This two-volume work truly warrants description as an extensive history of Fairfield, Connecticut. While Fairfield is the specific scope, the practical scope is much broader, as such an early town history can never be completely separated from the history of the colony as a whole. Fairfield’s accessible location upon Long Island Sound brought about its early discovery and initial settlement in 1639. From this first settlement through the second decade of the nineteenth century, Mrs. Schenk covers every aspect of a town history. A few general topics which are addressed are wars, agriculture, relations with the Indians, churches, schools, government and growth. The wealth of detailed history and available knowledge provided in over 700 pages of text is not all that these volumes have to offer. There are over twenty-five appendices containing such information as lists of freemen, land divisions (including the names of recipients), and deeds (with signatures intact). The parish record of Christ’s Church is yet another source of names as it contains a “record of those that renewed the covenant,” records of baptisms and lists of marriages. Yet to be mentioned, but of no less significance, is a collection of nearly 100 genealogical sketches and an every-name plus subject index. It is hard to imagine that a more comprehensive history of Fairfield’s first two hundred years could be written. History buffs and genealogists alike will benefit from and enjoy this truly remarkable work.
Elizabeth Hubbell Schenck
(1889, 1997, 2012), 2023, 5½x8½, paper, indices, 2 vols, 982 pp.
ISBN: 9780788407574
101-S0757
