History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

It is related of Dr. Dwight that occasionally he would ride to New Haven to ]U'each. When he left Greenfield, the women were milking; when he got to Fairfield, the women were milking; when he got to Newfield (now Bridgeport), the women were milking; when he got to Stratford, the women were milking ; and in Milford, which is known as Sleepy Hollow. It conveyed to his mind the indtistry of these [daces, in which, in his estimation, (irecnficld bore the palm. For the benefit of the citizensof to-day a word con- cerning Dr. Timothy Dwight may not be amiss. He was born in Northampton, Ma,ss., Jlay 14, 1752, and died in New Haven, Conn., Jan. 11, 1817. It is said his mother taught him the aliihabet in one lesson, and he read the Bible when he was but four years of age. Latin he studied by himself at six, and was nearly ready for college at eight. He entered Yale at thir- teen, in 1765, and graduated in 17(59, and for two years wa.s a teacher in New Haven. He became a tutor in his college at nineteen. Dwight taught mathematics, rhetoric, and oratory in the college for six years. In 1777 he was licensed to preach, and became a chap- lain in tlie army, where he labored for the spiritual interest of the soldiers, and increased their enthusiasm by such productions as " Columbia." He was a mem- ber of the Ma.ssachusetts Legislature in 1781, and his popularity would have detained him in civil life had he not deliberately preferred the ministry, the duties of which he accepted at Greenfield, Conn., in 178;?, and discharged twelve years. A.s his salary was in- sufficient for his support, he established an academy, to which he devoted six hours of eacli day, and till such a building could be erected he used the shop above mentioned. On tlie death of Dr. .Stiles he was chosen his successor as president of Yale, and was in- augurated in September, 1795, and held the ofliee until his death. Besides being professor of br/fcs- /tifirn, oratory, and theology, he taught a class prepar- ing for the ministry, preaching in the college chapel twice every Sunday. " He was untiring in industry and research, of a great system and woiidcrfiil memory ; as a teacher, remarkable for his skill and success; ius a writer, interesting and sensililc; anil as a ])reacher, sound, strong, impressive, and at times higlily elo- (pient."* His poem "Greenfield Hill; in Seven Parts," published in 1794, will long be cherished in that village, although the original copies arc exceed- ingly scarce. The heads of the arguments arc: "I. The Prospect; II. The Flourishing Village ; III. The Burning of Fairfield ; IV. The Destruction of the Peipiots ; V. The Clergyman's Advice to the Villagers ; VI. The Farmer's Advice to the Villagers; VII. The Vision; or, I'rospect of the Future Happiness of America." No. 22. Near the northern limits of the town are the Sherwood premises. Here was a house built by Eletizcr Sherwood, a son of Jijseph Shcrwotid, the original owner of Mill Hill, a descendant of Thomas, who is the first Sherwood recorded in Fairfield, he having bought land in 1653, and from whom has come a worthy host of descendants. He came from Sher- wood Forest, iu Scotland. This Eleazer married Mary Sipiire, of Fairfield, and settled on a farm mentioned above. The old colonial house was torn down not long ago, Imt some of the same material was used in the present structure, which stands on the same site. It is worthy of mention that some of the people of Fairfield, fearful that tlieir hard-earned possessions would be destroyed, removed them to Mr. Sherwood's ipiarters, but the British, who were on their way to Daiibiiry, passed along this street, destroying prop- erty without mercy. In this case, however, Mrs. Sherwood fed them to the best of her ability, and thus was favored in having her own property saved. At Eleazer's decease Hezekiah became owner ; he also built a dwelling, which stands in sight of Mr. Kli Sherwood's. He died twenty-nine years ago, aged seventy-four. Eli Sherwood (the father of Dciicon L. F. Sherwood, merchant and postmaster in Southport) was the late owner. No. 23. This house has been in the family for three generations only, and was built by Joseph Sherwood somewhere between 1750 and 1769. When the Brit- ish entered this house for plunder on their Danbury route, they tore up Mrs. Sherwood's silk dresses. Tliey shot at Joseph Sherwood himself, but hit his hat only; Vmt they took him prisoner with the inten- tion of taking him with them, but he was lame, having bad his leg broken for some time. He complained that he was unable to march. To convince them of the cause of his impediment in traveling, he exhibiteil his broken (though then well) leg; whereupon they released him. This i)lace descended to his sou Joseph, Jr., and from * See .\merieau Cyclopa'dia. 308 IITSTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. liiui to Solomon or Salmon, who is the present owner and octiiitant. No. 24. This was built, about 1755, by Ensign Jehiel Sherwood, who had several children, all of whom were born here. Among them was one Stephen, born in 1775, who bought out the other heirs. All his children were also born here. This dwelling is in good repair, and is owned by Miss Sarah Sherwood, who is the present occupant, and sister of Mrs. Eliza Beers, wlio has a life-right in " colonial" Xo. 7. No. 25. Built by Samuel Whitney, who was the owner when tlie British passed there, this house was vacated temporarily, but no depredation was com- ; mitted by the enemy further than the appropriation ' of the food and drink left behind in the hasty de- parture of its inmates. This property was afterwards owned by David Fanton, who sold it to Charles Wake- man, who repaired and uprighted it. He dying, it fell to his brother, Eli Wakcman, who uses it for a ten- ement-house. Frederic Thorp is present occupant. No. 2G. This is an old-fashioned, long-roofed, red farm-house, and was l)uilt by Jolm Banks in 1755; owned next by liis daughter Ellen, who married Samuel O. Banks. Tlie third owner was Mary Banks, who .sold it to Eli Sherwood (see No. 22), and he to Jonathan Banks. The next transfer was to Thomas Goodsell, tlie great-grandson of the Rev. John Good- sell. (See No. 18.) The next owner was William B. Sherwood. The cightli and last is Wilson Sherwood. Tlie British made a visit to this suljstantial home, but were satisfied with plundering without destroying it. No. 27. Moses Banks was the builder of this house. He left a fine farm to his son, Timothy Banks, which is now oceui)ied by T. Minot Banks,* a man whose scholarly perceptions exceed his financial ability ; and sister. In building, it was contenijiorary with the above houses. No. 28. This was built by John Banks, and was next owned by Nathan Banks, born 1760, died 1847. His wife, Mabel Bradley Banks, attained tlie age of ninety-five. He had a farm of one hundred acres, but he was not sufficiently robust to cultivate it per- .sonally, so he taught a select school here for years. He held some rank in the army,- and conducted twenty prisoners ("Red-coats") from Fairfield to Hartford, all jiarties walking every step of the way. In tills liouse is the following record of his services in the Revolutionary war: " l«t tour, to Strutrord aiiil Grootrfl fnmiii, under Col. Whiting, In 17TG. "M U>nr, tu Fnirflt'lil, umlor Ucul. Nutliun S«eley, in 1T77. *'3d lour, to lloncnock (now Groonwtcli), QDiler C4ipt. St. John, in 1778. "4th tour, when KalrtloM And Xorwalk wore burnt. In 1779. " jjtli tour, to Fnirtli'lil, under Cnpt. luiac Jnnis, in 17K0. "6tli tour, to Conipo, uudor Eiuign Johiul Sherwood (Me No. 24), In 1781." * Tlie flrnt Bankii in Faliilold vm* John, who ]nircba«eil land thoro in 1049. Fl^ini hint nre deM>endcdprol>nh1y all the Banks. They were so itunieruuti that two iliatrictB in niotown are niunmi for tlicui : the North uid 8<iuth Bank! Pittrict. Longevity, honoaty, Induslr)', and fnigallty are prviniueut traits In thUf line of Mttlera. It is now owned by Miss Pamelia Banks. Among her relics she had an olil-fashioned clock, but one daj , while absent, a boy on the place utilized (?) the leaden weights and pendulum to melt for bullets. She had two cannon balls — "British reminiscences" — for a long time, one of which disappeared; the other Dr. M. V. B. Dunham exhibits among his curiosities. No. 29. The house built by Deacon Daniel Banks is considered to be one hundred and fifty years old. He died in his one hundredth year. Late in'life he lived around among his children, but went home to the house he built to die. His son Lyman also died there, aged eighty-one years. His tomb in Greenfield is marked thus : "In BJcmorj- of Dea. Daniel Hanks, died Jan. IG, 1839, in the I'W year of his age." Lyman Banks had three sons, — Lyman, Sereno, and William. Lyman was taken sick and died while a student at Yale; Sereno went to a neighbor's to sLssist him in removing a rock, but the lever, a large crowbar, slipped from the fulcrum and struck him (Sereno) in the pit of the stomach, which resulted in his death. The son William died not far from the age of eighty.t This liouse has been repaired, and the old stone chimney replaced by a small brick one. The kitchen now awaits repair from a recent fire- The present owner of these premises is Mrs. Sarah S. Sherwood. t In addition to the ahovo akctch of the Bonks family tifo following Is contributed by Mr. A. B. Hull :