USA > Connecticut > New London County > Stonington > History of the town of Stonington, county of New London, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1649 to 1900 with a genealogical register of stonington families > Part 19
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HISTORY OF STONINGTON.
about, giving fire upon them, some of them being shot made the rest of them more wary, yet they kept on running to and fro and shooting their arrows at random. At the foot of the hill was a small brook, where we rested and refreshed ourselves, having by that time taught them a little more manners than to disturb us. We then marched on towards Pequot Harbor, and falling upon several wigwams, burnt them, the enemy still fol- lowing us in the rear, which was to windward, though to little purpose, yet some of them lay in ambush behind rocks and trees, often shooting at us, yet through mercy touched not one of us, and as we came to any swamp or thicket we made some shot to clear the passage. Some of them fell with our shot and probably more might but for want of munitions. When any of them fell our Indians would give a great shout and thus would they take so much courage as to fetch their heads. And thus we continued until we came within two miles of Pequot Har- bor, when the enemy gathered together and left us, we marching on to the top of a hill adjoining the harbor, with our colors flying, having left our drums at the place of our rendezvous the night before. We seeing our vessels there riding at anchor to our great rejoicing and came to the water side, we there sat down in quiet. Capt. Patrick, being arrived there with our vessels, who as we were informed was sent with forty men by the Massachusetts Colony upon some service against the Block Islanders, who coming to the shore in our shallop, with all of his company, as he said to rescue us, supposing that we were pursued, though there did not appear the least sign of such a thing. But we could not prevail with him by any means to put his men ashore, so that we might carry our wounded men aboard, although it was our own boat in which he was. We were very much troubled, but knew not how to help ourselves.
"At length we were fetched aboard to the great rejoicing of our friends. Shortly after our coming aboard, there fell out a great contest between Capt. Underhill and Capt. Patrick. Capt. Underhill claiming an interest in the bark where Capt. Patrick was, which indeed was Underhill's right. The contest grew to. a great height. At length we propounded that if Patrick would ride with that bark in contention and secure the Narragansett Indians, it being also the place of rendezvous to those vessels. that were expected from Massachusetts, until we transported our
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wounded men to Saybrook, five leagues distant, then we would immediately return our pink to convey the Narragansetts home, the which Capt. Patrick seemed very ready to accept.
"Capt. Underhill soon after set sail in one of our barks for Saybrook, but before he was out of sight signified by writing, that he could not attend that service, but he must wait for the Bay vessels at Saybrook, wishing us having the honor of that service to complete it, by securing the Narragansett Indians, which at first seemed very difficult, if not impossible, for our pink could not receive them, and to march by land was very dangerous, it being near twenty miles in the enemy's country, our numbers being much weakened, as we were then about twenty men, the rest we had sent home for fear of a Pequot invasion. But absolutely necessitated to march by land we hasted ashore with our Indians and small numbers. Capt. Patrick seeing what we intended came ashore also with his men, although in truth we did not desire or delight in his company and so we plainly told him; however, he would and did march along with us. About the midway between that and Saybrook we fell upon a people called Niantics, belonging to the Pequots, who fled to a swamp for refuge, they hearing or espying us fled. We pursued them a while by the track as long as they kept together, but being much spent with former travel and the Sab- bath drawing on, it being about two or three of the clock on the Saturday in the afternoon, we leaving our pursuit hasted towards Saybrook and about sunset we arrived at Connecticut River side, being nobly entertained by Lieut. Gardner, with many great guns, and were forced there to quarter that night. On the morrow we were all fetched over to Saybrook, receiving many courtesies from Lieut. Gardner, and after we had taken order for the safe conduct of the Narragansett Indians, we repaired to the places of our abode, where we were entertaind with great triumph and rejoicing and praising God for His goodness to us, in succeeding our weak endeavors, in crown- ing us with success and restoring us with so little loss. Almost immediately after we left, the whole body of the remaining Pequots repaired to the fort, where Sassacus, the chief sachem, resided, charging him that he was the sole cause of all trouble that had befallen them, and therefore they would destroy both him and his, but by the entreaty of their counsellors, they
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spared his life and after consulting what course to take, con- cluded there was no abiding any longer in their country, and so resolved to fly into several places. The greatest body of them went towards Manhatance (now New York city). Passing over Connecticut River they met with three Englishmen in a shallop, going for Saybrook, whom they slew. The Englishmen fought very stoutly as they afterward confessed, wounding many of them."
Mason further says: "That about a fortnight after his return home, which was about one month after the fight at Mystic, there arrived in Mystic River several vessels from the Massa- chusetts Colony, Capt. Israel Stoughton being commander in chief, and with him about one hundred and twenty men, being sent by that colony to pursue the war against the Pequots, the enemy being all fled before they came, except some few strag- glers, who were surprised by the Moheages and others of the Indians and by them delivered to the Massachusetts soldiers. Connecticut Colony being informed thereof, sent forthwith forty men, Capt. Mason being chief commander, with some other gentlemen to meet those of the Massachusetts to consider what was necessary to be attended respecting the future, who meet- ing with them of the Massachusettts in Pequot Harbor, after some time of consultation, concluded to pursue those Pequots that were fled towards Manhatance and forthwith marched after them, discovering several places where they had rendezvoused and lodged not far distant from their several removes, making but little haste by reason of their children and want of provisions, being forced to dig for clams and to procure such other things as the wilderness afforded, our vessels sailing along by the shore. In about the space of three days we all arrived at New Haven Harbor, then called Quinnypiag, and seeing a great smoke in the woods not far distant we, supposing that some of the Pequots, our enemies, might be there, hastened ashore, but quickly discovered them to be Connecticut Indians; then we returned aboard our vessels, where we stayed some short time, having sent a Pequot captive upon discovery; we named him Lux, who brought no tidings of the enemy, which proved true, so faithful was he to us, though against his own nation. Such was the terror of the English upon them that a Moheage Indian named Jack Eatow, going ashore at that time, met with
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three Pequots, took two of them and brought them aboard. We then hastened our march towards the place where the enemy ยท was and coming into a corn field, several of the English espied some Indians, who fled from them and they pursued them, and coming to the top of a hill saw several wigwams just opposite, only a swamp intervening which was almost divided into two parts, Sergeant Palmer hastening with about twelve men, who were under his command, to surround the smaller part of the swamp, that he might prevent the Indians flying. Ensign Davenport and Sergeant Jeffries, entering the swamp, intended to have gone to the wigwams, were there set upon by several Indians, who in all probability were deterred by Sergt. Palmer. In this skirmish the English slew but few, two or three of them- selves were wounded, the rest of the English coming up, the. swamp was surrounded. Our council being called, and the question propounded, how we should proceed, Capt. Patrick advised that we should cut down the swamp, there being many Indian hatchets taken, Capt. Trask concurring with him, but was opposed by others; then they would have a hedge made like those of Gotham, all of which was judged by some almost impossible and to no purpose and that for several reasons and therefore strongly opposed, but some others advised to force the swamp, having time enough, it being about three of the clock in the afternoon, but that being opposed it was then pro- pounded to draw up our men close to the swamp, which would have much lessened the circumference and withal to fill up the open passages with bushes, that so we might secure them until morning and then we might consider further about it.
"But neither of these would pass, so different were our ap- prehensions, which were very grievous to some of us, who concluded the Indians would make an escape in the night as easily they might and did. We keeping a great distance, what better could be expected. Yet Capt. Mason took order that the. narrows in the swamp should be cut through, which did much shorten our leagues. It was resolutely performed by Sergeant Davis.
"We being loath to destroy women and children, as also the Indians belonging to that place, whereupon Mr. Thomas Stan- ton, a man well acquainted with Indian language and manners, offered his services to go into the swamp and treat with them,
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HISTORY OF STONINGTON.
to which we were somewhat backward, by reason of some hazard and danger he might be exposed unto, but his importunity prevailed, who going to them did in a short time return to us with near two hundred old men, women and children, who delivered themselves to the mercy of the English. And so night drawing on, we beleaguered them as strongly as we could. About half an hour before day, the Indians that were in the swamp attempted to break through Capt. Patrick's quarters, but were beaten back several times, they making a great noise as their manner is at such times; it sounded round about our leaguer, whereupon Capt. Mason sent Sergeant Stears to en- quire into the cause and also to assist if need require. Capt. Trask coming also to their assistance, but the tumult growing to a very great height we raised our siege and marching up to the place at a turning of the swamp, the Indians were forcing out upon us, but we sent them back by our small shot. We waiting a little for a second attempt, the Indians in the mean- time facing about, pressed violently upon Capt. Patrick, breaking through his quarters and so escaped. They were about sixty or seventy as we were informed. We afterwards searched the swamp and found but few slain. The captives we took were about one hundred and eighty, whom we divided, intending to keep them as servants, but they could not endure the yoke, few of them continuing any considerable time with their masters. Sassacus, his brother Mononoto and several of "his sachems did not surrender to the English, but fled to the Mohawks for protection and personal safety, but contrary to their expectations the Mohawks, remembering their old-time wars with the Pequots, put Sassacus and several of his refugee sachems to death, but his brother Mononoto escaped, though seriously wounded by them. After taking the life of Sassacus the Mohawks cut off his head and sent it by special messenger to the Connecticut authorities as a token of their friendship for the English."
In the foregoing history of the Pequot Indians, I have con- sulted Broadhead's Dutch history of New York, and have closely followed Capt. John Mason's history of the causes that resulted in the declaration of war by the Connecticut Colonial General Court against the Pequots and the successful progress and .consummation of the expedition that he* conducted against
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PEQUOT INDIANS.
them. After the close of the Pequot war, Uncas, Miantonomo and Ninigret, with the remaining captive Pequots, on the 21st day of Sept., 1637, met the magistrates of Connecticut at Hartford, and after mutual friendly intercourse, a treaty was entered into between the colony of Connecticut and the Mohe- gan, Narragansett and Niantic Indians, which by its terms established perpetual peace between the colony of Connecticut and the Mohegan, Narragansett and Niantic Indians, and then with imposing ceremonies the magistrates divided the remnant of the Pequots among the Mohegan, Narragansett and Niantic Indians as follows : They gave eighty to Uncas, to Miantonomo they gave eighty, and to Ninigret they gave twenty, upon condition that the Pequots were no longer to be known by their tribal name, and were debarred from ever again dwelling in their old homes or occupying their old hunting and planting grounds. This treaty stipulation did not control the Pequots, for as soon as those assigned to Miantonomo reached Rhode Island, they left him and were afterward joined by those who were assigned to Ninigret, and in disobedience of the terms of the treaty with the Connecticut magistrates, they located themselves at a place called Massatuxet in Westerly, R. I., about three and one-half miles north of Watch Hill, where they built a wigwam village and planted adjoining lands with Indian maze or corn.
In order to compel these Pequot Indians to live with Mian- tonomo and Ninigret according to their treaty obligations of 1637, the Connecticut authorities sent Capt. John Mason and forty men to break up their settlement at Massatuxet, and drive them back to the tribal homes of the Niantics and Narra- gansetts, but they refused to go, whereupon Mason burned their wigwams, seized and carried off in his vessel all of their canoes, corn and wigwam furniture, but all to no purpose; the Pequots would not leave their Massatuxet home. They rebuilt their wigwams and planted the adjoining land and lived peace- ably with the neighboring Indian tribes, claiming that their place of abode was on some of the old Pequot tribal lands, where they continued to reside from 1637 to 1661, when a ren- egade Pequot captain, Sosoa, who lived with the Narragansetts, claimed that Massatuxet and nearly all of the present town of Westerly, which he called Misquamicut, belonged to him by
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HISTORY OF STONINGTON.
virtue of a gift of the Narragansett sachems for his valiant services for them in their previous wars with the Pequots, before Mason overthrew them in 1637.
The original Indian title to Massatuxet, and in fact to Mis- quamicut, claimed by Sosoa as his property by virtue of a gift from the Narragansett sachems, never belonged to that tribe, but was the tribal lands of the Niantic Indians, before their original territory was seized and held by the Pequots and the Niantics suffered to live on the east and west ends thereof, which is now known as Niantic, Rhode Island, and Niantic in Connecticut. These Pequots remained at Massatuxet until 1660, when they were driven from their homes where they had lived for over twenty years (long enough to have acquired a title thereto by possession in any civilized community) over Paw- catuck River into Stonington, Conn., and occupied land at Causet Point, on the north side of Pawcatuck or Little Narra- gansett Bay, for a few years. Subsequently they occupied land at Taugwonk and Cosatuc Hill, then in Stonington, and finally on a reservation, now in North Stonington, provided for them by the Connecticut Colony in 1686, and there the remnants of Miantonomo and Ninigret, and Pequots resided, until nearly all of them found homes elsewhere or departed this life, subject to more or less annoyance by some of the surrounding English settlers and yielding a passive obedience to their overseer, appointed by the Connecticut General Court at first, and later by the Superior Court of Connecticut. The eighty Pequots who were assigned to Uncas by said magistrates would not live with him and his tribal clan at Mohegan, now Montville, Conn. To offset his enforced obedience to Sassacus, he lorded it over them with a high hand, which caused them to leave him and pitch their wigwam tents in the present town of Groton, where they continued to live until a reservation was provided for them by the Connecticut Colony at Mashantuxet, in the present town of Ledyard, Conn., which they reluctantly consented to accept in lieu of their Noank homes, reserving the right of fishing in Mystic River, Conn.
In this reservationary home they were more or less annoyed by the surrounding English neighbors and for relief repeatedly petitioned the General Assembly of Connecticut, which resulted in very little benefit to them.
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PEQUOT INDIANS.
Pending the French and Indian war and the American Revolutionary struggle, a number of them enlisted and served with our Connecticut soldiers, and during their absence from home their families were provided for by the towns and General Assembly. The Pequot reservation in Ledyard and North Stonington do not at the present time contain a single wigwam house, nor a residence of any Pequot descendants. A large part of the Ledyard reservation has been sold with the timber of the rest of it, and the avails thereof have been safely invested under the care and control of their overseers. The North Stonington reservation remains intact and is leased as pasture land and the yearly income of both reservations is applied by the overseers thereof for the benefit of the sick and feeble old men and women of both of the clans of the Pequots, wherever they may reside.
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER
-OF-
STONINGTON FAMILIES.
AVERY FAMILY.
I. CHRISTOPHER AVERY, the emigrant ancestor and progenitor of the Avery family, was born in England about 1590. He was a weaver by trade, and came to this country and located at Gloucester, Mass., where he was selectman in 1646, 1652 and 1654. At a court in Salem he took the freeman's oath, June 29, 1692, and was chosen clerk of the band, constable, and clerk of the market. His wife did not come to this country. In 1658 he sold lands at Gloucester and removed to Boston, where on the 16th of March, 1658-9 he purchased land, a small lot, about twenty-six by forty-six feet. It was located in what is now the centre of the post-office building, facing on Devonshire street. The famous old spring, which gave the name to Spring Lane and which is now preserved under the post-office, was near. This Avery plot was a part of, or at least adjoined, the site of two notable resorts of later days-the well known restaurant whence first came the famous "Julien soup," and the "Stack- pole House," not much less famous. The Winthrop estate was not far away, and near by, in after years, Benjamin Franklin was born. Christopher Avery did not long retain this property, for March 22, 1663, he sold land to Ambrose Dew, for forty pounds. There had evidently been no increase of value in the five years that he had held possession. After being owned by two or three different persons, it was bought by Mr. Stackpole about 1790. Christopher Avery now followed his son James to Connecticut, and August 8, 1665, purchased a house, orchard and lot of Robert Burrows in New London. Here he claimed exemption from watching and training, on account of age, in June, 1667, and was made freeman of the colony October, 1669. He died March 12, 1670, by Minor diary.
HAD SON:
2. Capt. James Avery, the only child of Christopher, was born in 1620. Came to America with his father, and lived at
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HISTORY OF STONINGTON.
Gloucester for several years. 'The Rev. Mr. Blinman, who had been the minister of Gloucester for eight years, was engaged to become the minister of the Pequot Plantation. A party of his friends proposed to move with him, and came on to make preparatory arrangements, Oct. 19, 1650. It appears that James Avery went back to Gloucester, sold his possession there to his father, and in 1651 returned to New London. In March of that year the principal body of these eastern families arrived. Capt. James acquired large tracts of land at what is now Poquonoc Bridge, Groton, east of New London. About 1636 he built the hive of the Avery's at the head of Poquonoc Plain, a mile and a half from the river Thames. In 1684, the old Blinman edifice, first church of New London, the unadorned church and water-tower of the wilderness, which had stood for thirty years, was sold to Capt. Avery for six pounds, with the condition that he should remove it in one month's time. Ac- cording to tradition, the church was taken down, its materials carried across the river, and added to the house he had already built at Poquonoc. In spite of this analytic and synthetic process, the ancient dwelling seemed to have retained some of its sacred character, for a century later it was occupied until July 21, 1894, when a spark from a passing locomotive ignited its well-seasoned frame, and in a short time only the ancient chimney remained to mark the spot of this historic house of Eastern Connecticut. A few years later the chimney was taken down, the grounds graded, and a tasteful monument was erected by the descendants of James Avery. He was ensign, lieuten- ant and captain of the New London companies and served throughout King Philip's war in command of forty Indians from Stonington, New London and Lyme. In 1676 he was captain of one of the four companies which protected the frontier, and for twenty-three years an officer of the town, and twelve times deputy to the General Court, 1656-80; also assisting judge in the Prerogative Court, and was most prominent in matters relating to the church, as references to him in such connections are numerous. He m. Ist, Nov. 10, 1643, Joanna Greenslade, b. about 1622; she d. after 1693., He m. 2nd, Mrs. Abigail (Ingraham) Chesebrough, widow of Joshua Holmes, July 4, 1698, (No. 2) Holmes family. He d. April 18, 1700. His widow was living at late as 1714.
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AVERY FAMILY.
CHILDREN:
3 HANNAH, b. at Gloucester, Oct. 11, 1644, m. Ephraim Miner, June 20, 1666, (No. 15) that family.
4 JAMES, b. at Gloucester, Dec. 15, 1646, m. Deborah Sterling, or Stall- yon, Feb. 18, 1669.
5 MARY, b. Feb. 19, 1648, m. Joseph Miner, Oct. 28, 1668, (No. 16) that family.
6 THOMAS, b. May 6, 1651, m. Hannah Miner, Oct. 22, 1677.
7 JOHN, b. Feb. 10, 1654, m. Abigail Chesebrough.
8 REBECCA, b. Oct. 6, 1656, m. William Potts of New Castle, England, Aug. 5, 1678.
9 JONATHAN, b. Jan. 5, 1658, buried Sept. 15, 1681.
10 CHRISTOPHER, b. Apr. 30, 1661, d. Dec. 8, 1683.
11 SAMUEL, b. Aug. 14, 1664, m. Susannah Palmes, dau. of William Palmes and Ann Humphrey, Oct. 25, 1686, of Swanzey, Mass. He was a large farmer, and was chosen moderator upon the legal organization of the town of Groton in 1704, and its first townsman at the first town meeting in 1705, and held that office until his death, May 1, 1723. His farm was in what is now South Groton. He is buried about a mile northwest of Seth Williams' farm in Ledyard, on the farm of C. H. Stanton.
12 JOANNA, b. in 1669.
Lieut. James Avery, Jr., (No. 4) m. Deborah, daughter of Ed- ward Sterling, or Stallyon, Feb. 18, 1669. Like his father he was an important man of affairs. Their names are first in the list of those who were in full communion in the church of Groton, in the old church record, begun by John Owen, pastor, before 1727. He was lieutenant in the Connecticut Colonial forces during the frontier wars. Mr. and Mrs. Avery are buried near the centre of the west burying ground at Pequonoc. He d. Aug. 22, 1748; she d. Mar. 27, 1729.
CHILDREN:
13 DEBORAH, b. Aug. 10, 1670, m. Robert Allyn, June 29, 1691.
14 JAMES, b. Apr. 20, 1673, m. Mary Griswold in 1696, d. Sept. 18, 1754.
15 .MARGARET, b. Feb. 5, 1674, m. William Morgan, July 7, 1696.
16 EDWIN, b. Mar. 20, 1676, m. Susanna Rose, June 3, 1699, at Preston, Ct.
17 EBENEZER, b. May 1, 1678, m. Dorothy Park.
18 CHRISTOPHER, b. Jan. 23, 1679, m. 1st, Abigail Park; 2nd, Mrs. Pru- dence Wheeler; 3rd, Mrs. Esther Prentice; 4th, Susannah
19 JONATHAN, b. Nov. 9, 1681, m. Elizabeth Waterman.
20 MARY, b. Aug. 4, 1683, d. y.
21 HANNAH, b. Mar. 24, 1685, m. Samuel Morgan.
22 SARAH, b. May 10, 1688, m. Mr. Luther.
23 JOSEPH, b. Aug. 9, 1691, m. Tabitha Gardiner.
24 BENJAMIN, b. 1693, m. Thankful Avery.
25 MARY, b. 1696, m. William Morgan, (No. 35) that family.
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HISTORY OF STONINGTON.
Thomas Avery (No. 6) m. Hannah Miner (No. 21) that family, Oct. 22, 1677; she d. 1692. Married 2nd, Mrs. Hannah Buck- ley, widow of Edward Buckley, M. D., Mar. 11, 1693. He was in King Philip's war and was a successful Indian interpreter. During the latter part of his life he removed to Montville, Conn. He d. Jan. 5, 1737; she d. 1692.
CHILDREN BY 1ST MARRIAGE:
26 THOMAS, b. Apr. 20, 1679, m. Ann Shapley.
27 SAMUEL, b. Nov. 15, 1680, m. Elizabeth Ransford in 1702.
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