USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Stratford > A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 6
USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 6
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" At the same time the Narraganset Indians were enraged at the death of their sachem. The English were universally armed. The strictest watch and guard was kept in all the plantations. In Connecticut, every family, in which there was a man capable of bearing arms, was obliged to send one complete in arms, every Lord's day, to defend the places of public worship. Indeed all places wore the aspect of a gen- eral war.
57
Dutch and Indian War.
" In the year of 1644 the Indians were no more peacea- ble than they were the year before. Those in the western part of Connecticut still conducted themselves in a hostile manner. In the spring they murdered a man, belonging to Massachusetts, between Fairfield and Stamford. About six or eight weeks after the murder was discovered, the Indians promised to deliver the murderer, at Uncoway [Fairfield], if Mr. Ludlow would appoint men to receive him. Mr. Lud- low sent ten men for that purpose ; but as soon as the Indians came within sight of the town, they, by general consent, un- bound the prisoner and suffered him to escape. The English were so exasperated at this insult that they immediately seized on eight or ten of the Indians, and committed them to prison. There was among them not less than one or two Sachems. Upon this, the Indians arose in great numbers about the town, and exceedingly alarmed the people, both at Fairfield and Stamford. Mr. Ludlow wrote to New Haven for advice. The court desired him to keep the Indians in durance, and assured him of immediate assistance, should it be necessary and desired ; and a party of twenty men were draughted forthwith, and prepared to march to Stamford at the shortest notice. The Indians were held in custody until four Sachems, in those parts, appeared and interceded for them, promising that if the English would release them, they would, within a month, deliver the murderer to justice.15
" Not more than a month after their release, an Indian went boldly into the town of Stamford, and made a murder- ous assault upon a woman, in her house. Finding no man at home, he took a lathing hammer, and approached her as though he were about to put it into her hand ; but, as she was stooping down to take her child from the cradle, he struck her upon her head. She fell instantly with the blow ; he then struck her twice, with the sharp part of the hammer, which penetrated her skull. Supposing her to be dead, he plun- dered the house, and made his escape; but soon after, the woman so far recovered, as to be able to describe the Indian, and his manner of dress. Her wounds, which at first appeared
15 N. H. Col. Rec., i. 134.
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History of Stratford.
to be mortal, were finally healed; but her brain was so- affected that she lost her reason.
" At the same time, the Indians rose in those parts, with the most tumultuous and hostile appearances. They refused to come to the English, or to have any treaty with them, and appeared in a very alarming manner about several of the plantations, firing their pieces, and exceedingly terrifying the inhabitants. They deserted their wigwams, and neg- lected to weed their corn. The English had intelligence that the Indians designed to cut them off, and therefore many judged it unsafe to travel by land, and some of the planta- tions were obliged to keep a strong guard and watch, night and day. And as they had not numbers sufficient to defend themselves, they made application to Hartford and New Haven for assistance, and they both sent aid to the weaker parts of their respective colonies. New Haven sent help to Fairfield and Stamford, as they were much nearer to them than to Connecticut.
" After a great deal of alarm and trouble, the Indian who had attempted the murder of the woman, was delivered up and condemned to death, and was executed at New Haven. The executioner cut off his head with a falchion, but it was cruelly done. He gave the Indian eight blows before he effected the execution ; yet the Indian sat erect and motion- less, until his head was severed from his body."16
" The Indians this year were almost everywhere trouble- some, and in some places in a state of high hostility. In Vir- ginia they rose and made a most horrible massacre of the English. The Narragansets, regardless of all their convenants with the English and with Uncas, continued in such hostili- ties that a party of soldiers were sent to preserve the peace and security of the people."
Under such circumstances these small plantations on the shore of the Sound, now within Fairfield county, made but slow progress. Greenwich was nearly, if not entirely, deserted, and but for Captain Underhill, Stamford, Norwalk,
16 See Records of the Colonies, and Winthrop's Journal, p. 352.
59
Consequences of the War.
Fairfield and Stratford must have been given up for a time. And as it was, what a living death it must have been to remain steadfast and not desert the localities. Every family that could raise a soldier as a watchman, must bring him forth, if it was the last and only man in the family. What sleepless nights in those homes; what anxiety if a member of a family, being out at work, did not return home at the expected or appointed time. What a war-like appearance was witnessed every "Lord's day " at the meeting-house, with one soldier from every family, armed and equipped with a gun and sword, and all possible war implements.
The cost of this Indian war to the seven plantations along the Sound was sufficient to have purchased, established, and perpetuated a separate plantation, if there had been no Indians. The court at New Haven assessed fines almost weekly, on persons who were found delinquent in watching at their posts, or insufficiently provided with arms or ammuni- tion, as the following items from the New Haven records most fully show. At a Court holden March 7, 1643 :
Matthew Hitchcock, for a willful neglect to walk the round when the officers called him, was fined 58.
James Haward, Joseph Thompson, William Bassett, Anthony Thompson, David Evance, Samuel Wilson and Sam- uel Haskins, [were] fined, each man, 6ª " for foole guns."
" Thomas Yale and Jonathan Marsh for the same, 6ª a piece.
" Richard Perry and his 2 men, William Gibbard and James Stewart and William Ball, for late coming fined each man Is.
" Roger Knapp, defective, all except gun, fined 58.
" Brother Lamson, defective gun, fined 48.
" Thomas Higginson, James Stewart and James Haward, defective belt, fined 6ª.
" Mr. Eaton's 3 men, Thomas Higinson and his man, for coming without arms on the Lord's day, fined each man 28.
" Matthew Crowder, Thomas Caffins, Theodore Higgin - son, James Stewart, Thomas Meaks, Isaac Whitehead, Mat- thew Row, Richard Mansfield, Thomas Iles, Lawrence Wade, John Hill, John Cooper, Jarvice Boykin, and Mr. Eaton's.
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History of Stratford.
3 men, fined each man 6ª, for late coming to the meeting with their arms, Feb. 18, 1643.
" It was ordered that the 2ª drum shall be the period of the soldiers coming on the Lord's day.
" Court holden, May 1, 1644.
Brother Perry, being master of a watch and willfully neg- lecting it, was fined 405.
" Matthew Row, for sitting down to sleep when he should have stood sentinel, was fined 58. Brother Nichols, brother Gibbert, Richard Webb, Thomas Wheeler, Henry Lendell and William Bassett, fined each man Is for late com- ing on the Lord's day with their arms."
Court held June 5, 1644.
" John Chapman being master of a watch and neglecting it, was fined IO8.
" Mr. Gilbert's man, being absent at his watch, was fined 55.
" George Larrymore for neglecting his watch, fined 28 6d." Court held at New Haven June 23, 1644.
" It was ordered that the night watches be carefully attended, and the ward of the Sabbath days be dilligently observed, and that every one of the trainband bring their arms to the meeting every Lord's day ; also that the great guns be put in readiness for service ; also that the drum be beaten every morning by break of day, and at the setting of the sun.
" It was ordered that every Lord's day 2 men sball go with every heard of cattle, with their arms fitted for service until these dangers be over.
" It was ordered that the farmers shall be freed from watching at the town while there is need of watch at the farms, provided they keep a dilligent watch there."
New Haven and Milford were much less exposed to the hostilities of the Indians than the plantations west of them, and if they needed so great diligence and strictness, how much more must have been needed by the others?
The troubles resulting from the Dutch and Indian war quieted down to a considerable extent, after three or four
61
Consequences of the War.
years, but the Indians of Fairfield County continued to indi- cate hostile feelings, and committed various depredations, and some acts of personal violence. In 1649, this spirit became so threatening, in connection with a murder com- mitted by an Indian, that the General Court felt compelled to take definite action,12 and did in effect declare war against them, but by a committee consisting of Mr. Ludlow and Mr. Talcott, the matter was quieted and a siege of war avoided.
During all these efforts for peace and safety, great pains were taken to keep the Indians from obtaining guns and ammunition, or means for making war upon the English. In securing obedience to these regulations they had occasion to pass a somewhat unusual sentence in 1648, upon David Provost, a Dutchman, that if he repeated the offence he should be " shipped for Ireland and sent to the Parliament.""
Again in 1652, fears concerning the Indians were aroused anew, in consequence of the declaration of war between England and Holland, and it was expected that the war would be extended to America and assume serious propor- tions between New England and the Dutch at New Amster- dam, but after great preparations by the colonies, the war closed without any serious collisions here, between the whites, or damages done by the Indians.
12 " This Courte taking into serious consideration what may be done accord- ing to God in way of revenge of the bloude of John Whittmore, late of Stanford, and well weighing all circumstances, together with the carriages of the Indians (bordering thereupon) in and about the premises, do declare themselves that they do judge it lawful and according to God to make war upon them.
"This Courte desires Mr. Deputy, Mr. Ludlow and Mr. Taylecoate [Talcott] to ride to-morrow to New Haven, and confer with Mr. Eaton and the rest of the magistrales there about sending out against the Indians, and to make return of their apprehensions with what convenient speed they may."
General Court, May, 1648.
13 " Whereas, David Provost and other Dutchmen (as the Court is informed) have sould powder and shotte to Several Indeans, against the express Lawes both of the Inglishe and Dutch, It is now Ordered, that if upon examination of wit- nesses the said defaulte shall fully appeare, the penalty of the lawes of this Com- monwealth shallbe laid upon such as shallbe found guilty of such transgression, the which if such delinquents shall not subject unto them shall be shipped for Ingland and sent to the Parliament." Col. Rec., i. 163.
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History of Stratford.
" May 1707 This Assembly judgeth it expedient that the Indian murderer in durance at Fairfield shall and may be returned to the Indians, that so the Indians may have the opportunity to execute on him as they shall determine."17
It is a matter of conjecture that this Indian was hung at a place called Gallows Hill, in the south western part of the present town of New Milford, for such an occurrence took place there, probably, by which the name is found there when that town was first settled about 1710.
The Golden Hill Indian Fund.
In 1802 on the petition of Tom Sherman, Eunice Sherman and others of the Golden Hill Indians, the State appointed an agent or overseer to administer their affairs. Abraham Y. De Witt held this office first, and after him were Josiah Lacey, Elijah Burritt, Smith Tweedy, Daniel O. Wheeler, Dwight Morris and Russell Tomlinson, the present incum- bent.
Besides the dwelling and land at Nichols Farms now occupied by William Sherman, the Golden Hill fund amounts to about three hundred dollars.
The Samp Mortar Rock is a peculiarity and mystery. It is located about three miles north of Fairfield village, in the town of Fairfield, and is so called, or was so named because it was supposed that the Indians ground their corn in it. It is on the very verge of overhanging rocks of about fifty or sixty feet in height, and consists of a cavity in the top of the rock about thirteen inches in diameter and ten in depth, and has been pronounced by the younger Professor Dana, of Yale College, who has seen it, a " Pot-hole " or cavity worn there by the action of water and small cobble stones at some period far back in the ages. The rocky ridge on which it is located is of several miles in extent, and has been a place of frequent resort for pic-nics and visiting parties for many years. The locality forbids the idea of its being constructed there by the Indians and it is seemingly equally unreasonable that it should have been made where it is by the action of water, even were
17 Col. Rec., v. 28.
63
Remarkable Indian Relics.
the valleys around it filled. It is a curiosity. There is no evidence that the Indians had any encampment of conse- quence, nearer than three miles from it.
A Porwore or Medicine Camp.
A few years after the New York and New Haven rail- road was completed, or about twenty-five years ago, Mr. Thomas B. Fairchild of Stratford saw a number of stone posts standing like hitching posts on a line with the sidewalk in front of the premises of Mr. William Tuttle, near the lower wharf in Stratford village, and the novelty and peculiar appearance of them attracted his attention. Mr. Tuttle had set them, a few years previous, and left the place, and all that could be learned as to them by careful inquiry was that they were dug up in making the railroad between Stratford and Bridgeport, and Mr. Tuttle had brought them to his home and placed them along the sidewalk as hitching posts and novel ornaments. Thus the matter passed some years, but Mr. Fairchild, whose business was in Bridgeport, while in a state of mysterious inquiry as to these stones, frequently looked along the road, to ascertain, if possible, where they were found, and to learn who made them and for what pur- pose. About two years since, with increasing inquiry as to these posts, while passing along the road near Pembroke Pond where some men were excavating by the railroad bank to lay some pipe to secure fresh water for the Holmes and Edward's Silver Works, in West Stratford, he saw one of these posts, but wondered why it should be at that place as consti- tuting a part of the railroad embankment. On meeting a cart- man employed at the Cartridge Works, he pointed out the post and requested him to bring it in the cart to the office, for it was a peculiar stone and he wanted to preserve it. Upon which Mr. Bernard Judge said, "Don't I know all about the posts, and how this post got where it is? Didn't I do the first work that ever I did in America on the railroad at this very place a few rods east of the iron bridge here in West Strat- ford ? We dug out loads and loads of these posts, and threw them into the mill pond on the brush and limbs and
64
History of Stratford.
then heaped the dirt upon them. These posts lay in heaps, partly covered, or under the ground, when we found them, and we talked about them a good deal, some saying they were put there by the Indians."
The larger number of these posts are nearly round, six and seven feet long, from seven to eight inches in diameter ; one that is nearly square, only the corners rounded, being now in the possession of Mr. Thomas B. Fairchild, at Strat- ford, has a slot from the top downwards about eight inches deep and half an inch wide, on the side, as if to let. in a wide band surrounding a sacred inclosure to keep out intruders. One of these posts is much larger than any of the others, and is of oval shape, from ten to twelve inches wide and about seven thick. Some are broken in pieces, but probably the larger number of them are still under the railroad bed. They were found on ground nearly level, at the foot of the hill, near a large, fine spring of water, and were thrown together, or near each other as if taken from their original positions and placed aside, to be out of the way ; and are supposed to have been used to protect a powwow ground or a medicine camp.
The following is a description of a powwow place found among the Mandan Indians in Dakota Territory, published recently in London, in the " North American Indians :"
" In the centre of the village is an open space or public square, 150 feet in diameter and circular in form, which is used for all public games and festivals, shows and exhibitions. The lodges around this open space fronts in, with their doors toward the centre ; and in the middle of this stands an object of great relig- ious veneration, on account of the importance it has in connection with the annual religious ceremonies. This object is in the form of a large hogshead, some eight or ten feet high, made of planks and hoops, containing within it some of their choicest mysteries or medicines. They call it the Big Canoe."- Atlantis, by Igna- tius Donnelly, III.
In the present town of Stratford there are but few relics of the natives to be seen, except quantities of oyster and clam shells in three localities. At the edge of the marsh west of the Lordship farm and a hundred rods north of the dwell- ing on that farm, is still a quantity of clam shells probably left there by the Indians, but it is not extensive. At a small fresh water pond on the northern part of the Lordship farm on the north side of the pound the oyster shells, many of large
Indian Burying Places. 65
size, are in considerable quantities. They are largely cov- ered by the soil but are in some places nearly two feet deep. On the east side of the great neck in several places are beds of oyster shells left by the Indians, which indicate a long occupation of the region in order to make the accumulations.
In some historical notes by Major W. B. Hinks, published in 1871, the following note is found : "Several interesting rel- ics of the Indians were discovered in Stratford a few years since by the Rev. B. L. Swan. They consisted of a fire-place, and mortar for grinding corn, excavated in a ledge of rock. near the house recently occupied by Mr. William Strong, which was built on the site of an ancient inn, kept during and before the Revolutionary War by George Benjamin. The fire-place was a semi-cylindrical upright hollow in the rock, several feet in height, from the top of which a pot could be suspended by a cross bar. Below it was the mortar with a rounded stone pestle, as large as a man's head, still lying in it. Unfortunately these relics were destroyed before meas- ures could be taken for their preservation.
" Arrow heads in considerable numbers have also been found at the foot of another ledge a little west of the town on the lower road to Bridgeport, and it is believed that this was the place of their manufacture."
Indian Burying Places.
In three places have Indian skeletons been exhumed in considerable numbers within the territory now covered by the city of Bridgeport ; one in or near what was the old Nim- rod field near the present Gas Works, one where the Pros- pect Street School building now stands and the other on the bluff or hill as it was, South of State street and east of Main. The one at the Gas Works was greatly disturbed when the railroad was constructed, and quite a number of skeletons were taken out, but no implements of any considerable amount were found, at least none are reported, but this seems to have been the burial place for the Indians more largely after the whites came here.
As to the place where the Prospect Street School build- ing now stands a paragraph from the Bridgeport Standard
5
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History of Stratford.
for October 28, 1870, is given: "The frequent finding of Indian bones and skulls in different places about the city sug- gests the question whether Bridgeport may not have been at some remote period in the past, one immense Indian hunting and burying ground. Every few days these bones are being brought to light by excavation, and now we find by digging for the new wing of the Prospect Street school house that the ground there was once quite a large burying place. Some fifty graves have been exposed and a large number of human bones and skulls are found buried a few feet below the sur- face. In some instances these skull bones are perfect, the jaws with full sets of teeth, being also found in sound condi- tion. Tobacco pipes have been discovered buried in the same graves, also a genuine Indian dinner pot, and other signs and evidences that the bones of many aborigines have been for many long years quietly resting there, are found. In each case the body was probably buried in a sitting pos- ture."
Sacrificed Indian Implements.
In the autumn of 1883, Mr. L. B. Beers and Mr. Robert W. Curtis, of Stratford, were hunting for Indian relics on the bank, near the mouth of the Housatonic river, when coming to a place of clean loam ground Mr. Beers picked up a small piece of soapstone pot or dish, and Mr. Curtis soon found another stone that had the appearance of being worked out, but on examination it was thrown away as of no value. The hunt being continued Mr. Curtis found a broken piece of spear head, and directly Mr. Beers picked up a poll or head of a stone axe and called for the piece that had been thrown away, which being secured fitted to the head of the axe perfectly. The idea then came to Mr. Curtis that Indians would be likely to bury in light loamy earth, and that this place would be favorable in that respect, and proposed to his fellow laborer to dig up the ground, and thereupon went to work with his cane. Soon he struck something hard and dug it out with his hands and found it to be a large spear head. After working a little time longer Mr. Beers pro- posed to look elsewhere, but Mr. Curtis continued the work
67
Indian Burnt Offerings.
and soon found a small nest of implements, all broken, appar- ently, by fire heat. On further digging the articles found at this time were pieces of two axes, two chisels and a few pieces of other implements.
The search has been continued with intervals to the present time, and the result is the following, all the articles being in small pieces in consequence of fire heat :
One axe 101/2 inches long, 6 wide, nicely worked ; one axe 71/2 inches long and 412 wide, approaching round in form ; one axe 8 inches long and 5 wide, nearly entire and nicely worked; one tomahawk 41/2 inches by 212 ; one pestle 131/2 inches long, nicely worked ; one pestle 12 inches long, rough ; one 9 inches long, rough ; eighteen pieces of other pestles ; nineteen chisels from 37/2 inches to 9 in length, some of them very fine grain stones, some of them coarse; one soapstone food dish II inches long, 8 inches wide, 4 in depth, nearly complete and ornamented with notches on the edge, the shape is triangular, oval; one soapstone food dish 12 inches long, 7 inches in width and 3 in depth; five rubbing stones ; one drill 21/2 inches in length, very delicate; one coarse triangular, cone shaped stone about 4 pounds in weight, use not known ; 75 pieces of different sizes, comprising knives, spear and arrow heads; 1,000 pieces of small implements broken beyond designation.
The supposition is that these implements were from time to time thrown into sacrificial fires as offerings in worship, and afterwards buried with quantities of hickory nuts which were found as charred ashes in great numbers. This subject may be further treated in a following part of this book in regard to Indian worship.
ENGLISH HISTORY
CHAPTER IV.
A
THE CUPHEAG PLANTATION.
1639-1645.
BEAUTIFUL township, inhabited by a noble people, is the theme of discourse in the following pages. Antiquity has a charm for many thousands of persons whose lives never reach the half of three-score years and ten, while equally as many, as the allotted years are added, grow pathetic by the increasing remembrance of the halcyon days which will never more return ; and yet we love to linger in our thoughts amidst the realities of early years and the recollection of those, the number of whose years were long since inscribed on marble tablets in the cemetery. Almost two hundred and fifty years-or from the year 1639 to that of 1884 -is the measure of the period which is to pass in review, as compassing the history of this locality, to the present time.
Stratford was, and is, a beautiful spot of earth, and they who have wandered from it have looked back with pride as well as with longing hearts, and have almost wished that the destinies of men would have allowed them to tarry by the old hearthstones of their ancestors until the work of life should have been accomplished ; and many more will look back from far distant countries and proclaim with joy that they descended from the early planters of this good old town. " Beautiful for situation " was written thousands of years ago, and yet it is equally applicable to this distinguished locality. "Old Stratford " was a name fondly cherished, while yet it was young in years, by those who had gone forth to establish new plantations, and " Old Stratford " is still a sound of joy
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