Connecticut Historical Collections

diction they should submit. The principal planters were George Dcn- nison, Thomas Slauion, Thomas Shaw, William, Elisha, and Samuel Cheeseborough, Moses and \V^dter Palmer. These, with some others, were signers of the vokmlary compact.* The (irst settlement was made at IVtquctcqaock cove, a little more than two miles n.e. of Stonincton borough. Cheescborough, or Cheesebro, and Palmer, located them- selves, one on each side of the cove: the cellars of their houses are still to be seen. IVtst view of the Borough of Slonlngton. Massachusetts claimed this tract of country, by virtue of the assist- ance they rendered to Connecticut, in the conquest of the Pequots. This claim was allowed by tlio commissioners of the colonies, and Mys- tic river was adjudged to be the easiein boundary of Connecticut. UjUMi the pelition of the phmicrs, Oct, IDth, the (lencral Court^of i\lassarhnsclts made them a grant of eight miles eastward of the mouth of llic Mystic, and eight miles northward into the country, and named the plantation Southcrton. It continued under the government of jMassachusetts, until after Connecticut obtained a royal charter. Slonington is bounded north by North Stonington, west by Mystic river, separatin;,^ it from Groton, east by Pawcatuck river, which sepa- rates it from Westerly, in the state of Rhode Island, and south by Fisher's Island soimd and Narragansett bay. It averages about seven rniles in length from I'ast to west, and upwards of six in breadth, con- taining foi'ty [\\'G squaie miles. The townshij) is uneven, and abounds with rocks; the soil is, how- ever, generally fertile, being well adapted for grazing. Within the limits of the town, in many places, are single, large rocks, lying loose upon the surface of other rocks imbedded in the earth. The three principal settlements, or \illagcs, are Stonington borough. Lower Mys- tic, o])posito Porlersville in Groton, and the village at the head of Dr, Tnnnbull. STONINGTON. 015 Mystic. There is also a settlement of about fifteen or twenty houses on the Connecticut side of the Pavvcatuck river, at Pawcatuck brifl;;e, Tliere are three houses of worship, two Contrregational, and one Bap- tist. There are one or two cotton factories, and one woolen factory, in the town. The marine situation and interests of Stonington have rendered it a conspicuous nursery for seamen, who are distinguished for their enterpiise, perseverance, and courage. There are two banks ; the Stonington, and the Mystic. Stonington borough was incorporated in 1801. It is situated on a narrow, rocky point of land, of about half a mile in length, at the east- ern extremity of Long Island sound, "^'he borough consists of about 150 dwelling houses and stores, and upwards of 1 ,000 inhabitants, 2 churciies, 1 Congregational, and 1 Baptist; 'i Acadeniies, where the higher branches of education are taught, and 1 Bank. Sealing and whaling is the principal business. In some years 100,000 seal skins have been brought into this place. The. breakwater at tliis ])lace was erected by the United States, at an expense of about 50,000 dollars. In the severest seasons, ships can get up to the breakwater, without being obstructed by ice. Since the location of the New York, Provi-^ dence and Boston rail road through this place, real estate has more than doubled in value, Stonington borough is 12 miles east from New L/ondon, and 45 from Providence. This town has become celebrated for the spirited and successful re- sistance which it made to the attack and bombardment of Sir Thomas Hardy, during the late war. '^Phe following account is taken from " iY-rkins' IJistoiy of the Late ^Var." " On the Dill ol' August, (IHl 1,) a (letacliincnt from the .sqdnilioii off New London, Con.--islin;^ollhe ihij,'.-,hip lLun)ilic.-> 71, I'.icluUis iirt, a bomb sliip, and tlic Des|>atcli brig o(-i'2 jjuns, appeared oil' Slonin;;litn point. At live o'cioeic a note was addies.sed lu the magistrates of the viila;?e by tlie commodore, informin>( tiiem that one hour li(jm the receipt of the note was allowed them I'or the removal of the unolfending inhabitants and ttleels. The oiiieer who brought the note was inquired of whether a tlair would be reeeived IVoiii the mai,'istrates ; his reply was, that no at rangeinenl could be made. On being asked wiiether Commodore Hardy had determined'to destroy the town, he replied that sneli were his orders from Admiral Cochrane; and thai It would be done most elfectually. On receiving the communication, the village was thrown into the utmost consternation- The most Valuable articles were hastily removed or concealed. The sick and aged were removed, the women, children, and inhabitants incapable of bearing arms, lied to the neighboring farm houses. A few militia, stationed at tlie point, under the command of Lieutenant Hough, were placed in the best positions to give notice of any attempt to land. A number of volunteers hastened to the battery on the point, which consisted of two eighteens, and one four pounder mounted ou field carriages, protected by a slight breastwork. An express was immediately di.s- patched to General Cushing at New London, the United States commanding general ol' the district, wiili a request for immediate assistance. The general considered this as a feint, intended to mask a real attack on fort Griswold, which commanded the har- bor ol' New London ; thai the object of the enemy was to draw the regular troops and militia from that jiosl, and in the mean time land a considerable force at the head of Mystic, four miles in ihe rear of the fori, and take it by storm. Having accom- plished this objeel, they could destroy or lay under contribution the town of New Lon- don, and proceed up the river and capture the frigates.* This opinion of the gene- ral's was confirmed in consequence of the squadron having lately been leinforced; and a number of ships taking stations near Mystic. Having these views of the de- signs of ihe enemy. General Cushing made correspondent arrangements with Major General Ciishing's letter to the secretary of war. 44 346 STONING TON. General Williams, commander of the divi.>ioii uf mililiain that district ; and orders were immediately given for the asseinblinf,' of one rej.;uneiit at the point of altaek at Stonington ; one at the head of Mystic river, to prevent a landing' ior the pnrpose of altackins fort Griswold ; one company of arlillery and one ref,Mment of infantry at Norwich port, a few miles in the rear of the iri^nte.s ; and one company of artillery and regiment of infanirv fur the protection of fort Trnmbull and the city of New London. These dispositions were ])rompily and zealously carried into clleet. " The village of Stonington point consists of about one hundred dwelling houses, and a number of stores, compactly built on a narrow peninsula, extending half a mile, and forming a convenient harbor. The attack commenced on this village at 8 o'clock in the evening by a discharge of shells from ihe bomb ship, and rockei.s and carcasses from several barges and launches, which had taken their stations at dillerenl jioints. The first continued without intermission until inidniu'hl, and was occasionally an- swered from the battery, as the light of the rockets presented a view of the object. During this period, the non-combalant inhabitants of iTic village, having taken shel-- tor in the neighboring houses and barns, were waiting the eveiitin trembling anxiely ; expecting every moment to witness the conllagraiion of their dwellings. At twelve o'clock the firing ceased ; no building was consumed, or person injured." In the course of the night the militia and volunteers assembled in considerable numbeis. At day- light on the 10th, the appioach of the British was annouueeil by a discharge of rock- ets from several barges and a launch, which had taken their stations un ihe east side of the village, and out of the reach of the battery. A luiinber of volunieers with musketry and one four pouiuier hastened across the point to meet the encmv, supposing they would attempt a landing from the barges. Colonel Randall of the KJih regiment, who was at this time approaching the battery with a delachinent of mililia, ordered his men to assist the volunteers in drawing over one of the eighteen p(nmders tu the extreme end of the point, the tire from which soon comficlkd tlie barges to seek their safety by (light : during this time the brig was woiking up towards the point, and at sunrise dropped anchor within half a milecd' the battery. This was now manned by only about twenty men ; and their ammunition being expended, they spiked the guns and retired. The brig now continued delibeiately to pour into Ihe village her ihiiiy two pound and grape shot, and the bomb ship to throw her shells for an hour without a shot being returned. " At eight o'clock, a supply of ammunition having arrived, the eighteen pounder was drilled, and such an animated and well direeled lire opened on ihe brig, that at three o'clock, having received several shot below her water mark, and much damage in her spars and rigging, she slipped her cables and hauled o/f out of the reach of Ihe battery. In this contest two Americans only were slightly wounded. The Hag, which was nailed to the staff on the battery, was pierced with seven shot; the breast-work ■was considerably damaged, aad six or eight dwelling houses much injured. Consid- erable bodies of militia arrived in the course iif the clay; and Brigadier General Ishain took the command. The inhabitants had recovered Irom the cousternaiion of the first momenis ; things asMimed a more regular and oideily a.^pccl. Eveiy one capable of bearing arms was at the jiost of danger, and the others emjiloyed in re- moving their ellecis.