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 16
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 16
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 16
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 16
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 16
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 16
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1 The term " liberation and counsel " may perhaps be thus explained. Indians then, as now, were mischievous and would get drunk. Thus they not nnfrequently got into trouble, end were either mulcted in tines, or imprisoned in the lockup at Hartford. There is sufficient evidence to our mind that the speculative whites sometimes paid their fines, or obtained their release, receiving in return for the favor the title to some coveted piece of land, which doubtless, at the moment, seemed of less importance to the captive red man than his personal freedom. The deed of Sepanquet to Samuel Marshall (sce Section VI. this chapter) is another case in point.
127
LAND PURCHASES FROM THE INDIANS.
In April. 1666, James Eno and John Moses purchased from Nassa- hegon, land on both sides of the Rivalet, from Windsor to Massaro. This land, which had descended to him from his uncle Sheat, extended toward Massaro, "as far as his right extends," namely, on the south side of the Rivulet to the foot of Massaco Mountain: and on the north side to the " mountain that answers the foresaid mountain:" and east- ward to a new way [or road] passing out of Pipestave Swamp going to Westfield ." and southward from the Rivolet to the Millbrook " as it runs into the Wilderness and so to the Mountains." This tract contain- ing some 28,000 acres was confirmed to the purchasers, December, 1669, by Rippaquam and Svaret, with the exception of two islands in the Riv- ulet, one of which Nassahegan claimed was given to his son. and the other to his sister by his uncle. Sheat, deceased. Enno and Moses, the same year, released this purchase to the town of Windsor, whose agents they were, and received $15 14%. 27. (the amount expended by them) in lands situate under the Simsbury Mountains above Salisbury Plain, near the river, and known as Tilton's Marsh.
VIII.
The Great Isiand. in the Connectiont River, on Enfield Falls, was sold to John Lewis of Windsor, June 26, 1675, - it now being out of our way to live upon it." by Seoket, Toto, Toutops alius Notabork, Waronyes, and William Rohndick. the "true and proper heirs and owners," who claim the " right as descended from one generation to another." They acknowledge having received " full satisfaction, except 83, which was to be paid on or before June next. in Indian corn or shoes, at the current Windsor price." Nassahogan and Coggerynosset were afterwards present, and signed the agreement. The £3 was divided as follows: Totaps 30%. Nassabegan 10%., Coggerynosset's squaw, 10%. Margery, her papoose, 10%. It was transferred, Feb. 27. 1883. to Daniel Hayden. It is now called King's Island, is about a mile long by one-quarter of a mile wide, and contains nearly 150 acres, more or less cultivated.
This island was first ow ned by the Rev. Ephraim Huit, who in his will, 1644, left it " to the Country."
Euxt of the Connecticut River.
I.
" This is also a record of the purchase made of the Indians of the land on the east side of the Great River. berween Scanteck and Podunk.
"Know all men by these presents, that we whose names are underwritten, viz .: Cassoeum. Sachem of the Mohegencake; Towtonnomen, Sachem of the aforesaid Mole-
128
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
gans; Pozen of Mohegan; Nepeasescateke son of Towtonnomen; Nagonce, Scattaaps, Pockettercote, children of Sassowen: Wanochocke, a Mohegeneake; Arramemet of Matianuck: Toquash of Matianeke; Rewen, Arramemet's father, and his wife; Sheat of Paquaanocke; Cockeronoset of Paquaanocke, which are all the Indians that layeth claim to that ground called Nowashe, bounded with the river Seantok over against the now dwelling house of Mr. [ Francis] Stiles, situate on the east side of the river called Quenticute [Connectient], bounded on the south with the brook or rivulet called Potaecke [Podunk ] over against the now dwelling house of Arramemet or thereabouts, near the upper end of Newtown [ Hartford] meadow, we before mentioned do acknow !. edge that we have sold unto Dorchester plantation who are now resident at Quenticutt. all our right and interest in the aforesaid ground, for and in consideration of twenty cloth coats, and fifteen fathoms of seawan [wampum] of which their being paid in hand eight coats and six fathoms of sewan, the other twelve coats and nine fathoms of sewan to be paid at the coming up of our next Pinnace, we also the foresaid Indians do avonch that we have not formerly sold the said ground to any other, and we do also promise and bind ourselves by these presents to make good and maintain this our sale against any that shall make challenge or lay claim, either to the whole or any part thereof. viz : the ground between the two brooks or two rivulets before mentioned in breadth, and so east ward into the country one day's walk. Neither will we ourselves disturb or molest the said English inhabitants, or their successors forever, by sitting down, planting, or giving away to any other whatsoever. that shall any way molest the said English inhabi- tants before named.
"In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals even the 15th day of this Instant, second month; commonly called April, Anno Domini, 1636, being the eleventh year of the Reign of King Charles. Hereunto annexed the names of eleven Indians which assigned hereunto."
". In witness.
JONATHAN BREWSTER, EDWARD PATTISON, WILLIAM BREWSTER.
SASSOWEN [or Cussurun]. TOWTONNOMEN, POZEN, 1
WANOCHOCKE, ARRAMEMET,
CUEWINCE, NAGONCE, POCKETTERCOTE,
SHEAT,
TUCKQUEASE. COCKERONOSET.
" This copied out of the original by me
" Matthew Grant, Register, Feb'y, 1665.
This evidently comprised the whole of the present town of South Windsor-called Nowdas by the Dutch, or Nowashe by the Indians - see p. 17.
II.
The following note, or affidavit, without date, occurs on the Land Records of Windsor:
"Coggerynosset [Poquonock] testifies that the land on the east side of the Great
1 " Pozen of Mohegan," or, as the English called him, "Foxen," was the crafty "councillor " of Uncas.
120
LAANP PURCHASES FROM THE INDIANS.
River between Seantick and Namareck [Mayluck Brook'] was Nassacowen's, and Nassa- cowen was so taken in love with the coming of the English that he gave it to them for some small matter, but he knows of none but the meadow.
CONGERYNOSSET. " Witness,
MATTHEW GRANT, JACOB DRAKE. STEPHEN TAYLOR.
In September 26. 16-7, Toto (of Windsor). grandson of Nassa- cowen, deceased. confirme to Captain Benjamin Newbury, Mr. Henry Wolcott, John Moore. Sen., Return Strong, Sen., Daniel Hayden, and Abraham Phelps, agents of the town of Windsor. a tract of upland (or woodland ), between Namarack Brook and Scantie River on east side of the Great river, which was sold to Windsor people by his grandfather, Nassacowen.
"It [the said land] bounds north on John Stiles's (deceased) lot, by south side of small brook that falls into Namerack, and becomes a part of it; thence runs east by south side of said brook to the head of the brook; and thence easterly, varying a little to the south, till it runs over Scantick near where Goodman Bissell [bulit]a saw mill. and runs over the old road or highway that formerly went to Lead Mines, cros-ing Ketch Brook, and so to the mountains near Frog Hill." and then butts or ends on the top of the 3rd bare mountain or hill, the northmost of three hills, and so runs along to the ridge of the mountain till it comes to the path that leads to Cedar Swamp.3 anl thence south, near a half mily to another bare hill. which is the south-east end or
" This ancient name, now obsolete, was derived tas tradition affirms) from a party of the early emigrants to the Connectient, who came through the woods in the month of May, and following the course of the brook struck the river -hence its name Mgrluck. It is now known as Prior's Brook, and is about a mile below Warehouse Point.
" There is now a place beyond Ellington, somewhere in Tolland County, called Frog Ifull - probably the same as Frog Hill.
3 Mr. Stoughton, in his Windsor Farmex (p. 117), says: "Cedar Swamp is a locality to which frequent reference is made in the affairs of the neighborhood [East Wind-or]. and to it the people resorted for clapboards and shingles. The latter were made of various widths and two standard lengths, viz., eighteen inches and three fect, and in the absence of machinery were split or rived from the blocks. The slow methods of manufacturing lumber made it comparatively expensive: therefore. in the earlier ac- counts, shing & were sold at so much per shingle. The late Maj. F. W. Grant's house in East Winesor is covered with rived, narrow, cedar clapboards, fastened by hand- male nails; and although put on before the French and Indian war-, are perfectly sound. This swamp may have been identical with what was known as 'Ye Great Svamp.' The latter was in the parish of Ellington, and covered all that now productive grass and tillage land which lies to the south and east of Ellington Church, and is drained by the Hockanum river. It was about one third to three-quarters of a mile in width, and frem its northern limit, in the vicinity of the present . Windermere Hills, 'extended south toward Vernon, where its waters were increased by the contributions of the Tanga- roosen. Upon the highlands, west of the swamp, the Pinneys settled upon their Indian purchases, about the time that the eastern border was occupied by the Ellsworths. Under the combined efforts of these families and their descendants large tracts of land were maade useful. There are remains of a very extensive swamp northeast of the present Windsorville that may be identical with the ancient . Cedar Swamp.'"
VOL. I .- 17
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130
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
corner; and then turns west bearing a little to the north, and so south to some pond- known as Porson Ponds; and from there near the head of Podunk Brook, and then crosses Lead Mine road at a place called Cart Hill, and from thence it comes to Connec- ticut River on the south of John Birge's lot."
We have been unable fully to trace out the ancient localities men- tioned in this deed, but the reader, with the aid of the Map of Indian Purchases, will find no difficulty in understanding the general boundaries of the purchase.
HII.
In September (20), 1660, John Bissell, Jr., bought of Watshemino all his " planting land from Namelake for Namerick ] Brook, upward by the Great River, to the land of the said John Bissell, Jr., only the grass land excepted that Goodman Hayden hath formerly to mow, 10 acres more or less, for 50 fathom of wampum." At a Particular Court, hekl at Hartford, May 13, 1662. " This conrt orders that William Heyden, of Wyndsor, shall for future cease to improve the lands at Nameleck that belongs to Spaniunk weh is by the Bounds of John Bissel's Lottments. And yt neither the said William nor any other shall any way hinder, or directly or indirectly prevent John Bissel's compounding with ye Indian for that land" ( Ree. Part. C't., ii.)
In September 19, 1671, Nearowanocke (alias Will) a Nameroake [Namerick ] Indian. sold - for a certain sum of money already received of Thomas and Nathaniel Bissell," a parcel of land, "lying without the bounds of Windsor, on the East side of the Great River, bounded on the south by Potunke River and land that was Tantonimo's; on the east by the hills beyond the pine plains [probably Ellington], on the west by the Svantock as it runs till it comes to bear due east from the mouth of Fresh Water River [Connecticut ] till you come to the hills beyond the pine plains, which said line marks the north bounds," "reserving only the privilege' of hunting beaver in the river of the Scantock."
" We may mention in this connection, that similar reservations in many Indian deeds have apparently given rise to the very prevalent opinion among the people of New England, that the Indians of the present day have still a claim or right to certain privileges within the domains once owned by their ancestors. Even the damage done to young word-lands, etc., by strolling bands of Indians, are often submitted to in silence, from a general andefined impression that they have a sort of hereditary right to make free with such property. An amusing anecdote is told which illustrates this point. One of the selectmen of a certain town once included in Ancient Windsor, a man who boasts that the blood of the Mohegans courses in his veins, in giving directions respecting the improvement of the highway, ordered certain trees cut away. The owner of the land opposite denied the right of the selectmen to cut down the trees. Warm words ensued, when the selectman, feeling the dignity of his position, exclaimed, " Mr. - , I have a right to cut the trees just where I have a mind to."
The claim so broadly stated reminded the other of the tradition to which we have referred, and which he supposed legitimate law; and quick as thought he replied, "I
131
LAND PURCHASES FROM THE INDIANS.
This extensive purchase, covering the greatest part of Enfield, two- thirds of East Windsor, east of Seantie, and all of Ellington, was obtained by the Bissells for the town of Windsor, to whom it was after- wards transferred. The Bissells received two hundred acres (in the present town of Ellington) for their share in the transaction.
March 23. 1692-3. Towtops, son of Wicherman of Windsor, for and in consideration of the sum of €5, by him received, sold to Nathaniel Bissell 100 acres, on the east side of Connecticut River, at the foot of [ Enfield] Falls, viz .: in breadth next to the river, which bounds it on the west 50 rods, and runs east one mile with the same breadth, and abutts east and north on Totap's land, and south on Daniel Hayden's land.
This purchase covered all the south part of the present village of Warehouse Point.
IV.
In 1659-60, Thomas Burnham and partners having bought all the Indian lands at Podunk, of Tontonimo, in which deed Jacob Mygatt had an interest, the court, then in session at Hartford, upon the report of a committee appointed to investigate the transaction. set the deed aside by calling it a lease, and decided that the lands belonged to Foxen's (or Posen's) successors, by gift of Foxen to his allies, and that Burnham could only hold that which Tontonimo could prove to be his own partie- ular property.1 In 1661, Burnham alone, purchased all the Podunk lands of Arramamet, Taquis, etc .. Foxen's successors and allies; " and Uneas, the supreme Mohegan sachem, in his will (1684) gave Thomas Burnham, Sen., with others, a very extensive tract covering very many of the present townships east of Hartford bounds.
know it, I know it, you've a right to cut them for basketx and brooms, but for no other purpose; but the other selectman has no right at all to cut them for that purpose."
It is needless to add that the Indian of the present day has no legal right to commit any trespass nyon the row alienated land of his forefathers, nor can he have any claim except by the favor of the present owners. Yet as we have said, there is a very preva- lent impression to the contrary, an impression which the Indians themselves are by no means slow to improve to their own advantage, and under cover of which they steal from the forest with perfect impunity the materials for the manufacture of their basket, willow, and fancy wares.
1 Subsequently (March 14th) the court ordered " that no persons in this colony shall directly or indirectly buy or rent any of the lands at Podunk, that are laid out and pos- sessed by the Indians there." But, if the Indians should leave the place, Thomas Burn- ham was to be allowed (with their consent) the use of their lands in their absence, and whenever they returned he was to relinquish them again.
2 Facsimile of this deed given in Barnhum Genealogy, 40, as also copies of the Uncas bequest of 1684, and a number of Indian deeds, Burnham deeds, Acts of Assembly, etc .. relating to the Burnham purchases at Podunk - of much interest to those who wish to Niudy the original South Windsor lines.
1
132
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
" Thomas Burnham, Sen., before his death, gave the greater part of what he was enabled to retain of these Indian lands to his children by deed, . as a token and in consideration of ye true love and good affection that I do now bear unto my son -( naming a child and lands now in South Windsor or East Hartford ), but with this proviso, that I do hereby oblige ye su __ , his heirs, de., not to make any sale or other aliena- tion of y? above s' land except it be to some of his own brothers, or their children,' thereby entailing the lands as far as possible, on his descend- ants." - Burnham Genealogy, 89. And some of this land is yet in Burnham owne: - hip.
It is very evident by the old Burnham deeds, etc., that the Burn- ham purchase extended north into South Windsor.
In May, 1666. Jacob Mygatt, Burnham's partner, sold his share of the lands at Podunk to William Pitkin and Bartholomew Barnard, who demanded from Burnham a division of the land and surrender of pos- session. To this he demurred, and the case was brought into court. The final issne, made May, 1668, was - that Pitkin and Barnard shall stand quietly possessed of the said land" against any claim of Thos. Burnham, but the latter was to reap the wheat, and have the peas upon the land, he paying rent for the peas S&. per acre.'
May 14, 1672, Thos. Burnham, Sen., of Podunk, received a deed from shebosman and Naomes, of two acres, "more or less, at Podunk, in ladian Meadow. on the south side of Podunk Brook, runs by the Indian Meadow only on the north side within two rods of Bartholomew Barnard's land, and the said Burnham hath already paid the sum of £6 and what Obadiah Wood paid for us also."
1 State Archives, Private Controversies, i., Doc. 29-47.
1
Deazon willy am gallon
Homas foar& Georgequifind)
Boney Mwoolcoff Viafrow Strand
Jamos ono yumphong find
Thomas Dollece Smir
Matt ffyler
owana for Forum chafing
Sinon Holoof michele Hunphong.
John Enffm
Facsimile Antographe of some of Ancient Windsor's Early Inhabitants.
133
CHAPTER VII.
DISTRIBUTION AND PLAN OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
FIVIIE first record of the division of lands in Windsor was undoubtedly
T a simple designation of lots by figures. The General Court, how- ever, in September, 1639, enacted that every town in the colony should choose a town elerk or register, " who shall, before the General Court in April next, record every man's house and land already granted and measured out to him, with the bounds and quantity of the same," and " the like to be done for all land hereafter granted and measured to any, and all bargains or mortgages of land whatsoever shall be accounted of no value until they be recorded." ( Col. Rec., i. 37.) To this order the first volume of Windsor Land Records owes its origin, and the earliest entry on its pages is under date of October 10, 1640. Under this and subsequent dates are entered and fully described the home-lots and other lands belonging to the various inhabitants. Indeed it is almost certain that it comprises the names of all persons having dwelling-houses in the town at that time, and therefore forms our fullest and most reliable source of information as to the first settlers of Windsor.
In addition to the Land Records there is an ancient little volume in the town elerk's office, entitled A Book of Records of Town Ways in Windsor, compiled in August, 1654, by Matthew Grant, who prefaces it with these words: " Forasmuch as it hath been desired that I should enter upon record several highways that have been formerly laid out, to express what the several breadths were appointed to be, and so to eon- time for Public use." This little record, besides preserving several interesting items not contained in the Land Records, affords considera- ble explanatory and elucidative assistance in tracing ont the plan of Ancient Windsor.
Tradition also has been listened to with a cautious ear, and in some instances has helped us to a clue which subsequent investigation has eor- roborated. Such are the sources and aids of the present chapter. Now let us consider a few of the hindrances and obstacles with which we have had to contend.
Aside from the great changes which time and the march of improve- ment have wrought in the face of the country and the appearance of the town, we have to regret the loss of many local names and once familiar
184
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
expressions, which have gradually lost their significance, and have there- fore become almost obsolete and unmeaning in the present day. Sulix- bury Plain and Tilton's Marsh may perhaps be cited as examples of many local names once familiar as household words, now scarce to hi discovered or identified by the most painstaking antiquary.
A well-known proverb intimates that it is not polite to " look a gift horse in the mouth," and it may perhaps be rather ungracious in us to find any fault with the old Land Records, to which we are so much (or solely ) indebted for all that we know about the locale of Ancient Wind- sor. Yet we have felt, in many instances during our investigation, that there were some very bad gaps in those records, which we could not but wish had been filled up. Often have we felt as if -could we have invoked that most excellent and conscientious of all town clerks and surveyors, Matthew Grant, from his grave in the old cemetery -that we would cheerfully pay him better " day's wages" for " running" a few lines over again than ever he received for similar services in his lifetime. Had we been believers in spiritualism, we should have promptly put ourselves en rapport with his spirit, and questioned him earnestly about many items of needed information. But as it was, we were obliged to trust to our own unaided efforts: and in truth, if honest Matthew had as much trouble in " running lines " for the first settlers through the vir- ginal foresis and tangled undergrowth of old Windsor as we had in "running" them over again, after the lapse of two centuries, through his erabbed handwriting on the crumbling pages of the old books -- he must have had a hard life of it. We are now fully prepared to believe the tradition that old Matthew was wont to say, as he returned at sun- set, wearied and jaded, from his day's labor at surveying. that he " wouldn't accept all the land he had bounded that day as pay for his labor," although he might "change his tune" somewhat in these days if he could see those same lands under tobacco.
But to return to our subject -- the deficiencies in the records theni- selves. We find that some lands are bounded by those of persons who had previously removed from Windsor, which lands had subsequently reverted to the town. Or, we find that others have their lands bounded by neighbors whose lands are not recorded. Or, again, lands seem to have jeissed from a first owner to a subsequent one through two or three intermediate owners, whose names do not appear on record, and are only accidentally found in some other connection.
Now these are great obstacles, but not insuperable, and before patient investigation the mist of doubt is gradually dispelled, and " the crooked paths made straight." Mainly, then, through the perseverance of our coadjutor, Mr. Jabez H. Hayden, whose familiarity, from boy- hood, with the topography as well as the local history of his native town
138
THE ORIGIN OF PALISADO-GREEN.
and its records, abundantly qualifies him for this " labor of love," we are able to present our readers with a Map of Ancient Windsor.'
Without attempting to point out the exact spot whereon each house stood, we are yet reasonably confident that we have correctly located each man's home-lot : and it may be taken as a fair picture. not of all we wish to know, but of all we do know-of the " distribution and plan of Windsor," two hundred and forty-one years ago.
The Dorchester party first settled on the north side of the Rivulet. or Farmingtop River. Saltonstall's party, under Mr. Francis Stiles. evidently made their beginning at and near the present Ellsworth place. And, aside trom the prudential motives which would have induced the first comers to settle, as much as possible, near together, it is natural to suppose that their settlement on the north side of the stream would afford less cause of complaint on the part of the Plymouth Company than to have trespassed on Plymouth meadow.
Matthew Grant, also, in describing the origin of the ancient Palisado, which was erected at the beginning of the Pequot war on the northern bank of the Rivulet. states that it was built by "our inhabitants on Sandy Bank," who - gathered themselves nearer together from their remote dwellings to provide for their safety." Sandy Bank, as it was anciently named, is synonymous with the Meudon Bank, which overlooks the Comictient River Meadows; and " their remote dwellings " extended northward alone this bank in the line of the present street. There is also to our mind a significance in the use of the word our ( which we have italieised) as applied to the Dorchester settlers in contradiction to the Plymouth Con.pany. The dispute between the two parties was not adjusted until after the beginning of the Pequot war, and we find no evidence whatever of any settlement south of the Rivulet by the Dorches- ter party until after the close of that war. When that event brought safety to the English homes they were not slow to improve the rich lands to which their Plymouth neighbors had reluctantly yielded their right.
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