The Iron Fence (1878)

Welcome back, Monroe history lovers. This week’s history takes us back to Upper Stepney – formerly known as Birdsey’s Plain. We’re headed once again to Stepney Cemetery. Usually, our subject is someone buried within, or some unique details of their headstone, but today, we’re going to focus instead on something altogether different, the cemetery’s beautiful cast iron fence, gates and stone pillars. You didn’t expect that, did you? I like to keep you on your toes. Our history exists in many varied forms.

Let’s head over to the west side of town to learn some new history. But first, let’s learn of a unique event in Monroe’s cemetery history. Back on March 29th, 1765, a highly respected and generous resident named Joseph Moss leased a half-acre of his land to the early inhabitants at today’s Monroe Center. The land was to be used as a burial ground for a term of 100 years. The annual rent to be paid on the lease was a single peppercorn. The unique currency for payment has inspired the document throughout our history to be referred to as the Peppercorn Lease. Such leases were an English tradition adopted by the colonies, a means of a formal legal contract devised on the premise of good will.

One term which was clearly stated within the Peppercorn Lease was the stipulation that the burial ground be fully enclosed by a fence. The need to erect a fence around the burial ground was twofold. Primarily, the fence was a form of reverence for those resting in eternal repose, but also protected the area from the potential damage caused by stray livestock. Despite the 100-year lease, this early burial ground at Monroe Center was only utilized until approximately 1780. The last known person to be interred was Mrs. Charity Wheeler. After her death, the original burial ground was superseded by the current Monroe Center Cemetery on Old Tannery Road. Today, all five of our early cemeteries have some form of fencing or stonewall at their entry.

The ornate cast iron fence and gates at Stepney Cemetery were installed in 1878, and there’s an interesting history and philanthropy behind the project, a story of a local Stepney boy, who, despite his travels and success, never forgot where he came from. Daniel Burton Fayerweather was raised in Stepney and grew up in poor conditions. His meager primary education was learned in the Birdsey’s Plain one-room schoolhouse on Hattertown Road just outside the village. As soon as he was old enough to leave school to work, he entered the shoemaker's trade and apprenticed with Captain Luzon W. Clark of Trumbull, with whom he eventually worked. In time, Daniel put enough money aside to marry.

With his skillset earned and a firm establishment in his trade, Daniel and his wife Lucy relocated to Bridgeport and eventually to New York City. Once in the city, Daniel graduated from the shoemaker’s trade to establish himself as a tanner and leather merchant. He was so successful in business and so judicious in the management of his finances that his net worth rolled up into the millions of dollars. At the time of his death in 1890, the New York journals praised his financial generosity to various prestigious colleges and other institutions of higher learning. He and his wife Lucy never had children and the details of his last will and testament were the talk of the town. Who would inherit his riches?

Daniel B. Fayerweather was unquestionably generous with his life’s earnings to family and interests in New York City and Connecticut, but he never once forgot his humble beginnings and the small town from whence he came. After all, his success all started here in Monroe. Several years prior to his death, Daniel took a particular interest in Stepney Cemetery. He enlarged the cemetery grounds, installed impressive monuments to his family members and donated $5,000.00 to the cemetery association for the purchase and installation of the cast iron cemetery fence, gates and stone pillars at the main entry, the very same as we see in our first two supporting images.

I hope you appreciate this week’s historical spotlight on Daniel B. Fayerweather’s humble beginnings and his generosity to our town. Who doesn’t love a story of a smalltown kid who does good and then remembers to give back. Well done, Daniel. We still appreciate your generosity today, 135 years later. Please share this post with your family and friends, and thank you for your continued support and interest in Monroe’s rich history. Until next time. Now that you know the history, why not take a drive about town to visit our five early cemeteries and appreciate the history behind the fences and walls that enclose them.

Regards,

Kevin Daly
Historian, Monroe Historical Society
www.monroecthistory.org

Our Past is Always Present