Connecticut Historical Collections

Mrs. Silliman, hearing of Judge Jones' arrival, sent him an invitation to breakfast. He came. During several days while he was at her house, she took all the measures in her power to make his sitiiation agreeable. But although few ladies could contrib- ute more elliictually to such a purpose, the Judge was distant, reserved and sullen. From this place he was ordered to Middletown. It was a long time before the British would consent to an exchange; but in the month of May, 1780, they agreed that if one Washburn, a refugee of a notoriously bad char- acter, could be included in the exchange as a kind of make- weight, they would release General Silliman for Judge Jones, and his son for Mr. Hewlett. The vessel which conveyed him met another, employed to trans[iort General Silliman to his own house, on the Sound. The two gentlemen having dined together, proceeded immediately to the n■.^pective places ot' tiair deslinalioii. The General's return was welcomed with itemoustratioiis of joy by all the surrounding coimtry. B R O O K F I E L D Brookfield was incorporated as a town in 1788 ; it was formed from parts of New MiKord, Danbury and Newtown. It was formerly called the society of Newbury. The Rev. Thomas Brooks was the first minister in the place, and was ordained Sept. 28th, 1758, a church being gathered at tlie same time. Brookfield is said to have been named from the first minister. The town is bounded n. by New IVIil- ford, N. E. by the IJousaionic river, s. e. by Newtown, w. by Danbury and New Fairfield. Tiie township is e(|iiivalent to about 17 square miles, containing about 11,000 acres. The surface is diversified with hills and valleys, and the soil is generally a dry, hard, gravelly loam, particularly upon the hills ; the lands generally are well adapted to a grain culture. In some sections of the town there is limestone, and several beds of marble. 376 L> A 11 1 K N Northern i'Ilw oJ' Uruukjlvld, [ctntral yart.) The above is a representation of llie central part of Brookfiold. There are about 20 (Iwellini,^ liouses at this place ; ri churches, 1 Con- gregational and 1 Episcojjal, and a town huusc. The Congregational church is the first building on the right with a spire; the Episcopal church is tlie next building seen eastward, with four windows on the north side. The town house is seen on the east side of the street, with a small spire. These buildings stand on elevated ground, on the sum- mit of a rocky ridge running north and south. About one mile and a half to the northwest there are iron works, and some other manufac- turing business is carried on, with a village about the size of the one at the town center. There has been lead discovered about 40 rods south of the Episcopal church. The central part of the town is about six miles N. E. from Danbury, and twenty four from Fairfield. D A R I E N . This is a small township, formerly the j)arish of Middlesex, in the town of Stamford. It is bounded n. by I\ew Canaan, e. by ISiorwalk, w. by Stamford, and s. by l^ong Island sound. It was incorporated as a towp in 18'20. The soil is generally a rich gravelly loam, fertile, and well adapted to tillage and grazing. The following is a representation of the Congregational church in Da- rien, 5 miles southwest of Norwalk. It stands a few rods to the left, as you pass the main road to Stamford: this church was erected in 1740. During the Revolutionary war, a considerable number of persons dis- affected to the American cause resided in this vicinity. On Sunday, the 22d day of July, 1781, a party of British troops, consisting chielly of refugees, surrounded this church and took the congregation prisoners. The Rev. Moses Mather, D. D. was at this time pastor of the churchy r> A u I E N. " " 377 Southwell urn vietv oj' the Congregational Cfnirch, Darien. a divine distin'^uislied for his y)iety, learninc^, mid most exemplary life. It was the intention of the refugees, or tories, to have taken the con- j^'regation prisoners during the morning services, hut some menihcrs of the congregation who were pecuharly ohnoxious to them, not attending church in the forenoon, they kept concealed till the afternoon services commenced. While the congregation were singing the first time, the refugees, connnLinded hy a Capt. Frost, sprung over the fence and sud- flenly surrounded the house. Two or three young men, who happened to discover them in season, jumped out of the windows and etlected their escape. Two guns were fired at them by the refitgees, who did not think it prudent to fire any more, as the firit7g of three gnns would have been the signal of alarm agreed upon by the inhabitants of this place, to give notice of any invasion of the enemy. The men of (he congregation were taken out of the church, tied two and two,, and Dr.-. JMaliier was placed at their head. The refugees then took about fort/- liorses belonging to the congregation, mounted them, and marched their prisoners to the shore ; and thence conveyed them to IJoyd's INeck on Ijong Island. From this place they were soon after marched to New York, and confined in prison. Some of the C(~)ngregation who were taken off, never returned ; these ))rohably perished in prison, others were ])aroled, and some returned after having snifcred severely by the small pox. A writer in one of the J3ritish j)ublications of the day, in giving an account of this e\[(edi- tion, niaile himself merry in describing the outcry which the womerr and children made at the time the men were taken prisoners, as though it were nothing to have husbands, lathers, and brothers, separated from them by an armed enemy, and taken oil" to a distant prison. Tlie son of Dr. Mather was more fortunate than the rest ; as the refiigees entered tlie church, he sprung under the seat, and tlie women sitting before h'un, their clothes hid him from observation. 4S 378 U A U 1 E N , " Dr. IMatlici- Inving been taken into New York, was confined in tlic Provost prison. Here his food was stinted, and wretched to a degree not easily imaginable. IJis lodging corresponded with his food. His coni|)any, to a considerable extent, was made up of mere rabble ; and their conversation, from which he could not retreat, composed of pro- faneiiess and ribaldry. Here also he was insulied daily by the provost marshal, whose name was Cunningham, a wretch, remembered in this country only with detestation. This wretch, with other kinds of abuse, took a jjarticular satisfaction in annoiuicing, from lime to time, to Dr. Mather, tljat on that day, tl)e morrow, or some other time at a little distance, he was to be executed." " But Dr. Mather was not without his friends ; friends, however, who knew nothing of him, except his character. A lady of distinction,* hav- ing learned his circumstances, and having obtained the "necessary |)er- mission, sent to him clothes and food, and comforts, with a very liberal hand." — Dr. Mather died Sept. '21st, IbOG, venerated by all who knew him, in the SS'th year of his age. He was educated at Vale College, of which he was a fellow thirteen years. Tlie Rev. Mr. Mall cainiviiy at New Voil since, Willi Ibur ulln- rislioner.s. Tlie uiliei 7V,y//t t/ic Ci'H/iaticul Juuraal, Scjd. Olh, 1770. of Siamloid, and two of liis sons, are lati'ly retm ned I'rom iMi. Matin r was taken lloni his own house ationt five weeks ns, by a ^mm;,' oI' eight KJiies, hve ot wlioin had been liis ])a- .o .sons are n(/l e.velianL'ed. JhIi/2G, 1781. Sunday last, in the afternoon, a parly of the enemy surprised the cong]eg;ttion of the i)arish of Middlesex, between Norwalk and Siamiord, wtnle aitendii)^'' divine ser- vice m the meeting house, and niade iiii^cmers of about foil}', incliulinj^ ihe Rev. Mr. •Matiier, minister of the parish. Tiie surprise was so complete tliat only-l or 0 e.stapecl, one of tlieni a son of Mr. Mallier, who was ^liirhily wounded in the le-.;, as he was nm- niu'^ oil'. 'I'hey were earned to the water side and put on boaid iwo armed vessels, which at that instant came to, su|iposcd b}' previous a|ipointment. The enemy also lu(jk away a number o( horses, with satldles, &c. A few of the inlinbitants collecled, who e\ehaii-eil some sliol with the enemy, and one or two were seen lu fill, but wheth- er mortally wcmiuled i.-- not kiiouii: one prisoner was lakeii. The enemy's pariy eoii-isied ol about 1(1, who came over the night before from Lloyd's Neck", in seven boats, which they carricil into a tliick sw;imp near the meeting lioiise, where lliey concealeil themselves, imlil they rusheil out and surpi ised the con- gregation as above. Tins is ihe second lime that Mr. Mather has been a prisqner with the enemy. The following is extracted from a " Poetical Relation of the capture of the Congregation at Middlesex . . . with an Account of their suffer- ings, ^c. while in captivity, by Peter St. John." "Now to relate 'lis my intent, A sud and Ivajiiciil event. On wlial I write you niuy rely As I've the liislory lying Ijy. July tlie twenty-sei-ond dny, Where christians met to siu^ and j Insi^venleen hundred eighty-one, An horrid action was begun ; While to the Lord they siiig ;ind [t The lories who in anihnsh hiy Beset the liouse witli hrazeu race, At Middlese.x it was I A guard wa.^plaecd 1 1 Likewise heliindand Then void of shame, 1 The siiered teiniile en The revnend-MATUEi Ifowdid the rnn-n-i, 'J'iien-ver.-nd luir.st, l r<evrrely fi.dl ihe Sliiai N.it by a \vhip do I \n lint hy abuses lioin 1 1 <jd, riends * According to the i Washington Irving, tin irormatioi Amei icai iblanied in Darien, thi.^ lady was the mother of O R E r, N AV I C 11 379 How must he feel to sne his slipcp, Ttnis worried whilst they silence keep. Tliosc demons pliiiukred what they could, Either in silver or in gold. The silver buckles wliich we use Both at the knees and on the shoes, These caitid's took lliiiii in tlieirnigo, Had no respect to sex or at'e. And lis they all were searching' loiiiid, They several silver u,.i.Ihs f id. 'I'hey who were jilaiTil as guards willuiiil, I.ike ruling devils raiiy'd alioiil. Took forty horses to the shore, ^ot many either less or more,