Connecticut Historical Collections

* When the Indians returned from Pennsylvania, as mentioned by Mr. Griswold, few of ihem took tip their permanent residence in this town. They joined Ihe Scata- cook tribe, but used lor a long time in the season of fishing, annually to revisit their tjshing grouml at the Great Palls, two and a half miles below the village, for the pur- pose ot' taking lampreys, their favoiite fish, which aie iiot found above these I'alls. This stand they never would part with, and, though occupied by the whiles also for the same purpose, the Indians' rights were alwa\'s recognized, and even to this day, when a str;iggler eornes there, the whites allow ihein iheir turn. The Scatacook tribe are not quite extinct, and the few who remain, are under ihe care of an overseer ap- pointed by the state, and who annually reports the state of their allaiis to the county court of this county. Scatacook is situated in the town of Kent.^and the account of It belongs to that town, and not to New Alilford ; and I only add this note to guard against a possible misconception of Mr. G.'s meaning in the place noted. t Oli the bUiiT adjoining the mountain back of the ludiau field. NEW JJ I L F 0 R D . 477 " It is impossible at this iHstance of time to ascertain the exact order in w hicli the subsequent seillers came to this town, or the identical years in which ihey came li is presumed, however, that we have obtained by diligent search and enquiry of liie ajfed, somewhere near the order of their coming, as also the places from whence ihcy came. We shall lirsl mention the names of those who came more than GO years ayo, (whom we may consider the fust settlers,) together with the places whence iliey emi- grated, selling them down in the order in which it is supposed they caine, viz. John Noble, Wesllield; John Bostwick, Slratford ; Zechariuh Ferriss, Stratford ; Samuel Iliichcock, Springfield, Mass.; Samuel Brownsoi], Farmingion ; Roger Drowuson, Farminston ; John Weller, Springtield ; Jeremiah Canfield, Milford ; Daniel Board- man, Weihersheld; Samuel Camp, Milford; Theophilus Eaklwin, Milluid ; Ebene- vx-v Baldwin, Milford; William Gaylord, Windsor ; James Hine, Millbrd ; Daniel lliue, Milford; Joseph AVarner, Hadley, Mass.; Jolin Warner, liadley, Mass.; James .Prime, Milford; John Welch, Milford; Paul Welch, Milford; Thomas Piekell, Danbuiy ; Jonathan Buck, Weiheislicid ; Enoch Buck, Wetherslield; Eze- kiel Buck, Wethersfitdd; Henry Garlick. England; Elea^er Beechcr, Milfoid; Jdwph Kuggles, New Haven ; Nathan Collins, Milford; Joseph Collins, Milford; Amos Collins, Mili'ord; Ezekiel Poine, Rhoile Island; Samuel Peel, Stratford; John Peel, Stratlortl; Thaddeus Peel, Stratford ; Thomas Oviatt, Milford; Gamaliel Terrill, Milford; Nathan Terrill, Milford; Job Terrill, Milford; James Terrill, Milford ; Caleb Terrill, Milford ; Joseph Murray, Westchester, N. Y. ; Josiah Smith, Danbury. [A long list follows, but ii will be quite useless to pursue it.] "The first white male child born in this town was the late Lieut. Daniel Bostwick ;* and the first female was I\Irs. Sarah Noble, for- merly Ferris, now living. And it is worthy of remark, that three per- sons have lived in this town to be more than 100 years of age, two of whom are now living. *' The early part of the settlement here was somewhat retarded by a tedious lawsuit, regarding the title to a considerable tract in the center oi" the town. Col. John Read claimed it, under a title from tlie natives, and removed here to gain a residence and defend his title. This dis- couraged settlers under the company's title from coming on, and but a small number came the few first years. These few, like all other first settlers, saw troublous times ; and their names are worthy the af- fectionate remembrance and praise of their posterity. It was common for them to carry their fire arms into the field to labor, and they were obliged to provide a fortified house to resort to in time of danger ; and they were sometimes reduced to distress, through the failure of provis- ions and the difficulty of supplying themselves. " The town plot or center was first laid out on the hill next east of the present center, whence that hill is to this day called Tvirn Hill. Afterwards it was concluded to remove the center to the top of the hill next north of the present center, for which the first minister built and lived on that hill. But ultimately it was thought more convenient to place the center where it now is, " New Milford for a considerable time belonged to the County of New Haven ; but after Litchfield County was erected, it was set off to the latter. It is ascertained from the papers of the first minister, that in the year 17P2, there were but 12 i'amilies in this town. Col. John Read, who is mentioned before as having been once a candidate for the ministry, preached the first sermon that ever was preached here. After he left the place, his house, which stood near where the present town house stands, was used as a place of worahip lor some years. The first meeting house w as built in the year 1720. It stood near the foot of the hill, a few rods to the northeast of the present town house. There the first minister, Mr. Boardman, oilicialed during his life ; and the second minister, Mr. Taylor during some of ihe first 4'ears of his ministry. It is * This Daniel Boatwick was the youngest son of John Bostwick, the second settler who caine here. 478 NEW 1\1 I L F O R D . said by the nged that when they first began to meet in that lioiise, though it was small, yet eveiy ])ersun in ilie town could sit around upon the outer .sills, side by side. " Tiie house in winch we are now assembled, being the second meeting house, was built m the year 1751, about -17 years ago. The lust Episcopal church was built in the year 17-1 G ; the secoinl, wliicli is the one now standing, began to be built 17G5, was raised in 17GC, about :j5 years ago. It was finished and consiecraied 1793. The Slricl Cungrci^ationalisls, usually called Separates, erected their house ol'M'orship in the year 1701, 40 years ago, which is now standing. Tlie Friends,, commonly called Quakers, built their meeting house not far Iroin the year 17-12, now standing, though in another place than where it was first set. Anijlher communion o^ Friends, follow- ers of Jemima Wilkinson, built a house of worship in the north end of the town about 15 or 20 years ago, but it is now owned and occupied by the Episcopalians of New Preston. The Baptisis erected a house of worship in the .south end ol the town, called the Neck, (now Bridgewater society,) abmit 11 or 12 years ago; but it is sold and now used for another purpose. " This naturally leads us to consider more particularly the several Christian persua- sions, denominations or societies, contained in this town. The eldest bete is the Pres- byterian, or more properly the Congregaiionalisis. Most or all of the earliest settlers were of that denomination. This socieiy may therefore be considered as old as the town ; but the professing members were not gaiheied into a church until the year 1716. It then consisted of 8 men and 5 women. There have been three ministers ordained in this society. The first was the Rev. Daniel Boardinan iVom Welhersfield. He came inio this town first to preach as a candidate, in the vear 1712. He vvas ordained on the 21st Nov. 171G. He died Aug. 25th, 1711, in llie 58tli year of his age, having served here 37 years and D months. It apjiears from his records, that he baptized 521 jiersons, and married G7 couple. — The second minister was tlie Rev. Nathaniel Taylor from Danbury. He came liist to preach as a candulale in January, 1718: vvas or- dained the 29th day of June fallowing, lie died Dec. 9ili, 1800, aged 78 years and 3 months, having been orilainetl 52 years and 5 months. According to his' record, he baptized 927 persons, and married :{19 couple.— Aly.-elf, who am the third minister, came hist to preach as a candidate June 1 iih, 17b9 : was ordained colleague pastor with the Rev. Mr. Taylor on the 20th day of Jaiinaiy, 1790. I liave baptized 232 per- sons, and married 103 couple. Many have been married l)y the civil authority, whose number I have not asceitained. " Tlie next religious society in the order of time is the Friends, usually called Qua- kers. Their origin in this town was about the year 1731. Then 19 church members left the Presbyterian communion, and set up that society. About 10 years alierwards, they built their house of worsliip, which was set on a jHece of ground which was given for that purpose, aiul also for the purpose of a burying jilacc, by Zechariah Ferris, op- posite the dwelling house of Mr. David Fen is. Since that time it has been removed to the place where it now stands, lor the greater accommodation of the members; where they now hold their regular meetings, thougli the number is but small, " The mxt religious siuieiy in ihe ordeTof lime is ihe Kpi^copalian. Some individ- uals ,if ihai prole.ssion came inio this town at an eailiei period, but no slated worship was held here till somewhere between the years 1710 and 1715. Worship was then carried on liere by the Rev. Mr. Beach of Newtuwn. One Mr. Bar/illai Dean read service here for several years, then went to England for orders, with a view to settle here on his return, but died on his passage. — Tlie first Episcopal minister who came and resided in this town, was the Rev. Solomon Palmer from Cornwall. He came in the year 1751, and removed to Litchfield about the year 17G0 ; was minister here about six years. — The second was the Rev. Tiioinas Davis from Washington. He came here about the year 17G1, and died in this town May 12th, 1766, in the 30th year of his age, and the sixth of his ministiy.