USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > History of Norwich, Connecticut, from its settlement in 1660, to January 1845 > Part 2
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The Mohegan Sachem was soon ordered to repair to Hartford, with a trusty band of followers, and there the decision of the Commissioners was made known to him, and Miantinomoh delivered into his hands. A band of twelve or fourteen soldiers was also sent with him from Ilartford, to protect him from any sudden burst of revenge on the part of the Narragansetts, and to show that the deed was sanctioned by the English. These were to remain a while in the Mohegan country, Two Englishmen were also directed to remain with the prisoner, and to see that the sentence was executed in conformity to the decision. Uncas, having received the captive king, promptly obeyed the directions given. He conducted him to the very spot where he had been taken prisoner. At the instant they arrived on the ground, the brother of Uncas, who marched behind Miantinomoh, at a signal from his chief, struck him on the head with a hatchet and killed him at a single stroke. Uncas cut a piece of flesh from his shoulder and ate it, saying, it was the sweetest meat he ever
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ate,-it made his heart strong. Revenge was doubtless the sweetness that he tasted.
The above account coincides mainly with that of Trumbull, who derived his information from Richard Hide, Esq., of Norwich, a gentleman who through his whole life was in the habit of frequent intercourse with the Mohegans, and whose house was one of the favorite resorts of wanderers from that tribe. He related the story as it was current among them, and there is no reason to doubt the correctness of even the cannibal part of the statement. Many of the Indian tribes had a custom of tasting the flesh or blood of a slaughtered foe, believing that thereby the strength and valor of the deceased was infused into their own souls.
The unfortunate sachem was buried on the spot of his capture and execution, on the western bank of the Shetucket, a little north of where the village of Greeneville now stands. The place, from these events, took the name of Sachem's Plain, which it still bears. A heap of stones was raised over the grave, and addi- tions made to it from time to time, by all truc-hearted Narragansetts, who passed that way. For several years afterwards, a party of that nation came to the spot every September, and renewed their lamentations over the heap, casting a few more stones upon it, and consecrating them with doleful cries and frantic ges- tures. A citizen of Norwich still living, N. L. Shipman, Esq., remembers this tumulus in his youth, a conspicu- ous object, standing large and high, between two soli- tary white oak trees, about sixteen rods cast of the old Providence road, and nearly in a line with that part of the river where the great dam has since been built. At length the owner of the land, probably being ignorant of the design of these stones, removed them to use in the undersetting of a barn he was erecting in the
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neighborhood. In process of time the old oak trees also disappeared, and nothing was left to designate the spot where the fallen chieftain lay.
While making excavations for the water works, on the banks of the Shetucket, about the year 1830, an Indian grave was opened, containing a kettle, a spoon, and a box, all of copper, a glass bottle, and some other utensils, together with the bones of a person, appa -... rently of enormous size. Some have supposed that these were the remains of the Narragansett Sachem, as tradition affirms that his stature was almost gigantic, but the best authorities agree in placing the tomb of that prince a least half a mile from this spot.
Before dismissing this subject it is proper to state that Gov. Winthrop, from whom we have the oldest written account of this affair, designates an entirely different spot as the place of Miantinomohl's execution. He says, " Onkus, taking Miantunomoh along with him, in the way between Hartford and Windsor, where Onkus hath some men dwell, Onkus' brother, following" after Miantunomoh, clave his head with an hatchet, some English being present." Mr. Savage also, in his notes upon Winthrop, alluding to the variance of his account with that of Trumbull, gives a decided prefer- ence to the former, and deems it much more probable that he was slain between Hartford and Windsor than in Norwich .* There is in truth nothing opposed to Winthrop's account but tradition; but this testimony is so minute, circumstantial and uniform, that it amounts to almost conclusive evidence that Winthrop is wrong and Trumbull is right.
The sentence of Miantinomoh is one of the most fla- grant acts of injustice and ingratitude, that stands re-
" The records of the Commissioners of the United Colonies also agree in designating this place.
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corded against the English settlers. He had shown many acts of kindness towards the whites; in all his intercourse with them had evinced a noble and mag- nanimous spirit ; had been the uniform friend and as- sistant of the first settlers of Rhode Island, and only seven years before his death had received into the bosom of his country, Mason and his little band of sol- diers from Hartford, and greatly assisted them in their conquest of the Pequods.
The Narragansetts were determined to avenge the death of their chief. They were particularly exaspe- rated with Uncas, as he had entered into treaty with them for the release of the sachem, and had already received, as they averred, a large quantity of wampum as a ransom for him. The Mohegans, on their part, denied that any wampum or other goods had been received by them, except small parcels which Mianti- nomoh himself had bestowed, as gratuities, upon their captains and counsellors, or given to " Uncas and his squaw, for preserving his life so long and using him courteously during his imprisonment."
A harrassing and inveterate system of hostility be- tween the two tribes ensued. The Narragansetts were double in number to the Mohegans, but the latter were shielded by the protecting care of the English, so that a balance was preserved between the two nations, otherwise unequal. In September, 1644, a treaty was made at Hartford with the Narragansetts, by which the latter engaged to commit no hostile act against Uncas, until after the next year's time for planting corn, nor until after giving thirty day's notice either to the Governor of Massachusetts or Connecticut. This last stipulation was an idle one, to which the Indians could not have consented from any other
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motive than to keep the English quiet. They soon gave proof that they had no idea of being bound by it.
In the spring of 1645, whether before or after plant- ing time does not appear, under the command of Pes- sacus, the brother of Miantinomoh, they invaded the Mohegan country with a large force, committed great devastation, and finally drove Uncas to his strongest fort and besieged him there. According to tradition this fort was on Shantok Point, a rough projection by the side of the Thames, nearly opposite Pocquetannok. The English had assisted Uncas in fortifying this spot. There is still a fine spring of water by the bank. The position was easily defended, and the Narragansetts had no hope of taking it by assault. Many of the women and children had fied to the other side of the river, with a part of the canoes, but of the remainder the Narragansetts had taken possession, so as to cut off retreat on the water side, and thus enclosing them on this point of land, they hoped to subdue them by famine. How long the seige continued is not known; but one night a messenger despatched by Uncas, left the fort without being discovered by the besiegers, and creeping along the margin of the river very cautiously till without the range of the enemy's scouts, he crossed the country with Indian speed, and arrived the next day at Saybrook, the nearest English settlement, where he made known the desperate situation of the Mohegans. Or perhaps Trumbull's account may be more correct, -- that he fell in with a scouting party from Saybrook fort, and communicated to them the message with which he was charged by Uncas.
C'apt. Mason was at that time commander of Say- brook fort. and a warm friend to Uncas; there can be little doubt, therefore, that though he afforded him no relief in his official capacity, he favored and assisted
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the enterprize undertaken by others. Thomas Lef- fingwell has hitherto been considered the only promi- nent person in this exploit, but some subsequent pro- ceedings which have recently been brought to light, lead to the supposition, although they do not incontest- ably prove the point, that Thomas Tracy and Thomas Miner had also some share in the adventure.
The version usually given of this undertaking, and which, as there is no record to contradict it, we may assume as substantially correct, is this : Thomas Lef- fingwell, a bold and spirited young man, (though not then an ensign, as stated by Trumbull,) left Saybrook in a canoe that would carry twenty cwt., laden with beef, corn, pease, &c., entered Pequot river in the night, and had the address to get the supplies into the fort of Uncas, without being discovered by the enemy. Tracy and Miner may have been engaged in the enterprize, and were perhaps in the boat with Lefiingwell, for it would require more than one resolute heart and stal- wart arm to carry the bark on its way with sufficient speed. It is probable that Leffingwell had often been on trading excursions to Mohegan, and was well ac- quainted with Pequot river, and the position of Shan- tok fort. We know in general that the people of Saybrook were in the habit of coming into the river to trade with the Indians, and that Trading Cove, which afterwards became the southern boundary of Norwich, was a name bestowed by them long anterior to the set- tlement.
A fanciful legend has in later times been connected with this adventure. It would be difficult now to as- certain what degree of truth belongs to it. It is said that the expected relief from Saybrook was delayed much longer than the hungry and impatient Mohegans had anticipated ; and that each night Uncas left the
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fort, and skulking by the water's edge, came to a rocky and precipitous ledge which juts out into the stream, and is now called Mosier's island in the neigh- borhood, from one Mosier since drowned in the deep water near it. It is not, however, an island except in a very high flood. Here, under shelter of the rock, the sachem remained till nearly day-light, with his sleepless eyes upon the river, and his ear intent to catch the lightest sound of a falling oar, and it was not till the second or third night of his watch that Lef- fingwell arrived. A cavity or recess in this ledge, well known to the fishermen and oyster gatherers on the river, has since obtained the name of Uncas' Chair.
No sooner was this timely supply of provisions safely lodged in the fortress, than loud shouts of cxultation were uttered by the besieged, to the astonishment of the Narragansetts, who were unable to divine the cause of this midnight triumph. At the dawn of day, however, the secret was disclosed ; the Mohegans ele- vated a large piece of beef on a pole, and thus gave notice of the relief they had obtained .* The Narra- gansetts dared not assail either the persons or property of the English, but we can readily believe that they beheld the boat lying by the shore with bitter feelings of exasperation, and poured out a torrent of threats and invectives against its officious owners. That they saw Leffingwell and knew it was he that brought the supplies, is evident from Leffingwell's own testimony, as will soon appear. Finding that there was no chance of reducing the Mohegans while they were
. Many of the minuter circumstances of this seige rest only on tra- d tion, but it is tradition gathered many years since from the Mohe- Kans themselves, and current from father to son among both them and their white neighbors.
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thus supported, the Narragansetts abandoned the seige and returned home.
It is probable that Leffingwell and his associates re- mained at Mohegan till after the departure of the invaders. Ascending Fort Hill and beholding the pleasant hills and vallies that stretched to the north of the Indian villages, untenanted and untilled, they may have conceived the design of a plantation in that quarter. Uncas in his present situation would wil- lingly encourage such a project, as an English colony would serve as a barrier of defence to his settlements. It is not, therefore, unlikely that he did at this time make large promises of land to his benefactors, in requital for the aid they had rendered him, and give them an urgent invitation to settle in his neighborhood. Trumbull says, " For this service Uncas gave said Lef- fingwell a deed of great part if not the whole town of Norwich." There is, however, no such deed on re- cord, and no allusion to any such deed in subsequent transactions ; nor does it appear afterwards, upon the settlement of the town, that Leffingwell received or claimed any larger share than the other proprietors.
In a volume of miscellaneous papers recently filed and placed in books in the office of the Secretary of State, at Hartford, is an original petition of Lefling- well to the General Court, signed by his own hand, as follows :
" To the right worshipful Court assembled at Hartford. Whereas you are by God and his people, constituted a court of Justice, and have approved yourselves in matters of jus- - tice, that I know you will be so far from obstructing amongst your people or foreigners as you have occation, that its your delight to do things which are equal, I am encouraged to recommend to your considerations a case depending between Uneas, the Mohegan Sachem, and myself. Its not unknown & to him and others what damage in my outward estate I have suffered by his men, and yet notwithstanding, when he and
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his people were famishing, being besieged by many enemies, I did afford him provition for their relief, although it was to the hazard of all my outward comforts, the enemy knowing what supply I had and did afford him ; upon these and such like reasons, Uncas hath several times offered me some land for my recompense and just satisfaction, and hath expressed the same to the Major, who is acquainted with the truth of these things, but order requireth me to propound the matter to your worshipful considerations, desiring your approbation of the way Uncas hath propounded for my satisfaction. Its far from me to desire land in such place where my possessing of it might hinder a plantation worke, or any such public good, but providence presenting such an equal means for the relief of my family, by inclining the heart of a heathen to observe rules of justice and meete gratitude for that which he hath received, and this coming on without any importu- nity on my part, I hope your worships will not judge me guilty of inordynate seeking after that which I ought not, but I would not be negligent in improving the present hint of Providence. so hoping you will not reject the proposition made, but show your worshipful approbation for the most real effecting of it, and I cease giving you any further trou- ble, I remain your humble servant,
THOMAS LEFFINGWELL."
Norwich, May the 6, 1667.
Thomas Tracy was at that time a member of the General Court, being the deputy from Norwich, and as appears from the result, preferred a petition at the same time, of similar import, although his petition has not been found on record. The Court considered them together, and gave liberty jointly to Thomas Leffing- well and Ensign Thomas Tracy, to receive a grant of land from Uncas, to be viewed and return made of it to the Court, for their further satisfaction. This re- turn was made at the autumnal session of the Court, the same year, and the final action upon it recorded as follows :
"October 10, 1667. This Court grants unto Ensign Thomas Tracy and Thomas Leflingwell, the sum of 400 acres of land, to be equally divided between them. And this Court desires Thomas Leflingwell, Ensign Thomas Tracy,
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and Sargeant Thomas Miner, to agree together and lay out, each other, their proportion, according to their grants in that land of the east side of Shetucket river."
The deed of this grant is found upon the Court Re- cords, and also in the first book of deeds of the town of Preston, within whose bounds it lay, no part of it being within the limits of Norwich. It consisted of 400 acres, in three several parcels, viz. 130 acres of upland, lying north-east of Norwich bounds ; 40 acres of meadow and mowable land, on both sides of Ke- woutaquck river ; and 230 acres of upland, abutting to the S. E. on Stonington bounds.
It is matter of regret that Tracy's claim is not more distinctly stated. We may infer from the record that he was largely, if not equally with Leffingwell, con- cerned in the relief of Uncas when besieged by the Narragansetts; but yet we cannot positively say but that the grant may have been made for services ren- dered to the Sachem at some other time, and of a different nature .*
Whatever was the nature or extent of the gift, promise, or invitation, given by Uncas to Leffingwell and his companions, it was allowed to remain dormant for nearly fourteen years.f The reason is evident. During the whole of this term, the Narragansetts, Ne-
* Rev. F. P. Tracy, of Williamsburg, Mass. has prepared a paper relating to this point which will probably be soon given to the public. It embraces the Leffingwell documents, in the Secretary's office, at large. Mr. Tracy is also engaged in antiquarian researches upon another point connected in some degree with Norwich history. He is collecting materials for a genealogical memoir of the descendants of Lieut. Thomas Tracy.
t Some may think that too early a date has been given to the relief of Uncas by Leffingwell, and that the time when he was besieged by Pessacus, in 1657, is the more probable era of that event. The subject is not without difficulty. Historians have usually left it indefinite. If however this seige had taken place after the English had settled in any considerable number at New London, Uncas would have been
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hanticks, Mohegans, and the remnant of the Pequods, were engaged in implacable wars. The results in- deed were trifling. It was a system of marauding, skulking and assassination, rather than of legitimate warfare, but such a state of things rendered it hazard- ous for the English to advance the frontier and attempt new settlements in that quarter. The utmost vigil- ance, prudence and bravery, were for several years necessary to defend the points they had already assumed.
Uncas had scarcely recovered from the effects of that invasion, from which the timely assistance of Leffing- well relieved him, when his foes returned in still greater force, and threatened his entire annihilation. Making a show of forty men only, they drew him into an am- bush, from which several hundred men rose, and dis- charging a shower of arrows and bullets, (for they had in this inroad thirty guns with them,) they did con- siderable execution, and pursued the Mohegans to the very walls of their forts .* Fortunately a few English soldiers were in the neighborhood, who hastened to his assistance, and at sight of them the Narragansetts retreated. Uncas in this engagement lost four cap- tains and several men, besides a considerable number wounded. During the remainder of the season, Hart- ford and New Haven kept a constant force at Mohe- gan. At length through the efforts of the English, a cessation from hostilities was agreed upon by the two tribes, but no permanent reconciliation was effected.
About this time, and even while the war between the Narragansetts and Mohegans was raging with the utmost fury, the younger Winthrop ventured to com- mence a settlement at Pequot Harbor, now New Lon-
more likely to apply for aid to his near neighbor, and kind personal friend Winthrop, than to send to such a distance as Saybrook for it.
* Letter of Peters referred to before.
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don. Mr. Winthrop's family, Mr. Thomas Peters, and a few others, were upon the ground early in the spring of 1645, and these every year increasing, were soon organized into a permanent town. In 1648, the set- tlement contained forty families. This enterprise was attended with comparatively little danger, as the friendly Mohegans lay between them and the discon- tented tribes. It would have been quite another thing to have stepped beyond the Mohegans, and settled between them and the Narragansetts. Mr. Winthrop performed many friendly services for his Indian neigh- bors. After the last mentioned battle with the Narra- gansetts, he visited Uncas at his fort, and in conjunc- tion with Mr. Peters, assisted in dressing the wounds of more than thirty of his warriors.
So late as the year 1657, we still find the Indians engaged in implacable wars. Pessacus of Narragan - sett, could not forget the murder of his brother, and seems to have felt that he could not die in peace while his great enemy lived. He therefore collected all his forces for another onslaught. Uncas was once more besieged in his fortress, and only preserved from des- truction as before, by the appearance of a band of English soldiers. This timely assistance enabled the Mohegans to turn upon their invaders, whom they pur- sued with such fury, that they were driven like fright- ened sheep, through the woods into thickets and streams, and cut down withont mercy. So great was the panic of the fugitives, that they seemed literally bereft of their senses. Long afterwards some old Mohegans used to boast among their English neigh- bors, of having found in the chase a poor Narragan- sett, struggling and panting in the thicket that bor- dered the river, and so frantic as to suppose himself in the water, and actually attempting to swim among the bushes !
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It is to this rout that the traditionary legend con- nected with the Falls of the Yantic probably belongs. One band of the fugitives being turned out of the direct line leading to the fords of the Yantic, were chased through woods, and over rocks and hills, by the relent- less fury of their pursuers, and coming upon the river where the current was deep and rapid, many of them were driven into it headlong, and there slaughtered or drowned. Others in the rapidity of their carcer, hav- ing suddenly reached the high precipice that overhangs the cataract, plunged, either unawares, or with reck- less impetuosity into the abyss beneath, and were dashed upon the rocks, their mangled bodies floating down into the calm basin below. According to tradition, two Englishmen from Saybrook chanced to be in the track of this expedition. They were exploring the banks of the Yantic to fix upon the site of their future township, and were digging ground-nuts to satisfy their hunger, upon the side hill, near where Mrs. Daniel Coit's house now stands, when they heard the shouts of the conquerors, as they drove the Narragansetts over the river, and saw the fugitives as they came rushing through the valley, and over Sentry and Long Hill towards the Shetuckct.
Notwithstanding these constant alarms, the next year ten or twelve families settled at Stonington, on the Indian frontier, and apparently open to hostile incursions. Dangers of this kind had become so famil- iar that they had lost their terror. The providence of God seemed to be preparing the way for the peaceable settlement of the whites, by permitting the deadly pas- sions of the Indians to take their full scope, and make them instruments of each other's destruction. The wilderness was thus thinned of its obstructions, and prepared to receive its new inhabitants.
CHAPTER III.
Preparations for a Settlement.
No accurate list of the early inhabitants of Saybrook, the mother town of Norwich, can now be obtained. A fort was built at that place, and a garrison estab- lished by the younger Winthrop, in the winter of 1635, which took the form of a regular settlement, on the arrival of Mr. Fenwick with his family, and other emigrants from England, in 1639. Accessions were afterwards made to the planters from various other towns in the colonies. Many of the emigrants from the old world were long in fixing upon a permanent resting place, and we can frequently track them about from town to town, through all the New England col- onies. The records of Saybrook do not reach back beyond 1660, and it was formerly supposed that the previous records had been removed, by Mr. Fitch, to Norwich. No evidence of this, however, has been found in Norwich. In the books of this town, there is not a single item which looks back beyond the date of the plantation, 1600, except the purchase deed of the town, an allusion to an agreement made at Say- brook with Jolin Elderkin relative to a town mill, and a few marriages and births, which had taken place previously, but were recorded in connection with others of the same family afterwards.
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