New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-23

hancee, Miss Dorothy Quincy. The fact, however,
that his aancee for the time being safe from
the British did not relieve Mr.. Hancock from all
fears regarding her, for reports came to him that
certain Aaron Burr, a cousin Of Thaddeus Burr,
who entertaining Miss Quincy, was visiting at
his cousins home and endeavoring to make him
self agreeable 10 Miss Quincy. Fortunately for
Mr.. Hancock's peace Of mind, Aaron Burr decided
that he would like to try for renown in the cam
pagn into Canada, and left Fairfield to join Ar
nod's expedition Hancock began his arrange
ments for his marriage TO Miss Quincy. which It
planned TO have take place in Fairfield IN Sep
TENDER.
One day in that month the attention Of the towns
people drawn to a cloud of dust down the
turnpike toward New-York From it emerged
massive coach, attended by liveried driver and
footman Beside it and behind were number OF
na,talc5da d2c, IN in frot ~ he boTna Of THAI
deus Burr, and from the carriage came the Presi-
had come to claim his bride, And she was ready
TO acknowledge his claim. if one might Judge from
the look Of eager gladness on her face as she flung
open the door and ran blithey down TO the gate
TO greet him The church record briefly says of
September 28 l775. Married at the residence of
fae Hon. John Hancock. President Of the CONT.
mental Congress. TO Miss Dorothy Quincy, daughter
The honeymoon which followed spent IN
head and it seemed best that p he should enjoy it
IN a quiet way Some Of the time the meals of the
vacy Of their chamber. On day, it is said Mr..
ana Mrs. hancock attempted TO zine IN state with
their host and hostess, but the dinner was hastily
abandoned on account Of an alarm by the enemy
Fairfield. like several Of the other shore towns OF
Connecticut. visited by the detested Tory gen.
eral. Tryon, and burned. 1t July Z. 1779,
that. with two men-of-war, forty-eight gal
leys, tenders and transports, he sailed up Long
Island Sound, and in turn burned New-Haven, Fair
field and Norwalk. On the evening Of July 8 he
had sailed from New-Haven. On the Sunday night
previous the fleet had been sighted going up the
Sound. and there had been sigh of relief when
It TO be passing eastward. But there was
a feeling that Tryon did not intend leave Fair
field unmolested. which caused sleepless nights for
all in the town. A shot rang out at o'clock
the morning of July :, carrying the startling news
to every home In the town that TryOns ships had
been seen. At o'clock, when a fog settled down,
shutting out the fleet, II moving toward New
York For two or three hours the town in
suspense-was Tryon going to land. the
town be spared? The fog lifted The fleet
close in shore. There doubt
A boy who had been watching the course OF events
from the spire of Trinity Church hastily came
down from his perch, jumped astride old white
mare gaIloped along the main street and. turning
the meeting house corner, concealed himself in the
woods. When he came home after the conhagra-
ton he found his house had been spared
by the tact and bravery OF his mother. daughter
OF Governor Fitch
One of The divisions into which Tryon d.
vided his forces. the under his personal COM
mand. came directly up Beach Lane from the shore
toward the Green 1t o'clock in the after
noon. On the Green group of men. such militia
and recruits could be assembled. awaited the
approach OF the British Here in the early evening
for a short time Tryon delayed in the execu-
ton Of his purpose
little boy, a brother OF Professor Benjamin
Silliman, thought the cannon shots some new
kind Of amusement and went about his house
mimicking Bang, bang!' he would say after
each shot.
Nearly all the women OF the town fled. A few re-
NAMED 10 protect their property. At nightfal the
sky began to redden from burning houses and 10
add 10 the discomfort those who had been obliged
10 leave their homes. heavy thunderstorm over
cast the sky.
The British soldiery brutal in their actions.
The Hessians first let loose. and they lived
up 10 their evil reputation. They entered houses
and attacked the persons Of Wings and Tories in
discriminatory. They robbed right and left men
and women.
by O'Clock on the morning OF July the British
nad completed their work OF devastation and with
SStaWh 70 their ships. They had left only a few
houses standing
Professor Benjamin Sfllman was born in troub-
LQ ( times. General Siiman, his father, was IN
SSiIaIse OF Inc coast guard Fairfield in 117S.
On May General Clinton. then in New York, sent
a ~haIeDoat and eight Fairfield to take
Ge iS ollrnan captive. 1t midnight when
SiIiimor pSnigdas at the door was heard General
ne ON was loud the door, and the question
couio not De heard. Big stones, as large could
pc HIte9. were hurled against II, but 1t did not
puoge. Inc fearless general sprang from his bed,
caught up his gun and ran TO the front side Of the