USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Ridgefield > The history of Ridgefield, Conn. : from its first settlement to the present time > Part 3
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"RICHARD OSBORN Justice."
" Received to Record November 22nd 1721 and recorded pr me
"THOMAS HAWLEY Register."
25
FURTHER PURCHASES.
On the 4th of July, 1727, a fourth purchase was made. The following is the deed:
" Know all men by these presents That We Japorneck & Moses, Indians belonging to Wepack or long pond so Called & Richard and Samm Indians belonging to ammawogg do For and in Consideration of eighteen pounds in money or goods Equivalent, two guns, Eighteen Shillings in hand received, and Three bottles of Rhum, paid by ye pro- priete of Ridgefield, Whose Names hereafter Follow, Viz, Thomas Hauley, Richard Osburn, Sam1 Saintjohn, Benjamin Benedict, Benja- min Burt, Benjamin Stebbins Ebenez" Smith, Thomas Smith, Richard Olmsted Joshua Lobdell, Milf Sam1 Smith, Nathan Saintjohn, Henry Whitne, Jonath" Rockwell, Benjamin Hayt, Jonathan Abbott Sen", Allexandr Resseguie, Titus Wood, Joseph Benedick, James Benedict, James Northrup, Joseph Northrup Joseph Lee, Joseph Keeler, Benja- min Heacock Benjamin Wilson, Thomas Hyatt, John Sturdevants heirs, Joseph Platt, Gideon Platt, David Scott, James Scott, Dan1 Sherwood, Norw Sam1 Smith, Daniel Olmsted, Timothy Keeler, Jonah Keeler, Matthew Seamore, Joseph Hobart, Moses Northrup, Give, Grant bargain Sell, and by these presents do freely fully, and abso- lutely Sell Convey and Confirm unto ye said Proprietos above named, according to their Sevor1 interests in the Proprietyship of Ridgefield, a Certain tract, or parcell of land hereafter described, and mentioned, Namely, all ye lands included within ye lines hereafter mentioned, be- ginning at a large White Oak tree mark't, Standing about twenty miles three hundred and five rodds from Cortlands point the line agreed upon by the Commission and from thence a line Southerly parrallell to ye line Call'd twenty miles from Hudson River, till it meet ye former purchase made by Cottoona : and again from ye fore mentioned white Oak Tree a line Northerly parrallel also to said Twenty mile line till it meet ye purchase made of Tackore, Comprehending all ye land, Eastward of said lines, till it come to ye old purchase lines, to have and to hold ye said Granted and bargained premises with all ye privelidges and Commodities to the same belonging, or in any wise appertaining, We said indians have sold and fully made over ye same unto ye above Named Proprietors and to their heirs and assigns forever, in such pro- portian as above, according to their sever1 interests to them and theirs, Sole and proper use and benefitt, who shall and may forever hereafter by virtue hereof enter upon, posess and enjoy ye same, Convey, Convert, alienate and improve it in what way and manner, to what use and soever, they the above named proprietos their heirs and assigns Shall See Convenient.
26
HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
" Furthermore we the said Japorneck, Richard Moses and Samm, indians, do for ourselves and heirs hereby Covenant and Engage to warrant and defend ye same forever unto ye Proprietos of Ridgefield aforsaid and to their heirs and assigns forever, from us and our heirs or any persons what forever, whether English or indians laying any lawfull claim Challenge or demand thereunto.
" In Testimony whereof we do hereunto set our hands and Seals this 4th day of July Anno Domini 1727.
JAPORNECK, his x mark. [SEAL.] RICHARD, his x mark. [SEAL.]
MOSES, his x mark. [SEAL.]
SAM, his x mark. [SEAL.] WETT HAMS, his x mark. [SEAL.] AMMON, his x mark. [SEAL. ]
" Signed Sealed and delivered In presence of us JOHN BOLT, his x mark. PETER RANDALL.
"July 4th, 1727 then appeared ye persons of Japorneck Moses, Rich- ard, Sam, Wett Hams, and Ammon Indians, and did acknowledge the above written Instrument to be their free act and deed. Before me " RICHARD OSBURN Fuste.
" Received to record July 4th, 1727 and recorded pr me "THOMAS HAULEY Register."
Two other purchases were made in the year 1729, the first on the 7th of March, the second on the 10th of April. Below are the deeds :
" Know all men by these presents that we Japporneck, Ammon and Wett hams, Samm Moses, Pawguenongi and Crow all indians belong- ing to long pond or Wepack for and in Consideration of a valuable reward paid or to be paid by ye Proprietors of Ridgefield Have Given, Granted, bargained Sold and by these presents do freely fully and ab- solutely Sell, Convey, and Confirm unto ye proprietors of Ridgefield their heirs and assigns forever, according unto their several interests or proprieties a Certain Tract or parcell of land Supposedly in ye Town- ship of Ridgefield Lying Situate and Butted and bounded as Followeth, Namely, Beginning West at an Oak Staddle standing on ye west side of ye Outlett of long pond about six rods west of said Outlett, Near ye
27
FURTHER PURCHASES.
lower fishing place, from thence Southward along ye line which Mr Lewis run, and down to ye old purchase line ; and from said Staddle North- ward by said Line of Mr Lewis To Titicus river, and bounded East by ye former purchase made of Japporneck and by ye purchase made of Tackora being in breadth, about three hundred and five rods.
" To Have and To Hold said Granted and bargained premises with all ye liberties and privilidges to ye same belonging or in any wise ap- portaining.
" We say we have sold and fully made over ye same unto ye said pro- prietos of Ridgefield according to their proportionable interests and proprities as above, and to their heirs and assigns forever, who shall and may forever hereafter by virtue hereof, Enter upon posess and Enjoy ye same Convey Convert alienate and improve it, in what way and manner, to what use and end forever they the said proprietors their heirs, or assigns shall See Convenient.
" Furthermore We the said Japporneck Ammon and Wett Hams, Moses, Samm Pawquenongi and Crow do for ourselves heirs, and assigns, hereby Covenant and Engage to warrent and defend ye above Granted, and bargained premises unto ye said proprietors, their heirs and assigns, from us Our heirs, Executors, administrators, or any manner of person or persons what forever, English or indians laying any manner of Claim Challenge or demand thereunto from by, or un- der us, or Ours. In Testimony whereof we do hereunto set our hands and Seals this 7th day of March Anno Domini 1729.
JAPORNECK, his x mark. [SEAL.]
MOSES, his x mark. [SEAL.]
SAMM, his x mark. [SEAL.] AMMON, his x mark. [SEAL. ]
WETT HAMS, his x mark. [SEAL.]
PAWQUENONGI, his x mark. [SEAL.] CROW, his x mark. [SEAL.]
"Signed Sealed and Delivered In presence of us
JOSIAH GILBERT,
WILLIAM DRINKWATER.
" March ye 7th 1729 then appeared personally ye Subscribers Namely Japporneck, Moses Samm Ammon, Wett Hams, Pawquenongi, Crow and did acknowledge ye above written Instrument to be their free act and deed, Before me
" RICHARD OSBURN Justice.
" Received to record March 7th 1729 and recorded pr me
" THOR HAWLEY Registe."
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HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
" Know all men by these presents, that we Ahtopeer Moheus Neshucawpo Tawquantose Wawsachim all Indians belonging unto Hooppacks, and Jacob Turkey Indian belonging to Narrahawtong. For and in consideration of a valluable Sum or reward paid by the propri- etors of Ridgefield which is to our full satisfaction, have given Granted bargained Sold, and by these presents do freely fully and absolutely Sell Convey and confirm unto said proprietors their heirs and assigns forever according to their several interests the following Tract or par- cell of Land-viz Beginning at Danbury South West Corner Con- tinueing Our patten line till it meets ye 20 mile line between the Gov- erment, and then Southwardly by said 20 mile line, till it cross Titicus River and thence Eastwardly to Danbury South West Corner, Bounded all along Southerly by our former purchase.
" To Have and To Hold said granted and bargained premises with all the priviliges and appurtenances to ye same belonging or in any wise appertaining we say we have sold, and fully made over the same unto ye said proprietors and to their heirs and assigns forever, in proportion to their several interests, who shall and may forever hereafter by virtue hereof enter upon possess and enjoy the same, Convey Convert alienate and improve it in what way and manner, to what use and end soever, they ye said proprietors their heirs and assigns shall see Con- venient.
"Furthermore we the indians above named do for ourselves and heirs hereby Covenant and engage to Warrant and Defend the same forever unto the proprietors of Ridgfield as above from us Our heirs or successors or any manner of person whatever English or Indians lawing any lawfull claim Challenge or Demand thereunto.
"In Testimony whereof we the above named Indians do hereunto Set Our Hands and Seals this 10th day of Aprill Anno Domini 1729.
AH TOPPEER, his x mark. MOKENS, his x mark. JACOB TURKEY, his x mark. NESHUCAWPO, his x mark. TAUQUATOOSE, his x mark. WAW SACHIM, his x mark. (WAW CALI, his x mark. CAPT JACOB, his x mark.
Two boys
SEAL. ] SEAL. SEAL. SEAL. SEAL. SEAL. SEAL. SEAL.
" Signed Sealed and delivered in presence of us
ISRAEL MEAD CALEB STRONG
MOSES indian his x mark.
CROW, his x mark.
29
FURTHER PURCHASES.
Two other purchases were subsequently made of the Indians : one on the 28th of February, 1738, and the other on the 6th of December, 1734 ; but they were of lands lying within the limits of the State of New York, on the oblong ; and although the deeds are re- corded on our town records, they are not deemed of sufficient interest to be given a place here.
The eighth and last purchase of lands by the pro- prietors of the Indians was made on the 19th of De- cember, 1739. The following is the deed then given :
" Know all men by these presents that we Betty ye mother of Jacob Turkey, Capt Jacob Turkey Mokquaroose, for and in consideration of ye sum of six pounds five shillings money to us in hand paid, or secured to be paid by Lt Eben" Smith, Capt Daniel Olmsted, & Mat- thew Seamore of Ridgefield in ye County of Fairfield and Colony of Connecticut in New England and which is to our full Satisfaction, Do Give Grant Bargain Sell and by these presents Have Given Granted, Bargained Sold and fully confirm unto ye above Sd Let Eben" Smith Capt Daniel Olmsted & Matthew Seamore and their associates, and to their heirs & assigns forever a certain parcell or tract of Lands Lying within ye new Pattent Bounds Called in ye Township of Ridgefield, as it is Butted & Bounded on ye east by Danbury Township, north by New Fairfield, on ye west by ye Government Line Southerly by Our former Purchase made of Jacob Turkey. To Have, and to Hold said Granted & Bargained premises with all ye privilidges & appurtenances to ye Same belonging or in any wise appertaining, We ye said Betty, Jacob Turkey, Mokquaroose, say we have sold and Fully made over ye same unto ye said Lt Eben" Smith Capt Dan1 Olmsted and Matthew Seamore, their Associates, and their heirs and assigns for Ever, who shall and may for Ever hereafter, by virtue hereof Enter upon Possess and Enjoy ye Same Convey, Convert, Alionate, and improve ye Same according to their Severall interests, in what way, and manner to what use & end So Ever they ye above named Lt Eben" Smith, Capt Daniel Olmsted, and Matthew Seamore, their Associates, or their heirs and assigns Shall See Convenient.
Furthermore we ye said Betty, Jacob, Turkey, Mokquaroose, Defend ye same for ever to ye abovesaid Lt Eben" Smith, Capt Dan1 Olmsted, & Matthew Seamore their associates heirs and assigns from us, our
30
HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
heirs Execute administratrs, or any Indian or Indians Whatsoever, or any manner of persons, Laying any Lawfull Claim Challenge, or Demand thereunto. In Testimony whereof we do hereunto Set our hands & Seals this 19th day of December A.D. 1739. " BETTY, her x mark.
This deed was also signed by other Indians, whose names and marks are fully recorded on our town records.
CHAPTER IV.
COLONIAL HISTORY.
As soon as the original twenty-nine families had actually located in the town, its permanency was effectually established. Other families began at once to come in and purchase lands, and erect dwellings, and shops, and stores. Indeed, it rapidly put on the appearance of a growing settlement. Roads were surveyed, and other sections of land.
A place for religious meetings was fitted up, then a church built, and a town house erected. But still the town was poor. A constant outlay was made neces- sary, while every anticipated source of income was not as yet realized. The land was not in a condition to yield much, nor a convenient market found for what could be produced. The inhabitants were compelled to practice the strictest economy. They traded and bartered among themselves. Toll was taken for the grain that was ground, linen fabrics were produced and exchanged for cotton cloths, and their minister paid in wheat, rye, and Indian corn.
The distaff and the spindle in-doors kept time with the axe and the hoe out of doors.
King Solomon could have found here many a virtuous woman, even though her price is above rubies. His description of her, so graphically portrayed in the book of Proverbs, was answered to the very letter in many a housewife. It would almost seem as if he had looked
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HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
with a prophetic eye to our growing village, three thou- sand years in the future, when he wrote :
" She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
"She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
"She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
"She considereth a field, and buyeth it : with the . fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
" She girdeth her loins with strength, and strength- eneth her arms.
"She perceiveth that her merchandise is good : her candle goeth not out by night.
" She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
"She stretcheth out her hand to the poor ; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
"She is not afraid of the snow for her household : for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
"She maketh herself coverings of tapestry ; her clothing is silk and purple.
" Her husband is known in the gates, when he sit- teth among the elders of the land.
" She maketh fine linen, and selleth it ; and deliver- eth girdles unto the merchant.
"Strength and honor are her clothing ; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
"She openeth her mouth with wisdom ; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
" She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
-
. 33
COLONIAL HISTORY.
"Her children arise up, and call her blessed ; her husband also, and he praiseth her."
The experience of these early settlers was that of all young colonists ; through a series of years they were placed in circumstances well calculated to develop every latent energy of mind and heart.
Six days they labored and did all their work, and the seventh they gave to God. They were emphatically " Diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord."
And this is but as we should suppose it would have been, when we reflect that they were in part com- posed of the direct descendants of the Puritan fathers, and in part of the Huguenots.
The love of religious liberty was still warm in their hearts, and the hopes which a new country enkindled made heavy burdens light and hard yokes easy.
They went to their tasks as men who had had con- sciously laid upon them the possibility of a glorious destiny which they were bound to achieve. Toil and privation did not intimidate them, nor their slow head- way against existing difficulties discourage them. The rugged soil, which at first had greeted them with " stony" indifference, was at length tickled into good- humor, and made to smile upon their efforts.
The deep tangled forest gradually gave way to grain fields and orchards ; the plough followed close upon the axe, and the sickle kept close to the plough.
There was a sweetness and richness about the corn which the sweat of their brows had given it, and a flavor to their fruit which only they can detect who have planted the seed, and carefully watched and nursed it through every stage of its development.
34
HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
Among the early settlers, there were no Rothschilds nor Astors, nor any retired merchants living upon their wealth.
They were all men of moderate means. They were rich in enterprise and energy and patience and phy- sical and moral strength, but poor in the currency of the country.
Therefore, when the following act was passed by the General Assembly, in May, 1725, we are not at all sur- prised to find them petitioning that they be exempted from taxation:
" The towns of Ashford, Hebron, Ridgefield, New Town, and New Milford shall proceed to take and make a list of all the polls and ratable estate by their listers, this present year, as other towns in this colony do. And if either of the said towns are destitute of listers as the law directs, to do the work, that then in such case, such 'town so destitute, shall sometime in the month of June next meet together and choose a suitable number of their inhabitants-to be listers, who shall be sworn to that office accordingly : who shall take the said list and transmit the same to this Assembly to be holden at New Haven in October next."
The reason for this action on the part of the town was not owing to any unwillingness on their part to pay their allotted taxes, but an inability to do so.
The lack was not in the will, but in the pocket.
Besides, they were just about to undertake to build a church, in which to worship, and to do so was to place upon their shoulders a burden under which they almost staggered.
That their petition was deemed reasonable and readily granted is proven by the following act of Gen- eral Assembly :
" Upon consideration of the petition of the inhabitants of the town of Ridgefield :
35
COLONIAL HISTORY.
" This Assembly grants them an exemption for two years from pub- lick taxes : provided they draw no money out of the treasury for the schools, nor send any representatives to attend this Assembly during such exemption."
At the expiration of the two years, they find it nec- essary to ask for a repetition of the same clemency on the part of General Assembly. This was also granted, as the following will show :
1164602
" Upon the memorial of the town of Ridgefield, Resolved by this Assembly, that the said town shall be exempted, and the same is hereby exempted from paying publick taxes for the term of two years next to come."
After the expiration of the time above named, the town seems to have appointed listers and paid their allotted taxes, but we find in 1740 that, either owing to delinquency in such payment or actual neglect, this town with Litchfield is censured and fined by General Assembly. There is, however, a single re- deeming feature in the case, viz., the very respectable company in which the town is found.
This act of General Assembly, May 8th, 1740, reads as follows :
" Forasmuch as by one law of this colony entitled, An Act directing listers in their duty and office, it is provided that, if the listers in the respective towns in this Colony, shall not annually send the sum total of the list of the polls, and ratable estates of the inhabitants of such towns, to this Assembly, at their sessions in October, such town shall be doomed by this Assembly ; And whereas the listers of the towns of Ridgefield and Litchfield, respectively, have not sent the sum total of such list of the polls and ratable estate in their respective towns to the sessions of this Assembly in October last, according as it is in said act provided, This Assembly do sentence and doom the inhabitants of the town of Ridgefield to pay into the publick treasury of this Colony the sum of twenty-nine pounds, fifteen shillings, and the inhabitants of the town of Litchfield the sum of twenty-seven pounds, six shillings, and four pence : and the Treasurer is ordered and directed to send
36
HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
forth his warrant to the constables of the said towns, respectively, to levy and collect the said sums of the inhabitants of the towns to which they belong, and to pay in the same to the publick treasury ; and the said constables are hereby impowered, respectively, to levy the said sums of the inhabitants, and required to pay in the same to the publick treasury, as is by law required in cases where the lists are orderly re- turned to this Assembly."
Going back to the year 1727, we find the inhabitants of the town considerably exercised over the proposed change in the western boundary line of the State, be- tween it and New York. It was proposed to give the State of New York sixty-two thousand acres of land along its north and south boundaries in exchange for Greenwich, and a part of Stamford on the Sound.
They desired a more extended shore line, and for this were willing to make the above appropriation. But by so doing, Ridgefield would lose so much terri- tory as to materially weaken the township. Therefore its proprietors began at once to cast about to know what they should be able to do, provided the pro- posed change should be actually made.
Above them, lying between the northern limits of the town and Danbury, was a gusset or wedge of land not as yet appropriated, and for this they at once pe- titioned General Assembly.
The first petition was presented in 1727, while yet the loss was in prospect only.
" At a General Assembly Holden At Hartford in His Majesties Colony of Connecticott in New England on the IIth Day of May, in the 13th year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George of Great Britain &c King Annoque Dom 1727.
" Upon the memorial of the proprietors, inhabitants of the town of Ridgefield, shewing to this Assembly, that they are likely to suffer great loss, and damage, by reason of part of their townships being cut off by the dividing line between New York, and Connecticutt gov-
37
COLONIAL HISTORY.
ernments, and praying that a small tract or gusset of country land lying northward of said Ridgefield, westward of Danbury, and east- ward of the said line where it shall be when run, may be granted to them as an equivalent for the loss and damage abovesaid :
" This Assembly do defer giving any answer thereto, till the said dividing line shall be ascertained, and in the mean while, do prohibit the taking any part of those lands, on the account of any grants made by this Court to any persons, whatsoever, without the special order of this Assembly : Whereupon, this Assembly do hereby strictly prohibit and forbid all surveyours, or other officers, whatsoever, from surveying and laying out any grant, or grants on any part of the said lands, without the special order of this Assembly, until the said line be ascer- tained as aforesaid."
The terms of exchange were finally agreed upon by the two Colonies, and the second petition from the town submitted to General Assembly, with satisfactory re- sults, as the following will show :
" At a General Assembly Holden at Hartford on Thursday 13th day of May 173I
" Upon the memorial of Joseph Keeler, Ebenezer Smith, Daniel Olmstead, and the rest of the proprietors of the common and undivided lands in the town of Ridgefield, setting forth to this Assembly, the great loss and damage they have sustained by reason of the dividend line, between the Province of New York, and the Colony of Connec- ticutt coming so much further eastward, than was expected, and thereby cutting off a considerable quantity of the land belonging to said town, thereupon petition this Assembly, that they would, in consideration of the loss, which they have sustained as aforesaid, grant unto them, a certain quantity of land, bounded South by Ridgefield, east by Dan- bury, north with New Fairfield, west by the Colony line : Upon which, this Assembly grants unto the said Joseph Keeler, Ebenezer Smith, Daniel Olmstead, and the rest of the proprietors of the common and undivided land in said Ridgefield, and do hereby grant and con- firm unto them said quantity of land, in that proportion, according to their present interest in the common and undivided lands in said town, excepting all those grants that have been taken up within the limits aforesaid ; and likewise grant that they take out a patent for the same, signed by the Governour and Secretary."
3
38
HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
The patent which was given in the same year reads as follows :
" Know all Men by these presents that We ye Governor and Com- pany of His Majesties English Colony of Connecticut in New England. In General Court assembled In pursuance and by Virtue of the Power granted unto us, by our late Soveraign Lord King Charles ye Second of Blessed memory in and by His Majesties Letters Patent under the Great Seal of England, Bearing date the 23rd day of April in the 14 Year of his Reign, Have Given, Granted, and by these presents for us and our Successors, do give, grant, ratify and confirm unto Joseph Keeler, Ebenezer Smith, Daniel Olmsted and the rest of the Propri- etors of the common and undivided land in the Town of Ridgfield, in that proportion, according to their present Interest in said common and undivided land in ye Town aforesaid to them, and each of them, their heirs and assigns forever, and in particular all One Tract-peice or Parcel of Land, Butted and Bounded as Followeth-That is to say, On the South, by Ridgfield Township, On the East by Danbury, On the North by New-Fairfield, On the West by the Colony Line, togather with all woods, Timber underwood, uplands, arable Lands, Meadows pastures, ponds, Waters, Rivers, Brooks, Islands Fishings, Fowlings, Huntings, Mines, Minerals, Quarries, and precious Stones upon or within ye said Tract of Land so Butted and Bounded as is herein before exprest or Mentioned, Excepting all those Grants that have been Made and taken up within the said Tract of Land and with the Rights, Members, Hereditaments, and appurtenances, and ye re- vission and revissions, remainder and remainders, rights Royalties and priviledges Whatsoever of, into, with in, or out of ye premises and every part and parcel thereof, Excepting as above Excepted ; and the said Tract of Land above mentioned, with all the appurtenances, priv- iledges, immunities, and Franchises there unto belonging, shall forever hereafter be deemed, reputed, and accounted, a good, pure, absolute and indefeasible Estate of inheritances in Fee Simple, of, and unto the said Joseph Keeler Ebenezer Smith Daniel Olmstead and the rest of the Proprietors of the Common and undivided Land in said Town of Ridgfield, in such proportion, according to their present interest in said Common and undivided land to them, their heirs, and assigns for ever. To have and to Hold, inherit and enjoy ye said land and premises, Hereditaments, and appurtenances with the priviledges, immunities, and Franchise, herein mentioned as their interest and property for ever, and to be to ye only use, Benefitt, and Behoof of the
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