USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > History of Norwich, Connecticut, from its settlement in 1660, to January 1845 > Part 11
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house plain, with all the contents of it, as it now lyeth, shall be and remain, to be, and lye com- mon for public use for the whole town forever, without alteration."
A similar vote was passed at the same time with respect to " the Plain at the westerly end of the Town Platt, lying between Richard Egerton's and John Waterman's, Abial Marshall's and the widow Hide's houses."
Many of the local names by which the Indians and early settlers distinguished various parts of the nine miles square have become obsolete. The following list, taken from the descriptions of land in old deeds and grants, some of which have quite gone by, and others are but partially and locally known, are offered for the curious to identify and locate.
1661. Little Fort,_this was between the Landing and trading Cove.
Woquanuk Little River.
Sunamansuck,-Wesquacksaug river. Middle Hill,-Pauquoh-hog brook.
1679. Puppie Hill,-on the road to Peagscomtok.
The Major's Pond,-over the river, on land granted by the town to Capt. John Mason.
Stonie Brooke.
The Kimicall Spring.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Little Lebanon, __ at the end of Yantick.
Little Lebanon Hill and Valley. Scotch Cap Hill.
1700. White Hills on Showtucket. Butternut Brook,-Great Cranberry Pond.
Cheapschaddok, __ near Robert Roath's and Owen Will- iam's.
Dragon's Hole,-Kewoutaquck river, east of Shetucket. Huckleberry Plains.
The Great Darke Swampe.
The Goat's Hill.
The Rocky Hill,_called Wenaniasoug.
Bundy Hill,-Newent.
Little Faith Plain,-south of Wawecos Hill.
Connecticut Plains, __ first, second and third Plains towards Connecticut.
Wequonuk, -- Pequonuk.
1662. Pabaquamsquee,-on Quinnebaug.
Peagskumsuk,-a tract in a turn of the Quinnebaug. Pottapauge.
1690. Nipsquanoug,-Nipsconoag. Wolf-pit Hill.
Clay Banks of the Great River.
Skunkhungannok Hill,-in the Quinnibaug lands.
Conaytuck Brook.
Wheel-timber Hill, __ at Plain Hills.
Great Beaver Brook and Little Beaver Brook.
Harthstone Hill.
Great Ox Pasture.
Rowland's Brook,_near Peagscomsuk.
Pine Swamp,-at Yantick.
Isinglass Rock. Anchamaunnackkaunock Pond, east of Shetucket.
Saw-pit Hills.
Sukskotumskot or Saw-mill Brook,-Great Hill east side of it.
Stonie Hollow,-in East Sheep-walk.
Ayers Mountain.
Wanungatuck,-towards Canterbury.
New Roxbury, __ on Quinnibaug.
Momogegwetuk Brook, -- falling into Peagscomtok.
In connection with the subject of names, some of
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
those borne by the worthy ancestors of the town may be mentioned.
MALES.
Jepthah Elderkin.
Zorobabel Wightman.
Cordile Fitch.
Retrieve Moore.
Merit Rockwell.
Rezen Geer.
Friend Weeks.
Hopestill Armstrong.
Aquilla Giffords.
Yet-once Barstow.
Shadrach Lampheer.
FEMALES.
Experience Porter.
Charity Perkins.
Submit Peck.
Obedience Copp.
Thankful Willoughby.
Temperance Edgerton.
Zipporah Haskill.
Patience Larrabee.
Theodia Wallbridge.
Love Kingsbury.
Leah Armstrong.
Civil Tracy.
Zinah Hide.
Silence Leflingwell.
Ruby Tracy.
Hepzibah Ladd.
Zillah Grist.
Diadema Hide.
Millescent Scott.
Mercy Polley.
Remembrance Carrier.
Tirzah Morgan.
Deliverance Squire.
In a family of five sons and one daughter, the fol- lowing were the names, Absalom, Zebulon, Obadiah, Ichabod, Elam and Tabitha.
In another, with four daughters and two sons, are these ; Lebbeus, Ozias, Love, Batthiah, Beulah, and Miriam. Another family consists of Barnabas, Enoch, Elkanah and Dorcas. Another of only Aaron and Zipporah. The daughters of Mr. Samuel Bliss 2nd, were Desire, Thankful, Freelove and Mindwell.
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CHAPTER XIX.
Mason Controversy.
THE history of the Mohegan Indians is so' closely connected with that of Norwich, that it is necessary frequently to revert to them. It seems to have been generally conceded by the English, that the ulterior right to dispose of land in this region, belonged to Uncas. The Governor and Company, however, claimed that he transferred this right to them by a deed of September 28, 1640. This deed, the Indians said, was never executed by Uncas, or if executed it was a mere form, intended to deceive the Dutch, who were then endeavoring to get a footing in these parts. In- deed, the transactions and declarations of the Colony long after this period, prove incontestably, that they considered the property, as distinguished from the juris- diction, still to continue in the Mohegans. August 15, 1659, the year before the settlement of Norwich, as has already been stated, Capt. Mason obtained of Uncas and his brother, a general deed of all the lands be- longing to them, not then actually occupied by the tribe. In this business, it was generally understood that he acted as the agent of the colony, and it was proved by the State Records, that he formally surren- dered his claim to the Gen. Court, March 14, 1660 ; they granting him, in compensation for his services, a farm of five hundred acres. This farm he chose at a place called Pomacook, and it was confirmed to him
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
as his personal property, by the Indian Sachem, about two months afterwards.
The descendants of Mason claimed, not this farm at Pomacool: only, but the whole tract, conveyed in the decd of 1659, alleging that it had never been alienated by him. The records of the colony contain a minute of the surrender, as having been performed in open court, but nevertheless, as no specific instrument to that effect could be found, under the signature of their ancestor, they cither questioned the intent of the trans- action, or denied its authority. They asserted that the conveyance made to Mason, by Uncas, was with the intent to secure those lands to the Indians, by putting it out of their own power to convey them to others, that Mason received them as their trustee, and had passed over to the colony merely the right of jurisdic- tion, not the ownership of the lands.
Oweneco confirmed the grant of his father and uncle to the two sons of Mason-Samuel and Daniel, Feb. 12, 1683-4, fearing, as he said, that he might be en- snared by strong drink, and in that state be induced to dispose of his lands injudiciously. From this time the Masons acted as trustees to the Indian Sachem, in conjunction with Capt. James Fitch, whom Oweneco had empowered to act for him, in 1680. The govern- ment allowed of this guardianship, if they did not in the first place originate and recommend the measure. The main object of all the parties appears to have been to benefit the Indians, by taking care of their interests. An act of 1692 thus confirms the right of the Masons to be considered as the trustee of the tribe.
" The General Court, on the request of Oweneco, son of Uncas, approve of his giving his land to Josiah, since deceased, and also approve of his now giving them to Mowhamet, son of Oweneco, he being the
--
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rightful Sachem of Mowheag after Oweneco; but these lands are not to pass to any other person, without the consent of Capt. Samuel Mason."
The business, however, did not long run on in this smooth and harmonious manner. Out of these prem- ises a long and troublesome dispute arose ; the case every year becoming more complicated and important. The Masons and Mohegans became closely linked in a claim against the colony for the possession of large tracts of land, occupied by numerous settlers, and comprising the major portion of Colchester, Windham, Mansfield, Hebron, and considerable tracts in some other towns. A vigorous and persevering effort, cx- tending over a period of seventy years, was made by Mason and his descendants to recover the possession of this territory for the Indians.
The citizens of Norwich entered into this contro- versy with great warmth and zeal, most of them es- pousing the cause of the Indians, from an honest opinion that they had been injured and defrauded, and a benevolent desire to have some restitution made. The case was often tried without being brought to an issue. Many persons put themselves to great incon- venience and expense in entertaining and clothing the Indians, and forwarding their cause, expecting to be remunerated when they should recover their rights. On the Indians themselves it had a very unhappy effect, puffing them up with hopes never to be realized, and leading them into courses of idleness, itineracy and extravagance. Norwich suffered severely for her indiscretion, her streets and houses being often filled with these exacting and troublesome guests.
The case was first submitted to Commissioners cho- sen ont of all the New England Colonies, and acting under the immediate authority of Queen Anne. This
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
court was held at Stonington, in 1705. Thomas Lef- fingwell, of Norwich, a tried friend of the Indian Sa- chems, was one of the Commissioners, and from his intimate acquaintance with the case, and with all the affairs of the tribe, had great influence with the other members. The colony protested against the authority of this Court, and, refusing to appear before it, no de- fence was made. The decision, as might be expected, was against her, but no attempt was made by the Eng- lish Government to enforce the decrec.
A subsequent investigation of this case, under the authority of the General Court, was made at Norwich, in the winter of 1717-18, and was pending at the time of the great snow storm, famous over all New England, February 17. The proceedings of the Commissioners, who met in the house of Richard Bushnell, Esq., were much impeded by the snow. For several days the members were scarcely able to get together.
The next October a further Committee was ap- pointed by the Assembly, and directed to repair to Mohegan, to hear the grievances of the Indians, and to endeavor to settle all differences between them and their neighbors. This Committee, consisting of James Wadsworth, Esq. and Capt. John Hall, met at the house of Mr. Joseph Bradford, in Mohegan, February, 1720-21, and were apparently very successful in set- tling the various claims, and reconciling all parties. In conclusion they laid out and sequestered to the use of the Indians between 4 and 5000 acres of good land, which was never to be alienated until the tribe became extinct. These proceedings were ratified by act of Assembly, May 11, 1721.
Nevertheless, the old controversy soon revived, and a Commission of Review was appointed by George II. to examine the proceedings of the Court held at Ston-
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HISTORY OF NORWICHI.
ington, in 1705. This Court, consisting of the Lieut. Governor and Council of New York, and the Governor and Assistants of Rhode Island, convened at Norwich, May 24, 1738. The Commissioners not agreeing as to the course to be pursued, the members from New York, at the outset, entered a protest and withdrew. The remainder, after an examination of witnesses, re- versed the decision of the Court, and gave judgment in favor of the Colony.
John and Samuel Mason, however, would not suffer the matter to rest here ; they presented a memorial to the King, alleging that the proceedings of the Court were irregular, and in behalf of the Indians, praying for a redress of grievances. Orders were therefore is- sued for a new Commission of Review.
This second Court of Commissioners convened at Norwich, June 28, 1743, and the trial lasted seven weeks. The sessions commenced at the house of Si- inon Lathrop, Esq., but on the third day, was adjourn- ed to the meeting-house, where the remainder of the sitting was held. Of course, this Court did not, as that at Stonington had done, continue its sessions on the Sabbath. The town at this time literally overflowed with strangers, and no business of any kind was done, except what was connected with the pending contro- versy, and the necessary purposes of life. All the of- ficers of government and distinguished men in the col- ony were present ; the whole tribe of Mohegans was quartered upon the inhabitants, and hundreds of per- sons in the neighboring towns who had lands at stake, came in from day to day, to hear the proceedings. The Lathrops, Huntingtons, Leflingwells, Tracys and all the principal men in Norwich were of the Indian party, and kept open house for John Uncas and his people. Ben Uncas was upheld by the state, and his
,
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
party was rendered respectable by the notice of all the officers of governin 'nt. The rival sachems maintain- ed considerable pomp and state while the trial contin- ved, which was until the 17th of August.
The decision was again in favor of the colony ; but the Masons appealed from the judgment to the King in council, and henceforth all legal action upon the case, was transferred to England. The final decision was not until 1767. Sir Fletcher Norton, then prime min- ister, advised that the English should be conciliated by a decision against the Indians.
It was the prevalent opinion in England, that the Mohegans had right on their side, but that it was not expedient to do them justice, and indeed not equitable, as the English had long possessed and improved the lands in question, and the Indians had dwindled away and did not need them. One of the Masons, however, remained long in England, prosecuting his claim : ob- tained money upon it, sold out rights in it, ran in debt upon it, was at one time a prisoner in the Fleet, and never returned to his native country. The Revo- lutionary war, soon afterwards broke out, the Mohe- gans found themselves at the mercy of the State, and never afterwards showed any disposition to renew their claims. Occom, the eloquent advocate and preacher of this tribe, on hearing of the termination of this af- fair, writes thus to a friend : " The grand controversy which has subsisted between the colony of Conn. and the Mohegan Indians, above seventy years, is finally . decided in favor of the colony. I am afraid the poor Indians will never stand a good chance with the Eng- lish in their land controversies, because they are very poor, they have no money. Money is almighty now- a-days, and the Indians have no learning, no wit, no
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
cunning : the English have all." [MS. Letter of Oc- com.]
In this controversy, our sympathies are very natu- rally enlisted in favor of the Indians; nevertheless, it does not appear that they were treated with any un- due severity or injustice by the colony. Most of the settlers on the debatable lands, fairly purchased them, and had obtained deeds, though not, perhaps, always of the lawful owners. And there is reason to believe that the Indians themselves would not have complain- ed had they not been instigated by others. This case may fairly be merged in the great question still pend- ing and unsettled, whether a civilized race has a right, under any circumstances, to take possession of a coun- try inhabited by savages, and gradually dispossess the original proprietors.
CHAPTER XX.
Indian Deeds. Sachems.
Ir is a singular fact, that while the Indian Sachems were conveying away such large tracts of land, that they and their subjects should be in want of room for their own accommodation. So early as 1669, Owencco requested of the town of Norwich "a yerll of land lying near Showtucket river ;"' and the town accord- ingly granted him out of their Commons, three hundred acres on Shetucket river, abutting southerly on Quin- ebaug, and secured it to his successors, not allowing them the privilege of alienating it. At the same time they bound the Indians to forbear all trespass upon the lands or cattle of the town, upon penalty of forfeiting the grant. 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 Sabbath 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 particulars, the said Oweneco doth bind and engage hinself, his heirs and lawful successors."
The reason assigned for this grant was, " that he was in hazard of the loss of his Sachemdom, for want of lands to accommodate his subjects." A number of Indians then resided upon this grant, and others remo- ved to it, and were called the Showtucket, or Shotuck
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Indians. In 1695, we find Capt. Samuel Mason, the Indian trustee, calling upon the town to fix the bounds of this grant upon which the English were fast intru- ding.
The aged Uncas was also in his last days a petitioner to the town for land ; yet at the same time these Sa- chems were in the habit of assigning over to others, tracts large enough for townships. In 1687, Oweneco conveyed to James Fitch jun., a tract by estimation six or seven miles in length, and one in breadth, lying west of Quinebaug river, and extending "to the new plantation given by Joshua;"-another portion west of the same river, beginning north of the Norwich line and running up the river to the clay pits, a mile and a half in breadth ;- two other parcels east and north of the town line, and a large meadow east of the Quin- ebaug, extending from the town line to Peagscomscot, [now Canterbury.] For these grants the Sachem ac- knowledges the receipt of £60. Major Fitch became ultimately one of the greatest land owners in the state. The above lands comprise but a very small portion of the various tracts recorded to him in the Norwich books.
A part of the above described grants lay in the crotch of the Shetucket and Quinebang rivers ; and here also was the three hundred acre grant, secured by the town to the Indians. The title to this tract after- wards caused much perplexity and some litigation. In 1696, Capt. Fitch being then the proprietary clerk, recorded nearly the whole tract to himself; but as his claim covered the Indian reservation, the town entered a formal protest against the record, objecting especially to his claim at the Qninebang falls.
In 1723, the Indian title to the reserved lands in the crotch of the rivers, was considered entirely extinct ;
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
the Shetucket indians having dwindled away or remo- ved elsewhere. Joseph and Jacob Perkins, Samuel Bishop, and others, claimed it as purchasers and im- provers, and the town confirmed their title. This tract now forms the greater part of the town of Lisbon.
More than thirty deeds are recorded in the Norwich books, bearing the signatures of Uncas, Oweneco, or Joshua, conveying to various individuals tracts of land, most of them comprising hundreds of acres. The con- dition expressed is frequently of this nature : " To my very good friend John Post, for the love and friendship received from him," 200 acres, in 1685 : to Israel Lo- throp " for kindnesses received and three coats in hand paid," 150 acres in 1695 : " to Richard Bushnell, for kind and free entertainment for many years," 400 acres, in 1699. A large number of deeds of similar import may be found recorded in New London and other neighboring towns.
Wawcequaw, the brother of Uncas, claimed consid- crable tracts in and around Norwich. Two hills in the town have borne his name : one of considerable extent in the Northwest part, and the other in Chelsea, around the base of which the city lies. The name is now usually spelt Waweekus. Uncas, (as well as the English,) was much troubled, at various times, with the intrigues of Waweequaw, who is represented as being mischievous and quarrelsome.
Joshua, the brother of Oweneco, in 1676, conveyed to Capt. John Mason, a tract claimed by him, N. W. of Norwich, and now forming a part of the town of Lebanon. In 1716, Cesar, who is styled " the prince and Sachem of Mohegan," made several conveyances of land to individuals. One was to Capt. Robert Den- ison ; another to Lieut. Benajah Bushnell, of two par-
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cels, lying between Trading Cove brook, and the south line of Norwich.
These are but a few specimens, out of a great num- ber that might be mentioned, of Indian grants in this vicinity. Some of them covered others, three or four times over, and led to those many disputes as to titles, and perplexities as to bounds, which entangled the rights and claims of the settlers in an inextricable maze. One is almost inclined to join in the declaration of Sir Edmund Andros, that he did not value an Indian deed, any more than the scratch of a cat's paw.
The following record shows that an amicable settle- ment of all differences with respect to land claims and boundaries, took place between the town and the aged chieftain of the Mohegans. It is the last notice that has been any where found of Uncas.
" Whereas Uncas, Sachem of Mohegan, hath of late made application to the Town of Norwich for some Releife with Reference to a small Tract of Land which fell out to be within the bounds of the Town, on the south Bounds, over the Traiding Cove Brook. This Town, Considering of his Request and of him as an OLD FRIEND, see Cause to Gratify him with the said Land as a Gift to him & his heirs forever, and Whereas the sd Uncas doth also Recon upon three pounds vet due to him as arrears of the payment of the pur- chas of Norwich Township, though there is nothing appear- ing how the said money is due, neither by written nor any other Evidence -- Yet notwithstanding the Town have Granted his desire as not willing to dissatiefie an OLD FRIEND in such a small matter, and the said Uncas Also Declaring himself to be in some fears Respecting his Poster- ity, whether they may not be infringed of their Liberty of Fishing and making use of the Rivers and other Royalties by some English : that being the Reason why he Gave place at the first that we should run the Line of the Two miles on the East side of the Great River, Beginning at the River : We also satisfie him in this writing about it, that he and his suc- cessors shall from Time to Time, and at all times have full and free Liberty to make use of the Rivers and ponds, with
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
other Royalties as abovesaid, not debaring Ourselves, and having thus donc, we whose names are subscribed being ap- pointed by the town of Norwich to treat with him the said Uncas upon the premises, or any thing Elce that might Con- duce to mutual satisfaction, we asked him whether now he was fully satisfied as to the former, so Concerning any thing Elce depending between him and us, and he hath declared himself : as witness by his hand that he is FULLY SATISFIED with us as concerning the premises, so Respecting all our Bounds and boundaries, and particularly Concerning the Running of the Line on the East side of the River, and Con- cerning the beginning of the said Line at the River, and the end of said Line to a Tree marked near the Dwellinghouse of Robert Allen : Dated in Norwich, September 1st , 1682 :
the mark.( of UNCAS.
Thomas Leffingwell. William Backus.
John Birchard.
John Tracy.
Entered in Libr the second folio 1st, Octo- ber 18th, 1682.
By me, CHRISTOPHER HUNTINGTON, Recorder.
Uncas is supposed to have died in 1683. Oweneco lived till 1710. Notwithstanding the title of Sachem and the lordly idea attached to the disposing of such extensive regions as they were accustomed to convey to their friends, these chieftains were but little eleva- ted, either in their habits or morals, above the common level of savages. Oweneco was in his youth a bold warrior, and an enterprizing partizan. His exploits at the Narragansett Fort fight, and through the whole of Philip's war, obtained for him considerable renown.
But in maturer years, destitute of the stimulus of war, and the chase, he used to wander about with his blan- ket, metomp and sandals, his gun and his squaw, to beg in the neighboring towns, quartering himself in the kitchens and out-houses of his white acquaintances,
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
and presenting to strangers, or those who could not well understand his imperfect English, a brief which had been written for him by Mr. Richard Bushnell. It was as follows :-
Oneco king, his queen doth bring, To beg a little food ; As they go along, their friends among, To try how kind, how good.
Some pork, some beef, for their relief, And if you can't spare bread ; She'll thank you for pudding, as they go a gooding, And carry it on her head.
The last line alludes to the Indian custom of bearing burdens in a sack upon the shoulders, supported by a back strap called a metomp, passing across the forehead.
CHAPTER XXI.
Freemen. Justices. Physicians. Sign-posts. Town House. Mohegan Road. Soci- eties. Population. Schools. Saybrook Platform. Treasurer. Constable.
APRIL 28, 1730, all the freemen were enrolled. They amounted to 158; thirteen more were added in Sep- tember, making 171. The first on the list, and prob- ably so placed in respect to age and dignity, were Jo- seph Backus Esq., the three reverend ministers, Lord, Willes and Kirtland, and the two deacons, Simon and Christopher Huntington. After these come Samuel and Israel Lothrop, William Hide Esq., Mr. Thomas Adgate, Capt. Jabez Perkins, Capt. Benajah Bushnell, and Capt. John Leffingwell.
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