USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > This is Fairfield, 1639-1940 > Part 26
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public meeting was held with Professor Henry Fairfield Osborn, internationally known scientist, and Noah H. Swayne, member of the General Assembly, as speakers. Twenty-five historical sites were permanently marked. There was also an information booth on the Post Road during the months of July and August. Memorial Day and Independence Day were observed with great enthusiasm.
On Saturday, September 28th, a gala parade starting in Southport Center and continuing to the Town Green was the order of the day. A steer was barbecued by George R. Godfrey and more than one thousand dined on the Green. Dancing followed the barbecue. The celebration closed with performances of "Uncoway", a Ter- centenary Pageant given at Roger Ludlowe High School by over three hundred members of the student body, written by Henry Beale Spelman and coached by the High School faculty. It had been another fitting and memorable observance for Fairfield.
The Official Seal of the Town was adopted at that time.
In 1937 the Town planned to operate a Small Claims Court and there were further pleas made for some sort of Representative Town Meeting. It was said that of "the seventy-five hundred voters only fifteen hundred can get into an auditorium".
1939 marked the 300th birthday of the Town and festivities were gay and numerous.
The Fairfield Tercentenary Committee com- menced work early in 1938, in preparation for the coming year which marked the three hun- dredth anniversary of the Town's founding. The program was arranged to include a series of events which would review the three centuries of Fairfield's existence for her sons and daugh- ters of 1939. Fairfield's Tercentenary observ- ance was a municipal celebration in the true sense of the word. All of her citizens partici- pated; from the smallest school child who took part in the historic pageant to the oldest inhabi- tant who attended it, and the various other func- tions; from descendants of the immigrants of three hundred years ago who compiled genea- logical charts for future generations, to the newer immigrants who donned the costumes of their native lands to dance on the Green on Fairfield Day on September 30th.
The events of the celebration started with an early American Coin exhibit held at the Fair-
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field Historical Society from March 25th to March 30th. An exhibit of samplers followed again at the Society's rooms April 10th to April 24th. On the evening of June 20th "Our Story", a pageant written by Henry Beale Spelman, was presented by the elementary school children of Fairfield at Gould Manor Park. The theme de- picted Fairfield during the years 1639-1939 in ten episodes.
Episode I
The Pequot War Pequot School
Episode II
A Town Meeting: A Witchcraft Trial
Stratfield School
The Story of Nathan Hale Nathan Hale School Episode IV Washington's Visits to Fairfield Washington School Episode V
General and Mrs. Silliman Holland Hill School
Episode VI
Timothy Dwight
Episode VII
Sherman School
Roger Sherman
Episode VIII
Lincoln School
William Mckinley Episode X
Mckinley School
World War Volunteer Organization Grasmere School
An Exhibit of Fans was held at the Historical Society August 8th to August 24th. An Informa- tion Booth was erected on the Roger Minott Sherman School Green for July, August, and September. There was an Educational Exhibit at the Roger Minott Sherman School during August, September, and the first part of October. This was a collection of the handiwork of the Elementary School children. On September 7th, 8th, and 9th an Arts and Crafts Exhibit was held at the Greenfield Hill Grange Hall as a part of the annual Grange Fair. Early Fairfield furni- ture, clocks, candlesticks, glass, quilts, rugs, books, etc., were all on display.
From September 11th to September 22nd there was an exhibit of American Sporting Prints and Early American Books on Sporting Subjects at the Historical Society. From Septem- ber 25th to October 7th there was an exhibit at the Historical Society of Ecclesiastical Silver and Pewter of all the parishes which once were part of Fairfield.
Churches in Fairfield and in sections which were originally part of Fairfield which were founded prior to 1800 and loaned exhibit pieces were:
First Church of Christ
Fairfield
United Church Bridgeport
Congregational Church Greenfield Hill Greens Farms
Congregational Church
Federated Church
Congregational Church
Congregational Church
Congregational Church
Saugatuck
Southport
Trinity Episcopal Church Christ Episcopal Church
Easton
Tercentenary Week was marked from Septem- ber 24th to October Ist and events were planned for every day that week. On Sunday, September 24th, there was a Union Religion Service at 3:30 p.m. in Roger Ludlowe High School.
The dedication of the Memorial Tablet to Roger Ludlowe in the small park at the north- west corner of the Post Road and Benson Road originally the northerly end of the "home lott" of Ludlowe took place on Thursday, September 28th.
There was an Open House at the Gould Home- stead on Tuesday, September 26th, another at the Old Academy on Thursday, September 28th, and still others at the Hobart House and at the Sun Tavern on Friday, September 29th.
This date marked Fairfield Day and a great celebration took place on the south terrace of the Town Hall Green. His Excellency Governor Raymond E. Baldwin was the guest speaker of the day as was Honorable Charles Seymour, then President of Yale University.
On Saturday, September 30th, the Great Ter- centenary Parade took place and all groups turned out to honor Fairfield's past as it had never been honored before. The afternoon ended with folk dancing on the Green. It was truly a fine day for Fairfield.
Individual Church observances concluded the week long celebration.
That same year a Town incinerator off Reef Road was planned and the fiscal year was set for July 1st to June 30th. The beaches were restrict- ed henceforth to Fairfield residents only and the Redding Road entrance to the Merritt Park- way was again proposed.
We have reached the year 1940 in the Town's history and here we shall pause. What a rich and rewarding experience this has been-rolling back the curtain of the past and opening so many doors to have a look within. Such a solid past has been Fairfield's-so organized, so direct, and so steady. A challenge for us. May it ever be thus.
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Redding Weston Easton
Episode III
Dwight School
Abraham Lincoln
Episode IX
CHAPTER 10
GOVERNMENT OF FAIRFIELD TO 1940
Starting with the early records that are avail- able, we find that Fairfield was an organized community at the very outset of its existence. That organization was based upon a pure and simple democracy.
There were a few rules for all and the rights of the individual and of the group were recog- nized and respected. This same commandment is felt as the records go on. The machinery es- tablished at the beginning has been continued on through the years and only changed slightly and adjusted to the times even to the present day. Our forefathers founded strongly and well and we have much to challenge our thoughts and ac- tions today to keep our direction as effective and orderly. This section deals with new town gov- ernment positions and modes and manners as they were needed and developed over the years. As these appeared in the sequence of years, they are recorded.
When Roger Ludlowe returned to Hartford and the first General Court session following his transgression in being absent for several meet- ings, the Father of Connecticut Jurisprudence, together with several others, presented these laws for all plantations within Connecticut:
1. that all towns within the jurisdiction should each have power to dispose of their own undisposed lands as well as all other commodities arising out of their own limits bounded out by the court, the liberties of the great rivers excepted
2. To choose their own officers
3. To impose penalties for any breach of the law
4. To escheat and levy the same, and for non-pay- ment to distrain either by seizing upon personal estate or to sell their houses or lands.
5. To choose 3, 5 or 7 once every year of their chief inhabitants, one of whom should be chosen moderator, who should have a casting voice, in case there should be an equal number of votes; which said persons should meet together every two months, to hear and determine all contro- versies either by trespass or debts not exceeding 40 Shillings, provided both parties lived in the same town; and that any two of them should summon parties to appear before their court to answer an action; to administer the oath to wit-
nesses and to give judgment and execution against offending parties. In case of dissatisfac- tion, the aggrieved parties were given power to appeal to a higher court.
This was the base upon which our Town had its beginning.
It was further ordered that each town have a ledger book and each man's land be registered within the immediate three months. The laws just listed had to be read in a public meeting at least once each year by the constable as a re- minder to all. The constable was the strong arm of the law and the king's own embodiment. As soon as the town had a constable, the town be- came a valid corporation, subject to taxation and entitled to representation. At all public affairs, the King's representative-the constable-would appear before the court with his long pole which was surmounted by the emblem of royalty of the British. Even for many years after the Revolu- tion, the American Eagle topped his pole at all public occasions.1
In addition to the General Court which met either in Hartford or New Haven, there was a court of election, the justice's court and another court which was made up of the deputies or rep- resentatives of the General Court who decided judicial and civil actions, debts and trespasses of more than 40 shillings-about $5, the limit of the local town's ruling body.
Thus Fairfield began. A few simple rules and respect for them. The first Town Meeting records available show that the following officers were chosen for 1661, 22 years after the Town's be- ginning-
The Towne hath chosen for the year ensuing Mr. Gold, William Hill, Jehu Burr, Alex Knowles, John
1 The Rulers of England who had Fairfield under their control: Charles I 1625-1649
Cromwell 1649-1660
Charles II
1660-1685
James II .
1685-1688 William and Mary 1688-1702
Anne 1702-1714
George I
1714-1725
George II
1725-1760
George III
1760-1783
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Burr, William Ward, John Banks for Townsmen, Nathan Seeley is chosen Marshall, William Hill is chosen Recorder.
The Townsmen were the governing body-the early selectmen and there were initially seven in all. Nathan Seeley-the Marshall was the Con- stable-the representative of the law.
Committees soon were chosen to carry out the will of the governing group.
William Ward and William Hill are to agree in the behalf of the Towne with some persons to beat the drum for the meetings, Sabbath and election dayes.
They had drawn lots for a dividend of land and chosen were:
John Burr and John Banks to lay out every man's proportions.
and
The Surveyors for the year ensuing for the east field are Nathan Seeley and Sergeant Squire and they are to have 2 shillings 6 pence a time a piece. John and Joshua Knowles for the west field and they are to have 2s 6p a piece a time. Ed Wilson is cho- sen to work about the meeting house he warded last year and care and chimnies, that he is to cut the Town's grass, may let him have some a piece of grass as an addition to his wages (for pasture probably).
Whereas the said Edward was to repair to Obed Gilbert and Henry Rowland to judge of defective chimnies that the said persons shall not attend the work, the said Edward is to repair to two of the Townsmen and if they judge the chimnies defective, the penalties by vote of a former order shall be levied on the delinquent.
The "Rate" (taxes) had to be gathered within 10 days and John Burr and Thomas Lyon were chosen Rate Gatherers-Tax Collectors.
Thomas Lyon to give the Towne warning to bring in their rates to John Burr and John Burr is to make the Account up with men and if it be not gathered within ten days the marshall is to levy on it.
Thomas Sherwood was chosen Miller for the Towne and John Hoit and John Knowles were chosen Fence Viewers for the west fields and Sergeant Squire and Nathan Burr-Fence View- ers for the east fields with the directive that they were to view the fences every two months. Ser- geant Squire was also chosen pounder.
In 1662 Mr. Gold, Jehu Burr, John Burr, Wil- liam Ward, John Banks, Cornelius Hull and William Hill were chosen Townsmen. William Hill continued as Secretary and Sergeant Seeley as Marshall. William Ward was chosen con- stable. Cornelius Hull, Robert Turney and Na- thaniel Burr were chosen Selectmen and Cornel-
ius Hull was made a Commissioner. Nathan Gold was chosen a Magistrate of the General Court in Hartford, and Jehu Burr and John Banks Depu- ties. Thomas Pell and Alexander Knowles were made assistants of the particular court and if either declined to act, William Hill was to serve.
Thomas Staples and Henry Lyon were to be Sheepmasters for the summer ensuing and John Burr was to gather Mr. Wakeman's Rate (the teacher) and Henry Lyon was to gather Mr. Jones' Rate (the minister). John Banks was to be Sealer of Weights and Measures and John Burr was chosen Treasurer.
One sees that as new challenges met these peo- ple, they developed new officers or committees to carry out the responsibilities.
In 1663 Cornelius Hull and William Ward were appointed to call out help to burn the woods. As the "help" burned the woods, they were directed by these two men and also to be especially careful of the fences in seeing that they were not burned up. That same year three sheepmasters were appointed for the summer in- stead of the customary two of the preceding years. The Town was growing.
It was further decided that the freemen (the voters) would be fined for absence from Town Meetings if they had been "warned" to be there.
Steven Sherwood was chosen to beat the drum upon the Sabbath days, Election days and Towne Meeting days and in addition "to cause the meeting house to be swept and the dogs kept out" -this latter part being a new assignment from that of his predecessor.
Not only were they fined for not attending the Town Meetings but they were also fined 3 pence if they spoke without permission in Town Meet- ings.
There were two Town Meetings a year, one on the 15th of February and the other on the 15th of August and should they fall on the Sabbath either time, they were to be held the second day following. The Townsmen were allowed to call other meetings provided they were "published" (announced) on a Lecture Day or by "a writing nailed on the meeting house door".
In 1668 two constables were selected rather than one and were asked to have charge of seeing that the children of a sick person were cared for. This year, as in other years, the Freeman's Oath was given to those who fulfilled the qualifica- tions. It was necessary to be 21 years of age, of peaceable, orderly and good conversation, and owning estates to the value of 40 shillings, in
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order to become a Freeman. The person was then eligible to take the Freeman's Oath which was administered as follows:
I (NAME) being by the providence of God an Inhabitant within the jurisdiction of Connecticut, do acknowledge myself to be subject to the Govern- ment thereof, and do swear by the great and fearful name of the everliving God, to be true and faithful unto the same, and do submit both my person and estate thereunto, according to all the wholesome laws and orders that there are, or hereafter shall be there made, and established by lawful authority, and that I will neither plot nor practise any evil against the same, nor consent to any that shall so do, but will timely discover the same to lawful authority there established: and that I will, as I am in duty bound, maintain the honor of the same and of the lawful magistrates thereof, promoting the public good of that, whilest I shall so continue an Inhabi- tant there; and whensoever I shall give my vote or suffrage touching any matter which concerns this Commonwealth being called thereunto, will give that as in my conscience I shall judge, may conduce to the best good of the same, without respect of persons or favor of any man. So help me God, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Elector's Oath taken by all new voters today is also included here:
Town of Fairfield, Connecticut Elector's Oath
You solemnly swear that you will be true and faithful to the State of Connecticut, and the Consti- tution and government thereof, as a free and inde- pendent state, and to the constitution of the United States; and whenever you shall be called to give your vote or suffrage touching any matter that con- cerns this state or the United States, you will give it as you shall judge will conduce to the best good of the same, without respect of persons or favor of any man; so help you God.
Townsmen elected in the year 1668 were Mr. Gold, William Hill, Jehu Burr, Humphrey Hide, John Wheeler, Henry Rowland, Nathan Seeley -still seven.
In 1683 the General Assembly ordered that every town should erect a sign post in the center of town. The Fairfield sign post was placed upon the Green directly opposite the Meeting House and on it were posted proclamations, sales of houses and lands, meeting announcements, etc.
Some notices which appeared on this Sign Post on the Town Green are included here. Original notices have been kept and are preserved in the Pequot Library, the State Library in Hartford, etc.
The Post was really the center of communica- tion for Fairfield. Auctions or Vendues as they were called, were often held right at the Sign Post for it was always a gathering place. Several
advertisements which appeared in the papers announcing these are also included here.
Notice from Sign Post:
This is to warn the Inhabitants of this Town, that next Tuesday the 15th day instant September is Freeman's Meeting about at 9 o'clock A.M. in the usual place.
Sept. Ye 12th A.D. 1772
also another:
This is to warn the Inhabitants of this Town that next Tuesday is Freeman's Meeting
A list of the Town officers to be chosen was also posted on the Sign Post.
Two other notices:
Fairfield November Ye 20, 1771
Taken by Execution one Cart and iron bound wheels which are to be sold at the Sign Post in Fair- field at Outcry on Monday the 9th day of December at h of the clock in the afternoon as the law directs. December 12, 1772-Fairfield
Taken by execution one great coat, one straight bodied coat, one gun, one Great Bible which are to be sold at an outcry on Monday 7th day of January next at the Sign Post in Fairfield at h of the clock in the afternoon as the law directs.
At that time the Town Meetings were planned by the sun for one reads where "meeting ad- journed until Thursday next, the sun at an hour high at night". Another time "the Towne Meet- ing is adjourned to the next second day-the sun an hour high in the morning."
The attendance was very sparse at one of the meetings because everyone was busy shearing sheep and another poor attendance was blamed on the extremely cold weather.
On December 29, 1774 they met at 9 a.m. but because there were so few in attendance at such an early hour, they adjourned for an hour and a half and then reconvened.
In 1671, John Banks was appointed "Attur- nie" to represent the Towne whenever its status was in question and Goodman Osborn was chosen a "Fence Viewer for the year ensuing as reserve in the absence of John Sturges".
In 1672 it was voted to collect the special Rate (tax) set for repair of the Meeting House along with the Towne Rate "speedily" and that "one fourth part of the whole Rate shall be payed in wheat, the rest in current pay".
Two years later Goodman Try and Daniel Frost were chosen Sealers for Leather. Leather Sealers were allowed 18 shillings for every dicker of sealed leather, 18 pence for half a dicker and 4 pence for a single hide. A dicker is ten.
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The law which prohibited the importation of skins, used so largely for deer skins was re- pealed in 1681 with the proviso that if anyone within a month before transportation, gave notice at a town meeting or by a "writing" fastened upon the tavern or mill door, and should he find a purchaser for his skins in town or in the colony at 6 pence per pound, in either wheat or money, he should not send the skins out of the colony, under forfeiture of the full value of as many skins shipped as the purchaser desired.
On February 16, 1673 Richard Lyon was chosen highway warden for the east end of the Towne and Francis Bradley for the west end of Towne. John Green was appointed to burn Com- po Woods.
In 1674 Lieutenant John Banks, Joseph Lock- wood and Richard Hubbell were chosen Select- men to take the list of estates.
In 1676 William Hill was called the Town Clerk for the first time. He had previously been called a secretary and a recorder. The following year, George Squire was chosen Moderator for a meeting.
Their rigidity on attendance continued for in 1677 it was voted that "the Town orders that who ever shall not personally appear at the time appointed to every future Towne Meeting except they can render a satisfying reason to the con- trary to the satisfaction of the Townsmen: or shall depart from the meeting without leave till the meeting be broken up: shall for his fault there in be fined six pence a piece to be annexed to their Town Rates".
Robert Rumsey was also appointed "to over- see the boys on the Sabbath in the gallery that they carry it orderly".
On the 10th of August 1677, a moderator for each meeting became mandatory when it was voted that:
The Towne orders that for future Towne meet- ings: at the time appointed for the meeting the drum shall be beaten about the space of half an hour and such Inhabitants shall come to the meet- ing shall be esteemed the Towne to proceed in any Towne acts: and every such meeting they are first to choose a moderator for the present meeting: whoever is disorderly at the said meeting by speak- ing without leave or otherwise disorderly: each so offending shall forfeit three pence a piece to be annexed to his Towne Rate.
In 1681 an account system was set up by the Towne and Henry Rowland was chosen "Clerk of the Market for wheat and other grain".
In 1686 "The Towne this day ordereth ye Constables of ye Towne upon Sabbath days in time of exercises take notes who they are lying or sleeping or playing and inform those with whom they are concerned that they may reform from such evil practice".
In the 1690's it was decided to ring the bell every night but Saturday night and the one who rang the bell, swept the Meeting House, worked "after keeping the glass and keeping the doors shut" was to have 4 lbs. 10 shilling for his serv- ice. The condition of the roads were ever a concern.
In 1702 Daniel Burr, Sr. and Moses Dimon were chosen surveyors. The prosperity of the community depended a great deal on the condi- tion of the roads. The surveyors were charged with the responsibility of making and mending roads. The roads were cut right through the woods of course.
It had been previously been voted:
The Townesmen do desire and appoint Sergeant John Osborn be now going to Boston, he is desired to purchase a good land compass and take ye best advice he can in it, and cause it to be carefully bought and he shall be paid by ye Towne what is reasonable ... and he shall be paid out of ye Sheep Treasury-a piece of Town equipment.
Helping "Work the roads" was a must for all and as the years went on, this duty was turned into a source of income for many. In the 1720's the record shows that "Moses Dimon and sons were excused from working on the highways as long as they maintain a good cart bridge over the Aspetuck River". The highways on the long lots were 20 rods wide but this was reduced to 6 rods in 1746. Six rods on the east of the Mile of Common and six rods on the west of the Mile of Common.
In 1764, the Selectmen were to set out to each surveyor of Highways and certain districts for their mending the highways. Joseph Strong, Zacr. Morehouse and Benoni Dimon were chosen surveyors of highways for 1768.
As the officers were chosen each year, they were expected to serve. In 1702 the Towne Meet- ing voted:
The Towne grants the fines due to ye Towne Treasury for any person for refusing to serve in the Offices they are chosen to serve in.
By 1712 there was just one Fence Viewer chosen, the Selectmen were named regularly and a Tavern Keeper was chosen. Grand Jurors were selected in 1719 and a Tything Man was listed with the Towne officers and a Cooper also be-
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came a regularly chosen officer. A Brander was chosen regularly then too.
In 1744 the Selectmen had liberty to purchase a Colony Lawbook for their use.
By 1746 the 7 Townesmen were now Select- men and 2 Grand Jury men were selected a few years later. Jonathan Bulkley was chosen as Gager of Casks.
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