History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

-\' -, \- V. HISTORY or FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT, WITH lUlJ USTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OP ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS. COIUPItiEIJ "UNDER THE SXJFERVISIOlSr D. HAMILTON HURD. • • inks to the edij PHILADELPHIA: J. W. LEWIS & CO., 1881. PRESS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., PHILADELPHIA. 9/ ?^ PREFACE. TiiK province of the Iiistorian is to gatiier tlie threads of the past ere they elude forever liis grasp and weave tlieni into a liarmonious web to wliich the Art Preservative may give immortal- ity. Tiierefore he wiio would rescue tVoni fast-gatliering oblivion the deeds of a community and send them on to futurity in an imperishable record should deliver "a plain, unvarnished tale," — " Nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice." In such a spirit have the compilers of the Ibllowing pages approached the work of detailing the history of the county embodied herein, and trust they have been fairly faithful to the task imposed. It has been our honest endeavor to trace the history of the development of this section froni that period when it was in the undis|iuted possession of tiie red man to the present, and to place before the reader an autiientic narrative of its rise and progress to the prominent position it now occupies among the counties of New England. That such an undertaking is attended with no little difficulty and vexation none will deny. The aged pioneer relates events of the early settlements, while his neighbor sketches the same events with totally different outlines. Man's memory is ever at fault, while Time paints a differ- ent picture upon every mind. Witli tiicse the historian has to contend ; and, while it has been our aim to compile an accurate history, were it devoid of all inaccuracies that perfection would have been attained of which the writer had not the faintest conception, and which Lord Macaulay once said never could be reached. From colonial and other documents in the State archives, from county, town, and village records, family manuscripts, printed publications, and innumerable private sources of informa- tion, we have endeavored to produce a history which should prove accurate, instructive, and in every respect worthy the county represented. How well we have succeeded in our task a gener- ous public, jealous of its reputation and honor, of its traditions and memories, of its defeats and triumphs, must now be the judge. We desire to acknowledge our sincere thanks to the editorial fraternity generally for much valuable information, which has greatly lessened our labor in the preparation of this work, and also to each and every one who has assisted us in its compilation, and would cheerfully make personal mention of each, but it is impracticable, as the number reaches over a thousand. Philadklpuia, .Ian. 1, 1881. D. II. H. O O K T E N T S. CHAPTER T. GEORRAnilCAL AND DiCSCUII'TI VE 9 CHAl'TKR 11. Bench and Bar 10 CHAPTER III. MkDIi AL HlSTOUV — TlIR AcitlCULTUKAI, SOGIETV 23 CHAPTER IV. JIlLITAUV HlSTOUV. First Regiment— Tho Third Kegiment— The Filth Regiment— The Sixth Rogiment— The Seventh Regiment— The Eighth Regiment— The Ninth Regiment— The Tenth Regiment- Tlio Twelfth Regiment- Tho Thirteenth Regiment — Tlie Fuurteenth Regiment — The Twenty- third Regiment — The Twenty-eighth Regiment— Tho Second Light Buttery— The First Cavalry— The Seventeenth Rogimont 43 CHAPTER V. Mii.iTAHV HisTonv {(^oiltiuUCil). Seventeenth Regiment o-t CHAPTER VL Population and School Statistics C4 CHAPTER VII. PlUDGEPORT. rrefitco— The Paugnsset or Cldon Hill Indians— Destruction of the Pe- quots— Indian Agricnlture— (irders of tlie General Court— Religious Instruction- Precautions against Surprise during King Pliilip's Wai' — Gulden Ilill set oil' as an Indian Reservation— Value of Real Folate in 1G59— The Shepherd of Stratford severely Handled- Shillings and Chops acquitted of the Charge of Muider— Elder Shorwood'ti Wrest- ling-Match—Sale of Part of Indian Reservation to Samuel Hawley— Deeds of Land on Golden Hill in 17uO and 1701- Encn.juhments by the "Whites, and Sale of the Remainder '»f Reservation— EMoriion by an Indian Agent redressed by tho General Conrt— List uf Official Guardians of llie Indians— Purchase of Turkey Hill Meadow— An In- dian sold into Slavery— Survivore of tho Tribe in 1880- Financial Statement 05 CHAPTER VIII. Bridgeport {Continued). — Peqconnock, or Stratfiklh, from THE First Settlement by the Whites to the Hecinning OF the Revolution. Karnes and Boundaries of the Plantation— Petitions for School and Church Privileges- The First Meeting-House, built in 109:}- Sketches - of Rev. Charles Chauncey and Hev. Samuel Cooke— Items from Inven- tory of Samuel Hubbell's Estate in 1714 — Quaint and Curious Extracts from the Parish Records— Erection of the Second Church Edifice, in 1717— Educational Matters— School Districts formed— Tho Episcopal Church in Stratfield— Sketches of the Early Blissionarie^, Jlessrs. Caner, Lamson, and Sayre— St. John's Church, built in lT4s— Religious Tol- eration in Connecticut— Stratfield Baptist Church organized in 1751— Extracts from the Church Records 68 CHAPTER IX. Bridgeport {Continued). — Bridgeport and ViriNixr in the Revolution. The Village of Stra£fbrd One Hundred Years ago— Military a>mpanie3— PetitionforanarborGuardiiil777—TheGuard established— Departure of Volunteers— Horrors of Smallpox— Fairfield pillaged and burned I by the British— Abduction of Gen. Sillinian, and Capture of Judge I Jones- Naval Services of Capt. David Hawley— Escape of David Ma- I thews, the Tory Mayor of New York — Rev. Lyman Hall, a Signer of I the Derlar.-ition of Independence- Partial List of Revohitionaiy Sol- I dicrs— Epitaphs from the old Cemeteries— A hecdotes of Gen. Wa^ihing- ton 77 CHAPTER X. ' Bridgeport {('ont'tmuil). j Newfield Stores in 17G0— Nowfield Ferry tharti.-red, and Main and Stato ; Streets widened. 17S7— Act establishing Lottery Bridge, 1791 — Stratford Avenue laid out. and the first Newspaper establirsbed in 1795 — Curious ; Advertisements from tho American Tdegrophe — Tragical Fate of Wilson I Hubbell — Incoii'oration of the Borough of Bridgeport, ISOO — Copy of the Petition and Listof Signatures— St. John's and the Congregational Churches removed to Bridgeport — Founding of tlio first Methodist Church in New England — The Bridgeport Bank incorporated — Descrip- tion of the Borough in islO— Incidents of the War of 1812- Reception of Gen. Lafayette— Tho Town of Bridgeport set off, l^i21, and the City incori>orated, May, IS30 85 CHAPTER XI. Bridgeport {0"Utinucd). Growth of the City— Its Population increased more than Sevenfold in less than Half a Century — Description of Bridgeport in 1S37— The ■\VliaIe-Fishery attempteil— Tlie Railroad Epoch— Sketch of Alfred Bishop — Opening of the Housatonic. New York and New Haven, and Naugatuck Railroads — Financial Embarras-imeuts- Development of East Bridgeport— Tho Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company —Bridgeport during tho War of tho RobelUon — Great War-Meetingg —Departure of Trooi)s for the Front— The Ladies' Relief and Soldiers' Aid Societies— Return of the Regiments— Seiisido Park established, 1865— Dedication of Soldiers' Monument— Celebration of the Centen- nial Fourth of July, lti7G 94 CHAPTER XII. Bridgeport ( Oonthiued). — The PruLic Institutions of Bridge- port. Almshouse— Banks— Board of Trade— Bridges— C;isualties and Crimes — Cemeteries— Churches — Custom-House 106 CHAPTER XIII. Bridgeport (Coutifiucd). — Pi-rlic Institutions of Bridgeport, Concluded. E.vpress Company — Fire Department — Freemasons— Gaslight Company — Grain-EK-vator — Harbor- Horse-Railroad — Hospital — Hydraulic Company— Internal Revenue— Library— Lighthonscs-Mills-News- papers— Odd-Fellows— Orphan Asylum— Parks— Police— Population — Post-Otfice — Public Schools — Societies — Steamboats 116 I CHAPTER XrV. I Bridgf.vout {Confinued). — Catalogue of Union Volunteers, Residents of Bridgeport, who Enlisted in Connecticut ' Regiments during the Rebellion 129 CHAPTER XV. Brookfield. Early History — First Town-Meeting — Parish and Church Organizations — Schools— Burial-Placcs— Military Record— Representatives— Select- men 1G9 CHAPTER XVI. Danburv. Geographical — Topographical — Rubbins' Century Sermon — Original Name — Pabquioqne- The First Settlei-s- Date of Settlement— The 5 CONTENTS. Hut PhyilcUn— FlnrtSnncjr of the Town— Tlie Patent— "John Beed, tho Lawjnr"— rinil Pnjliatc Jiiilge— Tlii' rioiictjr S*liooI— The Bovo- hition— Kinil IMlMlc ],i(irary—K<-<-lc«iaj!lk-ul— Sketch uf Mr. Robbilis — Panlmr)- in 1770— Mat uf InhnMlAiitu In 17U:i 177 CHAPTER XVII. Davbiiiy (Coiidiiiifi/). — TiiK War op thk Kkvoi.itiu.v. The Bnrniiif! uf Panhur}' — .Sir Wlllluni llowe'ii Utlicijil Report— Killed, Woundwl, nnti Miiwing — Tho Conuccticnt JountaTt Account — Tho A|>- pronch to Danhury — TryunV Ilenth)nartera — .\musinK Inci<lent — Tho PriBonerB— IJratniclion ol Jtnni — I>eniunilizAtlon of To'on'it Troopa — Tile AnxiniiN tivniTul!*— Itelijitniln KinippV iHfltinj^inhed Gnostd — The Belreul— The- lliittio— (i>'n. WoiwtiT JlorUlly Wounded— Ills Death in D»nbur) — l.l«t c.f SuirLTor*— ToUl Lo«»— Pelillon for Relief- Roll of }(..»,, lull,, l,:.rv S.,|,l|er!! I «2 ClIAI'TER XVIII. I>A>niiiv (CuH(inii«0. — View op Danbuky i.v 1815-20 I'JS CHAPTER XIX. IlANnntv i^Cuntimted). Internnl Im|in»vcinent«— Canal from Danhury to Westport — The Fair- llehl Roilronit t^inijuiny — Xew York to AllMiny via Danbury — Interest- ing Flgiin-M — The Ihinbury ami XorAvolk Itailruad — Tho Bldgeflcld Br»nch— >li»ci'lUniN>u». 205 CHAPTER XX. Daxui nv I ' iniiiniicil). — Erci.KsiASTirAi, IIiSToiiv. Tlie First linptlm ('burch- Thi' Soc.nd Hii|.ti«t ('liiir.h— Mill Plain Bain tl«l Chntrh— Tlir Mi'lhuili>l KpiKcopal I'lmrch— The First Congroga- ti.Muil t'hurch— Tho Wi*t Street t'hurch— Ht. .tiunt.f<' Kl'iiscuital Church —The Fimt UnivemaliKt t'linrcli— The .Sandcniiinlan SiKiety— Tho Catholic I hurcli— The Illsciplea of Cliriat Church- The tierinau Meth- i mlhit Clinrch 210 CHAPTER XXI. DA.NBinV (CuiiliiiilC(l). Orgaiilntion of thi^ Town — ra<iuiit4;c — Swanipfleld — Becor<l!« of 1777- Finit Town-Meeting after the Bevolutlon— Flnit Ofhreni Klecteil after : the Bevolulion — The Bor^iutth of Danbury — Org:niizalioii — Fimt Offlcerv — Wonleti* fr\>m Or^nlxution to 1K80 — Kxtrocta from IteconlH, et«-.— JJir-Markfi 220 i CHAPTER XXII. ^