USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > History of Norwich, Connecticut: from its possession by the Indians, to the year 1866 > Part 24
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John Ames, Daniel Brewster,
Caleb Forbes, John Freeman, Joseph Freeman, James Morgan,
Isaac Morgan, Ezekiel Parke,
David Roode, Nathaniel Tracy,
Thomas Tracy.
Brown, Tristram, adm. June 21, 1716; the birth of Samuel, son of Tristram and Mary, recorded the same year.
"Trustram Brown and Abigail Parke were married 28 Aug. 1722." This was probably a second marriage of the above.
* Joshua Hempstead of New London, in his private Diary, says that Capt. Billings of Preston and Capt. Wm. Hyde of Norwich were buried the same day, June 9, 1738. These were men of note in their respective towns.
246
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Cady, Nicholas, owned a mill in Preston, and there died in 1725; sup- posed to have come from Killingly.
Isaac Cady died in 1730.
Cary, Joseph, had land granted to him in 1687, "near Capt. Standish's farm."
Clark. John Clark, carpenter, adm. 1702; died 1709, leaving a wife, Mary, and children, John, Thomas, Mary, Phebe, Isaac, and James,-all, or most of them, of mature age.
Isaac, adm. 1714 ; selectman 1723.
James Clark of Norwich died 1719.
Cook, Richard. A deed of gift, dated July 21, 1680, is recorded, from Greenfield Larrabee to Richard Cooke of Stonington, of thirty acres of land "over Showtuckett, where my now dwelling is, provided he removes and dwells upon it." Richard Cooke accepted the conditions, was after- ward admitted an inhabitant, and had other lands granted by the town. He died in 1695. His son Obed, born Feb. 1, 1681, was the father of Capt. James Cook of Preston, who died June 9, 1778, in the 62d year of his age.
Eliphal, one of the daughters of Capt. Cook, married Oliver Wood- worth, and died Jan. 25, 1842, aged 92, making but four generations from the settlement.
Corning. This name is found early in the East Society. Josiah and Nehemiah Corning were born, the former in 1703, and the latter in 1716. Both are interred in the Long Society burial-ground.
Danforth, Thomas, a land-owner in 1730, perhaps earlier.
Davison. Peter and Thomas Davison were early inhabitants of the East Society, or Preston. They probably came from Stonington. Peter died in 1706; Thomas in 1724; and a second Thomas in 1741.
Downer, Jonathan, adm. 1716.
Samuel, adm. 1721.
Andrew, a resident in 1723. Dr. Joshua Downer of Preston, born Aug. 6, 1735, was a son of Andrew.
Downs. John Downs and Hannah Rockwell were married March 1, 1693-4. They had five children baptized by Mr. Woodward in 1707.
Joshua Downs of Norwich and Mercy Raymond of New London were married Feb. 12, 1729-30.
247
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Fitch. Mr. Samuel Fitch, son of the Rev. James, was one of the ear- liest inhabitants east of the Shetucket. He died in 1725. His sons were Hezekiah, Jabez, and Benjamin. The following inscription is from one of the oldest grave-stones in Long Society :
-
HERE LAIS THE BODY OF DEACON BENJAMIN FITCH DIED OCT'R 19 1727 IN ye 37TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.
Forbes. Caleb Forbes had a land grant in 1672, and was constable on the east side in 1685. His marriage with Sarah, daughter of John Gager, took place June 30, 1681. A deed from Owaneco, in his favor, of 110 acres of upland and meadow "south of Connoughtug brook," bears the date of Dec. 10, 1683.
Deacon Caleb Forbes of Preston died Aug. 25, 1710. His estate was estimated at £625. He left a relict, Mary, and five children, Sarah, Caleb, Mary, John, and Elizabeth.
Francis, David, adm. 1697. He was on the roll of inhabitants in 1702, and again in 1718, with the title of Sergeant.
Freeman, Joseph, of Preston, 1698.
Sergeant Joseph Freeman's inventory was presented at the county court in 1706, and distribution of his estate ordered to his three sons, John, Ebenezer, and James.
Gates, Stephen, an inhabitant of Preston in 1720.
Thomas Gates died Oct. 24, 1726.
Geer. The farm of George Geer was near the dividing line between New London and Norwich, east of the river, and was afterward included in Groton. He married in 1659, Sarah, daughter of John Allyn. His sons, Joseph and Jonathan, were reckoned as inhabitants of Preston in 1687.
Giddings, Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel, born 1705; daughter Elizabeth baptized Sept. 19, 1715.
248
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Glover. John Glover, a grantee of 1680, is on the roll of inhabitants in 1702 and 1718. He married May 29, 1682, Hannah -, the fam- ily name not given.
March, 1684. "Granted to Mr. Brewster and John Glover, two bits of land, near their own land, on the east side of Showtueket river."
Haskell, Dyer, adm. Dec. 1, 1713.
Roger, adm. 1716; Daniel, 1723.
Roger and Daniel Haskell were brothers. The former died in 1727. The decease of Daniel and two sisters, Judith and Sarah, took place dur- ing the year 1730. Daniel left an estate of £850. In the last will and testament of Judith, several of the bequests are suggestive of the fashions of the day. "I give to brother Roger's daughter Zipporah, my Bible, my silk apron and pinners, and two ribbons. I give to brother Fitch's daugh- ter Abigail my chince frock and stays with green covering," &c.
A second Roger Haskell, who died in 1759, aged 67, and a third of the same name in 1791, have stones to their memory in the Long Society burial-ground.
Hewit. John Hewit, member of Norwich church in 1726, had a son Solomon baptized March 30, 1729.
Hillard, Joseph, 1738.
Larrabee, Greenfield, from Saybrook, son of an original emigrant of the same name, married Alice, daughter of Thomas Parke, in March, 1673, and settled upon a farm east of the river, near his father-in-law. In this new location he prospered, acquired large lands, brought up a family of eight sons and daughters, and lived to be upwards of 90 years of age. He was born April 20, 1648, and died Feb. 3, 1739.
Mainer, Zachariah, 1722.
Mix, or Meeks. Thomas Meeks, son of Thomas of New Haven, and there born in 1635, married June 30, 1677, Hannah, daughter of Rev. James Fitch. He settled upon a farm belonging to Mr. Fitch, east of the Shetucket. A tract of twenty acres, "where his house stands," was con- firmed to him July 16, 1680, as a free gift from Mr. Fitch to his daughter. They had nine children.
Mr. Mix died July 30, 1706. His son Daniel was a selectman in 1725 and 1726.
Morgan, Joseph, of Preston, son of James of New London and Groton, married Dorothy, daughter of Thomas Parke, "sometime in April, 1670," says the record. He died April 5, 1704. He had one son, Joseph, and six daughters, who lived to maturity. Estate, £522.
249
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Parish, Samuel, adm. 1716; Benjamin, a little later : probably sons of John of Stonington, who died in 1715.
Parke, or Parks. The farm of Thomas Parke was so ambiguously sit- uated that it took a course of years to get it settled into an abiding position. In 1681 he was a collector of taxes for New London, and his son, Thomas Parke, Jr., a constable of the same town. In 1686, the latter, without any removal of residence, was chosen constable for Norwich. A year later they were both included in the new town of Preston. Deacon Thomas Parke died July 30, 1709 ; his son, Thomas Jr., had previously deceased.
Robert Parke, second son of Deacon Thomas, married Rachel Leffing- well, Nov. 24, 1681. He also died before his father, (1707,) leaving a second wife, Mary, and ten children between the ages of nine months and twenty-three years. Robert Parke's homestead farm was within the bonnds of Groton ; he had also a farm at Pachang.
Capt. John Parke of Preston, another son of Deacon Thomas, and prob- ably the oldest, died in 1716. In the division of the estate, the widow Mary received that part of the farm "on which old deacon Thomas dwelt by the Great Pond." She afterward married Salmon Treat.
Nathaniel Parks in 1683, was a neighbor of Josiah Rockwell.
Richards. In 1713, Deacon John Richards of Preston asked for a confirmation of his land. William Richards, probably a brother of John, was also an early inhabitant of Preston. No connection between them and the Richards family of New London has been traced. William died in 1724; John in 1756. Both left descendants.
Roath. Robert Roath married in October, 1668, Sarah Saxton, and in 1672 was living at Norwich, near the Shetneket ferry. In 1680 the road to Poquetannoek was laid out, beginning at the house of Robert Roath, and running south through land of Owen Williams. Robert Roath had three sons, John, Daniel, and Peter, who all became heads of families.
Robinson. Peter Robinson came from Martha's Vineyard about 1708; adm. 1712; had three children baptized by Mr. Woodward, (1711, 1713, 1714,) all daughters ; removed to Windham, probably about 1720, and was one who assisted in forming the church in Scotland parish, 1735.
Israel Robinson was a resident of Norwich in 1720.
Rockwell. Josiah Rockwell settled at Norwich about 1670, and was slain by the Indians in January, 1676. His farm was on the eastern side of the Shetucket, near the road to Poquetannock.
The parentage of Josiah Rockwell has not been determined by actual records, but presumptive evidence connects him with the family of William
250
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Rockwell who died at Windsor in 1640. Though only three sons of Wil- liam are found on record at Windsor, viz., John, Samuel, and Joseph, it is not improbable that Josiah was an older son by a previous marriage. He was at New London in 1658, and remained there ten or twelve years. He then removed to Norwich, where one of William Rockwell's family- Ruth, wife of Christopher Huntington-had settled. Among his children we find the names of the three brothers of Windsor, Joseph, John, and Samuel, perpetuated ; and in the family of Samuel, at Windsor, we find a Josiah. These are hints suggestive of a relationship.
Josiah Rockwell had seven children, the births ranging from 1658 to 1676, inclusive. The oldest died in infancy. His marriage is not re- corded, and the name of his wife has not been traced.
Rood. John, son of Thomas and Sarah Rood of Norwich, had a home- lot granted him in 1679, "on the other side of Showtucket river, near to his uncle Leffingwell's." He died in September, 1706, leaving a wife, Mary, and six children,-the oldest, John, aged 16, and the second, Zach- ariah, aged 14. The last mentioned was probably the venerable centena- rian whose grave-stone in the Preston burial-ground has the following interesting record :
In Memory of Mr. Zachariah Rude who died Feb. 10th 1795. in the 103d year of his age.
Here in the history of my age, Men who review my days, May read God's love in every page, In every line his praise.
Rose. Thomas Rose was an early settler in the southern part of Pres- ton. His name acquired notoriety from the situation of his dwelling-house. A large oak-tree near the house was a noted boundary-mark between Nor- wich and New London, standing as a stately warder precisely at the south- east corner of Norwich. It was directly upon the line running east from the head of Poquetannock Cove to the bounds of Stonington, and is referred to in several surveys, acts, and patents.
Thomas Rose married Hannah, daughter of Robert Allyn. Under the shadow of the great boundary-tree they both lived to a good old age. He died in 1743, leaving an estate valued at £2,498. His wife survived him, and he left also a son Joseph, and six daughters. Another son, Thomas, died before his father, in 1733, leaving a family.
251
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Rudd. Jonathan and Mercy Rudd were married Dec. 19, 1678, and probably settled in Norwich about that time. His land east of the She- tucket was held by a deed of purchase from Owaneco, dated Dec. 10, 1683, and consisted of 100 acres on Connoughtug brook, and 108 acres betwixt Shunkhungannock hill and Norwich bounds. He appears also to have had other lands.
He died in 1689. In the distribution of his estate, his wife received £60; the oldest son, Jonathan, £117; Nathaniel and Abigail, each £58, 10s. "At the desire of the widow, Joseph and Richard Bushnell, Na- thaniel Rudd, Thomas Tracy and Caleb Forbes were appointed overseers of the widow, children and estate."
Spicer. The first Peter Spicer was of New London in 1666, and died in 1695. The second Peter was of Norwich in 1702 and 1716. Samuel, adm. Dec. 20, 1715.
Standish. Josiah (or Josias) Standish was a son of the renowned Miles Standish of Duxbury. His first wife, Mary, "dyed and was buried at Duxborough July 1, 1665."* His second wife is supposed to have been Sarah, daughter of Samuel Allen of Braintree.t The earliest notice we obtain of him in this neighborhood is from a deed of sale dated Feb. 5, 1686, from "John Parks of the new plantation, east of Norwich," (Preston,) to "Capt. Josiah Standish now in Norwich," of 150 acres of land "over Showtucket river upon the hill between Mr. Fitch's farm and Pocketannuck,"-consideration, £22. Witnesses, Thomas Bradford and Simon Huntington, Jr. The same year he purchased a thousand-acre right in Windham, near where Willimantic now stands.
Capt. Standish died in 1690. The widow and son Miles were appointed administrators on his estate. We may assume that Samuel Standish, licensed to tan leather in Preston, 1706, Israel Standish of Preston, 1709, Josiah, who went from Preston, and was one of the first settlers of Staf- ford, 1719, and Lois, who married Hugh Calkins in 1706, were children of Capt. Josiah.
Miles Standish of Preston died in 1728; left relict Elizabeth ; estate appraised at £919.11.3.
In his inventory are articles that harmonize well with his name,-viz., gun, sword, belt, pouch, and bullets ; a Bible and Confession of Faith.
Starkweather. John Starkweather was an early inhabitant. He died Aug. 21, 1703, leaving a widow and seven children between the ages of 12 and 26 years.
* Hist. and Gen. Reg., 8, 192.
t Ibid., 10, 225.
252
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Tyler. Hopestill Tyler, "an aged man, died in 1733. He left a wife, Mary, and four children, viz., Hannah Buswell, Daniel, James, and IIope- still. Estate, £813. In the inventory of his wardrobe is "a close bodied coat," valued at £4, 5s., a beaver hat, an orange-colored cloak, and a muff.
Wedge, Thomas. Deborah, relict of Thomas Wedge, died in 1703, leaving seven children, viz., John, Mary, Joshua, Isaac, Deborah, David, and Deliverance. John Richards and John Tracy witnessed her will.
Joshua was on the roll of Norwich inhabitants in 1716.
Wentworth. Paul Wentworth, a son of Elder William Wentworth of Dover, N. H., obtained from Owaneco, the Indian sachem, a lease of cer- tain lands in Mohegan, to which he removed with his family. He was dismissed, with his wife Katherine, from the church at Rowley, where he had lived, to the church at New London, June 29, 1707. But his name does not appear on the list of church-members at New London. His farm, though within the limits of the ecclesiastical parish, was at least ten miles from the church, and the intervening country was almost a wilder- ness. He afterward purchased lands of David Francis, in East Society, Norwich ; removed thither and was accepted as an inhabitant of the town Dec. 20, 1715. He had thirteen children, all born before he came to this colony, the dates ranging from 1680 to 1700. He died in 1750.
Benjamin, his seventh son, married in 1726, Mehitable Carrier. Jared Wentworth, son of Benjamin and Mehitable, born in 1728, married Abi- gail Wilson of Ashford. The residence of this couple was in the western part of Norwich, near Bean Hill. One of their daughters, Zerviah, born April 12, 1767, was united Nov. 28, 1790, to Ezekiel Huntley. The only child of this union, Mrs. L. II. Sigourney, has acquired a literary fame second to that of no female in the country. Her numerous writings, in prose and verse, are all of a pure and elevated tone, calculated to charm, console and entertain all willing readers, and particularly to mould and invigorate the character of the young.
Williams. Several of this name settled at an early date east of the river.
Owen Williams is mentioned in 1669. He obtained a grant of land in 1670, "near Brewster's in the path that goes from Showtuck to Pocketan- nuck." He died in 1680, leaving a family.
Joseph Williams, adm. 1702, and a vote passed that he be "entered as a whole share man respecting lands."
John Williams, apparently an original emigrant, not connected with others of the name in this neighborhood, appears early in the next century among the inhabitants. According to family traditions, he came from
by P
Lydia Huntley Sigourney.
253
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Wales, and was born in 1680. His first wife was Hannah Knowlton .* His residence was at Poquetannock village, but within the bounds of Nor- wich, as is evident from his serving repeatedly as one of the selectmen of the town, in 1721, 1728, and afterward. He died early in the year 1742, leaving a widow Mary. His will provides for his only son Joseph, and sons-in-law, Nathaniel Giddings and James Geer. His estate comprised the homestead farm, a grist-mill, fulling-mill, a wharf and two warehouses at the Landing. Among his personal effects were five negroes, valued at £600. Total estate, £21,727.
The following is a cotemporary notice of his death, Jan. 12, 1741-2 :
" Capt. John Williams died at Pockatonnock of pleurisy after 7 days illness. He was a good commonwealth's man, traded much by sea and land with good success for many years, and acquired wholly by his own industry a great estate. He was a very just dealer aged about 60 years."t
Brig. Gen. Joseph Williams of Norwich, one of the purchasers of the Connecticut Reserve, was a grandson of Capt. John. He died Oct. 3, 1800, aged 47.
Witter, Ebenezer, of Preston; died Jan. 31, 1711-12. He left a wife, Dorothy, and seven children, Joseph, Ebenezer, William, Elizabeth, Mary, Dorothy, Hannah. Estate, £729.
Woodward, Daniel, of Preston, died in 1713; left wife Elizabeth, and twelve children from eleven to thirty-three years of age. Daniel Wood- ward, Jr., administered on the estate.
In 1718 the proprietors of Norwich east of the Shetucket were enume- rated. The list includes only property-holders, who were voters and paid rates to the ministry.
Benjamin Brewster.
John Larrabee.
Jonathan Brewster.
Daniel Leffingwell.
John Clark.
Nathaniel Leffingwell.
Obed Cook.
Daniel Mix.
John Downs.
James Mix.
Mr. Samuel Fitch.
Daniel Roath.
David Francis. John Glover.
Joseph Rockwell.
Matthew Huntington.
Josiah Rockwell.
Andrew Huntington.
Samuel Rockwell.
Greenfield Larrabee.
John Williams.
Nathaniel Larrabee.
Joseph Williams.
John Rockwell.
* History of the Williams Family, p. 322.
t MS. Diary of Joshua Hempstead.
254
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
To these were added :
Mr. Worthington if he settle there. Isaac Huntington in right of Matthew Coy. And three half-share men, Hezekiah, Benjamin and Jabez Fitch.
Preston, as an independent town, begins with the beginning of the year 1687. The petition of the inhabitants to the Legislature for in- corporation was in October, 1686, and signed by Thomas Parke, Sen., Thomas Parke Jun., Thomas and Jonathan Tracy, Hugh Amos, Jona- than Rudd, Caleb Forbes, John Amos, Jolin Rude, Peter Branch, Jo- seph Morgan, Thomas Rose, Daniel Brewster, Nathaniel and John Parke, Charles Williams, Jonathan Gere, Edward Litell, and James Smith,-19 persons .*
At a special Court the next January, the petition was granted and the bounds stated. Its limits extended over what is now the southern part of Griswold, but the claim of Norwich east of the river was respected, and no part of Long Society included in the new town.
The Plantation Act is recorded at Preston, signed by Robert Treat, Governor, and dated Jan. 15, 1686 .; In this instrument fifteen persons are named, comprising the largest landholders, but several of them were not actual inhabitants.
Hugh Amos.
Thomas Parke.
John Avery.
John Plumbe.
Thomas Avery.
Thomas Rose.
Benjamin Brewster.
Jonathan Rudd.
Caleb Forbes. John Stanton.
Capt. Samuel Mason.
Jonathan Tracy.
Ephraim Miner.
Thomas Tracy.
John Parke.
The whole number of those who were embodied in the plantation, and agreed to assist in supporting a minister, was 31. Jonathan Tracy was the first Recorder.
A quit-claim and confirmatory deed was obtained March 17, 1687, from the Mohegan sachem, of the new township, comprising a tract five
* Conn. Col. Rec., 3, 220.
t There is probably an error of a few days in this date. The Special Court met to confirm the grant and state the bounds, Jan. 26.
See Conn. Col. Rec., 3, 222.
255
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
miles in length between Stonington and Norwich. It purports to be from
"Oaneco to Capt. James Fitch, Capt. Josiah Standish, Thomas Parke, Sen., Jonathan Trasy, Thomas Trasy, Joseph Morgan, and all the rest of the inhabitants living in New Preson."
Signed.
The mark
of OANACO.
Witnesses : JOHN MORGAN. JOHN STANTON. The mark & of JOHN UNCAS.
The following instrument, signed by Owaneco, is dated Dec. 22, 1680:
Whereas at a General Court in Hartford May 13, 1680, my father Uncas had liberty to dispose unto me his land upon Quinnabaug river and the Court at the same time granting me liberty to dispose of it unto gentlemen among them, as I should see cause to do, and a good part thereof I have disposed of already, but finding that some through their great importunity and others taking advantage of me when I am in drink, by causing me to sign deeds, not only wronging myself, but may spoil it ever being a plantation-for these and other reasons I make over all my right and title of any and of all my lands and meadows unto my loving friend James Fitch Jr. for him to dispose of as he shall see cause.
CHAPTER XV.
NEWENT, OR BETWEEN THE RIVERS, NOW LISBON.
THE large tract of land lying between the crotch of the rivers She- tucket and Quinebaug, was acknowledged by the English to be a part of the Mohegan territory. At an early period it was inhabited by a band of Indians tributary to Uncas, called by the first settlers Showtuckets. The town of Norwich claimed this land as belonging to their commons.
Feb. 25, 1669.
" The towne having seriously taken into their consideration the condition of Awan- eco, the Sachem, being in hazard of the loss of his Sachemship for want of land to accommodate his subjects, for his reliefe herein the towne have seen cause to give unto the said Awaneco a parcell of land. Thomas Tracy, Thomas Leffingwell and John Post are to lay out to him 200 or 300 acres at their discretion near Showtucket river, and abutting southerly on Queenapaug river, secured also to his heirs and successors but not in their power to alienate any part of it."
To this grant certain regulations were attached in regard to fencing and keeping cattle and swine. Notice was also given that all trespassing upon the inhabitants of Norwich must be satisfied according to English law, and the act concludes in this manner :
" It is further engaged by Oweneco, that whereas as he hath received these lands by gift from the town of Norwich, the town does order that he shall forbear on the Sab- bath day from working, hunting, fishing, or any servile labor, and if any of his subjects be found guilty of this violation, they shall be liable to be punished, and to these said, and above specified partienlars, the said Oweneco doth bind and engage himself, his heirs and lawful successors."
Consented to and subscribed by Owaneco, March 22, 1669.
Mark of
OWENNEKO.
Witnesses : JAMES FITCH, JOHN MASON, JR.
257
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
On this grant the sachem gathered his special clan, probably some twenty or thirty families. An annual tribute of ten deer-skins was at first demanded of them, but the scarcity of deer in the vicinity rendered that regulation a dead letter. Moreover the village was soon broken up by the war with Philip, which called the sachem and his warriors to the field, and scattered the women and children among their neighbors.
When the conflict was over, a part of this tract was assigned to the Indian fugitives, called Surrenderers, and in May, 1678, Mr. Fitch re- ported to the government that twenty-nine families of this class had settled upon it under the supervision of the English.
By a deed of trust, Dec. 22, 1680, Owaneco assigned to James Fitch, Jr., the care and disposition of all his lands on Quinebaug river. A few years later, absolute deeds of sale of these and other tracts of land were executed by the sachem in favor of the same Capt. Fitch.
In 1695, Owaneco and Capt. Samuel Mason, who, by his own choice and the authority of the government, had been appointed his trustee, requested that a committee of the town should be empowered to survey the 300 acre grant and fix its bounds.
The next year, Capt. Fitch, being then proprietary clerk, recorded the whole grant to himself, as included in the large purchases he had made of Owaneco in 1684 and 1687. The town entered a formal protest against the claims of Capt. Fitch, particularly to the 300 acres at Quinebang Falls, which had been guarantied to the Indians with a proviso that it should not be alienated.
The course of Capt. Fitch in regard to these Indian purchases was dis- tasteful to the town, and no clear account can be given of the basis upon which the difficulty was settled. Apparently the town, after some mur- muring, acquiesced in the claim of Capt. Fitch to what was called the 1800 acre grant.
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