USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > History of the Colony of New Haven, Before and After the Union with Connecticut: Containing a. > Part 10
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
At a town meeting, December 31, 1674, "It was voted, that there should be two miles of land sequestered, to lie in
* The extremity of the upland at the point, was laid out to widow . Martha Beard. In 1647, Thomas Tibbals had a grant of half an acre of meadow at said point, bounded on all sides by the beach.
:
90
HISTORY OF THE
common, for the use of the town, and not any of it to be laid out without the consent of three fourths of the inhabitants ; to begin at the outermost houses in the town, and go two miles every side." The probable reason of this sequestration was, that the land might lie unenclosed for the town flock of sheep to feed upon .* At a town meeting, January 30, 1687-8, "It was voted that the sequestered land should be measured by the selectmen, or any three of them, and proportioned to every inhabitant, and also the Oyster Neck and Ferry lands, according to his estate, in the list by which the last division was made." This was the list of 1686, in which were 129 persons. These were called the town proprietors. Only a small part of these lands at that time were divided. At a town meeting, January 26, 1712-13, it was voted that all the common lands, excepting the Oyster Neck and Ferry lands, granted in 1688, should be divided according to the list of the then present year. In the list of 1712, were 197 persons. These lists are recorded on Lib. 5th, of the town records. The Oyster Neck and Ferry lands were nearly the last land laid out in Milford ; being divided in 1805, by the list of 1686. In conveyances of parcels of sequestered lands, leases of 999 years are given, instead of deeds. t
Much of the land in the town, when first laid out, was en- closed by the proprietors in common fields. Some of these, besides the ones already mentioned, were Newfield, New meadow, Plainfield, Oronoque field, Stubby plain field, Addins' plain field, Indian side field, north of great bridge, and Indian point field. The proprietors held "field meetings" as often as necessary, generally in spring and fall, to agree upon plant-
* The town for near a century kept up a large flock of sheep, at times numbering from 1000 to 1500, which was tended by hired shepherds. The profits arising from the flock were appropriated to the payment of town expenses.
t Whenever a division of land was made, certain parcels were reserved for the use of the ministers and elders of the church. For this purpose, in 1647, the town had sequestered 10 acres at Eseck plain, 18 at Dreadful swamp, 20 in Town plain, and 20 at Wigwam swamp. In 1676 a tract was set aside for the same purpose in Burnt plain, and another at Oronoque. Tothis last an addition was made in 1708, so as to make a large tract. Meadows in various places was also sequestered. May 9, 1681, " It was voted that the land bought of Mr. Ferman, should be sequestered for the use of the ministry, as a parsonage, and yt it should not be in ye power of ye town to alienate it forever."
-
,
COLONY OF NEW HAVEN.
07
ing and gathering their crops, when to turn in cattle, &c. The fences of the common fields, by a vote of the town, were to be four feet ten inches in height, and every planter, at each end of his part of the common fence, was to keep a stake set up, with the initials of his name, on penalty of forfeiting 23. 6d. When a place in the fence was broken down, if the owner did not repair it within 16 hours after notice, he incurred a fine of five shillings .* The gates were made and supported by individuals, instead of a specified quantity of fence, as was agreed upon, and in some instances land was granted to maintain them, which was to return to the town again when the person who took the gates left off making and maintain- ing them. For instance, the Bear Neck and Ferry Neck gates were to be maintained by Jonathan Baldwin and his succes- sors, for 18 acres of land in Ferry Neck, and the Beaver pond gate by Joseph Peck, for land at the point. (Record of deeds, Lib. 1, page 87.)
At a general court, held October 5, 1646, it was ordered, that all lands should be recorded in a book keptfor that purpose, and that whoever bought or exchanged a piece of land, should give a written notice thereof to the recorder within two months after the purchase or exchange, or forfeit twice the fee of re- cording, which fee was 2d. a parcel ; and the recorder was to give a copy of each parcel so recorded, to the next general court, so that the rates from time to time might be levied on the proper owner of the land. In that year the house lots, meadow, and upland of each planter, were entered on record. Since that time the records have been kept with much accu- racy.t
The roads in the town at first were left very wide,-no pains appear to have been taken to lay them out with order and
* He was then to have 16 hours in which to find other defects, and notify the owner or bear the damages.
t The following is a list of the town clerks, from the settlement of the town to the present time, with the year they were chosen:
Robert Treat, 1640 | John Fowler, 1718
Richard Baldwin,
1648 John Fowler, Jr., 1756
Samuel Eells, 1680 David B. Ingersoll, 1774
Daniel Buckingham, 1685 Samuel Whittlesey, 1774
Thomas Oviatt, (or Uffot,) 1689
Gideon Buckingham, 1776
Alexander Bryan, 1692 Abraham V. H. De Witt, 1809
Richard Bryan, 1698 Samuel Higby, 1813
Jonathan Law, Jr., 9
1705 David L. Baldwin, 1836
-
-
98
HISTORY OF THE
.. regularity. In many instances where the trees were the thinest, and the first cart made a track, there the road became established. Instead of the roads being laid out, it was the land which was laid out, and the roads left. The Broad street was left 40 rods wide, and Mill Neck road six. The old New · Haven road was 16 rods wide. But by encroachment they have been reduced to their present limits. The first houses which were built on the south side of the upper end of Broad street, were probably set on the common, and a fence run in front. An encroachment of two rods has also been made on the north side of the same street. The land between the lower half of Broad street and the harbor, was at first left in com- mon for a parade ground for the military, but was afterwards laid out, though not to the present line of the street by more than ten rods. When it was granted to individuals and laid out, Wharf street was left ten rods wide. The land lying on the sides of Mill river from the harbor to the upper end of North street, except three conditional grants which are now mis- improved, was left open to the common for the public use, and was never designed to have been enclosed ; and should the proprietors proceed in a proper manner, all the present en- croachments might be removed. The same may be said of the valley of the West End brook. Unauthorized encroach- ments have been made on many public roads, which cannot be particularized in this work. Some of the roads were laid out on the Indian track, as the Burwell's Farm road, the Point road, and the Turkey Hill road, and most of the old road to New Ha- ven. The roads formerly were not thrown up in the center, but deep ruts were worn down, and a ditch in the middle, by which the water that fell in rain ran off. Many of the roads, and some which are much used, yet remain in this condition. 1 The town latterly have been averse to making improvements in the roads and opening new ones. In 1798, "it was voted to oppose a road from Derby Narrows through the north part of the town to New Haven." In 1802, it was " voted to op- pose the New Haven and Milford turnpike company running the turnpike road through peoples' land; but to have them keep the old road, except cutting off short corners." In 1805, the New road, so called, three rods wide, was laid out through the lots in the middle of the town. When first projected it . was opposed by the town, and sued for before the county court by individuals. The same may be said of all the roads
99
COLONY OF NEW HAVEN.
in Woodbridge and Orange, which were opened within a few years of the time when they were incorporated.
There are several foot-paths in the town which are much used. One from the ship yard to Gulf street. One from Bear Neck lane to West Point, and one from West Town street to River street. This last was laid out by the town an follows, on the 7th of February, 1643 :
By the brethren and inhabitants of Milford it is agreed, that a footway to the meeting house shall be allowed, (and maintayned with convenient styles) from the West End. The stiles to be maintained by bro: Nicholas Camp at the West End, and by bro: Tho. Baker at the meeting house (for the outside stiles ;) and for the inner fences, each man shall maintain his stile in the most conve- nient place: and the passage over Little Dreadful swamp in John Fletcher's lot, shall be by a long log hewed on the upper side.
The time when most of the bridges in the town, at their several locations, were first built, is as follows : The meeting house bridge, as already remarked, was built in 1640, Fowl. er's bridge in 1645, Indian, or Great bridge, 1662, Plum's bridge, crossing Indian river on the old country road, 1706, King's bridge in 1711, a bridge from a point of rocks a few rods below the Episcopal church, not now kept up, in 1723, Oyster river bridge, built by Milford and New Haven, 1753, North street foot bridge, 1768, bridge by Jehiel Bristols, 1819, Gulf bridge, 1810. Jefferson's bridge, over the Mill river, was built and is supported by the turnpike company. Washington bridge, across the Housatonnuc, was built and is also supported by a company.
The bridges in the town, without exception, are constructed of wood. If, when new ones are required, they should be built of stone, and perhaps two or three in the center of the town of iron, much expense would eventually be saved. But if wooden ones must do, they should be constructed on the plan patented by Ithiel Town, Esq.
A few rods above Washington bridge a ferry was set up by the town, in 1675. " At a town meeting, Dec. 31, 1774, a grant of 40 acres of land was made to be sequestered for the maintenance of a ferry on this side of Stratford river," and a committee was appointed " to agree with some suitable person for the work of keeping the ferry, and to lay out the land." A ferry-house, however, was not built, and a ferry- man stationed, till some years after. In 1712 the town ap- pointed a committee to agree with Mr. Richard Blackleack,
100
HISTORY . OF THE
of Stratford, to carry the inhabitants of Milford over Stratford river for half price, on condition that the town furnish a ferry- house on this side. In 1720 a committee was appointed " to rent the ferry for a certain number of years, not exceeding seven." On the 13th of December, 1731, it was " voted to accept the grant made by the general assembly, to establish a ferry across Stratford river, and the town appointed a commit- tee to build a good two story house, build a wharf, and provide suitable boats." On the 18th of December, 1758, it was " voted to set up a ferry, according to a new act of the assembly, and repair the house and boats." On the 1st of October, 1798, the bridge having been built, it was "voted to sell the ferry- house and land, provided they will fetch 750 dollars." Thesale was accordingly made to William Hopkins, a few days after. The old country road to the ferry was the present ferry wood road, so called. In 1785 it was voted to open the road to the ferry, south of Hog rock .* At Oronoque ferry, a boat has been kept for upwards of a century.
The first settlers being of those people who left England that they might enjoy their religious sentiments unmolested, they took an early opportunity to form themselves into a church, constituted according to their own peculiar views. It was organized, as already stated, at New Haven, at the same time with the church in that place, on the 22d of August, 1639. . The method of forming their church was similar to that of New Haven. Seven persons were first chosen, who joined in covenant to be the church, and were called the seven pillars. Milford church pillars were Peter Prudden, William Fowler, Edmund Tapp, Zachariah Whitman, John Astwood,
* This is a bowlder stone, about ten feet in diameter, and stands on a foundation of micacious schist rock, located about a mile east of Washington bridge. The following ancient stanza explains the origin of its name:
" Once four young men upon ye rock Sate down at chuffle boardt one daye; When ye Dewill appearde in shape of a hogg, Ande frighten'd ym so they scampered awaye, Ande left Olde Nick to finish ye play."
This is the most important witch legend there is connected with the town. On the north side of the rock is cut in capitals, LIBERTY, 1776, done by Peter Pierett, Jr., in the time of the revolutionary war. Thus old cloven foot's gaming table is made a monument of American liberty.
* Cards.
.
.
.
101
COLONY OF NEW HAVEN.
Thomas Buckingham, Thomas Welch. The following is the covenant into which they entered, extracted from the records of the first church. It was recorded by Mr. Pruddens' own hand :
Since it hath pleased ye Lord, of his infinite goodness and free grace, to call us (a company of poor miserable people) out of the world unto fellowship with himself in Jesus Christ, and to bestowe himself upon us by an everlasting covenant of his free grace, sealed in ye bloud of Jesus Christ, to be our God, and to make and avouch us to be his people, and hath undertaken to circumcise our hearts that we may love ye Lord our God, and feare and walke in his wayes. Wee therefore doe this daye avouch ye Lord to be our God euen Jehovah, ye only true God, the Almighty Maker of heaven and earth, the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and wee doe this day enter into an holy covenant with ye Lord and one with another, through that grace, and Jesus Christ strengthening us (without whom we can do nothing) to deny ourselves and all ungodli- ness and wordly lusts, and all corruptions and pollutions wherein in any sort we have walked- And doe give up ourselves wholly to ye Lord Jesus Christ, to be taught and governed by him in all our re- lations, conditions, and considerations in this world, avouching him to be our only Prophet and Teacher, our only Priest and propitia- tion, our only King and Lawgiver. And we do further binde our- selves in his strength to walk before him in all professed subjection to all his holy ordinances, according to ye Rule of ye Gospell, and also to walk together with his church and ye members thereof, in all brotherly Loue and Holy Watchfulness to ye mutual building- up one another in Faythe and Loue. All which ye Lord help us. to perform, through his rich grace in Christ, according to his cove- nant. Amen.
The following record of Mr. Prudden's ordination, is also : extracted from the same book :
At Milford, I, Peter Prudden was called to ye office of a Pastour in this church, and ordained at New Haven, by Zachariah Whit- man, William Fowler, Edmund Tapp, designed by ye church for that work: Zach: Whitman being ye moderator for that meeting in a day of solemn humiliation, upon ye 3d Saturday in April, being I remember ye 18th day of ye month, 1640.
John Sherman was chosen teacher of this church, but de- clined the office. Zachariah Whitman was ordained ruling elder, June 26, 1645. Messrs. Davenport and Hook, of New Haven, were present, and assisted on the occasion. Immediately after his installation, Mr. Prudden made his per- manent residence at Milford, which it does not appear he did before that event. Nine persons were added to the seven pillars at New Haven, previous to his installation, and the first at Milford joined on the 2d of July. Mr. Prudden was a 9*
.
.
.
102
HISTORY OF THE
distinguished peace maker, and was much beloved and rever- enced by his people. He died in July, 1656, in the 56th year of his age, leaving two sons, Samuel and John, and six daugh- ters. For four years from that time the church was without a pastor.
The second pastor of this church was Mr. Roger Newton. He was born in England, but finished his education at Har- vard College, Mass. He is said to have been a near relative of Sir Isaac Newton. He was called from the church in Farmington, where he had preached about ten years, and in- stalled at Milford, August 22d, 1660. According to the church records, "he was installed (with prayer and fasting) by Elder Zachariah Whitman, Deacon John Fletcher, and Robert Treat, Esq., (though not a magistrate and deacon, but as appointed by the church to join the ruling elder in laying on hands in their name.") Mr. Newton died June 7th, 1683. He was succeeded by Mr. Samuel Andrew, from Cambridge, Mass. He was a graduate of Harvard College, and at the time of his call was a tutor in that institution. He was or- dained November 18, 1685, Daniel Buckingham being ruling elder. He found the people in great disturbance and con- fusion, but he happily united them. After continuing in the pastoral office 52 years, he died, January 24, 1738, aged 82 years. He was a hard student, and of very retired habits ; sel- dom visiting his people, or leaving his study to attend a fune- ral. Mr. Andrew was a patron of education, was one of the first projectors of Yale College, and was more forward. and active for its establishment than any other person. He was seconded in his exertions by his father-in-law, Governor Treat, and he was looked up to by the clergy to exert his in- fluence with the governor. At the death of Mr. Abraham Pierson, first president of Yale College, he was chosen rector pro tem., and for a number of years had the senior class under his instruction at Milford, this being before the college was settled at New Haven. He was one of the corporation of the college for nearly 38 years, till his death.
Mr. Samuel Whittelsey, Jr., of Wallingford, was settled colleague pastor with Mr. Andrew, Nov. 9, 1738, and con- tinued in the office of the ministry till his death, which occur- red October 22, 1768. He was born in 1714, was educated in Yale College, and was a tutor in that institution from 1732 till his removal to Milford. He married Susannah, daughter of Col. Roger Newton.
103
COLONY OF NEW HAVEN.
Mr. Whittelsey was succeeded by Mr. Samuel Wales, son of Mr. John Wales, of Raynham, Mass. He graduated at Yale College, in 1667, and was ordained December 19th, 1770. In 1776 he went into the army as chaplain. He was dismissed in May, 1782, to be professor of divinity in Yale College, to which office he had been previously elected. He died Feb. 18, 1794, at New Haven.
The church was destitute of a pastor till March 17, 1784, when William Lockwood, A. M., tutor of Yale College, was ordained. On account of his ill health he was dismissed, April 28, 1796.
Mr. Bezaleel Pinneo, the present pastor, was ordained October 26, 1796.
-
The town early made ample provision for the support of their ministers. When the division of lands were made, a number of pieces were sequestered for the church, and the three first ministers had large grants of land made them for their own. The town gave Mr. Prudden his choice of lands when divisions were made, and in 1645 they granted him liberty to take up as much land as he wanted, besides his division. Nothing is recorded to show that Mr. Prudden was paid a stated salary, and the probability is he was not, for the people "raised and gathered his crops, and carted his fire wood."
The town voted Mr. Newton, September 9, 1659, provided he would settle with them, the house and home lot belonging to them, 14 acres of meadow, and as much upland as he should want. In 1681 a committee was appointed to look up and record to Mr. Newton all the lands granted him by the town.
The town granted to Mr. Andrew, March 4, 1685, with the proviso that he settled, eight acres in Elders' meadow, (Great meadow,) two by John Newton lot, ten near the Mill river, four at the West End, for pasture, and eight on the northeast side of Merwin's swamp. After he settled, other land was granted him. Mr. Andrew was always allowed a salary for a number of the first years, of £100, to be paid in provisions, and £12 for wood, out of the town treasury. In 1710 this salary was increased to £150. In 1715 they gave him the use of the sequestered lands of the church, during his life. In 1735 it was voted that £200 should be paid him annually during his life. Mr. Whittelsey's salary was to be £100 during the life of Mr. Andrew, and £200 afterwards. He had a settlement of £800 .* Mr. Wales' salary was £110,
* Paid in depreciated bills-worth probably about 8001. sterling.
-
.
104 .
HISTORY OF THE
and a settlement of £300. Mr. Lockwood's, £130, and £300 settlement. Mr. Pinneo's salary is $600 annually, during life.
C
D
to Ft
E
00
C
D
4
40 H
Ground plan of the first Meeting House.
A, the pulpit ; B, deacons' seat; C, guard seats; D, guard seats on the women's side of the house. The dots show the place where the guns were set. E, gallery stairs. The bell rope hung down in the middle aisle.
South view of the first Meeting House.
This society have had two meeting houses besides the one now standing. The first one was erected in 1641, and, as already stated, was to be forty feet square. It was not finished in some years. In 1697, it was voted to build a gallery across the west end. In 1700 it was voted that the guard seats should be raised, and a place provided back of the seats
- -
-
105
COLONY OF NEW HAVEN.
for the guard to set their arms. In 1705 it was voted to remove the guard seats to the women's side, where they were wont to stand, also to mend and right up the gallery seats, to make more room. It was also voted that the selectmen get the bell mended. In the same year it was voted that a floor be laid over head in the meeting house. In 1707 it was voted that the gallery be built on the north side of the house, and in 1709 that one be built on the south side, and that three long seats be built in each gallery. It was also voted that the meeting house should be seated according to the list, one head to each list. In seating it was voted that respect should be paid to aged persons, the wives of church officers and magistrates, chief military officers, and deaf persons. It seems that previously there had been some contention about seats- and it was then voted, that whosoever should be convicted, be- fore a justice of the peace, of needlessly setting out of the seat they are regularly seated in, in the meeting house, shall forfeit the sum of five shillings, to be paid into the town treasury. In 1718 it was voted to secure the turret by covering the floor thereof with sheet lead. In 1719 the meeting house was again seated. It appears that the seats were "long seats," that the men and women sat on different sides, and that both were seated. In 1720 it was voted to make a new door out of the west end of the house, for a passage out of each gallery into the street. In 1723 it was voted, that no addition shall be made to the meeting house, and that the selectmen need not cover it anew.
The second meeting house of the society was built in 1727 and '28. It was 80 feet in length, 65 in width, and three stories high. It had two tiers of galleries, the upper tier being de- signed for the slaves and other blacks to sit in. The steeple was at the west end of the house, and ninety-five feet high. There were three entrances to the house-the steeple door, the front door next the street and opposite the pulpit, and the east end door next the river. At this door were high semicircular steps. The house was at first laid out into long steps, but in about 1775 they were taken up and pews made. In 1803 the house was arched and the upper gallery shut up. The plan of the house, it is said, was drawn by Governor Law .*
* The house was first seated in 1729. The five lists of estate on which money was raised to build the house, were added, and people were seated thereby, consideration being had to aged people and the civil authority.
.
.
106
HISTORY OF THE
In 1740 it was voted to purchase a new bell, of about 600lbs. weight. the old one being cracked .* In the same year, Ebe- nezer Parmilee set up a brass clock, which, proving to be a good one, the town, two years after, paid for. The people of Amity, Mr. Jesse Lambert, and Mr. John Clark, were excu- sed from paying anything toward buying it, on account of the distance they lived from it. In 1744 it was voted to have a new weathercock made and set on the spire. This meeting house was demolished in the spring of 1822, when the present one was built. Capt. Michael Peck was the architect. In 1825 the town employed Barzilla Davidson to make a new (wooden) clock,t and set up in the new meeting house, at an expense of $260, besides the good old brass wheel clock, which he took at 40 dollars. This, it is said, he set up and sold in New York for $600.
The second Presbyterian society in Milford originated in 1741, and was begun by seceders from the first church. Upon the settlement of Mr. Whittelsey there was a respecta- ble minority opposed to it. After hearing him preach a couple of years, instead of becoming reconciled, the minority became the more disaffected and uneasy. They complained that they were not edified with Mr. Whittelsey's ministry, and that he preached Arminima doctrine. In order to obtain re- lief they brought the affair a number of times before the "ec- clesiastical association," and petitioned to be constituted a separate church; but they were vigorously opposed by the major party, and " the debates were conducted with so much passion that it is said fists were doubled." .Failing to obtain relief from the consociation, the minor party "declared their sober dissent from the established church, and professed them- selves to be Presbyterians, according to the church of Scot. land," and agreed, on the 30th of November, 1741, to set up a separate assembly, in case thirty heads of families would unite for that purpose. Accordingly, on the first Sunday in December, a public meeting was opened by them, at the house
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.