USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A pictorial history of "Raynham" and its vicinity. > Part 4
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Wit. NATHAN BEERS, JOSIAH BRADLEY.
AMOS MORRIS.
Immediately after the purchase of this site the United States Government occupied it and com- menced building a wooden keeper's dwelling and shingled Light House, octagonal in shape with lantern and eight powerful reflectors therein 35 feet above light water, giving a fixed white light vis- ible in all directions about six miles, but the trees on the land sides from northeast to southeast veiled the rays so that it was a small guide to vessels bound to the harbor from the eastward until they were nearly up to the Light House. The first keeper appointed by the Government was Amos Morris, Jr., who kept the Light House three weeks and was soon followed by . Wedmore, and he was succeeded by Jonathan Finch of East Haven, who kept it till his death in 1821, and was succeeded by his son, William Finch, who died in office in 1824, and was succeeded by Elihu Ives of New Haven. During his occupancy this edifice was replaced by a new structure at an expense of $10,000, built by Marens Bassett, and Jabez Potter furnished the stone. The exterior was of East Haven sandstone, interior of North Haven brick, and the steps to the top are granite. It was lighted in 1845. It is now painted white with a black lantern, and is a picturesque landmark, with its said lantern elevated ninety feet above the sea level, and was visible about 10 maritime miles in clear weather. This light was discontinued Jan. 1st, 1877 on the same date that the South West Ledge was lighted, and Henry C. Thompson was appointed keeper, and relieved in 1898 or 1899.
We would also state, in passing, that the East Breakwater (S. W. Ledge) Light House is con- structed of iron, with keeper's dwelling all in one, and is 57 fect above sea level, and the bell is struck by machinery at intervals of 15 seconds in thick weather, and visible in clear weather 10 miles.
In 1846, Elilm Ives was succeeded by Geo. W. Hicks, of New Haven, who, in 1849, was suc- ceeded by Stephen Willard, of New Haven, who, in turn was succeeded in 1853 by Merritt Thomp- son of East Haven. He continued in charge until 1861, when he was succeeded by Elizur Thompson, who, in 1867, was succeeded. by Charles W. Bradley, of East Haven, who was succeeded in 1869 by Elizur Thompson, who again took charge and continued in the position until his death, Feb. 7th,
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1898, (?) and now, March 30th, 1900, his widow has charge, the lights having been discontinued, and the edifice being used as a U. S. Signal Station.
The New West Breakwater Light House is named for our distinguished Congressman, Hon. N. D. Sperry, and was first lighted Jan. 3d, 1900. William de Luce, keeper and B. Sanfranco, assistant.
FROM REPORT OF U. S. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY OF JANUARY, 1900,
We append the following :
New Haven Harbor-Amended Position of West Breakwater-Outer (West) Breakwater Light Established .- During a cruise through Long Island Sonnd, made for the purpose of revising the Coast Pilot volume covering those waters, the commanding officer of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey steamer Endeavor caused the West Breakwater to be located by means of angles taken between objects of known position. The angles were found to slightly alter the position of the break- water from that heretofore assigned it on the charts, its eastern end being located at a point about 1,7 miles WSW. . W. from Sonthwest Ledge Light, from which point it runs NW. by W. towards the southern extreme of Oyster River Point. The breakwater is completed for a distance of 1,490 fect from its eastern end.
On January 1, 1900, a light of the fourth order, showing a red flash every 5 seconds, was estab- lished in a structure erected in about 28 feet of water, situated about 125 feet northwestward from the eastern end of the West (Outer) breakwater at the entrance to New Haven Harbor.
The light illuminates the entire horizon, its focal plane is 61 feet above mean high water, and the light may be seen 133 miles in clear weather.
The structure consists of a black, cylindrical, foundation pier, expanding in trumpet shape at its upper end to form a gallery, surmounted by a conical, iron tower, lower half brown, upper half white, surrounded by a covered gallery at its base and surmounted by a black lantern.
The approximate geographical position of the light is : Latitude 41º 13' 16" N .; longitude, 72° 56' 33" W.
The light is on the bearings : Southwest Ledge Light, WSW. } W., distance 1& miles; Old Tower on Five Mile Point, NE. +5 E .; New Haven Long Wharf Light, NNE. } E. On January 20, 1899, an additional fixed white lantern light was established, 8 feet below and on the same struc- ture with New Haven Middle Breakwater East End Beacon Light, situated on the eastern end of the Middle (Luddington Rock) breakwater, New Haven Harbor.
It was at Five Mile Point, on the Morris estate, and near the site of this Light House, that the British landed, under General Tryon, July 5th, 1779, and no more fitting monument could have been erected to mark this spot than this beautiful edifice.
I append the latitude and longitude of the following points as published by the " United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, T. C. Mendenhall, Supt., Geodesy Geographical Positions in the State of Connectient, Prepared for publication by Charles A. Schott, Assistant, Appendix No. 8- Report for 1888," Washington, 1890 :
Light House, Old, lat. 41º 14' 56" N., long. 72° 54' 15" W .; S. W. Ledge Light House, lat. 41º 14' 4" N., long. 72º 54' 45" W .; Light House on W. Breakwater, now building, not located ; Fort Woos- ter, lat. 41° 16' 55" N., long. 72° 53' 35" W .; Townshend Honse Tower, "Raynham," lat. 41º 16' 34" N., long. 72° 53' 45 W .; Fort Hale, lat. 41º 16' 14" N., long. 72º 54' 18" W .; First Congrega- tional Church, New Haven, lat. 41º 18' 34" N., long. 72º 53' 38" W.
PHANTOM SHIP OF NEW HAVEN.
THE PHANTOM SHIP OF NEW HAVEN.
The story of the Phantom Ship, as given by the Rev. James Pierpont, Pastor of the Church at New Haven, to the Rev. Cotton Mather, has interest, as aneestors of many New Haven families were lost in this vessel which sailed for London, in January, 1647. The commander of the ship was Cap- tain Lamberton, and with him sailed Dept. Governor Thomas Gregson, whose estate of 133 aeres was granted him at Morris Cove, and Capt. Nathaniel Turner. The two latter went as Commissioners from the Colonies with the objeet in view to get a Royal Charter similar to the Colony of Massaehu- setts Bay.
There were other important settlers, and women making an estimate of twenty (20) persons. As several accounts in poetry and prose of the apparition have been written, we will add here by way of amusement (leaving the reader to make what speeulations he pleases) from the Rev. Stephen Dodd's aeeount in his "East Haven Register," page 32-3; and we will also say just here that similar mirages have been witnessed by the writer in different parts of the world, as well as from the place of his birth at "Raynham," the family estate on the east side of New Haven Harbor.
The following is quoted from Cotton Mather's " Magnalia " :-
" Being Londoners or merehants and men of traffie and business, their design was in a manner wholly to apply themselves unto trade; but the design failing, they found their great estates sink so fast, that they must quiekly do something. Whereupon, in the year 1646, gathering together almost all the strength which was left them, they built one ship more, which they freighted for England, with the best part of their tradeable estates: and sundry of their eminent persons embarked themselves in her for the voyage. But, alas, the ship was never heard of,-she foundered at sea ; and in her were lost, not only the hopes of their future trade, but also the lives of several excellent persons, as well as divers manuseripts of some great men in the country, sent over for the service of the Chureli, which were now buried in the ocean. The fuller story of that grievious matter, let the reader with just astonishment aeeept from the pen of the Reverend person, who is now the Pas- tor of New Haven. I wrote unto him for it, and was thus answered.
" Reverend and Dear Sir :--
" In compliance with your desires, I now give you the relation of that apparition of a ship in the air, which I have received from the most eredible, judicious, and curious surviving observers of it.
"In the year 1647, besides mueh other lading, a far more rieh treasure of passengers (five or six of which were persons of chief note and worth in New Haven), put themselves on board a new ship, built at Rhode Island, of abont 150 tons ; but so walty (erank) that the master (Lamberton) often said that she would prove their grave. In the month of January, eutting their way through mueh ice, on which they were accompanied with the Rev. Mr. Davenport, besides many other friends, with many fears, as well as prayers and tears, they set sail. Mr. Davenport, in prayer, with an observable emphasis, used these words, 'Lord, if it be thy pleasure to bury these dear friends in the bottom of the sea, they are thine, save them.' The spring following, no tidings of these friends arrived with the ships from England; New Haven's heart began to fail her ; this, put the godly people on much prayer, both publie and private, that the Lord would (if it was his pleasure) let them hear what he had done with our friends, and prepare them with a suitable submission to his Holy Will. In June next ensuing, a great thunder storm arose out of the north-west; after which (the hemisphere being serene), about an hour after sunset, a ship, of like dimensions with the fore said, with her eanvass and colours aboard, (though the wind northerly) appeared in the air, coming up from our harbour's mouth, which lyes southward of the Towne, seemingly with her sails filled under a fresh gale, holding her eourse north, and continuing under observation, sailing against the wind, for the spaee of half an hour.
" Many were drawn to behold this great work of God ; yea, the very children eryed out, There's a brave ship! At length, crouding up as far as there is usually water sufficient for such a vessel, and so near some of the spectators as that they imagined a man might hurl'a stone on board her, her main top seemed to be blown off, but left hanging in the shrouds; then her mizzen top ; then all her mast- ing seemed blown away by the board ; qniekly after the hulk brought unto a eareen, she upset, and so vanished into a smoaky eloud, which in some time dissipated, leaving, as every where else a clear air.
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The admiring speetators could distinguish the several colours of each part, the principal riggings and sneh proportions as eaused not only the generality of persons to say, this was the mould of their ship, and thus was her tragie end ; but Mr. Davenport also in publie deelared to this effeet, that God had condeseended for the quieting of their afflicted spirits, this extraordinary account of his sovereign dis- posal of these for whom so many fervent prayers were made continually.
Thus I am Sir, Your humble servant,
JAMES PIERPONT."
NOTE .- In Aug., 1895, the Buffalo (N. Y.) Press gave a report of a remarkable mirage by which the city of Toronto, its harbor, and a small island which lies to the south of it were seen at Buffalo, 56 miles distant, between 10.00 and 11.00 o'eloek A. M. Various objeets were visible. It is said that those who first witnessed the phenomenon were able to eount the church spires in the Canadian city. Vessels were rendered visible. An account of the reflection of a sail boat is given. Her mainsail was set and she was lying elose to the wind ; " she was seen to turn and eareen with the west wind and then suddenly disappear as though nature had removed a slide for her magic lantern." In Dee., 1895, a remarkable mirage oeeurred at Nantueket, by which the entire cape shore and every hamlet along its length were rendered visible at Nantueket, which, ordinarily, is out of sight of all land.
Chambers' Eneyelopedia mentions on the 26th of July, 1798, the Freneh eoast from Calais to Dieppe, was distinetly visible from Hastings, England, fifty miles distant. This form of mirage, known as looming, continued three hours. Generally, when a ship is above the horizon, only one image and that inverted is observed, but when below the horizon one inverted and one ereet are seen.
THE PHANTOM SHIP.
In Mather's Magnalia Christi Of the old colonial time, May be found in prose the legend That is here set down in rhyme.
And at last their prayers were answered :- It was in the month of June, An hour before the sunset Of a windy afternoon
A ship sailed from New Haven, And the keen and frosty airs That filled her sails at parting, Were heavy with good men's prayers.
When steadily steering landward A ship was seen below, And they knew it was Lamberton Master Who sailed so long ago.
"O Lord, if it be thy pleasure "- Thus prayed the old divine-
" To bury our friends in the ocean, Take them for they are thine."
On she eaine with a eloud of eanvas, Right against the wind that blew, Until the eye could distinguish The faces of the erew.
But Master Lamberton muttered, And under his breath said he, This ship is so eranky and walty I fear our grave she will be.
Then fell her straining topmasts Hanging tangled in the shrouds, And her sails were loosened and lifted And blown away like elouds.
And the ships that came from England When the winter months were gone, Brought no tidings of this vessel Nor of Master Lamberton.
And the masts with all their rigging Fell slowly one by one, And the hulk dilated and vanished As a sea-mist in the sun.
This put the people to praying That the Lord would let thein hear
What in his greater wisdom He had done with friends so dear.
And the people who saw this marvel Each said unto his friend, That this was the mould of their vessel, And thus her tragie end.
And the pastor of the village Gave thanks to God in prayer That to quiet their troubled spirits He had sent this Ship of Air.
By Henry W. Longfellow.
14
BARTON .
NEW HAVEN PALISADED OR FORTIFIED
NEW HAVEN PALISADED OR FORTIFIED.
This fortification was built on account of King Philip's War, 1676. The Indian uprising known as " King Philip's War " which had been pending for several years, broke out in June, 1675, and received a crushing blow in the defeat of the Narragansett Indians, December 19th, 1675, at their fort located on an island surrounded by a swamp in South Kingston, R. I.
This tribe, it will be remembered, had broken their treaty with the English at Plymouth, and had allied themselves with Philip, chief of the Wamponaogs, to exterminate the English. The fight was called the " Dreadful Swamp Fight," and it occurred while Philip, of Pokonoket, the principal actor, was in winter quarters west of Albany, stirring up the Mohawks and northern tribes to war.
At a town meeting, September 24th, 1675, a committee was "appointed to consider of and direct some fortification at the meeting house and places about town," and Captain William Rosewell was ordered to prepare the great guns for service, and all inhabitants to bring their arms to meeting on the Sabbath and other public days.
On the 12th of October following, news of the burning of Springfield by the Indians was received, and it was thought best to build fortifications at the end of each street and at the angles of the town, and to fortify (palisade) some of the houses, one of which was Mr. Harriman's-(site of New Haven House)-also to fortify the square of the town with a line of palisades or posts on the sides of the quarters ; also at the ends of the streets and at the four angles, places of shelter (flankers) against the shot of thic enemy, should be set up. It was also ordered that all small brush and brush-wood within half a mile of the town plot should be cut down and cleared away that it might not afford shelter for the Indians to creep in a skulking manner near the town.
On the 18th of October, Major Treat informed the town of the Narragansetts' preparation for war, and the General Court advised all plantations to fortify themselves against the common enemy. The United Colonies of New England formally declared war against the Narragansett Indians, November 2nd, 1676, and the troops raised were called "the Army of the United Colonies of New England." This army of 1000 mnen met at Wickford, Rhode Island, Dec. 18, 1675. The Connecticut quota was 300 men and 150 Mohegan and Quinnipiack Indians, formed into five companies under the command of Major Robert Treat, who was made second in command of the expedition, the commander-in-chief being General Josiah Winslow, of Plymouth.
On the following Sunday, Dec. 19, the troops marched during a heavy snow storm fifteen miles to the swamp, arriving about 1.00 P. M. The fight was long and bloody and the victory dearly bought. Six captains and one hundred and eighty men were killed or wounded. Of the captains, Seeley, Gallop and Marshall, of Connecticut, were killed, and the New Haven company had twenty men slain, and in consideration of the disabled condition of his command at such an inclement season, Major Treat returned to Connecticut to recruit his diminished forces.
The slaughter of the Indians was terrific, and the army, after burning the fort, returned about sunset with their dead and wounded, arriving at headquarters at midnight, when the wounded received relief. But the cold weather, the storm and fatigue prevented many from recovering.
Soon after the return of the New Haven troop from this campaign, at a town meeting, on the 7tli of Feb., 1675/6, it was voted to finish the fortification ; and the records further note : " It is ordered that no Indian be suffered to come into town to see the fortification or to take notice of any of our acts or motions, and that by the constable warning be given the Indians that not any of them may come into the town nor into any English house, and that if any Indian come into the town he be apprehended and sent back again."
At a town meeting held on the 11th of March, 1675/6, it was voted that all persons able to work on the fortifications shall set to work when the drum beateth in the morning, and anyone that is defaulting shall pay 5 shillings towards the work. A committee was appointed to regulate the ditch- ing and breast works, and John Nash, thic gunsmith, was spared that he might be beneficial to persons about their arms.
The fortification consisted of a palisade line of wooden posts of timber that would square twelve inches set close together five feet in the ground of several thicknesses and ten feet above and at the
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top pointed. They were properly braced and filled in between with earth and clay excavated from the ditch dug on the outside ten feet deep and fifty feet wide, which was flooded with water from the harbor and perhaps the Beaver Ponds.
This palisade was built wide enough for a soldier to march on top and may have had also a platform on the inside, low enough for a sentinel to walk with body protected by the works with loop- holes for observation. On the seaside, in full view were the King's arms cut in wood and great guns mounted at the Meeting House in the Market Place, which was protected by flankers and palisades (with " Watch Tower" on top). Here was kept the armor belonging to the town, an account of which given in the records is very interesting.
The East and West Creeks were dug out and the harbor flats at an early date to allow vessels to reach the outskirts of the town plot, and the records state in the East Creek as far as Mr. Preston's cor- ner, now State and Chapel Streets, where, since the Revolution, I have been told, West India traders have unloaded their cargoes. The Custom House and Post Office and business centre was just above near the junction of State, Elm and Grand Streets, Bishop's corner, the head of navigation. The West Creek was navigable for boats as far as the corner of College and George Streets, and the tide has been known to set back in this creek as far as the corner of Park and Chapel Streets, and a ravine continuing to its source, corner of Elm and Howe Streets, may still be traced. See Stiles, p. 126, Plate V.
The above shows how the creeks may have been dug out to assist in protection from Indian raids, and that ditches might have been excavated from the creeks and meeting at the "ditch corner " out Broadway, then an important gateway to the town, which was always closed at night and where was located the pales ; the last of the palisades where young Mr. Brewster when "overcome" was found and fined by the Court.
OLD TOWN RECORDS FOUND IN ATTIC OF TOWN HALL, WHERE THEY HAD LAIN SINCE REMOVED FROM OLD STATE HOUSE, FEB. 3, 1895.
mo. da. ye.
Att a Townsman Meeting 4-8-78-1678.
The townsmen called Joseph Morris to an account for taking away 3 loads of the Fortification and for satisfaction ordered him the said Joseph to carry widow Moore 3 loads of wood for her use.
Att a Meeting of the Townsmen 7 8mº 1678
Notice taken how the Town musketts were disposed off
1 Muskett to Moses Mansfield
1 Henry Brocks
1 Tho Broeks
1 Ralph Lines
1
66 William Bradley
1
John Hancock
10
66 At Abraham Dickermans
one
66 At George Parde
There are 5 (about) that are lent and to be kept in good order and returned in good order at the demand of the townsmen or any one of them by order.
Att a Meeting of the Townsmen 7th Dec. 1680
To finish with the Indians about the purchase of land bought of Indians.
The Townsmen have agreed to sell the fortification wood that stands against the quarter for 6P. per rod for the townes use.
To send Widdow Morell 3 loads Abm Bradley to cart it John Powell 3 loads Wm Bradley to cart it.
RUINS OF FORT WOOSTER.
RUINS OF FORT WOOSTER AND BEACON HILL.
This ancient fortification on Beacon Hill is now within the city limits and overlooks one of the finest views of land and sea in New England. From the ramparts of these old earthworks may be seen land in fifteen Connecticut towns, besides in many more on Long Island in the State of New York.
From this superb and sightly spot, in clear weather, the mountains west of Hartford, 37 miles distant to the northward, may be seen and the Long Island hills 25 miles southward are visible, giving from point to point a prospect of between 50 or 60 miles with the naked eye.
Here on this hill in Indian times was the fire place of the Quinnipiac Indians, from which they sent up great clouds of smoke to attract to their harbor the early Dutch traders, and here also was their Palisade Fort and northward their burying ground, while under the hill near the Fresh Meadows was their powow place.
This hill at the early settlement of the New Haven Colony was used to light beacon fires in case of alarm and, during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 a beacon was exhibited to give warning to the citizens of the town and surrounding country of the approach of the enemy's ships and the appended notice and plate have interest.
Beacon Hill is also noted for the stand which the patriots made there in the forenoon of July 5, 1779, while Gen. Tryon's British invaders were landing. It was held until after the engagement at " Raynham " (which occurred about noon of that day), when, outnumbered by British Hessian and Tory troops (three regiments), supported by two pieces of artillery, these brave defenders were obliged to retire. Tryon made this hill his headquarters during the invasion and, immediately after his retreat, it was occupied by the Patriots under Gen. Ward with the regiments of Colonels Cook, Russel, Worthington and Sage, one thousand strong. This body, together with a field piece from East Haven Green, greatly distressed the enemy till at length they quitted the hill about noon, July 6, on the approach of our troops, who immediateiy occupied the hill and brought the field piece to bear, between which (the enemy and an armed galley off Black Rock Fort) was kept up an enliven- ing, incessant and continuous fire all the afternoon and until every armed ship of the invaders had quitted the bay.
The last shot fired from the enemy's fleet when they sailed away killed Isaac Pardee, who with his neighbor, Smith, was returning, with buckets of water from the spring, up the south slope of the hill. The story, as told by Smith, is that after the Patriots had gained the hill he and Pardee were de- tailed to fetch water from the said spring below. They were returning, having filled the buckets, when, hearing the report of a cannon from the galley anchored off Black Rock Fort, they turned to look ; both saw the shot coming toward them; Smith dropped on the ground, Pardee remained in a standing position and the ball carried off his head. In reference to this hill for beacon signals the following notice has interest :
NOTE-Many shots found on the Townsend estate give evidence of the heavy fire the earthworks and the Rock Fort were under during the invasion, July, 1779. After the invasion these earthworks were strengthened.
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