main body of the enemy had got up to the court house, instead of the once humane & polite Britons, a pack of the most barbarous ruffians came rushing into the house, & repeatedly accosted me with you Dam Rebel where is your husband, he is a selectman-at the same time striping me of my buckles, taring down the curtains of my bed, breaking the frame of my dressing glass, pulling out the draws of my table & desk; & after taking what they could find, they then went up stairs & proceeded much in the same manner. At this juncture there came in an officer, who, I suppose was a capt. & demanded the arms; those which I knew of were produced, & he immediately ordered them out of the house & upon my representation of the conduct of the ruffians towards me, he ordered them out of the house. No sooner were one set out, but another came in, calling for syder, breaking down the china, stone & glass ware in the closets & where ever they found it. In the midst of this confused state General Tryon came into the house. He behaved with politeness. He demanded the papers. I told him there were none but of very old dates which related to old estates. The general said, Those are what we want, for we intend to have the estates-upon which he ordered an officer to take them to the court house. Very soon after he had taken leave of me there came in a set more dreadfull than the ruffians who first attacked me. These being informed, or suspicious, that I was possessed of a watch, attempted to search me. I drew back to the yard, the only shelter that I had, & there committed myself to that God, whose protection & mercy is beyond the reach of such cruel monsters. They however were permitted to pursue me, throw me upon the ground, & search me, pulling & taring my cloths from me in a most bar- barious manner, no intreaties or persuasions prevailing upon them to desist. Heaven directed the steps of the aforementioned captain to the gate, who perceiving the horrid situation that I was in, ran to my relief, & drove the ruffians from the yard. Soon after this General Tryon (with Mr. Thomas Chapman of Stratford, who is said to be a capt. in the New Levies) called in. Mr. Chapman made himself known to me, upon which I reminded him of his often waiting on a more soft & delicate set of company to the house, than those I had been visited with in the course of the day-asked him if he could have a heart to burn the house where he had spent so many agreeable hours, upon which he assured me he would do everything in his power to save the building.
General Tryon upon hearing the aforesaid captain relate the situation he found me in, was kind enough to order two centrys at the house, which caused me a more quiet night than I feared, tho' horror & distress were my constant companions, great part of the town being in flames. Just before sunrise Capt. Chapman came to me very politely, & told me that General Tryon wanted to speak to me. I immediately waited on him. He told me that through the entreaties of Mr. Sayer & some other friends, & knowing my situation, he should spare my buildings, Mr. Eliot's, the church & meeting-house-that he did not like destroying those buildings. I told him that I was obliged to him for the favor, & felt as happy to have those buildings saved as my own, & that I thought he wo'd do himself honor. He asked for pen, ink & paper. I very readily procured them.
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APPENDIX
He then unasked & unsolicited by me, gave me a protection for my house & property, & the Rev'd Mr. Eliot's, written with his own hand & signed with his own name. Thus deluded with a false hope, after the fatigue of the day, night, & more dreadfull morning, when every building around me was on fire, & some of my poor neighbours, whose habi- tations were in flames, had run into my house for shelter, instead of attempting to carry out & secure what was in the house, our whole attention was taken up in supplying the house with water, & altho' they were almost buried in flames, neither the barn or house took fire. The pleasure & satisfaction I felt for a few minutes in thinking I had a shelter for myself & some of my distressed friends, was great. But alas! how soon was it over. No sooner had the horn blew, I suppose for the whole to retreat, my centrys went off & a band of those savage creatures were left as a rear guard to compleat the destruction -some of whom, unperceived by me, came into the house. I heard a most dreadful screaching in one of the rooms, upon which I ran to it, & to my great surprise found some of those monsters abusing an aged lady, one of my neighbours, by pulling off her cap & tearing the hair front her head. Iler daughter, who had fled there for protection fared but little better. Seeing a number more of them come into the gate. I once more took courage, went out & intreated them to spare the house; told them that I had General Tryon's protection in writing; upon which they damned the general & protection too & tore it from me. While a number went into the house to set fire to it, two or three others came to search me, they took my pocket book & buttons, which till then I had preserved. Fearing that I should be insulted as I had been before, I disingaged my pocket & fled into the meadow.
The house with everything they had left, both furniture & stores were consumed. Much more might be told, both of officers & soldiers, which wo'd bring disgrace upon the once humane, but now savage Britons, but it wo'd make this narrative too lengthy. One more instance of their cruelty I must not fail to relate. On a bare suspicion, that a gun was fired from a window, by an aged negro of my neighbour Lewis's, they first shot him, then bayoneted him, as my centry, who was one of the number told me; & left his body to be consumed by the flames which were immediately kindled in the dwelling house.
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