Benjamin Stebbins

Notes:

Benjamin Stebbins and The Battle of Ridgefield

The Discovery Center at Ridgefield
http://ridgefielddiscovery.org/page/benstebbins

Benjamin Stebbins
September 30, 1692 - September 6, 1780

Benjamin Stebbins was born in Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts in 1692. When he was 9-years-old, his family was killed in the Deerfield Massacre. He was raised by cousins and learned the tanner trade. In 1714, he was offered a large piece of land at the north end of Main Street in exchange for setting up a much-needed tannery in Ridgefield. The land was heavily forested, with steep precipices and ledges. But Stebbins gladly agreed. He started out living in a bark hut while he gradually built one of the grandest homes in town. Completed in 1727, it stayed in the Stebbins family until 1892, when its new owners demolished it.

A tanner was a very important tradesman for a pioneer community. He converted animal hides into useable leather for shoes, clothes, bags, saddles, etc. The process is long and smelly but very profitable. By 1746, the tax list showed Benjamin Stebbins to be Ridgefield’s wealthiest citizen. He was elected town Selectman five times and also represented Ridgefield in the colonial legislature.

Benjamin Stebbins married Sarah Mead in 1718 and fathered nine children. The American Revolution divided the Stebbins family. Three of his sons chose to side with the patriots. Benjamin and his sons Benjamin, Jr. and Josiah remained loyal to The Crown. Josiah loyalty was so passionate that he was brought to trial by his patriot Ridgefield neighbors for his Tory activities. As a result, he had to post a 300 pound sterling bond and promise "quiet behavior". Later he joined the British army and was involved with the burning of Danbury. Afterward, he helped guide the British forces into Ridgefield and it was said managed to get some revenge on his old neighbors by pointing out their homes to be burned.

The famous barricade in the Battle of Ridgefield was built across the road in front of the Stebbins’ house. During the fighting, 85-year-old Benjamin tried to hide in the upstairs bedroom but bullets tore holes in the door. After the battle, Josiah’s alliance with the British saved the house from being burned. Instead, it served as a makeshift hospital, with Benjamin’s daughter, Anna, treating the wounded in the west room. For generations, tourists would come to see the bullet-scarred walls and bloodstained floors. Many of the British and American soldiers who died in the battle were buried on the property. A commemorative stone near the entrance to Casagmo Condominium notes the location. Benjamin & Sarah Stebbins are buried in the Titicus Cemetery.

The Stebbins Genealogy
by Greenlee, Ralph Stebbins, 1838-; Greenlee, Robert Lemuel, 1838-
Publication date 1904
Publisher Chicago, Ill. : M.A. Donahue
pp164-165

https://archive.org/details/stebbinsgen ealog01ingree

Col Rec. of Ct XIII p. 359.

Bailey's Hist, of Danbury Ct. pp. 80-82

American Illst. (1888)


BENJAMIN STEBBINS
son of Benoni Stebbins and Widow Hannah Edwards, was born September 30, 1692 (T. R.), at Deerfield, Massachusetts; died September 16, 1780 (T. R.), at Ridgefield, Connecticut; married August 14, 1718 (T. R.), at Ridgefield, Connecticut, to SARAH MEAD, born November 3, 1695, at Greenwich, Connecticut; died May 1, 1774 (T. R.), at Ridgefield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, who was a daughter of Joseph Mead and Sarah. Occupation, farmer. Resided at Deerfield, Ridgefield, Connecticut, and Northampton, Massachusetts.

CHILDREN, all born at Ridgefield, Conn. :
368. I. Benjamin, born August 21, 1721 (T. R.) ; married Elizabeth Olmstead.+
369. II. Ebenezer, born January 24, 1723 (T. R.) ; married Ann Davis.+
370. III. Esther, born 1724; married Deacon John Benedict.+
371. IV. Theophilus, born May 16. 1726 (T. R.) ; married Ann Couch.+
372. V. Hannah, born March 28, 1728 (T. R.) ; married John Sherwood.+
373. VI. Nehemiah, born November 1, 1729 (T. R.) ; married Sarah Jessup.-f-
374. VII. Josiah, born April 21, 1733 (T. R.) ; married first, Ruth Rockwell; married second, Mary Burr.+
375. VIII. Joseph, born July 4, 1735 (T. R.) ; married Joanna Smith. +
376. IX. Sarah, born April 15, 1737 (T. R.) [see Unidentified, S.]

BENJAMIN STEBBINS was one of the earliest settlers of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and in 1770 was its Representative to the General Assembly. He built and resided in the house which in 1896 was standing on an eminence at the head of the village. From this house he witnessed the repulse of the British, by Benedict Arnold and his men.

The STEBBINS house was one of the oldest in the town, having been built in 1733, soon after the settlement was made. Its withered boards and shingles, dun and weather-stained by the sunshine and frosts of innumerable seasons, shaded by lofty trees and overhanging vines, spoke of times now almost forgotten and of vague traditions of the past. Here it was that on April 27, 1777, Arnold awaited the enemy's approach, fearless and undaunted, although the odds against him were overwhelming. The following graphic account of the repulse will be found interesting:

"On arriving at Ridgefield, Arnold hastily constructed a barricade of wagons, logs, and carts, across the village street, at its upper end, between the residence of BENJAMIN STEBBINS and a large ledge of rocks to the west of the road.

There was little military organization in a force gathered so hastily from different directions, save in the obedience to a superior's orders. The greater portion of those who stood behind the barricade were unused to war; and had gone out to save their homes from destruction rather than to do battle with an enemy.

The fight at the STEBBINS house was stubborn and bloody. Between forty and fifty Americans were killed. Several of the dead were buried beneath the apple tree, since decayed, back of the house, which afterwards became the residence of Mr. Abner Gilbert. At the time of the attack Benjamin Stebbins occupied the Stebbins house. He was a cripple and could not get away. His son, Josiah, sympathized with the Royalist cause ; and happened to accompany the British on their march from Danbury. Several times during the fight the old house was set on fire, but the son succeeded in quenching the flames. His aged and crippled father had a narrow escape. In the midst of the conflict he sought seclusion in a little bedroom with a window looking out on the meadow to the east. He had been told that the British were on their way from Danbury, and that he must flee for his life. To this entreaty he replied: "No, not one step! I am too old to fight, or I would be at them; but I will never leave this chair, and if they want to kill me, they can do it here." The window was open. The bullets of the enemy penetrated the house, passing through inner doors and partitions. All at once a musket ball whizzed close to his head, splintering the chair where the sturdy old patriot sat, and ripping a long ragged hole through the bedroom door. Fortunately he was not injured. During the battle, the house was used as a hospital for the wounded, and stains of blood that flowed from the wounds of a young British officer, who died there, are still visible on the seasoned oak floor of the long west room.

The old well now stands at it then stood, and supplies the best of water, as it did on that April day, to the suffering men who lay in agony within reach of its kindly aid.

History of Danbury, Conn., 1684-1896
by Bailey, James M. (James Montgomery), 1841-1894; Hill, Susan Benedict
Publication date 1896
Publisher New York : Burr Print. House
https://archive.org/details/historyofdanbury00baila

CHAPTER XV.

THE FIGHT IN RIDGEFIELD.
There are several accounts of this engagement, which was a part of the battle opened by Wooster. According to the accounts, Arnold and Silliman must have reached Ridgefield about the time that Wooster received his fatal wound, at eleven o'clock on Sunday morning. The firing in that fight must have been distinctly heard by Arnold and Silliman.

In the issue of the Connecticut Journal, printed the latter part of that week, May 2d, appeared an account of the raid in Danbury and the fight in Ridgefield. Of the latter it says :

" General Arnold, by a forced march across the country, reached Ridgefield at eleven o'clock, and having posted his small party of five hundred men, waited the approach of the enemy, who were soon discovered advancing in a column with three field pieces in front and three in the rear, and large flank guards of war, two hundred men in each. At noon they began discharging their artillery, and were soon within musket-shot, when a smart action ensued between the whole, which continued about an hour, in which our men behaved with great spirit, but being overpowered by numbers were obliged to give way, though not until the enemy were raising a small breastwork, thrown across the way, at which General Arnold had taken post with about two hundred men (the rest of our small body were posted on the flanks), who acted with great spirit. The general had his horse shot under him, when the enemy were within about ten yards of him, but luckily received no hurt. Recovering himself, he drew his pistol and shot the soldier, who was advancing with his bayonet. He then ordered his troops to retreat through a shower of small and grape shot.

" In the action the enemy suffered very considerably, leaving about thirty dead and wounded on the ground, besides a number of unknown buried. Here we had the misfortune of losing Lieutenant-Colonel Gold, one subaltern, and several privates killed and wounded.

" It was found impossible to rally our troops, and General Arnold ordered a stand to be made at Saugatuck Bridge, where it was expected the enemy would pass.

" At nine o'clock a.m. the 28th about five hundred men were collected at Saugatuck Bridge, including part of the companies of Colonel Lamb's battalion of artillery, with three field pieces, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Oswald ; a field piece with part of the artillery company from Fairfield, sixty Continental troops, and three companies of volunteers from New Haven, with whom General Arnold and Silliman took post about two miles above the bridge. Soon after the enemy appeared in sight their rear was attacked by Colonel Huntington (commanding an army of about five hundred men), who sent to General Arnold for instructions, and for some officers to assist him.

" General Silliman was ordered to his assistance. The enemy finding our troops advantageously posted made a halt, and after some little time wheeled off to the left and forded Saugatuck River, three miles above the bridge. General Arnold observing this motion, ordered the whole to march directly for the bridge in order to attack the enemy in the flank. General Silliman at the same time to attack their rear. The enemy, by running full speed, had passed the bridge on Fairfield side with their main body before our troops could cross it. General Silliman finding it impossible to overtake the enemy on their route, proceeded to the bridge, where the whole were formed. They marched in two columns, one with two field pieces on the right, the other on the left of the enemy, when a smart skirmishing and firing of field pieces ensued, which continued about three hours.

" The enemy having gained the high hill of Compo, several attempts were made to dislodge them, but without effect. The landed a number of fresh troops to cover their embarkation, which they effected a little before sunset, weighed anchor immediately, and stood across the sound for Huntington, on Long Island. Our loss cannot be exactly ascertained, no return being made. It is judged to be about sixty killed and wounded. Among the killed are one lieutenant-colonel, one captain, four subalterns, and Dr. David Atwater, of New Haven, whose death is greatly lamented by his acquaintances. Among the number wounded are Colonel John Lamb (of artillery), Amah Bradley, and Timothy Gorliam, volunteers from New Haven, though not mortally.

" The enemy's loss is judged to be more than double our number, and about twenty prisoners. The enemy on this occasion behaved with their usual barbarity, wantonly and cruelly murdering the wounded prisoners who fell into their hands, and plundering the inhabitants, burning and destroying everything in their way. The enemy, the day before they left Fairfield,
were joined by ten sail, chiefly small sail."

In the March number (1888) of the Magazine of American History, Clifford Bartlett gives a very interesting account of the American side of the conflict in Ridgefield. He says :

" On arriving at Ridgefield, Arnold constructed a barricade across the village street, at its upper end, near the residence of Benjamin Stebbins. The Stebbins house is one of the oldest in the town. It antedates anything of the Revolution in Ridgefield. Here it was that Arnold awaited the enemy's approach, fearless and undaunted, although the odds against him were overwhelming.

" The barricade was made of logs, wagons, and carts, anything the little army could gather for that purpose. The greater part of those who stood behind that barricade were unused to war, and had gone out to save their homes from destruction rather than to do battle with an enemy.

" It was Sunday morning. A thick mass of vapor hung over the earth, with an occasional shower, until about eleven o'clock, when the sky lightened for a moment, revealing the wooded slopes of the Danbury hills, blue and purple in the distance, only again to be hidden by the sweeping masses of clouds.

" When within a few miles of Ridgefield General Wooster fell upon the rear of the column, and a sharp engagement ensued, in which forty Hessians were captured. Still the enemy continued their advance."

The writer speaks briefly of Wooster' s second attack, when he received the fatal wound, and then continues :

" Stephen Rowe Bradley, then an aide-de-camp to General Wooster, assumed command, and gathering the scattered troops together retired from the field in good order.

" Arnold and his men awaited the coming storm with breathless anxiety. At about noon the British, advancing in three columns, came within range, when General Agnew ordered the artillery to attack. When within musket range the engagement became general. Being unable to dislodge the Continental at the front, a strong body of Hessians under Agnew finally turned the left of Arnold's position. A column of infantry suddenly appeared over the ledge of rocks, and discharged a volley at General Arnold at a distance of not over thirty yards. He escaped being hit ; his horse fell, being pierced by nine musket balls. The fact that the horse was struck nine times was vouched for by a farmer, who with the aid of some boys skinned the animal the next day.

" The fight at the Stebbins house was stubborn and bloody. Between forty and fifty Americans were killed.

" Colonel Abram Gould was shot about eighty yards east of the Stebbins house, and his body was carried on his horse to his home in Fairfield, where he was buried. His sash and uniform are now in the Trumbull Gallery in New Haven.

" Lieutenants Middlebrook* and William Thompson were killed. Several of the dead were buried beneath an apple-tree, since decayed, back of the house, now the residence of Abner Gilbert. At the time of the battle Benjamin Stebbins occupied the Stebbins house. His son, Josiah, sympathized with the Royalist cause, and happened to accompany the British on their march from Daubury. Several times during the fight the house caught fire, but the son succeeded in quenching the flames. His crippled father had a narrow escape. In the midst of the conflict he sought seclusion in a little bedroom with a window looking out on the meadow to the east, as the bullets were rattling through the gable end of the old homestead on the roadway. The window was open. All at once a bullet whizzed close to his head and ripped a long, ragged hole through the bedroom door.

The room still remains in the same condition, and the door still swings on its rusty hinges. The house was riddled with bullets, and struck several times by solid shot. There are three cannonballs yet to be seen at the house. Many others have been lost or carried away.

" During the battle the house was used as a hospital for the wounded, and stains of blood that flowed from the wounds of a young British officer, who died there, are to be seen on the seasoned oak floor of the long west room.

" The old well now stands as it then stood, and supplies the best of water, as it did on that April day to the suffering men who lay in agony within reach of its kindly aid.

" It has been thought that the battle ended with the attack by Wooster and the fight at the Stebbins house. This is probably incorrect. There are strong reasons for the belief that as the British advanced their progress through the town was contested with stubborn bravery. Had this not been so, they would not have had to employ their artillery after dislodging the patriots from behind the barricade ; and that the artillery was used throughout their progress through the village is beyond controversy.

" Besides the cannon-balls at the Stebbins house, a solid shot was unearthed a few years ago while repairing the highway in front of the residence of Governor Lounsbury. Then there is the famous shot embedded in the Keeler tavern, besides numerous cannon-balls which have been found at different points along the course of the march maintained through the town, the redcoats pressing forward and the patriots falling stubbornly back.

On the ridge, where in late years the Agricultural Society held its annual fairs, the British encamped for the night. After burning several houses and destroying other property, the enemy, on the morning of the 28th, resumed their march toward the Sound."

In the London Gazette of June 7th, 1777, was printed Sir William Howe's official report of the foray. He says (the italics closing the first paragraph are ours) :

" The troops landed on the afternoon of April 25th (Friday), four miles to the eastward of Norwalk and twenty miles from Danbury. In the afternoon of the 26th the detachment reached Danbury, meeting only small parties of the enemy on their march, but General Tryon having intelligence that the whole force of the country was collecting, to take every advantage of the strong ground he was to pass on his return to the shipping, and finding it impossible to procure carriages to bring oft" any part of the stores, they were effectually destroyed, in the execution of which the village was unavoidably burnt.

" On the 27th, in the morning, the troops gutted Danbury, and met with little opposition until they came near to Ridgefield, which was occupied by General Arnold, who had thrown up entrenchments to dispute the passage, while General Wooster hung upon the rear with a separate corps. The village was forced and the enemy driven back on all sides.

" General Tryon lay that night at Ridgefield and renewed his march on the morning of the 28th. The enemy having been reinforced with troops and cannon, disputed every advantageous situation, keeping at the same time small parties to harass the rear, until the general had formed his detachment upon a height within cannon-shot of the shipping, when the enemy advancing, seemingly with an intention to attack him, he ordered the troops to charge with their bayonets, which was executed with such impetuosity that the rebels were totally put to flight, and the detachment embarked without further molestation.

" The enclosed returns set forth the loss sustained by the king's troops, and that of the enemy from the best information .

" Return of the stores, ordnance, provisions, etc., found at the rebel stores, and destroyed by the 'king's troops, in Danbury :

" A quantity of ordnance stores, with iron, etc.; 4000 barrels of beef and pork ; 1000 barrels of flour ; 100 large tierces of biscuit ; 89 barrels of rice ; 120 puncheons of rum ; several large stores of wheat, oats, and Indian corn, in bulk, the quantity thereof could not possibly be ascertained ; 30 pipes of wine ; 100 hogsheads of sugar ; 50 ditto of molasses ; 20 casks of coffee ; 15 large casks filled with medicines of all kinds ; 10 barrels of saltpetre ; 1020 tents and marquees ; a number of iron boilers ; a large quantity of hospital bedding ; engineers', pioneers', and carpenters' tools; a printing-press complete; tar, tallow, etc.; 6000 pairs of shoes and stockings. At a mill between Ridgebury and Ridgefield, 100 banels of flour and a quantity of Indian corn.

" Returned of the killed, wounded, and missing : One drummer and fifer, and 23 rank and file killed ; 3 field officers, 6 captains, 3 subalterns, 9 sergeants, 92 i-ank and file wounded ; 1 drummer and fifer and 27 rank and file missing. Royal artillery, 2 additional killed, 3 matrosses and 1 wheeler wounded, and 1 matross missing.

" Return of the rebels killed and wounded. Killed : General Wooster, Colonel Goold, Colonel Lamb, of the artillery. Colonel Henman, Dr. Atwater, a man of considerable influence. Captain Cooe, Lieutenant Thompson, 100 privates. Wounded : Colonel Whiting, Captain Benjamin, Lieutenant Cooe, 250 privates. Taken : Fifty privates, including several committeemen."

Benjamin married Sarah Mead on 14 Aug 1718 in Ridgefield, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. Sarah was born on 3 Nov 1695 in Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA; died on 1 May 1774 in Ridgefield, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA; was buried in Ridgefield, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Esther married John Benedict on 24 Jan 1744 in Ridgefield, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. John was born on 3 Oct 1726 in Ridgefield, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA; died on 9 Jul 1814 in Ridgefield, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA; was buried in Ridgefield, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]