USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 27
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LAND SETTLEMENTS. VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS.
acres or any part thereof, and all such bargains being made duly evident by said claimants, all persons having not yet paid the consideration agreed upon, shall within one year pay the same as aforementioned in Woodstock-and in default thereof, the claimers shall enter upon and hold said lands.
2. That the Reverend James Hale shall have and hold to himself and his heirs that two hundred acres already laid out to him upon which he has built, being in New Scituate.
3. That there be a parcel of land to contain sixty acres laid out as near the meeting-house in said Scituate as may be and sequestered for the support of the gospel ministry in said Ashford, forever.
4. That there shall be ten acres of land where the meeting-house now stands for the conveniency of a green or common, all which land for minister, ministry and common, is not to be accounted any part of the land to be paid for by the settlers.
5. That all necessary highways shall be laid out. These terms were offered upon condition, That the claimants should have, hold and enjoy all the land in New Scituate not above tendered and disposed of to particular persons, and, That the tax paid by them for setting up and supporting the ministry should be returned to them as soon as convenient."
Messrs. Mixer, Ward, Perry, and other members of the committee agreed to these terms on behalf of Ashford, and prayed the Court's committee to ratify the agreement. The committee gladly acquiesced in this amicable arrangement and agreed :-
" That all that had taken land in New Scituate should hold it on the proposed terms, and ratified and confirmed unto the claimants of that disputed plantation every part and parcel of land not above ratified and con- firmed, and agreed that the tax money should be returned, if desired, by the General Assembly."
Of the ninety-six hundred acres comprised in this tract, 5,726 had already been appropriated by the inhabitants, and after deducting the reserves for minister, ministry and common, 3,374 acres remained to the claimants, out of which all necessary highways were to be allowed without the charge of purchase by the town, and laid out within a year. As the present inhabitants, in the opinion of the committee, amounted to the full quota that ought to be settled in New Scituate, the claimants were discharged from further settlement except at discretion.
"Monday, September 14, the committee proceeded to hear the claims of James Corbin and partners, with the reply of Ashford committee- and found that Corbin and partners had already sold a considerable part of their claim, a part of which was settled and other parts likely to be, to the advantage of the town, and therefore confirmed the land unto per- sons holding under Corbin, i. e., to Philip Eastman, William Price, William Ward, Caleb Jackson, Nathaniel Walker, John Perry, William Chapman, Benjamin Allen, Benjamin Russel, Joseph Chubb, James Ross, John Pitts, Thomas Jennings, James and Nathaniel Fuller, Philip Squier and Nathaniel Abbot ; also to James Corbin four hundred acres at Bungee Brook ; three hundred to Benjamin Russel at Eel-pot Brook together with farms to Isaac Farrar, Simon Burton and Samuel Rice,-amounting in all to 10,770 acres." Six thousand acres were still unappropriated, of which twenty-five hundred were confirmed
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
to Corbin and partners-to be taken up within a year in twenty, or fewer, pieces-and the remainder of the land to be sequestered for highways and a perpetual commonage for the free and common use of the inhabitants. Ministry tax to be returned to claimants; further settlement of land left at their own discretion.
With regard to three hundred and twenty acres of land at the north of New Scituate in dispute between Chandler and Corbin, already taken up by the town as the site of their meeting-house and minister's house, as there was great necessity that it should be continued to the settlers and the lines were not marked out and yet uncertain-the committee confirmed the same to the town on condition of paying for it, five pounds per hundred acres, in default of such payment being forfeited to claimants. Inhabitants to run the lines within two months, Captain John Chandler assisting with his instruments-settlers obliged to show their bounds to claimants.
The report of the committee was presented to the General Court, October 20, 1719, accepted and confirmed. Philip Eastman was the man appointed by the town "to see after settlement of line," and obtain confirmation of the agreement, and the selectmen empowered "to procure a copy of what the committee did." February, 1720, William Ward and Isaac Farrar were chosen to assist Captain Chandler in running the lines of New Scituate, and the three hundred and twenty acres. William Ward, John Mixer and John Perry were allowed by town-act, " three shillings a day for tending on the Court's committee," but afterwards agreed to take five shillings each, for their services on that occasion. Nathaniel Fuller and Philip Eastman were each allowed two pounds, two shillings, "for tending seven days on the above committee." May 20, the town voted, That the man that goes to Court shall see what the General Assembly will do concerning making and establishing the west line of the town. William Ward was then chosen to go to Court, and John Mixer " to draw up the minds of the town to send with Mr. Ward." By persistent efforts the various lines were established and Ashford claims and contests har- moniously and equitably settled. Chandler and Corbin received pay- ment for previous sales and confirmation of a goodly number of acres remaining ; the settlers retained their lands on moderate terms, and the town received a sufficiency for all public uses.
The Stoddard Tract was undisturbed by all these controversies. The Assembly had early confirmed this land to Mr. Stoddard and the town allowed his claim and quietly received his taxes. In 1716, Mr. Anthony Stoddard conveyed this Ashford land to his sons, Anthony, David and William, on condition that they gave him sixty pounds in money, the first day of June, every year at his home in Boston. The
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first settler of this tract was John Chapman, who took what was deli- cately called, " irregular possession" in 1714, but was numbered among the regular inhabitants of the town. William Chapman, Benj. Wilson and John Perry bought Stoddard land in 1718. Captain John Chandler bought the strip lying west of the Nachaug, and sold it out to settlers. The remainder of this land was long left vacant and unimproved, its owners paying their rates duly and manifesting an interest in the affairs of the town. A book for records was given to the town by Mr. Stoddard in 1719, and brought up from Boston by Philip Squier, who was allowed four shillings for the cost and trouble.
The land question being settled, other public matters claimed atten- tion. Ashford at this date contained about forty families, about equally divided between its eastern and western sections. A good minister had been settled and a house built for him ; a church organ- ized and meeting-house framed and covered, but little else had been accomplished. A large part of the territory was still a savage wilder- ness. Wolves abounded in the remote sections, and rewards were frequently paid for their destruction. Schools were yet lacking, pounds infrequent, roads defective, streams unbridged. The old Connecticut Path, winding around through Woodstock with a branch crossing Pomfret, was the only thoroughfare of travel. No ways were as yet apparently laid out by the settlers. The state of society in Ashford was rude and even barbarous. The claimants had been anxious to settle their lands as rapidly as possible and accommodated all purchasers without regard to character, and though there were many good citizens among them, there was also a lawless and turbulent element. Its mode of settlement had also given rise to sectional jealousies. East and west, Corbin and Chandler settlers had conflict- ing interests. So distinct were the settlements that east and west town officers were found needful. John Mixer, Nathaniel Fuller and William Ward were the leading men in the west section ; John Perry and Philip Eastman in the east. The first tavern-keeper chosen by town vote was John Mixer.
The ministry of Mr. Hale was very acceptable to all parties and many soon united with the church or owned the covenant. In 1719, the church voted, " That we will receive baptized persons under the watch and care of the church that can not come up to give a reason of the hope that they are converted." The discipline of the church was very strictly maintained and many brothers and sisters were cited for unneighborly acts and trifling misdemeanors, and forced to make public acknowledgments or be suspended from full or " half-way privileges." In November, 1720, the church voted, "To try to choose a deacon that might be together with Deacon Mixer," but the major
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
part not agreeing upon one, they decided "to rest contented from proceeding any farther from choosing one to assist Deacon Mixer to serve ye table of ye Lord in manner of probation." At the same meet- ing they also voted, " That they would provide suitable vessels for the table of the, Lord as soon as may be convenient, by a free contribu- tion of money or engagement for money, I. e., one flagon, one tankard, three beakers, two platters, a basin for baptism, and a church book, as fast as they could."
In 1721, the church and community were greatly disturbed by the proposed removal of Deacon Mixer-Ashford's first settler and most prominent public man. A second deacon was now indispensable. " At eleven, A. M., September 6, 1721, in the house of God," the people were requested " to choose one or two meet persons to serve as deacons-our beloved brother Mixer being so much engaged to remove from us." Isaac Kendall and Joseph Bugbee were then chosen upon probation, and after considering the matter some three months accepted the office, and were "desired to go into the deacon's seat next Sabbath and receive the treasures of the church and act agreeable to the office of deacon." At the same meeting, " our brother John Perry" was selected "to set the psalm with respect to public singing." In the following spring, Deacon Mixer and his two daughters were dismissed to the church in Suffield. The " probation" served by his successors was prolonged six years.
The completion of the meeting-house cost much labor, time and discussion. Various votes were passed ordering pews and pew-spots but none were satisfactory, and in May, 1721, the town voted, " That all acts and votes cast about pew room in Ashford from the beginning of the world to this day, shall be null and void." A rate of two-pence for finishing the house was levied and a body of seats erected. A com- mittee of five men was then appointed to seat the meeting-house Thanksgiving day after exercise-rules given, 1, age ; 2, present list ; 3, first planters; 4, usefulness in town,-but with all their care the seating was not satisfactory. In 1723, the question was reconsidered, and "pew room granted to such persons as the town shall think suitable and their heirs and successors, for ever-provided they build by October 1, and plaster and whitewash all the lower part of the meeting-house to the lower girth." The favored few were William Ward and son, Captain John Perry, Nathaniel Fuller, Philip Eastman, Thomas Tiffany, Jacob Parker and son, Daniel Fuller and Benjamin Russel. October 1, the men that have pews were allowed eight weeks more to finish them, and a small pew room granted to Deacon Kendall. Two shillings were allowel to Nathaniel Fuller " for ye hour-glass that stands in ye meeting-house."
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LAND SETTLEMENTS. VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr. Hale's salary was paid with considerable promptness but his house was left for several years unfinished, and his fire-wood secured with great difficulty. In 1720, the town voted, "That every .man sixteen years old shall work one day in getting Mr. Hale's firewood, and those that did not work one day last year, shall work two days this. Monday after next is appointed for every man to work-October 24-and those that neglect it this year and last shall pay six pence ; those that neglect this year and worked last shall pay three-pence."
In 1720, the people of Ashford were greatly excited and distressed by a lamentable occurrence, resulting in the death of one of their young men and the accusation and imprisonment of another. John Aplin, a young man living with Joshua Kendall, was passing the evening with Joseph Wilson and falling into dispute over a game at pennies, went out doors with him "to try it out." Grappling each other as they passed through the door, they scuffled a few moments and pitched over together on to the ground, Aplin uppermost. Wilson at once exclaimed, "I am a dead man," and so it proved. Some fatal inward injury had befallen him, paralyzing the lower part of his body. He was unable to stand, or move his limbs, and died in a few days. The jurors summoned on inquest, gave their verdict-
" That Wilson came to his death by some strain, or wrench, or blow, or fall, or broke something within his body. We all conclude that was the occasion of his death-John Aplin being with him when he received hurt, December 28, 1720."
Aplin was at once indicted on the charge of manslaughter and bound over for trial before the Superior Court at Hartford-John Perry, the Kendalls and others, giving bonds for his appearance.
This sad affair excited great interest and sympathy. Both young men were well known and respected. Wilson was lately married and left a young wife and family. Aplin was greatly beloved by the Ken- dalls and their neighbors. Though it was evident that no serious harm had been intended, yet as he was clearly accessory to Wilson's death under the stringent administration of law then prevailing, great fears were entertained of his conviction of the crime. His situation called out universal sympathy and compassion. Aplin him- self was " grieved and broken at heart, that he should have been in such a manner instrumental in the death of his friend." The dying man had absolved him from intentional blame and signified his forgive- ness, even after he was speechless. His wife had tried "to make it up between them and did reckon one a's much to blame as the other." The imprisonment of this young man in the wretched, unwarmed jail through the inclement winter, and his possible conviction and punish- ment, greatly disturbed his fellow townsmen, and every effort was made to secure his acquittal or a mitigation of sentence. The Reverend
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Mr. Hale wrote to the Governor, "That it was a pity the poor man should lie in jail all winter. There was something of anger on his part but no prejudice or malice." A very touching account of Wilson's last hours was given by William Ward, who " heard Aplin put it to Wilson about laying anything to his charge and forgiving him, and he held up his hand." Captain John Fitch of Windham, interested him- self much in the young prisoner and forwarded the following letter to Governor Pitkin :-
"ASHFORD, January 4, 1721.
May it please your Worship-There being liberty granted by the worship- ful Captain Fitch for any to write to your worship on ye behalf of our sorrowful friend John Aplin that which might plead or encourage tile taking bail for him that he might not go to prison there to abide this winter and cold season. we the subscribers do humbly write to your Worship now on this said Aplin's behalf, testifying for him that whereas we have known him from childhood and the more from his dwelling some time with us in our families both formerly and also since he came to this place, so we have esteemed him always a man of good knowledge and sense in religion; of a peaceable and quiet conversation ; ready to suffer but never as we remember to do an injury -and as to the unhappy accident of Joseph Wilson being mortally hurt as it was judged by a wrench or strain, we hope lie will be found clear from any willful premeditated design to injure said Wilson. We can't find by any search or discourse from any one that he struck him any blow by hand, or head, or foot, or anywise. The compassions of people are generally towards him; sundry are ready to be bound for him, if your Worship shall please to con- sider these things as to be encouraged to take bail for him.
Joshua Kendall. Susanna Kendall. John Thatcher. Elizabeth Thatcher. "
Through these representations, Aplin was allowed to remain in Ash- ford till his trial at Hartford, March 21, 1721, when he was acquitted and discharged. The tenderness and sympathy manifested on this occasion pleasantly relieve the bickerings and asperities so common in that rude period.
XXXIV.
SUFFRAGE DISPUTE. SCHOOLS. NEW INHABITANTS. FAMINE. CHANDLER'S AND CORBIN'S CLAIM.
"THE peace and harmony enjoyed by Ashford after the happy settle- ment of the troublesome land question was broken in 1721-22, by a violent dispute upon the exercise of suffrage. By the act of 1714, all the inhabitants of the town then settled " or that hereafter may be," had liberty to vote for town officers without respect to the usual legal qualification, a privilege granted.because of the small numbers of settlers and the great need of town organization. In that chaotic period, when most of the inhabitants were "irregular" this unusual liberty made no trouble, and for a time after the more orderly settlement of affairs no improper advantage was taken of it, but those not regularly
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admitted as inhabitants apparently abstained from voting. An attempt to establish schools was probably the exciting cause of the clamor. One Arthur Humphrey had removed from Woodstock to Ashford in 1720, according to his opponents, a seditious, ignorant person unable to read or write. A number of settlers in the east part of the town hired a schoolmaster to teach their children at their own charge, whereupon Humphrey "published a false story about them," and soon excited a popular clamor, rallying all the young and inexperienced around him by insisting upon their right to vote under the act of 1714, and became the leader of a movement "to quash all learning, and keep the town in ignorance and as unlearned as he is him- self." So strong was this movement that, in December, 1721, " when all the world voted," Humphrey himself, though newly settled and every way unqualified, was elected one of the selectmen. Four of the selectmen previously elected then refused to serve, upon the ground that the proceedings were illegal, and that a number of the voters were destitute of the necessary legal qualifications. No other officers were appointed to fill the vacancy, and thus the town gov- ernment was left in the hands of Humphrey and John Pitts. The greatest uproar and confusion followed, and, "good order and friendly society almost subverted." Humphrey broke up the school, and warned the school master out of town, prosecuted the refractory selectmen to their great cost and trouble, and when the inhabitants refused to hand in their lists levied a rate on lists so imperfect- "that some men with more than six thousand pounds estates were left out," and kept the whole town in a ferment. In the spring, a petition was sent to the Assembly by the solid men of Ashford, showing "That the town officers chosen by unqualified persons the preceding autumn, were not acceptable or capable of managing affairs, and praying that they might be established by act of Court, or the town enabled to choose new ones among themselves qualified for carrying forward the prudential affairs of the town, according to good order and laws and usages of Government." A paper accompanying this memorial, set forth in detail their various grievances, and the great necessity " of putting a stop to all the world voting in Ashford." Particular people could not educate their children at their own charge peaceably and quietly, rates duly paid by honest men were used in collecting other men's rates and paying for warrants ; meetings pro- nounced illegal when those that bore the biggest charge were present. Lastly, they declared that there were already fourteen freemen in Ash- ford, and eleven more who might be made legal voters, and suggested " that twenty-five qualified voters were more likely to carry on the prudential affairs of the town according to good order, peace, unity and
30
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
Colony laws, than a mixt multitude of forty-eight, qualified and unqualified together."
On the other hand, Pitts, Humphrey and others, claiming to repre- sent a majority of the town, prayed that they might retain their liberty to choose as heretofore, "for if none were allowed to vote but those qualified to vote by law, affairs would be managed by very few hands and be to the discontent of many." A rate for the more easy carrying on the civil and religious interests of the town was requested by both parties.
Upon consideration of these petitions, the Assembly resolved, "That inasmuch as the Act of Assembly referred to, enabling the said inhabit- ants to choose town officers, being made when there was not a reasona- ble number of inhabitants qualified according to the most strict rules of the law for voting, that the said act was not intended to restrain the inhabitants from voting, though not so strictly qualified; and there- upon affirm all the former acts of the said town in electing town officers, and particularly the officers chosen in December last." Listers, then chosen by the town, were ordered, with the assistance of Deacon Kendall and William Ward, to make and perfect the lists, and it was * further enacted, "That for time to come the said town proceed in the choice of their town officers according to the rules prescribed in the law for other towns." Two shillings, annually, on every hundred acres of land for the space of four years, were also granted for the support of the ministry.
This decision of the Court pacified the belligerents, and restored harmony and order. At the town-meeting in March, when " all the world" still voted, it was ordered, "not to be at the expense of hiring a schoolmaster," but under the new regulations a change was soon effected, and a schoolmaster hired by the town-October, 1723,-to keep school half a year. Other public matters were now arranged. The rate furnished means for carrying on the work of Mr. Hale's house, still unfinished, and repairing the glass of the meeting-house. It was voted, "To clear the value of four acres about the meeting-house as it is bounded, and keep it cut down yearly, and any other places across the roads that are stated." It being discovered that the Windham and Woodstock farmers were much inclined to pasture their cattle on Ashford commons, Benjamin Russel, John Pitts and Nath. Abbot were appointed a committee, "To take care of the neat cattle brought into Ashford to run in the summer, and have a man selected at each end of the town, and when they found any cattle or sheep not belonging to the town to inquire of the inhabitants living near where they were found if they knew who they belonged to, and if they cannot find the owner to drive such cattle out of the town. Thomas Tiffany was, however, allowed to keep his Father Rudd's cattle."
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A full military company was formed in Ashford in 1722, with John Perry for captain, Benjamin Russel for lieutenant and Joshua Kendall for ensign. During these years, they suffered much from Indian alarıns. Captain Perry proved himself an efficient and courageous officer, and several times furnished the Government important informa- tion. Indians were forbidden to hunt in the woods north of the road from Hartford, through Coventry and Ashford, to New Roxbury. A military watch was ordered to be held in Ashford and a scout main- tained in the northern part of the town.
The population of 'Ashford steadily increased, several families removing there whose names are still represented. Joseph Bosworth bought land of Corbin in the east of the town in 1718; Elias Keyes in 1722. In 1722, Edward Sumner of Roxbury-brother of Samuel of Pomfret,-with two associates, bought a thousand acres of land of James Corbin, together with the frame of a barn, in the east of Ash- ford, adjoining Pomfret. As an inducement to the purchasers to settle on this tract of wild land, Mr. Corbin further offered them to finish the barn with boards and shingles, erect a stack of chimneys and four rooms, and to deliver to them four barrels of good cider annually for four years, they finding barrels and sending them to his house in Woodstock. Thomas Eaton of Woodstock-brother of Jonathan of Killingly-settled in Ashford in 1723, and was granted a pew-spot. In 1725, Robert Knowlton of Sutton purchased a large tract of land in the southwest part of Ashford-now included in the Knowlton neighborhood-and at once settled upon it and began to make im- provements, laying out a road on the east side of his farm and freely giving it to the town. Josiah Byles of Boston bought a hundred acres of land on Mount Hope River, in 1726, but did not take personal possession.
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