Glastenbury for two hundred years: a centennial discourse, May 18th 1853, Part 15

Author: Chapin, A. B. (Alonzo Bowen), 1808-1858
Publication date: 1853
Publisher: Hartford, Press of Case, Tiffany and company
Number of Pages: 270


USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Glastonbury > Glastenbury for two hundred years: a centennial discourse, May 18th 1853 > Part 15


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22


Elizur,


b. July


31, 1669, m. Sarah -


Joseph,


b. Feb. 20, 1671, m. Sarah Deming, 1701, d. 1732.


*BENJAMIN TALCOTT, b. March 1, 1674, m. Sarah Hollister, 1699, d. 1727.


Rachel,


b. April 2, 1676, m. Peter Bulkley, 1700.


*NATHANIEL TALCOTT,b. Jan. 28, 1678, m. Elizabeth


, 1703, d. 1758.


(3) The children of Deacon Benjamin Talcott and Sarah Hollister, were,


Sarah, b. Oct. 30, 1699, m. Jonathan Hale, 1717, d. 1743.


Benjamin,


b. Juue 27, 1702, m.


John,


b. Dec. 17, 1704, m. Lucy Sawyer, 1733, d. 1745.


IIannah,


b. Oct. 16, 1706, m. Benjamin Hale, 1729, d. 1796.


Samuel, b. Feb. 12, 1708, m. Hannah Moseley, 1732, d. 1768.


*Elizur,


b. Dec. 31, 1709, m. Ruth Wright, 1730, d. 1797.


Mehitabel, b. July 17, 1713, m. Hezekiah Wright, 1733, d. 1781.


Abigail, b. Oct. 10, 1715, m. Thomas Hollister, Jr., d. 1715.


Deacon Benjamin d. Nov. 27, 1727.


(3) The children of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Talcott, were,


Elizabeth, b. Oct. 19, 1704.


Rachel,


b. Oct.


6, 1706.


Mary, b. Jan. 19, 1709.


Joshua, b. June 15, 1711.


The early history of this family has been carefully investigated by mem- bers of it now living; and especially by SEBASTIAN VISCHER TALCOTT, Esq., of Albany, to whose kindness we are indebted for the use of his Family Register, and which has been of great service to us, in this and some other families.


Samuel Talcott, son of John Talcott, was graduated at Harvard College, 1658. George Talcott, b. 1786, grandson of Benjamin Talcott, has been in the service of the United States, since 1812. He was brevetted Brigadier General, in 1847.


The house standing on this farm, until taken down in 1850, was the oldest house in Town. It was the first house raised in Town, after its incorporation. The second was that of Rev. Mr. Stevens ; the third a house at Nayaug; the fourth was a house built by Gideon Hollister, at Wassue, which is still stand- ing, and is in the possession and occupation of Mr. Alonzo Hollister. The frame has neither tenon nor mortice, but is half-lapped throughout. It is nearly one hundred and fifty years old.


12. SAMUEL SMITH's lot was 22} rods wide containing 135 acres. It was conveyed to William Wickham in 1660, in whose possession it was at the


170


time of the general survey in 1684. Mr. Smith removed to Hadley. The descendants of Wm. Wickham are still among the present inhabitants of the Town .*


The account of the Wickham family is deficient in the Wethersfield Rec- ords. The families recorded there before 1690, are those of Thomas, and , Thomas, Jr., but do not give the family of William, the first land holder in Glastenbury. The property seems to have descended to WILLIAM WICK- HAM, Jr., who lived in Glastenbury at the time of its incorporation, and who distributed it to his children. The following were of the number.


Elizabeth, m. Thomas Morley, Nov. 9, 1708, and had four sons and two daughters. Her father gave her land in 1730.


Jonathan, to whom land was given in 1714. He gave land to his son Hezekiah, in 1749. H. W. was Society Clerk, and Deacon in Eastbury for many years.


John, m. Susannah Pellett of Concord, Feb. 20, 1716, and had two daugh- ters. He had land given to him in 1717.


William, Jr., m. Abigail Pellett, March 21, 1718. He had land given him in 1730. No children are recorded to him in Glastenbury.


Susannah Wickham, who married Ebenezer Mosely, in 1726, seems to have belonged to another branch of the family. She was probably from Wethersfield.


13. THOMAS UFFOOT. This lot 193 rods wide containing 117 acres, was recorded to Thomas Uffoot in 1641, and by him sold to William Goodrich, in 1646. It was in the possession of Mr. Goodrich at the time of the survey in 1684.+


The Goodrich family is supposed to have come from Wales. The first settler, William, married Sarah Marvin, 1648, and had-


Sarah, b. m. John Hollister, 1667.


b. 1653, m. Rebecca Smith, 1678, d. 1684.


John,


b. 1660, m. Grace -, 1680, d. 1737.


William,


b. 1658, m. Robert Welles, 1675, d. 1698.


EPHRAIM GOODRICH,


b. 1663, m. Sarah Treat, 1684, d. 1717.


David, b. 1666, m. Hannah Wright, 1688, d. 1755.


m. Joseph Butler.


Daughter, name unknown,


Mr. John Goodrich, probably a brother of William, came to this country about the same time. His wife's name was Elizabeth, and they had chil- dren-


John, b. 1647, m. Mary Edwards, d. 1676.


d. 1681.


Joseph,


Jonathan,


b. 1665, m. Abagail Crafts, 1691.


Elizabeth, b. 1645, m. Daniel Rose.


Mary, b. 1650, m. Thomas Reed.


Hannah, m. Zacharias Mainard.


* W. R. I. 125, II. 69.


+ W. R. I. 52, 125.


Elizabeth,


171


(2) John Goodrich, son of William and Sarah Marvin, m. 1678, had-


Sarah, b. April 10, 1697, m. Abraham Kilborn, Oct. 26, 1697 or 9.


Rebecca, b. Nov. 11, 1680, m. David Wright, Dec. 28, 1699, d. 1703.


Mary, b. Sept. 2, 1682.


Samuel, b. May 24, 1684,


, d. May 7, 1706.


Abigail,


b. April 27, 1686, m. David Curtis, April 25, 1706.


John, b. June 9, 1688, m. Mary Tillotson, June 5, 1712.


Allyn, b. Nov. 13, 1690, m. Elizabeth Goodrich, Dec. 29, 1709.


Ann, b. Sept. 1, 1692.


(3) William Goodrich, Jr., m. Grace Nov. 22, 1680, had,


William, b. Aug. 3, 1681, , d. Nov. 6, 1681.


William, b. July 2, 1686, m. Margaritta Orvis, May 14, 1716, d. 1748.


Benjamin, b. Sept. 29, 1688, m. Grace Kilborn, March 7, 1716, d. 1742


Joseph, b. Feb. 29, 1690, m. Mehitable Goodwin, Feb. 23, 1715, d. 1768.


Isaac, b. Aug. 18, 1693, m. Mary Butler, Nov. 19, 1718, d. 1737.


Anne,


b. Feb. 29, 1697, m. - Powel.


Ephraim, b. Sept. 12, 1699, m. Susanna Hooker, Oct. 6, 1726, d. 1726.


Ethan, b. June 3, 1702.


"John and William Goodrich, two orphans, came from South Wales with their mother's brother, William Stillman, about 1644. From these two sprung all of the name in America." They first settled in New Haven Colony, but subsequently removed to Wethersfield, John, about 1644, and William in 1666. Most of the persons bearing the name of Goodrich at the time of the Town's incorporation, were the sons of William Goodrich, and in the next generation the sons of Ephraim Goodrich, who married Sarah Treat the daughter of Richard Treat, in 1684.


Their children were-


Richard, b. Feb. 27, 1685, m. Hannah Buckley, 1709.


William, b. 1701, m. Rachel Savage, 1728, d. 1787.


David, b. 1706, m. Sarah Edwards, 1729, d. 1779.


Ephraim, m. Hannah, d. 1771.


Thomas.


:


By a second wife, (his first having died in 1712,) Jerusha, daughter of James Treat, and widow of Thomas Welles, he had-


Oliver, b. Sept. 14, 1714.


Gideon, b. w- m. Sarah, d. 1769.


Gurdon, b. Dec. 29, 1717.


Sarah, b. m. Richard Butler.


Of these last, Richard, William, David, Ephraim and Thomas, were land holders in Glastenbury, soon after arriving at the age of 21 years, as also Oliver and Gideon at a later period, though these last seem never to have resided here.


14. GEORGE HUBBARD. This lot 323 rods wide, containing 195 acres, was set out to George Hubbard. The lot next south of it 30 rods in width, containing 180 acres originally set out to George Wyllis, became the prop- erty of John or Jonathan, the son of George Hubbard, previous to the sur;


172


vey of 1684, when the two lots measured 60 rods, instead of 62}. The road leading east from the Town house, is on the south line of the Wyllis lot. Some portion of the farm of George Hubbard, has been in the Hubbard family from that time to the present .*


George Hubbard and his wife Mary, came from England about 1635 or 6, and settled at Wethersfield. He removed to Milford, and was admitted to the Church there, January 15, 1644. In 1648, he removed to Guilford, and was admitted to the Church there, Oct. 6, 1650. His children were-


John, supposed to be the eldest, who lived at Wethersfield for many years, but subsequently went to Hadley.


George, who removed to Greenwich.


Daniel of Guilford, baptized at Milford, 1644. He is the progenitor of the Guilford Hubbards, and the 7th by the name of Daniel, is now residing there.


William, who is supposed to have removed to Greenwich.


Mary, who married Deacon John Fowler of Guilford, about 1648.


Sarah, who married a Harrison.


Abigail, baptized at Milford, 1644, married Humphrey Spinning of New Jersey.


Hannah, baptized 1644, who married a Mayless.


Elizabeth, who married John Norton, late in life.


The children of John Hubbard of Wethersfield and Hadley, were-


Maria, b. Jan. 1650. John, b. April 12, 1655.


Hannah, b. Dec. 5, 1656.


Jonathan, b. Jan. 3, 1658.


This last name is recorded at Wethersfield. In 1684, the surveyors of the Naubuc lots assign the Hubbard lot to Jonathan Hubert, evidently an error for Hubbart, a corruption of Hubbard. But in 1690, and at all times on- ward during his life, the lot was the property of John Hubbard, who gave half of the " Meeting House Green." His children were,


(4) John, the 3d of the name, who m. Mary, dau. of Eleazer Kimberly, June 17, 1708, and had one son and two daughters. The son, John the 4th, m. Martha Hollister, July, 1732, and had seven sons and two daughters. John, 2d, gave land to John, 3d, in 1719, and John, 3d, to John, 4th, in 1736. *David, to whom his father gave land in G., in 1723, and he to his son David, in 1760. Also to his son Hezekiah, in 1752, who m. Hannah Olcott, Dec. 10, 1752, and had four sons and three daughters.


Ephraim, to whom his father gave land in G., in 1724, and he to his son Eph., in 1756. Also to other sons, Jonathan and Eleazar, the same year. He had also a daughter Mary, who m. John, son of Tho. Kimberly, Oct. 24, 1741.


*W. R. I. 63, 145.


173


Isaac, to whom his father gave land in G., 1725, and he to his son Isaac, 1736.


Sarah, - who married Abraham Hollister, and to whom her father gave land in 1752.


Ephraim Hubbard, above mentioned married, and had-


(5) Jonathan, m. Sarah Forbes, Nov. 15, 1753. He d. Jan. 6, 1786. She d. Nov. 23, 1781. They had among others-


(6) David, b. Sept. 2, 1758, m. Jemima Chamberlain, June 12, 1783. They had-


(7) David, b. Nov. 25, 1785, m. Jerusha Hollister, June 2, 1824.


The genealogy of the Hon. David E. Hubbard, is (1) David E., (2) Eli- zur, (3) Hezekiah, (4) David, (5) John, (6) John, (7) George.


The members of this family seem generally to have settled their own es- tates in their life time, so that the deficiency of the Town Records can not be supplied by those of the Court of Probate.


15. GEORGE WYLLIS. This lot 30 rods in width, containing 180 acres, set out to George Wyllis, was sold to the Hubbards as above mentioned. Of the Wyllis family we have already had occasion to speak.


16. ROBERT ROSE. The lot set out to this man 52 rods in width, contain- ing 3,12 acres, became the property of Samuel Smith previously to the sur- vey of 1684.


When it was proposed to make Glastenbury a Town by itself, John Hub- bard and Samuel Smith, " Having a desire to promote the settlement of the public worship and ordinances of GOD, among the inhabitants of Wethers- field, that are on the east side of the Great River, and to the intent that the said inhabitants may have and enjoy a convenient piece of land for the build- ing of their Meeting House upon, and to be improved for a burying place, and also for any good and necessary uses that the said inhabitants shall think meet to dispose of the same unto ;" for these purposes, Messrs. Hubbard and Smith gave 10 acres lying in one body, being taken half from the land of Mr. Hubbard, and half from the land of Mr. Smith, to be bounded west by the highway or "country road" north by Mr. Hubbard, south by Mr. Smith, and east by both, being 20 rods in width, from north to south, and 80 rods in length from east to west. It was also stipulated that there should be a public highway four rods in width, passing through the centre of the same, Messrs. Smith and Hubbard, continuing the highway to the end of the three mile lots. The location of the first Meeting House is not mentioned in the Rec- ords, but is said by tradition to have been on the Green; while the Green itself is sometimes spoken of in deeds, as the " Meeting House Green." The second Meeting House having been located at some distance from the land given by Messrs. Smith and Hubbard, their descendants re-enclosed a portion of the land which had been given to the public. Mr. Hubbard was the first to do this, whereupon the Town appointed a committee to remove his en-


174


croachment, of whom Mr. Smith was one. Before the next Town meeting, however, Mr. Smith had also enclosed a portion of the publie land, on which account he was excused by the Town from further action on the committee aforesaid, and a new committee appointed to proceed against both, to the ex- tent of the law. The matter, however, was subsequently compromised to the satisfaction of all parties .*


17. JOHN GIBBS. This lot 22 rods wide, containing 132 acres, was origi- nally set out to John Gibbs, who soon after sold it to William Miller, in which family it remained for several generations, the last of whom sold what remain- ed to them to Mr. Dudley Watrous .;


18. NATHANIEL FOOTE. This lot 32 rods in width, containing 192 aeres, was set out to Nathaniel Foote, in 1640. He died in 1644, aged about 51, leaving a large family, which in the eighth generation has become exceed- ingly numerous, and is widely diffused throughout the country. Ilis widow married Thomas Welles, afterwards Governor of the Colony. The geneal- ogy of this family has been carefully written by Mr. Nathaniel Goodwin. Those who desire information in regard to this family, will find it there in full.


19. NATHANIEL DICKINSON. This lot 17 rods wide, containing 100 acres, was set out to Mr. Diekinson, and sold by him to Mr. Parke, in 1647. In 1650, both Robert the father, and Thomas the son, removed to New Lon- don, selling the lot to John Edwards, who sold it to James Richards of Hart- ford, previous to the survey of 1684.}


20. ABRAHAM FINCH. This lot 10 rods in width, containing 60 aeres, was set out to Abraham Finch. It was subsequently sold to Thomas Ed- wards, and by him to James Richards, before 1684. Mr. Finch was killed by the Indians, in 1637, and the land by mistake was at first recorded to John Edwards, who married the widow of Mr. Finch.§


21. JOHN PLUM. This lot of land 34 rods in width, containing 204 aeres, was set out to Mr. Plum. It was subsequently sold, and after passing through various hands 22 rods in width on the north side became the property of James Richards. The other 12 rods in width, passed into the hands of John Edwards.


At the time of the general survey in 1684, James Richards was in posses- sion of a farm 93 rods wide, and three miles long, containing 558 acres. This farm was composed of 22 rods in width of John Plum's lot, the 10 rods


*W. R. J. 140. G. L. R. I. 1.


+ W. R. I. 147.


# W. R. I. 16, II. 104. Caulk. N. L. 67.


§ W R, I. 104. G. L. R. II. 4.


175


of the Finch lot, the 17 rods of Mr. Parke, the 32 rods of Nathaniel Foote, and 10 rods in width, from land originally reserved for a highway, the road which was 12 rods wide in 1640, having contracted to 2 rods in 1684. Mr. Richards bequeathed this property to his daughter Mary Richards in 1680, who by the name of widow Mary Alford, conveyed the same to Joseph Maudsley of Westfield, Mass., in 1718. In the final division of common lands in the First Society, Abner and Isaac Moseley, (into which the name had been changed,) sons of Mr. Joseph Moseley, were regarded as represent- ing one householder at the incorporation of the Town. A considerable por- tion of this farm remains in the Moseley family, the width of the meadow being still 93 rods .*


The earliest settler of this name in the Colony, came from Mass. to Wind- sor, where he married Mary, daughter of Benjamin Newberry, Dec. 14th, 1664. He lived in Windsor, until about 1677, when he removed to West- field. He subsequently returned to Windsor, where he died in 1690. His children were-


Benjamin, b. Oct. 13, 1666, Rec'd in Windsor.


Margarct," b. Feb. 4, 1669, 66 died young.


Joseph, b. Dec. 21, 1670, 66 Mary, b. May 1, 1673,


Consider, b. Nov. 1675,


John, b. Aug. 21, 1678.


Comfort, b. Dec. 3, 1680, d. 1711.


Margaret, b. May 22, 1683.


Elizabeth, b. Nov. 17, 1685.


Hannah, b. d. 1708.


Joseph Moseley, the purchaser of the Moseley farm, was the third child of Capt. John Moseley. He married Abigail Root, in 1696. He resided for a time in Westfield, but removed to Glastenbury, in 1715, where he died in 1719, leaving nine children, viz .-


Abigail, b. 1697, m. John Lyman, Northampton.


Abner, b. 1699, m. Elizabeth Lyman, of Northampton, 1722.


Sarah, b. 1702.


David, b. 1704.


Mary, b. 1707, m. Benjamin Lyman, Northampton.


Hannah, b. 1709, m. Samuel Talcott, 1732.


Isaac, b. 1712, m. Ruth Welles, 1738.


Rachel, b. 1715, m. Daniel Pomeroy, Northampton.


Job.


22. JOHN THOMPSON. This lot 7 rods in width, and containing 42 acres, originally set out to John Thompson, was sold to Thomas Edwards, some time previous to 1667.t


23. JOHN EDWARDS. This lot 8} rods wide, containing 49} acres, was


*W. R. I. 86. II. 104. G. L. R. II. 135, 136.


+W. R. 1. 115. II 111.


176


the property of John Edwards, in 1641, and of Thomas Edwards, in 1667. At the time of the general survey in 1684, John Edwards, as the name stands in the survey, though it is probably a mistake for Thomas Edwards, was pos- sessed of 27} rods in width, made up of the 8} set out to John Edwards, the 7 rods set out to John Thompson, and 12 rods on the south side of the lot set to John Plum. John Edwards came to Wethersfield, and died there about 1665. His wife's name was Dorothy, and his children were --


Thomas, b. 1621, m. d. July 27, 1683, aged 62.


John, b. Dec., 1633, killed in the Indian war, 1675.


Esther, b. Mar., 1641.


Ruth, b. Dec .. 1643, m. Samuel Hale, 1679.


Hannah, b. Jan., 1645.


Joseph, b. May, 1648, m. Sarah, 1670, d. 1681.


Lydia, b. July.


S. V. T. has the birth of John, 1639, Ruth, 1644, and Hannah, 1646, but the ages as given in the Probate Record, Vol. III. seem to require the dates as I have them.


24. FRANCES KILBORN. This lot originally 18 rods wide, containing 108 aeres, was set to Thomas Kilborn, but he dying before the property was re- corded, it was entered in the name of his widow, and has ever sinee remain- ed in the family. The present occupant is Austin Kilborn, Esq., the author of various tracts on agriculture, to whose politeness we are indebted for many interesting particulars. His children were --


(2) Margaret, b. 1612, m. Richard Law, of Stamford, grandfather of Gov. Jonathan Law, and the ancestor of Judge Richard Law of New London.


Lydia, b. 1613, m. Robert Haywood, (Howard,) of Windsor.


Mary, b. 1619, m. John Root of Farmington.


Frances, b. 1623, m. Thomas Uffoot, or as some read the name Thomas A. Foote.


John, b. 1625, m. Naomi -, 1650, d. 1705, aged 80.


The first wife of John Kilborn, dying in October, 1659, he married Sarah 2124, who died in 1711. Their children were-


*JOHN KILBORN, JR., b. 1651, m. Susanna - who died Oct. 3, 1711. He then m. Elizabeth Michel, May 12, 1702. He d. Nov. 25, 1711. Elizabeth K., June 8, 1718.


Thomas, b. 1653, m. Miss Ilills, daughter of Wm. Hills, d. 1712.


Naomi,


b. - , m. Thomas IIale, Oct. 30, 1679.


. Ebenezer,


b. 1655, m. Grace Bulkley, daughter of Peter B., 1692, d. 1711.


Sarah,


b. - , m. Joseph Crane.


George,


b. 1668, m. Abigail, daughter of Thomas Atwood, 1689.


Mary, history unknown.


Joseph, b. 1672, m. Dorothy, daughter of Deac. Sam'l Butler, 1696, d. 1709.


b. 1675, m. Sarah, daughter of John Goodrich, 1699, d. 1713 .* * Abraham,


25. THOMAS COLEMAN. This lot, which was 15 rods wide, and contain- ed 90 aeres, remained in the Coleman family until subsequent to the survey


* W. R. I. 135. Kil. Fam. Mem.


177


of 1684. In 1730, it was the property of Thomas Welles, when it was found that the Colemans had enelosed 3 rods in width, on the south side of the Kil- born lot, whereupon Mr. Welles purchased this strip of Abraham Kilborn, who was then in possession of the premises .*


26. JEFFREY FERRIS. This lot, 7} rods wide, containing 45 acres, was set out to Jeffrey Ferris, who removed to Stamford. Mr. Ferris sold this lot to John Deming, who sold it to Riehard Belden, who sold it to John Riley, who owned it in 1646, but in 1684, it was the property of Thomas Welles.t


27. JOHN WHITMORE. This lot, 9 rods wide, containing 54 acres, was set out to John Whitmore, who removed to Stamford, where he was killed by the Indians. He sold the property to Riehard Treat, in 1641, who sold it to Thomas Coleman, in 1647, but in 1684, it was the property of Thomas Welles.#


28. JOHN ROBBINS. This lot, 22 rods wide, containing 132 acres, was set out to John Robbins, in whose family it remained until 1677, when it came into the possession of Eleazer Kimberly, Esq., in right of his wife. Mr. K. was the first male ehild born in New Haven Colony, he was Secretary of State, from 1696 to 1709. This property remained in the Kimberly fami- ly until after the death of Thomas Kimberly, Esq., the great-grandson of Eleazer Kimberly, Esq., who was killed by the blowing up of a powder mill in 1777. It was then sold to Jonatlian Brace, Esq., who disposed of it to Zephaniah Hollister Smith, Esq., in whose family it still remains.§


*ELEAZAR KIMBERLY, son of Thomas Kimberly, and Ruth his wife had-


Thomas, b. Sept. 29, 1681, m. Ruth Hale, Feb. 24, 1704.


Mary, b. Oct. 29, 1683, m. John IIubbard, Jr., June 17, 1708.


Ruth, b. -- --- , d. Nov. 4. 1711.


Elizabeth, b.


*Thomas Kimberly, son of Eleazer K., m. Ruth, daughter of Samuel Hale, Jr., as above, and had-


Eleazar, b. Nov. 10, 1704, d. Aug. 20, 1715.


*Thomas, b. Jan. 28, 1706.


*Samuel, b. Feb. 7, 1708.


Ruth, b. Feb. 20, 1710, m. Jeremiah Goodrich.


Mary, b. Juue 8, 1712, m. Jeduthan Smith.


Elizabeth, b. June 30, 1715.


Eleazar, b. Oct. 26, 1717, d. May 8, 1718.


John, b. May 2, 1719, m. Mary Hubbard, Oet. 29, 1741.


Sarah, b. Oct. 1721, m. Daniel House.


Anne, b. May 18, 1730.


Thomas Kimberly, d. Jan. 29. 1730.


*W. R. I. 90. G. L. R. IV. 5.


+ W. R. I. 105, 50.


ĮW. R. I. 121, 54, 90.


§ W. R. I. 107. M. G. B.


12


178


29. THOMAS WRIGHT. This lot, 7 rods in width, containing 42 acres, remained in the family of Thomas Wright, until subsequent to the general survey of 1684 .*


The chief estate of Thomas Wright, was on the west side of the river, and in the Island called by the Indians, MANHANNOCK, or great laughing place,t a place of celebrating certain joyous games; but known as Wright's Island, having been in possession of that family for upwards of two centuries. When the valley of the Connecticut was settled, the river ran on both sides of the Island. As late as 1713, land on the Island was bounded East by the river; but in 1726, land in the same place was bounded East by Glastenbury, whence we conclude, that when once the eastern channel began to fill up, it did so rapidly. In 1759, the bed of the stream was equally divided between the proprietors on the two sides. It was formerly much larger than at pres-


* W. R. I. 155.


+ This name, which has been communicated to us since the delivery of the discourse, confirms an etymology which we there proposed with some doubt- fulness. The name MANHANNOCK, may possibly be from Munnannock, the moon, from the shape of the island at some period, but is more likely to have the signification given in the text. Besides the word MIs, which also becomes MISSI, MISHAM, and MINNI, the Indians also had MAUM, which, in composition becomes MAUN, MAUS, and NAUN, also signifying great ; as MAUSEEK, a great basket. R. W. 93, 99, 100, etc. AHAUNA, to laugh, he is merry, R. W. 145, and UCK, place of, locality. Hence, MAUN-HAUN-NUOCK, place of great merry-making.


Of these there were two principal kinds ; first, PUT-TUCK-QUA-QUONCK, or arbor playing. " The Arbor, or Playhouse," says Roger Williams, " is made of long poles set in the earth, four square, sixteen or twenty feet high, on which they hang great store of their stringed money, having great staking, town against town, and two chosen out of the rest by course, to play the game at this kind of Dice, in the midst of all their abettors, with great shouting and solemnity : beside, they have great meetings of football playing, early in Sum- mer, town against town, upon some broad sandy shore, free from stones, or upon some soft heathier plot, because of their naked feet, at which they have great stakings, but seldom quarrel." P. 146.


" Their chiefest idol of all sport and game, is (if their land be at peace) to- ward harvest, when they set up QUN-NE-KA-MUCK, which signifies, Long-house, sometimes an hundred, sometimes two hundred feet long, upon a plain near the Court, (which they call KIT-TEIC-KAU-ICK,) where many thousands, men and women meet, where he that goes in dances in sight of all the rest ; and is pre- pared with money, coats, small breeches, knives, or what he is able to reach to, and gives these away to the poor." Ib. pp. 146, 147.


Whoever compares the situation of the land on MANHANNOCK, with that on the adjoining shore at PYQUAG, will perceive that there is no place in this region of country, so well adapted to these Indian games, as those under consideration. The concurrence of this fact, with the significance of the names, proximity of the Sachem's Court in PYQUAG, renders the conclusion, that PYQUAG and MAN- HANNOCK, were places of merry-making, highly probable.




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