The history of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Part 11

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton
Number of Pages: 956

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1 Windsor Land Records.

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

it takes in all the first meadow bounded by the rivulet, the In- dian name being Tauchag; and half the 2d meadow according to the running of the river, the Indian name being Pabachimusk; the parcel of land bounds south by a little brook that falls into the river, about 40 rods from my now dwelling house, and to extend in length from the river westward upon a line three miles, all the breadth the said land from the south brook to the middle of the 2d meadow; which said agreement is made and assigned to by us whose names are underwritten this year of the Lord, 1665, March 31st. Owned already paid in two coats and 40s in wampum for a third coat, and six bushels of Indian corn, and fifteen shillings in wampum for the fourth coat; and fifteen shillings in wampum is at six a penny.

[Signed by]

Witnesses.

SAMUEL PHELPS,

MATTHEW GRANT,

JOHN BARTLETT, TIMOTHY BUCKLAND,

COGGERYNOSSET, ASUTHEW, Coggerynosset's sister. PATACKHOUSE, Nassahegan's sister, AMANNAWER, NASSAHEGAN.

In February, 1666, " whereas there are several men that have land within the limits of it [the purchase aforesaid] both meadow and upland, besides Mr. Phelps and his sons, it was therefore concluded that each man according to his proportion of land capable of plowing or mowing, should pay 12 pence per acre to Mr. Phelps." And each one paying to Mr. Phelps should after- wards have a clear title to their several shares of land. We much doubt whether that land could now be purchased for 12 pence per acre.

III.

The next slice of land acquired by our ancestors, extended from the north line of the Plymouth Purchase of 1633 to Stony Brook, and from the Connecticut River to the west side of the Simsbury Mountains. This large tract, as will be seen, covered the whole of the present town of Windsor Locks, the northern third of Windsor, and the southern part of Suffield. It was pur- chased before the Pequot war, by Messrs. George Hall, Hum- phrey Pinney, Thomas Ford and Thomas Lewis of Windsor, from sachem Tehano. In a deed of confirmation given May 19th, 1687, by his daughter, Quashabuck, widow of Coggerynosset, deceased, she testifies that " her father received full satisfaction therefor," and as she is his only child she makes over her right and title to Capt. Benjamin Newbury, Capt. Daniel Clark, Mr.

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INDIAN PURCHASES.

Simon Wolcott, Mr. Henry Wolcott and Return Strong. Oush- qua, her son (by Coggerynosset), also confirms the same. 1

IV.

"Know all men by these presents, that I, Nassahegan, of Paquanick, sachem, have freely given and granted and do hereby alienate and assign unto John Mason of Windsor, all my right and interest in all my lands lying between Powquaniock and Massaqua [Massacoe, or Simsbury] westward and south and eastward as far as he has any right, only excepting a part of a meadow at Paquannick now in the occupation of the In- dians, there to be enjoyed fully and freely without any future disturbance, by the said John Mason, or his assigns. Witness my hand this 13th of March, Anno Domini, 1642.

Signed and sealed in the NASSAHEGAN.

presence and witness of WILLIAM PHELPS, WILLIAM HILL.

This copied from the original by me, Matthew Grant, Register. February, 1665."

This deed evidently extinguished Nassahegan's title to all the land (except the reservation at Indian Neck above mentioned) in Windsor, south and west of the Tunxis, not included in the previous sale to Phelps.

Even the small "part of a meadow at Paquanick " men- tioned in the foregoing deed, was soon absorbed by the insatia- ble white man, for we learn that in

" April 21, 1659, George Griswold hath by purchase of cer- tain Indians, by name Wattowan, Quockhom, Wannappoush the wife of Wattowan, otherwise called Towanno [Nehano or Te- hano] a certain neck of land lying at Poquonock made over in a conveyance under the hands and marks of the Indians, now in the keeping of George Griswold; the land in quantity by the Indians estimation, is nine acres more or less, since by more

1 This land is more fully described in the deed as " between Gunn's Brook down to Connecticut River, which brook falls into the river at a place called New Brook, at upper end of land formerly William Hayden's, deceased, and since to his son Daniel, and from the brook it runs north to the Stony Brook (which enters Connecticut River opposite the great Island on the falls), and bounds easterly on the Connecticut River, and thence runs west to the west- ward side of the mountains, and continues all along the same breadth as at east end."

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

exact measure is found 10 acres more or less, as it is bounded northwest by a small swamp in a straight line from river [to river: every way else it bounds by the river. Which said parcel of land it shall be lawful for the said George Griswold, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever to have and to hold, possess and enjoy, as freely as we the said Indians above named, had both liberation and counsel from our friends of a long time, 1 and we now do engage ourselves and heirs to maintain and defend [all] right and claim that we have sold and made over unto George Griswold, confirming the said land to be good and right, and that we are the true owners of the said land, and stand bound, both we and our heirs, to make good our part of sale and delivery, and free the said land from all claims, de- mands, debts, dues of every nature or kind whatsoever that are or have been upon the said land, from the beginning of the world to this present day." &c.

" George Griswold hath reserved to himself, in the Indian neck of land, out of the general purchase that he made with the Indians, two acres and a half and ten rods as it is now bounded, besides an allowanco for a way to go by the river side on the east end of it, bounded on the north by the land of James Enno, south by Edward Griswold, west and east by the river.' 2

VI.

Sept. 11, 1662, I, Nassahegan of Poquonock, do own my- self indebted to George Griswold £3: 5s, which should have been paid him in the year 1659, in March, which I delaying to pay do now give for full payment to the foresaid George Gris- wold, all my land in the Indian Neck, which parcel of land by estimation is two acres, more or less, as it lies bounded east and west by the river, north by the land of Samuel Phelps,

1 The term " liberation and counsel " may perhaps be thus explained. In - dians then, as now, were mischievous and would get drunk. Thus they not unfrequently got into trouble, and were either mulcted in fines, or imprisoned in the lock up at Hartford. There is sufficient evidence to our mind that the speculative whites sometimes paid their fines, or obtained their release, receiv -. ing, 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 (see Section VI, this chapter) is another case, in point.

2 Perhaps this is the land referred to in the following town vote of Dec. 10, 1656 :

" It was voted that if the corner of land that is in the Indians' possession be judged by the town meet to be purchased, that then their neighbors of Poquonock, jointly, shall purchase, and none other shall buy it from them, but these shall have it to themselves." Town Acts, 1, 32.

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INDIAN PURCHASES.

south [by] the land of Josiah Ellsworth, and also all the islands lying in the river from the land that is Aaron Cook's to the lower end of the Indian neck.

May 26, 1670: " Deed by Sepanquet son of Nassahegan, in consideration of a sum of money to be paid by Samuel Mar- shall in my behalf of me for a fine to the County of Hartford, and 8s more that I am to pay to Jacob Gibbs, an island upon Windsor Rivulet, at a place called by the Indians Matumpseck."

This Island is supposed to be the one about opposite the point called Indian Neck.

April 19, 1659, Cowcherowind sold to George Griswold, 200 rods of marsh or mowing land under the east side of Massaco [Simsbury] Hills, bounded by a little brook which divideth the land of Samuel Phelps, west by the foot of the mountains, also the upland to the top of the same.

April 28, 1665, Nassahegan, sachem of Poquonnoc, sold to Jonathan Gillet, Sen., of Windsor, a piece of land, swamp or marsh, containing twelve acres, called by the Indians Mataco- macok. This was situated without the west bounds of Windsor, southerly of the swamp belonging to John Moore and Edward Griswold.

VII.

In April, 1666, James Enno and John Moses, purchased from Nassahegan, land on both sides of the Rivulet, from Windsor to Massaco. This land, which had descended to him from his uncle Sheat, extended toward Massaco, "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 eastward to a new way [or road] passing out of Pipestave Swamp go -. ing to Westfield; " and southward from the Rivulet to the Mill Brook " as it runs into the Wilderness and so to the Mountains." This tract containing some 28,000 acres was confirmed to the purchasers, December, 1669, by Rippaquam and Seacet, with the exception of two islands in the Rivulet, one of which Nas- sahegan 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: 14s: 2d (the amount ex- pended by them) in lands situate under the Simsbury Mount-

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

ains above Salisbury Plain, near the river, and known as Tilton's Marsh.

VIII.

The Great Island, in the Connecticut River, on Enfield Falls, was sold to John Lewis of Windsor, June 26, 1678, "it now being out of our way to live upon it," by Seoket, Toto, Toutops alias Notabock, Waronyes, and William Roinick, 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 £3, which was to be paid on or before June next, in Indian corn or shoes, at the current Windsor price." Nassahegan and Coggerynosset were afterwards present, and signed the agreement. The £3 was divided as follows: Totaps 30s, Nassahegan 10s, Coggery- nosset's squaw 10s, Margery, her papoose 10s. It was trans- ferred, Feb. 27, 1683, 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 owned by the Rev. Ephraim Huit, who in his will, 1644, left it "to the Country."

East 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, between Scan- tock and Podunk.

Know all men by these presents, that we whose names are underwritten, viz: Cassoeum, Sachem of the Mohegeneake; . Towtonnomen, Sachem of the aforesaid Mohegans; Pozen of Mohegan; Nepeaseseateke son of Towtonnomen; Nagonce, Scattaaps, Pockettercote, children of Sassowen; Wanochocke a Mohegeneake; Arramement of Matianuck; Toquash of Matia- neke; 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 Scantok over against the now dwelling house of Mr. [Francis] Stiles, situate on the east side of the river called Quenticute [Connecticut], 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 acknowledge that we have sold unto Dorchester plantation

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INDIAN PURCHASES.

who are now resident at Quenticutt, all our right and interest in the foresaid ground, for and in consideration of twenty cloth coats, and fifteen fathoms of sewan [wampum] of which there 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 avouch 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 eastward into the country one day's walk. Neither will we ourselves disturb or molest the said English inhabitants, or their successors for- ever, by sitting down, planting, or giving away to any other whatsoever, that shall any way molest the said English inhabit- ants before named.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals even the 15th day of this Instant, second month; com- monly 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 SASSOWEN [or Cassoeum],

JONATHAN BREWSTER,

TOWTONNOMEN,

EDWARD PATTISON,

POZEN,

WILLIAM BREWSTER.

WANOCHOCKE,

ARRAMEMET,

CUEWINCE,

NAGONCE,

POCKETTERCOTE,

SHEAT,

TUCKQUEASE, COCKERONOSET.

This copied out of the original by me

Matthew Grant, Register, Feb'y, 1665.

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 River between Scantick and Namareck [Mayluck Brook1] was Nassacowen's, and Nassacowen was so

1 This ancient name, now obsolete, was derived (as tradition affirms) from a party of the early emigrants to the Connecticut, who came through the woods in the month of May, and following the course of the brook struck the river - hence its name May-luck.

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

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.

COGGERYNOSSET.

Witness MATTHEW GRANT, JACOB DRAKE, STEPHEN TAYLOR.

In September 26, 1687, Toto (of Windsor), grandson of Nas- sacowen, deceased, confirms 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 Scantic River on east side 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 [built] a saw- mill, and runs over the old road or highway that formerly went to Lead Mines, crossing Ketch Brook, and so to the mountains near Frog Hill, 1 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, and thence south, near a half mile to another bare hill, which is the south-east end or corner; and then turns west bearing a little to the north, and so south to some ponds 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 Connecticut River on the south of John Birge's lot."

We have been unable fully to trace out the ancient localities mentioned 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.

III.

In September (20), 1660, John Bissell, Jr., bought of Wat- shemino all his "planting land from Namelake [or Name- rick] Brook, upward by the Great River, to the land of the said John Bissell, Jr., only the grass land excepted that Goodman

1 There is now a place beyond Ellington, somewhere in Tolland county, called Frog Hall - probably the same as Frog Hill.

]

---

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INDIAN PURCHASES.

Hayden hath formerly to mow, 10 acres more or less, for 50 fathom of wampum."

In September 19, 1671, Nearowanocke (alias Will) a Name- roake [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 Scantock 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 privilege1 of hunting beaver in the river of the Scantock."

This extensive purchase, covering the greatest part of Enfield; two thirds of East Windsor; east of Scantic; and all of Ellington, was obtained by the Bissells for the town of Wind- sor, to whom it was afterwards transferred. The Bissells received 200 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 Con- necticut River, at the foot of [Enfield] Falls, viz: in breadth next to the river, which bounds it on the west, 50 rods, and

1 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 wood-lands, &c., by stroll- ing bands of Indians, are often submitted to in silence, from a general undefined 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

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

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 lands, of Podunk, of Tontonimo, a committee was appointed by the Court, to lay out and divide said purchase to them. This Committee was also empowered to treat with the Podunks to sell to Burnham and Co., such other lands as they could spare, with the understanding that the Indians were to be allowed to gather in the winter grain which they had already sown on the ground. They reported to the next Court, April 11, 1660, that a part of the land in contract belonged, not to Tontonimo, but to the heirs of Foxen [or Pozen, ?].

The Court therefore decreed that Tontonimo's portion alone should be laid out to Burnham.

Subsequently (March 14) 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 possessed by the Indians there."

But, if the Indians should leave the place, Thomas Burnham was to be allowed (with their consent) the use of their lands

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 know it, I know it, you've a right to cut them for baskets and brooms but for no other purpose ; and the other selectman has no right 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 upon the now 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 prevalent 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.

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INDIAN PURCHASES.

in their absence, and whenever they returned he was to relin- quish them again.

In May, 1666, Jacob Mygatt, Burnham's partner, sold his share of the lands at Podunk to William Pitkin and Bartholo- mew Barnard, who demanded from Burnham a division of the land and surrender of possession. To this he demurred, and the case was brought into court. The final issue, made May, 1668, was "that Pitkin and Barnard shall stand quietly pos- sessed 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 8s per acre. 1

May 14, 1679, Thos. Burnham, Sen., of Podunk, received a deed from Shebosman and Noames, of two acres, "more or less, at Podunk, in Indian 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.

CHAPTER VII.

DISTRIBUTION AND PLAN OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

"CITIES AND TOWNS, THE VARIOUS HAUNTS OF MEN,

REQUIRE THE PENCIL ; THEY DEFY THE PEN. ** * * * CAN WE SO DESCRIBE THAT YOU MAY FAIRLY STREETS AND BUILDINGS TRAOE,

AND ALL THAT GIVES DISTINCTION TO A PLACE ?

THIS CANNOT BE ; YET MOVED BY YOUR REQUEST, A PART I PAINT - LET FANCY FORM THE REST."

Crabbe.

The first Record of the division of lands in Windsor was un- doubtedly a simple designation of lots, by figures. The General Court, however, in September, 1639, enacted that every town in the colony, should choose a town clerk 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 bar- gains or mortgages of land whatsoever shall be accounted of no value until they be recorded."1 To this order, the first vol- ume of Windsor Land Records owes its origin, and the earliest entry on its pages, is under date of October 10th, 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

1 Col. Rec., 1, 37,

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ITS DISTRIBUTION AND PLAN.

persons having dwelling houses in the town at that time, and therefore forms our fullest and most reliable source of informa- tion as to the first settlers of Windsor.

In addition to the Land Records, we have availed ourselves of an ancient little volume in the town clerk's office, entitled A Book of Records of Town Ways in Windsor. This was com- piled in Angust, 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 their several breadths were appointed to be, and so to continue for Public use." This little record, be- sides preserving several interesting items not contained in the Land Records, affords considerable explanatory and elucidative assistance in tracing out 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 in- vestigation has corroborated. 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 improvement 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 expressions, which have gradu- ally lost their significance, and have therefore become almost obsolete and unmeaning in the present day. Salisbury Plain and Tilton's Marsh may perhaps be cited as examples of many local names, once familiar as househould words, now scarce to be discovered or identified by the most pains-taking 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 Windsor. Yet we have felt, in many in- stances 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 -

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The history of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Part 11

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909 Publication date: 1859 Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton Number of Pages: 956

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton
Number of Pages: 956