History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

All loi'al atiairs were settled in parish niecting.s, ! usually held in the scliool-house at the hour of sun- down. The legal way of warning meetings was by |iosting lliree notices, — one at or near the niecting- Itouse, one :tt Deacon Daviil Shermtin's r'orner, on Toilsome Hill, and ii third upon an old white-oak tree which used to stand upon the boundary-line be- tween Fitirfield and Stratford. The officers appointed at these meetings were seU'ctmen, school committee, sheep-masters, collectors, a treasurer, a constable, tind a recorder. The selectmen laid the ta.x, the collectors 1 g;i the red it, and the treasurer ]iaid it out for thesujtport of ptilpil and school. The sheep-masters had charge ol' llic town flock, concerning which more )iresently. Till' cniislalile's duty, besides "putting forth ]mrsuits or Hue and cries, tifter thieves, burglarious, jimfane swearers, and Sabhath-breakers," was "to wtirn those that frcfpu'iited taverns and spent their time idly there," and to look after the boys in time of public worship. The recorder, or society's clerk, was one of the most iin]iortant otlicers in the parish. Samuel Hulibell filled the place until his death, in 1714, I when he was suceeedeil by John Burr, who was fol- I lowed in 1720 by Deacon Lemuel Sherwood, :it whose decease, in 1732, Daniel Hubbell took the olllcc. 72 HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. The original record-book, though much dilapidated, is still in existence, iind perhaps in no way can so good an idea of life in Stratfield at tluit early day l)e ob- tained as by making some extracts from its pages, and, with the exeei)tion of a few words of explanation, suH'ering them to tell their owii story: EXTRACTS FKOSI PARISH RKCORDS. "Tliu Records of the AccU of fairfeild vilng, Becgun in the yer 1G9S-4. " It wa« then voted per the sd. Sosiely that Mr. Charles Chaunccy, for his lucurigemoiit In the miiiiHtrey shall Have Sixtuy pounds in good provisions for the yr. Iiisuoiiig, to hee paid Him By way of Rate, Each man acording to the Listc of iiis Estate given lu." Mr. Chauncey's salary wtus afterwards raised to eighty pounds, and was paid in [trovisions at market rates, which were about as follows: Wheat, 5s. per busliel ; Indian corn and rye, 38. per bushel; pork, 31(/. per pound. He was also annually sup])lied with fifty or sixty loads of firewood, wortli about ten pounds more, one-fourth of it being of good hickory, the remainder oak. The votes which follow relate to the custom of call- ing the people to church by beat of drum, of which mention has already been made. It will be seen that the drummer marched around the mecting-honse so as to give the settlers on every side the full benefit of the summons: lO'Jit, Septeniltor : "Voted to give James Bcnit His rate to Mr. Chaun- ccy for heating tlio dnime on publicly days." 1710, Dec. 22 : *' Voted tliat the Select men shall agree with a man to Swcpe the meetinghouse & Bceat the Drume on Sabath days, hut not to give libiivc 40 «. pr. yer." ITLI, .luly, 17: "Voted that the Drum shall bee batten round the meting hous on Sabath Days." About seven years after tlie meeting-house was built, an effort was made to render it more comfort- able. New seats, and iron window-casements with panes of glass, were among tlie improvements made. Before that time it is possible that oiled paper had been used in the windows as a substitute for glass. Following are some of the votes in relation to the matter : 1691), Oct. 3U : " Voted that the Sosioty wold bee at the Cliarg of new soAting the meating house. "Voted to pay a Rjite of one penny in the pound towanls the Seating of Bitid Meeting house and other Charges," 17<tO, April ;J: " Votod that the Sosiely w.dd have the meeting house Sceatcd with wuinseut work." 1701, April 2S: "It was then voted by Ihii .Sosiety that the same C»pm- mltty which was a|)»ynted to hlor a man to make the seats for the meet- ing house shall have the sumu power to hier workemcn to nuike Irx^n Casements for the meeting house and glii/.e them as is needful." The iron ciu^emcnts must have rattled, and the teeth of the worshipers chattered, when the January blasts .swept over the hilltop upon which the meeting- house stood, for fires were a luxury unknown in the early Pnritaii meeting-houses. The zeal of the hearer and his interest in the .sermon were suppo.sed to be sufficient to make him oblivious to trifling discom- forts. How the bovs were cared for in time of service is shown by entries like the following. The constable, with his staff of office, must have been an awe-inspir- ing personage, but less so than his successor, Notih Morehouse, who was the village gravedigger, and used to receive three shillings for digging large, or two shillings and sixpence for small, graves. An un- fortunate boy in his grasp must have experienced about the same sensations that lehabod Crane did when pursued by the headless horseman of .Sleejjy Hollow : 1699 (month ilicgible) : " Vobd that tho Constdbell shall have the Charge of tho boyf; on Sahntli day, to keep them in order." 1712, Oct. 8 ; " Noah Moroliouso Is Chosen t») whip boys on Satiath days." 1723, Sept. 17 : "Voted that Thomas Chambers shall sect In y« West Gallery to look after y« Intyes on Sabbath dayea to keep them in Good order. .\lso voted that .lohn Hubble shall sret in y* front Gallery to look after y^ boyes on y" Sabbath dayes to keep them in good order for the year In suing." 172.), Dec. 19 : " Voted that Nathaniel Wockle should bo the man to look after y* boyes a Sabotli dayes in time of Exercise, that they play not." Hut, however strict the dLscipliue of the boys may have been, there is nothing to show that attendance upon public worshii) was ever made compulsory in Stratfield, nor do the records contain any instances of fine or imprisonment for non-attendance, as in some other places in New EiigUuid. As the reader will observe, the Stratfield records include a variety of matter, genealogical and com- mercial as well as ecclesiastical. Some of the former cla-ss are recorded with great minuteness. Witness the following : "Beixiaiutu (?) fayrowether was marrietl unt*> Sanih Wheeler (date ilicgible). " Thi'ir daug^iter Katherlne born wenaday morning. March 3, 1693-94. " Ilaiinah, born niuiiday Kvoli^lg Dccenib,T 21*'^, 1090. "Andrew, born lillegible) foberuary 1'., lO'-lfi-O. " Jedediiib, Isuti Satunlay evetiing, December 28*'*^ 1700. "John, born tbusdoy, sunsat, December 28,1703. "penlojH', born Munduy, fcbuj*. 18**, 170&-C "Joseph, bora tni-sday, 11 o'clock att night, Nov. 4, 1707. " tlii>n)ma.<, born monday morning, octohor 17, 1709. " wiflter, l»irn nionday nit, 11 clock, Decern' 17, 1711. " Sanih, boi n tumlay morning, fore Clock, Sept. 22, 1713. " nuiry, lM>ru fri^lay nit, 1 1 clock, Januur^ VA, 17Io-Di. " Bi'iiJ. was boru octoU-r the fir^t, about 9 att night on tuewlay, 1717. and his brother born' the' Same time: tlloy wore twines but y* last died instantly in ! ji an hour. " « alter ilied Uecemlior y' Jli'", 1717. "Jame.< was Isirn Uiirsday night about 11 aclock, 1721, august the 24tb, and tiled Uii: 29»' Instant. " Brought To rcconl the Marriage of Samuel Hall and y« birth of his Childron on the oigblh day of February 1730-31, ami the accou" thereof is as followeth : " Namly Samuel Hall and Sarah Sllliman entered Into u marriage stale .hily the 29''' day, in y* year 1714. " his son Dovld Hall was boru July y li"* day, 1715 on Tnsda), about break of day. " Ills daughter Martha Hall was born April y" 9* day 1717, on tusdaj ahtHiglit y» mid.del of y» after iwou. " His son Samnell Hall wio. Ixirn Deccm«" y« 16" (lay 1718, on tusday night. " His son Nutlianioll Hall was lK.rn Soveni'" y thirxi day 1720, Thit»- day. " His son Elwncl. Hall was born March y« IS"- day 1723 on tusday. BRIDGEPORT. 73 " nis Pnughter Sarah Hall whs boru febniary y« 20tb ilay 17-4 on Sat- iinlay. " His s.Mi Ilavi.l Hall ik-iiarti-.l tliis life february y VV' .lay 17i5-2f. on tns.hn . '■lli> .lanslitt-r JIary Hall «as lioru ScptMiil" y< IS"' .lay llir,, un Sabath .lay. " His son (iavi.l Hall was born .Iiiin- y.^ ^Il"' .lay 1728 on tbirs.lay, " His s.tii abi'l Hall was burn July ye 12th .lay 17."Ht, ..n Sabatli .lay." ' Not less minute tli;in tin's list uf biitlis is tli.' record of cleMths uiion the cluireli register, in tlii' lii'iiiitirully clear liamhvriting of Rev. Samuel Cook.'. Mr. Chauii- cey's sueeessor, a few extracts from wlii.-li are aiin.'.xe.l : "17H1-:12, M.arch 20, Di.'.l .losiab C.joke, .jii.! ..1 ii.y luii. .s,in.», iu 2 bom's after its birth. " 1731-;i2, Marrh 21, Die.l KIi;\saph Cooke, ye other ot my twin Sons, in 26 hours after its birth. " 1732, May 2(1, Die.l my Dear wife Elizabeth, in y" iU" year of her .\ge of an Apoplexy. '* 1732. September 2, Die.l D.'aeon Lemuel Slieiwoo.l in y — y.-arof his .\ge : of a Dropsie. " 1732, September 3, Die.l .losepli Fayerw entlier at B..ist..n, in y>'2.'.lh year .)f his Age ; of a Bloo.ly flux. •' 1732, X.ivember in. Died Oapt. Sam". Slierwoo.l in y — y.-ai- ..f liis Age, of a malignant Fear [fever?]. " 1732. N.tvel]iber21, Die.lat Fairtiel.l Saml. Morehouse, . if a iiiilH- iiant Fever, Age.l about — years. " 1732, December 23, Died Serg' Samuel Freiieli of the Diy belly a. b, aged about — years. " 1732-:J3, Feb. 26, Died Hannah the infant P.:.stliunioiis Itaiighter of D.'a.-.ui .Sherwood. •' 1733, Oct.iber 20, Died Eunieo, tb.- Daii;;bl.-i uf I!en,i« Uear.lsle ..f y» Bhuldor, age.l 1 year. •'1733, Oct.iber 30, Die.l Edw.anl, tb.- .Son of Stephen Burrow.s, ..f th.. Bladder, aged 1 year. " 173.3, November 17, Die.l Isaa.- Wh.eler by blee.ling of a W..un.l in his leg w«'' seemed almost eureil. "1733-34, Jau'J 3.1 in the morning. Died Moses' .laekson's Wit.., ..f a lietliergie. " 1734-3.3, Feb. .S, Doreas, the Negn. Cirl ..f Ma.j..r .b.lin linn , ..I a feaver. " 1734-;!.'., Fob. 26, Francis Hall Jun', Died of a malignant pleurisie. " 1734-.3J, March 7, Davi.l, the untimely infant of oba.Iiah Beai.lslee."