USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Stratford > A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 26
USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 26
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" May, 1727. Upon the petition to Thomas Gilbert of Oronoque in the township of Stratford, for liberty to set up a ferry at the said Oronoque, about four miles northward of the ferry called Stratford ferry : This Court grant unto the said Thomas Gilbert the liberty or privilege of setting up a ferry
282
History of Stratford.
for the transportation of passengers across the river called Oronoque River, during the pleasure of this Court, and order that the fare shall be the same with the fare appointed for Stratford ferry."11
In 1759 the like privilege was granted by the same authority to Zechariah Blakeman, Jr.
Division of the common lands was a matter of great difficulty, expense and dissatisfaction in Stratford, which con- tinued until after the year 1800.
Up to about 1670 persons selected their lands wherever they desired, subject to the sanction of the committee or townsmen. I In the Spring of 1680, "the town agreed to lay out all lands within six miles of the town" [meeting house], and appointed a committee to do it. In the autumn of the same year "the town voted to lay out one hundred or one hundred and six score acres, as may be found convenient, at the north and northwest end of the town," and appointed a committee to ascertain " what land might be convenient for · such a division."
In 1687, a tract of land within two miles of the meeting house, lying, apparently, north of the Fairfield road, was ordered to be laid in lots, yet kept in common, " in a general way only for herbage for the proper use and benefit of the town in general and poor of the place, for them and their heirs forever; timber, wood, clay and stone to be free for each inhabitant, to be taken off the land without molestation from any person. Also, it is voted that the land lying south- ward of Fairfield road between the place called Ireland's Brook and Snake Brook hill, shall be laid out and improved in the same way and manner.
The lots north of the Fairfield road were laid in strips the whole length of the tract, and hence was called the "Slip, or pasture division." After many years it was also called the Farm, for in remeasuring the lots in 1711, many of them are said to be bounded on the " Farm Highway."
The acts of the proprietors of common lands were per- formed in the town meetings, non-proprietors not being
11 Col. Rec., vii. 102.
283
Land Divisions.
allowed to vote until March, 1723-4, when the proprietors met according to notification and organized into a separate body ; appointed a committee to ascertain. all the claimants of these lands in order to a complete adjustment of all rights in the matter. They voted, also, to lay out a division of all their undivided lands in the township, six miles from town,12 with the allowance of sufficient highways and commons; and appointed a committee to do it.
This placed the whole north end of the township, beyond six miles, into one plot to be divided, and on May 18, 1724, having ascertained, as they supposed, the names of all par- ties, they voted to divide the whole plot into 144 lots, that being the whole number ; drew a plan of every lot and placed it on record in the town book. In this plan there are twelve ranges of lots, each range 160 rods wide, running north and south, six miles long, and the lots running east and west across the range of lots.
The peculiarity of this proposition is that they voted to have "a highway twenty rods wide between each range of lots ;" with cross highways in every range eight rods wide. This would have been a picturesque township-eleven high- ways, six miles long, twenty rods wide, within the distance of about ten miles. But the early settlers were not accustomed to such an estimate of the picturesque as to throw away 440 acres of land in half a township, not by a very great difference. What, then, was the idea in making such wide highways? One and only one : common pasturage for sheep and cattle.
But this plan of this great "North Division" was not carried into effect, although the lots were actually drawn for 144 proprietors, on the 18th of May, 1724, by Capt. Edmund Lewis; for it was soon found that the number of proprietors was considerably larger than had been obtained, and that other obstacles were more effectual against it than had been supposed, especially that a considerable portion of this land had been already taken up and some of. it occupied by actual settlers.
Thus the matter stood until Jan., 1732-3, when "the
12 The word town was often used to designate the village.
284
History of Stratford.
proprietors voted to lay out first the highways in the land six miles distant from the old meeting house," these high- ways " running northerly and southerly from the end of six miles to the northerly part of Stratford bounds, as wide as by said committee may be thought needful," and the cross high- ways the same. In this final draft there were 199 claimants, and Capt. Edmund Lewis drew the lots.13
13 " At a Proprietors meeting of ye proprietors of Common undivided Land in Stratford held by adjournment on the last Monday of November A. D. 1738.
Here followeth an account of ye draught of ye Lots voted to be drawn at the proprietors meeting October 3 Monday 1738."
I Nathan Hawley.
2 Heirs of Samuel Wheeler.
3 Elisebeth Curtiss.
4 Heirs of Benj. Blakeman.
5 Zachariah Curtiss, Jr.
6 Nathan Beach.
7 James Booth.
8 Heirs of Wm Jeans.
9 Jonathan Beardslee.
IO Sarah Beach.
II Heirs of Joseph Fairchild.
12 Israel Beardslee.
13 Capt. Richard Hubbell,
14 Samuel French, Joiner.
15 Eben. Hurd.
16 Capt. John Coe.
17 William Standard and wife.
18 Nathan Curtis and Eunice his wife.
19 Heirs of Isaac Stiles.
20 David Hubbell.
21 Samuel Hall.
22 John Oatman.
23 Ephraim Clark.
24 Nathaniel Hawley.
25 Samuel DeForest.
26 Capt. David Sherman.
27 Daniel Shelton's heirs.
28 Jonadab Bassett.
29 Jose Seele.
30 Samuel Blagge.
31 Elnathan Wheeler.
32 Dea. Epliraim Judson.
33 Wid. Joanna Hawley.
34 James Fairchild.
35 Timothy Titharton.
36 Zach. Beardslee.
37 Thaddeus Gregory.
38 Thomas Beardslee.
39 Zach. Booth.
40 Joseph Nichols, Jr.
41 Robert Walker.
42 Benjamin Lewis.
43 Mr. Eph™ Curtiss and wife.
44 Heirs of Jose Blakeman.
45 Jonathan Curtiss.
46 Caleb Beardslee.
47 Tim. Wheler.
48 Ephraim Bennett.
49 John Curtiss.
50 Heirs of Jose Beardslee.
51 Samuel Uffoot.
52 Ens. Jonas Wooster.
53 Enoch Gregory.
54 Heirs of David Wakelin.
55 Zachariah Tomlinson.
56 Samuel French, Jr.
57 James Hubbell.
58 Heirs of Daniel Beardslee, Stratfield.
59 Josiah Gilbert.
60 Heirs of Abel Curtiss.
61 David Sherman, Jr.
62 Mary and Jeremiah Judson.
63 Samuel Hawley and wife.
64 Heirs of Arthur Perry.
65 Jose Hawley.
66 John Fairchild.
67 Joseph Booth.
68 Daniel Hyde.
285
Proprietors of Common Lands.
Sequestered lands, so called, were laid out at various times for pasture lands, and when the plan of wide highways failed at the north end of the town, they then set apart sev- eral hundred acres for the purpose of pasturage for sheep.
" March, 1734-5. Voted that all the common lands within two miles distance from the old society meeting-house shall be, and is, sequestered a perpetual common for the use
69 William Peat,
108 John Hubbell.
70 Mrs. Theophilus Nichols.
109 Nathan Curtiss and wife.
71 Zachariah Blakeman.
IIO David Beardslec.
72 Benjamin Burton.
III Edward Lacee.
73 Heirs of Timothy Fairchild.
112 John Nichols.
74 Nathaniel Sherman.
IJ3 Heirs of Nat. Shearman.
75 Daniel Brinsmade.
114 Capt. Jose Judson.
76 Enos Sherman.
115 Seign' Lewis.
77 John Levensworth.
116 Daniel Porter.
78 Nath1 Wakelee.
117 Heirs of Nathan Porter.
79 Edward Lacee and wife.
IIS John Patterson.
80 John Clark, Jr.
119 Charles Burritt.
81 Gideon Hawley's heirs.
120 Capt. Jose Nichols.
82 John Thompson.
I21 Thomas Latten.
83 Josiah Beardslee.
I22 Daniel Pickett.
84 Richard Nichols.
123 Capt. James Judson.
85 Matthew Curtiss.
124 Thomas Wells and wife.
86 Ebenezer Beach.
125 Daniel Hawley.
87 Daniel Curtiss.
126 James Laborec.
88 Nathan Bennett,
I27 Benjamin Booth.
89 Mr. John Edwards.
128 Capt. James I ewis.
90 Ens. Samuel Gregory.
129 Heirs of Thomas Knowles.
130 Jonathan Nichols.
91 Robert McEwen.
92 Heirs of John Cluckstone.
93 Heirs of Marcy Rose.
94 Nathan Wheeler.
95 Stephen Burroughs.
96 Heirs of James Selee.
97 Hezekiah Gold.
98 Thomas Gilbert.
99 Comfort wife of David Latten.
100 James Levensworth.
IOI Jonathan Nichols.
102 Henry Hawley.
103 Heirs of Capt. John Wells.
104 Stiles Curtiss.
105 Heirs of Jacob Wakelee.
106 William Fanton.
107 Heirs of Nathan Fairchild.
131 Samuel Osborn's heirs.
132 Mr. Samuel Cook,
133 Heirs of Mr. Joseph Blacklach.
134 Robert Walker, Jr.
135 Jose Birdsey.
136 Jose Beardslee.
137 Ebenezer Blackman.
138 Nathan Blackman.
139 Heirs of Samuel Judson.
140 Ebenezer Thompson.
I41 Mr. Jedidiah Mills.
I42 Joseph Burritt.
143 Heirs of Thomas Hawley.
144 Zachariah Curtiss, sen.
I45 Jose Lewis.
146 Ephraim Watkins.
286
History of Stratford.
and benefit of the proprietors according to their propriety, as formerly fixed by the selectmen in 1689; and also 100 acres in Bear Swamp Rocks, 100 acres near Broad Bridge. Voted that 800 acres of ruff land be surveyed, and is sequestered . .. in the parish of Ripton for a perpetual common . .. at the places hereafter named : by the Farmill river, at Corum burying place, Knell's Rocks, Quimbie's Hill, about Moose hill, by Barn hill, north by Bagburn, by the Great river south of Pine Swamp on both sides the east Sprain of the far mill river.
" Voted that three hundred acres of Ruff land are sequest- ered in the parish of Unity-by Turkey meadow Sprains, by saw mill, by Butternut swamp, by Walker's hill west of Daniel's Farm.
" Voted that 300 acres in the parish of Stratfield-at the place below Ox hill, west of Rocky hill near Canoe brook.
147 David Booth.
148 John Willcockson and wife.
I49 Capt. David Judson and wife.
150 Nathan Beardsley of Stratfield.
151 Ens. Samuel Fairchild.
152 Joseph Wells.
153 Peter Pixlee.
154 John Hawley.
155 Zach. Clark.
156 Benjamin Beach.
157 Nathan Wheeler .
158 Heirs of John Bostwick.
159 Heirs of George Searls.
160 Ens. John Porter.
161 Peter Curtiss.
162 Robert Wells.
163 Heirs of Jose Beach.
164 James Sherman.
165 Jonathan Wakelee and wife.
166 David and Sarah Wells.
167 William Curtiss.
168 Timo. Sherman.
169 Heirs of Jacob Walker.
170 Ebenezer Gregory.
171 James Wakelee.
172 John Beardslee's heirs.
173 Heirs of Thomas Sherwood.
174 Capt. Abraham Wooster.
175 Sarah, Jon. Clark's wife.
176 Heirs of Samuel Summers.
177 Samuel Sherman.
178 Heirs of John Blackman.
179 Lt. Abel Birdsey.
180 Zechariah Brinsmade.
ISI Eben. Curtis.
182 Joshua Judson's heirs.
183 Heirs of Theoph. Sherman.
184 Joseph Curtiss.
185 Edmund Lewis, Esq.
186 Sarah Everitt.
187 Ambrose Thompson, Jr.
ISS Andrew Patterson.
189 Jonas Curtiss.
190 William Patterson.
191 Abram Nichols, Jr.
192 John Beardsle of Stratfield.
193 William Beach.
194 Benjamin Brooks.
195 Daniel Nichols.
196 Judson Burton.
197 Heirs of Robert Wells.
198 Heirs of Eben. Hawley.
199 Elisha Blagge.
Town Acts, B. i. 78.
287
Names of Localities.
" The whole to remain common until the proprietors agree to the contrary."
In October, 1738, they voted that the sequestered lands should " lie in common for the use of the proprietors so long as the neat [net] earnings of the flock or flocks of sheep in Stratford going and feeding thereon, shall be paid to the pro- prietors of the said land."
Local names are mentioned in laying out highways, in deeds of land, in wills, and divisions of land.
" January, 1691. Richard Blacklach hath a parcel of land in the woods at Ocquanquage, bounded on the south with the west sprain of the Farmill river, on the east with a highway that runs on the easterly side of Ocquanquage plains, on the west with a rock at the southwest corner, and on the west with a high hill." And in March, 1723, a high- way laid out " the whole length of Ocquanquage plain, on the easterly side of it, beginning by the side of the west sprain of the Farmill river, northward, full 16 rods wide, then east full 18 rods wide."
" In June, 1727, a highway was recorded as lying " upon Pissepunk hill ; and about 1710, John Pickett had land laid to him 'lying on the southwesterly side of Pissepunk brook.'" Pissepunk is an Indian name. " It doubtless came from an Indian 'hot house,' somewhere on or near this hill. 'This hot house is a kind of little cell or cave, six or eight feet over, round, made on the side of the hill, commonly by some rivu- let or brook; into this frequently the men enter after they have exceedingly heated it with store of wood, laid upon an heap of stones in the middle."14
" 1676. Thomas Clark hath 4 acres near the nearmill river commonly called Scutt's spring."
" April, 1711. A lot of land was laid to Josiah Curtiss lying on Wigwam hill."
About 1714, land was laid to John Hurd " on the plain called Weeping plain, part on both sides of the west sprain of the Farmill river, on the west side of the Hundred hills .
14 J. H. Trumbull's Indian Names.
288
History of Stratford.
lying on the west side of the hundred hills on the east side of a swamp called weeping plain swamp."
April, 1714, " a lot of land, originally laid out to Mr. Samuel Sherman, sen., 55 acres, at a place called tilesom, bounded southwest with highway between Fairfield and Stratford." This " Tilesom" was afterwards written and pronounced Toilsome.
" 1714, one piece of land southward of Castle hill."
In February, 1691-2, Robert Bassett bought land on Tur- key Hill at Coram; and the next June he had laid out " 100 acres, by way of division, lying in the woods on the east of Paquannock river against Mount Moriah, bounded on the west with that sprain of Paquannock river that runs east of Rock-house Hill and a great plain on the east side of Paquan- nock river that lyeth southward of the sprain of said river."
Tanneries for making leather were not numerous dur- ing the first fifty years of plantation life at Stratford. No record of any has been seen before 1690, except the name Tanner's brook in the northern part of Stratford village, which name implies that some tanning enterprise may have been conducted upon it at a very early period, as the name occurs early, about 1660.
The following are town records on this subject :
" January 20, 1691. The town, by vote, gave unto Joseph Booth three rods square of land for a tan-yard, lying on both sides the run of water near his dwelling house to be for him the said Booth, his heirs and assigns, so long as they shall keep and maintain the trade of tanning."
"January 13, 1696. Mr. Ephraim Stiles requested the town that they would be pleased to grant him about forty feet of ground at Woronock, lying between the home that was Hope Washborn's, and the house belonging to the heirs of James Blakeman, in order for the setting up of tan-fats, and the town granted his request."
Another enterprise, the first of the kind that has been seen as recorded in the town books explains itself.
Wolves were a great annoyance and an expensive crea- ture in the vicinity of Stratford. Premiums of various
289
A Great Wolf Hunt.
amounts were offered by the town, at different times, in addi- tion to the premiums offered by the Colony or county ; yet the animals rather increased than diminished.
In 1687 the premium stood at thirty-two shillings for each one killed, and that figure seeming too expensive, it was reduced to twelve shillings.
Thus it seems to have stood a number of years, when the creatures so increased that a monster wolf hunt was organized.
" April 17, 1693. Voted that all persons ratable should be allowed for man and horse in this service of destroying wolves, three shillings per day out of the town treasury.'
" It was voted and agreed that the next Thursday shall be the day to goe upon this business of killing wolves, if the weather permit, or the next fair day ; all persons to be ready by seven of the clock in the morning, and meet upon the hill at the meeting-house, by the beat of the drum.
" The town, by vote, made choice of Captain Burritt, Lieut. Beardslee, Ens. Judson, Mr. Samuel Sherman [Jr.], Ephraim Stiles, Daniel Beardslee, Daniel Curtiss, Ebenezer Curtiss, Sergt. Knowles, Joseph Curtiss, Benjamin Curtiss, Lieut. Tomlinson, Nathaniel Sherman and Joseph Curtiss to be overseers of this affayre, and authorized them with full power to order, dispose and direct all and every person that shall goe upon this work from time to time, and all persons are to observe and attend their directions."
How much this expedition cost the town, or how many wolves were killed, has not been ascertained, but it must have been such an imposing, formidable war-like demonstration as to indicate considerable vengeance on the wolves. By another vote in 1696, when each person was to receive only six pence every time he went out in a certain expedition, the cost to the town was fourteen pound, nineteen shillings and 'six pence.
Hence, the expense of killing wolves, and the value of the creatures destroyed by the wolves, was quite an item of yearly loss to the toiling citizens of those early days.
Between 1690 and 1700, specially, and largely thereafter for many years, town meetings were held frequently, trans- actions of much importance in the settlement of the town-
290
History of Stratford.
ship enacted and a list of officers elected.15 The business of the town meetings occupied so much time that often the. meeting was adjourned to a second day.
The town clerks, in recording the proceedings of the meet- ings, were very careful to give the title to every man's name as regularly as the name occurred. The list of town officers was, at first, very short, but it had the energy of increase to marvelous proportions. When the law giving ecclesiastical societies separate offices and officers, the town list was some- what shortened, but if there was more than one such society within a township, the list was kept about the same. In Stratford, for some years, there were four Congregational societies and three, if not four, Episcopal.
A Town-house for the accommodation of the town meetings was built between the years 1752 and 1758; for the town meeting of December, 1758 was held in the new town house.
The movement began January, 1749-50. "Voted to build a town house, and that the same shall not, any part thereof, be used for a school house, under any pretence what- soever, and to set the house upon the hill just south of Tan- ner's brook, called the Smith shop hill; the house to be 45 feet long, 32 feet wide, and ten feet between joints.
" Voted the same to be furnished with seats and chim- ney." This they proposed to build by subscription, but they
15 Election at town meeting December 29, 1675.
"John Minor,
Constables. Jehiel Preston, Thomas Uffoot, John Wells, Sergt. John Curtiss, townsmen.
Henry Wakelyn, John Pickett, sen.,
John Minor, recorder.
Sergt. John Curtiss, town treasurer.
Thomas Fayrechild, ¿ Haywardens. Ell. Knowles, Robert Lane, fence viewers.
Benjamin Beach,
Edward Hinman, packer. John Peak, Jr., marshal.
Nathaniel Parker, ) surveyors of high- James Clark, S
ways. Mr. Hawley, ordinary keeper.
John Pickett, Jr., sealer of weights and measures. James Clark, pound keeper.
John Peck, custom master. Robert Rose, cryer.
Capt. Curtiss, Mr. Mitchell, Jehiel Preston and John Minor to audit the town's accounts."
291
A Town House.
also voted a tax for the same purpose, and, although they appointed a committee to do the work, yet it was delayed.
In 1752 they appointed a committee, consisting of one man from each society in the town, to consult about the best way to build the town house ; and the town meeting was held in it in December, 1758.
Previous to this the town meeting is mentioned several times as having been held in the school house.
A Pest-house was voted to be built in December, 1760. The year previous to this Daniel Nichols had the small-pox and the town voted him four pounds, if he recovered of his distemper.
CHAPTER XII.
BEGINNING THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
REAT was the spirit of enterprise in Strat- ford when the eighteenth century was intro- duced by the opening of the year 1701. Sixty-one years had passed since the first seventeen families established the plantation as new settlers in the wilderness. At the end of the first age, of thirty years, many of the persons in these families, and of all the families that came before 1650, had passed away, and only a few dwellings-perhaps a half dozen-had been extended beyond the limits of the village of Stratford ; while the families had reached the number of a little over one hundred, in 1677; the pro- prietors of the township being just one hun- dred.
During the second age, thirty years, great progress had been made in laying out the lands northward into the wilder- ness preparatory to their occupancy by resident farmers : and quite a number of the young men had established their homes on these farms. The monotony and loneliness of their locations were greatly relieved by the animation of the nat- ural scenery and the spirit of enterprise and progress in the further settlement of the country. The woods were full of birds and animals-quite too much so, as to wolves and bears -and the courage and ambition of the young people were exercised, equally, with any succeeding age.
In 1699, the proprietors or owners of the undivided land, numbered one hundred and forty-three, and the families, about two hundred.
293
First Merchants.
An ecclesiastical society and a church had been organ- ized at Pequonnock, called Stratfield, which at first included twelve or fourteen of the Stratford families, and those all residing west of the Pequonnock river.
There may have been three or four families residing in what is now Huntington, but it is doubtful if there were more than two who were located at Shelton, unless there were others in the southeastern corner of that town.
There were about a dozen families in the vicinity of Oronoke, and as many more along Old Mill Green and on Old Mill hill.
Such was the field of operations, the center or headquar- ters being at Stratford village, which had become a place of considerable mercantile business and social enterprise. The meeting-house had been removed from the harbor and a new one built on Watch-house Hill. Two ware-houses had been built, one by Richard Blackleach, the other by Daniel Shelton,' perhaps one of them on the site of the old meeting-house at the harbor, for one was built there very early, the stone base- ment story of which is the foundation of the barn now stand- ing upon it. The merchandise consisted largely of grains, beef and pork and live horses; the last for the West Indies, the others for Boston and New York. There was no trade in articles of wood, for in 1690 the town, by vote, forbid the transportation of any timber for clapboards, pipe staves, hoops, heading, rails or building lumber, from the place, because of its scarcity.
It has been difficult to ascertain in what hands the mer- cantile business was held previous to this time, except that, from the first, or about 1650, until 1680, or near that time, Joseph Hawley and Isaac Nichols, sen., had some, consider- able, probably the leading part in such trade. Joseph Haw- ley built vessels, here and at Derby, and also sold foreign cloths and other mercantile goods. He was also, some of the time, the ordinary, or tavern keeper, and in those days, and
1 " May 6, 1686. Voted and granted unto Mr. Richard Blacklach and Mr. Daniel Shilton to build each of them a warehouse in some convenient place where it may be judged most suitable by the selectmen of the town and the wharfe pre- sented them as proprietors of Stratford, for ever, free wharfage."
20
294
History of Stratford.
many years later, not only liquors were sold, but teas, sugar, molasses, indigo, logwood, nails of all kinds, made in Eng- land and at home, at such places of public entertainment. Isaac Nichols, sen., seems, from certain records, to have con- ducted a like business, later, perhaps after Mr. Hawley re- tired.
Alexander Bryan, of Milford, was the great merchant for the whole region of country, and his son Richard with him for more than half a century. They bought and sold land in almost, or quite, every town from New London to New York. They furnished goods to pay the Indians for nearly all the townships in the region. Their vessels traded, not only at home, but in foreign ports, England, Holland and Spain. Their bills passed in exchange, in all parts of the country, and particularly in England. It is doubtful if there was another merchant, out of Boston, on the American coast, that did as large a business as Alexander Bryan from 1639 to 1670.
Isaac Nichols, sen., as seen by the records, obtained con- siderable supplies from Alexander Bryan, and hence the in- formation as to his mercantile business.
Samuel Blagge, from New York, Richard Blacklach, from Guilford, and Daniel Shelton from England, came to Stratford, as merchants, about 1686; Samuel Blagge, per- haps, several years earlier than the other two.
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