USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > New Canaan > Canaan parish, 1733-1933, being the story of the Congregational church of New Cannan, Connecticut > Part 2
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I N accordance with the recommendation of our national and State authorities, we are assembled to celebrate the anniversary of our nation's birth; and also to garner up the scattered memorials of our early local history. Of memorable events, few awaken a more lively curiosity than the origin of communities. Whence we sprung, at what period, under what circum- stances, and for what object, are inquiries so natural that they rise almost spontaneously in our minds; and scarcely less so in the humblest than in the most exalted of society. They are intimately connected with our character, our hopes and our destiny. Nor is this strong propensity of our nature at- tributable to the indulgence of mere personal vanity. It has a nobler origin; it is closely interwoven with that reverence and affection, with which we regard our parents and the patriarchs of our own times; with that gratitude with which we follow the benefactors of our race, and with that sympathy which links our fate with that of past and future generations. Let us strive then, to gather up the fragments of our local history, as records or tradition have preserved them, and extract from remote events that instruction which the vicissitudes of human life is ever pressing home upon us. The toils and trials incident to infant settlements; the patience, fortitude and sagacity by which obstacles are overcome, the causes which quicken or retard their growth, these all tend to instruct the wise and warn the rash and improvident.
At the time of the earliest settlements in what is now New Canaan, the Indians had almost entirely disappeared from this part of the country. In the burying ground near to the old meeting-house were two graves marked by plain headstones, which tradition assigned to Indians. These, together with the "Indian Rocks," (nearly two miles north of us,) in which are excavations used by the tribes for pounding corn, are the only relics-(so far as I can learn) of the forest races who once dwelt here. They have perished. The small-pox desolated whole tribes of them in New England, but a mightier power, a moral contagion, which the touch of the white man seems to com-
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municate, has betrayed them into a lingering ruin. The feeble remnants of these powerful tribes driven beyond the Mississippi, are crossing the flanks of the Rocky Mountains. They have but one more remove to make, that is to the burial-place of their race. It is a consolation to us to know, that our immediate ancestors did not forcibly displace the Indians, but respecting their claim to the soil, purchased the lands, for what was then considered an adequate consideration.
Trumbull in his History of Connecticut, (Vol. I, page 115,) says that in 1640, "Mr. Ludlow made a purchase of the eastern part of Norwalk;" "Capt. Patrick bought the middle part of the town," and that "a few families seem to have planted themselves in the town about the time of these purchases." The name Norwalk is that of Indians-"Norwalk Indians"- from whom Mr. Ludlow made the purchase, and the land is described as lying between the two rivers, the one called the Norwalk and the other the Soakatuck. In pronounc- ing it, the "w" was probably silent, as in Warwick, in England, at the present day, and the old people in our boyhood, retained the ancient pronounciation, "Norruck." The first town records date from 1653, and are complete from that time. There appears to be no complete list of original settlers, but a "Table of Estates of Lands and Accommodations," in 1655, contains many family names which have still representatives among us, Abbot, Benedict, Bow- ton, Fitch, Hanford, Keeler, Richards, Sention, (St. John,) Smith, Taylor, etc.
The original title to the land was derived from the Indians, by three distinct deeds, which are given in full, together with fac-similes of the marks of the Indians, as their signatures, in "Hall's Ancient Historical Record of Norwalk," published in 1847. The first deed was given 26th of February, 1640, and is as follows, "An agreement between the Indians of Norwalk and Roger Ludlow. It is agreed that the Indians of Norwalk, for, and in consideration of eight fathom of wampum, six coates, tenn hatchets, tenn hoes, tenn knives, tenn scisors, tenn jewesharps, tenn fathom Tobackoe, three kettles of six hands about, tenn looking glases, have granted all the lands, meadows, pasturings, trees, whatsoever there is, and grounds, between the two rivers, the one called Nor- walk, the other Soakatuck, to the middle of said rivers, from the sea, a day's walk into the country, to the said Roger Ludlow, his heirs or assigns for ever -and that no Indian or other shall challenge or claim any ground within the said rivers or limits, nor disturb the said Roger, his heirs or assigns within the precincts aforesaid. In witnes whereof, the parties thereunto have inter- changeably sett their hands. Roger Ludlow, Tomakergo, Tokaneke, Mahachemo, Adam Prosewamenos."
This deed was recorded in the books of Deeds of Norwalk, in the year 1672. A second deed dated 20th of April, 1640, for similar consideration of wampum, hatchets, hoes, glasses, pipes, knives, drills and needles, conveyed to Daniel Patrick, the title from three Indians, owners, "the lands lying on the
OC
west side of Norwalk river as far up in the country as an Indian can go in a day, from sun-rising to sun-setting-and for the peaceable possession of which Mahacemill doth promise and undertake to silence all opposers of the purchase." And finally, Runckingheage, and fifteen other Indians, by in- denture made 15th February, 1651, "conveyed to Richard Web and thirteen others, planters of Norwalk, for the use and behalfe of said town, for the consideration of thirty fathom of wampum, 10 kettles, 15 coates, 10 payr of stockings, 10 knives, 10 hookes, 20 pipes, 10 muckes, 10 needles, all their lands known by the name Rooaton, bounded on the east by land purchased of Capt. Patrick, on the west by the brook called Pampaskesshanke, on the north, the Moehakes country, and on the south by the sea." This conveyance covered the site of New Canaan, except what was derived from Stamford. Subequently the title of Capt. Patrick of Greenwich, to the lands on the west side of Norwalk river, was, on the 1st of July, 1650, confirmed to him by the surviving Indians, original proprietors of the land. This was in consequence of the non-payment of part of the original consideration, the receipt of which, in full, was now acknowledged On the 13th of April, 1654, Mr. Roger Ludlow, of Fairfield, who had made the first purchase of the Indians, assigned to Nathaniel Eli and the rest of the inhabitants of Norwalk all his title, interest and claim to the plantation of Norwalk and every part thereof
The township of Stamford was purchased, July 1st, 1640, for the white settlers, of the Indians, for considerations similar to those given by the pro- prietors of Norwalk, and embraced a tract of land, extending from the Rowalton, (Five Mile River) to the Myanos, and running back into the coun- try 16 miles. This covered what is now Stamford, Darien, a part of New Canaan, Poundridge, North Castle and Bedford. In this tract were traces of four distinct tribes or clans. In the west, Myano, deemed the most savage of all; farther east was Wascussue, Sagamore of Shippan, and still further east was Pianickin, the Sagamore of Roaton, who was also one of the grantors to the Norwalk purchasers. North of these was Ponus, Sagamore of Toquams, who had received from his ancestors the wooded hills and vales stretching far away to the northward until they merge in the forests, which even the red men did not claim. Stamford was called Rippowam, and the harbor Toquam. Still later, about 1700, these grants of land to the English were confirmed in an instrument attested by fifteen Indians' signatures. These Stamford Indians seem, however, to have caused considerable annoyance and anxiety to the white settlers, in consequence, probably, of the provocations offered the Indians by the Dutch traders, who resided not far west of Stamford. The Norwalk Indians appear to have been remiss in laying out the northern bounds of their conveyance, twelve miles from the sea, and required some additional stimulus, by way of four additional coats when that should have been performed. A considerable number of Indians continued to reside in Norwalk, and were sub- ject to the town authorities, exhibiting the characteristic lack of industry
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and thrift belonging to the race, but neither the records or tradition impute to them any savage conduct. Rev. Mr. Hanford, the first minister of Norwalk. appears to have evoked the kindly regards of at least one of their number, for in 1690, "Winnipauk," Indian Sagamore of Norwalk, conveyed by deed, his "Island lying against Rowerton," containing twenty acres which he affirms he had never by deed of gift or sale made over to any, "but now by this deed, I do
The first of July 1640
30
Bought of Ponies Sagamore of Joquams and of Wafeuforie Joga
more of Shippan by me nathanael Turner of Quinaproche all the ground that belongs to both the abovesaid Jagamores: except a piece of ground which the aboveraid Jagamore of Joquans referved for his and the rest of the fair Indians to plant on all which grown bing expressed by me -dows upland graft with the rivers and trees and in Consideration here ?? the faid Nathanael Turner am to give and bring or send to the abovesas
- Jagamores within the space of one month twelve coats twelve howes -.- twelve hatchets, twelve glapes twee knives two fettles four fathom of white wompum, all which land Both We the Said Jagamores do promile Faithfuler to perform both for ourselves heirs Execution on alsigns to there -love vaid Nathanael Turner of Quenepioche to fun Reist Execution on afsigns And hereunto we have fett cur marks in the presence of many of the kid Indian they fully contenting hereunito
Vitnefied By us William Wilkes
of mark of MV Possur Sagamore mark of Waterforce tegame
: James
Witnessed By two Indians
the mark
Owenske Sagamore Pomi', Jon
the mark of
yoor in part of payment
12 glapes 12 knives 04 coûts
INDIAN DEED OF STAMFORD TO NATHANIEL TURNER.
give freely to my beloved friend Thomas Hanford, senior minister of Norwalk, to possess and improve, to him and his heirs for ever."
The settlement of Stamford by the English was begun in 1640, by a company of men who had become dissatisfied with their circumstances at Wethersfield, Ct., and by advice of Rev. Mr. Davenport, obtained from the New Haven Colony the tract of land (before described) lying west of Norwalk, which the Colony through their agent, Capt. Nathaniel Turner, had just pur- chased from the Indians. The list of pioneers at the end of 1642 embraces 59 names, heads of families, among which we recognize · several which were represented by the early settlers of New Canaan. In the first company of 28.
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who came to Stamford, we find "Matthew Mitchell," the ancestor of Rev. Justus Mitchell, who was pastor of the Congregational Church in New Canaan, from 1783 to his death in 1806.
The Stamford settlement was under the jurisdiction of the New Haven Colony, whose capital was New Haven where their General Court, or Legis- lature, was held, and to which Stamford sent representatives. This Colony was a rival of the Connecticut Colony whose capital was Hartford. The people of Stamford were dissatisfied with the New Haven government from an early period, and continued to have dissentions among themselves respecting two jurisdictions, but in 1644 the New Haven Colony submitted, accepting the charter, and acknowledged the supremacy of the Connecticut government. There appears to have been at one time, a serious difference between the people of Stamford and Norwalk respecting the town boundary at Five Mile River, due probably to vagueness in the conveyance of the Indian Pianickin. In the town meeting at Norwalk, August 26, 1666, it was voted and agreed, "that such men of our inhabitants as do go to cut hay on the other side, Five Mile River, the town will stand by them in the action to defend them and to bear an equal proportion of the damage they shall sustain on that account; and if they shall be affronted by Stamford men the town will take as speedy a course as they can to prosecute them by law, to recover their just rights touching their lands in controversy; and also they have chosen and deputed Mr. Thomas Fitch to go with the said men, when they go to cut or fetch away, to make answer for and in behalf of the town and the rest to be silent." Two years later they directed their Representatives in the Legislature to endeavor to have their differences settled and to notify the Stamford people of their intentions. This does not appear to have been successful. But in June 1670, the town of Norwalk "voted and agreed that Mr. Fitch and Lieut. Olmstead and Daniel Kellogg, are chosen a committee to go to Stamford to treat with the inhabitants there, to see if they and we can come to a loving and neighborly issue and agreement about the division of bounds betwixt them and us, and the said committee is to make these propositions to the men of Stam- ford, either to divide betwixt Five Mile River and Pine Brook, that is to say, in the middle between both, or else to divide in the middle between Saketuk river and the bounds between Stamford and Greenwich."
The earliest settlers were prone to seek their residences along the coast, hence Norwalk and Stamford sites along the Sound shore were first taken up. As population increased and new homes were to be made, the settlers naturally followed the water courses presenting the more sheltered and accessible situa- tions. Hence from Norwalk, the settlements were along the slopes on either side of the Rowalton or Five Mile River, parallel to the course taken by the settlers of Wilton and Ridgefield along the Norwalk river. Among the earliest built houses in New Canaan, were a cluster on "Clapboard Hills." One of those is still standing, the residence of Mr. James Tournier. Two others in that im-
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mediate vicinity have been destroyed by fire within the recollection of many of us. At Canoe-hill also were several of the older houses. Following more closely the western slope of the river, a cluster of houses was built on the upper part of Haines' Ridge, among which were the old residences of Col. Enoch St. John, Elnathan Lockwood, Mr. Moses Comstock, Mr. Uriah Reed, and Mr. Aaron Comstock. Three of these have been demolished, one so re- modeled as not to appear like an old house, while one remains essentially un- changed in aspect.
The settlers from Stamford, followed similarly the course of the Noroton river, as also, still further west, that of Mill River. A single style of architec- ture was almost universal, not only here, but throughout New England, in
omniture for y scout
FuiA vow Jours waw James plafon ai John Bouton asu Chifence Commite for 3 seconds
31. upon y Request of John Bouton and offin Requesting y Litarty of pourings of & town in order to Jours with apart of norwalk in order to the a Socialy put to vote whether & town iwould grant their Request wat ini y nogitime 32, & who & town alow for & friconymout of Rithing of trois 12 y how 33:t vou Juro John fait: Left Jonathon Bell John Elafon Sont ane Chofor a Commits to Lay out a Highway thing & Short Rock
JOHN BOUTON IS REFUSED "LIBERTY OF MOVING OUT."
those days. The house was of two stories in front, presenting two eligible chambers, while the rear roof sloped off to the height of seven or eight feet from the ground. A massive stone chimney was in the center, with its huge fire-place, admitting backlogs and fore-sticks four feet long, and still furnish- ing warming room within its jambs for all the children. Here was the pon- derous crane with its assortment of trammels of varying lengths for pots and kettles, the iron andirons, tongs and peel with its handle four feet long, terminating in a large hemispherical knob; (this was used for cleaning out the coals from the brick oven which occupied a part of the deep recesses of the old chimney;) the spider, the skillett, the griddle; all over the open fire. No prosaic, economical cooking-stove or range had yet made its appearance. The rooms of these old time houses were ranged around the chimney. The keep- ing room and parlor, on either side, in front, the latter with its beaufet display- ing the glittering pewter plates and platters, and a slender assortment of china cups and saucers; the kitchen in the rear-with bed rooms on either side-the hall in front, with winding stairs leading to chambers above; these all com-
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16 off the Same Meeting the propriotors by major Vote Via
Gérant to the Inhabitants of Pannan Parita all "no non Land of their Posting Houte Standeth &h Thirty Roos from the ko (mann .11Looting Helfe. that is Simon & high Way those, Solong as they that Support a mooring Rouge in 50 places in /
At the fame Meeting theprophistors by major voler doquesters (for y Seting upon I faire a House for the Entertaining porfons fort od with pifections Diplompors.) to much Chaud as the Town Shall think filling who the the following Somitto vis Cap Platt Cap Compack and- It Lockwood Shall Concludo upon as most fustablen) and to Romain for that ufe So long as y Town shall- Support Such House who Built
The Propriotors by Major Vole, Praits an Dechaingo; and with Mofos StJohn, via for Pis is Itchins Land
Pohwoon John Hooters Land & Nowwally River throw
GRANT OF CHURCH HILL TO CANAAN PARISH, 1732.
municated by doors, so that on festal occasions, in families moulded not according to the strictest sect of the Puritans, this arrangement furnished ample scope for merry games and dancing. But I must leave the garret, with its festoons of dried apples and peaches, its bunches of bone-set, may-weed and other medicinal herbs, its revolutionary guns, bayonets and swords, to the tender recollections of the more mature, and the lively imagination of the younger of my auditors or history will be sacrificed to topography and domestic economy.
To return to our settlers of New Canaan, whom we have traced to their abodes here; they had gradually spread through the valleys and over the ridges, and increased to such a degree, that they felt the want of some organiza- tion for the development of their social and public relations. This led to the incorporation of "Canaan Parish." The first notice of it on the Stamford Records, is dated December 8th, 1730, when "John Bouton and others, ask liberty of moving out of town, to join with a part of Norwalk in order to be a society." The town voted in the negative. Still, the next year, we find the town of Stamford appointing John Bouton and Ebenezer Seeley, tything men, for the new Society and designating their field of service Canaan parish. Two years after, "the town agree that there shall be a committee chosen to agree with those men that have land lying where it may be thought needful for a highway for the conveniency of Canaan parish to go to meeting." Of the twenty-four members constituting the first church, eleven were from Stamford, and two of these, John Bouton and Thomas Talmadge were its first deacons. There seems to have been no objection to the new parish on the part of Norwalk. April 3d, 1732, the proprietors "by major vote, grant to the In- habitants of Canaan parish all the common land where their meeting-house standeth." The parish was incorporated by the Legislature in 1731. The first Society's meeting was held July 1st, 1731, and the record of their acts is com-
13
plete, in legible handwriting and in good preservation. The next year there were forty-seven members, thirty on the Norwalk and seventeen on the Stamford side. The first question discussed by them, was the expediency of building a meeting house for the public worship of God. Decided in the affirmative, twenty-four to one. They were unable to agree upon the place where the building should be erected-and they appointed a suitable person to represent them in the general court to be held in October, to request the Honorable Assembly to appoint a committee to fix a place for the house. It was decided that the house should be built on the lower end of Haines' Ridge, the house to be thirty feet square, and of a height suitable for one tier of gal- leries. A building committee was appointed who were either to let out the work, "by the great," or hire men by the day. They levied a tax of ten pence on the pound in the List. Then follows a list of members with their assess- ments. In February 1732, they appointed a committee to make application to the Rev. Elders of the county for advice and direction in order to the calling and settlement of a minister. They were directed to Rev. John Eells, of Milford, who preached among them nine months on probation, and in June, 1733, was settled among them as their minister, residing on Clapboard Hills. After this time, the Society's meetings were devoted to such business as devolves upon it at the present day, with several items which are now managed by the town, such as taking charge of the schools, laying out highways, etc. Their meetings were commonly warned to be held at "sun two hours at night." Clocks and watches were probably not common, and we find an appropriation of two shillings-nine pence to buy an hour-glass. At this time, all inhabitants of the parish were members, and were taxed for its support; it is not strange that some should have been restive and sought release. One member petitioned the legislature to that effect, but met there a committee from the Society, who successfully opposed the petition. They assessed themselves as high as nineteen pence on the pound and collected it by "stress," if necessary. The building of the meeting-house was a severe draught on their slender resources. As the expenses of the Society were defrayed by tax, the seats were common property, but the Society was accustomed to "seat the meeting house," as it was termed, according to "rate and dignity." By vote, they gave Rev. Eells the seat next to the pulpit, on the woman's side. Similar seating of the meet- ing houses, appear in the records of Stamford and Norwalk. It was the cus- tom to appoint some person to "set the psalm." And in 1739 they voted to "sing by rule, or that which is called the new way in the congregation." Huntington says, "this change from the old to the new way of singing had been introduced in 1721. The eight or nine tunes brought over by the pioneers had become barbarously perverted," and the Rev. Thomas Walter, of Rox- bury, Mass., composer, in that year published, "The Grounds and Rules of Music Explained, or an Introduction to the Art of Singing by Note." The book contained twenty-four tunes harmonized in three parts.
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0 the Flinouraller Generall 316.
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Hiofo mac. Ai
Calific, Pour Hon &s
That this the Society of Canaan. Célineted out ofy Town Ships of Man
Have So Kast. Justies pro Preis Albating Haufen
finishing Reiz From the fall etccompt the Walls within Arparl & Lathường. And may 6 pratos coi'll Go
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for d' co fiole. Atento 061am Eine Hie tower Windows are Plazo soft to be Done out of Hand, Shells Su line alfo Chaines to Platfor 4 Walls, fawad Sim for for ie frets and Pulpit
allerede y € Glatrios His Dears Diade
and Hulig
Ban_Pazifh. Octolos :0 12 ARAAIL
Road in of Lower Hout &800000 to 69
Thead in the Upper House and chips med and Chens Is Be Kept union Pre Fab Grange Kiplings Seenchy
After six years' "experience" (as it was termed) with Mr. Eells, some began to be dissatisfied, and in 1740 the Society appointed a committee to acquaint Mr. Eells and see if he would give his consent to have a vote tried to see "who is easy and who is uneasy" with him. The test showed twenty-four uneasy. In 1741, Mr. Eells, was dismissed. Tradition assigns to him ability, learning and piety, together with certain eccentricities deemed inconsistent in a minister of the Gospel. He continued to reside here until his death, in 1785. The Society proceeded promptly to fill his place. The Rev. Robert Silliman was ordained February, 1742. During his ministry, there was such increase in the congregation as to require an addition to the meeting-house, eleven feet on each end and twelve feet on the south side. They also built a Society house north of the meeting-house twenty-one by sixteen feet, with seven foot posts. This was probably to accommodate those who came to meeting from a distance, and was furnished with a fire-place, where they might spend the time be- tween services, the meeting-house being without any device for heating. In 1750, the Society resolved to build a new meeting-house fifty feet by forty, with one tier of galleries and turret (belfry.) This structure was so far advanced as to be deemed fit for use in 1752, though the galleries were not made until 1787. In '97, the turret was completed and the first bell obtained, which was to be rung, not only on the Sabbath, but also at nine o'clock every evening except Saturday. The new house was built a short distance north of the old one and about 150 feet south east of the present building. For ninety years it was in constant use as a place of worship. Every Sabbath, Thanksgiving and Fast day its courts were well filled with devout worshippers, and by many of us now assembled in this, its comely successor, the memory of the old meeting-house will ever be hallowed. It was built in the style quite common in that day, precisely like the one then in Stamford, except that the latter had a spire that rose from the ground. Opening the double doors, on the south side, we entered an area of small square pews, whose floors were elevated about eight inches above the floor of the central portion of the room. This latter was at first filled with slips on each side of the center or broad aisle, leading up to the pulpit. A narrow aisle passed quite around these slips furnish- ing access to the pews which occupied the entire walls except where the doors, on the east, the south and the west sides; the stairs leading to the galleries at the corners, and the pulpit at the center of the north side occupied the space. The slips in the center were afterwards, (in 1808) converted into square pews. The galleries were deep, filled with square pews along the south wall, and elsewhere with the long slips. The choir was ranged along the front and sometimes extended nearly the entire length of the galleries, the base on the west, the treble on the east and the tenor or "counter," with the leader on the south. The pulpit was an hexagonal structure, placed upon a pillar, about eight feet above the floor, and reached by a flight of stairs, was neatly finished and painted white; above it was suspended a canopy or sounding-board, hexa-
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