Henry Burr Sherwood
Encyclopedia
Henry Burr Sherwood was an inventor, miller, and farmer in Westport, Connecticut
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He played a notable role in the 19th century economy of the Westport Connecticut (Fairfield County) area, including owning & operating the Compo Tide Mill (see 'Mill Cove Historic District' in the National Historic Register http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/ct/Fairfield/districts.html), inventing a farming implement important for the local onion-growing economy of the Westport/Fairfield area (see US Patent 237,057 http://patimg2.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=00237057&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO2%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-adv.htm%2526r%3D1%2526p%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526d%3DPALL%2526S1%3D0237057.PN.%2526OS%3Dpn%2F237057%2526RS%3DPN%2F237057&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page), and establishing in 1857 a 14 acres (56,656 m²) onion farm on the west side of Sherwood Mill Pond at 180 Hillspoint Rd, Westport CT (see http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=180+hillspoint+rd,+westport+ct&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=41.115605,-73.342237&spn=0.012092,0.027251&t=h&om=1).
fame http://www.friendsofsherwoodisland.org/Pages/History/H-history.htm. He was an 8th generation Sherwood and a nephew of the Sherwood ship captain triplets - Francis, Franklin, and Frederick - famous for their roles running clipper ships
in the China Trade
.
The Sherwood family originally settled in Fairfield County from Ipswich England in 1634. A descendant, Daniel (b. 1761), built a homestead on Sherwood Island, east of today's Sherwood Mill Pond, and married a Catherine Burr. Their son, Daniel (b. 1794), was father of Henry Burr Sherwood (b. 1829) and built the house currently standing at 160 Hillspoint Rd., Westport CT.
Henry married Julie Guyer of Westport, daughter of a neighboring farmer. They had two children: Etta M. (b. 1862) and Rollin G. (b. 1869).
The Sherwood Mill Pond http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=41.1175&lon=-73.34056&datum=nad27&u=4&layer=DRG&size=l&s=25 at Compo Cove is a large tidal pond hugely significant to the settlement and historical development pattern of the local Westport - Compo - Greens Farm area. The tidal flow from Long Island Sound was a significant source of power in the 18th century leading to construction of one of the earliest grist mills in the area (rights granted ca. 1705 by the town of Fairfield CT). The tidal pond also hosted fertile and productive oyster beds. The original grist mill was built by a John Cable; but by 1790 had been acquired and rebuilt by Sherwood family members to service local farmers. Henry's father Daniel, and uncle Ebenezer, improved the mill by erecting a substantial breakwater, wharves, and sluice gateshttp://www.friendsofsherwoodisland.org/Pages/History/H-millpond.htm.
Henry Burr Sherwood acquired a 3/4 interest in the Tide Mill for $1500 in 1853 (Westport Land Records, 6:261). In the following years, he acquired additional properties surrounding the Mill Pond: 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) of salt meadows and 14 acres (56,656 m²) on the west side of the Mill Pond.
The mill specialized in grinding kiln-dried corn meal for shipment to New York and to the West Indies. Coasting and packet vessels came in to Compo Cove and loaded at the tide mill. The mill also had a cooperage for manufacturing the barrels used in shipping. The 1860 census showed Henry using skilled labor from England to help operate the mill.
Demand for milling of corn and other grains declined as the Westport farm economy began transitioning to onion farming just prior to the Civil War. Henry worked during the post-Civil War years to keep the Tide Mill utilized by importing, grinding, and shipping baryte (barite
), a mineral with a number of industrial uses. The Compo Tide Mill was destroyed by fire in 1895.
Westport, Connecticut
-Neighborhoods:* Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices....
.
He played a notable role in the 19th century economy of the Westport Connecticut (Fairfield County) area, including owning & operating the Compo Tide Mill (see 'Mill Cove Historic District' in the National Historic Register http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/ct/Fairfield/districts.html), inventing a farming implement important for the local onion-growing economy of the Westport/Fairfield area (see US Patent 237,057 http://patimg2.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=00237057&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO2%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-adv.htm%2526r%3D1%2526p%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526d%3DPALL%2526S1%3D0237057.PN.%2526OS%3Dpn%2F237057%2526RS%3DPN%2F237057&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page), and establishing in 1857 a 14 acres (56,656 m²) onion farm on the west side of Sherwood Mill Pond at 180 Hillspoint Rd, Westport CT (see http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=180+hillspoint+rd,+westport+ct&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=41.115605,-73.342237&spn=0.012092,0.027251&t=h&om=1).
The Sherwood Family of Westport CT
Henry Burr Sherwood was born 1829 into the Sherwood family of Connecticut's Sherwood Island State ParkSherwood Island State Park
Sherwood Island State Park is a park on the shore of Long Island Sound, in the Greens Farms section of Westport, Connecticut.It covers of beach, wetlands and woodlands...
fame http://www.friendsofsherwoodisland.org/Pages/History/H-history.htm. He was an 8th generation Sherwood and a nephew of the Sherwood ship captain triplets - Francis, Franklin, and Frederick - famous for their roles running clipper ships
Clipper
A clipper was a very fast sailing ship of the 19th century that had three or more masts and a square rig. They were generally narrow for their length, could carry limited bulk freight, small by later 19th century standards, and had a large total sail area...
in the China Trade
Old China Trade
The Old China Trade was the name given to the early commerce between the Qing Empire and the United States under the Canton System, spanning from shortly after the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783 to the Treaty of Wanghsia in 1844...
.
The Sherwood family originally settled in Fairfield County from Ipswich England in 1634. A descendant, Daniel (b. 1761), built a homestead on Sherwood Island, east of today's Sherwood Mill Pond, and married a Catherine Burr. Their son, Daniel (b. 1794), was father of Henry Burr Sherwood (b. 1829) and built the house currently standing at 160 Hillspoint Rd., Westport CT.
Henry married Julie Guyer of Westport, daughter of a neighboring farmer. They had two children: Etta M. (b. 1862) and Rollin G. (b. 1869).
Miller, The Compo Tide Mill
Henry Burr Sherwood owned and operated the Compo Tide Mill. In 1991, the Mill Cove, the area immediately surrounding the location of the Compo Tide Mill, was declared a National Historic District.The Sherwood Mill Pond http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=41.1175&lon=-73.34056&datum=nad27&u=4&layer=DRG&size=l&s=25 at Compo Cove is a large tidal pond hugely significant to the settlement and historical development pattern of the local Westport - Compo - Greens Farm area. The tidal flow from Long Island Sound was a significant source of power in the 18th century leading to construction of one of the earliest grist mills in the area (rights granted ca. 1705 by the town of Fairfield CT). The tidal pond also hosted fertile and productive oyster beds. The original grist mill was built by a John Cable; but by 1790 had been acquired and rebuilt by Sherwood family members to service local farmers. Henry's father Daniel, and uncle Ebenezer, improved the mill by erecting a substantial breakwater, wharves, and sluice gateshttp://www.friendsofsherwoodisland.org/Pages/History/H-millpond.htm.
Henry Burr Sherwood acquired a 3/4 interest in the Tide Mill for $1500 in 1853 (Westport Land Records, 6:261). In the following years, he acquired additional properties surrounding the Mill Pond: 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) of salt meadows and 14 acres (56,656 m²) on the west side of the Mill Pond.
The mill specialized in grinding kiln-dried corn meal for shipment to New York and to the West Indies. Coasting and packet vessels came in to Compo Cove and loaded at the tide mill. The mill also had a cooperage for manufacturing the barrels used in shipping. The 1860 census showed Henry using skilled labor from England to help operate the mill.
Demand for milling of corn and other grains declined as the Westport farm economy began transitioning to onion farming just prior to the Civil War. Henry worked during the post-Civil War years to keep the Tide Mill utilized by importing, grinding, and shipping baryte (barite
Barite
Baryte, or barite, is a mineral consisting of barium sulfate. The baryte group consists of baryte, celestine, anglesite and anhydrite. Baryte itself is generally white or colorless, and is the main source of barium...
), a mineral with a number of industrial uses. The Compo Tide Mill was destroyed by fire in 1895.
Inventor and Onion Farmer
Onion farming began in the Westport area in the 1840s. Onions were a cash crop aided by the inexpensive transportation provided by Westport's location on the Saugatuck River and Long Island Sound. The Civil War drove increased demand for onions - pickled onions were used by the Union Army to reduce scurvy.Sources
- "The Sherwood Family", article by Edward C. Birge, The Westport-Herald, June 7, 1935
- Greens Farms Connecticut - the old West parish of Fairfield, George P Jennings, Modern Books & Crafts, Greens Farms, CT, 1933
- Friends of Sherwood Island State Park website http://www.friendsofsherwoodisland.org/index.htm