USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Granby > History of Simsbury, Granby, and Canton : from 1642 to 1845 > Part 12
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Simsbury > History of Simsbury, Granby, and Canton : from 1642 to 1845 > Part 12
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Canton > History of Simsbury, Granby, and Canton : from 1642 to 1845 > Part 12
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EZRA WILLCOX removed about the year 1740 from the old society to West Simsbury. He had nine children, five sons and four daughters. He resided on the west side of the river, opposite the mouth of Cherry's brook.
DUDLEY CASE was a native of the old parish, and brother of Daniel, Zacheus, and Ezekiel. He settled in West Simsbury in 1742, and resided in the building now occupied as a public house by Abram Hosford. He had seven children, six of whom left children. He died in 1792.
OLIVER HUMPHREY Esq. the first magistrate in West Simsbury, was a native of the old parish, and settled in West Simsbury about 1742. He had eleven children who lived to adult years, eight of whom had children. He resided in the house lately occupied by William Stone Esq. and died 1792. His widow died 1821, aged ninety-eight years.
NATHANIEL ALFORD was from the old parish, and settled in West Simsbury 1742. He had six children, one son and five daughters, all of whom connected in life, and left children. He resided on the East Hill, on land now owned by Titus, Case, and known by the name of the missionary lot. Time of his decease not known.
Lieut. DAVID ADAMS removed to West Simsbury from the old parish, about the year 1743 ;__ had nine children, four sons and five daughters, two of whom died in youth, and seven formed connec- tions in life and left children. He resided in the second house now standing north of the north burying ground, west side of the high- way. He died 1801, age not particularly known, but must have been upwards of eighty.
Serjeant DANIEL CASE removed from the old parish to West Simsbury, 1743 ;__ had nine children, four sons and five daughters, six of whom had children. He resided on the site where the dwelling house of Calvin Case now stands, near the center church in Canton. He erected the first grist mill in West Simsbury, and
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
died 1801, aged eighty-one years_his widow died 1807, aged eighty-two.
Capt. EZEKIEL HUMPHRY removed from the old parish to West Simsbury about the year 1744 ;__ had ten children, five sons and five daughters, who formed connections, and nine left children. He resided on the place where the dwelling house of Dr. Kasson now stands, on what is commonly called the parsonage lot, Suf- frage school district. He died 1795, supposed to be eighty or upwards.
Capt. JOSIAH CASE removed from Terry's plain, Simsbury, to West Simsbury, about the year 1743. He had six children, two sons and four daughters. He resided on the premises now occupied by his grandson, Gen. Jarvis Case. He died 1789, age not known. His wife died 1807, aged eighty-eight. He had five children who left descendants.
ISAAC MESSENGER removed from Simsbury, or within the limits of the present town of Granby, to West Simsbury, about 1743 or 1744. He had thirteen children, ten sons and three daughters, all of whom formed connections and left children. He resided in the north part of the Center school district, on land now occupied by his grandson, Newell Messenger. He died 1801, aged eighty- two years.
Ensign ISAAC TULLER removed from the old parish, Simsbury, to West Simsbury, 1744 or 5. He had eleven children, three sons and eight daughters ; ten of whom connected in life and had chil- dren. He resided on the premises lately occupied by his son, Rufus, one mile south of the center church. He died in 1806, aged eighty-six. He was the third son of Sarah Woodford, who deceased, 1797, aged one hundred years.
Capt. ZACHEUS CASE removed from the old parish to West Simsbury about the year 1749 ;- had seven children, one son and six daughters, all of whom married and had children. He remo- ved to Whitestown, State of New York, 1792, and died 1812. He resided in the house now occupied by Ephraim Mills.
Deacon HOSEA CASE was a native of Simsbury, and removed to West Simsbury 1752. He had eleven children, four sons and seven daughters, nine of whom had children. He resided on the hill, half a mile east of Isaac Tuller's. He died 1793. Several of his descendants reside in Canton.
Capt. JOHN FOOT removed from Duncaster, Simsbury, 1753, to West Simsbury. He had six children, two sons and four daugh- ters, all of whom had children. He resided at the intersection of the roads, two miles north of the center church. He died 1812, aged eighty-two years.
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
Capt. JOHN BROWN removed from Windsor to West Simsbury, . 1756. He had eleven children, four sons and seven daughters, all of whom were connected in life and had children. He died in early life, 1776, at New York, in the revolutionary service. He was of the fourth generation in direct descent from Peter Brown, one of the pilgrim fathers, who landed at Plymouth from the May- flower, December 22d, 1620. His widow died 1831, aged ninety- two years. He resided in the house now occupied by his son, Abiel Brown Esq. in the center school district.
SOLOMON HUMPHRY, brother of Oliver Humphry Esq. was a native of the old parish, and removed to West Simsbury, about 1755. He had five children, three sons and two daughters, four of whom had children. He resided east of the mountain, border- ing on the old parish.
These twenty-five families had two hundred and eighteen chil- dren_one hundred and fifteen males and one hundred and three females ; averaging nearly nine to a family. The number in each family who settled in life, and had children, averaged nearly eight persons ;__ thus showing our ancestors to have been more prolific than the people of the present day. Joseph Mills, Richard Case, Samuel Barber, and Isaac Messenger, who resided not a great distance from each other, had FORTY SONS ; thirty-nine of whom lived to manhood.
The first person buried in the old south burying ground, was Tryphene Barber, wife of Samuel Barber. Her monument bears date 1752, being the oldest monumental stone in Canton. Pre- vious to this time, it is supposed the dead were carried to the old parish for interment.
Francis Bacon, aged eighty-four years, is believed to be the old- est person now residing in Canton.
Several years previous to the settlement of West Simsbury, the inhabitants of the old parish were in the habit of coming out to cultivate corn, on a rich alluvial bottom, (since swept away by floods,) called the Hopyard, situated on the river at the mouth of Cherry's brook. They built a shelter in the side hill, near the place now occupied as the old south burying ground ; some of the stones of the chimney still remain. While hoeing corn, they were accompanied by their boys with guns at their sides, as a protection against the assaults of Indians."
It is to be regretted that the ages of all these patriarchs could not have been given. Enough, however, has been furnished, in respect to longevity, to show that the people of the present age do not, as a general rule, reach that period of existence enjoyed by their ancestors.
Another remarkable fact disclosed by these sketches is
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
that nearly all of these first settlers had large families-two of them, fourteen children each, and eight of the others, ten or more each. But the most striking fact is, that so large a proportion of the children should have lived to become heads of families and themselves parents-averaging, as before stated, nearly eight persons to each original family !
These results, so far as I am acquainted, are unparalleled, (at least out of Ireland,) in the history of population. And they readily account for the extraordinary fact that so small a section of the town should, within the short space of thir- teen years, become populous enough to anthorise the estab- lishment of a new ecclesiastical society.
About the year 1741, the people of West Simsbury began to hold religious meetings on the Sabbath, separate from the old parish, in private houses. From 1747, to 1749, or 50, two preachers, Rev. Adonijah Bidwell, and Rev. Timothy Pitkin, were employed to preach, each for a short time. This section of the town was constituted a distinct parish by act of Assembly, May, 1750 .* The Congregational church was organized, it is supposed, about the same time. The same year, 1750, Rev. Evander Morrison, who was from . Scotland, and had been ordained in his native country as an evangelist, was installed first pastor of the church. For some cause Mr. Morrison was dismissed from his people, about eleven months after his installation. The next pastor was Rev. Gideon Mills, who had been previously settled in the old parish. He was installed 1759, and continued pas- tor of the church thirteen years. The third pastor was Rev. Seth Sage, installed 1774, and dismissed 1778. Rev. Jer- emiah Hallock was the fourth pastor of the church. He was ordained Oct. 26, 1785, and continued pastor till his
* The society was hounded, " east on the eastermost ledge of the west mountain,"-south on Farmington,-west on New Hartford, the line "to run northerly on the line dividing between the towns of Simsbury and New Hartford seven miles," and thence "east, south-east to the aforesaid east ledge of the west mountain." In May 1762, the inhabitants living "at the east tier of lots on the east side of the river in the town of New Hartford, and adjoining Simsbury," were annexed to this society.
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
death, in June 1826, a period of about forty-one years. Rev. Jairus Burt, the present pastor, was ordained Decem- ber 20, 1826 .*
The first meeting-house was built in 1763, and was occu- pied by the society fifty-one years-having been taken down in 1814. It stood in the valley of Cherry's brook, and near the center of the society.
A new house, erected upon the same spot, was dedicated January 5, 1815. An interesting sermon, preached on the occasion, by the Rev. Mr. Hallock, is in print. The build- ing which is fifty-six by forty-eight feet, surmounted with a steeple, is neat in appearance, and well constructed. It is of that class which tends so much to adorn and beautify our New England villages.
A meeting-house was built in the north part of the town about sixty years ago, by an independent association, or society, who applied to the General Assembly for parish privileges. But the society was never incorporated, nor was it ever recognized by law as a legally constituted body. During many years, the Rev. Mr. Sage, who had been dis- missed from the pastoral charge of the other society, officia- ted as the pastor. After his death, religious services ceased pretty much, and within about three years past the house itself has been taken down.
In 1783, a number of persons in the south part of West Simsbury, seceded from the Congregational society, and formed a church under the name of Separatists ; - of which church the Rev. James Bacon was the next year ordained pastor, and remained as such about two years. In 1785, a schism took place in the church and society, which resulted in the secession of about one half of the congregation, who embraced the tenets of the Baptist denomination. But it does not appear that they had regular meetings, or stated preaching among them until 1802, when elder Jared Mills commenced preaching, and was ordained in 1808.
* Communicated by Rev. Mr. Burt.
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
The Baptist meeting-house was first erected in 1807, on the green, in the village of Suffrage ;- in 1838, it was remo- ved to its present site, when it was enlarged and otherwise improved, so as to make it a pleasant and commodious house for worship.
The Rev. Jared Mills resigned his pastoral charge in 1817, and was succeeded by Rev. Pierpont Brockett, who was ordained in 1819. In 1824, Rev. Stephen S. Nelson was ordained, and was succeeded by Rev. Isaac Kimball in 1825. The present incumbent, Rev. George B. Atwell, was ordained in 1837.
A meeting-house for a new Congregational society was erected at Collinsville in 1836. It is a handsome, well con- structed edifice and beautifully situated near the center of the village. The church was formed, and the society legally constituted, in 1830. Rev. Horatio N. Brinsmade, and Rev. C. C. Vanarsdalen, officiated as preachers for several years, but neither of them was ordained over the parish. In 1839, Rev. Frederick A. Barton was ordained here as an evangel- ist, and continued as officiating minister until 1843. The present clergyman, Rev. Charles McLean, was ordained in 1843.
The flourishing village of. COLLINSVILLE is situated on both sides of the Farmington river, in the southwest part of the town. It owes its " rise and progress" to an establish- ment for the manufacture of axes, commenced here upon a large scale in 1826, by Messrs. Samuel W. Collins, and David C. Collins, who have had charge of the business ever since. Nature and art combine to give the place an exten- sive water power, which is so improved that the manufac- ture of the article is carried on here to a greater extent than at any other establishment in the United States, or, as is believed, in the world.
The present company was incorporated in 1834, by the name of " The Collins Manufacturing Company," with a capital of three hundred thousand dollars, " for the purpose of manufacturing edge tools in the most advantageous man- ner." About one hundred and seventy-five workmen are
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
at present employed, who mannfacture daily from eight to ten hundred axes, all finished in the most perfect style of workmanship. The perfection of the machinery, aided by the important inventions for the saving of labor which have been made here,-the rapidity with which the article is manufactured, the perfection of its workmanship, and the magnitude of the operations, are such as to place this estab- lishment high in the rank of manufactories, and far beyond the reach of ordinary competition. At first, some "edge tools," other than axes were made, but for many years past the company have confined their business to the mannfac- ture of axes of all kinds, including hatchets, though the common woodman's ax is the one which is chiefly made.
The village, in addition to the church already mentioned, contains two school houses, built at the expense of the com- pany ; a commodious hall and building where the business affairs of the company are transacted ; one public house ; three stores ; a post office ; public market ; twenty dwelling houses ; and forty-five double tenements for the accommo- dation of the workmen ;- the whole tastefully built, and so arranged as to make a conspicuous and beautiful appear- ance. A bridge, crossing the river at this place, connects the two sections of the village.
Canton was incorporated by the General Assembly at the May session 1806. The limits of the town were fixed by the same lines as those that bounded the society of West Simsbury. Within a few years past however, a small sec- tion forming that part of Collinsville which lies on the west- ern side of the river, was taken from Burlington and annexed to Canton. The dimensions of the town are about eight miles from north to south, and about four miles from east to west. The surface of the ground in general is hilly, and in some places mountainons, but in a considerable portion of the town, especially in the southern part, and along the valley of Cherry's brook, there are lands of a good quality. The general appearance of the town indicates that industry, thrift and comfort prevail among its inhabitants.
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
The first town clerk was James Humphrey Esq. appointed in 1806, who held the office until his death in 1829. In 1838, the building in which the records were kept, was con- sumed by fire, and with it all the records of the town. The town which previously had belonged to the Probate district of Simsbury was, in 1841, constituted a district by itself.
There are in the town eleven school districts ; and in each of the villages of North Canton, Canton Center, Suffrage, and Collinsville, there is a select school in which the higher branches of education are taught during the winter season. In each of these villages there is also a post-office.
The number of inhabitants in 1810 was 1,374 ;- 1820, 1,322 ;- 1830, 1,437; and in 1840, 1,736.
For lists of Judges of Probate, Representatives, Justices of the Peace, and Town Clerks, see APPENDIX, F. G. H. and I.
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APPENDIX.
APPENDIX A.
INDIAN DEEDS.
" These present writing shows that we Pacatoco and Pamotacount and Youngcowet, Indians and owners of Massaco, Friends to him that burnt John Griffin's picth and tarre-We doe hereby declare our unability to make satis- faction for the said losses any way but by the giving up our right in the land at Massaco unto the said John Griffin ; and in regard the said offender being resigned and delivered up now to us, and fully acquitted for all his miscar- riag to the said John Griffin. Wee the aforesaid Indians do hereby promise to come, at any time or times to Coart or Coarts to passe over all our rights in all our lands at Massaco, only the named Indians do reserve two acres of land and will themselves fence it in, and maintaine it ;- And what writing John Griffin shall cause to be made, all we the aforesaid Indians do promiss to confirm it by our hand and sealls freely set thereto, as we have come to this present writting, this 28th June 1648.
Witness hereunto. The sign of Pacatoco,* JOHN MOSES,. GEORGE ABBET. The sign of Pamatacount, The sign of Youngcoout."
" This is to testifyeth that I, John Griffin, this present December 23, '61, do fully and freely resign over this deede within specified unto the committee appoynted for to dispose the lands at Massaco for the use and benefit of ye plantation of Windsor, as witness my hand the day and yeare above written. JOHN GRIFFIN."
Teste, Daniel Clark, Walter Ffyler, Josias Hull. -
" November 3, 1674. The towne of Simsbury having appoynted a com- mittee to receive their north bounds of their town of Youngcowit, t the said Committee grants to said Youngcowit liberty, and Wesunket, Alehowe, Mathegy, Aramamett, and too more of their Relations, to hunt for Venison within these Lymitts during their life time, which was don upon the request of the said Youngcowit. Witness our hands.
JOHN GRIFFIN,
PETER BUELL,
SAMUEL WILCOXSON."
" On the same day the Indian went out with John Griffin to designate the north bounds of the town, which was at a pine tree at the northern end of a pond called Mallakakess"-presumed to be Southwick pond.
* These signs or marks are omitted, there being no type to represent them.
+ Younket.
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APPENDIX. .
INDIAN DEED .- SIMSBURY, 1680.
" Whereas, our predecessor Mannahanoose did for a long time since devise and wittingly kindle a fire that consumed the estate of Sergeant Jehn Griffin, and made over all his right and interest of land at Massacoe unto the said John Griffin for due recompence of the damage done ;- and whereas our pred- ecessors Younket and Pamotaquant by a deed of sale made over and sold another parcel of land adjoining to the aforesaid Massacoe and being within the bounds of the township of Massacoe, alias Simsbury, which they our predecessors made sale of to some of the inhabitants of Massacoe, alias Sims- bury ;- and whereas we Nessehegen, Seacett and Totoe, Gentlemen, with Aups, Manconump, Nenepaush Squa, Wishewonoes wife and Mamantoes Squa, had common right of those the aforesaid lands so sold and disposed by our predecessors and also having right to some lands taken into and being sit- uate within the boundaries stated by the General Court of Connecticut as be- longing to the township of Massacoe, alias Simsbury, for avoiding all differ- ences that may hereafter arise or happen to be between us the aforesaid Nesehegan, Seakot, Totoe, Aupes, Manconump, Nenapaush Squa, Wishowo- noes wife, and Mamantoes Squa, and our heirs, and the inhabitants or propri- etors of Massacoe, alias Simsbury, and their heirs or assigns, have granted and made this Indenture, this twenty-sixth of March, in the year one thou- sand six hundred and eighty, between Neschegen, Seakett and Totoe, Gentle- men, with Aupes, Manconumpe, Nenepaush Squa, Washewonoes Squa, and Mamontoes Squa, and Major John Talcott, Captain Benjamin Newberry, Captain Daniel Clarke, Sergeant John Griffin, all proprietors within the township of Massacoe alias Simsbury, within the Colony of Connecticut.in New England ;- witnesseth ;
That we Nesehegan, Seaket, Totoe, Aupes, Manconump, Nenepaush Squa, Washowonoes Squa, and Mamantoes Squa, being the only rightful owners, successors, and surviving heirs that can make any challenge, claim or demand upon, or of propriety in that tract of land which is circumscribed by boundaries hereafter mentioned being and belonging to the township of Massacoe, alias Simsbury, having a common right in that so disposed and aliened by our predecessor Manahonoose Younket and Pamotaquaunt, and for many other good considerations and causes hereunto us moving, and for a val- uable sum paid to us in hand in full satisfaction for all our right in the before mentioned tract, or parcel of land lying, being within the township of Massa- coe, alias Simsbury, the receipt whereof we do acknowledge, and do by these presents freely, fully, clearly, and absolutely give, grant, bargain, sell, enfeoff, and confirm unto Maj. John Talcott, Capt. Benjamin Newberry, Capt. Daniel Clarke, and Serg. John Griffin, in the behalf of the inhabitants and proprietors of the land belonging to the township of Massacoe, alias Simsbury, and their heirs and assigns for ever, all that tract of land lying and being situate on Farmington bounds southward, and from thence to run ten large miles north- erly, and from the bounds of Windsor town on the east, to run ten large miles westward, the tract of parcel of land being ten miles square large.
To have and to hold possess and enjoy all the aforesaid tract or parcel of land, as it is now bounded, with all the immunities, privileges, meadows, pas- tures, commonage, timber, trees, wood, underwood, stones, quarries, mines, minerals, brooks, ponds, rivers, fishings, profits, commodities, emoluments and appurtenances whatsoever is belonging thereunto, unto Maj. John Talcott, Capt. Benjamin Newberry, Capt, Daniel Clarke and Serg. John Griffin in the behalf of themselves, and in the behalf of the inhabitents and proprietors of the land belonging to the township of Massacoe alias Simsbury, to them their heirs and assigns, for their own and only proper use, benefit and behoof for- ever. And we Nesehegen, Seaket, Totoe, Aupes, Manconump, Nenapaush Squa, Wishowonoes Squa and Mamantoes Squa do assure and warrant the said Maj. John Talcott, Capt. Benjamin Newberry, Capt. Daniel ('larke, Serg. John Gritfin and the rest of the proprietors of Massacoe, alias Simsbury, that we have full power, good right and lawful authority to grant bargain and sell the aforesaid tract of land with all the appurtenances and singular the privileges thereunto belonging : And we the said Nesahegan, Seaket, Totoe,
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APPENDIX.
Aupes, Manconump, Nenepaush Squa, Wishowonoes Squa, and Mamantoes Squa give them the said Maj. John Talcott, Capt. Benjamin Newberry, Capt. Daniel Ciarke and Serg, John Griffin, and the rest of the inhabitants and pro- prietors of the township of Massacoe, alias. Simsbury, full power and authority to record the premises to themselves, to their heirs and assigns for ever. And we Nesahegan, Seaket, Totoe, Aupes, Manconumpe, Nenepaush Squa, Wishowonoes Squa and Mamantoes Squa do promise, covenant to and with the said Major John Talcott, Capt. Benjamin Newberry, Capt. Daniel Clarke and Serg. John Griffin and the rest of the inhabitants and proprietors of Mas- sacoe, alias Simsbury, them, their heirs and assigns, shall and may by force and virtue of these presents from time to time, and at all times hereafter and forever lawfully and peacibly and quietly have, hold, use, occupy, possess, and enjoy the aforesaid tract and parcel of land with all its rights, members immunities privileges and appurtenances, and have, receive and take the rents, issues, emoluments and profits thereof to their own and only proper use and behoof forever, without any lawful let, suit, trouble, molestation or disturb- ance whatsoever from us or any of us the said Nesehegan, Seaket, Totoe, Aupes, Manconump, Nenepash Squa, Weshewonoes Squa and Mamantoes Squa, our heirs, successors or assigns, or any person or persons whatsoever, from, by or under us our successors or assigns, or by our or their act, means, consent, privity or procurement :- And we Nesehegan, Seaket, Totoe, Aupes, Manconump, Nenepansh Squaw, Wishowonoes Squaw, and Mamantoes Squaw, both for ourselves, heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, shall and do clear, and clearly acquit, exhonerate and discharge, or otherwise suf- ficiently save harmless the said Maj. John Talcott, Capt. Benjamin Newberry, Capt. Daniel Clarke, Serg. John Griffin, and the rest of the inhabitants and proprietors of Massacoe, alias Simsbury, their associates, themselves, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever from all former and other grants, gifts, bargains, titles, troubles, demands and incumbraneies whatso- ever, had, made, committed, suffered or done, by us the aforesaid Nesehegan, Seaket, Totoe, Aupes, Manconump, Nenepaush Squaw, Wishowonoes Squaw, upon the premises.
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