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Onward ever through ages old Of springs and summers past, Of autumn's crimson and its gokl, And winter s chilling blast And oh! what stories must it know. Could it but speak and tell, Of those who in the long ago Knew all its windings well.
Tales of a long forgotten race. Who lived and loved and died, That wandered once in careless grace The sunny stream beside. Full many a shifting scene and change Since this old world was new, And many a wondrous sight and strange Has passed before its view.
In years and ages yet to come Will still its waters gleam ? And other forms beside it roam And love its shining stream ? When we with many g me before Shall see and know it not, And gaze upon it nevermore Forgetting and forgot. M. S N.
June 14, 1898.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
CHAPTER II.
HISTORY OF SEYMOUR.
THE territory covered by the present town of Seymour was not included in the first New Haven plantation, which was "a tract of land north of the bay ten miles one way and thirteen the other, and was purchased for ten coats." This was in April 1638. Many statements have appeared in print, that the town of Milford at one time included Derby, which meant also the territory covered by the present town of Seymour, but this is an error. Milford extended only to a mile below the Narrows. It was in 1675 that the town of Derby was organized, and ten years later, 1685, the Milford purchase was made of land, north of the Derby road to New Haven, one mile and 120 rods wide, along the New Haven line to Bladen's Brook, and in 1700 another purchase was made one mile and 120 rods wide north of Bladen's Brook, and in 1702 another section north called "the one bit purchase."
The people in Derby known as "Pangassett Company " paid taxes for three years direct to the New Haven Company, and for thirteen years to Milford, for then they attended and supported the church in Milford, but all the doings of the plantation, with the above exceptions, were independent of Milford from the very be- ginning, and Milford never pretended to claim any part of Derby. See Der. Hist. p. 446.
Though Derby was organized in 1675, the south boundary was not established until 1680.
To designate the locality about the Falls, the name Naugatuck was given, by which it was known until the coming of the Indian Chief Chuse about 1738, and then name Chusetown was given.
Owing to the new woolen industry established by Gen. David Humphreys at the Falls in 1803, the name was again changed to Humphreysville in 1804 in honor of the General.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
Seymour was incorporated as a town by the May, 1850, session of the general assembly, upon the petition of Leman Chatfield and others. The first town election was held in the basement of the Methodist church June 24, 1850, and the following were elected : Selectmen, Leman Chatfield, David L. Holbrook, Thos. Cochran ; Town Clerk, Charles B. Wooster; Town Treasurer, Sylvester Smith. On the 31st of March, 1851, Bennett Wooster was elected the first representative of the town of Seymour to the general as- sembly. Its name was given out of compliment to Hon. T. H. Seymour, then the Governor of the State.
Old Derby included not only Humphreysville, but also the region north, now covered by Beacon Falls and Oxford, lying be- tween the New Haven or Milford bounds and the Housatonic river. The country is broken and rough, yet the town contains many fine farms. The numerous streams and reservoirs make the vallies the natural centers for manufacturing industries. The topography will indicate better than anything else the general appearance of the town.
The Naugatuck River flows from the north, winding through the village to the "Falls," which the author will refer to as the central point, around which is clustered the following history of the old landmarks and homes. The Little river flows from the north-west into the Naugatuck some distance above the Falls, and Bladen's brook, or river, flows from the east into the Naugatuck about an eight of a mile above the Falls. The Four-Mile brook flows along the western base of Great Hill into the Housatonic river.
The hills are numerous the highest elevation being 640 feet above the level of the sea. The hill south of the Henry Wooster, Moss, now S. G. Warrin place is 280 feet high, and the hill half a mile east is 400 feet. The hill south of the residence of L. T. Wooster is 320 feet, and due east from it three-fourths of a mile is a hill 496 feet in height. The Promised Land rises to the height of 220 feet, and the hill near a mile to the east is 460. Skokorat is an elevation of 423 feet. Rock Rimmon is the next highest point of 570 feet, where the town line crosses. Rimmon Hill is 400 feet, Chestnut Hill from 500 to 631, and Castle Rock is an elevation of 340 feet. Where Church and West streets meet, the elevation is 160 feet ; the Bungay road at the highest point is 400 feet. The Mountain road on Great Hill is elevated 440 feet. The highest point on Great Hill is 640 feet on the turnpike, or the Woodbury
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EARLY HISTORY.
stage road at the old Priest Smith house. Rockhouse Hill is 590 feet, and Moose Hill is an elevation of 670. At the present time, these northern hills are within the bonnds of Beacon Falls and Oxford.
There being no bridges in the early part of the town's history, the Naugatuck river was forded at the following places; just below Kinneytown, there was one or more, at the South end of Derby Avenue where the Rimmon road crossed was another, the one above the bridge at Broad street was used until the first bridge was built, referred to in 1763. The ford above the Falls was about the middle of Rimmon pond leading to Rock Rimmon, east, and Rimmon Hill road west, and there was still another at Pines Bridge, at the foot of the hill going north towards the cemetery. The roads at the present iron bridge would indicate another near that point.
These fords indicate where some of the roads of the early days were. There was one that followed the river, doubtless used when the river was low. The Rimmon road came over Rimmon Hill, crossed Little River to the present Church street, then along the side of Castle Rock to the ford at the south end of Derby Avenue, from thence extending to the Henry Wooster brook, on up the hill. This road can still be traced between the brook and railroad, and from the brook up the hill the road is frequently used. There was a road along the river to Kinneytown, and instead of the south Bungay road, there was one that came from the west near the Dea. Nehemiah Botsford place, that has long since been given up. An- other very old forsaken road is marked by a lane near the Keeney homestead, Kinneytown, winding up the hill westward, meeting the south Bungay road. Around the west and south side of Castle Rock, there was another road, that is not on the chart today. At an early date there was a path along the Oxford road, but the turnpike was not laid out until 1794. In addition to the Bungay road, there are two four corners before coming to the Woodbury, or Stage road, the principal road on Great Hill, mentioned as early as 1683.
On the east side of the Naugatuck river, at the east end of the Falls bridge, the old road ran directly to a point a little west of the engine house ; also there was a road south from the bridge leading to the Henry Wooster brook, a mile below, there meeting the Rimmon road. The road north of the Wooster-Warrin house ran east, a cross-road northeast to the Frank Steele farm and Walnut
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
street. From the old blacksmith shop at the Pearl street corners, another road extended to the Johns' corners and then south to Derby. A little east of Davis -- Johns corners, a road ran north- ward to Joel and Leman Chatfield's place. The New Haven turn- pike was not completed until 1798. Still another important road led over Skokorat on to Waterbury. From the papermill on Bladen's brook, there was a road along the north side of the brook, which is still to be seen east of the stone bridge, close to the brook.
Still another road was laid out along the Naugatuck river to Rock Rimmon and northward. South of Rock Rimmon, there was a road running southwest to the ford referred to, and then meeting the Rimmon road on the southern slope of Rimmon Hill. Another old road followed Rimmon brook, then extended northeast, meet- ing other roads now in Beacon Falls. Again at some point on the southern slope of the Rimmon Hill road, another important road ran northeast along the eastern slope of Rimmon Hill, passing the deserted cemetery, now in the wilderness, crossing the river prob- ably at the Pines Bridge ford, then up the hill east of the present road, then northward to meet the stage road from Naugatuck town to New Haven. The connection between the Oxford and Rimmon roads was the present Beecher street.
It is to be said to the credit of the white people of New Eng- land, during colonial times, that they purchased the lands from the Indians before they permanently settled upon it. Such was the case in this valley. It was only sixteen years after Edward Woos- ter came to Derby, that other white men began to buy up the ter- ritory around, beginning with the Great Hill purchase in 1670, by Alexander Bryan, of Milford, for seventeen pounds. This same territory was sold to John Brinsmade, Sr., Henry Tomlinson and Joseph Hawley, of Stratford, for the same compensation, and then it was called the " Hawley purchase." This was upon the south- ern border of Great Hill, which in 1716 became the estate of Robert Bassett, who gave it to his son Samuel. In Aug. 1693 the tract of land on Rockhouse Hill was bought, being included in the purchase lying between Four-mile and Five-mile brooks, the Housatonic river and the Woodbury road. William Tomlinson, Sr. and Jr., and Jonathan Lum were among the purchasers of this tract from the Indians, for twenty pounds.
The Indians began to sell their land in the vicinity of the Falls as early as 1678, as indicated in the following deed :----
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EARLY HISTORY.
"This indenture made the 22nd day of April, 1678, witnesseth that we do sell unto the inhabitants, a tract of land at Pagassett, bounded on the north with Bladen's brook, and northwest with Mill river, and south and southwest with the Englishmen's ground, and west and northwest with a hill on the west side of the Nauga- tuck river, part of the bounds and the Naugatuck river the other part,-all of which we do confirm unto the said inhabitants; only, the said Indians do reserve the fishing place at Naugatuck, and the plain and the hill next the river at the fishing place. Further, the Indians do grant all the grass and feed and timber on the plain against Rock Rimmon, and do engage to sell it to them, if they sell it,-all which grants we do confirm for forty pounds, to be paid to them at Mr. Bryan's."
Indian witnesses :
Husks, his mark. . 6 ..
Suckcoe,
Okenung, Sagamore, his mark.
Ahuntaway, his mark. Jack, Cockapatana, "
Sauquett, .. ١١ Toms Squaw, " ١١ Tom,
This tract included the land south of Bladen's brook to the Henry Wooster brook, where S. G. Warrin now lives, with the above exception.
This reservation extended over the hill eastward to the New Haven line. Among the owners of the tract south of the reserva- tion was Edward Wooster, I. In the division of his lands Jan. 25, 1693-4, the following is recorded in the Der. Rec. p. 173, "Also the land at blading brook is Reserved for Edward wooster & Silvester wooster & Jonas wooster & Ebenezer wooster in the Lue of five pounds apease." This tract doubtless included the old Henry Wooster homestead, now the estate of S. G. Warrin. Other lands on Great Hill and Moose Hill were also divided by lot among his 12 children.
"Dec. 30, 1678. The town granted to Ebenezer Johnson the upper plain land against Rock Rimmon." "Dec. 30. The town granted to Jeremiah Johnson twenty acres of land at the lower end of the plain against Rock Rimmon." And "at the same meeting the
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
town granted to Daniel Collins, John Tibbals, and Philip Denman ten acres each.
"At a town meeting in Derby, Feb. 14, 1678, the town hath granted liberty to Samuel Riggs to take up twenty acres of land at or near Rock Rimmon on the west side of the river."
During the same year Ebenezer Johnson bought land of the Indians east and southward from Rock Rimmon, and it appears that in some way Samuel Riggs shared in this purchase, because in 1683 a division of land was made between Ebenezer Johnson, be- ginning at the cellar belonging to Samnel Riggs, located south-east of Rock Rimmon, the division line running northwest. The exact location of this cellar is not known, whether on the east side of Rimmon pond or as far east as the Skokorat road. Another men- tion is made of a cellar near Rimmon in 1685, to which reference may be made later.
The settlers doubtless found the region about Rock Rimmon an inviting one, because of the open plain and the river, there being two or three settlers before 1690. In the year 1683, Abel Gunn received from the town a grant of ten acres north of the Falls and west of the river. On Ang. 6, 1687, a large tract was purchased including a tract along Little river, to Quaker Farms. David Wooster, In 1692, bought of the Indians the plain west of the Nang- atuck between the river and Castle Rock, extending as far north as the Falls, and probably as far as the present Rimmon pond. The same year he also bought of the Indians the tract south of Little river including Castle Rock and the land westward, to other rocks. In April 1700 Ebenezer Johnson and Samuel Riggs bought of the Indians the tract of land north of Little river, which extended east- ward to the land belonging to David Wooster, lying along the river, and also twenty acres of meadow and upland upward of Chestnut Tree Hill.
Close on to this, in 1702, was the "Camp's Mortgage Purchase,' located west of the river and Falls, which included a tract of land three miles square, or the Great Hill region.
Samuel Riggs again bought land on the west side of the river at Pines Bridge, which extended south, meeting the land belonging to David Wooster. In 1708 a division of land was made between Samuel Riggs and Ebenezer Johnson; Riggs chose that west of the river and south of the brook at Pines Bridge, and Johnson chose that east of the river, which in 1721, he divided equally between
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EARLY HISTORY.
his two sons Charles and Timothy. Still later Benajah Johnson inherited part of the tract which formerly belonged to Ebenezer and Jeremiah Johnson, and settled on the Skokorat road. In 1708 Samuel Riggs gave to his son Ebenezer Riggs 200 acres of land, located south of the Pines Bridge brook and west of the river. This land had houses upon it, which were among the five first dwellings in this region. Ebenezer lived there, but died when a young man in 1712, about 30 years of age.
These purchases referred to above included the territory now covered by Seymour, Pines Bridge and a part of Oxford.
The Indian reservation of 1678 remained complete until 1731, when people of Derby bought of the Indians all the land known as Indian Hill, in Derby, situated upon east side of Naugatuck river near the place called the Falls; all the land that lieth eastward, northward and southward, except the plain that lieth near the the Falls up to the foot of the hill." This deed was signed by John Cookson and John Howd and other Indians.
Indian Hill included what is now known as the Promised Land, and east to the Woodbridge Line.
On Oct. 4, 1763, the Indians sold the Falls and two and a half acres of land, to Ebenezer Keeney, John Wooster, and Joseph Hull, Jr. This deed was signed by the Indians Joseph Chuse and John Howd.
The last of the Indian land was sold in 1812, to Gen. David Humphreys and Mrs. Phebe Stiles. Thus during a period of 134 years, the Indians had departed, the reservation sold; and the white man will continue in possession until the coming of a stronger race.
For our purpose this brief history is sufficient. In the history concerning the old landmarks, old homes and families, many names will become familiar, some of which were on record from one to two centuries ago. In 1779 the following appear to have resided on the west of the river between Great Hill and the upper part of the Rimmon region:
Bradford Steele, Edward Harger, John Botsford, Hezekiah Woodin, Ashbel Steele, Josiah Washburn, Reuben Perkins, Ran- ford Whiting, Abraham Wooster, Daniel Davis, Lewis Riggs, Benj. Davis, John Wooster, Ebenezer Kenney, James Pritchard, Jr., Wm. Kenney, Samuel Wooster, Wm. Gordon, Theodore Hiles, Jonathan Miles, Unis Pritchard.
PART I. - DIVISION HI.
A HISTORY OF OLD LANDMARKS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
CHAPTER I .- CONTENTS.
The Fishing Place-Indians-The Humphreys-Dr. R. Mansfield-Henry Wooster and Dr. A. Stoddard Places-The Three Taverns - The Robbers -- Indian Hill or Promised Land Region-The Steele District-The First Cong'l Parsonage and Churches - Pearl Street -Bladen's Brook -Smith Street-Joel C'hatfield-Skokorat- Johnson and French -North Street and Rock Rimmon-The Gate House-Town Center-Falls Bridge and Vicinity-Mrs. Ann Stephens-Broad Street, Cong'l Church and Vicinity - Kinneytown Region-Shrub Oak Distriet -Church and West Streets The Humphreys, Steeles, Canfield, Upson, and Booths-The Pritehards-Old Mill and Little River - Oxford Road-The Woosters and Washburns-Rimmon Hill and the Clarks - Old Rimmon Cemetery-Pines Bridge-The Johnsons-The Bungay Road-Miles. Canfield and S. Botsford Homesteads-Botsfords and Mareus Davis - Davis Corners -- Great Ilill Region- Old Cong'l or Pres. Church Recollections - Priest Abner Smith and House-The Fanton and Benham House-M. E. Church and Great Hill School -- Rockhonse Hill-The Tomlinsons and Lums-Old Smith Homestea 1-The John Holbrook Place -"Tite's Corners-Gunn and Nettleton Places -The Peach Orchard and Wilderness -The Old Man.
N studying the old homes and landmarks, many proofs are found, that men come, only to go, as if overwhelmed by the burdens of life, to be lost and forgotten like the fallen leaves whirled away by the wind.
Such is the feeling when approaching the Fishing Place of the Indians, the Naugatuck Falls, often called "The Little Niagara," the most remarkable work of nature in the whole valley. A ledge of rocks extend across the river forming a natural fall of nearly twenty feet, making the place a favorite one for the Indians in the fishing season. A little distance from the Falls on the east side of the river, there was a grove of thrifty oaks, and here beneath their
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
shade the petty sachem, Chuse, or Joseph Mauwehu, with a small company of braves, built their wigwams, getting their living by hunting and fishing.
The name "Chuse" was probably a part of the name of an Indian ancestor of Mauwehu, and is said to have been first applied or given by Gideon Washband, who is said to have lived below the first brook south of the village.
THE LOWER FALLS FROM BROAD STREET.
It was about 1740 when Chuse began his life at the Falls, the land being given to him by his father, one of the Derby Indians down the valley. Besides the flat by the river, his land extended over the hill towards the east, known for many years as the Indian Hill. The old Indian burying ground was located on the flat back from the river, the graves being marked by heaps of stone. Some- time after 1790 this land was ploughed over, by the owner, Nathan Stiles, thus destroying even the mounds that marked the place of the dead Indians. When learning of this fact, it is said, that the Indians grieved and cursed those who did it. About half way up the north portion of the hill there were indications of still another Indian burying ground. Chuse had a family of eight or more child .. ren, two sons and six daughters ; one of the sons served in the Rev-
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OLD LANDMARKS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
olutionary War at Boston, though he was poisoned on his way to his native village.
At the time of the coming of Chuse to this vicinity, there were only two or three white families, but soon after 1740 they began to settle on both sides of the valley.
At the foot of Indian Hill toward the river, now marked by a well 12 feet deep, there was a spring of sweet sparkling water, where Chuse was accustomed to recline, and wish there was another spring of rum by the side of it, from which he could drink ; then he would be perfectly happy.
Desiring to be a neighbor of the white people, he early moved to the southwest part of the Indian Hill, on the corner of what is now South Main and Pearl Streets, known as the Dr. Stoddard place. After spending about forty years on his reservation, he returned to the Falls for a time before leaving the vicinity, little dreaming of the days that would bring the present civilization, when there would be no fishing, no large game in the forests, and no Indian ; all are gone and forgotten like the fallen leaves.
As the name Chusetown originated from the chief, Chuse, so the name Humphreysville was given in honor of Gen. David Hum- phreys who established at the Falls one of the first woolen industries in the country. It is therefore fitting to recall the stately mansion, the birthplace of Gen. D). Humphreys.
This fine old homestead was about four miles below the Falls, on the east side of the river and opposite the old Episcopal ceme- tery, on Elm St., now in the south part of Ansonia. It is a large two story house, with a heavy roof, and ell on the southeast, facing the west. The frame is of oak and very heavy. The beam across the ceiling of the parlor is 12 or more inches wide; the parlor being nearly 17 feet square. There are five fire places. The front hall i;
THE BIRTHPLACE OF GEN DAVID HUMPHREYS.
very simple, without any architectural beauty, the stairway being enclosed and beneath there is a small square open closet. Formerly the house was painted red.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
In front there are large elm trees, indicating that the place must have been very attractive in its better days. The architectural plans are worthy of study. This was the home of the Rev. Daniel Humphreys, who was ordained to preach in Derby, 1733, in the Congregational Church. After serving the people 54 years, he died on the Sabbath, July 29. His wife also died on the Sabbath, five weeks before him. Reference is made to the house in 1737, though it may have been standing many years previous. It is known by the later generations as the Capt. Vose place. The preacher mar- ried Sarah, Mrs. John Bowers, the daughter of Captain John Riggs, whose ancestors aided the regicides in their home in 1660. The marriage took place in 1739 and for 48 years she was known as Lady Humphreys.
She was elegant in manners, refined, and became celebrated for her knowledge of local history. Their distinguished son was born July 10, 1752, showing in his early years a love for books. At the age of 15 he entered Yale College where he became noted for his poetical gifts and graduated with honors. On entering the army in 1778, he took the rank of Captain, to be soon promoted to be aid to General Putnam; he was promoted again shortly after by the recommendation of Gen. William Hull, one of his neighbors, to become aid-de-camp to Gen. Washington. Remaining with Wash- ington through the war, he was honored by being appointed to receive the colors surrendered by Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, October 19, 1781, and afterward was granted the high honor of taking these colors to Congress and presenting them in the name of the Commander-in-Chief. General Humphreys spent much time with Washington at Mount Vernon at the close of the war.
In 1790 he was appointed minister to Portugal ; and in 1797 he went as minister to Spain, remaining until 1802, when he returned with a hundred merino sheep, the first imported into this country. Arriving with his precious cargo, these sheep were pastured in the field near the old homestead and doubtless feasted in the clover above their eyes. Precious they were, for the value was from a few hundred dollars up to $3,000,-for a single ram or sheep. At once Gen. Humphreys began his woolen industry at the Falls, to be related elsewhere.
As one now looks upon that old homestead, neglected, beaten by the storms of many decades, occupied by the transient and the foreigner, there is a feeling of sadness over the changes coming to
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OLD LANDMARKS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
life and the places so sacred to memory and association. We have lingered upon the name and work of Gen. Humphreys because in honor of him, the place was named Humphreysville. A more com- plete history belongs to the limits of Derby, but he conducted his business here until the time of his death in 1818. His birthplace should be known and visited by all interested in the history of our old homes.
About a half mile north of the Humphreys' place on Jewett St., there stands another ancient dwelling of two stories in front and one on the back, on the west side of the road as one descends the hill. This was the home of Dr. Mansfield, the first pastor of Trinity church. This dwelling and land was transferred to the
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