USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > History of Norwich, Connecticut, from its settlement in 1660, to January 1845 > Part 6
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Mr. Joseph Coit was now engaged to supply the pulpit, and after a few months probation, he was invi- ted to settle. The Committee who communicated this resolution to Mr. Coit, received from him an answer,
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which they reported in town meeting, in the following words.
" We have received a writing from Mr. Coit, in which he doth expressly declare his disagreement from Norwich church, and consequently he cannot walk with them, for how can two walk together, if they be not agreed ?__ But he that in matters controversial doth set up his own opinion in opposition to the Synod Book, and a cloud of witnesses, will be in great danger to wander from the way of peace and truth. But as for us, let us please one another, in that that is good, and may be for edification."
Mr. John Woodward was their next candidate, and a vote was passed to "call him to office." He accepted this call and was ordained in October, 1699. A pow- erful opposition was nevertheless arrayed against him, excited by his opinions with respect to ecclesiastical discipline, which partook less of the congregational spirit of independence, than the notions which the old proprietors had brought with them from Saybrook. Two parties and a spirit of acrimony were beginning to appear in the church, which afterwards led to serious disturbances, and an ultimate separation. Of this, however, nothing appears on the records. The town voted to build Mr. Woodward a house, and contracted with Goodman Elderkin to do it for £140. But they afterwards purchased Mr. Samuel Huntington's house and homelot, at a less expense. Out of the lot an acre and a half was reserved for a burying place. This was soon afterwards open for interments, and is the Society burying yard, which, with an adjoining lot since purchased and added to it, is still used.
CHAPTER IX.
'The Patent. Major Fitch. Number of Inhabitants.
TownSHIPS in America were established with all their various privileges as independent communities, as carly as 1650. This was before the division into counties, before the formation of states, before even the union of settlements. These townships are justly con- sidered as the foundation of American liberty, fur- nishing a species of municipal independence and citi- zenship, which forms a solid basis for all other free institutions.
Counties in Connecticut were not regularly laid out, nor county courts organized, till 1666. Norwich was then assigned to New London Co. The counties were Hartford, New London and Fairfield. The towns in New London Co. were New London, Norwich, Say- brook, Stonington, Killingworth, Groton and Preston.
In 1672 the Proprietors commenced a new record of lands, from which we obtain a list of the inhabitants " so far as copies of said lands were brought in by the said inhabitants." The number is 78.
By the year 1680 Norwich had become the centre of several flourishing towns of more recent date. After the conclusion of Philip's war, when all fear of Indian aggressions had died away, the settlements advanced rapidly, and it could no longer be said, as it had been, that in a northerly course there was not a single white settlement between Norwich and Canada. Deeds
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were recorded in Norwich for several neighboring towns, and in some instances cases of trespass were brought there for decision, from Stonington, Preston, Woodstock, Killingly and Lebanon. Mr. Birchard and Lt. Thomas Tracy, the first Commissioners of the Peace, were of course men of considerable note in the country round about.
In 1684, the list of estate as returned to the General Court was £6,265. Number of taxable persons 115.
In 1685 a patent was obtained which confirmed to the town the original tract of nine miles square, to be an entire township, " according to the tenor of East Greenwich, in Kent, in free and common soccage, and not in capite, nor by Knight's service."
PATENT OF THE TOWN OF NORWICH, A. D. 1685.
Whereas the General Court of Connecticut have forever granted unto the proprietors and Inhabitants of the Towne of Norwich all those lands, both meadows and uplands, within these abuttments (viz.) from the mouth of Tradeing-cove Brooke the line to run as the Brooke to the head of the Brooke to a white oake marked N : and from thence west northwesterly to a great pond to a black oake marked N : which stands neere the mouth of the great Brooke that runs out of the pond to Norwich river, which is about seven miles from the said Tradeing Cove ; and from thence the line runns North noreast nine miles to a Black oake standing by the river side on the south of it, a little above maumeagway, and from thence the line runs south southeasterly nine miles to a white oake standing by a brooke marked N : and then the line runs south southwesterly nine miles to a white oake neere Robert Allyn and Thomas Rose's Dwelling houses, which tree is marked N : and from thence westerly as New London Bounds runs to Mohegan river, the whole being nine miles square, the said land haveing been by purchase or oth- erwise lawfully obtayned of the Indian natives proprietors ._ And whereas, the said Inhabitants and proprietors of the sd Norwich in the Colony of Connecticutt have made appli- cation to the Governor and Company of the sd Colony of
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Connecticutt assembled in Court May 25th, 1685, that they may have a patent for the confirmation of the aforesd land, so purchased and granted to them as aforesaid, and which they have stood seized, and quietly possessed of for many years late past, without interruption. Now for a more full confirmation of the aforesd unto the present proprietors of the sd Towneship of Norwich in their possession and injoy- ment of the premises, know yea that the sd Governour and Company assembled in Generall Court according to the Com- mission Granted to them by his magestie's charter, have given and granted and by these presents doe give, grant Rattifie and confirme unto Mr. James Fitch sent, Capt. James Fitch, Mr. Benjamine Brewster, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Lieut. Tho. Lef- fingwell, Mr. Christopher Huntington, Mr. Simon Hunting- ton, Ensign Wm. Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John Burchard and Mr. John Post, and the rest of the said pres- ent proprietors of the township of Norwich, their heirs, suck- cessors and assigns forever ; the aforesaid parcell of land as it is Butted and Bounded, together with all the woods, mea- dows, pastures, ponds, waters, rivers, islands, fishings, hunt- `ings, fowleings, mines, mineralls, quarries, and precious stones, upon or within the said tract of land, and all other proffitts and comodities thereunto belonging, or in any wayes appertayning ; and Doe also grant unto the aforesd Mr. James Fitch sent, Capt. James Fitch, Mr. Benjamin Brewster, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Lieut. Thos. Leffingwell, Mr. Chris- topher Huntington, Mr. Simon Huntington, Ensign Wm. Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John Birchard, and Mr. John Post, and the rest of the proprietors, Inhabitants of Norwich, their heirs, successors and assigns forever, that the foresd tract of land shall be forever hereafter deemed, repu- ted and be an intire towneship of itself-to have and to hold the said tract of land and premises, with all and singular their appurtenances, together with the priviledges and im- munities and franchises herein given and granted unto the sayd Mr. James Fitch sent, Capt. James Fitch, Mr. Benja- mine Brewster, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Lieut. Thomas Lef- fingwell, Mr. Christopher Huntington, Mr. Simon Hunting- ton, Ensign Wm. Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John Birchard and Mr. John Post, and other the present proprie- tors, Inhabitants of Norwich, theire heirs successors, and assignes for ever, and to the only proper use and behoofe of the sayd Mr. James Fitch sen', Capt. James Fitch, Mr. Ben- jamine Brewster, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Lieut. Thomas Lef-
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fingwell, Mr. Christopher Huntington, Mr. Simon Hunting- ton, Ensign Wm. Backus. Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John Birchard and Mr. John Post, and other proprietors, inhabit- ants of Norwich, their heirs, successors, and assigns for ever, according to the Tenor of East Greenwich in Kent, in free and comon soccage and not in capitte, nor by Knite's ser- vice, they to make improvement of the same as they are capable according to the custom of the country, yielding, rendering, and paieing therefore to our sovereign Lord the king, his heires and successors, his dues according to Charter. In witness whereof, we have caused the Seale of the Colony to be hereunto affixed this twenty-first of May, 1685, in the first year of the reigne of our sovereigne lord James the Sec- ond, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, nnd Ireland, King, Defender of the faith.
ROBERT TREAT, Governor.
SEAL.
March 30th, 1687, pr order of Gov'. and Company of the Colony of Connect- icutt. Signed pr JOHN ALLYN, Secrety.
Entered in the pub. records, Lib. D : fo. 138, 139, Nov 27th, -1685 : pr
JOHN ALLYN, Secrety.
Twelve Patentees were chosen by the town ; but from some cause unknown, Thomas Adgate, who was one, is not named in the instrument as recorded on the town books. They will all be recognized as belonging to the original band of proprietors, with the exception of Capt. James Fitch and Mr. Benjamin Brewster.
Capt. Fitch soon afterwards removed to a large tract of land that he had obtained on Quinebaug river, and commenced a plantation at a place then known as Peagscomsuck, now Canterbury. The first framed house and barn in that place were built by him. In 16SS, he tendered " his accommodations in Norwich" to the town, for a parsonage, and again in 1694. But his offers were not accepted. Four years afterwards
8
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HISTORY OF NORWICHI.
his house and homelot upon the plain were purchased by the two brothers, Simon and Samuel Huntington.
Few persons of that period had more influence in this part of the colony than Capt. or as he was after- wards styled, Major Fitch. He was a noted friend and patron to the Indians, and after the death of Maj. Mason, possessed more sway over the Sachems than any other individual, not excepting their other distin- guished advocate, Capt. Samuel Mason. The signa- ture of Owaneco, subsequent to the year 1680, was considered of no value unless countersigned by Capt. Fitch ; the Sachem, with the consent of the General Court, having authorized him to act as his guardian.
Capt. Fitch, with his brothers Samuel and Daniel, were highly esteemed as brave soldiers and experien- ced partizans in Indian warfare. The early inhabit- ants of Norwich were a spirited and enterpising people, ever ready to sally forth on emergencies, to protect themselves and their neighbors from the savage foc. An instance occurred in the summer of 1696, when a band of Mohawks committed some depredations on the western towns in Massachusetts. A rumor having reached Capt. Fitch that a party of them had been seen skulking about Woodstock, he hastened from his farm to Norwich, collected a band of whites and Mohe- gans, and plunged into the forests in pursuit of the enemy. From Woodstock, he sent a part of his force under his brother Daniel, to range the woods farther to the west, which they did, scouring the country as far as Oxford, Worcester and Lancaster.
At the close of the century, an act was passed rela- tive to a new division of the common lands, which led to an enumeration of the inhabitants. The number of accepted inhabitants enrolled, was eighty-three ; other male residents, twelve. Either this list was never
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
thoroughly completed, or the population had decreased since 1684, which is not very probable. From the list of cattle marks, and the new names at intervals appear- ing upon record, we may conclude that at the com- mencement of a new century, the town contained at least one hundred and twenty-five or one hundred and thirty, full grown men. Of the first proprietors a rem- nant still lingered to enjoy the social and religious institutions which they had founded. Rev. Mr. Fitch, Lieut. Leflingwell, Deacon Simon Huntington, Thomas Adgate, Lt. William Backus, Thomas Post, John Post, John Reynolds, and Morgan Bowers, are enumerated in the above act, as the remaining survivors of the first thirty-five. To them we may add John Tracy and John Gager, who were still living, though not men- tioned in this enrolment.
CHAPTER X.
The Thirty-five.
WE now approach the period when the first class of settlers disappear from the scene. 'One generation has passed away, and another is rapidly verging towards the down-hill of life.
Before dismissing this venerated band to their last resting-place, the few facts which have been ascer- tained respecting cach proprietor and his immediate family, will be briefly stated. It would render the work too voluminous to trace the genealogy through their descendants, and in most cases it would not be practicable. Many of the names are not now to be found in Norwich proper, but are scattered over the nine miles square, and in the adjoining towns of Can- terbury, Windham, Mansfield and Lebanon, which in their origin may be considered as colonies from Nor- wich.
REV. MR. FITCH.
This excellent man was born at Boking, in the county of Essex, Eng., in 1622. His early education was attended to with great care, so that he was well skilled in the learned languages, when he came to America. He was then only sixteen years of age, being one of a band of thirteen youths, all designed for the ministry, who came over at the same time. He was placed, after his arrival, under the instruction of
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Messrs. Hooker and Stone, at Hartford, where he re- mained seven years. In 1646, a church was formed in Saybrook, of which Mr. Fitch was ordained pastor. Mr. Hooker was present at his ordination, but the imposi- tion of hands was by two of the brethren, appointed by the church to that office. This was a congregational ordination in the strictest sense of the term. The same form was also used at the same place fourteen years afterwards, at the ordination of the Rev. Thomas Buckingham. When a part of Mr. Fitch's church decided, in 1660, to remove to Norwich, it was a sub- ject of some contention between the two parties wheth- er he should stay with those who were to remain, or go with those who should remove. He was greatly beloved by all, and each side claimed him. After sol- emn prayer and long deliberation, Mr. Fitch decided that it was his duty to keep with the majority, and this brought him to Norwich. Soon after his removal thither, the people of Hartford invited him to become their minister, thinking, probably, that the hardships of a new settlement, and the prospect of extensive usc- fulness in a wider and more elevated sphere, might in- duce him to leave his flock. The only reply he sent to their invitation was this: "With whom then shall I leave these few poor sheep in the wilderness ?"
The oldest Election Sermon of which any record has been discovered, was preached by Mr. Fitch, in 1674, from this text : " For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her."
As a pastor, Mr. Fitch was zealous and indefatiga- ble. Seeing the Indians around him sunk in darkness and stupidity, his heart was touched with pity, and he spared no pains to alleviate their condition, both in a spiritual and temporal point of view. His house was 8*
1
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open to their roving parties, and he never failed to dis- pense to them, according to his ability, food, raiment and instruction. He learned their language, and often went among them, endeavoring to enlighten their minds, and win them from vice and degradation. The legislature of the State particularly requested him to teach Uncas and his family christianity. But little impression was, however, made on the minds of the chiefs, though many of the common people listened with attention, and some, as has been already stated, gave evidence of true conversion.
The Mohegan Sachems, notwithstanding their dis- inclination to christianity, were warmly attached to Mr. Fitch and his family. Large tracts of land, con- veyed to them either in trust, or as absolute grants, attest their friendship and confidence. A part of the town of Lebanon, five miles in length, and one in breadth, was bestowed by Owaneco on Mr. Fitch and his friend, Capt. Mason. This tract was for a time under the jurisdiction of Norwich, and was familiarly called The Mile. In Mr. Fitch's share of this tract, there was a large Cedar Swamp, which by the princi- ple of association suggesting to the mind of its accom- plished owner the Cedars of Lebanon, led him to be- stow the name of Lebanon on the whole tract.
Mr. Fitch was highly estecmed by his contempora- ries as a penetrating and solid preacher, an enterprizing, energetic, and holy man. He was disabled from per- forming public service in 1694, but the town still continued to supply him with a comfortable mainte- nance, voting him an annual present, varying from £30 to £50. He died in 1702, among his children at Lebanon, he being then about eighty years of age. His tomb-stone, with a Latin epitaph, is at that place and in good preservation.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
By his two wives Mr. Fitch had fourteen children, whose births are all recorded in Norwich, though a part of them were born at Saybrook, previous to his removal. His first wife was Abigail, daughter of the Rev. Henry Whitefield, by whom he had two sons and four daughters, viz :
James, born 1649. Hannah, born -
Abigail, " 1650. Samuel,
1655.
Elizabeth, " 1652. Dorothy, 1658.
Mrs. Abigail Fitch died at Saybrook, in 1659. Mr. Fitch married for his second wife Priscilla, daughter to Major Mason, in 1664, by whom he had seven sons and one daughter, viz :
Daniel, born 1665. Anna, born 1675.
John,
1667. Nathaniel, " 1679.
Jeremiah, " 1670. Josiah,
1681. Jabez, 6.6 1672. Eleazer, 66 1683.
Mr. Fitch had a brother, Thomas, who came to this country with him, settled at Norwalk, and was father to Thomas Fitch, Governor of Connecticut.
Elizabeth, the second daughter of Mr. Fitch, mar- ried Rev. Edward Taylor, of Westfield, Mass. Among the collections of the Connecticut Historical Society is an original letter written by him to Miss Fitch during his courtship, which, from some expressions in it, would seem to have been despatched by a true carrier pigeon ; but perhaps these allusions may be explained by suppo- sing the image of a dove stamped on the seal. The daughters of Mr. Fitch were beautiful in person, and highly accomplished for the period. A letter like this of Mr. Taylor's would scarcely have been written to a person of ordinary attainments. A part of it may be quoted as a specimen of the quaint and metaphorical taste of the age.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
"This for my friend and only beloved, Miss Elizabeth Fitch, at her father's house in Norwich.
" WESTFIELD, S day of 7th month, 1674. " My Dove,
" I send you not my heart, for that I trust is sent to heaven long since, and unless it hath wofully deceived me, it hath not taken up its lodgings in any one's bosom on this side of the Royal City of the Great King, but yet the most of it that is allowed to be layed out upon any creature doth safely and singly fall to your share.
" So much my post pigeon present you with here in these lines. Look not, I entreat you, upon it as one of Love's hyperboles, if I borrow the beams of some sparkling meta- phor to illustrate my respects unto thyself by, for you having made my breast the cabinet of your affections, as I yours mine, I know not how to offer a fitter comparison to set out my love by than to compare it unto a golden ball of pure fire, rolling up and down my breast, from which there flies now and then a spark like a glorious beam from the body of the flaming sun. But alas ! striving to catch these sparks into a love-letter unto yourself, and to gild it with them as with a sunbeam, I find that by what time they have fallen through my pen upon my paper they have lost their shine, and fall only like a little smoke thereon instead of gilding them, wherefore, finding myself so much deceived, I am ready to begrudge my instruments, for though my love within my breast is so large that my heart is not sufficient to contain it, yet they can no more make room to ride into, than to squeeze it up betwixt my black ink and white paper." But know that it is the coarsest part that is chouchant there, for the purest is too fine to clothe in any linguish huswifry, or to be expressed in words."
The writer then proceeds to show "that conjugal love should exceed all other love," but in illustrating this point he runs into the style of a sermon and the lover is almost lost in the theologian.
Mr. Taylor was a man of great crudition, and left a large number of MISS. behind him. One of his daugh- ters was mother of President Styles.
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The descendants of the Rev. Mr. Fitch are exceed- ingly numerous ; eleven of his children, if not more, lived to have families. Capt. James Fitch, already mentioned, was the father of nine sons, only one of whom died young.
MASON.
Of the original band of proprietors, Capt. Mason was the second laid in the grave. He died amid his family in Norwich in 1672, in the 73d year of his age. His last hours were cheered by the prayers and counsels of his beloved pastor and son-in-law, Mr. Fitch. Two years before, he had requested his fellow citizens to excuse him from all further public services, on account of his age and infirmity ; so that the close of his life was tranquil and unharrassed by care and responsibil- ity. He was buried about half a mile from his dwell- ing in a spot which the early planters had selected for a grave yard, but which was never used for that pur- pose after the year 1700. In that primitive cemetery, the only memorials erected in honor of the dead were a grassy hillock, and a block of unhewn granite at the head and foot of the grave. No squared pillars or chis- elled inscriptions ever decorated this humble spot. The stones gradually sunk into the earth, or were removed by those that knew not they had any watch to keep; the graves wore away to a level with the field, and then a little below it, and long before the end of another century, the ploughshare and the seedsman passed over and obliterated every vestige of grave and monument from the place. Tradition alone determines the spot where the noble Captain, and probably the greater part of the first band of planters were buried.
Mason was a man of great prudence and sagacity,
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
wise in council, and heroic in the field of action. The natural ardor of his mind, fostered by carly military adventures, and continually called into exercise by great emergencies, made him a fearless leader in war. Sturdy in frame, and hardy in constitution ; regardless of danger, fatigue or exposure, he was invaluable as a pioneer in difficult enterprises, and a founder of new plantations. He was also a religious man and a patriot ; of virtuous habits, and moderate ambition. Though he sustained many high and honorable offices in the infant colony, he is best known by the simple title of Captain. There is a tradition that after he had retired from the public service, and was quietly residing with his family in Norwich, intelligence was received of some disturbance among the Indians, either at Gro- ton or Stonington. Mason immediately collected about sixty volunteers, who hastily throwing their wallets over their shoulders, containing provisions for two or three days, started for the scene of action. They crossed the Shetucket by fording, a little higher up than where the Greenville factories now stand, marched directly to the spot where the Indians had fixed their camp, chastised them, destroyed their fortifications and many of their huts, and returned in three days without losing a man. It was for promptness and decision like this, that Mason was ever characterized. Trumbull comprises his peculiar traits in these few words. " He was tall and portly, full of martial fire, and shunned no hardships or dangers in the defence and service of the colony."
The Pequot war commenced at a time when Con- necticut had only two hundred and fifty inhabitants, comprised principally in the three towns of Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor. Out of these Mason gath-
-
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ered a band of seventy men, and passing down Con- necticut river, landed in the Narragansett country, and being joined by a band of friendly Indians, marched directly into the heart of the hostile territory, assailed the Pequots in their strongest fortress, destroyed it, laid waste their dwellings, and killed nearly half of the whole nation. This expedition occupied just three weeks. The skill, prudence, firmness and active cour- age displayed by Mason in this exploit, were such as to gain him a high standing among.military command- ers. Viewing his conduct at this distance of time, we are disposed to 'charge him with cruelty to the van- quished foe ; but the same taint lies on all the early colonists. He only shared in the ferocious character of the age, and we may add, in that misconstruction of the spirit of Christianity, which devoted its enemies to immediate and vindictive destruction.
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