Silas Haines: Revolutionary War patriot, killed at Battle of Fairfield

Introduction

      I would like to start a tradition of writing a blogpost each July 4th for an ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War. 

      This year, I am somewhat randomly selecting Silas Haines. Silas is one of my 5th great-grandfathers on my father's paternal side.

Early Life

      The Barbour Collection vital records for Weston, Connecticut, state that Silas was born November 22, 1745. His birth is recorded here because this is where his children were born. His parents, John Haines and Mary Curtis, were married September 6, 1739. Their marriage record is from the Congregational Church, formerly called "Unity, of North Stratford". (This area later became the town of Trumbull.) At the time, both were living in Stratford. So most evidence points to Silas Haines being born in Stratford, Connecticut.

      Silas married Amy Whitney on November 3, 1768. (Her name is also spelled Amey, Ama, and even Anna in different places.)  The  marriage took place at the church at Greenfield Hill, in Fairfield, Connecticut. At the time of the marriage, Silas was living in North Stratford and  Amy was living in Greenfield.

      On October 29, 1769, Amy and Silas were admitted to communion. This appears to be the same church in which the parents of Silas Haines were married. I have had a difficult time pinning down the expression, "admitted to communion", but it was certainly related to a level of membership in the church that enabled them to baptize their children in the church.

Their children, born in Weston, were:
          Molly, born Dec. 15, 1769.   

          Amy, born Nov. 12, 1771.

          Sarah, born Mar. 7, 1774, died Aug. 15, 1794.  (my 4th-great-grandmother)

          Ruth, born Feb. 25, 1776.

          Silas, born Dec. 8, 1779.
Even though the children were born in Weston, they were baptized in nearby Eaton. Given their marriage date, and the death date of Silas, and the normal birth rate of every 2-3 years, this is probably a complete list of their children! The delay between the birth of Ruth and Silas may have been due to Silas' involvement in the Revolutionary War.

Maps

   

https://www.chuckstraub.com/Letterboxing/ctmap.htm

This is a modern-day map of Fairfield County, that shows the towns of Fairfield, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Easton and Ridgefield.

https://ctmirror.org/2020/05/21/ccm-chastises-lamont-for-not-sharing-federal-relief-funds-with-cities-and-towns/

This is a modern-day map that shows all the counties of Connecticut.

The History of Fairfield... from the Settlement of the Town in 1639; Elizabeth Hubbell Godfrey Schenck. Frontispiece.

This is a map of early Fairfield that shows Fairfield, Greenfield Hill, Stratford, etc.

Revolutionary War Service 

      There are references to 2 terms of service during the Revolutionary War for Silas Haines/Haynes.

      One is for The Battle of Ridgefield on April 27, 1777.
      The second is for the battle at Fairfield on July 8, 1779.

      Silas Haines is listed in the DAR Ancestor Database for Patriots. Only 1 DAR application has been submitted for his service. I believe this application was submitted by one of the daughters of Helen (Crooks) McFarland. He is listed under Silas Haynes.

https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/default.cfm

Battle of Ridgefield

      The main battle in The Battle of Ridgefield was fought in the village of Ridgefield on April 27, 1777. The British had landed between Fairfield and Norwalk two days earlier, marched to Danbury, and destroyed some Continental Army supplies. The main battle occurred as the British sought to return to the coast. According to some sources, 20 colonials were killed in the conflict and 40-80 were wounded.

     The Genealogy of the Redfield Family states that Sarah Haines Redfield's father was killed by a cannon ball in the action on Ridgefield Hill in 1777.    

      There is a plaque to commemorate the Battle of Ridgefield on April 27, 1777. It was dedicated in 2002 by The Connecticut Society of the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America. It names the 13 colonial men who died in the conflict. One named person is Silas Haines!

   
      From the maps above, one can see that Ridgefield is diagonal to Weston, Connecticut, where Silas Haines lived. The problem, of course, is that Silas could not be killed in both 1777 and 1779! And there is much stronger evidence for his death during the Battle of Fairfield. One possibility is that this is NOT my Silas Haines. A second possibility is that Silas was injured, but not killed, in this battle.

      

Battle of Fairfield

      The Battle of Fairfield refers to the July 7-8, 1779, engagement, where British forces attacked Fairfield, defeated its militia forces and burned down most of Fairfield. It is estimated that 10 colonials were killed and 2 wounded. The British wanted to punish Fairfield, which was a Patriot stronghold.

      The Barbour Collection vital records for Weston, Connecticut, state that Silas Haines died July 8, 1779, and was "killed in battle at Fairfield". Based on the other entries for Silas in Weston, I know this is my Silas! This is also stated by Donald Jacobus, who wrote a history of Fairfield, but the vital records were probably his source.

      Silas Haynes is listed in the Daughters of the American Revolution lineage records as A109693. The person applying for membership under his name is one of my Dad's cousins. One of the main sources for his service is the Connecticut Historical Society Collection, which lists the men in Fairfield that belonged to the Continental Regiments, 1775, based on returns of service. These returns were made and signed by the selectman of each town. In this list, his name is given as 'Silas Hanes'. In addition, Silas was mentioned in at least 3 pension files of fellow soldiers.

      The pension file of Nathan Lyon provides additional information related to the battle and Silas. Nathan was formally a resident of Redding, but was residing and working in Weston, which is where Silas lived. Nathan joined Captain Benajah Bennet's Company and volunteered to go to Fairfield when it was burned in 1779. The company followed the British to McKenzies Point. Nathan stated that Peter Sunderland and Silas Hayins were killed. Nathan returned to Fairfield and was dismissed... Ruth Haines, daughter of Silas, married a Nehemiah Lyon, who was probably related to Nathan Lyon.

      McKenzies Point, referenced in the above pension file, is also known as Kenzie's Point and Kensie Point. This is where the British disembarked prior to the Battle of Fairfield. The map below  shows the relationship of McKenzies Point to Fairfield, and also shows the proximity of Long Island to Connecticut! The British had a base on Long Island and attacked Fairfield from that base.

https://mapcarta.com/22020120

      The pension file of Thomas Stratton also mentions Silas, but it is harder to put this information into context. Thomas enlisted in Stratford under David Lake. After this, "Silas Haines of Fairfield was drafted out of the militia for 3 months under Capt. Jabez Wheeler and Stratton went as his substitute to Fishkill". He then says Silas Haines was subsequently killed.

      The pension file of Diamond Wheeler states, that in April 1779, Diamond enlisted under Captain Joseph Sherwood and served 6 months. During this term of service, Fairfield and Norwalk, in Connecticut, were burned. His company responded to an alarm that the British were landing, and discovered that the town was burned. The engagement the next morning caused the British to retreat to their vessels. Lt. Seeley, Ensign Hoit and private Silas Haines were killed near the deponent... Amy Haines, daughter of Silas, married a Freeman Seeley, likely related to the Lt. Seeley that was killed.

After the death of Silas

      Silas Haines died at the age of 33, leaving a wife and four children behind. About five months after his death, his fifth child, Silas Haines, Jr., was born. Baby Silas was born December 8, 1779, most likely in Weston. Clearly, this is evidence for Silas dying in the Battle of Fairfield, and not in the Battle of Ridgefield!        

      In 1779, the estate of Silas Haines, late of Fairfield, was opened in the Fairfield Probate District. On September 6, 1779, Amy Haines was appointed administratrix. A bond was issued to Amy Haines and Aaron Whitney, most likely Amy's brother. Land was set aside for daughters Sarah and Molly and Ami. Other land was set off to Ami, his widow, his son Silas and his daughter Ruth. 

      In 1794, Silas Haines, Jr., at least 14 years old, selected Nathaniel Freeman Seelye as his guardian. In colonial America, one had to be at least 14 years of age to choose one's own guardian. Otherwise, a guardian was appointed for the child. His mother Amy was still living and Silas probably lived with her! The guardian was primarily responsible for looking after the child's inheritance... Silas's sister Amy married this Nathaniel in 1790, so Silas's guardian was actually his brother-in-law!

Sources

Ancestry.com.  Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) [on-line database]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. ORIGINAL DATA: White, Lorraine Cook, editor; The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records; 55 volumes; Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co.; 1994-2002.
- Weston Vital Records 1787-1850; p. 30; birth, marriage and death of Silas Haines.

Ancestry.com. "Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920". Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. ORIGINAL DATA: Connecticut, Church Record Index. Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut.
- Volume 115 (Trumbull), pgs. 79-80.

Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
- Probate Packets, Fairfield Connecticut, Case 2812, Silas Haines.

Ancestry.com. Early Connecticut Marriages [on-line database]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.  ORIGINAL DATA: Bailey, Frederic W. Early Connecticut Marriages as Found on Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997.
- Book 7, p. 93, John Haines and Mary Curtiss.
- Book 7, p. 33, Silas Haynes and Anna [sic] Whitney.

Ancestry.com. The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847-2011. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. ORIGINAL DATA: New England Historic Genealogical Society. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston: The New England Historic Genealogical Society.
- Volume 070, page 36.

DAR Ancestor Database. https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/default.cfm; Silas Haynes (A109693).

Jacobus (compiler and editor), Donald Lines. History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield. 3 volumes. New Haven, Connecticut: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1930, 1932.
- Volume 2, p. 442. Family of Silas Haynes.
- Volume 3, p. 190. Pension file for Nathan Lyon.
- Volume 3, pgs. 316-317. Pension file for Thomas Stratton.
- Volume 3, pgs. 346-7. Pension file for Diamond Wheeler.
- Volume 3, pgs. 382-3. Service records for men in Fairfield.

Redfield, John Howard; Genealogical history of the Redfield family in the United States: being a revision and extension of the genealogical tables compiled in 1839 by William C. Redfield; Albany, New York: Munsell & Rowland, 1860; p. 94.
-https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhist00inredf

Schenck, Elizabeth Hubbell (Godfrey); The history of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, from the settlement of the town in 1639 to 1818; New York, The author, 1889-1905. (map)