History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

The Baptist Church of Weston (now Easton) was constituted April 13, 1831, and recognized as such by a council consisting of Rev. Elisha Cusliman, John Cookson, J. H. Linsly, Alfred (latcs, Mr. Duxborough, Mr. Roberts, and Nathan D. Benedict, who had met for the purpose of setting a])art Brother Alva Gregory to the work of the gospel ministry. It consisted of sixty-seven members set off from the Baptist Church of Stratfield, — viz. : Deacon David Silliman, Sr., Stephen Jennings, Sr., Eli Adams, Stephen Jen- nings, Jr., Cyrus Silliman, Stephen Blackman, Reuben B. Gilbert, Andrew Leavenworth, Seth Gilbert, Nor- man C. Sherwood, Isaac Jennings, Samuel Gregory, William Rowel, Thomas Peck, Horace Lyon, George Lyon, Alonzo Gilbert, Ezra Silliman, Josiah Piatt, Harvey Rowel, Isaac Turney, Isaac Thorp, John Cal- vin, Ruth Reach, Lucy Gilbert, Eunice Edwards, Hannah Wildman, Charity Judson, Polly Silliman, Orra Sherwood, Deborah Silliman, Naomie Mallett, Anna Beardslee, Anna Turney, Mahala Austin, Char- ity Blakeman, Pamela Fayerweather, Abigail Haw- ley, Esther Beers, Sarah Hall, Ruth Secley, Caroline Gilbert, Maria Silliman, l{oda Hayes, Hannah Hayes, Mercy S. French, Miriam Leavenworth, Huldah Adams, Clarissa Silliman, Asenath Beardslee, Hannah Silliman, Ruth Lyon, Clarissa Rowel, Betsey Silliman, Sally Lyon, Laura Lyon, Ruth Hawley, Harriet Thorp, Claris.sa Rowel (2d), Phoebe A. Peek, Jemima Jackson, Eliza Turney, Eunice Turney (2d), Abigail Leavenworth, Priscilla B. Dimon, Clarissa Silliman (2d), Eleanor Lyon. The first officers were : David Silliman, Deacon ; Eli Adams, Clerk. The first minister was Rev. Na- than Wildman ; the present minister is Rev. J. M. Phillips. Name and time employed of each minister : Nathan Wildman, three years; William Dennison, thirteen years; Jacob Gardener, two years; John Warren, twenty-one years nine months ; Jabez T. Bender, two years four months; James M. Phillips, three years. The present officers are : Morris Banks, William W. Jennings, Deacons; David Silliman, David W. Sher- wood, Trustees; M. W. Silliman, Clerk. The mem- bership at present numbers one hundred anti thirty- two. The first church edifice was erected in 1830, the second in 1849, and the third in 1874. There was expended on the second edifice for repairs, $2775.50; on the third, $1607.93. Legacies amounting to $1275 have been left this church by the following: Naomie Bennett, for land used as the parsonage, seven acres, $500; Mrs. Greg- ory, for a Sabbath-uchool fund, $175; Miss Julia • Contriliutod I..V Mr. Ell WInloii. t Contriliutwl lij- M. W. Silliman. EASTON. 277 Seeley, $500, and Miss Abba Leavenwortli, $100, for the use of the church. Rev. Russell .Tennings has paid nearly one-fourth of the pastor's salary for sev- eral years past. The following have been licensed to preach from this church : Edmund Turney, Hawley Gill)ert, Her- vey >!-illiman, >^her\vood Lyon, Jolm S. Mallette, .John Sammis. For two or three years after the organization of the church an extensive revival of religion visited it, materially strengtiiening the church, and encouraging flic new field of labor, which ]iroved timely, for soon some of the number were dismissed to form a Ba]>tist church at White Hills. The cluirch, now enjoying the indefatigable labors of its jiastor, Rev. Wm. Dennison, had many additions. The church was soon again called to part with about seventy-five of its number to constitute the Baptist church of Stepney, in 1848. • Since that year we have lieen visited with many precious seasons of refreshing by the Holy Spirit, leading many t(p walk the narrow way with us, and, ere we were exjiecting, many were called to the better land. During the stay of each pastor we have witnessed the fruit of his labors by the ingathering of many ; so tliat none can say, " I lal)ored with the Easton Baptist Cluirch in vain;" for which we sincerely thank the Great Head of the Church. TIIK CENTRE METHODIST EnSCOP.M, SOCIETY of Easton was organized in the winter of lS4r!-44. Tlie first oflicers were Eli Wakeman, Clerk ; Hanson Lyon, Daniel C. Salmon, and Ira Sturges, Building Committee; Ranson Lyon, Emery Sherwood, Daniel C. Salmon, Harry Fanton, Bradley Williams, William Cogswell, Thomas Goodsell, Trustees; Ranson Lyon, Treasurer; William Cogswell, Collector. The first minister was William H. Bangs. Tlic cliurcli l)uibl- ing was erected in 1844. The present officers are as follows : Iverson C. Fan- ton, Clerk; D. S. Fanton, Treasurer; B. F. Banks, D. S. Fanton, William F. Lockwood, A. C. Lyon, William Cogswell, I. C. Fanton, Trustees; B. F. Banks, W. F. Lockwood, M. W. Salmon, Society's Committee. Number of present members, one liun- dred and four. The church was repaired and re- modeled in 1871. This church and Lee Chapel church form one parish, Lee Cliapel church being much the oldest. MILITARY RECORD- TENTH REGIJIENT. Comjinuy H. Harris, John, nnist. Nov. 19, 18(54; must, out Aug. Ti, 1SG5. Jones, Thomas, must. Nov. 22, 1864 ; fanng by Byntolieu oC cuurt-nmrtiitl, Tvh. IS, 1SG5. Kerrigan, John, nmst. Nov. 22, 1SG4; must, out .\ug. 25, 18C5. SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT. Company D. Jennings, .Mosei B., must. .\ug. 12, 1801 ; must, out July 19, IfCJ. Marsh. Thomas .\., must. Aug. 9, ISOl ; voundod and trans, to Vet. Res. Ctirps; disch. for disahllity, Aug. 12, 1S(;.5. Quick, Charles E., nmst. Aug. 9, ISr.l ; wounded May 2, 1803; must, out July r.i, 1SC,">. i'lniip/niij II. Mallett, diaries S., uuist. Sept, 1, isc.l ; uiuat. out July 19, 1805. f_'iitiqiiitiii K. Birehum, Henry, must. Aug. 20, ISOl ; disch. for disability, Oct. 29, 18C3. Canfiehl, George, must. .\ug. 15, ISlU ; disch. fur disability, Dec. 10, 1862. Edwards, Robert, must. Aug. 15, IKOl ; must, out July 19, IXCw. Hall, D,avid, Jr., must, Aug. 7, ISOl ; must, out July 19, 1S05. Lord, James, nuist. Sejit. 1, 18(il ; trans, to Invalid t'orps; must. t.'Ut Aug. 11,1805. Tillisou, Jesse, must. Aug, 9, 1801 ; must, (Uit July 19, 1S05. Harris, John, must. Sept, 10, 1804; forwarded Oct. 2(1, 1804; not taken up on rolls. TWENTY-Timill REGIMENT. William Corning, must. Aug. 8, l.sol ; disch. .\ug. :il, 18(;.). Buckley, Ocrshom B„ must. Sept, 8, 1801 ; ilisch, Aug. ;n, 1803. Burr, William H., must. Sept. 9, 1801 ; disch. Aug. 31, 1803. Edwards, David S., must, Sept. 8, ISCl ; died July 19, 1803, at New Or- leans, La. French, Levi, must. Sept, 9, 1.801 ; Jisch. Aug. 31, 1803. French, Almon H,, must. Sept, 9, ISOl ; disch. Aug. 31, 1.8C3. Hill, I'al-k, must, Aug. 25, 1801 ; disch. Aug. 31, 1803. Hill, Beach, must, Aug. 25, 1801; disch. Aug, 31, 180,"!. Hani, Eli, must. Aug, 25, 1801 ; disch. Aug. 31, ls(i3. Hall, Charles, must. Sept. 9, 1801 ; disch. Aug. 31, 1803. Jennings, William W,, must, .\ug. 25, 1801 ; disch. .\ug, 31, 1803. Keeler, Peter P.. must. .\ng. 31, 1801 ; ilisch, Aug. 31, 1863. Mar^h, Joshua, must. Sept, 8, 1801 ; discli. .\ug, .31, 1803. I'erry, John L,, must. Sept, 8, 1801 ; disch. .\ug, 31, 1803. Burs, Aide R,, must. .\ug. 25, 1861 ; disch. Aug, 31, 1803. Earle, George M., must. Sept, 10, ISOI ; disch. Aug. 31, 1863. Freeborn, Edwald K., must, Sept. 10, 1861 ; disch. Aug. 31, 1803. Sherwood, Charles H., must. Sept. 10, 1861 ; disch, .^ug, 31, 1863. Taylor, Ormel P., must. Sept, 10, 1861 ; disch. Aug, 31, 1863. W.ide, Josepli S., must. Sept. 6, 1861. Wanzer, Jjimes M,, must. Sejit, 10, 1801 ; trans, to Thirteenth Couu, Vols, to serve out time. Coiiipiiiiy K. Edwards, John. must. Nov, 24, 18(;l ; disch, Nov. 24, 1S04. McFarland, John, must. Nov, 24, 1861 ; re-enl. Jan, 0, 1864, McFarland, Robert, must. Nov. 24, 1861; discli, for disability, Jan, 6, 1803. SECOND LIGHT BATTERY CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEERS, Seeley, Frederick 0,, must. Aug. 0, 1S02; must, out Aug. 9, 1865. Biil'khard, Louis, must. Aug. 13, 1862; must, out Aug. 9, 1865. Banks, Bradley, must, Aug. 6, 1862; disch. Aug. 19, 1803. Garmo, John L. D., must. Aug. 13, 1802 ; trans, to Inv. Corps, Jan. 5, 18(;4 ; must, out July 14, 1865, Lynn, Joseph, must, .\ug, 6, 1862 ; trans, to Vet Res, Corps, Jan, 17, 1865 ; disch. June 29. 1865. Shariit, Andrew J,, must. Aug, 9, 1862; must, out Aug. 9, 1865. Turney, Albert E., must, Aug. 9, 1802 ; must, out Aug, 9, 1805. Ward, Johnson B., must. Aug. 6, 1802; must, out Aug. 9, 1805. Reardon, Patiick, must. Nov, 19, 1803; must, out Aug, 9, 1805. Seavey, Thomas, must. Dec, 22, 1803; must, out Aug, 9, 1805. ARTILLERY. Coii'jutmj M. Lovejoy, Fredeiick P., must. Feb. 4, 1801 ; le-enl. Feb. 5,1864; must, out Sept. 25, 1805. McDermott, James, must. Feb. 4, 1,S61 ; re-eiil, Feb, 5, 1864. Patterson, Franklin, must. Feb, 4, 1861 ; rc-enl. Feb, 5, 1804; must, out Sept. 25, 1806. SECOND ARTILLERY. Company C. Stewart, Thomas B., must. Jan, 2, 1804; wounded Se]it, 19, 1804 ; must. out Aug. 1,8. 1865. White, Edward, must, Dec, 21, 1863; nuitt, out June 20, 1865. 278 TirSTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. ■Uliito, George, must. Au;;. jk, i--s»ia. Company E. Croft, Georgo W'., must. July 22, 18C1. Howard, Willimi), muBt. July 22, 1801. Company II. Gilbert, AR'Ort P., uiiibt. Sept. 23, 18G1 ; discli. for disability. Fob. 2C, 18G4. Gilbert^ Isaac W., must. Sept. 23, 18GI ; disch. for diaability, May 14, 1862. Company L Edwards, Bobert, must. Sept. 21, 18C1; disch. for disability, May 12, 1862. Company K. Bucklej', David, must. Jan. 5, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 18, 1865. CHAPTER XXVIIL FAIRFIELD. Geogmphical— Tiipograpbit-al — The Peqnot* — Driven to tlie S\vumi>^ The Battle— J^^ge^ Ludlow— The First Scttlemonts- Indian Treaties— Indinu Deeds— The Fairfirld Patent — The Departure of Ludlow — Tho Bevotutiun — The Burning of Fuirfiuld — Ineidentii. The town of Fairfield is located in the southern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Kaston and Weston ; on the east by Bridge- port ; on the south by Long Island Sound ; on the west by Westport and "Weston. The surface of the town is undulating, and the soil is very fertile and generally free from stone. TUE PEQUOTS.— THE DISOOVERY.