The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 15

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

USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I > Part 15

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squaw, and then stabbed himself to death.' Thus ignobly perished the last of Tontonimo's tribe, the most fearless and warlike of the clans of Ancient Windsor. It was also somewhere in the Podunk wilds of Windsor that Miantonomah, the great Narragansett chief, met his death at the hands of Uneas, his Mohegan conqueror, probably Sept. 28, 1643. For, as recorded in Winthrop's Journal, the Commissioners from Con- nertient on their return to Hartford from the general meeting of the Commissioners of the United Colonies at Boston. where the fate of the captured chieftain had been decided, sent for Uncas and announced their decision. Miantonomah was delivered into his hands, and two Englishmen from Hartford were directed to remain with the prisoner as witnesses of the deed. Uncas lost no time in obeying the order. "Taking Miantonomah along with him, in the way between Hartford and Windsor (where Onkus hath some men dwell), Onkus' brother, following after Miantonomah, clave his head with a hatchet." Miss Caulkins' IList. Norwich, p. 35-37, says, " this slaughter of the Narragansett chief undoubtedly took place on that tract south of the Podunk which was claimed by Uneas and inhabited by scattered families under his jurisdic- tion. The narrative of Winthrop is explicit in stating that Uncas led his captive to this district, and that he was executed suddenly on the way, probably as soon as they had passed the English boundary and entered upon Indian territory. We cannot doubt that the Commission- ers had this special tract in view when they directed Uncas to carry his captive into the next [i. e., the nearest ] part of his own government and there put him to death.' Winthrop, who records the event, understood evidently that the extention took place in this Mohegan claim between Hartford and Windsor - that is, in the present East Hartford and East [now Sonth] Windsor; and he probably derived his information from the Englishmen that were designated to witness the act and see that it was done without failure. We are thus, in a manner, compelled to admit that Miantonomah was executed in some unknown spot, near the old boundary line of Hartford and Windsor." Miantonoman's. mon- ment, it is true, is erected near Norwich on the site of a monumental stone-heap - doubtless originally a Mohegan pile - a trophy erected by the tribe on the spot where they were victorious, and where Miantonomah was captured. But the ' place of sacrifice' in the woods of Windsor- the spot where he received the fatal blow - was left unmarked, and must remain forever unknown."

It cannot be supposed that the extinction of the Podunks was any great cause of sorrow to the now rapidly increasing whites. Their foro- cions temper and unbroken spirit firmly resisted all the friendly over-

: Dr. Mellure's MSS. in Conn. Ilist. Soc'y - the church referred to was probably Rev. Mr. Edward's church, near the old burial ground in South Windsor.

119

THE INDIAN TRIBES OF WINDSOR.

tures of the latter, who never felt quite safe from some unexpected out - break of savage violence.

In 1657. the pious Mr. Eliot, hearing of the Podunk Indians, de- sired that the tribe might be assembled, so as to afford him an oppor- tunity to give them some religious instruction. They were at length in- duced to come together at Hartford, where Mr. Eliot preached to them in their own language, and endeavored to instruct them in the knowledge of a Saviour. Having closed his sermon. he asked them if they would accept Jesus Christ as a Saviour, as he had been offered to them. But the intractable warrior chieftain, turning from him with great scorn, utterly refused, saying that the English had taken away their lands, and were now attempting to make them servants. - Trumbull.

In King Philip's War several of their young warriors were suspected to have gone off and joined the enemy.'

We have been unable to satisfactorily ascertain the existence of any considerable tribe of Indians in the present town of Ellington. There is a tradition that. at the time of Samnel Pinney's settlement there, about 1717. there was a part of a tribe of Indians dwelling a few rods north of where the grist and saw mills now stand, and that they were sometimes troublesome. Our own opinion is that it must have been a portion of some Windsor tribe, and that they occupied the ground rather as a hunt- ing ground during particular seasons of the year, than as a permanent residence.

Tradition tells us that the Indians on the east side of the Connecti- ent River were intimate friends of the Tunxis (or Farmington ) Indians. Whenever the latter made them a visit they returned with them to the west side of the river at parting, bringing with them provisions for a feast. consisting of pounded corn, and, if in the spring, maple sap, and such other simple luxuries as they possessed. And having arrived at the meadow hill, they feasted together and smoked the pipe of peace.

This is probable, for it is very evident that all the Windsor tribes were intimately connected, not only with each other, but with all the other Connecticut elans. Any one who attempts, from deeds and the slender data which remain, to define, with any degree of positive accuracy, the boundaries and distinctions of these tribes, will find himself in a labyrinthian maze of doubt and confusion. Misspelling and the ancient orthography of names; indefiniteness of the boundaries mentioned. and the changes which time has wrought in them, are some of the difficulties which will assail him. Added to this he will find, as will be seen in our next chapter, that our ancestors, when they purchased land from the natives, were in the habit of procuring the signatures, not only of the

Dr. Mcclure in Mass. Hist. Society Collections, vol. x., says that the tribe contained between 200 and 300 men, who went off in that war, and never returned.

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

owners, but of all the relatives and friends, and, sometimes it would seem, of all the Indians in the neighborhood, whether they had any interest in the property or not. This was done for the sake of greater security, and however politie in that day, is sometimes exceedingly annoying to the patient investigator of later days. These remarks may serve to explain the apparent discrepancies which sometimes appear in the discussion of those subjeets; and the author trusts that they will sufficiently apologize for any mistakes which the critie may hereafter discover in these pages. Confident we are that those who are most acquainted with the subject and its inherent difficulties will be the most lenient in their criticism.

The subsequent history of the Windsor Indians is both melancholy and brief. They seem to have gradually removed to Farmington, Salis- bury, and Sharon, where, in 1730. they became united with the remnants of the Simsbury, Farmington, Wethersfield, and other Connectient River tribes, and finally, in 1763, were removed to Stockbridge, Mass. About the year 1786. by invitation of the Oneidas. they moved to Stockbridge. N. Y. Here, on a traet three miles long by two miles in breadth, granted to them by the hospitable Oneidas, they. together with a number from the Mohegan and other tribes of Connecticut, formed a tribe called the Brothertons. Their first pastor was Sampson Decum, a native Mohegan, who removed to New York State with them, and died there in 1792.

In 1834 they commenced, together with the Stockbridge tribe, to emigrate to Calumet County. Wisconsin. By 1840 there were 300 of the Brothertons and 230 Stockbridge Indians in the county, and had commenced to build saw and grist mills. In 1839 the Brothertons obtained the rights of United States citizenship. In 1850 they numbered 400 ont of a population of 1746 in Calumet County, where they now form a large, civilized, and prosperous community.1

In 1774 there were but sir Indians residing in Windsor, and in 1786 there was but one old squaw. Betty Mammanash, who was supported by the State, and who died the same year.

In East Windsor there were but six Indians (probably Scanties) in 1774. and in 1806 there was one family who were unable to trace their origin or tribe." Within the whole limits of Ancient Windsor but one Indian is know to have been converted or baptized. This was Sarah, whose life has been made the subject of a tract, published by the American Tract Society, an abridgment of which was also published in London. This individual resided at the north end of Shenipset Pond in Ellington. The publication referred to is little better than entire false- hood. Although she was a full-blooded Mohegan, possessing the natural

1 Wisconsin Hist. Society full., i. 103.

3 Max. Hist. Society Coll., 1st Series, X.

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INDIAN NAMES OF WINDSOR LOCALITIES.

self-respect of the aborigine, and spoke the English language as well as old people generally, the author, apparently to give zest to the narrative. attributed to her the abjeet spirit and broken speech of the African race. which. in the opinion of those who knew her, was not only far from the truth, but also degrading and unjust to the individual herself.

As a matter of interest to our readers, we subjoin the translation of some of the Indian names which occur in the previous chapters, derived from the History of Glastonbury. Conn .. by the late Rev. Alonzo B. Chapin. We are not versed in Indian philology, and therefore cannot vouch for their entire accuracy, but we believe that they are the result of much labori- ons and conscientious research into the subject, and, as far as we are competent to judge, are supported by good authorities.

UNCAS, signifies thu hold. Usots-wouk, bold-ness (Cot. 8); ONKQUE, cruel tyrant (('ot. 21).

ARRAMAMET. signifies dog's tongue. Seems to be compounded of AREM, the Indian word for dog (R. W. 96) and MEENAT, or WEENAT, a tooth (compare EIl. 10: R. W. 59). The change which this etymology supposes the word to undergo is pre- cisely like that in the Indian word WUTTUMMAGEN, & pipe, from Werros, mouth, and EGUN or EAGUN, thing, instrument, etc.

NESSAHIEGON, signifies instrument of death, from Nissin, killing, and EAGUN, instrument (R. W. 115. 122. See also Schoolcraft Miss. App. 200).

WEQUASII, Gran (R. W. 86).

SEAKOT. rild-ent.

SEQUASSON, hardstone : SEQUIN, NOWHEAG, King of the South Country.

TUNNIS SEPUS, signified the Little Crane River, from TAUXCK, crane (R. W. 5), SEPOSE, little river (R. W. 89).

POQUONNOC, signified a battle field. Poquonnoc, Pequonnoc, Pughquonue. Pocatonnuc, derived from PivQua, to kill or slaughter (R. W. 118, 151). These words apparently denote a slaughter place, and probably in bottle.

PODUNK, the place of fire, or place of burning, From Poraw, fire, and Usek, plan of (R W. 48), hence POTAUNCK, or PODUNK, or POTUNK (T. C. R. H. 347).

SCANTIC, seems to refer to the low watery country in that neighborhood, from SOKEN, to pour out (R. W. 3D, and SOKENCM, ruin (R. W. SI): evidently the same words from which some of the New England tribes had AsQuAx, water. SOKENTUCK. ASQUANTUCK, place of water, might very readily change to SCANTIC.

SHEENIPSET, SNIPSIC. NIPSIC, from Nie, water, and sic. plure of.

HOCCANUM, fishing ground.

Vol. 1. - 16

CHAPTER VI.

NOTES ON THE PURCHASES OF WINDSOR'S LANDS FROM THE INDIANS.

West of the Connecticut River.

H TROM reasons alluded to in the previous chapter, it is now ahnost impossible in many cases to define the erdet boundaries of the differ- ent purchases. The Indians, when selling their lands to the whites, were parting with that which had no great value in their own eyes, and of which they had a superabundance: consequently they did not haggle abont a mile or so, more or less, and adopted the natural features of the country as the most convenient landmarks and boundaries. The ancient names of these various localities are now obseure, and often lost ; and the appearance of the localities themselves has undergone some change during the lapse of years. Many of these purchases, also, overlap pre- vious purchases, and land was often repurchased by our honest ancestors - in cases where some doubt seems to have existed as to the validity of a former title, or of the full terms of the contract having been properly fulfilled.

We have, therefore, rather than attempt any very close and accur- ate adjustment of these various purchases, preferred to set the matter before our readers in its simplest light, by presenting the different deeds, either in full or in abstract, just as we find them on the Land Records of Windsor, simply arranging them in the order of time, and connecting them by a slight framework of suggestions and notes. Thus, we believe that, with the aid of the Map of Indian Purchases, the reader will be able, easily and satisfactorily, to trace out and comprehend the whole subject. In the construction of this map we have been greatly indebted to the researches and labors of our friend, Mr. Jabez H. Hayden of Windsor Looks, Conn. Indeed, the outline or skeleton, so to speak, of the chapter is his work ; ours has been its arrangement and the elabora- tion of detail, in every step of which we have to acknowledge his aiding and guiding hand.

We have not thought it worth while to give the references to our extracts of deeds, ete. They are derived from the First and Second Book of Land Records of Windsor. The first volume was carefully

WEST HARTFORD

MAP ILLUSTRATIVE of the

INDIAN PURCHASES

OF Ancient Windsor CONN.

BLOOMFIELD

SIMSBURY

HARTFORD

........

low Nece

E. HARTFORD

GAca- Mc.pow

THE

GREA

RIVER

SCANDIC R

FRESH VỤTEA BAOUM

MANCHESTER

ELLINGTON

RICHARDSON SC NY

HamamalMT his Mark

Facsimile of the mark of Aramamet, the Wind-or Sachem, 1636.

1 1

LIPFLE

PINE MEADOW

5 ****

WINDSOR LOCKS

SUFFIELD

MANGE RICH HI

OUTH WINDSO

ENFIEL

CATCH BASMA

WINDSOR

123

LAND PURCHASES FROM THE INDIANS.

copied by order of the town in 1710-12. From the original, which is still in existence, although somewhat the " worse for wear," we have made our notes, supplying all lost words and passages from the better conditioned copy. The Indian signatures, having no uniformity, have no value as autographs, and are, therefore. not reproduced.

One fact is most conclusively proved by this array of documentary evidence, that the whole of Ancient Windsor was honestly bought, and even rebought by our ancestors, of the native proprietors. A strict sense of justice actuated our fathers in all their dealings with the Indians, and. so far as we can learn. no taint of dishonesty or over-reaching rests upon the broad acres of old Windsor.

When the Plymouth Company erected their trading house at Matia- nnek, in 1633. they purchased " for a valuable consideration," from Se- quassen and Nattawannt, " the rightful owners," a tract of land west of the Connectient River. This purchase, extending from the great swamp near the bounds of Hartford on the south, to about a quarter of a mile above Mr. Francis Stiles's (the Ellsworth Place) on the north : bounded east by the Connecticut, and on the west extending " into the country as far as Sequassen and Nattawannt's proprieties," was the first land owned by the English within the present town of Windsor, and was transferred to the Dorchester settlers in 1637.

This whole tract was afterwards (July 14, 1670 ) repurchased by the town of Windsor from Nattawanut's successors, Arramamett and Repo- quam. In this sale, which was probably a mere matter of confirmation. the lands are described as extending from Hartford to - Nassahegan's propriety already sold to the inhabitants of Windsor " (Poquonnor), and from the Connecticut River running seven miles westward " into the wilderness." They were sold. " with all the trees, woods, underwood. brooks, rivers, waters, and ponds lying therein, for a valuable parcel of Trucking cloth." - Windsor Land Record.

The north line of this purchase is indicated on the accompanying map by a dotted line.

11.

The land described in the foregoing deed of confirmation as " Nas- sahegan's propriety already sold to the inhabitants of Windsor," was situated in the Pognonnoe District. It was bought some time in 1035. by William Phelps, Sen .. who afterward, not being able to prove full

121

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

payment of the same, honestly bought it over again. The transaction is thus detailed in a deed, dated March 31, 1465:

" These presents testify, whereas there was a parcel of land purchased formerly by Mr. William Phelps, Sen., living at Windsor, about 30 years since, of Schat. an Indian. a Paquanick sachem, and 1 [Phelps] not being able to prove full payment of the said purchase, in consideration whereof I now engage to make up the full payment by pay. ing to the said Schat's kinsman, Nassalegan, sachem of Paquanick. 4 trucking coats, or what upon agreement shall satisfy them to the value thereof. The said Nassahegan en gaging to make said parcel of land free as shall be expressed from any challenge or de- mands for future time of himself, his heirs, or successors, or any other Indian or Indians whatsoever. And Coggerynosset, Schat's son and his sister, and the said Nassahegan's own sister shall subscribe to the said premises. The said parcel of land is thus bounded, as it takes in all the first meadow bounded by the rivulet, the Indian name being Tan chag; and half the 20 meadow according to the running of the river, the Indian name being Pabachinmusk; the parcel of land bounds south by a little brook that falls into the river, about 40 rods from my now dwelling house, and to extend in length from the river westward upon a line three miles, all the breadth the said land from the south brook to the middle of the 2d meadow; which said agreement is made and assigned to by us whose names are underwritten this year of the Lord, 1665, March 31st. Owned already paid in two coats and 40s, in wampum for a third coat, and six bushels of Indian corn. and fifteen shillings in wampum for the fourth coat; and fifteen shillings in wampum is at six a penny.

"[Signed by ]

" Witnesses

SAMUEL PHELPS.

COGGERYNOSSET. ASUTHEW. Coggerynosset's sister.

MATTHEW GRANT. PATACKHOUSE, Naxsthegan's sister.

JOHN BARTLETT. TIMOTHY BUCKLAND.

AMANNAWER.

NASSAHEGAN."

In February, 1666, " whereas there are several men that have land within the limits of it [the purchase aforesaid ] both meadow and upland, besides Mr. Phelps and his sons, it was therefore concluded that each man according to his proportion of land capable of plowing or mowing. should pay 12 pence per acre to Mr. Phelps." And each one paying to Mr. Phelps should afterwards have a clear title to their several shares of land. We much doubt whether that land could now be purchased for twelve pence per acre.

111.

The next slice of land acquired by our ancestors extended from the north line of the Plymouth purchase of 1633 to Stony Brook, and from the Connectient River to the west side of the Simsbury Mountains. This large tract, as will be seen, covered the whole of the present town of Windsor Locks, the northern third of Windsor, and the southern part of Nuffield. It was purchased " about the time of the Pequot war" (1637) by Messrs. George Hall, Humphrey Pinney. Thomas Ford, and Thomas Lewis, for the inhabitants of Windsor, from the sachem Tehand or Nchano. In a deed of confirmation given May 19. 1657. by his

125

LAND PURCHASES FROM THE INDIANS.

daughter, Quashabmek, widow of Coggerynosset of Poquonock. deceased, she testifies that " her father received full satisfaction therefor," and as she is his only child she makes over her right and title to Capt. Benja- min Newbury, Capt. Daniel Clark, Mr. Simon Wolcott, Mr. Henry Wolcott, and Return Strong, as representatives of the town of Windsor. AAnshqua, her son (by Coggerynosset ). also confirms the same. This land is more fully described in the deed as " between Gnn's Brook down to Connectient River, which brook falls into the river at a place called New Brook [present Hayden's Station ]. at upper end of land formerly William Hayden's, deceased. and since to his son Daniel, and from the brook it runs north to the Stony Brook ( which enters Connectient River opposite the great island on the falls ), and bounds casterly on the Connertient River, and thence runs west to the westward side of the mountains, and continues all along the same breadth as at the east end."

IV.

" Know all men by these presents, that I. Nassahegan, of Paquanick, sachem, have freely given and granted and do hereby alienate and assign unto John Mason of Wind- sor. all my right and interest in all my land lying between Powqnaniock and Massaqua [Massacoe, or Simsbury] westward and south and eastward as far as he has any right, only excepting a part of a meadow at Paquanick now in the occupation of the Indians, there to be enjoyed fully and freely without any future disturbance, by the said John Mason, or his assigns. Witness my hand this 13th of March, Anno Domini, 1642. ". Signed and sealed in the NASSAHLEGAN. presence and witness of WILLIAM PHELPS, WILLIAM HILL.

" This copied from the original by me. Matthew Grant. Register, February, 1665."

This deed evidently extinguished Nassahegan's title to all the land (except the reservation at Indian Neck above mentioned ) in Windsor south and west of the Tunxis, not included in the previous sale to Phelps.

Even the small - part of a meadow at Paquanick." mentioned in the foregoing deed. was soon absorbed by the insatiable white man. for we learn that in

"April 21. 1659, George Griswold hath by purchase of certain Indians, by name Wattowan, Quockhom, Wannappoush, the wife of Wattowan, otherwise called Towanno [Nchano or Tehano] a certain neck of land lying at Poquonnock made over in a convey ance under the hand and marks of the Indians, now in the keeping of George Griswold: the laund in quantity by the Indian'sestimation, is nine acres more or less, since by more exact measure is found 10 acres more or less, as it is bounded northwest by a small swamp in a straight line from river [to rivfer: every way else it bounds by the river. Which said parcel of land it shall be lawful for the said George Griswold, his heirs. executors, administrators and assigns forever to have and lo hold, possess and enjoy. as freely as we the said Indians above named, had both liberation and counsel from

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

our friends of a long time,' and we now do engage ourselves and heirs to maintain and defend [all] right and claim that we have sold and made over unto George Griswold, con- firming the said land to be good and right, and that we are the true owners of the said land, and stand bound, both we and our heirs, to make good our part of sale and delivery ; and free the said land from all claims, demands, debts, dues of every nature or kind whatsoever that are or have been upon the said land, from the beginning of the world to this present day." &c.

"George Griswold hath reserved to himself, in the Indian neck of land, out of the general purchase that he made with the Indians, two acres and a half and ten rods as it is now bounded, besides an allowance for a way to go by the river side on the cast end of it, bounded on the north by the land of James Enno, south by Edward Griswohl, west and east by the river." Perhaps this is the land referred to in the following town vote of Dee. 10, 1656.

" It was voted that if the corner of land that is in the Indians' possession be judged by the town meet to be purchased, that then their neighbors of Poquonock, jointly, shall purchase, and none other shall buy it from them, but these shall have it to them- selves." Town lets, i. 32.

VI.

"Sept. 11. 1662. 1. Nassahegan, of Poquonoek, do own myself indebted to George Griswold £3: 5x, which should have been paid him in the year 1659, in March, which I delaying to pay do now give for full payment to the foresaid George Griswold, all my land in the Indian Neck, which parcel of land by estimation is two acres, more or less, as it lies bounded east and west by the river, north by the land of Samuel Phelps, sonth [by ] the land of Josiah Ellsworth, and also all the islands lying in the river from the land that is Aaron Cook's to the lower end of the Indian neck."

May 26. 1670: " Deed by Sepanquet son of Nassahegan, in consideration of a sum of money to be paid by Samuel Marshall in my behalf of me for a fine to the County of Hartford, and Sx, more that I am to pay to Jacob Gibbs, of an island upon Windsor Rivalet, at a place called by the Indians Matumpseck."

This island is supposed to be the one about opposite the point called Indian Neck.

April 19, 1659, Cowcherowind sold to George Griswold, 200 rods of marsh or mowing land under the east side of Massaco [Simsbury ] Hills, bounded by a little brook which divideth the land of Samuel Phelps, west by the foot of the mountains, also the upland to the top of the same.

April 28, 1665, Nassahegan, sachem of Poquonock, sold to Jonathan Gillet, Sen., of Windsor, a piece of land, swamp, or marsh, containing twelve acres, called by the Indians Matacomacok. This was situated without the west bounds of Windsor, southerly of the swamp belonging to John Moore and Edward Griswold.

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The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 15

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