Mountain View Cemetery LbNA #61266
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Mar 17, 2012 |
| Location: | Rte. 37; Mountain View Cemetery |
| City: | New Fairfield |
| County: | Fairfield |
| State: | Connecticut |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | mkr005  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Jacques |
| Last found: | Jul 13, 2023 |
| Status: | FFFFaaFF |
| Last edited: | Mar 17, 2012 |
DIRECTIONS: From the center of New Fairfield (where Rte. 39 and Rte. 37 cross), go Northwest on Rte. 37 approximately one mile. On the right side of the road, you will find Mountain View Cemetery. There is a large pull over/parking area in front of the cemetery. This is where you can park your car and go in through the gate at the front east corner of the cemetery.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Easy
APPROXIMATE LENGETH OF TIME: 15 Minutes
SOME HISTORY: Presented by Preserve New Fairfield, Inc. A story of a local Civil War soldier…
SYLVESTER FREEMAN:
After signing the Emancipation Proclamation that freed slaves in January 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued General Order #143, which established the “Bureau of Colored Troops.” Connecticut followed Massachusetts and Rhode Island in passing a bill that organized a regiment of black soldiers: The Connecticut 29th Colored Regiment C.V. Infantry was born.
Three months after this Regiment was founded, eighteen year old, Sherman born Sylvester Freeman volunteered on November 18, 1863. He was the son of Gilbert Freeman, a laborer, and his wife, Emma. Sylvester was a farmer prior to traveling to New Haven to enlist as a Private in the 29th Regiment. He was described as having “black eyes, black hair, black complexion” and being “5 ft. 6-5/6 inches high.” On his “Declaration Recruit” he declared before two witnesses, “I do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposes whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States of America, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War”; and he signed his name.
Outfitted in a blur cotton uniform, he began his training in nearby Fair Haven. Equipment included using sticks as substitute fire arms until they received Springfield rifles four months later! The 29th Regiment saw action in May and June of 1864 at Bermuda Hundred, and Point of Rocks, VA, while Sylvester suffered ill health and was hospitalized for a time. He rejoined his unit in September. As fall turned to winter, the 29th Regiment assisted in taking Fort Harrison from the Rebels and joined in reconnaissance and heavy fighting as they approached the Confederate Capitol of Richmond. The remainder of the year of 1864 saw them performing guard duty at forts along the battle line, building roads, and preparing for the spring campaign.
On March 10,1865, Sylvester received a Surgeon’s Field Discharge Certificate for “disability for rheumatism and lung disease.” Without him, his regiment continued their advancement towards Richmond. He was paid through April 30; settled his clothing account; and was officially listed on the Muster-out Roll.
Despite his having been discharged because of his poor health and disability, he was never able t receive a disability pension. He first applied at about age 21 and was continually rejected for lack of paper work; lack of enough information; and inconclusive findings. His final pension denial was in 1900...35 years after his service to his country was ended by the Surgeon’s Field Discharge Certificate! At the time of this final denial, the widowed Sylvester was living as a boarder at the New Fairfield home of Wesley B. Wildman and working as a farm laborer.
In July 1903, he died at Danbury Hospital of Bright’s disease (a kidney ailment.) His obituary said he had “no family”; and the Town of New Fairfield paid $3 to bury him and gave “$35 for soldiers”, according to the Town Report. The GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) fraternal organization conducted a service for him. Sylvester is buried at New Fairfield’s Mountain View Cemetery with a government issued gravestone that simply states his name, military unit, and that he died July 17, 1903 at age 60. He I further honored with his name on two other memorials: the Black Soldiers Memorial at Wooster Cemetery in Danbury, CT; and the monument dedicated to the men of the 29th Regiment at Criscuolo Park in New Haven, CT.
This article was written by Agnes Betty Trimpet and was in the Citizen News on February 22, 2012 in honor of Black History Month!
CLUES TO THE LETTERBOX: Once you enter the cemetery, you will need to bear right and look in this area for Sylvester Freeman's headstone (hint, it is old looking.) Once you find it, say a little prayer. Then you will go to your right, moving up the driveway toward the rock wall. Once you reach the rock wall on the eastern side of the cemetery. Now, proceed to walk in the direction toward Rte. 37. You should find two headstones with the names Herbek and Becker on them. If you look to your right at the rock wall you will see a three sister tree. Near here is where you will find your treasure.
***Please use a stick to poke around in the stone wall before reaching in. There could be snakes or other critters hiding under the rocks. Also, please make sure you re-hide the letterbox well so no one can see the box.
NOTE: I do have other letterboxes hidden in other locations nearby. You can find the clues under The Hidden Valley Nature Center Series and the New Fairfield Cemetery.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Easy
APPROXIMATE LENGETH OF TIME: 15 Minutes
SOME HISTORY: Presented by Preserve New Fairfield, Inc. A story of a local Civil War soldier…
SYLVESTER FREEMAN:
After signing the Emancipation Proclamation that freed slaves in January 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued General Order #143, which established the “Bureau of Colored Troops.” Connecticut followed Massachusetts and Rhode Island in passing a bill that organized a regiment of black soldiers: The Connecticut 29th Colored Regiment C.V. Infantry was born.
Three months after this Regiment was founded, eighteen year old, Sherman born Sylvester Freeman volunteered on November 18, 1863. He was the son of Gilbert Freeman, a laborer, and his wife, Emma. Sylvester was a farmer prior to traveling to New Haven to enlist as a Private in the 29th Regiment. He was described as having “black eyes, black hair, black complexion” and being “5 ft. 6-5/6 inches high.” On his “Declaration Recruit” he declared before two witnesses, “I do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposes whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States of America, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War”; and he signed his name.
Outfitted in a blur cotton uniform, he began his training in nearby Fair Haven. Equipment included using sticks as substitute fire arms until they received Springfield rifles four months later! The 29th Regiment saw action in May and June of 1864 at Bermuda Hundred, and Point of Rocks, VA, while Sylvester suffered ill health and was hospitalized for a time. He rejoined his unit in September. As fall turned to winter, the 29th Regiment assisted in taking Fort Harrison from the Rebels and joined in reconnaissance and heavy fighting as they approached the Confederate Capitol of Richmond. The remainder of the year of 1864 saw them performing guard duty at forts along the battle line, building roads, and preparing for the spring campaign.
On March 10,1865, Sylvester received a Surgeon’s Field Discharge Certificate for “disability for rheumatism and lung disease.” Without him, his regiment continued their advancement towards Richmond. He was paid through April 30; settled his clothing account; and was officially listed on the Muster-out Roll.
Despite his having been discharged because of his poor health and disability, he was never able t receive a disability pension. He first applied at about age 21 and was continually rejected for lack of paper work; lack of enough information; and inconclusive findings. His final pension denial was in 1900...35 years after his service to his country was ended by the Surgeon’s Field Discharge Certificate! At the time of this final denial, the widowed Sylvester was living as a boarder at the New Fairfield home of Wesley B. Wildman and working as a farm laborer.
In July 1903, he died at Danbury Hospital of Bright’s disease (a kidney ailment.) His obituary said he had “no family”; and the Town of New Fairfield paid $3 to bury him and gave “$35 for soldiers”, according to the Town Report. The GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) fraternal organization conducted a service for him. Sylvester is buried at New Fairfield’s Mountain View Cemetery with a government issued gravestone that simply states his name, military unit, and that he died July 17, 1903 at age 60. He I further honored with his name on two other memorials: the Black Soldiers Memorial at Wooster Cemetery in Danbury, CT; and the monument dedicated to the men of the 29th Regiment at Criscuolo Park in New Haven, CT.
This article was written by Agnes Betty Trimpet and was in the Citizen News on February 22, 2012 in honor of Black History Month!
CLUES TO THE LETTERBOX: Once you enter the cemetery, you will need to bear right and look in this area for Sylvester Freeman's headstone (hint, it is old looking.) Once you find it, say a little prayer. Then you will go to your right, moving up the driveway toward the rock wall. Once you reach the rock wall on the eastern side of the cemetery. Now, proceed to walk in the direction toward Rte. 37. You should find two headstones with the names Herbek and Becker on them. If you look to your right at the rock wall you will see a three sister tree. Near here is where you will find your treasure.
***Please use a stick to poke around in the stone wall before reaching in. There could be snakes or other critters hiding under the rocks. Also, please make sure you re-hide the letterbox well so no one can see the box.
NOTE: I do have other letterboxes hidden in other locations nearby. You can find the clues under The Hidden Valley Nature Center Series and the New Fairfield Cemetery.