Ridgefield

French General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau, and thousands of French ground and naval forces arrived in Newport in July of 1780 to assist the Americans in the War for Independence. After wintering in Newport, Rochambeau's troops marched through Connecticut to join General George Washington's Continental Army, just over the New York border. The combined forces moved down the eastern seaboard and confronted Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis and the British army in Yorktown, Virginia. After a prolonged siege, Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781, effectively ending the war and ensuring American independence.

This is one of 11 informative panels that mark the French route south through Connecticut from June 19 to July 2, 1781 and on the return north October 23 to November 9, 1782.

Linking with the Continental Army
Rochambeau's troops camped in Ridgefield's Ridgebury Parish on July 1 and 2, 1781. It was their eleventh and last camp in Connecticut before crossing the border into New York and joining the Continental Army near what is today White Plains, New York on July 3, 1781.

Deployed on the ridge to your right was his advance guard of chausseurs and grenadiers under Major Alexandre de Berthier. The Hussar Legion of duc de Lauzun took North Salem Road eight miles to the southwest to screen the French camp from British spies.

Before leaving for New York, Rochambeau celebrated his 56th birthday in Ridgebury at the Ensign Samuel Keeler's Tavern. The next morning, a Sunday, one of Rochambeau's regimental chaplains led a Catholic mass for the French troops.

After the success at Yorktown, Rochambeau's army returned north in the fall of 1782, passing through the area before reaching camp in Danbury October 23-24.

Local Lives were Touched
Rochambeau's army supply wagons were often driven by hired civilians, including 17-year-old Thomas Boughton of Ridgebury. He accompanied the French to Yorktown, over 400 miles from his hometown, and witnessed the British surrender on October 19, 1781. He returned home the next year with his pay of $75 in French silver. He soon married his childhood sweetheart, Rebecca Coley. Together they raised five children on their farm. Boughton was buried in the Ridgebury cemetery when he died in 1846.

On July 1, 1781, Rochambeau and his officers stopped for water at the homestead of Stephen Norris, which still stands along the road linking Danbury and Ridgefield. That morning, Abigail Norris had delivered her sixth child. In honor of the French mission, Norris family history states the child was named after Rochambeau's cavalry officer, duc de Lauzun. Town records show succeeding generations of the Norris family followed suit. The grave marker of nine-year-old Delazon Norris may still be found today in Ridgebury cemetery.

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Show me all markers in:  Ridgefield, CT  |  Fairfield County  |  06877  |  Connecticut  |  United States of America

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