Connecticut Historical Collections

On one occasion only were the whites in danger. A warlike tribe came from the country south of Killiiigly, with the intention of^ murdering the whole white popula- tion. They arrived at a plain a quarter of a mile north of Alexander's Lake, and encamped beneaih an old white oak tree. But the settlers being apprised of their ar- rival, were busy in preparation for defense. One of them in the mean time sallied forth alone to the spot where the red men were assembled. At the same moment the sachem was seen climbing the oak to reconnoitre the country. He had scarcely lime to look, when he felt the bullet of the above mentioned settler, who knowing him to be the chief, had deliberately raised his musket and given him a fatal wound. Though the individual who did this bold act was atone, yet the Indians, fearing that more lay concealed, and being without a leader, gave up the expedition. The same day troop.s arrived from Massachusetts, and encamped over night on the plain which the Indians had abandoned. The next day they proceeded in pursuit of the enemy, after having buried one of their number who had died of sickness. 428 K I I. L I N 0 I, Y . Though the Indians of this quarter did not greatly annoy the whites, yet they had frequent quarrels with other tribes. To illustrate this we will relate a remarkable event which is received from tradition. The Narragansetis residing near Stonington by the sea shore, invited the Nipmucks about Daniclsonville, to " come dowii" and attend a least of " shell fish." The invi- tation was accepted, the latter partook; of the fish, were highly pleased, and in return invited the former to "come up" and attend a feast of" lamprey eels," which was to be ready after the lapse of two moons. The Nipmucks returned home and immediately busied themselves in catching fish for the occasion. At the appointed time, a consid- erable portion of the ineti belonging to the Narragansetl tribe, leaving iheir squaws at home to cultivate the ground ami prepare food for those of the warriors left behind to guard their possessions, proceeded on a journey of lliiity miles through a wilderness, 10 share the hospitality of their friends in Killingly. They arrived in safety and found the feast all prepared. Both parties seated themselves on logs. The squaws were ' then ordered to bring forward the fish, iu the kettles in which they had been cooked. A convenient supply was then provided for each of the guests, who perceiving that they were cooked without dressing, were disgusted and refused to partake. As it was too late lo remedy the matter, there was a pause. Ashamed and vexed to think they had spent so much trouble in inviting the Narragansetis to travel a distance of thirty miles to attend a feast which they could not relisli, the Nipmucks proceeded to " hard words," which their guests retorted with too much sjiirit to be borne. The Nipmucks seized their weapons and attacked their guests, who were unaiincd. Many .\i}/mucks fell: but of the Narragansetts all perished hoi two, who cio.sscd the Uuinnebaug and iled to their tribe, bearing the news of the massacre. Not long after, the remaining portion of the tribe came up, armed with their bows and arrows, lo avenge the slaughter of their countrymen. Their march was on the western side of the Ciuinnebaug in Brooklyn, till lliey arriveit about half a mile below Panielsonville, where the Nipmucks were seen encamjied on the east side in Killing- ly. The latter saw them coming, and hastened to give ihcm battle: being warmly re- ceived, however, they ilug a trench in the sandy soil on the bank of the river, and re- pelled tlie Narragansetts, who being unable to cross, entrenched themselves in the same manner on the opposite side. Both parties being greatly exasperated, continued fighting three days. The surviving Narragansetts at the end of the third day retreat- ed, and left the Nipmucks to bury their dead. The entrenchments are still visible, as well as the skeletons of the Indians who perished. Both those who were slain at the massacre, and those who fell in battle, were buried in ()its, which were filled with bod- ies almost to the surface of the ground. The space thus occupied is about a quarter of an acre. Many of their bones have been dug up and carried away by the curious. 'I'he tradition ailds, that on account of the wickeiuiess of this transaction, the earth around this spot was blasted by a curse, so that to this day not a blade of giass will grow over the bodies of those murdereil Narragaiiicils! By such petty contests and the treachery of the whites, the Indians of this part of the country gradually disappeared. ^Vilhin fifteen years an aged and pious female, named Martha, the last lineal descendant of the tribe residing here, has gone to repose in the burial place of her fathers, and no red people have been seen here since, except occa- sionally in small bands for the purpose of fishing. Thus much of the Indians. VVe might entertain our readers with stories of witches, gob- lins and hobgoblins, if we had nothing of more consequence to place before them. There are however two remarkable circumstances, prob- ably connected with natural phenomena, which we will relate. The first, which we gather from the lips of aged individuals still living, is as follows : "The autumn before the American Revolution, the people of this town, who had long been expecting hostilities to commence, were one day alarmed by what they look to be the continued discharge of cannon and small arms to the northeast, in the di- rection of Boston. The noise continued all day and night, with scarcely any inter- mission. The sounds heard, it is said, exactly resembled those of musketry and field pieces. First would be heard a loud report and then smaller ones, "slam bang, slam bung," to use the language of those who relate the circumstance. The impression KILLINGLY. , 429 that the British were coming was so strong, that most of the inhabitants mustered in a body to await orders for marching to Boston. In a few days, however, contrary to expectation, they learned that no battle had taken place, and that no discharge of can- non or small arms had been made between this town and Boston. Whether the sounds proceeded from the explosion of meteors or not, we are unable to say; but the per- sons who heard them, considered them as forerunners of the war, which actually be- gan six months from that time. The second circumstance was told us by an aged and respected man, IMr. Nell Alexander, who remembers it perfectly well, as also the re- markable sounds alluded to above. We give it in his own words : " In the American Revolution, just before the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, I was returning from a visit to Providence, R. I. I had arrived in Killingly, and was with- in four miles of my residence at Alexander's Lake. It was a bright and clear night, without any moon. I think it was half past ten, when I accidentally looked up and saw a most'brilliant sight. A very little south of the zenith, extending east and west in the sky, lay an arch composed of mounted cannon, with their muzzles pointed to- wards the south. Their color was that of the Aurora Borealis. I viewed thein a long while and attempted to number them, but being in a wood, I was unable to dis- cern those which lay near the horizon. I then hurried on to overtake a friend, whose attention I wished to direct to the phenomenon. My horse being fatigued, however, 1 did not reach him till the remarkable sight had disappeared. I related the event to every person I saw for a long period afterwards, but could find no one who had seen it besides myself, until I happened one day to be on a visit to my uncle, Mr. Levens, who is no longer living. In the course of conversation, without knowing that I had Keen it, he related precisely the same circumstances which I have just related myself. He was in Killingly at the time, and but a lew miles from the place where I was. He informed me that he took the trouble of counting the cannon, and as he was in a con- venient situation for the purpose, he doubted not that he had numbered them all. The whole number was Gl. They were removed at a small di.stance from each other, M'ell mounted and in a regular line." The first meeting house erected in Killingly, stood on a plain a quar- ter of a mile south of the present builiiing at the north parish. It was subsequently removed to the spot on Breakneck hill, given to the town as a burial ground by Mr. Eliezer Warren. Afterwards it occupied the ground where the town house now stands, at the " Center," at which j)hice one of its pastors was Mr. Burroughs, father of the celebrated rogue. The present buiUling, which stands at tiie north parish, is placed on the highest ground in Kilhngly, in view of Thompson and Pomfret jiieeiing houses ; it is very neatly constructed, and was erected in 1818. It belongs to the Congregational denomination. The first pastor of the Congregational church in this town was the Rev. John Fisk. It con- tained at its organization, Oct. 19th, 1715, eleven members. Besides this church, two others were subsequently organized, one at Westfield, and another at the south parish, both of the same denomination with the one already mentioned. A curious fact is related of one of the first pastors of the north parish church, who was accustomed to keep credit of the presents made him by his parishioners. In reading the credits for one week, it was found they consisted ot fcmr lines, making an harmonious couplet with perfect rhyme and measure. It is curious, as illustrating the state of things in those days, and certainly deserves to be snatched from oblivion. We give it in the form current at the present day. " Nell Alexander ... a few little fishes David Copp .... a goose Sampson Howe- - - - a junk of beef J. Dean a pair of shoes !" As connected with this denomination, one individual pastor of the north parish church deserves particular notice. 430 KILLINGLY.