USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Granby > History of Simsbury, Granby, and Canton : from 1642 to 1845 > Part 1
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Simsbury > History of Simsbury, Granby, and Canton : from 1642 to 1845 > Part 1
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Canton > History of Simsbury, Granby, and Canton : from 1642 to 1845 > Part 1
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BOOK 974.62.P5 15H c. 1 PHELPS # HISTORY OF SIMSBURY GRANBY AND CANTON FROM 1642 TO 18
3 9153 00055810 8
974.62/P515h
1
1
HISTORY
.54 04 1845
OF
SIMSBURY, GRANBY AND CANTON,
FROM 1642 TO 1845.
BY NOAH A. PHELPS.
HARTFORD. PRESS OF CASE, TIFFANY AND BURNHAM. Pearl street, corner of Trumbull. 1845.
515 4
Entered according to Act of Congress in the vear 1845, BY NOAH A. PHELPS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Connecticut.
INTRODUCTION.
THE author of this Pamphlet, having for his own amusement and edifica- tion, collected from the Records and Files in the State Department, at Hart- ford, many facts, which had long remained in obscurity, relating to the first settlement of Simsbury, was invited, by some of its inhabitants, to deliver an address, at that place, on the Early History of the town. The request was complied with ;- when another was made through a committee, RICHARD BACON and LANCEL Foor Esq'rs., that the history be continued down to the present time, (including that of the two towns which had been set off from Simsbury,) and that it be published. Being a native of the town, he did not feel himself at liberty to refuse the request, though the task, he well knew, would subject him to much trouble and inconvenience, and though he felt an unwillingness to appear before the public in the character of an author.
The work, such as it is, is submitted to the public in the confident belief that it will be found to contain useful information never before published, and that its statements can be relied upon as correct. No pains have been spared to make it a true narrative. The materials have been chiefly obtained from the State Records, and from the Town Records of both Simsbury and Wind- sor, from which every thing has been carefully culled, relating to the early history of the town, which was deemed worthy of preservation. To literary merit, it lays no claim. Much of the matter contained in it, was prepared in detached parcels as the subjects occurred, or as the evidence relating to them was discovered, and the several parts were afterwards put together as they best could be. Utility has been the aim of the author, and if that be gained, he will be satisfied for the labor bestowed; the amount of which, few but those who have been engaged in similar undertakings, can justly estimate.
Some apology is perhaps due for omitting many incidents of Indian warfare which have been handed down by tradition. Some of these, on investigation, were found to be fabulous, and other portions, to rest on testimony too weak or uncertain to authorise their insertion. But, out of this mass of matter every thing has been retained which, after a careful scrutiny, was in the opinion of the author, entitled to credit. And if, by this process, a few grains of wheat have been lost, it is pretty certain that no chaff has been preserved.
In collecting some materials, the author has been kindly assisted by several gentlemen, among whom, he takes pleasure in mentioning EPHRAIM MILLS Esq. of Canton, and JOSEPH CORNISH and ARDON B. HOLCOMB Esq'rs. of Granby, to each of whom he is indebted for valuable information communica- ted and incorporated in the work. N. A. P.
. April, 1845.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. PAGE. SIMSBURY .- Preliminary measures relating to the establishment of a new Plantation at Massacoe. Settlement and Incorporation of the Town, &c. 1642-1675.
CHAPTER II. 9
Philip's War. Burning of Simsbury. Removal and return of the Inhab- itants. Measures adopted to rebuild the plantation. 1675-1683. 19
CHAPTER III.
History of the Massacoe Indians. Indian Hostilities after Philip's War. Captivity of Daniel Hayes. 1648-1750. 30
CHAPTER IV.
Location and erection of the First Meeting-House. Employment and Settlement of Clergymen. 1671-1725. 45
CHAPTER V.
Location and erection of the Second Meeting-House. Other Faclesias- tical Affairs. 1725-1845. ·
57
CHAPTER VI.
General History continued from Chapter II. Mills. Common Fields. Distribution of Common Lands. Fishery. Miscellaneous. 1679-1725. 75
CHAPTER VII.
Manufactures. Ancient Map. Bridges. Ferry. Services rendered in the French Wars and in the War of the Revolution. Miscellaneous. 1726-1845.
87
CHAPTER VIII.
GRANBY .- Settlement. Civil and Ecclesiastical History. 1681-1845. 103
CHAPTER IX.
THE COPPER MINES. Discovery. Magnitnde of the Works. Amount of Disbursements. Smelting Works at Hanover. The Phoenix Mining Company. 1705-1833. 113
CHAPTER X.
NEWGATE PRISON. Establishment. Destruction of Buildings by Fire. Escape of Convicts. Confinement of Tories. Employment of Prison- ers. Police Regulations. 1773-1827. . 120
CHAPTER XI.
CANTON .- Settlement.
Civil and Ecclesiastical History. 1737-1845. 136
APPENDIX.
A. Indian Deeds. . 147
B. Simsbury Patent-1680. . 150
C. Amount of Lists from 1689 to 1780. . 151
D. Tax Payers-1694, 1696. . 152
E. Prominent Offices held by Natives of the Town. . 154
F. List of Judges of Prohate. . 155
G.
66 of Representatives to the General Assembly. . 156
H. of Justices of the Peace. . 163
I. of Town Clerks. . 165
Extracts from Town and Society Records. . 166
Register of Marriages, Births, &c. . 168
Statistics. Census of 1756, 1774, &c.
. 176
-
HISTORY
OF
SIMSBURY, GRANBY AND CANTON.
SIMSBURY originally embraced nearly the whole territory included within the present limits of Simsbury, Granby and Canton. Granby was set off into a separate town in 1786, and Canton into another town, in 1806. In the following pages, the history of the three towns will, generally, be united in one sketch, under the title of Simsbury, until the periods respectively, when Granby and Canton were incorporated - after which, the history of each town will be considered separately.
CHAPTER I.
SIMSBURY.
Preliminary measures relating to the establishment of a new Plantation at Massacoe. Settlement and Incorporation of the Town, &c., 1642-1675.
THE first settlers of Simsbury came from Windsor. A very large proportion of the present inhabitants of the town, can trace their ancestry to that small flock, who, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Mr. Warham, left England in 1630, and after remaining a short time in Dorchester, near Boston, removed in the fall of 1635, and spring of 1636, to Windsor.
The tract of territory embraced within the present limits of Simsbury and Granby, especially that part of it lying in, and adjacent to, the valley through which the Farmington river winds its course, was anciently known and called by the Indian name of Massacoe .* By reason of its produc-
* Sometimes spelt Massacoh, and occasionally Saco. It is generally pro- nounced Mas-saw'-co.
2
10
HISTORY OF SIMSBURY.
tions in such articles of trade as furs, tar, pitch and turpen- tine,-its expansive meadows, and its fitness for a new plant- ation,-it attracted, at a very early period, the attention of the inhabitants of Windsor.
Although this section of country was never included within the limits of Windsor, it was, by general consent, considered as belonging to that plantation, in the same manner as Farmington was considered as belonging to the plantation of Hartford. Massacoe was bounded by Wind- sor on the east, by Tunxus, now Farmington, on the south, by the wilderness on the west, and by Waranoake or West- field, now Southwick, on the north. The river at this time was called Tunxus.
The first act of government on record, relating to Massa- coe, was an order passed in 1642, a little over six years from the commencement of the settlement of the Colony, and is in these words :
" It is ordered, that the Governor and Mr. Haynes shall have liberty o dispose of the ground upon that part of Tunxus river, called Massacoe, to such inhabitants of Windsor, as they shall see cause."
In March 1647, the General Court passed this order :
" The Court thinks fit that Massacoe be purchased by the coun- try, and that there be a committee chosen to dispose of it to such inhabitants of Windsor, as by them shall be judged meet to make improvements thereof, in such kind as may be for the good of this Commonwealth ; and the purchase to be repaid by those that shall enjoy it, with reasonable allowance. Mr. Hopkins is entreated to be one of the committee, and Mr. Webster another ;- and Mr. Steele, Mr. Talcott and Mr. Westall, to view the foresaid ground, and assist in the dispose thereof."
No purchase of the Indian title was made under this order, nor is it known that any sales or grants of land were made by either of these committees; if there were any such, they remained unlocated until at a future time. Many grants were made by the General Court to sundry persons of specified quantities of land, some of which were of lands at Massacoe.
11
HISTORY OF SIMSBURY.
The first Indian deed of this territory was given in 1648, by Manahanoose, to John Griffin, in consideration that the grantor had kindled a fire which, in its progress, had con- sumed a large quantity of pitch and tar belonging to Mr. Griffin. The deed is informal, containing but a few lines, and purports to convey the right and interest of the grantor in all the lands at Massacoe. It is recorded on the town records of Windsor. Soon afterwards, three other principal Indians made a conveyance of their interest in these lands to Mr. Griffin. These are the only conveyances, of which we have any record evidence, made by the Indians until 1680, when a formal and legal deed was executed, of which notice will be taken hereafter .*
In 1653, the General Court granted to Lieutenant Aaron Cook, fifty acres of land at Massacoe, on both sides of the river next above the falls ; to John Bissell, sixty acres next adjoining on the south-west; and to Thomas Ford, fifty acres on what is now called the island in that vicinity, of which, it is stated, he had improved forty-four acres by plowing and mowing. For these grants, they were to pay into the treasury five pounds. And the Court " desired that Mr. Wolcott and Mr. Clarke should dispose of the remainder of the ground at Massacoe, to the inhabitants of Windsor, as they judge convenient, and to order the laying out of the former grants."
In March 1663, Captain Newberry, Edward Griswold and John Moore, were appointed a committee "to lay out all those lands that are yet undivided at Massacoe, to such inhabitants of Windsor as desire, and need it." And in the same year, a grant of two hundred acres was made by the General Court to John Griffin, in consideration " that he was the first that perfected the art of making pitch and tar in those parts;" the land to be taken up "where he can find it between Massacoh and Warranoake, whereof there may be forty acres of meadow, if it be there to be had, and be not prejudicial to a plantation, and not granted." This tract of land, including another grant made subsequently
* See Chapter III.
12
HISTORY OF SIMSBURY.
by the town, was afterwards known by the name of "Grif- fin's Lordship."
It is not known that any grants were made under these orders of the Court. It is supposed, however, that there were a few unlocated rights disposed of,-and there were probably some proprietors, in addition to those who had grants from the Colony, whose lands were laid out and designated by boundaries. But a division into lots did not take place until after this period.
The commencement of permanent settlements in the plantation is known to have been as early as 1664, and was perhaps still earlier. Lands were cultivated, and some improvements made, as early as 1653; but the occupation of the proprietors, it is believed, was as yet but temporary. Persons too, following other avocations, were occasional residents of the place, even before this time. In 1643, John Griffin and Michael Humphrey, who subsequently became distinguished inhabitants of the town, each the founder of a numerous family, commenced the manufac- ture of pitch and tar, and the collecting of turpentine, which business was continued, particularly by Mr. Griffin, many years thereafter, and became an extensive operation. Others too, allured by inducements of traffic with the Indians, were occasionally here. But none of them, so far as is now known, had commenced a permanent residence in the place until 1664. Among the first settlers was John Griffin. He is generally, and doubtless most justly, consid- ered as the pioneer of the new settlement. By a deed of the date of 1664, he is described as then belonging to Mas- sacoe. He resided on the northerly side of the river, above the falls, and subsequently erected a mill at the falls.
But a few families only could have been settled in the plantation until nearly five years after this time, and they must have been located near Mr. Griffin. That there were some however, would appear by an order of the General Court, passed in 1667, requiring "all the freemen and householders " of Windsor and Massacoe to assemble, and
13
HISTORY OF SIMSBURY.
decide by their votes, a question relating to the continuance of the Rev. Mr. Chauncey in the ministry at Windsor .*
The committee, in December 1666, specified the terms upon which " those who took up lands at Massacoe should have them." These were,-that, within two years, they should make improvements by plowing, mowing, building and fencing ; and that they should live on their grants two years.
The first grants by the committee, of which any record exists, were made in 1667. These consisted of meadow lands, bordering on the river, and were made to the follow- ing persons :
Meadow Plain ;
Hop Meadow ; John Barber,
Weatague, east ; Joseph Phelps,
Samuel Wilcoxson,
Joseph Skinner,
Simon Mills,
Jonn Case, Minister's lot,
Minister's lot,
Thomas Barber,
Nathan Gillett, John Moses, Micah Humphrey.
John Pettibone.
John Drake,
Hazel Meadow ;
Samuel Pinney, Newbury's, now,
John Gillett.
Peter Buell.
Westover's Plain ;
Terry's Plain ;
Location unknown ; Adamses,
Terrys.
Joshua Holcomb. Bissells,
Simon Wolcott.
These persons did not immediately remove their families from Windsor to Massacoe, though it is believed that by 1669 all of them had become inhabitants of the new plan- tation.
It does not appear how much land was allotted to each proprietor, nor what consideration was paid. It is supposed, however, that the grants were burthened only with the pay- ment of a sum sufficient to reimburse the expenses of the committee. Probably, nearly all the choice meadow lands were disposed of at this time, and that some of the grantees, failing to comply with the terms, forfeited their rights, which were afterwards taken by other persons ; for it is known that there were a few persons, whose names do not appear upon
* The number of votes polled on this occasion, was 128. The question produced a great excitement, and probably called forth the whole strength of the voters of Windsor, including Massacoe.
2*
· John Gillett,
14
HISTORY OF SIMSBURY.
this list, who were among the early settlers of the place. Among them were Samuel Filley, John Griffin, Thomas Maskell, Luke Hill and John Buell.
In 1668, the General Court passed another order, in rela- tion to the plantation, in these words :
" The Court doth desire that Massacoe, which hitherto hath been an appendix to the town of Windsor, may be improved for the making of a plantation ; and Captain Benjamin Newberry, Deacon John Moore and Mr. Simon Wolcott, the present com- mittee for the grant of those lands, are desired and empowered by the Court to further the planting of the same, and to make such just orders as they shall judge requisite for the well ordering of the said plantation, so they be not repugnant to the public orders of this Colony."
A meeting of the proprietors was held, October 5, 1668, at the house of John Moore, Jr., in Windsor, when it was agreed that, by the first of May then next, they would fence their respective lots of land in Massacoe, and on failure thereof, pay to the rest of the company five pounds. Twen- ty-five persons agreed to take uplands, varying in quantity from forty to eighty acres by each person, upon terms required by the committee, but which terms do not precisely appear. A large number of lots were drawn for at this meeting, or located at about the same time, in some other manner. These lots lay adjacent to the meadows on both sides of the river, between the falls and Farmington line.
During the ensuing winter and spring, the proprietors, (at least those already named,) removed to Massacoe, and took possession of their respective lots. They had previously, it is presumed, made improvements by clearing some portion of their farms, and erecting habitations for their families. Considerable portions of the meadows, upon which the natives had, for a long period of time, cultivated corn, required no labor to fit them for immediate use. To possess these lands, thus cleared and rich in soil, was a strong inducement with these settlers to remove from Windsor into this wilderness. But, how they contrived to satisfy the Indians to give up the meadows, and suffer the new comers to occupy them, history does not reveal. As yet, no title
15
HISTORY OF SIMSBURY.
to them had been obtained, except by the informal, and it may be added, illegal conveyances before mentioned, made to Mr. Griffin by three or four Indians, who released only their individual rights in the premises. The new settler, it is presumed, found no difficulty in driving a bargain with the natives, by means of small presents and other appliances usually resorted to then and since, in all negociations between the red and white man. But it does not appear that any disturbance arose out of this change in the possession of these lands.
The prospects of the plantation at this time were, upon the whole, cheering. There had been no Indian hostilities in this quarter, since the settlement of the Colony, and none was apprehended. Indeed, for many years preceding this time, no Indian troubles had prevailed in the Colony to disturb its repose. About this time, the boundary line between the plantation and Farmington, long a matter of controversy, had been surveyed and established. And, in 1669, the General Assembly, to aid the new settlement, remitted all Colony taxes for the term of three years. The plantation, too, had the patronage of some of the most influential men belonging to Windsor, who, being largely interested as proprietors, took active measures to promote its prosperity.
But, on the other hand, the settlement in its progress had many obstacles to overcome. With a river that could not be forded, except at the falls, with no bridges, no roads, no markets for their surplus produce, and no protection on two sides, should the Indians become hostile, its advancement was materially retarded. Yet, notwithstanding these im- pediments, during the six succeeding years-up to the time of the breaking up of the plantation by Philip's war in 1675,-its progress in population and general improvements was considerable, and such as to encourage the hopes of the adventurers.
From a return made in 1669, by order of the Assembly, of the names of freemen belonging to each town and plant- ation, it appears that the number belonging to Massacoe
16
HISTORY OF SIMSBURY.
was thirteen. Their names are,-Thomas Barber, John Case, Samuel Filley, John Griffin, Michael Humphrey, Joshua Holcomb, 'Thomas Maskell, Luke Hill, Samuel Pinney, Joseph Phelps, John Buell, Joseph Skinner and Peter Buell.
In the same year, John Case was appointed by the General Court, Constable for Massacoe. He was the first person, belonging to the place, who was invested with office.
The inhabitants, in 1670, petitioned for town privileges, and appointed two delegates, Joshua Holcomb and John Case, to present their application to the May Session of the General Conrt. Their request was readily granted, and the delegates received as members of the Assembly. The record of incorporation is in these words .-
" This Court grants Massacoe's bounds shall run from Far- mington bounds to the northward tenn miles, and from Windsor bounds, on the east, to run westward tenn miles ; provided it doe not prejudice any former grant, and be in the power of this Court so to dispose.
The Court orders that the plantation at Massacoe be called Simsbury."
Anterior to this, there were but twenty towns in the Colony, including New Haven Colony; the two Colonies having become united a few years before this time.
The proviso in the above Resolve had particular reference, it is supposed, to the uncertainty of the line between this Colony and Massachusetts, which line at that time was unsettled and remained in doubt. During many years after this period, according to the claim of Massachusetts, the extension of Simsbury, from Farmington bounds northward, would not have exceeded eight miles.
Under this anthority the town proceeded to organize and appoint its officers. But as the carly records of the town were destroyed by fire, we have no means of ascertaining who were the first officers appointed. "Sergeant Griffin and Simon Wolcott" were elected townsmen, or selectmen, in 1674.
At the October session of the General Court, 1671, lib-
HISTORY OF SIMSBURY. 17
erty was granted to Mr. Simon Wolcott " to retail wine and liquors, (provided he keep good order in the dispose of it,) until there be an ordinary set up in Simsbury."* This Mr. Wolcott was the father of the Hon. Roger Wolcott, who, for many years, was governor of the Colony. Mr. Simon Wolcott lived nearly opposite the dwelling house of Charles L. Roberts, Esq., in the north part of the present town of Simsbury, where the governor was born, in 1679. The Court also recommended to the "inhabitants and proprietors of Simsbury to rayse the minister's and towne rate this yeare upon persons and land."
In 1673, Simon Wolcott and John Griffin were appointed by the Assembly "to command the train-band at Sims- bury ;" and seven men were ordered to be raised for the public service, when required. This train-bandt consisted of but a small portion of a company, and the gentlemen appointed to command it were not commissioned as officers. The object doubtless was to keep up a military organiza- tion, under persons invested with authority, in order to be prepared for any sudden emergency that might happen.
In 1674, the town ordered a ferry place to be established at the mouth of Hop brook. This, however, meant only that the inhabitants might enjoy the privilege of passing the river at this place. It was many years after this time before any thing like a ferry, furnished with a boat large enough to transport even a horse across the river, was estab- lished. At the same time, a road leading from Hop meadow to East Weatauge was laid out, crossing the river at this place.
It was ordered by the town, June 8, 1674, " that all the inhabitants of Simsbury, from fourteen years old to sixty, shall next Monday sennight stub bushes,"-meaning, bushes in the roads.
In respect to roads generally, it may interest the public to be informed that, for about fifty years after the first set-
* An " ordinary" was set up, in 1675, by Samuel Pinney, who was licensed to keep tavern.
t All militia companies were, at this time, called train-bands.
1
18
HISTORY OF SIMSBURY.
tlement of the Colony, no measures were taken to make roads from town to town, other than to clear them of " brush ;"-to effect which, the laws required each inhabit- ant to labor on the public roads one day in each year. In 1679, the General Court recommended to the selectmen of the several towns to clear their main roads in this manner, " at least one rod wide."*
Hitherto, the plantation, though at no time particularly prosperous, had experienced no serious reverses. But, in 1675, the scene was changed. Hostilities had commenced on the part of the Indians, which led to a disastrous war, bringing, in its train, ruin and desolation upon the new set- tlement. The history of this war, its ravages and results, as connected with the settlement, will be delineated in the next chapter.
* May session, 1679, " This Court orders that the present roades from plantation to plantation shall be reputed the country roades, or king's high- way, and so to remayne until the Court do see good reason to make alteration of the same ;- and whereas, the inhabitants of each plantation were by law required once a yeare to worke a day in clearing of the brush, it is by this Court recommended to the townsmen (selectmen) of the several plantations, to improve their inhabitants in clearing the common roades, in the first place that lye between towne and towne, until the sayd roades are cleared at least one rod wide." .
CHAPTER II.
Philip's War. Burning of Simsbury. Removal and Return of the Inhabitants. Measures adopted to Rebuild the Plantation .- 1675-1683.
IN the summer of 1675, the New England Colonies became much alarmed by the movements of the Indians, and the intelligence of their purpose to assault some of the English plantations. It was soon manifest that war was inevitable. The conflict which, in after times, was known as " Philip's war," had already commenced, and was about to extend its ravages into this Colony. Indications of the near approach of danger were so strong, as to cast a deep gloom over the new settlements. But the danger was to be met, and there were "stout hearts" at hand fitted for the emergency. A large military force was raised in the Colony, and sundry fortifications were ordered to be built and manned. Other measures too, were adopted to meet the crisis, and give protection to the frontier settlements.
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