WALLINGFORD SETTLED.
1 It is evident that as early as 1667, some of the inhabitants of New Haven had become acquainted with the country in and about Wallingford, and no doubt settlements by some adventurers had been made within the bounds of the town; but it was not until 1669, that the people of New Haven took hold of the matter. It appears that Abraham Doolittle and John Peck were on the ground in 1668, and John Moss and John Brockett in the autumn of 1669, which fact was undoubtedly the cause of their being selected as a committee to superintend and manage the affairs of the new-village; but it was not until the month of April, 1670, that the first permanent settlement at Wallingford was made.
71
they stole and carried off the sheep, and did what they could by their unearthly howlings at night, to add to the horrors that thickened on the skirts of the wilderness. The moose, the deer and the bear, roamed at will through the unbroken wilderness.
It was absolutely necessary that the settlers should turn the wilderness into gardens and fields; that they should plant and cultivate the earth, to keep them from starvation. It was necessary to erect and fortify houses, and to make preparations for the feeding and covering of their cattle. It was of equal importance to the planters, not only to make roads for their particular convenience, but from town to town; that, in any emergency, they might fly immediately to each other's relief. But they were willing to work; they had abandoned their estates, their families, and their country, for the obtainment of peace and freedom; and they themselves were ready to traverse the vast wilderness of an unexplored continent, rather than submit to that moral degradation which can alone satisfy the capriciousness of despotism. When once they had put their shoulders to the wheel they never looked back. The grim present was lowering upon them with all its sharp and angular realities. Indians, wild beasts, famine, cold, the diseases that lurk along the borders of new settlements, "the French, the Dutch, the devil," and all other calamities, actual and imaginary, that kept their faculties constantly stretched to the highest tension, gave them no time to look backward. Other men retreated from the world to avoid its cares; they fled to the solitude of nature to begin life anew.
It has already been stated that the original settlers of New Haven in their corporate capacity, owned the whole
72
tract of land from the Sound up to West Meriden, which tract was about twenty miles long and ten broad. But when the increase of population seemed to render it necessary to push settlements farther into the interior upon the unoccupied lands, they did not sell out farms to such individuals as chose to buy, and allow matters of this kind to take what we should perhaps call the natural course. They proceeded in a much more orderly manner. The people of New Haven, in their corporate capacity and in public meeting, voted to set off a certain portion of their territory to constitute a "village" or plantation. And the General Assembly held at Hart ford, October 10, 1667, passed the following resolution:
"Upon the motion of the deputies of New Haven, this Court grants the towne of New Haven liberty to make a village on the east River, if they see it capable for such a thing, provided they settle a village within fower yeares from May next."
At a Court of Election held at Hartford, May 12, 1670, the following confirmation or grant was made by the State to the town of Wallingford, of that territory previously assinged and set off to them by the action of the town of New Haven.
"This Court haveing been moved to state the the bownds of the New Village that is settled upon the playne as you goe to New Haven, doe grant that their bownds shall com from the Brook at the south end of the great playne, to the northward tenn miles, and from the said [Brook] sowthward to Brandford bownds, and on each side the river five miles, that is five miles on the east side and five miles on the west side the River, provided that the sayd village be carryed on and made a plantation wthout any relation or subordination to any other towne, and provided the bownds hereby granted to the sayd village doe not prejudice any bownds formerly granted
73
to any plantation or perticuler person, or doe not extend to the north any further than wh[ere] the old road to New Haven goeth over Pilgrimes Harbour."
At the same meeting the "Court ordered that the plantation on the playne in the road to New Haven, be called Wallingford."1 Permission having been granted by the general Court to lay out a village upon the plain, it was necessary to lay out the boundary lines, which seemed to occasion considerable trouble. On the 28th of the 1st month, 1673, it was agreed,
"1. by the committee for New Haven underwritt that Wall-ingford Bownds on the east side of the east River shall be from Brandford line Northerlie to whortons brooke where it crosseth the north Branch, of the S'd Brooke and thence at the brooke Runne into the east River. 2. that New Haven shall runn two miles and a halfe Northward from the Foot of the blew Hills on the milk River upon that River, and the line from a Stake there to the foote of the blew Hills on the east River and from the Sayd Two mile and halfe Stake along our reare west and by north to the ends of their Bownds, which issue they the committee for wallingford consented too and accepted, and this to be a issue in love and peace, memorandum that the committee for New Haven doe consent that the Meadow between the mill River and east river northward above the blue Hills shall be Wallingford, as to the Bulk of it and Liberty of draweing it as they shall see cause an though the line agreed too should cutt through it.
Subscribed by the Sd parties
JOHN MORSE WM. JOANES, JOHN BROCKETT, JAMES BISHOP, ABRAHAM DOWLITTLE, SAM'LL WHITEHEAD.
1 The town was incorporated eight years after the State received its charter, and five years after the union of Connecticut with New Haven Colony. There are only fifteen towns in the State older than Wallingford.
74
NATH'LL MERRIAM, MATTHEW GILBERT, SAM'LL ANDREWS, JOHN WINSTON, ABRAM DICKERMAN, MOSES MANSFIELD.
"The mark of JOHN IC COWPER SEN., to the agreament excepting the memorandum aded about ye meadow wherein he objects."
The next year a committee of two were appointed from New Haven to lay out the bounds of the new village, as we learn from the following entry on the Wallingford town records:
"We whose names are under written being appointed to lay out the bounds of Wallingford According to the generall courts grant we did Runn from the East River comonly called new Haven River upon an east and by South line five miles; very nere pishatipague ponds, and from there upon a North and by east line untill it meets with Middletowne South bownds; and on East and by South line till it meets with middletowne west bownds; and on the west side Newhaven river upon a west and by north line seven miles, as witness our hands this Sixth day of November 1674.
"JOHN WILFORD,
NATHANIEL WHITE."1
The town of New Haven next appointed a committee, vested with power to manage the affairs of the settlement. This committee held the land in trust, and acted as trustees in all the affairs of the town; they not only attended to the temporal, but the spiritual affairs of the people; and the undertakers and all the succeeding planters were obliged to subscribe to the following engagement:
1 In 1701 the boundary line was run between the town of Wallingford and the town of Durham, or Coginchaug. The Wallingford committee were Thomas Holt and John Merriman.
75
"He or they shall not by any means disturb the church, when settled there, in the choice of minister or ministers, or other church officers, or in any of their other church rights, liberties or administrations, nor shall withdraw due mainte-nance from such ministry."
"This shows" says Trumbull, "how strongly the churches in this part of the colony were, at that time, opposed to towns and parishes having any thing to do in the choice of a minister, or in church affairs." It was voted in January, 1672,
"That in due time there shall bee some care taken to submitt every planter what quantity of land he shall have propriety in and pay Rates for, and that the limitation be made by the major part of the town and the committee appoynted for the receaving of Planters and that the planters that shall hereafter be receaved shall be accommodated as the major part of the town and the committee shall see cause."
In May, 1782, the trustees resigned their trust to the town.
The town of Wallingford having been thus inaugurated, several families removed from New Haven to the new plantation. We also find new settlers whose names are not on the New Haven records: persons who came from adjoining settlements. The next year a number of families came from Boston, probably new emigrants from England, as their names are not mentioned as freemen or land holders in the early Massachusetts records. The committee received applications from such as chose to commence a new settlement, and selected those who in their opinion were best qualified for the work. The persons thus selected, mutually covenanted with each other and with the said committee to observe certain
76
rules and conditions in the following written agreement, to which their signatures were affixed:
31st 11th month, 1669.
"1. The Committee do consent to put the said village de-signe into ye hands of a competent number of persons fitly qualified for that work, provided, they reasonably appear and engage to undertake ye same upon, theire articles and further shall appoint some fit persons of ye said number to be a committee with full power to manage their plantation affairs, until the place come to be an orderly establishment within itself.
"2. For ye safety and well being of church affairs, for ye Ministry and maintainance, the committee do order yt ye s'd undertakers and successors, before (they are) admitted shall subscribe to the following engagement, Vide He, or they, as afs'd shall not by any means Disturb ye church when settled there, in their choice of Minister or Ministers, or other ch'h officers-or in any of their Ch'h Rights, Liberties, or administrations, nor shall refuse nor withdraw due maintainance from such Ministry and until such Ch'h be settled, shall submit to such order as ye said committee shall make, for a Godly Minister to dispence ye word of God among them.
"3. That the said Committee to be appointed and their successors, in receiving of Planters, shall have due respect to New Haven persons, being fit and offering themselves, so far as it can consist with the good of the place and capacity thereof.
"4. Lastly. These articles being accepted, the s'd company and all others admitted planters among them, shall enjoy their accommodations and Lands, without payment of purchase money to New Haven: to themselves, their heirs, successors and assigns, forever, so far as concerns New Haven town's purchase within the village bounds, the said town of New Haven consenting there unto. And we do nominate, Mr. Samuel Street, John Moss, John Brockett and Abraham Doolittle to be a committee whom we hereby impower to
77
manage all plantation affairs in ye said village according to, and in pursuance of the above written articles, and to see the same attended and performed by the planters, either, are or shall be by them the said committe, and also for to disposal and distribution of allotments in some such equal way as shall best suit the condition of the place and ye inhabitants thereof, and to use their best means, they can for procurement of some able and fit man to dispense the word of God among them, and lastly, we do impower them, the above-named committee to make choice of such other fit persons into the exercise of their power and trust with themselves, for their assistance, if any such shall appear among them, and the major part of the said committee, hereby appointed or intended, have full power to act in all the premises, as they shall see cause, in pursuance of the said articles and undertakings. In testimony whereof, and to all the said articles and premises, we, the committee appointed by New Haven, thereunto, have set to our hands.
WILLIAM JONES, JOHN HARRIMAN, MATTHEW GILBERT, JOHN HUMISTON, WILLIAM BROADLEY, ABRAHAM DICKERMAN, JEREMIAH OSBORN.
The following is the covenant or original agreement of the first planters at Wallingford:
"We whose names are underwritten, being accepted by the Committee of New Haven, for ye intended Village as planters, and desiring that the worship and ordinances of God may in due time, be set up, and encouraged among us, as the main concernment of a Christian people, doe sincerely and in the fear of God, promise and engage ourselves that we shall not neither directly nor indirectly, do anything to hinder or obstruct any good means that shall be used by the said committee, or others intrusted by them, to promote the premises, by securing a Godly and able ministry among us to dispense to us the word of God, and when such ministry, or
78
a Church of Christ shall be settled among us, we engage by no means to disturb the same in their choice of a minister or ministers or other ch'h officers, or in, any other of their ch'h rights, liberties, or administrations, nor shall refuse or withdraw due maintenance from such minister or ministry, and farther we doe engage ourselves peaceably to submit to such settlement, and Civil order as the said committee shall direct among us either by themselves, or some others as a committee by them appointed, upon the place, untill the said village come to be an orderly establishment within itself, and lastly we doe engage personally to settle upon the place, by May next, come twelve month, if God's providence inevitably hinder not, and to observe and perform all and every the other articles agreed upon.
SAMUEL STREET, JOHN MOSSE, JOHN BROCKETT, NATH'L. MERRIMAN, JERO HOW, ZAC'H, HOW, ABRAHAM DOWLITTLE, DANIEL HOGGE, JOHN MILLES, WILLIAM JOHNSON, THOMAS HALL, NATH'L HOW, BENJAMIN LEWIS, THOMAS CURTIS, THOMAS YALE, SAM'L WHITEHEAD, JOHN BEECH, JOHN IVES, ELIASAPH PRESTON, JEHIEL PRESTON, JOHN HALL, ELIAZER HOLT, SAMUEL HALL, JOSEPH IVES, SAMUEL ANDREWS, ELEAZAR PECK, JOSEPH BENHAM, DANIEL SHERMAN, SAMUEL POTTER, SIMON TUTTELL, SAMUELL MUNSON, JOHN PECK, SAMUEL BROWNE, JOHN HARRIMAN, FRANCES HEATON, SAM'LL COOK, SAMUEL MILLES, NATHAN ANDREWS.
The committee then proceeded to select a site for the proposed village, which location is described as being "upon the hill, on the east side of the great plain commonly called New Haven plain," which will be at once recognized as the spot on which the present borough of Wallingford stands. They then allotted to each planter a few acres of land for a building spot and a house lot,
79
"beginning at the southeast of said hill." Having laid out the south part of the village, then
"Next to the aforesaid house lots it is ordered that there shall be a highway crosse the hill, from east to west of six rods broade,1 and from thence a long highway of six rods broade on the top of the hill to run northward2 and on each side of itt to ranges of house lotts of six acres to a lott; and these lotts to be distributed."
The settlement was commenced at the south end of the present Main street, on the east side or slope of the hill. The main street having been laid out, at the north end a cross street was laid out from the old colony road over to Wharton's brook; being the road now running past the house of Mrs. Harley Morse, and south of the residence of Mr. Peter Whittelsey. Afterwards the main street was continued to where the Congregational church now stands, when another cross street was laid out; then the main street was continued north to the old Peck place, and a cross street laid out to Wharton's brook; continuing the main street to the old Rice place, a cross street was laid out, and the main street was continued to the top of the town hill, and another cross street was laid out to Wharton's brook. Probably about this time the street called the lower street was laid out. These several streets or highways were all laid out six rods wide, and on each side of the highway were the house lots of six acres each.
After the planters had received their respective allotments, built their houses, and had assumed the form of a regular and settled community, then the committee who
1 Being the road now leading from the railroad by the Congregational Church, to the main street.
2 Being the north part of the present main street of Wallingford.
80
had arranged all the preliminaries and incipient stages of the new plantation, surrendered all their power, and the title to the whole territory, into the hands of the planters, who thereby became a corporate body; in other words, a town. The lands within the town limits became thus the property of the town as a corporate body; to be by them disposed of in such ways and to such persons as they might deem fit. It was voted that those who held house lots in the town, and were not residents upon the place, and did not pay their rates within one month after demand, were to forfeit the lots. Also,
"That not any man shall have power to sell by accommodation to another man and leave the town until hee have dwelt upon itt 3 years, and after 3 years he may sell or alienate itt to any such as the town shall approve of. That every man shall have propriety in the timber or trees in each highway that lieth within 3 rodds of his house lott."
One of their first acts was the allotment of certain portions of meadow and woodland to each planter at convenient distances from the village; which appropriation constituted the farms and private property of such individuals respectively. The land lying on the river as best adapted to their purposes was first used, and described as
"lotts on the river called, New Haven east river, that are layed out to severall of the inhabitants as meddow land. They are to begin at the end of the hill called Blew hill, where it comes to the river, and so to run upward the river."
At this first apportionment of land, thirty-eight lots were given out to as many individuals or families; some receiving eight and some twelve acres.1
1 "The said lots are to run close ye river and taking in ye land on
81
In these various transfers of the land, from the town of New Haven to the Committee, thence to the associted planters, and ultimately to individual proprietors, no money or consideration of any kind was paid. The land was worth literally, nothing, until actually settled and cleared. From time to time as families became larger, and individuals became able to bring more land under cultivation, additional allotments were made by town vote, to each planter. At various times there were "divisions" in this manner made, until the whole territory was occupied. In arranging these divisions, the whole population was classed into three "ranks," as indicated in the following vote, according to their ability to pay taxes. In all assessments, the first rank paid double the amount of tax charged on the "loest rank," and one-third more than the middle rank; and in the jpeg 82
divisions of land the allotments were made out in the same ratio, as appears by this and similar votes. In June, 1673, voted,
"That there shall be alowed for the first division of lands to each planter taking in house lotts, river lotts, and all sorts of land, to the loest ranke 40 acres; to the middle ranke, 60 acres, and to the hiest ranke, 80 acres, and so to keep for the present."
It would naturally occur that after the settlement was commenced, other individuals in addition to the original planters would desire to become residents in the town. Such an one was not expected, nor even allowed to buy any wild land. He was to make application to the town, both for permission to live in the town, and for a gratuitous allotment of land. The town in public meeting considered such a request and referred it to a committee for consideration. That committee after examining the testimonials which, the applicant could produce touching his character, recommended a compliance with his request, if such testimonials were satisfactory. In the New Haven Colony Laws for 1656, we find
"That none shall be admitted Freemen or free Burgesses within this Jurisdiction, or any part of it, but such Planters as are Members of some one, or other of the approved Churches of New England."
Also,
"It is ordered, That no single person of either Sex, do henceforward board, diet, or Sojourn, or be permitted so to do, or to have lodging, or house room within any of the Plantations of this Jurisdiction, but either in some allowed Relation, or in some approved Family licensed thereunto, by the court, or by a Magistrate, or some Officer or Officers in that Plantation, appointed thereunto, where there is no Magistrate!"
83
Also that the head of the family should
"Duly observe the course, carriage, and behaviour, of every such single person, whether he, or she, walk dilligently in a constant lawful imployment."
We find in the records many votes similar to the following:
"12th Feb. 1671. Agreed by ye Comitee for ye Towne of Wallingford that Isack Rise, and Nehimiah Rise, shall have lotts granted ym provided they procure sufficient testamony of theyr good conversation in the place whear they formerly lived. .... None shall come to dwell as planters in this towne with out there concent and allowance, whether they come in by purchase or otherwise."
So careful were they in guarding the character of their new settlement, that even the land which was appropriated to individuals as their private property, was held under this condition, that no sale was to be made to any stranger, until the character of the proposed purchaser had also been examined and approved by the town, and leave granted by express vote of the town, for such transfer of land. Thus we find on the town records frequent entries like the following:
"23d Feb. 1677. The towne gave liberty to Nath'l Hickock to sell his accommodation to any such men as ye towne shall approve of." "20th Oct. 1674, voted that Goodn Foote shall have liberty to buy the lott, yt is Joseph Eives provided he procure sufficient testimony of his good conversation in ye plase where he now pretendeth to remove."
Next January, we find
"The teastimony for Goodn foote being sevesente and axep-ted, he was admitted a planter upon the lott that was Joseph eives." "Dec. 20, 1679. The towne Receaved Jo Brooks a
84
planter of ye loer Ranks provided he bring suficient testimony of his good Conversation in ye place wheare he formerly lived and come next spring to live heare if in suitable providence hinder not."
Not only were those who wished to become permanent residents, necessitated to make application to the town, before they could receive an allotment of the public land, or be allowed to buy out a previous settler, but even temporary residents must obtain permission to sojourn for a time within the town limits. For we find on the records votes similar to the one here copied: "Sep. 1678. The towne gave liberty to Isack Curtice to abide in the town as a sojourner." This Isaac Curtis was from Hartford, and was visiting his son, who was among the first planters of the town. In 1698, the constables of Wallingford were ordered to take and convey Isaac Johnson, (Fenson?) and his wife out of the town. It does not appear for what crime this summary act was to be enforced, nor does it appear that the order was carried into effect. In the month of December following, he was accepted by the town as an inhabitant. Notwithstanding their strictness, black sheep sometimes got into the flock, as we find from numerous entries in the town records. It is amusing at the present day to read their old records, and to see to what extent they carried things in those days. They not only interfered with private rights, but held an espionage over household matters, entirely different from the actions of the first emigrants who settled at New Haven.
In fact, the planters who now began to settle in different parts of the State, were an entirely different class from the early Plymouth colony: no code of "blue laws" were ever enacted by the Pilgrims, but their legislation
85
was statesmanlike, just and liberal. Yet, without doubt many of the laws which have come down to us, and are familiarly known as "blue laws," are forgeries concocted by some person who wished to show the Puritans in as bad a light as possible. We can never forget the example and benefits they have conferred upon us. We are indebted to them for our laws and our liberties, and during all their trials and hardships, they never forgot their religion, which seemed to be the principal object for which they lived. How appropriately can we apply the language of Kingsley: "Standing upon the accumulated labours of years, we are apt to be ungrateful to those who, with weary labour, and often working through dark and weary nights, built up the platform which now supports us. We complain impatiently of the blindness of many a man's doctrine, who was only incomplete, because he was still engaged in searching; for some truth which, when found, he handed on as a precious heirloom to us who know him not."1
The following are the names of the original proprietors of Wallingford:
SAMUEL STREET, EDWARD PECK, SAMUEL WHITTLESEY, JOHN PARKER, SEN., THOMAS YALE, JOSHUA CULVER, JOHN MOSS, JOHN HITCHCOCK, JOHN BROCKETT, ROGER TYLER, NATHANIEL MERRIMAN, SAMUEL COOK, SAMUEL THORP, HENRY COOK, JEREMIAH HOW, DANIEL MIX, ISAAC CURTIS, SAMUEL BROCKETT, JOHN ATWATER, MERCY MOSS,
1 Preface to the Sermons of Taulerus.
86
1 Of the original purchasers of Wallingford, John Brockett died March 12, 1690, ae. 80 years; Abraham Doolittle died August n, 1690, ae. 70 years; Nathaniel Merriman died February 13, 1694, ae. 80 years; John Moss died 1770, ae. 103 years. These with Mr. Street, ae. 82 (the five purchasers of the town), computing their ages together, make 415 years, or 83 years for each.