Continuing to assemble historical resources, the Heritage Consultants Research Team made contact with several area historical societies, which provided information that will be useful in the Source Database.
Of note, the Westport Museum director Ramin Ganeshram offered information on a past exhibit that the society had produced on Tryon’s Expedition (the British raid on Danbury in 1777 that included the Battle of Ridgefield) and several videos the society produced on the subject.
The Wilton Historical Society was planning to open an exhibition on July 1 focusing on the impact of Tryon’s Raid on the Town of Wilton. Associate curator Nick Foster provided a list of Wilton veterans of the battle as identified by the Wilton Historical Society.
Patrick Raftery, assistant director and librarian of the Westchester Historical Society, provided copies of materials from the McDonald Papers, a collection of revolutionary era interviews. Mr. Raftery identified papers that were related to the Battle of Ridgefield, but further research is needed. Access to the actual collection was not possible at present.
The research consultants have been working with Ridgefield Historical Society volunteers and staff on U.S. Federal Pension records research as well as finding contemporary maps to identify intact land and other key parcels. The location of recovered artifacts will be added to the mapping. On June 7, David Naumec met with Elijah Crehan to document several newly recovered artifacts from 181 Main Street including lead shot, British Navy cufflinks, and what’s possibly a pewter USA button.
Based on the June 2021 monthly report by David Naumec, Ph.D.
