USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 155
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" CATOONAH.
ye Sachems.
" WOQUACOMICK.
his mark.
" WASPAHCHAIN.
his mark.
. WAWKAMAWWEE.
his mark.
" NARANEKA,
his mark.
" CAWWEHORIN.
his mark.
" This Above Written Bill of Sale is Acknowledged hy ye Grantors this 30th Day of September, 1708.
" Before me,
" SAMUEL HAIT, " Justice of Peace.
Recorded February 3ª, 1709-10.
" JOHN COPP, " Recorder."
The next step in the enterprise was to survey the land and lay it out into a town-plot, which was ac- cordingly done in 1709 by Maj. Peter Burr, of Fair- field, John Copp, of Norwalk, and Josiah Starr, of Danbury. This committee reported to the General Assembly, and that body, under date Oct. 13, 1709, made the following grant :
FIRST GRANT OF LANDS.
"WHEREAS, the Generall Assembly of this Colony, Holden at Hart- ford, May 13th 1708-Upon the petition of Sundry of the Inhabitants of the town of Norwalk praying for liberty to purchase of the Indians a certain Tract of Land lying within this Colony Bounded Northerly and Northeasterly with the Town of Danbury, Sontherly with the Said Town of Norwalk and West or Westerly with ye line or boundary between this
Colony & ye province of New York, to the ond they miglit make a Plan- tation there, and settle upon the Same- Did Grant to the said Petition- ers a liberty to purchase the same Tract of Land.
" And pursuant thereto ye said Petitioners did buy and purchase of Catoonah a Sachem-and other Indians the aforesaid tract of Land as by their Deed of Conveyance thereof under their, hands and Seals bear- ing Date September 30 1708 now laid before this Assembly had been made to appear. And whereas the General Assembly of this Colony Holden at Hartford, May ye 12th, 1709. Did desire and Impower Major Peter Burr Mr John Copp, and Mr Josiah Starr to make a Survey of the said tractof Land and to lay out a Town Platt there and to Make Return of their doings therein to this Assembly at this time, and the said Peter Burr & Jolin Copp in pursuance thereof, having taken a view of the said Tract of Land, & have thereupou made a Return or Report thereof to this Assembly which hath been read and Considered.
" This Assembly Do now give and Grant to the said petitioners, that is to say to the Persons hereafter named viz John Belden Samuel Keeler Sent, Matthew Seamor Matthias St John, Benjamin Wilson Samuel St Jolin James Brown Benjamin Hickcock Joseph Keeler, Samuel Keeler Jr Samuel Smith Matthew St John Jonathan Stevens Daniel Olmstead John Sturdevant Jonathan Rockwell Joseph Whitney Thomas Hyatt James Benedict Joseph Crampton & Richard Olmstead of the said Town of Norwalk and Thomas Smith Thomas Canfield Samuel Smith & Ehen- ezer Smith of ye Town of Milford, and to their heirs and assigns forever, All the afore Mentioned Tract or Parcel of Land Butted & Bounded as followeth, that is to say, On the South or Southerly with the said Town of Norwalk, On the West or Westerly with the line or boundary hetween this Colony and the Province of New York, On the East or Easterly partly with the line to he continued and Run like unto the line between ye said Town of Norwalk and the Town of Fairfield from the North End there- of unto a certain black Oak tree marked with Letters and haveing Stones layed about the Same Standing upon the Mountain, commonly caled the West Cedar Mountain and partly with a direct and Strait lino to be run from said Black Oak Tree to a certain Large White Oak Tree marked and having Stones layed about it Standing at or near the North West Corner of Umpewange pond. And on the North or Northerly with a direct Strait Line to be run from the said White Oak Tree to the South Westerly Corner of the Town of Danbury and continued unto the Said Line or Boundary between this Colony and the Province of New York be the said Tract of Land more or Less, With all and Singular the rights Members and appurtenances thereof. And this Assembly do hereby Enact & Grant That the said Tract of Land shall he an Intire Township of it self, and shall be Called and Known by the name of Ridgfield, and shall be held and enjoyed by the said John Belden Samuel Keeler Sent Matthew Seamor Matthias St John Benjamin Wilson, Samuel St John James Brown Benjamin Hickock Joseph Keeler Samuel Keeler Jr Samuel Smith Matthew St. John Jonathan Stevens Daneel Olmstead John Sturdevant Jonathan Rockwell Joseph Whitney Thomas Hyatt James Benedict Joseph Crampton and Richard Olmstead of Norwalk and Thomas Smith Thomas Canfield Samuel Smith and Ebenezer Smith of the Town of Milford and their heirs and Assigns in Equal and Even Shares, & be divided accordingly into lotts and parcells from time to time by the Order of the Major Vote of them, to be accounted by the Major part of interests therein. Provided that this act shall not be construed to the prejudice of any former Grant of this Court and provided always -nevertheless that if the said John Belden Samuel Keeler Sen" Matthew Seamor Matthew St. John Benjamin Wilson Samuel St John James Brown Benjamin Hickock Joseph Keeler Samuel Keeler Jr Samuel Smith Matthew St John Jonathan Stevens Daneel Olmstead John Sturde- vant Jonathan Rockwell Joseph Whitney Thomas Hyatt James Benne- dick Joseph Crampton and Richard Olmstead Thomas Smith Thomas Canfield Samuel Smith and Ebenezer Smith their heirs assigns or asso- ciates. Do not or shall not within four Years next after the date of this act or Grant, Settle or Dwell upon the said tract of Land to ye number of twenty Eight families, and after continue and Dwell there for the Space of four Years next following, that then it shall be in the Liberty and power of this Assembly to grant of the said Tract of Land Settlement to any other persons as they shall se cause."
" A true copy of Record.
" Test
" CALEB STANLY, " Secretary.
THE RIDGEFIELD PATENT.
The following is a copy of the patent issued in 1714:
633
RIDGEFIELD.
" WHEREAS the Governour, Councill and Representatives of Hor Majesties Colony of Connecticutt in New England in General Court as- senibled, Did by an Act bearing Date Octobr 13th Anno Domini 1709, Grant nuto John Bolden, Samuel Keclor Seur, Matthew Seamore, Mat- thias Saintjohn, Bonjamin Willson, Samnel Saintjohn, James Brown, Benjamin Hickcock, Joseph Keeler, Samuel Keeler, Junr, Sam1 Smith, Matthew Saintjohn, Jonathan Stevens, Dancel Olmsted, John Sturdevant, Jonathan Rockwell, Joseph Whitne, Thomas Ilyatt, James Benedict, Joseph Crampton, and Richard Ohmstod, all of ye Town of Norwalk, in ye County of Fairfield in ye Colony aforesaid, and Thomas Smith, Thomas Canfield, Samnel Smith, and Ebenezr Smith of the Town of Milford in ye County of New Haven, in ye Colony afore- said, One Certain Tract of land, as by the said act doth full appear, tho same tract of land, being situate, butted, and bonded as in the said act and Grant is Expressed, Viz, On ye Sonth or Southerly with ye said Town of Norwalk, On tho West, or westerly with the line or boundary between this Colony and the Province of New York, On the East or Eastwardly partly with a line to bo Continued and run like unto tho line between tho said Town of Norwalk and the Town of Fairfield, from the North end thereof unto a black Oak tree mark't with letters & having stones laid about the same, Standing upon the mountain Commonly Called ye west Cedar mountain, and partly with a direct and streight line to be run from the said black Oak tree to a Certain large white Oak Tree mark't, and having stones laid abont it. Standing at or Near tho Northwest Corner of Umpawaug Pond, and on the North or Northely with a direct Strait line to be run from ye said white Oak Tree to the Southwest Corner of the Town of Danbury and Coutinned unto the said line or boundary between this Colony, and the Province of New York, be the same Tract of land more or less, all which appears by the aforesaid Act, And Whereas they, the said John Belden, Samuel Keelar Sent, Matthew Seamore, Mat- thias Saintjohn, Benjamin Willson, Sam1 St. John, James Brown, Benja- min Hickcock, Joseph Keeler, Samt Keeler Juny, Sam Smith, Matthew Saintjohn, Jonathan Stevens, Daniel Olmsteil, John Sturdevant, Jona- than Rockwell, Joseph Whitne, Thomas Hyatt, James Benedict, Joseph Crampton, and Richard Ohnstedd, Thomas Smith, Thomas Canfield, Sam- uel Smith, and Ebenez" Smith pursuant to the law Title, the Tenure of Our lands, have made application for a P'attent, for the Confirmation of the said Tract of land to them, their heirs and assigns, Know all men Therefore by these presents, that the Governour and Company of Her Majestie To Colony of Connecticutt by Virtue of the Power Granted to them, by our Late Soveraign Lord King Charles the Second, of blessed memory in and by his said Majesties Lettre Pattents under the Great Seal of England bearing Date the Twenty third day of Aprill in the fourteenth year of his Reign; Havo Given, Granted, Ratified and Confirmed, and by these presents, Do Give Grant, Ratifie and Confirm both for them- selves, their heirs and Successors, nnto tho said John Belden, Samuel Keeler Sent, Matthew Seamore, Matthias St John, Benjamin Willson, Sam1 St John, James Brown, Benjamin Hickcock, Joseph Keeler, Sam1 Keeler Junt, Sam1 Smith, Matthew St John, Jonathan Stevens, Daniel Olmstedd, John Sturdevant, Jonathan Rockwell, Joseph Whitne, Thomas Hyatt, James Benedict, Joseph Crampton, and Richard Olmsted, Thomas Smith, Thomas Canfield, Samd Smith and Ebenezr Smith and to their heirs and Assigns for ever all, and singular the abovo mentioned Tract of land and Every part thereof, with all and Singular rights proffits, privilidges Commodities, Emoluments and appartenances what forever To the said Tract of land belonging or in any wise appertaining, To Have And To Hold the said Tract of land, and every part thereof nuto them the said John Belden, Samuel Keeler Sent, Matthow Seamore, Mat- thias St John, Benjamin Willson, Sam1 Saintjohn, James Brown, Benja- min Hickcock, Joseph Keeler, Samnel Keeler Jun, Sam Smith, Mat- thew Saintjohn, Jonathan Stevens, Daniel Olmsted, John Sturdevant, Jonathan Rockwell, Joseph Whitne, Thomas Ilyatt, James Benedict, Joseph Crampton and Richard Olmstedd, Thomas Smith, Thomas Can- field, Samuel Smith and Ebenez" Smith and To their heirs and assigns forever and to their Only proper benefitt and behoof, from the day of tho date hereof, and from time to time and att all times forever hereafter as a good, sure, lawfull, absolute, and Indefcafable Estate of inheritance in Fee Simple, without any Condition Limitation use or other thing to alter, or make void the same. And in such Shares and in such propor- tions, as they either already have or hereafter shall ngree for ye Division and partition of the same, To Hold of her Majestie, Ilor heirs and Snc- cessors, as of her Majesties Mannor of East Greenwich in the County of Kent, in the Kingdom of England in free and Common socage, and not in Capitee, Nor by Knights service Yielding and paying therefor to Our Soveraign Lady the Queen her heirs and Successors forever, Ouly ye fifth part of all the Oar of Gold and Silver which from Timo to Time and att all times forever hereafter Shall be there Gotten had or obtained,
41
lu Llen of all Services, Dntles and demands what forever according to Charter. In Witness whereof we have cansed the Seal of the Colony to bo herounto affixed In Hartford ye Twenty second day of May In the Thirteenth year of the reign of Our Soveralgu Laly Aune, by the Grace of God, Queen of Great Brittaln France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith &c Anno Domini 1714.
"G. SALTONATALL, " Governor.
" By His Hond Command " HIEx: WYLI.YA, " Secry.
" Recorded in ye Publick records of ye Colony of Connectient Second book of entries of Patteuts and Surveys of lands Foli , 52, 53, 54. "pr lex: WYLI.YK, " Secrett."
THE SETTLEMENT .- NAMES OF PIONEERS.
The preliminary steps having now been taken, the pioneers were next to decide upon the location of their future home ; and the first settlement was made upon the site of the present village of Ridgefield. A street running east and west, with the generous di- mensions of six roods in width, was at once surveyed along the eastern declivity of the ridge. On either side of this street were located the home-lots, of two and one-half aeres each. In the rear of these lots additional lots of five acres were laid out.
In the carly days the lottery system was in vogue for almost all purposes of raising money for public improvement. Manufacturing establishments were founded in this way, money raised for churchlies, etc., and the good people of Ridgefield drew their liome- lots in a lottery. In various records in New England it was styled " pitehing for land."
ACTS RELATING TO HOME-LOTS.
The following interesting extraets are taken from the town records :
" The several' Acts Relating to ye Home Lotts & the addition made to the Same is as followeth.
" Nov 1at 1708 Voted by said proprietors that a Commettee shall be chosen to Lay out the Town Plott.
" At the Said Meeting tho said proprietors by a Major Vote appointed and made Choise of Mr Samuel Keeler Seur Matthew Scamer, Joseph Bouton with John Copp to Lay out the Town Plott.
" At tho said Meeting Voted by said proprietors that the Home Lotts now to be Lay'd ont by said Committee shall be Two Acres and one half acre.
" At the said Meeting ye Said Proprietors by a Major Vote Resolves and agrees that there shall be a Division of Land added to the Rear of the Home Lotts to the Number of five acres to Each Division, And the said Committee is Impowered to uct their best Skill & Judgement to Equalize the Want of quality by adding or ullowing quantity to such Home Lotts & Division of Addition as they in judgement muy find wanting.
" At a Meeting of the said Proprietors Convened in Norwalk Nov ye 8th 1708.
"The above said Committee makes a Return of their doings in and about the Home Lotts & ye addition made to ye Renr of ye same. With an account of such Disproportion of their quality, that by all that they had done in ye matter of equalizing them there still needed a further Allowance to some Lotts as they were by them Layd out with the Divi- sion added to ye Rear of them.
" Upon which Return made by said Committee The said proprietors at ye said meeting by a Major Vote Impower said Committee to Regulate that matter according to ye best of their judgements to add to such Home Lotts & Division annexed. Or to any other Division of Lands to be Lny'd out to any such proprietor, to whom such Home Lott with ye anext Division shall fall to when Drawn, that by said Committee shall be Judged Wanting in quality with the Generality of ye best of the Home Lots and nnnext Divisions.
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634
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
" At a meeting of ye said Proprietors Convenied in Norwalk November ye 25 1708,
"Voted by Said proprietors that the Lotterie prepared for ye Distribu- tion of the Home Lotts with ye anext Division, unto the said proprie- tors Shall at this time be Drawn, Which Lottery is methodized as fol- loweth :
" Beginning on the East Tear of Lotts, ye southermost Lott joining to the Land Lay'd out for a burying Yard-Calling that Lott the first in Number, & sucsevively Northward to the 12th Lott and then begining at ye Northermost Lott on the West tear numbering said Lott ye thirteenth Lott and so sucsessively Southward to the Twenty fifth Lott.
" The Drauglit of which Lottery was as followeth.
No.
No.
14 John Sturdevant
15 Thomas Hoyt
16 Benjamin Wilson
17 Benjamin Hickoek
18 Matthew Saint John
19 Joseph Keeler
20 Matthew Seamer
21 James Bennediek
22 Joseph Crampton
23 Samuel Smith
24 Daniel Olnisted
25 Samuel Keeler Sent"
The following location of the home-lots was made by the Rev. D. W. Teller :
Lot No. 1 was where Mr. John S. Keeler now re- sides.
No. 2 was immediately north of this, and lying between it and the corner south of Mr. Abraham Holmes'.
Nos. 3 and 4 extended from Mr. Abraham Holmes' to the present residenee of Mrs. Mary Hateh.
No. 5 was the one now owned and occupied by Mrs. Irad Hawley.
No. 6 extended from the south side of Mr. Henry E. Hawley's residence to the north side of Mr. Joshua I. King's garden.
No. 7 extended from the north side of Mr. King's garden to the corner of the strect north of Mr. Sereno Hurlbutt's residence.
No. 8 was the lot now owned and occupied by Phineas Lounsbury, Esq.
No. 9 is now occupied by Philip L. Barhite, Esq., and Dr. William S. Todd.
No. 10 extended from the fence south of Mrs. Hyatt's house to the fenee north of Mr. Samuel J. Barlow.
No. 11 embraced the town-house lot, Mr. L. C. Seymour's house and store, and Mrs. Wescott's housc.
No. 12 extended from the residenee of the late Josiah Danchy, Esq., to the road north of Mr. Isaac Osborn's. No. 13 ineluded the present residences of Mr. Henry Mead, Mr. Elijah L. Thomas, and Mr. Keeler Danchy.
Nos. 14, 15, 16, 17 extended from the fenee north of the Episcopal church to the corner south of tlie resi- dence of J. Howard King, Esq.
Nos. 18, 19, 20, 21 extended from the road north of Mrs. Sarah Jewitt's to the one south of Mr. David K. Hoyt's.
Nos. 23, 24, 25 extended from the corner now oecu- pied by the carriage- manufactory .of Mr. Ebenezer
Jones to the fence south of the residence of Mr. William Benedict.
It will be observed that lot No. 22 is omitted in this reckoning, the reason for which is found in the fact that it nowhere appears on the town records after it was numbered and drawn. The inferenee is that it was thrown out, for we find Mr. Joseph Crampton, who drew the lot, located on the land now owned by Mrs. Shaw and Mr. L. O. Northrop.
The next spring, after the division of the home-lots, the proprietors proceeded to divide sueh parts of the outlying lands as would be most suitable for grazing, plowing, and mowing, sharing equally in each.
The following will show the method of such division :
" At a Meeting of said Proprietors Convened March 1st, 17089,
"The proprietors, by a Major Vote do agree upon a Division of Plow Land to be Lay'd out as soon as may be.
"At tho said Meeting the Proprietors by a Major Vote have chosen Mr Samuel Keeler Sen" Matthias Saint John and Samuel Smith for their Committee-To take a view of what Lands are suitable to Lay ont for a Division of Plow Land within the Limits of One Mile and a half from the Center of the Town Plott, and Lay out what Land they so find into sneh Divisions as the Land will allow aeeording to the number of proprietors."
" At a meeting Convened of said Proprietors Mareh 28th, 1709,
" The said Committee make Return of their Doings on the Land found within ye limits stated in ye Vote passed Mareh the 1st as above said, fix- ing upon six acres to a Division, and accordingly to their best skill and Judgement have Lay'd out a number of Divisions equal to the number of proprietors, allowing to some Divisions more measure than ye fixt quantity to equalizo them with the better Divisions."
It will be observed in every instance that the quality of the land determined the quantity. No home-lot fell below two and one-half acres, but it might consist of three or three and one-half aeres if it was deemed of poor quality. So also the five-acre lots in the rear might have five acres or more in them. Then there would be sections of land not reekoned, and these might lie between two divisions, afterwards to be ap- propriated to some new-comer. This would apply to the outlying lands rather than to the village lots.
In the spring of 1709, on the 22d of April, Ebenezer Smith, of Milford, by a major vote of the proprietors, was permitted to come in and share equally with the twenty-five. He settled on the lot where George Smith, Esq., now resides. This property has never passed out of the Smith family.
Joseph Benedict, of Norwalk, was admitted in like manner on the 31st of the following October. He settled on the lot lying between Mr. William Bene- dict's and Mr. L. O. Northrup's, and, as originally designated, between Mr. Samuel Keeleins and Mr. Joseph Crampton's.
THE PIONEER BLACKSMITH.
The pioneers evidently anticipated the necessities of the little settlement, for under date of May 6, 1712, appears the following vote in relation to a black- smith :
" At a meeting of tho Proprietors of Ridgefield at Ridgefield May the 6th A.D. 1712
"The said proprietors by their Major Vote Do Grant to Mr. Benjamin Burt now resident of Norwalk, a certain Right of Lands, Reserved by
1 Samuel Saint John
2 Samuel Keeler Jun
3 Jonathan Rockwell
4 Thomas Caufield
5 The Proprietors Reserve
6 Matthias Saint John
7 Joseplı Whitney
8 Samuel Smith of Milford
9 James Brown
10 John Belden
11 Richard Olmsted
12 Thomas Smith
13 Jonathan Stevens
635
RIDGEFIELD.
them for a Blacksmith, which Right of land contains ono twenty-eighth part of all the purchased Land contained within the limits of their granted propriety or township. With also a priviledge to purchase with them a like part or proportion of the unpurchased lands that lyeth within ye granted Bounds of their Township (of the Nativo proprietors thereof) with al tho Several Divisions already Layed ont under said Right.
.
" To be to him, his heirs and assigns absolutely and as fully to have To Ilave IIold, use occupie possess and injoy in as full and freo a mannor, with the rest of tho proprietors of said Granted Township, Provided he the said Benjamin Burt, pay to Joseph Keeler of said Town of Ridge- field ye sum of nine pounds in money according to the agreement now made with him, And with all convenient speed dwell as an inhabitant among them in order to carry on the trade of a Blacksmith among them, And forthwith Supply them with an alle hand, to perform such Smith work for them, that they stand in need of untill he shall remove with his family among them and be thereby nblo to perform such work for them himself, or by others under his care and Command, And it is to be understood that if the said Burt (shall at any time before the full Termination of four Years from May tho Ninth 1712,) have a Mind to remove from them, ho shall not give, grant, bargain, sell Di- rectly nor Indirectly make any Alienation of said Right of Land granted to him, but to such a person as shall he found capablo to carry on the work of a Blacksmith among them. And further the said Burt doth hereby prowise aud Ohlidge himself faithfully to use his utmost endeav- our to settle a Blacksmith on said Right. If he shall incline to remove from theur after his continueuce among them ye term of Years above said.
"The above said ye original Draught of said act.
" Test RICHARD OLMSTED, Town Clerk.
" Recorded November 28, 1712.
" Per me JOHN COPP,
" Recorder."
Mr. Burt settled on the lot now occupied by the Methodist church.
TIIE FIRST GRIST-MILL.
One of the greatest inconveniences experienced by the early settlers was the want of mills for grinding grain. The pioneers of Ridgefield early took this matter into consideration, and under date Jan. 30, 1716, the following agreement was entered into for the erection of a grist-mill :
" To all Christian People to whom these Presents shall Come Greeting Know Ye that I Daniel Sherwood of Ridgfield in the County of Fairfield and Colony of Connecticut in New England, For and in Consideration of a bill of sale of Lands received of the Proprietors of Ridgfield and bear- ing date with these presents, which is to my full satisfaction. For and upon which consideration aforesaid I the said Daniel Sherwood for my- self heirs and assigns, Do by these presents engage unto and Covenant with ye said Proprietors of Ridgefield their heirs assigns, and associates for the faithfull punctual, universal fulfilment of this Covenant, follow- ing in every Condition Clause and article hereof viz.
" Imprimis, I ye said Daniel Sherwood do engage for myself heirs and assigns to erect a good sufficient Grist Mill on the Outlet of Mamanas- guog Pond so called and known by the Proprietors of Ridgfield.
" 2ªly I declare myself hound hereby io maintain ye same and uphold it (or another iu the same place) always in good rigg, and order for grinding.
" 3dly I covenant for myself heirs and assigns upon ye Teusdays and Fridays of every week (when ever water may he had hy ye nse of means) to grind for said l'roprietors, their heirs, assigns, and associates, all sorts of their grain, well and sufficiently, making good and well-conditioned meal, and to take but, and no more, than three quarts out of cach bushel of Indian corn, and two quarts ont of ench bushel of wheat or rye, and one quart of each bushel of malt (that I, my heirs, or assigns, shall grind) for toll.
" Fourthly What was of grain shall be brought to ye said Mill by the said proprietors, their hcirs, assigns, or associates on the forementioned grinding days, more than can he ground on said days, that it shall on the next following week days be ground without delay, and the said Sherwood do hereby Lind and oblige myself, heirs, and assigns, that
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