USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Goshen > History of the town of Goshen, Connecticut, with genealogies and biographies based upon the records of Deacon Lewis Mills Norton, 1897 > Part 3
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This grant was carried into effect, and the land surveyed to them, in common, by John Hitchcock, surveyor of lands for the county of New Haven, April 28, 1731. This was the first
** From Field's Haddam & Statistical Account Middlesex County: -"Among the distinguished individuals who have been native of this town. the Hon. Hezekiah Brainard deserves to be particularly mentioned.
" Under those disadvantages for education which existed in his day, he acquired a respectable portion of information. Early sanctified by divine grace also, he gave himself up to the practice of religion, and became distinguished for piety as well as abilities. His moral and mental excellence soon attracted public notice, and commanded the esteem and suffrages of his fellow citizens. The inhabitants of his native town testified their sense of his worth by sending him repeatedly a representative to the General Assembly, where he was chosen clerk of the House of Representatives in May, 1721, and speaker the three following sessions. In 1722 he was appointed a justice of the Quorum for Hartford county. The next year he was elected into the Council, where he held a seat until his deatlı, which took place at Hartford during a session of the Assem- hly, May 24, 1727, in the 46th year of his age."
The Brainard Genealogy: - " Hezekiah Brainard became a man of great distinction and influence. He was a Representative to the General Assembly and speaker of the House of Representatives, a member of the Council or Senate, and intrusted with various public concerns. In consideration of extra public services, the Legisla- ture gave to him and two other gentlemen of like character, a farm of 300 acres in Goshen. He was father of the missionary Brainard."
29
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
land ever surveyed in Goshen. The township, afterwards called Goshen, was surveyed October 15, 1731.
From the circumstance that the three men above men- tioned were all justices of the peace, the tract of land laid out to them received the name of " The Esquire's Farm," and this name it has ever since retained.
It was laid out 300 rods north and south by 160 rods east and west. It is situated in the southeasterly part of the town, and bounded south by the town line. The northwest corner is the corner of the lot east and south of the road, nearly opposite the brick house formerly occupied by Jonathan Wadhams, and the southwest is about thirteen rods west of the west line of the present north and south road, and south of the house at pres- ent, and long occupied by the Brooks family.
30
,
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
CHAPTER II.
MEETING OF THE PROPRIETORS AND BEGINNINGS OF THE TOWN.
The sale of the township was held at New Haven, under the direction of the committee appointed by the Assembly, and each one of the fifty divisions found a purchaser. Most of these made their purchases with the expectation of removing and occupying their new possessions. Fathers bought divi- sions for their sons, who were to commence their lives in sub- duing the forests, as they had done. But the land speculator was not absent, and rights were bought by men who never looked upon the land they purchased. Several transfers of rights were made before the first meeting of the proprietors.
The method adopted, for making the division of the land, was not peculiar to this township, but had been the common practice in dividing among the proprietors in all the towns of recent settlement. And it may be well to state in this place that division followed division frequently at first. Then tlie divisions occurred, with lapses of years between them, and when farms were sold or exchanged the sale carried with it pro- prietor's rights in future divisions. It has been said that, in the town, at the present time, there are small pieces of land that have never been divided, and that undisturbed possession is the only right of the person holding them.
PROPRIETORS' FIRST MEETING.
" At a meeting of the Purchasers or present Proprietors of the Township of Goshen in Connecticut in New England, which Meeting was holden in Litchfield at the dwelling House
31
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
of Capt. John Buel on the 27th Day of September 1738 in which Meeting Joseph Bird was chosen Clerk for the said purchasers & sworn accordingly Capt. John Buel was chosen Moderator for said Meeting said Meeting was then adjourned for one Hour to meet at the place abovesd the said meeting being opend, was then adjourned untill next morning at 8 O Clock at the house afforesaid the said meeting was then opened according to adjournment afforesaid & it was then voted by sad proprietors in said meeting that we will proceed to lay out two divisions of land in said township of Goshen viz two fifty acre lots to each Right or whole share each lot to be equal to fifty Acres of the best land & he that draws the last choice in the first division shall have the first choice in the second division & so back successively according to the draught of choice until it comes to him who made the first choice or had the first draught.
" At the same meeting voted that we will now proceed to choose a Committee to lay out above mentioned division Capt Stephen Lee Nathaniel Baldwin Samuel Petibone Thomas Merven Joseph Bird Samuel Hinman & Macock Ward were all chosen for the abovesaid Committee & that any three of them shall have power to lay out the division aforesaid with all necessary highways. At the same meeting voted that the afore- said Committee shall have nine shillings per day while they are laying out the land as aforesaid. At the same meeting voted that we will now proceed to the choice of our lots in the first division, according to the plan now before us and that each man in his turn according to his draught shall have the space of three minutes & no more to make his choice. The aforesaid meeting was then adjourned for the space of one hour. At the same place
32
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
" The draught of choice was as follows:
Jonalı Case
41
Benajah Williams
20
Capt John Buel
24
Macock Ward
51
Samuel Hopson
23
Capt Joseph Bird 47
Timothy Bigilo
36
Timothy Baldwin
20
Danl Harris
18
Amos Thompson
04
Gid'n Leet®
34
Whiting William
30
Step" Lee
03
Saml Petibone
31
Saml Baker
29
Isaac Hill
48
Thoms Mervin
50
Danl Richards
53
Nathl Baldwin
42
Timothy Baldwin
44
Stephen Goodwin
10
Saml Lewis
38
David Buttolf
43
Capt Wm. Ward
11
Danl Thrall
32
Timothy Tuttle
12
Saml Hinman
46
Aaron Cook
01
Nathl Baldwin
22
Elijah How
45
Benjamin Frisbie
33
Benjamin Phelps
27
Capt Stephen Lee
28
Saml Roberts
07
Thomas Tozer
15
Abraham Parmele
09
Danl Harris
14
Eben' Hill
52
Thomas Adams
26
John Beach
35
John Thompson
21
John Moses
08
Jeremiah How
39
David Hall
13
Saml Humphrey
25
Andrew Parmele
16
Lemuel Roberts
37
The Ministry
06
Joseph Cook
19
The Minister
40
Saml. Gaylord
49
The School
5
Note. - Some mistakes in the record are apparent. There is 110 draft for numbers 2 and 17. Two drafts are recorded for 20, one of them, probably, being a mistake for 2.
"At the same afsd meeting it was voted that we will choose a Committee to lay out necessary highways in Goshen & to make exchanges of land with particular persons as they shall find occasion. Deacon Nathl Baldwin Thomas Mervin & Saml. Hinman were then chosen a Committee to make ex- changes as aforesaid.
" The aforesaid meeting was opened according to adjourn- ment & at the same meeting it was voted that we will grant
33
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
a rate or tax of three pounds in money upon each whole right to be paid for the defraying of the charge of laying out the said division and for clearing the highway.
" Thomas Mervin was then chosen collector to gather the aforesaid rate. Nathl. Baldwin was then chosen treasurer for said purchas to receive the aforesaid Rate.
" At the same meeting voted that Thomas Mervin shall be a Committee to choose the lots of the public rights & also for those that are absent & that in their proper turns according to Draught. At the same meeting voted that the aforesaid com- mittee be to lay out the land or any three of them shall have power to receive any of the lots in the first division and make additions by sizing if necessary provided it be upon the com- plainers own cost. At the same meeting voted that that Mr. Tozer shall have for two days laying out land fourteen shil- lings. At the same time voted that Benajah Williams & Saml. Hinman & Saml. Gaylord shall be a Committee to clear the highways at said Goshen. At the same meeting Capt John Buel Ebenr. Hill & Benajah Williams were chosen a Com- mittee to make up accounts with the old treasurer & to give orders to the present treasurer for the payment of the pro- prietors money which he hath or shall receive voted that money shall be drawn out of the said treasury to purchase a town book for records. The aforesaid meeting was then ad- journed unto the first Wednesday in December next at Eight O Clock in the morning at the dwelling house of Joseph Bird in Litchfield.
First Record of a Town Meeting.
"Att a Town meeting Lawfully warned held in Goshen Desember ye 6 Day 1739, Mr. John Beeach was chosen moderator for sd meet- ing .- Att the same meeting meshurs John Beach, Samll pettibone, nathanill Baldwin, Samll Towner and Benajah Williams chosen Selectmen. Samll hinman and gidon hurlubutt were chosen Con- stables and sworne Samll Towner Abel phelps and Isaac hill ware chosen grand Jurors-and sworn. Cristfor grayham Timothy Tuttle and Abraham parmoly ware chosen Listors and sworne. Benjamin
3
34
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
phelps Isaac hill and nathanl Baldwin ware chosen Surveyors of highways and sworn -
" Moses Lyman Chosen Collector to collect the tax or rate of forty Shillings on each right of the proprietors of sd goshen that was granted by the ginrall Asembly In thaire session held att new haven october Last and chosen tresyer for sd money -
" att the same meeting aforesd Samll pettibone was chosen towne Clark and sworne - Gideon hulobutt Benajah Williams and Jeseph hecock ware chosen horse Branders and sworne -
" Danill Richards, Benjamin bishop and Benjamin phelps warc chosen fence vewrs and sworn -
"Danill harys chosen Lethor Sealer and sworne -
" Voted at the same meeting aforesd that Benajah Williams shall have Liberty to bild a Townd pound on his own cost and charge - Voted att the same meeting that Joseph hecock shall have Liberty to build a towne pound on his own cost and charge -
" Voted at the same meeting that a commity be chosen and Im- poured to make exchanges with any person or persons of hige-ways or Lands In order to aComadate any heyways - Samll Pettibone gidon holobutt and Samll hinman chosen to be sd comtt -
" Voated att the Same meeting that the selictmen shall ascertain the places of holding the meetings for Publick worship of God."
The extracts from the records of the General Assembly im- mediately following will show the steps that were taken in the building of the first meeting-house.
May, 1740.
" Upon the memorial of the inhabitants of the town of Goshen, showing to this Assembly that more than two thirds of the in- habitants have voted that it is necessary to build a meeting-house in said town and praying this Assembly to appoint a committee to pitch upon the place; Whereupon this Assembly do appoint Capt. Nathaniel Hooker, Mr. Joseph Buckingham and Mr. James Church, all of Hartford, to be a committee to repair to said Goshen, view the same, hear the parties concerned, and then the said committee are directed to pitch upon the place that they shall think most con- venient for said town of Goshen to set up a meeting-house at, (for divine worship,) and make report of their doings in the said affair to this Assembly. either at this session or in October next. All to be done at the charge of the memorialists."
" Oct. 1740.
"Upon the memorial of the inhabitants of Goshen, praying for a tax to be raised on the lands that are already laid out and the
35
.
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
lands that are granted to be laid out in said Goshen; Resolved by this Assembly, that all the lands already laid out in said Goshen, and those lands that are granted to be laid out, be taxed at two pence per acre yearly, for the space of four years next ensuing, (exclusive of the college farm, and all other public lands, and the lands added by sizeing.) The money raised by said tax to be improved in build- ing a meeting-house, and for the support of the gospel ministry in said town. And the said town are hereby empowered to choose collectors from year to year, to collect said tax money; and the said collectors shall be under the same regulation, and have the same power, as town collectors are under and have by the laws of this Colony."
" May 1741.
" Upon the memorial of the inhabitants of Goshen; This Assembly appoint Messrs. William Marsh, Samuel Culver, and Isaac Bissel, Jun., all of Litchfield, upon the cost of the inhabitants, to repair to said Goshen, and to view the circumstances of the town and people, and to hear the inhabitants upon the premises, and then to affix and ascertain a place for them to set their meeting-house on for publick worship; and make a report of their doing to this As- sembly at their sessions in October next."
" October 1741.
" Upon the report of the committee appointed to fix the place for the inhabitants of the town of Goshen to build a meeting-house on for divine worship; Resolved by this Assembly, that a place in the minister's lot in said town, northward from the place where his frame stands, where is a stake set up by the said committee to ascer- tain the place, be the place where the said inhabitants shall build their meeting-house for divine worship upon."
" October 1742.
"Upon the memorial of Mr. Stephen Heaton, John Beach, &c., inhabitants of the town of Goshen, representing that they were dis. appointed and prevented setting their meeting-house on a certain spot by the committee in their report in October last ascertained and described by a stake by them to that purpose set down, and praying that the said house may be ordered to be erected about four rods distant and eastward from said stake, as per their memorial on file, dated October 14th, 1742; Resolved by this Assembly, that the said meeting-house be erected, and the committee by the inhabitants of said town appointed, or to be appointed, to that purpose are hereby ordered and directed to take care that the said meeting-house be erected, about four rods distant and eastward from the said stake by the said committee erected as aforesaid."
36
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
THE FIRST DEED.
DEED FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO JOHN BEACH.
WHEREAS by an act of the General Assembly holden at New Haven, October 13, 1737, entitled an act for the order- ing and directing the sale and settlement of all the townships in the Western lands, among other things, it is enacted that the town in said lands joining to Litchfield north line, and easterly on Torrington, shall be rendered and sold at the Court House in New Haven to the highest bidders being in- habitants of this colony, on the first Tuesday of December next, at one of the clock in the afternoon, and continue by adjournments till the whole be sold by Samuel Eells, Esq. Joseph Whiting Esq. and Captain Isaac Dickerman, they or any two of them to be a Committee in the name of the Gov- ernor and Company to sell the rights, take bonds, and give deeds with diffeasances &c. Therefore to all people to whom these presents shall come greeting. Know ye that we Joseph Whiting and Isaac Dickerman by virtue of the power and authority to us granted in said act for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and forty four pounds to us in hand paid before the ensealing hereof by John Beach of Wallingford in the County of New Haven in the colony of Connecticut the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge and thereupon in the name of the Governor and Company of the Colony aforesaid do give, grant, bargain, sell, enfeoff, con- vey, and confirm unto the said John Beach his heirs and as- signs forever one right part, share or alotment in the town- ship aforesaid the same being divided into fifty three equal shares or alotments exclusive of the lands granted to the Col- lege and all former grants of the General Assembly that are surveyed and recorded in the public records of this Colony and are lying in said town with the privileges and apurte- nances thereof, thereon or thereunto belonging to have and to hold the said granted and bargained premises with all and sin-
37
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
gular the appurtenances thereof unto the said John Beach his heirs and assigns forever to his and their own sole and proper use benefit and behoof and we the said Joseph Whiting and Isaae Dickerman do covenant to and with the said John Beach his heirs and assigns in manner and form following that is to say that at and until the ensealing of these present we by virtue of the power and authority to us granted have good right to sell and dispose of the said granted premises in manner aforesaid and that the same is and shall be a good and endefeasible estate of inheritance in fee simple and is free from all incum- brances whatsoever. Always provided and these presence are upon this condition that if the said John Beach shall by him- self or his agent within the space of two full years next after the date hereof enter upon the said granted premises build and finish a house thereon not less than eighteen feet square and seven feet stud subdue, fence and clear six acres of said land, and continue thereon for three successive years commenc- ing after the two years aforesaid, (unless prevented by death or some unavoidable providence) and do and perform all or- ders and duties pay all taxes that shall be granted then the aforesaid deed shall remain in full force and virtue. But in default or neglect in either or all of the said articles the same void and of no effect. In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty third day of Jan- uary A. D. 1737.
Signed sealed and delivered
in presence of
Lariel Kimberly John Whiting
Joseph Whiting
Seal
Isaac Dickerman
Seal
38 .
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
Connecticut, ss - New Haven January 23rd 1737, then per- sonally appeared Messrs. Joseph Whiting and Isaac Dickerman the ensealors of the above instrument and acknowledged the same to be their free and voluntary act and deed before me. John Prout Justice Peace.
October, 1749.
"Upon the memorial of the inhabitants of the town of Goshen, showing to this Assembly that the purchasers of the township of Goshen, their heirs &c., have settled their respective rights therein and fulfilled all the conditions on which the same was granted to them, and praying that they may have a patent of the said town- ship, according to a draft now lying before this Assembly: Re- solved by this Assembly, that the memorialists have a patent prayed for, and that his Honour the Governor and the Secretary sign and execute the same unto the seal of this Colony."
GOSHEN PATENT.
"The governor and company of his Magesty's english colony of Connecticut in New England in America.
" To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting: - Whereas the said governor and company in general court assembled at Hart- ford on the second thursday of May, one thousand seven hundred and thirty one did order that the Western lands on East side of Ousa- tunac river and North of the townships of New Milford and Litch- field should be laid out into five townships and appointed Messrs Edward Law, John Buel, and William Judd a committee to lay out the same, and whereas in pursuance of said order the Committee did lay out and survey the said five townships one of which in the survey aforesaid was called the township of A. and bounded as follows (viz) beginning at a White Ash tree standing in the North line of Litchfield township marked, and many stones laid to it. It being the South boundary between the aforesaid Western land and the lands of Hartford and Windsor from them run West on the North line of Litchfield township four miles and one hundred and ninety six rods to said Litchfield North west corner boundary then West 90, 30" North forty four rods to a heap of stones at the South West corner of said township of A. and marked many trees around said monument. and from them the West line of said township runs North 230 East nine miles and sixty rods to a White oak pole marked, and many stones laid to it for a monument at the North West corner of the said township of A. having these letters cut on it E. L: W. J .: J. B. and from said White oak pole the North line of said township runs East 90 30". South four miles and half and twenty six rods
39
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
to a monument made for the North east corner of the township of A. it being a Beech tree marked standing in the line of partition be- tween the said Western lands and the lands belonging to Hartford and Windsor having these letters E. L: W. J: J. B. set on it and many stones laid to it and from them runs South 230 West eight miles and one hundred forty six rods to the Ash tree before mentioned in which line there are many marked trees and monuments. Thus the said township of A. is laid out and bounded South on the town- ship of Litchfield and the township of E. now called Kent North of the township of D. now called Norfolk East on the land of Hartford and Windsor part on the township now called Torrington and part on the township now called Winchester and West on the township of B. now called Cornwall as hy said return of said committee bear- ing date the 15th of October, A. D. 1731 entered in the records of the Colony of Connecticut Lib: 4 folio 503 in the secretary's office refer- ence there unto being had may fully appear. And whereas the said governor and company in general court assembled at Hartford on the 10th day of May A.D. 1733 did grant to the said township amongst others then lately laid out should be disposed of and settled according to such time and regulation as the general assembly should order And whereas the Governor and Company in general Court assembled at New Haven in the year of our Lord 1737, by their act did order that the said township should be divided into fifty three rights exclusive of all former grants of the general as- sembly that were then surveyed and recorded in the public records of this Colony and lying in said township of which fifty three rights one should be for the use of the ministry that should be settled in said town according to the regulation in said act provided one for the first Gospel Minister settled in said town and ordained as aforesaid and one other right for the support of the school in said town and the other fifty rights should be sold and that the committee by said act appointed should sell the same and in the name of the Governor and Company execute deeds of conveyance of the said rights to the purchasers thereof respectively with conditions to each deed annexed according to the directions in the said act contained and whereas in pursuance of and according to said act the said com- mittee have sold and by their several deeds under their hands and seals granted unto Gideon Thomson, Samuel Pettibone, Nathaniel Baldwin and Amos Thomson, Abel Phelps, Samuel Humphrey, Stephen Goodwin and to the rest of the original proprietors of said rights or fifty third parts of said town upon conditions as aforesaid which township is now called and known by the name of Goshen, and Whereas Mr. Stephen Heaton is settled in the ministry in said town according to the directions aforesaid and the several proprietors aforesaid their heirs or assigns having performed the conditions in
..
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
the said deed expressed and now moving for a more full confirma- tion of the Lands sold and granted unto them as aforesaid.
"Now know ye that the said Governor and Company by virtue of the power granted unto them by our late sovereign King Charles the second of blessed memory in and by his letters patent under the great seal of England baring date the 23rd April in the fourteenth year of his magesties reign have given and granted and by these presents do for themselves and their successors give grant ratify and confirm unto them the said Gideon Thomson, Samuel Pettibone, Nathaniel Baldwin, Amos Thomson, Abel Phelps, Samuel Humphrey, Stephen Goodwin, and to the said Stephen Heaton who is the settled minister in said town and to the rest of the original purchasers or their heirs or assigns or legal representatives of such original pro- prietors to whom such original deeds were made and executed all the aforesaid township of A. called Goshen within the bounds and limits described by the survey aforesaid to be the bounds of the said township of A. now called Goshen as aforesaid exclusive of former grants, surveyed and recorded in the public record as aforesaid, forever together with all and singular; the woods, timber, trees, underwood, lands, waters, brooks, ponds, fishing, fowling, mines, minerals and precious stones, within and upon the said tract of land and township aforesaid, hereby granted and mentioned or in- tended to be granted as aforesaid and all and singular the rights, profits, privileges, and appurtenances whatsoever of and within the said township of Goshen, and every part thereof to have and to hold the aforesaid track of land contained in the township of Goshen aforesaid with the appurtenances unto them the said Gideon Thom- son, Samuel Pettibone, Nathaniel Baldwin, Amos Thomson, Abel Phelps, Samuel Humphrey, Stephen Goodwin and to the said Stephen Heaton and to the rest of the original proprietors their heirs or assigns or legal representatives of such original purchasers to whom such rights do belong to their only use benefit and behoof forever, as a good, sure, absolute, and indefeasible estate of in- heritance in fee simple without any conditions limitations use or other thing to alter or make void the same to be holden of his Magesty his heirs or successors or of his Magestys Manor of East Greenwich in the County of Kent and kingdom of great Britain in free and common socage and not in capite nor by knight service yielding and paying.
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