USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > History of Norwich, Connecticut: from its possession by the Indians, to the year 1866 > Part 14
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PATENT
OF THE TOWN OF NORWICH, A. D. 1685.
Whereas the General Court of Connecticut have forever granted unto the proprietors and Inhabitants of the Towne of Norwich all those lands, both meadows and uplands, within these abuttments (viz.) from the mouth of Tradeing-cove Brooke the line to run as the Brooke to the head of the Brooke to a white oake marked N : and from thence west northwesterly to a great pond to a black oake marked N: which stands neere the mouth of the great Brooke that runs out of the pond to Norwich river, which is about seven miles from the said Tradeing Cove ; and from thenee the line runns North noreast nine miles to a Black oake standing by the river side on the south of it, a little above manmeagway, and from thence the line runs south southeasterly nine miles to a white oake standing by a brooke marked N : and then the line runs south southwesterly nine miles to a white oake neere Robert Allyn and Thomas Rose's Dwelling houses, which tree is marked N : and from thenee westerly as New London Bounds runs to Mohegan river, the whole being nine miles square, the said land haveing been by purchase or otherwise lawfully obtayned of the Indian natives proprietors .- And whereas, the said Inhabitants and proprietors of the sd Norwich in the Colony of Connecticutt have made application to the Governor and Company of the sd Colony of Connecticutt assembled in Court May 25th, 1685, that they may have a patent for the confirmation of the aforesd land, so purchased and granted to them as aforesaid, and which they have stood seized, and quietly possessed of for many years late past, without interruption. Now for a more full confirmation of the aforesd unto the present proprietors of the sd Towneship of Norwich in their possession and injoyment of the premises, know yee that the sd Governour and Company assembled in Generall Court according to the Commission Granted to them by his magestie's charter, have given and granted and by these pres- ents doe give, grant Rattifie and confirme unto Mr. James Fitch sen", Capt. James Fitch, Mr. Benjamine Brewster, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Lieut. Tho. Leflingwell, Mr. Christopher Huntington, Mr.Simon Huntington, Ensign William Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John Burchard and Mr. John Post, and the rest of the said present pro- prietors of the township of Norwich, their heirs, successors and assigns forever ; the aforesaid parcell of land as it is Butted and Bounded, together with all the woods, meadows, pastures, ponds, waters, rivers, islands, fishings, huntings, fowleings, mines, mineralls, quarries, and precious stones, upon or within the said tract of land, and all other proffitts and comodities thereunto belonging, or in any wayes appertayning ; and Doe also grant unto the aforesd Mr. James Fitch, sen", Capt. James Fitch, Mr. Ben- jamin Brewster, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Lient. Thos. Leffingwell, Mr. Christopher Huntington, Mr. Simon Huntington, Ensign Wm. Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John Birchard, and Mr. John Post, and the rest of the proprietors, Inhabitants of Norwich, their heirs, successors and assigns forever, that the foresd tract of land shall be forever hereafter deemed, reputed and be an intire towneship of itself-to have and to hold the said traet of land and premises, with all and singular their appurtenances, together with the priviledges and immunities and franchises herein given and granted unto the sayd Mr. James Fitch sent, Capt. James Fitch, Mr. Benjamine Brewster,
135
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Lieut. Thomas Leffingwell, Mr. Christopher Huntington, Mr. Simon Huntington, Ensign Wm. Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John Birchard and Mr. John Post, and other the present proprietors, Inhabitants of Norwich, theire heirs successors, and assignes for ever, and to the only proper use and behoofe of the sayd Mr. James Fitch sent, Capt. James Fitch, Mr. Benjamine Brewster, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Lieut. Thomas Leffingwell, Mr. Christopher Huntington, Mr. Simon Huntington, Ensign Wm. Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John Birchard and Mr. John Post, and other proprietors, inhabitants of Norwich, their heirs, successors, and assigns for ever, according to the Tenor of East Greenwich in Kent, in free and common soccage and not in capitte, nor by Knite's service, they to make improvement of the same as they are capable according to the custom of the country, yielding, ren- dering, and paicing therefore to our sovereign Lord the king, his heirs and successors, his dues according to Charter. In witness whereof, we have caused the Seale of the Colony to be hereunto affixed this twenty-first of May, 1685, in the first yeare of the reigne of our sovereigne lord James the Second, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the faith.
ROBERT TREAT, Governor.
SEAL.
March 30th, 1687, per order of Govr. and Company of the Colony of Connecticutt.
Signed pr
JOHN ALLYN, Secrety.
Entered in the pub. records, Lib. D : fo. 138, 139, Novr 27th, 1685 : pr JOHN ALLYN, Secrety.
Twelve Patentees were chosen by the town; but from some cause un- known, Thomas Adgate, who was one, is not named in the instrument as recorded on the town books. They will all be recognized as belonging to the original band of proprietors, with the exception of Capt. James Fitch and Mr. Benjamin Brewster.
In January, 1702, a fresh enrollment of the inhabitants was made, in connection with "An Act for the more equal Division of the Common Lands." This list seems to have been made with great care, and we may rely upon it as nearly accurate. It enumerates 9 surviving first proprie- tors, 76 accepted inhabitants, and 6 orphans under age, all entitled to share as first settlers. Twelve other persons, who had more recently set- tled in the township, were entered for half shares. This would give 97 freemen, or legal voters and proprietors, to the town. Probably the num- ber of actual residents was considerably larger.
Jan : 31, 1701-2. The names of the first settlers now surviving are as followeth, --- The Rev. Mr. James Fitch. (dicd 18 Nov. 1702.).
Lev't Thomas Leffingwell. (d. 1710.)
Deacon Simon Huntington.
(d. 28 June, 1706.)
Deac. Thomas Adgate.
(d. 21 July, 1707.)
Levt. William Backus. John Post.
(d. 17 Nov. 1710.)
Thomas Post.
(supposed d. 5 Sept. 1701.)
John Reynolds.
(d. 22 July, 1702.)
Morgan Bowers.
(d. 1721.)
(unknown.)
136
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
At this time a large proportion of the outlands had been already dis- tributed, and were in a great measure occupied. All the better part of the inhabitants, in addition to their possessions in the town-plot, owned farms. Many of the sons of the first proprietors had settled on these paternal aeres. The wide districts now forming the towns of Bozrah and Franklin, were then the Norwich farms. Several of these farm home- steads have descended by inheritance to the present day, and are elaimed by virtue of the original town grant.
Before the year 1700, several flourishing towns were growing up around Norwich, most of them offshoots from her trunk and nourished with her life-blood.
A part of Preston was originally East Norwich. Lebanon, Windham, Mansfield, Canterbury, Plainfield and Griswold were daughters of Nor- wich, or at least drew a large proportion of their early settlers from her bounds.
Though John Cates, an Englishman, is said to have erected the first habitation in Windham, as early as 1689, yet the legatees of Joshua Uncas were the first proprietors of the land, and fourteen of these (the whole number being but sixteen) were of Norwich. Those who claimed under these legatees, the Backuses, Binghams, Huntingtons, and other early settlers, were the men who actually founded Windham, changing the wild lands of Naubesetuck to a thriving plantation.
The first town meeting at Windham was held June 11, 1692. Among the town officers chosen on that occasion, seven are recognized as sons of Norwich proprietors, viz. : John Fitch, fourth son of Rev. James ; Thomas Huntington, son of Christopher ; Joseph Huntington, son of Simon ; Sam- uel Hyde, Jonathan Hough, and John Royee.
Among the first planters we find also John Backus, Thomas Bingham, Samuel Birchard, Benjamin Armstrong, Jonathan Crane, Peter Cross, Samuel Gifford, William Moore, Robert Wade,-all removing thither from some part of the nine-miles-square.
Few persons of that period had more influence in this part of the col- ony than Captain, or as he was afterwards styled, Major Fitch. He was a noted friend and patron to the Indians, and after the death of Major Mason, possessed more sway over the sachems than any other individual, not excepting their other distinguished advocate, Capt. Samuel Mason. The signature of Owaneco, subsequent to the year 1680, was considered of no value unless countersigned by Capt. Fitch ; the Sachiem, with the consent of the General Court, having authorized him to act as his guardian.
137
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
(From a signature of 1682.)
James Kitch fig
Major Fitch stands forth remarkably prominent in connection with the fanded interest of eastern Connecticut. He was noted as a land-surveyor, land-registrar, land-speculator, and a land-holder to an immense extent. By legislative grants, by purchase from other grantees, and intimate con- nection with the Indian sachems, he accumulated a vast number of acres. In 1684, he obtained from Owaneco the native right and title to a broad tract of unsettled land, comprised under the general name of "the Nipmug and Wabaquassuck countreys." The southern line of this territory, be- ginning at the Quinnabaug river, north of the present town of Brooklyn, and running west, was estimated at forty-five miles, and from this western point the line running north extended beyond the northern boundary of Massachusetts.
Out of this tract, the town of Pomfret was purchased of Capt. Fitch for thirty pounds. It was called the Mashamoquet Purchase, and consisted of fifteen thousand one hundred acres, which was assigned by Fitch to certain proprietors, May 5, 1686, the deed being countersigned by Owan- eco and Josiah.
In 1687, Owaneco conveyed to Major Fitch, parcels of land in the towns of Plainfield and Canterbury, of such extent as also to be measured by miles. A mortgage deed, executed in favor of Simeon Stoddard of Boston, Nov. 19, 1691, maps out a portion of Major Fitch's accumulated land claims.
1st. A tract " in the erotch of the rivers Showtuckett and Queenabauge," a mile and a fourth on one river, and nearly three miles on the other, now the southern part of Lisbon. 2d. Four thousand acres, in two parts : two thousand on each side of the Quinebaug, in the present towns of Plainfield and Canterbury. 3d. Five thousand acres, in two parts, lying south of New Roxbury, alias Woodstock. 4th. A cultivated farm of two hundred acres in Preston.
Following Major Fitch by his various deeds on record, we might sup- pose that during a part of his life he changed his local habitation with every revolution of the sun. On one occasion he is spoken of as an inhabitant of Preston.
In 1697, he writes himself, " I, James Fitch of Norwich."
In 1698, " I James Fitch of Peagscomsuck."*
* Deed recorded at Norwich.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
In 1699, "I James Fitch of Kent, alias Peagscomset."*
In 1701, "I James Fitch of Plainfield."t
In 1703, "I James Fitch of Canterbury."
But though Major Fitch had farms and dwelling-houses in several town- ships, and seems to have circulated freely through his possessions, he re- tained his connection with Norwich as a legal inhabitant down to the year 1697. He then removed his family to Peagscomsuck,# on the Quinebaug river,-a plantation that he designed should be called Kent. The name, however, obtained but a limited currency, and was soon changed to Can- terbury. Of this town he was pre-eminently the founder. He purchased the land, made the first clearings, laid it out in farms and house-lots, and built himself the first barn and the first framed house within its limits. He drew after him from Norwich other substantial settlers : the names of Backus, Bradford and Tracy appearing early upon the annals of the town.
Canterbury and Plainfield grew up like twin plantations, side by side. Major Fitch was one of the first proprietors in each. Mr. Joseph Coit was the herald of the gospel to both communities, and for several years preached alternately at either place. Plainfield was incorporated in 1699; Canterbury, in 1703.
Major Fitch and his brother Daniel were highly esteemed as brave soldiers and experienced partizans in Indian warfare. In the summer of 1696, a band of Mohawks committed some depredations on the western towns in Massachusetts, and a rumor having reached Capt. Fitch that a party of them had been seen skulking about Woodstock, he hastened from his farm to Norwich, collected a band of whites and Mohegans, and plunged into the forests in pursuit of the enemy. From Woodstock, he sent a part of his force under his brother Daniel, to range the woods fur- ther to the west, which they did, scouring the country as far as Oxford, Worcester, and Lancaster.
Tradition and record give intimations of one defect in the character of the gallant Major. He could not always resist the temptation to convivial excess, but he appears to have had the Christian grace to acknowledge the fault when committed, and repent of it. He continued his connection with the Norwich church long after his removal to Canterbury, and perhaps till his death. He was under the temporary discipline of the Norwich church în 1704 ..
Yale College honors Major Fitch as one of its earliest patrons. He
* Deed recorded at New London.
+ At New London : deed to Massiah Harding and Richard Cooke, of Eastham, -***- 1000 acres in Plainfield, Cooke sold to Elisha Payne.
¿ This was the Indian name of an island in the river, near which he settled.
139
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
contributed to the funds gathered for its first establishment, gave the glass and nails for the college edifice, and endowed it with 637 aeres of land in the town of Killingly.
He was twiee married, and had thirteen children. His first wife, Eliz- abeth Mason, died in 1684. He married, second, May 8th, 1687, Alice, daughter of Major William Bradford of Plymouth, and relict of Rev. William Adams of Dedham. She was sister of Thomas Bradford of Norwich, and mother of Rev. Eliphalet Adams of New London.
Major Fiteh died in Canterbury, Nov. 10th, 1727. His youngest son, Jabez, born in 1702, was a respected inhabitant of Newent Society, where he filled the offices of justice, judge, and colonel.
CHAPTER XI.
BRIEF MEMORIALS OF THE PROPRIETORS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS.
WE have now reached the period when the first class of settlers disap- pear from the seene. One generation has passed away, and another is rapidly verging towards the down-hill of life.
Before dismissing this venerated band to their last resting-place, the few facts which have been ascertained respecting each proprietor will be rehearsed, with brief notices of his family, and glances at some of his descendants.
I. MAJOR JOHN MASON.
Every memoir of Mason is obliged to take him up at the prime of life, for of his birth,* parentage, and early years, no certain information has been obtained. When he first appears in history, he is in the English army under Sir Thomas Fairfax, fighting in the Netherlands in behalf of the Dutch patriots, against the bigotry and tyranny of Spain.
He is supposed to have emigrated to this country in 1630, with Mr. Warham's company that sailed from Plymouth, England, March 20th, and arrived at Nantasket May 30th of that year .; But this can not be stated with absolute certainty, as he has not been actually traced on this side of the ocean before December, 1632, when he was engaged in a cruise with John Gallop, under a commission from the Governor and Magistrates of Massachusetts to search for a pirate called Dixy Bull, who had for some time annoyed the coast with petty depredations. He was then called Lieutenant Mason, but soon afterward attained the rank of Captain.# In 1634, he was one of a Committee appointed to plan the fortifications of Boston Harbor, and was specially employed in raising a battery upon Castle Island.
In March, 1635, he was the representative of Dorchester to the General Court, but in the latter part of the same year, or early in the next, removed
* That he was born about 1600, may be inferred from his age at the time of his death,-upwards of 70 in 1672.
¡ Prince's Chronology.
# Life of Mason, by Ellis.
141
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
with the major part of Mr. Warham's people to the Connecticut Valley. Here the emigrants planted themselves on the western bank of Connecti- cut river, above Hartford, and founded the pleasant and honorable town of Windsor.
With the residence of Capt. Mason at Windsor, all the stirring scenes of the Pequot war are connected. This was the great event of the early history of Connecticut, and the overshadowing exploit of Mason's life. He was instrumental in originating the expedition, formed the plan, fol- lowed out its details, fought its battles, clinched, as it were with iron screws, its results, and wrote its history. This war was begun and ended when Connecticut had only 250 inhabitants, comprised principally in the three towns of Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor. Out of these Mason gathered a band of seventy men, and passing down Connecticut river, landed in the Narragansett country, and being joined by a band of friendly Indians, marched directly into the heart of the hostile territory, assailed the Pequots in their strongest fortress, destroyed it, laid waste their dwel- lings, and killed nearly half of the whole nation. This expedition occu- pied three weeks and two days. The skill, prudence, firmness and active courage displayed by Mason in this exploit, were such as to gain him a high standing among military commanders. From this period he became renowned as an Indian fighter, and stood forth a buckler of defence to the exposed colonists, but a trembling and a terror to the wild people of the wilderness.
In 1637, he was appointed by the General Court the chief military officer of the colony, his duty being "to train the military men" of the several plantations ten days in every year: salary, forty pounds per annum .* At a later period, [1654,] he was authorized to assemble all the train-bands of the colony once in two years for a general review. The office was equivalent to that of Major-General. He retained it through the remainder of his life, thirty-five years, and during that time appears to have been the only person in the colony with the rank and title of Major.
When the fort at Saybrook was transferred by Col. Fenwick to the jurisdiction of the colony, Mason was appointed to receive the investment, and at the special request of the inhabitants he removed to that place and was made commander of the station. Here he had his home for the next twelve years. .
The people of New Haven were not entirely satisfied with their loca- tion, and formed a design of removing to a tract of land which they had purchased on the Delaware river. In 1651, they proposed this matter to
* " The saide Capt. Mason shall have liberty to traine the saide military men in every plantation tenn dayes in every yeere, soe as it be not in June or July." Conn. Col. Rec., 1, 15.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Capt. Mason, urgently requesting him to remove with them, and take the management of the company. This invitation is a proof of the high opinion his contemporaries had formed both of his civil and military tal- ents. The offers they made him were liberal, and he was on the point of accepting, when the Legislature of Connecticut interfered, entreating him not to leave the colony, and declaring that they could by no means con- sent to his removal. Finding that his presence was considered essential to the safety of Connecticut, he declined the offers of New Haven. If he went, there was no one left who could make his place good ; neither had New Haven any person in reserve, who could fill the station designed for him, and therefore the projected settlement never took place. The active disposition of Mason, however, never lacked employment. There was scarcely a year in which he was not obliged to go on some expedition among the Indian tribes, to negotiate, or to fight, or to pacify their mutual quarrels. At one time, his faithful friend Uncas was in danger from a powerful league of the other tribes, but the seasonable preparations of Mason for his relief, frightened the foe into peace and submission. At another time, he was sent with arms and men to the assistance of the Long Island Indians, against Ninigrate, the powerful sachem of the Na- hanticks, who threatened them with extirpation. This service he gallantly performed ; but only two years afterwards was compelled to appear again on that Island with a band of soldiers, in order to chastise the very Indians, mischievous and ungrateful, whom he had before relieved.
We find him, at the same time, and for several years in succession, holding various public offices, all arduous and important. He was Indian agent, Indian umpire, and the counselor of the government in all Indian concerns ; captain of the fort, justice of the peace, and empowered to hold courts as a judge ; a member likewise of two deliberative bodies, the Con- necticut Legislature, and the Board of Commissioners of the United Col- onies ; Major-General of the militia at home, and the acting commander in all expeditions abroad. In 1660 he was chosen Deputy Governor, to which office he was annually re-elected for eight years, five under the old form, and three under the King's charter, which united Connecticut with New Haven. The same year he was actively employed, in conjunction with Mr. Fitch and others, in effecting the settlement of Norwich, and also in purchasing of the Mohegans a large tract of land, in behalf of the colony.
At this time also, for nearly two years, he performed all the duties of the chief magistrate of the colony,-Winthrop, the Governor, being absent in England, engaged in negotiations respecting the charter.
Thus the life of Mason on this continent may be distributed into four portions. The first was given to Dorchester, and the remainder in nearly equal parts to the three towns in Connecticut that he assisted in planting.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Lieutenant and Captain at Dorchester, five and a half years.
Conqueror of the Pequots, magistrate and major at Windsor, twelve years.
Captain of the fort, and Commissioner of the United Colonies at Say- brook, twelve.
Deputy Governor and Assistant at Norwich, twelve.
He was not chosen Deputy Governor after 1668, but continued in duty as an Assistant, and was present for the last time at the election in May, 1671.
Of the original band of Norwich purchasers, Mason was one of the earliest laid in the grave .* He died Jan. 30, 1671-2. According to Trumbull, he was in the seventy-third year of his age. His last hours were cheered by the prayers and counsels of his beloved pastor and son- in-law, Mr. Fitch. Two years before, he had requested his fellow-citizens to excuse him from all further public services, on account of his age and infirmity ; so that the close of his life, though overshadowed by suffering from an acute disease, was unharrassed by care and responsibility. There is no coeval record that points out his burial-place, but uniform tradition and current belief in the neighborhood, from generation to generation, leave no reason to doubt that he was interred where other inhabitants of that generation were laid. that is, in the Post and Gager Burial Ground, or First Cemetery of Norwich.
He had been for twelve years an inhabitant of Norwich. It was his chosen home, and no urgent motive can be assigned for his interment else- where. Moreover, it was mid-winter, when a traveling procession in a new country, with the imperfect accommodations of that period, would have been almost impracticable. Had he been removed, under such cir- cumstances, to any other place for interment, (to Saybrook or Windsor, for example,) the event would have been of public notoriety throughout the colony, and must inevitably have been recorded somewhere in the annals of the day.
All the probabilities therefore are in favor of his having been buried in . Norwich. And if so, where? Not in a quiet nook in some portion of his own ground, for solitary private interments were not common in those days, and if the renowned Capt. Mason had been entombed in his garden or his
* Richard Hendy had deceased before this period, but no prominent proprietor, ex- cept William Backus, Sen. The precise date of Mason's death is ascertained from a cotemporary journal kept by Rev. Simon Bradstreet of New London, whose record is as follows :
"Jan: 30, 1671 (O. S.) Major Jno. Mason who had severall times been Deputy Govern of Connecticot Colony dyed. He was aged about 70. He lived the 2 or 3 last years of his life in Extream misery with ye stone or strangury or some such desease. He dyed with much comfort and assure it should be well with him." Hist. and Gen. Reg., 9, 46.
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