The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-03-30

a small vessel, carrying on trade with
 the West Indies, importing the pro- | ducts of those islands to stock his store He was an ardent patriot in the cause
 of the colonists and of great assistance
 to the commissary department of our
 forces in this State. Though never
 holding a commission, he was known as
 a minute man ready to be called on in
 time of need, and he was acting as aide
 to General Wooster, in 1777, when the l British landed in force near NorWalk
 and marched toward the interior to near
 Danbury, and it was while trying to cut
 off their retreat to the coast that Gene
 ral Wooster was killed.
 When the British invaded New Ha
 ven, in 1779, MT Mansfield's vessel,
 partly loaded for the West Indies, was
 captured and spirited away. His store and residence being pointed out by an
 unfriendly hand, was broken into and | footed by the British soldiers, and what
 they could not appropriate to their own
 use was cast out into Chapel street to
 celebrate their vaor in a glorious and
 victorious bonfire. In the conf1agration 1 general household goods mixed up with
 sugar, pins and molasses, soap, candles, brooms, tobacco, goodly books and gim- | let's It is said that the rum and other l liquors (always to be found in a well regulated department store at that peri | od) were not consigned to the general de- struction, but that theN were otherwise consumed, aiding greatly to increase the riotous confusion which ensued. Tradi ton does not say that the street car ser vice was interrupted, but it does state that it was wild night in New Haven, particularly in Chapel street, and might well be described in modern vulgar yer nacular by saying that the British sol diers painted the town red.
 A good squad of well drilled resolEte soldiers such as were developed by our late war could have captured the whole British force on that eventful night and have piled up a goodly share of them like lifeless cord wood; or if like occurrence were to happen at this date, there are enough old G. A. R. men left in the city to request the rioters to de- sist from such unseemly levity.
 MT. Mansfield in the early part of this melee escaped from his premises and started for the house of his brother, Glo- yer Mansfield, situated where the North Sheffield Scientific school now stands, and where his family had aFeady found refuge. He was followed by soldiers. and just as he was entering the door of his brothers house bullet passed over his head and was embedded in the par tition wall of the room. When this house was pulled down, few years since. that bullet was secured by the late John w. Mansfield, former presi- dent of the Connecticut Savings bank.
 William Mansfield married a daughter of Colonel William Lyon, who resided on the site of the present Lyon building, occupied by the firm of Howe & Stetson. Another daughter was Mrs. Maltby, who resided till comparatively few years since where the Charles Monson compa- ny store is located. Another daughter, was Mrs. Garfield, who occupied the site of the Garfield building. Another daugh- ter, and most estimable lady as I re- member her. was Mrs. Bennett grand mother of Thomas G. and William Lyon Bennett: and still another daughter was Mrs. Lindsay of Stratford the grand mother of Professor William Lyon Phelps The only son of Colonel Lyon was named William, and he was for a number of years cashier or teller of the New Haven bank. He built and lived with a maiden sister in substantial brick house on the northwest corner of Church and Wall streets. It was in the of this house that l. when a small boy, often saw and admired the | model ship Constitution, derelict | picked up in the English channel and | which has been carried through our streets in numerous processions, and is | now the property of the New Haven | Historical society. William and Lyon streets were named for this Mir Lyon, 1 as was also your present humble con tributor w. l.. F..