History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

" On Muii.I;y, llio l-ltlT inst., iit alwut tlic l.irak r.f ihiy ,jr a link. .ift. r, thi> WfdtliiT being iHodt-rato nml csilm, jiml the atmosplicro sniiicwliiit cloudy ami foggy, a iiit-teor or fire-ball passing from a norllierti point ex- ploded over tile western part of this State vitli a trenienrluus repitrt. At the same time several pieees of stony substance fell to the eartli in Fair- field County. One mass was driven against a rocic and daslied in small pieees, a l>eek of whir li rem.ained on the spot. About three niiles distant, ill the town of Weston (now Easton), another large piece fell upon the eal1h, of whieli a mass of aixiut thirty pounils' weight remains entire, and Wiis exhibited the same day at town-meeting. A small mass lias been sent to Yale College ami examined by .a number of gentlemen. It was immediately perceived by Professor .Sillinian to contain ji m-lal. and on presenting it to a magnet a powerful attraition pro\ed il to be non. This is, we believe, the first instance in the I'nited States in whirji the substjiuce of this siteeies of meteor has been found on the eartli, thougb it lias often been fonml iu Europe. Fortunately, the facts respecting this wonderful iihenomenon are capable of being ascertained and verihed liy precision, and an investigation will, we uiiderstami, be commenced for the purpose. We rei^uest gentlemen who may have observed if, in dis- tant parts of the State, to favor the public with their observations. It is desirable to ascei-tain the course or direction of the meteor, the point of compass in which it ajipeared in different places, the general appearance and velocity, tlie manner of its explosion, and the time betwei-n tin- r'x- plosion and tlie report." THE .STAPLES ACADEMY. This aciidemy, which for more than three-quarter.s of a century has ranked among the leading educa- tional institutions in New England, was foumlcd by Samuel Staples iu 1798. Under date of ( )ct. Ki, 17i».S, the following advertisement appeared in the Annrican Tekijruphe, published at Newfield (now Bridgeport) : "Stai'Li:*s Fhee School is now opened iu "WESTOX (n<iw Easton) under the care ami inspection of .lanies Burnet, A. li., i ^IK. tJIPKON WHEELEU. In this school are tauglit the first rudiments of the ETig- lish I-anguge, English Grammar, Wiiting, the Latin ami (Ircek Lan- guages, CIratory, Geograldiy, Mathematics, etc. Strict attention paid to the dept>rtnn>nt and morals of childien and youth. ' Price of instruction, one dollar jter quarter. The poor are instructeil gratis. IJ )aiil t<i be bad in good fauiiles aa cheap as i[i any cjf the ueigh- boring towns. "Anoukw Elliot, "j "JoSRPn XoYKS, - Trusti^es. "NaTII.V.N WUEIJLKIt. J "Oct. IC, 1708." Samuel Staples lies buried in Easton, ami his tomb- stone bears the following inscription : "In memory of Mr. .Samuel Staples, who died Feb. 'JI, 1TS7, in the 79th year of his age. He was possessed of a Plentiful Fortune, wbi. ii lie Pevoted to Pious and Charitable Purposes, Especially T1h> Founding of a flee .School for the Education of Poor Cliildren and Youth in F.viurir.rn. Also a Considerable Sum for the Support of the Oospid in tlie Parish of NoitTH r.\ll[Flt:Ln, And a large Estate for tiie i)nr[iose of Schooling Poor Cliildren at the DilTerent Schools in Westox. He was A Steady Attend- ant on the Woiship of Gon, A Friend to llie I.ilieities of his C.nintiy, liolh Civil and Sacred, And lelt tliis Jloital Sci-iie in llulnbju Hope of Eternal Bliss Tlir-mgli Jkscs Chuist our I.oitn." Hon. Isaac Toucey, Oovernor and United States senator, received the rudiments of his education at the free academy in Easton, and oflercd to give five hundred dollars toward erecting a suitable monument to the memory of Mr. Staples. CIVIL iiisTony. The first town-meeting was helil on the first Mon- day in August, 1S45, on " the green near by the meet- ing-house." AValker Sherwood, moderator. The following ofBccrs were elected: Edwin Hill, Town L'lcrk ; D;niiel 1!. Fayerwcather, Walter Lyon, Jiiirr S. Wheeler, Selectmen ; Eli Adams, Treasurer ; .lames Baldwin, Treasurer of T. D. Fund; John S. Adams, Walker Sherwootl, Loan Agents of T. D. Fund ; Charles Wheeler, Town Agent ; JL Burr, Burr Bennett, George Knapp, John S. Rowland, Elihu N. Taylor, S. W.Banks, Constables; Judson ^\'indon, James D. Johnson, Samuel Jackson, Grand Jurors; A. AV'. Thorpe, Alfred Perry, Samuel Jack- son, John S. Adams, Tythingmcn ; Benjamin Hall, Curtis Cole, Burr Bradley, D. B. Fiiyerweather, Jo- seph Silliman, Poundkeepers ; Albert (jusline, H. B. Hall, John Wells, Haywards; Ge<n'ge Knapp, Ezra B. Seeley, J. D. Johnson, Fence- Viewers; Ransom Lyon, Sealer. The following is a list of selectmen from the organi- zation of the town to 1881 : IK-IC, Orando PiuTy, Walker Lyon; ls4ll-4;i, .Samuel .lacks.ui; 1S4G-00, Walker Slierwood; 1.S4'.), D. B. Fayei weatlier; ]S4S-.'.U, Willis Wlieeler; lS51-oG, John Eil wards ; IK.-il, Eli .\daius; l«.>:i-,'ir>, James lialdwiii; ISW, Jesse Wakeman; ISoli-.V., Edward Hill; LSoO-oS, Sherwood Lyon ; 1S57, Charles Wheeler; 18.-.7, P. )t. Sherwood ; 1S58, N. S. Silliman; ISM-lJll, Mullett Seeley; 185'J-OU, 1S0:I, David W. Sherwood; ISC.I-i;;i, Fhiyd Tucker; 1801-02. LSW, Dinion Uradley; l.sOJ-04, Isaac P.Wheeler; l.SOli, J.S.Cole; l.s(;4. Burr Bennett; 1SG.1 -CO. .Samuel W. Wheeler, Philo Hall; 1807, J. S. Kowlaml; 1807 -OS, M'illiam Wakeman; IsOS-Oll, Philo B. Sherwood; ISO*.), John Wh.ader; 187(1, C. W. Blakeniau, Johu Wheeler; 1871-72, JoscliU E. Fields; 1871, F. It. Wheeler; 1X7:!, Joseph W. J.dilison; 1S74, G. liradley Sanfoid, William Wakeman; 1S7.'.-7C, 'William Ward; 187.'»-71i, Bennett Seeley; 187.J, Edwin Godfrey; 1870, W, W. Jen- nings; 1877, Johu S. Uowhind; 1877, E. N. Taylor; 1877-73, Wil- liam W. jL-unings; 18711, George Ihirr Tucker. REPRE.SENTATIVES FROM ISJO TO ISSO. l8oU-"il, Anson liyan ; 1852, James Johnson ; 18o:l, Samuel W. "Wheeler; l.s.''i4, Sherwood Lyon; LSo.'), J. S. .\danis ; 18'.0, George Whalen; 1S.')7, David S. Edwards; 1,S58, Charles Wheeler; 18.VJ, Philo U.Sher- wood; 18011, John S. Uowlaml; 1801, Philo Hall; 1802, Aha/, lirad- ley; 18o:i, Isaac P. Wheeler; 1804, Burr lienmdt ; ISC'j, lUiarles E. liradley; 1800, C. W. Blakeniau ; 1807, E. P. Fisher; 180S, Dinion Bradley; ISO'.I, Edwin Wheeler; 187(1, Floyd Tucker; 1871, liansom O. Smith; 1.872, George S. Burr: 187:i, Francis L. Staples; 1874, Joseph E. Fiehls; 1.S7.J, Uobert G. Galloway ; 1870, Eliliu N.Taylor; 1877, .lohii Wheeler; 1878, Arlliur Tucker; 187'J-SO, Joseph W. J'dinsou. 276 HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. RELIGIOUS. CHRIST CIIIIICII.* This church was organized a.s early as 1763, under tlie care of tlie London Missionary Societies, and was supplied with ministerial services by it for about twenty years. In 1784 it seems to have been reor- ganized by the appointment of .John Nichols as clerk, Benoni Dimon, Calvin Wheeler, and Moses Burr as vestrymen, and Ezra Winton and Robert Downes as wardens. The Rev. Philo .Shelton, the first Ej>isco- pal minister ordained in the United States, was then called as rector, and continued to 1818. Among the early members were Seth Gilbert, Thaddeus Gilbert, Thomas Colycr, Jonathan Colcy, Thomas Trcadwell, Nathan .Jackson, Alexander Piatt, Hezekiah Osborn, Increjise Burr, Andrew (iilbert, Nathaniel Davis, David Thorp, Daniel Coley, Gould Nichols, Eliphalet Nichols, Peter Nichols, Ephraim Nichols, Samuel Wheeler, John Wheeler, Adin Jackson, Andrew Winton, Hezekiah Thorp, Joseph Winton, Ebenczer Nichols, .Toseph Trcadwell, Gould Bradley, Joseph Darlinfr, William Burr, Joseph Burr, Alexander Nichols, Andrew Gilbert, and others. The first church edifice was erected in 1763, — a rude structure, — and was never completely finished, though it stood until about the year 1850. It was known a.s the North Fairfield Episcopal Church at Gilberttown. In 1873 a new chaiiel was built, near the academy at the centre. It has always been rather a missionary station than an independent parish. Through the untiring efibrts of Mrs. Henry Perry, of Southport, a fund has been raised as a memorial of the Rev. Philo Shelton, the first rector, who was the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Perry ; this sum amounts to four thousand dollars, the income to be applied to the salary of the rector of the )>arish. The following rectors have officiated for the church: The missionaries of the Church of England to the Revolutionary war; Rev. Philo Shelton, from 1784 to 1812; Rev. Eli Wheeler, during 1813; Rev. David Belden, 1813-16; Rev. Josei)h D. Wclton, 1816-1!). Then occiusional services were held by dilferent cler- gymen until about 183.5, when the Rev. D. G. Tom- linson took charge for four years ; Rev. Dr. Darkin, 1840, for one year ; Rev. Charles Todd, one year ; Rev. William Atwill, 1842-44; Rev. H. V. Gardner, 1849- 51 ; Rev. Enoch Huntington, 1851-.53. At this time tlie i)arisii received from the Legisla- ture the corporate name of Ciirist Church, Easton ; up to this time it was known as the Ejjiscopal Society of North Fairfield. Since that time the rectors have been Rev. Alfred Louderback, lS61-<]2; Rev. Henry Zell, from February to November, 1863, when death closed his ministry ; Rev. William L. Bostwiek, 1864 -65; Rev. John N. Marvin, 1S().V71 ; Rev. Cliarles W. Kelley, 1873-75; Rev. David M. Elwood, 1876-79; Rev. WiUiam H. Bulkley, 1880. Present ..tli.-.rs: Eli Winton, William Ward, Wardens ; Arthur M. Oak- ley, James Ni(!hols, Vestry. Present number of mem- bers, about thirty. THE B.il'TIST CUURCII.t