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Full text of "A statistical account of the county of Middlesex, in Connecticut"

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STATISTICAL ACCOUNT 



OF TU£ 



COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, 



IN 



CONNECTICUT. 



BY DAVID D. FIELD. 



FCBLISHED BY THE CONXECTICUT ACABEMIT OF ARTS AWD SCIENTES. 



cjBibMetotDn, <ffontt* 

PRINTED BY CLARK & LYMAN. 
April, 1819. 



THE author deems it hu duty and privilege, to return his 
thanks to all those gentlemen, who have assisted him in col- 
lectins facts for the ensuing work. 

In arranging these, a general regard has been paid to the 
questions, proposed in the Circular of the Connecticut Academy. 



. rv\^ 



STATISTICAL ACCOUNT 



OF 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY 



Introductory and General Observations. 



Middlesex \vas made a county by an act of the Legislature 
of Connecticut, passed at their session in May 1785, and then con- 
sisted of six towns, viz. Middletown, Chatham, Haddam, and 
East-Haddam, which were takea from the county of Hartford ; 
and Saybrookand Kiliingworth, taken from the county of New- 
London. Durham was annexed to Middlesex in May, 1799, 
from the county of New-Haven ; and the county now consists of 
seven towns, which include eighteen located congregational so- 
cieties, together with several societies of other denominations, 
and one hundred and twelve school-districts, it was invested at 
its formation, with the same privileges enjoyed by the other 
counties of the State, and Middletown, being the principal town 
in the county, w^as selected as a half-shire : while Haddam, being 
the central town, was selected as the other half-shire : in which 
places, court-houses and gaols were subsequently erected. Sec 
note A. 

This county, like the other counties of Connecticut is of very 
irregular form. It lies between 41 degrees and 15 minutes, and 
41 degrees and 39 minutes of north latitude, and between 72 
degrees and 20 minutes, and 72 degrees and 47 minutes of west 
longitude. Its greatest length is 27 miles, and its greatest 
breadth 22 1-2. Its average length is about 25 miles, its ave- 
rage breadth about 1 5 ; and its area, exclusive of Connecticut 
river, is about 237,370 acres. It is bounded by New-FIaven 
'"ounty on the west, by Hartford countv on the north, by Hart- 



4 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ^ 

ford and New- London counties on* the east, by New- London 
county and the Sound on the south. 

Within the limits of this county, English setdements com- 
menced, in Saybrook in 1635, in Middletown in 1650, and in 
Haddam in 1662; from which the settlements afterwards pro- 
ceeded in the towns opposite, on the east side of Connecticut 
river. The settlement commenced in Killingworth in 1663, and 
in Durham in 1698. The first setders were almost exclusively 
of English extraction, and with their descendants individuals 
from other nations have rarely intermixed. They came, in a 
few instances, immediately from England, but more generally 
from older setdements in Connecticut and Massachusetts. 

The number of inhabitants in the whole colony of Connecticut 
in 1713, according to Dr. Trumbull, was 17,000. Of these, there 
may have been 3,000 in the towns now belonging to Middlesex. 
In the same towns there were, in 1756, 13,071 souls, in 1774, 
17,572, and in 1810, 20,723. See note B, 

The several townships in Middlesex were purchased of the 
Indians, and in no case obtained by conquest. In selling their 
lands, they usually reserved certain portions for themselves, with 
the right of hunting and fishing where they pleased ; on which 
they remained many years, and in several instances till within 
the memory of persons now living, raising upon them their corn, 
and obtaining other articles of food as they had previously done. 
No part of Connecticut was better adapted to their mode of life. 
Connecticut river and the Sound, with their tributary streams, 
furnishing them with an abundance offish, and the forests back, 
with game. They were, therefore, very numerous in all parts of 
the county, excepting Durham, (which was used as an occasion- 
al retreat for hunting ;) much more numerous than the English, 
long after the English settlements commenced, and might in 
numberless instances have destroyed them, had they not been 
restrained by the merciful providence of God. The English 
realized iheir critical situation, and while they looked to God as 
their only all-sufficient protector, took various measures to se- 
cure themselves in case of a sudden attack. But no evidence' 
is transmitted to us of their having sustained any serious injury 
from them, except about the time of the Pequot war, an account 
of which will be given in treating of Saybrook, as there will be 
in treating of the several towns, of the names which they gave to 
places, rivers, &c. 

The general customs of the Indians are too well known to need 
a recital in this work. 

To remove a cold and many other complaints, the diseased 
used to stand over a hot stone rolled into a hole dug in the earth, 
until they were brought into a (U'ofuse svreat, and then phmsfpH 



introductory and General Observations, o 

into water. A lot at Indian-Hill, in Chatham, is still called hot- 
house lot, because it had one of these holes in it. There was 
one of these at Pattaquounk, now Chester, and a swamp oppo- 
site Saybrook-Point, in Lyme, is called hot-house swamp, from 
the same circumstance. This was a more rational remedy than 
pawwawing, for which the Mackemoodus or East-Haddam In- 
dians were particularly famed, whose favourite spot for this ex- 
ercise was, on what is still called. Wigwam brook. 

The Indians acknowledged one great Spirit as ruling over all, 
but are said to have worshipped many gods. They offered sa- 
crifices, and it is supposed sometimes human sacrifices, though 
of this there is no certain evidence. A large flat rock, a mile 
north of Saybrook street, east of Middlesex turnpike, bears the 
name of Obed's altar to this day, because an Indian of that 
name was seen offering upon it a deer to his god. 

The places where the Indians buried their dead, have, in some 
cases, been uniformly known to the English, in others, have been 
discovered from time to time, and in others still, we no doubt 
pass over them, and are not aware of them. 

Their manner of interment shows the imperfect and grovelling 
ideas, which they entertained of a future state. They placed 
the bodies frequently in a sitting posture, and for their accommo- 
dation on their way to eternity, or their convenience after tlieir 
arrival, buried with them, food, utensils, arms, ornaments, and 
wampum. The>- have been found thus buried at Middlctown 
Upper-Houses, at Chatham, and at Pautapoug. Three graves, 
one of a man and two of children, found at Indian-hill in Chat- 
ham in the spring of 1808, may be mentioned as specimens. 
The man was placed sitting, wrapped in a blanket, (which was 
not entirely consumed, but on exposure to the air, became as 
burnt straw ;) in his lap were two small brass kettles, probably fill- 
ed with soup or suckotash at the time of burial, one of which had 
sunk dov/n into the other; in which were a spoon, knife, phial, 
and pipe. His arm was extended round the kettles, and what is 
particularly remarkable, where the flesh came in contact with 
the brass, from the elbow to the wrist, the flesh was preserved. 
In the hand of one of the children was found a brass cup of the 
size of a tea-cup, with the fingers extended from the base to the 
brim, and here again the hand was preserved, where it came 
against the brass, and as the opposite side of the cup was wasted 
away, it would seem that the brass and the flesh mutually pre- 
served each other. Around the wrist was wampum strung on 
deer-skin, and near by were beads formed apparently from the 
hearts of oyster-shells, supposed to have been })laced about the 
neck. In the grave of the other child, was a copper box, con- 
iaining wampum, strung on deer's leather. 



G Slaiistical Account of Middlesex County j 

The Indians in Middletovvn had a fort near the Straits, erect- 
ed as a security against the Farmington Indians ; from whi^h 
circumstance, (he spot is now known by the name of Fort-Hill. 
Near the Indian settlement in Chester, is a place also called 
Fort-Hill, probably because the Indians had some kind of forti- 
fication upon it. 

Whether the Indians in Middlesex were connected with tribes 
in other parts ol the country is uncertain. The presumption is, 
lliat the Mattabcsett or Middletown Indians, with the clans in 
Chatham, Glastenbury, Weathersfield, and for some distance 
westward, were a tribe by themselves. The Indians in the 
southern parts of the county not improbably belonged to the 
Nehanticks, whose principal settlement was in the eastern part 
of Lyme. These were in subjection to the P<5C|uots some years 
before the Pequot war. But whatever was their origin or con- 
nection, the last remnant of the Indians left the county half a 
century ago, and no certain information is possessed of their 
pi'esent situation and character, nor even of their existence. 

Taken as a vvhole, Middlesex must be regarded as a rough 
uneven tract of country. Some lands on the margin of the Sound 
and of Connecticut river, varying in vidth from half a mile to one 
and two miles, are comparatively level and feasible. The same 
is true of lands in some parts of Durham and Middletown, and in 
the northwestern section of Chatham, and of very small tracts in 
other parts of the county. 

The county is passed obliquely from the west-southwest, to 
the north-northeast, by a wide range of hills, which may be pro- 
perly denominated the Strait-Hills, as they appear on both sides 
of the Connecticut at the Straits, whence they pass on far into the 
interior of New-England. South of these Straits, the land rises into 
hills, at small but unequal distances to the right and left of the 
river, to within four or five miles of its mouth ; some of v/hich 
arc steep and rough, but they are generally capable of cultiva- 
tion. On the western border of Durham and Middletown, are 
Wallingford ?»lountains, steep on the west side, but capable of 
l?eing ascended on the east, and ii^. some instances, they are cul- 
tivated to their summits. Some of these are called by distinct 
jiames, as Higby Mountain, from a man of that name who settled 
near it, and Lamentation Mountain, so called, according to tradi- 
tion, because one of the ancient Chesters from Weathersfield 
was lost upon it on a journey to New-Haven, and v/as sought for 
with much anxiety for several days. The spaces between dis- 
tinct mountains are crossed in several instances in Middletown, 
and in three in Durham. 

The base and loose stones of the Strait-Hills are granite, and 
ihis i«. the prevalent kind of stone found .southward through the 



Introductory and General Observations. 7 

county. North of the Straits, free stone abound, while the base 
and loose stones of Wallingford Mountains, are the trap rock. 

The best soil in the county is unquestionably that, which is 
made by the annual overflowings of Connecticut river. The 
soil next to this in excellence, is composed of loam, gravel, and a 
small intermixture of clay, and is found in the center of Durham, 
and Middletown, and in Chatham street. In the south part of 
Killingv/orth and Saybrook, and so on the west side of Connec- 
ticut river, immediately back from the alluvial lands, is a soil 
composed of loam, sand, and some grave), which is rendered 
very productive by manure, particularly on the Sound, A soil 
kindred to this, is found on the plain in Middletown Upper- 
Houses. The rest of the county generally, is a hard gravelly soil. 

The ranges of hills and mountains already mentioned, with 
many hills of less note, give rise to a multitude of springs and 
brooks, and to some streams highly valuable for mill-seats ; the 
mouths of most of which are navigable short distances for boats. 
These will be described in treating of the several towns in the 
county. 

But the glory of Middlesex and of the State is the Connecticut, 
This, signifying in Indian, the long river according to some, or 
the river of Pines according <o others, gives name to the State, 
and imparts to it much of its beauty and of its wealth. 

This rises in those high lands in Canada, separating the wa- 
ters which run north into the St. Lawrence, and those which run 
south into Nev/-England. It is ten rods wide upon its entrance 
into the United States. Forming a boundary for about two hun- 
dred miles between Vermont and New-Hampshire, and receivine; 
many streams from the Green-Mountains and the White-Hills 5 
it passes centrally through the counties of Franklin, Hampshire, 
and Hampden in Massachusetts, and Hartford county in Connec- 
ticut ; augmented by Dcerfield, Agawam, and Farmington rivers 
from the west, and Millers, Chickabee, and Scantic rivers from 
the east: striking Middlesex, it divides it unequally, throwing 
the smaller division to the east, and empties itself into Long- 
Island Sound. 

Its general course is south ; from Middletown city its course 
is southeast. 

Its width at Upper-Houses ferry is 80 rods, against the mouth 
of Little river 97, against the city of Middletown 97 and 80, at 
the Straits 35, at Bush-Point 37, at Knov,des^ Landing 88, at 
Higganum 61, at the point of Haddam island 116, at East-Had- 
dam Landing about 120, Chapman's ferry 50, Warner's terry 80, 
Brockways ^Q^ and at Saybrook ferry 127. In some places it 
spreads to a greater extent than any here mentioned. 

The depth of the channel at full sea varies through Middlesex 



S Statistical Account of Middlesex County j 

from 10 1-2 to 30 feet; its average depth is 15 feet. The or- 
dinary tides at Saybrook-Point are 3 1-2 feet, at Middletown city 
2 feet, and proportionally at the intermediate places. 

A mile and a half from the mouth of the Connecticut is a saod 
bar, apparently formed by the conflux of the river and tide, on 
which there are, in common tides, 10 and 11 feet of water, about 
a foot more at the full and change of the moon. This is some 
obstruction to navigation, though vessels as large and heavy- 
laden can cross the bar as can go to Middletown. The river 
originally crossed this bar in three channels ; but the eastern- 
most, the only one used sixty years ago, is filled up and become 
a flat, bare at low water. The middle and western channels, 
have deepened perhaps a foot in thirty years, and if we credit 
the testimony of Winthrop that there were only six or seven feet 
of water on the bar in 1633, the channels are much improved 
since the discovery of the country. 

To aid vessels in passing this bar, as well as in traversing the 
the Sound, a light-house was erected on Lynde's Point in 1804, 
the deck of which is elevated 80 feet from the ground. Four 
years previous to this, a company was formed to clear the river 
of obstructions. By means of a pier at the Upper-Houses, they 
have thrown the channel the opposite side of the river, and deep- 
ened it from six to eleven feet. A mile or two below, where the 
river is divided by a small island, and where there were bars 
with only seven feet of water, called Chatham bar and Middle- 
town bar ; they have made attempts to improve the channel, 
but with less success. 

The river generally affords a tolerable harbour for vessels, and 
excellent harbours in its bends at Middletown city, Knowles's 
Landing, Higganum Landing, &:c. At these places, and indeed 
at wharves small distances from one another through the whole 
extent of the county, vessels load and unload ; where the in- 
habitants of the surrounding regions export lumber, wood, stone, 
fish, and whatever articles they have to spare, and receive in re- 
turn importations from abroad. 

In 1789, there belonged to the river, and probably two-fifths 
of these to Middlesex, 3 brigs of 180 tons each, about 60 sail 
from 60 to 150 tons, employed in the West India trade, a few 
fishermen, and 40 or 50 coasters. Commerce flourished after- 
wards, till the commencement of the restrictive system. By that 
system and the war following it, it was greatly injured, and 
it has not regained its former prosperity since the return of 
peace. In Dec. 1815, there belonged to the river, or rather to 
the two counties of Hartford and Middlesex, 31 ,956 tons of ship- 
ping ; to Middlesex county 9,376 tons, consisting of 7 ships, 18 
brigs, 19 schooners, and 38 sloops. See note C. 



Introductory and General Observations. S 

The current of the Connecticut is smooth and gentle, unless 
raised and strengthened by freshets, except at the Straits, two 
and a half miles below Middletown city, where the whole river, 
being compressed to 35 rods, rushes forward with great force 
between the high and cragged fronts of the Strait-Hills. 

A freshet is usually experienced about the first of March, when 
the ice and snow dissolve in the southern parts of New- England. 
A larger one is experienced a month later, when the ice and 
snow dissolve in the cold regions from which the Connecticut 
derives its sources ; raising the river above its banks and spread- 
ing it one and two miles, around buildings, trees, &c. At this 
time, the river presents a grand and beautiful appearance. As 
it falls and retires, it leaves a kind of slime upon the banks, by 
which they are continually raised and enriched. 

The Straits just mentioned, serve to increase and continue the 
floods above them, and in some instances, when the river has 
broken up suddenly, or has been suddenly raised by great rains, 
by staying the waters or ice, have proved the occasion of much 
damage. Thus a flood was produced in May and June, 1642, 
which was very injurious. Thus the meadows were alarmingly 
flooded in Dec. 1703. In April, 1801, the waters became so 
high and violent, that they tore the bank in pieces in many 
places. 

In the lapse of years, the current has nearly destroyed some 
islands, as Twelve-Mile island, on the remains of which, is now 
a iish-place called Statia ; and it has formed some others. Thus 
the small island above Middletown, already mentioned, is said to 
have been formed around a pier, erected for the purpose of fish- 
ing. Thus Goose island also, is said to have been formed. 

In addition to these islands, the following exist in the river, 
and are particularly valuable for their fisheries, viz. Haddam 
island, Lord's, Nott's, and Calves' island, all uninhabited. 

Haddam island, originally called Thirty-mile island, from the 
supposition of its being thirty miles from the mouth of the Con- 
necticut, contains 18 acres. A pier erected about 90 rods north 
in 1793, has caused the sand to accumulate between it and the 
head of the island, and bids fair to increase it. 

Lord's island, originally called Twenty-mile island, contains 
9 or 10 acres of sandy and rather thin land. This is within the 
bounds of the town of East-Haddam. 

Nott's island, southeast of Pautapoug Point, originally called 
Eight-mile island, contains 60 acres, some of which is good 
)and. This belongs to the town of Lyme, as does Calves' island, 
formerly called Six-mile island, still farther southeast, contain- 
ing 8 or 10 acres. 

Thiv river wi^h its tributary streams, used to abound v/ith fish. 



10 Slalislicui Account of Middlesex County ; 

wilh salmon, shad, bass, alewives, pike, carp, perch, &c. which 
cast their spawn on logs, and objects along the shores, where 
they remained unmolested till nature had accomplished its work. 
But as there was a general prejudice against the use of the most 
common and important kinds of these fish, either because they 
were so generally used by the Indians, or from some other cause 
which I am unable to assign ; little effort was made to take them 
for more than a century after the county was settled. Within 
the memory of persons living, there was very little demand for 
salmon, and as for shad it was disreputable to eat them. But as 
this prejudice gradually died away, and as profitable markets for 
fish were opened, fishing became an important business thirty 
or forty years ago, and has continued so ever since. This has 
rendered fish-places objects of consequence. Hence Nott's 
island, which was purchased in 1742 for 600 pounds old tenor, 
about 500 dollars in specie, was assessed in 1814 at 22,000 dol- 
lars. 

For several years the quantity of fish in the river has very con- 
siderably decreased. Salmon, which used to ascend into the 
bounds of New-Hampshire and Vermont, have rarely appeared 
in the river for fifteen or twenty years. Shad do not ascend be- 
yond the limits of Middlesex in sufficient quantities, to render 
fishing an important object. Other fish, with the exception of 
alewives, are not caught for exportation, though they are taken 
occasionally by the inhabitants, and sometimes in great numbers. 

The decrease of fish is ascribed to different causes. The fol- 
lowing are believed to have had an influence ; the use of very 
long seines, particularly about the mouth of the river, by which 
the shoals are broken and prevented entering or ascending the 
river ; the almost perpetual attempts to take them in the season 
of fishing, it being long observed that Monday is the most success- 
ful day in the week, the fish having had an opportunity to get into 
the river on the Sabbath ; the removal of logs, roots, and other 
objects from the shores on which spawn are cast, and the dis- 
turbance of these objects where they remain, by boating and na- 
vigation ; the erection of locks on the river, and dams on its tri- 
butary streams, by which their ascent to the regions beyond them, 
is partially or wholly prevented. 

There are nearly eighty places in Middlesex where shad are 
now caught in the season of fishing, beginniiig about the middle 
of April and ending about the middle of June, viz. 26 in Say- 
brook, 17 in Haddam, 16 or 17 in Middletown, 13 in Chatham, 
and 5 in East-Haddam. At the fish-places in Saybrook, 
there were salted, in 1817, according to the report of the 
deputy inspector, 2,194 barrels of shad; at the fish-places 
in Haddam 146 barrels, and at the fish-places in East-Had- 



hitroduciorij and General Observations, 1 i 

dam 169; making a total of 2,509 barrels. Many shad cauglu 
in Haddam, are carried out of the coimty and inspected. 
From the fish-places in Middletown and Chatham, and from all 
parts of the county where fish are taken, many shad are put up 
by the inhabitants, and many are carried into the country, imin- 
spected. The quantity of shad uninspected, is doubtless greater 
than the quantity inspected. Supposing it to be only equal, the 
quantity offish caught in Middlesex in 1817, must have exceed- 
ed 5,000 barrels. Estimating these at 12 dollars a barrel, the 
common price for that year, will make a gross amount of 60,000 
dollars. That season was less favourable than seasons general- 
ly. But although the value of shad yearly caught in the county 
is great, the expense of carrying on this business is such, that 
the clear profits are less than would be at first supposed. The 
largest draught which has ever come to my knowledge, was made 
at the Pier in Haddam, in 1802, consisting of about 2,300. At 
the succeeding draught, at the same place, 18 or 1900 were 
taken. In 1811, 2,280 were taken at a single draught at Rutty's 
fish-place, and 1300 at two other draughts at the same place that 
year. 

The best mode of curing shad is to dress them immediately 
after they are caught, to cleanse them thoroughly and salt them. 
By lying long in the sun they become soft, and are bruised and 
injured by being carried any considerable distance, unless they 
are barrelled. 

In the year 1795, shad were uncommonly lean, and appeared 
to be sickly through the season, owing it was generally believed 
to the difficulty of ascending the river, against a current effected 
by an almost continual gale through the months of April and 
May ; but it is very doubtful whether the true cause has been 
ascertained. 

It is so easy to obtain good water in this county by sinking 
wells, that aqueducts are rarely formed. Water is found at dif- 
ferent depths, both on high and low grounds, and does not ap- 
pear to be governed altogether by the nature of the ground, 
though it is lowest in the earth v;here quicksand prevails. There 
is so much of this sand in Haddam street and the water is so low, 
that few wells are sunk. A few wooden pipes are here used and 
m some other parts of the county in conveying water to families, 
the expense of which by the rod is generally one dollar. 

The mineralogy of Middlesex is a very interesting subject • 
and as the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, " have 
determined to commence a geological and mineralogical survey of 
the State, under the superintendence of Professor Silliman," the 
public may expect accurate and important information concerning 
it. What facts have been collected oh this subiect, and on the 



12 Statistical Account of Middlesex County; 

quarries in the county, will be communicated in the account which 
is to be given of the several towns. 

Middlesex was originally well timbered, but the trees varied 
in kind as well as size according to variations of soil and situa- 
tion. On high grounds were the several species of oak, walnut, 
and chesnut, and on the low grounds were birch, maple, beach, 
elm, ash, and hemlock ; thinly interspersed among which were 
buttonwood, butternut, poplar, dog or boxwood, whitewood, 
bass wood, locust, pepperidge, sassafras, horn or hard beam, 
wild-cherry, willow, and alder. Pitch-pine is said to have grown 
on the plain in Middletown Upper-Houses. It was thick on a 
hill in the west part of Haddam, where the early inhabitants used 
to go and get pine-knots as a substitute for candles, from which 
fact the neighbourhood about it is now called Candhwood-HilL 
White pine used to grow in a swamp in Millington, and trees oi 
this kind are occasionally found in other parts of the county. A 
swamp in Saybrook and another in Killingworth, are called Ce- 
dar-swamps, from the prevalence of cedar among their wood. 
The red shrub cedar is common all over the county. 

Considerable changes have taken place in the proportionate 
quantity of particular trees since the county was setded. Such 
as were of litde value, have been designedly destroyed by the 
cultivator. Such as were peculiar to grounds suitable for mow- 
ing and cultivation, have been destroyed to prepare the way for 
grass and crops. Some trees from their brittleness or the 
slowness of their growth, have been destroyed by sheep and cat- 
tle ; while others, as the hemlock, beach, and hard-maple, rarely 
sprout from the roots, and if they do, are very liable to die. On 
these accounts some trees are less frequent in the county than 
formerly. The chesnut, smooth- walnut, and white-oak, sprout 
abundantly from the roots, as well as come up from seed, and 
grow on high and rough grounds, as well as on those which are 
suitable for tillage. Hence there is a happy increase of these 
valuable trees over others in the county. 

Large and numerous tracts are reserved in Middlesex for for- 
ests. It is, however, an alarming fact, that wood and timber are 
decreasing. They are cut down not only to supply our own in- 
habitants with fuel and fencing, and with materials for building 
houses and vessels, but immense quantities of wood and lumber 
are exported to New- York and other parts of our country; the 
call for which has been increasing since the revolutionary war. 
Much more economy however is used with respect to wood than 
formerly. The practice of burning over wood lands for the sake 
of pasture has ceased, the growth of young trees is more cau- 
tiously guarded, more care is taken to make houses tight, and to 
render a less quantity of fuel needful to warm them, fire-places 



Introductory and General Observations, 1 3 

are improved and stoves in many cases introduced. Were build- 
ings erected of stone, as they might easily be in most parts of the 
county, there would be an additional saving. The use of brick 
would have the same effect ; but clay is not so common with us 
as building stone. The largest and most important bed known 
to me, is in the upper part of Haddam, and this is so near to the 
river, that the brick may be made upon the bank, and thence 
taken and carried away in vessels wherever they are needed. 

To increase the quantity of wood, the seed of those trees 
which are wished to be raised may be sown upon cleared lands, 
or may be transplanted from the forests. A better mode however, 
is believed to be, as trees spring up naturally and abundantly on 
many of our lands, to fence entirely from cattle what is intended 
to be reserved for woodland, and in cutting, to cut clean on one 
part of it, avoiding the evil of falling trees one upon another, and 
suffering no creatures to run among them. Thus the buds are 
all preserved, the ground is enriched by the leaves and grass, 
and the growth of trees is advanced more rapidly than in any 
other known manner. 

As moisture exposes timber to decay, it is believed that the 
best time to fell timber for durability is in the latter part of 
winter before the sap ascends. Timber, however, for posts and 
rails should be cut when the sap flows freely, that it may be 
peeled, otherwise the bark will become the occasion of rotting 
them. 

That seasoned wood is the best, as well as the most conve- 
nient for fuel, is admitted by those who reflect upon the subject. 
It will evidently season the easiest if felled when it has the least 
sap in it ; and in the winter season farmers can most conveniently 
cut their wood and convey it to their own doors, and those of 
their neighbours, where it ought immediately to be cut and split 
for the fire and then seasoned under cover. 

The price of timber in this county for houses is four cents per 
foot; chesnut timber for ship-building is four dollars per ton, 
and oak five ; short oak-plank for ship-building, is twenty-five 
dollars per thousand ; long plank, from thirty-five to forty. 
Hickory wood in Middlesex late years has varied from five to 
six dollars and a half per cord. Oak wood has varied from 
three to four dollars per cord : in Middletown city it has sold for 
more. As all our towns, except Durham, border on Connecticut 
river or the Sound, our wood is generally within a few miles of 
navigable water. This is the only article used for fuel among us. 

For an account of mills of a common description, the reader is 
referred to note D. 

For a long period, lands in this county were cheap. For twen- 
'y or thirty years they have 2;reatly increased in price. Tlu: 



1 4 Stalislical Accounl of Middlesex County / 

assessments made by order of the General Government m 1814, 
more than doubled those which weie made in 1798. Good lanti 
near the river and Sound has sold for some years past, from fifty 
to one hundred dollars per acre, and in some instances for much 
more. On an average, it has not been sold much under a hun- 
dred dollars. Good land back varies in price according to its 
distance from market and other circumstances. Good lands, 
however, in Durham, and in the back parts of Middletown, are 
high. On an average, they may be put at eighty dollars per 
acre. 

Wheat was a principal crop in this county until the ravages of 
the Hessian-fly about 1777, since which, there has been but lit- 
tle raised. This insect has recently been less troublesome, and 
in some instances where grounds have been thoroughly prepar- 
ed, this grain has succeeded well, and there is reason to hope 
that it will again become a common crop. Thirty-six bushels 
have lately been raised on an acre in Durham. Rye is now 
sown abundantly and is of an excellent quality. More than 
lorty bushels of this grain have been raised on an acre in Say- 
brook, and nearly that quantity per acre on many acres together. 
From 24 acres lying in one field, Augustus Bushnel, Esq. of that 
town, in 1816, gathered 804 bushels. The land was naturally 
of a thin and sandy soil, but had been well dressed with manure, 
principally with fish. Corn has ever been an important crop in 
Middlesex. Seventy bushels have been raised on an acre. 
About 1798, a gentleman in Haddam planted a small piece, put- 
ting two kernels into a hill, a foot a part, from which he gathered 
corn at the rate of 100 bushels per acre. Flax and oats are 
raised in large quantities in some parts of the county ; potatoes 
abundantly more than they were thirty or forty years ago, though 
it is impossible to ascertain the number of acres planted with 
potatoes, as well as the number of acres sown with turnips. 
Very little grain and provisions are exported from Middlesex ; 
less, it is believed, than are imported, 

A general opinion prevails among the farmers, that a rotation 
of crops is beneficial, or that the continuance of the same crop 
upon the same ground for a succession of years, is inexpedient. 
Hence grain, oats, and flax, are customarily sown after a crop of 
corn. These are frequently followed with grass, and then corn 
is again planted . Some instances, however, have occurred, in which 
rye and corn have succeeded well on the same lands year after 
year. Clover, timothy, and other grasses, which were scarcely 
.known forty years ago, are now introduced abundantly, and the 
benefit is both an amelioration of the soil by the sward which they 
spread upon it, and the increase as well as improvement of hay. 

The principal manures used in the northern parts of Middlesex 



Introductory and General Observations* 15 

arc taken from the sty and yard. Ashes, so far as they can 
be obtained, are used ; and some trial has been made of plaster, 
more the last season than any preceding year, and on dry sandy 
land it has proved very beneficial. Near the Sound, this ma- 
nure has had scarcely any perceptible effect. But the inhabi- 
tants are favoured with other means of enriching their lands. In 
addition to the manures just mentioned, it has long been their 
practice to collect the sea-weed brought upon the beach and 
meadows, and throw it into their sties and yards ; by which the 
.quantity and quality of the manures derived from those places 
are improved. Rock weed, which contains an oily and an en- 
riching substance is collected, and sometimes used in a similar 
manner, and sometimes carried directly upon the land and 
ploughed i». Marine shells are also collected occasionally 
for manure. *But the most efficacious manure in the vicinity 
of the Sound, consists of the white-fish, which visit the shores in 
immense numbers in June and the first part of July. These be- 
gan to be used for manure in Middlesex in 1801 and 2. They 
are carried as soon as taken and spread upon the land and plow- 
ed in ; or are thrown into heaps, mixed and covered with earth 
or turf, and suffered to pulverize ; and are then spread upon the 
ground, as suits the convenience and objects of farmers. In 
either mode, the effect even on dry and poor land is wonderful ; 
and though it was at first apprehended by many that after two or 
three crops, they would leave the land poorer than they found 
it, experience has hitherto proved this apprehension to be ground- 
less. Under the influence of this manure, some of the finest 
tields of grain, corn, and grass, are annually presented on the 
margin of the Sound, which exist in our country. Where these 
fish have been tried at a distance from the sea, they have been 
found equally beneficial. Eight thousand are requisite to dress 
an acre. They have been sold lately for a dollar and an half 
per thousand. 

No extensive efforts have been made with us for watering 
lands ; but wherever brooks have been spread over small tracts, 
the effect has been obviously and highly beneficial, both from 
the increase of moisture and the intermixture of soils. 

As to the best seed-time and harvest-time, they doubtless vary 
somewhat in different years. Our farmers are accustomed to sow 
rye from the latter part of August till severe frosts arrive in au- 
tumn, as their business and the 'situation of their land permit. 
Oats and flax are usually sown in the spring, so soon as the 
ground is in a condition to be plowed. Cora is generally plant- 
ed on high grounds the first and second weeks in May, and in the 
meadows on Connecticut river, by reason of the existence or 
danger of freshets, two or three weeks later. In cold seasons. 



16 Statistical Account of Middlesex Couniy ; 

early planting renders the sprouts feeble and slow ot growth. 
Very late planting exposes corn to injury from frosts in the fall. 

Some farmers are in the habit of harvesting their grain as 
soon as it is out of the milk-state, and though in that state, cart- 
is requisite lest it should heat and mould in the barn, the flour 
made from it is whiter and better flavored. Others let their 
grain stand until it is thoroughly ripened, which has been the 
case late years, the two last weeks in July. 

Weeds are destroyed among us by the plow and hoe, and ge- 
nerally with a view to a crop which they would injure, and- 
not for the sake of destroying them merely. To extirpate them, 
it is essential that they be plowed up, or in some other mode de- 
stroyed, before the seed is formed. 

A frequent change of the seed of grain and corn ts generally 
supposed to be useful. Seed brought from the north does better 
than that which is brought from the south. But as those farmers 
who cultivate their lands well, usually raise good crops whether 
they change the seed or not, there is reason to believe that the 
benefits ascribed to the change of seed, are owing to the fact, 
that the seed which is obtained from abroad, and for which a 
great price is paid, is cleaner and better than that which farmers 
are willing to take pains to secure at home, rather than to the 
change itself. 

As the inhabitants of this county are favoured with near and 
ready markets, ox-teams are used almost wholly by them. 
From the list of 1817, it appears that there must be between 
eleven and twelve hundred teams in the county. Our farming 
utensils are the same which are used in the other counties of the 
State. Fences in the stony parts of the county are built some- 
times wholly of stone, and sometimes with stone and posts with 
two or three rails ; in other parts of the county they are built of 
posts and rails, or of rails only. The expense of fencing by 
the rod varies according to the facility or difficulty of getting 
the requisite materials ; as a general fact, it may be estimated 
at a dollar a rod. Hedges are scarcely known among us. 

The quantity of cider annually made in Middlesex is conside- 
rable. More orcharding exists in the northern than in the 
southern parts of the county: but small pains have been 
taken to select good fruit. Pear trees are not very common 
with us. Plum trees generally died several years ago, and 
peach trees have died abundantly within a few years. 

We have many good gardens 5 but the attention of people 
has been directed almost solely to the cultivation of those root^ 
and plants which are useful. The state of gardening here is on 
a level with the state of gardening generally throughout Connec- 
ticut. 



Introductory and General Observations, n 

We have very few tenants, and land is rarely leased ; the far- 
mers being in most cases at once the owners and the cultivators 
of the soil. 

n Individuals and families for eighty years have been almost per- 
petually removing from this county. They at first removed to the 
county of Litchfield in this State, and Berkshire in Massachu- 
setts ; then to New-Hampshire and Vermont; in later years 
they have removed to New- York, and to the western States and 
Territories. The descendants of those who have emigrated from 
the county, doubtless exceed its population at the present time. 

But three persons, inhabitants of this county, have been con- 
victed of capital offences. Two of these were born in the coun- 
ty, and one was a squaw of the Pequot tribe. They were all 
convicted of murder, committed on the persons of relatives. 

The instances of suicide are eighteen. In some of these 
the subjects were considered to be under the influence of deli- 
rium, and in others, the causes were not certainly known. 

A few pleasure-carriages were introduced into Middlesex 
about 1750. They have been gradually increasing since: in 
1814, they amounted to 549. See note E. 

The number of sheep and swine in Middlesex is unknown. 
Very little beef and pork are exported. Some years, none has 
been inspected. What is raised is almost entirely consumed in 
the county. The quantity of butter and cheese exported is not 
great. 

The inhabitants have ever manufactured a large portion of 
their clothing in the family ; and the more necessary articles of 
furniture and husbandry have been made among ourselves. The 
cloths at first manufactured were coarse, especially woollen 
cloths, which were often worn without shearing or pressing. Late 
years cloths of considerable fineness have been wrought in the 
family. 

The important factories of woollen and cotton cloths and of 
other articles in the county, will be mentioned in the history of 
the towns. 

A brewery, which was erected in Middletown in 1796, was 
consumed by fire, Dec. 22, 1809 ; and we have no brewery now 
in the county. 

Ship-building has been carried on for more than a century, 
and for half that period has been a leading branch of business. 
Vessels are built in many yards on the Connecticut, and near 
the mouths of the smaller rivers which empty into the Sound. 
Materials for them, with the exception of pine, are furnished 
principally from our own forests. Eight ships, 11 brigs, 13 
schooners, and 17 sloops, amounting to 7,503 tons, wxre launched 
in 1815. See7ioteF. 



1 8 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 

Many more were launched yearly previous to the restrictive 

system. 

Our roads, with few exceptions, were bad, till within a few- 
years. They were laid out to accommodate neighbours in going 
from one house to another, rather than for extended travel, were 
over rough and uneven grounds, and the communications with 
most parts of the country by water, were so easy, that feeble ef- 
forts were made to improve them. But within a few years all 
the principal roads, excepting that which runs from east to west 
along the Sound, (which was a comfortable road before,) have 
been turnpiked. We have now thirteen turnpikes, partly or 
wholly within the county, some of which center in Middletown 
city, and some in other places, opening communications with 
all parts of the country. On most of these, and on some others, 
the mail is regularly carried, either by stages or post-riders. 
The capital stock of the turnpike roads is $ 143,632. See note G. 

The width, the force, and especially the navigation of the 
Connecticut, are such, as to render it very improbable that 
bridges will ever be thrown over it, within the bounds of this 
county. The other rivers are so small, that we have few bridges 
of much consequence. 

The bridge over Pameacha river, on the turnpike road from 
Middletown to Durham and New-Haven, is by far the most 
beautiful and excfellent of any in the county. This was built 
in 1814, by Col. Ezra Brainerd, the celebrated architect of Car- 
thage Bridge, for g 3,000; the Turnpike Company furnishing 
the iron, which cost about $ 500 more. It consists of one arch, 
the chord of which is 160 feet, supported by butments formed al- 
most wholly by the natural, rocky, and nearly perpendicular 
banks of the river. The floor is 27 feet wide, elevated 50 feet 
above the stream. The bridge is formed wholly of pine, and 
by its situation and style of workmanship, constitutes a princi- 
pal ornament of the southwestern part of Middletown city. 

There are ten ferries in Middlesex, all on Connecticut river, 
connecting the towns and societies on its eastern and western 
banks. With the exception of two, these are owned by indivi- 
duals. See note H. 

We have no wild animals but what are common in other 
parts of the State. A bear was killed in Haddam, weighing 
12 score, in 1754 ; another was killed on Haddam Neck in 1767. 
Wolves were troublesome two or three years later ; and one 
which had strayed down from the north, was killed in the south- 
western part of Saybrook, in Feb. 1815. A moose was killed 
in the same section of that town about 1770. Deer were com- 
mon in some parts of the county till the winter of 1763: that 
winter many vvere killed ; and the winter but one following, in 



Iniroduclory and General Observations, l^ 

the time of a deep snow, through the crust of which they broko 
and became an easy prey for hunters, they were destroyed. 
Wild turkeys were plenty in 1780, and occasionally seen, as late 
as 1790. 

Barberry bushes are scarcely found among us, find nothing is 
experienced of their ill effects. 

There are in Middlesex, 35 houses for public worship, 18 of 
which belong to the Congregationalists, 1 to the Strict-Congrc- 
gationalists, 6 to the Episcopalians, 6 to the Baptists, and 4 to 
the Methodists. The houses first erected for this purpose, were 
small indifferent buildings, corresponding with the number and 
circumstances of the inhabitants. As their numbers and means 
increased 5 larger and better buildings were elected. The pre- 
sent churches are generally convenient, but plain structures. 
See note I. 

According to an enumeration made in 1815, (and the popula- 
tion has not greatly increased since,) there were in Middlesex 
3,688 families. Of these, considering all to belong to some de- 
nomination, 2,330 families belonged to the Congregationalists, 
38 to the Strict-Congregationalists, 421 to the Episcopalians, 
489 to the Baptists, 291 to the Methodists, and 69 to the Univer- 
salists. The Strict-Congregationalists have increased some, it 
is supposed, since 1815, and there may have been some small 
changes among other denominations. See note J, 

The inhabitants of Middlesex were universally congregation- 
alists for more than a century after the settlements commenced. 
They appear to have maintained public worship from the begin- 
jiing, though circumstances prevented the organization of church- 
es, and the settlement of ministers for several years. See note K, 

To worship God according to the dictates of their consciences 
unmolested^ was the grand object for which the first settlers of 
New-England, left Europe. To compass this, they sacrificed 
almost every earthly enjoyment, and encountered hardships, of 
which their privileged descendants have no adequate concep- 
tions. 

In the organization of churches in Middlesex, the principles 
of Congregationalism were recognized, though some of the New- 
England churches were formed upon the presbyterian plan. In 
no case v/ere two ministers set over the same church, one in the 
character of a pastor^ and the other in the character of a teacher, 
though at the call of the first minister in Middletown, the peo- 
ple expressed a willingness to associate with him another minis- 
ter, provided they should be able to furnish the requisite sup- 
port, and he should request it : nor has there ever been in the 
Middlesex churches, 3.ritli?ig elder. 

In setting apart ministers to their office, the same custom 

3 



20 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ^ 

prevailed, which exists at the present day, except in the ordina- 
tion of the two first ministers in Saybrook, where, according to 
tradition, the brethren imposed hands. 

Deacons were ordained for a long period in the first church 
in Middictown, by the pastor, and a brother appointed for that 
service. In other cases deacons have been ordained in the 
county. For a list of ministers and deacons see notes L, ^ M, 

From some confessions of faith which have been preserved, 
and from other circumstances, it appears, that the congregation- 
al churches have acknowledged the doctrines of grace from the be- 
ginning. But it must be confessed, that these doctrines have not 
been taught in all cases with the same clearness, nor received 
with the same good-will. 

Learning and piety were regarded as essential qualifications 
for the ministry, and piety was regarded as an essential qualifi- 
cation for full communion in the church. But a council which 
met at Boston in 1657, advanced the sentiment, " that it is the 
duty of infants, who conferate in their parents, when grown up 
unto years of discretion, though not yet fit for the Lord^s Supper^ 
to own the covenant, they made with their parents, by entering 
thereunto, in their own persons ;" that the church might call 
upon them thus to own the covenant, and upon their refusal, 
proceed to discipline them. This gave rise to what has been 
customarily called the half-way covenant, which was adopted 
sooner ©r later, by nearly all the congregational churches of Mid- 
'liesox. The great objection to this covenant was, that it re- 
quired baptized children to enter into solemn engagements to 
serv^e God, when they were acknowledged to be unfit for the sa- 
cramental supper. Among the Jews, circumcised children were 
as much required to attend upon the passover, as to enter into 
covenant with God ; and analogy authorizes the conclusion, that 
baptized children are bound as truly to know the God of their 
fathers, by celebrating the Lord's supper, as by any other reli- 
gious service. 

The first settlers of Middlesex paid very great attention to 
the religious education of their children, instructing them care- 
iuily into the principles of the oracles of God, and praying with 
them statedly, morning and evening. But the effect of the half- 
ivay covenant v/as unhappy. It brought multitudes into a par- 
tial connection with the church, and to a partial participation of 
its privileges, who were at the time confessedly unconverted, and 
who verv p-enerallv afterwards made little effort to adorn the 
Christian profession. When the evils of this covenant were 
exposed by President Edwards, Dr. Bellamy, and others, and 
when ministers and churches came to examine it more thorough- 
ly, one and another were disposed to reject it. or to lay it aside 



Introductory and General Observations, 21 

in practice, and it has now scarcely an advocate in Middlesex or 
in Connecticut. 

It has been stated that the first churches of the county were 
congregational in their organization; but they disclaimed inde- 
pendency. They maintained mutual fellowship and assisted one 
another in cases of difficulty. The Cambridge Platform regu- 
lated their intercourse many years. But as that platform did 
not define accurately whence councils should be called in cases 
of difficulty, nor what number of ministers and churches should be 
requisite to constitute a council, and as some difficulties had arisen 
from the want of a more explicit rule of procedure ; the Saybrook 
Platform, after much consultation among ministers and the serious 
part of the community, was formed in 1708, and immediately 
adopted by the churches then in existence, as it has been sinc'e 
by the churches more recently formed. 

Agreeably to the provisions of this standard, the congrega- 
tional ministers and churches in the towns now constituting Mid- 
dlesex county, belonged to the associations and consociations in 
the counties from which the towns were taken, till Middlesex Vv'a^ 
formed in 1785; since which a new association and consociation 
have been organized, though the ministers and churches of Mid- 
dletown and of Chatham first society, for the sake of convenience, 
remain with the South Association and Consociation of Hartford 
county. In Oct. 1787, the ministers of Saybrook and Killing- 
worth formed themselves into this new association, called the Mid- 
dlesex Association ; who were joined the June following, by the 
ministers of Haddam and East-Haddam, of the parishes of Mid- 
dle-Haddam and East-Hampton ; and also by the ministers of 
West-Chester and North'Lyme parishes, in the couniy of Nevv- 
London. The ministers of these places, with the minister of the 
first society in Lyme, oow qonstitute the Middlesex Association. 
and with their churches, the Middlesex Consociation. 

The formation of particular congregational churches, and the 
settlement of their ministers ; the rise and spread of other de- 
nominations, and the settlemeot of their ministers, will be articles 
in the statistical accounts of the towns. For the salaries of mi- 
nisters, see 7iote Js''. 

The congregational ministers of Middlesex, have generally 
been supported by a tax, laid on the lists of the inhabitants. 
While the people remained of one heart, and of one way to 
serve God, this method of support was attended with little diffi- 
culty, and excited little opposition. But as other denominations 
arose, it became somewhat embarrassed, and was made the sub- 
ject of much complaint. The consequence is, that resort is had, 
in many cases, to other modes of support. Lands reserved by 
^he first settlers for the support of the ministry, have, in some 



22 Slatistioal Account of Middlesex County ; 

instances, become valuable ; and by being rented or leased, yield 
a considerable annual income. Several societies have received 
important legacies and donations. In other cases, subscriptions 
have been set on foot, for raising funds. All the societies have 
received something from the act of the Legislature, passed in 
Oct. 1316, appropriating a claim against the United States to 
the support of literature and religion ; and this has generally 
been applied by them to the increase of funds for maintaining- 
religious institutions. In these various ways, most of the so- 
cieties are relieved partly or wholly from the necessity of raising 
any thing yearly for the support of the Gospel. What is neces- 
sary to be raised also, in sundry instances is raised by the rent 
of pews or by subscriptions. 

Ministers of other denominations are generally supported by 
funds, by pew-rents, subscriptions, or contributions. 

The amount of funds devoted in one way and another to the 
support of religion in Middlesex, exceeds ^70,000; but some of 
it is not yet in a productive state. See note O. 

We have «o academy in the county. Our district schools are 
112; in which about 6,000 children are instructed by men in 
the winter season ; a number, somev/hat smaller, is instructed, 
generally by women, in the summer : by both from six to tea and 
eleven months annually. See note P, 

The wages of men, exclusive of board, vary from ten to 
twenty dollars per month, and of women, from 75 cents to one 
and twQ dollars per week. 

The kinds of knowledge generally taught, are reading, writ- 
ing, and arithmetic. In many schools in the winter season, and 
m those which are taught by men in the summer, some attention 
is paid to grammar, geography, and occasionally to other 
branches of science. 

That there is bow a gradual improvement in schooling, and 
that there has been a great improvement since the settlement of 
the county, is unquestionable. For a long period it was diffi- 
cult to obtain suitable elementary books for children, and persons 
suitably qualified to teach them. The first of these difficulties 
has long since been removed, and the only serious difficulty in 
the way of obtaining qualified instructors, lies in the unwilling- 
ness of districts to give the requisite wages. 

In addition to the liberal provisions of the Legislature, for the 
promotion of schooling, some towns have funds appropriated to 
this object, v^hich will be mentioned hereafter. 

Besides the district schools, subscription schools are occasion- 
ally taught in the county. Many of the clergy also, instruct 
youth in the branches commonly taught in academies. 

The number of paupers in Middlesex perpetually varies; 



Introductory and General Observations. 23 

though on the whole, according to the common complaint, it 
is supposed to increase. These are almost universally natives, 
as foreigners rarely reside with us long enough to become in- 
habitants. Some are supported wholly, and some partially or 
occasionally. Their occupations, (where they had any,) have 
been various, and the means also, by which they have been re- 
duced to want; some being poor from idiocy, distraction, and 
unavoidable calamities, and some from idleness, extravagance, 
and intemperance. 

The mode of supporting them is different, in different towns, 
and in the same towns, at different times. Those wholly under 
the care of towns have sometimes been boarded out, one, two, 
three, or all in private families, for some given sum by the week 
or year; and in others, have been set up, unjustifiably I think, at 
vendue, and put out to the low^est bidders ; while those needing 
nartial or occasional assistance, have been furnished from time 
to time, with fuel, food, and clothing at their own dwellings. The 
alms-house, recently erected in Middletown, is the only one in the 
county. 

The expenses of the poor in 1814, were as follows, viz. in 
Middletown g 1G22 70; in Chatham g 1440 17; in Haddam 
,$500; in East-Haddam g 936 31 ; in Saybrook g 1720; in Kil- 
iingwortli about g 966 29; and in Durham $401 56; in the 
whole caunty, $7587 03. 

What is the best mode of uniting humanity with economy, in 
the support of the poor, is a point difficult to be ascertained. 
The best mode in one place might not be the best in another, 
and where a wise plan is formed, the great difficulty lies in its 
execution. In large towns, where the poor are numerous, lit- 
tle doubt exists, that an alms-house establishment is matter of 
economy, in such an establishment, the various articles of con- 
sumption may be purchased in large quantities, and of course at 
reduced prices ; the services of those who are capable of labour, 
by combination and system, may be turned to the greatest ad- 
vantage : besides, the steward of an alms-house, feeling a degree 
of responsibility beyond the superintendent of two or three 
paupers, and giving himself continually to his business, may in 
nameless ways save considerable expense. Nor is such an es- 
tablishment incompatible with humanity. It may be so manag- 
ed as to afford the poor every comfort, which the community arr: 
bound to give them. The evils to be apprehended from bring- 
ing them into the same or contiguous buildings, may be avoidfid 
by placing them in separate apartments, giving a uniform pre- 
ference in circumstances, to those who are virtuous, over thos-* 
who are vicious ; but encouraging in the latter every appearance 
of amendmenf. Such as are o]:)stinatP in vice, while thev ou2;hr 



54 Statistical Account of Middlesex Coimttj ; 

to be kept from absolute suffering, should never have I'avours 
bestowed upon them so liberally, as to render an alms-house a 
temptation to improvidence, idleness, and wickedness, and the 
occasion of increasing the very evil, for the unavoidable occur- 
rence of which, it is intended to provide. An alm.s-house ought 
always to be located so near to a house of public worship, that 
the poor, v/ho are able, may attend the stated ministrations of the 
sanctuary. They should also be furnished with bibles and tracts, 
and be required to read them, and should be visited and coun- 
selled, at no very distant periods, by ministers and private 
christians. 

But the benefits of an alms-house will depend essentially upon 
the character, talents, and faithfulness of him, who has the imme- 
diate control of it. Every town, forming such an establishment, 
will find not only their poor benefitted, but their own interests 
promoted, by placing over it a man of respectable standing in 
life, a man, deeply skilled in the knowledge of mankind, and ca- 
pable of managing the various characters committed to his care. 

Whether placed in an alms-house or elsewhere, no prudent and 
consistent means should be left untried, of advancing the real 
welfare of the poor, of curing their diseases, of promoting their vir- 
tue, and of exciting them to preparation for that tribunal, where, 
without distinction, the rich and the poor shall meet together. 

Of many of these remarks, the alms-house in Middletown, al- 
ready mentioned, is an illustration. This stands in the south- 
western part of the city, near Pameacha river, and is a substan- 
tial brick building, 60 feet long, and 40 broad, two stories in 
front, and three in the rear, and at the ends; having in the 
lower story, a work-room, kitchen, cellar, and dungeon; in the 
second, two rooms for the steward, a victualling room, and a 
room to be used as occasion requires ; in the third, thirteen 
lodging rooms, four with fire-places; having also a garret, suf- 
ficiendy large for twenty lodging-rooms. This establishment 
cost ^8755; viz. the ground, two and a half acres, ,^800; the 
alms-house, including wood-house, fences, &:c. $ 7655 ; and the 
furniture ^300. It was occupied by the poor in May 1814, and 
their expense for the twelve months following, was $ 1447 70. 
The town expended that year for the poor, who were not at the 
alms-house, about $ 175 more, making the amount already given. 
The expenses of the poor the year preceding, were ^ 3465 68. 
If we add to the expense of 1814, $525 30, for interest on the 
cost of the establishment, making a total of g2148; the clear 
saving to the town that year from the alms-house, exceeded 
$ 1300: and the poor, it is said, had a degree of comfort, be- 
fore unknown to them. 

But as it is easier to prevent, than to remedy evils, the efibrls 



Introductory and General Observations, 25 

of the community oucjht to be specially directed to the preven- 
tion of pauperism. To tliis end, all children, those of the high- 
er as well as of the lower classes of society, should be trained 
up to regular industry, economy, and temperance. These 
things should be taught in the family and in the sanctuary, as 
absolutely required by God ; and the mischiefs and guilt of the 
contrary vices, should be constantly exposed, together with all 
the means by which they may be produced. Those who are in 
circumstances to employ such as are dependent upon their daily 
earnings for support, should be ever ready to furnish them with 
business. By these means, if pauperism would not entirely 
cease, it would be greatly lessened ; the poor would generally 
find some among their immediate relatives, to provide for t.hen\, 
so that the community would not be charged 5 and to the few in- 
dividuals, who after all, by the mere sovereign disposal of God. 
might be poor and destitute, it would be rather a privilege than 
a burden, for a virtuous community, to extend relief. 

The number of blacks in this county is very small. Id 175C 
there were 384, in 1774, 441, in 1810 probably a few more. They 
are almost universally free. Some of them possess good moral cha- 
racters, and are laborious and faithful, when employed by others, 
but have little skill in settinr' themselves to work, and in husband- 
ing their earnings : while a very considerable proportion are ad- 
dicted to low vices. The obvious reasons for their general de- 
gradation are, that their education is much neglected ; that their 
companions are the low and vicious, the only class among the 
v/hites, who are willing to consort with them ; and that the 
temptations to iniquity, are suffered to operate upon them withtbt 
greatest force. 

Owing principally to the purity of the air, and the purity oi 
the water, Middlesex is remarkably healthy. 

Such diseases as are incident to children, and such as have 
had a general spread in the State and Country, have oftentimes 
prevailed. But in no instance, has a mortal sickness extended 
through the county, and the instances have been comparatively 
rare, in which a mortal sickness has extended generally, through 
any considerable section of it. In the '' Life of David Brainerd," 
a mortal sickness is said to have prevailed in Haddam, in 1732, 
but v;hat it was is not stated, nor how "many were removed by it. 
The dysentery which is much the most common disorder in the 
fall season, prevailed in that town in 1758, and in a part of it in 
180G ; it appeared in Middletown Upper-Houses in 1742 ; thirty 
or forty died with it in the neighbourhood near Chatham quarry 
about 1758 ; it was on Haddam Neck in 1766 ; in East-Haddaui 
in 1775 and 6, as an attendant of the throat distemper, and about 
the same time in Durham 5 in Saybrook in 1805. A fever, corn- 



2ij 'Stalishcai Account of Middle sex Count ij j 

monly termed the long-fever, prevailed in North-KilIinj/;\vortb iij 
1751 and 2. The scarlet fever was in that society in 1784, This 
made its appearance atone period in Durham. In 1796 thr 
yellow fever was brought from the West Indies to Knowles's Land- 
ing, of which eight persons died. The most common fever with 
us for some years past, has been the typhus fever. This has been 
most malignant in Middlctown Upper-Houses, in Haddam, East- 
Haddam Landing, Pautopoug Point, and Durham. Consumptions 
are thought to be more common with us now, than formerly. 

About 1761, a large miry marsh, in the northeast part of 
Middle-Haddara, was overflowed. The water became so putrid 
the year following as to kill the creatures which were in it. It 
produced a sickness among the inhabitants for a mile or more 
about it, which was called from its origin the pond fever. Of 
this, some died, and the inhabitants of the town were so alarmed, 
that the authority were under the necessity of pressing indivi- 
duals, to go and take care of the sick. 

Respecting " remarkable instances of diseases and mortality 
among animals," I can give no information but what is contained 
in the following extract from a letter written in East-Haddam. 
and published in New- York, in the 7th volume of the Medical 
Repository. "For 10 or 12 years prior to 1797," says the 
writer, " a disease prevailed among cattle in East-Haddam, and 
in the neighboring places to a great extent, vulgarly called a 
mortification. It w^as most destructive to cattle under three 
years ; sometimes attacking cows over that period, but never 
oxen. Calves were most generally destroyed by it in autumn, 
and yearlings in May and June. Its commencement was indicated 
by a sudden lisdessness, numbness, and disposition to rest, at- 
tended with small soft swellings on the legs, shoulders, flank, 
side, but more usually in the back near the kidneys, and it produc- 
ed death with feeble expressions of pain, within 6, 12, and 24 
hours. Immediately upon death, the carcass became intolera- 
bly offensive, so that the hide was often left to rot with it : where 
it was taken off, the swellings were found to consist of jelly, and 
black blood. After tanning, the hide was often rotten over the 
swellines, and holes were made of their size and dimensions." 

The cause of this disease was never satisfactorily ascertained, 
and the remedies which were applied, rarely if ever succeeded. 

From all the jiarishes in Middlesex, registers of deaths have 
been received, excepting the first and fourth parishes of Mid- 
dlctown. In the latter, no register has been kept, and in the 
former, none for the whole population. But going upon the sup- 
position, (which cannot be far from correct,) that the proportion 
of deaths to the number of inhabitants, is the same in these parish- 
es, as in other parts of the county ; the number of deaths yearly, in 



Introductory arid General Observations, 27 

Middlesex, from Jan. 1, 1805, to Jan. 1, 1815, will be, omitting 
fractions, 261. The average population of the county for this 
term, may be put at 20,723, as that was the actual population at 
the census in 1810. The proportion of deaths annually there- 
fore, is not quite at the rate of one to eighty souls. See note Q, 

Twelve persons in this county have arrived to one hundred 
years of age, according to information communicated to me, and 
there may have been others as aged of whom I have not heard. A 
black woman died in Durham, at the age of 1 13 years, or as some 
supposed 118. She was grown up before she was brought 
from Africa, and was a slave in this country 95 years. Of 310 
persons, who died in Haddam society, from 1805 to 1815, 31 ar- 
rived to 80 years ; of 520, who died in Middle-Haddam, from 
1785 to 1815, 116 arrived to 70 years. 

Those who have lived to a great age, so far as my observa- 
tion and inquiries have extended, have been persons of regular 
and steady habits. 

A few weeks after the arrival of the English at ^aybrook-Point 
in 1635, cold weather commenced. Connecticut river was frozen 
over, by the middle of November, and the winter following, was 
uncommonly severe and tempestuous. As the people had had 
little opportunity to provide themselves accommodations, their 
hardships were great; and their brethren in Hartford county, 
only survived the season. The winters of 1637 — 8 and of 
1641 — 2^ v/ere also very severe. In the former, the inhabitants, 
who had been able to subdue but little land, and who had ob- 
tained but small importations from abroad, secured themselves 
from extreme suffering, by purchasing corn from the Indians, 
Before the occurrence of the latter, considerable tracts were cul- 
tivated. But the summer immediately following it, was so wet 
and cold, that little corn was raised, and English grain was de- 
stroyed by multitudes of pigeons in the field, and of mice in the 
barn. Before another harvest, many families were destitute of 
bread, and were compelled to live on fish and clams. The win- 
ter of 1696 — 7, was as severe as either of the preceding, but no 
special calamities are known to have been experienced. On 
the i7th of February, 1717, the greatest snow fell, ever known 
in this country, attended by a dreadful tempest. This has been 
related by fathers to sons ever since, and is still referred to as 
the great snovj. It covered the doors of houses, so that the in- 
habitants were obliged to get out at the chamber windows, and 
buried and destroyed many sheep. The winters of 1737 — 8, of 
1740 — 41, and particularly of 1779 — 80, v/ere uncommonly cold. 
A deep snow fell in Oct. 1781, which remained till the following 
April. 



28 Statistical Accou7it of Middlesex County ^ 

In July 1779, about the time of rye harvest, a storm of hail 
passed through the center of Chatham, destroying all the grain 
in its course, breaking the windows of houses, and leaving marks 
of violence on buildings and fences, which could be distinctly 
traced more than twelve months afterwards. The hail appear- 
ed to be broken ice, and many of the stones were half the size of 
a hen's egg. 

In the latter part of February 1802, a snow fell, four feet 
deep. On the 8th of May 1803, a snow fell, sufficiently deep 
for sleighing, in some parts of Connecticut. Apple trees were in 
blossom, and their twigs were frozen as in the winter : notwith- 
standing which there was a tolerable supply of apples that sea- 
son. In a violent snow storm, which happened in the month of 
December 1811, many vessels were driven on shore, on the north- 
ern coast of Long-Island. 

The wettest season, within the memory of the present genera- 
tion, was in the summer and fall of 1795, when it rained more 
or less for 35 days out of 50. 

The most dreadful storm, since the settlement of Connecticut, 
occurred on the 22d of September, 1815. The wind was eas- 
terly in the morning, but soon shifted into the south, and biev/ a 
gale, or rather a hurricane. It brought in such a tide, that 
in some cases bridges near the Sound were removed. It pros- 
trated fruit and forest trees in vast numbers, particularly in Say- 
brook and East-Haddam ; and farther eastward, in Connecticut 
and Rhode-Island, did immense damage to shipping. When the 
wind lulled, the air was hot and suffocating ; and the rain, which 
fell at times in torrents, was so salt, that the leaves of many trees 
shrunk under its influence. 

The spring, summer and autumn of 1816, were unusually cold 
and dry. Frosts occurred every month ; and though English 
grain was good, there was not more than half the common quan- 
tity of hay, pastures were dried up, corn, which had been back- 
ward through the summer, was almost wholly ruined by frosts in 
the fall, and potatoes were much injured. People were unable 
to fat their beef and pork. Hence there was a greater scarcity 
of provisions the following winter and spring, than in any pe- 
riod since my remembrance. 

The canker v/orm used to be very mischievous to apple trees 
in Middlesex, as well as in other parts of the country. To pre- 
vent their ravages, people were in the habit of tarring the bodies 
of the trees daily, during the time in which the millers ascend 
from the ground. But a hard frost, which took place about, the 
20th of May, 1795, was supposed to have completely destroyed 
them. They were scarcely seen for several years afterwards. 
But in 1808 they became numerous, and did much mischief. 



Introductory and General Observations. 29 

The Hessian fly has been rarely noticed, for ten or fifteen 
years. 

In 1817, m the spring and early part of summer, gardens were 
extensively injured by a small black worm, commonly called the 
cut-worm. 

A sketcli of distinguished characters, will appear in the ac- 
count of the towns. 

The first settlers of this county, in common with the first set- 
tlers of New-England, were strict in their religious principles 
and practices. Attentive, as has been stated, to public and fa- 
mily worship, they caused their religion to appear in all their 
conduct. They were also distinguished by some customs, which 
owed their existence, either to their particular religious senti- 
ments, or to the circumstances in which they were placed. 

United together for the purpose of enjoying the ordinances of 
tlie Lord, as they believed them to be taught in the Scriptures, 
and exposed to the same enemies and dangers, they settled in 
bodies, and abounded in mutual affections, and kind offices. A 
man of common standing, they callea good-man, while the title 
of sir, was given to magistrates, ministers, and men of liberal 
education. 

As they scrupled the lawfulness of calling the days of the week 
by names, derived from the idolatrous practices of the heathen, 
they always stiled the first day of the week, the Sabbath, or 
Lord''s day, and distinguished the other days of the week by 
numbers. For the same reason, they frequently numbered the 
rnonths of the year. They began the year on the 26th of March, 
according, as they supposed, to the direction of the Bible, and 
thus introduced the custom of double-dating, which appears in 
our ancient records. 

Exposed constantly to attacks from the Indians, they were 
careful to acquire the use of arms. They spent six, and some- 
times more days annually, in military exercise. In plantations 
where there were 100 soldiers, 20 were required to serve on 
guard, on the Sabbath, and on other days of public worship, and 
in no plantation less than 8 with a sergeant : in times of war 
and special danger, guards were constantly kept in every town, 
and in some instances, several in the same town. The practice 
of keeping guard, on seasons of public worship, continued till 
May, 1714, when the towns were excused from it by statute, ex- 
cept in time of war. 

This practice, probably produced the custom of assembling 
people for public worship, by the beat of the drum, which pre- 
vailed for a time in Middletown, Haddam, Saybrook, Killing- 
worth and Durham. Whether it was ever introduced into 
Chatham and East-Haddam, is unknown. 



30 Statistical Account of Middlesex County j 

The circumstances of our ancestors were exceedingly strait- 
ened. They had sacrificed a large portion of their property by 
removing to America ; were unacquainted with the business of 
subduing a wilderness; had no commerce, and scarcely any 
means for acquiring property. In the mean time, their fami- 
lies were to be supported, their children educated, a'nd the in- 
stitutions of the Gospel established and maintained ; and these 
things were to be done, in the midst of enemies, whose motions 
they were obliged perpetually to watch, and against whose ap- 
prehended attacks, they were obliged to provide the means of 
defence. Necessity therefore, compelled them to the most rigid 
economy. Every thing about them, wore the marks of simplici- 
ty. 1 heir houses were constructed in the plainest manner, their 
furniture consisted of a few indispensable articles, their dress 
was made of coarse cloths, wrought in the family, and their ta- 
bles were spread with the homeliest fare. Scarcely an article 
of luxury was used in Connecticut, for a century after the Eng- 
lish settlements began ; apd very few articles were introduced 
for a considerable period afterwards. 

But the trials of the early inhabitants were sanctified to them ; 
and conspired to the production of that simplicity of manners, 
and that Godly living, by which they were characterized. 

As the circumstances of their descendants gradually improved, 
they gradually departed from their examples. They did not in- 
deed neglect the institutions and forms of religion, but the power 
of Godliness was diminished. Antecedently to the great revi- 
vals, about 1740, the churches, very generally, had sunk into a 
lukewarm state. By those revivals, some of the Middlesex 
churches were visited and refreshed, and the things of religion 
became the subjects of general conversation and inquiry. But 
a declension soon succeeded ; which remained, with temporary 
and partial interruptions, till the close of the last century. The 
revolutionary war, occurring during this period, gave a shock to 
the moral habits of the people, from which they have not yet 
wholly recovered. From that time to the present, an unusual 
number have indulged in sabbath-breaking, profaneness and 
intemperance. At the same time, there is no reason to believe, 
that these shameful vices are now increasing. By recent out- 
pourings of the Spirit of God, and by the efforts of the virtuous, 
they have been evidently checked ; and taking a general view of 
the coQimunity, it is matter of joy and gratitude, that piety and 
virtue are advancing. While very many have become, in the 
course of twenty years, the hopeful subjects of grace, others 
have been led to think favorably of religion. Our churches 
are in most instances well filled on the Sabbath ; and the taste 
and reading of the inhabitants generally, are assuming a more 
serious character. 



Introductory and General Observations* 31 

Boxing and horse-racing, which were once, not infrequent 
amusements in Middlesex, have entirely ceased. Gambling is 
rarely practised ; and the votaries of dancing are less numerous 
and less zealous, than they were twenty years ago. 

In addition to the libraries of professional characters and of 
private gentlemen, we have now in Middlesex, 22 public libra- 
ries, containing in all, about 3,500 volumes. Most of these are 
books of value. See note R, 

In most of our parishes, are charitable associations ; many of 
which are formed by benevolent and pious females. 

The only society which extends through the county, is a Bible 
Society, formed in November last, auxiliary to the American 
Bible Society. What this will accomplish, is unknown, but its 
prospects are flattering. 



STATISTICAL ACCOUNT 



OF THE 



TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN 



This Tovva is bounded by Haddam and Durham on the soutli, 
by Meriden and Berlin on the west, by Weathersfield on the 
north, and by Connecticut river on the east. It formerly extend- 
ed across the river, and included the town of Chatham. Its 
length north and south, is about nine miles, and its breadth from 
Weathersfield line to Middletown city, is four and five miles, 
thence it suddenly increases, by reason of a bend in the river, te 
ten miles. Its area cannot be accurately calculated, but will not 
vary greatly, from 43,520 acres. 

It embraces four parishes, viz. Middletown, Upper-Houses, 
Middlefield and Westfield parishes, the three last of v/hich, 
appear to have derived their names, from their relation to the 
first. 

As early as March 1650, a committee was appointed to explore 
the lands in Mattabesett, the Indian name by which this town 
was called, and report what advantages they would afford for a 
plantation. The committee reported that subsistence might be 
procured in them for fifteen families ; a fact, which shows what 
imperfect ideas the first settlers of Connecticut had, of the pro- 
ductiveness and value of the soil. In the course of that year a 
settlement commenced upon them, near the Connecticut, to the 
north and south of Little river. A larger number of families 
than the committee contemplated was soon in the town, who were 
invested with town privileges in September of the succeeding 
year. In November 1653, the place was called Middletown, 
The number of taxable persons the year after, was thirty-one, 
and there were probably about as many families. From these. 
others were formed, or moved in from other places, and in 1670, 
the number of families was fifty-two. 



Town of Middhtown. 33 

Though these had become inhabitants at different periods, it 
was agreed that all who were householders this year, should be 
considered as proprietors, and that after laying out a large com- 
mon and a hundred and fifty acres for a parsonage, the undivided 
lands should be laid out according to their lists. According to 
this agreement, all undivided lands, which then belonged to them, 
were laid out afterwards. 

As a large proportion of the present inhabitants of Middle- 
town, are descendants of those who were householders, in 1670, 
it may not be unsuitable to give their names in this work ; noting 
with an asterisk the few names which have become extinct. 
These were as follows, viz. Nathaniel Bacon, William Cornwell, 
John Cornwell, Samuel Cornwell, William Cornwell, Jun., John 
Hall, Richard Hall, John Hall, Jun., Samuel Hall and Giles Ham- 
lin, from England ; David Sage and Thomas Wetnri.ore, from 
Wales ; Thomas Ranney, from Scotland ; Alexander Bow, George 
Hubbard, Joseph Hubbard, Daniel Hubbard, Thomas Hubbard, 
Anthony Martin, John Savage, Samuel Stocking, Samuel White, 
Thomas Willcox and John Willcox, from Hartford ; Thomas Al- 
len, Obadiah Allen, William Lucas, Andrew Warner, Robert War- 
ner and Johu'Warner, supposed to have been from Windsor ; John 
Kirby, Daniel Harris and William Harris, said to have been from 
Boston ; Nathaniel Collins and Samuel Collins, from Cambridge ; 
Thomas Miller, John Ward and William Ward, from Rowley ; Sa- 
muel Stov/, Thomas Stow and John Stow, from Concord ; Isaac 
Johnson, from Roxbury ; William Briggs*, William Cheney, Jaf- 
fres Clements*, Honory Coll*, George Durant*, Samuel Eggles- 
ton, Edward Foster, Isaac Lane*, James Tappen*, and Edward 
Turner. 

In this list, the name of Robert Webster, Esq. who was an 
early and principal settler does not appear. He probably de- 
ceased or moved away before 1670, and the same may have been 
true of some other settlers. 

Most of the above named persons, settled within the limits of 
the first society of Middletown, and a large portion of them within 
the limits of the city. Those, by the name of Kirby, Martin, 
Ranney, Sage, Savage, Stocking, White and Willcox, and per- 
haps some others, settled in ilia Upper-Houses. 

The inhabitants within the first society, gradually extended 
themselves down into the South-Farms, and afterwards into Mo- 
romos. They were early joined by the ancestors of the Brown s^ 
Gills, Phillipses, Rockwells, Southmayds, Starrs, and Sumners: 
as they were in succeecTing periods, by the ancestors of the 
McGilJs, Meigses, Treadways, he. 

The people in the Upper-Houses, were joined by the ances- 
tors of the Shepherds, and of some other families. 



34 Statistical Account of Middlesex County f 

The settlement, within the parish of Middlefield, began about 
1700. The earliest settlers there, were Samuel Allen, Benja- 
min Miller and Samuel Wetmore, who removed from the first 
society. With these, persons soon united, by the name of Ba- 
con, Hubbard, Stow, Turner and Ward, from the same society ; 
by the name of Camp, Coe and Lyman, from Durham ; of Bird- 
sey, from Stratford ; of Bartlett, from Guilford ; and also per- 
sons by the name of Chilson and Hale. 

The first white inhabitant of Westfield, was Edward Higby, 
a native of Long-Island, who settled about 1720, at the foot of 
that bluff, which from him is called Higby Mountain. He de- 
ceased in November 1775, aged about 90. The other early 
settlers, were Benjamin Atkins, Benjamin Bacon, Nathan- 
iel Bacon, John Bacon, Joseph Bacon, Joseph Cornwell, 
Joseph Doolittle, Samuel Plumbe and Daniel Roberts, from 
the first society ; John Warner, Israel Willcox, John Will- 
cox and Jeremiah Willcox, from the Upper-Houses ; Joseph 
Clark, a native of West-Haven ; Nathaniel Churchell from 
Weathersfield ; Edward Boardman and Josiah Boardman, from 
Glastenbury ; David Dowd, Richard Dowd, Joseph Graves and 
Asahel Dudley, from Guilford. 

In January 1689, the Legislature of Connecticut, granted to 
the towns of Middletown, Weathersfield, and Farmington, all the 
vacant lands between their bounds, and the bounds of Walling- 
ford, (which then included the towns of Cheshire and Meriden,) 
for the purpose of establishing a new plantation. This grant 
covered the tract generally, now constituting the town of Berlin, 
which was incorporated in May 1785. In the south-eastern sec- 
tion of this tract, some families from Middletown settled, by the 
name of Sage, Savage and Willcox, about the commencement of 
the last century. These, with others, belonged to the town of 
Middletown, until the incorporation just mentioned. 

A portion of the lands in Middletown, were given by Sowheag, 
the great sachem of Mattabesett, to John Haynes, for sometime 
governor of Connecticut, probably before any settlement was 
made in the town. On the 24th of January 1662, Sepunnemo 
and other chiefs, knowing the gift of Sowheag to Mr. Haynes, 
sold to Samuel Wyllys and others, doubtless as agents of the co- 
lony or town, all the remaining lands in Middletown, including 
Chatham, extending six miles east of the river, and as far west 
as the Court had granted the bounds of the town ; excepting 300 
acres, which they reserved for the heirs of Sowheag and Matta- 
besett Indians, to be laid out on the east of the river ; and a tract 
on the west side, previously laid out for Sawsean, to remain for 
his heirs for ever. 

The reservation on the east side of the river, will be noticed 



T'own of Middletoim. 



60 



n the account of Chatham. The other reservation, appears to 
have been in the neighbourhood, now called Ncwfield, where the 
Indians held lands as late as 1713. 

On the line between this neighbourhood and Staddle-IIill, 
they had a grave yard. Their bones also have been found, in 
the south-eastern part of the Upper-Houses, on the bank of the 
Connecticut, 

Sowheag, just mentioned, was a powerful sachem. He had 
his castle on the high ground, in the west part of what is now the 
city of Middletown, still called from this circumstance, Indian 
Hill ; where he was able, by means of his whistle, to call around 
him many warriors, whose wigwams were thick on both sides of 
the Connecticut eastward. His dominion extended not only 
over these, and other Indians in Middletown and Chatham, but 
over the Piquag, or Weathersfield Indians, whose sagamore. Se- 
quin, was subject to him : and as a part of the original township 
of New-Haven, was purchased of Montowese, Sowheag''s son, it 
is probable, that his dominion embraced some of the Indians in 
that town. 

Although Sowheag had given lands to Governor Haynes, as 
has been related, and had thereby conferred an obligation upon, 
the English ; he afterwards showed himself to be a base and 
treacherous man. In April 1637, some of his Indians at Weath- 
ersfield, conducted and aided the Pequots, as appeared af- 
terwards, in the incursion v/hich they made into that town, where 
they killed six men as they were going into the field, and three 
women, and took two maids captive. Sowheag entertained the 
murderers, and treated the people of Weathersfield in a haughty 
and insulting manner. It seems that the people of Weathersfield, 
had previously offered him some provocation. On hearing of 
their differences therefore, the General Court were disposed to 
forgive him, and appointed a committee to compromise all dif- 
ferences with him. But he wholly refused to give up the mur- 
derers, and continued his outrages against the English. The 
Court therefore, in August 1639, determined to send one hundred 
men to Mattabesett, and take the delinquents by force. They 
notified their friends at New-Haven of their determination, both 
that they might receive their approbation, in an enterprize of 
such general concern, and that they might make the necessary 
arrangements, for defending their own plantations. Governor 
Eaton and his Council viewed it important, that the murderers 
should be brought to punishment; but in existing circumstances, 
deemed the measure proposed for doing it inexpedient, and dis- 
suaded the Connecticut Colony from pursuing it. 

In addition to the Strait-Hiils, which cross the south-eastern 
section of this town, and Wallingford Mountains on its western 



36 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 

border, described in the introductory observations, there are 
several hills of some note. Indian Hill has been already men- 
tioned. South from this, high elevated grounds extend to the 
borders of Durham, which, taken collectively, are called Long- 
Hill. In the Upper-Houses, is Prospect-Hill, thus named, from 
the fine view which it affords of the surrounding country ; par- 
ticularly of the windings of Connecticut river, of the city of Mid- 
dletown, and of the north-western portion of Chatham. In the 
back parts of the town, are Staddle-Hill, Three-mile-Hill, Pow- 
der-Hill, and some others. 

These hills, in general, are capable of cultivation. The in- 
terval and level lands throughout the township, are good, and 
some of them excellent. 

There are two streams in Middletown, deserving particular 
notice, viz. Little river, and Sumner's creek. 

The former and larger of these streams, is sometimes called 
Ferry river, in the ancient records of the town, because a ferry 
was kept for a long period near its mouth, on the road from the 
city to the Upper-Houses, 

The largest branch of this river, more appropriately called 
Little river, rises in Farmington Mountain, passes through Ber- 
lin, and enters Middletown at the northwest, where it receives a 
small mill-stream from Westfield parish. 

The only other considerable branch rises in a spring, eight or ten 
rods in circumference, at the foot of Bluff-Head, the eastern-most 
point of Totoket or Branford Mountain, a little north of the 
source of a river, which runs southerly into the Sound. It takes 
a course nearly north, runs through Durham, the parish of Mid- 
dlefield, and the west part of the first society, where it assumes 
the name of West river, and forms a junction with Little river, 
about a mile from its mouth. This has a fall in Middlefield of 
30 feet, and it furnishes a number of excellent mill-seats. 

A much more interesting fall is on the small mill-stream in 
Westfield, just mentioned. This runs on high ground till it 
arrives to about the center of the society, where it falls down a 
rocky excavation which it has formed, 60 or 70 feet, in the 
course of a few rods. The scenery was formerly much more 
romantic, by reason of lofty pines and evergreens which stood 
beside the fall. 

On this river, principally within the Upper-Houses, is a 
large meadow and swamp, overflowed in times of freshet. 

Sumner's creek, like Little river, has two considerable branches, 
Milh-M-'s brook, and Pameacha river, both of which are important 
mill-streams. 

Miller's brook rises in Miller's pond, in the northeast corner 
of Durham, pursues a northerly course, till it strikes Pamea- 



lototi of Midd/etown, 37 

cha river, where it turns eastward, runs a small distance, and 
empties into the Connecticut. On this brook Mr. Thomas Mil- 
ler erected a corn-mill for the use of the town in IGGd, which is 
doubdess the reason of its being called Miller's brook. 

Pameacha river has its sources, in hills near the borders of 
Durham, runs also northerly, till it strikes Warwick's brook, where 
it turns eastward, and passes on between high rocky banks, to 
the other branch. 

Shad and small fish are taken in considerable quantities, at 
the mouth of Little river. The fishery in Sumner's creek was 
formerly so important, that an act was passed by the Legislature 
in 1726 for regulating it. 

At the bottom of Prospect-Hill, west of Middlesex turnpike, is 
a chalybeate spring. This has been known, and occasionally 
visited, for many years. About 1810, a bathing-house was erect- 
ed near it, and it became a place of considerable resort for peo- 
ple in the vicinity, for one or two seasons ; but it is now gene- 
rally neglected, and the house is removed. 

Iron has never been found in this town in large quantities. 
Some has been discovered about Higby Mountain. 

A lead mine was opened about forty years ago, near But- 
ler's creek, as it enters Connecticut river, two miles southeast 
from the city. The vein runs north-easterly towards the river, and 
as it approaches it, sinks abruptly into the earth. It is inclosed 
in a granite rock, which renders it difficult to get the ore. It is 
mineralized with sulphur, and is partly steel-grained, and pardy 
cubic lead ore, the former containing the greatest portion of sil- 
ver, but neither enough to pay the expense of separation : it 
also contains a portion of zinc. Large sums of money were ex- 
pended here by foreigners, before the American Revolution. 
When that commenced, it was in the hands of Col. James, a Bri- 
tish officer, who had raised one hundred half-barrels of the ore, 
and prepared it for exportation. This the government of Con- 
necticut seized, as they did also the mine, which they improved, 
till the great expenses of carrying on the business, induced them 
to abandon it. The vein was followed thirty or forty rods, and 
was in some places very rich, but generally poor. 

Free-stone, or rather dark gray sand-stone, abounds in Middle- 
town. Many of the loose stones on the surface are of this de- 
scription. It is found not only in sinking wells, but appears more 
or less in the bed and banks of the various streams. This is not 
sufficiently fine in all cases, for any work where much ornament 
is required, but is suitable abundantly for building stone, and 
might be used for this purpose with great advantage. The walls 
of the Sword Factory wholly, and of the Pistol Factory in part, 
are built of it, taken from the bed and banks of West river. la 



38 Staiistical Account of Middlesex County ; 

other cases the ^tone is suitable for fire-places, underpinning, step 
and grave-stones, and has been used for these purposes for a long 
period. As early as 1726, the selectmen were directed to take 
care of the quarries on the west side of the river, as well as on 
th east side, or in Chatham. 

The first opening was made on the bank of West river, a mile 
from the Connecticut, near the turnpike road leading to Meri- 
den. This has been improved at different times to a considcra- 
ble extent. Within a few years, many of the stone have been 
used in the city, and some have been transportftd to other places. 

Beside a stratum of earth, the stone here, in some cases, is 
covered with a shelly rock, composed principally of oxyd of 
iron, and clay, not having sufficient sand to harden and hold it 
together. It is from ten to twenty feet thick, imposed on a stra- 
turn of black slate, beneath which is a stratum of blue slate, fre- 
quently including veins of pit coal. Beneath these is gray 
sandstone, and then the slate recurs ; and thus these different 
strata appear, as far do\»:^ as the earth has been explored. In 
some cases the slatestone is from ten to fifteen feet thick, so 
strongly impregnated with bitumen, that it will burn. Here tlic 
veins of coal are much the largest and most frequent. 

Another quarry was opened west of the Turnpike road lead- 
ing to Durham and New-Haven, two miles from the city, about 
twenty years ago. 

A third quarry was opened at Laurel-Hill in Middlefield, two 
and a half miles southwest of the city, at a more recent period. 

Many years ago, stone was taken from a quarry in the back 
part of the Upper-Houses. This is of an indifferent quality. 

None of these quarries are extensively improved just at the pre- 
sent time, and some of them are wholly neglected. 

The ap])earances of coal already noticed, with some other 
facts, have induced several gentlemen to search for coal in this 
town. The earth has been explored by boring sixty or seven- 
ty feet. But though coal has been discovered, it has not been 
found in sufficient quantities to defray the expense of digging 
for it. But appearances are so favorable, and the object is so 
important, it is hoped the search will not be given up, without a 
more thorough examination. 

Limestone exists near Higby Mountain, and has been used to a 
limited extent. 

The inhabitants of the southern, western and northern parts of 
this town, are very generally farmers, and as the lands in those 
parts have long since been taken up for farms, the population 
has increased very little for many years. There were 80 dwell- 
ing houses in Middlefield in 1746, and but one more in 1815. 
The population of Westfield, for the same length of time. ha5 



Tozisn of Middle loxoiu .39 

been ucarly .stationary. The increase in the Upper-Hou.ses, 
has been confined principally to the village in the south-eastern 
section of it, as the increase in the first society has been to the 
city. Young enterprising men, trained to husbandry, unable to 
get farms in their native town, have removed from time to time, 
10 other parts of the country. But of these numerous and almost 
perpetual removals, generally, no particular information can be 
given. 

In 1784, Hugh White Esq. moved from the Upj)er-Houscs to 
Whitestown, in the State of New- York. In the course of a few 
years, some families from Middletown and other places settled 
around him. In 1788, the town of Germanflats was divided, 
and the western part, within which he and his associates lived, 
was called in honour of him, Whitestown. The new town, at 
its incorporation, extended over the whole western portion of 
New- York ; a tract, which did not then contain 200 English in- 
habitants, but which before Mr. W^hite's death, in 1812, contained 
more than 230,000. The present town of Whitestown, including 
the large and flourishing village of Utica, and the fine villages of 
Whitesborough and New-Hartford, will transmit his name to dis- 
tant generations. 

Two persons, inhabitants of Middletown, have been capitally 
punished, namely, Thomas Starr and Peter Lung, 

On the 26th of July 1796, Starr stabbed Mr. Samuel Corn- 
well, a nephew^, in seven places in the trunk of his body, 
with a penknife ; of w^hich wounds he languished a few days and 
expired. For this offence, he was tried and condemned at a spe- 
cial session of the Superior Court, held in Middletown, Decem- 
ber 1796, and executed at Haddam, on the 14th of June following. 

Lung was convicted of murder, committed, by tarious wounds 
and bruises, on the person of his wife, of w^hich she died, some- 
time in the course of the night of the 31st of July 1815. A spe- 
cial Court held in Middletown, on the last Tuesday of August in 
the same year, condemned him to be executed on the 23d of No- 
vember. But as the Legislature, at their intervening session, set 
aside the doings of that Court, he had a second trial at Haddam 
m December, where he was again condemned. His execution 
took place at Middletown, on the 20th of June 1816. 

Shipbuilding has been carried on in the village of the Upper- 
Houses, in one yard, for a century, and in a second, for half that 
period. The inhabitants of that village, have been moderately 
concerned in navigation for many years. Several neat houses 
were erected there, about 1804, and the village and parish both, 
are very pleasant* 

But the principal business in Middletown is done in the city. 
This was incorporated in May 1784, 



46 Statistical Account of Middlesex Counts/; 

Its situation is remarkably pleasant, and strikes the eye with 
peculiar pleasure, not only from Prospect-Hill, but from the high 
<rrounds in Chatham, and towards the Staits. 

It is nearly surrounded by water, having Little river on the 
north. West river on the west, and Pameacha river and Sum- 
ner's creek, in part, on the south, a line from West river to War- 
wick's bridge, being the remaining southern boundary. The 
eastern boundary of the city is high water mark, on the east side 
of the Connecticut. 

Its medium length may be a mile and a half, and its breadth, 
exclusively of the river, is about the same. 

From the Connecticut the ground gradually rises for half 
a mile westward. Within this space are nearly all the build- 
ings in the city, and most of them are on the eastern half of 
it, on Main-street, running parallel generally with the Connec- 
ticut, and on streets at right angles with this, running to the river. 

The dwelling houses in the city, 299 in number, are very ge- 
nerally convenient, and some of them are elegant buildings. 
These, with the various stores and shops, are constructed in most 
cases of wood*, a few, and those more recently erected, are of 
brick. They are one, two and thre^ stories high ; but vastly 
the greatest proportion of them, are of the second description. 

The public edifices are five churches, attended however by 
people from all parts of Middletown parish, two Banks, a Court- 
house, Gaol and Alms-house. 

In the winter of 1669 — 70, a shipwright was allowed to build 
vessels in this place, and shipbuilding has probably been carried 
on most of the time since that period. Two yards were formerly 
occupied ; one only is improved at the present time. 

There may have been a very little navigation from the pe- 
riod, in which shipbuilding commenced. In 1713 and 14, seve- 
ral wharves were allowed to be built on the Connecticut. Be- 
fore the revolutionary war, an extensive and profitable trade 
was opened with the West-Indies. 

In 1811, the year preceding the late war, there belonged to 
Middletown, and mostly to the city, 7 ships, 21 brigs, and 4 
schooners, employed in foreign trade, and 1 schooner and 6 
sloops, employed in coasting, amounting to 6,000 tons. By the 
war the navigation was much reduced, and in the close of 1815, 
3,537 tons of shipping only, belonged to the town. 

The foreign trade of the city, is principally with the West- 
Indies, and the coasting trade is with the city of New-York, and 
the Southern States. The more important articles of exportation 
are live-stock, corn-meal and lumber, collected partly from this 
town, and partly from the country. Rum, molasses and sugar 
are the principal articles, imported^ 



Town of Middle tozon* 41 

Sixty or seventy years ago, there were only four merchant 
stores in this place. At that time, there were but few mechanic 
shops, and no public offices and no important factories. 

There are now in the city, 1 1 stores of dry goods ; 22 groce- 
ry stores ; 2 hardware stores ; 2 crockery stores ; 1 fur store ; 2 
apothecary stores ; 1 paper store ; 2 book stores ; 2 book binde- 
ries ; 2 goldsmith's shops ; 4 taylors' shops ; 3 milliners' shops ; 
1 hat factory ; 2 bakeries ; 3 butchers' stalls ; 2 tallow chan- 
dleries ; 2 tanneries ; 3 shoe stores ; 2 saddler's shops ; 4 lum- 
ber yards ; 3 cabinet shops ; 2 chaise-makers' shops ; 2 tinner's 
shops ; 4 blacksmith's shops ; 2 rope walks ; and 1 sail loft. 

There are now two printing offices in the city. The first was 
established in 1785, the same year in which this county was 
formed, and has ever since published the Middlesex Gazette : 
the other has been recently introduced. 

The Custom-house Office was established in 1795, and collects 
the customs from a district, embracing the counties of Middlesex 
and Hartford. 

Middletown Bank was incorporated in Oct. 1795, with a capi- 
tal of ^100,000, which was increased in May 1812, to g500,000. 

The Branch of the Bank of the United States, located in this 
place, began its operations in Sept. 1817. 

The Insurance Company was incorporated in Oct. 1803, with 
a capital of ,$60,000. 

The Fire-insurance Company was incorporated in May 1813, 
with a capital of g 150,000. A fire-engine company had then 
existed ten years in the city : there is now a second of later for- 
mation. 

A rum distillery was set up in this place in 1791, which dis- 
tils 600 hogsheads of rum annually. Were it driven steadily 
through the winter, it might distil 1000. 

In 1810, a woollen factory, owned by the Middletown Manu- 
facturing Company, was put in operation on Washington-street. 
The various machinery in this extensive establishment, was mov- 
ed by a steam-engine, equal to a 25 horse power. The principal 
building, (originally erected for a sugar house,) is of brick, 40 feet 
by 36, 5 stories ; withrwhich is connected a rear building, 40 feet by 
20, a dye-house, &:c. From 60 to 80 hands were employed in thi? 
factory, and there was room for 100. Forty yards of fine cloth 
were sometimes manufactured in a day, and 70,000 dollars worth 
in a year. The consumption of fuel was a serious draw-back 
upon the profits ; but the factory was supposed to have been ad- 
vantageous to the company, until the sudden fall of goods, upor. 
the late peace with Great Britain, since which it has not been 
niuch improved. 

Another woollen factory was erected in the city in 1314, or 



42 Statistical Account of Middlesex County j 

Pameacha river, called Watkinson's Factory, from the name of 
the owner. The machinery generally, is in a fine brick building, 
64 feet by 34, 3 stories. Here 25,000 pounds of Merino wool 
arc annually manufactured into blue broad-cloths. The color- 
ing is done wholly in the wool. The number of hands usually 
employed is 40. 

On the west bank of West river, is Starr's Sword Factory, 
erected in 1813. The building is of stone, 81 feet by 33, 3 sto- 
ries, having a wing 35 feet square, fire-proof. Here are sufficient 
room and machinery for the employment of 100 hands. The 
numbei actually employed has been much less, but various. The 
swords annually manufactured, have been about 5,000, for seve- 
ral years past. 

Half a mile southwest of this factory, on the opposite side of 
the same stream, is North's Pistol Factory, built in 1813 and 14, 
84 feet by 37, 3 stories, the first story being of stone, and the 
other two of brick, fire- proof. In this, from 8 to 10,000 pistols 
are annually made. The workmen employed, inclusive of ap- 
prentices, are from 55 to 70. 

Thirty or forty rods below Watkinson's Factory, on Pameacha 
river, is Johnson's Rifle Factory, which began its operations in 
1815. In this, from 25 to 30 hands are employed, who manu- 
facture from 10 to 1200 rifles in a year. 

The swords, pistols and rifles made in the above factories are 
sold generally, to the Government of the United States. 

In these factories, and in Watkinson's Factory, it is made a rule, 
that no ardent spirits shall be used, and no gambling practised 
by the workmen. By this rule, the order and peace of the fee- 
tories are promoted, and the wages of the workmen secured for 
the benefit of themselves and families. 

West of Pameacha Bridge, on the site of an old gun factory, in 
Phoenix-Mill, for grinding dye-woods, with which an oil-mill has 
recently been connected. 

The two woollen factories, and the Rifle Factory, are within 
the limits of the city ; the sword and pistol Factories and Phoe- 
nix-Mill are on, or near its borders. 

Besides these factories, there arc several others in other parts 
of the town, some of which are owned in the city. 

In Middlefield a Snuff'-Mill and a Nail Factory, were improved 
some years ago, on West river. There are now on the same 
■jtream, a Paper-Mill and a Powder-Mill. 

The Paper-Mill was built in 1793, employs from 9 to 12 
hands, and manufactures annually from 12 to 1600 reams of 
writing, printing and wrapping pyper, together with considera- 
ble quantities of bonnet, press and sheathing paper. 

The Powder-Mill, also built in 1793, has 39 pounders. U 



Tozon of Middhtown. 43 

inight manufacture 4 or 5,000 casks of powder annually. It now 
manufactures about 1000. 

In the Upper-Houses, are two Cotton Factories, standing near 
each other, on a small stream, fed by springs so deep in the 
earth as not to be much effected by drought. The first, erected 
in 1808, is calculated to contain 500 spindles, and has now 330. 
The latter, erected in 1814, contains 300 spindles, and might con- 
tain twice that number. 

On the principal branch of Pameacha river, in the First Socie- 
ty, Green's Factory or Clothier's Works, was built in 1812. la 
this, in one season, a considerable quantity of the cloth was 
manufactured, which is called Columbian Cloth, a fabric of wool- 
len and cotton. 

In 1817, an Ivory-Comb Factory was established on Miller's 
brook, a mile south of the city. Here was also established the 
last year a Pewter Factory, and a Factory of Block-tin Buttons. 
In all these, 30 hands are employed. 

Not long after the settlement commenced in Middletown, the 
people employed Mr. Samuel Stow, a native of Concord, Mass, 
and graduate of Cambridge College, as a candidate for the minis- 
try. In Aug. 1657, they vx)ted to continue him on trial, and ap- 
pear afterwards to have made some further advances towards 
iiis settlement. But some difficulties arising in the town re- 
specting him, a vote was passed in 1659, that they did not wish 
to continue him, but to look elsewhere. In 1661, the difficulties 
came before the Legislature, who declared the town of Middlc- 
tow^n to be free from Mr. Stow, as their engaged minister ; and 
a committee which they then appointed to further the settlement 
of a minister, encouraged the people to setde the Rev. Nathaniel 
Collins, of which there was an existing prospect ; and further- 
more advised Mr. Stow and the inhabitants, to a loving carriage 
towards him. These measures appear to have finished the bu- 
siness respecting Mr. Stow's settlement ; he gave up his designs 
of the miaistry, and lived in the town as a private citizen ; and 
the people went forward according to advice, and with entire 
unanimity settled Mr. Collins. His ordination took place Nov. 
4, 1668, at which time the church was gathered, consisting of 
ten male members, including himself. 

Mr. Collins was the son of Dea. Collins of Cambridge. An 
elder brother, by the name of John, was publicly educated, and 
settled in the ministry in London. Both were famous ministers 
in their day. The church and people of Middletown were unit- 
ed and happy during Mr. Collins' life ; and the country was bless- 
ed by his labours. He deceased in the midst of his usefulness 
in 1684, greatly lamented. Cotton Mather says, in his peculiar 
language, that " more wounds were given" by hi^ death ^'- tn 

6 



44 Statistical Account of Middlesex County j 

the whole colony of Connecticut, than the body of Caesar did re- 
ceive when he fell wounded in the senate house — that the church 
of Middletown upon Connecticut river, was the golden candle- 
stick from whence this excellent person illuminated more than 
that whole colony ; and that all the qualities of most exemplary 
piety, extraordinary ingenuity, obliging affability, joined with the 
accomplishments of an extraordinary preacher, did render him 
(Tuly excellent. In saying this of him, I may confirm what I 
say," he adds, '^ in words like those of Jerome on a like occasion ; 
Testor christianum de christiano, vera proferre ; in speaking of a 
christian I will as a christian say the truth ; and for this cha- 
racter add this epitaph ; 

Ille pius pastbr, quo non praestantior unus, 
Qui faciendo docet, quae facienda docet :" 

That is the pious pastor, than whom none is more excellent, 
who shows by his practice the same things, which he teaches 
ought to be done. 

One of Mr. Collins' sons was the first minister in the town of 
Enfield. 

The congregation having remained vacant somewhat more 
than three years after the death of Mr. Collins, settled the Rev, 
Noadiah Russel, with the greatest harmony. 

Mr. Russel was born at New-Haven, and left an orphan, with 
an elder sister, when about a year old 5 but through the friend- 
ship and benevolence of Mrs. Elin Glover, he was publicly edu- 
cated. Where he was brought up is unknown, but it is not im- 
probable at Ipswich, in Massachusetts, as he became a member 
of the church in that place, and was thence recommended to the 
church in Middletown. Concerning his character, no particular 
information has been obtained ; but as he was one of the found- 
ers and trustees of Yale College, and one of the framers of Say- 
brook Platform, he must have held a respectable rank among 
his brethren. He deceased in 1713. 

Two of his sons, viz. William and Daniel, were educated at 
the seminary which he had assisted in founding and governing. 
With this, William was connected for a time as a tutor, and af- 
terwards as a trustee. Both became ministers of the Gospel. 
Daniel settled in the parish of Stepney in Weathersfield, and 
William succeeded his father in the congregation in Middletown, 
June 1, 1715. 

Of this Mr. Russel it is very remarkable, that he laboured in 
ihe ministry just forty-six years, dying in the same month, and 
on the same day of the month, on which he was ordained. He 
was " a gentleman," says Dr. Trumbull, " of great respectabili- 
ty for knowledge, experience, moderation, and for pacific mea- 
sures, on all occasions." } 



Town of Middhtown. Ab 

The year after Mr. Russcl's death, the Rev. Enoch Himling- 
Lon was ordained in Middletown. 

While at College, Mr. Huntington made distinguished i.'-i- 
provements in science, and for several years after he entered iho 
ministry, his public services were very acceptable. His elocu 
tion was uncommonly fine. But by an attempt to speak when 
afflicted with a cold, his voice was unhappily injured, and it ever 
after required increased exertion in him to speak, and in the peo- 
ple distinctly to hear him. He however was able to perform pub- 
lic labours till nearly the time of his death, in 1809, and by his 
family visits particularly, was dear to his people. He was a 
fellow of Yale College twenty-eight years. 

The Rev. Dan Huntington, who had been previously settled 
in Litchfield, was installed in Middletown a few months after his 
predecessor's death, and was dismissed, at his own request, in 
1816. He now resides in Massachusetts. 

In July of the same year, the Rev. Chauncey A. Goodrich 
was ordained in this place, and in December 1817 was dismiss- 
ed, in consequence of ill health. He is now professor of rheto- 
ric at Yale College. 

The present pastor of this congregation, is the Rev. John R. 
Crane. 

There was but one society in Middletown, for half a century 
after the settlement began. During this period, the inhabitants 
lived within the limits of what are now the two first parishes. 
The convenience and friendship of the people at the Upper- 
Houses were consulted, by the erection of the two first meeting- 
houses near the north end of the city, and by the appointment of 
a portion of the town officers, from time to time, from among 
them. But the inhabitants there had become so numerous, that 
on the 18th of January 1703, the town agreed, that the people 
on the north side of Little river, might settle a minister, and build 
themselves a meeting-house, provided they settled a minister 
within six, or at most twelve months from that time ; and the 
Legislature incorporated them as a society, at their session in 
May following. To this parish the east street in Worthington, 
in the town of Berlin, belonged until 1790. 

From the time of their incorporation, the inhabitants of the 
Upper-Houses appear to have maintained public worship among 
themselves, and for a portion of that time at least, they enjoyed 
preaching; but twelve years instead of twelve months elapsed, 
before they settled a minister. 

On the 5th of January 1715, the church was gathered, con- 
sisting of 23 members, 20 of whom had belonged to the church 
in the First Society, one to some other church, and two were taken 
iVom the world. 



46 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 

At this time, the Rev. Joseph Smith, who had already preach- 
ed for them two or three years, was ordained their pastor. He 
died in 1736. 

In 1738, the Rev. Edward Eells, son of the Rev. Nathaniel 
Eells of Scituate, Massachusetts, was ordained in the Uf)per- 
Houses. Mr. Eells acquired some celebrity, by a pamphlet 
which he published in 1759, on the Wallingford Case. For se- 
veral years he sustained the olfice of a trustee of Yale College, 
where three of his sons were educated, who were ministers in East- 
bury, North-Branford and Barkhempsted. He deceased in 1776. 

The Rev. Gershom Bulkley was ordained in this place in 
1778, and dismissed, pursuant to an agreement between him and 
his people, in 1808. He is still living. 

The Rev. Joshua L. Williams, ordained in 1809, is the present 
pastor of this congregation. 

Middlefield, the south-western section of Middletown, was 
made a society by act of Assembly, in Oct. 1744. 

At what time the church there was embodied does not appear, 
as the ancient records are lost. It may have been embodied at 
the ordination of the first minister, the Rev. Ebenezer Gould, in 
1747, 

Mr. Gould was dismissed about 1756, and afterwards settled 
in Granville, Massachusetts. 

The Rev. Joseph Denison succeeded to the charge in Middle- 
field in 1765, and died in 1770. 

The Rev. Abner Benedict was ordained in 1771. In 1785, 
he obtained a dismission from Middlefield, and moved to New- 
Lebanon in the State of New-York, that a feeble and afflicted 
daughter might constantly enjoy the benefit of the medicinal 
waters of that town. He was there installed, and laboured in 
the ministry six years. He afterwards preached in various 
places, and on the 19th of November last, died in New-York, in 
the town of Roxbury, county of Delaware, aged 78. 

Mr. Benedict was a man of strong and benevolent affections, and 
an intelligent and able divine. While in Middlefield, he accom- 
plished by his address and efforts, the freedom of all the slaves 
held by his people. Some manuscripts, on which he had be- 
stowed much labour, particularly a dissertation on the Book of 
Revelation, may yet be published. 

The congregation in Middlefield has remained vacant ever 
fince his dismission. Previously to 1808 the church had 
become nearly extinct. In December of that year, there hav- 
ing been some revival among the people, the church was or- 
ganized anew, and 29 persons entered into covenant with God 
and with one another. With these, 21 persons had united, 
prior to April 1818. 



Town of MiddUlown. 47 



\ 



The Society of Westfield, lying directly north of Middlefield 
and west of the city, was incorporated in May 17G6. 

The church was formed Dec. 29, 1773, consisting of 26 mem- 
bers, 21 of whom were taken from the church in the First Society, 
and 5 from the church in the Upper-Houses. 

At that time, the Rev. Thomas Miner, who is still living, was 
ordained their pastor. 

But one mode of worship was observed in this town till after 
the lapse of nearly a century. Besides the Congregational 
churches, there are now, an Episcopal church, a Slrict-Congre- 
gational church, three Baptist churches and a Methodist church. 

Tiie first records of the Episcopal society are dated Decem- 
ber 1749. It then embraced sixteen families. For the nine 
years folic-^ing, it had an average annual increase of six families. 

No records of communicants among the Episcopalians exist 
earlier than 1799, when they had 47. Since then these have 
been more than doubled. 

With this people the following* persons have been connected 
as pastors. 

The Rev. Ichabod Camp divided his labours among them, and 
the Episcopalians in Wallingford, from 1752 to 1760, when he 
removed to Louisburg in Virginia. Some years after, he was 
murdered by a son-in-law. 

The Rev. Abraham Jarvis, D. D. was reader for this congre- 
gation from 1760 to 1764, when he became their rector. In this 
capacity he remained with them until 1 799. At this time, hav- 
ing been elected bishop of Connecticut, he removed to Cheshire 
and afterwards to New-Haven; where he died. May 3, 1813, 
aged 75. 

The bishop was succeeded in the charge at Middletown by 
the Rev. Messrs. Calvin White, Joseph Warren and Clement 
Merriam, whose terms of service were very short. Mr. White 
is now rector of the Episcopal church in Derby. 

The Rev. John Kewley, an Englishman, was rector of this 
church from 1809 to 1813. Previously to his coming to Middle- 
town, he had practised physic ''n the West Indies and in Penn- 
sylvania, and had been minister for four years in Chester in Ma- 
ryland. After leaving Middletown, he settled in the city of 
New- York, but has since returned to England. 

The present rector of this church, is the Rev. Birdsey G. Noble. 

About the time of the great revival in New-England in 1741 
and 2, a few individuals in the towns of Middletown and Weath- 
ersfield, embraced the principles of the Strict-Congregationalists. 
These were formed into a church at Weathersfield, Oct. 28, 1747, 
and the Rev. Ebenezer Frothingham was, at that time, ordained 
theirpastor. But as the principalmembers in Weathersfield, within 



48 Statistical Account of Middlesex County y 

a few years, emigrated into the State of New- York, Mr. Frothing- 
ham removed to Middletown, and was installed over the Strict-Con- 
gregationalists living there, about 1754. These resided in the 
first and fourth parishes. They were few in number, but in- 
creased considerably under his ministry. In 1788, they were 
divided into two churches, those in the First Society of Middle- 
town constituting one church, and those in Westfield the other. 
Mr. Frothingham was dismissed about the time of this division. 
but remained in Middletown through life. He died Nov. 30, 
1798, aged 81. 

The Kev. Stephen Parsons became the pastor of the Strict- 
Congregationalists within the First Society, in 1788, and was dis- 
missed in 1795, having changed his sentiments on the mode and 
subjects of baptism. 

The Rev. David Huntington who had been previously settled 
in Marlborough, was installed over this people in 1797. He la- 
boured with them until 1800, and was afterwards settled in the 
Third Society of Lyme; where he died, April 13, 1811, in the 
67th year of his age, having sustained the character of a very 
pious man. 

The Rev. Benjamin Graves, who had been previously or 
dained by a council of Strict-Congregational churches, succeed- 
ed to this charge in 1 803, and was dismissed in the close of 1 8 1 1 . 
or the beginning of 1812. 

Not far from the time of his dismission the church was dissolv- 
ed, and the prospects of this denomination were gloomy. But 
on January 11, 1816, four males and nine females, who had be- 
longed to the old church, were formed into a new church, and 
the congregation was in some measure collected. 

Soon after this, the Rev. Ahab Jinks was procured to preach 
to them, and on the 7th of August 1816, he was ordained by the 
Presbytery of Hudson, with which he was connected, with a view 
to his becoming their pastor. Under his ministry the church has 
increased, and its prospects brightened. 

Individuals in Middletown are said to have believed in the 
sentiments of the Baptists for a considerable time. But they 
have not been known as a denomination till lately. 

The first Baptist church in Middletown was formed in the city, 
Oct. 19, 1795, consisting, at that time, of 5 male and 6 female 
members. This has enjoyed the instructions of the Rev. Messrs. 
Joshua Bradley, George Phippin and Jeremiah F. Bridges. 

The Baptist society in the Upper-Houses was formed January 
2, 1801, and the church February 6, 1802, consisting of 16 
members. 

The Strict-Congregationalists in Westfield, professed them- 
selves Baptists in 1804, and a Baptist church was then formed 
among them, having 12 members. 



Town of Middletown. 49 

All these Baptist churches have increased considerably since 
iheir formation. 

The Methodist congregation in the city was formed in Dec. 
1791 : and the Methodists occasionally hold meetings in other 
parts of the town. 

But one school was kept in Middletown prior to 1683. At 
that time, the inhabitants of the Upper-Houses were allowed their 
proportion of a school rate, for the maintenance of a school 
among themselves. For thirty years after, only two schools 
were kept in the town. There are now 24, viz. 12 in the First 
Society, 5 in the Upper- Houses, 3 in Middlefield and 4 in West- 
field; in which, between 12 and 1300 children are annually in- 
structed. 

The First Society has a fund for the promotion of schooling ; 
derived partly from the legacies of Jasper Clements, Samuel 
Stow and Nathaniel White, proprietors of the town ; and partly 
from the sale of Litchfield lands, amounting to about % 2,166. 
Money, from the last mentioned source, was not received till 1 802. 
From the same source, the Society of Upper-Houses received at 
that time % 103 45, Middlefield % 88 22 and Westfield g88 99. 

Several distinguished characters, who have been natives or in- 
habitants of this town, deserve to be mentioned in this work. 

The Hon. Giles Hamlin, ancestor of the very respectable 
lamily of that name, emigrated from some part of England, and 
settled in Middletown as early as 1654, and probably as early as 
1650. From the inscription upon his monument, he appears to 
have followed the seas ; but his mode of life, neither prevented 
his attention to religion, nor his promotion to public office. He 
was the first person admitted to the communion of the church, 
after the settlement of Mr. Collins ; and in 1685 he was elected into 
the Council of the Colony, and was annually thus elected till his 
death, except as the privileges of the freemen, and the proceed- 
ings of government were suspended, by the usurpation of Ma- 
jor Andross. The inscription just alluded to, deserves to be 
recited, not only as giving his character, but as furnishing a spe- 
cimen of that style of writing, which prevailed in the early pe- 
riods of Connecticut. This is as follows: 

" Here's a Cedar tall, gently wafted o'er, 
From Great Britain's isle to this western shore, 
Near fifty years, crossing the Ocean wide, 
Yet's anchored in the grave from storm or tide, 
Yet remember, the body only here. 
His blessed soul, fixed in a higher sphere. 

Here lies the body'of Giles Hamlin Esq. ; aged 67 year?, who departed this life 
the first day of September, A. D. 1689." 

The Hon. John Hamlin, eldest son of the above, possessec^ 



.30 Statistical Account of Middlesex County : 

the abilities and virtues of his father, and had a larger share oi 
public employment. For more than forty years he adorned the 
christian profession, and by the wise and faithful discharge of 
many public trusts greatly promoted the welfare of the town and 
Colony. From 1694 to 1730, he was advanced by the suffrages 
of his fellow-citizens to the station of an assistant. In 1715, he 
was appointed judge of the court of Common Pleas for Hartford 
county, and from 1716 to 1721, he was appointed an assistant 
judge of the Superior Court. He died in 1 733, in his 75th year. 

The Hon. Jabez Hamlin, son of the last mentioned Mr. 
Hamlin, was equally beloved by the people of Middletown and 
of the Colony and State, with his father and grandfather, and was 
even more extensively employed in public life. A pleasant and 
mild disposition, hopefully sanctified by grace, a liberal educa- 
tion and respectable talents, eminently qualified him to secure 
and retain the affections and confidence of his fellow-citizens. 
He was advanced to the rank of a colonel in the militia of Con- 
necticut, at a period, when a military commission entitled a man 
to very great respect. He was put into the commission of the 
peace as soon as 1733 or 4, was a justice of the Quorum for 
Hartford county from 1745 till 1754, and judge of that court from 
the last period till 1784 ; was judge of the court of probate, from 
the formation of Middletown district in 1752 till 1789, and mayor 
of the city of Middletown from its incorporation in 1784 till his 
death. The freemen had annually elected him an assistant from 
1773 to 1777 or 8 ; but the approbation of an unpopular measure 
excited a prejudice against him, and several of his brethren, and 
they were all dropt from the Council. Above this prejudice none 
of them ever rose, but the subject of this sketch. This appears to 
have had no operation against him at first in his native town, nor 
among the more enlightened portion of the community : for the 
freemen of Middletown sent him immediately a representative to 
the Assembly, where he was appointed speaker of the house of 
representatives and member of the Council of safety ; and he was 
representative and speaker generally at least, till he was return- 
ed into the Council in 1783. To this board he was returned 
the two succeeding years. He was long a professor and a dea- 
con in the first church in Middletown, and in 1791, at the age of 
82, he descended to the grave, " respected, beloved, lamented." 

It is very rare for a family for three successive generations, 
to be as highly esteemed as the Hamlin family has been, or as 
richly to deserve the affections and confidence of the public. 

The Hon. Titus Hosmer died before Col. Hamlin, but was a 
younger man. He was a native of Hartford, and graduate of 
Yale College, where he distinguished himself for the acquisition 
of science, particularly the knowledge of the languages. After 



Town of Middletown* 5 1 

preparatory studies he commenced the practice of law in Mid- 
dletown ; where faithfulness to his clients, and strong powers of 
reasoning, soon raised him into esteem with the bar and the 
court; and secured him, not only much professional business, 
but civil offices of honour and importance. Besides the com- 
mon town offices, and the commission of the peace which he held, 
he was sent a representative to the Assembly, a service for which 
his talents eminently qualified him. In 1777, he was speaker 
of the house of representatives ; where his reasoning and elo- 
quence were influential in prompting the Legislature, to the adop- 
tion of vigorous measures against Great Britain. During a 
part of the war, he was a member of the Council of safety. In 
1778, he was a member of Congress. In 1779 and 80, he was 
elected an assistant; and in the last mentioned year was sent 
again to the National Legislature. A few months before his death, 
he was appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeals, established 
by Congress, principally for the revision of maratime and admi- 
ralty causes in the United States ; and while preparing to enter 
upon this office, he died, Aug. 4, 1780, at the age of 44. 

His person was above the common size and his countenance 
expressive. His passions were naturally quick and strong, but 
kept under vigorous discipline. By nature he had the genius of 
a poet ; but his profession led him to cultivate the powers of the 
understanding, rather than the powers of the imagination. Fond 
of conversation and extensively acquainted with men and books, 
he often entertained at his house a group of friends, who courted 
his society. In deliberative bodies, he was always heard with 
ihat attention and pleasure, which are secured by lucid and man- 
ly argumentation. He was, in one word, a gentleman of correct 
moral habits, a thorough scholar, a learned and eloquent lawyer, 
and a sound practical statesman, deeply versed in national law, 
and universal history. 

Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, possessed a strong and active 
mind, extensive information, and was employed in various pub- 
lic, and important services. He was a son of the Rev. Jonathan 
Parsons, for some time minister in Lyme, and afterwards in 
Newburyport, Massachusetts. For several years previous to 
the revolutionary war, he was settled as a lawyer in the town 
of New-London ; and was King's attorney for the county of that 
name. When the war commenced, he went into the army of 
the United States in the capacity of a Lieutenant Colonel ; 
where he was advanced to the rank of a Brigadier General, and 
after the disability of Gen. Putnam, to that of a Major General, 
Upon the cessation of hostilities, he setded in Middletown, 
whither his family had been removed during the revolution, and 
resumed the practice of law. In the prosecution of measures 



d2 Statistical Account 9f Middlesex County ^ 

requisite for the formation of Middlesex County, he wSis more 
engaged and more influential than any other man. The same 
year in which this was accomplished, he travelled to the west- 
ward, and held a treaty, in connection with Generals, Richard 
Butler and George R. Clarke, in behalf of the United States, 
with the Western Indians, near the falls of Ohio ; from which he 
returned the following spring. In the beginning of 1788, he 
was a member of the Convention, which adopted the National 
Constitution. During that year, Congress appointed him judge 
in the Territorial Government, northwest of Ohio river ; and he 
went forward and entered upon the duties of that office. The 
next year he took an excursion, for the purpose of making ar- 
rangements for holding a treaty at some future time with Indians, 
claiming lands in the Connecticut Reserve ; and on his return to 
his residence at Marietta, he was drowned in the Great-Beaver 
creek, Nov. 17, 1789, at the age of 52. In the contemplated 
treaty, the late Gov. Wolcott and James Davenport, jr. Esq. 
were appointed by the Government of Connecticut, to act with 
him. 

This list of characters, may very properly be closed, by a 
sketch of the character of Richard Alsop Esq. who died sudden- 
ly at Flatbush, Long-Island, on the 16th of Aug. 1816, in the 
56th year of his age. 

Though occasionally engaged in agricultural and commercial 
pursuits, Mr. Alsop spent most of his days in the pursuit of ele- 
gant literature ; for which he had an unusual fondness. In this 
pursuit, he became familiarly acquainted with the literature of 
his own country and of the principal European nations. His 
love of poetry was enthusiastic, and was abundantly gratified by 
reading and composition. Numerous poetical pieces, published 
by him in news-papers and magazines ; and others, issued in dif- 
ferent forms, were well received,, and did honour to his genius. 
His translation of Molina's History of Chili, the Universal Re- 
ceipt Book, and the Narrative of the Suflerings of John R. Jewit, 
have also given him a respectable standing as a prose writer. 
All his compositions are characterized by purity of expression, 
and indicate that delicacy of thought and feeling which appear- 
ed in his private life. 

As a man, as a scholar, and as a writer, Mr. Alsop will long 
be remembered with affection and respect by his numerous ac- 
quaintances. 

There have been several seasons of revival in partsof this town. 

In the last year of the first Mr. Russel's life, 34 persons 
were admitted to the communion of his church, which ren- 
ders it probable, that more than ordinary religious excitement 
prevailed at that time, among that portion of the people. 



Tozon of Middletown, 53 

tO which he ministered. Ninety-nine were admitted to the 
same church in 1741 and 2, the season of the great revival in 
New-England. In some more recent periods, particularly dur- 
ing the last year, many within the bounds of the First Society, 
belonging to different denominations, have been hopefully con- 
verted. By revivals in the Upper-Houses in 1814, and in the 
winter of 1817 and 18, 6G persons were brought into the Con- 
gregational, and some into the Baptist church. A revival in 
Middlcfield in 1808, has been already noticed. 

Three charitable societies exist in the city, and there are 
some others in other parts of the town. 

The first in the city, is the Female Charitable Society, form- 
ed in 1809 ; whose special design is, to provide for the education 
of the children of the poor, and to furnish clothing to the desti- 
tute. This was incorporated at the last session of the^Assembly. 
when it possessed $ 1 100, in Bank stock. 

The second, is the Female Benevolent Society, formed in 
Aug. 1816; auxiliary to the Connecticut Society, for the edu- 
cation of indigent pious young men for the ministry of the Gos- 
pel. This has made very commendable exertions. 

The third, is the Middletown Sunday School Society, formed 
in Sept. 1818 ; whose object is to communicate religious instruc- 
tion to those who attend its schools, and the rudiments of learn- 
ing, so far as they are necessary for this purpose. Three sun- 
day schools were taught in the city last summer, one composed of 
blacks. 



Xdi 



STATISTICAL ACCOUNT 



OF THE 



TOWN OF CHATHAM. 



::->:f:;< 



This Town belonged to Middletown until Oct. 1767; when it 
was made a distinct town, and called Chatham, from the import- 
ance of its shipbuilding, in allusion to Chatham in England. 

According to its original grant, Middletown extended over a 
tract, on the east side of Connecticut river, three miles broad : 
that is, three miles broad at the north and south; but which, on 
account of the windings of the river, was less than three miles at 
KnowIes''s Landing, and much more against Middletown City ; 
on an average, about three and a half. By an additional grant, 
made in March 1683, Middletown was extended over another 
tract, further east, uniformly three miles in breadth. 

These two tracts constitute the present township of Chatham ; 
which is not far from nine miles long, and contains about 37.440 
acres. It is bounded by Glastenbury on the north, by Marlbo- 
rough and Colchester on the east, by East-Haddam and Haddam 
on the south, and by Connecticut river on the west. 

It embraces Chatham parish, (which was called East-Middle- 
town, until the incorporation of the town,) the greater part of 
Middle-Haddam parish, the parish of East-Hampton, and part 
of the parish of Westchester. 

Some lands in this town, against the city of Middletown, were 
early improved. In 1675, 40 rights were laid out between 
Glastenbury and Haddam lines, in lots 2 1-2 miles long, running 
from what was then the east boundary of Middletown, towards 
the river ; the remaining 12 rights owned in the town being laid 
out in Moromos. 

But notwithstanding these improvements and divisions of land, 
only two white families are known to have lived in Chatham, 
until after the commencement of the last centurv. James Stan- 



Town of Chatham, 55 

cliff' had a house on the bank of the river, nigh the end of Chat- 
ham street, as early as 1690, and John Gill had another, not 
"ar from that time. The next settler after these, was William 
Cornwell, who settled back from Chatham meadow, about 1703. 
In 1710, there were only nine or ten families within the limits of 
Chatham parish. The early settlers in this parish, after those 
who have been mentioned, were of the name of Bevin, Hall, Har- 
ris, Hubbard, Ranney, Sage, Savage, Stocking, Warner, White 
and Willcox, emigrants from the two first parishes in Middle- 
town. With these, were afterwards united, Lemuel Lewis from 
the county of Barnstable, Massachusetts ; John Penfield, from 
Bristol, Rhode-Island; Joseph Blague, from Saybrook, John 
Churchel, from Weathersfield, &;c. 

A family, by the name of Gofle, settled south of Knowles's Land- 
ing about 1710, who were the first inhabitants within the limits 
of Middle-Haddam. Among the other early settlers in the west 
part of that parish, were a few persons from Middletown, Ebene- 
zer Dart from New London, and the ancestors of the Freemans, 
Hurds, Higginses and Youti'gses, from the county of Barnstable. 
About 1750, Lemuel Daniels, a native of Colchester, John 
Eddy, from Norton, Massachusetts, and a few others, settled in 
the east part of the parish. 

The three miles last granted to Middletown, constitute the 
parish of East-Hampton, and part of the parish of Westchester. 
Many years after this was granted, ihe question arose how it 
jihould be divided among the inhabitants ; the proprietors of the 
town of Middletown, or their representatives, claiming it wholly 
as theirs, and later settlers insisting upon a share of it, as it was 
given to the town after they became inhabitants, or those under 
whom they claimed. At length this friendly compromise was 
adopted, that it should be divided to the proprietors of the town 
according to their original list and the list of 1714, united, and 
to others, according to the latter list only. 

On this tract, no settlement commenced until 1743. At that 
period, several families were induced to settle in East-Hampton, 
by the excellent mill-seat at the outlet of Pocotopogue pond, 
where a forge was then established. Among the early setders in 
this parish, was a Mr. Miller, from whom the hill south of the 
meeting-house, is called Miller's hill, John Clark from the Up- 
per-Houses, John Bevin from Chatham parish, David Bailey from 
Haddam, Jonathan Parmelee from Branford, and Isaac Smith 
from the county of Barnstable. James Bill from Lebanon, and 
Joseph Buel from Colchester, settled here at later periods. 

The lands in this township were obtained from the Indians, in 
connection with the lands in Middletown. But a reservation; 
laid out partly at Indian hill, and partly a little east of Chatham 



56 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 

meeting-house, was held by them till about 1767 ; when, having 
dwindled to a small number, they sold their right, and united 
with the Farmington Indians. 

These Indians have been sometimes called Wongonks or 
Wongums, but the reservation was for the heirs of Sowheag 
and Mattabesett Indians, and they were doubtless of the same 
tribe with the Indians on the west side of the river. A little clan 
inhabited, or frequented, the region about Pocotopogue pond, 
and had a place of rendezvous on the principal island which 
that incloses. These were also, probably, a part of the Matta- 
besett Indians. 

At Indian-hill was a famous grave-yard ; where monuments 
with inscriptions, were set up over some of the graves, after the 
English settled upon the river. Indian bones have been found 
also on the left bank of Taylor's creek, as it enters the Connec- 
ticut, 

This township is much more rough and uneven than the town- 
ship of Middletown. Northwest from that wide range of hills, 
which have been denominated the Strait-Hills, is a considerable 
tract of smooth and very excellent land, and the large meadow, 
called Wongum meadov/, yielding an abundance of coarse grass. 

The other lands throughout the township, with few and small 
exceptions, are hard and stony ; and in many cases rocky and 
mountainous. Besides the Strait-Hills, there are in the town, 
Great-hill, Bald-hill, and many others. 

Among these hills are many brooks and small streams, running 
with violence in moist and rainy seasons. But there are no 
streams in the town meriting particular notice, excepting Salmon 
river and Pine brook. 

The former has its principal sources in Hebron and Lebanon, 
passes through a part of Colchester, and then crosses the eastern 
corner of this town, whence i^ formsja boundary between East- 
Haddam, and Haddam-Neck, to the Connecticut. It derives its 
name from the abundance of salmon, which used to be found in 
its waters. 

Pine brook rises in Pocotopogue pond, and after a course of six 
or seven miles, in the parishes of East-Hampton and Middle- 
Haddam, unites with Salmon river, three miles from its mouth. 
This is a fine mill-stream, which already supplies many mills, 
and might supply many more. 

The pond from which this issues, is about nine miles in cir- 
cumference, or rather the ponds, for it is in the form of two 
ponds, nearly circular, united by a strait, of no considerable 
width or length. Its waters are generally ten feet deep, and sur- 
round several islands, one of two acres, the favourite resort of 
the Indians, above mentioned. It is fed by low springs ; for 



Town of Chatham, 57 

rains, which fall so gently as not to run off from the surface of the 
earth, though long and great, do not alter its height. 

Another pond, within the bounds of Chatham parish, called 
Job's pond, is about two miles in circumference. This has no 
outlet. It rises and falls as much as fifteen feet 5 from causes 
which cannot be easily explained : for it is often the highest in 
the dryest season of the year, and lowest in the wettest season. 
When it begins to rise, it rises regularly for six or twelve 
months, and then falls for about the same periods. This, in 
many places, is from 40 to 60 feet deep. 

Both of these ponds contain small fish, the first in considerable 
quantities. 

Besides these, there is a pond nigh Connecticut river, called 
Pocowsot pond, and some others in other parts of the town, but 
too inconsiderable to be particularly noticed. 

At the foot of Collins's hill in Chatham parish, is a chalybeate 
spring ; which has been known for some years, but never much 
used for medicinal purposes. 

Another spring of a similar description, exists in Middle-Had- 
dam, on the bank of Pine brook, which has been occasionally 
visited for some time, by individuals afflicted with cutaneous 
complaints. 

A mile southeast from this, on nearly the top of Bald-hill, is 
another spring, from representation, more strongly impregnated 
with iron. 

About 1762, a Cobalt mine was opened at the foot of Great- 
hill, under the direction of Dr. Stephaunes, a German, and im- 
proved for a little time. About 1770, he renewed the improve- 
ment of it, in connection with two gentlemen by the name of 
Erkelin and Khool, and continued it for two or three years. Many 
casks of ore were obtained and shipped for Europe. But as all 
the persons concerned in the mine, labourers as well as princi- 
pals, were foreigners, and as the ore was exported ; little was 
known of its character or value. After they left it, it was en- 
tirely neglected till last autumn. Since then, several men have 
been employed in searching for cobalt, in and near the former 
openings ; and have been so successful, as to encourage the hope, 
that the mine will be permanently improved. The scarcity of 
this mineral, and its uses in porcelain and linen manufactories, 
render it highly desirable, that the contents of this mine should 
be thoroughly explored. 

Coal was discovered at Indian-hill about thirty years ago. 
But whether it exists there or in any other part of the town in 
any considerable quantities, must be determined by future re- 
searches. 

In 1 799, appearances of an iron mine were noticed in Collins^ 



58 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 

hill : but the ore is imbedded in so hard a rock, that it will be 
very difficult to obtain it. 

On the banks of Connecticut river, half a mile northeast from 
Middletovvn harbour; are noted and very valuable quarries of 
free-stone. 

The rocks at the northern and principal opening according to 
tradition, originally hung shelving over the river. They were 
used for building stone very soon after Middletown was settled. 
At a meeting held in that town in 1665, it was resolved that no 
one should dig or raise stones at the rocks on the east side of 
the river, but an inhabitant of Middletown, and that twelve pence 
should be paid to the town for every tun of stones taken. As 
early as this, they were transported in vessels to other places* 
By several subsequent resolves, they appear to have been re- 
garded as valuable, and to have been considerably sought. 
Sometime after 1726, the town sold this quarry, and it has since 
passed into several hands. For forty years past it has been ex- 
tensively improved, and the stone, to the depth of thirty ieei 
from the surface, are now removed, over an area of an acre 
and a half, back from the river. The stone in this quarry is co- 
vered in some places with four or five feet of earth, and in others 
with four or five feet more of shelly rock. It is not perfectly so- 
lid, but lies in blocks, eight and ten feet thick, and fifty and 
sixty feet long. The seams and joints facilitate the process of 
removing these from their beds ; and when removed, they are re- 
duced by the wedge and chisel to any size or form, which is 
wished. In this quarry, thirty hands have been employed for 
several years, eight months in a year, and from four to six 
teams. The quantity of stone prepared for market, and sold to 
the inhabitants of this and of neighbouring towns, and exported 
to distant parts of the country, has been very great ; and has 
yielded a handsome profit. 

Fifty rods south of this quarry, an opening was made about 
1783, now spreading over half an acre. Here the stone is co- 
vered with about ten feet of earth. In this opening as many as 
twelve hands, have been sometimes employed. Vessels come 
to this, and the above quarry, and load from the bank. 

The bed of stone in which these, and some smaller openings 
in the neighbourhood have been made^is immense, and lies at 
different depths from the surface, in different places. It has 
been discovered in sinking wells, for half a mile in northern and 
southern directions, and has been opened at a greater distance 
eastward. Wherever found, the stone possesses the same general 
properties, but varies like the free-stone in Middletown, in the 
fineness of its texture. 

The forge at the oudet of Pocotopogue pond has been generally 



Town of Chalham. 69 

improved since its erection in 1743. Ore for it, was formerly 
brought from West- Point. 

In 1811, a woollen factory was set ujd on Pine brook, two 
miles from its communication with Salmon river. The quantity 
of cloth wholly manufactured here, has not been great: conside- 
rable has been fulled and dressed for customers. 

A rum distillery, erected at Knowles's Landing in 1785, dis- 
tils 300 hogsheads of rum annually. 

Shipbuilding has long been an important business in this town. 

The first vessel built in Chatham parish, was launched in Oct. 
1741. This was a schooner of 90 tons, built, as is supposed, at 
Lewis's yard ; where very many vessels have been built since 
that period. Shipbuilding was begun at Churchel's yard in 1 795, 
Here 12,500 tons of shipping were built, from the beginning of 
1806 to the close of 1816. 

Besides merchant vessels, the following vessels of war and 
privateers have been built in this parish. 

The Trumbull and the Bourbon were built during the Ameri- 
can revolution, the former of 700 tons, 36 guns ; the latter of 900 
tons, and intended to carry 40 guns, but not armed on account of 
the occurrence of peace. 

The Connecticut was built in 1798, of 514 tons, 20 guns. 

The Holker was built in 1813, of 350 tons, 18 guns. This 
was driven on shore by the English at Narragansett and lost. 

Another vessel of the same name was built in 1814, of 400 
tons, 20 guns. This was cast away in a storm on the coast of 
Long-Island. The Macedonian was built the same year, of the 
same tonnage and force. 

The Saranac and the Boxer were built in 1815, the former of 
>73, and the latter of 367 tons, each 16 guns. 

The three first and two last of these vessels were built for the 
United States. 

The first ship at Middle- Haddam Landing was built in 1763. 
Some small vessels may have been built there before. In the 
'wo yards which are now improved, there were 18 ships, 9 brigs, 
11 schooners, and 1 sloop built, from 1805 to 1815, amounting to 
9,200 tons. 

Forty or fifty years since, no navigation was owned in this 
r.own. Since that time, a moderate number of vessels have been 
employed in the coasting and West-India trade. 

Considerable business has been carried on in Chatham parish 
in connection with shipbuilding. But the most important place 
of business in this town is Middle-Haddam Landing, five miles 
south-easterly from Middletown city, and two and a half from 
the Straits. 

This is frequentlv called Knowles's Landing, from Capt, Cor- 

8 



60 Statistical .Account of Middlesex County ; 

nelius Knowles, an early and respectable inhabitant, who had a 
dwelling house at this spot, upon the bank of the Connecticut. 
A store was opened here in 1758, and the trade gradually secur- 
ed from the greater part of Chatham, and to a considerable ex- 
tent from Marlborough and Hebron, The shipbuilding, and dis- 
tilling business carried on here, have been already stated. There 
are now four merchant stores, some mechanic shops, and 60 or 
70 dwelling houses. The ground on which most of these stand, 
is considerably elevated above the level of the river, but is low 
compared with the surrounding country, which rises into hills 
on the north, east and south. 

The few families, living within the bounds of this town, at- 
tended public worship with their brethren in Middletown, until 
May 1714; when they were constituted a new society, called 
the society of East-Middletown. No other society existed in 
the town until 1740. By this time, the inhabitants had become 
considerably numerous, and had spread generally over the tract, 
first granted to Middletown, on the east side of the river. In 
May, therefore, of this year, the inhabitants in the southern part 
of this tract, together with the inhabitants of Haddam-Neck, in 
the town of Haddam, were formed into a new society ; and as 
their territory lay partly between Haddam and East-Haddam so- 
cieties, it was called Middle-Haddam. 

The society of East-Hampton was incorporated in May 1748. 

The small portion of this town, belonging to Westchester, is 
in its south-eastern corner, 'separated from East-Hampton and 
Middle-Haddam by Salmon river. This is called Waterhole. 

The first church in this town was gathered Oct. 25, 1721, con- 
sisting of 29 members, who were probably taken from the two 
first churches in Middletown. At the same time, the Rev. 
Daniel Newil was ordained their pastor. 

Mr. Newil is spoken of as a gentleman of worth; and some 
special awakening is said to have accompanied his labours. He 
deceased in 1731. 

The Rev. Moses Bartlet succeeded Mr. Newil in 1733; and 
in connection with the appropriate duties of his office, was em- 
ployed to a considerable extent as a. physician. He died in 
1766, and his people, in respect to his memory, erected a monu- 
ment over his grave. 

Mr. Bartlet was succeeded by the late Dr. Strong, in 1767. 

Dr, Strong was highly and deservedly esteemed for his good 
sense, his thorough acquaintance with theology, and his uniform 
and blameless conversation. In the relations of private life, as 
a companion and friend, few have been more beloved ; and 
though as a preacher, he had not that fervency of address and 
brilliancy of imagination, which are requisite to catch the atten- 



Town of Chatham. ^t 

lion of the tniiltitude for the moment, yet his prayers were dis- 
tinguished for appropriateness and solemnity, and his sermons 
for clear reasoning and sound instruction. Several of his occa- 
sional sermons and controversial pieces are in print, and do ho- 
nour to his understanding and to his heart. The principal of 
these, are an election sermon, and two inquiries, respecting the 
nature and design of christian baptism. In the midst of numer- 
ous trials, with which it pleased the Lord to afflict him, he was 
calm and resigned. The prominent features of his character, 
are happily expressed upon his monument: " In morals exem- 
plary; in doctrine uncorrupt ; in reasoning profound: in de- 
claring God's counsel perspicuous and solemn, and in death 
peaceful." 

The Rev. Eber L. Clark succeeded Dr. Strong in 1812, and 
was dismissed in 1815. He is now settled in the parish of Tur- 
key-Hills, in Granby, and preaches alternately to the congrega- 
tion in that place, and to the convicts in the state prison. 

The Rev. Hervey Talcott, the present pastor of Chatham 
' hurch, was ordained in 1816. 

The church in Middle-Haddam was gathered, Sept. 24, 1 740, 
and then consisted of 13 male members, 7 of whom lived on Had- 
dam-Neck. 

At the same time, the Rev. Benjamin Bowers was set over 
them in the Lord. He died in 1762, having sustained the repu- 
tation of a faithful minister. 

The Rev. Benjamin Boardman, who had been a tutor at Yale 
College, succeeded Mr. Bowers in 1 762. As difficulties from 
two or three causes, arose between him and his people, he was 
dismissed in 1783. On the 5th of May, in the following year, 
he was ordained in the south church in Hartford, where he died 
Feb. 12, 1802, aged 70. 

The Rev. David Selden, now pastor of Middle-Haddam church, 
was ordained in 1785. 

The church at East-Hampton was organized, Nov. 30, 1748, 
and the Rev. John Norton, who had been settled at Bernards- 
town in Massachusetts, was at the same time installed its pastor. 

In the first French war, Mr. Norton acted for a season as 
chaplain, at the fort which was then kept at Hoosuck, now 
Adams. He was there at the time that was surprised and taken, 
by a party of French and Indians ; whence he was carried cap- 
live into Canada. After his release, he came to this place, where 
he died of the smallpox in 1778. 

The Rev. Lemuel Parsons succeeded Mr. Norton, in the 
charge at East-Hampton in 1779, and died in 1791, two days 
after he had closed the twelfth year of his ministry. 



62 Stalisiical Account of Middlesex County* 

The Rev. Joel West, the successor of Mr. Parsons, was or- 
dained in 1792. 

A revival spread in this parish to some extent the last season, 
and also in Middle-Haddam. 

A small Episcopal society was gathered in the eastern section 
of the latter parish in 1771 . This held meetings for a few years, 
but is now dissolved. 

The Episcopal society, at Middle-Haddam Landing, was form- 
ed April 25, 1785; and the Episcopal society in Chatham pa- 
rish, April 17, 1789. 

These belonged to the care of Mr. Jarvis of Middletown un- 
til April 1791. 

For the two succeeding years, the Rev. Tillotson Bronson, 
now preceptor of the Episcopal Academy at Cheshire, divided 
his labours equally between them ; and then they reverted to 
the care of Mr. Jarvis. 

From 1796 to 1810, the Rev. M. Smith Miles was considered 
as settled over them. Since the last mentioned period, he has 
preached to the Episcopalians in Chatham parish, and in Glas- 
tenbury ; and the Episcopal society at the Landing, has receiv- 
ed occasionally the services of various ministers, or of various 
ministers for short periods. 

A Baptist church which was formed in the northeast extremity 
of Chatham parish, in 1783, and which received a part of its 
memi)ers from Glastenbury, has been since dissolved. 

A few Baptist families by the name of Morgan, Webb and 
Welsh, who had lived for a time in Nova-Scotia, but were pre- 
viously from Colchester in this State, moved into East-Hampton 
about 1775. A Baptist church was formed among these, Sept. 
10, 1784. The Strict-Congregationalists in Haddam, professing 
themselves Baptists, united with them in 1792. The two 
branches of the church have ever maintained public worship se- 
parately, but remain connected. 

The Methodists arose in Middle-Haddam, in the summer of 
1792, and thence spread into East-Hampton. They had at one 
lime tifty communicants : but the number of professors among 
them, has greatly diminished. 

The first parish in this town has a fund devoted to schooling, 
derived from various sources, which yields annually $24. The 
number of schools in this parish is 7. The number in that part 
of Middle-Haddam, which belongs to Chatham, is 5, two of 
which are taught by men the year round. East-Hampton has 
6 schools, and there is one in Watcrhole. 



STATISTICAL ACCOUNT 

or fnE 

TOWN OF HADDAM. 



The lands in this town, together with those in East-Haddam^ 
were long denominated, the lands at Thirty-mile island, from 
Haddam island in Connecticut river, which was calculated to be 
the distance of thirty miles from its mouth. 

On these lands, individuals contemplated making a settlement 
in 1660, and the Legislature, apprized of their designs, appoint- 
ed a committee in October of that year, to purchase them from the 
Indians. But prevented by some unknown cause, the committee 
did not accomplish the object of their appointment until the 20th 
of May 1662 ; when they obtained from the Indians a deed of 
all the lands from the Straits, six miles east and west of the ri- 
ver, down to the lower side of Pattaquounk, now Chester mea- 
dow, at the crooks or bends of Chester river : excepting Thir- 
ty-mile island, and forty acres at Pattaquounk, Twenty-mile 
island, and a tract on the adjacent shore eastward, running up to 
Salmon-river cove. 

Thirty-mile island and the forty acres at Pattaquounk, the In- 
dians reserved for themselves ; as they did also the right of 
hunting and fishing where they pleased, provided they did not 
wrong or abuse the English. 

Twenty-mile island, (now Lord's island,) and the tract east- 
ward, they had previously disposed of, and these had been al- 
ready laid out ten years for Capt. John CuUick, for some time 
secretary of Connecticut Colony. 

The consideration for this purchase was thirty coats, which 
may have been worth one hundred dollars. 

The lands, thus purchased, were taken up by twenty-eight 
young men, who settled upon them in the summer of 1662 or 
'joon after: but the entire territory contemplated in the Indian 



64 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 

deed, was never confirmed to them. It interfered with the tei = 
ritory ah'eady confirmed to Middletown, and of course Middle- 
town south bounds, some distance below the Straits, were 
established as their north line. Concerning their south line, 
much difficulty arose between them and the people of Say- 
brook. Some time prior to 1662, the Legislature had granted to 
Saybrook, (then including Lyme,) to extend their bounds four 
miles northward. These four miles were covered by the deed, 
which the people of Thirty-mile *island held from the Indians, 
Saybrook therefore claimed the tract, by virtue of the grant from 
the Legislature ; and Thirty-mile island, by virtue of the pur- 
chase from the Indians, which the Legislature had authorized. 
In May 1667, a committee was appointed to examine the difficul- 
ties between these two plantations, concerning this subject. 
Saybrook expressed a willingness to divide the contested land 
equally; a proposal, which the Legislature in 1668, advised 
Thirty-mile island to accept. But as the matter remained un- 
settled, an order was issued the following year, that it should be 
thus divided ; one half to Haddam, and one half to Saybrook 
and Lyme ; and the division was made accordingly : but the in- 
habitants of Haddam are dissatisfied respecting it to this day. 

By these alterations their purchase was considerably reduc- 
ed, both in quantity and value. But in Oct. 1673, it was grant- 
ed to them, on certain conditions to extend their north line so 
far eastward of Connecticut river, as to make their east bounds 
a north and south line, and it was extended accordingly. By 
this grant their territory east of the river was increased abou- 
one third, and their previous losses in part made up to them. 

The lands thus reduced on the north and south, and thus in- 
creased at the northeast, constitute the two townships of Had- 
dam and East-Haddam, and that part of Durham which is called 
Haddam-Quarter. 

Haddam, (of which an account is now to be given,) consists of 
Haddam Society, and Haddam-Neck, belonging to the Society of 
Middle-Haddam. 

Haddam Society lies west of Connecticut river, and is bound- 
ed on the south by Saybrook and Killingworth, on the west by 
Durham, and on the north by Middletown ; being at a medium 
seven miles long and from four to six broad. 

Haddam-Neck is a point of land east of Connecticut river, be- 
tween that and Salmon river, four miles across on the north, and 
four miles long. 

The number of acres in the whole town is computed to be 
29,460. 

All the proprietors of Haddam settled at first within the limit? 
of Haddam Society. Their names were Nicholas Ackley, Jo- 



Town of Haddam, 65 

seph Arnold, John Bailey, Daniel Brainard, Thomas Brooks, 
William Clarke, Daniel Cone, George Gates, Thomas Shayler, 
Gerrard Spencer, John Spencer, Simon Smith, William Ventres, 
James Wells, James Bates, Samuel Butler, William Corbe, 
Abram Dibble, Samuel Ganes, John Hannison, Richard Jones, 
Stephen Luxford, John Parents, Richard Piper, Thomas Smith, 
Joseph Stannard, John Webb and John Wiat. 

Those whose names are printed in italics, are known to have 
emigrated immediately from Hartford, and most of the others, 
probably emigrated from that town, or the neighbouring towns 
of Weathersfield and Windsor. 

They settled generally on the rising ground back from the 
town meadow, beginning at the eastern point of Walkley-hill, and 
so extending down to the town grave-yard, where some of their 
cellars are still visible. 

James Bales, Abram Dibble, Samuel Ganes, John Hannison, 
Richard Jones, John Parents and William Ventres, settled on 
the plain below Mill creek, and were called the Lower Planta- 
tion. 

These settlers were invested with town privileges in Oct. 1668, 
and the town was called Haddam ; probably from Haddam or 
Hadham in England, in both which ways the name of this town 
was formerly spelt. 

Not far from this time, Richard Walkley from Hartford, John 
Bates, William Scovil and some others settled in the town, and 
on Feb. 11, 1686, the Assembly gave to the inhabitants a patent, 
of all the lands which had been previously granted them, thereby 
confirming the grants, with all their appurtenances and privi- 
leges, to them, and their heirs and assigns for ever. 

The settlement in this town was confined to the western bor- 
der of the river for thirty or forty years. After this, individuals 
began to move into the back parts of Haddam Society. Within 
the limits of this society, the ancestors of the Dickinsons, Hub- 
bards and Rays settled, about the commencement of the last cen- 
tury ; and the ancestors of the Lewises, Hazeltons, Tylers, Hig- 
ginses, Thomases, Knowleses, Burrs, &;c. at after periods. 

Stephen Smith from West-Haven, John Sutlift', Nathaniel Sut- 
liff, and Joseph Sutliff, were early settlers in Haddam Quarter. 
The settlers in this quarter were long permitted to attend public 
worship in Durham, and in Oct. 1773, they were formally an- 
nexed to that town. 

Thomas Selden immediately from Lyme, but previously from 
Hadley in Massachusetts, and one or two families of Brainerds. 
settled on Haddam Neck about 1712. 

The Indians, who reserved Thirty-mile island and forty acres 
at Pattaquonnk for themselves, remained on thos^^ reservation^ 



66 Statistical Account of Middlesex County , 

for many years ; but the latter, in consequence of the alteration 
made in the bounds of Haddam, lies within the present limits of 
Saybrook. A few inhabited Thirty-mile island, within the 
memory of persons living ; and had a place of resort in a deep 
hollow on Haddam-Neck, to the northeast ; which is still known 
by the name of Indian hollow, as the brook running through it is, 
by the name of Indian brook. 

They had no name for the township of Haddam at large, but 
called the northern part of Haddam Society, Higganompos ; which 
the English have changed to Higganum, and now apply to a 
stream of water, and to the neighbourhood about its mouth. The 
west part of this society they called, Cockaponset ; which the 
English have changed to Punset and apply to the same region. 

In the introductory part of this work, it was observed, that the 
land south from the Straits rises into hills, at small but unequal 
distances to the right and left of Connecticut river, to within a 
few miles of its mouth. This is particularly the fact throughout 
this town. The northwest corner of Haddam Society is also 
passed by the Strait- Hills, nearly parallel with which is a range 
of hills of no particular name, between the middle and south 
branches of Higganum river. South of Mill creek, west of the 
range of hills near the river, is Long Hill. On Haddam-Neck. 
beside the hills in the vicinity of the Connecticut, is a range oi 
collection of hills between Pine brook and Salmon river. The 
tract between these streams has sometimes been called Little 
Neck. 

Higganum river is the principal stream in Haddam Society. 
This has three branches ; the northern rising in Middletown, the 
middle in the northeast extremity of Killingworth, and the 
southern in the western part of Haddam. These unite half a 
mile from the Connecticut, and form one of the best stands for r? 
large manufacturing establishment to be found in the County or 
State. In the course of twenty-five rods, the water falls thirty- 
one feet, and the fall might be considerably increased by mean."^ 
of a dam. In this distance the whole stream may be used three 
times ; and in the last instance, in which the fall is the greatest, 
there is always a sufficiency of water for two run of stones. To 
this spot the river is navigable for boats. On this site a mill has 
been erected within a few months, containing three run of stones 
and an oakum factory ; and one of the other sites has been im- 
proved several years for a clothiers works. It is probable thaf 
other mills or factories will be erected here at no very distant 
periods, and that a village will be raised up in the neighbour- 
hood. Were heavy machinery placed here, light machinery 
might be turned by the branches of Higganum river within a 
little distance. In addition to these advantasjes, this stand u 



Town of Haddam. 67 

tiavorabiy situated in regard to public, roads, and can be more 
easily supplied with materials for building, and with fuel, than 
most manufacturing stands in this part of the Country. 

Mill Creek, the only other stream of consequence in this Socie- 
ty, is formed by two branches, which rise near the northwest cor- 
ner of Saybrook. After a course of two or three miles, they 
unite, within a mile of Connecticut river. On this stream the 
first corn-mill in Haddam was erected, which has given to it its 
name. 

Some of the intervals on these streams, and some larger tracts 
near the Connecticut, are rich and productive. The other lands 
throughout the tawnship are generally hard, and of an indifferent 
quality ; and considerable tracts are too rough for tillage, but 
yield some pasture, and a pretty heavy growth of wood. 

The numerous granite quarries in this town bid fair to be a 
permanent and important source of wealth. 

In some of the quarries the stone are finer and softer than in 
others ; but in all are considerably harder than the free-stone in 
Middletown and Chatham ; and less suitable, of course, for any 
purpose in which nice operations of the chisel are needed. Bui 
as taken from their beds, one surface is generally smooth, or 
sufficiently so for curbing and paving, the purposes to which 
they are more generally applied. They are also prepared 
abundantly, and are very useful, for underpinning and step- 
stones, and for fire-places. In their natural situation, they some- 
times rise above the surface of the ground, in others sink below 
it, or are covered with shelly and useless stone. The seams in 
the principal openings run almost perpendicularly, at different 
distances from each other, and descend to different depths. 
Blocks of various dimensions, are therefore taken from their beds, 
and then split and broken as is wished. 

The first opening was made at Quarry-Hill, on Haddam-Neck, 
about 1762. Since that time, several other openings have been 
made in this hill. They are from fifty to seventy rods from the 
river ; and the descent for a portion of the way is so great, that 
the removal of the stone is attended with sope difficulty. ^ 

Haifa mfle south of Quarry-Hill, and at about the same distance 
from the river, a quarry was opened ten or twelve years ago. 
called Shayler"'s Quarry. 

On a hill, below Haddam-street, ninety or a hundred rods 
from the river, a quarry was opened about 1794. Of this quar- 
ry it is worthy of remark, that the stone range exactly with the 
stone in the oldest quarry on Haddam-Neck, which has given 
rise to an opinion that the quarries extend under the bed of the 
river. On this hill several quarries are now improved ; some 

9 



68 Stalislical Account of Middlesex County ; 

are improved on Long-Hill further south ; and very recently two 
or three have been opened in the western part of the town. 

In all these quarries, from eighty to ninety hands have been 
employed, in some seasons, in getting out and preparing the 
stone, and in carting them to the wharves on the river : whence 
they are transported, not only to the neighbouring towns, but to 
Rhode-Island, Boston, New- York, Albany, Baltimore, and as 
far south as Petersburg, New- York, however, is the principal 
market. 

They are sold by the foot; for curbing, of four inches thick- 
ness, from 17 to 21 cents ; for paving, of two inches thickness, 
from 10 to 14 cents ; for underpinning and other uses, they arc 
sold higher, according to their thickness, quality, and the labour 
bestowed upon them. 

More wood is exported from this town than from any other 
town in the county. From Higganum Landing 2000 cords were 
exported in 1807, and probably 1000 from other places, making 
3000 from the town : and it may be fairly calculated that from 
2500 to 3000 are annually exported. This is also carried prin- 
cipally to New- York. 

A scythe factory was improved some years ago on Pine-brook, 
but has now gone to decay. 

Agin distillery set up in Haddam Society in 1813, distils 
250 hogsheads of gin annually. 

Shipbuilding was begun a century ago in this tov/n, on the 
bank of the river, west of Haddam island. It was afterwards 
carried on in the lower part of the town ; and vessels have been 
occasionally built at various places. A sloop was launched at 
Higganum Landing in 1754 ; a few vessels were built there soon 
after; and since 1760, shipbuilding has been a regular business 
at this place. Two yards are usually improved : for which, oak 
timber and plank are procured from the back parts of Haddam, 
and from North Killingworth. 

A store was opened at this landing in 1752, and since that 
time, more business has been done there, than at any other place 
in Haddam. 

The inhabitants have five or six vessels usually employed in 
coasting, and sometimes two or three employed in trading to the 
West Indies. 

The emigrations from this town have been very numerous. 
Of the twenty- eight proprietors which have been mentioned, the 
fourteen last named have no descendants in this town at the pre- 
sent time, or none of their names ; nor indeed in East-Haddam. 
The names of some later settlers are now extinct with us. With- 
in the compass of twenty years a number of families have remov= 



Town of Haddam, 69 

ed to Leyden in the State of New- York ; others have removed 
to other parts of the country. 

Public worship has been observed in this town from the be- 
ginning ; and for ten or twelve years it was attended in a pri- 
vate dwelling. 

fn dividing their land, the proprietors reserved one right for 
him who should be their first minister, and one right for the sup- 
port of the ministry for ever ; and they made commendable ef- 
forts to support the institutions of the Gospel. 

The first minister of whom any mention is made in the early 
records of the town, was the Rev. Jonathan Willaube, who re- 
mained with the people only a short season. 

The Rev. Nicholas Noyes, a native of Newbury, Mass. and 
graduate of Cambridge College, succeeded him in 1668, and re- 
mained in the town thirteen or fourteen years. He afterwards 
settled in Salem, and was greatly distinguished in his day, as a 
scholar and a divine. Salem, and the adjacent part of the coun- 
try, the churches, university and people of Now England, are 
said to have esteemed him a principal part of their glory. The 
greatest blot upon his character was occasioned by his efforts 
against those who were charged with witchcraft at Salem; an 
error which he afterwards lamented, and abundantly confessed. 
He died Dec. 13, 1707, in the 70th year of his age. 

An effort was made early in 1682, to procure the Rev. John 
James to preach in this town, and he afterwards instructed the 
people ; but how soon, and for how long a period, does not ap- 
pear. After leaving this place, he settled in Derby. 

Mr. James is supposed to have been a native of Wales. He 
possessed a respectable character both for learning and piety, 
but was distinguished by very great singularities. Some ludi- 
crous anecdotes are transmitted respecting him, and are now 
widely circulated in the country. 

Neither of the above ministers were ordained in Haddam, and 
daring their continuance, professors of religion repaired to Mid- 
dletown, and perhaps occasionally to Saybrook for special ordi- 
nances : but Mr. Noyes remained with the people so long, that 
they gave him the right of land reserved for the first minister. 

In 1690 or 91, the Rev. Jeremiah Hobart, who had been set- 
tled for a time in Topsfield, Massachusetts, and in Hempstead, 
on Long-Island, was employed as a preacher in this town ; and 
in August of the latter year, the inhabitants made him proposals 
for settlement ; which he accepted. From this time they ap- 
pear to have regarded him as their pastor, although not for- 
mally installed, and he probably administered ordinances to 
those who had named the name of Christ ; but as some ditficul- 
fies arose afterwards, they voted, in April 1695, that they did not 



70 Statistical Account of Middlesex County; 

consider themselves as under the charge of Mr. Hobart as pas» 
tor, and that with consent of the General Assembly, and of neigh- 
bouring churches, they would embody in church way and order, 
according to the Gospel. Accordingly the church was regularly 
organized the next year. But the difficulties continuing between 
Mr. Hobart and the people, a respectable committee, appointed 
by the Assembly at their joint request, met in Haddam Nov. 25, 
1698 ; who, after passing various resolves with a view to the re- 
storation of harmony, declared upon deliberate consideration, 
that the agreement between them, was, both in point of law and 
equity, valid and binding to each party, and they advised the 
people to call Mr. Hobart to the full execution of the office of a 
pastor among them. This advice seems finally to have been ac- 
cepted, for in June 1700, they voted to call a council to install 
him ; and he was accordingly installed the Nov. following ; when 
he was in the 70th year of his age. Of his talents and charac- 
ter very little is known. He became the subject of infirmities 
some years before his death, and was unable to perform official 
services. Nov. 6, 1715, being the Lord's day, he attended pub- 
lic worship in the forenoon, and received the sacrament; and 
during the intermission expired, sitting in his chair. 

The Rev. Phinehas Fiske, son of Dr. John Fiske of Milford, 
was ordained colleague pastor with Mr. Hobart in Sept. 1714. 

This excellent man received his education at Killingworth, un- 
der the venerable rector Pierson, where he became a tutor in the 
autumn preceding the rector's death. Upon that afflictive event, 
in March 1707, the senior class being removed to Milford, the 
other classes were placed under the special care of Mr. Fiske at 
Saybrook, until commencement. After that, all the classes were 
instructed at Saybrook by him and a fellow-tutor for several 
years, with great fidelity and success. While the churches in the 
Colony were looking to this institution for pastors, he was the 
honoured instrument of preparing a number in part for their 
work, and rendered great service to the cause of literature and 
religion. His fame as an instructor, at that time, was very great. 
Before he left the tutorship he became a licentiate, and preach- 
ed occasionally in Haddam. His talents were solid rather than 
brilliant, and his sermons of course were better calculated to in- 
struct the understanding than to move the passions. He was 
»iniforn"ily regarded as a gentleman of science, and as a serious 
and excellent character ; and his name is precious among the 
people of Haddam and of the vicinity to this day. 

The Rev. Aaron Cleveland succeeded him in 1739, and was 
dismissed in 1746. 

Mr. Cleveland was a gentleman of respectable talents, and a 
popular and engaging preacher. After leaving Haddam, he was 



Town of Haddam. 71 

minister successively at Maiden, Mass. at Halifax, in Nova-Sco- 
tia, and at Lewiston, in Delaware ; at the last place as an Epis- 
copalian. On a journey to visit his family, residing in New- 
England, he was taken sick and died at Philadelphia, at the 
house of Dr. Franklin, his old friend and acquaintance ; and his 
body was carried to Lewiston and buried. 

The Rev. Joshua Elderkin was ordained in Haddam in 1749, 
and dismissed in 1753. 

The Rev. Eleazer May succeeded him in 1756, and after a 
ministry of almost forty-seven years, died in 1803. 

The Rev. David D. Field was ordained in this place in 1804, 
anddismissed in April 1818. 

The Rev. John Marsh jr. was ordained his successor in Dec. 
following. 

In the account of Chatham, it was stated that Haddam-Neck 
was constituted a part of Middle-Haddam in 1740. It may be 
proper to add here that the Neck contains about one third part 
of the Congregational society and church in that place. 

Sixty or seventy years since, a few individuals began to hold 
meetings in the lower part of Haddam Society, who were custo- 
marily called New-lights or Separates. In 1785, they were 
formed into a Strict-Congregational society, and in 1 792, they 
professed themselves Baptists, and united, as was related in the 
account of Chatham, with the Baptists in East-Hampton. They 
hold meetings constantly in Haddam, and have some families be- 
longing to them, from the bounds of Chester in Saybrook. 

The Methodists, in the western part of Haddam Society, arose 
in 1791, 2 and 3, and in the lower part of it, in 1803. These, 
with what Methodists exist in other parts of the society, are con- 
nected, and have an accession of members from North-Killing- 
worth. 

The rise of Methodism in Middle-Haddam was noticed in 
treating of Chatham. 

For seventy years, only a single school was taught in Had- 
dam. In 1732, a vote was passed that the school should be kept 
three months at the school-house, and then moved successively 
in other parts of the town ; not far from which time new districts 
were formed. The number of schools in Haddam Society at this 
time is twelve, two and sometimes three of which are taught by 
men through the year ; and there is one school on Haddam- 
Neck, which has the beaefit of a small fund. 

Among the distinguished individuals who have been natives of 
this town, the Hon. Hezekiah Brainerd, and his son the Rev. 
David Brainerd, deserve to be particularly mentioned. 

The former, under those disadvantages for education which 
existed in his day, acquired a respectable portion of information. 



?i2 Statistical Account of Middlesex Comity ; 

Early sanctified by divine grace also, he gave himself up to the 
practice of religion, and became distinguished for piety as well 
as abilities. His moral and mental excellence soon attracted 
public notice, and commanded the esteem and suffrages of his 
fellow-citizens. The inhabitants of his native town testified 
their sense of his worth, by sending him repeatedly a represen- 
tative to the General Assembly, where he was chosen clerk of 
the house of representatives, in May 1721, and speaker the 
three following sessions. In 1722, he was appointed a justice 
of the Quorum for Hartford county. The next year he was 
elected into the Council; where he held a seat until his death, 
which took place at Hartford, during a session of the Assembly, 
May 24, 1727, in the 46th year of his age. 

The happy influence of his prayers and example, was seen on 
a numerous family. The Rev. David Brainerd was his third son. 

This gentleman became the hopeful subject of divine grace in 
the summer of 1739, when he was at the age of 22. In the au- 
tumn of the same year, he entered Yale-College, where he ma- 
nifested an ardent love to the cause of the Redeemer: but from 
which he was expelled in Feb. 1742, for uttering some indis- 
creet and unjustifiable expressions concerning the piety of one 
of the tutors, at a time when much feeling and controversy ex- 
isted in the Colony respecting experimental religion. Notwith- 
standing this mortifying and unhappy event, he commenced the 
study of divinity with the Rev. Mr. Mills of Ripton the subse- 
quent spring, and in a few months became a candidate for the 
Gospel ministry. Regarded as suitably qualified to preach 
among the heathen the unsearchable riches of Christ, he was 
appointed, in the month of November, a missionary to the In- 
dians, by the Correspondents of the Society in Scotland for 
propagating Christian knowledge. In April 1743, he began to 
preach to the inhabitants of an Indian village called Kaunau- 
meek, to the southeast of Albany, within the present towns of 
Schodac and Kinderhook, where he performed very arduous labours 
and suffered great hardships. The next spring, as these Indians 
generally had removed to Stockbridge and placed themselves un- 
der the care of the Rev. Mr. Sergeant, Mr. Brainerd visited the 
Indians living at the forks of the Delaware, nigh the line be- 
tween New-York and Pennsvlvania. With a view to services 
at this settlement, he was ordained at Newark N. J. June 
12, 1744. The following year he laboured principally at this 
place, but made two visits to the Indians further west, on the 
Susquehannah. After this he preached to the Indians at Cros- 
weeksung, near Freehold in N. J. where he had great success; 
but took one or two journeys to the forks of the Delaware and 
to Susquehannah. Overcome by journeying and labours in the 



Town of Haddam. 73 

summer of 1746, he was unable afterwards to perform much mi- 
nisterial service. In the spring of 1747, he travelled into New- 
England for his health, and on Oct. 10th of that year, died at 
Northampton, aged 30. 

The abilities and address of Mr. Brainerd were good. His 
religion was distinguished for humility, submission, self-de- 
nial and zeal ; and if we consider the numerous privations and 
hardships which he endured, and the arduous labours which he 
performed, among the several Indian tribes which he visited, 
the best evidence will arise of supreme attachment to the cause 
and interests of the Redeemer. By respectable writers and 
preachers in this country and in Great-Britain, he is often refer- 
red to as a pattern for missionaries. The important missionary 
stand at Chickamaugah, has lately been called Brainerd in honour 
of him, and his name will descend with respect to future genera- 
tions. 

We have no written nor traditionary accounts that any exten- 
sive revivals prevailed in this town in the early periods of its 
history ; and as the ancient records of the church are lost, it is 
impossible to ascertain /.he numbers admitted to the church from 
time to time. Within the compass of twenty years, there have 
been two or three seasons of awakening in the lower part of Had- 
dam Society. In the summer of 1 809, a revival prevailed in the 
west part of the Society, which resulted in the admission of about 
forty into the Congregational church. By a more extensive and 
powerful revival the last summer, the same church has received 
one hundred members. This revival spread also on Haddam- 
Neck. 

As one of its happy effects, a Society has recently been form- 
ed in the town, called, " The Young Men's United Bible and 
Missionary Society," which has already 68 members. Accord- 
ing to existing subscriptions, this will raise annually ^34 for the 
purchase of Bibles, and $\0 for missionary purposes. 

Eighty females have also given in their names, with a view of' 
being formed into a society, auxiliary to the Board of Commis- 
sioners for Foreign Missions : whose subscriptions are 50 cents 
each, annually. 




STATISTICAL ACCOUNT 



OF THE 



TOWN OF EAST-HADDAM. 



In the |>receding account, the reader has been informed, that 
this town was formerly a part of Haddam ; that most of it was 
obtained by the proprietors of that town in 1662, and the residue 
in 1673. It belonged to Haddam Society until 1700; when it 
was constituted a distinct society, and named, from its relation 
to the former society, East-Haddam. The inhabitants began to 
do town business by themselves in 1704, and to keep a record of 
their proceedings. But as the legality of doing business in this 
manner was questioned, and as uneasiness prevailed on other 
subjects, the societies of Haddam and East-Haddam in 1710, en- 
tered into articles of agreement, and had them sanctioned by the 
Legislature; in which it was provided among other things, that 
the societies might do town business separately, and elect each 
a representative to the General Assembly. Agreeably to these 
articles their public affairs were managed until May 1734 ; when 
the town of Haddam was divided, according to the division of 
the societies, and the names of the societies continued to them 
as towns. In the act of incorporation, however, it was provided, 
that neither of these towns should send more than one represen- 
tative to the Assembly at public cost. This proviso remained 
until Oct. 1778, when Haddam, East-Haddam, Chatham, and 
one or two other towns in the State, were allowed to send two 
representatives. 

East-Haddam is eight and 3-4 miles long, and from six and 
1-4 to eight miles broad, containing 39,900 acres. It is bound- 
ed by Chatham and Colchester, on the north ; by Colchester, on 
the east ; by Lyme on the south ; and on the west, partly by 
Connecticut river, and partly by Salmon river, which separates 
it from Haddam-Neck. 



Town of Easi-Haddain. To 

It embraces two whole parishes, viz. East-Haddam and Mil- 
iington ; and two thirds of the parish of Hadlyme, the remainder 
of the last parish being taken from the third parish in Lyme. 

The settlement began within the bounds of East-Haddam pa- 
rish ; but at what time is not absolutely certain. It has beer 
commonly supposed that it began at the place called the Creek- 
Row about 1G85, by the removal thither of the Gateses, and ol 
some of the Bateses, Brainerds and Cones from Haddam. Cur- 
rent tradition declares this to have been the spot first settled, and 
these to have been the first settlers. But from a document found 
in the Colony Records, it is certain that Robert Chapman had 
a dwelling house in East Haddam, north of the Creek-Row, in 
1674. If the settlement at the Creek-Row was first, it must have 
begun about 1670. Near this time, the Ackleys and a family of 
Spencers from Haddam, settled farther eastward in the parish. 
With these settlers, were soon united the ancestors of the Anna- 
bles, Booges, Fullers and Percivals, from the bounds of the old 
Colony of Plymouth ; the ancestors of the Olmsteds from Hartford, 
Samuel Emmons from Cambridge, Mass. and John Chapman Esq* 
from Saybrook, who had purchased the lands laid out to Capt. John 
CuUick, noticed in the account of Haddam. James Green. 
Elijah Atwood, Nathaniel Goodsped and Isaac Taylor, from the 
bounds of Plymouth Colony ; Henry Champion and Matthew 
Smith from Lyme ; Robert Plurd from Killingworth ; John War- 
ner from Sunderland, and- John Church from Hatfield, Massa- 
chusetts ; were later settlers. 

Not far from the period in which the settlement began at the 
Creek-Row, Samuel Spencer from Haddam settled in the upper 
part of Hadlyme. Thomas Hungerford was an inhabitant of 
that parish as early as 1692, and John Holmes from New-Lon- 
don as early as 1710. Isaac Willey, John Willey and Abel 
Willey, also from New-London, Thomas Harvey from some part 
of England, and John Marsh from Braintree, Mass. were early 
inhabitants. 

The first settler in Millington v;as Jonathan Beebe from New- 
London, who settled by the Long Pond about 1704, and war^ 
soon joined by several persons who have now no descendants in 
East-Haddam. Except at this spot, there v/ere no inhabitants. 
in Millington until about 1732, 3 and 4, when families moved 
into it, by the name of Arnold, Barns, Brainerd, Chapman. 
Church, Cone, Emmons, Fuller, Gates, Olmsted and Spencer, 
from East-Haddam parish ; of Harvey and Hungerford, from 
Hadlyme; of Clarke, from Haddam; of Graves, from Colches- 
ter, and Stewart from Voluntown. Daniel Smith from some part 
of Plymouth Colony, Lemuel Griffin from Lyme, and Thomas 
Fox from Colchester, settled in it not long after. 

10 



76 Statistical Account of Middlesex Country 

The town was very generally settled by 1 740, and since that time 
the increase of population has been small, compared with that 
of most towns in the State ; indeed for half that period the popu- 
lation has rather diminished. In 1757 and in 1760, some fami- 
lies removed to Hartland in Litchfield county, and the emigra- 
tions have been almost perpetual, to the county of Berkshire, in 
Mass. to Vermont, or to New- York. 

The greater part of this town was purchased from the Indians 
together with the town of Haddam : but when the tract granted 
in 1673 was obtained from them, is unknown. A considerable 
number remained in the town after the English settlements com- 
menced. 

The Indians called it Mackimoodus, or the place of noises, 
from those noises or shocks of earthquake, for which it has been 
famed from lime immemorial. These, the Puritans were dispos- 
ed to ascribe to the extraordinary pawwaws, which the debased 
clan, inhabiting this town, practised ; while the Indians, on the 
other hand, were ready to ascribe their existence or violence, to 
the introduction of Christianity : for an old Indian being asked 
the reason of the noises said, ' that the Indian's god was very an- 
gry, because Englishmen's god was come here.' 

These have been heard more or less frequently ever since the 
English settlements began. Mr. Hosmer, the first minister oi 
the town, says, in a letter to Mr. Prince of Boston, dated Aug. 
13th 1729, " I have myself heard eight or ten sounds succes- 
sively and imitating small arms in the space of five minutes. 1 
have, (I suppose,) heard several hundreds of them within this 
twenty years, some more, some less terrible. Sometimes we 
have heard them almost every day, and great numbers of them 
in the space of a year. Oftentimes I have observed them to be 
coming down from the north," (the center of them being in the 
north part of East-Haddam parish, about Moodus river falls,) 
" imitating slow thunder, until the sound came near or right un- 
der, and then there seemed to be a breaking, like the noise 
of a common shot, or severe thunder, which shakes houses 
and all that is in them. They have in a measure ceased 
ever since the general earthquake, as I remember there have 
been but two heard since that time, and those but moderate." 

The earthquake referred to, occurred Oct. 29, 1727. Ten 
or twenty years after this, they became again very frequent and 
violent ; and excited the attention of the neighbouring towns, 
and of the learned and inquisitive throughout the Colony ; and 
thus they have continued, for some seasons, frequent and vio- 
lent ; and at others, rare and slight, until the present time. The 
most violent of these noises or earthquakes ever known, took place 
on the 18th of May, 1791, consisting of many shocks, which so 



Town of East'Haddam. "27 

shook the earth as to untop many rhimnies and excite consternation 
in every family. Some of the shocks were noticed at New-York, 
Boston and Northampton. After this they were rarely heard 
for some time, and not often till within three or four years past : 
nor are they by any means as common now as in the days of 
Mr. Hosmer. 

A gentleman who has paid much attention to them, has ob- 
served, that for twenty-six years, they have occurred almost 
uniformly in a dull and heavy state of the atmosphere. What 
there is in this town to produce them, it is difficult to determine. 
In the letter above quoted, Mr. Hosmer observes, '' Whether it 
be fire or air distressed in the subterraneous caverns of the earth, 
cannot be known, for there is no eruption, no explosion percep- 
tible." The day after the earthquake in 1791, however, it is 
said that apertures and fissures were observed in the earth and 
rocks near Moodus river falls, and that stones of several tons 
weight were found, thrown from their places. Some disruptions 
from the bank of Salmon river and of Moodus river, are also sup- 
posed to have been occasioned by them. 

When these noises have been perceived only within a small 
circle, producing a slight tremulous motion in the earth and in 
the river, they have been called Moodus noises ; but when they 
have extended a considerable distance, they have been deno- 
minated earthquakes, and have been characterized by all the 
circumstances which attend earthquakes usually in New-Eng- 
land. TLo earthquakes noticed in Connecticut for forty years, 
with scarcely an exception, have been more violent in East- 
Haddam, than in any other place. 

This town is less hilly and broken than Haddam, and taken 
together has a better soil ; but is more suitable for grazing than 
for the culture of grain. The inhabitants are very generally 
farmers, and derive considerable profits from their stock and dai 
ries, and from their wood and lumber. 

Salmon river, described in the account of Chatham, washes 
its v/estern border for four miles. 

In the north-eastern part of East-Hadda'm parish, is a pond, 
spreading over an area of 1000 acres, sometimes called Bates's 
Pond, but more commonly from its form, the Round Pond, aftbrding 
small fish, v/hich at times are caught in considerable quantities. 

This is the source of Moodus river, which after a winding 
course of four or five miles, receiving on its way the little stream 
called Wigwam brook, empties into Salmon-river Cove. 

Two miles from its source are the falls, which have been re- 
peatedly named. Here the water descends suddenly to the 
depth of seventy feet, dashing against, the rocks with greai vio- 



; 3 Statislical Account of Middlesex County ; 

ic-nce, and producing at times a noise, heard to a considerable 
extent in the surrounding region. 

Bog-meadow brook, in the southern part of East-Haddam pa- 
rish, and Roaring brook principally in Hadlyme, are streams 
sufficient for turning mills a part of the year. 

In the northeast corner of Millington, is the Long Pond, nam- 
ed like the Round Pond, from its form. Its length is two miles 
and its breadth half a mile ; affording also small fish. 

This is the source of Eight-mile river, which after leaving 
Millington, passes through Pleasant Valley and Hamburg, set- 
tlements in North-Lyme, and empties into the Connecticut. 

On this stream two miles from the pond are falls, morfe inter- 
esting than those en Moodus river. Immediately above the falls 
the stream divides itself into two parts, and then dashes down 
the rocks from 70 to 100 feet, in the course of eight or ten rods ; 
where the stream again unites, and passes on through a deep, 
narrow and gloomy opening. The rocks in the falls are curious- 
ly smoothed and scooped out by the action of water, or the 
whirling and friction of objects which it carries, and the scene- 
ry around is uncommonly wild, and romantic. 

At the head of boat navigation on Salmon river, four miles 
from its mouth, are Lord's Mills, or Factories. At this excel- 
lent stand, an oil mill was erected fifty years ago, the first, it is 
said, erected in the State. A saw mill has also been erected 
here for several years, carrying eight saws and sawing a length 
of seventy feet. In 1814, a woollen and cotton factory were set 
up in the building, previously used for an oil mill. By some 
means not perfectly ascertained, this took fire on the night of 
the 30th of March 1815, and with a clothier's works, and dress- 
ing shop, and a large portion of their contents, was consumed : 
occasioning a loss of 25,000 dollars. But notwithstanding this 
calamitous event, the proprietors, the summer after, erected a 
fine fire-proof brick building, Q5 feet by 36, four stories, with a 
loft in the garret. Into this they introduced machinery in the fall, 
for the manufacture of woollen cloths, which now consumes wool 
at the rate of 16,000 pounds a year. In the spring of 1816, they 
Introduced into it 600 spindles for spinning cotton, and intend 
hereafter to increase these to 2,000. In this building, is a ma- 
chine room, where all the wood, brass and iron machinery, arc 
made and repaired for the establishment. Twenty hands are 
employed in the woollen factory, fifteen in the cotton, and five in 
the machine room. The stream at this stand is equal in the 
driest season to two grist-mill powers, and by means of a seven- 
foot dam, has a head of twelve feet. 

A cotton factory was erected in 1815, on the west bank of 



Town of East-IIaddam. 79 

Moodus river, a mile and a half from its mouth. The building is 
of stone, 60 feet by 36, three stories, with a slate roof, and is cal- 
culated to contain from 1500 to 2000 spindles. It is owned by 
an incorporated company, allowed to hold stock to the amount 
of 75,000 dollars, divided into 150 shares of 500 dollars each. 

On the same stream westward, a nail factory was erected in 
1809 ; but this lately has not been much used. 

Shipbuilding was begun at East-Haddam Landing some time 
before the revolutionary war ; and as early as that war, it was 
begun at Chapman's Ferry. But the business is not now car- 
ried on extensively at either of these places. 

A house was built at East-Haddam Landing and a market 
opened for produce in 1743; since which, most of the trade in 
the town has centered at this spot. This Landing is a little 
south of the mouth of Salmon river, on the bank of the Con- 
necticut, from which hills rise suddenly to the north and east. 
Here are three or four merchant stores and about twenty houses. 
A portion of business is also done at Chapman's Ferry and at 
Lord's Mills. Several coasting vessels are owned in the town, 
and usually two or three sea vessels. 

It has been already stated that East-Haddam Society was 
formed in 1700. The church in this society was gathered Jan. 
o, 1 704, consisting of eight male members, viz, the Rev. Stephen 
Hosmer, ordained its pastor on the 3d of May following, and 
-even brethren from the church in Haddam. 

Mr. Hosmer preached to this people forty-five years and sus- 
•:ained a respectable character. 

The Rev. Joseph Fowler succeeded him in 1751, and was 
also deservedly esteemed. 

The Rev. Elijah Parsons was ordained in East-Haddam in 
:772, and is still living. 

The Rev. Isaac Parsons was ordained colleague pastor with 
him in 1816. 

The Society of Millington, in the east part of East-Haddam, 
was incorporated in Oct. 1733, and the church was formed, it 
is supposed, Dec. 2, 1736; as the first pastor, the Rev. Timo- 
thy Symmes, was ordained at that time. The members, gene- 
rally at least, were taken from the church in East-Haddam. 

Mr. Symmes, in the great revival which spread in New-England 
a few years after his ordination, had his feelings, (as is reported,) 
extravagantly raised, and pursued his work with misguided zeal. 
This excited uneasiness, which closed his services in this place. 

The Rev. Hobart Estabrook, son of the Rev. Mr. Estabrook 
of Canterbury, was ordained in Millington in 1745. He died in 
1766, and is still remembered with affection and respect as avror- 
'hy minister. 



80 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 

The Rev. Diodate Johnson, son of the Rev. Stephen Johnson 
of Lyme, succeeded him the next year. 

Possessed of superior abilities and ardent piety, Mr. Johnson 
bid fair to be a distinguished ornament and blessing to the 
church. But the consumption, (a disease to v/hich his family 
connections have been uncommonly subject,) closed his days in 
the sixth year of his ministry. When struck with death, he was 
sitting in his chair, reading the prayer in Doddridge's Rise and 
Progress, entitled, " A meditation and prayer suited to the case 
of a dying christian." 

The Rev. Eleazer Sweetland, was ordained in this place in 
1777, and died in 1787. 

The Rev. William Lyman, D. D. succeeded him in the close of 
the same year, and is the pastor of the church at the present time. 

The Society of Hadlyme was incorporated in Oct. 1742, and 
was thus called, because it was made partly from East-Haddam 
and partly from Lyme. The church was organized, with ten 
male members, on the 26th of June 1745, and on the 18th of the 
succeeding September, the Rev. Grindall Rawson, who had been 
minister several years at South-Hadley, Mass. was installed their 
pastor. 

He was remarkable for pleasantry in conversation, and had 
an uncommon talent in reconciling parties at variance. He died 

m nil. 

The Rev. Joseph Vaill, the present pastor of Hadlyme church, 
was ordained in 1780. 

Of fifty-five members, belonging to this church in April, of the 
fast year, twenty-seven lived within the town of East-Haddam. 

A disagreement in East-Haddam Society respecting the spot, 
where their present meeting-house should be set, produced a di- 
vision among the people. The portion dissatisfied with its loca- 
tion, were formed into an Episcopal society April 27, 1791, and 
the Rev. Solomon Blakesley was placed over them as deacon in 
1792, and in full orders in 1793, and he has generally laboured 
with them and some neighbouring societies since. 

A few Baptists arose in Millington in 1789 or 90, with whom 
some families are now connected at East-Haddam Landing. 

In Millington also are a few people of the Methodist persua- 
sion. 

A school was probably kept in this town as early as the for- 
mation of East-Haddam Society. There was but one until 1729 
or 30. In Millington and Hadlyme there must have been schools 
as soon as those societies were formed. There are now in the 
town 19, viz. 8 in East-Haddam Society, one or two of which 
are taught by men through the year, 7 in Millington. and 4 in 
Hadlyme. 



Tozon of East'Haddam* 81 

The Hon. Joseph Spencer of this town, without the advan- 
tages of a regular and public education, acquired that general 
knowledge, and that acquaintance with business, which enabled 
him to discharge happily and usefully the various duties to which 
he was called. His mind was early impressed with the reality 
and importance of religious subjects, and comforted by the con- 
solations of the Gospel, though circumstances prevented his pro- 
fessing Christ for a season. Not long after the settlement of 
Mr. Estabrook in Millington, he communicated to him in writing, 
a very humble and satisfactory account of the exercises of his 
soul, and then came forward and united with the church under 
his care ; in which some years after, he was elected a deacon. 
A long and humble walk with God. evinced the sincerity of his 
profession ; and he at last died, as might be expected, with strong 
and joyful expectations of a blessed immortality. 

His public employments were very numerous. In 1758 he 
went into the northern army in the capacity of a major, under 
Col. Nathan Whiting, and the two following years as a lieute- 
nant-colonel, in the second French war; where he acquired the 
reputation of a brave and good officer. In 1775, in the war of 
the revolution, he was appointed a brigadier-general, and the 
next year a major-general in the army of the United States, a 
post which he resigned in 1778. From the autumn of 1753 till 
his death in 1789, he was judge of probate for the district of 
East-Haddam. In 1766, he was elected into the Council of the 
State, where he remained until 1779, being appointed for the last 
year a judge of Hartford county court. At this time a prejudice 
arose against him among the freemen, because he did not, in a 
particular instance, march some troops under his command on to 
Rhode-Island; and he lost his election as an assistant. But the 
same year, the Assembly, entertaining a high sense of his worth, 
sent him a representative to Congress : and in 1 780, he was elect- 
ed again into the Council, and thus annually elected during life. 

In the first parish in this town, there was some special atten- 
tion to religion in 1802, and again in 1816. Some seasons of 
gentle refreshing from the presence of the Lord have occurred 
in Millington ; and there have been within a few years, several 
seasons of more than ordinary attention to the concerns of the 
soul in Hadlyme, and the state and prospects of that society have 
been greatly improved. 

In each of the parishes in this town- are one or more female 
charitable societies. 



A 



STATISTICAL ACCOUNT 



OF THE 



TOWN OF SAYBROOK 



►:;-i;f::4 



DibSATisFiED with the civil and religious state of things in 
England in tlie time of Charles I. Lord Say and Seal, Lord 
Brook, Lord Rich and other gentlemen of distinction, contem- 
plated a removal to America ; and in prosecution of their design, 
procured of Robert, Earl of Warwick, March 19, 1631, a patent 
of all that territory, '^ which lies west from Narraganset river, 
a hundred and twenty miles on the sea coast ; and from thence 
in latitude and breadth aforesaid, to the South Sea." In July 
1635, they appointed John Winthrop, son of the governor of 
Massachusetts, then in England, their agent, to build a fort at 
Connecticut river, to erect houses for the accommodation of him- 
self and men, and for the reception of persons of quality ; and 
they constituted him governor of Connecticut river, of the har- 
bour and places adjoining, for the space of one year from his 
arrival there. 

Thus commissioned, and furnished with men and means for 
the undertaking, he shipped for New-England. On his nrrival 
at Boston, Oct. 8th, he found that some people had just gone from 
Massachusetts and settled upon Connecticut river, within the 
patent held by their lordships. But upon the agreement of his 
father and other magistrates, that those settlers sliould either re- 
move, or the patentees be satisfied in some other way, he dis- 
patched carpenters and workmen to the mouth of the Connecti- 
cut ; who arrived there in the close of November and entered 
upon their work. Mr. Winthrop followed them, and superin- 
tended their labours during the continuance of his commission 

The level and pleasant tract, two miles northwest from the bor. 
called Saybrook Point, was selected for the beginning of a set- 
tlement ; and was laid out with care, as it was expected to br- 



Town of Say brook, 83 

come, not only the residence of great men, but the center of 
great business and wealth. This is a mile in length, and is lin- 
ed on the north and south by coves and meadows. On this, se- 
veral parallel streets were laid out, intersected by others at suit- 
able distances. On the east end, in front of Tomb Hill, a site 
was chosen for a fortification. Back from this, was a square, 
on which it was intended, the houses should be erected for the 
illustrious personages expected from Europe, while a square fur- 
ther west was reserved for public uses. 

The fortification and some other buildings were immediately 
begun, under the direction of Mr. David Gardiner, a skilful en- 
gineer, who had been procured for the purpose in England ; and 
that the workmen and inhabitants might be the more secure, 
palisades were placed across the west end or neck of the Points 
This Mr. Gardiner became the lieutenant of the Fort, and pro- 
moted the views and interests of those who were concerned in 
the settlement, several years after the expiration of the commis- 
sion of Mr. Winthrop. 

In the summer of 1639, Col. George Fenwick, one of the pa- 
tentees, arrived from England, and gave to the tract about the 
mouth of the river, the name of Saybrook, in honour of Lord 
Say and Seal, and Lord Brook, his principal associates. From 
this time until Dec. 1644, he superintended and governed the 
inhabitants, and then sold the jurisdiction of Saybrook to Con- 
necticut Colony ; as his brethren had given up the idea of emi- 
grating to America. They were prevented from emigrating for 
a season, both by the dangers apprehended from the Indians at 
Saybrook, and by opposition to their removal made in England; 
and afterwards, by a change in public affairs, they hoped to en- 
joy that liberty at home, which they had anticipated in the 
American wilderness, and therefore abandoned the project alto- 
gether ; but Lord Say and Seal particularly, was ever friendly 
to this settlement, and contributed to the promotion of its pros- 
perity. 

The territory to which the name of Saybrook was applied, 
and which was sold to the Connecticut Colony, included most of 
the present townships of Saybrook and Lyme. The latter town 
was incorporated in May 1667. 

Saybrook was at first considered to be six miles long, but was 
really eight and a half, and its length was increased two miles in 
1669 agreeable to statements made in the account of Haddam : 
so that its present length is ten and a half miles. This is its 
length at a medium. Its breadth varies from five to six and a 
half miles, and it contains by computation 40,800 acres. It is 
bounded by Connecticut river on the east, which separates it 
from Lyme ; by Long-Island Sound on the south, by Killing- 

11 



34 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ^ 

worth on the west, and by Haddam on the north ; and comprises 
four parishes, viz. Saybrook, Westbrook, Pautapoug and Ches- 
ter parishes. Saybrook parish is the south-eastern section of 
the town. This section the Indians called Pattaquasset. West 
of this is Westbrook parish, which was called by its Indian 
name, Pochaug, until Oct. 1810. North of these two parishes 
is Pautapoug, (incorporated before Westbrook but settled later,) 
an Indian name still used by the English. Northward still is 
Chester, which the Indians called Pattaquounk. 

Some individuals who left England with Mr. Winthrop in 1635, 
and others who left it with Col. Fen wick in 1639, become set- 
tiers at Saybrook Point : but their number was small. About 
1646, some individuals moved into the place from Hartford and 
Windsor. From a division of lands made in 1648, there appear 
10 have been 43 proprietors then in the town. Among them, 
were the ancestors of the Barkers, Bulls, Bushnells, Chapmans, 
Clarks, Laj^s, Lords, Parkers, Pratts and Posts ; as there were 
of the Champions, Griswolds, Lees and Wades, who settled af- 
terwards in Lyme ; and of the Backuscs, Blisses, Fitches, Hunt- 
ingtons, Hydes, Larrabees, Leffingwells, Masons and Budds, who 
removed about 1660, either from the bounds of this town or 
Lyme, and settled Norwich, These all lived upon the Point or 
in its immediate neighbourhood ; as did also the ancestors of the 
Chalkers and Tullies, who were very early associated with 
them. There were one or two families at Saybrook Ferry in 
1663, and about this period some families settled west of Oyster 
river. Among the early settlers in Saybrook parish, after those 
Vvhich have been mentioned, were the ancestors of the Water- 
houses, Kirtlands, and Shipmans ; and also of the Whittleseys, 
Willards and Lyndes, which last families were from Boston. 
About 1710, a family by the name of Ayres setded in the north 
ern part of this parish, at Ayres's Point. 

The settlement in Westbrook began as early as 1664, near 
the east border of Pochaug river, between the meeting-house 
and the Sound. Some of the first settlers in this parish were of 
the name of Lay and Post from Saybrook parish or from Lyme, 
of Hart and Wright from Guilford, of Stannard and Spencer 
from Haddam, of Kelsey from Killingworth, of Denison from 
Stonington, of Deval or Dee from Seakonnet R. I., and of Mur- 
dock from East-Hampton, Long-Island. 

John Denison from Stonington, and some families of Lays and 
Pratts from Saybrook parish or Lyme, settled at Pautapoug 
Point about 1690. John Starkey from London, the Heydens 
from Boston, and Charles Williams from Rhode-Island, united 
with these some time after. Families by the name of Plaits were 
^arly settlers in the west part of Pautapoug parish. 



Town of Sayhrooli. 86 

Jonah Dibble from Haddam was an inhabitant of Chester in 
1692, and Andrew Warner from Hadley, about 1696. The an- 
cestors of the Parkers, Shipmans, Waterhouses and Webbs froni 
Saybrook parish, were early settlers in this place. George Wil- 
lard and Andrew Southworth from the same parish, Joel Canfield 
and Gideon Lcct from Durham, settled in it about 1745. 

In this town there were four Indian settlements. Orie of these 
was about the mouth of Oyster river. Another was on Obed's 
Hammock, near the mouth of Pochaug river, where Indians lived 
till within fifty or sixty years. A third was at Ayres's Point, and 
so northward to Pautapoug Point. A fourth was on, or near the 
Indian reservation in Chester, mentioned in the account of Had- 
dam. 

From Oyster river the Indians may have carried their dead to 
the grave-yard at Black-Hall in Lyme, for interment ; but the\' 
are known to have buried at, or near all the other settlements in 
the town. Their bones have been found frequently on Pauta- 
poug Point, and in one or two instances intire skeletons. Back 
of Ayres's Point on a sandy plain, are numerous hillocks or tu- 
muli, covered with small stones, which have been thought to be 
Indian graves; but of this there is no certainty: for though 
bones have been found on the plain, they were in such a state of 
decay, as to render it impossible to determine whether they ever 
belonged to human bodies. Here Indian arrows, pestles, axes, 
&c. have been often found. 

The Indians in this town and in the vicinity were subject some 
years before the English settled upon Connecticut river, to the 
Pec|uots, a warlike and powerful nation, who lived principally in 
the towns of New-London, Groton and Stonington. These had 
become already distinguished for their jealousies of and cruelties 
to the English, and had communicated their malignant feel- 
ings to all whom they could influence. In 1634, some of their 
confederates murdered Capt. Stone and Capt. Norton, and their 
whole crew, consisting of eight men, half a mile above Saybrook 
Point ; plundered the vessel of such articles as they wished, and 
then burned her down to the water's edge and sunk her. It may 
not be unsuitable to notice, that some of the timber and plank 
of this vessel were found so recently as 1785, together with a 
quantity of bar iron, and a few other articles. In 1635, they re- 
ceived and protected individuals, who had been concerned in the 
murder of Mr. Oldham at Block-Island. 

But notwithstanding these recent and abominable transactions, 
they consented to hold a treaty with Mr. Winthrop and his men, 
and gave to the English their right to Connecticut river, and the 
adjacent country. Thus they excited a hope of peace and safe- 
ty. But a few months, according to the testimony of Dr. Tnim- 



BG Statistical Account of Middlesex County; 

bull and various other writers, disclosed their treachery and 
wickedness. For in the beginning of Oct. 1636, as five men 
from Saybrook fort went to get hay at Calves' island, four miles 
north, near Lyme shore ; some Pequots who had concealed them- 
selves in the high grass, surprised them, caught one, a godly young 
man, by the name of Butterfield, and tortured him to death : froni 
which circumstance the place was named Butterfield's meadow. 
The other four escaped to their boat, but one of them was wound- 
ed with five arrows. 

A few days after this, Joseph Tilly, master of a bark, came to 
anchor nearly opposite Calves' island, and taking one man with 
him, went on shore for the purpose of fowling. As soon as he 
had discharged his piece, a large number of Pequots rising from 
their concealment, took him and killed his companion ; and then 
gratified their malice by putting him to torture. They first cut 
oft' his hands and then his feet ; after which he lived three days. 
But as nothing which they inflicted upon him excited a groan, 
they pronounced him a stout man. The place where he was tak- 
en and tortured has ever since been called Tilly's Point. 

Within a fortnight of these transactions, the following calami- 
ty was experienced. A house had been erected about two miles 
from the fort, (at Cornfield Point as is supposed,) and six men 
detached from the garrison to keep it. As three of them were 
fowling near the house, (a practice which the lieutenant had 
stricdy forbid,) they were suddenly attacked by nearly one hun- 
dred Pequots ; two were taken, and one fought his way through 
them sword in hand, wounded with two arrows, but not mortally. 

The following winter the fort was little better than in a state 
of constant siege. None could go from it without hazard ; and 
the cattle, stacks of hay, and almost every thing belonging to it 
at any distance were destroyed. Yv^hen the spring arrived, the 
enemy were still more troublesome. As Lieut. Gardiner was 
going out in the month of March, with ten or twelve men to burn 
the marshes, the enemy rose upon them, just as they had turned 
south from the palisades, killed three of the men and wounded a 
fourth, so that he died in the fort the next day. The lieutenant 
was slightly wounded, but was able with most of his men to re- 
treat. Encouraged by this success, the Indians followed them, 
surrounded the fort, and challenged them to fight ; mocking them 
in the groans and pious invocations of their friends whom they 
had tortured ; till a dexterous use of the guns loaded with grape 
shot, compelled them to retire. After this, Indians in several 
canoes beset a shallop, having three men on board, as it was sail- 
ing down the river. They shot one of them through the head 
with an arrow, who fell overboard. The other two they took, 
and ripped them from the bottom of their bellies to their throats^ 



Town of Sayhrook, 87 

cleft them down their backs, and then suspended them on trees 
by the side of the river ; that the English might behold these ob- 
jects of their vengeance. One of the Indians concerned in these 
iDabarities, was Nepaupuck, a famous Pequot captain, who for 
this and other murders was beheaded at New-Haven in 1639, and 
whose head was set upon a pole in the market place. 

In the midst of these calamities, Capt. John Mason was sent 
with 20 men to reinforce the garrison at Saybrook : after whose 
arrival the Indians withdrew very generally, from that quarter. 
He was soon relieved by Capt. John Underhill with 20 men sent 
from Massachusetts, and he returned to Hartford. But a party 
of Pequots in the month of April waylaid some of the people of 
Weathersfield, killed nine persons, and took two maids captive. 
They also killed twenty cows and did other damage. 

By these repeated murders and injuries, the inhabitants of 
Connecticut Colony were greatly alarmed ; not only for the safe- 
ty of their friends at Saybrook, but for the safety of themselves 
and families. They saw nothing before them but destruction, 
unless the rage and power of the Pequots could be broken. The 
General Court therefore, being summoned together on the 1st 
of May, came to the resolution of waging immediate war with 
that perfidious and cruel nation. Massachusetts and Plymouth 
Colonies also, hearing of the outrages of the Pequots, resolved to 
aid their Connecticut brethren in prosecuting the war against 
them. But the crisis admitted of no unnecessary delay. The 
Connecticut troops were raised forthwith, and on Wednesday, 
the 10th of May, Capt. John Mason, appointed conmiander of 
the expedition, with 90 men, almost the whole efficient force of 
Hartford, A¥eathersfield and Windsor ; and Uncas, sachem of 
Moheagan, with about TOMoheagan and river Indians ; went on 
board three small vessels at Hartford, and fell down the river for 
Saybrook fort. Not understanding the channel they ran aground 
several times, and did not arrive at the fort until Monday, the 
15th of the month. But when they had got as far as Chester, 
the Indians, being impatient of delays, were permitted to go on 
shore, and proceed on foot. On their way, they fell in with 
about 40 of the enemy, killed six, and took oi>e a prisoner, a no- 
torious villain, who had practised much treachery and mischief 
against the inhabitants of the fort. The Indians insisted upon 
punishing him according to the barbarous custom of their ances- 
tors, and in existing circumstances were not opposed. 

Capt. Underhill with 19 men belonging to the garrison, join- 
ed the expedition, and 20 of Mason's men were sent back to 
protect their friends up the river. But the army was detained 
till Friday by contrary winds ; and the officers were divided in 
sentiment, whether to go directly to the Pequot settlements, or 



88 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 

to sail to Narraganset, march into the country and so come upon 
them if possible by surprise. The latter course was finally 
adopted ; and on Saturday they arrived at Narraganset, and at 
the close of the following Thursday, in the neighbourhood of 
the Pequots ; having received on their way an accession of about 
500 Indians, Narragansets and others. 

It had been ascertained that the Pequots were collected in 
two strong forts, called Mistic fort, and Sassacus's fort. The 
army was near the former, which contained at this time four or 
five hundred inhabitants, men, women and children, and 150 
warriors, who had been sent on that day from the other fort, with 
a view to go out on an excursion against the English settlements. 
As the troops from Saybrook had been seen to pass by the Thames, 
the Indians drew the conclusion that they durst not attack them, 
and gave themselves up to merriment on that account, singing 
and dancing till midnight. After this they sunk into a deep 
sleep ; and Mason and his men marched forward to the confines 
of their fortress. It was now nearly day- light, on Friday, the 
26th of May, and not a moment was to be lost. Capt. Mason 
therefore proceeded with one part of the troops to attack the 
fort on its north-eastern side, and Capt. Underhill, with another 
to attack it on its western side. They got within a rod or two 
of the fort, when a dog's barking awoke the Indian centinel, who 
instantly roused his brethren. But the assailants fired through 
the palisades, and soon effected an entrance, and a desperate con- 
flict ensued. For some time the victory was doubtful. In this 
situation, Mason ordered the fort to be burnt, and immediately 
took fire and put it to the mats on the wigwams. The flames 
spread with amazing rapidity, and the English retreated and 
formed a circle around the fort ; while the friendly Indians who 
had been disheartened, resumed courage and formed an outer 
circle. Many within the fort were consumed in the conflagra- 
tion, others mounting the palisades were a fair mark for the 
English muskets, and others rushing forward to make their es- 
cape, were cut down with the sword. In litde more than an 
hour about 600 Pequots in one way or another were killed, while 
7 only escaped and 7 were made prisoners. The English had 
only two men killed, and about 20 wounded. 

The next day in marching to Pequot harbour, whither they 
had ordered their vessels, a running fight ensued with 300 war- 
riors from Sassacus\s fort, who were frantic with passion upon 
the destruction of their brethren. In this fight the English and 
their associates suffered no loss, while several of the enemy were 
slain. They entered their vessels, and in about three weeks 
from the time they left Hartford, they returned to their lespc;- 
live habitations. 



Town of Sayhrook. 89 

But the Pequots at Sassacus's fort, deeming it unsafe to re- 
main in that region, burnt their wigwams, and dispersed in va- 
rious rambling parties. But their dispersion did not wholly se- 
cure them. The Legislature appointed Capt. Mason, and fur- 
nished him with men to prosecute the war ; some forces were 
sent from Massachusetts for this purpose ; and the Indians, who 
had been inimical to the Pequots, willingly came forward and 
united in destroying them. One of their parties was taken by 
the Massachusetts troops, united with some of the Narraganset 
Indians. Another party crossed Connecticut river and proceed- 
ed westward, near the Sound. Some English scouts had a skir- 
mish with these on a hill in Saybrook parish, whence they fled 
into a neighbouring swamp, from which circumstance, the hill is 
called Pequot Kill, and the swamp, Pequot Swamp to this day. 
A few of these were pursued by some English soldiers, and by 
some Moheagans, down the eastern shore of the harbour west of 
Guilford. They crossed the harbour, but were taken as they as- 
cended the opposite bank. Among these was a sachem, (according 
to the Manuscripts of the Rev. Mr. Ruggles of Guilford,) whom 
Uncas shot with an arrow. He then cut off his head, and put it 
in the fork of an oak, where the skull remained for many years. 
From this transaction the harbour has ever since been called 
Sachem's head. But the fugitives generally proceeded to a 
large swamp in Fairfield. Thither they were pursued and sur- 
rounded; alDout 20 were killed and 180 taken prisoners. The 
others escaped and fled. 

By these various attacks and losses, the Pequots were com- 
pletely subdued as a nation. Their conquest was of the greatest 
importance to the settlement in Saybrook, and to the other set- 
tlements on Connecticut river. It indeed struck a general terror 
into the Indians through the country, and prevented their rising 
in great numbers against the English for nearly forty years. 

The lands in the south-eastern division of this township, 
throughout the greater part of Saybrook parish, are level and easi- 
ly cultivated ; and enriched by the wbite-lish and other manures, 
are very productive. The same is true of smaller tracts in other 
parts of the town, in the vicinity of the Sound and of the river ; 
but the lands back are generally stoney and somewhat hilly, 
though there are few hills of much note. Cow Hill, and Pequot 
Hill, (already named,) in Saybrook parish, Robert's Hill and 
Bork Hill in Pautapoug, and Horse Hill between this town and 
Killingworth, are among the more important. 

The streams in this town, as well as in the other towns in the 
county, are small. 

Chester river has its sources in the southern part of Haddam 



90 Statistical Account of Middlesex County : 

and in Cedar-swamp Pond. The branches unite at Chesiei 
Cove, at the head of tide water, a mile from Connecticut river. 
and for half that distance, from Middlesex turnpike bridge, the 
river admits of large vessels. 

Cedar-swamp Pond is remarkable only, for its being formed 
by a dam, sufficiently wide for a cart-path, which was apparent- 
ly made by beavers. Directly below this is the swamp which 
imparts to it its name. 

There is another pond in Chester parish, on very high ground,, 
called Shipman's Pond, which sends forth a small stream. 

Deep river is said to derive its waters partly from Cedai 
swamp and partly from sources farther south. It empties into 
Connecticut river a little south of Chester river. 

Fall river, (so called from its passing over some inconsidera- 
ble falls,) rises in the west part of Pautapoug, and unites with 
the Connecticut a little above Pautapoug Point. 

Oyster river rises in Pequot Hill, and runs southerly into the 
Sound. This stream derives its name from the oysters which 
used to be caught near its mouth. Some are taken there now 
and also clams. On this stream Mr. Francis Bushnell erected a 
corn-mill in 1662, the first erected in the town; for which the 
proprietors gave him a farm, on condition that a mill should be 
kept there continually, and that the inhabitants should have 
equal privileges in regard to grinding : and the farm is held by 
his descendants on these conditions at the present time. 

Pochaug river rises in the west part of Pautapoug, and takes a 
southern direction through the center of Westbrook, and emptie-^ 
into Westbrook harbour. This receives near its mouth, Menuii 
ketesuck river, whose head waters are in the edge of Haddam. 
whence it passes through the parish of North Killingworth, par; 
of the parish of Killingworth, and then turns eastward inlc 
Westbrook. 

Westbrook harbour serves as an indifterent shelter for small 
vessels. It formerly furnished a considerable shad fishery : but iii 
latter years the shad have become scarce. Shell fish are caugh* 
in the harbour for the use of the inhabitants, and are occasion 
ally carried to the neighbouring places. 

A quarry of Steatite or Soap stone exists in Pautapoug, half a 
mile north of the Congregational meeting-house. This appear.^ 
to have been known to the Indians, as pots and mortars made oi 
this stone have been found in their graves on the Point, and in field- 
in the neighbourhood. Thirty or forty years since, it was procur- 
ed by the owners of a furnace in Killingworth, for the purpose 
of making an oven for baking steel. In 1815, some gentlemeii 
obtained a lease of the quarry for 20 years, got out fifty tons ol 



Town of Saybiook. 9i 

the stone and sent it to New- York; where upon examination, it 
was declared to possess durable qualities, and to be susceptible 
of a fine polish, but to be too hard to be extensively useful. 

A quarry of Gneiss stone, resembling the quarries in Haddam. 
called Deep-river-Quarry, because it is in the neighbourhood 
of that river, was opened in 1812. This is near a cove, na- 
vigable for scows, half a mile from Connecticut river. Several 
hands have been employed in it, and it promises to be profitable. 

Another quarry of a similar description was opened some years 
after on MitchePs Neck. Some others were opened in the 
vicinity last year ; and one, two or three years ago near Ce- 
dar-swamp. 

Several persons have been mentioned as emigrating from this 
H town to Lyme and to Norwich. In the former, settlements be- 
gan about 1654, and in the latter, in 1660. The reason of the 
emigration to Norwich was as follows. In some of the wars be- 
tween Uncas, and the Narragansets, they besieged him and his 
men in his fort near the Thames, until their provisions were al- 
most exhausted. He found means of acquainting the scouts 
from Saybrook fort with his situation, and of apprizing them of 
the danger to which the English would be exposed, if the Mo- 
heagans were destroyed. In these circumstances, Mr. Thomas 
Leflingwell, an ensign at the fort, loaded a canoe with provi- 
sions, and under cover of the night paddled it to the Thames, 
and relieved him : soon after which the siege was raised. For 
this kindness, Uncas gave him most, if not the whole of the town- 
ship of Norwich. In June 1659, a formal deed was given of this 
township to Mr. LefFmgwell, Capt. Mason, Mr. Fitch and 32 
others, for which they allowed him as an additional compensa- 
tion about 70 pounds. The next spring, Mr. Fitch, and the 
greater part of his church and congregation moved to that town» 
Some families removed from this town to Hebron about 1704, to 
Salisbury about 1773 or 74, to Durham in the State of New- 
York about 1788, to Fairfield also in that State about 1794, and 
families and individuals have removed to various other places. 

But one person an inhabitant of this iown has ever been con- 
victed of a capital offence, and that was a Pequot squaw, living 
in the family of the Rev- Mr. Worthington of Westbrook. She 
murdered her own child, a bastard, by striking it on the head. 
It was found hid in Mr. Worthington*s barn, and languished ten 
hours after the wound was given. Her trial was had before the 
Hon. Jonathan Law, chief judge, and four assistants, at a special 
session held in Westbrook, Nov. 15, lid and 17, 1737, and she 
was executed at New-London on the 3d of May, 1738. 

Another murder was committed in this town Oct. 14, 1772, 
by James Shields, on the person of James Johnson. Both were 

12 



92 Statistical Account of Middlesex County; 

foreigners. Johnson had been labouring as a journeyman at the 
carriage-making business at Saybrook, was that day out of his 
time, and had crossed over into Lyme, going eastward. Here 
Shields met him, and after drinking freely together, enticed him 
back over the ferry, and in the hollow a little west of the ferry, 
and directly south of the stage road, murdered him, (for his 
money as was supposed, which consisted only of a few shillings,) 
by stabbing him in several places with a narrow chisel. He then 
stripped the body and hid it in the bushes, (where it was dis- 
covered nine days after,) and then went down to the sea shore, 
crossed to Long-Island and escaped. For another murder he 
was afterwards hanged at the southward, and at the gallows con- 
fessed his villainy in killing Johnson. 

Horn and shell combs have been manufactured many years in 
Saybrook parish, and two or three years since were manufactur- 
ed at Pautapoug Point. 

Williams's Ivory Comb Factory near the mouth of Fall river 
in Pautapoug parish was established in 1802, but did but little 
business till 1807. In 1816, this was united with a comb factory 
which was erected in 1809 on Deep river. In this united es- 
tablishment, more than 20 men are employed, and 50,000 dozen 
combs annually manufactured. The old stand on Fall river 
is improved for a factory of ivory buttons. In this four and some- 
times more workmen are employed. 

On Chester river are two forges, one set up about 1790, the 
other in 1818. 

On this stream, L'Hommedieu's Factory was erected in 181 i^ 
for making patent double podded gimlets. In this, machinery 
is used for cutting steel plates into pieces of proper size and 
length for gimlets, for double stamping and rounding them, 
smoothing the shank and bowls, forming the screw, and for turn- 
ing and perforating the handles. Twenty men have been 
sometimes employed, and more than 10,000 dollars worth of gim- 
lets manufactured in a year. In 1815, the owners procured 
machinery for making patent single twist augers ; and since that 
time have directed their attention principally to this branch of 
manufacture. Within about twelve months, they have made 
more than 8000 for the navy of the United States and some for 
individuals. 

Shipbuilding is occasionally carried on in one yard on Say- 
brook Point. 

This business was begun by Mr. John Tucker at Pautapoug 
Point about 1720, but was not extensively carried on for many 
years. In 1775, the ship Oliver Cromwell, of 24 guns, was built 
at this place by Mr. Uriah Heyden. For ten or fifteen year? 
before the late war, from 1200 to 2000 tons of shipping were 



Town of Saybrook, 93 

annually launched from the Point and the yards in the neighbour- 
hood. 

In 1740, shipbuilding was commenced in Westbrook. The 
yards are all on Pochaug river, one and two miles from its 
mouth, from which vessels are let down to the Sound. In these 
1000 tons of shipping are calculated to be built annually. 

This business was commenced in Chester, near the mouth of 
Chester Cove in 1755. More recently a few vessels have been 
built a mile westward : but the business in this parish is now ge- 
nerally discontinued. 

This town has more commerce than any other town in the 
county excepting Middletown. It is principally coasting. Each 
parish has a share of trade, but most is done in Saybrook parish 
and in Pautapoug. 

Business began to thrive at Pautapoug Point soon after the re- 
volutionary war. Since that time most of the buildings have 
been erected upon it and in the vicinity. There are now on the 
Point about 30 dwelling-houses and 100 within the circuit of a 
mile, a few merchant stores, and some mechanic shops. Besides 
the shipbuilding which has been just noticed, the inhabitants 
have had a considerable concern in navigation. 

This point is 100 rods long and lies between two coves, called 
the North and South Coves. The buildings are principally on 
one street running lengthwise through it, parallel with which a 
street has been recently laid out. To this Point, the river is 
open through the winter, and it is of course, the place where 
vessels are frequently laid up and goods deposited, while the 
river is frozen over above. 

It suffered much by the restrictive system, and the succeeding 
war, particularly by a visit from the English in April, 1814. 

Vessels from the squadron blockading New-London had often 
gone out and cruised in the Sound. On the evening following 
the 7th of April two or three of these anchored off Saybrook bar. 
They immediately dispatched for Pautapoug, two launches, each 
carrying 9 or 12 pound carronades and 50 or 60 men each, and 
four barges, supposed to have 25 men each, under the command 
of Lieut. Coote, completely prepared with torches, combustibles, 
&;c. for the enterprise which they accomplished. Before 1 1 
o'clock they were discovered entering the mouth of the river, by 
the keeper of the light-house, and before 12, many of the men 
landed at Saybrook Point, and went into the old fort, where 
no force was then stationed to resist them. The distance from 
this place to Pautapoug Point, is between five and six miles ; 
but being retarded by a strong northerly wind and the fresh- 
et, they did not arrive there till about four o'clock, Fri- 
day morning, the G(h of April. The people knew nothing ot 



94 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ^ 

their being in the river more than 30 minutes before they arriv- 
ed and took possession of the Point ; and some had no know- 
ledge of it, before the work of conflagration was begun. Pick- 
et guards searched houses and stores for arms and ammunition, 
while the men generally were employed in setting fire to the 
vessels, lying in the river, at the Point, and on the stocks along 
the North and South Coves. About 10 o'clock, they called in 
their guards and proceeded down the river, with a brig, schoon- 
er and two sloops. But the wind shifting from the northeast to 
the southeast, they set fire to all these excepting the schooner, 
which they anchored about a mile and a quarter below the Point, 
where they remained till evening. Twenty-two vessels of va- 
rious descriptions were destroyed, and a loss occasioned, com- 
puted at 160,000 dollars, 60,000 of which fell on the inhabitants 
of Pautapoug. 

When the enemy first landed, the people living on the Point 
and in the vicinity were in no situation to oppose them. In the 
course of the day, some forces collected from Pautapoug and 
other places west of the river ; while on the east side, some 
collected from Lyme and New-London : but the work of de- 
struction was finished and the British were more than a mile 
down the river. The plan adopted was to oppose them on their 
way out, for which stations were taken on both sides. But the 
enemy were detained as has been stated. About sunset a field- 
piece was planted on a point near their resting place, which by 
several well directed shots, compelled them to leave the schoon- 
er. One of these shots killed two men and wounded a third. 
When night came on, it was excessively dark and no object could 
be seen, and they proceeded silently down the river, and arriv- 
ed at their vessels about 10 o'clock in the evening. Many shots 
were directed against them on the supposition of their being on 
their way, some of which struck their boats, and probably did 
some execution. 

During the day and the evening, the lives of the Americans 
were not exposed ; and though the British were abundantly on 
our coast in the course of the last war and engaged in several 
encounters with our men ; it is worthy of remark, that no Ame- 
rican belonging to Saybrook or Middletown was killed, except- 
ing Mr. Charles Dolf, a worthy inhabitant of Saybrook Points 
He lost his life Jan. 15, 1815, in retaking a sloop from the pri- 
vateer Boxer of Lisbon. At the same time Cyphenas Cowles, 
lieutenant of the privateer was killed, and five seaman were 
taken. 

The pious people who first came to Saybrook Point, and suf- 
fered so much from the Indians, were instructed and comforted 
by the Rev. John Higginson, whose ministrations were " suita- 



Town of Saybrook. 95 

ble, seasonable and profitable, according to the then present dis- 
pensation of Providence." 

Mr. Higginson, came with his father, the Rev. Francis Hig- 
ginson from Leicester in England in 1629, to Salem in Massa- 
chusetts, where his father re-settled. After labouring at Say- 
brook three or four years, he went to Guilford, and was one of 
the seven pillars of the church formed in that town in 1643; 
where he assisted his father-in-law, the Rev. Henry Whitfield, in 
the instruction of the people, both before and after the formation 
of the church. From the return of Mr. Whitfield to England in 
1650; he was sole teacher at Guilford until 1660, when he de- 
termined to go to England himself and join his respected relative 
and friend ; and he took shipping for the purpose. But be- 
ing forced into Salem by contrary winds, the people there per- 
suaded him to settle as colleague with his father; and he was 
accordingly set apart to the work of the ministry in that place, 
on the 29th of August, in the last mentioned year, where he died 
Dec. 9, 1708, in the 93d year of his age, having been in the mi- 
nistry 72 years. " This reverend person," says Cotton Mather, 
'' has been always valued for his useful preaching, and his holy 
living: besides his constant labours in the pulpit, whereby his 
own flock has been edified ; the whole country has by the press 
enjoyed some of his composures, and by his hand the compo- 
sures of others also, passing through the press, have been accom- 
panied." He wrote the attestation to the Magnalia, and among 
other compositions which he published, was a volume of ser- 
mons, dedicated to the people of Saybrook, Guilford and Salem. 

The Rev. Thomas Peters succeeded Mr. Higginson at Say- 
brook, and after a ministry of a few years, returned to England 
in 1645. 

Neither of the above clergymen were ordained in Saybrook, 
and no church was organized there until 1646, the time of the 
ordination of the Rev. James Fitch, 

Mr. Fitch came to New-England in company with thirteen 
other youth, designed for the holy ministry. He spent some 
years at Hartford, engaged in preparatory studies. After his 
settlement at Saybrook, his talents drew several families from 
Hartford and Windsor to that town ; but in 1660, agreeable to 
what has been related, he was induced with the greater part of 
his people to remove to Norwich. In that town he not only in- 
structed his own charge, but acquiring the knowledge of the Mc- 
heagan language, he instructed the Indians around him in the 
principles of Christianity, and exerted himself to dissuade them 
from their savage mode of life. A very high, and it is believed, 
a very just character, is given of him on his monument, which 
-vill communicate all the other particulars respecting him, which 



96 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 

need to be related in this work. This, translated from the latin, 
is as follows : " In this grave are deposited the remains of that 
truly reverend man, Mr. James Fitch. He was born at Bok- 
ing, in the county of Essex in England, the 24th of December, 
in the year of our Lord 1622. Who, after he had been most ex- 
cellently taught the learned languages, came into New-England, 
at the age of 16 ; and then spent seven years under the instruc- 
tion of those very famous men, Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone. Af- 
terwards he discharged the pastoral office fourteen years at Say- 
brook. Thence he removed with the greater part of his church 
to Norwich ; where he spent the other years of his life in the 
work of the ministry. In his old age indeed, he was obliged to 
cease from his public labolirs, by reason of bodily indisposition, 
and at length retired to his children, in Lebanon ; where, after 
spending nearly half a year, he slept in Jesus, in the year 1702, 
on the 18th of November, in the 80th year of his age." 

" He was a man, as to the smartness of his genius, the solidity 
of his judgment, his charity, holy labours, and every kind of pu- 
rity of life ; and also as to his skill and energy of preaching, in- 
ferior to none." 

Lessened in population and wealth by the emigration to Nor- 
wich, Say brook remained destitute until 1670, when the Rev. 
Thomas Buckingham was settled there. Mr. Buckingham was 
of Welsh extraction. His parents emigrated to Milford in this 
State in 1646, and he was born during their passage across the 
Atlantic. Whether he was educated privately by some of the 
New-England clergy, or went to Europe for an education is un- 
known ; nor is any direct information possessed respecting his 
talents or character. He was one of the founders and trustees 
of Yale-College, and exercised a general superintendence over 
it in the last years of his life, as it was then located at Saybrook. 
He was also a moderator of the Board which adopted the Say- 
brook Platform in 1 708. He died in 1 709. 

The Rev. Azariah Mather, a descendant of the Mather family, 
which furnished so many distinguished clergymen in the early 
periods of New-England, succeeded him in 1710. 

Mr. Mather had been a tutor of the College in Saybrook, and 
had enjoyed an opportunity to become acquainted with the peo- 
ple during his tutorship. As a linguist he greatly excelled, and 
was an able divine. A sermon was published by him in latin. 
On being baptized for the dead. He was dismissed in 1732, and 
died in 1737. 

The Rev. William Hart, son of the Rev. John Hart of East- 
Guilford, happily united the people of Saybrook, and was or- 
dained their pastor in 1736. 

Mr. Hart was a gentleman of respectable talents, natural and 



Town of Saybrook, 97 

acquired, was prudent and judicious in the management of his 
flock, and enjoyed to an uncommon degree, through a ministry 
of nearly thirty-eight years, their affection and esteem. In the 
course of his life, he published several occasional sermons and 
controversial pieces. In one of these pieces, he styled the pe- 
culiar sentiments of Dr. Hopkins, Hopkinsianism, which gave 
rise to that term, which is now so prevalent in our country. 

The Rev. Frederic W. Hotchkiss was ordained colleague with 
him in 1783, and is now his successor. 

The society or parish of Pautapoug, was incorporated in May 
1722, and then included the society of Chester; but as the an- 
cient records of the church are destroyed, it is impossible to as- 
certain exactly when that was gathered. 

The Rev. Abraham Nott preached to the people from the in- 
corporation of the society, but was not ordained until Nov. 1725. 
Nothing is known respecting him, except the general fact, that 
he was a respectable clergyman. He died in 1756. 

The Rev. Stephen Holmes was constituted the pastor of Pau- 
tapoug by installation, the next year. In connection with the 
various services of the ministry, he practised physic. He de- 
ceased in 1773, 

The Rev. Benjamin Dunning, who had been settled in Marl- 
borough, a pious and worthy man, succeeded him in 1776, and 
died in 1735. 

The Rev. Richard Ely was installed in Pautapoug, in 1786. 
He had been minister in North Bristol, a parish of Guilford, from 
June 7, 1757, until Aug. 1785. He performed public services 
generally, until the settlement of his colleague in 1804; soon 
after which he removed to Chester, and lived with his son, the 
late Dr. Richard Ely ; where he died in 1814, at the advanced 
age of 81 years. 

The Rev. Aaron Hovey, the colleague of Mr. Ely, is pastor 
in this parish at the present time. 

The incorporation of Westbrook took place in May 1 724, and 
the church was organized June 29, 1726, with 14 members. At 
that time the Rev. William Worthington was set over them in the 
Lord. 

Mr. Worthington was a man of agreeable and engaging man- 
ners, a worthy minister, greatly beloved by his brethren and all 
who knew him. He deceased in 1756, and was succeeded the 
next year, by the Rev. John Devotion. 

In the early part of his public life, Mr. Devotion entertained 
an unfavourable opinion of those sentiments, which are termed 
Calvinistic, but was more reconciled to them before his death, 
which took place suddenly, in 1802, from a fit of the apoplexy. 
He possessed a clear understanding, and was a good scholar. 



98 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 

The Rev. Thomas Rich was ordained in Westbrook in 1804; 
and dismissed in 1810. He was afterwards settled in Columbia 
in this State, but now resides in Massachusetts. 

The Rev. Sylvester Selden. the present minister in West- 
brook, was ordained in 1812. 

The inhabitants of Chester were invested with parish privi- 
leges, in Oct. 1740, and a church was formed among them, Sept. 
15, 1742. 

Their first pastor was the Rev. Jared Harrison, who was or- 
dained at the time of the formation of the church. His connec- 
tion with them was dissolved, in 1751 : after which they were 
destitute eight years. 

The Rev. Simeon Stoddard, an amiable man, grandson of the 
venerable Mr. Stoddard of Northampton, was ordained in Ches- 
ter in 1759, and died in 1765. 

The Rev. Elijah Mason, who had been a settled minister in 
Marlborough, succeeded Mr. Stoddard in 1767, and died in 1770. 

The Rev. Robert Silliman, v/ho had preached about thirty 
years, in that part of the original town of Norfolk, now called 
New Canaan, was installed in Chester in 1772. He died in his 
former parish, while on a visit to his friends in 1781, having sus- 
tained the reputation of a faithful minister. 

The late Rev. Samuel Mills, was ordained in Chester in 1786. 

After leaving College, Mr. Mills was employed some time irt 
the business of keeping school. In the revolutionary war, he 
went into the army in the capacity of a lieutenant of horse ; 
where he received a wound from a cutlass, in the back of hi.': 
neck, in an engagement with the British at Philadelphia. Dur- 
ing his ministry, as his stipend was too small to support a nu- 
merous family, he usually instructed a number of youth in hie 
own house ; and thus rendered an important service to many 
persons in Chester and the vicinity. But his delight was in the 
things of the Kingdom of God. No man was more sensible of 
the necessity and value of religious experience, more fond of 
meetings for conference and prayer, or took more delight in con- 
versing on the doctrines of grace, revivals of religion, and the 
efforts recently made in Christendom for spreading the Gospel. 
The truths of the Bible he delivered to his people in public 
and private, with simplicity and plainness ; and having adorned 
them, by a humble, patient and prayerful life, he died in faith 
and hope. 

The Rev. Nehemiah B. Beardsley, his successor, was ordain- 
ed in the beginning of 1816. 

Individuals in Pautapoug had been attached to the principles 
of the church of England tor a considerable time ; but were un- 
knov/n as a society until about 1 790. These have enjoyed oc- 



Town of Sayhrook. 99 

casionally the services of Mr. Blakesley of East-Haddam, and of 
some other clergymen. 

The Baptists, in the west part of this parish, arose as early as 
1740, and were formed into a society about 1745. They have 
been joined by a few families from the neighbouring parishes. 
Asplund represents a church to have been organized among 
them in 1788 ; but it was probably organized previously to that 
time. 

The Baptists at Pautapoug Point arose in 1805, and their 
church was gathered June 18,1811, having 40 members. A few 
persons from the first parish in Killingworth, united with them, 
in July of the same year : but these held meetings by them- 
selves. 

In the account of Haddam it was noticed, that some families in 
Chester belong to the Baptists in Haddam Society. 

The Methodists must be considered as rising in Westbrook 
in 1816, though one or two families of that denomination lived 
there before. 

The children in this town were taught in a school, kept in Say- 
brook parish, for many years. Schools were set up within the 
bounds of the other parishes as soon as they were incorporated, 
and probably at earlier periods. There are now in the town 19 
schools, 3 of which are in Saybrook parish, 8 in Pautapoug, 5 in 
Westbrook, and 3 in Chester. In addition to monies drawn 
from time to time from the treasury of the State, these schools 
have the benefit of a considerable fund, belonging to the inha- 
bitants, derived from various sources. Mr. Edward Lorey in 
his last will, dated June 17, 1689, gave to them 300 pounds, to 
be applied to the support of schooling. The Legislature, by an 
act passed in Oct. 1718, gave to them 50 pounds, for the same 
purpose, in consideration of the removal of the College. They 
also received another sum afterwards, accruing from the sale of 
Litchfield lands. A part of the legacy of Mr. Lorey was lost 
many years ago, by the reception of bills of credit from those 
who had borrowed it. The remainder was divided, in 1773 or 74, 
to the several parishes in the town, according to their list; and 
all the school-funds in the town are now given up to the parishes, 
to be used by them for the education of their children. Their 
whole amount is unknown. Pautapoug possesses $ 652 43. 

Reference has been repeatedly made in the preceding pages 
to Yale-College, as being several years in this town ; and it will 
be proper, in this place, to relate some particulars respecting it. 
This was founded in the year 1700, by ten principal clergy- 
men in the Colony, designated for the purpose, by the genera! 
voice of their brethren and of the people. These met in Say- 
brook, Kov. IL 1701. having received the patronage of the Le- 

13 



100 Staiisiical Account of Middlesex County , 

gislature ; and drew up some rules for the instruction and go- 
vernment of the institution ; and appointed the Rev. Abraham 
Pierson of Killingworth, one of their body, to take the charge of 
it, under the character and title of rector. On the question 
of its location, they were not united ; but concluded that Say- 
brook would be the best situation for it for the present. As the 
population of the Colony was confined almost wholly to the vi- 
cinity of Connecticut river and of the Sound, there was no place 
then. Where students could be more conveniently collected. 
They accordingly desired the rector to remove thither ; but un- 
til he could do that, consented that what students should offer 
themselves, might be instructed at Killingworth ; and they ap- 
pointed a tutor to assist him in his work. Several youth, who 
had been pursuing preparatory studies in the expectation of this 
seminary, came forward, were examined, and arranged in differ- 
ent classes, according to the proficiency which they had made. 
But the people of Killingworth were wholly unwilling that their 
pastor should be separated from them ; and of course the stu- 
dents were instructed in Killingworth, though the commence- 
ments were held at Saybrook, until the death of Mr. Pierson, in 
March 1707. The senior class was then removed to Milford, 
and put under the instruction of the Rev. Samuel Andrew, rector 
pro tempore ; while the other classes were removed to Saybrook, 
and put under the instruction of tutor Fiske, until commence- 
ment. After this, all the students were instructed at Saybrook 
by two tutors, and were peaceable and happy, making respec- 
table advances in science, until the winter of 1715 — 16 ; when 
a serious and alarming disturbance arose among them. Na- 
thaniel Lynde Esq. had generously given a house on the Point, 
for the use of the college, so long as it should remain in Say- 
brook. But they complained of the settlement as not bemg suf- 
ficiently compact, many of them being obliged to reside more 
than a mile from the place of public exercises ; and of their in- 
struction and government, there being no resident rector, and 
the tutors sometimes very young and inexperienced. Those most 
dissatisfied, belonged to Hartford or the vicinity, where a strong 
desire prevailed to effect the removal of the college ; and it was 
supposed that they were instigated to the complaints which they 
made. In the month of April the trustees came together to con = 
sider the circumstances of the seminary, and w^ere unhappily 
divided among themselves ; but gave leave to the scholars 
who wished for it, to repair to other places for instruction un- 
til commencement. At the succeeding session of the Legisla- 
ture, two of the trustees, without the consent or knowledge of 
their brethren, petitioned that the college might be removed to 
Hartford. This surprising and ungentlcman-like proceeding, 



Town of Saybrook, i 1 

caused passions, which had long been kindling, to burst forth ; 
and from this time until the permanent establishment of the college 
at New-Haven, the subject of its location, produced more de- 
bate and division in the Legislature, and in the Corporation, 
among civilians and clergymen, and the people at large, than al» 
most any other subject which has ever been agitated in Connec- 
ticut. 

In this state of the public mind, the inhabitants in different 
])arts of the Colony, in the summer of 1716, subscribed large 
sums for the college ; in the hope of inducing the trustees to lo- 
cate it where it would best accommodate themselves. About 
700 pounds sterling were subscribed, on condition of i(s being 
established at New-Haven ; 500 pounds to have it continued at 
Say brook ; and a considerable sum to have it removed to Hart- 
ford or Weathersfield. At a meeting of the trustees at New- Ha- 
ven in October, a vote was carried, " That considering the diffi- 
culties of continuing the collegiate school at Saybrook, and that 
New-Haven is a convenient place for it, for which the most li- 
beral donations are given, the trustees agree to remove the said 
school from Saybrook to New-Haven, and it is now settled at 
New-Haven accordingly." But notwithstanding this vote, some 
years elapsed before all the students could be collected at New- 
Haven ; and before the minds of all the trustees, and of the people 
generally, were united and quieted with respect to its establish- 
ment at that place. 

The feelings raised in the towns, most interested by this sub^ 
ject, may be gathered from circumstances attending the removal 
of the library. An unsuccessful application having been made 
for this by some of the trustees, the Governor and council con- 
vened in Saybrook at their request, in Dec. 1718 ; and issued a 
warrant to the sheriff to go and take the books. When he got 
to the house where they were kept, he found men collected to 
resist him ; but calling assistance, he forcibly entered the house, 
took them, and had them secured by a guard through the night. 
In the morning it appeared, that the carts, provided for carrying 
them to New-Haven were broken, and the horses turned away. 
New provision being made, they were conducted out of the town 
by the major of the county ; but some of the bridges on the road 
were broken up, and when they arrived at New- Haven, it was 
discovered, on counting the books, that about 260 were wanting. 
These were disposed of by persons unknown, together with 
some valuable papers, in the confusion which arose at the taking 
of the library, and no discovery was made of them afterwards. 
But the college had still more than 1000 volumes, and its pros- 
pects again began to brighten. 

Fifteen commencements were held at Saybrook. At these 



102 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 

more than 60 young men were graduated, most of whom became 
ministers of the Gospel, and some of them characters of distin- 
guished usefulness and excellence. 

To educate young men of piety and talents for the holy mi- 
nistry in the churches in the Colony, was the leading design of 
this institution. It was therefore early regarded, by the found- 
ers and by others, as very desirable, that these churches should 
have a public standard or confession of faith ; agreeable to which 
the instruction of the college should be conducted. This, toge- 
ther with the importance of such a standard on other accounts, 
led to various measures, which resulted in the adoption of Say- 
brook Platform, after the commencement in 1708. 

The fort in this town, called usually Saybrook Fort, but some- 
times Fort Fenwick, however it may be regarded now, was for- 
merly a post of great importance. In this a garrison was con- 
stantly kept for a very long period, and it has usually been man- 
ned since in seasons of war and danger. It commands the entrance 
of Connecticut river. It was first built of wood, in front, or on 
the point of Tomb Hill. But as this, in some unaccountable 
manner, took fire in the winter of 1647, and was consumed, with 
some adjoining buildings, the fort was rebuilt soon after, of more 
substantial materials, and placed further north, on what was 
called New-Fort Hill. This, with some alterations, is the pre- 
sent fortification. 

A few days after this fort was begun, in 1636, a Dutch vessel 
e^rrived from New Netherlands, with a view of taking possession 
of the mouth of the river, and of laying the foundation of a set- 
tlement. The English having mounted two pieces of cannon, 
prevented their landing, and defeated the enterprize. About the 
time of the Pequot war, the fort saved the inhabitants of Say- 
brook from being cut off* by the Indians ; and in the summer of 
1675, prevented the surrendry of the town to Major Andross. 
Had there been a very small force stationed in it in April 1814, 
it would also have prevented the burning at Pautapoug Point. 

In regard to distinguished characters, the following may be 
noticed. 

Mr. Winthrop who began the settlement, was one of the great- 
est men of his age. He was born at Groton, in England ; was 
educated at the tjniversities of Cambridge and Dublin ; and af- 
terwards travelled through the principal countries of Europe ; 
acquiring a mass of information respecting those countries, and 
those accomplishments, which arise from an extended intercourse 
with polished society ; and what is much more to his honour, he 
maintained the unblemished morals of a puritan, in the midst of 
all the fascinations of the world. Coming to Massachusetts with, 
bis father, in 1631, he was elected into the magistracy. Having 



Town of Sayhrook. 103 

returned to Europe, he received from Lord Say and Seal and 
others, the commission mentioned in the beginning of this ac- 
count. Sometime after the fulfilment of this commission, having 
settled at New-London, he was successively elected to the of- 
fices of assistant, lieutenant-governor, and governor. Upon the 
accession of Charles II. to the throne of England, he was sent to 
manage the affairs of the Colony before the King ; and obtained 
the charter, which united New-Haven Colony with Connecticut, 
and which was the basis of the governQ-iCnt of Connecticut, thus 
enlarged, for more than a century and a half. After his return 
from this mission, he was placed again for many years at the 
head of the Colony, He died at Boston, whither he had gone 
to attend a meeting of the Commissioners of the United Colo- 
nies, April 5, 1676, in the 71st year of his age; where he was 
honourably interred in the same tomb with his father ; in which 
also his son, the Hon. Fitz John Winthrop, another governor of 
Connecticut, was afterwards interred. 

Mr. David Gardiner, who had been procured to superintend 
the building of the fort, and who afterwards commanded the gar- 
rison, was a gentleman of respectability and worth. About 
1639, he removed to Manchanoc, now Gardiner's island, and 
was the first English inhabitant within the present limits of 
the State of New- York. He resided several years in East- 
Hampton, on Long-Island, which was settled soon after he left 
Saybrook ; where he was frequendy chosen a magistrate, and 
where he transacted public business until his death, in 1663. 
His son, David Gardiner jr., was born at Saybrook April 29^ 
1636, and is supposed to have been the first white child, born 
in the county. 

George Fenwick Esq. who came to this town in 1639, was 
*• a worthy pious gentleman, and of a good family and estate." 
Before he sold the jurisdiction of Saybrook, he was generally 
known and greatly respected in New-England, and held a seat 
in the board of Commissioners for the United Colonies, as being 
the head of Saybrook settlement. Afterwards, he was elected 
into the Council of Connecticut, and represented at the same board 
a Colony instead of a town. His wife was Lady Anne Botcler 
or Butler, the daughter of an English nobleman, who retained her 
maiden name. She died in 1648, and about that time he return- 
ed to England, where he was appointed one of the judges for the 
trial of Charles I. He deceased in March 1657, probably at 
Sussex, as his will was there proved. In this, he bequeathed 500 
pounds to the public use of New-England, on condition that his 
friend Governor Hopkins, (who was then in England,) should ap- 
prove of it, to be used in that way which he should direct. But 
as Mr. Hopkins, died a day or two before him. his approbation 



104 Statistical Account of Middlesex County', 

was impossible, and so the bequest was lost. But the will itselt, 
expressed his benevolent affections, particularly to his friends in 
America. 

Capt. John Mason who had commanded the successful expe- 
dition against the Pequots, removed from Windsor to this town, 
at the request of the inhabitants in 1647, and was constituted 
commander of the fort. He was also '' authorized to govern all 
the soldiers and inhabitants of the town ; to call them forth and 
put them in such array, as should be necessary for the general 
defence of the country." In 1660, he removed with Mr. Fitcl* 
and others, and settled Norwich ; where he died in 1672 or 73, 
in the 73d year of his age. Besides his military employments, ' 
he was an assistant in the Colony from 1642 to 1660, and thence- 
forward lieutenant-governor until 1670. He was a gentleman 
of great courage and prudence, and of unblemished morals. 

The Hon. Robert Chapman, ancestor of the Chapmans in Say- 
brook, East-Haddam, and other parts of the State, came to Bos- 
ton in the autumn of 1635, and thence, the following spring, to 
this town, where he spent his days. While Col. Fenwick re- 
mained in the country he was one of his particular friends and 
confidants, and among other services was employed by him in 
purchasing Manchanoc of the Indians. In connection with civil 
offices in the town, he held the station of an assistant from 1681 
to 1685. In the near view of death, which took place in Oct. 
1C87, he wrote an address to his children, giving them his part- 
ing counsel. In this, after relating the religious exercises of his 
own mind, and making some observations on the state of the 
church, he exhorted them, (who were all professors of religion,) 
to examine well the reasons of their hope, to rely upon Christ, 
and to follow diligently every good work. 

Mr. John Tully was born in the parish of Horley, in the 
county of Surry, near London, about 1639, and came to this 
town when a lad. From the instructions and libraries of a few 
gentlemen in Saybrook, he became acquainted with several 
branches of science, and was afterwards a teacher of arithme- 
tic, navigation and astronomy. The almanacks published in 
New-England from 1681 to 1702 were composed by him. The 
last was printed at Boston after his death, which occurred Oct. 
5, 1701. He had the reputation of an intelligent and serious 
man. 

The Hon. Samuel Lynde, son of Nathaniel Lynde Esq. whose 
generosity to the college, while it remained in Saybrook, has 
been noticed, received his education principally under rector 
Pierson at Killingworth. There he made those improvements, 
which laid a foundation for his eminence and usefulness. From 
1724 until 1729, he was a justice of the quorum, and from the 



Town of Sayhrook, * i Oi 

latter year until 1752, judge of the county court for New-Lon- 
don county 5 thence till his death, in 1754, he was a judge of 
the superior court. For twenty-four years also, he held a|seatiu 
the Council, A manuscript from Saybrook, declares him to have 
been " a gentleman much respected for his talents and piety, a 
civil and religious father among the people." 

Mr. David Bushnell, the ingenius inventor of the American Tur- 
tle, was a native of the parish of Westbrook. At the age of about 
thirty, he became a member of Yale-College, where he made 
uncommon improvements in mathematical science. In the last 
year of his Collegiate life, in 1775, he invented the machine 
just named, for the purpose of annoying the British shipping, 
which cruised upon our shores in the revolutionary war. Seve- 
ral other machines were invented by him for the same purpose. 
These gave him a very high reputation as a mechanical genius ; 
but their effect upon the British vessels, in most instances in 
which they were used, consisted in terror and alarm, rather than 
in real injury. About 1777, having been recommended by Pre- 
sident Stiles, Gen. Parsons and other literary characters, he was 
appointed captain of a company of sappers and miners, and in 
that capacity served through the war. Upon the cessation of 
hostilities, he returned to Westbrook, settled his domestic con- 
cerns, and then sailed, as was supposed, for France : since which 
nothing certain has been heard concerning him, but the presump- 
tion is that he died many years ago. 

Mr. Bushnell was a man of very unassuming manners, reserv- 
ed in his conversation, keeping all his plans to himself, and ex- 
emplary as a professor of the christian religion. 

All the parishes in this town have been blessed with revivals 
of religion. From a revival which spread in Chester in 1803, 
46 persons were added to the Congregational church in that pa- 
rish, and some to the Baptist church in the west part of Pauta- 
poug. From another revival in 1814, the same Congregational 
church, received an addition of 17 members. From a powerful 
revival which extended through Saybrook parish, Westbrook, 
and also the two parishes of Killingworth and the parish of East- 
Guilford, in the winter of 1809 and 10, more than 70 were added 
to the church in Saybrook, and 60 to the church in Westbrook. 
A less extensive revival spread in Westbrook in 1816, which re- 
sulted in the admission of 24 to the church. Twenty xvere ga- 
thered into the Congregational church in Pautapoug from a re- 
vival in 1814. 

In the parishes in this town, as well as in other parishes in thf 
county, there are female charitable associations. 



STATISTICAL ACCOUNT 



OF THE 



TOWN OF KILLINGWORTH. 



k::-5:«-::< 



This Town is bounded by the Sound, on the south ; by Guii» 
ford, or rather by Hammonnasset river, on the west; by Dur- 
ham and Haddam, on the north ; and by Saybrook, on the east 
It is from 10 1-2 to 13 miles long; from the Sound, 10 1-2 mile;-: 
northward, its medium breadth is about 4 miles ; and thence for- 
ward 2 1-2. Its area is about 30,880 acres. It comprizes two 
parishes ; the first of which is usually called by the name of the 
town : the second is called North-Killingworth. 

In Oct. 1663, the Legislature resolved that there should be a 
town at Hammonnasset ; (this Indian name being then applied to 
the tract now constituting Killingworth, as well as to the river on 
its western border,) and the same month twelve planters moved 
into it. These were joined by sixteen others, in the course ol 
two or three years ; and the town was divided into 30 rights, 
one right being reserved for the first minister that should be set- 
tled there, and another for the support of the ministry for ever. 
. The names of the settlers and proprietors, were as follows, viz. 
John Meigs, Bryan Rosseter, John Rosseter, George Chatfield, 
Nathaniel Parmale, Thomas Stevens, William Stevens and Ben- 
jamin Wright, from Guilford ; William Kelsey, John Kelsey and 
Joseph Willcox, or Willcoxson, from Hartford ; Edward Gris- 
wold, from Saybrook ; Josias Hull, from the county of Barnsta- 
ble, Mass. ; Henry Farnum and Eleazer Isbel, from Long 
Island ; Samuel Buel from Wales ; William Barber, from Eng- 
land ; and Matthezo Allen, Henry Crane, Jonathan Dummer^ Jo- 
seph Hand, William Heyden, John Hodge, John Nettleton, Tho- 
mas Smith, William Wellman, Jonas Westover and Robert Wil- 
liams. 

The settlement began to the left of the stage road, from Ham 



Tozm of Killingworth, 107 

monnasset bridge to Killingworth meeting-house, and thence 
spread east and north. Bryan Rossiter and John Meigs, who 
had left Guilford in consequence of disturbances which followed 
the removal of Mr. Higginson, returned to that town upon the 
peaceable settlement of Mr. Elliot in 1664. But their places 
were soon filled by others. Ananias Turner and Andrew Ward 
moved into Killingworth as early as 1670. Robert Lane, from 
Derbyshire in England, and the ancestors of the Merrills and 
Rutty families were also early settlers. Robert Carter from 
Bristol, in England, became an inhabitant about 1700, and Ebe- 
nezer Hurd, from Waterbury in this State, about 1706. The 
Morgans in this town, are from Groton, and the Hillyards, from 
Stonington. 

The settlement in North-Killingworth began in 1716. The 
first settlers in this parish, were Isaac Kelsey Esq., Dea. Josiah 
Hull, Dea. Joseph Willcox, Dea. Daniel Buel, John Willcox, 
Joseph Griswold, Nathaniel Parmelee, Ebenezer Hull, Samuel 
Stevens and Edward Rutty, These were all from the first parish 
in the town. Solomon Davis, Timothy Chittenden and Theo- 
philus Redfield soon united with them ; but from what places they 
emigrated, is not known. James Hill, David Blatchley and 
Bezaliel Bristol, moved into this place from Guilford about 
1750. The Graves and Harris families are from Saybrook. 

The plantation in this town was called the plantation at Ham- 
monnasset, ai^ the plantation between Saybrook and Guilford, 
until May 1667. At that time, the place was named Kenil- 
worth, after a town in the county of Warwick in England, from 
which, according to tradition, some of the settlers at first emi- 
grated. The name is thus spelt in the early records both of the 
town and colony 5 but by corrupt spelling or pronunciation, the 
present name was finally adopted. 

On the 26th of Jan. 1686, the Assembly granted to the in- 
habitants of this town, the lands north of their bounds and of 
the bounds of Guilford, and west of Haddam, up to Coginchaug 
swamp, except such lands within these limits as were included in 
previous grants. These lands, thus granted, together with the 
lands previously possessed, were confirmed to them by a patent, 
given in Oct. 1 703 ; but the jurisdiction of the tract granted in 
1686, was surrendered to Durham, by agreement, in June 1708. 

The Indians were very numerous in the southern part of this 
lown, on the banks of Hammonnasset and Indian rivers, and 
about the harbour. Immense masses of mouldering shells still 
point out the places where they dwelt. 

Most of their lands were sold to Col. Fenwick, while he lived 
at Saybrook. On the 20th of November, 1669, Uncas, sa- 
'.^hem of Moheagan, with Joshua, his sou. sold to the inhabitants 

14 



108 Statislicai Account of Middlesex County ^ 

of Killingworth, all the lands in the township, which he had not 
before sold to George Fenwick, Esq. excepting six acres on the 
big hammock, (which lay on the eastern shore of the harbour,) 
reserving, however, free liberty to hunt in the woods and fish in 
the rivers, and to use any trees for canoes, and rushes and flags 
for mats. The reason of these sales' being made by the sachem 
of Moheagan, was this, that after the war with the Pequots, in 
which he assisted, he claimed the lands which had belonged to 
that nation, and to those who were tributary to them. The In- 
dians lived in this town in great numbers until 1730 or 40. 

The south, and particularly the south-western section of Kil- 
lingworth parish is level, having a soil formed of loam, sand and 
occasionally of gravel, which by good husbandry is rendered 
very productive. Northeast and north from this, the land is 
gravelly and hilly. This is true of almost all the land in North- 
Killing worth, which is better fitted for grazing, than for grain 
and corn. The principal hills in the town, are Long-Hill, Horse- 
Hill, Cow-Hill and Chesnut-Hiil. 

Hammonnasset river, which has been already noticed, is prin- 
cipally valuable for a few mill-seats which it furnishes. It has 
its sources in Durham ; but receives a considerable branch, 
which rises near the borders of Haddam. 

Indian river, the only other stream in this town deserving no- 
tice, except Menunketesuck, which was described in the account 
of Saybrook, rises in Cedar swamp in North-Killingworth, runs 
through the center of Killingworth parish, and uniting with the 
Hammonnasset, forms Killingworth harbour. 

This harbour is a mile below Killingworth street. It is safe 
from winds and has good anchorage ; but a bar lies at its en- 
trance, on which there is only eight feet of water in common tides. 
Shad were formerly caught here in abundance : it now fur- 
nishes a supply of shell-fish for the inhabitants of the town, and 
of the eastern part of Guilford, and its oysters are of a very fine 
flavour. 

One half of this harbour belonged to Killingworth, and one 
half to Guilford until Dec. 1790. At an adjourned session of the 
Legislature, held at that time, it was enacted, " that a line run- 
ning from the mouth of Dudley's creek, in Hammonnasset river, 
50 degrees, 10 minutes east, to West Rock, (so called,) upon the 
Sound, being 216 rods, should be the dividing line between Kil- 
lingworth and Guilford." This threw the whole of the harbour, 
and a point of land east of said line into Killingworth : but it 
was provided, that this act should not prevent the town of Guil- 
ford from regulating the fisheries of clams and oysters, as fully 
as though this act had not been passed. 

Killingworth street is very pleasant. It is a mile and a 



Tow?i of Killingworth. iOO 

halt in length, 6 rods wide, and is crossed aboul midway by Indian 
river. On meeting-house hill, immediately east of this river, it 
appears with great advantage. Here is also a fine view of the 
harbour and of the Sound. The prospect from the steeple is 
more extensive and beautiful. On this street there are 65 dwell- 
ing-houses, and 109 are in the village. Here are several mer- 
chant stores and here most of the business in the town is trans- 
acted. A few coasting vessels are owned by the inhabitants. 

The emigrations from this town have been numerous. Of the 
first settlers, the nine whose names are printed in italics, have 
no descendants here at the present time. Several families 
within a few years have removed to Bergen, in the State of New- 
York. 

No inhabitant of Killingworth has ever been convicted of a 
capital offence : but a woman in the north part of the town, in a 
state of delirium, killed three of her children, Oct. 14, 1779, by 
cutting their throats with a knife ; and would have killed herself, 
in the same dreadful manner, had she not been stayed at the mo- 
ment, by the interference of her husband. 

A forge was formerly improved on Menunketesuck river, in 
the south-eastern part of North-Killingworth. In this for a sea- 
son iron was made from black sand. 

On this stream, within the same parish a woollen factory was 
erected in 1814. In this, wool has been consumed at the rate of 
6000 pounds a year. 

Shipbuilding was begun in this town about the beginning of 
the last century by Mr. Robert Carter ; and for many years this 
has been a leading branch of business. Three yards are im- 
proved, which are all on Indian river. 

The inhabitants of Killingworth were encouraged to settle in 
church order by the General Assembly, in Oct. 1667. A church 
was formed among them soon after, and the Rev. John Wood- 
bridge ordained their pastor. 

Mr. Woodbridge was dismissed in 1679, and re-settled the 
same year, in Weathersfield. Cotton Mather ranks him among 
the most excellent clergymen of Connecticut. 

But the effect of his dismission was unhappy upon the people 
of Killingworth. They fell into divisions, and no minister was 
settled among them until 1694. At that time, the Rev. Abra- 
ham Pierson, afterwards rector of the College, was sent to them 
as an angel of peace. Under his ministry their divisions were 
healed, and they remained united and happy during his life. 

Mr. Pierson was the son of the Rev. Abraham Pierson, for 
some time minister in Yorkshire, in England, then at Southamp- 
ton, Long-Island, then at Branford, in this State, and afterwards 
.^t Newark, New-Jersey. The subject of this sketch, was born 



110 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 

during his father's continuance at Branford, was educated at Har- 
vard College, and was settled colleague with his father in the 
church at Newark, where he remained sole teacher some years 
after his father's death. At Killingworth he was not only a 
great blessing, as a preacher of the Gospel, but as rector of the 
college. This he instructed and governed with general appro- 
bation : he also composed for the students a system of natural 
philosophy, which they recited for many years. But as efforts 
were made to induce him to remove to Saybrook, his people be- 
came uneasy on that subject, and were unwilling that he should 
act as rector. At a town-meeting, held Nov. 7, 1706, he sent 
to them a request in behalf of the trustees, that they would allow 
the college to remain in Killingworth under his care. They 
voted they were not willing it should remain there as it had 
been. He dreaded a separation from them, as he had lived 
among them in love and harmony, and yet his heart was strongly 
attached to the college. Circumstances therefore, were prepar- 
ing the way for a decision of the question, whether he should be 
rector only and so remove to Saybrook, or remain in his pas- 
toral relation at Killingworth, when he sickened and died, in 
March 1707. 

In regard to his person, he was above a middling stature, was 
fleshy and well favoured : as a Christian he was charitable and 
pious ; in preaching, he excelled ; and by his talents and cha- 
racter, was excellently qualified for the station to which he was 
advanced. " He was a hard student, a good scholar, a great di- 
vine, and a wise, steady and judicious man in all his conduct." 

The same affection which he had all along exercised towards 
his people, displayed itself in the closing scenes of life. While 
some of the elders of the church were standing around his dy- 
ing bed, he earnestly advised them to procure Mr. Jared Elliot, 
who had been educated under him, to be his successor, whom he 
judged likely to become a pious, steady and useful minister. 
The advice was followed, and Mr. Elliot was called to the pasto- 
ral office the next June, though from a diffidence in his abilities 
to discharge so great a trust, he was not ordained till two years 
after. How correct and how useful the rector's advice was, will 
he best illustrated by a sketch of Mr. Elliot's life. 

He was the eldest son of the Rev. Joseph Elliot, a worthy 
^minister of the neighbouring town of Guilford, whose pious and 
pithy letter to his brother at Roxbury, recently published in se- 
veral periodical works, has brought his excellencies afresh to re- 
membrance ; and grandson of the famous John Elliot of Rox- 
bury, whose holy evangelical labours, particularly among the In- 
dians, secured to him the tide of the apostle John. The sub- 
ject of this sketch, possessed a liberal portion of those excellencies 



Town of Killingviorth, ill 

by which his ancestors were distinguished, while in some re- 
spects he evidently surpassed them. 

His early progress in literature was not rapid, but what hr 
once acquired he never lost ; and the solid rather than brilliant 
qualities of his mind, accompanied by the goodness of his dis- 
position and the regularity of his life, induced his sagacious in- 
structor to form the opinion of his future excellence, which has 
been related. As he applied himself more and more to study, 
his mind improved in quickness of apprehension as well as in 
strength, and he at length acquired a greatness and excellence 
rarely surpassed, at least in our country. He had the singular 
talent of applying himself to a variety of employments, to di- 
vinity, to physic, and to various branches of literature, without 
disorder, and though his acquisitions in nothing were as great as 
ihey probably would have been, if his attention had not been 
thus divided, yet they were very respectable and in some things 
eminent. 

There are three points of light in which Mr. Elliot may be ad- 
vantageously viewed ; as a divine, a physician, and a scholar. 
As a divine, he possessed enlarged views of the system of re- 
ligion contained in the Scriptures, and held the doctrines gene- 
rally believed by the divines of New-England. In his preach- 
ing he was plain and familiar, happy in allusions to Scripture, 
and abounding in original and laconic expressions. 

As a physician, he was well versed in the science of medicine, 
>ind very extensively employed, not only in his own town, but for 
many years in the neighbouring places ; and such was his re- 
putation, that he was sometimes called out of the colony. In 
attending the sick, he was careful not to lose the character 
of a minister in that of a physician, but intermingled with 
prescriptions for the body, advice and instruction for the soul. 
The standing of Mr. Elliot as a divine and physician, pre- 
supposes an extensive acquaintance with literature. In history, 
natural philosophy, botany and mineralogy he excelled. Nor 
did his knowledge rest in speculation : he was eminently a prac- 
tical man. By several small treatises, he laboured to improve 
the agriculture of his country. Some considerations had led 
him to believe that the black sand, which appears occasionally 
on the beach of the Sound might bo wrought into iron. He 
made an experiment upon it in the year 1 76 1 and succeeded. For 
this discovery, he was honoured with a medal, by the Society in- 
stituted in London for the encouragement of arts, manufactures 
and commerce. 

Mr. Elliot was fond of society ; and by a pleasant and socia- 
ble temper, connected with his various talents, was eminently 
qualified to secure and entertain friends. His acquaintances and 



112 Statistical Account of Middles tte County y 

correspondents were numerous. Among these were Dr. Frank- 
lin, and Dr. Berkley, Bishop of Cloyne. By his representa- 
tions, and those of a few others, the latter gentleman was led 
to make extensive benefactions to that institution, whose instruc- 
tion Mr. Elliot had shared, and with which for thirty-two years 
he was connected in the capacity of a trustee. 

In charities he abounded. Much of his practice was perform- 
ed crratuitously. But while he scattered he increased. Wise in 
his calculations, he acquired a large landed estate, which laid 
the foundation for the wealth of a numerous family. 

Notwithstanding his numerous avocations and employments, 
he was preserved by the blessing of God upon a firm constitu- 
tion to a good old age, steadily advancing the happiness of all 
around him. For more than forty years, he never failed of 
preaching at home or abroad a part of every sabbath. He died 
in 1763, and was succeeded in the charge at Killingworth, the 
next year, by the Rev. Eliphalet Huntington. 

Mr. Huntington was strongly attached to the doctrines of 
grace, and a warm and zealous preacher. He fell a victim to 
the small pox, in 1777. 

His successor was the late reverend and beloved Achilles 
Mansfield ; a gentleman distinguished for mild and pleasant 
manners, for uniformity and sweetness of disposition, and for the 
patient endurance of afflictions. He also possessed a liberal 
share of ministerial gifts and graces. For several years he was 
a fellow of Yale-College. 

The pastor of the church in Killingworth at this time, is the 
Rev. Hart Talcott. 

The inhabitants of North-Killingworth, though several years 
contemplating it, were not formed into a distinct parish until May 
1735. In Jan. 18, 1738, fifty persons who had been members 
of the first church in the town, were formed into a new church, 
and the Rev. William Seward was at the same time constituted 
their pastor. 

Mr. Seward was the son of Dea. William Seward of Durham. 
His natural talents were good ; and though he spent a portion of 
his time in manual labour, his acquisitions were respectable. 
As he preached without notes in the latter part of his life, his 
sermons may not have possessed all the correctness they would, 
if they had been written ; but they were replete with sound evan- 
gelical instruction. Having a deep sense of the value of truth 
m his own soul, he laboured to bring his people to understand 
and practise it. To all these he was a father, and friend ; from 
them he received continually the expressions of affection and es- 
teem ; and had abundant occasion through life, to rejoice iu their 
regular religion"^ habit?. After a ministry of forty-four y^?rs. 



Town of Killingworlh, 113 

he fell asleep, and entered, as there is good reason to believe, 
into the joys of his Lord. 

The Rev. Henry Ely was ordained in this place in 1782, and 
dismissed in 1801. 

His successor, the Rev. Josiah B. Andrews, was ordained in 
1802, and dismissed in 1811. 

Divisions growing out of events which attended the dismission 
of these two clergymen, both of whom are still living, rendered 
the prospects of this parish gloomy for a season. But the minds 
of the people became gradually tranquil, and they are now unit- 
ed and happy under the ministry of the Rev. Asa King, who was 
for some years settled in the town of Pomfret. 

A few individuals professed themselves Episcopalians in Kil- 
iingworth 40 or 50 years ago ; but they kept up meetings only 
for a short period. 

In 1800, an Episcopal society was formed in North-Killing- 
worth and the adjoining parish of North- Bristol, in Guilford, 
which includes all the Episcopalians in those two parishes. This 
had only two families at first, from North-Killingworth ; but it 
has now thirty or forty. The society is a part of the cure of 
!hc Rev. David Baldwin of Guilford. 

Some families from the two parishes in this town belong to the 
Baptists who meet for worship in the west part of Pautapoug. 
Some also in the village of Killingworth, who embraced the 
Baptist sentiments in 1806, connected themselves with the Bap- 
tists at Pautapoug Point in July 1811, as was noticed in the ac- 
count of Saybrook. 

A few Methodist families in the northern part of the town, be- 
long to the Methodist Society in Haddam ; a few also attend meet- 
ing in North-Bristol. 

From a revival which prevailed in North-Killingworth in 1801 
and 2, a very considerable addition was made to the church. 
From an extensive revival which spread through this town, and 
some adjoining places in the winter of 1809 — 10, about 40 were 
brought into the communion of the church in Killingworth parish, 
and 51 into the communion of the church in North-Killingworth. 



A 



STATISTICAL ACCOUNT 



OF THE 



TOWN OF DURHAM. 



This Town is from 5 1-2 to 6 1-2 miles long, from east to west, 
and 4 miles broad, and comprizes about 15,360 acres. It is 
bounded by Killingworth and Guilford, on the south ; by Wal- 
lingford, on the west; by Middletown, on the north; and by 
Haddam, on the east. That portion of it, known by the name 
of Haddam Quarter, formerly belonged to Haddam ; and the 
whole of it was supposed to belong to the neighbouring towns, 
until they were surveyed ; when a tract was found to be left. 
This was small for a distinct plantation ; and does not appear to 
have been contemplated with that view for a long period : but 
many lots or farms in it, were granted by the Legislature to per- 
sons who had performed important services for the Colony. In 
this way, more than 5000 acres became the property of indivi- 
duals, before any setdement was made. 

These grants proved unfavourable to the settlement of the 
town, for the grantees were widely dispersed in Connecticut; 
and were so situated, most of them, that they could not remove 
and occupy their rights ; or that they did not wish to alienate 
them. The large grant to Killingworth, in 1686, described in 
the account of that town, was still more unfavourable. 

In 1698, however, David Seward from Guilford moved into the 
town, and some of his neighbours contemplated following him. 
The next spring therefore, a petition was presented to the Le- 
gislature, signed by thirty-one inhabitants of that town, that there 
might be a plantation at Coginchaug, the Indian name of Dur- 
ham. This was urged on the ground that Coginchaug was so 
far from other settlements, that the people could not go to them 
for public worship. The petition was granted, and soon after a 
site was selected for a meeting-house on a hill in the southern 



Town of Durham. lib 

part of the town, which from that circumstance is called meet- 
ing-house hill to this day. But very few of the petitioners left 
Guilford, and no plantation was immediately formed. 

In May 1704, the proprietors of farms at Coginchaug, be- 
sought the Assembly for some act, which should encourage a 
settlement at that place. In answer to this, the Assembly de- 
creed, or rather proposed, that the proprietors should give up 
one fourth part of their farms, and that the part thus given up, 
with the common lands should be laid out in lots, for such per- 
sons as should offer themselves for inhabitants. The Assembly 
also proposed to the people of Killingworth to do the same, 
with respect to the tract granted to them, (for the idea of annex- 
ing that to a settlement at Coginchaug had already occurred,) 
and it was provided, on condition of their consenting to this, 
that they should have the privilege of appointing from among 
themselves, their proportion of a committee to lay out the lots. 
At the same time it was enacted, that the plantation at Cogin- 
chaug should be called Durham. 

These proposals were accepted, and settlers came in from 
various places ; who, in May 1708, were favoured with a pa- 
tent, confirming to them all the lands in the township. The 
number of adult male inhabitants at that time, was thirty- 
four, most of whom were heads of families. Their names were 
as follow, viz. Caleb Seward, David Seward, Joseph Seward, 
David Robinson and Joel Parmelee, from Guilford ; the Rev. 
Nathaniel Chauncey, Isaac Chauncey, Robert Coe, Joseph Coe, 
Samuel Fairchild, James Curtis, Jehiel Hawley and Benjamin 
Baldwin, from Stratford ; Richard Beach and Benjamin Beach, 
supposed to have been from the same place ; James Baldwin, 
Samuel Camp, William Roberts, Samuel Sanford and Thomas 
Wheeler, from Milford ; Joseph Gaylord, Joseph Gaylord, Jr. 
John Gaylord, Joseph Hickcox and Stephen Hickcox, from Wa- 
terbury ; Joseph Norton and Samuel Norton, from Saybrook 5 
John Sutliff and Nathaniel SutlifT, from Deerfield; James Wads- 
worth, from Farmington ; Jonathan Wells, from Hatfield ; Hen- 
ry Crane, from Killingworth ; Hezekiah Talcott, from Hartford; 
and Ezekiel Buck, from Weathersfield. 

Directly after they received their patent, these settlers pur- 
chased of the inhabitants of Killingworth, the jurisdiction of the 
tract granted to them, for which they gave them the fee of 60 
acres of land. 

They were very early joined by John Norton, from Saybrook, 
by the ancestors of the Lymans, Parsonses and Strongs, from 
Northampton ; of the Newtons, Guernseys, Tibbalses, Mer- 
wins andCanfields, from Milford ; of the Pickets, from Stratford ; 
of the Bateses, from Haddam ; and of the Hulls from Kiljing- 

15 



Hi Statistical Account of Middlesex County ^ 

worth. In later periods, families have settled in the town, by 
the name of Hall, Hart, Bishop and Scranton, from Guilford; 
of Smith and Johnson, from Middletown, of Chalker and Love- 
land from Say brook, and of Butler, from Branford. 

As early as 1723, John Sutliff, Nathaniel Sutliif, and probably 
some others from Durham, settled on Haddam-Quarter. Per- 
sons also from other towns settled on this tract. These had the 
consent of the people of Haddam, that they might attend public 
worship in Durham ; and in Oct. 1773, the Quarter was annex- 
ed to this town. 

There is no evidence that the Indians ever dwelt in Durham 
in any considerable numbers, or for long periods ; but they re- 
sorted to it occasionally for the purpose of hunting. They were 
however regarded as the rightful owners of the soil, and their 
title was purchased by Samuel Wyllys and others, on the 24th 
of Jan. 1 672, at the same time that a purchase was made of lands 
in Middletown. 

This is a good farming township, and the inhabitants are em- 
ployed, almost universally, in the cultivation of the earth* 
They formerly raised wheat in large quantities for market. 
They now raise good crops of rye, corn, oats, flax, &c. 

The town also is very pleasant. The principal setdement is 
on the road which runs through it from north to south, on ground 
moderately elevated, descending to the right and left. Imme- 
diately to the right, is a large tract of low land, and then a tract 
of higher land, extending to Wallingford Mountains. On the 
left is an interval, east of which, the land rises into hills, as it 
does also in the southern part of the township. 

The tract of low land, was called by the Indians Coginchaug. 
or the long swamp, and from this the name was applied to the 
township. This is generally cleared, and yields a large quantity 
of coarse grass. The tract might be rendered valuable by more 
effectual draining. 

The largest stream in Durham, is that which rises at the foot 
of Bluff Head in Guilford, runs north through the swamp just 
named, and passes into Middletown ; in the account of which it 
is described. This receives one or two brooks from the west on 
its passage through this place, and also Allen's brook from the east. 

In the northeast corner of the town is Miller's Pond, a mile 
in circumference. This is the source of Miller's brook, which 
runs into Middletown. At the southwest corner, partly in this 
to^vn, is Pistapog Pond. This is remarkable, as containing 
within its limits, in a single monument, the corner boundary of 
four towns, viz. Durham, Guilford, Branford and Wallingford. 
This is a mile long and half a mile wide, and sends forth a small 
stream, which runs through Branford and East-Haven, into the 
Sound. Both these ponds furnish small fish. 



. . jTown of Durham, il? 

There is a. quarry of free stone in Haddam-Quartcr, from 
which stone have been taken to a limited extent for 70 or 80 
years. 

The first white child born in this town was Ephraim Seward, 
son of Mr. Seward, the first settler, He was born Aug. 6, 1 700, 
and died in 1780. 

In 1756, there were 799 inhabitants in Durham, exclusive of 
Haddam-Quarter, in which there may have been 100 or 150 
more. In 1774, there were 1076, and in 1810, 1101. 

The reason that there has been no more increase of popula- 
tion for many years is, that individuals and families have re- 
moved almost perpetually to other places. Many of the early 
settlers of the town have no descendants here at the present 
time, or none who bear their names. Some of the people re- 
moved to Granville, in Massachusetts, about 1750, some to San- 
dersfield about 1765, and some to West-Stockbridge and Rich- 
mond, about 1786. Some removed to Durham in the State of 
New-York about 1788; some to Whitestown about 1796, 
and others at more recent periods have gone to New-Connec- 
ticut. 

The inhabitants of Durham made early provision for the en- 
joyment of the worship and ordinances of the Lord ; and it is a 
remarkable fact, that they are now enjoying, after the lapse of 
considerably more than a century, the labours of their third mi- 
nister. In May 1706, the Rev. Nathaniel Chauncey wa§ pro- 
cured to preach to them. He remained with them as a candi- 
date until Feb. 7, 1711, when he was ordained their pastor. 

Mr. Chauncey was the son of the Rev. Israel Chauncey of 
Stratford, and grandson of the Rev. Charles Chauncey, presi- 
dent of Harvard College. He received his education in Con- 
necticut, and was the first person on whom the honours of Yale- 
College were conferred, having never been graduated at any other 
seminary. Through the agency of a friend in England, he pur- 
chased a very large and valuable library, and thus provided the 
means of gratifying his love of reading and study, of enlarging 
his views, and of rendering himself more extensively useful. 
Through life he was regarded as a man of wisdom and pru- 
dence, as a good scholar, and as an able divine. His sermons 
were wholly written, but he never carried his notes into the 
desk, unless in quite the latter part of his days ; and of course 
he was in the habit of preaching from memory. His elocution 
was distinct, and his addresses grave and pungent. In his fami- 
ly and among his people, in all the relations and duties of life, 
his conduct was such as becomes the Gospel. After a ministry 
of almost fifty years, including the time of his services as a can- 
didate, he descended to the grave, greatly lamented. The Rev. 



118 Statistical Account of Middlesex County ^ 

Mr. Todd of East-Guilford, preached a sermon on the occasion 
of his death, and drew his character with the affection of a 
friend, and the faithfuhiess of a historian. 

The Rev. Elizur Goodrich, D. D. succeeded him in the autumn 
of 1756, and like him possessed a distinguished and excellent 
character. 

Dr. Goodrich was both a graduate and tutor of Yale-College. 
After settling in Durham, he had the use of the important libra- 
Ty of his predecessor. As this consisted of books generally 
written in Latin, he read extensively in that language. He was 
also well versed in Greek, and excelled in Hebrew. As a 
mathematician he had few equals, and probably no superiors in 
our country. He was indeed a sound and general scholar. As 
a minister of the Gospel, few understood better the evidences of 
Christianity, or were more able to defend the Bible as a revela- 
tion from heaven. In preaching he dwelt principally upon the 
more common subjects of faith and morals, because he judged 
them to be the most useful. In prayer his mouth was filled with 
arguments, especially on sudden and affecting occasions. In 
connection with his official and stated services, he fitted many 
young men for a public education, and superintended others in 
pursuing studies, preparatory to the ministry. In cases of diffi- 
culty he w^as abundantly consulted by his brethren, and by the 
neighbouring churches ; and he uniformly employed his talents 
and influence in the promotion of order and peace. In 1776, 
he was elected a fellow of Yale-College, and ever after had an 
extended and happy influence in the management of the affairs of 
that important institution. On " Nov. 1 7, 1 797, he set out from his 
house on an annual visit to the Collegiate lands in the county of 
Litchfield. The following Sabbath he preached at Litchfield, 
and on Monday rode to Norfolk. He lodged at the house of 
Capt. Titus Ives, and went to bed in his usual health and cheer- 
fulness. In the morning he rose early, and having partly dress- 
ed himself, fell upon the floor in an apoplectic fit and expired, in 
the 64th year of his age and 42d of his ministry. His remains 
were brought to Durham the succeeding Saturday, and followed 
to the grave by his family, church and congregation, and a nu- 
merous concourse of strangers." President Dwight delivered 
an appropriate and affecting discourse on the occasion, which is 
now in the hands of the public. The eldest son of Dr. Good- 
rich, was the Hon. Chauncey Goodrich, the late respected and 
excellent lieutenant-governor of this State. 

The Rev. David Smith is pastor of the church in Durham at 
the present time. 

A few Methodists arose in this town in 1 802. In 1 803, a por- 
tion of the people were formed into an Episcopal society, and 



Tow7i of Durham. 119 

some have declared themselves by certificates to be strict or re- 
formed Congregationalists. But no denomination beside the 
Congregational, holds meetings constantly on the sabbath, ex- 
cept the Methodist. 

There is only one school district in this town, though schools 
are taught in five difierent places. But one school appears to 
have been kept until Dec. 1737, when the people on the west 
side of Coginchaug swamp were allowed to have a school. One 
was set up soon after at the north end of the town. 

Mr. Ebenezer Robinson, who died Oct. 10, 1789, gave a lega» 
cy for the benefit of a school in the center of Durham, provided 
it should be kept 1 1 months annually. This consists partly of 
money and partly of land, and amounts to about 400 dollars. 

The following distinguished characters must be noticed. 

Col. James Wadsworth, one of the first settlers, was bred a 
lawyer, and though it is not likely that he was ever extensively 
employed in that capacity, yet he was called to various public 
services. The people of Durham gave him almost all the offices 
at their disposal ; and when his abilities and worth came to be 
generally known, he was honoured repeatedly by appointments 
from the Colony. He was the first justice of the peace in the 
town, and had the command of the first military company at its 

» formation. Upon the organization of the militia in 1 739, he was 
constituted colonel of the 10th regiment. For a time he was 
justice of the quorum for the county of New- Haven. From 
1718 until 1751, he was an assistant. In May 1724, he was ap- 
pointed with several other gentlemen, to hear and determine all 
matters of error and equity, brought on petition to the General 
Assembly, and from 1725 until he left the Council, was one of 
H the judges of the Superior Court. In fulfilling the public duties 
assigned him, ability and integrity were alike conspicuous ; while 
an exemplary attendance upon the worship and ordinances of 
the Lord, gave a peculiar dignity to his character. He died in 
Jan. 1756, aged 78. 

Col. Elihu Chauncey, son of the Rev. Mr. Chauncey, was an 
upright, useful and worthy man. For a very long period he was 
connected with the county court in New-Haven c*'unty, either 
as a justice of the quorum or as judge ; and for forty years, with 
scarcely an exception, he represented the town in the General 
Assembly, He died in April 1791, aged 81. 

Gen. Phinehas Lyman, an officer in the second French war, 
was born in Durham, but I am not sufficiently acquainted with 
his history to give his character ; and as he removed from the 
town after completing his education, it does not so properly be- 
long to this work. 

The late Gen. James Wadsworth, was son of James Wads- 



1 20 Statistical Account of J^^ddlesex County^ 

worth Esq., and grandson of Col. Wadsworth, whose character has 
just been related. He was graduated at Yale-College in 1743 ; 
and settling in his native town, was soon advanced in milita- 
ry life ; and afterwards was constituted by the Assembly the 
commander of a brigade. For two or three years, in the course 
of the revolutionary war, he was a member of Congress. Vox 
some time he was justice of the quorum, and then judge of the 
Court of common pleas in New- Haven county. In 1786 and 
87, he was controller of public accounts in the State; and from 
1785 until 1789, a member of the Council. At the latter period, 
some objections in his mind against taking the oath of fidelity to 
the constitution of the United States, induced him to retire from 
public business. He died in Sept. 1816, aged 87. 

Gen. Wadsworth was a gentleman of dignified manners, of 
sound understanding, and of the strictest morals. 

A revival of religion of considerable extent, prevailed in Dur- 
ham about 1736 and 7. Revivals also prevailed here in 1803, in 
1808 and in 1815 ; by the first of which, 63, by the second 60 
or 70, and by the third, 32 persons, were brought into the com- 
munion of the Congregational church. 



NOTES 



ILLUSTRATING THE PRECEDING ACCOUNT. 



^Ilvif 1^4 



Note A^ referred to, page 3. 

As Middlesex county was not formed until the spring of 1786; 
the inhabitants of the several towns must have repaired to the 
courts, in the counties to which they previously belonged, in 
civil and criminal suits, (from the time of the organization of 
those counties,) up to this period. This was true of Durham stil! 
later, as that town did not become a part of Middlesex till the 
autumn of 1799. Several gentlemen in these towns appear, from 
the records of the Colony and State of Connecticut, to have held 
seats in the courts of Hartford, New-London and New-Haven 
counties. 

The Hon. John Hamlin of Middletown was Judge of the county 

court for Hartford county, from May 1715 to 1716 

The Hon. Jabez Hamlin do, „ „ 1754 „ 1784 

The following gentlemen were justices of the quorum for the 
same county, viz. 

Hon. Jabez Hamlin of Middletown, from May 1745 to 1754 

Seth Wetmore Esq. do. ,, ,, 1761 ,, 1778 

Hon. Hezekiaii Brainerd of Haddam, „ „ 1722 „ 1723 

Hon. Joseph Spencer of East-Haddam, „ „ 1778 ,, 1779 

The Hon. Samuel Lynde of Saybrook was Judge of the county 
court for New-London county, from 1729 to 1752 

The following gentlemen were justices of the quorum, viz. 

Nathaniel Lynde Esq. of Saybrook, (generally if not uniform- 
ly,) from May 1689 to 1721 
Daniel Taylor Esq. do. „ „ 1701 „ 1722 
Hon. Samuel Lynde do. ,, „ 1724 „ 1729 
John Murdock Esq. do. ., ^ — — 



51 



122 Statistical Account of Middlesex Couniy ^ 

Elihu Chauncey Esq. of Durham was Judge of the county 

court for New- Haven county, from May 1773 to 1778 

Hon. James Wadsworth do. „ „ 1778 " 1789 

The following gentlemen were justices of the quorum, viz. 

Hon. James Wadsworth of Durham, from May 1716 to 1718 
Elihu Chauncey Esq. do. „ „ 1752 „ 1773 

Hon. James Wadsworth do. ,, „ 1773 „ 1778 

Middlesex county court has been constituted as follows. 

JUDGES. 

Gen. Dyar Throop of E. Haddam, from May 1785 to May 1789 
Col. Mat. Talcott of Middletown, „ Oct. 1789 „ „ 1790 
Gen. William Hart of Saybrook, „ May 1790 „ ,, 1796 
Dr. John Dickinson of Middletown, „ ,, 1796 „ „ 1807 
Hon. Asher Miller do. „ ,, 1807 

Justices of the quorum. 

Col. Mat. Talcott of Middletown, from May 1785 to Oct. 1789 
Dr. John Dickinson do. „ ,, „ „ May 1796 

Col. Wm. Worthington of Saybrook, „ „ „ „ ,, 1786 
Dr. Hezekiah Brainerd of Haddam, „ ,, „ „ „ 1795 
Ebenezer White Esq. of Chatham, „ „ 1786 „ „ 1796 

Gen. William Hart of Saybrook, „ Oct. 1789 ,, „ 1790 

Hez. Lane Esq. of Killingworth, „ May 1790 „ „ 1802 

Jabez Chapman Esq. of E. Haddam, ,, „ 1795 „ „ 1802 

Jonathan Lay Esq. of Saybrook, „ „ 1796 ,, ,, 1806 
ABRA'MPiERSONEsq.of Killingworth, „ „ 1797 „ ,, 1802 
Elij. Hubbard Esq. of Middletown, ,, „ 1802 „ „ 1808 

Col. Eliph. Holmes of E. Haddam, „ „ „ ,, „ 181? 

Wm. Morgan Esq. of Killingworth, ,, „ „ „ ,, „ 

Gen. Seth Overton of Chatham, „ „ 1806 „ „ 1818 

Col. Lemuel Storrs of Middletown, ,, Oct. 1808 ,, Dec. 1816 

Col. JosiAH Griffin of E. Haddam, ,, May 1817 ,, May 181F 

Joshua Stow Esq. of Middletown, „ „ 1818 

Joel Pratt Esq. of Saybrook, ,, „ „ 

State's Attornies. 

Hon. Asher Miller of Middletown, from 1 785 to 1 794 

Hon. Samuel W. Dana, do. ,, 1794 „ 1797 

Hon. J. O. MosELYof E. Haddam, „ 1797 „ Mar. 1806 

Hon.S.T.HosMER of Middletown, „Marchl805„ „ 1815 
Matthew T. RussEL Esq. do. „ June 1815 ,, Sept. 1818 
Major Andre Andrews Esq. do. „ Sept. 1818 



Js'oUs. i 23 

Clerks, 

Hon. S.T. HosMERofMiddletown,from — 1785 to Dec. 1800 
John FisK Esrj. do. „ Dec. 1800 

Sheriffs. 

Wjvf. W. Parsons of Middlctown, from 1785 to Oct. 1791 

Enoch Parsons Esq. do. „ Oct. 1791 „ May 1813 

J. Lawrence Lewis Esq, do. ,, May 1818 

Until May 1666, the " probation of wills and other testamen- 
tary matters" in Connecticut, were transacted in what was then 
called the " Court of Magistrates." After this for 30 or 40 years 
they were transacted in the county courts, and then distinct pro- 
bate courts were established in the several counties. These 
were succeeded by the district probate courts which exist at 
the present time. 

In Oct. 1 74 1 , the towns of Haddam, East-Haddam, Colchester, 
Hebron and that part of Middletow^n [now Chatham] lying south 
of Salmon river, were formed into a probate district, called the 
district of East-Haddam. Haddam was taken from this and 
united to a new district in May 1752, and Hebron in May 1789. 
The following gentlemen have been judges of this court ; viz, 

Hon. John Bulkley of Colchester from Oct. 1741 to — — 1753 

Hon. J. Spencer of E. Haddam „ 1753 ,, Jan, 1789 

Isaac Spencer Esq. do. „ Jan. 1789 „ May 1818 

B. Trumbull Jr. Esq. of Colchester ,, May 1818 

N. B. In May 1776, Daniel Brainerd, Esq. of East-Haddam, was appointed 
to act as judge of this court while the Hon. Joseph Spencer should be out of the 
State in the army of the United States. 

In May 1752, Middlctown, including Chatham, except the 
part lying south of Salmon river, that part of Berlin, formerly 
taken from Middletov/n, Haddam and Durham, were formed into 
a probate district, called the district of Middlctown. Haddam, 
as noticed above, previously belonged to the district of East- 
Haddam, and Durham to the district of Guilford. The judges 
of this court have been : 

Hon. Jabez Hamlin of Middlctown from May 175^ to May 1789 
Hon. Asher Miller do. ,, ,, 1789 „ ,, 1793 

Dr. John Dickinson do. „ „ 1793 „ „ 1807 

Hon. A. Miller do, (re-appointed) ,, „ 1807 

Saybrook and Killingworth, which had bv'^longed to the dis- 
trict of Guilford from Oct. 1719, were formed into a new district 
in May 1780, called the district of Saybrook. The judges of 
this district have been : 

16 



124 



Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 



Col. A. Elliott of Killingv/orth from May 1780 to Dec. 1785 

Hezekiah Lane Esq. do. „ „ 1786 „ Nov. 1809 

Jonathan Lay Esq. of Saybrook ,, ,, 1810 „May 1818 

William Lynde Esq. do. ,, ,, 1818 

The following lists contain the names of those who have befen 
justices, or as they were formerly called commissioners, in the 
towns belonging to Middlesex. The lists for Middletown and 
Saybrook may not be complete, and perhaps the names are not 
arranged in any case, exactly according to the order of appoint- 
ment. Those whose names are printed in italics were appointed 
justices at the time Middlesex county was formed, most of whom 
doubtless had been in the commission of the peace years before. 
Those whose names have an asterisk annexed to them, remov- 
ed from the county. 



MIDDLETOWJf. 



Robert Webster, 
Hon. Giles Hamlin, 
Nathaniel White, U. H. 
Thomas Ward, 
Hon. John Hamlin, 
Israhiah Wetmore, 
Giles Hall, 
Joseph Southmaid, 
Seth Wetmore, 
George Pliillips, 
Joseph Clark, 
Hon. Titus Hosmer, 
Thomas Johnson, U. H. 
Hon. Jabez Hamlin, 
Matthew Talcott, 
Samuel H. Parsons, 
Dr. John Dickinson^ 
JVatha^iH Chauncey^il.H. 
Philip Mortimer, 
Elijah Trcadioay, 
Isaac Miller, M. 
Gen. Comfort Sage, 
Hon. A sher Miller, 
Benjamin Williams, 
Nathaniel Gilbert,* W. 
Chauncey Whittlesey, 
Hon. Samuel W. Uana, 
Hon. S. Titus Hosmer, 
MatUiew T. Russcl, 
Elijah Hublxird, 
Nehemiah Hubbard, 
Ebenezer Sage, 
Isaac Gridley, U. H. 
Ames Sage, 
Amos Churchel,*' W. 
Lemuel Storrs, 



Deal lis. 



Sept. 1, 
Aug. 27, 



1689 
1711 



Jan. 2, 1733 



Feb. 11, 
June 8, 
April 12, 
Feb. ~ 
April 21, 
April 4, 
Dec. 26, 
April 25, 
Aug. 29, 
Nov. 17, 
Oct. 3, 
Sept. 3, 
Mar. 15, 



1750 
—72 
—78 
—78 
—78 
—80 
—74 
—91 
1802 
1789 
1811 
1798 
1794 



July 20, 
Mar. 14, 

June 15, 

Mar. 14, 



1817 
1799 

1812 

—12 



67 

82 

74 

69 
75 
78 
67 
581 
43 
56 
82 
89 
52 
82 
77 
84 

80 
67 

45 

65 



May 30, —08 62 



Nov. 29. —16 63 



MIDDLETOfVN. 



Ebenezer Roberts 2d W, 
John Pratt, 
William Plumbe, 
Elijah Hubbard, 
Alexander Colliris, 
Richard Alsop, 
Samuel Eells, 
EU Coe, M. 
Samuel Wetmore,* 
Jozeb Stocking, U. H. 
Josiah Sage, U. H. 
Chauncey Whittlesey, 
Levi H. Clark,* 
Samuel Gill, 
Daniel J . Griswold, W. 
Alexander Wolcott, 
Elisha Coe, M. 
Seth Paddock, 
Arthur W. Magill, 
Major A. Andrews, 

CHATHAM. 

Joseph White, 
Nathaniel Freeman, 
David Sage, 
Ebenezer White, 
Joseph Dart, M. H. 
John Clark, E. H. 
Jonathan Penjield, 
Bryant Parmelee, E. H. 
James Bill, E. H. 
tiezekiali Goodrich, 
Chauncey B ulkley,M.H . 
Daniel Shepherd, 
David White, 
Gen. Seth Overtoil, 



Deaths. 



Sept. 14, 1815 
Aug. 20, —15 



Dec. 14, 
Sept. 6, 
Nov, 25, 
July 29, 
May 5, 
Aug. 8, 
July 23, 
Jan. 6, 



1770 
—91 
1803 
—17 
1791 
1809 
1794 
1817 



April— 1817 
May 10, —18 






41 

55 



78 
86 
90 
53 
94 
69 
84 

72 

7:. 



Notes. 



\U 



CHATHAM. 



Da\4d Clark, E. H. 
Stephen Griffith, M. H. 
John Parmelee, E, H. 
Nathaniel Cornwell, 
William Dixon, 
Cyrus Bill,* M.H. 
Asahei H. Strong, M.H. 
Joseph Dart, M.H. 
Ralph Smith, M. H. 
George White, 
Amasa Daniels, Jr.M.H, 
Sparrow Smith. E. H. 

HADDAM. 

George Gates, 
Daniel Brainerd, 
Jaraes Wells, 
Hon.Hezekiah Brainerd, 
Col. Hezekiah Brainerd, 
Joseph Wells, 
Jabez Brainerd, 
Joseph Brooks J 
J^eJiemiah Brainerd, 
Hezekiah Brainerd, 
Cornelius Higgins, 
Ezra Brainerd, M. H. 
Col. Daniel Brainerd, 
Edward Selden,* 
Smith Clark, 
Stephen Tibbals, 
Oliv er Well?, 
Levi Waixl,* 
Jonathan Huntington, 
Reuben R. Chapman, 

M. H. 
Linus Parmelee, jr. 
Timothy Chapman, 
Gen. John Brainerd, 
John Brainerd, 
Joseph Arnold, 
Joseph Scovil, 

EAST-HADDAM. 

John Chapman, 
Thomas Gates, 
Samuel Olmsted, 
Jabez Chapman, 
Stephen Hosmer, 
Daniel Cone, 
Thomas Adams, 
Hon. Joseph Spencer,M. 
Daniel Brainerd, 
Gen. Dyer Throop, 
Col. Jabez Chapman, 
Samuel Estabrook. M. 
Israel Spencer, H. 
Timothy Gate^, 



Deaths. 



Jan. 7, 1818 



About 
April 1, 
lycc. 21, 
May «4, 
Dec. 14, 
July — 
Aug. 20, 
Dec. 14, 
Nov. 8, 
July 6, 
Oct. 14, 

Dec. 2, 

June 9, 



1725 

—15 

— 44 
—27 
—74 
—77 
—78 
—97 
1807 
—05 
—03 

—09 

—13 



41 



April 20, 
July 27, 
Sept. 2, 
Dec. 20, 
May 27, 
April — 
Jan. 13, 
Jan, 9, 
June 4, 

Oct. 26, 

Nov. 18, 



1734 
—47 
—59 
—21 
—76 
—58 
—89 
—77 
—89 

—76 
1813 



EAST-HADDAM. 



Deaths. 



Jan. 22, 1813 



-11 



Samuel Huntington, 

John Chapman, M. 

John Percival, 

Isaac Spencer, M. 

Col. Eliph. Holmes, H 

Thomas Moseley, M. D. Aug. 13, 

Hon. Jon. O. Moseley, 

Timothy Gates, jr. 

Ebenezer Holmes, H. 

Abner Hall,* 

Jared Spencer, M. 

John Brainerd, 

Col. Josiah Griffin, M. 

Israel Cone, M. 

William Cone, T^. 

Sylvester Chapman, 

Isaac Chapman, 

William Palmer, 

Samuel P. Lord, 

Diodate Jones, 

Isaac Chester, H. 

William Hungerford, H 



SAYBROOK. 

Hon, George Fenwick,* 
Matthew Griswold, 
Hon. John Mason, 
Hon. Kobert Chapman, 
William Pratt, 
John Chapman, 
Daniel Taylor, 
Daniel Buckingham, 
Nathaniel Lynde, 
Joseph Blague, 
Hon. Samuel Lynde, 
Nathaniel Clark, P. 






Mar. 20, 1797174 



80 



80 



April 4, — 14'49 



Oct, 



1672 or 3 
13, 1607 



moved toE.H. 



Oct. 5, 1729 

Sept. 28, —42 

Sept. 19, —54 

Aug. 21, —72 

Maj. Jedh.Chapman,M.;Feb. 10, —64 



John Tully, 

Col. Samuel Willard, 

Ambrose Whittlesey, 

Samuel Field,* 

Maj. John Murdock, W. 

Hezekiah WTiittlesey, 

John Shipman, 

Justice Bucke, C. 

Timothy Starkey, P. 

Jedediah Chapman, W. 

William Lynde, 

Samuel Tully, 

CoL Wm. Worthing- 

ton,* W. 
Gen. William Hart, 
Benjamin Williams, P. 
Jonathan Lay, W. 
Thomas Siliiman, C. 
Henry Hill, W. 
Samuel Hart, 



Oct. 29, —76 
Dec. 24, —79 
AprU 17, —SQ 



Jan. 21, 
May 16, 

Nov. 21, 



-78 
-85 
-86 



Nov. 1, 1817 
Feb. 29, —16 
June 2, 1787 



7^ 
70 



70 

48 
65 
77 
60 

74 
86 
44 

68 
77 
68 

78 

89 

47 



Aug. 29, 1817 — 
Dec. 7, — OO 73 



Oct. 



1799 



46 



126 



Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 



SAYBROOK. 



._.,__- 

John Bull, T. 
Samuel WiUiam?, P. 
Jonathan Warner, C. 
Maj. John Stauuard, W 
John Piatt*, P. 
(:;iark Nott, P. 
Col. Joseph Hill, P. 
Col. George W. Jew- 
it,* P. 
Pr. Richard Ely, C. 
Col. Elisha Sill, 
Joseph Platts, P. 
Samuel Colt, C. 
William Lynde, 
Augrustus Bushnel, 
Rufu? Clark, 
Joel Pratt, P. 
Stephen Utter, 
James P. Redfield, W. 
Benjamin Holt, C. 

KILLINGWORTH. 

Edward Griswold, 
Henry Cranej, 
Samuel Buel, 
Abraham Pierson, 
Maj. Darid Buel, 
John Lane, 
Jonathan Lane, 
Benjamin Gale, - 
Klnathau Stevens, 
Isaac Kelsey, N. K. 
Joseph Willcox, N. K. 
Col. Aaron Elliot, 
John Pierson^ Js". K. 
Theophilus Morgan, 
Hesekiah LanCf JV. K, 



'Deaths. 



!April27, 1816 



50 



1 


j About 


1711 


Jan. 8, 


—52 


Feb. 25, 


—49 


jOct. 2, 


—59 


Nov. 7, 


—56 


May 6, 


—90 


Dec. 21, 


—76 


Oct. 10, 


—51 


May 3, 


—74 


Dec. 27, 


—85 


Aug. 25, 


—94 


Feb. 7, 


—78 


Nov. 6, 


1809 



killijvg worth. 



George Elltottj 
Job IVright, 
Abraham Pierson, N. K. 
Martin Lord, N. K. 
William Morgan, 
Bezaliel Bristol, N. K. 
Gen. Joseph Willcox, 
George Elliott, 
Dan Lane, N. K. 
Nathaniel Hull, N. K. 
Joel Griswold, N. K. 
Amaziah Bray, 
William Carter, 
David Kelsey, N. K. 
Austin Olcott, 
Benjamin Hnrd, 
Jedediah Harris, N. K. 

DURHAM. 
Hon. James Wadsworth, 
Henrjf Crane, 
Col. Elihu Chauncey, 
James Wadsworth, 
Ho7i. James Wadsworth^ 
Danid HaUy 
Simeon Parsonsy 
Dan Parmelee, 
Charles Coe, 
Guernsey Bates, 
Worthington G. Chaun- 
cey, 
Isaac Newton, 
Job Merwin, 
Bridgman Guernsey, 
James Robinson, 
Lemuel Camp, 



Deaths. 



May 1, 1810 



Jan. 18, —17 



ho 

74 



Jan. 10, 1756 
April 11,-41 
AprillO, — 91 



July 21, 
Sept. 22, 1817 
Dec. 17, 1790 



18 
61 
8» 

7 _ 



87 

73 



Jsfote B, referred to, page 4. 

Agreeably to an enumeration made in the years 1756, 1774, 
and 1810, there were in the towns in Middlesex the following 
number of inhabitants : it being remembered that in the first men- 
tioned year, Chatham was included in Middletown ; viz. 

In Middletown, in 1756, 5,664, in 1774, 4,878, in 1810, 5,382 

Chatham, 2,397 3,258 

Haddam, 1,241 1,726 2,205 

East-Haddam, 1,978 2,818 2,537 

Say brook, 1,931 2,687 3,996 

Killingworth, 1,458 1,990 2,244 

Durham. 799 1,076 



Total, 



13,071 



17,572 



1,101 



20,723 



J^otes, 



127 



A'b^e C, referred tOipai^c 8. 

In Dec. 1815, the towns in Middlesex owned the vessels iol 
lowing ; viz- 







Tons. 
95lhs. 




CO* «^ 

s •< 
Cm c5 


Middletown, _ - - 
Chatham, - - - - 
Iladdam, - - - - 
E. H add am, - - - 
Say brook, - - - •: 
KiiUngworthj - - - 


3 
1 

1 
1 
1 


876 1 
324 6fi 
318 62 
228 22 
233 30 


10 

1 

4 
2 

1 


1,932 86 
204 45 
738 48 
303 29 
204 73 


Total of the County, - 


1 


2,030 86 


18 


3,383 91 



•3 

o 

'-0 


Cm cj 


■■n 

-2 

>2 




Total 
Tons. 


4 

1 

3 

7 
4 


395 67 
162 45 
288 65 

793 82 
251 71 


7 

2 

4 

16 

4 


332 76 
125 5 
394 15 
231 49 
846 30 
138 67 


3,537 40 
816 66 

1,740 
763 .^ 

2,128 26 
390 43 


19 


1,892 45 


38 


2,068 52 


9,375 84 



The amount of shipping owned in Middletown District, in- 
cluding Middlesex and Hartford counties, at that time was 22,580 
tons, ft is however to be noticed that some of the vessels enter- 
ed at the custom-house, were built for market. This was true of a 
considerable number which were owned in Middlesex; and ot 
course the quantity of shipping actually employed in commerce 
was less than is here stated. 

The articles exported from Middletown District in 1815. 
amounted to §93,141 32. The duties on imports for the same 
year, amounted to $ 43,394 14. 



J^ote D, referred to, pag^ 13. 

The parishes in the county h^ve the following number of grist- 
mills, saw-mills, and fulling-mills : to which the number of tan- 
neries is added. 



Middletown parish, - 

Upper Houses, - - 

Middlefield, - - - 

Westfieid, - - - 
Chatham parish, 
Middie-Haddam, 

East-Hampton, - - 

Haddam parish, - - 



Grist- 
mills. 


Saw- 
mills. 


Fulling- 
mills, 


Tanne- 
ries. 


5 


5 


4 


4 


2 


1 





3 


1 


2 


1 


1 


1 


1 








2 


3 


1 


a 


6 


10 


1 




3 


3 


1 


I 


5 


8 


2 


7 



128 



Statistical Account of Middlesex County ^ 



JN'ote Z), continued* 



E. Har.ldam parish, - - - 
Millington, - - - - - 
Hadiyme, in E. Haddam, - 
Saybrook parish, - - - 

Pautapoug, 

Westbrook, 

Chester, 

Killingworth parish, - - 
North-Killingworth, 
Durham, 

Total, 



Grist- 
mills. 


Saw- 
mills. 


Fulling- 
mills. 


3 


10 




3 

1 


9 
4 




2 


1 


] 1 


4 


7 


3 


1 


4 




3 


3 




4 


2 




5 

2 


5 

4 

82 


2 


53 


23 


( 


1 


1 III 1 



Tanne- 
ries. 



55 



Note E, referred te^ page 1 7. 

Pleasure carriages were introduced into the several towns in 
the county, at the following periods ; viz. 

Into Middletown, 
Chatham, 
Haddam, 
E. Haddam, 
Saybrook, 
Killingworth, 
Durham. 



about 1750, which owned in 1814, 246 

in 1768 54 

1785 17 

1769 31 

about 1756 113 

1748 39 

1755 49 



Total, 



549 



Note F, referred to, page 17, 

Staling the number of vessels launched from yards in different 
parts of the county in the year 1815. 



Middletown city, 
Upper-Houses, 
Chatham parish, 











TO 








m 


Tons. 




Tons, 


o 


Tons. 


TO 

o 


Tons, 


1 ^ 




'S 








O 




1 




W 




1 




1 




360 




147 


44 






1 


240 






I 


57 


3 


990 






1 


163 




1 



Total 
tons. 

551 

297 

1153 



J\otes, 
Note Fy cojiiinued^ 



129 





en 


Tons. 




Tons. 


(0 

o 
o 


Tons. 


CI- 

s 


Tons. 


Total 
tons. 




C/2 

2 


675 


m 




CTi 


120 


UJ 






Middle-Haddam, - - 


2 


440 


1 


1235 


Haddam, - - - - 






4 


745 


1 


no 






855 


E. Haddam, - - - 






2 


395 






3 


219 


614 


Say brook parish, - - 






1 


196 










196 


Pautapoug, - - - - 


2 


620 


1 


200 


3 


370 


4 


245 


1435 


Westbrook, - - - - 










2 


245 


4 


178 


423 


Chester, - - - - 










1 


104 






104 


Killingworth parish, - 


8 


2645 


11 


2216 


3 
13 


360 
1619 


4 


280 


640 


Total, ' 


17 


1023 


7503 

1 



J^ote G, referred to, page 18. 

The names of the turnpike roads, partly or wholly in Mid- 
dlesex, their length, the time when they were granted, and 
capital stock. 



Middlesex Turnpike, extending from Say- 
brook through Haddam and Middletown to 
Goife's brook in Weathersfield, 32 miles, 

Hebron and Middle-Haddam Turnpike, 
extending from Hebron meeting-house 
through Marlborough to Middle-Haddam 
Landing, 13 l«-2 miles, 

Middletown and Berlin Turnpike, ex- 
tending from Middletown through Berlin 
into Farmington, 20 miles, . - - - 

Colchester and Chatham Turnpike, ex- 
tending from Colchester through Chatham 
to Middletown Ferry, 18 miles, - - 

Chatham and Marlborough Turnpike, ex- 
tending from Middletown Ferry by Pistol 
Point to Marlborough, 10 1-2 miles, 

East-Haddam and Colchester Turnpike, 
extending from East-Haddam Landing to 
Colchester meeting-house, 10 1-2 miles, 



Granted. 



May 1802 



do. 



May 1808 



Oct. 1808 



Oct. 1809 



do. 



Capital 
Stock. 



g 18,088 



8,232 



14,950 



9,086 



9,086 



6,2G3 



130 



Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 
Note G, continued. 



Granted. 



MiDDLETOWN AND Meriden Turnpike, ex- 
tending from Middletown to Meriden meet- 
ing-house, 7 miles, 

Durham and East-Guilford Turnpike, ex- 
tending from Durham street through North- 
Bristol to East-Guilford green, 14 miles, 

Middletown, Durham and New-Haven 
Turnpike, extending from Middletown 
through Durham and parts of Branford and 
North-Haven to New-Haven, 23 1-2 miles, 

Killingworth and Haddam Turnpike, ex- 
tending from Killingworth street to Higga- 
num in Haddam, 15 1-2 miles, - - - 

A Branch of the above, called Beaver- 
meadow Turnpike, running to Haddam 
street, 4 miles and 101 rods, - - - - 

Haddam and Durham Turnpike, extending 
from Higganum in Haddam to Durham 
street, 7 3-4 miles, 

Chester and North-Killingworth Turn- 
pike, extending from the bridge over Ches- 
ter-Cove to North-Killingworth, 7 miles 
and 53 rods, 



Total. 



Capital 
Stock. 



Oct. 1809 
May 1811 

do. 
Oct. 1813 
Oct. 1815 
May 1815 

May 1816 



7,364 



10,000 

40,000 

10,973 

2,465 

4,100 



3,000 



143,632 



N. B. Chatham and Marlborough Turnpike was at first laid out from Pistol- 
Point to Marlborough. The addition from Middletown Ferry to Pistol-Poiut wa=5 
granted in May 1811. Besides the above, a turnpike from Norwich to New-Ha- 
ven, through East-Haddam and Haddam, was granted in Oct. 1817, and another 
from Pautapoug Point, to East-river bridge, in Guilford, in Oct. 1818 ; which are 
not yet wrought. 

The mail has long been carried on the road from Hartford to 
New-Haven, through Middletown and Durham in this county ; 
"and for a considerable time on the road from New-Haven to 
New- London and Providence, through Killingworth and Say- 
brook. On the first of these a line of stages was established ii; 
1785, and on the second in 1794, and the mail has been general- 
ly carried in the stage since those periods. About the year 1800, 
a post road was established from Middletown, through Chatham, 
to East-Haddam Landing, and thence to New-London; and in 
1802. another, from Middletown, through Haddam, to Saybrook: 



shed 


in 


1775 


do. 


. 


1809 


do. 


- 


1804 


do. 


- 


1817 


do. 


- 


1802 


do. 


- 


1800 


do. 


- 


1810 


do. 


- 


1793 


do. 


- 


1794 


do. 


- 


1817 


do. 


- 


1800 



JSotes, 131 

but in 1810 these were given up; and a rout was established from 
Middletown to Middle-Haddam, Haddam, East-Haddam Land- 
ing, and thence to Saybrook. The post road from Middletown, 
through Chatham and Hebron, to Windham, was established in 
1814 ; that from Middletown, through Chatham, to Colchester, in 
1817; and that from Middletown, through the west part of Had- 
dam, to Killingworth, the same year. 

There are eleven post-offices in the county ; viz. 

Middletown Post-Office, estab 

Upper-Houses, 

Chatham or Knowles's Landing, 

Westchester, 

Haddam, 

East-Haddam, 

Chester, 

Saybrook, 

Killingworth, 

N. Killingworth, 

Durham, 

J^ote H, referred to, page 18. 
The Ferries in Middlesex are as follows ; viz. 

Saybrook Ferry, between Saybrook and Lyme, granted or established in 1662 

Brockway's, Pautapoug and N . Lyme, 1724 

Warner's, Chester and Hadlyme, 176.9 

Chapman*?, Haddam and East-Haddam, 1694 

East-Haddam, do. do. 1811*= 

Haddam, do. and M. Haddam, 1814 

Higganum, do. do. 1763 

Knowles's Lauding, Middletown and do. 18061 

Middletown, do. and Chatham, 1726 

Upper-Houses, do. do. 1759 

All these ferries are private property excepting Higganum Ferry, which belongs 
to the town of Haddam, and MiddletoA\Tx Ferry, which belongs to the town of Mid- 
dletown. 

KoteI<) refer red to, page 19. 

Showing when the houses for public worship, belonging to dif- 
iferent religious denominations, in Middlesex, were erected, and 
their dimensions. 

The two first houses in Middletown were built near the north 
end of what is now Main-street in the city, to accommodate people 

* A ferry had been kept occasionally at this place for 70 years ; but being aban- 
doned a new grant was made. 

t A ferry was granted at Knowles's Landing in 1735, but beinj abandoned, a 
grant was made at this time. 

17 



132 



Statistical Account of Middlesex Couniy y 



in the Upper- Houses. The former, and probably the latter oi 
these, was inclosed with palisades. When the subject of 
erecting the third house was agitated, it is said that different 
divisions of the inhabitants contended for its location at the east, 
north and west corners of the great square, lying between Main 
and High-streets ; that it was agreed to have the point decided 
by lot ; but as there were four corners to the square, it was sug- 
gested it would be well to draw for them all. This was done, 
and the south corner was taken, where none wished the house to 
be erected. But as the lot was considered as expressing the di- 
vine will, the people went forward and built there. The width 
of this house was increased 18 feet in 1740, and rendered a very 
uncouth building. The first meeting-house in Chatham stood on 
the hill south of the Episcopal church. The first in Haddam, 
stood near the dwelling-house of Capt. Samuel Clark, and the se- 
cond near the site of the court-house. The first in East-Had- 
dam was built in the middle of the street, near the dwelling- 
house of Mr. Isaac C. Ackley, and the second 50 or 60 
rods south of the present meeting-house. The first house in 
Saybrook was built on the Point. The sites of the other ancient 
houses of public worship, were near the sites of the present 
houses, or are so w^ell known as to render any information re- 
specting them unnecessary. All the houses in the county have 
hitherto been built of wood, except that owned by the Methodists 
in Middletown, and one recently erected by the Second Baptist 
Society in Pautapoug, which are of brick. Where these have 
had steeples and bells, the letter B is annexed to the name ; where 
steeples only, the letter S. 







Time of 


Length 


Breadtli 


HOUSES IN MIDDLETOWN. 


erection. 


in feet. 


in feet. 


Congregational meetin 


g-house, - 


1652 


20 


20 


do. 


do. B. ^ 


1670 


32 


32 


do. 


do. B. - 


1715 


60 


40 


do. 


do. B. - 


1799 


68 


51 


Episcopal 


do. B, - 


1752 


50 


36 


Strict-Congregational 


do. 


1774 


5^ 


46 


Baptist 


do. 


1809 


53 


38 


Methodist 


do. 


1805 


42 


32 


Upper-Houses. 










Congregational 


do. 


about 1703 


— 


— 


do. 


do. 


1736 


55 


36 


Baptist 


do. 


1803 


46 


36 



jVotcs, 



J od 



Congregational 



Congregational 



MiDDLEFIELD. 

Congregational meeting-house, - 

Westfield. 
Congregational do. 

Baptist do. 

Chatham. 

do. 
do. do. 

Episcopal do. 

Middle-Haddam. 
Congregational do. 

do. do. S. ■■ 

Episcopal (taken down,) do. 

do. at the Landing, do. 

Methodist do. 

East-Hampton. 
Congregational do. 

Haddam. 

do. 

do. do. 

do. do. 

Baptist do. 

Methodist do. 

East-Haddam. 
Congregational do, 

do. do. 

do. do. B. - 

Episcopal do. S. - 

MiLLIxVGTON. 

Congregational do. 

Hadlyme. 
Congregational do. 

Saybrook. 
Congregational do. 

do. do. B. - 

Pautapoug. 

do. 
do. do. B. - 

Episcopal do. S. - 

Baptist 1st Society, do. 



Congregational 



Time of 
erection. 



1745 



Length 
in feet. 



•40 



ill foet. 



40 



1773 


48 


38 


1812 


36 


26 


1716 


40 


26 


1750 


5G 


42 


about 1790 


50 


36 


1744 


44 


36 


1812 


50 


40 


1772 


26 


24 


^ About 
I 1786 or 7 


47 


36 


1796 or 7 


24 


• 23 


1765 


46 


37 


1673 or 4 


28 


24 


1721 


44 


36 


1770 


65 


45 


1793 


32 


25 


1795 


41 


29 


1705 


32 


32 


1728 


55 


40 


1794 


64 


44 


1792 


54 


37 


1743 


50 


40 


1743 


46 


35 


1646 






1726 


50 


36 


1727 


' 40 


30 


1792 


60 


40 


1790 


40 


30 


1775 or 6 


, 30 


25 



134 



Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 









Time of 


Length 


Breadlk 








erection . 


in feet. 


in feet. 


Pautapoug. 












Baptist, 2d Society meeting-house, S. 


1816 


43 


34 


Westbrook. 












Congregational 


do. 


B. - 


1727 


41 


34 


Methodist 


do. 


- 


1817 


40 


32 


Chester. 












Congregational 


do. 


- 


1742 


42 


34 


do. 


do. 


- 


1794 


42 


34 


KiLLINGWORTH. 












Congregational 


do. 


- 












do. 


do. 


- 


about 1 700 




— 


do. 


do. 


B. - 


do. 1733 


60 


38 


North-Killing WORTH. 










Congregational 


do. 


- 


1735 


30 


22 


do. 


do. 


. 


1739 


58 


38 


do. 


do. 


B. - 


1817 


58 


47 


Episcopal 


do. 


- 


1803 


40 


32 


Durham. 












Congregational 


do. 


- 


1711 


40 


40 


do. 


do. 


B. - 


1736 


64 


44 



JSote J, referred to, page 19. 

In 1815, there were 3,688 families in the county, divided 
among the different religious denominations, according to the 
following table ; supposing all the families to belong to some 
denomination or other. Some societies have increased and 
others diminished since that time ; but this will serve as a 
general view of the numbers adhering to different denominations. 



. 


Number of 
families . 


Congrega- 
tionalist. 


a 
o . 

w 


Baptist. 


Methodist. 


O fl 

0.2 

1 -M 

in bn 


HI 

U 
Qi 

> *j; 

•S .22 


Middletown, in the city, 
do. out of the city, 


353 

269 


169 
112 


89 
11 


38 
64 


54 
51 


3 
31 






Total of this society, - 


622 


281 


100 


102 


105 


34 


















Motes, 



135 



Upper-Houses, - - - 
Middlefield, - - - - 
Westfield, - - - - 

Total of the town, - - 

Chatham, - - - - 
Middle-Haddam, (Chat- 
ham Part,) - - - 
East-Hampton, - - - 
Part of Westchester, - 

Total of the town, - - 

Haddam, 

Haddam Neck, - - - 

Total of the town, - - 

East-Haddam, - - - 
Millington, - - - - 
Hadlyme, (East-Haddam 
part,) 

Total of the town, - - 

Saybrook, - - - - 
Pautapoug, - - - ' - 
Westbrook, - - - - 
Chester, 

Total of the town, - - 

Killing worth, - - - 
North-Killingworth, 

Total of the town, - - 

Durham, - - - - 

Total of the county, - 



S 6 



137 

92 
93 



So a 

c o 



122 
41 
53 



944 



219 

149 
147 

20 



535 



390 
57 



447 



184 
182 

55 



421 



155 
300 
162 
115 



732 



184 
233 



417 



192 



3,688 



497 

108 

74 
101 

19 



302 



273 
38 



311 



129 
122 

34 



285 



153 



a 
o . 



103 



93 

35 

7 




IS5 



11 



44 
3 



55 







1871 33 



145 

77 



562 



91 
170 



261 



112 



2,330 



34 



1 
36 



37 



46 



421 






11 

5 

17 



135 



12 

2 

28 

1 



43 



38 
5 



43 



10 
50 

12 



72 



.2 
76 
15 
38 



131 



56 
8 



64 



489 



o 



117 



33 

11 





50 



73 
8 



81 



2 a 

a 

1 ^^ 

•t-> U 

■Ji be 





3 

19 



56 







19 



22 



291 












36- 



36 









25 



88 






















33 

0] 

33 



69 







136 



Statistical Account of Middlesex Comity ', 



Mote K, referred to^ page 19. 

The following table will show at one view, when the towns 
and parishes in Middlesex were settled, when they were incor- 
porated, when the first churches in them were formed, and the 
number of members belonging to those churches, April 11, 1818. 



Middletown, 
Upper- Houses, - 
Middlefield, - - 
Westfield, - - 
Chatham, - - 
Middle-Haddam, 
East-Hampton, - 
Haddam, - - - 
East-Haddam, - 
Millington, - - 
Hadlyme, - - 
Saybrook, - - 
Pautapoug,, - - 
Westbrook, - - 
Chester, - - - 
Killingworth, 
N. Killingworth, 
Durham, - - - 



Set- 
tled. 



Incorporated. 



Churches formed. 



1690 
1710 
1743 
1662 
1670 
1704 
1670 
1635 
1690 
1664 
1692 
1663 
1716 
1698 



May 

May 
May 
Oct. 



1650 Nov. 1653iNov. 4, 
do. May 1703 Jan. 5 
1700 Oct. 1744 About 
1720 May 1766 

1714 

1740 

1748 

1668 

1700 

1733 

1742 

1644 

1722 

1724 

1740 

1663 

1735 

1704 



No. of 
mem 
bers 



Oct. 
Oct. 



May 
May 
Oct. 
Oct. 

May 

May 



1668 
1715 
1747 
Dec. 29, 1773 
Oct. 25, 1721 
Sept. 24,1740 
Nov. 30, 1748 

1696 

Jan. 6, 1704 
Dec. 2, 1736 
June 26, 1745 

1646 

About 1725 
June 25, 1726 
Sept. 15,1742 
About 1667 
Jan. 18, 1738 
Feb. 7, 1711 



Total of members, 



203 

125 

33 

35 

86 

86 

55 

165 

95 

89 

55 

196 

116 

171 

63 

103 

207 

178 



Fe- 
males. 



2061 



54 
31 
9 
II 
21 
30 
16 
49 
36 
18 
18 
70 
30 
60 
22 
27 
82 
63 



647 



149 
94 
24 
24 
65 
56 
39 

116 
59 
71 
37 

126 
86 

111 
41 
76 

125 

115 

1414 



The Episcopal churches in the county had the following num- 
ber of members Oct. 1818 ; viz. 

The Episcopal church in Middletown, - - - 103 
do. do. Chatham, - - - - 40 

do. do, M. Haddam, - - about 20 

do. do, E. Haddam, . . - — 

do. do. Pautapoug, - - - . — 

do. do. N. Killingworth «feN. Bristol, 36* 

The Baptist churches in the county had the following num- 
ber of members at the same time ; viz. 

The Baptist church in Middletown, - - - - 123 
do. Upper-Houses, including some 

professors living in other parishes, 64 



* Twelve of these live in N. Bristol. 



J^otes. 



137 



The Baptist church in Westfield, . . . . 

do. East- Hampton, including profes- 

sors in Haddam, - 
do. East-Haddam, - - - - 

The first Baptist church in Pautapoug, including some 

professors in Chester, &;c. 
The second do. including some professors in Kil- 

lingworth, - . - - 

Total, 



29 

126 
48 

83 

61 

539 



The number of Methodist professors in Middlesex, I am una- 
The church in Middletovvn has more than 100. 



ble to give. 



J^ote L, referred to, page 20. 

Names of those who have been settled ministers in Middlesex, 
places of their birth, &;c. Where the dates are given in italics 
in the fourth column, it denotes that the ministers referred to 
were installed, and the italic characters in the sixth column de- 
note that the ministers referred to were dismissed. Com- 
municants are not stated after April II, 1818. 

CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS. 







Place of 




1 








yAMES. 


Place of Birth. 


Educa- 


Time of Set- 




Deaths or 








tion. 


tlement. 




Dismission, 




MIDDLETOWN. 
















Vatliauiel Collins, 


Cambridge, M. 


Har.1660 


Nov. 4, 1668 


76 


Dec. 28, 


1684 


42 


Yoadiah Russel, 


New- Haven, 


do. 1681 


Oct. 24, 1688 


180 


Dec. 3, 


1713 


54 


vVilliam Ilu?sel, 


Middletown, 


Yai. 1709 


June 1, 1715 


305 


June 1, 


1761 


70 


Enoch Huntington, 


Windham, 


do. 1759 


Jan. 6, 1762 


346 


June 12, 


1809 


69 


Dan Hunlingi,on, 


Lebanon, 


do. 1794 


Sept. 20, 1809 


98 


Feb. 6, 


1816 




C. A. Goodrich, 


New-Haven, . 


do. 1810 


July 24, 1816 


32 


jDec. 23, 


1817 




•ohn R. Crane, 


Newark, N. J. 


Nas. 1805 


Nov. 4, 1818 










I FPER-IIOUSES. 
















Joseph Smith, 


Concord, M. 


Har.1695 


Jan. 5, 1715 


62 


Sept. 8, 


1736 


62 


Eclv.'ard Eelb, 


Srituate, M. 


do. 1733 


Sept. 6, 1738 


138 


Oct. 12, 


1776 


64 


G ershom B ulkl o v. 


Weathersfieid, 


Yal.1770 


June 17, 1778 


85 


June 17, 


1708 




Joshua L. Williams, 


do. 


do. 1805 


June 14, 1809 


84 








MiDDLEFIELD. 
















Ebenezer Gould, 
Joseph Denison, 






Oct. 10, 1747 
Feb. 28, 1765 




About 
Feb. 12, 


1756 
1770 




Windham, 


Yal. 1763 


13 


31 


Abner Benedict, 


N.Salem,N. Y. 


do. 1769 


No%-. 20, 1771 


12 




1785 




Westfield. 
















Thomas Miner. 


Woodbury, 


Yai. 1769 


Dec. 29, 1773 


96 






. 


CHATHAM. 
















Daniel N«\vi], | 


Bristol. 


Yal. 1718 


Oct, 25, 17ei 


50 


Sept. 14.. 


1731 


31 



138 



Statistical Account of Middlesex County ^ 



NAMES. 



Moses Bartlet, 
Cyprian Strong, D.D. 
Eber L. Clark, 
Hervy Taicott, 

MiDDLE-H ADD AM . 

Benjamin Bowers, 
Benjamin Boardman, 
David Selden, 

East-Hamptojv. 
John Norton-, 
Lemuel Parsons, 
Joel West, 

HADDAM. 
Jeremiah Hobart, 
Phinehas Fiske, 
Aaron Cleveland, 
Joshua Elderkin, 
Eleazer May, 
David D. Field, 
John Marsh, Jr. 
EAST-HAr)DAM. 
Stephen Hosmer, 
Joseph Fowler, 
Elijah Parsons, ^ 
Isaac Parsons, 

MlLLINGTOSr. 

Timothy Symraes, 
Hobart Estabrook, 
Diodate Johnson, 
Eleazer Sweetland, 
William Lyman, D.D. 

Hadlyme. 
Grindall Rawson, 
Joseph Vaill, 

SAYBROOK. 
James Fitch, 
Thomas Buckingham, 
Azariah Mather, 
William Hart, 
Fred. W. Hotchkiss, 

Pautapoug. 
Abraham Nott, 
Stephen Holmes, 
Benjamin Dunning, 
Richard Ely, 
Aaron Hovey, 

Westbrook. 
Wm. Worthington, 
John Devotion, 
Thomas Rich, 
Sylvester Selden, 

ChRster. 
Javed Harrison, 



Place of Birth. 



Guilford, 
Farmington, 
Mansfield, 
Coventry, 

Billerica, M. 
Middletown, 
Haddam, 

Berlin, 

Durham, 

Lebanon, 

Hingham, E. 

Milford, 

Medford, M. 

Windham, 

Weathersfield, 

Guilford, 

Weathersfield, 

Hartford, 
Lebanon, 
Northampton, 
Southampton, 

Scituate, M. 

Canterbury, 

Lyme, 

Hebron,' 

Lebanon, 

Mendon, M. 
Litchfield, 



Bocking, Eng. 



Place of 
Educa- 
tion. 



Time of Set- 
tlement. 






Yal. 1730 

do. 1763 

Gul.1811 

Yal; 1810 

Har.1733 

Yal. 1758 

do. 1782 

Yal. 1737 

do. 1773 

Dar.1789 

Har.1650 

Yal. 1704 

Har.1735 

Yal. 1748 

do. 1752 

do. 1802 

do. 1804 

Har.1699 

Yal. 1743 

do. 1768 

do. 1811 

Har.1733 
Yal. 1736 
do. 1764 
Dar.1774 
Yal. 1784 

Har.1728 
Dar.1778 



Windsor, i Yal. 1705 

Guilford, j do. 1732 

New-Haven, do. 1778 



June 6, 1733 
Aug. 19, 1767 
Sept. 25, 1812 
Oct. 23, 1816 

Sept. 24, 1740 
Jan. 5, 1762 
Oct. 19, 1785 

Jiov. 30, 1748 
Feb. 10, 1779 
Oct. 17, 1792 

JVor. 14, 1700 
Sept. 15, 1714 
July — 1739 
June — 1749 
June 30, 1756 
April 11, 1804 
Dec. 16, 1818 

May 3, 1704 

May 15, 1751 

Oct. 28, 1772 

Oct. 23, 1816 

Dec. 2, 1736 
Nov. 20, 1745 
July 2, 1767 
May 21, 1777 
Dec. 13, 1787 

Sept. 18, 1745 
Feb. 9, 1780 

— 1646 
Feb. 5, 1670 
Nov. 22, 1710 
Nov. 17, 1736 
Sept. 24, 1783 



Weathersfield, 

Woodstock, 

Newtowia, 

Lyme, 

Mansfield, 

Colchester, 
Suffield, 
Weston, M, 
Chathaan, 

Bran ford. 



Yal. 1720 
do. 1752 
do. 1759 
do. 1754 

Dar.1798 

Yal. J716 
do. 1754 
do. 1799 

Gul.1807 



24, 



1725 
1757 
1776 



Xov 

In. 

Jan. 18, 1786 

Sept. 5, 



1804 



June 29, 1726 
Dec. 26, 1757 
June 13, 1804 
June 10, 1812 



Yal. 1736 Sept. 15, 1742 



114 

193 

24 
22 

171 
162 
131 



58 
67 



Deaths or 
Dismission. 



Dec. 27, 1766 58 



Nov. 17, 1811 
Aug, 18, 1815 



May 11, 1761 
Sept. — 1783 



Mar. 24, 1778 
Feb. 14, 1791 



b/3 



234 
138 



Nov. 6, 1715 
^ Oct. 17, 1738 
Dis. 1746 
do. 1753 

April 14, 1803 
April U,18\S 



67 



62 



84 

55 



70 



254 
132 
162 

25 



44 

20 

45 

146 

131 
119 



June 16, 1749 
June 10, 1771 



Dis. 1743 
Jan. 28, 1766 
Jan. 1.5, 1773 
Mar. 25, 1787 



Mar. 29, 1777 



Dis. 1660 

; April 31, 1709 63 

1 Feb. 11, 1737 52 

176] July 11, 1784 72 
307! 



70 
48 



49 
28 
36 



69 



101 
75 

61 

193 

81 

33 



Jan. 24, 1756 
Sept, 13, 1773 
May — 1785 
Aug. 23, 1814 



6i 

42 
44 
81 



Nov. 16, 1756 
Sept. 6, 1802 
Sept, 4, 1810 



1751 



60 

7*2 



Notes, 



1J9 



rMMES. 



Simeon Stoddard, 
Elijah Mason, 
Robert Silliman, 
Samuel Mills, 
Neh. B. Beardsley, 
KILLING WORTH. 
John Woodbridge, 
Abraham Pierson, 
Jared Elliott, 
Eliphalet Huntington, 
Achilles Mansfield, 
Hart Talcott, 

N. KlLUNGWORTH. 

William Seward, 
Henry Ely, 
Josiah B. Andrews, 
Asa King", 

DURHAM. 
Nathaniel Chauncey, 
Elizur Goodrich, D.D. 
David Smith, 



Place of Birth. 



Woodbury, 

Hartford, 

Fairfield, 

Canton, 

Stratford, 



Branford, 

Guilford, 

Lebanon, 

New-Haven, 

Bolton, 

Durham, 
Wilbraham,M. 
Southington, 
Mansfield, 

Stratford, 

Weathersfield, 

Bozrah, 



Place of 
Educa- 
tion. 



\al.l755 
do. 1744 



Time of Set- 
tltment. 



Oct. 31, 1759 
May 21, 1767 



do. 1737 Jan. 29, 1772 



do. 1776 
do. 1805 

Har.1664 
do. 1668 

Yal. 1706 
do. 1759 
do. 1770 

Dar.1812 

Yal. 1734 

do. 1778 
do. 1797 



Oct. 
Jan. 



25, 
3, 



1786 
1816 



1667 

In. 1694 

Oct. 26, 1709 
Jan. 11, 17G4 
Jan. 6, 1779 
June 11, 1817 

Jan. 18, 1738 
Sept. 25, 1782 
April 21, 1802 
jYov. 20, 1811 

Yal. 17021 Feb. 7, 1711 
do. l752|Nov. 24, 1756 
do. 1795|Aug. 15, 1799 



■« ■?: 



,0 73 

o ^ 



96 
6 



61 

176 

6 

160 
92 

143 
30 



Deaths or 
Dismission. 



188 



Oct. 27, 1765 

1770 

April 9, 1781 
Feb. 17, 1814 



Dis. '■ 1679 
March 5, 1707 
April 22, 1763 



Feb. 8, 
July 22, 



1777 
1314 



Feb. 5, 1782 
Feb. 12, 1801 
^;jnn6,1811 

Feb. 1, 1756 
Nov. 21, 1797 



bo 

30 

65 
62 



61 

77 
39 
63 



69 



75 
63 



EPISCOPAL MINISTERS. 



MdMES. 


Place of Birth. 


Place of 
Education. 


Commenced 
Services. 


Ceased Ser- 
vices. 


MIDDLETOWN. 

fchabod Camp, » 
Abraham Jarvis, D. D. 
Calvin White, 
Josepli Wai-ren, 
Clement Merriam, 
JohnKewley, M. D. 
Birdsey G. Noble, 

CHATHAM. 
M. Smith Miles, 

EAST-HADDAM. 
."^olomon Blakesley, 


Durham, 
Norwalk, 
Middletown, 


Yal. 1743 
do. 1761 
do. 1786 


July 19, 1752 

1760 

Aug. 16, 1799 


June 19, 1760 
1799 

July 27, ,1800 






^«ii->f irt 1,90'^! A.^»^i "7 ipn«? 


Liverpool, Eng. 
New-Milford, 

Derby, 

North-Haven. 


Cam. E. — 
Yal. 1810 

Yal. 1791 

Yal. 1785 


Mar. 8, 1809 
Mar. 7, 1813 

1796 

1792 


Feb. 19, 1813 



MINISTERS OF THE STRICT-CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 



NAMES. 



MIDDLETOWN. 

Ebenezer Frothingham, 

Stephen Parsons, 

David Huntington, 
Benjamin Graves, 
\hab Jinks, 



Place of Birth. 



Cambridge, M, 

Middletown, 

Lebanon, 
East-Haddam, 
Smitbfield, R. I. 



Place of 
Education. 



18 



Dar. 1773 



Time of 
Settlement. 



1754 

Jan. 31, 1778 

Nov. 8, 1797 

1803 

Aug, 7, 1816 



Time of 
Dismission. 



1778 

^ About 
\ June 1795 
Oct, — 1800 
— 1811 or 12 



140 



Stathiical Account of Middlesex County ; 



BAPTIST MINISTERS. 



NAMES, 



MIDDLETOWN. 
Joshua Bradley, 
George Phippin, 
Jeremiah F. Bridges, 



Place of Birth. 



Kingston, M. 
Salem, M. 
I Colchester, 



Place of 
Education, 



Brown — 
do. — 



Time of 
Settlement. 



June 11, 1812 



Time of 
Dismission. 



July — 1816 



There have been some other Baptist ministers settled in the County, but I am 
tinable to <nve a list of their names. The Methodist churches have been general- 
ly supplied by circuit preachers. 



J^ote M, referred to, page 20. 

The names of those who have been deacons in the several 
Coneregational churches in the County, the time of their election, 
deaths and ages. 

N B. Those marked with asterisks are known to have been ordained. Others 
in East-Haddam and Saybrook churches have been ordained, but I am unable to 
designate the individuals. The persons whose names are printed in italics in the 
account of Middle-Haddam, lived within the bounds of the town of Chatham, and 
those thus printed in the account of Hadlyme, lived in the town of Lyme. 



NAMES. 






!2 






^ 



(^Thomas Allen,* 
Samuel Stocking,* 
John Hall, jr.* 
Daniel Markham,* 
William Sumner,* 
Obadiah Allen, 
Joseph Rockwell,* 
Boriah Wetmore, < 
Solomon Atkins, 
John Hubbard, 
Jonathan Allen, 
^ William Rockwell, 

I Hon. Jabez Hamlin, 
Joseph Clarke, Esq. 
John Earl Hubbard, 
Chaun. Whitdesey, Esq. 
Jacob Whitmore, 
Oliver Wetmore, 
Timothy Boardman, 
Matthew T. Russel, Esq. 
Thomas Hubbard, 
Joseph Boardman, 

^Samuel Eells, 2d. 



Time of Election. 



Mar. 16, 

do. 

do. 

About 

Aug. 11, 

May 



May 
Jan. 
May 



31, 
do. 

6, 

8, 
26, 
do. 
April 6, 
Feb. 7, 
Aug. 16, 
do. 
Sept. 17, 
Mar» 7, 
Mar. 4, 
April 1 , 
May 3, 



Deaths. 



May 16, 
do. 



1670 



1690 
1695 
1704 

1713 
1735 
1743 

1749 
1754 
1765 

1778 
1782 
1784 
1784 
1798 
1812 
1812 



Jan. 22, 1694 
About 1706 



Oct. 27, 1742 



Oct. 5, 
Mar. 12, 
Dec. 23, 
July 28, 
April 25, 
April 21, 
July 27, 
Mar. 14, 



Dec. 
May 



h 
5, 



1748 
1753 
1783 
1765 
1791 
1778 
1782 
1812 

1798 
1792 






75 



74 

70 
60 
80 
G3 
82 
58 
59 
65 

46 

64 



M)tes, 



141 



NAMES. 



^William Savage, 
Samuel Hall, 

Samuel Stow, 
John Willcox, 
Samuel Gipson, 
Samuel Shepherd, 






7* -^ Isaac White, 

William Savage, 

Thomas Johnson, Esq. 

Joseph Kirby, 

Solomon Sage, 

Timothy Gipson, 

Amos Sage, 

Jeremiah Hubbard, 
^Bani Parmelee, 
^3 f Ichabod Miller, 
'^ J Joseph Coe, 
^ ] Giles Miller, 
g V^ Prosper Auger, 

t ("Nathaniel Boardman, 
^ J Amos Churchel, 

\^Samuel Galpin, 

^Samuel Hall,* 
John Ganes, 
Joseph White, Esq. 
David Sage, Esq. 
Ebenezer White, Esq. 
Dr. Moses Bartlet, 
Hezekiah Goodrich, Esq. 



^ 



O 



< 



*t3 
l53 



tV5 « 



Jonathan Brown, 
\^Daniel Shepherd, Esq. 
'^Ebenezer Smith, 

Gideon Arnold, 

Benjamin Harris, 

Daniel Arnold, 

Ezra Brainerd, Esq. 

David Smith, 

Dr. Thomas Brainerd, 

Selden Gates, 



Time of Election. 



Feb. 10, 1716 
do. 



Dec. 3, 1745 
Jan. 15, 1749 



Jan. 9, 1766 
Nov. 29, 1770 
Jan. 26, 1775 
Jan. 14, 1784 
Feb. 22, 1790 
Dec. 14, 1807 
Mar. 23, 1810 



About 

Jan. 10, 

About 

do. 

About 
Nov. 9, 



1774 
1809 

1779 



1794 
1721 



Jan. 22, 1724 
Dec. 15, 1748 
April 21, 1768 
Oct. 27, 1791 
do. 



Deaths. 



re-elected at 

Chatham. 
Sept. 28, 1741 
May 1^, 1751 
Mar. 18, 1748 
drowned April 

9, 1750 
June 27^ 1769 

1774 

Dec. 26, 1774 
Sept, 12, 1783 
1794 
1814 






June 7, 
Jan. 8, 



Aug. 23, 1808 

Aug. 22, 1788 
June 10, 1784 
Mar. 1, 1804 

April 9, 1807 

became a Baptist 
and moved away. 



68 
76 



71 

74 
5(^ 
64 
74 
70 

63 

87 
71 

77 

G4 



7G 



Mar. 6, 1740 
July 27, 1748'|72 
Dec. 14, 1770|82 
Nov. 25, 1803 86 
July 29, 1817 90 
Mar. 3, 1810 70 
became an E 
piscopalian. 



June 25, 1795 
Mar. 15, 1810 
Nov. 18, 1740iFeb. 11, 1752 

do. Mar. — 1772 

Mar. 14, 1748 April 11, 1775 
Nov. 27, 177i;May 27, 1774 

do. 

Nov. 25, 1795 



June 1, 1774 
Dec. 10, 1795 
July 27, 1810 



moved away. 



81 



43 



52 



142 



Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 



NAMES. 



I- 
5: 

^53 



< 






Ebenezer Clarke, 
Isaac Smith, 
John Clarke, Esq. 
James Bill, Esq. 
Gideon Arnold, 
Moses Cook, 
Isaac Smith, 
Joseph Sage, 
David Clarke, Esq. 
Warren A. Skinner, 
"" Daniel Brainerd, Esq. 
Thomas Brooks, 
Joseph Arnold, 
James Brainerd, 
Thomas Brooks,* 
Elisha Cone,* 



;:« -{ Elijah Brainerd, 



Time of Election. 



July 5, 
do. 
May 16, 
do. 
Jan. 24, 
July — 
May 1, 



Deaths. 



be 



moved away 
July 29, 1802 85 
Aug. 8, 1809 



1795 

Feb. 17, 1807 
1805 May 15, 1818 

Oct. 28, 1815 
1815!Feb. 20, 1818 
1816 
1818 






Col. Hezekiah Brainerd, 

Joseph Smith, 

Nehemiah Brainerd, Esq. 

Eliakim Brainerd, 

Jonathan Huntington,* 
V^David Hubbard,* 
^Thomas Gates, 

Daniel Cone. 

Daniel Brainerd, 

Isaac Spencer, 

Jeremiah Gates, 

Noadiah Brainerd, 

Daniel Cone, Esq. 

James Gates, 



About 

do. 

July 12, 

Feb. 14, 

Nov. 27, 

About 

do. 

April — 

May 2, 



53 



Samuel Huntington, Esq. 
Thomas Fuller, 

John Fercival, Esq. 
Caleb Gates, 
Ephraim Gates, 

^ John Fercival, jr. 
r'Sam.uel Emmons, 

Daniel Gates, 

Gen. Joseph Spencer, 



do. 



June 26, 
Oct. — 
April ™ 
Dec. 3, 
Feb. 5, 

Oct. — 
do. 

June 12, 
Sept. — 
Sept. — 



1742 

1759 
1764 
1771 
1784 

1806 
1806 
1704 

1725 
1734 
1741 
1743 
1746 
1762 

1770 



1782 
1795 
1806 



94 

72 
75 
70 
60 



April 1, 1715 74 
April 6, 1734 79 
April 8, 1752 86 
Feb. 10, 1742 73 

1781 82 

Mar. 6, 1809 99 
May 9, 1764158 
Dec. 14, 1774167 
April 22, 1790i79 



Nov. 
Jan. 1 



1807 
1815 



Dec. 30, 1814 



Nov. 20, 1767 



April 20, 1734 
June 15, 1725 
Feb. 28, 1743 
Feb. 10, 1751 
Nov. 1, 1761 
Sept. 30, 1746 
May 27, 1776 
moved toRich- 
mond, Mass. 
Mar. 20, 1797 
moved to 

Hartland. 
Jan. 22, 1813 

moved to Ha- 
milton. N. Y. 



Jan. 13, 1789 



66 

83 



70 
60 
77 

72 
65 
50 
83 



74 



80 



75 



Jsl'otes. 



143 



NAMES. 



5S 



Samuel Dutton, 
Ebenezer Dutton, 



< 



Benjamin Fuller, 

Nathaniel Cone, 

Barzillai Beckwith, 

Isaac Spencer, 

Diodate Lord, 

Israel Cone, jr. 
^Nathaniel B. Beckwith, 
fSamuel Dutton, 



K 



s I 



o 
CO 



&0 

s 

o 

^ J 



Samuel Crosby, 
Christopher Holmes, 
Col. Samuel Selden, 
Israel Spencer^ Esq, 
Jabez Comstock, 
Israel S. Spencer, 
Israel Dewey, 
Ithamar Hervey, 
Francis Bushnel, 
William Parker, 
Nathaniel Chapman, 
Joseph Blague, Esq. 
Andrew Lord, 
Joseph Bushnel, 
Hezekiah Whittlesey. 
Caleb Chapman, 
Samuel Kirtland, 
Christopher Lord, 

Travis Ayres, 
WxUiam Chapman, 
William Lord, 
l^Samuel Lynde, 
^Nathaniel Pratt, 
Ebenezer Pratt, 
Samuel Bushnel, 
Abner Parker, 
Benjamin Bushnel, 
Josiah Nott, 
Peleg Hill, 



Time of Election 



July 4, 
Feb. 26, 

do. 
May — 

June 4, 
April 1 , 
Aug. 26, 
April 17, 
do. 



Deaths. 



1771 

1778 



1789 
1790 
1796 
1816 
1818 



Dec. 30, 1790 
moved to Le- 
banon. 
Nov. 10, 1815 
April 15, 17^0 
Feb. 22, 1818 

moved away. 



re-elected at 
Millington. 



be 
< 

87 



93 
78 
79 



Jan. 18, 
Mar. 19, 
Mar. 29, 
April 3, 
Oct. 1, 
June 3, 
June 30, 
About 



1750 
1756 
1780 
1792 
1801 
1803 
1815 
1648 



April 12, 1792 
Nov. — 1776 
Nov. 18, 1813 
Oct. 10, 1807 

May 19, 1806 



77 

81 

84 

52 



Dec. 9, 

Sept. — 

Oct. 28, 

June — 

do. 

May 2, 
June 2, 
Oct. 9, 
Dec. 2, 



1742 
17G1 
1774 
1782 



82 
81 
74 
48 
61 



1788 
1803 
1808 
1810 



Dec. 4, 1681 
Aug. 20, 1725 
April 5, 1726 
Sept. 28, 1742 
Dec. — 1759 
Dec. 24, 1778188 
May 16, 1785 |77 
June 4, 1785 
Sept. 4, 1805 
moved to Dur- 
ham, N. Y. 
April 7, 1812 
May 22, 1808 



Sept. 13,1778 
Aug. 10, 1783 



Sept. 8, 1756 
Nov. 2, 1771 
Mar. 24, 1788 
Mar. — 1786 
Dec. 17, 1814 
moved to Cats- 
kill. 



80 
73 



89 
49 



68 
7i 
90 

77 
82 



144 



Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 



NAMES. 






< 



6 



r 



David Post, 
Dr. Richard Ely, 

Phinehas Pratt, 

Clark Nott, Esq. 
^Dan Platts, 2d. 
^Abraham Post, 

Maj. Jedediah Chapman, 

Robert Lay, 

Maj. Jonathan Murdock, 

Jedediah Chapman, Esq. 

Caleb Chapman, 

Jonathan BushneL 
v^Jonathan Lay, Esq. 

f Chapman, 

. I John Ward, 
^ J Jonathan Dunk, 
S ] Thomas Silliman, Esq. 
I Andrew Lewis, 
^^ Henry Farnum, 

John Griswold, 

Nathaniel Parmelee, 

John Lane, Esq. 

Josiah Stevens, 

Benjamin Carter, 
S j Col. Aaron Elliott, 
=^ ^ Nathaniel Stevens, 

George Elliott, Esq. 

Philip Stevens, 

Stephen Willcox, 

Samuel Crane, 
^Josiah Hull, 

Joseph Willcox, Esq. 

Daniel Buel, 

Dodo Pierson, 

Abel Willcox, 

Abraham Pierson, Esq. 

John Hinkley, 

Nathan Hull, Esq. 
^William Seward, 

^ Henry Crane, Esq. 

Israel Burret, 

Joseph Tibbals, 



^ 






I 



< 



Time of Election. 



May 12, 

Mar. 11, 

Feb. 21, 
April 19, 
Aug. 8, 
About 
About 
Mar. 8, 
Aug. 22, 
Nov. 8, 
June 22, 
Mar. 4, 
Jan. — 



1792 
1804 

1807 
1807 
1813 
1726 
1733 
1751 
1764 
1771 
1780 
1796 
1797 



Deaths. 



Dec. 17, 1803 
moved to 
Chester. 
Feb. 4, 1813 



About 1750 
Feb. 10, 1764 
Jan. 1, 1790 
Jan. 21, 1778 
Feb. 29, 1816 
Oct. 1, 1797 



68 



66 



60 
83 
67 
89 
57 



1781 



Feb. 22, 1811 



About 1760 
do. 



Mar. 28, 1781 



July 5, 1795 
June 28, 1810 
July 6, 1815 



About 1759 
April 21, 1768 

About 1773 
April 4, 1794 
June 30, 1806 
Oct. 20, 1814 



1741 



Aug. 7, 

Oct. 2, 
Mar. 15, 
Aug. — 
Dec. 27, 
Sept. 12, 
May 1, 
Oct. 12, 



May 18, 
May 3, 

May 9, 
Jan. 19, 
Jan. 2, 



May 31, 
April H, 
June 19, 
Oct. 30, 



1717 
1718 
1759 
1754 
1759 
1785 
1805 
1810 
1814 



1759 
1774 
1782 
1796 
1807 



1764 
1741 
1750 
1774 



70 



67 

85 
84 
55 
68 
95 
74 
74 



79 
79 
84 
72 
74 



80 
64 
64 
88 



J^otes, 



Ud 



NAMES. 






John Camp, 
Ezra Baldwin, 
James Curtis, 
Daniel Hall, Esq. 
*^ Dan Parmelee, Esq. 
John Johnson, 
Abner Newton, 
Ozias Norton, 

Josiah Jewit, 

Timothy Stone, 
^John Tibbals, 



Time of Election. 



Dec. 25, 1766 
May 2, 1782 
June — 1789 
> do. 
Sept. 1, 1808 
do. 

July 2, 1812 



Deaths. 



Sept. 20, 1754 
Mar. 26, 1782 
Jan. 13, 1790 
Dec. 17, 1790 



moved to N. 

Conn, 
moved to State 

N. Y. 



ho 



54 
76 
80 
73 



Nov. 6, 
do. 



1815 



1819 



JVbic »Ar, referred tOy page 21. 

Salaries given by the parishes and societies in Middlesex, to their ministers, 
settlements have been given in some instances, these are also stated. 



A« 





Settlement. 


Annual S 
Money. 


alary. 
Cords of 
wood. 


Middletown Congregational society, 
Upper-Houses do. 




$ 1000 
500 




Chatham, do. 


$ 500 


500 




Middle-Haddam, do. 


666 67 


266 67 




East-Hampton, do. 
Haddam, do. 


666 67 


266 67 
700 




East-Haddam, do. 


600 


600 




Miliington, do. 


666 67 


500 


25 


fladlyme, do. 
Say brook, do. 
Pautapoug, do. 
VVestbrook, do. 


666 67 
833 34 
1000 


233 33 

266 67 

365 

450 


12 

12 1 2 


(Jhester, do. 




400 




Killingworth, do. 




600 




Xorth-Killingworth, do. 




510 


20 


Durham, do. 




580 





The Strict-Congregational society iti Middletown ^ve their minister ^^ 450 annu- 
tdly and the use of a parsonage house and lot. The Episcopal society in Middle- 
lowTi give their minister $ 700 salary, and the Episcopal society in Chatham give 
ilieirs $ 400. The support given by other societies, is unknown. 

JSTote 0, referred (o^ page 22. 
Funds in Middlesex, devoted to the support of the Gospel. 

Middletown parish has. 

From the sale of parsonage lands, • $ 800 

Appropriation money. - - - 187 31 

987 3? 



14G Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 

Upper-Houses parish has, 

29 acres of land, estimated at - - g 812 
Appropriation money, - - - 83 51 



Middlefield society has, 

Appropriation money, - - - 74 30 
The church has, 

Money, raised by subscription in 1815, 1750 

Westfield has, 

A fund, raised by subscription in 1818, 2000 
Appropriation money, - - - 29 79 

Chatham parish has. 

From the sale of lands, given by the pro- 
prietors of Middletown, - - - 17C0 

Legacy from Mr. Ezra Bevin, who died 
Feb. 5, 1792, ... - lOOO 

Money, raised by subscription in 1812, 3300 

Appropriation money, - - - 71 96 

Haddam parish has, 

Parsonage lands, estimated at - 
Avails of parsonage lands, sold, 
Legacy from Mrs. Elizabeth Brainerd, 

who died Dec. 1813, - . - 
Appropriation money, - . - 

East-Haddam parish has, 

Legacy from Capt. Samuel Gates, who 

died Dec. 1788, - - - 433 33 
do. from his widow, received in 1802, 1000 
do. from Capt. Sylvanus Tinker, who 

died Oct. 12, 1815, - - 300 
Avails of parsonage lands and subscrip- 
tions united, - . - 800 
Parsonage lot, worth - - - 150 

Millington has. 

Avails of Parsonage lands, - - 516 67 

Legacy from Mr. Samuel Gates, who 

died Aug. 21, 1801, - - - 260 
A farm given in the will of Mr. Simeon 

Chapman, who died March 31, 1813; 

but to be used by his children during 

life, - - - - - - 4286 



895 51 



1824 30 



2029 79 



2000 




1117 


22 


500 




141 


23 



6071 96 



3758 45 



Notes, 147 

Legacy from Mr. Thomas Becbe, who 

diedJune 6, 1816, - - - 1440 

Appropriation money, - - - 94 90 

6597 57 

Hadlyme has, 

Avails of parsonage lands, - - 340 

Appropriation money, - - - 48 

-. 388 

Saybrook parish has, 

Lands, (including some belonging to the 



church,) worth - - - - 2400 
Legacy from Gen. Wm. Hart, who died 

Aug. 29, 1817, ... - 1600 



4000 



Pautapoug has, 

Parsonage lands, worth - - . 400 
Legacy from Mr. Wm. Clarke, who died 
Sept. 16, 1803, one third of which is 
for the promotion of psalmody, - 281 20 
Subscriptions, drawing interest from Jan. 



1, 1817, 


- 


6587 








Appropriation money, 


- 


126 


40 






The church has. 












Donation from Mr. Jeremiah Kelsey, 


100 








Legacy from Mr. Doty Lord, who died 










April 25, 1814, 


- 


100 








Gift from a friend, 


- 


10 


30 


7604 


90 


Westbrook has, 












Lands and a wharf, (part of 


which is 










leased,) worth 


- 


650 








Appropriation money, 


- 


84 


61 


734 


61 


Chester has. 












Legacy from Mr. Pardon Stev 


ens, who 










died July 2, 1817, 


- 


300 








Appropriation money, 




63 


40 


363 


40 


Killingworth parish has, 








TVJ 


Avails of lands sold, - 


. 


525 








Lands, estimated at - 


. 


2475 








Appropriation Money, 


- 


61 


90 


3061 


90 



North Killingworth has. 

Avails of parsonage lands, - - 434 76 

Appropriation money, - - - 126 62 

19 561 3! 



i4d 



Statistical Accduni of Middlesex (3oxmty ; 



Durham has, 

Lands, estimated at - - - - 3500 

Appropriation money, - - - - 100 
The church has, 

Legacy from Mr. David Camp, who died 

Oct. 13, 1808, 250 

Money otherwise obtained, - - - 50 

Total of the funds, belonging to Congrega- 
tionalists, 

The Strict-Congregational Society in Mid- 
dletown, has a parsonage house and 
lands, estimated at - . . • 

The Episcopal Society in Middletown has, 
From the sale of a parsonage house and 
lands, given in 1785, by Philip Morti- 
mer, Esq. and Mrs. Mary Alsop, - 1500 
Capt. Stephen Cky, who died in 1809, 
gave them a legacy, which is to go 
into their hands upon the decease of 
his widow, amounting to about - 13000 

The Episcopal Society of Chatham has, 

Lands given by Mr. Joseph Blague, who 
deceased in 1812, estimated at 

Total of Episcopal Funds, 

The First Baptist Society in Pautapoug has, 
Parsonage house and lot and other lands, 
estimated at ... 

The second Baptist church in Pautapoug has, 
Legacy from Miss Betsey Heyden, who 

died in Nov. 1813, 
Legacy from Mr. Jared Heyden, who 
died in April 1814, amounting to 
about g 5,500; but 1500 of this has 
been used according to his direction 
in building a meeting-house. 

Total of Baptist funds, - 
Total of all the funds now stated, 



3900 



45,462 41 



2700 



-14500 

3300 

■ ■ I 

17800 
% 



1400 



50 



4000 



4050 



5450 



71,412 41 



Notes, 



140 



Note P, referred io, page 22. 
DISTRICT SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY. 

Agreeably to an inqulrj' madr for the winter of 1814 — 15, with the oxceptioa 
of Haddam and Bast-Haddani, where the inquiry was made generally for the win- 
ter preceding, there l^elong to tlic several parishes in Middlesex the schoob follow- 
ing, having the annexed number of scholars ; viz. 






3 



f^South-School, in two rooms, 
Center do. 

North do. in two rooms, 
Newfield 
Staddle-Hill 
Moromos 
Hubbard's 
Miller's 
Johnson-Lane 
»outh-Farm hill - 
Long-Hill, east 
do. west 



Total, 



/^Lower School, 
North do. 



i 



Nook's 

Brick 

Northwest 



1^ 



I 



? North-School, 
:§ I East do* 
South 



i 



I 



Total, 



Total, 



/^ First School, 
. j Second do. 
3 ! Third 
Fourth 



n 



Total of Middletown, 






/'First District School, 
I ;^outh-Neck do. 
I North 
" Penfield-hill 

Over the meadow 

Ames' District 

Brown do. 



L 



r 









I 



Total, 

North-^west School? 
Middle do. 

East 

Chesnut-hill 
Northeast 



160 
50 

125 
40 
43 
63 
50 
80 
31 
31 
25 
36 

734 

120 
51 
16 
45 
45 

277 

33 
38 
45 

116 



1^ 



< 



Middle District School, 

Clark's-hill 

North 

East 

Southeast 

West 



Total, 

fin Waterhole School, • 
' [Whole school 23.] 



^ I 
I"! 



Tetal, 



44 
36 
34 
30 

144 

1271 

90 
70 
50 
50 
60 
40 
20 

380 

121 
80 
25 
30 
27 

2^3 



;£-^ ! Total of Chatham, 

^ Town School, No. 1 

Higganum do. 2 

Punset 3 

Lower part of town 4 

Turkey-hill 5 

Candlewood-hill 6 

Southernmost 7 

Walkley-hill 8 

North-western 9 

Little-city 10 

Beaver-meadow 11 

South-western 12 

Total, 

^ j:" r Haddam Nect, - 

^ -^ i Total of Haddam, 

QsE§ ( 

r Middle District School, 
Landing do. 

South 
Southeast 
^ Bashan - - - 

Northwest 

Factory , - - 



< 



Total, 

'"Middle District School, 
North-western do. 
Western - 
South-western 
South 
East 
Northeast 



Total, 



V 



72 

sT 

36 

25 
40 
28 

232 



904 

94 
83 
40 
75 
38 
35 
67 
19 
27 
30 
2G 
41 

575 

71 

647 

62 
78 
43 
45 
43 
48 
44 
34 

397 

69 
32 
51 
40 
50 
45 
32 

319 



150 



Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 



Se ■-. "§ V /^Center school, 
.^^ S Northeast do. 
^ o si,^; I Southeast 
g- ^.^^ West 






't:- S -r»i 



a,« 



I 



Total, 



Total of East-Haddam, 



i^First Dist. School, in two rooms, 112 



iX 



I Second 
Ferry- 



do. 



I 



Total, 






riWeetin^house Scliool, No. 1 
Deep-river do. 2 

iComstock 3 

West 4 

, Southeast 5 

^Meadow- woods 6 , 



Poiat 
Pound-hill 



I 



Tetal, 



rFirst District School, 






Second 
Third 
Fourth 
Fifth 



I 



do. 



Total, 



31 




/^ First District School, 


172 


16 


i; Second do. 

■5 • Third, included in first, 


87 


7 
15 




69 


Total, 


259 


— 


Total of Saybrook, 


1356 


785 








/■West District School, 

^ East do. 


no 


5,112 


80 


60 


Tf Cow-hill 


40 


50 


1 J Mill - - ■ - 
I^S North 


14 





30 


222 


sS 






^ Total, 


274 


72 




95 




'^Center District School, 
Southwest do. 


70 


43 


^ 


29 


45 


■ig 


Chesnut-hill 


40 


70 


^ 



^ 


Union - - - 


54 


66 


bX5 


Lane - _ - 


75 


82 


r 

1 


Parker's hill ' - 


28 


80 


Nettleton 


36 





Stone-house 


36 


553 


,0 


Black-Rock 


20 


145 




Total, 


388 


40 




< 




45 
47 


Total of Killingworth, 


662 


45 


rNorth School, 


102 




Quarry do. 


65 


322 


g- Southwest 

« / South _ - - 

1^ Middle - 


85 




56 




50 




C5 


Total of Durham, 


358 



Total of the County, 5,983 



Jslote Q, referred to, page 27. 
Deaths in the county from Jan. 1, 1805 *to Jan. 1, 1815. 



Middietown, about 

Upper-Houses, 

Middlefield, - 

Westfieid, about 

Chatham, 

Middle-Haddam, - 

East-Hampton, 

Part of Westchester, 

Haddam, 

East-Haddam, 

Millingion, 



441 

123 

76 

G6 

130 

152 

94 

14 

285 

93 

133 



Hadlyme, E. H. part, - 34 

Saybrook, - - - 137 

Pautapoug, - . - 225 

Westbrook, - - - 110 

Chester, ... 94 

Killingworth, - - 123 

N. Killingworth, - - 130 

Durham, - - - 156 

Total, 2,616 



J^otes, 



151 



To this 1 have thought proper to subjoin a list of the grave-ytirds in the county ; 
noting the time when they were first laid out or improved. These are as follows ; 
viz. 



The old yard in Middletown, 

Farm- Hill yard, Dec. 16, 

West yai'd, 

Old Moromos }'ard, abandoned, 
about 

New Moromos yard, 1776 

Tomb-lane yard, 

The old yard in U. Houses, Jan. 13, 

West yard, do. 

The yard in Middlefield, 

The old yard in Westfield, 

New do. 

The old yard in Chatham, Jaa 13, 

New do. 

The yard in Middle-Haddam, by 
the first meetinsc-ho'jse, 

do. at Knowles's Landing, 
do. at the Rock Landing, 

First yard in East-Hampton, 

North do. 

Southeast 

Waterhole 

Town yard in Haddam, (not for- 
mally laid out till Jan. 1699,) 

Hi°;ganum yard, 

P unset 

Yard in the lower part of the town, 
do. at Turkey-Hill, 

Cove yard in East-Haddam, (aban- 
doned,) about 



Yard in the upper part of the town, 174K 
Bashan yard, about 1760 

Landing do. 1773 

loAvn Hill 1774 

Meeting-hou?e 177C 

Yard by Mr, Oliver Warner^s, 179c 



1650 
17^23 
1740 

170B 
or 7 

1778 do. by the Long Pond in Millington, 1726 

1713 do. by Mr Green Hungerford's, 1760 

1802 do. by tVie meeting-house, 1764 

1737 Eight-mile river yard, 1769 

1772 Yard bv Mr. Simeon Chapman^s, 1802 

1794 Old yard in Hadlyme, 1723 

1713 Meeti'ig-house yard, 1750 

1767 Old yard in Saybrook, about 1635 

New do, 1786 

1742 Yard at Pautapoug Point, 1715 
1794 West yard, about 1750 
1734 Westbrook yard, 1738 

1743 Yard at Parker's Point in Chester, 
1787 (abandoned,) 1717 
1776 do. at the meeting-house, 1750 
1793 West yard, 1813 

Kiilingworth yard, 1663 

1662 Union district yard in N. Killing- 
1741 worth, March 22, 1738 

1761 Southwest district, do Oct. 7, 1743 

1782 Yard by the Episcopal church, 

1815J Nov. 7, 1748 

I Stone-house district yard, May 5, 1806 

1 700 i Durham yard, 1 700 



Some persons were buried on a knoll east of the dwelling-house of Mr. Joseph 
Clarke, before any grave yard was laid out in the lower part of Haddam. hi 1648, 
the wife of Col Fen wick was buried at Tomb Hill on Saybrook Point, where a 
large stone table, one of the oldest in New-England, still marks the place of her 
grave . 



JVbfe R, referred to^ page 31. 

LIBRARIES. 

In the societies in Middlesex, there were in i 
1815, the following public libraries, viz. 

Middletown 1st Society, Middletown Library, 

do. M. Circulating Library, 

Upper-Houses, Library of M. Upper-Houses, 

do. Friendly Association Library, 

Middlefield, Federal Library, 

Westfield Social Library, (part of an old one,) 

Chatham 1st Society, Chatham Library, 

do. Republican Library, 

Middle-Haddam, 



\ 



do. 



Increasing Library, 
General Library, 



e summer ot 


ormed 


No 


Vols. 


1797 




617 


1809 




600 


1792 




196 


1810 




136 


1790 




90 


1809 




70 


1787 




322 


1795 




200 


1793 




23C 


1795 




23g 



152 



Statistical Account of Middlesex County ; 



East- Hampton, Social Library, 

Haddam, Literary Society Library, 

East-Haddam 1st Society, East-Haddam Library, 
Hadlyme, Hadlyme Library, 

Say brook 1st Society, Say brook Library, 

do. Ladies' Library, 

Pautapoug, Library of 2d Society of Saybrook^ 
do. Union Library, 

Chester, Fraternal Library, 

Killingworth 1st Society? Killingworth 1st 

Society Library, 

Durham, Book Company Library, two united, < 



do. 






Durham Library, 



1799 
1804 
1794 
1790 
1792 
1792 
1795 
1813 
1789 

1790 
1733 
1789 
1788 



140 

80 

266 

118 

130 

77 

30* 

28 

101 

208 
150 
210 
206 



Total of books belonging to the above libraries, 4,471 

A library was formed in Haddam in 1791 and dissolved in 
1808. A library has been dissolved in Millington, another in 
Westbrook, and three in North-Killingworth. Saybrook library 
is a part of a library, formed in 1736, in the towns of Saybrook, 
Lyme, Killingworth and Guilford. 



TJie following Kotes^ though not distinctly referred to in the body 
of this work, are subjoined. 

Note S. 

Lists of the several parishes in Middlesex, the dwelling-houses 
and merchant-stores. 

Lists for 1814, 
Dols. Cts. 



Middletown parish, in the city, 
without the city, 
Upper-Houses, 
Middlefield, 
Westfield, 
Chatham, 

Middle-Haddam, Chatham Part, 
E. Hampton, (with Waterhole,) 
Haddam, 
Haddam-Neck, 
East-Haddam, 
Millington, 

Hadlyme, in E. Haddam, 
Saybrook, 
Pautapoug, 

* Were formerly 



39,785 

32,027 81 

18,356 94 

14,477 87 

14,420 43 

24,260 54 

14,669 72 

18,380 74 

32,320 19 

6,722 Q& 

27,599 26 

27,762 33 

7,310 78 

19,910 44 

25,186 72 

100 Tclumeec 



D. Houses. 



299 
247 
121 

81 

89 
203 
135 
147 
340 

44 
167 
172 

53 
135 
275 



M, Stores. 



37 
1 
5 

1 

2 
4 
2 
7 

8 
1 

4 

7 



MUs. 



1^: 



Westbrook, 

Chester, 

Killingworth, 

North-Killingvvorth, 

Durham, 



Total of the County, 



Lists for 1814. 
Dols. Ctt. 


D. Houses. 


M. Stores, 


18,977 61 
12,504 28 
26,300 69 
31,645 Gb 
29,531 


141 
105 

152 
212 
158 


3 

2 

6 
3 

3 


442,150 66 


3,276 

1 


96 



Mte T. 
MILITARY COMPANIES, &c. 

The circumstances of our ancestors compelled them to learn the use of arms. 
Military companies were formed in all the plantations. Where these contained 
<50 soldiers, they were allowed to have a captain, lieutenant, ensign and 4 Serjeants ; 
where they contained 32 soldiers, a lieutenant, ensign and 2 sergeants ; and where 
ihey contained 24, two sergeants. The oldest companies in the towns in Middle- 
sex were formed about the time that the settlements in them commenced ; and the 
companies in the parishes, about tlie time of their incorporation. At the organiza- 
tion of the Connecticut militia in Oct. 1739, the companies within the bounds of 
Middlesex, constituted parts of the sixth, seventh, tenth and twelfth regiments. 

The companies in Weathersfield, Middletown, (inclusive of Chatham,) Glaisten- 
bury, and the parish of Kensington, were the sixth. This regiment was com- 
manded by Thomas Wells of Glastenbury, John Chester of Weathersfield, Jabes 
Hamlin and Matthew Talcott of Middletown, and perhaps by some others, pre- 
vious to May 1775. At that time, the companies in Middletown and Chatham 
were formed into the 23d regiment, and thus remained until the organization in 1816. 

The companies in Saybrook, Killingworth, Guilford and Haddam, constituted the 
seventh regiment. Fi'om this, Guilford was detached in May 1782, and with Bran- 
ford formed into the 27th, or as it was called at the time of its formation, the 28th 
r egiment. 

The companies in Wallingford, Waterbury, Durham and the parish of Southing- 
ton constituted the 10th regiment. This was fii'st commanded by James Wads- 
worth of Durham, and has been since commanded by Elihu Chauncey, Gen. James 
Wadsworth, James Arnold, Samuel Camp, John Noyes Wadsworth and Seth Se- 
ward of the same town. 

The companies in Lebanon, Hebron and East-Haddam, constituted the 12th re- 
giment, 'I'his was commanded by John Bulkley of Colchester, Jonathan Trumbull 
and Joseph Fowler of Lebanon and Gen. Joseph Spencer of East-Haddam, perhaps 
by others, before May 1776 ; when East-Haddam and Colchester were formed iut» 
the 24th, or as it was then called, the 25th regiment. The 23d, tiie 7th and the *4th 
regiments have been under the command of the follo^ving persons ; vi'. 



XXIII. RegH. 
Gen. Comfort Sage, of Middletown, 
John Penfield, of Chatham, 
Nathaniel Brown, of Middletown, 
Gen. George Phillips, do. 
Joseph Blague, of Chatham, 
Geu. Samuel W. Dana, of Middletown, 
Lemuel Storrs, do. 

Gen, Seth Overton, of Chatham, 
Elisha Coe, of Middletown, 
Enoch Huntington, do. 
Daniel White, of ChathTi*»- 



VII. RegH. 
Samuel Lynde, of Saybrook, 
Samuel Hill, of Guilford, 
Samuel Willard," of Saybrook. 
Timothy Stone, of Guilford, 
Andrew Ward, do. 
Aaron Elliott, of Killingworth, 
Hezekiah BrainerJ, of Haddam, 
Gen. Andrew Ward, of Guilford. 
William Worthington, of Saybrook. 
Sylvanus Graves, of Kiliingwort!': 
Abraham. Tyl^r, of Haddaw, 



154 



Statistical Account of Middlesex County j 



Edwai'd Shipman, of Saybrook, 

Gen. Joseph VVillcox, of Killingworth, 

Asa Lay, of Saybrook, 

Daniel Braincrd, of Haddam, 

William Tully, of Saybrook, 

George Morgan, of Killingworth, 

Joseph Hill, of Saybrook, 

Elisha Sill, do. 

Gen. John Brainerd, of Haddam. 

XXIV. Reg't. 
Henry Champion, of Colchester, 
Gen. Dyer Throop, of East-Haddam, 
Jabez Chapman, 



Elias Worthington, of Colchester^ ^ 
EUphalet Bulkley, do. 

David B. Spencer, of East-Haddam, 
Gen. Henry Champion, of Colchester, 
Gen. Epaph. Champion, of E. Haddam, 
Daniel VVaterhouse, of Colchester, 
Jonathan O. Mosely, of East-Haddam, 
Daniel Wortliington, of Colchester, 
Josiah Griffin, of East-Haddam, 
John Isham, of Colchester, 
Jonah Gates, of East-Haddam, 
Joshua Bulkley, of Colchester. 



do. 

The above mentioned regiments, had, from this county, in the autumn of 1815, al 
the last revievsr before the late organization, the following number of companies, 
commissioned officers, &:c. viz. 





Com. 


Com. 
Officers. 


Kon. Com. 
Officers. 


Musicians. 


Pri- 
vates. 

488 
435 

102 


Total 


The 23d Reg't. 

7th Reg't. 

10th Reg't. 

24th Reg't. 


11 
11 

2 
4 


33 

34 

6 

12 


84 
87 
14 
26 


39 

29 

3 

5 


644 

585 

89 

145 


Total, 


28 


85 


211 


76 


1091 


1463 

















To these must be added a company in Hadlyme, (E. Haddam part,) some years 
alnce annexed to the 33d regiment, a company of State Corps in Haddam and Kil- 
lingworth and a part of a State Corps in Durham, having in 1815 the officers, &c, 
following, viz. 



Com. Of 


Non. 
Com. Of. 


Musi- 
cians. 


Privates. 


Total. 


3 

4 

1 


6 
8 
2 


1 
3 
3 


20 
40 
15 


30 
55 
21 


8 


16 


7 


15 


106 













Hadlyme Company, 
Com. in Had. and Kil. 
Company in Durham, 

Total, 



Besides these, there are 4 or 5 Companies of Cavalry, partly or wholly within 
the county. 

ERRATA. 

Page 8, 3 1. from bottom, for 31,956 read 22,580; p. 13, 11 1. from top, before 
way 6e insert the words i/own^ trees; p. 50, 26 1. for 1773 ^o 1777 or 8 read 1758 
to 1767 ; p. 50, 36 1. for 1783 read 1773; and next 1. for two read ten; p. 52, 22 1. 
for 16^;^ ofAtigust 1816 read Aug. 20, 1815 ; p. 62, 11 1. for carg read cure; p. 67, 
15 1. for granite quarries read quarries of Gneiss stone ; p. 83, 39 1. for six read eighi ; 
p. 84, 111. for become read became ; p. 84, 20 1. for Budds read Rvdds ; p. 89, 41 1. 
for Bork Hill re2idBooi: Hill; p. 94, 38 1. for Middletown redid Middlesex ; p. 98. 
19 1. for JYorfolk read J^'orwalk ; p. 101, 36 1. (or horses read teams; p. 114, 21 1. 
for David read Caleb ; p. 130, 10 1. for do. re?d Oct. 1813; p. 1^6. against Wp^t- 
Tbrook, for Jrme 25 read ^hme 2'^. 



LE