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Docent Guide IV Museum Education Docent Guide IV The Burning of Fairfield 4th Grade American Revolution Table of Contents The Burning of Fairfield Exhibit Text from Landscape of Change……. Page 2 Main Points: People Lived in Fear……. Page 3 The (Slow) Burning……. Page 4 Possible Reasons Why the British Attacked……. Page 4 Timeline……. Page 4 Character Portraits: Rev. Andrew Eliot……. Page 5 Caleb Brewster & The Culper Spy Ring….Page 7 Mary Fish Silliman……. Page 9 Thaddeus & Eunice Dennie Burr……. Page 11 Cargo Lists of Items Shipped from Fairfield District……. Page 14 Map of Colonial Fairfield in CT by William Lee……. Page 17 Showing significant places in the Burning of Fairfield The British in CT: The Battle of Ridgefield……. Page 18 Bibliography……. Page 20 FAIRFIELD MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER 370 BEACH ROAD, FAIRFIELD, CT 06824 www.fairfieldhistory.org | 203-259-1598 Docent Guide IV: Burning of Fairfield 1 Docent Guide IV The Burning of Fairfield From the exhibit text of Landscape of Change, the Fairfield Museum’s inaugural exhibition from 2007 On July 7, 1779, the people of Fairfield awoke to a warning from the fort at Black Rock. A British fleet had been spotted and was anchoring off the coast. With feelings of dread and uncertainty, residents prepared to defend the town. Livestock was driven to safety. In haste, people gathered their possessions, hiding their valuable silver in wells and stonewall crevices. Some loaded wagons with household goods and food, and took refuge inland. Others stayed to defend the town. A few remained in their homes, believing the British would not harm them. No one predicted the extent of destruction that was about to occur, and with it, the downfall of the town’s prosperity. The British invasion came in late afternoon when the troops disembarked at McKenzie’s Point, and marched up the beach. As they came within range of cannons at Black Rock Fort, Isaac Jarvis, the fort’s commander, ordered his men to fire on the troops. Local militia near the town center opened fire with muskets. Undaunted by the attack, General Tryon and his troops proceeded to set up headquarters in a home on Beach Road. The Fairfield men did not give up. They successfully defended a makeshift fortification at Round Hill, and tore up a strategic bridge crossing Ash Creek. Tryon was angered that his plan to march troops to Black Rock Fort had been foiled. In retaliation he began burning homes one by one. The terrifying scene became even more dramatic at night; a lightning storm illuminated the sky, making the flames visible to distant observers. But the greatest damage was inflicted on the following day as the British left Fairfield. A rear guard of German mercenaries had been ordered to cover the withdrawal. In the face of furious inhabitants, they set fire to virtually all the buildings, including the churches and ministers’ homes, which Tryon had given protection. Three men were bayoneted and another was shot. Reverend Andrew Eliot, the Congregationalist minister, called the Jaegers “the vilest [soldiers] ever let loose among men.” Despite its substantially Loyalist congregation, even the Anglican Church was burned. Nine or ten people were killed; others were wounded or declared missing. Docent Guide IV: Burning of Fairfield 2 Fairfield never fully recovered from the destruction. Its stature as one of the most influential and prosperous towns in the region diminished in the slow process of rebuilding. In the decades following the war, the economic center of coastal Fairfield County shifted to Bridgeport and its superior harbor. People Lived in Fear Although the attack may have been a surprise, the people of Fairfield lived in constant fear of attack and other activities. - Quotes from Reverend Andrew Eliot “we live – we sleep in constant fear” - Privateers – akin to pirates, but sanctioned by Connecticut. • Operated whale boats between Connecticut and Long Island Sound – called The Devil’s Belt. • Patriots tried to attack, capture and sabotage British ships – and vice versa. • The British were mainly situated on Long Island and New York. • Privateers from Long Island would come to Connecticut and kidnap people for ransom to the British (as in the case with General Silliman) – and vice versa.. • Officers were highly valuable. The Culper Spy Ring The Culper Spy Ring was created by George Washington to obtain intelligence about the British. Caleb Brewster was a key member of the Spy Ring - he lived in Fairfield, but he was born in Setaucket, Long Island. He operated a whale boat across the Sound that was docked at Black Rock harbor (see Appendix). The (Slow) Burning Warning shots were fired from Black Rock Fort when the British were spotted anchoring their ships. See below for the entire timeline. • The people of Fairfield had time to load their things and escape the center of town . • In his journals, William Wheeler recalled gathering cattle and driving them to Toilsome Hill (now Bridgeport). • People hid valuables in stone walls and other hiding places. • Many people left behind were women, children and the elderly. The men were defending the fort, some had gone to help New Haven, others were in the militia in other areas. • Some women chose to stay behind, such as Eunice Dennie Burr. • Soldiers raided houses, ransacking the contents and even stealing the buckles off women’s shoes! • The recollections of Mary Fish Silliman are poignant reminders that the townspeople could hear, see and smell what was happening to their beloved town. The total number of buildings destroyed included: 97 Dwelling Houses / 17 Barns / 48 Stores / 2 Schoolhouses / 1 County House 2 Meeting Houses / 1 Episcopal Church Docent Guide IV: Burning of Fairfield 3 Reasons for the British Attack The British had several reasons for attacking the coast of Connecticut and Fairfield. Several prominent Generals disagreed about the common goal, yet several reasons emerge, including: • British Generals hoped to “draw out” George Washington from his encampment at West Point on the Hudson River in New York. • The raids would send a message to the rebel privateers who were spying and attacking British supply ships. • Fairfield and the surrounding area provided provisions and supplies to the militia, such as wheat, beef, pork and mutton. Horses were indispensable for cavalry soldiers as well as pulling supplies. Governor Trumbull ordered huge quantities of flax. It is believed that flax was traded for war materials. • General Tryon wanted Black Rock Fort, which defended Fairfield, destroyed. • See the Cargo lists in the Appendix. Fairfield exported abundant amounts of flax, food products, horses, chickens and more. The Burning of Fairfield Timeline July 2, 1779 – British General Tryon leaves New York with 2,600 troops. July 7, 1779 4:00 a.m. – Fairfield Coast Guard spots 4 British ships off the coast Isaac Jarvis fires a warning shot from Black Rock Fort then a fog sets in over Fairfield William Wheeler and his father move their cattle to Toilsome Hill 10:00 a.m. – The fog lifts and the British ships are seen off McKenzie’s Point 3:00 p.m. – Tryon and his men come ashore, near South Pine Creek Road and their troops march east 4:00 p.m. – Tryon and his men near the spot called The Pines British troops march east on Fairfield Beach Road and then march up Beach Road 5:30 p.m. – British reinforcements arrive, led by General Garth and begin to march over Sasco Hill The Fairfield militia wait at Round Hill Some of the militia march to the Fairfield Green and fire upon the British The militia also destroy a bridge at Ash Creek 6:30 p.m. – The first houses are burned near the Fairfield Green. One of them is the home of Isaac Jennings That night, there was a thunderstorm that cracked and flashed July 8, 1779 4:00 a.m. – The British start to bombard Black Rock Fort so that they could retreat 7:00 a.m. – The British stop attacking Black Rock Fort 8:00 a.m. – The remaining Crown Soldiers began marching back to their ships Throughout the day, German mercenaries destroy the buildings around the Fairfield Green by setting them on fire. 2:00 p.m. – The British troops depart in their ships Later that day, Greens Farms is attacked July 11, 1779 – The British attack Norwalk Docent Guide IV: Burning of Fairfield 4 Character Portraits Reverend Andrew Eliot Background: Born in 1743, died in 1805 son of a pastor of the North Church in Boston, Massachusetts Harvard College graduate o Graduated in 1762 o Was a tutor at Harvard in 1768 o then a fellow in 1773 Became pastor of Church of Prime Society in Fairfield, Connecticut o Took the place of Noah Hobart who had died in 1773. o Andrew was very enthusiastic during his sermons . Led to some apprehension about hiring him Similar to Gold Selleck and Thaddeus Burr o All important character in Fairfield during the Revolutionary War Supporter of the patriot cause during the Revolutionary War Some theories say that Eliot was a spy for the patriot cause Was someone that the community looked to for guidance, especially after the Raid. Thoughts on British invading “We are very much troubled on the Connecticut shore by marauding parties who pay us almost a weekly visit –we live – we sleep in constant fear.” Address to the First Church and Society in Fairfield - Excerpt from Eliot’s address to the first Church and Society in Fairfield at their parish meeting after the Burning of Fairfield. It is along five years since you invited me to take the Pastoral Charge over you. Since the time when I was solemnly separated to the work of the Gospel ministry with a particular reference to the flock of Christ in this place.
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