USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor > The history of ancient Windsor, Connecticut > Part 14
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November 16th. " Samuel Eagelstone began to beat the drum to give warning to meetings on the Lord's days, twice in the morning seasonably, and once after dinner: and also on lecture days twice, and is so to continue for a twelve month following, and is to have 10s for his labours." (Bk. 1, 6.)
1651-2, January 13th. " Articles of Agreement made be- tween the Townsmen of Windsor the one party, and Thomas Parsons the other party, about keeping the passage over the Rivulet for one year, to begin on the 25th of March next ensuing, the date above written, and so continue until that time twelve months. His daily time, to begin to give his attendance, is by the rising of the sun, and to continue till the shutting up of the evening ; and for any that shall have occasion to pass over in the evening after his day is ended, shall pay for one single per- son ld; and if above one, 2 for a penny, and for a horse and man 2d; and for strangers that pass upon any occasion to pay a ha'penny a person, and for a horse and man 2d; and in flood time, when they go to the other side of the meadow, 3d, horse and man. Likewise Indians halfpence a piece. Only Hartford men are to pass free at all times, and on lecture days, and that come to lectures. He is to have a great Boat for horse, and a little canoe besides, delivered into his hands with chains for [them], and a lock for the great Boat; and he is to secure them, and deliver them up to the Town again when his year is out. And no man shall have liberty to take them for any use without his consent; also if any man have more than ordinary occasion in the morning before the sun rising, they calling, he shall help them over; also any that go about public occasions for country service, as Magistrates, Deputies, Jurors, to come free.
And in consideration of his labour, he is to have £18, for a year, paid in wheat, peas and Indian corn, besides what he gets by strangers. The corn in equal proportions, and to be brought into Thomas Parsons house: £9, on the 29th September next, and the other £9 in the beginning of March following. He is also to have a little house set up at the Town cost, 12 feet in length, and 8 feet in breadth - this is to be done by the 25th of March next, finished to his hand. In witness whereof we have inchangably set our hands."
WILLIAM PHELPS, THOMAS [X] PARSONS.
WILLIAM GAYLORD, JOHN MOORE, DAVID WILTON, JOHN STRONG. (Bk. 1, 6 and 7. )
144
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
Mar. 24th. " There were three men chosen to take view of the Town, according to the order of Court for that purpose. HENRY WOLCOTT, Commissioner. JOHN BISSELL, MATHEW GRANT."
1652, March 29th. "Accounts made with William Buell for work done on meeting house. The Elders' Pew, Deacons' Pew, Magistrates' Pew, and their Wives' Pew, formerly paid; and for the four rows of seats in the house, when the doors are up, we find that his work comes to £28 19s 0d. And for the new work about altering the magis-
trates' wives' Pew, and others in that range, come to 4 3 8
The whole sum is. £33 02 08.
Of which he is paid £27:5:2. (Bk. I, 8.)
1652, September 13th. "It is assented that John Hillier shall have for the digging of all graves, one with another, 1s 6d per grave, and is to attend it on all occasions." (Bk. I, 11.)
Sept. 29th. An agreement was made between the Townsmen and Gregory Gibbs, who took the Rivulet ferry on nearly the same terms as Parsons had done the year previous.
Dec. 13. "It is ordered that swine shall not run at large on penalty of 6d and their damage paid." (Bk. 1, 13.)
1653. During the previous year hostilities had been com- menced between the Dutch and English, and the well known conduct of the former gave rise to much apprehension that the Indians would be instigated to a general revolt. This of course spread a general alarm throughout New England, and the Com- missioners of the United Colonies, in session at Boston, in May, having " considered what number of soldiers might be neces- sary, if God called the Colonies to war with the Dutch;" ordered that 500 men should be raised out of the four colonies; of which Connecticut was to furnish 66. Of these, 12 were from Windsor. A Committee was appointed, consisting of Mr. Wolcott, Mr. Chester, Mr. Clark, Mr. Phelps and David Wilton, with whom the constable was to advise in regard to pressing the men.
Sept. 8th. "The Court doth grant the soldiers of these four towns on the River [Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield and Middletown and Farmington], one day for a General Training together - and they have liberty to send to Captain Mason to desire his presence, and to give him a call to command in chief, and to appoint the day; provided that each town shall have
145
EXTRACTS FROM TOWN ACTS.
power to reserve a guard at home for the safety of the towns, as occasion shall serve." (Col. Rec.)
This order was undoubtedly the origin of that famous Con- necticut institution, General Training Day.
November 8th. " William Gaylord, the Elder, and John Strong, are to appoint what calves shall be reared for bulls, on this side of the River, likewise for the other side." (Bk. 1, 15.)
1653-4, February 6th. " A meeting of the townsmen, there was a case presented by John Moore in behalf of others of his neighbors, with himself, against John Bissell, concerning herd- ing of cattle. And whereas it has been proved that John Bissell hath had several of his young cattle kept among their cattle by their herdsman, it is judged to be equity for John Bissell to pay a suitable proportion with them, according to his cattle, which is evidenced to be thirteen young beeves and two the price of a cow, according to hire rates, 3s, 2d, 3 farthings, which amounts to £1, 1s." (Bk. I, 18.)
1654, October. Windsor contributed 8 soldiers to the Nar- ragansett expedition against Ninigret, ordered by the Comniis- sioners of the United Colonies; also "a sergeant, two barrels of meat, one barrel of peas, and a boat.
1654-5, Feby. 5th. An agreement made with John Bartlett to keep the Rivulet Ferry on same terms as Gregory Gibbs had before kept it. He is to have " £18 in wheat, pease and Indian corn, in equal proportions, according to the ordinary price." (Bk. 1, 22.)
1655, May 28th. "Being the Day appointed for training, in the afternoon, and a pretty full meeting, and also most of the ancient men, there was a vote put for the choice of a Captain, and it was assented to that there should be a captain chosen, but with this proviso, that whosoever it fell to, he should per- form the service of the place, without expecting any wages or maintainance from the town. In proposing about the choice, it fell to be Captain upon Lieutenant Cook, for he had 87 papers; and for all that were brought into nomination besides, were but 19 papers. In the choice of a Lieutenant, Mr. Newbury had 80 papers, and all the rest were but 13. In the choice of an Ensign, David Wilton had the choice, by 6 papers more than Daniel Clark." (Bk 1, 24.)
Sept. 15th. " Also appointed to have the great meadow cleared of Indian corn by the 26th of this month. And the cast of the great river to be cleared by the 3d day of Oct. following."
November 26th. "The Townsmen met and appointed some- where to set in the meeting-house."
1655-6, February 4th. "At a meeting of the Townsmen, it was taken into consideration, that which was referred to them by the vote of the town, to give such encouragement to the man that was
19
146
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
propounded for a currier, as has manifested inclinations to come to us, so that the town would procure him the house of Henry Curtis, with the lot. They do now agree that David Wilton shall send a letter with the first opportunity in the spring. And to encourage him, the town shall provide him a house conve- nient at the present [time], and procure him the house and lot of Henry Curtis, if it be to be sold. And to add something for a shop; or if that be not to be procured, they will bestow as much as it is worth, in a convenient place, and if he lives and dies with us, and affords us the use of his trade, he shall have it to him and his heirs; else to leave it to the Town." (Bk. 1, 27.)
" Also that Richard Oldage and Samuel Marshall shall be propounded to the General court to be appointed sealers of leather." (Bk. 1, 27.)
" Also an agreement made with William Edwards, Cooper, of Hartford. He is to take Simon Hillier, son of John Hillier, deceased, and keep him until he is 21 yrs. of age, which will be completed and ended on the 25th day of Dec., 1669; he is to learn him to write and read English, and cast accounts, and be at the cost, and use his best endeavors, to get his scurf head cured. Also to learn him the trade of a cooper, and at the end of his time to let him go free, and give him double apparel, a musket, sword and bandoliers, and 20s; and Mr. Wolcott and David Wilton are to sign indentures betwixt them at the time of the General Court at Hartford on March, next ensuing." (Bk. I, 27.)
March 3. " It was a day of training, and it being propounded to the Company there assembled what they would give Mr. Warham for this year, that is, from September to September, next ensuing, it was jointly voted that they would give him fourscore and ten pounds." (Bk. 1, 28.)
March 10. " The Townsmen met, and it was judged by them that Mr. Phelps should keep James Hillier one twelvemonth after the end of next May ensuing, and then to let him go from him with a double apparel, yet with this casion [proviso]; If the Townsmen see any man willing and fit to take him to bring him to a trade, Mr. Phelps is to let him go at any time after next May; also Mr. Phelps saith he will not be bound to keep him if the disease of the thistles should break out again."
August 18th. "The major part of the townsmen met and according to the ordering of the [court], that the townsmen of Windsor from year to year, do take care for the preserving of the estate of John Hillier, deceased, for the benefit of his children, do now for the present agree that because the widow of the said John Hillier is towards joining herself in a second marriage that she shall not have power to dispose of any part for her own, until the court make a distribution." (Bk. 1, 31.)
September 1st. "Training day; the Townsmen appointed the 25th of this month to open the meadow."
147
EXTRACTS FROM TOWN ACTS.
"Also voted, by the company, that the guard that carried arms to meeting, should have 2 pound of powder for the two years now past, and so likewise those now presently appointed for the year to come, and so afterwards." (Bk. 1, 31.)
" Also assented to, by divers persons present, and appointed that at the next opportunity to be propounded to the rest of the Townsmen, that Capt. Cook shall cause that seasonable warning shall be given to come to meeting on the Lord's days and lecture days, by Drum or trumpet, on the top of the meeting house, and should have 20s for the year ensuing." "Sept. 6th. It was confirmed." (Bk. 1, 31.)
1656-7, Feb. 10. "It was voted to allow Mrs. Huit [an annu- ity] as formerly, only Nicholas Palmer, John Griswold, Jacob Gibbs, Anthony Hoskins, John Denslow, Jos. Hosford opposed it." (Bk. 1, 32.)
October 26. "The Town met and agreed to have the burying place made commodious. David Wilton doth hereby engage himself and his [successors] forever to maintain whatsoever fence belongs to the burying place of Windsor, now joining to his land, and also to make and maintain a commodious gate for passage to it. Also, to clear it of all stubbs and boughs that grows upon it, between this and next Spring, and to sow it with English grass that it may be decent and comely, and he, and his heirs, is to have the benefit of the pasture forever." (Bk. I, 34.)
November 26. " At a town meeting warned, Mr. Warham's rate, Mr. Huit's and John Bartlett's [rate] for the ferry were published. Also a general vote passed for the entertainment of a new smith, and to give him £10 and lend him £20, to pay it again in work."
1657-8, March 11. A troop of thirty horse, the first in the colony, was organized by the General Court, and placed under the command of Capt. John Mason. On the list of troopers "presented and allowed" by the court, we find the following Windsor names:
Mr. Daniel Clark, John Williams, ® Nathaniel Loomis,
Thomas Allen,
Samuel Marshall, Thomas Loomis,
John Bissell,
Capt. Aaron Cook,
George Phelps,
Ens. David Wilton,
Stephen Terry,
Simon Woleett,
William Hayden, John Hosford, John Moses,
Thomas Strong,
John Porter.
1658. " The Townsmen being met on Monday the 13th Sep- tember, Lieut. Newberry is desired to get such sills for the meeting house as are wanting, and to bring them to the water eide."1 (Bk. I, 36.)
1 The rivulet bank.
148
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
This year was one of great sickness and mortality in Con- necticut, as well as in New England generally. Religious con- troversy, and the implacable animosity of the Indians, gave constant alarm to both rulers and people. The crops also were. unusually light, and " it was a year of fear, perplexity and sor- row."
December 13. " At a meeting of the five men,1 it was determined that provision should be made upon the top of the meeting house, from the Lanthorn to the ridge of the house, to walk conveniently, to sound a trumpet or drum to give warning to meetings." (Bk. 1, 37.)
1658-9, January 8. " At a town meeting, was voted that Samuel Grant should try and seal measures for the town."
"Also, that Peter Brown that keeps the mill should take but single toll, or the sixteenth part of all grain for his grinding; only of Indian corn it was voted by the Major part that he should take toll and half, from this time until the 25th of March next ensuing, but no longer."
" Also, that John Bartlett is to continue the keeping of the ferry, and is not to put in any man without the Townsmen's approbation, and the Townsmen are to see to the providing of some stones and timber to build him a cellar at the ferry house; and he is to pay the cost of it out of this ferry rate, and when he leaves the keeping of the ferry, or does not give honest con- tent in the place, but the Townsmen must seek another, then he is to leave the cellar, and the town must give him for it as it is worth." (Bk. 1, 37.)
1659, March 27. " The trumpet was sounded again to give warning to meeting." (Bk. 1, 38.)
June 1. " Also this day, terms agreed upon about the tolls at the mill; Mr. Warham is to have the sixteenth part, or two quarts upon a bushel, of all English and malt grinding, and for Indian corn a twelfth part, or three quarts upon a bushel grind- ing." (Bk. 1, 39.)
Dec. 10. "Also, it is granted by the town that Capt. Cooke shall have half the ordinary pay, in the next town rate, for seven young wolves taken out of an old one."2 (Bk. 1, 40.)
1 The Townsmen previously appointed.
2 Feb'y 16, 1659-60. Capt. Cook was again paid for " 4 wolves." Judging from the frequency of similar items on the town records, the Captain, and his townsman Daniel Hayden, were the Nimrods of Windsor. They certainly made great havoc among the wolves of that neighborhood. Many years after the settlement of the country, these animals were very numerous and committed frequeut depredations. As early as 1647, the General Court offered a bounty of 10s. for every wolf " killed within 10 miles of any planta.
149
EXTRACTS FROM TOWN ACTS.
The following shows the names and number of the household- ers of Windsor, and the manner of their " seating " in the meet- ing house. It is extracted from an old Book of Rates:
January 18, 1659-60. "A note [was] taken what dwelling houses are in the town, that the owners of them have paid for seats in the Meeting house, and how much and by whom. For those that have been placed in the two rows of long seats were first seated by five in a seat, and were to pay to Wm. Buel 3s a person, or 6s for a man and his wife; and that made up his pay when he had finished them with doors. Also, those that were placed in the short seats at the first, were to pay 3s a person, as they in the long seats; but when it was agreed that those seats should be raised higher for more convenient hearing, they were to pay Wm. Buel 6s a person more, so that for a man and his wife 7s. First I set down those that have paid, and were placed in the long seats where they paid.
Thomas Ford, 6s
Jonathan Gillet, 6s
Bray Rossiter, 6s
Josias Hull, . 6s
John Porter,
6s
Thomas Hoskins, 6s
Stephen Terry, 6s
Anthony Hawkins, 6s
Henry Wolcott, 6s
Peter Tilton, 6s
John Bissell,. 6s
Joshua Carter, 6s
Thomas Nowell,.
6s
Abraham Randall, 4s 9d
Thomas Thornton
6s
Matthias Johnson, 4s
Arthur Williams,, 6.s
George Phillips, 6s
Philip Randall, . 6s
George Phelps, 6s
Thomas Buckland 6s
Samuel Allen, . 6s
Thomas Gunn, . 6s
Mr. [Francis] Stiles, 3s
Begat Eggleston,
6s
John Drake, Senr., . 6s
Thomas Holcomb, 6s
Eltwed Pomeroy,
4s 8d
Robert Winchell,
6s
Humphrey Pinney, 6s
Walter Fyler,. 6s
John Moore, 6s
tion in this Commonwealth," which bounty was to be paid by the town in which the animal was killed, or by the nearest town. The earliest town act of Windsor, which is preserved in 1650, adds 5s to this 10s offered by the Court. This sum was afterwards increased, until 1667, when the whole bounty amounted to 25s. The Indians, likewise, were especially encouraged to kill wolves, for each of which they were to be paid 20s in wampum, at the rate of 6 pieces for a penny. Wolves were generally caught with baited hooks, or in pits dug for the purpose. In 1656, the Court decreed that "what person soever, either Indian or English, shall take any wolf out of any pit made by any other man to catch wolves in, whereby they would defraud the right owner of their due from the town or the country, every such offender shall pay to the owner of the pit 10s, or be whipped on their naked bodies not exceeding 6 stripes."
150
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
Roger Williams, 6s
John Stiles, Senr., 6s
Matthew Grant, 6s
William Buel, 6s
Aaron Cooke, 6s
Samuel Pond, 5s
David Wilton, 6s Nat. Gillet,.
6s
Thomas Dewey, 6s
Thomas Parsons, . 5s
William Hubbard,
6s
Jeffry Baker, .
6s
Richard Vore,. 6s
Thomas Bascomb, 6s
John Rockwell, by his mother, 3s
Nico Palmer 6s
Richard Oldage, 3.s
Wm. Thrall, .
6s
John Young, 3s
John Rockwell,
6s
Owen Tudor, 6s
John Hakes,
6.s
Simon Hoyt, 6s
£15 Ss 5d
Those that were placed in the short seats, what they have paid.
William Hayden, 7s
Daniel Clarke, . 7s Joseph Loomis, . 6s
Henry Newbury,
4s 6d
Henry Stiles,
3s
Stephen Taylor, . . 6s
William Gaylord, jr., 6s 6d
Samuel Gaylord. 7s
Benedict Alvord, 6s
Jacob Drake, . 7.s
John Hosford,
Robert Hayward, 7s
Simon Mills,. 4s 6d
Geo. Crist. Wolcott, 5s
James Enno, . 6s
Rob. Wilson, . 7s
William Filley,
5s 9d
Miles Merwin,
7s
Mic. Johnson, . . 4s 9d
Thomas Barber, . 7 s
Thomas Gilbert, 7s
Richard Weller, . 6s
William Hannum, 7 s
Alexander Alvord, 7 s
John Osborn, 7s
Henry Curtis,
3s
Anthony Dorchester,
.
£10 17s 3d
In the Pews.
Mr. Allyn 6s
Mr. Loomis, 6s
Mr. [John] Witchfield .. 2s 6d
Mr. Clark, 3s
Goode Denslow 3s
C. Cook, ..
6s
Goode Gibbs, 3s
Mr. Wolcott,
6s
Goode Hoskins,. 1s
Mr. Terry,.
6s
John Bissell,
Deacon Gaylord's wife, .. 3s
In the Pews.
Mr. Allyn, 6s
Mr. Phelps
Thomas Deble, 3s
Samuel Phelps, 7 s
Nath. Phelps, . 4s Richard Birge, 0 9d
George Alexander,
3s
Rhody Taylor, .
Edward Griswold, 6s
John Drake, 3s 6d
Job Drake, 4s 6d
William Philips, 7 s
Simon Wolcott, by Thomas Orton, 6s
by his mother, 3s 6d
[Robert] Watson, 7 s
151
EXTRACTS FROM TOWN ACTS.
Mr. Clarke, 3s
Mr. Stoughton, .
Mr. Mason,
3s
£1 11s 6d
John Wilcoxson,
Women. C. Gibbs, N. Denslow W. Hoskins,
" Now to set down persons as they are seated and how their seats have been paid for."
9 long seats, with 6 in a seat. 13 short seats, with 3 in a seat.
Houses that have seats paid for by their first owners, and the present dwellers in them, if any, have no seats.
9 names."
1659-60, January 23. "The Townsmen met, and John Loomis and Josephi were at a debate with the Townsmen, about Joseph's seat. Mr. Henry Clark and Mr. Warham asserted, that the issue was that he had lost his seat, according to order that was first made."
December 20. " Also to repair roof of the meeting house, left to townsmen to agree upon." " Also agreement made by the townsmen with John Bartlett, for keeping the ferry 7 years, was published and assented to." (Bk. 1, 42.)
In the annual estimate of Town Expenses, this year we find the following items:
"For 16 wolves taken £8. For cleansing the meeting house and drum £4. Thos. Parsons for his canoe to serve the ferry £5. Mr. Wolcott for liquors for bounds 2s 6d. For the remain- der of the work, to the silling and underpinning of the meeting house £10 19s 6d. Wm. Buell for a pair of stocks and mending some seats 9s 6d. Nat. Cook for cutting ice 1s 2d. For 1000 nails of John Bissell 15s, &c., &c."
1660-1, January 7. "The Townsmen met and agreed that the Meeting House should be shingled, all the gutters on both sides the lanthorn, and not alter the form of the roof."
" Also agreed with William Buell to alter the great pew into two, one part for the magistrates, and one for others, and that it be raised equal with [the] short seats."
" Also, those that be seated and never paid, neither them- selves nor by their predecessors in their houses should now be called for to make in payment to Buell for work about the house, etc."
January 31. " A town meeting named by the Constables to publish some orders made at the General Court before. Also, a vote, passed by the major part, for liberty to those men that would join in setting a ware across the rivulet, to take fish
152
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
in any place below the ferry, and none of the townsmen, that join not with them, shall have liberty to set a ware below them for 5 years space. And at the 5 years end, if the town desire to take the benefit of the ware to themselves for a town good, they shall, paying the men that join for their barrels as they be worth at that time."
February 25th. " The Townsmen made a bargain with Samuel Grant to shingle the inside roof of the meeting house, from end to end, on both sides of the lanthorn, with 18 inch shingles. He is to get the shingle in the woods, and cut them, hew them and lay them on one inch and a quarter thick generally, and 7 inches in breadth one with another. And he is to have 4s per 100 for all plain work, and for the gutters, because of the more diffi- culty of laying these, he is to have what he shall in equity judge to be more worth than 4s per 100; and, for the time of doing this work, he is to do the north side of the lanthorn before mid- summer next, and the other side by October following. The timber, that he works to be good sound timber, and the pay taken out to this agreement."
We subscribe our hands in witness:
JOHN MOORE,
SAMUEL GRANT.
HENRY WOLCOTT,
BENJAMIN NEWBERRY, EDWARD GRISWOLD.
" Also this day, accounts taken of the town debts for a town rate to be made; and there appeared:
€
s.
d.
For 6 wolves taken, 3
0
0
Sounding the Drum to meetings, 1 0
0
" Ensign Wilton, for James Osborn, 1 1 0
0
" Cleansing the meeting house, . 3 0
0
0 0 To make 2 new pounds, . 4
To buy a barrel of powder,. 8
0
0
To buy nails and lath for meeting house, . 5 0
0
Mr. Wolcott, for liquors for bound-goers, . 6 3
Mr. Newburry, for some help bounding ways, .. 7 0
For employment by Mathew Grant's act as followeth:
For time spent last spring about ordering the town rate of £49, with various accounts with men for work done, keeping the accounts of several rates to distinguish them, 2 9 0
For ordering the list of the town [e]state last year, and 2 days spent at Hartford about it, . 15 6
For drawing the [e]state into a book for a rule of rating, making Mr. Warham's rate in October, and publishing it from house to house, . 16 0
1 Which gift to Osborn was formerly granted by the town to give him 40s, for supply in his want.
153
₪ EXTRACTS FROM TOWN ACTS.
To transcribing 18 court orders, and going, with my
son and others, to Podunk line, and some time already bounding ways 4 days, . 1
1 6 To pay the bonesetter, besides the county rate, 1 14
To pay Cooke [fc. ] another wolf, 10
£32 19 3
1661, Feb'y 4. In a long account with William Buel for work done to the meeting-house, we find an item of "5 buttons [or pegs] for hats, 7s."
It had hitherto been customary to raise Mr. Warham's salary by a tax, but this year the system of voluntary subscription was introduced, as will be seen by the following extract from the town record.
November 11. " The Townsmen met and took into considera- tion how to proceed to know the town's mind what they would give Mr. Warham for his ministry this year, and we judge it meet, rather than warn a town meeting, to appoint some men to go from house to house, and speak with every man that pays rates, to know what each man will voluntarily and freely give Mr. Warham for this year; and the men to go about to take down on a paper what sum they would be rated, and whether as formerly or what. And the men that go about are Deacon Gaylord and William Hayden from the higher end [of the street] downward to Thomas Buckland; and from there to the ferry George Phelps and Matthew Grant. On the other side of the ferry from Paquonack downwards to all that side of the Mill Brook; and from the mill all to Ambrose Fuller's, Capt. Newbury and Deacon Moore."
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