USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 120
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Iu the table of home-lots, the following names also appear : Thomas Benediet, Sr., Thomas Benediet, Jr., John Benediet, Thomas Betts, Richard Bushnell, Samuel Campfield, Christopher Comstock, John Crampton, Thomas Fitch, Jr., Joseph Fenn, John Gregory, Jr., Jakin Greggorie, Samuel Haies, Eph- raim Loekwood, Joseph Ketchum, John Keeler, James Piekett, Joseph Platt, Mark Sention, Robert Stewart, Samuel Smith, Thomas Taylor, Thomas Ward.
The following notices of the first settlers of Nor- walk are from Hinman's "Catalogue of the Names of the First Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Conneeti- cut :"
"Abbott, George, 1618 .*
" Beck with, Stephen, 1649.
" Belding, John (son of Jolin, of Wetherslleld, who dled 1677).
" Benedict, Thomas, 1662.
" Betts, Thomas, Guilford, 1650.+
" Camfield (or Campfleld), Matthew, a magistrate and judge; not only a leading man thore, but In the colony. One of the signers of the petl- tion to King Charles f1. for the colony ; in 1662 appointed with Gold and Sherman to hold courts at Fairfield.
" Ely, Nathaniel, Hartford, 1635; constable, 1639; one of the settlers of Norwalk, but afterwards removed to Springfield, Mass
" Fitch, Thomas, a brother of Rev. James, at Saybrook, and of Joseph, of Windsor.
" Gregory, John, a deputy, 1662-63.
"lloyt, Walter, Windsor, 1640.
" Keeler, Ralph, Hartford, 1639, viewer of chimneys In 1645.
"Marvin, Matthew, surveyor of high ways in 1639 and' 1647; an original proprietor and settler in llartford before 1639; removed to Norwalk ; deputy to the General Conrt from Norwalk in 1654.
"Olmsted, Richard, Hartford, 1640, constable 1646, fence-vlewer 1649, deputy in 1662-63; moved to Norwalk and was made a military officer. In 1661 was appointed with John Banks and Joseph Judson, who were appointed by tho General Court to run the lines between Fuirfield and Stratford,
" Richards, Nathaniel, of Hartford, in the colony in 1639; constable in 1641 and 1649; orderer of the town in 1644, deputy in 1643.
"Senchion, or St. John, Matthias, 1640.
" Seymour, Richard, Hartford, 1639, chimney-viewer in 1646.
"Webb, Richard, Hartford, 1539, on the first grand jury at the General Court in tho colony in 1643. Also a juror in 1643-44, selectman in 1648, surveyor of highways in 1649. Ile soon after removed to Stamford; was made free there in 1662."
The following list of first settlers is taken from the first book of grants and deeds :
"Elizabeth Webb, relicke of Richard Webb, in 1677, employed her 'Beloved brother John Gregory to make an agreement with Thomas Butler of Hartford, and his wife,' they 'laying claime to the estate of my deere husband, Richard Webb, deceased.' (Fol. 51.)
" Richard Homes, of Stratford, Oct. 12, 1657, bought of Alexander Bryan, of Milford, the home-lot which was Thomas Smith's, and March, 1663, the lands of Stephen Beckwith, planter, of Norwalk.
" Matthew Campfield, late of Norwake, now resident in Newarke, in the colony of New Jersey, (gavo a deed) to his son Samuel, April 1, 1669. "Samuel Hales, now of Weathersfield, late of Norwake, sold to Jolin Platt, May 14, 1669.
" Thomas Barnam, of Fairfield, had a grant before 1663.
"Joseph Smith, late of Long Island, bought of Samuel Campfield the north part of his home-lot in 1675.
" Samuel Smith, in 1672, a parcel of land in Indianfield.
"Samuel Belding, Feb. 28, 1673, bought two parcels of land in tho Neck planting-field.
"James Pickit, iu 1674.
" Thomas Betts, Jr. (fol. 55), in 1677, bought of Benjamin Feun, of Milford, the house and home-lot formerly belonging to his brother, Joseph Fenn.
"Richard Raymond removed to Saybrooke, gavo a deed to his son Jolin: in 1677 empowered his 'well-beloved brother Thomas Betts, of Norwalk,' to record all his divisions, etc. ; and in 1676 gave by will all his lands in Norwalk 'unto those children which my son John Raymond allready have or may havo by Mary Raymond, his present wife.'
"Johu Reede, 'of Rie,' bought of Richard Ilomes.
"" James Miller and Martha his wife, of Ry, in the county of Fuirfield,' Dec. 26, 1681.
" Andrew Messenger, June 28, 1686 (fol. 85), bonght land of Walter Hoyt.
"Samuel Camfield's house and four acres, between Thomas Betts and Ephraim Lock wood, Dee, 17, 1681.
"Thomas Hyatt, in 1679, bonght laud of James Miller (James Miller and Martha his wife, of Rye, Dec. 26, 1681).
"Jonathan Perkins bought of Nathaniel Richards, Feb, 23, 1677."
* Dato of the first mention in the colony records.
+ Mr. Ilinman refers to Widow Betts, 1639, and John Betts, 1648.
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486
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
FORT POINT.
"In 1689, John Gregory gave a deed to his son Thomas of a piece of land 'Lying on the West side of Norwalke Towne plott, 2 acres, bounded East by the common land banck; West, Norwalk river; South by the poynt of common land where the In- dian Fort formerly stood; North by Thomas Betts' Marsh Meadow.'"
ORIGINAL GRANTS OF HOME-LOTS.
The following is a record of the original grants to the pioneers :
" Richard Olmstead, four acres one rood. Bonnded east by common land, west by town's highway, north by Thomas Hale's home-lot, south by Nathaniel Eli's home-lot.
"Thomas Fitch (purchased the lot laid out to Edward Church in 1655), four acres. Bounded east by town highway, west by Danicl Kellogg's home-lot, north by Nathaniel Richards' home-lot, south by Matthew Marvin, Sr.'s, home-lot.
"Nathaniel Eli (sold to Thomas Betts), four acres two roods. Bounded east by the common, west by town highway, north by Richard Olmsted's home-lot, south by the other highway.
"Sammel HIales (sold to Robert Stewart, of Milford, in 1660), four acres. Bounded east by the 'Commoninge,' west by highway, north by 'the Commoninge,' south by Mathias Sention's home-lot.
"John Platt (in 1663), four acres two roods. Bounded east by high- way and common land, west by Ephraim Lockwood's home-lot, north by Samuel Camfield's lot, south by Thomas Fitch, Jr.'s, home-lot.
" Isacke More (sold to Mark Sention iu 1660), four acres. Bounded east by town highway, west by ' the coafe [cove] bancke,' north by George Abbott's home-lot.
" Richard Seamer (afterwards his son's, Thomas Scamer, by exchange) ! Bounded east by the common, west by town's highway, north by town's highway, south by Richard Webb's home-lot.
" John Bowten, four acres. Bounded east by Mr. Hanford's and John Ruscoe's home-lot, west by highway, north by highway, south by Thomas Lupton's home-lot.
" Matthew Marvin, Sr., four acres. Bounded east by town's highway, west by Daniel Kellog's homc-lot, north by Thomas Fitch's home-lot, south by meeting-house yard and Matthew Marvin, Jr.'s, home-lot.
"Thomas Lupton, four acres. Bonnded east by Richard Homes and Mark Sention's home-lot, west by Mathias Sention's home-lot and con- 11011, north by John Bowten's home-lot, south by George Abbott's lot.
"Jonathan Marsh, two parcels, four acres. The greater bounded east by highway, ' the coafe bancke' of Norwalk River, north by the com- moninge, south by Thomas Ward's home-lot; the less bounded east by comuionage, west by the aforcsaid highway, north by commouage, south by commouage.
" Walter Haite, four acres. Bounded east by town highway, west by ' the common by the bancke coafe,' north by Mathias Stention's home- lot, south by George Abbott's home-lot.
" Nathaniel Richards, four acres one rood. Bounded east by town highway, west by Norwalk River ' coafe bancke,' north by Isacke More's home-lot, south by Thomas Fitch's home-lot.
" Matthias Seution, Sr., bought of Mr. Stecile, of Farmington, who married the widow of Richard Scamer, four acres ; granted in addition 1, April 6, 1661, five acres. Bounded east by common land, west by town's highway, north by Samuel Hale's home-lot, uow Robert Stewart's, south by Matthew Camfield's home-lot.
" Ralph Keeiler, four acres one rood. Bounded cast by common and neck fence, west by town highway and Edward Nash's home-lot, north by Richard Webb's home-lot, south by town highway and Edward Nash's home-lot.
"Mr. Thomas Hanford, four acres. Bounded east by town's highway, west by John Bowten's home-lot, north by town's highway, south by John Ruscoe's home-lot.
" Nathaniel Campfield, five acres. Bonnded east by common, west by town's highway, north by Matthias Sention's home-lot, south by Richard Olmsted's, that was Thomas Hale's home-lot.
"Samuel Campfield (apparently in 1670), four acres. Bounded east by Brooke swamp of common ground, west by common highway, north by Ralphı Keeler's homc-lot, now Thomas Betts', south by John Platt's home- lot.
" Thomas Benedick, Sr. (recorded March 1, 1669-70, having possessed it some years before), purchased of Mr. Hauford one acre one rood, of John Ruscoe two roods, of John Bowten one rood,-four acres. Bounded east by Mr. Hanford's and John Ruscoe's, west by John Bowten, north by town highway, south by Richard Homes.
"Samnel Haics (two parcels, the last a piece of salt meadow in the rear of the first), five acres. Bounded east (first) by common highway, west by ' the bancke,' uorthi by common land, south by Ralph Keeler s home-lot, that was Thomas Ward's salt meadow ; bounded east by bank of said home-lot, west by ' Norwalk River coafe,' north by 'coafe of said river up to the bancke,' south by ' the creeke.'
" John Gregorie, Sr. (four acres granted, bought four acres of Stephen Beckwith), eight acres. Bounded east by town highway, west by John Raimond's, north by Mr. Haies' lot and John Benedict's lot that was George Abbott's, south by highway running by ' the coafe bancke,' and Jolin Gregorie, Jr.'s.
" John Gregorie, Jr., received from John Gregorie, Sr., of the above, one acre two roods.
"Richard Web, four acres. Bounded east by common land adjoining the neck, west by town highway, north by Thomas Seamer's home-lot, south by Johu Raymond's home-lot, that was Ralph Keeler's.
" Danicl Kellogg, four acres. Bounded east by Matthew Marvin, Jr.'s, Matthew Marvin, Sr.'s, and Thomas Fitch, Sr.'s, home-lots, west by Jo- seph Fenn's home-lot and a bank of common land, north partly by Na- thaniel Richards' home-lot, and by the 'coafc-baucke,' south by town highway.
" Matthew Marvin, Jr., three acres two roods. Bounded east by ' meet- ing-house greene,' west by Daniel Kellogg's home-lot, north by Matthew Marvin, Sr.'s, home-lot, south by town highway.
"Christopher Comstock, Jan. 27, 1661 (then of Fairfield), bought of Thomas Betts, ' being then a planter inhabitiug in Norwalke,' his ' house, home-lot, etc., with halfe the land lying to the said house, laid out to said Betts, or belonging to the accommodation of Nathaniel Eli' (folio 13), four acres. See 'Nathaniel Eli,' who sold this lot to Thomas Betts, which Thomas Betts, in 1661, sold to Christopher Comstock.
"Ephraim Lockwood, Dec. 30, 1664 (folio 13), bought the home-lot of Jonathan Marshe, ' For and in consideration of one mare and sucking colt,' ' his howse with the shelfes, dress boards, etc.,' also ' the yards, hovells, and tenn fruit-trecs growing upon the orchard; and also the home-lot contaiuiug one acre more or less.' For boundaries see Jonathan Marshe.
"Thomas Betts (bought Nathaniel Eli's home-lot ; sold half to Christo- pher Comstock ; also bought honse and home-lot of Ralph Keeler ; re- corded about 1660), four acres. Bounded east by common upland, west by common highway, north by John Keeler's home-lot, south by Samuel Campfield's home-lot.
" Thomas Ward, of Norwalk (Sept, 1, 1665, sold to Ralph Keeler his 'dwelling howse and howscs, etc.,' reserving ' the work shop for the abode of his wife, if she shall have occasion, till the 27th of Septcuiber, 1666,' said Ward reserving to himself ' to take away at his pleasure, the locks upon the dwelling howse doares, and the younger-nursery trccs, and twoe boards lying upon the coller beamcs.' Folio 2). Boundaries not given save on the north, which is bounded by Jonathan Marshe.
" Thomas Benedict, Jr. (bought of Joseph Fenn, 1671, 'now home- lot, lyiug by the side of the creeke or river called the Coafe'), four acres. Bounded east by highway, leading to the point, west by ' Bancke of the coafe,' north by Joseph Fenn's land adjoining to his home-lot, south by cartway leading out of Daniel Kellogg's meadow.
" Richard Raimond (inhabitant of Salem, in the jurisdiction of Matta- chusetts Bay, bought of Ralph Keeler, Oct. 20, 1662, ' My howseing, con- tained at present in my home-lott, or cow yard,' etc., ' the howse, flores, doares, glasse windows, shelfcs, or ought elsc necessarily fastened to- gether'), four acres. Bounded cast by John Gregorie's lot that was George Abbott's, west by common land, north of John Benedict's, that was George Abbott's, south by ' A highway running to the sea bancke.'
"Jakin Greggorie (in 1666, grant of home-lot upland and lowland), four acres. Bounded east by common upland, west by common high- way, north by common upland, south by Thomas Taylor's homc-lot.
"Jolin Platt, of Norwalk (bought of Thomas Lupton, March, 9, 1665, sold in 1674, to John Bowten), four acres. Bounded east by 'Reere of Thomas Lupton's house-lot and Richard Homes', west by Matthias Sen- tion's land, north by John Bowteu's land, south by George Abbott's land.
"John Crampton (' because lie was a souldier in the late Indian war,' 1679), three acres. Bounded east by highway, west by Samuel Bene- dict's home-lot, north by Thowas Betts, Sr.'s, home-lot, south by James Miller's home-lot.
487
NORWALK.
" Thomas Fitch, Jr. (May 20, 1671, bought of Samuel Camfield), home- lot, five acres. Bounded cast by npland of the common, west by town highway, north by Joseph Sention's lot, south by Richard Ohnsted's.
"Samuel Smith (' sonno' to Matthew Marvin, Sr., had given him by said Marvin, Aug. 20, 1674, folio 61, 'haffe my home-lot and halfo my orchard as it lyeth').
" Joseph Ketchum, six acres. Bounded cast by Ephraim Lockwood and common land, west by Thomas Taylor's home-lot and common land, north by highway, south by James Picket's land.
" Thomas Taylor (homo-lot of upland and lowland, A.D. 1670), four acres. Bounded east by connnon land, west by common highway, north by Jakin Gregorio's.
" Robert Stewart (Jan. 22, 1674, bought tho '200 ponud lot granted to Richard Bushnell'). Bounded east by lands of Samuel Caufield, west by lands of Samuel Camfield, north by lands of Samuel Camfield, sonth by common highway.
"John Ruscoo (original grant, but recorded Feb. 9, 1683), four acres. Bounded east by town highway, west by lot formerly Thomas Lurton's, north by Mr. Handford's home-lot, south by Richard Homes' home-lot.
"' At a meetinge heild the 27th of March, -65, granted and voted unto Tho. Betts a home-lott of four acres, lyinge next to Ralph Kecilor's home- lot, the said Tho. Betts having at tho saied meetingo resigned that home- lott lying by Will Ruscoe's unto the Towne's hands.'
"At the same meeting ' granted and voted unto Mstr. Ffenn that home- lott lyino by Will Ruscoo's home-lott, which Tho. Betts hath resigned up.'
"Thomas Benedict, Sr., in 1669, bonght of Samuel Campfield his house- lot, granted him by tho town, between Thomas Betts and Ephraim Lock- wood.
" Mr. Buckingham's home-lot, four acres. Bounded east by land of Thomas Betts and the common fence, west by town's highway, north by home-lot of Thomas Seamer, south by home-lot of hoirs of John Ray- mond, Sr., deceased. (Tho lot originally laid out to Richard Webb.)
"John Nashe (iu 1688, a grant in tho rear of Robert Stewart's). Bounded cast by common land, west by Robort Stewart's home-lot.
"James Pickett (home-lot in 1672), four acres. Bounded cast by com- mon land, the said lot taking in tho water-brook, west by common high- way, north by John Keeler's home-lot, that was Edward Ketcham's, south by Judah Gregory's home-lot.
"Samuel Benedict (iu 1678, a home-lot upon Dry Ilill), four acres. Bounded east by highway that leads to said hill, west by town highway, south by Thomas Benedict, Sr.'s, home-lot.
"John Benedict (in 1678, home-lot npon Dry Hill), four neres. Bonnded east and west by highway, north by Robert Stewart's lot, sonth by Thomas Betts, Sr.'s, lot.
"Thomas Benedict, Jr. (home-lot between Rayle Ilill and Strawberry Hill), four acres. Bounded cast by highway upon Strawberry Ilill, west by highway leading to the old common highway, north by Samuel Smith's lot, south by Jolin Gregory, Sr.'s, lot.
"Joseph Platt (recorded Jan. 11, 1699, grant of sixteen acres lying at W. Rocks, west side of highway leading up to said Rocks). Bonnded partly by land of James Miller, north by Ebenezer Sention, west on highway, south partly by lund of Samnel Betts and James Millor.
" Samuel Sınith (Feb. 20, 1680, grant of home-lot adjacent to Straw- berry Hill), four acres. Bonnded cast by highway, west and north by highway, south by Thomas Benedict, Jr.'s, lot.
"Samuel Sention (May 12, 1682, bought home-lot of James Jupp), four acres. Bounded east by John Gregory, Sr.'s, lot and common land, west by common land, north by John Bowten, Sr., that was George Abbott's, south by highway running by tho ' Coafo Bancke,' said lot purchased by Jupp of Richard Seamer.
"James Beebe (home-lot, fol. 58, between two hollows in the land that lies against Judah Gregory's and John Hoyt's on the left hand of the path or highway leading to the mill), two acres. Bonnded east by path or highway, west by the bank, north by a hollow and common land, south by a hollow and common land."*
* The several grants mado to each person previous to tho recording- about 1670 to 1690-aro generally recorded togother. This : after tho record of Rev. Mr. Hanford's home-lot, follow records of soveral parcels of land granted to Mr. Hanford, e.g .:
Acres. Roods.
10
2
at Pine Hill and Soakatuck Plaine.
0 in the Neck.
5
1 Nock and Fruitful Spring.
4
2 Coast Division.
DEEDS.
INDIAN DEED TO ROGER LEDLOW.
[East side of Norwalk River ]
" A copyiet of a deede of sale made by Norwalke Indians, unto Master Roger Ludlowe, of Fairfield, as followeth, 26th February, 1640.
" An agreement made between the Indians of Norwalke and Roger Ludlowo: it is agreed, that tho Indians of Norwalke, for and in coneld- oration of eight fathom of wampum, sixe coates, tenn hatchets, tenu hoes, tenn knifes, tenn sissons, tenn jewse harpes, tenn fathom Tobackoo, three kettles of sixe hands about, teun looking glames, have granted all the lands, meadows, pasturingo, trees, whatsoever there is, and grounds botweene tho two Rivers, the one called Norwalke, the other Soakatuck, to the middle of sayed Rivers, from the sea a day's walke into the coun- try ; to the sayed Roger Ludlowe, and his heirs and assignes for ever; and that noe Indian or other shall challenge or claim any ground within the sayed Rivers or limits, nor disturb the sayed Roger, bls heirs or an- signes, within tho precincts aforesaid. In witness whereof the parties thereunto have interchangeably sett their hands.
tho marko
ROGER LUDLOWE.
" Witnesso
Tomakergo
Thos. Lndlowo
W
Tokancke
tho marko of
the marko of
Adam
proscwamenos
the marke."
PLAN OF THE ANCIENT PLANTATION.
In the plan of the ancient settlement of Norwalk, (see page 488), as drawn by the Rev. Edwin Hall in 1847, we find the ancient meeting-house, thirty feet in length and eighteen wide, with posts ten feet high, and near by the house of Mr. Hanford, which Ralph Keeler and Walter Haite agreed to build, and for which Mathew Marvin, Jr., " undertook to lay in two thousand good sufficient shinkles." There, too, are the old parade-ground and the ancient country road from Stamford to Fairfield.
In the assignment of the home-lots the leading men were placed near the meeting-house, for here we find, just north, on one side of the road, is the lot of Ma- threw Marvin, Sr., with that of Nathaniel Ely, directly opposite. Adjoining Nathaniel Ely, on the same side of the street, lived Richard Olmstead, and opposite was the lot of Thomas Fitch, which he bought of Edmund Church in 1665. Here also are the dwell- ings of Nathaniel Richards, Thomas Hales, Isack More, and Nathaniel Campbell. Southwest may be seen the lots of Deacon Thomas Benedict, John Bow- ton, Walter Haite, etc.
Acres.
Roods.
1
0 Planting Field.
1
0
Meadow.
2
2 Meadow Field.
2
1 Other side of the River.
5
0 Meadow at Barren Marsh.
1
Upland plain of the Meadows.
0
0 Ont-meadow.
G
Neck Planting Field.
35
0 Sankatnck Ilill.
6
3 Indian Field.
1
0 Ruyle llill (Hall).
And so on for all the originul planters.
+ These " copies" were recorded in the book of deeds in the year 16.2.
6
the marke of
Mahachemo, Sachem
498
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
CHAPTER XLIX. NORWALK (Continued).
SKETCHIES OF THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS.ª
GEORGE ABBOTT, whose name heads the list of the first white settlers of Norwalk, probably cmigrated from Dorchester, England, with his master. Doubt- less he was a French refugee and a relative of tlie Abboths of Andover, Mass. He was one of the first Puritan settlers of Hartford. His name is not in the catalogue of emigrants to America. It first appears in the colonial records of Connecticut, 1640, as a ser-
restrictions imposed by the British government upon those who had been in rebellion against kingly au- thority. In 1648 he was at Ipswich, Mass .; in 1651 he was an inhabitant of Norwalk. Here he resided ten years, and removed to Fairfield; and the court gave the inhabitants of that place liberty "to take in a cohabitant with them, Robert Beacham, who lately lived in Norwalk." March 29, 1655, he was appointed by the people of this town field-gate keeper for the year ensuing. Feb. 5, 1657, the town voted that he should enjoy that parcel of land lying between his home-lot and "Coafe Bancke" as his own, under a
Jonathan & Marsh, Ephraim Lockwood 1664.
sold to
Sam! Hales
Vouso!
Robert Stewart 1660.
: 1680
Matthias Sention Sen bought of ATT Steele of
Farmington 1667.
[sacke Moore, sold le Mark Sention 1660.
Nath. Cumpfield
The! Hules, sold to
Nath. Richards,
Richard Olmstead
u
Ed. Church 1652, sold to
Thomas Fitch 1665
Dan! Kellogg
Meeting House 1653.
Richt Seamer
Matthew Marvinh
The' Saamer
Ancient Parade
(DJ.E.Fitch)
Koad
(Che Leng her The Hanford's Harisch.
Rev. Stephen Buckingham
Johne Bouton
Kaiple Keeler
Walter Haite
John Besson
John Raymond
Riche Homes
The! Lapton
Mark Sention
Surving
Ed. Nash .
Matthew Sention.
Nath Hayes.
Salt
Gro. Abbott
Siep Beckwith
sold to John Gregved
John Gregory &Sons
0
1
Travel Each
V
Call Pasture
Pine Hin Lano
MAP OF ANCIENT NORWALK.
vant residing in Windsor. Therc he was fined for sell- ing a "pystoll and powder to the Indians, and bound to his good behavior." Eleven years later he was an inhabitant of Norwalk. In 1672 he was the father of seven children. He never held office. In 1690 he had an estate of one hundred and twenty pounds. As his name disappeared from the town records after 1644, he probably died about that date, aged about seventy-four.
Robert Beacham, or Beauchamp, was in Ipswich, Mass., 1648. Probably he left England, as many others did, under an assumed name, to avoid the
condition. In the first property list he was taxed on one hundred and seventy-three pounds. He was not made an elector in Fairfield until 1664.
Stephen Beckwith,-or Beckett, as Hutton has it,-aged eleven, was the youth pointed out as S. B. in the records, who was brought to the colony of Massachusetts in the ship "Francis," Cutting, master, 1634. His name appears in the colonial records in 1649, at which date he was twenty-six years of age, and a resident of Hartford, from whence he emi- grated to Norwalk. The town records do not show that he owned a home-lot. His estate in 1673 was set in the tax-list at five pounds; in 1690 he had in-
* Contributed by W. S. Bouton, Esq. '
NORWALK
of Benj. Fenn
of .Milford
Thot Betts JI Do!
Joseph Fenn . then )
Matthew Marvin Sen.
Nath. Eli, then Thos Betts, who sold le to Christopher Comstock
Stamford
Rich" Welk
Meadow
Fort Toin:
Ancien: Indo a Fart
Salt Meadow &
Ancient Common.
ow & Marsh'
To Gretory's Point &
sold to
The Ward. Ralph Keeler 1665.
Salt Meadow
Richard Olmstead
Tho! Benedict !!
489
NORWALK.
creased the same to fifty pounds. It is believed that a portion of his cstate was situated in the town of Fairfield. Probably he removed there with Beacham.
John Bouton, or Bowton, was one of the first orig- inal inhabitants of Norwalk. His name is found in Hntton's "History of Emigrants from 1600 to 1700." He, with about nine or ten others of the first settlers of the town, though they came from England, were French refugees. April, 1635, at the age of twenty, he embarked from Gravesend for the Massa- chusetts colony, in the ship " Assurance," and landed in Boston the following December. He resided in Newtown and Watertown nearly sixteen years, and then went to Hartford; thence to Norwalk. His an- cestors are authentically traced back to the latter part of the twelfth century. He was a lineal descendant of the Boutons of Chantilly, France, and a brother of Noel, born 1636, who was the son of Nicholas, born 1598, who was a descendant of Jean Bouton, whose name often appears in the French annals .*
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