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 6
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the early days. They were all located on the highway, permission being given by vote of the freeholders in Town meeting. Thinking it may be of special interest we give a few of the votes as recorded :
December 9, 1740,
"voted and agreed that Jeremiah Northrop shall have liberty to set a small Sabbath day house In ye Lane by or against Captain Bald- win's orchard."
Dec. ye 8 1743-
"voted and agreed that Lieutenant Joseph Smith and Caleb Baldwin Junr. Shall have Liberty to Build a small house for a Sabbath Day House adjoining with Jeremiah Northrop or Separate if they see cause. In such place by Capt. Baldwins House Lot in ye Lane not to Damnify sd. highway."
December 3, 1750,
"voted that Jonathan Sanford shall have Liberty to Build a small Sabbath Day house at ye westerly end of John Plat's Sabbath Day house."
December 23, 1751,
"voted that Benjamin Northrop shall have Liberty to Building a Sabbath Day house for his use in ye Lane by Captain Baldwin's fence of his home Lott Below or something west of Caleb Baldwin's Sabbath day house."
December 3, 1753,
"voted that Matthew Curtis shall have Liberty to erect or sett up a Sabbath Day house in ye Cross Lane by Captain Baldwin's as they shall think best by agreement."
December 30, 1754,
"voted that Captain Amos Botsford shall have Liberty to Build a small house for Sabbath Days, not Doing Damage to ye highway nor any other person."
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December 30 A. D. 1754
"voted in Town Meeting that all ye farmers Belonging to Newtown may have Liberty to set a small house for Sabbath Days not Doing Damage to ye highways nor any other person."
John Northrop Town Clerk
It would be a strange experience for us if, on the morrow, we could go into Newtown street and see it as it looked 150 years ago at the meeting hour, the meeting house standing near where the liberty pole now stands, Stephen Parmaly beating the drum to call the people together, men coming in along the paths or trails on horseback with wife on the pillion behind, the children trudging along on foot beside them, all enlisted in one common cause, and each in sympathy with the other, vanguard of the millions who have been following in their wake since the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock. Almost with holy reverence do we think of Newtown's earliest pioneers.
In 1739, 28 years after the town's incorporation, the names of 143 property holders appear on the Grand List, and the sum total of taxable property expressed in dollars was 46,445 dollars. A poll went in at 90 dollars, a pair of oxen 40 dollars, horses, of which there were 202, were rated at 15 dollars each. A man's trade or business had an assessed valuation, varying from 20 to 125 dollars. Samuel Sherman's trade was manufacturing and selling brooms, on which he was assessed 150 dollars. Widow Sarah Beers was assessed 50 dollars on her trade. This was taxation without representation.
Job Northrop was taxed on 50 dollars for "faculty.". Jehoshaphat Pringle was taxed on 40 dollars for "faculty," and Widow Mary Bennett was taxed on 65 dollars for "faculty." By "faculty" was meant superior wisdom and judgment above that of their neighbors. The legal and medical fraternity were not as numerous to consult with as now.
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Newtown had no representation at the General Court until 1747, when Mr. John Northrop and Capt. Thomas Toucey were chosen to represent the town at the General Assembly in May following.
In 1744 Newtown was made a part of the Probate Court of Danbury and so continued until 1820. Between those two dates all the Probate records pertaining to Newtown estates are to be found in the Probate Office at Danbury.
Newtown's first list of polls and rateable estate returned to the General Court in 1747 was $56,790. The population of the town at that time was 1100 souls.
Rev. David Judson, who was minister in charge of the Presbyterian body from 1743 to 1777 (at which time he died), has left on record in his own handwriting that in 1716 there were 30 families in the town, in 1740 there were 75 families and in 1770 the number of families in Newtown was 350 and about one half of them were of the Church of England. In 1740 the rateable assessment of the Presbyterians was $39,465 and that of the Church of Eng- land men $8,545 or about one-fifth that of the Presbyterians.
Newtown's population in 1756 was 1253, of which 23 were slaves. Slavery was in vogue here as elsewhere in Connecticut as late as 1804 and we find slaves inventoried along with other personal property at valuations ranging from 50 to 250 dollars.
Rev. David Judson, who died in 1777, left a negro man and woman valued at 300 dollars, a negro girl, Temperance, valued at 140, one Sylvia 100, and a negro boy valued at 50 dollars. Rev. Thomas Toucey when he died left a wench called Happy, who was inventoried at 250 dollars.
Children born of slave mothers were the property of him who owned the mother and were so recorded in the Town Records, from which is copied the following :
Jonathan Booth's servant Dorcas born, January 27 1783.
THE METHODIST CHURCH SANDY HOOK
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We have no means of knowing at how early a period slavery was introduced into Newtown, or whether the first slaves were brought in by their masters as they moved from other plantations or bought direct from traders as they came from the coast of Africa. It seems safe to presume, that as early as 1735, perhaps earlier, slaves were owned in New- town, for we find them inventoried in the settlement of estates of those who died at that early date, an able-bodied likely negro being apprised at 50 pounds money. There are many entries in our town records between the years 1735 and 1805 of the birth, the sale and the emancipation of slaves. These entries are so sandwiched in among other matters that it needs much patience and time to compile the same for an occasion like the present. As no better idea can be found as to the manner of procedure when negro slavery was an institution under the law in Newtown, we copy from the records of the birth of children of slave parents, of the buying and selling, and the emancipation of slaves.
There was never any law enacted forbidding a man giv- ing his slave his freedom, but until the year 1777 a man emancipating his slave did not free himself from the expense of caring for him, in the event of his becoming disabled in any way or unable to take care of himself.
In October, 1777, the General Court then being in session, an act called An Emancipation Act was passed by which any person owning slaves could call upon the selectmen of the town for liberty to free their slave or slaves. Then it became the duty of the selectmen to inquire into the age, abilities, circumstances and character of such slave, and if a major part of them were of the opinion that it would be consistent with the real advantage of the slave, and that he would probably be able to support himself, and was also of good and peaceable life and conversation, a certificate of liberty would be given for to set free the slave, which would
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discharge for ever after the former owner or his heirs or executors from any charge or cost of maintaining or supporting the slave set free.
Emancipation certificate concerning Dorcas a Negro slave owned by John Lott and David Beers.
Certificate of the Selectmen of Newtown.
Newtown November II 1799.
These certify that we have examined into the age and health of Dorcas a Negro woman Slave, owned by John Lott & David Beers Esq. who is desirous to be made free and we do find on actual examination that she, the said Dorcas is in good health and is not of greater age than forty five years & is not less than twenty five years, but that she, the said Dorcas is about twenty nine years of age.
Certified by us David Baldwin select John Sanford Abijah Curtis men
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Know all men by these presents that we John Lott & David Beers of Newtown Fairfield County and State of Connecticut owners of a certain negro woman slave named Dorcas aged about twenty nine years, for divers good causes & for considerations already received to our full satisfaction have thought fit to emancipate & set free the said Dorcas, and we do by these presents fully, freely & absolutely emancipate, liberate & set free the said Dorcas and the said Dorcas is hereby absolutely set free and discharged from our service to all intents & purposes.
It witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands & seals this IIth day of November 1799
Signed sealed & delivered in John Lott
presence of Abijah Curtis David Beers
John Sanford
On May 9 1791 Nehemiah Curtis emancipated his Negro slave Tobias 30 years old.
Jan. 6 1794 Captain Solomon Glover emancipated his Negro slave Alexander 36 years old.
January 1794 Stephen Crofut emancipated his negro slave Candace. October 10 1804 Jarvis Platt emancipated his negro slave Gilbert 29 years old.
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Fairfield County fs Newtown July 30 A.D. 1796. Whereas Mr Ebenezer Beers of sd Newtown has this day made application to us the subscribers for liberty to Emancipate and make Free his Negro man Named Cesar otherwise called Julius Cesar in manner and form as prescribed by law having examined the sd Negro who is holden as a slave we find that he is desirous to be made free we have also enquired into the age and health of the sd Julius Cesar, and on such enquiry find that he is in good health and is not of greater age than forty five years or less than twenty five years of age.
Certified by William Edmond David Baldwin Authority.
Know all men by these presents
that I Ebenezer Beers of Newtown County of Fairfield State of Connecticut being thereunto legally authorized by virtue of the foregoing certificate have Emancipated and made free the said Julius Cesar and I do hereby make free, Emancipate and set at liberty the sd Cesar and I do hereby for myself and my heirs Relinquish all claim to the future subjection, obedience & service of the said Cesar and the avails thereof and the said Cesar is hereby fully, freely and absolutely acquitted, Discharged Emancipated and made free, as wit- ness my hand and seal this 30th Day of July A D-1796
Signed sealed & Delivered Ebenezer Beers.
in presence of William Edmond David Baldwin.
May 9th 1796 Daniel Booth Emancipated his Negro man slave Zephaniah, and his Negro Woman slave named Peggy
On January 6 1800 Philo Toucey emancipated & set free his negro slave named Jacob 25 years of age September 6 1799.
September 16 1799 Mr Reuben Booth & David Booth executors of the estate of Jonathan Booth Emancipated & set free a negro slave woman thirty seven years old named Lynde-in accordance with the express will of said deceased.
"Some entries of the births of the Children of Tobe Curtis by his wife Phillis the servant of Caleb Baldwin. Their first born, a Daughter named Jenne born in Stratford on the 26th day of August 1782.
Their son named Joseph Freedom born in Newtown on the 27th day of October A. D. 1784. The sd Joseph Freedom Departed this life on the 6th day of May 1790."
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"Elexander Brisco -Negro-and Peggy Joyned in marriage by the Revnd. Mr Rexford.
Their first born named Succa
Their second named Nancy
Their third named Linda"
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"The birth and Age of the negro children of Daniel Glover.
Gene was born October 7th A D 1787
Peter was born January 30 A D 1788 . Daniel Glover. Rose was born December A D 1790
Fairfield County is Newtown the 20th Day of February Anno 1791 personally appeared Mr. Daniel Glover & on oath declared that the above named viz. Gene, Peter & Rose were the names of three Negro Children born in his house of a Negro wench belonging to him Named Nancy & that the above dates were the times severally of their births sworn &c before
John Chandler Assistant Clerk."
"Benjamin Hawley's negro child Ned, was born October the 6th Day 1788. Fairfield County fs Newtown on the 21st day of March 179I personally appeared Mr Benjamin Hawley & on oath Declared that the above was a true account of the birth of a negro male child which belonged to him by the name of Ned sworn &c before John Chandler Justice of the Peace.
Received to Record 2Ist of March 1791. Recorder per. me Caleb Baldwin Town Clerk."
Newtown March 24 1787.
"Received of Lemuel Sherman and his wife Mary Sherman ten pounds lawful money for which I quit claim my Right and title during his natural life, and in confirmation I have set my hand and in a certain Negro Boy named Ned, to them to have and to hold seal in presence of Andrew Fairchild and Prudence Fairchild."
Ransford Fairchild.
Bill of sale of Jime, Black Servant of Wd Sarah Nichols Recd. to record Ist of March 1804. Recorded for me Caleb Baldwin Town Clerk. To all people to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Know ye that I. Wd Sarah Nichols of Newtown in Fairfield County, for the consideration of fifty dollars received in hand of Titus a free negro of the Town of Fairfield to my full satisfaction and Content, have granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents do
NEWTOWN STREET Looking North from the Liberty Pole.
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grant, bargain, sell and convey unto Titus free Negro his executors, administrators & assigns one certain Negro girl named Jime aged about thirty one years to have and to hold said Negro girl, to him the said Titus a Free Negro his executors and assigns for and during the natural life of the said Negro Girl, & furthermore I, the said Sarah Nichols do for myself & heirs warrant the said Negro girl to him the said Titus a Free Negro against all just claims and demands whatsoever.
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this Ist Day of March AD 1804.
Witnesses- Joseph Nichols Charles Prince.
Sarah Nichols Wd
[L S]
Concerning width of highways in and near the town street it was voted at a proprietors meeting held February 2 1758,
"that the highways are to be in width as follows (viz) the town street is to be Eight Rods wide from Ebenezer Bristols Dwelling house to ye Dwelling house of Lieut Heth Pecks, and ye highways on each side of ye land Called the Ram pasture, to be six rods wide, and the highways that Leads from the meeting house to Gideon Baldwin's meadow East of his house, to be six rods wide, and all other places that are for Countery Roads to Be left six rods wide, and in all other places within two mild from ye meeting house to be four Rod in width-except private highways or highways not to be much used to be Left two Rods wide."
Test John Northrop Clerk."
Cattle, horses, sheep, geese and swine were allowed to run at large in the early days-though under certain restric- tions-as for instance on December 19, 1717 it was voted in lawful town meeting
That the Swine belonging to ye Inhabitants of Newtown Shall be free Commoners so long as they Do no Damage and ye owners of ye Swine to pay Damage whare ye fence is good and according to Law & whare ye fence is not good ye Owners of Such fences are not to Recover any Damage or Poundage and if such Swine are not Sofi- ciantly Yoacked after ye first time they Do Damage then ye Owners to pay all Damages after ye first Time they Do Damge. by Soffi-
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cient yoking to be understood a yoke 9 Inches above ye neck, 4 Inches below ye neck 6 inches long on each side ye neck if on grown Swine and proportionably for Lesser. Swine so Yoaked not to be Deamed Damage feazant. This act to continue for two years.
The raising of sheep was one of Newtown's earliest industries, the town owning the flocks, which were kept on the common lands, a shepherd being employed to care for them, and the profits divided among the proprietaries. The first recorded vote we find is under the date 1747, when
"It was voted-that the town of Newtown from time to time, from year to year and forever shall take effectual care and see that all the Incombs of ye flock of sheep in and beloning to said town over & above ye Shepard's wages and insident charges of ye flock shall be paid to ye above sd proprietors of land in sd Newtown and be divided among them according to their several proprietaries
Test Job Sherman, Clerk."
Again at a meeting held January ye 15th 1754 it was voted
"that all of the undivided Land within ye sequesterment so called within one mild of ye town street east and west, north and south, (it is to be understood that ye town street is to extend from Mr John Blackman's house to Ebenezer's Smith shop,) shall Lay as commons for ye use and Benefit of ye Inhabitants of ye town of Newtown for Keeping a flock of Sheep till ye Proprietors shall agree otherwise = and the Earnings or Incumbs of the flock of sheep over and above what will be ye hier of a Sefisant Shepard to keep ye flock and all other necessary charges about ye flock shall return to ye proprietors of ye Land and to be Dewided to each proprietor according to their Right in propriete =
Test John Northrop, Clerk."
At a Proprietors meeting held February 13, 1758, it was
"voted to lay out another tract of common land without ye two miles from ye meeting house, each right to be drawn for as heretofore, and also power was given the Committee appointed for that purpose, to lay out highways where most needful, with full power to make recompense out of proprietors' land without the two miles from the meeting house to the several persons who might be aggrieved by the laying out of said highways on or through their land."
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NEWTOWN STREET Looking South from the Liberty Pole.
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The records show that the proprietors, on sober second thought, decided they could not meet the expense of addi- tional highways and had better let the land be used for a sheep pasture for a while longer. The drawing for the several pitches was to be made April 1, 1758, but at an adjourned meeting held March 20, 1758, the following Preamble was introduced-
"Whereas at ye first Convention of this meeting February 13 1758 it was voted to lay out to each proprietor or Right, one acre of land in what is called ye Commons within ye Compass of two miles from ye meeting house and accordingly a Draught made, and Committee chosen and ye time set to Begin ye Laying out (viz) on ye first of April next, and whereas ye present state of Public afairs in ye Kingdom throws ye British settlements particu- larly in this part of American world into Gratest Confusion and Involves in ye Gratest Difficualties in which we are Grate Sherors, which undoubtedly in point of Duty calls for such Indifferancy of spirite towards ye things of this world which is Inconsistent with Grasping and reaching after ye same any further than strict necessity obliges thereunto and Besides Least when under a burthen next to Insupportable by ye addition of a small weight ye Bearer Should inadvertently be Depressed so as to be sunk Bneath ye Superficies of this terrestrial Globe and such as ye addition att this Day of any unnecessary Charge which at another time (viz.) ye sunshine of prosperity might well be Deemed prudent, necessary and Light. This Being supposed to be ye Case, with Respect to ye present speedy Laying out sd acre and whereas ye sudden or speedy Laying out sd Acre Dewission and bringing ye same into and under par- ticular Improvement must unavoidably put ye Biger part of ye people and Inhabitants of this Town into a surprise by Laying them under a Grate Disadvantage in not Giving of them time to turn themselves in making sutable prowission in their Inclosures, each to keep his own flock.
It is therefore agreed and voted upon ye view and Reasons above mentioned that ye above said Dewision of one acre shall Remain as at present it is unlaid out for ye space of two years from this Date and that when it shall be Laid out att ye expiration of sd two years and not before It shall Lye two years more making from this Date four years open without enclosure particular or otherwise, always provided that ye proprietors in or of common Land be not, by any
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Dewices of ye owners of ye flock, as by hireing Shepards on or for ye same or otherwise be Defrauded of their just Incombs from ye flock Pursuant to a vote not Long since passed by ye proprietors of ye Sheep in Newtown but that ye said wote During sd four years be honestly and faithfully put in Execution according to ye true Intent thereof.
Provided also that Effectual Care be taken by ye proprietors of ye sheep that ye flock be not Laid upon what is called foul meadow unless it be ye Dryer sort thereof and in very Dry season."
Voted in ye Affirmative
Test John Northrop Clark.
In the early days the people were by force of circum- stances obliged to depend upon themselves in meeting sick- ness, accident, distress or destitution. The minister not only was expected to attend to their spiritual needs, but was medical and legal adviser as well. Drug stores were a thing unknown. The rafters under the long low slanting roofs were adorned with bunches of herbs drying for winter use, to be resorted to for all conceivable diseases and accidents that flesh is heir to-hard hack, boneset, tansy, dock root, live-for-ever, cumfrey root, without stint or measure. Among the old headstones in the Newtown Cemetery is one with this inscription.
Sacred to the Memory of Mr Lemuel Thomas for many Years a skillful & useful practitioner of Surgery and Physic. Who Departed this Life Septem. 30 A. D. 1775 Atat 48.
Undoubtedly the earliest practitioner of surgery and physics the town ever had. He had his house on the highway, west side of the road, midway between the Middle District school house and the corner. He was married by the Rev. David Judson, September 15th, 1756, to Mary Foot. Their chil-
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dren were, Lucy, born July 17, 1757; James, born January 29, 1759; Lemuel, born December 2, 1760, and Anna, born January 5, 1767. Born in 1727 and commencing practice before he was thirty years of age, we can see how strong a hold he had upon the people of the community by the following vote taken.
At a Proprietors meeting held March 16, 1757,
"voted and agreed by ye majority of ye proprietors present, that Doctor Lemuel Thomas may have Liberty to take up two acres & a half of Land in ye Town Street for a horse pastuer Between ye School house at ye South end of ye town and Mr John Fabreques Dwelling House Leaving a 8 rod highway on ye east side thereof, and sd Doctor Thomas shall possess sd two acres and a half of Land and Improve ye same as Long as he shall Continue in this town and practising Doctering among us, and if he should lay aside Doctering as aforesaid or Remove out of sd Town ye sd Land to Return to ye proprietors again, he taking away his fence."
voted in ye affirmative Test John Northrop Clark.
"voted that Capt. Henry Glover, Mr Benjamin Curtiss, & Mr Abel Booth is chosen a Committee In behalf of ye proprietors to Give Doctor Lemuel Thomas a Lease of ye Land he had Liberty to take up as appears by ye act of ye proprietors made March 16th 1757. voted and agreed that Capt. John Glover, Lieut. Thomas Skidmore & Mr Abel Booth Shall Be & be hereby chosen a Committee In Behalf of ye proprietors to examin & search in to ye state of ye Land by ye Grate River not Included in Quiump purchase and to purchase said Land of ye Indians if they Can for ye proprietors."
In December, 1776, the town voted that a town house, 32 feet long, 24 feet wide and 9 feet between joints should be built. Oliver Toucey took the job for 300 dollars. He was to make in it as good seats as are generally made in form as in the State House in Hartford. He should light the house with 30 windows, 15 squares of glass in a window, size of glass to be 7 x 9. The building was located on the same site as where the first one stood.
To those who are familiar with Longfellow's poem, "Evangeline," it may be interesting to know that Newtown
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was obliged to care for one family from Grand Pre from 1756 to 1762.
There can be little doubt that the first Roman Catholics who came into Newtown came in 1756, not from choice, but from compulsion.
When France ceded Acadia, now Nova Scotia, to the English the Acadians chose to remain, though they had free choice to leave any time within two years. They refused to take the oath of allegiance to the British king, though they did take the oath of fidelity. They were exempted from bearing arms against their countrymen in Canada, and allowed to enjoy their own religion, which was Roman Catholic.
The British government finally decided to remove the Acadians, confiscate their property and scatter them among their colonies on the Continent, and 300 were assigned to the Connecticut Colony and were landed at New London in 1756. The General Court at its January session in 1756 in New Haven passed an act for distributing and well ordering the French people sent into the colony from Nova Scotia. Four were assigned to Newtown. They were known as the neutral French and were cared for at the town's expense. Every year for six years their records show resolutions that were passed for the care of the French family called neutrals. The town built them a house and provided for all their needs. It could not turn them off, nor could they go out of the town without its consent. The boy of the family was finally bound out for a term of years to Zadock Sherman, and the man Paul and his wife were allowed by vote (of the town) to go visiting their friends, relations or acquaintances. As the town could not turn them adrift, they voted to allow them to go visiting, as shrewd diplomacy as any of the present day.
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