USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Derby > The history of the old town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880. With biographies and genealogies > Part 18
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Further action was taken in May, 1690, as follows : "This Court observing that notwithstanding the former orders made for the education of children and servants, there are many per- sons unable to read the English tongue, and thereby incapable to read the holy word of God, or the good laws of the Colony, which evil, that it go no further upon their Majesty's subjects here, it is hereby ordered that all parents and masters shall cause their respective children and servants, as they are capa- ble, to be taught to read distinctly the English tongue, and that the grand jurymen in each town do once in the year at least, visit each family they suspect to neglect this order, and satisfy themselves whether all children under age, and servants in such suspected families can read well the English tongue, or be in a good procedure to learn the same or not, and if they find any such children and servants not taught as they are capable, they shall return the names of the parents or masters of the said children so untaught, to the next county court, where the said parents or masters shall be fined twenty shillings for each child or servant whose teaching is or shall be neglected contrary to this order.
"This Court considering the necessity and great advantage of good literature, do order and appoint that there shall be two free schools kept and maintained in this Colony, for the teach- ing of all such children as shall come there, after they can first read the Psalter, to teach such reading, writing, arithmetic, the Latin and Greek tongues, the one at Hartford, the other at New Haven, the masters whereof shall be chosen by the magistrates and ministers of the said county, and shall be inspected and again displaced by them if they see cause.
107
NEED OF WRITING.
"This Court considering the necessity many parents or masters may be under to improve their children and servants in labor for a great part of the year, do order that if the town schools in the several towns, as distinct from the free school, be, according to law already established, kept up six months in each year to teach to read and write the English tongue, the said towns so keeping their respective schools six months in every year shall not be presentable or finable by law for not having school according to law, notwithstanding any former law or order to the contrary."
Mr. James was engaged to teach " reading and writing to such of the town as shall come for that end from Dec. 14, 1703, to the end of the following April," for which he was to be paid out of the country rate according to law, which was forty shil- lings for the year ; afterwards, some years, there was appropriated for schooling in each town forty shillings on every one thou- sand in the list.
In 1704, the same arrangement was made with Mr. James to teach the school during the winter. Mr. James also received forty shillings a year for his services as town clerk, for several years.
The need of the writing instructions was very great, as is ap- parent in looking over the deeds executed at this time, as the giving of deeds instead of making an entry by the town clerk upon the sale of lands, had become general. Scarcely was there a woman who signed a deed that could write her name, and many of the men could not write, and signed deeds by making their marks. Mr. Bowers's own daughter could not write. And in real fact there was scarcely any need that women should write except to sign deeds, as epistolary writing was scarcely known at that time, but as soon as the families began to scat- ter into different plantations and women were called upon to transact business for themselves and others the need began to be supplied by attention to it. Nor was it only because of the theoretical notion that the ability for writing was not needed in that practical age, but the very great necessity that every man, woman and child should be at work; and so hard, and so long at work in order to attain a point above liability to suffer for food and clothing, that there was not time left to go to school,
108
HISTORY OF DERBY.
or otherwise to attend to it. The General Assembly recognized this demand when they said : "Consider the necessity many parents or masters may be under to improve their children and servants in labor for a great part of the year." That is to use their children in work to make a living was so great a call that the Legislature stepped in between parent and child and re- quired the child to be sent to school. Thus indicating the judg- ment of the early fathers that where education is not required by law it will be neglected.
But while the moral and intellectual requirements were being provided for in a liberal manner for that age under the circum- stances, the progress of settlement of the town was receiving much attention and calling out incessant and marvelous effort. And there seemed to be almost a mania for new land ; land and forests ; or land in the unbroken forests. On, and on into the wilderness they moved with eager haste, before they had half fenced or half cleared the land taken up.
There was a tract of land that had been purchased of the In- dians a number of years before, and a mortgage given to Mr. Nicholas Camp of Milford, and the town voted in 1700, that the mortgage should be paid by paying four pounds money a year, and this land was deeded to the town by the Indians.3
This tract of land was known many years by the name Camp's mortgage purchase, and was divided in 1702, the number of proprietors being fifty-two.
Rules for dividing into lots certain lands in the town had been established in 1700, as follows : "Voted that the land in Derby which lieth below, on the southward, and westward of Little
"3Know that we . . Indians in confirmation of a Mortgage made to Mr. Nicholas Camp of Milford of a certain tract of land, bounded Southward with Derby purchase, westward with a range of swamps near Moose hill, northward with a little river com- monly called Little river, eastward with Naugatuck river, which is a parcel of land about three miles square, be it more or less. Given in 1702.
Indian Witnesses
Arkumi his mark
Artownhood his mark
Cockapatani, sagamore, his mark"
Ahuntaway, Sachem his mark
Will Doctor his mark
Rowaugasuck his mark
Waerashgonoot his mark
Tisachomo his mark
Will Toto his mark
John Toto his mark."
109
CAMP'S MORTGAGE.
river and Bladens brook shall be divided by the following rules.
" All persons having a listed estate, and as have in themselves or their predecessors borne public charges, from sometime be- fore the settling of the first minister Mr. Bowers until now shall have fifty pound in the one hundred added to their present list."
Those who had been in the town since the time intervening between the settlement of the second and third minister, Mr. James, were to have thirty in the one hundred added, and those settling after Mr. James were to have twenty pounds added, and those who had come in during Mr. Moss's ministry were to have only their estates in the list.
" Mr. Moss, the minister, shall have a right in all future divis- ions to the proportion of a one hundred pound estate. The drawing for these lots took place on twelfth of March, 1702, by drawing the numbers from a box or hat.
I Daniel Jackson,
27 Timothy Wooster,
28 Ensign Riggs,
29 Widow Denman,
4 John Davis, Jr.,
30 John Twitchell,
5 Doctor Durand,
3I John Lumm,
6 John Johnson,
32 Andrew Smith,
7 John Bowers,
33 Henry Wooster,
34 Sargent Wooster,
35 Joseph Hawkins,
36 John Chatfield,
37 Thomas Tyler,
38 Captain Johnson,
39 Jeremiah Johnson, Jr.,
40 William Washborn,
41) Widow Tomlinson,
16 John Hulls,
42 James Hard,
17 Samuel. Washborn,
43 John Riggs,
18 Stephen Pierson,
44 George Beamen,
I9 Sargent Brinsmade,
45 John Davis, sen.,
20 Jabez Harger,
46 Isaac Nichols,
21 Widow Bowers,
(22 ) Wm. Tomlinson, Sen.,
23 Samuel Bowers,
49 Widow Harger,
50 Ebenezer Harger,
51 John Tibbals,
52 Jeremiah Johnson."
At the town meeting just before the drawing took place, they voted that the first lot be at the north corner next the
II Samuel Nichols,
12 Francis French,
13 Joseph Pierson,
14 Abel Gunn,
15 Abel Holbrook,
47 David Wooster,
(48 William Tomlinson,
24 Ephraim Smith,
25 Abraham Tomlinson,
26 John Prindle,
2 Joseph,
3 Joseph Baldwin,.
8 John James,
9 Adino Strong,
IO Widow Miles,
IIO
HISTORY OF DERBY.
Little river, next to Sergt. Thomas Wooster's land, and to go westward to the Great hill and then to go back in the second tier up to the Little river, and then back again in the third tier of lots, down by Naugatuck river. Voted that a rod and an half go to the pound of ratable estate according to the two last years' rates, since the purchase was made. The surveyors of this land were Capt. Ebenezer Johnson, Ensign Samuel Riggs, John Riggs, Sergeant Brinsmade, John Bowers and Timothy Wooster; and the rule that was to govern them was that "where it wanted in quality it was to be made up in quantity."
Great carefulness, in regard to equity, was manifested in all the management of so many divisions, continued through many years. In 1703, Capt. Ebenezer Johnson received an allotment in Quaker's farm to make him equal with others, on a certain reckoning in 1689. Many pieces of land were given away upon the asking, without counting them in divisions. As an illus- tration we have the gift of a little land to Josiah Baldwin whose father or grandfather, Richard, was the first father of the plan- tation.
"In 1696. The following persons, inhabitants of Derby, agreeing to give unto Josiah Baldwin an homestead of three or four acres. . . He was a physician.
Ebenezer Johnson, Jeremiah Johnson, sen., Ensign Riggs, John Tibbals, Samuel Bowers,
Samuel Washborn, Ebenezer Riggs,
Stephen Pierson,
: Wm. Tomlinson, sen., Timothy Wooster, Samuel Brinsmade, Joseph Hawkins, John Pringle, Samuel Nichols,
Joseph Hulls,
Ephraim Smith, Jr.,
William Washborn,
Jonathan Lumm, Isaac Nichols,
Abel Holbrook, John Bowers, *.
Henry Wooster, John Pierson, Stephen Pierson, Jr., John Riggs, John James,
John Chatfield, John Hulls, George Beaman, Jeremiah Johnson, Jr. John Johnson,
Abraham Tomlinson, Francis French, Andrew Smith, John Davis, sen., John Twitchell, Thomas Wooster, James Hard, Ebenezer Harger,
O Wm. Tomlinson, Jr., David Wooster, Moses Johnson.
III
AN HOUR GLASS.
This man became somewhat noisy about town in a few years later ; perhaps in recognition of former favors. "1703, voted that Josiah Baldwin beat the drum whenever it is necessary that the town be called together for and to any meetings except training days, and that he have eight shillings for so doing."
The petition of John Davis, Jr., to the town of Derby, Greet- ing :
"Gentlemen I by necessity am forst to put forth my petition to your selves requesting this favour of all to whom it dusconserne yt you will be pleas to sett your Hands to this my small request, for four acres and A half of land lying upon white mayre's hill ; I having not land to Improve : hope you will not denie this my request : gentlemen as your- selves know I have lived these several years in this sd town and have not had one foot of land of y" town but what I have bought hoping gentlemen yt upon these conditions, you will be pleas to sett your hands to this my small petition that is above mentioned signifieing me the sd John Davis to be true proprietor of ye sd lands a bove mentioned-pray sor, denie not this request to yor friend & servant John Davis. Feb. 2, 1710."
Forty names were signed and the deed recorded.
Another long step was taken in the civilization of the world and of progress, in 1702, when the town ordered "that John Pringle (town treasurer) disburse so much of the towns money on his hand as will buy an hour-glass." This may have been to time the minister, to see if he preached full length sermons. What but this, if anything, the town could do with an hour- glass is the mystery.
In 1704, there was much uneasiness about the security of the titles to the lands, as there had been several times in pre- vious years, and a committee was sent to the General Assem- bly and obtained a patent, so called in those days, but this did not give them rest, for about 1710, they made another effort to be secure, and some years after that, they made another. Mil- ford obtained its Patent in 1713. The matter as to Derby was finally settled in 1720, when the Legislature voted to give the town a quit-claim deed.
The only town act that has been observed, that indicated any disturbance among the Indians is dated March 4, 1702, and pro- claims a state of considerable excitement. "Voted that Capt.
112
HISTORY OF DERBY.
Ebenezer Johnson and Henry Wooster treat with the Indians to pacify and satisfy them on any tolerable terms." The word satisfy, is probably the largest key to the trouble ; their lands in the town were nearly all gone. They had removed from the vicinity of what is now Baldwin's Corners, to the side of the Ousatonic, where the new fort stood, a little way above the dam on that river, and thence to the neighborhood of Wesquantook, and Pomperaug, some going to the reservation possibly at the Falls, (or Seymour) and others still farther away. The two chiefs, Cockapatana and Ahuntaway, were probably residing at Wesquantook, or its vicinity, as intimated in one of the deeds. Woodbury was clearing the country above them and what were they to do? The war with France was still going on, and com- munications were passing from tribe to tribe, and great rewards offered for the tribes to turn against the English. The uneasi- ness is indicated also by the carefulness of the town to keep a lawful stock of ammunition on hand, as indicated by several votes ; and it is said that "every soldier, was provided with ammunition."
The Indians had been so friendly and true to their white neighbors fifty years, that it seems almost unkind to think of their being anything else, but it is certain that those old white neighbors were alarmed to an unusual extent, to pass such a resolution in town meeting. So far as appears on the records the English had dealt honorably with the Indians. There is a story that the Indians became indebted to Mr. Camp (merchant) for whisky, and he obtained a mortgage to secure his pay. If true, it should be remembered that the traffic in whisky was just as honorable then, as traffic in tobacco to-day, and the amount which the town paid for this tract of land was so much that they divided it into installments of four pounds a year for four or five years, and this land as it lay when divided would sell for little more if anything, than what they paid, if we judge by the sales which were made of some of the land under cultivation.
The first appointment to keep an ordinary or tavern was given to Ebenezer Johnson at his residence near Two-mile brook, which was, doubtless, continued some years.
In 1704, Samuel Nichols and Abel Holbrook were appointed to this office or privilege.
II3
MR. JAMES DISMISSED.
Abel Holbrook resided on what is now the Swift farm, the house standing a little south of the present dwelling.
Samuel Nichols was in the vicinity of Baldwin's Corners, as called at present.
Both these men continued to keep an ordinary by appoint- ment, until 1716, when John Pringle seems to have taken the place of Samuel Nichols. One of these men, probably kept the ordinary on the hill north-west and in sight of Baldwin's Cor- ners, on the first and old Woodbury road, now closed up or nearly so, but an old house or barn is still standing at that place.
But another trial was at hand for the Lord's people "in this corner of the wilderness " as they had written at first when they sought to become a church. The health of the Rev. Mr. James had nearly failed, and it was evident another minister must be obtained.
The town record for March 4, 1706, reads : "The town have freely granted and given Mr. James the house wherein he liveth and the barn and the lot whereon his house and barn standeth whether he live or die in the town.
" Mr. James having at sundry times signified and declared unto the church of Christ in Derby and also to the town that he is unable under his disabilities to attend and discharge the ministerial work unto and amongst them; he hath manifested his willingness freely to lay down his work and the church of Christ in Derby; and also the town, under a sense of the heavy burden upon him are freely willing to set him at liberty, he having signified his willingness and desire that they may with speed provide themselves, that so they may have the word and ordinances amongst them. The town and the church with Mr. James desire the council of the neighboring churches and elders in this affair and matter.
"The town have chosen Mr. Pierpont, Mr. Andrew and Mr. Stoddard to give advice in the sorrowful case between Mr. James and the town.
"Voted that the town are very sensible of their need of a minister to preach the gospel among them.
"The town have chosen Sargt. Samuel Brinsmade to carry a letter unto Mr. Moss, and to treat with him about being helpful to them in the work of the ministry and they have agreed in
15
II4
HISTORY OF DERBY.
case he cannot be prevailed with, the townsmen are a committee empowered to set out for some other as they shall be advised."
Mr. Moss was obtained to supply the pulpit a time, and the next August the town gave him an invitation in order to a set- tlement, and made an offer concerning salary and other items, but the offer was not accepted. Probably he continued to preach regularly among them some months.
After Mr. James was dismissed, he sold his house and lot to Ebenezer Johnson in behalf of the town, for ninety pounds money, and removed to Wethersfield. The town then bought the property of Captain Johnson for the same price to be a par- sonage. They also had a lot in the field on Sentinel hill, which they called the parsonage lot. The next February they voted that Mr. Joseph Moss should be their settled minister, if they could obtain him upon the terms hereafter mentioned.
"Voted that whereas formerly the town of Derby saw cause to give Mr. Moss, provided he settle among them, six acres of land for an home lot, they now see cause in lieu thereof to make over to him the home lot belonging to the house they bought of Mr. James, or Major Johnson, provided he settle among us in the ministry, as also the house and barn they have bought with it.
"They also see fit to give him the hillside adjoining as it is bounded in Major Johnson's deed, and the use of all the parson- age land and meadow; and also the town see cause to continue their former minds as to the forty acres of land voted to him before. Also that they agree to give him fifty pounds per annum as formerly voted more fully, and to provide him his fire wood, and get his hay for him, and to maintain the parsonage fenced." (Very good; is there anything further that can be done?) But this was not all, for a young and vigorous minis- ter coming into a parish after an older one,-sick with all,-his work nearly done,-lifts the courage and devotion of a people very wonderfully.
"Further; voted the town grant to the said Mr. Moss and his heirs forever the aforesaid housing and lands on this condi- tion, that he live and die with them in the work of the ministry, but if he see cause to leave the town and. desert that work, the aforementioned house and barn, home lot and pasture to revert
115
A NEW MINISTER.
to the town again." (That is the way to have settled pastors if people want them !)
"Voted that the town will this ensuing year at their own charge clear and break up, two acres of the parsonage land, and sow the same in good season and order, with wheat for Mr. Moss's use.
"Voted that :- (What, not through yet? O, no, we are to have a new minister !) Major Johnson, Ensign Samuel Riggs, and Lieut. Thomas Wooster be a committee to treat with Mr. Joseph Moss in order to settle him in the ministry among us."
Such was that new broom, heard of in so many ages in the past ; the same one, that always sweeps clean when new !
However, it may be said that Rev. Mr. James was not a popu- lar speaker, although a faithful, efficient man, undertaking more than he could possibly do, but Mr. Moss was a good speaker, with interesting and attractive ways and methods; and he knew somewhat his value, and the town did wisely in its decisions, as to extra worth, but the real facts are that parishes are not often governed by the plain fact of worth, but by fancy, preju- dice, personal pleasure or interest. The great question of the good of human kind without regard to minor questions seldom prevails in these later days. The salary, and most of the items, were just what Mr. James received. In 1708, they changed and gave him money instead of furnishing wood; and most of the years of his service his salary was voted to be fourpence on the pound, whatever that might be, but was on a scale of gradual increase as the town improved in valuation, until about 1730, when it was made three pence on the pound.
Mr. Joseph Moss became their settled pastor in the spring of 1707, having preached on trial nearly a year, and was probably ordained and installed by a council of the ministers named and elders of their churches, who were invited by the town. The records mention "The church of Christ in Derby," and that was the customary name used in those days throughout the Colony. Some years afterwards, the habit of calling them Presbyterian grew up, and also the name Congregational. There was just as much propriety in calling the Episcopal church the Roman church as in calling these colonial churches Presbyte- rian, and it is pleasant to know that in these later times people,
II6
HISTORY OF DERBY.
generally, have become more definite and proper in the use of terms.
While Mr. Moss was preaching on trial and the parish were quite anxious to secure him as settled pastor, they voted in December that the town would build a new meeting-house, but soon after the conclusion was to repair the old meeting-house and use it some years longer.
" Dec. 1706. Voted that the town will add to the present meet- ing-house and not build a new one for the present. Voted that the addition shall be made at the end of the meeting-house and not at the side, viz .: 14 feet added in length to the west end.
" Voted that the town will refit the old meeting-house by shingling and plastering the walls with clay and whitewashing with lime upon the clay, and that the addition shall be fitted in like manner, and that when it is thus enlarged and repaired the town will procure seats for the convenient seating of the same."
Major Johnson, Ens. Samuel Riggs, Mr. Isaac Nichols, were the building committee.
Hence, previous to this time this house was provided with neither stationary seats nor plastering. The seats were proba- bly loose plank or slab seats, like those provided for some other meeting-houses since that day.
In 1706 they " voted that the town do agree with Major John- son to get, cart, frame and set up the timber for the new end of the meeting-house for five pound in country pay, and Major Johnson to stay for his pay until the next year, and to get the work done by the last of March next ensuing."
They agree with Mr. Samuel Bowers "to get, prepare, cart and lay, the clapboards and shingles, for four pounds, and wait one year for his pay, and have the work done by the fifteenth of May next."
This was attended to during the summer of 1707, as appears by votes passed to pay for such work. This was the meeting- house that stood at Squabble Hole.
" Voted that the town will give Major Johnson forty shillings for his work about the New and Old flour [mill] and the meet- ing-house." "Voted that Jeremiah Johnson shall have four pounds ten shillings for what he did for the town about the meet- ing-house ; and that the town allow Adino Strong thirteen
II7
SEATING THE MEETING-HOUSE.
pounds and ten shillings for his work about the meeting-house ; and that John Pringle shall have two pounds nineteen shillings for his work about the meeting-house." In October they voted that " the town will seat the meeting-house ; and have seated Major Johnson, Ensign Riggs, Mr. William Tomlinson, sen., and Isaac Nichols in the first seat before the pulpit ; Lieut. Thomas Wooster, Ensign Joseph Hull, John Tibballs and Stephen Pierson, sen., in the first short seat joining to the pul- pit, and further they have not proceeded yet." But they did proceed further very decidedly, for in this arrangement there was not a sufficient number of classes ; it was too common, and therefore on December 15th following, they "voted that Major Johnson shall, according to his desire, sit at the end of the pul- pit in a short seat alone, and that the town be at suitable charge to make it handsome and convenient to entertain the Major honorably.
" At the same time voted that Mrs. Bowers, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Moss shall sit in the seat on the women's side next to the pulpit, which is made with banisters like a pew. Voted that Stephen Pierson, John Tibbals, Ens. Joseph Hull and Joseph Hawkins, shall sit in the first short seat, facing to the end of the pulpit behind where the Major sits ; and that Mother Pier- son, wife of Stephen Pierson, senr., shall sit in the seat next behind the pew. Voted to seat the widow Washborn, widow Johnson, widow Tomlinson and widow French and wife of Abel Holbrook in the next seat behind the pew.
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