The Romance of Norwalk

There appears to be a great diversity of opinion among the historians as to the hour and the day on which General Samuel Parsons arrived in Norwalk for the battle during the Revolutionary War. Some insist it was Saturday, July 10, 1779 or even before; others that it was Sunday, after the burning had commenced; still others that it was Monday, when the destruction was accomplished. Practically all the historians include the names of both Parsons and Wolcott in their accounts of the battle near the Rocks, so it might i6o ROMANCE OF NORWALK be just as well to give Parsons credit for a good Sunday’s work, morning and afternoon, here in Norwalk. Both General Washington and Governor Trumbull did everything in their power to prevent the destruction of Norwalk. Washington, at the time, was in the Hudson Highlands. Although the British thought to draw him from his fastness by an attack on a defenceless town, Washing¬ ton was smarter than they and refused to budge. Proof of the General’s clear sightedness is the fact that on July 15, 1 7 79’ f°ur days after the burning of this place, the Americans under Wayne, by direction of Washington, suc¬ ceeded in carrying Stony Point. From that day, the fate of the British was sealed. Thus did Norwalk unconsciously assist in bringing to a speedy and victorious close, the War of the Revolution. Washington had his choice between rushing to the defense of Norwalk as the British hoped he would, and probably losing all he had gained in the Hudson Highlands, or of sacrificing Norwalk to the great cause, by merely giving it what small protection he could. He chose the latter and sent Parsons. While Washington was planning his best for Norwalk, Governor Trumbull was making all preparations to avert the doom. July 8, 1779 he wrote by express to General Oliver Wolcott in Litchfield ordering him to hasten to south¬ western Connecticut. July 11, the Governor, all unaware that Norwalk was even then burning, addressed a letter to Brigadier General Glover of the Continental troops at New London, requesting him to go forward to Norwalk. The following morning Glover made all preparations to advance, not knowing that Norwalk was already in ashes. NORWALKERS KILLED Jacob Nash and John Rich or Lick, were the two Nor- walkers killed in the Battle of Norwalk while John Waters was severely wounded. Fountain Smith was taken prisoner. Jacob Nash, it appears, once a resident of Norwalk, also at BURNING OF NORWALK 1611 one time lived in Ridgefield. From the latter place he went to Ballston Spa, New York. He returned to Ridgefield^ when war broke out and came to Norwalk at the time Tryom appeared on the scene. During the battle at France street he received a mortal wound. When Captain Betts ordered him to be cared for, he said: “It is over with me; help somebody else,” and died. John Rich or Lick, who also died, and John Waters, who was badly wounded, are both discussed by Captain Stephen Betts in his testimony delivered before Thaddeus Betts, Justice of the Peace, July 26, 1779: “John Waters, a Continental soldier fell into ye enemy’s hands, delivered up his arms and begged for life. But ye enemy, notwithstanding, assaulted him with a bayonet, with which they stabbed him in sundry places and then one of them presented his Piece and aimed (as ye captain sup¬ posed) at his body, but missing that ye ball shattered his arm. Whereupon finding no quarter he made a strong effort to escape which he happily effected. Soon after ye above accident, John Lick or Rich, another Continental soldier, was shot so as to fall and as ye enemy were nigh and crowded fast on our People, he desired Captain Betts to leave him, as they could not take him off without ye greatest hazard. Captain Betts saw Lick no more but says Captain Eels of Col. Wylly’s regiment told him he saw Lick after ye enemy had retreated, about two hours after Captain Betts saw him. He was then dead and ye top of his skull torn off, supposed to be blown off by a musquet to dispatch him, and further saith not.” Deaf Fountain Smith of Norwalk was carried off by the British when they burned this town. Mr. Smith, a cooper by trade, occupied a farm on Raymond street, “just off East avenue near the old schoolhouse.” Early on that Sabbath morning, Mr. Smith was strolling about his garden, coatless, enjoying the soft summer sunshine. Deafness kept him home. Of a sudden he was seized from behind, his hands tied at his back and he was marched down the ROMANCE OF NORWALK 162 street without more ado, a British prisoner. When the enemy left Norwalk, Smith was taken aboard and later thrown into a miserable prison in New York. Not long afterwards at the age of 54, he died of the hardship. His wife lived to be 93, and it was said that thereafter, she never sat at table with anyone who professed royal sympa¬ thy. Smith’s remains were not brought back to Norwalk. Of the British losses, it is difficult to find any definite in¬ formation. It is known that some of the dead were buried by Garth and his men in the vicinity of Flaxhill. Of what happened to the others, or how many actually lost their lives, there does not seem to be much substantial proof. One historian offers only the simple statement that the loss was little on both sides, one tall British soldier being killed near John Raymond’s and another, shot by Seth Abbott. HOMES IN ASHES Norwalk’s losses during Tryon’s stay here were far greater by flame than by bullet. Many lovely old houses were burned to the ground, chief among them being the homestead occupied by Governor Thomas Fitch on East ave. The main portion of the residence, which is now the home of Miss Sarah Fitch, 173 East avenue, was reduced to charred wood, only the kitchen wing being saved. For some time after the fire, the Fitch family lived in this wing. When the new home was built, the wing was saved and served as an addition to the residence. It may still be seen on the rear of the house, 173 East avenue. Most, of the Governor’s library effects, diplomas and papers and household contents were lost. A seal and two articles of jewelry were saved and bequeathed to a descend¬ ant, while a silver tea service which belonged to him and which was secreted in the chimney of his home was rescued and pieces of it are now held by different descendants. An antiquated tea kettle which swung and sung on an antiquated crane in the chimney also escaped the flames, being of iron, Old Connecticut House Famous Inn of stage coach days, according to story, which stood for many decades on the corner of Main and Wall streets. Later the same building was occupied by the old Boston Store. A new business block was erected on the site in 1929. Fitch Home on East Avenue The rear portion of this house, 173 East ave., is a section of the original home of Governor Thomas Fitch. The residence was burned when the British came to town, only the kitchen wing being saved. To that wing, now in the rear of the house, a new front was built. Miss Sarah Fitch now lives there. BURNING OF NORWALK 163 and is still preserved. Elbirt W. Fitch of 179 Flaxhill road has in his possession a cane which once belonged to Governor Fitch. In each generation the cane has come into the pos¬ session of the eldest son in the family. M rs. John Darrow of 30 West Main st., owns a land deed which Governor Fitch signed in 1753, be¬ fore he was made governor, of course. She also has a copy of the funeral sermon given at the time of the executive’s death, the sermon having been made up in small pamphlet form shortly after. In her home Mrs. Darrow has a spoon which was secreted in the well on the property of Commodore John Cannon on East avenue, where the Fred Lockwood place is now being torn down. The well in which the spoon and other silver was hidden stood just east of the water hydrant in front of the house. She owns also a plate which was secreted in the chimney of the Cannon house when the British came to town. The house was of immense size for those days, with a chimney large enough to take care of a whole ox, with room for game and poultry on spits besides. Mrs. Darrow also has a historical connection with the so-called “Oscar W. Raymond place” at 195 East avenue. Mrs. Darrow is a descendant of Samuel Fitch, brother to Governor Thomas Fitch. The house was formerly owned by Jonathan Fitch, grandson of Samuel, and it came straight down the line to Mrs. Darrow, great-grand-daughter of Jonathan Fitch. When the British general set Norwalk afire, the enemy soldiers put the match to the home at 195 East avenue. But the job was badly done and the blaze only charred part of the place. Additions have since been built on to the residence, but the rear of the house is very old and some of the original shingles, placed there before the Revolution, still remain. Mrs. Darrow’s mother was a Raymond and her father was Oscar W. Raymond, last owner of the home. It was sold by the daughter’s family some eight years ago, after having been in the family for 1 16 years. 164 ROMANCE OF NORWALK In addition to the large amount of valuable property lost by the Governor during the fire, the entire library collection of Rev. Stephen Buckingham, Norwalk pastor, was destroyed by flames, full 50 years after the poor man’s death. There were nearly 1,000 books in the collection, brought from London, and the loss represented one from which Norwalk could hardly expect to recover in very short time. Books in those days were rare and expensive. Among other buildings which were destroyed by the fire was St. Paul’s Episcopal church on the Green and the old farmhouse on Water st., believed by some to have included on its property the “old well” after which the lower part of the city was once called. South Norwalk was termed Old Well for many years. THIRTY HOUSES ESCAPE