USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Stamford > History of Stamford, Connecticut : from its settlement in 1641, to the present time, including Darien, which was one of its parishes until 1820 > Part 8
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The next notice we find of Stamford in the colony records is of date, Oct. 9, 1662. The new charter of Connecticut had been received, and was decided to cover the territory of Stamford and even of Westehester, now in New York. The Connecticut court, therefore, call upon the Westchester colony "to demean themselves in all things as may declare and manifest their readi- ness to subject to his Royal will and pleasure herein." But their minute regarding Stamford is : "This court doth heartily declare their acceptance of ye plantations of Stamford and Greenwich under this government upon the same terms and pro- visious as are directed and declared to ye inhabitants of Guil- ford; and that each of these plantations have a constable chosen and sworne." Robert Usher is ordered to be sworn as consta- ble for Stamford for one year, or until a new is chosen.
The same session of the general court-the prospective State legislature-declare the following Stamford men to be " free- men of this colony," viz. : John Green, Richard Hardey, Jo- seph Mead, Richard Webb, Joseph Theed, (Theal), and Peter Pheries, (Ferris). These are probably all of those capable of eit- zenship in the Connectient colony, who were thus early ready to secede from the New Haven jurisdiction. And indeed it would seem, that as late as the spring session of 1669, only two more of the townsmen, Richard Law and Jonathan Sellick had accepted citizenship in the new jurisdiction.
At the same session of the court, Stamford, Greenwich and Westchester are to "have liberty of ye court at Fairfield, to issue controversies that may arise among them for future."
We now find Stamford claimed as a colony of the Connecticut jurisdiction, and the general court proceed to enroll such free- men from the new town as offer themselves for that purpose ; and Mr. Gould is authorised to give them the oath of freemen at the next court in Fairfield.
At the May session of the court for 1663, we find this record
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HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
which indicates the division still existing in Stamford respecting the transfer of their allegiance from New Haven to Connecticut.
" This court orders that Rob. Usher and John Meggs shall continue in the place and office of a constable over those that have submitted to this government in there respective planta- tions, until the court see cause to alter otherwise ; and all those that have submitted are to attend the former order made in October court last."
The order referred to here is undoubtedly that which pre- scribed their duties as citizens of the new jurisdiction. They were to be admitted on the same terms as Guilford had been, as thus indicated :
" And this court doth advise the said persons to carry peace- ably and religiously in their places towards the rest of ye in- habitants, that yet have not submitted in like manner. And also, to pay their just dues unto ye Minister of their Towne; and also all publique charges due to this day."
But the transfer of jurisdiction had not yet been approved by the leading men of Stamford. They still acknowledged the au- thority of New Haven, and in May 1663, by vote decided to send their deputies, as before, to New Haven. Francis Bell and Richard Law were chosen, and Mr. Bell took his seat and was sworn in and deputed by the court to give the oath to Mr. Law. And again in October, they send Mr. Law and George Slawson to represent them in the New Haven court. At this session of the court not a little bitterness was shown towards the Connee- ticut colony, for encouraging those at Guildford and Stamford who were disposed to object to the New Haven administration ; and they were inclined not to treat further with the offending government unless it would first return these revolted or seduced subjects to their former loyalty. A committee were appointed by the New Haven assembly to state their grievances and demand redress. In a lengthy document they make their statement and their plea. The following passage from the statement shows the part Stamford was taking in the struggle, and how important her decision was felt to be.
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THE NEW HAVEN JURISDICTION.
" Before your general assembly in October last, 1663, our committee sent a letter unto the said assembly, whereby they did request that our members by you unjustly sent from us should be by yon restored unto us, according to our frequent desires and according to Mr. Winthrop's letter and promise to authori- ty in England, and according to justice, and according to the conclusion of the commissioners in their last session in Boston, whereunto you returned a real negative answer, contrary to all the promises, by making one Brown your constable at Stamford, who hath been sundry ways injurious to us and hath seanda- lously acted in the highest degree of contempt, not only against the authority of this jurisdiction, but also of the king himself, pulling down with contumelies the declaration which was sent thither by the court of magistrates for this colony, in the king's name, and commanded to be set up, in a public place, that it might be read and obeyed by all his majesties subjects, inhabit- ing our town of Stamford."
But the majority of the Stamford people were evidently in- elined to transfer their allegiance to the Connecticut jurisdic- tion; and, as is not unusually the case, the politicians of the old school, who had been the ministers and law officers of the old authority, were at length also brought to see the need, if not the desirableness of accepting the destiny. At this point, also, the greater question at issue between the New Haven and Con- necticut colony must be settled. The charter made no divided jurisdiction. From the Narragansett river on the East, and the sea on the South, across the continent towards the west, and up to the Massachusetts grant on the north, "all firme lands, Soyles, Grounds, HAVENS, Ports, Rivers, Waters, Fish- ings, Mynes, Mynerals, Precious Stones, Quarries, and all and singular other commodities, Jurisdictions, Royalties, Privileges, Francheses, Prcheminences, and hereditaments whatsoever" within the said tract, were made over to his " Worshipful John Winthrop, Governor; John Mason, Deputy Governor; and their twelve assistants and their successors, forever." There could be no question as to whether New Haven was embraced in this charter or not. Accordingly, a committee was appointed Aug. 19, 1663, consisting of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Wyllis, Mr.
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HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
Daniel Clark and John Allyn or any three of them, "to treat with our honored friends of New Haven, Milford, Branford, and Guildford, about settling their union with this colony of Connectient." They were instructed, if unable to effect a union, to declare to them "that this assembly cannot well recent their proceeding in civil government, as a distriet juris- diction ; and this assembly doth desire and cannot but expeet that the inhabitants of New Haven, Milford, Branford, Guild- ford and Stamford, do yield subjection to the government now established." Again, in Oct. 1664, the court appointed Mr. Sherman and the Secretary to go to New Haven, and the other hesitating towns, and " by order from this court, in his majestie's name, to require all the inhabitants of New Haven, Milford, Branford, Guilford and Stamford, to submit to the government of this colony and take their answer." They were, also, to de- elare all the freeman of those towns, who were qualified accord- ing to law, and who would take the freeman's oath, to be free- men of the Connecticut colony.
Mr. Law,;of Stamford, who had already sent in his submission to the Connecticut jurisdiction, was appointed with "magis- traticall powers," to assist in the government of the plantation. The appointment of Mr. Law, who had been the leader of the New Haven party in the town, was a stroke of good policy on the part of the general court. They had now won over the last formidable opponent to their claims, and with his surrender dates the last formal attempt or purpose, so far as records show, to sustain the falling dynasty which, since 1638, had essayed its scriptural sway over a people, that with all their theoretic and practical godliness, had nevertheless proved themselves too worldly, if not too wieked for the test.
It now only remained for the general assembly to proceed formally and with authority to " require all householders inhab- iting this colony to take the oath of allegiance, and that the administration of justice be in his Majestie's name."
They agreed to "bury in perpetual oblivion " all the former
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THE NEW HAVEN JURISDICTION.
acts of the New Haven Jurisdiction, which concerned this col- ony. And it only remained for the New Haven colony to accept the place assigned them by the new charter. In Deeem- ber 1664, they make a conditional submission, and in the follow- ing January, finally, and in good faith, accept the charter, and acknowledge thenceforth the supremacy of the Connecticut government.
CHAPTER VI.
INDIAN TREATIES AND HISTORY.
Let us now return after our details of the settlement here by the English, to see what we can learn about the aborigines whom they came to supplant. Our introduction to them shall be through such original records as are still within our reach.
The following papers, six in number, show us the terms on which the Indians alienated their lands. The necessity for so many snecessive "agreements " or " grants " will appear from the terms of the grants themselves. The first document is a simple acknowledgment, over their own signatures, of the four original proprietors of the soil, that they had disposed of it, for an equivalent, to Capt. Turner; and it is probably the only proof preserved of the original grant by which the settlers came into possession of the territory. We shall give these papers, excepting the sixth, as they are recorded.
(No. 1.)
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SALE JULY 1, 1640.
Bought of Ponus, sagamore of Toquams, and of Wascussue, sagamore of Shippau, by mee, Nathaniel Turner, of Quenepiocke, all the grounds that belongs to both the above said sagamores. except a piece of ground* which the above said sagamore of Toquams reserved for his and the rest of said Indians to plant ou-all of which grounds being expressed by meadows, upland, grass, with the rivers and trees ; and in consideration hereof, I,
* This exception was probably that beautiful headland now owned mainly by Capt. B. L. Waite and the Scofield Brothers, Alfred and Benjamin. This tract, in 1672, was given to the Rev. Eliphalet Jones, then just called to assist the Rev. Mr. Bishop. The terms of the gitt are: "Mr. Jones shall have that peice of land at Weseus whien was improved by the Engins in case it be cleared from all English and Engine and this land to be Mr. Jones' proper right in lue of that piece of land granted to him on the west side of the Southfield."
RESIDENCE OF BENJAMIN L. WAITE, SOUND VIEW, STAMFORD.
.
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INDIAN GRANTS AND HISTORY.
the said Nathaniel Turner, amm to give and bring, or send, to the above said sagamores, within the space of one month, twelve coats, twelve howes, twelve hatchets, twelve glasses, twelve knives, four kettles, four fathom of white wampum : all of which lands bothe we, the said sagamores, do prom ise faithfully to perform, both for ourselves, heirs, executors, or assigns, and hereunto we have sett our marks iu the presence of many of the said Indians, they fully consenting thereto.
Witness, S WILLIAM WILKES, JAMES
PONUS
his mark
OWENOKE, Sagamore Ponus' son
WESCUSSEE
his mark
0
pd in part payment 12 glasses 12 krives 04 coats
(No. 2.)
DEED OF THE EASTERN PART OF THE TOWN, 1645.
These presents testify that I, Piamikin, Sagamore of Roatan and owner of all the land lieing between Fivemile river and Pinebrook so called by the English, for diverse reasons and considerations have given and granted unto Andrew Ward and Richard Law of Stamford for the use and property of sayd town, from me and myne to them and theirs forever, all the above sayd lands lying between the sd Fivemile river and Pinebrook, quietly to possess and enjoye in a full and free manner with all the privileges thereto belonging or apertaining, as witness my hand in Stamford this
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HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
twenty-fourth day of March, anno one thousand six hundred forty and five.
PIAMIKIN,
his mark
Witness JEREMY JAGGER GEORGE SLASON
WASASARY
9 his mark
PEMOATON
S his mark
MAMAIEMA
his mark
TOQUATUS
his mark
(No. 3.)
WARD AND LAW'S REPORT OF DEED OF 1645.
At a general court held at New Haven for ye jurisdiction June 9, 1654- Several writings recorded concerning lands in question betwixt Stamford and Norwalk, which upon the desire of Stamford is ordered to be recorded- this may certify that Piamikee, Sagamore did upon ye twenty-fourth of March in ye year 1645 make a deed of gift of all ye land from that which is comonly called ye Pine brook by ye English and that which is called Five mile river or Rowayton, where their planting land doth come very near unto ye said land, was by a deed of gift made over unto Andrew Ward and Richard Law ; which they did receive for ye town of Stamford and at the same time did give unto the said Sagamore one cont in ye presence of George Slason and after yt three more with some quantity of tobaca, and ye said Sagamore did confirm ye same by setting his hand to a writing then made, ye said Sagamore npon ye gift did except against setting houses hecanse ye English hoggs would be ready to spoil their corn, and yt ye cat- tle in case they come over ye said Five mile river, to which it was granted, yt to inhabit we did not intend, and our cattle we intended they should have a keeper, and in case any hurts was done they should have satisfac. tion, yt this land as aforesaid was by the said Piamikee in ye presence of other four or five Indians resigned for ever to ye English, in witness whereof we have set to our hands, Stamford, first month 4, 1654.
ANDREW WARD, RICHARD LAW.
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INDIAN GRANTS AND IIISTORY.
(No. 4.)
DEED RENEWED BY PONUS AND ONAX, 1655.
Our agreement made with Ponus, Sagamore of Toquamske and with Onax his eldest son : Altho' there was an agreement made before with the said Indians and Capt. Turner and the purchase paid for, yet the things not being clear, and being very unsatisfied, we came to another agreement with Onax aud Ponus for their land from the town plot of Stamford north about 16 miles and there we marked a white oak tree with S. T. and going toward the Mill River side we marked another white oak tree with S. T. and from that tree west we were to run four miles, and from the first marked tree to run four miles eastward, and from this east and west line we are to have further to the north for our cattle to feed, full two miles further, the full breadth-only the said Indians reserve for themselves liberty of their planting ground: and the above said Indians, Ponns and Onax, with all other Indians that be concerned in it have surrendered all the said land to the town of Stamford, as their proper right, forever, and the aforesaid Indians have set their hands as witnessing the truth hereof) and for and in consideration hereof, the said town of Stamford is to give the said Indians 4 coats, which the Indians did accept of for full satisfaction for the afore- said lands, altho' it was paid before, herehy Ponus' posterity is cut off from making any claim or having any right to auy part of the aforesaid land, and do hereby surrender and make over, for us or any of ours forever, unto the Englishmen of the town of Stamford, and their posterity forever, the land as it is butted and bounded the bounds above mentioned. The said Ponus and Onax his son having this day received of Richard Law 4 coats acknowledging themselves fully satisfied for the aforesaid land .- Witness the said Indians the day and date hereof, Stamford, August 15, 1655.
Witnesses
WM NEWMAN
RICHARD LAWS
PONUS. ONAX.
(No. 5.) AGREEMENT OF 1667.
An agreement made this 7th of January Anno 1667 between the inhabit- ants of the town of Stamford, the one party, and Taphance son of Ponus and Powahay son of Onax, son of Ponus, the other party, for a full and final esew of all questions about all and any rights of lands formerly be- longing unto Ponus Sagamore of Toquams and any of his race or lineage surviving, and for a more full confirmation of the sales of lands, meadows, rights, privileges formerly made by the foresai 1 Ponus and Onax unto the inhabitants of the town of Stamford, the contents of this agreement as fol- loweth. That, whereas Ponus Sagamore of Toquams, and Wescus, Saga- more of Shippan, sold unto Capt. Nath'l Turner of Quennipiocke, all their lands belonging to either of the forementioned Ponus aud Wescus-the said sale expressing all uplands, meadows, grass, with the rivers and trees belonging to the foresaid Sagamores, except a piece of ground which the foresaid Sagamore of Toquams reserved to plant on-the said sale specified by a deed under their hands; dated the Ist of July anno 1640. Also the payment according to the agreement was made to satisfaction of the fore- said Ponus and Wescus-these forementioned in the deed are sold and
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HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
alienated from the foresaid Ponns and Wesens and their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns unto the foresaid Capt. Nath'l Turner, and his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever-moreover, after this former agreement in the year Anno 1655, the Inhabitants of Stamford and Ponus Sagamore, and Onax, Sagamore came to an agreement, for the con- venient settlement of their planting ground at Shehauge, as also how far the bounds of the inhabitants of Stamford should go, which joint agree- ment was to extend sixteen miles north from the sea side at Stamford; and two miles short of that the said parties marked two trees with S T; the aforesaid Ponus and Onax agreeing and granted the inhabitants of Stam- ford that their bounds should run from the aforesaid marked trees four miles east, and from the foresaid marked trees four miles west; their whole breadth to be eight miles and for full satisfaction of the foresaid Ponus and Onax for all and every part of the lands with the Demensions thereof forementioned and the Indian's planting Land excepted, four coats was paid and accepted by the said Indians viz: Ponas and Onax, upon which receipt the said Ponus and Onax gave a full surrender of all the land fore- mentioned from them and their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, and in the behalf of all the Indians unto the English Inhabitants of Stam- ford and their heirs, executors, and administrators, and assigns for ever, quietly to possess and enjoy in free and full manner. Unto this agreement the Indians forementioned viz: Ponus and Onax subscribed their mark for full confirmation, witnessed by Richard Law and William Newman. Now these presents witnesseth, that we Taphance, son of Ponus and Pow- ahay son of Onax as abovementioned, do hereby acknowledge the several grants and sales of lands and the several agreements thereabouts as above specified with the payment for satisfaction given for the same, and do hereby for us and ours fully confirm the said grants and sales with the di- mensions thereof as above specified-furthermore we the foresaid Taphance and Powahay do hereby both for us and our heirs, executors administra- tors and assigns, grant and surrender np unto the inhabitants of the town of Stamford their heirs, executors administrators and assigne forever all our land or lands formerly reserved to us for planting at Shehange and Hoqnetch with all other lands of any sort and privileges of any kind to us and our predecessors formerly belonging; the said lands and privileges lying between Tatomock near Greenwich on the west and the land formerly granted by Piamikin to the men of Stamford on the east with the foremen- tioned dimensions of length and breadth; Quietly to possess and enjoy withont future molestation by ns and ours-In consideratiou hereof the inhabitants of Stamford do both for themselves and theirs give and grant unto the foresaid Taphance and Powahay and their male issue and posterity twenty acres planting ground in convenient place or places-with these conditions following agreed nnto-first, that the said Indians fence their ground with a sufficient fence-secondly, that they shall not at any time take in other Indians or Indian to reside with them-thirdly-only 'lap- hance with his wife and children and Penabay and Paharron and an old woDian called Nowattonnamanssqua are allowed-thirdly that neither Tap- hance nor Penahay, nor any of theirs shall at any time sell, or any way di- rectly or indirectly make over or transfer the said twenty acres of land or any part thereof to any; but if the said Taphance and they shall desert and leave the said land, or if in case the said Taphance and Penahay their male issne and posterity shall cease and extinguish, then the forementioned 20 acres of land shall fall to the inhabitants of Stamford, emediately with- out any further consideration, as their proper right; fourthly, the foresaid
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INDIAN GRANTS AND HISTORY.
Taphance and Penebay both for themselves and theirs do hereby bind and engage themselves unto a dew aud orderly subjection to all town orders of Stamford and the laws of the jurisdiction that are or shall be made from time to time and for the true performance of the foresaid covenants and agreements respectively the parties abovementioned do hereby bind them- selves and theirs firmly. In witness of truth they have hereto set their hands the day and date above written.
Signed and delivered in presence of Richard Beach
TAPDANCE
PENAHAY
John Embrey Samuel Mills
In behalf of Stamford. Richard Law Francis Bell; George Slason Jonathan Selleck John Holly
[No. 6.]
CONFIRMATION OF GRANTS, ABOUT 1700.
Still later, about the year 1700, as its locality in the records would indi- cate, we find still another agreement with the Indians. Catoona and Coee con- firm all the previous grants of territory to the English, "westward as far as Bedford." They acknowledge the receipt of "considerable and valuable sums of money. They make special mention of deeds or grants made to the English, by Taphassee, Ponus, Penehays, old Onax, young Onax, a deed to Capt. Turner, and also a deed by Hawatonaman, which our records have not preserved. The following witnesses attest the acknowledgment : John Eye alias John Caukee
Catona
Pobornes
Awaricus
Capt. Manin
Renohoctam
Mockea
Wequacumak
Ramhorne
Papakuma
Aquamana
Smingo
Simorn
Pupiamak
Amtaugh
The preceding papers constitute nearly all the recorded wit. ness that we have to the number and character of the original proprietors of the soil. They report to us the names of some thirty of the most honored of the Indians here. But they teach us very little respecting these signers themselves, and still less respecting the tribes they represent. They only go to show that when the white race were in need of these old Indian realms the red race had been made ready to alienate them. They suggest that the great leaders whose prowess had won for them Sachem dominion and honors had all passed away. What names, illustrious for gifts of Indian eloquence or for deeds of Indian
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HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
daring, may once have ruled here ; of how extensive and popu- lous empire this may have been the seat ; how long the old races may have here held sway; or whenee they had come to these wild shores; all are questions which no records can ever answer. And then the number of the Indians who occupied the territory settled as Stamford will probably never be known. It could not have been very large. Petty chiefs and mere frag- ments of what might once have been small tribes of their race, were all that the historian can find to reward his most diligent search.
Yet it must not be inferred that the Stamford colony escaped the hazards, or were altogether strangers to the startling inei- dents of Indian neighborhood. There was enough of the savage left to suggest what savage life was, when it had entire sway over the country. There was enough of Indian cunning and power left to make the pale face constantly wary and fearful. It would have been no easy task to subdue here the wildness of the forest and its beasts of prey ; it was doubly difficult and hazardous to live in constant exposure to the stealthy movements of suspicious and suspected savages.
The settlement of Stamford succeeded the complete overthrow of the most spirited and formidable tribe within the limits of Connecticut ; and the utter dismemberment of the Pequods had struck surviving tribes and clans with a wholesome terror of the white man's power.
The eastern part of the State had been pretty effectually delivered from all danger from the savages. The Mohegans now left, with Uneas their chief, were henceforth, as the most politic course, to count themselves as the white man's friends ; and in that part of the State it would be a contest between hos- tile tribes of the natives rather than between the aborigines and the immigrant colonies. In the western part of the State were many tribes, the most of which were inferior in numbers and either faint or reckless in spirit, and they were more likely to burn with revenges against their formidable enemies towards
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