History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 69

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532


USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > History of Litchfield county, Connecticut > Part 69


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175


" In the southeast part of Cornwall is a high range called Woodbury Mountain. West of this, and sepa- rated from it hy a deep gorge, is Dudley Town Hill, so called from a family of that name among its early settlers, late the residence of Caleb Jones. North of this elevated neighborhood is Colt's-Foot Mountain, which rises boldly from the beautiful valley, formerly called Pine Street, then the Plain, where is the pleas- ant village of Cornwall.


" From the summits of many of these hills exten- sive and magnificent views are presented, extending west of the Hudson River, and over a large share of Berkshire County, in Massachusetts. There are many other minor hills, the beauty and picturesque appear- ance of which, to be fully appreciated, must be seen.


" Cream Hill Lake, in the north part of the town, and Mohawk Pond, in the southeast, and the Housa- tonic River,-River of the Mountains,-forming the western boundary, give life and character to the scenery, which is never perfect without water views. Small streams are numerous, the most important of which are the North Mill Brook, having its source in Cream Hill Lake, and flowing southwesterly three miles to the Housatonic, with a descent of several hundred feet; the South Mill Brook, rising in the hills about Cornwall Plain, and flowing southwest into the Housatonic; the Hallenheck, rising in the Great Hollow, and flowing northwesterly through Canaan to the Housatonic. These are good mill- streams, furnishing permanent water-power, but the Housatonic, in its whole course hy the side of the town, flows rapidly, and might form the basis of active industry. But a very small part of the power of this river is yet utilized in any part of its course. These streams are all fed by abundant, never-failing springs, so that the name of 'the sweet water country' may more aptly be applied to this township."


Various mines-gold, silver, plumbago, nickel, iron, etc .- at different periods have been opened, but have never been found sufficiently rich to warrant working. The town is watered by eight streams, tributaries to the Housatonic.


THE INDIANS.


There is nothing of particular interest to record concerning the aboriginal lore of this section, as there is no record or tradition that the Indians ever perma- nently occupied this town, although arrow-heads and other relics have been found. There was a trail across the town, and a palisade fort erected for the protection of the pioneers. Mr. T. S. Gold, in his " History of Cornwall," says,-


" One evening as James Douglass was on his way to the fort from Cream Hill, having remained at work later than usual, his family having gone before, as he was passing through the low land,-Pratt's meadow,-then covered with a dense growth of timber, in a narrow foot-path, he discovered two Indians, one on either side of the path, awaiting his approach. As Mr. Douglass had advanced too near to re- treat before he saw them, he assumed a bold and daring manner and walked coolly between the two savages, who remained without motion, being overawed by his fearless manner, or out of respect to the courage displayed, and offered him no molestation.


" They kept constant guard when at work in the fields, and when James Douglass and his sons were at work his daughters (one my great- grandmother-T. S. G.) often sat by the loaded guns to give the alarm.


" As a race they have passed away. The older inhabitants still re- member several families of them, and the bravery of one gains him a place elsewhere in these records."


The following incident was contributed to that vol- ume by Gen. Charles F. Sedgwick :


TOM WARRUPS.


" This noble old Indian warrior died in Cornwall early in the present century, and was well known throughout the township. In his old age his hair became perfectly white, and his visits to all parts of the town were frequent and acceptable, while his witty pleasantries were long remembered. He was of the Schaghticoke tribe, but he became a resident of Cornwall in his early life. In the Revolutionary war he enlisted into a company commanded by Edward Rogers, Esq., as captain, of which Loyal Tanner was lieutenant; this company was in the battle of Long Island, and shared in all the disastrous results in that conflict, and in the perils attending the retreat of the army from New York. Tom was al- ways spoken of by his surviving comrades as a brave and daring soldier, ready for every duty and danger required by the service.


" The following anecdote used to be told as illustrating bis Indian character : After the retrest from New York, the company was stationed on the shore of the East River, and one morning a party of British went up the river in boats on a foraging expedition, and landed not far from the Cornwall company. Capt. Rogers proposed that the company should attempt their capture, as the party was small and could probably be easily taken prisoners, and submitting the proposal to the company, some favored and others disapproved of it. When the question was asked Tom, he said, ' I guess we hud better kill what prisoners we now have before we try to get any more.' Ile was celebrated for his ready wit, and stories of it were often related in the early years of this century.


"Like the generality of his race, he was addicted to intoxication, and even in the army he was sentenced for that offense to a ride on the wooden horse in front of the regiment. While being thus transported on the shoulders of his comrades, Lieut. Taoner asked him if he did not feel ashamed to be presented to the regiment in that way. 'Yes,' said Tom, 'I am ashamed to think that our lieutenant must go on foot while a poor old Indian can ride.'


"Here is another anecdote: Capt. Jeffers once, meeting him, said, ' Why, Tom, I was in hopes you were dead.' 'Why,' said Tom, 'do you want the widow ?'


" Very few among the living can remember him, but his Revolution- nry services, and the universal kindness with which he was regarded, render it proper that his memory should be preserved."


SALE OF THE TOWN.


This town was sold at public auction at Fairfield, Conn., Feb. 8, 1738, by the committee appointed by the Assembly, consisting of John Burr, Edmund Lewis, and Ebenezer Silliman. It was laid out into


289


CORNWALL.


fifty-three shares, one of which was for the first min- ister, one for the support of the gospel ministry as a perpetual fund, and one for the support of schools. The State also gave three hundred acres in the south- eastern part of the town to Yale College. The average price per acre of these lands in the town was about twenty cents.


Its bounds were as follows :


" WHEREAS, the said Governor and Company assembled at Hartford, May, Auno. 1731, Did Order that the Western County Lands on the east side of the Ousatnuuoc River, should be laid out into Townships, and ap- pointed Messrs. Edmond Lewis, William Judd, and Johu Buel a Com- mittes to lay out the same; and whereas, in Pursuance of said Order, the said Committee laid out the same into Two Townships, one of which in this survey is called the township of B, now called Cornwall, bounded as followeth : Running from the southwest corner bounds of A, now called Goshen, West ninety-two Degrees North, five miles and Seventy- two Rods, to the Ousatunnoc River, where is marked a white Oak tree, and set the letters, E. L. W. J. J. B., on said tree, and laid many stones to it for a monument, at the Southwest Corner of the Township of B. Then beginning at the White Oak Pole at the Northwest coruer of the Township of A, and run west ninety two Degrees north, four miles and a half to the Ousatunnoc River, and made a monument for the North west corner of the Township of B, and the Southwest corner of the township of C, nnw called Canaan, it being Three Black Oak trees growing from one root marked, and many stones laid to them with the letters E. L. W. J. J. B., set on them, thus the Township of B is surveyed and laid out, and the lines thereuf are set forth by marked Trees and monuments, and is bounded south on the Township of E, now called Kent, north on the town of C, east on the Township of A, and west on the Ousatuanuc River."


THE FIRST MEETING OF PROPRIETORS.


The first meeting of proprietors was held at Hartford, Sept. 6, 1738. John Hall, of Fairfield, was chosen moderator, and Timothy Collins, of Litchfield, clerk. " One of the conditions required by the proprietors of Cornwall was that the owner of each right should erect a house sixteen feet square and seven fect in the clear, and occupy the same for three years, except in case of death of the owner. These were built of logs.


"The first meeting of the proprietors of Cornwall was held at Hartford, in the State-house, on the 6th day of September, A.D. 1738. Mr. John Hall, of Fairfield, was chosen moderator, and Timothy Collins, of Litchfield, clerk, of said meeting. He was sworn into office as proprietors' clerk before Capt. Samuel Chapman, a justice of the peace. The meeting was adjourned to the house of Mr. Ebenezer Williamson for a quarter of an hour, where the proprietors met according to adjournment.


" At that meeting they voted to lay out fifty acres of land to each proprietor. Messrs. Benajah Doug- lass, Joseph Waller, Joseph Kilborn, Joseph Allen, and Samuel Roberts were appointed a committee to lay out said lots, also to lay out the highways in Corn- wall. Each proprietor was to be at the cost of the survey of his piece of land, and in making the survey bill.


" At the same meeting it was voted to divide off an- other fifty acres to each proprietor by the same com- mittee.


" Ten shillings per day was voted to cach of said committee from the time they set out from Litchfield,


they boarding themselves. At this meeting it was voted to give to Mr. Benajah Douglass twelve pounds ten shillings for warning the same. The privilege was granted to Mr. Timothy Collins, and such partners as he should take with him, of the exclusive right to any streams on undivided lands for mill or mills, pro- vided that he shall set up a saw-mill by the 1st of November, 1739, and he was to have the privilege so long as he kept a saw-mill upon the stream in good repair.


"This first meeting was adjourned to the house of Ensign Ebenezer Marsh, in Litchfield, on the second Tuesday of the following November, at 9 A.M.


" At this adjourned meeting Samuel Messenger was appointed surveyor of the lands of Cornwall, and a tax of twenty-six shillings was levied on cach pro- prietor to defray expenses of laying out, for the col- lection of which tax Joseph Allen was appointed. The lots were laid out and numbered; they were then divided by drawing for them, in the way of a lottery. Permission was granted that such as were dissatisfied with their lots could change them before the next meeting of the proprietors by paying the expense of the survey. Messrs. Osborn, Joseph Kilborn, and Daniel Allen were appointed a committee to make out the rate-bill on the proprietors for the tax of twenty-six shillings, before named.


" The highways were to bo six rods wide (many of which, although they may be as long in our day as our fathers made them, have shrunk wonderfully in breadth).


" At this meeting it was voted to lay out a highway from Litchfield to Cornwall, also from Kent to Corn- wall. Mr. Messenger was empowered to expend twenty-five pounds in surveying and opening said highways, and Messrs. Waller, John Dibble, John Hall, Samnel Messenger, Daniel Allen, and Joseph Allen were appointed a committee to lay out and clear up highways from Litchfield and Kent, as far as they could for the twenty-five pounds, one-half of said sum to be expended on each highway.


" This meeting was adjourned to the third Wednes- day of September, 1739, at twelve o'clock, at the house of Peter Eastman, in Cornwall.


" These meetings of the proprietors were adjourned from time to time, and a division to the amount of three hundred acres set to each. The one who drew by lot the first choice was required to take the last in the following division ; this plan was adopted to equal- ize the division of property, in which all were equally interested.


"The names of those who drew in the first and second divisions were Nathan Lyon, Stephen Burr, Jonathan Squires, J. Sherwood, James Smedley, James Dennie," Reuben Dibble, Nathaniel Spaulding, Sam- nel Bryant, Joseph Frost, Andrus Truby, Gideon Allen, Stephen Boroughs, John Dibble, Wm. Gay-


· Spelled In different records Dennil, Dennis, Donnli.


290


HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.


lord, Samuel Roberts, Tim. Pierce, Ebenezer Seely, Benajah Douglass, Samuel Hall, Peter Eastman, Thomas Harris, Joseph Kilborn, Samuel Kilborn, Timothy Collins, Joseph Allen, Daniel Allen, Eli- phalet Scely, Jacob Patchen, Elizur Seely, Benjamin Osborn, Isaac Bissel, Samuel Smedly, Ephraim Smedly, Joseph Waller, Ebenezer Whitlesey, Samuel Butler, Thomas Ballard.


"Ten of the above had two rights each, and one three.


" Previous to the allotment of any of these pro- prietors' rights, a division of three hundred acres was set apart and located for each of the three important objects, viz., first, for a parsonage; second, for the support of a minister ; third, for the establishment and maintenance of schools.


" It was also voted at this meeting empowering the committee previously chosen to lay out the Mill Brook land; to lay out at the mouth of the pond at the foot of Cream Hill what they shall judge proper for drain- ing and damming said pond, as a further encourage- ment of building mills upon the stream that comes out of said pond.


" Voted, To sequester 30 acres of land on Mill Brook to encourage building a Mill or mills on said stream to be laid out by the Committee formerly appointed to lay out the Mill Iand.


" This privilege of the Cream Hill mill-stream, to- gether with the sequestered land, was given to Mr. Mathew Millard, with liberty of damming and drain- ing the pond and stream flowing out of it, he to build and maintain a good corn-mill upon said stream by the 1st of August, 1741, also a good saw-mill by the same time.


" Mr. George Holloway was chosen clerk in the place of Timothy Collins."


At a proprietors' meeting held May 8, 1740, it was voted to petition for town privileges and liberty to settle an orthodox minister, also to grant a tax for the settlement of a minister. It was voted to petition for extension of time for the payment of the rights.


THE EARLY SETTLERS.


The first settler in Cornwall was Mr. Peter East- man, who came in 1738. It was at his house-loca- tion not known-that the first proprietors' meeting was held in the town. Mr. T. S. Gold, in his valuable "History of Cornwall," says,-


Up to the year 1740 there probably were no other than log houses in this town. About forty of these rude tenements were erected, usually upon the owner's land, and of course scattered very widely over the different parts of the town. The occupants of the dwellings we are enabled to learn, to a general extent, from tradition. Samuel Abbott, who was from Dan- bury (1792), lived near the place formerly owned and occupied by Mr. Birdsey, now owned by Rogers White (William Stratman, 1877). Daniel and Joseph Allen, from Litchfield (1740); one lived opposite the house of Col. Anson Rogers, and the other on the Joel Cat-


lin farm (Harvey Baldwin, 1877). Eleazar Barritt, from Plainfield, lived near Pangman's, by Housatonic River. David Baldwin, from Litchfield, lived on Great Hill. John Blinn lived south of the Cotter place, near the Housatonic River. Thomas Ballard, from Plainfield, lived opposite Noah Rogers. John Clothier lived near Cotter's (Shepard, 1877), at West Cornwall. John Dibble, from Stamford, lived a little west of the Capt. Miles place, now Edward Kellogg's (A. Bennett, 1877). James Douglass, from Plainfield, settled on Cream Hill. His log house was located a few rods northeasterly from the late residence of Capt. Hezekiah Gold, which house he afterwards built about the year 1750, making this probably the oldest house in town now standing and still occupied. Reuben Dean was a celebrated hunter and doctor. He lived near Chandler Swift's (Ira Frink, 1877). He was from Norwalk. Woodruff Emmons came from Litch- field. He lived where Dr. Joseph North lately re- sided,-north of the residence of the late Carrington Todd. Nathaniel Green lived near the orchard of Capt. Miles, north of the ancient burying-ground. He was from Stamford. Thomas Griffis, from Litch- field. He lived on Dudley Town Hill, near the resi- dence of the late Caleb Jones. John and George Halloway were from Middlebury, or Pembroke, Mass. They lived where Mrs. Ithamer Baldwin now resides. George died in 1750. He built the house used as a tavern in 1776, kept by Woodruff Emmons. Benja- min Hough, from New Milford, settled in the north- west part of the town. Thomas Harris was from Plainfield. He lived where the late Capt. Elias Hart resided (George Potter, 1877). Moses Harris, from Plainfield, lived near the late Capt. Clark's (William Bennett, 1877). Nathaniel Jewell, from Plainfield. He lived near the present residence of Mr. Fowler Bradford. Joshua Jewell, from the same place, lived on the present Maj. Pierce's farm. David Jewell, also from Plainfield, lived near the present residence of William Hindman, Esq. (Tyler Miner, 1877). Stephen Lee, from Litchfield, lived on Great Hill. Matthew Millard, from East Haddam, lived opposite the residence of the late Oliver Burnham, Esq. Sam- uel Messenger, from Harwinton, lived near the centre of town, now Mr. Johnson's. James Packett, from Danbury, lived in Great Hollow. Timothy Pang- born, from Stamford, lived a little north of Mr. Lu- ther Emmons' place. Benoni Palmeter lived near the Baptist meeting-house (Elias Scoville, 1877). Thomas Tanner, from Litchfield, lived on the hill east of the late residence of the Hon. O. Burnham. He was grandfather of Tryal Tanner. Ebenezer Tyler lived in Cornwall Hollow, on the Samuel Johnson place. Jonathan Squires, from Plainfield, lived south of the residence of the late Riley M. Rexford. Reuben Squires, also from Plainfield, lived near the late Capt. Joel Wright's (T. Wilson, 1877). Phineas Waller lived near the late residence of Deacon Samuel Ad- ams (Judson Adams, 1877).


291


CORNWALL.


These are all the residences of the first settlers of Cornwall, on the list of 1740, that are well authenti- cated.


In 1744 we find additional settlers :


Samuel Benedict, from Danbury, lived opposite K. Birdsey's.


Benjamin Dibble, from Stamford, near Seth Dib- ble's farm.


William Joyner, near R. M. Rexford's, on Cream Hill.


Amos Johnson, from Branford, near the late resi- dence of Earl Johnson.


Thomas Orton, from Litchfield, lived near the Sedg- wick farm.


Joseph Pangborn, from Stamford, lived near Hart's bridge, south of the mill, West Cornwall.


Samuel Robards, from Colchester, lived thirty rods east of Benjamin Catlin's (Niles Scoville, 1877).


Patrick Hindman, a foreigner, settled near John Hindman's (Tyler Miner, 1877).


Abraham Raymond, from Norwalk.


Joseph Peck lived where Stiles Peck last lived.


In 1748, Jonathan Hurlburt, east of Sedgwick's.


Jacob Bronson, from Norwalk, near the late Wil- liam Stoddard's (Peter Fritz, 1877).


Israel Moss lived where Ezra Taylor lives; was a merchant.


The list for 1742 is the oldest extant, and a com- plete copy is here given. It is written on a single sheet of foolscap paper, having on one page C, I, K, E, F, D, R, in water-lines, and on the other a large shield, the design on which is not very plain. Whole number of polls, 52; horses, 43 ; cows, 52; oxen, 41; young cattle, 9; swine, 21.


GRAND LIST, 1742.


A .- Sam1 Abbott, one head, 18; two cows, 6; 2 3-year olds, 6; ona mare, 3; one swine, 1 .- 34.


Dan1 Allen, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; two cows, two horses, 12; one 2-year old steer, 2; ono yearling heifer, 1 ; five swine, 5 .- 46.


Joseph Allen, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; two cows, two horses, 12; one ewino, 1 .- 39.


B .- Elear Barrett, one head, 18; ono mare, lwo cows, 0 .- 27.


Benje Bissell, one head, 18; one cow, 3,-21.


David Baldwin, one heed, 18; one cow, one horse, 6 .- 21.


John Bilan, one head .- 18.


Tho" Ballard, one head, one horse, one cow .- 24.


C .- John Clothier, one head, 18; two axon, 8 ; lwo horses, 6; two cows, 6,-38.


Wm Chittester, one head, 18; two horses, ono cow, 9 .- 27.


D .- John DIbbell, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; two cows, one horse, 9; one yearling, one swine, 2 .- 37.


Bonje Dibbell, ono head, 18; a house lot, 3; one cow, one horse, 6 ; one yeerling colt, 1 ; ono swine, 2 .- 30.


James Douglass, ono head, 18 ; two oxen, 8; two cows, 6; one horse, 3. -3.5.


Renben Dean, two henda, 36; two oxon, 8; Ihreo cows, 9; three horsen, 9 .- 62.


E .- Woodruff Emmons, one hond, 18.


F .- David Fristdo, ono head, 18.


G .- Nath' Green, two polls, 36; one ox, 4 ; ono horse, 3 .- 43.


Thos. Griffs, two heads, 36; two oxon, 8; two cows, two horses, 12 .- 56.


11 .- Goorgo Holloway, one head, 18; five oxen, 20; two cows, 6; ono horse, 3 .- 17.


John Holloway, one head, 18.


Benje" Hough, ono head, 18 ; two horses, one cow, 9; one swine, 1 .- 28.


Thom. Harris, two heade, 36; two cowe, 6; one horse, 3 .- 45.


Moses Harris, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; one cow, three swine, 6 .- 32. Samuell Horsford, one head, 18.


J .- Nath1. Jewell, one head, 16; one mare, one cow, 6 .- 24.


Joshna Jewell, two heads, 36; two oxen, 8; three cows, 9; two horses, 6 ; one swine, 1 .- 60.


David Jewell, one head, 18; two oxen, 8 ; one cow, one horse, 6 .- 32.


L .- Richd Lovejoy, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; two cows, 6; one horse, 3 .- 35.


Stephen Lee, one head, 18; one borse, 3 .- 21 =557.


M .- Math" Millard, one head, 18; two axen, 8; three cows, 9; horse, 3. -38.


Sam1 Messinger, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; two cows, 6; one harse, 3; one 2-year old, 2; three swine, 3 .- 40.


Peter Mallory, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; one cow, two horses, 9; one ewine, 1 .- 36.


N.


o.


P .- James Pickett, one heed, 18; two horses, one cow, 9 .- 27.


Timy Pangborn, one head, 18; one horse, 3; one cow, 3; two yearlings, 2 .- 26.


Benoni Palmeter, one head, 18.


Q. R .- Sam1 Robards, one head, 18; one cow, 3; one mare, 3 .- 24.


T .- Tho" Tanner, one head, 18; a youk of oxen, 8; two cowe, 3; one horse, 3 .- 42.


Wm. Tanner, one head, 18.


Ebear Tyler, one head, 18. U.


S .- Jonath" Squior, three heads, 54; two oxen, 8 ; two horses, 6; one cow, 3; one swine, 1 .- 72.


Reuben Sqnier, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; one horse, 3 .- 29.


William Smiley, one head, 18 = 406.


W .- Phin' Welker, one head, 18; one ox, 4; one borso, 3 .- 25.


John Young, one head, 18; one cow, 3 .- 21.


The sum of the several footings ... ........... 406


46


657


424


1433


The sum totall of this Ist made by ns,


JONATHAN SQUIER,


NATHU GREEN,


Listers.


SAM' MESSINGER,


In 1745 there were in the list two less than in 1742, and three less than in 1744.


In 1748 there were seventy persons in the list, and the property amounted to £3054 188, Jonathan Squier had the largest list of any one in town, being £109 188. Matthew Millard stood next, being £99 28. John Dibble was next, £93. Next was Thomas Or- ton, £79 14s. Next was Joshua Jewell, £77. The next was James Douglass, £68. Several were as low as £5.


The following record of families is condensed from Gold's "History 'of Cornwall :"


THE DOUGLAS FAMILY .- One of the most active pioneers in the settlement of this town was James Douglas. Ile came here, in 1739, from Plainfield. Cream Hill was his lot; it received this name front the superiority of the soil and the beauty of its scenery. This name was given to it, as town records show, be- fore Mr. Douglas purchased. He bought two rights of Timothy Pierce, of Canterbury, an original pro- prietor, in 1738, for four hundred pounds ; also, he bought fifty acres ou Cream Ilill, on which his first house was built. The fifty-acre lot was purchased of Jonah Bierce, of New Fairfield, who had bought it of Nathan Lyon, of Fairfield, an original proprietor.


292


HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.


James Douglas was brother of Benajah, an original proprietor in Cornwall, but who settled in North Canaan, being the ancestor of the Douglas family in that town, and great-grandfather of the distinguished senator, Stephen Arnold Douglas.


James Douglas and his wife, whose family name was Marsh, taught the first school in Cornwall, he teaching in the winter and his wife in summer. Cream Hill, before the woodman's axe was heard there, was covered with lofty trees of various kinds, the surface not being entangled with underbrush, as much of the forest in town was. Mr. Douglas was an energetic and public-spirited man. He expended much labor in opening a mine one hundred and twenty feet in depth for gold. Specimens of the ore were sent to Boston for analysis, from which small sums in gold were returned; but the expense of obtaining it was too great to make it a paying business. Another mine was wrought for silver sixty feet, with like re- sults.


He is said to have wintered the first stock in town,- a horse and yoke of oxen. Heavy snows caught him unprepared. Deer were abundant; the boiled flesh made a nutritious soup for the cattle, which, with browse from the trees felled for the purpose, was their support. The horse refused both, but ate hair from the skins, and inoss from the trees gathered in blankets.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.