USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > History and antiquities of New Haven, Conn. : from its earliest settlement to the present time, with biographical sketches and statistical information of the public institutions, &c., &c., 3rd ed. > Part 6
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New Haven of late years has become a residence for gentlemen retiring from business, for literary men, and for families wishing to educate their children It has ad- vantages superior to most other places, being " beautiful for situation," and surrounded with romantic scenery.
POPULATION OF NEW HAVEN.
Year.
No. of Inhabitants.
1790,
4,484.
1800,
5,157.
1810,
6,967.
1820,
8,327.
1830,
10.678.
1840,
14,390.
1850,
22,529.
1855,
· 31,549.
1860.
39,267
ANCIENT HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN.
THE local situation of New Haven appears to have been known to the Dutch some years before the arrival of the English settlers : they designated the place by the name of " Red Rock." It was doubtless so called from the appearance of the East and West Rocks near the place. Its Indian name was Quinnipiac, which name was given to the river forming the eastern boundary of the township, to the adjacent country, and to the tribe by which it was inhabited. The Quinnipiacs have long since been extinct : they dwelt in the summer on the shore, for the convenience of fishing ; and in the winter, in the forests, for the abundance of fuel.
They had a place for powawing in East Haven, about three quarters of a mile east of the harbor bridge. The spot was formerly a swamp. and is now a meadow.
Charles, the last sachem of this tribe, died nearly one hundred years since. He was frozen to death near a spring, about one mile north of the Congregational Church in East Haven.
They are said to have had neither marriages nor divorces.
They caught round clams with their feet, and taught the English to catch them in this manner.
The Indian arrow-heads, frequently found here, are ex- actly like some which have been brought from Cape Horn.
At Fort Hill, or as it is now called, Beacon Hill, there was formerly an Indian fort, and an Indian burying- ground, on the eastern side of the hill. The name of this spot was formerly Indian Hill -The above is about all the account we have of the original inhabitants.
On the 26th of July, 1637, Mr. John Davenport, Mr. Samuel Eaton, Theophilus Eaton, and Edward Hopkins, Esqrs., Mr. Thomas Gregson, and many others of good characters and fortunes, arrived at Boston. Mr. Daven-
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port had been a celebrated minister in the city of London, and was a distinguished character for piety, learning, and good conduct. Many of his congregation, on account of the esteem which they had for his person and ministry, followed him into New England. Mr. Eaton and Mr. Hopkins had been merchants in London, possessed great estates, and were men of eminence for their abilities and integrity. The fame of Mr Davenport, the reputation and good estates of the principal gentlemen of this com- pany, made the people of Massachusetts exceedingly de- sirous of their settlement in that commonwealth. Great pains were taken not only by particular persons and towns, but by the general court, to fix them in the colony. Charlestown made them large offers; and Newbury pro- posed to give up the whole town to them. The general court offered them any place which they should choose. But they were determined to plant a distinct colony. By the pursuit of the Pequots to the westward, the English became acquainted with that fine tract along the shore, from Saybrook to Fairfield, and with its several harbors. It was represented as fruitful, and happily situated for navigation and commerce. They therefore projected a settlement in that part of the country.
In the fall of 1637, Mr. Eaton and others, who were of the company, made a journey to Connecticut, to ex- plore the lands and harbors on the sea coast. They pitched upon Quinnipiac for the place of their settle- ment. They erected a poor hut, in which a few men subsisted through the winter : this was at the corner of Church and George-streets.
On the 30th of March, 1638, Mr. Davenport, Mr. Prud- den, Mr. Samuel Eaton, and Theophilus Eaton, Esq., with the people of their company, sailed from Boston for Quinnipiac. In about a fortnight they arrived at their desired port. On the 15th of April, they kept their first Sabbath in the place. The people assembled under a large spreading oak,* and Mr. Davenport preached to
* This tree was situated near the corner of George and College- streets. Both New Haven and Milford churches were formed under it .- Dr Dana's Sermon, 1801.
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them from Matthew iv, 1. He insisted on the temptations of the wilderness, made such observations and gave such directions and exhortations, as were pertinent to the then present state of his hearers. He left this remark, that he enjoyed a good day. The settlers first began to build on George-street and the opposite hill, between which small vessels then passed in a creek, which for many years has been filled up. Their first houses were commodious, of two stories.
One of the principal reasons which these colonists assigned for their removal from Massachusetts was, that they should be more out of the way and trouble of a gen- eral governor of New England. who at this time was an object of great fear in all the plantations.
" The first planters of New Haven recognized in their acts no human authority foreign to themselves. They appear to have studiously avoided any mention of their native country, or any allusion to the question of allegi- ance to the king of England. This matter they left to be determined afterwards " Their object appears to have been to found, untrammeled, a Christian commonwealth.
Soon after they arrived at Quinnipiac, in the close of a day of fasting and prayer they entered into what they termed a plantation covenant. In this they solemnly bound themselves, "that as in matters that concern the gathering and ordering of a church, so also in all public offices which concern civil order, as the choice of magis- trates and officers, making and repealing laws, dividing allotments of inheritance, and all things of like nature, they would all of them be ordered by the rules which the Scripture held forth to them." This was adopted as a general agreement, until there should be time for the people to become more intimately acquainted with each other's religious views, sentiments and moral conduct ; which was supposed to be necessary to prepare the way for their covenanting together, as Christians, in church state.
The planters of Quinnipiac determined to make an extensive settlement, and, if possible, to maintain per- petual peace and friendship with the Indians. They therefore paid an early attention to the making of such
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purchases and amicable treaties, as might most effectually answer their designs.
On the 24th of November, 1638, Theophilus Eaton, Esq., Mr. Davenport, and other English planters, entered into an agreement with Momauguin, sachem of that part of the country, and his counsellors, respecting the lands. The articles of agreement are to this effect :
That Momauguin is the sole sachem of Quinnipiac, and had an absolute power to aliene and dispose of the same; that in consequence of the protection he had tasted, by the English, from the Pequots and Mohawks,* he yielded up all his right, title and interest to all the land, rivers, ponds and trees, with all the liberties and purtenances belonging to the same, unto Theophilus Eaton, John Davenport and others, their heirs and assigns for ever. He covenanted that neither he nor his Indians would terrify nor disturb the English, nor injure them in any of their interests ; but that, in every respect, they would keep true faith with them.
The English covenanted to protect Momauguin and his Indians when unreasonably assaulted and terrified by either of the other Indians; and that they should always have a sufficient quantity of land to plant on, upon the east side of the harbor, between that and Saybrook fort. They also covenanted that by way of free and thankful retribution, they gave unto the said sachem and his council and company, twelve coats of English cloth, twelve alchymy spoons, twelve hatchets, twelve hoes, two dozen of knives, twelve porringers, and four cases of French knives and scissors.
This agreement was signed and legally executed by Momauguin and his council on the one part, and Theo- philus Eaton and John Davenport on the other. Thomas Stanton, who was the interpreter, declared in the pres- ence of God, that he had faithfully acquainted the Indians with the said articles, and returned their answers.
# The Indians of Quinnipiac, in this treaty, declared that they still remembered the heavy taxes of the Pequots and Mohawks; and that, by reason of the fear of them, they could not stay in their own country, but had been obliged to flee. By these powerful enemies they had been reduced to about forty men.
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The following signatures or marks of Momauguin and his counsel- lors to the above agreement, are copied from the ancient records of New Haven, nearly in the position they stand on the record.
1. Momauguin, his mark.
2. Sugcogisin.
3. Quosaquash.
4. ( arroughood.
5. Woosauruck. 6. The mark of Shaumpishuh, the sister of Momau- guin, called in the agreement Squaw Sachem, who it appears had some interest in part of the lands.
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In December following, they made another purchase of a large tract, which lay principally north of the former. This was of Montowese, son of the great sachem at Mat- tabeseck. This tract was ten miles in length, north and south, and thirteen in breadth. It extended eight miles east of the river Quinnipiac, and five miles west of it towards Hudson's river. It included all the lands within the ancient limits of the old towns of New Haven, Branford and Wallingford, and almost the whole contained in the present limits of those towns, and the towns of | East Haven, Woodbridge, Cheshire, Hamden, and North Haven. These have since been made out of the three old towns. For this last tract the English gave thirteen coats, and allowed the In- dians ground to plant, and liberty to hunt within the lands. The annexed is a copy of the signature of Montowese and Saw- sounck, an Indian who came with him to
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New Haven. Montowese's signature is the bow and rrow. It appears the above land descended to him from nis deceased mother. His tribe or company consisted of but ten men, with their women and children.
The New Haven adventurers were the most opulent company which came into New England, and they de- signed to plant a capital colony. They laid out their town plat in squares, designing it for a great and elegant. city, In the centre was a large and beautiful square. This was compassed with others, making nine in the whole.
The first principal settlers were Theophilus Eaton, Esq., Mr. Davenport, Samuel Eaton, Thomas Gregson, Robert Newman, Matthew Gilbert, Nathaniel Turner, Thomas Fugill, Francis Newman, Stephen Goodyear, and Joshua Atwater.
There appears no act of civil, military or ecclesiastical authority during the first year ; nor is there any appear- ance that this colony was ever straitened for bread, as the other colonies had been.
Meanwhile Mr. Henry Whitfield, William Leet, Esq., Samuel Delborough, Robert Kitchell, William Chitten- don, and others, who were part of Mr. Davenport's and Mr. Eaton's company, arrived to assist them in their new settlement. These were principally from Kent and Sur- rey, in the vicinity of London. Mr. Whitfield's people, like Mr. Davenport's, followed him into New England. There were now three ministers, with many of the mem bers of their former churches and congregations collected in this infant colony, and combined in the same general agreement.
On the 4th of June, 1639, all the free planters at Quin- nipiac convened in a large barn of Mr. Newman's, and, in a formal and very solemn manner, proceeded to lay the foundations of their civil and religious polity.
Mr. Davenport introduced the business by a sermon from the words of the royal Preacher, " Wisdom hath builded her house; she hath hewn out her seven pillars."
The following is an extract from the ancient record of this event, which was subscribed and signed by one hundred and eleven persons.
The 4th day of the 4th moneth, called June, 1639, all the free
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planters assembled together in a general meetinge, to consult about settling civil government according to GoD, and about the nomina- tion of persons that may be found, by consent of all, fittest in all respects for the foundation work of a Church which was intended to be gathered in Quinnipiack. After sollemne invocation of the name of God in prayer, for the presence and help of his spirit and grace in these weighty businesses, they were reminded of the busi- ness whereabout they met-viz., for the establishment of such civil order as might be most pleasing unto GOD, and for the chusing the fittest men for the foundation work of a church to be gathered. For the better enabling them to discerne the minde of GOD, and to agree accordingly concerning the establishment of civil order, Mr. John Davenport propounded divers queries to them, publickly praying them to consider seriously, in the presence and feare of GOD, the weight of the business they met about, and not to be rash or sleight in giving their votes to things they understood not, but to digest fully and thoroughly what should be propounded unto them, and without respect to men, as they should be satisfied and perswaded in their own minds to give their answers in such sort as they would be willing they should stand upon record for posterity.
This being earnestly expressed by Mr. Davenport, Mr. Robert Newman was intreated to write in charracters, and to read dis- tinctly and audibly in the hearing of all the people, what was pro- pounded and accorded on, that it might appear that all consented to matters propounded according to words written by him.
Quære 1. Whether the Scriptures doe holde fourth a perfect rule for the direction and government of all men in all duteyes which they are to perform to GOD and men, as well in the government of famylyes and commonwealths as in matters of the church ?
This was assented unto by all, no man dissenting, as was ex- pressed by holding up of hands. Afterwards it was read over to them, that they might see in what wordes their vote was expressed. They againe expressed their consent thereto by holding up their hands, no man dissenting.
" After a proper term of trial, Theophilus Eaton, Esq., Mr. John Davenport. Robert Newman, Matthew Gilbert, Thomas Fugill, John Punderson and Jeremiah Dixon were chosen for the seven pillars of the church.
" October 25th, 1639, the court, as it is termed, consist- ing of these seven persons only, convened, and after a solemn address to the Supreme Majesty, they proceeded to form the body of freemen and to elect their civil offi- cers. The manner was indeed singular and curious.
" In the first place, all former trust for managing the public affairs of the plantation was declared to cease, and be utterly abrogated. Then all those who had been ad-
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mitted to the church after the gathering of it, in the choice of the seven pillars, and all the members of other approved churches who desired it, and offered themselves, were ad- mitted members of the court. A solemn charge was then publicly given them, to the same effect as the freemen's charge or oath, which they had previously adopted. The purport of this was nearly the same with the oath of fidelity, and with the freemen's administered at the pres- ent time. Mr. Davenport expounded several scriptures to them, describing the character of civil magistrates given in the sacred oracles. To this succeeded the election of officers. Theophilus Eaton. Esq., was chosen governor ; Mr. Robert Newman, Mr. Matthew Gilbert, Mr. Nathan- iel Turner and Mr. Thomas Fugill were chosen magis- trates. Mr. Fugill was also chosen secretary, and Robert Seely, marshall.
" Mr. Davenport gave Governor Eaton a charge in open court, from Deut. i., 16, 17 : ' And I charged your judges at that time, saying Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment, but ye shall hear the small as well as the great ; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is GOD's; and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.'
" It was decreed by the freemen, that there should be a general court annually in the plantation, on the last week in October. This was ordained a court of election in which all the officers of the colony were to be chosen. This court determined, that the word of God should be the only rule for ordering the affairs of government in that commonwealth.
" This was the original, fundamental constitution of the government of New Haven. All government was origi- nally in the church, and the members of the church elected the governor, magistrates, and all other officers. The magistrates, at first, were no more than assistants of the governor ; they might not act in any sentence or deter- mination of the court .* No deputy governor was chosen,
Records of the Colony of New Haven.
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nor were any laws enacted except the general resolutions which have been noticed ; but as the plantation enlarged, and new towns were settled, new orders were given ; the general court received a new form, laws were enacted, and the civil polity of this jurisdiction gradually advanced, in its essential parts, to a near resemblance of the govern- ment of Connecticut."*
In the year 1640, Robert Feaks and Daniel Patrick bought Greenwich. The purchase was made in behalf of New Haven, but through the intrigue of the Dutch governor, and the treachery of the purchasers, the first inhabitants revolted to the Dutch. They were incorpo- rated and vested with town privileges by Peter Stuy- vesant, governor of New Netherlands. The inhabitants were driven off by the Indians, in their war with the Dutch, and made no great progress in settlement until after Connecticut obtained the charter, and they were taken under the jurisdiction of this colony.
Another large purchase, sufficient for a number of plantations, was made by Captain Turner, agent for New Haven, on both sides of Delaware bay or river. This purchase was made with a view to trade, and for the set- tlement of churches in gospel order and purity. The colony of New Haven erected trading houses upon the lands, and sent nearly fifty families to make settlements upon them. The settlements were made under the juris- diction of New Haven, and in close combination with that colony in all the fundamental articles.
It also appears that New Haven, or their confederates, purchased and settled Yennycock and Southhold, on Long Island. Mr. John Youngs, who had been a minister at Hingham, in England, came over with a considerable part of his church, and here fixed his residence. He gathered his church anew, on the 21st of October, 1640, and the planters united themselves with New Haven. However, they soon departed from the rule of appointing none to office, or of admitting none to be freemen, but members of the church. New Haven insisted on this as a fundamental article of their constitution. They were
* Trumbull's History of Connecticut.
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therefore for a number of years obliged to conform to this law of the jurisdiction. Some of the principal men were the Rev. Mr. Youngs, William Welles, Barnabas Horton, Thomas Mapes, John Tuthill, and Matthias Corwin.
Laws were enacted, both by Connecticut and New Haven, prohibiting all purchases of the Indians by pri- vate persons or companies without the consent of their respective general courts. These were to authorize and direct the manner of every purchase.
The general court. at New Haven this year, made a grant of Totoket to Mr. Samuel Eaton, brother of Gov- ernor Eaton, upon condition of his procuring a number of his friends from England, to make a settlement in that tract of country.
At this court it was decreed, that the plantation at Quinnipiac should be called New Haven.
The Indians, in the year 1642, were very troublesome ; so much so as to cause suspicions that they were forming a combination for a general war. Both the Connecticut and New Haven colonies concerted measures of defence. A constant watch was kept in the plantations, and upon the Sabbath a strong guard was set at the places of pub- lic worship.
At a court held in New Haven this year, the magis- trates were directed to write to the Dutch to prevent their sending arms and ammunition to the natives, and also to settle all disputes between them and the colony with re- spect to claims, but their efforts were unsuccessful ; for, notwithstanding the fair purchases which the New Haven colony had made, by their agents at Delaware, Governor Kieft, without any legal protest or warning, dispatched an armed force, and, with great hostility, burned the En- glish trading houses, violently seized, and for a time de- tained their goods, and would not give them time to take an inventory of them. The Dutch also took the compa ny's boat, and a number of English planters, and kept them as prisoners. The damages done to the English at Delaware, were estimated at a thousand pounds ster- ling.
The same year, the Swedish governor and Dutch
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agent, uniting in a crafty design against Mr. Lamberton, a principal gentleman of New Haven, made an injurious attempt upon his life. They accused him of having joined in a plot with the Indians to cut off the Swedes and Dutch. They attempted, by giving his men strong drink, and by threatenings and allurements, to influence them to testify against him. They proceeded so far as to imprison and try him for treason. When, notwithstand- ing these unfair means, and that they were both his ac- cusers and judges, they could find no evidence against him, they arbitrarily imposed a fine upon him for trading at Delaware, though within the limits and jurisdiction of New Haven.
At another time, when Mr. Lamberton was at Manhat- toes in the capacity of an agent for New Haven, the Dutch Governor, Kieft, by force and threatenings, com- pelled him to give an account of all his beaver, within the limits of New Haven, at Delaware, and to pay an im- post upon the whole. The Dutch did other damages, and insulted the English in many other instances. Both Connecticut and New Haven, from year to year, com- plained and remonstrated against them, but could obtain no redress.
In the year 1643, the Dutch were exceedingly harassed by the Indians, and made application to Gov. Eaton and the general Court, soliciting that a hundred men might be raised in the plantations for their assistance against such barbarous enemies.
Governor Eaton and the general court, having fully considered the purport of the Dutch governor's letter, rejected the proposal for raising men and assisting in the war against the Indians. Their principal reasons were, that joining separately in war was prohibited by the articles of confederation ; and that they were not satis- fied that the Dutch war with the Indians was just.
Nevertheless, it was determined, that if the Dutch needed corn and provisions for men and cattle, by reason of the destruction which the Indians had made, the court would give them all the assistance in its power.
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The following is a " List of the Settlers in New Haven, from the year 1639 to 1645," a period of about six years. It was drawn up by a gentleman of New Haven, evident- ly with much care and accuracy, and was first published in the New Haven Journal and Courier, April 24, 1851 :
William Andrews.
James Bell.
Roger Duhurst.
Luke Atkinson.
Isaac Beach.
John Dyer.
Joshua Atwater.
- Bracie.
Theophilus Eaton.
David Atwater.
Henry Bishop.
Samuel Eaton.
Roger Alling.
William Bradley.
John Evance.
Robert Abbott.
Roger Betts.
Thomas Elsey.
Edward Adams.
John Burnett. Thomas Buckingham. Mrs. Eldred.
David Anderson.
William Bromfield.
Nicholas Elsey.
Nicholas Augur.
Henry Brazier.
Robert Emory.
William Aspinwell.
Timothy Baldwin.
David Evance.
David Axtell.
John Cockerill.
Thomas Fugill.
David Ashly.
Robert Campion.
David Fuller.
Henry Akerly.
Robert Cogswell.
William Fowler.
John Beach.
Mathew Crowder.
Thomas Frankland.
William Blayden.
Thomas Coefield.
Thomas French.
Henry Browninge.
Mrs. Constable.
William Fancie.
Richard Beckley.
John Caffins.
Benjamin Fenn.
Jarvis Boykin.
Thomas Caffins.
Launcelott Fuller.
John Benham.
Edward Camp.
Thomas Gaines.
John Budd.
Ezekiel Cheever.
Mathew Gilbert.
John Brockett.
Jasper Crane.
Stephen Goodyear.
Edward Bannister.
John Cowper.
William Gibbons.
Richard Beach.
John Chapman.
William Gibbard.
Peter Brown.
John Clarke.
John ibbes.
Abraham Bell.
John Charles.
Widow Greene.
Thomas Beamond.
John Cogswell.
Nicholas Gennings.
Francis Brown.
James Clarke.
Henry Glover.
Francis Bell.
Edward Chippenfield. John Griffin.
George Badweke.
Mathew Camfield.
James Guillam.
Francis Brewster.
Francis Church.
Jeremiah Howe.
Obadiah Barnes.
Robert Ceely.
Samuel Hoskins.
Thomas Badger.
John Davenport.
William Holt.
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