The ancient historical records of Norwalk, Conn ... - Hay genealogy

REMINISCENCES. 179
Danl. K. Nash), was killed there. He was a regular
soldier at home on a furlough. Our men had an old
iron four-pounder at the rocks, which the British took
and spiked. The Rev. Mr. Leaming was *^ as big a
tory as ever there could be on earth." He continued
praying for the King in public worship, till the inhabitants
forbade him. Very many of his congregation
were tories ;
but the people never molested such as did
not commit any hostile act. The violent tories were
seized and shut up in Pudding-lane ;
some carried to
jail. The tories were the informers and pilots of the
enemy ; and those who went off, often came back with
parties, plundering, driving off cattle, and carrying away
such men as they were able to lay their hands on.
Mrs. Mary Esther St. John, (widow of William),
aged 94, in November, 1846. When Fairfield
was burnt, her father was harvesting down in
the Neck. Expecting the British to come here immediately,
they left the harvest ; but when the British
crossed to Long Island, her father rallied hands and
went down to his harvesting. Saturday, near night,
the alarm guns fired. Her husband rode down to
the Neck, and returned ; his horse was wet with
sweat, as though he had been in the water. She was
about putting some bread in the oven. A woman who
lived with Mr. Belden (where Gov. Bissell now lives)
came running in and asked, " Are you going to stay .^"
"No, I am going out of the way." " Well," said the
woman, " I shall stay ; I will go to Gov. Tryon, and plead
When he was Governor he stayed with us
for the house.
one night, with his attendants and horses.
of that,
I will tell him
and we are friends to the government." Mrs.
St. J. said, " If you are going to stay, take my dough."