History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 3

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 3


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Uncas, as lineal descendant of the royal family, laid claim to the sovereignty of the conquered terri- tory, and while by the terms of the treaty the portion upon the Sound was given up, his claim to the re- mainder of the Pequot country was admitted by the English, and he was acknowledged as the lawful sachem of a territory embracing the northern half of New London and the southern half of Windham and Tolland Counties. Some of the surviving Pequots had been assigned him by the terms of the treaty, and many former tributaries of the vanquished tribe yielded their allegiance to him, and added to his power, but his greatest source of strength lay in the favor of the English, which he had fairly won.


His rapid rise and growing favor greatly excited the envy of surrounding chieftains, especially of those of the Narragansetts and their allies, the Connecticut River Indians, and they were untiring in their efforts to effect his overthrow. At first they endeavored to


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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.


cause a rupture between Uncas and the English, but failing in this scheme they next attempted to take his life by assassination. Several fruitless endeavors of this kind were made. But in these diabolical attempts upon his life he was more than a match for them. Their calumnies and their murderous designs were made to recoil upon their own heads. Failing in their secret plotting, their enmity ripened into open warfare. In the summer of 1643, only six years after the rout at Mystic Fort, Miantonomoh, at the head of six or seven hundred warriors, suddenly appeared in the very heart of the Mohegan country by a suc- cession of rapid marches. He moved proudly to the contest, doubtless with the assurance that his nu- merical superiority and the suddenness of his irrup- tion would secure for him an easy victory over his foe and rival. But Uncas was not to be overcome by a surprise. He hastily collected a band of about three hundred warriors and met the invaders upon his own territory, on the Great Plain, probably in the vicinity of the present Fair Grounds in Norwich. He felt the necessity, however, of resorting to strategy in his present emergency, and hence proposed a parley, which was accepted, and the two chieftains met on the plain between their respective armies. Uncas then proposed that the fortunes of the day should be decided by themselves in a single combat, and the lives of their warriors spared, saying, "If you kill me my men shall be yours, but if I kill you your men shall be mine."


Miantonomoh disdainfully replied, "My men came to fight, and they shall fight." Uncas on this im- mediately gave a preconcerted signal to his followers by falling flat upon the ground. At that instant a shower of arrows were discharged upon the enemy, and raising the war-cry, the Mohegans rushed forward with Uncas at their head, dashing so unexpectedly upon the invading column of warriors that a wide- spread panic ensued, resulting in their precipitous and headlong flight without even a show of resistance. The retreating force was pursued in its flight to Sa- chem's Plain, in the direction of the fords of the She- tucket, at which place Miantonomoh became the prisoner of Uncas. About thirty of the Narragan- setts were slain, and among the prisoners were a brother of Miantonomoh and two sons of Canonicus. Uncas kindly treated his royal prisoner, and without any unnecessary delay took him to Hartford, and surrendered him into the hands of the English. His case was laid before commissioners of the United Colonies at their meeting in Boston in September, and the question was there debated whether it was right and proper to put the prisoner to death. As the commissioners were unable to agree, the question was by them referred to an ecclesiastical council, which gave its verdict in favor of his execution. It was further decided that the sentence should be carried into effect by Uncas, but without torture. After fur- nishing a sufficient force to prevent the recapture of


the prisoner, Miantonomoh was surrendered into the hands of Uncas, who took him to the place of cap- turc, where he was stricken down by Waweequa, a brother of Uneas. It is said that the victorious chief cut a piece of flesh from the shoulder of the fallen sachem and ate it, saying it was the sweetest meat he ever tasted, that it made his heart strong. A monu- ment1 now marks the site of this tragical event. The Narragansetts at several different times invaded the Mohegan country, impatient to avenge the death of their late chief, but Uncas and his followers were un- injured on account of the aid of the English, which was always extended.


A general Indian war, commonly known as King Philip's war, broke out in June, 1675. Although the rest of Southern New England was desolated, Con- necticut was happily exempt from the ravages of the war.


New London County has been the arena of military events scarcely less exciting during our Revolutionary period. On the 6th of September, 1781, at about three o'clock in the morning, a fleet of about thirty-two sail was descried by a sentinel from Fort Griswold. Word was immediately sent to Col. William Ledyard, who had command of the forts and harbor at New London. He ordered the alarm to be given, and at once crossed the river at New London to Fort Griswold, which he intended to hold. As he took leave of his friends he said, "If I must lose to-day honor or life, you, who know me, will know which it will be."


At ten o'clock of the same morning, Thursday, Sept. 6, 1781, the British troops, in two divisions of about eight hundred each, landed on either side of the river. About one-half of the force, headed by the leader of the expedition, "that infamous traitor" Benedict Arnold, landed on the west side of the harbor, a little below the light-house, and made their way towards New London. The other division, under Lieut .- Col. Eyre, landed on the east or Groton side.


Fort Trumbull, on the New London side, was open to the west or land side, and was therefore wholly indefensible to an attack from that quarter. The commanding officer, Capt. Shapley, had been ordered to abandon the fort at the approach of the enemy, and to cross the river with his men and join the garrison at Groton. As the British came up le fired a few charges of shot into them, then spiked his guns, took to his boats and crossed the river. The enemy's ves- sels were so near that they were subject to their fire during the flight, and seven of his men were wounded and one boat captured. Shapley, with the remaining sixteen men, found shelter in Fort Griswold, where they were warmly welcomed, as they were experienced artillerists.


Arnold at eleven o'clock sent Col. Eyre all the in- formation he had received respecting Fort Griswold, to the effect that there were but twenty or thirty men


1 In Norwich.


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OUTLINE HISTORY.


in the fort, as the inhabitants were chiefly concerned in saving their property, and bidding him to hasten to the attack on the fort.


Col. Eyre was landing his troops at Eastern Point when this message reached him, and with the For- tieth and Fifty-fourth Regiments, which were the first to land, he started for the scene of action. With a lame boy for a guide, they went over the rocks and through the swamps until they reached a place called Dark Hollow, just in the rear of Packer's Rocks. From this place Col. Eyre sent Capt. Beckwith to de- mand the immediate surrender of the fort, with a threat that if the demand was not complied with it would be stormed five minutes after the return of the flag. The answer was "that the fort would not be given up to the British." Eyre immediately sent a second message, declaring " that if he was obliged to take the fort by storm he should put martial law in full force,-that is, what we do not kill by ball shall be put to death by sword and bayonet." Ledyard's reply was, " We shall not give up the fort, let the con- sequences be what they may."


Arnold by this time had gained the heights back of New London. His men were subjected to a gall- ing fire by the gunners from Fort Griswold, and he saw, as he stood on the tomb of the Winthrops in the old burial-ground, that Fort Griswold was a much more formidable defense than he had supposed. He saw that the men from Fort Trumbull had crossed the river and gained Fort Griswold, and in his report of the battle he says that he at once dispatched an aide to Col. Eyre countermanding the order of as- sault, but if so the messenger arrived too late. Capt. Beckwith had returned with his flag and the attack had commenced.


Eyre divided his troops into two divisions, taking charge of the first himself, and giving the second to Maj. Montgomery, of the Fortieth Regiment. Eyre formed his column behind the ledge of rocks which bounds the Ledyard Cemetery on the east, and Mont- gomery's column was formed in the rear of a hillock a short distance from this point. It was now noon. At the word of command the battalions swept up the hill, Eyre leading his column towards the southwest bastion, where, from the falling away of the ground, there was no ditch; while Montgomery advanced farther towards the north, where was the redoubt with its main entrance to the fort.


The first fire from the fort killed twenty of the British, and the solid mass, broken by this loss of men and officers, wavered for a moment, then broke up into squads and dashed up under the very walls of the fort. Montgomery's men at the same time reached the northeast bastion, and thus the fort was invested on all four sides at once.


Fort Griswold contained only thirty-five guns and a force of one hundred and fifty men. The British numbered eight hundred men, well armed and thor- oughly disciplined. Yet in spite of these tremendous


odds the defense was gallant in the extreme. Col. Eyre and Maj. Montgomery both fell in the assault outside the works. When these their leaders fell the enemy seemed to have been discouraged. They had attacked twice, and twice had been repulsed, when a shot cut the halyards. of the flag and it fell to the ground. This accident proved fatal, for the enemy supposed the flag had been struck by its defenders, and rallying again they carried the southwest bastion by storm. Col. Ledyard ordered his men to cease firing, and stood in his place by the gate. Capt. Beck- with, the flag-bearer, was one of the first to enter. He called out, "Who commands this fort?" Col. Ledyard responded, "I did, sir, but you do now," at the same time presenting his sword, with the point towards himself. The officer received it, and instantly plunged the weapon into his body. He fell without a groan.


The scene which followed beggars deseription. Ledyard's murder was the signal for indiscriminate slaughter. With the bayonet they killed thrice over those who were already dead. An eye-witness says, "I think no scene ever equaled this for continuous and barbarous massacre after surrender." The British fired into the magazine where the killed and wounded were lying, and came very near setting fire to the powder. The same eye-witness says they would have done so " had not the ground and everything been wet with human blood. We trod in blood." The British repeatedly told them that every one should die before the sun set, and in truth, out of one hundred and fifty able-bodied men they left scarce twenty able to stand upon their feet. These were ordered up at the point of the sword, and were marched down to the river to be ready to embark on British vessels. The wounded were gathered up into the large ammunition-wagon belonging to the fort, and twenty men drew it to the brow of the hill leading down to the river. The de- clivity was steep, and the wagon could not be held back by the men, so they left it to roll down the hill by itself, gathering speed each moment, and jolting and jarring the wounded in a frightful manner. Its course was finally arrested by an old apple-tree, against which it struck. Some of the wounded fell out and fainted away. Then the men brought the wounded and wagon along. Those who were taken prisoners suffered agonies from neglect, hunger, thirst, and cruelty for four days, but at the expiration of that time were put on board a ship commanded by Capt. Scott, who treated them very kindly.


The loss of the enemy, it is believed, was between two and three hundred men, though Arnold's report made it somewhat less. He reported forty-eight killed and one hundred and forty-five wounded, the first and second in command being among the number of the slain. The dead were buried on the hill where they fell, and the wounded were carefully conveyed to the shore, and from there to the ships.


The Tory papers of the day boasted over the suc-


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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.


cess of the expedition, but could not conceal their chagrin and sense of loss. Sir Henry Clinton, in his "General Orders" regarding it, made no attempt to conceal his feelings. Whilst he draws the greatest satisfaction from the ardor of the troops which enabled them to carry by assault a work of such magnitude as Fort Griswold is reputed to be, he " cannot but lament with the deepest concern the heavy loss in officers and men sustained by the Fortieth and Fifty- fourth Regiments, who had the honor of the attack."


Arnold's troops, at the time that the engagement was in progress at Fort Griswold, laid part of the town of New London in ashes. The point first occu- pied by them was then called the Beach, now known as Water Street. It was the business portion of the town, and contained, besides stores and offices, vast warehouses full of goods, cargoes of captured vessels, and provisions and munitions of war stored by Gov- ernor Trumbull. The torch was applied in a dozen places at once, so that in a few moments the whole vast accumulation of property was a mass of flames. Many houses were also fired, though two houses were bought off for ten pounds each after an officer had ordered them fired, on condition, however, that he should not be made known. Where the houses were not burned they were plundered of all that could be carried off. The fishermen's cottages at the mouth of the harbor were stripped of all their furniture of every kind, the people having nothing but the clothes they wore.


Arnold having captured the forts, massacred the garrison, and burned and phundered the town of New London, embarked his forces at sunset and crossed the Sound, and anchored his fleet on the lec of Plum Island, on the Long Island shore, and next morning proceeded on his way to New York. Deplorable and costly as this affair was to the enemy, as a strategic movement it was an utter failure. They could only take the fort at a fearful price, and were powerless to hold it at any price. Their design, in this inroad, was to effect a diversion in Washington's march, but they were powerless to change his plans. Not in the least disconcerted in his movements by the feint, he drew his troops into Virginia, and settled the ques- tion of the whole campaign at Yorktown.


A noble granite obelisk rises one hundred and twenty-seven feet into the air by the side of the for- tification where so many lives were lost. It was erected by the State of Connecticut in 1830 in mem- ory of the brave patriots who fell in the massacre.


The one hundredth anniversary of the taking of Fort Griswold and the burning of New London have, at the time of writing, been celebrated with appro- priate ceremonies in Groton and New London. Many noted men were present to aid in the commemora- tion, and the varied exercises of two days were con- ducted with marked success.


During the war of 1812 the southern portion of the county was again menaced by the enemy. At


this time the attack was made on Stonington. On the 9th of August, 1814, Sir Thomas Hardy, in com- mand of the British squadron, appeared off Stoning- ton Point. An officer came on shore with a note, in- forming them that one hour's time would be afforded them for the removal of unoffending inhabitants and their effects. This news threw the village into the utmost consternation. The most valuable gocds were concealed, and non-combatants fled to the neighbor- ing farm-houses. A number of volunteers hastened to the battery on the Point, which consisted of two eigh- teen- and one four-pounder, mounted on carriages, and defended by a slight breastwork.


An express was immediately dispatched to Gen. Cushing at New London, with a request for immedi- ate assistance. The general considered this attack as a feint, intended to mask a real attack on Fort Gris- wold, and his opinion was confirmed in consequence of the squadron having been lately reinforced, and a number of ships taking stations near Mystic. He therefore made correspondent arrangements with Maj .- Gen. Williams, commander of the division of militia in that district, and one regiment was imme- diately sent to Stonington, while infantry and artil- lery were so disposed as to protect Forts Griswold and Trumbull and the towns of Norwich and New London.


The attack upon Stonington commenced at eight o'clock in the evening, and lasted until midnight. No building was consumed or person injured. On the 10th the fire from the ships began at daybreak, but one of the eighteen-pounders having been drawn to the extreme end of the Point, its fire soon com- pelled the barges to draw off. This battery was manned by twenty men until its ammunition was ex- hausted, when they spiked the guns and retired. Shot and shells continued to pour into the town from the ships for upwards of an hour without a shot being returned. Ammunition, however, for the eighteen- pounder soon arrived, and so vigorous and well di- rected a fire was returned that one of the ships was disabled and was hauled out of the reach of the bat- tery. In this contest two Americans were slightly wounded, the flag nailed to the battery was pierced with seven shot, and six or eight dwelling-houses were burned. Considerable bodies of militia had ar- rived, and the inhabitants had so far recovered from their consternation that things took on a more regu- lar and orderly aspect. Every one capable of bear- ing arms was at the post of danger, and the others were employed in removing their effects.


Two of the ships now moved to within two miles of the town, threatening it with instant destruction. A deputation was sent on board, with a note addressed to Commodore Hardy, wishing to know the fate of the place. The deputation gave assurance that no torpedoes had been fitted out from that place, and engaged that none should be in future, or receive any aid from the town, and returned with the promise


19


ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.


that further hostilities should cease, provided that Mrs. Stewart, the wife of the late British consul at New London, and her family should be sent aboard the ship by eight o'clock on the morning of the 11th. This request caused considerable embarrass- ment, as the borough of Stonington had no au- thority on the subject, and possessed no powers to comply with the required condition, and the magis- trates sent a flag on board the ship with this rep- resentation. The commodore replied that he would wait until twelve o'clock, when, if the lady were not on board, hostilities would recommence. The town was well secured against a landing, but as the bomb-ship took up a position out of reach of the battery, the citizens were obliged to witness the scene without the power of resistance. The troops with- drew from the Point, except a guard of fifty men to patrol the streets and extinguish fires. The battery was held in readiness for an attack, but none of the men who manned it, though exposed the whole time to the enemy's fire, were injured. The houses were several times set on fire by bombs and shells, but were soon extinguished by the patrol. The designs of the British upon other points, which had been appre- hended by Gen. Cushing, were frustrated by his ju- dicious arrangements and the spirit and alacrity of the militia. The firing stopped about four in the afternoon, and the ships hauled away to their former anchorage, and they made no further attempts on the coast of Connecticut.


During our different wars many vessels have been fitted out in New London to cruise against the enemy. The Thames River and New London Harbor have afforded safe refuge for vessels of war, aud at one time during the Revolution the American fleet lay in safety for many months. The harbor is large, safe, and commodious, with five fathoms of water. It is three miles long and rarely obstructed with ice, and is in all respects one of the best in the world.


Since foreign troubles have ceased and peace has been declared the people of New London County have generally been greatly prospered. The fishing business is more extensively carried on in this county than in any other section of the State, and is an im- portant branch of industry. The county possesses excellent railroad facilities, and the agricultural and manufacturing interests have greatly prospercd. The population increased from 35,943 in 1820 to 66,570 in 1870, and to 75,323 in 1880.


New London County contains two cities and twenty-one corporate townships, of each of which a history will be given in succeeding pages.


CHAPTER II.


ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.


Organization of the County-Original Towns-Present Towns-First County Court, 1666-Early Officials-Extracts from Court Records- The First Prerogative Court-The First Superior Court-Contest be- tween New London and Norwich-Norwich constituted a Shire Town -The First Court-House-County Buildings-Contest between Nor- wich Town and Chelsea for Location of Court-House-Civil List-Gov- ernors of Connecticut-Residents of New London County-Chief Jus- tices of Supreme Court of Connecticut-Residents of New London County-Members of the Continental Congress-United States Sena- tors-Members of Congress.


Organization of the County .- New London County was organized in May, 1666, and extended from Pawcatuck River "to the western bounds of Hammonassett plantation," embracing the four towns of Saybrook, New London, Norwich, and Stonington. It included in what is now Middlesex County the present towns of Old Saybrook, Saybrook, Westbrook, Essex, Chester, Killingworth, and Clinton. The county at present consists of twenty-one civil sub- divisions, as follows: New London, Norwich, Bozrah, Colchester, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Montville, North Stonington, Old Lyme, Preston, Salem, Sprague, Stonington, Voluntown, and Waterford.


The first County Court was held June 6, 1666, Maj. Mason presiding, assisted by John Allyn, assistant, and Thomas Stanton and Obadiah Bruen, commis- sioners.


A court was also held Sept. 20, 1666. Maj. Mason, Thomas Stanton, and Lieut. Pratt, of Saybrook, oc- cupied the bench ; Obadiah Bruen, clerk. In June, 1667, Daniel Wetherell was appointed clerk and treasurer. After this period Maj. Mason's health be- gan to decline, and he was seldom able to attend on the court. As there was no other magistrate in the county,1 the General Court, after 1670, nominated assistants to hold the court in New London annually. In 1676, Capt. John Mason, oldest son of Maj. Mason, was chosen assistant, but the same year, in December, received his death-wound. Capt. James Fitch was the next assistant from New London County. He came in about 1680, and Samuel Mason, of Stoning- ton, soon afterwards.


County Marshals .- Thomas Marritt (or Merritt), appointed in December, 1668; resigned 1674.


Samuel Starr, appointed 1674; resigned 1682. Stephen Merrick, appointed 1682. John Plumbe, appointed 1690.


MINUTES OF CASES, CHIEFLY BEFORE THE COUNTY COURT.


"1667 .- Alexander Pygan complained of by Widow Rebecca Redfin [Redfield] for enticing away her daughter's affections contrary to the laws of this corporation.


"Goodwife Wiley presented for not attending public worship, and bringing her children thither; fined 5s.


" Matthew Waller for the same offense, do.


1 In May, 1674, Maj. Palmes was invested with the authority of a magistrate for New London County, but was never chosen an assistant, though often nominated.


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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.


" George Tongue and wife were solemnly reprimanded for their many offenses against God and man and each other. On their submission and promises of reformation, and engaging to keep up the solemn duty of prayer and the service of God in the family, they were released by pay- ing a fine of £3.


" Hugh Mould, Joseph Coit, and John Stephens, all three being ship- carpenters, are at their liberty and freed from common training.


" Wait Winthrop, as attorney to Governor Winthrop, vs. James Rogers. Both parties claimed a certain pair of atillyards; Rogers had recovered judgment; it was now ordered that the stillyards should be kept by Daniel Wetherell till Richard Arey should see them.


" 1670 .- Unchas brought under a bond of £100 for appearace of his son, Foxen, and two Indians, Jumpe and Towtukhag, and eight Indians more for breaking open a warehouse. He was fined fifty bushels of Indian corn for his son, five pounds in wampum to Mr. Samuel Clarke and twenty pounds in wampum to the country treasury.




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