USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > History of Norwich, Connecticut, from its settlement in 1660, to January 1845 > Part 5
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year, alternately, on the hills and in the town. This was done by a general turn out.
The winter was the period for making fences. It was repeatedly ordered that all front fences should be done up by the first of March, and the general fences by the first of April. The front fences were to be " a five rayle or equivalent to it, and the general fences a three rayle or equivalent to it." Afterwards a lawful fence upon plain ground was thus defined .- " A good three rail fence, four feet high ; or a good hedge, or pole fence, well staked, four and a half feet high." Two pounds were erected in 1669, one at each end of the town, which appear to have had plenty of occu- pants ; for cattle, swine, sheep and goats, often roamed at large, and trespasses were frequent.
All the effective males turned out at certain seasons of the year, to labor on the highways, or to build and repair bridges. Two horse-bridges were very early erected over the Yantic, at each end of the town plot ; and before many years, six bridges over the same river were maintained by the town, being all within her limits. Wood's bridge, at Portipang, was the most northeriy of these ; the bridge at Noman's acre the most southern and last built.
The inhabitants being principally employed in agri- cultural pursuits, their trading must have been chiefly in the way of barter. Clothing and provisions formed the circulating currency. Loaded boats, however, fre- quently passed up and down the river, and the begin- ning of commerce was soon beheld at the old Landing Place.
In 1682 we find the following entry :-
" It is voted yt there shal be a book procured at town charge for the recording of lands, and allso a boat cumpas
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and yt there shall be allowed to any of the inhabitants of this towne to make a new survey of their land provided they take their neibors with y" whose land lyeth adjoining to them."
To the confusion produced by contradictory deeds, grants without date, and careless surveys, was added that of undefined town limits. This led to ceaseless and long continued disputes with the Indians, and after- wards with the neighboring towns. The Selectmen were obliged to perambulate the bounds, in company with a Committee from the adjoining towns, every year, and to see that the boundaries and meres were kept up. The preservation of boundaries however, both public and private, was extremely difficult, where the only marks were a white oak tree, or a black oak with a crotch,-a tree with a heap of stones around it,-a twin tree,-a very large tree,-a great rock,-a stone set up,-a clump of chesnuts,-a walnut with a limb lopped off,-a birch with some gashes in it, &c. If a man set up a stone in the corner of his grant, with his initials marked on it, he was much more precise than his neighbors. A strip of land, about three miles in breadth, lying between the northern boundary of New London, and the southern of Norwich, gave rise to much litigation and controversy, not only among individuals, but between the two towns, and the whites and Indians. Three parties claimed it, and each was officious in selling and conveying it to individuals, so that a collision of claims and interests was inevitable. It was long before this affair was satisfactorily settled. Many committees were appointed; and the town hoped to arrange the difficulty by referring it, as far as they were concerned, "to the worshipful Samuel Mason and the Rev. Mr. Fitch." This tract is now inclu- · ded in Montville.
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It has already been observed that no inhabitant was permitted to exchange or sell his homelot, without the consent of the town. Thomas Rood and some others violated this regulation, and the sales were declared null and void. Great care was taken to admit no inhabitants that were not industrious and of good moral character. Transient persons, and those who had no particular way of getting a livelihood, were quickly wamed out of town. The overseers made a present- ment of every such person, and the sentence of expul- sion was forthwith recorded against them. The follow- ing is a specimen of the solicitous guardianship of the freemen over their beloved town :-
" 1692 .- Whereas Richard Elsingham and Ephraim Phil- ips have petitioned this town that they may live here one year, the town do agree that they may dwell here the year ensuing, provided that they then provide for themselves elsewhere."
The townsmen were uniformly selected from among the oldest and most influential inhabitants ; but many of the inferior officers circulated pretty generally among the citizens. The townsmen were at first two, but they soon increased to eight in number.
Innkeepers were considered as town officers. Deacon Simon Huntington is the first person on record, as keep- er of " the house of entertaynement."
" Dec. 11. 1679. Agreed and voted by ye town yt Ser- gent Thomas Waterman is desired to keepe the ordynary. And for his encouragement he is granted four ackers of pas- ter land where he can convenyently find it ny about the val- ley going from his house into the woods."
Under date of 1694, is the following, verbatim et literatim :
" The towne maks choise of calib abell to keepe ordinari or a house of entertaynement for this yeare or till another be choosen."
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This was surely inserted by some occasional amanu- ensis, and not by one of the Huntingtons, the regular town clerks, who appear in general to have been cor- rect and faithful scribes. Some very odd orthography occasionally occurs in the records, such as Cota, Coram and Potemporary, for Quota, Quorum and pro-tempore.
Some of the earlier records are in the hand-writing of John Birchard and Capt. James Fitch, but the first town-clerk and recorder, whose appointment is noted, is Christopher Huntington, chosen to office in 1678. After him, the office was held for a time by Richard Bushnell, and then by Christopher Huntington 2d, from whom it descended in regular succession first to his son Isaac, and from Isaac to Benjamin, and from Benjamin to Philip, and from Philip to Benjamin again, who held it in 1828, when the records were removed to Chelsea, and a clerk chosen from that society. Mr. Isaac Huntington held the office for nearly sixty years. At the annual meetings, the question was regularly put by the moderator-Will the town now proceed to the choice of a clerk ? and uniformly decided in the negative; it being understood that the then incumbent was to be continued until a successor was appointed. This venerable man died in 176-1.
1680. Mr. Arnold accepted as an inhabitant, and a grant of several acres of land bestowed on him gra- tuitously. This gentleman is elsewhere called " Mr. John Arnold, merchant." He is supposed to have been from Boston and to have opened the first stock of merchandize in town. In 1688, he purchased the homestead of Jonathan Jennings, consisting of a new dwelling-house, barn and eight acres of land. Hc then disappeared from the records, having removed, it is supposed, to New London. In 169S, the widow Sarah Knight was one of the principal shopkeepers.
CHAPTER VII.
Mohegans. Enlistments. Aboriginal relics.
THE Mohegans were eager to exchange their servi- ces for the food, clothing and other comforts which they received from the English. Many of them erect- ed wigwams in the vicinity of the settlers, and some even in their homelots. The plantation soon swarm- ed with them, and the whites found them rather troublesome neighbors. Their habits of indolence, lying and pilfering were inveterate. At first, a strong hope of converting them to christianity, was very gen- erally entertained, but the major part of the planters soon relinquished the task in despair. It was now found a work of no small difficulty to shake them off, or to keep them in due subjection and order. Laws were repeatedly made for their removal from the town, but still they remained. Restrictions of various kinds were thrown around them : a fine of 10s. was June 17, imposed on every one who should be found 1662. drunk in the place ; the person who should
furnish an Indian with ammunition of any kind, was amerced 20s., but they were neither driven away, nor their morals improved.
1678. Peremptory orders were at length issued to remove every Indian found dwelling upon the Town Plot. Twelve days warning was given, and if after that, any person should suffer them to remain upon his homelot, or pasture near the town, he should pay a fine of 20s. Nevertheless, a certain number did
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remain some years longer, and these, in succeeding town acts, are denominated listed surrenderers, a term perhaps denoting that they had claims upon the lands which they had formally surrendered to the planters, on certain conditions.
Those who were dislodged by the above order, knew not where to go. They had partially given up their roving habits, and it seemed harsh to turn them forth again into the wild woods. The Rev. Mr. Fitch, ever their kind friend in temporal as well as spiritual things, compassionating their forlorn condition, obtained per- mission for them to occupy Waweekus Hill, for a few years, rent free, " that they might have a comfortable living till such time as some other way may be made open for them." How long they continued there is not known. A division of lands upon the hill, 1696. was soon afterwards made among all the accept-
ed inhabitants ; the first purchasers tohave three acres to the hundred more than others.
A few families of resident Indians continued in the town until they slowly melted away. Several wig- wams remained far into the next century. One of the last that decayed was on the hill not far from the spot where the Marsh house stands. It had probably been the residence of a sentinel.
In 1673, upon some hostile manifestations from the Dutch of New York, the militia or train-bands of Con- necticut were ordered to be ready for service, and 500 dragoons raised, who were to be prepared to march on an hour's warning, to defend any place in the colony. Of these dragoons, New London county was to raise a company of one hundred : James Avery, [of New Lon- don,] Captain : Thomas Tracy, [of Norwich, ] Lieut. : John Denison, [of Stonington, ] Ensign. The number
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of privates apportioned to Norwich, was seventeen. Of these men no list has been obtained.
During Philip's war, Norwich was a frontier town, and of course open to the depredations of the enemy : yet there is no record of its ever having been invaded. The inhabitants were frequently alarmed with rumors that bands of hostile Indians were bending their course towards them. A watch was stationed day and night upon Sentry-hill, and men kept their arms by them at their daily work.
Norwich was a convenient place of rendezvous for troops who were collecting for expeditions against the enemy. Major Treat at one time, and Major Talcott twice, marched from this point with their bands of two and three hundred soldiers, and their Indian allies, amounting to nearly as many more. In the New Lon- don accounts, under date of 1676, are various charges against the colony, for arms and provisions, sent to the army at Norwich, or furnished to the Mohegan war- riors, per order of Major Talcott, and Captains Mason, Denison and Avery.
"'The Mohegans," says an old writer, "were partic- ularly friendly to Norwich when an infant settlement. They were of great service in watching and spying, so that it happened that there never were but two men killed in said town by the Indian enemies, and one boy carried away captive, who soon was returned, by the help of a friendly Indian."
This is the only case any where recorded of Indian aggression upon the town. The occurrence must have taken place during Philip's war, and the attack was doubtless upon some exposed dwelling, distant from the town plot.
The Mohegans, from the earliest period of the set- dement to the present day, may be called favorites
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with the people of Norwich. They have been looked after with almost parental care, and the men of most influence in the town, on all public questions, have taken their part, whether right or wrong, against the state and against opposing tribes.
Quarrels frequently took place among the natives, within the bounds of the town, and in this case the magistrates interfered, to see justice done. There is a tradition that one Indian killed another on Bean-hill, soon after the settlement, in 1662. The criminal was arraigned, and being found guilty, was delivered over to his own people for punishment. They assembled on the spot where the deed was done ; the prisoner was brought forth, placed in a kneeling position, and the gun put into the executioner's hand, by one of their chief men. This executioner was probably a near relation of the deceased. For some time he flour- ished his weapon in the air, then aimed at the crimin- al and made the motion of discharging its contents, but instantly wheeled about and pointed to some other object. At length, when the attention of the specta- tors and the prisoner was in some measure distracted, he suddenly fired : the victim uttered a single cry of ahwah ! and fell dead. The executioner threw down his gun, fled to the woods and returned no more to his tribe. This was their custom, in order to avoid the avengers of blood. In another affray which happened near one of the English houses, murder was committed, but the criminal escaped. The Indians held a court on the spot, pronounced the sentence, and put the avenging knife into the hand of the son of the slain, who immediately set off in pursuit of the offender, but in vain, he had reached Oneida, and was there pro- tected.
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CHAPTER VIII.
Ecclesiastical Affairs. Ministers. Meeting houses.
1668. A rate was granted for "repairing and heightening the meeting-house." The next year a grant of land was made " to Samuel Lotrop in consid- cration of his heightening the meeting-house." This edifice had probably been built in November, 1659; hastily constructed, and expected to answer only a temporary purpose.
In 1673, a contract was made with John Elderkin and Samuel Lothrop, to build a new meeting-house, upon the summit of the hill, at the foot of which the present church stands. It was to be furnished "with a gallery and trough to carry the water from the roof." Elderkin, who was the builder, completed it in about two years. He had engaged to do it for £428, but the expense exceeding his estimate, he presented in town meeting the following petition :
" CHRISTIAN FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS,
Your humble petitioner pleadeth your charitie for the reasons hereafter expressed. Gentlemen, it is well known that I have been undertaker for building of the meeting- hous, and it being a piece of work very difficult to under- stand the whole worth and value off, yet notwithstanding I have presumed to doe the work for a sertain sum of money, (to wit,) 428 pound, not haveing any designe thereby to make myself rich, but that the towne might have there meeting-hous dun for a reasonable consideration. But upon my experience, I doe find by my bill of cost, I have dun
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said work very much to my dammage, as I shall now make appear. Gentlemen, I shall not say much unto you, but onely if you may be made sencible of my loss in said under- taking, I pray for your generous and charitable conclusion toward me, whether it be much or little, I hope will be well excepted from your poor and humble petitioner:
JOHN ELDERKIN."
The town declared themselves to be at this time. greatly burdened by the necessity of raising the £428; but as a compensation for the gallery of the new meet- ing-house, they granted Elderkin a tract of land "at Pocketannuk's Cove's mouth."
Mr. James Fitch having provided nails for this meeting-house, to the value of £12, " wherein his for- wardness for the use and benefit of the town, is owned and accepted," liberty was granted him to take two hundred acres of land, as a satisfaction for the same, viz. " 100 in the crotch between Quinebaug and Showtuck- et, and 100 as convenient as he can find it, on the other side of Showtucket river."
The lofty site of this meeting-house, rendered it very difficult of access. We can scarcely imagine that the old or infirm ever reached it. It was chosen through fear of attack, and for the convenience of keeping watch. Another motive was, that the people beyond the ridge, as well as those below, might see their church. It was now the centre of vision to all the in- habitants, and presented a formidable and secure as- pect ; a barrier of perpendicular rocks on one side, and stony declivitics on every other. This was about the period of Philip's war, and a time of unusual alarm. A better look-out post than the gallery of this church furnished, could scarcely be found in the vicinity.
Iu 1689, this meeting-house was found too small to accommodate the congregation, and Thomas Leffing-
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well and others were appointed a committee "to con- sider, contrive and effect an enlargement" of it. This was done so as to answer the temporary emergency, but the whole building was rough, uncouth and clum- sy ; yet perched as it was like a citadel upon its rocky height, the effect must have been imposing.
Tothis church the people used to repair with fire-arms upon their shoulders, which were not, however, carried into the house, but stacked without, in some conven- ient position to be watched by a person at one of the windows. Swords were customarily worn when in full dress, by all the carlier settlers of New England, both in a civil and military capacity. Hats were at that time made of wool : perhaps two or three at the church door, reverently took off a " black beaverett," though that was a costly article, in those days. The poorer sort of people wore only a buff-cap, knit from woollen yarn. The coat was made with a long, straight body, falling below the knee, and with no collar, so that the band, or the neckcloth of spotless linen, fastened behind with a silver buckle, was fully displayed. It is not probable that any one of the in- habitants assumed such a degree of state and dignity as to wear a ruff, though that article was in vogue among people of rank. The waistcoat was long. It is uncertain whether the small clothes had then begun to grow, so as to reach below the knee, and to be fas- tened with knee-buckles or not. The earlier mode was to have them terminate above the knee, and to be tied with ribbons. The common kind were made of leather. Red woollen stockings were much ad- mired. The shoes were coarse, clumped, square-toed, and adorned with enormous buckles. If any boots made their appearance, prodigions was the thumping as they passed up the aisles, for a pair of boots was
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then expected to last a man's life. The tops were short, but very wide at the top ; formed, one might suppose, with a special adaptation to rainy weather ; collecting the water as it fell, and holding an ample bath for the feet and ancles !
Wigs were not then common; but long hair was getting into vogue. It was combed back from the forehead, and gathered behind into a club, or a queue, wound with a black ribbon. A congregation of such men, with their brave, manly brows, fronting their minister, worshipping God upon the high rock that overlooked their settlement, must have been a solemn and majestic sight to superior beings.
But our great grandmothers are also here : they come decently, but not gaudily dressed. They have fincry, but they leave it at home on the Sabbath. The more respectable matrons have all a full dress of flowing brocade, embroidered stomachers, and hang- ing sleeves, but it is reserved for feasts and great civic occasions. They are dressed on the Sabbath, perhaps, in short gowns and stuff-petticoats, with white aprons of linen or muslin, starched stiff. The gown sleeve is short, and they wear mittens extending to the elbow, and leaving the fingers with a part of the thumb bare. The cloak was short, with a hood to cover the head, and was called a riding-hood. The hood was thrown back in meeting, and those who wore bonnets took them off. The matrons wore caps, and the young women had their hair curled or otherwise dressed.
Distinctions of rank and dress, titles of respect, and customs of deference and precedency, were care- fully preserved, but they formed no bar to social in- tercourse, and every year diminished their influence. Among the first proprietors, very few at the period of the settlement, ranked so high as to be called Mr.
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The Rev. Mr. Fitch and Major Mason always received this title. Others afterwards, by age, character, or office, arrived at the distinction. Old men had the title of Gaffer, others that of Goodman, which was con- sidered a respectful appellation, and is often used in the records. Women in like manner were respectfully addressed as Gammers and Goodwives.
Difficulties were soon experienced with respect to collecting the minister's rates. It had been arranged that every inhabitant should carry in himself his pro- portion annually, on or before the 20th of March, and for a time this mode answered well. This excellent community hoped to make the support of Christian instiutions wholly a voluntary business. Every thing was to be done according to law and order, at the same time that religious contributions were to be the spontaneous offerings of the heart and conscience. It was not till 1686, that collectors were appointed to gather the salary, one third of which was to be paid in wheat at 4s. per bushel, one third in rye or pease at 3s. per bu., and one third in indian corn at 2s. per bu., or in that which was equivalent and acceptable to the minister. This vote has a solemn preamble, set- ting forth the necessity of " doing what the laws of God and man, and duty obliges, to wit, the discharge of that obligation which we lie under with respect to the maintenance of our Rev. Minister, and it appearing that the great lenity of the Rev. Mr. Fitch towards some is much abused, and many are got into a way of slight- ness and remissness in making due payment, now therefore that we might all be more thorough so as the work of God may not fall amongst us, it is ordered," &c. In some cases monthly contributions were resorted to in order to make up the deficiency of the minister's salary.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
In 1694 the Rev. Mr. Fitch was disabled from preaching, by a stroke of the palsy. This fact is adverted to in the preamble of a town act, in these terms,-" Inasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God to lay his afflicting hand on our reverend minister," &c. Mr. Jabez Fitch, then pursuing his studies at New Haven, was invited to take his father's place, and the town passed a vote, " to pay the charge of sending for him from the Collidge." After a year's experience of his ministry, they passed another vote, declaring themselves well satisfied with him, and publicly invi- ting him to settle. His answer is not upon record, and indeed nothing farther appears respecting him. Mr. Fitch afterwards settled at Portsmouth, N. H., and there died, in the year 1746. The pulpit was now supplied by various other candidates, none of whom stayed longer than two or three Sabbaths at a time, so that new ones were continually to be sought, and a special rate was granted to defray the charge of " send- " ing hither and thither for ministers."
At length Mr. Henry Flint was obtained, and at first was so highly acceptable and useful, that a record was made in the town books, acknowledging him as a spe- cial gift of Providence, in the following words :
" The good providence of God succeding our endeavours hath sent Mr. Flint unto us, for which we have reason to bless God, and doe desire he may abide with us half a year more or less, that he may have further tryall of us, and wee of him ;- and that he may stay as long as may be judged ex- pedient for probation."
An agreement was made with him of the following purport :- " Dec. 15, 1696. At a meeting of the Com- mittee with Mr. Henry Flint, minister, the Com. doc agree to allow him 20s. per week, so long as he shall continew to be our minister, and also to defray the
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chardge of his board and hors meat." The next April he was unanimously invited to settle with them, and the following terms proposed, viz. : a grant of one hundred and fifty acres of land on Plain hills ; a salary of £52 per year and his board. This was to continue while he remained single. If he should marry, his salary was to be increased to £70, and sixty loads of wood given him annually. Mr. Flint, however, did not accept these offers, and the preamble of a vote the next year alludes to the melancholy fact, that they " are still without a preaching minister."
During this interval, measures were again taken for enlarging and repairing the meeting-house. A Leanto was added, in which several new pews were made, and these not being sufficient to accommodate the increasing congregation, leave was given to twelve persons, who petitioned to that effect, " to build a seat on the Leanto beams, for their convenient sitting on the Lord's dayes." All these improvements being completed, in March, 1698, the Townsmen and Good- man Elderkin, the carpenter, were engaged to arrange the pews into eight classes, according to their dignity. This being done, five of the oldest and most respected inhabitants, viz : Lt. Thomas Leflingwell, Lt. William Backus, Deac. Simon Huntington, Thomas Adgate, Senr., and Serg. John Tracy, were directed to seat the people with due regard to rank : "the square pue to be considered first in dignity; the new seats and the fore seats in the broad ally next, and alike in dignity,"' and so on through the eight classes.
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