USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > Historical notices of Connecticut, 1640 > Part 4
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12 Daniel m. Elizabeth Lea in 1692, who after his death m. John Sheldon in 1708.
13 Hannah m. Daniel ? Clark.
14 Elizabeth m. Nat. Goodwin.
16 Rachel m. John Skinner in 1694.
17 Mary m. a Sandford.
20 John, Jr. m. Hannah Norton of Farmington in 1713. He died before his father,
21 William lived in front of State House square near Asylum street, and died before his father. He married Amy Pinney, who survived him, and had the charge of his property. She died in 1772.
22 Hannah m. Isaac Porter, of Windsor, in 1727.
23 Esther m. Jos. Talcott, son of the governor, in 1727.
29 Eliz. m. Wm. Moulbe, (Maltby.)
30 Jerusha m. Roberts.
33 Eliz. m. Deac. Isaac Sheldon in 1717.
36 Elisha m. Sarah Burnham in 1726.
37 Rebecca m. Marsh.
their father's God."
4 Hannah m. Garvad
7 Sarah in 1690 m. Timothy Phelps, Wind- sor, who removed to Hart- ford.
9 Ruth m. Wilterton Merrill in 1702.
10 Susanna m. Daniel Merrill in 169S.
19
GENEALOGY.
38 Susanna m. Marsh. Palmer.
40 Ruth m.
41 John, Capt. was a merchant, and probably died unmarried.
42 Hannah m. John Watson.
43 Sarah m. Wm. Cole of Southington or Wolcott.
44 Eliz. m. Dickinson.
50 Martha m. Samuel Drake.
51 Susanna m. Thomas Sloan.
52 Mabel m. Mathew Webster.
PRATT, WILLIAM, an original proprietor and set- tler, supposed to be brother of John, lived on the east side of Burr street, and sold about 1645 to Mathew Beckwith, and removed to Saybrook, which he repre- sented in the General Court from 1666 to 76. He married Elizabeth, d. of John Clark of Milford. His son John of Saybrook, was born in Hartford in 1645. Nathaniel and William Pratt subsequently represented Saybrook in the General Court.
SCOTT, THOMAS, was one of the original proprie- tors and settlers of Hartford. His house lot was No. 13, on Front street, south side of State street, and ex- tended west to State square. He died in 1643, leav- ing widow Ann, who in 1614 married Thomas Ford. He left children.
THOMAS died soon after his father without issue.
MARY In. Robert Porter in 1644.
SARAH m. John Standley in 1645.
ELIZABETH m. John Loomis in 1648.
Robert Porter, John Standley, and John Loomis, were among the first settlers of Farmington, and lived on adjoining house lots, which must have been a source of great comfort to them in that then new set- tlement. The descendants of Robert Porter are numerous, among whom are Rev. Dr. Porter of Farmington, the late David Porter of Hartford, &c. John Standley represented Farmington many years in the General Court : his descendants are numerous, among whom are the Stanleys of Berlin. John Loomis removed to Windsor, and several years rep- resented that town in the General Court.
20
HARTFORD.
1 STANDLEY, THOMAS,
1 Thomas was an ori-
2 Nathaniel, 1712 ginal owner and settler, 3 (daughter,) removed to and died in 2 NATHANIEL, Esq. Hadley, in 1659. His
1664 Nathaniel, 1665 houselot extended from the
4
5 69 Sarah, 1689,
6 71 Joseph, 1676,
7 74 Hannah, 16S1,
S 77 Mary,
9 81 Susanna, 1633, James Boosey, one of the
10 83 Nathaniel, 1755 first men in Wethersfield. 10 NATHANIEL, Col. & Esq. He was a man of wealth 11 1707 Nathaniel, 12 9 Sarah, and influence, and repre- sented Hartford in the 13 General Court from 1678
11 Joseph, 1712,
14 13 Augustus, 1770, to 1689, when he was 15 15 Anna, 1722, chosen assistant, which office he held to his death 16 17 Susanna, in 1712.
17 19 Abigail,
18
21 Mary, 1722,
19
23 Joseph, 1723, William, 1786, Nat. the son of Rev. Sam.
20
3 Married in Hadley.
8 Mary m. in 169S
14 AUGUSTUS, W. Hartford Hooker of Farmington, to
21 Allyn, 1774, whom her father gave the 22 John, 1789, north half of his home lot, 23 Roswell, where he lived and traded 24 James, as a merchant. He rep- 25 Judah, resented Hartford in the 26 1748 Lucy, died. General Court from 1709 27 1752 Frederick, to his death in 1711. In 1713, she married John 28 58 Whiting, 29 62 Lewis, 1777. Austin, a merchant of note. Her children by her first husband were, Mary who died single ; Alice who m. Samuel Howard; Sarah who m. Hon. Daniel Edwards ; Abigail who m. Rev. Dr. Benj. Lord of Norwich ; and Rev. Nathaniel, the minister of West Hartford: and by her second hus- band, John who d. young; and Mary, who m. John Ellery.
10 Nathaniel was a man of wealth, energy and dis- tinction. He m. in 1706 Anna, the daughter of Jos.
centre church to the Little river. His only son was 2 Nathaniel m. in 1659 Sarah, the daughter of
1
21
GENEALOGY.
Whiting, Esq. and grand-daughter of Col. John Allyn. He was annually chosen an assistant from 1725 to 174S. His estate was invoiced at £3000.
11 Nat. grad. at Yale in 1726. He married and removed to Windsor, where his father established him in business ; but he became a worthless spend- thrift, and had a conservator placed over him to take care of his property, in 1757, between which time and 1773 he died, probably without children. His widow Mary died insolvent, in 1797.
12 Sarah m. Andrew Burr, Esq. of Fairfield, who was an assistant from 1746 to 63.
14 Augustus lived on the Standley lot, at the south end of West Hartford, where he died, leaving a small estate. It was the custom, in ancient times, to give each son a trade. Hence, to show the value he set upon a trade, he says in his will : - " Whereas, my sons Allyn and John have neither of them learned any trade, I therefore give to each of them the sum of twenty-five pound lawful money, or the value thereof, more than any of the rest of my sons."
16 Susanna m. Aaron Day of New Haven.
17 Abigail m. Rev. Elnathan Whitman.
20 William died without children. In his will he presented the south church a silver tankard. He gave his niece, Eliz. Whitman, a twelve acre lot on the west side of Hog river. He gave his sister Abi- gail, wife of Rev. Elnathan Whitman, all his personal estate, and the use of his real estate during her life. At her decease, he gave the use of all his large estate, except the above twelve acres, forever, unto the South Society in Hartford. It is now most or all of it leased for 999 years.
STEBBINS, EDWARD, Deac. was one of the most prominent and influential proprietors and settlers of Hartford. His house lot was on Front street, north side of State street, and extended west to what was then the public square, now Dorr street. He was admitted a freeman in Cambridge in 1634, and re- moved to Hartford as early as 1636. He represented Hartford in the General Court at various times, from
-
---
22
HARTFORD.
the organization of the government in 1639 to 1656. His sister Edatha married Robert Day, and on the death of Mr. Day in 1648, he had the care of the three children and the property. On the decease of Gov. Hopkins, Mr. Stebbins was one of the trustees to dispose of his estate. He was a man in whom the people ever placed great confidence. He died in 1663, and his widow Frances died in 1673. They had no sons. Their daughters were:
Mary, m. Edward? Gaylord, whose children were Joseph, Benjamin, Joanna and Mary.
m. John Chester, near London, England, whose children were John and Samson.
Elizabeth m. Thomas Cadwell.
Lydia m. Deac. John Willson.
Mr. Cadwell had a son Edward; and Deac. Will- son a son Stebbins, to perpetuate the name.
WAKEMAN, SAMUEL, an original proprietor and settler of Hartford, was a freeman in Cambridge in 1632, and a representative in Mass. in 1635. He was drowned in 1645, and his widow m. Nat. Willett. His children, -
Ezbon removed to Fairfield,
Grace m. John Kelly,
Elizabeth m. Joseph Arnold,
Hannah m. Hackelton.
The Court settled the estate on Nat. Willett, on condition that he should pay the son forty pounds when he arrived at 20 years of age ; and each of the daughters 20 pounds, when 18 years of age.
WESTWOOD, WILLIAM, was born in 1607. He was one of the wealthiest and most prominent of the first settlers and proprietors of Hartford. His house lot was on the west side of Front street where Morgan street crosses it. He was a member of the upper house in the first General Court in 1636 : and repre- sented Hartford in the Court from 1642 to 1656, when he removed to Hadley, where he died. His only child
Sarah, m. Aaron Cook of Hadley, whose son Aaron inherited Mr. Westwood's property in Hart- ford.
23
GENEALOGY.
WHITEHEAD, SAMUEL, original owner of the Lord corner, removed to New Haven, where he died in 1690.
WYLLYS. Few names among the settlers of New England are more conspicuous in the heraldry of England than that of Wyllys, or Willis, as it is there spelled. They trace their ancestry back to the times of Henry VIII., when Richard flourished at Napton. The family mansion was at Fenny Compton in War- wickshire. Before removing to New England, Mr. Wyllys sent over Wm. Gibbons, his steward, to ex- plore and make purchases if he found any desirable residence. He purchased for liis employer several house lots, which constituted the Wyllys place, where the charter oak now stands.
I GEORCE, 1645,
George,
3
Hester,
4 Amy,
5 1632 Samuel, 1709.
5 SAMUEL, Esq.,
1 George Wyllys, Esq. appears in Hartford in 163S, and in 1639 he was chosen assistant, which office he held until his death. In 1641 he was chosen deputy governor, and in 1642, governor.
6 Mary,
7
Mchitabel,
1672 Hezekiah, 1741.
8 2 George remained at S HEZEKIAH, Secretary, the family mansion in 1704 Ruth, Fenny Compton.
9 10 S Elizabeth, 3 Hester mn. Capt. Harding, in 1645.
11 9 George, 1709,
12 10 George, 1796,
13 13 Mabel,
14 Samuel, 1732.
14 12 GEORGE, Secretary.
15 1738 Samuel, 1823,
16 44 William,
4 Amy mn. John Pyn- chon of Springfield, in 1645.
5 Samuel, Esq. was born in England ; gradua- ted at Harvard in 1653,
17 54 John Palsgrove* and the next year, at the 18 56 George, died, early age of 21, was elect-
19 Hezekiah, 1827, ed an assistant, to which 20 50 Susanna, office he was annually elected until 1684. He 21 42 Mary. 15 SAMUEL, Gen. & Sec. was again elected, after 22 1777 Oliver St. John, the government of And-
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HARTFORD.
23 1781 Mary Wood- [bridge, .
ross, from 1689 to 1692, and again in 169S, making
24 84 Samuel Hobart, 36 years during which he
25 90 William Alfred, held this high office. He
19 HEZEKIAH, Col.
26 1786 Amelia,
27 87 George, 1822,
28 89 Charlotte Eliz.,
29 90 Harold,
30 91 John Palsgrove,
was also 4 years commis- sioner to the congress of the New England colonies. He m. Ruth the daughter of Gov. Haynes.
7 Mehitabel m. (1) Dan- 31 .93 Ferdinand. iel Russell of Charles- town ; (2) Rev. Isaac Foster in 1679, who died in 1684 leaving one child Ann; and (3) Rev. Tim. Wood- bridge.
8 Hez. m. Eliz. d. of Rev. Jer. Hobart in 1702. He was Secretary of State, from 1711 to 1734.
9 Ruth m. Richard Lord in 1724, and after his death, - - Belding.
12 George Wyllys m. Mary, the daughter of Rev. Timothy Woodbridge. He was Secretary of State from 1735 to 1795, 61 years.
13 Mabel m. Samuel Talcott, a man of great wealth, and son of the governor.
15 Samuel, General, m. Ruth Stoughton in 1777. He was Secretary of State from 1796 to IS09, when Thomas Day was chosen assistant Secretary.
16 William died unmarried.
19 Hez. m. Amelia Trumble in 1785.
20 Susanna m. Jed. Strong, of Litchfield.
21 Mary m. - Pomeroy.
22 Oliver, S. J., died a vagabond in 1839.
23 Mary W. m. John M. Gannett.
24 and 25 Sam. H. and Wm. A. probably died unmarried.
26 Amelia m. Asher Adams of Charlestown.
27 George left a widow but no children.
28 Charlotte E. probably died unmarried.
29 Harold is supposed to have died in a distant land.
30 John P. was killed in the western army, under St. Clair.
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DIVISIONS OF THE TOWN.
With some slight exceptions, the lands on the North and on the South side were divided among the propri- etors on those sides respectively. The line of division commenced at the mouth of the Little river, which it followed to the union of Hog and Woods rivers, and then up the latter to the bend, thence on the south side of the Knowles' farm, and onward to the West Division. The same line was continued on the cast side of the Great river.
DIVISIONS OF THE TOWN.
On the arrival of the first settlers in Hartford, they probably found the Little Meadow, the North and South Meadows, and the Meadow on the East side, already cleared and under cultivation by the Indians, consisting of meadow and corn land. For many years after the settlement, Indians continued to reside near the house in the South Meadow, at the south end of the Island on the East side, and at the north end of the East Hartford Meadow. These meadows were divi- ded among the original proprietors, for meadow and plow lots : and other portions of the town west of these were also distributed among the original proprietors, and by their grant to other settlers, for wood and pas- ture. The Divisions together with the
NAMES OF LOCATIONS
were as follow : -
On the NORTH side,
I. LITTLE MEADOW lay on the east side of Front street, between the Little river and the North Meadow bridge. It was divided, among the proprietors on both sides, into 66 lots of various sizes from 30 square rods to 4 acres ; 25 of these lots lay on the north side of the Road to the Landing, and the rest on the south side. Gov. Haynes purchased the lots next to the Little river, which descended to his heirs as far as John Haynes Lord. The lots between Gov. Haynes's and the old Ferry street, were mostly purchased by 3
26
HARTFORD.
John Pantry, and descended to his heirs in the Jones family. Wm. Westwood purchased a large part of the lots north of the ferry, which were inherited by his grandson, Aaron Cook. The south-east angle of the Little Meadow, including 3 acres, was claimed and occupied by the Dutch, and hence is called the Dutch Point. At the north end of the Little Meadow was a two acre lot, called the Cow Yard, which was afterwards granted to Richard Olmsted, in exchange for a part of his house lot that was taken for a burying- yard. At the south-west corner of the Meadow, was a landing place, near the public crossing place from the North to the South side ; and another landing place at the foot of old Ferry street. At the latter place per- mission was granted by the town to build several ware houses, on the public land.
Since the first settlement of Hartford, the river has made great inroads on the Little Meadow. Then, the little river or creek running from the North Meadow, emptied into the Great river at the landing place and ferry, and a strip of land on the east side of it extended from the landing to the North Meadow bridge.
II. SOLDIERS' FIELD, an appellation given to a tract containing about 15 acres, lay on the west side of the North Meadow creek, about a quarter of a mile north of the N. M. bridge. The lots were chiefly 1-4th of an acre each, and perhaps were granted to soldiers engaged in some Indian war. There is a tradition, however, that it was once an Indian camp ground, and Indian implements of war have been found on the premises. The original owners all lived on the North side, and were few or none of them original proprietors of the town ..
III. NORTH MEADOW extended from the bridge to Windsor, and from the Great river to the creek which separated it from the Neck lots. The lots ex- tended from east to west the whole width, and most of them included both meadow and swamp. To each proprietor on the north side, there was granted two lots, a large one at the upper end of the meadow,
27
DIVISIONS.
and a smaller one at the lower end. About S00 acres were thus distributed.
IV. NECK extended as at present from the town to Windsor, and from the Meadow swamp to the hills, and included about 400 acres. Each proprietor in the Neck had two lots, one at the upper, and the other at the lower end, as in the North Meadow lots.
V. Cow PASTURE lay west of the present Windsor road, and north of the Albany turnpike. It contained about 1,000 acres, and was held in common by thic original proprietors on the North side. After a few years, however, it was divided among the owners. It was bounded north by common or undivided land, east by the Neck, south by the Highway to the Com- mons, which separated it from the West field, Ventu- rers' field, and Pine field, and west by the Little Ox Pasture.
VI. LITTLE OX PASTURE lay west of the Cow Pasture, and on both sides of the road leading north from the Albany turnpike. It contained about 200 acres, and was divided into 19 lots, varying from two- to 20 acres. It was bounded north by common land, east by the Cow Pasture, south by the highway from the Cow Pasture to the Country, separating it from the Pine field and Middle Ox Pasture, and west by common land, afterwards called the Blue Hill lots.
VII. WEST FIELD lay west of the town lots, and contained about 100 acres. It extended north to the Albany turnpike, through the east part of which High street now runs. At the north end of it, lay the house lots of Thomas Upson, Renold Marvin, Thomas Barnes, &c. There was once a road which led across it to the Brick-hill, about 40 rods north of Church street. On the south lay Mr. Allen's ten acre swamp lot, which extended south to Asylum street, on both sides of Brick-hill swamp brook. On the west lay the Brick-hill and the Venturers' field.
VIII. BRICK-HILL Was the bank which is east of the present work house, and north-west of Bull's gar- den, and contained originally 6 1-2 acres. It had a road leading to it from the town.
28
HARTFORD.
IX. VENTURERS' FIELD lay north of the Brick-hill on both sides of a road from the Cow Pasture, and extended to the Albany turnpike. It contained about 35 acres, and was distributed among ten or twelve owners.
X. PINE FIELD consisted of about 25 small lots, of 50 acres in all, and extended from the highway in front of the Asylum, north to the Albany turnpike. The north-west corner was against the road leading north into the Little Ox Pasture. Through it ran an east and west highway from the Brick-hill to the river, perhaps the present road in front of the work- house. Another road ran across the east part of it, from the Cow Pasture to the Old Ox Pasture.
XI. OLD OX PASTURE lay west of the house lots on Lord's hill, between the highway in front of the Asylum and the Little river. It originally contained about 100 acres, and belonged to Gov. Haynes, Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone: but the name was after- wards applied to all the tract south of said road to the river, embracing 500 acres. It belonged to the larger land proprietors. A north and south highway ran across it and the Middle Ox Pasture, from the Little river to the Blue hills.
XII. MIDDLE OX PASTURE extended from the Pine field west to the river, on the north side of the road leading past the Asylum, and contained about 100 acres.
XIII. BLUE HILLS lay north of the Albany turn- pike, west of the Little Ox Pasture, and extended on both sides of the Granby turnpike, north to the Com- mons.
XIV. BRIDGE FIELD lay on the west side of Woods' river, and extended from the dividing line on the south side of the Knowles' farm, north to the road leading west from Gurney's bridge, and west to the north and south highway, and contained about two hundred acres.
Most of the lands in these divisions, except the three last and part of the XIth, were distributed to the proprietors before 1640. Subsequently the lands
29
DIVISIONS.
between the Cow Pasture and Little Ox Pasture, on the south, and Windsor bounds on the north, were dis- tributed. The rest of the lands west to the West Division was held in common until after 1750.
On the SOUTH side, the proprietors were not so inventive in coining names for localities.
I. SOUTH MEADOW was the same as at present, embracing all east of the upland ridge. There was very little regularity in the laying out of the lots. After larger proprietors, or perhaps all the original purchasers had their lots laid out, the rest appears to have been taken up by pitches. That is, some half dozen individuals would associate, and take up an in- sulated spot susceptible of tillage, or a swamp, and divide it among themselves. In this way, irregular nooks and corners were left, which may have since been added to the adjoining lots, and given them their present irregular shape.
To parts of the South Meadow were given specific names. There were the, Great Swamp, Wet Swamp, Dead. Swamp, Pool, Indians' Land, Dutch- men's Land, Ward's Swamp, Olmsted's Swamp, Haynes's Swamp, 3d and 4th Divisions, two or three 40 Acre lots, and two or three 5 Acre lots, and some 10 Acre lots, owned each by several proprie- tors; there was also a Cow Pasture. Gov. Haynes, Mr. Hooker, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Goodwin had lots in the South Meadow, with the South side proprietors. In all there appears to have been about 900 acres dis- tributed.
II. Ox PASTURE consisted of large lots belonging to the larger proprietors, and extended from the South Meadow on the east, across Wethersfield lane, west to a north and south line running on the east side of the burying ground ; and from the house lots on the north, to swamp lands on the south, and contained about 450 acres. It was afterwards ex- tended to Wethersfield line, which made an addition of 250 acres. When the Farmington road was laid out, it cut off the north-west corner, lying west of the South Green. 3*
30
HARTFORD.
POKE HILL was a name afterwards given indefi- nitely to lots on the west side of Wethersfield lane, south of the original Ox Pasture.
III. A tier of UPLAND lots lay between the Ox Pas- ture on the east, and the highway to the Great Swamp, now the south part of Washington street, and the lane leading south from the Retreat, on the west; and extended from the house lots on the north, to the Great Swamp on the south. It contained about 200 acres. Most of these lots were small, and many of them subsequently used as house lots.
GREAT SWAMP included all the low land in the south part of the town on both sides and east of the New Haven turnpike. The lots were generally large, and belonged to the Ox Pasture and Rocky hill tiers of lots. The swamp contained about 400 acres.
V. ROCKY HILL lots were bounded west on the highway on Rocky hill and onward to Wethersfield line, and east on the highway to the Great Swamp and the swamp lots, and extended from Baker's lane to Wethersfield line. There were 38 lots, varying in size from 3 to 60 acres, including in all 600 acres. On many of them buildings were soon erected. In fact, one of the first houses erected out of the town, was on the Skinner place near Wethersfield line. Zachery's lane and the Farmington road crossed this tier of lots.
VI. A tier of 17 small lots, granted to non-proprie- tors, lay between Baker's lane and the road to West Hartford, containing in all about 50 acres.
VII. A tier of WOOD LOTS lay between the road to West Hartford and the Little river, west of the small house lots, which contained about 100 acres.
VIII. A tier of 13 large lots lay on the WEST SIDE OF ROCKY HILL, and extended west to the river, and south to the Farmington road, embracing 400 acres.
IX. A tier of 6 large lots lay on the west side of the road from Rocky hill to Wethersfield, and extended west to the highway on the east side of CEDAR MOUN- TAIN. It contained nearly 300 acres, of which the Wyllys lot included one half.
31
NAMES OF LOCATIONS
X. Lots were granted on the west side of Hog river, in the bend between it and Woods' river.
COMMONS extended from Wethersfield to Windsor, and from the west side of the lots enumerated above, to the West Division, and was forever set apart by the proprietors for public use, for pasture and the cut- ting of wood. In what manner this pledge was vio- lated, and the Commons divided, will be the subject of future remark.
WEST DIVISION was originally laid out to all the proprietors by lot, without regard to North and South sides. The lots were at first one and a half miles long; but by encroachment on the Commons, were considerably extended. The manner of laying out will be given below.
EAST SIDE of the Great river, or HOCANUM, was a tier of lots, divided among the original proprietors before 1640, and extended from Weth- ersfield, [Glastenbury,] to Windsor, [East Windsor,] and from the river to the Main street, with the excep- tion of Indian reservations. The North and South sides had their respective portions.
The first purchase on the East side extended three miles from the river ; and the subsequent purchase from Joshua extended five miles further, to the bounds of Bolton. In this latter purchase is the town of Man- chester. Particulars will be given in subsequent pages.
The following are the names of some specific loca- tions : -
CENTINEL HILL was at the junction of Main, Trumbull and Burr streets, and probably covered an acre or more of ground, on one side of which was the pound ; hence it was sometimes called Pound hill. It was a hill from which the community were accustomed to carry away carth, until prohibited by a vote of the town. It was doubtless a place where centries were stationed to watch the city, and give alarms from danger. When such guards were no
32
HARTFORD.
longer necessary, the hill may have been leveled to fill up adjacent low grounds.
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