USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 128
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HOW TO DEAL WITH THE STAMFORD MEN.
"It was also voted and agreed, August 26, '66, that such men of our inhabitants as doe goe to cutt hay on the other side five mile river, the towne will stand by them in the action to defend them, and to beare an equall proportion of the damage they shall sustaine upon that account; and if they shall be afronted by Stamford men, the towne will take as speedy a course as they can to prosecute them by law, to recover their just rights touching the lands in controversy ; and also they have chosen and deputed Mr. Thomas Fitch to goe with the sayed men when they goe to cutt or fetch away, to make answer for and in bchalfe of the towne, and the rest to be silent."
MENDING THE FENCES.
"At a towne meeting in Norwalk, March the 20th, 1667, it was voted and ordered that it shall be left to the townsmen from yere to yere, to appoint a time or day, at or before the 10th of March, for the securing of the fences on both sides, and that they shall give notis to all the inhabitants the night before; and the drumb to be beaten in the morning; which shall be accounted sufficient warning for every man to secure his fence, or else to beare his own damage."
FETCHING TIIE COWS.
" At the samc meeting (Oct. 17, 1667), voted and ordered, that after the field is cleared, the townsmen shall hier Stephen Beckwith, or some other man, to fetch the cowes out of the neck; and that he that shall be hired shall give warning by sounding a horne about twelve of the clock, that he that is to accom- pany him may repaier to him."
WOLVES.
" Also at the same meeting in Norwalk, Oct. 28, '67, it was voted and ordered, that the townsmen,
519
NORWALK.
for every wolfe that shall be killed in this town, eyther in pits or otherwise, the lead or eares being brought and shewed, after this present day till the town rates are made for the defraying such charges, shall have twenty shillings for every such wolfe."
TRAINING.
" At a meeting of the inhabitants of Norwalke, May the 7th, 1668 ; being met together upon an occasion of trayning, and having some other business to transact touching towne officers, did unanimously agree, that what orders should be made and concluded of at the aforesayed meeting, should stand in as full forse as if it had bin legally warned."
KEEPING THE YOUNG PEOPLE STILL IN MEETING.
" At a meeting of the inhabitants of Norwalk, July the 13: '68, Tho. Lupton was chosen to look after the young people in the meeting-house on the Lord's day, and to doe his best indevor to kepe them from playing and unsivill behavor in time of publik worship."
THE HERDSMEN.
" At a towne meeting in Norwalk, March the 16, 1668, it was voted and agreed, that there shall be two herdsmen hired, one to keep the dry heard and the other to keep the mileh heard for this whole somer.
" At the same meeting it was voted and agreed that Steven Beekwith is to keep the mileh heard this somer, and is to have twelve shillings a week for his paynes; and half a pound of butter for every cow as part of his pay, and the rest in wheat, pease, indian corn, at 4s. 6d .; 3s. 6d., and eight groats per bushell."
DIFFICULTY WITHI STAMFORD.
"Sept. 30, 1668. Voted and ordered, that the depu- ties that ar chosen to goe to the court in October next, shall doe their best indevor that the diferanee between Stamford and Norwalk may be brought to an issue.
" At the same meeting it was voted and ordered that it shall be left to the towns men to send a letter to Stamford to signifie the towns intension about the difference of Bounds."
MAKING A FENCE FOR A WINTER WHEAT-FIELD.
"Dee. 4, 1668. It was agreed and eoneluded that a fenee shall be made and sett up for ye taking in of a winter wheat field, which sayd fenee is to begin at the gate by goodman Nash his house, and to Run along by the highway that goes to stony hill, and to end at the ereek that comes in between Matthue Camfield his Island, and Nathaniell Richards out meddow, which fence is to be made good sufitient fence ; eyther postes and Rayls, or stones or logs ; but not hegg; and this to be finished by the last of September next ensueing, and to be layed out and divided by Mr. Fiteh, Daniell Kellogg, and Christo- pher Comstock; and also it was concluded that the first lott should begin at the gate ; which first lott was drawn by
1. Matthew Marvin, Sr.
16. Christopher Comstok.
2. Samuel Senslon, 17. Mr. Fitch.
3. Robert Stewart. 18. Nathanlei Hayes,
4. Samuel Camfichi. 19. John Gregory, Sr.
5. Thomas Lupton.
20. Mark Sension,
6. Thomas Fitch.
7. Thomas Scamer.
22. Widdow Webb,
8. Edward Nash.
23. Matthew Marvin, Jr.
9. Mr. Hanford.
24. Nathanici Richards.
10. Matthias Sension,
25. Richard Olmstead. 26. John Bonton.
11. Thomas Bennydick.
12. George Abbet.
27. John Gregory, Jr.
13. Walter Hayte.
28. John Platt.
14. Thomas BettH.
29. John Ruscoc.
15. Daniell Kellog,
30. Richard Whoims.
31. Matthias Sension, Jr.
" Ralph Keeler did promise and ingage to fence forty Rodd of the aforesayd fence provided that he may sett it up against his own land."
ASH-HOUSE.
"At a towne meeting in Norwalk, January the 22d, '69, it was voted and granted that Thomas Oviet of Milford shall have liberty to set a house by the water side before John Gregory's senr., to put ashes in."
THE INDIANS,
" At the same meeting it was voted that Mr. Fitch, and Matthew Marvin, junior, are desired and ap- pointed, and it is left to their discretion, to treat with the Indians touching the lands between the West branch of the Norwalk river and Saketuk river; to git it to be marked out and bounded twelve miles up the contery at the least, and that it may be dun and finished according to law, and being so bounded and . marked, the Indians are to have their 4 coates."
FOUR COATS TO MAMACHIMION.
" Dee. 25, 1669. Voted and concluded that Mama- ehimon shall have fowre cotes paid to him by the towne, when he shall have settled the bounds of the land up the country, 12 miles at the leaste, against all elaims whatsoever."
UNDIVIDED LANDS.
" At the same meeting voted and agreed that all the lands within the bounds of Norwalk that are at pres- ent undivided, shall for futor be divided onley to such as are the present proper Inhabitants of this towne, according to estate given in, only excepting ye division of six aeors the 100 to home lots already granted.
" At the same town meeting voted and ordained that until such time as ye Indian fenee be made up so as to serve the feild, their shall not any of our inhabitants let any Indian have any parte of his property neither less or more to plant upon, eyther on this side or the other, upon the penalty of 20f an aere so sett ; and so proporsionaly for every greter or lesser quantity ; and the same order to stand in foree against any person that shall either hier or exchang any land of the In- dians for the futor; and this to stand in force from yere to yere until it be repealed.
" At the same meeting it was voted and ordered that the corne feilds, on both sides ar to be layd in by the
21. John Raymond.
520
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
next thirsday com senit, and the fences to be made up sufficient."
INDIAN LAND.
" At the same meeting it was voted and ordered that no person or persons whatsoever inhabiting in this towne shall for futor improve any land of the Indians within the indian feild cyther by hiring, or exchanging gifts, or any other way, under the penalty of twenty shillings an acor yerly, for every acor so improved, and so for cvery greater or lesser quantity.
" At a towne-meeting in Norwalk, April the 12th, 1670, it was voted and agreed that the order yt was made March 15th, '69, to prohibit exchanging of lands with the Indians, shall be suspended for the next somer, & that any that have a mind to exchange with them may soe do; but not to hold it any longer than the next Indian harvest, and then the aforesaid order to stand in as full forse as before."
BOUNDARIES.
" At a towne-meeting in Norwalk, June the first, 1670, it was voted and ordered that Lieutent Olmsted and John Gregory, senr. ar to be joyned with Mr. Mr. Fitch and Mathu Marvin Jun. to git the bounds marked out between Norwalk river and Saketuk river as is expressed in a former order; and being so done to such satisfaction as tlicir is exprest in that former order, the Indians are to receive six cotes at the town's charg."
TREATING WITH STAMFORD.
" At the same meeting voted and agreed that Mr. Fitch and leuetent Olmsted and Daniel Kellogg are chosen a commitee to goe to Stanford to treat with the inhabitants their, to se if they and we can eome to a loving and neighborly issue and agreement, about the division of bounds betwixt them and us; and the said committee is to make these propositions to the men of Stanford, eythier to divide betwixt five mile river and pine brook ; that is to say in the middle betwin both; or else to divide in the middle betwin Saketuk River and the bounds betwin Stanford and Greenwig."
JOHN GREGORY.
" At the same meeting it was voted and concluded that their shall be two men chosen to prosecute the case against John Gregorie, senior, as touching the lands he howlds from the right of James the Indian, eyther by law or otherwise, as that they may howld and maintaine the rights which the town - or any other land which he claims in the like natuer, as the island called Cokkanus Island."
TOWN OFFICERS IN 1670.
" At the same meeting [Feb. the 21, 1670] Matthu Marvin, Junior, chosen to swepe the meating house, and to have 20s. for his pains, and Walter Hayte chosen to beate the drume, and to have 10s. for the sayd imployment; Tho. Bennydyck senr. chosen towne clerk, and to have 20s. for his pains; Mr. Fitch & John Bouton chosen survaiors, Leuten Olmsted, Ensign Tho. Fitch, Nathaniell Richards, Daniell
Kellogg & Tho. Bennydick, senr. chosen celect men."
THE GUARD.
" At the aforesayed meting it was voted and ordered that it shall be left to the five men, to procure a hand- some and convenient seate made and sett up in the meting house, for a garde to sitt in, in the most suit- able place, with all such conveniances for their Arms as they shall jug necessary, and the charg to be borne by the towne."
BURNING THE WOODS.
" At the same meeting voted and agreed, that the townsmen shall hier a man to burn the woods, onely they shall not give above 12s. for that service."
COVER OVER MR. HANFORD'S DESK.
" At a town meeting in Norwalk, November 17th, 1670, it is voted and agreed that there shall be a man or men hired to make a comcly and convenient cover over Mr. Hanford's desk, in the meeting house, at the town's charge."
THE BRIDGE.
" At the aforesayed meeting [Jan. the 1st, 1671] it was voted and agreed on that there shall be a bridg made over Norwalk river; the charg shall be born according to the list of cstates then in being of every inhabitant in the town of Norwalk.
" At the same meeting voted that it shall be left to the select men in this town, to improve their best skill to sec what will be contributed by the several towns adjacent towards the building of a bridg over Norwalk river; it was further voted that the select men shall send to serjent Andrues of Newhaven, to git him to come over to give us advise about the bridg, & the town will bear the charg of his coming and going."
RECOMPENSE FOR BAD COATS FOR MAMACHIMON.
"Feb. 9, 1671. Voted and agreed that inasmuch as Mr. Fitch have given a rate to Mamachimon to make him a recompense for the badness of the former coats he received, that the prise of it shall be put into this town rate that now is to be made."
DIVISION OF LAND, AND LAYING OUT HOME-LOTS.
" At the same meeting voted and agreed that Nath. Hays & Tho. Fitch, Junr, shall fall in with the rest of the inhabitants in the last devision that was agreed on to be laycd out, notwithstanding their former gratuety ; onely they are to take it up in the woods, because they have received already in the neck.
"(John Platt & Thomas Bennydick, senr. were to lay out the last division, according to the grant; and also to lay out the home-lots.)
"It was voted and agreed that only the proper in- habitants that are now in being shall have a home lott, and all such shall Injoy one according to a former order.
" Agreed on that all those men that now draw lots with their neighbors, shall stand to their lotts that now they draw.
521
NORWALK.
" Agreed on that the first lot shall begin at the hether end of Drye Hill, as soon as the hill shall be found capable of lotting, by those that are to laye out the lotts, and on this side the hill by the path that goes to Cramberry plain, and so back again on the other side of the hill homward, & so all the rest of the land in that order.
" Agreed that those that do not draw lots with the rest of their neighbors shall take them up with their devision of six acors to the hundred ; if it be their to be had; if not, then they shall fall in with their neighbors whear they shall end, or at the side of them whear it shall be most convenient.
" Further agreed that it shall be left to the 3 men that are to lay out the lotts, that they shall size them so as they may be made most equall, according to their best diseression."
ESTATE FOR THE CHILDREN.
" At the aforesaid meeting voted and agreed on, that every one of our inhabitants that have not as yet had any estate for their childring, shall have five pounds for every childe now in being; to be added to their father's estate, & this is to take place in the land that is now to be layed out in ye Indian feild, and not before."
THE ESTATES OF LANDS AND ACCOMMODATIONS OF YE TOWN OF NORWALK.
IMPRIMIS.
8.
d.
John Gregory, Sr.
253
10
0
Nathaniel Hayes
115
0
0
Thomas Luptou.
70
0
0
Richard Holmes. 150 0 0
John Ruscoe.
150 0 0
Mr. Hanford.
300 0
0
Thomas Bennydick, Sr 150 0
100
0
0
John Bennydick, Jr
150
0
Daniel Kellogg 125
0 0
Matthew Marvin, Jr. 139
10 0
Mr. Thomas Fitch, Sr.
314
0
0
Nathaniel Richards.
268
0 0
Mark Sension.
252
0
0
James Sension
175
0
0
Mathu Marvin, Sr 169
0
0
Thomas Gregory
50
0
0
John Olmsted.
50
0
0
Andrew Messenger ..
25
0
Samuel Camfield
233
0
Richard Olmsted.
119 10 0
Christopher Comstock
146
10
0
Thomas Seamer
100
0
Widdow Webb.
255
0
John Raymond.
150
0
166 Edward Nash .. 10 0
John Keiler.
50
0
0
John Gregory, Jr.
50
0
00
Judah Gregory.
50
0
Jakin Gregory
50
0) 0
Thomas Tayler.
55
0 0
Samuell Smith
70
0 0
George Abbet.
75
0 0
Walter Hayte ..
192
0
Mathias Sension
145
0
Ralph Keiler
53
10
0
Samuel Hayes
100
0
John Hayte ..
100
0
Thomas Betts.
146
10 0
Samuel Bennydick
50
0 0
Ephraim Lock wood.
70
0 0
Thomas Fitch, Jr.
0
0
John Platt.
168
13 4
Samuel Sension
100
0
0
Robbart Steward
=
0
Jonathan Pirkins.
10
0
0
James Picket.
10
0
0
Samuel Keiler.
53
10
0
Peter Lupton ..
50
0
0
Frances Bushnell
10
0
James Olmsted.
50
0 0
James Bennydick
37
0 0
0
£ a. d.
Joseph Gregory.
John Nash
Thomas Hlet
5 (
Steven Beck with
5
0
John Crampton.
3
8
James Miller
80
0
()
Thomas Barnnin
40
(
Thomas Betts, Jr.
10
()
John Belding.
William Lees
3
0
Samuel Belding.
TAVERN-KEEPER.
" At the same meeting Christopher Comstock was chosen and approved of to keep an ordinary for the entertayning of strangers."
CHESTNUT HILL.
" At the aforesayed meeting, March 19th, 1671, it was voted and agreed on that Chestnut Hill is to be resarved for a feild for the Indians, if need be, and if they shall exeept of it."
COCKENOES ISLAND.
" Allsoe at the same meeting [ Feb. 20, 1672], it was voted and agreed on that the sayd Island called Cockenoe, is to lye common for the use of the towne as the other Islands doe."
THE CHILDREN OF THE TOWN.
John Gregory, Jr., have chil- dring, 3.
Thomas Bennydick, Jr., 2.
Daniel Kellogg, G.
John Gregory, Sr., 1.
Mathew Marvin, Jr., 6.
Nathaniel Hayes, 7.
George Abbot, 7.
Thomas Lupton, 2.
Matthias Sension, 7.
Richard Holms, 2.
Keilers, 3.
John Ruscoe, 5.
Samuel Huyes, 1.
Mr. Hanford, 6.
Jachin Gregory, 2.
Thomas Bennydick, Sr., G.
Thomas Tayler, 2.
John Bouton, 5.
Judah Gregory, 3.
John Hayte, 1.
Samuel Camfield, 1.
Thomas Betts, 8.
Thomas Fitch, Jr., 4.
Ephraim Lockwood, 3. Thomas Seamer, 7.
John Platt, 3.
John Raymond, 1.
Samuell Sension, 2.
Edward Nash, 2.
Robbart Steward, 5.
THE SOLDIERS IN THE INDIAN WAR.
" At a Town meetinge January the 12th, 1676, the Towne in consideration of the good service that the souldiers sent out of the towne ingaged and performed by them in the Indian warr, out of respect and thank- fulnesse to the sayed souldiers, doe with one consent and freely, give and grant unto so many souldiers as were in the service at the direful swamp-fight, twelve acors of land; and eight acors of land to so many souldiers as were in the next considerable service; and fowre acors to those souldiers as were in the next considerable service ; the sayed souldiers having lib- ertie to take up the sayed granted lands within the bounds of the town, provided that it be not upon those lands that are prohibited, and also such lands as are pitched upon before the date hereof by the proprietors or' proprietor ; provided also the sayd grant is only to such souldiers as shall within one yeere, and possess and improve the sayd lands."
JOHN ROACH, A SOLDIER IN THE " DIREFUL SWAMP-FIGHT."
" Whereas the towne of Norwalke having given and granted unto John Roach as a gratuety being a
34
0 Daniel Bennydick 36
0
0
150
200
0
0
0
John Bouton ..
0
U
522
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
souldier in the late Indian war, the parcell of land, consistinge of twelve acres more or less, layed out upon the West side of the West Rocks so called, &c."
DANIEL BENEDICT, A SOLDIER IN THE SWAMP-FIGHT.
"Granted by the plantation unto Daniel Benedict as a gratuity, being a souldier in the Indian warr, twelfe acres of land and lyeth in three parcels; whereof one parcell lyeth upon the hill and plaine of the other side of Norwalke River, not far distant from the West side of the cart path leading to the meadow field &c. Feb. 16, 1677."
THOS. GREGORY, A SOLDIER IN THE INDIAN WAR.
"Granted by the plantation unto Thos. Gregory as a gratuety, being a souldier in the Indian warr, eight acres of land, and lyeth in two parcells, the first par- cell lying upon the West Rocks, containing six acres, &c. Feb. 25, 1677."
THOMAS HYATT, A SOLDIER IN TIIE INDIAN WAR.
" Feb. 19, 1682. The Towne granted unto Thomas Hyatt, libertie to resign seven acres of land which the town hath formerly granted him respecting as he was a souldier in the Indian warres, and he had taken up the same upon Clapboard Hill, soe called; namely to resign the same up to the towne, so as to take it up elsewhere."
JOSEPH PLATT, A SOLDIER.
" Feb. 21, 1698. Granted unto Joseph Platt, as he was a souldier out in the service against the common encmie, the Town, as a gratification for his good ser- vice, do give and grant unto him ten Acres of land, to take it up a mile from the town, and wheare it lyes free not yet pitcht upon by any other persons."
JONATIIAN ABBOTT, A SOLDIER.
" Allso granted unto Jonathan Abitt as he was a souldier, ten Acres of land, to be taken up whear it lyes free not yet pitched on by any persons."
FOR A MAN SENT OUT TO THE WARRES.
"Feb. 21, 1698. The town granted to James Betts, as he sent out a man into the warres, and was at charge and expense of money on account of hireing; the towne does grant unto the sayd James, five acres of land, &c."
SAML. KEELER, A SOLDIER IN THE SWAMP FIGIIT.
"Granted by the plantation of Norwalke, unto Saml. Keeler, with respect to his service, as he was a souldier in the late Indian warr, one parcell of land lying upon Clapboard Hill, so called, containing twelfe acres more or less; and lyeth bounded East and West the common North Tho. Hyatt Land, South Ebenezer Sention Land. Recorded May, 1681."
JOHN CRAMPTON, A SOLDIER IN THE INDIAN WAR.
" John Crampton hath granted him by the towne as he was a Souldier in the late Indian warr, two Roodes of land more or less, and lyeth bounded in the East by the highway, West Saml. Bennydict's
home lott, North Tho. Betts' house lott, South, James Miller's house lott.
"John Crampton hath granted him by the towne, as he was a souldier in the late Indian warr, eight acres foure roodes of land, more or less, and lyeth upon the est branch of Norwak River, not far distant from that meadow called Webb's meadow, &c."
JAMES JUPP, A SOLDIER IN THE INDIAN WAR.
"James Jupp hath granted him by the towne, as he was a souldier in the late Indian warr, eight acres of land, and lying upon the hill called Clapboard Hill, &c."
JOHN BELDING, A SOULDIER.
" Dec. 12, 1676. Granted unto John Belding the remainder of the swamp that shall be left, when his Father Hales is laid out, and to be a part of the land that he is to have for his being a souldier."
JONATHAN STEVENSON, A SOULDIER IN THE DIREFUL SWAMP-FIGHT.
" Feb. 20, 1677. Granted by towne vote unto Jona- than Stevenson libberty to take up 4 acres of his twelve acres given him by the town for his being a souldier; and that against Tho. Hiet's home lot, on the East side of the aforesaid Hiet, joyning unto him; onely due care is to be taken by them that lay it out, that the townc be not deprived of the benefit of the springs for their cattel in the winter season."
THE DIREFUL SWAMP-FIGHT.
"This was in King Philip's war. After some suc- cesses of Philip there was a general rising of the In- dians against the English for an extent of nearly three hundred miles. The Indians were perfectly ac- quainted with the situation of every English settle- ment. They lurked at every unguarded pass, crept by night into their barns, gardens, and out-houses, concealed themselves behind fences, laid in wait in the fields. The whole country, save some few towns, was a wilderness. Parties of Indians would plunder and burn a town, carry the inhabitants away captive, and then retire into the forests and swamps. Brook- field had been burnt; Hadley, Deerfield, and North- field had been attacked, and numbers killed; Capt. Lathrop and ninety or a hundred men had been am- bushed and slaughtered between Hadley and Deer- field; Springfield had been attacked and partly de- stroyed. The Narragansetts, who had made a treaty with the English, now harbored their enemies, and many of their warriors, after having been engaged in these marauding expeditions, had returned wounded. There was the clearest evidence that the Narragan- setts were preparing to join openly in the war. They could muster two thousand warriors, and had a thou- sand muskets. Should the Indians all engage in the spring in such a warfare as they had hitherto carried on, there was scarcely any hope but that nearly all the English settlements must be cut off in detail without the possibility of successful resistance.
"It was therefore determined to attack them in the
523
NORWALK.
winter, though such an enterprise was full of hazard. Should any disaster befall the troops of the colonies, it might be difficult or impossible to send them suc- cors or supplies, on account of the deep and pathless snows and the exposures of the winter and the wil- derness, besides the danger from the Indians. But dreadful necessity compelled them to make the attempt.
" Massachusetts furnished five hundred and twenty- seven men, Plymouth one hundred and fifty-eight, and Connecticut three hundred men and one hundred and fifty Mohegan and Pequot Indians. The Con- necticut troops had marched from Stonington to Pet- tysquamscot. Here they expected shelter, but the Indians had burned the buildings and killed the in- habitants only a day or two before. This was on December 17th. The weather was cold and stormy. The next day they marched, and formed a junction with the Massachusetts and Plymouth forces. Here again they were obliged to spend the night uncovered in the open field. The next morning, at break of day, the army marched towards the Narragansett fort, which was in a deep tangled swamp, fifteen miles distant. The snow was deep, and the weather ex- tremely cold. At one o'clock they reached the enemy's fort. It was on rising ground, in the midst of the swamp, surrounded with palisades, and, out- side of these, with a hedge of brush a rod thick. The only entrance which appeared practicable was over a log which lay five or six feet from the ground, and this entrance was defended in front by a fortress of logs 'and on the left by a flanker.' The Massachu- setts troops, who were in front, mounted the log and rushed on. A few entered the fort. The fire from the log house and flanker was so hot that a sufficient number could not force their way through to support them, and those who had entered were cut down. The deep snow and the tangled thicket rendered it impossible for the whole body of troops to come up at once, and it was a considerable time before all could be brought into action. At length the Con- necticut troops, who formed the rear, mounted over the log and rushed into the fort. Some others forced their way to the opposite side of the fort and suc- ceeded in making good their entrance while the atten- tion of the enemy was engaged in front. A long, bloody, and dubious conflict ensued, but the enemy were at length overcome, and what were not killed in the battle fled to the swamp. Three hundred Indian warriors perished on the spot. Many were wounded, and perished from their wounds and from the cold. Nearly the same number were taken prisoners. It was a dreadful day.
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