USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > This is Fairfield, 1639-1940 > Part 27
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In 1753 twenty Jurymen were to be chosen from Fairfield annually in January. Each Jury- man had to have at least 50 shillings and be rated as a freeholder in the General List.
The names of the Jurymen so chosen shall be put in a box with a lock and when any number of Jury- men are summoned to serve at any Court, the Town Constable shall at random draw so many out of the box as is required from that Town, any juror so drawn but not appearing at the Court, penalty 10 shillings.
In 1759 the tasks of the Sealer of Weights and the Sealer of Measures became divided and the posts were assumed by two individuals.
Elections were held at the December Town Meeting.
Up until that point, there had been just one Collector of the Towne Rate.
In 1770 the following Collectors of the Towne Rate were chosen:
Thaddeus Bennett Stratfield Parish Society
Jonathan Silliman First Parish Society
William Wakeman .Greenfield Parish Society
David Adams .Norfield Parish Society
Azariah Odell .Parish of North Fairfield
Each collector of Town Rate in the Societies was given 40 shillings for their services. Three years later, Jonathan Silliman, Richard Hubbell, Jr., Daniel Sherwood 2nd, Simon Couch, Jona- than Squire, Azariah Odell were chosen Collec- tors and each was to have 40 shillings-about $5.00 for his services except Richard Hubbell, Jr., and he was to receive only 20 shillings. There they had added one more Collector.
In 1777 Assessors were appointed for the first time and a Collector of the State Tax was also appointed.
The Rate in 1780 was payable in produce- 1/2 in pork and beef and the other half in flour.
2500 pounds was voted from the Town Treas- ury for repairing and mending bridges.
In 1786 Chimney Viewers were added to the Officer's List officially. Fire was an ever present worry and the inhabitants were ordered to sweep their chimneys once in two weeks and in sum- mer once each month. The Chimney Viewers were appointed to enforce this ordinance.
Cattle Haywards1 had been mentioned again and again but in the late 1700's Hog Haywards were also mentioned.
In 1795 the Selectmen were given power to sell the Towne House and to remove it.
By 1800 Fairfield had six constables and the payment of taxes was clearly defined.
Before 1800 taxes had been collected in rather an easy-going way. Collectors kept Rate Books and did the best they could to get all of the money in. Working on the roads became a very popular way of taking care of one's taxes. On December 24, 1800 the regulations for valid tax payments were arrived at and set down for all to follow.
1. The Collector was to be paid out of the Tax collected.
2. The Selectmen were to appoint in each Society an agent or agents to repair said roads and bridges-the agents were to examine the bridges from time to time and an amount of money would be allotted to them.
3. The Selectmen were to decide the roads that shall have the money spent upon them.
4. The agents to be compensated from the Tax money.
5. The workers were to be paid (if they owed tax- es, they could work them out).
6. Work on the roads was to be done during the period April 1-June 30.
7. The materials and tools were to be obtained in the most economical way.
8. Credit would be given to people for materials.
9. Workers were given credit for day's work on their tax "not to exceed 75¢ for keeping includ- ed for a man with cattle team (oxen) cart, plow be credited to the amount of his tax not exceed- ing $2.00 for a day, keeping also included".
Town Planning for Fairfield is not new for the idea started when the Town was established.
The idea of order went into the planning for not only did Roger Ludlowe establish five big wide streets and four carefully planned Squares but planning continued slowly and thoughtfully with each year. In 1665 Cornelius Hull was given permission "to change ye land for his hop garden formerly given him for another place on the Aspetuck River".
Zoning is not new either for in 1673
The Towne grants Liberty to Richard Lyon to erect a hovell to put his cart in upon the highway at the front of his lot provided he does not prejudice the highway-this grant to continue to the Town's pleasure.
1 Haywards were in charge of the cattle-keeping them from breaking through the fences as well as impounding the strays.
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was voted by the Towne Meeting.
The next year Benjamin Turney was allowed: to dig a well upon the Common before his lot. He to sink the well where the Committee orders.
In 1675 - -
The Towne hath granted unto John Banks half a years farther time to make up his dam at Sasqua Neck that erected to dam out the tide: according to a grant to him the 30 April 1664 if it be not done by the Time above said, the gained meadowe is to revert to the Towne according as it is provided in the above said order.
Jonathan Morehouse was granted:
a rod square of land about his well, he dug near his lot, provided he keeps it sufficiently fenced from the Common.
Any householder who gives entertaynment for future to any person that the Towne ar Townsmen shall give warning to not to inhabit any longer in the Towne but to depart the Towne: he shall forfeit a fine of the Towne Treasury of 19 shillings for such entertaynment and five shillings for every hour he shall so continue to entertayne, the marshall is to take inspection who are delinquent in this case and present it to effect and he is to have half the fines for the trouble therein.
Charles Lane appeared before ye Townsmen-he hath set up a house to dwell in near John Grumans without either leave of ye Towne.
The Townsmen warned him to remove said house.
A Committee was appointed to consider and rectify several disorders about the Town streets.
It was also voted that the highways and the Commons "are to be set apart from the persons' property and if they were found to be within the Commons or on the highways, the individual was fined".
Richard Whitney was allowed to flood Com- mons while building a dam and it was made unlawful to cut wood on the Commons without being fined for same.
1797-Owners were allowed to set out trees on the highways
either for use or for ornament, provided the adjoin- ing proprietor shall be willing for such trees to be set out and stand and any such proprietor, or their heirs may order the same to be taken away.
In the 19th Century, the Surveyors of High- ways took on the task of collecting the tax mon- ey. Every person was given liberty to work out his "rate" (taxes) on the road, provided he fur- nish his own tools. He was to work 8 hours a day. If he failed to report when and where he was assigned he was to be debarred from working
out his rate in the future. Each Surveyor was allowed 75¢ per day for each day he worked in the interest of the Town.
The Town Meetings had been held in the Court House but in 1803 they were held in the Meeting House.
It was at that time that they voted:
that no nominations made by any of the several parishes shall have preference to be tried in Town Meeting for this or any future Town Meeting.
On December 26, 1803, the Town Meeting was held in the Greenfield Meeting House and it was voted that Doctor David Hull be not ex- cused from being Selectman. Now there were five Selectmen.
The first bit of road equipment was also ordered when it was voted:
that the Selectmen furnish a suitable number of drays to make and repair the roads . .. each sur- veyor shall be accountable to the Selectmen there- fore and return such dray to the place of deposit.
In 1806 it was decided to have the Town ac- counts lodged with the Selectmen for "publick inspection" and the tax collector was to get 4 per cent of the collections for his salary. The Town Treasurer was to have $5.00 for his serv- ices for the year.
In 1808 the five Selectmen were
to furnish the surveyors of highways with scrapers and ax shovels so called proper for mending high- ways . .. Selectmen were also to appoint proper places for deposit of these in each parish . . . they to be used for no other purpose.
It was also voted to have the annual meeting on the 1st Monday of December in each year at 10:00 o'clock in the morning.
In 1811 there were just 4 Selectmen. The next year it was decided to have the annual meeting of the Selectmen on the first Monday in January -they were to appoint 2 of the Civil Authority to examine, audit and adjust the accounts of the Selectmen. These accounts were to be exhibited to the publick the last Monday of November each year.
Each Surveyor's accounts were to be placed with the Selectmen on penalty of $3.34 for either refusal or neglect.
Town Meeting attendance seemed to be quite good for at one in 1817 when a vote was re- corded
120-being for 170-being against
Total 290
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On October 11, 1819, four Assessors were chosen. Jonathan Bulkley made this entry:
Monday, October 11, 1819 was Town Meeting for the purpose of appointing assessors for the first time under the new Constitution when John Hull, Thom- as F. Rowland, David Hill, L. W. Brothwell as as- sessors and Jesup Wakeman, Abraham D. Baldwin and Lyman Taylor as a Board of Relief.
It was also voted that the Town Meetings were to be held at 1:00 p.m. rather than at 10:00 a.m. In 1823 it was ordered that:
each Surveyor of Highways was to return his high- way tax book to the Selectmen in the parish to which he belongs .
Thus, we see that the Selectmen still came from the several remaining parishes.
On February 6, 1826 it was further voted "that the choice of Selectmen shall be by ballot with the number of names to be chosen written on one piece of paper in the same manner as the Senators of the State are elected." In De- cember of the same year, this was rescinded and it was voted to choose the Selectmen by a show of hands.
In 1836 it was voted:
that the Town Room in the Court House in the fu- ture be the place of holding Election Meetings in- stead of the Meeting House as heretofore practiced.
In 1850 the Selectmen were asked to look into the purchase of safes for the probate rec- ords.
The next year Henry Bradley became Regis- trar of Marriages, Births and Deaths-a new title.
1853 marked the first mention of the Town House as such. Previously it had been called the Town Room in the Court House.
In 1868 the annual meeting was held on Octo- ber 5 rather than in December as had been cus- tomary and two Registrar of Voters were added to the roster of Town officers.
In 1869 a suitable vault was planned for the Town House and extensive repairs made.
On October 3, 1870 the polls opened at 10:00 a.m. and at 2:00 p.m. all went upstairs, ballot box and all where the annual reports of the Town Officers were read. At the close of the meeting the ballot box was taken again to the first floor where voting continued until 5:00 p.m.
The Town Clerk, Judge of Probate and Regis- trar of Births, Marriages and Deaths were ord- ered to move the records to the new vault.
It was voted that the Registrar of Voters be required to hold one session during the year
rather than four for the revision and correction of the voting list.
The Town Clerk's salary was now $150, the Town Treasurer's $250 and the Selectmen's $4.00 a day while in the service of the Town and not to exceed the sum of $250.
In 1874 there were just four Haywards and four Fence Viewers chosen-one for each parish -Fairfield, Greenfield, Stratfield, Southport. That same year the Board of School Visitors was named rather than just School Visitors.
1876 marked the first year for a printed Town Report. At that same time it was voted that:
Town Officers are not to be furnished with din- ners at the expense of the Town.
In 1880 it was decided that:
2 box tenders and 4 checkers were to be employed for each future election.
In 1885 the Registrars of Voters were to re- ceive $50 each for their services.
Only taxpayers and residents were allowed to work on the highways. They were to put in a 10 hour day and to receive $4 a day for a double team and $3 a day for a single team, $1.50 for a man.
In 1888 the first Board of Health became a reality and the next year the Selectmen were ordered to look into the purchase of a portable plant for crushing stones.
In 1891 the Town Auditors' salaries amounted to $25 each and the Town Treasurer's $300 pro- vided he kept his records well. If they were not kept well, the $150 figure would be used.
In 1895 it was Resolved:
that the political organizations of this town be re- quested to make their nominations for office at least two weeks before Election Day.
There were also five Game Keepers listed that year as officers. Election Day in 1895 ran from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The next year the polls opened a half hour earlier and 896 votes were cast.
In 1897 maximum bridge weight signs were ordered for every bridge.
In 1899 there were seven Tellers for Election Day to count the Ballots and each received $2.00 for his services.
In 1903 an Inspector of School Houses was planned and the following year the Selectmen were ordered to keep a record of their meetings. They were to procure a book for the records. There were just three Selectmen now. Town Meetings were held on Saturday afternoons at
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3:00 p.m. (The Town Clerk was appointed clerk of the Selectmen meetings with a salary of $150 in January, 1908-"$50 being deducted from the current Selectmen's pay").
In 1907 a Committee of Five Members was recommended to be appointed concerning the affairs of the Town and the rate of tax to be laid. In 1908 such a committee was appointed. The Board of Equalization was to receive $4.00 for each day that they were in the service of the Town.
In 1910, $200 was allowed for the use of the Tree Warden. This same year at the annual Town Meeting, the following resolution was adopted:
Town Vote Monday-October 3, 1910-2:00 p.m.
Resolved -
That for a more systematic, economical and busi- nesslike management of the affairs of the Town, the Selectmen be and they are hereby instructed as fol- lows, viz:
1. The Selectmen shall be in session at their office in the Town Hall on the first Monday of every month, for the payment of bills and any trans- action of other business.
2. No bill shall be paid except upon a written order signed by at least two selectmen, and no bill shall be paid upon the day the same is presented.
3. At least one member of the Board shall be at the Town Hall on every Monday from two to four o'clock in the afternoon.
4. Excepting work of urgent and immediate neces- sity, costing not more than $10.00, in any given case, no road work shall be done except upon the authority of at least two selectmen, which authority shall be by vote taken at a regular meeting of said selectmen.
5. A record shall be kept of all votes passed by said selectmen.
Passed
In 1912 a Mosquito Committee was appointed and in 1914 the Selectmen were expected to be in their Office afternoons of the 1st and 3rd Mon- day of each month to pay bills. Constable service (police protection) was also proposed that year.
1917 brought additional thoughts toward a Board of Finance and on April 15, 1918 a paper ballot was taken "to determine whether or not a Board of Finance shall be established". The re- sult of the vote: Yes 142-No 82.
In 1927 it was voted that:
The Board of Selectmen shall have the power to regulate traffic on the Post Road at Fairfield Center by means of constables or other police officers as- signed by them for that purpose or by means of traffic signals
and the next year it was decided to employ one or more persons to control automobile traffic in and through Town and for such other necessary services in maintaining law and order in Town.
In the spring of 1928 a Fire Commission was established and the following October an Ordi- nance was passed to create a Police Department. Voting machines were also planned for the Elec- tion in 1928-these to be rented.
In 1933 a Committee was appointed to survey the Town as to its efficiency and to recommend a more efficient way of running it.
A Committee was also appointed to study the Collection and Disposal of Garbage and Rubbish in the Town.
July 1, 1935 brought the adoption of the official seal of the Town and the Selectmen were given the authority to appoint a Board of Build- ing Commissioners.
1937's accomplishments were numerous. The Town planned to operate a small claims court, a Recreation Commission was formed and a Police Commission was created.
Thus has been built our town organization- our present day government through 1940. A good solid, workable foundation has been laid for us. It is a real challenge to us to maintain this steady and even tempo of the past as Fair- field continues to grow.
Little has been recorded about the Town Meet- ing Moderators. These were people, who perhaps for an evening or two or even many more, have kept order and direction in the votes of the town during the formal meetings. They have been unsung heroes during many tense moments.
In the early minutes no mention is made of these civil servants but there must have been a meeting chairman of some sort for their author- ity is spelled out at the meeting on May 6, 1678.
The Towne orders that the moderator of every meeting shall have power to give judgment of any that are culpable of a 3 pence fine for disorderly meeting and the Recorder shall enter such upon their names in the same publicke meeting upon no- tice of the moderator.
To honor these people in a small way, I am listing their names here. I trust I have listed each one, for I have endeavored to record each name as I have read it. Among those who have served this Town as Town Meeting Moderators or Chairmen are:
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Town Meeting Moderators
George Squire
David Hill
Nathan Gold
Thomas Robinson
Ebenezer Silliman
Robert Wilson
Capt. David Burr
John G. Allen
Gen. Gold Selleck Silliman
George Peck
Joseph Bradley
Joseph Bartram
Jonathan Sturges
David Sherwood
Andrew Rowland
Charles Bennett
Samuel Sherwood
Rufus Blakeman
Thaddeus Burr
Abraham G. Jennings
Hezekiah Hubbell
John Gould
George Burr
Moses Sherwood
Col. Elijah Abel
Jesup Alvord
Samuel Squier
Jonathan Bulkley
David Burr
William H. Bibbins
David Allen
Jeremiah T. Denison
Samuel Morehouse
John Gould
Seymour Taylor
Ebenezer Jesup
Ebenezer Banks
Jonathan Godfrey
1774
4,863
1782
5,276
Thomas F. Rowland
John H. Glover
1790
4,009
Hon. Gideon Tomlinson
Andrew Bulkley
1800
3,735
Elisha Mills
Robert Wetmore
1810
4,125
Jesup Wakeman
Frederick A. Bartram
1820
4,151
Gershom Burr
Benjamin Pomeroy
1830
4,246
Robert Wilson
Capt. Joseph Bartram
1840
3,654
Jeremiah Sturges
J. D. Candee
1850
3,618
Nathan Beers
O. B. Hall
1860
4,379
John Q. Wilson
Dr. Bern L. Budd
1870
5,642
Thomas B. Osborne
Edmond Hobart
1880
3,748
Ebenezer Beers
Paschal Sheffield
1890
3,868
Samuel Kellogg
William Bradley
1900
4,489
Eliphalet Swift
Samuel Pike
1910
6,134
Samuel B. Sherwood
Frank Wakelee
1920
11,475
Alva Gray
Nelson M. Ogden
1930
17,218
Joseph Wakeman
Frederick B. Thorp
1940
21,135
Arthur Brown
Augustus Jennings
John H. Perry
David F. Beers
Samuel Morehouse
William B. Glover
David H. Sherwood
Dr. William H. Donaldson
E. Livingston Wells Andrew P. Wakeman
Elmore S. Banks
H. C. Stevenson
E. W. S. Pickett
Edward J. Pease
Howard N. Wakeman
Bradford Boardman
Clitus H. King
Ned E. Ostmark
Bacon Wakeman
Herbert L. Cohen
Census of Fairfield From Connecticut State Register and Manual
Samuel Rowland
Levi Lyon
Samuel Sherwood
Sherwood Sterling
Rev. Allen E. Beeman Abner W. Mitchell J. Walter Perry Howard I. Comstock
Arthur O. Jennings
C. V. Brothwell Clarence R. Hall Charles B. Jennings Newton Hoyt Albert E. Lavery John H. Perry Arthur M. Marsh
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CHAPTER 11
SCHOOLS OF FAIRFIELD TO 1940
The Town of Fairfield was settled by Roger Ludlowe and his little band of rugged pioneers in September 1639.
The following year a school was considered of prime importance and a building was con- structed for the purpose. This was to be an All- Purpose building for not only was it used as the Town House and School House, but it was also the Meeting House until the planters could build a suitable House of Worship. This first school- house probably stood where the First Church of Christ currently stands only more to the north- west and facing northeast. This was used as a schoolhouse until 1693 when it was given to Mr. Webb, the minister for his use as a parsonage.
There are a few interesting items available about this school and its scholars and they show us the many obstacles that the early people faced in trying to educate their children.
In 1661, the record shows that the town de- cided -
Whereas the town hath formerly voted that the school master shall have ten pounds towards his wages out of the town rate, it is now ordered that the fifteen pounds that remains of his wages, shall be paid by the masters and parents of such children as need teaching, from six years old and upwards. And if any shall send their children under six years, or girls, they shall be esteemed payable scholars. Sergeant Squire and Robert Turney are appointed to go to each family in the town and make trial what scholars are to be payable scholars to the school and bring in a list of the names to the sec- retary, that there may be a rate made to pay the schoolmaster.
One would imagine that Rev. John Jones, the first minister was probably also the first school teacher. (His successor, Rev. Samuel Wakeman was a teacher first and then became a minister.) 1
On May 24, 1666, the town voted -
That all ye swamp land viz ye waste or common
meadowe near Mr. Gold's in ye great meadowe ex- cepting that part of it that Mr. Wakeman hath now in occupation, ye occupation and profit thereof shall be to ye proper use of a schoolmaster such as one as ye town shall approve of who shall attend ye call- ing for ye educating of children of ye town, this ye town sees cause to do towards his maintenance for his encouragement and ye property of ye land shall remain to ye town.
Since school business was a part of town busi- ness, all references possible have been taken from the Town Meeting Minutes. Some may not follow as distinctly and as succinctly as we would like to have them, but we must admit that they do give us an idea of the genuine devotion to education that those first people in Fairfield professed.
It would seem that by this time there was more than just one school for we find this information in the Town Records:
In 1668 "the Town hath granted for ye en- couragement for ye school ye salt marsh at ye Horse Tavern below ye path and pond and swamp that lies in Sasco Field". This land was to "remain for ye future to a free school" and could not be given nor sold to any person what- soever.
Further, one feels very sure that more than one school had been established for we also find in 1678 that:
The Towne orders that the Townsmen with addi- tion of Major Gold and Jehu Burr, and do impower them as their committee to hire a Schoolmaster: as meet a person as they can procure to each school in the Towne: to answer the law this day published: they are impowered to agree with him both about his work and wages: and what they shall agree to for his satisfaction: the Town will perform, his maintenance to be raised by way of the Rate.
One schoolmaster probably served all schools teaching three or four months in the school on the Green and then moving on to another school in Town for another 3 or 4 months and then on to another for the remainder of the year.
A few years later we find that the East Farm- ers were to get 20 shillings from the Sheep
1 Later when Mr. Webb, the minister was ill, John Reed, the schoolmaster took his place and during this period he was re- leased "from school duties as long as he supplies Mr. Webb's place in ye pulpit". The school teacher ranked next to the minister with those early people.
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Treasury1 towards the maintenance of their school and the schoolmaster was rehired for another year.
The Schoolmaster's pay was ever a problem. In 1669 the Town Meeting voted "The Towne is willing to entertain Mr. Shute as a schoolmas- ter, he to take the benefit of his scholars for his maintenance during the Towne's pleasure". We find, too, that the "schoolmaster's Rate for pres- ent to be payed to the schoolmaster within one week after this date"-and later:
Thomas Wilson protests against the Town's hir- ing Mr. Howard to be a schoolmaster in the Towne, hath by vote chosen Mr. Jehu Burr, Mr. John Burr, Henry Rowland, Sergeant Wheeler and Thomas Jones a Committee to hire a schoolmaster for the Towne forthwith for the next ensuing year after Mr. Harvey's year is ended: they are not to engage more than £40 for the year: as much less as they can.
They tried to reward him in ways other than financial and hoped he might remain with them for a longer period of time as well for we find:
The Towne grants to Mr. Bellemy an acre of land on the east side of Uncoway River for him to build on: provided he be a schoolmaster within the Towne of Fairfield seven years after this date, in case he remove from the Towne or cease from being a Schoolmaster in the Towne within the said seven years: then the said land is to revert to the Town, they paying him what is profitably improved-if he dies within seven years, the land will go to his wife and children.
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