USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Derby > The history of the old town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880. With biographies and genealogies > Part 13
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Hence it was that this people petitioned so often and earnestly for the organization of a plantation, for .with that would come the minister, the meeting services in their own vi- cinity, and new planters, as well as officers for the protection of life.
When, therefore, the young people of the present day propose to laugh at the faith of the old people, it would be well to con- sider how much those old people did and endured because of their faith, without which we should never have enjoyed the na- tional grandeur and blessings which are now our inheritance. As well might a son smite his father for loving him as for the favored sons of the nineteenth century to laugh at the faith of their fathers of the seventeenth.
Most perfectly does the language of Dr. A. Beardsley paint the contrast between the old and the new ; the former days and the latter, and how much we are indebted to those who endured as seeing that which should be, but died without the sight.
"A simple narrative of events often becomes a mirror, reflect- ing the good or ill, the great or ignoble of mankind. In our small and ancient settlements germinated the government of this western world, which has so long provoked the admiration and terror of despotic Europe.
Our commonwealth was among the first to lead the way. The little Colonies began upon the shores of the sea-coast and the principal rivers, and as they became extended it required their combined power to protect themselves against the savage, who might justly have styled himself king in his own land. The settlements, uniting in a common defense and for a com- mon humanity, found it inconvenient to assemble their freemen, and deputies were convened to enact laws and regulations, de- riving authority directly from the people. The head of the fam- ily was the mouth-piece, the ruling, governing principle ; tainted by no bribery, corruption, fraud or inglorious love of money, and
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50
HISTORY OF DERBY.
thus originated the purest democracy the world ever saw. The river settlements and those emanating therefrom voluntarily at- tached themselves to the center at Hartford, while those upon the sea-shore joined New Haven, but in time it was more rea- sonable and more safe to connect the two, and thus we had given us under one name, Connecticut. From the river and shore Colonies, peopled mostly from Massachusetts and fresh importations, emanated a second class of settlements branching out into the country.
Derby, long known by the Indian name of Paugassett, was one of this class, and she has the honor of being the first inland settlement made up the Naugatuck valley. Being an offshoot from Milford, Stratford, and New Haven, the pioneers were few, and her early growth gradual. Just two hundred and twenty- six years ago the sturdy Englishman, guided by the river banks with no pathway save the Indian's trail, set foot upon this soil, to survey in wonder and pious devotion these hills and this val- ley in all their primitive loveliness. Shining rivers, laughing brooks, trees and flowers in all their wild variety, through changing seasons spake their Maker's praise, while the wilder- ness was enlivened by birds, savage beasts, and still more sav- age man.
How great, how astonishing, the change as we look out upon this amphitheater of picturesque scenery, teeming with her pop- ulation of thousands, noisy with the roar of waters. the hum of machinery, the shudder of gongs, the shriek of the steam whistle, and the varied voices of industry and enterprise, all blending and harmonizing in one perpetual song of development and progress !
As we look back through the dim retrospect and trace the early footprints of barbarism down to the higher walks of civ- ilization, and then consider what grandeur the principles of this civilization has wrought out within this brief period, how refreshing, how consoling the thought that our lot has been cast in more favored times. Nor should we forget or despise the endurance, the courage and the faith of those who have given us this inheritance. These early settlers had within them elements of success, besides a divinity of purpose, and like most of the New England settlers, were descended from the upper
5I
COURAGE OF THE PLANTERS.
stratum of society ; the very brain, bone and muscle of the Old World. The more we study the more we admire the simplicity and honesty of their character. They came to this country for high and noble pursuits, and among these they chose to worship God after the dictates of their own conscience. They had their failings, incident to humanity, for which they have ever been ridiculed and criticised by writers and travelers, but some author in his warm defense of the Pilgrims has ventured the re- mark that, " God sifted a whole nation that he might send good grain into the western wilderness."
The long toil of twenty years in the wilderness was sufficient to convince the stately General Court at Hartford that it would be safe to grant the humble petition of these faithful subjects and to condescend to meet the demands of justice, which had long laid prostrate at their feet. There is something pitifully ignoble in the deliverance of the court when granting the peti- tion. "This court for their encouragement do grant." They did not need encouragement, having shown a marvelous amount of courage in themselves under the puerile reproaches of the New Haven court, and the surprising indecision of the General Court. One writer has stated that a general rule had been es- tablished in the state that no less than thirty families would constitute sufficient foundation for the organization of a planta- tion, but this is an error. The court judged that in this case such a number would seem to be the least that could be trusted to sustain the grant if once given. But had not this little com- pany surpassed all their surrounding neighbors in supporting a plantation in fact years before the honor was conferred upon them ? And not only so, but had they not all the time been helping poor Milford pay her minister, repair her meeting-house, and discharge her town obligations, besides killing the wolves to save her sheep, and for which she refused to make any consid- erations to the hero, Edward Wooster ? Twelve families at Pau- gassett, pleading for the privileges granted to, and sustaining themselves equally with, one hundred and fifty families at Mil- ford ! Need of encouragement ! "This Court, emulating the courage of the planters at Paugassett, do grant, pledge our sup- port," would have sounded far better for that Assembly after those twenty years of stinted confidence. At the very start the
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
New Haven court, by the weight of its own power, after fully establishing the plantation, broke it down, and then complained of the want of energy of the planters, and threatened to make their village a desolation if they did not do something worthy of themselves. How often since that day has the same spirit ruled ? The strong, well-fed man ; the rich, the honored, have tauntingly asked, Why does not Mr. Jones rise up and show himself a man ? Why does not Mr. Smith use his money so as to make himself somebody? And then place their iron heels upon the necks of the same men at each different business transaction in life, and grind them until the mystery is that there is any courage or manliness left.
But at last Derby had a name and a place in the little constel- lation then rising along the shore of a mighty continent.
Scarcely had the town time to elect its officers after receiv- ing the glad tidings of its authority, when the sound of terrible war rolled over the whole land ; and worst of all, an Indian war. King Philip had kindled the fires, and the smoke began to be seen. On the first day of July, 1675, intelligence of the break- ing out of the Indian war in Plymouth Colony, and of the dan- ger to which the eastern towns in Connecticut were exposed was received from New London and Stonington by the gover- nor and council, and the governor convened the court on the ninth of the same month to take action in the matter. The re- ports, which were found afterwards to be too true, represented that the Indians were in arms in Plymouth and in the Narragansett country, that they had assaulted the English, slain about thirty persons, burned some houses, and were engaging other Indians as far as possible " by sending locks of some English they have slain, from one place to another." The court appointed a coun- cil to have this matter in charge after the adjournment of that body, and ordered troops to be raised and dispatched as speedily as possible to the relief of the people in the eastern part of the state. Evidences soon came that the Long Island Indians were being persuaded to join in the effort for a general extermi- nation of the English.
In addition to all this, Governor Andros, then of New York, being informed of the Indian troubles, appeared at Saybrook on the 8th of July, 1675, with two sloops bearing armed forces,
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KING PHILIP'S WAR.
under pretense of rendering aid against the Indians, gave the Colonies great suspicion that he was secretly inciting the Indi- ans to this hostility and general uprising against the English, in order to wrest from the Colonies their liberties.
In a letter sent by the General Court at Hartford, dated July 1, 1765, to the magistrates at New Haven and the south-western towns, after describing the perils of the time, it is said : "The people of Stonington and New London send for aid, and accord- ingly we purpose to send them forty-two men to-morrow, and have given order to ye several plantations here to put them- selves in a posture of defence speedily ; and these lines are to move yourselves forthwith, to see that the same care be taken in your parts for your security, and that all the plantations have notice hereof, both Guilford and so onward to Rye, that they also be complete in their arms, with ammunition according to law."
The hostility of the Indians was confined apparently to those of the eastern part of the state, and Major Robert Treat of Milford being made commanding general of the forces of Con- necticut, was sent to the eastern part of the state, taking the soldiers raised by proportion from the plantations. How many went from Derby2 is not definitely known, but taking all the drafts made in the summer of 1675, a few must have been taken, although the council very thoughtfully directed that in this mat- ter the "smaller plantations be considered and favored in the press."
Revs. Mr. Bowers and Mr. Walker say in their address to the General Court, after the war, that there were more taken from Derby and Woodbury than was the proportion for those towns.
On the sixth of August, the Council ordered that : "The Providence of God permitting the heathen to make disturbance amongst the English by hostile attempts upon them, hath occa- sioned forces already to be sent forth, and brings a necessity upon us to take special order, therefore, that all persons be duly prepared and provide with arms and ammunition according to
2 There was a John Hull, surgeon in the army in this war, but he was of Kennel- worth, according to the records, whenever his residence is mentioned; besides Dr. John, of Derby, is always recorded with the s to his name, Hulls.
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
law; and therefore upon this urgent and necessitous occasion the council hath seen special reason to declare and order that all those who are to provide arms and ammunition according to law, meet on Monday morning next by sun an hour high at the meeting house, in their respective plantations, upon the penalty of the forfeiture of five shillings for non-appearance, there to at- tend such farther directions as shall be given them in charge by their commanders."
Although the Derby people had no meeting-house at which to assemble, yet there must have been gathered that morning fif- teen or twenty soldiers at the accustomed place of worship, to be examined as to their compliance with the law in providing themselves with guns, ammunition and war equipments, and while they gathered Indians were near observers on every side.
There was not at this time any regularly organized military company in the town, but as they were to take care of the in- terests in their own town, it is probable that some minor officer was appointed by Milford, if there were none in regular stand- ing in Paugassett.
On the first of September next, the Council being informed that " the Indians being in a hostile manner, prepared with their arms near Pawgasuck, and Mr. Bryan had posted to them for help," and that other demonstrations of hostility in the western part of the state were manifested, recalled Major Treat from the east to Hartford to protect the people. This is the first and the only mention in the records of hostility by the Paugassett Indians or their neighboring brethren. The Milford Indians complained to the Council about this time of severe treatment by the English, and the council wisely and properly ordered that special care should be observed not to give the Indians reason for unkind feelings.
It was ordered also (Sept. 3), "that in the several plantations of the Colony there be kept a sufficient watch in the night, which watch is to be continued from the shutting in of the even- ing till the sun rise," and that one-fourth part of each town be in arms every day by turns, to be a guard in their respective plantations ; to be ordered and disposed as the chief military officers shall appoint ; and all soldiers from sixteen to seventy years of age, (magistrates, commissioners, ministers, commission
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RECOMMENDATION OF THE COURT.
officers, school masters, physicians and millers excepted,) are to attend their course of watch and ward as they shall be appointed. It is also ordered that, during these present commotions with the Indians, such persons as have occasion to work in the fields shall work in companies, if they be half a mile from town, not less than six in a company, with their arms and ammunition well fixed and fitted for service. And whosoever shall not at- tend these foregoing orders shall forfeit for every defect, five shillings, provided it be complained of within fourteen days ; any one Assistant or Commissioner to hear and determine any one such defect."
At the same time it was ordered that "whosoever shall shoot off a gun without command from some magistrate or military commander, until further order be given by authority, he shall forfeit for every such transgression the sum of five shillings."
It was under such circumstances that Derby asked advice of the Court what they should do to secure themselves from harm, and received this answer: "Oct. 14, 1674. The Court return that they judge it the best and safest way to remove their best goods and their corn, what they can of it, with their wives and children, to some bigger town, who, in a way of Providence, may be in a better capacity to defend it, and that those that stay in the town do well fortify themselves and stand upon their guard, and hasten their removal of their corn as aforesaid what they may; and all inhabitants belonging to the place may be com- pelled by warrant from any Assistant to reside there until this may be done. The like advice is by this court given to all small places and farms throughout this colony to be observed."
It will be seen by this that all were to remain until the corn was mostly gathered, which would be but about a month, but it soon became more apparent that the Mohegan and Pequot In- dians and the Indians west of the Connecticut river, were not in the league against the English and could be trusted as friends, and as allies in defending the colonies. And the first fright of the people on the Ousatonic having passed away, and the fact that the Indians of Milford had appealed to the court for pro- tection, gave strong assurances that the western planters were comparatively safe.
That Mr. Bowers and some of the other families removed to
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
Milford that winter is quite certain,3 but it is also quite cer- tain that a number of them remained and continued their work as usual, with doubtless the observance of the suggestions inti- mated by the court. Although they built no regular fort, they may have fortified their houses4 as well as their hearts, in a comparatively secure manner, and especially so, so long as the Indians of Derby were friendly and on the watch for the enemy. The transactions of the town recorded in the spring and sum- mer of 1676, show that the place was not deserted, but that the spirit of enterprise and progress still reigned triumphant with that marvelously persevering community. What they could not withstand has not yet been written, if ever it shall be.
In the spring of 1676, several town meetings were held ; a grant of land was made to Mr. Bowers of three acres of David's meadow; Edward Wooster was engaged to make a "highway through the Long lot and the fishing place to the most conven- ient place to carry corn and other goods, or land them, . . the highway is to be a sufficient highway for two carts to pass." And in the autumn of that year they were active in the same manner, appropriating and laying out lands, and making im- provements.
When the Assembly granted them the powers and privileges of a town, a committee was appointed to fix a place for a ferry and settle some matters of dispute as to lands which had been purchased by individuals above Birmingham, or on what was then called the Neck, which included land between the Ousa- tonic and Naugatuck rivers, which the town claimed the right to control, and to make apportionment to the purchasers in common with the other inhabitants. This land had been pur- chased in two parcels, forming a belt across the Neck, the north- ern boundary being at Four-mile brook and across to what is now West Ansonia, or thereabout.
3In October, 1676, Mr. Bowers with Rev. Mr. Walker of Woodbury, addressed a letter to the General Court, saying : " We make bold before our return to request this honored court to resolve us in one important inquiry, namely: In case the war with the Indians should be again renewed, what may we expect and trust to, from the authority of this colony, in order to our protection ?"
4We learn from President Stiles's History of the Judges, that Edward Riggs's house was fortified in the years of the early settlement, and if so, was probably again made as a fort for the people to resort to if necessary, during the Indian war of 1675.
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THE FERRY.
The report is a little lengthy, but shows the progress of set- tlement, and some old landmarks of importance. Mr. Joseph Hawley and Jonas Tomlinson of Stratford, had made one of these purchases, and the former had built a house on his land in the vicinity now known as Baldwin's Corners, and Mr. Tom- linson had commenced a house at the same place. The work of the committee was concluded in February 1676-7, but re- ported the following May.
At the time of the appointment of this committee, the Court ordered that the town of Stratford should " lay out a country highway, from their town to Pawgasuck, in the most conven- ient place where the ferry shall be settled."
THE REPORT OF THAT COMMITTEE.
Derby the 28th February, 1676.
At a meeting of the Committee, appointed by the General Court, May, 1675, to state a place for a ferry and a highway from it to Wood- bury, and for the distribution of lands in settlement of the place etc.
And first concerning the ferry. they order and appoint it to be at the lower end of the old Indian field, and that little piece of land between the rocks and the gully or creek, to be for a place to build any house or houses upon, and yards for securing of goods or cattle that may be brought to the ferry, from Woodbury, Mattatuck etc.
Also for the encouragement of a ferryman, they appoint eight acres of land out of the said old field, next adjoining the aforesaid little piece of land, beginning at the said gully or creek, to be laid out from the highway by the river to the hill, of a like breadth in front and rear, and upon the hill fourteen acres of land adjoining to the aforesaid rocks and land on the southwest of it, with an highway to the ferry from the highway that goeth from Joseph Hawkins ; and also six acres of swamp or low land upon that hill against the said old field, as near and as convenient as may be for the making of meadow ; and also a proportion with others of tillable land upon the hills in any common field that shall be fenced in for the inhabitants that dwell above the ferry upon that Neck; and also commonage with other inhabitants proportionably.
Also they do appoint a highway of four rod wide from the said ferry by the river side upward towards Woodbury, unto the upper end of the aforesaid old field unto the highway that is now used towards Wood-
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
bury, and also that the highway from Joseph Hawkins's house to Mr. Hawley's lie where, or very near where it now doth.
Lieutenant Joseph Judson, declared that if the inhabitants of Derby, would put in a ferryman in convenient time, they were content, or else upon notice given they of Woodbury would put in one whom the town of Derby should approve for an inhabitant, and that without any charge to Derby or the country.
DISTRIBUTION OF LANDS.
And for the distribution of lands and settlement, for the farthering the plantation of Derby they have viewed the lands and considered the state of things there, and finding some difficulties and inconven- iences, there having been several tracts of land purchased by several persons at several times. both of English and Indians, and after con- sideration for the best good of the place, with their best judgment, order as follows ; first, for the lands on the Great Neck, Mr. Hawly having built a house upon one which himself with Jonas Tomlinson had from the Indians, they do appoint unto the said Mr. Hawly and Jonas Tomlinson all that land both above and below and the said house which they have fenced and improved, and also all the rest of the im- provable lands for tillage or orchards. below the hills, within that pur- chase to the river ; and also any low and swampy land, to make meadow, which is within that said purchase; and that the said Mr. Hawly and Jonas Tomlinson, the one having built a house and the other having begun to build, do finish each of them a dwelling house, and both of them dwell upon it and become inhabitants there, or settle each of them an inhabitant approved by the town, within one year next ensuing. or else the town of Derby or such as the Court shall appoint shall have power to dispose of the said lands and homesteads to such as will come and settle inhabitants with them, and they divide their proportions as they may agree : secondly, for the rest of the lands be- low the said Hawley's, between the river and the hill (to wit, that plane where the old fort stood. and the adjoining land and the old field, as low as the ferry land) be divided unto at least six or seven inhabitants, and they to have home lots at the upper end towards Mr. Hawley's, and each or them four acres to his home lot, and to be at as little dis- tance from each other as the place will bear, and the rest of the said. plane and old field to be equally divided among those six or seven, and that the low, moist or swamp ground upon the hills be laid out to the said six or seven in proportion, to make meadow, after the six acres for the ferry is laid out as aforesaid ; and also any land that is fit for
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INDIAN FORTS.
tillage upon the hills (within the purchase from Mr. Bryan) shall be divided among the seven or more inhabitants, and also any farther field or fields that the aforesaid seven or more inhabitants together with the ferryman shall have need of and desire to take in and improve upon the hills above Mr. Hawley's house until each of them have his quan- tity of fifty acres beside swamp land for meadow, leaving liberty to the town to add to a man of more than ordinary use among them twenty acres, or within that quantity as they shall see cause. And then the rest of the lands within that neck to lie in common, until the town or such as the Court shall appoint, see cause farther to dispose for encour- agements of inhabitants there.
Thirdly, that Plum meadow and the adjacent land is by estimation about twenty acres, lying on the east side the river that cometh from Naugatuck, be divided to accommodate at least two inhabitants.
John Nash, William Curtiss, Committee.
Thomas Munson,
The Court confirmed all the above, except granting Mr. Haw- ley and Mr. Tomlinson longer time to settle their land.
The Old field was a cleared tract of land lying west of the Naugatuck a little back from the river, extending so far as to include about sixty acres.
The Old Indian fort, stood near Baldwin's Corners, a little south possibly. The New Indian fort was on the east bank of the Ousatonic, on what has been known many years as the Talmadge Beardsley place. The old fort must have been built before the English came to the place, and the new one after they came, as it is said to have been built on the river bank for the purpose of preventing the English sailing up the river.
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