History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1854, Part 3

Author: Cothren, William, 1819-1898
Publication date: 1854
Publisher: Waterbury, Conn., Bronson brothers
Number of Pages: 870


USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1854 > Part 3


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).


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On the whole, Woodbury may be considered a good agricultural and manufacturing town, and our forefathers may well have con- gratulated themselves, that their "lines had fallen to them in pleas- ant places." In the quaint language of the Indian recommendation, when they were negotiating the sale of the First Purchase at Stratford, "it is a goodly place for many smokes of the white man."


Present Towns. The dotted lines_denote the boundaries of the Indian Purchases. The figures 1.2.3. C. c. denote the order of the Purchases. The lines


BANTAM


Shopang R.


North


Purchase


B-Strep Rock


JUDEA


BETHLEM


White oak


Wet Spraak Brook


North Sprane


East Sprane Brook


WEANTINOGUE


6.


4.


233Wolf Fit


Ruanspang falls


Paquabang


East


Meadow


Shipaug R.


ROXBURY


WOODBURY I


Anassapung Lake


2.


Castle


1.


Orensug Rocks


Rock


3.


1


(falls


Shepang


Horse Hilltx


The Reservation


The liuchase"


S


0


Aurangeatuck Plain


B


RY


River


Kettletown


Quaker's Farms


1 7H. OF SAPON & MAJOR N .


MATTATTCK


Fromwork


The Bent


or


1


L


Pomperang R.


Yanumpang Brook


potat


Pootatuck ,village


5.


Eight Mile Brook


Pootatuck Brook


WOODBURY INDIAN PURCHASES.


1659.


TT


Wonnewang falls


CHAPTER II.


HISTORY OF THE INDIAN PURCHASES.


DEED FROM THE PAGASSETTS ; SIX PURCHASES FROM THE POOTATUCKS ; FIRST, OR POMPERAUG PURCHASE ; DEED FROM AVOMOCKOMGE ; KETTLETOWN PUR- CHASE ; SECOND, OR SHEPAUG PURCHASE ; THIRD, OR QUASSAPAUG PURCHASE ; FOURTH, OR NONNEWAUG PURCHASE ; FIFTH PURCHASE ; SIXTH, OR CONFIRM- ATORY PURCHASE ; RESERVATION, OR " PURCHASE ;" PROMISICK; 1659 TO 175S.


THE descendants of the founders of Woodbury can look upon their landed possessions as having come to them by fair, lionest and legit- imate titles. No violence, no conquest, no stain of blood, attaches to the hem of the garments of our forefathers. They not only pur- chased their lands of the Indians, but, in some instances, several times over from conflicting claimants and dishonest pretenders. They were very particular in this respect, and had the alienations executed in legal and solemn form. They were the more careful, that they might, in this manner, more vividly impress on the minds of the Indians, the binding nature of their contracts. Some of the earlier purchases were made before there was any distinct idea, or perhaps any idea at all, of making here a new plantation. Some of these conveyances are lost. The earliest deed on record is given be- low. It is taken from the first book of Woodbury Land Records, to which it was transferred from the Stratford records. The first vol- ume of our records was copied, by vote of the town, about a hundred years after its settlement, and the original has been lost. By this means, much of the ancient spelling is lost.


A Record' of a parcell of Land to Lew. Wheeler, by Tautannimo, a Saehein at Pagasett, is as followeth :


This present writing witnesseth, that I, Tautannimo, a Saehem at Pagasett, considerations moveing me thereunto, do freely and fully make over, alienate and give from myself, and heirs, and all other Indians, and their heirs, a par-


1 Woodbury Land Records, Book I., p. 67.


22


HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.


cell of Land bounded as followeth ; Potateuk River southwest; Naugatunck . River northeast ; and bounded on ye northwest with trees marked by me and other Indians ; ye said Land I do, with ye consent of all Pagasett Indians, freely give it to Lew. Thos. Wheeler, and his heirs forever. And I do fully give ye st Lew. Thomas Wheeler full power to have it recorded to him, and his heirs, according to ye Laws and Customs of ye English.


In witness licreunto I interchangeably set to my hand, this 20 of April, 1659, the names of ye Indians that subscribed.


Subseribed in presence of John Wells Tantannimo


Richard Harvey


Paquaha


Thomas Uffoot


Pagasett James


John Curtis Monsuck


Jolın Minor Sasaazo


This is a true copy of the deed by me Joseph Hawley.


This deed, as will be seen, is signed by the Sachem of Pagasett, (Derby,) and four of his sagamores, or counselors, and comprises a territory in Litchfield and New Haven counties, nearly as large as Litchfield county itself. This seems to have been the last sale of lands made by the Derby Indians in this direction, and, no doubt, covered all the territory claimed by them at the north. Their right to sell the land at all, seems somewhat doubtful, as the most of the territory sold, was occupied by the Pootatuck1 tribe of Indians. By a deed to Joseph Judson, of Stratford, of a tract of land lying on Pe- quonnuck River, dated 9th Sept., 1661, signed by Wompegan, Sachem of Paugassett, supposed to be the nephew of Tautannimo, by Ake- notch, his sagamore, and Ansantanay, his father, it appears that Aquiomp, then Sachem of Pootatuck, and his equal in rank, was his relative, and gave his consent to that alienation on the 18th day of May in the next year, by a separate indorsement on the deed, in presence of other witnesses. In this indorsement, it is stated, that he was related to Wompegan. What the relationship was, whether by blood, or marriage, is not stated. It is certain that Aquiomp was independent of the Paugasett Sachem, and that his successors in the sachemdom, after that date, made numerous grants to the English.


The record of the First Purchase from the Pootatucks, the Indians of our territory, marked 1 in the accompanying map of Indian Pur- chases, is lost, and can not now be found. Its date, however, was 26th April, 1673. It is referred to in five later deeds, is called the


1 This name was spelled in a great variety of ways, as Puttatuck, Potatuck, Pohta- tuck, Potateuk, Putatuke, Pootatuck, &c. The latter spelling is the one adopted by the author, as it corresponds with the pronunciation of the word.


23


HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.


Pomperaug, or First Purchase ; the title to it confirmed and the boundaries given :


" Wh former purchase runs about foure miles North & South, and about two miles East & West, on both sides of ye riuer, and compThending ye whole Town platt of Woodbury ; Extending Northward to ye North end of ye East Meadow, and so running West to ye lowland, or meadow on West Spraine to M' Judsons Wolf-pitt, where ye West Sprayn & North Sprayn meet, and running South- ward nigh to, or faeing upon ye place commonly called ye Bent of ye Riuer, taking in transiluania and rag-land, and so Easterly on homelots at known Boundaries."1


It is eurious to note, in the foregoing description, the inaccuracy, so common in early times, in giving distances and measurements. This grant is said to be about four miles in length, when, in reality, it is not far short of nine. The width of two miles, as stated, is doubtless, proportionably inaccurate. The north end of East Mead- ow is nearly a mile north of the North Meeting House, and the " Bent of ye River" is the curve in the Pomperaug, not far from the village of South Britain. The Wolf-pit forms a good boundary, being loca- ted in the hill westerly of the new Shear factory, called Wolf-pit Hill. The pit is on the northerly side of the hill, near Weekeepeemee, and is a hole leading into the face of a rock, within which is quite a spa- cious chamber. This purchase was well chosen, comprising, as it does, much of the most fertile and desirable land, in the whole terri- tory of the ancient town. It is probable, though not certain, that some of those interested in the purchase, had been up to examine the lands, before the bargain was concluded. This deed was executed at Stratford.


The next deed in point of time is that of Yoheomge and Avomock- omge. It makes mention of the Pomperaug Purchase, and is accom- panied by a rude map, showing the Pomperang Purchase on both sides of the river, and the land by them granted, which was all the territory south and west of said First Purchase, between the Pom- peraug, Shepaug and Pootatuek Rivers. It is not known whom they represented, but it was probably one of the small clans, resident with- in the town, and dependent upon, or related to, the Pootatucks. This is rendered the more probable from the fact, that the deed is witnessed by Weeuppeme, who was, at a later day, sagamore of one of them. This grant seems never to have been regarded by the Pootatucks, or the settlers, as the traet conveyed was twice repur-


1 Woodbury Land Records, Book II., p. 137.


24


HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.


chased afterward ; once within a few years. It comprehended even the Pootatuek village itself, the chief seat of that tribe. A copy of this conveyance follows :


" July 14th, 1673.


" Yohcomge promiseth ye same Tract of land yt Avomockomge doth below, and in part of pay, received five shillings in powder.


The very mark of Yohcomge


" Avomockomge ye proprietor of ye land wh in this square, doth hereby ingage to sell unto Mr. Sherman, Lieu' Joseph Judson, & MT. John Minor ye above sd Land ; viz., what is whin the Comprehension of this square, both West & South of ye purchase at Pomperoge ; And hath allready received as earnest one grey coat at 1P 10s price this 17th of May, 1673.


" In consideration of ye uppermost purchase of Land upon ye West & South of Pomperaug purchase ; viz., ye first purchase, July ye 6 , 1673, Avomockomge received one hatchett 48 & in lead & powder 10s.


Witness Kenonge


his


mark


Avomockomge


+ his


mark


Wccuppemee


his


mark


English witnesses,


Zechariah Walker, Samuell Galpin.


From the consideration mentioned in this deed, it would seem, that the price of land was not very high in these Indians' estimation, how- ever doubtful may have been their title.


A gray coat of homespun manufacture, a hatchet, a little powder and lead, seem very trivial payment, yet no doubt these untutored savages, who, as yet, considered their lands of little or no value, re- joiced greatly over the acquisition of such rare articles, and probably thought they had by far the best of the bargain. They knew not how soon they would be straightened for land, and their tribe scattered like the leaves of the forests.


At a very early period, a large tract of land had been purchased of the Indians for the consideration of a brass kettle, and received, from this circumstance, the name of Kettletown, which it has borne to the present time. On the 16th of April, 1679, this tract was again sold by


" Cheabrooke, an Indian, together with the consent and approbation of Coshusheongemy Sachem, the sagamore of puttatuck."


25


HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.


together with Quaker's Farms, in Derby, east of the Eight Mile Brook, to Ebenezer Johnson, of Derby, and his associates, in consid- eration of "corn & other goods, as allso of our meer love and Good will ;" the former being described as


" Sam's field, or Kitle Town, Bounded on the west with puttatuck Riuer, that is to say, with the west side the Iland in the River & ye west Chanell of the Riner & Bounded on the South East & North East with the Eight Mile Brook & Bounded on the North & North West with the Hill aboue the playn called araugaentack, & so to go with a straight line from the upper end of the playne to the Eight Mile Brooke."


The Kittletown part of this conveyance is represented on the map by the division marked 5, being thus numbered from the fact, that it was the fifth of the subsequent regular purchases from the Poota- tucks.


On the 10th of July, 1682, another irregular deed seems to have been received by the town, through its committee, from Wesuncks and Wonnokekunkbom, for which the latter received "two pair of trading cloth breeches & one yard of trading eloth," and in consider- ation of which, they engaged that the inhabitants " shall have liberty to improve land anywhere west or south of their first purchase, where they shall see cause." What elaim they set up to the territory is not known. No notice seems to have been taken of it till nearly twenty- four years afterward, when it was confirmed in a deed ratifying all former sales, and it was not even recorded till two years after that.1


The second purchase of lands from the full board of regularly con- stituted authorities of the Pootatucks, was made on the 17th of March, 1685-6. This was the Shepaug purchase, comprising two-thirds of the present town of Roxbury, and part of Southbury, and is marked "2" on the accompanying map. This deed was granted to Lieut. Joseph Judson, Ensign John Wiatt, John Sherman, Jolin Hurd and John Mitehell, in behalf of the town. It acknowledges and fully confirms the First Purchase, and then grants that


"Traet of Land lying and situate nere to ye place Commonly called by us Munnacommock running in length wth ye former purehase above exprest, about six Miles in length East and West for about four miles and an halfe North and South. More p'tieularly Bounded on ye North East wth ye former purchase, and a little part of it at ye North end wth Land not yet alienated ; Bounded on ye North wth Land not yet sold ; The mark' trees or boundaries to bee made clere and ffayre and so to be kept between us, Bounded uppon y& West wth Shee-


1 W. Land Records, vol. 2, p. 1.


3


26


HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.


paug Riuer ; And Boundcd on ye South wth a part of a hill, called horse-hill ; and so bending something South East from thence to wthin a small matter about fourscore rod of ye place called ye bent of ye Riuer. More prticularly for ye Bounds wee refer to ye exact Bound Marks."


It was signed by


" Witnessed pr us &


Waramaukeag


his marke


subscribed in or prsence Punnahun Interprter


Womoqui


his marke


his


marke


Keshooshamau g


his marke


John Banks


his marke


Chuhabaux


his marke


Nathaniel fferrand Sent


Nathaniel fferrand Junr


Youngamoush


his marke


Many other or more both English & Indians were present at ye same time."


Nuccaddamo


his marke


Papenau


0


his marke


Nemoumbam


his marke


Poquanow


20


his marke


" This deed was acknowledged ye same day at ye same time of ye subscrip- tion and delivery before Me.


John Minor, Comiss."1


The Third, or Quassapaug Purchase, comprising a part of Wood- bury, Middlebury and Southbury, was acquired on the 30th of Octo- ber, 1687. This tract is marked 3 on the map, and was sold to the town for


" Severall sums of Money in hand received, And good Assurance, to receive in the whole to ye value of fifty pounds, and a mortgage of a certain parcell of meadow Land lying to ye Southward of ye Road Northward or westward of ye Eight Mile Brook."


This tract is described as a


"Parcell of Land lying to ye East of ye first purchase, made by ye Inhabitants of Woodbury, extending Northwardly about halfe a mile north of ye first pur- chase, and so running due East, or Easterly to fourscore rod Eastward of


1 Woodbury Land Records, vol. 2, p. 136.


27


HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.


ye Easternmost of ye pond called and commonly known by ye Name Quassa- paug ; and so running Southward between Waterbery and us and Darby and us till it comes to ye place where ye road between Woodbury and Darby cross- cth ye Eight Mile Brook ; and bounded West wth ye first purchase yt ye sd Inhab- itants of Woodbury made."


It was signed by


Witnesses present Israel Curtis Jolın Wiatt Jolın Minor Sent


Chevoramange his marke


Kcsoshamaug Sagamore his


marke


Punhone his marke


Nunawauk


his


marke


Wonokequambomb


Youngstockum his marke


his


marke


Tantamoliolı


Chohees his marke


Cx


his


marke


Indian witnesses


" Exactly recorded from ye originall ye 29th of May 1699 as attest


John Minor recorder" 1


On the 18th of May, 1700, the inhabitants of the town, having become numerous for those days, made their fourth, or Nonnewang Purchase. To this time, it seems that the sagamore of that name had retained his possessions in the valley of the Nonnewang or East Sprain stream. But now it came his turn to make room, and it seems that he and his companions did it with a good grace, as the deed informs us, the sale was made


" For valid considerations moveing thereto, besides yt ye desire yt is within us of a friendly correspondency wth ye English Inhabitants of sd Woodbury."


For these considerations and inducements they granted


" All yt parcell of Land, bee it more or less, by estimation six square miles ; And bounded on ye East wth ye stated Boundaries between ye inhabitants of sd Woodbury and Waterbury, Bounded North wth ye Bound granted by ye GenTl Court to ye sd Inhabitants of Woodbury ; Bounded West wth Land be- longing to Indians as yet not purchased by ye sd English at a Brook well known both by English and Indians, called ye North-Spraine, taking in ye sd Brook, as it runs North and South, so that this or Deed of sale comprhends all ye Land


1 W. L. R., vol. 2, p. 137.


28


HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.


bounded West wth ye sd North-Spraine, and East wth Waterbury & Woodbury Bounds, taking in all ye land on both sides of ye East Sprain. And bounded South wth ye Land formerly purchased by ye English Inhabitants of sd Wood- bury."1


It was signed by


Wombummang


his marke


"Witnessed by us Joseph Hurlbutt Robert Warner


Nucquollozomaug


his marke


her


Wombummang his squaw


marke


Mashagasse


his marke


Wannunteone


his marke Cacapattanecs Sonn


his marke his marke


Umbouge


Jon Banks


his marke


This Instrumt was ae- knowledged before me ye same day by all yt sub- scribed as their ffree act and deed.


John Minor Justice


Momanchewaug alias Cush


his marke


Seawweag


his marke


Nunnawake


his marke


In ye,behalf of himself and all potatuek Indians confirming this Bill of Sale


Exactly recorded from ye originall this 16th day of May 1701 Pr John Minor recordr"2


On the 25th of October, 1705, it became necessary to buy Kettle- town purchase for the third time. Something more than a quarter of a century had passed since the last sale, and by this time it is probable they felt the need of the "consideration." It is represented on the map by division 5, being the fifth regular purchase of the Pootatueks. Its description is obscure and defective, but it evidently means this division. It is described as being


" Bounded northerly by our first and former purchases, bounded southerly by ye Heep of rocks or hill on ye south of a Brook called Transilvania, which rocks incompasse sd brook, and all ye lowland rounding till it comes at our river ; on ye South-East part of it & bounded on ye West with sd rocks at an angle with a purchase3 formerly made running from Chepague Falls to this tract."


1 Meaning the First Purchase, or town plot. 2 W. T. R., vol. 2, p. 137.


3 The Second Purchase. 4 W. Land Records, vol. 2, p. 137.


29


HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.


It was signed by


Witnesses present John Minor sent the indians yt subscribed & Jo Judson Jun. Tho Minor : In- sealed appeared terpreter


ye same day and acknowledged ye above written to be their free act and deed before me John Minor Justice


Tomseet


marke


Chyiondge


his marke


Cotsure


his marke


Wapumbom


On the 28th of May, 1706, the inhabitants of the town made the sixth, or confirmatory Purchase. This covered all former grants and purchases, and a considerable tract marked 6 on the map, to- gether with a piece of land eighty rods in width, from Steep Rock in Washington, to the mouth of the Shepaug, on the west side of that river. In this deed the Indians still retained a large tract of land called the Pootatuck Reservation. This reservation compre- hended the tract bounded on the north by a line drawn from Shepaug Falls to the " Bent" of the Pomperaug, east by that river, or by a line drawn parallel to and a few rods east of it, from the " Bent" to its mouth, south by the Pootatuck, and west by the Shepaug river. This reservation, afterward called "The Purchase," contained their principal village on the Pootatuck River. The deed is as follows :


" Know all men pr these presents, y' We hereunto subscribing, being ye propri- etors to all ye Lands and Accommodations belonging to ye Township of Wood- bury, being and belonging to potatuck, together with all othr fellow proprietors, both for orselves, Heires successors, and all oth's, younge and Elde; being desi- rous of neighborly Correspondency, and Real friendship between us & or Neigh- bo's, ye Englishi Inhabitants of Woodberry, in ye county of ffayrfield : in Her Majests Collony of Conneeticott, for and in consideration of sufficient & valuable considerations, from time to time, and at several times, bearing Date wth seve- rall Bills of sale perticuler for several tracts of Land as Exprest in those Deeds ; And least any of those Instruments should be lost, or through any Mishap bee obliterated, or defaced, Wee hereto subscribing, this 25th May 1706; fully, absolutely, and to all intents, Ends & purposes, confirm unto ye inhabitants of ye st Woodberry, theire Associates, Heires, successo's and Assigns, all and every Deed & Instrument, Bill of sale, or Deed of gift, obtayned, or procured by ye sd Inhabitants


from any Indian or Indians wtsoever; Altho' in ye formation something differ- ent from ye usuall forming of Deeds of sale. And yet more prticularly, wee say wee confirm, not only ye first purchase, wh was about five Miles North & South, ye very Town platt, and about two miles East & West, but also a Lat' pur-


30


HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.


chase made by ye sd Inhabitants as an addition Eastward quite home to Water- bery Bounds. And also anothr purchase Northward to ye extent of Woodbury then Bounds. And Also anothr purchase West to Sheepaug River. All wch were subscribed by ye major part of ye Indian proprietors; We do also Ratify and Confirm all othr perticul Bills of sale or Instrumts as prticully y' Mile square by Keesooshamaug to m' hawly of Stratford, Souwenys sale, and Chuliees, Matehack, Wonnekequumbom and Wesuncko; Wee say, all and every of them are hereby confirmed, as fully as if every of them had bin formally written and acknowledged according to law :- All wch Bills of sale, more Gen" or pertieul', do conteyn, by estimation, seven Miles, at ye North end, between Waterberry and Milford late purchase about fourscore Rodd West of Sheepaug River at ye Steep Roek ; & so running on ye West side of sd Rivr, of ye same breadth westward to ye mouth of sd River ; to ye great Rivr, till wee come to known Bounds below kettle town, and uppon ye East wth Dar- by and Waterberry Bounds; onely we have as yet reserved to orselves; viz from ye falls uppon Sheepaug Rivr to ye great River, and from sd falls Eastward to ye Riv, yt runs through Woodbury Town at ye Bent of ye River, or little southward, contayning more or less as to ye quantity.


English prsent and at ye subscription John Minor Interp't" John Sherman Justice Elizabeth Minor Rebeckah Minor


The Indians yt sub- scribed appeared prson- ally ye same day of ye date hereof and ac- knowledged ye above in- strument to be y" free act & Deed before me this Twenty-Eighth of May in ye yr one thousand seven hundred and six Jolın Minor Justice 1706 May : 28th


Nunnawaoke


his marke


Tumaseet


his marke


Chesquaneag



his marke


Mauquash


his marke


Wussebucome


his marke


Accommy


his marke


Wirasquaneot


his marke


Wussoekanunckqueen


C his marke


Kehore


his marke


Noegoshemy


his marke


t


Munmenepoosqua


her marke


Recorded originally ye date Above written as attests John Sherman Recordr 1


Muttanumace


her marke"


1 W. T. R., vol. 2, p. 138.


31


HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.


A part of this reservation, at its south-west corner, west of the Shepaug River below the Falls, was sold to Doct. Ebenezer Warner, March 6th, 1728-9. This tract was called Promiseck by the In- dians. The conveyance was executed by Manquash, Cockshure and Conkararum, in presence of Chob, John Chob, Passacoran, and three English witnesses.


As the numbers of the tribe became reduced, and the white set- tlers cleared up the land all around them, so that there was no longer sufficient game to support existence, they made further sales of their Reservation. On the 18th of June, 1733, the Indians conveyed to a committee of the town, about one-half of the Reservation, and on the 3d of January next year, about one-half of the remainder. These two sales constituted what has since been known as the South Pur- chase. The consideration of the first sale was £160, four shirts and a gun ; and that of the last, £40. Both conveyances were signed by Quiump, Cockshure, Mancheere and Naucathora. After these sales, there was left to the Indians only a remnant of their posses- sions at the south-east corner of their Reservation, in which was situated their last remaining village, called the Pootatuck Wigwams. They retained their title to this last resting-place for the soles of their feet, for a quarter of a century, when, being reduced to a mere handful in point of numbers, in 1758, they parted with their eher- ished Pootatuck, and the remnant that remained took up their abode with other tribes. In all their late sales, however, they had reserved to themselves the right to take game on the lands forever-a right which was always religiously respected by the whites,, whenever a straggling Pootatuck revisited the graves of his ancestors, or wan- dered in his once wide dominions.


Thus it is seen, that the early fathers fairly purchased every foot of this ancient town, and took conveyances with due and proper solemnities. From the known character of the men, it is to be presumed that these bargains were fairly conducted, and it does not appear that any disputes of any account ever arose in regard to them between the parties. In the order of Providence, one race had arisen, another had passed away. Sampson's loeks were shorn-his glory and strength had departed. The red man, with a sad prodi- gality, had parted with his only wealth.




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