USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > History of the Colony of New Haven, Before and After the Union with Connecticut: Containing a. > Part 16
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The central part of West Haven parish is three and a half miles from the state-house in New Haven. The first clergy- man in this parish was the Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson, who was ordained in 1720. "In October, 1722, he professed himself an Episcopalian, and left his people. He was missionary in Strat- ford many years, and afterwards president of New York col- lege." Mr. Jonathan Arnold was the second minister at West Haven, and was ordained in 1725 or '26. About the year 1734, he declared for Episcopacy. Having officiated as mis- sionary at Derby and West Haven three or four years, he removed to Staten Island. Mr. Timothy Allyn was the third minister : he was ordained in 1738, and dismissed in 1742. The next pastor, Mr. Nathan Birdseye, was ordained in 1742. He was succeeded by Mr. Noah Williston, the fifth pastor, who was ordained in 1760.
West Haven Green, the spot on which the Congregational meeting-house and Episcopal church are situated, is said for- merly to have been marshy ground, and covered with alder- bushes. It is now uncommonly pleasant in its appearance ; and, although the churches have an antiquated aspect, there is an air of neatness and still retirement about this place, that is seldom equaled.
About a mile south of the green, is Savin Rock, a place of some resort during the warm season of the year. It was at this place the British forces landed, when they invaded New Haven, in July, 1779. Adjutant Campbell was killed about one mile and a half north of the church. He was possessed of an uncommonly fine personal appearance, and his death was much regretted by the British ; but in the hurry and con- fusion of war, he was left behind, and was buried near the spot where he fell. In this parish, about twenty years ago, · a deposit of galena and silver was found on land (now owned by Mr. John Lambert) lying on the old country road. It was discovered by David Lambert, Esq., the father of the present owner, by digging in a fox-burrow. He obtained a consider- able quantity of ore, but having a large farm which required
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his attention, he did not long continue to work it. What was taken was a surface accumulation ; but before the digging was relinquished, a vein of the ore was traced into the adjoining rocks. Copper has lately been found in the same range of rocks, by the New York Mining Company. The ore raised is chiefly yellow copper pyrites, associated with variegated copper, and faint arborizations of native copper. It is found in a quartz vein, near a foot in width, intersecting chlorite trap. Whether the vein leads to a bed of the ore, remains for future investigation to determine. Copper pyrites are found in simi- lar circumstances near the three mile gate, on the Milford turnpike. Asbestos is abundant in the serpentine rocks which abound in the southern section of the township.
GUILFORD.
GUILFORD is situated on Long Island Sound, 16 miles east of New Haven, and 36 south from Hartford : bounded north by Durham, west by Branford, and east by Madison. The settlement of the town was commenced in 1639, by Mr. Henry Whitefield* and congregation. They were a part of Messrs. Eaton and Hopkins' company, and came with them to New Haven, and abode there for more than a year after their arri- val. They were present at the agreement at Mr. Newman's barn, and many of them were signers of the articles. On that occasion it was agreed, that "The whole lands called Menuncatuck should be purchased for them and their heirs, and that they should settle a plantation there, in combination with New Haven." Accordingly the purchase was made, and on the 29th of September, 1639,t articles of agreement were drawn to the following effect : " Ist. That the sachem squaw of Menuncatuck is the sole owner, possessor, and in- heritor of all the lands lying between Rutawoo and Agico- mock rivers : 2d. That the said sachem squaw, with the con- sent of the Indians there, inhabitants, (who are all, together with herself, to remove from thence,) doth sell unto Henry Whitefield, Robert Kitchell, William Leete, William Critten-
* Mr. Whitefield was a celebrated minister from Oakley, in Surrey, England.
t Oct. 10th, New Style, which day should be observed in 1839, as the era of the settlement.
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SOUTHERN VIEW IN GUILFORD, (CENTRAL PART.) The centre building in the engraving is the Congregational Church; the building at the left is the Academy, and the next the Town House .- p. 160.
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den, John Bishop, and John Caffinge, in trust for the body of planters, all the lands lying within the aforesaid limits of Ru- tawoo and Agicomock rivers." The 3d article specifies the payment. Signed by the sachem squaw, " her mark," Henry Whitefield, in the name of the rest. Witnesses-John Hig- ginson, Robert Newman.
According to the agreement, the Indians shortly after left the place. The tradition is, that they removed to the west- ward, where Branford and East Haven now are.
The planters made another purchase (some time after) of Uncas, sachem of the Mohegan Indians, which consisted of the tract lying between Agicomock river and Tuxispaug, (a pond contiguous to the meeting-house in Madison,) from which it appears, that the East river was the western limit of Uncas' jurisdiction. The remaining part of the town, to Hammonas- sett river, Mr. Fenwick, of Saybrook, gave the town, on con- dition that they would accommodate Mr. Whitefield (who was his particular friend) with land in the town agreeable to his mind. There were some small purchases made of particular Indians, within the limits of the township, who claimed a right to particular parts.
As soon as the first purchase was made, the planters, before winter, removed to New Haven, and settled on their lands ; and in remembrance of the country of their nativity, to which they were bound by ten thousand dear recollections, they called the town Guilford.
The names of all the first planters are not known. The first list of names recorded is as late as the year 1650. The forty-six persons following are enrolled as first planters :
Henry Whitefield, Samuel Desborough, John Higginson, William Leete, Robert Kitchell, William Crittenden, Thomas Jordan, George Hubbard, John Hoadley, Thomas Jones, William Dudley, Thomas Cook, Henry Kingsnoth, John Stone, William Hall, Richard
William Stone, 14*
Benjamin Wright, John Johnson,
Samuel Blatchley,
Stephen Bishop,
William Horeman,
George Highland, John Parmelin, Senr.,
Thomas Betts, Richard Guttridge, Richard Bristow John Parmelin, Jr., Jasper Stillwell, George.Bartlet, John Scranton, John Fowler, Rdward Benton, Abraham Cruttenden,
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John Evarts, John Bishop, Jr., John Sheder, Thomas French,
John Bishop, Senr., Francis Bushnell, Henry Dowd, George Chatfield,
Thomas Stephens, ·
Edward
John Stephens,
Abraham Cruttenden, Jr.
It is evident that this list does not embrace all the original names : for instance, Mr. Caffinge, one of the committee who made the first purchase from the Indians, is not mentioned .* It is also evident that all of the list were not original purcha- sers. Hubbard and Fowler were two of the first planters of Milford. Hubbard, before he went to Milford, lived at Weth- ersfield. Highland Boreman, Benton, and Betts, were also from Wethersfield.
It was agreed between the planters, "that all and every one should pay his proportionable part or share towards all the charges and expenses for purchasing, settling, surveying, and carrying on the necessary public affairs of the plantation, and that all divisions of the land should be made in exact pro- portion to the sums they advanced and expended."
The lands were left in the hands of the six purchasers, in trust, until such time as the church should be established, into whose hands they might commit the fee of the land, to be properly distributed and divided among the planters. They chose four of their principal planters, to whom they agreed to commit the full exercise of all civil power for administer- ing justice and preserving peace among the planters, whose power was to continue until the church appeared in form, when it was to end. As this was an affair of so much im- portance, their church was fully gathered as soon as practi- cable ; and on the 19th of April, 1643, the records say that . the feoffees in trust, formally in writing, resigned the lands purchased by them to the church, and those persons to whom the civil power had been entrusted, at the same time formally resigned their authority. It was not the design of the plant- ers thereby to make the church properly the owner of the fee ; but as they were a regular visible body, who had power to act and order, so the lands were entrusted with them for the plant- ers, who were tenants in common, according to their respect-
* The tradition concerning him is, that he soon died, leaving no heir, or memorial of his name, but a small island in the salt meadow near the sea, yet called Caffing's Island.
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ive charges. The church was as the anchor of a ship, to hold all sure and steadfast.
Soon after this, the planters, who were chiefly church mem- . bers, made regular divisions of the lands, according to the ori- ginal agreement, each one receiving by lot such a portion as he was entitled to by the money which he had advanced for the public use. These divisions were under two restrictions : first, that no planter should put in more than £500 in stock, without permission from the freemen ; secondly, that no per- son should sell or alien, in any manner, their share or any part of it, or purchase the share or any part of the share allot- ted or set off to another in the divisions of land, unless by the consent of the community. This last they strictly observed, and the effect was to prevent any from engrossing too much . land, and to keep out of the plantation all persons not fully approved. Several persons were punished by fines and whip- ping for transgressing this agreement.
The first planters, whether gentlemen or yeomen, were al- most all of them husbandmen by profession. There were but few mechanics, and no blacksmith among them, and it was with much trouble and expense that they obtained one. Be- fore they removed to New Haven, they were for some time at a stand whether to settle in Milford or Guilford ; but at length they chose the last mentioned place. As they came from Surrey and Kent, they selected for their plantation lands as near like those as could be found, viz., low, flat, moist land, such as that part of the town is near their first landing. South of the town plot, towards the sea, lies what is now called the Great Plain. This, with some of the points of land adjoining the sea, which were cleared by the Indians, were rich and fer- tile, and, by the skill and industry of the inhabitants, afforded quickly a comfortable subsistence for themselves and families. To these lands for many years the planters chiefly confined their labors. They indeed early made a law, that every planter should clear up annually half an acre of new land. This, in their method, was a hard piece of labor. It was all done by hand, by digging and stubbing up the trees and small growth by the roots, although they spoiled the land by it. But they knew of no other way, and for the non-performance of this town order there was a severe penalty. It was a long time before the present mode of clearing new land was practiced. The first one who attempted it was John Scranton. He cleared about an acre on a hill, by girdling the trees and burn-
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ing the underbrush. This he sowed with three pecks of wheat. The inhabitants were amazed, first at his courage, that he should venture so far (about two miles) to labor ; then at his folly, in thinking a crop of wheat could be raised in such a way. But they were much astonished to find that he reaped from the ground at harvest twenty bushels of the best wheat. Experience soon convinced them that his method was the most judicious ; and being generally adopted, the woodlands soontbecame fields of wheat.
As this plantation was connected with New Haven, they carefully conformed to the agreement in Mr. Newman's barn, in all their affairs, civil and religious. Like their breth. ren at New Haven, they adopted and acted upon the same principle,-"that it is of more importance to save and be governed by the steeple than the state." They adopted Mr. Davenport's opinion in forming their church, and began it upon " seven pillars." The names of these seven persons were, Messrs. Henry Whitefield, John Higginson, Samuel Des- borough, William Leete, Jacob Sheefe, John Mipham, and John Hoadley. The manner of gathering and forming their church was this, viz. : a doctrine of faith was drawn up and assented unto as the foundation of their connection ; and then they mutually entered into covenant, first with God to be his people in Jesus Christ, then with one another to walk together in attending all the duties of the christian religion, and enjoy- ment of all the ordinances that belonged to a particular visi- ble church. Their doctrine of faith was short, comprehen- sive, and highly Calvinistical. It was of similar form to Mil- ford church covenant. After the foundation was thug laid, the rest of the members, who were the most of the planters, were joined to these first seven, and other members were ad- mitted afterwards, as they desired to be. Like New Haven, in admitting new members they required a relation of their experiences. Their church officers were pastor, teacher, and deacons. It does not appear that they had ruling elders.
Mr. Henry Whitefield, their first pastor and minister, was Episcopally ordained in England, and there is no record of his having been re-ordained in Guilford. He was an eloquent preacher, a good scholar, of gentlemanly manners, and was truly the father of the plantation. He loved his flock ten- derly, was extremely beloved by them, and his advice "they followed peaceably in love." After continuing with them for about 12 years, Mr. Whitefield returned to England, and
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left the pastoral charge of his people with John Higginson, (his son-in-law,) their teacher. He was son of Mr. John Higginson, the first minister of Salem. He preached first at the fort at Saybrook, as chaplain, and about 1643 removed to Guilford, was one of " wisdoms' seven pillars," and assist- ed Mr. Whitefield in preaching until he left the place. Mr. Higginson was never ordained as pastor, but took the charge of the church as teacher for about twelve years. He then determined to go to England to Mr. Whitefield : and accord- ingly shipped himself and family and sailed, but meeting with bad weather the ship put into Salem for a harbor .. Going ashore to his father's people, they wanting a pastor, he was prevailed upon to preach, then to unship his family and goods and set- tle with them. He was ordained their pastor, lived and died there, and left a numerous posterity.
After Mr. Higginson removed, the town was in a very un- settled state for about twenty years. Within that time a num- ber of persons ministered to them as teachers, one of whom, Mr. Bowers, had a house and land in the town. He removed to Derby at the settlement of that town, and was ordained their pastor. During the headless state of the church, the people of Guilford fell into great confusion by reason of dif- ference of religious opinion, and many of the planters re- moved to Kennilworth,* which was then settling, particularly Dr. Rossiter, Messrs. Meigs, Stephens, Parmelin, and Chat- field. After the town became quiet, by the settlement of a pastor, some of these returned to Guilford, among whom were Dr. Rossiter and Mr. Meigs. In 1665, Mr. Joseph Eliot, son of John Eliot, the celebrated apostle of Roxbury, was called and ordained in the town. Under his successful ministry, all difficulties were amicably settled, and the church and town greatly flourished. He died on the 26th of May, 1694. He was succeeded by Mr. Thomas Ruggles, also from Roxbury, who was ordained (after preaching about a year as a candidate) in the fall of 1695. He continued their pastor 33 years, till his death, which took place June 1, 1728. His eldest son, Mr. Thomas Ruggles, was his successor, ordained March 26, 1729. In 1757, Mr. Amos Fowler was settled as his colleague. In May, 1703, upon petition of the inhabitants, East Guilford was constituted a parish, and Mr. John Hart, of Farmington, settled with them, in 1707.
* Now erroneously called Killingworth,
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The general assembly, by desire of the inhabitants, set off another society from the first, by the name of North Guil- ford, and in June, 1725, Mr. Samuel Russel, from Branford, was ordained their pastor. Within the limits of the first, the assembly made another, by the name of the fourth society, in May, 1733. Their first pastor was Mr. Edmund Ward, of Guilford. And in May, 17-, another society was made in the northeast part of the town, partly out of the first society and partly from East Guilford, and called North Bristol So- , ciety. Mr. Richard Ely, from Lyme, was ordained their first minister, July 8th, 1757.
In the year 1743, a number of inhabitants of the first so- ciety, declared for the Church of England, and, in 1745, erected a church building on the east side of the public square ; and, in 1748, a number from North Guilford also de -. clared for the church, and soon after built a house for their worship. These churches at first suffered much from the intolerant spirit of the times.
In forming the civil government of the plantation, the ped: ple were divided into two classes-freemen and planters. The church members were all freemen, and they only were allowed the privilege of free suffrage. They were under oath agreeable to their plan of government, which they call- ed the "oath of fidelity." Out of this number were chosen their representatives and all other public officers, and. they alone had the privilege of voting for the general officers of the jurisdiction. The other class comprehended all the in- habitants of the town who composed their town meetings. These town meetings were denominated general courte, and all who were qualified by age or estate were allowed to'act in them. At these meetings were managed all the common af- fairs of the plantation, such as the disposal of lands and the enacting of bye-laws. Town officers were also chosen, as a marshal, secretary, surveyor of highways, &c. Besides these general meetings, a particular court was held for the administration of justice, much resembling our justice's court of the present day. These were held quarterly, on the first Thursday of February, May, August, and November, and oftener if necessary. The magistrate or assistant sat chief in these courts. But the deputies, or commissioners, chosen yearly by the freemen for that purpose, sat with him to assist and counsel him. From the judgment of this court, appeals
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could be made to the court of assistants, at New Haven, but generally their judgment was final and decisive.
Besides these courts, was held for a time a court of probate ; but the power of settling estates was soon transferred to the court of magistrates of the jurisdiction.
Military order and discipline were early established in the plantation, and watch and ward kept day and night for secu- rity against assaults from the Indians. Their charge was very strict, and the punishments for neglect of duty were se- vere, and rigidly executed. Many of the houses were sur- rounded with palisades set deep in the ground, and a guard of soldiers was appointed every Sunday, who went armed to meeting. This guard was continued for the period of about sixty years. Thus all the affairs of the town were regularly and carefully conducted for the safety, peace, and prosperity of the plantation.
The town being from the first a component part of New Haven government, was allowed an assistant, or magistrate. Mr. Samuel Desborough, whd, next to Mr. Whitefield, was esteemed the first and richest of the planters, was the first magistrate. After serving the colony in that capacity about twelve years, he returned to England, in company with Mr. Whitefield. After the restoration of King Charles II., he was a subject of royal favor and political distinction, and at one time was a member of the privy council.
Upon .Mr .. Desborough's removal, William Leete, Esq., was chosen assistant. He came from England very young, but was a person of great promise. He was by profession a lawyer; and being register of the bishop's court in Cam- brige, he was so much offended and disgusted by the corrup- tions of the church, that he resigned his office and emigrated with Whitefield and his company. He was an excellent wri- ter for the times, and for many years served as clerk or sec- retary of the town, (all the ancient records being written in his hand,) and had a good knowledge of law, and also of sur- veying and drafting .* He was deputy-governor, and goy.
* Being a staunch friend of Cromwell, and an opponent of the Stuarts, he aided the regicides to escape the pursuivants of Charles II., and for a time he secreted them in the cellar of his storehouse. The lights seen twinkling in the base of that building, and the sounds heard by people, induced a belief that it was haunted-an idea the governor is said to have encouraged, for the greater rity of the fugitives.
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ernor of New Haven colony, and after the union was govern- or of Connecticut ; he was elected May 11, 1676. He soon after removed to Hartford, and there he died and was buried. His eldest son, John Leete, was the first English child born in Guilford. The governor left a large family, and his de- scendants are very numerous,* many of whom yet reside in and about Guilford. The following is a fac-simile of Gov. Leete's signature :
ihm JEEFE 2
The following is a view of Gov. Leete's house, which stood about 60 rods west of the present Congregational church :
View of Governor Leete's House.
The third magistrate in the town was Mr. Andrew Leete, the governor's second son. He married a daughter of Mr. Jordan, one of the original planters, and possessed his share in the plantation after he returned to England.t Mr. Leete, like his father, was a worthy man, and it is the tradition, that the plan adopted to secure the charter, when upon the point of being given up to Sir Edmund Andros, originated from
* His great-grandson, Andrew Leete, being a royalist at the time of the revolutionary war, at the close of it settled at St. John's, Nova Scotia.
t He went with Mr. Whitefield.
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him. It was kept in his house till called for by the governor and company. He was a noted military officer, and took an active part in the early wars.
The next magistrate in Guilford, after Mr. Leete, was Mr. Josiah Rossiter, son of Dr. Rossiter, and after him, Mr. Abraham Fowler, son of John Fowler, Jr.
The first planters were mostly men of considerable prop- erty, but Mr. Whitefield was considered the wealthiest indi- vidual among them. He was possessed of a large estate, all of which he laid out and spent for the good of the plantation.
Ancient House at Guilford, Conn.
At his own charge and expense, in 1640, he built a large, firm, and, for those days, a handsome stone house, upon land allotted him for the purpose, in a commanding situation, having a full view of Long Island Sound before it. In case of necessity it was designed to answer for a fort. It is yet standing, is in good repair, and it is no mean specimen of an- cient architecture. The walls are thick and massive, and the cement in which the stone is laid is now harder than the stone itself. The erection of this edifice must have been a work of great labor, as the stone of which it is constructed was brought on hand-barrows from a ledge more than a fourth of a mile distant. For their transportation a causeway was constructed across a marsh, the remains of which are yet to be seen. This is doubtless the oldest house now standing in the United States. The first marriage which took place in the town was in this house .* The couple were married by Mr. Desborough.
* It is the tradition, that the marriage supper was pork and peas. 15
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Mr. Whitefield, in consequence of his own personal expense in purchasing the plantation, and Mr. Fenwick's gift of the eastern part of the township, had a large and very valuable allotment of some of the best lands in the township allowed him. Upon his returning to England, he offered all his es- tate to the planters upon very low terms, but partly from ina- bility to purchase, and chiefly from their persuasion that in a short time they should all follow their pastor, they did not make the purchase, but when it was too late they repented their refusal. After his return home, he sold his estate to Major Thomson, to whose heirs it descended.
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