Gideon Sherwood (1738 - 1778)

Born 26 Aug 1738 in Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Nichols) Baldwin — married 11 Dec 1758 in Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut

Descendants

Died 24 Feb 1778 at age 39 in New Milford, Litchfield, Connecticut, United States

Biography

Gideon, b. 26 Aug. 1738, bapt. 3 Sept. 1738, son of Daniel & Ann.^[1]

He m. 11 Dec. 1758, Martha Nichols.^[2][3]

He burned to death with most of his family at New Milford, 24 Feb. 1778;

"The year 1778 was a year of trouble and affliction, particularly to many of the inhabitants of New Milford. Mr. Sherwood's house was burnt, with himself, and mother, and Mr. Moses Camp, his son-in-law, who had been married about six months. This family consisted of thirteen persons; but three escaped without injury-- one a son about 14 [this must have been Wells], his mother, and an infant daughter born Dec. 7th, before. Mrs. Sherwood sat up late in the night the house took fire, to prepare her family to attend a lecture that had been appointed to be held at their house. The Rev. Mr. Taylor was to preach, and baptize their children. Mr. Sherwood and one daughter lived a short time after the fire. Mrs. Sherwood, her son Wells, and infant, Sarah, were all that were saved. Those who had intended to be at the lecture attended at the same time, but their meeting was of a different one-- a melancholy sight. The remains of those who lived a few hours were buried in separate coffins. The parts of those that could be found that the fire could not consume were all put into a large box made for that purpose and buried in New Milford town. The place where the box was laid is known at this day [1811] by a round hollow, the same bigness of the grave. This unhappy event took place Feb. 24, 1778." [Inaccurate; court records from the time period say it took place 25 Feb 1778.] ^[4]

After his death, Gideon's widow appealed to the town for help:

"Sherwood, Martha [Nichols], New Milford, widow, petition showing her house took fire Feb. 25 last & her husband, Gideon Sherwood, 6 children & one other person were burned to death. Also about 40 in cash & household goods were lost. There are two remaining children to support & she asks abatement of tax due from the estate & a brief for charitable contributions. Gr…ay 1778. III: 48, 49.^[5][6][7]

Children

1. Anah [sic], b abt 1759; m 1 Sep 1777 Moses Camp.^[8] They both died in the 2/24/1778 house fire.
2. Wells Sherwood b abt Sep 1760.^[9]
3. Gideon [Jr]., b Oct 1766; bpt Nov. 1.^[10]
4. Sarah, b Nov 1770; bp Nov 18th;^[11]
5. Eli Sherwood, bapt. 4 Apr 1773.^[12]
6. Nancy, bp. 24 Sep 1775^[13]
7. Sarah (last born), bpt 17 May 1778^[14] (But she was born Dec 7th 1777.^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ CT Church Records Index, p. 127, citing vol 1, p 31
2. ↑ Jacobus, Old Families of Fairfield..., Vol II, Pt II p. 866,7
3. ↑ CT Church Records Index, p. 127, citing vol 1, p 125
4. ↑ Baldwin's Narrative, dated Tyringham, August 8, 1811, in Orcutt, p 237-238.
5. ↑ Miscellaneous papers, 1635-1789, index: (Connecticut Archives)
6. ↑ Connecticut. The Public Records of the State of Connecticut, 1895. 1895. Reprint. London: Forgotten Books, 2013. 146-7. Print.
7. ↑ For full text see: Connecticut. The Public Records of the State of Connecticut, 1895. 1895. Reprint. London: Forgotten Books, 2013. 146-7
8. ↑ Frederic W. Bailey, Early Connecticut Marriages as Found on Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997., p 116
9. ↑ Orcutt, p 237-238.
10. ↑ CT Church Records Index, p. 127, citing vol 1, p 69
11. ↑ Connecticut. Church Records Index. Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut. Volume 115, Trumbull, p 127, citing vol 1, p 76
12. ↑ Orcutt, p 766
13. ↑ Orcutt, p 766
14. ↑ Ocutt, p 766: "1. Sherwood, Widow. 2. Sarah, bapt. May 17, 1778."
15. ↑ Orcutt, p 237

• Orcutt, Samuel. History of the Towns of New Milford and Bridgewater, Connecticut, 1703-1882 (Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1882)
• Connecticut Courant (Tuesday, Mar 03, 1778, Hartford, CT) Issue: 684 Page: 2:

• "On the night after the 24th of February the house of Mr. Sherwood of New Milford took fire and was consumed; eleven persons were in the house, three only made their escape out of it, eight perished in the flames."

• Connecticut Journal (Wednesday, Mar 11, 1778, New Haven, CT) Issue: 543 Page: 2

• "New-Milford, Feb. 25, 1778, Perhaps the most awful instance ever known in America. Last night, near two o'clock, the dwelling-house of Mr. Gideon Sherwood, took fire, the means unknown; every thing destroyed. Hes aged Mother, a Son-in-Law, and six of his children, nearly consumed in the flames; he himself, and a little daughter, so burnt, that they expired in a few hours; ten in number, all perished by fire. A sorrowful widow, the eldest Son, and an infant child survive. A dispensation very alarming, and astonishing to all the beholders. Their remains were decently intered in four graves..."

• Carlson, M. Beatrix. Thomas Sherwood of Fairfield, Conn. & Descendants (n.p., 1959) Page 59.