USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > This is Fairfield, 1639-1940 > Part 14
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In 1777 when the British Forces landed off Com- po Beach for the raid on Danbury, the news quickly filtered back from the shore. John Dimon and a friend like many of their neighbors shouldered their guns and started for the scene of action. Reaching what is now Aspetuck they met several men on horseback and supposing they were bound on the same errand made known their intention "To go down and help fight the British."
The horsemen proved to be a British scouting party. Dimon and his friend had their guns taken from them and broken on a ledge of rock. Were made prisoners, taken to New York where he shortly thereafter died while confined in the Old Sugar House prison in Rose St. Miss Agnes Bradley, a lady advanced in years living near by told in 1929, as follows:
The ledge was on the farm owned by my father -Bradley and which after his death was sold to and is now owned by Edward Mills. There had for many years been a small stone back of it and it was much used as a 'horse Block' as one could drive alongside and alight on it. That she as a child had seen the ledge, but that it is now pretty well cov- ered up. She was well acquainted with the story of John Dimon's capture and pointed out the locality.
Altho much grading of the road has been done the top of the ledge with its straight face is plainly visible and distinguishable from the large boulders near it. It is on the west side of the road opposite south point of the triangle and about fifty feet north of the wagon gateway to Mr. Mills Premises. In the picture the right hand (east) road leads to Black Rock Turnpike and the left hand one to Lyons Plains.
At this writing the stone is no longer visible although a picture of its position in included with the pictures here.
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Other narrations of former days in Easton and Weston which were penned by John Dimon Bradley, great grandson of John Dimon, in his eighty-first and succeeding years and copied from the original manuscript by Lucy Bradley Wells (Mrs. Ralph) show the following:
Revolution from History and Hearsay by Cyrus Sherwood Bradley-1929
In the year 1777 I have learned from History that Governor Tryon landed at a place called Compo near Saugatuck and pursued his course toward Danbury. On his way, I have heard it said that he stopped under a large oak tree near the residence of George Gorham in what is now called Westport, to rest. Then he marched on to a place now called Cross Highway. A woman there, hearing that the British were coming. When nearly there she put her children in bed, and told them to keep still, for the British were coming, and then got in herself. When they came in she looked up and said, 'La, me, if I had known you were coming so soon I would have been up and had breakfast ready for you.' They went to another house and took a man along with them. After they left him somewhere on the road my great grandfather Dimon and a man with him, with guns on horseback, met two men on horseback. They asked them where they were going. On being told they were going down to fight the British, the men on horseback proved to be the British light horse. They then ordered them to break their guns across the fence and got on the horses behind them, and they went on towards Danbury, where they got to what is now called Easton. They stopped at the house of Thomas Treadwell, where William Wake- man now lives. From there near Eben Mills' black- smith shop the light guards, on seeing a man by the name of Jack Wakeman, a negro, come out of the shop with a horse and get on his back, they put chase after him, but his having a young horse kept his distance but when almost home he lost his hat, and turning to the right went across the river and put straight for Flag Swamp, so called. When the soldiers came along they stopped at the house of one Foot, which is still standing. The lady had been bak- ing, and taken her bread out of the oven, and they helped themselves to such as they liked. From there they went to Benoni Dimons. His son, Gould Dimon, went on with them. From there they went to where Moses Burr lived-a warm Tory-when Tryon came up he saluted him, and they shook hands, and Burr told him that he longed to see the day, and then invited him in to dinner, and the stone at the door that Tryon walked on when he went in, I have in my yard for a walk. While in the house for din- ner some of the men came in and helped them- selves to pans of milk from off the pantry shelf which hung up in the room. While this was going on in the dining room Burr or his men were in the cellar helping to get out casks of cider for the army. They took them into the road, and rolled them into his cart that stood in front of the house, and they helped themselves. After dinner was over Tryon took up his line of march to the next house, owned by Samuel Wakeman, where the soldiers entered,
and one of the soldiers thrust the butt end of his gun through the face of the clock, besides doing some other damage in the house. While during their stay Tory Burr was out in the field, helping the red-coats to put the yoke on Wakeman's fat oxen, while he was back on the hill, watching them to take along with the army. Before leaving here, some of the men called Scouts, taking a back road from Cross Highway, leading up around by Lyon's Plains, so called, stopping around at the house of my great grandfather Dimon. They stole some articles, and then took up their line of march on a cross road that lead out to the main road where they would meet the army, but somewhere on the road the scouts as they went, they found a small boy and one of them, taking him up, looked at him and told him that he so small that he would be of no use to him -to run home to his mother. Afterwards that boy became my mother's uncle. By this road in James Hill's lot stood a large chestnut tree that was hollow -large enough so that one of the scouts rode his horse into it, turning around, came out, and went to meet the army. Tryon then took up his line of march toward Danbury, leaving Tory Burr behind, Tryon, thinking that he would be of more service to the King, hereafter, than to him. This ends my report from hearsay of Tryon's March from Compo to Samuel Wakeman's in what is now called Easton. Since I wrote the above on the road from Wake- man's to Redding the British shot a man and his grave is still to be seen. This is hearsay.
Tryon from Danbury to Ridgefield and Compo
At Ridgefield Tryon was met by Arnold and Wooster, and had a battle in which Wooster was killed and Arnold's men scattering, he gave it up. After the battle Tryon left Ridgefield with his army and marched towards Saugatuck. On his way down before he got there, an old Tory met them, and told him that a man by the name of Nash, captain of a company in Greens Farms, had collected his men together, and had stationed them at the bridge in Saugatuck to show fight. He told Tryon that he could pass over above the bridge, and shun him. Tryon told the Tory that he must lead the way, or he would shoot him. He then led them through the riv- er and they marched down on this side of the river by the bridge without any opposition to Compo, tak- ing my great grandfather Dimon along with them to New York, and report said that he died in the old sugar house, so called, and the other man got away alive. The history of Tryon from Ridgefield to Compo I had from hearsay. The house where Tory Burr lived, in the time of the Revolution was an upright house, one story and a half high, facing the road, with two outside doors and an outside door on the south of the house had what was a gambrel roof, and the north side was covered with rent and shaved shingles from oak timber. The door on the south side led into a small room with a fireplace in it, and a bed also. After Tryon returned back from Compo to Long Island Tory Burr had frequent visits from his officers to get information where they could steal horscs and cattle to take to Long Island and to accommodate them he had a trap door fixed under the bed in this small room, and a hole dug
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in the ground underside, large enough for the men to get into, and stay secreted during the day, and at night return to Long Island with their plunder. This business was carried on from the time Tryon got back to Long Island till peace was declared, and the war was ended.
Note: John Dimon probably died in 1778 as the Probate proceedings were commenced that year. C. S. B.
The advertisements in the newspapers for the final and post-war days show several items of real interest.
(Advertisements) Connecticut Journal - New Haven
Lost on the road from Stratfield to Greenfield in Fairfield County, a parchment containing about 180 or 190 dollars in Continental bills; there were two 30 dollar bills one of which was dated November 1776. Any person finding the same and applying to the subscriber shall have twenty dollars reward.
2-5 David Hawley
Stratfield, September 18, 1778.
To be sold by the subscriber at Public Vendue1 on Thursday the 20th instant at 4 o'clock in the af- ternoon at the house of Mr. Seth Sherwood in Green- field. A six oar'd whale boat with two good sails and one swivel suitable for cruising on the Sound. Justin Jennings
Fairfield, March 4, 1780.
A court will be held at the dwelling house of Gershom Hubbell Esq., in Fairfield on the second day of April next at 9 o'clock in the forenoon to try the Justice of the capture of one piece of Cambrick and Sundry other goods taken in Long Island Sound and libelled by William Pike an Officer in the Con- tinental Army.
Lemuel Sanford, Justice Peace & Qu'm. Fairfield, March 10, 1783
There was indeed much work to be done.
Now the Town House (Hall) had to be com- pleted and a special tax to be paid in lawful money was levied.
All of the Town buildings-Church, Court House, Jail-were erected on the same founda- tions where the previous buildings had stood. The Church was built in the same form as the one burnt since it was the wish of the senior citizens of that period. The Church steps-large stone ones-remained in their former position. The other buildings, too, were designed similar- ly to the former ones. The Court House was more beautiful than the previous one had been. The Judge's bench was a high one. The Advocates' seats and those of the Jurors, as well as the Wit- ness boxes, were all ornamented with fine carved work.
Other business details of the Town were taken care of regularly once again. Straggling sheep with their natural and artificial marks had to be entered in the Town Records. The bridges were repaired or rebuilt. Captain Caleb Brew- ster, Captain John Squier 3rd and Mr. Aaron Turney were approved as builders for the bridge to be built over the Great Creek. Chimney view- ers were officially added to the list of Town Officers. The two Center School districts in the Prime Society were given liberty to make a swing partition across the Town House for the convenience of the school. There were loud pro- tests against Danbury becoming the Shire (County) town.
A Town Meeting Legally warned and held in Fair- field July 6th, 1784.
Voted yt Jonathan Sturges Esqr. be Moderator of this Meeting.
Voted and Agreed yt an Agent be appointed to prefer a Memorial to the General Assembly at their next Sessions respecting the late Act of Assembly making the Town Danbury a half Shire Town and Endeavour to obtain a repeal of the same. Also voted yt Jonathan Sturges Esqr. be Agent for the Town for the purpose aforesaid.
Voted and Agreed yt Andrew Rowland, Thads. Burr and Elijah Abel, Esqrs. be a Committee to Confer with the Selectmen of such of the different Towns in this County as they shall think proper de- siring such Selectmen to try the minds of their Sev- eral Towns relative to the late Act of Assembly relative to making Danbury a half Shire Town and invite such Towns to take some suitable Measures to obtain a Repeal of said Act.
Voted yt ye Agent for the Town prefer a Mem- orial with a Citation respecting the Law of this State making Danbury a half shire Town and have the same served on sd Town of Danbury as soon as he Conveniently can.
Voted and Agreed yt the new Law Books be dis- posed of in manner following Viz: one to be lodged with ye Town Clerk for the use of said Societies: and the Selectmen to dispose of the rest for the benefit of the Town.
Thaddeus Burr and Jonathan Sturges, Esq., were chosen a Committee to "stake out a place at the Southeast Corner of the Place of Parade on The Mill Plain for the professors of the Epis- copal Church in this town to build a house for public worship there." The church was conse- crated in 1789 and opened to service in 1790.
On December 21, 1786, it was decided to hold town meetings in the Prime Society hereafter and on May 8, 1787 it was voted that "part of the Parish of Norfield and part of the Parish that lye in the town of Fairfield be incorporated into a Township"-Weston. The new township immediately claimed some of the school and
1 Sales of goods seized from ships.
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public monies.
In 1786 Freemen in Fairfield County were to meet on the 3rd Tuesday in September annually to choose 20 gentlemen to stand in nomination for Assistants and 12 to stand in nomination for Delegates in Congress.
Then the Monday following the first Tuesday in April was Freemen's Meeting throughout the state. At this time Freemen had to be 21 years of age, possess a freehold estate to the value of 40 shillings personal estate and be of quiet and peaceable behavior. Town officers listed in the State Register for 1786 were:
David Burr Clerk
Gold Selleck Silliman
State Attorney
Elijah Abel
Sheriff
Ephraim Robbins
Deputy Sheriff
Nathan Bulkley
Town Clerk
Jabez Fitch-Greenfield
Town Clerk
House of Representatives:
Col. Elijah Abel
Postmaster Ministers listed:
Capt. Samuel Wakeman Thaddeus Burr
Rev. Andrew Elliott
Rev. Hezekiah Ripley
Rev. Robert Ross
Rev. James Johnson
Rev. Timothy Dwight Two vacant Parishes were also listed.
On December 22, 1788 the town made known that it was opposed to Stratfield becoming a sep- arate town and sent Jonathan Sturgis to the General Assembly meeting in New Haven to op- pose the petition of the inhabitants of Stratfield. The town had also taken title to a piece of land at Black Rock-"northerly of the upper wharf" and Thaddeus Burr, Joseph Strong Esq., and Captain Samuel Smedley were appointed a Com- mittee with full power to lay out and bound out land belonging to the Town at Black Rock upper wharf into proper lots for the building of wharves and stores "for the accommodation of such gentlemen as may choose to establish them- selves in trade at Black Rock".
The Connecticut Journal for September 9, 1789 carried the following announcement:
At a meeting of the Town of Fairfield on the 24th of August last, a committee was chosen to lay out the land belonging to the Town and Black Rock Harbour, into proper Lots for building Wharves and Stores upon, for Accommodation of such Gentlemen as may choose to establish themselves in Trade at that Place; and impowered said Committee to give Survey-Bills of said Lots to such Gentlemen as may apply for them for that purpose. In consequence of said Vote, We the Subscribers have laid out five very commodious Lots, at said Black Rock, and are now ready to give surveys of them to such Gentle-
men as may apply for the purpose above mentioned -the lots to be a free gift from the Town.
Thaddeus Burr
Joseph Strong
Committee
Samuel Smedley
Fairfield, September 4, 1789
The next year it became unlawful to take oysters from the Ash House Creek.
Small Pox continued after as during the war to place a shadow over the community and each year permission had to be granted for innocula- tions.
On October 16, 1789, President George Wash- ington and his entourage spent the night at the "Rising Sun Tavern", just at the rear of the Town Hall on the Village Green. This stop was part of the President's tour through New Eng- land. The next day he went on to Stratford, etc. His diary shows the following for the 1789 east- ward Journey which marked his 7th journey in Connecticut:
Thursday, Friday, October 15, 16, 1789-Rye
About 7 o'clock we left the Widow Haviland's (in Rye) and after passing Horse-Neck ... we breakfasted at Stamford ... at Norwalk ... we made a halt to feed our horses ... From thence to Fairfield, where we dined and lodged, is 12 miles; and part of it very rough Road, but not equal to that thro' Horse-Neck. The superb Landscape, how- ever, which is to be seen from the Meeting House of the latter is a rich regalia. We found all the farmers busily employed in gathering, grinding and express- ing the juice of their apples, the crop of which they say is rather above mediocrity. The average crop of wheat they say is about fifteen bushels to the acre for the fallow land-often twenty and from that to twenty-five. The Destruction evidences of British cruelty are yet visible both in Norwalk and Fair- field; as there are the chimneys of many burnt houses standing in them yet.
The principal export from Norwalk and Fairfield is horses and cattle-salted beef and pork-lumber and Indian Corn to the West Indies and in a small degree wheat and flour.
Friday, Saturday, October 16, 17, 1789-Fairfield
A little after sun-rise we left Fairfield and passing through Et. Fairfield, breakfasted at Stratford ... was attended to the Ferry, which is near a mile from the center of the Town by sev'l. Gentlemen on horse- back ... the Ferry is near half a mile ... From the Ferry it is about 3 miles to Milford ... From Mil- ford, we took the lower road through West Haven . . . etc., etc.
Of his return journey through Connecticut in 1789 he says . . .
Wednesday, Thursday, November 11, 12, 1789- Westport
Set out about sunrise, and took the upper road to Milford, it being shorter than the lower one
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through West Haven. Breakfasted at the former (at the Clark Homestead). Baited at Fairfield; and dined and lodged at a Maj. Marvin's 9 miles further.
There was an interesting account in the "Con- necticut Journal" for December 27, 1789 telling of his departure from Connecticut which I think bears repeating here:
Connecticut Journal-December 23, 1789 The President and the Tything Man
The President on his return to New York from his late tour thru Connecticut, having missed his way on Saturday, was obliged to ride a few miles on Sunday morning, in order to gain the town, at which he had previously proposed to have attended divine service-Before he arrived, however, he was met by a tythingman who commanding him to stop, demanded the occasion of his riding; and it was not until the President informed him of every circum- stance, and promised to go no further than the town intended, that the tything man would permit him to proceed on his journey.
He noted in his diary that contrary to modern custom, it was against the law and "offensive to the people of Connecticut to travel on Sunday" -no doubt, the result of this experience.
President Washington probably stayed over- night in Fairfield on his third journey through Connecticut for judging from his expense ac- count for April 11, 1776 "at Penfield's in Fair- field for £2-0s-9d" was listed as an expense.
On his second journey in June, 1775, it was said that he went on the Old Post Road from New York as far as New Haven on his eastward trip. His first journey in February 1756, going from Alexandria, Virginia to Boston, probably took him through our town and he must have returned through it on his way back. There is an entry for dinner at Bulkley's Inn on June 28 in his log.
It is said that Washington drank from the well at the old Osborne House in Southport. A silver tankard hung on the well to satisfy the thirsty travelers along the King's Highway.
We should also realize that Paul Revere spent a night during this period at the home of Judge Jonathan Sturgis when on his way from Boston to New York with messages for General Wash- ington. The site of that house is now the small park opposite St. Thomas Church on the Boston Post Road.
The stages drove from New York to Hartford twice each week in 1784.
In 1790 there were 1,449 inhabitants in Fair- field. Fairfield was the Port of Entry for the whole coast of Connecticut on the western side of the Housatonic. Commerce was carried on
with New York and Boston. The coasting trade was of considerable importance, while that with foreign lands was comparatively small.
The Collector of Customs was Samuel Smed- ley of Fairfield and included here are some cus- toms receipts of that time. (Many carriages were taxed by Act of Congress, June 1794).
I ANDREW ELLIOTT of the Township of FAIR- FIELD in the county of FAIRFIELD do hereby make entry with S. SMEDLEY collector of the Rev- enue in the said Township of ONE CHAISE to be drawn by ONE horse WITHOUT a top and having TWO wheels, agreeable to an act of the Congress of the United States passed on the fifth day of June 1794.
Dated in FAIRFIELD ANDREW ELLIOTT this 30 day of SEPT. 1794
To S. SMEDLEY Collector
of the Revenue in the 7th Division in the District of Connecticut
I MARY SILLIMAN of the Township of FAIR- FIELD in the county of FAIRFIELD do hereby make entry with S. SMEDLEY Collector of the Rev- enue in the said Township of ONE CHAISE to be drawn by ONE horse WITH a top and having TWO wheels, agreeable to an act of the Congress of the United States passed on the fifth day of June 1794.
Dated in FAIRFIELD MARY SILLIMAN
this 30 day of SEPT. 1794
To S. SMEDLEY Collector
of the Revenue in the 7th
Division in the District of Connecticut
I PHILO SHELTON of the Township of FAIR- FIELD in the County of FAIRFIELD do hereby make entry with S. SMEDLEY Collector of the Rev- enue in the said Township of ONE CHAISE to be drawn by ONE horse WITH a top and having TWO wheels, agreeable to an act of the Congress of the United States passed on the fifth day of June 1794.
Dated in FAIRFIELD this 15 day of SEPT. 1794
PHILO SHELTON
To S. SMEDLEY Collector
of the Revenue in the 7th Division in the District of Connecticut
Cargo of Ship S. Smedley Collector Bound for Boston
April 2, 1792
12,000 pounds of flax 17,000 bushels corn 400 bushels rye
400 bushels oats
40 barrels pork
30 barrels flour
40 bags flour
6 sacks feathers
3 kegs hogs lard
300 lbs. cheese 12 pieces ? ? cloth 8 Fox skins
All freight had to be cleared by the Collector.
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This list shows a typical cargo going from Fair- field.
It would be appropriate at this point to say a little more about Captain Samuel Smedley whose house stood at the corner of Oldfield and Old Post Road and with all of its out-buildings was burned on July 9, 1779. He with a Fairfield crew took to privateering on the "Recovery". He was taken prisoner and shipped to the Old Mill Prison in Plymouth, England in March 1781 at the age of 28. From there he escaped and ar- rived in Philadelphia from Holland on Septem- ber 12, 1782 in command of a chartered ship "Heer Adams" with a large consignment of mili- tary and naval stores for the United States which had been purchased in Holland during the War. Captain Smedley continued as Collector of Cus- toms for the District of Fairfield until he died on June 13, 1812. The custom house where all of the shipping business of the District was car- ried on was for a time at the house on the corner of Bronson Road and Old Academy Road in Greenfield Hill. It was later moved to a building in Bridgeport west of Park Avenue on Division Street.
Mill River was beginning to show its value for transportation and trade about now.
It was further voted:
that Mill River Rock against which Captain Wyght's vessel was driven and dashed to pieces be given to Captain Wyght if nothing thereon be built by him to impede or hurt the navigation of Mill River and he have liberty to make a dock on the north side there- on-if it be done within 2 years.
A picture of this rock is in the picture section. Water lots were also laid out on Mill River. On October 21, 1799 it was
Voted that this town be willing that a lottery be granted by the General Assembly for the purpose of sinking the channel of Mill River Harbor and they request that any application of the like kind to sd Assembly be by them considered not to be of an adversary nature as respects sd town and that fur- ther notice be unnecessary thereof to said town- said votes truly taken.
Per S. Rowland-Town Clerk
Town Planning and organization continued, an example of which would be when
Liberty was given to Samuel Rowland (Town Clerk) to build a stoop or portico in front of his house to extend 7-8 ft. from sd House toward the road-fence to run from the lower step to the cor- ners of the house.
On December 22, 1794 a committee was em- powered to estimate and value the Town House
and consider the property of the Town House.
The following September the Selectmen were given the power to sell the Town House to the best advantage and the purchaser to remove it from where it then stood and Caleb Brewster was given "liberty to remove his blacksmith shop from where it now stands-a little north of Captain Wheeler's wharf and to remove his store which now stands near his house to the place which he removes sd blacksmith shop".
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