History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760, Part 3

Author: Larned, Ellen D
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Worcester, MA : Charles Hamilton
Number of Pages: 610

USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 3

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The inconvenience and difficulty accruing from these straitened limits induced its selectmen, William Park, John Bolles, Joseph Griggs, John Ruggles and Edward Morris, to petition the General Court, in October, 1683, for a tract of land seven miles square in the Nipmuck Country, " for the enlargement of the town and the encour- agement of its inhabitants "-the land to be laid out " at Quinnatisset or thereabouts, if a convenient way may be found there." This request was granted on condition that an eight-mile tract previously bestowed on Robert Thompson, Stoughton, Dudley and other prominent gentle- men " have the first choice," and "that thirty families be settled on said plantation within three years and maintain among them an able and orthodox godly minister." Roxbury, in town meeting, January 21, 1684, accepted the honored Court's grant, and "did leave it to the selectmen

ROXBURY'S COLONY.

to consider of sending men to take a view of the place that may be most convenient." To facilitate communication with this new and barbarous region-"the way to Connecticut being very hazardous to travelers by reason of one deep river passing four or five times over"- Major Pyncheon was ordered by the General Court to mark and lay out a better and nearer one, and two Indians appointed to guide him on the way.

Messrs. Thompson and Dudley having selected for their grant the tract soon afterward incorporated as the township of Oxford, Lieutenant Samuel Ruggles, John Ruggles, John Curtis and Edward Morris were sent by Roxbury, in October, 1684, "to view the premises and find a con- venient place to take up her grant." With Indian guides, these gentle- men proceeded to the Nipmuck wilderness, and spent due time in search- ing it. Quinnatisset, for which they had asked, was in part appropri- ated, but west of the Quinebaug, at Senexet* and Wabbaquasset, they found land which afforded encouragement for the settlement of a town- ship. The town voted, on their return, to accept of their information, yet gave liberty to any persons to go upon their own charge and take a view of said land, the town for once going being at charge of a pilot. At the same meeting, October 27, 1684, Master Dudley, Master Cowles, Deacon Parks, Lieutenant Ruggles and Edward Morris were appointed "to draw up, upon consideration, propositions that may be most equable and prudent for the settlement of the place, and present them to the town at the next town meeting after lecture." Inhabitants wishing to withdraw from any interest in the tract had liberty so to do without offence and be free from further charges. All others were held responsible for colony settlement and expenses.

Farther "views," confirming Roxbury in her choice of land at Wabbaquasset, negotiations were opened with Captain James Fitch for its purchase and a deed secured through the agency of Dudley and Stoughton.

The planting of her colony was viewed by Roxbury as a grave and momentous affair, requiring much care and deliberation. A general town meeting was called July 13, 1685, for the disposal and settle- ment of their new grant in the Nipmuck country, when it was agreed and ordered :-

" That if there shall appear to the selectmen thirty persons or upwards who shall give in their names to plant and settle on the said lands, so as to fulfill the grant and conditions of the General Court referring to the same, they shall have to themselves and their heirs the full half of the whole tract of land, in one square, at their own choice, to be proportionally divided among them; and further, the town does engage to assist the said goers and planters with one hundred pounds money, to be paid in equal portions in five

* Valley and meadow land adjoining Muddy Brook in the east of Woodstock.

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

years, to be laid out in public buildings and charges as the old town of Rox- bury shall annually determine. The rest of the inhabitants of the town shall have the remaining half, to be equally and proportionably divided to them, to be to them and their heirs forever."

The town adjourned to consider these propositions "until the morrow eight weeks" -- when "this agreement and every article or particle thereof was read, voted and unanimously consented thereto, the contrary being put to vote not one appears therein." As an addi- tional encouragement to settlers the town voted :--

" That the estates left behind by goers should be free from rates for raising the hundred pounds allowed them, and that the amount should be entirely expended upon the settlers' half of the grant, and should annually be delivered by £20 a year into the hands of such men as the goers-out of Roxbury should depute, and by them be expended on public works, viz: meeting-house, minister's house, mill, bridges, &c., and that subsequent settlers on Roxbury's half should be liable to bear all public charges with them that go first."

To these liberal offers there was no lack of "subscribers." The hazards indeed were great, but the inducements surpassed them, and the requisite quota of men was soon made up. This emigration project excited great interest and enthusiasm in Roxbury and its vicinity. Town meetings were chiefly occupied with arranging the approaching exodus, plans and propositions were discussed in public and private, and people were only recognized in the capacity of go-ers · and stay-ers. A number of pioneers volunteered to go out early in the spring, in advance of the others, break up land, plant it, and make some preparation for the main body of colonists. Their offer was accepted, and for their encouragement it was voted, at a town meeting, March 4, 1686, "That such should have liberty to break up land, and plant anywhere they please for the present year, without being bound to accept it as their share of the grant." The colonists were allowed till September 29th to make and declare their choice of land, and “it was further yielded that they should have a surveyor with them, to be assistant in finding the colony line and promotion of their present design, upon the charge of the whole town."

The thirteen pioneers-Benjamin Sabin, Jonathan Smithers, Henry Bowen, John Frizzel, Matthew Davis, Nath. Garey, Thomas Bacon, John Marcy, Peter Aspinwall, Benjamin and George Griggs, Joseph Lord and Ebenezer Morris, recorded on its first book of records as " the men who went to spy out Woodstock "-left Roxbury about the first of April, 1686. Special religious services were probably held the Sunday preceding their departure. The venerable Mr. Eliot, pastor of the Church in Roxbury, could not but feel a deep interest in this attempt to colonize the scene of his former missionary labors. Infants were recorded by him as " baptized in the same week that we sent out our youth to make the new plantation," and doubtless many fervent

ROXBURY'S COLONY.

prayers followed them on their perilous journey. By the fifth of April, these perils had been surmounted, and, according to the old record, " several persons came as planters and settlers, and took actual possession (by breaking up land and planting corn) of the land granted to Roxbury-(called by the planters New Roxbury) ; by the Antient natives, Wapaquasset."

They found a desolate, deserted wilderness. No Indian inhabitants were visible; their forts and villages had been levelled ; their corn- fields had "run to waste." The tract was as yet unsurveyed and unbounded ; the Massachusetts boundary line was unrecognizable. Following the course of the principal stream, past a picturesque lake, they came to a rich, open valley. A noble hill, bare also, lay to the westward-the Woodstock Hill of the present generation. On this " Plaine Hill " the pioneers established their head-quarters, put up shelters, selected land and planted it, and made what preparation was possible for the coming colony. A sawmill was built and set in operation, on a small brook running into the lake. This stream was called Sawmill Brook ; the larger stream was probably named from Muddy Brook, of Roxbury.

In May, they were visited by Samuel Williams, Sen., Lieutenant Timothy Stevens and John Curtis, who, with John Gore as surveyor, came as committee from Roxbury, "to view the land, in order to the laying out of the same ; settle the southern bounds (upon or near the colony line), and also to determine the length and breadth of the General Court's grant as they judged most convenient for the town in general, that so the first Goers may make choice of their half thereof." Eleven days were spent by Mr. Gore in making the needful surveys and measurements-Massachusetts' south boundary line evaded their search, so they made a station about one and a half miles south of Plaine Hill, and thence marked trees east and west for the south line of their grant, nearly two miles south of the invisible Woodward's and Saffery's line, thus securing to Massachusetts another strip of Connecti- cut territory. After careful survey and explorations, the committee decided-" if the first goers chose the south side of the tract, to lay the town eight miles in width, from east to west, and six and a half miles from north to south, or so much as should be needful to make up the complement-but if they desire to divide by a line from north to south, it should be six miles from east to west, and eight from north to south."

The committee returned to Roxbury to report their proceedings by June 12th. The time for the departure of the colonists was now approaching. More than the requisite thirty were already enrolled, but permission was now given to persons of other towns whose estates

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

or other qualifications might be beneficial, to be admitted with the Goers and share their privileges-"if the selectmen of Roxbury and other Goers do approve them." Lieutenant Samuel Ruggles, Timothy Stevens, and Samuel Williams, Sen., were chosen a committee for the new town till the following year, "to issue any differences that may arise among them." July 21, an especial meeting was held in Roxbury, " of a certain number of inhabitants under the denomination of Go-ers," for the more orderly settling the aforesaid village or grant,-when the following agreement was adopted :

" I. That every man should take up what number of acres he pleaseth in his home-lot, not exceeding thirty-and after-rights and divisions of land shall arise, according to the proportion of his home-lot; and all after-charges to arise proportionably upon the home-lots for the first six years.

II. That whoever shall neglect the payment of his rate two months after a rate, made and demanded, shall forfeit for every five shillings two acres of his home-lot, with all proportionable rights, and so consequently, more or less, according to his failure; always provided that they take not his house nor orchard-this forfeiture shall be to those chosen by the company as select- men, to be improved by them for the use of the public, which rates shall be paid by the public, the person forfeited excepted, which agreement shall stand the first six years.

III. If any meadows should fall out to be in any one's home-lot, it shall be accounted as so much of his proportion of meadow, and his home-lot made up witli upland.

IV. That all persons that have planted in the year 1686 shall have two acres of his home-lot free for the first three years, and shall enjoy the land they planted in 1687 and '88, though it fall out in any other person's home-lot.

V. That within one month they will go personally to their new plantation, and there make further agreements, divisions and settlements."

The subjoined list gives the names of those who fulfilled this agree- ment and took personal possession of the new plantation :-

Edward Morris. Peter Aspinwall.

Samuel Scarborough.

Ebenezer Morris.

John Frizzel.

Samuel Craft.

James Corbin.

Joseph Frizzel.

Samuel May.

Benjamin Sabin. Jonathan Smithers.

Samuel Peacock.

Thomas Bacon. John Butcher.

Joseph Bacon.

Jonathan Davis.

John Bugbee. Arthur Humphrey.

William Lyon, Sen. John Hubbard.

Andrew Watkins.

Thomas Lyon. George Griggs.

John Marcy.

William Lyon, Jun. Nathaniel Garey.

John Holmes.

Matthew Davis. Nathaniel Johnson.

Ebenezer Cass.

John Leavens.

John Chandler, Sen. Nathaniel Sanger.

Joseph Bugbee.

Henry Bowen. Jonathan Peake.

John Bowen. Joseph Peake.

John Ruggles.

John Chandler, Jun.

These Colonists were all men of good position and character, con- nected with the best families of Roxbury. Edward Morris, Samuel Scar- borough, Samuel Craft, John Chandler and William Lyon, Seniors, Jonathan Peake and Henry Bowen were men advanced in years, going out with grown up sons to the new settlement, leaving estates behind them. A larger number were young men with growing families. A few were still unmarried. None were admitted as proprietors under

NEW ROXBURY.

nineteen years of age. All were inhabitants of Roxbury but Peter Aspinwall of Dorchester, and John Butcher, James Corbin and John Holmes, from neighboring towns, admitted into the company by consent of the selectmen of Roxbury. Benjamin Sabin had removed recently from Rehoboth, driven thence it is said in the Narraganset War.

III.

NEW ROXBURY.

THE fifth article of the agreement was punctually fulfilled. Before - a month had passed the colony had reached the new plantation. Of the intervening period, the last Sabbath service with the church at Roxbury, the departure, the journey, we have no record nor tradition. We can fancy the long emigrant train, with its thirty families, heavily laden carts, sheep and cattle, creeping slowly over the rough 'highways from settlement to settlement, bivouacking by stream and grove, passing at Medway the last outpost of civilization, and thence toiling onward over the "Old Connecticut Path," through thirty miles of savage wilderness, to their destined home at Wab- baquasset. Of the time spent in this journey we can form no accurate estimate-the distance traversed was about eighty miles. They found friends eager to welcome them and some provision for their reception. The young pioneers had not been idle. They had "set up a house" on "Plaine Hill," a rude, barrack-like struc- ture, that also served for a public hall, and here the colonists encamped while making further arrangements. The first public meet- ing was held August 25, 1686, when, "being met at New Roxbury alias Wapaquasset,"-at the Wapaquasset Hall, the planters agreed to take the south half of the tract for their portion, and "that the place where the home-lots shall begin shall be upon the Plaine Hill." On the following day, "finding some difficulty in their proposals of settlement, the planters did mutually agree and choose seven men- " Joseph Griggs, Edward Morris, Henry Bowen, Sen., John Chandler, Sen., Samuel Craft, Samuel Scarborough and Jonathan Smithers-to stake highways needful for the present settlement, and a lot for the minister, and consider of land convenient for the planters to settle on, and for a convenient place for a meeting house to stand on." Each planter also declared at this meeting what number of acres he desired

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

in his home-lot, according as he was willing and thought himself able to carry on public charges, and liberty was given to any one to designate the particular piece of land he might desire for the same, " otherwise, for the whole to settle as the lots shall fall by a lot."

These instructions were immediately carried out. There was great need of promptness. Thirty families were to be provided with homes before winter, and land made ready for cultivation the ensuing summer. The seven wise men, " chosen for the laying out and pitch- ing the town," hastened to view the land, and "judged it convenient for the inhabitants to settle on these places following, viz. : the Plaine Hill, the eastward vale and the westward hill." This "eastward vale" is now known as South Woodstock; the " westward hill" as Marcy's. A highway, eight rods wide, was marked out over Plaine Hill, extend- ing to a brook at the north end of the east vale, and thence south along the vale, six rods wide, to Sawmill Brook, "with a cross highway, four rods wide, about the middle," where it might be most convenient after the lots were examined. An eight-rod highway was also designated from the north end of Plaine Hill to the east side of the westward hill, and another, four rods wide, to encircle that hill, which were accounted sufficient for the present. It was agreed that the meeting-house should stand on the middle of Plaine Hill, to accommodate the three settle- ments, and that the home-lots should begin at the north end of this hill. A lot of twenty acres, with rights, was reserved for the future minister. A quarry of flat stones was sequestered for hearthstones and flagging, and a deposit of clay to furnish bricks for chimneys. After making these arrangements, it was found that the pieces of land selected for home-lots would be too small for the number of acres designated, and considering that great lots would scatter the inhabi- tants, it was agreed that they would settle but one-third of the number specified-that is, a thirty-acre lot to be reduced to a twenty, and all the rest in the same proportion.

So efficient was the committee, that in two days these arrangements were perfected, and the land made ready for distribution. The Go-ers or Planters met on Plaine Hill, Saturday, August 28, 1686 [O. S.], " in order to draw lots where their home-lots should be." This important affair was conducted with much ceremony and solemnity. The seven oldest men of the company, who had served as committee, now had charge of the distribution. The main body of the settlers had arranged themselves in three companies, as claimants for the three specified localities. Liberty was then given "to those that desired to sit down on the Plaine Hill to draw by themselves." Others desiring to sit down on the east vale had liberty to draw for that by themselves, and those wishing to settle on the west hill, also. Those who had preferred to

NEW ROXBURY.

designate their particular lot now manifested their choice. John Chandler, Sen., took his home-lot "on the brook, both sides the high- way, at the north end of the east vale." In respect of accommodation of water, the land not being so good, an addition was allowed him. Samuel Scarborough and Samuel Craft took home-lots for their sons, east of land adjoining Plaine Hill, north of the highway leading to east vale. William Lyons, Sen., desired to have the last, or ninth, on the west side the Plaine Hill, which was also allowed. "Then, after solemn prayer to God, who is the Disposer of all things, they drew lots, according to the agreement, every man being satisfied and con- tented with God's disposing, and were settled as follows : "-

1. Thomas and Joseph Bacon, thirty acres, at the north end, west side the Plaine Hill, abutting east and north on highways.

2. James Corbin, twenty acres, west side Plaine Hill; bounded east on highway, north with first lot.

3. Minister's lot, twenty acres; bounded north by second.

4. Benjamin Sabin, twenty acres; bounded east on highway, north on third lot.

5. Henry Bowen, fifteen acres; bounded north on fourth and south on sixth lot.

6. Thomas Lyon, sixteen acres ; between fifth and seventh.

7. Ebenezer Morris, eighteen acres; south of sixth.

8. Matthew Davis, sixteen acres; south of seventh.

9. William Lyon, Sen., and Ebenezer Cass, south end of Plaine Hill; bounded east by common land.

The seventeen home-lots laid out in the east vale were thus distributed :-

10. John Chandler, Sen., thirty acres; north end, eastward vale, just north of Sawmill Brook.

11. Peter Aspinwall, twenty acres; west side of vale, abutting east 'on highway.

12. John Frizzel, twenty acres; bounded north on eleventh.

13. Joseph Frizzel, twenty acres; south of twelfth lot.

14. Jonathan Smithers, thirty acres; bounded north and east by highway, west by common.

15. John Butcher, sixteen acres; south of fourteenth lot.

16. Jonathan Davis, eighteen acres; south of fifteenth.

17. Jonathan Peake, twenty acres; south end of east vale.

18. Nathaniel Garey, fifteen acres; bounded south on seventeenth.

19. John Bowen, fifteen acres.

20. Nathaniel Johnson, sixteen acres; east side of the vale, bounded west by highway.

21. John Hubbard, ten acres.

22. George Griggs, fifteen acres; east side eastward vale, bounded west and north on highways.

23. Benjamin Griggs, fifteen acres; west and south on highways.

24. William Lyon, Jun., fifteen acres; bounded south by twenty-third lot.

25. John Leavens, north of twenty-fourth.

26. Nathaniel Sanger, tweny acres; north of Leavens.

The 27th and 28th lots, assigned to Samuel Scarborough and Samuel Craft, were laid out east of Plaine Hill, bounding south on the high- way. The home-lots on the westward hill were next distributed :-

29. Samuel May, fifteen acres ; north part of west hill; bounded at east and west end on highways.

30. Joseph Bugbee, fifteen acres; south of May's.

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

31. Samuel Peacock, ten acres; bounded north by thirtieth lot, east by highway.

22. Arthur Humphrey, twelve acres; west of Peacock's, and bounded west by highway.

33. John Bugbee, south of Humphrey's; fifteen acres.

34. John Ruggles. twenty acres.

35. Andrew Watkins, twenty acres ; south of Ruggles'.

36. John Marcy, fifteen acres; south part of west hill.

37. Edward Morris, east side of Plaine Hill, " bounded west by the great highway; south, partly by land reserved for public use and partly by land of Samuels Craft and Scarborough; east by common land; north upon the high- way that goeth from the street to the Great Pond."

Thirty eight persons had thus been constituted proprietors of the south half of New Roxbury. All subsequent divisions of woodland, upland and meadow were to be based upon the number of acres com- prised in each man's home-lot, and all public charges levied in the same proportion. It was agreed by the proprietors, "That if any man should neglect to take actual possession of his lot, by not breaking up ground, nor fencing nor improving by the middle of May, 1687, he should forfeit twenty shillings." At a proprietors' meeting, held November 3, at the house of Thomas Lyon, three additional home- lots were distributed-No. 38 to Joseph Peake, north of Sawmill Brook; No. 39 to John Holmes, north part of east vale, south of Sawmill Brook; No. 40 to John Chandler, Jun., west side the high- way, adjoining that laid out to his father.

A report of their choice of the south half of the tract and further proceedings was at once forwarded to Roxbury-who immediately took measures for the payment of the first installment of the promised hundred pounds, by ordering a perfect "noate " of each person's estate from which each Stayer's share of charge could be computed.

At New Roxbury, all was life and animation. Measurements were to be completed, bounds settled, roads made passable, land broken up and shelters erected, For a few weeks the settlers remained at the first encampment, a happy company of relatives and neighbors, with women to manage domestic affairs and children's voices ringing over the hill-slopes. But though hopeful and resolute they were not without anxieties. Vast forest tracts surrounded the little settlement, traversed by wild beasts and, perhaps, more. savage Indians. Deer and game were abundant, wolves and bears not uncommon. A watch was set every night to patrol the encampment and scouts sent out to range the adjacent woodland. Religious services on the Sabbath were held for a time in the open air-a large, flat rock near Plaine Hill serving for a pulpit. At the first business meeting after the division of land, Edward Morris, John Chandler and William Lyon were chosen "to treat with young Mr. John Wilson, of Medfield, to come and preach to the planters in order to settlement," but the negotiation was probably unsuccessful, as no preacher was procured for some time afterward.

NEW ROXBURY.

As the winter came on, the families withdrew to such separate abodes as were provided. Thomas Lyon's house was occupied by the first of November, and doubtless others were equally forward. Of this first long, lonely winter we know nothing. No serious trouble or difficulty occurred, but the settlers must have suffered from loneliness and isolation. Oxford and Mendon were the nearest Massachusetts settlements, and many miles of savage wilderness separated them from Providence, Hartford and Norwich. Few travelers passed in winter over the old Connecticut Path, and communication with the outer world was difficult and infrequent. One item of news received during this interval gave them great anxiety-the arrival of Sir Edmond Andross in Boston, as governor of the United Colonies. The charters and privileges of the Colonists were taken from them, and even the infant settlement at Wabbaquasset was not secure from his oppressions and extortions.

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History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760, Part 3

Author: Larned, Ellen D Publication date: 1874 Publisher: Worcester, MA : Charles Hamilton Number of Pages: 610

Author: Larned, Ellen D
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Worcester, MA : Charles Hamilton
Number of Pages: 610