USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > This is Fairfield, 1639-1940 > Part 8
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"This Assembly after hearing ye reasons offered by Mr. Ebenezer Wakeman agent for the old parish in Fairfield why said Hill and neighbors should not have parish privileges granted them, as well as the arguments of said petitioners why they should be a parish; do hereby order and grant that said peti- tioners shall be a parish and are hereby enabled to set up the worship of God among themselves, and that the bounds above said shall be the bounds of said parish, and so be and remain until this Assem- bly shall order otherwise; and it is hereby enacted that said parish shall have and be allowed all the privileges and advantages as are by law allowed to other parishes in this government.
A true copy of Record;
Examined by Hoz Wyllys, Secretary.
In January a suitable tax was levied to pay the expenses of the new parish and two sign posts were ordered to be put in place to announce the parish meetings. One at the Meeting House, the second at Hulls Farms. Thomas Hill was also appointed Brander for the Northwest Parish and for the new parish's train band, Mr. Thomas Hill served as Captain, Mr. Moses Dimon, Jr. Lieutenant and Mr. Samuel Wakeman Ensign.
It was further put to a vote whether the Greenfield parish should have a pound at their own charge-and whether ye new pound now built shall be ye pound. It was voted in the affirmative and Captain Thomas Hill was chosen key keeper for said pound. Daniel Bradley was chosen keeper of the key another year.
Reverend John Goodsell was engaged as the minister of the new parish by a committee con- sisting of Dr. John Hide, George Hull, Benjamin Banks, Jehu Burr (a lawyer) and Peter Burr.
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Reverend Goodsell, who was 19 years of age, and a graduate of Yale College Class of 1724 had come from Stratford.
Church affairs seemed to take most of the Town's interest of this period and a controversy throughout the colony arose between the follow- ers of the Established Church and the Separa- tists.
The members of the Church of England peti- tioned the General Assembly to be freed from paying taxes for the maintenance of the Estab- lished Church of the Colony-the Congregational Church. This was granted to those who lived near the minister.
Many sought refuge from ecclesiastical taxes through this law. There were sixty-five communi- cants of the Church of England in Fairfield at this time.
It is a fact worth recording that the first meet- ing of the Old Congregational Parish, the Prime Ancient Society of Fairfield, distinct from town meeting, was held, according to the record, on December 19, 1727.
In 1732, West Parish and Greenfield Parish were ordered to put both of their lists together and divide the results "equally to ye support of their minister". It was also voted to sell the Parsonage Lands and divide the money among the parishes.
On July 27, 1738 permission was granted to the members of the Church of England to erect a house of public worship on the highway near the old field gate (Oldfield Road and Old Post Road of today ).
The parishioners of the Congregational Church continued their disagreements with the members of the Church of England.
Redding Parish was authorized in 1729 and here is the resolution which made it possible:
May 1729
Upon the memorial of John Read, in behalf of himself and the rest of the inhabitants of Lone Town, Chestnut Ridge, and the peculiar between Fairfield and Danbury, showing to this Assembly the great difficulty they labour under in attending on the publick worship of God, and the forwardness of the town of Fairfield to encourage them to set up the publick worship of God among themselves by conceding that two miles of the rear end of their long lots be added to them, in order to the making them a parish; and praying this Assembly that they may be allowed to be a society for the worship of God, with the priviliges usually granted to such societies or parishes, and that said society or parish may comprise those lands that lie encircled betwixt the townships of Fairfield, Danbury, Newtown and Ridgefield, together with the aforesaid two miles of
Fairfield long lots; and that they may have remitted to them their country rate during the pleasure of this Assembly; and that all the lands aforesaid may be taxed by the order of said Assembly; and that said parish be annexed to Fairfield, and that it be named Redding:
"This Assembly grants that the said Lone Town, Chestnut Ridge and the peculiar thereof, be a soci- ety or parish by themselves, and to have all the privileges usually granted to societies or parishes, and that said society or parish shall comprise all those lands that lie encircled betwixt the townships of Fairfield, Danbury, Newtown and Ridgefield, together with two miles of the rear end of Fairfield long lots. Furthermore, this Assembly doth remit to them their country rate for four years, excluding those only who decline to join with them for what is prayed for, of being released of country tax; and that all the laid out unimproved lands within the limits of said parish be taxed at six shillings a hun- dred acres per year for four years, and that the money raised thereby be improved for the defray- ing the ministerial charges among them in that place; and that said parish be named Redding.
It wasn't long before a House of Worship was a reality and it was voted to build a pound in the Redding Parish at "their own charge". The pound was to be erected near "John Hull's dwell- ing,-John Bull to be the key keeper." Sergeant John Reed was commissioned by the General Assembly Captain, Stephen Burr, Lieutenant and Samuel Sanford Ensign "for the train band of Redding in the Town of Fairfield, and later-
Daniel Meeker of Redding and John Burr of West Parish were chosen Grand Jurymen, Ephrim Sanford shall be key keeper for ye pound in Red- ding.
and
William Hill of Redding to be the tything man.
One should also mention New Fairfield, north of Danbury, for that too is a parish which had sprung from the old Prime Society of Fair- field. Captain Nathan Gold, Peter Burr, Ensign John Reed, John Edwards, Jonathan Sturges, John Barlow, Gideon Allen, Samuel Wilson, Samuel Jennings, Captain John Wakeman, Mos- es Dimon and Lieutenant Joseph Wakeman had purchased these lands from the Indians for twenty pounds in 1710 after it had been granted to them in 1707 by the General Assembly. They petitioned in 1736 for a patent. The patent was granted "provided the persons, their associates, heirs and assigns, shall settle on said lands so many good inhabitants, as will make up in the whole fifty families within three years next com- ing." These proprietors were granted town priv- ileges and to exercise all of the voting powers and privileges as proprietors of common undi-
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vided lands under the laws of the colony. In 1740 it was named New Fairfield.
The taxable estates of Fairfield had reached £37,793 7s 9d by 1739. There were two sets of taxes. The Towne Rate and the Country Rate. One year Samuel Sturges was to be collector of both. The former to be "one penny and half penny on ye pound on ye whole list of Estate", the latter to be paid in provisions.
The winter of 1740 was one to be remembered for a long time. William Wheeler reported that snow filled the roads and buried a pair of oxen. They were found by their breathing holes. The harbor at Black Rock was frozen from the mid- dle of December to the middle of March. It did not thaw any "for 40 days".
England having declared war on Spain on October 23, 1739, a proclamation of War was issued by Governor Joseph Talcott, calling for volunteers. England also declared war on France and Fairfield hastened to do her part in both encounters. Troops were raised and equipped. Black Rock Harbor was the scene of many ves- sels departing with men, supplies and horses to join other members of the fleet at New London. These efforts proved very costly for the Con- necticut Colony and once again the money of the Colony depreciated greatly.
In 1751 the new Congregational Church build- ing of the Prime Society was completed. It was 60 feet by 44 feet and 26 feet high with a steeple of 120 feet in which hung a bell.
In 1753 there was much illness in Town and two or three people died each day from dysen- tery during the winter months.
Once again the threat of war was heard by the Connecticut planters and in 1755, the As- sembly ordered that one thousand men should be immediately raised, armed and equipped. Every able man who enlisted to march against the French, was given a bounty of thirteen shil- lings (perhaps $2.00). An additional seven hun- dred fifty men were ordered to be raised under the same bounty. Here is a typical military order:
To Either Constable of Fairfield in Fairfield County-Greetings:
"Whereas Col. Andrew Burr hath ordered Lieu- tenant John Jennings of said Fairfield to put in Martials Array a number of the soldiers in said Company under his command and them to march to said relief of Fort Edward now in danger of an attack from the enemy -
These are therefore in his Majesties Name to Command you forthwith to impress as many horses as will be sufficient for transporting of Soldiers that
shall be drafted out or detached for the purpose aforesaid to the aforesaid Fort-Dated at Fairfield, Aug. 13th, 1757.
David Rowland, Justice Peace
Great losses of men were experienced again by Fairfield. Seventeen French prisoners were sent to Fairfield. The selectmen were ordered "to receive manage and support them as if they were inhabitants of the town". The War contin- ued the following Spring and another twenty- five hundred soldiers were ordered to be raised in Connecticut. This time a bounty of 36 shil- lings (a little over $4.00) and a blanket were offered to all who would enlist. These troops were held in readiness and the chief military officers were expected to examine the ammuni- tion of each company under his command in May and October.
A new Society was ordered to be made from the northern part of Greens Farms, part of Greenfield and Wilton-under the name of Nor- field. This was in 1757.
May 1757
Upon the memorial of Cornelius Dikeman and others, inhabitants of the northern parts of Greens Farm Society, of part of Greenfield in the township of Fairfield and part of Wilton in Norwalk in Fair- field county, praying to be a distinct ecclesiastical society, and the report of a committee in their fa- vour: This Assembly do enact and order that the in- habitants within the limits hereafter mentioned shall be and hereby are made and constituted a distinct ecclesiastical society, and hereby are endowed with all the privileges and immunities of such societies in this Colony, and shall be called by the name of Norfield; and that the bounds of said society shall be as follows, viz: beginning at the military bounds in the western line of Fairfield township twenty rods above John Morehouse's dwelling house, and from thence running easterly to the widow Sarah Fanton's dwelling house, including the same, and so on to Greenfield parish line; thence northward with said line to Aspetuck River; thence running northerly by said river to Gilbert's highway so called, about half a mile west of the mile of common; thence northerly by said highway up to Redding south line, and thence westerly by said south line to the wester- ly line of Fairfield township; then southerly as the perambulation line between the towns of Fairfield and Norwalk runs to the western branch of Sauga- tuck River, and then by said branch till it comes to said dividing line again; then running down with said line to said military line. Provided nevertheless, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to exempt those persons included in this society and taken out of the society of Greenfield from being taxed by the society of Greenfield their proportion- able part to perform the covenant said society of Greenfield lately made with Mr. Goodsell their late pastor, to pay him a certain sum of money for and in lieu of his maintenance.
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Stratfield Baptist Church too was organized about this time and permission was granted to "erect a house of publicke worship at Elbow Hill".
In 1756 there were 4,455 people in Fairfield. On November 14, 1757 the town voted "that a Committee be appointed to provide firewood and other things necessary for ye soldiers that are expected to be billeted within this town and that it be at the charge of the town" and the following spring, they asked the General Assem- bly for reimbursement of money spent for sol- diers while they stayed in Fairfield. A short while later a committee was appointed to "dis- pose of such things as are left from the billeting of the soldiers".
And further:
23 lbs. was voted for supplying ye Guard House and Hospital in this Town with firewood for ye use of ye soldiers now quartered here belonging to his Majesty's 48th Regiment of foot and that Captain Samuel Burr shall procure such wood and examine said lands and shall take proper receipt upon ye delivery thereof of some proper person belonging to said Regiment.
Every inhabitant of Fairfield who had quar- tered members of this Regiment during the win- ter months was reimbursed.
A hospital was set up in a house near where Roger Ludlowe High School now stands on Unquowa Road and not far from the Old Powder House.
On March 22, 1758 there was an earthquake which was felt all over New England and in Fairfield as well.
The taxable estates of Fairfield reached £53,358 7s 6d in 1759 and was larger than any other town except Norwich.
The colonies' victories over the French of the past years had not been complete and the French continued to push on to regain what they had lost.
More soldiers were needed.
An additional 40 shillings (about $5.00) was added to the five pound bounty granted to each voluntary enlistment. The names of many Fair- field leaders appeared again and again in the several campaigns. Judge Ebenezer Silliman, Honorable David Rowland, Colonel John Burr, Colonel Andrew Burr, Colonel John Read, Cap- tain James Smedley would be just a few that might be named.
North Fairfield, which was made up of the northerly parts of Stratfield and Greenfield and the westerly part of the parish of North Strat-
ford, petitioned the General Assembly for parish privileges.
OCTOBER 1761
Upon the memorial of John Gilbert etc., inhabit- ants of the northly parts of the parishes of Stratfield and Greenfield, and of the westerly part of the par- ish of North Stratford, in the county of Fairfield, praying this Assembly that they may be made a dis- tinct ecclesiastical society, and that their limits may be: to begin at the northeasterly corner of the par- ish of Norfield, and to extend from thence south- easterly in the easterly line of Norfield parish down to the southcasterly corner of said parish, and to continue the same course till it comes down even with the second cross highway, so called, and from thence to run in a straight course to said second cross highway, and then to run in said highway un- til it comes to the highway that passes from front to rear of the long lots in Fairfield between More- house's and Turney's long lots, so called, and thence to run down in said last-mentioned highway till it comes to the first cross highway, so called, and from thence to extend easterly in said cross highway till it comes to Fairfield mill river, so called, and thence to run with said river until it comes to the line be- tween the towns of Fairfield and Stratford, and from thence to run on a course at right angles 250 rods into Stratford, and from thence to run a paral- lel line to said town's line northcrly until it comes to the easterly bounds of the parish of Stratfield, and then to run in the line of said Stratfield until it comes to the southeasterly corner of the parish of Redding, and from thence to run in the southerly line of said Redding parish until it comes to the place began at; or that a committee may be appoint- ed to view their circumstances and situation, and make report etc .: Resolved by this Assembly, that Samuel Olmsted, Esqr, of Ridgefield, Samuel Fitch, Esqr, of Norwalk, and John Fowler, Esqr, of Mil- ford, be and they are hereby appointed a committee to view the circumstances of the memorialists, their situation and the circumstances of the adjoining societies, and to hear all parties concerned therein, and their report thereof with their opinion thereon to make to the General Assembly to be holden at Hartford in May next.
A society was constituted October 1762, by the name of North Fairfield. (Easton of today)
Greenfield also started to build a new meeting house that same year.
On December 9, 1766, it was voted that the Parish of Redding shall be a Township by them- selves. Apparently some of the people of Red- ding wanted more land than the Fairfield people felt they should have for on October 6, 1767 it was voted
that David Burr, Esqr., be and he is by said Town appointed an agent to appear for and represent ye Town of Fairfield at the General Assembly of this Colony to oppose Gershom Lyon and Ebenezer Lyon and others in a memorial brought by them to ye General Assembly praying to be annexed to and in- cluded within the limits of the Town of Redding and
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to enlarge the southern boundaries of said Town of Redding.
Judge Ebenezer Silliman and a committee prepared a paper giving reasons why the colon- ists should not be charged internal taxes-Stamp duties, which was sent to Parliament. Protest meetings against the Stamp Act were held throughout the colonies. Little effort was made to enforce it and in 1766, it was repealed. How- ever, the joy which was evidenced by its repeal was short lived for just two years later, a tax was levied on tea, glass, paper and painters' colors sent to America.
All raised their voices against taxation with- out representation. The Sons of Liberty and the Daughters of Liberty banded together to give up the use of tea. Many of the leaders of the period wrote letters of protest to the powers in Great Britain. Dr. Benjamin Franklin1, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, Jonathan Trumbull, Samuel Ad- ams, James Otis, John Adams, John Dickinson, all joined in voicing their opinions against this form of taxation.
In 1767 two Indians were whipped and stood in the pillory on the Green for stealing a child and leaving it in the forest.
About that time a prisoner set the jail on fire hoping that he might thus escape. The story goes that the prisoners were led from the burning inferno and lined up when one of the prisoners with tears in his eyes was heard to say "that was the best house I ever had".
1 There is an interesting story that is centered around Dr. Franklin and the Rising Sun Tavern which stands at the rear of the Town Green and where Washington also stayed.
It seems that on one occasion Dr. Franklin arrived and was most anxious to eat dinner and be off again. When he entered the Tavern dining room, he found a capacity crowd and no empty seats. In a loud voice, he requested a bowl of oysters for his horse. This at best seemed rather strange to those in charge but upon hearing the request, several of the guests were said to leave their places at the tables to go outside and have a look at this strange type of horse that needed a bowl of oysters. The story continues that with so many out viewing the unusual animal, Franklin got a seat for dinner without further delay! Well, as the old saying goes-There are many roads to Rome!
On April 18, 1768 it was voted that
County of Fairfield have liberty to erect a Court House on the Meeting House Green a little north- westerly of the new schoolhouse . . . the Town of Fairfield have liberty to erect a Prison and house for ye gaol keeper on the west part of the Meeting House Green, northwesterly of the pond and south- easterly of ye Country Rd and liberty for a garden for ye gaoler . . .
Gold Sellick Silliman was sent to Hartford "to oppose any person or persons that shall make a motion to said Assembly for altering the place for holding either the Superior Court or County Courts. The Towne was also willing to grant something over and above their proportions towards building the Court House. This amount- ed to one penny on the pound above their pro- portion. Stamford, Ridgefield, Danbury and Redding wanted to remove the Courthouse and the jail to Norwalk. The County Buildings were an interest of many for years ahead.
In 1771 lightning killed two men in the Stratfield Meeting House. In 1772 there were seven large snow storms in the month of March and it was said that on April 2, the snow was higher than the fences. On September 2, 1772, there was a severe thunder storm between 8:30 and 11:30 and the lightning struck more than 100 times in Fairfield.
Feeling against the tyranny of Great Britain grew daily and many resolved to free the col- onists of these demands. General Gage had or- dered his troops to Fairfield and other towns to keep serveillance over the colonists. The cloud of war hung ever nearer with the growing re- sentment. The use of tea was laid aside and it rapidly accumulated in the British warehouses.
The Boston Tea Party resulted and the Whigs and Tories became a reality.
An old toast-popular in 1774
Addition to the Whigs Subtraction to the Tories Multiplication to the Sons and Daughters of Liberty And division to the enemies of America.
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CHAPTER 6
1774-1799
In 1774 there were 4863 people in Fairfield. In the list of 169 towns in Connecticut, Fairfield stood seventh in taxable wealth. Her political and social powers were also held in great esteem.
The Town Meetings had considered rather usual items of business for the past few years until December 20, 1774 when it was
Voted and agreed that a Committee be appointed to prepare votes to be passed (if ye Town think proper) at ye adjourned Town Meeting respecting Association of the Continental Congress in Phila- delphia in October last past. G. Sellick Silliman, Jonathan Sturges, Thaddeus Burr, Andrew Row- land, Nathan Bulkley Esquires, Captain Elijah Abell, Ebenezer Silliman Esquire, (who had been chosen Speaker of the House in Hartford) Doctor John Allen be the Committee for the purpose aforesaid.
That meeting was then adjourned to Thursday of the following week which was December 29, 1774 at 9:00 o'clock in the forenoon. Appar- ently not too many appeared at such an early hour for they adjourned for an hour and a half and then reconvened at 10:30. At this session they voted for the Independence of the Colonies and the Town Meeting minutes read as follows:
Votes For Independence Of The Colonies
At a Legal Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Fairfield held by Adjournment on the 29th Day of December A:D: 1774
Ebenezer Silliman Esqr. Moderator
This Meeting having duly considered the Agree- ment and association entered into by the Contin- ental Congress Lately held at Philadelphia, do heart- ily approve thereof and adopt the same And take this opportunity to Express their most grateful sense of the good Services of the worthy Delegates from this Colony who attended said Congress: And pur- suant to the Eleventh Article of said Agreement and Association make a choice of the following gentlemen to be a Committee for the purposes there- in mentioned (viz.) Gold Selleck Silliman, Jonathan Sturges, Job Bartram, Andrew Rowland, Samuel Squier, Jonathan Bulkley, Elijah Abel, Increase Bradley, Eliphalet Thorp, Aaron Jennings, Benja- min Lacy, Daniel Wilson, Azariah Odell, David Hubbell, Zalmon Bradley, John Hubbell, Thomas Cable, Joseph Hanford, Stephen Gorham, Thaddeus Burr, Jonathan Lewis, David Dimon, John Wilson,
Joseph Strong, Albert Sherwood, Moss Kent, Samuel Wakeman, John Squire, Ichabod Wheeler, Ebenezer Bartram, Jonathan Dimon, Jabez Hill, George Burr, Hezekiah Hubbell, Benjamin Wheeler, Joseph Hide, Jeremiah Sherwood, Daniel Andrews, Hezekiah Bradley, Joseph Bradley, Ephraim Lyon and John Allen.
Voted That if any Person or Persons shall direct- ly or indirectly with intent to disuade, disunite or otherwise prevent us from Strictly complying with and conforming to said Agreement & association Publish, Vend or Sell or otherwise dispose of any Books, Pamphlets or publications in this Town di- rectly tending thereto: Such Person or Persons shall be dealt with & exposed in the same way and man- ner as is prescribed in said Eleventh Article for such Person or Persons as violate said Agreement & As- sociation.
Voted that it is expedient a County Congress be held to advise & Consult on the most Effectual Measures to carry the said Agreement & Association into Execution.
Voted that Col. Gold Selleck Silliman, Jonathan Sturges, Andrew Rowland Esqrs, Mr. Job Bartram & Thaddeus Burr Esqr. be a Committee of Corres- pondence for this Town.
Ordered by this Meeting that a Copy of ye fore- going votes be sent by the aforesaid Committee of Correspondence to one or more of the Printers that they may be made Public.
Test. Nathan Bulkley, Town Clerk.
The news of the patriotic manifestations of the people of Boston had spread to several parts of the land and with it a profound realization of the firm resolve of the Sons of Liberty through- out the Country. Those who favored the British were called Tories while the Sons of Liberty . were classed as Whigs. About one third of the Americans were Tories.
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