The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 29

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 29

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John Grant,

(

0) John Hosford, . John Hoskins,

Lydia, his sister,

230

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

€

Stephen Taylor, Senr ..

Mr. Wolcott, 0

10 1)

Stephen Taylor, Jr.,

Mr. H. Wolcott, Jr.,

Owen Tudor,

1 Samuel Wolcott,

Samuel Tudor. .

Robert Watson,

William Thrall,

=2 6 David Winchell,

Timothy Thrall,

6 Nicholas Wilton,

Juda Trumbull,

6 John Williams,

-1

Hanna Trumbull.

6 John Renard,

Richard Vore. .

3 Samuel Wilson,

This generous contribution of Windsor was, by the following special order of the court, appropriated to relieve the wants of the Simsbury people, and others whose property had been destroyed. and who were in circumstances of much destitution.

July 10th. "The council, being informed that through the good hand of God upon us, our people of this colony have bountifully, according to their ability, afforded some supply for our brethren in distress in our neighboring colonies, have thought meet to desire that our brethren in Windsor would improve what they have gathered of the good people there, to supply those in want that are removed by reason of the rage [of thejenemy into their town; and that the remainder of it be distributed among the people of Springfield, in distress, and those upper towns, according to the good discretion of Deacon John Moore, John Loomis, Jonathan Gillet, Senr., and Jacob Drake."

As far as can be ascertained, only two persons were killed by the Indians during the war within the present limits of Windsor.

HENRY DENSLOW had purchased. in 1662. a tract of land on both sides of Kettle Brook, including nearly the whole of the present town of Wind- sor Locks. He settled on this purchase about one-half or three-quarters of a mile south of the brook, and his was probably the only family in that part of the town until after Philip's war. Daniel Hayden was his nearest neighbor, at the distance of nearly two miles. When the war broke out he removed his family into the center of the town, but being a courageous man he ventured alone, as tradition informs us, to cultivate his lands. He was killed, however, in the summer of 1676, by the same wandering party of Indians who burnt Simsbury, and who afterwards confessed their erime at Hartford. See the Chapter on Windsor Locks.

EDWARD ELMOR, the emigrant ancestor of the Windsor family of that name, was also killed about the same time, near Podunk, in the present town of South Windsor. He resided in Hartford. but had a plantation at Podunk, and was either killed there, or, on his way thither.

EDWARD BARTLETT of Windsor was killed at Westfield, Mass.'

llis will in the probate office at Hartford, is dated February 24, 1676.

CHAPTER XI.

ECCLESIASTICAL AND CIVIL HISTORY. EXTRACTS FROM TOWN ACTS.

1685-1729.

16S5. "At a town meeting, June 23, 1685. It was voted that the town would have a Patent according to charter taken out from the Governor and Company. of the township of Windsor.

"Also Captain Newberry. Capt. Clarke, Henry Wolcott, Thomas Bissell and George Griswold were chosen to take out the aforesaid Patent in their names from the Governor and Company in behalf of the town."

THE PATENT OF THE TOWN OF WINDSOR. (State Archives Mss., Towns and Lands, Vol. 1. 222.)

Whereas the Generall Court of Conecticot have formerly granted the proprietors Inhabitants of ye towne of Windsore all those lands both upland & meadow, within those abuttments uppon Hartford bounds by ye great River, where ye fence of their meadow stood & to run as y" sd fence runns till it meets with a red oak tree marked for ye bounds standing withine ye neck [of] fence in Thomas Butler's land, and from ye tree it runs a westerly line till it meets with ye brick hill Swamp & then it runs due North half a mile till it comes neere to y- head of ye brick hill Swampe, & from theure westerly till it meets with farmington bounds & abutts west on farmington and Symsbury bounds & North in re Commons & it extendeth from Hartford bounds on ye South. North to a tree marked neere ye great River two miles above a brooke known by ye name of Kettle Brooke. On ye east side of Conecticot River it abutts on a great elme on ye South side of Podunk River & runs Easterly three miles & then South half a mile & from ye half miles' end it runs East five miles & abutts on ye Commons on ye East from sayd Hartford bounds, ye whole breadth till it extendeth two miles above y" fore- mentioned Kettell brooke, both on y' East & west side of Conecticot River, yest Lands having been by purchase or otherwise lawfully obtained of y+ Indian native proprietors. And whereas the proprietors ys foresde Inhabitants of Windsor, in the Colony of Conce ticot, have made application to y" Governor & Company of ya sayd Colony of Conecti cot. assembled in Court, May 25, 1685, that they may have a pattent for ye con firmation of yrafore s' Laud soe purchased & granted to them as afore sd & wch they have stood seized & quietly possessed of for many years late past wibont interruption: Now for a more full confirmation of ye aforesaid tract of land as it is butted & bounded aforest unto ye pr gent proprietors of y" sle towneship of Windsor, in their possession & enjoyment of ye Premises Know yr y' sde Governor and company assembled in Generall Court according unto ye Commission granted to them by his Majestic in Hlis Charter have given, granted & by these presents do give, grant, ratific & confirme unto Capt" BENJ: NEWBERRY, Capt. DANIELL CLARKE, L" THOMAS ALLYN. M. HENRY WOLCOT, M. THOMAS BISSELL, Sen. Mr. GEORGE GRISWOLD & Mr. Joux MOORE & sr rest of ye st prsent proprietors of ye township of Windsor, their heirs successors & assigns forever. y" foreste preell of land as it is butted & bounded, together with all y" woods, meadows, pastures, ponds, waters, rivulets, lands, fishing, hunting, fowlings.

232

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

mines, mineralls, quarries & pretiose stone uppon or within ye gde tract of Land & all other proffits & commodities thereon belonging or in any wise appertayning, & doe alsor grant unto ye afore sde [ names of the patentees, above, repeated] & ye rest of ye propri- etors inhabitants of Windsor, their heirs, successors and assigns forever yt ye afore sd tract of land shall be for-ever hereafter deemed, reputed & be an intire township of it selfe. To have and to hold ye sle tract of land & premises with all and singular their appartenances, together with ye privilege & innomities & franchises herein given & granted unto ye sde | names repeated as above] & others ye prsent proprietors, Inhabit ants of Windsor, their heirs, successors, and assigns, forever & to ye only proper use and behoofe of sd [ names repeated, as above] & other proprietors, Inhabitants of Windsor, their heirs, successors, and assigns, according to ye tenor of East Greenwitch in Kent in fee & common soreage & not in capitte nor by Knight's service, they to make improvements of ye same as they are capable according to ye custom of ye coun- try, yielding, rendering & paying therefor to our Sovereign Lord yo King his heirs, successors & assigns, his dues according to Charter.

In witness whereof we have caused ye scale of ye Colony to be hereunto affixed this 26 day of O' Sovereign Lord JAMES ' Second of England, Scotland, France and Ireland. King defender of the faith. &e.

ROBERT TREAT, Governor.

y order of ye Generall Courte, signed by JJohn Allyn, Secretary.

pr order of y' Governor & company of ye Colony of Conectecot. [Signed by] JOHN ALLYN, Secretary.

Entered in ye Publiq Records, Lib. 11, fo1: 141:142.

Mr. JJOHN ALLYN. Serotary.

This above written is a true copy taken out of yr originall & compared, March ?: 1697-S. by me,

HENRY WOLCOT, Register.

1686. At a town meeting, "also the Town voted that Mr. John Wolcott shall be paid for the horse block he set up, at the ferry; also that the townsmen shall set up a good horse block at the meeting house on town account."

1690, Feb'y 2. " It was voted that Sarg' George Griswold and Enst Joseph Gris- wold shall have liberty to make a mill dam across the river at the upper end of the meadow at Poquonnuck - provided they build a good grist-mill for the use of the town within 3 years time, and keep the same in good repairs; and that they shall have liberty to build a sawmill at the same place as long as they keep the gristmill in good repair. Always provided that in case said Griswolds fail to build the gristmill within 3 years as before said, then this grant is to return to the town."

" 14 Sept., 1693, the townsmen met and took some of the town's lead in view, and found and left at Lft Return Strong's old house, under the stairs, 359 pounds; and at Mr. John Fyler's 138 pounds, and it is judged under the meeting house north gallery [there is] 500 weight, besides a body of bullets at Mr. John Fylers."

The meeting-house may perhaps seem a strange place for the keep- ing of military stores, but it was a very general custom at that day, as being a central and well-protected depot for such purpose. And it must be remembered, also, that our ancestors did not view the meeting-house as a consecrated place. They used it for all public purposes, without any completions of conscience, for what some might deem sacrilege.

1696-7. "At a town meeting, January 19, it was voted that whosoever shall at any town meeting speak withont leave from the Moderator of the meeting, he shall forfeit one shilling and it [is] to be restrained by the constable for the use of the town."

ECCLESIASTICAL AND CIVIL, 1685-1729.

This would indicate a growing boldness of manners and self- sufficiency, quite in contrast with the decorons propriety of the first generation.

Also at the same meeting "it was voted to forbid all persons to make turpentine or rosin within the town bonds."

Gov. Roger Wolcott mentions in his Journal, that " the year 1697 was a year of great scarcity and mortality. The summer was cool and cloudy, not a month without a frost in it ; the winter was very long and severe. In February and March the snow was very high and hard ; There was a great ery for bread : the cattle famished in the yards for want ; the sickness was very distressing and mortal: those in health could hardly get food, tend the sick. and bury the dead. Many suffered for want of fre-wood and tendance."

1697-8, Jannary 17. " Voted that all the male inhabitants of the town from sixteen years of age and upwards shall kill one dozen of black birds, or give one shilling to the town treasury. And whosoever shall kill above his dozen shall have one shilling paid out of the town rate, and whosoever shall kill six blackbirds in March or April it shall be accounted as if he had killed a dozen." (Bk. i. T2.)

1695, April 2. " The townsmen thought meet to send Josiah Bartlett to Hadley to the wife of Caleb Smith, in order to the procuring a cure of his lameness, and we do desire Serg't Porter to lake care to send him thither, and to do what is needful in that matter." On the 5th of April following, the " Townsmen met, and whereas Josiah Bartlett above mentioned is now at Hadley, we do further empower Serg't Porter in the name of the town, to put him an apprentice to a suitable place, for time as his discretion shall guide." (Bk. ii. 73.)

December 27. " The town voted a desire that the Court would grant liberty to Alexander Allyn to sell wine and other strong drink, provided he do not allow any to drink it in his house, and that he sell cheaper than others that hure licens ." (Bk. ii. 20.)

1698-9. January 31. " The town chose Lft. Hayden and Ensign Joseph Griswold to take care to prevent the carrying away of the iron ore at the march called Tilton's Marsh."

1699, March 14. The town voted to expend £100 ponuds in cleaning sheep com- mons, each man lo work out his part.

Also 4d per head for killing crows, and the same price as before for blackbirds, and no person hereafter to be fined For not killing them. (Bk. ii. 79.)

Also liberty was granted to any person to work iron ore [probably al Tilion's Marsh]. provided they should sell " 1000 lb. weight to the people of the town, one fourth part cheaper than the market price." (Bk. ii. 90.)

. This offer was accepted by Mr. John Elliott.

1700. December 26. " Voted by the town to allow Mr. Samuel Mather for his salary for preaching the Word, for the present year, one hundred and ten pounds."

1701, February 11. Town meeting voted that as there was no stream sufficient for carrying on the iron works nearer than Stony-brook (in the present town of Suffield ), that the ore found on the commons might be carried there: " and that the inhabitants of Windsor or Suffield may be indifferently employed to carry the said ore, provided the inhabitants of Windsor may be employed as well as the inhabitants

VOL. I .- 30

2:4

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

of Suffield to cut wood in Suffield common, and make and cart coal for the use of the said works."

December 29. " Voted to creet a pew between the pulpit and the Great Pew which is on the women's side [of the meeting-house], for the use of Mr. Mather's family during his life or abode in the town."

1702, JJune 5. Liberty was granted to certain men. to get turpen- tine out of the trees already boxed on the east side of the (Connectient ) River, on the condition that they should deliver one-fourth part of it. " barrels and all to the townsmen for the town's nse."

1703. April 27. 220 was granted by the town, with which to pro- cure " assistance in the ministry " for one quarter. The committee were directed to make application to a certain Mr. Reade, and if he could not accept, to Mr. Samuel Mather, the son of their pastor.

Mr. Mather was not a minister, but he was an educated man, had graduated from Cambridge two years before, and probably possessed all the requisite gifts of mind and character for " a supply."

In 1703, the term Society is first used on the town records of Windsor.

1707, December 19, the society voted to give Mr. Mather $110 as nsual, for the salary for the current year ending in April, " but in case a help be provided, that so much be abated as his office is." It was also agreed " to make application to Mr. Jonathan Marsh, of Hadley, to be helpful in the ministry for half a year."

December 30. The society appointed a committee, who should have power to call meetings, order about repairing meeting-house, and any other Imsiness needful for the society.

1708, March 30. The society voted " to make application to Rev. Jonathan Marsh to desire his continuance with us in the work of the ministry in order to a settlement." This was unanimously voted, except one. His salary was to be $80 if he performed the whole or greater part of the labor ; but if Mr. Mather was able to undertake one-half of it, then Mr. Marsh was to receive 670 in current country pay, or two- thirds in current silver money. "And for his further encouragement, voted to give $100 per year while he continues in the work after the decease of Mr. Mather besides what shall be done towards his honorable settlement."

In January, 1709, they offered Mr. Marsh $100 in " current country pay," in case of his settlement among them ; which terms were accepted, and he was ordained colleague pastor with Mr. Mather some time in 1709- 1710. This mark of respectful consideration for the infirmities of their

1 Timothy Loomis's memoranda records under date of "August 29th, 1710, Mr. Marsh's first Lecture."

225

ECCLESIASTICAL AND CIVIL, 1685-1729.

venerable pastor is further enhanced by their voting him, in December of the same year, €60 " for his honorable maintenance."

" December 8, 1709, liberty was granted by the town to Jonathan Ellsworth, Thomas Marshall and Thomas Moore, to erect a mill on the mill brook on the south side of the rivulet, provided it be built within two years."

1710, December 4. The town voted to give the Rev. Mr. Marsh the improvement of the town orchard, bounded north on the highway, and south by John Grant's heirs, so long as he shall continue in the ministry.

1711, April 2. A letter of this date (in possession of Chas. M. Taintor, Esq., Manchester, Conn.), written from Windsor, by Joseph Pomeroy to Mr. Nathaniel Loomis of Colchester, says: " I being heare at Windsor to see whether Mr. Thomas Elsworth would come and com- pleate the Bargain which he and you made concerning y" finishing of our meeting-house and he says yt he is no ways concerned having agreed with you to finish the work, which I know to be so, and your not coming to do it makes some troubell amongst us," and urges him to come and attend to the matter, threatening if he does not that " we shall speedily put you to troubel about it," etc.

1713. Windsor's claim in the Disputed Boundary Lines. In 1642 the boundary line between the Massachusetts Bay Colony and Connecti- ent was run by order of the General Court of Massachusetts Bay. Through some error, the surveyors struck the Connectient River several miles too far south, so that all the territory now included in Enfield fell within the limits of Massachusetts. Though Connecticut never admitted the accuracy of this survey and even protested against it. yet the matter was suffered to remain unsettled For several years. In 1648. the General Court of Massachusetts ordered that all the land on the east side of the Connecticut River, From the town of Springfield down to the warehouse, which they had formerly built [ at Warchouse Point ], and twenty poles below the warehouse, should belong to Springfield,- so that Enfield For nearly a century was a Massachusetts town. Each town fixed the limits of its border towns according to its own iden of the correctness of the 16-12 ( known as the " Woodward and Safferey " ) survey. As a result, a strip of land nearly two miles in width was claimed by both Windsor and Enfield. Numerous lawsuits and several arrests resulted from the con- troversy, and every town-meeting, in each town, had a fertile subject of discussion and excuse for the appointment of committees of conference. Failing to settle the difficulty between themselves, the towns appealed to the legislatures of their respective colonies for redress ; but the two gov- ermments, having already had the matter under their consideration for a long time, were no nearer a satisfactory settlement than the towns then- selves : Massachusetts standing by the survey of 1612, while Connecticut demanded a new survey of the lines according to the provisions of the

236

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

charters of the two colonies. So, in 1713, after twenty years of contro- versy, the matter was settled by compromise. It was agreed that each colony should retain jurisdiction over the towns it had settled, and that for the determination of the boundary between the towns the line should be run due west from the Woodward and Safferey station, and " as many aeres as should appear to be gained by one colony from the other should he conveyed out of unimproved land as a satisfaction or equivalent." It was found that Massachusets had encroached upon Connecticut to the extent of 105,793 acres ; of this, 7,259 acres lay in the disputed tract between Windsor and the towns of Suffield and Enfield. Windsor sur- rendered her claim to this tract, and as an equivalent for her loss re- ceived the same number of acres in mocenpied lands elsewhere.

A reduced copy of the " Woodward and Saferey " survey map will be found on p. 144 of Hartford Co. Mem. Hist. vol. ii., from which work we have taken the above brief history of this ancient controversy.

It may, also, be noted in this connection, that in an affidavit made. in 1751, by Ebenezer and Daniel Haydon (grandsons of William, the set- fler), they say : " We have always lived about three miles from Kettle Brook, and near the house where John Bissell lived, and always inder- stood that it [the brook ] was about the north bound of Windsor, that when the artists came on from Boston [1702] and run the line [between Massachusetts and Connectient ] across John Bissell's chimney, the ruins of which remain to this day, and took the height of the sun at noon-day, we were told by those who were with them at the time, that they said they were several miles too low [down the river]."

1716-17, March 18. " Voted to divide the Law Books belonging to the town, according to the list of 1716," the seleetmen to divide them into three parts according to the lists belonging to each side of the river. "AAfter the books are divided by the Selectmen as above, that Thomas Moore distribute according to said list on the south side of the rivolet, Israel Stoughton on the north, and Deacon Samuel Rockwell on east side Great River."

1721. September 24. " Voted and desired that the Reverend Ministers of this town recommend the sore and difficult circumstances of our good friend Nathaniel Cook, to their respective congregations, to consider his case by way of brief as soon as may be."

1725, May 11. " Voled to sell the town guns at vendue, at the sign post at the beat of the drum."

1:25-6, February 24. " Voted that persons from other towns who take any wood from the town commons should pay 20s. a load."

1728 9. February 3. " Voted that if any person at this meeting or any town meet- ing to be holden hereafter by the inhabitants of this town, shall presume to speak in town meeting without liberty of the Moderator, he shall pay a fine of 208, to the town Treasurer."

Judging from the increased fine, the manners of the people had grown much worse since the similar vote in 1696-7.

CHAPTER XII.

QUEEN ANNE'S WAR, 1702-1713, AND INDIAN WAR OF 1722-24

I TN May, 1702, Queen Anne of England, the Emperor of Germany, and the States-General united in a declaration of war against France and Spain. This, of course, involved the American colonies in a French and Indian war. Instantly they were encircled by a terrible Int unseen cordon of wily and ferocious enemies. Death hovered on the frontier. " In the following years the Indians stealthily approached towns in the heart of Massachusetts, as well as along the coast, and on the southern and western frontiers. Children, as they gamboled on the beach ; reap- ers, as they gathered the harvest ; mowers, as they rested from using the seythe ; mothers, as they busied themselves about the household - were vietims to an enemy who disappeared the moment a blow was struck. and who was ever present where a garrison or a family ceased its vigi- lance. If armed men, rousing for the attack, penetrated to the fastnesses of their roving enemy, they found nothing but solitudes." Each night was full of horrors, to which day searce gave relief. Summer's foliage concealed the lurking for, and his stops fell lightly amid the rustling leaves of autumn. Even winter's jey barriers and drifts of snow were defied by his bloodthirstiness and the snow-shoes which he wore. Deer- field, Hatfield, and other towns were attacked, and their flames lighted the pathway of captives hurried away to a Canadian captivity, the recital of whose horrors still enrdles our blood.

Amid the accumulated horrors of such a warfare Connertient was, as usual, alert and helpful, both in protecting her own borders and assist- ing her more exposed sister colonies. Every town was put into a com- plete state of fortification and defense.

"At a town meeting in Windsor, March 23, 1704-5, muned by order of general court to consider about making of fortifications, but nothing was agreed on at said meeting concerning the matter.

"Also Lieut. Timothy Thrall [ was] chosen to take care of the town arms and ammu- nition, and to be accountable for them, and the townsmen were appointed to agree with him, and to give him a reasonable satisfaction for his trouble."

Simsbury, Waterbury, Woodbury, and Danbury, then the frontier towns of the colony, were objects of special care and precaution. The whole militia of Connecticut were held in readiness for active service

238

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

upon an hour's warning. Indians were employed, with high wages, to range the woods as scouts. Windsor at this date (1702) had three train- bands, one of which was on the east side of the river.

1704, Jannary. In the War of the Spanish succession, in Europe, 400 men were ordered from the Colony of Connecticut. On the Com- mittee of War for Hartford County was Capt. Matthew Allyn of Wind- sor : and, as we know from his letters preserved among the Wolcott Mss., was in active service this year at Westfield.

Such were the daily trials and anxieties which for many slow years tortured the New England settlers, and impeded their advancement. Connecticut, although herself untouched and minvaded, had many men in the service of the New York and Massachusetts colonies.

"August. 1708, one BARBER of Windsor was slain a 100 miles up the Great River.">

As may well be imagined, this constant apprehension of assault and surprizes had sorely galled and worn upon the patience of the colonists ; and when at length, in May, 1709, a demand was made upon them for troops and munitions of war, to assist in the reduction of Canada, Acadia, and Newfoundland, none responded with more alacrity or energy than Con- uectient. Three hundred and fifty men, under the command of Col. Wil- liam Whiting, were raised and ready to sail for Quebec by the 20th of the month. General Nicholson (Formerly Lient .- Governor of New York and of Virginia ) had command of the provincial army which lay in camp at Wood Creek, near Albany, awaiting the arrival of the British fleet and forces preparatory to a simultaneous attack on Canada. Disaster to their Portuguese allies, however, changed the destination of the fleet to Portugal instead of America. Meanwhile a great mortality prevailed among the troops at Wood Creek ; and disappointed in his hopes of a re- inforcement From England, Nicholson, early in the fall, returned to Albany. This failure entailed a heavy expense to the colonies, and a loss of more than a quarter of the brave men who enlisted. In Stough- ton MIxx, we find Gov. Gurdon Saltonstall's original requisition upon the Captain of the East Side Trainband, to " Impress forthwith seven effect- ive men for her Maj. service," &e., dated 13 May, 1709.

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The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 29

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