USA > Connecticut > New London County > Stonington > History of the First Congregational church, Stonington, Conn., 1674-1874. With the report of bi-centennial proceedings, June 3, 1874. With appendix containing statistics of the church > Part 4
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they leave things. What they did in the premises cannot now be ascertained, for no record of their proceedings have been pre- served.
In May, 1658, William Chesebrough, Walter Palmer, and Thomas Stanton, in behalf of the planters, petitioned the Massa- chusetts General Court again,1 stating that some of them were fort, which we humbly expecting under your Gourment wher of we haue had former ex- perience shall heartily pray : etc. GEORGE DENISON
Octob : 15th (57)
WM: THOMSON WALTER PALMER
THO: STANTON JOHN GALLAP
In the name of the rest of the Inhabitants, & with their consents.
The deputs desire or honord magists. would be pleased to giue answer to this pet n in the first place.
WILLIAM TORREY, Cleric.
20. 8 mo. 57. In Ans! to this peticon ye magists Judge meet yt yr letter here to Anext should be sent from ys Court to ye Genll Court of Conecticott if theire brethren the depts Consent thereto. EDWARD RAWSON, Secrety
Consented to by the deputyes.
WILLIAM TORREY, Cleric.
ANSWER TO CAPTAIN DENNISON'S PETITION.
Court Records, vol. vi., page 266.
In ans' to the peticon of Georg Dennison, Wm Thompson, Walter Palmer, Tho Stainton, and Jno Gallop, the Court judgeth it mete to order, that the letter here under writt be sent to the Generall Court of Conecticott by y . secretary -
GENTN - Wee cannot but take notice of your claime unto and disposinge of the lands in the Pequot country wherein wee have alwaies challenged an interest, and yet see not rea- son to lay downe the same wee have perused the judgment of the Comissrs in 46 and 47 that the Jurisdiction on the west side of Pequot river ought to belong to Conetticot till the Massatusets shew reason to the contrary, against wch we shal not at prst object conceiv- ing there by our title to the lands on the east side the river to be (at least tacitely ) yielded to us, notwithstanding wch you have proceeded to dispose of these lands to diverse persons and to exercise Jusidiction over them, Wch wee cannot but take notice of and declare to be prejudicial to our right, and therefore doe desire and expect you doe friendly yield up these aforesd lands on the east side of Pequot river unto us, and that you doe not further proceede to exercise authority over the Inhabitants there, or to be grieveious to them, wth- out their owne consent till the matter be determined according to the articles of con- federation, if (at least) your owne justice shall not prevaile with you to yield it to us wthout that trouble, wee are moued at present to make knowne our claime to you, by a petition prsented to us from the Inhabitants thereof, supposing it will not be unacceptable to you that this business be issued peaceably & friendly, accordinge to the relation wherein wee mu- tually stand engaged, we shal not ad further at present but Comitt you to god & rest
Oct 21st 1657.
Massachusetts Archives, vol. xxx., pages 66 and 67, by William B. Trask.
1 To the Honorable Generall Court Assembled at Boston, the Humble petition of the Inhabitants of Mistic and Paucatuck :
May it pleas you, - Whearas your pore Petioners by the provydec of god are setled in theas pts of the Pequit Country Soomm of Vs being settled hear in the yeare 1649 by the Honnered John Winthrop Esquire now Gouernor of the Collony at Conectycoat by Vertu of a Condition from this honerable Court but in short tyme we weare Caled to the Court at Conctycoat to give acount by what athoryty we heare settled we answered as aforesaid but the Court Answered that theas parts did belong to them by Patent & Purchas & the agre-
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settled here by Governor Winthrop in 1649, by virtue of his commission from said court, that they had been called to the General Court of Connecticut to give an account by what author- ity they had settled here ; in answer to which they stated as above. They then asked the Massachusetts Court to confirm their lands and possessions, and grant them the liberty of a township and the privileges thereof. The court declined to take further action, suggesting however a reference of the matter to the commissioners of the united colonies. In the mean time they advised the planters to order their affairs peaceably and by com- mon agreement until some provision be made in their behalf.
Following out this last suggestion of the court, the planters assembled on the 30th day of June, 1658, and formed a compact, called by them " The Asotiation of Poquatuck Peple,"1 which
ment of the Comiconers & did require our subiection but now all of vs vnderstanding that it doth of right belong to this Jurisdiction & that you haue bene pleased gratiously to acsept a petition From vs alredy we are bould still to petition that you will please to Con- firmne our lands & Possestions & to grant vs the liberty of a Township & the privyledges thearof & likewise Charrytably to Consider our remoatnes as also being surrounded with many Indyans & many malignant percons often passing this way as quakers & others that you will be pleased thearfore to establish soomm such athoryty among vs as that we may be preserved in righteousnes & peac we haue with this our peticon sent our Honnered Freind Cap. George dennysonn home we Judge Faithfull he knos well in what stait we are to hose Care and Faithfulnes we Comit the transaction of all our matters with the Honnorable Court thus Craueing Pardon For the rudenes of our lynes with desire you may Find more vertu in our actions we rest & wait your Charatable answer. your perete- tioners
May 10th, 1653
WILLM CHESEBROUGH WALTAR PALMER
THO: STANTON in the prsance of the Rest.
In Answer to ye Petition of the Inhabitants of misticke. The Court Considering there hath bene no Answer retourned from the Generall Court of Conecticott to our letter di- rected to them which Giues vs Cawse to Imagine they are not Resolved to give vp theire Claime to those lands so that the matter is likely to Come to be Judged by the Comission's. The Court thinks meete to forbeare further Acting therein till the meeting of the Comis- sioners and doe expect & Require the Inhabitants to Carry themselves & order theire affaires peaceably & by Comon Agreement in the meane while and till other provision be made in theire behalfe; And further doe desire our Comissioners to be mindfull of this buisnes & endeavor an Issue thereof at the next meeting. The magists haue past this wth Referenc to ye Consent of theire brethren the deputys thereto
EDWARD RAWSON, Secrety
Consented to by the deputies
WILLIAM TOKREY, Cleric. 25th 3d: 1658.
Mass. Archives, vol. 112, pp. 105, 106, by William B. Trask.
1 THE ASOTIATION OF POQUATUCK PEPLE, June 30th, 1658:
Wherras thear is a difference betwene the 2 Cullonyes of the Matachusetts and Conec- ticoate about the government of this plac, whearby we are deprived of Expectation of protection from either, but in way of Curtecy, -& wheareas we had a command from
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was a sort of squatter sovereignty government, organized for ' municipal purposes, but not in utter defiance of either colony, but with a firm purpose to maintain it, until some provision be made for them. Massachusetts sympathizing with the planters, renewed her claim to the jurisdiction of a portion of the Pequot territory, and brought the matter again before the commissioners of the United Colonies, and this time successfully ; for in Sep- tember, 1658, they rendered a decision,1 that all of said territory
1
the generall Court of the Matachusetts to order our own busines in peac with common consent till further provition be maid for us, in obedyience to which command we have adressed our selvs thearunto, but cannot atain it in regard of soomm distractions among ourselves, and thear hath bene injurious insolencys done unto soom persons, - the cattell of others threatened to be taken away, and the chattell of soom others alredy taiken away. by violenc.
We haveing taken into consideration that in tymes so full of danger as theas are, unyon of our harts and percons is most conducing to the publick good & safety of the place,- thearfore in pursuance of the same, the better to confirm a mutual confydence in one an- other, & that we may be preserved in righteousness and peac with such as do commerc with us, & that misdemeanors may be corrected, and incorrygable persons punished ; - we hose names are hereunto subscribed, do hearby promis, testify & declare to maintain and deffend with our persons and estait the peac of the plac and to aid and assist one another acoarding to law & rules of righteousness acoarding to the true intent & meaning of our asociation till such other provition be maide ffor us as may atain our end above written, whereunto we willingly give our assent, & neither ffor ffear hoape or other respects shall ever relinquish this promis till other provition be maid ffor us. And we do not this out of anny disrespec unto ether of the afoarsaid governments which we are bound ever to honnor, but in the vacancy of any other governments; - nether is it out of any sinister end or privat reveng, but for the causes aforesaid GEORGE DENISON WILLM CHESEBROUGH THOMAS SHAW SAMUEL CHESEBROUGH
Upon the request of severall
THOMAS STANTON ELISHA CHESEBROUGH MOSES PALMER
NATHANILL CHESEBROUGH ELIHU PALMER among us to enter into this asociation with us theay are admitted and have accordingly subscribed thear names
WALTER PALMER THS STANTON
June 30, 1658.
By vertue of this Asociation, that justice may not be obstructed, &c the peac preserved, - we maid choise of Captain Georg Dennyson, & Willm Chesebrough to be comytioners to issue out warrants & to cause to be brought before them anny suspitious percons, or ffor anny misdemenor, & and to hear & determine the casses, and to pronounce sentence upon them & to see the judgment executed, provided it extend not to the los of life or limb or banishment or stigmatizing; in such casses as thear power will not reach due punishment ffor the Crime, then to taik order thear percons may be secured, and sent whear justice may procede against them.
And ffurther theay are to issue all other differences, whether of debts or cases, and to kepe a register of thear actions provided allwaies the action excede not fforty pound.
This choise is the act of the houle body of the Asociates WALTER PALMER
Stonington Records.
THO STANTON
1 September 1658. - The Issue of the difference betwixt the two Colonies of the Massa-
3
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west of Mystic River should belong to Connecticut, and all east of it should belong to Massachusetts.
At the next session of the Massachusetts General Court, after this decision was rendered, they passed an act 1 that the English plantation between Mystic and Pawcatuc rivers be named South- ertown, and to belong to the county of Suffolk, and appointed local
chusetts and Conechcott about the Pequot Country being jointly referred to the Commis- sioners of the other two Colonies.
Whereas there is a controversy again revived betwixt the two Colonies of Massachusetts and Connechcut concerning their interest in the Pequott country, and many pleas have been made on both sides for their greater interest: we having seriously weighed what hath been by each of them alledged, conceive the determination dotli arise only from their several rights by conquest, the which for ought we can understand is not greatly different; yet . being tender of any inconveniencey or disturbance that may accrue to those that are al- ready possessed either by commission from the Massachusetts or Connechcut in any part thereof (should they now be put off their improvements) and also upon inquiry finding that the Pequot country which extendeth from Nianticke to a place called Wecopaug about ten miles eastward from Mistick river may conveniently accommodate two planta- tions or townships we therefore (respecting things as they now stand) do conclude that Mistick River be the bounds between them as to proprietie and to jurisdiction so far as conquest may give title thereunto; always provided that such as are already accommo- dated by commission from either of the governments, or have grants of any tracts of land on any side of the said Mistick river be not molested in their possessions or rights by any after grants, and that all due care be had that Christian society and ordinances may be provided for and upholden according to God, in each plantation.
BOSTON, 16th of Septem. 1658.
THOMAS PRENCE. JOSTAS WINSLOW. FRANCIS NEWMAN. WILLIAM LEETE.
By bounding it by Misticke River we intend that river shall be the bounds so far as the pond by Lanthorn Hill, and thence from the middle of the said pond to run away upon a north line. - Records of the United Colonies, Plymouth Colony Records. vol. x. p. 209.
1 At the second session of the General Court held at Boston the 19th of October 1658, In answer to the petition of the inhabitants of Mystic and Pawcatuck the Court judgeth it meet to grant that the English plantation between Mystic and Pawcatuck be named South- ertown and to belong to the County of Suffolk and order that all the prudential affairs thereof be managed by Capt. George Denison, Robert Purk, William Chesebrough, Thomas Stanton, Walter Palmer and John Minot sen., til the court take further order and that Capt. George Denison, William Cheesebrooke, and John Minot (Thomas Minor meant) be Commissioners to end small causes there and to deal in criminal matters as one magistrate may do, and that Walter Palmer be Constable, Capt. Denison clerk of the writs, and he also is hereby empowered and authorized to solemnize marriages between such as are published according to law; that the said Capt. Denison taking his oath be empowered to the oath to the other two, provided always the bounds of the town is not hereby determined (at the same court).
In answer to petition of Inhabitants of Southertown, humbly desiring for several reasons, that the bounds of their plantation may extend into the country north west ward between Wea- capaugo and Mystic river eight miles from the mouth of Mystic River.
The Court judgeth it meet to grant their request.
Mass. Archives.
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officers for the same, and extended the bounds of the plantation eight miles northward from the mouth of Mystic River.1
Thus after a severe struggle they succeeded in obtaining a local government. It should be remembered that the act of the Massachusetts General Court did not create, or even organize a new township, but simply declared that the English plantation between Mystic and Pawcatuc, should be named Southertown, and then declared who should manage the prudential affairs thereof. They recognized in part the local association of the people, and extended their bounds. Unfortunately no records of the town of Southertown have been preserved ; all that can be ascertained about their proceedings are found in the Diary of Mr. Thomas Miner, and now and then from a grant of land on the old Stonington town records. But enough is known to show that the inhabitants proceeded to elect the ordinary town officers, to pro- cure them a minister and to build them a meeting-house. Town meetings for that purpose were held in 1659 and 1660, which finally culminated in the erection of one, which was raised May 13, 1661, and was so far completed as to be fit for use in Septem- ber of that year, when the Commissioners of the United Colonies attended religious worship there, which was conducted by Major John Mason. This, the first meeting-house of Stonington, stood a short distance northwest of the late residence of Dea. Noyes Palmer. It is not known how large it was, or what its shape or style, but from some facts that may be gleaned from the old town records, it is probable that it was a small building and but
1 We whose names are vender written being chosen by the Towne of Southertowne to lay out the bounds according to the Courts grant, the which we did as followeth ffirst we began at Misticke Rivers mouth, and ffrom thence we run six miles to the north, north east to the pond lying by Lanthorne hill, where we marked a chestnut tree with six noches right against the middle of the pond, which pond we ffound to be seuen chains and one pole wide, and ffrom thence we run tuo miles due north to an ash tree which we marked ffouer ways and set eight noches ffor the eight mils; lying by a little still brooke, and we run ffrom thence due east tenn miles and one quarter and twelve chains to white oake tree marked with an X and S V, and ffrom thence we run due south six miles and three quarters where we crossed Poquatuck Riuer, and ffrom thence vpon the same line to a place called Quanaquutag which line poynted \ pon Block Island, which Quanaquatag lies east of Weeckapong tuo miles and one quarter, which tuo miles and a quarter we took possession of ffor the countrie to dispose of, either ffor us or as the contrie shall cause.
GEORGE DENISON. THOMAS MINOR. THOMAS PARKE. THOMAS STANTON. SAMUEL CHESEBROUGH.
Dated the 2nd of March, 1659. (Stonington T. Records.)
1204247
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partially finished, for as early as 1667, six years after it was raised, a vote was passed in town meeting to repair it and make it more comfortable, and even after it was repaired, the people did not use it in cold weather, but held their meetings at the house of Amos Richardson, which was situated a little way east of the meeting-house.
Rev. Mr. Thompson remained here until 1659, when he re- moved to New London. September 30 of that year Rev. Zachariah Brigden of Boston first taught here, doubtless by invitation of the town, who subsequently held a meeting about him, that is, to secure his services. Mr. Brigden labored with the people until his death, which took place April 24, 1662.
After his death Mr. Chauncy and Mr. Fletcher taught here by direction of the town, until the spring of 1664, when the town appointed a committee to go to the Bay ( Massachusetts), and procure a minister, who invited Mr. James Noyes of Newbury to become their Gospel preaching minister. He accepted the invita- tion, and came here in the latter part of June, 1664, and com- menced his labors in July following, and preached as a licentiate until 1674, when he was ordained.
The old controversy about jurisdiction was not suffered to rest. After the decision of 1658, Connecticut brought the matter up again in 1659, but the Commissioners refused to change their de- cision. Connecticut did not cheerfully acquiesce in the result, and still claimed jurisdiction of the lands they had granted, notwith- standing that such grants embraced in some instances the same territory included in some of the Massachusetts grants to other persons.
In 1660-1, another difficulty arose. Misquamicuck, or that part of the town of Southertown, now a part of Westerly, R. I., lying east of Pawcatuc River, was claimed and sold by Sosoa, an old Pequot Captain, residing in the Narragansett country, to a num- ber of planters from Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth, R. I., who took possession, and claimed it as a part of that colony, which asserted jurisdiction and subsequently succeeded in main- taining it. The planters were greatly vexed by this conflict of jurisdiction, and serious trouble grew out of it.
In some instances the same territory was granted by each of the three colonies to different persons, and long years of litiga- tion was the result.
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Sorely pressed by these difficulties and annoyed by the appre- hension that the Connecticut colony meditated their subjection, the Selectmen (or townsmen as they were then called) of South- ertown, in behalf of the town under date of January 19, 1662, again petitioned the Massachusetts General Court for redress of grievances,1 to which no response seems to have been made.
1 To the Honored Governor deputye Governor and maiestrates together with the Counsell or Generall Court of the mattachusetes the petetion of the inhabitants of southertowne humbly sheweth that wheras by the Good providenc of God we have bin orderly put vn- der your Goverment by the cometioners of the vnighted Collonies, acording vnto articles of confederation : by which means through your Faviour, we have for this severall years inioyed our peace, with many other liberties and privilidges both sivell and spirituall, which we could not formerly inioy, or bee made pertakers of, notwithstanding all our in- devers, and adreses made vnto those, who claimed a proprietye in thes parts, the which peace of ours, together with your authoritye amongst vs hath bin much interrupted, and your authoritye together with all our priviledges much impugned by the authoritye of Coneticots sending downe amongst vs there warrants, and prohibiting vs the exersice of any authoritye amongst vs but such as shall be derived from them: indevering to make a faction, or to incorage the same amongst vs, that so thay might attaine there owne eandes, which how reguler it is we leaue vnto your wisdoms to iudge;
these things haue ocationed vs to make severall adreses vnto your honored selues, and we haue had your faiourable acseptanc therin, as manifestly apears by your letters vnto Coneticot, and orders vnto our selues, for the preservation of our peace and the retaining vs vnder your Goverment (which faviour we cannot but thankfully take notis of, and doth Fir- ther oblidg vs vnto your servic and our owne fidellitye and dutye): yet not withstanding all your indevers and letters vnto Coneticot, for the preservation of our peace etc, it doth two manifestly apear that thay doe slight, both your letters, and power, for thay still continue to truble vs with there warants, requireing our obedienc, and seeke to tirrifye vs with there threats if we shall not attend there orders, which may apear in part vnto your selues, by sum letters or orders which of leate came vnto sum of our facktious persons, the which we thought meete to sease, and send downe with these, for your better information: what there intentions are we know not, for it is giuen out and we have cause to feare, that they will not at least willingly be tryed by the cometioners, but that they will force vs by power, it haueing bin Giuen out that thay will haue Capt denison alife or dead, and that there will bee many widowes and fatherless Children amongst vs are long, together with there Countinancing and complyanc with those vnreasonable men of road Iland now at paquatuck one of there cheefe saying openly that thay had rather the road Ilanders should haue that land then the bay, with many high and slighting wordes respecting the bay and the interest, thretening the nullifying of what ever the bay hath done hear, respecting privilidges or proprietyes : things being thus, or thus apearing vnto vs, we being weeke and vnexperienced in the manageing of cases of this natures, causeth vs with all humillitye to spred these things before your worships and this Honerable asembly, humbly begging your firther faviour and countinanc in thes respects, for our incoragement in the mani- festation of our fidellitye, vnto which we haue ioyntly bound our selves: wherefore we doe earnistly intreat that since we haue bin and are orderly vnder your care and Gouer- ment, that you would be pleased to doe your vtermost for vs to contenew vs So, and that we may not bee, left vnto the mercyes of those of coneticote, whose wordes and actions speakes (unto vs) nothing but our ruin, who have aproued our selues faithfull, yee and the ouerturning of the authoritye of the bay to there vtmost power: and becaus we doe not know how soone thay may macke sum further attemtes against vs, we doe earnistly craue sum further orders and instructions may be sent unto vs, by this messenger if posably, that so we may not be in the darke what to dor, if such attemts should be made against vs, which the lord in mercy prevent, by your wisdome, and if to that purpose you would send
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On the 23d of April, 1662, Governor Winthrop succeeded in ob- taining a new charter for Connecticut from Charles II. The east- ern boundary of the colony was fixed therein at Pawcatuc River, thus placing a large part of the town of Southertown under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, leaving the balance under the control of Rhode Island; Massachusetts gracefully yielding to the au- thority of the new charter, which probably did not reach Con- necticut until late in the summer of 1662.
At the October session of the General Assembly for that year, the charter was publicly read to the assembled freemen of Con- necticut, and from that time forward became the recognized law of the land. At the same session, "it was ordered that ye in- habitants at Mystic and Pawcatuc (not Southertown) shall from henceforth forbear to exercise authority by virtue of Com- missioners from any other Colonies, and in case of any differ- ences that may arise, they repair to or Wor" Dep. Gouernor for help; and that they choose a Constable for the year ensuing ; and ye said Constable to repair to or Wor" Dep. Go: for his oath and they (are) required to pay vnto Mr. James Noyes, Lt. Samuel Smith and Ensign Avery, for and in behalf of the charge of the charter the sum of twenty pounds as this Town's proportion, two thirds in wheat at 4. s, one third in pease at 3 s. by ye last of November next."
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