USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 2
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 2
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"1659. February 24th. 'At a town meeting it was granted by the consent of the town to Mr. Pierson that he shall have the use of the whole five hundred pound lot that he has formerly used which is the meadow of a two hundred pound lot that did not belong to his house when he bought it; that was granted to him for as long as he shall live in the town, and if he shall live in the town till his death then it is given to his wife and his children for their use forever.' This will show the requirements made upon new comers.
"It is evident that new settlers were coming every year, as new names appear in the votes of the town and allotments of land. They were so careful to secure uniformity of action, and to have each meas- ure considered by all the people, they made strict rules concerning attendance upon all their meetings. They laid heavy fines upon such as neglected to attend when they were duly warned.
" There was no bell to sound out the call to meeting. A man was therefore appointed to beat the drum as a call. One of the town charges in that day was 3 shillings for a pair of drum sticks. In those early days constant vigilance was required to guard against lawless men and wild beasts.
"One of the town votes reads thus: 'June 24th, 1650, This day it is ordered that if any man or woman, young or old, shall be taken by the watch abroad in the night after ten of the clock, and cannot give a sufficient reason therefor to the watch of their being abroad, shall for every such fault pay 12 pence or other condine punishment as the court shall require.
" During these first ten years of their history the settlers were dis- turbed by troubles with the Dutch. England was ruled by Cromwell. There was war between England and Holland. The Dutch were push- ing their trading settlements all along the New England coast as well as in New York and down the Atlantic coast. Of course the English people here shared in the controversy. The Dutch made a short stop. at Totoket, had a landing and are believed to have built a small trad- ing house. Their 'stay was sufficient to give the name 'Dutch house wharf' to one of the river landings. The name is retained to this day.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
"The early settlers were much engaged in traveling by water. Coasters have always been a numerous and important class in Bran- ford. It is recorded that in 1651 fifty men from New Haven and To- toket. in attempting to settle their land at Delaware, were imprisoned by the Dutch governor. The people here instituted vigorous meas- ures to defend themselves from possible attacks from the Dutch. But so serious did this matter become that, in 1653, New Haven and Connecticut colonies united in an appeal to Cromwell for help against the Dutch."
In spite of these apprehensions, it does not appear that the Dutch injured any one at Branford, and in the main the town was as fairly prosperous as any other community of like age in the country. The principles and practices of Mr. Pierson's community had been estab- lished, when the town was again agitated by the question of the union of the colonies, and before it was decided affairs in Branford were very much unsettled. How this matter affected the town is thus de- scribed by Mr. Baldwin:
" From the first settlement of Connecticut by the English, in 1635, little official correspondence passed between the settlers and the Eng- lish government till 1661. Companies settled about where they chose. The most of attention on the part of the British government to the new colonies is ascribed to the civil troubles at home. King Charles I. was dethroned and executed in 1649. Oliver Cromwell was made protector in 1653; he died in 1658; his son Richard succeeded him, but resigned in 1659. Charles II. ascended the throne in 1661. Soon fol- lowed the dreadful revenges he took upon such as had been concerned in removing his father. This furnished the romantic episode of the long concealed regicides, Goffe, Whalley and Dixwell, so interesting to all readers of our early history.
" The colonies of Connecticut and New Haven were separate gov- ernments, though Connecticut claimed jurisdiction over the whole by virtue of their first patent; there had been some talk between them about it, but nothing decisive occurred until a new charter was ob- tained from the new king. Then Connecticut purchased her claim of jurisdiction and the New Haven towns were constrained, though with sorrow, to submit.
" The coming of royal commissioners from England, in 1664, to look after the king's interests here, hastened the union. There was danger, if they continued divided, that the Duke of York's grant would be purchased; this would have carried the boundary of New York to the Connecticut river, and so left our state very small indeed. A peaceable union saved the two colonies. But some could not be recon- ciled to this change; Mr. Pierson and his friends were especially grieved; they saw in this new jurisdiction the destruction of all their hopes; they did not believe there could be a good and safe government unless the voting and office holding were in the hands of professional
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Christian men. We can imagine the earnest and absorbing talk the subject must have occasioned in these men's homes, both in week days and on the Sabbath. Having spent so much labor in building houses, fences, etc., having cleared the land, built bridges, mills, and so many needed helpers to comfortable living, it was a serious matter to think of leaving all, to go into another wilderness and begin again. The labors of twenty-three years meant a great deal, yet their consciences constrained them. They sent agents to examine and buy lands for them on the Passaic river in New Jersey. Some persons from Guil- ford and Milford shared in the proposed enterprise of a new settle- ment.
" The agents having returned and made report of their commission, a large number of the people of Branford held a meeting on the 30th of October, 1666, which is thus noted: 'At a meeting touching the in- tended design of many of the inhabitants of Branford, the following was subscribed: Deut. 1. 13: Ex. xviii, 21; Deut. xvii, 15; Jer. xxxvi, 21. 1. That none shall be admitted free-men or free burgesses within our town upon Passaic River. in the Province of New Jersey, but such planters as are members of some or other of the Congregational churches, nor shall any but such be chosen to magistracy or to carry on any part of civil judicature, or as deputies or assistants to have power to vote in establishing laws, and making or repealing them, or to any chief military trust or office, nor shall any but such church members have any vote in any such elections; though all others ad- mitted to be planters have right to their proper inheritance, and do and shall enjoy all other civil liberties and privileges according to all laws, orders, grants which are, or shall hereafter be made for this town. 2. We shall, with care and diligence, provide for the mainten- ance of the purity of religion professed in the Congregational churches.' Whereunto subscribed the inhabitants fromn Branford: Jasper Crane, Abra. Pierson, Samuel Swaine. Lawrence Ward, Thomas Blatchley, Samuel Plum, Josiah Ward, Samuel Rose, Thomas Pierson. John Ward, John Catling, Richard Harrison, Ebenezer Canfield, John Ward, Sen., Ed. Ball. John Harrison, John Crane, Thomas Wrentington, De- livered Crane, Aaron Blatchley, Richard Lawrence, John Johnson, Thomas Lyon (his L. mark) .- 23.
" Most of these signers moved with Mr. Pierson to Newark (New- work). They comprised many of the most prominent inhabitants of Branford. They went by vessel down Long Island sound. This is the way inost of the first settlers came to Branford. Those from Wethersfield came down the Connecticut river and along the shore: those from Southampton and New Haven also came by water in most cases. They built and used small coasting vessels from the first.
"We have evidence that Branford was by no means depopulated ; the town records were not removed; other settlers came in, buying and
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
occupying the houses and lands of such as had removed. Some that had proposed to go, not making a favorable sale of their property, de- cided to remain. Mr. Pierson engaged the Reverend John Bowers to preach to those who remained, and he paid him to the end of the year 1666."
Newark was the third colony Mr. Pierson helped to plant. Now he sat down under a code of laws of his own choice, with his hopes realized, and remained with his people until his death, August 9th, 1678.
"Though so many had removed, the rest showed they were not discouraged. June 20th, 1667, they met and took vigorous measures to rally the planters to hope and courage. They voted and put on record this agreement: 'Forasmuch as that it appears that the under- taking and the settlement of this place of Branford was procured by and for men of Congregational principles, as to church order, accord- ing to the platform of discipline agreed on by the synod of 48, or thereabouts, drawn from the word of God in the main; we, that yet remain here, can say that we have found much peace and quietness, to our great comfort, for the which we desire to bless God; and that it may so remain to such as do continue their abode in this place, and to such as shall come in to fill up the rooms of those that are removed, and that do intend to remove from this place of Branford. We all do see cause now for to agree that an orthodox minister of that judgment shall be called to it and among us. The gathering of such a church shall be encouraged. The upholdment of such church officers shall not want our proportional supply of maintenance, according to rule. We will not in any wise encroach upon or disturb their liberties in so walking from time to time, and at all times: nor will we be in any ways injurious to them in civil or ecclesiastical respects. And this we freely and voluntarily engage ourselves unto, jointly and severally, so long as we remain inhabitants of this place, and this we bind our- selves unto by our subscription to this agreement. It is also agreed that whoever shall come for purchase or to be admitted or planted here, shall so subscribe before admittance or his bargain be valid in law among us.' Jasper Crane, Jonathan Rose, John Wilford, Thomas Blatchly, Samuel Plum, Michael Taintor, John Collins, Michael Pal- mer, John Ward, John Linsley, George Adams, John Whitehead, Samuel Ward, Edward Frisbie, Henry Gretwich, Matthew Biskatt, Thomas Harrison, Thomas Wheadon, John Robing, Robert Foote, George Page, Thomas Gutsill, Samuel Swaine, Samuel Pond, Isaac Bradley, William Rosewell, Peter Tyler, John Anams, Moses Blachly, John Frisbie, William Maltbie, Bartholomew Goodrich, Sigismond Richalls, George Seward, Edward Ball, William Hoadley, Eleazer Stent, John Rogers, Samuel Bradfield, John Charles, Edward Barker, An- thony Hand, Thomas Sargent, Daniel Swaine, John Linsley, Jr., John Rose, John Taintor, Francis Linsley-48. Six of the signers of this
10
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
agreement afterward went to Newark. John Wilford, Thomas Blatchly, John Collins and Michael Taintor are put forward as leaders. They are directed to buy Richard Harrison's house and lands for a minister. The people pledge themselves to pay for them. They re- quire all new-comers to do the same."*
In addition to those who removed or remained, it is known that 26 persons died before 1666, which would indicate that while the popula- tion of Branford was not as great as that of some other towns, at that period, the improvements must have been of considerable importance.
New and desirable settlers were added yearly, and under the more liberal policy of the united colonies, the work of development was car- ried forward. Of the new men who settled here was William Rose- well, a merchant in New Haven. December, 24th, 1672, the town gave him, " in consideration of his setting up a saw mill upon Beaver brook and selling the people boards and timber at a specified price, the priv ilege of cutting the wood he needed for timber, etc., provided he cut none within a mile of the furnace pond. Mr. Rosewell built a house about where Mrs. Peggy Fowler now lives. He gave it to his wife, Catherine (Russell) as a marriage portion. He continued to buy land of different parties until he owned a large estate. He was also en- gaged in trade between New England and Barbadoes. He probably had vessels built for his trade near Peggy Fowler's. He died July 19th, 1674. His widow died in 1698. Of their three children only one, a daughter, outlived the parents.
" John and Noah Rogers came from Long Island, and were sons of William Rogers of Southampton and Hempstead; Eleazer Stent came from New Haven with his mother and sisters. His father was a Protestant minister who had sailed from England for Virginia. He died on the passage. His family afterward came to New Haven. His widow married Thomas Beaumond. She was again a widow when the family came to Branford. She again married Thomas Harrison, of Branford. Eleazer Stent was in Branford as early as 1667. He was a freeman in 1672; was granted six acres as a home lot. It was between the Russell place and ' fig lane,' going back to the river, not on the highway at first. He was soon made town clerk, to assist John Wil- ford. He continued after Wilford died, and for many years. In 1683 he was granted a small piece of land near 'Little Plain brook.' 1687, March 4th, he was granted ten acres at 'dirty swamp, along Guildford old road;' was chosen ' commissioner ' May 3d, 1688; same day was given six acres upon the hill west of Brushy plain, en condition of his giving up six acres of 'dirty swamp.' John Plant, to whom, 1683, February, the town gave six acres upon Mulliner's hill. His son, James, was born February 22d, 1685. February 4th, 1688, the town gave John Plant six acres more on the ' half way hill,' that is half way to 'iron works.'
* Baldwin.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
" Isaac Bradley, who came from New Haven and settled near Stony river, and was granted land. The 'Bradley farm,' near the East Haven line, south of the main road, was long owned by his family.
" John Collins, a shoemaker, came from Guilford. George Bald- win, a blacksmith, came from Milford. 1688, October 4th, the town gave him 'Sawpit's' lot, also land at ' Cattholes,' also swamp between ' the narrow of dirty swamp and world's end path.' In 1691 the town gave him five or six acres below Brushy plain. In 1694, August 14th, he was also chosen constable, and to 'beat the drum ' for Sabbath and other meetings. He was paid thirty shillings for it. In 1697 he was chosen collector of taxes.
" Richard Towner. His first grant near Canoe brook, 1690. April 8th, he changed his land 'near Bartholomew Goodrich, at the old mill brook.' 1692, November 2d, he was chosen to have the oversight of young people on Sabbath days. He gave name to 'Towner's hill.' William Bartholomew was here and agreed to build a corn mill. Thomas Gutsell was settled near Branford Point; from him came the name 'Goodsell's Point.' His wife Ruth (Butler) deserted him, going off to Providence, R. I., with Joseph Woodward.
" During these years the town kept up a 'train band.' 1687, April 5th, town agreed to furnish a silk flag for the soldiers, paying Edward Johnson for work upon it.
"John Blakiston came here soon after 1700; he was a mariner. He began to buy land near the present Blackstoneville, and continued, from year to year, until he was one of the largest landholders in the town. He is believed to have been the grandson or great-grandson of the William Blackstone who built the first house in Boston, Mass. He then owned much of the land upon which the present city of Boston is built. Boston preserves the name in one of her streets. He is also believed to have been a near relative of Sir William Blackstone of England, a name so well known and honored.
"This John Blackiston came over from Rhode Island. Tradition relates that his marriage was not agreeable to his friends, or his wife's friends, so the young people resolved to make a new home for them- selves in this town. All the Blackstones of Branford were and are his descendants. Much of the land originally purchased by the first John Blackiston, is still retained in the Blackstone family of to-day. Rhode Island and Massachusetts have their Blackstone river, Blackstone canal and town of Blackstone. This name has been closely identified with the important interests of Branford for 150 years. It has also sent out honored branches to other places."
Near the same time (1700), Reverend Gurdon Saltonstall came to. Branford and married Elizabeth, daughter of William Rosewell, the trader and ship builder, and who had left a large estate in the town. In 1707 he was elected governor of the colony, and was reelected until his death, in 1725. Soon after being elected governor he built a large
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
mansion on the Rosewell property, near the Furnace pond, which he occupied most of the time, living at New London the remainder of the time, and was buried at the latter place. From the fact of his resi- dence here Saltonstall lake took its name. The house is still standing and was for many years one of the grandest on the shore, being fitted up in a style becoming the station of a governor.
Nathaniel Johnson was another important settler after 1700. He was a merchant from the old country, and brought much wealth to the town, which he invested in lands. " He bought the two hundred acres that had been given to Thomas Mulliner, Jr., in the northwest cor- ner of the town. Mulliner and his wife moved to Westchester, N.Y., and the name ceased here. Mr. Johnson is believed to have built the house that stood where Mrs. Peggy Fowler now lives. It was burned, with all the barns near it, about sixty years ago. It made so large and hot a fire the people had great difficulty in saving the other houses in the street. Samuel Barker was another wealthy man who came about the same time. His first purchase was 42 acres at 'Littleworth,' of Philip Pond in 1734. He gave the Reverend Mr. Robbins five acres the same year. Mr. Barker is believed to have built the house still standing on Cherry hill. That house was finely finished and furnished for its day. It had pictured tiles around its fire places. Some of those tiles are still to be seen. Some are preserved by the family of James F. Morris, who once owned the place. The place was sold to Ralph Isaacs, a man of some considerable fame in this place during the war ·of the revolution. His daughter married an Ingersoll, and became the mother of the Ingersolls now so well known in New Haven. Another family of note coming here about the same time was the Gould family. That family furnished the physicians for Branford for about 100 years. They are believed to have built the house that stood between the present Stedman and Robinson places on the Main street. Richard Gould, M. D., came to America from North Country, County Devon, parish of Oakhampton. He was born April 28th, 1662. He died March 9th, 1746, aged 84.
" William Gould, his son, was born at the same place February 11th, 1693. He was a physician here July 2d, 1757. He had three wives and ten children. His son, William Gould, Jr., M.D., was born here Novem- ber 17th, 1727, and died July 29th, 1805. He had a son, Orchard Gould, M.D., who was born March 1st, 1764, and died February 4th, 1819. His brother, James Gould, was an eminent lawyer and judge for many years. His sister, Elizabeth, was the wife of Hon. Roger M. Sherman, of Fair- field. Mrs. Mary Daniels, who built the house where Mr. Henry Nich- ols now lives, was a daughter of Doctor Orchard Gould."
James Gould was born in Branford December 5th, 1770; graduated from Vale in 1794, and received degree of LL.D. in 1819. He was one of the most learned men of his times, and his contributions to litera- ture are chaste and elegant to an unusual degree.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
" Richard Gould, M.D., must have practiced medicine here for a number of years. He was much esteemed, as is evident from his being elected tythingman in 1728. Only the most dignified and trusted men were chosen to this office in that day. William Gould, his son, pur- chased several tracts of land at Paved street and Hopyard plain. Some of that land is still owned by Elias Gould, the only male descendant of the name now living in Branford.
"Another physician lived in Branford at that time-Isaac Barthol- omew, M.D. He became a large owner of land, buying a great deal at Hopyard plain. This name has been a prominent one in Branford since the first William Bartholomew, who built the first dam and the first corn mill on the Branford river. It used to be pronounced 'Bot- tlemy,' or ' Barthlemy.'
" John Guy and Orchard Guy are. the first names of another some- what influential family. John Guy, in 1723, buys Eleazer Stent's place, near the town street. Orchard Guy, a little later, has a house near the place where Charles Wilford now lives.
"October 10th, 1737, Andrew Beach, of Fairfield, buys an acre of land, a house and barn at Mill plain, of Archibald McNeil. The house was evidently built by McNeil. The place is now owned and lived in by Timothy Palmer and family.
" The land just north was owned by Roger Tyler. Mr. Jordan Rogers owned what Mr. Timothy Palmer's new house stands on. Mr. Andrew Beach is believed to be the ancestor of all the Branford Beaches. He was a ·cordwainer '-what we now call a shoemaker. Archibald McNeil may have built that old house. He bought and sold several places, and is believed to have built several houses. He once owned a house that stood about between Hattie Hoadley's house and the Blackstone house.
" In 1734 Ephraim Parish bought of Solomon Palmer five and a half acres of land and a new house-frame and a barn. Mr. Palmer had bought the land of Bezaleel Tyler. It is the place so long the home of Reverend Timothy O. Gillett and wife. Mr. Parish built the house; he had a son, Ephraim, and a grandson, Russell Parish. This Russell sold it to Reverend T. O. Gillett in 1811. Russell Parish had kept a hotel there for a number of years.
" In 1733, William Barker sold a piece of his home lot to Reverend Philemon Robbins. It was on 'Pig lane,' or Barker's lane, and known as Foot's lot. That is probably the lot on which the Reverend Mr. Robbins built his house. This lane ran down to the meadows, both east and west of what is now the main road. It ran by the south side of William Averill's house, and south of the Catholic church on the west side of the street. There were houses on that lane, one supposed to be the first Stent house, down at the east end of the meadow; another half way to the road, believed by some to be the first Robert Foote house.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
" 'There was a road in those early days which commenced back of Mrs. Peggy Foster's house, and ran along the meadow up to the main road, back of the Baptist church. There were at least three houses on that road-one close to the railroad, said to have been the first frame house in Branford; another about west of Captain William Averill's place; another west of Mr. John Foot's place. Another road turned west from this last, near the Stent lot, and followed the meadows round to Page's Point.
"In December, 1736, Samuel Stent died. He had been a public- spirited and useful man; he left money to the church and £10 to the town for the care of the poor. This sum was loaned on interest by the selectmen. As it ceased to appear in any reports after a few years, it was probably lost. During these years, from 1735 to the first years of the war of the revolution, Branford rapidly grew in population and wealth. The land was taken up and cleared and cultivated over a great part of its surface. Many vessels were built and quite a foreign trade grew up. A new wharf was built at the Dutch House landing, by Samuel Barker, in the year 1752.
" The whole territory of Branford belonged to those who were pro- prietors at the time of obtaining the patent, and such as they sold to. When a new settler came and bought, he shared in whatever new di- visions of unappropriated lands were made. There were three divisions before the year 1700. There were four more before 1750. The greater part of all Branford territory was taken up between 1700 and 1740. The fourth division took up most of the present territory of North Branford. The fifth division took a great part of Stony Creek section. There were meetings of the proprietors separate from the town meet- ings. These continued even down to within the memory of some now living. Their records show to whom each parcel of land was origi- nally given. In assigning land, they left places for roads to such land; these were the highways, and they were few. Most of the roads now in use have been opened during the last sixty years.
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