Background
She was a descendant of Miles Merwin (1623-1697) one of the early residents of Milford and for whom Merwins Point and Merwins Pond in Milford, Connecticut are named.
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Abigail Merwin
Edit ProfileChairman of the Hall of Fame The captain
Career
In the summer of 1777, Merwin was hanging the wash outside of her home in Milford, Connecticut, when she saw rowboats bearing British troops from the warship HMS Swan, which was docked in Milford Harbor. Merwin gathered her 18-month-old child into a horse-drawn wagon and sped into Milford, where she banged a wooden spoon against a metal pot to alert the townspeople of the coming invaders. Her actions enabled the local militia to gather their weapons and successfully repel the invaders, while the local farmers were able to herd their cattle to a safe meadow.
Abigail Merwin notified the town of the arrival of the HMS Swan raiding party on August 25, 1777.
The Captain"s log of the “Swan” reads: “At 4 Department of Administration and Management came too(sic) Sm. Branch in 7 fs. water, Milford Church NWBW 2 Miles, off shore 1 Mademoiselle (Miss)
Sent boats on Shore Mand & Armd to bring of some cattle. At 7 the boats Returned got no Cattle.” (punctuation added). source: Milford Hall of Fame induction of Abigail Merwin, 2011.
Joseph B. Barnes, Esq., Chairman of the Hall of Fame writer"s committee.
