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HISTORY
HARTLAND
The 69th Town
Solony
Compiled by
Stanley A Person
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
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HISTORY of HARTLAND
The 69th Town in The Colony of Connecticut
Compiled by
Stanley A. Ransom
'Tis a rough land of earth and stone and tree Where breathes no castled lord or cabined slave Where thoughts and tongues and hands are bold and free And friends will find a welcome, foes a grave; And where none kneel, save when to Heaven they pray, Nor even then, unless in their own way. - Fitz-Greene Halleck
Publication Sponsored by THE HARTLAND BI-CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
All Rights Reserved Copyright 1961 by Hartland Bi-Centennial Committee FIRST EDITION Limited to 600 copies
Printed in the United States of America by The Dowd Printing Company, Winsted, Connecticut
1233681 Dedication
To those hardy and courageous souls who first braved the perils and hardships of the wilderness to Establish homes within the borders of Hartland, their descendants, and the myriad of those who have at some time called this place "home"; to all those, past and present, known and unknown, who have LaborEd in the advancement of and contributed, in the 200 years of its corpor- ate Existence, to the spiritual, Educational, civic and material welfare of our beloved town - this book is respectfully dedicated.
-Franz Kraus, Clinton, Studio
Stanley A. Ransom
STANLEY A. RANSOM (By Charlotte S. Ransom)
Stanley Austin Ransom was born in West Granville, Mass., May 5th, 1897, the son of Edward and Sarah (Stillman) Ransom.
He attended the Granville and West Hartland elementary schools and the Gilbert School in Winsted. After serving in World War I with the rank of corporal, he became affiliated with the Win. L. Gilbert Clock Co. of Winsted, and has been in their employ for over 40 years, now serving as Sales Manager of one division, and editor of their house-organ.
In 1920 he married Charlotte Sheldon of Winsted, and has a family of two sons and three daughters.
Establishing permanent residence in Hartland in 1935, he has served the Town of Hartland as a member of the School Board, Regional Representative, Justice of Peace, Trial Justice and since 1948 has been Judge of Probate for the District of Hartland.
An amateur artist, he has been active in local art circles and the promotion of other cultural pursuits.
He became intensely interested in local History and was instru- mental in the formation of the Hartland Historical Society of which he is now president. This book is the result of his efforts in research, com- piling, and writing most of the copy. Affiliated with many business and civic enterprises, he is a Corporator of the Mechancis Savings Bank in Winsted, President of the Associated Business Service, President of the Litchfield County Art Association, President of West Hartland Ceme- tery Association, Vice-President of the Union Agricultural Society, and a lay member of the Methodist Church.
He resides in West Hartland and is Vice-Chairman of the Hartland Bi-Centennial Committee, as well as Chairman of the Historical Com- mittec.
-
Courtesy Charles H. Gaines
David Northway Gaines
DAVID NORTHWAY GAINES
David Northway Gaines was born in East Hartland on June 22, 1854, the son of Lester K. and Mabel (Northway) Gaines. With the ex- ception of two years spent in Waterbury, Connecticut, he lived in East Hartland all his life. He attended the First District School in East Hart- land and in his early years followed the trade of house painter.
His political career began with his election as one of Hartland's representatives to the General Assembly in 1899. In 1912 he was elected Town Clerk of Hartland and continued in that office until 1934. Begin- ning in 1904 he was appointed Postmaster in East Hartland and con- tinued in that capacity until reaching retirement age in 1940.
It was during the period of twenty-two years while serving as Town Clerk that he became interested in the early Land Records of Hartland and the genealogies of its early settlers. In collaboration with Correll H. Tiffany of West Hartland, maps were made showing the divisions and lots drawn by the original proprietors, in each division. Also maps of the entire town on which Key Numbers were placed to indicate the early homesteads and other sites were developed and these were event- ually placed in the Connecticut State Library. Records of the convey- ances and descriptions of the premises as they were sold from one in- dividual to another were compiled and applied to the Key Numbers so that one could trace the ownership from the beginning to the present time. David N. Gaines concentrated on the East Mountain and North Hartland Hollow, while Correll H. Tiffany's efforts were devoted to the West Mountain and South Hartland Hollow.
In addition, Mr. Gaines spent many years of research in connection with the Hartland men who served in the Revolutionary and other wars. The list of those compiled for the Bunker Hill Day celebration of June 17, 1930 was largely the result of his study and research.
The history of the First Ecclesiastical Society was a subject which occupied much of his time and he assembled considerable data regard- ing the early ministers and various changes made to the church building.
On December 3, 1874, David N. Gaines married Fanny A. Brown of East Hartland and began living in the house previously owned by his father, Lester K. Gaines. Here he remained the rest of his life and the combination of Post Office, Town Clerk's Office and family farm made it a busy place. Four children were born to them; two died in infancy. His daughter Mabel died on October 19, 1899 at the age of 22; and his son, Charles H. Gaines, died on May 20, 1961, age 81.
For over 50 years David N. Gaines was sexton of the East Hartland Cemetery and was one of those instrumental in the rebuilding and beau- tification of the present grounds. He was one of the organizers and a life- long member of the present East Hartland Cemetery Association.
Unfortunately, the historical material which he assembled over a long period of years was never published but has been preserved in the form of note-books and manuscript form. Some of these have been placed in the Connecticut State Library but most of them eventually came into the possession of his son, the late Charles H. Gaines, who has
made them available to the writer for use in connection with this his- tory. Without them it would have been impossible to do the necessary research in the time allotted. Credit has been given wherever these notes and other information has been used. The writer is deeply indebted to the late Charles H. Gaines for permission to use this historical data in connection with this work.
In his later years, David N. Gaines became familiarly known as "The Sage of the East Mountain". He was the subject of many news- paper articles describing his accumulation of local historical knowl- edge. The circle of his friends in the community was large and he was affectionately called "Uncle Dave" by those who knew him best. Those who came seeking information regarding the Hartland of an earlier day were rewarded with a cheerful and generous supply of all the informa- tion on the subject which he had in his possession, usually with a few anecdotes thrown in for good measure.
His wife died October 14, 1933, at the age of 80. David N. Gaines died September 26, 1941, at the age of 87. He is buried in the East Hart- land Cemetery in the Gaines' Family Plot. One of the old millstones, from the mill of Titus Hayes and used to grind grain for the Revolu- tionary War Soldiers, with a suitable bronze plaque serves as a marker for his grave.
CHARLES H. GAINES
The sudden death of Charles H. Gaines on May 20, 1961, came as a distinct shock to his many friends in Hartland, Granby and other places. A member of the Historical Committee for Hartland's Bi-Centennial Celebration, his assistance and the generosity displayed in making avail- able the use of the historical information gathered by his father, David N. Gaines, will long be remembered. It is with a sense of deep sorrow that we record his passing. It would have been a great pleasure for him to see this book in printed form and we regret that he did not live to sce its accomplishment. Our deepest sympathy is extended to his widow, Florence C. Gaines.
PREFACE
It is, of course, impossible to fully record every major event which happened in the Town of Hartland over the last 200 years in a work of this scope. It has been necessary to condense wherever possible, but we have tried to include all of the interesting periods and places in de- scribing the long hard road which the inhabitants trod from early wil- derness to the superb highways of the present day.
No one knows better than I the inadequacies of this history. It is far from complete and leaves much to be desired. What it lacks in the way of polished prose, however, may be compensated to some extent by the fact that I do believe it does have the merit of accuracy. The infor- mation contained herein is based on original Town Records, Records of the Churches and other material from fugitive sources, the authen- ticity of which has been verified in each instance.
It has been necessary to include a number of items and articles written by others than myself. In cach case proper credit has been given to the author or the source from which the material originated. It has been my task to compile and arrange these in the best manner possible.
The writer is under great obligations to a number of people who have assisted in making this history possible. The records and maps of David N. Gaines and Correll H. Tiffany have been consulted constantly. Charles H. Gaines of Granby has kindly loaned mne the use of the David N. Gaines notes on Hartland, and Rev. Hollis M. French of Grantham, N.H., has kindly made available to the writer the Land Record notes of Correll H. Tiffany, and assisted in supplying other items of an historical nature.
In addition, the writer is especially indebted to the following who submitted old pictures, material for possible use; and were helpful in a number of ways:
Lewis S. Mills, Metropolitan District Commission, State Park and Forest Commission, Alice Emmons Parmelec, Irene V. Shepard, Mildred Nelson, Harold French, Laura M. Dickinson, Alice Cables Calabrese, Georgiana Feley Rebillard, Edith V. Miller, Olga Dean, Catherine Wright, Florence S. Ransom, Byron C. Stratton, Gertrude Shelley Os- born, Charles McDonough, Jerome and Mildred deForest, Anita Holt, Marsha Crunden Ransom, Rev. Herbert O. Kelsey, Ida J. Ransom, Fred Crunden, Stella Gorse, Judith Franzen Devlin, Rev. Stanley Dokken and most of all to my wife, Charlotte S. Ransom, who has done mnost of the typing, proof-reading, and borne the burden of the multitudinous de- tails connected with publication.
There are many more historical subjects which should have been included in this history, but the lack of finances for additional pages made their omission mandatory.
This book is the result of a dream which began many years ago. Although much of my boyhood was spent in Hartland and I attended the old West Hartland Center School for some two years, it was not until I became a resident in 1935 that iny interest developed in the local history of the Town and its early settlement and formation. Since that
time it has been iny main ambition to see this material gathered into one book so that others might have an opportunity of knowing the back- ground of the place in which they live. It has been my intention to write this in a manner all can understand and include some of the things that should interest them most.
If this history fulfills a long-felt want for a work of this kind, I will be more than amply repaid for the long hours spent in research, compiling and writing. The problems have been many. Financing has been a major obstacle and time has always been in short supply. In spite of this, by sheer perseverance we are making the dream of this book become a reality, and we hope you will enjoy it in the spirit in which it is written and forgive its imperfections.
West Hartland, Conn.
June 15, 1961
STANLEY A. RANSOM
CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
"History of Hartland"'
DEDICATION
STANLEY A. RANSOM
Biography
DAVID N. GAINES (Charles H. Gaines) Biographical Sketch
PREFACE
CHAPTER I This Land of Ours
CHAPTER II
The Proprietors
CHAPTER III
The Early Settlers
CHAPTER IV Over the Years
CHAPTER V The Churches
CHAPTER VI The Cemeteries
CHAPTER VII The Schools
CHAPTER VIII Inns and Taverns
CHAPTER IX Agriculture and Industry
CHAPTER X Military History
CHAPTER XI Reservoirs, Fields and Forests
CHAPTER XII Biographical Vignettes
LIST OF BI-CENTENNIAL COMMITTEES
APPENDIX Town Officers Marriages in 2nd Society 1782-1836
CHAPTER I
This Land of Ours
WHOEVER has made a leisurely journey over the area of some 22,300 acres now comprising the Town of Hartland must be impressed by the fact that it could never have been chosen by the early settlers as an utopia for agricultural purposes. The rock-ribbed hillsides offercd little incentive to settlement and it taxes our imagination to comprehend how so many farms and homesteads were eventually carved out of the rough terrain and virgin forests which confronted the first inhabitants.
The Ice-Age and Glacial Period had not been kind to this section. Although thousands of years have elapsed, the evidence of this era is still visible in the clearly defined moraines, drumlins and eskers which the receding ice left in this locality. Eskers, which are embankments in form and composed of sand, gravel and other water-washed material, are the most numerous. (In East Hartland, about a mile south of the East Hartland church, is a large esker well-known to state geologists and called the "Windrow" by older generations.) The movement of ice left scant soil on the surface, but underneath the shallow crust a deep layer of granite having a schist harder than that of surrounding area.
The ice formed a deep valley through the center of this area and a stream, to be later named the East Branch of the Farmington River, pur- sued its placid course. The wooded hillsides on either side of the stream rose sharply for several hundred feet and emerged in rugged plateaus to be later named the East and West Mountains. On the west side a natural pond of some sixty acres lay surrounded by dense woods and marshy swamps.
Prior to the settlement of Windsor and Hartford in 1633, it is doubt- ful that any white man had ever set foot in this isolated region. There were, no doubt, trails along the edges of streams and from one mountain to the other which the Indians had used for untold centuries. There is no evidence of any permanent Indian settlement within the present borders of the town but that small bands used sections for summer en- campments, hunting and fishing purposes is attested by the finding of artifacts in the river valley and a few other places. Although it is esti- mated that in 1633 there were about 3,000 Indians among the River Tribes around Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield, only about 400 com- prised the Tunxis tribe or Sepous who confined their habitations and hunting to the Tunxis (Farmington) River area some ten to fifteen miles west of the Quinni-tuk-et River (Connecticut). Into this wild, rugged woodland the Tunxis tribe would come over the trails made by red men and animals who for years had traveled from one stream to another in a
2
History of Hartland
-Courtesy Lewis S. Mills
Balanced rock located in East Hartland on ledge north of present Connecticut Ski Trail
single file. The forests were filled with game, and quail, partridge and even wild turkeys were in abundance. The streams and lakes were filled with fish and waterfowl were plentiful. Deer browsed in the open glades watered by springs or along the edges of lakes and ponds. Wolves howled to break the great white silences of winter; and the wildcat and panther pursued their prey.
Into this region the Indians came in the spring and camped beside the streams, sometimes planting corn in the more fertile spots, and hunt- ing, fishing and preparing furs for the winter months. As a rule, the Tunxis was a peaceable tribe and lived unmolested by the River Tribes, but in deadly fear of raids from their enemies, the Mohawks to the West and the Pequots to the South. No one knows for how many years this form of Indian life had continued in these rugged hills and wooded valleys but the encroachment of settlements along the Big or Connecticut River at Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield, began a new era which would eventually spell disaster for all the Indians of New England.
It began when William Holmes, from Plymouth Colony, sailed up the River to a point above the Dutch Fort, now called Hartford, and erected a trading post at the confluence of the Farmington and Connec- ticut Rivers, now called Windsor. With him he brought the great Sachem of the entire region, Sequassen, who had taken refuge among the Narragansetts as an exile because of the region having been recently conquered by the Pequots.
3
This Land of Ours
Sequassen, claiming authority through his restoration as Sachem of all the River Tribes, sold land "without stint or hesitation" to the residents of the new settlements, deeding to them all of the land west- ward, including the territory of the Tunxis and the land which now com- prises Hartland, as far west as the country of the Mohawks. The fact that up to that time, no surveys had ever been made, the deeds were vague in description with the result that the same land was sold over and over, in some instances as many as six or seven times. These ancient deeds given by Sequassen and other Sachems later became the founda- tion for claims by Hartford and Windsor to these "Western Lands", re- sulting many years later in the area now comprising the Town of Hart- land being given to a group of Hartford taxpayers or Proprietors, as they were then called, and who shared in the amount of land acquired in proportion to the amount they (or their heirs) owned at that time (1720) in the Town of Hartford.
The General Court of the Colony of Connecticut, on January 26, 1686, gave a grant of land to the Towns of Hartford and Windsor. This was a large tract referred to at that time as "Western Lands." It was described as being situated "on the north of Woodbury and Matatock (Waterbury) and on the west of Farmington and Simsbury, to the Massachusetts' line north, and to run west to the Housatunnuck River (provided it be not, or part of it, formerly granted to any particular persons) to make a plantation or villages thereon."
April of the same year marked the arrival in Boston of Sir Edmund Andros as Governor-in-chief of New England, and his subsequent de- mand for the surrender of Connecticut's Charter, terminating in the Charter Oak episode of October 1687. Sir Edmund left the New England scene in 1689, and immediately there arose a bitter controversy between the Colony and the Towns of Hartford and Windsor over the validity of their claims to the "Western Lands." It was the contention of the Colony that the grant had been made to the Towns to hold the land for the Governor and Company "until those times of trouble and danger should be past; but not as their property." The Towns, however, would not re- linquish their claims but persisted in their demands that it was granted to them for settlement; and in the meantime they continued to locate in some of the territory and buy and sell parcels of the land. In fact, the Township of Litchfield, originally called New Bantam, was laid out and began settlement about 1717. Other parts of the area were being sur- veyed while the controversy continued.
The General Court finally interfered with the activities of the Towns and in 1724, a petition was presented to that body requesting an amicable settlement of the long dispute. The memorial was signed by Governor Talcott, Matthew Allyn and Roger Wolcott. A committee was appointed to investigate the Hartford and Windsor claims and named as members were James Wadsworth, John and Hezekiah Brainard. This committee reported two years later after which the General Court, under date of May 26, 1726, adopted a resolution which provided that the lands in dispute should be divided between the Colony and the two Towns. By the terms of this resolution the division was made as follows:
4
History of Hartland
Hartford and Windsor were given the eastern portion which now com- prises the area occupied by the towns of Hartland, Colebrook, Barkham- sted, Winchester, Torrington, New Hartford and Harwinton, estimated at that time to contain about 291,806 acres. The Colony was to have the western portion containing the area occupied by the present towns of Norfolk, Goshen, North Canaan, Canaan, Cornwall, Warren and about two-thirds of Kent.
On May 29, 1729, the Governor and Company gave a patent of the eastern division of this land to the Towns of Hartford and Windsor with ratification being completed on August 30, 1729 thus bringing an end to the long controversy which had its beginning in 1689.
The proprietors of Hartford and Windsor made another division of the land allotted to them and by a deed of partition executed Febru- ary 11, 1732, Hartford received a patent for four parcels situated in this tract which covers the area now occupied by the Towns of Hartland, Winchester and New Hartford; the remainder being given to the pro- prietors of Windsor.
Although the year was now 1732, it was agreed that the division be made, so far as tract now known as Hartland was concerned, on the basis of the inhabitants or proprictors of Hartford (or their heirs) whose names appeared on the Hartford Tax list of 1720 be given an amount of land in this new tract in proportion to the amount of tax paid in rela- tion to Hartford's Grand List for that year. When it became known in 1729 that the proprietors of Hartford on record for the year 1720 had individual rights in what had previously been called "Western Land," there were many who began to "anticipate their windfall" by selling or conveying their rights without ever having had an opportunity of in- spection. Others let it slip through their fingers and many acquired inore to add to their original holdings.
In May, 1733, the General Court or Assembly, then in session, de- creed that this tract of land be named HART (FORD) LAND, because owned by Hartford men, and the name soon became shortened and contracted to HARTLAND.
Thus, after years of Indian occupation, and disputation of Colonial and Town ownership, there came into legal being this little strip of carth we affectionately call, "This Land of Ours".
CHAPTER II
The Proprietors
When the taxpayers of Hartford whose names appeared on Hart- ford's Tax List of 1720 learned that they were to be given land in the new territory called Hartland, they organized into a mutual association which they named "Proprietors of Hartland". Their number at the time including their heirs totalled 67. At their first meeting they appointed a committee to make a survey of what was later to be the first division. This first division was laid out through the center of the town and was 11/2 miles 16 rods wide. This was not divided into tiers as were the fol- lowing divisions but cach Proprietor was given land in proportion to the amount of their Hartford Tax List as of 1720. Samuel Welles, Joseph Cowles and Epaphras Sheldon were appointed as a committee to lay out this division and Samuel Messenger was surveyor.
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