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 9
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* Will of Henry Jackson, Fairfield Probate Records, 1682.
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been an aristocratic part of the town, a fine park having been laid out in it, around which the planters took up their home-lots. It became in time a famous resort for "turkey matches." Another place for these turkey- matches was on the Black Rock turnpike near samp-mortar rocks .* A medicinal spring existed here called the Honey-pot, so named from honey found near it, the waters of which the Indians believed possessed great healing properties. North-west of the park rises Clapboard hill, on the north of which is Osborne's hill, and on the west Round hill. The land lying between Barlow's plain and Hide's pond, was called " The Rocks." Between Paul's neck and Concord street, extending to the Sound, was the "middle meadow." All the upland on the coast lying between Concord street and Sasco neck, was called the " the great meadow before the town." Within this meadow, near Burial hill, was another pond surrounded with reeds. Seventeen acres running from the rear of Burial hill and the Burr property to the sea-beach, belonged to Ludlow, through which, from the north-west to the south-cast was " a strip of reeds." West of this field, in the rear of the Burr square, were dense woods called Wolves' swamp. Along the coast south-west of Wolves' swamp to Sasqua hill, lay Sasqua neck, through which runs Pine creek. The land in this neck is intersected with innumerable small streamlets, which at high tide in those days over- flowed the meadows. The island now known as Ward's island was soon afterwards allotted to Simon Hoyt, and called Hoyt's island. North-west of this lay another small island, named Evarts' island, while an island east of Pine creek covered with pines, at a later date granted to the Rev. Sam- uel Wakeman, was named Wakeman's island. Hawkins' point lay east of this island and Pine creek, while east of these lay the island or peninsula, now known as the Penfield reef, the Cows, and the causeway, upon the extreme east end of which stands a government light-house. Flat island is still found at the mouth of Pine creek. Between Sasqua neck and Mill river rose Sasqua hill, the summit of which commands an extensive view of Long Island Sound, Fairfield, Mill-plain, and the Sasqua fields on the west of the river. The beautiful valley southwest of Barlow's plain and the Rocks was given the name of Mill plain. The Sasqua fields lay between the west banks of Mill river and Maxumux or Bankside. The small winding stream which runs out of the west side of Mill river, a short distance above the mouth of the harbor, still retains the name of Sascoe creek. The stream which empties into the Sound about half a mile west of this creek, near Frost's point, also retains the name of Sascoe river. About one mile from its mouth it widens to a considerable extent, form-
* Testimony of Mr. Stephen Morehouse of Fairfield.
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ing a large pond, which was called " the great pond," "the great mill pond in the Sasqua fields," and afterwards Sasco pond. Two other large ponds were found in these fields, one of which still exists, and is situated about half a mile south-west of the Sascoc mill pond. The other was but a short distance north-east of Pequot swamp, but was drained and filled up within the present century .*
The highway which extended from Fairfield to Maxumux, forked from the Fairfield turnpike leading into Mill plain, across the fields to the east slope of Sasqua hill; ran below the hills along the west bank of Mill river, until it crossed the stone bridge over Sasco creek, wound west a short dis- tance, when it again crossed a second stone bridge over the same stream called the Horse tavern (on account of its having been a drinking-place for horses) and taking a south-westerly course along the beach, crossed Sasco river to the grazing fields of Maxumux.
North and north-west of the town lay a vast wilderness of undivided land, inhabited by the Sasqua and Aspetuck Indians, which at a later date included the long lots and the upper meadow. These fields and meadows were portioned out, according to the necessity of the planters, to be improved by them, and were afterwards sold among themselves and to new-comers, although, in reality, they had no legal claim to them, save that authorized by the General. Court of Connecticut.
The first grist mill was situated on the Sasqua river at Mill plain, and was erected by Thomas Sherwood of Fairfield. John Green soon after erected another mill above this on the same stream; hence the name of Sasqua was changed to that of the Mill river.
The Indians becoming more troublesome than ever, led the commis- sioners of the united colonies to meet at Hartford in September.+ It was agreed to send Thomas Stanton, with Nathaniel Willets, to the chief sachems of the Narragansetts, with the request that they should, for the time being, cease all hostilities against Uncas, until after a hearing before the commissioners. They were promised protection and a safe passage to and from Hartford. The Narragansetts sent one of their chief sachems with his attending counselors to accompany Stanton and Willets on their return. Uncas also appeared before the commissioners. After hearing
* This pond was drained and filled up by Noah Pike of New York, and made into a beautiful lawn before his residence, which he erected upon a rise of ground on the north-west of it, and at the present day is owned by the heirs of the late George Bulkley, Esq.
t The Indians all over the country were in a high state of hostility. "In Virginia they rose & made a most horrible sacrifice of the English, & it was imagined that there was a general com- bination among the southern & New England Indians to destroy all the colonies." -- Trumbull's Hist. Conn., I., 145.
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the complaints alleged by the Narragansetts against him, whom they accused of refusing to receive a ransom offered for the life of Miantonimo, which they could not prove, it was agreed that all hostilities should cease " until after the next year's time of planting corn." The Narragansetts also promised that at the end of this time they would not make war upon Uncas, without giving at least thirty days' notice to the governors of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Some of the Long Island Indians were also present. They stated that having paid tribute to the English since the Pequot war, and never having injured any white settlers, either English or Dutch, they desired a certificate of their allegiance to the English, and that they might be taken under the protection of the united colonies. A certificate was given upon their promising that they would live at peace with the neighboring tribes, and not join them in their hostilities against the Dutch or English.
A general trade with the Indians was proposed, under a stock company of five or six thousand pounds, which was defeated by the Massachusetts commissioners. It was agreed that the verdict of any one of the General Courts should be treated with all due respect by the other courts through- out the colonies, until some other evidence should make it null and void. The danger of selling fire-arms and ammunition to the French and Dutch was commended to the serious consideration of the several jurisdictions. Connecticut ordered " that no persons within her liberties should sell nether gun nor pistoll, nor any instrument of war to Dutch or French men, under the penalty of forfeiting twenty for one; & suffering such further corporall punishment as the Court shall inflict."
The relief occasioned by the treaty with the Narragansetts and Long Island Indians, for the time being, caused great rejoicing in the colonies. The General Court of Connecticut appointed Wednesday the 9th of Sep- tember as a public day of thanksgiving throughout the jurisdiction.
The court also took into consideration the necessity of relieving the planters of a surplus amount of corn, which, since wheat and other English crops had been abundantly raised, had fallen in price and become unsale- able. It was deemed advisable to make some further effort toward send- ing it abroad, which hitherto had been prevented for want of vessels to export it. In order to encourage its cultivation for this purpose, it was ordered by the court that no English grain should be sold out of the Con- necticut river but to Edward Hopkins, Esq., Mr. William Whiting and such other merchants as they should appoint. These gentlemen were " to undertake the transportation thereof unto some parts beyond the sea," at the rate of four shillings a bushel. Wheat also and peas were to be sent
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and sold at three shillings a bushel. In case the vessel which transported " this adventure " was lost, one half of the valuation of the grain was to be at " the risk of the owners thereof." No one person was allowed to send more than one hundred bushels at a time. Upon the return of the ship the committee were to pay the owners of the grain, in the best and most suitable English commodities that were deemed necessary for the support of the plantations. At the same time it was made a law that any person who sent corn out of the country in any other way or by any other per- sons than by those the court appointed, should forfeit one half the valua- tion of his grain, which was to be divided into equal parts, one-half to the discoverer of "the deceit," and the other half to be paid to the town treasury.
From the will of William Frost, dated 6th Jan. 1644-5, we learn that he left the following bequest: " And to the town of Uncowah I give & bequeath tenn pounds in good pay, towards building a meeting house to be paid when yt is half built." Henry Gray, his son-in-law, was to pay this sum at the specified time, and Ephraim Wheeler and Daniel Frost, as over- seers of his estate, were to see that the will was " performed to the intent thereof." The church covenant, under which the first settlers of Uncoway united, was, without doubt, the same as that used by the members of the West Parish of Green's farms, and in the North-west Parish of Greenfield hill, the covenant in both parishes being the same. The only extant par- ish record of the Fairfield church is that begun by the Rev. Joseph Webb in 1694. The first meeting-house erected at Fairfield was called Christ's Church, and stood upon the Frost square south-east the school and town house, facing north-east. It was evidently a building of good size and comfortable accommodations. The school-house probably served as a Sabbath-day house. The church society received the name of the Prime Ancient Society.
An important step toward the maintainance of ministers and poor young men at Harvard College was at this time taken by the commission- ers of the united colonies. It was proposed that every person of intelli- gence and means in all the plantations in the New England colony should voluntarily agree to give annually a certain fixed sum for these purposes. This order was confirmed by the General Court of Connecticut on the 25th of October. Mr. Jehu Burr and Ephraim Wheeler were appointed to this trust for Fairfield.
Cattle of all kinds were kept by herdsmen annually appointed and paid by the towns to care for them. The Maxumux land was a favorite grazing place. In those days, while bears and wolves were numerous, a
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herdsman was indispensable. That each owner might be able to recognize his cattle or swine in case they strayed from the herdsmen, a law was passed requiring that every owner should have ear marks or brands on all his animals over half a year old (except horses), and that their sev- eral marks be registered in the town book. Letter B of Fairfield -Votes presents many interesting marks of the different owners of cattle.
The previous requirement in the fundamental order, that the General Court should consist of a governor, or some one appointed by him as mod- erator, with four other magistrates, was changed at this time, and it was made lawful for the governor or deputy-governor and a large part of the magistrates and deputies to be a legal court. At the court of election held on the 10th of April, Ludlow was chosen one of the magistrates of the General Court, and Thomas Newton a deputy from Fairfield. The requirement of six days in the first weeks of the several months for train- ing was changed to three days.
Two colony fairs were annually allowed to be held at Hartford, on the second Wednesdays in May and September.
The distance of Fairfield from Hartford seriously interfered with cases referred to the General Court, in consequence of which Governor John Haynes, upon the motion of Ludlow, in behalf of the plantations, " con- sented to hold a court twice this year at the seaside," with liberty to take what magistrates he pleased with him. The appearance of the governor himself among the inhabitants of Fairfield, and so important an event as his presence in the court, must have been an occasion of no small excite- ment among the planters of Uncoway and Cupheag. It was also ordered that a letter should be addressed to Governor Fenwick, desiring him, “if occasion would permit," to go to England to obtain an enlargement of the Connecticut patent, " and for the further advantages of the Country." Mr. Fenwick did not accept the appointment, and New Haven soon after concluded to join with Connecticut in obtaining patents of their lands from Parliament. On the IIth of November Thomas Gregson, Esq., was appointed from New Haven to undertake a voyage to Eng- land, for this purpose, but the loss of the ship in which he sailed and the condition of affairs in England resulted in giving up the project for the time being.
In July two hundred pounds were levied upon the plantations towards purchasing the fort at Saybrook, to be paid in grain, at such prices as a committee appointed to receive it should agree upon. The measures which had been adopted to make peace with the Indians proved unsuc- cessful. The Narragansetts could not restrain their resentment towards
4
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Uncas, but, in violation of their treaty, invaded his territory, assaulted him in his fort and killed several of his men. A special meeting of the commissioners was called and held at Boston on the 28th of June. Again messengers were dispatched into the Narragansett and Moheagan coun- tries, inviting them to attend the meeting of the commissioners, with assurances of protection and a just settlement of their difficulties. The Narragansetts received the messengers with courtesy, but upon hearing their proposition became infuriated and utterly refused to visit Boston. Nothing but the blood of Uncas would satisfy them. They abused the messengers and threatened to kill the English cattle, and shoot every Englishman who stepped out of his door. One of their sachems declared that whoever began the war, he would continue it until Uncas should be delivered up to them.
Roger Williams of Rhode Island wrote to the commissioners that an Indian war was inevitable, but that he had concluded a neutrality with them in behalf of Providence and the towns upon the Aquidney Islands. Still hoping to prevent so great a calamity, the commissioners sought the advice of the magistrates, church elders and principal military officers of Massachusetts. They promptly replied, and gave their unanimous opinion that according to the engagement made with Uncas, they were obliged to defend him in his fort and to protect him and his men in all their estates and liberties without delay, or he would be destroyed. It was agreed that war should be declared, and that three hundred men should be immedi- ately raised and sent against the Narragansetts. Of this force it was voted that Massachusetts should send one hundred and ninety men, Plymouth and Connecticut forty each, and New Haven thirty. From the Connecti- cut and New Haven soldiers, who had formerly been sent to protect Uncas, and who were at this time about to return home, forty men, under the command of Captain Humphrey, were immediately impressed in Massa- chusetts. In three days, completely armed and victualed, they set out for the Moheagan country. The General Court also ordered that the magis- trates, or the greater part of them, should, if they saw fit, press men and ammunition for a defensive war, or defend the Moheagans until the next sitting of the court. New Haven gave the same order. Captain Mason was forwarded a commission to take command of the Connecticut troops upon their arrival at Moheagan. Major Edward Gibbons of Massachusetts was appointed commander-in-chief of the whole army, with instructions to offer peace to the Narragansetts upon honorable terms. In case they refused to enter into a treaty with him, he was further instructed, that if they would neither fight nor accept his offer of peace, to invade their
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country and t erect forts upon the Niantick river and Narragansett, in which to store the corn and goods which he should take from them.
Hoping to make peace with the English, the Narragansetts sent a present to Governor Winthrop, requesting that they might make war upon Uncas in order to revenge the death of Miantonimo. The present was refused, but upon their desire that it should be left with the governor until they could communicate with their sachems, it was allowed to remain. The commissioners, however, without delay ordered it to be returned by messengers sent to inform the Narragansett sachems that they would neither accept their present nor offer them peace until they had had made satisfaction for past injuries and given security for their good conduct in the future. When the messengers informed Passacus, the chief sachem of the Narragansetts, of the object of their visit, that the English were as desirous of peace with him and his men as they had ever been, he requested them to take back the present, and to say that he and some of his chief men would immediately visit Boston. The messengers returned with the Indian present, and wrote to Captain Mason that there was a prospect of peace. The commissioners, however, regarding the step as one of delay on the part of the Narragansetts in order to make time for war, reproved the messengers for bringing the present back and for writing without authority to Captain Mason.
A few days after Passacus, Mehsamo, the eldest son of Cannonicus, and Wytowash, three principal sachems, with Awashequen from the Nehantic tribe, and a long and imposing retinue of attendants visited Bos- ton. They again desired a year's planting time, which was refused by the commissioners. When pressed with the injuries done to Uncas, their threats against the English, and with the great expense the latter were suffering in order to protect Uncas and maintain the peace of the country, the sachems reluctantly acknowledged their breach of the treaty. Accord- ing to an Indian custom they presented a stick to the commission- ers, in token of their submission and desire to make peace according to their wishes. They then inquired what the English wished.
Two thousand fathoms of white wampum was demanded by the com- missioners as but a small sum for the danger and expense incurred by the trouble the Narragansetts had made. They required that all the captives and canoes taken from Uncas should be returned to him, and that any future troubles with him should be submitted to the English. They also promised that Uncas should return all the captives and canoes which he had taken from them. In order to give proof of their sincerity hostages were demanded. These terms seemed hard to the Narragansetts, but
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after some abatement in the amount required, on the 30th of August they reluctantly signed the articles of peace, which only fear of the English arms led them to do. Some of their men were left as hostages until a certain number of their children should be delivered as a faithful secu- rity of their sincerity to this treaty.
Again joy reigned in the homes of the English, and on the day the troops were disbanded a general thanksgiving was celebrated by all the towns in the colonies. The names of Jehu Burr and Thomas Sherwood appear on the list of deputies from Fairfield sent to attend the meeting of the General Court, on the IIth of September, at which time Ludlow accompanied them as one of the magistrates of the court.
The principal act of this court appears to have been that of appointing the constable of Hartford to make out an account of the expenses incurred by the colony in defense of its own rights, and the support given to Uncas. The provisions gathered were to be sent to Mr. Whiting, the treasurer of the colony, who was to sell them and pay the proceeds of the sale to the soldiers engaged in the undertaking.
In December a tax of four hundred pounds was laid upon all the planta- tions of Connecticut towards paying the expenses of the late expedition against the Narragansetts, out of which Stratford and Fairfield were taxed to the amount of forty-five pounds. This year Ludlow was again elected one of the assistant judges of the General Court ; and Jehu Burr and Anthony Wilson were chosen deputies from Fairfield. An important act was passed on the IIth of April in regard to juries, viz .: that whatever alter- ations should at any time be made by the magistrates in cases of damages given in by a jury, it should be made in open court before the plain- tiff and defendant, or on affidavit sent that they had been summoned to appear.
Ludlow and the Fairfield deputies took exception to a jury of six allowed in 1644, and insisted that twelve jurors should always be had in jury cases. They agreed, however, that eight or twelve might bring in a verdict. One of the greatest honors offered to a pioneer of New England was at the sitting of this court paid to Ludlow. He was "desired to take some paynes in drawing forth a body of lawes for the government of this Com- monwealth, & present them to the next General Court; & if he can provide a man for this occasion, while he is employed in the said searvice, he shall be paid at the Country chardge."
It was also ordered that there should be two particular courts held the next preceding day before the two standing General Courts, that at both the assistance of Ludlow might be had in such actions as were presented,
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either from the river settlements or the seaside. The taxes of Fairfield and Stratford were ordered to be divided between the two towns. To add to the punishment of persons who had been whipped for any scandalous offense, an act was passed, that they should not be allowed to vote in town or commonwealth, " until the Court should manifest their satisfaction." Owing to the inconvenience of the planters in attending the court of election in April, when the plantations required full attention, it was voted to change the date to the third Thursday in May. *
This year the Dutch became more exacting concerning their territories both at New Haven and in Connecticut. At Hartford they maintained a distinct government, and would in no wise submit to the laws of the colony. At the meeting of the commissioners at New Haven in Septem- ber the troubles of the Dutch were laid before them. A letter was writ- ten and sent to Governor Keift, in which an effort was made to compro- mise the difficulties between them and the English, to which the Dutch governor returned a haughty reply. The Indians continued exceedingly troublesome. A plot was set on foot to murder Governor Hopkins, Gov- ernor Haynes, Secretary Whiting, and Uncas, which was revealed to the whites by an Indian employed by Sequassen to commit the murders. + The Milford Indians proved very troublesome, and attempted to burn the town by setting fire to the swamps on the west and north, which the plant- ers discovered in time to extinguish it and save the town.
Meanwhile the Indians about Milford, Stratford and Fairfield suffered from a descent upon them by the Mohawks, who attempted to surprise them in their fort. The English discovering the design, informed those in peril, who immediately set up the war-whoop. Their men flocked to the fort. A battle took place, in which the Mohawks were overpowered, and several of them taken prisoners. One of their captains was bound and left tied up in the salt-meadows to starve and to be tortured to death by musquitoes. An Englishman by the name of Hine discovered him, and set him at liberty. This act was ever afterwards treated with marked con- sideration by the Mohawks.
The Fairfield Indians appear to have rendered some assistance on this occasion. " It happened one day that six of the Mohawk tribe being hotly pressed by the Fairfield Indians, were secreted by one of the Wacklins (Wakelys) of Stratfield under some sheaves of flax, and being directed homewards, were the occasion of the long amnesty that subsisted between that tribe & the English." No doubt this kindness of Hine and that of Wakely saved a great deal of future trouble for the planters in this
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