History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 74

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 74

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TOWN OF EAST HADDAM.

BY E. EMORY JOHNSON AND HOSFORD B. NILES.

GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

E AST HADDAM is one of the oldest and largest towns in the State. Its diversified scenery, its bracing atmosphere, and its early historic associations, have made the town an object of admiration to travelers, and of love to her sons and daughters; and she has reared many worthy sons who have graced the higher pursuits of life.

The town is beatifully situated on the Connecticut River, about 16 miles north from Long Island Sound, or Saybrook Point, about 32 miles south from Hartford, and fourteen below Middletown. It is bounded on the north by Chatham and Colchester, on the east by Col- chester and Salem, on the south by Lyme, and on the west by the Connecticut and Salmon Rivers; the last named divides the town from Haddam Neck, which is a part of Haddam, lying west of the Connecticut River. The original name for the town in the Indian tongue was Match-it-moo-dus, which, being interpreted, means "the place of noises," and it has generally been supposed that from Mount Tom, a sightly eminence at the head of Salmon Cove, these mysterious sounds emanated.

SETTLEMENT.

A tract of land, of which East Haddam is a part, ex- tending from Chatham line to Chester Cove, reaching six miles easterly and westerly from the river, was purchased from four Indian kings, in 1662, for 30 coats, of a value not exceeding $100. The tract thus purchased was taken up by 28 persons, mostly young men from the vicinity of Hartford, who settled on the northern part of this land on the west side of the river. Barber says their names were Ackley, Arnold, Bailey, Brainerd, Brooks, Clarke, Cone, Gates, Shayler, two Spencers, two Smiths, Ventres, Wells, Bates, Butler, Corbe, Dibble, Ganes, Hannison, Jones, Luxford, Parents, Piper, Stan . nard, Webb, and Wiat.

About six years afterward, the privileges of a town were granted this colony, and the tract was called Had- dam, from Haddam in England. This was about the 20th town founded in the State. No settlement was made on the east side of the river till some two years

later, or about 1670. All the inhabitants on both sides of the river formed one society until 1700, when they formed two societies, but it was not till 1734 that the town was divided agreeably to the divisions of the socie- ties; the west society retaining the name of Haddam, while the east took the name of East Haddam. The first settlement of East Haddam was begun at Creek Row, about the year 1670, more than 200 years ago. The first house, it is said, stood a few rods northeast of the site where Mason Gates' house now stands. Quite a number of houses were erected in this vicinity, and were occupied by the Gates, the Brainerds, and the Cones, and the same family names are peculiar to this neighbor- hood. Field, in his history, claims that the settlement at the Creek Row commenced in 1685; which appears to be an error, as from a document found in the colony records, it is certain that "Robert Chapman had a dwelling-house in East Haddam, north of the Creek Row, in 1674." It seems to be conceded on all sides that the settlement at Creek Row was first; then it must have commenced as early as 1670. Besides, as the land was purchased, and the settlement commenced in Had- dam in 1662, it is hardly supposable that 23 years would pass by before any attempt was made to settle the east side of the river.

INDIAN HISTORY.

Very little is known of the Indians who inhabited this locality. It is probable that they were few in number, and belonged to the tribe of Wangunks. Of these In- dians DeForest remarks:

" None of the other aborigines of Connecticut were so given to powwowings, to sacrifices, and to religious cere- monies. The cause of this peculiarity was remarkable. In the township of East Haddam, at the junction of Moodus and Salmon Rivers, and within plain sight of the Con- necticut, stands a considerable eminence, now known as Mount Tom. Strange noises and rumblings are said to have been heard at times in the bowels of this mountain. * * *

* It is natural to suppose that at no time were these phenomena more common, or more extraor- dinary, than when the winds sighed heavily through un-

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EAST HADDAM-COLONIAL RECORDS.

broken forests, when ancient trees sometimes fell by their own weight in the lonely woodlands, and when the place was only inhabited by an ignorant and superstitious peo- ple, whose senses were easily led astray by their imagin- ations. Machemoodus, there, was believed to be the pe- culiar residence of Hobbamock, and here the Indians held their greatest powwows."

FROM COLONIAL RECORDS.

The following extracts from the colonial records, re- lating to East Haddam, are given in chronological order:

October 1709 .- " This Assembly do establish and con- firm Mr. Thomas Gates to be Captain of the company or trainband, on the east side of Connecticut River in the town of Haddam.

June 1720 .- " They spake of some land they had on the east side of New London River, and some in Had- dam about which they thought themselves wrong'd; and they were directed to take opportunity, at the council to be called, to lay the matter fully before the same, where they should be heard.

October 1720 .- " As to the land in Haddam, it was shewn to this board that the land so reserved, vizt. three hundred acres to the Indians, is not recovered from their vendees, but remained as it was when they first sold it.

October 1723 .- " Upon the petition of the people liv- ing at the north end of Lyme, on the north side of the Eight Mile River, and those living at the south end of Haddam east society, particularly those that live within a mile and three-quarters of the north bounds of said society, desiring a committee may be appointed to go and view their circumstances: This Court appoint that John Hall Esq., Messrs. Stephen Whittelsey, and Hawkins Hart, or any two of them, be a committee at the cost of said petitioners to go to the places aforesaid, look into their circumstances respecting their being set off from the societies they now respectively belong to for the publick worship and their being allowed to set up the publick worship of God among themselves distinct from the aforesaid societies; and that said committee make report of their opinion on the premises to the General Assembly in May next; the societies aforesaid to have no tice of the time of the committee's meeting on said service.

May 1725 .- " Upon consideration of the petition of the south inhabitants of Haddam East Society, as also a prayer made by the society of Haddam East side: This Assembly appoint Messrs. John Hall Esq., Mr. Hawkins Hart, and Mr. Stephen Whittlesey, to repair to the place, view their state and circumstances, and if they judge it reasonable and best that there should be a new society, as desired by the aforesaid petition, then they make report thereof to this Assembly in October next at New Haven, with the best line of their petition: but if they judge it best and most convenient that they con- tinue as one society, as is desired by said prayer, that then the said committee do resolve and determine the place of erecting a meeting house that shall be most ac- commodable for the whole present society; and this to be done at the charge of the said whole society.

October 1725 .- " We the subscribers being appointed by the General Assembly held at Hartford, May the 13th 1725, a committee on consideration of a petition of the south inhabitants of Haddam East, as also a prayer made by the society of Haddam East, to repair to the place and view their state and circumstances, and give our judg- ment if we thought it best and reasonable that there should be a new society according to said petition; or otherwise, if we think it best that they continue in one society, then to resolve and determine the place for the erecting a meeting house for the whole, according to said prayer; accordingly we met at the said Haddam East, October the 5th 1725, and on the 6th day of October in- stant the committees of the parties met, and we heard their pleas and reasons on the premises of said petition and prayer, and on the 7th instant we viewed the State and parts of said Haddam East, and have carefully, in obediance to the trust reposed in us by the Hon'ble Assembly, according to our measure, considered the pleas and reasonings of the parties, and upon the whole are of opinion that it is best and may most conduce to the weal and tranquility of the people of said Had- dam East in general, that they continue in one entire society; and therefore do determine and resolve, that the place for erecting and building a new meeting house to be on the hill in the broad highway or street that lyeth north and south, at the east end of the present meeting house lane in said Haddam East; which hill is called or known by the name of Cone's Hill, a little northward of said lane.

" JOHN HALL, " HAWKINS HART, " STEPHEN WHITTLESY.

"At a Meeting of the Governour and Council in Hart- ford, March 30th 1727.

"Present-The Honourable

" JOSEPH TALCOTT Esq., Governour. " CAPT. HEZ. WYLLYS, "CAPT. JOHN SHELDING, " MR. JOHN AUSTIN.

" ROGER WOLCOTT, - Esq'rs; Assistants.

" NATH'L STANLY,

" Capt. Samuel Olmstead, Capt. Brainerd, Daniel Brain- erd, and John Church, of East Haddam, laid a memorial before this board, shewing that the finishing their meet - ing house is hindered thro contention in the society, and that the inhabitants at some of their last meetings have been confused for want of a moderator, and the select- men refuse to warn another meeting: Upon hearing the parties, it is the opinion of his Honour and the Council that it is needful that the inhabitants of East Haddam should meet and fairly vote in the affair of their meeting house as they, or the major part of them, may think it most for their benefit.

" Whereupon it is resolved, That Capt. Samuel Olm- stead warn the inhabitants of said society to meet at their old meeting house on the first Thursday of April next ensuing, at ten of the clock afternoon to consider and vote what they shall judge is most beneficial for the fin-

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

ishing their new meeting house: Warning to be given three days inclusive before the meeting; and Mr. Justice West of Lebanon is desired and impowered to preside moderator in said meeting, to keep order and lead the inhabitants in their voting; and if Mr. Justice West of Lebanon doth not attend it, Mr. Justice Woodward is ap- pointed moderator, and desired to attend.

October 1733 .- " Upon the memorial of Jonathan Beebe, Samuel Olmsted jun, and Thomas Clark, in be- half of themselves and the rest of the inhabitants of the easterly part of East Haddans, praying to be a society October 1736 .- "Upon the report of the committee ap. pointed by this Assembly in May last to ascertain a place in the parish of Millington to erect a meeting house upon: Resolved by this Assembly, that the place described in said report (viz) upon the eastern side of a the house of Mr. Jonathan Chapman, and about three quarters of a mile east of the house of Samuel Fuller, where said committee have marked two white oak stad- dles and laid stones about them, shall be, and is hereby appointed to be, the place for said parish to build a meeting house upon. distinct by themselves and to have the privileges allowed to them that are usually granted to other societies: Granted by this Assembly to the memorialists, to be a society and to have the privileges as prayed for, and that the bounds of said parish shall be as follows, (viz:) hill, about a mile or mile and quarter southeastwardly of on the west, a line running from the mouth of the brook that runs into the southern end of the pond near to John Bates's, and from thence extending southerly till said line strike the middle of the line that divides between the town of Lyme and said East Haddam, then with a line beginning at the place where the brook runs out of said pond, thence running by said brook to the bridge called Moodus bridge, and from said bridge a north line to Colchester bounds; bounded easterly, partly on Col- chester and partly on Lyme; northerly, on part of Colchester; and southerly, on Lyme; and that said par- ish shall be called by the name of Millington.

May 1734 .- " An Act Dividing the Town of Haddam in the County of Hartford, and Making the Same into Two distinct Towns.

" Be it enacted by the Governour, Council and Represen- tatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same,

" That what part of said town of Haddam lyeth on the west side of Connecticutt river, and the island in said river, with all those lands on the east side of said river bounded westerly by the said river, southerly by the cove and Salmon river unto Middletown line, and northerly by Middletown line unto said Connecticutt river, shall be and remain to be a distinct town, with all powers and privileges proper to other towns in this Col- ony, and be known by the name of Haddam. Always provided, that the said town of Haddam do not send more than one Deputy to this Assembly at any time for the future on the publick charge of this Colony.

" And it is hereby further enacted, That all that part of said town of Haddam which lyeth east of a line drawn from Middletown line on the north by Salmon river to the cove into which said Salmon river emptieth itself and by said cove until it come to the great river of Con- necticut, and so by Connecticutt river to the south bounds of Haddam, shall forever be and remain one distinct town, with all powers and privileges proper to other towns in this Colony, and shall be called and known by the name of East Haddam. Always provided, that the said town of East Haddam do not send more than one Deputy for the future upon the publick charge of this Colony.

May 1736 .- " On the memorial of James Cone, agent for the parish of Millington, in the township of East Had- dam, praying this Assembly to appoint such method as this Court shall think best for prefixing a place to erect a meeting house upon in said society: Granted, that Giles Hall, Richard Lord, and Samuel Willard, Esq'rs, be a committee to repair to said parish of Millington and as- certain a place they shall think most proper and conven- ient for erecting a meeting house in said parish, and re- port their opinion to this Assembly in October next.

October 1739 .- "Upon the memorial of Jabez Chapman of East Haddam, praying this assembly that a certain is- land, commonly called by the name of Twenty Mile Is- land, lying between the towns of Haddam and East Haddam, may be annexed to the town of East Haddam: Resolved by this Assembly, that the said island be an- nexed, aud the same is hereby annexed, to the town of East Haddam accordingly.

October 1741 .- "An Act appointing a Court of Probate in the County of Hartford, and for limiting the District thereof.

" Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Represen- tatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of. the same. That the towns of East Haddam, Haddam, Col- chester, and Hebron, including the parish of Middle- Haddam, all in the County of Hartford, be one entire district for holding a Court of Probate, and shall be known by the name of the District of East Haddam; and said court shall be held by one judge and a clerk, with powers and privileges as the other Courts of Probate in this Colony here. And in all cases where the law allows of appeals, they shall be made to the Superior Court to be holden at Hartford.

May 1742 .- "An Act to enlarge the Bounds of the District for holding a Court of Probate, called the Dis- trict of East Haddam.

" Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Repre- sentatives, in General Court assembled, and by the au- thority of the same, That all the lands in the town of Middletown that lye on the south side of the river called Salmon River shall be, and they are hereby, annexed to the aforesaid district of East Haddam.

October 1749 .- " Upon the memorial of Colo. John Bulkley, etc., praying a ferry to be stated at the ware- houses in East Haddam, across Connecticut River, and that Joseph Bate and Richard Mather should be allowed to attend the ferry there: Resolved by thiis Assembly,

285

EAST HADDAM-REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

that the said Joseph Bate and Richard Mather have lib- erty to keep a ferry across said river at said place, until this Assembly order otherwise; and that the fare for man and horse be three pence proclamation money; one penny half-penny for a single person; for a single horse one penny half-penny; and two pence for an ox or cow; and for a score of sheep or swine, six pence, and so pro rata for a greater or less number.

EAST HADDAM IN THE REVOLUTION.

Few if any towns in Connecticut have a brighter Revo lutionary record. Nothing in the history of the town is more worthy of mention; nothing, probably, will be more highly appreciated than the following extracts from the records of the town, which illustrate the sublime patriot- ism of its early settlers:

At a Town Meeting Legally Warned and held in East Haddam March 26, 1770.

"At the same meeting Mr. Ebenezer Cone, jr. was chosen Moderator for said Meeting. East Haddam, 26 March A. D. 1770. The Inhabitants of the Town of East Haddam in Town meeting Legally Assembled taking into consideration the Weighty Dangerous Con- troversy Subsisting between Great Britain and these Colonies in Point of Right a Controversy big With Con- sequences of the Utmost Importance to the Welfare of Both Countries & may Prove the Ruin of Both unless Some happy Means are Devised to prevent it, and amongst the Various Plans proposed & Means Devised None appear More likely to bring the affair to a happy Issue than the Late Vertuous Agreement of the Merchants on the Continent in Regard to the Non Im- portation of English Goods, almost Universally entered into (except by a growling few Who Justly De serve the Contempt of Every Honest Man) Which agree. ment We Heartily approve of and Do greatfully Thank each Vertuous Merchant who has Subscribed the same and Indeed we look upon it as our Sheet Anchor in the present Storm Which seems to hover over us, and there- fore are Jealous of every thing that has the least appearance of prostrating said agreement and Lately Some reports have been spread of Some of the Merchants in this Town to their on that score Whether true or false we know not and in order to Set that affair in its true Light we think ,it best to appoint a Com'tt Carefully to Inspect into the Conduct of all Sellers and Buyers of English goods and More especially Critically to Examine those Merchants Suspected as aforesaid (if they see cause to Submit to an Examination; and that the Same bee a Standing Con'tt for said purpose and that they Make Report to this Meeting-Voted that Doctor Thomas Mosely, Jabez Chapman 2nd, and Dan'l Brainard be a Com'tt for said purpose.

" And Whereas there has been a late Meeting of Many Principle Merchants of this Colony at Middletown in Which a Plan Was begun Which we Most Heartily ap- prove, and apprehend may be of the Happiest Conse- quence and in Order to promote & further said Plan We are Unanimously agreed and Do heartily recommend it

to two or three from amonghst the Merchants and Farmers in this town to attend their Next meeting at Hartford.

" Unanimously recommended that Saml Worthington Esq and Mr. Humphrey Lyon of Said Town be Desired to attend on Said Meeting, &, also be a Com'tt to take in Subscriptions for the Purpose proposed by said com- pany."

It appears from the record that the above named meeting was adjourned till the " 9th day of April at 4 of the Clock afternoon," when " Gibbon Jewet was Chosen a Com'tt with Doctor Thomas Mosely, Dan'l Brainerd, and Jabez Chapman to Examine the Traders and take Care to Inquire if there be any Goods Come into this Town Contrary to the agreement of the Merchants."

On the same page it is recorded:

" The inhabitants of the Town of East Haddam Le- gally and in full meeting convened having a Long Time and with the greatest Concern and Attention Observed the Unhappy Dispute Subsisting Between G't Britain and the Colonies relative to the Right of Taxation and with Carefulness and Impartiality harkened to the many Ar- guments and Reasons offered the Public on the Subject by the most able & Eminent Men in Great Britain and America which Reasons and Arguments on both Sides being Duly Weighed the argument against Taxation ap- pearing so greatly to preponderate That we had not the least Doubt in our Mind but that the Oppressive Tax- ation Would be Countermanded Especially after Several Petitions & Remonstrances from the Different Colonies in America should have been heard. But to our Great Surprise we find the Authority not only Determined to Continue those Taxes but to treat humble Remonstran- ces and Petitions Coming from the most faithful and Loyall Subjects as Seditious Mutinous and Enemitous to Good Government therefore think it needless for us to enter on a further Discussion of the Rights and privi- leges of those Colonies Since they have been so Judici- ally Canvassed by the Most Wise and Sensible Men in the Nation Shall Content Our Selves by saying No more than that we find our Rights Privileges and Money Wrested from us & we unjustly oppressed by those Whom the Ties of Nature & Trade urge to be one United and happy People.

" Viewing ourselves under these Disfavorable Circum- stances our Petitions and Complaint treated with Con- tempt Insulted by petty officers appointed to Extort what little Cash we have Circulating among us under a pretext of Defraying American Charges (which no Doubt of Late are Greatly Increased) by Which Means we are desenabled to Carry on a foreign Trade to any Advan- tage. In this Miserable Condition we are led to put in Practice that first Law of Nature, Self Preservation, which can be effected in a Constitutional way only by a Disuse of British and Encouragement of American Manufactories. It is with Pleasure we hear the Laud- able Attempts and Resolutions of Several principal Towns in the Several Colonies on the Continent & some in this Colony for the Encouraging American Manufac-

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

tories more of which we hoped to have Seen that we might have appeared in a more proper Succession but having Earnestly engaged in this affair could not any longer conceal our intentions & Desires for the accom- plishing Projections so Beneficial. The Conduct of the Reputable Merchants lately convened at Middletown is Very agreeable to us and have Desired Saml Hunt- ington Esqr. and Mr. Humphrey Lyon to joyn the Mer- chants at their adjourned meeting and to obtain What Subscriptions they can in the Interium for the Purposes Mentioned at this last meeting also Voted Daniel Brainerd Esqr., Doctor Thos, Mosely, Mr. Jabez Chap: man 2d, and Doct'r Gibhon Jewet, to be a Com'tt of In- spection to see that no Importation is made contrary to the Spirit and Meaning of the non Importation agree- ment.

" Voted and Resolved that we will have no Commer- cial Connections or Friendly Communications With Such as shall act Contrary to the Non Importation Agree- ment and that the Inspectors do give Due Notice of any that shall be guilty of S'd Breach Directly or Indirectly in the most public Places in the Town and in the New London Gazette Voted in the affirmative Test.

" DAN'L BRAINARD, Town Clerk."

"At a Town Meeting Legally Warned and held in East Haddam July the 9th 1770; at the Same Meeting Mr. William Selby Was Chosen Moderator for Said Meeting; at the Same Meeting it Was Voted that the present Selectmen should erect & Build Some Suitable House in Some Suitable place in order to store the Town Stock of Powder Lead &c. in at the expense of the Town."

At the meeting held September 6th 1770,

" Daniel Brainard, Land Holder, and Mr. Humphrey Lyon Merchant Was Chosen to Represent Said Town at New Haven on the Next Day after Commencement at a meeting of the Merchants & Land Holders of this Colony Relating to the Non Importation agreement and make Report of this meeting.

" At the Same Meeting it was Voted to colour the Powder House Lately Built White upon the cost of the Town."

The meeting at which the above vote was passed was adjourned to the " 18th day of Instant September," when the above named committee made their report, and it was voted: " That the Selectmen Should pay the Expenses of Sim'l Huntington Esqr. Mr. Humphrey Lyon to Hart- ford at the Meeting there in May Last & also pay the ex- penses of Mr. Humphrey Lyon and Dan Brainard to New Haven on the Day after Commencement according to the above Vote."

"At a Town Meeting Legally Warned and held in East Haddam Januany 5th 1775 for Which Meeting Mr. Israel Champion was Chosen Moderator at Which Meeting the Committee of Inspection Chosen November 17, 1774 Made Report Relating to a Complaint that Had been Exhibitted to them by Sundry Inhabitants of Said Town against Doctr Abner Beebee of Said Town for be- ing Inimical to the Liberty of these American Colonies

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 74

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