The history of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Part 1

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton
Number of Pages: 956

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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

3 1833 06582 1966

17.50

GC 974.602 W725R

Brach ny

THE OLD ALLYN VAISE. A

RESIDENCE OF MR. S. H. H . DEN, WINDSOR, CT.

TO THE MEMORY OF ASAHEL STILES,

OF SCANTIC PARISH, EAST WINDSOR, CONK.,

WHO SERVED IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AS DRUMMER IN ONE OF THE COMPANIES WHICH WENT FROM HIS NATIVE TOWN,

AND WHO, AFTER THE WAR, WAS ELECTED CAPTAIN OF THE SAME COMPANY;

AND WHOSE LIFE EVINOED A SINCERITY OF PURPOSE, AND A RIGID ADHERENOE TO CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE AND DUTY, WHICH, TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS, WON FOR HIM, AMONG HIS NEIGHBORS, THE EXPRESSIVE BUT RESPECTFUL APPELLATION OF "CAPTAIN STRAIGHT,"

THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY

HIS GRANDSON.

1148924

THE HISTORY OF

ANCIENT WINDSOR,

CONNECTICUT,

INCLUDING EAST WINDSOR, SOUTH WINDSOR, AND ELLINGTON, PRIOR TO 1768, THE DATE OF THEIR SEPARATION FROM THE OLD TOWN; AND WINDSOR, BLOOMFIELD AND WINDSOR LOCKS, TO THE PRESENT TIME. ALSO THE Genealogies and Genealogical Hotes OF THOSE FAMILIES WHICH SETTLED WITHIN THE LIMITS OF ANCIENT WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT, PRIOR TO 1800.

BY HENRY R. STILES, M. D., OF BROOKLYN, N. Y.

NEW YORK: CHARLES B. NORTON, 348 BROADWAY. 1859.

Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, BY SAMUEL STILES, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

PRINTED BY MUNSELL & ROWLAND, ALBANY, N. Y.

PREFACE.

While engaged, some years since, in tracing out the genealogy of my family, I became deeply interested in the history of the ancient town where they first settled. This interest gradually deepened into a conviction that its history ought to be written, ere it was too late. There were other heads and hands, as I thought, better fitted than mine to undertake this labor; but failing to enlist their services, I reluctantly undertook it myself. I was, at that time, in very poor health, and suffering from a serious affection of the eyes, which totally incapacitated me from any continuous effort at reading or writing. Thus prevented from the pursuit of my profession, I felt the necessity of something, which, by occupying my mind, should relieve me from both the constant contemplation of my physical sufferings, and from the still greater discomfort of idleness. Seeking the country for its genial influences upon my weakened frame, I spent my time amidst the pleasant scenery of Ancient Windsor, visiting among friends and relatives, and drinking in, from aged lips, rich stores of historic lore. Meanwhile, taking advantage of an occa- sional " favorable spell" of eyesight, I cautiously used it, in examining the old written records, and in marking out such portions as were necessary to be transcribed. These were afterward copied by my brother, WILLIAM L. STILES, in whose accuracy I have as much confidence as in my own ; and to whom I here desire to express my gratitude for the deep interest which he has constantly manifested in everything pertaining to this work. The large stores of material thus collected were afterward collated and read to me ; and so, gradually, reading when I could, thinking when I could not read, and trusting my thoughts to the ready pen of an amanuensis, the skeleton of the history was constructed. From time to time, as my eyesight im - proved, I visited the old records, each time bringing away with me new material. Many times my health and eyesight failed me, but visiting Wind- sor for the benefits of its air and sunshine, I never gave up the purpose of writing its history, if my life should be spared. Gradually, and to an

PREFACE.

extent which, if I had imagined before I undertook it, would probably have deterred me from the labor-the work grew on my hands; but to the Great Physician I humbly record my gratitude, that with the increased burden has also come an increase of strength, and that to day I enjoy a degree of health which I once scarcely dared to hope for.

These circumstances, however, I would not mention here, were it not in the hope that they might serve to explain and to excuse, what perhaps might seem to others inexcusable faults of omission and commission.

The original plan of the work included the history of East and South Windsor and Ellington to the present time. Finding, however, that Dr. H. C. GILLETTE of South Windsor, had undertaken the history of those towns from the commencement of the Revolution to the present day, and had in- deed commenced its publication in the Hartford Times, I relinquished that portion of my inteuded labor, and contented myself with giving the history of those towns only down to the year 1768, at which time they ceased to be a portion of Ancient Windsor. For the sake of completeness, however, I continued the ecclesiastical history of the east side towns, as well as the genealogies of the families therein, to the present date.

In the construction of my history, I have endeavored to make it a treasury of all that was valuable and interesting relative to Ancient Windsor. My coustant aim has been to bring out the original documents ; aud to impress upon this history not the seal of my own authorship, but the broad seal of undoubted authenticity. I have preferred to imitate the pious zeal of Old Mortality, who wandered thro' " bonnie Scotland," not raising new monu- ments, but carefully removing from decaying tombstones, the thick moss, and reverently chiselling deeper the almost effaced inscriptions which pre- served the blessed memory of the " covenanting fathers." Such, I conceive to be the work of the true historiau; and wherever (as especially in the case of the chapter on Scantic Parish), I have found material garnered by other hands, I have availed myself of their labors, with the same freedom which I would myself allow in like circumstances, and with full acknowledgment therefor.

As before mentioned, this work has increased on my hands to an unex- pected size, and, consequently, I have felt obliged to make it mainly a con- tribution of original material to the history of Windsor, and to cast out all such as being elsewhere printed, could be safely omitted here. This was especially the case in the biographical department. The lives of such men as Jonathan Edwards, Johu Fitch, Governor Roger Wolcott, and Chief Just- ice Ellsworth, would each, if as fully written out as we should wislı, fill a volume of the size of this. And, with all the abundance of original matter pressing upon me, I determined to give it the preference, eveu at the ex- pense of having my work censured as incomplete, by many who naturally expect to find lengthy biographies of Windsor's eminent sons. I preferred to leave them to other pens, and to content myself with rescuing from fast-

vii

PREFACE.

coming oblivion the characters and memory of humbler children of the same mother, the "rank and file," whose epitaphs have not previously been written, save, perchance, upon their gravestones.

This unexpected increase of material upon my hands, has also obliged me to omit much of what I had prepared, and intended to have printed. Among other items, I may mention a chapter on the Colonies of Ancient Windsor, and another on ministers, college graduates, etc., who originated from that town ; besides lists of freemen, town officers, and state officers who originated there. The same cause has also obliged me to use small type and the most compact form of arrangement in the genealogies, as an undesirable expansion of the volume could only be avoided, to use a phrase more expressive than elegant, " by chucking 'em in tight." In the same cause also, must be found my excuse for the many repeated delays in the appearance of the volume, for which it is hoped my readers will feel amply compensated by the fact that they have over 900 pages instead of 600, as promised.

Another pleasant duty yet remains, viz., the rendering of acknowledg- ments to those who have assisted me in my labors. Where so many have lent a " helping shoulder," it may seem invidious to particularize individuals ; yet I must refer to the Misses STILES, whose hospitable roof has always been a pleasant home to me whenever I have visited Windsor, and to whom, especially to Miss LUCRETIA STILES, this history is, in a thousand ways, in- debted for its value and interest. To Mr. JABEZ H. HAYDEN of Windsor Locks, Ct., whom Nature certainly designed for the historian of his native town, but whose multiplicity of business cares have prevented him from fol- lowing out his inclination ; to the president and officers of the Connecticut Historical Society, especially to its librarian, FRED. B. PERKINS, Esq., and to Mr. HOADLEY, State Librarian, for facilities and assistance extended to me in investigating the valuable manuscripts in their charge ; to Mr. SIDNEY STANLEY, for his extremely valuable contributions to our Ellington history ; to J. HAMMOND TRUMBULL, Esq., and the Hon. GIDEON WELLES, all of Hart- ford ; to JOHN W. BARBER of New Haven ; to Mr. S. H. HAYDEN of Windsor ; to Dr. ASHBEL WOODWARD of Franklin, Ct. ; to Mr. EDWARD HALL and the Hon. BENJAMIN PINNEY of Ellington, Ct. ; to Mr. GEORGE H. MOORE, librarian of the New York Historical Society ; to Rev. EDWARD C. MARSHALL and HORACE DRESSER, Esq., and family, of New York city ; and to the TOWN CLERKS of all of the towns formerly comprised within Ancient Windsor, I tender my hearty thanks for many facilities and courtesies extended to me during my investi- gations.

I should be doing serious injustice to my own feelings, did I not, in this connection, express my deep sense of personal obligation to Mr. JOEL MUNSELL, of the firm of Munsell & Rowland, the printers of this volume, for the hearty interest with which he has superintended its progress through the press. Being, like myself, a grandson of Ancient Windsor, the labor has been to him, as to me, a "labor of love," of which every page bears witness.

viii

PREFACE.

It may not be amiss in this place to speak, somewhat at length, of the manuscripts and records which we have consulted in the preparation of this history. The Records of Windsor are as follows :

1. Record of Town Acts, in four volumes. Volume Ist, size, 9 by 74 inches, parchment covered, 50 (double) pages, contains the records from May 6, 1650, to December 31, 1661. Several of the first pages of this volume have crum- bled away from age.

Volume 2d, similar in size and covering to the above, 81 (double) pages, contains records from February 6, 1666, to October 26, 1700. Ten pages of this volume are devoted to lists of town rates, and pages 51-52 to a record of town ways.

A volume of 52 (double) pages, without cover, and altogether in a very dilapidated condition, contains records from December, 1700, to December 7, 1714; probably belongs to the preceding volume, and should be bound with it.

Volume 3d, of larger folio size, leather binding, 147 (double) pages, contains records from December, 1768, to December, 1830.

2. A Record of Acis of Proprietors of Common and Undivided Lands in Windsor, folio, parchment covered - very dry reading.

3. A little volume of same size as the earlier volumes of Town Acts, in parchment binding, entitled A Book of Town Wayes. This has been used and referred to in our chapter on the Plan and Distribution of Ancient Windsor. It is transcribed by TIMOTHY Loomis, third town clerk, from the original by his predecessor, invaluable Matthew Grant.

4. A volume similar in size to the above, in parchment cover, filled mostly with ancient Town Rates, Lists, etc., about 1672-1676.

5. Land Records, 1640 to the present day. The original first volume is still in existence, although rather worn and shabby in appearance, and deserves a good strong binding, as its covers are gone, and its leaves loose. The present copy, now in use, at the clerk's office, was copied by Timothy Loomis, in 1723,* as we learn from the following town vote :- April 8, 1723, " voted to pay Timothy Loomis, £20, 12s., to be paid out of the town rate for his transcribing the first book of town records of lands." It is clearly and accurately written in Mr. Loomis's elegant style of chirography, yet the original must always have a prior value in a legal and antiquarian point of view, which no copy can possess, and we hope that the selectmen of Windsor will order this volume to be carefully rebound. We may here observe, that although the Records of Windsor are mostly in an excellent state of pre- servation, yet some attempt should be made by the town authorities to have all the records, manuscripts, maps, etc., in the town clerk's office, carefully overhauled, examined, and filed in volumes, properly labeled and indexed. Many valuable and interesting documents, especially of the Revolutionary

* Not 1710-12, as stated on page 104.

PREFACE.

period, are perishing for lack of a little care .* We can not too urgently recommend that all these records should be placed beyond all danger of destruction by fire, by the erection of a suitable fire proof building for their reception. The records, especially the land records of Ancient Windsor, possess a value which pertains to the records of few other towns of Con- necticut, and Windsor owes it to the state, as well as to its own interests, to provide against the contingency of what would be an irreparable loss. .

6. The Old Church Record, reprinted in this volume (Appendix No. 2), ver- batim et literatim, et punctuatim, the original of which is in the safe keeping of the Connecticut Historical Society. Our reprint is from a very accurate transcript by onr friend Mr. JABEZ H. HAYDEN of Windsor Locks, Ct.

7. Henry Wolcott, Jr.'s, Shorthand MS. Volume, thus described :

" Among the papers deposited in the Library of the Conn. Historical Society, some years since, was a stont little vellum-covered volume, of nearly 400 pages, closely written in a puzzling shorthand, with no clue to the sub- ject nor the writer's name. It lay unnoticed until a little more than a year ago, when it attracted the attention of J. Hammond Trumbull, Esq., who is as ingenious in such matters as he is persevering in his researches. He suc- ceeded in deciphering it, and found it to consist of notes of sermons and lectures, delivered in Windsor and Hartford, between April, 1638, and May, 1641, in regular course. The writer's name is not given, but his birthday is noted on the first leaf of the volume, and this and other facts identify him as Henry Wolcott, Jr .; and it is a curious fact that the only record of his birth is fonnd among these hieroglyphics, and the date has been unknown till now.

" These notes give the dates, texts and general outlines of the discourses of the Rev. Messrs. Warham and Huit, in Windsor, and of the Rev. Messrs. Hooker and Stone, in Hartford, during the sessions of the General and Par- ticular Courts. Among the former is one delivered by Mr. Warham, Nov. 17, 1640, ' at the betrothing of Benedict Alvord and Abraham Randall,' from the text, Eph. vi, 11, ' Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.' The preacher ' improved ' the theme ' for teaching the betrothed lovers that marriage is a war-faring condition,' and 'for reproof to those who think nothing is needed for marriage but the consent of the parents.' In the face of these solemn admonitions, it appears from the Windsor records that both were duly married before the expiration of the year - the happy Benedict to Joan Newton, and the other to Mary Ware.

" Among the latter discourses, are Mr. Hooker's two Election Sermons, of May 31, 1638, and April 11, 1639. Of the first, from the text, Deut. i, 13; Mr. Trumbull gives an abstract, of deep interest, as showing the ' politics ' which were preached by the ablest and best of the Puritan Fathers."

We may further notice that of seventy -five of the Rev. Mr. Warham's sermons and lectures preached in the year, from April, 1639, to April, 1640, twenty-four were from Psalms, xcii, 5, 6, 7 ; nineteen from I Corinthians, vi, 11, fourteen from Matthew, xxii, 37, 38 ; and four from the 6th, 7th and 8th verses of the same chapter, together with five occasional sermons from other texts. Of

* We certainly do not intend, by these remarks, or those on page 398, to reflect, in the least, upon the present excellent town clerk of Windsor. As far as his care and attention can extend, the records are well and safely kept; but the subject of which we speak is a town matter. It needs the attention of the selectmen, and an appropriation from the town to put these papers in a proper condition for safe keeping and reference.

PREFACE.

forty-six sermons and lectures, preached by Rev. Mr. Huit, between August 18, 1638, and April 14, 1640, twenty-one were from 2d Timothy, 11, 19, 21; five from Jeremiah, viii, 4; five from James ii, 14 ; four from I Corinthians, x, 12.

Of the numerous other records and manuscrips, consulted in the writing of this history, it is unnecessary to speak, as they have been elsewhere alluded to.

And now, in conclusion, I may truly say, with valiant Captain John Mason : * " I wish [this task] had fallen into some better hands, that might have performed it to the life. I shall only draw the curtain & open my little casement, that so others, of larger hearts & abilities may let in a bigger light ; that so at least some small glimmering may be left to posterity what difficul- ties & obstructions their forefathers met with in first settling these desert parts of America,"

Wishing, therefore, that my readers may find as much of profit and pleasure in perusing these pages, as I have found in writing them, I remain

Their Friend and Servant,

HENRY R. STILES, M. D. Brooklyn, N. Y., September, 1859.

* In his Introduction to his History of the Pequot War.

CONTENTS.

Page.

CHAPTER I. From the Discovery of the Connecticut to the Settlement of Windsor, 1614-1636, 1

CHAP. II. Civil and Ecclesiastical History, 1636-1650, ..... 30

CHAP. III. The Civil Organization of Windsor, illustrated by her records, 53

CHAP. IV. The Religious Organization of Windsor, 73

CHAP. V. Indian History,. 81

CHAP. VI. Indian Purchases, 102

CHAP. VII. Distribution and Plan of Ancient Windsor, 116

CHAP. VIII. Extracts from the Town Acts, 141

CHAP. IX. An Episode of Ecclesiastical History, 1663-1684, 163 CHAP. X. King Philip's War, 1675-6, 194

CHAP. XI. Ecclesiastical and Civil History, 1685-1729, 208

CHAP. XII. Queen Ann's War, 1702-1713, and Indian War of 1722-24, 213

CHAP. XIII. Windsor, East of the Great River, 1662-1768, 220 CHAP. XIV. Windsor, East of the Great River-continued; Ellington Parish, 260

CHAP. XV. Windsor, East of the Great River-continued; North or Scantic Parish, 290

CHAP. XVI. Windsor, East of the Great River-continued; Wapping Parish, 323

CHAP. XVII. Windsor's Share in the Old French War, 1739-1762, 329

CHAP. XVIII. Ecclesiastical History of Windsor, First or Old Society, 1712-1776, 356

xii

CONTENTS.

Page.

CHAP. XIX. Ecclesiastical History of Windsor, Third or Poquonnoc Society, 1724-1800,. 365

CHAP. XX. Wintonbury Parish, now Bloomfield, 370 CHAP. XXI. Windsor's Share in the American Revolution, 1775-1783, 380

CHAP. XXII. Ecclesiastical History, First Society, 1776- 1859, 431

CHAP. XXIII. The Schools of Windsor, 442

CHAP. XXIV. Ferries, Inns, Stores, Houses, Slaves, etc .. 461

CHAP. XXV. Windsor Locks, 1833-1859, 501

CHAP. XXVI. Windsor since 1800, 505

GENEALOGIES, 511, 842

APPENDIX-

No. 1. Sir Richard Saltonstall's Letter to Gov. Winthrop, 843

No. 2. Matthew Grant's Old Church Record 844 No. 3. The Windsor Church the Oldest Orthodox Congre- gational Church in America, 858

No. 4. The Presbyterianism of the Earlier Churches of New England, 864

The Patent of the Town of Windsor, 866

No. 5. The Petition of Inhabitants on the East Side of the Great River, 1680, 868

No. 6. Early Records of the East Windsor Church, 869

No. 7. Deacons and Early Members of the Congrega- tional Church in Ellington, Ct., 872

No. 8. The Original Members of the Wintonbury (now Bloomfield) Church, 873

No. 9. Records of the Seventh, or Fourth or North So- ciety of Windsor, 874

No. 10. Windsor Physicians, 877

INDEX to Historical Portion of the Volume, 881

INDEX to Intermarriages, etc., in Genealogical Portion of the Volume, 896

ERRATA, xiv

5 0

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

1. Frontispiece, the old Allyn House, and Residence of Mr. Page.

H. S. Hayden, on Broad Street Green, Windsor.

2. Map illustrative of the Indian Purchases of Ancient Windsor, Conn., 103

3. Plan of the Ancient Palisado Plot in Windsor, 121

4. Plan of Ancient Windsor, 1640-1654, 123

5. View of the Old Stone Fort, . 155

6. View of the Old Moore House, 486

7. Portrait of Hon. John M. Niles, 725

OLD AND NEW STYLE.

Before 1752, the year began March 25th (called Lady Day); although in Catholic countries, after 1582, it commenced Janu- ary 1st. Hence, between January and March, it was common to double-date. The difference between the Julian and Grego- rian year in the 18th century, was 11 days; after 1800, it was 12, which is to be added to any date in the Old Style to reduce it to the New.

L 2 L ;

ERRATA.

Page 5, line 23, for Med forth, read Med ford.

" 20, " 13, " Elisworth, read Ettsworth.

: 37, " 9, " Noreton, read Nurton.

" 39, " 25, " Edward, read Thomas ; for David, read Edward.

" 62, " 23, " Daniel, read David. " 75, " 30, " infringed, read impinged.

" 202, " 4, " Crane, read Crow.

" 208, " 25, " Tyler, read Fyler ; same on 28th line.

" 225, note, for Ebenezer, read Elijah ; same on p. 323.

" 252, line 23, for west, read east.

" 262, line 30, for Wadworth, read Wadsworth.

" 311, " 12, " Stodant, read Stoddard.

" 328, “ 1, " Elward, read Edward,

" 349, " 2, " Fuxley, read Huxley.

" 367, " 23, " Hon. John M., read Richard.

" 375, Note 2 on this page belongs to following page.

" 376, do do

" 427, By an error of arrangement, three colored soldiers are entered under the head of the Prior family.

" 439, line 24, after separatists insert alone.

" 579, " 22, for N. Y., read Ohio.

" 612, " 33, " Jacob, read Job.

" 674, " 19, " Geo. W. Sward, read Seward.

" 692, " 1676 (under autograph), read 1672.

16, from bottom, for their, read three.

" 759, 6, for Porter of Windsor, read Dr. Porter of East Windsor.

" 764, 19, after Rockwells, insert in Colebrook, Ct.

" 778,

" 30, for his letter, read Saltonstall's letter.

" 791, 43, " Haytas, read Hylas ; p. 795, line 3, same.

" 798, 66 3 and 4, for Gurdy, read Gowdy.

" 814, 9, Mary Roberts, wife of John, jr. (1), was probably the wife of John (5), 28d line of samo page.

$ 817, " 17, for Elknak, read Elkanah.

" 818, 44 1, " Nathem, read Nathan.

Ann (line 5), Mr. Ebenezer (line 6) and Ebenezer, jr. (line 7), should pro- perly come under the head of Wardwell ; and the name of Abigail Warham belongs at end of Warham record below. The date of Jane, 2d wife of Rev. Mr. Warham, should be April 23, 1645 ; Mrs. Abigail Branker was his 3d wife.

" 823, " 36, read first female child that was born in Hartford.

" 824, " 35, for No. 1, read No. 2.

" 826, " 11, " where, read whosc.

" 829, 10, " Curmin, read Curwin.

" 838, " 19, " Chaplain, read Chapman.

" 842, The heading of Appendix No. 1, should be Sir Richard Saltonstall's letter, etc.

Frog Hall, mentioned in note to p. 112, was a strip of land about a mile in length, north of Ketch Mills, lying partly in East Windsor, and partly in Ellington, and is, or was, a distinct school district. Soil, originally low, poor and swampy, which probably gave it its name.

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

CHAPTER I.

FROM THE DISCOVERY OF THE CONNECTICUT TO THE SETTLEMENT OF WINDSOR. 1614-1636.

THOU HAST BROUGHT A VINE OUT OF EGYPT ; THOU HAST CAST OUT THE HEA- THEN, AND PLANTED IT. THOU PREPAREDST ROOM BEFORE IT, AND DIDST CAUSE IT TO TAKE DEEP ROOT, AND IT FILLED THE LAND. THE HILLS WERE COVERED WITH THE SHADOW OF IT, AND THE BOUGHS THEREOF WERE LIKE THE GOODLY CEDARS. SHE SENT OUT HER BOUGHS UNTO THE SEA, AND HER BRANCHES UNTO THE RIVER .- Psalm, Ixxx, 8-11.

The commencement of our history dates back, more than two centuries,

" Upon that rapid flood

Which rolls unceasing toward Eternity, The flood of Time, * * * *

Two centuries back, when this fair State was wrapped In forests like a boundless leafy robe. * *

* When,

" hither, to yon all uncultur'd vales, Where roam'd the Indian tribes in lordly state,

The patient Hollander's exploring sails Furl'd the worn wing, and pour'd the living freight."

For to the Dutch undoubtedly belongs the honor of the first discovery and occupation of the Connecticut Valley. In 1614, when Nieuw Amsterdam was but a feeble settlement of a few months uncertain growth, Adriaen Block, Hendrik Corstiaensen,

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

and Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, all experienced captains in the Dutch merchant service, commenced an exploration of the Great River of the Manhattans. At the very outset of the voyage, however, Block's vessel was burned. But, nothing daunted, he speedily constructed, on the wild and rocky shores of Man- hattan Island, a small yacht of 16 tons, which he named the Onrust, or Restless.1 In this vessel he explored the East River, which he named Helle Gat, established the insular nature of Long Island, and passing along the northern shore of the sound, discovered the Housatonic River, and the Norwalk Islands. Eastward of these, he came to the mouth of a large stream flowing from the northwest, which he ascended as high as 41 deg. 48 min. (about half way between the present towns of Hartford and Windsor), where he found an Indian village or fort, belonging to the Nawaas.2 Upon this stream, which he named the Fresh River, better known to us as the Connecti- cut, 3 he seems to have made no further explorations; but re- turning to the Sound, coasted along to Cape Cod, where he met his friend, Captain Corstiaensen. Mey, meanwhile, had been exploring the Atlantic Coast south of Manhattan Island.

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The history of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Part 1

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909 Publication date: 1859 Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton Number of Pages: 956

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton
Number of Pages: 956