USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Seymour > Seymour and vicinity. Historical collections > Part 7
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Capt. James Wheeler of Derby, living in the section known as Turkey Ilill, married Sarah Riggs and had three daughters and seven sons, Samuel, Moses. John W., David, James, Joseph, and Simeon. Capt. James Wheeler died in 1768. Samuel built the first house in Nyumphs, the eastern part of the town of Beacon Fal s, and around him settled his brothers, Moses David, and James. Simeon built on Rimmon and had two sons, Nathan and Timothy, and a daughter who married Bradford Steele of Humphreysville. Samnel Wheeler was the father of Judge Abel Wheeler of Oxford, who built and lived in the house now oceuppied by S. P. Sanford. John W. Wheeler was the father of Mr. JJohn Todd Wheeler, who recently died at a great age in Seymour. Ile was born at the house of his Unele James Wheeler, which stood where the aged Sheldon Clark recently lived, north of the woolen factory. Simeon's large two story honse was where there is now a small house right opposite the factory next north of the covered bridge.
What is called Lopus was first settled by Zados Sanford and Hezekiah Clark, grandfather of Sheldon Clark, about the year 1700. He and his brother David lost their lives in the Revolutionary War.
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
There were three principal ways to go from Derby to Waterbury in those old times. One way was on the east side of the Naugatuck by the house of Benajah Johnson and his son Isaac, on Skokorat, then up over Beacon Hill to Salem, &c. A second way was along the banks of the Naugatuck, crossing the stream sixteen times. This was often the way in summer when the stream was low. A third way was over Great Hill, Rock'ns (Rock-house) Hill, Quaker Farms, &c. When a man and his wife or daughter made the journey to Waterbury she rode behind him on a pillion.
The road across Great Hill was laid out previous to 1745, as appears in- cidentally in the following extract from the records :
To all whom it may concern, know ye, that we, the subscribers hereunto, at the desire of the selectmen of Derbey, were by the eiril authority in Milford appointed and sworn to afis and sett up bounds between a certain highway within the bounds of Derbey aforesaid, on a place called the Great Hill, the land on the Northward side of the Highway claimed by Capt. Sam'l Basitt on the rights of Saml. Hawley of Stratford, and on the Southward side of said high-way elaimed by Samuel Tomlinson, Abraham Wooster and Jonathan Lum. According to sd. appointment are on the second Day of instant May did go upon the land, and consider- ing the records and hearing the witnesses there present, set up, afix und renew the bounds on each side of sd. highway, and a heap of stones at the South west corner of said Basitt's lying within the fence, and a heap of stones lying at the root of a great chestnut-tree that is blown down at the Southeast corner of said Basitt's claim, are the true original corners of Sd. Hawley's piece of land as laid out by a Committee December 21, 1698, and that a straight line from said Corners is the northward side of the Highway. And four rods Southward from said heap of stones at the root of said Chestnut trec there is a heap of stones at the root of a black oak tree tu Sd. Johnathan Lum's fence, and another heap of stones bg Woodbury road four rods Southward from a heup of stones at the corner of Sd. Basitt's land, lying near to the corner of Sd. Tomlinson's land that was formerally Silrester Wooster's, and a straight line from said corners is the Southward side of said Highway. Done by us, Derbey, May 20, 1745.
NATHANIEL FAIRCHILD, NATHAN BALDWIN, THOMAS CLARKE,
Freeholders.
Entered July the 1st, A. D .. 1745. By me, Charles French, Regtr.
Joseph Maurehu, or Chnse, about 1720 was presented by his father with a tract of land "near the falls of the Nangatue," where a little band of Indians gathered around and recognized him as their chief. At first there were but two or three white families in the vicinity, but the number soon in- creased. Joe received the name Chnse from his manner in pronouncing choose, and from this the place was called Chnsetown for more than fifty years. Chuse was a skillful hunter and captured not only small game, but occasionally a deer, wild turkey or bear. Finally the little tribe became scattered and in 1763, Chuse and Honde, sold their land to Ebenezer Keeney, John Wooster and Joseph Hull, Jr. The following is a copy of the deed :
Know all men by these presents that we, Joseph Chuse, John Houde, Indians of Derby, in the County of New Haren, and Colony of Connecticut in New England, with the adrice of Samuel Baset, Esqr, Agent for the said Indians, according to the Allowance and Liberty Giren to Ebenezer Keeney, John Wooster &. Joseph Hull, Jr. of Derby in the county and colony aforesaid by the general assembly of the Colony of Connecticut on the first Thursday of May, .1. D. 1760, & we the Said Joseph Chuse, John Houde, Indians us aforesd-with the Liberty and adrice as aforesd-do quit-claim and make orer and confirm unto the said Ebene- ser Keeney, John Wooster &. JJoseph Hull, Jur., for the Consideration of Eight Pounds Lawfull
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
money to us paid by the said Ebenezer Keeney, John Wooster &. Joseph Hull, Jr., which is to our full satisfaction, and we the said Joseph Chuse & John Houde do by these Presents Quitelaim, make over and Confirm to them the sd Ebenezer Keeney, John Wooster and Joseph Hull, Jr., a Certaine Purcell of Land Lying in sd Derby at the Falls, 80 culled, Bounded as followeth, beginning at a heap of stones near the foot of the Great Bridge which is the original corner of the Falls Land, and run cast four rods to e heap of stones on the edge of the hill by a walnut tree, then run north 46 degs. west eleven rods to u heap of stones on the edge of a knole, then Went 14 Degs. north fourteen rods to a heap of stones four rods from the bank of the river, then run north 34 Degs. west fifteen rods to a heup of stones on the top of the high bank, then run west 45 Degs. north to a heap of stones by the river eighteen rods, and then its bounded southerly and westerly around to the first mentioned bounds near the foot of the Bridge all the way on the river, taking in the falls Rocks, Containing one aere against the falls and one aere and a half of land for highway to the said acre, with all the prevelidges and appurtenances belonging to said fulls and land, and we the said Joseph Chuse, John Houde, Indians, as aforesaid do by these presents quitclaim, release and relinquish and make orer to them, the said Ebenezer Keeney, John Wooster and Joseph Hull, Jr., and to their heirs and assigns forever without any molestation given by us or by our heirs or assigns. In Confirmation of the premises we have hereunto set our Hands and Seals this forth day of October, A. D., 1763.
Signed, Sealed and delivered in presence of CHARLES FRENCH, JOHN HOLBROOK,
JOSEPH CHUSE SEAL
JOHN HOUDE
SEAL
Derby, in the County of New Haven, on the duy and date above said personally ap- peared Joseph Chuse and John Houde, signers and seulers to the above instrument and ac- knowledged the said instrument to be their free act and deed.
Before me, CHARLES FRENCH, Justice of the Peace.
It appears however, that some Indians remained in the vicinity long after this, as at a town meeting held Mar. 8, 1780, "Capt. Bradford Steel and Mr. Gideon Johnson were appointed a committee with full power to take care of the Indian Lands in Derby, and let out the same to the best advan- tage for the support of said Indians and to take care that there be no waste made on said land, and to render an account of their doings to said town of Derby."
Francis French, one of the original grantees of Derby, when it was set apart from the Milford plantation, came over in the ship "Defence" in 1635, being then but ten years of age. Savage, in his Dictionary of First Settlers of New England, says he came over with William, his * * uncle, who settled at Cambridge, Mass. The English records of emigration of about * that time record the departure of one Francis French, aged ten years, and his mother. This Francis French was one of the selectmen of the town in 1666, when the usual pay of town officials for their services was 2s. 6d. per day. His son Francis, born Feb. 11, 1677, was the father of Israel French, who built his house where now stands the house of William Gilyard, on Sko- corat, in 1740, and so was a near neighbor of Benajah Johnson. This Israel French married Sarah Loveland Sept. 11, 1739. He was elected a Surveyor of Highway at a town meeting held Dec. 10th, 1764, and held the office several years. As the highway to Derby was then little better than a forest path, the office was probably no sinecure. His oldest son, David, born in 1741, lived in Bethany, then a parish of Woodbridge. He was familiarly known as King David, and the records mention him as a land holder of Nyumphs in 1766, and years afterward as prominent among the early Metlio- dists. He died Aug. 4, 1821, aged 80 years. Another son of this pioneer,
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
Israel, was Charles, born Dec. 19, 1765, who was the father of Raymond French, Esq. Charles, brother of Israel French, was town clerk of Derby thirty-four years. The family were remarkable for their tenacious memories. It was said of Israel that after once hearing a sermon he could repeat it from memory with but little varation.
Richard Baldwin, one of the original grantees of the town of Derby, was a native of England, baptized there in 1622, and came over with his father Sylvanus on board ship Martin. Sylvanus was the son of Sylvester, from parish Ashton, Clinton, Bucks Co., Eng., who died in 1638 on ship Martin. Richard bought land Oct. 10th, 1669, in the south part of Derby, of Ockemunge, (written also Okenucli and Okenug,) "sole sachem of Pau- gussett," Chupps and Nehawkumme.
He was selected by the General Court as "Moderator of the new settle- ment of Pangussett, and he was one of the committee appointed on the part of the New Haven colony to effect the union with the Connecticut colony. Barnabas, son of Richard, was born in 1665. About six hundred acres in the south-west part of Woodbridge, which had been purchased of an Indian chief by his father, was conveyed to him by his brothers and sisters, and is largely in the possession of his descendants to the present day. He died in 1741. His son Timothy was born in 1695 and died in 1766. Capt. Timothy, son of the above mentioned, was born Dec. 13, 1722, in what was then Milford, near the Derby line, afterwards Woodbridge. Jan. 15, 1744, he was married to Sarah Beecher, who died in 1794. He was in 1779 one of the committee to facilitate the arrangements to strengthen the patriot army. He lived in what is now Seymour, and in 1789 was the first signer of the petition for the establishment of the first religious society formed in this place. See page 17. He had a slave Peter, baptized Dec. 23rd, 1790. He died Dec. 22, 1800. His children were Sarah, b. Apr. 11, 1746, m. Simeon Wheeler of Derby, Oct. 10, 1764: Timothy, b. 1749, lived in Derby, d. Aug. 30, 1822: Thaddeus, b. June 22, 1751: Anne, b. Feb. 24, 1757, m. Edmund Clark of Derby.
Occasionally the records of public proceedings seen to indicate a large proportion of the public men as residing in this part of old Derby. At the town meeting held Dec. 10, 1764, Daniel Holbrook was chosen moderator ; Charles French, town clerk; Ashbel Loveland and Abiel Fairchild, grand jurors ; John Howd, one of the tything men ; and John Washband, surveyor of highways. In 1765, (Dec. 9th,) Daniel Holbrook is again mentioned as moderator of the town meeting, and Gideon and Nathaniel Johnson and John Basit were chosen surveyors of highway. Daniel Holbrook lived on Skocorat.
The practice of allowing cattle and swine to run at large on the common lands made necessary some method of marking, and each proprietor had his "earmark" duly recorded. Dr. Josiah Canfield's earmark was a swallow fork in the end of the left ear. (Entered Mar. 27, 1769.) Jonathan Miles' earmark was a swallow fork in each ear and a half penny cut in the upper side of the right ear. (Entered May 9, 1766.)
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
OXFORD.
As an adjoining town, carved, like Seymour, from what was once Derby, and whose boundary line has been changed from time to time, so as to include more or less of what is now Seymour, some account of the early history of Oxford may properly be inserted here. The first petition looking to the setting apart of Oxford as a separate parish was made to the General Assembly in May, 1740. A committee was appointed to investigate the case, and in May, 1741, the petition was granted in the following words:
"Whereas upon the memorial of Timothy Worster, John Twitchel and John Towner, &c., dwelling in the north and northwest part of the township of Derby, Isaac Trowbridge, John Weed, Jonas Weed, Joseph Weed, Thomas and Joseph Osborn, dwelling in the southwest part of Waterbury woods, in the old society in said Waterbury, and Isaac Knowles, Joseph Towner, Eliphalet Bristol, John Tift and Aaron Bristol, dwelling in the southeast part of the township of Woodberry woods in the parish of Southberry, moving to the General Assembly holden at Hartford, May, anno Dom. 1740, that they might become one entire, distinct ecclesiastical society, and praying for a committee, &c .; the said General Assembly did appoint a committee, who accordingly making their report to the General Assembly at New Haven in October last, and the same not being accepted; and the said General Assembly in October last appointing another committee, Colo. Benjamin Hall, Capt. Isaac Dickerman and Capt. John Fowler, to view and report, &c .: And whereas the said last mentioned committee have to this Assembly made their re- port, that according to the direction of said Assembly they have repaired to the abovesaid places, &c., and find and are of opinion, that it is necessary and best that the said inhabitants be made a distinct, separate ecclesiatical society, and that their bounds and limits be as followeth: Beginning at the mouth of the four mile brook in Derby bounds, where the brook emptieth itself into the great river, and to run as said brook runneth by said brook unto the bridge that is between the dwelling houses of Abel Gun and John Holbrook; and from said bridge by the highway that runneth between the land commonly called the Camp's Mortgage and the land called Quakers Farm Purchase, unto the river called the Little river; and thence as the Little river runneth to Nau- gatuck river; and thence northerly, by said Naugatuck river, that being the east bounds of said society, until it comes to the dividing line between the towns of Derby and Waterbury; thence turning westerly and running as the line runneth between the towns of Derby and Waterbury, as aforesaid, until it comes to the southeasterly boundary of Thomas and Joseph Osborn's farm in the bounds of Derby; and from thence to run northerly to the northeast corner boundary of Jos. Weed's farm in Waterbury town bounds; and from thence a northwesterly line to the northeast corner boundary of Isaac Trowbridge's farm in said Waterbury town bounds; and from thence to run westerly, in the line of said Trowbridge's farm, about sixty rods, to Woodberry town line; and thence to the northwest corner of Isaac Knowles's farm in the township of Woodberry; and from the northwest corner of said Knowles's farm a west line to the eight mile brook in the bounds of Woodberry; and then by the said brook, until it comes to the dividing line between the towns of Woodberry and Derby; and thence to run westerly in the line that divideth between the said towns of Woodberry and Derby, unto the great river; thence by the river southerly to the first mentioned boundary, the mouth of four mile brook; as by said report on file, dated May the 7th, anno Dom. 1741."
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
"It is thereupon resolved by this Assembly, That the above said memori- alists, inhabitants of Derby, Waterbury and Woodberry, situate and living within the bounds and limits above described, be and become together one entire, separate and distinct ecclesiastical society or parish, subsisting and known by the name of the parish of Oxford, and endowed with all powers and privileges wherewith other parishes within this government are by law endowed."
The members of the "Society of Oxford," as they termed themselves, met for the first time and organized June 30, 1841. On the 6th of October, 1741, in meeting lawfully warned, it was voted, "by a two-thirds part of the inhabitants by law qualified to vote and present in meeting, to build a meet- ing house, and to meet the assembly in their next session at New Haven, to pray for a commission to appoint, order and fix the place whereon their meet- ing house shall be erected and built." Mr. Ebenezer Riggs was appointed agent to the General Assembly. The following is the order of the Assembly:
"Upon the report of Capt. Isaac Dickerman, Mr. James Tahnadge and Mr. John Hitchcock, appointed by this Assembly to affix the place for the inhabitants of the parish of Oxford to build their meeting house upon, &e., the said committee having viewed their circumstances, and have set down a stake and laid stones to the same, at the south end of the hill, commonly called Jack's Hill, and near the highway that runs on the east side the Little river, on land belonging to Ephraim Washbourn, which said place the said committee report to be the most convenient place for the said inhabitants to build a meeting house upon : Resolved by this Assembly, that the abovesaid place be the place for the said inhabitants to build their meeting house upon ; and the said inhabitants are hereby ordered to build a meeting house at the said place accordingly."
In May, 1743, "upon the prayer of Isaac Trowbridge, of Oxford parish, in behalf of himself and the rest of the inhabitants of said parish, pray- ing this Assembly that they may be allowed to imbody into a church estate and be impowered and enabled to settle a minister according to the establishment of the churches in this government, &c .: Whereupon it is granted by this Assembly, that the said parish of Oxford, by and with the consent and approbation of the neighbouring churches, may imbody into church estate, and are hereby allowed and impowered to proceed to and settle a minister according to the establishment of the churches in this government."
Rev. Johnathan Lyman was ordained minister of the parish Oct. 4, 1745, and received a settlement of £500, to be paid in four yearly installments, and a salary of £125 per year. The next minister was Rev. David Bronson, from Milford, called Mar. 3rd, 1764, with a settlement of £200 and a salary of £60. He served the parish forty years, dying in 1806.
The Episcopal parish of St. Peter's was organized in 1764 by Rev. Richard Mansfield, the rector of the Derby church. The first settled elergy- man of this parish was Rev. Mr. Prindle.
Although a separate parish since 1741, Oxford was not incorporated as a town until 1798. Father mention will be made in connection with eontem- porary events.
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
The Period of the Revolution.
The hardy pioneers who had made their homes among these hills and vales, of good old English stock, and, in part, descendants of the puritans who came over in the Mayflower, had grown stronger in their love of freedom, and were prompt to second the resistance to the encroachments upon their liberty. Meetings were held and arrangements made to send men, provisions and clothing, to the extent of their ability, to the patriot army. Of necessity the business was done in town meetings, but the records show that those living in this section did their duty nobly.
As early as Nov. 29th, 1774, a special town meeting was called to con - sider "the doings of the Reputable Continental Congress held at Philadelphia, Sept. 5th 1774," Daniel Holbrook, moderator. They agreed that the proposal of Congress was "a wise and judicious plan," and resolved that they would "faithfully adhere to and abide by the association entered into by said Con- gress." The meeting also voted as follows: "That the Gentlemen hereafter named be a Committee to see the same carried into execution, viz: Capt. John Holbrook, Mr Henry Tomlinson, Maj. Jabez Thompson, Mr John Pickit, Capt Thomas Clark, Mr Abraham Smith, Henry Whitney, Capt Joseph Riggs, Lieut Bradford Steel & Lieut Ebenezer Buckingham. In case a county Con- gress should be agreed upon in this county, then the aforesaid committee shall chuse and appoint two out of their number to attend such congress. Again the town have taken into their consideration the needy & distressed circum -. stances of the poor of the Town Boston, by the operation of a late act of Par- liament blocking up their Harbour, this Town is opinion that it is necessary and their duty to contribute for their help."
In 1777 all male citizens of lawful age were required to take an oath of fidelity. Among those who took this oath appear the following familiar names. Rev. Daniel Humphrey, Charles French, Esqr, John Davis, Esq", Thomas Clark, Esqr, Capt John Holbrook,* Agur Tomlinson, Joseph Durand, Benja- min Tomlinson, Capt Joseph Riggs, Abraham Basit, David DeForest, Philo Johnson, John Coe, Daniel Chatfield, Ruben Baldwin, Gideon Johnson, Nathan Mansfield, Bradford Steel, Eleazer Lewis,* Ebenezer Keeney, Henry Tomlin -. son, * Turel Whittemore, Abraham Beacher, Enos Bradley, Johnathan Hitch- cock, Noah French, Nathaniel French, Samuel French, John Howd, David Johnson, Deacon Daniel Holbrook, Jur, Capt Nathaniel Johnson, Abraham Hawkins, Isaac Smith, Capt Jolin Tomlinson, Capt William Clark, John Botchford, Ashbel Loveland, Asahel Johnson, Capt Joseph Lum, Joseph Loveland, Jeliel Spencer, Ebenezer Johnson, Samuel Russell, Zachariah Fairchild, Freegift Hawkins, Edward Howd, Joseph Canfield, Silas Baldwin,
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
Abijalı Hull, Lewis Hubbell, Philo Holbrook, Eleazer Wooster. (*Specified in records as living on Great Hill.)
At a town meeting held Feb. 10th, 1777, the following action was taken : "Whereas the General Assembly of this state at their sessions at Middle- town on the 18th day of December last past, by an act did regulate the prices of a number of articles in sd act enumerated ; and whereas it appears to this town that it is of the utmost consequence to the Community in general and to this town in particular that said act should be immediately carried into execution-Voted therefore that this town will by every legal measure en- deavour to have the directions of said act strictly complyed with, this town being fully sensible that it is the duty of every friend to his country to sell & dispose of the articles enumerated in the act of assembly fixing the price of labour, provisions, &c., at the prices at which they are therein stated. Therefore,
Voted, that those of us who have any of them beyond what we want for our own consumption will readily and cheerfully sell them either for money or produce at the price in said act stated : and that we will esteem all persons who shall not do the same, enemies to their country, and treat them accord- ingly : Provided such person is properly convicted thereof before the Com- mittee of Inspection of this Town : whom we impower to take cognizance of such offense."
That those who were serving their country on the field of battle were pro- vided for by those who remained at home, as far as their means would permit, is shown by frequent votes of supplies and appointment of special committees to see that the supplies were furnished. On the Sth of Dec., 1777, John Coe, David DeForest and Capt Thomas Clark were appointed such a committee. In Dec., 1778, Sam1 Hull, David DeForest, Abraham Beecher, Capt John Tomlinson, Capt Timothy Baldwin, Capt John Riggs, Lient Samuel Wheler, Sam Basit, Dan1 Holbrook, Junr, Capt Joseph Riggs, Ruben Tucker, Capt Nathaniel Johnson, Jos Russell, Noah Tomlinson, Thomas Clark, Esq", John Howd, Capt John Holbrook, Edward Howd, Thadeus Baldwin and others were appointed a committee to provide clothing for the soldiers.
At a town meeting held Dec. 28th, 1778, it was voted to "give to each soldier in the Continental Army that counts for the town of Derby Ten Pounds money each in lew of the linnin overhawls, linnin shirts, and shoes that was voted to them last year as a bounty," and a town tax was laid of one shilling nine pence on the pound. Ensign John Humphrey was appointed to receive the money and to pay it to the soldiers.
Notwithstanding the excitement caused by the war and the heavy taxes upon the resources of the people, the schools were not forgotten, as the fol- lowing documents show. The first seems to define a district in the western part of what is now Beacon Falls. The petition was granted in a town meeting Dec. 13th, 1779.
"Considering the distance that a considerable number of the inhabitants of the 4th & 5th districts live from the center of said districts and the incon- venience it is attended with, we therefore whose names are under written, desire to be set off to be an entire District. Signed and approved by us, Joseph Davis, Abraham Basit, Sam Smith, Jr., David Person, John Davis, John Church, Isaac Beecher, Abraham Beecher, Ebenezer Riggs, John Riggs, Bradford Steel, Committee. Beginning at the Stone Bridge at the lower end of Mr. Abraham Basit's Little river meadow, from thence running East to the top of the hill South of said Basit's, then running north with the high-way to Capt. Joseph Davis' including said Capt Davis, and from thence running East to the high way that runs west of Tobey's rock, then running
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