The History of Guilford, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1639

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:

THE

HISTORY

GUILFORD, CONNECTICUT,

ITS FIRST

SETTLEMENT

IN

1639.

FROM THE MANUSCRIPTS

Hon.

RALPH

ALBANY, J.

D.

SMITH

N. Y.

MUNSELL, PRINTER 1877.

TO /

AMOS SEWARD, THIS HISTORY OF HIS NATIVE

IS

3£lesiiectfull2 JBetticatcB.

TOWN

PREFACE.

A,MONG

the manuscripts left

by the

late

Ralph D.

Smith Esq., who had devoted

his leisure

the last forty years of his

to the study of histori-

cal

life

hours during

and genealogical subjects, was found an outline

sketch of the history of Guilford, written

some

resuming

his

labors

upon

it

thirty

hope of

years ago and doubtless laid aside with the

when more abundant

materials should have been collected for the purpose.

The

history of the early settlers of the town

Although not

favorite subject of study.

showed an attachment to it fully equal to shown by any one to the place of his birth. thoroughly acquainted with alive to everything that

Had by

own hands,

it

been

filled

to

its

a

he

that ever

He

records and

would add

this historical sketch

his

its

was

a native,

was

keenly

reputation.

up and completed

would have undoubtedly compared

favorably, in accuracy and completeness, with the his-

tory of any town heretofore written.

Still it

proper to save what he had prepared, even

complete form,

as

seemed

in its in-

something of great value to the

student of local history, and as a foundation upon

which future laborers might build

and exhaustive history.

a

more complete

O

PREFACE.

There

something exceedingly attractive

is

history of this town and

its

the

in

good people, singularly

reminding one of what Halleck, the Guilford poet, says in his

poem

Connecticut " View them near

At home, where

all

their

worth and pride

And there their hospitable fires burn And there the lowliest farm-house With manly

is

placed

;

clear.

hearth

is

graced

hearts, in piety sincere.

Faithful in love, in honor stern and chaste,

In friendship

Beloved

The

warm and

in life,

true, in

and sainted

danger brave,

in the grave."

editor has been assisted in the preparation of

the manuscript for the press by

and

is

indebted also to

D.D., Rev. Geo.

W.

Dr. Alvan Talcott,

Rev. Lorenzo T. Bennett,

Banks, Hon. Edward R. Lan-

don, and others, for occasional assistance, to

whom

all

of

he begs leave to make due acknowledgments

for the same.

L. Guilford^ July

i,

1877.

H.

S.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

T,HE

original

town of Guilford, including the present towns

Long

of Guilford and Madison, stretched along the shore of

Island sound from Branford to Killingworth, a distance on a

June i6th, 1671,' a

straight line of perhaps nine or ten miles.

committee found the length of the town from south to north to be ten miles,

measuring from the point of rocks

west of Guilford harbor

;

but, as this point

other points on the sound, the

mean

be considered as eleven miles.

The

although

ually,

The

nearly seven miles.

town from Branford, was

the

until

it

may

breadth

western boundary, separating

a straight line

from the mouth of in a single

the corner boundary of the four towns of Guil-

ford, Branford, Wallingford

and

Durham.

This pond

mile long from south to north, and a half a mile wide.

northern boundary, separating the town from little

many

became only

The mean

Stony creek to the centre of Pistapaug pond, where

monument was

south-

breadth diminished grad-

about four miles and five-eighths of a mile.

may be

at the

north of

length of the town

northwards

irregularly,

is

Durham,

is

a

The ran a

north of east from the centre of this pond to the western

branch of Hammonassett

river.

The

above mentioned com-

mittee found the distance from the eastern side of the pond to this

branch to be four miles, three furlongs and four rods, but

as the

boundary commenced

distance must be greater.

in the centre

The

of the pond the whole

eastern boundary passed

the middle of this branch to the Hammonassett, thence

Guilford Records, vol.

i,

page 50.

down down

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

8

whence

the middle of the river to Dudley's creek, rods,

50°

10'

to

east,

West rock

Ori-

This boundary separated the town from Killingworth. ginally

followed the Hammonassett to

it

216

ran

it

on the sound.

so called

entrance into Kil-

its

lingworth harbor, and one half of the harbor was considered as

belonging to Guilford

;

but the legislature of the state, at an

adjourned session in December, 1790, changed the line from

West

Dudley's creek to

rock, throwing the whole of the harbor

and a tract of land east of worth. the

this

new

part of the line into Killing-

was provided, however, that

It

clams as

fully as

though

this alteration

Before the division of the town

in

1826, Guilford embraced :

Guilford First Society

and the society now called North Guilford

narrow

strip

divisional line

about two miles from the

island

on the margin of the sound

;

sound.

;

thence to the channel of the East river

The

at the

centre of

thence

in a right

between the two towns, begins

the extreme point of land between the East and

line to

rivers

Besides includes

of land previously a part of Guilford First Society,

running northward

Munger's

and East Guilford

;

now Madison and North Madison. last mentioned the new townof Madison

Bristol,

tlietwo societies a

of oysters and

fisheries

had not been made.

four located congregational societies, viz

and North

should not prevent

this

town of Guilford from regulating the

Neck

thence follow-

;

ing the channel of the East river as far north as the abutment

of

landing

Chittenden's

;

thence

easterly

the parish line a

little

lines

vicinity

northeast

right line

to

intersects said parish line

;

thence

of East Guilford and North Bristol, to the

north line of Guilford. the

in a

south of David Dudley's dwelling house,

where the centre of the road on the parish

the

to

corner of said wharf; thence northeasterly

The whole

original

town,

like others in

and country, was originally inhabited by Indians,

who called it, or at least the western They were numerous on the great

part of

it,

Menunkatuck.

plains south

of Guilford

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

9

borough, as appears from the vast masses of shells which they brought upon

it

and which are mouldering to

considerably numerous bors and

in

them with

of the sound furnished

shores

day

this

and

;

other parts of the town as the hargreat ad-

vantages for fishing, and the woods back for hunting.

That

town which

part of the

lies

between Ruttawoo (East

and Agicomook (Stony creek),

river)

the present

constituting nearly

squaw of Menunkatuck (Shaumpishuh), the Indian consenting, Sept. 29, 1639, by

said

John Caffinge perhaps) had come out

same year, and who were now resolved

At the time of

this place.

to

the purchase

it

John

Bishop, and

behalf of themselves and others,

in

inhabitants

Henry Whitfield, Robt. Kitchel,

William Leete, William Chittenden, John CafEnge,

all

town of Guilford, was purchased of the sachem-

to

who

(except the

New

make

Haven

the

a settlement at

was understood and

agreed that the deed should remain in the hands of the planters,

church should be formed

until a

in

the town, to

whom

it

should

be given and under whose superintendence the lands should be out to

divided

who were

those

articles given for this

tract

interested

in

them.

The

were, twelve coats, twelve fathoms

of wampum, twelve glasses, twelve pair of shoes, twelve hatchets,

twelve pairs of stockings, twelve hoes, four kettles, twelve twelve

knives,

English coats. rally

Indians agreed to remove, and

understood that they did remove to

An

Haven. that a

twelve porringers, twelve spoons,

hats,

The article,

however,

in the

after this

The

two

was gene-

Branford and East

Guilford records suggests

number of them were permitted

Ruttawoo.

it

to remain for a time at

commenced immediately grounds now included in Guilford

English settlement

purchase on the

borough, the plain and some lands near the sound having been cleared by the natives and prepared for cultivation.

The

planters had

not been long in the town before

Whitfield particularly, 2

who

had their prosperity greatly

Mr.

at heart,

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

lO undertook

extend their territory eastwards, and on the 20th

to

of September,

1

641, he obtained of

[

along on the sound, as

it

Weekwosh

of Pashquishook

of land called the Neck, extending

] a tract

was then described, from East for the consideration of "

river to

Tuckshishoag or Tuxis pond,

coat or blanket, an Indian coat, one faddom

and a faddom of

a shirt, a pair of shoes

The

right of

Weekwosh

this

to

Dutchman's

land, however, appears to

John Bishop, John Caffinge, John Jordan, and the

J/cete,

Menunkatuck made the township.

conveyance Uncas declared himself

testimony as

Uncas was

wampum,

Mr. Whitfield was

owner of

and

all

all

others,

sale

was

four coats,

in his line.

two

kettles,

four hatchets and three hoes.

of extending the township

desirous

further eastward and accordingly

made

still

repeated applications to

his friend

Mr. George Fenwick of Saybrook,

town the

tract

lying

and

deed of

such circumstances and

doubt that the right of

consideration paid to

four fathoms of

Weekwosh

with

his declaration

left little

the

to be the sole

these lands, denied utterly the claim of

and accompanied

this land

In

rest

purchase of

a

Uncas, sachem of the Mohegans, which covered extended northward through

river,

following,

Kitchel, William Chittenden, William

of the English planters of

The

coat,

wampum."

have been soon doubted, for on the 17th of Dec.

Mr. Whitfield, Robt.

a frieze

to

convey

to the

between Tuxis pond and Hammonassett

which Mr. Fenwick had previously bought of Uncas.

a letter dated Oct. 22d, 1645,

Mr. Fenwick gave the

In

tract

to

Guilford on condition that the planters would accommodate Mr.

Whitfield with hold

the land

land to his content, until

the

town accordingly made field,

and he was authorized to

conditions should be fulfilled.

several allotments of land to

The

Mr. Whit-

which he accepted, and on the 20th of August, 1650, he

gave to the town a deed of he had

in

all

the lands given by

title

and interest which

Mr. Fenwick,

for the considera-

the right,

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. £20

tion of

which must be considered an addi-

paid in wheat,

On

tion to the allotments.

he also gave to the town

Neck, obtained

II

the ?.oth of September following right

all his

(whatever

it

was) to the

from Weekwosh, as the town had paid the

first

consideration.

Uncas probably claimed the two of the conquest of the Pequots

in

own

tracts just

which he

in

territory of very

considerable extent.

Concerning the Indians

who dwelt upon this nothing certain is known. A a human head and neck roughly carved, now lying half a mile northeast of

Madison meeting-house,

have been used by them as an

known

They may have

grounds.

tuck Indians

Nothing

Idol.

what became of them

as to

after the

1739 or 1740.

until

is

is

stone with

fence

in a

supposed to

also certainly

purchase of their

Menunka-

joined their brethren, the

Branford and East Haven, or the Hammonassett

at

Indians at Killingworth, the remnants of

town

in virtue

They had

persons or by their tributaries a

possessed either

their

mentioned

assisted.

The

whom

remained

latter supposition

is

in that

the most

probable as they appear to have been the most numerous about

Hammonassett was

river,

easily cultivated

where they had cleared

a large field

and very productive.

Indian bones have

which

been found near the river and also on the Neck.

The

first settlers

of this town were adventurers from Surry

and Kent near London, and, unlike their mercantile brethren

who '

New

peopled

Their

recorded act as a separate

first

They had

Haven, were mostly farmers.' community was

tlie

Covenant, wliich

signed on ship-board, while on the passage, which was as follows

iliey

:

Covenant.

We, whose names to plant ourselves in

^uinnipiack

:

We

are hereunder written,

New

do

faithfully promise

those that belong to us selves together in

common work,

one

England, and,

;

that

we

intire plantation

may

be, in the southerly

each to each,

for ourselves

the Lord assisting us,

will,

according to every

intending by God's gracious permission

if it

;

sit

and

part,

about

families,

down and

and

join our-

and to be helpful each to the other in every

man's

ability

and

as

need shall require

;

and we

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

12 not a merchant

was

at

among them and

great trouble and

scarcely a mechanic

blacksmith on their Plantation.

They took much

land like that from which they

had removed.

thought of Milford, but they found

called

finally

borough-town, the

it

in

pains to find

At

they

first

upon Guilford, because

town

plat

and moist land agreeable to

town Guilford

the

fixed

particularly about the

it,

settled, low, flat

and

;

expense that they procured even a

where they

first

They

their wishes.

remembrance of Guildford

capital of Surry,

a

where many of them had

lived.

About names

in

forty

planters

came

in the

There were

with entire certainty.

town

into the

consequence of a defect

which are doubtless included the

in

1639, whose

records cannot be given

among

forty-eight in 1650,

original

Their names

forty.

and the date of their admission as freemen are as follows

Henry

:

Whitfield,

Hlgginson.

"Jno.

George Hubbard.

May

Mr. Mr.

Sam'/ Disborow^ Rob't Kltchell,

''

Mr.

Wm.

"

cacli

'' .

Chittenden,

promise not to desert or leave

22, 1648.

other or

the plantation,

"

but witli

consent

tlie

ot"

the rest, or the greater part of the company wlio have enteied into this engagement.

As for our gathering together members to be joined together in it

shall please

God

in a

church way, and the choice of

that way,

we

officers

to settle us in our plantation.

In witness whereof

we

subscribe our hands, the

Robert Kitchell,

John Stone,

John Bishop,

William Plane,

day of June, 1639.

first

Thomas Norton, Abraham Cruttenden,

Francis Bushnell,

Richard Gutridge,

Francis Chatfield,

William Chittenden,

John Hughes,

William Halle,

William Leete,

Wm.

Thomas

Thomas

J"hn Farmelin, John Mcpham, Henry Whitfield,

Joanes,

John Jurdon, William Stone,

John Hoadly,

and

do refer ourselves until such time as

Dudley,

Naish,

Henry Kingsnorth, Henry Doude, '

'rhonias Cooke.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. Mr.

Wm.

I3

May

Leete,

/6^6

1^8.

22,

Thomas Jordan,

John Hodely, John Scranton,

George

Bartlett,

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

Jasper Stillwell,

Alexander Chalker, Stone,

John

Thomas

May

Jones,

22, 1649.

William Hall, Thomas

Beits,

John Parmelin,

"

Sen.,

Henry Kingsnorth,

June 15, 1649.

Thomas Cook,

Feb. 14, 1650.

Richard Bristow, Jno. Parmelin, Jr.,

June 30, 1650.

John Fowler,

Wm.

Dudley,

Richard Gutteridge,

Abraham Cruttenden,

Sen.,

May Feb.

5,

1652.

following names of planters are given

in

the

original

list

of names in

John Evarts,'

The

19, 1651

"

Edward Benton,

Records,

who

had not been admitted as freemen

:

John Bishop Sen;, Thomas

Chatfield,

Francis Bushnell,

Henry Dowd, I

The name

of John Evarts, which appears at the bottom of the

1650 was undoubtedly added afterwards,

as it appears that

he did not come

ford until the next year, being admitted a planter Sept. 4, 1651,

man

Feb.

5,

165a.

He

and sworn

to

Guil-

in a free-

purchased John Mepham's allotment of Timothy Baldwin of

Milford, by deed dated July 29,

1651.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD,

14

Richard Hues^ George Chatfield^

William Stone,

John Stevens, \

Benjamin Wright, 'John Linsley^

John Johnson, John Sheader^

Samuel Blachley,

Thomas French^ Stephen Bishop,

Thomas

Stevens,

William

B or em an

Edward

Sewers,

^

George Highland,

Abraham Cruttenden,

Among

names

the

in the

Jr.

above

list

John Higginson, George

Hubbard, John Fowler, and Thomas Betts original settlers.

Mass., where first

The

his father

Francis Higginson was the

to Guilford about 1641.

tlement of the

moved

to

Prudden

in CJuilford,

Boston, Mass.

made on

also to liave

Betts

in

1639 on the

is

1648, also

set-

who thereupon came with Mr.

mentioned on the

the settlement of that town, and

come from

before 1648, as he

Thomas

Sept. 22,

John Fowler

to Milford in 1639, ?.nd

of planters

pastor,

and then

mentioned town and purchased the property

last

of Jacob Sheaffe

first

fort,

George Hubbard came from

Wethersfield to Milford with Mr. Prudden

'

were not of the

stopping at Hartford, afterwards at Saybrook

coming

He

'

Rev. Mr. Higginson came from Salem,

is

Wethersfield.

He came

is

first

to Guilford

mentioned as early as that time.

came from Milford, where he was one of

afterwards removed, 1665, or 1666, to Norwalk.

the

list

supposed

first settlers, in

John

1639.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

Mepham

having died before the

lists

mentioned, although he was sworn

Goldam

I5

were made, in

May

his

is

not

Henry

appears to have been here at this time and long after-

wards but

his

name

omitted from the

is

Abraham Cruttenden,

lists for

was made

their being

and

out,

sworn,

May

have been received as to Guilford,

names were added

their

cause.

at

after the

till

the time of

George Hubbard seems

19, 1651, a

some

Edward Benton, were among

Sen., and

the earliest settlers, but were not admitted freemen list

name

22, 1648.

freeman immediately

to

coming

after his

and Mr. Whitfield and Mr. Higginson were pro-

bably granted the privileges of freemen by courtesy, as there

no account of

Of

those

sworn

their being

who were

one of the original

only planters, John Bishop, Sen., was

settlers

Mr. Whitfield and

and one of the original grantees with

others in the deed from the sachem

Thomas

Chatfield and

Chatfield

(who was

first

squaw.

George Chatfield were brothers of Francis

in Guilford as early as

August, 1645, and

probably some three or four years before that time),

1646

who

as appears by the settlement of his estate recorded

volume of the Records, Oct.

John Stevens with

is

in.

died

the

Benjamin Wright,

Thomas and William

sons

his

13, 1646.

in

Stevens,

Henry Dowd, William Stone, Richard Hues, John Johnson,

Thomas

French, Stephen Bishop, and

to have been here as early as 1646.

Highland came as added to the

list

late as

after

it

165

one of the

first

whose names prominent

Boreman appear

and their names must have been

was made

There were many of the prior to 1650,

1

Wm.

Edward Sewers and George out.

original planters

are not on the

settlers

who lists.

died or

removed

John Caffinge,

and one of the original grantees

Thomas Norton and Thomas Mills (who died 1648), John Mepham (died 1649), John Jordan (died 1649), William Somers (died 1650), William Plaine, who was here as early as 1645 and was executed about 1648, Thomas from the sachem squaw,

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

l6

Disborow

divorced from his wife Elizabeth

who was

Relf

his estate 1650, leaving the plant-.tion so that he was dead, and his widow afterwards

though

in

as

settled

married John

October, 165

early settlers,

Johnson one of the

was

Thomas

1,

about 1645 but removed to Saybrooic Dunk, who in the Lamberton embarked who Austin,' Francis and 1650, these are not found on the lists. ship and was lost

was here

in

;

The

themselves are

The

now known.

.Whitfield, said to have been built

settlers first located

original

where most of the

places

noted

Stone house of Mr.

1639, erected both for the

in

tection of the inhabitants against the Indians,

the oldest dwelling-house

This house was kept

now

underwent such renovation as changed

is

supposed to be

the United States.

standing in

original form

in its

for the pro-

a fortification

accommodation of his family and as

until

its

1868,

when

it

appearance and inwall

the north ternal arrangement to a great extent, although as they have and large stone chimney are substantially the same overground rising a occupies It been for over two centuries.^

Francis Austin

'

is

supposed to be

tiie

ancestor of the Austins

who

resided

for-

Austm,

merly

in

formerly after -

whom descended Stephen the north part of North Guilford, from in the history of Texas and of that village, who figured so conspicuously

whom

the city of Austin was named.

or following description of the old Stone house,

The

taken from

a note

in Palfrey's

History of

Ne-w

Mr. Whitfield's house, is ii, 59, furnished by Mr.

England,

and condition at that tmie: is descriptive of its appearance It was proto the east. walls are of stone, from a ledge eighty rods distant still to hand-barrows, across a swamp, over a rude causey, which is

Smith about 1859, and

The

bably brought on

be traced.

A

been small addition, not here represented, has in modern times

made

building remains in back of the house, but there is no question that the main floors, doors, and window-sashes. original state, even to the oak of the beams,

to the its

The

the dimensions of the following representations of the interior exhibit accurately etc., on a scale of ten feet to

rooms, windows, and doors, the thickness of the walls, the inch.

The

single

dotted lines represent

dotted

represent

lines

windows.

In

Within the memory of some of the

fire-places

the recesses of the

and

The

doors.

windows

are

double

broad seats.

residents of the town, the panes of glass were of

diamond shape.

The

height of the

first

story

is

seven

feet

and two-thirds.

The

height ot the

o

o h Q O w h

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

ly

looking the great plain south of the village and very fine prospect

was celebrated

in

the sound.

of"

It

is

commanding

a

said that the first marriage

the wedding-table being garnished with the

it,

substantial luxuries of pork and pease.

According

to tradition

the stone, of which this house was built, was brought by the In-

on hand-barrows, across the swamp, from Griswold's

dians

rocks, a ledge about eighty rods east of the house, and an an-

causeway across the swamp

cient

for this purpose.

The

attic.

walls

The

shown

is

as the path

house consisted of two

were three

At

thick.

feet

employed

stories

and an

southwest

the

corner of the second floor there was a singular embrasure, com-

manding the approach from the south and west, which was

made

dently

two

tor defensive

evi-

In the attic there were

purposes.

recesses evidently intended as places of concealment.

This house was undoubtedly the only one built of stone.

Rev. John Higginson

best in the village but not the

Jasper Stillwell, on the

lot

northward,

— son-in-law of Mr. Whitfield and sub-

sequently of Salem, Mass., and Sam'l Disborow, the magistrate

and a relative of Oliver Cromwell,

back from the

street

Mr, Whitfield

Whitfield's.

Thompson

oi

London,

monwealth,

in

whose family

the Revolutionary war,

chased

it.

second

six feet

is

had stone houses, situated

all

with door yards

a

sold his

man

front

similar to

to

Mr.

Major

of some note during the com-

remained

it

when Wyllys

and three-quarters.

in

accommodations

At

until a short

time before

Elliott of Guilford pur-

the southerly corner in the second story

there was originally an embrasure, about a foot wide, with a stone flooring, which

The

remains.

The and the

exterior walls are

now

closed up, but not the walls within.

walls of the front and back of the house rafters lie

sides equal.

been intended

At

upon them.

The

terminate at the floor of the

angle of the roof

the end of the wing, by the chimney,

as a place

of concealment.

The

is is

60°,

making the

a recess,

interior wall

touching the chimney, like the wall at the northwest end.

has the appearance of

But the removal of a

board discovers two closets which project beyond the lower part of the building.

3

attic,

base and

which must have

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

l8

Mr. Higginson the south

lived at the southwest corner of the green

of Bridge

side

Mr. Leete

side of the street, to the west.

Water and Broad

corner of

Mr. Disborow on

street.

Mr. Rob't Kitchel

lived

on

on

same

on the north

Mr. Chittenden on the

streets.

south corner opposite, near the bank of river.

lived

the

West

or

Menunkatuck

corner of Broad and

t'ne

Fair streets, on the site occupied by the house of the late Judge Griffing,

John Fowler on the opposite corner where Judge

Fowler, one of

The

his

descendants lived

recent times.

in

rich and cleared lands about the

town

plat, together

with

considerations of continual intercourse and mutual safety, in-

duced the colonists to

settle

in a

cluster, but as their

numbers

and as circumstances became more favorable, they

increased

gradually spread themselves into other parts of the First Society

and pretty soon into Madison near the shore of the sound, and at

As

Hammonassett.

that

Nut

early as

October, 1646,

now

(doubtless that

on the other

called

side of said

that so division

planter wanting

Howlett's), together with the land

lapse of

all

marsh,

the said parcels

;

might be made according as was due to every In 1649 a bridge was built over East

land."

which makes

this river

was " ordered

East river, both upland and

should be viewed, and a survey taken of

river,

it

plains and another plain on the east side of East river

it

probable that the lands

in

the vicinity of

began to be cultivated quite early, and that before the

many

years they began to be settled.

Dr. Bryan Rossiter joined the

settlers

in

Guilford and was

admitted and approved a planter, having purchased the estate of

Mr. Disborow, October, 1651. Whitfield, father)

the magistrate (on his

He was sworn

who seems

June

8, 1654.

to

as a

leaving

for

England),

freeman (with Nathaniel

have remained a few years after

Doctor Rossiter

is

said

to

over originally with five or six brothers to Boston on the settlement of this country.

his

have come

In 1640 he was enumerated

first

among

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. the settlers of

came

Windsor where he seems

to Guilford in

was married Nov.

1

7,

65

have resided

to

until

he

His daughter, Johanna Rossiter,

1.

1660, to John Cotton, the son of the

John Cotton of Massachusetts.

celebrated

19

he preached occasionally

at

Guilford and

After the marriage

at

Killingworth, where

he was hired for a considerable period (about 1670), as appears

from the records of that town,

he

until

returned to

finally

Massachusetts and was a distinguished pastor of the church

Plymouth

whom

for

many

Cotton Mather

years.

not only the English

but also the Indians of America

have the glad tidings of salvation carried

Mr. Joseph

to

He supplied

them.

Mr. John Bowers, previous

the church at Guilford jointly with to the settlement of

at

him one by

calls

He

1664.

Elliott,

had two

children born in Guilford.

John Meigs came seems his

to

New

Guilford from

buying a hundred pound allotment

settlement

March

He

1653-4.

3,

at

a planter

on

Hammonassett on

its

seems to have become un-

popular and removed to Killingworth on

where he

1

When

671.

Vincent Meigs,

who

came with him and came

father's

its

died, as appears by the Killingworth

January 4,

Jun.,

Haven, where he

have resided previously, and was admitted

to

he

came

to Guilford,

Hammonassett, 1658. from

Killingworth,

are

numerous

William Seward came settled first

at

New

Records, his father

John Meigs, soon

death, and settled in the east part of the

his posterity

settlement,

Town

appears to have been old at that time,

died at

Guilford

to

first

first

after

to this day.

originally

from Bristol, England, and

Haven, and, while residing there he was

married to Miss Grace Norton of Guilford, April 2,

He

soon after removed to Guilford and took the oath of

there

May

4, 1654.

his

town where

He

1651. fidelity

appears to have been a tanner, a

of considerable property and eminence

time he was captain of the guard

in

in the

town.

man

For a long

Guilford, and an anecdote

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

20 is

when

related of him, that,

the charter of the

state

was sup-

posed to be concealed in Guilford, during the usurpation of

Edmund

Andross, by Governor Leete's family, and delegates

were sent down

marched

seize and bring

to

company, with

his

their

it

to Hartford,

Mr. Seward

muskets loaded, down

to the

southeast corner of the green, where the delegates were lodged,

and paraded them

On

of the house to the beat of the drum.

in front

asked by

being

the delegates,

what they wanted

town, and that he would not leave with left,

which must be

their

his

men

The

as soon as possible.

had

until they

delegates seeing

Mr. Seward

died

March

1689, aged sixty-two years.

2,

William Johnson, the ancestor of Dr. Johnson and

a large

of the Guilford Johnsons, came to Guilford from

New

He was

clerk

Haven

as early

as 1653.

He

of the plantation.

for

many

and settled upon the north

in

John

came from Northamptonshire,

carpenter,

town

married Elizabeth, daughter of Francis

the oath of fidelity, February 5, 1652.

as 1654,

years

John Baldwin came from Milford

Bushnell.

place

the

danger accepted the escort thus forced upon them and

left.

part

?

informed them that he came to escort them out of

captain

in

1651, and took

Hill,

by trade

a

England, as early

on the

side of the green

now occupied by E. C. Bishop and Tabor

John

Smith.

Grave came from Hartford, 1657, and married Elizabeth Stillwell, daughter of Jasper Stillwell, Nov. 26, 1657. Jasper Stillwell died

Nov.

8,

1656,

and Mr. Grave occupied lane,

now

called

Harbor

stone house.

He came

many years

town

where he

in

street,

male

issue,

east side of

South

Guilford, without

on the

his situation

two

originally

lots

of land north of the

from England and was

for

Thomas Clarke came from Milford, was one of the original settlers, and married Anne Jordan, the

clerk.

widow of John Jordan, who

died in 1652, and settled here 1653.

He lived on

the west side of South lane, nearly where William S.

Kelsey now

lives.

Thomas Meacock,

also of Milford,

and one

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. of

Mr.

with

its settlers,

Prudden

of Guilford on the

planter

Crampton, to 1656,

May

in

21

was admitted

1639,

purchase

Dennis Crampton came here

14, 1660.

when he was an apprentice and was complained

slander and cheating, and, according to the Records^

page 151, not having any estate to fine

make

came

A,

vol.

way of

satisfaction by

a

man

He

by whipping.

afterwards, however, be-

of considerable property and some distinction

He

son to this day.

on the west

lived

afterwards removed and settled on the

plain in

Nathan Bradley and Stephen Bradley came

Madison.

to Guilford quite

In 1658 the former was twenty and the latter sixteen years

early.

Nathan

of age, as appears by the Records^ vol. A, page 172.

Bradley settled

Neck

ford and

plain.

New

in the eastern part

lections

at the present

of Connecticut^

five or six

brothers,

is,

a half

at

New

He

He was

settled

and

one of

built

Killingworth

Haven but was

line.

a

Mr. Bradley who was

who

He

New

several

quite a

hunter,

discovered the source of the

which originates

Mr. Bradley

lived to

in

a

pond

still

Church

intended

to

Haven, there Say-

and

was the

first

Hammonassett

called Nathan's pond.

an advanced age, and

hundred deer while he

family of

house about

his

Madison

being no settlement at that time between that place

white person

Guil-

obliged to put in at Say-

brook and come across the wilderness to

brook.

in

following ac-

staunch dissenters and came to-

eastward of where the

and near to the

have landed

The

time.

taken from Barber's Historical Col-

is

page 22^.

who were

gether from England.

two miles and

Stephen

and

of the town,

Their descendants are numerous both

Haven

count of Nathan Bradley

river,

the

South lane, and

side of

Neck

in

Madi-

Plantation, and his posterity remain in both Guilford and

now

prior

of, for

and penalty, the court ordered that he be immediately cor-

porally punished

in

a

Dennis

from

of land

is

said to

have

resided in the town.

winter, bears, wolves, and other wild animals,

would

killed

In

the

resort to

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

22

On

the sea-coast in considerable numbers.

went

B., in his old age,

who

to see a friend

On

northerly of the meeting house.

one occasion, Mr. lived

about a mile

way he met

his

a

bear

with her cubs.

He

endeavored to ride around her, but as

he

moved

moved, when he stopped she stopped, and

sit-

ting

the bear

on her haunches, presented an undaunted

determined to oppose his further passage.

front,

seeming

Mr. B. was

obliged

to turn back, and in the childishness of old age shed tears that he,

who

had

many of

killed so

these creatures, should

be

at

last

obliged to turn his back upon one of them.

Mr. John Collins came from Branford

Mary Kingsnorth, tled

on

P'air street,

which the wards, of out

late

the sister of

on the

Frisbic's

lot

set-

on

After-

stands.

Henry Kingsnorth came

from England, probably with the his

He

he came into possession of the lands

in right ot his wife,

1660, gave

now

house

Henry and James Kingsnorth.

about

1669, and married

next north of the

east side,

Mr. Russell

in

Henry Kingsnorth.

first

unto

property

settlers,

such

and dying of Daniel

son

Kingsnorth as should come from England and claim the same, otherwise, to John Collins and his wife Mary.

Accordingly James

Kingsnorth appeared before the county court at

on the exhibit of Henry Kingsnorth's from Mr. Whitfield, then the

fact.

He

also

in

New

a letter

England, to Mr. Jno. Hall affirming

showed

a

certificate

from

church wardens and parish clerks, of Staple county of Kent as to

Haven and,

he presented

will,

his age,

the

rectors,

Hurst,

in

the

whereupon he was adjudged the 1682.

Not

leaving any issue, by his nuncupative will he bequeathed

all his

inheritance and resided in Guilford

real estate to either

should

came cle

come over

in five

till

his

death,

of his brothers, or either of their sons, that

to

New

England

for

it,

and

if

years time then the inheritance to

and aunt Collins, they sending over

none of them fall

to

his

un-

to each of his brothers

or their sons, a piece of plate worth three pounds in England.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

23

His two brothers, Daniel and John Kingsnorth afterwards ac-

knowledged the receipt of such pieces of deed made and executed tate to

John

and

plate,

England conveyed the

in

by

their

said real es-

Collins, 1686.

Richard Hubball was admitted a planter, February 25, 165 J,

on purchasing Samuel Blatchley's

He

stead.

his

and accommodations

lots

appears also to have purchased

accommodations of John Baldwin, October however, he removed and

numerous

are in

ford,

settlers,

In 1680,

his posterity

a planter

1660, but removed to Killingworth on the

settlement of that town, and first

where

Henry Crane was

to the present day.

Guilford about

16, 1660.

settled in Fairfield,

is

enumerated

the

in

list

Thomas Smith came

October, 1663.

of

on the invitation of the planters, from Fairfield,

There seems

curing a blacksmith and to induce

Smith to

a

to

have been great

settle here.

"This was

difficulty in

May pro-

given him on con-

of a smith upon just and

town

mo^efS^e terms

the space of five years."

in the trade

.removed, with others to Killingworth on the \hat town.

the

in

considerable tract of land was given

dition of serving the for

1663 Smith

In

first

settlement of

John Hod^kin came from Essex, England, and

wa§. admitted to the oath of fidelity,

Ih 1657 or 1658

a list

May

11, 1654.

was made out of the freemen.

It is

herewith appended, with the dates of their subsequent deaths

JVm. Leete^ removed

to

Hartford,

died

Robt. Kitchell^

removed

Newark, 1666

or 7,

April 6, 1683.

to ''•

Oct., 1671.

Chittenden^

"

Feb.,

George Hubbard^

"

Jan., 1683.

Mr. Bryan

"

Sept. 30, 1672.

"

Jan., 1661.

Wm.

its

into Guil-

capacity of blacksmith, 1652, and took the oath of fidelity. II, 1654.

in

and

land

the

Rossiter^

Mr. John Bishop,

1

660- 1.

:

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

24

Jbm. Cruttenden

^m. ^

Sen.,

died

"

Dudley,

Jan., 1683.

Mar.

16, 1684.

VVm. Johnson,

"

Benjn. Wright, Sen.,

"

Mar. 29, 1677

William Stone,

"

Nov, 1683.

Thomas

''

Cooke,

John Stevens,

"

John Fowler,

"

John

"

Hill,

'John Parmelin, Sen.,

John Evarts,

Thomas

Oct. 27, 1702.

Dec.

1,

1692.

Sept.

i,

1670.

Sept. 14,

June

1

676.

8, 1689.

"

Nov.

"

May

8,

1

659.

9, 1669.

French,

William Seward,

"

William Stevens,

"

Mar.

2,

1689.

Jan., 1703.

Henry Kingsnorth,

"

Richard Guttridge,

"

May

Henry Doud,

"

Aug. 31, 1668.

JVilliam Hall,

"

May

John Scranton,

"

Aug. 27, 1671.

Edward

July 28, 7,

7,

1

668.

1676.

1669.

"

Oct. 28, 1680.

Dan. Benton,

"

June

John Meigs,

"

Benton,

9, 1672.

Jan. 10, 167 1-2.

Rich'd Bristow,

"

John Johnson,

"

Nov., 1681.

John Sheader,

"

June

Rich. Hubball,

"

John Parmelin, Jun.,

"

Ab'm

"

Cruttenden, Jun.,

John Graves,

"

Geo. Highland,

"

John

''

Rossiter,

John Baldwin, Thos. Clark,

left

Sept., 1683.

i,

1670.

1692. Jan. 1687-8. Sept. 25, 1694.

Dec. 31, 1695. Jan. 21, 1692-3. Sept., 1670.

1661 for Norwich. buried Oct. 10, 1668.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. Rich, Hughes,

John

"

Feb., 1687.

George Bartlctt,

"

Aug.

Henry Goldam,

"

166 1.

2,

1669.

Nicholas Munger,

"

Oct. 16, 1668.

Geo. Chatfield,

"

June

John Bishop,

"

Oct., 1683.

"

June, 1690.

Jr.,

Stephen Bishop,

This all

July 3, 1658.

died

Stone,

25

list

contains the names of forty-seven persons probably

freemen, as

many

9, 1671.

at

the time the

was made out there were

list

Of

others resident in Guilford and planters not named.

the twenty-eight freemen on the former

teen mentioned again are those in the clergyman,

is

list

Mr. John Higginson,

italics.

not mentioned again as he

or probably had left the colony of

of 1650, the nine-

was the minister,

which he was certainly not

a

member in 1659. Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Sam. Disborough and Mr. Thomas Jordan had returned to England. Thomas Betts had removed to Norv/alk

county, 1656 or

in Fairfield

Alexander Chalker had removed

to

1657.

Saybrook as early as 1654.

Thomas Jones had probably removed to England with Mr. Thomas Jordan, who went back two years after Mr. Whitfield in 1654.

Mr. Whitfield took one of his sons (John Whitfield) back

with him, the other Nathaniel remained and was admitted a free-

man

as before stated,

June

He

8, 1654.

returned to England

about the same year and became a distinguished merchant

London and was agent of Mr. Thomas Jones

left

here, as did the others

Mr

Disborow

in

Mr. William Chittenden

who went back

to

in

that city in 1664.

England.

as

his

He also

agent left a

son i^-tij^ibew, Samuel Jones, and, on the sale of his lands by his said agent,

March

4,

1667 to John Meigs,

alienation

was made with the

who

some claim

laid

to the

it

is

stated that

free consent of the said

"

the

Samuel Jones

lands as being the heir thereto."

Jasper Stillwell had died Nov.,

1656.

John Evarts, the only

HISTORY OF GL'ILFORD.

26

Other freeman mentioned on the former fore stated,

Feb.

5,

Of

1652.

was admitted,

list

names on the

the other

as belist

of

1650, which were then not freemen, seven are not named on the list

of 1657 or 1658, viz.

Thomas

:

Chatrield, Francis Biishnell,

Wm.

John Linsley, Samuel Blatchley, Thomas Stevens,

man and Edward

Thomas

Sewers.

Bore-

Stevens was not yet ad-

mitted to the oath of freeman, but he evidently continued a resident of Guilford until about

His name

lingworth.

Thomas

of Guilford.

1665 when he removed

Chatfield

Guilford and removed to " East

of

Long

Island," as

it

among

never mentioned

is

was then

had sold out

Hampton

to Kil-

the freemen

property

his

who Thomas Norton,

PVancis Bushnell,

called.

had kept the town mill since the death of

1648, removed to Saybrook about 1659-60 and upon the citations of

being the

its

first

erected in that town, for which the proprietors gave

a farm

ally

and that the inhabitants should have equal privileges

on condition that

which farm

a mill should

John Linsley, becoming

on account of the results of a Richard Goodrich and Guilford to William

be kept there continu-

his wife, sold

Hall and

for

la\ysuit

to

out

his

all

removed

disaffected

allotments

Branford,

to

have remained

have removed to Stony creek, Branford.

were

all

Johnson, Feb.

7,

in

Kent, England, 1663.

admitted freemen from

Nathan Har-

1650

The to

and took the oath of

in

company with

fidelity

with him.

his father

May

1

1,

Bore-

remaining

1660, Jno.

1652-3, Dr. Bray Rossitor June

John Rossiter came

P^d-

William Boreman,

to Daniel Butcher, brother-in-law of said

man, of Hawkhurst

in

1654.

and then to

for awhile,

died about 1652 and his allotments were sold by

man, attorney,

regard

slander in favor oi

Blatcliley appears to have died previous to 1660.

ward Sewers appears

thirteen

in

held by his descendants on these con-

is

ditions at the present time.

Samuel

soli-

inhabitants erected a corn mill on Oyster river,

him

to grinding,

in

the East Riding

in

3,

1654.

Dr. Rossiter

1654.

Thomas

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. Stevens,

Thomas

Cruttenden,

Smith took the oath

Wm.

Hodgkin and Thomas

Jno.

same time

at the

l-j

and Nathaniel Whitfield,

;

Johnson, William Seward, William Stevens, Richard

Hubball, Isaac Cruttenden (son of Abraham), Samuel Kitchell (son of Robert),

Thomas

Chittenden (son of William), Dennis

Crampton, Daniel Benton (son of Edward, one of the freemen of the

list

just given),

An'drew Benton and Daniel Evarts (son

of John), took the oath of

fidelity-

May

4,

1654; John Bishop

Stephen Bishop (sons of John, Sen.), Geo. Highland, Geo.

Jr.,

Wm.

Chatfield,

Boreman, Nicholas Munger, Edward Sewers,

Abm. Cruttenden Jr., in 1652; Benjamin Wright Sen., Richard Hughes, Abm. Cruttenden Sen., and John Sheader as early as

Dowd

1645, as also Hy. his son

not

Wm.

and

among

the

first settlers

About 1660,

John Stevens and

Stone,

Thomas

William Stevens and

came very

French,

John Bowers came

the Rev.

who

although

early.

to

Guilford and

purchased an estate, and supplied the pulpit for three or four years until

to

Mr. Joseph

was

Elliott

settled.

He

afterwards removed

Branford, and as late as 1670, to Derby where he settled. In 1672, a third division of land was voted

among

of that year.

The

planters according to their

lists

all

the then

proprietors

numbered something over one hundred, although the number of resident planters must have been

much

The

smaller.

list

of freemen made out about the same time numbered about sixtythree.

contains the names of Joseph Clay, Josiah Wilcox,

It

Obadiah Wilcoxon and Joseph Hand who had 1660, and that time.

Long

Island, and settled in

the same

the east part of the town.

About

time Jonathan Hoyt from Windsor, came and also

settled in the east part of the

from

between

settled

Joseph Hand came from East Hampton,

Wallingford.

1675, Mr.

James Hooker,

afterwards the

first

town, as also

Edward Lee a

man

settled

Thomas Meacock in

the

town about

of considerable

note and

judge of the court of probate came from

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

20

Farmington about 1692, Peter Tallman from England, about

Thomas Griswold from Wethersfield, about 1695, John John Sergeant, Mathew Bellamy and Ephraim Daiwin, came earlier. Andrew Ward (grandson of Andrew Ward, one 16B4,

Baily,

of the

first settlers

of Wethersfield, and one of the

who removed from daughter of the

worth,

Ward

first

Stamford, and married Tryal Mei^^s,

John Meigs who became

came

1668),

in

about 1690.

Guilford with his mother,

to

Shubel Shelly arrived about

a tailor

a planter

S.

Fowler recently

to

come from

settle as a smith,

1

7 10.

Comfort

1700.

Starr

of John Collins,

lot

where

nearly

opposite to

Stephen

Dodd W2t.?, admitted

street,

Samuel Baldwin was invited by the

Dec. 14, 1676.

inhabitants

or

690

lived.

Tryal

from Evain,

Guilford about

and purchased, 1692, the home

on Crooked Lane, now State

Abraham

1

first

Comfort and Jehosaphat

17 14;

from Middletown, about

Starr,

the

a settler of Killing-

Charles Caldwell came

Scotland, to Hartford, and removed to

was

judges

first

Andrew Ward

of the county court, in Hartford, and son of

Fairfield,

his

former residence, to

1675, and was admitted a planter on condition

of his serving them as a smith, Feb. 8, 1675-6.

need of the inhabitants for some one to serve

Such was the

in his

trade that

they granted him liberty "to take up one-half an acre of land

upon the green, between John Bishop's barn and the saw-pit along against the front of said Bishop's

all

as

now

is

it

laid

east side of the green.

land,

which was

home

lot

according

out to him," being in front of nearly

originally

owned by John

settlers.

noted for a long and very expensive lawsuit with the

town, originating from lot,

the

Caffinge, as early as

1666, and afterward became one of the wealthiest of the

He was

all

Mr. Thomas Robinson bought out the

his

taking up land on the front of his

which was claimed by the town.

The

suits

which grew

out of this act were appealed eventually to the legislature, and finally

were adjusted and

settled

by the interposition of a com-

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. Ephraim Darwin was

mittee therefrom,

property and resided

which have derived

He came

man

of considerable

near the rocks at the head of Fair street, their

name of Ephraim's rocks from him.

Guilford as early as 1670, but his family became

to

John Hodgkin from Essex, Eng-

extinct in the next century.

came

land,

a

1^

as early

as 1665,

Mathew

Beckwith^ in 166)7, but

Edward Park

apparently did not remain long in the colony, and

from Killingworth, was admitted a planter, latter

was by trade Dec.

w^as granted,

becoming afterwards one of the

9,

He

according to law.

certificate first

first

3671, liberty to stay over the winter and

he behaved himself well that in that time he

may procure

his

descendants

now Madison,

John Bayley and Thos.

reside.

still

a

afterwards became one of the

proprietors of the society called E. Guilford,

where

The

28, 1671.

Cohabit (North Guilford). 'Jonathan Hoyt^ of Windsor,

settlers of

if

a tailor,

May

Tinkard, came to Guilford about 1680, Henry Wise and Jacob Everest were admitted Nov. 9, 1680, but none of their name are

now

town.

residents within the limits of the ancient

John

Hodgkin, from Essex, England, was admitted as early as 1670, but his descendants gradually modified the

name

into

and Hotchkiss, although some of the older people ciously

employ the old name

When

the patent

in

common

Hotchkin

still

pertina-

conversation.

was granted from the governor and colony

of Connecticut, Dec. 7, 1685, there were, according to actual investigation

ants and

some

ten

tinie

deceased,

widow Susanna Bishop, althougli

afterwards, eighty proprietors inhabit-

whose all

some persons who appear

who remained

are mentioned, and

heirs

have died previously or

to

town are not menAbraham Kimberly came from West

without any interest

in

the

tioned

in the

Haven

as late as 1700, Jasper Griffing

Island

and Joseph Pynchon from

periods.

patent.

one

from the families previously named,

from SouthhoKl, Long

Springfield

at

subsequent

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

30 Those names

in

the

in

italics

heretofore as late settlers, have

of 1650, and mentioned

list

become

extinct in Guilford

;

from

the other settlers a large proportion of the present inhabitants

have descended, as also many families

in

Madison, Killingworth,

and other parts of the country.

North Guilford was surveyed and divided

members were accustomed

after this,

Society on

Monday

together through the week, a

name which

plied to

place began to be called Cohabit,

Among

occasionally ap-

is

Their numbers, however, so increased

that at the close of 17 19, they had liberty to

society.

Soon

the circumstance of their dwelling

tlie

long retained and which

present.

at

it

it

1705.

of each week to clear their lands and to

From

return on Saturday,

in

go up from the First

to

the early settlers were

become

a distinct

Timothy and Nathaniel

Baldwin, George and Daniel Bartlett, Ebenezer and Joseph

Benton, Ebenezer and Samuel Bishop, Joseph Clark, John and Daniel Collins,

Wm.

Dudley,

Samuel and Joseph Fowler,

William Hall, Samuel Hobson, John Hubbard, Benjamin Leete, Jon" Robinson, Josiah and Joshua Stone and Nathaniel Parks, all

of

whom

excepting the

were from the

Guilford,

last

named, who was from East

from the same society was also an early

Talman from

the

First

The

settler

Society, Joseph

Haven, and the ancestors of some other section of the

Theophilus Rossiter

First Society.

town some time

and Ebenezer

;

Chidsey from

families

moved

East

into this

after the settlement began.

population of the town,

including East Guilford, has

gradually increased from the beginning, notwithstanding constant

emigration. hal)itants,

In 1670 there were two hundred and fifty-five in-

comprising one hundred and thirty-five males and one

hundred and twenty females, as ascertained

at the

ing the third division of the lands in the town.

time of mak-

At the time of

the fourth division in 1690, there were one hundred and eight taxable persons.

Supposing these were one-fifth part of the

:

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. inhabitants, there

must have been

and forty

In 1730,

souls.

among

lands

3

a population of five

I

hundred

time of the sixth division of

at the

the proprietors, three hundred and twenty-six per-

sons were taxed, giving according to the same rate of calculation

one thousand

The

six

hundred and

following enumerations

1756

2322

1774 1800

2930

thirty, as the

made by

entire population.

public authority give

3597

1810

3845

1820

4J3'> ^^^

1830

41531

giving an

increase

''ist

'" fli^

for

ten

census before the division.

^wo towns, Madison and Guilford,

The

years of only twenty-two.

population of Guilford was then two thousand three hundred

and forty-four, and of Madison one thousand eight hundred and In the census

nine.

found

page ten, which

Had no

last

mentioned sixty-seven persons were

the families living on the strip of land mentioned on

in

in

1820 belonged

been made

to Guilford

First

Society.

in

the societies by the division of

the town, their population at the

two periods would have stood

alterations

as follows

Guilford First Society,

1800

1820

1830

1629

19 18

1863

[in the

borough 1,097, without 821]

North Guilford,

540

581

548

Madison

939 489

1079

1262

553

480

First Society,

North Madison,

3597

Population

The

in

1840

— whole town,

population according to the census of

Guilford First Society,

North Guilford,

2421 1

850 was, 2158

495 Total 2953

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

32 By

the census of i860

2 10

Guilford First Society,

North Guilford,

523 Total 2624

By

the census of 1870

Guilford First Society,

2079

North Guilford,

496 Total 2575

In the borough 1850, 1115;

The

i860, 1232

1870, 1300.

emigrations from the towJi cannot be precisely and fully

When

stated.

Branford was

tirst

sons, as has been previously stated,

Mr.

field,

j

1644 some per-

Mr. Whit-

thither.

Hodely,

Thos. Jordan, John

Mr.

Desborough,

settled in

removed

Messrs. Nathaniel and John Whitfield (sons of the clergyman) and perhaps some others returned to England,

worth was

settled in

that town, and about the

same time,

removed

Near

to Saybrook.

with

;

finld

and

the

settlement of that

some planted themselves

to Litchfield,

and Canaan,

Litchfield county,

in

Ten

at this day.

Elliott,

in

Middle-

About

1750

Washington, Goshen, Salisbury,

numbers moved

where the names of Stone,

and Baldwin mark their descendants

years thereafter numbers from Guilford joined

together and took a prominent part

mond and

as previously stated, several

Westfield, parishes of Middletown.

Norton, Fowler,

Killing-

commencement of the last themselves in Durham and, in

commenced

others,

not long after this

place

When

651.

the

century several families planted

connection

1

1663 and 1664, some families removed to

Stockbridge,

in

in

the settlement of Rich-

Berkshire county, Massachusetts.

Guilford, Vt., as well as Chittenden county were settled to a considerable

extent and

about 1674.

Clareniont and Charleston,

also settled

derived

from Guilford about

their

1

names from

New

this place

Hampshire, were

786, and about the same time

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. some emigrated and

some have

cently in that still

at Fairfield

and other parts of

has been graced and

of the daughters of Guilford, their husband's

Christian

Under

re-

homes

character,

the

attained

made happy by

who have

rich

carried

dower of

a fireside

the presence

with them to

truth, gentleness

New

their

in

Illinois.

many

[In addition to these emigrations of families, in distant states

More

York.

Westmoreland and Verona

at Paris,

Connecticut Western Reserve, Ohio, and

state, in the

more recently

New

settled Greenville,

settled

^^

England

and

home.

their fostering care

" Minds have been nurtured, whose control Is felt

even in their nation's destiny

Men who

Whose

with a leader's eye dignify the scroll

Some mechanic

followed the same occupation. the manufacture of the

family, have

first settlers

were almost

Their descendants have very generally

universally farmers.

besides

soul,

;

leaves contain their country's history."]

has been already noticed that the

It

;

swayed senates with a statesman's

And looked on armies Names that adorn and

been pursued.

common

arts,

articles

however,

of use

in a

Mr. Daniel Hubbard conducted

an extensive carriage-making establishment until the commercial

embarrassments of 1837.

West state, this

river,

A

was granted

Samuel Johnson, 1707.

to

establishment could do was to

lirge proportion of

at this

that

it,

many

a

years, being even pro-

the

the present inhabitants.

Vessels have been occasionally built

owned by

"

press-

by a great grandson of the same name within

memory of many of these

the cloth sent to

full

the

in

The most

establishment was carried on by

the family of Samuel Johnson for

secuted

works on

first

which was worn without shearing or

Cloth dressing

ing."

site for a clothier's

northwest of the borough, one of the

in this

town.

Many

of

the inhabitants have been and are employed in

the coasting trade, and in former days

5

some were employed

in

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

34 the

West

made

in

India trade.

Formerly large quantities of shoes were

town and sent

the

[In

to the southern states for market.

company was organized,

stock

a joint

the

for

manufacture of steam-engines, machinery of various kinds, ironcastings, etc., hy

bridge.

some of

The

of the town.

the prominent and well-to-do citizens

gave employment

It

was near Jones's

of the factory

location

number of persons and

to a large

The

bid fair to be eminently successful, but eventually failed.

property and manufactured articles on

machinery, were sacrificed

green, where

at a fraction of their value,

was removed

building itself it

is

hand, as well as the

to a lot

now known

as

on the west

Music

and the the

side of

hall.

Oliver B. Fowler opened an iron foundery on Fair

In

which was afterwards purchased by Spencer

street,

&

Sons, and

em-

has been a prosperous establishment, affordirig remunerative

ployment

many of

to

Since the death of

proprietors. c;irried

the citizens and profitable returns to the

Mr. Spencer,

his sons

have

on the business with great prudence and energy, and to

the advantage of the town.

In 1868, J.

W.

Schermerhorn of the

city

New

of

York, com-

menced

the manufacture of school furniture in a building erected

for the

purpose of a lock factory, and were for some years very

Their manufactures were sought

successful. parts of the

created a

demand

room, but

after

from

all

union, wherever an ardent interest in education for the best possible

financial

embarassments

in

furniture for the school-

1877 put

a stop

to the

operations of this enterprising firm.]

Most of the

trade of the present

town of Guilford

is

trans-

acted in the borough or village, pleasantly situated between the

West

river

and East creek, north of the great

on the northern section of the great plain

itself.

porated October 18 15, and includes within that part of the First Society

which

lies

its

plain, or It

rather

was incor-

present

limits

between those streams,

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

^S

or nearly so, being the great plain and village grounds contained

Shaum-

the west part of the deed from the queen sachem,

in

pishuh, extended north and south, from the sound, back about the distance of a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half, being

from three-fourths of

village

and

of

all

wood except

1838) there were

(in

one hundred and eighty-three dwelling stories in height,

breadth

mile to a mile and a half in

a

Within the

within these limits.

two

generally

houses,

the noted stone house,

two churches, one Congregational, one Protestant Episcopal, and two churches

in process

of erection, for the Episcopal and

There were also,

Methodist churches respectively. a

town

an academy, post

hall,

three taverns, (including

House),

Point

the

at that time,

office (established

in

1789),

thirteen

stores,

shoe shops, one carriage factory, and two cabinet shops.

six

The first newspaper nel^

made

its

published in Guilford, The Shoreline Senti-

appearance

March

1877.

8,

It

handsomely printed and carefully edited by independent and neutral

New Haven

between

mand

a large circulation

and

Hendrick,

F.

appearing weekly on Satur-

only newspaper

days, and being the line,

in politics,

a large sheet,

is

W.

on

published

New

London,

is

The Guilford Savings Bank^ incorporated

Flon.

its first

Monroe,

Within the

The

its

first

pleted in 1645.

Aug.

The

14, first

a tide mill

1645,

i,

at the

1876.

president, Alfred

treasurer,

limits of the

established near

ment.

dividend July

Edward R. Landon,

dent, Beverly

com-

and generous encouragement.

May

(1875) of the general assembly, was organized October

and declared

Shore

the

likely to

Its

is

the

G. Hull,

town

1875, arc

officeu'S

Henry C. Fowler,

borough

session r,

vice presisecretary.

mill, whicli

was

present location, very early after the settle-

mill

At

a

was

built

about 1643 or 1644, and com-

meeting of the inhabitants,

the "finishing of the mill

agreement was with Mr. Whitfield,

upon the bay, and

a certain lot

as

early

as

was concluded." to

construct

was appropriated

on.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

^6 which the It

toll.

was

mill

town

to be constructed for the

for a certain

was afterwards concluded with Mr. Robert Kitchell

in

1645, to take charge of the mill and pay for the building of the

The

same.

was kept here

mill

nently built where first

mill

it

now

is

succeeding,

on West

was ascertained 1646,

number of

for a

of a tide mill not

finally, the plan

it

The

river.

and

years,

was permacost of the

have been £75.

to

Without the borough there were,

1838,

in

in the First Socit-ty,

one hundred and nineteen dwelling houses, four taverns, two merchants stores, two sawmills and a building containing the water-

works, blacksmithingand other parts of the carriage making establishment of Mr. Hubbard, two fulling mills, and two tanneries.

According to the census of 1870, there were

in

Houses.

Families.

Guilford borough,

286

322

^300

Out

168

177

779

454

499 126

2,079

625

2,575

of borough,

First Society,

North Guilford,

119

Total,

573

In North Guilford there were, houses, two taverns,

two saw

And

one

mills,

in the

in

two merchant's

in the First

496

1838, ninety-nine dwelling stores,

clothier's establishment

same year there were

and two houses

Population.

two

grain

mills,

and two tanneries.

residing in the three

Society three hundred and

hundred thirtv-

three families, one hundred and ninety-five in the borough, and

one hundred and thirty-eight without houses

in

families,

North Guilford, there

making

in all

four hundred

hundred and thirty-eight

One

of the hotels

Guilford point, and in

the

summer

season,

in

the

ninety-nine five

and one houses and four

families.

in the First is

and

;

resided one hundred and

Society

called the Point

when

its

is

by the water-side

House.

accommodations

It is ar.-.-

at

only open fully tested

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

3'/

by the fashionable and valetudinarian guests from Connecticut

and other

who

states,

are tempted by the attractions of sea food

and the hygienic luxuries of sea bathing and sea

The

list

air.

of the town as taken in 1825 was as follows

North

Society, ^25,252,

First

:

Society, $8,891, Madison, $11,278,

North Madison, $4,755, making in all the original town $50,176. In 83 1 it was as follows: First Society $22,320, North Guil1

ford $8,390,

Madison $13,097, North Madison $5,208, making In 1850 the list of Guilford was $34,006;

of $49,015.

a total

i860, $1,263,031

in

town

increase of the

by the list at

at the

fact that

The

village

after the

regard, although

1860

is

great

explained

the

the

in

date

last

valuation.

New

it

The

1870, $1,430,128.

assessed value, and at

its

was intended

or borough

form of

Haven,

for

have been

to

which the

settlers

in the

Its length

centre

is

much

on the western

out

laid

had great

presents but an imperfect resemblance.

green or open space

Haven.

in

between 1850 and

former date property was placed

three per cent of

at its full assessed

New

and

;

list

The

smaller than that of

side

is

sixty -seven

and

one-half rods, on the eastern sixty- six and one-quarter, on the northern thirty one and one-half; and on the southern twentyeight and one-half, and

figured with

it

contains eleven and three-quarter acres

The ground was

and eight rods.^

numerous

basins or

been injudiciously used

for a

of the public square of

New

ago

the pond-holes were

leveled.

the

»

The

pond

These measurements

Stone, Samuel Stone,

laid

dis-

had

grave yard, like the western portion

Haven.

filled

gravestones and

new cemeteries

uneven and

holes, the centra! part

originally

Some

sixty or

more years

up and the ground

partially

monuments were removed

to

out in 1817, about a mile on either side

are those given by the committee,

Ebenezer Talman, and

Michael

Hill,

consisting of William

who measured "

the

square or green in said Guilford where the meeting house of the Old Society in said

town stands," August

4, 1729.

— Guilford Fourth Book of Deeds^ 120.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

38

The

east

and west of the

erly

incumbered the green have

village.

public buildings which form-

been removed, the

all

down

the old Episcopal church which was taken

church was removed

ancient Congregational

Town-house and

the

Academy about

in

being

The

1830, and the

in

same

the

last

1838.

time.

The

so suitably embellish the green.

In 1837 the green

in-

now

habitants then planted the elms and other shade trees which

was enclosed

with a simple white railing for which a private subscription of

$350 was to

The

raised.

and surrounded

all,

houses, large and

plain at the

Long in

hill.

Clapboard

thirty-four

New London [A

rough.

any

in

New

hill.

distance

Its

from

south

hill,

it

presents a picture of Its location is in

is

overlooked by

is

and other eminences

New

sixteen miles from

Hartford,

arid thirtv-six

from

by Saybrook, and about thirty-four by Essexbo1H74, under the

name

Improvement^ has greatly

inte-

society of ladies, formed in

rested itself

object of attraction

comfortable and elegant

England.

Hungry

Workers for Public

of United

now an

with

bottom of the valley which

the neighborhood.

Haven,

is

is

it

commodious churches,

village beauty equal to

the

green as

the general

in

beautifying of the borough, by the

erection of lamps in the "-recn and along thf different streets, and

by securing general attention to such ornamentation as

will in-

crease the attractions of the place to the citizen and the stranger.]

The

through

road

tra\elers from

made

A

a part line

Guilford

New York

to

was formerly much used Boston.

In

May 1794

by

was

of the great mail route from Cjeorgia to Maine.

of stages was run upon

it

for

many

years until the

introduction of steam boats on ihe sound rendered

About

the year

but

1837

in

it

a

[832 the stages were nearly daily line

from Norwich

to

all

it

unprofitable.

discontinued,

New Haven

was

established, furnishing Guilford the advantages of a daily mail.

This was destined

to continue only until the

venient accommodations of

rail

much more con-

cars should be introduced.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. [The

general assembly of Connecticut, at the

New

1848, chartered the

Company

to construct a

easterly through

railway from

1851

in

which brought Guilford

with both

New Haven

The company was

1852.

I,

" thence

New

London.

the construction of the

communication by

The

London.

ger train was run over the road from

July

river" to

ft)r

in direct

New

and

session

Railwav

on the shore of Long

the towns

Island sound, across the Connecticut

This company contracted

May

New London New Haven,

Haven and

extending;

road,

39

New Haven

first

rail

passen-

to the river,

afterwards united with one

New London to StoningNew Haven, New London

authorized to co. '.struct a road from ton, and

was then known

and Stonington

Railroad

reorganized

The

as

as

the

Company.

Shore

Line

At

a

Raihoad

later

date

was

it

Company.

In

November, 1870, its road was leased by this company to the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company, for the

sum of one hundred thousand

pany

now

facilities for

which com-

the transportation of passengers and freight to and

from Guilford, and giving

York and

dollars a year,

runs regular trains over the same, supplying great

it

direct

communication with

New

Boston.]

Besides the cemeteries already mentioned, one was laid out

an early period, one

at Leete's island at

and another is

Nut

at

plains in

18

also a cemetery, doubtless laid

7.

1

at

Moose

hill in

1801,

In North Guilford there

out at the settlement of that

society.

The

health ot Guilford

proportion of

its

is

evinced by the longevity of a large

inhabitants, of

which examples are given

in

the ages of the ecclesiastical and civil officers mentioned in this

work.

From

a

bill

of morta'ity kept by John Burgis, Esq.,

from Jan., 1746

to

1799, a period of fifty-three years,

were

in

the whole

that there

the

it

appears

town 2024 deaths, which makes

average annual number of deaths a fraction over thirty-

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

40 The

eight.

greatest mortah'ty

and 1795, being

these years

in

disease prevalent in its

appropriate

1

name

was the dysentery. which

called

is

in

that in

;

among those who went " the camp distemper."

among

the children,

army,

into the

A

it

was

large proportion

many of whom

who

had

Haddam

the pest-house in

left

Nearly two-thirds of the deaths

were

1769 and 1776

of

died of

In 1795 nine died of the small pox contracted

fever.

from persons condition.

The

" an awful epidemic, "^but

not mentioned

is

1751, 1769, ^11^-, ^794

70, 70, 67 and 60.

In the latter year, from the rapidity with

deaths in 1794 v/as

years,

no,

spread

it

usually called

scarlet

751,

was

in

The

the First Society.

numbers from 1799

January,

to

in a filthy

those

in

sickly

deaths occurring in

1832,

during

its

thirty-three

Suppos-

years, are 895, a fraction over twenty-seven annually.

ing the average population during this period to have been 1850,

the deaths were nearly as one to sixty-nine. ford the average annual deaths

were

North Guil-

In

a fraction

over eight in an

average population of about 570, so that the general state of

two

health in the

The

societies

nearly the same.

is

mortality from Guilford.

— 1840 was 311, 1840 — 1850 323,

North Guilford.

1830

1850— 1860 1860—1870 1870—1875 It

village.

It

is

405, " 1.672 " 438, " 1.651

357,

81,

104,

168,

38,

at Sawpitts,

502, "

1.

1.

206, " 1.4 in

was

built of this granite,

"

" ''

"

1837, a granite

about a mile southeast of the

original farm of the

in

'^

913 "

Rev. Henry Whit-

The Leake

about half a mile east of the stone house.

and Watts Orphan Asylum, city,

82,

398,

on the

613 per cent "

389, or

should have been mentioned before that

quarry was opened

field,

Total.

78,

the twelfth ward of

New York

and other public buildings have

obtained building material from this quarry, since

its

opening.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. Quite recently opened

been

worked by the

large quarry of excellent granite has

a very

Leete's

at

4I

which has been extensively

island,

proprietor,

John

For half a century or more

Beattie.

was begun,

after the settlement

medicines were purchased by the town and used as

The

stock.

first settlers

seem

to

have had quite as

common

much

faith

in the efficacy

of quack medicines as some individuals manifest

at the present

time.

It

is

recorded in the

Town

Records^ vol.

B, 75, that a special town meeting was holden July

"to consider whether the

inhabitants

" And was answered by

Physic and Physical drugs."

mous

And

vote that they would buy them."

were the good

follows,

as

in

a unani-

such repute

drugs holden that at the same meeting

lady's

was considered

1679,

3,

would buy Mrs. Cosster's

viz

:

it

" The question was further

taken whether they would pay for them by a free contribution, or by a town-rate, and that

the

payment

beef, if the beef flax did stand,

for

were

it

it

was given the town

also to understand

must be by wheat and peas and some

suitable,

and some

and half the payment

flax,

to be

the market for

if

made

the next spring,

"To

and half the payment the next spring following."

was answered by

a

unanimous

vote,

should be paid by a town rate, and

this

it

except one person, that

it

in

the specie and time pro-

posed."

And

a

in

" Lieut.

Wm.

subsequent town meeting, August 28th,

1679,

Seward was chosen and appointed to fetch or

procure the Physic and Physical drugs bought of Mrs. Cosster,

brought to Guilford and deliver them into the hands of Mr.

Joseph Elliott

The

first

of Guilford, times called. parture of in

1

65

1,

for the

town's use."

physician of is

whom

there

is

any notice

Bryan Rossiter, or Bray Rossiter

He came

in the

as he

some-

from Windsor to Guilford on the de-

Mr. Samuel Disborough, and was admitted

a planter

having purchased Mr. Disborough's large estate.

6

records

is

The

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. comprises

following

list

who have

practiced in the

Bryan Rossiter,

all

the regularly

town

:

educated physicians

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. ginous

in enriching the

fish

ready given

why

The

soil.

43

reasons have been al-

the English selected these lands and confined

their attention pretty

much

to

them

Another circum-

for years.

them from spreading

stance that prevented

rapidly abroad

duing

A

forests.

law was made quite early that every planter

should clear up half an acre yearly.

This they did

in other parts of Connecticut,

was the custom

was

method of sub-

the fact that they did not understand the proper

John Scranton, one of the

trees by the roots.

at first, as

by digging up the early settlers, at

length cleared an acre in a different manner, and astonished the

people by gathering from this the practice

it

twenty bushels of wheat, and from

of clearing the land by cutting

down

the trees

spread through the colony.

A

large proportion of the land west of

New

of the post road to stony, containing

Haven,

many rocky

The the is

there are limited

Moose

of

soil

town of Branford,

true of

Long

hill,

tracts

hill, a is

poor.

West river and south Some of it is very

ledges, and

though more particularly about bead

is

some

swampy,

is

of very strong, productive

soil

moderate elevation, extending into

The same

well adapted for grazing.

extending on the west side of

northward into North

al-

Sachem's

Leete's island and

Guilford.

Clapboard

West

river

east of the

hill,

borough, running northward between East creek and East

river,

injury by drought

thai',

is

clayey and

the

fertile,

and

lands generally in

less

the

liable to

neighborhood.

Most of

the other

lands in the First Society are of an indifferent quality.

The

soil

in

North Guilford

is

generally gravelly and better

adapted to grazing than for the growth of grain, although about Bluff head there

There

is

is

some clayey and sandy

nothing

in

mountain except the bluff just mentioned. eastern

soil.

Guilford which merits the

extremity of Totoket or

This

is

name

of a

the north-

Branford mountain, which

extends for several miles into North Guilford, and nearly crosses

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

44 its

The

northwest corner.

It is

bluff itself

is

very steep and bold.

the southern extremity of the secondary region of country,

A

extending south along both sides of the Connecticut.

rugged cliffs,

succession of steep and

or rather

hill,

stretches south along the western shore

terminating

The

North Guilford.

in

high,

broken basaltic

ofQuonapaugpond,

change

appearance

in the

of the country, as you proceed south towards the sea shore,

sudden and

of the sand

Instead

striking.

rocks of the region just passed, you meet only with the tures of granite and gneiss rocks and a hard

the great plain

marks of the

compact

rigid fea-

soil,

while

of an alluvial character, bearing impressive

is

sea

is

and the trap-

hills

upon

This

it.

is

also true of other portions

along the shore, setting back into the land like bays and harbors.

Formerly wheat was First Society has always

As much

as a

raised abundantly

been famous

in this

town.

for the cultivation

hundred bushels have been

The

of corn.

raised to the acre,

and

instances have occurred of a hundred and ten, but forty bushels is

Great quantities of flax were formerly

considered a good vield.

raised of a

good

The

quality.

other principal productions of

the land are rye, oats, potatoes and grass, while latterly turnips

and onions, especially

in the

borough, have been found to afford

remunerative crops. In consequence of the hilly or stony character of considerable portions of Guilford, is

much woodland remains, though this home consumption and export-

being gradually cleared off for

ation as fuel,

for rail

anthracite coal has

road

become

ties,

rnd

for

ship timber.

low rates of

borough, being delivered

at the

transportation, and

gradually being introduced

wood throughout

it

is

the town.

Guilford harbor

at

instead of

Originally, there were considera-

ble quantities of cedar, white pine, and

but the prevailing kinds of

Latterly

the principal fuel employed in the

wood now

whitewood

in

Guilford,

to be found are hickory

of several varieties, the oaks and chestnut.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. Menunkatuck work,

rises in

or

West

repeatedly mentioned in this

river,

Ouonepaug pond

45

North Guilford, runs south

in

and passing along the west border of Guilford borough, empties

The pond which

into Guilford harbor. is

gives rise to this stream

about two miles long from north to south, and from a fourth a

half a

some

places.

to

mile wide.

It

is

In a spring, a

foot of BlufF head, a stream rises

Durham

The

into

Middletown, which

sixty

feet

deep

in

rods above this pond, at the

which runs northward through also called

is

West

river.

interval along these streams furnishes a fine location for

Durham

a road constructed as far as

turnpike strikes the road from

This turnpike was granted and

to be

said

i'ev^

Durham

turnpike.

where the Guilford

Haven

to

Middletown.

1824, and was called the Guilford

in

It's

street,

New

length

thirteen and a half miles

is

from Guilford green, and seventeen and half miles from Sachem's head on the sound.

$5100, or divided

The

capital

stock of the

into fifty-one shares of

$100

company was

each.

There has never been any turnpike company formed on the great thoroughfare from

New

Haven

to Saybrook, but the road

has always been very good.

East creek, a small stream, or rather brook, noticed as the eastern boundary of the borough, rises in the limits of the First

Society and empties into the East river near

East river, or Ruttawoo, of which parts of

Stillwater brook,

is

North Madison.

discharges

its

two wharves

rises in several

It

in

the north and

waters into Guilford harbor.

called the Sawpits-quarry

two wharves on the

which are

at the

northwestern

takes a southwestern course and

Near

its

mouth

are

wharf and Farmers wharf,

both convenient for the navigation of the river the

mouth.

its

brooks, the principal

;

further up are

east side of the river at East river bridge,

head of sloop navigation.

Guilford harbor affords but an indifferent station for vessels. It

has six feet of water on the bar at

its

entrance at low, and

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

46 twelve feet

On

at full tide.

the

adjacent round

flats

and long

clams of a very superior quality are taken by the inhabitants,

and Guilford oysters, taken from the channel of East

among

noted as

hovv'cver, taken

West

in

river, but they are of a

to congress in

it

for

1837

an appro-

which would probably

priation for the building of a breakwater,

have been obtained had

not been for the critical condition of

the commercial affairs of the country, whicli so crippled

sources that no

The

pe-

in quality.

was made

application

is

They

but small quantities and held at a high

and inferior

different species

An

in

Oysters are also taken

price.

river, are

flavor

and readily recognized by the epicure.

culiarly agreeable are,

Their

the best in Connecticut.

its

re-

new harbor im;rovements could be undertaken.

application has not been renewed.

Two

miles west of Guilford harbor

land-locked or rather

rack- locked

where the entrance

is

head.

About

It

on

all

is

a small but

This

narrow.

good harbor

sides except the is

known

southwest

Sachem's

as

has a small wharf with considerable depth of water.

fifty

rods I'rom this stood the celebrated Sachem's

House, which was ing place.

The

for

manv

years a fashionable

summer

Head water-

house was large and coiiimodious, adapted

for

the accommodation of several hun'ired guests, and supplied with

grounds, beautifully l^estroyed by

fire in

laid

Sachem's head received with the Pequots

in

men, having crossed

out

for

June, 1865, its

1636. th.e

A

the

it

amusement of

name from

'.he

memorable

Pequot sachem with

Connecticut

visitors,

has not since been rebuilt.

river,

was

a

flying

battle

few of

his

westward.

In attempting to secrete himself on the point of land south of this

harbor he was pursued by Uncas, sachem of the Mohegans,

and

his

men, aided by some English

soldiers.

The

Pequots

swam

across

the moutii of the harbor but were

seized as they

came

to the

opposite b-.nk.

The sachem was

ordered to be

shot.

Uncas executed

the sentence with an arrow, then cut off

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. his

head and stuck

it

up

47

the fork of a large oak tree, directly

in

many

head of the harbor, where the skull remained for

at the

years.

This harbor was formerly much used

as a

night

station for

by vessels traversing the sound before light houses were erected, especially

in

the cold and stormy seasons of the year.

the revolutionary

war

ping of cattle for the

from

A

is

West

Before

also a favorite place for the ship-

India trade, driven hither not only river, par-

from Middletown.

little

island

was

town but from towns on the Connecticut

this

ticularly

it

southwest from

another,

harbor and to the east of Leete's

this

much

not

used,

called

shallow and not convenient for vessels. bass were sometimes caught

within

its

Great harbor.

It

is

Formerly shad and limits

in

considerable

quantities in the spring of the year.

A

little

where

east of

Sachem's head

is

a

place called Bloody cove,

and some blood was shed

a skirmish occurred

in a battle

fought between the Indians, before the capture of the Pequot

sachem

This was

just mentioned.

prior to the settlement of

Guilford by the English.

Although the Indians

at

Guilford removed from the town

immediately after the purchase from Shaumpishuh, the Indian

sachem queen, with the exception of some few infirm Indians and their families,

to

whom

the

privilege of remaining

on the

land of their fatiiers was specially reserved in the original deed, yet such were their

numbers

Braiifurd and East

at

Haven, that

the English at Guilford, as well as other towns, were obliged to take the precaution of keeping a constant period, from palisaded,

which none were

the house of worship

and the people were convened the drum.

privileged.

Eventually

this

watch

for a

long

Several houses were

was guarded on the Sabbath,

for public service

became

a

by the beat of

custom and was afterwards

adopted as a means of convening the people for public worship

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

48 in

East Guilford and North Guilford.

until

A bell

was not purchased

about 17 15 or 1720, after the second meeting house was

completed.

There seems settlers of

not to have been that hostility between the

Guilford and the Indians which existed

in

first

other parts

of the country, and there are no accounts of skirmishes or battles with them

in

such as occurred so frequently and

this vicinity,

sometimes with such disastrous consequences

in

other places.

In 1676, during the memorable war against King Philip, the

town voted

to fortify

two houses, one of which was

clergyman, Mr. Joseph green, and to bear in

Some of

Elliott,

common

all

damage done by the enemy.

the inhabitants were called into actual service in 1685,

and the town " granted ten acres of land served

that of their

on the south west corner of the

in

the

Indian

to every soldier that

war" under Robt. Treat or Mr. John

Talcott. In

1676,

it

was also agreed

in

town-meetings which were

held

March

first

day of April then next ensuing, whatever damage should

come

to the

9, 13

and 28, by unanimous votes, that

after the

housing of any individual, either within or without

the fortification, should be borne and

made up by

the

town

in

general.

In 1745, Col.

pany

Andrew Ward of

in the expedition against

Guilford

commanded

a

com-

Louisburg, capital of Cape Breton,

and some of the inhabitants accompanied him.

During the second French war, many persons from Guilford

went

into the

army, of

whom

by sickness, though there In one campaign, perhaps

Andrew Ward

is

in

falling

in battle.

more, Gen. Ward, the son of Col.

just mentioned,

Mr. Enos Bishop of North

an unusually large number died

no notice of any

commanded

a

company, having

Bristol as his lieutenant.

In another

campaign. Col. Ichabod Scranton of East Guilford commanded a

company with Abraham Tyler

(afterwards Col. Tyler

of

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. Haddam)

In the revolutionary war several

as his lieutenant.

made by

attempts were

49

enemy

the

to

injure the

town.^

In

June, 1777, the house of Solomon Leete of Sachem's Head was burned by a party from a British ship in the sound, whose tenders had 1

78 1,

come

a party

into

was supposed, landed [from two

as

On

harbor.

that

i8th of June,

the

of British with some refugees [about 150 men], brigs and a schooner] at

Leete's island and burned a house with two barns belonging to

Daniel Leete, but were prevented from destroying other proIn a skirmish, which took

perty by the rallying of the people.

place at that time,

two men, Simeon Leete the head of

a family,

and Ebenezer Hart, were mortally wounded and died soon

'

[The

following extract, from the Connecticut Journal, contained in Barber's Con-

necticut Historical Collections,

tion

after.

pp.

219-220, gives an account of a military expedi-

from Guilford during the revolutionary war

:

Guilford, May 29th, 1777. General Parsons having received intelligence that the enemy had collected, and

were collecting, large quantities of forage,

Sagharbor, on Long Island,

at

who had

about 200 of the continental troops

last Friday,

previously redezvous'd at Sachem's

number of whale

Head, in Guilford, embarked on board a

boats,

commanded by

Lieut. Col. Meigs, to destroy it; at about six o'clock, afternoon, they arrived at the

beach, this side of Plum-gut, and transported their boats about

fifty rods,

over the

beach, where they again embarked, and landed several miles from Sag Harbor, where (after leaving a suitable as

not to be discovered

guard to protect the boats) they marched with such secrecy,

till

our troups met with

within a few rods of the sentry

As the enemy

stroying the forag;, etc. little

effect

is

or four

Our people returned the not

made

known

;

they soon set about de-

opposition; an armed schooner of twelve guns,

not far from the shore, kept an incessant

damage.

;

stationed there, were entirely off their guard,

five or six

fire

which

lay

on them, but happily did them no

with their small arms, but whether with

fire

enemy on shore, were destroyed, and three Our people set fire to were made prisoners.

of the

their escape, the others

the hay (about 100 tons) which was on board transports, and on the wharves, which

was

and schooners, and

entirely destroyed, with ten transport vessels, mostly sloops

one armed vessel of

six

or eight guns,

two

or three hogsheads of

troops are all returned, having performed their expedition in

Return of prisoners taken at Sag Harbor.

rank and

sergeants, fifty-three

the whole ninety-six.

above mentioned,

is

file,

One

rum,

etc.

Our

hours.

two commissaries, three

ten masters of transports, twenty-seven seamen, in

Our people brought

off fifty muskets.

Mr. Joseph Chew, formerly of

7

captain,

24

New

One

of the commissaries

London.]

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

so

An

attempt was made

whale boat,

in

do mischief

to

another instance by the crew of a Leete's island, but the

at

enemy was number

repulsed by the guard stationed there, and one of their

being killed was

The

persons

left

dead on the shore.

who have

been just mentioned, viz

Simeon

:

Leete and Ebenezer Hart, together with Capt. Phinehas Meigs of East Guilford and a Mr. Ludington, heights, and

who

an Indian

fell

who

fell at

some other

in

East Haven part

of the

country, are said to have been the only persons belonging to

Guilford quite a

who were

number

killed in the revolutionary

[During the recent

civil

to the national army, of its

I

close.

war, although

died of exposure and camp-diseases.

war, Guilford contributed 300

whom

sixty laid

down

men

their lives before

In commemoration of their patriotism and bravery.

[The whole number of

citizens of Guilford

who

died during the revolutionary

war, either from wounds received in battle, or from camp-diseases, exposure, etc.,

was twenty.

Their names and ages are

as follows

:

Timothy Barnes, David

Field,

William

32

son of David,

Fairchild,

Lewis Fairchild,

48.

Lewis,

17

"

19

Thomas, Thomas,

24

Eber Hall,

Hiland,

41

Abner Leete,

Roland,

23

Joseph Hotchkin,

Ebenezer Hart,

17

Timothy Ludington. Simeon Leete,

son of Peletiah,

Wait Munger,

" " " "

John,

Capt. Phineas Meigs,

"

John,

Samuel Stevens,

" " "

Nathaniel,

Z2.

Simeon,

20

Daniel,

40

Seth Morse, Capt. Jehiel Meigs,

Bridgeman Murray,

Abel Saxton, Daniel Stone,

John, Jehiel,

Jonathan,

William Sabine.

Samuel Ward, son of Thelus,

.

17

T.]

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. it

is

monument on

proposed to erect a

5I

the village green, for

which a handsome sum of money has already been secured.

The at

corner stone was

laid

on decoration day,

May

30, 1877,

which time an appropriate address was delivered by Rev.

W.

H. H. Murray of Boston.] Guilford was the third town settled

New

Haven, of which

and the

remained

of Connecticut in

the colony

were both

it

in

the ancient colony of

a part

until

former

settled during the year 1639, the

latter in

mencement

September.

its

Mr. Desborough and Mr. Whitfield, but

in

Milford, as in most in addition

who accompanied him from England, many who

themselves with

united

Mr. Whitfield

fortunes in this country.

his

com-

at its

and personal friends of

of the other towns, Mr. Prudden brought with him, to those

Guilford

February,

in

Guilford was settled

entirely by the followers

union with

Milford and

1664.

with his followers were not at the celebrated meeting at Mr.

New

Newman's

barn

Trumbull,

in the History

in

Haven, June 1639, described by Dr. of Connecticut^ and by most others who

have written of that period of the history of

At

that meeting the Scriptures

New Haven

colony.

were formally acknowledged

as

the rule of procedure in civil as well as ecclesiastical affairs, in

which

all

power was lodged

religion only office in the

in the

church, and professors of

were allowed the privileges of freemen and

community.

These

ever, recognized in the rules adopted for the

Guilford.

to hold

general principles were,

how-

government of

Mr. Desborough, Mr. Leete and Mr. Whitfield

not subscribe to the constitution adopted by the

New

did

Haveners

because they did not then consider themselves a part of that

community, yet thev recognized the same policy of the colony

which they founded, and

principles in the

to perpetuate

them

they entered into the compact by which, in 1643, the jurisdic-

New Haven was established. The chief " combination," as it was sometimes called,

tion of the colony of

principle of the

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

52 and

To

which

in

ticut,

was

power was placed

all

in the

Connec-

hands of the church.

no plantation appears to have adhered more

this rule

than Guilford

tem of

materially differed from the colony of

it

that

and although the adoption of

;

much inconvenience

policy seems to have occasioned

and disquiet

rigidly

mistaken sys-

this

Milford, Stamford and Southold, yet none

in

is

recorded in the records of this plantation. It

trust

for

them

in

persons

until a

church should be formed

were intrusted

William

Kitchel,

pur-

behalf of the planters were to hold

power should be committed, but four

who

has already been mentioned that the six persons

chased the land

Chittenden,

power,

civil

in

the

time only

viz

and

Bishop,

John

whom

until that

in fact

with

to

it

Robt.

:

William

Leete, for the administration of justice and the preservation of

When

the peace.

the church was formed in

164.3, ^^^ P"''"

chasers from the Indians accordingly resigned the deed to these four persons declared that their

formation of the church.

It

it,

and

power had ceased by the

was then expressly agreed

that the

body of freemen should consist of church members only, and that they should be the sole electors of magistrates, deputies

Notwithstanding

other officers of importance.

however,

in

town meetings

and

agreement,

called for the purpose of dividing

lands, constructing roads, etc., to attend

this

all

the planters were permitted

and participate.'

The government

of the

tion of the jurisdiction or

general court

for

New

Haven colony,

combination

purposes

1643,

in

affecting the

which court consisted of two branches

;

after the ""^^^

forma-

vested in

a

whole community, one composed of the

governor, deputy governor and three or more magistrates selected

from those most distinguished

for their talents,

integrity

patriotism, by the general voice of the freemen annually

other consisting of deputies elected,

in

;

and the

some of the towns semi-

annually, but in Guilford annually, to meet in the spring and

\

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. of each

fall

This court,

year.

in

^^

collective and

its

public

was sometimes called the legislature of the colony, but much oftener " the general court for the jurisdiction." capacity,

The supreme

executive power, both

civil

and military, was in

the hands of the governor and deputy governor, the judiciary in that of the

Under

governor and the magistrates.

government each town had

management of

individual

its

government of

a

affairs,

its

peculiar to

this general

own,

for the

This

itself.

originated from the circumstance that the individual towns, at

1638-39 and 40, were separate independent

their settlement in

governments and plantation? by themselves, and, on a jurisdiction or combination for mutual

in

their individual

tained

their uniting

defence, they re-

forms of government except so

far as

the general policy of the whole was concerned.

The method was

by which the rating of the individuals

effected, for the support of a plantation

jurisdiction,

was the same

was

a valuation

The method

styled assessors.

so long in use afterwards,

The

town

in a

a part

of the

modern method of assessment,

as the

and those appointed to make

and as

of the property were

of listing the property, which

was borrowed from Connecticut.

deputies to assist in the general court for the jurisdiction

were chosen annually

month of May

the

in

or June, and the

other officers, such as townsmen, plantation magistrates or assistants,

secretary or clerk, treasurer, marshal, assessors, etc.

were chosen

weeks

at

sat with

him

the

The

later.

same time or

annual meeting held a (ew

at

deputies or assistants to the magistrate,

in the particular courts

times four in number. the plantation,

who was

They met also

bination, quarterly on the

February and

May

who

were two, three, and some-

with the chief magistrate of

one of the magistrates of the com-

first

Thursday

in

September,

Decem-

of every year.

In these courts the

presiding magistrate resided in the town.

They had cognizance

ber,

of

civil

matters and lower felonies.

Their power extended

also

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

54

originally to the probate of wills, to granting letters of administra-

and to the division and settlement of

tion,

of wills,

etc.,

was transferred

Mr. Desborough was the

The

estates.

probate

to the judiciary of the combination.

first

person appointed magistrate for

Guilford, and his earliest assistants, chosen by the freemen of

were

the town,

Wm.

Wm.

Leete and Robert

Mr. John Bishop.

Mr. John Jordan

Chittenden,

Kitchel, and soon after

sometimes supplied the place of one of these, and

Mr. Geo.

later

Mr.

Hubbard and Mr. John Fowler were occasionally chosen. Desborough continued chief magistrate

Wm.

Leete was chosen and continued

governments of Connecticut and

New

the assistants were confirmed by the there it

that

to

651,

when Mr.

the union of the

until

Haven.

It

is

said that

but of this

legislature,

have been true of Milford and Stamford.

of the rules adopted by the

first settlers

of Guilford was

no man should put more than =£500 into the

for purchasing sell

1

not any certain proof with regard to Guilford, although

is

seems

One

till

and

settling the

common stock man should

town, and that no

or purchase his rights without leave of the town.

further ordered

share of the expenses arising from buying out and plantation, should

draw a

money

expended

or

estate

It

was

every planter, after paying his proportionate

tliat

number of members

lot or lots in

of land

in

the general

in his fa'-nily.

These

intended to prevent too great disparity

in

settling the

proportion to the

purchase and the

rules

were evidently

the circumstances of

the people.

The

first settlers

and estate

in their

were most of them gentlemen of some rank native country, and

came over

for the pur-

pose of enjoying the exercise of their religious feelings

own way, freedom.

as well as

For

what they considered

this they

were willing

political

to sacrifice

dearments and privileges of their native land and the

home

all

to

in their

and moral the en-

exchange

of their fathers for a distant and uncultivated wilder-

;

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. ness/

It

has often been said that they fled from religious per

secution and intolerance, and that

had experienced so they

55

much from

was strange

it

that after they

own

this spirit in their

country,

should show similar feelings towards the Quakers, and

others holding sentiments dissimilar to their

among them.

But

a

moment's

the course they pursued

was not

own, who came convince us that

reflection will

We,

singular.

amid

living

all

the luxuries of cultivated society, and enjoying the freedom and

homes which they procured

conceive the

for us, are ill-fitted to

extent of their sacrifices of not only natural but also civil and artificial privileges.

They

had not only to tame the forest, and

encounter the wild beast and savage, but also to weave anew the bonds of government and bind the broken links of society.

And

it

fifty

years after the settlement of

has been truly said that their governments for the

New

secure, held together as with a rope of sand

be broken away by the

Haven colony,

a constitution for their

from

their

'

political

which was

liable to

The New

disturbance.

indeed, during the whole period of

as a separate plantation,

fled

first

first

England, were though

its

existence

had no distinct and positive charter as

government.

Besides the

first

settlers

native land, not to escape religious intolerance

And who were Ran the best

they, our fathers

?'

In their veins

blood of England's gentlemen

;

Her bravest in the strife on battle plains, Her wisest in the strife of voice and pen Her holiest, teaching, in her holiest fanes. The lore that led to martyrdom and when ;

On

this side

And

ocean slept their wearied

their toil-bells

woke up

sails.

our thousand

hills

Shamed they their fathers ? Ask the village Above their Sabbath homes of praise and

and dales.

spires

prayer;

Ask of their children's happy household fires. And happier harvest noons ask summer's air, Made merry by young voices, when the wires Halkck'i Of their school cages are unloosed." ;

—

Connecticut.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

56

own

but to practice their apart by themselves.

system of religious and

A4r. Whitfield's

civil

company, on

freedom their first

settlement in Guilford, drafted a constitution for their govern-

ment,

in vi'hich they say that

pounded

to

together are that

God

in

"the mayne ends which wee pro-

ourselves in our coming hither and

wee may

settling

down

and uphold the ordinances of

settle

an explicit Congregational church way with most purity^

peace and liberty for the benefit both of ourselves and posterities after

us."

settlers,

who

Such undoubtedly were the views of most of the

civil

freedom and

had been so

willing

to leave

their

for this too they

wilderness far

much

religious,

homes and

were willing

away from

own sect They were

to those of their

persecuted in

England.

friends for this purpose,

to take

up

a part

civilized society, but in

and

of the desolate

exchange they

promised to themselves that they would form for themselves a

home of their own in which those of similar views might have home and society, and hence they left the other portions of the wilderness, without their own territorial limits, to those dissenters, who suff^ered similar intolerance to that which they had suffered in their own country but whose opinions and sentiments

a

differed

from

theirs.

For

this

reason, as has been said, they

provided in the language of the constitution just quoted and added.

"

We

do

now

therefore

all

and every of us agree,

order and conclude that only such planters as are also

mem-

bers of the church here shall be and be called freemen, and that

such freemen only shall have power to elect magistrates, deputies

and other

officers of public interest, or authority in matters

of importance concerning either the

civil

affairs or

government

here from amongst themselves and not elsewhere and to take an

account of

all

such officers

for the

honest and faithful discharge

of their several places respectively," thereby making their gov-

ernment

strictly

republican and making those in office directly

responsible to the freemen collectively.

That

justice might be

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

57

speedily administered, they further agreed that the judges should

check

all

And

crimes and misdemeanors immediately.

that

they might bind themselves together under this constitution,

which they had formed, and which

certainly

contains

the best principles of our present palladium

magistrates,

further agreed freely to submit themselves to the

deputies and other officers to be chosen

"

many of

of liberty, they

yearly from time to

time," providing also that no laws or orders be by them

except before

all the planters

made

then and there inhabiting and resid-

ing [whether freemen or not] due warning and notice of the

meeting being made, so that what stood and

known,

is

to be

done may be under-

may be

that thus all weighty objections

duly

alluded to and considered, and according to righteousness satis-

And

fyingly removed.

it

was afterwards concluded and ordered

that in all general courts (consisting of the magistrates and deputies

who were

orders shall be

also

appointed to keep particular courts)

made by

the major part of the freemen, and

all all

actions in particular courts shall be sentenced by the major vote

of the magistrate and deputies, except that the magistrate have a casting vote

when

equally divided.

From which

it

appears that

they were willing that dissenters of any other sect should settle in the

new country which

they had chosen, provided they would

not interfere with their individual policy.

They had been

per-

secuted and driven from their native country because they were Congregationalists and Puritans, and they wished to enjoy their

who had no who endeavored to destroy

sentiments here unmolested by those

common and

with them,

political

sentiments in the religious

bonds by which they had bound their new society

and government together.

They wished ble success, in

also,

and they succeeded with no inconsidera-

transmitting their principles to their posterity.

Doctor Dwight says inhabitants of this

in his

Travels (vol. ii, p. 514), " that the

town more than most others

in this state

have

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

58

retained the ancient

manners of the

New

England colonists

Parents are regarded by their children with a peculiar respect derived not only

from their domestic government and persona

character, but in a considerable degree from the general state of

Old people

manners.

are in a similar degree revered by

young, and laws and magistrates

at

have heretofore been rarely known, and lawsuits so rare lawyer

The

lately has ever

till

been able to acquire a living

weight of public opinion has been strongly

capital

No

dread of vice."

a general

felt,

and diffused

in different families,

About

expense of the town.

at the

1795, the practice was adopted of employing a family all in

a

body into

for the articles

to

in the

forming

the

to take

house and to provide for them, charging

a

consumed.

was purchased

view

no

town.

punishment.

where they were boarded

land

tiiat

in

has ever suffered

inhabitant

Paupers were formerly distributed about

them

the

Private contentions

large.

In

1814, a building with a

lot

of

west part of the borough, with a

of an

alms

house

establishment,

for

$1600; which sum with that required to build an addition to In this house the poor of the the house amounted to $2080. town, varying

from

twenty-five to thirty

supported until the division of the town. to live in the

A

Upon

were

house to take charge of the paupers, the cost being

somewhat under one thousand dollars per year. ment there was a saving of some hundreds of the division of the town, the

divided,

number,

in

family was procured

and

house building

Guilford took fell

the

to the share of

the poor were kept for

1850, however, a house and

mill,

Madison.

lot, east

this

public property

town

some years

By

in

arrange-

dollars annually.

while

was the

also

alms

After this division

private

families.

[In

of the village, were pur-

chased from the heirs of Timothy Seward, at a cost of ^1,650,

and an alms house

The

building,

for

the

town paupers was

becoming dilapidated and

in great

reestablished.

need of repairs,

:

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. was

sold,

59

and the present alms house purchased for $i,8oo,

1868, from the heirs of George Parmelee.]

in

A

system of public policy

ment and the

civil affairs

been established

until the

for the regulation

of the govern-

of the town does not appear to have

church was gathered, " the nineteenth

day of the fourth month, 1643," or according to the modern

mode of and

O.

reckoning, June 19,

S.,

or June 29, 1643,

power of

that day, as previously stated,

until

provisionally vested

in

in

the language

of the constitution before mentioned " into their hands full

S.,

the hands of Robert Kitchel, William

Chittenden, John Bishop and William Leete, or

put

N.

kinds was

all

power and authority

and dispatch

to act, order

we

did

matters

all

respecting the public weale and civile government of the plantation until a

church was gathered among

mercy having now done according the said four trust as for

safe

at the public

and suitable

which we come

plantation

The the

men

most

first

hither, "

which the Lord

us,

in

to the desire of our hearts,

meeting having resigned up their for securing of those

thereupon the

mayne ends

civil polity

of the

was formed.

earliest record

was written Aug.

page of the Records,

vol.

14, 1645.

A, and

is

a

This

is

on

minute of the

doings of the particular or general court holden that day, and reads as follows

:

"August "•

14, 1645.

Mr. Samuel Disbrow, Richard Bristow, Thomas

"

Betts,

"

planter, took their oath

from vyhich

it

to record, for

members of

appears that but

the church, and " little

Thomas

P'rench,

had been previously reduced

Samuel Desborough had always been the magistrate

of the plantation from

its

very

minutes on the records after

commencement.

this, relate to

some

The

following

decision of the

court and to the affairs of the mill

" At

u court held

January

8,

1645-6.

It

was ordered

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

6o that all

men

shall bring in

the time past., all

sales,

general court or courts held in this

to the next

land

town

from time to time, and/or

exchanges and conveyances of

such sales or exchanges, that so what

after

done may remain

for the benefit

is

of posterity and the

better preservation of the peace."

And

afterwards the exchanges and deeds are mentioned merely

and approved by the court

until April lo,

was ordered

terryers of land

to be kept

the town ordered to bring in a

1648,

a

book of in

owned by him

as

of the land

list

when

and every individual

well as house lots or out lots that a record might be made.

The title

of the book

" of

A

is

as follows, viz

:

booke of the Terryers

the divided lands in Guilford

all

according as they were

whether by

lots or

at first divided

otherwise upon

request of particular persons or upon

what considerations were thus disposed together with alienations

all

the

which have since

been made by purchase gift

Dated Apr. the 10, Ano 1648. And on the same

" Whatever

or exchange as

folioweth, viz."

is

title

set

page

down

is

the following note, viz

in the

book with

a date or without mention of the date

is

confirmed unto the person under wiiom it is

recorded as a

first

grant [or lot] to him

and allowed as unquestionable said lands for

him and

title to

the

his heirs forever

unless an act be recorded

expressing particularly the alienation

:

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. of

6i

or any parts or parcel of the

all

same and bearing date since the date of the

first

The

first

record

is

book aforesaid."

Mr. Samuel Disborough,

of the terryer of

the chief magistrate, beginning, as

with a description of his house

is

the case with

home

lot, or

as

it

is

often

and next of the arable land adjoining, next of marsh land.

called,

This land of Mr. Disborough according

now

lot

the others,

all

lot,

and the

sale

appears by

It

lands were sold to Doct.

this record that these

was the

to the record

occupied by Mr. Ebenezer Redfield.

approved by the town Oct. lo, 165

Bryan Rossiter and they de-

1,

scended to Josiah Rossiter, afterwards town clerk and one of

March

the magistracy and council,

This terryer

1672.

ii,

occupies several pages and specifies the whole terryer of Josiah Rossiter and

all

conveyances and terryers

the

him or

to

his

father Doct. Rossiter.

The

next record

larly arranged,

is

to

These records contain were

living in

commenced

Mr. William Chittenden, and

the

names of

in the handwriting of

town

first

volume of the

As

there

simi-

who They are

first settlers

left heirs.

Gov. Leete and continued

clerks.

The

of land as set to the different individuals

more than from four

the

all

1648, or who, having died,

that of the subsequent

ally

is

occupying four pages.

is

very short, not usu-

This book

to six lines.

in

record of each parcel

is

called the

proprietors' records.

was no public record of the purchases of the lands

from the Indians, the general court ordered, the next year, that such a record should be made. records mentioned was trials,

first

The

first

volume of the town

devoted to the registry of the doings,

pleadings and decisions of the particular courts, the meet-

ings of the general courts of elections and the registry of ear-

marks, marriages and deaths, but not of deeds constitution of the colony, and other

at full length, the

more lengthy

writings.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

62

The more

second book, called and entitled, Guilford Booke of the

fixed

Orders

be kept, and

it

for the

Plantation, therefore

commences

thus, viz

" January 31st 1649 "

—

['• ^-

was ordered

to

:

according to our reckoning

1650.]

" Upon " laws

"The

a

review of the more fixed agreements,

&

orders formerly

&

from time to time made

General Court here held the day

& year aforesaid

"thought fit agreed and established them according " to the Ensuing draft as followeth, viz

—

"

first

we do acknowledge,

the agreement lipeack called

now

made

in

Mr. Newman's barn

New

called

confirm and allow

ratify,

Haven,

that the

at

Quil-

whole lands

Menunkatuck should be purchased

for us

and

our heirs, but the deed, writings thereabout to be made

and drawn (from the Indians) six

planters

in

our

in

the

steads viz.

name

of these

Henry Whitfield,

Rob' Kitchell, William Leete, William Chittenden,

John Bishop and John Caffinge, notwithstanding

all

and every planter

shall

share towards

the charges and expenses for pur-

all

pay

his

proportionable part or

chasing, selling, securing or carrying on the necessary public affairs of this plantation according to such rule

and manner of rating as agreed on

shall

in this plantation."

be from time to time

"The

drafts of

purchase or writing are as followeth viz."

which

And

then

follows a copy of the deed from the sachem squaw, a like copy

of the deed from Uncas of the east part of the town this side of

Tuxis pond, next the

letter

of

gift

from Mr.

George Fenwick

of Saybrook of the land between the grant of Uncas and

monassett river to the town and Mr. Whitfield

and Mr. Whitfield's grant of

his share to the

ing the plantation in 1651, etc.

in

Ham-

particular,

town on

his leav-

:

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

The

63

of Mr. Fenwick about Hammonassett

letter

recorded

is

and displays much of the character and firmness

at full length,

of the original Puritans and their fellow-feeling for each other. It

of the original conveyance of Uncas the

contains a part

Mohegan

to him, that

in the eastern part of

The

original letter

Mr.

which

that part

is,

pond and the Hammonassett

between Tuxis

lies

now forming and

river,

included

Madison. as follows

is

Leet

have been

I

:

moved, by

often

Mr.

Whitfield to enlarge the bounds of your plantation

which otherwise, he

good

told

me, could not comfortably

unto

Athammonassett river;

a friend

and to supply your wants

subsist,

which according to

to his request,

you

I

tion's

better satisfaction, hoping

such

fully to settle

tion

begun

commend I

to be to

for

who

when you

you

;

are

for

will

it

want of

fit

be

means

a

accommodaI

would

men and money were in

common

advantage, and that

suited to your present content,

all

however

for

removes, yet

request by this

his

wavering amongst you, and

will bind yourselves

together

so

your consideration one particular which

conceive might tend to

is,

gratify

have yielded

your own and the planta-

bearer

signify to

to I

more in

strictly

plentiful)

some have gained by

these latter times

weaken and discourage

for continuing

former times (while chap-

it

doth not only

the plantation deserted, but also

wastes and consumes the estates of those that remove. Rolling

stones gather no moss in these times, and

our conditions

now

are not to expect great things.

Small things, nay moderate things, should content us, a

warm

fireside

and a peaceable habitation with the

chief of God's mercies, the gospel of peace,

is

nary mercy though other things were mean.

no ordiI

in-

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

64

common

tended only one word, but the desire of the

good and settlement hath drawn

me

a little

For the consideration Mr. Whitfield were willing

me

to give

wholly to yourselves.

I

any purchase,

for

Only one

to your comfort.

thing

when

to take notice of, that

I

I

my

love to

he,

I did desire

suit

his

his children,

own

desire

and that he would accept of what

him I

as a

my

testimony of

give up any

therefore he

hold

ther but with

my

mine,

Mr. Whitfield,

Hammonassett

I shall

George Fenwick.

Mepham

take

it

Aug. 20, 1650,

20,

1

64 1,

to

Weekwash

of the land

Mr. Whitfield (covering

as the subsequent

dee-.l

have

loving friend and neighbor,

for

his wife's sake

kindly. in

to the plantation for £20.

All these records are in the handwriting of a deed from

I

trouble you fur-

been stated before, sold out his right

as has

land,

now

love to yourself and plantation rest,

you consider John for

be allotted

from charge as

not

Seabrooke, Oct. 22d, 1645.

If

my

your plantation, and that

free

it

I will

Your

and

shall

yet

content,

love intended to him, before

to

interest

may

signified to himself.

the

occasions,

more intending your common advantage than

own particular, hath hitherto neglected, now is that you would suit him to his

his

it

but

must entreat you

Mr. Whitfield and

and therefore offered him to

which

leave

profit

understood that that

land might be useful for your plantation, to express

I

my own

look not to

further.

me you

told

in

the

Gov. Leete.

But

Neck, September

nearly the

same grounds

from Uncas, December 17, 1641), and

the constitution of the plantation which follows, are in a handwriting different from that of

Mr. Leete, and remarkably hand-

some

supposed to have been written by

for those times.

It is

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

The

Mr. Whitfield. seems is

to

have had

as follows

65

deed of the sachem squaw, Shaumpishuh, formality than the deed of Uncas, and

less

:

" The purchase from the Sachem Squaw. " Articles of agreement made and agreed on 29th of September, 1639 [O.

N.S.]

October

S.,

Henry Whitfield, Robt.

between

William Chittenden,

Wm.

the

9, 1639,

Kitchel,

Leete, John Bishop and

Menunkatuck and

Jno. Caffinch, English planters of

squaw of Menunkatuck together with the

the sachem

Indian inhabitants of

Menunkatuck

sachem squaw

Firstly, that the

possessor and inheritor of

:

the sole owner,

the lands lying between

all

Ruttawoo and Ajicomick

as folioweth

is

river.

Secondly, that the said sachem squaw with the consent of the

Indians

there

inhabiting

[who

are

all

together with herself to remove from thence] doth sell

unto the foresaid English planters

lying

within

Ajicomick

the

limits

all

the lands

of Ruttawoo and

river.

Thirdly, that ceived

aforesaid

twelve

sachem squaw having

the said coats,

twelve

fathom

of

re-

wampum,

twelve glasses [mirrors], twelve pairs of shoes, twelve hatchets, twelve pairs of stockings, twelve hoes, four kettles,

twelve knives, twelve hats, twelve porringers,

twelve spoons, two English coats, professeth herself to be fully paid

John Higginson, Robt.

and

satisfied.

(

Sachem Squaw, her mark. Henry Whitfield, in the name of the rest.

the land

between Stony creek or

"(witnesses''

Newman,]

T

:

E

£ 3

Is

.

° c o

3

.Q S--^ E.-H^ £^

,

Delegc z^ites

to

1

8

1

Cons. Co7ivention.

there was but one Session of the General

year.

1819

Nathaniel Griffing.

William Todd.

1820

Nathaniel Griffing.

1821

Nathaniel Griffing,

William Todd.

William Todd. 1822

Nathaniel Griffing.

William Todd. Nathaniel Griffing.

1823

William Todd.

1824

Nathaniel Griffing.

William Todd. 1825

Nathaniel Griffing.

1826

Nathaniel Griffing.

Sam. Robinson.

Abel Rossiter. 1827

Nathaniel Griffing.

1828

Nathaniel Griffing.

William Todd.

Abel Rossiter. 23

As-

lyS 1829

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. Nathaniel Griffing.

William Todd.

1830

Nathaniel Griffing.

1831

Nathaniel Griffing.

1832

Nathaniel Griffing.

George Landon. Abel Rossiter.

Joel Tuttle.

1833

Nathaniel Griffing.

1834

Joel Tuttle.

1835

Nathaniel Griffing.

1836

George Landon.

1837

George Landon.

1838

Joel Tuttle.

Abel Rossiter.

Abraham

Fowler.

S.

Abel Rossiter.

Nathaniel Griffing.

Henry

Elliott.

John H.

Bartlett.

1839

George A. Foote.

1840

George A. Foote.

1841

George A. Foote.

Marcus B.

Bartlett.

Samuel C. Johnson.

1842

1843 1844 1

845

1846

Samuel W. Dudley No representatives chosen. No representatives chosen. No representatives chosen. No representatives chosen.

Reuben

Stone.

William Hale.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. Reuben

1847

179 Stone.

William Hale.

Reuben Stone.

1848

Jasper Monroe.

Reuben

1849

Stone.

Franklin C. Phelps. Julius A.

1850

Dowd.

Lewis Griswold. Russel Benton.

1851

James A. Norton.

Henry Fowler,

1852

2d.

Lewis Griswold. 1853.

••

Samuel

W.

Dudley.

Henry Fowler. 1854.

..

Edward L. Leete. Leverett Griswold.

1855

George A. Foote.

1856

John Hale.

1857

George A. Foote.

1858

Albert B. Wildman.

Amos

Fowler.

Calvin

Sam.

M.

W.

Leete.

Dudley.

Benjamin Corbin. 1859

Ralph D. Smith.

T. i860

Rossiter.

Sherman Graves. John Hale.

1861

Richard Bartlett. Stephen R. Bartlett.

1862

Calvin

M.

Leete.

John Griswold.

l8o 1863

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. John H. Saml.

1864

Bartlett.

W.

John H.

Dudley.

Bartlett.

Henry E. Norton. 1865

Samuel

W.

Dudley.

Edward L. Leete. 1866

Henry Fowler of Rich. Gen. Edw. M. Lee.

1867

Gen. Edw. M. Lee. David B. Rossiter.

1868

Rev. E. Edwin Hall. Eli Parmelee.

1869

A. Dowd.

Julius

Stephen R. Bartlett.

1870

Edward R. Landon. Hethcote G. Landon.

1871

Henry Benton

2d.

John R. Rossiter. 1872

Albert B. Wildman.

Charles F. Leete.

1873

Henry Fowler. John R.

1874

Rossiter.

H. Lynde Harrison.

George B. Spencer. 1875

H. Lynde Harrison.

John R. 1876

John 1877

Rossiter.

H. Lynde Harrison.

Wm.

Norton.

H. h. Harrison^ David

Bartlett.

Speaker.

lol

HISTORY OF GUILFORD. At

court for the jurisdiction

a

held April,

1644, after ap-

pointing the magistrates for the other plantations of the colony,

"

It

was ordered

that for the

more comfortable carrying on the have a magistrate there, the

affairs at

Guilford

burgesses

may choose among themselves

'till

a court,"

which

seems

have presided.

to

it

they

seems they

did, but the

The Treasurers for the Plantation

free

four deputies and form

next year

until the

a

magistrate

Union with

Connecticut.

Thomas

1643

to 1650.

Robert Kitchel,

1650

to

Thomas

1652

to 1654.

Jordan,

Jordan, reelected,.

1652.

Robert Kitchel, reelected,

1654

to 1656.

William Leete,

1656

to 1657.

Abraham Cruttenden,

1657 to 1660.

Thomas Cook,

1660

to 1662.

Robert Kitchel, reelected,

1662

to 1664.

The Marshals from

the Settlement until the

Union with

Connecticut.

Thomas

Jones,

1643

to 1652.

Fowler,..

1652

to 1661.

John Scranton,

1661

to

William Seward,

1662

to 1664.

John

1662.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

l82

Town

Clerks Since the Settlement of the Town.

1.

Governor William Leete,

1639

to 1662.

2.

George

Bartlett,

1662

to

1665

3.

Samuel Kitchell,

1665

to

1668

4.

William Johnson,

1668101673

5.

John Graves,

167310 1685

6.

Josiah Rossiter,'

1685101706

7.

Joseph Dudley,

1706101707

8.

Josiah Rossiter rechosen,

^7^7

9.

John French,

1716101717 1717101720 1720101721

10.

Samuel

11.

Andrew Ward,

Hill,

^^

1716

12.

Samuel

13.

Nathaniel Hill,

1752

14.

Ebenezer Parmelee,

^11^ ^o ^71^

Hill, rechosen,

1721 to 1752 to

1771

15.

Thomas

1776

to 1799,

16.

John H. Fowler,

1799

to

17.

Samuel Fowler,

1801101835

18.

Reuben Stone,

Burgis, Jr.,

19. Joel Tuttle,

W.

20.

Henry

21.

Edward R. Landon,

Chittenden,

1801

1835101838 1838

to

1843

1843

to

1848

1848.

» Nov. 10, 1687, John Collins, Sen., was empowered to assist Mr. Rossiter in the work of recording during the time of the providential weakness of Mr. Rossiter.

APPENDIX A. 7'he Articles of Confederation for the Jurisdiction of

New At

a

General Court held

at

Haven.

New Haven

27th of

for the Jurisdiction, the

October, 1643.

PRESENT. Magistrates.

Deputies.

Theophilus Eaton, Governor.

George Lamberton, New Haven.

Stephen Goodyear, Deputy.

Thomas Gregson.

]°^'^ Astwood, John Shirman,

William Fowler. ™ ,, Edward Tapp.

o Sam

Rich 1.

as a

1 >

TA

Uisbrough,

:

:

^..r

.

)

Will. Leete,

and concluded,

It was agreed

^^

o ir j Guilford.

J

Gildersleeve,

^

>

„^

^

,

Stamrord.

,iT T Whitmore, John

J

fundamental ord«r not

to be disputed

or

questioned hereafter, that none shall be admitted to be free burgesses in any of the plantations within this jurisdiction

free burgesses

New

have any vote in any election (the

joying the liberty

but such planters as are

for the future,

of some or other of the approved churches in

with the cautions agreed).'

members

England, nor shall any but such

shall

freemen

at

Milford en-

any power or

trust in the

six present

Nor

ordering of any civil affairs be at any time put into the hands of any other than such

church members, though

commerce, according

to

as

free planters all

have right

such grants, orders and laws

as

to their inheritance

shall be

and

to

made concerning

the same. 2.

1

All such free burgesses shall have power in each town or plantation within this

Milford having previously admitted, as free burgesses, six planters

fellowship, met

some

difficulty

in securing

who were

admission into the confederation

;

not in

church-

but, having

pro-

mised that these six

should not hereafter be chosen as deputies or into any public trust, for the confederation, nor vote personally or by proxy at an election of magistrates, and that in the future

no one would be made a free burgess but church members, a

member

of the jurisdiction.

it

was received, October 2}, 1643, as

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

184. choose

jurisdiction to

members

whether

causes,

fit

and able men, from amongst themselves, being church ordinary judges, to hear and

to be the

before,

as

determine

inferior

all

cause to be tried in any of

provided that no civil

criminal,

civil or

pounds, and that the punishment in

these plantation courts in value exceed twenty

such criminals, according to the mind of God, revealed in his word, touching such offences,

do not exceed stocking and whipping, or

if

the fine be pecuniary, that

In which court the magistrate or magistrates,

exceed not five pounds.

chosen by the free burgesses of the jurisdiction

major part of each such court, only

with

of magistrates

to the court

may

whole

for the

vote in the

a

whether governor, deputy governor, or other magistrates,

magistrates,

all

made from

be

jurisdiction.

All such free burgesses through the whole jurisdiction, shall have

3.

election of

assist

of the

to the vote

the parties, or any of them, be not satisfied with

if

the justice of such sentences or executions, appeals or complaints

and against these courts

and

for that plantation, shall sit

with due respect to their place, and sentence shall pass according

and a marshal,

a vote for a treasurer, a secretary

And for

the jurisdiction.

etc., for

may

the ease of those free burgesses, especially in the more remote plantations, they vote by

proxy

though absent,

in these elections,

being sealed up in

votes

their

may

presence of the free burgesses themselves, that their severalliberties

and their votes directed according gesses

may,

weight of

to their

every election, choose so

at

affairs

may

and

require,

as

own

many

provided and agreed, that no plantation

of

magistrate if they

desire

nnd these

particular light,

sliall at

fit

men

that

for

any election be

one to be chosen out of those

the

be preserved, free bur-

m.igistrates for each plantation,

they shall find

it is

a

it

any be

if

as tiie

But

trust.

left

destitute

church fellowship

in

with them. 4.

New

All the magistrates for the whole jurisdiction shall meet twice a year at

Haven, namely, the Monday immediately before the

sitting

of the two fixed general

courts hereafter mentioned, to keep a court called the court of magistrates, for the trial

of weighty and capital cases, whether

the ordinary

civil or

judges in the particular plantations,

criminal, above those limited to

and

to

receive

brought unto them from the aforesaid plantation courts, and to ants,

whether

free burgesses, free

any laws established, and

for

a court,

expected and required, that the public service at

one of the clock in if

account

which meetings of

for the

as a

court; but

afternoon on

Monday

aforesaid,

when

it

any of them depart the town without leave, while the court

them be absent

the court shall sits,

lie

is

which the court of magistrates

shr.ll

sit,

at

or

or they shall

pay for any such default, twenty shillings fine, unless some providence of sion the same,

breach of

the magistrates in this jurisdiction do constantly attend

the times before mentioned, and if any of

tlie

appeals

magistrates, less than four shall

nor shall they carry on any business all

try

the inhabit-

other misdemeanors, and to censure them according

to the quality of the offence, in

not be accounted

planters or others, to

and

call all

God

occa-

judge of from time to time, and

APPENDIX. all

185

sentences in this court shall pass by the vote of the major

part of magistrates

may

therein, but from this court of magistrates, appeals and complaints

brought to the general court

what court

appeals or complaints from, or to, paid by

him

or

them

make

that

and highest

as the last

soever, due costs and

made and

be

for this jurisdiction

;

but in

damages

all

shall be

appeal or complaint without just cause.

Besides the plantation courts and court of magistrates, there shall be a general

5.

which

court for the jurisdiction,

shall consist of the governor, deputy governor

and

the magistrates within the jurisdiction, and two deputies for every plantation in

all

from time

the jurisdiction, which deputies shall

time be chosen against the ap-

to

proach of any such general court, by the aforesaid free burgesses^ and sent with due certificate to assist in the istrates

always

same,

all

which, both governor and deputy governor, mag-

and deputies shall have their vote in the said court. sit

at

New Haven

for a time to sit elsewhere),

Wednesday

April, and

in

and shall assemble twice every year, namely, the

the

last

Wednesday

courts, the governor, the deputy governor

diction with a

and

in

all

shall yearly

be chosen by

mentioned, besides which two fixed courts, the governor, or

absence the deputy governor, shall have power to

summon

a general court at

may

time, as the urgent and extraordinary occasions of the jurisdiction all

first

October, in the latter of which

the magistrates for the whole juris-

and marshal,

treasurer, a secretary

free burgesses before

This general court shall

(unless upon weighty occasions the general court see cause

all

the

in his

any other

require,

and

at

general courts, whether ordinary or extraordinary, the governor and deputy governor,

and

all

the rest of the magistrates for the jurisdiction, with the deputies for the several together,

plantations, shall

sit

safely be respited,

and

the

first sitting

if

till

the

affairs

of the jurisdiction be dispatched or

may

any of the said magistrates or deputies shall either be absent

of the said general court (unless some providence of

God

hinder,

at

which

the said court shall judge of), or depart, or absent themselves disorderly before the

them pay twenty

court be finished, he or they shall each of

shillings fine,

considerations of further aggravations if there shall be cause; shall,

with

all care

and diligence provide

maintenance of the purity of

for the

gion, and shall suppress the contrary, according to their best light from the

God, and

all

wholesome and sound

churches in the jurisdiction, so

advice,

Secondly, they shall have power to force, to require execution

of them in

Thirdly, to Impose an oath upon

which

may concern

far as

make and all

all

with due

which general court

shall be given by the elders

their civil

power

reli-

word of and

to deal therein.

repeal laws, and, while they are in

the several plantations.

the magistrates, for the faithful discharge of

the trust committed to them, according to their best

abilities,

and

to call

them

to ac-

count for the breach of any laws established, or for other misdemeanors, and to censure

them,

as

the quality of the offence shall require.

Fourthly, to impose an oath of fidelity and due subjection to the laws upon free burgesses, free planters,

and other inhabitants within the whole

24

all

jurisdiction.

the

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

l86 Fifthly, to settle

and levy

rates

and contributions upon

all

the several plantations,

for the public service of the jurisdiction.

Sixthly, to hear and determine all causes,

whether

peal or complaint shall be orderly brought unto

from any of the other plantations.

In

all

which by ap-

civil or criminal,

them from any of the other

which, with whatsoever

courts, or

else shall

fall

within their cognizance or judicature, they shall proceed according to the scriptures, wiiich

is tlie

act of

rule of all righteous laws

and sentences, and nothing shall pass

the general court but by the consent of the major part of magistrates,

the greater part of deputies.

— New Ha-vcn

Colonial Records,

1638-1 649,

pp.

as

an

and

112-116.

B.

Admission of Guilford At

into the Jurisdiction of Connecticut.

the general assembly or court of election held at Hartford, October 9, 1662.

Several inhabitants of Guilford tendering themselves,

under the government and protection of they do accept and

own them

what

necessary.

protection

is

as

this colony.

members of

And

this colony,

this court

persons and estates,

their

This court doth

d-^clare that

and shall be ready to afford

doth advise the said persons to carry

peaceably and religiously in their places towards the rest of the inhabitants, that yet

have not submitted ter

of their town

necticut,

I

;

in like

manner.

and also

all

And

public

also to pay their just dues unto the minis-

charges due

Freemen of Guilford September 24,

A

'69.

and townsmen according

Mr.

to this day.

—

Col. Rec.

of Con-

636-1 665, page 387.

list

in \66(^.

of the freemen of Guilford, drawn up by the constable

to the order

of the court.

Georg Hiland,

Leete,

George Huburd,

Daniell Huburd,

Mr.

John Bishup,

Rositar,

John Fowlar,

Thomas Chitendon,

William Johnson,

Thomas Mecoke,

John Scranton,

John Parmarly,

Thomas Cooke,

Senior,

Thomas

Edward Benton,

Abraham Crutendcn John Graue,

Abraham

Cruttend^-n Jun.,

Daniell Benton,

John Steuens,

Senior,

Cruttenden,

Daniell Euatts,

John Chittenden,

APPENDIX. John Hobson,

87

Nathaniell Chittenden,

William Ston,

Richard

John Ston,

Joseph Dudly,

William Seword,

Thomas Cooke

Richard Gutrich,

Henery Crean,

Bristo,

John Johnson,

John

John Shedar,

John Nortun.

Jun.,

Hill,

John Hobson, John Graue,

Townsmen.

Thomas Cooke,

J

John Stone, Constable. Col. Rcc.

of Connecticut, 1665-1667, page 525.

D. Permission At

a

General Court held

was granted This

at

to

:

court grants

Mr. Andrew Leet

Island for himself and his heirs, Rec. of Connecticut,

bill for

which

making

a

made

to create

new county

Saybrook, Killingworth, Guilford,

Journal

house, October, 1718.

I..

October, 1728, and in May, 1736, the foregoing towns with house.

Journals, 1728,

and May, 1753, similar Col. Rec.

liberty to purchase

Falcon Island and Goose

said islands lie before or near Guilford.

—

Col.

1665-1677, page 325.

Efforts

A

purchase Falcon Island.

Hartford, October 18, 1677, the following permission

to be

Guilford County.

called Guilford county,

Durham and H.

Oct. 22,

when

Branford,

1718.

Haddam, having been 1736, Civil

bills

The

a bill to erect a

passed the lower house.

project

new

331.

low^r in

passed the

lower

Again, in May, 1744,

Civil Officers,

of Connecticut, 1717-1725, Note to pages 141-2.

in the

was revived

county, composed of

largely debated,

Officers etc., II,

and to consist of

was passed

etc.,

Ill, 62, 393.

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

l88

F.

Sl Alb an

Lodge No. 38, Free and Accepted Masons.

s

This lodge was instituted Provincial

Grand Master

in colonial

days by

virtue of a

charter issued by the

North America, of which the following

for

is

an accurate

copy:

John

TO ALL AND EVERY

Accepted Masons now Residing

Colony of Connecticut

in

RoivCy

Grand Master.

our Right Worshipful and Loving Brethren, Free and

New

may

or that

England.

Reside in

hereafter

Guilford

in

the

TVe John 7?ow« Esquire, Provincial Grand

Master of the Antient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons

North America, where no other Grand Master

is

for all

Appointed,

Send Greeting.

WHEREAS,

Application hath been

made unto

Ward, David Landon, Timothy Ludinton, Ebcr

Timothy Ward,

us by

Watcrhouse,

Bilious

Asher Fairchild,

Benjamin Stone, Giles Trubee and William Jolinson, Free and Accepted Masons

now

residing in Guilford aforesaid

5

setting forth ti)at they live at a great Distance

from any regular Lodge, and are deprived of the Benefits of Masonry on that account. Therefore humbly Request that they may be made Brother Mr. Bilious to observe

all

the

Ward

to be tlie first

Lodge, and appoint our

a regular

Master of the same, and do promise

Laws and Regulations of Masonry, and

to the

strictly

utmost of their

I'ower Support and Contribute to the well being of the Craft.

NOW THEREFORE KNOW

YE, That we of

the great Trust,

Power and

Authority, reposed in us by his Grace the Most Worshipful Hsnry Somerset, Beaufort, etc.,

Grand Master

of

Masons,

h.ive Constituted

Worshipful and well beloved Brother Mr.

Lodge

at Guilford aforesaid,

Bilious

Ward

regular

thereof, and

made Masons

Lodge Appertaining

all

to be the first

for the

point

Members

in

two Wardens and

due Regulation of said Lodge

and every

a

new Master

his favour,

One Year;

a

at the

end

to be approved by the Lodge, at least

two

for

and said new Master shall Nominate and Ap-

a Secretary for the ensuing year, also a Treasurer,

have the Votes of two-thirds of the Members in Annually.

all,

transient Persons admitted therein have been, or shall be

of which he shall Nominate thirds of the

Master of the

and that he appoint two Wardens, and other Officers to

:

of

and do hereby impower him to Congregate the Brethren

together, and form into a Regular Lodge, he taking Special Care that

Member

Duke

and appointed our Right

his favor;

who must

and so the same Course

APPENDIX.

AND WE DO HEREBY GIVE

189

Lodge

all

the Privileges

of other Regular Lodges, Requiring them to observe

all

and every of the Regulations

Book of Constitutions

contained in the Printed

Repealed

to said

and Authority

(except such as have been, or

may

Lodge in London),

to be

kept and observed,

may from Time

structions as

to

or Successors to either for the

Time

Time

being

;

such other Rules and In-

as also all

be transmitted to

And

them

by Us, or our Deputy,

that they do Annually send an

being, of the

Names

of the

Members of said Lodge, and

the Days and Place of Meeting, with

Communicate

John the

Feast of St. said

Day

lastly, that

for the

benefit of

Masonry; And

Baptist, or St.

John the

or Days, or as near either of

they do Regularly

may think

proper to

that they do Annually keep the

Dine together

EvangeIist,'or both, and

them

Abode, with

their Place of

any other things they

Ac-

Time

count in Writing to Us, or our Deputy, or Successors to either of Us for the

on

be

any Quarterly Communication or other General Meeting of the Grand

at

as shall be

most Convenient

Communicate with the Grand Lodge

:

And

in Boston, by

sending to the Quarterly Communications such Charity as their Lodge shall think for the

fit,

Relief of Poor Brethren, with the

same, that in case any such may come

to

want

Names

of those that Contributed the

Relief, they

may have the

preference

to others.

GIVEN

under Our

Hand and

Masonry

Seal of

at

Boston the loth day of July

A. D., 1771, and of Masonry 5771. RicHAKi. GRiniK.v, D. G.

John Cutler,

S.

Abr'm Savagk,

G.

M.

W.

G. M.

J.

BY THE GRAND MASTER'S COMMAND, Tho. Brown, Gr.

Scc'ry.

In the early history of this Lodge, the convivial element sccnis not to have been lost sight of,

at

its

flip

and the account-books

tell,

we

arc informed, of taxes frcijucntly levied

meetings to meet the expense of F/ip purch.ased for

its

members.

-mug, which was used on such occasions of solemn conviviality,

in existence, although

The

no longer employed

regular communications of the

nights of each

month

at

as in

Lodge

Masonic Hall.

is

Indeed the said

still

to be

former days.

are held

on the

first

and third

Monday

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

190

Past Masters of St. Albans Lodge. 1771, 1

Billious

2, 3,

774>

5>

•

Ward.

Eli Foote.

1798,

George Cleveland.

1799,

Oliver Bray.

1

800,

1801,

Jedediah Lathrop.

George Cleveland.

.

1802,3 1

Joel Griffing.

Jeremiah Parmelee.

804, 5,6,

William Spencer.

1807, 1808,

Peletiah Leete.

9,

1810,

Thomas

181

Jeremiah Parmelee.

1,

1812,

Powers.

Jedediah Lathrop.

3,

1814,

Abraham

1815,16,

Joseph Griffing.

1817,18,19,

Jedediah Lathrop.

1820,

Amos

1

I, 2, 3,

Chittenden.

I.

Seward.

Merritt Foote.

824,

1825,

Jedediah Lathrop.

6,

1827,

Amos Seward.

1851,

Charles A. Ball.

1852,

C. L. Crowel.

1853,

Charles

1854,

C. L.

1855,

6, 7, 8, 9, 60,

1863,

4, 5, 6,

1

867, 8,

9,

1,2,

W.

Miller.

Crowd.

Asahel B. Morse.

Henry

B. Stannard.

William T. Dowd.

Henry B. Stannard.

1870,

I,

1872,

3,

William T. Dowd.

1874,

5,

C.

Henry Norton.

X876,

William T. Dowd.

1877,

C.

Henry Norton.

records of the lodge having been destroyed by the

the names of

The

.

Isaac Chalker.

1797,

The

•

its

fire at

Music Hall, 186:

masters from 1775 to 1797 cannot be furnished.

charter was revoked in 1S27, and the lodge resuscitated in 1851.

APPENDIX.

IQI

HISTORY OF GUILFORD.

192

o " ,o — ^ J1^J'^ fe ^ O E •

.50

s

>>

» s

o

EO j^.

n

^1E^

Ev,

'-5

-G 0=

-o '5

^


54,

81. 18, 23, 27,

59, 65, 66,

81, 151,

153, 155. 156, 181.

udgment and Mercy,

funeral

a

etc.,

sermon, 95.

Kitchell, Samuel, 27, 70, 71, 182.

Koukeshihu, 70.

urdon, John, 12. uitices in

North Guilford

parish, 149,

Lahore, Anthony, 42.

Lamberton,

150.

ship, 16.

Lamberton, George, 183. Kellogg. Rev. Nathan, iii.

Lambric, Joannes, 192.

Kelsey, A., iii.

Lancasterian method adopted, 82.

Kelsey, Alvah, 147.

Landon, David, 188.

Kelsey, Richard F., 194.

Landon, E.

Kelsey, William, 146.

Landon, Edward R.,

Kelsey, William

Kent, 79 of,

;

S.,

20.

R

,

144, 146. 35, 138,

6,

adventurers from,

1 1

j

county

22.

Landon, George, 178. Landon, Mrs. Hart, 195.

Kent, England, 26.

Landon, Hethcote G., 180.

Kennilworth, 77.

Last of the Mohicans, Tiie, 72.

Keyhow,

Lathrop, Jedcdiah,

alias

141,

144, 146, 180, 182.

James the Brother, 76.

Killingworth, 7, 8, 19, 23, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 85,

142,

143,

Hammonassett Indians at, Records, 19; harbor, 85

144, 187,1 1 ;

line, 21.

Kimball Union Academy, 113. Kimberly, Abraham, 29.

Kimberly, Erastus

Town

no,

190.

Lathrop, John Hiram, LL.D., 137.

Leake and Watt's Orphan Asylum, N. Y., 40.

Lee, Charles Gilbert, 192. Lee, Edward, 27. Lee, Edward M., 148.

C, no.

Lee, Gen. E. M., 142, 180.

27

2IO Lee, Samuel

Lee, Lieut.

Wm.

cemetery

H., 141.

granite quarry at,

;

Leverett, Mass., 99.

Leete, Abner,

Library formed, 85.

50.

Leete, Albert A., 106,

More and More,

Light, The, Appearing

147.

Leete, Ambrose, 105, 107.

91.

Andrew, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77, 78,

Lindsley, John, 14, 26.

Lisbon, Conn.,

79. i^3> 145.159Leete,

39

Leicester, Eng., 92.

Leet, Mr., 63.

Leete,

at,

41-

Andrew, 187.

Lett,

83, 192;

Leete's island, 43, 46, 49, 50,

172, 173, 174.

jr.,

Lee, William H., 194.

Anna, 122.

1

13.

108; county, 32.

Litchfield, 32,

Leete, Benjamin, 30.

Littlefield, 105.

Leete, Caleb, 163, 164, 165, 166.

London, 11, 17, 25, 81, 90, 91, 92.

M., 179.

Leete, Calvin

Leete, Charles F., 180.

Edward

106,

L., 84,

147,

179,

Gov

61, 64, 120, 122

,

;

his

fam-

Mr,

Leete, Mrs.

East Riding

;

of,

7, 39.

W.,

142.

Louisburg, 48.

Ruth, no.

Ludington, Timothy, 50, 1S8.

195.

Lyme,

152, 186.

18, 51,

N.

107 ;

Loper, Henry, 110, 146.

Loyselle, Miss

20.

Leete, Mrs. Harvey,

Leete,

sound

;

Lord James the second, of England, 80.

122.

Leete, John,

ily,

38, 43.

Loper, Samuel

180.

Leete,

hill,

Island, 49,

26

Leete, Daniel, 49, 107,

Leete,

Long Long

69, 85.

Lyon, Rev. Chas. W.,

196.

1".,

Leete, Peletiah, 50, 107, 165, 166, 167,

in.

Lyons, Rev. Mr., missionary, 108.

190. Leete, Peletiah 2d, 10 Leete,

Mack,

1.

Roger C, 194.

Leete, Rowland, 50.

Leete, Sidney

63,

Guilford), 143,

Leete, Simeon, 47,

50. ,•

30, 31,

37,

21; (East

144. list of,

145-148.

Magnalia, 90.

194.

Leete, Solomon, 49

Maine, 38.

his

house burned,

Marietta college, 99.

Marvin, D.ivid, 42.

49-

Maryland, 142.

Leete, Theodore A., 104. Leete, William, 9, 10,

12,

13, 23,

52,

Mason, Samuel, 192.

54, 59, 62, 65, 66,70, 71, 76, 89,

Masonic Hall, 189.

121, IJ7, 151, 152, 153, 154,155,

Masons,

159, 160, 181, Leete, William

21, 29,

106; church,

Magistrates and justices,

1 1 1.

W.,

18,

7, 8,

58,

Leete, Rufus N., 147.

Leete, Samuel,

T., 85.

Eli

Madison,

jr.,

145,

of,

and accepted, 188, 189.

Massachusetts, 19, 92, 135.

104.

Leete, Gov. William,

free

lodge

183.

182.

Mateowepcsack, 71.

St.

Albnn's

INDEX. Mather, Cotton, 19. 90. 93Mather, Dr. Increase, 94.

21

Milford,

Mather, Mr., 94.

Mllledgcville, Ga., 129.

W

Miller, Charles Mills,

Thomas,

Mipham, John,

Medicines, faith in quack, 41.

Mohegan

Mediterranean,

Mohegans, sachem

136.

153, 155.

Indians, 68

sachem

Meigs, Lieut. Janna, 164, 165.

148, 190.

,

15.

Mecoke, Thomas, 186.

of,

;

sachem, 72. lo,

of,

Monroe, Beverly,

Meigs, John, 19, 24, 25, 28, 50, 78, 79,

Monroe, Jasper, 147, 179.

y

105.

Moore, Jairus

Meigs, Josiah, 170.

P., 85.

Moose

Morse, Asahel

Meigs, Tryal, 28.

Morse, Seth, 50, 107.

hill,

43, 83

;

cemetery

Morse, John, 50.

Memoir

Moriton, N. H., 113.

of Eli Thorp, 114. 8, 66,

67

;

sachem squaw

755 English planters

Indians at

Haven,

11;

or

lo,

of,

Branford and East

West

river,

45;

lands called, 62; Indian inhabitants of,

65; named Guilford, 152.

Mepham, John,

Mt. Pleasant, N. Y., 106.

Munson, Judge, 138. Munger, John, 50.

Munger, Nicholas, 25, 27. 50.

Murdock, Dr. James, 97. Murray, Bridgeman, 50.

Merwin, Clarina

Murray, Jonathan, 50.

B., 115.

W. H.

Merwin, Rev. Samuel, 115.

Murray, Rev.

Merwin, Susan T., 115.

Murphy, Patrick, 192.

Messanamuck,

Music

66.

Episcopal

church, 8j,

111;

My

Peace

I

give unto you, etc., 93.

in charge, iii.

Methodists in Guilford, 1838,

ii6j

in

North Guilford, 1838, 120. Middlebury

H., 51.

hall, 34 J fire at, 190. Muttomonossuck, 66.

Metuckquashish, 70.

clergymen

39.

Morton's Ford, Va., 192.

Munger, Wait,

12, 15, 64, 87.

Mequunhut, 70.

Methodist

at,

B., 190.

Meishunok, 70.

;

Uncas,

Moosamattuck, 66.

Meigs, Capt. Phineas, 50.

65

;

35.

Meigs, Lieut. Col., 49.

of, 9,

74

46.

Meigs, Capt. Jehiel, 50.

Menunk.tuck,

54, 136,

52,

to general court from,

183.

admitted a planter, 21.

;

20, 51,

152; deputies

Maycock, Thomas, 74. Meacock, Thomas, 20, 27, 72, 73, 77, 161

12, 14,

I

Nathan's pond, 21. National Freedman's Relief Commission,

college, Vt., 112.

"3-

Middlefield, 32.

Middle Haddam, no. Middletown, 45, 47, parishes of, 32.

Midlothian, 121.

Naish, Tiiomas, 12.

Naushuter, 76.

in,

142,

143;

Nausump, 75. Nausup, an Indian, 72 cot,

;

alias

Quataba-

deed of sale from, 73, 74, 75,76

212

INDEX. New

Nebeserte, 68.

Neck,

1 1

;

land in the. 64; called the, 69

river, 8

plains,

5

Newark, N.

C,

Noble, 120.

among, N. E.

tribes,

;

New Hampton, New Haven, 9,

North Branford, Conn., 114,

convert

first

Society of,

North

11, 19, 21,

22,

35, 37,

55, 120, 121

East

117, 128,

108, 109,

New London New chartered, 39

library

of,

122,

colony,

;

government

;

124,

123,

court

county

51

justices

127;

127; and

of,

52;

of,

county,

112;

of

New

London Railroad, 138; Town and Colony Records, held

52

general court

;

183; deputy

at,

court from, 183

New New

i

;

to

articles

general

of confed-

8, 16,

48, 108, 116,

191; cemetery

formed

149, 150.

North Madison,

North

8, 31, 37, 45.

Society, 37.

Norton, 32. Norton, Alfred, 149.

Norton, C. Henry, 190.

Norton, Francis Morgan, 192. Norton, Miss Grace, 19.

/^

Norton, Henry E., 116, 138, 180.

Norton, Mrs. Hy. E., 196.

Haveners, 51.

Norton, James A., 147, 179.

London, 35,38, 39, 49; and Ston-

Norton, J. W., 194. Norton, John, 187, 192.

Newman, Mr.,

his barn in

51; agreement

Newman,

made

in

New

Haven,

confirmed, 62.

;

parts

rail

of,

struction,

road Co., 39

;

northern

destitute of religious

103;

Norton, Jonathan G., 192.

Norton, John William, 106, 180.

Norton, Rufus, 174.

Robt., 65.

New Orleans, 191. New York, 38, 39, 42, 113, 115, 132; New Haven and Hartcity, 34, 40 ford

list

North Killingworth, 108.

Norton, Horace, 146, 147.

road, 138.

39;

parisli, justices in,

186.

rail

at,

86; church,

in,

eration for the jurisdiction, of, 183,

nington

First

31, 32,

29, 30,

44. 45.

of deacons, 119;

;

Consociation,

15;

Bristol, 8.

36, 37. 43.

152; and

ancient colony

1

143.

North Guilford,

London and Stonington Railroad, ;

river,96.

Northford, 120, 142.

N. H., 117.

89, 91, 93, 94, 99, 100,

39

;

Northfield, Litchfield co.. Conn., 119.

Gen. Reg., 141.

Railway Co.,

69

North Becket, 18.

38, 39, 4i, 43. 45. 62, 72, 8i- 87,

112, 122,

of,

Northampton, Mass, 94.

69.

Hist, and

sachem

Northamptonshire, Eng., 20.

192, 193.

England, 11,22, 38, 55,90; colo58

Halleck presented

Newtown, Conn., 102. Niantic, Indians,

Concord, N. Y., 117.

nists,

statue of

134.

192.

23, 81, 115.

J.,

Newbern, N.

;

York, to,

21.

Nettleton, Dennis F.,

New New

on the,

ii; Indians found

the,

conference,

in11 1;

Norton, Thomas, 12, 15, 26.

—

Nothingarians in Guilford, 1838, 116.

Norwalk, 14, 25. Norwich, 24, 38, 84.

Nut

plains,

18,

Upper, 83

;

191;

cemetery,

Lower, 83.

39;

;

213 Oberlin college, ii8.

Pequot, 69.

Ockley, 90.

Pequots, conquest of the, 11

Old

Society, 37.

Oliver,

Andrew,

Oneida

(collegial) institute, 113.

Onion

Petersburg, Va., 191.

missionary

;

Vt

,

Philip,

Dying Legacy of Peace

his Disciples, etc., 93.

46

;

fisheries

of

147, 179. First

;

Congrega-

to

King, 48.

Physic and physical drugs, Mrs. Cosster's, 41-

Oyster river, corn mill on, 26. Oysters,

C,

tional church, 112.

or Trinitarian, 83.

Saviour's

III.

Philadelphia, 100, loi

129.

of,

Osborn, Walter, 146.

Our

C,

Phelps, Franklin

130.

Orange, south parish

Orthodox

Peterson, Alexander, 193.

Phelps, F.

97.

river,

battle with,

Pesuckapaug pond, 74, 77.

Esq., 92.

Oneida county, N. Y., 103 to,

;

46.

Physicians,

list of,

42.

Piermont, N. H., 112, 117.

8.

Pierson, 181. Palfrey's History of

New

England, 16.

Pardy, Joseph, 75. Paris,

Rev. Benjamin, ill.

Pillsbury,

Pistapaug pond, 7.

N. Y., 33, 105.

Pitman, Jonathan, 81.

Park, Edward, 29.

Plaine, William, 15.

Parkhurst, Mrs. B. B., 195.

Plane, William, 12.

Parks, Nathaniel, 30.

Planters, meeting of,

Parmalee,

Plantation,

Eli, 85.

Parmarly, John, 186.

treasurers

Parmelee, Ebcnezer, 86, 182.

Plum-gut, 49,

Parmelee, Ebenezer

Plutarch, 85.

Parmelee,

Eli,

jr.,

144.

Plymouth,

106, 180.

Parmelee, George, 59.

for,

at,

Point House, 36.

Parmelee, Jeremiah, 190.

Ponaim, 70.

Parmelee, Joel Cruttenden, 192.

Pope, 85.

Parmelee, U. N., 148.

P^ pulation, entire, jr.,

193.

Poquain, 68.

Parmelin, Jno.

Pork and

13, 24.

93

C,

Parsons, General, 49.

Portsmouth, Va., 192.

Pashquishook, 10.

Portsmouth Grove, R.

Pasquishunk, 69.

Potomac

Pauquun, 70.

Powers, Thomas,

Peck, Rev. Jeremiah, 81.

pastor

;

of

the

I.

pease, 17.

Port Royal, S.

Rev. Hart, iii.

20

31; in Madison and

Parmelin, John sen., 13, 24.

-Pease,

the,

Guilford, 31; increase for ten years,3

Parmelin, John, 12. jr.,

of

81.

19.

Parmelee, Mrs. Helen, 196.

Parmelee, Uriah Nelson,

1

Mass.,

church

151.

town clerk

river,

191.

no,

Presbyterian cloak,

few, lot.

J.,

192.

192. 190.

loi

;

churches, but

214 Princeton college, 102.

Robinson, Henry, 104.

Prin.eton, N. J.,

Robinson, Rev. Henry, 142.

113.

Productions, principal, 44.

Robinson, James, 169.

Protector, Richard, 121.

Robinson, Jon'n, 30.

Protestant Episcop.il churcii, 35.

Robinson, Samuel, 146, 167,

Prudden, Mr., 14, 21, 51.

168, 169,

170, 172,174, 175, 176, 177.

Robinson, Col. SamueJ, 106, 145.

Puritan, i2i. Puritans, 57,

Robinson, Thomas, 28.

63.

Pynchon, Joseph, 29, 145, 170.

Rogers, Seth H., 42.

Pynchon, Thomas Ruggle?, 42.

Roman

catholics,

met

first

as a

religious

body, 116.

Root, Rev. David, 112.

Quakers, 55. Quatabacot,

Nausup, 73, 74, 75,

alias

Rose, Joel, 119. Rositar, Mr., 186.

76.

meadow, 77.

(^uillipeak, 62.

Rosse's

(^uillipiack, 67.

Rossiter, Col. Abel, 149, 177, 178.

Quillipiag,

Rossiter, Benjamin, 119, 149.

69.

Quinnipiack,

Rossiter, Bray, 41.

1 1.

Quissuckquonoh, 70.

Rossiter, Dr. Bray, 26.

Quonapaug pond, 44, 45.

Rossiter, Bryan, 23, 41, 42.

Rossiter, Dr.

Ramshorn, Toby, 101. Ravvson, Rev. James, Records, 15,

21, 59;

1

1

sworn

1

names of

plantcis

in original, 13, 14.

18, 61,

93,

123;

as a

;

freeman, 18.

Rossiter, David B., 180. Rossiter, Dr., 93.

Redlield, Ebenezer, 61.

Redfield, J.,

Bryan,

joined the settlers in Guilford, iS

Rossiter, Joanna, 93.

171.

Rossiter,

Johannah,

19.

Rcdfield, Jarcd,42.

Rossiter, John, 24, 26.

Redfield, John, 42.

Rossiter,

Reformed Dutch

Rossiter, Josiah, 61, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77,

Relf,

clmrclies, but lew, 103.

Thomas, divorced from

liis

wile,

16.

John R., 119, 149, 180.

78, 79, 123,

145,

160, 161,

i8i.

Review ofthe More Fixed Laws,

etc.,

151.

Reynolds, Gideon Perry, 42.

Rossiter, Mr., 123, 182. Rossiter, N., 174, 175.

Richards, Rev. John, of Waterbuiy,

1

17.

Rossiter, Nathaniel, 127, 145.

Richardson, Miles G., 193.

Rossiter, T.,

Richmond,

Rossiter, Til ophilus, 30, 119.

32.

179.

Richmond, Mass., 107.

Rossiter,

Deacon Theophilus, 149.

Richmond, Va.,

Rossiter,

Timothy, 149.

Rossiter,

Wilbur

1

10.

Ripley, Erastus L., 147.

Riverdale, N. Y., 115.

Presbyterian

church,

1''.,

194.

Rowe, John, 188. Roxbury, Conn., 114.

162,

INDEX. Roxbury, Mass., 94.

215

Saybrook, 10,

Ruggles, Mr., characteristics

of,

81,

^9.

94.

Ruggles, Nathaniel, 42, 169, 170, 171.

fort,

16,

85,

14; chaplain

Ruggles, Dr. Nathaniel, 105, 145.

Schermerhorn,

Ruggles, Thomas, 104.

School,

Thomas

Ruggles,

ture of,

104.

jr.,

Ruggles, Rev. Thomas, 94.

Thomas

Ruggles, Rev.

jr.,

the regicides,

1 1

W.,

83

;

at,

;

34.

manufac-

furniture,

34.

Scotland, one of the nine counsellors

of,

120.

Scranton, Francis S., 193.

6.

Scranton, Col. Ichabod, 48.

117.

Russel, Samuel, 116.

Scranton, Jared, 149. Scranton, John, 13, 24, 43,

Rutland, Vt., 118.

156,

i