USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Sharon > General history of the town of Sharon, Litchfield County, Conn. from its first settlement, 3rd ed. > Part 14
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Tobey, Elisha, was from the old Plymouth colony. He lived for many years where Stephen Knibloe now lives. In 1792 he removed to Alford, Mass. He died in Salisbury, on his way to visit his friends in Sharon. He had sons, Jonathan, Barnabas, Heman, Sylvanus, Ephraim, Elisha and Benjamin.
Tyler, Bezaleel, was from Branford, and was the first settler on the place now owned and occupied by Dr. Deming. He died August 29, 1760, at the age of seventy-seven. He left sons, Bezaleel, Benjamin, Amos, Charles, Gideon, Timothy and Nathaniel.
Waldo, Cyprian, was from Windham in 1770. He purchased of Gideon Hollister, a part of the thirty-sixth home-lot, where Virgil B. Roberts now lives. He resided there till his death in 1797. He left sous, Alfred, Bradford, David R. and Zaccheus.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
Warren, Lieut. James, lived on the place now owned and occupied by Edwin N. Hartwell. He had no children. He died May 14, 1788, aged seventy-six.
Way, George, was from Lyme. He settled opposite the Deforest house in the Gay district, and lived there for a number of years. He was the first grand-juror in the town. He had one son, John, who lived on the hill west of Frederick L. Par- sons.'
White, George, was from Wareham, Mass., and was the first settler on the place owned by Chesterfield Chapman. He came to Sharon in 1747. He had three sons, John, George and Archelaus. John removed to Alvord, Mass., where he died in 1775. He was the father of the late Solomon White, and grandfather of George White, now living.
White, Israel, was from Danbury in 1775. He settled in the Great Hollow, where he purchased a large and valuable farm of David Wood. Mr. White died in 1820, at the age of eighty nine. He had sons, James, John, Sanford, Israel and Stephen, and his descendants yet remaining in the town are numerous.
Wilson, Capt. John, came to Sharon after the revolutionary war, from Westchester County, N. Y. He finally settled in the southeast part of Sharon, on a farm formerly owned by Phinehas Benjamin, now by Daniel Hall, Esq. He enlisted into the army of the revolution early in the war, and served faithfully till peace was proclaimed. He was a man of intelligence, a Baptist by religious profession, and of much weight of character among his acquaintance. He died Jan 20, 1849, at the age of eighty-six years.
Williams, Col. John, was originally a physician, and came to Sharon in 1743, from Lebanon. He was for many years a very distinguished inhabitant of the town. He lived nearly opposite Judge Sterling's, and the house which he occupied was standing sixty years since. He was elected town clerk in the fall of 1745, which office he held twenty-nine successive years, till his death. Previous to his appointment the records had been badly kept, and a good part of them are very unintelligible ; but from the time they passed into his hands they were kept with great accuracy. It would seem, that for nearly thirty years, he wrote almost every deed which passed title to real estate in Sharon, judging from the fact that they were nearly all witnessed by him, and acknowl- edged before him, and it is interesting to observe with what remarkable accuracy and strict legal propriety they are all
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
expressed. He held the office of selectman seventeen years, and was chosen member of the Assembly at twenty-seven different sessions, being the first ever chosen to that office in the town. When the county of Litchfield was organized in 1751, he was appointed one of the judges of the county court, and in about five years afterwards was made chief judge. He was also the first judge of probate for the district of Sharon, which was established in 1755, which office he held while he lived. He also went through several military grades, and for several years commanded a regiment of colonial militia. He was a man of tall and slender frame, but of great gravity and very dignified deportment, and his word was law. He was a deacon in the church from June, 1766, till his death. He died on Sunday, March 14, 1774, at the age of sixty-eight, and as it was in the exciting times which immediately preceded the revolution, and he had been a military character, he was buried with military honors. His sword was borne upon his coffin, and vollies of musketry were fired over his grave. The funeral services were performed under the direction of Capt. David Downs. He left a number of children, but none remain among us. The late John A. Elliott was his grandson.
Wood, Abel, was from Wareham, Mass., in 1748. He set- tled in the valley, on the lot now owned by Chauncey More- house, which he purchased of John Gray. He died January 20, 1798, at the age of eighty-six. He had three sons, Ephraim, Elijah, and Barnabas, the two latter of whom lived to a very advanced age. Elijah Wood was a grandson of Abel Wood.
Wood, David, was from Ridgefield, and was the first settler upon what is called the White place, in the Great Hollow. He came to Sharon in 1754, and in 1777, sold his place to Israel White, of Danbury, and removed to Ballstown, N. Y. He had sons, David, Stephen, Caleb and Benjamin. David was taken prisoner at Fort Washington, in 1776, and died in the prison ship at New York. Caleb died in Sharon. Stephen and Benja- min removed to Ballstown with their father.
Woodruff, Elias, was from Southampton, Long Island, in 1768. He purchased a part of the ninth home-lot of Amos Tyler, and lived on it till his death, June 17, 1807, at the age of seventy. His house stood a little north of Dr. Deming's present residence. He left sons, Daniel, James Ithamir, Salmon and Evart, of whom Daniel is the only one remaining in town.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
Woodward, Deacon Abel, came from Watertown to Sharon in 1798. He was a citizen of Ellsworth, and maintained a highly reputable standing in that community during his protracted life. He died March 5, 1849, aged nearly seventy-eight years. He had sons, David W., Abel C., and George R., the two latter of whom still survive.
APPENDIXES.
APPENDIX A.
FORM OF DEEDS GIVEN BY THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITTEE TO THE PURCHASERS OF RIGHTS TO THE COMMON LAND IN SHARON.
"WHEREAS, by an act of the General Assembly, held at New Haven, October 13th, 1737, entitled-' An act for the ordering and directing the sale and settlement of all the townships in the Western Lands,' among other things it is enacted that the southwest townships in said lands, on the west side of the Ousatonic River, shall be vendued and sold at the Court House, in New Haven, to the highest bidder (being inhabitants of the Colony) on the third Wednesday of October next, at one of the clock afternoon, and continue by adjournment till the whole be sold by Samuel Ells, Esq., Joseph Whiting and Capt. Isaac Dickerman. They or any two of them to be a committee in the name of the Governor and Company to sell the Rights, take Bonds, and give deeds with Defeasance, &c. Therefore know ye that we, the said Samuel Ells, Joseph Whiting and Isaac Dickerman, by virtue of the Power and Authority to be granted in said act, for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and sixty-one pounds, to be in hand paid before the ensealing hereof, by Jonathan Peck of Wallingford, in the County of New Haven, and Colony of Connecticut, the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, and thereupon in the name of the Govern- ment and Company of said Colony, do Give, Grant, Bargain,
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
Sell, confirm, convey and Confirm unto the said Jona Peck, his Heirs and Assignees forever, One Right, Share or Allotment in the Township aforesaid, the same being divided into fifty-three Equal Shares or Allotments, (exclusive of the Land granted to the College, and all former Grants of the General Assembly that are surveyed and recorded in the public Records of the Colony, and are lying in said Township) with the priveledges and appurtenances thereof or thereunto anywise belonging. To Have and to Hold the said granted Premises with all and Singular the Appurtenances thereof, unto the said Jona Peck, His Heirs and Assigns in manner and form following, that is to say that at and until the ensealing hereof. We by virtue of the power and authority to us granted as above have good Right to sell and dispose of the said granted premises, in manner aforesaid, and that the same is and shall be a good and indefeasible Estate of Inheritance in Fee Simple and is free from all Incumbrances whatsoever, always provided, and these Presents are upon this condition, that if the said Jona Peck shall by Himself or his agent within the space of the full year next after the date hereof, enter upon the said granted premises, build and finish a House thereon, not less than Eighteen feet Square and Seven feet stud, Subdue, clear and fence six acres of said land, and continue thereon for the space of three successive years, commencing after the two years aforesaid (unless prevented by death or inevitable Providence), and do and perform all Duties and Orders, pay all Taxes that shall be granted. Then the aforesaid Deed shall remain in full force and virtue, but in default or neglect of all or either of the said articles the same shall be void and of none effect. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals, this 18th day of January, Anno Domini 1738.
Signed, Sealed and Dd. In presence of
JOHN PROUT,
SAMUEL ELLS, L. S.
Conn. ss New Haven. JOS. WHITING, L. S.
JOSIAH ROBINSON, ISAAC DICKERMAN, L.S.
Then personally appeared Messrs. Sam'l Ells, Joseph Whiting, Isaac Dickerman, the ensealers of the above Instrument, and ac- knowledged the same to be their free and voluntary act and Deed before me, John Prout, Justice Peace."
APPENDIX B.
PATENT OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
"THE GOVERNOUR and Company of the English Colony of Con- neecticut, in New England, in America : To all to whom these presents shall come.
"GREETING :- Whereas, The said Governour and Company in General court assembled, at Hartford, on the 11th day of May, A. D. 1732, did order that a township should be laid out in the Southwest parts of the country lands, on the west side of the Ousatonic River, and appointed Messrs. Edmond Lewis, Stephen Noble and William Gaylord a committee to lay out the same.
"And, Whereas, In pursuance of said order, the said commit- tee laid out the same, and bounded it as follows, viz .: Beginning at the Southwest corner of the township of M., it being a stake set in the ground and many stones laid to it, standing on the east side of a pond ; from thence the line runs south 12 degrees 30 minutes west, with the line of partition between the Province of New York and the Colony of Connecticut, nine miles to a heap of stones laid on a rock, being in the aforesaid line of partition between the province of New York and the Colony of Connecti- cut, and is about two miles east of Captain Sackett's dwelling house, which is the southwest corner bound of said township ; and from thence the south line runs E. 10ยบ 30s. four miles and
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one-half and one hundred and fifteen rods, to the Ousatonic River, where they marked a white ash tree and laid many stones to it, for the southeast corner bounds of said township, and marked many trees and made many monuments in the said south line, which township in their survey is called the township of N. S., and is bounded north on the township of M., south on country lands, west on the aforesaid line of partition between the Province of New York and colony of Connecticut, and east on the Ousatonic River, as by the return of said committee bear- ing date October 7th, A. D. 1732, entered on the records of said colony Liber. 4th for patents, Deeds and survey of land, folio 472-3, in the Secretary's office, reference thereto being had more fully and at large may appear.
"And, Whereas, The said Governour and Company in Gen- eral Court assembled, at Hartford, on the 10th day of May, A. D. 1733, did enact that said township, among the townships then lately laid out, should be disposed of and settled according to such time and regulations as the said assembly should order. And Whereas, The said Governour and Company in General Court assembled, at New Haven, A. D. 1737, by their act did order that township should be divided into fifty-three rights, one of which should be for the use of the ministry that should be settled in said town, according to the regulation in said act provided, one for the first gospel minister settled as aforesaid, and one other right for the support of the school in said town, and ordered that fifty of said rights should be sold, and that the other three rights should be for the uses aforesaid ; and that the committee by said act ap- pointed should sell, and, in the name of the Governour and Com- pany aforesaid, execute deeds of conveyance of the said several rights to the purchasers thereof respectively, with conditions to such deed annexed according to the directions in the said act con- tained. And, Whereas, The said' committee, in pursuance of and according to said act, have sold, and by their several deeds under their hands and seals, have granted unto Samuel Hutchinson, Nathaniel Skinner, John Sprague, John Pardee, and to the rest of the original purchasers of rights in said township, fifty rights or fifty-third parts of said township, upon condition as aforesaid, which township is now called and known by the name of Sharon. And, Whereas, Mr. Peter Pratt is settled in the ministry in said town, according to the directions aforesaid, their heirs or assigns having performed the conditions in the said deed expressed, and now moving for a more full confirmation of the said lands sold and granted them as aforesaid.
RESIDENCE OF ARTHUR DUANE OF NEW YORK.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
"Now know ye, that the said Governour and Company, by virtue of the powers granted and derived to them by His late majesty, King Charles the Second, of blessed memory, in and by his Letters Patent, under the great seal of England, bearing date the three and twentieth day of April, in the fourteenth year of his reign, and in presence of the several acts and orders of assem- bly before in these acts referred to, have therefore given, granted and confirmed, and by these presents do fully, freely and abso- lutely give, grant, ratify and confirm for themselves and their successors unto, to the said Samuel Hutchinson, Nathaniel Skinner, John Sprague, John Pardee, and to the rest of the origi- nal purchasers aforesaid, and to their heirs and assigns and such as legally represent or hold under them, in proportion to their respective purchases, and in such proportion as their assignees and legal representatives do hold under them as aforesaid, the said fifty rights or fifty third parts, and to the said Peter Pratt, the said settled minister, the said one right or fifty-third part of all the lands in the township of Sharon aforesaid, and the said two rights ordered for the use of the ministry and school in said town, which two rights are hereby granted and confirmed unto the said purchasers and the said Peter Pratt, their heirs and assigns to and for the use aforesaid, and all and singular the lands, trees, woods, underwoods, ponds, rivers, fishings, fowlings, huntings, mines, minerals and precious stones within the said township, and all the rights, royalties, powers, privileges, profits and serv- ices to the premises belonging. To have and to hold the said granted, or hereby intended to be granted, premises together with the privileges and appurtenances thereof, unto the said Samuel Hutchinson, Nathaniel Skinner, John Sprague, John Pardee and Peter Pratt, and to the rest of the said purchasers, and to their heirs and assigns and such as legally represent and hold under them in manner as aforesaid, and to their only use, benefit and behoof as aforesaid forever, as a good, sure, and indefeasible es- tate in fee simple to be holden of our sovereign Lord the King, his heirs and successors as of his majesty's manor of East Green- wich, in the County of Kent and Kingdom of England, in fee and common socage, and not in capite nor by Knights Service, yielding and paying therefor to his majesty King George the Second, his heirs and successors, only the fifth part of all the ore of gold and silver that shall be there gotten or obtained, in lieu of all other services, duties and demands.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
"In witness whereof the said Governour and Company have caused these presents to be signed by the Governour and Secre- tary, and the public seal of the said Colony to be affixed. Dated in Hartford, the 26th day of May, Anno Domini, 1747.
J. LAW, Governor.
"By order of the Governour and Company of the Colony of Connecticut in General Court assembled, May, Anno Domini, 1747. "GEORGE WYLLYS, Secretary.
"Received May 30th, 1747, and here recorded.
"Test-GEORGE WYLLYS, Secretary."
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APPENDIX C.
THE Rev. Dr. Trumbull, the historian of Connecticut, before entering upon his great work of publishing a history of the State, issued a circular, asking for information on matters pertaining to his undertaking, which was extensively circulated through the State. The following is the reply of Parson Smith :
" SHARON, April 24, 1800. " REV'D SR .-
" I noticed in the Connecticut Courant, printed by Hudson and Goodwin, a No. of historical queries which you requested might be answered. In compliance with your request have sent you the following answers :
"Q. 1 When did the settlement of the town commence ? Who and whence were the first principal settlers ?
" A. The town of Sharon began its settlement in the spring of 1739. Between 14 and 20 families from Colchester and Leba- non began the settlement. The next spring after a larger No. from the county of New Haven.
"Q. 2. When was the first church gathered, &c. ?
" In answer to this query I must inform you, that when I was introduced into the Ministry in this place I found no Chh. Record : however, I took pains to collect the No. of Chh. members, and found them to be about 45 ; whereof 25 were male members.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
Mr. Pratt was ordained the first minister soon after the settle- ment of the town-and continued in the ministry for 4 or 5 years and then was dismissed for intemperance and silenced-since dead.
" Mr. Searl was ordained a few years after, and continued in the ministry for 4 or 5 years, and was dismissed on account of his ill state of health-since dead.
"I was ordained on the 28th August 1755.
"Q. 4. How many parishes, &c. ?
"Answer. One at present ; though a committee has been appointed by the Gen'l Assembly to set off another parish ; and have reported in favour of it-and the matter is to be laid before the Assembly in May session for a confirmation.
"Q. 5. When did the worship of God according to the mode of the Chh. of England, &c. ?
"A. When I came to this place, there were 15 families that belonged to that Com'n. They erected a decent Chh. to meet in. Mr. Davies was their first minister. He soon died, and was suc- ceeded by Mr. Palmer-since dead.
"In the time of the late revolutionary war the Chh. house fell, and never was rebuilt. The members dispersed, so that now there is but two or three families that belong to that Com'n re- maining amongst us, and they have no meeting for public worship.
"Mr. Davies and Mr. Palmer both received orders from England, and had the Charge of New Milford, Litchfield, Sharon, &c.
"Q. 6. What public libraries, &c. ?
"A. A small library was procured in the time of the late war, which consisted of about 60 vols. but the books but few of them were valuable. It is now in contemplation to procure a large and useful library ; but the business is not as yet completed.
"Q. 7. Wt. schools, &c. ?
"We have at present in the town twelve schools. We have an Academy that has been in good repute ; but of late we have failed in having good instructors, which has proved very injur- ious ; so y. now it is become no more than a common school.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
"Q. 8. What No. of Printers, &c. ?
"A. We have one Printer and one press introduced this spring in April. About 500 papers are printed weekly-the title of the Paper, Rural Gazette, printed by Elliot Hopkins-the size of the paper between Hartford and Litchfield.
"Q. 10. What Iron Works, &c. ?
"A. We have at present but one Iron-works, and but little business done in it. We have had as many as 5 forges ; but all gone to decay except one.
"Q. 13. When was the separate, &c. ?
"A. We have no separate Chh. We have a few baptists. They were formed into a church a few years past ; but now they have no preacher among them, their members decrease ; and meet but rarely among themselves for public worship-they attend divine service among the standing churches in general.
"P. S. Iam mistaken as to Mr. Davies and Mr. Palmer. Mr. Palmer was the first minister, and Mr. Davies was his sue- cessor.
"Previous to the settlement already mentioned, there were between two and three hundred Indians that resided in the North- west part of the town in two villages : the one by the side of a large pond, now known by the name of the Indian Pond, which consisted of about twenty -five wigwams ; the other village was situated in a large meadow at the south end of a large pond, now known by the name of Mudge Pond, containing about ten or fifteen huts or wigwams. These Indians were under direction of five chiefs called Mughoca. They had an Idol which they worshipped [as] God, and committed to the care of an old Squaw. This Idol, though inferior to the great God that governed the world, was neverthe- less invested with power sufficient to repel those evils brought upon 'em by Mutonto, or the Devil : and in case he refused or neglected to afford them his assistance, they would severely chastise him.
"Their diversions on horseback ; their ceremonies when they bury their dead ; and their customs about marrying are not so materially different from those of other natives of this country as merit particular attention.
" These Indians were of a superior size, and probably part of the Stockbridge tribe.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
"About 30 years past, there was a water-mill erected by Mr. Joel Harvey for thrashing and cleaning wheat. One man could thrash and clean about 40 bushels a day. This mill and barn ad- joining were consumed by fire, and never as yet repaired ; but the proprietor has of late determined to rebuild them.
" Wishing the divine blessing in your future attempt to com- plete the history of Connecticut, I subscribe, with much esteem, your friend and brother, COTTON M. SMITH.
"[Superscribed, ] Rev'd Benjamin Trumbull, D. D.
"North Haven."
APPENDIX D.
The following is a copy of the deed by which the Indians conveyed away their last claim of title to lands in Sharon :
" To all People to whom these presents shall come-greeting :
"Know ye that We, Nequitimaug, alias Moses, and Bartholo- mous, alias Bartholomew, Indian Inhabitants of the Town of Sharon, in Litchfield County, in the Colony of Connecticut, in New England, for the consideration of fifty Pounds, current money of the Province of New York, received to our full satisfac- tion of Thomas Barns, of Sharon, aforesaid, do give, grant, bar- gain, sell and confirm unto the said Thomas Barns, his Heirs and assigns, a Certain tract or Parcel of land lying and being in the township of Sharon aforesaid, and containing by estimation fifty acres, be the same more or less, abutting South upon the land said Thomas Barns bought of Joseph Skinner ; North upon Salisbury line ; West upon the Pond called the Indian Pond, and extending East so far as to take in all Our improvements in said Township of Sharon, it being the whole of what Land We claim in said Township. To Have and To Hold the above Granted and Bargain- ed premises with the appurtenances thereof, unto Him, the said Thomas Barns his Heirs and Assigns forever, to his and their own proper use and behoof ; and also, We, the said Moses and Bar- tholomew, do for ourselves and our heirs covenant with the said Thomas Barns his Heirs and Assigns, that at and until the enseal- ing of these presents, We are well seized of these premises as a good indefeasible estate in Fee Simple, and have good Right to
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
Bargain and sell in same manner and form as is above written, and that the same is free from all incumbrances whatsoever, and Furthermore, We, the said Moses and Bartholomew, by these presents bind ourselves and our heirs forever, to warrant and defend the above Granted and Bargained Premises to Him, the said Thomas Barns His Heirs and Assigns, against all Claim and Demand of any Person or Persons Whatsoever. In Witness whereof We hereunto set our hands and seals the 24th Day of July, 1752, in the 26th year of his Majesty's Reign. Signed, Sealed and Dd. In presence of
JOHN HAMILTON.
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