USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > History of the Colony of New Haven, Before and After the Union with Connecticut: Containing a. > Part 12
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The town has always been well supplied with mills. As already remarked, Fowler's mill was the first mill erected in New Haven colony. It was of such importance to the com- munity, that upon its being injured by a freshet, in December, 1645, it was voted in general court, "that all the town.should help Mr. Fowler repair the mill, and he was to call for them, each man a day, till he should have gone through the town, whenever he needed aid. If he went not through the town in one year, the same liberty was granted till he had gone through." This mill is yet of much utility to the public, and at present is the best one in the town. It is owned by Mr. Joseph Fowler, of the sixth generation from the first builder. Perhaps it would be no injustice to the owner, or to the com- munity, if the part of the first order concerning this mill, was again to be enforced, " that the brethren, of five judges, should erfint what toll he should take."
The mill establishment near the meeting house was com- menced in 1675. The following are the oldest records concerning it :
1 A town meeting, Sept. 29, 1764. It was propounded to the town by Major Treat, Elder Buckingham, Lieut. Fowler, and Thomas Hayes, to build a fulling mill and saw mill in ye most convenient place near ye island in ye town, and to have ye liberty to make use of all sorts of timber, for the use of ye inhabitants of ye town, and yt if they sell any sawen timber, it shall be of timber taken upon yr own ground or purchase of other men-which was granted to ym by ye town.
A town meeting, Dec. 7, 1702. The town desires ye owners of ye saw mill to set up a grist mill somewhere near ye saw mill, with two sett of stones, one for English and the other for Indian grain, (corn) and a good boult, so yt men, if they wish, may boult yr own flour.
By this order it appears that bolts in mills at these times were turned by hand, and that it was customary for the own- er of the meal to bolt it.
The flour mill is at present in good order ; the saw mill, in 1836, was taken down, and a woolen factory erected in its place, by Messrs. Townsend Dickinson & Co.
The mill seat by the side of the turnpike, on Beaver river, was first improved for a fulling mill.
At a town meeting, May ye 27th, 1689. Capt. Samuel Eells, Timothy Baldwin, and Samuel Couch, proposing to the town to
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have Iferty to build a fulling mill upon ye Beaver brook, within ye common fence .on Timothy Baldwin's land, doe promise if ye stopping of ye water. by ye dam be so that it is not passable in ye highway for carts and horses, they will make the way passable by such a bridge a's shall be necessary for carts and horses, and main- tain ye same soe long as ye mill and dam shall stand. The town, by a full vote, granted ye request upon ye conditions proposed.
Since the revolutionary war this mill site has been owned by David Prince and his sons, and a flour mill kept in Opera- tion there till within about ten years past. It is now unim- proved, but so good a water-privilege will not long be suffer- ed to remain useless.
The third grist mill erected in the town was on the East river, where the Quarry saw mill now stands. The following is the record of the town grant for said mill :"
December 23, 1706. Granted to Mr. John Plumm, Senr., liberty to sett up a grist mill at ye East river, below ye country road, pro- vided he do it within twelve months, and at the same time, make a good causeway and bridge for foot, cart, and horse, over ye East river. He and his heirs and assigns are to keep the same in good repair, and upon neglect to keep ym in such repair, upon warning given by the surveyors, he or they shall forfeit this grant to the town, and further, this town people's corn is to be ground be- fore that of strangers.
This mill seat is now owned by the New Haven and Milford Marble Company, where they have works for sawing stone. The following is the record of the grant for Gulf mill :
February 18, 1713-14. Voted that the town hereby grants the privilege of the stream at the Gulf, and all conveniences for erect- ing a mill, to such inhabitants of ye town as shall within eight days after this date enter yr names to this vote, or a copy of ye same in the town clerk's office, on condition that they buid a mill within twelve months, each person to bear their proportion of ye cost, and that they or their heirs grind for the inhabitants of the town before other persons who may happen to want grinding done at ye same time, and yt they make good all damages done the highway or meadows adjoining the Indian river, by reason of. ye mill, so yt no just complaint be made to ye town.
The company consisted of about 40 persons, as may be seen on Lib. 2, of town acts.
The Gulf mill, now standing, was built about 50 years since. It is a tide mill, is an unprofitable establishment, has passed through many different hands, and is now idle.
Considerable attention appears to Have been early given in the town to trade and commerce. The first merchants were
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Alexander Bryan, and his son, Richard Bryan, and William East. As early as 1640, " Ensign Bryan sent a vessel to the Bay, (Boston,) laden with beaver, otter, and other precious furs, and in return brought back such goods as were needed by the planters for their own use, and for trade with the In- dians."" In May, 1650, the town made him a grant of a piece ofland, on which to set a warehouse, (store,) three score feet long, and twenty feet broad. This was on the west corner of Broad street and Dock lane. In the same year he built a wharf for the unlading of goods, a short way below the mill, at the end of Dock lane. This he resigned to the town, in 1653, on condition that they should always keep it in good repair. Previous to the construction of this wharf Mr. Fowler had a small one above, a few rods below his mill. On the 13th of December, 1655, "the town gave Richard Bryan leave to build a warehouse near unto his father's, on the other side of the highway, 30 feet one way, and 18 feet another." Serg. William East had a warehouse between Ensign Bryan's and the house of Miles Merwin, the tanner. These three mer- chants, in 1675, owned two brigs and a sloop. The brigs made voyages to the West Indies, and the sloop was kept in the coasting trade to Boston. The exports to the West Indies were staves, cattle, and horses, beef, pork, flour, and corn meal. In return were brought rum and melasses, and Euro- pean goods. About this time, according to traditon, rum and melasses were carried from Milford to New Haven. The fur bought of the Indians was principally sent to Boston, and ex- changed for dry goods. Ensign Bryan's credit stood so high in Boston, it is said, that his notes of hand were as current as bank bills at the present day. . In 1670, John Maltbee traded in the town. In 1685, Nicholas Camp built a warehouse at the West End, concerning which is the following record : " November 27, 1686. The town gives to Nicholas Camp the ground his new warehouse stands upon, he having ac- knowledged his irregularity in setting it up without the town's consent."
In 1696, Mungo Nisbett was admitted an inhabitant, and granted liberty of free trade and commerce in the town. He
* It appears by the New Haven records, that by profession he was a lawyer, he being attorney for Roger Ludlow, of Fairfield, in an action of slander brought'against him by Thomas Staples, for accu- sing his wife of witchcraft.
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carried on his trade by the way of New York. In 1714, Samuel Clark, merchant, bought Richard Bryan's warehouse, on the east side of the highway, for £16. The land on which it stood, was 2r. 13ft. in length, and 31} feet wide. About 1740, Louis Lyron, a Frenchman, was an eminent merchant in the town. Peter Pierett was a merchant in the town about 1730. He first built the wharf now called Town wharf, and sent a ship to Bordeaux, in France, after a cargo of wine. She made a good voyage, and got safe back as far as New. port, Rhode Island, but in attempting to pass through Fisher's Island Sound was wrecked, and her valuable cargo all lost. John Gibbs traded in about 1754, and sent vessels to Holland. In 1790, Charles Pond & Co. were engaged in commer- cial business, and in 1793 they built the wharf at the Gulf. The last "seafaring business" carried on in the town, was by Miles, Strong, & Miles. With their heavy failure, in 1821, terminated all commercial enterprise in the town. All the trade of the place at present is with New York, two little market boats running up and down weekly. There are now in the town about a dozen storekeepers, who trade in country produce and other articles.
Ship building was formerly carried on in the town to con- siderable extent. As early as 1690 it is recorded, that Be- thuel Langstaff built a brig of 150 tons, for Alexander Bryan, and in 1695, another for Elisha Bennill, of Boston. The Sea Flower was launched in 1717, owned by Richard Bryan. From that time until 1818, sea vessels and coasters were frequently built, some for merchants in the town, and others for New York and Boston people. The last vessel built in Milford, was an East India ship, named the "Isabella," launched in 1818, and sold in New York. The old ship yard is on the east side of the harbor, a few rods below Fowler's mills. Vessels were also formerly built on the Hous- atonnuc river, at Wheeler's farm.
The first planters of the town were mostly farmers, and for a few of the first years there appears to have been a great want of mechanics. George Clark, Jun., was a carpenter, Nathaniel Baldwin a cooper, and John Baldwin a tailor. Besides these, it is not known that there were any artisans. A blacksmith was much needed, and the settlers at first had to go to New Haven to get their iron work done. In 1643, they obtained one from Boston, by the name of John Smith. In the old records of grants of land made to him, he is called
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John Smith, the smith. He had his shop by the side of the river, on the enclosed spot east of the Baptist meeting house. Another early blacksmith in the town, was Ephraim Strong. In 1646, it was "voted, that Edward Adams should have a house lot in the Mill Neck, if he will follow his trade in the town, of dressing leather, and also buck skins, for breeches and vests." Miles Merwin was also a tanner, and had his tan works a few rods west of Bryan's wharf. They are now owned by his descendant, Albert Merwin. Henry Tomlin- son, in 1652, and Richard Holbrook, in 1658, set up their business of weaving in the town. In 1720, it was " voted, that Lewis Wilkinson have liberty to set up a shop on the Island, between the saw mill and Meeting House bridge, to carry on the clothing business." The most he could do was to full and color cloth. There was no fulling mill in the plantation till 1675, and before that time much cloth was worn without fulling. It was usually colored before it was wove. Home-made cloths were not generally sheared and pressed till since the revolution. A malt maker, brewer,* soapboiler, and barber, were in olden times considered necessary in every community, and such there were in this town, till about 1750. There was no saddler in the town for the first 50 years, and saddles being very scarce, sheep skins were used as a substi- tute. It was remarked by the Stratford people, " that if the Devil should go ino Milford in the shape of a lamb, they would skin him to get his hide for a saddle." The leading mechan- ical business at present in the town, is carriage making, in its various branches, shoe manufacturing, and coopering.
The ancient boundary lines between Milford and the ad- joining towns, were run and established at different times, as follows : Between Milford and New Haven, in April, 1672, by a committee appointed for the purpose, of six from New Haven and nine from Milford. Between Milford and Derby,
* As hops were an indispensable ingredient in making beer, the cultivation of them was particularly encouraged in former times. On this subject the following is recorded :
" A Generall Court, October 24, 1651. Considering the pressing need for hopps, the town grants to Edward Wooster an acre, more or less, lying up the Mill river, to be improved for a hopp garden, according to his request. This is not to pay rates while improved for hopps."
Serg. Camp, some years after, had a grant for a hop garden, of as much land as he should want, beside Paugusset river, (the Housatormuc,) above Wolf harbor.
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in May, 1680, by committees of three from Derby and four from Milford. Between Milford and Waterbury, in April, 1738, by a committee of two from Waterbury and three from Milford. Bounds were placed in these lines every 80 rods, as the law required.
The town received a patent from the general court, dated May 25, 1685. It was given to " Robert Treat, Esq., Mr. Richard Bryan, Capt. Samuel Eells, Capt. John Beard, Mr. George Clark, Mr. Thomas Clark, and Lieut. Samuel Bur- well, and the rest of the inhabitants of the township of Milford," ratifying and confirming them in the full possession of their territory. It was signed by Robert Treat, governor, and per order of the general court, by John Allyn, secretary.
The making further purchases after this patent was given, and not being satisfied with it because the name of each free- holder was not inserted, they petitioned for a new one, which might comprehend all their territory, and in which the propri- etors might be individually mentioned. The following is the record of the town-proceeding in the business :
January 26, 1712-13. Voted yt there shall be a Patent endeav- oured to be procured of ye next Generall Court, for all ye lands within ye bounds of Milford, with every proprietor's name in it, to every one according to yr severall rights in ye Records.
Jonathan Law, Esq., Major Samuel Eells, Serg. Zachariah Baldwin, Ensign Samuel Gunn, Capt. Joseph Treat, Ensign George Clark, and Mr. Samuel Clark, Jun., were chosen a committee to take care about the drawing up of the said patent.
The following is an accurate synopsis of the instrument :
L. S. TO ALL PEOPLE to whom these presents shall come: The Governour and Company of ye English Colony of Connecticut, in New England, in America, send Greeting. KNOW YE that whereas all the lands contained within these abutments; viz., the Sea South, with the dividing lines between the towns of New Haven and Mil- ford, from the middle of the mouth of Oyster river to Beacon Hill river, Easterly; with Beacon Hill river, Northerly; and on the Westward side thereof with the lines which divide between the Towns of Milford and Derby, and with the middle of the Housa- tonnuc river, were the greater part purchased of the Indian, native proprietors, before the Letters Patent of Connecticut was obtained from King Charles the 2d, of blessed memory, and possessed without interruption for seventy-six years and upwards ; and that other parts since lawfully purchased of the Indian proprietors, by the inhabit- ants of Milford, viz. : the lands north of Bladen's brook were added to the township, in 1693, by the Governour and Company since the
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grant of the Charter of Connecticut-and the proprietors of said Milford now moving to us the Governour and Company, for the more sure making and firm establishment of their rights to said lands, whether holden by them in Fee simple or Fee tail, or as Tenants in common, joint Tenants or Parceners ;
Now KNOW YE: That we the said Governour and Company in General Court assembled, by virtue of the LETTERS PATTENT to us given, under the great seal of England, by our Sovereign Lord, King Charles the second, of blessed memory, do by these presents fully and absolutely, for us and our successors, give, grant, remise, and release, and altogether for us and our successors do quit claim, ratify, approve, and confirm in the quiet, peaceable, and firm seizen and possession of Major Samuel Eells, Mr. Samuel Andrew, Mr. Robert Treat, Mr. Jonathan Law, Mr. Thomas Clark, Ensign George Clark, Ensign Jobamah Gunn, Capt. Joseph Treat, Lieut. Joseph Peck, Lieut. Benjamin Fenn, Serg. Zachariah Baldwin, Mr. Samuel Clark, Jun., Ensign Samuel Gunn, and all and every person whose names are found in a schedule bereunto affixed, the whole right, title, and claim, which we have had or have in and to all the aforesaid tract of land bounded as aforesaid, with all the Islands within the said tract of land, viz. : Milford Island, Edward Wooster's Island, Whitman's Island, and Duck Island, with the woods, minerals, buildings, and all other appurtenances, and hered- itament; to them and every of them, their heirs and assigns forever, according to their several rights and shares, as may be seen by the records of the town of Milford, reference thereunto being had, To HAVE and TO HOLD to their own proper use and behoof forever ; To HOLD of her Majesty, her heirs and successors, according to the tenure of East Greenwich, in the County of Kent, in England, in free and common socage, yielding and paying therefor to her Majesty and successors forever; the fifth part of all the ore of Gold and Silver, which shall there, hereafter be gotten, in lieu of all ser- vices, duties, and demands whatsoever, according to the Charter granted to us, the Governour and Company.
In witness whereof we have caused the Seal of the Colony to be hereunto affixed, and the Governor and Secretary of the said Colony have hereunto subscribed their names, this twenty-second day of May, Anno Domini One Thousand seven hundred and thirteen- Anno-qr Regni Regina Magna Britannia Anna Duo decimo.
Gurdon Saltinstall .
Alor Wyllys Locry
Here follows, on the original patent, a list of the freeholders, 235 in number. The instrument was drawn by Jonathan
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Law, Esq., and written, by him, on a superroyal shNt. This is now in the possession of the author of this work. It is recorded in the state records, and Milford records, Book of Extracts, pages 43, 44, 45. The patent from the governor, under the charter, before the revolution, was considered by the people to be of much importance for the security of their lands, " should their titles be challenged by a governor-gene- ral, or other crown agent."
Some of the early planters of Milford purchased large tracts of land in other places. The following are some of these purchases : Richard Bryan, merchant, on the 13th of Nov., 1684, bought that part of Huntington, Long Island, called Eaton's Neck, on the eastward of Oyster Bay. It was sold to him by " William Jones, and Hannah, his wife, daughter of Gov. Eaton, in their own right, and for their brother, Theoph- ilus Eaton, Esq."* Three sons of Richard Bryan settled on this land, viz. : Alexander, John, and Ebenezer. Their de- scendants on Long Island, are now numerous. Other persons from Milford settled in Huntington, about the same time with' . the Bryans.
"Thomas Welch bought of Robert Lay, on the 6th of April, 1702, "for the sum of £11 in current silver of the colony, a thousand acre-right of land," being one fourth of a tract be- queathed to Robert Lay, father of the grantor, by Joshua, son of Uncas, sachem, in his last will. Thomas Welch also bought a large tract of land in Hebron.
Governor Treat owned a tract of 300 acres, lying near the southern bounds of Farmington. This will be noticed in an- other place.
Ensign George Clark, by liberty of the general court, bought of the Indians, on the 11th of August, 1703, for the sum of thirty-five shillings, a tract of land lying upon Sauga, tuck river, containing 150 acres. The deed was signed by Wohnane men, Moupow and Chipowe.
Richard Baldwin received as a gift of Toutonomac, a sag. amore, on the 23d of May, 1720, the tract of land com- monly called Hog meadow purchase, containing about 600 acres, lying partly in Milford and partly in Derby. A road was laid through it the next year.
* He never was in America, being born before the governor era- igrated. He lived in Ireland. His son Samuel, who lived in New Haven, died a young man, unmarried.
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Alexander Bryan, it appears from the records, owned a large tract in Southington. Jesse Lambert bought up the "ten acre accommodation rights," so called, lying in Wood- bury, and Col. Edward Allen owned an extensive tract there, called Kettle Town, from the purchase having been made of the Indians for a brass kettle.
Some of the settlers of the town left large estates in Eng- land, which remain unsold to the present time. Of these were Peter Prudden, of Edgeton, John Burwell, of Hampstead, (Hartfordshire,) Benjamin Fenn, Thomas Welch, Alexander Bryan, Richard Baldwin, and Jesse Lambert. The posterity of Mr. Prudden received the interest money and rent of his property left there, until within a few years.
The Indians were numerous at the settlement of the town. They had four considerable villages, one on the side of the Wepowage river, near the church, one at Poconoc point,* another about half a mile north of Washington bridge, and another at Turkey Hill. They had also two smaller villages, one at Burwell farm, near Oyster river, and one at Oronogda on the Housatonnuc. At the settlement north of Washington, bridge, they had a strong fortress, with flankers at the corn. ers, which was designed as a defense against the Mohawks. Asantaway was the name of the chief, and he and his tribe were tributaries to the Mohawks. It is said at the arrival of the English he had a wigwam on a rise of ground a few rods south of the Episcopal church, which was then called an island,t as the Wepowage, when the water was high, entirely surrounded it. His principal residence, however, was on the Housatonnuc. The planting-ground of the Indians, in the town, was Mill Neck land, which was cleared of trees, as were some other spots in the vicinity. At the settlement of the English, the Indians in the center of the place retired to In- dian Point, lying between East river and the Sound. Here they had a burying-ground, the traits of which are now to be seen.# This point they sold in 1680, when, it is probable,
* On this point so many shells were thrown by them on the land, that the fields, when plowed, are white with them, to the presenttime. t Liberty was granted to Thomas Sandford, in 1651, to set a barn on Sachem's island, above the mill; he to leave room for a bridge. # The house of Daniel Buckingham, Esq., stands on one side of this burying-ground. In digging the cellar of the house, a number of skeletons were exumed, one of which was near eight feet in length, They were buried in a horizontal position, and appeared to have been laid on a bed of charcoal, and covered with the same.
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most of them moved from it. Besides the burying place just mentioned, they had one at Old Fort, one at a place called Wigwam, north of Oronoque, and one at Turkey Hill. They buried their dead before the settlement of the English, in a sitting posture, and raised a small mound over the grave. They made doleful lamentations and howlings at their burials.
Indian implements are frequently found in the town, such as arrow-heads, stone axes, chisels and pipes. The Indians lived principally by hunting and fishing; in summer, they dried clams and oysters to boil with their "nasamp" in winter. Nasamp was corn pounded and made into homony. Parched corn made into homony, they called roucheage. Suckatash, (corn and beans,) both green and dry, was a favorite dish with them. This they also seasoned with clams. Bear meat was their favorite animal food, though all kinds were eaten by them.
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The circulating medium of the Indians was wampum, so called, or peage. It was of two sorts, white and black. The bMek was twice the value of the white. The English fixed ham, at three of the black for a penny, and six of the white. Both kinds were made of sea-shells, and were perforated in the center and strung. The Indians had nothing resembling letters or hieroglyphics to express language, and their idea of numbers was very limited. This is a specimen of their counting, to twenty :- ". Nukcoote, neese, nisk, yow, neparah, negutta, enada, showsuck, paskugit, piunck, nopun-coote, nopun-neese, nopun-nisk, nopun-yow, nopun-neparah, nopun- negutta, &c.
Though the Wepowage Indians were friendly to the settle- ment of the English, yet the planters took early precautionary measures for security in case they should become differently disposed. At their third general court, held Nov. 24th, 1640, it was voted, " that no man shall give or truck with any Indian, powder, shott, pistols or any sort of gunns, sword, dagger, ra- pier, iron, brass or any other weapon, or ammunition, as also Gold or Silver, upon ye pains of £5 loss, and if any under government, either child or servant, shall without their parents or master's knowledge break this order, he shall be liable to the public whip, or any other sentence of the court."
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