USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > The memorial history of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1884, Vol. II > Part 44
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A large part of the records of this society and town from 1722 to 1822 are lost. The historical material remaining is scattered in private houses, deposited in the archives of Farmington, or recorded, with little attempt at classification, in the voluminous manuscripts of the late Gad Andrews. To these may be added many public and some private papers lately brought to light. When the present work was undertaken, the writer hoped (using Mr. Timlow's Historical Sketches as a basis) to re- search this scattered material so thoroughly as to supply missing links and settle disputed points left by Timlow's Sketches in abeyance. Two causes have prevented a thorough work ; namely, lack of time, and lim- ited space. The work finally done has been to revise former publications by comparison with original documents, to condense and arrange some of the most important facts recorded in Timlow's Sketches, and add only such new matter as the plan of this publication would permit. The writer dares hope that the laborious work of research and condensation has not been in vain. For the biographical notices which are included in the article, I am indebted to the assistance of other persons, who have prepared them for the history.
Stehtun Trackley
XXIII.
SUFFIELD.
BY HEZEKIAH SPENCER SHELDON.
S YUFFIELD is bounded on the north by Massachusetts, on the east by the Connecticut River, which separates it from Enfield, on the south by Windsor Locks, East Granby, and Granby, and on the west by East Granby, Granby, and Massachusetts. It contains about 38} square miles. Unlike most ancient towns, its area has been en- larged, - about 2,500 acres having been added since its boundary lines were first judicially established in 1713. There is no alluvial land upon the river border, as in towns above and below. The river bank is generally elevated and bold, composed of " clay slaty rock " suitable only for foundation walls. From the river westward to the mountain the country rises with a succession of broken ridges that extend across the town parallel with the river, with wide intermediate valleys. Upon these elevations are the highways which originally were old Indian trails or paths. On the first ridge, half a mile from the river, is Feather Street. The second ridge is Long Hill. Upon the third, about two miles from the river, is High Street, formerly the old Springfield and Windsor " Way." On the next, west, runs what was once the " Hamp- ton and Westfield path." The mountain, still farther west (in the Mount Tom range, and formerly supposed to be rich in minerals), is the most prominent feature in our landscape. West of it lie the Congamond Lakes. In the extreme southwest corner of the town is Manatuck Mountain, its eastern border a bold, almost perpendicular bluff, afford- ing an extended view of the valley between the Talcott and Green Mountain ranges.
Three streams rising within the town, empty into the Connecticut River, -- Stony River or Stony Brook, Rawlins's Brook, and Deep Brook. Stony Brook rises in the mountain with a west and north branch, and half-way across the town toward the east is enlarged by Muddy Brook from the north, which is formed by numerous small streams from the Agawam Plains. Stony Brook is further increased by small streams from Windsor Plains on the south. It formerly furnished many mill- sites, but the axe and the spade have nearly ruined them. With a thorough drainage, no town has a better supply of running streams for its farms, and few have so large a proportion of land adapted to tillage, or so little broken or waste land. Great Island, in the Connecticut River rapids, opposite the mouth of Stony Brook, lies wholly west of the main channel and is only approachable from the Suffield side, where the west branch is usually fordable in summer. Its extreme length is 315 rods ; its extreme width, 100 rods. It contains about 100 acres ; 60
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
are alluvial and tillable, and the remainder rocky and covered with for- est to the water's edge. Probably no other such charmingly isolated and secluded spot, so near to and yet so remote from the busy world, can be found in New England.
Irregular in shape, the extreme length of the town from east to west is about 81 miles, and its extreme width is 6 miles. Its area by the survey of 1713 was 22,172 acres; add to this about 2,500 acres from the ancient Westfield grant in 1803, and we have 24,672 acres as its present area.
The following names of localities are found in the early records, most of them being retained : Stony Brook, Muddy Brook, Filer's Brook, Clay Brook, Rawlins's Brook, Deep Brook, Wolf Pit Brook, Rattle- snake Brook, Three Mile Brook, Sawmill Brook, Onion Brook, Burli- son's Brook, Meeting-House Hill, Long Hill, Great Hill, Bush Hill, King's Hill, Kent's Hill, Stevenson's Hill, Round Hill, Cord Wood Hill, Hoop Hill, Buck Hill, Chestnut or Sandy Hill, Taintor Hill, Boston Neck, The Neck, Ireland Plain, Musketo-Hawk Plain, Rattlesnake Plain, Great Swamp, Dismal Swamp, Pipe-stave Swamp, Dirty Slough, Swampfield or Little Common, Winchell's Bridge alias Kellogg's Bridge, Bush Bridge, Norton's Bridge, Jackson Bridge.
The town was originally heavily wooded, especially with pine and oak, and had only about five hundred acres of meadow or swamp grass- land. Owing to the lack of open fields and alluvial lands, it is not probable that the Indians lived here continuously in any numbers, unless along the Great River Falls and the shores of Wenekeiamaug (now Congamond), where the fishing-grounds were excellent. In these localities indications of settlements and burying-grounds are found. The only names preserved of the aboriginal proprietors are " Pam- punkshat " and "Mishnousqus" alias Margery, probably sachems of the Agawams. No hill, stream, or locality, except the Manatuck Mountain, bears an Indian name. No blood of red or white man shed in war or massacre stains the soil of the town.
Suffield formed a part of Hampshire County, Mass., until 1749. In 1660 it was called Stony River, from its principal stream. In 1670, and for many years afterward, it was called Southfield, both by the in- habitants and in the Province laws. On the 20th of May, 1674, the committee for settling the town petitioned that "the honored Court would please to grant this Plantation seven yeares freedom from Coun- trey Rates, as an encouragement for the planters, it being a woody place and difficult to winne ; " also, " that the name of the place may be Suffield [an abbreviation of Southfield], it being the southernmost town that either at present is, or like to be in that Countrey, and neere adjoining to the south border of our Patent in those parts." On the 3d of June, 1674, the Court granted this petition, and the place since that time has been written " Suffeild " or " Suffield " in all its town records. In 1660 the Massachusetts General Court granted to six per- sons (none of them subsequent settlers) land for a plantation at the place called " by ye name of Stoney River, on both sides of the way to Connecticott, seven miles square." An unsuccessful attempt to settle at the southeast corner of the town was probably made, and the grant became void. On the 14th of January, 1669, the selectmen of Spring- field " commende it to the town," that " Samuel and Joseph Harmon,
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John Lamb, and Benjamin Parsons have 30. aeres of land, and 6. aeres of Wet Meadow apiece, at Stony River." This was followed (May, 1670) by a petition : -
" To the Highly Honnd & The Gen Corte of the Massachusetts : The humble Petition of Diverse of ye Inhabitants of Springfield, on the behalfe of ye Towne, Sheweth : that there being a quantity of land betweene Springfield and West- field and the South Lyne of ye Colony, wch wee conceive may be capable of a small Plantation, and for that there are diverse Prsons amongst us that greatly want conveniences of land for improvement for their familyes, who desire to sett upon worke in that quarter, and to prevent the marring of that wch may be a comfortable Township, by such as otherwise may take up those Lands for farmes, & to preserve the Lands and Woods of the South line of the Collony in that quarter towards Windsor. Wee doe humbly intreat this much Honnord Corte to Graunt unto yor Petitioners for ye use of such as want conveniences of Land in this Towne, a quantity of Land for ye end aforesaid : And that the Honnord Corte would be pleased to allow five or six yeares liberty for setting downe there and making a Plantation ; the difficulty of winning those woody lands requiring longer tyme than ordinary to settle upon, there being scarce any open land to begin with. That God only wise would sitt amongst yo" Houn's guiding you to his Glory, & ye comfort of his People : Pray : yo most Humble Petition". John Pynchon, George Coulton, Nathaniel Ely, Anthony Dorchester, Eliazur Holyoke, Benjamin Cooley, Samuel Marshfield, Benjamin Parsons, Henry Cha- pin, Rowland Thomas, Thomas Stebbin, Samuel Chapin, Lorance Bliss, Jonathan Burt, Richard Sicks, Miles Morgan."
The petition was granted on the 12th of October, 1670. A tract of land " to the contente of six miles square," was ordered to be laid out and settled upon, with certain provisos, and Capt. John Pynchon, Capt. Eliaz" Holyoke, Leift. Cooper, Qr Master Colton, Ens" Cooly, and Row- land Thomas, or any three of them, were appointed a Committee for that end. On the 12th of January, 1671, this committee adopted gov- erning rules for " settling " the town. A summary of them is given. Caste, or rank, was observed in locating settlers, in the quantity of land allotted by the committee, inilike that of other valley towns. Only the mountain and the land west of it was divided into lots to be drawn for.
" Ist. There should be four score shares, or house lots of four ranks, of 80, 60, 50 and 40 acres. Meadow being scarce, only one-tenth part is allowed for each. 2d. Rank was to be determined by Quality, Estate, Usefulness and other Con- siderations, as the Committee direct.
" 3d. Provided for further divisions of Meadow if more be found. 4th. The Grantees should pay their proportion of all charges for settling and laying out the town, procuring and providing for a minister, or any other matter, or thing conducing to the public good. 5th and 6th. Provided for laying out Highways and the lands, into several divisions. 7th. The first applicants, should have the liberty of choice, in which Division to settle. 8th. The Petitioners for the Grant, could have allotments under certain conditions. (None settled lere.)
"9th. No settler could sell or alienate his land, until he had a continuous residence of seven years, and with the consent of the committee or selectmen.
" 10th. 'Persons of considerable Quality' not desiring to settle themselves, might have grants of land, to settle such persons as might be a furtherance to the place, and to such only as the Committee approve of.
"11th. Ordered that a convenient allotment of 60. or 80. acres, near the Centre of the Town be reserved for the property of the first Minister, that shall VOL. 11. - 25.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
settle on the place. 12th. An allotment of 80. acres to be set apart for the min- istry forever.
" 13th. Forty acres to be set apart for the support of a school, for, and to that use forever. 14th. One hundred acres for the Gen! Court or Country's use, and four hundred more for the use of the Country. 15th. Twenty or thirty acres to be laid out in the Centre of the Town, and set apart for the Common use :1 as, to set the Meeting House on, or School House, or for a Training place, or any other Publiek use, to be left Common.
" 16th. Sixty acres each for a Corn Mill and Saw Mill with other privileges might be given as encouragement. 17th. The Committee reserve liberty to grant more Lots upon the same conditions, if they find the place will bear it. 18th. Grants were void, unless settled upon within a prescribed time."
These rules, slightly modified in 1673, were conscientiously adhered to. Captain John Pynchon, with the assistance of Samuel Marshfield (county surveyor), devised the following general plan for " laying out " the town, that is substantially the same to-day, except Feather Street Common, subdivided in 1732.
[On the 16th of May, 1671, the committee for Stony River Plantation met, being there on the place. Present, J. Pynchon, Lieutenant Cooper, Mr. Holyoke, Benjamen Cooley, and George Colton. ] "We settled several Divisions or Places, where mens Lands should ly, and be taken up, as one on the north side of Stony Brook, by Northampton Road, where the Harmons are to take up part of their Land, and some others : also we laid out the Town Plat, a little eastward from this Land, something towards the Great River, on the North side of Stony Brook ; where we stated the Highway or Street, running from Stony Brook, northward toward Springfield, and called this Street High Street, where we intend and order, the Meeting House shall be set. This is to be a double Street, and to build upon both sides of it, those on the West side of it, their Lots to run back Westward to Muddy Brook, and those on the East side of this High Street, their Lots to run back from it Eastward, Twelve Score Rods, these meeting with, or adjoining to at least the upper part of these Lots, though not downward.
" Another Range of Lots which come from Feather Street, near the Great River, though some distance from the Great River, there being some Land left there for a Common, next the Great River. This Range of Lots in Feather St., which is only a single Range having the Land before them Common, to the Great River, from the front of their Lots, where they are to build. The Lots run back westward toward High Street, Twelve Score Rods, and somewhat more, there being a little allowance in the length of Feather Street Lots, as being Judged somewhat meaner than them in High Street ; all which Lots are to rear one upon another, except at the lower end, or Southwardly next to Stony Brook."
On the 28th of January, 1675, the committee met, and so many persons desired to settle in the new town, that it was determined " to fill up the place to one hundred Families, as speedily as may be." The breaking out of King Philip's War, a few months later, suspended all grants of lands, and the plantation was abandoned. Early in the year 1677 the committee announced to the dispersed settlers that, " Whereas now thro' the favor of God in scattering the Heathen, and giving us some quiet, there is hopes of resettling there," they will not claim for- feiture of lands on account of abandonment, but will give them " forty
1 About twenty acres were set apart as the town's common. Here was the training-ground, and here stood, side by side, the meeting-house, the school-house, the stocks, the whipping- post, and the pound.
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days to declare their intendments and full resolution to settle there," and " failing to settle within eighteen months, their allotments to be disposed of, to such as will."
In the spring of 1677 nearly all who had grants returned, and the town started anew. Meanwhile, two members of the committee had deceased ; Lieutenant Cooper was killed by the Indians in the attack on Springfield, Oct. 5, 1675, and Captain Holyoke died Feb. 6, 1676.
For the safety of the people, the land on High Street not laid out was divided into house-lots about twelve rods wide, to be given to the settlers, especially those out on the Northampton Road, who were most exposed, and who finally removed to High Street.
In 1678 additional grants were made and some highways deter- mined ; namely, the one from the lower end of High Street to the Windsor road, one from High Street easterly toward the mill, also the road to Feather Street and " the highway out westward" over Muddy Brook (where there was a new bridge, the first in the town) to the Northampton Road. The " Northampton road " was at first a path or trail between the Connectient towns and those of Massachusetts west of the river by the way of Westfield, which was a trading-post in 1643. Northampton and Hadley kept this way open for ox-carts many years. This road and High Street were called " country roads," dis- tinguishing them as not laid out and maintained by the town. Another " way " from Poquonnock to Westfield through West Suffield, by the notch (Rising's), was called "New Hampton Path." High Street (also called Springfield Road) and the Feather Street (river) road were both used for many years before the town was settled. Pine plains and swamps extended to the Wenekeiamaug, west from the mountain, and along its eastern base stretched the Great Swamp, now cultivated land. The allotment for the Crooked Lane Lots, " be- yond, or at the upper end of High Street," was granted, with a highway adjoining, in 1680.
On the 12th of October, 1681, the General Court ordered the com- mittee to call a meeting of the qualified voters, for town organization. On the 2d of January, 1682, the committee met for the last time and completed their labors of " filling up the place " to one hundred families (although the grant required but twenty). The grantees became pro- prietors in fec simple of all the lands within the plantation, each in proportion to his first grant ; 6,258 acres had been distributed, and the remainder was left to be divided as the majority should direct.
In 1682 sixty-two proprietors were heads of families ; the remainder were unmarried, and some of them young. The first proprietor to die was Samuel Harmon, in 1677 ; the last was Deacon John Hanchett, in 1744, aged ninety-five years. The first female white child born here was Mindwell, daughter of Robert and Susanna Old, Feb. 4, 1674. The first male white child born was Ephraim Bartlett, born June 17, 1673, son of Benjamin Bartlett, of Windsor, who bought a right in the Suffield plantation of Major Pynchon, but abandoned it soon after.1
The names of the first grantees and proprietors (one hundred in number), many of whom were from Springfield and Windsor, in the order of their grants, are: -
1 Pynchon Account Book, and History of Wilbraham.
.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
Samuel Harmon.
John Hodge.
John Hanchett.
Joseph Harmon.
Samuel Kent, Sr.
David Froe.
Nathaniel Harmon.
Thomas Parsons.
Obadiah Miller.
Zerubbabel Filer.
James Barker.
Daniel Canada (Kenedy).
Robert Old.
James Rising.
Simon Gowin.
Jonathan Winchill.
Benjamin Dibble.
Mr. John Younglove.
David Winchill.
Thomas Remington, Jr.
William Pritchard.
George Jeffries.
Isaac Cakebread.
Michael Towsley.
Robert Watson.
Timothy Eastman.
John Rising.
John Watson.
Joseph Eastman.
Edmund Marshall,
John Millington.
John Lawton.
Richard Wollery.
Steven Taylor.
Thomas Copley.
John Huggins.
John Taylor.
Thomas Taylor.
James Barlow.
Nathaniel Cook.
Sergeant Thomas Huxley. James Taylor.
Timothy Hale.
Edward Burleson.
Luke Hitchcock.
John Filley.
Peter Roe.
John Barber.
Hugh Roe.
John Sevrance.
Samuel Taylor.
Thomas Spencer.
John Pengilly.
Jonathan Taylor.
Judah Trumble.
Edward Allyn, Sen.
Nathaniel Cheny.
Joseph Trumble.
Edward Allyn, Jr.
Victory Sikes.
Edward Smith.
John Allyn.
William Brooks.
Anthony Austin.
William Allyn.
Ebenezer Brooks
Timothy Palmer.
John Scott.
Gregory Gibbs.
Walter Holiday.
James King.
Samuel Lane.
Samuel Roe.
Samuel Bush.
John Mighill.
Abram Dibble.
Joseph Seager.
John Mighill, Jr.
John Burbank.
John Remington.
Thomas Mighill.
John Barber.
Jonathan Remington.
Thomas Stevens.
Thomas Barber.
Richard Austin.
Joseph Leonard.
George Norton.
Anthony Austin, Jr.
Joseph Barber.
Thomas Remington.
Samuel Kent, Jr.
Benjamin Barber.
Launeelot Granger.
Deacon Thomas Hanchett. Samuel Filer.
Thomas Granger
Thomas Hanchett, Jr.
Joseph Pynchon.
George Granger.
The following had grants, but were not settlers, and received their proportion of subsequent divisions of land in compensation for some services rendered : Major John Pynchon, Benjamen Cooley, George Col- ton, Rowland Thomas, Eliznr Holyoke, Thomas Cooper, John Ingersoll, John Ingersoll, Jr., John Petty, Joshua Wells, Samuel Cross.
An abstract of the title to our lands under the Massachusetts patent may be outlined as follows : (1) The Town Grant by that Gen- eral Court. (2) The Indian title acquired by Major John Pynchon for £30 and conveyed by him to the Inhabitants of Suffield for £40 in 1684. (3) The distribution by the Committee and Proprietors, with a descriptive record of the date, bounds, quantity, and name of Grantce, made in the Town or Proprietor's Books, compiled and certified by the Land Measurer. Succeeding transfers by deed, will, or otherwise, be- fore 1749, are in Massachusetts records; since that time, in Hartford and Suffield records. The location of proprietors' house-lots is easily determined, while that of their ontlands is often in hopeless obscurity. Five years' quiet possession of land made a title under the province law.
The " Great Island" was given to the Rev. Ephraim Huit, of
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SUFFIELD.
Windsor, by the Connecticut General Court in 1641, and by his will it was returned in 1644 " for the use of the country." In 1681 the Mas- sachusetts General Court gave it to John Pynchon. He died in 1703, and the Island was a part of his Suffield estate, inventoried at ten pounds. In 1717 his heirs sold it to John and Ebenezer Devotion and Joshua Leavitt, all of Suffield, for £130 current money. In 1736 Joseph Kellogg, of Suffield, bought John Devotion's right. In 1755 General Phineas Lyman bought the whole island, and sold it in 1774 to Roger Enos, of Windsor, for £200. Since that time its many owners are found in Suffield land records to 1806, and since that date at En- field. The isolated position and consequent little value of this beauti- ful island render its jurisdiction of slight importance. Mr. Terry, who now owns the larger part, is probably the first permanent white resident. It has borne the successive names of " Great Island," "Lyman's," " Copper," "King's," and "Terry's."
On the 21st of March, 1671, the committee laid out the bounds of that part of the town east of the mountain, and made this report to the General Court, which was approved and confirmed June 3, 1674 : -
"The North Bounds of this new Plantation joyning to Springfield South Bounds on the West Side of the Connecticott Ryver, is at a little gutter about half a mile below the brook, commonly called the Three Mile Brook below Lieut. Cooper's house : Viz : at two tall middling trees standing about two foote from each other, the one a walnut, the other an oak, which stands on the knap or brow of the hill, on the North side of that gutter by the Great River side within three or foure rod where the gutter emptyes into the Great River. The said trees being marked on the North bounds of this new Plantation : and thence the Bounds run upon the due West line, about fower miles and a halfe from the River Connecticott till it meet Westfield Bounds (now Rising's Notch), and from the said two trees, the East bound is the said River Connecticott, and is sixe miles southward upon the square from the said West (North) Lyne. The South border of this New Plantation is a due West Lyne, drawn from a large White Oake, marked standing on the banke of the Ryver Connecticott two or three rods from the said Ryver, and about a half a mile below the Island, neere the foote of the Falls in the Great Ryver. And from the said White Oake, the South border extends seven miles and a halfe due West, many trees being marked in that Range or Lyne."
Notwithstanding boundary disputes for two centuries, these are town lines to-day, with this exception : The south line interfered with the Simsbury grant at five miles from the Great River. The north line varies but little from the correct State line, being only ninety rods too far south at the river, and eight rods too far north at the Westfield line (now Rising's Notch). Ancient Westfield (the top of the moun- tain) bounded about two miles of our west border. The Simsbury line was in dispute and unsettled until 1713. The Suffield grant by Massachusetts, in 1670, revived the colonial boundary question, which after forty years' strife was decided to be wholly within the Connec- ticut patent. The cause for these boundary troubles must be largely attributed to the erratic colony line of 1642 by Woodward and Saffery, which appears to have been ordered by Massachusetts to establish its jurisdiction over Warronoco and Springfield. In 1713 the colony line was adjusted by commissioners appointed by each colony. Massa- chusetts retained the jurisdiction of the towns it had planted, with
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
their original bounds intact. The boundary line of Suffield on Windsor and Simsbury, as then established, was the colony line until the revolt. Massachusetts had " planted " 105,793 Connecticut acres, recompensing it with an equal quantity of wild land in the present towns of Pelham, Belchertown, and Ware, Mass. Connectient sold these lands in 1716 for £683 (a little more than two cents an acre), and gave £500 of it to Yale College.
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