USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > A statistical account of the county of Middlesex, in Connecticut > Part 11
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Reference has been repeatedly made in the preceding pages to Yale-College, as being several years in this town ; and it will be proper, in this place, to relate some particulars respecting it.
This was founded in the year 1700, by ten principal clergy- men in the Colony, designated for the purpose, by the general voice of their brethren and of the people. These met in Say- brook, Nov. 11, 1701, having received the patronage of the Le-
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Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
gislature ; and drew up some rules for the instruction and go- vernment of the institution ; and appointed the Rev. Abraham Pierson of Killingworth, one of their body, to take the charge of it, under the character and title of rector. On the question of its location, they were not united ; but concluded that Say- brook would be the best situation for it for the present. As the population of the Colony was confined almost wholly to the vi- cinity of Connecticut river and of the Sound, there was no place then, where students could be more conveniently collected. They accordingly desired the rector to remove thither ; but un- til he could do that, consented that what students should offer themselves, might be instructed at Killingworth ; and they ap- pointed a tutor to assist him in his work. Several youth, who had been pursuing preparatory studies in the expectation of this seminary, came forward, were examined, and arranged in differ- ent classes, according to the proficiency which they had made. But the people of Killingworth were wholly unwilling that their pastor should be separated from them ; and of course the stu- dents were instructed in Killingworth, though the commence- ments were held at Saybrook, until the death of Mr. Pierson, in March 1707. The senior class was then removed to Milford, and put under the instruction of the Rev. Samuel Andrew, rector pro tempore ; while the other classes were removed to Saybrook, and put under the instruction of tutor Fiske, until commence- ment. After this, all the students were instructed at Saybrook by two tutors, and were peaceable and happy, making respec- table advances in science, until the winter of 1715-16 ; when a serious and alarming disturbance arose among them. Na- thaniel Lynde Esq. had generously given a house on the Point, for the use of the college, so long as it should remain in Say- brook. But they complained of the settlement as not being suf- ficiently compact, many of them being obliged to reside more than a mile from the place of public exercises ; and of their in- struction and government, there being no resident rector, and the tutors sometimes very young and inexperienced. Those most dissatisfied, belonged to Hartford or the vicinity, where a strong desire prevailed to effect the removal of the college ; and it was supposed that they were instigated to the complaints which they made. In the month of April the trustees came together to con- sider the circumstances of the seminary, and were unhappily divided among themselves; but gave leave to the scholars who wished for it, to repair to other places for instruction un- til commencement. At the succeeding session of the Legisla- ture, two of the trustees, without the consent or knowledge of their brethren, petitioned that the college might be removed to Hartford. This surprising and ungentleman-like proceeding,
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Town of Saybrook.
caused passions, which had long been kindling, to burst forth ; and from this time until the permanent establishment of the college at New-Haven, the subject of its location, produced more de- bate and division in the Legislature, and in the Corporation, among civilians and clergymen, and the people at large, than al- most any other subject which has ever been agitated in Connec- ticut.
In this state of the public mind, the inhabitants in different parts of the Colony, in the summer of 1716, subscribed large sums for the college ; in the hope of inducing the trustees to lo- cate it where it would best accommodate themselves. About 700 pounds sterling were subscribed, on condition of its being established at New-Haven ; 500 pounds to have it continued at Saybrook ; and a considerable sum to have it removed to Hart- ford or Weathersfield. At a meeting of the trustees at New-Ha- ven in October, a vote was carried, " That considering the diffi- culties of continuing the collegiate school at Saybrook, and that New-Haven is a convenient place for it, for which the most li- beral donations are given, the trustees agree to remove the said school from Saybrook to New-Haven, and it is now settled at New-Haven accordingly." But notwithstanding this vote, some years elapsed before all the students could be collected at New- Haven ; and before the minds of all the trustees, and of the people generally, were united and quieted with respect to its establish- ment at that place.
The feelings raised in the towns, most interested by this sub- ject, may be gathered from circumstances attending the removal of the library. An unsuccessful application having been made for this by some of the trustees, the Governor and council con- vened in Saybrook at their request, in Dec. 1718; and issued a warrant to the sheriff to go and take the books. When he got to the house where they were kept, he found men collected to resist him ; but calling assistance, he forcibly entered the house, took them, and had them secured by a guard through the night. In the morning it appeared, that the carts, provided for carrying them to New-Haven were broken, and the horses turned away. New provision being made, they were conducted out of the town by the major of the county ; but some of the bridges on the road were broken up, and when they arrived at New-Haven, it was discovered, on counting the books, that about 260 were wanting. These were disposed of by persons unknown, together with some valuable papers, in the confusion which arose at the taking of the library, and no discovery was made of them afterwards. But the college had still more than 1000 volumes, and its pros- pects again began to brighten.
Fifteen commencements were held at Saybrook. At these
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Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
more than 60 young men were graduated, most of whom became ministers of the Gospel, and some of them characters of distin- guished usefulness and excellence.
To educate young men of piety and talents for the holy mi- nistry in the churches in the Colony, was the leading design of this institution. It was therefore early regarded, by the found- ers and by others, as very desirable, that these churches should have a public standard or confession of faith ; agreeable to which the instruction of the college should be conducted. This, toge- ther with the importance of such a standard on other accounts, led to various measures, which resulted in the adoption of Say- brook Platform, after the commencement in 1708.
The fort in this town, called usually Saybrook Fort, but some- times Fort Fenwick, however it may be regarded now, was for- merly a post of great importance. In this a garrison was con- stantly kept for a very long period, and it has usually been man- ned since in seasons of war and danger. It commands the entrance of Connecticut river. It was first built of wood, in front, or on the point of Tomb Hill. But as this, in some unaccountable manner, took fire in the winter of 1647, and was consumed, with some adjoining buildings, the fort was rebuilt soon after, of more substantial materials, and placed further north, on what was called New-Fort Hill. This, with some alterations, is the pre- sent fortification.
A few days after this fort was begun, in 1635, a Dutch vessel arrived from New Netherlands, with a view of taking possession of the mouth of the river, and of laying the foundation of a set- tlement. The English having mounted two pieces of cannon, prevented their landing, and defeated the enterprize. About the time of the Pequot war, the fort saved the inhabitants of Say- brook from being cut off by the Indians ; and in the summer of 1675, prevented the surrendry of the town to Major Andross. Had there been a very small force stationed in it in April 1814, it would also have prevented the burning at Pautapoug Point.
In regard to distinguished characters, the following may be noticed.
Mr. Winthrop who began the settlement, was one of the great- est men of his age. He was born at Groton, in England ; was educated at the Universities of Cambridge and Dublin ; and af- terwards travelled through the principal countries of Europe ; acquiring a mass of information respecting those countries, and those accomplishments, which arise from an extended intercourse with polished society ; and what is much more to his honour, he maintained the unblemished morals of a puritan, in the midst of all the fascinations of the world. Coming to Massachusetts with his father, in 1631, he was elected into the magistracy. Having
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Town of Saybrook.
returned to Europe, he received from Lord Say and Seal and others, the commission mentioned in the beginning of this ac- count. Sometime after the fulfilment of this commission, having settled at New-London, he was successively elected to the of- fices of assistant, lieutenant-governor, and governor. Upon the accession of Charles II. to the throne of England, he was sent to manage the affairs of the Colony before the King ; and obtained the charter, which united New-Haven Colony with Connecticut, and which was the basis of the government of Connecticut, thus enlarged, for more than a century and a half. After his return from this mission, he was placed again for many years at the head of the Colony. He died at Boston, whither he had gone to attend a meeting of the Commissioners of the United Colo- nies, April 5, 1676, in the 71st year of his age ; where he was honourably interred in the same tomb with his father; in which also his son, thé Hon. Fitz John Winthrop, another governor of Connecticut, was afterwards interred.
Mr. David Gardiner, who had been procured to superintend the building of the fort, and who afterwards commanded the gar- rison, was a gentleman of respectability and worth. About 1639, he removed to Manchanoc, now Gardiner's island, and was the first English inhabitant within the present limits of the State of New-York. He resided several years in East- Hampton, on Long-Island, which was settled soon after he left Saybrook; where he was frequently chosen a magistrate, and where he transacted public business until his death, in 1663. His son, David Gardiner jr., was born at Saybrook April 29, 1636, and is supposed to have been the first white child, born in the county.
George Fenwick Esq. who came to this town in 1639, was " a worthy pious gentleman, and of a good family and estate." Before he sold the jurisdiction of Saybrook, he was generally known and greatly respected in New-England, and held a seat in the board of Commissioners for the United Colonies, as being the head of Saybrook settlement. Afterwards, he was elected into the Council of Connecticut, and represented at the same board a Colony instead of a town. His wife was Lady Anne Botcler or Butler, the daughter of an English nobleman, who retained her maiden name. She died in 1648, and about that time he return- ed to England, where he was appointed one of the judges for the trial of Charles I. He deceased in March 1657, probably at Sussex, as his will was there proved. In this, he bequeathed 500 pounds to the public use of New-England, on condition that his friend Governor Hopkins, (who was then in England,) should ap- prove of it, to be used in that way which he should direct. But as Mr. Hopkins, died a day or two before him, his approbation
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Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
was impossible, and so the bequest was lost. But the will itself, expressed his benevolent affections, particularly to his friends in America.
Capt. John Mason who had commanded the successful expe- dition against the Pequots, removed from Windsor to this town, at the request of the inhabitants in 1647, and was constituted commander of the fort. He was also " authorized to govern all the soldiers and inhabitants of the town ; to call them forth and put them in such array, as should be necessary for the general defence of the country." In 1660, he removed with Mr. Fitch and others, and settled Norwich ; where he died in 1672 or 73, in the 73d year of his age. Besides his military employments, he was an assistant in the Colony from 1642 to 1660, and thence- forward lieutenant-governor until 1670. He was a gentleman of great courage and prudence, and of unblemished morals.
The Hon. Robert Chapman, ancestor of the Chapmans in Say- brook, East-Haddam, and other parts of the State, came to Bos- ton in the autumn of 1635, and thence, the following spring, to this town, where he spent his days. While Col. Fenwick re- mained in the country he was one of his particular friends and confidants, and among other services was employed by him in purchasing Manchanoc of the Indians. In connection with civil offices in the town, he held the station of an assistant from 1681 to 1685. In the near view of death, which took place in Oct. 1687, he wrote an address to his children, giving them his part- ing counsel. In this, after relating the religious exercises of his own mind, and making some observations on the state of the church, he exhorted them, (who were all professors of religion,) to examine well the reasons of their hope, to rely upon Christ, and to follow diligently every good work.
Mr. John Tully was born in the parish of Horley, in the county of Surry, near London, about 1639, and came to this town when a lad. From the instructions and libraries of a few gentlemen in Saybrook, he became acquainted with several branches of science, and was afterwards a teacher of arithme- tic, navigation and astronomy. The almanacks published in New-England from 1681 to 1702 were composed by him. The last was printed at Boston after his death, which occurred Oct. 5, 1701. He had the reputation of an intelligent and serious man.
The Hon. Samuel Lynde, son of Nathaniel Lynde Esq. whose generosity to the college, while it remained in Saybrook, has been noticed, received his education principally under rector Pierson at Killingworth. There he made those improvements, which laid a foundation for his eminence and usefulness. From 1724 until 1729, he was a justice of the quorum, and from the
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Town of Saybrook.
latter year until 1752, judge of the county court for New-Lon- don county ; thence till his death, in 1754, he was a judge of the superior court. For twenty-four years also, he held a seat in the Council. A manuscript from Saybrook, declares him to have been " a gentleman much respected for his talents and piety, a civil and religious father among the people."
Mr. David Bushnell, the ingenius inventor of the American Tur- tle, was a native of the parish of Westbrook. At the age of about thirty, he became a member of Yale-College, where he made uncommon improvements in mathematical science. In the last year of his Collegiate life, in 1775, he invented the machine just named, for the purpose of annoying the British shipping, which cruised upon our shores in the revolutionary war. Seve- ral other machines were invented by him for the same purpose. These gave him a very high reputation as a mechanical genius ; but their effect upon the British vessels, in most instances in which they were used, consisted in terror and alarm, rather than in real injury. About 1777, having been recommended by Pre- sident Stiles, Gen. Parsons and other literary characters, he was appointed captain of a company of sappers and miners, and in that capacity served through the war. Upon the cessation of hostilities, he returned to Westbrook, settled his domestic con- cerns, and then sailed, as was supposed, for France : since which nothing certain has been heard concerning him, but the presump. tion is that he died many years ago.
Mr. Bushnell was a man of very unassuming manners, reserv- ed in his conversation, keeping all bis plans to himself, and ex- emplary as a professor of the christian religion.
All the parishes in this town have been blessed with revivals of religion. From a revival which spread in Chester in 1803, 46 persons were added to the Congregational church in that pa- rish, and some to the Baptist church in the west part of Pauta- poug. From another revival in 1814, the same Congregational church, received an addition of 17 members. From a powerful revival which extended through Saybrook parish, Westbrook, and also the two parishes of Killingworth and the parish of East- Guilford, in the winter of 1809 and 10, more than 70 were added to the church in Saybrook, and 60 to the church in Westbrook. A less extensive revival spread in Westbrook in 1816, which re- sulted in the admission of 24 to the church. Twenty were ga- thered into the Congregational church in Pautapoug from a re- vival in 1814.
In the parishes in this town, as well as in other parishes in the county, there are female charitable associations.
A
STATISTICAL ACCOUNT
OF THE
TOWN OF KILLINGWORTH.
THIS Town is bounded by the Sound, on the south ; by Guil- ford, or rather by Hammonnasset river, on the west; by Dur- ham and Haddam, on the north ; and by Saybrook, on the east. It is from 10 1-2 to 13 miles long ; from the Sound, 10 1-2 miles northward, its medium breadth is about 4 miles ; and thence for- ward 2 1-2. Its area is about 30,880 acres. It comprizes two parishes ; the first of which is usually called by the name of the town : the second is called North-Killingworth.
In Oct. 1663, the Legislature resolved that there should be a town at Hammonnasset; (this Indian name being then applied to the tract now constituting Killingworth, as well as to the river on its western border,) and the same month twelve planters moved into it. These were joined by sixteen others, in the course of two or three years; and the town was divided into 30 rights, one right being reserved for the first minister that should be set- tled there, and another for the support of the ministry for ever. The names of the settlers and proprietors, were as follows, viz. John Meigs, Bryan Rosseter, John Rosseter, George Chatfield, Nathaniel Parmale, Thomas Stevens, William Stevens and Ben- jamin Wright, from Guilford; William Kelsey, John Kelsey and Joseph Willcox, or Willcoxson, from Hartford ; Edward Gris- wold, from Saybrook; Josias Hull, from the county of Barnsta- ble, Mass .; Henry Farnum and Eleazer Isbel, from Long- Island; Samuel Buel from Wales ; William Barber, from Eng- land; and Matthew Allen, Henry Crane, Jonathan Dummer, Jo- seph Hand, William Heyden, John Hodge, John Nettleton, Tho- mas Smith, William Wellman, Jonas Westover and Robert Wil- liams.
The settlement began to the left of the stage road, from Ham-
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Town of Killingworth.
monnasset bridge to Killingworth meeting-house, and thence spread east and north. Bryan Rossiter and John Meigs, who had left Guilford in consequence of disturbances which followed the removal of Mr. Higginson, returned to that town upon the peaceable settlement of Mr. Elliot in 1664. But their places were soon filled by others. Ananias Turner and Andrew Ward moved into Killingworth as early as 1670. Robert Lane, from Derbyshire in England, and the ancestors of the Merrills and Rutty families were also early settlers. Robert Carter from Bristol, in England, became an inhabitant about 1700, and Ebe- nezer Hurd, from Waterbury in this State, about 1706. The Morgans in this town, are from Groton, and the Hillyards, from Stonington.
The settlement in North-Killingworth began in 1716. The first settlers in this parish, were Isaac Kelsey Esq., Dea. Josiah Hull, Dea. Joseph Willcox, Dea. Daniel Buel, John Willcox, Joseph Griswold, Nathaniel Parmelee, Ebenezer Hull, Samuel Stevens and Edward Rutty. These were all from the first parish in the town. Solomon Davis, Timothy Chittenden and Theo- philus Redfield soon united with them ; but from what places they emigrated, is not known. James Hill, David Blatchley and Bezaliel Bristol, moved into this place from Guilford about 1750. The Graves and Harris families are from Saybrook.
The plantation in this town was called the plantation at Ham- monnasset, and the plantation between Saybrook and Guilford, until May 1667. At that time, the place was named Kenil- worth, after a town in the county of Warwick in England, from which, according to tradition, some of the settlers at first emi- grated. The name is thus spelt in the early records both of the town and colony ; but by corrupt spelling or pronunciation, the present name was finally adopted.
On the 26th of Jan. 1686, the Assembly granted to the in- 'habitants of this town, the lands north of their bounds and of the bounds of Guilford, and west of Haddam, up to Coginchaug swamp, except such lands within these limits as were included in previous grants. These lands, thus granted, together with the lands previously possessed, were confirmed to them by a patent, given in Oct. 1703 : but the jurisdiction of the tract granted in 1686, was surrendered to Durham, by agreement, in June 1708.
The Indians were very numerous in the southern part of this town, on the banks of Hammonasset and Indian rivers, and about the harbour. Immense masses of mouldering shells still point out the places where they dwelt.
Most of their lands were sold to Col. Fenwick, while he lived at Saybrook. On the 20th of November, 1669, Uncas, sa- chem of Moheagan, with Joshua, his son, sold to the inhabitants
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Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
of Killingworth, all the lands in the township, which he had not before sold to George Fenwick, Esq. excepting six acres on the big hammock, (which lay on the eastern shore of the harbour,) reserving, however, free liberty to hunt in the woods and fish in the rivers, and to use any trees for canoes, and rushes and flags for mats. The reason of these sales' being made by the sachem of Moheagan, was this, that after the war with the Pequots, in which he assisted, he claimed the lands which had belonged to that nation, and to those who were tributary to them. The In- dians lived in this town in great numbers until 1730 or 40.
The south, and particularly the south-western section of Kil- lingworth parish is level, having a soil formed of loam, sand and occasionally of gravel, which by good husbandry is rendered very productive. Northeast and north from this, the land is gravelly and hilly. . This is true of almost all the land in North- Killingworth, which is better fitted for grazing, than for grain and corn. The principal hills in the town, are Long-Hill, Horse- Hill, Cow-Hill and Chesnut-Hill.
Hammonnasset river, which has been already noticed, is prin- cipally valuable for a few mill-seats which it furnishes. It has its sources in Durham; but receives a considerable branch, which rises near the borders of Haddam.
Indian river, the only other stream in this town deserving no- tice, except Menunketesuck, which was described in the account of Saybrook, rises in Cedar swamp in North-Killingworth, runs through the center of Killingworth parish, and uniting with the Hammonnasset, forms Killingworth harbour.
This harbour is a mile below Killingworth street. It is safe from winds and has good anchorage; but a bar lies at its en- trance, on which there is only eight feet of water in common tides. Shad. were formerly caught here in abundance : it now fur- nishes a supply of shell-fish for the inhabitants of the town, and of the eastern part of Guilford, and its oysters are of a very fine flavour.
One half of this harbour belonged to Killingworth, and one half to Guilford until Dec. 1790. At an adjourned session of the Legislature, held at that time, it was enacted, " that a line run- ning from the mouth of Dudley's creek, in Hammonnasset river. 50 degrees, 10 minutes east, to West Rock, (so called,) upon the Sound, being 216 rods, should be the dividing line between Kil- lingworth and Guilford." This threw the whole of the harbour, and a point of land east of said line into Killingworth : but it was provided, that this act should not prevent the town of Guil- ford from regulating the fisheries of clams and oysters, as fully as though this act had not been passed.
Killingworth street is very pleasant. It is a mile and a
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Town of Killingworth.
half in length, 6 rods wide, and is crossed about midway by Indian river. On meeting-house hill, immediately east of this river, it appears with great advantage. Here is also a fine view of the harbour and of the Sound. The prospect from the steeple is more extensive and beautiful. On this street there are 65 dwell- ing-houses, and 109 are in the village. Here are several mer- chant stores and here most of the business in the town is trans- acted. A few coasting vessels are owned by the inhabitants.
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