An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it, Part 2

Author: Gillespie, Charles Bancroft, 1865-1915; Curtis, George Munson
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Meriden, Conn. Journal publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1252

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Meriden > An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it > Part 2

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This latter throws a flood of light upon the condition, at that time, of the ter- ritory now embraced in Meriden. It shows that it had been used by the Indians as a hunting ground and it indicates about where the New Haven committee had placed the "lasting marks." This action of New Haven in accurately marking the bounds between the two colonies was one of the earliest acts in that drama, the closing scene of which was the absorption of New Haven colony by Connecti- cut in 1665.

The General Court at Hartford apparently did not formally present a protest until 1661. At a General Court held in New Haven May 29, 1661, the following vote was passed: "It was alsoe ordered that a committee be chosen by this court for the treating with and issueing of any seeming differance betwixt Connecticot Colony and this, in reference to the dividing bounds betwixt them and of some seeming right to this jurisdiction which they pretend in a letter sent to this Gen'11 Court." The letter in question was from Sec'y Clark of Hartford and read in part

1 Mass. His. Soc. Col., 4th Series, Vol. VII., pp. 517-519.

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EARLY HISTORY.

as follows: "This Court having receaved information not only by what appeares in one of yor Lawes respect ; the purchase of land from ye Indians wherein there is a seeminge challeng of very large intrests of lands and likewise by what intel- ligence we have had of yor strechting yor bounds up towards us by markeing trees on this side Pilgroomes Harbour wch things as ye intrench upon or intrest soe they are not satisfying or contentful,"1 etc., etc.

Meanwhile Connecticut did not content herself by letter writing only. She was determined to forestall any attempt on the part of New Haven to absorb the territory north of Pilgrims' Harbor. On Aug. 28, 1661, she granted to Jonathan Gilbert, of Hartford, "a farm to ye number of 300 acres of upland and 50 acres of meadow,"2 which he immediately proceeded to take up, at Cold Spring, in the northern limits of our town, for on May 15, 1662, he is granted permission "to keep an ordinary, or inn, at his house at Cold Spring."3 And on Oct. 15, 1664, Edward Higbee, of Connecticut, bought of a Hartford Indian the land between Mr. Gilbert's farm called Merideen and Pilgrims Harbour River or Brook.4 Thus in a somewhat high-handed way Connecticut had secured possession of all the territory of Meriden north of Harbor Brook, notwithstanding that Rev. Mr. Dav- enport had asserted in 1660 that New Haven had bought the same land of Mon- towese about 1638.

The rival claims to this territory resulted in an anomalous situation. For many years the land was a part of no township. It formed a sort of buffer be- tween Wallingford and Farmington, although it was a part of Hartford County until some time in the next century. In 1686 the General Court in anticipation of the possible loss of the charter through the action of Sir Edmund Andros (of Charter Oak fame), took such steps as would secure the colony against the fu- ture exactions of an arbitrary governor. The court was empowered to dispose of all vacant lands. It granted "to Wethersfield, Middletown and Farmington all those vacant lands between Wallingford bounds and the bounds of those planta- tions to make a village therein."

It must not be forgotten that when the limits of Wallingford were assigned at its planting in 1670 its northern bounds ended at a line drawn east and west at about where Colony street crosses Harbor Brook. In 1683 Wallingford bought of John Talcott, of Hartford, all the land between this east and west line and Gil- bert's farm called Meriden who, in turn, had bought it of Adam Puit, an Indian of Podunk ;5 so that the action of the court in assigning the lands to Wethersfield, Middletown and Farmington was clearly illegal. These lands were for many years called Wallingford Purchase Lands and its anomalous position did not

1 N. H. Col. Rec., Vol. II., p. 409.

2 Conn. Col. Rec., Vol. I., p 372.

3 Idem, p. 382 (and soon called Meriden).

4 Perkins' Historical Sketches of Meriden, p. 104.

5 Idem, p. 105.

k ze D d

CENTURY OF MERIDEN.

cease until it was finally set off to Wallingford about 1728 as a parish by the name of Meriden. It is interesting to note that practically all the land betweer the Colony street crossing of Harbor Brook and the Belcher, or Meriden, farm was bought of the Indians three separate times ; first by New Haven of Monto- wese in 1638, then of Seaukeet by Edward Higbee in 1664, and lastly by John Talcott of Adam Puit in 1683. There were also two other deeds confirmatory of previous grants.

EARLY HISTORY.

CHAPTER II.

Whether Connecticut's protest sent to New Haven against the action of the latter colony in placing "lasting marks" or bounds in this vicinity was brought about by a belief that the lands in question were commercially valuable or simply by a desire to push back any attempt at further expansion by New Haven, of course we cannot tell. But the action of the General Court in granting a farm of 350 acres to Jonathan Gilbert perhaps shows that the wilderness about Meriden was of value in one way at least. For many years after the colony was settled there was a considerable trade in furs and the immediate locality of Gilbert's farm certainly abounded in beavers and other fur-bearing animals at one time. He built across the river from Hartford a warehouse whence he shipped to Boston furs and other produce of the country. Just north of his farm was the old "Fly" already mentioned. This word is of Dutch origin and is in common use in those parts of New York and New Jersey first settled by the Dutch.1 The original form of the word was Vly or Vley; then corrupted into Fly2 and was the Dutch expression for a swamp or morass. From time out of mind the old swamp now named the Peat Works Pond was called The Fly and the Old Fly, and so far as the writer can learn this locality is the only place in Central Connecticut that bears such a name, although the word is sometimes met with in the extreme west- ern part of this state. Are we to believe from this use of the word in Meriden that the locality was known to the Dutch who erected the Good Hope Fort at Hartford before the arrival of the English and that they were in the habit of re- sorting hither to trap the beaver? Albert Norton, of Berlin, the owner of a large part of the old Meriden Farm, says that when the disastrous attempt was made by the Aetna Peat Works to manufacture marketable peat at the "Fly" many years ago, in several places excavations were made at least fifteen feet in depth and in cach instance trunks of trees were frequently found even at the bottom of the holes, so perfectly preserved that they still bore the marks of the teeth of beavers made centuries ago. The Dutch knew Central Connecticut well and one of their early maps indicates the mountains at Meriden as well as East and West Rocks at New Haven which they called Rodenberg (Red Mts).3 The vote of the General Court of Connecticut which granted to Mr. Gilbert the right to keep an inn at his farm in Meriden reads as follows, under date of May 15, 1662: "This colony grants.

1 A point in illustration is the Fly Market in N. Y. City where there was formerly a swamp.

2 Century Dictionary.

3 Narrative and Crit. Hist. of America, Vol .. IV., p. 438.

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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.

liberty to ye Marshall Jonathan Gilbert to keep an ordinary at his house at Cold Spring for releiving of travellers according to their needs," showing that, although the farm had been granted to him August 28, 1661, he had already built a house on it the following May, hardly time enough to have erected a stone house which later records show was standing there subsequently. This farm as first laid out was on the west side of Colony road and extended from the laneway just south of the house of Albert Norton in Berlin, southerly to a line a little south of the house now occupied by L. Michaelis, but formerly owned by James Bartlett and known to most Meriden people as the Belcher farm. It was bounded on the east by Colony road and on the west by a stone wall still standing about three thousand feet west of the railroad track and running parallel to it. The old house proba- bly stood between the Michaelis house and that of Mrs. E. H. Yale, a little to the north. As Meriden's settlement originated with this farm it does not seem in- appropriate to devote some space to it and to Meriden's first land owner, Mr. Gilbert. The fact that this farm was originally granted to Mr. Gilbert seemed to have been entirely forgotten until Dr. Davis brought the fact to light in his History of Wallingford and Meriden. Dr. Perkins, in his interesting Historical Sketches of Meriden, says:1 "It appears that one Mr. Belcher very early, but how early we cannot precisely ascertain, had a grant of a large tract of land on our present northern border. Whether this was a colonial grant or a royal grant we do not know for no trace of deed or grant can be found in the state records or town records." This seems even now to be the generally received opinion and yet it is entirely erroneous and it is singular that a man so discriminating and painstaking as Dr. Perkins was should have utterly overlooked records that were in the Capitol at Hartford. The first white man to own land within the present limits of the town of Meriden was Jonathan Gilbert.

Jonal: Cillen?

( Facsimile of signature taken from his will.)

He was one of the earliest settlers at Hartford and a man of marked influence in that community and at his death left a large estate. At one time he was em- ployed as interpreter in negotiations by the colonial government with the Indians, indicating that he had mixed much with the savages. His profession was that of inn keeper at Hartford, a position at that time of much respectability. He was also marshal of the colony and frequently a member of the General Court. He was engaged also in the fur trade with Boston, as already mentioned. The produce

1 Page 13.

EARLY HISTORY.

of the country he sold was carried in the ships of his son-in-law, Andrew Belcher. In all his undertakings he appears to have been a man of energy and push. Mr. Gilbert died December 10, 1682. Some idea of his wealth may be gained by noting that his inventory among other things contained two gold rings, gold shoe buckles, gold toothpicks, gold shirt buttons and one hundred and forty ounces of plate. His house in Hartford was a large and commodious one and his total inventory amounted to £2484-17-9-a large fortune for those days. After Mr. Gilbert had acquired his farm at Cold Spring he put in charge of it, apparently, Edward Higbee, who seems to have been of a singularly roaming disposition, for he was located at different times in New London, Stratford, Mid- dletown, Meriden and Jamaica, L. I. He probably died at this latter place. One of his sons did not accompany him but settled in Middletown near Higby Moun- tain, and his descendants are hereabouts to this day. So far as we can learn Edward Higbee (or Higby as spelled now) was the first white man to take up his permanent abode in Meriden. Savage, in his Genealogical Dictionary, says he was an inn keeper in Middletown in 1674. That he lived on Mr. Gilbert's farm is certain from the contents of a deposition made by his son, John Higbee, in 1683, in which he says "* * when my father, Edward Higbe Sen. lived at Mr. Jonathan Gilbord's farme called Meriden."1 We know that Mr. Higbee was in this vicinity very shortly after Mr. Gilbert acquired his farm, for Mr. Per- kins in his Historical Sketches of Meriden,2 copied a deed from Seaukett, Indian, to Edward Higbee conveying all the land between Mr. Gilbert's Meriden Farm and Pilgrims' Harbor Brook. Seaukett was an Indian whose name appears in Windsor documents. It is variously spelled Seoket and Seacet. Dr. Stiles in his History of Windsor says he was one of the Poquonnock Indians. The deed is as follows:

Oct. 14, 1664.

Know all men by these presents that I Seaukett Indian (abiding in or about Hartford on Conec't) Sachem owner and true proprietor of a large tract of land in the woods towards New Haven att and about the lands now in possession of Mr. Jonathan Gilbert entitled and known by the name Merideen doe sell unto Ed- ward Higby on parcell of land adjoining to the lands of Jonathan Gilbert afore- said-Hills, Rocks, Swamps and all other appurtenances bounded and formerly (formally) defined by marked trees and by the land of say'd Jonathan Gilbert and Pilgrims' Harber Brook or River-all which say'd parcell of land with all prerogatives, priviledges and any kind of appurtenances thereon and thereunto belonging, it shall be Lawful for the say'd Edward Higbey, his heirs and assigns to improve, possess, enjoy and that forever as fully and as freely as the said Sea-

1 Volume called Private Controversies in the State Library in the Capitol at Hartford.

2 Page 104.

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ket ever did or might have done in witness whereof by these presents I bind my- self, my heirs and assigns, quietly and peaceably to leave in the full possession of all the premises the say'd Edward Higbey never to be molested by me the say'd Seaket, my heirs or any other Indian or Indians whatsoever and so subscribe my name.

The mark of

Seaukeet.

In presence and witness of Bryan Rossetter and Mary Gilbert.

Mr. Rossetter was a man of prominence and a physician and lived at Guilford and his son John afterwards married Mr. Gilbert's daughter. In this deed is the first recorded use of the name Meriden. After Mr. Higbee had acquired the In- dian title to the land in question he was confirmed in it by the action of the General Court October 12, 1665. On the Middletown land records under date of July 15, 1668,1 is a further description of the property which is considerably contracted from that of the Indian deed just quoted. It is somewhat difficult from the certainly inac- curate survey and description to locate the precise limits of the tract of land. But from later deeds when the land was sold and divided one would say that the boundaries were about as follows : Beginning at the Center street crossing of Har- bor Brook draw a line west one mile long, thence north another mile, then east half a mile; thence southeast to about where Broad street crosses Harbor Brook thence to the starting point at Center street. Just where his house stood we can- not positively state but it was probably on the south side of the junction of Ken- sington avenue and Colony street. This deed takes us back to a time when there were, in all probability, only two houses in Meriden, one Mr. Higbee's and the other the inn of Mr. Gilbert, and our township was almost an unbroken wilder- ness. Some idea of the amount of travel between Hartford and New Haven may be gained by the following extract from the Conn. Col. Records under date of Oct. II, 1666.

"This Court orders that Edward Higbey for makeing and maintaining the way over Pilgrooms Harbour passable for man and horse shal have his estate and farme free of countrey [Rates] for this yeare and next he maintaineing the way soe longe as aforesaid."2 One who remembers the condition of the "Corner" many years ago will confess that Mr. Higbee fully earned his exemption from taxes. It probably involved much

more than building a bridge over the brook which is not mentioned. Nothing would have made the way passable except a corduroy or log foundation. How long Mr. Hig- bee continued to live in Meriden we do not know; but Middletown records tell us that in 1673 he sold his "housing and land near Pilgrims' Harbor" to Henry Cole, of Middletown, and shortly after removed to Jamaica, L. I.

1 Middletown Land Records, Vol. I., p. 111.

2 Conn. Col. Records, Vol. II., p. 52.

EARLY HISTORY.

But to return to Jonathan Gilbert and his farm. Shortly after he had obtained it he built his inn. Mr. E. H. Yale many years ago in digging a well just south of his house, unearthed the remains of the ancient foundation. The inn was doubtless a famous place and many an interesting tale must have been told around its hospitable hearth of witches and goblins and hairbreadth escapes from the savage Indians. Nothing now is left but a name and a few facts gleaned from inusty records. Could these sturdy pioneers return again to this spot and in the dusk of a summer evening watch the ghost-like bicycles and automobiles fleeting by on the smooth macadam road which now skirts the farm, what tales of wonder and mystery they would tell-of how witches have discarded the awkward broomsticks and now bestride the back of an iron goblin, or, borne by a snorting, flaming dragon, they pass one like a breath of wind to their nocturnal orgies; while the roar and rumble of a train on the other side of the farm would certainly convince them that the powers of hell were waxing strong indeed. But those old days are gone never to return and so utterly are they forgotten that the few facts we can save from oblivion merely sketch like a wisp of mist events we would fain see more clearly. It should be constantly kept in mind that at this time the name of Meriden was applied solely to Mr. Gilbert's farm. It was not until many years later that the name was used to describe the whole territory we now know as Meriden. What to-day we call colloquially the "Corner" was then known as Pilgrims' Harbor and the brook acquired its name because it flowed through the locality. After Mr. Gilbert's death in 1682 there followed a bitter controversy among the heirs which resulted in probably one of the first, if not the first, contested will case in Con- necticut. The documents in the case are on file in The State Library in the Cap- itol at Hartford in the volumes known as Private Controversies, and they give an interesting picture of the times. Mr. Gilbert left nine children and a widow. The eldest child, Jonathan, Jr., born of a previous wife, was cut off by the terms of the will with a small portion of his father's estate. He had been wild in his youth and evidently always a ne'er-do-well who had caused his father much dis- tress, about which he had conversed with Edward Higbee at Meriden Farm. The will, which was dated in 1674, had left Meriden Farm to a son, Nathaniel, but as this son died before his father, the farm became the joint inheritance of all the surviving children. The contested will case was finally settled by Jonathan, Jr. tak- ing some land on the "East side of the great River in Haddum" in settlement of his claim and the widow, Mary, bought his interest in the Meriden Farm on January 9, 1684. On September 6, 1686, all the other children sold their right in this farm to Andrew Belcher, of Charleston, New England, mariner, stating in the deed that the place was commonly called Merriden Farme and that it was then, in whole or in part, in the occupation of Samuel Elmor. The date of Elmor's be-

A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.

coming a tenant is not known ; he was from Windsor and his father, Edward, was killed in King Philips war in 1676. The Belcher connection with the farm made such an impression that to this day the locality is known as the Belcher farm and the Belchers, father and son, were men of such importance in New England that these facts ought to create in us a romantic interest in their person- ality and ownership of this farm.

Captain Andrew Belcher had married Mr. Gilbert's daughter Sarah July 1, 1670. He was born in Cambridge, Mass., January 1, 1648, and was son of Andrew Belcher, inn-keeper, who emigrated from Dan- bury, Essex Co., England.1 We know of Andrew, Jr., first as a. mariner plying between Boston and Hartford and his name occurs frequently in the Colonial Records and he evidently amassed a considerable fortune in his ventures, for he finally achieved the reputation of being the most opulent mer- chant in New England. He was shrewd and energetic and evidently was capa- ble of driving a hard bargain. While he was one of the counsellors of Massa- chusetts the selectmen of Boston, having objected to his sending corn to Cura- coa in the Dutch West Indies on account of a scarcity of that article in New England he tartly replied, "The hardest fend off ; if you stop my vessels I will hinder the coming in of three times as much."2 He was in trouble in 1682 for breaking the navigation laws and his vessel was seized at Boston,3 and in 1688 he was accused of trading with a "pyrate" for hides and elephants' teeth.4 After the terrible swamp fort fight at South Kingston in R. I. Dec. 19, 1675, in King Philips war, the hardy soldiers were in great distress for lack of provisions, but that very night "it mercifully came to pass that Captain Andrew Belcher arrived at Mr. Smith's with a vessel laden with provisions for the army which must oth- erwise have perished for want."5 Whether the merciful appearance of Captain Belcher's vessel was caused by his love of gain or by patriotism, let whom will decide. His success in life was pronounced and evidently atoned for some short- comings for after his death he is described as "a man of integrity and honor, a. friend to religion and learning."6 He certainly was an illustrious example of a "free trader" for he seems to have traded where he listed without fear of laws or consequences. His son Jonathan wrote a letter to Mr. Prince, giving an es- timate of his father's character as follows: "Sir * What you desire re- specting my deceas'd Father and myself is a difficult Task and I know not when I shall be able to undertake it. For altho' this be a little Government [New Jer- sey] yet it calls for much attention and attendance for the King's honour and for

1 N. E. Hist. and Gen. Reg., Vol. XXVII., pp. 239-240.

2 Sewall's Diary, May 20, 1713.

3 Wheedon's Econ. and Social His. N. E., Vol. I., p. 239.

4 Idem, Vol. I., p 342.

5 Hutchinson's Hist. Mass., Ed. 1795, Vol. I., p. 272.

6 N. E. Hist. and Gen. Reg., Vol. XXVIII., p. 230.

EARLY HISTORY.

seeking the good and welfare of the people and my large correspondence to New England and larger than heretofore to Great Britain, keeps me in full employe. These things, notwithstanding, If you would tell me your Design and State any questions to me I would Indeavour to answer them. My father was as great a Genius as his Country could boast of but wanted an Education to Improve and polish it. (Gov. Dudley) who was a good Judge used to say Mr. Comissary Bel- cher would make a good Minister of State to any Prince in Europe, Especially in the Article of Finances. His late Farewell and Blessing of me show'd his strong thoughts and great modesty. Its fresh in my Memory and will be till the Frost of Age seals up that Faculty ; he called me to his Bedside, took me by the hand and said-Son you may expect me to bless you in a better manner and style than I am able to do for God did not put it into your Grand Father's power to give me the Education he Inabled me to give you, but remember my Last Words to you are-May the Blessing of the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob rest upon you and your seed forever. Amen. Farewell. Neith- er the Patriarchs nor Apostles could have done it better. Just as he was Ex- piring the Blanket was offensive to His Face so he rais'd himself a little from his Pillow and said to the Late Madam Sewall who watcht with him, give me the sheet for it is my winding sheet ; then he unroll'd his arms in it and said I will Jay me down and dye in Peace and Expir'd in a minute. I should not have Troubled you with this Acc' but as it may make some Little part of an Answer to what you have desired * I thank you for the Sermon preacht upon the death of my Late dear and Excellent Sister which has given me much pleasure in readg.

Rev. and Worthy Sir Very much your Friend and servant, J. BELCHER.

Burlington, June 7, 1748.1

Why Capt. Belcher should have desired to own Meriden Farm we cannot certainly know. It is probable that the returns from the farm at this time were considerable. It was an important place evidently and possibly the proceeds from beavers in the vicinity were considerable. But beyond any apparent returns from the surface there was always the alluring possibility of hidden wealth in the ground. Our Puritan forefathers were always chasing a will o' the wisp of this sort. Many of the old deeds bear witness to the truth of this statement and the mountains in the vicinity of Meriden seem to have excited the expectation that some day the diligent searcher would be handsomely rewarded. On the hills west of the farm there are still to be seen places where excavations were made in the hope of find- ing iron or copper or even gold. "Many of the adventurers to North America

1 N. E. Hist. and Gen. Reg., Vol. XXVII., pp. 240-241.

A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.

were strongly possessed with an idea of the riches of North as well as of South America. They conceived that its mountains and hills abounded with precious metals and minerals ; and that, however rich the soil might be, yet that the bowels of the earth would afford them much greater wealth. Much pains were, there- fore, bestowed on various parts of the country to discover these sources of wealth."1 A man of Capt. Belcher's wealth and widely extended business ven- tures could not have spent very much of his time on the farm; still he kept in touch with its needs and possibilities and he certainly expended considerable sums in improving the property. On June 18, 1700, he bought of the widow, Mary Gil- bert her interest in the farm2 and in October, 1703, the Colonial Court, in con- sideration of the "amount of money Mr. Belcher hath expended in improving

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An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it, Part 2

Author: Gillespie, Charles Bancroft, 1865-1915; Curtis, George Munson Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Meriden, Conn. Journal publishing co. Number of Pages: 1252

Author: Gillespie, Charles Bancroft, 1865-1915; Curtis, George Munson
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Meriden, Conn. Journal publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1252