Connecticut Historical Collections

" Yeistenlay I went in the coinpans' of two Capt. Smiths of this town, (N. Y.) to the mountain, to visit the herniilage. As you pass llie souihern and elevated ridge of the mountain, and bej^'in to descend the southern steep, you meet with a perpendicular de- scent of a rock, in the front of u-jiich is this cave. At the foot of ttiis rock is a gentle descent of rich and feriiie ground, extendinj,' about ten rods, when it instantly forms a frightful precipice, descending half a mile to the pond called Lonj^ Pond. In the front of the rock', on the north, where the cave is, and level with the ground, there appears a large frustruin of the rock, of a double fjrthoni in size, thrown out by some uiiknowa convulsion of nature, and lyini,' in the Iront of the cavity from which it was rent, partly enclosing tlie mouth, and forming a room: the rock is left entire above, and forms the roof of this humble inansion. Tliis cavity is the liabitalion of the hermitess, in which she has passed the best of her years, excluded from all society; she keeps no domestic animal, not even I'owl, cat, or i\o'^. Her little plantaiion, consisting of half an acre, is cleared of its wood, and redueeil to grass, where site has raised a few peach trees, and yeaily plants, a lew hills of beans, cucumbers, and potatoes; the whole issuriounded with a luxuiiant grape vine, which over.spreads the surrounding wood, and is very productive. On the ojiposile side of litis little tenement, is a fine fountain of excellent water; at this I'ouniain we found llie wonderful woman, whose appearance it is a little ditlicull to dosciihe: indeed, like nature in its fust state, she was without form. Tier dress appeared liille else than one confused and shapeless ma.ss of rags, patched loirether wilhout any order, which obscured all human shape, excepting her head, which was dollied wiiii a luxuriancy of lank grey hair depending on every side, as time had formed it, without any coveting or umament. When she discovered our approach, she exhibited the appearance of a wild and liinid animal; she started and hastened to her cave, which slie entered, and ban leaded the entrance with old shells, pulled from the ilecayed trees. We approached this humble habita- tion, and aftei some conversation wiifi ils inmate, obtained liberty to remove the palli- sadoes and loolc in ; for we were not able to enler, the room being only sullicnnt to ac- commodate one [lerxiti. We saw no ulensil, eiihei for labor or cookery, save an old pewter basin and a goiitd shell, no bed but the solid Kjck, unless it were a few old rags, scatlered here and there; no bed clolhesof any kind, not the least appearance of lood or lire. She had, inileed, a jihice in one coiner of her I'ell, wheie a fire had at some time been kindled, bill il did not apjiear there had been one liu- some months. To con- iirtn this, a gentleman says he passeil her cell live or six days alter the great fall of snow in the bcirinning. of March, that she had no fire then, and had not been out of her cave since the snow had iallrn. Ibiu she subsists iluring the severe season, is yet a mystery ; she .^ays she enis biii Inile iK«h id' any kind ; in the Minimer she lives on berries, nuts, iuid lools. We eoiueiM-d vi iih hei' foi suiiie time, found her to be of a sound mind, a relii,'ion.> tiiiu of thoiighi, and enlinly happy in lier situation ; of this she has given repealed proofs by ii'Insiiig to fpiil this dreary abode. She keeps a. Bible wiih her, and says siie lakes much salisluelion, and spent much lime in read- SIIERMA N. Sheuman, ori<j;inally the north part of New Fairfield, \v;is incorpora- ted as a town in lSU-2. it is liotiiidod tiorili by Kent, west by the state of New York, east by New iMllford, and sotith by New Fairfield. It exceeds nine miles in letij^tli from nurili to south, and lias an average breadth of only between two and ihreo miK^s. "Ils surface is uneven, being characterized by elevated anil lofiy hills, and deep and extensive valleys. Tlie soil is various, according to the local situation of the lands, but is generally a gravelly loam. The hills, which are not suf- fered to remain for the growth of timber, afford grazing; and the vales (most of which are warm and fertile,) are well adapted to the cultiva- tion of wheat, rye, and Indian corn, consirlerable quantities of which are annually raised. Iron ore, to some extent, has been discovered in this town. The central part of the town is 60 miles s. w. from Hart- ford, and about 13 miles north of Danbury. The population of the town in 1810 was 949; in 1830 it was 947. 51 402 S T A I\I F O R I) . The Indian nnme of Stamford was Bippoivams. It was piucliased of the Indians hy Capt. Watliaiiiel Turner, agent for New Haven, of Fonus, sagamore of Toriuamshe, and' of fl'ascussue, sagamore of .S'/(/- pa7i. A reservation of planting ground was made for the Indians. Turner gave for the purchase "twelve coats, twelve hoes, twelve liatcli- ets, twelve knives, two kettles, and four fathom of white wampum." A part or the whole of this tract was purchased of New Haven by some of the inhabitants of Wethersfield, for thirty pounds sterling. The pur- chasers agreed to join the New Haven colony, in their form of govern- ment. Twenty men' agreed to settle here by the last of Noven)ber, 1(341 ; but before the end of the year, there were thirty or forty fami- lies established. "The inhabitants were, however, freijuenily alarmed by the threatenings of invasion, both from the Indians and the Dutch ; and for a considerable time were at great expense in fortifying and guarding themselves; and once, in 1653, their troubles became so great, that they were on the point of a revolt, but were quieted by the prudent measures of the colony." Stanjford is bounded on the northwest by the state of New York, on the west by Greenwich, on the east by Darien and New Canaan, and on the south by Long Island sound. Its mean length from north to south is upwards of mne and a half miles, and its average breadth be- tween three and four. This is a pleasant and fertile township, rich in the resources of agricultural ojudeiice, abounding in the means of sub- sistence, with the advantages of a ready and convenient market. The surface of the town is undulating, exhibiting a pleasant diversity of mod- erate hills and valleys. The soil is a ricll^4ravelly loam, adapted both to tillage and grazing. The view of Staiidord, (-^ee the next pam'.) was taken from a rocky eminence to the ^olll!l\\(■^I, wliirh ri^c ahiu.-i ininiedialfly I'mni the mill stream seen in the engraving, pa^.Vmg to the south. The"iiun foimdery, Avhicli is very extensive, is seen on the leit. Tlie spire seen ntnir the cen- ter of the print is that of the Congregational church ; that seen on the extreme right is that of the Episcopal churcli. Besides these churches, there are two others in the borough, one for the Baptists, the other for the IMethodists. Between the Congregational and Episcopal churchse, is seen the mast of a sloop. A canal from the sea was excavated to this point in 1831. This canal is ISO rods in length, thirty feet in width, and seven in depth; the expense of its construction, including three buildings for stores, was 7,000 dollars. There are in the limits of the borough 10 or 12 stores, 1 iron foundery, one rolling mill, one wire Hic- tory, and two large boot and shoe manufactories ; a bank, with aca|)ital of 100,000 dollars, chartered in 1S34. The post oflice in this place is a distributing ofllce. It is 8 miles westward of Norwalk, 8 from Saw- pitts, and 5 from Horseneck church in Greenwich. The number of in- habitants in the borough is about seven hundred. S T A M F O II 1) . Ao:] iSntu/iiVL^iUfn etc IV oj' the Borough of Stamford. The harbor at the month of^Mill river has, at ordinary tides, upwards of eii^lit I'eet of water. Tliere are two uncoininonly interestin;^ spots bordering the harbor; that on the western side is called the South Field, a rich and beaiuiful I'arni ; the otiier is Shipan Point. This is an elegant and fertile piece of LM'onnd. The suiface slopes in every di- reetion, and ib encircled by a collection of fine scenery. The Hon. Ahrahnin Davenport, for a long period one of the Coun- cillors of the colony, and afteiwards of the stale of Connecticut, was a resident of this town. He was the son of the ilev, John Davenport, the second minister of .Stauiford, and grandson of the Ivcv. John Dav- enport, the father of New Haven colony. He was distinguished lor a vigorous understanding, unconnuon firmness of mind, and Christian in- tegrity of character. Two instances (says Dr. Dwight) of Colonel Dav- enport's firuHiess of mind deserve to be mentioned. " Tlie I'Jih ul' Ma)', 17riO, was a remarkable dark day. Candles were liglucd in ma- ny houses; the birds were silent and disappeared, and the fowls retired to roost. The legislature oT Conneeiieut was then in session at HMrn'ord. A very general ojiinion prevailed, that the day orjudj,'ineni was at hand. The llunse of Representatives, be- ing unable to liansact their business, atljumned. A proposal to adjourn the Council was under consideration. When the opinion of Colonel Daveupoit was asked, he an- swered, ' I am against an atijouinment. Tiie day of judgment is either approaching, or it is not. Jl it is not, iheie is no cause lor an adjournment: if it is, 1 choose to lie I'ouud doing my duty. 1 wish therefore tliat caiulles may be brought.' "The other instance look place at Danbuiy, at the Court of Common Pleas, of which he was chief justice. "I'his venerable man, alter he was .struck with death, heard a considerable pari of a trial, gave the charge to the jury, and took notice of an article in the testimony which had escaped the attention of the counsel on both sides. He then retired from the bench, and was soon after found dead in his bed." [From the Cimncclicul Conrcnit, No. 1;')% ] Hartford, May '2Uk, 1708. As a report unfavorable to the citizens of Stamford has for some days past been in circulation, we juiblisli the following e.Mrac letter from a respectable gentleman 404 S T II A T K O 11 I)