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M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01104 3251
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HISTORY
AND
ANTIQUITIES
05
NEW HAVEN, (CONN.) KİKOR
FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME.
COLLECTED AND COMPILED
1
FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC SOURCES.
BY J. W. BARBER.
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ILLUSTRATED WITH ENGRAVINGS,
QUI
AUST.
TRANS.
NEW HAVEN:
PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY J. W. BARBER, AND BY THE BOOKSELLERS IN NEW HAVEN.
1831. THC NEWBERRY LIBRARY
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1.74741
NEW HAVEN and its VICINITY
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F 8465 .07
Barber, John] Warnery comp. 1798-1885.
History and antiquities of New Haven, Conn., from its earliest settlement to the present time. Collected and comp. from the most authentic sources . . . New Haven, J. W. Barber, 1831-[32]
120 pp. illus., col. pl., col. plan. 12º. Plates and plan colored by hand. pp. 109-120 "printed in 1892."
SHELF CARD
F101. AGB2 1-Rc-3262
2914
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyantiquiti00barb_2
F8465.07
Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1831, by J. W BARBER, in the Clerk's office, of the District Court of Connecticut.
2914
Printed by Hezekiah Howe. -
·PREFACE.
THE object of the Compiler of this work, was to make a collection of the interesting historic records and Antiquities. of New Haven, from its first settlement to the present time, without much attention to classification, and without much of an attempt to furnish a finished production. In pursu- ance of his design, he has confined his attention particularly to those subjects which are generally passed over by those who write regular histories, subjects which indeed are inter- esting, but generally thought too trivial to be inserted in his- torical works. Much undoubtedly has been irrecoverably lost by neglecting to preserve these fragments of history in some written form.
It will be perceived that many extracts are taken from the ancient Newspapers printed in this place. These "journals of the times" are perhaps among the best authorities which we can have in relation to facts which have taken place in former times ; and it is to be regretted that more care is not taken to preserve regular files of the public prints of the day. where every event is detailed as it were on the spot, and time of its occurrence, with a minuteness and accuracy which cannot be expected from the recollection of individu- als some time after the events have taken place .- The com- piler would state that he considers himself as fortunate, in having an access to a file of the New Haven Journals, pre- vious to the Revolution, the earliest, and it is believed the only copy now in existence. These journals belong to the
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library left by the late Col. William Lyon, C. A. S .* of this city. This Library is believed to be the most extensive and valuable private collection in this State, and is now in pos- session of his son, William Lyon, Esq. a gentleman through whose politeness and attention, the compiler of this work feels himself under lasting obligations.
It may perhaps be thought by some, that many things are detailed which are not of sufficient importance to appear in any thing like a historical work, but it is thought that an at- tempt to preserve any facts or traditions which can hereafter be cited to throw light on the history of the times, manners and opinions of our forefathers, is worthy of being counte- nanced by an intelligent community.
With regard to the appearance of a ship in the air, (page 42,) there is no good reason to doubt the fact, as there rela- ted. Until quite recently, this has been generally consider- ed as a delusion of the imagination .-- The results of modern science however, enable us to account for this phenomenon :
* Col. Lyon died Oct. 12th, 1830, in the 83d year of his age. The following notice, is copied from one of the New Haven papers .- " Col. Lyon has long been considered by a very extensive literary acquaintance, as probably the greatest Antiquarian, and the most thoroughly versed Historian in the United States. His powers of mind were early de- veloped, being well prepared for Yale College at the early age of nine years, and having devoted the last twenty or thirty years en- tirely to intense reading, and always favored with a most tenacious and retentive memory, which was apparently not at all impaired even to the last, by his advanced age, are circumstances which afforded him ad- vantages for the acquisition of knowledge, which are by Divine Provi- dence granted to a very few. Many periodicals of his day have been anonymously favored by his pen. It is however greatly to be regretted, that he could never be persuaded to publish a volume of ancient or mod- ern history, especially as he has for the last half century, been the ora- cle of so many that have been published. Ile has always sustained an irreproachable character, and will long be remembered by an affection- ate family and large circle of friends with peculiar love and estecm."
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-It is supposed that a ship was sailing at the time, off the harbor of New Haven in the sound, and that her reflected image was delineated to the eyes of the beholders on the clouds, so as to appear very near, by the laws of optics, now understood. Doubtless many other occurences related by our forefathers as facts, but which are now deemed by us as fabulous, will be found upon investigation equally worthy of credit. J. W. B.
New Haven, October, 1831.
1*
Town d' Engraved b WW Barber
8. View of NEW HAVEN and FORT HALE.
a West Trock b. Long Wharf. c New Haven Gymnasium . d. Steam boat Offue. e. East Rock. S. Tomlinson's bridge. h. Fort Hale.
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CONTENTS.
Page.
Preface
3
Notice of Colonel Lyon, (see preface) 4
Situation, Soil, Harbor, Public Buildings, and Literary Institutions of New Haven 11
Description of the burying ground 14
Fort Hale, light-house, &c. 15
Adjutant Campbell's grave 15
Public square or green 15
View and description of Trinity church 16
Deed given by Wm. Gregson (see note) 16 19
Yale College, founding, history, &c. .
East and West rocks
22
West rock, Fry's cave 23
East rock-Account of Elias Turner, the hermit 23
Some account of the Quinipiaeks
25 26
First settlement of New Haven
Treaty with Momauguin and his counselors 27
Treaty with Montowese 29
Formation of the civil and religious government of the planters 30
Troubles with the Dutch and Swedes
35
List of the planters-persons numbered in their families-with an estimate of their estates, in 1643 37
Execution of an Indian in-New Haven in 1644 41
Appearance of a ship in the air
42
Extracts from the ancient records of New Haven 43
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Page.
Blue Laws
.
46
An account of judges Whalley, Goffe and Dixwell
48
View of the judge's cave
51
Traditionary anecdotes respecting the judges
52
An account of Goffe's appearance at Hadley
54
Sir Edmund Andros' visit to New Haven
57
Death of Col. Dixwell -- his grave, monument, &c.
58
Mr. James Davenport, a separate minister, visits New Haven
61
First newspaper published in New Haven
62
George III. proclaimed king
63
President Clap's advertisement respecting the students
64
Advertisement of the Rev. R. Ross' work respecting Enthusiasts, &c. 64
Advertisement respecting haws or thorn seeds
65
Accident at a mock Indian fight
65
Vote of the officers of Yale College respecting students
65
Cropping, branding and whipping of criminals
66
Notice of the select-men respecting the town poor
66
Advertisement of Benjamin Mecom, the printer of the Gazette
66
Mr. J. Ingersoll's notice respecting stamps, &c.
67
Mr. Ingersoll's account of his resigning the office of stamp master 69 Benedict Arnold's advertisement 72
Rejoicings on account of the repeal of the stamp act
73
.
Discovery of a species of paint near New Haven 73
Governor's guards of New Haven, march to Cambridge
73
Account of the invasion of New Haven in 1779 7.4
Sir George Collier and Gen. Tryon's Proclamation 78
Gen. Tryon's official account of the invasion of New Haven 78
View of Savin rock
80
Additional particulars relative to the invasion of New Haven 81
Account of the Rev. Dr. Daggett-Mr. Amos Doolittle 81
Death of Capt. Gilbert and Mr. Beers 82
Confession of Abraham Hickcox
83
Students of Yale College and Abiathar Camp
84
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Notice of a beacon on Beacon or Indian Hill
Page. 86
First historical prints ever executed in America (supposed) S7
Complaint against Wm. Glen ; his confession 87
Powder mill erected
88
Elihu Smith's parole
88
The political A, B, C. 89
Inauguration of President Stiles, &c. . 90
Notice of a dramatic performance in New Haven 91
Israel Bishop's advertisement for volunteers ; his capture 91
Expedition of the British to West Haven 93
Advertisement respecting Benedict Arnold's estate 93
Corn-stalk juice distilled into rum, by Jacobs & Israel 94
Celebration on account of peace between Great Britain and America 95
Naming of the streets in New Haven, Sept. 1784 95
Connecticut Silk Society 96
John Elliot's, and Sarah Harlow's advertisements 97
Advertisement of a Roman Catholic priest
97
Account of the fire in New Haven, Oct. 28th, 1820
97
Notice of the Rev. David Austin (see note) 98
Gen. La Fayette's visit to New Haven in 1824
99
Account of the Farmington canal, celebration, &c.
101
Communication respecting the turning the course of the West
River, &c.
·
103
·
Names and professions of the inhabitants of New Haven in 1748
107
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11 6 K
ACCOUNT OF NEW HAVEN, &c.
NEW HAVEN lies at the head of a harbor, which sets up four miles from Long Island Sound; in north latitude 41º IS'; and in west longitude 72º 56'; seventy six miles from New York, thirty four from Hartford, and one hundred and thirty four from Boston. It is the capital of a county of the same name; and the semi-capital of Connecticut. The site of New Haven is a plain lying between two ranges of hills, on the cast and on the west; and limited, partly, on the north- ern side by two mountains, called the East and West Rocks; a spur from the latter, named Pine Rock, and another from the former, named Mill Rock, which descends in the form of a handsome hill to the northern skirt of the city. Between these mountains the plain opens into a valley, which extends northward seventy six miles to Northampton ; and between the East Rock, and the eastern range of hills, into another valley terminating at Wethersfield, thirty two miles. Both these vallies coincide at the places specified, with the vallies of Connecticut river. The mountains are bold bluff's of greenstone rocks, with summits finely figured, and form a de- lightful part of the New Haven landscape.
The harbor of New Haven is created by the confluence of three rivers with the sound. Wallingford or Quinnipiack river on the east; Mill river on the north ; and West river. The two last are merely mill streams; Mill river is a very fine one, as being plentifully supplied with water round the year. Wallingford river, originally called Quinipiack, riscs in Farmington, and after running a winding course of thirty five miles, empties its waters into the sound. These streams are also ornaments of the landscape.
The harbor of New Haven, from the entrance of Walling- ford and Mill rivers, has in the channel fifteen feet of water to its mouth : except on Crane's bar a small spit of sand, formed by the erection of a pier about three fourths of a mile from the shore. Here the depth is only seven and a half feet: but the obstruction might be removed with no great difficulty. At the time when the first settlers arrived in this town, there was in the northwestern region of this harbor, a sufficient depth of water for all the ordinary pur-
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poses of commerce. Ships were built and launched where now there are meadows, and gardens and shops, sloops load- ed and unloaded where the market now stands. So late as the year 1765, the long wharf extended only twenty rods from the shore. It extends now three thousand nine hundred and forty three feet. Yet there is less water a few rods from its foot now, than at its termination in the year 1765. The substance which here accumulates so rapidly, is, what in this country is called, marsh mud; the material of which, its salt marshes are composed. It has been suspected to be of a vegetable nature, and where the experiment has been tried it has been found to be peat, and yields a tolerably good fire.
The plain on which New Haven is built is, not improba- bly, a congeries of particles, floated down to this place in early times from the interior. Its surface is sand mixed with loam and gravel, beneath this is usually found a stratum of vellow loam. Still lower, at the depth of fifteen or eighteen inches, a mass of coarse sand extends about six feet. Beneath this is another, composed principally of pebbles, rounded and smoothed like stones, washed by the ocean. Still further down, the materials, generally like those which have been mentioned, are more mingled and confused. Formerly the surface was covered with shrub oaks; and wild turkeys and partridges were found in great numbers.
The soil of this plain is dry, warm, and naturally unpro- ductive, but by cultivation, is capable of producing every vegetable suited to the climate and in any quantity. For gardena, except in dry years, it.is remarkably well suited.+ The original town was laid out on the northwestern side of the harbor, in nine squares, each fifty two rods on a side : separated by streets four rods in breadth ; and thus formed a quadrangular area of one hundred and seventy two rods on a side. The central square is open and is styled the Green ; and the upper, or northwestern half is a beautiful slope. It was formerly used as a burying ground. but in 1621 the monuments were removed to the new burying ground, and the ground leveled. The lower part of the square is fifty two rods long, and twenty five rods wide. It is surrounded on all sides by rows of stately elms, and is considered one of the most beautiful in the United States. The surrounding squares are, by law, divided each into four.
*Dr. Dwight.
Trasn & Engraved ty W Barber
E. VIEW OF THE PUBLIC SOPABE OR GREEN, IN NEW HAVEN CON,
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by streets running from N. W. to S. E., and from N. E. to S. W., the direction of the original streets.
Besides these thirty two squares the town covers several considerable tracts bordering upon them and is constantly extending. The principal of these is on the S. E. side ; and is called the New Township ; a beautiful tract bounded by the east river and the harbor.
New Haven contained in 1830, 10,000 inhabitants : the area, occupied by the city, is probably as large as that which usually contains a, city of six times the number of inhabitants in Europe. A large proportion of the houses have court yards in front, and gardens in the rear. The former, are ornamented with tress and shrubs; the latter, are luxuriantly filled with fruit trees, flowers, and culinary vegetables.
The houses are generally two stories high, built of wood in a neat handsome but not expensive style. Many of those recently erected, are however, elegant and stately edifices of brick and stone. .
The public edifices, are the College buildings; seven handsome Churches, viz. Four Congregational, * two Episco- pal, one Methodist, and one Baptist ;i a Tontine, a State House, Jail, two Banks, a Custom House, and a State House, and a State Hospital, now erecting. Besides these, there are two Insurance Offices; eight Printing Offices, from which are issued six weekly and one semi-weekly newspapers, and one weekly, one monthly, and one quarterly religious publi- cations, and the American Journal of Science and Arts, con- ducted by Professor Silliman, a gentleman whose scientific attainments are well known both in this country, and in Europe.
* One of which is the African Church.
t All the congregations in New Haven, voted in 1812, that they would take down their churches and build new ones ; accordingly two of them commenced the work in 1813; the other in 1814. The church of the first congregation was finished in 1814. The other two were completed in 1815. The remainder of the churches were erected some years after- wards. The first mentioned Churches, are all placed on the western side of Temple Street, having an elegant square in front, and stand on a street one hundred feet wide. The Congregational churches are of Grecian Architecture. The Episcopal Church is a Gothic building ; few structures, devoted to the same purpose on this side of the Atlantic. are equally handsome ; and in no place can the same number of Church- es be found, within the same distance, so beautiful, and standing in so advantageous a position.
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It is believed that there is no place in the United States, where greater facilities are offered, for acquiring in every respect, a literary education than there is in New Haven. The following is a list of the literary institutions in 1831. Yale College, Medical College, one New Haven Gymnasi- um, one Young Ladies Institute, one Boarding school for Boys under ten years of age, one Practical Mathematical Seminary, one Private and select Institute for Young Ladies, one Lancasterian school for Boys, one Lancasterian school for Girls, three High schools, seven Young Ladies Boarding Schools, and the Franklin Institution.
The Hon. James Hillhouse, in the year 1796, purchased, near the north-western corner of the original town a field of ten acres; which, aided by several respectable gentlemen, he leveled and enclosed. The field was then divided into parallelograms, handsomely railed, and separated by alleys of sufficient breadth to permit carriages to pass each other. The whole field except four lots given to the several Con- gregations, and the College, and a lot destined for the re- ception of the poor, was distributed into family burying pla- ces ; purchased at the expense actually incurred, and secur- ed by law, from every civil process. . Each parallelogram is sixty four feet in breadth, and from one hundred and eighty to two hundred feet in length. Each family burying ground is thirty two feet in length, and eighteen in breadth : and against each an opening is made to admit a funeral pro- cession. At the divisions between the lots, trees are set out in the alleys; and the name of each proprietor is marked on the railing. The monuments in this ground are almost universally marble : in a few instances from Italy; in the rest, found in this and the neighboring states. A considerable number are obelisks; others are tables ; and others, slabs placed at the head and foot of the grave. The obelisks are placed universally on the middle line of the lots; and thus stand in a line successively through the parallelograms. The top of each post, and the railing. are painted white; the remainder of the post black. After the lots were laid out, the Proprietors, gave one to each of the then existing clergymen of the city, the rest was all thrown into one common stock. A meeting was then summoned of such inhabitants as wished to become proprietors. Such as attended drew for their lots, and located them at pleasure. Others in great numbers have since purchased them ; so that a great part of the field is now taken up.
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VIEW OF NEW HAVEN AND FORT HALE.
FORT HALE, the most prominent object in this view, is situated on an insulated rock, two miles from the end of Long wharf. It is so named from Capt. Nathan Hale, who nobly sacrificed his life, for his country, in the Revolutionary war. He was born in Coventry, Conn. and edu- cated in Yale College, where he graduated in 1773. The building on the right of the print is denominated the Barracks ; the small building to the west of the barracks, with a lightning rod attached to it, is the mag- azine. These buildings, with the fort, which are of brick, were erected by the United States in 1309. During the last war the fort was garri- soned by about sixty men. The fort with the buildings, above named, are now under the charge of Capt. John A. Thomas, formerly of the twenty fifth regiment, U. S. Infantry, who, with his family, reside in the barracks.
The Light House (see map of New Haven) is situated two miles di- rectly south of the fort. It was at this point that Gov. Tryon, in his ex- pedition against New Haven in July 1779, landed part of his forces. Their landing was opposed by a few of the neighboring militia, but with- out success, as they were soon obliged to give way to superior numbers.
While in the act of landing, an English officer, standing upright iu one of the boats, called out to the militia " Disperse ye rebels ;" he was immediately shot through the body, and buried near the light house, where his bones still remain. The detachment then proceeded towards New Haven ; on their march they stopped at the house known by the name of Morris's Place, which, after plundering, they wantonly set ou fire.
The letter g refers to the bridge erected below the junction of Mill river with the Quinipiack, or East river, and at the entrance of the com- mon stream into the harbor. It is known by the name of Tomlinson's Bridge, and is half a mile in length, and twenty seven feet in breadth. Under the direction of Isaac Tomlinson, Esq. deceased, a valuable whari of stone was extended from the south side of the bridge, along the west- ern borders of the channel. From this wharf the largest vessels used in the commerce of New Haven can take in their cargoes.
On the summit of the high ground on the Milford road, near the in- tersection of the Orange road, (see map of New Haven) is seen a fine prospect of New Haven, the harbor, and the surrounding scenery. It was near this place that Adjutant Campbell, of the British troops, was killed in the invasion of New Haven. His grave is still to be seen in a field a few rods worth of the road. When shot, he was carried into a sinall house, which formerly stood on the road a little distance west of . this place, where he expired.
PUBLIC SQUARE OR GREEN.
THis plate is a view of the public square, meeting-houses, &c. as they appear from Church street. This part of the square is fifty two rods long, and twenty five rods wide. It is surrounded on all sides by
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rows of stately elms, and is considered one of the most beautiful in the United States.
TRINITY CHURCH, NEW HAVEN.
This church which is in the left of the view, belongs to the Episcopal society .* It is built entirely in the Gothic style ; and to persons who never had an opportunity of viewing the ancient method of building in Europe, a sight of this edifice must be gratifying. The following is a description of this building, as given by Mr. Ithiel Town, Architect.
" Thi- Church is one hundred and three feet long, and seventy four feet wide, exclusive of the tower at the front end, which is twenty five feet square, and projects forward half of its size, making the whole length one hundred fifteen and a half feet. The base of the building is five feet thick at the bottom, three feet at the top, and ten feet deep ; three feet of which is above the ground-upon which, the walls are raised thirty- eight feet, with a hard granite, quarried from a rock about two miles north-west of the city, and layed with their natural faces out, and so se-
* In 1736 (as appears from the records of the town of New Haven) William Gregson, of the city of London, great grandson of Thomas Greg- son, who was one of the first planters of New Haven, "out of his piety towards God, and out of his zeal for the Protestant religion and the Church of England, as by law established," gave, for the benefit of this society, a deed of land situated in New Haven.
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lected and fitted, as to form small but irregular joints, which are pointed. These natural faces present various shades of brown and iron-rust ; and when damp, escepically, the different shades appear very deep and rich; at the same time conveying to the mind, an idea of durability and antiqui- ty, which may be very suitably associated with this style of architecture.
The cornice is ornamented with appropriate ornaments, above which the walls are finished with an embattled ballustrade, with pinnacles at the corners. The height of the tower, from the base to its upper roof, is one hundred feet, and is not diminished in size ; above which, are four orna- mented pinnacles on the corners, with square parts, fourteen feet high, corresponding with the buttresses of the tower; above which are frus- tums of octagonal pyramids, finished at the top with a termination, iron- work, and vane to each, making their height thirty feet above the roof of the tower. There are four other pinnacles, twenty feet high, placed at the center of each side of the tower, between which and the corner ones, is a very heavy embattled bailustrade, seven feet high, and con- necting together the eight pinnacles. The four center ones are octagonal, with crockets on the corners of the pyramidal parts.
The front of the tower, up to the upper roof, is divided into three compartments, and differently ornamented. The lower compartment, which is separated by a belt, thirty six feet from the base, contains a large pointed arch, thirty-two feet high and fourteen feet wide, orna- mented with a bold architrave, with tracery in the spandrels of its arch, which are recessed within a hewn stone margin :- eleven feet of the lower part of this arch, and deeply recessed, are double doors, with a flat Gothic arched top, which open into a vestibule; above these doors is a window, divided by two mullions, which fills the upper part of the arch. There are two other large arches in front, with their doors and windows very similar to this, except that there are not spandrels to the arches, nor but one dividing mullion to the windows ; these doors open into the side entrios, from which easy stairs lead to the upper entries, which communicate with the side galleries and organ loft, and are lighted by the windows over the doors, and also by one of the windows on each side of the Church.
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