USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > History of Norwich, Connecticut, from its settlement in 1660, to January 1845 > Part 9
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
" July 20, 1720. Samuel Sabin appeareth before me R. B. Justice of the Peace, and complaineth against himself that the last Sabbath at night, he and John Olmsby went on to Wawwecoas Hill, to visit their relations, and were late home, did no harm, and fears it may be a transgression of ye law and if it be is very sorry for it and dont allow himself in un- seasonable night-walking."
" An inferior Court held at Norwich ye 19. Sept. 1720. Present R. Bushnell Justice of ye Peace. Samuel Fox juror pr. complaint, Lettis Minor and Hannah Minor Pts. for ille- gally and feloniously about ye 6 of Sept' inst. taking about 30 water-milions which is contrary to Law and is to his dam- age he saith ye sum of 20s. and prays for justice. This Court having considered ye evidence dont find matter of fact proved, do therefore acquit the Dts. and order ye Ptf. pay the charge of presentment."
Mr. Bushnell died in 1727, aged 75. His son, Capt. Caleb Bushnell, was also an active and enterprizing citizen, though he did not reside upon the town plot. Glimpses of his comse are now and then obtained from the records ; as-
" Dec 28, 1714. Granted to Capt. Calib Bushnell a con- venient place for building vessels on the west side of the river opposite the old landing place."
" 1723. The town grants liberty to Capt. Calib Bushnell to set up and maintain two sufficient cart gates across the high-way that goeth to the Little Fort."
His grave-stone says-
"Here lyeth what was mortal of that worthy gentleman, Capt. Caleb Bushnell, son to Capt. Richard Bushnell Esq. who died Feb. 18, 1724, aged 46 years, S months and 23 days."
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CHAPTER XII.
Prices current. Town expenses.
THE town expenses at this period were usually for perambulating and stating bounds, laying out high- ways, plank for bridges, and the bounty on killing birds and snakes. Exclusive of this last item, the an- nual demands upon the treasury, frequently fell below £10. The expenses arising out of the difficulties that existed with neighboring towns, on account of bounda- ries, added some years greatly to this amount. There was an ever open quarrel respecting a tract of land south of the Norwich and north of the New London line, with the Indians or individual settlers. The dis- putes with Preston were still more perplexing and acrimonious. They commenced in 1695, and contin- ued for nearly a century, being a constant source of litigation, trouble and expense ; but as it would neither be interesting nor profitable to enter into these haras- sing affairs, the whole will be passed over with only this slight notice.
List of Town Debts. Dec. 30. 1718.
₺ s. d.
To John Tracy for killing 4 snakes, - -
0 0 8
Th. Leffingwell Jr. 6 do - 0 1 0
Elisha Waterman 67 birds - 0
2 93
John Rood 24 do 0 Jabez Hide 5 snakes - -
1 0
0 0 10
Th. Bingham 4 snakes and drumming J 0 8
Th. Leffingwell Jr, one day to meet New London Committee - 0 5 0
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
£
s. d.
Joseph Reynolds for a plank - -
0 1 0
Solomon Tracy one day on Committee 0 5 0
Charges about Preston Line - -
6 13 10
Several persons for perambulating at 3s. pr day each.
Public improvements were usually made by the gen- eral labor of the citizens, or by individuals who as- sumed the job and were compensated by a grant of land.
In 1704, Eleazer Burnham, set up a fulling mill "near Showtucket, by the Chemical Spring," and had twenty acres of land given him for his encouragement. From some cause or other, this enterprize did not suc- ceed. . The same year, Mr. Edmonds of Providence, a blacksmith, was formally invited by the town, to remove thither, and a place to work in and coals pro- vided for his use, one blacksmith being then insuffi- cient for the town's convenience.
Occasionally, we find a town expenditure for milita- ry equipments, and for " ammunition, with the charge of bringing it up from New London."
In 1720, John and Simon Tracy, were appointed by the town, " to make search for the Towne Armes, with their magazeans of amunition and other accotrements for war, injoyned by law," who reported as follows :
At Lieut. Tracy's, two guns and two pair of snow shoes. " Samuel Fales', one gun.
" Lieut. Bushnell's one gun, one barrel of powder, and seventeen lbs. of lead.
At Lieut. Backus', 344 lbs. of bullets.
" Ensign Leflingwell's, one barrel of powder.
" Deacon Simon Huntington's half barrel of powder, thirty-one Ib. bullets, and 100 flints.
At Simon Tracy's, one pair of snow shoes, and 4 pr. of maugosuns.
" We ware also informed, (say the Committee,) that there
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
was formerly lent to Mr. John Leffingwell, pr Lieut. Bush- nell, seventy-one lbs. of Led, which said Leffingwell was obliged to pay in Bullits, ye same quantity. All ye Led and Bullits 523 pound.
JOHN TRACY, SIMON TRACY."
Very rarely at this period, do we find any person so poor as to require the assistance of the town. There is however, now and then, such a charge as "a pair of shoes for alice Cook, 5s.," "a coat and leather breeches, for old Russell 12s.," " a sheet to bury John Nickols in 10s.," duly entered in the town books. In 1723, great amazement seems to have been excited in the townsmen, by what they designate " the extraor- dinary charge of Henry Wallbridge Jr. for entertayneing Christian Challenge in her late sickness and distraction at his house." Yet the whole charge for eight weeks " nursing, diet, and strengthening salve," going for doctors, four days waiting and tending, and finally con- veying her to Windham, amounts only to £3 5s. 6d. Dr. Calib Bushnell's bill " tords the cure of Christian Challenge," stands thus, and will show what a physi- cian's fees then were :
To 3 travells £0 7 6 to Lusisalig Bolsum, 040
to 3 times bleeding 016
This poor woman appears to have been a traveller, tran per, or transient person, as wandering beggars are indifferently called in New England, who was " rode over by Solomon Story on the Sabbath day, either wil- fully or carelessly," and being very much hurt, was for some time a burden on the town.
At one time the town seems to have been greatly bothered with the trouble and expense of maintaining a poor Ediote, or as it is spelt in another place, Edj-
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
ouett, named Peter Davison, but the case was at last laid before the General Court, and relief obtained.
Down to the period of 1730, a rate of half penny on the pound, was sufficient to liquidate all the cur- rent expenses.
It may be interesting to note the prices of a few ar- ticles in the earlier part of this century :
Wheat 5s. pr. bushel.
Cheese 4d.pr lb.
Rye 3s.
Tallow 5d.
Indian corn,
Sugar 6d. and Sd.
Oats Is 6.
Molasses 2s. 4d. per gall.
Turnips, 1s. 0. "
Quire of paper, 2s.
Milk 13d. pr qt.
pane of glass, 2s. 3d.
Wool, Is. 4d. per lb.
pair of shoes 5s. and 5s. 6.
Beef 2d. per lb.
day's work of laborer 2s. and
Pork 3d. and 33. 3s
Butter 6d. day's work with a team 6s.
Town Clerk's salary, £1. 10s.
A meal of victuals at a tavern 6d. or Sd.
A bowl of toddy, 6d.
A bell rope, 3s.
A barber's charge for once shaving, 2d .- a year's shav- ing, £1.
" A fals tail," (copied from a Barber's account,) 3s.
In 1702, the town ordered that the Law Books on hand, should be sold for 18d. a piece.
Benajah Bushnell sent by the town to New Haven, to appear in their behalf, before the General Court, absent twelve days, his whole account amounted to £2 10.
The following memorandums are in some degree illustrative of this period :
" Sarah Vincent of Norwich, her portion of the pro- perty of her father John Post, who died in 1704."
Here is mentioned sundry parcels of land at Con- necticut Plains and elsewhere, neither extent nor value expressed.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Received as her marriage portion £5.
at his death 1 spade, 3s. iron ware 5s. 2 augurs 2s. .an old Bible 2s. one platter 4s. pewter 4s.
The account of Thomas Blythe, 1726, for tending of Jo- siah Guiller.
12 dayes tendaning, [3s. 6. per daye, £2 2 0
Benjamin Slam's Sheriff's Bill of Charge on Nathaniel Otios. To my travell 18 miles at 33d. £0 5 9 To my tendence at cort, 010
To the Corts fees, 2s. 8. 2 8
£ 095
allowed, R. B. Justice.
Constable's Bill. Abiall Marshall contra Nath1. Gore.
To ye writt £0 0 8
ye constable's fees 0 3 ye Courts fees 02 S ye plaintiffs attendance 0 1
£0 7 4
This bill of cost is allowed, R. Bushnell, Justice.
The following is a sample of simplicity and disinter- estedness, in making out a bill :
"Dec. 16 day 1745. The town is Dr. to me Jacob Hide for 203 feet of 2 inch plank improved to make and mend bridges by order of the surveyor of highways. The price of said 208 feet of plank I think must be about 30s. more or less as the town thinks fit."
Voted, that the selectmen pay Jacob Hide what is just.
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CHAPTER XIII.
Animals.
IN addition to their droves of neat cattle and swine, and flocks of sheep, the inhabitants at one time turned their attention to the keeping of goats. Herds of these troublesome animals roamed at large, until they became an intolerable nuisance. No law of the colony then existed for their restraint. Joseph Tracy, in 1722, having taken up a herd of fifty-four goats trespassing upon his land, impounded them : whereupon their owner, Joseph Backus, bought a suit against him before Mr. Justice Bushnell, which was decided as follows :
" This Court having heard and considered the pleas on both sides in this action, and also the law quoted to, and finding in the last paragraph in said law it is said, ' all neat cattle and horses taken &c. shall pay Sd. per head, and swine 12d. and sheep 1d. per head' and nothing in said law concerning goats, this Court cannot find any thing allowed in the law for impounding of goats and therefore this Court consider that the plaintiff shall recover of the defendant his cost of prose- cution."
The defendant appeals from this judgment to the County Court to be holden at New London in June next.
Nothing further appears upon record respecting goats, but the following item :
" At a General Court at Hartford May 15, 1725, the rep- resentatives of Norwich, having laid before this court, that
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
the act respecting Goats, October last, is very grievous to their town, this Court grants liberty to said town to except themselves out of said act :___ This town do now by their vote, except themselves out of said act."
The lands upon the Yantic, at the time of the settle- ment, were greatly infested with wolves and foxes. Settling in the midst of them would very soon lead to their extirmination, or expulsion ; and this is said to have been one motive which actuated the proprietors in their choice of the first location. Long after the settlement, a bear or a wolf were occasionally seen, coming from the woods towards their old haunts, and on finding themselves near the habitations of man. they have rushed forward, terrified and causing terror, till they found a secure refuge in the uncleared swamps that still in some places skirted the river.
In the early stages of the settlement, therefore, the craft of the hunter, the trapper, and the sportsman, was pursued from necessity instead of pastime. Dep- redations upon the fold and the barnyard were often made, not only by the animals named, but by another popularly called the Woolleneeg, or Sampson Fox, which is still occasionally seen in the wilder parts of New England. But these and all the smaller mischievous quadrupeds, were in a few years either entirely driven away or reduced so greatly in number as to be seldom troublesome. Birds and snakes were not so readily vanquished, and it was necessary to offer rewards and bounties for their destruction.
A half penny per head was first granted for each . and every blackbird and crow killed ; their heads to be exhibited by the claimant to one of the townsmen ; and two pence a piece for all rattlesnakes killed be- tween the fifteenth of April and the first of May, the tail, and a bit of the bone to be received as evidence.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
The last fifteen days of April was therefore the season appropriated to hunting the rattlesnake, and the people turned out for this purpose in large parties.
Notwithstanding the smallness of the bounty, so many birds and snakes were killed every year, that it became a considerable item in the town expenses. The bounty for killing a wolf was 10s6, ($1 75.) This appears to have been claimed but once after 1700, viz. by Sammuel Lotrop.
No better haunts for rattlesnakes could be found than among the rocks and glens of Norwich. Imagin- ation still associates the idea of these formidable rep- tiles with many a dark ravine and sunny ledge. "There are certain rocksand declivities that even yet are known by such names as Rattlesnake-den and Rattlesnake- ridge. They grew here to the size of a man's wrist, and to the length of three and four feet.
There is a tradition that an adventurous lover, re- turning home late one evening from a visit to the lady of his heart, was both snapped at by a wolf and hissed at by a rattlesnake, just as he passed through a turn- stile, near the place now known as Strong's corner. There was then no road through the wood on the river side of the square, but only a footpath. The road this way is still called by aged people of the vicinity " The Grove." This young man, whose name was Water- man, lived above the meeting-honse, and the lady he visited, below the Little Plain. To walk two miles at that period, through thicket and swamp, to make an evening visit, and back again at midnight, was an undertaking almost equal in heroism to that of swim- ming over the Hellespont.
In the spring of 1721. the bounty was claimed for killing one hundred and sixty snakes. In the hope of eradicating them by an extra effort, in 1730, the bounty
132
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
- was raised for that year to two shillings a piece : three hundred were killed in fifteen days, and the law was successively renewed for four years.
In 1735, twenty pounds were paid out of the treasury for killing snakes. The bounty was then reduced to four pence. A large number were killed that year also, if we may judge from the memorandum of one of the selectmen, of those that were exhibited to him :
" May, 1736-An account of rattlesnakes tails brought in to me, Joseph Perkins.
Jacob Perkins brought 7 Thomas Pettis, 5 Samuel Lawrence brought 3 Abijah Fitch, 1
tails.
rattles.
John Bingham,
3
Robert Kinsman,
4
Joshua Hutchins,
23
60
Ezra Lothrup,
2
In 1739 the bounty was again raised to ten shillings a head for all killed, except in the months of June, July and August; provided that the killer took oath that he went out for no other purpose than to destroy them. Among those who claimed the bounty, we frequently find the names of females. The Widow Woodworth was one year paid for twenty-three and the widow Smith for nine. At another time the bounty was claimed for killing one, by David Hartshorn 4th, whom we may suppose to have been a child of very tender age. One can almost fancy, that like the infant Hercules, he strangled the serpent in his cradle. Simon Huntington, a grandson of the first settler of that name, while engaged in haying, at the Great Plains, was bit- ten by a rattlesnake, and died in consequence. This was in July, 1707; the young man was twenty-one years of age.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Waweekus Hill was famous for these reptiles. It is said that a cunning player on the violin, once went on to that hill with his instrument, and enticed a large one to follow him into the town street, fascinated by his music.
We find no legislation on the subject of rattlesnakes, after the year 1764, at which time the bounty of twenty shillings, old tenor, was commuted into six shillings lawful money. It is believed that the last rattlesnake of Norwich was destroyed in 1786. His traces had been often observed, and his haunt sought, but without success. He dwelt under a large rock, and his hole had an outlet on both sides, with a branch in another direction to which he could retreat, so that it was a work of some difficulty to outwit him. But he was at last both " scotch'd" and killed.
The Red Snake, vulgarly called the Rattlesnake's mate, also abounded in Norwich, and is still occasion -; ally found. It is very beautiful in color, being of a chocolate or deep purple, mottled with the richest red. It draws up, leaps, and bites, in the space of two sec- onds, and it is said, will reach the flesh through a thin boot. The wound is followed by immediate pain, swelling, and great inflammation. Instances have occurred in which it has become serious, by neglect, improper treatment, and exposure to cold and wet, breaking forth afresh every year in the snake season, and causing lameness or other infirmities.
The Black snake is now rare and comparatively harmless ; but stories are current of these reptiles hav- ing attacked children in the whortleberry fields, or hay- makers in the meadows, and wound themselves about the body and throat, so as to produce suffocation. When Waweekus Hill was first cleared, the workmen were greatly annoyed by them. There is a tradition to the
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
following effect :- A party of laborers were out on the hill at work, and one of them being employed at some distance from the other, his companions were suddenly alarmed by his cries and shrieks for help. They ran to his assistance, and found him rolling on the ground with several black snakes on his body. He stated after his rescue, that these reptiles came upon him out of a thicket, with such fury as to put it out of his power to defend himself. They wound about his legs, lashed them together, bound up his arms, and were near his throat when his friends came to his assistance. No attempt will be made to prove the truth of this story, but doubtless it is as well founded as that of Laocoon. Supposing the man to have been asleep, when the reptiles swathed his limbs, it is not impossible.
One species of black snake, which formerly infested this region, was called Ring-snake, or racer, and was known by a white or yellow ring around the neck. They would erect the head seven or eight inches from the ground, and in this attitude, with tongue out, and eyes glaring, run with the swiftness of a horse. They were bold, fierce, and dangerous. It was this species which was remarkable for winding about the linbs.
CHAPTER XIV.
Bell. Meeting-House. Ecclesiastical Dissensions. Councils. Ministers Woodward and Lord. Deacons.
IN 1708 the town was presented with a bell by Capt. René Grignon, a French Protestant, who had come up the river for the purposes of trade, and who resided awhile at the landing-place, being accepted as an inhabitant in 1710. A vote of thanks was tendered to the generous Captain, and the bell being conveyed to the meeting-house plain, was ordered " to be hung in the hill between the ends of the town," and to be rung on the Sabbath, and on all public days, and at nine o'clock every evening. The phrase in the hill is a rather doubtful one ; but probably the bell was sus- pended from a scaffolding, on the rocks that overlook the plain, that it might be heard in all parts of the town. Salary of the bellman, who was also to sweep the meeting-house, £5, 10s. per annum.
In 1710 a vote was passed to build a new meeting- house, but a long and vehement dispute arose with respect to its location. One party was for having it stand on the site of the old one upon the hill ; the other on the plain. Both sides were exceedingly vio- lent and obstinate, and for two or three years the whole town was absorbed by the question. At length they agreed to submit it to three impartial gentlemen of Lebanon. Capt. Wm. Clark, Mr. Wm. Halsey, and Mr. Samuel Huntington were designated as umpires. These persons came to Norwich, examined the prem-
M
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
ises with care, heard all that either party had to allege, and after due deliberation recommended that it should be built on the plain. But the town refused to concur, and after two or three alternate votes, and much bitter contention, decided that they would have it on the hill, and the building was there commenced. . Nothing further respecting it appears upon the records of the town or society, but there is reason to infer from other testimony that the plan was soon abandoned, and the house finally built upon the plain.
Jolin Elderkin, 2nd, was the architect of this church, as his father was of the former. After its completion he presented his petition, stating that he had suffered considerable loss by his agreement, and praying " the worthy gentlemen of the town to make some retalia- tion." He was accordingly relieved by a grant of fifty acres of land.
The expense of this edifice was mainly defrayed by sales of land. A meeting-house committee was in the first place appointed, who offered land in lieu of money to be advanced for the work. Capt. Grignon, among others, advanced small sums at several different times, and received in return four portions of land at the landing, viz: ten acres on both sides of Stony brook ; five and a half acres on Waweekus hill; a quarter of an acre near the water ; and four acres on the little plain at the N. W. corner of Waweekus hill.
Ensign Thomas Waterman, in consideration 171S. of his labor and cost in providing stones for steps at the meeting-house doors, [this edifice had an entrance on three sides,] obtained a grant of twenty-two acres at the Landing Place. His price for said stones was 14s. It will further show the value of land at this period, to state Mr. Leffingwell's 1713. agreement with the Committee. He advanced
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
in money £6, 10s., for which he was to have "forty-three acres of rough land on the west side of the brook that runs into Shetucket river above We- quonuk island, at the Rattlesnake's house"; thirty- three acres at the north end of Plain hills, value £5 ; and six and a half acres of rough land near the Isin- glass rock, value £1.
One of the fixtures of this meeting-house was an Hour-Glass, placed in a frame and made fast to the pulpit ; [cost 2s. Sd.] This hour-glass, in 1729, was placed under the particular charge of Capt. Joseph Tracy, who was requested to see that it was duly turned when it ran out in service time, and that the time was kept between meetings; the bellman being charged to attend his orders herein.
Among those who were active in the business of the meeting-honse, was Capt. Robert Denison. This gen- tleman's farm, which was very large, lay at the N. W. corner of Norwich, extending considerably over the line. His dwelling-house was at first supposed to lie within the bounds of the town, and the freemen chose him for their representative to the General Court. When the line was more accurately stated, he was cast into New London. This farm now lies partly in Boz- rah and partly in Montville.
The old meeting-house was sold to Nathaniel Rudd, for £12 5s. 6d .; but the purchaser, afterwards repre- senting to the town that he was " sick of his bargain," relief was granted.
In the new meeting-house, among the persons seat- ed, we find mention made of Mrs. Sarah Knight, who has been noticed before. Aug. 12, 1717, the town by their vote, gave " liberty to Mrs. Sarah Knight, to sit in the pew where she used to sit."
Ecclesiastical dissensions about this time began to
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
rage in the society. In town meeting, 1714, a vote was passed, declaratory of dissent from the new Plat- form of Church Discipline, and complaints presented against Mr. Woodward's " management in the minis- try." Mr. Woodward was one of the delegates that assisted in the formation of this Platform at Saybrook, in 1708, and secretary to the Synod. Of course, he was strenuous for its adoption by the church of which he was pastor. But it was then very unpopular in Nor- wich ; and a warm contest between him and his flock ensued. It is said that when he received the act of the legislature, accepting and establishing the Plat- form as the ecclesiastical constitution of the colony, he read off the first clause of it to his congregation, but suppressed that part of it which allowed dissenters to regulate their worship in their own way. Whereupon the representatives of the town, Richard Bushnell and Joseph Backus, rose in their seats and laid the whole act before the people. A vote of the church was how- ever obtained for the adoption of the Platform, upon which the two gentlemen mentioned above and many others withdrew from the church and held meetings on the Sabbath by themselves. They had, moreover, the influence and address to obtain the following vote, le- galizing their meetings :
" This town grants liberty to those that are dis- Dec. 16, satisfied with the Rev. Mr. Woodward's manage- 1714. ment in the ministry to call another minister to preach to them at their own charge until the dif- ficulties they labor under are removed."
A protest against the vote was signed by eighteen persons. The minister and major part of the church considered these measures highly reprehensible, and made such representations to the Assembly at its next
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