History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 36

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 36

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" To have and to hold the said tract of land with the premises aforesaid, to them the said John Winthrop Esq, Waite Winthrop Esq, Daniel Witherell Esq, Richard Christophers Esq, Mr. Nehemiah Smith, Capt. James Morgan, and all ye rest of the above mentioned persons, and all other the present Proprietors of ye said tract and premises, their Heirs or Assigns, or such as shall legally succeed and represent them forever,

as a good, sure, right, full, perfect, absolute and lawful estate in fee simple, and according to ye aforesaid Letters Patent after the most free tenor of her Majestys Manor of East-Greenwich in the County of Kent,-

" To the sole, only and proper use and behoof of the said John Win- throp Esq, with all the above named persons and all others the present Proprietors of said tract and premises, their Heirs and Assigns, or such as shall legally succeed and represent them forever, as a good, sure rightful estate in manner as aforesaid,-Reserving only to her present Majesty, our sovereign Lady Ann of England &c. Queen, and her snc- cessors forever one fifth part of all gold or silver mines or ore that hath been or shall be found within the premises so granted and confirmned.

" Always provided that whatsoever land within the aforesaid tract which formerly did and now doth belong unto, and is the just and proper right of Uncas late Sachem of Mohegan, er Owaneco his son er any other Indian Sachem whatsoever, and hath not yet been lawfully purchased of the said Sachems, or acquired by the English, doth and shall still remain ye right and property of ye said Indian Sachems or their Heirs, and shall not be entered upon, or improved, or claimed as property by the aforesaid persons to whom the said tract is hereby con- firmed, or any of them by virtue of this instrument, nor shall anything herein contained be at any time deemed, taken or constructed to the prejudice of any of the said Sachems or their Heirs right to the said land within the said tract aforesaid which hath not yet been sold or alienated by them, but their said right shall be and remain good and free to them to all intents and purposes in the Law, and the said land which they have right in aforesaid shall be and remain as free for their own proper occupation and improvement as if it had not been included in the bounds of the aforesaid New London, as specified in this instrument-

" And further, we the said Govr and Compy ye aforesaid tract of land and premises and every part and parcel thereof hereby granted and con- firmed to the said John Winthrop, Waite Winthrop, Daniel Wetherell &c .- [here all the names are again repeated]-and the rest of the present proprietors thereof, their Heirs and Assigns, or such as shall legally suc- ceed and represent them to their own proper use and nses in the manner and under the limitation above expressed against us and all and every other person or persons lawfully claiming by, from or under ns, shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents-

"In witness whereof we have ordered the present instrument to be signed by the Deputy Govr of this Corporation and by ye Secretary of the same as also that the seal of this Corporation be affixed herennto this 14th day of October in ye third year of her Majs Reign A. D. 1704.

" ROBERT TREAT Dep. Govr.

" ELFAZER KIMBERLY Secy"

" Though only seventy-seven names are registered in the patent, the whole number of full-grown men having a right in the town was perhaps at that time one hundred and sixty, or one hundred and seventy. A man might have three or four sons of mature age, yet generally in the patent, only the father, or the father and eldest son, were mentioned. Other names were also omitted which ought to have been enrolled, and which were added to the list of patentees after- wards. These were Lieut. John Beeby, Thomas (son of Sergt. Thomas Beeby), Samuel Fox, Samuel Chap- man, William Gibson, Nicholas and Amos Hallam, Sampson Haughton, Jonathan Haynes, William Hatch, Alexander Pygan, Joshua Raymond, and Hon. Gurdon Saltonstall.

" 13 Decr 1703.

" Voted, that the Town Patent, be forthwith drawn upon parchment and that all the freeholders of this town who are desirou- to have their names entered therein, shall bring them to the Moderator within a month."

" This vote was never carried into effect.

144

HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

CHAPTER X.

NEW LONDON-(Continued).

EARLY RULES AND REGULATIONS.

Townsmen in 1648-Town-Meeting of 1648-50-Vote Concerning its Pioneer Grist-Mill-" Cardes and Shufflebords"-Early Accounts- Goodman Cheesborough's Trouble-Voted that the Town be Called London-Minutes from Societies' Records-Fort Hill-" Making of Bread and Brewing of Beere"-Holding the Contribution-Box-The Juil-Imprisonment for Debt-Sale of Powder to Indians-Church Regulations-Inhabitants Fined-The Stocks-Rev. Mr. Buckley- The Ferry-Sale of Liquors-Ministry Rate-Lists-Excluding Colored Persons from the Town.

Early Rules and Regulations .- The first record in the old town-book is as follows :

" It is agreed by the inhabitants of Nameengl that the land liing be- tween the oxe pastuer at the end of the field by John Robinsons and so between the highway and the great river aloung to alwife brooke shall be for a coren (corn) field for the use of 'the town to make a generall filde.

" The 17 of Desember William Mortons meadow was recorded and the same day Robert IIempsteeds plot by the cove 2 pole."

The ox-pasture was on the river north of Winthrop's Neck.

"John Stubens and Robert Hempsteed are chosen to view the fences for this year [1647]."

" 25 of februarrie, 1647 [1648, New Style].

"The inhabitants of Nameeug did chuse with a joynt consent Mr. John winthroup, Robert Hempsteed, Samuell lothroup, Isarke willie, and Thomas Minor to act in all Towne affaires as the other fouer did the last yeare with Mr. Johu winthroup having the same power as he did have the last yeare only no planting grounde must be granted or laid out for this yeare but in the generall coren (corn) fielde at foxens hill the other side of the great river we may lay out, by lot only must it be laid out.

"the same day Isarke willie was granted by the said inhabitants to have a planting lot at the other side of the cove hy Mr. deane win- throups lot."

It is evident that the fathers of the town looked with care to the morals of new inhabitants, as the fol- lowing vote shows :

" It is ordered the 2 of march [1648] whosoever from this time forward shall take up any lot that if he com not in six months time to inhabit his lot shall be forfite to the Towne-and further it is agreed that no prsons or pson (person) shall have admittance into the Towne of Na- meeug there to be an inhabitant except the pties or ptie (party) shall bring some testimonie from the magistrates or Elders of the place that they com from or from some neighbor plantations and some good Chris- tian, what their carriage is or have been."

Town-Meetings .- In the early days the inhabitants were obliged to attend town-meetings under penalty of "two shillings and- six pence," and when at the meetings not to " voate without the companies leave," etc.

" It is agreed by the inhabitants that any man being lawfully warned to apear at any generall towne meeting, that refuse, or that do not com at the time appoyuted, or within half an houre of the apointed time, if he be at home, or have notice of the citation, that man shall pay to the constabell two shillings and six pence for the use of the towne, or if any person do voate after the companie be com to vote, or before the meeting be ended, without the companies leave, that partie shall likewise pay two shillings and six pence for his disorder; and further it is agreed that if any failes in either of these two things before mentioned, and refuse to pay the penaltie, when the constabell demands it, the constabell shall have power to distraine.

" March, 1648. It is agreed if any person do kill any wolfe or wolfs within the town of Nameeng, he that kills the wolf shall have of everie familie in towne six pence conditionaly that he bring the head and the skin to any two of the townsmen.

" The 16 of Januarie, 1648 [1649].

" It is agreed by the townsmen of Nameeug that Mr. John winthroup is granted to set up a were and to make huse of the river at poquanuck at the upper end of the plaine for to take fish and so to make improve- ment of it, to him and his heirs and asigns.

" The 17 of februarie, 1648. The meadow that Robert hempsteed did formerly mow liing by quittapeage Rocke is granted to Andrew loung- don and giles smith from the great Rock at the north end and so to hould in breadth of the pon as far towards the plombeech as any was mowed by Robert hempsteed."

"22 Feb. 1648 [1849]. The inhabitants of Pequit plantation have chosen by a joynt consent Mr. John Winthroup, Lobert Hempsteed, Carie Latham, John Clarke and Thomas Berchard of Seabrooke should goe to Pequoet and vewe the said parcell of land there given to the souldiers and taken up by Pequoet as before, and then goe to Naihanticot and lay out there unto the said souldiers such and soe much land, as may be fully equiva- lent to there former grant of land at Pequoet.

" And for the inhabitants of Pequoet the Court grants that there bounds shall come to Bride Brook (the former grant excepted) provided that it doth not come within the bounds of Seabrooke, and provided that what meadowe or marsh there is above 200 ackers it shall be reserved for the countries use and for their dispose."

TOWN MEETING, 1650.

"At a town meeting at Namearke, the 25th of Feb. 1649 [1650] these fower men chosen for townsmen : Mr. John Winthrop, Mr. Johnnathan Brewster, Robert Hempstead, William Nicholls.

" At the same meeting John Stubbines is chosen Constable for the towne Namearke.

"Mr. Brewster must have been chosen clerk or recorder about the same time. The succeeding records of that year are in his hand, and he adds to his signature, 'Clarke of the Towne of Pequett.' His business as an Indian trader kept him much abroad, and he held the office but one year.

" Winthrop and Brewster were made freemen of Connecticut colony in May, 1650. In September of that year Mr. Brewster and Thomas Miner appeared at the General Court as the first deputies from Pe- quot.

" The first town grants to Brewster were in Septen- ber, 1649. He established a trading-house with the Mohegans at a point on the east side of the river, opposite to their principal settlement. At this place, which is still called by his name, Brewster's Neck, he laid out for himself a large farm. The deed of the land was given him by Uncas, in substance as fol- lows :

"' April 25, 1650. I, Unquas, Sachem of Maubekon, doe give freely unto Jonathan Brewster, of Pequett, a tract of land, being a plane of arable land, bounded on the south side with a great Coave called Pocca- tannocke, on the north with the old Poccatuck path that goes to the Trading Coave, &c. For, and in consideration thereof, the said J. B. binds himself and his heirs to keep a house for trading goods with the Indians.

"'[Signed by the Sachen and witnessed by William Baker and John Fossiker.]'

"This deed was confirmed by the town, Nov. 30, 1652, and its bounds determined. It comprised the whole neck on which the trading-house stood, '450 acres laid out by the measurers.'

"The General Court in May, 1650, censured Mr. Brewster for the steps he had taken in establishing this trade.

1 New London.

145

NEW LONDON.

"' Whereas Mr. Jonathan Brewster hath set up a trading house at Mohegan, this Court declares that they cannot but judge the thing very disorderly, nevertheless considering his condition, they are content he should proceed therein for the present and till they see cause to the con- trary.'"

THE PIONEER GRIST-MILL.

Nov. 10, 1650, the following persons held a meeting to arrange with Mr. Winthrop in establishing a mill to grind corn :

" Mr. Winthrop, Mr. Parke, Jonathan Brewster, Robert Hempsted, William Nicholls, John Gager, Thomas Stanton, William Bartlett, Peter Blatchford, William Comstock, William Taylor, Mr. Blinman, Samuel Lothrop, John Lewis, William Morton.

"The inhabitants were to make 'the dam and heavy work belonging to the milne.' "

It was further agreed that "no person or persons shall set up any other milne to grind corn for the town of Pequett within the limits of the town, either for the present, nor for the future so long as Mr. John Winthrop or his heirs do uphold a milne to grind the towne corn."

At the session of the General Court, in May, 1649, the following regulations were made respecting Pe- quot :

1. The inhabitants were exempted from all public country charges- i.e., taxes for the support of the colonial government-for the space of three years ensuing.

2. The bounds of the plantation were restricted to four miles each side of the river, and six miles from the sea northward into the country, " till the court shall see cause and have encouragement to add thereunto, pro- vided they entertain none amongst them as inhabitants that shall be obnoxions to this jurisdiction, and that the aforesaid bounds be not dis- tributed to less than forty families."

3. John Winthrop, Esq., with Thomas Miner and Samuel Lothrop as assistants, were to have power as a court to decide all differences among the inhabitants under the value of forty shillings.

4. Uncas and his tribe were prohibited from setting any traps, but not from hunting and fishing within the bounds of the plantation.

5. The inhabitants were not allowed to monopolize the corn trade with the Indians in the river, which trade was to be left free to all in the united colonies.

6. " The Courte commends the name of Faire Harbour to them for to bee the name of their Towne."

7. Thomas Miner was appointed " Military Sergeant in the Towne of Pequett," with power to call forth and train the inhabitants.

"Cardes and Shufflebords."-In 1664 "cardes and shufflebords" were prohibited, and its inhabit- ants warned "not to entertane strange young men."

Early Accounts.

"1691 .- To Samll Raymond 5 dayes for fetching ye gunns-he went by land wth his horse, 16s.

"To Capt. Wetherell, 5 dayes do,-wth expense for himself and Ray- mond and provision for those yt went by water, £2 48. 3d.

" To John Prentis, Jeremy Chapman, Oliver Manwaring, Nath1 Chap- pell, Willm Miner, Thomas Crocker, Thomas Daniels, -for fetching ye gunns from Seabrook (from 15 to 188, each).

" To Mr. Plumbe for his horse boat to fetch ye gunns, &c., £1 10s. 6d.

" To Jonathan Hall pr himself and sloop for ye gunns, £3.

"To widow Mary Haris for 15 gls rum and 61b sugar when the guns were fetcht, £I 2s. 10d.

"To John Richards for searching ye gunns," etc.

"October, 1651.

"John Picket, Mr. Stanton enformed me (3 or 4 years agoe), desired a lott-now desires to renew it, and desires a lott by the Dutch Captins, a seaman,-granted.

" Mrs. Lake requests for upland and meddo to her house lott.

"Cowkeeper expects pay for Cowes he desires to know from us what every one must pay.

" About 6b. to make up the mill dam.

" Another rate for the ministry.

" A rate for the new meeting-house.

" For the Lords days he is to keep them every 4th Lords day and to give one days notice to him that hath most cattle first to keep them upon the Lords day and whoever hath one more than another to warn him before he that hath fewer to keep them a Lord's day and after he that hath but one cow shall keep them his day, then to begin again with him that hath most, twice warning them that have double the cattle that their neighbors have before once warning him that hath but half that his neighbor hath.

"The keeper for his paines is to have 12s. a weeke-for his pay he is to have 1 ponnd of butter for every cow, and the rest of his pay in wom- pum or Indiane Corne, at 28. 6d. p. per bushell in the moneth of October."

The waste marsh, generally overflowed, was given to a company of undertakers,-viz., Mr. Denison, Hugh Calkins, John Elderkin, and Andrew Lester,- who undertook to drain it, and were to have all the land "now under water forever." It was added :

"The undertakers have liberty to make a weare. They are to leave it open two nights every week for the coming up of the alewives. The town to liave freedom to take what they please at the usual place, or to buy them at the weare at 20 alewives for a penny for their eating."

" The salt marshes were esteemed as the first class of lands by the planters. Those near the harbor's mouth were known by the Indian name of Quagana- poxet, and were mostly granted to the settlers from Gloucester, as a kind of bonus to induce them to re- move, and as furnishing a ready-made food for the cattle they brought with them. They are often re- ferred to as 'the marshes given to Cape Ann men.'"

" May 20.

" Water [Walter] Harries of Dorchester desires a house lot beyond the plot of land by John Coites. Granted."

" Ang. 29.

"John Stoder [Stoddard] hath a house lot given him at Foxen's hill,- 6 acres, highwaies to be allowed to common land and to fetch stones."

The order for a town-meeting was given by the townsmen to the constable, who gave notice to the warner and drummer. The warner left a summons at every house; the drum began to beat half an hour before the time for business, and if a constable, two townsmen, and fifteen inhabitants appeared it was a legal meeting.

"June 2. Goodman Harries is chosen by the Towne ordinary keeper. "June 20. Capt. Denison is chosen Commissioner and to him Is chosen Mr. Brewster, Mr. Stanton, and Hugh Calkin to make a list of the state of the towne and the inhabitants, and to make the Country rate of Twenty pounds."

Aug. 28, 1652. The former law granting a tax of sixpence from every family for the killing of a wolf was repealed, and a bounty of twenty shillings sub- stituted.

" The Towne having nominated and chosen Goodman Cheesebrooke Obadiah Brnen, and Hugh Calkin whom to present to the Court, desire that they may have power, together with Mr. Winthrop and Capt. Deni- son, or any three of them, for the ending of small causes in the town."

This petition was not granted, and the inhabitants were obliged for some time longer to carry their law cases to Hartford for adjudication.

" Nov. 6.

" John Elderkin was chosen Ordinary Keeper.

" An order from the Court forbidding the sale of strong liquors by any but persons lycensed by the Court was published.

"Widdo Harris was granted by voat also to keep an ordinary if she will."

146

HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

April 9, 1653. The order was re-enacted enforcing attendance upon town-meeting, and a fine of one shilling imposed upon absentees when lawfully warned.

" The aforesaid fyne also they sball pay.if they come not within halfe an howre after the beating of the drum and stay the whole day or until they be dismissed by a publick voate."

" April 25, 1653.

"Captain Denison, Goodman Cheesebrooke, Mr. Brewster, and Obadiah Bruen are chosen to make a list of the male persons in town 16 years old and upward, and a true valuation of all real and personal estate of the said persons according to order of the Court. Goodman Cheese- brooke is chosen Commissioner to carry th list to the Court in Sopteni- ber next."

This was the first list of the town returned to the General Court, the inhabitants having been hereto- fore free from the colonial tax. The list amounted to £3334, which ranked the town sixth in the colony ; the five river towns-Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield, Farmington, and Saybrook-took the precedence.

GOODMAN CHEESEBROUGH'S TROUBLE.

" Whereas Goodman Cheesebrough is as we are informed hindered of John Leighton to fetch home his haie wee the townsmen of Pequot doe order that the said Goodman Cheesebrough shall have liberty to goe any way he shall see most convenient for him to bring it home withont any let or hindrance from the said John Leighton. This is determined by us untill the Towne shall take further order to dispose both of the way and land.

"O. B., for writing and recording for the Towne, orders, agreements, petitions, letters, Court grants, rates, gathering and perfecting rates, writing before, at, and after town-meeting, covenants of cow-keeper and smith, £6."

" Feb. 6, 1660.

" For the settling, perfecting, and fairly recording of all records for the town's nse and good of after posterity, wee agreed that there shall be a towne booke, with an Alphabet in it, wherein all acts passed, orders or agreements, shall hereafter be fairly recorded, whether past or to come, for the effecting hereof, we agree that all the old bookes of records shall be searched into for what is material concerning the public good, to be drawn out into a booke provided and paid for by the Recorder, who shall have 6d. paid him out of the town rate for every act, law or order re- corded."

[Signed by the townsmen, Obadiah Bruen, Hugh Calkin, James Rogers, James Avery, William Nichols.]

" May 28, 1651.

" It is ordered that all dammage done by goates is to be vewed by three indifferent men, and as they shall judge the real dammage, double dam- mage is to be allowed."

" Aug. 15th, 1651.

" It is agreed that there shall be a common field fenced in; the fence beginning about Greene Harbor, and to run through the woods to Robin Hood's Bay.

" The Towne have sent to the Court by there Deputys IIugh Calkin and Thomas Mynor that the Towne's name may be called London.

" And to know there enlargement to Pockatuck.

" Also about indians powther."

This second application concerning the name of the town was no more successful than the former had been. The court, in September, while it confirmed the enlargement of the bounds to Pawkatuck River, called the town by its old name, Nameage.

Memoranda for Town-Meeting, Sept. 20.

"To propound buying of Mr. Parks barne.

" A rate for Mr. Blynmans half year : chuse rater.

" Speak about new drum.

"Chuse one to run the lyne to Pockatuck.

"Read the Towne grant from the Court.

" A training day. A rate for the book of lawes.

" Amos Richerson is to have a lot."

Minutes from Society Records.

" Mr. Thomson to be cleered" [freed from paying rates].

"Mr Tinker, James Morgan, and Obadiah Bruen are chosen to seat the people in the meeting-house, which, they doing, the inhabitants are to rest silent."

" Dec. 1, 1661. The towne have agreed with Goodman Elderkin and Goodman Waller to repare the turret of the meeting-house, and to pay them what they shall demand in reason.

"To know what allowance Mr. Tinker shall have for his tyme spent in exercising in publique.

" To return an account of contributions.

" May 5, 1662. Thomas Bowen hath given him by the towne forty shillings of the contribution wompum."

FORT IlILL.

" Jan. 6, 1661-62.

" The highway to the water by Mr. Morton's is voated to be 4 pole wide." [Now Blinman Street.]

" All the military offisers are to lay out fort hill by the next meeting."

"Fort Hill was an elevated upland ridge on the eastern border of the present Parade, with an abrupt projecting slope to the water-side, which caused it to be called also a point. In the course of time it has been graded and rounded, so as to be no longer either a hill or a point. It was expressly reserved on the first laying out of the town for the purpose of forti- fication."

"Sept. '61.

" Mr. Thomsons request of 3 pole of land by the water side upon Mill Cove."

" Oct. 24. Mr. Lords request in writing.

" Mr. Savages request in writing.

" Mr. Lovelands request in writing.

" A Dutchman and his wife request of the towne."

"Dec. 1. Three men (Morgan, Latham, Avery) chosen by the town to vew the poynt of land and confirme it to Mr. Loveland, Mr. Tinker, Mr. Lane, and Mr. Stallon, in the best way they can, leaving suffisient way to the Spring for all neighbors."

" Sept. 24, '62.

"Mr. Pinsions request for a place for wharfage and building and out land.

" Hugh Moles request for a place by the water side to build vessels on, and a wharfe.

" Consider to do something about the townes landing place."

"Jan. 26, '62-3. Mr. Pinsions request per Mr. James Rogers,-the towne doe give him three pole out of yt sixe pole yt is allowed for the towne a landing place, neere Sandie poynt, provided he build and wharfe within one yeere after this grant; the landing place to be but three pole wide."

MAKING OF BREAD AND BRUING OF BEERE.

" 25 Feb., '61-2. Mr. Addis granted to sell beere."

"5 May, '62. Goodman Culver is chosen and allowed of by the towne for the making of bread and bruing of beere for the publicke good."

HOLDING THE CONTRIBUTION-BOX.

"15 Aug. 67. Myselfe [Douglas] chosen to hold the box for the con- tributions and this to be propounded to Mr. Bradstreet to have his advise therein. William Nickols is also chosen for that worke.

"It is voated that the men chosen to call the collectors to account shall have a letter of aturney to impower them to do their work, and that Mr. Meryt shall write it."

THE JAIL.

"30, October. John Prentis chosen Townes attorney.

"9, December. It is voted that the prison-house shall stand by ye meeting-house."

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History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 36

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