History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 113

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 113

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ing thereof yt provision may be made accordingly; onely it is agreed yt there shall be some convenient part of ye howsing reserved for a Gunner, and his family, to live in if ye Jurisdiction see fitt to settle one there.

"It is further provided and agreed betwixt ye said parties that George Fenwick Esq'r shall inioye to his own proper use, these prticulers following :-

"I. The house neare adioyning to ye wharfe, with ye wharfe and an acre of ground thereunto belonging, pro- vided ye said acre of ground take not up above eight rodd in breadth by ye water side.

" 2. The point of land and ye marsh lying under ye barne allready built by ye said George Fenwick.

" 3. The Island comonly called Six Mile Island, with ye meadow thereunto adjoining on ye east syde ye River. "4. The ground adjoyning to ye Towne-field w'ch is allready taken of and inclosed w'th 3 rayles by ye said George Fenwick: onely there is liberty granted to ye said jurisdiction, if they see fitt, to build a Fort upon ye westerne point, whereunto there shall be allowed an acre of ground for a house lot.

"It is also provided and agreed that ye said George Fenwick Esq. shall have free wanen in his owne land and lyberty for a fowler for his owne occasions, as allso ye like liberty is reserved for any other of ye Adventurers yt may come into these parts, with a double howse lott, in such place where they may choose to settle their aboode.

"All ye forementioned grants (except before excepted) ye said George Fenwick doth ingage himselfe to make good to the jurissdiction aforesaid, against all claymes y't may be made by any other to ye premises by reason of any disbursements made upon ye place.

" The said George Fenwick doth also promise yt all ye lands from Managansett River to ye Fort of Seabrooke, mentioned in a Pattent grannted by ye Earle of Warwicke to certaine Nobles and Gentlemen, shall fall in under ye jurisdiction of Connecticut, if it come into his power.

" For and in regard of ye premises and other good con- siderations, ye said Edward Hopkins, Jno. Haynes, Jno. Mason, Jno. Steele and James Boosy, authorized there- unto by the Generall Courte for ye jurissdiction of Con- necticott, doe in behalf of ye said Jurissdiction promise and agree to and with ye said George Fenwicke Esq'r, yt for and during ye space of ten full and compleate yeares, to beginn from ye first of March next ensuing ye date of these presents, there shall be allowed and payd to ye said George Fenwicke or his assignes, ye perticu- ler sums hereafter following :-

" I. Each bushell of Corne of all sorts, or meale yt shall passe out att ye River's mouth, shall pay two pence pr. bushell.

" 2. Every hundred of Biskett yt shall in like manner passe out att ye River's mouth, shall pay six pence:

' 3. Each milch cow, and mare of three years ould or upwards, within any of ye Townes or farmes upon the River shall pay twelve pence pr. annu: during ye fores'd terme:

" 4. Each Hogg or Sow yt is killed by any particular

*The Huntington mentioned above was probably Dea. Simon Hun- tington, of Norwich, who, Miss Calkins says, in her history. married Sarah, daughter of Joseph Clarke, of Saybrook, in October, 1653. The Joseph was probably a misprint, as there was no Clarke but John in [ the town at that time, except his son Joseph. Deacon Huntington and his wife lived together 53 years, she dying in 1721, aged 88.

451

OLD SAYBROOK-THE FORT-SETTLEMENT OF NORWICH.

p'rson within ye lymitts of ye River and the Jurissdiction aforesayd, to bee improved eyther for his owne p'rticu- lar use, or to make marketts of shall in like manner pay twelve pence pr. annu:

" 5. Each hoggshead of Beaver traded out by this Jurissdiction, and past by water downe ye River, shall pay twenty shillings.

" 6. Each pound of Beaver traded within ye lymitts of ye River shall pay two pence, only it is provided yt in case the generall trade with ye Indians now in agitation pr'ceed, this tax upon Beaver, mentioned in this and the foregoing article shall fall:

" 7. The sayd Committee doe, by the power aforesayd consent and agree to and with ye said George Fenwicke yt hee ye said George Fenwicke and his heires shall bee free of any imposition or customes yt may heereafter by the Jurissdiction be imposed att ye Fort.

At a session of the General Court, February 5th 1644, the articles of agreement with Mr. Fenwick are again re- cited, and some penalties are affixed for evasions, and non-compliance with the terms agreed upon with him, and it was ordered by the court " that all the Inhabi- tants of this River doe take spetiall notice of the said agreements, and doe pay to George Fenwick Esqr at Seabrooke, or his assignes, att or before the first day of March, 1645, and so every year, att, or before the first day of the said month of March, untill the tearme of tenn years be expired, such soms as shalbe due from them vppon any of the foregoing prticulers."

In consequence of the burning of the old fort at Say- brook in 1647, a new one was begun in 1648 at a place called New Fort Hill.

REMOVAL OF SETTLERS TO NORWICH.

A heavy drain was made on the population of Say- brook by the removal of Rev. Mr. Fitch, and a large part of his congregation to Norwich. From his long familiarity with Uncas, and his frequent explorations of the Indian country, it is very probable that the project of establishing a plantation in the Mohegan country origi- nated with Captain Mason. At what period the plan of this new settlement was broached is uncertain.

Probably it was for several years under consideration. A large proportion of the inhabitants of Saybrook entered into it; a few names from other places were added to the list, and in May 1659, application was made to the Gen- eral Court for permission to begin the work. The peti- tion granted as follows:

" Hartford May 20 '59. This Court haueing con- sidered the petition prsented by the inhabitants of Sea- brook doe declare yt they approue and consent to what is desired by ye petitioners, respecting Mohegin, proided yt within ye space of three years they doe effect a Planta- tion in ye place pr'pounded."

A list of the names of those who signed this petition would be interesting, but no copy of the petition has been preserved. The records speak of the signers as " the inhabitants of Seabrook," implying that a majority of the people proposed to remove to the new settlement;

and this coincides with the current opinion that the com- pany consisted of Mr. Fitch and the major part of his church. What could have induced them to abandon their comfortable homes, and the improvements they had labored so long to obtain, is not known. Tradition has it that, being mostly farmers, they were driven from Say- brook by the crows and blackbirds. These were a great nuisance in the early days of the country, and did much damage, and in Saybrook, as well as in other towns, as the records show, bounties were offered for their destruc- tion, and in some towns, it is said, penalties were imposed if a certain number were not brought in by each inhab- itant every year. This story is doubtless a pleasant satire rather than a fact. The following list comprises most of the original proprietors of Norwich, the names of nearly all of them being found in the earlier records of the town of Saybrook: Rev. James Fitch, Major John Mason, Thomas Adgate, Robert Allen, William Backus, William Backus jr., John Baldwin, John Birchard, Thomas Bliss, Morgan Bowers, Hugh Calkins, John Calkins, Richard Edgerton, Francis Griswold, Christopher Hunt- ington, Simon Huntington, William Hyde, Samuel Hyde, Thomas Leffingwell, John Olmstead, John Pease, John Post, Thomas Post, John Reynolds, Jonathan Royce, Nehemiah Smith, Thomas Tracey, Robert Wade.

The removal of Mr. Fitch and his friends, though it weakened Saybrook, by no means left it desolate, and in a few years the vacancies were filled by new purchasers. Mr. Fitch was not the only minister that Saybrook fur- nished to Norwich. In 1716, after the dismissal of Mr. Woodward, their pastor, Mr. Benjamin Lord was called " on tryal." He was a native of Saybrook, and then about 24 years of age.

LIST OF FREEMEN IN 1669.

"A List of the Names of the Freemen already made in the Town of Say Brooke, ye 4th 8th '69:

" Mr. Robert Chapman, Wm. Bushnell, Mr.Wm. Pratte, Alexander Chalker, Mr. Thomas Buckingham, Wm. Lord Senior, Mr. John Wastoll, John Clarke, Frances Bush- nell, Abraham Poste, Wm. Parker Senior, Samuell Joanes, Thomas Dunke, John Parker, Robert Lay, John Bushnell, Wm. Beamont, Edward Shipman, Richard Joseland, Joseph Ingham, John Chapman, Robert Chap- man jr., Thomas Norton.

" Richard Raimond Sen'r is approbated by the Corte, but not yet sworne.

" This is a true List of those who are already in ye Town of Say Brooke, as witnesse or hands, 4th, 8th, '69. "Say Brooke.

WM. PARKER, Townes men. JOSEPH PECKE, S SAMUEL JONS, Constable."

ATTEMPT OF Gov. ANDROSS TO TAKE POSSESSION OF SAYBROOK FORT.

In 1675, Saybrook was the scene of an attempt on the part of Governor Andross, of New York, to take posses- sion of the fort and town. On the morning of the 8th of July in that year, to the surprise of the people of that

452

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

town, he arrived off Saybrook. They had received no intelligence of the affair, nor instructions from the gov- ernor and council. But the fort was manned, and the militia of the town were drawn out for its defense. Dur- ing the day, Gov. Andross addressed a letter to the gov- ernor at Hartford, announcing his arrival, and Mr. Robert Chapman, one of the townsmen of Saybrook, and captain of the train band, also wrote to Gov. Winthrop for orders and advice. On the same day, or the day after, Capt. Thomas Bull and his command arrived at the fort, prepared to defend it against Gov. Andross, if necessary. On the 11th, Gov. Andross, with his armed sloops, drew up before the fort, hoisted the king's flag, and demanded the surrender of the fortress and town. Capt. Bull raised his majesty's colors and refused to sur- render. Gov. Andross did not like to fire upon the king's colors, and perceiving that he could not reduce the fort without bloodshed, judged it expedient not to fire upon the troops. He nevertheless lay all that day, and part of the next, off the fort.

On the morning of Monday the 12th, the instructions of the council reached Say Brook by post, and the next morning the protest of the Council was received in the same manner, as Major Andross with his retinue was landing. He was met by the officers of the fort, who informed him of their instructions, which were: "to ten- der him a treaty by meete p'rsons deputed to that pur- pose in any place of this colony where he should chuse." The Major rejected the proposal, and forthwith com- manded in his Majesty's name, that the duke's patent, and his commission should be read, " which notwithstand- ing that they were required in his Majestyes name to forbeare, was done."*

"Wee withdrew a little, declaring wee had nothing to do to attend it. Which being done, then Major An- dross manifested, that he had now done, and should saile immediately, unlesse we desired him to stay. Wee told him that wee had no order to desire him to stay, but must now read something else; and forthwith the protest was read in his presence. He was pleased to speake of it as a slander, and so an ill requitall for his kindnesse; and by and by desired a copy, which wee declared that wee had no order to give; but yet parted peaceably. His Honour was guarded with the Towne souldiers to the water side, went on board, and pr'sently fell down below the Fort, with salutes on both sides."+

Governor Dongan, the successor of Governor Andross, at New York, found in 1678, some papers in the Sec- retary's office, in which Andross acknowledges that "hee himself went with some soldiers to surprise them, in- tending when he had done it, to keep possession by a Fort he designed to make at a place called Seabrook,

but was prevented by the opposition of two companies of men then lodged there ready to goe out ag'st the In- dians, with whom they were in Warr."*

The Narragansett war followed in the winter of the same year, and eight men were drawn from Saybrook for that service. Tradition says that Alexander Chalker was one of these men, and that he was killed. His sword is still preserved by his descendants. The names of the others have not been preserved.

CONDITION OF THE FORT IN 1693.

Letter in regard to Saybrook Fort, to Col. John Allyn, Hartford.t

" Saybrook ye 30 of August 1693. " Honour'd S'r,

"Yours dated ye 20th Instant I have Rec'd, and in ob- servants to your orders and instructions have this day taken a view of ye effort, Mr. William Dudley, and Mr. John Parker being with mee, and we find that such are the Ruinous decays of ye said ffort, that the small mat- ter of charge by your honor proposed, will be altogether insignificant and worthless both to their majesties and this colony's Interest, the Gates are all down but one, and one of them gone, both wood and iron three of ye hooks of ye grate gate stole: most of ye Iron of one of ye Carriages, with all of the iron taken away, the Plat- forms all Rotten and unserviceable, part of ye stone wall y't supports ye mount falten down, most of ye mud wall decayed, with the Palisades ag't itt, about ffour Rodd of plank Wall on the north, that never was done, and Lyes open, the Jack, Jack-staff and Pillor to be repaired with now most of ye great shott pilfered and gone, and accord- ing to our favorable judgment doe compute ye Charge to be no less than fifty pounds to put it in a defensive posture, all which we att ye Request of ye Capt. signifies to your honours, and subscribe ourselves your honoured servants.

" JOHN CHAPMAN SEN. " WILL'M DUDLEY, SEN.

" JOHN PARKER JUN'R."

YALE COLLEGE.

While the inhabitants and churches in Connecticut were constantly increasing, the demand for a learned ministry to supply their churches became more and more urgent, and a number of ministers conceived the purpose of founding a college in Connecticut, as Cam- bridge was at so great a distance as to render it inconvenient to educate their sons there. The design was first concerted in 1698, by the Rev. Messrs. Pier- pont, of New Haven, Andrew, of Milford, and Russell, of Branford. It was talked over among the ministers of the colony, till finally ten of them were agreed upon for trustees to found, erect, and govern a college. Doubts arising about their capacity to hold real estate, application was made to the Legislature for a charter of incorporation. In October 1701, the General Assembly

*Trumbull says that Captain Bull commanded him in His Majesty's name to forbear reading. When the clerk persisted in reading, the captain repeated his command with such energy in his voice, and mean- ing in his countenance, that the Major was convinced that it was not safe to procced. The captain then read the protest. Governor Andross, pleased with his bold and soldier-like appearance, said: "What's your name ?" He replied, " My name is Bull, sir." "Bull," said the gover- nor, "it is a pity that your horns are not tipped with silver "

+Letter of Robert Chapman and Thomas Bull July 13th to General Assembly.

* Col. Rec. 11 Ap. No. XIX.

+ Copied from the original letter in State Library at Hartford.

453

OLD SAYBROOK-YALE COLLEGE.

incorporated the trustees, granted the charter, and voted them the sum of £60 annually. November 11th the trustees met at Saybrook and chose Rev. Abraham Pierson, rector of the college, and Rev. Samuel Russell, trustee, to complete the number of the corporation. At this meeting, Saybrook was fixed upon as the place for the college, and the rector was requested to remove to that town.

Till this could be done, they ordered that the scholars should be instructed at, or near the rector's house in Killingworth. The corporation made various attempts to remove the rector to Saybrook, but it was not effected. The ministers had been several years in effecting their plan, and a number of young men had been preparing for college, under the instructions of one and another of the trustees. As soon as the college was furnished with a rector and tutor, eight of them were admitted, and put into different classes, according to the proficiency that each one had made. Some in a year or two became qualified for a degree. The first commencement was at Saybrook, September 13th 1702, when the following per- sons received the degree of M. A .: Stephen Buckingham, Salmon Treat, Joseph Coit, Joseph Moss, Nathaniel Chauncey, and Joseph Morgan. Four of them had pre- viously graduated at Cambridge. They all became min- isters of the gospel, and three of them, Messrs. Moss, Buckingham, and Chauncey were afterward fellows of the college. From motives of. economy, the commencements were private for several years. Mr. Nathaniel Lynde, of Saybrook, generously gave a house and land for the use of the college so long as it should remain in the town. This house stood on the road leading from the fort to the village, a few rods west of the old cemetery on Say- brook Point. Tradition says that Mr. Lynde lived on the street running through the middle of the Point, known as the "Middle Lane " or Church street, and near the church, and the house of Rev. Mr. Buckingham. In 1704, Rev. Mr. Pierson died, and Rev. Mr. Andrew, of Milford, was chosen rector pro tempore, and the senior class was removed to Milford. Mr. Andrew acted as mod- erator at the commencements, and gave general direc- tions to the tutors, while Mr. Buckingham, the minister at Saybrook, and one of the trustees, had a kind of direc- tion and inspection over the college. In this state it continued till about 1715. In 1713, a valuable addition of books was made to the college library at Saybrook.

From 1702 to 1713 inclusive, 46 young men were gradu- ated at Saybrook. Of these 34 became ministers, and two were elected magistrates. Mr. John Hart and Mr. Phineas Fisk were tutors. As the objects for which the college was established were considered highly import- ant, the collegiate school attracted the special attention both of the Legislature and clergy. Though generous donations had been made for its support, it was far from flourishing or happy. The senior class was at Milford under Mr. Andrew, the rector, and the other classes at Saybrook, under the two tutors. The books were neces- sarily divided, and exposed to be lost. At the same time the scholars were dissatisfied, both with the place, and

manner of their instruction. They complained that Say- brook was not sufficiently compact for their instruction, some of them being obliged to reside more than a mile from the place of their public exercises. There had also from the beginning been a disagreement among the peo- ple of the colony, as to where the college should be fixed. Some were for continuing it at Saybrook, others wished to remove it to Hartford or Wethersfield, and a third party were equally zealous for its removal to New Haven. The trustees met at Saybrook, April 4th 1716. When the scholars came before them, they complained of the insufficiency of their instruction, and the inconven- iences of the place. It has been the tradition, that most of these complaints were suggested to them by others, with a view to cause a general uneasiness, and by this means effect the removal of the college. After a long debate on the circumstances of the school, it appeared that the trustees were no better agreed than the students, and leave was finally given to the Hartford and Weth- ersfield students, who were the most uneasy, to go, till commencement, to such places of instruction as they pleased. The consequence was that the greater part of them went to Wethersfield, and put themselves under the instruction of Rev. Elisha Williams, pastor of the church in Newington, some went to other places, and a number continued at Saybrook, but the small-pox soon after breaking out in the town, these generally re- moved to East Guilford, and were under the tuition of Rev. Mr. Hart and Mr. Russell till commencement. While the school was in this state people in different parts of the colony began to subscribe for the building of a college, hoping by this means that the trustees might be induced to settle the matter according to their wishes. About £700 was subscribed for its establishment at New Haven, £500 for fixing it at Saybrook, and considerable sums for the same purpose at Hartford and Wethersfield. The trustees met again at commencement, September 12th 1716, but could not agree any better than before, and they adjourned till the 17th of October, to meet at New Haven. When they met at that date, after discussion, they voted, " That considering the difficulties of con- tinuing the collegiate school at Saybrook, and that New Haven is a convenient place for it, for which the most liberal donations are given, the trustees agree to remove the said school from Saybrook to New Haven, and it is now settled at New Haven accordingly."

Five of the trustees voted for New Haven, Mr. Wood- bridge and Mr. Buckingham were for Wethersfield, while Mr. Noyes did not see the necessity of removing the school front Saybrook, but preferred New Haven, if it must be removed. The trustees at this meeting received £250 from the General Assembly, which with $125 in the treasury, and the subscription for building the col- lege at New Haven, encouraged them to vote to build a college, and a rector's house at New Haven, and they appointed a committee to accomplish the work. At the same time they appointed Mr. Stephen Buck- ingham, of Norwalk, one of the trustees. They sent orders to the scholars to come to New Haven, but

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

only those at East Guilford complied. Such was the obstinacy of those at Wethersfield, and such the

countenance that others gave them, that they continued their studies there till the next commencement. The trustees met again at New Haven, April 5th 1717. Seven were present, including Stephen Buckingham. The acts of the former meeting were read and voted by all the members present, except Mr. Buckingham, who, on ac- count of his friends in Saybrook, judged it expedient not to act. The people in other parts of the colony were strongly opposed to its establishment in New Haven, and the matter was taken up several times and warmly de- bated in the General Assembly. The trustees held the commencement at New Haven. The number of students was 31, of whom 13, the past year, had studied at New Haven, 14 at Wethersfield, and four at Saybrook. Soon after the commencement, the college building was raised at New Haven; but, nevertheless, Messrs. Woodbridge, Buckingham, and their party, persisted in their opposi- tion, and at the October session of the Assembly pre- sented a remonstrance, which was answered by the other trustees. After a full hearing, the upper house resolved: " That the objections against the vote of the trustees, were insufficient." The lower house, after a long debate, resolved nothing relative to the subject. This shows how deeply the colony felt interested in the affair, and how unhappily it was divided. Further votes were passed by the trustees to strengthen those already pass- ed, and their reasons were assigned for fixing it at New Haven, which were the difficulties of keeping it at Say- brook, arising partly from the uneasiness of the students, and partly from continued attempts to remove it to Hartford. They thought Hartford too far from the sea, and that it would not as well accommodate the southern and western colonies, in most of which, at that period, there were no colleges. The Assembly then passed an act advising them to finish their building and granted them a hundred pounds to be distributed among the instructors of the college. Notwithstanding the college seemed to be fixed at New Haven, there were some who still wished to have it at Wethersfield. They encouraged the students who had been instructed there the last year-about 14 in number to continue their studies at the same place. At the session in May, the lower house voted " to desire the trustees to consent that the commencement should be held alternately at Wethers- field and New Haven, till the place of the school be fully determined." The upper house was of the opinion that the matter was fully determined already, and therefore they did not concur. Gov. Saltonstall was supposed to be in favor of its establishment at New Haven, and his influence might have had some effect on the upper house. About this time (1718) they received several donations, that of Gov. Yale being the most considerable, and it was voted at commencement in September to call it Yale College. On the same day on which commencement was held in New Haven, a dissatisfied party held a kind of commencement at Wethersfield, in presence of a large number of spectators, in which five scholars performed

public exercises. When the Assembly met in October, they passed a series of resolutions, among which was one appropriating 50 pounds from the sale of lands, to be given to the town of Saybrook " for the use of the school in said town." Another gave the governor and council power, " at the desire of the trustees, to give such orders as they shall think proper, for the removing of the books, belonging to the said college, left at Saybrook, to the library provided for them at New Haven." Upon the desire of the trustees, the governor and council met at Saybrook in December, and granted a warrant to the sheriff authorizing him to deliver the books to the trus- tees, but notwithstanding the pacific measures which the Assembly had adopted, there was opposition to their re- moval. The sheriff, when he came to the house where they were kept, found it filled and surrounded with men, determined to resist him. Nevertheless, he, with his at- tendants, forcibly entered the house, took the books and secured them under guard during the night. In the morning it appeared that the carts provided for carrying them to New Haven were broken, and the horses turned away. New provision being made, they were conducted out of the town by the major part of the county; but some of the bridges on the road were broken down, and when they arrived at New Haven it was discovered that about 250 of the most valuable books, and several im- portant papers were missing, and no discovery was ever made of them afterward. After this unhappy struggle, the heat of men's spirits began to subside, and a general harmony was gradually introduced among the trustees, and in the colony. Field says that after the first meeting of the trustees, in April 1716, two of the trustees, at the succeeding session of the Legislature, without the con- sent or knowledge of their brethren, petitioned that the college might be removed to Hartford. "This surpris- ing and ungentleman-like proceeding caused passions, which had long been kindling, to burst forth, and from this time to the permanent establishment of the college at New Haven, the subject of its location produced more debate and division in the Legislature, and in the Cor- poration, among civilians and clergymen, and the people at large, than almost any other subject which has ever been agitated in Connecticut." It is idle to speculate upon what Saybrook might have been, had the college remained here, but it doubtless would have been as large as New Haven.

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 113

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