USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > This is Fairfield, 1639-1940 > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
That the Selectmen be directed to offer a reward of Five hundred dollars for the detection and con- viction of the person or persons who on the morning of October 26, 1862 set fire to the Town House and to the Buildings of Charles Bennett and John Gould or either of them, and that the Selectmen upon the conviction of the incendiary be authorized to bor- row the money if necessary. Passed without dissent. Resolved ----
That the Selectmen be authorized to appoint an agent to inform the Governour of this State of the progress this town is making in filling its quota of Volunteers and make such explanations as may be required. Voted in the affirmative.
The above was truly taken and
Recorded by Samuel A. Nichols, Registrar (Town Clerk)
With this constant drive for the needed re- cruits, the families of the soldiers had to be con- sidered and accountings of their welfare were acted upon from time to time -
Dec. 1, 1862 -
Voted that the Selectmen, Edward I. Alvord Es- quire attend to the taking of depositions agreeable to the notice served on the Town of Fairfield by certain persons claiming Bounties from the town as having entered into the United States Service for the Town of Fairfield said depositions to be taken on Long Island on the 2nd day of Instant Dec. 1862.
Resolved that the Selectmen of the town of Fair- field be and they are hereby authorized to pay the sum of ten dollars per month for nine months to the Family of Eugene Slason commencing from the date he was drafted the said Eugene Slasons family being destitute and the Selectmen not having the power by law to give them any assistance.
The above and foregoing was truly taken and recorded by
Samuel A. Nichols, Town Clerk.
The State Legislature had voted initially $30.00 monthly for each enlisted man, $6.00 for his wife and $2.00 for each child. The Fed- eral Government had offered a bounty of $100.00 for enlistment and the State $96.00 at the outset of this recruitment. As the Towns up- graded their bounties from time to time the Fed- eral and State Governments did the same.
It is interesting to note that while Connecticut's
first quota was 7,145, 8,036 men answered the call in a period of just 45 days.
Wars are costly. There were not only quotas of man power but there were financial commit- ments for the Townspeople as well. Plans for this part of the obligations follows:
Agreeable to the above notice a town meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of Fairfield was held on the 16th day of February, 1863 John Gould Esq was appointed Moderator, on motion it was voted that the auditors Report be accepted. Voted that this meeting agreeable to an act of the Legislation of this State approve December 18th 1862 author- izing town to issue Bonds for paying their indebted- ness contracted for War purposes, Resolved as fol- lows; to wit That this Town authorize and so here- by authorize the issuing of Bonds to the amount of Thirty-five thousand dollars or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the indebtedness of said Town contracted for war purposes; that said Bonds be of the denominations of 100. Five hundred dol- lars payable to bearer or order at the option of the buyer with interest semi-annually at the Town Treasurer's office in said Fairfield on the first day of January and July in each year that Bonds shall be dated on the first day of July 1863 and shall be made payable in sums and at dates as follows to wit 3 Bonds of $500)
$1900 payable July 1st, 1864
4 Bonds of 100
3 Bonds of 500
5 Bonds of 100
3 Bonds of 500
6 Bonds of 100
3 Bonds of 500
8 Bonds of 100
4 Bonds of 500
4 Bonds of 100
4 Bonds of 500
5 Bonds of 100
4 Bonds of 500
7 Bonds 100
4 Bonds of 500
9 Bonds of
100
5 Bonds of 500
6 Bonds of 100
5 Bonds of 500
7 Bonds of 100 3200 payable July 1st, 1873 5 Bonds of 500 3400 payable July 1st, 1874
9 Bonds of
100
6 Bonds of 500
6 Bonds of 100
5 Bonds of 500
3600 payable July 1st, 1875
4 Bonds of 100 2900 payable July 1st, 1876 making eighty Bonds of $100 and 54 of $500 each which shall bear interest at the rate of six per cent per Annum with coupons attached for the same.
Voted that the Selectmen for the time being be and are hereby appointed and authorized as agents for the town, for the procuring of said Bonds, and for selling and issuing the same as may seem for the best interest of the town, but not to sell them for less than par value; and to apply the proceeds of such Sales to the payment of the Town indebtedness
2000 payable July 1st, 1865
2100 payable July 1st, 1866 2300 payable July 1st, 1867 2400 payable July 1st, 1868 2500 payable July 1st, 1869 2700 payable July 1st, 1870 2900 payable July 1st, 1871 3100 payable July 1st, 1872
102
contracted for war purposes-to keep an account of the number sold and amount sold. Also the names of the purchasers and to render an account to the Town annually or whenever required and that either one or more of the Selectmen may sign said bonds and as agents for the town-shall be signed by the Town Clerk and Registered.
Voted that said bonds be advertised in Hartford, New Haven, New York and Bridgeport two weeks before the sale. Voted that four thousand dollars be appropriated from the Town treasury yearly for the payment of the interest and principal of the Bonds issued by the town for War purposes July 1st
1863.
Voted that the resolution paper by the town of the 16th day of February 1863 for the issuing of War bonds be so amended as to authorize the issu- ing of ten additional bonds of $500 each instead of and in place of fifty bonds of $100 each when said issue Bonds will of read as follows to wit:
3 of $500; 4 of $100 $1900 payable July 1, 1864
4 of 500; 0 of 100- 2000 payable July 1, 1865
4 of 500; 1 of 100 2100 payable July 1, 1866
4 of 500; 3 of 100- 2300 payable July 1, 1867
4 of 500; 4 of 100- 2400 payable July 1, 1868
5 of 500; 0 of 100 2500 payable July 1, 1869
5 of 500; 2 of 100- 2700 payable July 1, 1870
5 of 500; 4 of 100- 2900 payable July 1, 1871
6 of 500; 1 of 100 3100 payable July 1, 1872
6 of 500; 2 of 100 3200 payable July 1, 1873
6 of 500; 4 of 100 3400 payable July 1, 1874
7 of 500; 1 of 100- 3600 payable July 1, 1875
5 of 500; 4 of 100 2900 payable July 1, 1876
64
30 $35000
Voted
That either one of the Selectmen be sufficient to Sign the coupons to said bonds. Voted -
That so much of the resolution as paper at the special town meeting held on the 16th of February 1863 making it the duty of the Town Clerk to sign the coupons to said bonds and to Register the same, be and the same is hereby Repealed.
E. Robert Clerk Pro Tem
The above and foregoing was truly taken and Recorded by Edmund Hobart, Town Clerk pro Tempore.
Those who remained at home were still upper- most in the minds of the citizens and votes were taken to allay their needs.
At a Town meeting held on the 4th day of August 1863 agreeable to the above notice John Gould Esq. was appointed Moderator of said meeting.
On Motion the following preamble and Resolu- tions were adopted, viz: Whereas it has been thought expedient by the Inhabitants of the town of Fairfield to take action and provide Measures of relief for such of our citizens as may be Drafted in accordance with the Act Entitled "An act for en- rolling and calling out the National forces and for other purposes", as well as to encourage those who in uniformity to that but shall join the service of
the United States. Be it therefore
Resolved that we do hereby appropriate twenty thousand dollars to be expended if necessary by our Selectmen who are hereby duly appointed a Com- mittee to carry out the doings of this Meeting and with full discretionary powers in all cases that may arise in relation thereto.
Resolved that the Selectmen of the Town of Fair- field be hereby authorized and instructed to borrow for and on behalf of said Town the sum of twenty thousand dollars or so much as may be necessary on Bonds notes or Town orders which they are hereby duly authorized to issue on behalf of said town bearing interest at the legal rate and not to be issued at less than their par value.
Resolved that the committee shall inquire into the circumstances of each person drafted and who shall not be exempted under any of the provisions of said Law and who shall be liable to respond to the DRAFT IN one of the three ways provided by Law, and for the relief of such person or his family the Committee are hereby empowered and instructed to use the sum of three hundred dollars, to wit, In case such person shall elect to enter and shall go into the service of the United States the sum aforesaid shall be paid to such person or his Family for his or their relief, and in case such person shall not so elect then the said sum may be used to procure a substitute, and in case such person do not go into such Service and in which no substitute has been procured as aforesaid then their sum may be paid to the proper officer of the United States of such Service or Sub- stitute agreeably to said Conscription Act.
Resolved that the monies to be expended in carry- ing out the provisions and intentions of this meeting shall be repaid in five equal and annual instalments by a general tax on the real and personal Estate of this County,
The above and foregoing is truly taken and recorded By Samuel A. Nichols, Town Clerk.
They took their concern to Hartford.
At a town meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Fairfield on the 14th day of August 1863 held agreeable to the above notice John Gould was ap- pointed Moderator and the following Resolutions were passed, viz:
Resolved that the resolution passed at the last town meeting for the purpose of affording Relief to persons that may be drafted as well as to encourage those who may join the Service of the United States, we hereby reaffirm and readopt at this Meeting, Resolved -
That it shall be discretionary with the Selectmen to borrow the money or to pay to each person draft- ed liable, a town order similar to that used by other towns or any other course they may think proper in effecting the object.
Resolved -
That the Senator of this district and the Repre- sentatives of this Town be and are hereby requested to secure the early passage at the next session of the
103
Legislation an act legalizing and confirming the ac- tion of this meeting. The above was truly taken and Recorded by Samuel A. Nichols, Registrar.
And once again they reaffirmed their determina- tion -
A Special Town Meeting was held in accordance with the above motion on the 7th day of September 1863 at the Town house in Fairfield. Jonathan God- frey Esq. was appointed Moderator of said Meeting. The following was passed, viz:
Resolved, That we hereby rectify and reaffirm the doings of the two former Meetings wherein appro- priations were made and instructions were given to our Selectmen relative to encouraging enlistments as well as affording relief to those persons Drafted from this town.
The above was truly taken and Recorded by Samuel A. Nichols, Town Clerk.
There was an interesting editorial in the Bridgeport Farmer of January 8, 1864 telling about the soldier's Christmas Day of 1863 and also some news of the quotas which I feel bears repeating in part right here. A large group from Fairfield were with the 17th. (A reunion of this group held in Fairfield in 1883 is reported later).
The Farmer. Friday, January 8, 1864.
Bridgeport, Connecticut
THE 17th REGIMENT ON CHRISTMAS DAY
By a letter received in this city from Corporal S. R. Wilcox, of Co. F, of this regiment, dated the 26th, we learn that the glad Christmas time was a day of good cheer and merriment to the soldier boys on Folly Island. It was a holiday for the whole brig- ade, which was exempt from drill, and all duty save what was absolutely necessary. The men set to work with a will, and on Christmas morn, the whole camp was embowered and shrouded with the leafy decor- ations appropriate to the day. Of course our inform- ant is particularly warm in his commendation of the handiwork of Company F, which must have indeed been beautiful to eyes accustomed to the routine and dreariness of tent life amidst the sands of the islands in Charleston bay.
The bill of fare for the dinner of Co. F included boiled ham, codfish balls, mashed potatoes, onions, pickles, bread and butter, pies, apple dumplings, nuts, raisins, and fruits with good coffee, and cigars to put the finishing touch to the dinner. The excel- lence of the feast was due to the efforts of their cap- tain. The amusements of the day included foot races, climbing a greased pole, sack and wheelbarrow races blindfolded, with some bare-back riding at full speed, at a suspended ring to be carried off on the sword's point.
As a general thing the regiment is very healthy -the weather, however, was raw and windy, and
quite cold for a few days previous, etc. etc. The Farmer. Friday, January 8, 1864.
QUOTAS FILLED
The quota of Monroe was filled last week, by "American Citizens of African descent". The num- ber demanded of Monroe was 13, The 16 required of Trumbull were raised by Monday-all white men, and a portion of them citizens of the town.
Fairfield has also filled its quota of 43, from dif- ferent sections, of all conditions and colors. Norwalk has raised the number required-109.
Bridgewater, that staunch old town accused of copperheadism, has also secured the 13 men as- signed to it under the last call for 300,000 men, and besides has the exclusive honor of being the only town in this district from which there are no desert- ers under the last draft.
What the expense of raising these quotas has been to the various towns the tax-payers will find out in due season, and still the end is not yet.
The stories of deserters and substitutes are familiar ones to students of this War. In total there were some 4,000 substitutes (for which each principal had received a bounty) but we can say proudly few of these were Connecticut men. Our predecessers did want to help.
The mounting expenses of the Town in this period loomed ever larger and still additional people were being sought. Fairfield pressed on to do her part.
A Town Meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of Fairfield was held on the 24th day of November 1863 in accordance with the above notice Jeremiah T. Denison was chosen Moderator of said meeting the Town Clerk not being present Moses G. Betts was appointed Clerk Pro tem. On Motion the follow- ing Resolution was passed. Voted that whereas the President of the United States has issued his Proc- lamation calling for three hundred thousand Volun- teers to be raised before the 5th day of January next and has given assurance that if said Volunteer shall be raised before said 5th day of January the draft otherwise to be enforced at that time shall not take place and whereas the Governor of the State of Con- necticut has issued his Proclamation urging immedi- ate action on the part of the people of this State to the end that the quota of this State may be revised by Volunteering within the time above named and whereas the quota of the Town of Fairfield is forty- three men.
Therefore Resolved that Alve D. Wood and Sam- uel Pike be and they are hereby appointed Agents of the Town of Fairfield with full powers to recruit and procure the quota of said town and that said Agents be and they are hereby authorized and em- powered to borrow on the credit of the town such sums of money as may be necessary to defray the expenses of recruiting and procuring said quota, said Agents to use their best discretion in making said expenses as small as possible consistently with accomplishing the object in view.
The above was truly taken and recorded
104
by Moses G. Betts, Clerk, Pro. Tem.
The Agents of the Town were given increasing powers and the people stood behind them.
Notice is hereby given that a special meeting of the legal voters of the Town of Fairfield will be held at the Town House in said Town on Monday the 18th day of January inst, 1864 at 1 o'clock in the afternoon for the purpose of confirming if they shall see fit and thereby giving legality to the act of a previous Town Meeting which authorized the pay- ment of certain bounties for the relief of drafted men.
Also to consider the expediency, (if the afore- said Act of the Town be confirmed) of finding the debt contemplated by said act by extending the series of bonds already issued by the Town to an amount sufficient to embrace this together with such other additional debt in whole or in part as may have recently been incurred in procuring volunteers to fill the quota of the Town
And also if thought best to provide for refunding the several amounts paid to substitutes by certain persons who were drafted under the first draft in this Town concerning which the Selectmen were, at the last annual meeting instructed to make inquiry and report
And to do any other necessary business. Fairfield, Conn. Jan. 11th 1864
Levi Wordin
Franklin Smith John A. Alvord
Selectmen
The aforesaid warning is a true copy of the original Moses G. Betts,
Clerk Pro Tem.
At a special Town Meeting warned and held agreeable to the above voters on the 18th day Janu- ary 1864 John Gould was chosen Moderator and Moses G. Betts was chosen Clerk Pro tem. The clerk being absent the following two votes were in- troduced by Simon Sherwood and passed:
Voted that this meeting ratify and confirm the former action of this Town at meetings held on the 4th and 14th days of August 1863 for appropriating money to said drafted men or their families under the late conscription act.
Voted That the Town orders issued by the Select- men in accordance with votes passed at said meet- ings for and in behalf of the Town of Fairfield for said purposed being forty-five in number of $300 each and amounting to thirteen thousand five hun- dred dollars be and the same are hereby accepted by the Town and confirmed as good and valid by this meeting.
Voted That the following named persons with the amounts annexed to their respective names be paid by the Selectmen for sums rendered and amounts paid by the within named parties for substitutes un- der the draft of 1862.
G. H. Bradley $400.00
W. B. Ogden
500.00
R. B. Jennings 300.00
F. E. Burr 250.00
Wm. Burr 200.00
David Sherwood
300.00
Benjamin R. Dimon 300.00
Eugene Slauson
300.00
$2550.00
The following report of the agents appointed by this Town to procure Volunteers in order to avoid a draft was voted upon and passed.
Dr .- Town of Fairfield in A/C with Alba D. Wood & Sam. Pike, Agents-Cr.
1863
Dec. 9 to paid Randolph & Co .- 3 men @ $175 .... $ 525.00
Dec. 12 to paid J. Williams-3 men @ $175 525.00
Dec. 13 to paid J. Kershaw- 6 men @ $175 1050.00
Dec. 14 to paid J. M. Benton .... 3 men @ $150. 450.00
Dec. 15 to paid J. Williams-5 men @ $175 875.00
Dec. 15 to paid W. Pixley-1 man @ $150 150.00
Dec. 15 to paid L. W. Sherwood-1 man @ $150 150.00
Dec. 15 to paid J. Williams-2 men @ $175 350.00
Dec. 16 to paid J. Peck & Co .- 7 men @ $160 1120.00
Dec. 16 to paid J. W. Bouton-5 men @ $160
800.00
Dec. 17 to paid J. Williams-1 man @ $175 175.00
Dec. 17 to paid J. W. Daskam-2 men @ $175 350.00
Dec. 18 to paid J. W. Bouton-1 man @ $175 175.00 Dec. 18 to paid Wm. Pinkerman-2 men @ $100. 200.00 Dec. 20 to paid J. B. Asherton-2 men @ $150 300.00
Dec. 20 to paid J. Gilbert-1 man @ $175 175.00
45 men
Dec. 3 to paid discount on Bank Note 39.18
Dec. 3 to paid Sam'l Pike Expenses 82.69
Dec. 3 to paid A. D. Wood 40.19
$7182.06
36 days' time Wood & Pike @ $5 180.00
$7362.06
Average cost of the men without Expenses-$157.25
Voted-That the Selectmen be and are hereby authorized and directed to issue bonds on the credit of and for account of the Town of Fairfield to the amount of Twenty-one thousand dollars on such parts thereof as may be necessary for the purpose of paying the indebtedness of the Town contracted for War purposes, said bonds to be signed by one or more of the Selectmen as Agents or Agent and dated the 1st day of July 1864 and of the denom- inations of Five Hundred dollars each with interest coupons attached payable semi-annually at the Town Treasurer office on the 1st days of January and July in each year at the rate of six percent per annum that said bonds when due shall be paid at the Town treasurer's office in Fairfield at such times and in such sums as follows to wit:
6 Bonds of $500 each payable July 1st 1877
6 Bonds of 500 each payable July Ist 1878
6 Bonds of 500 each payable July 1st 1879 6 Bonds of 500 each payable July 1st 1880
6 Bonds of 500 each payable July 1st 1881
6 Bonds of 500 each payable July Ist 1882
6 Bonds of 500 each payable July 1st 1883
42 Bonds of $500-$21,000
Voted-That the said bonds be advertised by notices in the Bridgeport papers for three weeks for proposals and awarded and sold by the Selectmen to
105
the highest responsible bidder, but not to be sold for less than par value and the proceeds applied to the payment of the present unpaid debt of the Town contracted for War purposes.
The following was voted upon and passed:
Presented at the office of the Provost Marshal 15 Recruits who were duly accepted and credited to the town of Fairfield and for which service I have re- ceived as fees as follows:
15 State Orders of $10 each $150.00
6 United States orders of $15 each 90.00
$240.00
Less for time and necessary expenses
61/2 days @ $3 per day 19.50
$220.50
This sum is in my hands subject to the order of the Town of Fairfield Jan. 18, 1864.
John A. Alvord, U. S. Recruiter, Agt.
The above and foregoing was truly taken and recorded by Moses G. Betts,
Clerk, Pro. Tem.
As one reads these minutes one feels the great pressure for getting on the "band wagon" and doing one's duty. The need was evident -
Warning is hereby given that a special meeting of the legal voters of the town of Fairfield will be held at the Town House in said town, on Wednesday the 10th day of Feb. inst (1864) at two o'clock in the afternoon, for the purpose, if they shall deem it expedient, of taking action in relation to procuring such a number of Volunteers as, will in addition to those already applied, be sufficient to fill the quota of said town under the late call of the President of the United States Dated Feb. Ist 1864 for 500,000 men: And to authorize if they shall see fit, such a sum of money to be borrowed on the credit of the town as may be required to meet such necessary ex- penses as may be incurred in procuring Volunteers to fill the quota of said town: And to do any other necessary business.
Fairfield, Ct., Feb. 5th 1864
Levi Wordin Franklin Smith John A. Alvord
Selectmen
The foregoing warning is a true copy of the original
Attest: M. G. Betts, Town Clerk.
At a special Town Meeting held Feb. 10, 1864 John Gould, Moderator
Voted-That Samuel Pike, William Pinkerman and the Selectmen be appointed Agents of the Town to procure Volunteers to fill the Quota of the Town
Voted-That the Selectmen be and they hereby are authorized to borrow on the credit of the Town such sum or sums of money as may be required to procure the number of men required to fill the Quota of the Town under the recent call for 500,000 men. The above is a true copy
of the original
Moses G. Betts, Clerk.
Warning is hereby given that a special meeting of the legal voters of the town of Fairfield will be held
at the Town House in said town on Wednesday the 27th day of July inst. (1864) at 2 o'clock in the afternoon for the purpose of appointing if they shall see fit some proper person or persons as recruiting Agents to procure men to fill the quota of the town under the late call of the President of the United States for 500,000 men and to authorize said Agents to borrow money on the credit of the town or other- wise to provide for paying the necessary expenses that may be incurred by said Agents in procuring men to fill the quota as aforesaid and to do any other necessary business.
Fairfield, July 22, 1864
Levi Wordin Franklin Smith John A. Alvord
Selectmen
Agreeable to the above notice a special Town Meeting was held at the Town House July 27, 1864.
L. W. Clark, appointed moderator.
Resolved-That the Selectmen of the Town of Fairfield be appointed Agents, to procure men to fill any Quota of this town which may be due under the late call of the President of the United States for 500,000 men to serve in the Army of the United States and that they be empowered by this resolu- tion to appoint or procure such person or persons as in their judgment will act best for the interests of this town to assist them in the procuration of men to fill its quota.
Resolved-That an additional tax of two mills on the dollar be imposed on the last completed assess- ment list of this town for the purpose of paying any additional expenses and any arrears that may accrue during the current fiscal year; and that said addi- tional tax be payable within ten days and collected with the tax assessed at the last annual town meeting.
Resolved-And any person liable to draft who shall procure a substitute who shall count on the quota of this town and be accepted and mustered into the Service of the United States, shall be en- titled to one hundred and twenty-five dollars to be paid them by the Agents appointed by this resolu- tion.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.