USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Stratford > A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 24
USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 24
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It may be seen that all the above items enumerated were in harmony with the laws and usage of the times and the pro- ceedings of the General Courts except the opposition of Stamford men to the law of New Haven Colony that none should vote but members of the church; and this they-the Stamford men-claimed a violation of the English Constitu- tion.
These plantations, west of Milford, had raised the num- ber of soldiers proportioned to them, and kept them in read- iness at a day's call, nothing more, except they now proposed to raise and equip more than the number called for. The
8 New Haven Col. Rec., ii. 47-48.
258
History of Stratford.
nomination or choice of Mr. Ludlow at Fairfield was in har- mony with both, the Connecticut and New Haven Courts. Twenty years later the General Court refused twice to con- firm John Beardsley of Stratford as lieutenant until every voter of the town had had an opportunity to vote in his nom- ination.
During this delay of the expedition, Stamford, having promptly equiped its soldiers at considerable expense, seeing that the whole expense was likely to fall on that town, if the war did not go on, demanded that those expenses, even some damage to the meeting house (probably in consequence of the soldiers having occupied it), should be borne by the Colony of New Haven ; " and that they might have twelve men sent them at the jurisdiction charge to lie there all winter for their defence." "Defence " against the Dutch, whose trespasses and depredations had been going on all summer, and for years ; and this request was according to the pledge of the New Haven Colony, to protect the plantations under its jur- isdiction.
Under these circumstances Mr. Goodyear and Mr. New- man were sent by New Haven Court to quiet matters at Stamford, but finding much more commotion than they ex- pected, they called the whole town together; and at this meeting Robert Bassett and John Chapman were the chief speakers against the proceedings of the New Haven Court, and in consequence of it Robert Bassett was summoned before the New Haven Court to answer. On his way to Court he said : " This is the thing that troubles me, that we have not our vote in our jurisdiction [New Haven] as others have, and instanced Connecticut jurisdiction."
Connecticut Colony never had any law excluding per- sons from voting because they were not members of the churches, but New Haven Colony always had.
Here, then, in Stamford, in the person of Robert Bassett, was the second contest held in New England in favor of civil liberty against church dictation and control ; the first having taken place in Massachusetts with Roger Williams, who fled to Rhode Island.
9 New Haven Col. Rec., i. 48.
259
Commotions in Stamford.
In this conflict Robert Bassett made one speech worthy of the American Revolution which occurred one hundred and twenty years later, and sounds very much like Patrick Henry and other of his associates. In a town meeting in Stamford March 7, 1653, after he had been once before the Court at New Haven to answer in this matter, the record says :10
" Robert Bassett stood up and asked what the meeting was for, Richard Law, the constable, answered there was a general court to be at New Haven, and deputies were sent to go thither ; Robert Bassett replied, they would obey no authority but that which was from the State of England ; the constable answered, this authority is the authority of Eng- land ; that he denied and said, then let us have English laws, for England does not prohibit us from our votes and liber- ties, and here we are cut off from all appeals to England, and we can have no justice here. Further, he said, they were made asses of, and their backs were almost broke, and it is time for them to look to themselves and to throw their bur- den off, for they shall be made very fools. And he spake against the justice of the authority of this jurisdiction ; a reply being by some in defence thereof, he said, is that author- ity just, that makes what laws they please, executes them as they please, calls for rates when they please, and never so much as give them a reason?" Francis Bell told him that this should be declared at the Court; he answered, yes, it was his mind it should be, and therefore saith he I will say it again, is that authority just that makes what laws they please, executes them as they please, calls for rates when they please and never so much as give them a reason."
For these things Robert Bassett was imprisoned nearly two months, then again brought before the Court, and under the pressure of the courts, prisons and public sentiment largely against him, he confessed, not only that he had done these things, with one exception, but that he had done wrong and the Court released him on bonds of "one hundred pounds sterling."
Three other men as leaders in this contest for the right
10 New Haven Col. Rec., i. 59.
260
History of Stratford.
to vote, were arrested, tried, fined and placed under bonds of fidelity to the New Haven Court.
Roger Ludlow's part in this matter seems to have been perfectly honorable and loyal so far as he acted in it; and this contrary to the generally received opinion of him. So far as any and all records show, no soldiers were raised in Fairfield but those ordered to be raised by Connecticut Gen- eral Court. The vote to nominate him as their chief or cap- tain, by the town, was in perfect keeping with the usage of the Court ; and all of these things were done while the New Haven Court itself was preparing for the war and urging Massachusetts to fulfill her engagements in the same direc- tion. That Ludlow, Fairfield and Stamford had no idea of going to war without New Haven and Connecticut is evi- denced by the fact that as soon as the report of the proposed additional volunteers was offered, the New Haven Court at once-November 22, 1653,-took counsel as to " whether they were called at this time to send forth men against the Dutch, [that is, without Massachusetts], and after much debate and consultation had with most of the elders in the jurisdiction," the decision was against it, but even then they voted that if Connecticut would go, New Haven would.
Immediately upon this decision Fairfield and Stamford acquiesced, without a word of complaint, except as to paying the bill of expenses caused by raising the soldiers and keep- ing them all summer, as ordered by the Court ; and the ques- tion as to the right of voting.
Such, in brief, were the doings in this matter, and such the result.
The particular offence, as claimed by the New Haven authorities, was, that the New Haven government being a government of God, any person opposing it as a government, sinned against God, his own soul, and the authority, a claim as arbitrary and self-conceited as Arch Bishop Laud, of Eng- land, ever proclaimed or acted upon.
The above items are taken from the New Haven records, they being the only authority as to the trial of these persons.
Robert Bassett came to Stratford and purchased his first land here November 10, 1681 ; and the next February he pur-
Biographical Sketches. 261
chased a home lot of John Wells, and the next year he built a house on this lot, placing a stone over the mantel piece in the cellar with the following letters and figures : " R. B. 1683." These were cut in large size. When that house was torn down by John McEwen and another built on the same site in 1723, or soon after, this stone was placed in the cellar wall, where it may still be seen, the house having been owned and occupied many years by the late Nathan B. McEwen.
Robert Bassett was a peaceable, acceptable inhabitant in Stratford ; was quite prosperous in worldly things, especially in possessing lands.
It was his grand-son Samuel, son of Robert, Jr., who set- tled in Derby in 1716 and became one of the most prominent citizens of that town.
No near relation existed between this Robert Bassett and the Goody Bassett executed at Stratford in 1651, for the wills of both his father and mother, John and Mary Bassett, were dated one and two years after the execution.
Arthur Perry came to Stratford and married Anna, only daughter of Joshua Judson, about 1675. He had a large family, but most of his children removed early from the town. It is possible that he traded somewhat as a merchant, for there is a due bill recorded, signed by him in 1678, and se- cured by sixteen acres of land, to Henry Powning of Boston, which bill was to be paid in money or merchantable provis- ion, at Boston. It is difficult to imagine the reason or cause of such a debt, unless he was a trader in some way.
Samuel Blagge came from New York to Stratford with a family about 1685, and continued here as a merchant ten or twelve years. He had a number of children, several sons, but the name disappears from the town after about fifty years.
Richard Blacklach from Guilford, came to Stratford, probably in the spring of 1686, and established himself as a merchant, and thus continued about thirty years. He was successful, and became very prominent as a business man; bought considerable land, leased the Stratford ferry some years, interested himself in public matters ; was the first one to build a box pew in the meeting house, which he did
18
262
History of Stratford.
about 1710, at his own expense, upon a vote of permission by the town.
Upon his first coming here the town passed the follow- ing: " May 6, 1686. It was voted and granted unto Mr. Richard Blacklach and Mr. Daniel Shilton to build each of them a warehouse and wharf in some convenient place where it is judged most suitable by the selectmen of the town, pro- vided the proprietors of Stratford forever have free wharfage."
Daniel Shelton having received permission in May, 1686, to build a ware house and wharf, as well as Richard Blacklach, he went forward with much success as a merchant, about twenty years, when he had not only married a fine young lady, but changed his business to farming and buying and selling land. After some years he removed to Ripton, where he died. A further account of him will be found in the his- tory of the town of Huntington in this book.
Joseph Curtiss, son of the first John, was among the most prominent citizens of Stratford for many years. He was town clerk fifty successive years, and did the work in a creditable manner, to himself and the town. He always wrote the name Curtiss with two esses, and another name he always wrote Blakeman and never Blackman.
Mr. Curtiss was elected an Assistant, an office now called Senator, of the State, first in May, 1698, and elected after that 22 successive years, making in all 23 years. He was several years Judge of the County Court ; and was appointed on several state committees of importance ; one in 1710 with Hon. Nathan Gold and Peter Burr with a committee of New York State to locate the boundary line between these States, as settled by the authorities in 1700.
He is reported to have secured the slip of paper and coat of arms referred to in this book on page 125, which paper was an exact copy of the church record at Roxbury, Massachusetts, and he had the opportunity to know whether he belonged to that family or not. He was cotemporary with his father, John, thirty years, and with his uncle William fifty years, and therefore he knew whether Thomas, Philip and Mary Curtiss of Roxbury, Massachusetts, were his uncles and aunt, or not.
263
Biographical Sketches.
Further, it is possible that this slip of paper was not secure until about 1760, thirty years after Joseph Curtiss died, but there were living then from twenty to fifty persons in Strat- ford, if not many more, who knew what William and John Curtiss had told as to the family in Massachusetts.
The same is true in regard to several families of Stratford, who made records one way and another about 1760, when a number of persons obtained samples of the coat-of-arms be- longing to their family in England.
Joseph Curtiss, in 1727 declined to serve longer as town clerk and another was appointed, and soon after he departed this life. For many years his descendants gloried in the honorable title applied to him frequently while living-" the Worshipful Joseph Curtiss."
Capt. William Curtis, sketched somewhat on pages 125-6, was the most prominent military man in Stratford until 1700. Next to him were Capt. Stephen Burritt and Lieut. Joseph Judson, but both of these were younger, not less noted. He served the town in many offices, on many committees ; and for eighteen years he was representative with only one or two exceptions.
A List of the proprietors of all common or undivided lands in the township was recorded in 1699, and is valuable as showing who were proprietors and what their relative proportioned interest was. The list does not show how many acres each owned but simply his proportion ; that is, as often as Jere Judson had 48 acres, Joseph Hawley had 14, Jonathan Smith 15, and so to the end of the list." Also, it does not show the relative wealth of the families named.
11 "A record of each and every particular proprietor's Rights in future com- monage in Stratford adjusted by the Committee Chosen and appointed for that work and by them ordered to be Recorded for the future benefit and peace of the town, January 13, 1699, by which Rule all future Divisions are to be laid out.
Mr. Jere Judson, sen. 48 acres.
Samuel Judson 2+3/4 acres.
Joseph Hawley 14
Jacob Walker 12 64
Jonathan Smith 15
Isaac Judson's heirs 12
Eben' Booth 181/2
Abraham Kimberly 6
Mr. Samuel Blagg 6 John Booth 181/2 Ephraim Booth's heirs 14
Joseph Blakeman 6
264
History of Stratford.
Various Items Worth Recording.
"At about the latter end of July, 1671, there being four Indians complained of for being drunk and disorderly, they were brought before ye authority in ye Town and there fined tenn shillings apiece.
Item. Ye charges in apprehending them and keeping them in Custody till a hearing and ye tryall, five and twenty shillings. This entered for memoranda. Jno. Minor, re- corder. To Left[enant] 68; To ye Constable 128; To Inter- preter 78."
John Blakeman, deceased __ 20 acres.
John Peat 7
acres.
Daniel Foot_ 6
Jacob Weaklin 18
Samuel Galpin, deceased .12
Edmon Sherman's heirs I2
44
Samuel Mil 14
John Hurd, junr. 6
Benjn Nicolls
191/2
Capt. Jon. Beardslee 22
Jonathan Nicolls
8 1/2
Zechariah Fairchild. 20
Josiah Nicolls, sen. I7
=
Capt. James Judson 32 1/2
John Hawley 21
Mr. John Judson -3414
=
Mr. Samuel Hawley .39
Ephraim Hawley 21
Eben" Hawley's heirs 5 12
Richard Butler's heirs 22
Caleb Nicholls, deceased 2.4
Benjn Lewis. 24
Abraham Nicolls 6
Joseph Fairechild 4
Mist. Katharine Judson IS
Joseph Booth 6
Daniel Curtiss 6
Sergt. Samuel Fairechild I4
Edward Hinman 18
John Gilbert 6
Isaac Stiles 6
Arthur Perry 12 14
Nicolas Huse 6
Mr. Benjn Blakeman
Mrs. Jane Blakeman 181/2
Benjn Sherman 6
Isaac Bennit 6
Joseph Watkins IO
Robert Rose I2
4 4
James Phippeny 6
Francis Griffin 7
Mr. D. Mitchell, deceased 47
Hugh Griffin 7
Abraham Mitchell 6
Thomas Griffin 6
Nathaniel Sherman 6
James Blakeman IS
Samuel Beardslee, sen 1.4
Capt. John Minor
John Wheeler
15
Henery Summers
4 4
Joshua Curtiss
14
Samuel Gregory
14
Samuel Stiles
20
4 4
Samuel Wells 161/2
and S acres 6 miles distant
-
Eben" Blakeman 6
Samuel Titharton 1512
Jonathan Curtiss
I.1
16
Jon. Bostick, deceased 191/2
Lieut. Israel Curtiss 14
Samuel Beacher 6
John Curtiss, sen. 1212
Benjn Curtiss 912
John Wilcoxson 3934
Timothy Titharton 18 1/2
Daniel Titharton 14
John Hurd, senr's heirs 36
265
List of Proprietors.
Four pounds and a half, money, for Indians to pay, who probably had not a penny in possession, was a costly drunk, but white people can throw such a spree all into the shade.
Selling their services for a passage to America.
" Be it known to all men by these presents that I, Andrew Alexander now of new cast Jersey in America have bargained and sold and do hereby sell and alienate unto Andrew Winton of Fairfield in New England, his heirs and assigns, two servants called Duncan Garnoch and Margaret his wife lately come out of Scotland, which are indebted to me for indenture ;
John Brooks 6
acres.
Lieut. John Hubbel's heirs _ IS
acres.
Robert Lane 14
Mr. Zecheriah Walker -30
John Burroughs 6
Mr. Elizer Kimberly 12
John Porter 15
4
Mr. Alexdr Bryan 14
..
Isaac Knell 35 12
John Hurd Woodbery
4 4
John Johnson 6
Mr. Samuel Preston 22
Mr. Jonath. Pitman 20
Ambrose Tompson and
John Tompson 44
John Sherwood 28
Francis Hall, deceased
Mr. Daniel Shelton 28
Mr. Richard Blacklack -5034 4 4
Samll Peat, sen' 14
Mr. Joseph Curtiss -34
Joseph Beardslee 191/2
Mr. Ephraim Stiles 30
-
Daniel Beardslee 3614
Mr. Samuel Sherman, jun .. 20
Capt. Stephen Burritt .20
Mr. Israel Chancey
-32
Sam11 Peat, jun'
Mr. John Wells - 30
and 8 acres within 5 miles
George Searles 6
Robert Clarke 28
Nathaniel Beach 61/2
Sergt Eben' Curtiss 121/2
Zechariah Curtiss 151/2
Benjn Beach 14
Sergt. Daniel Picket I2
John Picket's heirs 12
Nathaniel Porter 6
John Peacock's heirs. 14
Jonas Tomlinson I4
M' Samuel Wheeler, deceased 27 12
Moses Wheeler 311/2
M' Sam' Sherman, senr. 1712
Matthew Sherman's heirs 12
Josiah Curtiss 6
Lieut. Thomas Knowles 12
Lieut Agur Tomlinson
Ensign John Coe 21
James Clarke, senr. 14
Sam11 Uffoott
35
John Birdsey, senr. 21
16
John Birdsey, junr.
12
John Burritt
19
James Weaklin
2017
Samuel Beers in Right of his
farther John Beers, deceased 6
John Beach I 2
Benjn Peat, senr. 8
Deacon Tim. Wilcoxson 29 1/2
Daniel Brinsmead's heirs. 2834
Capt. Wm Curtiss 26
Daniel Weaklin 2014
Robert Basset . 6
Deacon Wells -3I
Robert Walker I2
266
History of Stratford.
and assigned by George Tomson to John Swinton, by John Swinton to Mr. Francis Scott, by Mr. Scott to Mr. George Alexander, and by Mr. George Alexander to me the said Andrew Alexander by facture and his full power whereby I the said Andrew Alexander do dispose and sell the two ser- vants, my full power, title and right as is above expressed to the said Andrew Winton his heirs and asigns and obliged me to warrant the said Andrew Winton at the house of the fore- named persons that they shall not molest nor trouble the said Duncan or his master Andrew Winton through my seal of this indenture being made at Edinburgh the 29 day of May 1684, which remains for the space of four years after their arrival at east Jersey being the first of November, 1684, and from that time they are to serve the said Andrew according to the time of said indenture, and I oblige also me to warrant this indenture from the above named persons, George Tomson, Mr. Francis Scott, John Swinton and the said George Alexander.
In witness hereof I have written and subscribed obliga- tory with my hand before these witnesses, Josiah Harvey, Thomas Murrin indweller in Fairfield."
Ye 13th April, 1684. ANDREW ALEXANDER.
Signed in presence of us
JOSIAH HARVEY, THOMAS MURRIN. )
" These may certify whom it shall or may concern that I Andrew Winton doth discharge and set at liberty to their own will and pleasure the within mentioned Dunkin Gardner and Margaret Gardner of and from the within servitude and time within expressed and from all dues, debts and demands, as witness my hand this 2ยช day of July, Anoque Dom. 1685."
A Ladder Company.
1686. " It was voted that every householder in Stratford shall provide a suitable lather to his house that will reach the top of his house at least within - feet of the top, and what- soever householder shall neglect providing a suitable lather as aforesaid, above one month from this date, shall forfeit five shillings, the one half to the complainer, the other half to the town treasurer."
267
Items from the Town Records.
Modlin, the French girl. "This indenture made the 24th of June, 1662, witnesseth that we the townsmen of Stratford upon good and serious considerations moving us thereunto doe bind out one Modlin a little girl about six years of age, that formerly did belong to a Frenchman that was in neces- sity upon the town of Stratford ; we say, to John Minor of Stratford, to him, his heirs and assigns, till the aforesaid girl shall attayne the age of twenty-one years ; we say we bind her with her father's consent ; also a lawful apprentice to the aforesaid John Minor till the aforesaid term of tyme shall be fully and completely ended.
The aforesaid John Minor engages to provide her with apparel and diet and bedding as may be suitable for such an apprentice.
That this is our act and deed, and witnessed by subscrib- ing the day and date above written.
RICHARD BOOTH, JOHN BRINSMADE, -
WILLIAM CURTIS, CALEB NICHOLS, Townsmen."
JEREMIAH JUDSON.
" Memoranda, that upon the 29th day of September, 1679, Sergt. Jeremiah Judson, constable, by order of the selectmen was sent and forewarned Phillip Denman and his mate Collins out of the town or from settling or abiding in any part of our bounds.
And upon the 12th of November, 1679, Phillip Denman and Daniel Collins by the townsmen, were warned as above."
Herders were employed to take care of the cattle which were pastured in the woods. It was employment without as much amusement, even as working in the harvest field afforded, and hence men sometimes played truants.
"February 18, 1662. Samuel Fayrechild and Robert Lane, Cow keepers for the year 1662, being detected of unfaithful- ness in keeping the heard, the sayed Samuel and Robert doe owne they did leave the heard in the woods and come home several days. This was owned in a public town meeting before Mr. Sharman, February 18, 1662. Mr. Sharman hath adjudged the above said Robert Lane and Samuel Fayrchild to pay to the townsmen twenty shillings use."
268
History of Stratford.
Town Boundaries were intelligible to those who estab- lished them, but are now a little indefinite and amusing. The following is a sample.
"An agreement of ye agents of ye two towns of Stratford and Fairfield this 24th of Aprill 1679, about ye bound between ye two towns from ye Cheritree Southerly to ye Sea as itt used to bee, and northerly from ye Cherytree to a stone whereabouts a walnut tree growed, and from thence to a rock by Henry Summer's fence, from thence to a tree near ye path marked of ould with a cross south and north, from thence to a heap of stones nearer ye path upon ye hill of rocks in sight of ye rode, and from thence to the next marked bound and so to Continue ye ould marked bound to ye extent of our twelve miles. That this is our agreement wee attest by subscribing our names, Joseph Hawley, Jehu Burr, Francis Hall, John Wheeler, Samuel Morehouse."
This cherry tree stood in what is now Park Avenue near the junction of that and Fairfield Avenue.
CHAPTER XI.
PUSHING INTO THE WILDERNESS.
ROM cultivated fields to the wilderness was the change in the lives of the first settlers when they came to Stratford, and their children, while yet some of the fathers were living, pushed into the wilderness with a courage and heroism equal to that which the fathers themselves had shown. The spirit of enterprise sent the planters to Stratford, as well as to all New England, and when once these planters had secured the proprie- torship in something near 75,000 acres of land, called Stratford township, there was no diminution of the spirit of enterprise ; and following them, their sons and daugh- ters moved forward in the laborious work of settling a great country in the rights and privileges of freedom.
These men took great care to secure the right to the soil by fair, impartial, and even generous purchase from the native owners. This done, they proceeded to divide, fairly, and even benevolently the domain thus equitably obtained.
When the company took possession of this territory they evidently believed that the Connecticut Colony had secured the right of soil as well as title to it, and proceeded upon that understanding to divide the same to themselves and new set- tlers as they came in. But after twelve or fifteen years, when the settlement had assumed formidable proportions, the Indians began to clamor for pay for the land which lay north of an east and west line about six miles from the Sound, to which the inhabitants agreed, and hence the several different purchases made, as heretofore represented by the Indian deeds, on page 22, and following.
270
History of Stratford.
Ansantaway,1 the chief of Milford, presenting a claim, it was payed in 1658, and then followed several others. Bray Rossiter, of Guilford, secured 100 acres in payment of a debt.
In 1661 Joseph Judson made a purchase of a large tract known as the Mohegan Hills, lying between the two bran- ches of the Farmill river, containing about 5,000 acres. In 1673 the townsmen applied to the General Court to settle the differences between the town and Joseph Judson as to the ownership of this land. The Court appointed a time for hearing the claims in the matter, but it seems to have been amicably settled without the help of the Court; probably about as the town had agreed before,? and a division of this tract was some years later made among the proprietors, Joseph Judson retaining such a proportion as satisfied him for the outlay in the purchase.
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