USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Simsbury > A record and documentary history of Simsbury > Part 8
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"Voted at ye same metting, that thos that have carryed
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Town Rec. B. I. Pp. 19-20
in corne to Major Talcots, of hartford, shal be payd back their corne again by ye Towne, with reasonable alowence in ye next towne rate, provided ye Committee can traid land as above, and the corne in ye Majors hand, and in John Terrys hand is so to remayne till ye Committes returne & thos that have caryed in corne to John Terryes, upon ye sail of said land to discharg ye Indian debt, shall have their corne returned to them again, and if sd Committe cannot traid away land for the discharg of sd debt, then to return to ye rate as before, to pay said purchase."
Here was a proposition honestly to pay off an honest debt. The Inhabitants had purchased 64,000 acres of land. In order to raise money, wherewith to pay for the same, it was proposed to sell 100 or 150 acres of this identical land. Truly a financial scheme worthy of consideration by Statesmen of the 19th Century.
Whilst they were thus studying and planning to provide ways and means for paying off a long standing debt, very opportunely comes the Worshipful Major Talcott, with a propo- sition for their relief.
"A Coppy of ye Major Talcotts tearme etc."
"Gentlm and friends, - in ye meane tim let not any thing I signify here prevent yourfelves making saile of any or all that land lyeing west upon ye river, for the Truth is, I have no Dofires nor temptation, by all that I have fen or heard, to spur me one to gain it, haveing fully consulted my felfe, in reference to ye rounds of that matter, in all the circumftances there of, both good and bade, and do find no one place, where any thing confiderable can be taken up: the most of that which some call meadow, is full of small Brush and Vines, through which yw is no paffing; or full of Trees, small and great, which will be very cheargeable fubdueing: and in ye place where the best land of that sort is, there is no accommodation of vpland to it saveing onely mighty Tale mountayens and Rockes, and the way bade to it, and a great way to all of it, and will be dismally obfcure and solatary to any that shall live vpon it, and very hard comeing at the Market, not onely because of ye remotness, but badness of the paffage, and the
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Town Rec. B. I. P. 20
Society of Neighbourhood will be very thin, all which will be difcoraiging: your selves may Improve yor most Judicious, to take view if you see good, for yor furthere satiffaction: for my defigne is not to bring up an evill report Concerning the badneff of any part of yor Bounds, neither shall any wayes Difaduantage yor market by putting a low eeftme vpon the lands, let the wheels turne which (way) they will; and yet noth- withstanding all that I have inserted in these lynes, setting sfyde all difficultyes, mentioned, if you can, in a joynt way, with freedom of spirit, and serenity of mynde fe caufe to grant three Hundred Accres in any place or places not exceeding three places, where I shall tak it up, vpon said west river, to wards the West end of yor Bounds, I shall accept, you giveing deeds for the same, wherther it shall be worth a penny to me or no, and that shall be an Iffue of ye Debt matter depending. Your friend and Servt."
Hartford 9th June 1682.
John Talcot."
On receiving these magnanimous "tearmes" of Major Talcott, the town took the following action:
"July the 4th, 1682." "at a Towne meting of the In- habitants of Simsbury, Votted and agreed, to give the major John Talcott of hartford, three Hundred Accres of land upon the west Riv" upon account the defraying of the charges of the Indian purchase." This was communicated to Major Talcott, accompanied by a letter in reply to his proposal, of which the following is a copy:
"A Coppy of a letter sent to Major Talcott."
"These are to enforme the worfhipfull Major Talcott yt in answr to his letter Received (Jun ye 9th 1682,) the In- habitants of Simsbury, being met to hear and confid' same, (upon July ye 4th 1682,) Voted and agreed to give the Worship- full Major Jnº. Talcott of hartford Three Hundred Accres of land upon ye Rivr lying towards the westward end of our Town Bounds, & have granted him that liberty to take it vp in Three places according to his desire; this granted vpon the accountt of the Major defraying of the charges of the whole Indian purchase."
The land thus disposed of, was situated at what is now
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1682 Town Rec. B. I. P. 19
"Canton Center", on "Cherry's Brook," which at that time was called "West-river." It was the land lately occupied by Daniel and Volney Barber; and was, at an early day, purchased of the heirs of Major Talcott by three brothers, by the name of Barber, who went thither from Simsbury.
Waquaheag, alias Cherry, claimed it as his territory, hence the name "Cherry's Brook."
The following is the Bill of Account presented by Major Talcott, in his settlement with the town, showing the manner and method of the purchase from the Indians:
Major Talcott's Account, for the purchase of Simsbury.
1682
"Simsbury Town is Dr fr my payment of their indian purchas of the bounds of their Town."
May 25
"To payd Totoe: and Nesehegan each of them a Trucking Cloath Coat, - to Joseph Whiting, - To John Moses,
To Seaket's wife a Coat, Aups a Farming- ton indian, a Coat - Nenepauch Squa one Coate, Neshopauge Squa one Coat. Cherry one Coat, and Mamantoes Squa, one coat, for these six Coats I charge, . .
To payd Nesehegan for his right in Sequa- seege, six bushells of indian corn, to him payd for his right in Weatouge, nine bushells of indian corn, at this time indian corn fetch ready money, 2 shillings, .
To payd Massacup 2: Bushells by the indians order to Cogrinosset 2 bushells. the same order. to Waycump ye same order. - one bushell. To Seaket's Squa 2 Bushells. To Nenepauch Squa 2 bushells
To Aups 2 Bushells - To Pashanoes Squa 2 Bushells.
To Totoe. Bushells Graun. To one Bushell the indians wear payd more. all as good as money. Soe I sould, and others that sould. this being 21 Bushells.
00 06 0
Col. Rec. Town & Lands State Lib.
£o4s.16d.00
May 18th
01 17 06 May 18th
May 18th
02 12 06
87
Pd Cherry more in money one shilling Pd to Mamantoes Squa four bushells of indian Corne, Pd to Mr. Joseph Whiting & The Country for a Coat Sergt John Griffin had for an indian that he payd for the purchase,.
Pd ye Charges of Twenty indians first day at pro- viding terms of a bargaine, set the pot with good meat and bread, beer and sider, provided that day for Capt. Allyn and Capt. Newbery, ye Committee, .
Spent sundry times besides, the 2 years together Sometimes I0; sometimes 20, Sometimes 15, sometimes 6 or 7 indians with cider victuals and beer, and at least 16 days, most of which I rod to peek hill to the Indians, to drive on the bar- gaine, they demanding one 100 pounds, was afraid any of sd English should put me by, the business of advising them to insist upon that great sum, - for which I reckon,
00 II 03
00 18 00
01 05 00
06 10 00
Forward,.
18 16 03
18 16 03
May 1684 To so much payd to Joseph Whiting for a Coat, y' Townsmen had, - See fol order.
01 00 00
All is 19- 16-03,. Simsbury Town - per Contra Cr.
19 16 03
The Town of Simsbury have granted to me Three hundred Acres of Land on the West Side of the Town, about six miles distance west from the Town upon the River that runs there where the Indians ust to ketch Samon at a place called Cherry's Land, and anywhere within their bounds by that sayd River to be taken up in one, Two or Three places, as I see cause, as by Town Grant doth fully Appear. A Coppy whereof I have in keeping; And this to be in full satisfaction of all my cost and charge of the purchase of their
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bounds of Ten miles Squar, and therefore must be accounted in my booke at eighteen pounds, sixteen shillings and three pence,.
18 16 03 01 00 00 More on other side,
Cr.,. 19 16 03
Thus happily was terminated a long pending difficulty which had been a source of anxiety on the part of the white inhabitants, and of "grievous complaynt" on the part of the Indians. And thus was secured the title from the original owners by which we now hold the lands of Simsbury.
From the foregoing Statement and Bill of Particulars, by Major Talcott, it appears evident that the number of Indians along the Tunxis river, was very small, and but a small proportion were Massaco Indians.
Nesehegan, Seaket and Totoe, with Coggerymosset were all Poquonnuc Indians; Aups was a Farmington Indian, and Waquaheag, alias Cherry, was from "West river," - (Cherry's Brook), Mamantoes is the only Massaco Indian whom we can name as such; and these soon disappeared. In the early part of the present Century, only a solitary Indian family was left in Simsbury. It is in the memory of the present writer that "Jo. Lewis", a miserable, drunken remnant of his race, dwelt in a hut, partly in, and partly above the bank of a gully, south of the present residence of Edward St. John, at Westover's plain - (now Hoskin's). Here, with his Squaw, and two or three children, he passed a few years, living by basket making and other such like employment, till at length the last Indian disappeared.
And so it has been with the tribes; and so it will be with the race. Manifest destiny points to their inevitable extinction. Century by century-year by year, they have been receding and disappearing before the advancing progress of the white man. Today, the same agencies are at work as in the time of our ancestors. The lesson taught by Endicott at Block Island, under instructions from Massachusetts, in 1635, was repeated in 1676, at Narragansett. The work which Endicott commenced at Block Island, two hundred and fifty years ago, Sheridan and
89
others, under instructions from the General Government, have carried on in our mountain States and Territories, down to the present time. Witness the official report of an engagement a few years ago with a band of Indians in Montana. "One hundred and seventy three Indians were killed; three hundred horses captured, and the village and property of the band totally destroyed." In his Report to the Superintendent of Indian af- fairs, the agent of these Indians states that -"Of these one hundred and seventy three Indians thus disposed of, fifty chil- dren under twelve years of age were killed.
There has never been an Indian war, from the "Pequott" to the "Modoc", which was not commenced by aggression and provocation on the part of the Whites. Can we wonder why the Indians are sullen and revengeful? But the Indians as a race, are doomed. We may mourn over their decay, and final disap- pearance; but who would call them back? Who shall say it is not better that the Pequots and Narragansetts, and other Indian tribes that once roamed over the hills of New England, and hunted in its forests, and fished along its streams, have disappeared and given place to a superior race? That the rude wigwam has been supplanted by the Christian home, the school house, and the Christian Church? That the Indian trail has given place to the track of the Railway?
But, heaven be praised, there are signs of a change of policy on the part of our Government towards the Indians. Occasionally there is a rift in the cloud through which the sun- light paints the bow of promise, giving hope that a remnant may be saved, or at least respited.
90
FIRST CHURCH BUILDING . 1683
XI Erection of Mills
As yet no mills had been erected within the limits of the town. The nearest mill for grinding was the "old Wareham mill," at Windsor, called the "Corn Mill". Of course, owing to the distance, and inconvenience of obtaining meal, but little was used. The common mode of preparing grain for food was by pounding or beating in a mortar, with a pestle, as is done in some of our Southern States at the present day. These im- plements were probably to be found in every household. The mortar was a log of hard wood, two or three feet in length, in one end of which a bowl was excavated by boring and burning, capable of holding sometimes a peck or more of grain. The pestle was likewise of wood, three or four inches in diameter, and from one to two feet in length, through the center of which a hole was bored, and a handle inserted at right angles, making a double-headed hammer, With this, the grain was beaten or hulled; and, when boiled in water, formed a delicious and whole- some article of food. The custom and method were borrowed from the aborigines. By them it was called "Hominy"; by the white people "Samp". Nor were there any saw mills. The build- ings were constructed in the rudest manner, and of the rudest materials. The houses were of logs, with riven floors; and if covered with clap-boards or shingles, these were also riven. The seats were stools or benches, split from logs, and the tables probably made in the same manner, but standing on longer legs. In several of the earliest inventories on record no tables
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are mentioned and but few chairs. John Griffin's has no chairs or tables.
The erection of a mill in a new settlement is an important event in its history. It was so in Simsbury, whose inhabitants had lived ten years without one.
In 1678, Thomas Barber and others entered into a contract with the inhabitants of the town, for the consideration therein mentioned, to erect and put in operation a grist mill and a saw mill on "Hop Brook," near the present center of the town. The contract for building the first mills in the town, is in these words:
"Miles."
"Know all men by these presents, that we, whos Names are under written and Firmely oblige our felves to Build or Cause to be Built, a Grist Mile and a sawe mill, for ye vse of ye Towne of Simsbury which we do engage to build in May in ye year of our lord 1680ty, further we Grinde the corne, well and sufficiently, and to take Toll not exceding the Statute law of the Common wealth; and further we do engag that whatsoever Boards we do sell to ye town Inhabitants of Simsbury at the mil, they receiving them at the mill, we will sell at foure shillings six pence & Hundred, and not to exced beyound the price thereof, and we also engag to the Towne of Simsbury, to keep ye sd mil in good repaire for ye vse of the Towne, or to do our honest endevour, not vfing any deceit-in case of Breach in dams or Mils, to expeed about ye reparation of, with as much speed as may bee. And in case that in processe of time that we shall let any of thefe mils fall that then we shall not abridge the Towne of ye vse of ye Broke, to erect a Mil if they fe caufe, with this (provisio) that their be no Damaig Accrewing to ye grist Mill thereby, and Further, we do engage, not to transport any oak to any othere towne, with out we first obteyne liberty of ye towne-to the True performance set to our hands Sept. 23, 1678.
Delivered in ye presence of us Wittneffes.
Witnefes John Slater
Thomas Barber.
John Mofes.
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Town Rec. B. I. P. 27
Ruth Holcomb her 24 mark. John Terry.
Ephriam Hawart."
"We, on the Contrary who are the Inhabitants of Sims- bury, Do oblige and give unto these who are the vndertakers, for ye building of these Mils: Impreimis, to give them the free Liberty of ye Commons for the getting of Timber. (2)-Twenty pounds, to be payd in a Towne Rate,-3dly the lot yt was errectd for a Milers Lott withe the land in Timber Swampe to the lot yt is Joseph Skinn's,-4thly-we give them the free liberty of hoppe Brooke, Durring the time they shall keep up ye said Miles in good repaire, & stand engaged for ye sd Mils to the Towne.
And further we do give unto the sd vndertakers, liberty to build the mils according to ye time Mentioned in yr Engag- ment: vnleff by fome Imminent providence of God they are hindred thereby. We also do further oblige that whatsoever Corne the Towne grinds for ye neceffity of their Families, shall be brought to ye said mils. to the true performance hereof we set to our hands Sept 23, 1678.
Delivered in ye presence of us
Joshua Holcomb.
Wittnesses, John Slater
the Mark (K) of Jnº Case.
Ruth Holcomb her ) Mark. Sam1 Wilcocksun.
Postcript, they shall have the free liberty of the land on each sid of the Brook either for Dames, Trenches or setting of ye Mils as they shall Judge most convenient."
These "Vndertakers" proceeded to erect and put in opera- tion a grist mill and a saw-mill at the place indicated, where Toy and Ensign's (R. H. Ensign) mills now stand. With slight interruptions they have been kept in operation, from that time to the present, a period of more than two hundred years.
From the earliest settlement of the country the laws re- quired, that for the sake of instruction in military science, 'every plantation shall traine once in every moneth," and proper officers were appointed for the purpose of drilling such as were of suitable age. These days of instruction were called "Training days," In 1675, "John Griffin was confirmed Sargt of Simsbury Traine Band, and is empowered to command the
93
Traine Band there, upon all occasions, and especially in case of any exigency by the assault of an enemie." As there were not a sufficient number to form a full company, this was the highest military office in the town. "Samuel Wilcoxsun was chosen Sargeant in 1679."
In 1683, it was "voted by the Traine Band that, for the futur, the Training dayes be equally divided, one day on the one syde the River, and another on the other syd yr river. Also John Terry Chosen ensign: chosen May 28, 1683. Also Jeremiah Gilit chosen Sergant."
In 1684, Peter Buell was chosen Clerk of the train band, and in 1686 he was chosen Sargeant.
In speaking of or addressing these men ever afterwards, it was with the prefix of their several military titles.
There was a training or parade ground on each side of the River; one at Hopmeadow, North of Rev. Mr. Tomlinson's, the other, near Deacon Alonzo Case's present residence, at Terry's Plain.
Col. Rec. Vol. II P. 34
The office of "Justice of the Peace" was not established by that name in Connecticut till the time when Sir Edmond Andros assumed the Government of New England. Prior to that time "Commissioners of Plantations" were annually ap- pointed by the General Court, whose duty was, the dispensa- tion of Justice, in the several towns for which they were ap- pointed. In 1666, "the Court invested the severall Com's in this Corporation with magestraticall power wthin the limits of ye respectiue Townes where they liue."
P. 108 Ib.
In 1669, their powers and duties were more particularly defined. In connection with two or more of the selectmen of the town, they were "to hear and determine any action that shall be presented before them for tryall, to the value of forty shillings, and to enter judgment upon the case, and grant execu- tion upon the judgement."
Town Rec. B. I. P. 65
Capt. Benjamin Newbery of Windsor held the office of "Commissioner for Windsor and Simsbury" from 1672, till 1684, from which time there appears to have been none ap- pointed for Simsbury till 1688, when, "At a Gen11 towne Met- ting of the Inhabitants of Simsbury, Mr John Highly was
94
Col. Rec. Vol. II P. 332
Town Rec. B. I. P. 48
Chofen Commiffioner for the Towne of Simfbury, to attend these offices as is by Law requered of such Commission officer and he is to serve in yt place till ye next May come Twelve month." In 1669 this officer is styled Justice of Peace.
In comparison with the liberal allowance to Representa- tives in the General Assembly, at the present time, the pay of the Deputies in the General Court two hundred years ago would seem somewhat meager. In 1687, Peter Buell was elected Deputy. At the time of his election "Dec. 29th, 1687" "Voted by ye Inhabitants of Simsbury, to alow Peter Buell, for his Deputyfhip, and Expences, Twenty fhillings."
May 21. 1688, "Voted to alow Edward Pierce 2 s. 6ª per day for yr writing of ye lawes, and bear his neceffary expences."
As the Statue laws of the Colony had before this time been printed, and distributed among the several towns, probab- ly "the laws" here mentioned were the Town Acts, which had been passed and were in force at that time, together with the "orders" of the selectmen.
The powers and duties of the selectmen of that period were more extensive and varied than those of the present day. In a sense, they were a sort of local legislature, whose functions were not limited to mere financial and material interests, and their management; in a great degree the ethics and the eccles- iastical, as well as the educational affairs of the town were com- mitted to them, and they had a general supervision of the domestic and social relations.
The following is a copy of the law in force at that time, illustrating the foregoing statements:
"Children"
"Forasmuch as the good ecucation of Children is of sin- gular behoofe and benefitt to any Common wealth, and whereas many parents and masters are too indulgent and negligent of theire duty in that kinde:
It is therefore ordered by this Courte and Authority there- of, that the Selectmen of euery Towne, in the seuerall precincts and quarters where they dwell, shall haue a vigilant eye ouer theire brethren and neighbours, to see first, that none of them shall suffer so much Barbarisme in any of theire familyes as
Town Rec. B. I. P. 59
F. R. P. 66 Vol. I
Col. Rec. Vol. I P. 520
95
not to indeauor to teach by themselues or others theire Children and Apprentices so much Learning as may inable them per- fectly to read the Inglish tounge, and knowledge of the Capitall Lawes, vppon penalty of twenty shillings for each neglect therein; Allso, that all Masters of familyes doe once a weeke at least, catechise theire children and servants in the grounds and principles of religion; and if any bee vnable to doe so much, that then at the least they procure such Children or Apprentices to learne some shorte orthodox Catechisme, with- out booke, that they may bee able to answer to the questions that shall bee propounded to them out of such Catechismes by their parents or Masters or any of the Select men, when they shall call them to a tryall of what they have learned in this kinde.
And further that all Parents and Masters doe breed and bring vp theire Children and Apprentices in some honest law- full (calling), labour or imployment, either in husbandry, or some other trade proffitable for themselues and the Common wealth, if they will not nor cannot traine them vp in Learning to fitt them for higher imployments. And if any of the Select men, after Admonition by them giuen to such Masters of familyes, shall finde them still negligent of theire duty in the particulars aforementioned, whereby Children and Seruants become rude, stubborne and vnruly, the said Select men, with the helpe of two Magistrates, shall take such Children or Ap- prentices from them, and place them with some masters, for yeares, boyes till they come to twenty one, and girles to eighteen yeares of age compleat, weh will more strictly looke vnto, and force them to submitt vnto gouernmt, according to the rules of this order, if by faire meanes and former instructions, they will not bee drawne vnto it."
It would be interesting to see some of our modern Select- men engaged in some of the duties imposed by the requirements of this law.
The following illustrates their powers and duties in regard to cases of domestic infelicities:
John Brooks, an inhabitant of Simsbury, was complained of for ill-treating his wife. The Selectmen interfered and took
96
her away. He applied to the Governor and Magistrates in the County Court. The following extract from the records shows the nature and result of the trouble.
"March IIth_1681-2-To the Townsmen of Simsbury. Wm. Leete Esq, Govr
Major John Talcott.
Capt. John Allyn. John Brookes haveing been with us & en- gaged to carry it loveingly with his wife, & to provide for her, we have thought fitt and doe hereby order you to return her, to him, giving her like caution to carry suitably to her husband that so they may be comfortable to each other. But if it fall out otherwise, upon information & proofe we shall be ready to take such further order as shall appear necessary. John Brookes hath also engaged that none of his children shall abuse or doe wrong to his wife. The continuance of your care to looke how they carry it to each other is still desired and required."
County Court Rec. Vol. IV P. 52
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FIRST CHURCH BUILDING . 1683
XII
Common Fields and Fences
By the Act of the General Court, constituting the Board of Townsmen, or Selectmen in the several towns, and by sub- sequent acts, special discretionary powers were conferred upon them in relation to some specified matters coming before them for settlement. Among these was the control of "Common Fields" and "Common Fences". The Order of the Court sets forth the reasons and necessity for its passage. "Feb. 14th, 1643." "Whereas the Condition of these seuerall Plantations in these beginnings wherein we are, in such that necessity con- straynes to improue much of the grownds belonging to the seuerall Townes in a comon way, and yt is obsearued that the publique & generall good, weh ought to be attended in all such improvements, receaues much priudice through waint of a prudent ordering and disposing of those seuerall Comon lands to such wayes of improuement as are most pr pr to the, and may best aduance the publique good. It is therefore Ordered, that ech Towne shall before the sitting of the next Court, chuse fro among theselues seaven able and discreet men, who by this Order haue power giuen the, and are required to take the common lands belonging to ech of the seu'all Townes respectively, into serious and sadde consideratio, and after a through disgesting of theire owne thoughts, sett downe vnder their hands in what way the said lands may in their judgement be best improued for the comon good. And whatsoeur is so decreed & determined by the said 7 men in ech Towne, or any fiue of the conserneing the way of improuement of any such
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