USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1854 > Part 5
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1 W. T. R., vol. 2, 175.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
common fields, to which all had a right. In all these divisions, each proprietor had his share in proportion to his home-lot. All taxes civil and ecclesiastical, were borne ratably according to the same rule. Adjustment books were kept, in which each planter was made debtor to the land he received, and was credited with what he sold for the equalization of taxes.
From these articles we learn that here, as in all the other towns of New England, the settlers had a particular regard to the establish- ment of religious institutions. It was their design to erect churches in strict conformity to Scripture example ; and to transmit evangeli- cal purity, in doctrine, worship and discipline, with civil and religious liberty to their posterity. So great was the attention they paid to these interesting points, that they not only made ample provision for the minister, who was to remove with them, but they also sequestered lands for the future support of the ministry.
Another truly New England feature is noticed, in this their first solemn agreement, in the ample provision made for a school, " that learning might not be neglected to children." Our fathers, though living under kingly rule, were republicans, rejecting with abhorrence the doctrines of the divine right of kings, passive obedience, and non-resistance. Upon these principles they formed their civil insti- tutions. This, like the other towns, in its constitution was a pure republic in embryo. They thought the church should be accompa- nied by the school-house, religious principle by an educated and ennobled understanding. In this way, they judged, intelligence and good morals could best be propagated.
We notice also, the poverty of our ancestors at this time-the almost entire want of a currency. All the expenses growing out of the purchase and settlement of the plantation, were to be paid in wheat, peas and pork, in equal proportions, as to value, if these could be obtained, and if they could not, then in other articles to the satis- faction of the committee of the settlement.
Under such severe difficulties were these pleasant dwelling-places and habitations, which we now enjoy, prepared. And yet our ances- tors were not the paupers nor the fortune hunters from the old world. They were the sturdy yeomanry, the intelligent mechanics and farmers, the middle classes, whose independent spirits spurned the yoke of tyranny. Oppressed and harassed in the old country, our sainted sires sought in the wilds and fastnesses of this wilderness world, a place for that freedom of thought and of action, which they could not find in "Old and enlightened and self-satisfied Europe."
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
Thoroughly impressed with the idea that time, faith and energy will accomplish all that can be done in this life, the most appalling diffi- culties were met and overcome. They did not for a moment doubt that " God would raise their state," and build up his church in that excellent clime to which they had come." To their enlightened vision, there beamed from the distant west the light of liberty, which, like " another morn risen on mid-noon," would continue to shine till the "perfect day."
CHAPTER IV:
CIVIL HISTORY CONTINUED.
POMPERAUG MADE A TOWN, AND CALLED WOODBURY, IN 1674; SIGNIFICATION OF THE NAME; KING PHILIP'S WAR IN 1575; INHABITANTS OF WOODBURY GO BACK TO STRATFORD; ORDERS OF THE GENERAL COURT; WATCHING AND WARDING ; REV. MR. WALKER'S LETTER IN 1676; INHABITANTS RETURN IN 1677; TOWN RELEASED FROM TAXES FOR TWO YEARS; ACTION OF GENERAL COURT IN RELATION TO THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TOWN; TOWN FIRST REP- RESENTED IN THE GENERAL COURT IN 1684; PATENT GRANTED IN AMPLE FORM IN 1686; GENERAL COURT GRANTS THE NORTH PURCHASE TO THE TOWN IN 1703; SAME PURCHASED OF THE INDIANS IN 1710.
So numerous had the arrivals of our ancestors become in the new plantation of Pomperaug, during the year 1673, that at
" A Court of election held at Hartford, May 14th, 1674,
" This Court grants that Paumperaug and the plantation there shall be called by the name of Woodbury, which town is by this Court freed from Country Rates fower yeares from this date.")
This was the only charter the town had till May, 1686, and was as formal as the charters or grants to the other towns of the colony to this date. In accordance with the usual gratuity to the new towns, it was freed from taxes for four years.
The town continued to go on, in the full tide of " successful ex- periment," as we glean from the scanty means of information left us at this day. It had chosen a beautiful name, characteristic of its lo- cation and history. Our fathers, in a somewhat poetic vein of mind, as we may imagine, called their new town Woodbury. The word bury is a different orthography for burg, burh, borough. It signifies a house, castle, habitation, or a dwelling-place. Hence Woodbury is a dwelling-place in the wood. There was a cluster of "burys" in the vicinity of this town within its first century. Besides Woodbury,
1 Trumbull's Col. Rec., p. 227.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
this part of the State gloried in the names of Southbury, Roxbury, Westbury, (Watertown,) Middlebury, Waterbury, Northbury, (Ply- mouth,) Farmingbury, (Wolcott,) and Danbury.
In May, 1675, the General Court appointed "Capt" John Nash. Capt" Wm. Curtice and L" Tho: Munson to lay out the highway from Woodbury to Pawgasuek, (Derby,) to the most convenient place for a ferry, and allso to lay out a convenient parcell of land for a ferry place. And the towne of Stratford are allso by this Court appoynted to lay out a country highway from their town to Pagasuck in the most convenient place where the ferry shall be settled." It would seem by this, that the inhabitants were becoming numerous, and that they wished to establish a good route to their former homes in Stratford, and the present abode of their friends and relations. In fact, their minister had not yet removed his family to their new town, but while part of his church had removed to Woodbury, a part remained still in Stratford, and he ministered to them as occa- sion allowed, in both places. It was therefore an object, much to be desired, to open a good and direct communication between the two places.
At the same session it was enacted, that " This Court doth grant that Wood- bury shall have liberty to choose of what county they shall belong to, Whether Hartford, New Haven, Fayrefeild."1
The first book of town acts is lost ; so that we find on record no action taken by the town upon this matter. Many of the interesting particulars of the settlement of the town are, for this reason, irrecov- erably lost. The people, probably, chose to belong to Fairfield County, as we find it always mentioned in the list of towns belonging to that county, from this date to 1751, when it became a part of the new county of Litchfield.
The committee, mentioned above, to lay out a ferry and a road, re- ported to the General Court in May, 1677, two years from the date of their appointment. The reason of the delay will presently be obvi- ous. They say among other things,
" And first concerning the ferry, they order and appoynt it to be at the lower end of the old Indian feild, and that litle peice of land between the rocks and the gully or creeke to be for a place to build any house or houses upon, and yardes for secureing of goods or cattell that may be brought to the ferry from Woodbury, Mattatuck, &c.
1 Trumbull's Col. Rec., p. 253.
.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
" Livetenant Joseph Judson declared that if the inhabitants of Derby would put in a ferry man in convenient time, they were content, or els upon notice giuen they of Woodbury would put in one whome the towne or Derby should approue for an inhabitant, and that without any charge to Derby or the eoun- try."1
These facts are noted, and extracts made, with a view to present to the mind the extreme difficulty and delay, which attended every effort to found this inland town.
But far more serious evils awaited the adventurous pioneers, in this " dwelling-place" in the forest. In June, 1675, King Philip's war broke out, and filled this and neighboring colonies with the gloom and terror which always accompany Indian warfare. After the Pequot war, for nearly forty years, the whites had been at peace with their Indian neighbors. But now the news spread through the United Colonies, that a general combination of Wampanoags, Narragansetts, and other tribes, had been formed, with the desperate design of utter- ly removing the white race from their land. Philip, with his fierce bands of relentless warriors, appeared suddenly on the scene of ac- tion, and blood and misery followed in his trail. This war affected all the eastern colonies. The eastern part of Connecticut was the most exposed part of that colony, but every portion of it suffered from the predatory excursions of the savages, and continual alarms. The frontier towns, like Woodbury, were particularly exposed to danger.
In October, 1675, the General Court, deeply affected with the ap- parent danger, enacted military regulations of the most careful and vigorous kind. It was equivalent to putting the whole colony under martial law. Among their regulations were : "Sixty soldiers to be raised in every county ; places for defense and refuge to be immedi- ately fortified in every plantation ; neglect of order in time of assault to be punished with death ; no provisions to be carried out of the col- ony without special license ; no male between the ages of fourteen and seventy suffered to leave the colony without special permission from the council, or from four assistants, under penalty of £100." Each plantation was also to keep a sufficient watch, from the shutting in of the evening till the sunrise ; to have one-fourth part of the town in arms every day, by turns, and those who worked in the fields to go in companies, and when going half a mile from town, to be not less than six in number, with arms and ammunition well fixed and fitted
1 Trumbull's Col. Rec., p. 302.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
for security." These orders were carried out by the towns, with alacrity. Many were partially fortified, and in all a constant guard was maintained. . Guards were stationed in the belfry of meeting- houses, on high hills and bluff's, and even in sentry-boxes erected for their accommodation, to watch for the enemy, and protect the inhab- itants. Every effort was made for the public safety.
This war continued during the winter, and at a meeting of the council at Hartford, March 16, 1675-6, the following action was taken :
" In regard of the present troubles that are vpon vs, and the heathen still con- tinuing their hostility against the English, and assaulting the plantations, to pervent their designs against vs. It is by the Councill ordered, that the watch in the severall plantations, about an hower at least before day, in each day, doe call up the severall inhabitants in each plantation within their respectiue wards whoe are forthwith upon their call by the watch, to rise and arm them- selves, and forthwith to march to their severall quarters they are appoynt- ed to in theire wards and elsewhere, there to stand upon their guard to defend the town against any assault of the enemie vntill sunn be halfe an hower high in the morning, and then the warders are to take their places; and scouts in cach end of every town are to be sent forth on horseback, to scout the woods and discover the approach of the enemie, and to continue on the scout goeing so far into the wods as they may return the same day to giue an aecot of what they shall discouer ; and the scouts are to take direction from the chiefe millitary officers resideing in their respective townes, how and which way they shall pass, to make their discovery. And whosoener shall neglect to giue attend- ance to this order in all and euery of the particulars thereof, shall forfeit fine shillings for euery defect. This to be attended till further order."]
It is to be particularly noted here, that the "watch" was to call up all the inhabitants an hour before day, and have them on duty till after sunrise. This precaution was taken from the faet, that men sleep soundest at this time, and as the Indians had knowledge of the fact, attacks were most frequently made at this hour. It is difficult, at this distance of time, to imagine the dangers, trials and alarms, that must exist in feeble communities, reminded as they were each morn- ing, of their desperate condition, by regulations such as these.
This state of affairs drove the inhabitants of Woodbury back again to Stratford. How long they continued to maintain their position in the new town is not known ; but they no doubt returned during the summer or autumn of 1675. A little light is thrown upon the ques- tion by the advice given by the General Court to Derby, which was nearer the old towns and in a somewhat safer position.
1 Trumbull's Col. Rec., p. 416.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
" At a General Court held at Hartford, October 14, 1675.
"The inhabitants of Derby having desired the adviee of this Court, what is their best way to attend for their safety in this time of difficulty, the Court re- turn that they judg it the best and safest way to remoue their best goods and their corn, what they can of it, with their wives and children, to some bigger towne, who, in a way of Providenee, may be in a better capaeitie to defend it ; and that those that stay in the town doe well fortify themselves, and stand up- on their guarde, and hasten the removeall of their corn as aforesd what they may ; and all inhabitants belonging to the place may be compelled by warrant from any Assistant to reside there untill this may be done. The like advice is by this Court given to all small places and farmes thorow-out this Colony to be observed."1
Woodbury was at this time farther inland than any other western town in the Colony, and it is highly probable, that the " wives, chil- dren and best goods of the planters had, even before this advice was given, been removed to Stratford, a place of " more hopeful security." It is equally probable, that the resolute men of the town had remain- ed to bring off their crops. But fortunately we are not left to con- jecture as to the entire removal of the inhabitants of the town, al- though the day and month can not be noted. There is on record, in the archives of the State,? an original letter, in the handwriting of Rev. Zechariah Walker, signed by himself and the first minister of Derby, asking to be protected if they should return with their people to their several plantations. It is a fine specimen of the style of the early ministers' reasoning, and is deemed worthy of being inserted, at full length, in this place.
To ye Honoured Gent Court convened at Hartford Octobr 12th 1676-We whose names are hereunto subseribed do humbly propose as followeth.
That whereas ye providenee of God hath so ordered that by means of late troubles brought upon ye country, we the inhabitants of Woodbury and Derby have been necessitated to remove from or dwellings. And a more favorable aspect of providence at ye present inviting us to a return, & ye necessity of many of or families in part inforcing it ; yet forasmuch as we cannot be assured but ye like danger may again arise ; we make bold before such or return, to re- quest this honoured Court to resolve us in one important inquiry, viz : in case the war wth ye indians should be again renewed what we may expect & trust to, from ye authority of this Colony in order to or protection & safety ? We humbly request that of inquiry may neither be judged offensive, nor concluded irrational, till ye following grounds of it be considered.
1. First we cannot be insensible of or former experience viz : that in a time when danger threatned ye loudest, & or two plantations aforesd were probably
1 Trumbull's Col. Rec., p. 267.
2 War, vol. 1, p. 115.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
in greatest hazzard, we were not only without any other help but or own for ye guarding of or said places but or own also, wch were indeed too few were taken from us, time after time, being pressed from ye sca-side towns when oc- casionally they came thither about necessary business, whereby we had more proportionally to or numbers from of two plantations, imployed in ye publick service, then (we suppose) any other town of ye Colony ; And as by yt means we were forced to a removall, so y'in we had not the least benefit of any guard for ye safety of or persons or goods.
2. Neither can we be insensible how unable many persons will bee, after a second remove to those plantations without ruine to ye families, to return again, to these older plantations : partly by means of ye chargeableness of such re- moves & partly by means of what disapointments we have already met with.
3. Thirdly we desire ye mutuall obligation betwixt rulers & subjects may be considered, viz : yt as ye latter owe subjection, respecting both ye persons & estates ; so ye former are obliged to protect both according to ye best ability, providing that they may lead a quiet & peaceable life.
4. Let it be considered ; that though formerly the country had cause enough, because sin enough, to beget an expectation of atllietion, yet yr was little or no expectation, yt it should arise from such means, before it did begin ; the expe- rience y fore of so unexpected an affliction affords (notwithstanding a present seeming cessation) ye more cause to expect ye like again, sooner or later ; espe- cially so little of reformation any where appearing : If therefore new-begun & remote plantations, may not in such hazzards have any promise of just protec- tion ; ye non-incouragmt of such, (as will endanger their desertion) so it will discourage any other persons from erecting any other, for ye inlargement of ye Colony, & whether y' will not be much to ye disadvantage of yo Colony, we leave upon inquiry.
5. The secureing of those two plantations of Woodberry & Darby will ae- cording to second canses, be one of ye most considerable securities, in a time of such dangers, unto ye two western counties, viz : of New Haven, & Fairfield : for it can hardly be expected yt any strength of indians will adventure to set upon any lower plantation, till they have attempted ours above & if they fail, they will be ye more shy of pounding themselves by coming lower.
6. Though we cannot atlirm, yet we are not without some reason to suspeet (& yrfore only propound it as a conditionall argument) that ye charges expend- ed in other colonies, for garrisoning some of their out towns, & fetching offe ye parsons, & goods of some others, will come upon account in ye publiek charges of ye war, to be proportionably borne by ye three Colonies : which if it be, this Colony will be so much ye shorter in ye bill of expenses because they have not done ye like, & vertually fined to ye other Colonies, because they had not as extensive & generall a care of yr out plantations yt were most exposed to danger as other Colonies had of theirs.
We humbly request yor consideration of ye premises, & y' yor worships will so far regard or infant plantations, as to afford us some intimation of yor pleasure concerning this of inquiry.
Yours in all due observance, JOHN BOWER in ye behalfe of Derby
Zachariah Watfre in ye behalfe of Woodberry
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
From this letter it appears that our forefathers were not only obliged to meet and brave all the dangers of the wilderness, all the horrors of Indian warfare, but that some of their best men were forced into service, when they went into the older towns on their necessary business, which was frequently, as they were entirely des- titute of the conveniences and many of the necessaries of life. It seems, too, that these outrages were the immediate cause of their removal; and that, had it not been for these, they might have been able to stand their ground against the incursions of the enemy. The argument contained in this letter is a cogent one, and the case well put.
What action the General Court took in the premises does not appear. It is not probable, however, that any guard was furnished them, although one of the first settlers of Woodbury, John Minor, was sent to this session, as one of the Deputies from Stratford, prob- ably with a view of obtaining aid for the new town. IIe however might be said to be a resident of both places, having " large accom- modations " in both Woodbury and Stratford, and being for five or six consecutive years the only town-clerk for both towns. The plantation was by no means given up, as, at the same session, their lands were put in the list of the towns whose valuation for taxation was made by a committee, and the valuation of Woodbury home-lots was within 5s. per acre of that of the more favored towns in the Colony. This valuation was 20s. per acre for home-lots, and one- fourth of all other land improved for tillage, mowing and pasture, 10s. per acre for the remaining three-fourths used for those purposes, and 1s. per acre for all other land inclosed by fences.
A part of the inhabitants went back to Woodbury in 1676, but not all, for at the same session we find it still further enacted that
" The inhabitants of Woodbury haveing been mueh down at Stratford with their stocks this summer, and some are likely to winter there, all sneh persons and stocks, that shall so winter at Stratford are to pay rates in proportion as the rest there, but the others shall pay but a fourth part of those exterordinary rates to the country ; which easement is as much priuiledg to them as other towns usually had at their beginning."1
The list of Stratford, at the same time, was ordered to be increased to the amount of property brought there by the inhabitants of Wood- bury.
1 Trumbull's Col. Rec., p. 299.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
During the year 1677, the inhabitants slowly returned to the new settlement. As late as May 15, 1678, some were yet remaining in Stratford. Upon the application of those who had returned, the General Court at its May Session in 1678, ordered those who had taken up land at Woodbury, to inform the authorities of the town whether they would go there to reside, according to the regulations of the plantation, their answer to be sent within one month after notice, and their residence to take place by the first of November following.
At the same session it was ordered
" And in regard the progress of the planting of that plantation hath been retarded by the late warr & they have not reed the Benefitt in the grant of the General Court which exempted them from Rates for Three yeares. This Conrt sees meet to grant them, the Town of Woodbury viz the persons there Inhabiting, a further exemption from country rates for their estates of Wood- bury for the Space of Two yeares from October next."1
Upon the passage of this order, the inhabitants of the town imme- diately held a meeting, and voted to avail themselves of the Court's action. A letter in Capt. John Minor's handwriting was accordingly addressed to those remaining in Stratford, informing them that the town had passed a vote, that if those who had taken up land in Woodbury, did not personally, or by letter, within three weeks make known their intention of removing thither, they should allot their lands to others. They urge,
" Ffriends it is farr from of desire y' any of you should be aboosed by this act of os : wee covett not yo' Lands, but yor company. Wee desire not to displease any of you, but yett if wee eannot please you uppon lower termes y" by undoe- ing ofselues, wee assure you, that wee cannott come to yt priee ;"2
Assuring them again at the close of the letter, that at the end of the three weeks, they should proceed to allot the lands to others.
This action of the Court and town probably brought up most of those who had lands. On the 27th of June, 1678, their minister, Mr. Walker, came with his family to reside permanently with his people at Woodbury. Previous to this time, it seems that his family had resided at Stratford, he having had liberal grants of land made him by the town of Stratford, while his church was the second church of Stratford, and before there was any decision to found a new town.
1 Trumbull's Col. Rec., p. 3, vol. 94, 95.
2 Towns & Lands, vol. 1, p. 246.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
The controversy in Stratford had ended in dividing the ministerial lands between Mr. Chauncey and Mr. Walker, Mr. Chauncey having the first choice. A house had been built by Mr. Walker on his home-lot, and his family continued to reside there till the date above, after which he sold his land at intervals till nearly the close of his" life. But as a further account of these transactions will be intro- duced in a subsequent chapter, nothing more in relation to them will be said in this place. It is introduced now, to show that the action of the town was so decided that even their minister could not be excepted from it. An additional reason for his remaining at Strat- ford was, that a part of his church remained there, and he carried on his ministrations in both places.
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