History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 86

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 86

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A misunderstanding appears also to have arisen be- tween the inhabitants of the other part of the town and the proprietors of Potapaug in regard to the absolute rights of the latter to the use and disposition of common land within their limits. This conflict of ideas was har- monized by the agreement September Ist 1684, between the town and the quarter that the latter should act inde- pendently of the former in perfecting the first and second divisions of land which had been begun several years be- fore, and in laying out what " areable and mowable " land they should from time to time see fit, together with what pasture land they should deem necessary: while the privi- leges of timber, stone, wood, and feeding upon the lands

thus allotted to individuals should be considered as com- mon until they were enclosed; and all other lands should lie common to the inhabitants of the town of Saybrook, and be disposed of only by order of the town in general.

The proprietors in this quarter in 1694 were John Fenner, John Parker, John Clarke, William Parker, Joseph Pratt, Joseph Parker, William Pratt, David Parker, and Nathaniel Pratt. John Clarke here men- tioned was a lieutenant, and owned the froo right of his father and the £200 right of his grandfather, that appear in the original scheme of 1648. He had also bought of John Tully, who held it in 1670, the £250 right that Mr. Eldred held in the original scheme. The £200 right held in that by William Hyde was sold by him about the year 1660 to Robert Lay, and in 1699 was owned by his son Robert Lay. In 1679, Joseph Pratt came into possession of a £100 right from the estate of Lieutenant William Pratt, deceased. In December 1709, Nathaniel Pratt owned a foo right that had belonged to John Birchard.

The line between this quarter and Oyster River was run out at different times. February 23d 1703, a com- mittee was appointed for that purpose, and others were appointed January 13th 1728, May 6th 1730, January 23d 1731, and again in 1735. It was voted May 9th 1723, that a £50 right should be settled upon the first minister who should settle here, and this was given to Rev. Abraham Nott September 7th 1739. March 16th 1738, the proprietors resolved to prosecute all trespasses in cutting timber upon any land that had been laid out.

At a proprietors' meeting, December 25th 1765, a com- mittee was chosen, consisting of Lieutenant John Clarke, Daniel Williams, Gideon Buckingham, and Jabez Deni- son, to lay out to every individual the land that belonged to him in order to complete the last division of land that had been made. The committee were further authorized to sell all such small pieces of land as yet remained common; to remove all nuisances or encroachments upon the highways or common land, and to "Do all things Relating to high ways as a former Committee was appointed to Do att a meeting of the proprietors of this quarter the third day of may A. D. 1738." The com- mittee was further directed to call proprietors' meetings whenever any dispute or difficulty arose upon which they considered the judgment of the proprietors neces- sary or desirable. The committee thus appointed were discharged with thanks, February 6th 1786, and a new committee, consisting of Benjamin Williams, Deacon Josiah Nott, Timothy Starkey, Abraham Pratt, and Jared Clark, were appointed to the same business.

As the settlement of the land progressed, frequent misunderstandings and difficulties arose concerning the bounds of individual owners of lands as well as between the quarter and its neighbors. The settlement of these difficulties was entrusted to the committees appointed for specific cases, to adjust matters in dispute. The unsystematic manner in which land was divided, and the carelessness with which surveys were made, were prolific sources of these disputes, and they frequently resulted in extended litigation.

335

ESSEX-SETTLEMENT-LAYING OUT THE LAND.

The meetings of the proprietors, called " quarter meet- ings," were held at private houses in different parts of the settlement, and they generally convened at nine or ten o'clock in the forenoon. The opening and closing of highways was under the direct supervision of the quarter. These were originally ten or twelve rods wide in many cases, but about 1744 it was found desirable to narrow them down, and the land thus gained to the ad- joining owners was counted to them in the subsequent divisions of land. The land measurers were generally charged with the duty of adjusting the highways. June 20th 1743, they were directed to procure an open high- way through the land of Benjamin Bushnell and Ensign Starkey to Lemuel Pratt's house, "and so to come out by the Cranbury Pond." About this time, the middle of last century, nearly all of the land had been divided to individuals, and there remained only small and unim- portant parcels here and there that had been omitted in the selections of the proprietors. There was, there- fore, but little for them to do, and their meetings were but seldom.

The office of a " Recorder " was supplied as early as 1701, if not before, and subsequently the term " clerk " was substituted for it. This officer was required to take an oath of office before a magistrate. February 13th 1728, Hezekiah Buckingham took the oath as a pro- prietors' clerk, before Justice Whittlesey, of Saybrook. The following persons held the office of " Recorder," or clerk to the quarter; William Pratt, chosen in 1701; Hezekiah Buckingham, chosen in 1723; Daniel Williams, chosen in 1749; Danforth Clark, chosen in 1768; and Felix Starkey, who held the office in 1828.

A proprietors' committee was appointed to sell the ex- cess of land in the highways, and the small parcels of common land that remained, and to look after the com- mon interests of the proprietors generally. This propri- etors' committee, consisting of three persons, stood for an indefinite length of time. But few meetings were called during the latter half of the last century. January 30th 1797, a proprietors' committee was chosen, com- posed of Abraham Pratt, John Bull, and Willian Lynde. February 19th 1805, the proprietors met again, at the house of Danforth Clark. Timothy Starkey was moder- ator, and the following votes were passed:

" Voted, that the Proprietors' Committee be Directed to look up all proprietors Lands and dispose of them to the best advantage it was then Motioned that this meet- ing be Dissolved it was then Dissolved accordingly."

The next record of a meeting of the proprietors bears date December 8th 1828. Having been, as the record recites, legally warned, it was held at the house of Eliza- beth Clarke. John Bull was moderator, and Ezra S. Mather clerk pro tem. A committee was appointed to inquire into the proprietors' rights about the Iron Works Pond, and to report to a meeting to be held on the 22d day of December following. At the meeting on the latter date John Bull was moderator, and Felix Starkey clerk, and the committee were instructed to remove any nui- sances that might be found on the proprietors' land, at or

near the old Iron Works Pond. This is the latest record of a meeting of the proprietors.

DIVISION OF THE LAND.

The land of the quarter was divided in parcels and at times which suited the convenience or desires of the pro- prietors. They frequently sold, exchanged, and conveyed their lands among themselves and to others. Their proprietary rights were also transferred to other indi- viduals at their pleasure. Lands were granted to indi- viduals occasionally, for particular reasons, aside from the regular scheme of a general division. Certain cus- toms appear to have been observed, among which was that of granting a quantity of land to a young man in consideration of his being the eldest son in his family.

The following is the earliest existing record of a meet- ing of the proprietors of the quarter:

" At a quarter meeting the 12th of ffebruary 1689-90, It was voated and agreed that there should be twenty acres laid out to the hundred.

" At the same meeting it was voated and agreed that that percell of land in the southwest corner of Scotch- plaine should be the pattern to size all the land by that shall be laid out in the abovesaid division of twenty acres to the hundred pound Right, and that the men agreed upon to lay out this division shall pass a Judge- ment upon the land as to the goodness of the land and the Convenient lying of it, and what it wants in quality to make it up in quantity proportionable to the aforesaid Scotch-plaine land.

" At the same meeting it was voated and agreed that all those lands that lye between the falls river and the streame that runs into Samuell Pratts field not already laid out and agreed upon shall for ever lye common ex- cept the proprietors of this quarter doe joyntly agree otherwise."

A similar plan to that indicated in the second vote was adopted in other divisions of land. When a dis- tribution was decided upon some specified parcel of land was taken as a standard in respect to quality, and the de- ficiency or excess was balanced by an inverse proportion in quantity.

The lands falling to each individual in a pro rata divi- sion were not surveyed and laid out to him at once, but the matter frequently remained with some an open ac- count. for months, and sometimes perhaps for years. But it appears to have been a settled principle with the pro- prietors to settle and complete one division before open- ing another. Accordingly whenever a division of land . was decided upon, due notice was given that all who had unsatisfied claims in the previous division should present them and have the balance of land due them laid out be- fore a given time, when the new division should begin.

February 27th 1701, it was determined that there should be laid out 30 acres to the 100 pounds.

A division of 40 acres to the 100 pounds was made January 18th 1714, at which time the proprietary rights were held by the following persons in the amounts desig- nated: Deacon William Parker, £50; Ensign John

3.36

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

Pratt, £100; Major John Clark, £300; Nathaniel Parker, £150; Mr. Buckingham, £100; Robert Lay, £roo; William Pratt, f100; Joseph Parker, £100; David Parker, f100; the Denisons, £250; John Fenner, £100; Nathaniel Pratt, £100; "Nathaniel Pratt in Pardonship," £100; William Pratt jr., "with his Brother," £100; Samuel Pratt, £50; David Pratt £50; Thomas Starkey, £50; Mr. Lynd, £250.

A division of 40 acres to the £100 was drawn March 12th 1725, the following proprietors then being repre- sented to the amounts attached to their names: Benjamin Lynde, £250; Joseph Parker, £50; John Denison, £150; David Denison, £50; Jabez Denison, £50; Nathaniel Parker, £150; Robert Lay, £100; John Pratt, £100; Lieut. Nathaniel Pratt, f100; Samuel Willard, £50; "in partnership to ye Pratts," £100; Joseph Gilbert, £50; Jabez Pratt, £50; David Pratt, £50; Mr. Abraham Nott, £50; Thomas Starkey, £50; John Fenner, f100; Benjamin Pratt, £50; Mr. Buck- ingham, deceased, £50; Hezekiah Buckingham, £50; Joseph Pratt, £50; Charles Williams, £50; Major John Clark, £150; Lieut. John Clark, £50; Joseph Clark, £50; Samuel Clark, £50; William Pratt, £50.

A division of thirty acres to the hundred pounds was agreed upon October 14th 1730, and five men were chosen to lay it out. The following persons drew lots: Mr. Lynde, Major Clark, Rev. Abraham Nott, Lieuten- ant Nathaniel Pratt, Charles Williams. Robert Lay, John Fenner, Lieutenant Benjamin Pratt, John Pratt, Samuel Pratt, Ensign Samuel Willard, Heze Buckingham, Jabez Pratt, Joseph Pratt, John Pelton, Captain Samuel Doty, Nathaniel Parker, Samuel Clark, John Clark, Joseph Clark, Heze Pratt, Daniel Denison, Jabez Denison, En- sign Starkey, Gideon Pratt, John Denison, David Pratt. It was agreed that all of this division should be taken up on the west side of Muddy River.

At the same meeting it was resolved that "all the re- maining land except onely for needful highways commonly called sequestered land shall be divided and laide out." The committee appointed for the purpose was directed to lay out the land in £50 lots, the quality of the land just south of Ebenezer Hayden's being given as the standard. This land lay south of Falls River. It con sisted of 42 lots, some of which were regular in shape, and adjoined each other. The drawing of the lots was made November 12th 1730, the same names appearing on the list of participants as in the last division, with the addi- tion of Samuel Lay, who drew one lot, and Joseph Par- ker, and the estate of Deacon Parker who together drew one lot. The others drew one lot each, except Hezekiah Buckingham, John Pratt and Mr. Fenner, who drew two each, John Denison, Nathaniel Parker and Major Clark three each, and Mr. Lynde five.

A division of 30 acres to the 100 pounds was made February 28th 1735. The following men drew lots in this: Deacon Nathaniel Pratt, John Pratt, heirs of John Denison, Mr. Pelton, John Kirtland, Samuel Clarke, Captain Benjamin Pratt, Captain Thomas Starkey, Wil- liam Parker, Charles Williams, Abraham Nott, Gideon

Pratt, John Clarke, Daniel Denison, Samuel Pratt, Joseph Pratt, Jabez Pratt, Major Clarke, Samuel Willard, David Pratt, Benjamin Lynde, Mr. Lay, Hezekiah Pratt, Na- thaniel Parker, Jabez Denison, Joseph Clarke, Captain Doty, Hezekiah Buckingham, and the heirs of John Fen- ner. Each proprietor had his choice in succession, as his name was drawn and was allowed four days in which to make his selection, and have the measurers set it off for him, and if he neglected to do so in that time, the one who stood next on the list should proceed with his selection.

March 16th 1738, a division was made of 15 acres to the 100 pounds, in which the following proprietors par- ticipated: John Pelton, Samuel Willard, John Clarke, Gideon Pratt, Joseph Clarke, Daniel Denison, John Pratt, Society Land, John Kirtland, Mrs. Sarah Fenner, Heze- kiah Buckingham, Deacon Nathaniel Pratt, Samuel Lay, Elizabeth Fenner, William Parker, Hezekiah Pratt, Rev. Mr. Nott, Nathaniel Parker, Ensign Starkey, Benjamin Lynde, Samuel Pratt, Samuel Clarke, Deacon Ebenezer Pratt, Jabez Pratt, Jabez Denison, Captain Pratt, Charles Williams, Captain Doty, Joseph Pratt, David Pratt.

SOME EARLY SETTLERS.

A family by the name of Ayres settled at Ayres' Point about the year 1710, and gave name to that locality. Families by the names of Lay and Pratt, from Saybrook or Lyme, and John Denison from Stonington, settled at Potapaug Point about 1690. Some time afterward the settlement was joined by John Starkey, from New Lon- don, the Hayden's, from near Boston, and Charles Wil- liams, from Rhode Island. Families by the name of Platts settled in the western part of this parish at an early period. February 26th 1701, Charles Williams, of Providence, was granted six acres on condition that he should become a settler here for ten years. Additional grants were made to him in the following year and at other times. Rev. Thomas Buckingham, the progenitor of a numerous family, settled near Beaver Pond, March 9th 1702. The quarter granted him 30 acres and a £50 right in the proprietorship, to draw only in future divis- ions, which was to be in full of all the claims he had on the quarter. This right was owned February 3d 1727, by Samuel Doty, who in 1723 had been granted ten acres of land against Kelsey Hill, to build upon. Benjamin Lynde, of Salem, Mass., had land laid out to him at the south end of Kelsey Hill in 1723. Edward Bull had land here as early as 1730. Robert Lay built the second house from the foot of Main street on the north side, (now standing there) about the year 1730. The family of that name were the early owners of most of the land on the north side of this street, while the Parkers were the principal owners on the south side. The Haydens came here from Dorchester, Mass., in the early part of of the eighteenth century. Tradition says that Lieut. William Pratt was the first settler who died in Potapaug Quarter. He formerly lived in Hartford, had served in the Pequot war, and on his return settled here. His house stood a little north of the site of the rope walk. He mar-

337

ESSEX-EARLY ROADS.

ried the daughter of John Clarke, and was the progeni- tor of a numerous family. He died October 19th 1698. He was a native of Essex, England, and it is supposed that the name of this village was adopted out of respect to him and the place of his nativity. His son, Nathaniel, settled upon Stone-pit Hill, where some of the founda- tion stones of his house are still visible. It is said that one of the Parker's built the first house in the quarter.

EARLY HIGHWAYS.

Roads grew into use as the offspring of necessity, without any formal survey or definite layout. June 24th 1708 appears to be the earliest date at which any effort was made on the part of the proprietors to systematize the highways running through the Quarter. At that tinie they directed the measurers, who were William Parker, John Clarke, and Nathaniel Pratt, to learn what roads were necessary and what terms could be made with the individuals through whose lands they ran, and report at a future meeting, to be " warned " by the clerk when they should have accomplished their work and be ready to report.

In November 1709, the proprietors ordered a high- way laid out from the Iron Works to Major Clark's house at Muddy River. The land taken by this road was to be made up to the individual proprietors damaged thereby in equivalent land from the common land of the quarter. Some of the highways laid out at that time were described as follows:

"a highway from the south bounds of the quarter by Roocky hill and so to run northly or as the path lyeth to the north bounds of the afors'd quarter or to the first of the two rivers below paticounk hill shall be a country road and be 12 rods wide in all the parts of it only whear thear was land layd out one eather sid of the s'd rood befor and in all soch plases it is expected that all shuch parsons that haf had land befor layd out as afors'd due keap to thear anchint bounds be the ways broder or noroer.

" a higway from the afors'd cuntry rood and lying one the north of Sargent Nathaniell Pratt land ouer mody river and to lead to the ioren work or to Charls Williams hous the sd hiway to be 12 roods wid.

" a high way of 12 rods wid leading from the last menshoned way ouer fols riuer whear the cart way gos ouer below the ioren works and so rong northerly be- twen the hills and the brook and so untell it coms to whitlsy brook so coled and from theans to the country rood in the playens.

or thear eagens do comply with thear old bovnds one the weast sid of the higway we marked two smal tres or great stadell standing 12 roods from the fence of the s'd Denson land the soutermost of them is a whit ock and the other is a black ock which stands to the southword of that which is coled harford one rood both of which thes are marked with H W and all the land from the north sid of the s'd black ock tre or stadl to the fols riuer shal ly for higway for the acomidating of catell or what els going over [ -- ] s'd riuer it is all ways to be understod that the hiway from the ould cosway to the [-] medo is but eagt rods wid and a part hiway.

" We layed out a higway one the south of the befor mensoned whit ock tre or stadl and it is to go over foles riuer at the plase coled mapletree and so between the two hills and [-] book hill that bein 12 rood in weadth.

"We layed out another or a seacond higway which leads from the way that [goeth] to the uper eend of eaght mil meado this way begins about 16 rood to the north [-] of fols riuer and at a whit ock tree with a great boyne one the south side of the same and is marked with H W which tree stands on the weast sid of the way which lead northerly betwen the swamp and hill and so up the hill untill it comes to two chesnot trees standing togather the northermost of them being the bigest and stoupeth tords the north from thess two tres the path runing northly to the great riuer lefing Ensin John Pratt land to the west of it.

" we layed out a higway begening at or nere the two chesnot tres befor mensoned which way runs north eastr- ly vntel it coms ner to the southwest cornor of a pees of land formerly belonging to Joseph Pratt de'sed and so to the great riuer lefing the s'd Pratt land one the East sid of it.

"another higway leads from the afors'd meado path or higway beyond that which is by the broad swamp be- gin'g about 16 rood from the south east cornor of som [land] blonging to the aiers Joseph Pratt deseesed and of a whit ock tree marked [with] H W and standing to the west sid of the s'd higway this way leads norwest [about] 40 or 50 roods then turning up the hill and so northerly and across the weest [side of] that which is coled mellston hill and betwen som land belonging to John [-] which land was formerly John Weeb and

[- -] land formerly Joseph Pratt desesed and so over the [ ---- ] the [ -- --- ] way that leads to the great river.

" a higway from the ioran works or from Charls Wil. liams hous betwen the s'd Charls Williams land mr. Ben- jamens Lind land and William Pratt Senior land upon Scots playen hill so acros the hill so to go ouer the swamp and betwen Joseph Pratts land and Samuell Comstoks land and Mager John Clarks land on the weest sid of the s'd clarks land afors'd in all which higways are 12 rood wid vnleast it be whar the land was layed out befor the laying out of the higway or higways.

" We layed out a high way of 12 roods wid from Potapaug houses to the fols riuer and and to the head or uper end of eagght mil meado as the path caled meado path lyes now in all the parts of it saving only against north west cornor of Mr Lays land and and against the northeast cornor of Hezekiah Buckinham land that his hous stands vpon and against the sovwest cornor of Mr Jolın Denson desesed hes land and John Graus north- east cornor thees two places the way wel not be 12 roods "a higway of 7 rood wid between the iorond work wid but it is expected that the aforemensened persons | pond and mr. Benjamien Lind land which lyeth at the

338

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

northwest cornor of Scots playen and this way is to ex- tend to the lin that divids betwen oyestriver and pota- paug Quarter Layed out by

" DEAKEN WILLIAM PARKER " MAGER JOHN CLARK "SARGENT NATHANILL PRATT."

The surveys of highways was accepted and approved by the proprietors at a meeting on the 10th of February 1710.

The following entry, as affording a peep into the dim- ness of that interesting period when the English settlement here was new, is worth transcribing from the fading records and preserving in this enduring form:

" SAY BROOK July ye 13th, 1725.

" We William Parker and John Clarke of lawfull age doe testify yt the country Road from Saybrook, to goe to Hartford went over ye brook yt Runs in at ye head of that which is called twelue mile island coue, and so on ye east side of ye place where John & Nathaniel Kirt- land's barn did stand,and so along to ye place called ye old Riding place ouer ye Riuer called ye deep Riuer leauing ye sd Riuer on ye west of ye sd Road or highway, and yt Mr Joseph Pratt late of Say Brook deceast, told us yt he was att ye laying out of ye two points calld ye deep Riuer points and also shewed us a tree standing on ye west or northwest side of ye afore sd deep Riuer and easterly from sd Riuer which he ye sd Joseph pratt tolde us that yt was one of ye corner trees of ye point called layes and ffenness point, the afore sd tree as we Remember was a black oak tree, and from thence ye Road or highway lead to the landing place att ye head of Patequonk coue where stands another tree which is well known and is called ffeners corner tree. We also testify yt there was no other Roade or way as a Roade ouer sd deep River where it is now for many years after ye afore sd points were laide out. The Road above mentioned that goes ouer ye deep Riuer is at that Rockky place near the high Hill yt lyes on ye east side of ye Riuer.

" WILLIAM PARKER " JOHN CLARKE."

At a meeting, February 11th 1773, it was voted "that a Committee shall be chosen To Treat with mr. hezekiah pratt and Samll lay In order To bye one Rod In weadth of land In order To In Large the highway leading Down to Capt. haydens wharf." That highway was the present Main street of Essex village, which from the fact that it was first laid out across Mr. Lay's land, was once called "Lay's cart path."

PRICES OF SOME COMMON ARTICLES.

The following prices of common articles about here in Revolutionary times will afford opportunities for inter- esting comparisons: wheat, 5s. to gs. per bushel; rye, 3s. 6d .; corn, 2s. 6d. to 5s .; salt, 12s .; pork, 372d. to 11d. per lb .; beef, 2d. to 272d .; wool, Is. 6d .; flax, 6d. to 7d .; tallow, 8d .; wheat flour, 3d .; tea 12s .; sugar, 9d .; nails, 11d. to Is. 6d .; twine, 3s .; iron, 672d .; oakum, 9d .; ship rigging, 7d. to Iod .; marlin and spunyarn, 8d .; | parties above named to their Indentures have inter-

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 86

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