USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I > Part 58
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112
CHAPTER XXII.
BLOOMFIELD.'
T THIS town, incorporated May. 1835, comprises the old parish of Wintonbury and a portion of Poquonock Society of Windsor, to which was added, in 1840, the territory known as Scotland parish, in Simsbury. As thus constituted, the town of Bloomfield is bounded north and east by Windsor, south by Hartford, and west by Simsbury and Avon, and averages four miles in length and breadth. On its castern horder a forest extends the whole length of the township; on the west is the range of hills known as Taleott Mountain. Through the broad, un- dulating valley between run three large brooks, uniting in the south part to form Woods' River, which meeting another small river near the Hart- ford line, forms the Little (more recently called Park ) River, which flows through the city of Hartford and empties into the Connecticut. These three Bloomfield streams are of slow current, frequently over- flowing their banks and enriching the soil; and it is a singular fact that, on the opposite sides of these brooks, in many places, there is an entire difference of soil. The eastern part of the town is quite level, with a warm, sandy soil ; the middle, from north to south, principally a clay soil, covered with rich, deep loam, especially good for grass: and as the land grows higher, even to rolling hills, to the westward, it is chiefly red loam, particularly adapted to fruit culture. Another factor in the town's adaptability to agricultural purposes is its naturally warm climate, yield- ing rain here when there is snow upon and beyond the mountains. Its timbers of original growth are elm, butternut, walnut, chestnut, and the oaks. As a whole, Bloomfield is a remarkably excellent agricultural town, yielding large crops of the finest grass. as well as of superior apples and pears. Formerly it also produced cherries and plums, and, at certain periods, peaches in the greatest perfection.
The region also abounds in birds. A former resident of the town remembers counting forty-six kinds about her home, among which were the scarlet-tanger, cuckoo, rose-breasted grosbeak, kikleer, and indigo bird. It was always the home of the fringed gentian, and of almost
' As to the topographical and geographical features of the town, especially, we have quoted from Mrs. E. S. WARNER's sketch, published in the Memorial History of Hartford County.
--
--
487
STATISTICS OF BLOOMFIELD.
every other wild flower of southern New England. Barber says ( Hist. Collect. Conn.) "the inhabitants are generally agriculturists and remark- ably free from the evils of litigation."
Rev. William Miller 'records, in 1801, that wood and hay were the chief marketable products of Wintonbury parish, and that " cider, cider- brandy, and apples are considered market articles; also that 1,500 meat- casks (hogsheads, barrels, and fiorees ) were made and marketed in that year. It is still within the memory of some who are now living that corn was raised here for exportation to the West Indies. A great change, however, has taken place in Bloomfield's products within the last forty years, owing to tobacco having usurped the place of grass and grains.
No better evidence of prosperity is needed than the generally neat and well-ordered appearance of the houses and farms throughout the town, which abounds in so many roads as to give rise to the saying that " in Bloomfield every man has a road of his own to Hartford."
The early ecclesiastical, educational, and military history of Bloom- field is included in our chapter on Wintonbury and Poquonock.
.In the Mexican War, Sherman Brown enl. 3 May, 1847, in Co. F. 9th Inf. ; was left sick at the City of Mexico 26 Dec., 1847.
The population of Bloomfield, 1840, was 986; 1850, 1,412; 1860, 1.401 : in 1880 it was 1,346; number of children between ages of 4 and 16, in January, 1881, was 273; in January, 1888, 250; grand list, $743- 341 ; indebtedness, funded, $74,000,00: floating, $5,000,00; rate of tax- ation. 16 mills.
The Connecticut Western Railroad furnishes a connection with Hartford and the outside world by its stations - Cottage Grove, Bloom- feld, and North Bloomtiekl'-and has largely aided the recent develop- ment of the town.
The town has two post-offices- Bloomfield and North Bloomfield.
Among its prominent citizens, we may mention the late U. S. Sena- tor, FRANCIS (son of Elder Ashbel) GILLETTE (sco Gillette Gen. ): the excellent and widely-loved JAY (son of Capt. Oliver) FILLEY, who spent his last years in Hartford, and whose sons are prominent men in the West : SAMUEL R. WELLS, the well-known phrenologist, lecturer, and author: JAMES G. BATTERSON, president of The Travelers' Insurance Company, and of the New England Granite Company, a pioneer of acci- dent insurance in the United States, a man of great energy and public spirit : and LESTER A. ROBERTS, a man of wide intelligence and some literary note, now a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y., but who still makes Bloomfield his summer home.
To aid in suppressing the rebellion of the Southern States, Bloom- field sent one hundred and ninety-two men, being thirteen more than her quota : expended for bounties, commutations, and support of soldiers'
488
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
families, 839,235; the estimated amount paid by individuals for boun- ties to Volunteers and Substitutes, was $1,000; the grand list of the town for 1864 was $833,529.
LIST OF SOLDIERS FURNISHED TO THE U. S. SERVICE, IN THE WAR OF THE CIVIL REBELLION, BY THE TOWN OF BLOOMFIELD, CONN.
ADAMSON, JOHN. enl. Co. II, 22 Conn. Vols., 4 Sept .. 1862: disc. 7 July, 1863. ALDERMAN. HENRY C. (Corp'l), cul. Co. D), 22 Conn. Vols., 25 Ang., 1862; disc. 16 Jan . 1863.
ALLEN, EDWARD O., ent. Co. F. 14 Coun. Vols., 28 July, 1862; deserted 1 Oct., 1862.
ANDRUS, FRED. M., enl. Co. D. 22 Con. Vols., 23 Aug., 62; disc. 7 July, 1863.
ASHIWELL, SAMUEL, ent. 6 Aug., 1861, Co. A, 1st Squad. Conn. Cav. (Co. C. 2d N. Y. Cav.).
ASHWELL, WILLIAM, enl. Co. F, 14 Conn. Vols., 7 Ang., 1862; transf. Invalid Corps, 1 May, 1864.
BOLTON. JOHN P .. cul. recruit Co. II, 1 Conn. Vols. Cav., 12 Dec., 1863; deserted 12 Jan., 1864.
BRADBURY, THOMAS E., enl. Co. E, 10 Conn. Vols., 22 Oct., 1861; d. 28 June, 1862.
BRAINARD, THOS. J., enl. Co. F, 14 Conn. Vols., 31 July, 1862; d. 3 July, 1863, at Gettysburg.
BROWN. CHAS. D., enl. Co. D, 22 Conn. Vols., 29 Aug., 1862; disc. 7 July, 1863. BURR, CHARLES E., enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 20 Aug., 1862; dise. 7 July, 1863.
BUSHENHAAGEN, FREDERIC, enl. Co. D. 22 Com. Vols., 23 Aug .. 1862; disc. July 7, 1863.
CADWELL, CHAS. S., cul. Co. D, 22 Com. Vol .. , 25 Ang., 1862; disc. ^ July, 1863. CASE. CHESTER W., enl. Co. H. 16 Conn. Vols , 25 Aug., 62.
CASE, WILLIAM WIRT, enl. Co. D, 22 Conn. Vols., 30 Ang., 1862: disc. 7 July, 1833.
CLARK, GEORGE I., enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 3 Sept .. 1862; disc. 7 July, 1863.
COMBE, FOSTER W., enl. Co. (, 10 Conn. Vols., 22 Oct., 1861; re-enl. Vet. I Jan., 1864.
COSSETT, ALFORD, enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 25 Aug., 1862; dise. 7 July, 1863. COWLES, ED. C., ent. Co. F, 14 Conn. Vols., 30 July, 1862.
COWLES, MARTIN D., enl. Co. F. 14 Con Vols., 28 July, 1862; not heard from after 3 July, 1863.
CROSLEY, JAMES E., enl. Co. F, 14 Con. Vols., 25 July. 1862; disc. disab. 24 Apl., 1863.
DAVIS, WILLIAM, ont. recruit Co. B. 11 Conn. Vols., 17 Mch., 1861.
DEAN. CHARLES, enl. Co. D. 16 Conn. Vols., 13 Aug., 1862; disc. disab. 12 Feb., 1863.
DORMAN, CHARLES A., ent. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 30 Aug., 1862; disc. ? July, 1863. DUDLEY, EDWARD E. (Corp'l), enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 23 Aug., 1862; disc. ? July, 1863.
ELMER, ORRIN E., enl. Co. D. 23 Conn. Vols., 25 Ang., 1862; disc. 7 July, 1863.
ELLSWORTH, JAMES B., ent. Co. B., 21 Conn. Vols., 15 Aug., 1862; d. 25 Feb., 1863.
ENO, FREDERICK B. (Sgt.), enl. Co. F. 14 Conn. Vols., 29 July, 1862; killed, Sharpsburg, Md., F Sept., 1862.
FARRALL. JAMES, enl. recruit Co, G, 11 Conn. Vols., 18 Feb., 1864.
1
1
1
4.89
BLOOMFIELD SOLDIERS IN THE CIVIL WAR.
FERGUSON, GEORGE, onl. Co. A. 12 Conn. Vols., 20 Nov., 1861; re enl. Vet .. 1 Jan .. 1861
FIELD, EDMUND L. cnl. Co. 1, 11 Con. Vols., ? Aug., 1862; killed, Sharpsburg, Md., 17 Sept., 1862.
FILLEY, ALBERT D., cul. Co. D. 22 Coun. Vols .. 23 Aug., 1862; dise. 7 July, 1863. FILLEY. LOUIS L .. enl. recruit Co. A. 7 Con. Vols .. 14 Aug., 1862.
FLOWER, AUGUSTUS, enl. Co. 1. 14 Conn. Vols., 1 Aug., 1862; deserted 23 Sept., 1862.
GAVIN, JOHN. enl. Co. F. 14 Conn. Vols., 4 Ang., 1862; transf. to Invalid Corps, 15 .Jan., 186-1. 1
GIPSON, ROBERT A., enl. recruit 29 (Col.) Conn. Vols., 12 Dec., 1863; d. 5 Feb., 1864
GLAZIER, HENRY. cul. Co. G. 29 (Col.) Conn. Vols., 24 Dec., 1863; d. 4 June, 1864. GOODWIN, DAVID W., enl. Co. C, 22 Con. Vols., 30 Aug., 1862; d. 4 JJuly. 1863. GRANT, JOSEPHI W .. enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 9 Sept., 1862; dise. 7 July, 1863. GRIMES, JOIN, enl. recruit Co. A, 7 Con. Vols., 26 Jan., 1864.
GRISWOLD, MOSES G., enl. Co. A, 16 Conn. Vols., 21 Aug., 1862; disc. disab. 31 Jan., 1863.
GRISWOLD, WOLCOTT, enl. Co. D. 22 Con. Vols., 27 Ang., 1862; disc. 16 Jan., 1863
HAMBLIN, GEORGE C., enl. Co. D, 2 Conn. Vols., ? May, 1861; disc. 7 Ang., 1861. HEALY, JOIIN, enl. recruit 20 Conn. Vols., 18 Feb . 1864; deserted 9 Mch., 1864.
HENRY, MINGO, enl. 26 Dec., 1863, Co. G. 29 (Col.) Conn. Vols.
HIERLIKY, DANIEL, enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., Ang. 25. 1862; disc. 7 July, 1863. IIICKEY, JOIIN, enl. Co. D, 22 Conn. Vols. 25 Aug., 1862; disc. 7 July, 1863.
11ILL, BENJAMIN A. (Corp'l), enl. Co. A, ? Coun. Vols., 5 Sept., 1861; re-enl. Vet., 22 Dec., 1863.
HILLS, ADDISON M., enl. Co. D, 22 Conn. Vols, 25 Ang., 1862; disc. 7 July, 1863. IHITCHCOCK, JOSEPH (Corp'l), enl. Co. D, 22 Conn. Vols .. 23 Aug., 1862; disc. 7 July, 1863.
HOLCOMB, LAMBERT E., enl. Co. D, 22 Conn. Vols., 28 Aug., 1862; disc. ? July, 1863.
HOLCOMB, VICTOR, enl. Co. F, 14 Conn. Vols., ? Aug., 1862; disc. disab. 4 Feb., ING3.
HORTON, JOIIN A., enl. Co. G, 9 Conn. Vols., 26 Sept., 1861; d. 25 Nov., 1862. HUBBARD, CHARLES E., enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 23 Aug., 1862; disc. 7 July. 1863.
HUMPHREY, EDWARD G. (Sgt.), enl. Co. D, 22 Conn. Vols., 20 Ang., 1862; disc. 7 July, 1863.
HYDE, DAVID, onl. Co. G. 29 (Col.) Con. Vols., 24 Dee., 1563.
JONES, GEORGE E, enl Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 25 Aug., 1862; dise 7 July. 1863. KELLY, ANDY, enl. recruit Co. G. 7 Conn. Vols., 18 Feb., 1861.
LANDRINE, ABRAHAM, enl. 2 Jan., 1884, 30 Reg. Conn. Vols. (Col.) now Co D. 31 U. S. V. Col.
LATIMER, EDWARD A., enl. Co. D, 22 Conn. Vols., Aug. 26, 1862; disc. 7 July, 1863.
LATIMER. WILLIAM R., enl. Co. F, 14 Conn. Vols., 1 Aug., 1562.
LAWRENCE, CHARLES B., enl. recruit Co. L. Ist Conn. Cav., 5 Jan., 1861. LERMAN, WENDAL, enl. recruit Co. L. 2d Art., S Feb., 1861; deserted Feb., 1864
LYNCH, THOMAS, enl. recruit Co. G, 7 Conn. Vols., 18 Feb .. 1864; deserted 34 Apl . 1864.
MALONEY, JAMES, enl. recruit 5 Conn Vols , 10 Nov., 1862; never joined reginkent. MANDEVILLE, ENOS, enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 28 Aug., 1862; disc. 7 July, 1863. VOL. 1 .-- 62
190
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
MASON, DEMPSTER IL., ent. Co. F. 14 Conn. Vols., 29 July, 1862; disc. disab. 20 Feb., 1863.
MCGUIRE, JOHN. enl. recruit Co. E. 5 Conn. Vols , 9 Feb., 1861, deserted 12 Mch., 1864.
MEACHAM. GAYLORD O (Sgt.), cal. Co. 6, 10 Conn. Vols. 20 001., 1861; disc. 7 Det .. 1464. MEACHAM, MORRIS O., ent. Co. D, 22 Con Vols .. 23 Ang., 1862, dise. ; July. 18633.
MICKEL, JAMES, cal. Co. 4. 29 (Col.) Conn. Vols., 26 Der., 1863.
MORGAN, JOHN, onl. recruit 5 Conn. Vols .. 5 Jan., 186-1.
MORONEY. WILLJAM. ent. roeruit Co. A. 1 Art., 2 .Jan., 1864.
MORRISON, WILLIAM. ent. recruit Co. HI, 1st Conn. Cav .. 12 Dec., 1863; deserted 12 .1:11., 1864.
MURRAY, PATRICK, enl. recruit Co. L, 2d Art., & Feb., 1864; deserted Feb .. 1864. NEARING, HENRY T., onl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 25 Ang., 1862, dise. MJuly, 1863. NEWHOUSE, HENRY, ent. Co. D, 22 Con. Vols., 28 Aug., 1862; dise. î July, 1863. NEWHOUSE, FREDERIC, enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols .. 23 Ang .. 1862; dise. 7 July, 1563.
PARSONS. HEMAN. eul. recruit Co. A. 14 Conn. Vols., 25 Sept., 1863; d. 25 Dec., 1863.
PINNEY, GEORGE B., enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 30 Ang., 1862: dise. T July, 1863. PINNEY, SAMUEL IL., enl. Co. D, 22 Conn. Vols., 23 Aug., 1863: dise 7 July. 1863. PINNEY, ORATOR L., enl. Co. D, 22 Conn. Vols., 30 AAng., 1862; dise. ? July, 1863. RAYNESFORD, WM. II., enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 25 Ang., 1862; disc. 7 July, 1863.
READER. CORNELIU'S, enl. Co. C, 29 (Col.) Conn. Vols., 18 Nov., 1863.
RICE. NELSON, onl. recruit Co. A. 16 Conu. Vols, 30 Nov., 1863.
RILEY. JOHN, enl. recruit Co. G. 20 Con. Vols .. Feb. 18, 1861; des. 24 Apl. 1861. ROCKWELL GEORGE L. (Corp'), enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 23 Aug., 1861; disc. 7 .July, 1863.
ROSTER, JOHN, enl. Co. Il, 22 Conn. Vols., 25 AAng., 1862; dise. 7 July, 1863. RYAN, PATRICK, cul. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 25 Aug., 1862; disc. THJuly, 1863. RYAN. JOIIN, enl. Co. G. 13 Con. Vols., 22 Dec., 1861; re-enl. Vet. & Feb., 1864.
SACKETT. NORMAN A., onl. 1st Light Batt., 15 Oct., 1861: transf. to Invalid Corps, Feb .. 1864.
SHEPARD, LEVI L .. enl. Co. A. & Conn. Vol .. 30 Sept., 1861.
SHEPARD, THERON, enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 20 Aug .. 1862; dise. July. 1863
SHEPPION, DANIEL, cul. Co. B. 21 Conn. Vols., 22 Aug., 1862; killed near Drury's Bluff, Va .. 16 May. 1864.
SHERIDAN. EDWARD, enl. Co. II. 22 Con. Vols., 25 Aug., 1862, dise. 7 July, 1863.
SMITH. I FRANK, col. Co. F. 14 Conn. Vols., 31 July, 1862; dise. disab. 24 Apl., 15633.
SPENCER, IMRI A., ul. Co. F. 14 Conn. Vols., 28 July, 1862.
STARR, GEORGE. cnl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 21 Aug., 1862; disc. ; July, 1863.
SWAINE. JAMES, cul. Co. F. 14 Con. Vols., 2 Aug., 1862: disc. disab. 1 Mch., 1864 SWALNE, JESSE W., enl. Co. 1, 9 Con. Vols., 1 Oct., 186].
TAYLOR, CHARLES L .. enl. Co. (, 10 Conn. Vols., 22 Oct., 1861: re onl. Vet I Jan., 1×6-1.
WATKINS, WILLIAM R. enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols .. 30 Aug., 1862; disc. ? July, 1863.
WELCH, PETER, enl. recruit Co. M. 2 11. Art., 6 Feb., 1864.
WESTLAND, CHARLES U., enl. Co. F, 14 Conn. Vols .. 11 Ang .; missing, Freder- icksburg, 13 Dec., 1862.
1
491
BLOOMFIELD SOLDIERS IN THE CIVIL WAR.
WINTON. LESTER. enl. (1st Lieut.) Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 28 Aug .. 1882, dise ? July, 1863.
WINTON. TUDOR. enl. Co. D. 22 Con. Vols., 28 Aug., 1862; dise. ? July, 1863. WILCOX, WILLIAM P., enl, Co. D. 22 Conn. Vols., 20 Aug., 1862; dias. 7 July. 1863
WILLIS, ANDREW. enl. Co. D. 22 Conn. Vol., 27 Ang., 1862: disc. 7 July, 1863. WINCHELL, JUSTIN IL .. enl. Co. A, 21 Con. Vols., 2 Ang .. 1862.
WISE, MARTIN W., enl. Co. G. 20 Conn. Vols .. 15 Ang., 62.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE HISTORY OF PINE MEADOW, NOW WINDSOR LOCKS !! 1676-1890.
T THE northern portion of Ancient Windsor, west of the Connectient River - known from earliest times as Pine Meadow - was without value to the first settlers, except a tract of meadow land, containing less than a hundred aeres, which lay along the river at its southern border. It was more than a mile beyond the nearest house in Windsor, but a road was opened to it, and it was early put under cultivation. Windsor had its Plymouth Meadow, Little Meadow, Great Meadow, and Seques- tered Meadow : and this meadow probably received its name from the Pine forests on its borders. It was set out to individuals (among whom was Gov. Haynes of Hartford) before 1640, at which time the lots are described on the record as lying in Pine Meadow. Its first settlers were called " Pine Meadow people"; when a public school was established here it was known as the Pine Meadow District. When the Enfield Falls Canal was completed in 1829, the Connectiont River Company, anticipating the building of a manufacturing village, desired to associate their work with the name of the coming town. The upper end of the canal, with its head-lock in the town of Suffield, and the lower one. with its series of locks in Windsor, suggested the name of WINDSOR Locks -officially recognized by the establishment of a post-office here in 1833, and confirmed by the incorporation of the town in 1854. The Indian purchase of this territory, and such Indian history as connects itself therewith, has been given at pages 111, 124.
The town of Windsor Locks is about three miles in extent along the river, which bounds it on the east, and it extends to about the same distance to the west. Its northeast portion, on which the village stands,
' The original chapter on Windsor Locks, as given in our first edition, is here largely replaced by a reprint of Mr. Hayden's admirable Centennial Sketch, entitled. Windsor Looks; its Early Settlers and Their Sneakers; Their Social, Civil, and Religious Life. published at Hartford. 1880, 12mo. p. 64. and map (also here reproduced in reduced size).
DT. R. S.]
1
!
493
THE FIRST SETTLERS OF PINE MEADOW.
has a moderately productive soil, and the meadow land at its southeast corner is subject to inundations by the annual spring freshets of the Connecticut. The western portion of the town is a sandy plain, with a light soil, and during the first third of this century was mostly under cultivation, producing fair erops of corn and rye : but of fate many of the fields have been allowed to grow to wood again. "The Plains," as this section was formerly called, are seamed with ravines, in which run the clearest brooks, well stocked with tront. Over the Plains, and along the heads of these ravines, ran the "old country road." the first road opened on the west side of the Great River between the Massachusetts and the Connecticut settlements; laid out there because it required no bridges, and but little labor to work it. For five miles across these plains there was not a hill to climb, or a stream to ford. Suffield was then a wilderness, and the most feasible track across that territory was found. without much regard to directness. This remained the great thorough- fare to the north for nearly 190 years. When. during Jefferson's ad- ministration, Enffield furnished a U. S. Postmaster-General, and had the distributing office (and not Hartford ). this road was carefully measured In the P. O. Department, and some of the milestones then erected are still standing.
Those yet living remember when there were two well-worn tracks nearly all the way across the plains; now, in places, the remaining single track is partially overgrown with weeds.
The first distribution of land was made by the General Court before 1640.' A quarter of a mile in width along the river, extending from
' This distribution is said to have been pro rata to the contributions of the several parties concerned towards the general fund raised, before they left Massachusetts, to meet the expenses of their emigration, ete. But it was mainly based on the " person " of the settler and the estate he had to invest here.
The original distribution, beginning on Pine Meadow Brook, was to Gov. John Haynes of Hartford, "abont 10 acres, bound south and west on the brook " ; next. John and Thos, Hoskins, 45 rods on the river ; Nicholas Denslow (father of Henry), 33 rods on the river, SO rods to the west ; Thomas Ford, 400 rods to Kettle Brook, So rods to the west : Thomas Ford, 200 rods north of Kettle Brook, SO rods to the west.
When such lands had been set out to the first settlers as they needed for cultiva tion, for fuel, and timber, the undivided lands. or "commons." were held in common by the town; and as, from time to time, wanted for cultivation, they were granted by sote of the town. For some reason this course proved unsatisfactory, and Windsor and many other towns transferred the title of the commons to the proprietors. The proprietors were all the inhabitants or taxpayers in the town, and the share of each proprietor, his heirs and assigns, was in proportion to his or her tax list. In 1722 a few lots south of Mrs. Webb's, lying west of the SO rods originally laid out next the river. had been set out by the town, but none of these lots extended as far west as Center street. In 1752 a committee of the proprietors set out nearly all the remaining land in this town to the original proprietors or their heirs.
494
ITISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
Pine Meadow Brook, at the south end of the meadow, to Kettle Brook,' 500 rods, thence 200 rods to Doctor Burnap's, a little above the railroad station ; and 600 rods of the north end of this strip of land was set ont to Thomas Ford of Windsor, which included nearly half the meadow, and all of the mill-sites and the main street of the present village. Thirty acres of the meadow he sold before 1656 to William Gaylord, Jr. (which lot became the' home of the first Gaylord family here ), and, Feb. 7, 1663, he sold the balance of the lot (540 rods ) to Henry Denslow (son of Nicholas Denslow, a first settler of Windsor), who Imilt his house (on the south point of the hill overlooking the meadow, about 50 rods south of Mr. Francis' present residence) and brought his family (a wife and seven children ) here probably the same year. Their nearest neighbor was William Hayden, fully two miles away.
Tradition tells us that the Denslow family returned to Windsor after the breaking out of King Philip's war, and that Mr. Denslow, venturing back to his farm, was captured and killed by the Indians. This was probably March 25th, O. S. [April 4th], 1676.2 After
1 It is not known what this stream took its name from. It first appears on the Colonial Records in 1636, marking the north bounds of Windsor. Subsequently our boundary fine was carried north, where it now remains, separating it from Sutliekl. which for many years remained under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. The line be- tween the colonies was not definitely fixed for about a century after the settlement of Pine Meadow. One survey by the Massachusetts authorities struck the river about half a mile below Hayden Station. In 1751 Daniel Hayden, aged $1, and Ebenezer Hayden, aged 70, testify that they live about three miles south of a stream called Kettle Brook, and they always understood that it was about the south bounds of Massa (Imsetts ; that they remember when " the artists (engineers) came on from Boston [1702], they ran across John Bissell's chimney, the remains of which are to be seen to this day. They took the height of the sun at noonday, and said they were several miles too low " [down the river].
2 From the Council Journal, 1676, we learn that Major Robert Treat was ordered, on Saturday, the 25th of March, to take about 100 of his men. and make the best of his way to Norwich: but on Monday, the 27th March, the Council, having received in- telligence of " a party of Indians that, on the last Sabbath day [i. e., on the previous day, the 26th], did doe dispoyle there, and on Sabbath night burned a great part of Simsbury," and. also, "a man carried away from Windsor by skulking parties of Indians," cte .. etc., recalled Maj. Treat and his command. In Angust following an Indian prisoner, being examined before the Council, was asked, " Who killed Henry Denslow?" He named seven Indians, and added, "and these were those who burned Simsbury." The " man carried away " was undoubtedly Henry Denslow, and his cap ture being coupled with the burning of Simsbury, as the cause of recalling Maj. Treat, it seems probable that Denslow was captured on Saturday, while the Indians were en route to Simsbury. The Council at Hartford could scarcely have heard of it. if it had occurred on Monday, the day of their meeting. Assuming that Heury Denslow was killed on Saturday, the 25th of March, O. S., and adding ten days to reduce it to our present new style, and we have the anniversary of his capture and probable death, April 4, 1676. Through the exertions of Mr. Jabez H. Hayden, the site of his house has been definitely fixed by excavations which uncovered the lower portion of the
-
495
EARLY SETTLERS AT PINE MEADOW.
the war his widow and children returned. His youngest daughter, Elizabeth, born 11th February, 1665, was probably the first white child born in this town. Samuel, his only son, who was 17 years old al the time of his father's death, spent his days here, and was sie- Lani Benslow ceeded by two sons, Samuel and Joseph. Joseph was the father of Martin, and grandfather of Carlos, the father of Mrs. Myron S. Webb, who owns some of the original Henry Denslow purchase, including the site of the original house, which has remained continuously in the family.
The next settler here was NATHANIEL GAYLORD, SON of William, Jr., and grandson of Dea. William of Windsor. He was an infant. when his father died, and the Pine Meadow lot was reserved for his portion, and given him when he attained his majority. He married in 1678, and it is probable that he then came here to live, two years after the death of Henry Denslow. He built his house on the high ground at the extreme west end of his lot, say forty or fifty rods southeast of the present Gaylord house. This house was stand- ing in 1757. The site is on the brow of the hill, close to the south line of the present home lot. He afterwards obtained, by purchase and grant from the town, lands lying west and north, and in 1711 derded to his son, Nathaniel, Jr., certain lands with a dwelling-house standing thereon. This house stood on or near the site of the present Gaylord house, and was probably built for Nathaniel, Jr. His descendants remaining on the paternal estate have been Eliakim, Ithiman, Eliakim, and Wilbert, the present occupant.'
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.