History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 123

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 123

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494

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

Those, however, who are most capable of judging think that there is nothing mysterious about it; it is probably fed by very deep springs which are not affected by the rain- fall until after a considerable time. This beautiful sheet of water, deeply set between the hills, is now known as Waroona Lake. This appropriate name is the Australian word for "solitude." Great Hill Pond is an artificial lakelet at the foot of Great Hill, covering about 100 acres of marshy land. The highest elevations of land

are Great Hill and Bald Hill. This last with "Mesomesic | clans, comprising all Indians living on the shores of the

Mountain " and Raccoon Hill have long been noted as the resort of rattlesnakes. Hundreds have been killed here. In September 1881, Deacon Pelton, who has been very active in bruising the serpent's head, in one after -. noon killed fifteen, and the next morning killed four and captured six. The largest was 5 feet 10 inches in length.

The old elm near St. John's Chapel should be noticed as it supposed to be the largest in the State. Two feet above the ground it measures 22 feet, 8 inches girth. It was here when the town was first settled, and was held in veneration by the Indians who held pow-wows under it.

A large amount of hay is annually gathered, the quar- ries using the most of it. Sheep are kept to some ex- tent. Deacon F. Payne and Osmer Pelton cultivate ex- tensive peach orchards. Cardella Reeves is quite an extensive fruit grower.

" Wangunk Meadow " has always been held as a com- mon field on account of the difficulty of maintaining and renewing fences after the annual floods. The boundaries of each man's share are defined, and each has a certain proportion of the outside fence to maintain.

The land was granted in March 1698 (two previous grants being annulled) to Sam'll Bidwell, John Hamb- lin, John Bacon, Andrew Warner, and Will'm Cornwall jun'r. The first legible entry in their record is:

" March ye 8th 1736-7 William Cornwell Senior, Sergt. Jas. Buck, and Joseph White were chosen to order the prudentials of s'd field. Joseph White Clerk, Corp'l Thomas Buck and Sergt. Ebenezer Gibs chosen fence viewers, Moses Cummin, John Robbins and John Jones hay wards," " The Proprietors by Major vote Agree that the s'd field shall be free for feeding by the propri- etors cattle for three weeks and noe more By Major vote this Meeting was Adjourned to the first Monday in Octo- ber next at Sun two ours high at Night."

The proprietors now hold their annual meeting the first Monday in March; elect their officers, and arrange for the management of the field the year ensuing; the present officers are: Andrew Cornwell, H. B. Wilcox, J. E. Tryon, committee; Lucius Stewart, Martin Cavanaugh, Albert Hale, D. C. Horton, fence viewers; Titus Hale, S. W. Strickland, Nelson Cornwall, D. W. Cornwell, Charles Hall, Benjamin Chapman, Eugene S. Strickland, John E. Tryon, D. C. Horton, haywards; Luther Wilcox, clerk.

INDIANS.

The aboriginal proprietors of Portland were the Wan- gunks, or Womgoms, a small tribe or fragment of a tribe

which had belonged to the great Algonkin race, but in the confusion resulting from the incursions of the con- quering Pequots the great tribes were split into large or small bands, under the leadership of their own sagamores, or sachems, and wandered along the banks of the Con - necticut River, sometimes settling in a locality which promised to supply their simple requirements, owning al- legiance, indeed, to one great chief or king, but with lit- tle clannish feeling or national strength. These small Connecticut River, within the limits of the colony, were known to the early settlers under the general designation of "River Indians." Their king was Sequassen, the sachem of Hartford, but the particular chief of the Wan- gunks was Sowheag, or Sequin, who, when first known to the white men, lived at Pyquag, or Wethersfield, but after some quarrels with the settlers he removed to Mattabesett (Middletown).

The eastern shore of the river, opposite Middletown, was at this time a dense forest. Huge masses of stone overhung the river, and trees which were the growth of centuries shaded the banks. The straits were then nar -. rower, and the river consequently wider at this place, forming almost a lake. The main street of Portland was a swamp, inhabited by herons and other waterfowl. The woodlands and meadows farther back were consid- ered good hunting grounds, as they abounded in large and small game. Along the narrow trains through this dark forest the wild beast and Indian hunter alike noise- lessly traveled in single file.

Few white men were seen here. Traders, like the Scheline brothers, who came to barter their brass kettles, glass beads, knives, etc., for furs and fish, made their annual visits, enjoyed the hospitality of their red broth- ers, and departed; their fathers' schooner laden with a valuable cargo.

In 1672, the town of Middletown bought of Naschegon Sepunnemoe and several other Indians, a tract extending six miles eastward from the river, from Wethersfield bounds on the north, to Haddam bounds on the south. The Indians, however, reserved 300 acres on the east side for their exclusive use, besides the right of fishing where they pleased, cutting saplings, withes for baskets, etc.

In 1675, Middletown set aside these 300 acres "for the heirs of Sowheag and the Mattabesett Indians." Some confusion has arisen from the fact that the Indians who lived on this reservation were called Wangunks, while the land was set apart for the " Mattabesset In- dians." The Indians applied names to localities descrip- tive of the place, beautiful and appropriate, but not capa- ble of arbitrary transference, and they usually took their names from the place where they lived. The word Wongunk, Wangunck, Wangonke, Wongom, Womgog, as it is variously spelled in the old records (each writer spelling it according to his understanding of the sounds which fell from the Indian lips). Wangonk, as it is most frequently written, meant in the Aboriginal tongue-as has been said-" The Bend." After the settlement of

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PORTLAND-THE INDIANS.

the Mattabesett Indians on the opposite shore, they were all probably called " Wangunks," meaning simply those living in the bend of the river. The exact bounds of this reservation are not recorded. There is a record, April 24th 1670, of the

" Indian land at Wangonk, the upland with ten Acres of meadow within that square is thirtie three Acres, being a hundred thirty six rods long on the longest side, beginning at a beach tree by the river side west, a butting on the highway south, and the river, and on a highway east. The depth at the end is 54 Rods wide. The rest of the meadow belonging to the Indians at Wangonk is nine Acres lying in various parcells inter- mixed among the Englishe's meadow land there and at Deer Island, is six or seven Acres, all which land was given to the Indians, By the Honourable Mr Rains & Mr Hopkins In the yeare fiftie A judged by these Gentle- men as a soficent alowance for them. Thare was allso fourtie Acres given to Sansennk & Siana half to each, buting on the boggie meadow north & east and on the swampe south, on the undivided land west."

There was also some land at Indian Hill, and 200 acres south of the town house on "both sides of the highway," in the center of which tract the Third Society of Middletown afterward built their meeting house. The Indians did not seem at first satisfied with the loca- tion of their lands, for in 1672 the town appointed Ensign White, William Cheny, and Deacon Hall "to atend the Honoured gentlemen when they come down about laying out the Indian land at Wangonk." The same year, " it was Agreed by the town, to gratifie the Indians, in order to acquit all claims & titles to any lands within our bounds, that they should be either suited with land in undivided land, if they like, or in the land they propound for, so they give us assurance." And the committee were instructed to agree with those whose lands must be taken away to suit the Indians; and to give them other lands or the value of the land in money.

There were numerous petitions preferred to the Gen- eral Court, on the part of settlers, for permission to buy lands included in the reservation. The General Court exercising a sort of guardianship or protectorate over the aborigines, its consent was necessary to the convey- ance of land.

In 1693, the General Court granted Captain White "liberty to buy a smale parcell of land at Wamgom about halfe an acre of land or litle more of the Indian squa that is Massecup's wife;" and in May 1697, liberty was granted to "any one of the Inhabitants of Middle- town to purchase of the Indians there inhabiting claiming propriety of land at Wangunck Meddowe about one acre of grasse land in the said meddowe."

The wild parties of the other part were also graciously permitted to sell the land which was the free inheritance of their fathers. In May 1711, "Canshamet, Indian man and squa widow of Massecup late sachem, all of Midletown or Glastonbury," were given permission to sell land, and in 1713, upon petition of John Clark jr., of

Middletown, certain Indians, named Siana Cuschay and Nannamaroos were empowered to make a legal convey- ance of half an acre of land within the meadow com- monly called " Wongunck." The Indian, Siana, may have lived at the place we call Siam. David Clark, of Mid- dleton, in 1715, bought, with permission of the General Court, of an Indian named Conschoy (probably the same as Cuschoy) " two acres of land which Lyeth upon an island commonly called Wongung island."

As has been said, the "Honourable gentlemen " who came from Hartford in 1748 to fix the place for the second meeting house, "set the stake," nearly in the center of the Indian reservation of 200 acres. In June 1750, it was agreed "to Aply ourselfs to the town of Middletown for a Libberty for this Society to purchase three Acres of land of the Indians joyning to and Em- compassing the stake which the last gentlemen the as- semblys comite pitched for us to build our meeting house upon." But they soon " suposed that such a body of Indian Land lyeing so neare the centre of said Society was a Disadvantage to the publick Interest of this Parish;" and in 1756 they petitioned "the General As- sembly of the Colony of Connecticut at their present session in Hartford to appoint a Com'tee or gaurdians for the Indians belonging to said town to assist and direct them in selling their lands in s'd Society into one, two, three, four, five, or six acre lotments to the Inhabi- tants of s'd Society or such part thereof ass'd Committee or gaurdians shall advise to, at the same time agreed by Major vote that no man should have libberty to purchase more than one of the above said lotments."

This petition (the original of which is in the State Li- brary) states these reasons why this sale of Indian land was considered advisable: that there were two tracts of land belonging to the Indians, in said society, one of which, containing about 200 acres, was in the center of the society, encompassing the meeting house, and lying upon both sides of the highway, running through the parish, and also that the tribe for whom the reservation was intended " have in the course of time suffered the common fate of the Indian natives of this country and are reduced to a very small number."

In 1764, the tribe numbered 30 or 40 persons. Only two squaws and their three children, however, remained in Chatham, the others having removed to Hartford or joined the Mohegan or Farmington Indians.

In 1765, a committee was appointed "to sell the land, and use the proceeds for the benefit of the Indians." They reported that they had on hand funds to the amount of £163 19s. in Continental bills, and about £100 in obligations, not yet collected. By 1772, over £90 of this sum had been spent for the support of old Mary Cuschoy, one of the two squaws just mentioned, the " blind and aged widow of Cuschoy, late sachem." The remainder of this fund was doubtless laid out for the benefit of the Indians in various ways.

In 1785, a committee was appointed by the Legislature "to collect all the money due on the Indian lands at Wangonk and pay it over to the proprietors."

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

The last member of the tribe was "Old Betty," who lived at Pequin or "Betty's Hill " as late as 1830.

For more than 80 years the Indians lived among the whites in this town. While they were the most nu- merous it does not appear that they ever used their power to the injury of the settlers. There are no bloody traditions of murdered settlers or burning cabins. They constantly dwindled in number, but remained quiet and gentle, unless under the influence of undue "fire water " or a frenzied "powwow,"-amenable to the laws, and treated with kindness and consideration. Much of this part of their history is necessarily but the faint echo of tradition. The number of Indians who settled upon this reservation on the east side is not known. Twenty sig- natures are appended to a deed dated December 1732, now in the possession of Col. Bartlitt. The names are as follow: Mamoson, Betty, Cuschoy, Moses Moxon, James, Charles Robbin, young Sean, Long Simon, young Betty, Sary, Mesooggosk, Shimmoon, Moses Comshot, Jacob, Tom Robbin, young squamp, Mukchoise, John Robbin, Metowhump, and Mequash hesk; Siana, San- sennk, and Nannemaroos have been mentioned as own- ers of Wangunk Meadow.

Tradition says that Mamoson was a great chief, and lived in the lower part of the town. There need be no surprise, therefore, that many communications received through the medium of the once popular Planchette bore his signature.

Cuschoy is mentioned in official documents of 1756 as the " only sachem left " of the Wangunk tribe, "a lame man and not able to travel much."

" Doctor Robbin " is also mentioned in the records as the "last sachem of the Middletown Indians." The only son of his daughter (not his son as has been said), was Richard Ranny, "positively the last " sachem of the Wangunks. He was brought up among the whites, who taught him to read and write the English language. He learned the joiner's trade, was baptized (perhaps with the name of his benefactor), and became a professor of religion.

" Long Simon," or "Jo Simon," used neither the + mark nor his savage totem, like the rest, but wrote a bold signature thus, SIMON. He was probably the Simon Choychoy who was one of the councillors of the Mohegan sachem, Ben Uncas, and he is frequently mentioned in the Indian papers.

" Sary," or Sarah Simon, is frequently mentioned in the day book of Ebenezer White, in 1744, as also is Cuschaw and Cuschoy. These were the old sachem and one of the squaws who were supported by the town.

One of these Indians, at least, must have been of the royal Mohegan blood, as Mukchoise signs with the totem of Oweneco III.

" Young Betty " was, probably, the squaw whom some still living can remember as "old Betty;" bent, white haired, her dark skin almost blanched by age, living in a hut on the spot still called " Betty's Hill." Every year, while she lived, the Indians of the tribe living in other places used to visit her. One citizen of the town vividly

remembers seeing the Indians approaching his grand- mother's house, on their way to see Betty. Indians were associated, in his youthful mind, with war whoops, toma . hawks, and glittering knives; so he promptly removed his imperilled scalp to the darkest corner under grandmoth- er's bed, whence, after much reassuring argument, he was coaxed to see the Indians prepare their supper. They brought large stones to the house and heated them red hot, then placed them in their kettle, filled it with water, which immediately boiled, and poured from sacks which they had brought on their shoulders an abundance of young turtles; which, when cooked, they scraped from the shells and ate. There is a story extant of old Betty, illustrating the weak but familiar saying, that " the truth should not be told at all times," at least, not too soon after dinner. A gentleman while hunting or look- ing over his land, dropped in upon old Betty about noon. She was known as a famous cook, especially of fish and game; and her invitation to dine was accepted without hesitation. She placed a dish of savory eels before hin1, and he ate heartily, and enjoyed the meal; but, alas! he must ask old Betty where she got them. She answered calmly, " plenty black snake on the ledge," pointing to a pile of heads which were too serpentine to leave room for doubt. "The untutored mind " of the Indian could not apprehend delicate distinctions, and a contemporary remarked that the Indians were very fond of snakes.

One of the Wangunks, known as Indian Thomas, was a soldier in the Revolution, and a pensioner, perhaps a descendant of that Thomas the Indian whom the town of Middletown, in 1657, voted to accept as an inhabitant "if they could agree upon terms."

An Indian named John Cutchoyue is remembered to have visited this place from Long Island in 1822.

Not many years ago, a row of Indian "fire places," or rings of stones inside of which they built their fires, still remained at the fish place, showing where their wigwams had stood. It is said that the house of the sachem, or perhaps the council lodge, stood on the corner now occupied by Mr. Hubbard's house, opposite Gildersleeve's store. The lot back of Newman Goff's is still called " hot house lot," from its being the place of an ancient Indian "sanitarium," made by digging in the river bank a hole, in which was placed a hot stone, the top being covered with boughs or a blanket, over which the Indian was placed.

After a profuse perspiration had in this way been in- duced, the occupant rushed out and into the river. This mode of treatment was used by the Indians in nearly all cases of sickness; but however successful it may have been at times, it was manifestly improper as a cure for small-pox, and when this disease raged among them, very many lost their lives by this "hydropathic " method.

Indian Hill was also the burial place of the chiefs after they made their home on this side of the river. One, at least, of the royal Mohegan blood was buried here. Tradition asserts that he was visiting the Wangunks and died of small-pox. His tombstone was standing but

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PORTLAND-THE INDIANS.

a few years ago, and was seen by many. The inscription, copied by Dr. Field in 1853, was this: "Here lies the body of John Onekous, who died August the 30th 1722, aged 26 years." Three graves were opened on Indian Hill, in the spring of 1808, one of a man and two of children.

" The man was placed sitting, wrapped in a blanket (which was not entirely consumed, but upon exposure to the air, became as burnt straw); in his lap were two small brass kettles, probably filled with soup or succatash at the time of burial, one of which had sunk down into the other, in which were a spoon, knife, phial, and pipe. His arm extended round the kettles, and where the flesh canie in contact with the brass, from the elbow to the wrist, the flesh was preserved. In the hand of one of the children was found a brass cup, of the size of a tea cup, and here again the flesh on the fingers was pre- served, where they came against the brass. Around the wrist was wampum, strung on deer string, and near by beads, supposed to have been placed about the neck. In the grave of the other child was a coffee box containing wampum."

Years ago, when the roads were worked, the school children sometimes picked up a pint of these beads at a time. It is conjectured that the point must have been the scene of an Indian battle, so many arrows have been found here. Their burial place was further east, near where Mr. John Lewis's house stands, under the chimney of which, it is said, is the skeleton of a gigantic Indian, whose bones were not disturbed, though exposed. Indian Hill no doubt has many other graves. Indian arrows, etc., are frequently picked up. Mr. C. Neff has a fine collec- tion, made within the last two years.

Indian Hill was also the place where they held their grand " pow-wows:" trying by dances and incantations to conciliate or communicate with the evil spirit. As they believed the good spirit was too good to hurt any- body, it was not considered necessary to pay so much attention to him, though they made an annual feast to thank him for bountiful harvests, etc. There is a rock by the river, just by the ice house of Gildersleeve & Sons, always known as " Devil's Rock." It bears a mark somewhat resembling a large footprint, and the legend tells that once, when a great pow-wow was in progress, the evil spirit, being invoked, rushed up from the " Blow hole " in a whirlwind, seized a young Indian, and jumped off the rock with him into the river; leaving the impression of his foot upon the rock. There is an account of one of their pow-wows in De Forest's " History of the Indians of Connecticut." In 1734, a man named Richard Treat attempted to educate the Wangunks. He instructed 12 or 14 children, and held also a weekly meeting for religious instruction for such of the Indians as would attend. At the end of four months, however, finding no one disposed to assist or re- ward him, he gave up his efforts.

such principles of morality and natural religion as they held among themselves." He was also hindered by their imperfect understanding of English as well as by their aversion to the humbling doctrines of Christianity. He met with many rebuffs and much discouragement. A writer of those days declared that:

"The Indians are infamous, especially for there Scan- dalous Qualities; They are Lazy Drones and love Idle- ness Exceedingly, they are also most impudent Lyars and will invent Reports and Stories at a strange and mon- strous rate; and they are out of measure Indulgent unto their Children, their is no Family Government among them."

Soon after his school and religious services had been given up, Treat visited the tribe, and found them holding a grand funeral dance. There was a great uproar; all were frantically dancing, yelling, and calling upon the evil spirit for some communication in reference to the deceased Indian, who was supposed to have been poi- soned or bewitched. Mr. Treat rushed among them, and by vigorous exertions, corporeal and spiritual, succeeded in breaking up the orgy. Though they at first told him he should not preach, and even threatened personal vio- lence, in order to get rid of him they promised, if he would go to a clump of trees at a little distance, they would come and listen to him. When he withdrew, how- ever, the pow-wowing recommenced. He renewed his remonstrances, and the same transparent ruse was used to insure his absence. But at last the Indians, " wearied by his persistance, or having obtained all the informa . tion from infernal sources they desired, desisted, and this has been called their last pow-wow;" but a trust- worthy tradition says, that after most of the Wangunks had scattered among other tribes, they would occasionally return and hold a pow-wow under the Great Elm, near St. John's Chapel.

The morning a party of them were removing to the Western Reserve, they told Mr. Stewart, " Indian spirits cry, cry, in the woods all night." Indian names of places are very expressive and beautiful. Pacansett means, " the place where a strait widens;" naag, "a point of land;" pasinchoag, " meadow on the northside of a creek. '' Wangunk has been defined Meshomesic, colloquially "Somersic," formerly written Mesawmesick, Mesome- sick, and Mesomussuck, &c. Mr. J. Hammond Trum- bull translates thus: Massa-Monussuck, a hill or de- clivity; literally, " a great down-going." In Mr. Trum- bull's book on Indian names, he quotes Dr. Chapin's interpretation, viz., "great rattlesnake place," or, "abundance of rattlesnakes," a name so appropriate we could wish it more correct. The interpretation which generally obtains among our citizens is this: An Indian was sent to view the place, it having been proposed to the Indians to live there; he returned saying, "me saw me sick."

EARLY SETTLERS.

He found the Wangunks without the most elemental knowledge of the Christian religion or scriptures. He Land was granted, on the east side the river, to Wil- " was obliged in his controversies with them to appeal to | liam Cornwell and Robert Webster, as early as 1653, and

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

John Hall and Nathaniel White owned land there at that time. "Att a towne meeting Ferbarrary 2Ist 1658 the towne did chuse Samuel Stockin, Natt bacon, Ick- bord Warner, fore committy to vewe the upland uppone the east side of the great River, in order to ane equall divition, as the towne shal give them order," and 24 men are mentioned who should have " them equall pro- portion of the divition."

In 1666, the town voted "that for this present yere insuing all improved land for corne and gras on the east side of the great river, shall be free from molestation by cattel or cretres belonging to the towne as it has bene heretofore, and cattel which shall trespas heare shall be poundable," and John Savage was appointed pounder for the other side. Some, however, seemed to object to the pound, and a fine was collected of one who pulled it down. Perhaps for this reason it was, in 1670, voted " that ye east side the River should stil be deemed to ly as a common field." But in 1701-2, the pound was erected "near the hous of John Gill," and it was ordered " that this should be the place for branding all horse kind on that side." The owners of these lands may have cultivated them, coming over in boats and re- turning to Middletown at night. There is a tradition that two men swam over from Cromwell, with their clothes in a bundle on their heads, and back at evening.

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 123

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