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READINGS In New Canaan History
DEUS
ET
PATRIA.
SOCIETY
OLD MEETING -
ELLS PLACE ."
. LONE TREE
MAY 7.
1731.
SEP. 9, 1889.
44
THE NEW CANAAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, founded in 188 9, now has approximately 800 dues-paying members and also depends on contributions and bequests to increase the scope of its activities. Besides its periodic meetings, these activities consist in (1) the maintenance and build- ing up of a library of books, documents, pamphlets and clippings in the genealogical and historical fields, with particular reference to the local community, (2) the publication of an Annual, made up primarily of papers written by its members, and (3) the stimulation of research and interest in local history and genealogy and the publication in local newspapers and otherwise of the fruits of such research. The Society is interested in the exchange of information and of relevant publications with similar organizations throughout the country.
To the memory of AMANDA PRISCILLA WEED Last descendant of one of New Canaan's oldest families and generous benefactor of The New Canaan Historical Society, this volume is gratefully dedicated
r
33
GOD'S ACRE - 1946
READINGS IN NEW CANAAN Conn. HISTORY
DEUS
ET
PATRIA.
OLD MEETING HOUSE. ELLS PLACE . LONE TREE.
MAY. 7. 1731. SEP. 9, 1889
001. .94
New Canaan, Connecticut The New Canaan Historical Society 1949
Copyright 1949, by The New Canaan Historical Society All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
This FIRST EDITION of Readings In New Canaan History is limited to 800 copies
Typography and Letterpress by S. A. Jacobs, The Golden Eagle Press Mount Vernon, N.Y.
FOREWORD
1190362
N EW Canaan is one of those old New England Towns having deep roots in an honorable past. This Society, which this year celebrates its sixtieth anniversary, feels that one of its important purposes is the spreading of knowledge of the Town's history and the stimulation of pride in its traditions - and this particularly among our children and among the many families that in increasing numbers are each year choosing New Canaan as their home.
In this connection a growing need has been felt for some time for a book that would cover the broad outlines and basic facts of New Canaan history - a book that could both be used in our schools and be referred to older persons who wanted to read New Canaan's story, either for the first time or as an introduction to some more detailed field of study. Since the writing of such a book expressly for these purposes would be a long task and since much has already been written on various aspects of the story, it was decided that this need could be most promptly and economically filled by reprinting in a single volume a number of already available pieces of work which together would cover the field. It was thus that the idea of this book arose.
Another feature was added after Mr. H. Monroe Humason was invited to review the material proposed for inclusion. He felt that certain impor- tant coverage was lacking and, in particular, an adequate story of where New Canaan's original settlers came from and how they happened to get here. He thereupon wrote the chapter that is included under the heading "The Story of New Canaan's Ancestry". With this notable exception all the material included has appeared in print before, although for years the Hoyt and Fairley articles have been available only in old files and scrap books. The St. John and Keeler addresses, which are still probably the best available introductions to New Canaan's history, were both included in "Canaan Parish, 1733-1933, Part I." *
* This fine volume, usually referred to simply as "Canaan Parish," was published in 1935 by the Congregational Church of New Canaan as part of its unique and painstaking commemoration, under the leadership of the Rev. Merrill F. Clarke, of the two hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Parish; besides material relating particularly to the anniversary programme, it contains excerpts from old Parish records, histories of the other New Canaan churches, copies of the Drum- mond Diary and Visitation Journal and other interesting material.
Foreword
This book, then, is simply what its name implies; it makes no pretense of being definitive history but is intended to interest, to inform and, if possible, to whet the appetite. In the nature of the case it contains some repetition and some error, neither of which we believe will be found serious. We have made some minor corrections in the Fairley history and have added here and there a parenthesis to supply the 1949 identifi- cation of the place described. To the limited extent possible the book has been arranged with a view to progress from briefer and more general material at the beginning to more specialized or detailed articles at the end. For those readers who wish to take the next step, the library and files of the Society are always open.
This publication is made possible by the existence of the Amanda Weed Fund, which represents the proceeds of Miss Weed's bequest to the Society. In the absence of descendants of any of Miss Weed's brothers and sisters - all of whom she survived - this bequest gave effect to Miss Weed's undoubted hope that a memory might thus be preserved of the worthy position that her family occupied in New Canaan for more than two centuries. It is our hope that the Fund may be replenished and may serve to facilitate further publications of interesting and valuable material relating to New Canaan's history and, in so doing, that Miss Weed's purpose may be usefully and appropriately carried out.
We wish to express our gratitude to Mr. Elliott B. Macrae, President of E. P. Dutton and Company, Inc., and to Mr. B. D. Recca of the Dutton organization, who have given generously of their time and effort in plan- ning the mechanical aspects of this volume and in seeing to its manufac- ture. Last but by no means least, we are deeply indebted to Dr. Theodore W. Benedict for carrying out the laborious task of compiling the index, without which the book would lack so much of the value that we believe - and certainly hope - it will prove to have.
THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS, The New Canaan Historical Society.
August, 1949.
CONTENTS
A HISTORY OF CANAAN PARISH AND OF NEW CANAAN . Page 15 By Samuel St. John
AN HISTORICAL ADDRESS
Page 37 By Stephen E. Keeler
CANAAN PARISH IN THE PERIOD 1733-1801
£ Page 73 . By Stephen B. Hoyt
THE STORY OF NEW CANAAN'S ANCESTRY
Page 91 By H. Monroe Humason
HISTORY OF CANAAN PARISH FROM FOUNDING TO 1801 . Page 123 By Charlotte Chase Fairley
A HISTORY OF NEW CANAAN 1801-1901
. Page 157 By Charlotte Chase Fairley
INDEX
Page 282
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
God's Acre - 1946 Frontispiece EDWIN EBERMAN
Indian Deed to Stamford, 1640 PAGE 29
The Perambulation Line
PAGE 51 EDWIN EBERMAN
Map - Regional Names used during division of the Common Land 1688-1800 PAGE 72
Map - Permanent Homesteading Movement 1700-1770 PAGE 82
First Page of Drummond's "Visitation Journal" PAGE 90
Jelliff's Mill PAGE 122 EDWIN EBERMAN
Map - Canaan Parish - Circa 1772 . PAGE 140
Academy or Seminary on Church Hill . PAGE 173
Church Hill or God's Acre - 1837 and 1857 PAGE 191
Map - The Village in 1857 PAGE 2II
New Canaan Public Library EDWIN EBERMAN
PAGE 230
Buttery Mill PAGE 247
L. J. ROBBINS
Lone Tree
PAGE 265
D. PUTNAM BRINLEY, A.N.A.
Front Endpaper - Town of New Canaan, 1857 Back Endpaper - Bird's-eye view made in 1878
READINGS In New Canaan History
A HISTORY OF CANAAN PARISH AND OF NEW CANAAN
By SAMUEL ST. JOHN
Samuel St. John (1813-1876), a graduate of Yale College in the class of 1834 and for many years Professor of Chemistry and Medical Jurispru- dence in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City, was one of the most truly distinguished citizens that New Canaan has pro- duced. A man of great energy, fine mind and lovable character, he was a leader in civic activities and in many fields of endeavor. Dr. Willard Parker, his famous colleague and friend, said of him, "I don't say I have never seen a greater man in the profession but, taking him all and all, I have never known a greater and better man than Samuel St. John."
In the period just before the Centennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, there was a notable wave of interest in both national and local history. The study and preservation of the sources of local history was urged by President Grant and, in Connecticut, was enjoined upon communities by a resolution of the General Assembly. Some time before this, however, Professor St. John had become the first serious student of New Canaan history and had assembled a collection of docu- ments relating to the early days of the Town. It was, accordingly, on the written request of his townsmen that he delivered the following address at New Canaan's celebration of the Centennial, on July 4, 1876.
Less than two months later Professor St. John died, in the house in which he was born, on what is now St. John's Place. The following month this house burned to the ground and with it his collection of documents, so that we shall never know what additional material his collection contained.
I N accordance with the recommendation of our national and State authorities, we are assembled to celebrate the anniversary of our nation's birth; and also to garner up the scattered memorials of our early local history. Of memorable events, few awaken a more lively curiosity than the origin of communities. Whence we sprung, at what
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Readings In New Canaan History
period, under what circumstances, and for what object, are inquiries so natural that they rise almost spontaneously in our minds; and scarcely less so in the humblest than in the most exalted of society. They are intimately connected with our character, our hopes and our destiny. Nor is this strong propensity of our nature attributable to the indulgence of mere personal vanity. It has a nobler origin; it is closely interwoven with that reverence and affection, with which we regard our parents and the patriarchs of our own times; with that gratitude with which we follow the benefactors of our race, and with that sym- pathy which links our fate with that of past and future generations. Let us strive then, to gather up the fragments of our local history, as records or tradition have preserved them, and extract from remote events that instruction which the vicissitudes of human life is ever pressing home upon us. The toils and trials incident to infant settle- ments; the patience, fortitude and sagacity by which obstacles are overcome, the causes which quicken or retard their growth, these all tend to instruct the wise and warn the rash and improvident.
At the time of the earliest settlements in what is now New Canaan, the Indians had almost entirely disappeared from this part of the country. In the burying ground near to the old meeting-house were two graves marked by plain headstones, which tradition assigned to Indians. These, together with the "Indian Rocks," (nearly two miles north of us,) in which are excavations used by the tribes for pound- ing corn, are the only relics - (so far as I can learn) of the forest races who once dwelt here. They have perished. The small-pox desolated whole tribes of them in New England, but a mightier power, a moral contagion, which the touch of the white man seems to communicate, has betrayed them into a lingering ruin. The feeble remnants of these powerful tribes driven beyond the Mississippi, are crossing the flanks of the Rocky Mountains. They have but one more remove to make, that is to the burial-place of their race. It is a consolation to us to know, that our immediate ancestors did not forcibly displace the Indians, but respecting their claim to the soil, purchased the lands, for what was then considered an adequate consideration.
Trumbull in his History of Connecticut, (Vol. I, page 115,) says that in 1640, "Mr. Ludlow made a purchase of the eastern part of Norwalk;" "Capt. Patrick bought the middle part of the town," and that "a few families seem to have planted themselves in the town
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A History of Canaan Parish and of New Canaan
about the time of these purchases." The name Norwalk is that of Indians - "Norwalk Indians" - from whom Mr. Ludlow made the purchase, and the land is described as lying between the two rivers, the one called the Norwalk and the other Soakatuck. In pronouncing it, the "w" was probably silent, as in Warwick, in England, at the present day, and the old people in our boyhood, retained the ancient pronounciation, "Norruck." The first town records date from 1653, and are complete from that time. There appears to be no complete list of original settlers, but a "Table of Estates of Lands and Accom- modations," in 1655, contains many family names which have still representatives among us, Abbott, Benedict, Bowton, Fitch, Hanford, Keeler, Richards, Sention, (St. John,) Smith, Taylor, etc.
The original title to the land was derived from the Indians, by three distinct deeds, which are given in full, together with facsimiles of the marks of the Indians, as their signatures, in "Hall's Ancient Historical Record of Norwalk," published in 1847. The first deed was given 26th of February, 1640, and is as follows, "An agreement between the Indians of Norwalk and Roger Ludlow. It is agreed that the Indians of Norwalk, for, and in consideration of eight fathom of wampum, six coates, tenn hatchets, tenn hoes, tenn knives, tenn scisors, tenn jewesharps, tenn fathom Tobackoe, three kettles of six hands about, tenn looking glases, have granted all the lands, meadows, pasturings, trees, whatsoever there is, and grounds, between the two rivers, the one called Norwalk, the other Soakatuck, to the middle of said rivers, from the sea, a day's walk into the country, to the said Roger Ludlow, his heirs or assigns for ever - and that no Indian or other shall challenge or claim any ground within the said rivers or limits, nor disturb the said Roger, his heirs or assigns within the precincts aforesaid. In witnes whereof, the parties thereunto have interchangeably sett their hands. Roger Ludlow, Tomakergo, Toka- neke, Mahachemo, Adam Prosewamenos."
This deed was recorded in the book of Deeds of Norwalk, in the year 1672. A second deed dated 20th of April, 1640, for similar con- sideration of wampum, hatchets, hoes, glasses, pipes, knives, drills and needles, conveyed to Daniel Patrick, the title from three Indians, owners, "the lands lying on the west side of Norwalk river as far up in the country as an Indian can go in a day, from sun-rising to sun- setting - and for the peaceable possession of which Mahacemill doth
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Readings In New Canaan History
promise and undertake to silence all opposers of the purchase." And finally, Runckingheage, and fifteen other Indians, by indenture made 15th February, 1651, "conveyed to Richard Web and thirteen others, planters of Norwalk, for the use and behalfe of said town, for the con- sideration of thirty fathom of wampum, 10 kettles, 15 coates, 10 payr of stockings, 10 knives, 10 hookes, 20 pipes, 10 muckes, 10 needles, all their lands known by the name of Runckingheage, Rooaton, bounded on the east by land purchased of Capt. Patrick, on the west by the brook called Pampaskeshanke, on the north, the Moehakes country, and on the south by the sea." This conveyance covered the site of New Canaan, except what was derived from Stamford. Sub- sequently the title of Capt. Patrick of Greenwich, to the lands on the west side of Norwalk river, was, on the Ist of July, 1650, con- firmed to him by the surviving Indians, original proprietors of the land. This was in consequence of the non-payment of part of the original consideration, the receipt of which, in full, was now acknowl- edged. On the 13th of April, 1654, Mr. Roger Ludlow, of Fairfield, who had made the first purchase of the Indians, assigned to Nathaniel Eli and the rest of the inhabitants of Norwalk all his title, interest and claim to the plantation of Norwalk and every part thereof.
The township of Stamford was purchased, July Ist, 1640, for the white settlers, of the Indians, for considerations similar to those given by the proprietors of Norwalk, and embraced a tract of land, extend- ing from the Rowalton, (Five Mile River) to the Myanos, and running back into the country 16 miles. This covered what is now Stamford, Darien, a part of New Canaan, Poundridge, North Castle and Bedford. In this tract were traces of four distinct tribes or clans. In the west, Myano, deemed the most savage of all; farther east was Wascussue, Sagamore of Shippan, and still further east was Pianickin, the Sag- amore of Rooaton, who was also one of the grantors to the Norwalk purchases. North of these was Ponus, Sagamore of Toquams, who had received from his ancestors the wooded hills and vales stretching far away to the northward until they merge in the forests, which even the red men did not claim. Stamford was called Rippowam, and the harbor Toquam. Still later, about 1700, these grants of land to the English were confirmed in an instrument attested by fifteen Indians' signatures. These Stamford Indians seem, however, to have caused considerable annoyance and anxiety to the white settlers, in conse-
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A History of Canaan Parish and of New Canaan
quence, probably, of the provocations offered the Indians by the Dutch traders, who resided not far west of Stamford. The Norwalk Indians appear to have been remiss in laying out the northern bounds of their conveyance, twelve miles from the sea, and required some additional stimulus, by way of four additional coats when that should have been performed. A considerable number of Indians continued to reside in Norwalk, and were subject to the town authorities, ex- hibiting the characteristic lack of industry and thrift belonging to the race, but neither the records nor tradition impute to them any savage conduct. Rev. Mr. Hanford, the first minister of Norwalk, appears to have evoked the kindly regards of at least one of their number, for in 1690, "Winnipauk," Indian Sagamore of Norwalk, conveyed by deed, his "Island lying against Rowerton," containing twenty acres which he affirms he had never by deed of gift or sale made over to any, "but now by this my deed, I do give it freely to my beloved friend Thomas Hanford, senior minister of Norwalk, to possess and improve, to him and his heirs for ever."
The settlement of Stamford by the English was begun in 1640, by a company of men who had become dissatisfied with their cir- cumstances at Wethersfield, Ct., and by advice of Rev. Mr. Daven- port, obtained from the New Haven Colony the tract of land (before described) lying west of Norwalk, which the Colony through their agent, Capt. Nathaniel Turner, had just purchased from the Indians. The list of pioneers at the end of 1642 embraces 59 names, heads of families, among which we recognize several which were represented by the early settlers of New Canaan. In the first company of 28, who came to Stamford, we find "Matthew Mitchell," the ancestor of Rev. Justus Mitchell, who was pastor of the Congregational Church in New Canaan, from 1783 to his death in 1806.
The Stamford settlement was under the jurisdiction of the New Haven Colony, whose capital was New Haven where their General Court, or Legislature, was held, and to which Stamford sent representatives. This Colony was a rival of the Connecticut Colony whose capital was Hartford. The people of Stamford were dissatisfied with the New Haven government from an early period, and con- tinued to have dissentions among themselves respecting two jurisdic- tions, but in 1644 the New Haven Colony submitted, accepting the charter, and acknowledged the supremacy of the Connecticut gov-
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Readings In New Canaan History
ernment. There appears to have been at one time, a serious difference between the people of Stamford and Norwalk respecting the town boundary at Five Mile River, due probably to vagueness in the con- veyance of the Indian Pianickin. In the town meeting at Norwalk, August 26, 1666, it was voted and agreed, "that such men of our in- habitants as do go to cut hay on the other side, Five Mile River, the town will stand by them in the action to defend them and to bear an equal proportion of the damage they shall sustain on that account; and if they shall be affronted by Stamford men the town will take as speedy a course as they can to prosecute them by law, to recover their just rights touching their lands in controversy; and also they have chosen and deputed Mr. Thomas Fitch to go with the said men, when they go to cut or fetch away, to make answer for and in behalf of the town and the rest to be silent." Two years later they directed their Representatives in the Legislature to endeavor to have their differences settled and to notify the Stamford people of their inten- tions. This does not appear to have been successful. But in June 1670, the town of Norwalk "voted and agreed that Mr. Fitch and Lieut. Olmstead and Daniel Kellogg, are chosen a committee to go to Stam- ford to treat with the inhabitants there, to see if they and we can come to a loving and neighborly issue and agreement about the divi- sion of bounds betwixt them and us, and the said committee is to make these propositions to the men of Stamford, either to divide betwixt Five Mile River and Pine Brook, that is to say, in the middle between both, or else to divide in the middle between Saketuk river and the bounds between Stamford and Greenwich."
The earliest settlers were prone to seek their residences along the coast hence Norwalk and Stamford sites along the Sound shore were first taken up. As population increased and new homes were to be made, the settlers naturally followed the water courses presenting the more sheltered and accessible situations. Hence from Norwalk, the settlements were along the slopes on either side of the Rowalton or Five Mile River, parallel to the course taken by the settlers of Wilton and Ridgefield along the Norwalk river. Among the earliest built houses in New Canaan, were a cluster on "Clapboard Hills." One of those is still standing, the residence of Mr. James Tournier. Two others in that immediate vicinity have been destroyed by fire within the recollection of many of us. At Canoe-hill also were several
A History of Canaan Parish and of New Canaan 21
of the older houses. Following more closely the western slope of the river, a cluster of houses was built on the upper part of Haines' Ridge, among which were the old residences of Col. Enoch St. John, Elna- than Lockwood, Mr. Moses Comstock, Mr. Uriah Reed, and Mr. Aaron Comstock. Three of these have been demolished, one so re- modeled as not to appear like an old house, while one remains essen- tially unchanged in aspect.
The settlers from Stamford, followed similarly the course of the Noroton river, as also, still further west, that of Mill River. A single style of architecture was almost universal, not only here, but through- out New England, in those days. The house was of two stories in front, presenting two eligible chambers, while the rear roof sloped off to the height of seven or eight feet from the ground. A massive stone chimney was in the center, with its huge fire-place, admitting backlogs and fore-sticks four feet long, and still furnishing warm- ing room within its jambs for all the children. Here was the ponder- ous crane with its assortment of trammels of varying lengths for pots and kettles, the iron andirons, tongs and peel with its handle four feet long, terminating in a large hemispherical knob; (this was used for cleaning out the coals from the brick oven which occupied a part of the deep recesses of the old chimney); the spider, the skillett, the griddle; all over the open fire. No prosaic, economical cooking- stove or range had yet made its appearance. The rooms of these old time houses were ranged around the chimney. The keeping room and parlor, on either side, in front, the latter with its beaufet displaying the glittering pewter plates and platters, and a slender assortment of china cups and saucers; the kitchen in the rear - with bed rooms on either side - the hall in front, with winding stairs leading to chambers above; these all communicated by doors, so that on festal occasions, in families moulded not according to the strictest sect of the Puritans, this arrangement furnished ample scope for merry games and danc- ing. But I must leave the garret, with its festoons of dried apples and peaches, its bunches of bone-set, may-weed and other medicinal herbs, its revolutionary guns, bayonets and swords, to the tender recollections of the more mature, and the lively imagination of the younger of my auditors or history will be sacrificed to topography and domestic economy.
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