USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 26
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 26
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
removed in 1645, died in 1685. The other ten planters were: Robert Plumb, died in 1655; Roger Terrill, 1682; Joseph Northrop, 1699; John Baldwin, 1681; William Slough, 1681; Andrew Benton, removed in 1666, died in 1681; William Brooke, died in 1684; Robert Treat, 1712; Henry Lyon, 1712; John Fowler, removed in 1660.
It has been estimated that the foregoing 54 persons, most of them heads of families, represented 200 inhabitants, living in the town as early as the spring of 1640.
Before 1685, 69 more free planters joined those named above, among them being: Joshua Atwater, came in 1655: Henry Allen, Edward Adams, Joseph Ashbam, Haerts Albers, Thomas Andrews, Thomas Beardsley, came 1647; John Brown, came 1648; Thomas Beach, came 1658; Thomas Bayley, Roger Betts, Thomas Betts, Thomas Campfield, Robert Downs, 1660; Charles Deal. 1657; Robert Dennison, Gilbert Davidson, Samuel Eells, 1664; John Ford, 1644; Thomas Ford, Thomas Farman, Nathaniel Farrand, Stephen Free- man, John Fisk, Nathaniel Gould, Joseph Guernsey, Thomas Hine, 1646; Richard Houghton, Thomas Hayes, Richard Holbrook, Richard Hollingworth, Jonathan Ingersoll, 1698; Walter Joye, Jesse Lambert, 1680; Jonathan Law, 1664; Simon Lobdell, Miles Merwin, 1645; Miles Moore, Jonathan Marsh, Thomas Mecock, Samuel Nettleton, 1645; Roger Newton, Francis Norton, Joseph Peck, 1645; John Prindle, 1645; Roger Pritchard, 1653; Abraham Pierson, James Prime, David Phillips, Edward Riggs, 1646; William Roberts, Thomas Read, John Smith, 1643; Richard Shute, Joseph Sill, John Stream, John Stone, Vincent Stilson, Peter Simpson, Henry Tomlinson, 1652; Edward Turner, William Tyler, John Woodruff, 1685; Edward Wooster, 1651; Edward Wilkinson, Thomas Ward, Joseph Waters.
The first settlers located themselves on each side of the Mill river and the West End brook, probably for the convenience of water for themselves and cattle. Their house lots were laid out in parallel, narrow slips, containing each about three acres. Some of them had double, i. e., two slips adjoining. Each planter was to erect a good house on his lot within three years, or it was to go back to the town.
The first fence enclosed the Gulf neck, which was called Eastfield, and was the common lot of those located on the river. The second fence enclosed Westfield, or all the land down to the Great Meadow, and was the common lot of the planters residing at the West End. The tract called Mill Neck was owned by both the East End and the West End inhabitants. Each lot holder had also a right to the mead- ows in the harbor, or Great Meadow tracts.
The planters at first enclosed their home lots in common, each man making and maintaining a share of fence, according to his quantity of land. In 1645 they agreed to make their division fences. By this time most of the planters had erected frame houses, in the old leanto style, which were covered with rent-oak shingles, and had windows of
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
diamond glass. Their object in settling thus close together was for security in case of an attack from the Indians.
They soon surrounded their settlement with palisades twelve feet high, so thickly set a man could not come between. They enclosed a square mile of land on both sides of the Wepawaug. As the popula- tion increased, and the danger from Indian attack became less, the land further from the center was laid out and settled.
House lot owners in 1645: Lot No. 1, John Astwood; 2, Richard Bald- win; 3, Benjamin Fenn; 4, Samuel Cooley; 5, John Peacocke; 6, Henry Stonhill; 7, Nathaniel Baldwin; 8, James Prudden; 9, John Sherman; 10, Thomas Baker: 11, Stephen Freeman: 12, John Fletcher; 13, John Bald- win; 14, Frances Bolt; 15, Micah Tomkins; 16, John Birdseye; 17, Ed- ward Harvey; 18, John Lane; 19, William East; 20, Thomas Lawrence (sold to William East); 21, Thomas Sanford; 22, Timothy Baldwin; 23, Alexander Bryan; 24, Jasper Gunn; 25, Thomas Hine; 26, Henry Lyon; 27, John Stream; 28, William Slough; 29, James Prime; 30, Thomas Reed; 31, Robert Denison; 32, Zachariah Whitman; 33, Thomas Welch; 34, Thomas Wheeler; 35, Mr. Edmond Tapp; 36, Thomas Buckingham; 37, Robert Plum; 38, Richard Platt; 39, Thomas Tapping; 40, Mr. Peter Prudden; 41, Mr .. William Fowler; 42, Thomas Lawrence; 43, George Clark, Jr .; 44, John Burwell; 45, Henry Botsford; 46, John Smith; 47, John Rogers; 48, Philip Hatley; 49, Roger Tyrrell; 50, Nicholas Camp; 51, John Fowler; 52, Joseph Baldwin; 53, Thomas Tibbals; 54, Widow Martha Beard: 55, Thomas Campfield; 56, Thomas Ford; 57, William Roberts; 58, John Smith; 59, Thomas Bailey; 60, William Brookes; 61, John Brown; 62, Nathaniel Briscoe; 63, Edward Riggs; 64, Andrew Benton; 65, George Clark, Sr .; 66, George Hubbard (sold to John Stream).
When the public buildings were erected, the First Congregational meeting house was built against lot No. 9; Second Congregational meeting house against No. 38; Episcopal church against No. 17, and town house against No. 15.
The regicide judges-William Goffe and Edward Whalley-sought shelter and refuge at Milford, coming here August 19th, 1661, and re- maining about two years. They were securely hidden in the base- ment of a shop which stood on lot No. 15, which had been allotted to Micah Tomkins. But few people knew of this concealment at Mil- ford, and so well was the secret kept that even the daughters of Mr. Tomkins, who sometimes spun and wove in the shop, were unaware of the presence of the judges in the room beneath them.
At this period the population of the town was 500 or more, and the planters were constantly receiving new additions to their numbers. About the close of that century new settlements were established in various parts of the town -- at Burwell's Farm, on the sound; at Wheel- er's Farm, on the Housatonic; at Bryan's Farm, north of the Center, and at other points in what are now Woodbridge, Bethany, Orange,
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Derby, Ansonia and Seymour in this county. In 1702 the town pur- chased the tract of Indian land called Weantinoque and settled it as New Milford. Many others from this place early located at Newtown, Watertown, Durham and Greenwich, in this state; at Huntington, on Long Island; at Newark, N. J .; New Milford, Pa., and Talmadge, Ohio.
In 1774 the population of the town was-whites, 1,965; Indians, 162. In 1810 the inhabitants numbered 2,674. In 1850, after all the towns had been set off that originally were a part of Milford, the population was 2.465. Since that time there has been no decrease. In 1890 the inhabitants numbered 3,811.
Not being under the jurisdiction of any civil government until 1644, when the town joined in forming the extended New Haven colony, the planters met November 20th, 1639, to adopt a polity for their little republic. Forty-four persons were accorded a full voice in this meeting, and ten others, as soon as received into church fellow- ship, were to be entitled to engage in the town's affairs, being then also freemen or "free planters." At this meeting the following clearly expressed and comprehensive civil compact was voted on and adopted:
" That the power of electing officers and persons to divide the land into lots, to take orders for the timber, and to manage the common interests of the plantation, should be in the church only, and that per- sons so chosen should be only among themselves.
"That they would guide themselves in all their doings by the written word of God, till such time as a body of laws should be estab- lished.
" That five men should be chosen for judges in all civil affairs, to try all causes between man and man, and as a court to punish any offence and misdemeanor.
"That the persons invested with the magistracy should have power to call a general court whenever they might see cause, or the public good require.
" That they should hold particular court once in six weeks, wherein should be tried such causes as might be brought before them, they to examine witnesses upon oath as need should require.
" That, according to the sum of money which each person paid to- ward the public charges, in such proportion should he receive or be repaid in lands, and that all planters who might come after should pay their share equally for some public use.
"That William Fowler, Edmond Tapp, Zachariah Whitman, John Astwood and Richard Miles be the first judges."
A year later, November 24th, 1640, at the third meeting of the general court of the Wepawang planters, a town seal was adopted, the capital letters M. F .* being blended and placed in the figure of a heart. This being done, "With common consent and general vote of the free- men, the plantation was named Milford."
* Probably means United Milford Freemen.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
It was also voted at this court, "So that justice be done between man and man (because false weights and false measures are an abomi- nation in the sight of the Lord), that all measures for commerce, for buying and selling, should be made equal to the standard used at New Haven, which was brought from the Bay, and to be sealed by Jasper Gunn; and that whoever shall buy or sell by any measure not legally sealed should forfeit for every such default 5s."
At this meeting John Sherman was elected judge in place of Rich- ard Miles. In 1641 Reverend Mr. Prudden was chosen in place of John Astwood, but in May, that year, he was excused from longer serving, and John Astwood was again chosen. In 1643 the judges were William Fowler, Edmond Tapp, Zachariah Whitman, George Clark and Jasper Gunn.
In 1644 Milford united with the towns of New Haven, Stamford, Guilford and Southold (L. I.) in forming the New Haven jurisdiction. But there was some objection because Milford had " formerly taken in as free burgesses six planters who were not in church fellowship." The matter was compromised by a condition that the six men should " never be chosen deputies, or into any public trust, for the jurisdic- tion, nor to be allowed to vote for magistrates, and that none should afterward be admitted freemen but church members."
In this jurisdiction the town had two magistrates, and sent two deputies to the general court, which convened at New Haven. Will- iam Fowler and Edmond Tapp were those chosen the first magis- trates, and John Astwood and John Sherman the first deputies.
The New Haven jurisdiction was dissolved in 1664, and the colony of Connecticut formed in 1665, largely through the efforts of two Mil- ford men, Benjamin Fenn and Robert Treat. Hence the town has sustained three civil relations: As an independent plantation, from 1639 to 1644; as a member of the New Haven colony or jurisdiction until 1665, and as a member of the colony and state of Connecticut since the latter date.
Much of the early affairs of the town pertained to the purchase and disposition of the lands in the plantation. Besides the first allotments, already noted, it was voted in 1674, " There should be two miles of land sequestered to lie in common for the use of the town, and not any of it to be laid out without the consent of three-fourths of the inhabitants: to be- gin at the uttermost houses in the town and to go two miles on each side." This tract was especially intended for the use of the town flock of sheep, which was kept for the common profit of the people for nearly one hundred years. At times the flock had as many as 1.500 sheep, in the care of hired shepherds. The income was used in pay- ing town expenses. After 1688 this tract of land was divided among the planters by a vote of the town.
In the disposition of the common lands each planter was allotted meadow land, either on the East or Indian river or on the harbor
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
meadows. Four shillings per acre was paid into the treasury for every acre allotted. In addition to the first allotments the town decreed di- visions in 1645 in the eastern part of Milford: in 1646, meadow lands; in 1658, the Newfield; in 1660, Indian Neck (which had just been pur- chased of the Indians) was divided among 15 planters, and other divi- sions were made in 1676, 1679 and 1689. Later allotments were made in 1712, when there were 197 proprietors. The Oyster Neck and Ferry lands were the last laid out, in 1805. They were allotted ac- cording to the list of 1686.
No land records were kept before 1646, but soon thereafter strin- gent regulations were made, requiring proper bounds and records to be strictly noted and entered.
The ancient boundary lines between this and the adjoining towns were established: Between Milford and New Haven in April, 1672; between Milford and Derby in May, 1680, and between Milford and Waterbury in April, 1738.
The patent to the town from the general court of the colony was dated May 25th, 1685, and was given to "Robert Treat, Esq., Mr. Richard Bryan, Capt. Samuel Eells, Capt. John Beard, Mr. George Clark and Lieut. Samuel Burwell and the rest of the inhabitants of the township of Milford." It was signed by Robert Treat, governor. After this patent was given further purchases were made by the town, and in 1713 it was determined to ask for a new patent, which should comprehend all the territory, and which should contain the name of every individual proprietor. To further this end " Jonathan Law. Esq., Major Samuel Eells, Serg. Zachariah Baldwin, Ensign Samuel Gunn, Capt. Joseph Treat, Ensign George Clark and Mr. Samuel Clark, Jun., were chosen a committee to take care about drawing up said patent." The instrument was carefully drawn up by Jonathan Law, Esq., and described the original purchases covered by the first patent and the additional purchases in 1693 north of Bladen's brook, which extended the bounds from the " Sea " south to Beacon Hill river, north; with New Haven on the east and the Housatonic and Derby on the west. In the description Milford island, Edward Wooster's island and Duck island were in- cluded as parts of Milford territory. The patent bore the names of 235 freeholders, and was signed by Governor Gurdon Saltonstall, May 22d. 1713.
The area thus described by the above patent was reduced by the incorporation of the town of Woodbridge in 1784, and further by the erection of the town of Orange in 1822.
Besides the first judges, already named, some of the other judges in the first sixty years of the town were William East, George Treat, Alexander Bryan, Thomas Clark, Samuel Eells, John Beard, Richard Bryan, Samuel Newton and Joseph Treat.
After 1698 and for the next ninety years following the town had
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
as justices or commissioners, among others: Richard Baldwin, Roger Newton, Jonathan Law, Samuel Andrew, Samuel Gunn, Robert Treat, John Fowler, Nathaniel Baldwin, Joseph Woodruff, David Baldwin, Ephraim Strong. David Ingersoll, Gideon Buckingham, Isaac Miles, Samuel Treat, Stephen Gunn, Lewis Mallett and Samuel Dibble. The years in which they served cannot be accurately given, and the imper- fect condition of the records also precludes the giving of complete lists of other officers. Hence they are given in an abridged form.
The town clerks of Milford and the years in which they were cho- sen have been the following: 1640, Robert Treat; 1648, Richard Bald- win; 1680. Samuel Eells: 1685, Daniel Buckingham; 1689, Thomas Oviatt; 1692, Alexander Bryan; 1698, Richard Bryan; 1705, John Law, Jr .: 1718, John Fowler; 1756, John Fowler, Jr .; 1774, David B. Inger- soll; 1775, Samuel Whittlesey; 1776, Gideon Buckingham; 1809, Abra- ham V. H. De Witt; 1813, Samuel Higbey: 1836, David L. Baldwin; 1862, William Durand; 1864, D. L. Hubbell; 1865, Selah Strong: 1867, Arthur N. Clark; 1871, Phineas S. Bristol; 1872, Thomas W. Stow; 1873. William H. Pond; 1876-90, John W. Fowler.
Since 1850 the first selectmen and town agents have been elected as follows: 1850-61, Samuel B. Gunn; 1862-4, Selah Strong; 1865-7, Simeon L. Bristol; 1868, Mark Tibbals; 1869, Phineas S. Bristol; 1770-2, Mark Tibbals; 1873-4, William Brotherton; 1875-6. John N. Bucking- ham; 1877-86. Charles W. Beardsley ; 1887, William H. Andrews; 1888-90, Isaac C. Smith.
In the same period, the treasurers of the various funds have been Selah Strong, Nathan Fenn, Samuel Beach, Alfred Mallett, Isaac T. Rogers, David Miles, Phineas S. Bristol and Edward G. Miles.
The Milford Probate District was established May 30th, 1832. Prior to that time business of that nature was done at New Haven, from which the town was now set off as a separate district. The first court was held July 11th, 1832, William Strong being the judge and David C. Baldwin the clerk. The subsequent judges were elected as below: 1837, Abijah Carrington; 1842, William Durand; 1845, Selah Strong; 1847, Abijah Carrington; 1848, Andrew French; 1850, William Strong; 1851, Andrew French; 1852, David L. Baldwin. In 1855 Samuel B. Gunn was elected judge, succeeding David L. Baldwin, who became inelligible by reason of being more than seventy years of age. But the latter was appointed clerk, and the two sustained that relation until 1863, when John W. Fowler was elected judge. He so served until 1877, when age made him inelligible, and William G. Mitchell was elected judge and John W. Fowler clerk, each serving twelve years. In 1889 George M. Gunn was elected judge and John W. Fow- ler continued as clerk, at the age of 82 years.
Public business was first transacted at the "Common House," erected at the head of the harbor on the settlement of the planters. Next the meeting house was used, but after schools were established
-
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
a town house was built. It was placed upon public lands at the angle where is now the town hall. In 1699 a school or town hall was author- ized to be built at the "West End," which stood, and was used the greater part of a hundred years. The "East End " town house gave place to a new and larger building in 1734, which was burned in the winter of 1758 in a revel by some British troops which were quartered in it, having been brought here in consequence of the French and In- dian wars. The British government paid the town £50 for this damn- age, tovard building a new town house, which was put up in 1760 by John Hopkins. This stood until about 1845, and was last used as a place of worship by the Baptists of Milford. It was a substantial frame, 30 by 45 feet, and had a very plain appearance.
In 1833 a new town house was built, also on the small green and in front of the old town house. This building was 32 by 42 feet and two stories high, the upper room being used for school purposes. Elijah Baldwin was the builder, and it cost $1,200. Its location in the angle of the green caused that plat of ground to look unattractive; hence, in 1854, the house was moved up and placed in line with the Baptist meeting house, built upon the site of the old town house. The Bap- tists disbanding, their church building was purchased by the town in 1866, and has since been used for a town auditorium. In 1875 this building and the old town house were merged in the present town edifice, which is used for school and public purposes. The small green has also been improved, and in 1876 one of the finest liberty poles in the state was erected at the lower angle. These improvements are noteworthy and attractive, and reflect credit upon the town.
In 1824 the town purchased a poor farm at Burwell's Corner, which contained 23 acres. This was further improved, and was used as a home for indigent persons until 1873, when it was ordered sold and other provision made for the care of the town's poor.
In 1740 the town voted "to buy a new bell of about 600 pounds weight, the old one being cracked." The same year Ebenezer Parme- lee set up a brass clock, which gave good satisfaction a number of years. In 1825 it was unwisely replaced by a wooden clock, which was a greater failure than the old one, which had been sold for a trifle. After some delay the wooden affair was cast out and a good clock sup- plied. The town clock is still a feature of the life at Milford village, and retains its place in the tower of the First meeting house.
It is said of the early roads of Milford that they were not laid out, but the land was; and that cart paths were made where the trees were the thinnest, so as to reach each farm without much reference to course, As the best lands were first picked out and the roads followed them. about all the vacant land was regarded as the roadway. After the roads were once laid out they were also left very wide. Broad street was originally 40 rods wide, and most of the present houses stand on what was the highway. The old New Haven road was laid out 16 rods
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
wide; the Harbor road, 10 rods; and the Mill Neck road, 6 rods wide. On these roads and the roads on both sides of the Wepawaug the abutting property holders have so much encroached that but little sem- blance of the original highways is left, and many of the houses stand on "Squatter's claims."
Some of the early roads to principal points followed the Indian trails much of the way. The old Turkey Hill, Burwell's Farm, New Haven and the Poconoc Point roads are almost identical with the In- dian pathways found by the early settlers. For many years there was considerable objection to the better system of roads, or building them according to modern methods. Hence, when turnpikes were projected, there was much opposition. The road from Derby Narrows to New Haven, through the northern part of Milford (now Orange) was bit- terly opposed in 1798, and so also in 1802, " it was voted to oppose the New Haven and Milford Turnpike Company running the turnpike road through people's land, but to have them keep the old road, except cut- ting off short corners." But in spite of this opposition both roads were built and were afterward much appreciated by the people. The gen- eral course of the latter highway through the town was from northeast to southwest, and it was opened to the public in the beginning of the present century. At Milford village the Wepawaug was crossed, be- tween the first and second dams, the company building the so-called Jefferson bridge. The company also owned the first Washington bridge across the Housatonic. As the stage route from New Haven to New York, this road was much used until after the completion of the railroad in the same course.
The construction of the railroad was begun in 1845, and a through train from New York first ran through Milford December 28th, 1848. William Strong was the first agent at Milford village, and was suc- ceeded by Peter Hobart, who was the first telegrapher at this station. The Naugatuck Valley railway was joined to the main line at the Housa- tonic bridge in 1849. The first bridge was of wood. The present elegant iron bridge was erected in 1884. Full station facilities at the junction were established in the fall of 1890, when a ticket office was added to the adjuncts already there.
When the " new" road was located through the lots in the middle of the village, in 1805, it was so vigorously opposed that suits for dam- ages followed, and the matter was carried to the county court for set- tlement.
The green or park in Broad street, in Milford, was improved by the town in 1854, and a railing was built around it. For a long time the west end was low and swampy, but it has been drained and much beautified.
The necessity for better facilities for crossing the Housatonic im- pelled the town to early establish a ferry, and it was set up in 1675, at a point above Washington bridge. To encourage the settlement of a
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
ferryman, forty acres of land were there sequestered. In 1731, under a new act of the general assembly, the town built a two-story frame house for the ferryman, and provided other suitable accommodations and boats. In 1758 these were thoroughly repaired. October 1st, 1798, Washington bridge having been built so that it was no longer necessary to have the ferry, the town voted to sell all the property, and William Hopkins became the purchaser. The old county road led to the ferry, and was here called the Ferry road. In 1785 its pres- ent course to " Hog Rock " was located. This is an immense boulder, one mile east of Washington bridge, and it is said its name was de- rived from the following circumstance:
" Once four young men upon ye rock Sate down at Shuffle-board one day, When ye Devill appeared in shape of a hogg, And frighten'd y'm so they scampered awaye, And left Olde Nick to finish ye play."
The story runs that the hog came from the bushes near by, and walked around the rock, as the boys were playing cards upon the top of it, one Sabbath morning. Its peculiar actions convinced the boys that it must be the messenger of the evil one, and they beat a hasty retreat. During the revolutionary war the rock was devoted to a better use by an ardent patriot, Peter Pierett, Jr., who cut in large letters on the north side the words " LIBERTY, 1776."
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