USA > Connecticut > Tercentenary pamphlet series, v. 1 Connecticut and the British Government > Part 13
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Preston was not the first to begin as a part of another town which, because of distance or of the difficulties of communication, was set off as a separate church society and gradually grew to the maturity of a town. The in- habitants of the river towns had been settled only a short time when they turned their attention to the fertile lands across the river. Windsor had bought lands of the Indians there in 1636 and was allowed to maintain a ferry in 164I. Hartford and Wethersfield both extended their bounds to include farms of three miles and more stretching toward the eastern wilderness. As early as 1649 the land opposite Saybrook was surveyed and grants were made by New London to people on the east side of the Thames. In 1657 Wethersfield's farms at Glastonbury and Naubuc were being occupied and improved. All these settlements grew gradually. When the people in the old towns felt pressed for land and could not find accommodation in their near-
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by fields for their own children or for newcomers, they turned to the lands across the river and found there the opportunity that the old home did not furnish. At first tenure was largely for the summer months, but as num- bers increased permanent homes were built and steps were taken looking to a certain amount of self-govern- ment. This at first took the form of a pound for the re- straining of animals, then of a minister during the winter months (winter privileges), and finally a constable. Win- ter privileges soon grew into all the year privileges and the establishment of a church society, though there are instances where town organization preceded that of the church and other instances where all the privileges of a town and church were granted at the same time-name, brand, trainband, constable, church society, and town government. Not all the parishes attained to town incor- poration, for a great many, located within only a mile or two of the center, remained politically a part of the old town. But where separation involved mountains, a dan- gerous river, or rough communication over almost im- passible roads the new community generally grew into a separate town.
The settlement and growth of Groton, opposite New London, covers a period of almost fifty years. Grants of land to people of New London were made there in 1653. In 1661 New London's bounds were run on the east side of the river and in 1678 petitions for a separate church es- tate were refused, though grants continued to be made, a large one to Winthrop in 1656, another to Brewster later, and smaller grants to others. On the north of these grants was the Mashantucket reservation for the Pequot rem- nant and to the southeast were scattering grants in the Mystic and Pawkatuck region. Groton seems to have been closely bound up with New London in all her politi-
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cal activities and the first request for a separate political existence did not come until about 1700. Terms were ar- ranged with New London and the General Court incor- porated Groton as an independent town, provided the east side allow the west side the use of its ferry, pay its debts-for the people there had been backward in meet- ing their rates-allow the pine swamp for mast timber to remain common property, permit the conditions of land- holding to remain as before, and agree that any land there used by the west side for the benefit of schools and the ministry should remain so indefinitely.
"Thirty Mile Island" was the term used to designate the region on the Connecticut opposite a small island in the river, which was supposed to be thirty miles from the Sound. Saybrook had viewed the place but made no at- tempt to settle it. In 1660 some inhabitants of Farming- ton, Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor requested leave to start a plantation there and the court agreed. A committee was appointed and in 1662 twenty-eight men -mostly young and just married-migrated down the river and built homes there. Saybrook protested but the court upheld the settlers and found their title valid. In 1668 the place was made a town under the name Had- dam, from the English Great Hadham in Hertfordshire, where John Haynes, the first governor, still had family connections. Five miles below Haddam, on the east shore, lay a tract of land which was included in Haddam's origi- nal purchase. From time to time the inhabitants had cul- tivated the land there, and by 1695 enough people had gathered and taken up shares to necessitate fencing the fields, consequently they asked leave to maintain a min- ister. This favor was denied them, as the court considered the east side as still too poor, and it was not till 1700 that the Haddam East Society was formed and not until 1710
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that the society took a step looking to incorporation by obtaining separation in part from Haddam. It was ar- ranged that both sides should be as separate as if they were distinct towns, but that each should send one depu- ty to the General Court, the east society having no of- ficers, which were those of Haddam only. This arrange- ment was sanctioned by the court and lasted until 1734, when East Haddam became a full town with all town rights and privileges.
The position of Kenelworth or Killingworth, the origi- nal part of which now bears the unhistorical and artifi- cial name of Clinton, was in doubt for some time, as the General Court had not been able to tell just how much land there was there free for planting. For this reason it was thought safer for individuals to take up grants, and to further this end a committee of two from Hartford went to Hammonasset in 1662 to view the place; and if it should prove not fit for a plantation, they were to lay it out in four parts, and if there should be room, in two more. These parts were to be given to six persons, named in the instructions, but the plan was not consummated and the next year another committee was appointed. Saybrook, at this juncture, presented a claim to the land, but after a careful examination the court pronounced the claim defective and had to repeat its decision several times before Saybrook could be convinced. In August, 1663, the committee reported that there was room at Hammonasset for thirty families and consented that John Clow, jr., and others should be at liberty to set up a plantation. It drew up a kind of plantation agreement, consisting of nine articles, pledging the twenty-three signers to settle within two years or forfeit their lots and to call a minister and reserve a glebe for him. In the same years these men obtained an Indian title from Uncas and
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paid Saybrook a quit-claim covering some portion of her territory to the eastward.
A plantation that was to come under Connecticut's jurisdiction by secession from Massachusetts in 1748 was Enfield, which in origin was that section of Springfield known as Freshwater extending southward along the river. Planters had gone there from Springfield as early as 1674 but the first attempt to settle was in 1679 when the town meeting appointed a committee to manage the concerns of the proposed plantation at the Falls and at Freshwater, where a warehouse had been set up. Though supposedly a Massachusetts town the circumstances of its settlement do not differ from those of the typical towns of the later seventeenth century, either in its land distribution or its town organization. Thirty families from Salem, Massachusetts, were there before 1684, as wanderers in search of new homes, a constable was ap- pointed, and a civil and ecclesiastical order introduced. A meetinghouse was erected the same year. In 1688 the first town meeting was held, and selectmen chosen pur- suant to the orders of the Massachusetts court. A corn mill appears, an iron work was started, and the town grew so rapidly that in 1720, forty years from the time of settlement, the whole township was practically settled from the Connecticut River to the borders of the town of Stafford of today, which stands on land that was part of the wilderness then stretching unbroken to the eastward over the present Windham and Tolland counties. Enfield, the child of Springfield, became the promoter of adjoining plantations and sent forth numerous emigrants into the eastern townships that were soon to be created in eastern Connecticut. Somers was but Enfield's "east side," in- corporated by Massachusetts in 1734.
Suffield, Enfield, Somers, and Woodstock were the
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towns that seceded from Massachusetts. Suffield's land had been set apart by the General Court there as early as 1660 for any twenty families that would settle within four years and secure a minister, the people to come from Springfield. Though a few lots were taken up, it was not until 1670 that enough had arrived to warrant the grant of plantation privileges. The Indian title was extinguished in 1672 for £40. Three years later the settlement was abandoned for fear of the Indians and it was not until 1682 that the people returned in sufficient numbers to warrant the calling of a town meeting, composed of thirty-four voters, for the election of townsmen. For a number of years there was friction between Suffield and Windsor over the boundary line, involving the territory that is now the southern part of Suffield and the northern part of Windsor or Windsor Locks.
From earliest times the General Court of Connecticut had been in the habit of granting lands as gratuities or compensations for services rendered, a practice common to all colonizing enterprises. Such grants might be made to public officers, soldiers, or men of mark. At first these grants were indefinite, to be taken up in any place not prejudicial to another grant or plantation. Usually the grantee chose some spot near a settled community or one especially suited to his tastes and interests. But as time went on and land began to grow scarce, the General Court felt the need of arranging the grants more definitely, both for the safety of the grantee and the orderly settling and grouping of the population. They therefore began to con- centrate the grants and to require that such grants be taken up in some special region. At first this region was near New London in the Pequot country, perhaps in or- der to bring influences to bear upon the Mohegan Indians. But as accessible and desirable localities there began to
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fill up, the court looked elsewhere for "colony land," and chose the territory north of Guilford and Killingly and west of Middletown. Grants had been made there to sol- diers of the Pequot War, and were offered to Colonel John Talcott "and others," 1662, to Samuel Talcott, 1669, and to William Leete and Israel Chauncey, 1672. Talcott also bought some of the soldiers' land. Guilford, too, had allotted territory in this region, so that by 1699 there were twenty-eight planters there ready to petition for a plantation. Their reasons stated in the petition are interesting. They said that several farms had already been assigned to families there and that other families were ready to come. They wanted to set up the worship of God as an inducement to new settlers, and were confi- dent they could maintain it because the country was fill- ing up with people. Planters were settling on scattered farms, an act which was not only a danger in itself, but an obstacle, to church worship. Because of this absence of compact family grouping the court, in accepting the pe- tition, decided to lay out a town plot at Cockingchaug (Durham) and authorized the proprietors to give up a fourth of their farms to be sold to prospective buyers, the money to be divided among them according to the num- ber of lots which each should contribute. The plot was laid off in 1700, but the location was changed in 1703, because the first place was too restricted, and it was hoped that the arrangement would "be the means of procuring a flourishing plantation in a short time." The town, called Durham in 1704, was mainly situated on Colonel Tal- cott's upland farm, through which the highway ran from Wallingford to Middletown. There was considerable trouble experienced in settling the bounds with Killing- worth, but by 1708 the conditions were all so favorable that the town was given a special patent of incorporation
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dated May 21 of that year. This would appear to be the first definite town charter issued by the General Court of Connecticut.
A trading house on the Paugasuc River in 1642 is the first indication we have of the settlement of Derby. John Wakeman of New Haven was employing workmen there in that year and in 1654 Stephen Goodyear and those who had a "part with him in Paugasuck" were told to decide whether they should put themselves under the New Haven jurisdiction or not. The following year Rich- ard Baldwin and others bought shares from Goodyear in the trading post and signified their desire to accept New Haven's invitation. New Haven responded by setting them apart as a little village by themselves, within which they were to manage their own affairs and be free from rates for three years. This act met with immediate oppo- sition from Milford, which complained that if Paugasuc should be allowed to become a separate plantation, then its people would be cut off from commonage. Negotia- tions followed. One suggestion was that Paugasuc sell out to Milford, or, if Milford refused to buy, to New Haven. But in the meanwhile a new factor appeared. Lieutenant Wheeler of Stratford secured a large grant in the Pauga- suc region and offered to come under New Haven, but the latter refused to consider the offer as long as the rest of Paugasuc was uncertain what to do. In 1659 New Haven gave the Paugasuc planters one more year in which to make up their minds and in 1660 they accepted the status of a village, paid their rates, and set about acquiring more land. In 1665 New Haven ceased to be an independent colony and Paugasuc came under Connecticut's jurisdic- tion and was encouraged "to try to be a plantation." In 1669 a constable was chosen and the records show that there were eight proprietors there in full control of their
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lands. Increases followed. As the original proprietors had foreseen the hindrances to settlement that would be caused by failures to take up grants when purchased, they required that such be done within four years and a suffi- cient and habitable house erected thereon or the land would be forfeited. They engaged a minister in 1675, planned the road to Woodbury, set up a ferry on the Naugatuck River, and prepared the settlement for town estate. In consequence in that year, 1675, the General Court on motion of Joseph Hawkins and John Hulls granted Paugasuc all the privileges of a plantation and called it Derby, freeing it from country rates for three years, the inhabitants paying all their other charges.
A good many people in New Haven had begun to feel crowded and desirous of new and more extensive farms. Two years after the union (in October, 1667), the New Haven deputies in the General Court of Connecticut asked permission to begin a village on "East River." Permission was granted on condition the lands be settled within four years. The place referred to was on the Quinnipiac at what is now Wallingford and had been included in the "big" Indian purchase of 1638. An agreement was drawn up and signed by thirty-seven names, which provided that inhabitants would be received "with due respect to New Haven people so far as it can consist with the good of the place and the capacity thereof." Settlement was begun in 1667 and was carried on so vigorously that with- in three years the place had received a name, Wallingford, had called a minister, and in 1673 had replaced the com- mittee in charge with a regular body of town officers. A church organization was set up in 1675. Ten years later the proprietors voted to lay out a certain "parcell" of land ly- ing to the westward and covering all of the present town of Cheshire (Chester-shire), which had been reserved for
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new planters. The place was known as "West Farm on Mill River that goeth toward New Haven" and while a few grantees may have cultivated their new lots, no houses were built there for some time. A road was run there in 1702 and in 1706 a viewer of highways and fences was appointed. In 1711 Wallingford decided to divide its trainband and that act was the first step leading to the separate existence of Cheshire. Mining activities in the district no doubt had a large part in drawing people into the locality, and the growth of the community appears from the fact that in 1715 one half of the school money al- lowed Wallingford was given to Cheshire, as the distance was too great for the children of Cheshire to walk to Wallingford. Three years later the plantation asked to be made a separate ecclesiastical society, but this was not granted by Wallingford until 1723, because of the insuffi- ciency of the Cheshire list of estates. The General Court confirmed Wallingford's action and named the place the New Cheshire Society and in 1724 gave it its present name. It was not incorporated as a town until 1780.
Woodbury was founded by a church company and its minister, the result of ecclesiastical troubles in Stratford. In 1665 Israel Chauncey had been made the second pas- tor of the Stratford church, in the face of considerable opposition, which eventually, after Chauncey had been given a fair trial, led to an invitation by the insurgent members to the Reverend Zechariah Walker to preach to them. A peculiar arrangement was entered into in 1669, whereby Chauncey and his followers used the meeting- house half the day and Walker and the insurgents the other half. A day came, however, when Walker continued his sermon into the Chauncey period and the latter's con- gregation were forced to meet elsewhere. Consequently, the Walker party, foreseeing what would happen and
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wishing to avoid trouble, purchased lands for a planta- tion at Pototuck (Newton) with the intention of remov- ing there, and the court confirmed the purchase provided a plantation be settled within four years (1670). Nothing seems to have been done in the matter, and in the mean- time the religious dissension between Chauncey and Walker increased, the former, as the first called, refusing to yield, even though the latter had the majority of the people behind him.
At last Walker, giving in, petitioned for leave to plant Pomperaug (Woodbury) and in 1673 fifteen of his congre- gation settled there, under condition that they allow 'any other honest inhabitants of Stratford" to join them and settle the place within three years. During the Indian uprising of 1675, some of the settlers returned to Strat- ford and thereby placed the remaining planters of Wood- bury in an awkward position. The latter begged their former associates to return, with the intention of making Woodbury "their constant home," otherwise they would be compelled to grant their lands to others. "Friends [they wrote], we insist upon your resolve to make Wood- bury your home, if you would hold your lands, because your coming or sending up a few weeks or months in summer will not answer the ends of a plantation, nor the expectation of the court in granting it ... we covet not your lands, but your company," and the writers sign themselves "your loving neighbors at Woodbury." This letter was supplemented by an order of the General Court (1678), requiring the absent proprietors to return or to notify Woodbury of their intention not to do so, losing thereby all their rights in lands and accommodations. Whether the absentees actually returned or not is un- certain, but with or without them Woodbury continued to grow. Its boundaries were defined in 1683, it had a
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trainband with captain, lieutenant, and ensign the next year, and sent deputies to the General Court in 1684. But ecclesiastical troubles continued to haunt the inhabitants, differences led to withdrawals, until the General Court, dismayed at the situation, begged them to agree amongst themselves for some satisfactory issue "according to rule and righteousness." Matters were smoothed over, the township continued to grow, its bounds were enlarged in 1703, and in the second intercolonial war (1702-1713), it served, with other frontier towns, as an outpost for the protection of the colony.
Just as Durham represents the northern farms of Guil- ford and Wallingford those of New Haven, so New Mil- ford, although farther removed, represents the pushing of a group of Milford men into the interior of the colony. In 1670 the General Court gave liberty to Nathan Gold, Jehu and John Brown to purchase Weantinock or Wean- tinogue from the Indians on the usual conditions-any honest inhabitant to be allowed to go there and the place to be settled in four years or revert to the colony. The place did so revert and in 1678 the court took it in charge. A committee report showed that there was great confu- sion in the boundaries of the region and recommended that all settlement cease-eight miles from Derby, Wood- bury, Mattatuck (Waterbury), Pototuck (Newton), and Weantinock-until surveys were made. This order put a stop to all settlement and it was not till 1702 that the project for a plantation again got under way. The method employed was that of a land company, purchasing land, partly on speculation, and selling rights and half rights. The original purchasers numbered 109, of whom 99 bought whole rights and ten half rights. Only a small part of this number ever went to the plantation to live, and we have in the case of New Milford an early example of what
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was to become very general in the eighteenth century of New England, the promotion of towns as a business propo- sition. Additional purchases extended the territory of the plantation until it became the largest in its landed area of any town in the colony. In 1712 it received town privileges, and in the years that followed threw off, as so frequently happened with the older towns, sections that became, in part at least, the bases of other towns- Brookfield in 1788 and Washington in 1789, for example.
Mattatuck or Waterbury drew its settlers from Hart- ford and Farmington. In 1657 the Indians of that region gave to certain people from Farmington the right to build shacks and carry away black lead but not to plant a per- manent settlement. In 1673 twenty-six inhabitants of the same place asked the General Court for a "place for sub- sistence and land to labor on," and having viewed the flats of the Naugatuck River and thinking them suitable, believed that the place would accommodate thirty fam- ilies. The court committee reported 600 acres of meadow and plough land, besides upland convenient for a town plat, with a suitable outlet into the woods and good feed- ing land for cattle. Five men were chosen to be a "grand committee" and they drew up unusually strict require- ments for settlement. The first choice of a town plat was on the west side of the river, but danger from the Indians and difficulty in crossing the stream led to a change in 1677 to the east side, where the grand committee re- mained in charge of the place until it was made a town in I686.
We have but little information about the early settle- ment of Danbury, a name the origin of which is not cer- tainly known. The petitioners for town privileges in 1687 asked for the name "Swampfield," but Governor Robert Treat rejected that and substituted "a village name fa-
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miliar to none but an Essex man, though full of suggestion to him of Dane-bury [Danbury in Essex], the ancient en- campment of the Danish invader in that shire of Eastern England." The region (Paquiage) was under considera- tion as the site of a prospective plantation as early as 1684, and in the same year a number of people from Nor- walk trekked northward with their cattle and in so doing got rid of paying half the rates in their former place of abode. The population was sufficiently swelled by 1687 to lead the court to name the place Danbury, to lay out the bounds, to assign a cattle brand, and to free the inhabit- ants from rates for four years. There were twenty families settled and more coming. A few years later nine men of Norwalk asked the court to appoint a committee to view land west of Danbury, north of Norwalk, and east of the New York line, as a place capable of supporting thirty families. In 1708 twenty-six Norwalk men obtained permission to buy land there and the settlement of Ridgefield was begun the next year. The court's grant was to thirty-seven men, of whom twenty had settled by 17II, when town privileges were granted. Some trouble was experienced there as at New Milford, and in the eight- eenth century elsewhere in the colony, with absentee pro- prietors, who claimed rights to land but saw no reason why they should pay rates for the upkeep of the town and the support of the minister, when they were doing the same thing elsewhere. New London once complained that its absentee proprietors lived all the way from Halifax to Charleston, South Carolina, and the issue became one of serious consequence to towns that were finding non-resi- dent rates hard to collect. In 1714 the court ruled that the absentee proprietors of Ridgefield should have three years in which to settle on their plats, should pay £5 for every year they remained away, and should forfeit their
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