USA > Connecticut > New London County > Groton > Groton, Conn. 1705-1905 > Part 6
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A hundred muskets flashed in sight, And gun-smoke settled o'er the fight. But the wreathing smoke has an orange glow And on it the fostering north winds blow,
And the death song falls in the fervid breath And the shadows without are the shadows of death. The red flame waves and leaps and flows: Over the fortress the fire-fiend goes; And husband and father and mother and child All fall in the path of his frenzy wild.
In scorching heat and blinding smoke Mononotto fought till his bow-string broke. His eye quailed not; like a king he stood On that crimson field of fire and blood. Scarce two-score warriors gaunt and tall Remained to heed his rallying call. From the burning town, a tempest of wrath, Through the English line they swept a path; But the circle of death closed in again And out of the ceaseless, pitiless rain Of death, but a remnant escaped to tell How the pride of the Pequot nation fell.
The shadows were stealing grey and still Over the summit of Pequot Hill,
* Englishmen! Englishmen!
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When, at the close of the summer day, Along his solitary way,
A warrior passed with weary tread Into the presence of the dead. He heard the wind in the pine trees moan, And ever it whispered-"Alone, Alone." Over his soul in the fading light, While shadows lengthened into night,
A wave of desolation swept,
And the sachem covered his face and wept.
CHAPTER IV
EARLY SETTLERS
S' SEVERAL YEARS elapsed after the fight on Pequot Hill before any steps were taken looking to the settlement of the conquered territory. October 7, 1640, Massachusetts granted Fisher's Island to John Winthrop, Jr., his title to the island being afterward confirmed by both Connecticut and New York. He settled there in 1644. The earliest grant of land embraced within the present confines of Groton is found in the Massachusetts Colonial Records :*
"Upon the petition of Mr. John Winthrope, Junior, ex- hibited to this Cort. for leave to make a plantation at or near Pequott, it is ordered-that the said petition is granted and that the petitioner shall have liberty to make a planta- tion in said Pequott country with such others as shall p'sent themselves to joyne in the said plantation & they shall enjoy such liberties as are necessary & other farr remote planta- tions do enjoy & also to lay out a convenient place for iron works, p'vided that a convenient number of fit p'sons to carry on the said plantation do appear to p'secute the same within three years. Dated, the 28th of the 4th mo. 1644."
In the Public Records of Connecticut ** under date of the 17th of May, 1649, we find :
"Upon the desire of the inhabitants of Pequot, for their incouragement it is Graunted by this Courte that they shall be freed from all publick Country charges (except such as are occasioned by themselves) for the space of three years next ensuing: It is also Graunted, that the bounds of the plantation of Pequott shall be foure myles on each side of the River and six myles from the sea northward into the Country, till the Courte shall see cause and have incourage-
* Vol. II, p. 71. Ibid, p. 241.
Vol. I, p. 185.
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ment to add thereunto, provided they interteine none amongst them as inhabitants that shall be obnoxious to this jurisdiction and that the aforesaid bounds bee not distrib- uted to less than forty families."
As early as the summer of 1645 Mr. Winthrop is thought to have been upon the ground preparing the way for the settlement of New London, and Miss Caulkins says the marshes and meadows were mowed that year. In her "His- tory of New London"* she quotes: "At a General Court held at Boston 6th of May 1646-Whereas Mr. John Win- throp Jun. and some others have by allowance of this Court, begun a plantation in the Pequot country, which appertains to this jurisdiction as part of our proportion of the con- quered country, and whereas the Court is informed that some Indians who are now planted upon the place where the plantation is begun, are willing to remove from their planting ground for the more quiet and convenient settling of the English there, so that they may have another con- venient place appointed-it is therefore ordered that Mr. John Winthrop may appoint unto such Indians as are will- ing to remove their lands on the other side, that is on the east side of the Great River of the Pequot country, or some other place for their convenient planting and subsistence which may be to the good liking and satisfaction of the said Indians, and likewise to such of the Pequot Indians as shall desire to live there, submitting themselves to the Eng- lish government &c. And whereas Mr. Thomas Peters is intending to inhabit in the said plantation-this said Court doth think fit to join him to assist the said Mr. Winthrop for the better carrying on the work of said plantation. A true copy &c. New London Records, Book VI."
The above described grant was made by the Massachu- setts Bay, who claimed the land by conquest, but at a Com- missioners' Court held at Boston in July 1647 the territory was given to Connecticut, the reason assigned being that "Jurisdiction goeth constantly with the Patent." This boundary question raised and settled so promptly with
* P. 45.
£
£
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Massachusetts became a very troublesome problem with Rhode Island, the dispute continuing for many years and not being finally settled until 1728. In the "Antientest Book for 1648-49-50" is found the following record: "The 16 of Januarie 1648-it is agreed by the townsmen of Nameeug that Mr. John Winthrop is granted to set up a were and to make huse of the river at poquanuck at the uper end of the plaine for to take fish, and so to make im- provements of it, to him and his heires and asigns."
Miss Caulkins says :* "Preparatory to a division of lands on the east side of the river, two grants are recorded to Mr. Winthrop, who was allowed a first choice of his portion, while the other shares went by lot. The first is a farm of princely dimensions at Pequonock and the other a lot on the river. The lands in these situations on the Sound and on the river being those which the inhabitants could immedi- ately make available, were the first divided. The upland on the river furnished planting fields and the Pequonock plains, meadows and grass lands. Winthrop's farm em- braced a tract about three miles in length from north to south, averaging perhaps a mile in breadth, lying between Pequonock Creek or River and what was then called East or Straight Cove (since known as Mumford's Cove). On the south it was washed by the Sound and intersected by inlets of salt water. In this compass were all the varieties of for- est and meadow, arable land, pasture and salt marsh, which are useful to the farmer and pleasing to the eye of taste. It lay also in an opposite position to Winthrop's island farm, so that the owner of these two noble domains could look over Fisher's Island Sound from either side and rest his eye upon his own fair possessions.
"Winthrop's grant on the east side of the river was 'right against the sandy point of his own home lot, the length eight score pole and the breadth eight score pole' -that is on Groton Bank, opposite the eastern spur of Win- throp's Neck. These grants being settled, the other planters drew lots for their shares on the 17th and 31st of January,
* History of New London, p. 61.
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1648-9. From these lists we obtain two catalogues of those who may be considered as first owners : 'A division of lands on the east side of the Great River of Pequot, north of Mr. Winthrop's lot.' The list contains but eighteen names; the shares were of twenty, thirty and forty acres. The division of Pequonock plain was in lots of the same average size and the number of grantees twenty-two, viz., Austin, Bartlet, Bedell, Bemas, Bordman, Busstraw, Fossiker, Gager, Hallet, Hempstead, Latham, Lewis, Longdon, Lothrop, Miner, Mor- ton, Nichols, Robinson, Smith, Stebbins, Waterhouse, Wil- ley. These were all actual residents of the town (New Lon- don) at that time and expecting to cultivate the land next season : but Austin, Busstraw, Hallet, Robinson and Smith disappeared from the plantation, forfeiting or selling their grants."
The first settler on the east side of the river, within the bounds of Groton, was Jonathan Brewster, who established a trading post at Brewster's Neck. A town grant was made to him in September 1649. Uncas gave him land by the following deed :* "April 25, 1650. I, Unquas, Sachem of Mauhekon, doe give freely unto Jonathan Brewster of Pequett, a tract of land, being a plaine of arable land, bounded on the south side with a greate Cove called Poc- catannocke, on the north with the old Poccatuck path that goes to the Trading Coave &c. For and in consideration thereof, the said J. B. binds himself and his heirs to keep a house for trading goods with the Indians. (Signed by the Sachem and witnessed by William Baker and John Fos- siker) ."
This matter incurred the censure of the General Court of Connecticut, which on the 21st of May, 1650, passed the fol- lowing vote :** "Whereas, Mr. Jonathan Brewster hath set up a trading house at Mohigen, this Courte declares that they cannot but judge the things very disorderly, never- theless considering his condition, they are content hee
* History of New London, Caulkins, p. 66.
* Colonial Records of Connecticut, p. 209.
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should proceed therein for the present, and till they see cause to the contrary."
Miss Caulkins writes of him :* "Jonathan Brewster was the oldest son of Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower Colony, but came over in the 'Fortune,' 1621, a year later than his father. He settled in Duxbury and represented that town in 1639. With others of the Plymouth Colony he engaged actively in the trade with the Indians of Long Island Sound and Connecticut River. This trade was car- ried on in sloops and shallops. These voyages brought Mr. Brewster into contact with the younger Win- throp, the founder of New London; to which place he re- moved in 1649 and found immediate employment, not only in the old path of Indian traffic but as Recorder or Clerk of the plantation-many of the early deeds and grants at New London being in his handwriting. . . Nine or ten years before the settlement of Norwich, Mr. Brewster had established a trading post near the mouth of Poquetan- nock Creek. The point of land was here given by Uncas to Mr. Brewster, as a bonus to induce him to establish the post, and it was confirmed to him by the townsmen of New London, within whose original bounds it was included. He commenced operations at Brewster's Neck in 1650 without waiting to obtain a license from the authorities of Con- necticut, who claimed the jurisdiction. The General Court in May of that year censured him for the way of proceed- ing but legalized the undertaking itself. . . . From this time forth, Brewster's Neck and Trading Cove on the op- posite side of the river became the principal places of traffic with the Mohegans. Mr. Brewster maintained an agency here and kept his family at the post for several years, but at length relinquished the trade to his son Ben- jamin and returned to Pequot Harbor, as New London was then called. In May 1657 he was chosen 'assistant for the town of Pequett.'
"New London, as the bounds were stated in 1652, ex- tended a quarter of a mile above Mr. Brewster's trading * History of Norwich, 1874, p. 211.
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house. In 1668, the line between New London and Norwich was revised and rectified and it was still found to cross Brewster's Neck, dividing the Brewster farm between the two towns. The Legislature, therefore, left it to the option of Mr. Brewster to which place he would be attached. The settlement at one place was four miles north of him, at the other eight miles south. He chose the nearer neighborhood. Accordingly in 1669 we find him recorded as one of the twenty-five freemen at Norwich, and in 1685 he was one of its twelve patentees: but a year later, when Preston was accepted as a plantation, his farm fell within the limits of that new town, and he was enrolled as one of its inhab- itants.
"Thus it appears that Brewster's Neck, which as we have seen was at first an advanced post into the wilderness, where the first house was erected by white men in the Mo- hegan or Pequot territory north of New London, was long afloat in regard to its territorial possession, and settled with difficulty into a permanent position. Originally included in the territory conquered from the Pequots, yet claimed and given away by Uncas, accredited for about twenty years to New London and then assigned by courtesy to Norwich --- afterward made a part of the town of Preston but sub- sequently included in North Groton --- it is now undeniably, and has been since 1836, within the limits of Ledyard. It is seldom that the formation of new towns and the altera- tions of boundaries produce so many changes in a particular locality."
Robert Burrows came from Wethersfield to New London, where he was granted a house lot June 2, 1650. It is said he was settled at Pequonock that year or the next. April 3, 1651, he was granted land on the Mystic River,* "a parcel of land between the west side of the river and a high moun- tain of rock." In 1664 ** we find "Goodman Burrose chosen ferryman for Mistick river, to ferry a horse and man for a groat." The same year his name appears in the rate list. * History of New London, Caulkins, p. 96.
** Ibid, p. 137.
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HIVE OF THE AVERYS
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for the ministry tax as owning property valued at £246, being fourth on the list in value.
John Packer was another early settler on the west bank of the Mystic. Miss Caulkins places him among those who came to New London in the spring of 1651, and soon after he removed to the east side of the river, probably as early as 1653. His house stood near a spring on the east side of the Noank road, at the corner of the old road lead- ing to the shipyard and nearly opposite the school house. His land bordered on the south the land occupied by the Pequots at Noank, and as early as July 24, 1665, appears the following entry in the moderator's book :* "John Packer desires that Leiftenant Avery and James Morgan may issue the business yt is now in contest betwixt him and the In- dians at Naiwayuncke and to compound with them in the best way they can with land to satisfaction of the Indians and Goodman Packer-Voted." This controversy was not finally settled until 1735.
James Avery first appears as a grantee October 19, 1650, in the company that came from Gloucester with Mr. Richard Blinman, called to be the minister of the new plantation at Pequot. He removed to New London in 1651 and the next year was granted land in South Groton and in 1653 secured a farm at North Groton. However, in 1656 he seems to have finally settled on the Pequonnoc farm and in that year built the house known as the "Hive of the Averys," which at the time of its destruction by fire in July 1894 was the oldest house in Groton. The original house was small but had been added to from time to time, the most notable addition being made from the material from the old Blin- man meeting house in New London, sold to Capt. James Avery in 1684 for six pounds, with the condition that he should remove it in six months' time. James Avery was prominent in the civil and military affairs of the town.
Cary Latham is one of the earliest named settlers at Pequot, Winthrop having recorded the fact that he was with him "in the beginning of the plantation." He was one
* History of New London, Caulkins, p. 138.
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of the men chosen under date of February 22, 1648-9, to manage the affairs of the town .* "The inhabitants of Pequot plantation have chosen by joynt consent Mr. John Winthrop, Robert Hempsteed, Carie Latham, John Stubens and Thomas Minor for this year following to act in all towne affairs, as well in the disposing of lands as in other prudentiall occasions for the towne. The same day the inhabitants did consent and desire that the plantation may be called London."
In 1654 the town granted him a lease of the ferry priv- ilege :** "The ferry over Pequot River at the town of Pequot, for fifty years-from the 25th of March 1655. The said Cary to take 3d. of every passenger for his fare, 6d. for every horse or great beast and 3d. for a calf or swine; and to have liberty to keep some provisions and some strong liquors or wine for the refreshment of passengers .- No English or Indian are to pass over any near the ferry place that they take pay for-if they do the said Cary may require it."
"Mr. Latham on his part bound himself to attend the service immediately with a good canoe and to provide within a year's time a sufficient boat to convey man and beast. He also engaged to build a house on the ferry lot east of the river before the next October, to dwell there and to keep the ferry carefully, or cause it to be so kept for the whole term of years."
Mr. Latham thus became the first settler upon Groton Bank. He was prominent in town affairs.
James Morgan was another of the Cape Ann colony that came with Mr. Blinman. He is supposed to have settled in Groton about 1655. From the first he was prominent in public affairs, having been nine times a member of the General Court. At a General Court June 15, 1659,1 Deacon Caulkin, James Avery and he were "appointed a com- mittee to lay out the Governor's land at Pocquetaunoc;" at
*
History of New London, Caulkins, p. 58.
** Ibid, p. 89.
7 Colonial Records of Connecticut, p. 338 et seq.
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the same court Goodmen Morgan and Avery were directed to lay out one-hundred and fifty acres to James Rogers. May 16, 1661,* "Matthew Griswold, Thomas Tracy and James Morgan are appointed to try the bounds of N. Lon- don and to make report what is ye extent of ye bounds from the Sea northward into ye Country, on ye east side of the river, according to ye ordinary way of laying out of bounds in this colony. N. London people have liberty to procure the ablest person they can to assist in this matter;" and in October 1663, after the naming of a commission to state the west bounds of New London, "Ensign Tracy and James Morgan, or any other whom the two towns of New London or Norwich do appoint, are to see it done."
In 1664 in the rate for the ministry tax Morgan stands third on the list, being assessed upon 252 pounds. In 1665 James Avery and he were chosen referees in the case of John Packer vs. the Pequot Indians. In February of the next year the same men were appointed messengers ** "to fetch up Mr. Bradstreet as soon as moderate weather presents." November 29, 1669,1 "Left. Avery, Mr. Rogers, James Morgan Sen. and John Morgan" were "chosen to lay out the Kings highway between Norwich and Mystick." In 1670 James Morgan and wife were mentioned third in the list of members of Mr. Bradstreet's church.
Nehemiah Smith was an early grantee of land in Groton. In the records in the Town Clerk's office in New London we read: "December 27, 1652-20 acres of upland given him upon the east of the pond in Skull plain."# This land was at Smith Lake and was the location of the Smith Home- stead. "February 9, 1652-3 Nehemiah Smith hath given him 150 acres of upland upon the plain joining to his 20 acres given him by the pond on Skull plain. February 9, 1652-3 Goodman Smith hath given him for his whole pro- portion of all divided lands, 8 acres of upland more to be laid to his home lot, excepting swamps &c. February 20,
* Colonial Records of Connecticut, p. 366.
** History. of New London, Caulkins, p. 138.
+ Ibid, p. 143.
# Descendants of Nehemiah Smith, p. 59.
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1652-3 Nehemiah Smith hath given him a piece of meadow adjoining Captain Denisons 50 acres-two or three acres if it be there. January 24, 1653-4 Nehemiah Smith hath given him a piece of plain land about fifteen acres lying on the eastward of his land given beyond Skull Plain. He hath also given him one hundred acres of upland joining to his brothers about Mistic Hill, his brothers two hundred acres which is half granted by the Pond and half about Mistic Hill. February 19, 1654-he hath given him five acres of meadow lying upwards upon Pequonnoc River, at Mistic he hath given him four acres of meadow. He hath also given him two hundred acres of upland more or less upon the hills toward Pequonnoc Plains bounded on the west by land of Goodmen Burroughs and Thomas-toward Pequon- noc, bounded by the pond of water-also more land January 4, 1653-4."
"He continued to reside at New London until after 1655, owing to trouble with the Indians. He then moved to his farm at Smith Lake, Pequonnoc, where he doubtless had been making improvements, building, &c., for several years."* Mr. Smith did not long remain a resident of New London (Groton), as he appears to have been one of the original grantees of Norwich in 1659 ** and in 1663 he is spoken of as "now of New Norridge." He died at Norwich about 1686, aged about 81 years. All the above are positively identified as the earliest settlers in Groton.
Rev. William Thompson was appointed missionary to the Pequots .; He was the owner of a farm in Groton which he sold to Aaron Starke between 1666 and 1669. Prob- ably he never resided upon this farm, though his missionary labors were confined to the Indians of Mystic and Paw- catuck. John Smith, brother of Nehemiah, was an early grantee, as was also Edward Culver. John Fish, John Ben- net, Thomas Bailey, George Geer, Philip Bill, Robert Allyn, Samuel Starr and Edmund Fanning are all believed to have
* Descendants of Nehemiah Smith, pp. 59-60.
** History of Norwich, Caulkins, p. 61.
/ History of New London, Caulkins, 1860, p. 128.
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EARLY SETTLERS
been settled in Groton prior to 1670. The islands adjacent to the coast were in demand from the very beginning. "John Cole is called a 'ploo-right' (plow maker). Among the grants 'the marsh upon pyne island' was given him. This island or islet, which lies on the Groton shore, still retains its designation, though long since denuded of the original growth of pines from which this was derived. Six penny Island at the mouth of Mistick' was granted to Robert Hempstead and John Stebbins in 1652. Notwithstanding its derisive name it contained nearly twenty acres of marsh."*
* History of New London, Caulkins, 1860, p. 81.
CHAPTER V
POLITICAL
T HE AGITATION for divine service to be held on the east side of the river preceded that for organiza- tion of a new town, and had been going on for more than fifteen years when the town of New London voted, Feb- ruary 20, 1704-5, that the inhabitants on the east side of the river should be a town by themselves on the following terms, viz .:*
"That they pay their proportion of the town's debts; that the ferry and land and house belonging to it, shall con- tinue to belong to the free school on the west side; that all estate hitherto given to the ministry or for the support of schools shall remain the property of the west side; that the inhabitants of the west side shall retain their right to cut masts or timber in the pine swamp near the straits on the east side, and the said swamp forever remain common to both sides; that inhabitants on either side, owning prop- erty on the other side, shall each retain their rights as proprietors." The Assembly passed an act of incorporation the same year :**
"Whereas the inhabitants of Newlondon on the east side of the river have desired that the lands on that side of the river may (be) a distinct township on certain terms agreed upon between them and the inhabitants of said towne on the west side, which terms are as followeth : First, that the ferry and the land and house belonging to it shall be and remain for the benefit of a free-school in the town on the west side of the river. 2ly, that the inhabitants of the east side pay their part of the town debts that are now due. * History of New London, Caulkins, ed. 1860, p. 414. Ibid, p. 337. ** Colonial Records of Connecticut, Vol. IV, pp. 510-11.
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3ly, that the inhabitants on the west side who have pro- prietie in lands on the east doe still hold their right in the common land on the east side in proportion with the in- habitants on the east side; the same rule to be attended for such inhabitants on the east side who have propriety in lands on the west side. 4thly, that the pine swamp on the east side where they usually get masts may continue for the benefit of the inhabitants on both sides the river as for- merly. 5thly. That all estate given to ministrie of New- london or to a free-school there, shall be and remain wholly to the use of the ministrie and maintenance of a free-school in the town on the west side of the river.
"This Assembly upon the application of the inhabitants of the said towne, doe approve of and confirme the said Lands in the township of Newlondon shall be divided into two townships, the lands on the west side of the river in the said township to be one distinct township to be called by the name of Newlondon, and the lands on the east side of the said river to be a distinct township to be called by the name of Groton; and that the said townes shall enjoy all such privileges and imunities as are generally granted to all or to any townes in this Colonie; and doe order and enact that whatsoever estate reall or personall, and what- soever privileges are by the said articles or any of them excepted and reserved to either partie shall forever be and remain to those uses for which the same is excepted and reserved according to the true import and intent of the said articles and every of them. Always provided that the inhabitants on the east side of the said river in the town- ship of Groton doe not hereby claim a privilege of being exempted from paying countrie rates. And it is further provided and to be understood that this act shall not be understood or interpreted to the preiudice or infringement of any rights or privileges granted by the town of New- london to John Winthrop Esqr our late Governor or his heirs within the said township of Newlondon as formerly bounded but the said grants shall be of the same force, effect and virtue as if this act had never been.
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