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A RECORD AND DOCUMENTARY HISTORY of SIMSBURY
Gc 974.602 Si5ba 1348165
M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Conn.
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01125 7489
30 MIN
A RECORD AND DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF
SIMSBURY
Of this book there have been printed two hundred copies of which this is
Number
126
LUCIUS I. BARBER
A RECORD AND DOCUMENTARY HISTORY of SIMSBURY
BY LUCIUS I. BARBER, M. D. 1643-1888
- PUBLIC _ BOX
Published by THE ABIGAIL PHELPS CHAPTER DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION SIMSBURY, CONNECTICUT 1931
COPYRIGHT, 1931, BY THE ABIGAIL PHELPS CHAPTER DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION SIMSBURY, CONNECTICUT
PRESS OF FINLAY BROTHERS HARTFORD, CONNNECTICUT
1348165
THE greater part of humanity's effort to express itself serves only the passing generation. At times, however, a distinct and forceful individuality finds a mode of self-expression that is lasting and will serve the Future. Such an individuality had Dr. Lucius I. Barber, physi- cian, scholar and man of great mental, moral and physi- cal courage, who lived from Oct. 7th, 1806 to Feb. 16th, 1889. Dr. Barber spoke the truth; he lived the truth; he respected himself and others; he loved his home; he loved his home town and the beauty of its surroundings. He believed in the future of Simsbury and to serve its unborn generations, he painstakingly set to work with his pen to recreate for them the Sims- bury of his day. His self-appointed task was well done.
To see this work published became the ambition of his widow, Mrs. Abbie Sexton Barber, but the necessary interest and funds were lacking. Because of her affiliation with the Abigail Phelps Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and because of the Chapter's interest in all matters of historic import she left to us this precious manuscript.
It is now our privilege to offer in book form this record of our community's early life.
To Mrs. George C. Eno, Mrs. James K. Crofut, Mrs. Joseph R. Ensign, Mrs. Allen J. Holcomb, Miss Mary Winslow and Mrs. Arthur E. Humphrey, mem- bers of the committee chosen to direct "the publishing of the Barber history of Simsbury", we owe a debt of gratitude. They have given willingly of their time, interest and energy to perpetuate this memorial of Dr. Barber - a memorial which shall help to fuse the Past, the Present and the Future.
JULIA E. PATTISON, RECORDING SECRETARY ABIGAIL PHELPS CHAPTER
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
3-2-66 A 20238 P.O.0973
Argosy $30.00
Preface
IN COMPILING this History of Simsbury, it has been my aim to present a true statement of facts connected with the first settlement of the town, and to give in chronological order the events which have occurred, and the acts of our ancestors from the commencement, through successive generations, to a period within the memory of persons now living. And I have thought that, in order to do this, I could more distinctly present these by transcribing the old records, verbally and literally, rather than attempt this in language of my own.
I have further been led to adopt this course by the fact that the old records of the town are fast going to decay, and, unless more carefully and sacredly preserved, will soon become illegible.
Were it not for the introduction in connection with many of the Public Acts of the town, of cor- responding and related Acts and Orders of the General Court, this might more properly be styled The Annals, rather than the "History" of the town.
For convenience of reference, I have kept separate the Ecclesiastical from the Municipal affairs of the town, although in the early years they were blended in common.
L. I. B.
Table of Contents
PAGE
I Introductory I
Commission to govern Connecticut. Constitution. Emigration. First Session. Grant of Plymouth Company. Jury Trials Al- lowed. Origin of two houses in General Assembly. Patent of King James 1st, 1620. Town Records. Waquimicut. Windsor settled, 1633-5.
II
The United Colonies of New England and Indians . 9 How many Indians - What became of them. The United Colonies of New England and Indians.
III
The Pioneers - John Griffin and Michael Humphrey . I3
Michael Humphrey. The Pioneers, John Griffin and Michael Humphrey. The Manufacturing of Tar. Under Supervision of General Court.
IV
First Purchase from the Indians . 18
First purchase of land from the Indians. Indian deeds. Indian trouble. John Griffin assigns Indian deed to Committee of Windsor. Penalty paid for burning John Griffin's tar works.
V
Massaco - Name and Situation . 24
Location and Condition of Country. Massaco and Tunxis River. Mountain Game and Fish. Orthography and Definition.
VI
First Grants and Allotments 28
Constable. Dug-way. First Grants made. Freeman of Massaco. Hopmeadow Lots. John Owen. Names of Settlers. Orders of Court disposing of Massaco. Settlement of John Griffin. Settlement at Newbury's. Settlement at Wetaug. Taxes Re- mitted. Terms of settlement, early settlers.
VII
Recognition of the Town 40
Cherry. Common fence - extent of. Common fields. Deputy Pitkin. Difficulty of Farmington and Simsbury. Ferry and Roods at Hop Meadow. First Deputies. First Town Clerk. Highways. Incorporation and Town Privilege granted; Bound- aries. License. Michael Humphrey's allottment. Mile Swamp. Name. Records burned. Second Deputies for same year and Salaries. Town officers. Trainband.
VIII Burning of Simsbury
PAGE 52
Burning of Simsbury. Fort burned. Great Swamp fight. Indian History, causes of burning. Oldham. Pequot War. Philip. Philip's death. Sergt. Griffin and Council of War.
IX Resurrection and Reconstruction 68
Bad fences. Petition that taxes be levied only on land. Records. Relative Value of Land. Resurrection of Simsbury. Settlements.
x
Purchase of the Town
78
Indian deeds. Purchase of the town from the Indians.
XI
Erection of Mills 91
Contract for Grist and Saw Mill. Education. Erection of Mills. Selectmen. Train band.
XII
Common Fields and Fences . 98 Common fields and fences.
XIII
Patent of Simsbury · IO7 Simsbury Patent. Sketch of the Patentees.
XIV
Exchange of Allotments
.
II6 Exchange of lots. Hop Meadow and Salmon Brook.
XV
Boundary Difficulties
.
II9 Boundary Difficulties. Simsbury and Suffield.
XVI
Ecclesiastical Affairs I32
Complaint against Michael Humphrey and James Eno. De- mand Baptism for their Children. Ecclesiastical affairs. Every one to attend worship. Members of Church.
XVII
Ecclesiastical Affairs - Continued I39
Ecclesiastical affairs. First meeting house - Mr. Stone.
XVIII
Meeting-House Difficulties I46
Beating drum. Burying grounds. Erection of Meeting House. Location of Lot. Major Talcott - Advice of. Meeting House Difficulties. Thomas Barber's contract.
XIX
Ministers Previous to the Organization of the Church
157
Authority to form a church. Early Ministers - Rev. Seth Shove, Mr. Stone, Mr. Stow. Signers of Call. Town to choose church members (Thompson).
Xx PAGE
Settlement of Rev. Dudley Woodbridge and Gathering the Church 172
Church Covenant and signers forming first Church. Gathering a Church. Rev. Dudley Woodbridge.
XXI
Mines and Minerals .
180 Copper Mines. Millstones. Mines and Minerals.
XXII
Newgate Prison
Calvin Barber erected stone wall. New Gate Prison. . 202
XXIII
Town Treasury and Miscellaneous Arts · 213
Long Lots. Paper Money. Town Treasury.
XXIV
Ecclesiastical History, resumed from Chapter XX Rev. Timothy Woodbridge and His Times 225
Controversy over building a new meeting house. Ecclesiastical History resumed - Rev. Timothy Woodbridge. Salmon Brook. Turkey Hills. Wintonbury.
XXV
First Ecclesiastical Society - Organization Rev. Gideon Mills - Settlement and Dismissal 262
First Ecclesiastical Society. First Protestant Episcopal Society. Rev. Hopkins. Rev. Gideon Mills. St. Andrew's Church.
XXVI
Rev. Benajah Roots and His Ministry
277
Rev. Benajah Roots - Capt. Jonathan Pettibone candidates.
XXVII
General History - Resumed from Chapter XXIII French and Indian Wars 294
French and Indian Wars. Letter of Nathaniel Humphrey to John Humphrey.
XXVIII
The War of the Revolution 300 War of the Revolution. Capt. Elisha Humphrey's Company described by Daniel Barber. Companies raised. Contributions to Boston.
XXIX "Commutation" - Division of the Town, Etc. 324 Commutation. Division of the town.
XXX
New Constitution - War of 1812 and Miscellaneous . 33I New Constitution. War of 1812: 1. Canal. 2. Bridges. 3. Town Hall.
PAGE 336
XXXI War of the Rebellion
War of the Rebellion
XXXII
Ecclesiastical - Rev. Samuel Stebbins 339
Ecclesiastical History Resumed. Character of Mr. Stebbins. Currency Pay. Description of Meeting House. Printed Sermon. Rev. Samuel Stebbins' Ordination. Seating - Foot Stoves.
XXXIII
Rev. Allen McLean 355
New Meeting House. Subscriptions for. Rev. Allen McLean. Blindness and Death. Character of. Settlement of. Rev. Thos. Robbins.
XXXIV
Colleagues and Successors of Rev. Allen McLean 367 Baptist Church. Catholic Church. Colleagues of Rev. Allen McLean and his successors - Rev. Asabel L. Clark, W. D. McFarland, Rev. Newell A. Prince, Rev. Samuel T. Richards, Rev. Oliver S. Taylor, Rev. J. Logan Tomlinson, Rev. Charles L. Tomblen. Episcopal Church, St. Andrews. Funds - Thomas Case, Amos R. Eno, John J. Phelps, Andrew Robe.
XXXV
Education 376 Education. Teachers: Dr. Farnham, Others.
XXXVI
Manufacturers
· 384
Disaster. Distillery. Manufacturers. Safety Fuse. Steel. Tariff- ville Manufacturers. Women's Work.
XXXVII
Manners and Customs 392
Farms. First Temperance Society. Funerals. Intemperance. Manners and Customs. Mode of Travel, Noble Phelps. Results of the War - Morals, etc. Saloons. Standing in Prayer Time. Stealing the Bride. Temperance Revival. Travel on Sabbath.
XXXVIII
Divisions and Physical Geography 405
Agricultural Tobacco. Division of the town - Canton set off. Part of Bloomfield set off. Philip's "Barn Door Hills". Physical features of the town. Present Boundaries.
XXXIX
Roads, Bridges, Railroads, Etc. . 4II
· Bridges at Weatog. Burying Ground. Cemetery Association. Head Stones. Mails. Post Offices. Roads - Griffith's Path. Railroad Disaster. Sanitary. Spotted Fever. Water Company.
XL Inventories of Estates and Sketches of Leading Men . 423
Inventories of Estates and sketches of leading men.
FIRST CHURCH BUILDING . 1683
I
Introductory
O N the 3rd of November, 1620, King James the first, by Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of England, in- corporated the Duke of Lenox and others, to the num- ber of forty, noblemen, Knights and gentlemen, by the name of "the Council established at Plymouth, in the County of Devon, for the planting, ruling and governing of New-England, in America:" and granted to them "all that part of America, lying and being in breadth, from 40 degrees of North latitude, to the 48th degree of said north latitude inclusively; and in length of, and within all the breadth aforesaid, throughout the main lands, from sea to sea," ordaining that the tract of country so granted, "should be called New-England, in America, and by that name have continuance forever". On this original grant rest all the other grants made to the several colonies of New England. Under this grant was commenced the settlement of the Plymouth Colony in the same year.
On the 19th of March 1628, the Plymouth Company thus chartered, granted to Sir Henry Roswell, John Humphrey and others, all that part of New England which lies between two boundaries, one three miles North of the Merrimac, and the other three miles South of Charles River, from the Atlantic to the South sea, and during the same year, Mr. Endicott with about 100 others commenced a plantation at Salem. These were joined the following year, by two hundred more; about one half of whom, however, removed the same year, and settled at Charlestown. Thus was commenced the settlement of Massachusetts, - nine years after that of Plymouth.
The Plymouth and Massachusetts Colonies were separate and distinct from each other, and so remained for a period of seventy years, or, until by the Charter of William and Mary, in 1691, they, together with the Province of Maine, were incor- porated into the single Colony of Massachusetts.
In 1630 the emigration from England was vastly increased. During that year not less than 1700 persons arrived and settled in and around Boston. For the sake of enjoying their religious opinions and that liberty of conscience which, on account of the intolerance and persecutions of a tyrannical government, they were deprived in their native land, these emigrants left the homes of their ancestors, and sought new homes, with peace and security, on these Western Shores.
In 1631, Lord Say & Seal, Sir Richard Saltonstall and others, lords and noblemen, procured a grant from the Earl of Warwick, President of the Plymouth Council, of another large tract of country, lying South of the Massachusetts grant, and contiguous thereto. This was the original Patent of Connecti- cut, granted on the 19th of March, 1631, and confirmed by King Charles the Second in 1662. It embraced - "All that part of New-England which lies West from Narraganset river, a hundred and twenty miles on the sea coast, and from thence, in latitude and breadth aforesaid to the South Sea". It occu- pied about one degree of latitude, from North to South, and extended to the Pacific Ocean on the West.
Just at this period, when the tide of emigration was set- ting strongly towards Boston and other parts of Massachusetts and Plymouth Colonies, in 1631, Waquimicut, a Sachem upon the river Connecticut, made a journey to Boston and Ply- mouth, and told the Governors of those Colonies of the exceed- ing fruitfulness of the country bordering on that river, and earnestly solicited them to send men to make settlements there; promising, as an inducement, an annual gift of corn and beaver skins. To his urgent request and representations the Governor of Massachusetts gave no heed; but Governor Winslow of Plymouth entertained a more favorable opinion of the Sachem's proposal, and himself soon afterwards went thither and dis- covered the river and the adjacent country.
2
Why the Sachem so earnestly desired the English to make settlements there soon became apparent. Their enemies, the Pequots, were conquering the "river-Indians", and driving them from that part of the country; and the latter imagined that the English settlers would defend them against the attacks of their enemies.
Governor Winslow of Plymouth being pleased with the country, tried to persuade Governor Winthrop of Massa- chusetts to engage with him in establishing a trading-post and settlement on the river; but failing in the attempt, determined that the Plymouth people would undertake the enterprise at their own risk. Preparations were accordingly made, and in 1633, William Holmes, with a small company, having prepared the frame of a house, with materials for covering it, put them on board a vessel and sailed for the Connecticut. A place had been previously selected near the mouth of the Tunxis river, in the present town of Windsor. Here they erected the first English house in Connecticut. On their voyage up the river, they found at the mouth of the Little River (now Park River), where Hartford now stands, a Dutch trading-post, just estab- lished, which threatened opposition to their further proceed- ing, but which Holmes and his company passed without obstruction, and landed at Windsor. On board the vessel were brought back the Sachems who had been driven away by the Pequots, but who were the original occupants, and were now restored to their homes and country. This act of kindness to the fugitives gave offence to the Pequots, and they became the bitter enemies of the English.
The country now began to be explored by traders, and the rich alluvial lands of Connecticut, and their fertility, began to be spoken of in contrast with the hard and comparatively sterile soil about Boston, and a second emigration began to be talked of. Those who had recently arrived from England, became restless. They felt straitened for room; and the reports from Connecticut, - of its fertile soil, - its broad meadows, and the chance for lucrative trade, determined them once more to brave the hardships and danger of a new emigration and a new settlement in the Wilderness.
3
1635
The settlement of Connecticut commenced in 1635, simul- taneously at Dorchester, now Newtown, and Watertown. The first settlers of these towns were emigrants from towns bearing the same names, respectively, in Massachusetts.
After strenuous opposition and repeated denials, the Gener- al Court of Massachusetts at last assented to their removal, and, by their desire, that they might not depart without some sort of a Government, granted a Commission to several persons "to govern the people of Connecticut for the space of a year next coming".
This Commission was granted, in March 1636, to Roger Ludlow and William Phelps of Dorchester, John Steele, Wil- liam Westwood and Andrew Ward of Newtown, William Pyncheon of Springfield, William Swaine and Henry Smith, of Watertown.
A body of emigrants had arrived at Connecticut late in the Autumn of 1635, but owing to the severity of the winter, and the consequent suffering, most of them were compelled to re- turn. Early in the Spring of 1636, this brave company, with renewed courage and reinforced by numbers, again set their faces towards Connecticut, where, in due time, they arrived at their several places of destination.
The first meeting of the Commissioners was held in April 1636, at Newtown. Afterwards their meetings were held, as oc- casion required, alternately, in the several towns. Their meet- ings were called "Cortes", at which they passed orders, and enacted laws, for the government of the people, and their authority was supreme and their decisions final.
Col. Rec. Vol. I P. 7
At the session of the Corte held in February 1637, it was "Ordered, that the plantation nowe called Newe-Towne shall be called and named by the name of Harteford-Towne; likewise the. plantation now called Watertowne shall be called and named Wythersfield."
"It is Ordered yt the plantation called Dorchester shall be called Windsor."
It is to be remembered that, before the year 1752, the year began March 25th.so that, according to the "Old Style", dates from January to that time, belong to the year previous. But for
4
the time between January Ist and March 25th, it was the custom to double date.
At the expiration of the year for which the Commission was appointed, and the provisional Government under it, estab- lished, a "General Corte" was held at Hartford, on the first of May, 1637, consisting of Magistrates newly chosen, together with "Committees" from the several towns. Here is the origin of the two Houses of the General Assembly. Though no record is found of this election of the members of this Court, yet the ap- pearance of new names in the roll of Magistrates, together with the names of the "Committees", shows that such election took place. The first Public Act of this first elected Assembly was to declare "An Offensive Warr against the Pequoitt".
On the 14th of January, 1638-9, the people of these "River Towns," Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield, assembled at Hartford, and, by voluntary compact, formed themselves into a distinct "Publike state of Common-Wealth". Their declared object was, "to mayntayne and presearve the liberty and purity of the Gospell of our Lord Jesus, which we now profess, as also the disciplyne of the Churches, which according to the truth of the said gospell is now practised amongst us; as also in our Civill affairs to be guided and governed according to such Lawes, Rules, Orders and Decrees as shall be made Ordered and de- creed." They then proceeded to adopt, by their votes, a Consti- tution of Government. This Constitution, in its general principles and features, has been the fundamental law ofConnecticut, with- out essential change or interruption, from the time of its adop- tion, to the present time,-the Charter of King Charles the second, being but a confirmation of it. It was the basis or model of the Constitution of the United States, as well as those of the several States of the Union. It was the first written Constitution of Government, "of the people, by the people and for the people," which the world ever saw. It was drawn up by ROGER LUDLOW of Windsor, assisted by the Magistrates, and is and will be a monument to their memory, ever-enduring, which they, themselves, erected.
And here it may not be out of place for a moment to consider,
1637
Col. Rec. Vol. I P. 9
1638-9
5
not the mode and form, only, of the Government established by it, but its spirit and true inwardness.
Its foundation, cornerstone, was, that the source of all political power, was the Will of the People .- This could only be manifested by the major vote of the people.
The major vote of the people then, fairly expressed, was the supreme law. This power could be transferred to and vested in, and exercised by, Agents duly elected and chosen. Hence the supreme power of the commonwealth, by the Constitution of 1638-9, was vested in a "General Court", to be composed of the governor, magistrates, and deputies from the several towns. This was the Agency, by which the people consented to be governed. The governor and magistrates were chosen "by the whole body of freemen", of all the towns; the deputies, by the freemen of the several towns. Thus it was not simply a Democracy, nor was it a confederacy of the towns; but a Republic, recogniz- ing "the whole body of freemen" of all the towns, collectively, and the several towns as communities,-for its constituency.
Thus there existed a double constituency; that of all the people, in the aggregate, and that of the several towns, as com- munities. All the people of all the towns, by general ballot, elected the governor and magistrates; whilst the people of each town, separately, chose the deputies; and these together the representatives of the people, collectively, and the representa- tives of the several towns, as communities, constituted the General Court.
It is by this that the rights of the small towns are protected and preserved against the otherwise overwhelming influence of the cities and large towns. It is not, in the House of Represen- tatives, a representation of numbers, but of towns; so that the rights and interest of the towns, however small, may be protect- ed and promoted, equally.
The same principle was afterwards adopted and incorpor- ated in the Constitution of the United States, in giving an equal representation in the Senate to all the States large or small. The states are to the Nation, what the towns here are to the State,- constituents of the Government, in part. Thus the frequent
6
complaint by the large towns of the "rotten borough system", is shown to be unreasonable.
The Constitution of 1638-9 provided for the enlargement and extension of the government established under it, over the territory of the Colony, by the incorporation of new towns as the population might increase, and new settlements might be formed. At a General Court, held in October following, an Act was passed granting and defining the powers of the several towns "within this jurisdiction". It declared them capable of "disposing of their owne lands, and of having power to choose their own officers and make such orders as may be for the well ordering of their own Townes". Also "that each of the towns shall have power, once every year to choose out 3, 5 or 7 of their Cheife Inhabitants", who were to meet once in every two months, "to heare, end and determine all controversies, eyther trespasses or debts not exceeding 40 s." This was the origin of the "Board of Selectmen", in the several towns. They were then called "Townsmen" and were to have the general oversight and management of the public affairs of the town.
It was further ordered, "the several towns should each of them provide a Ledger Booke, with an Index or alphabet unto the same. Also shall choose one who shall be a Towne Clerke or Register, who shall record every man's house and land,-with its bounds and quantity."
When in 1645, Farmington was incorporated as a town, there being no one of its inhabitants capable of discharging the duties of Town Clerk, "the General Court ordered that Mr. Steele, who for several years has been Town Clerk for Hartford, should for the present be Recorder there, vntill the Towne have one fitt among themselves."
Jury trials were allowed and provided for, from the first. In 1637, "At a Cort att Harteford Mrch 28th, It is ordered yt every Juryman shall have sixpence for every accon that is given to them uppon evidence, to bee paide by him the Accon goes against." If the Jury could not unanimously agree on a verdict, those who "remayne vnsatisfied", must tender their reasons to the Court, to be answered, and then they were to consult to- gether again, when, if they could not agree, "the greater parte
1639
Col. Rec. Vol. I P. 37
Col. Rec. Vol. I P. 134
ib. P. 9
7
.ib P. 85
shall give yt in by their voate, and yt shall be deemed, to all intents and purposes, a sufficient and full verdict". Judging from the results in modern jury trials, it is questionable whether the system adopted and practised by our fathers, was not the prefer- able one.
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