USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Litchfield > History of the town of Litchfield, Connecticut > Part 2
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This Assembly do grant liberty, and full power, unto the said John Marsh and John Buel and partners settlers, being in the whole fifty-seven in number, to settle a town at said Ban- tam ; the said town to be divided into sixty rights, three where- of to be improved for pious uses in said town. And the other fifty-seven shall be, as soon as may conveniently be, settled upon by the undertakers, or upon their failure, by others that may be admitted. Said town to be in length, east and west,
* The grantees were, John Marsh (2 rights,) Samuel Sedgwick, Sen., Nathan- iel Goodwin, Timothy Seymour, Paul Peck, Jr., Joseph Mason, Nathaniel Mes- senger, Benjamin Webster, and Joshua Garritt, of Hartford,-Samuel Forward, Thomas Griswold, Jr., Jacob Gibbs, Joseph Birge, and Benjamin Hosford, of Windsor,f-John Hart, Timothy Stanley, John Bird, Joseph Bird, Samuel Lewis, Ebenezer Woodruff, Samuel Root, Nathaniel Winchell, and Hezekiah Winchell, of Farmington, -- Josiah Walker, Samuel Orton, Joseph Waller, and Isaac Judge - son, of Woodbury, -William Goodrich, Jr., John Stoddard, Ezekiel Buck, and Ja- cob Griswold, of Wethersfield, -- John Buel, (2 rights,) Edward Culver, Hezekiah Culver, Thomas Lee, Elizur Strong, Supply Strong, Caleb Chapel, (2 rights,) Thomas Treadaway, and John Calkins, of Lebanon,Ezekiel Sanford, (2 rights,) Nathan Mitchell, Thomas Pier, John Man, Joseph Pete, and Samuel Somers, of Stratford,-Jonathan Buck, of New-Milford,-Joseph Gillett, of Colchester, all in the Colony of Connecticut, -Nathaniel Smith, (3 rights,) Ephraim French, and John Collins, of Taunton, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay.
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eight miles three quarters and twenty-eight rods, and in breadth seven miles and an half, being bounded eastward by Mattatuck River, westward the bigger part upon the most western branch of the Shepaug River, and partly upon the wilderness, north by the wilderness, and south by Waterbury bounds and a west : line from Waterbury corner unto Shepaug River ; said town to be known by the name of LITCHFIELD, and to have the fol- lowing figure for a brand for their horse kind, viz : 9. And the same power and privileges that other towns in this Colony do enjoy, are hereby granted to said town."
A Patent was afterwards granted to these Proprietors, dated May 19th, 1724, which may be seen in the Appendix.
The township was originally divided into sixty home lots of fifteen acres each, as near as could conveniently be done, and any deficiency there might be, was made up to the owner of the deficient lot, elsewhere; and still farther divided from time to time, into Divisions and Pitches of 4, 20, 60, and 100 acres, &c. &c.
A few individuals commenced the settlement of the town in the year 1720. In the year 1721, a considerable number, chiefly from the towns of Hartford, Windsor and Lebanon, moved on to the tract .*
*The following is a list of the original settlers who became such during the first three years after the settlement :
Nehemiah Allen from Coventry.
Joseph Birge,
Windsor.
John Bird,
Farmington.
Joseph Mason, John Marsh, Nathan Mitchell,
Stratford.
Ezekiel Buck,
Wethersfield.
Samuel Beebe,
Fairfield Co.
Samuel Orton,
John Buell,
Lebanon.
Hlward Phelps,
Woodbury. Windsor. Stratford. Hartford.
Daniel Culver,
Lebanon.
Samuel Culver,
Hezekiah Culver,
Gailford.
Johu Catlin, Jamey Church
.. Colchester.
Joseph Gilleit,
Abraham Goodwin,
Hartford.
Taunton, Ms.
Joshua Garritt,
Benjamin Gibbs,
Windsor.
Jacob Gibbs, William Goodrich, Jr. Wethersfield. Jacob Griswold,
John Gay,
Dedham, Ms.
Benjamin Hosford,
Windent.
Nathaniel Woodruff,
Farmington.
Joseph Harris,
Milictown.
Thomas Pier, Paul Peck, Jr. Jolin Peck,
Wethersfield. Lebanon.
Timothy Collins,
Hartford.
John Stoddard, Eleszor Strong, Supply Strong, Joseph Sanford, Lemuel Sanford, Nathaniel Smith, John Smith, Samuel Smedley,
Stratford.
Woodbury. Lebanon. Hartford. Woodbury.
Thomas Treadway, Benjamin Webster, Josiah Walker, Joseph Waller,
Wethersfield. Lebanon. Hartford.
- Joseph Bird,
John Baldwin,
Stratford.
Joseph Kilborn, Thomas Lee,
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The choice of home-lots, was decided by lot. The first lot selected was about half a mile south of the Court House, and next to Middle Street, or Gallows Lane. The second was half a mile further south, and on the corner opposite the late resi- dence of Mr. James Prescott. The third three fourths of a mile west of the Court House, known as the Strong place. The eleventh choice was the lot thirty rods next west of the County House corner, which subsequently the town voted, was not fit for building a house upon. The Mansion House corner was the twentieth choice. The corner now owned by Mr. Oliver Goodwin, was the twenty-fifth choice. The County House corner was the thirty-third choice. Ten lots were se- lected on Chesnut hill, on both sides of the road and lying southerly from the school house near Mr. Eliada Peck's. The last choice (the 57th) was the lot on which the Hotel of Mr. George Bolles now stands.
· The home lot of the first minister, was located on the corner where now stands the dwelling house owned by Mr. Frederick Deming ; and the twenty acre division appurtenant thereto, was laid adjoining on the north, and extended to the north line of the premises occupied by the late Mr. Eaton Jones. The home lot and twenty acre division for the use of the first minis- ter and his successors, adjoining on the north. And the home lot and twenty acre division for the school, adjoining the latter on the north.
The highway from Bantam river, running westerly through the village, was laid out, twenty rods wide, and called Meet- ing House street. That now called North street, twelve rods wide, and was called Town street. That now called South street, eight rods wide, and was called Town Hill street, and the east line terminated six rods east of the front of Mr. Oliver Goodwin's dwelling house. That now called Gallows Lane, twenty-eight rods wide, and was called Middle street. That running southerly from the residence of the late Mr. William Ward, four rods wide was called South Griswold street ; and that running northerly was S rods wide, and called North Gris- wold street. That now called Prospect street, twenty rods wide, but soon reduced to seventeen rods, and was called North street.
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The first Church, Court House, and School House, stood nearly in the center of Meeting House street, the Court House about opposite the center of Town street, the Church east, and the School House west of the Court House.
The first white child born in Litchfield was Eunice, the daughter of Jacob Griswold, afterwards the wife of Capt. Sol- omon Buel. She was born March 23, 1721. The first white male child, born in Litchfield, was Gershom Gibbs, on the 28th of July 1721. He was taken prisoner at Fort Washington, and died in captivity. His son Gershom, was born July 18, 1750, and died here in September 1813.
Many persons have died in this town between the age of 90 and 100. The mother of the late Judge Adams, was born in Stratford in 1698, and died here in the year 1803, aged 105. Mr. Reuben Dickinson was born in 1716, and died here in 1818, aged 102. The oldest man now (1845) living here, is Mr .. John Hall, a soldier of the Revolution, born February 26, 1754. The next is Mr. Daniel Lamson, also a Revolutionary soldier, born March 28, 1754.
CHAPTER IV.
The first inhabitants of this town, were thoroughly imbued with a sense of the importance of education, virtue, and relig- ion, to the welfare of themselves, and their posterity. The ex- perience of their forefathers had taught them, that perfect free- dom of opinion and religion, could not be enjoyed under the European Governments ; and they were satisfied that our pecu- liar Institutions could not long survive the virtue and intelli- gence of the people. We according find in the original con- veyances of this plantation, ample provision made for the per- petuation of these blessings.
In carrying out their original designs, the first settlers of this town brought with them from Lebanon, the Rev. Timothy Collins, a candidate for the ministry, to preach for them. And
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at the first Town Meeting of which we have a record, viz. on the 6th of November 1721, he was "called to a settlement in this place, in the work of the ministry." The town then con- stituted but one Ecclesiastical Society, and for many years all votes relative to Ecclesiastical affairs, were passed in Town Meeting. In addition to the provision made in the deed, giving him in fee one sixtieth of the whole township, and also the use of another sixtieth part, (which last was called the Parsonage Right,) the Town then voted the following salary, viz : £57 per annum for the first four years, for the fifth £60, the sixth £70, the seventh £80, and to continue at £80 a year so long as he continued in the work of the ministry here. The Town also voted to give him £100, to be paid by the 1st of July then next, and his firewood so long as he continued here in said work. . The amount of his firewood for a series of years was by vote to be eighty cords per annum. This provision (very lib- eral for the times) was accepted by Mr. Collins on the 12th of December 1721 ; he entered upon his labors, was ordained on the 19th of June 1723, and continued to be the minister of the Congregational Society till the 15th of November 1752, when he was dismissed. He afterwards continued here, acting as a Justice of the Peace, and in the practice Medicine, and died in 1776.
In January 1745-6, a committee was appointed to make sale and give deeds or leases of the Parsonage Right. And in March following the committee sold most or all of that right which was not afterwards leased to Mr. Champion, and con- veyed it in fee simple to sundry individuals. On the 9th of February 1746-7, the town "Voted That the interest money arising upon the bonds for which the Parsonage Right was sold, be towards the payment of Mr. Collins' rate for the current. yoar." What disposition was made of the principal, does not appear from the Records.
On the 26th of February 1753, the Town voted to give the Rev. Judah Champion, a native of East Haddam, a call to set- tlc here in the work of the ministry, and to give him £2000 in old tenor money, for his settlement. And £800 per annum old tenor money for his salary.
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Mr. Champion accepted the call, was ordained July 4th 1759, and continued in the ministry till 1798. His salary was continued till his decease in 1810, in his S2d year. For the purpose of paying the settlement of Mr. Champion, it was, on- the 14th of June 1753, voted, to lease to him so much of the Parsonage Right as should be necessary for that purpose, for the term of 999 years. And on the 15th of January 1754, a lease of the home lot and twenty acre division adjoining, was given to Mr. Champion, in consideration of said settlement.
The School Right was disposed of as follows. On the 29th of December 1729, the Town voted, "That the School Right in Litchfield, shall be leased out for the maintainance of a School in said Litchfield, for 999 years ensuing." And also voted, " That the inhabitants of said Litchfield do oblige them- selves and their successors, in ye recognizance of Ten Thou- sand Pounds lawful money, to give a new lease of said right at the end of said term of 999 years, if there shall be occasion."
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In pursuance of these votes, the committee appointed for that purpose, on the 15th of April 1730, leased to sundry indi- viduals the School right, being one sixtieth of the Town, for 999 years. The grantees paving twenty-seven pounds annu- ally for eight years, for the support of the School, and the 9th year, paying to the selectmen four hundred and fifty pounds, to be forever kept for the support of a school in Litchfield. To the lease was annexed, the following "P. S. Before signing and sealing, the above mentioned signers and sealers agreed, that whoever occupies and improves all the above land or lands, or any part of them, shall pay all rates and taxes that shall arise upon them or any part of them, during the whole term of the lease." And in the year 1767, it was " voted, to divide the money for which the school right was sold, between the old So- ciety, the South Farms Society, and the Church of England, in proportion to the list of each part."
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CHAPTER V.
" The Indian name of this Town, was Bantam. It took the name of Litchfield, when it was incorporated. The first foun- ders built log houses. The settlement proceeded as fast as could be reasonably expected, from the circumstances. Dur- ing frequent wars between England and France, the Canadians and Indians often harrassed our borders ; and Litchfield, being a frontier town, was exposed to their ravages.
Between the years 1720 and 1730, five houses were surroun- ded with pallisadoes. One of these stood on the ground near the present Court House, another about half a mile south, one east, and one west of the centre; and one in South Farms. Soldiers were then stationed here to guard the Inhabitants, both while they were at work in the field, and while they were at- tending public worship on the Sabbath."
" In May 1722, Capt. Jacob Griswold, being at work alone in a field about one mile west of the present Court House, two Indians suddenly rushed upon him from the woods, took him, pinioned his arms, and carried him off. They travelled in a northerly direction, and the same day arrived in some part of the township now called Canaan, then a wilderness. The In- dians kindled a fire, and after binding their prisoner hand and foot, lay down to sleep. Griswold fortunately disengaging his hands and feet, while his arms were yet pinioned, seized their guns, and made his escape into the woods. After travelling a small distance, he sat down and waited till the dawn of day ; and although his arms were still pinioned he carried both the guns. The savages awoke in the morning and finding their prisoner gone, immediately pursued him ; they soon overtook him, and kept in sight of him the greater part of the day, while he was making his way homeward. When they came near, he turned and pointed one of his pieces at them ; they then fell back. In this manner he travelled till near sunset, when he reached an eminence in an open field about one mile north- west of the present Court House. He then discharged one of
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his guns, which immediately summoned the people to his assis- tance. The Indians fled, and Griswold safely returned to his family.
The capture of Griswold made the inhabitants more cau- tious for a while ; but their fears soon subsided. In the month of August following, Mr. Joseph Harris, a respectable inhabi- tant, was at work in the woods alone not far from the place where Griswold was taken; and being attacked by a party of Indians, attempted to make his escape. The Indians pursued him ; and finding that they could not overtake him, they shot him dead and scalped him. As Harris did not return, the in- habitants were alarmed, and some search was made for him ; but the darkness of the night checked their exertions. The next morning they found his body, and gave it a decent burial. Harris was killed near the north end of the Plain, where the road turns to Milton, a little east of a school house now stand- ing ; and for a long time after this plain was called Harris' Plain."* The place of his interment remained unmarked for more than a century, but rested in the memory of the older in- habitants. He was buried in the west burial ground, near the village of Litchfield. In 1830 a suitable monument, with an appropriate inscription, was erected at his grave by voluntary contribution.
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The summer of 1724, was a period of excitement and a- larm. The war between the English and the French, was then prevailing, and the latter used great efforts to incite the northern Indians, to attack the frontier settlements of the whites. " The conduct of the Indians at the north and west during this year, and especially their hostile movements in the vicinity of Litchfield, induced the government to take such pre- cautionary measures as the occasion demanded, in order to furnish protection to the weak and exposed settlements. A line of scouts was established, extending from Litchfield to Turkey Hills, curving around the most northerly and westerly settlements in Simsbury.
On the 4th of June 1724, Capt. Richard Case, of Simsbury,
* Morris' Statistical account of Litchfield.
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was directed to employ ten men on this scouting party, to ren- dezvous at Litchfield. The men employed in this service were sergeant Jonathan Holcomb, John Hill, Nathaniel Holcomb, Joseph Mills, William Buell, Samuel Pettibone, Joseph Wil- coxson, Benajah Humphrey, Nathaniel Westover, and Charles Humphrey ; all belonging to Simsbury. They continued in the service until early in October."*
During these difficulties some of the more timid of the In- habitants deserted their posts, and the interposition of the Le- gislature was deemed necessary, and therefore the following enactment was passed, viz :
" A General Court holden at New-Haven, Oct. 11, 1724 .- Upon the Memorial of the Inhabitants of the Town of Litch- field, Bee it Enacted and Ordained, by the Governor, Assist- ants, and Deputies in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that whosoever hath or ought to have been an Inhabitant and is a proprietor of any of the Lands within the said Town of Litchfield, or have deserted and left said Town since difficulties have arisen there on the account of an Enemy, and shall neglect for the space of one month af- ter the rising of this Assembly to return to the said Town and there abide, or send some man in their room and stead to per- form and doe the necessary duties of watching and warding and the like during the continuance of the difficulties of the warr, shall loose and forfeit all their right and estate in and upon any and all of the Lands aforesaid, and their estate, right and in- terest therein unto the Corporation of Connecticutt. And fur- ther, it is provided, that if any other man being now a proprie- tor and Inhabitant, or a proprietor and ought to have been an Inhabitant in the said Town, shall hereafter during the contin- uance of fear and danger of the enemy, desert and leave the said Town, or neglect to repair thither and there personally abide, without constantly providing some other sufficient person in his room and stead, there to perform all duties as before- mentioned in the case of them who have already deserted, shall likewise forfeit their estates in and on all the lands in the Town aforesaid unto this Corporation. And further, it is pro-
· Phelps' History of Simsbury ..
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vided that upon complaint made to the Committee of Warr at Hartford of or against any such deserter, upon their sattisfac- tion of the truth thereof, the said Committee shall declare the forfeiture, and the said Committee are enabled to admit any other person who shall goe and abide there in the room of the deserter and perform the necessary duties as aforesaid, and that he shall hereafter receive a grant from this Court of the estate escheated as aforesaid for his further confirmation therein, And it is further, Ordered that five shillings per week shall be. allowed for billeting souldiers in Litchfield for the Summer last past."
CHAPTER VI.
One of the earliest public measures of our pions forefathers was the construction of a convenient edifice for the public worship of God. "In April 1723, the inhabitants voted to build their first Church ; and the house was finished within three years. It was built in a plain manner and without a steeple. Its dimensions were 45 feet in length and 35 in breadth." " At the raising of this building all the adult males in the whole township sat on the sills at once."* The Church stood in, and a little north of the center of, Meeting-House Street, and nearly opposite the northern extremity of Town Ilill Street as it now runs. It was perhaps in view of the construction of this building that the following vote was passed on the 9th day of December 1723, viz :
" Voted that whosoever shall sell or tranceport any pine bords out of the Town, shall foifit ten shillings per thousand, and in the same proportion for less or bigger quantities ; one half to the complainer, the other half into the town tresuery."
In 1662 the second church was completed, and was erected on nearly the same ground occupied by the first. By a vote
* Morris' Statistical Account.
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of the town it was to be 60 feet in length, 45 in width, with steeple. In 1829, the present Church of the 1st Ecclesiasti- cal Society was finished, when the second church erected was taken down. 4
The members of the Church of England in this town, asso- ciated together for public worship about the year 1746, and it appears from their records that the Episcopal Society "was or- ganized according to law, on the 26th of October, A. D. 1784." Their first Church was erected nearly opposite the carriage manufactory of Mr. William Lord, about one mile westerly from the Court House. Their Church in the village was completed in the year 1812.
. The Church of the Methodist Episcopal Society in this vil- Jage, was erected in the year 1836.
The west Burial Ground near the village, was reserved for that purpose at the first settlement of the Town. The east Burial Ground was laid out in 1754; and in 1767, the town granted by vote, "the use and improvement of it to Timothy Marsh during the Town's pleasure."
The first inhabitants of the Town, were peculiarly careful that none but persons of good character, should be permitted to settle among them. If a stranger made a purchase in the plantation, a proviso was sometimes inserted in the deed, that the Inhabitants should accept of the purchaser, and that he should " run the risk of trouble from the Grand Committee."
On the 1st of April 1724, it was "voted that the Commite of hartford and Windsor Chonce Inhabitance. In Cace any new are Brought into town, and the town Judg them not holsome, then to be Judged by Indifrant men, and by them Judged Good inhabitance, the cost to be paid by Litchfield, if not the Cost to be paid by the Commite that made Choice of said Inhabi- tantse."
Bounties were paid for the destruction of Wolves, Snakes, &c. On the 16th of May 1710, it was " Voted that whosoev- er shall Kill and. Distroy any Rattle Snakes, within the bounds of the town, any time before the tenth day of December next, bringing the tayl and som of the flesh to any one of the Select- men of the town, shall have three pence for each snake."
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And for the encouragement of Fisheries, it was on the 12th of April 1779, " on request of Capt. John Marsh, consented, (by vote,) that he might have the exclusive Pickerel Fishing in the Loon Pond, (so called,) for the space of twenty years next after this day, provided he shall at his own expense procure Pickerel to breed and propagate therein, in a reasonable time." . It seems however, that no advantage was taken of this privilege. Twenty-eight Pickerel were first procured in the winter of 1809, from a Pond in Southwick, Mass., and put into Cranber- ry or Loon Pond. Their progeny have so increased, that they are now taken in great quantities in all the Lakes in the Town- ship, and they are the most valuable Fish in our waters. Our Lakes are Great Lake, the largest in the State, covering about nine hundred acres ; Mount Tom Pond lying partly in Wash- ington, seventy-two acres ; Little Pond, fifteen acres ; Cran- berry Pond, eight acres. Adjoining some of these Lakes, is a large tract of low meadow containing about five hundred acres, which is apparently alluvial. This land was highly esteemed by the first settlers ; so much did they value it, that in making a division of the Township, only four acres of this meadow were at first allotted to cach Right. It is said, that for the purpose of destroying the timber then growing upon these meadows, by flooding, a dam was thrown across the outlet of the Great Lake,. in consequence of which the fever and ague prevailed to a great extent. Since the dam was removed, it is doubtful whether a case of that character ever originated in the Township. The quality of the meadows is greatly depreciated, by reason, as has been supposed, of the fact that the dam of the old Paper Mill near the Jambs, (so called,) for many years obstructed in some degree the drainage of the meadows.
Our highest mountain is Mount Tom, which is about seven hundred feet perpendicular height above the river at its base on the south side.
" The lands in this Town afforded better hunting ground for the Indians than extensive intervals. Many of the hills were nearly cleared of trees by fire> kindled for the purpose of hunt- ing."
The Inhabitants of the Town, are mostly natives of this
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State, and many boast of their descent from the Puritans of New England.
"The manners and customs of the first settlers were plain and simple. Their clothing was of their own domestic manu- facture ; and their food of their own raising. Foreign luxu- ries were scarcely made use of till about the year 1750. Their . amusements were of the most athletic kind." " The first use of the violin in this town for a dance was in the year 1748. The whole expense of the amusement, although the young people generally attended, did not exceed one dollar ; out of which the fiddler was paid. When this instance of profusion took place, parents and old people exclaimed, that they should be ruined by the extravagance of the youth. In the year 1798 a Ball, with the customary entertainment and variety of music, cost $160, and nothing was said about it. Such has been the difference in the manners of Litchfield within half a century."*
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