USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 10
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > East Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 10
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > South Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 10
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Bloomfield > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 10
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor Locks > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 10
USA > Connecticut > Tolland County > Ellington > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 10
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Be that as it may, in February, 1639-40, they had evidently com- meneed the building of the much-needed house of worship. " Mr. Hull moved the Court in behalf of Thomas Ford of Windsor, that in regard the workmen are much taken up and employed in making a bridge and a meeting-house with them, and his work hindered of impaling in the ground which was granted him by the Court for a hog-park, that there may be granted him a year longer time for the foneing it in ; which was, upon the reasons aforesaid, condescended to." - Col. Rec.
This meeting-house was located within the Palsado opposite the present Pierson house. It was not finished for many years. since the town was feeble and folly occupied with the more pressing necessities of daily life, and many individuals, who contributed their proportion in the labor of their own hands. worked upon it, of course, as they could find the leisure. It will help us, also. to appreciate the great labor of build- ing a framed meeting-house, in those early days, to remember that there was then no saw-mill in the town, and probably not in the colony (at least we find no mention of any for more than forty years later), and every plank and every board had to be sawed by hand if sawed at all; and the nails had to be made, one by one, upon a blacksmith's anvil.'
The bridge mentioned in connection with the meeting-house must have been over the Little River, connecting the upper and lower portions of the settlement. It was undobtedly of a frail description, and proba- bly soon carried away by freshets, as the earliest town records (1650) make no mention of it, but frequently refer to a ferry there. Apropos of this bridge, tradition has preserved an anecdote of its reputed master- workman, the Rev. Ephraim Huit. While engaged in its construction, he was honored with a visit from his clerical friends, the Rev. Messrs. Stone and Hooker of Hartford. Being very much occupied with his work, he failed to pay them as much personal attention as usual. This
1 See very interesting resume of the history, architectural peculiarities, etc., of the first Windsor meeting house, by Mr. Jabez H. Hoyden in APPENDIX B.
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES . AGAINST INDIANS.
they noticed, and after watching his labors for awhile, they turned to go. Mr. Stone pleasantly remarking to Mr. Hooker, " Ephraim is joined to [his ] idols. Let him alone."
Meanwhile, symptoms of di-affection and trouble among the Indians had begun to threaten the safety of the settlements. " The manifold insolences," says the court record of August 15, 1639, " that have been offered of late by the Indians, put the Court in mind of that which hath been too long neglected. viz. : the execution of justice upon the former murderers of the English." Accordingly, a levy of 100 meu was sent down to Middletown to apprehend " several guilty persons " who had been harbored by the chief Schiage. In September following, the con- quered Pequots at Pawtatuck ( Mystic ?) who had been given to Uneas and Miantonimoh, having violated their agreement by planting corn at that place, Major Mason was dispatched thither with 10 men. to confis- rate and gather in the corn thus planted. He was accompanied by Un- cas, with 100 warriors and 20 canoes. On his arrival at Pawtatuck he found the Indians somewhat disposed to show fight. It however finally resulted in nothing worse than a skirmish between his allies under Un- eas. and the Pegnots having burned the wigwams of the latter, the Eng- lish returned to their homes in safety, bringing with them their vessel and some 50 canoes full of eorn and booty. Windsor furnished thirteen men, twenty arms. and two shallops to this expedition. They were ab- sent abont nine days, and received each 28. per day.
And, in June, 1640, the court passed an order that. as the Indians had grown " bold and insolent to enter into Englishmen's houses. and unadvisedly handle swords, and pieces, and other instruments . . . . to the hazard of limbs or lives of English or Indians," therefore, " whatso- ever Indians shall hereafter meddle with, or handle any Englishmen's weapon of any sort, either in their houses or in the fields," they should be fined in 3 a fathom of wampum : and be held strictly accountable (" life for life, limb, for limb, wound for wound ") for any damage to life and limb, "though accidental," thereupon ensuing.
Two years later, the conduet of the Indians gave rise to serious ap prehension of trouble, and about the 20th of August, 1642, Mr. Ludlow. then residing at Uneowa ( Fairfield), was visited by a neighboring sachem, who disclosed to him a plot of Miantonimoh, sachem of the Narragansetts, Sohiage, saehem of Mattabesiek, and Sequasson of Hart- ford, to rise and murder the English upon the Connecticut River, and throughout New England generally. The same plot was also disclosed to Mr. Eaton at New Haven, by a friendly Indian, and the matter was promptly brought before the General Court on the 26th of the same month. They immediately adopted precautionary measures. The Massachusetts General Court was duly warned of the impending danger.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
Orders were issued that the troops, ammunition, and defenses of each town should be overlooked and reported. Each town clerk was required to hand into the town deputy an exact list of all the . Train men from 16 to 60 years ; " and cach town was ordered to furnish, within fourteen days, two half-pikes, ten feet in length. Several pieces of ordnance, re- eently brought from Piscataqua, were immediately mounted on carriages. A daily guard was also kept under arms in each plantation. The Windsor guard numbered thirty. A force of forty men in each town was ordered to come " complete in their arms to the meeting every Sal- bath and lecture days." No Indians were permitted to enter into the houses, although magistrates might entertain " a sachem, if he come with- out more than two men." The inhabitants were prohibited from purehas- ing venison from them, and smiths were forbidden to work, or make, or mend any weapons for them without license from the magistrates. In short. every precaution was adopted which could preclude the possibility of any sudden attack. About this time, also, we find that cannon, (called " sakers and minions") were in use in the colony, of which " Robert Saltonstall, of Windsor (son of Sir Richard ) contracted to fur- nish two."
"Octoher the 40. 1642; Its ordered there shall be 90 coats prvided wihin these Plantas within temp dayes, basterd with cotton wool and made defensive agt Ind an arrowest Hartford 40; Wymlow 80, Wethersfield 20."
Early in the year 1640 ( Feb. $), for the sake of promoting a trade in cotton, an order had been passed by the court. that upon the return of a vessel, which had been sent for a cargo of that article (presumably to Barbadoes, where, as early as 1628, a colony had stipulated that they would pay for their lands purchased of English owners, in cotton, forty pounds a year ). " the Plantations by p'portion shall take offe the said Cotten at such valuable consideration as y' may be afforded," ete. " The pay for said cotton wool was to be made in English corne, or pipe-staves as the country shall afford. " The proportion to be denided and laid uppou the severall Townes according to the division of the last Country Rate." The cargo seems to have come duly to hand, as " Septem. the 8th, 1042: Its agreed that Wyudsor shall take offe the worth of 907 in Cotton Wwcil, fro Mr. Hopkins ; Wethersfield, the worth of 110%; Hartford 2007: wth liberty to the Plantations to p'portion y' according to their former Rate, if Wyndsor and Wethersfield shall whin on mouth desire y"."
The cotton wool seems to have arrived " in the nick of time," both as regards the military necessities of the Colony, and the interests of those engaged in the speculation : and the price of cotton visibly advanced in the colonial market.
1643. This year was not characterized by any very important event.
4
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THE DEATH OF REV. EPHRAIM HUIT.
1644. however, was saddened by the death of the Rov. Ephraim Huit. Of his lite and ministry we know nothing, save that his piety, character, and talents had greatly endeared him to the church and people of Wind- sor. Over his grave they erected a monument bearing the following in- scription, sufficiently indicative of their respeet for his character and sorrow at his loss:
". Heere Lyeth Ephraim Hvit, sometimes Teacher to Je church of Windsor, who dyed September 4th. 1644.
" Who When her Lived Wee drew our vital Breath, Who When he- Dyed his dying was ovi death. Who was ye Stay of State, ye Churches Staff, Ala- the times Forbid an EPITAPH."
The stone which bears this inscription still exists, in a good state of preservation, in the Old Burying Ground of Windsor, and is supposed to be the oldest original moment in the State, if not in the Valley of the Connecticut. It consists of a slab of red sandstone, which is now in- sorted in one side of a monument, the other side of which bears a cor- responding slab, with an inscription to the memory of the Rev. Jonathan Marsh.
Mr. Huit's only published work is entitled, The whole | Prophetie f ! Dni) \ Explained. \ Ba a Paraphrase, Analysis \ and briefe Com- ment : | Wherein the several Visions showed to the Prophet, are \ clearly Interpreted. and the application thereof vindi cated against dissecting opinions. By Ephraim Huit sometime Preacher at Roxall in War | wiekshire, now Pastor to the Church at Windsor [ in New England. | Imprimatur, -Jam : Crawford. | Printed for Henry Overton, and are to be sold | at his shop, entering into Popes-head Alley | out of Lom- bard Street, MDCXLIV. |
This now very scarce work, a small quarto, 51 inches broad by 73 long, and containing 35 pages, was published in 1644:' and it is a question of some interest to bibliophiles, whether it was written by Mr. . Huit while in England. or after he came to Windsor. In the latter case, it is one of the earliest of our American Commentaries.
The Dedication is as follows:
· To the " Right Honourable " The Ladie " Katherine Brooke :
" Dowager to the Right Honourable Robert Lord Brook, Baron of Beuchampe court. " Right Honourable
"The authour of this book had long since intended the Dedication thereof to your dear husband and our noble Lord, now in heaven, who, after perusall of the copy. was
' Title and Dedication kindly furnished from the copy in the library of Mr. Howard Edwards of Philadelphia, Pa.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
" for affected with it. that if money could have procured its freedom it had not lait. lang wieler the post of a hard master, who though he had a good round summe wally it, yet hath nrole it serve almost a double Apprenticeship: And indeed such was the iniquity and injuriousnesse of these times, that few workers of this nature were suffered to see the light especially if they spake anything freely of those opinion- which were so much disliked, and cried down by the Prelaticall party, as this doth, concerning the glorious calling and conversion of the Jews, which was a principall objection made against it. But the Lon! in mercy having sent us a Parliament, whose first study. and care was to relieve the oppressed, and release the imprisoned; this also bath at length obtained its Manmission . principally by the endeavours, and favour of that truly Noble and Heroicall Patriot the Early of Manchester), and is now come abread into the world and as we hope will prov. very serviceable. The prophedie itselfe, is in many places very abstruse, and the anthour in his exposition hath showed much industry. and solid- ity of judgment in searching out the meaning of the Spirit, and in enuoleating sich Withoutties as he met with in the Text, which we hope will give good satisfaction to all that read it. Had himselfe beep present (who by the Tyranny of the Prelatical party. was diverse years since driven into New England) we presume that he would have chosen nouy other but your Lordship. to dedicate these his labours unto, the rather con- sidering what right that most Honourable Lord, now a Saint in Heaven, bad unto them And therefore not only in that respect, but also in regard of our Relations and engage- ments to your lauliship we have presumed to make you the Patronesse hereof, which if your Ladiship please to accept of, we have our desires, and shall account it a favour to be esteemed.
" Madam we are "SIMEON ASH ." SAMUEL CLARKE ) " WILL. OVERTON "
" Your Ladiships humble servants.
3
He left a widew and four daughters, but no sons. His property was inventoried at 8693 19%. 1d. (a very handsome property for that day ), of which #250 1% 17. is the value of his " Tole " at the mill. The town records show that an annuity of $20 was paid to his widow, from the time of his decease until 1056, or thereabouts.
1645. " This year," says Winthrop (ii. 253), "a new way was found out to Comeetient by Nashua, which avoided much of the hilly way."
1649. This year we find the first meution of any settlement of that portion of the town known as Pogronock. Thomas Holcomb, John Bartlett, Edward, Francis, and George Griswold, all of Windsor, had ro- moved thither, mel were living north of the point where Stony Creek crosses the highway, their home-lots hounding west on the brook. Gris- wold's lot was the first, bounding south and west on the brook. 29 acres : Holcomb's lot came next, 20 acres. 20 rods, west on " the brook helme his house," his south line probably being about 20 rods from the top of the hill at the highway. The court, " taking into consideration the many dangers that their families are in and exposed unto by reason of their remote living from neighbors, and nearness to the Indians, in case they should all leave their families together without any guard," freed one soldier of the forementioned families from training upon every train- ing-day : " each family aforesaid to share herein according to the number of soldiers that are in them, provided that man which tarries at home stands about the aforesaid houses upon his sentinel posture."
3
CHAPTER III.
THE CIVIL ORGANIZATION OF WINDSOR, ILLUSTRATED FROM THE TOWN RECORDS.
T TTTHE first act of the settlers of Connecticut, doubtless. was to provide for themselves a civil organization. They were no more adven- turers, but men of sober thought and strong intent. and nothing more clearly exhibits their character in its best and truest light, than the system of laws and regulations which they laid as the corner stone of their social fabric, and which remains, after the lapse of two centuries, as substantial and clearly defined as when first created. Their civil organization was purely democratie as regards those who, in the capacity of inhabitants, framed it. Inhabitants, in those days, were such, and only such, as by virtue of a good character, blameless life, and " honest conversation," and a vote of the town taken in publie meeting, had been admitted to the privilege of residence and participation in town affairs.
Vicious and abandoned persons. idlers, vagabonds, and panpers were excluded from such privileges. and not even permitted to tarry in the town. So carefully did our forefathers guard themselves against the in- flux of bad members of society, that the General Court, in 1837, enacted that
" No young man that is not married, nor hath aty servant, aud be no public officer. shall keep har- . by himedt without consent of the town where he lives, first had, under pain of 20 shillings per week."!
" No master of a family shall give habitation or entertainment to any young man to sojourn in his family. but by the allowince of the inhabitants of the said town where he dwells, under the like penalty of 20 shillings per week."?
We accordingly find, scattered along through the town records of Windsor, such entries as these ;
.. Dec. 1, 1651. John Moses had allowance to sojourn with Simon Miller in hi- holts .. "
Also, " Sept. 13. 1652. It is assented that Isaac Sheldon and Samuel Rockwell shall keep house together in the house that is Istu's, so they carry themselves soberly and do not entertain idle persons, to the evil expense of time by night or day."
1 This law continue I in force until the general revision of the statutes in 1821, being tiu n the oblast statute provision on our records not previously repealed, expressly or by implication. (Mw of Thos, Day LL. D )
" This was embraced in the Code of 1650 survived the revision of 1673, but disap- Wwared in that of 1702 - Thid.
VOL. I .- 11
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HI. HOLY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
Vier tel John Best & Should be entertained by William Hayden in his fans John Bonjour y con elg runder, and the under : was to refer to some previous no- Perhaps die before designated this place because of las proneness to get into mis hel William Honderd lange was at the extreme north end of the town, although s. s.l families lived na loom la Deils, three complaints hol been entered against John B 1. nett in the sun General Court. One for breach of covenant with John Bissell. On tor de timing John Green. charging him with giving false evidence in court Th
other complains would indicate that there was even among those humble settlers of Windses, an zistaying of meet, if pot of family, sufficient at least to forbid an au worthy i allow from detmming the reputation of "an old man's daughter," by reporting that she looked up ou him witte tion. . Jedn brake complain of John Bennett for saying that loh. denti dand draw nas is the affections of his [D.'Sdaughter." At the next sin ting of the court, dom Branetr appeared and expressing his repentance and promising better carriage in furme, the Grant is willing once more to pass by his corporal punish- iSent." and he was bound over for his good behavior. Educated as those settlers were in a land where the grades of surgery were strongly marked, it is not strange that sortie distinctions should to restart even in the more unreserved intercourse of this new country. Jobs Drake was neta mon of sufficient distinction toentity him to the appel lation of " Mr." vet his son ud, a showmaker, was, the heart and head of the daughter of Mr Henty WeLeft one of the fir t magistrates of Connectient and probably. after the pastor, the most distinguished man in Windisar.
Also, 1056. " In town mening it was consented that Nicholas Wilton should sojourn - with John Owen, so he lived onder's with hita . Again. " June 27, 169 - The towns- mer took into consideration was to prevent inconvenience and damage that may come to the town it some order be not established about entertainment and admitting of pet We therefore order that no person or persons whatsoever shall be admitted inhabeant in this town of Windsor, without the supreba- tion of the town, or townshen, that are, or shall be, from your to your, in bein .. Nor shall any man sett or sell any house or lund so as to bring in any to be inhabitant iato the town without the approbation of the townsmen, or giving in such svenrity as may be accepted to save the town from damage. Also, it is ordered by the town-man, that wheres Edward King fon Irishman, who afterwards lived on the east side of the River. near Podunk j. doth reside in a place remate from theTown where there has sops times been recourse of divers persons in a private way which we juder may prove prejudien! to divers persons if not thely prevented It is therefore ordered the os or b: fore the first of October next he shall give in sufficient security for his good carriage in has family and also for his carini attendance of the rider of this jurisdiction, and of the order of this town, or she shall continue there no longer than that time, upon the pen- alty of 20 shillings per week ( M. Dec. 1, 4m).
". It is also ard. red that HAward Byly -unH continue there no longer than the for- said time appointed, upon the same penalty."
" November 2924. 1667 - The townsmen granted liberty to Saninel Pinnes that he should entertain Judit Cromel a sojourner in his family for a twelve month, and the] engageth to see that he carries well, and keeps good order, as an honest man should do, to the best of his endeavor, by counselling him."
" Dee. 10, 1659. The town-men approved of that Thomas Gunn should entertain as a tabler, Capt. Thomas, in his family for this winter."
As late as " April. 1690, the widow Rix made application to the townsmen for lib- erty to keep at the widow Phelp's house or other place in the Town. She saith that she lived with Left. Joshua Wills for wages, but now that they are parted she wants another place. The townsmen do not see reason to grant her request, but have now warned her to remove ont of this town to the town from whence she came, or to some other place, that she may prevent the townsmen proceeding against her according to law."
:
RESTRAINTS ON IRRESPONSIBLE PERSON.
These extracts serve to show how carefully the law interposed its authority to preserve the purity of social life.'
". I. A. B. bring by the Providence of God an Inhabitant within the Juridiction of Concetieott, due acknowledge myself to be subjecte to the Govermente thereof. atd doe sweare by the great and drelfull name of the everliving God, to be true and faith- ful unto the same, and doe submit boath my person al estate the reunto, according to all the holsome lawes and orders that either are, or hereafter shall be there made, and established by lawful authority: and that I will neither plott not practice any evel againstthe same, not consent to any that shall so die, but will tymley ismer the same to law ful authority established then ; and that I will, as in duty bound. maymaya the honor of the seur gul of the lawfull Magistrat- thereof, promoting the public goal of it, whilst I shall so continue an Inhabitant there; and whensouver I shall give my vote. or suffrage or proxy touching any matter which concrins this Commonwealth being cauled thereanto, will give it as in my conscience may conduce to the best good of the . same, without respect of persons or favor of any man. So help me God in our Lord Jesus Christe."
At the first session of the General Assembly under the charter, Oct 9, 1699. it was ordered that those who desired to be admitted freepien should obtain a certificate from a majority of the Townshan, certifying that they are persons " of civil, pracable and honest conversation, & that they have attained to the age of 21 years, and have 920 's. tate (besides their rest Poll), in the list of Estate." and such certificate should be pre- sented to the point authorized to admit freeinen. Provision was made at the same time for the disfranchisement of such as were convicted of scandalous offenses. It has been asserted by some, that none but church members were admitted freemen in Connecti- cant, and that none were permitted to dissent tren the faith and form of the established church onder. A better acquaintance with the early history of the colony would do away with this erion ons impression
During the administration of Cromwell, the Colonists had been suffered to manage their own affair- much in their own way : and when Charles IL. ascended the throne, he soon after sent out, through his Commissioners, to inquire into the administration of the Colonial Governments. At & session of the General Ass mbly, held at Hartford, April 20, 166%.
" His Majesties Honorable Commissr propositions were presented and read to the court - as follows:
Prop. Ist. "That all householder- inhabiting this colony take the oath ot allevi- ance, and the tulministration of justice be in his Majesties name."
To this the Colony answered:
"This we return, that according to his Majesties pleasure expressed in our charter, ont Governor formerly hath nominated and appointed meet persons to administer the oath of allegiance "
Prop. 2d. " That all men of competen estates and of civill conversation, though of different judgments, mir be admitted to be freemen & have liberty to choose and be «hust hoffe rs, bath milit .ry and civil."
Tu this. "one order for admission of freemen is consonant with that proposition."
. Although the strictness of these first regulations concerning inhabitants, especially there relating to " young unmarried men," were after a time somewhat softened, yet the settlers always maintained a vigilant eye upon the character and doing of each member of the community. Their deep sense of the individual duties devolving upon every citizen. found expression in the Oath of Fidelity, which was framed by the Gen- vral Court in 1640, and which was to be administered by any two or three magistrates to d! mates, above sixteen years of age, who could present a certificate of good beha- siur
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDS
Prop. 3d. " That all persons of civil tives may forly Majet the liberty of they consciences and the worship of God in that way which they L'onk best, provided the this liberty tend not to the disturbance of the publique, for the hindrance of the maya tay nauce of ministers regularly chosen in each respe ctive parish or township."
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