| 1780 |
|
Town voted to provide one hundred of each
of the following: shirts, mittens, stockings and shoes for soldiers from
Stratford who were in active service. Birth of Gideon Tomlinson, Governor of
Connecticut from 1827 to 1831 and U.S. Senator. Division of town into two townships
considered. |
| 1781 |
|
Protest to General Assembly against division of town. Matter dropped. |
| 1782 |
|
Town authorized to "borrow money on the credit of the Town,"
for the first time, to pay bounties to fill the quota for the army. Berkshire
mill established. |
| 1783 |
|
May 26th set apart as a day of "Public Rejoicing" for peace.
Prayers, an address, singing, refreshments and toasts, and discharging of
cannon made up the celebration. Birth of Hon. David Plant, four years Lieut.
Governor of Connecticut and member of Congress. |
| 1784 |
|
Ordination of Stephen William Stebbins of Congregational Church, who
"stopped the vandalism which cut away so much from Academy Hill and
spoiled its symmetry." |
| 1785 |
|
Third Congregational Church struck by lightning and destroyed by fire. |
| 1786 |
|
Fourth Congregational Church built on location of present edifice and
dedicated. Benjamin's Bridge built and Stratford Road (Avenue) opened. |
| 1787 |
|
Federal convention, William Samuel Johnson a delegate. Town meeting
excitement over Connecticut's adopting the Constitution. |
| 1789 |
|
Washington breakfasted at Stratford on presidential tour of New England.
Town of Huntington set off from Stratford. |
| 1790 |
|
Post office established with Robert Walker as first postmaster. Methodist
Church organized in Stratford by Jesse Lee. |
| 1791 |
|
Methodist Bishop Asbury preached in the town house. |
| 1792 |
|
General Joseph Walker granted the privilege to build a grist mill at
Benjamin's Bridge. This became the old "Yellow Mill." |
| 1795 |
|
Petition, for a bridge at the Ferry, before the General Assembly. |
| 1796 |
|
Birth of Capt. D. Pulaski Benjamin, last survivor of Dartmoor prisoners. |
| 1797 |
|
Town of Trumbull set off from Stratford. |
| 1798 |
|
Birthdate of Jesse Olney, A.M., author of geography and history text
books, whose home was what is now the St. James rectory. |
| 1799 |
|
Epidemic of dysentery and typhus fever believed to be due to dyke built
across Little Neck Creek. |
| 1800 |
|
William Samuel Johnson resigned presidency of Columbia, held since 1787. |
| 1801 |
|
“Turnpike era” under way. |
| 1802 |
|
Permission granted to build a toll bridge at the Ferry. Golden Hill Indian find established and
still endures. |
| 1803 |
|
Name “Washington Bridge” first used. |
| 1804 |
|
Stratford Academy established. |
| 1805 |
|
Town voted to remove dyke at Little Neck.
Academy completed. |
| 1806 |
|
Proprietors of Stratford Academy made a corporate body. First bridge,
over Housatonic washed away by ice flood. |
| 1807 |
|
Lottery, granted by Legislature, to raise funds for another bridge. |
| 1808 |
|
Second bridge begun. |
| 1810 |
|
First Methodist Church building erected. |
| 1812 |
|
War with Great Britain - The "Scourge," Captain Samuel Nicoll,
captured many prizes. Historic crystal chandelier, once owned by Christ
Church, obtained from this source. |
| 1813 |
|
Second bridge at Ferry completed. |
| 1814 |
|
The Rev. Matthew R. Dutton, pastor at First Congregational Church.
Stratford militia twice summoned to help defend Bridgeport when British
vessels anchored off the harbor. No attacks made. |
| 1815 |
|
Captain Samuel Nicoll built dyke at Lordship farm. |
| 1817 |
|
Death of the Rev. Nathan Birdseye. Aged 103 years. |
| 1818 |
|
Dwelling and. barns at Lordship farm built. Red cedar pump taken from a Spanish vessel
being repaired at New York, brought and installed at the farm by Capt. Nicoll
for watering cattle. Forty-three years later it was taken up and, afterwards
used by Spiritualists to pump water from the hole at the gold diggings about
a mile east of the farm, near the shore. Wood later made into canes. |
| 1821 |
|
Borough of Bridgeport set off from Stratford. First Stratford Point Lighthouse erected.
|
| 1822 |
|
Lighthouse keeper lost a cow by mosquitoes. |
| 1823 |
|
Monroe set off from Huntington. |