History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 149

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1317

USA > Connecticut > New London County > History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 149

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" Oct. 21st, 1657."

-Massachusetts Archives, vol. xxx., pages 66 and 67, by William B. Trask.

2 " To the Honorable Generall Court Assembled at Boston, the Humble petition of the Inhabitants of Mistic and Pawcatuck : May it pleas you,

them, accompanied, however, by a suggestion that the whole matter in dispute be referred to the commis- sioners of the United Colonies, and meantime to order their own affairs by common agreement until provision be made in their behalf.3

-Whereas your pore Petioners by the provydec. of God are setled in theas pts of the Pequit Country Soomn of Vs being settled hear in the yeare 1649 by the Honnered John Winthrop Esquire now Governor of the Collony at Conectycoat by Vertu of a Comition from this honerable Court but in short tyme we weare Caled to the Court at Conctycoat to give acount by what athoryty we heare settled we answered as afore- said but the Court answered that theas parts did belong to them by Patent & Purchas & the agrement of the Comiconers & did require our subjection but now all of vs understanding that it doth of right belong to this Jurisdiction & that you have bene pleased gratiously to acsept a petition From vs alredy we are bould still to petition that you will please to Confirme our lands and Possestions & to grant vs the liberty of a Township & the privyledges thearof & likewise Charrytably to Consider our remoatnes as also being surournded with many indyans & many malignant percons often passing this way as quakers and others that you will be pleased thearfore to establish soomm such athoryty among vs as that we may be perserved in righteousnes & peac we have with this our peticon sent our Honnered Friend Cap. George dennysoun home we Judge Faithfull he knos well in what stait we are to hose Care and Faithfulnes we Comit the transaction of all our matters with the Hon- norable Court thus Craneing Pardon For the rudenes of our lyues with desire you may Find more vertu in our actions we rest & wait your Charatable answer. Your peretetioners

" WILLM CHESEBROUGH " WALTER PALMER " THO: STANTON "in the prsance of the Rest.

." May 10th 1658."

"In Answer to ye Petition of the Inhabitants of misticke, The Court Considering there hath bene no Answer Retourned from the Generall Court of Conecticott to our letter directed to them which Giues vs Cawse to Imagine they are not Resolved to give vp theire Claime to those lands so that the matter is likely to Come to be Judged by the Comission's, The Court thinks meete to forbeare further Acting therein till the meeting of the Comissioners and doe expect & Require the Inhabitants to Carry themselves & order theire Commissioners and doe expect & Re- quire the Inhabitants to Carry themselves & order theire affaires peace- ably & by Comon Agreement in the meane while and till other provision be made in their behalfe: And further doe desire our Comissioners to be mindfull of this busines & endeavor Issue thereof at the next meeting. The magists have past this wth Referenc to ye Consent of theire brethren the deputys thereto

"EDWARD RAWSON Secrety

" Consented to by the deputies

" 25th 3ª 1658"

" WILLIAM TORREY, Cleric

-Muss, Archives, vol. 112, pp. 105, 106, by William B. Trask.

3 " The Asotiation of Poquatuck Peple, June 30th 1658: Whereas thear is a difference betwene the 2 Cullonyes of the Matachusetts and Conec- ticoate about the government of this plac, whearby we are deprived of Expectation of protection from either, but in way of Curtecy, & wheareas we had a command from the generall Court of the Matachu- setts to order our own busines in peac with common consent till further provition be maid for us, in obedyience to which command we have adressed our selvs thearunto, but cannot atain it in regard of soomm dis- tractions among ourselves, and thear hath bene injurious insolencys done unto soom persons,-the cattell of others threatened to be taken away,-and the chattell of soom others alredy taiken away by violence.

" We haveing taken into consideration that in tymes so full of danger as theas are, unyon of our harts and percons is most conducing to the publick good & safety of the place,-thearfore in pursuance of the same, the better to confirm a mutual confydence in one another & that we may be perserved in righteousness and peac with such as do commerc with us, & that misdemeanors may be corrected and incorrygable persons punished :- we hose names are hereunto subscribed do hearby promis, testify & declare to maintain and deffend with our persons and estait the peac of the plac and to aid and assist one another acoarding to law & rules of righteousness acoarding to the true intent & meaning of our asociation till such other provition be maide ffor us as may atain our

616

HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Following out these suggestions, George Denison and his associate planters assembled on the 30th day of June, 1658, and formed a compact called by them "The Association of Pawcatuck People," which was organized for municipal purposes only, and not in defiance of the laws of either colony, but was estab- lished by them with a firm purpose to maintain it until some provision adequate to their wants should be made for them. The question in dispute between the Massachusetts and Connecticut colonies as to ju- risdiction was referred to the commissioners of the United Colonies, who in 1658 rendered a decision1

end above written, whereunto we willingly give our assent, & nether ffor ffear hoape or other respects shall ever relinguish this promis till other provition he maide ffor us. And we do not this out of anny disrespec unto ether of the afoarsaid governments which we are bound ever to honnor, but in the vacancy of any other aforcsaid.

"GEORGE DENISON

" MOSES PALMER

" THOMAS SHAW

" WALTER PALMER

" NATHANIEL CHESEBROUGH

" THIS STANTON

" ELIHU PALMER

" WILLM CHIESEBROUONI

" THOMAS STANTON

"SAMUEL CHESEBROUGH

" ELISHA CHESEBROUGH

" Upon the request of severall among us to enter into this asociation with us theay are admitted and have accordingly subscribed thear names

"June 30th 1658

" By vertue of this Asociation, that justice may not be obstructed, &c the peae preserved,-we maid choise of Captain Georg Dennyson & Willm Chesebrough to be comytioners to issue out warrants & to cause to be brought before them anny suspitions percons, or ffor anny misde- menor, & and to hear & determine the casses, and to pronounce sentence upon then & to sce the judgment executed, provided it extend not to the Jos of life or limb or banishment or stigmatizing; in such casses as thear power will not reach due punishment ffor the Crime, then to taik order thear percons may be secured, and sent whear justice may procede against them.

" And ffurther they are to issue all other differences, whether of debts or cases, and to kepe a register of thear actions provided allwnies the netion excede not fforty pound.

"This choise is the act of the houle body of the Asociates.

" WALTER PALMER

"THO. STANTON"

-Stonington Records.

1 "September 1658-The Issue of the difference betwixt the two Colo- nies of the Massachusetts and Conecticott about the Pequot Country being jointly referred to the Commissioners of the other two Colonies.

" Whereas there is a controversy again revived betwixt the two Colo- nies of Massachusetts and Connechcut concerning their interest in the Pequott country, and many pleas have been made on both sides for their greater interest ; we having seriously weighed what hath been by each of them alledged, conceive the determination doth arise only from their several rights by conquest, the which for ought we can understand is not greatly different : yet being tender of any inconvenience or disturbance that may accrue to those that are already possessed cither by commission from the Massachusetts or Connectheut in any part thereof (should they now be put off their improvements) and also upon inquiry finding that the Pequot country which extendeth from Nianticke to a place called Wecopaug about ten miles eastward from Mistiet river may conveniently accommodate two plantations or townships we therefore (respecting things as they now stand) do conclude that Mistick River be the bounds between them as to proprietie and to jurisdiction so far as conquest may give title thereunto; always provided that such as are already acconto- dated by commission from either of the governments, or have grants of any tracts of land on any side of the said Mistick river be not molested in their possessions or rights by any after grants, and that all due care be had that Christian society and ordinances may be provided for and upholden according to God, in each plantation.

" THOMAS PRENCE " JOSIAS WINSLOW " FRANCIS NEWMAN

" WILLIAM LEETE

that all of the Pequot territory west of Mystic River belonged to Connecticut, and all the territory east of it, including Stonington, North Stonington, and part of the town of Westerly, belonged to Massachusetts.2 At the next session of the Massachusetts General Court, after this decision was rendered, they passed an act that the. English plantation between Mystic and Pawcatuck Rivers should be named Southern- town, and belong to the county of Suffolk, Mass., and appointed Capt. George Denison and others to man- age the prudential affairs thereof until the court take further orders.

Walter Pahner was appointed constable, and the bounds of the plantation were extended into the country northward eight miles, from the mouth of Mystic River.3 Thus, after a severe and protracted struggle, they succeeded in obtaining a local govern- ment.

It should be borne in mind that the Massachusetts General Court did not create or even organize a new township, but simply declared that the English plan- tation between Mystic and Pawcatuck Rivers should

" By bounding it by Misticke River we intend that river shall be the bounds so far as the pond by Lanthorn Hill, and thence from the middle of the said pond to run away upon a north line."-Records of the United Colonies-Plymouth Colony Records, vol. x., p. 209.

2 " At the second session of the General Court held at Boston the 19th of October 1658. In answer to the petition of the inhabitants of Mystic and Pawcatuck the Court judgeth it meet to grant that the English plantation between Mystic and Pawcatuck be named Southertown and to belong to the County of Suffolk and order that all the prudential af- fairs thereof be managed by Capt. George Denison, Robert Purk, William Chesebrough, Thomas Stanton, Walter Palmer and John Meinot sen., til the court take further order and that Capt. George Denison, William Cheesebrooke, and John Minot (Thomas Minor meant) be commission- ers to end small causes there and to deal in criminal matters as one magistrate may do, and that Walter Palmer be Constable, Capt. Denison Clerk of the writs, and he also is hereby empowered and authorized to solemnize, marriages between such as are published according to law: that the said Capt. Denison taking his oath be empowered to the oath to the other two, provided always the bounds of the town is not hereby de- termined. (at the same court.) In answer to petition of Inhabitants of Southertown, humbly desiring for several reasons, that the bounds of north

their plantation may extend into the country

"The Court judgeth it meet to grant their request."-Mass. Archives, Wm. B. Trask.

3 " We whose names are vender written being chosen by the Towne of Southertowne to lay out the bounds according to the Courts grant, the which we did as followeth ffirst we began nt Misticke Rivers mouth, and ffrom thence we run six miles to the north, northenst to the pond lying by Lanthorne hill, where we marked a chestnut tree with six noches right against the middle of the pond, which pond we ffound to be seuen chains and one pole wide, and ffrom thence we run two miles due north to an ash tree which we marked ffouer ways und set eight noches ffor the eight miles : lying by a little still brooke, and we run ffrom thence due east tenn miles and one quarter and twelve chains to white oake tree marked with an X and SV. and ffrom thence we run due south six miles and three quarters there we crossed Poquatuck Riuer and ffrom thence vpon the same line to a place called Quanaquutag which line poynted vpon Block Island which Quanaquatag lies east of Weeckapoug two miles and quarter, which two miles a quarter we took possession ffor the countrie to dispose of either ffor us or as the contrie shall cause. " GEORGE DENISON THOMAS MINER

" THOMAS PARKE THOMAS STANTON

" SAMUEL CHESEBBROUGHI

" Dated the 2nd of March 1659."

-Stonington Town Records.

"Boston, 16th of Septem. 1658.

west ward between We- acapauge and Mystic river eight miles from the month of Mystic River.

617

STONINGTON.

be called Southerntown. They recognized in part the local association of the people, and extended and confirmed their bounds.

During the years 1659, 1660, and 1661 several town- meetings were held for the purpose of building and locating a meeting-house, which was raised May 13, 1661, and was so far completed as to be ready for use in September of that year, when the commissioners of the United Colonies being in town attended wor- ship there, and were addressed by that stern old warrior statesman, Capt. John Mason.

This, the first meeting-house of Stonington, stood a short distance northwest of the residence of Henry M. Palmer. It is not known how large it was, or what its shape or style, but from some facts that may be gleaned from the old town records, it is probable that it was a small building and but partially finished, for as early as 1667, six years after it was raised, a vote was passed in town-meeting to repair it and make it more comfortable; and even after it was repaired the people did not use it in cold weather, but held their meetings at the house of Amos Richardson, which was situated a little way east of the meeting-house.

Rev. Mr. Thompson remained here until 1659, when he removed to New London. September 30th of that year the Rev. Zachariah Brigden, of Boston, Mass., preached here by invitation of the town, which sub- sequently held a meeting for the purpose of securing his services. Mr. Brigden labored here until his death, which took place April 24, 1662.

After his death Mr. Chauncy and Fletcher preached for the town until the spring of 1664, when the town appointed a committee to go to the Bay (Massachu- setts) and procure a minister for the town, who in- vited Mr. James Noyes, of Newbury, to become their gospel-preaching minister. He accepted the invita- tion, and came here in the latter part of June, 1664, and continued his labors in July following, and preached as a licentiate until 1674, when he was ordained.

In 1660-61 an old Pequot captain, known as Socho, laid claim to that part of Southertown called Mis- quamicut, and lying east of Pawcatuck River, and sold it to a number of planters from Newport, Mid- dletown, and Portsmouth, R. I., who took possession and held it as a part of Rhode Island colony. The planters here were greatly vexed by the conflict of jurisdiction, and serious trouble grew out of it. In some instances the same territory was granted by each of the then colonies to different persons, and long years of litigation was the result.

Sorely pressed by these difficulties, and annoyed by the apprehension that the Connecticut colony medi- tated their subjection, the selectmen, or townsmen, as they were then called, in behalf of the town, under Jan. 19, 1662, again petitioned the Massachusetts General Court for redress of grievances,1 to which no

response seems to be made. On the 22d of April, 1662, Governor Winthrop succeeded in obtaining a new charter of Connecticut from King Charles II. The eastern boundary of the colony was therein fixed at Pawcatuck River, thus placing a large part of the town of Southertown under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, leaving that part east of Pawcatuck River under the control of Rhode Island. Massa-

whereas by the Good providence of God we have bin orderly put vnder your Goverment by the cometioners of the vuighted Collonies, acording vnto articles of confederation : by which means through your Faviour we have for this severall years inioyed our peace, with many other liber- ties and privilidges both sivell and spirituall, which we could not formerly inioy, or bee made pertakers of, notwithstanding all our iudevers and adreses made vnto those, who claimed a proprietye in thes parts, the which peace of ours, together with your anthoritye amongst vs hath bin much in- terrupted, and your authoritye together with all our priviledges much im- pugned by the authoritye of Coneticots sending downe amongst vs there warrants, and prohibiting vs the exersice of any authoritye amongst vs but such as shall be derived from them ; indevering to make a faction, or to incorage the same amongst vs, that so thay might attaine there owne eandes, which how reguler it is we leaue vnto your visdoms to judge,-these things haue ocationed vs to make seuerall adreses vuto your honored selues and we have had your faiourable acseptance therein, as manifestly apears by your letters vnto Coneticot, and orders vuto our selues, for the preservation of our peace and the retaining vs vnder your Goverment (which faviour we cannot but thankfully take notis of, and doth Firther oblidg vs vnto your service and our owne fidellitye and dutye) : yet not withstanding all your indevers and letters vnto Coneti- cut, for the preservation of our peace etc. it doth two manifestly apear that thay doe slight both your letters, and power, for thay still contnue trouble vs with there warants, requireing our obedienc, and seeke to tir- rifye vs with there threats if we shall not attend there orders, which may apear in part vnto your selues, by sum letters or orders which of leate came vnto sum of our facktions persons, the which we thought meete to sease, and send downe with these, for your better information ; what their intentions are we know not, for it is giuen out and we have cause to feare, that they will not at least willingly be tryed by the come- tioners, but that they will force vs by power, it haueing bin Giuen out that thay will haue Capt. denison alife or dead, and that there will bee many widowes and fatherless Children amongst vs are long, together with there Countinancing and complyanc with those vnreasonable men of road Iland now at paquatuck one of these cheefe saying openly that thay had rather the road Ilands should have that land than the bay, with many high and slighting wordes respecting the bay and the inter- est, thretening the nullifying of what ever the bay hath done hear, respecting privilidges or proprietyes; things being thus, or thus apear- ing vnto vs, we being weeke and vnexperienced in the manageing of cases of this natures, causeth vs with all humilitye to sped these things before your worships and this Honerable asembly, humbly begging your firther favionr and countinanc in thes respects, for our incoragement in the manifestation of our fidellitye, vnto which we haue ioyntly bound our selves : wherefore we doe earnistly intreat that since we haue bin and are orderly vnder your care and Goverment, that you would be pleased to doe your vtermost for vs to contenew ns So, and that we may not bee left vnto the mercyes of those of coneticote, whose wordes and actions speakes (unto vs) nothing but our ruin, who have aproued our selues faithfull, yee and the ouerturning of the authoritye of the bay to there vtmost power : and becaus we doe not know how soone they may macke sum further attemtes against vs, we doe earnistly craue sum fur- ther orders and instructions may be sent unto vs, by this messenger if posably, that so we may not be in the darke what to doe, if such attemts should be made against vs, which the lord in mercy prevent, by your wisdome, and if to that purpose you would send any letters unto coneti- cot our mesenger can speedily convey them vnto there debutys Gover- nor, which posably may abate there furye, and may be a means to prevent our further truble and of the continuance of our peace, to- gether with your authoritye and interest: pardon we beseech you our bouldness, and let our presing nesesitye, together with our earnest desire after peace, and order, and the atlending your orders and instrucktions to that eand speake for vs; and if the lord shall macke your worships instrumentall for the preservation of our peace and comfort, by the im- prouement and vpholding your authoritye amongst vs, we and ours shall

1 "To the Honored Governor deputye Governor and magistrates to- gether with the Counsell of Generall Court of the mattachusetes the petition of the inhabitants of southertowne humbly sheweth that

618

HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

chusetts gracefully yielded obedience to the new charter.

At the October session of the General Assembly for that year the charter was publicly read to the assem- bled freemen of Connecticut, and from that time for- ward became the recognized law of the land. At the same session it was ordered that "ye inhabitants of Mystic and Pawcatuek, not Southertown, shall from henceforth forbear to exercise authority by virtue of Commissioners from any other Colonies, and in case any differences that may arise, they repair to our Dept. Governor for help, and that they choose a Con- stable for the year ensuing, and ye said constable to repair to the Dept. Governor for his oath. And they are required to pay unto Mr. James Noyes, Lt. Samuel Smith, and Ensign Avery, for and in behalf of the charge of the Charter, the sum of twenty pounds as this Towns proportion, two thirds in wheat at four shillings and one third in peas at three shillings 8 pence, by the last of November next." It does not appear that the town of Southertown was represented in the General Court of Massachusetts while it was under the jurisdiction of that colony; nor were the planters represented in the General Assembly of Connecticut until the October session for 1664, when William Chesebrough was elected, and at the com- mencement of the session presented a petition1 in be- half of the planters, asking their pardon for past offenses, and their favor for the future, which was granted to all except Capt. Denison.2

haue caus as to owne his Goodnes so to acknowledg youre favioure, and shall continue to pray.

" Yours in all Loyallty, though vnworthy to be owned,

" GEORGE DENISON

" WILLJAM CHIESEBROUGH

" THO STANTON "SAMUELL CHESEBROUGH " ELINU PALMER

" Townsmen

" From Southiertowne : this: 19 of January 1662

" In the name and with the consent of the towne."

-Muss. Archives, vol. ii., page 34, by William B. Trask.

I " To the Honorable Genrall Court now Asembled at Hartford in the Collony of Connectycoat, Hounorable may it please you-We your poore petitioners being summoned by the Hounored Counsel of this jurisdiction to yield our obedience & subjection to this jurisdiction acording to his majestyes letters patent gratiously granted to this Col- lonle & to make choise of a percon to be a Comishonor & to atend the servis of this present Court in obedience to this summons we have yielded our selves & sent vp one to be a Comishonor to atend the servis of the Court. We humbly besech you thearfore that you will pardon all such mistaiks or miscariges weh through humain frailty hath bene offen- cive or grevious vnto you & receaue vs with a loving aspect & renue your former favor vuto vs that we may be remembrerd with equall priviledges of other Townes acording to our Capacitie that we maie be preserved in truth & peace & that scandals may be removeed for the forme we may not be so bould as to prescrib knowing the wisdom & prudenc of the Hounered Court hose wisdom & favor we do commit ourselues vuto.

" We humbly do besech allso that the bounds of our plantation may be confirmed weh was granted vnto vs by the Bay, thus being loath to trespas vpon your patenc we humbly taik our leave & rest your pore petichoners.

" WILLM CHESERBROUGH in the name of the rest "October 14 : 64"

-Conn. Archives.

2 " Mistick & Pawcatuek haveing by Mr Cheesebrook petitioned this Court for their fauoure to pass by their offenees the Court haueing con-

In 1665 the name of Southertown was by the Gen- eral Court changed to that of Mystic, in memory of that victory God was pleased to give this people of Connecticut over the Pequot Indians. In May, 1666, an act was passed as follows: "The town of Mystic is by this Court named Stonington, the Court doth grant to the plantation to extend the bounds thereof ten miles from the sea up into the country northward, and eastward to the river called Pawcatuck. This Court doth pass an act of indemnity to Capt. George Denison upon the same grounds as was formerly granted to other inhabitants of Stonington." Mr. Noyes did not at first make arrangements to remain for any given length of time, but subsequently, in 1668, the town passed a vote that they would freely contribute, or give towards his building a dwelling- house among them in order to his settling in the town, and carrying on the work of the ministry among them. They also voted to give him a salary of fifty pounds currency annually for seven years, and in 1671 the town added the use of the ministry land to Mr. Noyes' salary, and subsequently raised it to one hundred pounds, with several grants of land and other dona- tions.

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History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 149

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1317

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1317