Fairfield Families Collection
Ms 37

 Box I-Folder A Adams Family Papers 1923-1962   41 items

Scope and Contents note

This collection consists of correspondence, deeds and mortgage papers concerning land and buildings at 1975 Mill Plain Road sold by Russell Lombard to Arthur and Frederick Adams who ran a wholesale florist business there. This property was sold to Joseph Neverdousky in 1960.

General note

These items are from accession number L87.June.2

 Box I-Folder A-I Allen Family Papers 1772-1915   6 items

 Box I-Folder B Alvord Family Papers 1774-1866   6 items

 Box VIII-Folder BB Angevine, Evelyn Papers--Merritt Parkway Advisory Committee Records 1974-1977, 1986 

Biographical/Historical note

These items from the estate of Evelyn Angeline were found among the records of the Sasquanaug Association and donated to the Historical Society by that organization since they did not directly document their own work. Angeline served on the Merritt Parkway Commission in the 1950's and continued her interest in the scenic roadway through preservation efforts in the 1970's and 1980's. The records Angevine saved are very scattered. This series comes from accession number L1998.20.

 Box IX Anti/Halasz Family Papers 1904-1956   3 folders

Biographical/Historical note

Julius Halasz immigrated to the United States from Hungary in 1906. He married Maria (Mary) Anti in 1912. Mary immigrated from Hungary in 1906 with her father Janos (John), mother Katalin (Katherine) Varga Anti and her brother Janos (John). The spelling of the Anti family name was later changed to Antey due to the negative connotation of Anti.

Julius and Mary built a house at 82-84 Dalewood Avenue in the Grasmere area.

Julius worked at Casco and kept a garden in a lot on Ardmore Street. He enjoyed making his own wine from the grapes he grew. He was killed by a car while crossing the street in 1952. He had just left the Ash Creek Saloon after having a night cap.

All the family members are buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery.

All biographical information is courtesy of the donor of the collection, Katherine E. Antey Philbrook whose grandparents were Janos (John) and Katherine.

Related Archival Materials note

The wax flower bridal headdress worn by Mary Anti Halasz at her wedding is in the museum collections.

General note

The items in this collection are from accession number L2006.12.

 Box VIII-Folder Y Arens, Egmont Papers 

Biographical/Historical note

Mr. Egmont Arens, who owned waterfront property in Southport at 273 Harbor Rd., proposed the construction of a swimming pool and sea wall, and later a floating dock into the Mill River. His correspondents included the U.S. Engineer Office and the Connecticut Flood Control and Water Policy Commission. Plans were drawn by Andrew Huntington and Thomas Currie.

 Box II-Folder M Baldwin, Abraham D. Papers 1863   1 item

 Box I-Folder C Barlow Family Papers 1748-1784   8 items

 Box I-Folder D Barnum, P. T. Papers 1851-1890   22 items

Biographical/Historical note

P. T. Barnum (1810-1891) was born in Bethel, CT. Although he is most famous for his circuses and museums, he was also a member of the Connecticut legislature, a bank president, Mayor of Bridgeport, a real estate dealer, newspaper editor and general entrepreneur. He settled in Bridgeport, CT in 1848 in an area which was at that time part of Fairfield.

 Box VII-Folder L Beardsley, Clifford W. Papers 1917-1957 

 Box I-Folder E Benson Family Papers 1814-1935   18 items

 Box V-Folders A-C Brett, George Platt Sr. Papers 1924-1936 

Biographical/Historical note

George Platt Brett (1858-1936) was born in London. He became president of the Macmillan Publishing Co. in New York and moved to Greenfield Hill in Fairfield where he maintained an outstanding pinetum on Congress St.

General note

The items in this series come from accession number L88.Jan.2.

 Box I-Folder F Budd, Burr Papers 1877   3 items

 Box VIII-Folder B Budington Family Papers 1777-1890 

 Box VIII-Folder W Burr, Harriet E. Papers 

 Box IX-Folder I Busat, Victoria Papers 

Biographical/Historical note

Victoria and August Busat lived on Tunxis Hill in Fairfield in the 1940's.

 Box I-Folder G Callender Family Papers 1839-1949   42 items

Biographical/Historical note

Thomas Loring Callender was married to Esther Sayre (1795-1855), daughter of James Sayre and Eunice Dennie. Her first husband was Moses Judah who died around 1830. Judah and Callender was a lock and hardware business in New York City.

 Box I-Folder H Chapman Family Papers 1775-1819   11 items

Biographical/Historical note

Daniel Chapman (1688/9-1741) married Grissel Dennie (1696/7-1754). Their son Dennie Chapman married Desire Lovel and they had sons Lovel Chapman, b. 1755, and Dennie Chapman, b. 1757.

 Box IX-Folder A Chauncey Family Papers 1714, 1847 

Biographical/Historical note

The Chauncey family was from Stratford, CT. Charles Chauncey was a minister and president of Harvard College.

Custodial History note

This series was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. R. Godfrey probably in the 1950's.

 Box I-Folder I Child, Frank Samuel Papers 1907-1922   9 items

Biographical/Historical note

Frank Samuel Child (1854-1922) was minister of the First Church of Christ, Fairfield, CT from 1888 to 1920 and one of the founders of the Fairfield Historical Society in 1902.

 Box II-Folder N1 and N2 Clark Family Papers 

Biographical/Historical note

Cameron Clark, Jr. attended Yale and upon graduation joined the Navy. He was assigned to the USS Prairie State and then to the sub chase training center in Miami, FL. In January 1945 he transferred to Newport, RI, assigned to the USS  Parmina and saw the end of the War in Tokyo Harbor. He was mustered out of the service in 1946.

General note

The items in this series come from accession numbers L88.Jan.2 and L90.Jul.1.

 Box I-Folder J Coley Family Papers 1790-1855   6 items

 Box IV-Folder L Corbusier, Alfred B. Papers 1853-1890   2 items

Biographical/Historical note

John Peniston Corbusier, a furniture maker, was born in 1792 in Bermuda and died in Southport, CT in 1877. His son, Alfred Bascomb Corbusier, was born in New York City in 1823 and lived in Bridgeport, CT. He was a furniture varnisher and later a dancing instructor.

 Box VI Daily, Thomas A. Papers 1980-1989 

Biographical/Historical note

Thomas A. Daily was born in 1956 and ran as the Republican nominee for State Representative from the 134th District. He lost the election.

General note

Items in this series are from accession number L90.Dec.15.

 Box I-Folder K Davis Family Papers 1771-1838   11 items

 Box I-Folder L Denny (Dennie) Family Papers 1709-1714   9 items

Biographical/Historical note

James Dennie (1702/3-1759) son of Albert married Eunice Sturgis. Their daughter Eunice (1732-1805) married Thaddeus Burr (1735-1801), a leading citizen of Fairfield.

 Box I-Folder M Disbrow Family Papers 1772-1838   9 items

 Box IX Donaldson, Chase Papers   2 folders

Biographical/Historical note

Chase Donaldson was born in California to Dr. Frank Donaldson and Ethel Sprague. He was the great-grandson of Lincoln’s Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase. He married Elinor Thompson on 14 June 1930. He was previously widowed with three children. Elinor was born in Delaware and attended Miss Porter’s School in Farmington.

After marrying the couple lived in the Oliver T. Sherwood house on Pequot Road (now number 683) from approximately 1933-1938. Chase also maintained a home in New York City where he worked as a broker.

Custodial History note

The items in this collection were found by the donor during a 2008 renovation of the Oliver T. Sherwood home. They are from accession number L2008.6.

 Box I-Folder N Downs (Down) Family Papers 1770-1861   21 items

 Box I-Folder O Dunning Family Papers 1861-1887   4 items

Biographical/Historical note

Elijah C. Dunning lived in Fairfield and then moved to Bridgeport around 1850.

 Box I-Folder P Eddy, George Papers   6 items

Biographical/Historical note

George Eddy (1837-1916) lived on Osborn Place, Southport, CT.

Custodial History note

The items in this series were a gift of Emma Sundquist on 19 October 1977.

 Box I-Folder Q Eliot, Rev. Andrew Papers 1779-1805   7 items

Biographical/Historical note

Rev. Andrew Eliot was born in Boston in 1744 and died in Fairfield in 1805. He was educated at Harvard and ordained the pastor of the First Church, Fairfield in 1774.

 Box I-Folder R Fairchild Family Papers 1787-1855   8 items

 Box I-Folder S Fitzgerald Family Papers 1869-1881   54 items

 Box I-Folder T Forgue Family Papers 1784-1791   11 items

Biographical/Historical note

Sarah Dennie's (1724-1796) first husband was James Sayre and second husband Francis Forgue (1730-1783).

 Box V-Folder F Frank, John M. Papers 

 Box VIII-Folder M Gallagher, William D. Diary 1880 

Biographical/Historical note

William D. Gallagher (1845-1884) was the son of Dennis and Mary J. Banks Gallagher. William lived and worked on his father's farm and documented his activities in his diary. In addition to farming and visiting, he also kept a record of births, deaths, birthdays and anniversaries of friends and acquaintances.

 Box VIII-Folder C Gilbert, Burr papers   2 items

 Box VIII-Folder N Gilden, Joseph Papers 

Biographical/Historical note

Joseph Gilden, born in Stamford, CT, was a practicing chiropodist in Fairfield. He was one of the founding members of the Fairfield Lion's Club. The fishing license he was issued in 1943 includes his photograph and finger print, a means of reducing possible spying in the early years of World War II.

Custodial History note

These items were donated by Joseph himself in May of 1996 (L96May40).

 Box IX-Folder H Glover, Addie M. Papers 

 Box I-Folder U Goodsell Family Papers 1771-1806   9 items

 Box I-Folder V Gorham Family Papers 1770-1818   16 items

 Box VIII-Folder I and J Gray Family Account Books 1802-1888   2 folders

Biographical/Historical note

Asahel was the son of Aaron Gray (1780-1856) of Greenfield Hill. Asahel's son was John S. Gray, a butcher of Greenfield.

 Box I-Folder W Gray Family Papers 1771-1870   19 items

 Box I-Folder X Green Family Papers 1810-1893   13 items

Biographical/Historical note

The Green Cottage was located in Green's Farms, CT. It was established around 1880 and given to the Working Girl's Vacation Society.

 Box VI-Folder D Griffin, Betty Papers   8 items

 Box VII-Folders J-L Hall Family Papers 1802-1904   35 items

General note

These items come from accession number 92.Oct.9

 Box VI-Folder F Havard, Aline Papers 

Biographical/Historical note

Aline Havard was a local author, crippled with arthritis since high school, who lived on the Old Post Road. She wrote many children's stories. She died in Towson, MD. Further information is available in the folder.

Related Archival Materials note

See the collection for Aline Havard's book The Two Runaways (813.54 H383T)

General note

This material from accession number L91.Mar.26

 Box I-Folder Y Hawkins Family Papers   3 items

 Box I-Folder Ya Henshaw Family Papers 1825-1855   7 items

 Box VI-Folder A Holbrook Family Papers 1837 

 Box I-Folder Z Howell Family Papers 1845-1869   9 items

 Box I-Folder Za Hubbard Family Papers 1738-1741   2 items

 Box II-Folder A Hubbell Family Papers 1681-1892   17 items

Biographical/Historical note

The Hubbell family lived in the Stratfield, Greenfield and Newfield sections of Fairfield.

 Box II-Folder B Jackson Family Papers 1760-1906   25 items

Custodial History note

These items were a gift of Mrs. Lila Seeley Osborne Hall.

 Box VIII-Folder G Jennings, George A. Papers   1 item

 Box II-Folder C Johnson Family Papers 1760-1822   3 items

Biographical/Historical note

James Johnson (1734-1810) was born in Stratford and was the minister in the parish of Weston.

 Box II-Folder D Judah, Moses Papers   1 item

Related Archival Materials note

Appraisal inventory of the late Moses Judah with probate papers. For further detail see Box I, Folder G, Callender Family Papers.

 Box II-Folder E Judson Family Papers 1769-1815   31 items

Biographical/Historical note

David Judson (1757-1841) was born in Stratford and graduated from Yale in 1778. He settled in Fairfield and married Esther Bulkley in 1783. He was a storekeeper, postmaster, trustee of The Academy and founder of the first public library.

 Box II-Folder F Kent (Hazard) Family Papers 1771-1781 

Biographical/Historical note

John Hazard (1719-1771) of Fairfield married Mary Wakeman in 1752. Mary was remarried to Moss Kent of Fredericksburg, NY. John Hazard owned several houses in Fairfield and Southport and was believed to be a Tory.

 Box VII-Folder N Kruzsylak, William George 1915-1927 

Biographical/Historical note

William George Kruzsylak farmed on Oldfield Rd.

 Box VIII-Folders D-F Lacey, Charlotte Alvord Papers 1904-1939   3 folders

 Box II-Folder G Lewis Family Papers 1755-1847   14 items

 Box II-Folder H Lockwood Family Papers   1 item

Lowrey Family Papers 1866-1897   2 folders, 14 items

Biographical/Historical note

Charles Lowery married Sarah Jones (1828-1911) of Fairfield.

Custodial History note

These items were given by Mrs. Charles Kouns (Marion P.) in memory of her mother Mrs. John B. Putnam. The accession number is 1983.27.

 Box II-Folder J Mallett Family Papers 1825-1886   9 items

Biographical/Historical note

This Mallett family was from Fairfield, Trumbull and Easton.

Estate papers of Lewis Mallett 1825 

 Box II-Folder K McGarry, Patrick Papers 

 Box II-Folder L Merchant Family Papers 1793   4 items

Biographical/Historical note

Joel Merchant and Levi Osborn are believed to have been partners in the clothier business.

 Box II-Folder O Middlebrook Family Papers 1781-1875   5 items

Biographical/Historical note

The Middlebrooks were origianlly from Fairfield. Elijah Middlebrook (1785-1859) of Trumbull was a physician and publisher of Middlebrook's New England Almanac for 54 years.

 Box III-Folder A Milbank Family Papers 1887   2 items

Related Archival Materials note

Architectural drawings of the Milbank house are stored in the map case.

 Box III-Folder B Mills Family Papers 1788-1796   3 items

 Box V-Folder E Morris, Annie M. Papers   1 items

 Box VIII-Folder X Naphey, John H. Papers 

Biographical/Historical note

John Naphey of Bridgeport served in the Connecticut National Guard, 4th Section, Machine Gun Battery.

 Box III-Folder C Nash Family Papers 1773-1827   3 items

Biographical/Historical note

Thomas Nash (1767-1814) lived in Westport.

 Box IX-Folders J and K Neale, Harold W. Papers 1915-1968   2 folders

Biographical/Historical note

Robson Place in Fairfield was developed by Henry Robson about 1915. Harold Neale was the donor's grandfather, who purchased lot #22, now numbered 55.

 Box III-Folder D and Box VI-Folder E Osgood, Dr. Samuel papers 1862-1941   2 folders

Biographical/Historical note

Dr. Samuel Osgood (1812-1880) was a Unitarian minister in several churches, living in Fairfield only in the summer. His daughter, Mabel Osgood Wright (1859-1934) was an author and naturalist. She lived in Fairfield and was a close friend of Annie B. Jennings.

 Box III-Folder E Parrack (Parrock) Family Papers 1726-1888   22 items

Biographical/Historical note

The spelling of the last names in this collection varied and later changed to Parrott.

General note

The bulk of the items in this series are accession number L81.Dec.1.

 Box III-Folder F Penfield Family Papers 1794-1828   9 items

Biographical/Historical note

Peter Penfield (1702-1772) was an early Fairfield settler. His two sons James (1732-1794) and Samuel (1734-1811) were successful business men.

 Box III-Folder G Pepper Family Papers 1903-1906   17 items

Biographical/Historical note

Ellis S. Pepper was appointed receiver of the Southport Natioanl Bank which had gone into bankruptcy. His letters were written from many locations including Southport, CT where he had a room at Mrs. Ellwood's house.

 Box III-Folder H Pike Family Papers 1852-1859   33 items

Biographical/Historical note

Samuel Pike (1827-1890), son of Julius Pike, ran a general store in Southport, CT.

 Box VI-Folder C Prentice, Winthrop Papers 

General note

Item is from accession number L89.Apr.21.

Biographical/Historical note

Winthrop Prentice's father was Rev. Dwight Nelson Prentice, a pastor at Greenfield Hill Congregational Church.

 Box VI-Folder B Raymond Family Papers 

 Box III-Folder I Redfield Family Papers 1801-1807   15 items

Biographical/Historical note

James Redfield (1763-1831) and Seth Redfield (1771-1813) were brothers.

 Box III-Folder J Riley Family Papers 1836-1880 

Biographical/Historical note

Patrick Riley (1813-1892) was born in Ireland. He married Delia Smith (1817-1901) and was listed as a carpenter in the 1850 census.

 Box V-Folder D Robenson (Robertson) Family Papers   1 item

General note

This item is from accession number L88.Apr.10.

 Box III-Folder K Rodgers, Richard and Dorothy Papers 1958-1980   4 items

Biographical/Historical note

Richard Rodgers and his wife Dorothy had a house in Fairfield for many years. He died in 1980 having written lyrics for Broadway shows since 1920.

 Box III-Folder L Rogers Family Papers 1786-1791   4 items

Biographical/Historical note

There are no published dates for the Rogers in this collection. Doctor Rogers is believed to have been a surgeon in the Revolutionary War.

 Box IX-Folder B Rowland, Joseph F. Papers   1 item

Biographical/Historical note

Joseph Rowland was married to Delia S. Riley (1845-1873) of Southport. Letter was found in collections.

 Box IV-Folder K Rumsey Family Papers 1771-1790   7 items

 Box III-Folder N Scofield Family Papers 1802-1803   2 items

 Box VII-Folder I Sheffield, Paschal Papers   4 items

 Box III-Folder O-X Shelton Family Papers 1811-1930   3 folders

Biographical/Historical note

William Shelton (1798-1883) was the son of Philo Shelton (1785-1825), minister of Fairfield. Sarah Bradley Shelton (1818-1863) was the daughter of Hull Bradley.

Custodial History note

Sarah Shelton's diary was the gift of Rodney Merwin. Items in Folder X were donated by Alice B. Colonna and are from accession number L90.Sep.7.

 Box III-Folder P Sherman, David Papers 1708-1742   8 items

Biographical/Historical note

David Sherman (1665-1753) was born in Stratford, CT and died in Stratfield, CT.

 Box VIII-Folder AA Sherwood Family Papers   4 items

 Box VIII-Folder T-V Sherwood, John Henry Papers 1843-1867   3 folders

Custodial History note

These items were donated by David S. Huntington in October 1996 (L96.36).

Biographical/Historical note

John Henry Sherwood (1825-1918), the son of Hull Sherwood and Caroline Burr, was a farmer who resided at Greenfield Hill. His brother David H. Sherwood (1829-1892) also farmed.

Scope and Contents note

John's correspondence includes a letter from P. T. Barnum concerning preparations for the upcoming agricultural fair (1 Sept. 1851). Other letters relate to farming or family news. Evidently John was active in the Fairfield County Agricultural Society--the collection includes a copy of the society's constitution; lists of committee members; statements of crops raised by Hull Sherwood and Sons, 1850, attested to by David Sherwood; essays on the benefits of agricultural societies and a report on feed crops. The genealogy notes primarily concern the Shelton family. The school records encompass a note, 1867, from Anna Godfrey to Dimon Bradley, both of Easton, concerning the end of school terms and who appears to be an attendance record.

 Box III-Folder Q Smedley Family Papers 1770-1787   12 items

Biographical/Historical note

John Smedley (1734-1786) and Samuel Smedley (1753-1812) were brothers. Samuel Smedley was in the shipping business and also customs collection in Fairfield. See shipping papers MS 36.

 Box IX-Folder D Smith, Adeline Papers   1 item

 Box III-Folder R Smith Family Papers 1773-1786   4 items

 Box III-Folder S Smith, Horace R. Papers 1850-1889   14 items

Custodial History note

These items were a gift of Mrs. Arthur Warner (L1981.July.2).

Biographical/Historical note

Horace Smith appears to have lived in Bridgeport and taught school at one time in Fairfield.

 Box III-Folder T Spencer, Robert Papers 1832-1859   9 items

Scope and Contents note

The deeds involve land with a factory and blacksmith's shop located in Westport, CT.

 Box III-Folder U Squier Family Papers 1770-1814   5 items

 Box VIII-Folder A Szymanski Family Papers 1918-1940 

 Box VII-Folder C Taintor Family Papers 1764-1896   4 items

Custodial History note

These papers were donated by George Biggs of Southport (L91.Ju.12). His stepfather was Charles M. Taintor of Southport who was grandson of William Webb Wakeman of Southport.

 Box III-Folder V Taylor Family Papers 1785-1851   4 items

 Box VII-Folders E-G Taylor, Mary Darlington Papers 

Biographical/Historical note

Mary Darlington Taylor wrote for the Bridgeport Post in the 1930's and 40's. She was also curator of the Fairfield Historical Society in the 1940's.

 Box IV-Folder A Tomlinson, Gideon Papers 1780-1854 

Biographical/Historical note

Gideon Tomlinson was born in Stratford, Conn. in 1780. He attended Yale, class of 1802. In 1807 he married Sarah Bradley of Greenfield Hill, where the couple settled. Tomlinson practiced law and held public office, including the U.S. Senate and Governor of the State of Connecticut.

Custodial History note

This collection is made up of a few donations. L83.May.2, L82.Feb.2 (Pequot Library), L96.Jan.3 (Bob Walter).

Related Archival Materials note

See Ms 33 for Clarina Brewster's will and Yale Biographies and Annals, 1792-1805 for a biography of Gideon Tomlinson.

 Box VII-Folder K Tracy Family Papers 

Biographical/Historical note

The family lines include members of the Collins, Parry, Bulkley and Brand families.

 Box IX-Folder E Treadwell Family Papers   1 item

 Box IV-Folder B Trubee, Ansel Papers   2 items

Custodial History note

Gift of Miss Deborah Glover, 1966.

Biographical/Historical note

Ansel Trubee (1747-1823) was the son of Andres Trubee who came from Holland to Fairfield in the late 1600's.

 Box IV-Folder C Upshaw, Willie Papers   7 items

 Box VIII-Folder Z Wakeman, Joseph Papers 1976-1985 

General note

These materials were found in the Library’s vertical file.

 Box VII-Folder M Wales, Isabelle Guibert Papers   80 items

Biographical/Historical note

Isabelle Guibert Wales, daughter of the rector of Trinity Church Rev. Edmund Guibert, wrote her memoirs of her life in Southport between 1890-1908 in her 80's. They were entitled "Southport Scraps."

 Box IV-Folder D Webb, Reverend Joseph Papers 1693-1700   1 item

Biographical/Historical note

The Rev. Joseph Webb (166-1732) was minister of the Congregational Church in Fairfield in 1700 and one of the founders of Yale College.

Custodial History note

The sermon and memoranda were presented to Mrs. Elizabeth Gould by the Rev. Wm. A. Johnson of Salisbury, CT in 1879.

 Box IX-Folder G Welch, Elijah Papers   1 item

Biographical/Historical note

Walsh was from Walkill, Orange County, New York. His will was found in the collections.

 Box VIII-Folder H Welles, "Dot" Papers   1 item

Wilson (Willson) Family Papers 1739-1918   40 items

Biographical/Historical note

The Wilsons were early Fairfield settlers.

 Box IV-Folder F Willson, Eleazer Papers   1 item

 Box IV-Folder G Wilson, Thurza Nichols Papers   1 item

Biographical/Historical note

Thurza Nichols Wilson (1826-1917) married Robert Wilson in 1851.

 Box IV-Folder H Winton, Peter and Joseph Papers 1781-1818   12 items

 Box VIII Worden Family Papers 1835-1877 

Biographical/Historical note

Worden (Wordin) family members were prominent businessmen in Bridgeport, Conn. William Wordin, Jr. married Dorcas Cook, explaining the genealogical notes on the Cooks. The materials in Folder S do not appear to be related to the Worden or Cook families. For more information on the Wordens see Orcutt’s History of Stratford and Bridgeport, Connecticut, vol. 2, pp. 925-930.

Custodial History note

This collection was donated by W. Bradley Morehouse in September 1996 (L96.30).

 Box IV Wordin Family Papers 1784-1860   15 items

Biographical/Historical note

The Wordins in this collection first settled in Stratford, CT. Samuel (1760-1833) and William (1760-1814) were sons of William (1734-1808). Thomas C. Wordin (1787-1852) son of William Wordin, Jr., lived in Bridgeport.