USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Cheshire > History of Cheshire, Connecticut, from 1694-1840, including Prospect, which, as Columbia parish, was a part of Cheshire until 1829; > Part 1
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Gc 974.602 C42b 1136968 1
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01148 6641
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofcheshir00beac_0
JOSEPH PERKINS BEACH.
HISTORY
OF
CHESHIRE, CONNECTICUT
FROM
1694 to 1840
INCLUDING PROSPECT, WHICH, AS COLUMBIA PARISH, WAS A PART OF CHESHIRE UNTIL 1829
COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY
JOSEPH PERKINS BEACH
PUBLISHED BY LADY FENWICK CHAPTER, D. A. R. CHESHIRE, CONN. 1912.
Copyright, 1912, by LADY FENWICK CHAPTER, D. A. R.
PRESS OF THE JOURNAL PUBLISHING CO., MERIDEN, CONN.
1136968
Like leaves on trees the race of man is found; Now green in youth, now withering on the ground. Another race the following spring supplies; They fall successive, and successive rise. So generations in their course decay; So flourish these when those have passed away. -SPEECH OF DIOMEDES, HOMER, BOOK VI.
How the stately years march onward! How the centuries increase ! How the cycles roll and gather! How the lives of mortals cease ! Life is but a repetition- For the man who lives to-day, Loves and hopes like countless millions, Who have lived and passed away.
-CHESTER.
PREFACE
Few persons realize how much labor is involved in the prep- aration of a work of this kind. The collection and selection of the material is often the work of years. Many weary hours must be spent in copying faded records and deciphering weather-worn grave stones. Names and dates must be ver- ified, necessitating frequent journeys to other places to con- sult reliable sources of information, all involving expense of time and money. Finally, good judgment must be used in separating the wheat from the chaff, and skill exercised in making the story clear and interesting. This is all the work of no lazy man.
My father, the late Joseph P. Beach, the author of this his- tory, was a pupil at the Episcopal Academy in Cheshire dur- ing the years 1840 and 1841, and thus became interested in the town in his early years. Frequently, during his active busi- ness life, he made vacation trips to the scene of these pleasant school days, thus refreshing his memory of faces and places connected with them.
In 1869, when he retired from business, he became a per- manent resident of Cheshire, and from that time to the end of his life much of his leisure time was occupied in genealogical and historical research. While gathering material for a paper to be read at the Centennial celebration of the incorporation of the town of Cheshire, he became especially interested in the early history of the place.
Declining many requests for the publication of this paper, he began the compilation of this more comprehensive history which, he knew, would be of more permanent value. With his faithful little horse "Dolly," he made frequent trips to con- sult the records of the town of Wallingford, with which
6
PREFACE.
Cheshire was closely connected during its early history ; and he often journeyed to New Haven and Hartford to examine the colonial records of those towns and satisfy his desire for truth and accuracy.
For a number of years after the preparation of this history it remained unpublished, but when the Lady Fenwick Chap- ter, D. A. R. requested the privilege of printing it, my father willingly consented. It is now sent forth with the earnest hope that it may strengthen the purpose of the town to make its present history worthy of its past and that all who read it may renew their interest in old Cheshire.
LOUISA B. BEACH.
New Haven, Conn.
INTRODUCTION
The delay in publishing this History was caused by finding among Mr. Beach's papers (which were turned over to me) sev- eral pages of manuscript with notes and data down to about 1840. As it had been Mr. Beach's wish to have this important period covered, and as it seemed unfair to him that so much of his labor and time should go unnoted, it was decided that the work should be carried on to that date, writing it out from these notes and memoranda. Necessarily this took time, as much copying and verifying of old records was necessary.
Mr. Beach's own work ends with the first paragraph on page 238, and while the remainder lacks his skillful pen and happy phrasing, yet we have tried to make it accurate, and we hope our readers will feel that we did well to add it.
Any additions or corrections discovered in the progress of the work will be noted at the end of the book.
NETTIE C. SMITH.
Cheshire, April, 1912.
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Joseph Perkins Beach Frontispiece
Map of the Town of Wallingford, 1670-72. 22
On ye Guard, 1640. 3I
Map of Falls Plain Division, 1689-90 37
A Fortified House, 1679. 38
Map of the "Villiage," 1723. 81
Congregational Church, built in 1736. 239
Congregational Church, 1826-1912. 24I
Peter Hitchcock's House. 243
Bowden Hall, 1796. 247
Cheshire Academy Buildings about 1850 25I
Rev. Reuben Ives. 253
St. Peter's Episcopal Church, as built in 1839 254
Tracing of a Map published in 1812. 258
The Governor Foot House 261
Methodist Church, built in 1834. 270
Entrance to Barytes Mine at Ginny Hill 272
Drawing of Cheshire Green about 1850 282
Tombstone of Parson Hall and Wife. 314
Tombstone of Captain David Hitchcock. 401
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE.
Quinnipiac Colony-Discovery of the Site of New Haven by Eaton and Davenport-Settlement of New Haven-Prosperity of the New Colony- New Plantation Started-General Court Established at New Haven- The Regicides-New Haven Colony Unites with the Colony of Con- necticut . Pages II-15
CHAPTER TWO.
The New Village-Colony Road-Bounds-Allotments of Land-Rank of Proprietors-King Philip's War-Plans for Defense-Fortifications- Arms-Church Society-Church Building-Two Division Allotments- Cleared Plains Division-"Lay-outs" of Land-Bridges-Highways to Fresh Meadows-Cheshire Street-Deed from General Court-List of Proprietors, Heirs and Planters-Train Bands Pages 16-53
CHAPTER THREE.
Permanent Settlement in Cheshire-List of Inhabitants-Copper Mines- Bellamy's Inn-New Division-Lots Drawn-Petition for School at West Farms-Refusal of General Court for Society Bounds-New Schools-Town and General Assembly Finally Grant Parish Bounds- Election of Committees-Calling the Minister-Building Meeting House-Rates Pages 54-83
CHAPTER FOUR.
Seating the Meeting House-Ordination of the Minister-Difficulties About Highways, Timber, etc .- Inhabitants in 1725-Houses-Cost of Building-Honey Pot Brook-Ten Mile River-Taxing of Non-resi- dents-Burying Place-Indian War Rumors-Sixth Division of Land- Enlarging Meeting House-New School Houses-List of Freemen, 1730-Appointment of Magistrate-Smallpox-Seventh Land Divi- sion-New Highway-New Meeting House-Application for Town Privileges Refused-War-Money Used and Value of .. Pages 84-116
CHAPTER FIVE.
Sunday Observance-Sabbath Day Houses-War with French-Letters from Soldiers-Commissions-Governor's Proclamation-Lack of Loy-
IO
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
alty to King-Surrender of Quebec-Montreal Expedition-Amasa Hitchcock's Commission-Accession of George III .- Pottery Intro- duced-Ebenezer Fisk's Petition-Episcopal Church Established Here- Tax List Minister's Rate-Rev. Mr. Foot Ordained-Sons of Liberty- Stamp Act-Second Application for Town Privileges Refused-Tax Rate and List -- Number of Inhabitants Pages 117-154
CHAPTER SIX.
Boston Tea Party-Appointment of Committees-Slave Owners-Dele- gates to Assembly-War Declared-Continental Congress-Inspection Committees-Prisoners-Bounties-Tories-Oath of Fidelity-Cost of Food-State Money-Salt-Articles of Confederation-Petition of New Cheshire Parish Granted-Bounds of the New Town-Names of Par- ish Officers-First Town Meeting-Town Officers and Committees- Revolutionary Soldiers-Letters from Soldiers-Pension Appli-
cations
Pages 155-234
CHAPTER SEVEN.
Votes of Town Meetings-Bounties-Highways-Town Poor-Church Controversy-New Church-Votes on Sale of Western Lands-Episcopal Academy Established-Episcopal Parish and Building of New Church -- School Committees-Town Officers-Building of Turnpike-State Con- stitution Adopted-Workhouse-Building of Canal . . Pages 235-264
CHAPTER EIGHT.
Petition from People at West Rocks-Society of Columbia-Deeds to "Strict" Congregationalists-Names of Parish Members-Town of Prospect Incorporated-Methodist Society-Church Built 1834-Town Deposit Fund-Additional Ballot Boxes-Industries-Barytes Mines -- Western Emigration-War of 1812-Closing Words of Mr. Beach --- Additional Names of Revolutionary Soldiers Pages 265-282
PARSON HALL'S RECORDS Pages 283-338
PARSON FOOT'S RECORDS Pages 339-445
TOWN RECORDS OF CHESHIRE Pages 446-499
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH RECORDS Pages 499-502 TOMBSTONE RECORDS Pages 502-513
DEATHS NOT IN TOMBSTONE LIST . Pages 513-518
RECORD OF BURIALS FROM EPISCOPAL CHURCH Pages 518-52I
LIST OF FREEMEN Pages 522-532
AMASA HITCHCOCK'S RECORDS Pages 533-540
MARRIAGES FROM WALLINGFORD RECORDS Pages 541-572
CHAPTER ONE.
QUINNIPIAC COLONY-DISCOVERY OF SITE, AND SETTLEMENT OF NEW HAVEN-THE REGICIDES-COLONY OF CONNECTICUT.
"A History of the Town of Cheshire" would not be complete without alluding to the original settlement of the surrounding territory by those who came from England in the early years of the seventeenth century, and settled the Quinnipiack Colony, so called for many years by the people who came hither to establish homes where they should be free to worship God after their own forms and convictions.
It does not appear from an examination of historical and other records that the Quinnipiac Colony under the leadership of Theophilus Eaton and John Davenport had what may be called a "Royal Warrant" for taking possession of their "Plantation." They sailed for New England many years after the colony of Massachusetts Bay had been established ; and their first stopping place was near Boston at Watertown (now Cambridge) in Mas- sachusetts, where they remained for nearly a year, resisting every inducement urging them to settle in Massachusetts.
In the fall of 1637 Mr. Eaton and others, in a pinnace or small sloop, left Boston, and skirting the New England coast, entered Long Island sound, sailing westward until they anchored off a "fair haven;" and subsequently sailed into a broad harbor which they found was overlooked by two high mountain peaks, now known as East and West Rocks. They explored the country suf- ficiently to determine that the present site of New Haven was a suitable place for the settlement of their "Plantation." Then, after erecting some huts, consisting partly of logs, and partly of excavations in the bluffs (at present known as Water street, near MeadowI) they left eight men to spend the winter, felling tim- ber and clearing the land.
IN. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. office building.
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
Early in the spring of 1638 Mr. Eaton and his company sailed from Boston, reaching Quinnipiac in a couple of weeks, where they held their first religious service under the shelter of a "large spreading oak." They next proceeded to erect houses, having previously purchased the land from the Indian sachems who were then in possession. These purchases occupied the greater part of the year 1638. The territory acquired by the New Haven Colony embraced a tract bounded on the south by Long Island sound, and extending from Saybrook bounds to Stamford and Greenwich, with an average width to the northward of twenty miles. Two or three years previously the Colony of Connecti- cut had purchased lands at the mouth of the Connecticut river extending up to Wethersfield, Hartford and Windsor, to the Springfield plantation in Massachusetts. The Connecticut col- ony under Mr. Hooker, had come overland with all their cattle and "household gear" to the present site of the City of Hartford. Their possessions extended southward twenty miles or more. Its southern boundary after all the negotiations with the Indians had been concluded, became the northern boundary of the New Ha- ven or Quinnipiac Colony. The Indian titles being extinguished, and terms of "Peace and Amity" having been made; the set- tlers under Messrs. Eaton and Davenport proceeded to erect their "Plantation," taking a form of government based largely upon "the Word of God" which our ancestors recognized as the "true foundation stone of all government."
They formulated a "Plantation Covenant" which was agreed to and signed by one hundred and eleven persons on "ye 4th day of ye 4th month," called June, 1639.
Under this Covenant the proper officers of the Colony were appointed, and the machinery of government was put in opera- tion after the manner approved of by the people of those days.
An oligarchy similar to that established at New Haven would not be tolerated at the present day, but in those days, with In- dians all around them and a Dutch settlement at New York, it was not only a necessity but the only defence they could adopt for the well being of the community. Its laws were, no doubt, far more onerous than many of those restrictions put upon the
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
people of the old country by the King of England and his cour- tiers ; but as these pioneers governed themselves, and submitted cheerfully to the majority rule, obeying without complaint "all those in authority over them ;" they were happy and contented.
From 1639 the colony of New Haven prospered. The city was laid out half a mile square, and sub-divided into nine squares (the central square being the present "Green") with "suburb lands" sufficient to give all the "free planters" "house lotts" and farm lands, and also accommodate many persons who came from other "Plantations" to the New Haven Colony. These persons were "admitted" as "after planters" and by purchase many be- came "Free Planters," having obtained the consent of the "New Haven Courte" to buy out all the rights, titles and interests of some original "Free Planter." The new comers were given land as the commonwealth, by its magistrates or "Generall Courte" in town meeting assembled "saw fitt;" but generally with the pro- viso that the "Courte might repeal the deed of gift at its good pleasure if the persons were found to be undesirable inhabitants."
From England and from Massachusetts, many persons came to New Haven Colony. Its population increased rapidly. The first houses, generally built of either stone or logs, thatched with hay and straw, gave place to framed buildings, and we have abundant evidence that within five years substantial two story, full framed buildings were erected ; that of Governor Theophilus Eaton being probably the largest, having many rooms.
A company went from New Haven to Milford, where they established a plantation in 1639. Another company planted themselves at Branford, another at Stamford, and others crossed the sound to Southold on Long Island. All these with- drawals from New Haven into separate plantations so weakened the Quinnipiac Colony that in 1643 they all reunited under one "Generall Courte" which thereafter governed them all under the name of the New Haven Colony.
Under this jurisdiction all the lands purchased from the In- dians and all the English settlements were governed at New Ha- ven, and there was assembled the General Court whose author- ity was paramount throughout that part of Connecticut lying
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
along the sound from Saybrook on the Connecticut river to Greenwich; where the Dutch governor of New York state claimed jurisdiction.
The Connecticut Colony at Hartford, Wethersfield and Wind- sor, had been equally enterprising. They bought Indian lands, from the Connecticut river west to the borders of the State of New York; and northward to the confines of Massachusetts. This Hartford colony, however, claimed to hold its grant by pur- chases from different patentees, some of those noblemen who ob- tained from the king grants of land in America by furnishing Charles the First with money to squander among his favorites. This Royal Grant, at second hand, was deemed by the Connecti- cut colony a better title to its possessions than that of the colony of New Haven, which had no color of a Royal English title to the territory it had purchased of the Indians.
Nevertheless both colonies dwelt together in peace and amity. They united with the Massachusetts and Providence plantations by agreements for mutual defense against the Indians, the Dutch and the French, who had become somewhat troublesome on the northern borders.
This continued until, in 1660, King Charles the Second was re- stored to the throne of England. The head of his father, Charles the First, had been cut off by the sentence of a court convened by Oliver Cromwell and composed of prominent officers and magistrates who, after the restoration, were individually de- nounced in Royal Orders, as Regicides, and King Charles the Second sent out his "pursuivants" to capture any of them, wher- ever they might be found in his dominions.
Two of these men, named Goffe and Whalley, arrived in Bos- ton in 1660, and early in 1661, they came to New Haven, where they were concealed by Mr. Davenport, and afterwards at the Judge's Cave in West Rock. Then they went to Milford, where the king's officers being close upon their tracks, they, not wish- ing to get Governor Leete and Mr. Davenport in trouble, boldly exhibited themselves in New Haven city. Escaping the same day, they concealed themselves under the "Neck" or North Haven bridge, over which the officers galloped in pursuit. The
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
Regicides then left their hiding place and proceeded to Bran- ford, ultimately ascending the Connecticut river to Massachu- setts. It is well known to every student of history that the movements of these men, all of the time that they were in New Haven or its vicinity, was known to faithful friends. They were daily fed while in the Judge's Cave, and until their final departure they were concealed, if not by the authorities, it was at least by the unofficial encouragement of Governor Leete (suc- cessor to Governor Eaton), Mr. Davenport and others.
It is probable that this incident served to call the attention of the king's adherents to the New Haven Colony, and precipitated the annexation of the New Haven Colony to that of Connecti- cut at Hartford. The New Haven Colony, never having had a Royal Charter, was obliged to give up its independent existence, and in 1662 a Royal Charter was obtained by Governor Win- throp. After some resistance the New Haven Colony accepted the situation and became in 1664 a component part of the Colony of Connecticut. Thenceforward the "Generall Courte" was held at Hartford, and from that court issued all the laws that governed New Haven and other towns of the Commonwealth.
CHAPTER TWO.
.
THE NEW VILLAGE-KING PHILIP'S WAR-CHURCH SOCIETY-LAY- OUTS OF LAND-LIST OF PROPRIETORS.
The union with the Connecticut Colony having been perfected, and New Haven (no longer a colony, but now an important town), having been confirmed in its ownership of the Indian lands it had purchased, began to consider ways and means for providing land and employment for the large surplus population within its borders. To this end some of the chief inhabitants and magistrates held meetings and decided to "erect a village upon our lands lieing above ye great plaine."
As this could not be done without consent of the "Generall Courte," the following record of a session held at Hartford Oct. Ioth, 1667, gives permission to the town of New Haven by the following resolution :
"Upon the motion of the deputies of New Haven this courte grants the towne of New Haven libertie to make a village on ye East River, if they see it capable for such a thing, provided they setle a villiage there within fower years from May next."
The New Haven townsmen now discussed this village matter in town meeting ; eventually voting to appoint a committee, who were to arrange the preliminaries necessary for a village settle- ment. The New Haven town committee issued an "Agreement" for the signatures of those proposing to become inhabitants of the new village. This paper, much torn, may still be found among the "Records" in the Town Clerk's office at Wallingford.
"We, whose names are underwritten being accepted by the Committee of New Haven for ye intended village as Planters and desireing that ye worship and ordinances of God may in due time be set up and encouraged among us, as the main concernment of a Christian People, doe sincerely and in the fear of God promise and engage ourselves that we shall not neither directly nor in- directly, do anything to hinder or obstruct any good means that shall be used by ye said Comite, or others intrusted by them to
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
promote the premises, by securing a Godly and able ministry among us to dispense to us the word of God, and when such min- istry, or a Church of Christ shall be settled among us, we engage by no means to disturb the same in their choice of a Minister or Ministers or other Chh officers or in any other of their Chh Rights, liberties, or administrations, nor shall refuse or with- draw due maintenance from such Minister or Ministry. And farther we doe engage ourselves peaceably to submit to such set- tlement, and Civil order as the said Committee shall direct among us either by themselves, or some other as a Comite by them ap- pointed, upon the place, until the said village come to be an or- derly establishment within itself, and lastly we doe engage per- sonally to settle upon ye place by May next, commencing next, come twelve month, if God's Providence inevitably hinder not, and to observe and perform all and every yet other Articles agreed upon."
It was signed by the following 39 persons, a sufficient number, in the opinion of the committee, to establish the proposed vil- lage, viz :
I Samuel Street
21 John Milles
2 John Mosse, Sr.
22 Nathan Andrews
3 John Brockett 23 John Ives*
4 Nathl Merriman, Sr. 24 Simon Tuttell
5 Abraham Dowlittle
25 Samuel Miles*
6 Jere How
26 William Johnson*
7 Samuel Andrews
27 John Harriman
8 Daniel Sherman*
28 Francis Heaton*
9 John Hall
29 John Fen*
IO Samuel Hall
30 Daniel Hogge*
II Samll Cook
31 Samuel Whitehead*
12 Zach How
32 Benjamin Lewis
13 Nath1 How
33 Thomas Curtis
14 Joseph Benham
34 Thomas Yale
15 Samuel Potter 35 Thomas Hall
16 Joseph Ives
36 John Beech, Sr.
37 Eliasaph Preston
19 John Peck
20 Samuel Browne*
39 Eliazer Holt*
17 Eleazar Peck
18 Samuel Munson
38 Jehiel Preston*
The names marked with a star are those of signers to the
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
Agreement, who did not "possess their lotts," which "lotts" were assigned to other applicants. Subsequently a few of these orig- inal signers were received as inhabitants the same as some other persons who applied for "accommodations" after the town was firmly established.
The New Haven committee selected from this list four persons, who were to oversee the work of laying out the new village, and act as the agents of the New Haven committee in matters per- taining to the distribution of house lots and the orderly disposi- tion of the land about to be settled upon.
It is not to be supposed that a committee composed of New Haven magistrates, and leading men would proceed in any other than an orderly way ; and therefore they formulated the follow- ing document dated New Haven 31st of ye 11th month 1669 (31st of January, 1668).
"I. The Committee do consent to put the said village designe into ye hands of a competent number of persons fitly qualified for that work, provided, they reasonably appear and engage to un- dertake ye same upon theire articles and further shall appoint some fit persons of ye said number to be a committee with full power to manage their plantation affairs, until the place come to be an orderly establishment within itself.
"2. For ye safety and well being of church affairs, for ye Min- istry and maintenance, the committee do order yt ye s'd under- takers and successors, before (they are) admitted shall subscribe to the following engagement, vide He, or they, as afs'd shal not by any means Disturb ye church when settled there, in their choice of Minister or Ministers, or other ch'h officers-or in any of their Ch'h Rights, Liberties, or administrations, nor shall re- fuse nor withdraw due maintainance from 'such ministry, and un- til such Ch'h be settled, shall submit to such order as ye said com- mittee shall make, for a Godly Minister to dispence ye word of God among them.
"3. That the said Committee to be appointed and their suc- cessors in receiving of Planters, shall have due respect to New Haven persons, being fit and offering themselves, so far as it can consist with the good of the place and capacity thereof.
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
"4. Lastly. These articles being accepted, the s'd company and all others admitted planters among them, shall enjoy their accommodations and lands, without payment of purchase money to New Haven, to themselves, their heirs, successors and assigns, forever, so far as concerns New Haven town's purchase within the village bounds, the said town of New Haven consenting there unto. And we do nominate,
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