99-451: The Gerald Hotel is a former hotel building at 151–157 Main Street in the center of Fairfield, Maine , United States. It was designed by William R. Miller for Amos F. Gerald , one of Maine 's leading businessmen of the late 19th century, and built in 1899–1900. It is a striking Renaissance Revival structure, with a sophistication of design and decoration not normally found in rural Maine, and
198-427: A "meeting, council, and manager " form of government. The town meeting is a citizen legislature, with limited legislative responsibility primarily related to establishing the town budget, approving annual appropriations, and approving any new indebtedness the town may incur. A five-member Town Council carries out the towns remaining legislative functions, including the creation of regulations, ordinances, and town policy,
297-465: A camp south of Stillwater . He then distinguished himself in both Battles of Saratoga , even though General Gates removed him from field command after the first battle, following a series of escalating disagreements and disputes that culminated in a shouting match. During the fighting in the second battle, Arnold disobeyed Gates' orders and took to the battlefield to lead attacks on the British defenses. He
396-545: A carriage entrance at the ground level, with the projecting polygonal bay above. The rightmost bay has a plate glass window at the ground level. The hotel was designed by Lewiston architect William R. Miller and built in 1899-1900 for Amos F. Gerald (1841-1913), one of Maine's leading businessmen. Gerald was born in nearby Benton , and invested in a large number of businesses in Maine, including electric trolley systems in several areas, industrial mills, and amusement parks. He built
495-531: A change accelerated by his marriage to the very young, very pretty, very Tory Peggy Shippen? Wetherell says that the shortest explanation for his treason is that he "married the wrong person". Arnold had been badly wounded twice in battle and had lost his business in Connecticut, which made him profoundly bitter. He grew resentful of several rival and younger generals who had been promoted ahead of him and given honors which he thought he deserved. Especially galling
594-495: A coded letter from André with Clinton's final offer: £20,000 (equivalent to £3,353,000 in 2023) and no indemnification for his losses. Neither side knew for some days that the other was in agreement with that offer, due to difficulties in getting the messages across the lines. Arnold's letters continued to detail Washington's troop movements and provide information about French reinforcements that were being organized. On August 25, Peggy finally delivered to him Clinton's agreement to
693-624: A difficult passage in which 300 men turned back and another 200 died en route. He and his men were joined by Richard Montgomery 's small army and participated in the December 31 assault on Quebec City in which Montgomery was killed and Arnold's leg was shattered. His chaplain Rev. Samuel Spring carried him to the makeshift hospital at the Hôtel Dieu. Arnold was promoted to brigadier general for his role in reaching Quebec, and he maintained an ineffectual siege of
792-403: A discussion on the types of assistance and intelligence that Arnold might provide, and included instructions for how to communicate in the future. Letters were to be passed through the women's circle that Peggy Arnold was a part of, but only Peggy would be aware that some letters contained instructions that were to be passed on to André, written in both code and invisible ink , using Stansbury as
891-545: A few miles downriver from the town where he had grown up. In the winter of 1782, he and Peggy moved to London . He was well received by King George III and the Tories but frowned upon by the Whigs and most British Army officers. In 1787, he moved to Canada to run a merchant business with his sons Richard and Henry. He was extremely unpopular there and returned to London permanently in 1791, where he died ten years later. Benedict Arnold
990-512: A highly detailed report through the secret channel. When he reached Connecticut, Arnold arranged to sell his home there and began transferring assets to London through intermediaries in New York. By early July, he was back in Philadelphia, where he wrote another secret message to Clinton on July 7 which implied that his appointment to West Point was assured and that he might even provide a "drawing of
1089-519: A letter of resignation on July 11, the same day that word arrived in Philadelphia that Fort Ticonderoga had fallen to the British. Washington refused his resignation and ordered him north to assist with the defense there. Arnold arrived in Schuyler's camp at Fort Edward, New York , on July 24. On August 13, Schuyler dispatched him with a force of 900 to relieve the Siege of Fort Stanwix , where he succeeded in
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#17331057529271188-507: A male householder with no wife present, and 33.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age in the town was 41.8 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 31% were from 45 to 64; and 13.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of
1287-513: A ruse to lift the siege. He sent an Indian messenger into the camp of British Brigadier-General Barry St. Leger with news that the approaching force was much larger and closer than it actually was; this convinced St. Leger's Indian allies to abandon him, forcing him to give up the effort. Arnold returned to the Hudson where General Gates had taken over command of the American army, which had retreated to
1386-596: A sign of loyalty to the United States. The British withdrew from Philadelphia in June 1778, and Washington appointed Arnold military commander of the city. Historian John Shy states: Arnold began planning to capitalize financially on the change in power in Philadelphia, even before the Americans reoccupied their city. He engaged in a variety of business deals designed to profit from war-related supply movements and benefiting from
1485-412: A solid slab of granite that was reported to be the largest quarried in Maine at the time. This bay originally had an elaborate rooftop pavilion (visible in the 1905 postcard view); this was removed in the mid-20th century. The flanking flat bays each have paired windows on the upper level (each level having different decorative treatment), and plate glass windows at the ground level. The left corner bay has
1584-408: A spy. He then took the letter back to Connecticut, suspicious of Arnold's actions, where he delivered it to the head of the Connecticut militia. General Samuel Holden Parsons laid it aside, seeing a letter written as a coded business discussion. Four days later, Arnold sent a ciphered letter with similar content into New York through the services of the wife of a prisoner of war. Eventually, a meeting
1683-471: A tender of [Arnold's] services to Sir Henry Clinton". Stansbury ignored instructions from Arnold to involve no one else in the plot, and he crossed the British lines and went to see Jonathan Odell in New York. Odell was a Loyalist working with William Franklin , the last colonial governor of New Jersey and the son of Benjamin Franklin . On May 9, Franklin introduced Stansbury to André, who had just been named
1782-523: A traitor because of all the injustice he suffered, real and imagined, at the hands of the Continental Congress and his jealous fellow generals? Because of the constant agony of two battlefield wounds in an already gout-ridden leg? From psychological wounds received in his Connecticut childhood when his alcoholic father squandered the family's fortunes? Or was it a kind of extreme midlife crisis, swerving from radical political beliefs to reactionary ones,
1881-473: A wrong. Arnold spent several months recovering from his injuries. He had his leg crudely set, rather than allowing it to be amputated, leaving it 2 inches (5 cm) shorter than the right. He returned to the army at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania , in May 1778 to the applause of men who had served under him at Saratoga. There he participated in the first recorded oath of allegiance , along with many other soldiers, as
1980-425: A year later for a substantial profit. In 1764, he formed a partnership with Adam Babcock, another young New Haven merchant. They bought three trading ships, using the profits from the sale of his homestead, and established a lucrative West Indies trade. During this time, Arnold brought his sister Hannah to New Haven and established her in his apothecary to manage the business in his absence. He traveled extensively in
2079-634: Is a town in Somerset County , Maine , United States. The population was 6,484 at the 2020 census . The town includes Fairfield Center, Fairfield village and Hinckley, and borders the city of Waterville to the south. It is home to the Good Will-Hinckley School, Lawrence High School and Kennebec Valley Community College . The area was territory of the Canibas tribe of Abenaki Indians residing at Taconnet village, once located downriver at
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#17331057529272178-527: Is based on uncertain documentary evidence. Arnold established himself in business in 1762 as a pharmacist and bookseller in New Haven, Connecticut , with the help of the Lathrops. He was hardworking and successful, and was able to rapidly expand his business. In 1763, he repaid money that he had borrowed from the Lathrops, repurchased the family homestead that his father had sold when deeply in debt, and re-sold it
2277-431: Is decorated with terracotta trim elements, and is divided into five sections: projecting polygonal corner bays and a central projecting bay flank flat sections. The central bay is supported by iron columns on the first floor, and rises to the fourth. It has rounded corners, with windows at the corners and the center, except for the ground level, where the projection shelters the recessed main entrance. The bay supports rest on
2376-596: Is located in Fairfield and is one of the seven colleges in the Maine Community College System . Colby College and Thomas College are four year colleges located in the neighboring town of Waterville. 44°35′18″N 69°35′55″W / 44.58833°N 69.59861°W / 44.58833; -69.59861 Benedict Arnold This monument was erected under the patronage of the State of Connecticut in
2475-502: Is one of the town's largest buildings. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. The Gerald Hotel building is set on the west side of Main Street in the village center of Fairfield, a short way south of the junction of Maine State Route 100 and United States Route 201 . The four story brick and terracotta building towers over nearby buildings, which range in height from one to three stories. The main facade
2574-448: The Battle of Ridgefield in Connecticut prompted his promotion to major general. He conducted operations that provided the Americans with relief during the Siege of Fort Stanwix , and key actions during the pivotal 1777 Battles of Saratoga in which he sustained leg injuries that put him out of combat for several years. Arnold repeatedly claimed that he was being passed over for promotion by
2673-563: The French and Indian War , but his mother refused permission. In 1757 when he was 16, he did enlist in the Connecticut militia, which marched off toward Albany, New York , and Lake George . The French had besieged Fort William Henry in northeastern New York, and their Indian allies had committed atrocities after their victory. Word of the siege's disastrous outcome led the company to turn around, and Arnold served for only 13 days. A commonly accepted story that he deserted from militia service in 1758
2772-546: The Kennebec River to the Battle of Quebec . Following the Revolutionary War , Fairfield Plantation developed as a trade and agricultural town, with farms producing hay, grain and potatoes. It was noted for the number and quality of its cattle. On June 18, 1788, it was incorporated as Fairfield. By 1790, the community had 492 inhabitants. In 1837, it produced 11,531 bushels of wheat and a large quantity of wool. Falls on
2871-491: The Köppen Climate Classification system, Fairfield has a humid continental climate , abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. As of the census of 2010, there were 6,735 people, 2,793 households, and 1,851 families residing in the town. The population density was 125.3 inhabitants per square mile (48.4/km ). There were 3,016 housing units at an average density of 56.1 per square mile (21.7/km ). The racial makeup of
2970-563: The Second Continental Congress , and that other officers were being given credit for some of his accomplishments. Some in his military and political circles charged him with corruption and other bad acts. After formal inquiries, he was usually acquitted, but Congress investigated his finances and determined that he was indebted to Congress and that he had borrowed money heavily to maintain a lavish lifestyle. Arnold mingled with Loyalist sympathizers in Philadelphia and married into
3069-500: The United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 54.58 square miles (141.36 km ), of which 53.75 square miles (139.21 km ) is land and 0.83 square miles (2.15 km ) is water. Fairfield is drained by the Kennebec River . This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to
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3168-557: The capture of Fort Ticonderoga . He followed up that action with a bold raid on Fort Saint-Jean on the Richelieu River north of Lake Champlain . A Connecticut militia force arrived at Ticonderoga in June; Arnold had a dispute with its commander over control of the fort, and resigned his Massachusetts commission. He was on his way home from Ticonderoga when he learned that his wife had died earlier in June. The Second Continental Congress authorized an invasion of Quebec , in part on
3267-648: The chain across the Hudson were never ordered. Troops were liberally distributed within Arnold's command area (but only minimally at West Point itself) or furnished to Washington on request. He also peppered Washington with complaints about the lack of supplies, writing, "Everything is wanting." At the same time, he tried to drain West Point's supplies so that a siege would be more likely to succeed. His subordinates, some long-time associates, grumbled about Arnold's unnecessary distribution of supplies and eventually concluded that he
3366-541: The 55th year of the Independence of the U.S.A. in memory of the brave patriots massacred at Fort Griswold near this spot on the 6th of Sept. AD 1781, when the British, under the command of the Traitor Benedict Arnold , burnt the towns of New London and Groton and spread desolation and woe throughout the region. Benedict Arnold (14 January 1741 [ O.S. 3 January 1740] – June 14, 1801)
3465-472: The British Army, an annual pension of £360 (equivalent to £60,000 in 2023), and a lump sum of over £6,000 (equivalent to £1,006,000 in 2023). He led British forces in the raid on Richmond and oversaw a raid on New London, Connecticut which burned much of it to the ground. Arnold also commanded British forces at the Battle of Blandford and the Battle of Groton Heights , the latter taking place just
3564-459: The British arrived. He then directed the construction of a fleet to defend Lake Champlain, which was overmatched and defeated in the October 1776 Battle of Valcour Island . However, his actions at Saint-Jean and Valcour Island played a notable role in delaying the British advance against Ticonderoga until 1777. During these actions, Arnold made a number of friends and a larger number of enemies within
3663-401: The British spy chief. This was the beginning of a secret correspondence between Arnold and André, sometimes using his wife Peggy as a willing intermediary, which culminated more than a year later with Arnold's change of sides. André conferred with Clinton, who gave him broad authority to pursue Arnold's offer. André then drafted instructions to Stansbury and Arnold. This initial letter opened
3762-481: The Kennebec drop 34 feet (10 m) at Fairfield, providing water power for industry. The mill town had eight sawmills, three planing mills, a gristmill, a canned corn factory, plaster mill, three carriage factories, a sled factory, two door, sash and blind factories, a cabinet and box factory, coffin factory, a clothing factory, a marble works and a tannery. The largest factories were the textile plants—Kendall's Mills in
3861-475: The Loyalist family of Peggy Shippen . She was a close friend of British Major John André and kept in contact with him when he became head of the British espionage system in New York. Many historians see her as having facilitated Arnold's plans to switch sides; he opened secret negotiations with André, and she relayed their messages to each other. The British promised £20,000 (equivalent to £3,353,000 in 2023) for
3960-470: The Parliamentary Acts, which legally amounted to smuggling. He also faced financial ruin, falling £16,000 (equivalent to £2,762,000 in 2023) in debt with creditors spreading rumors of his insolvency, to the point where he took legal action against them. On the night of January 28, 1767, he and members of his crew roughed up a man suspected of attempting to inform authorities of Arnold's smuggling. He
4059-539: The SAPPI paper mill just north of Hinckley). The Somerset Railroad (Maine) traversed western Fairfield on a route that once ran north from Oakland to Norridgewock, Madison, Bingham, and Moosehead Lake. In 1889, Reverend George W. Hinckley founded the Hinckley School . In 1899–1900, The Gerald Hotel was built downtown. Designed by Maine architect William Robinson Miller , it was commissioned by Amos F. Gerald, builder of
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4158-456: The Shippen family were being threatened. Arnold was rebuffed by Congress and by local authorities in requests for security details for himself and his in-laws. Arnold's court martial on charges of profiteering began meeting on June 1, 1779, but it was delayed until December 1779 by Clinton's capture of Stony Point, New York , throwing the army into a flurry of activity to react. Several members on
4257-504: The Tories." A few days later, Arnold wrote to Greene and lamented over the "deplorable" and "horrid" situation of the country at that particular moment, citing the depreciating currency, disaffection of the army, and internal fighting in Congress, while predicting "impending ruin" if things did not change soon. Biographer Nathaniel Philbrick argues: Peggy Shippen… did have a significant role in
4356-607: The Town Council and advises the council on matters before it. The current Town Manager is Michelle Flewelling. Fairfield schools are part of Maine School Administrative District 49 . Roberta Hersom is the Superintendent of Schools. The following schools are in the district, Albion Elementary, Adult Education, Benton Elementary, Clinton Elementary, Fairfield Primary, District Childcare Program, Lawrence High School and Lawrence Junior High School. Kennebec Valley Community College
4455-455: The approval of town contracts and commissions, and the appointment of town officers. The council also carries out quasi-judicial functions, such as review of certain decisions by town boards and committees or town officers. The council also oversees the work of the Town Manager. The Town Manager carries out the day to day executive functions of the town under the guidance and in consultation with
4554-705: The army power structure and in Congress. He had established a decent relationship with George Washington, as well as Philip Schuyler and Horatio Gates , both of whom had command of the army's Northern Department during 1775 and 1776. However, an acrimonious dispute with Moses Hazen , commander of the 2nd Canadian Regiment , boiled into Hazen's court martial at Ticonderoga during the summer of 1776. Only action by Arnold's superior at Ticonderoga prevented his own arrest on countercharges leveled by Hazen. He also had disagreements with John Brown and James Easton, two lower-level officers with political connections that resulted in ongoing suggestions of improprieties on his part. Brown
4653-405: The average family size was 2.92. In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males. The median income for a household in the town
4752-435: The battle lines, despite military bans on communication with the enemy. Some of this communication was effected through the services of Joseph Stansbury, a Philadelphia merchant. Historians have identified many possible factors contributing to Arnold's treason, while some debate their relative importance. According to W. D. Wetherell , he was: [A]mong the hardest human beings to understand in American history. Did he become
4851-499: The capture of West Point, a major American stronghold. Washington greatly admired Arnold and gave him command of that fort in July 1780. His plan was to surrender the fort to the British, but it was exposed in September 1780 when American militiamen captured André carrying papers which revealed the plot. Arnold escaped and André was hanged. Arnold received a commission as a brigadier general in
4950-526: The city until he was replaced by Major General David Wooster in April 1776. Arnold then traveled to Montreal where he served as military commander of the city until forced to retreat by an advancing British army that had arrived at Quebec in May. He presided over the rear of the Continental Army during its retreat from Saint-Jean, where he was reported by James Wilkinson to be the last person to leave before
5049-409: The colonial governor. Only he and his sister Hannah survived to adulthood; his other siblings died from yellow fever in childhood. His siblings were, in order of birth: Benedict (1738–1739), Hannah (1742–1803), Mary (1745–1753), Absolom (1747–1750), and Elizabeth (1749–1755). Through his maternal grandmother, Arnold was a descendant of John Lothropp , an ancestor of six presidents. Arnold's father
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#17331057529275148-515: The confluence of the Sebasticook and Kennebec rivers in what is today Winslow . In 1692 during King William's War , the village was burned, so the Canibas tribe abandoned the area. The French and Indian Wars finally ended in 1763, leaving the region open for English colonization. Fairfield Plantation, named for its fair aspect, was first settled in 1774. Benedict Arnold and his troops rested and re-provisioned here in 1775 during their march up
5247-405: The courier. By July 1779, Arnold was providing the British with troop locations and strengths, as well as the locations of supply depots, all the while negotiating over compensation. At first, he asked for indemnification of his losses and £10,000 (equivalent to £1,698,000 in 2023) an amount that the Continental Congress had given Charles Lee for his services in the Continental Army. Clinton
5346-548: The course of his business throughout New England and from Quebec to the West Indies , often in command of one of his own ships. Some sources allege that on one of his voyages he fought a duel in Honduras with a British sea captain who had called him a "damned Yankee, destitute of good manners or those of a gentleman". The captain was wounded in the first exchange of gunfire, and he apologized when Arnold threatened to aim to kill on
5445-616: The first electric trolley system in Maine. The hotel was topped with a statue of Mercury , the Roman god of speed, and remained in operation from 1900 until 1937. Miller also designed the town's Lawrence Library , dedicated on July 25, 1901, and the Lawrence High School. Today, Fairfield makes wood and paper products, and is largely a bedroom community for Waterville. The town has three post offices because it contains four different unincorporated townships under municipal jurisdiction of
5544-576: The following month to assist in the Siege of Boston that followed the Battles of Lexington and Concord . He proposed an action to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety to seize Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York, which he knew was poorly defended. They issued him a colonel's commission on May 3, 1775, and he immediately rode off to Castleton in the disputed New Hampshire Grants ( Vermont ) in time to participate with Ethan Allen and his men in
5643-443: The ground floor, and was a major gathering point for social and civic events. From an early date, one of the storefronts was occupied by Lawrie Furniture, which occupied the space until 1963 and was the major furniture retailer in the area. The upper floors were converted into apartments in the 1940s. The building underwent rehabilitation in 2015, and now serves as an apartment building for seniors. Fairfield, Maine Fairfield
5742-476: The offer to surrender West Point, although his price rose to £20,000 (equivalent to £3,353,000 in 2023) (in addition to indemnification for his losses), with a £1,000 (equivalent to £168,000 in 2023) down payment to be delivered with the response. These letters were delivered by Samuel Wallis, another Philadelphia businessman who spied for the British, rather than by Stansbury. On August 3, 1780, Arnold obtained command of West Point. On August 15, he received
5841-622: The panel of judges were ill-disposed toward Arnold over actions and disputes earlier in the war, yet Arnold was cleared of all but two minor charges on January 26, 1780. Arnold worked over the next few months to publicize this fact; however, Washington published a formal rebuke of his behavior in early April, just one week after he had congratulated Arnold on the birth of his son Edward Shippen Arnold on March 19: The Commander-in-Chief would have been much happier in an occasion of bestowing commendations on an officer who had rendered such distinguished services to his country as Major General Arnold; but in
5940-478: The papers exposing the plot to capture West Point and passed them on to their superiors, but André convinced the unsuspecting Colonel John Jameson , to whom he was delivered, to send him back to Arnold at West Point—but he never reached West Point. Major Benjamin Tallmadge was a member of the Continental Army's Culper Ring , a network of spies established under Washington's orders, and he insisted that Jameson order
6039-590: The plot was discovered in September 1780, whereupon he fled to the British lines. In the later part of the war, Arnold was commissioned as a brigadier general in the British Army and placed in command of the American Legion . He led British forces in battle against the army which he had once commanded, and his name became synonymous with treason and betrayal in the United States. Arnold was born in Connecticut . He
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#17331057529276138-417: The plot. She exerted powerful influence on her husband, who is said to have been his own man but who actually was swayed by his staff and certainly by his wife. Peggy came from a loyalist family in Philadelphia; she had many ties to the British. She… was the conduit for information to the British. Early in May 1779, Arnold met with Philadelphia merchant Joseph Stansbury who then "went secretly to New York with
6237-407: The population. There were 2,586 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and
6336-501: The present case, a sense of duty and a regard to candor oblige him to declare that he considers his conduct [in the convicted actions] as imprudent and improper. Shortly after Washington's rebuke, a Congressional inquiry into Arnold's expenditures concluded that he had failed to account fully for his expenditures incurred during the Quebec invasion, and that he owed the Congress some £1,000 (equivalent to £168,000 in 2023) largely because he
6435-433: The prospects, Clinton informed his superiors of his intelligence coup, but failed to respond to Arnold's July 7 letter. Arnold next wrote a series of letters to Clinton, even before he might have expected a response to the July 7 letter. In a July 11 letter, he complained that the British did not appear to trust him, and threatened to break off negotiations unless progress was made. On July 12, he wrote again, making explicit
6534-506: The protection of his authority. Such schemes were not uncommon among American officers, but Arnold's schemes were sometimes frustrated by powerful local politicians such as Joseph Reed , who eventually amassed enough evidence to publicly air charges against him. Arnold demanded a court martial to clear the charges, writing to Washington in May 1779: "Having become a cripple in the service of my country, I little expected to meet ungrateful returns". Arnold lived extravagantly in Philadelphia and
6633-720: The second. However, it is unknown whether this encounter actually happened or not, and some historians characterize the alleged duel as a fabrication. The Sugar Act of 1764 and the Stamp Act of 1765 severely curtailed mercantile trade in the colonies. The Stamp Act prompted Arnold to join the chorus of voices in opposition, and also led to his joining the Sons of Liberty , a secret organization which advocated resistance to those and other restrictive Parliamentary measures. Arnold initially took no part in any public demonstrations but, like many merchants, continued to do business openly in defiance of
6732-543: The secret channels with the British, informing them of Schuyler's proposals and including Schuyler's assessment of conditions at West Point. He also provided information on a proposed French-American invasion of Quebec that was to go up the Connecticut River (Arnold did not know that this proposed invasion was a ruse intended to divert British resources). On June 16, Arnold inspected West Point while on his way home to Connecticut to take care of personal business, and he sent
6831-560: The ship that was intended to carry André back to New York. This action did little damage besides giving the captain, Andrew Sutherland, a splinter in his nose—but the splinter prompted the Vulture to retreat, forcing André to return to New York overland. Arnold wrote out passes for André so that he would be able to pass through the lines, and he also gave him plans for West Point. André was captured near Tarrytown, New York , on Saturday, September 23, by three Westchester militiamen. They found
6930-788: The southeastern extremity of the town, and Somerset Mills located about two miles above. The main line of the Maine Central Railroad passes through Fairfield on the way from Portland to Waterville to Bangor, and the Skowhegan branch of the Maine Central Railroad (originally the Somerset and Kennebec Railroad) ran along the Kennebec River from Waterville to Skowhegan , with stations in Shawmut and Hinckley (today, this line terminates at
7029-532: The state's first electrical power station in Fairfield, and promoted electrification across the state. The elaborate design of the Gerald Hotel was typical of Gerald's buildings, which were intended to be objects of curiosity. Gerald was a longtime Fairfield resident; his house , also a Miller design, is also listed on the National Register. The Gerald Hotel operated for 35 years, with commercial businesses on
7128-527: The terms. Arnold's command at West Point also gave him authority over the entire American-controlled Hudson River, from Albany down to the British lines outside New York City. While en route to West Point, Arnold renewed an acquaintance with Joshua Hett Smith , who had spied for both sides and who owned a house near the western bank of the Hudson about 15 miles south of West Point. Once Arnold established himself at West Point, he began systematically weakening its defenses and military strength. Needed repairs of
7227-686: The town of Fairfield: The third post office serves the incorporated urban Fairfield (CDP) , an early name for which was Kendall's Mills. For approximately 75 years, the urban district was under a village corporation government. Thus, the town would hold New England style town meetings that covered business for the greater town, followed by a village corporation meeting to deal with urban needs, including police service, fire department service and town engineer service ( public works ). The non-urban, unincorporated areas—Shawmut, Fairfield Center and Hinckley—were not assessed taxes for urban services they did not receive. This arrangement ended in 1929. According to
7326-584: The town was 49.4% male and 50.6% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 6,573 people, 2,586 households, and 1,773 families residing in the town. The population density was 122.3 people per 1 per square mile (0.39/km ). There were 2,801 housing units at an average density of 52.1 per square mile (20.1/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 97.92% White , 0.35% Bl.ack o.r African American , 0.33% Native American , 0.27% Asian , 0.05% Pacific Islander , 0.05% from other races , and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of
7425-418: The town was 97.4% White , 0.4% African American , 0.4% Native American , 0.5% Asian , 0.1% from other races , and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population. There were 2,793 households, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had
7524-474: The urging of Arnold, but he was passed over for command of the expedition. He then went to Cambridge, Massachusetts , and suggested to George Washington a second expedition to attack Quebec City via a wilderness route through Maine . He received a colonel's commission in the Continental Army for this expedition and left Cambridge in September 1775 with 1,100 men. He arrived before Quebec City in November, after
7623-495: The winter socializing in Boston, where he unsuccessfully courted a young belle named Betsy Deblois. In February 1777, he learned that he had been passed over by Congress for promotion to major general. Washington refused his offer to resign, and wrote to members of Congress in an attempt to correct this, noting that "two or three other very good officers" might be lost if they persisted in making politically motivated promotions. Arnold
7722-556: The works ... by which you might take [West Point] without loss". André returned victorious from the Siege of Charleston on June 18, and both he and Clinton were immediately caught up in this news. Clinton was concerned that Washington's army and the French fleet would join in Rhode Island, and he again fixed on West Point as a strategic point to capture. André had spies and informers keeping track of Arnold to verify his movements. Excited by
7821-446: Was $ 36,462, and the median income for a family was $ 43,533. Males had a median income of $ 31,227 versus $ 22,930 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 16,335. About 6.3% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over. Fairfield has a government established in accordance with its municipal charter. Like many Maine towns, Fairfield has
7920-466: Was 14, there was no money for private education. His father's alcoholism and ill health kept him from training Arnold in the family mercantile business, but his mother's family connections secured an apprenticeship for him with her cousins Daniel and Joshua Lathrop, who operated a successful apothecary and general merchandise trade in Norwich. His apprenticeship with the Lathrops lasted seven years. Arnold
8019-417: Was a long feud with the civil authorities in Philadelphia which led to his court-martial. He was also convicted of two minor charges of using his authority to make a profit. General Washington gave him a light reprimand, but it merely heightened Arnold's sense of betrayal; nonetheless, he had already opened negotiations with the British before his court martial even began. He later said in his own defense that he
8118-531: Was a merchant operating ships in the Atlantic when the war began. He joined the growing American army outside of Boston and distinguished himself by acts that demonstrated intelligence and bravery: In 1775, he captured Fort Ticonderoga . In 1776, he employed defensive and delay tactics at the Battle of Valcour Island in Lake Champlain that gave American forces time to prepare New York's defenses. His performance in
8217-469: Was a prominent figure on the social scene. During the summer of 1778, he met Peggy Shippen , the 18-year-old daughter of Judge Edward Shippen IV , a Loyalist sympathizer who had done business with the British while they occupied the city; Peggy had been courted by Major John André during the British occupation of Philadelphia. She married Arnold on April 8, 1779. Shippen and her circle of friends had found methods of staying in contact with paramours across
8316-413: Was a successful businessman, and the family moved in the upper levels of Norwich society. He was enrolled in a private school in nearby Canterbury, Connecticut , when he was 10, with the expectation that he would eventually attend Yale College . However, the deaths of his siblings two years later may have contributed to a decline in the family fortunes, since his father took up drinking. By the time that he
8415-465: Was again severely wounded in the left leg late in the fighting. Arnold said that it would have been better had it been in the chest instead of the leg. Burgoyne surrendered ten days after the second battle on October 17, 1777. Congress restored Arnold's command seniority in response to his valor at Saratoga. However, he interpreted the manner in which they did so as an act of sympathy for his wounds, and not an apology or recognition that they were righting
8514-410: Was again wounded in his left leg. He then continued on to Philadelphia, where he met with members of Congress about his rank. His action at Ridgefield, coupled with the death of Wooster due to wounds sustained in the action, resulted in his promotion to major general, although his seniority was not restored over those who had been promoted before him. Amid negotiations over that issue, Arnold wrote out
8613-559: Was an American-born British military officer who served during the American Revolutionary War . He fought with distinction for the American Continental Army and rose to the rank of major general before defecting to the British in 1780. General George Washington had given him his fullest trust and had placed him in command of West Point in New York. Arnold was planning to surrender the fort to British forces, but
8712-550: Was born a British subject, the second of six children of his father Benedict Arnold III (1683–1761) and Hannah Waterman King in Norwich , Connecticut Colony , on January 14, 1741. Arnold was the fourth member of his family named after his great-grandfather Benedict Arnold I , an early governor of the Colony of Rhode Island ; his grandfather (Benedict Arnold II) and father, as well as an older brother who died in infancy, were also named for
8811-414: Was convicted of disorderly conduct and fined the relatively small amount of 50 shillings; publicity of the case and widespread sympathy for his views probably contributed to the light sentence. On February 22, 1767, Arnold married Margaret Mansfield, daughter of Samuel Mansfield, the sheriff of New Haven and a fellow member in the local Masonic lodge . Their son Benedict was born the following year and
8910-533: Was followed by brothers Richard in 1769 and Henry in 1772. Margaret died on June 19, 1775, while Arnold was at Fort Ticonderoga following its capture. She is buried in the crypt of the Center Church on New Haven Green . The household was dominated by Arnold's sister Hannah, even while Margaret was alive. Arnold benefited from his relationship with Mansfield, who became a partner in his business and used his position as sheriff to shield him from creditors. Arnold
9009-613: Was in the West Indies when the Boston Massacre took place on March 5, 1770. He wrote that he was "very much shocked" and wondered "good God, are the Americans all asleep and tamely giving up their liberties, or are they all turned philosophers, that they don't take immediate vengeance on such miscreants?" Arnold began the war as a captain in the Connecticut militia, a position to which he was elected in March 1775. His company marched northeast
9108-460: Was loyal to his true beliefs, yet he lied at the same time by insisting that Peggy was totally innocent and ignorant of his plans. As early as 1778, there were signs that Arnold was unhappy with his situation and pessimistic about the country's future. On November 10, 1778, Major General Nathanael Greene wrote to Brigadier General John Cadwalader , "I am told General Arnold is become very unpopular among you oweing to his associateing too much with
9207-458: Was on his way to Philadelphia to discuss his future when he was alerted that a British force was marching toward a supply depot in Danbury, Connecticut . He organized the militia response, along with David Wooster and Connecticut militia General Gold Selleck Silliman . He led a small contingent of militia attempting to stop or slow the British return to the coast in the Battle of Ridgefield , and
9306-533: Was particularly vicious, publishing a handbill which claimed of Arnold, "Money is this man's God, and to get enough of it he would sacrifice his country". General Washington assigned Arnold to the defense of Rhode Island following the British capture of Newport in December 1776, where the local militia were too poorly equipped to even consider an attack on the British. He took the opportunity to visit his children while near his home in New Haven, and he spent much of
9405-565: Was pursuing a campaign to gain control of the Hudson River Valley, and was interested in plans and information on the defenses of West Point and other defenses on the Hudson River. He also began to insist on a face-to-face meeting, and suggested to Arnold that he pursue another high-level command. By October 1779, the negotiations had ground to a halt. Furthermore, revolutionary mobs were scouring Philadelphia for Loyalists, and Arnold and
9504-467: Was selling them on the black market for personal gain. On August 30, Arnold sent a letter accepting Clinton's terms and proposing a meeting to André through yet another intermediary: William Heron, a member of the Connecticut Assembly whom he thought he could trust. In an ironic twist, Heron went into New York unaware of the significance of the letter and offered his own services to the British as
9603-525: Was set for September 11 near Dobbs Ferry. This meeting was thwarted when British gunboats in the river fired on his boat, not being informed of his impending arrival. Arnold and André finally met on September 21 at the Joshua Hett Smith House . On the morning of September 22, from their position at Teller's Point, two American rebels (under the command of Colonel James Livingston ), John "Jack" Peterson and Moses Sherwood, fired on HMS Vulture ,
9702-408: Was unable to document them. Many of these documents had been lost during the retreat from Quebec. Angry and frustrated, Arnold resigned his military command of Philadelphia in late April. Early in April 1780, Philip Schuyler had approached Arnold with the possibility of giving him the command at West Point. Discussions had not borne fruit between Schuyler and Washington by early June. Arnold reopened
9801-431: Was very close to his mother, who died in 1759. His father's alcoholism worsened after her death, and the youth took on the responsibility of supporting his father and younger sister. His father was arrested on several occasions for public drunkenness, was refused communion by his church, and died in 1761. In 1755, Arnold was attracted by the sound of a drummer and attempted to enlist in the provincial militia for service in
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