The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 10

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Hartford, Conn., Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard company
Number of Pages: 1038

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Be that as it may, in February, 1639-40, they had evidently com- meneed the building of the much-needed house of worship. " Mr. Hull moved the Court in behalf of Thomas Ford of Windsor, that in regard the workmen are much taken up and employed in making a bridge and a meeting-house with them, and his work hindered of impaling in the ground which was granted him by the Court for a hog-park, that there may be granted him a year longer time for the fencing it in ; which was, upon the reasons aforesaid, condescended to." - Col. Rec.

This meeting-house was located within the Pahsado opposite the present Pierson house. It was not finished for many years, since the town was feeble and fully occupied with the more pressing necessities of daily life, and many individuals, who contributed their proportion in the labor of their own hands, worked upon it, of course, as they could find the leisure. It will help us, also, to appreciate the great labor of build- ing a framed meeting-house, in those early days, to remember that there was then no saw-mill in the town, and probably not in the colony (at least we find no mention of any for more than forty years later), and every plank and every board had to be saved by hand if sawed at all; and the nails had to be made, one by one, upon a blacksmith's anvil.1

The bridge mentioned in connection with the meeting-house must have been over the Little River, connecting the upper and lower portions of the settlement. It was undobtedly of a frail description, and proba- bly soon carried away by freshets, as the earliest town records (1650) make no mention of it, but frequently refer to a ferry there. Apropos of this bridge, tradition has preserved an anecdote of its reputed master- workman, the Rev. Ephraim Huit. While engaged in its construction, he was honored with a visit from his clerical friends, the Rov. Messrs. Stone and Hooker of Hartford. Being very much occupied with his work, he failed to pay them as much personal attention as usual. This

1 Sec very interesting resume of the history. architectural peculiarities, etc .. of the first Windsor meeting-house, by Mr. Jabez HI. Hayden in APPENDIX B.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AGAINST INDIANS.

they noticed, and after watching his labors for awhile, they turned to go, Mr. Stone pleasantly remarking to Mr. Hooker, " Ephraim is joined to [his] idols. Let him alone."

Meanwhile, symptoms of disaffection and trouble among the Indians had begun to threaten the safety of the settlements. " The manifold insolences," says the court record of Angust 15, 1639, " that have been offered of late by the Indians, put the Court in mind of that which hath been too long neglected, viz. : the execution of justice upon the former murderers of the English." Accordingly, a levy of 100 men was sent down to Middletown to apprehend " several guilty persons " who had been harbored by the chief Sohiage. In September following, the con- quered Pequots at Pawtatuek (Mystie ?) who had been given to Uneas and Miantonimoh, having violated their agreement by planting corn at that place, Major Mason was dispatched thither with 40 men, to confis- cate and gather in the corn thus planted. He was accompanied by Un- cas, with 100 warriors and 20 canoes. On his arrival at Pawtatnek he found the Indians somewhat disposed to show fight. It however finally resulted in nothing worse than a skirmish between his allies under Un- eas, and the Pequots having burned the wigwams of the latter, the Eng- lish returned to their homes in safety, bringing with them their vessel and some 50 canoes full of corn and booty. Windsor furnished thirteen men, twenty arms, and two shallops to this expedition. They were ab- sent about nine days, and received each 28. per day.

And, in June, 1640, the court passed an order that, as the Indians had grown "bold and insolent to enter into Englishmen's houses, and unadvisedly handle swords, and pieces, and other instruments . . . to the hazard of limbs or lives of English or Indians," therefore, " whatso- ever Indians shall hereafter meddle with, or handle any Englishmen's weapon of any sort, either in their houses or in the fields," they should be fined in 3 a fathom of wampum ; and be held strictly accountable (" life for life, limb for limb, wound for wound " ) for any damage to life and limb, "though accidental," thereupon ensuing.

Two years later, the conduct of the Indians gave rise to serious ap- prehension of trouble, and about the 20th of August, 1642, Mr. Ludlow, then residing at Uncowa (Fairfield), was visited by a neighboring sachem, who diselosed to him a plot of Miantonimoh, sachem of the Narragansetts, Sohiago, sachem of Mattabesick, and Sequasson of Hart- ford, to rise and murder the English upon the Connectieut River, and throughout New England generally. The same plot was also disclosed to Mr. Eaton at New Haven, by a friendly Indian, and the matter was promptly brought before the General Court on the 26th of the sante month. They immediately adopted precautionary measures. The Massachusetts General Court was duly warned of the impending danger.

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

Orders were issued that the troops, ammunition, and defenses of each town should be overlooked and reported. Each town clerk was required to hand into the town deputy an exact list of all the "Train men from 16 to 60 years ; " and each town was ordered to furnish, within fourteen days, two half-pikes, ten feet in length. Several pieces of ordnance, re- cently brought from Piscataqua, were immediately mounted on carriages. A daily guard was also kept under arms in each plantation. The Windsor guard numbered thirty. A force of forty men in each town was ordered to come " complete in their arms to the meeting every Sab- bath and lecture days." No Indians were permitted to enter into the honses, although magistrates might entertain " a sachem, if he come with- out more than two men." The inhabitants were prohibited from purehas- ing venison from them, and smiths were forbidden to work, or make, or mend any weapons for them without license from the magistrates. In short, every precaution was adopted which could preclude the possibility of any sudden attack. About this time, also, we find that eannon, (called " sakers and minions") were in use in the colony, of which " Robert Saltonstall, of Windsor (son of Sir Richard ) contraeted to fur- nish two."

"October the 4th, 1642; Its ordered there shall be 90 coats prvided wohin these Planta" within tenn dayes, basted wth cotton wool and made defensive agt Indean arrowes: Hartford 40; Wyndsor 30, Wethersfield 20."

Early in the year 1640 (Feb. 8), for the sake of promoting a trade in cotton, an order had been passed by the court, that upon the return of a vessel, which had been sent for a cargo of that article (presumably to Barbadoes, where, as early as 1628, a colony had stipulated that they would pay for their lands purchased of English owners, in cotton, forty pounds a year ), " the Plantations by p'portion shall take offe the said Cotten at such valuable consideration as y' may be afforded," ote. " The pay for said cotton wool was to be made in English corne, or pipe-staves as the country shall afford. " The p'portion to be denided and laid uppon the severall Townes according to the division of the last Country Rate." The cargo seems to have come duly to hand, as " Septem. the 8th, 1642: Its agreed that Wyndsor shall take offe the worth of 907 in Cotton Wool, fro Mr. Hopkins ; Wethersfield, the worth of 1107; Hartford 2007: wh liberty to the Plantations to p'portion yt according to their former Rate, if Wyndsor and Wethersfield shall wohin on month desire

The cotton wool seems to have arrived " in the nick of time," both as regards the military necessities of the Colony, and the interests of those engaged in the speculation ; and the price of cotton visibly advanced in the colonial market.

1643. This year was not characterized by any very important event.

THE DEATH OF REV. EPHRAIM HUIT.

1644, however, was saddened by the death of the Rev. Ephraim Huit. Of his life and ministry we know nothing, save that his piety, character, and talents had greatly endeared him to the church and people of Wind- sor. Over his grave they created a monument bearing the following in- seription, sufficiently indicative of their respeet for his character and sorrow at his loss:

" Heere Lyeth Ephraim Hvit, sometimes Teacher to ye church of Windsor, who dyed September 4th, 1644.

" Who When hee Lived Wee drew ovr vital Breath. Who When hee Dyed his dying wasovr death, Who was ye Stay of State, ye Churches Staff, Alas the times Forbid an EPITAPHI."

The stone which bears this inscription still exists, in a good state of preservation, in the Old Burying Ground of Windsor, and is supposed to be the oldest original monument in the State, if not in the Valley of the Connectient. It consists of a slab of red sandstone, which is now in- serted in one side of a monument, the other side of which bears a cor- responding slab, with an inscription to the memory of the Rev. Jonathan Marsh.

This now very scarce work, a small quarto, 53 inches broad by 73 long, and containing 358 pages, was published in 1644;1 and it is a question of some interest to bibliophiles, whether it was written by Mr. Huit while in England, or after he came to Windsor. In the latter case, it is one of the earliest of our American Commentarios.

The Dedication is as follows:

" To the " Right Honourable " The Ladie " Katherine Brooke :

"Dowager to the Right Honourable Robert Lord Brook, Baron of Beuchampe court.

" Right Honourable

" The authour of this book had long since intended the Dedication thereof to your dear husband and our noble Lord, now in heaven, who, after perusall of the copy, was

" Title and Dedication kindly furnished from the copy in the library of Mr. Howard Edwards of Philadelphia, Pa,

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

so far affected with it, that if money could have procured its freedom it had not lain so long under the power of a hard master, who though he had a good round summe with it, yet hath made it serve almost a double Apprenticeship: And indeed such was the iniquity and injuriousnesse of those times, that few workes of this nature were suffered to see the light, especially if they spake anything freely of those opinions which were so much disliked, and cried down by the Prelaticall party, as this doth, concerning the glorious calling and conversion of the Jews, which was a principall objection made against it. But the Lord in merey having sent us a Parliament, whose first study, and care was to relieve the oppressed, and release the imprisoned; this also hath at length obtained its Mamimission (principally by the endeavours, and favour of that truly Noble and leroicall Patriot the Earle of Manchester), and is now come abroad into the world, and as we hope will prove very serviceable. The prophecie itselfe, is in many places very abstruse, and the authour in his exposition hath shewed much industry, and solid- ity of judgment in searching out the meaning of the Spirit, and in enucleating such difficulties as he met with in the Text, which we hope will give good satisfaction to all that read it. Had himselfe been present (who by the Tyranny of the Prelatical party, was diverse years since driven into New England) we presume that he would have chosen none other but your Lordship, to dedicate these his labours unto, the rather con- sidering what right that most Honourable Lord, now a Saint in Heaven, had unto them. And therefore not onley in that respect, but also in regard of our Relations and engage- ments to your Ladiship we have presumed to make you the Patronesse hereof, which if your Ladiship please to accept of, we have our desires, and shall account it a favour to be esteemed.

" Madam we are " SIMEON ASH "SAMUEL CLARKE " WILL. OVERTON "

" Your Ladiships humble servants,

He left a widow and four daughters, but no sons. His property was inventoried at £633 19s. 1d. (a very handsome property for that day). of which £259 1s. 14. is the value of his " Tole " at the mill. The town records show that an annuity of £20 was paid to his widow, from the time of his decease until 1656, or thereabouts.

1648. " This year," says Winthrop (ii. 253), " a new way was found ont to Connectient by Nashua, which avoided much of the hilly way."

1649. This year we find the first mention of any settlement of that portion of the town known as Poquonock. Thomas Holcomb, JJohn Bartlett, Edward, Francis, and George Griswold, all of Windsor, had ro- moved thither, and were living north of the point where Stony Creek crosses the highway, their home-lots bounding west on the brook. Gris- wold's lot was the first, bounding south and west on the brook, 29 aeres ; Holcomb's lot eame next, 20 acres, 20 rods, west on " the brook before his house," his south line probably being about 20 rods from the top of the hill at the highway. The court, "taking into consideration the many dangers that their families are in and exposed unto by reason of their remote living from neighbors, and nearness to the Indians, in case they should all leave their families together without any guard," freed one sollier of the forementioned families from training upon every train- ing-lay : " each family aforesaid to share herein according to the number of sokliers that are in them, provided that man which tarries at home stands about the aforesaid houses upon his sentinel posture."

CHAPTER 11I.

THE CIVIL ORGANIZATION OF WINDSOR ILLUSTRATED FROM THE TOWN RECORDS.

T MITE first act of the settlers of Connecticut, doubtless, was to provide for themselves a civil organization. They were no more adven- turers, but men of sober thought and strong intent, and nothing more clearly exhibits their character in its best and truest light, than the system of laws and regulations which they laid as the corner stone of their social fabrie, and which remains, after the lapse of two centuries, as substantial and clearly defined as when first created. Their civil organization was purely democratie as regards those who, in the capacity of inhabitants, framed it. Inhabitants, in those days, were such, and only such, as by virtue of a good character, blameless life, and " honest conversation," and a vote of the town taken in public meeting, had been admitted to the privilege of residence and participation in town affairs.

Vicious and abandoned persons, idlers, vagabonds, and pampers were excluded from such privileges, and not even permitted to tarry in the town. So carefully did our forefathers guard themselves against the in- thuis of had members of society, that the General Court, in 1637, enacted that

" No young man that is not married, nor hath any servant, and he no public officer, shall keep house by himself without consent of the town where he lives, first had, under pain of 20 shillings per week. "?

" No master of a family shall give habitation or entertainment to any young man to sojourn in his family, but by the allowance of the inhabitants of the said town where he dwells, under the like penalty of 20 shillings per week. ""

We accordingly find, scattered along through the town records of Windsor, such entries as these :

" Dec. 1. 1651. John Moses had allowance to sojourn with Sinon Miller in his house."

Also, " Sept. 13, 1652. It is assented that Isaac Shelden and Sammel Rockwell shall keep house together in the house that is Isaac's, so they carry themselves soberly and do not entertain idle persons, to the evil expense of time by night or day."

' This law continued in force until the general revision of the statutes in 1s21, being then the oldest statute provision on our records not previously repeal df expressly or by implication. ( Max. of Thos. Day. LL.D )

" This was embraced in the Code of 1650, survived the revision of 1673, but disip peared in that of 1702. - Fbid.

VOL. I .- 11

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

Also, "that fohn Bennett should be entertained by William Hayden in his family." John Bennett was an old offender, and the order seems to refer to some previous one. Perhaps the town designated this place because of his proneness to get into mischief. William Hayden's house was at the extreme north end of the town, although several families lived near him. In 1648, three complaints had been entered against John Ben- nett in the same General Court. One for breach of covenant with John Bissell. One for defaming John Griffen, charging him with giving false evidence in court. The other complaint wouldl indicate that there was even among those humble settlers of Windsor, an aristocracy of worth, if not of family, sufficient at least to forbid an un worthy fellow from defaming the reputation of "an old man's daughter," by reporting that she looked upon him with favor. " John Drake complains of John Bennett for saying that he had enticed and drawn away the affections of his [D.'s] daughter." At the next sit ting of the court. John Bennett appeared and expressing his repentance and promising better carriage in future, the Court is willing once more to pass by his corporal punish- ment," and he was bound over for his good behavior. Educated as these settlers were in a land where the grades of society were strongly marked, it is not strange that some distinctions should be retained even in the more unreserved intercourse of this new country. John Drake was not a man of sufficient distinction to entitle him to the appel- lation of " Mr.", yet his son Job. a shoemaker, won the heart and hand of the daughter of Mr. Henry Wolcott, one of the first magistrates of Connecticut, and probably, after the pastor, the most distinguished man in Windsor.

Also, 1656: " In town meeting it was consented that Nicholas Wilton shouldl sojourn with John Owen, so he lived orderly with him." Again, " June 27. 1659 -The towns. men took into consideration how to prevent inconvenience and damage that may come to the town if some order be not established about entertainment and admitting of per- sous to be inhabitant in the town. We therefore order that no person or persons whatsoever shall be admitted inhabitant in this town of Windsor, without the approba- tion of the town, or townsmen, that are, or shall be, from year to year, in being. Nor shall any man sett or sell any house or land so as to bring in any to be inhabitant into the town without the approbation of the townsmen, or giving in such security as may be accepted to save the town from damage. Also, it is ordered by the townsmen, that whereas Edward King [an Irishman, who afterwards lived on the east side of the River. near Podunk], doth reside in a place remote from the Town where there has sometimes been recourse of divers persons in a private way which we judge may prove prejudicial to divers persons if not timely prevented It is therefore ordered that on or before the first of October next he shall give in sufficient security for his good carriage in his family and also for his careful attendance of the order of this jurisdiction, and of the order of this town, or else shall continue there no longer than that time, upon the pen- alty of 20 shillings per week ( W. Rec., 1. 40).

" It is also ordered that Edward Ryle shall continue there no longer than the afore- said time appointed, upon the same penalty."

" November 29th, 1667- The townsmen granted liberty to Samuel Pinney that he should entertain Judit Cromel a sojourner in his family for a twelve month. and [he] engageth to see that he carries well, and keeps good order, as an honest man should do, to the best of his endeavor, by counselling him."

" Dec. 10, 1659. The townsmen approved of that Thomas Gunn should entertain as a tabler, Capt. Thomas, in his family for this winter."

As late as " April, 1699, the widow Rix made application to the townsmen for lib- erty to keep at the widow Phelp's house or other place in the Town. She saith that she lived with Left. Joshua Wills for wages, but now that they are parted she wants another place. The townsmen do not see reason to grant her request, but have now warned her to remove out of this town to the town from whence she came, or to some other place, that she may prevent the townsmen proceeding against her according to law."

RESTRAINTS ON IRRESPONSIBLE PERSONS.

These extraets serve to show how carefully the law interposed its authority to preserve the purity of social life.'

" 1, A B, being by the Providence of God an Inhabitant within the Jurisdiction of Conecticott. doe acknowledge myself to be subjecte to the Governmente thereof, and doe sweare by the great and dreadfull name of the everliving God, to be true and faith- ful unto the same, and doe submit boath my person and estate thereunto, according to all the holsome lawes and orders that either are, or hereafter shall be there made, and established by lawful authority: and that I will neither plott nor practice any evell against the same, nor consent to any that shall so doe, but will tymley discover the same to lawful authority established there; and that I will, as in duty bound, mayntayn the honor of the same and of the lawfull Magistrats thereof, promoting the public good of it, whilst I shall so continne an Inhabitant there; and whensoever I shall give my vote, or suffrage or proxy touching any matter which concerns this Commonwealth being canled therennto, will give it as in my conscience may conduce to the best good of the same, without respect of persons or favor of any man. So help me God in our Lord Jesus Christe."

At the first session of the General Assembly under the charter, Oct. 9, 1662, it was ordered that those who desired to be admitted freemen should obtain a certificate from a majority of the Townsmen, certifying that they are persons " of civil, peacable and honest conversation, & that they have attained to the age of 21 years, and have £20 os- tate (besides their rent Poll), in the list of Estate," and such certificate should be pre- sented to the court authorized to admit freemen. Provision was made at the same time for the disfranchisement of such as were convicted of scandalous offenses. It has been asserted by some, that none but church members were admitted freemen in Connecti- ent, and that none were permitted to dissent from the faith and form of the established church order. A better acquaintance with the early history of the colony would do away with this erroneous impression.

During the administration of Cromwell, the Colonists had been suffered to manage their own affairs much in their own way; and when Charles H. ascended the throne, he soon after sent out, through his Commissioners, to inquire into the administration of the Colonial Governments. At a session of the General Assembly, held at Hartford, April 20, 1668.

" His Majesties Honorable Commissr. propositions were presented and read to the court - as follows:

Prop. 1st. "That all honseholders inhabiting this colony take the oath of allegi- ance, and the administration of justice be in his Majesties name."

To this the Colony answered:

" This we return, that according to his Majesties pleasure expressed in our charter, our Governor formerly hath nominated and appointed meet persons to administer the oath of allegiance."

Prop. 2d. " That all men of competent estates and of civill conversation, though of different judgments, may be admitted to be freemen & have liberty to choose and he chosen officers, both military and civil."

To this, "our order for admission of freemen is consonant with that proposition."

" Although the strictness of these first regulations concerning inhabitants, especially those relating to " young unmarried men," were after a time somewhat softened, yet the settlers always maintained a vigilant eye upon the character and doing of each member of the community. Their deep sense of the individual duties devolving upon every citizen, found expression in the Oath of Fidelity, which was framed by the Gen- eral Court in 1640, and which was to be administered by any two or three magistrates to all males, above sixteen years of age, who could present a certificate of good beha- vior.

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

Prop. 3d. " That all persons of civil lives may freely enjoy the liberty of their consciences and the worship of God in that way which they think best, provided that this liberty tend not to the disturbance of the publique, nor the hindrance of the mayn- taynance of ministers regularly chosen in each respective parish or township."

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The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 10

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909 Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Hartford, Conn., Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard company Number of Pages: 1038

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Hartford, Conn., Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard company
Number of Pages: 1038