USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > This is Fairfield, 1639-1940 > Part 17
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The Saugatuck Harbor in 1819 which was formed by the Saugatuck River was adequate for ordinary coasters to get about.
During the period there were 2500 tons of shipping owned in Fairfield. Oysters and clams were taken in great numbers but had declined by this time because they had not been allowed to attain their full growth. Shad and fin fish were also present in the waters.
The manufactures of the Town were said not to be extensive but the milling business was car- ried on to some extent. Nine grain mills were listed and four of these were on the Tide Water. Each had several sets of stones which were em- ployed principally in flouring wheat which was brought from other States. Some of the mills had kilns for drying Indian corn which was af- terward made into meal for the foreign markets. The other five mills were erected on streams of water. There were two manufacturing establish- ments of wool and cotton which had flourished during the Revolutionary War but had since declined. There were five canneries, twenty-five retailing mercantile stores and two fulling mills and clothiers works.
Typhoid fever was very prevalent that year and a special way of collecting Church funds was instituted. "Sunday June 10, 1819 was the first time that contribution boxes were hung on the outside of the door at the Meeting House for to raise money to educate clergymen there ap- pears by the statement made to be a great de- ficiency, this manner of placing the boxes is in order to evade the law as that prohibits contri- bution except by special act of the legislature and to be made known by the Proclamation of the Governor".
That same year lightning struck the Stratfield Meeting House rod within two feet of the ground and broke one window on April 18. The Harbors were full of mackeral that year, the first that had been seen in 40 years. On October 20, 1819 William Wheeler entered in his journal-"In- numerable number of small mackeral-the har- bor seems to be alive with them-very few have
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been seen for forty years past-then there was a like number and they were larger-their food goes with them being very small fish, and of a shining appearance in infinite numbers-2500 mackeral were caught in the sieve at a haul this day and as many more ran through it. Fifty might be caught by a hook and line in a tide by a single person-they had been taken in the Sound about a week before-warm and pleasant weather".
For October 15, 1819, Jonathan Bulkley made this entry in his diary for Mill River-"Small mackeral is very plentiful in Long Island Sound -at this time-a boat with three men caught 500 this day-the water appears to be full".
On December 19, the first hard northeast storm since the preceding Spring came. What little rain had fallen upon the Town had come from the Southwest-and this as we know is not a good corner for the abundance of moisture. A great drought had been present throughout the summer and fall. There had been no water in the valleys and scarcely any in the wells. The roads had been entirely hard and dry for many months which was a real change for the muddy season as the folks all knew annually very well. December was said to be warm and pleasant for the most part and the cattle were feeding on the grass which had been green for the season.
The Tax Collectors were to have 3% on all monies collected and the annual Town meetings were to be held at 1 o'clock in the afternoon in- stead of at 10 o'clock in the morning.
Jonathan Bulkley made this entry for Mon- day, September 3, 1821-"Monday Eve Sept. 3, 1821. Experienced at Mill River & along the Coast a hurricane such as was never known be- fore by the oldest inhabitants. The gale from the E.S.E. shifting to S.W. commencing about 7 o'clock and abaiting about half past 10 in the evening blew down chimneys, corn houses, fences, trees & greater damage among the ship- ping done at Quarantine Station Island likewise in the City of New York many lives lost on the bank of Long Island accounts say upwards of 90 dead bodies have come on shore".
The needed care of the roads and bridges still shown brightly on the problem horizon and at- tracted necessarily so much attention. A special tax was levied again each year to carry out the repairs and general work. Hull Sherwood made this entry in his diary for Saturday, Feb. 20, 1818, "this day the Selectmen of Fairfield sur- veyed and laid out the road which leads from
James and Stephen Perry's house to intersect the old road on Sasco Hill and likewise looked at the contemplated road from Mr. Alvord's store to the turnpike 154 rods round and 34 rods cross 120 rods difference. Selectmen to report next Town Meeting." In 1823 three persons in each Parish district were given the responsibility of mending the highways. It was voted that "Sey- mour Taylor, Aaron Sherwood and Banks Wake- man be chosen for the Parish of Greens Farms; Zalmon Wakeman, William Sherwood Jr. and A. D. Baldwin1 be chosen for the Parish of Greenfield; Jeremiah Sturges, Sam Rowland and Walter Thorp be chosen for the Parish of Fair- field; Robert Wilson, Sam Warden and Sam O. Seeley be chosen for the Parish of Stratfield to be a committee for the above purpose". Any surveyor of the highway who neglected his duty was fined $7.00. He had to return his highway tax book to the Selectman in the parish to which he belonged on or before the 20th day of No- vember and to render an account to the Select- men at the time he returned his book of all the taxes collected and laid out by him. A special book for the purpose was given to each surveyor.
The next year, 1824, the list of Surveyors of Highways grew even larger. These were shown: Charles Sherwood, Sam O. Seeley, Sam More- house, Jesup Banks, Abm. Wilson, Alden Wil- son for Jennings Woods district; David Wilson for West district; Elijah Bibbins for Holland district; Thaddeus Burr for Black Rock district; Sam Wakeman for road No. 4; Joshua Green for Stone Bridge district; Roger M. Sherwood for Middle district; Sam A. Nichols for East Bridge district; Walter Sherwood for Godfrey Bridge district; John Hull for Mill Plain district; N. B. Alvord, Hull Sherwood for Mill Hill district; John S. Wilson for Holland Hill district; Sam Beers for Westfield district. In Greenfield Parish -Gideon Tomlinson for district No. 1, William Sherwood for N. 2, Uriah Hubbell for No. 3, Abm. D. Baldwin No. 4, David Burr No. 5, Sam Wheeler No. 6, Timothy Burr No. 7, William Bulkley for No. 8, John Staples for No. 9, Zal- mon Wakeman for No. 10, Zalmon Bradley for No. 11, Abm. Banks for No. 12, David Smith
1 Capt. Abraham D. Baldwin was a distinguished lawyer who served our Country as Senator from Connecticut, helped form the Constitution of the United States and was the founder of the University of Georgia.
The following inscription is on his tombstone in the old Burying Ground on Bronson Road.
"Abraham Baldwin lies buried in Washington His memory needs no marble His country is his monument Her Constitution his greatest work"
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for No. 13, Hezekiah Ogden for No. 14, Sam Murwin for No. 15, Levi Osborn for No. 16. In Greens Farms Parish-Burr Meeker for No. 1, Jos. Bennett for No. 2, Silas Meeker for No. 3, Zalmon Bulkley for No. 4, Eben Beers for No. 6, Joseph Hyde for No. 5, Jesse Jennings for No. 7, Charles Wakeman No. 8 and Wakeman Couch for No. 9.
The religious revival in the area was continu- ing. There were large out of door camp meetings and two to three thousand would gather to hear a preacher of note. As one looks through todays hymnals, there are ever so many hymns from that period.
The boats returned again with cargo from the West Indies, making the round trip in about 13 weeks. Materials on board might include 61 hogshead of rum, fruit, and molasses.
In February 1824, a Comet which had been visible over Fairfield for some two months dis- appeared. On August 20, 1824, General Lafay- ette passed through Fairfield on his way to Bos- ton and it was said that multitudes assembled to see him. That was a Friday evening and he had arrived at 10 o'clock. He stopped at W. Knapps Inn for about an hour, "took a cold bit" and then went on to Bridgeport where he spent the night.
Once again on May 5, 1825, the question of decreasing the size of Fairfield came up and it was voted "that the petition of John Hyde and others to the General Assembly of this State now in session praying that the Town of Fairfield may be divided and that the Society of Greens Farms and a part of the Town of Weston may be incorporated into a new town ought not to be granted, and . . . that Hon. David Hill be the agent of the above . . . ordered that the Town Clerk enter on the records of the Town the above vote was passed by 178 votes in the affirmative and that none appeared in the negative.
On April 26, 1826 they voted again to oppose the Greens Farms petition. At that time there were twenty buildings in Southport.
In December 1828 it was decided to put the Town Room in the Court House in a "good state of repair" and that the "benches belonging there to be collected". Three years later the Selectmen were directed to seat this room "permanently". In 1836 it was voted-"that the Town Room in the Court House in the future be the place of holding Election meetings instead of the Meet- ing House as heretofore practiced".
A few years later in the Town Room, altera-
tions were made to allow the election meetings to run more smoothly.
On April 19, 1830, it was voted "to authorize the Selectmen to put such of the poor children as are cast upon the town for support under the care of the Female Beneficient Association of Fairfield".
And further that-"75¢ per week be allowed for their support while under the care of the Association-for board and schooling-the town be saved harmless of the expense of clothing". The children went to school in Black Rock.
In 1833 on August 13 a Fair was held at the Old Academy for the benefit of the poor children and $250.00 was realized. That was the first Fair ever held in Town. According to the late Mrs. Kipper's reminiscences "All men and women had a mind to work. The gentlemen were very busy that afternoon setting tables, renewing refreshments prepared by the ladies of the town, and in various ways making themselves useful as well as ornamental. The late Mr. and Mrs. John Glover were boarding that summer in Greenfield. Mrs. Glover furnished the ice cream. We were all anticipating its arrival, the first ever made in this vicinity. At last it came nicely packed in the freezer and in a large basket of salt hay. It took about 20 minutes to dispose of it in small wine glasses, at a "York" shilling a glass (about 12¢). It was pronounced by all who had the good fortune to secure a glass the most delicious they ever tasted-no exaggeration as it was their first experience in that delicacy".
During the winter of 1831-32 there were fre- quent flashings of the northern lights showing through the sky. These early people were so aware of all of nature which was around them.
On Feb. 12, 1831, an eclipse of the sun was visible in Fairfield. The sun's center was eclipsed for one hour and thirty-two minutes and Venus was visible to the naked eye. The entire duration of the eclipse lasted three hours and four min- utes.
On September 29, 1831, there were many mackeral in Black Rock Harbor. Three sieves were said to be going at once. A boy six years old caught two fish in a minute with his hook. It was truly a novel sight to see. Mr. Penfield took five bushels in one haul.
On September 21, 1832 a whale 20 feet in length and 13 feet circumference was found on the bar in Black Rock Harbor and taken. They were able to get only three gallons of oil from the whale. It is interesting to know that on Oct.
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28, 1833, just over a year later, a ship sailed out of this harbor seeking whales-the first to go for these from this port.
In 1833 James Knapp was listed as the Post- master and the Postage Rates for that time were all based on a single letter which was assumed to be one sheet of paper. The cost to carry that letter amounted to:
Any distance not exceeding 36 miles 6¢
Over 36 miles not exceeding 80 miles 10¢
Over 80 miles not exceeding 150 miles 121/2¢
Over 150 miles not exceeding 400 miles 183/4¢
Over 500 miles not exceeding 25¢
Double letters (2 pieces of paper) double rates
Triple letters (3 pieces of paper) triple rates
Quadruple letters (4 pieces of paper) quadruple rates
Stages, horseback and sulkies were used to transport the mail on the 2500 miles of Post Roads in Connecticut. The story goes that as the Stage running from New York to Boston ap- proached the old Penfield Tavern at a mile dis- tant, the boys would run as fast as they could to meet the coach and get a ride up to the old tavern on the stage.
The Phi Beta Kappa Society of Connecticut listed as its officers for 1833:
Hon. Roger M. Sherman, President
Prof. Jonathan Knight, Vice President
Aaron K. Skinner, Corresponding Secretary Charles Hooker M.D., Treasurer
Fairfield again being well represented.
On the 15th of June of that year numerous Fairfielders went to Bridgeport to see President Andrew Jackson who spent the morning there.
It was also reported that on November 12, 1833, there were hundreds of falling me- teors over the area. They came from all direc- tions all over the horizon, falling as fast as you could count-some of them were large and some of them left a trail like a stream of lightning. They fell for several hours that evening.
There were many fish in Black Rock Harbor that summer. It was said that on May 15, 36,000 fish were caught, 20,000 in a single haul on May 27, 52,000 on May 30-36,000 were caught in one haul-all blackbellies.
In 1834, Bridgeport started its efforts to re- move the County Seat from Fairfield to Bridge- port. There were many complaints offered but one of the loudest ones proclaimed that it was difficult to obtain good and sufficient food at Fairfield. This was a strange accusation for Fairfield had long since been noted for its boun- tiful hospitality. To quell this thought Judge
Osborn, one of the counsel at the committee hearing of the General Assembly brought in as witnesses Squire Rowland, Tom Bulkley, Sheriff Dimon and a few others, each of whom weighed between 200-300 pounds and introduced them to the committee as evidence that good living was preponderate in Fairfield and that ended that particular complaint.
1835 brought the Palmer worms to the Town. They stayed about three weeks and found the apple trees, the oak trees and the quince bushes to be favorite spots of refuge. During their stay they destroyed all of the apples for the season. According to Mr. Neely Turner, Chief Entomolo- gist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven, Palmer worms are:
THE CONNECTICUT
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
Office and Laboratories, 123 Huntington Street
New Haven, Connecticut Experimental Farm, Evergreen Avenue, Mt. Carmel Tobacco Laboratory, Windsor
P. O. Box 1106, New Haven 4, Conn. March 12, 1959
Dear Miss Banks:
Mr. LeRoy Chapman, Fairfield County Agent, has sent your letter about palmer worms to me for reply.
The common name palmerworm has been adopted officially for the moth Dichomeris ligulella Hbn. This common name was borrowed from England, where it has been in use for centuries. In the Old Testament some translations use palmer worm, and the concordances define the term as referring to any caterpillar which occurs in large numbers. English dictionaries define palmer worms in the same way.
I have taken a quick look in some of our older books, and thus far have not found any reference to a destructive outbreak of caterpillars in your vicinity recorded for 1835. The most likely species would be one of the canker worms. Old records tell of an outbreak that defoliated the maples on the New Haven Green in 1838. Serious outbreaks of this pest in more recent times have lasted two or three years. It seems possible that the palmer worm in your rec- ords may be what we call the canker worm today. I am sending you an account of this pest published some years ago, which is accurate as to biology and habits, but out of date for control measures.
Our librarian is looking through journals pub- lished in 1835, and if we find any more definite records I will send them to you. I am also sending a history of agriculture which might be of some use to you.
Sincerely yours, Neely Turner, Chief Entomologist.
The December 16, 1835 fire in New York could be seen very plainly from Fairfield. The fire which destroyed more than 600 buildings lighted up the sky for more than 15 hours. It was
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an extremely cold day with the thermometer registering 12° below zero. The cold weather held for weeks and more and more of the Sound froze over. On February 3, 1835, the steamboat was unable to pass and came into Black Rock Harbor. The sleighing too was said to be fine. The market vessels were not able to move from any port until the middle of March.
In 1838 the barque "Harvest" arrived in Black Rock Harbor from Whaling and had $8,000 on board, 4,800 pounds of whale bone and 150 barrels of sperm oil.
Fairfield Village in 1838 had 100 dwellings, a Court House and jail, a Congregational Church and an academy. It was the shire town of the County. Half of the Courts however sat in Dan- bury. Southport or Mill River as it was know- ingly called, had at this time 60-70 dwellings, eight stores, an academy, a post office, a bank and an Episcopal Church. More shipping was owned in Mill River in proportion to its size than at any other place between New York and Boston. The Harbor was small then but was suffi- cient to float vessels of about 100 tons burthen, $10,000 had been granted by the United States Government in 1831 for the Harbor's improve- ment.
In 1839, the New England Gazetteer described Fairfield in the following way-
Fairfield, Ct.
Shire town, Fairfield co. This ancient and patri- otic town comprises three parishes, Fairfield, the seat of justice, Green's Farms and Greenfield. Fair- field lies 21 miles S.W. from New Haven, and 58 N.E. from New York. Population, 1830, 4,246. Its Indian name was Uncoway. The surface of the town is undulating and very pleasant. The soil is fertile, well cultivated and productive of wheat and rye, and a great variety of fruits and vegetables for New York market. Black Rock harbor is safe and easy of entrance for vessels drawing 19 feet of water at common tides. The tide usually rises in Long Island Sound about 5 feet. There is but little water power in Fairfield, except that produced by the tide. The tonnage of Fairfield district, in 1837, was 11,988 tons. The principal business in navigation is the coasting trade.
New England Gazetteer-1839.
The question of the annexation of Greens Farms to Westport was brought to the attention of the towns folks once again in 1839 and on April 30 they voted to continue to oppose the move. At the same meeting the proposal of a railroad going through Fairfield was presented. The citizens voted to do nothing about it.
Seaweed was also discussed at length at the April 30 meeting. Seaweed was used for fertili-
zer and great loads were taken from the beaches for that purpose. My Dad told me that he re- membered taking loads from Mckenzie's Point and going up the steep hill to Sasco Hill Road. It was all the oxen (and horses later) could do to get up the hill with a big load for the Seaweed was so wet and so heavy. The farmers helped each other get up the hill by hitching their oxen together-doubling up their teams. They then dumped their loads at the top of the hill and then returned to the beach for another load while the tide was low. The road left much to be de- sired so that it was a very difficult pull. After getting it home, they would spread it around on the ground and it would disintegrate completely. He said that there would almost be a hole in the ground where it was put for it all "went to pieces".
Hull Sherwood mentioned going for seaweed several times. Often they would start out at 3 o'clock in the morning for an early tide. It was usually a June job. It was further voted at the meeting just mentioned that "No person can hold any sea weed or other swift stuff which may float on the Beach in this Town other than that which he puts into his cart or other vehicle of conveyance and removes from said Beach-this vote to be published in a paper printed in Bridge- port".
On Jan. 13, 1840 the Steamboat Lexington burned on Long Island Sound about 2 miles off Southport. The steamer had been formerly owned by Commodore Vanderbilt and was the fastest and most popular passenger boat on Long Island Sound. That was on the boat's regular trip from New York to Stonington. 120 people lost their lives. It was said that $18,000 in specie was on board, $10,000 of the same being in gold in an iron trunk. The burning vessel was plainly visi- ble early in the evening and the wharves of Black Rock and Mill River were crowded with persons eager to help but the tide was low. The only sloop in Mill River Harbor was Meeker and Sherwood's "Merchant" and because of the tide it could not be moved. The local seamen did set out in rowboats that stormy night but to no avail as they could not get out far enough. The "Merchant" did go out as soon as the tide permitted only to find that three living persons remained on floating portions of the cargo. Stephen Manchester, pilot of the steamer was found on top of a bale of cotton. One other eventually reached Long Island. One finds it of real interest to note that one of the very first
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Currier and Ives prints ever done was of this disaster and appeared in the New York Sun soon after the fire1. One of these very rare prints is in the collection of the Fairfield Historical Society and hangs on the wall there.
A passing vessel it is said, which might have saved many lives did not stop because its Cap- tain feared the delay would prevent him from promptly making port.
Steamboats were very popular means of travel. Mr. Jonathan Bulkley recorded this ad- venture.
Nov. 13, 1845 this day J. Bulkley set out for New York by the way of Norwalk on board the Steam Boat Catilene in Company from Southport Brother Andrew and Charles F. Robinson Esqr., W. W. Wakeman, M. A. Sherwood, Henry Perry & wife, & Rev. W. Thorp, (Methodist Minister). On our pas- sage about half way from Port Chester to Sand Point in the middle of the Sound a small portion of the machinery gave way and it broke up the whole concern, so that the passengers were very much alarmed for fear the boilers might explode and the machine go through the bottom of the boat. The Steamboat Hero from New Haven fortunately being about 5 miles astern of us bound to New York soon came along side and took off the passengers and freight and towed the Boat into Hart Island and left her at anchor all on board considered it a fortunate escape. I arrived in New York about half past 3 o'clock and found my friends all well.
He also told on Feb. 6, 1846-"At this time an opposition line of Steamboats running to New York and the fare reduced to 121/2¢ by one line (Peck's) and the other line 50¢".
In 1840 it was said that the fare between New Haven and New York reached the low of 1 cent only for each passenger because of opposi- tion. How long this lasted we do not know.
Hull Sherwood reported as early as April 8, 1815-"there is now a steamboat which runs through the sound daily".
Jonathan Bulkley mentioned it even earlier: "Sun. Nov. 7, 1813. There is opposite this place a steamboat bound to New York. The first I ever saw in the Sound. She passes very fast. It is about 1 P.M."
There were 100 sails a day passing Fairfield at this time-brigs, schooners, ships, sloops and the steamboat.
The petition to have Greens Farms become part of Westport again appeared on the Town Meeting agenda-that time on May 11, 1840 and the opposition held once more. There was
also a proposal at this meeting to move the Court House and Jail to Bridgeport or to Norwalk. This was opposed as well. The Selectmen were ordered "to purchase a stove and cause it to be fitted to the lower room of the Court House".
There were hundreds of lightning bugs that year and the town was blessed with a great abundance of crops-corn, grass, potatoes, and apples excelled everywhere. 5,000 bushels of corn were sent out from Southport in one cargo that year. Cider was selling for $2.50 a barrel.
On May 7, 1842 a group asked to divide Fair- field into two towns. Burrs Highway to Mill River to the lane to the beach near Mckenzie's Point to be the dividing line. The Town opposed this generally at the General Assembly. The Town also opposed the Greens Farms Petition again in the General Assembly at the same time. They voted further to oppose the petition of the Housatonic Railroad to go through the Town of Fairfield and continue on into New York.
These were very difficult days for the Towns- people and money was extremely scarce. There were many bankruptcies. William Wheeler made the entry in his Journal for July 4, 1842-"Fre- quent bankruptcies occur-hay much damaged".
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