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A Monumental Boulder on the Green 
 
c^' t3 ^ 
 1639 1909 
 
 jfairticlt) 
 
 ancient anb flDobern 
 
 A. BRIKF A.CCOTJNT, HISTORIC AND DESCRIPTIVK 
 
 OF 
 
 H Jfamous Connecticut XTown 
 
 PREPARED IN COMMIEMORATION OF THE 
 
 (Two Mun^rc^ an^ Seventietb Bnntvcrsari? 
 
 OF 
 
 ^be ZTown'e Settlement 
 
 BY 
 
 FRANK SAMUEL CHILD 
 
 Drcslbcnt ot tbc ffairfielO Ibfstodcal Society 
 
 ILLUSTRATED 
 
 yatrficlb Ibistorfcal Socicts 
 1909 
 
This Book is sold for the benefit of the Fairfield Historical Society. 
 Price in Paper is Fifty Cents; in Cloth Cne Dollar and a "alf. A few copies 
 bound in red Turkey morocco will be sold for three dollars. 
 
 f ■' "-' 
 
 ^■^ 
 
 LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
 One Copy Heceived 
 
 MAR 26 1909 
 
 Oooyriffnt Entry 
 copy 'b. 
 
 L 
 
 Copyright, 1909 
 
 BY 
 
 Frank S. Chii,d 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Thanks are due Mrs, Mabel Osgood Wright, Mr. Milton S. 
 Lacey and Dr. Frank S. Child, jr., for the illustrations which 
 adorn this handbook. 
 
 Thanks are also due Mr. J. Sanford Saltus and other loyal 
 members of the Fairfield Historical Society for their financial 
 assistance in the preparation of the volume. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 A Summary of Dates, ..... Page 9 
 
 Uncoa, The Great Swamp Fight, 15 — The Towu, 16 — Village 
 Green, 17. 
 
 The Academy, 23 — The Old Burying Ground, 24 — Ward Monu- 
 ment, 25 — Eunice Dennie Burr, 26 — The East Cemetery, 27 
 — Oaklawu, 28. 
 
 Benson Tavern, 28 — The Powder House, 28 — Railroad and Trol- 
 ley, 29. 
 
 Black Rock Harbor, 29 — The Beach, 30 — Grover's Hill, 30 — Ash 
 Creek, 30 — The Marshes, 31 — Penfield Reef, 31 — Southport 
 Harbor, 32. 
 
 The Burning of Fairfield in 1779,33 — General Washington in 
 Fairfield, 35, 
 
 Names of Distinguished Citizens : — Roger Ludlow, Lieutenant- 
 Governor Gold, Chief Justice Burr, Judge Ebenezer Silli- 
 man. Col. Andrew Burr, General Silliman, President Aaron 
 Burr, Dr. Caner, Jonathan Sturges, Judge Samuel Burr 
 Sherwood, Morris K. Jesup, Dr. Bronson, President Timothy 
 Dwight, Governor Tomlinson, President Sereno Dwight, 
 Judge Hobart, Judge Roger M. Sherman, Dr. Nathaniel 
 Hewit, President Heman Humphrey, Father Augustus 
 Hewit, Joseph E. Sheffield, Frederick Marquand and 
 others, 36. 
 
 A Village of Pleasant Homes, 41 — The Intellectual Atmosphere, 
 42 — Historic Sites, 43. 
 
 Noteworthy Houses — The Burr Homestead, 44 — The Silliman 
 House, 46 — Professor Silliman' s story of his father's capture, 
 47 — Sherman Parsonage, 47 — The Gould Homestead, 48 — 
 Waldstein, 49 — The Rowland Homestead, 50 — Round Hill, 
 50 — Mailands, 51 — Greenfield Hill, 51 — Verna F'arm, 51 — 
 
Holland Pleights, 52— Mill Hill, 52— Witch Hill, 53— The 
 First Work of the Landscape Gardener in Town. 53. 
 The Churches, 54 — Fairfield East Parish, 56 — West Parish of 
 
 Fairfield, 56. 
 Fairfield Fresh Air Home, 57 — A Convalescent Hospital in 1898, 
 58 — American National Red Cross, Fairfield Branch, 58 — 
 Auxiliary No. 29, 59. 
 The Doroth}^ Ripley Chapter — Daughters of the American Revo- 
 lution, 60 — The Fountain, 60. 
 Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter — Daughters of the American Revo- 
 lution, 61. 
 Fairfield Memorial Library, ..... 62 
 
 Fairfield Bathing Pavilion, ..... 63 
 
 Pequot Library, Southport, ..... 64 
 
 Sasquanaug Association, Southport, .... 65 
 
 The Village Improvement Society, Fairfield, . . 65 
 
 The Country Club, Greenfield Hill, .... 66 
 
 The Grange, Greenfield Hill, 67 
 
 The Consumers' League, ..... 67 
 
 Audubon Society of the State of Connecticut, . . 68 
 
 The Gould Homestead Summer Home for Women, . 69 
 
 P'airfield Historical Society, ..... 69 
 
 Bibliography, . . . . . . . 71 
 
 Letter of Rev. Andrew Eliot, ..... 74 
 
 "Fairfield," Extract from Dr. Dwight's " Greenfield Hill", 75 
 
 ^^"'^•a^ 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 A Monumental Boulder on the Green 
 
 Main Street ..... 
 
 The Pequot Monument .... 
 
 Town Hall — Old Whipping Post in the foreground 
 
 The Sixth Sanctuary of the Prime Ancient Society 
 
 St. Paul's Church ..... 
 
 Lich-Gate at the Ancient Burying Ground 
 
 Ward Monument ..... 
 
 The Powder House .... 
 
 Fairfield Beach — Grover's Hill in the distance 
 
 Southport Harbor — from the Lawn of Mr. W. H. Perry 
 
 Beach Lane, up which the British marched in 1779 
 
 The Sun Tavern . 
 
 Sherman Parsonage 
 
 Arching Elms 
 
 A Colonial House on the Green 
 
 The Burr Mansion 
 
 A Garden View of Sherman Parsonage 
 
 Pulpit Rock 
 
 The Southport Congregational Church 
 
 Trinity Church 
 
 St. Thomas' Church 
 
 Fairfield Fresh Air Home . 
 
 Memorial Fountain — Southport 
 
 Fairfield Memorial Library 
 
 Pequot Library — Southport 
 
 The Fairfield Fountain 
 
 The Gould Homestead 
 
 Mill River Ford 
 
 Saved from the Burning in 1779 
 
 A View on Mill Plain 
 
 Frontispiece. 
 8 
 15 
 17 
 20 
 22 
 24 
 26 
 28 
 30 
 32 
 34 
 36 
 38 
 41 
 43 
 44 
 47 
 49 
 52 
 54 
 56 
 58 
 60 
 62 
 64 
 66 
 69 
 70 
 
 72 
 
 74 
 
Main Street 
 
A SUMMARY OF DATES. 
 
 The Great Swamp Fight, which ended the Pequot War, 
 
 July 13th, 1637 
 
 The settlement of Uncoa by Roger Ludlow and other ad- 
 venturers, 163^ 
 Court established at Uncoa, 1640 
 First Meeting-house — a log structure — probably erected, 1640 
 Magistrates appointed for Uncoa, 1643 
 Rev. John Jones and a company from Concord join the 
 
 Plantation, 1644 
 
 Name of settlement changed to Fairfield. 1645 
 
 First Mill built — the miller being Henry Jackson, 1648 
 
 The First Probate Records, 1648 
 
 The First Land Records (the first twelve pages being lost) 
 
 William Hill being Recorder. 1649 
 
 Roger Ludlow's Code for Connecticut completed, 1650 
 
 The trial and execution of ' ' Goody Knapp' ' for Witchcraft, 1653 
 Fairfield raises troops and declares war against the Dutch, 
 Ludlow being appointed Commander-in-chief of the mili- 
 tary forces, 1653 
 Ludlow returns to England and serves under Cromwell on 
 
 the First Irish Commission. 1654 
 
 Meeting House rebuilt, 1663 
 
 County of Fairfield established, and Fairfield chosen as the 
 Shire town, County buildings being erected and Courts 
 held on the second Tuesday in March and the first Tues- 
 day in November each year, 1666 
 Fairfield Probate Court created for the County, 1666 
 Major Nathan Gold appointed by General Court Com- 
 
mander-in-chief of militia iu Fairfield County, 1672 
 
 A Town Magazine ordered, 1674 
 
 Voted by the Town to build a stockade around the principal 
 
 part of the settlement, 1675 
 
 A new Prison erected on the Meeting House Green, 1679 
 
 The Town orders a Stone Fort to be built on the Green, 168 1 
 The Town votes that a stockade be constructed around the 
 
 Meeting House, the School House and the Parsonage, 1689 
 Parish of Pequounock (Stratfield) set off, 1691 
 
 Four Trials for Witchcraft, viz., Mrs. Staples, Goody Miller, 
 Elizabeth Clawson and Mercy Desborough. The last 
 named was convacted, but finally pardoned. The others 
 were acquitted, 1692 
 
 Grammar School started, 1 693 
 
 Death of Major Nathan Gold, "A Pious and Worthy 
 
 Magistrate," 1694 
 
 New School House on the Green, 1695 
 
 The new Meeting House, forty-five feet square, 1698 
 
 Rev. Joseph Webb joins with nine other ministers in found- 
 ing Yale College, 1701 
 Fairfield made a Port of Entry, 1702 
 Nathan Gold (the second) elected Eieutenant-Governor of 
 
 Connecticut, continuing in ofiice sixteen years, 1708 
 
 The Parish of West Farms (Green's Farms) set off, 171 1 
 
 The new County Court House, Prison and Jailer's House 
 
 erected on the Green, 17 18 
 
 The Parish of Greenfield Hill set off, 1725 
 
 First House of Worship erected by Church of England 
 
 people on Mill Plain, 1725 
 
 The Parish of Redding organized, 1729 
 
 Church of England people build their second house of wor- 
 ship on the King's Highway, west of the Meeting House 
 Green, 1738 
 
 The Town orders a new Meeting House for the members of 
 the State Church, The edifice is built on the site of the 
 former house of Worship, and stands sixty feet long, 
 
fort3'-four feet wide, twenty-six feet high, with a steeple 
 rising one hundred and twenty feet from the foundation, 1747 
 Rev. Noah Hobart's Second Book Addressed to the Epis- 
 copal Separation is published by D. Fowle, in Queen 
 Street, Boston. 1751 
 
 The Parish of Norfield (Weston) is set off, 1757 
 
 Guard House and Hospital for His Majesty's 48th Regi- 
 ment erected, 1758 
 Stratfield Baptist Church erects House of Worship, 1761 
 The Parish of North Fairfield (now called Easton) is 
 
 organized, 1763 
 
 Court House, Jail, Jailer's House and Pound are destroyed 
 
 by fire, 1768 
 
 Town voted in April to erect new Court House, Jail and 
 
 Jailer's House, 176S 
 
 Judge Ebenezer Silliman elected Speaker of Assembly, I773 
 
 Town voted to send relief to Boston — 750 bushels of grain, 1774 
 Daughters of Liberty make stockings, linen shirts, home- 
 spun garments of various kinds, and send them to the be- 
 sieged citizens in Boston, i774 
 Major Gold Sellick Silliman appointed Eieutenant-Colonel. 1774 
 Washington passes through Fairfield en route for Boston, 
 
 June 28th, 1775 
 
 " Married at the residence of Thaddeus Burr, Esq., by the 
 Rev. Andrew Eliot, the Hon. John Hancock, President of 
 the Continental Congress, to Miss Dorothy Ouincy, 
 daughter of Edmund Quincy of Boston," September 28, 1775 
 
 (Extract from Church Register.) 
 General Silliman captured and carried by the British to Long 
 
 Island, May ist, 1779 
 
 The Burning of Fairfield by General Tryon, July 8th and 
 
 9th, 1779 
 
 The Town votes to build a new Town House and Court 
 
 House on site where the School House stood, August 31, 1779 
 The Academy at Greenfield Hill is established, 1783 
 
 Fairfield a Half-Shire Town, 1784 
 
The new i^Ieeting House begun on site of former House, 1785 
 "The Conquest of Canaan," by Timothy Dwight, is pub- 
 lished, 1785 
 Jonathan Sturges becomes the first member of Congress 
 
 from this district. 1789 
 
 Washington visits Fairfield, his fourth visit in town, October 
 
 i6th, 1789 
 
 A Stake is to be driven on the Parade, Mill Plain, where 
 
 the new Episcopal Church is to be built, 1790 
 
 " Greenfield Plill," a poem by Timothy Dwight, appears, 1794 
 Dr. Dwight is called to the Presidency of Yale College, 1795 
 
 Trinity Church is dedicated, 1798 
 
 Fairfield Academy is founded, 1804 
 
 Lewis B. Sturges serves this District as a Member of Con- 
 gress, 1805 
 Fort on Grover's Hill is put in order, and Fairfield prepares 
 
 for war, 1 8 1 2 
 
 Samuel Burr Sherwood serves the District as Member of 
 
 Congress, 18 17 
 
 The State Church is dis-established by Legislature. The 
 Prime Ancient Society continues to be supported by a tax 
 levied upon members of the Parish, 18 18 
 
 Gideon Tomlinson represents the District in Congress, 18 19 
 
 Gideon Tomlinson is elected Governor of the State, 1827 
 
 Gideon Tomlinson becomes a member of the U. S. Senate, 1831 
 Thomas B. Osborne represents the District in Congress, 1839 
 
 Roger Minott Sherman is appointed a Judge of the Superior 
 
 Court, 1840 
 
 The new House of Worship for the Prime Ancient Society 
 
 is erected, 1850 
 
 The Court removes to Bridgeport, 1853 
 
 New House of Worship, Greenfield Hill, is erected, 1854 
 
 St. Paul's Church is organized. 1856 
 
 The Fifth Edifice of Trinity Church is destroyed by a tor- 
 nado, 1862 
 The Gray Stone House of Worship for Southport Congre- 
 gational Church is dedicated. 1876 
 
Fairfield Memorial Library is founded, 1876 
 
 The Town Hall rebuilt, 1870 
 
 The Centennial Commemoration of the Burning of Fairfield 1879 
 The One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Fairfield 
 
 Consociations is observed in Fairfield, June 8th, 1886 
 
 Sasquanaug Association organized in Southport, 1887 
 
 The Fifth Sanctuary of the Prime Ancient Society is burned, 
 
 May 30, 1890 
 
 The dedication of the Sixth Sanctuary, May 2nd, 1892 
 
 The Pequot Library is opened to the Public, 1893 
 
 The Fairfield Memorial Library Building is dedicated, 1903 
 
 The Fairfield Historical Society is organized, 1903 
 
 x^r 
 
The Peouot Monument 
 
3fairfielb. 
 
 THIS old New England town lies on the north shore of Long 
 Island Sound, in the State of Connecticut, about Mty miles 
 distant from New York City. 
 
 The many waters of the sea fret the indented, low-lying shore. 
 There are various plains extending from the beach and the 
 marshes to the first range of hills. The ascending territory rises 
 in a sort of terrace-like way as hill after hill contributes its 
 strength and beauty to the scene, until such commanding eleva- 
 tion is attained that miles upon miles of field and forest, lowland 
 and upland, blue sea and rolling country, refresh and gladden 
 the eye of the observer. The rich, wide panorama is a beautiful 
 expanse of rolling scenery. 
 
 THE GREAT SWAMP FIGHT. 
 
 The dignified and substantial monument reared by the Sons of 
 the Colonial Wars in the southwestern part of the town commem- 
 orates one of the most important events in the history of the 
 Colonies: 
 
 The 
 
 Great Swamp Fight 
 
 Here Ended 
 
 The Pequot War 
 
 July 13, 1637. 
 
 This ending of the Pequot nation led to a beginning of the 
 Plantation first called Uncoa. Roger Ludlow, soldier, statesman, 
 adventurer, was one of the little army which pursued the fleeing 
 
i6 
 
 savages. Charmed with the landscape which unfolded before his 
 eyes, he sought permission from the General Court at a later 
 date to found a settlement here. This purpose resulted in a 
 small emigration to this place in the autumn of 1639, under the 
 leadership of Ludlow, who was at the time Deputy- Governor of 
 Connecticut. Weathersfield, Windsor and the Massachusetts 
 Bay Colony were represented in this company. Other planters 
 soon followed in goodly numbers. Religious services were im- 
 mediately organized, a Court established in 164c, the village soon 
 platted, a rude log Meeting-house reared on the site of the pres- 
 ent Congregational Church, the stocks and whipping-post set up 
 opposite the place of worship on the Green, and the young settle- 
 ment assumed an air of hope and prosperity. 
 
 Magistrates were appointed for Uncoa in the year 1643. 
 The following year the first minister, with a goodly company 
 from Concord, arrived in town. The name of the plantation was 
 changed to Fairfield in 1645. The first mill, erected by Henry 
 Jackson, miller, began business in 1648, the same year that is 
 marked by the first Probate Records. William Hill was the first 
 Recorder of papers. The first twelve pages of his Records are 
 lost. 
 
 THE TOWN. 
 
 The first settlers purchased the tract from the Indians. Ulti- 
 mately Fairfield extended from the Stratford line on the east to 
 the Norwalk line on the west, the territory running back into 
 the thickly wooded hills some twelve miles from the shore. A 
 patent confirming this purchase was granted to the proprietors 
 in possession by the General Court of Connecticut, May 25th, 
 1685 — a quitclaim deed having been previously executed by the 
 Indians. 
 
 The original town has been pared and carved for the advan- 
 tage and enrichment of various neighbors — Westport, Weston, 
 Redding, Easton, Bridgeport, and the like — until the territory is 
 diminished to a quite modest portion of landscape. 
 
 The four distinct settlements which are centres of population 
 
The Town Hall on the Green 
 
 The Oi.d Whipping Post made into a Bulletin Board 
 
17 
 
 lie so close together that the town has the appearance of one 
 great, spacious, hospitable village. The settlement in the neigh- 
 borhood of the Green is the most ancient part of the town. 
 Southport has long been the business portion of Fairfield, its 
 harbour, wharves, banks, stores and offices bearing witness to its 
 importance. Greenfield Hill still retains its beautiful rural char- 
 acter, while Stratfield has become practically a suburb of 
 Bridgeport. Between four and five thousand people constitute 
 the population of the town. 
 
 THE COUNTY. 
 
 The Count}' of Fairfield was established in 1666, the year of 
 the Great I^ondon fire. The village of Fairfield became the 
 county seat. 
 
 The necessary buildings were erected, aiid County Courts were 
 held on the second Tuesday in March and the first Tuesday in 
 November each year. The Probate Court was also established in 
 Fairfield. In 1718 the county erected a new Court House, 
 Prison and Jailer's House on the Green. The honor of being a 
 county capital was transferred to the neighboring and aggressive 
 city of Bridgeport in 1853 — a neighbor which has largely en- 
 croached upon Fairfield territory, taking into the city limits a 
 goodly portion of the towni, absorbing the business interests of 
 the earlier settlement, superseding Fairfield as a Port of Entr}', 
 drawing into the rank and file of its business men mau}^ of our 
 most prominent citizens. 
 
 THE VILLAGE GEEEN. 
 
 In platting the settlement the Green became the chief place of 
 interest. Here was located the Meeting House, the Court House, 
 the Jail, the School House, and the Ordinary or Inn. A cleared 
 space for the evolutions of the citizen soldiers was also prepared 
 on the Green. 
 
 The Green has verily been the center of life through all the 
 generations. Here the townsmen gathered in Meeting House or 
 Court House or Town Hall for discussing public matters, and for 
 
the exercise of the right to vote. Here the train band and the 
 militia were drilled — the regulation training days being festive 
 occasions, drawing the people together for gossip and bargain. 
 Ludlov/ summoned his soldier company to this familiar place 
 and prepared them for an attack upon the Dutch, for which he 
 was reprimanded by his critical associates in the Colonial 
 Government. 
 
 On the west side of the Green a generous piece of water diver- 
 sified the landscape, making a pond so deep that Mercy Disbrow 
 and Elizabeth Clawson, reputed witches, were thrust into it so as 
 to determine by sinking or swimming whether they were daugh- 
 ters of Belial or not. It is recorded ' ' that they buoyed up like 
 a cork" — evidence which satisfied some onlookers that they be- 
 longed to the Evil One. 
 
 The swamp which extended from the pond into the marshes 
 was a favorite resort of wolves and other wild beasts, and the 
 tradition runs that witch meetings often convened in the dark 
 and murky spot, their strange, wild cries sounding hideously 
 upon the midnight air, their baleful influences scattering wide- 
 spread over the community. 
 
 The Green is intimately associated with the history of the 
 Fairfield Bar, for here lawyers, judges, litigants, witnesses and 
 spectators gathered for more than two hundred years in the 
 Court House, and sought the settlement of legal difficulties. 
 Some of the most eloquent and learned addresses ever made in 
 Connecticut were delivered in the little, old wooden structure 
 near the middle of the Green. The noon hour saw judge and 
 jury, defendant and plaintiff, witnesses, with friends and foes, 
 mingling amicably together as they passed back and forth be- 
 tween Court House and tavern. 
 
 Indians were seen to skulk across the Green and hide behind 
 the trees, to the great alarm of the neighbors on many an occa- 
 sion. There were periods when this peril became so imminent 
 (the year 1675 for example) that the order went forth to stock- 
 ade the town. It was ordered that a Town Magazine be main- 
 tained in 1674. In 1 68 1 it was voted that a stone fort twenty or 
 
19 
 
 twenty-five rods square be built on the Green. It was voted in 
 1689 that a stockade be built around the Meeting House, the 
 School House, and the residence of Samuel Wakeman, the 
 minister. 
 
 It was on this piece of open field that Colonel Andrew Burr 
 drilled his men when preparing for strife with Indians and 
 Frenchmen. Here General Silliman gathered the militia in the 
 days when our people were fighting for their liberties. The ad- 
 dress to the inhabitants of Connecticut, prepared by Commodore 
 Sir George Collier and Major-General Tryon, which was freely 
 distributed in town, on their arrival off the shore, received the 
 following spirited answ-er: 
 
 "Fairfield, July 7th, 1779. 
 Sir: 
 
 Connecticut having nobly dared to oppose the usurpation of 
 an unjust and oppressive nation, (as flames have preceded the 
 answer to your flag,) we hope they vv^ill still continue, as far as 
 in their power, to protect persecuted and oppressed innocence. 
 
 Sam. Whiting, Colonel. 
 Sir George Collier and Governor Tryon. 
 Per Mr. Sayer, in flag." 
 
 When the British assaulted and burned the town, General Sil- 
 liman made his headquarters in the Bulkley house on the south 
 edge of the Green, while his troops bivouacked in the open 
 spaces lying beneath his eyes. Two or three nights later, when 
 the town was nothing but a heap of hot ashes, burning cinders, 
 tall blackened chimneys and scorched withered trees, the Conti- 
 nental troops, under Colonel Whiting, covered the Green with 
 their white tents and turned their hands to the alleviation of 
 misery. 
 
 It was in Deacon Bulkley' s house on the Green, one of the 
 five left standing, that public w^orship was conducted by Rev. 
 Andrew Eliot the Sunday following the conflagration. When 
 the local militia left the Green, many of the citizens encamped 
 here until some rude shelters were erected for their use on the 
 various desolated home lots. 
 
20 
 
 The new Court House was built on the site of the old School 
 House, near the center of the Green, and after September loth, 
 1780, the people who worshipped according to the forms of the 
 Established Religion of Connecticut used the building for their 
 service until the new Meeting House erected on the site of the 
 old one was enclosed and made fairly comfortable in March, 1786. 
 
 On training days the Green sometimes assumed the appear- 
 ance of an open market, where various articles were offered for 
 sale. 
 
 During the War of 1812 the Green became the scene of fresh 
 preparations for war, the militia meeting often for drill, the citi- 
 zens gathering in the open as a convenient rendezvous W'here 
 they might discuss the affairs of the nation. 
 
 When peace was declared a great celebration was here enacted. 
 The day chosen was February the 25th, 18 15. Early in the 
 morning a Federal salute was fired by the soldiers of Fort Union 
 on Grover's Hill. Colonel Gershom Burr had placed his artillery 
 on the Green, and an answer to the soldiery of Fort Union was 
 returned. 
 
 A procession started from Fort Union at ten in the morning, 
 and marched across Ash Creek and along the highwaj', passing 
 the Gould homestead, the destination being the Green. It was 
 snowing and the day was inclement, but thousands had gath- 
 ered to rejoice in the event. The gay, erect soldiers, the bands 
 of music, the emblematic craft set on runners, beautifully 
 trimmed with red, white and blue — the flags of England, Spain, 
 France, Italy, Portugal, and other nations — the ringing of bells, 
 the blazing of guns, the huzzas of the multitudes, the gaj^ety, 
 enthusiasm and abandon of the da}', made the scene one of the 
 most delightful associated with the Green. 
 
 There w^as a religious service in the Meeting Flouse, where 
 Mr. Hiimphrey, the minister, made an eloquent speech. Then 
 the procession marched up and down the streets so that all the 
 spectators might enjoy a good look at their splendor. Then 
 everybody hastened to the Green and gazed wonderingly upon 
 the steaming, sizzling ox which was barbecued for the entertain- 
 ment of the people. 
 
HousK OF Worship of the Prime Ancient Society 
 
21 
 
 The second story of the Court House became the scene of 
 wildest merriment, for here the feast was spread, and the proces- 
 sion of guests streamed in and out through the day. At sunset 
 there was another Federal salute, the town was illuminated, each 
 window pane with a tallow or sperm candle, the white, crisp 
 snow enhancing the brilliancy of the picture. A tall, slender 
 tree had been set in the midst of the parade ground, many cross 
 pieces being nailed to it, each end of each cross-piece adorned 
 with a tar barrel. This tar- besmeared, towering object was then 
 set on fire, and the illumination of the tovv^n reached its climax. 
 
 But the crowning event of the occasion was the ball in the 
 Knapp tavern on the northeast corner of the Green. The ball- 
 room was adorned with much bunting and innumerable candles, 
 the fire places heaped with drift wood shed light and heat upon 
 the gorgeous assembly, all the fine old garments of the neighbor- 
 hood appeared in the pageant, silks brought from China by ad- 
 venturous captains, velvets from the looms of France, laces, 
 plumes, gold chains and sparkling jewels — the treasured heir- 
 looms of a generation. The sober, wearied people tramping 
 over the Green disappeared at nine o'clock when the illumination 
 concluded, but the youth and the gentry tarried at the tavern 
 until the small hours of the night. 
 
 There have been many lively scenes upon the Green at various 
 periods of history, sometimes social in character, sometimes 
 political, and sometimes martial and occasionally religious. For 
 the past twelve years it has been the custom of the Eunice 
 Dennie Burr Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolu- 
 tion to invite the public to join with them in the observance of 
 Independence Day on the Green. The over-arching, venerable 
 trees make a natural temple. Beneath this grateful shade the 
 com.pany gathers to hear anew the Declaration of Independence 
 and a brief patriotic address, to join in singing national hymns 
 and to listen to the martial notes of the band. It has become an 
 annual re-consecration of the place and the people to the aims 
 and hopes of the original planters in Fairfield. 
 
 Very early in the history of the settlement a whipping-post 
 and the stocks were placed on the Green directly across the 
 
22 
 
 street from the Meeting House. The records note how one and 
 another offender was sentenced to be whipped twenty or thirty 
 or forty lashes, or to be confined in the stocks three hours, five 
 hours, or a day. Drunkenness, profanity, unseemly carriage, 
 inveagling a girl's affections, petty breaches of the peace, scold- 
 ing, profanation of the Sabbath, witch work in the community, 
 unlicensed use of tobacco, disturbance of meetings and many 
 like crimes were expiated here in full view of the citizens who 
 gathered on I^ecture day or on some special occasion. The boys 
 had a way of baiting the law-breakers, reminding them of their 
 sins and crimes, magnifying the punishment by those pestiferous 
 annoyances which are so aptly administered by the rising gener- 
 ation. 
 
 The rude jail on the edge of the Green was repaired in 1675 
 and a new one built in 1679. The jail with other buildings was 
 destroyed in 1768 — set on fire by one of the prisoners. The next 
 jail — reared on the site where St. Paul's Church now stands — 
 suffered the fate of the town in 1779 and went up in flames. 
 
 When the county seat moved to Bridgeport in 1853, St. Paul's 
 Church entered into possession of the property, re-constructed 
 the edifice and transformed it into the Gothic structure which 
 stands beautifully mantled with ivy to-day, contributing its rest- 
 ful and suggestive beauty to the historic Green. 
 
 The Norman Church on the opposite side of the street is the suc- 
 cessor of five other sacred edifices which have been reared at vari- 
 ous periods on the same hallowed ground. The log Meeting 
 House of 1640, re-built in 1668, gave way to a frame building in 
 1698. This was superseded by a dignified colonial structure 
 worthy of a prosperous settlement. This third building was torn 
 down to make way for an enlarged and comely Meeting House 
 with lofty spire and ornate entrance. The British burned it 
 although Tryon had promised to preserve both the parish Meet- 
 ing House and Trinity Church. The povert}'^ of a war scourged 
 country crippled the people when they reared the next edifice, 
 but it was finished after many years and finally gave place to the 
 more modern and elegant sanctuary dedicated in 1840. This 
 latter building was ' ' caught up " by fire on the night of May 
 
^^sSB^ 
 
 1- t/F^^^^f|MnHI^ 
 
 
 ^9 
 
 tt^^JB| 
 
 — '■ 'ffejjWNwWy^ r^^^^ %^' t- ''^^i^^^^H 
 
 
 
 St. Paul's Church 
 
23 
 
 29th and the morn of May 30tli, 1890. The sixth Sanctuary, 
 described by Principal Fairbairn of Mansfield College, Oxford, as 
 one of the most beautiful churches of America, was gratefully 
 dedicated as a precious memorial of the Forefathers in Fairfield 
 on May the 2nd, 1892. 
 
 THE FAIRFIELD ACADEMY. 
 
 The one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Acade- 
 my was celebrated by the Historical Societj^ and the Alumni of 
 the school on October 28th, 1904. Although the institution has 
 suspended work for several years its history is treasured by many 
 people and the roll of its constituency contains many prominent 
 names. 
 
 The first trustees were Judge Jonathan Sturges, Rev. Andrew 
 Eliot, Deacon David Judson, Nathan Beers, jr., and Samuel 
 Rowland, Esq. The gentlemen who served on the Board in 
 addition to the first named are David Allen, Dr. Heman Hum- 
 phrey, Joshua Green, David Hull, Judge Roger M. Sherman, 
 Ebenezer D. Dimon, General Gershom Burr, Walter Thorp, 
 Jesup Wakeman, W. B. Nash, M. D., Dr. Nathaniel Hewit, Ed- 
 ward Hooker, Andrew Eliot, jr.. Rev. Leonard Bacon, Rev. 
 John Hunter, W. B. Jones, Abram Gould Jennings, Charles 
 Bennett, Judge Thomas Osborne, O. W. Jones, Dr. Lyman At- 
 water, George A. Phelps, Hon. John Gould, Henry T. Curtiss, 
 Captain David M. Bunker, Moses G. Betts, John G. Morehouse, 
 Rev. E. E. Rankin, D. D., Rev. L. B. Stimson, John H. Glover, 
 Rev. Frederick W. Hyde, Oliver B. Jennings, Samuel Glover, 
 Samuel Morehouse, Rev. J. K. Lombard, President George S. 
 Burroughs, D. D., S. M. Garlick, M. D., and Benjamin Betts. 
 
 Among the principals were Samuel Hitchcock, the eminent 
 lawyer; President Humphrey of Amherst College, Governor 
 Henry Dutton, Rev. Dr. EHhu Baldwin, first President of 
 Marietta College; Dr. A. B. Pearce, first President of Western 
 Reserve College; Dr. Daniel March, the author; Henry Day, 
 one of the eminent lawyers of New York, and Morris W. Lyon 
 
24 
 
 who for man}' years conducted a famous and successful prepara- 
 tory school for boys in the metropolis. 
 
 The Acadeni)' attracted generous patronage during the early 
 years of its life. The multiplication of schools and the changes 
 in methods of public instruction acted adversely upon the old 
 academies of the land and the Fairfield institution suffered with 
 schools of a kindred character. 
 
 The Hargrove School, recently established in Fairfield, is a 
 high class preparatory school, aiming to do a special work for 
 students who desire individual guidance and instruction. An 
 opportunity is given to do two years' class-room tasks in one 
 year. The tutors take the pupils singly, devoting one, two, 
 three or four hours to them as may be deemed advisable. It is 
 not that the young man is crowded, but simply that there is no 
 waste. He receives the master's undivided attention during the 
 time set apart for his lesson. This enables a student to com- 
 press into brief period work that often lags through the years. 
 
 THE OLD BURYING GROUND. 
 
 Southeast of the Green lies the ancient God's Acre on the 
 road to the beach. This sacred place has been reverently safe- 
 guarded by substantial walls over which fond vines tenderly 
 climb. A beautiful stone lich-gate gives entrance to the quiet 
 field. Here the earlier burials occurred. Venerable stones — 
 the oldest date is 1687 — still mark some resting-places of the 
 dead, but many graves remain unmarked. The later monuments 
 show good state of preservation. The names of numerous 
 eminent citizens, soldiers and scholars appear upon the stones. 
 
 On May 30th, 1904, the Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter of the 
 Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated a bronze tablet 
 placed on the lich-gate in memory of the soldiers and patriots of 
 the American Revolution whose mortal remains repose here 
 beneath the greensward. 
 
 The Burying Ground has become the Mecca of many a pious 
 pilgrimage — a place suggestive of peace, honor, loyalty and 
 courage. 
 
LiCH Gate at the Ancient Burying Ground 
 
25 
 
 One of the earlier settlers and adventurers in Fairfield — An- 
 drew Ward, has been recently commemorated by a chaste, stal- 
 wart block of granite reared near the centre of the Ground. 
 His numerous living descendants thus honor a fearless, aggres- 
 sive, conspicuous pioneer and citizen almost two hundred and 
 fifty years after the close of his strenuous, enterprising career. 
 
 An interesting and remarkable inscription chiseled into the 
 modest Silliman monument reads as follows : 
 
 In memor)^ of 
 
 Gold Selleck Silliman Esq. 
 
 Who died in Brookl5-n, New York 
 
 June 3, 1868 
 
 in the 91st year of his age. 
 
 And of 
 
 Benjamin Silliman Iv.L.D. 
 
 More than fifty years Professor of 
 
 Natural Science in Yale College, 
 
 Who died in New Haven, Connecticut 
 
 Nove. 24, 1 86 1 
 
 in the 86th year of his age. 
 
 Their remains are interred in the places 
 
 of their decease. 
 
 Eminent in Honor, Generosity, Affection, 
 
 Patriotism, Intellectual Culture, and Christian 
 
 Principle. They were bound together through 
 
 life by the strongest fraternal ties. 
 
 They were sons of 
 
 General Gold S. Silliman 
 
 Who died A. D, 1790, and grandsons of 
 
 Honorable Ebenezer Silliman 
 
 deceased A. D. 1778; who was the son of 
 
 Robert Silliman 
 
 deceased A. D. 17 18, and grandson of 
 
 Daniel Silliman deceased A. D. 1600, 
 
 All of Fairfield. 
 
 Their children add this to the 
 
 record of their ancestors A. D. 1877 
 
26 
 
 Mrs. Kate E. Perry, in her book entitled " The Old Burying 
 Ground of Fairfield," performed a most onerous and noteworthy 
 task, contributing valuable material to the literature which deals 
 with life in the town. Patriotic ladies have reared the substan- 
 tial walls which frame the grounds, and given very generously 
 toward the adornment and preservation of the place. In the 
 northeast corner of the yard the observer finds the massive brown- 
 stone slabs, supported by heavy pillars, covering the graves of 
 Mr. and Mrs. James Dennie, Eunice Dennie became the wife of 
 Thaddeus Burr, the grandson of Chief Justice Burr. A member 
 of the Town Committee on War, Deputy of the General Court, 
 High Sheriff, one of the Governor's Council, a gentleman of 
 large fortune and generous nature, Thaddeus Burr was a con- 
 spicuous figure in the life of the colony and state. The friend of 
 New England's leading statesmen and financiers, he practiced a 
 princel)'' hospitality. 
 
 His accomplished wife, in whose honor the Fairfield Chapter 
 of the Daughters of the American Revolution is named, was a 
 lady of rare merits and attractions. Her courage and fidelity are 
 illustrated by numerous incidents. When the town was burned 
 she sought to save their mansion, which was filled with treasures 
 and associated with many delightful memories. She tells the 
 story. "When the rabble surged into the house they shouted 
 'You damned rebel, where is your husband ? ' at the same time 
 stripping me of my buckles, tearing down the curtains of my 
 bed, breaking the frame of my dressing-glass, pulling out the 
 drawers of my table and desk. , . In the midst of this confu- 
 sion Gen. Tryon came into the house. He behaved with polite- 
 ness ; he demanded the papers. I told him there was none but 
 of very old dates which related to the estates. The general said 
 those are what we want, for we intend to have the estates. . . 
 Very soon after he had taken leave of me there came in a set 
 more dreadful than the ruffians who had first attacked me. These 
 being informed or suspicious that I was possessed of a watch, 
 attempted to search me. I drew back to the yard, the only 
 shelter that I had, and there committed myself to God, . . 
 They were, however, permitted to pursue me, throw me on the 
 
Ward Monument 
 
27 
 
 ground and search me, pulling and tearing my clothes from me 
 in a most barbarous manner. . ." After a spirited and well- 
 sustained defence, Mrs. Burr was finally driven into her mead- 
 ows, where the grief-stricken woman saw the mansion fired by 
 ruthless hands and burned with its precious heirlooms to the 
 ground. 
 
 Another grave, which has special interest — lying near to those 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Burr, is that of Mrs. Hall, the grand-daughter 
 of Judge Peter Burr. The inscription reads as follows : 
 
 " Here lies buried the Body of 
 
 Mrs. Abigail Hall, 
 
 wife of Ivyman Hall, M. A., 
 
 Daughter of Thaddeus Burr, Esq., 
 
 Died July 8th, 1755, aged 24 years. 
 
 Modest, yet free, with innocence adorned; 
 
 To please and win by Art and Nature formed; 
 
 Benevolent and wise, in Virtue firm; 
 
 Constant in Friendship, in Religion warm; 
 
 A partner tender, unaffected, kind; 
 
 A lovely Form, with a more lovely mind — 
 
 The scene of Life, tho' short sh' improved so well, 
 
 No charms in human forms could more excel; 
 
 Christ's L/ife her copy, His pure I^aw her Guide: 
 
 Each part She acted, perfected, and dy'd." 
 
 Lyman Hall, the husband of this honored young woman, be- 
 came a citizen of Georgia, was one of the Signers of the Decla- 
 ration of Independence, and served as Governor of his adopted 
 state. 
 
 THE EAST CEMETERY. 
 
 A new cemetery was needed early in the nineteenth century. 
 The honored Town Clerk, Mr. Samuel Rowland, and a few of 
 his contemporaries, purchased the land where the cemetery was 
 established in the year 1827. An iron railing was placed around 
 one of the lots, and curious people came long distances to see 
 this interesting innovation. 
 
28 
 
 The uew stone wall, the gate, the substantial fence, the mac- 
 adam roads and the well-trimmed lawn are evidences of the 
 faithful services rendered the public by two of our esteemed 
 citizens. 
 
 OAKIvAWN CEMETERY. 
 
 This beautiful resting-place lies between Fairfield village and 
 Greenfield Hill. A venerable oak — one of the most ancient in 
 the country — stands facing the entrance. A rolling landscape, a 
 gurgling brook, wooded retreats and the quiet waters of the bor- 
 dering Mill River, suggest sweet repose. The Association was 
 organized December 29th, 1865. 
 
 THE BENSON TAVERN. 
 
 This old hostelry is now a private house. It was built imme- 
 diately after the close of the war of the American Revolution 
 and occupied by General Abel. Captain Benson converted jt 
 into a place of public entertainment and for many years it was a 
 favorite resort of travellers, statesmen, scholars, actors and the 
 people who passed back and forth between Boston and New 
 York on horseback or in stagecoach. Col. Aaron Burr, Daniel 
 Webster, General Jackson, the elder Booth, Macready and many 
 famous men were guests of the house. Captain Benson's daugh- 
 ter, the present occupant of the homestead, has in her possession 
 various relics and heirlooms of value. One of the old chairs is 
 known as Peter Parley's chair, his favorite when enjoying the 
 hospitality^ of " mine host". 
 
 THE POWDER HOUSE. 
 
 The little brick structure on the elevation above the railroad 
 northwest of the station served the public as a place of deposit 
 for their powder during the war of 1812. The building has 
 been put in order by the Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter of 
 the Daughters of the American Revolution and appropriately 
 marked. 
 
The Powder Housp: 
 
29 
 
 THE RAIIvROAD AND TROLLEY. 
 
 It made considerable change in the geography of the town 
 when in 1853 the New Haven Railroad cut in twain varions 
 properties and divided the shore levels from the neighboring 
 hills. 
 
 The change in certain town features was not less marked in 
 1894 when the trolley invaded the main street and con 
 tributed its unwelcome noise and careless disfigurement to this 
 charming, famous, elm-arched, historic avenue. 
 
 • BLACK ROCK HARBOR. 
 
 Two harbours have served the commercial interests of Fairfield 
 — Black Rock on the southeastern edge of the town and South- 
 port on the southwestern. Black Rock is now included within 
 the corporation of Bridgeport. During a period of more than 
 two hundred years, however, it was a part of Fairfield. Here 
 trade flourished and war blazed defiance. The little fort on 
 Grover's Hill afforded an uncertain sense of security on various 
 occasions. The quiet waters behind Fayerweather's Island in- 
 vited ships to safe anchorage. The collector of the Port of Fair- 
 field here exercised authority. Captains of commerce made 
 their homes in this neighborhood. Fishermen, warriors, mar- 
 iners, pleasure-seekers, builders of maritime industry have shared 
 the life of the Port. 
 
 During the American Revolution this harbour was the scene of 
 noteworthy activity. Colonel Parsons sailed from Black Rock 
 on the evening of August 14th, 1777, with a sloop and six sail- 
 boats, one hundred and fifty men and a brass six-pounder in 
 order to dislodge Colonel Hewlett who had fortified Bookhaven 
 on Long Island. 
 
 Black Rock was a convenient place for the men engaged in 
 whale boat warfare. Captain Caleb Brewster, one of the heroes 
 who won enviable fame by his victories over British craft along 
 these shores, made Black Rock his home. Many an expedition 
 against the enemy did he organize among his sailor friends. In 
 
30 
 
 lySi he brought into the harbour a British armed boat and all her 
 crew. It was on Dec. 7th, 1782, that his most desperate encour- 
 ter with the enemy occurred. This was known as the "boat 
 fight". On this particular morning several of the enemy's 
 boats came down the Sound and Captain Brewster with his brave 
 comrades intercepted them. It was a savage fight — a hand to 
 hand conflict — for in twenty minutes nearly all the men engaged 
 were either killed or wounded. Two boats were captured. Cap- 
 tain Brewster was among the injured. He was able, however, 
 to continue his work a few months later. On March 9th, 1783, 
 he captured the Fox, one of the enemy's vessels. The Fairfield 
 Historical Society has among its treasures an elegant silver lov- 
 ing cup presented to Captain Brewster by admiring friends as an 
 expression of their esteem. 
 
 THE BEACH. 
 
 Fairfield beach is one of the safest and most attractive along 
 the shores of the Sound. To the East lies Black Rock Harbour, 
 a favorite rendezvous for the fleet of whale boats during the 
 American Revolution — a pleasant haven for fleets of various yacht 
 clubs and diverse shipping to-day. 
 
 Grover's Hill projects itself boldly into the sea on the west of 
 the harbour. Here the Continental troops built their fort and 
 kept guard as best they could over this long line of exposed and 
 imperiled coast. Fort Union, which frowned on the height dur- 
 ing the war of 181 2, gave a feeling of hope and courage to the 
 citizens of the town. 
 
 This emerald hill is now a beautiful private park, containing 
 .several of the most elegant and expensive country residences in 
 Connecticut. The views from Schoonhoven Park are superb, 
 land and sea merging into a shifting panorama of beautiful and 
 fascinating pictures. 
 
 Ash Creek lies on the west of the hill, pushing back into the 
 country a mile or two. In the pioneer days there were tide mills 
 here, the first one being erected a considerable distance up the 
 inlet. It was through Ash Creek that the British soldiers ran 
 
Fairfield Beach 
 Grover's Hill in the distance 
 
31 
 
 their boat on the night when they captured General Silliman. 
 
 Leaving the swift flowing current of the out-going tide, the 
 observer wanders down the beach until he comes to the bathing 
 pavilions which have been erected by this generation of pleasure 
 seekers. Here there are ample opportunities and facilities for 
 the enjoyment of a swim in the sea. 
 
 Two settlements of cottages have been formed within the past 
 ten years along this shore, where several hundred visitors spend 
 delightful summers. 
 
 THE MARSHES. 
 
 One of the charming features of the landscape which frames 
 the village of Fairfield is the sinuous stretch of marshes on the 
 east and south, close under the sand rifts, that make a low barri- 
 cade for resisting encroachments of the sea. Pine Creek and 
 Ash Creek and other tortuous inlets cut their fitful way through 
 these low-lying meadows. The wealth of varied grasses, the 
 occasional masses of short shrubbery and myriads of beautiful 
 wild flowers mingle with the frequent glint of ebbing or flowing 
 tide. Birds nest in the quiet places or sing exquisite melodies 
 which float carelessly over the strange expanse. The winds play 
 with the graceful, swaying tufts and plumes. Wild fowl fly low 
 here, and make a trysting place. A wonderful, prolific life 
 flourishes in these marshes. 
 
 " How ample the marsh and the sea and the sky," 
 "A league and a league of marsh grass, waist-high, broad in the 
 
 blade," 
 " Green, and all of a height, and unflecked with a light or a 
 
 shade," 
 "Stretch leisurely off, in a pleasant plain," 
 "To the terminal blue of the main." 
 
 PENFIELD REEF. 
 
 This natural breakwater pushes into the Sound a distance of 
 two miles or more from the bend of the beach midway between 
 Grover's Hill and the Southport harbour. A considerable por- 
 
32 
 
 tion of the ancient meadow land has become submerged since the 
 days when little Benjamin Silliman ran away from his teacher, 
 and in company with other truants came near losing his life by 
 reason of the rising tide, which cut them off from the shore. 
 This narrow, rocky reef — a favorite resort of the clam — haunted 
 by Indians and pioneers, each in their day — has been the scene 
 of various wrecks, catastrophes, perils and deaths. The light- 
 house near the extreme end now warns ships when they approach 
 the treacherous ledges. In wild storms the Penfield Reef Ivight 
 is sometimes almost submerged by the force of the waves, and the 
 keeper has been a prisoner in the place through many anxious, 
 distressful nights. 
 
 SOUTHPORT HARBOR. 
 
 Southport Harbour, on the southwestern edge of the town, 
 Sasco Hill and Rose Hill watchful over its placid waters, has 
 been for generations the favored centre of large and important 
 local business interests. Its fleets have engaged in lively com- 
 merce with Boston, New York and the various ports of this coun- 
 try and other countries. Regular lines of communication be- 
 tween Southport and several shore cities flourished for years. 
 A lucrative commerce and many influential men of affairs gave 
 great prominence to this part of the town. Our local banks are 
 situated here. The large proportion of trade and business in the 
 town gravitated naturally to Southport after the burning of 
 Fairfield in 1779. Homes of wealth and culture have character- 
 ized the place during these years. It is the most thickly settled 
 portion of the town — much has been done to adorn and beautify 
 the streets — many handsome private residences impart an air of 
 dignity and repose. 
 
 The sloop which brought Colonel Aaron Burr from Boston to 
 New York on his return from Europe in 18 12 lingered two days 
 in Southport harbour. It was commanded by Captain Dimon, 
 and there were other Fairfield men on board — distant relatives 
 of the ex- Vice-President. 
 
 It was off the shore of Norwalk Light that the ill-fated Lex- 
 
SouTHPORT Harbor 
 
 A VIEW FROM THE IvAWN OF Mr. \V. H. PERRV 
 
33 
 
 ington was burned in Janiiar)^, 1840. The citizens of Sonthport 
 rallied and attempted to save the perishing sufferers, but swift 
 havoc of fire did not wait upon any merciful tender of help. 
 The sloop Merchant, owned by Sherwood & Meeker, went to the 
 rescue, but only three men were saved. 
 
 Numerous bands of Tories from Long Island committed vexa- 
 tious or cruel depredations along these shores during the war 
 of the American Revolution. Captain Amos Perry, one June 
 evening, sailed from Southport harbor in his sloop ' ' Racer, ' ' 
 with the purpose of punishing one of these bands which had besn 
 specially active in the neighborhood. The following morning the 
 " Racer" appeared among the enemy — apparently driven by force 
 ofthe night's storm into their borders. A Tory sloop, observing 
 the difficulties of the "Racer," saluted Captain Perry and pro 
 ceeded to board the Connecticut vessel. When the opportune 
 moment came, Captain Perr)^ stamped his foot, a goodly number 
 of men concealed in the cabin suddenly swarmed upon deck, 
 there was a brief hand-to-hand struggle, and the Tory sloop, with 
 its crew and munitions, became the reward of the Americans' 
 daring. 
 
 During the war of 18 12 a volunteer military company was 
 organized in Southport, and " Fort Defence" was built near the 
 place now known as the lower wharf. 
 
 Four ship yards have flourished here at different periods. 
 Mill River, the name given to the settlement on the harbour, 
 was exchanged for Southport, and a charter granted to the Bor- 
 ough in 1 85 1. 
 
 THE BURNING OF FAIRFIELD IN 1779. 
 
 Fairfield was a special object of hatred to the British, for it 
 was the home of Gen. Silliman and a goodly number of patriots, 
 soldiers and statesmen. It had furnished men, supplies and in- 
 spiration with unstinted generosity. It was a center of whale- 
 boat warfare for the coast. It had treated Tories with a degree 
 of severity. It was playing an important and conspicuous part 
 in the struggle for Independence. 
 
34 
 
 Tryon and the fleet arrived off shore the morning of July 7th. 
 A landing in two divisions was made in the afternoon — one divi- 
 sion coming over Sasco Hill, the other up Beach Lane. The 
 militia on the Green and the little garrison under Lieut. Jarvis 
 in the fort on Grover's Hill fired on the invaders. There was a 
 babel of noises — march of troops, shrill cries of frightened chil- 
 dren, wild shouts of men, the crack-crack of muskets, booming 
 of cannon from the fort, hoarse notes of defiance, and finally a 
 hand-to-hand fight for the possession of the Green. The British 
 numbers and discipline pushed the small American troop back 
 into the hill country, and night settled down upon the scene. 
 
 But the village had been condemned, and the torch was ap- 
 plied in various places. Dr. Dwight writes a graphic account of 
 the conflagration in the third volume of his travels. Rev. 
 Andrew Eliot, an eye-witness, describes the event in a letter to 
 his brother: "About an hour before sunset the conflagration 
 began at the house of Mr. Isaac Jennings. . . At sunrise 
 some considerable part of the town was standing, but in about 
 two hours the flames became general. The burning parties car- 
 ried on their business with horrible alacrity . . all the town 
 from the bridge by Col. Gold's to Mill River, a few houses ex- 
 cepted, was a heap of ruins." 
 
 " Oh, the horrors of that dreadful night," writes Mary Silli- 
 man in her journal. " The sky," says Dr. Dwight, "was speed- 
 ily hung with the deepest darkness wherever the clouds were 
 not tinged by the melancholy lustre of the flames. . . At in- 
 tervals the lightnings blazed with a livid and terrible splendor. 
 The thunder rolled above. Beneath, the roaring of the fires 
 filled up the intervals with a deep and hollow sound, which 
 seemed to be the protracted murmur of the thunder, reverber- 
 ated from one end of the heaven to another. Add to this con- 
 vulsion of the elements, and these dreadful effects of vindictive 
 and wanton devastation, the trembling of the earth, the sharp 
 sound of musketry occasionally discharged, the groans here and 
 there of the wounded and dying, and the shouts of triumph; 
 then place before your eyes crowds of miserable sufferers. 
 
Beach Lane, up which the British marched in 1779 
 
35 
 
 mingled with bodies of the militia. . . . and you will form 
 a just but imperfect picture of the burning of Fairfield." 
 
 "The distress of this poor people is inexpressible," .said Mr. 
 Eliot in giving his account of the calamity. "I feel myself in a 
 state of uncertainty as to the many necessities of life. ' ' 
 "Could Tryon hope to quench the patriot flame," 
 "Or make his deeds survive in glory's page?" 
 "Could Britons seek of savages the same," 
 "Or deem it conquest, thus the war to wage?" 
 More than two hundred and eighteen buildings were destroyed 
 by the flames. 
 
 WASHINGTON IN FAIRFIElvD. 
 
 Washington passed through Fairfield when he was a British 
 officer twenty-four years old. Irving has drawn a picture of him 
 at this period. He was en route for Boston. Nineteen 3'ears 
 later he was made Commander-in-Chief of the Continental forces 
 and came this way a second time en route for Boston. He arrived 
 at Fairfield June 28th, 1775, where dinner was served to his 
 company. Dr. Ripley of Greens Farms accompanied him through 
 the parish. Washington returned this way after the campaign 
 in the neighborhood of Boston, arriving at Fairfield April 12th, 
 1776. 
 
 President Wa.shington visited the town again when he made 
 his famous tour of the eastern states in 1789, reaching Fairfield 
 on Friday the i6th of October. His journal refers to the appear- 
 ance of desolation which testified to the recent scourge of war. 
 ' ' The destructive evidences of British cruelty are yet visible in 
 Norwalk and Fairfield," he wrote, "as there are the chimneys 
 of many burnt houses standing in them yet." 
 
 THE SUN TAVERN. 
 
 Washington was entertained at this interesting hostelry on 
 his last visit to the town. The Sun Tavern, kept by Mr. Pen- 
 field, stood on the south edge of the Green. Here the citizens 
 gathered to do honor to the President. He spent the night in 
 
36 
 
 this place and pursued his journej' to New Haven in the morn- 
 ing. 
 
 In 1818 the property passed to Dr. Nathaniel Hewit, pastor of 
 the Congregational Church, who later became the great temper- 
 ance apostle of his day. Dr. Hewit married Rebecca Hillhouse, 
 the daughter of Hon. James Hillhouse, United States Senator 
 from Connecticut. Augustus Hewit was born in this house. 
 This son of such distinguished ancestry entered the priesthood of 
 the Roman Catholic Church and became an eminent preacher 
 and scholar — one of the Paulist fathers and professor of Church 
 History in the Catholic University at Washington, D. C. He 
 was sometimes called the ' ' Newman of America ' ' . 
 
 Dr. Lyman Atw^ater occupied the transformed "Sun Tavern" 
 for some years. Later it passed through several hands and 
 finalh^ became the property of Mr. Robert S. Manuel. A pri- 
 vate school flourished during a brief period in the place. There 
 is an air of repose and old time dignity clinging to the property 
 to-day so that it is one of the attractive landmarks of our town. 
 
 THE NAMES OF DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS. 
 
 The leadership and services of many eminent individuals have 
 been identified with the history of the town, Ludlow the 
 "Father of Connecticut Jurisprudence and founder of the town" 
 seems to have transmitted much of his intellectual force to the 
 interesting succession of public men. The Burrs and the Goulds 
 have been conspicuous through the various generations. Major 
 Gold and his son Lieutenant-Governor Gold labored tirelessly 
 for the benefit of town and colony. Chief Justice Burr held a 
 variety of ofiices and conducted himself with such wisdom and 
 acceptability that his name stands high among New England's 
 worthies. Judge Ebenezer Silliman was another faithful servant 
 on the bench. Soldiership was adorned by numerous brave and 
 splendid sons of Fairfield, conspicuous among them being Col. 
 Andrew Burr of Louisberg fame, General Silliman, Col. Gould, 
 Col. Dimon, Captain Bartram, Commander Samuel Smedley, 
 
The Sun Tavern 
 
37 
 
 Captain Thorp, Captain Caleb Brewster and a large company of 
 kindred spirits. 
 
 The five men who served as ministers for life in the Prime 
 Ancient Societ}' were scholars of excellent parts and most active 
 in tov/n and colonial and state affairs. Aaron Burr the Presi- 
 dent of Princeton College was born in this town and spent his 
 earl}' years among its beautiful hills. Dr. Caner first rector of 
 Trinity Church, honored by Oxford University with the degree 
 of Doctor of Divinity, one of the most eminent ministers serving 
 the Church of England in the Colonies during his generation, 
 gave twenty years of his life to this region. 
 
 What sturdy, invincible and efficient champions of liberty 
 were Thaddeus Burr and Jonathan Sturges — the first holding- 
 office as High Sheriff and member of the Governor's War Coun- 
 cil, the second serving as member of the War Committee, secre- 
 tary of the Connecticut Sons of Libertj^ member of the Consti- 
 tutional Convention, member of Congress and Judge of the 
 Superior Court. The Rev. Samuel Sherwood wrought so 
 faithfully in behalf of the colonies that a guard of Continental 
 soldiers was for a time given him to protect his person. He 
 lived near the border line between the old parish of Redding, 
 the hotbed of Tor5asm. His son Samuel Burr Sherwood became 
 one of the leading jurists of Connecticut and represented this 
 district in Congress. Morris K. Jesup, merchant, banker, edu- 
 cator and philanthropist, grandson of Judge Sherwood, was born 
 in the western part of the old Fairfield parish (now Westport). 
 Dr. Bronson surgeon in the American Army during the War of 
 Independence, a friend of Washington, later a prosperous 
 banker and financier, made his home on Greenfield Hill, where 
 his descendants have continued to reside. On this famous hill 
 Dr. Timothy D wight established his popular school to which 
 pupils were drawn from many parts of the United States. While 
 preaching and teaching in this place he was called to the presi- 
 dency of Yale College. This hill was likewise the home of 
 Governor Tomliuson who lo3ally served town and state and na- 
 tion in various public offices, this service culminating in his 
 election to the United States Senate. 
 
38 
 
 Judge Hobart son of Rev. Noah Hobart was another Fairfield 
 man elected to the United States Senate. It was as a citizen of 
 New York where he had practiced law for many years that he 
 was chosen to this exalted position; but preferring the career of 
 a judge he declined his senatorial honors and served in the sphere 
 more congenial to his taste. The Hon. Lewis Burr Sturges repre- 
 sented this district in Congress for several terms. Judge Thomas 
 B. Osborne who frequently represented the town in our state 
 legislature, sat for two terms as a member of Congress, served as 
 county judge and afterwards became Professor of Law in Yale 
 College. Hon. O. S. Fej-ry spent pleasant years in Fairfield, 
 and when he attained distinction as a lawj-er, member of Con- 
 gress and United States Senator recalled his early days here with 
 peculiar delight. 
 
 Judge Roger M. Sherman was undoubtedly the most eminent 
 and conspicuous citizen of the town belonging to the later gen- 
 erations. A modest and reserved person, he preferred the quiet 
 of his study and the society of his cultivated neighbors rather 
 than the publicity of leadership and the burdens of ofl&cial posi- 
 tion. Senator Hoar has described him as one of the greatest 
 men of New England, the peer of Webster and Mason. Although 
 av'crse to public office, he gave himself to such labor as his con- 
 stituents put upon him — going repeatedly , to the Assembly and 
 State Senate, and serving later as Judge of the Supreme Court 
 of the state. He was earnestly supported by friends as a candi- 
 date for United States Senator, to which position he would 
 probably have been elected had he been willing to yield certain 
 points. A member at the Hartford Convention in 1814 and one 
 of the committee to draw up a report to be presented 
 to the respective State Legislatures he declared on oath 
 that " Its principal object was a more effectual co-operation in 
 the war as to the defence of the New England states. There is 
 not the slightest foundation for impunging the motives of these 
 men, or stamping the proceedings of the convention as treasona- 
 ble. The delegates never contemplated an act inconsistent with 
 their obligations to the United States." 
 
Sherman Parsonage 
 
39 
 
 Several of the clergymen settled in the town during the nine- 
 teenth centur}- attained national distinction as preachers, authors, 
 educators and men of affairs. 
 
 The Hon. Oliver H. Perry was for years one of the most 
 influential men of the state, serving as Representative, Senator, 
 Secretary of State, and Speaker of the House of Representatives 
 of Connecticut, in which order of public service he has been suc- 
 ceeded by his son Hon. John H. Perry, a member of the House 
 of Representatives, Speaker, Judge of the Court of Common 
 Pleas and First Vice President of the Constitutional Convention 
 of 1902. 
 
 The present member of Congress from this district, Hon. E. J. 
 Hill, comes of Fairfield ancestors, several of his forefathers 
 being among the early settlers of the town. This strong tie of 
 pioneer ancestry links to the town many great names, for the old 
 families sent their children into all states and territories multi- 
 plying the names of Hill, Burr, Cable, Banks, Gray, Jennings, 
 Barlow, Dickinson, Frost, Green, Jesup, Hoyt , Morehouse, 
 Hawkins, Newton, Pinkney, Nichols, Sherwood, Taintor, 
 Staples, Wilson, Bennett, Jones, Bulkley, Wheeler, Lockwood, 
 Turney, Johnson, Perry, Adams, Andrews, Baldwin, Coley, 
 Dimon, Goodwin, Drake, Ford, Hall, Allen, Hull, Knapp, Hide, 
 Beardsley, Osborn, Rowland, Seeley , Smith, Beers, Churchill, 
 Mayo, Clapham, Nettleton, Palmer, Sturges, Pell, White, Bar- 
 num. Meeker, Bradley, Hubbell, James, Norton, Wakeman, Sil- 
 limau, Ogden, Read, Robinson, Sanford, Rumsey, Taylor and 
 other familiar names. 
 
 The forceful personality of Judge Jonathan Sturges has re- 
 appeared in several eminent descendants who have attained 
 wide distinction as successful men of affairs, scholars, writers 
 and public servants. A grandson bearing the same name be- 
 came one of the leading merchants of the last century in New 
 York, a generous patron of art, a builder and manager of rail- 
 roads, (President of the Illinois Central R. R.) and a large 
 benefactor to churches, missionary societies, hospitals and other 
 important institutions. This tradition of splendid service has 
 
40 
 
 been passed down to members of the present generation who 
 continue to adorn the town and enrich both country and city 
 with innumerable benafactions. 
 
 Mr. Joseph E. ShejB&eld, for whom the Scientific School of 
 Yale University is named, was born in this town. A prosperous 
 merchant, one of the men concerned in the organization of the 
 New York and New Haven Railroad and the Rock Island and 
 Chicago road, he amassed a large fortune, giving to Yale College 
 and other institutions more than $1,000,000. 
 
 Thomas F. Rowland who built the celebrated Monitor — the 
 boat which changed the destiny of a nation — was a son of Fair- 
 field ancestors and spent many days as a youth in this place. 
 
 The name Marquand has been associated with the town 
 since the first Henry settled in the homestead on land now own- 
 ed by the Memorial Library. This was in 1768. The name to- 
 day is widely honored as one suggestive of splendid generosity 
 and devotion to education. Frederick Marquand was a native 
 of Fairfield and like so many other energetic sons of the town 
 became a New York business man. A portion of the wealth 
 which he gathered by a successful career was given into charge 
 of Mrs. Elbert B. Munroe of Southport, Mr. Henry C. Mar- 
 quand, Mrs, Alanson Trask of New York and Mr. D. C. McWil- 
 liams of Brooklyn. This property — managed with great wis- 
 dom and fidelity increased to such an extent that between three 
 and four millions of dollars have been distributed by them to 
 schools, libraries, seminaries, colleges. Young Men's Christian 
 Associations, Churches and other important institutions, Henry 
 C. Marquand the brother became a munificent patron of art, 
 .serving as President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art — a posi- 
 tion which he filled to such purpose that he put the whole 
 country under obligations. In this connection it is pleasant to 
 note that his successor in the place, Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan, had 
 intimate relations with Fairfield earlj'' in life and married a lady 
 whose summer home was in this place and whose ancestors were 
 for many generations identified with the history of town and col- 
 ony. And it is also worthy of note that the late President of 
 the Metropolitan Museum of Natural History and one of its 
 
Arching Elms 
 
41 
 
 g:reatest benefactors was born in the western part of old Fairfield 
 parish and that his successor as President — Professor Henrj- 
 Fairfield Osborn, is likewise a native of this town. 
 
 A large number of prosperous and enterprising men have been 
 contributed to the world by Fairfield. For generations it was a 
 town well known for its adventurous sea captains — their ships 
 sailing to all ports — their trade a large factor in the life of New 
 England. How familiar are the names repeated many times in 
 various generations — Captain Bartram, Captain Jennings, Cap- 
 tain Burr, Captain Wakeman, Captain Sherwood. Many of 
 these men retired with a competency or with wealth and spent 
 their last days in old homesteads which were filled with treasures 
 gathered from the four quarters of the earth. And the town 
 has been rich in men who shared the characteristic active im- 
 pulse of the typical tradesman and manufacturer— men like O. 
 W. Jones and Henry Rowland whose names are associated with 
 the flouring mills in New York, and John San ford, one of the 
 leading industrial masters of his day, whose sole living descend- 
 ant, J. Sanford Saltus, of New York, has testified his affection 
 for the town by various benefactions. 
 
 Mr. Henry Dexter, a generous friend and member of the New 
 York Historical Society, contributed the new hall in honor and 
 memory of his son, Orrando Perry, a descendant of an esteemed 
 Fairfield family. The organizer and builder of the American 
 News Company, Mr. Dexter has manifested special interest in 
 the perpetuation of local history, sharing the upbuilding of the 
 Fairfield Historical Society, and enricViing it with numerous and 
 valuable gifts. 
 
 A VILLAGE OF PLEASANT HOMES. 
 
 Previous to the American Revolution considerable business 
 was done in Fairfield but during the period following that event, 
 it was known as a place of homes, a quiet, lovely town rich in 
 men and women of character — an old fashioned, ideal, colonial 
 town abounding in good society and intellectual life. Business 
 was transacted in Bridgeport, New Flaven, Norwalk or New 
 
'12 
 
 York by the citizens of the place. Fairfield invited them to rest. 
 General Parker the Indian chief and soldier who served on the 
 staff of General Grant naturally sought Fairfield as a good place 
 for a home. When the President of the Wheeler and Wilson- 
 Sewing Machine Company returned east, he made his home in 
 Fairfield and it was one of the interesting incidents connected 
 with his home-making here for Mr. Samuel H. Wheeler to discover 
 that he had settled upon the very property which his ancestors 
 had owned and occupied more than two hundred years ago. 
 
 THE INTEIvLECTUAIv ATMOSPHERE. 
 
 The strong, rich life of the town has manifested itself not only 
 in the men who have commanded ships, built up great enter- 
 prises, shone as statesmen, attained eminence as teachers, phil- 
 anthropists, soldiers and preachers. A large and worth}^ com- 
 pany of writers have here served their day and generation. Lud- 
 low's Code — the published sermons of early ministers — the six 
 deliverances of Noah Hobart, the doughty controversialist, books 
 which are filled with the learning and passion of a powerful 
 Colonial leader — these are part of New England history. Joel 
 Barlow's ancestors gave the name to Barlow's plain, a portion of 
 l^'airfield ; and the ambitious, witty, buoyant Joel himself haunted 
 the streets of the town, wrote poetry here, studied law, and was 
 admitted to the Bar in Fairfield. His friend the poet, David 
 Humphreys, became a familiar figure in the town, and wrote the 
 elegy on the Burning of Fairfield. Timothy Dwight in his poem 
 entitled "Greenfield Hill," likewise sings his lament over the de- 
 struction of the village. Dr. Sereno Dwight, President of Ham- 
 ilton College, author of the Biography of Timothy Dwight, and 
 numerous other works, was born in Fairfield. Professor Benja- 
 min Silliman, whom Edward Everett called the Nestor of Ameri- 
 can Science, spent childhood and youth in the town of his fore- 
 fathers, gathering strength of bodj' and mind for his arduous in- 
 tellectual tasks. Dr. Atwater, Dr. Lord and Dr. March were all 
 writers of books, some of which attained a wide popularity in 
 
A Colonial House on the Green 
 
43 
 
 their day. The Rev. Dr. Samuel Osgood, who made his home 
 at "Waldstein," in this town was actively engaged for many 
 years in literary pursuits in addition to pastoral duties. His 
 daughter, Mabel Osgood Wright, the present owner of "Wald- 
 stein," has published seventeen volumns of nature studies and 
 fiction. 
 
 A goodly company of literary folk, numbering nearly two 
 score, is intimately associated with the old town. These writers 
 cover a wide field of activity in the one hundred and forty vol- 
 umns or mxore which they have published. Innumerable pam- 
 phlets, sermons, addresses, lectures, papers, reports and similar 
 articles must be added to this collection. These various authors 
 W' rote books on theology, horticulture, law, natural history, poli- 
 tics, logic. One writer describes his travels at home and abroad 
 — another writer, Professor Silliman, puts into ten volumes the 
 results of long and fruitful scientific research — a third, President ' 
 D wight, combines religion, travel, education, poetry, history, 
 showing a delightful versatility of mind. There is hardly a de- 
 partment of American literature that has not been enriched at 
 one time or another by some of these workmen. 
 
 HISTORIC SITES, 
 
 A committee appointed by the Historical Societ}^ has recentl}' 
 marked certain interesting historic sites. As the village was 
 burned by the British in 1779 the number of buildings which 
 escaped destruction can be counted on the fingers of two hands. 
 But vv^hen the Andrew Ward monument was dedicated twelve 
 markers indicated sites which had particular interest: 
 
 (i) Oldest House now^ standing in Fairfield — 1720, propert}- 
 of Mrs. Josephine Brown. (2) First Mill — by .side of the 
 inlet near the residence of Mr. Oliver Turney. (3) Homestead 
 lyOt of Roger Ludlow — corner place on Main Street and Benson 
 Avenue. (4) Homestead L,ot of William Ward, embracing the 
 residence property of Miss Annie B. Jennings and Mr. Samuel 
 H. Wheeler. (5) Andrew Ward's Main Street House, adjoin- 
 ing Sherman Parsonage. (6) Site of First Meeting Hou.se, 1644. 
 (7) Burr Homestead, Main Street, occupied by Jehu Burr 1649, 
 
44 
 
 and Thaddeus Burr, 1759. (8) Trinity Church — second edi- 
 fice, 1738. (7) Philip Pinckney's Lot — 1653. (^o) King's High- 
 way — 1755. (11) Homestead of Henry Marquand — 1768. (12) 
 First site of Trinity Church — 1725. 
 
 NOTEWORTHY HOUSES. 
 
 The six colonial houses now standing in the village — the Tur- 
 ney house a few rods east of the first mill site, the tvvo Hobart 
 houses on the Green, the two Judson houses on Beach Lane and 
 the Redfield house on Mill Plain — are the last reminders of early 
 simplicity in building. 
 
 THE BURR MANSION. 
 
 The stately Burr mansion, standing on the site of the former 
 hospitable home belonging to the High Sheriff, (Main Street, 
 west of the Academy), seems to take us back into pre-revolu- 
 tionary days, for Mr. Burr rebuilt immediately after the war and 
 his friend John Hancock assisted him. It was in the old house 
 that Mrs. Thomas Hancock and Dorothy Quincy tarried a good 
 part of the year when Boston was besieged and affairs in that 
 neighborhood were in an unsettled state. Here Mrs. Hancock 
 died only three days after Washington's third visit to Fairfield. 
 Her body lies in the ancient Burying Ground, a stone placed at 
 the head of her grave testifying to the curious fact that Thad- 
 deus Burr put it there at his own expense, although Mrs. Han- 
 cock was a woman of fortune and this fortune is said to have 
 been given to her husband's nephew, the Honorable John Han- 
 cock. It was in the old Burr house that Dorothy Quincy often 
 met Col. Aaron Burr, greatly to the annoyance of her fiance, 
 and the watchful aunt into whose charge she had been given. It 
 was also in the old mansion that the President of the Continental 
 Congress and Dorothy Quincy were united in wedlock — a gay 
 occasion for Fairfield when the terrors of war were forgotten for 
 an hour and the town gave itself up to festivity. 
 
 A letter written by Thaddeus Burr to a Philadelphia friend 
 
The Burr Mansion 
 
45 
 
 and preserved in the Emmet Collectiou, now owned by the New 
 York Public Library, refers to the presence of General Lafayette 
 in Fairfield. It is dated the last Sunday of August, 1778 : " The 
 latest accounts we have from Rhode Island are Friday evening 
 last by the Marquis De La Fayette, aid-de-camp, who arrived at 
 my house on Sunday evening on the way to General Washing- 
 ton, He informed me that the determination there was to hold 
 the ground we had got. That General Hancock had gone to Bos- 
 ton to make provision for marching the French troops from there 
 to Rhode Island. That the Marquis was to set out for Boston on 
 Friday to take command of the troops. That it was agreed that all 
 the French fleet which were in a condition to put to sea were 
 immediately to return to Rhode Island. ." 
 
 One of John Hancock's love letters to his fiancee tarrying at 
 Thaddeus Burr's shows that the President of the Continental 
 Congress did not give all his time to public duties : 
 
 "My Dr. Dolly, — I am almost prevail'd on to think that my let- 
 ters to my Aunt and you are not read, for I cannot obtain a reply. 
 I have ask'd a million questions and not an an.swer to one. I 
 beg'd you to let me know what things my Aunt wanted and you, 
 and many other matters I wanted to know, but not one word in 
 answer. I Really Take it extreme unkind. Pray my Dr. use 
 not so much Ceremony and Reservedness. Why can't you use 
 freedom in writing. Be not afraid of me. I want Long Letters. 
 Why did you not write me of the top of the Umbrella. I am 
 sorry it was spoiled, but I will send you another by Express 
 wch will go down in a few days. How did my Aunt like her 
 gown and do let me know if the Stockings suited her ; she had 
 better send a pattern shoe and stocking. I warrant I will suit 
 her. . . I Beg, my Dear Dolly, you will write me often and 
 Long Letters. I will forgive the past if you will mend in future. 
 Do ask my Aunt to make me up and send me a Watch String and do 
 you make up another and send me. I wear them out fast. I 
 want some little thing of your doing. Remember to all Friends 
 with you as if nam'd. I am call'd upon and must obey. I have 
 sent you by Doer Church in a paper Box Directed to you, the 
 
46 
 
 following things for your acceptance, and which I do insist you 
 wear. If you do not I shall think the Donor is the objection : — 
 2 pair white silk stockings which 
 
 4 pr. white thread I think will fit you 
 
 I pr. Black Satin shoes, the other 
 
 I pr. Black Calem Co Shall be sent when done. 
 I very pretty light Hat 
 
 1 neat Airy Summer Cloak. (I ask Doer. Church) 
 
 2 caps 
 
 I Fann 
 
 I wish these may please you. I shall be gratified if they do, 
 I will attend all your Commands. 
 
 Adieu my Dr. Girl, and believe me to be with great Esteem and 
 Affection. 
 
 Yours without Reserve, 
 
 John Hancock. 
 
 Remember me to Katy Brackett." 
 
 Dr. Church, by whose hand this letter was brought to Doro- 
 thy Q. , was shortly after expelled from the Massachusetts 
 Assembly, being accused of treason. Confined in prison for some 
 months he was finally permitted to sail for the West Indies. The 
 vessel and all on board were lost. 
 
 The Burr homestead now called " Garden Court," is the coun- 
 tr}^ seat of Mr. A. Holland Forbes. 
 
 THE SIIvLIMAN HOME. 
 
 The Silliman home on Holland Hill was the center of a gener- 
 ous and abundant life. General Silliman, a man of large affairs 
 and varied interests, entertained in true colonial style — his home, 
 the frequent stopping place for distinguished travelers and a 
 favorite rendezvous for the lively company of young gallants and 
 charming girls, thronging the town. Mrs. Silliman, in whose 
 honor the Bridgeport Chapter of the Daughters of the American 
 Revolution is named, was a woman of fine culture and beautiful 
 spirit. Her journal, giving an account of the burning of Fair- 
 field, the sudden migration of her family to Unity (Trumbull) 
 
A Garden View of Sherman Parsonage 
 
47 
 
 where Benjamin was born, is a precious and illuminating narra- 
 tive. Prof. Fisher quotes freely from it in his biography of Prof. 
 Silliman. The old house on the hill remains in good state of 
 ])reservation. 
 
 In a brief sketch Prof. Silliman describes the capture of his 
 father by the British on the night of May ist, 1779. " Between 
 twelve and one o'clock a. m. the house was violently assaulted 
 by large heavy stones banging against both doors, with oaths, 
 imprecations and threats. My father being awaked from a sound 
 sleep, seized two loaded guns standing at his bedside, rushed to 
 tlie front windows, and by the light of the moon seeing armed 
 men on the stoop or portico, he thrust the muzzle of a musket 
 through a pane of glass and pulled the trigger, but there was 
 only a flash in the pan and the gun did not go off. . . In- 
 stantly the windows were dashed in and the ruffians were upon 
 him. . . and he became their prisoner. William, his son, 
 although ill with ague and fever, was aroused from his bed and 
 became also their captive. These rude men, bearing guns vv'ith 
 fixed bayonets, followed my father into the bedroom, a terrific 
 sight to his wife, .she being in bed with her little son. . . The 
 invaders were soothed b}^ my father as if they were gentlemen 
 soldiers and were desired to withdraw from the presence of his 
 wife. They sulkily complied, and my father, by tossing mj^ 
 mother's dress over a basket containnig the sacramental silver of 
 the Church of which he was deacon, thus concealed from them 
 what would have been a rich prize." The tvv^o captives were 
 hurried down to the whale boat, which lay hidden on the shore 
 of Ash Creek, and carried across the Sound. The following year 
 he returned to his home through an exchange of prisoners. 
 
 SHERMAN PARvSONAGE. 
 
 Sherman Parsonage (the house with sixt\' closets) was built 
 by Judge Roger M. Sherman, a nephew of Roger Sherman, 
 signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Judge purchased 
 some eight acres of land in the square w^hich had been occupied 
 by Governor Roger lyudlow. Deputy Andrew Ward, Major Na- 
 
48 
 
 than Gold, Goodman Staples (whose wife was accused of witch- 
 craft) and other Fairfield worthies. He erected an ample, colo- 
 nial mansion — one of the most dignified and expensive in this 
 part of the State. Here many eminent scholars, statesmen and 
 public servants were entertained and a generous hospitality be- 
 came the characteristic of this beautiful home. The distinctive 
 feature of the mansion, however, was the multiplicity and 
 arrangement of the closets. Mrs. Sherman' s beneficence extended 
 to a wide circle of friends and dependents. The closets scattered 
 through the house contained not only the private effects of the 
 family, but large stores of goods — flannels, linen, cloths, jellies, 
 preserved fruits, garments and similar stuff — which were freely 
 distributed to people in need. When Judge and Mrs. Sherman 
 passed away they bequeathed the place to the Prime Ancient 
 Society for a parsonage. It has been occupied successively by 
 Dr. Atwater, Dr. Lord, Dr. McLean, Dr. Rankin, Dr. Burroughs, 
 Dr. Bushnell and the present minister. 
 
 The portraits of Judge and Mrs. Sherman, the fine workman- 
 ship of the artist Jocelyn, hang on the wall of the ea.st drawing- 
 room. The Judge's private library is preserved intact and rests 
 behind glass cases in the old study of the east wing. Many of 
 the books are presentation copies containing autographs of Judge 
 Sherman's distinguished friends. One case holds various inter- 
 esting papers, manuscripts, journals, account books, letters and 
 other valuable historical matter. 
 
 Sherman Parsonage is an attractive, old-fashioned mansion, 
 intimately associated with the best life of the town during the 
 past century. 
 
 THE GOULD HOMESTEAD. 
 
 Fairfield has long been distinguished for its pleasant, unpre- 
 tentious homes. The conservative character of old residents 
 expresses itself in houses that are commodious and comfortable 
 standing amid well-kept lawns, which reach down to large, beau- 
 tiful gardens. Velvet turf, graceful shrubbery, trim hedges, 
 
Pulpit Rock 
 
49 
 
 flower-bordered walks, magnificent shade trees — these adorn- 
 ments impart dignity and loveliness to the town. 
 
 The Gould homestead is one of the conspicuous places on the 
 eastern edge of the town. The dignified mansion sits on a slight 
 elevation and makes a pleasant impression upon the traveler 
 passing along the King's Highway. For many generations the 
 Goulds have had possession of property in this section of the 
 town. Abraham Gould, however, son of Col. Abraham Gould, 
 moved to Roxbury, N. Y., the latter part of the eighteenth cen- 
 tury. The family traditions concerning active life and natural 
 leadership have been vindicated in the successful business career 
 of Jay Gould, great grandson of Col. Gould, and other prominent 
 workers bearing the name. The house which invites attention 
 was built by Hon. John Gould, an eminent and respected sou of 
 the old stock — Captain, Member of Assembly, State Senator, 
 Railroad Commissioner and U. vS. Marshall for tlie State of Con- 
 necticut. 
 
 WALDSTKIN. 
 
 On a rise of ground north of the railroad station the observer 
 notes the shaded seclusion of Waldstein. Fifty years ago Dr. 
 Osgood purchased the rugged, cedar-covered tract, .which to-da)' 
 is a quiet, lovely, rural retreat, suggestive of a close friendship 
 with nature and the spirit of poesy. Winding walks, shady 
 nooks, rocks which bear the names of patriots, authors and 
 artists, summer houses, a lily pool, and an old-fashioned flower 
 garden with its sundials, enhance the charm of the place. As 
 people pass along the street they notice a deep cut inscription on 
 the bold rock which juts upon the sidewalk: "God and Our 
 Country, 1862." This date was put there to commemorate pa- 
 triotic and religious services held during the shock and heat of 
 the Civil War that fateful summer when the rustic house, which 
 tops the rock, was used as a pulpit, while the street below and the 
 field across the way became an audience room where the hun- 
 dreds gathered and gave rapt heed to the eloquent message 
 which fell from the lips of the preacher. The man who cut the 
 inscription enlisted and served his term in the war. 
 
50 
 
 THE ROWLAND HOMESTEAD. 
 
 The Rowland Homestead, which stands near the site of the 
 famous Marine Hotel and the second edifice of Trinity Church, 
 has an air of amplitude and hospitality most delightful. Its gen- 
 erous lawns and old fashioned gardens, its noble shade trees and 
 lovely vistas of the sea impart unforgetable charm. It was from 
 the spire of the adjoining church that little Samuel Rowland, 
 aged ten, saw the approach of the British marching up Beach 
 Lane on a July afternoon, 1779. "Make haste, you young rascal, 
 and get away," shouted one of the neighbors, who had climbed to 
 the lookout that he might observe the enemy. An old chest dis- 
 covered in the attic of the Rowland Homestead recently contained 
 various important ancient documents and some portion of the old 
 town records. The lad who braved the excitement of the hour 
 in 1779 and watched the progress of the foe pushing along toward 
 the Green, became one of Fairfield's efficient and honored ser- 
 vants in later years, holding various ofiices, among them that of 
 Town Clerk during a period extending over forty years. It was 
 the name of this lad's father, Mr. Andrew Rowland, one of the 
 Committee of Correspondence, which was appended to the sheet 
 announcing the battle of Lexington and forwarded to New York, 
 the other Fairfield names being Jonathan Sturges, Thaddeus 
 Burr and Job Bartram. 
 
 ROUND HILL. 
 
 Fairfield is diversified by numerous hills, the prospects from 
 whose summits extend many miles over sea and land. Round 
 Hill, which has been converted into a beautiful park by Mr. 
 Frederick Sturges. is an objective point for all lovers of fine 
 scenery. It was an old signal station during the ages of the In- 
 dians' sway. Fires often blazed their warning messages from its 
 vantage point. Keen eyes at night may see a dozen beacons off 
 in the Sound shining their cheer and help from the lighthouses 
 placed along our shores. 
 
51 
 
 MAILANDS. 
 
 Osborn Hill is crowned with the commodious country seat of 
 Mr. Oliver G. Jennings. This large stone mansion with its com- 
 manding tower, broad facades, lofty-pointed roofs and ample 
 porticoes is the noteworthy feature of the landscape as the traveler 
 passes up and down the country. The estate covers many acres 
 of field and forest, upland and lowland, wide spread lawn and 
 elaborate gardens — one of the loveliest and most attractive places 
 on the sea coast of New England. 
 
 There is a tradition that the hill was once the abode of a rabid 
 Tory whose bitter hatred and offensive conduct aroused the sus- 
 picion and alarm of the neighboring patriots. After the war he 
 was said to have disappeared raysteriousl}'. The hill was another 
 favorite resort of savage tribes and might tell strange tales of 
 Indian rites, customs and conflicts. 
 
 GREENFIELD HILL. 
 
 Greenfield Hill lies to the northwest, the white slender spire of 
 the Congregational Church making a landmark most useful to 
 men on the sea and adding its touch of beauty and repose to the 
 scene. It was from the spire of the meeting house on Greenfield 
 Hill that Major Tallmadge often watched the movements of 
 British ships and directed some of his secret service work done as 
 one of Washington's trusted agents. 
 
 VERNA FARM. 
 
 The conspicuous and substantial red brick mansion which 
 shines amid its environment of charming fields and noble trees is 
 the Bronson home. Verna Farm is an estate of broad acres and 
 commanding situation, long associated with an honored famih'. 
 Mrs. Bronson and her daughter, Mrs. Griscom, wife of the 
 American Ambassador to Italy, reside at the Embassy in Rome. 
 Mr. J. Kelly Robinson, a prominent financier and capitalist of 
 New York, made his country home at Verna Farm for several 
 years before his recent death. 
 
 The mansion stands on ground which was once the homestead 
 property of Dr. Timothy Dwight. 
 
52 
 
 HOIvI^AND HEIGHTS. 
 
 Holland Hill or Heights is intimately associated with the his- 
 tory of the Silliraan family. Here the Rev. Andrew Eliot fled 
 when driven from Fairfield after the burning of the town. When 
 Mrs. Silliman returned to her home on the withdrawing of the 
 enemy she writes that she found it ' ' full of distressed people 
 whose houses had been burned, and our friend, Captain Bartram, 
 lay there a wounded man." There were eleven slaves in the 
 Silliman family and the pastor of the parish was the owner of 
 two. Many of these colored people disappeared during the war. 
 They were kindly treated by their masters, but the fortunes of 
 war made great changes in the customs of the people. It is said 
 to the credit of these Connecticut slaves that many of them 
 fought in the War of the Revolution and stood loyally with 
 the patriots receiving afterward their due reward. 
 
 Mlhh HILIv. 
 
 Mill Hill is another point of vantage overlooking the sea. 
 Lovely homes adorn its broad acres. A daily panorama unrolls 
 before the fortunate dwellers here as they gaze upon the multi- 
 tude of ships which pass up and down the generous waterway. 
 
 SASCO HILL. 
 
 The harbour at Southport is guarded on the east by Sasco 
 Hill, a piece of headland projecting boldly into the sea. This 
 elevated, attractive portion of goodly acres includes another 
 region of homes where the skill and devotion of men vie with 
 nature in making the landscape beautiful. 
 
 GROVER'S HILL. 
 
 The hill which lies near to the extreme east of the old Fairfield 
 Parish has already been described as the location of a fort during 
 the war of the American Revolution and the war of 1812. 
 Schoonhoven Park, which now embraces the modest eminence 
 
The Southport Congregational Church 
 
53 
 
 once associated with war, secret service and traditions of adven- 
 ture, has become a quiet, lovely retreat graced by lovely homes, 
 around which cluster man}' pleasant associations. 
 
 WITCH HIIvIv. 
 
 There are legends of a Witch Hill, the elevation on which the 
 poor woman convicted of witchcraft in 1653 was hanged. It has 
 been a difficult matter to identify this place. The little hill 
 which slopes down to Ash Creek is sometimes pointed out as the 
 historic spot. ' ' I hav^e been fished withal in private more than 
 you are aware of," said the forlorn sufferer, as she was taken to 
 the gibbet, " but I must not return evil for evil." When death 
 came and the body was lowered affrighted women searched for 
 witch marks and according to oft repeated stories detected these 
 telltale witnesses. ' ' Never, never, was a poor creature tempted 
 as I am tempted. Pray, pray for me !" These words rang in 
 the public ear for many a sad day. 
 
 STURGES HOMESTEAD 
 
 The residence of Judge Jonathan Sturges occupied the site cf 
 his ancestor, the first John Sturges in town, situated opposite the 
 present St. Thomas Church. It was in this house (which was 
 burned in 1779) that Paul Revere spent the night when on his 
 way from Boston to New York with despatches for General 
 Washington. Jonathan Sturges, the grandson, purchased the 
 estate on Mill Plain, now owned by his son, Henry C. Sturges, 
 Esq., and erected a Gothic cottage, employing a famous land- 
 scape gardener to lay out the grounds. It became one of the 
 famous popular sights in Connecticut, numerous visitors travel- 
 ing to Fairfield in order to see the rare, fine work which had 
 been done by this pioneer artist in landscapes. 
 
 ^^J- 
 
CHURCHES. 
 
 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, First Congregational Church— 1639. 
 Rev. Frank S. Chii.d, D. D., Pastor. 
 
 The parish of the Prime Ancient Society originally embraced 
 the Entire town of Fairfield whose boundaries were Stratford on 
 the east, Redding on the north, Norwalk on the west and Long 
 Island Sound on the south. The Established Religion of Con- 
 necticut was Congregationalism until the adoption of the New 
 State Constitution in the year 181 8. During this period the 
 Church was supported by taxation like other State Churches. 
 An historical tablet, designed by Tiffany and containing the 
 names of the ministers and the dates of their pastorates, has been 
 recently placed in the vestibule of the Church, a gift of Miss 
 Jennings. 
 
 TRINITY CHURCH— 1724. 
 
 REV. Edmund Guii^bert, D.D., Rector. 
 
 The first Church edifice was erected in 1725 on Mill Plain. In 
 1738 a second edifice was reared near the center of the village 
 "on the highway near the old Fields Gate." This house of 
 worship was burned by the British in 1779. The third structure 
 was built on the Green at Mill Plain and dedicated on the 5th o^ 
 September, 1790. The fourth edifice to serve the members of 
 Trinity Parish was erected in Southport, situated a mile or more 
 from Mill Plain. The congregation continues to worship in this 
 dignified, commodious house of God. 
 
 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF GREENFIELD HILI^-i725- 
 REV. Edgar H. Olmstead, Pastor. 
 
 This is the third parish set off from the Prime Ancient Society. 
 The chaste, old-fashioned Meeting-house, the fourth edifice 
 placed in the midst of the little Green on the hill, stands as one 
 
Trinity Church 
 
55 
 
 of the historic aud conspicuous landmarks for all this region. It 
 was from this point of vantage and the spire of the second edifice 
 that Major Tallmadge, one of Washington's aids who had charge 
 "of a particular part of his private correspondence," observed 
 the movements of the enemy along the Sound. 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH OF STRATFIELD— 1761. 
 REV. William Swanson, Pastor. 
 
 The sanctuary crowns a little hill which divides the highwaj^ 
 leading from Bridgeport to Easton. Although situated on the 
 edge of our neighboring city, this is essentially a rural parish 
 with the traditions and customs of the olden days. 
 
 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SOUTH PORT— 1843. 
 Rev. William H. Holman, Pastor 
 
 This Church — one of the various offshoots of the Prime 
 Ancient Society — was organized in 1843. The members of the 
 congregation worship in the second edifice whiph they have 
 reared. The beautiful granite structure, dedicated February 
 2nd, 1876, makes a generous contribution to the noteworthy 
 attractiveness of the town. 
 
 ST. PAUL'S CHURCH— 1856. 
 Rev. Allen E. Beeman, Archdeacon of Fairfield County, Rector 
 
 This parish was organized some twenty years after Trinity 
 Church removed from Mill Plain to Southport. The shapely 
 edifice in which its members worship has been transformed by 
 the grace of luxuriant vines into a temple of beauty, adding 
 charm to a street and neighborhood called unique in loveliness 
 among New England villages. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SOUTHPORT— 1860. 
 Rev. E. F. Lounsbury, Pastor. 
 
 The present edifice is the second one built by this society. It 
 is a symmetrical brick structure pleasantly located on Pequot 
 avenue and was dedicated in 1898. 
 
56 
 
 ST. THOMAS CHURCH (Roman Catholic.) 
 
 Rev. Thomas J. Coleman, Rector. 
 
 The first edifice erected by this congregation was destroyed by 
 fire together with the adjoining rectory and school building in 
 the winter of 1892. The present edifice was erected during the 
 year 1893. It is a commodious structure built of red brick — an 
 adornment to the town. A large congregation is serv'ed by the 
 Church, the parish embracing territory extending from Bridge- 
 port to Westport and far back in the hill country. 
 
 FAIRFIELD EAST PARISH. 
 
 In 1690 thirty-three taxpayers of Fairfield and thirteen from 
 Stratford asked the General Court of Connecticut to be exempted 
 from paying minister's rates to these resjective parishes. Four 
 year later the Court gave these people permission to organize a 
 Church. The Meeting-house was erected on what is now called 
 Park Avenue, half the site being acquired from Fairfield and half 
 from Stratford. This first offshoot of the parent stock is known 
 as the First or North Church of Bridgeport. 
 
 WEST PARISH OF FAIRFIELD. 
 
 People of the West Parish of Fairfield received permission of 
 the General Assembly to embody themselves in a Church estate 
 in 171 1. This was the second withdrawal of members from the 
 parent Fairfield Parish in order to form a new Church. The 
 Green's Farms section of the town united with contiguous terri- 
 tory on the west and north to form the town of Westport. 
 
 Dr. Ripley was the honored pastor of this Church from 1766-7 
 to 1 82 1, a learned, distinguished and patriotic minister. Chan- 
 cellor Kent of New York, referring to this honored friend, tells 
 how "the British incendiaries on the morning of the 8th of July 
 swept over the village of Green's Farms and destroyed all the 
 houses for near a mile in succession ; among others the house 
 where I had slept on the Tuesday evening preceding, and the 
 house of the Rev. Dr. Ripley, and the Meeting-house in which 
 
St. Thomas's Church 
 
57 
 
 that excellent man used to preach." In some reminiscences Dr. 
 Ripley mentions the fact that he accompanied General Washing- 
 ton to Fairfield when he passed that way to assume command of 
 the American Army at Boston. The General and his companion 
 alighted at Bulkley's Inn on the Fairfield Green. While they 
 were standing in front of the tavern, waiting for their horses, 
 Washington conversed with Dr. Ripley on public affairs and 
 passing his finger through the buttonhole of the minister's coat 
 said that if the Americans could prolong the contest for one year 
 he believed they would ultimately succeed, because in that time 
 arms and ammunition could be obtained and they would be 
 invincible. 
 
 FAIRFIEIvD FRESH AIR HOME. 
 
 President 
 Franks. Child, D.D. 
 
 Vice-President 
 W. H. Donaldson, M.D. 
 
 Secretary and Treasurer 
 Amory E. Rowland, Esq. 
 
 This beneficent institution has co-operated for seventeen years 
 with the Tribune Fresh Air Fund in giving happy vacations to 
 the children of poverty in New York. Nearly two thousand lit- 
 tle girls have enjoyed its hospitality and inspiration. It is sup- 
 ported by the free gifts of many friends. A handsome and com- 
 modious house was built by popular subscription for the Associa- 
 tion during the winter and spring of 1906. 
 
 A pleasant beach house near the sea makes a rendezvous for 
 the children when they play in the sand or bathe in the salt 
 water. This beautiful charity has brought much brightness and 
 healthful cheer into hundreds of narrow, pinched, desolate homes. 
 
 The Home was transformed into a Convalescent Hospital in the 
 autumn of 1898 and filled with sick soldiers returned from the 
 Spanish- American War. 
 
58 
 
 THE CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL. 
 
 Finance Committee 
 Rev. Frank S. Child Miss Annie B. Jennings 
 
 Oliver G. Jennings Mrs. E. L. Wells 
 
 Amory E. Rowland Mrs. William B. Glover 
 
 Committee on Supplies 
 Rev. Allen E. Beeman Mrs. Henry S. Glover 
 
 Rev. T. J. Coleman Mrs. Henry T. Bulkley 
 
 Ward Committee 
 W. H. Donaldson, M.D. Mrs. James O. Wright 
 
 S. M. Garlick, M.D. Mrs. Henry C. Sturges 
 
 AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS— Fairfield Branch. 
 
 President 
 Hon. John H. Perry 
 
 Secretary 
 Mrs. G. B. Bunnell 
 
 TrEAvSURER 
 Miss Mary B. Kippen 
 
 During the Spanish-American War the Red Cross Society was 
 tireless in its efforts to aid the sick and wounded among our sol- 
 diers. Large contributions of money and supplies were forwarded 
 through the National Society to places of need. When the con- 
 valescent soldiers sent over from the camp at Montauk Point 
 were received into our Fresh Air Home the Fairfield Auxiliary 
 redoubled its energies and rendered all needed assistance. When 
 the National Society was re-organized recently a few members of 
 the former organization in Fairfield met and re-organized in har- 
 mony with the suggestions of the Washington authorities. The 
 local Auxiliary is now prepared to help in time of fire, plague, 
 flood, war or disaster of any kind. A great work of humane min- 
 istry is achieved through this organization, its fraternal activities 
 reaching unto the uttermost parts of the earth. 
 
Fairfield Fresh Air Home 
 
59 
 AUXIUARY, No. 29. 
 
 As a matter of historical interest the names of the officers and 
 
 committees serving Auxiliary, No. 29, and the Children's Branch 
 
 during the Spanish- American War, 1898, are recorded as follows: 
 
 Mrs. H. S. Glover, Chairman 
 
 Miss M. F. Sturges, Secretary 
 
 Miss Mary B. Kippen, Treasurer 
 
 Executive Committee 
 
 Mrs. A. E. Beeman Mrs. E. W. Harral 
 
 Mrs. Oliver G. Jennings Mrs. H. C. Sturges 
 
 Mrs. F. S. Child Miss A. R. Jennings 
 
 Miss S. B. Nichols Mrs. James O. Wright 
 
 Mrs. J. H. Hewit Miss Alice Bartram 
 
 Miss Emma F. Wakeman Mrs. S. F. Mills 
 
 Miss Annie B. Jennings Mrs. Charles Clucas 
 
 Mrs. Simon Bradley Mrs. M. C. Pierce 
 
 Miss A. O. Morehouse Mrs. A. P. Hinckley 
 
 Mrs. Howard Wakeman 
 
 Cutting Committee 
 Mrs. H. C. Sturges, Chairman 
 
 Ways and Means Committee 
 Miss Mary B. Kippen, Chairman 
 
 Purchasing Committee 
 Miss Emma F. Wakeman, Chairman 
 
 Entertainment Committee 
 
 Miss A. O. Morehouse, Chairman 
 
 Mrs. F. S. Mills, Secretary, pro tem. 
 
 Miss Emma F. Wakeman 
 
 Children's Auxiliary 
 Helen E- R. Glover, Pres. Theodora M. Child, Vice-Pres. 
 
 Annie A. Sturges, Treas. Eleanor Hewit, Sec. 
 
6o 
 
 THE DOROTHY RIPLEY CHAPTER 
 
 OP 
 
 The Daughters of the American Revoi^ution 
 Founded in 1893 
 
 Regent 
 Mrs. Edmund Guilbert 
 
 Vice-Regent 
 Mrs. George B. Bunnell 
 
 Recording Secretary 
 Mrs. E. E. Wells 
 
 Treasurer ;; 
 
 Miss Lottie E. Lacy 
 
 Corresponding Secretary 
 Miss Abbie Peffers 
 
 Historian 
 Mrs. Nehemiah Perry 
 
 Registrar 
 Miss Cornelia Pomeroy 
 
 This chapter has been liberal and industrious in patriotic ser- 
 vices. Frequent contributions to local and national movements 
 mark the years of its history. 
 
 Perhaps its most notable work is the elegant granite fountain 
 which was reared in 1903 on the small plat near the Southport 
 Post Office. The day of its dedication will be long remembered. 
 A great company of friends and citizens assembled. Eloquent 
 addresses were delivered. The Wheeler & Wilson band rendered 
 appropriate musical selections. Such gifts not only quicken local 
 pride and add to the dignity of a town. They also enrich life 
 and serve the helpful social purposes. 
 
Memorial Fountain, Southport 
 
6i 
 THE EUNICE DENNIE BURR CHAPTER 
 
 OP 
 
 The Daughters of the American Revolution 
 
 Founded 1894 
 
 Regent 
 
 Mrs. Frank S. Child 
 
 Vice-Regent 
 
 Miss Emma F. Wakeman 
 
 Recording Secretary 
 
 Miss Emma E. Brown 
 
 Corresponding Secretary 
 Miss Loretta B. Perry 
 
 Registrar 
 Mrs. Francis H. Brewer 
 
 This patriotic society named in honor of Eunice Deunie, the 
 accomplished wife of Hon. Thaddeus Burr, has been an efficient 
 contributor to the well-being of the town. The marking of his- 
 toric sites, the commemoration of historic events, the encourage- 
 ment of patriotism in our public schools, the care of God's Acre 
 where rest the forms of many Revolutionary soldiers — these are 
 some of the helpful services which the Society has rendered the 
 town. For twelve years the Chapter has conducted an Independ- 
 ence Day celebration on the Green at ten o'clock in the morning — 
 an occasion which has proved most delightful and inspiring. The 
 Society has a room in the second story of the Memorial Library 
 which is furnished and adorned with many interesting articles 
 and heirlooms. The addresses gathered into the volumn entitled 
 "An Old New England Town," were prepared and delivered by 
 request of the Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter and the book is dedi- 
 cated to the members of the Society. 
 
62 
 
 FAIRFIEI.D MEMORIAL LIBRARY 
 
 Founded 1876 
 
 President 
 
 Oliver G. Jennings 
 
 Vice-President 
 
 Frank S. Child, D.D. 
 
 Secretary 
 Rev. Allen E. Beeman 
 
 Treasurer 
 Amory E. Rowland 
 
 Librarian 
 
 Miss Emma F. Wakeman 
 
 Assistant Librarian 
 
 Miss Eleanor B. Morehouse 
 
 Library Committee 
 
 Chairman, Frank S. Child 
 
 Secretary, Allen E. Beeman 
 
 Henry C. Sturges Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright 
 
 Wm. A. Wheatley Miss Annie B. Jennings 
 
 Mrs. Wni. B. Glover 
 
 House and Grounds Committee 
 
 Chairman, Charles B. Jennings 
 
 Samuel H. Wheeler, Wm. H. Donaldson, M.D. 
 
 Finance Committee 
 Chairman, Oliver G. Jennings 
 Henry S. Glover, Amory E. Rowland. 
 
 This library was organized and incorporated in 1876 through 
 the inspiration and leadership of Mr. Morris W. Lyon, who gave 
 most generously to the institution and cherished it with unswerv- 
 ing fidelity during the later years of his beneficent life. Although 
 called by its founder a memorial of our national independence 
 
Fairfiei-d Me:morial Library 
 
63 
 
 and other important events, it is really a memorial of Mr. Lyon, 
 witnessing to his local patriotism and his spirit of noble helpful, 
 ness. Associated with him in loyal co-operation when the library 
 received its charter was Rev. Samuel Osgood, D.D., the first 
 President of the Board, Captain Isaac Jennings, Rev. James K. 
 Lombard, Mr. Oliver B. Jennings, Mr. Samuel Morehouse, Rev. 
 E. E. Rankin, D.D., and Mr. John Glover. 
 
 The edifice which now serves the association, built by popular 
 subscription, was dedicated on the afternoon of June eleventh, 
 1903. A large and notable company was present on the occasion 
 and addresses were made by Rev. Samuel Hart, D.D., President 
 of the Connecticut Historical Society, Prof. Henry Fairfield 
 Osborn, Ph.D., of Columbia University, Prof. William E- Phelps, 
 Ph.D., of Yale University, Hon. John H. Perry, President of the 
 Pequot Librar)^ Association, Southport, and ex- President Timo- 
 thy Dwight, D.D., EE.D., of Yale University. 
 
 The library is free — supported by the gifts of friends and pa- 
 trons. It is open six days of the week. The assembly room on 
 the second floor is given to the uses of the Fairfield Flistorical 
 Society for their collections, and is also used for lectures and 
 public meetings. 
 
 FAIRFIELD BEACH AND THE BATHING PAVILION. 
 Directors of the Association 
 President, Oliver G. Jennings 
 Secretary and Treasurer, H. Edwards Rowland 
 Edward W. Harral, Frederick Sturges, Samuel H. Wheeler. 
 This beach has been a favorite resort of pleasure tor genera- 
 tions. The Beach Association was organized 1886. A convenient 
 and commodious club house was erected and members of the 
 association enjoyed its privileges. In response to public wishes 
 the building has been enlarged and a second house added to the 
 plant. 
 
 The assembly room on the second floor of the large pavilion 
 affords facilities for dances, suppers, concerts and amateur dra- 
 matic performances. 
 
64 
 
 PEQUOT LIBRARY, SOUTHPORT 
 
 Founded 1894 
 
 President 
 
 < Hon. John H. Perry 
 
 Vice-President 
 
 George Bulkley 
 
 Secretary 
 
 C. O. Jelliff 
 
 Treasurer 
 
 R. P. Curtis 
 
 Librarian 
 
 Miss Josephine Heydrick 
 
 Assistant Librarian 
 Miss Frances D. Gleason 
 
 In 1894 this library, built and equipped by the munificent gen- 
 erosity of Mrs. Elbert B. Monroe, was opened to the public. 
 Named in commemoration of the Pequot fight, which waged in 
 sight of the spot on which the edifice stands, it has become a 
 treasure house of precious books which have to do with Ameri- 
 can history. A rare and unique collection has been gathered at 
 a great expenditure of money and service — one of the most valu- 
 able and illuminative along certain lines which the country 
 affords. The library contains more than 34,000 volumes. The 
 building standing in the midst of a generous and beautiful lawn — 
 the former homestead of the late Frederick Marquand and the 
 former home of his niece, Mrs. Monroe — is a splendid adorn- 
 ment to the town. The library is free to all citizens, admirably 
 conducted, and a great educative force. "Fortunate, even among 
 New England towns," observes Judge Perry, "is this of ours, 
 and, I am persuaded, also worthy. It only remains for us to 
 show appreciation and an increasing wide-spread intellectual 
 blessing is assured." 
 
Peouot Library, Southport 
 
65 
 
 SASQUANAUG ASSOCIATION, SOUTHPORT 
 
 Organized 1887 
 
 President 
 
 Mrs. John H. Perry 
 
 First Vice-President 
 
 Miss Frances Wakeman 
 
 Second Vice-President 
 
 Mrs. Roderick Curtis 
 
 Secretary 
 
 Mrs. Wilbur C. Jennings 
 
 Treasurer 
 Mrs. H. H. Perry 
 
 This association has for its object the improvement of South- 
 port. During the years of its service the society has been a most 
 loyal contributor to the health, safety and attractiveness of the 
 village. It has raised large sums of money which have been ex- 
 pended in laying pavements throughout the village and in light- 
 ing its streets, draining portions of the town, adorning various 
 sections and rendering the place more healthful and beautiful. 
 
 The association holds a considerable sum of money given by 
 living donors or left by will for its good purposes. It has also 
 built for its members and patrons a large bathing pavilion on the 
 South port beach. 
 
 THE VILIvAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY, FAIRFIELD 
 
 Organized 1901 
 
 President 
 
 Benjamin Betts 
 
 Vice-President 
 
 Miss Mary B. Kippen 
 
 Secretary 
 Rev. Allen E. Beeman 
 
 Treasurer 
 Miss S. E. Betts 
 This Society has been a helpful agent in fostering various good 
 
66 
 
 works. The chaste, substantial fountain near the Memorial 
 Library, is one of the valuable contributions made by the Society. 
 
 The sprinkling of the main street during summer, and the 
 placing of lights where they were especially needed, has also been 
 done under the direction of this association. 
 
 The work of village improvement was inaugurated many years 
 ago under the efficient leadership of several prominent citizens. 
 Through the generosity of Mr. Frederick Sturges a ver)^ import- 
 ant task in drainage was done and much accomplished for the 
 better sanitation of the village, Mr. Sturges also constructed 
 several miles of excellent macadam road which he continues to 
 keep in fine condition. The late Frederick Brouson was likewise 
 a benefactor — macadamizing the highway between Southport and 
 Greenfield Hill. Mr. Oliver G. Jennings is a third contributor 
 to this form of public progress — macadamizing the highway be- 
 tween Osborn Hill and the main street — a kind of service and 
 benefit which appeals to all classes of men and wir s universal 
 praise. The town owes a great debt to her public-spirited citi- 
 zens who have given freely their abundant means and their per- 
 sonal interest and devotion in behalf of numerous helpful works. 
 The macadam road between Ash Creek and Southport was built 
 largely by private subscription. The East Cemetery, recently 
 enclosed by a substantial stone wall and fence and made attracti\e 
 by macadam roads and patriotic watch-care, bears witness to this 
 prevailing loyal impulse. 
 
 THE COUNTRY CLUB, GREENFIELD HILL 
 
 Incorporated Feb. 226., 1902. 
 
 President 
 Nellis H. Sherwood 
 
 Secretary 
 Mrs. D. B. Adams 
 
 Treasurer 
 J. Nelson Hutchinson 
 
 This organization has enjoyed a remarkable prosperity, start- 
 ing in a modest way and expanding in its usefulness until it has 
 become one of the most popular and profitable institutions in the 
 
The Fairfield Fountain 
 
67 
 
 town. The development of a pleasant, healthful social life, the 
 encouragement of legitimate sport, the fostering of agricultural 
 and horticultural interests and the general uplift of rural life — 
 these are the chief ends in view. The founders and supporters 
 of the Club have achieved their aim. One of the delightful fea- 
 tures of each autumn is the Fair conducted by this organization 
 on their grounds — an event which has come - to be regarded as 
 important to a wide extent of territory — an event which draws 
 together the largest number of people accustomed to assemble in 
 any part of this region. 
 
 THE GRANGE, GREENFIEED HILL 
 
 Master 
 Simeon Pease 
 
 Lecturer 
 Frank H. Whiting 
 
 Secretary 
 D. Frank Brown 
 
 Treasurer 
 John P. Morehouse 
 
 THE CONSUMERS' LEAGUE 
 
 President 
 Mrs. William B. Glover 
 
 First Vice-President 
 Miss Annie B. Jennings 
 
 Second Vice-President 
 Mrs. Samuel H. Wheeler 
 
 Secretary 
 Miss Bessie L. Child 
 
 Treasurer 
 Mr. J. Biting Deyo 
 
 Auditor 
 Mr. William A. Wheatley 
 
 Associated with the Officers as Members of the 
 Executive Board 
 Rev. Allen E. Beeman Rev. Frank S. Child, D.D. 
 
 Mrs. James O. Wright Mrs. W. H. Hinckley 
 
68 
 
 AUDUBON SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT 
 For the Preservation of Birds 
 
 Founded at Fairfield, Jan. 28th, 1898 
 
 President 
 
 Mrs. James Osborne Wright (Mabel Osgood Wright), Fairfield 
 
 Vice-President 
 
 Mrs. Edward Livingston Wells, Southport 
 
 Rev. Allen E. Beeman, Fairfield Mrs. Morris F. Tyler, New Haven 
 
 Honorary Vice-Presidents 
 Mr. John H. Sage, Portland Mr. Chas. S. DeForest, New Haven 
 
 Mrs. Nathaniel Wheeler, Bridgeport Mrs. E. Livingston Wells, Southport 
 
 Rev. Edmund Guilbert, D.D., " 
 Mr. Charles M. Oilman, " 
 
 Hon. John H. Perry, " 
 
 Miss C. M. Milbank, Greenfield Hill 
 Mr. Jonas B. Kissam, " " 
 
 Mrs. Thomas K. Noble, Norwalk 
 Hon. E. J. Hill, 
 
 Mrs. Melbert B. Carey, Ridgefield 
 Hon. P. C. Lounsbury " 
 
 Mrs. E. L. Scofield, Stamford 
 Miss Maria W. Averill, Danbury 
 Mrs. J. L. Fauton, " 
 
 Hon. F. J. Kingsbury, Waterbury 
 Secretary 
 Mrs. William B. Glover, Fairfield 
 
 Assistant Secretary 
 Miss Fanny B. Hincklev, Fairfield 
 
 ScHooiv Secretary 
 Miss F. A. Hurd, South Norwalk 
 
 Treasurer 
 Miss Mary B. Kippen, Fairfield 
 
 Executive Committee 
 Mrs. Samuel H. Wheeler, Fairfield Mrs. E. L. Wells, Southport 
 
 Mrs. Morris P. Tyler, New HaYcn 
 Mr. WillardG.VanName, " 
 Mrs. C. K. Averill, Bridgeport 
 Miss Grace R. Moody, " 
 Mr. Howard H. Knapp, " 
 Mrs. Catherine M. Spaulding, B'port 
 Mrs. Walter M. Smith, Stamford 
 Miss Katharine A. Wilcox, Westport 
 Mrs. Chester H. Brush, Danbury 
 Miss F, A. Hurd, South Norwalk 
 
 Mrs W. D. Bishop, Jr., 
 Hon. Morris B. Beardsley, " 
 Mr. Chas. K. Averill, 
 Charles C. Godfrey, M.D., 
 Geo. L. Porter, M.D., 
 Mr. David F. Read, " 
 
 Mrs. Oliver G. Jennings, Fairfield 
 Mrs. Henry C. Sturges, " 
 
 Mr. Samuel H. Wheeler, ' ' 
 Mr. Henry S. Glover. " 
 
 Rev, Frank S. Child, D.D., " 
 Mrs. Nehemiah Perry, " 
 
 Miss Laura G. Jones, Hartford 
 
 Miss Mary B. Kippen, " 
 
 Mrs. James O. Wright, " 
 
 Mrs. W. B. Glover, 
 Mrs. H C. Sturges, 
 Miss Fanny B. Hinckley " 
 
 Rev. Allen E. Beeman, " 
 
 Miss Lottie A. Lacey, Southport 
 Mrs. Edmund Guilbert, " 
 Mrs. Howard N. Wakeman, S'port 
 Mrs. W. H. Holman, 
 
 Mr. William Smith, South Norwalk 
 
The Gould Homestead 
 
69 
 
 This is a vState organization, but Fairfield has been its home 
 and headquarters from the inception. Many of its officers and 
 active workers live in the town. The splendid work which the 
 Society has done m the matter of general nature study is well 
 known as well as for bird protection. By means of lectures, pic- 
 tures, pamphlets, traveling libraries, public meetings and untir- 
 ing officials it has proved to be a royal friend to birds and men. 
 
 THE GOULD HOMESTEAD— SUMMER HOME 
 FOR WOMEN 
 The daughters of the Hon. John Gould bequeathed their 
 Homestead and the major portion of their estate to Charles B. 
 Jennings, Rev. Frank S. Child, Hamilton S. Shelton and Samuel 
 M. Garlick in trust for the purpose of maintaining "a free Sum- 
 mer Home for white, unmarried Protestant females, between the 
 ages of eighteen and fifty years, who may be wholly dependent 
 upon their own labor for support and residing in the County of 
 Fairfield." 
 
 This Home — which commemorates the distinguished services 
 of a family connected with the history of town and colony since 
 the years of first immigration to Connecticut — continues in char- 
 acteristic way the generous ministrj^ of this eminent line of public 
 benefactors. 
 
 FAIRFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY 
 
 Members of the Executive Council 
 
 President 
 
 Frank Samuel Child, D.D. 
 
 Vice-President 
 Henry Cady Sturges, Esq. 
 
 Secretary 
 
 Rev. Allen Everett Beeman 
 
 Treasurer 
 
 Samuel Hickox Wheeler 
 
 William Hanford Burr John Hoyt Perry 
 
 Oliver Gould Jennings Winthrop Hoj't Perry 
 
 Milton Silliman Lacey Amory Edwards Rowland 
 
70 
 
 This Society was organized at a meeting held iu the historic 
 Sherman mansion on June 17th, 1902 — the one hundred and 
 twenty-seventh anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill. Its 
 object is to foster a spirit of local and national patriotism by pub- 
 He meetings, historical research, the marking of interesting sites, 
 the publication of papers and documents, and the collection and 
 preservation of old letters, journals, books, furniture, garments 
 and heirlooms handed down from an honorable ancestry. 
 
 One of its- first tasks was the copying of "Volume A" of the 
 Land Records belonging to the town. This book was rapidly 
 disintegrating. At an expense of $350 a copy of the ancient 
 book was made, an index was prepared and the completed work 
 presented to the town at the annual meeting Monday, October 
 2nd, 1905. 
 
 Another work of importance which has engaged the Society is 
 the platting of the town. The history of each homestead lot — 
 the names of successive owners — the character of the building 
 located upon the property and other interesting details — such is 
 the work of platting the town. 
 
 The initiative has been taken in erecting a monument to the 
 memory of Roger Ludlow the founder of Fairfield. 
 
 The Society has issued seven publications — its regular Annual 
 Reports, the Commemoration of the One Hundredth Anniversary 
 of the Fairfield Academ}^ and a Hand-Book of Local History. 
 
 A museum of antiquities has already been established in the 
 second story of the Memorial Library where the Society holds its 
 public meetings. Numerous valuable and suggestive gifts have 
 been received. Friends are cordially invited to co-operate in the 
 work. 
 
 The Society has a membership of more than two hundred citi- 
 zens and well wishers. The need of a separate, fire-proof build- 
 ing, devoted exclusively to its purposes, is to-day imperative. 
 An endowment for the support of such an institution has been 
 started by the generous bequests of three deceased friends. The 
 Society promises to become one of the most important educational 
 factors in the life of this rich, historic section of New England. 
 
Mill River Ford 
 
71 
 BIBUOGRAPHY. 
 
 Colonial Records of Connecticut. 
 
 Town Records of Fairfield. 
 
 Records of the Prime Ancient Society. 
 
 Schenck's — History of Fairfield. 
 
 Guilbert's — Annals of An Old Parish. 
 
 Address on the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of Pub- 
 lic Worship in Fairfield. 
 
 Hobart's — First and Second Address to the Members of the 
 Episcopal Separation in New England. 
 
 Todd's — Life of Joel Barlow. 
 
 Todd's — In Olde Connecticut. 
 
 Centennial Commemoration of the Burning of Fairfield 
 
 Historical Sermons of Hewit, Humphrey, Atwater, Rankin and 
 Child. 
 
 Fisher's — L,ife of Prof. Benjamin Silliman. 
 
 Davis' — Memoirs of Aaron Burr. 
 
 Dwight's — Travels in New England and New York. 
 
 Barber's — Historical Collection. 
 
 Trumbull's — History of Connecticut. 
 
 Hollister's — History of Connecticut. 
 
 Lossing's — Field Book of the American Revolution. 
 
 Todd's — Genealogy of the Burr Family. 
 
 Wakeman's — Genealogy of the Wakeman Family. 
 
 Child's— An Old New England Town. 
 A Colonial Witch. 
 A Puritan Wooing. 
 An Unknown Patriot. 
 Friend or Foe. 
 The House with Sixty Closets. 
 
 Wright's — The Friendship of Nature (Pictures of Fairfield 
 Scenery). 
 
 Wright's — Flowers and Ferns in their Haunts (Descriptive of 
 Fairfield Flora). 
 
 Beers' — John Jones. 
 
 Beers' — Judge Roger M, Sherman. 
 
72 
 
 Perry's — The Great Swamp Fight in Fairfield. 
 
 Perry's — Andrew Ward, An Historical Sketch 
 
 Child's — Ministers in the Prime Ancient Society. 
 
 Centennial of the Fairfield Academy. 
 
 Annual Reports of the Fairfield Historical Society. 
 
 Unveiling of the Andrew Ward Monument. 
 
 Laying of the Corner Stone of Fairfield Memorial Library. 
 
 Dedication of Memorial Library, 1903. 
 
 Report of the Fairfield Fresh Air Home. 
 
 Report of the Fairfield Fresh Air Hospital for Convalescent 
 Soldiers. 
 
 The Sixth Sanctuary. 
 
 Mrs. Kate E. Perry's — The Old Burying Ground of Fairfield. 
 
 Town's — Detail of the American Revolution. 
 
 Taylor's — Roger Ludlow, The Colonial Lawmaker. 
 
 History of the Pequot War — Contemporary Accounts of Mason, 
 Underbill, Vincent and Gardener — Reprinted from the Collec- 
 tions of the Massachusetts Historical Society. 
 
 Memoirs of Col. Benjamin Tallmadge, prepared by Himself. 
 
 Contributions to the Ecclesiastical History of Connecticut. 
 
 Beardsley's — History of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. 
 
 Hinman's — Connecticut in the American Revolution. 
 
 Bulkley's — Mill River, Southport, Reminiscences of the Past. 
 
 Higgings' — Dorothy Q. Hancock. 
 
 Beers' — Major Nathan Gold. 
 
 Mill's — Manuscript Notes on Fairfield. 
 
 Mill's — Notes for Meeting of Colonial Dames at "Mailands," 
 Oct. 1 2th, 1905. 
 
 Child's — Major Nathan Gold. 
 
 Memorial of Nathaniel Hewit, D.D. 
 
 Memorial of Heman Humphrey, D.D. 
 
 Atwater's — Address on Judge Roger M. Sherman, 
 
 Auxiliary, No. 29 — American National Red Cross Relief Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 Sturges' — Social and Intellectual Life in Old Fairfield. 
 
 Todd's — History of Redding. 
 
Saved from the Burning, 1779 
 
73 
 
 Kurd's — History of Fairfield County. 
 
 The Fairfield Gazette (1787). 
 
 Child's — "A Church of the Established Religion in Connecti- 
 cut" — "Being an Historical Sketch of the First Church of 
 Christ and the Prime Ancient Society of Fairfield," Commem- 
 orating the Two Hundred and Seventieth Anniversary of 
 Public Worship in Town. 
 
 The Southport Chronicle. 
 
 The Fairfield Record. 
 
 The Weekly Times. 
 
 Manuscripts — Genealogical, Descriptive and Historical — belong- 
 ing to the Fairfield Historical Society. 
 
 Osborne's — Captain Samuel Smedley. 
 
 
74 
 
 The Rev. Andrew Eliot, A. M., to his father, the 
 Rev. Andrew Eliot, D. D. 
 
 "Fairfield, May 21st, 1778 
 Rev. and Hon'd Sir : 
 
 Can 3^ou think it ? On Monday 
 
 Evening in Election Week — In Hartford, the Capital of the 
 State — in the Court House — the place where the Fathers of the 
 Senate meet — at the most public time, and in the most public 
 manner, was acted Tancred and Sigismunda, by the Junior 
 Sophister Class of Yale College, who had been forbidden to act 
 the same at Glastonbury (where they have lately studied) and 
 who embraced the opportunity of vacation and secured the Court 
 House for the purpose. To this succeeded a farce of their own 
 composing in which Gen 'Is Burgoyne and Prescot were intro- 
 duced. To keep up the characters of these Generals, especially 
 Prescot, they were obliged (I believe not to their sorrow), to 
 indulge in very indecent and profane language. 
 
 The audience consisted of the Gentry of Hartford and the 
 vicinity, and a number of strangers, among whom were Dr. 
 Rodgers and Mr. Tennent. These Rev'd Gentlemen were much 
 
 offended at the profane language introduced What 
 
 adds to the illegality of the affair is that the actors were not 
 only dressed agreeable to the characters they assumed as Men, 
 but female apparel and ornaments were put on some, contrary 
 to an express statute. Besides it cost the lads sixty p' unds ster- 
 ling to prepare for the exhibition." .... 
 
 %^*^^*fft3* 
 
BSrt::::i£S? ••i^Zir*"'.'' S^ ' 
 
 MiLiv Plain Green 
 
75 
 THE BURNING OF FAIRFIEI^D." 
 By Timothy Dwight. 
 
 On yon bright plain, with beauty gay," 
 Where waters wind and cattle play," 
 Where gardens, groves and orchards bloom," 
 Unconscious of her coming doom," 
 Once Fairfield smiled. The tidy dome," 
 Of pleasure and of peace, the home," 
 There rose ; and there the glittering spire," 
 Secure from sacrilegious fire." 
 And now no scenes had brighter smiled," 
 No skies, with purer splendor mild," 
 No greener wreath had crowned the spring," 
 ■ Nor sweeter breezes spread the wing," 
 Nor streams through gayer margins rolled," 
 ' Nor harvests waved with richer gold," 
 ' Nor flocks on brighter hillocks played," 
 ' Nor groves intwined a safer shade." 
 ' But o'er her plains, infernal war" 
 ' Has whirled the terrors of his car," 
 ' The vengeance poured of wasting flame," 
 ' And blackened man with endless .shame." 
 
 4^"'%^*e^™ 
 
THE F"AIRriEUD fRINXIIMO CO. 
 F-AIFtF-ieLO, CONN. 
 
 Lh JL 03 
 
FAIRFIELD 
 
 Ancient and Modern 
 
 A. Hand Book: of Uocal History 
 
 By 
 
 FRANK SAMUEL CHILD 
 
 IllUiStrated 
 
 Rairfielcl Historical Society 
 
 Connecticut 
 
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