USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
The holders of land under grants from Massachusetts hastened to identify and appropriate their possessions. Dudley, Stoughton and even Black James secured their portions at once, but the other grantees met many obstacles. A corner of Gore's had been taken up by Samuel Converse ; Cotton's was forcibly held by Spalding; Whiting's was reported under-measured, and the boundaries of Thompson's and Freak's were so defaced and overgrown that even the practiced eye of Captain John Chandler failed to discover them. At length, with the assistance of Colonel William Dudley and Benjamin Gambling, who had aided in the original survey, "a tree marked F" was found on Fort Hill, and measuring from it they came upon other marked trees and monuments and were able to identify and refresh the bounds of the five thousand-acre tract. The Thompson land was then confirmed to Joseph Thompson of England ; Freak's farm to Josiah Wolcott of Salem and his wife Mary, niece of Thomas Freak, and the other grantees received confirmation of their grants from the Government of Connecticut.
176
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
Quinnatisset, when thus assumed by Connecticut, was mostly a savage wilderness ; its few settlers, Dresser, Howe, Jewett, Younglove, Converse and the squatter, Spalding-scattered along its southern and western borders. The best part of its land was taken up by non-residents, and a town organization was deemed by these gentlemen essential for the security and settlement of their property. "Josiah Wolcott, in his own name and in the name of Major Robert Thompson and other pro- prietors of the greatest part of the land lying in the northeast of Connecticut, east of Woodstock, north of Killingly," petitioned the General Assembly for a township in 1714. The Assembly considered the request ; found that "from the south line of Killingly to the ancient supposed bounds of this Colony is eleven miles, and from thence to the now-established line is seven miles, but not knowing the width " deferred decision. In May, 1715, Mr. Wolcott again petitioned " for the purpose of improving the lands and making a plantation," having information from Captain Chandler, John Plumb and others that the tract north of Killingly was amply sufficient for a township. The Upper House granted the township, "provided Killingly be allowed nine miles," but the Lower dissented. Killingly had already manifested her determination to appropriate this land, and fears were entertained of wronging that needy township. The petition for the annexation of the vacant land northward, presented by Peter Aspin- wall in 1716, met, however, with flat rejection. The Colony could not decide what to do with her new territory. Its inhabitants apparently preferred absorption in Killingly ; its non-resident land-holders, an independent township. The lack of local organization and officers subjected these gentlemen to encroachments and losses, and debarred them from prosecutions and trials. A forcible representation from Captain Chandler in 1717 of these wrongs and inconveniences, pro- cured the annexation of the land east of Woodstock to the county of New London, while Killingly was pacified by liberty to levy rates therein for her minister.
The unorganized and somewhat lawless condition of the Quinna- tisset country did not prevent settlement. Its first settler after annexation to Connecticut was probably Samuel Morris of Marl- borough, son of the first Edward Morris of Woodstock, who, after some years residence in an old settled township, purchased in 1714, of the Hon. Joseph and Madame Rebecca Dudley, fifteen hundred acres of land west of the Myanexet, alias Quinebaug River-the site of the present village of New Boston-and there established himself with his family. A house with fortifications was soon erected, land subdued and many improvements initiated. The vicinity of Black James and the remaining Nipmuck Indians made defences and precautions needful for
177
QUINNATISSET.
a time, but Mr. Morris soon gained influence and authority over them, and was dignified with the honorary title of governor. A blast of the conch-shell, it was said, would bring an hundred Indians to the aid of Governor Morris. The various public enterprises achieved by Mr. Morris won him much respect and consideration through all the sur- rounding country. The first permanent bridge across the Quinebaug River was completed by him in 1718, at the fording-place of the old Connecticut Road, and was exceedingly "convenient and beneficial to travelers." More than a mile of this road passed through his land and was greatly improved by him, and kept in order. Two smaller bridges were also built by him in this vicinity, and much money ex- pended in clearing the channel of the river. For these various public services and improvements, Mr. Morris was freed for ten years from payment of country taxes. He was also allowed the privilege of attending public worship in Woodstock, where he paid rates and helped build its second meeting-house, and was rewarded by one of the chief seats in that pretentious edifice.
Settlers soon also took possession of land on the French River, David Shapley and Samuel Davis buying farms of Captain John Chandler in 1715. Henry Ellithorp next settled near the site of the present Grosvenor Dale, north of Davis. Samuel Converse, for fifty pounds, conveyed "a part of High Plain, near Quinnatisset, to Urian Horsmor of Woodstock, in 1716. James and Jeremiah Horsmor also bought land of James Leavens and Peter Aspinwall, east of French River. In 1716, Josiah Wolcott made the first sale of land on Quinnatisset Hill, conveying, for two hundred pounds, four hundred acres on the summit of the hill, to Captain John Sabin of Pomfret, and agreeing " to defend said Sabin in quiet and peaceable possession of the premises, so that he be not forcibly ejected." This guaranty was called out by the belligerent attitude of Killingly, who, having discovered that Thompson, Wolcott and Gore had encroached upon her lawful limits, threatened forcible seizure. Captain Sabin, backed by Wolcott, was however, too formidable to be molested, and he soon made over his purchase to his son, Hezekiah, who put up a house and settled there with his family, the first resident proprietor of Quinnatisset-now Thompson Hill. The red tavern, long. occupied by Mr. Sabin, became one of the most noted way-marks between Boston and Hartford. The remaining sixteen hundred acres of Freak's Farm were held many years by Esquire Wolcott. Gore's five hundred acres south of Wolcott's, known as the Quinnatisset Farm, were sold by him to Ebenezer Newell of Roxbury, and after several transfers passed into the hands of its first settlers, John Cooper and Benjamin Russel.
23
178
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY. .
The country north of Quinnatisset Hill was also opened to settle- ment. Whiting's thousand-acre farm, south of Lake Chaubongum, after securing its complement, was purchased by Mr. Sampson Howe and Comfort Starr of Dedham, in 1715, and laid out in farms to be sold or rented. Two thousand acres of land granted to Governor Saltonstall by the General Assembly in 1714, " among the broken land lying between or among the grants to Massachusetts gentlemen," were laid out east of Whitney's farm, in the northeast corner of the Colony. Daniel Ross of Killingly and Comfort Starr soon purchased each five hundred acres of this land-the latter selling farms to James Atwell and Jaffrey Peabody, and reserving for himself a homestead a little west of what is now called Brandy Hill. The first resident of this hill was probably Benjamin Bixby of Topsfield, who built himself a house in 1719, east side of the road to Boston. This settler experienced quite unusual casualties. His house, as the last out-post of civilization on the road from Connecticut, was much frequented by travelers, Indians and lawless borderers. On one occasion, Mrs. Bixby, when alone, refused to give liquor to a drunken savage, whereupon he shot her in the thigh, wounding her severely. This outrage greatly alarmed the few inhabitants of this remote Border-land, especially as it was a time of much Indian alarm and violence, and a report of it was speedily sent to the Governor and Council, who immediately took measures for the discovery and punishment of the perpretator. It was found that he had been at Mohegan, "entertained there and conveyed away." The Mohegans were warned " to abstain from drink, which puts men upon saying and doing things that are provoking," and charged "that they don't walk with arms any more than English inen into English houses or settlements," whereby such " unhappy accidents might be prevented." It was also ordered, October 3, 1720 :-
" That the clerk of the Council do write to Richard Bushnell, Esq., to deliver to Benjamin Bigsby of Killingly what estate the said Bushnell has in his hands belonging to the Indian that shot said Bigsby's wife."
Scarcely had the unfortunate Mrs. Bixby recovered from this misad- venture when she was " visited by the awful providence of Heaven,"- being struck by lightning in a terrific thunder shower and very seriously injured and disabled. This double calamity called out the sympathy and compassion of all the surrounding country, and such tender concern " for these misfortunes was expressed by Governor Saltonstall, through Lieutenant Peter Aspinwall, that Mr. Bixby was constrained to express by letter " his grateful acknowledgment of his Honor's undeserved kindness," and further inform him "that his wife continued in very difficult circumstances and was unlikely to recover the usual soundness of her limbs under another year, if ever." With other "material aid,"
179
QUINNATISSET.
offered to Mr. Bixby in his misfortunes, " seventeen pounds were for- warded by the Indians at New London," probably in atonement of that " unhappy accident " of shooting.
Pottaquatic-now Quaddic-southeast of Quinnatisset Hill, was laid out in 1716, on a grant to Giles Hamlin, and after various transfers was purchased in 1719, by its first resident proprietor-Henry Green of Malden-who, with eight sons, at once took possession of this wild region. A rough, rocky wilderness extended many miles around it, abounding in wild beasts and game. A large colony of beavers held possession of the Assawaga or Five-Mile River, and had constructed a very effective and substantial dam at the present mill-site. Mr. Green and his numerous sons soon established themselves in comfortable quarters, broke up land, put up log houses and a sawmill-borrowing the beavers' dam till a better one could be provided-aud aided much in opening and settling the wild region around them. He was followed in 1721, by John Hascall of Middleborough, who purchased five hundred acres granted to Joseph Collins of Guilford-laid out north of Thompson and south of Saltonstall land-but having the misfortune to burn his house down soon after its completion, he then removed his family and residence to the extreme northwest of the Colony-land, on the tract claimed by the heirs of John Collins. The Joseph Collins tract was sold by Hascall to John King of Taunton, who retained it for life without taking personal possession, and whose name still clings to a small lake within its borders.
A hundred acres east of Hascall's, extending nearly to Rhode Island line, were sold by James Leavens, in 1721, to Edward Munyan of Salem. Mr. Munyan was a weaver by trade, who had emigrated from England about 1700, but finding little demand for his labors, removed with wife, son and two daughters to this remote wilderness. The journey was long and laborious ; roads very poor ; streams seldom bridged. Six cows, ten sheep and four hogs, to stock the farm, shared the perils of the way. Oxen were hired at the different villages to convey the cart of household goods from one settlement to another. The old oak tree under which they encamped the night of their arrival, was found covered with wild turkeys in the morning. A dense, unbroken forest stretched eastward many miles into Rhode Island. The Greens and Hascalls were their nearest neighbors, and they supposed them to be the only inhabitants of the region. Wolves chased and worried the cattle ; pine-knots were burned through the night to scare away wild beasts and Indians. A log house was built during the summer and land adjoining broken up and planted with corn, from which in the autumn three apronfuls of ears were harvested by the daughters. Two Salem families soon followed Mr. Munyan into the wilderness-William
180
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
Moffatt, who purchased fifty acres of James Leavens, and Samuel Utter, who apparently squatted on King's tract. In 1722, Henry and Ebenezer Green sold to Jonathan Clough of Salisbury, a hundred acres of land running southeast of a little footpath leading from Fort Hill to Simon Bryant's. A farm, "south side of Pottaquatic Hill, near Jona- than Clough's house," was soon after sold, by the same, to Nathaniel Merrill, a settler favored like Simon Bryant with a bountiful supply of daughters.
Gardner's and Ganbling's tract, north of Wolcott's, was sold to Joseph Ellis and Nathaniel Wight in 1721-Ellis taking the east and Wight the western section. Jacob Bixby, nephew of Benjamin, Abraham Burrill of Lynn, John Wiley of Reading, Israel Joslyn of Salem, Nath. Brown of Killingly, James Coats of Dudley and Philip McIntyre, all settled north of Quinnatisset Hill between 1721 and '26- buying farms of Ellis, Wight, Howe and Starr. Nathaniel Crosby of Cambridge, settled near the French River in 1722, on land bought of Sampson Howe. Richard Upham of Malden, purchased first division land, east of French River of Isaac Jewett in 1726, and conveyed the same and other subsequent purchases to his son Ivory. The wild land west of the Quinebaug, owned by Woodstock residents, was first settled by John Dwight, son of the Rev. Josiah Dwight, who secured a large tract from Jabez Corbin in 1726. Previous to this purchase, he had established himself probably on the " wild land" owned by his father, and, with Sampson Howe, built a cart-bridge over the Quine- baug at great charge, but failed to secure help from government for this service.
Over thirty families were thus settled on the country land north of Killingly in 1726. No town privileges had been allowed them, but such as were unlawfully accorded by Killingly, who spared no pains to bring them under her jurisdiction and secure possession of this vacant territory. Its inhabitants participated in her secular as well as religious privileges, and were allowed to vote in town-meetings, pay taxes and hold public offices. Sampson Howe, Benjamin Bixby, Henry Green, Hezekiah Sabin and others were active in town affairs. A few of the residents west of the Quinebaug attended church in Wood- stock, but a greater part of the inhabitants were connected with the church in Killingly, attended public worship in its distant meeting-house, . and had their children baptized by its worthy minister. Schools, roads, pounds and other public improvements were not attempted by this irregular government.
Killingly's persistent attempts to secure possession of this land occasioned much trouble and confusion. Two hundred acres promised by the town to the Rev. Mr. Fisk, were laid out in Thompson's land,
181
MASHAMOQUET. MORTLAKE.
and Hascall and Spalding were encouraged in their unlawful appropria- tion of Cotton's and Collins' grants. In 1721, the selectmen of Killingly, without permission from Government, proceeded to lay out this Colony land and apportion it among her own inhabitants and its consenting residents. The Massachusetts Government wrote to Connecticut in behalf of Cotton and Collins, and received assurance that their claims should be made up to them in the ungranted land near Woodstock. In 1726, Paul and William Dudley, Josiah Wolcott and Samuel Morris represented to the General Court, "that Killingly, by what right they knew not, had laid out large quantities of land north of her prescribed bound, which was unjust and destructive of their rights," and begged relief. Joseph Leavens and Joseph Cady were summoned to answer in behalf of Killingly proprietors, and insisted that the land thus laid out was included within their patent. The Court pronounced their plea sufficient, but ordered patents to be granted and executed to such grantees " as shall show grants and surveys made by Massachusetts." Though this decision admitted Killingly's claim to Connecticut's share of this Colony land, she was still dissatisfied, and persisted in her efforts to recover the tracts allowed to Massachusetts grantees.
XXVI.
MASHAMOQUET. MORTLAKE.
THE township of Pomfret, though later organized than that of Killingly, preceded it in date of settlement, its purchase and laying out quickly following that of Woodstock. Its territory was included in the Wabbaquasset Country, and came into the possession of Major Fitch in 1684. The first pioneers "sent to spy out Wood- stock " brought back so good a report of a fair land stretching south- ward into Connecticut, that a number of Roxbury gentlemen were induced to attempt its purchase. Negotiations were promptly opened with Major Fitch, and on May 1, 1686, a deed of transfer was executed, conveying, for thirty pounds, to Samuel Ruggles, Sen., John Chandler, Sen., Benjamin Sabin, John Grosvenor, Samuel Ruggles, Jun., and . Joseph Griffin, all of Roxbury, "15,100 acres of Wilderness land, to be surveyed, laid out and bounded unto them in the Wapaquaset Country in Connecticut Colony, in such place and regular form as the aforesaid grantees shall choose, or adjoining unto a certain plantation
182
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
granted by the General Court of Massachusetts unto Roxbury ; already determined to lye near the patent division line in the said Wapaquaset and Nipmuck Country. Said Fitch covenanting that he is lawfully seized of said land as part of a far greater tract from Owaneco; that said company shall make choice of the place, &c., within three years, provided that to the twelve persons to be named as grantees there be added two shares for Fitch and his heirs, so as the whole number be fourteen shares, between whom the whole tract shall be equally divided, and that all divisions shall be by lot-the said Fitch having liberty to take his fourteenths in one or two lots at pleasure."
This deed was signed in presence of John Blackwell and Wait Winthrop, and acknowledged by James Fitch, May 6, 1686, before Mr. William Stoughton, assistant. "Owaneco and Josiah, his eldest son and heir, did declare their consent to this grant, May 30, 1686, in presence of John Blackwell and John Post." The six purchasers named in the deed at once proceeded to designate their associates, viz. :-
" Whereas, we, whose names are underwritten, being mentioned and ex- pressed by name as purchasers of a tract of land at Wabbaquasset Hills in the Nipmuck Country, and. whereas, other six persons being joint purchasers, this certifies that we do nominate John Pierpont, John White, John Ruggles, cord-wainers, John and Samuel Gore and Thomas Mowry.
Samuel Ruggles, Sen. John Chandler, Sen. Benjamin Sabin.
John Grosvenor. Samuel Ruggles, Jun. Joseph Griffin.
May 6, 1686."
These twelve proprietors were then all residents of Roxbury, though John Chandler and Benjamin Sabin were preparing to remove to New Roxbury. John Grosvenor, who with his family had emigrated from Cheshire, England, in 1680, is said to have been sent by the company to Norwich to pay Major Fitch the purchase money. During the summer, the fifteen thousand acres were selected and laid out south of New Roxbury on the Mashamoquet River, and the tract was thence- forth designated as the Mashamoquet or Roxbury purchase. A patent of a township, including this purchase and land adjacent, was granted by the Governor and Company of Connecticut, July 8, 1686, to John Blackwell, James Fitch, Samuel Craft, Nathaniel Wilson, the Masha- moquet proprietors and others not named, for the New Plantation in the Wabbaquasset Country, and in the following October, liberty was given " to Major Fitch, Lieutenant Ruggles and others of Roxbury to settle a plantation in those parts, they attending those things most accommodable to the plantation and orders of the Colony, in which case Major J. Tolcott and Captain Joseph Allyn are to be advised with."
Land south of the Mashamoquet Purchase was sold by Major Fitch
183
MASHAMOQUET. MORTLAKE.
to Captain John Blackwell of England, a noted Puritan and friend of the Commonwealth, son-in-law of General Lambert, treasurer of Crom- well's army and member of Parliament during his administration. Captain Blackwell was one of those exempted from the general pardon at the restoration of the Stuarts, and after the accession of James II. came over to New England, commissioned by some of the English and Irish Dissenters "to inquire if they may be welcome there and may reasonably expect that liberty they promise themselves and others." Captain Blackwell was warmly welcomed in Boston, made a justice of the peace and much connected in public affairs. In 1685, the General Court of Massachusetts granted him a tract of land eight miles square, "in behalf of himself and several other worthy gentlemen of England," and also a share in the new township of Oxford, but he decided to settle his colony within the wilds of Connecticut and secured from Major Fitch, May 28, 1686, a deed of five thousand seven hundred and fifty acres of land, "containing the Newichewanna Hills and other lands adjoining, lying west of the Quinebaug and south of Tamonquas, alias Mashamoquet River." This land was confirmed to him "after he made his choice," November 11, 1686, by Major Fitch, Owaneco and Josiah, in presence of Hez. Usher, William Blackwell, Thomas Hooker and John Hubbard,-the Mashamoquet proprietors and other patentees of the newly granted townships, agreeing, "That Black- well's part of 5,750 acres, situated in the southeast angle thereof, shall be accounted a separate tract by and of itself, to hold to him, his heirs and assigns, so that neither the rest of the purchasers, nor their survivors or heirs, shall challenge to have, hold or enjoy, any joynt or separate interest, title, power or jurisdiction or privilege of a township or otherwise, howsoever, or within the same from henceforth for ever." But even this provision for the independence of his projected colony did not satisfy Captain Blackwell, and October 19, 1687, he secured from the General Court of Connecticut, confirmation of his purchase, and also a patent for a separate township including it, to be laid out south of Mashamoquet Brook, six miles from east to west and seven miles from north to south-the five thousand acre tract to be an entire town, called Mortlake. This name was given by Captain Blackwell in memory of the village of Mortlake in Surrey, England, the residence of General Lambert and a favorite resort of Cromwell's followers.
The purchasers of these tracts were desirous to enter upon immedi- ate possession. The Mashamoquet proprietors were first in the field and on March 9, 1687, met together to consult upon the settlement of their Purchase. Public affairs were then very threatening ; a revolu- tion was imminent and delay was apprehended to be of dangerous
184
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
consequence. The consent and compliance of Major Fitch to any arrangements they might make were judged essentially necessary, and as a meeting of all the proprietors with him could only be obtained , with great difficulty, and all concerns relating to the way and manner of division might be more easily settled by a smaller number, their " truely and beloved friends, Samuel Ruggles, Sen. and Jun., John White, Samuel Gore and John Grosvenor," were requested and author- ized " to treat with Major Fitch in and concerning all matters relating to said lands." These gentlemen reported, April 7, That half the land was to be at once laid out; that Major Fitch had already received 1,080 acres, east side of the Purchase, and that all the purchasers were now to have, each 540 acres laid out to him, and the remainder to be equally divided among the twelve proprietors and Major Fitch.
Before this division was effected, Andross assumed the government of Connecticut, and attempts to appropriate the Purchase were deferred till some years after his deposition. May 30, 1693, the proprietors again met to make arrangements for distribution. Some changes and additions were found needful. The original south bound of the Purchase was a line run due west from the mouth of the Mashamoquet, but as Capt. Blackwell had been allowed that river, with all its meerings and veerings for his northern boundary, they were obliged to conform to it, and thus lost a portion of their territory. It was voted, " That a line be run west side of the tract to take in as much land as Captain Black- well has taken out of the southeast corner, and that two or three of the best parcels be taken up and sub-divided so that each may have one half his dues, being five hundred and forty acres-to be done by Benjamin Sabin and John Chandler with John Gore." The latter, unable to take the long journey at this time, thus transfers the work to the Woodstock surveyor :-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.