The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 59

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 59

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cellar wall at each of the corners, and a gray flint bowlder of more than a half ton's wright (found on his own farm), has been placed over the northeast corner, with the fol- lowing inscription:

1663. 1676. 1876. THIS STONE MARKS THE SITE OF THE FIRST HOUSE IN PINEMEADOW, BUILT 1663 [?] BY HENRY DENSLOW, CAPTURED HERE AND KILLED BY THE INDIANS, APRIL 4th [?], 1676.

"The title-deed given Nath'] Gaylord is an interesting specimen of the old Recorder, Matthew Grant's habit, where occasion required, of discarding technical phraseology, and running off into family history. It contains date of father's death, birth of the grantee, and other items of family history, report of overseers or guardians, and their authority; besides telling us that the portion of the lot lying in Pinemeadow, 16 acres, was fenced, and that lying without was wooded.

" March 8, 1667, Jacob Drake and John Gaylord, Sen., sent a note to Matthew Grant, with their hands to it, by Nath'l Gaylord, who was son of William Gaylord that died Dec. 14, 1656, and his son Nathaniel was born the September before, the third day. and now last September he had completed his 21 years of age ; and, therefore, Jacob Drake and John Gaylord who were appointed overseers by the court to see to

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

Thirty years later ABRAHAM DIBBLE, grandson of Thomas, also an original settler of Windsor, came, and the town granted him a lot in 1708-9 lying north of the Gaylords and west of the Denslows. The ditch, 113 rods, marking the south line of this lot, is still to be seen along the north Abraham Dille side-hill of " Dibble Hollow." The house mark stood at the northwest corner of the lot, a little southeast of Mrs. Webb's Tobacco barn. In 1748 Abraham Dibble conveyed this land, with the " Mansion Dwelling-House and barn standing thereon," to his son Thomas, in consideration of his "maintaining me and my wife during our natural lives." Nine years later Thomas Dibble sold the premises to Joseph Winehel, and moved with the tide of emigration to the then far west, the town of Torrington, about thirty miles distant. Winchel sold to Nathaniel Copley, who was living here in 1757, and was probably the last occupant, though the title to the land passed through other hands before it passed to the Denslow family, about twenty years later.

In 1757 a new meeting-house was to be built in Windsor : and, to ascertain where the center of travel would locate the new house, the distance From rach dwelling-house was measured, and at the same time a rude map was made, showing the location of each house. This map gives the two Gaylord houses, the Dibble house, then occupied by Mr. Copley, and the two Denslow houses, one of which stood nearly north of the Dibble house, about fifty rods northeast of Mrs. Webb's. This house was built before 1732 by the first Samuel, son of Heury, and was occu- pied by the family of Joseph, a grandson of Henry ; the other house, which stood at the " head of the spring," west end of the cemetery, was occupied by Samuel, a brother of Joseph.

These five houses were all there were standing, within the present limits of this town, 122 years after the first settler. Thirty years later the Denslow house does not appear on the map, and had doubtless

the preserving of the estate until they should come of age. to receive their portions; and now their desire is that I would enter upon the record a parcel of land which they reserved for Nathaniel Gaylord for his portion out of his father's estate, he being now of age. The land lies in Pine Meadow, and woodland adjoining against the meadow. purchased of Thomas Ford, all the meadow within the fence, being 16 acres, and all the upland behind it, according to the bounds 61 rods, and hounds in the meadow and in length back from the river 80 rods, north by Widow Denslow, east by the river, south by Nicholas Denslow." The " meadow within the fence " is mentioned in Ford's deed to Gaylord (before December 14, 1656), proving that Pine Meadow was open and "fit for immediate cultivation " at first, and was carly improved by the owners though they lived about three miles away. They made a road (very crooked on account of swamps) from Wm. Hayden's to it. The Indians had cultivated this meadow so recently that the forest trees had not grown there; but the Indians were gone, their graves only remaining. They probably had died from the small pox, (a disease introduced by Europeans before the Pilgrims came to Plymouth,) and left without inhabitants the open meadows our fathers found there.

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EARLY PINE MEADOW ROADS.

ceased to be occupied as a dwelling, and probably had been removed or demolished. Two other houses appear on the map, one where our par- sonage stands, the other on West street; but, For obvious reasons, they minst have been added to the map several years later. The first road to Pine Meadow ( what now remains of it is called " the Lane" ) was doubt- less built by the parties to whom the meadow had been set out as early as 1640. They lived in Windsor, but there was no land " fit for cultiva- tion," at first, except the meadows from which the Indian cultivators had died ont.

The " old country road "' across the plains two miles west of us, was

At this point (Gunn's Brook, at Hayden Station Chapel) the road left the river to avoid bridging the streams, turned west through what is now known as Pink street, and on across the plains, through Christian street, and Crooked Lane, Sufliekl (which town remained without settlement nearly half a century because it had no river meadows), and on to Northampton. This was called the Old Country Road, and con- tinned to be the great thoroughfare and mail-route to and from the north down to about 1820. (During Jefferson's administration the Post-office Department had their distrib- uting office at Suffield, not Hartford.) Twenty years after the first settlement of Wind- sor the highway is defined as four rods wide from the Palisado, north as far as the upper side of Win. Hayden's lot (near Hayden Station Chapel); from thence "a way turneth northwesterly to Norwoct " (Northampton). In 1729 this road across the plains is again described, beginning "near Pine Meadow Gate," at Hayden Station Chapel. It shall be "three rods wide through the lots" (the lots set out to individuals, and probably under cultivation), but on the Commons (about one-fourth of a mile beyond) it should be " ten rods wide " (1752, it was made four rods wide). The " Half Way Tree," afterwards known as the Smoking Tree, and the head of Kettle Brook, are designated in the lay-out of 1729. Smoking Tree was half way across the plains. It was a fine spreading oak, standing on the east side of the way, about one fourth of a mile south of the road now leading from Windsor Locks to Poquonock. Near by, on the opposite side of the road, was a never-failing stream of good water. Nowhere else in all the five miles across the plains was water so near the road; and not only those who went on foot, but numerous teamsters from Western Massachusetts and be- yond, most of them with ox teams, halted here for rest, water, feeding, and to sit. under that tree and smoke their pipes. There appears to have been a house of some sort standing near by in 1752. belonging to Jonathan AAlvord. The Proprietors' Com- mittee mention it in their description of the lot set out to Edward Griswoldl. There were no pre-emption laws in those days, and he probably disposed of his house, if it had a marketable value. Half an acre was reserved "around the Spring for a convenient watering place." Smoking Tree was widely known during at least three generations. It stood until about 1810.

The Pine Meadow road left the country road at Gunn's Brook, followed its present course, making a long detour to the cash to avoid a swamp which lay in a direct line. continued thence north in or near the present highway nearly to Broderick's house, when it bore to the west and crossed the brook a few rods below where the railroad now crosses it. The stones now lying in the brook were a part of the " Stone Bridge," which was in use and good repair within my recollection. After Heury Denslow settled here the town ordered that the owners of lots in Pine Meadow " should agree among themselves where the road should run through their lots to Henry Denslow's, at the higher end of Pine Meadow."

The upland road, Center street road, was first defined " from the county road to Suffield," as far up as the "Pine Meadow path," the present north path to the Gay- VOL. I .- 63

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

open as early as 1656 to reach Northampton. The first road opened to Springfield was on the east side of the river from Bissell's Ferry, and continued to be the great thoroughfare for northern travel down to within my own recollection. That road was not formally laid out until 1737, when it was described as " ten rods wide." Under the last date a highway was laid out to accommodate the Pine Meadow people with an " upland" road, for use in freshet-time. This was more than seventy years after the settlement by Henry Denslow, and doubtless there was

Jords; thence it bore more casterly eighty rods to about the northeast corner of Nath'l Fox's home lot. Then the land previously granted, and owned by the Gaylord family. was reached, and the Proprietors Committee, who had laid it thus far on " the Com mon," were not authorized to go farther. From the end of this road a trespass rond Jed across Lient. Nath'l Gaylord's Jot to Dibble Hollow; through which, and beyond. it reached Abraham Dibble's house (a little southeast of Mrs Webb's tobacco barn), thence nearly north to the house of Joseph Denslow, thence to Samuel Denslow's, at the west end of the cemetery. Thence, passing cast and down the hill near the present entrance to the cemetery, it reached the saw-mill and the fording place on the river at the month of Kettle Brook.

Very early, a road branched off near the house of Abraham Dibble, running out into the commons to the northwest, It passed several rods south of Mrs. Webh's house, thence more northerly through the present woods, where this path is still open. on and aeross Add's Brook at " the Old Rock " (south of Geo, Holcomb's brick-yard). and intersected with " Saw Mill Path," near the south end of West street. Traces of the road are still visible on both banks of the Add's Brook. There is little doubt that before 1752 a road had been opened from near the house of Abraham Dibble, running southwest until it passed the head of the first spring, thence more sontherly until it entered the present Center street road, near John Fowler's house, and thence where the present road runs into " Pine Meadow Path," where it connected with the laid out high- way, and the old road across Dibble Hollow was discontinued. The road through the meadow was continued from the original Henry Denslow house north and west, and formed a junction with the upland road at Joseph Denslow's. The track of this road is still plainly marked in Mr. Francis' pasture south of South street, and was kept open until after 1812, when the present highway was opened from Hayden Station through our Main street to Suflick.

When the Proprietors' Committee laid out our present Center street, preparatory to dividing the Commons, they rested the south end on the road then running from near Dibble's to and past the " Old Rock." The north end rested, as now, on our North street. All the lots on the first tier, lots lying next west of Center street, were bounded cast on highway between our present North street and the south side of Mrs. Webb's gar den; south of this point the lots on the first tier extended about forty rods farther east. and bounded east on lots owned by Denslow. Dibble, Gaylord, and others, and a reserve was made in each grant for "a highway near the east end." until the highway at Pine Meadow path was reached. There is no record of this reserved road from Pine Meadow path to Mrs. Webb's, but when it was opened it was carried west to give an easy place to cross the brook; and. for some unknown reason, instead of running from the point where it crossed the brook to the end of Center street. as originally laid out, it was con- finned on, on such a course that it formed a junction with the already existing Center street, several rods north of the end of it.

After the new road had been opened, and that part of the old lay-out for a road where Mrs. Webb's house stands had been discontinued because no one had occasion to use it. Capt. Martin Denslow built that house (about 1290), and he set it partially in the

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PINE MEADOW IN 1776.

from the first a bridle-path by which they could reach Windsor when the freshets made it impracticable to go there by the way of the meadow.

Down to the year 1752 all the lands within the present limits of this town, except eighty rods in width on the river, and a lot granted by vote of the town to the Gaylord family, and a lot to Abraham Dibadde, were held in "commons." AAbont twenty years before this the title to these commons was transferred from the town to the pro- prictors. In 1752 a committee of the proprietors set out the highways, and divided these "commons" among the individual proprietors of Windsor in proportion to the amount of tax or taxes which had been paid by the individuals or their families, on the grand list of 1720.

Nineteen years after the date of the map referred to, and twenty- four years after the general distribution of the lands, brings us down to the period of the Revolution. The families living in Pine Meadow at that date were MARTIN DENSLOW, great-grandson of Henry, and his wife, Lonis Wiard of Farmington, SAMUEL DENSLOW ' ( Martin's cousin) and

old highway to bring it forward to the traveled path. This explains the reason why, fol- lowing the original lay out of Center street, we run directly through the front end of Mrs. Webb's house. Ten years before Center street was laid out Mr. Samuel Denslow, who owned all the land within eighty rods of the river between School street and Dr. Burnap's, sold one-half of his saw mill and privilege in the deed for a right-of-way out to the Commons, to get logs for the mill " between the two brooks" (Kettle and Add's). This path went up the hill farther south than it now runs, but followed Elm street west of Center street; and, when the Proprietors' Committee divided the Commons, the first lot north of Elm street, extending from Center to West street, was bounded " south on Saw mill Path." The signifiemee of " Saw mill Path " is better understood by an extract from the record-book of the proprietors of the Commons or undivided lanels, dated sixteen years before the date of this deed, when the proprietors appointed a committee " to license persons to ent timber on the Commons : " " Persons who shall own they intend the boards and timber they get out for the use of the inhabitants of this town." Another paragraph provides that " persons making coal or tar shall pay the treasurer two shillings a load for wood put into a kiln or kilns, to be paid back for so much as he shall make it appear he has delivered the coal to smiths living and work ing in this town."

This saw-mill path was declared a publie highway, two rods in width, from Center street west to the old county road. From the north end of Center street another high way running west, nearly parallel with Saw mill Path our present North street, also extended to the county road. A reserve for a two-rod highway, extending south from North street was made between second and third tiers, and between third and fourth tiers. These north and south highways have never been more than partially opened. A few rods between third and fourth tiers are now traveled on the road to Poquonock. A two-rod highway was laid through the second tier, and a reserve through the first tier on the lot south of Mr. Gandy s, to intersect with Center street road.

Samuel Denslow was a son of Samuel, son of Henry, who built and lived in the Old House at the head of the Spring," west end of the cemetery. He built the house about 1732, and probably died there. His death occurred in 1762. The third Samuel bought five lots on second tier, (now West street.) from the parties to whom they we're set by the Proprietors' Committee, 1952. The first bears date December, 1759, the others early in 1360, in all, ninety neres, at an average price of about $1 per acre.

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

his wife, Hannah Leavitt, of Suffield, on West street : ELIAKIM GAYLORD and his wife, Elizabeth Hayden, at the Gaylord place.

Clickim Gay lord

The next in the order of time of set- tlement were EZEKIEL THRALL' from Tur- key Hills and his wife, Elizabeth MeMo- ran, of Suffield : SAMUEL COY? from Ellington and his wife, Sarah ; JABEZ ILASKELL" from Rochester, Mass., and his wife, Elizabeth Bissell, of Windsor ; SETO DEXTERA and DEBORAH HASKELL from Rochester,

He probably built his house soon after; the premises constituted his " home lot " in 1762. In 1785 the property passed into the possession of his son-in law, Martin Pinney. The old house was taken down recently, and a new one built on its site. This place and farm is now owned by S. MeAuley.

1 Ezekiel Thrall's house stood on the site of our present parsonage, corner Center and Elm streets. He bought the lot of Isaac Hayden in 1265; it extended on Center street from Elm to about the north line of C. A. Porter's lot, and on Elm to West street. He probably built immediately after; was certainly living there 1769. After the death of his wife, in 1776, he sold to a Mr. Bolles, who sold to Daniel Ela, 1781. The house, originally one-story. had another story added by Mr. Ela ahont 1800, and when our parsonage was built by Talcott Mather the old house was removed and re- modeled, and now stands next west of the parsonage.

2 Samuel Coy bought his lot in 1766, and probably built his house at once. The names of himself and wife appear the same year on the church record. He " died in camp," 1728. llis place was soll, 1783, by Seth Dexter, administrator to Jabez Has- kell. The family removed to Massachusetts. The widow of Oliver Hawley and Mrs. Hervey Phelps are granddaughters of Samuel Coy.

3 Ephraim Haskell and Seth Dexter of Rochester, Mass,, bought the land lying east of Center street, and from School street on the south to Grove street on Main, and still further north on Center street, 160 acres, for $340, $2.08 per acre, inchudling the saw-mill and " old house." The eastern portion of this lot was originally set to Thomas Ford, who sold it in 1663 to Henry Denslow. From thence it passed into possession of his son Samuel, and his grandson Samuel, who sold to Daniel Hayden half the saw- mill, and the privilege of turning a little stream into the mill-pond to add to it, called " Add's Brook," in 1742. Soon after, 1744. the land north of Kettle Brook had been sold to Daniel and Isaac Hayden, and before 1752 all south to School street. After Center street had been set out, 1752, the "Commons" lying cast of it was added to Daniel and Isaac Hayden's lot. Haskell and Dexter bought of Isaac Hayden, and the creditors of Daniel Hayden; Haskell and Dexter divided their purchase. Haskell taking two-thirds of the saw-mill. all the land south of Elm street and cast of the west line of the Oliver Hawley place, and all north of the south line of the present Harris Haskell place. Ephraim Haskell deoded his share to his son, Jabez Haskell, who came up the same year, and in November married and occupied the old house at the head of the spring. In 1724 he built and moved into the house now standing on the corner of Main and Elm streets. A one-story addition was built on the west side, about twenty. tive years later, and a second story was added to it in 1556 The south extension was built abont 1820.

4 Seth Dexter bought of Ezekiel Thrall, in 120, the water privilege, " with right to repair dam, and room near the road for mill and shop, and convenient room around them, " for $5 ($16.66). This was on the site of the present Holbrook mill. In 1770 Mir.

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501

PINE MEADOW IN 1776.

Mass .: PELATIAR BIRGE' from Windsor and

Pelatial Birge his wife, Mary Grant, from Ellington ; and SAMUEL WING 2 from Rochester and his second wife, Lydia, widow of Martin Moses, of Simsbury.

Farming and domestic manufactures were ahnost the only occupa- tion of the people 100 years ago. The men cultivated the fields and prepared the flax and wool, and the women spun and wove the material from which the family were clothed.3 Their lables were abundantly

Dexter deeded his interest here to his son Seth, who was also a clothier, and who set up the first " clothier's works " in this vicinity. He moved his family here Ang. 17, 1770. In 1978 he exchanged a small lot on the corner of Center and Elm streets for more ac commodation around the mill. His first house, in which he lived about eighteen years, was built near his mill, in connection with his shop or finishing-room. About 1788 hic built the "old Dexter house," now occupied by William Anderson. He died in 197 The business was continued by his family until 1813. when it was sold, with the house and land on Center street, to Timothy Mather. The third Seth Dexter, grandfather of E. D. Dexter, retained his father's interest in the saw and grist-mills, and the lands now held by the family, and also lands south of Elm street and west of the Hawley place.

' Jeremiah Birge of Windsor bought a lot of land on the " half mile tier." north of North street in 1766, and some time before 1722 had built a house on it, and was living here. Mr. Horace Birge, his nephew, says that his uncle Jeremiah became so home- sick after he came here to live that he offered such inducements to his father, Pelatiah Birge, that they exchanged places, and Jeremiah went back to the old homestead in Windsor, the late Roswell Miller place. Soon after a Mr. Carter (?) began a house near the present tenant-house of James Coogan, on West street, but he abandoned it, and Mr. Pelatiah Birge bought and enlarged his house with it. In 1876 the old Birge house was pulled down.

2 Samuel Wing and his wife Joanna (sister of Jabez Haskell and Mrs. Seth Dexter) from Rochester, Mass., were living at Hayden Station as early as 1769, probably. Mrs. Wing died there, and he afterwards married Lydia, widow of Martin Moses, of Simsbury." In 1975 he bought of Joseph Barnard the lot set out to him on the first tier by the Proprietors' Committee in 1752. It was twenty-five rods wide, and extended from Center to West street. Mrs. Horton occupies the east end; the houses west of hers, on the south side of Spring street, all stand on the Wing lol. Mr. Wing built his house on West street, a little to the rear and west of the present house of John Cashman. He died in the army Aug. 11. 1777. Moses Wing, son of the above Samuel and Joanna Haskell, married Hannah, daughter of Samuel Denslow, and built a house and shop on the east end of the above-described lot, known of late as the Luke Fish house, recently removed from the corner of Center and Spring streets. I remember his little shop standing in the street nearly in front of Mrs. Horton's house. He was called a goldsmith. He made brass clocks, some of which are still excellent time- keepers, silver teaspoons, knee-buckles, shoe-buckles, etc. His first wife died 1192. and he married a daughter of Capt. Martin Denslow. About 1805 he removed to Worcester. Mrs. Oliver Woodford of Hartford is a daughter of his, and he has a son and other descendants living in the Western States.

3 A tailoress was brought into the family a few days each autumn to make up the winter's stock of clothing for the men and boys, especially for their " goto meeting clothes." It must have marked an era in the progress of the art of domestic man factures when Seth Dexter brought up from Eastern Massachusetts the art of cloth dressing.

The shoemaker was also brought into the house to make up the shoes for the family. For some whimsical reason, this industry was called " whipping the cat."

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

supplied, but with far less variety than we have. Salt provisions were more used than now, and shad and salmon were abundant and cheap.' Bread was made from rye, ground at the near- SUFFIELO est mill. with a little wheat for extra peca- THREE DIRTY HOLE BROOK sions: and cornmeal was served up in a va- riety of ways. Turnips largely suplied the S. DENSLOW place of potatoes,2 WING which were almost un- KETTLE BROOK THRALLE known a few years be- SMONING TRES ADQS BROOM fore the Revolution. HASKELL Pumpkins were used for sauce as well as LONG MARSH MỘC BALING for pies. Apples were PoWE'S MARSH abundant, and cider was a common drink. Drunkenness was not PINE MEADOW BROOK unknown. but almost no alcoholic drinks OLD C COUNTRY ROAD DEXTER'S MAP OF TUNNS GAYiOne FASTWINDSOR PINE MEADOW CONNECTICUT RIVER MAREK OROCK IT16 were used except on festive or other extra occasions, or when ex- + TAMIAN GRAYES Gummis 8,00« HAYDENTOWN tra labor was supposed THISPAIS ROADS A Stra TH DENSLOW HOUSE to be lightened by the . · GAYLORO . . . stimulus of alcohol. . REED?

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The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 59

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