USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1854 > Part 7
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Another early settler, but not an "original signer," was Hacka- liah Preston. He was a native of Wales, but came to Stratford from Turkey. Tradition says the Turks, for some reason, sought to kill him, and that he fled to save his life. He married Emm Fairchild, daughter of Thomas Fairchild, of Stratford, one of the principal planters and first magistrates of that town, who had come thither directly from England. Ile soon removed to Woodbury in one of the companies of the first settlers.
HIon. William Preston, son of the above, was born at Stratford, 21st March, 1676, just before his father's removal to Woodbury, and was therefore, in one sense, a son of the soil, having spent his active life in the town, and rested from his labors 5th Sept., 1754. in the seventy-eighth year of his age. He was a leading man in the town, county and Colony. He was a member of the General Court thirty- five sessions, and stood high in the militia, having attained the rank of colonel. IIe was justice of the quorum eleven years from 1740.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
On the formation of the new county of Litehfield in 1751, he was appointed its first judge, which office he held for three years till his death, performing its duties to the credit of himself, and the interests of the people. He was a man of fine talents and commanding influ- ence-of sterling integrity and unflinching determination. He was active and efficient in all the walks of life, and died much lamented.
Such was the character of the early men of Woodbury. We would gladly delineate the lives of more of them, did time and space permit. Such was the caliber of the men who laid the foundations, firm and sure, of our institutions, both local and general. It is of such ancestors a virtuous descendant has a right to be proud, and the memory of whom should shame into reformation any one, who may have departed from the boundaries of good character and correct principles.
CHAPTER VI.
CIVIL HISTORY CONTINUED.
LIST OF SETTLERS ; HOME-LOTS; 1672-1712; OLD PARSONAGE OF 1702; PALI- SADED HOUSES ; SCHOOL LOT ; FIRST MILL, 1674; SECOND MILL; THIRD MILL ; MEETINGS AT BETHEL ROCK ; FIRST MEETING HOUSE, 1651; FIRST BIRTH, MARRIAGE AND DEATH; SAMUEL MUNN, THE FIRST WHEELWRIGHT; ABRAHAM FULFORD, THE FIRST CLOTHIER ; TOWN BRAND; FIRST FERRYMAN ; DOCTS. BUTLER BEDIENT AND EBENEZER WARNER, THE FIRST PHYSICIANS ; LOCALITIES ; BUCKSKIN BREECHES ; WOODEN SHOES ; ANCIENT TITLES ; SIR EDMUND AN- DROSS ; SHEPAUG PROPRIETORS ; DEA. SAMUEL BULL, THE FIRST BLACKSMITH ; FIRST DIVORCE ; BACHELORS' ACCOMMODATIONS ; FRENCHI AND INDIAN WAR OF 1707; FORTIFICATIONS AND GARRISONS ; ACTION IN RELATION TO THE POOTA- TUCKS; PARSON STODDARD KILLS TWO INDIANS ; SOLDIERS AT WOOD CREEK IN 1709 ; NORTH PURCHASE RATE, 1712 ; REFLECTIONS.,
IN this part of our labor, we find considerable difficulty from the fact, that the first volume of town records is lost, together with its contents, except some portions, which could be deciphered from its fragmentary remains, and which were judged important by the town to be preserved. These were collected into what now forms the first volume of town records by Nathan Preston, then town-clerk, and certified by him March 6th, 1793, one hundred and twenty years after the founding of the town. The same is true in regard to the first book of proprietors' records, or acts of the town. These were in like manner copied in 1771, so far as could be done, or was deemed necessary, by Benjamin Stiles and Gideon Walker, the latter being at that time town-clerk.
Besides the original signers, there was a large number of families which removed to Woodbury before King Philip's war, but no record remains to tell their names. After that war, the inhabitants slowly returned, and new names appeared among them. The following list had arrived, in addition to the original signers, and been assigned home-lots and divisions, previous to 1682, as nearly as can now be collected.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
Rev. Zecharialı Walker,
Isaac Nichols, Samuel Hinman,
Benjamin Stiles, William Martin, Samuel Jenner,
Ambrose Thompson,
Samuel Galpin,
Matthew Sherman,
Andrew Nichols,
Sgt. Moses Johnson, Thomas Drakely,
John Leavenworth,
Joseph Booth, William Frederick,
Samuel Munn,
Isaac Bennett,
John Mitchell,
Ilenry Castle,
Ebenezer Blackman,
Joseph Seelye,
Abraham Blish,
Nathan Hongh,
John Hurd,
Joseph Hicock,
William Roberts, Edward Himman,
Ebenezer Hard,
Benjamin Hicock,
John Stratton,
John Minor, Jun.,
Henry Hill,
Jonathan Hurd,
Jonathan Squire, Cornelius Walker,
Matthew Mitchell,
Joseph Hurd,
Caleb Nichols, Sen.,
Alexander Bryan,
Henry Castle, Jun.,
Thomas Bedient,
Benjamin Galpin,
James Beers, Sen.,
Jolm Pierce,
John Root,
Zechariah Walker, Jr.,
Thomas Appleby.
All these had an interest in the land, and were householders. From this list of men, we may estimate the number of inhabitants in the town at this time, at four or five hundred.
The settlers laid out their home-lots in quantities of from two to five acres, with narrow fronts, which were arranged on both sides of the main street, or "Indian Trail," as before described, from East Meadow to the " Bent" of the river .. The " home-lot division," four times as large as the home-lot, was laid out in rear of it, and extended back one mile from the street, that "run through the middle of the town from end to end of the town." On the west side of the street the same rule prevailed. This rule was adopted by an order of the General Court to all new towns, for protection against the Indians. Next followed the "meadow division " or lowland, which was laid on the intervals and plain lands. After this came the "upland division," laid out on the irregular, hilly grounds. At the same time the "pasture division " was laid out for the accommodation of their cattle. In process of time came the " woodland division," after they had cleared their other divisions, and a provision for fuel be- came necessary. Still later, after they had subdued and brought under cultivation their other lands, came the " Good Hill division," and " White Oak Plain division," which designate their own locali- ties. All these divisions were assigned, or laid out, to the settlers in proportion to the size of their home-lot, and that was determined by the amount paid in, under the original articles.
John Huthwitt,
John Skeels,
Dennis Hart,
Joseph Ilurlbut, Joseph Seelye, Samuel Nichols, Richard Beach, Isaac Curtiss, · Samuel Sherman, Jr., Samuel Hull, Thomas Hurlbut,
Hackaliah Preston,
Thomas Leavenworth,
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
It is impossible now to trace the exact localities of all the first settlers. Their home-lots were small, and the present holders of land occupy each several of the original sites. Several of the fami- lies have been before located in these pages. The first regular town miller lived where Hon. Nathaniel B. Smith now resides. His name was John Hurd. After him Doct. Joseph Perry lived in the same place. . Rev. Zechariah Walker's house stood where Levi S. Douglass, Esq., now lives, and covered a part of the present cellar. Isaac Judson lived opposite the place occupied by Nathan Warner, - Jun., and his house was one of those surrounded with palisadoes, as a protection against the Indians. Another palisaded house stood on the site occupied by Horace Hurd's new dwelling-house. Capt. John Minor's, under the hill in rear of Erastus Minor's, was another. Another of the fortified houses was that of one of the Bronsons in Transylvania, now in existence. It had a look-out on its top by the chimney for observation. Doct. Jonathan Atwood's house occupied nearly the site of the " Old Town House." Adino Strong settled at Scuppo, but he came after 1700. The reservation of land for a school, as agreed in the "fundamental articles," was laid out north of the Cranberry Pond before 1700. In the next year some change was made, when Mr. Stoddard was settled in the ministry, and his home-lot was laid out on the 12th of May, in this place, then called Foot's Neck. It was part of the contract of the town with him, to build him a house of certain dimensions on this lot. It was immedi- ately commenced, and finished so that he could move into it late in 1701. Ile alludes to it as his dwelling-house, in a communication written in 1702. It was surrounded with palisadoes,1 was the most strongly fortified house in the plantation, and could receive more people than any other in case of an alarm. One of the bounds in a deed of the lot next north of this, dated 31st March, 1702, was laid within a foot of "ye pallasadoes in Mr. Stoddard's fence." George W. De Wolf now occupies this, the oldest house in the county. The parsonage meadow division was that in rear of Hon. N. B. Smith's, the remainder of his home-lot was near Jolmn P. Marshall's, and his
1 Houses were palisaded in the following manner, viz .: a deep diteli was dug around the house; logs were then placed perpendicularly in the ditch all around it, leaving a space only for a gate. The logs were sharpened at the top, placed elose together, and extended eight, ten or twelve feet above the ground. The earth was then returned, and beaten down around the logs till they stood firmly. This, with a gate well secured, was a pretty good defense against a sudden attack.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
"Good Hill division " (50 acres) was laid out " in or near Weaco- pemis playn."
When the first settlers came, they had few of the conveniences of life. Among the things they had not, was a mill to grind their grain. They were twenty-five miles from any inhabitants, in the wilderness, with no roads, or even a path leading to the older settlements. They imitated their "red brethren," and used mortars to reduce their grain to a state fit for cooking. But this was not to be endured long. There were weddings, and other great occasions to be provided for, and something must be done. Accordingly, they sent to Stratford, and procured two small mill-stones, so diminutive in size that they were brought here through the forests on horseback. They prepared mill-gearing, built a small shed on Middle Quarter Brook, a few rods easterly from Dea. Eli Summers' house, and set their mill in opera- tion. It is said that when it was in complete running order, it could grind the enormous quantity of a bushel of grain per day. Great was the rejoicing of our fathers, when this vast improvement was obtained. They took turns at the mill, each grinding his own grist ; or rather, one carried his grain in the morning, set the mill in motion, and went after his grist at night. This was probably built in 1674, and was the only mill in the territory till 1681. One of these mill- stones is still in the door-yard of Miss Lucy Sherman, serving in the humble capacity of a door-stone, and the other in Hartford. They are about two feet in diameter, and six inches in thickness. Traces of the dam still exist. These are highly interesting memorials of the early days, and carry us back in memory to the long-ended toils and sufferings of our fathers. Long should these rude memorials be preserved, as rare fragments which have escaped the ruthless hand of Time.
But the inhabitants had become so numerous before 1681, that the old mill was entirely inadequate to the wants of the town. It had, therefore, granted " mill accommodations " of land and other consid- erations, on the west side of the river, to John Hurd, to " encourage " him to take upon himself the responsibility of building a " corn mill " of sufficient capacity to do all the grinding required by the town. The date of this agreement is the 28th of August, 1681. He pro- ceeded to erect his mill about fifty rods south-westerly from his dwelling-house, which stood where Hon. N. B. Smith's now stands. It was erected immediately under the hill, and the water for its accommodation was brought in a ditch, faint traces of which remain, from the river, about one hundred rods distant, and discharged into
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
the river again at about half that distance below the mill, nearly in rear of " Parson Stoddard's house." The dam was built across the river at the still water in the Pomperang; nearly west of the mill, and no vestiges of it now remain, yet the locality has retained the name of the " Mill Pond " to this day. The late aged Ashbel Moody told the author that he recollected, when a boy, going there to bathe, and that a part of the dam was then in existence. In time of fresh- ets, all the intervals in this place were overflowed, and it was not a fortunate location for a dam. It was, besides, a gigantic work for private enterprise in those early days. The frequent inundations injured the dam repeatedly, so that Hurd was about to give up the attempt to maintain a mill in despair. A town meeting was, there- fore, called on the 11th June, 1683, and it was agreed that the town would provide "sufficient help to repair the present break in the dame upon two days' warning, except it be in harvest time." Hurd was to pay for this labor at the rate of " 100 feet of sawed boards or other satisfaction equivalant," to each person for three days' work. He was to have the liberty of erecting a " eart-bridge a little below the saw-mill, and to keep it in repair, at his own proper charge, seven years from date, and then to throw it up again, as no Town bridge." As additional " encouragement for his seasonably grinding the Town's Corn" for seven years, which he agreed to do, taking no other "Toll than the Law allows," the " Town granted him ten acres of Land next Southward of the mill accommodations, on the West side of the river." No person was to be called on to help him more than three days, and he was to give security for the fulfillment of his contract.1 How far the saw-mill was located from the corn-mill is not now known, but probably at no great distance. This arrange- ment continued in full force till 1691, when Hurd having deceased, the mill accommodations were given to his heirs on the same condi- tions ; but the heirs not fulfilling, the town took further action in the premises, and on the 15th of February, 1691,2 its authorities entered into solemn contract with John Mitchell and Samnel Stiles,
" That the sd John Mitehell and Samuel Stiles shall and may, at their own proper charge and cost, polieiy and continuanee, build, set up and continue from this date forever, a good sufficient Corn Mill, at or within four rods dis- tance from that place where the present Corn Mill stands, together with a sufficient dam, whereby they may be eapaeitated, well and seasonably to grind, from time to time, and at all times, successively, all such corn as all, caeh and
1 W. T. R., vol. 1, p. 90.
2 Probably 1691-2.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
every of the inhabitants of Woodbury shall bring to the sd mill to be ground, the which they do hereby covenant, promise and engage, faithfully to perform, well and seasonably, upon the conditions herein exprest, from the date hereof forever. In Consideration of which, the Committee hereunto subscribing do in behalf of themselves, and the town of Woodbury aforesd, by way of encourage- ment that the abovesaid work may be well and truly done, promise and engage to the abovesaid Millers a ten acre accommodation, to be layed out as nigh and convenient to said Mill, as may be, of land not yet particularly impropriated, which ten acres accommodation is to all intents and purposes as absolutely entailed to the Mill and Miller, that doth perforin the abovesaid covenant of well and seasonably grinding, as any particular, absolute and firm entailment explicitly can be drawn."!
As a further " encouragement to said millers to perform the con- tract on their part, £30 were to be paid in provision pay, or otherwise to the sd millers satisfaction." Those inhabitants who could not pay in provisions, had the liberty of paying in " days work." The town engaged to have all its grinding done at this mill, as long as it should continue to do it " seasonably." It was further agreed, that if, " after a further experiment, it be found that the dam can not be made to stand at that place above exprest," then it was to be located " elsewhere with the advice of the town." The land in this agree- ment was laid out in Ragland. Ens. Samuel Stiles had also, 16th Oct., 1697, twenty-eight acres of " meadow and upland" laid out to hin as town miller. It appears that advantage was taken of the last clause in this agreement, soon after, to establish the mill near the present mill and factory of Daniel Curtiss, Esq., in which place a mill has ever since been kept up, there being a very good water privilege there. As evidence of this removal, we find the " old ditch," men tioned in a conveyance as early as five or six years later than the date of this agreement. The mill accommodations continued an appendage to the mill till within a recent period, although other mills, in various parts of the ancient territory, were subsequently estab- lished as the new societies were formed.
After the settlers were in some measure located, and began to have some of the comforts and conveniences of life, their thoughts natu- rally turned to the prime object of all the plantations in New Eng- land, the establishment of public worship, and the location and con- struction of a suitable house in which to enjoy the ministrations of the gospel. From their first settlement hitherto, they had worshiped in each other's houses, in the inclement months of the year, and in
1 W. T. R., vol. 1, p. 84.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
the summer months had convened, in the stillness of the Sabbath morn, in a beautiful and retired spot on the east side of the Orenaug Rocks, between the cliffs, with their sentinels placed on the top of the adjacent rocks, to guard against surprise from savage foes, and there made " the sounding aisles of the dim woods" vocal with the high praises of God. In a rude pulpit of stone, still standing in that lonely dell, we may, in imagination, see the faithful Walker address- ing his attentive hearers and delivering to them the words of "truth and soberness." This spot received the name of Bethel Rock from this circumstance, and has been ever held as a consecrated place by the descendants of those early Christian fathers, whither they have at times resorted for meditation and prayer to the present day.
The unsettled state produced by King Philip's war, having passed away, and the inhabitants having become quite numerous for a new town, they now resolved to "build them an house" for public wor- ship. As has ever been the case in such matters, they did not readily agree on a location. But it does not appear that they fell into those violent contentions which so often occur. They had tried various ways to solve the difficulty. Among other methods, they attempted a determination of the question by lot, thus showing us a glimpse of the superstition of the age in which they lived. But although they had " solemnly left the matter to God" for a decision, vague suspi- cions of some human agency in the result obtained, arose in the minds of many. They therefore, in a peaceable and orderly manner, took the following rational action in the premises.
" Woodbury June 22nd 1681.
l" At a Lawful Town Meeting whereas notwithstanding former endeavors for ye settlement of ye place for a meeting House for publick worship in Woodbury, there yet remaining something of scruple, and these indeed not yet successfull, and particularly a lot drawn upon that account. To prevent contention and that peace and union may be obtained and continued, we have agreed and consented that to refer ye decision of ye sd Lot with ye circumstances thereto relating, wether ye Lot were regular or unlawfull to ye isne and determination of our honorable friends Major Treat Dep. Govenor and Major Gold, and in ease ye abovementioned Majors do not determine an isue of themselucs we do fully leave it to them to make choice of a 3ª person to act in thee afaires herein expres1. In case ye Lot be determined regular ye work is finished and we will acquies therein. If ye Lot is irregular then we refer ye whole settlement of a place for a mecting House unto them, and we do hereby engage and bind
1 W. T. R., vol. 1, p. 91.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
ourselves to rest fully satisfied with what isue and determination shall be by our honorable friends, or any two of them concluded on.
Per JNO. MINOR Recorder.
" The same day and time ye town made choice of John Minor to present this aet of ye town to ye above named honorable friends, and to solicit to as speedy an action herein as with their convenience, ye which he speedily did, and ye Gentlemen came to Woodbury upon ye 1 of July next following, and haveing considered ye affaires gave in the following conelusion and settlement upon ye 5th of July, 1681.
" Woodbury, July 5th, 1681. In answer to ye desires of our neighbors and good friends of ye town of Woodbury aforesaid to refer ye answer and resolution where there procedure were regular in and about ye casting a lot for y" place of ye setting a Meeting House unto us Robert Treat and Nathan Gold, which affer we had heard and considered what was on both hands said pro and con in the matter, we returned our answer in ye negative, and whereas ye whole settle- ment and determination of ye place of ye setting of ye meeting house was also then refered to ns ye sd Robert Treat and Nathan Gold with liberty of new choice of a third man in case we found need, and accordingly we made choice of Nicholas Camp to be ye man, and after we had heard what was said, and viewed ye several places propounded, we did jointly agree and determine ye place of ye setting up of their sd meeting house is to be on ye right hand of a hollow where goes down ye Cart way from Mr Walker's house to the corn mill about twenty rod below his house, where we pitched down a stake, and that this is our determination may appear by our Joint subseribing our names ye day and year above written.
Robert Treat Sent, Nathan Gold. Nieholas Camp
to the latter part Dilligently Recorded from ye original at ye same time
John Minor
The site here indicated, is that now occupied by the carriage house of IIon. N. B. Smith. This fixes the location of the corn mill, and that of Parson Walker's house, where Mr. Levi S. Douglass now lives, as well as that of the meeting-house.
The decision of the committee appears to have given satisfaction to the town, and the work of building immediately commenced. The dimensions of this house are not preserved, but it was of a large size for those times, and was used as a place of worship till the erection of the second meeting-house in 1747, a period of sixty-six years. The seats were raised one above the other, on either side of the center of the house, the pulpit being, as usual, at the end of the house opposite the entrance. The people were called to church on the Sabbath, by
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
the beat of a drum upon the rock on which the Masonic Lodge now stands. The same instrument was used to eall the people together on other days in the week, and for other purposes. It beat for meet- ings of the town, for the assembling of the train-band, and in cases of alarm in time of war. There was a particular beat for each of these occasions, but what was the difference in the roll of the drum ecclesi- astieal, the drum military and the drum civil, is not known. During the perilous times of the French and Indian wars, guards were placed on Lodge Rock, and the rock the other side of the church, near Pom- perang's grave, while the people, who also carried their arms, wor- shiped within. After the dedication of the second meeting-house, the old one was used as a town hall for many years, and also by the Episcopal Society for their service. Still later, it was used by Mr. Tallman for a slaughter-house. But it was many years ago taken down, and its place is now occupied as before stated.
The first female born in Woodbury, was Sarah, daughter of Sam- uel Sherman, Jun., and the first male, Thomas, son of John Wheeler. They were both born in 1673, and baptized in Stratford.
The first three children born and baptized in Woodbury, after the war with the Indians, were Bezaleel, son of Edmond Sherman, and Emim and Sarah Fairchild, whose baptism took place 11th April, 1675-6. The first marriage appearing on the records is that of
" Benj" Hinman and Elizabeth Lumm, both of Woodbury, in ye County of Fairefield, in his Majes's Collony of Connecticott were married ; Man and Wife ; ye twelveth day of July, one thousand six hundred eighty and foure as attested und' ye hand of Justice Rickbell, who married them."
The first death on record is that of " Henry Castle, sen', after a long sickness above a twelve-moneth," 2 Feb., 1697-8. But there were, doubtless, both marriages and deaths in the town previous to this date.
The first wheelwright who settled in the town was Samuel Munn, whose home-lot was laid out to him in 1681. In 1688, he contracted with Parson Walker to make him a cart and eart-wheels for a piece of land, " only Mr. Walker is to cart the timber to said Munn's, and find iron as hoops."
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