Connecticut Historical Collections

One particular I would ineniion. After Tryon had begun to burn, he sent out the proclamation which you have in tht: Hartford papiT. In the midst of hostilities, while the flames were raging and bullets (lying, who should come out with the flag, but Mr. Sayre I A spirited answer was sent in ; and Ihe people were so enragad that hostilities should be going on in the lime of negociaiioii ; and that Mr. Sayre should be the bearer of such an insulting proclamation, ami at such a time, that the said gen- tleman was obliged to quit the town when the enemy left it. His whole family weie obliged to go with him, leaving the greatest part of their substance behind, which be- came fuel for the flames, indiscriminately scattered by the rear guard. The reply ■which general Tryon made to Mr. Sayre, when he asked to go with him was, "Yon may go on board the ships, sir, but I cannot promise you any help or assistance." The Church of England building was consumed, but by whom, or at what lime, I am unable to say. Uncoiinecluit with ihein, unsolicited on my p:iit, il.u.M-h the iniirciN-ion of Mr. Sayre, my house and pri>perly received a proicci ion in Cencial Tll|(.lll'.^ own hand- writing. A sentinel was placed there some part o( the lime. But sad e.V()erience convinces me lo how liille purpose all this was. My )>ro]ierty was plundered, my house and furniture all consumed, though a lady was so kind as to show thein the protec- tion, which like others, was torn in pieces by the Yaugers. Our friend, Joseph Bertram, was shot through the breast; old Mr. Solomon Sturgis, an Irish servant of Mr. Penlield, and a negro man belonging to Mr. Lewis, were put to death by the bayonet. The distress of this poor people is inexpressible. A most pleasant and delightful town in flames! What a scene did theSlh of July present. But I must forbear ! Every thing 1 have written you may depend upon as a fact : my pen has not been guided by prejudice, whatever my feelings are ; and should you publish the letter, every reader may be assure<l that thcie is not the least deviation I'roin what actually took [ilace u[)on this melancholy occasion. Yours, k!Lc. Anduew Ei.iot. EXTRACTS FROM NEWSPAPERS. From the Connecticul Journal, Feb. 20, 17GS. Last Friday, pursuant to the sentence of the Superior Court, then sitting at Fair- field, Archibald Fippeny, Lewis Bennet, John Mallelt, and Nathaniel Bunnell, Avere crop't, and branded wiih the letter C on iheir Foreheads, for counterfeiting the lawful money bills of this colony, New York bills, dollars, &c. Several others were try'd at the same court, on suspicion of being accomplices with them in the same crimes, but r A I RF I E LI). 3GI tlie fvidcncn not heiiis: ?ufllrieiit to cunvicl tliein, tlicy were (Hsclmrgcl. Selli Poi i.'i- ;iiid Stmges, not ehusing to be ti y'd Ibileiled their bunils I'ur appeariuiee, M.c Ibnner one llunisanit pounds, and ilie ulher live Imiulred. Tliey were in parlnership with thai tjang who are taken up at IMew Voik, as uien- tioned under Ihe New York iiead. From the Connecticut Journal, Juli/5th, 1771. We hear from Fairfield, that on the I'Jlh nil. a nnniber ofnien, at low water, walked ont to get ekinis, iip(jn the Heach in that harlior, where 'they continued so long thai they were .sui rounded by the tide, and in wading ashore seveial of thern were in lui- ininenl danger of losiiig their lives; however, they all eMMped e.xeept one David Keele-r ol' Ridgeliehl, who being a good swimmer, attei/i|>led the passage willi a bagot clams lasteiied to the waisiband of his breeches, wlien n\ crossing a hole oldeep waier he sunk, and was drownfd before any assistance could be given him. His body wa;; found within three hours, and several experiments tried fo restore him to lite, but in vain. Il is remarkable that the same day I'J months, and about the same hour of the- day, lieiit. Abraham Camji of thai luwn was drowned in attempting to s\\im a horse across the same deep hole, and soon alter one Benjamin Whitney w^s drouncd in ui near the same jilaee. The following letter is copied froit) the town Records of Fairdeld. Boston, yoi-cvil)cr2l, 1774. (Icntlcincn, — The testimony wliich the patriotic inhabitants of the town ofFairlieid have given of their aliaehment to thecominon and gloiious cause of Liberty, by the libi-ral donation of seven hundred and hity imshels of grain, by Capt. Thorp, has niforded much eomfort as well as .-jcasonable reliello their friends inHoston, who are now sulfeiing under the cruel rod ol' tyranny ami oppression. The sympathy of our friends is a great suppoit under our trials, noiwiihsiandmg the greatness and severily of them, and we trust, through the favor cd'our God, we shull be enabled to persevere in our opposition to the enemies of America, ami so aivswer the hopes aiul c.xpeeia- lions of our li lends, of whose geiieious donatiuiri we trust we shall ever retain agrate- Jul stns.-, We are pnriimlarly obliged by the assurances you give ns, " that yon are not in- seijsiljh> ol oni sutlerings, and the hope you e.\|iress, that you shall consider yoursclvc; lunind to II Hold us such succor and lelief, as yonr circumstances and our uanis may demand." Maya kind prcjvidence bountifully reward your Ulieralrly and kindness, and iIjo blessings ol' ]]im that was Xk^.uU' to perish, come down and rest on the iicads of the generous inhabiiants of the town of ruirlitdd. We hope the inclosed account of the maiifiei in which rherommittee are disiributing the donations of oui friends and beiielaclors, i-n whos^ cause (as w.dl as our own) this town is suir.Ming, will meet with your approbation, as il \\'\\\ all'ord great saiislactiou to your obliged friend, ami humble servants. ■ , ^ IIkmiv Uim., f.34 Tlushels of Uvc. By order of the Commutee of Donations. IK; ]]ushels of Wheal. 7o0 P,ushels. Ileceived 3 i)air Shoes of fJapt. Thorp. To Mr. Jon. Stkroks and others, Committee for C(jllecti>ng donations in the town of Fuirlield, fJonnecticul. The following inscrljjtions are from nionuiiieirts in the burying ground a short distance eastward from the court house in Fairfield. In memory of the Itev. Noui Houaut, A.M. ordained pastor of the first Church of Christ in Fairheld, Feb 7th, 173-J. In which station he served God and his gene- ration wiih Fidelity, and Usefulness, until December (jih, 177;!, when he was taken from the approaching troubles to receive the Mercy of God thro' CiiKibT. " Remem- ber them who have spoken unto you the word of God, whose Faith follow." Gold SKM.KtK Silliman-, Atlornev at Law, Justfce of the Peace, and during the late War, Colonel of Horse, and Brigadier General of Militia ; died July 21st, 171)0, '10 36^ DANUURY. aged 58 years. Haviii;,' discharged these and other public ollices with reputation and di;s'"i'yi ''"d ill ))i"i\'ate lil'e sIioul- ihe aflectiunate Hubband, tender Paienl, exemplary Chriblian, and Man of lervent Piety. In ihe Episcopal Church, IMill Plain, Fairfield, within tlie altar, and iminediaiely fronting the desk, on a beautiful marble tablet, is the fol- lowing inscription. Under the Altar at wliich he served more tlian forty years, are the remains of the Rev. PiiiLO SiiKi/roN, A. M. reclor of Trinity Church, Fairlield. Born at 1 lunlington, May 5tli, 17Jl. Graduated at Yale College, Scpi. Dili, 1778: Admitted Aug. 3d, 17^5, lo the Holy order of Deacons, by the tlight Reverend .Samuel Seabury, D.D. (fnsl American Bishop) and SeiU. Ihih, 1785, by the .same jjreLate, to the Noly order of Priests, being the first Clergyman Episcopally ordained in the United States. Died February 27iii, 18'J5. D A N B U R Y . The original Indian name of Daiibnry was Pah(juio(/uc. The first settlement in the town was begun in the stimnier of l(ivSl. 'I'lie set- tlers came that year and begun some improvements in buildings, sowing grain, he. Some of the families continued through the winter, others did not move till the spring following. It may therefore be said that the first permanent settlement was made in the spring of the year 1685, by eight families.* The names of the men were Thomas Taylor, Fran- cis Bushnel, Thomas JJarnum, John Iloyt, James Benedict, Samuel Benedict, James I3eebe, and Judah Gregory. They settled near to- gether, at the south entl of the town street. They all came from Nor- walk, except James Beebe, who was from Stratford : one of the first settlers after the first eight families, was Dr. Samuel Wood, an able jihysician, born and educated in England ; Josiah Starr from Long Islantl^ Joseph Mygatt from Hartford, and the families of Picket, Knap)), and \Vil(lman, were all ancient settlers of the town. The town was survey- ed in February, !()<);}, by John Plait and Samuel Hayes, of Norwalk : the survey bill declares the length to be 8 miles from north to souths and the breutlth G. The lands were purchased of the Indian proprietors.