USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > History of the Colony of New Haven, Before and After the Union with Connecticut: Containing a. > Part 6
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The planters fenced as a common field "the neck," as they termed it, which is the present site of the new township, concerning which is recorded the following :
A Generall Court 4th of January 1639-40.
It is agreed by the towne and accordingly ordered by the Courte that the Neck shall be planted or sown for the term of seven years, and that John Brockett shall goe about laying it out, for which, and all differences betwixt party and party about ground formerly broke up and planted by English there, shall be arbitrated by indifferent men, which shall be chosen to that end.
It is ordered that some speedy course shall be taken to keep hogs out of the neck.
5*
54
HISTORY OF THE
It is ordered that a convenient way to the Hay place be left open for the towne.
It is ordered that no cattell belonging to this town shall go with out a keeper after the first of May next.
The first cattle brought into the plantation appear by re- cord to have been imported from Massachusetts by Edmond Tapp.
The following is a list of the planters, the persons numbered in their families, with an estimate of their estates, in 1643.
It was ordered that every Planter should give in the names of the heads or persons in his family, wherein his wife together with himself and children were only reckoned with an estimate of his Estate, according to which he will pay his proportion in all Rates and Public Charges from time to time to be assessed for civil uses, and expect Lands in all divisions which shall generally be made to the Planters.
Names of the
Persons
Planters.
Numbered. Estates.
Names of the Planters.
Persons Numbered. Estates.
Mr. Theophilus Eaton, 6 £3,000
2
800
Jeremiah Whitnell,
2
50
David Yale,
1
300
Samuel Bayley,
1
250
William Touttle, 7
450
Thomas Buckingham, 4 7 Richard Miles,
60
Ezekiel Cheevers,
3
20
Captaine Turner,
7
800
Thomas Welch,
1
250
Mr. Davenport,
3
1,000
Henry Stonell,
1
300
Richard Malbon,
7
500
William Fowler,
3
800
Thomas Nash,
7
110
Peter Preden, .
4
500
John Benham,
5
70
James Preden,
3
10
Thomas Kimberly,
7
12
Edmond Tapp,
7
800
Joh. Chapman,
2
300
Widow Baldwin,
5
800
. Matthew Gilbert, Jasper Craine,
2
600
An Elder,
·
4
200
: Mr. Roe,
6
1,000
Zachariah Whitman,
2
800
An Elder,
·
4
500
Thomas Osborne,
6
300
George Lamberton,
6
1,000
Henry Rudderforde,
5
500
Thomas Jeffrey,
2
100
Joh. Potter,
4
25
Nicholas Elsey,
2
30
Samuel Whitehead, Job. Clark,
3
240
Richard Hull,
4
19
Luke Atkinson,
4
50
William Preston,
10
40
Arthur Halbridge,
4
20
Benjamin Ffenne,
2
80
Edward Bamster,
3
10
William Jeanes,
5
150
William Peck,
4
12
Joh. Brockett, Roger Allen,
40
Joh. Charles, .
4
50
· Mr. Hickocks,
.
6
1,000
Richard Beach,
1
20
Mr. Mansfield,
4
400
Timothy Fforde,
2
10
Thomas Gregson,
6 600
Peter Browne,
3
30
Stephen Goodyear, . 9
1,000
Daniell Paule,
.
11
100
.
.
3
480
Richard Platt, .
2
30
Robert Ceely, . 4
60
Jonathan Budd,
6
450
.
.
.
1
15
Joh. Mosse,
3
10
William Wilkes,
2 150
Thomas Trowbridge, Widow Potter,
6
500
Richard Perry,
3
260
Nath. Axtell, .
·
1
500
·
179
.
2
1
.
William Harskins,
1,000
Mr. Samuel Eaton,
400
100
.
55
COLONY OF NEW HAVEN.
Names of the Planters.
Persons
Names of the
Persons
Planters.
Numbered. Estates.
Johna. Livermoore,
4
100
Henry Browning,
8
340
Anthony Thompson,
4
150
Mrs. Higison, .
.
.
2
140
Edward Tench,
3
400
Robert Cogswell,
4
60
Jeremiah Dixon, 1
300
Mathi. Hitchcock,
3
50
William Thorp,
3
10
Ffrancis Hall,
3
10
Robert Hill,
1
10
Richard Osborne,
3
10
Widow Williams,
2
60
William Potter,
4
40
Andrew Low, .
3
10
James Clark, .
4
50
Ffr. Newman,
2
160
Edward Patteson,
1
40
Joh. Caffins, ·
2
500
Andrew Hull,
4
40
David Atwater,
1
500
William Ives,
2
25
Mr. Lucas,
6
1
300
Widow Sberman,
2
50
Benjamin Ling, Robert Newman,
2) 700
Thomas James, sen'r. 5
200
William Andrews, .
8
150
Widow Greene,
3
80
John Cooper,
3
30
Thomas Yale,
1
100
Richard Beckley,
4
20
Thomas Ffugill,
2
100
Mr. Marshall,
5
1,000
Joh. Ponderson,
2
180
Mrs. Eldred,
5
1,000
Joh. Johnson,
5
150
Ffran. Brewster,
9
1,000
Abraham Bell,
1
10
Mark Pearce, .
.
2
150
Johr Evance, .
1
500
Jarvis Boykin,
2
40
Mrs. Mayers, . 2
3
150
George Warde,
6
10
Joshua Atwater, 2
300
Lawrence Ward,
2
30
Thomas Ffugill,
1
400
Moses Wheeler,
2
58
Edward Wiggleworth, 3|
300
Thomas Powell,
1
100
Total, 419/
36,126
·
.
·
·
.
·
800
James Russell,
2
20
Mrs. Constable,
·
.
·
About 1640, a number of small colonies went from New Haven. In that year, Robert Feaks and Daniel Patrick bought Greenwich. The purchase was made in behalf of New Haven, but through the intrigue of the Dutch governor and the treachery of the purchasers, the first inhabitants re- volted to the Dutch. They were incorporated and vested with town privileges by Peter Stuyvesant, governor of New Netherlands. The inhabitants were driven off by the Indians in their war with the Dutch, in 1643, but returned as soon as they could do so with safety. In 1656 complaints were made to the court at New Haven, by Stamford, that the inhabitants were under little government, and conducted themselves in a lawless manner. "They admitted of drunk- enness among themselves and among the Indians, by reason of which damage was done to themselves and to the towns in the vicinity, and the public peace was disturbed. They received children and servants . who fled from the cor-
400
Georg Smyth, .
1
50
Mr. Dearmer, .
2
320
Mathew Moulthrop,
Numbered. Estates.
8 250
Joh. Reeder,
·
.
.
56
HISTORY OF THE
rection of their parents and masters, and unlawfully joined persons in wedlock, and other misdemeanors."
Upon this the general court asserted their right to Green- wich, and ordered the inhabitants to submit to their juris- diction. But they continued much in the same state, and sent a letter to the court denying their jurisdiction, and re- fusing any subjection to the colony unless they should be compelled to it by the parliament. The court therefore resolved, that unless they should appear before the court, and make their submission by the 25th of June, Richard Crabb and others, who are the most stubborn among them, should be arrested and punished according to law. They, therefore, sometime after, subjected their persons and estates to New Haven. They made no great progress in settlement until after Connecticut obtained the charter, and they were taken under the protection of the government. About that time Mr. Jeremiah Peck, a native of Milford, settled in Greenwich, as a pastor of the church, upon which the place received an accession of planters from Milford, and was soon in a prosper- ous condition.
Another large purchase, sufficient for a number of planta- tions, was made by Capt. Turner, agent for New Haven, on both sides of the Delaware river. This purchase was made with a view to trade, and for the settlement of churches on the plan of Davenport and Eaton. New Haven built trading houses upon the lands, and sent nearly fifty families to make settlements upon them. The settlements were made under the jurisdiction of New Haven, and in close combination with that colony, in all " the fundamental articles."
Soon after the plantations were begun, the Dutch laid claim to the lands purchased by New Haven, and succeeded in breaking up the settlements. Governor Kieft, of Manhadoes, sent an armed force, who seized the goods and burnt the trading-houses, took the company's vessel, and kept a number of the planters prisoners. They made an attempt upon the life of Mr. Lamberton, a principal gentleman of New Haven, one of the traders, and tried him for treason ; but finding no evidence against him, they arbitrarily imposed a fine upon him for trading in the territories to which they laid claim. The damages done to New Haven at Delaware, were estimated at over a thousand pounds sterling. Some of the planters re- turned to New Haven, and those who remained submitted to the Dutch.
.
.
.
57
COLONY OF NEW HAVEN.
The same year New Haven also purchased and settled Southhold, on Long Island, a general account of which will be found in its proper place.
New Haven people having been unsuccessful in trade, and sustained great losses, particularly at Delaware, and their large estates which they brought from England rapidly de- clining, in about 1645 they made a vigorous attempt to re- pair their former losses. Combining their money and labors they built a ship at Rhode Island, of 150 tons, and freighted her for England with the best part of their commercial estates. Mr. Gregson, Capt. Turner, Mr. Lamberton, and other of their principal men, embarked and sailed from New Haven, in January, 1647. They were obliged to cut through the ice to get out of the harbor. The ship foundered at sea, and was never heard of after she sailed.
According to the belief of the inhabitants of that period, this ship was seen in the air after she was lost. The following account is taken, as it is found, from Mather's Magnalia. Mather hearing of the circumstances, wrote to his friend, the Rev. Mr. Pierpont, for information, and received from him , the following answer :
Reverend and Dear Sir,
In compliance with your desires, I now give you the relation of that apparition of a ship in the air, which I have received from the most credible, judicious, and curious surviving observers of it.
In the year 1647, besides much other lading, a far more rich treasure of passengers, (five or six of which were persons of chief note and worth in New Haven) put themselves on board a new ship, built at Rhode Island, of about 150 tuns, but so walty, that the master (Lamberton) often said that she would prove their grave. In the month of January, cutting their way through much ice, on which they were accompanied with the Rev. Mr. Davenport, besides many other friends, with many fears, as well as prayers and tears, they set sail. Mr. Davenport in prayer with an observable empha- sis, used these words, Lord, if it be thy pleasure to bury these our friends in the bottom of the sea, they are thine ; save them! The spring following, no tidings of these friends arrived with the ships from England: New Haven's heart began to fail her: this put the godly people on much prayer, both publick and private, that the Lord would (if it was his pleasure ) let them hear what he had done with their dear friends, and prepare them with a suitable submission to his Holy Will. In June next ensuing, a great thunder-storm arose out of the northwest; after which (the hemisphere being se- rene) about an hour before sunset a Ship with like dimensions with the aforesaid, with her canvass and colors abroad (though the wind northernly) appeared in the air coming up from our harbour's mouth, which lyes south ward from the town, seemingly with her
.
.
58
HISTORY OF THE
sails filled under a fresh gale, holding her course north, and contin- uing under observation, sailing against the wind for the space of half an hour.
Many were drawn to behold this great work of God; yea, the very children cried out, There's a brave ship! At length, crouding up as far as there is usually water sufficient for such a vesel, and so near some of the spectators, as that they imagined a man might hurl a stone on board her, her main-top seemed to be blown off, but left hanging in the shrouds; then her missen-top; then all her masting seemed blown away by the board : quickly after the hulk brought unto a careen, she overset, and so vanished into a smoaky cloud, which in some time dissipated, leaving, as every where else, a clear air. The admiring spectators could distinguish the several colors of each part, the principal rigging, and such proportions, as caused not only the generality of persons to say, This was the mould of their ship, and thus was her tragick end: but Mr. Davenport also in pub- lick declared to this effect: That God had condescended, for the qui- eting of their afflicted spirits, this extraordinary account of his sove- reign disposal of those for whom so many fervent prayers were made continually. Thus I am, Sir,
Your humble servant,
JAMES PIERPONT.
The loss of their ship, with the former losses they had sus- tained, made the colonists despair of bettering their condition by trade, and thinking themselves but poorly calculated to engage in agricultural pursuits, they formed the design of quit- ting the country, and with such views made treaties for the city' of Galloway, in Ireland, where they intended to have settled and form a small province by themselves. But being disappointed in their design, they engaged in agricultural and pastural pursuits as the last resort, and made substantial farm- ers, and flourished no less than the adjoining colonies.
Three of the judges of King Charles 1., Whalley, Goffe, and Dixwell, commonly called the regicides, for a time abode in New Haven. Soon after the restoration of monarchy in England, many of the judges who had condemned King Charles I. to death, were apprehended, condemned, and exe- cuted. The three above mentioned made their escape to New England.
Edward Whalley was descended from an ancient family, and was a relative of Oliver Cromwell. He was a major- general under the commonwealth, and had distinguished himself in many sieges and battles. Cromwell confided so much in him that he committed the person of the king to his care, after he was deprived of his liberty. William Goffe, Esq. was son of Stephen Goffe, a minister of Stemmer, in Sussex. He was also an officer in the parliamentary army, of
.
59
COLONY OF NEW HAVEN.
the rank of general. He was Whalley's son-in-law, having married a daughter of Whalley's. They were both mem. bers of Cromwell's house of lords. Col. John Dixwell was born in the county of Kent. He was a gentleman in easy circumstances, being possessed of a manor and other estates in England. Engaging in the civil wars he was an officer under the protectorate, and a member of parliament for the county of Kent, in 1654. At the restoration he abdicated his country, in 1660 ; but when he first came to New Eng- land is unknown. The first notice we have of him is in Goffe's journal, while the judges were in Hadley, wherein it is entered, that Col. Dixwell came to them there, February 10, 1664-5; but ever after they called him Mr. Davids,- and afterwards he went by the name of James Davids, Esq. till his death.
The two judges, Goffe and Whalley, arrived at Boston from England, the 27th of July, 1660, and took up their resi- dence in Cambridge; but finding it unsafe to remain any longer, they left that place and arrived at New Haven the 7th of March, 1661. They were well treated by the minis ter and magistrates, and for some days thought themselves entirely out of danger. But the news of the king's procla- mation being brought to New Haven, they were obliged to abscond. The 27th of March, they returned, and lay con- cealed in the house of Mr. Davenport, the minister, until the 30th of April. Mr. Davenport was threatened with being called to an account, for concealing and comforting traitors ; but the judges, who had before removed from Mr. D's house, upon intimation of his danger, generously resolved to deliver themselves up to the authorities of New Haven. They ac- cordingly let the deputy-governor, Mr. Leete, know where they were ; but he took no measures to secure them ; and the next day, some of their friends came to them and advised them not to surrender. Having publicly shown themselves at New Haven, they had cleared Mr. Davenport from the suspicion of concealing them ; after which, they returned to their cave, which still goes by the name of the Judges' Cave. It is situated on the top of West Rock, about half or three quar- ters of a mile from the southern extremity. It is a place well chosen for observing any approach to the mountain; like- wise, any vessel coming into the harbor, can from this rock be easily seen. The cave is formed on a base of perhaps forty feet square, by huge broad pillars of stone, fifteen or
-
.
60
HISTORY OF THE
twenty feet high, standing erect and elevated above the sur. . rounding superfices of the mountain, surrounded with trees which conceal it from observation. The apertures being closed with branches of trees, or otherwise, a well covered and convenient lodgment might be formed, as these rocks be- ing contiguous at the top, furnished space below large enough to contain bedding and two or three persons. Mr. Richard Sperry, who lived on the west side of the rock, about a mile from this cave, supplied them daily with food, sometimes car- rying it himself, and at other times sending it by his boys tied up in a cloth, with directions to leave it on a certain stump, from which the judges would take it.
The incident which caused them to leave the cave was this : the mountain being a haunt for wild animals, one night as the judges lay in bed, a panther or catamount putting his head into the aperture of the cave, blazed his eye-balls in such a frightful manner upon them as greatly terrified them. One of them took to his heels and fled down to Sperry's house for safety. Considering this situation too dangerous to remain any longer, they quitted it.
Another place of their abode, in the vicinity of New Haven, was at a spot called The Lodge. It was situated at a spring, in a valley, about three miles west, or a little northwest from the last mentioned residence. North of it was an eminence, called the Fort, to this day, from which there was a full view " of the harbor, to the southeast, seven miles off. There were several other places, on and about the West Rock, which were used by them for places of concealment. The two mentioned were their principal places, however. After living at these places for near six months, on the 20th of August, 1661, they took up their abode in Milford, where they were secreted for more than two years, until they removed to Hadley, Mass.
On the 13th of October, 1664, they left New Haven, and arrived at Hadley the latter part of the same month. During their abode at Hadley, the famous Indian war, called " King Philip's War," took place. The pious congregation of Had- ley were observing a fast on the occasion of this war ; and being at public worship in the meeting house, September 1st, 1675, were suddenly surrounded by a body of Indians. - It was customary in the frontier towns, and even at New Haven, in these Indian wars, for a select number of the congregation to go armed to public worship. It was so at Hadley, at this time. The people immediately took to their arms, but were
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61
COLONY. OF NEW HAVEN.
thrown into great confusion. Had Hadley been taken, the discovery of the judges would have been unavoidable. Sud- denly, and in the midst of the people, there appeared a man of very venerable aspect, and different from the inhabitants in his apparel, who took the command, arranged and ordered them in the best military manner. Under his direction, they repelled and routed the enemy, and thereby saved the town. He immediately vanished, and the inhabitants could account for the phenomenon in no other way, but by considering that person as an angel sent of God upon that special occasion for their deliverance ; and for some time after, said and believed, that they had been saved by an angel. Nor did they know other wise, till fifteen or twenty years after, when at length it became known at Hadley, that the two judges had been secre- ted there. The angel was Goffe, for Whalley was superan -. nuated in 1675. The last account of Goffe is from a letter dated " Ebenezer," (the name they gave their several places of abode,) April 2, 1679. Whalley had been dead some time before. The tradition at Hadley is, that they were buried in the minister's cellar, and it is generally supposed that their bodies were afterwards secretly conveyed to New Haven, and placed near Dixwell's. The supposition is strongly con- firmed by three stones yet remaining in the old burying ground, at New Haven, in the rear of the center church, which are marked E. W., 1678, for Whalley, M. G., . . 80, for Goffe, and J. D., Esq., 1688°, for Dixwell.
Colonel John Dixwell came from Hadley to New Haven before the year 1672, and was known here by the name of James Davids. During the seventeen years or more in which he lived in New Haven, nothing extraordinary occur- red concerning him.
Colonel Dixwell carried on no secular business, but em- ployed his time in reading and walking into the neighboring . groves and woods adjacent to his house. Mr. Pierpont had a large library, from which, as well as from his own collection, he could be supplied with a variety of books. He often spent his evenings at Mr. Pierpont's, and when they were by them- selves, retired to his study, where they indulged themselves with great familiarity and humor, had free and unrestrained conversation, upon all matters, whether of religion or politics. But when in company, Mr. Pierpont behaved towards Colonel D. with caution and reserve. The colonel spent much of his retirement in reading history, and as a token of his friendship . 6
62
HISTORY OF THE
for Mr. Pierpont, he, in his last will, presented him with Ra- leigh's History of the World.
After a pilgrimage of twenty-nine years in exile from his native country, and banishment into oblivion from the world, of which seventeen years at least, probably more, were spent in New Haven, by the name of James Davids, Esq., Colonel Dixwell died in this place, March 18, 1688-9.
He and all the other judges lived and died in the firm ex- pectation of a revolution in England. This had actually ta- ken place the November before his death, but the news not having arrived, he died ignorant of it, about a month before the seizure of Sir Edmund Andros, at Boston. At his death, he discovered his true character to the people, and owned the name of John Dixwell, but requested that no monument should be erected at his grave, giving an account of his person, name, and character, alledging as a reason, " lest his enemies might dishonor his ashes"-requesting that only a plain stone might be set up at his grave, inscribed with his initials, J. D., Esq., with his age and time of his death.
Whilst residing in New Haven, he was twice married, and at his death he left a wife and two children. His will was afterwards exhibited, approved, and recorded in the probate office.
The New Haven people paid early attention to the interest of learning, as well as to those of religion and civil polity. Schools were soon established for common education, and a colony grammar school, to prepare youth for college.t
The project of establishing a college was almost coeval with the first settlement. That such is the fact, the following document, copied from the records of Guilford, furnishes deci- sive evidence.
Att a Generall Court held at Guilford, June 28, A. D. 1652. Voted, That the matter about a College at New Haven is thought to be too great a charge for us of this jurisdiction to undergo alone : especially considering the unsettled state of New Haven Town; being publicly declared from the deliberate judgment of the most
* In 1641 a free school was opened and taught by Ezekiel Chee- vers, who wrote the Accidence long used in the schools of the colony. Salary 30l. He moved to Massachusetts and there died, aged about 90.
t In 1644 it was agreed that each person in the plantation should give a peck of corn or wheat to Cambridge college annually. This was given many years.
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63
COLONY OF NEW HAVEN.
understanding men to be a place of no comfortable subsistence for the present inhabitants there. But if Connecticut do join, the plant- ers are generally willing to bear their just proportions for erecting and maintaining of a college there. However they desire thanks to Mr. Goodyear for his kind proffer to the setting forward of such a work.
But Connecticut, it appears, chose to patronize Massachu. setts, for the general court the next year ordered that 207. be paid to the support of a fellowship in Harvard College.
In the year 1654, Mr. Davenport brought forward the insti- tution of a college, to which the town made a donation of land, and Milford gave 1001. Gov. Hopkins, who died in London, in 1657, gave 5001. sterling to the institution, whereupon the general court erected it into a college for teaching the " three learned languages,-Latin, Greek, and Hebrew," and for "the education of youth in good literature, to fit them for public service in church and commonwealth," and settled 407. a year on the preceptor, or rector, besides the salary from the New Haven school, with 1001. for a library. Mr. Da- venport had the care of the school for several years, but in 1660 Mr. Jeremiah Peck was established in it, according to the act of the court, and taught the languages and sciences. The convulsions of the times, however, in 1664, and the want of adequate support, caused this college to terminate in a public grammar school, which is yet preserved, and is now kept on the corner of Temple and Crown streets. This school now holds the Hopkins' fund, and the other endowments of the col- lege, and is yet very useful in preparing youth for college.
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