USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > The history of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, from the settlement of the town in 1639 to 1818. Vol. I > Part 19
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The list of estates in Fairfield this year were estimated at £11, 149. Cornelius Hull having been appointed attorney to represent the western claims of the town, it was decided, that if upon evidence Fairfield had been granted seven miles from the west bounds of Stratford, that Norwalk should be paid a reasonable consideration for the money which that plantation had paid to the Indians for lands claimed by the Fairfield planters. Assistant Samuel Sherman, Mr. Fairchild and Ensign Judson were appointed a committee to consider what was equitable and reason- able for the inhabitants of Fairfield to pay to the town of Norwalk. They were also to examine the quality of the land twelve miles northward between the two towns. Ensign Judson, John Banks and Lieutenant Olmstead were appointed to run the division line.
This decision of the Assembly by no means pleased the Fairfield
*" In July, 1666, the weekly deaths in London were 1, 100 ; they increased to 10,000 a week in September, & not less that 100,000 persons were computed to have perished in the course of the year. The fire extended over 436 acres."-Hume.
+ "By this treaty England gained New York ; & Nova Scotia was given up to the French for Antigua, Monserrat, & St. Kitts."-Hume.
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[1667
planters, who still continued to extend their limits to the Saugatuck River. The last day of October was appointed a public thanksgiving " to return praise to God for his great mercy in the continuation of our liberties & privileges, both civil & ecclesiastical ; & for our peace ; & pre- venting the troubles we feared from foreign enemies ; & for his blessing in in the fruits of the earth ; & the general health continued in the plan- tations."
At a town meeting held in March, the sojourning of strangers in Fair- field was made a matter of serious consideration. It was voted, " that John Thorp should not be entertained in the town, under the penalty of the law, in such cases." Goodman Lyon was also desired to leave the town, " & speedily to provide for himself." John Burr and John Green were appointed to call a committee, to run the division line between Fairfield and Norwalk, and to examine the country above the town. Henry Jack- son was given liberty to erect a mill on the Uncoa stream, if completed within two years. Sergeant George Squire and Joseph Middlebrook were appointed to measure out each man's land who wished fences in the great meadow, on either side of the creek; and to sell at an outcry the lands on the other side of the creek or Uncoa neck, according to the rules of fencing.
Nathaniel Seeley purchased this year of an Indian named Crocecrow, a large track of land lying between the Saugatuck and Aspetuck rivers .*
At the May election Major Gold was elected one of the assistant judges of the General Assembly, and Cornelius Hull and William Hill deputies. William Hill was also made a commissioner. The town of Fairfield was recommended to settle upon the Bankside farmers and their heirs, by a firm record, the lands which they had improved. The estates of commis- sioners were freed from public taxes. There being but one prison at Hartford, each county town was ordered to erect a prison or house of cor- rection ; and that this order might be speedily carried out by the first of December, twelve pounds was granted to each county for prisons built before that time. In case this order was neglected, a fine of twenty pounds was to be paid by the county to the colony treasury.
It was ordered that a grand jury of twelve able men, at least, should be warned to appear at the county courts yearly, viz. : at Hartford on the first Thursday in March, at New London on the first Wednesday in June, at New Haven on the second Wednesday in June, and at Fairfield on the second Tuesday in March, or oftener if required. Mathew Camfield was made a commissioner for Norwalk, and to assist in the execution of justice
* Fairfield Town Rec., Book A, page 494.
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at the county court of Fairfield. A complaint having been made that divers persons had thrust themselves into the several towns in the colony without liberty, it was ordered that any person who presumed to remain in any town in the colony, after he had been warned to leave, should pay a fine of 20s. a week to the town treasury ; " and in default of payment-to sit in the stocks for one hour, or else be corporally punished."* Owing to neglect of proper care in recording grants, sales, and exchange of lands, it became necessary for some regulation to be made by law, whereby the owners of houses and lands might legally claim them under the new charter ; consequently the Assembly passed an act, that any person who owned one or more dwellings, and large or small parcels of land, without. being interrupted by law within the space of twelve months and a day, after the publication of this act, should have full power to record and receive a record of the same as his own, from the town clerk, witnessed by one of the selectmen and an assistant or a commissioner. This act was not to be binding upon " orphans under age, or persons in foreign parts."
At a town meeting held at Fairfield, July 8th, it was voted that there should be thirty half-pikes and twenty large pikes, to belong to the town magazine, at the disposal of the military officers of the town. The treas- urer John Burr was ordered "to care that the pikes were well headed with iron ; & to pay the workmen who made them out of the town grass," according to his judgment. At a town meeting, September 31st, John Banks and William Hill were appointed to survey the Maxumux farms. In October the town list of estates was valued at £10,637, 8s. The Gen- eral Assembly granted Major Gold three hundred acres of land for a farm, forty acres of which was to be meadow land, if as much could be found, provided it did not interfere with any previous grant, or be injurious to any plantation. A penny half-penny on a pound was levied to defray the colony expenses. The county courts were given liberty to choose their own clerks. To prevent advantage being taken of persons by a sudden subpoena to attend the particular court, five days' notice was ordered to be served on the defendant. The expense of sustaining a large company of dragoons resulted in disbanding them in general, and a vote was passed that they should join the foot company; but their pikes, belts, and pouches were to be safely preserved by the selectmen, in case they should be needed for public use. In case of war, each county was given authority to raise troops or dragoons, to be paid out of the county taxes. Fairfield, New Haven, and New London were given liberty to raise a standing body of dragoons of about forty horsemen, for their defense.
" Col. Rec. Conn., IT., 66.
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In 1667 the demand for a general synod of ministers resulted in the General Court changing the name of synod to that of An Assembly of the Ministers. This was done to pacify those ministers, who objected to such a council being called a synod. On the 16th of May following, the Gen- eral Court ordered that the Reverends James Fitch, Gershom Bulkley, Joseph Eliot, and Samuel Wakeman should meet at Saybrook or Norwich, and consider some way whereby the religious questions in dispute should be settled. This step was hailed by many with great satisfaction, as it appears to have been the first effort made, which promised the establish- ment of a religious constitution ; several years elapsed, however, before this · desired end was accomplished, although many longed and struggled for its successful issue. The third Wednesday in November was appointed a day of public thanksgiving for the blessing of civil and ecclesiastical peace, for the continuance of the liberties of the people, peace from dreaded foreign foes, for blessings on the fruits of the earth, and for the continua- tion of health in the plantations.
At a town meeting December 2, Jehu and John Burr, and John Green were appointed to run the boundary line between Fairfield and Stratford forthwith ; and to lay out a parsonage lot in Uncoa neck. Complaint being made that the lands at Mill plain had not been justly laid out, and that the highways had not been kept up; Jehu Burr, John Wheeler and William Hill were appointed "to settle the bounds & lay out highways." * Samuel Smith was given liberty to settle in the town, until the 29th of September next, when he was to "depart the town or submit to law." Samuel Davis and his heirs were bound in the sum of five pounds, to depart the town by Michaelmas next. John Camp was bound in the same way. Jonathan Miles was bound in the sum of twenty pounds, unless he had further permission to remain.
On the 28th of April the town voted that Jehu Burr, John Wheeler and William Hill, should survey the land between Mill river and the Maxumux farmers. Also a highway was ordered to be laid out between the meadows of John Green and John Burr on Mill river, and Samuel Ward's and the commons. Thomas Staples and John Green were to agree with them for a highway over the river. On the Ist of February, the salt marsh at the Horse-tavern, below the path and pond and swamp that lies in Sasco field, was granted for the encouragement of a school.+ John Thorp, who was ordered in 1667 to leave the town without delay, was at this meeting
* B, Town Votes, pp. 26, 27.
+ This school-lot is said to have been between the south-west corner lot opposite the resi- dence of the late Frederick Marquand and the brook called the Horse-tavern.
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admitted as an inhabitant, and granted the use of two acres of land to to improve for seven years. A vote to leave the town did not necessarily imply a want of good character, but it was done to give time to ascertain whether strangers who appeared among them, were worthy to be made members of the community. The townsmen expressed their disapproval of the suit brought by Simon Couch and John Andrews, as heirs of Francis Andrews, in claiming their rights in his Bankside land, by voting that "they should not be accepted as inhabitants of the town." The right, however, of this injustice prevailed in the course of time .*
Henry Jackson, Lieutenant John Squire, Cornelius Hull, John Wheeler and John Burr, were appointed a committee, to lay out the dividend of land at Greenlea, between the highway and commons and their property.t At the May election Major Gold was elected an assistant of the General Assembly, William Hill and Jehu Burr deputies and commissioners for Fairfield.# John Barlow, John Sturge (Sturgis), John Hide, Dan11. Burr, Wm. Ward, Andr. Ward, Sam1. Ward, John Bulkley, Thomas Jones, James Bennet, Ezekiel Sanford, Richard Ogden, John Cable, jr., Benjamin Tur- ney, Thomas Oliver and Dan1. Lockwood, were propounded to be made freemen from Fairfield. A day of fasting and prayer was appointed on the 29th of May, "to entreat the Lord for the visitation of his provi- dence in blasting the increase of the fields; spoiling the fruit of the trees ; disunion in the plantations in civil & ecclesiastical affairs ; & to implore mercy of the Lord in behalf of his people in England; that He would cause his face to shine upon them in the wilderness; visit them with mercy ; stay His hand ; establish peace & truth in their habitations ; continue health among them ; bless the fruits of the earth ; & that He would be pleased to guide them in every endeavor to stablish peace & truth among them." At the October session of the General Court, a tax was ordered to be laid upon the several towns, to defray the expenses of their deputies in attending the General Assembly. The Fairfield deputies were allowed £2, 15s. The third Wednesday in November was appointed a general thanks- giving for peace, health, etc. At a town meeting held in October, 1668, it was voted to lay out a new planting field, between Mill River and the rear of the farmers' home-lots, to be divided among all the inhabitants of the town, in such proportion as the town should agree upon. Cornelius Hull, John Knowles and Samuel Morehouse were appointed to examine and report as to the quality of the land.
* B, Town Votes, p. 30. + Seaside Park and vicinity at Bridgeport. B, Town Votes, p. 28. # Col. Rec. Conn., II., 82, 83.
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[1669
Another new planting field was ordered to be laid between the Uncoa river and the Stratford bounds. Richard Hubbell, Humphrey Hide and John Sturgis were appointed to survey and report the quantity and quality of this land. Jehu Burr, John Wheeler, Cornelius Hull, Nathan- iel Seeley and William Hill were appointed to lay out the new planting field on the other side of Mill river, to stake out for fencing each man's land, and to lay out highways in this and the Uncoa fields, according to the old rules of the dividends.
It was voted to divide four hundred acres among the owners of estates. The waste land at the east side of the creek, and at the harbor and in Uncoa neck was to be taken into the division, but the town sedge and marsh below the path or highway near the beach, were not to be included. Each man was allowed his dividend in the rear of his home-lot, which the committee were to exchange to their satisfaction. In case some received poor land, it was to be exchanged for better .*
A considerable tumult was raised at a town meeting held on the 30th of January following, by a vote, that only those whose names were con- tained in the October list of estates, made by an order of the General Court in May, t should share in the land dividends. Against this vote John Burr and William Ward protested; when it was voted, " that those plant- ers who had sons of age should have lands for them only as children," and not according to the law of the colony, which required that none should be made freemen, except such as held an estate valued at eighteen pounds. Great dissatisfaction existed because those who had cultivated the eight years' lands at Sasqua, were not to be allowed to hold them ; in conse- quence of which, on the 15th of March it was voted that no one should build upon the lots of the new field at Sasco, or sell the school lands with- out permission from the town, under a penalty of £20. Goodman Joseph Middlebrook and Peter Newton were the only dissenting voices.
The first rules of fencing were to be observed in this new dividend. The lots were to run east from Frost point to a gate to be made over Mill river. The hill in this field on the left " as one goes towards the farms commencing at the school land " was also to be laid out. The com- mittee was to lay out these lands under the new arrangement for divi- dends ; and they were to purchase sufficient lands of the dividend hold- ers on the Sasqua and Mill rivers for two gates ; and also for a sea fence. The first tier of lots included one-third of this dividend .;
* B, Fairfield Town Votes, pp. 28, 29.
+ Col. Rec. Conn., II., 112, 521. B, Town Votes, p. 30, 31. Appendix No. III. # Appendix No. IV.
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On the 8th of February it was voted that the remaining two-thirds of the dividend should be divided as follows :
"The town orders yt ye Lots to be drawn for ye Divison of Land att Sasqua, ye two thirds of ye dividends, ye Lots to begin, first, by Dan"] Frost's Land, So successively, till yt being ye first tear be measured out, ye 2ª Tear to Lye on ye other side of ye Swamp att ye head of ye great pond in Sasco field,* being ye next tear ye Lots to begin by je high way by ye Swamp, and so to run till ye Comittee see Cause to begin to measure on ye third tear on ye north side of ye Said Pond, to begin by ye high way on ye Pond, and So to run till ye Comittee Sees cause to Cease ; & ye 4th tear to be on this side of Sasco Creek to ye South East side of ye high way, to begin by ye Southerly End of ye tear and so forward to ye Creek : ye 5th tear to lye adjoyning to ye South East side of Sasco River, to begin ye southerly side of ye tear and onward ; and ye Comittee are to allow in quantity where mens Lots fall in bad Land, according to their discretion.
And if any Inhabitant Shall Refuse to fence for his proportion of fence for his Land in ye Said field, ye dividend of Land Shall revert to ye town ; and such shall implead no farther interest in ye proportion of Land due in ye above sd field-those yt have ye Eight years 'Land in ye Said field, are to possess it peaceably till ye 8 years be Expired." +
A gate was ordered to be made across the Uncoa neck. Major Gold, Jehu Burr and William Hill, were appointed a committee to purchase from the Indians all lands not yet sold to the town within its bounds. John Green was granted 11/2 acres of land, if he ran a fence across the Sasqua river. Robert Rumsey and John Barlow were allowed six acres on Mill river from the west side of Sasqua neck, provided they ran a fence over that river from upland to upland. They were not to build upon this land ; but each was to maintain a good gate within the line of the public fencing. The new dam and bridge over Pine creek having been com- pleted on the 5th of April, it was ordered, that Jehu Burr and Thomas Staples should lay out the meadow to those to whom it was due. Sam- uel Morehouse was granted all the common land on the south-east of the old Mill-hill lot, near Concord field. Jehu and John Burr were granted liberty to cross Mill river " with a fence at two places at the cartway, which crossed the river at the upper meadow."
This was an exceedingly busy year at Fairfield, but the work of set- tling the distribution of lands among the planters in some definite man- ner was most desirable. They had as yet no patent right to these lands, save that allowed in a general way under the charter of Charles II. They hoped in time to receive a town patent, which should confirm to them their possession, held under the laws of the colony, which, in a measure, were at all times subject to the caprices of the crown.
* Sasco Lake Pond.
+ Letter B, Town Votes. Appendix III.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD
[1669
In May, Major Gold was elected an assistant, Mr. William Hill and Jehu Burr deputies of the General Assembly ; and William Hill and Jehu Burr commissioners. Thomas Jones, jr., Josiah Harvey, Richard Lyon, John Andrews, Francis Bradley, jr., John Tompkins, and Joseph Middle- brook, jr., of Fairfield, were made freemen. Previous to this year the Bankside farmers had not been allowed any formal record of their lands. They, therefore, petitioned the town, to grant them the privilege of recording their individual lands. This was granted, and they were recorded on the 26th of May. On account of several persons having been injured by " disorderly riding in the colony," it was voted that any person or persons who should ride through any town, " except in an ordi- nary & easy hand gallop," should pay a fine of five shillings. The third Wednesday in June was appointed a day of fasting and prayer. Great losses had been sustained the previous year by a blight which had fallen upon fruit and grain. Fears were also entertained, that through the king's sister, the Duchess of Orleans, he would embrace the Roman Catholic religion. Mercy in behalf of the spiritual liberties of his people both in England and in the colony, was to be another burden of their sup- plications. The value of estates at Fairfield this year was rated at £9,432, 5s.
The Rev. Samuel Wakeman,* with the ministers chosen to assist in set- tling the religious question then in dispute, met at Saybrook at the time appointed ; and at the sitting of the General Court of May, 1669, they sent in their report which was read and left on file. It appears that the congregational mode of government and discipline was approved by Mr. Wakeman and his associates, which was confirmed by the General Court. " But as there were sundry persons of worth for prudence & piety" in the colony, who were otherwise persuaded, the court ordered, " that such persons being also approved, according to law, as orthodox & sound in the fundamentals of Christian religion, may have allowance of their persuasions, & profession in church ways or assemblies without disturbance."
Owing to a serious division in the church at Windsor, as well as a strong opposition there to the election and ordination of Mr. Israel Chauncey, the General Court appointed the Rev. Mr. Wakeman with other ministers in the colony to go to Windsor, and, if possible, settle the troubles in that church. It appears that Mr. Chauncey was approved by Mr. Wakeman and the ministers associated with him. The General Court therefore rendered a decision, that as the church of Windsor was not likely
* Col. Rec. Conn., II., 84.
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to settle Mr. Chauncey, therefore all persons at Windsor should contri- bute to his maintenance. This was decidedly a strong step on the part of the state.
The unhappy dissentions in the churches, which were the daily themes of conversation in Fairfield, and, in fact, in every town in New England, resulted in two general fasts within the year, one in June and the first four days in October.
An order was issued that standard weights and measures of brass, Winchester measure, sealed with the city seal, should be procured from England, for the use of the several towns in the colony. A tax of a penny on the pound, was levied for the expenses of the colony. The second Tuesday in November, was appointed a general day of thanksgiving.
The blight upon the grain and fruit, which had caused serious loss the previous year, still continued. A spirit of variance in religious opin- ions rather increased than diminished. Sickness prevailed universally in the towns. In consequence of these afflictions, the fourth day of November was set apart as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer.
CHAPTER IV
1670-1680
AN INTERESTING DECADE
.
Social customs .- Assistant and deputies of 1670 .- New Milford .- Sheep raising .- Weights and measures .- Minister at Rye .- Church and School lands .- Richard Osborn .- East and west dividends .- Assistant and deputies of 1672 .- Rye and Norwalk committees .- John Wheeler's grant .- War between England and Holland .- Nathan Gold commander-in-chief of Fairfield county .- Colony laws -Grant of lands to Jehu Burr and Rev. Samuel Wakeman .- Published laws. - Postal route .- News of the English capture of New Amsterdam .- Action of the General Assembly .- Contemplated reduction of the Dutch .- Weapons of warfare .- Town improvements. - Prizes taken by the Dutch .- War tax .- Vigilance of Fairfield .- Peace between England and Holland .- Rev. Eliphalet Jones sent to Rye .- General training at Fairfield .- Overland mail between New York and Boston .- The Duke of York claims all Connecticut .- Governor Andros in New York .- General fast in Connecticut .- Indian outrages .- Troops disbanded .- Acts for religious duties in families .- To Christianize the Indians' marriages .- Sabbaths.
THIRTY years having passed since Roger Ludlow and his associates settled Uncoway, we now find Fairfield the shire-town of the county. It was large and flourishing, and in point of influence second to no other town in the colony. It was represented in the General Assembly and the court of commissioners, by men who had been educated at Harvard. Every spring and fall its inns and private residences were crowded with the ablest men in the country, drawn hither to attend the county courts. Judges and commissioners from Long Island, and all classes of people from the towns under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, from Milford to Westchester, Rye and Long Island made their way here to seek redress for wrongs, to contend for their chartered liberties, or to take the oath of alle- giance to the king and be made freemen. Stage-coaches had not yet become one of the luxuries of New England travel ; and steam engines and cars had not entered the wildest imagination. Vessels bringing the attendants of the court across from Long Island, anchored in Black Rock harbor, the seaport of Fairfield.
The town wore a bustling, cheerful appearance on these occasions. A liberal old-time hospitality prevailed among all classes. Dinners, tea- drinkings, balls and parties were frequent. Grave judges presided in the court-room in powdered wigs and scholastic gowns. With all the efforts
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AN INTERESTING DECADE
1670]
made to appear democratic, an aristocratic style was the rule among the best families. Gentlemen wore long-waisted, tight-fitting coats with skirts which reached to the knee, sparkling all the way down the front with genuine gold and silver buttons. Their silk and velvet waistcoats were embroidered and trimmed with lace, from which immaculate finely worked shirt frills stood out conspicuously. High plated stocks of silk or satin, stiff with buckram, and fastened behind with silver, steel or brass clasps, confined the white frill or collar around the throat. Their breeches were of velvet, colored cloth and silk, clasped at the knee over silk stockings, with silk and velvet bows, or gold and silver buckles. They also wore ribbon bows, and gold and silver buckles on their shoes. Long circular cloaks lined with gay colors were worn as outside wraps. It was about this time that the military cocked hat, with a brim full six inches in width was introduced, upon which some wore the long plume of the reign of Charles I. This hat was first turned up on one side, then on both sides, and finally on three sides. The latter style gave rise to the name of the " three cornered cocked hat." Ladies wore rich embroidered and brocaded silk and velvet petticoats, with tight-fitting velvet waists and short over- skirts of another material ; mutton-leg sleeves, trimmed with turned-up white ruffles, fur, lace or fringe. They wore full ruffles of embroidered lace or linen cambric around the throat. Gay silk stockings, high-heeled silk and satin shoes and slippers, decorated with handsome gold or silver buckles, were worn upon their dainty feet. Their hair was dressed high, with soft curls around the forehead. Their hats were pretty, with moder- ately high crowns and wide brims and feathers. Their cloaks were long, graceful and circular in form, often of gay red or blue cloth, and sometimes of other material, or velvet, trimmed with fur. Chains for the neck were worn by both ladies and gentlemen. Ladies also wore silver and gold girdles and chatelaines, from which, on Sundays, were suspended costly bound Bibles and hymn-books.
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