LETTER VII.

Greenwich-Putnam's Hill-Stamford-Hon. Abraham Davenport--Rev. Dr. Wells-Hon. James Davenport-Shipan-Middlesex-Rev. Dr. Mather--Burning of Norwalk-Fairfield-Expedition of the British troops to Danbury-Gen. Wooster-Gen. Silliman--Rev. Mr. Hobart-Burning of Fairfield-Reflections -Burning of Greeus-farms.

Dear Sir,

THE State of Connecticut is bounded in this quarter by the middle of Byram river. Byram point on the Eastern side of this stream is the South-Western corner of the State, and of the township of Greenwich. Its latitude, is 40° 58′ North; and its longitude 74° 18′ West of Greenwich.

The township of Greenwich is formed of rough, stony hills, particularly on the road. More wild and desolate scenery can scarcely be imagined than that, which is presented to the traveller during the two first miles. But the grounds at a little distance, both above and below the road, are smoother. The soil is of the best quality and fitted for every production of the climate. There is not a more fertile tract of the same extent in the State.

Greenwich is divided into three parishes. West Greenwich on the West; Greenwich on the East; and Stanwich, a part of which is taken from Stamford, on the North. West Greenwich is vulgarly called Horseneck, from a peninsula on the Sound; anciently used as a pasture for horses, and it is the largest, richest, and most populous, part of the township.

Greenwich contains four Congregations: three Presbyterian, and one Episcopal. The last is in West Greenwich; and is a plurality, supplied at times by the Episcopal Minister of Stamford. The Presbyterian church is a neat building, standing on an elevation commanding a rich, and very extensive, prospect of the Connecticut shore, the Sound, and Long-Island. The whole of this township is filled with plantations. The settlement of it was begun, after it had been purchased of the Indians in 1640, under the Dutch government at New-York; then New AmsterVOL. III.

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dam. In 1665, it was incorporated by Governor Stuyvesant. It was, however, originally purchased for the Colony of New-Haven by Robert Feaks, and Daniel Patrick. But the purchasers violated their engagements to that Colony; and, together with the few inhabitants, placed themselves under the government of New-Amsterdam. The settlement went on heavily, until the people returned to the Jurisdiction of Connecticut, then including the Colony of New-Haven. The Indians were hostile to the Dutch, and were therefore not very favourably inclined towards the inhabitants. In 1646, a furious battle was fought here on Strickland's plain. The contest was continued for a long time with great obstinancy, and was very bloody. The Dutch finally kept the field; and the Indians suddenly withdrew. The graves, in which the slain were buried, were visible more than a century afterwards.

The inhabitants of West Greenwich are distributed into two distinct classes. A part of them are Connecticut people in their character the rest resemble not a little the people of the neighbouring County of West Chester. Generally they are in easy circumstances.

The houses are like those in the County of West Chester. They are built on every road, where the property, and the convenience of the owner dictated. On the great road they stand at moderate distances, so that the whole tract is populated.

About one fourth of a mile East of the Presbyterian church there is a steep declivity, now generally called Putnam's hill, from the following incident. Gen. Putnam was pursued to the brow of this precipice by some British light dragoons, in the Revolutionary war. The road at that time turned, a little before it came to the brow of the hill, to the North; and, after proceeding a considerable distance, bent again with a sharp angle towards the South; having been dug along the steep in such a manner, as to make the passage practicable, and tolerably safe. Gen. Putnam under the influence of the same spirit, with which he entered the wolf's den, being hard pressed by his pursuers, forced his horse directly down the precipice; winding his course, how

ever, in such a zig-zag direction, as enabled him to keep his feet. His pursuers, when they came to the top of the precipice, struck with astonishment, or rather with horrour, stopped; and, despairing of overtaking him by the circuitous course of the road, gave over the chase. Every traveller who has heard the story, has not improbably felt his blood chill at the bare thought of such an adventure. The road is, however, so much altered at the present time, as to prevent the eye from easily realizing the full extent of the hazard. It is now blown through the rocks above, at a great expense; and continued by a causey from the foot of the chasm to the valley below, in the very direction, where the General descended.

On the brow of this hill stands a small decayed Episcopal Church. This is the building, pompously exhibited in that mass of folly and falsehood, commonly called Peters' History of Connecticut, as of such magnificence, that it is ascended by a flight of no less than seventy steps. The truth is, that the members of the Congregation, who lived below the hill, being unwilling to take the tedious circuit of the road, when walking to the church, and being unable to ascend the hill in its original state, gathered a collection of stones from the road, and the neighbouring enclosures, and placed them at convenient distances, to aid themselves in climbing this steep. The number is commonly reported to be seventy; but, instead of being a magnificent flight of steps, conducting to a magnificent church, the appearance of the former is so insignificant, that a traveller, unless he has happened to observe, what indeed would very naturally escape his observation ; the regularity of their arrangement; would not distinguish them from the common stones of the street. The latter is one of the most indifferent buildings, which bears the name of a church, of any denomination in the State of Connecticut.

Greenwich, the first, or oldest, parish in this township, is separated from West-Greenwich by Mianus river; a sprightly millstream, entering the Sound about four miles from Byram. The surface of this parish, also, is generally rough, and the soil excellent; especially towards the Sound. The inhabitants have been

distinguished for their indifference to religion, and, their neglect of the education of their children. The settlement of this spot was begun more than one hundred and fifty years since; and about one hundred and ten years of this period they have been destitute of a minister. The evil may, however, be partly attributed to the smallness of the parish; and is one instance of the malignant efficacy of that subdivision, heretofore mentioned,* by which Congregations are rendered unable to support the public worship of God.

In 1756, Greenwich contained 2,021 inhabitants: no blacks: in 1774, 2,776; blacks 114, indians 8; in 1800, 3,047; and, in 1810, 3,533.

Stamford, the next township, was purchased of the Indians by Capt. Nathaniel Turner, agent for the Colony of New-Haven, of Ponus, Sagamore of Toquamshe, and of Wascussue, Sagamore of Shipan; who sold to Turner all the lands, belonging to them, with a reservation of some ground for planting. "Turner gave the natives for the New-Haven purchase, twelve coats, twelve hoes, twelve hatchets, twelve knives, two kettles, and four fathom of white wampum. Afterwards a part, or the whole, of this tract was purchased of New-Haven by some of the inhabitants of Wethersfield. The purchasers gave New-Haven for the township of Stamford £33; and obliged themselves to join with the people of that Colony in the form of government, then lately agreed on. Twenty men agreed to settle here by the last of November, 1641 and before the end of 1641 there were thirty or forty families established. The inhabitants were, however, frequently alarmed by threatenings of invasion both from the Indians, and the Dutch; and for a considerable time were at great expense in fortifying, and guarding, themselves; and once, in 1653 their troubles became so great, that they were on the point of a revolt; but were quicted by the prudent measures of the Colony.

This township contains two parishes: Stamford, and NorthStamford; a part of two others; viz. Stanwich, already mention*See Vol. I. page 300.

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ed, on the North-West, and Middlesex on the South-East. surface is generally undulating, and stony. Near the shore there are two plains; one of considerable extent, where the town is built, and a small one about two miles farther Eastward: both handsome grounds. The hills and vallies also are arched, and softer to the eye than those of Greenwich. The soil is excellent. The first parish contains three Congregations, a Presbyterian, an Episcopal, and a Baptist: each of which has a decent church.

The town is built in an irregular manner. The principal street is a portion of the road; winding, and destitute of beauty. It contains a few very good, a number somewhat larger of decent, and many ordinary, houses.

Both Religion and Education have always been here at a low ebb yet for many years there have been several good private schools; in which, however, children from New-York have been almost the only pupils.

In this town lived the Hon. Abraham Davenport, for a long period one of the Councillours of the State, and, before that, of the Colony of Connecticut. This gentleman was son of Rev. John Davenport, the second Minister of Stamford, a grandson of Rev. John Davenport, the father of the New-Haven Colony. Col. Davenport, was possessed of a vigorous understanding, and invincible firmness of mind of integrity, and justice, unquestioned even by his enemies; of veracity, exact in a degree neatly singular and of a weight of character, which for many years decided in this County almost every question, to which it wast lent. He was early a professor of the Christian Religion; and adorned its doctrines by an exemplary conformity to its precepts. He was often styled a rough diamond; and the appellation was, perhaps, never given with more propriety. His virtues were all of the masculine kind; less soft, graceful, and alluring, than his friends wished; but more extensively productive of real good to mankind than those of almost any man, who has been distinguished for gentleness of character. It would be happy for this or any other country, if the Magistracy should execute its laws with the