not be allowed to have those questions decided by your neighbors when both sides could be brought before a court that at the outset was not prejudiced against ye for the honest actions resulting from honest opinions?" It was easily seen upon the face of the inquirer that there was much wisdom in the remarks and started a train of thoughts in his mind that bore fruit later on. The temper of the group changed from the consideration of the governor's proclamation to another notice-passed some time ago-for the consideration of the townsmen. Although dissatisfaction was steadily growing and spreading and gaining recruits, they were, nevertheless, loathe to come forth openly and speak their minds. It might, too, have been a ruse among the royalists to publicly stamp the Whigs by forcing them to be put on record as against the Crown. The notice referred to was dated late in April, 1775. "A special Town meeting was called in order to take into consideration the resolution entered into by the late Continental Congress. Resolved in the negative 9 Desent. "Resolved N. C. D. (nemine contra dicente), That we do acknowledge his Most Sacred Majesty King George the III to be our right-full Sovereign, and do hereby publickly avow our allegiance to him & his Lawful successors. And that we will, to the utmost of our power, Support his throne and Dignity against every Combination in the Uni verse. Since the foregoing had been passed it was the cause of much speculation among the twons-people as to how far in it was an index to the feelings of the people. Many who did not oppose it were known to be rank Tories, while the loudest shouters were marked as "Trimmers, who trimmed their actions from day to day as best suited their interests. It was difficult to express an opinion to anyone as it was known there were spies about in each camp only too willing to send their names to the authorities for future consideration. Neighbor was arrayed against neighbor. One expressed himself only when his hearers were proven to be of the same shade of opinion. Many were certain that the above resolution was only a guise of loyalty and would serve their purpose just as well as another until the time was ripe for action. Each day brought fresh recruits to this class of residents and many conferences were held in the security of the Ridgefield Tavern with Nathaniel Bishop as the central figure, who was the prime mover of everything that furthered the cause of the Colonists. These meetings were held in secret with trusty sentinels posted to warn of danger or intrusion. Opinion in the town was being fast moulded into harmony with the actions of the Continental Congress in session at Philadelphia. It was not surprising that late in this same year another Town meeting was held on December 17, 1775, with the following result. "On Motion Made Whether Said Meeting, on Reconsideration do disannul the resolves April 10, entered into and passed on the 30th Jany, 1775, and adopt and approve of the Continental Congress and the measures Directed to in their association, for securing and Defending the Rights and Liberties of ye United American Colonies. Resolved in the Affirmative, Nem. Con. Said meeting voted that the Town Clerk make out a copy of the above Resolve and transmit the same to one of the printers in New York in Order that the same may be made public in the News Papers." To say the Tories were furious at the turn of events would be placing it mildly; although many threats against life and property were made but with little avail, they soon found themselves in the minority and subsided in fear of their own personal safety, or to act more effectually to spy on their neighbors and give the information to the officers of the Crown. It now became apparent to all of the Colonists of every affiliation that the time for peaceful intervention to right their wrongs was past and their only recourse was to resort to arms and force to bring the British Government to a true sense of justice. More than to accomplish that result the Colonists as yet could see no further. Committees of safety were organized in every colony, city, town and hamlet; men were drilled; armies and ammunition obtained and stored. Agriculture and commerce was almost at a standstill, just carried on sufficiently to tide over an emergency. Ridgefield contributed a strong contingent to the common cause and every town and community gave up the quota of provisions, arms and money. The Colony of Connecticut with Governor Trumbull could always be relied upon by Washington and the Continental Congress to lend his best endeavors for the furtherance of the cause. She often took the initiative in many daring enterprises and their accomplishment infused courage and spirit into the whole of the Colonies. His inspiring councils were ever a source of comfort to Washington in the darkest days of the Revolution when the skies were overcast and chaos and ruin seemed inevitable and threatened to engulf him in the maelstrom of dissensions, invective, poverty, cold and hunger of her scantily clothed and illy fed army. If the talismanic words "freedom" and "liberty" were not ever before the eyes of the patriots for their inspiration the task set would have been beyond human endurance. In all this the hearty support of Governor Trumbull and his encouragement was the source of the sweetest consolation to Washington when his nearest and dearest friends were maligning and traducing his good name. When will America ever fully compensate the memory of Washington in his heroic, mental and physical struggle and make amends for her lack of faith in their commander-in-chief at the most critical time of the struggle for independence? It has often brought a blush to the cheek of many to think of the time when Congress was complacently lending her aid to those, whose ambition of reward, of place, or glory prompted them to malign and impute motives of aggrandizement to Washington at times when he needed the support of their confidence. O Hearts Revealed "Would but some winged Angel ere too late -Omar Khayyam. NE sabbath morning towards the latter part of April, 1777, I sat before the door of the Ridgefield Tavern musing upon many matters, all the Colonies had by this time thrown off the British yoke and town and people were shifting for themselves as they thought best. Some still adhered to the councils of the mother country and were consistent in their deportment thereto, others were so recognized for policy's sake; an underlying principle of gain. Then there were many in the class of trimmers that wabbled from side to side as their interests were concerned. Lastly, by far the greater majority, felt no respect for a country that had outraged all the rules of common decency by her conduct. At this time many people, although feeling strongly within themselves that England deserved no allegiance, and they were ready and willing to fight for their rights to the last drop of blood, could not think of a separate existence. England would surely see her errors, how much she was loosing by treating a loving offspring so harshly and must make amends, become reconciled and again live at peace. But few of the bolder spirits thought of a separate existence although the greater part of a year had |