History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 111

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 111

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TOWN OF OLD SAYBROOK.

BY WILLIAM B. TULLY .*

DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT.

TN THE SPRING of 1614, Adrien Block ascended the Connecticut River to the rapids at the head of navigation. He named the beautiful stream the " Versch," or Fresh Water River, from a strong down- ward current that was perceived a short distance above its mouth. By the native savages it was called the " Conuittecock " or " Quonehtacut," and the aboriginal appellation survives to the present day, in the name of the river and the State of Connecticut.

Block was thus the first European navigator of the river, and probably the first to set foot on the site of what is now the town of Old Saybrook. Not long after this, the Dutch traders began to visit the country every year, and soon established a large trade with the natives; buying annually, it was said, not less than 10,000 beaver skins, beside such other commodities as the country could furnish.

Amsterdam ships continned their voyages to the New Netherlands, and the trade in peltry was industriously prosecuted, not only on the North and South Rivers, but on the "Fresh," or Connecticut River. In 1623, "two families and six men " were sent to the mouth of "Fresh " or Connecticut River, by the Dutch at Man- hattan Island, to commence the actual occupation of that part of the Dutch province. It is probable they did not remain long.

Probably no more Dutch settlements were made at Saybrook till 1633. In the summer of that year the Dutch traders on the Connecticut were directed to ar- range with the native Indians for the purchase of "most all the lands on both sides of the river." This was ac- complished and Hans den Sluys, an officer of the com- pany, also purchased at the same time, the "Kievets Hook,"t afterward called Saybrook Point, at the mouth

of the Connecticut, where the arms of the States General were " affixed to a tree in token of possession."*

In October 1635, Governor Winthrop arrived in Bos- ton, with men, ammunition, ordinance, and £2,000 in money, for the purpose of erecting fortifications at the mouth of Connecticut River. Very soon after his ar- rival, he learned that the Dutch were preparing to take possession of the mouth of the river, so on the 9th of November, he dispatched a small vessel of 30 tons, with about 20 men, carpenters and others, under command of Lieutenant Gibbons and Sergeant Willard, to take pos- session of the mouth of the river, and erect some build- ings. This was the first regular English occupation of the territory comprehended within Lord Warwick's grant. The officers of the Dutch West India Company, who had bought this land of the Indians three years be- fore, had affixed to a tree the arms of the State's General, in token of possession of Kievets Hook, and the river above, but the Englishmen contemptuously tore down this shield, and carved a grinning face in its stead.t Winthrop's party took possession of the mouth of the river on the 24th of November, and early in the following December, a sloop which the Dutch Governor, Wouter Van Twiller, had sent from Manhattan to take possession of Kievets Hook, and erect fortifications to secure the possession of the river by the Dutch, arrived at the mouth of the river. The English, however, had been in possession long enough to get two pieces of cannon on shore, and they would not permit the Dutch to land. Governor Winthrop arrived soon after, bringing with him Lion Gardner, who had been an engineer and master workman in the service of the Prince of Orange, and who had married a Dutch wife, and who was expected to build a fort, and lay out a city. Gardner brought with him 12 men and two women .¿ The Dutch having been

* The writer is under obligations to Messrs. Henry Hart and Daniel C. Spencer, for the loan of valuable books and papers, and for assistance and information. He is also indebted to many others in the same way. to whom he wishes to return thanks.

+ So called by the Dutch from the cry of a species of bird called by the English " Pewit " or " Peweet," supposed to be the sand piper. In Holland, its eggs are considered a great delicacy in the spring.

* A copper box with a cover, and about the size of a snuff box, having a roughly engraved picture of TSTAT HUYS on the cover, and a view of AMSTERDAM on the bottom is still preserved in Saybrook as a Dutch relic. It washed out of an Indian grave in the gale of Septem- ber 1815.

+ Bryant's H. N. Y., p. 550. N. Y. H. S. Coll. 11,277 in Brodhead, p. 260.

# Hubbard's History New England.

OLD SAYBROOK-GARDINER'S LETTER.

443

repulsed, the English changed the name of Kievet's Hook to Saybrook, out of compliment to the leading English proprietors of Connecticut-Lord Say and Lord Brook. The original Indian name of Kievet's Hook and the land near it was Pattaquassett. Some of the principal events which occurred at Saybook during the four years that Lieutenant Gardiner remained there, can best be related in his own words.

EXTRACTS FROM LION GARDNER'S LETTER, FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

Robert Chapman and Thomas Hurlburt, having de- sired Mr. Gardiner "to consider, and to call to mind the passages of God's Providence at Seabrooke, in and about the time of the Pequit war," he wrote a letter, from which the following extracts are taken:

"In the year 1635, I Lion Gardner, Engineer and Master of works of Fortifications in the legers of the Prince of Orange in the Low Countries, through the per- suasion of Mr. John Davenport, Mr. Hugh Peters, with some other well affected Englishmen of Rotterdam, I made an agreement with the forenamed Mr. Peters, for £100 per annum for four years, to serve the company of patentees, namely the Lord Say, the Lord Brooks, Sir Arthur Hazelrig, Sir Matthew Bonnington [Bonighton], Sir Richard Saltingstone [Saltonstall], Esquire Fenwicke, and the rest of the company, [I say] I was to serve them, only in the drawing, ordering, and making of a City, Towns, or forts of defence. And so I came from Hol land to London, where I was appointed to attend such orders, as Mr. John Winthrop Esquire, the present Gov- ernor of Conectecott was to appoint, whether at Pequit river or Conectecott, and, that we should choose a place, both for the convenience of a good harbor, and also for capableness and fitness for a fortification. But I, landing at Boston the latter end of November, the aforesaid Mr. Winthrop had sent before one Lieut. Gibbons, Ser- geant Willard, with some carpenters, to take possession of the River's mouth, where they began to build houses against the spring, we expecting according to promise, that there would have come from England to us 300 able men, whereof 200 should attend fortification, 50 to till the ground, and 50 to build houses. But our great ex- pectations at the River's mouth came only to two men viz. Mr. Fenwick, and his man, who came with Mr. Hugh Peters and Mr. Oldham and Thomas Stanton, bringing with them some Otterskin coats and Beaver, and skeins of wampum which the Pequits had sent for a pres- ent, because the English had required those Pequits that had killed a Virginean, one Capt. Stone with his Bark's crew, in Conectecott River; for they said they would have their lives and not their presents; then I answered Seeing you will take Mr. Winthrop to the Bay, to see his wife, newly brought to bed of her first child, and seeing though you say he shall, yet I know if you make war with these Pequits, he will not come hither again, for I know you will keep yourselves safe, as you think in the Bay, but myself, with these few, you will leave at the stake to be roasted or for hunger to

be starved; for Indian corn is now 12s. per bushel, and we have but three acres planted, and if they will now make war for a Virginean and expose us to the Indians, whose mercies are cruelties; they, I say, they love the Virginean better than us; for have they stayed these four or five years, and will they begin now, we being so few in the River, and have scarce holes to put our heads in?" "I pray ask the magistrates in the Bay if they have forgot what I said to them, when I returned from Salem? For of Mr. Winthrop, Mr. Haines, Mr. Dud- ley, Mr. Humphrey, Mr. Belingam, [Bellingham] Mr. Coddington, and Mr. Nowell ;-- these entreated me to go with Mr. Humfry and Mr. Peters to view the coun- try, to see how fit it was for fortification, and I told them that nature had done more than half the work, already, and I thought no foreign potent enemy would do them any hurt, but one that was near. They asked me who that was, and I said it was Capt. Hunger that threatened them most, for [said I] War is like a three footed stool, want one foot, and down comes all; and these three feet are, men, victuals, and munitions; there- fore seeing in peace you are like to be famished, what will or can be done if War? Therefore I think, said I, it will be best only to fight against Capt. Hunger, and let fortification alone awhile; and, if need hereafter re- quire it, I can come to do you any service; and they all liked my saying well. Entreat them to rest awhile, till we get more strength here about us, and that we hear where the seat of war will be, may approve of it, and may provide for it, for I had but twenty-four in all, men, women, and boys and girls, and not food for them for two months, unless we saved our cornfields,* which could not possibly be if they came to war, for it is two miles from our home. Mr. Winthrop, Mr. Fenwick, and Mr. Peters promised me that they would do their utmost en- deavor to persuade the Bay men, to desist from war a year or two, till we could be better provided for it; and then the Pequit Sachem was sent for, and the present returned, but full sore against my will. So they three returned to Boston."

After recounting an unsuccessful trading expedition to Pequit, on which Mr. Steven Winthrop, Sergeant Tille [Tilly], Thomas Hurlburt and three other men went, he continues: " And suddenly after came Capt. Turner and Capt. Undril (Underhill), with a company of soldiers, well fitted to Sea Brook, and made that place their ren- dezvous, or seat of war, and that to my great grief, for, said I, you came hither to raise these wasps about my ears, and then you will take wing and fly away; but when I had their commission I wondered and made many allega- tions against the manner of it, but go they did to Pequit, and as they came without acquainting any of us, in the River with it, so they went against our will, for, I knew that I should lose our cornfield. Then I entreated them to hear what I would say to them, which was this: Sirs, seeing that you will go, I pray you if you dont load your barks with Pequits, load them with corn, for that is now gathered with them and dry, ready to put into their barns,

*At Cornfield Point.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

and both you and we have need of it, and I will send my shallop, and hire this Dutchman's boat, here present, to go with you, and if you cannot attain your end of the Pequits, yet you may load your barks with corn, which will welcome to Boston and me."

After relating how he sent 12 men with the Dutch- man, and three dozen new bags, how they skirmished with the Indians, killing one of them, and obtaining "a pretty quantity of corn," he says:

" I was glad of the corn. After this I immediately took men and went to our cornfield to gather our corn, appointing others to come about with the shallop and fetch it, and left five lusty men in the strong house with long guns, which house I had built for the defence of the corn. Now these men not regarding the charge I had given them, three of them went a mile from the house a fowling, and, having loaded themselves with fowl they returned. But the Pequits let them pass first till they had loaded themselves, but, at their return, they arose out of their ambush and shot them all three; one of them escaped through the corn, shot through the leg, the other two they tormented. Then the next day I sent the shallop to fetch the five men and the rest of the corn that was broken down, and they found but three as above said, and when they had got- ten that, they left the rest; and, as soon as they were gone a little way from shore, they saw the house on fire. Now so soon as the boat came home, and brought us this bad news, old Mr. Mitchell was very urgent with me to lend him the boat to fetch hay home from the six mile Island, but I told him they were too few men, for his four men could but carry the hay aboard, and one must stand in the boat to defend them, and they must have two more at the foot of the Rock, with their guns, to keep the Indians from running down upon them. And in the first place, before they carry any of the cocks of hay, to scour the meadow with their three dogs-to march all abreast, from the lower end up to the Rock, and if they found the meadow clear, then to load their hay; but this was also neglected, for they all went ashore and fell to carrying off their hay, and the Indians, pres- ently, rose out of the long grass, and killed three, and took the brother of Mr. Mitchell who is the minister of Cambridge, and roasted him alive; and so they served a shallop of his coming down the river in the Spring, hav- ing two men, one whereof they killed at Six Mile Island, the other came down drowned to us ashore at our door, with an arrow shot into his eye, through his head. In the 22d of February, (1637) I went out with ten men and three dogs, half a mile from the house, to burn the weeds, leaves, and reeds upon the neck of land, because we had felled twenty timber trees, which we were to roll to the water-side to bring home, every man carrying a length of match with brimstone with him, to kindle the fire withal. But when we came to the small of the neck, the weeds burn- ing, I having before this set two sentinels on the small of the neck, I called to the men, that were burning the weeds, to come away, but they would not, until they had burnt up the rest of their matches. Presently there starts up

four Indians out of the firy reed, but ran away, I calling to the rest of our men to come away out of the marsh. Then Robert Chapman and Thomas Hurlburt, being sentinels, called to me, saying there came a number of Indians out of the other side of the marsh. Then, I went up to stop them that they should not get to the wood- land; but Thomas Hurlburt cried out to me that some of the men did not follow me, for Thomas Rumble and Arthur Branch threw down their two guns and ran away; then the Indians shot two of them that were in the reeds, and sought to get between us and home, but durst not come before us, but kept us in a half moon, we retreating and exchanging many a shot, so that Thomas Hurlburt was shot almost through the thigh, John Spencer in the back, into his kidneys myself through the thigh; two more were shot dead. But in our retreat I kept Hurlburt and Spencer still before us, we defending ourselves with our naked swords, or else they had taken us all alive, so that the two sore wounded men, by our slow retreat got home with their guns, when our two sound men ran away, and left their guns behind them.

" But, when I saw the cowards that left us, I resolved to let them draw lots which of theni should be hanged (for the articles did hang up in the hall for them to read, and they knew they had been published long before). But, at the intercession of old Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Higgis- son [Higginson], and Mr. Pell, I did forbear. Within a few days after, when I had cured myself of my wound, I went out with eight men to get some fowl for our re- lief, and found the guns that were thrown away, and the body of one man shot through, the arrow going in at the right side, the head sticking fast half through a rib on the left side, which I took out and cleansed it, and pre- served to send to the Bay, because they had said that the arrows of the Indians were of no force. Anthony Dike, master of a bark, having his bark at Rhode Island, in the winter, was sent by Mr. Vane, then Governor. Anthony came to Rhode Island, and from thence he came with his bark to me, with a letter, wherein was de- sired that I should consider and prescribe the best way I could, to quell these Pequots, which I also did, and, with my letter, sent the man's rib as a token. A few days after, came Thomas Stanton down the river and staying for a wind; while he was there came a troop of Indians within musket shot, laying themselves and their arms down behind a little rising hill and two great trees; which I perceiving, called the carpenter whom I had shown how to charge and level a gun, and that he should put two cartridges of musket bullets, into two sakers guns that lay about, and we levelled them against the place, and I told him that he must look towards me, and when he saw me wave my hat above my head, he should give fire to both the guns; then presently came three Indians creeping out and calling to us to speak with us; and I was glad that Thomas Stanton was there, and I sent six men down by the Garden Pales, to look that none should come under the hills behind us, and hav- ing placed the rest in places convenient, closely, Thomas

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OLD SAYBROOK-GARDINER'S LETTER.

and I, with my sword, pistol, and carbine, went ten or wrote so it fell out to my great grief and theirs, for the next or second day after (as Major Mason well knows) came down a great many canoes, going down the creek beyond the marsh, before the fort, many of them having white shirts: then I commanded the carpenter, whom I had showed to level great guns, to put in two round shot into the sackers; and we levelled them at a certain place, and I stood to bid him give fire; when I thought the canoe would meet the bullet and one of them took off the nose of a great canoe wherein the two maids were that were taken by the Indians, whom I redeemed and clothed, for the Dutchmen, whom I sent to fetch them, brought them almost naked from Pequit, they putting on their own linen jackets to cover their nakedness; and, though the redemption cost me ten pounds, I am yet to have thanks for my care and charge about them; these things are known to Major Mason. There came from the Bay Mr. Tille, with a permit to go up to Hartford and, coming ashore, he saw a paper nailed up over the gate, whereon was written, that no boat or bark should pass the fort, but, that they came to anchor first, that I might see whether they were armed and manned sufficiently, and they were not to land anywhere after they had passed the fort, till they came to Wethersfield; and this I did be- cause Mr. Mitchell had lost a shallop, before coming down from Wethersfield, with three men well armed. This Mr. Tille gave me ill language, for my presumption (as he called it), with other expressions, too long here to write. When he had done I bid him go to his ware- house, which he had built before I came, to fetch his goods from thence, for I would watch no longer over it. So he knowing nothing went and found his house burnt, and one of Mr. Plums, with others, and he told me to my face that I had caused it to be done; but Mr. Hig- gisson, Mr. Pell, Thomas Hurlburt, and John Green can witness that, the same day that our house was burnt at Cornfield point, I went with Mr. Higgisson, Mr. Pell, and four men more, broke open a door and took a note of all that was in the house, and gave it to Mr. Higgisson to keep, and so brought all the goods to our house, and delivered it all to them again, when they came for it without any penny of charge. Now the very next day after I had taken the goods out, before the sun was quite down, and we altogether in the great hall, all them houses were on fire in one in- twelve pole without the gate to parley with them. And when the six men came to the garden pales, at the cor- ner, they found a great number of Indians creeping be- hind the fort, or betwixt us and home, but they ran away. Now I had said to Thomas Stanton, whatsoever they say to you, tell me first, for we will not answer them directly to anything, for I know not the mind of the rest of the English. So they came forth, calling us nearer to them, and we them nearer to us. But I would not let Thomas go any further than the great stump of a tree, and I stood by him; then they asked who we were, and he answered, Thomas and Lieutenant, But they said he lied, for I was shot with many arrows; and so I was, but my buff coat preserved me; only one hurt me. But when I spake to them they knew my voice, for one of them had dwelt three months with us, but ran away when the Bay-men came first. Then they asked us if we would fight with Niantecutt Indians, for they were our friends and came to trade with us. We said we knew not the Indians, one from another, and therefore would trade with none. Then they said have you fought enough? We said we knew not yet. Then they asked if we did use to kill women and children? We said they should see that hereafter. So they were silent a small space, and then they said we are Pequits and have killed Englishmen and can kill them as musquetoes, and we will go to Conectecutt, and kill men, women, and chil- dren, and we will take away the horses, cows, and hogs. When Thomas Stanton had told me this, he prayed me to shoot that rogue, for, said he, he hath an English. man's coat on, and saith that he hath killed three, and these other four have their clothes upon their backs. I said no, it is not the manner of a parley, but have pa- tience, and I shall fit them ere they go. Nay, now or never, said he; so when he could get no answer but this last, I bid him tell them that they should not go to Con- ecticott, for if they did kill all the men, and take all the rest as they said, it would do them no good, but hurt, for English women are lazy, and can't do their work; horses and cows will spoil your corn-fields, and the hogs their clam-banks and so undo them; then I pointed to our great house, and bid him tell them there lay twenty pieces of trucking cloth, of Mr. Pincheons, with hoes, hatchets and all manner of trade, they were better fight still with us, and so get all that, and then go up the river after they stant. The Indians ran away, but I would not follow them. Now, when Mr. Tille had received all his goods, I said unto him, I thought I had de- served for my honest care both for their bodies and goods, of those that passed by here, at the least better language, and am resolved to order such malpert persons as you are; therefore, I wish you and also charge you to observe that, which you have read at the gate, 'tis my duty to God, my Master, and my love I bear to you all, which is the ground of this had you but eyes to see it; but you will not till you feel it. So he went up the river, and when he came down again to his place which I called Tille's folly, now called Tilles point, in our sight had killed us. Having heard this they were mad as dogs, and ran away; then when they came to the place from whence they came, I waved my hat about my head, and the two great guns went off so that there was a great hubbub amongst them. Then two days after, came down Capt. Mason and Sergeant Seeley, with five men more, to see how it was with us; and whilst they were there, came down a Dutch boat telling us the In- · dians had killed fourteen English, for, by that boat I had sent up letters to Conectecott, what I heard and what I thought, and how to prevent that threatened danger, and received back again rather a scoff, than any thanks for my care and pains. But as I in despite, having a fair wind he came to an anchor, and

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

with one man more, went ashore, discharged his gun, and the Indians fell upon him, and killed the other and carried him alive over the river in our sight, before my shallop could come to them, for, immediately I sent seven men to fetch the Pink down, or else it had been taken and three men more. So they brought her down, and I sent Mr. Higgisson and Mr. Pell aboard, to take an invoice of all that was in the vessel, that nothing might be lost. Two days after came to me, as I had written, to Sir Henerie Vane, then governor of the Bay, I say came to me, Capt. Undrill [Underhill], with twenty lusty men, well armed to stay with me two months, or until something should be done about Pequits. He came at the charge of my masters. Soon after came down from Harford, Major Mason, Lieut. Seeley, accompanied with Mr. Stone and eighty Englishmen, and eighty Indians, with a commission from Mr. Ludlow and Mr. Steele, and some others; these came to go fight with the Pequits. But when Capt. Undrill and I had seen their commission, we both said they were not fitted for such a design, and we said to Major Mason, we wondered he would venture himself, being no better fitted, and he said the magis- trates could not or would not send better; then we said that none of our men should go with them, neither should they go unless we, that were bred soldiers from our youth, could see some likelihood to do better than the Bay men with their strong commission last year. Then I asked them how they durst trust the Mohegin Indians, who had but that year come from the Pequits. They said they would trust them, for they could not well go without them for want of guides. Yea said I, but I will try them before a man of ours shall go with you or them; and I called for Uncas, and said unto him, you say you will help Major Mason, but I will first see it, therefore send you now twenty men to the Bass River, for there went yester-night six Indians in a canoe thither; fetch them now dead or alive, and then you shall go with Major Mason, else not. So he sent his men who killed four, brought one a traitor to us alive, whose name was Kiswas, and one ran away. And I gave him fifteen yards of trading cloth, on my own charge, to give unto his men according to their desert. And having staid there five or six days before we could

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 111

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 818

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 818