USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Newtown > Newtown's bicentennial : an account of the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the purchase from the Indians of the land of the town of Newtown, Connecticut, held August fifth, 1905 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
As the parties guilty of the illegal purchase made satis- factory restitution to the demands of the General Court, no prosecution followed.
When the land purchased was measured and the lines run, which was not until 1712, nearly a year after the incorpor- ation of the town, the following vote was passed at a town meeting held December 20, 1712:
"The Inhabitants Aforesaid made Choyce of John Glover, Jeames Harde, Jeremiah Turner, and John Platt A Committy To measure ye land and settle ye bounds With ye Indians of That Purchase Which William Junos purchased of ye Indians with his asotiates
-49-
in ye boundaryes of Newtown and to request Col Jonson and Capt Miners' assistance to declare to ye indians what land ye sd. indians sold per ye Deed. Also to procure four Gallons of rum to treate ye indians and to refresh yemselves and Charge ye Town debter for ye rum and all other charge and trebel necassary in compleeting ye same."
After the organization of the town and the survey of the lands purchased of the Indians had been made, it was found that one Indian, Quiomph so called, claimed in his own personal right a strip of land alongside the Great River, and the town appointed John Glover and Abraham Kimberly a committee, with Thomas Bennitt and Jonathan Booth as assistants, to buy Quiomph's land that he had laid claim to, declaring himself to be owner of all the land not heretofore purchased by the English. The price paid him by the town agents was 16 pounds. It is described by the deed as follows :
"All ye land in ye boundaries of Newtown not purchased by ye English before ye date of these presents, except a corner, of intervale land lying by ye River, and is bounded easterly by ye River and on all ye other sides by a brook called by ye Indians 'Hucko,' from ye River until ye Brook comes down between ye hills, and from ye said brook where it comes down between ye hills, a straight line direct to ye River."
This is the only recorded sale of Indian lands that was made after what is known as "the first purchase," though in order to meet any emergency or dispute that might arise, it was
"voted at a town meeting held January 12, 1713, that Captain Minor of Woodbury, and John Glover and Abraham Kimberly of Newtown, purchis all ye land withn ye bounds of Newtown of ye Indians that is not yet sold or purchised of them, and ye said Inhabitants by their Clear vote doe give said Captain Minor, John Glover and Abraham Kimberly full power and Authority to Purchis all ye Indian lands in ye boundaries aforesaid or as much as ye Indians will sell, for ye use of ye Town, ye Town Treasurer to
-
-50-
pay all ye Purchis money and all ye Charge and trouble ye Pur- chisers shall Be att."
In 1756 the Connecticut colony reported to the Crown that there were 1000 Indians in the colony, nearly one-half dwelling in English families and the balance in small clans in various parts of the colony, and were peaceably inclined. The white population in the colony was 70,000.
In May, 1708, the Colonial Legislature gave a town grant leaving it to the people to choose between Preston and Newtown for a name. In May, 1711, the town was given the right to elect local officers, and a town clerk, constable, surveyor of highways, a field driver and fence viewer were chosen. These several officers were obliged to go to Danbury to take the oath of office.
In October, 1711, the town was incorporated and granted the right to elect townsmen or selectmen, and at a meeting held at the house of Daniel Foote, December 4, 17II, Ebenezer Pringle, Samuel Sanford and John Platt were chosen selectmen, thus setting in motion the wheels of town government which have continued revolving under varying conditions until the present moment, as near an illustration of perpetual motion as we are likely to ever discover.
Next in order of business came the laying out of the township, which is expressed on the town record in the following terms :
"All of that tract of land lying on the west side of Stratford or Pohtatuck river, bounded easterly on Stratford and part of Fairfield, westerly upon Danbury and a line running from the southeast corner of Danbury parallel to the east line of said town to Fairfield bounds, northerly upon New Milford purchase and Pohtatuck river shall be one entire town known by the name of Newtown."
A committee was then appointed and authorized by the Legislature to survey the tract of land and consider what number of inhabitants it would conveniently accommodate,
-51-
determine where the town plot should be, and lay out a suitable number of home lots. Esquire Joseph Curtis of Stratford, Capt Joseph Wakeman of Fairfield, Mr. John Sherman of Woodbury and Mr. Thomas Taylor of Danbury comprised the Legislative committee. The first allotment of land took place in March, 1710. The allotment as recorded is a lengthy document, but the location of the land can easily be determined from the records. It lay on the westerly side of the new country road and was bounded on the west by the great pond and the long meadow. This long meadow was the intervale land, comprised in what we now call Head of the Meadow district, and bounded on the south by the deep brook. It included the plain stretching to the southward of Mrs. Philo Clark's and the ridge of land that extends northerly from her house.
There were 22 proprietors who took their pitch in this first allotment,
"Ensign richard Hubbell, Daniel Bur Senr, theophilus Hul, Daniel Bur Junr, Captain Bur, Lieutenant Samuel Hubbell, Mr John Reed, Mr Chauncy, Eben Booth, John Miner, Captain Hawley, theo Lake, Mr Samuel Hawley, Joseph Curtice Fairweather, Capt Judson, jon Morris, Wm Jeanes, Jon Beardsley, Ebenezer Pringle, Jeremia Turner, Edward lewes, dan'll Jackson, Benja. Sherman, Thomas Benit."
The document is signed by Joseph Curtice and Thomas Taylor, two of the committee appointed by the Colonial Legislature. The lots were uniform, each containing 20 acres. The record is as follows :
"An a Countt of a Division of Land laid out March 24, 1710, by the Committee for Newtown, each lot Containing 20 acres,-Namely on the Hill on the west side of the town 14 lots already laid out to perticularly persons, named to wit, Josiah Burit the north lott, Abraham Kimberly the south lot, only Kimberly's lot contains but 9 acres and is to have II acres more adjoying to the west side Mr Sherman's farm to joint with ye south side of Mr Sherman's farm, 60 acres laid out to Mr Glover in one piece being for three
.
-52-
allotments due to him lying northward of ye said town on ye north side of a brook. Note that John Griffin in lieu of ye home lot layed out to him accepts of land layed by his dwelling house and hath two acres layed at the east end of his twenty acre lott, and two acres on the west side of Mr prindle's home lott adjoying to itt. Sixteene 20 acre lots to be laid out west of Josiah Burit's lott, and that rang of 20 acre lotts, in three parcels, the first rang on ye west of afore- said, contains eight lots of 20 acres each from the south to the north upon the first hill and three lots on a hill of 20 acres each, lying west of the northerly end of the next above hill, and give lots of twenty acres each on the next hill on the southwest from the above hill of three lots and butts southerly on ye great pond, five lots to be laid out on the southerly end of Mr Sherman's farm and Kim- berly's land above mentioned, each containing 20 acres; three lots to be laid out of 20 acres each lying on the westerly side of the new country road southerly of the brook called by the name of the Deep brook; five lots to be laid out of 20 acres each lying on the hill eastward of the long meadow adjoining to the deep brook on the north end."
At the foot of the document are the names and figures showing the order in which the different proprietors took up their lots. This was the first town plot. But in the follow- ing summer, 17II, another allotment was made easterly of, and adjoining the first, being practically an enlargement of its borders and on this second plot the village of Newtown was laid out.
The pioneers were no more unmindful of the shortness and uncertainty of human life than we are, perhaps not as much so, for in the same year of the town's incorporation, 17II, the town by vote set apart one acre and a half of ground at the extreme south end of the town in which to bury their dead, and at a town meeting held December 9, 1712, it was voted that "Stephen Parmerly shall have the use of one acre and a half of land which is the burying place for our dead, provided he clear the land of brush and sow it with English grass seed." The plot of ground referred to is the south end of our village cemetery and is known as the old part, and still remains the town's property.
THE JOHN BEACH MEMORIAL LIBRARY.
-53-
This was the only recognized place for burying their dead until the year 1748. Here are to be found headstones that mark the graves of Newtown's pioneers who died between 1741 and 1800. These are one hundred and fifty in number, but no headstones have been found that bear inscriptions previous to the year 1741, although the plot was set apart for a burying place in the year 17II. There must have been many burials there in the thirty years that preceded 1741. Surely it would be a fitting thing if in the near future we should raise, by voluntary subscription, money enough to enable us to place a huge boulder in that open space in the old part, with a bronze tablet inserted thereon inscribed to the "Memory of Newtown's pioneers who lie in unmarked graves." Believing it might add much to the enjoyment of this occasion to remove the moss that two centuries had accumulated on the old headstones, seventy in number have recently been cleaned and the inscriptions made legible. This was made possible at this juncture from the fact that a medical man who was once of us but not now with us, gave very generously for that object and so paved the way for its accomplishment.
There are some very quaint as well as impressive inscrip- tions on these old stones, of which I cannot forbear to copy a few :
Here lyeth interred the earthly remains of the Rev'd John Beach* A.M. late missionary from the Venerable Society for
* Bequeathed in his will-"To my congregations in Newtown and Redding ten pounds each, for the purpose of settling another minister, and ten pounds for Bibles for the poor of each of my congregations."
He further requested to be buried according to the Liturgy of the Church of England.
-54-
the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts Who exchanged this life for immortality on the Igth Day of March 1782 Minister in the Episcopal Church Newtown Conn. from 1732 to 1782
The sweet remembrance of the just Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust. Reader let this tablet abide.
In memory of Rev. Philo Perry Pastor of the Episcopal Society in Newtown who Died Octor 7th 1760 aged 46 years, 10 mos. & 13 days. and the thirteenth of his ministry.
I heard a voice from heaven Saying unto me write From henceforth blessed are the Dead who die in the Lord.
Beneath, the Dust of Sueton Grant who Died October 7 1760 aged 15 years, 10 months & 13 days. the son of Donald Grant of the Parish of Duthel in the County of Inverness in Scotland and of Arminel his wife.
"Loud speaks the Grave My Goal unnerves the Strong My shades deform the Gay, the Fair, the Young. ye Youth awaken Catch the short lived Day Improve your Time and Talents while you may."
-55-
Beneath, the Dust of Donald Grant who Died Octor 18 1767 Aged 20 years I month and 3 days. Son of Donald Grant of the Parish of Duthel in the County of Inverness Scotland. and Arminel his Wife.
In Memory of Reuben H Booth who was drowned Nov. 24 aged 43 Years.
How in an instant he was call'd Eternity to view Not time to regulate his house Nor bid the world adiew.
David, son of Mr Jonathan & Mrs. Phebe, Booth died Sept™ ye 22 1753 aged 4 Years & II days.
Joseph Son of Mr Jonathan & Mrs Pheby Booth died August ye II 1751 Aged 3 Years & II months.
Here lies ye Body of Sarah Booth Dautr of Mr Jonathan & Mrs Pheby Booth Died Febry 15 1759 in ye 15th Year of her Age.
5
-56-
In Memory of Mrs Saray Jane widow of Mr John July ye 15 AD. 1750 Aged 47 Years.
In Memory of Mr Jo nathan Booth. He Died February Ye 8 A. D 1755 Aged 73 Years.
In Memory of the Revd Mr David Judson Pastor of the First Church of Christ in Newtown who Departed this Life Sept™ ye 24 A.D. 1776 in the 61 Year of his Age.
David son of Rev- Mr David Judson and Mary Judson- died Dec. II 1749 aged I year 6 months & 20 Days-
Here Lyes ye Body of Mary Judson Daughter of the Rev. David Judson and his wife Mary who died July 23 1752 Aged 7 Years & 20 days.
To the Memory of Mr Lemuel Camp Who on the 30th Day of Jany 1784 In the 83rd Year of his Age In obedience to Nature's law With Meekness & Christian Fortitude resigned his Life to the Almighty giver and quietly fell asleep This monument is inscribed.
-57-
The marble monument may yield to Time Time to Eternity- But the remembrance of the just shall flourish When Time shall cease And Death is swallowed up with Victory.
To the Memory of Alice Camp widow of Lemuel Camp Who Died Dec. 5 1796 in the 87th Year of her Age.
The sweet remembrance of the Just Shall flourish when they sleep in Dust.
In Memory of Mr Abraham Ferris who died April ye 4 A.D 1789 in the 68th Year of his Age.
No Gift of Nature, Art, or Grace exempted from the Burying Place All must obey death's solemn Call Before that Tyrant all must fall.
To the memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Jennings Edmond, eldest Daughter of the late Hon. John Chandler and Mrs Mary Chandler, who departed this life Feb. 17 1795 aged 29 years 8 mos. & 17 days.
This monument is erected by her Surviving husband William Edmond.
-58-
Here lies ye Body of Mr John Glover .* He died in ye faith and communion of ye Church of England June ye 3 A D. 1752 & in ye 78 Year of his Age.
"The once well respected Mr Daniel Booth Here rested from the hurry of Life, the 8th April, A. D., 1777, Aged LXXIII.
Could a virtuous, honest and amia- ble character, Could Blessings of the Poor echoing from his Gate, Could ye sympathetick Grief of an aged Partner or the Soft'ning Tears of a numerous offspring Disarm the King of Terrors He had not died. What is Life? to Answer Life's great Aim.
From Earth's low prison, from this vale of Tears, With age incumbered and oppressed with years, Death set Him free, his Christ had made his Pe'ce, Let grief be dumb, let pious sorrow cease."
Read the testimony of Richard Fairman as to the char- acter of his wife:
Hear lies inter'd the Body of Mrs Jane the Dear Wife of Richard Fairman Esqr who Dw- elt Together in the Married State 30 ye-
* John Glover willed to his wife Elizabeth, his negro man and woman and his negro boy Phillip. It was also his expressed wish "to be buried according to the manner of the Church of England."
-59-
ars Wanting 23 Days And was in his Opinion A Woman of the Best sense & judgment that he was E ver Acquainted With A nd He Believes truly pious Who departed this Life in the 58 year of her Age May 16 A.D. I771.
Safely inter'd Here lies The remains of Mrs Mary, . the amiable consort of Mr Jab's. Baldwine, who made her exit Jan., 1770, in the 36 year of her Age, Leaving Behind her 5 Children.
When a fond Mother's care hath nursed her Babes to manly size She must with us'ry pay the Grave.
To the Memory of Mr David Curtiss, once the agreeable companion and the generous friend who was suddenly arrested by remorseless Death, July 29, A. D., 1783. in the 42 year of his age. This monument is inscribed.
"Of this man may it be with propriety said, His friends were many, enemies few. The partial friend may virtues magnify, The flattering marble may record a Lye, But God who judgeth righteously and just, Will raise his children from the sleeping Dust, Proclaim their worth in Earth in Air in Heaven, Their pardon sealed, and write their sins forgiven."
-60-
In Memory of Mrs Sally Cooke 2ª Wife of Daniel B Cooke who departed this life Decr. 12 A.D. 1794 Aged 20 Years, this stone is erected,
"Could the Piety which adorns or Benevolence which endears human Nature Could tenderest friendship or the Purest Love Disarm the King of terrors She had not Died."
Much interesting history might be given of those old pioneers whose dust lies undisturbed in "God's Acre," could time for research be given for the work.
On the brow of the hill at the north end of the town plot, where the ground slopes to the east and south, stand headstones that mark the graves of one, Donald Grant and three of his children, Sueton, Elizabeth, and Donald, Jr., who died respectively in 1760, 1762, 1763, the father himself dying in 1767.
On each of these headstones is inscribed-"of the Parish of Duthel In ye County of Inverness in Scotland." Impressed with the thought that there might be an interest- ing history connected with that family, an intuitive feeling led me to correspond with Donald Grant Mitchell, known to the literary world by the pseudonym "Ike Marvel." Through him I learned that Donald Grant's daughter Hannah was his paternal grandmother, and on two recent occasions when I visited the home of Mr. Mitchell at Edgewood near New Haven, I was very kindly received and hospitably entertained listening to reminiscences of Donald Grant and his family and admiring relics that had been handed down by his grandmother, once Hannah Grant the daughter of
-61-
Donald Grant, and born June 28, 1749. First was shown to me the passport that was given the young man when he left bonnie Scotland in 1732 at the age of twenty-four years, crossing a trackless ocean to make for himself a home in America. It is written on parchment in a clear legible hand and reads as follows :
"Pass Port Of Donald Grant, I732 By the Honorable The Magistrates of the Burgh of Inverness.
Permit the bearer hereof, Donald Grant of the Parish of Duthell in this County to pass from this Wherever his business may require him, without lett or Molestation, he, behaving himself as becometh. And it is hereby Certified that the said Donald Grant is Descended of honest, reputable parents and has Hitherto behaved himself soberly and Honestly. In Testimony Whereof, We have hereunto sett our hands and Appointed the Seal of our said Burrow to be hereto affixed At Inverness the fourteenth Day of April 1732 years.
To All Whom it may concern.
Witnessed By
John Hossack,-Baillie. Thomas Alvos,-Baillie. Collin Campbell,-Baillie. Londonderry."
When Donald Grant landed in this country in 1732 he chose Newtown in its virgin loveliness and fertility in which to make his permanent home. Bringing with him the pass- port signed by the Scotch magistrates of his mother land, testifying to his good character, what else could have been expected of him but that he would make the good, trusted citizen which he became? His name is frequently met with in the first volume of Newtown records in connection with
-62-
business transactions and official duties for the town. And by the old records we find that at the age of thirty-five years, he married, December 7, 1743, Arminel, the daughter of the Rev. Thomas Toucey, the first minister settled in Newtown. They lived together twenty-four years, his death occurring in 1767, the death of three of their children preceding his. Not very long after his death, his widow Arminel, and the daughter Hannah, who was eighteen when the father died, removed to Wethersfield. The widow there married a Mr. Mitchell and the daughter Hannah married his son Stephen Mix Mitchell, a highly educated and prominent man of Wethersfield, and in due course of time she became the paternal grandmother of Donald Grant Mitchell, who is still a well preserved man of eighty-three years. When at his house he showed me a most beautiful oil painting of Mrs. Hannah Grant Mitchell taken when she was past eighty years of age, and, remarking upon her rare beauty, he informed me that if I could find a certain old book "Old Merchants of New York" I would find in that, allusion to her, as she was in her younger days. The search was made and I was rewarded by finding, copied from "Freeman's New York Almanac for the year of our Lord 1765" a portion of a journal kept by a New York merchant while making a trip on horseback from New York to Guilford in the Colony of Connecticut and back to New York .. He was from September 13 to September 25-twelve days- making the round trip, passing through Danbury, Newtown, Stratford, New Haven, Branford, Killingworth and Guil- ford, on the outward trip, stopping over one Sunday in Newtown and returning through Guilford, Branford, New Haven, Stratford, Fairfield, Norwalk and on to New York.
I copy from this journal his allusion to Newtown :-
"Left New York Sunday September 13. Reached Danbury Thurs- day evening, and of Danbury it is said to be a very pleasant New
-63-
England town, regularly laid out in lots with a church and meeting house. Left Tom and his friend to provide a supper dinner.
Friday September 18. Arose by six this day. Hard rain. Hired a guide and a horse, borrowed a woman's cloak for Tom, mounted him behind the man and took charge of leading the horse myself. Roads wet, splashy, hilly, rocky and stony. Stopped at Landlord Fairchilds three miles short of Newtown. Baited, and shaved our- selves, remounted and got to our friends by 10 o'clock-(distance II) whom we found waiting upon his poor distressed friend Donald Grant. Here lives the old gentleman's daughter Hannah, fairest among the fair. I have not yet seen her.
Saturday Igth Rain continues. At dinner, the lovely-oh for Mr Bolton-the too lovely Miss Grant, made her appearance. Grace in every step and dignity in all her actions. What is very remarkable in this young lady's real character, amidst a crowd of admirers and danglers she has preserved the utmost simplicity.
This day we have walked between the showers about this beauti- fully situated town, the country all around most agreeably diversified and improved. Sabbath begins Saturday at sundown in this religious country. Spent a serious evening. No mirth, no festivity, no going to a sick house.
We were favored all the evening with the fair one's company but not conversation. She read "Mr Spec" all the while. Mr Brown and Sir Richard did the same, together with the lawyer Botsford who lives in the same house, a genteel young fellow and an humble admirer.
Sunday September 20. Fine morning, Rose early. Shaved in our rooms early, out of sight. (Sin to shave on Sunday.) Dressed and went to meeting. No church this day. An execrable preacher, Mister Benbee. The evening service we likewise attended and then desired to know, if we might indulge ourselves with a walk but were refused, until sun was down.
We then, accompanied with Mr Botsford sauntered until we reached a chestnut tree which he, conscientious gentleman, would not so far break the Sabbath, though it might be said to be over, as to pluck a single fruit off, but when picked, he ate most greedily of, even so far as to distance us who were employed knocking them down.
Grave subjects concluded the evening, and we retired to rest, I having first wrote two letters, one to Mr Cook Danbury, the other to Dr. Perry Woodbury concerning Mr. Donald Grant's case.
N.B. Spoke to Mrs Botsford for Dr. Thomas Newtown.
-64-
Monday Sept. 21. Rose early. Fine morning. Disturbed the family, took our leave and proceeded on our journey. Plenty of mushrooms along our path which we cooked and ate.
N.B. Would not let us pay a farthing. Set off at half past six."
When Donald Grant died he left by Will which is recorded in Probate Records of Danbury, ten pounds money for the North school in Newtown, and ten pounds money for the South school in Newtown and ten pounds money for a bell for the meeting house provided the bell should be bought in England.
More might be told of the family, but enough has been given to show what patient research and persistent effort might bring forth of the history of many of those whose dust has lain undisturbed for more than one hundred and fifty years.
In 1748 the town laid out to the
"people living at ye northwest part of ye township of Newtown, upon their desire, sixty rod of land for a Bureing place to Bury their dead in at a place Northerly off or from Benjamin Hawley's Dwelling House. First Bounds is a heap of stones in the line of Caleb Baldwin's land, then run southly 6 rods to a heap of stones, then run westerly II rods, joining to the Highway, then run North- erly 5 rods to first bounds land layed out by us. Joseph Bristol, Lemuel Camp, Committee."
In that burying place stands a headstone that marks the grave of Jeremiah Turner, the first white child born in Newtown.
Attendance at town meetings was made compulsory and a fine of three shillings was imposed upon all who failed to attend who could give no valid reason for absence. It was considered due notice of the meeting if a selectman or constable should notify personally or leave notice at the dwelling house of the person to be notified.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.