History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 114

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 114

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PATENT OF 1704.

In 1704 Saybrook, as well as a few other towns, re- ceived a patent from the Legislature. This patent con- firmed the grants made in a previous one, defined ac- curately the boundaries of the town, and conferred the usual rights and privileges with the usual verbiage and formality. It was issued to " Robert Chapman, Thomas Buckingham, William Parker, William Beaumont, John Chapman, Abraham Post, John Pratt, John Clarke, Wil- liam Parker jr., Robert Lay, and Zachariah Sandford of the town of Saybrook in the County of New London in the colony aforesaid, Gents., and to the rest of the pro- prietors thereof."

455

OLD SAYBROOK-PLATFORM.

The original document is in possession of Henry Hart Esq., who bought it some years since from a man in the town of Griswold. Though prizing it highly, he offered it to the town for the small sum paid for it, but the selectmen, with that penny-wise economy not un- common in town officers, declined to take it, and the op- portunity of placing this valuable document among the archives of the town was lost.

THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM.

The Cambridge Platform, which for about sixty years had been the general plan of discipline and church fel- lowship in New England, made no provision for the general meeting of ministers, or for their union in asso- ciations or consociations, yet at an early period they had a general meeting both in Connecticut and Massachu- setts, and began to form associations. Their annnal meetings were at the times of the general election at Bos- ton and Hartford. At these times they had handsome entertainments made for them at the public expense. At these meetings they consulted together respecting the general welfare of the churches, the ministerial supply, and gave general directions regarding candidates for the ministry. But these associations and meetings were only voluntary, countenanced by no ecclesiastical constitu- tion, attended only by such ministers as were willing to associate, and could bind none but themselves. There was no regular way of introducing candidates to the churches, by the general consent, either of themselves or the elders. When they had finished their studies, if they imagined themselves qualified, and could find some friendly minister to introduce them, they began to preach, without any examination or recommendation from any body of ministers or churches. Besides, it was gener- ally conceded the state of the churches was not satisfac- tory with respect to their general order, government, and discipline. A great majority of the Legislature and clergy in Connecticut were for the association of minis- ters, and the consociation of churches. In this state of the churches, the Legislature passed an act, at their ses- sion in May 1708, requiring the ministers and churches to meet and form an ecclesiastical constitution. This act, after reciting the purpose and necessity of such a meeting, directed the ministers of the several counties, with the messengers or delegates of their churches, to meet at the county towns on the last Monday in June,

" There to consider and agree upon those methods and rules for the management of ecclesiastical discipline, which by them shall be judged agreeable and conform- able to the word of God, and shall at the same meeting appoint two or more of their number to be their delegates, who shall all meet together at SayBrook, at the next commencement to be held there, where they shall compare the results of the ministers of the several counties, and out of and from them to draw a form of ecclesiastical discipline, which by two or more persons delegated by them shall be offered to this court, at their session at New Haven, in October next, to be considered of and confirmed by them: And the expense of the

above mentioned meetings shall be defrayed out of the public treasury of this colony."

According to this act, the ministers and delegates met at the several county towns, made their respective drafts for discipline, and chose their delegates for the general meeting, which was held at Saybrook, September 9th 1708.

Present-From the council of Hartford county, the Revs. Timothy Woodbridge, Noahdiah Russell, Stephen Mix; messenger, John Haynes, Esq. From Fairfield county, the Revs. Charles Chauncey, John Davenport; messenger, Deacon Samuel Hoit. From New London county, the Revs. James Noyes, Thomas Buckingham, John Woodward; messengers, Robert Chapman, Deacon William Parker. From New Haven county, the Revs. Samuel Andrew, James Pierpont, Samuel Russell.

Revs. Thomas Buckingham and James Noyes were chosen moderators, and Revs. Stephen Mix and John Woodward, scribes. At this council it was agreed-

" That the confession of faith owned and assented unto by the elders and messengers assembled at Boston, in New England May 12th 1680, be recommended to the general assembly, at the next session, for their public testimony thereunto, as the Faith of the churches of this colony." *

The council also made rules for the consociation of the churches, for the settlement of disputes, and for pro- ceedings in the matter of discipline. President Stiles observes:

"I have been told that the model from New Haven county, said to have been draughted principally by the Rev. James Pierpont, was that which, with some amend- ments, passed the Synod." When the Platform was adopted, there were 4t churches in what was at that time regarded as the territory of Connecticut; excluding the one in Rye, there were 40, and about as many ministers.t The platform consists of two parts: "A Confession of Faith," and " Heads of Agreement, and Articles for the administration of Church Discipline."

These having been unanimously passed and signed, they were presented to the legislature the succeeding October, and adopted, with this proviso:

" That nothing herein shall be intended or construed to hinder or prevent any society or church, that is or shall be allowed by the laws of this government, who soberly differ or dissent from the united churches hereby established, from exercising worship and discipline, in their own way, according to their consciences."

The Saybrook Platform, ¿ thus unanimously recom- mended by the elders and messengers of the churches, and adopted by the Legislature as the religious constitu- tion of the colonies, met with a general reception, though some of the churches were extremely opposed to it. The confession of faith, having been adopted by the churches and Legislature, was also adopted by the college, and its

*This was the Savoy confession, with some slight alterations.

+ Hist. Acct. Saybrook Platform, 1813.

# In 1710, Thomas Short, of New London, Issued " The Saybrook Plat- form of Church Discipline," the first book printed in the colony of Con- necticut. He died in 1712, nged 30.

456

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

trustees and officers, upon their introduction to office, were required to give their assent to it, and to the West- minster confession and catechisms.

COMMON LANDS.

A large part of the land in the present town of Old Saybrook was owned and held in common for about a hundred years by proprietors, rights being set off to them according to the amount of money invested. At a town meeting, April 13th 1695, the preamble recites that on the 24th of December last, by an act of the town, the northern part of the Commons was put into the hands of the original proprietors for division, and they having met, recommended to the town that not only the northern part, but all undivided lands in town commons, should remain a perpetual common for the use of the inhab- itants of the town. The town, therefore, voted " that from this time and hereafter forever, these lands com- monly known by the name of the town commons, which are bounded on the nothern and westerne sides by pot- apauge, and oyster River Quarters, on the easterne part by the greate river, and on the southern part by the highway to the mill," such as were not already granted, should not be subject to general distribution. At one time the town commons were set in the list at £7,000.

PARSONAGE MEADOW, GRANTS TO SOLDIERS, ETC.

Early in the history of the colony a tract of salt meadow, bounded on the east by Connecticut River, and south by the North Cove, was set apart for the use of the ministry, and it is still held and owned by the Con- gregational society. The tract is called " Parsonage Meadow," and the point at the mouth of the cove, " Par- sonage Point." The following are some of the town votes on the subject, as copied from Vol. 1, Saybrook Town Acts, by Henry L. Pratt:

" Dec. 8th 1687 At the same Meeting John Bull pre- tending a claim to a certain Island of Meadow being compassed around with water, so with the Great River, Ragged Rock Cove, & the North Cove-but making nothing appear of any title, the Town being satisfied that he hath neither honest or legal title unto said Island of Meadow do agree and by Vote determine said Island to be and belong to the Town, and to be absolutely at their disposal."

" At a Town Meeting May 25th 1688, being the third Monday in May. It was agreed and voted that the Island of Meadow that Lyeth the West side of the Great River below Ragged Rock-and four acres of upland lying in the Town Plat between Mr. Nathaniel Lynd's land and James Readfield's shall for the present be at the Townsmen's disposing: the benefit thereof, and for the future to be for the use of the ministry."

" July 23d 1691 At a Town Meeting orderly warned, It was agreed and ordered that the present Townsmen in the Town's behalf, should vindicate & manage the Town's Interest about a certain Island of Meadow lying betwixt the Town and the Ragged Rock."

" March 21: 1677-8 It was voted & agreed that the

fields should be cleared* by the next Tuesday the 26th of this Instant March, and then the Pinnyert to search the fields."

" Dec. 3d 1678 the Town did agree and Vote to add to Mr. Buckingham's maintenance ten pounds in order to the supplying him with wood at three shilling a load, proportioning a load to a hundred pounds Estate to be paid at or before the last of December yearly."

At the same meeting Samuel Murrain, of Milford, de- sired to be presented ." to the Town to come & set up the trade of a tanner in Town, do grant to him for that and ye piece of land at the Neck gate, it was formerly granted to Thomas Johnson." " Joseph Parker was chosen Pinner for ye year ensuing."

" At the same meeting Ensign Abraham Post Senior John Chapman, Mr. John Tully shall be established measurers of Land for the future."

" Feb. 7 1678 The Town agreed that the Souldiers that went out of the Town in the Indian war shall have five acres apiece of Land-those fields that were survey- ed by Wm. Parker Sen., and Wm. Lord Sen. and Insign Post, on these conditions, viz .: that they shall not sell their several parcels of Land to any within the Term of 4 years from the date hereof, but to such as the Town shall approve of, and the Town do expect these Lands shall be fenced in for improvement within the terms aforesaid,-the names of the soldiers that the Town have given Land to, are as followeth, viz .: Wm. Parker Jun., John Clarke, John Large, John Pratt (Tailor), Samuel Ollicott, Samuel Pratt, Isaac Hasolberg, Andrew Bugert, John Lees, Samuel Chalker, Steven Bushnell, Thomas Morrall, Edward Shipman, Joseph Ingham, John Lorin, John Tillotson, John Bull, Nathaniel Rudd."

"Sept 22 79 At a Town meeting called at Saybrook it was voted and agreed that Capt Chapman, William Parker Sen. and Liftenant Bushnell shall draw up a righting in way of a plea to the Court's demand concern- ing the land twixt the fort and the burying plot."

At the next meeting, September 29th, it was voted that the above writing " be presented to the court as the Town Act, and have ordered the Selectmen to subscribe to it." " 1681 It was agreed & voted concerning the pasture lands lying about adjoining to the Stone Pits now under the improvement of Thomas Dunk as belonging to his wife; that there shall be no improvement of the said pasture by cattle by way of pasturage, as lying within that fencing, till the land be sufficiently fenced according to law, and so judged by the fence viewers to be made and maintained, and in case this be not allowed, the town declareth for the future, that they will not allow any future pastureage in the said fields."

"At a Town meeting Jan. 30th 1681 It was agreed and voted, -- That for as much as sundry complaints have been made this day by sundry Inhabitants Proprietors of the West side, commonly called the thousand acres, Re- specting damages yearly sustained by reason of the in- sufficiency of the Ox-pasture fence having considered

* The Common fields.

+ Pound keeper, who " pinned " the pound.

457

OLD SAYBROOK-THE FERRY.

these complaints, do find them to be real & insuffer- able, do therefore see cause at this meeting, by town act and voat to appoint & decide that for the future the ox- pasture shall be well found with a good sufficient four rail fence or other fence equivalent, to be yearly viewed by the fence viewers, as by oath they are bound to doe in any other the common fences -- And further- more do order there shall be no oxen or horses or any other cattle put into the aforesaid ox pasture until it be sufficiently fenced as aforesaid, & what cattle are found in the said field shall be accounted damage feasant .-- And the Pinners are hereby ordered to take cognizance of this field, as any other of the fields belonging to the town. The town do hereby order that the aforesaid fence shall be done at or before the tenth of May annu- ally and the fence viewers to go out to view it the eleventh of May, and what is proved insufficient the townsmen are hereby ordered to take care that it be done as the Law doth direct in other common fences."

" At a town meeting IIth Jan. '76 it was voated and agreed that the fortification both palisades and gate all but the ditch the carge [charge] thereof shall be pay'd, the half of it by the whole town, the other half of the carge of the premises to be pay'd by those that dwell within the neck gate."

SAYBROOK FERRY.

The ferry between Saybrook and Lyme was established in 1662 as the following extract from the proceedings of the General Court for that year shows:

" This Court grants Sea Brooke Inhabitants liberty to set up a ferrey at Tilleyes Point, and to take 12d. for a man & horse and 6d. for a single person."

In October 1696, the ferry rates were fixed at "twelve pence pay or eight pence money" for man, horse and load, " fower pence pay or three pence money " for a single man, and "eight pence pay or five pence money " for a single horse; and 1698, the court ordered that "one shilling in money pr time " might be charged for horse and man in the months of December, January, and Feb- ruary.

Travellers who were obliged to cross the river were put to great inconvenience on account of there being no wharf on the Saybrook side and "by reason of the un- certainty and alterations frequently made " in the load leading to the ferry. The court, in October 1719, ap- pointed John Hamlin and Richard Christophers, a com. mittee to view the ferry, to fix a place where a wharf should be built and to determine where the highway leading to the ferry should run. This committee having reported, the General Court took the following action (October 1720):

" This Assembly taking into consideration the report of John Hamlin and Richard Christophers, Esq'rs, a committee appointed to view the ferry place between Seybrook and Lyme, and to consider how the ferry there may be best ordered and improved, and also what has been offered by Mr. Stephen Whittlesey and Mary Dud- ley concerning the same: It is thereupon ordered and

resolved, that the wharf begun by Mary Dudley and her son shall be compleatly finished, and the causeway made and highway laid open from the said wharf and from the said Whittlesey's house according to the return of the said Hamlin and Christophers; and the one-half of the just cost which the said Mary Dudley and her son have been at, in building the said wharf so far as it be done, shall be allowed and paid unto them by the said Whittle- sey; the account of it to be adjusted and determined by Mr. Nathaniel Chapman and Mr. Daniel Buckingham, of Seybrook; and the said Whittlesey shall have liberty, if he desires it, to do what remains to be done to the said wharf for the finishing thereof, and also to make the causeway, one-half of the charge whereof shall be allowed him by the said Dudleys in part of his half of the cost they have been at in what they have done to the said wharf as abovesaid; the account of which shall also be adjusted by the aforenamed persons. And the said Whittlesey and Dudley shall keep the said ferry joyntly and together until the first day of March next or as now they do; and from the said first day of March next it shall be kept by the said Mary Dudley and her son Wil- liam for the space of one year, and then the said Stephen Whittlesey shall take it and keep it for the like space, and so it shall be kept by the said Dudleys and Whittle- seys, their heirs, etc., by turns, by the year, for the future, until this Court shall otherway determine. And when it is the said Whittlesey's time, he may, if he will keep it at the creek on the north side of his house, pro- vided he build a wharf there according to what is men- tioned about it in the return of the aforesaid committee."

In 1732, the ferrymen at Saybrook, William Dudley and Ambrose Whittlesey, petitioned the court to exempt them from carrying the officers of the government free of charge, or to increase the ferry rates, and in response to this petition the court ordered that the fare should be " thirteen pence money " for man, horse, and load in the months of December, January, and February, and nine pence during the rest of the year.

In May 1744, the General Court ordered the ferrymen at Saybrook "to erect and repair the wharf at said ferry place on the west side, and also provide and constantly maintain good and proper boats, well manned with suffi- cient tackle and furniture," etc., and Samuel Lynde Esq., Capt. Jedadiah Chapman, and Capt. Elisha Shelden were appointed to see that the order of the court was com- plied with and the fares were again changed to four pence for man, horse, and load, three pence for each footman, three pence half penny for each horse, lawful money, except from November to April, inclusive, when the fares were fixed at six pence, four pence, and five pence, respectively, "the above fare to be accounted at the rate of four pence in old currency for one penny lawful money." In case the ferrymen should at any time be deficient in any of the particulars mentioned, the com- mittee was empowered to impose a suitable fine not to exceed five pounds.

For some time prior to 1752 complaints were made that the ferry was much neglected, and the passage over

458

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

the river difficult and dangerous, and in the May session of this year the General Court appointed Samuel Lynde and Richard Lord to investigate the matter, and report to the court at its next session. The substance of this report is unknown, but the two gentlemen were voted 12 shillings each for their labor.

No further notice of the ferry seems to have been taken by the General Court until October 1760, when the fol- lowing act was passed: *

"* ** The ferrymen or tenders of the ferries at New London and Saybrook shall carefully and diligently attend the convenience of passengers, and to that end they shall not at either of said ferries suffer said two boats to lie at the same time on the same side the river, but from time to time as soon as either of said boats have crossed said river and reached the opposite shore, the ferryman or ferrymen whose boat shall then lie at said shore shall immediately put off his boat and pass over to the other side of said river, whether there be any pas- sengers ready to go over or not, unless the ferryman who last arrived to the shore where the other boat shall be lying shall immediately return to the shore from whence he came as soon as he can unload his passengers or freight. And when it shall so happen when either of said boats shall have put off from the shore, any pas- sengers shall be waiting or come before such boat shall arrive at the other shore, the ferryman on the opposite side shall immediately put off and carry over such pas- sengers, and the fare shall belong to that ferryman on that side from whence they pass. And if any such ferry- man or ferrymen shall neglect to conform to the true in- tent and meaning of this act, he or they, for every such offence shall forfeit and pay the sum of twenty shillings. * *

At the same time the fares were fixed at 8d. for man, horse and load, 3d. for foot man, 6d. for led horse, 8d. for ox or other neat kine, and one penny each for sheep, swine and goats, from October Ist to April Ist, and dur- ing the rest of the year 6d., 2d., 4d., 6d., and 3 farthings respectively.

After the Indians were subdued, some of them were servants to the whites, and others lived near them and became partially civilized, many of them taking English names. They gradually decreased, however, till at the beginning of the present century, only a few stragglers remained. The tradition has come down to us, that Obed, one of these Indians, sacrificed a deer to the Great Spirit on a hill about half a mile north of the head of Main street. The hill is still known as " Obed's Altar Hill," though the exact rock on which the sacrifice took place is not known. It was, however, one of the high rocks on the east side of the hill, and it is not visible froin the turnpike. Who this Obed was is not known, but an Indian of that name was a servant of Colonel Fenwick, and it is probable that he was the one. Years afterward he laid claim to a piece of land, which the fol- lowing entry in the town acts explains:

Indian was a servunt to Mr. Fenwick the space of four years, & we are able to say he was a faithfull servant to him, & that for his service, Mr. Fenwick Did Ingage a parcell of Land to him, We cannot Justly Say what Quantity, But we Do Conclude it was not less than four acres, and that Obed's father Did Possess the Land be- fore the Serviss of the said Obed was out. To this we Can Safely take our oaths.

" This was given in before me, John Mason, the 19th of May 1673."

On the town records is a deed from Uncas and Awaneco his son, October 17th 1681, to Thomas Dunk, of land at Salmon Brook, the tract being about three miles long by two in breath.

" Uncus appeared & acknowledged the aboue Written Deed before mee."

SAMUEL MASON, Com'r. New London June ye 9th 1682.

"UNCAS, his + mark. "AWANECO, his + mark."

Indians were sometimes apprenticed to the English, as follows:

" I Ephraim Indian of Saybrook son to Black Jo, Deceasd Do hereby In consideration of money - In hand recd of Mr. John Kirtland of sd Saybrook in the County of New London, &c Putt and bind myself Apprentice Unto the Above sd John Kirtland, His Heirs &c: During the whole term and time of three months from the first day of Aprill 1735, Untill the first of July next Ensueing the Date hereof, During all which time ye sd Ephraim shall faithfully perform his sd Master's Business :- His sd Master Allowing ye sd Ephraim the sum of two shillings & sixpence for Each Day the sd Ephraim shall work for his sd Master, and If anything - of ye Above mentioned wages for Each Day be Due to ye sd Ephraim at ye Expiration of sd time his sd Master is then to pay the sd Ephraim. And If his sd Master Shall Give Leave to ye sd Ephraim to Go from him for fishing or hunting; or any of the sd Ephraims business, ye sd Ephraim is to pay day for Day after the Expiration of sd term for Each Day he is So Gone. In Witness whereof the sd Ephraim hath sett to his hand this twenty eighth day of february A: D: 173%

his

" EPHRAIM INDIAN +

mark

" Witnesses- S JOHN TULLY ABIGAIL TULLY."

THE GALE OF SEPTEMBER 1815.

The following is from Samuel Tully's diary in regard to the "September gale " -- the severest ever known here-Friday, September 22d 1815:

"Stormy last night, with fresh N.E. wind, but little rain this forenoon, but storm increased in the afternoon, abating a little about sunset, but seems to close up soon after like a continued storm." Saturday 23d-" Storm has continued during the night, and this morning rages with wasting violence, wind blowing very powerfully, and rain falling in sheets. By 8 A. M. it blows a most

" The Teste of William Hide, & Morgan Bowers, who certifie & say that wee do well Remember that Obed the | tremendous and awful gale, tearing up the strongest trees

459

OLD SAYBROOK-JOHN TULLY.

by the roots, or breaking them off, blowing down many buildings and raising the tide higher than was ever known in the memory of any person living, flowing into the cart path opposite the east garden. The water on the causeway by the windmill was nearly deep enough to touch a horse's belly, and extended in the road from Mrs. Newell's barn to the Dunk house, the distance of 30 or perhaps 40 rods."

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 114

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