USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 14
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The next day "they went to the Little Falls, called by the Indians Lowontuxit, about three miles south of Major Fitch's house," which place they adjudged to be the south bounds of the purchase, and thence they traveled east, west and north, piloted by the Indians, "to hills,
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
meadows, swamps, plains, rivers and brooks," identifying the various bounds designated by the witnesses, and in traveling on the west side of the Quinebaug tract northwest and north from place to place, "went in or near to an old footpath made by the Nipmuck Indians traveling to Shetucket."
Four days were spent by the committee in these investigations and explorations. The boundaries were carefully renewed ; a plot of the land was made and presented to the General Court with a full report of all their proceedings. Winthrop's tract was found to contain twelve or thirteen miles square, and all the lands claimed by Major Fitch and John Tracy and almost all the land comprised in the town of Plainfield, with houses and buildings thereon, were included within it, and "said Indians did testify that Hyems was the sachem of all those lands com- prised within the boundaries." The General Court received this return of their doings and allowed "a record thereof as their return and report," and there the matter rested. No attempt was made to settle the question of ownership, and both parties were left to sell land and seize it at pleasure.
Finding that all attempts to procure a decision of the land con- troversy were fruitless, the Plainfield inhabitants resolved to assume the jurisdiction of their territory, and make the best settlement that was possible under the circumstances. Accordingly, about two weeks after the meeting of the Quinebaug Land Committee, and doubtless with the advice of some of the eminent gentlemen present on that occasion, a committee of the oldest and most respected inhabitants was appointed, " to consider all that may tend to the good welfare of this town." James Deane, William Marsh, Joseph Spalding, Nathaniel Jewell, Thomas Williams, William and Obadiah Johnson, Samuel Adams, Samuel and Josiah Cleveland were selected for this important service. They found many things needful for peace and good order. The previous difficulties and uncertainties had prevented any attempt at public improvements. Instead of having, like other towns, lands reserved for public uses, the Plainfield settlers had not even been sure of their own homesteads. They had neither roads, bridges, mills, schools, meeting-house or record-book, and even the arrangement for religious services had not been carried out faithfully. The Quinebaug was only fordable at low water and was at times impassable; Mr. Coit and a majority of his hearers lived on the east side, and the preaching on the west side had been often omitted. " The committee appointed to settle all these things," considered them carefully and, June 13, 1701, brought in the subjoined report :-
" I. Whereas, there has been difficulty as to our meeting together upon Sabbath days to attend upon the public worship of God by reason of difficulty
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QUINEBAUG LAND INVESTIGATION.
in crossing over Quinebogus River and no place as yet stated by ye town to meet in, through consideration of which it has been thought reasonable and also voted to meet one-third of the time upon the west side, and things falling out so, as there has been too much remissness in meeting on west side and also some difficulty arising in raising ye minister's rate and arrears-the town has seen cause to choose a committee to consider the premises and prepare things suitable to exhibit, which agrees that the lost time shall be made up by meeting two days on the west side and one day on the east, and then for the time following to meet according to the property that each side shall be rated.
II. That there shall be sixty inhabitants with allotments and those are the inhabitants to be equally privileged which have subscribed to the Articles of Agreement, and shall subscribe by the consent of the major part of the in- habitants that shall vote.
III. That the town shall procure a suitable book.
IV. There shall be three men chosen to lay out lots to all the legal and listed inhabitants-twenty acres a lot and thirty acres for addition.
V. All town rates are to be levied upon polls and stocks as they are valued in law.
VI. The town gives notice that all such as lay claim to land in this town that there will be notice given to as many claimers as may be, that they may come to such a meeting or meetings as the town may appoint, these to clear up their rights to such as the town shall make choice of."
This report was accepted and, in addition, it was voted :-
" That all such as do expect to have a lot and addition laid out, shall timely present the model of the lot and where it is he desires it, and give it in writing to the surveyor; " also, " That Major Fitch and Thomas Williams should take the first opportunity to agree with Preston about dividend line."
Under these new arrangements, the town made some progress in settlement, though some time passed before the allotments were laid out and distributed. Public worship was held as agreed, two Sundays on the west of the Quinebang to one on the east, till the close of the year. Mr. Coit was invited to remain another year for twenty pounds in money and thirty pounds in grain-one-third of it to be rye ; Indian corn to be valued at "two shillings a bushel, rye at three, wheat at four." Town meetings were held alternately east and west of the Quinebaug, at Isaac Shepard's and Obadiah Johnson's. In 1702, a pound was built on each side of the river ; Nathaniel Jewell the east and Samuel Adams the west pound-keeper. Thomas Williams, Edward Spalding and John Fellows were east-side surveyors ; Richard Adams and Thomas Brooks, west-side. Samuel Cleveland and Joshua Whitney were collectors. Thomas Williams was selected by the town to keep a house of public entertainment on the east, and Obadiah Johnson on the west, of the Quinebang. John Fellows, John Smith and John Gallup had inspection of the Cedar Swamp, and when any timber was appropriated illegally were directed to seize it and prosecute the matter.
Major Fitch and other leading citizens were now making efforts to provide a suitable place for public worship, and, although no town vote had been taken, in May, 1702, they applied to the General Court, praying for the appointment of three indifferent persons at the cost of
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
the petitioners, " to view and give advice where to set their meeting- house as may be most suitable for the whole town, and in hopes such a means may prevent future trouble." Nathaniel Chesborough, John Richards and Jonathan Crane were accordingly appointed, who selected a site on Black Hill, near a common and convenient crossing- place of the Quinebaug, as one that would best accommodate the inhabitants on both sides of the river. A meeting-house frame was here set up and covered during the summer, and temporary arrange- ments made for its occupancy, so that, in January, 1703, the town voted, " That the house we have lately met in to attend upon the public worship of God shall be the meeting house for the town's use, and the town doth accept it as built and the account of the charge of it as given to them, and that it shall be equally apportioned as to what is past about building and also as to what charge may be hereafter." Thus Plainfield, with all her difficulties and embarrassments, was six months in advance of her prosperous neighbor, Windham, in taking possession of her first meeting-house.
XVIII.
DIVISION OF TOWNSHIP. DISTRIBUTION OF LAND. IRRUPTION FROM NORWICH.
A LTHOUGH so much pains had been taken to select a meeting- house site for the accommodation of the whole township, only one side made use of it, and before the town had voted its acceptance it had decided upon a permanent division of territory. The trouble - some "Quinebogus " was the chief cause of this final separation. Its weekly transit was too difficult and dangerous to be endured, though other considerations were not without weight and influence. The controversy between the Winthrops and Major Fitch involved the inhabitants in quarrels and lawsuits. The eastern settlers favored the Winthrops ; the western generally adhered to Major Fitch and his in- terests. The Major was arbitrary and unreasonable, and, when excited by opposition, violent and unscruplous, as when "John Fellows, Ebene- zer Harris and John Gallup had quietly entered upon a certain parcel of land in the plantation of Plainfield and had cleared and subdued about eight acres and had a crop of English grain growing thereupon nigh to the harvest, the said Major Fitch under a pretence of proceed- ing against them in a judicial way for forcible entry, did to the ex- treme wrong and injury of the complainants force them off from the
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DIVISION OF TOWNSHIP, ETC.
said land, not suffering them to inne the crop that was upon it, and also arresting and imprisoning them and extorting a considerable sum of money from them for their freedom." On complaint being made to the General Court of this treatment, it was declared by that body, "that Major Fitch had not attended any due methods of law in his proceedings, that the parties injured had not been found guilty of any matter of misdemeanor that might expose them to suffering of imprison- ment or loss of goods, that the method of proceeding against them had been very erroneous and illegal and that Major Fitch ought to make good to them whatever loss they had sustained. "
After finding themselves in possession of a house of worship in the autumn of 1702, the inhabitants of Plainfield invited the Reverends James Noyes, Gurdon Saltonstall and Salmon Treat, to advise with them respecting the call of a minister. These gentlemen came up to Plainfield and after considering the disturbed condition of affairs, the various quarrels that were pending and the difficulty of crossing the formidable Quinebaug in winter and high water, advised the people to follow the natural division of the territory and organize as two distinct societies or townships. The suggestion met with immediate favor and was hastily adopted by those present, the reverend gentlemen them- selves drawing up articles of separation, as follows :-
" We agree that the Quinebaug shall be the division to the centre of Peags- comsuck Island and from the centre of that island [a line] due east, a quarter of a mile-thence a line run straight to the south bounds of town a mile eastward from Quinebaug River, and in whichever part the great cedar swamp shall fall, the inhabitants on both sides shall have liberty. to use the timber. Both sides paying for the ministry, only the west side not to bear any part of the charge for the meeting-house now built on the east side- the inhabitants of the west side to procure a minister for themselves as soon as the lines are run. East side joining with them in application to tlie Gen- eral Court for the grant of a separate township, on west side.
EAST SIDE SETTLERS.
James Dean.
Thomas Williams. William Johnson. William Marsh. John Fellows. Benjamin Clark. Edward Yeomans. John Spalding.
Joseph Spalding. Benjamin Spalding. Edward Spalding.
Thomas Stevens, Jr.
Jacob Warren.
Stephen Hall.
James Welch.
Joshua Whitney.
Phillip Bump.
John Smith.
Matthias Button.
William Douglas.
Thomas Pierce.
Benjamin Palmer.
Thomas Stevens, Sen.
Nathaniel Jewell.
WEST SIDE SETTLERS.
James Fitch.
Josiah Cleveland.
Benjamin Rood.
Samuel Cleveland.
Elisha Paine.
Isaac Cleveland.
Obadiah Johnson. Robert Green.
Richard Adams. Thomas Brooks.
WITNESSES.
James Noyes.
G. Saltonstall.
Salmon Treat.
Dec. 24, 1702."
This agreement so suddenly arranged was faithfully carried out as the most satisfactory solution of perplexities and difficulties. Thomas.
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
Williams was selected as "the man to act in behalf of inhabitants of the east side in running the dividend line to be the bounds between the inhabitants of east and west sides-line to be perfected by March ensuing." With the prospect of a permanent settlement now bright- ening, the town appointed a committee, Jan. 21, 1703, " to treat with Mr. Coit for his encouragement to settle here and be the constant minister, " and offered him "a lot over Moosup's River and £80, to carry on his building, £40 a year and more when able." Mr. Coit accepted the lot over Moosup, "provided it be on any good ways that are passable "-and also the £80 to carry on his building, "provided he can procure a settlement elsewhere that may suit him, which if he can't and do stay here, the town inust seek some other way; also the £40 salary, and desires some of it shall be in money."
In pursuance of the agreement of the preceding December, May 13, 1703, the following petition was presented to the General Court :-
"The inhabitants of the west of Plainfield having been in a long labarynth of difficulties by reason of a tedious river that is between us and them and we have modeled and begun to get timber for our meeting-house and purchased and set out a lot for our minister and ask to be confirmed as a town.
William Johnson. Elisha Paine. Samuel Cleveland.
Obadiah Johnson.
James Deane. Thomas Williams."
In response to this and a petition from Plainfield, that a dividing line might be stated between the east and west side inhabitants, the division was allowed-but fearing that the line proposed would prove very prejudicial to the field on the east side-the Assembly ordered, "That the river should be the dividing line from the north to the south bound of the town, " and also, "That the inhabitants of the west side should pay towards the ministry in proportion to their estates till they had an orthodox and approved minister orderly settled amongst them. Freedom from payment of country rates was also granted for two years. This change of boundary line, cutting off from the western inhabitants their share of the valued cornfields, excited much dissatis- faction and fresh remonstrance, and in October the Court allowed the line agreed upon by the inhabitants to be the dividing line of the town and the inhabitants on the west side of the river to have the privileges of a township-its name to be Canterbury.
This separation being effected, Plainfield was enabled to give Mr. Coit a formal call and finish its meeting-house. This edifice when ac- cepted was but a rude frame with temporary floor and seats. October 29, 1703, a committee was appointed, "To take care for the better seating of the meeting-house at ye town's charge. " In December, it was voted, "To have the meeting-house floored and a body of seats and a pulpit made, all to be done decently and with as much speed as may be, the ceiling to extend at present only to the girths ; the previous
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DIVISION OF ' TOWNSHIP, ETC.
committee, William Johnson, Joseph Spalding and Benjamin Palmer, to get this work done at the town's charge." In addition to what had been previously offered Mr. Coit, he was now promised equal privileges with other land-owners in the purchase made of Owaneco for the bene- fit of the inhabitants. A committee was appointed, "to see the several town acks that are in the clerk's custody and take care that such as they think fit are entered in a suitable book and the rest of them presented to the town as there might be occasion." The various town acts which up to this date had been kept on scattered bits of paper, were now regularly arranged and recorded.
The division of Plainfield territory into equal and regular allotments and its distribution among such inhabitants as fulfilled the required conditions were accomplished in 1704 ; the recipients throwing up their previous purchases into the common stock and receiving each an al- lotment with promise of future divisions. Thomas Pierce, John Fel- lows and Benjamin Palmer were a committee to lay out the first allotments. A broad strip of land adjoining the Quinebaug, extending from the north side of Moosup's River to the cedar swamps-the great corn-valley of Plainfield-was reserved as a General Field for the use of all the inhabitants. William Marsh, Joshua Whitney and John Smith were appointed to proportion the enclosing fence to the several proprietors. Forty hundred-acre lots were ordered to be laid out east of Egunk Brook "and if there be not sufficient land there sat down, the remainder to be laid north side of Moosup's River " or "west of the Flat Rock if it be needful."
"February 28, 1704. We, the under-written, petition the town of Plainfield, that we may have the grant of our allotments and additions equally privileged, each with other from the town. Samuel Shepard, . John Smith. Benjamin Smith, John Fellows, Ebenezer Harris, William Douglas, Thomas Stevens, Sen., Thomas Pierce, James Kingsbury, Edward Yeomans, Joshua Whitney, Stephen Hall, John Spalding, Edward do., Benjamin Palmer, Nathaniel Jewell, Thomas Stevens, Jr., Matthias Button, Jacob Warren, Timothy Pierce, Joseph Parkhurst, Thomas Williams, James Deane, Joseph Spalding."
The same day the subscribers by virtue of the Court's grant had their lots and additions granted to be "equally privileged."
To these twenty-four proprietors others were soon added. A number of the inhabitants who were at first reluctant to resign their lands, afterwards came into the arrangement, though Isaac Shepard and two or three others never relinquished their individual ownership. Each family retained its original homestead and care was taken to ac- commodate all with accessible allotments. A lot was laid out to Wil- liam Douglas "at the brook west of his house running into Mill Brook -the remainder of his purchase being yielded up to the general use of the town." James Deane gave to the use of the town his land east- side of Mill Brook, "hoping that it might tend to the speedy and
16
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
quiet settlement of the town, though much to his loss. " Ephraim Wheeler threw up his purchased land, retaining the lot north of Moosup's River, on which he was settled. William Gallup was allowed a lot, "provided he bring his family to it in some reasonable time and there settle his family ;" Peter Crery, also, "provided he do speedily settle his family upon it;" John Gallup, Jr., was granted " the lot he now lives on ;" John Gallup, Sen., "a lot adjoining his son's." Matthias Button was allowed to have his hundred acres in two parts, one of them to be between his house lot and Moosup's River, " so that it be not any hindrance to the setting up a corn mill on said river." Samuel Howe, John Deane and other new inhabitants were each granted the privi- lege of an allotment, by paying three pounds in money into the town treasury.
This division being distributed, the town voted, August 27, "That all the intervals adjoining to the north end of the intervals called Judge Tracy's and so up Quinebaug River to Moosup's and so up Moosup's to the place called The Seven Wonders, and so up both sides Moosup's to the General Field fence, shall be laid out into four-acre divisions so far as it will go and to be to the upper end inhabitants, and the south inhabitants to have as much laid out elsewhere -- Thomas Stevens, Sen., John Smith and Edward Yeomans, committee. " This division was laid out and drawn by lot by forty proprietors, October 19, 1704. The remarkable locality designated " The Seven Wonders " has not been identified. It was assigned to William Marsh and described as near Moosup Round Hill and the lower fordway of Moosup's River, not far from " a birch swamp in a hollow, bound round with hills." To record these various allotments and divisions and other town proceed- ings, James Deane, the faithful town-clerk, was "engaged to provide three suitable books for the town and to make suitable alphabets to them-one book to record town acts, one for births, marriages and deaths, and one to record the laws, and also to make an alphabet for the present book." For this work, which was performed with great care and accuracy, Mr. Deane was excused from paying anything towards the meeting-house.
The peace and tranquillity inaugurated by the division of the town and its orderly laying out were soon broken. An over-measurement of the Tracy land was detected, by which some forty acres were wrongly appropriated, which the town at once seized and made over to Jeremy and other Indians, who raised a fine crop of corn upon it. The Tracy heirs protested against this seizure and signified their determination to take possession of the corn when it was ready for harvest. Early in September a rumor reached Plainfield that the Norwich people were coming up to clear the Indian corn field. As it was a time of Indian
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DIVISION OF TOWNSHIP, ETC.
alarm and disturbance, and very necessary to avoid any occasion of complaint and ill-feelings, Smith, the constable, was ordered by the town authorities to gather the corn at once and deliver it to the select- men for the use and improvement of the Indians. Benjamin Palmer and Ebenezer Harris were employed to assist the constable and had gathered the corn into heaps ready to be carried away, when up rode a number of gay young gentlemen from Norwich-Joseph Tracy, John Waterman, William and Jabez Hide, Albert Huntington, Caleb Bushnell and others-all in high spirits and eager for affray, who at once seized the corn and began loading it into the wagons, and in reply to the con- stable's warning, declared that they would have it. The constable then in her Majesty's name required them to desist, but they went on gathering up the corn and when cited to appear before Major Fitch, declared "That if Major Fitch should send as many warrants as there were straws in the stubble they would take no notice of them." Con- stable Smith then rode away to report proceedings at head-quarters, and returned with a special writ of assistance and carried the young gentlemen before the Honorable Major, who ordered the constable to take them into custody and take them before the Governor and Coun - cil, impressing what men and horses were needed for this service. Smith with Palmer and Harris accordingly mounted their horses and rode off with the prisoners, but long before they reached Norwich the young men made their escape and galloped away. The officers pursued them to James Bushnell's tavern, where some of them " had brought up," when the constable reproved them for their riotous conduct and again summoned them to attend upon the Governor, " but they refused, mounted their horses," saucily bade the officers "good night," and ran away.
This affair caused Plainfield much trouble, expense and incon- venience. Smith was arrested next day, on a charge of "illegal seizing and delivering to Benjamin Palmer, townsman, a certain parcel of In- dian corn, by virtue of an unlawful writ," and after several trials before various courts was sentenced to pay £18 and costs. The General Court, upon petition of the defendant, reversed this decision, May, 1706, remitted the execution of judgment, and ordered that both parties should "bear each the charges they have expended."
The Indian war of 1704 subjected Plainfield to stringent restrictions and new outlays. With other frontier towns it was "not to be deserted ;" its inhabitants were forbidden to leave the place ; com- pelled to support guard-houses and scouts, and provide equipments and ammunition. A train-band company was formed in May, with Thomas Williams for ensign, Samnel Howe for sergeant. Guards were stationed about the meeting-house on Sunday and watch-houses maintained in
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
exposed parts of the town. Great pains were taken to propitiate the favor of the Quinebangs, who continued as ever peaceable and friendly, notwithstanding the hazard and danger incurred when their corn was taken away from them and "the dangerous consequences that then threatened the whole country by provoking the natives to desert the place and fall off to the enemy."
With all these various affairs the settlement of the minister was not neglected. Finding in April, 1704, that the committee chosen to com- plete the meeting-house had not proceeded in that work, " ensign Wil- liams, Joseph Spalding and Jacob Warren were directed to carry on the same and get what debts were due the town and improve for the same." October 19, Sergeant Howe with Williams and Spalding were chosen " to order the settlement of the pulpit and where a pew shall be made and the manner of it, and also for ordering a body of seats and how they shall be made and settled." It was also voted, " To invite the Reverend Messrs. Noyes, Saltonstall and Treat to be helpful to the town in carrying on a day of humiliation and prayer," preparatory to the formation of the church and ordination of the minister. This hav- ing been accomplished on a day appointed by Mr. Noyes and the " pul- pit settled on the south side of the meeting-house," the town voted December 25, 1704, " That next Wednesday-com-seven-night be ap- pointed for ordination," and early in January, 1705, a church was gathered in Plainfield and Mr. Coit ordained as its minister. No re- cord is preserved of church organization or covenant. Ten males con- stituted its original membership. Its first deacons were Jacob Warren and William Douglas.
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