The Romance of Norwalk

That the Town of Norwalk made other provision for the comfort and welfare of the soldiers’ families, besides seeing that they had sufficient salt, is evidenced by a town meeting record under the date of March 12, 1777, which considered the solution of the problem of the slow filling of the battalions. The town fathers, realizing that many citi¬ zens hesitated to enlist because they did not like to leave behind them, their families, for whom the government made no provision, called a town meeting to consider the care of the soldiers’ wives and children. The gist of the meeting March 12, 1777, was to the effect that every man who volunteered for service would be assured that while he was gone, were his family in need, it would be cared for until his return, within reasonable limits. Of what happened if he never returned, no mention was made. Food and clothes were to be obtained for the soldiers’ fami¬ lies, “at prices stated by law.’’ There was a distinct connec¬ tion between this resolution and a second passed at the same meeting to the effect that the town fathers would assist the officers of the town in carrying into effect a certain law just passed by the state entitled “An act to prevent monopolies and oppressions, by excessive and unreasonable prices for many of ye necessaries and conveniences of life.” Very shortly after the Revolutionary War broke out, “profiteers” made their appearance. Some posed as govern¬ ment agents and bought up large quantities of food and clothing, later selling the same to the government at their own prices. Others purchased everything in sight and held it until the demand for it grew so insistent they were able to cull the exorbitant prices they demanded. In November, 1776, the government passed a law, regulating the prices of various staple articles, beyond which prices it was unlawful to go. October, 1777, saw the passage of another act by Connecticut wherein the people of the state were advised 140 ROMANCE OF NORWALK to discountenance profiteers, whom the state considered were ‘‘totally unworthy of election to any public office and even as the vilest pests to society.” A month later the state passed a further act which provided that certain articles could only be purchased in small quantities, “except on li¬ cense given by the town.” From time to time the government of Connecticut found it necessary to issue new price lists owing to the fact that the scarcity of goods kept forcing the prices higher. Great price differences are shown in the two lists of 1776 and 1778. Here are some of them: 1776, wheat $1.50 bushel and $2.43 in 1778; 1776, corn $.75 bushel, and $1.12 in 1778; 1 7 7 6, West Indian Rum, $1.91 gallon and $4.50 in 1778; 1776, molasses, $1.00 gallon and $2.25 in 1778; 1776, men’s shoes, $2 and in 1778 $3. After the second list was made public by the state, Norwalk voted to procure suffi¬ cient copies to provide every householder with one at the expense of the town, so that the householders would be pro¬ tected against the profiteers. Those were hard times, and they were busy times. The women and children, in addition to caring for themselves, had to assist in the provision of clothing for their soldiers. Each family was required to provide so many garments. The women carded the wool, “hetcheled” the flax and wove the cloth. When the people had been taxed to the limit, the town borrowed money to purchase material for the gar¬ ments. Times would not have been so hard for the Norwalkers during the Revolutionary War had the people not been pestered by disease brought on by unsanitary conditions and ignorance. Smallpox was perhaps the most horrible, if not the most hopeless disease, with which the New Englanders had to battle in the early days and Norwalk came in for her share of the plague, for this town was no farther advanced than any other in the matter of scientific treatment of disease or in matters of sanitation and drainage. When inoculation REVOLUTIONARY WAR BEGINS 141 was first introduced the idea was received with horror, but it was not long before the people began to see its benefits and to demand it. Smallpox classes or parties were formed and whole families and community groups passed through the ordeal “ensemble,” breaking out, sweating, scaling and convalescing together. Sometimes these parties were held in private homes and sometimes in hospitals. Dr. Uriah Rogers of Norwalk advertised his new smallpox hospital “just within the jurisdiction line of the Province of New York” in the Connecticut Courant of November 30, 1767. The charge was only $20 per patient and one might come alone or in a “set.” A cordial welcome was promised in either case. Mention of other smallpox hospitals appears in the local records from time to time, in 1779 when per¬ mission was given for smallpox inoculation in the homes of Moses Bixbe and Captain Solomon Morehouse,” in 1791, 1797 and 1799. GENERAL TRYON APPEARS To the very doors of Norwalk came the war early in April in the year 1777, when General William Tryon, Brit¬ ish soldier and governor landed on the shores of Compo, advanced through Westport, burned parts of Danbury and Ridgefield and killed a number of the local soldiers. Sev¬ eral outstanding characters took part in the battles of Compo, Ridgefield and Danbury, and later in the burning of Norwalk. Heading the list was General Tryon who took a fiendish delight in tormenting the helpless in his power; next came Benedict Arnold, noble fighter and despicable traitor, who distinguished himself in the battle of Ridgefield. In addition, there were: Nathan Hale, who passed through Norwalk on his dangerous mission as a spy; Gen¬ eral David Wooster, American patriot, who lost his life on the battlefield of Ridgefield; General Samuel Parsons, Amer¬ ican patriot, who gave battle to the British in Norwalk, compelling them to retreat; Brigadier General Oliver Wol- 142 ROMANCE OF NORWALK cott, who also gave battle to the British in Norwalk; and Captain Israel Putnam who fought in the battle of Ridge¬ field. Let us stop for a moment and consider those who took part in the purely local history: Tryon, Hale, Parsons, Wol¬ cott. Ireland was Tryon’s birthplace, in 1725. He found him¬ self in 1751 a captain in the British army, from which rank he rose to lieutenant colonel. After coming to this country, he gained the lieutenant governorship of North Carolina and later the governorship of New York. When the Rev¬ olutionary War broke out, Tryon fled to the sloop Halifax, lying off New York. However, when Howe occupied New York and everything was safe again, he returned. In 1778, he resigned as governor of New York but retained his posi¬ tion as general in the army. In 1777 he attacked Ridgefield and Danbury. In 1779, he accomplished the burning of New Haven, Fairfield and then Norwalk. The general returned to Eng¬ land in ill health in 1780 and died in 1788 in London. Tryon was generally hated throughout the country. His rigorous administration, and his cruelty on many unnecessary occa¬ sions, incurred the intense bitterness of the patriots. The Indians looked upon him in terror and called him “The Big Wolf.” The ministry was the goal set by the parents of Nathan Hale for their son, who visited Norwalk on his way to Long Island on his trusted mission as a spy for George Washing¬ ton, during the Revolutionary War. It is not known from just which point on this coast that Hale embarked for Long Island, but it is known that he bade good-bye on the Norwalk shores to his companion, Ser¬ geant John Hempstead of his own company of Knowlton’s Rangers, and was taken across to Huntington, Long Island by Captain Pond in the Sloop “Schuyler,” according to Stephen Jenkins in his “Old Boston Post Road.” Without exciting suspicion, Hale succeeded in getting the necessary REVOLUTIONARY WAR BEGINS 143 plans and information concerning the enemy forces on Long Island. He had just reached a point on the Island which he considered safe for a crossing to Norwalk again, when he was captured by the British and later hanged. Honoring the memory of Nathan Hale, the Norwalk chapter of the D. A. R., on April 19, 1901, placed a large and handsome memorial drinking fountain at the foot of Armory Hill, where it is said the brave soldier stopped for a few moments to get water for his mount. Later, when Armory Hill was widened, the memorial was removed and placed on the grounds at the rear of the present D. A. R., headquarters in the old Town House on Mill Hill. On one side the trough bears the words : “In memory of Nathan Hale. The path of duty was the way to glory. Erected by the Norwalk Chapter of the D. A. R., and patriotic friends.” The inscription on the other side reads : “Children of the town of Norwalk have given this tablet in loving memory of him whose last words were: ‘I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.’ ” Oliver Wolcott was a brigadier general in the Revolution¬ ary war and it was at his home in Ridgefield that the gilded leaden statue of King George was melted into bullets. Oliver was the son of Roger Wolcott named governor of Connecticut in 1750. Oliver was himself named governor in 1796. His son, also named Oliver, after himself, was the third governor of the Wolcott name in Connecticut. Briga¬ dier General Wolcott assisted in the defense of Norwalk in 1779. Samuel Holden Parsons, general, who also figured in local history, was born in 1737, the son of Jonathan Par¬ sons, one of the founders of the Methodist Episcopal church in America. During the Revolutionary War, the year 1778 found him in command in the New York Highlands. In July, 1779, he gave battle to the British here in Norwalk, forcing them to retire. In 1780, Parsons was made a major general and assigned to the command of the Connecticut line, where he served until the end of the war. The general 144 ROMANCE OF NORWALK was drowned in Big Beaver River while returning from a mission to the Indians on Lake Erie, 1789. RIDGEFIELD, DANBURY BURNED