Connecticut Historical Collections

The tradition is, that the first settlers were sent here by Governor Wintiirop ; they were directed to follow the Pomperaug river up eight miles from its junction with the Jlousalonic, in order to find the place designed for their settlement. When they came to the Pomperaug, the stream appearing so small, they cuncluded they were mistaken in the river, and accordingly they proceeded on to the Shepaug, which they followed up the distance of eight miles to Roxbury valley. This place not answering tlie description given of Pomperaug, they crossed over the wilderness eastward to Woodbury valley, which they found was the object of their pursuit. The first house in the town is said to have been built about 20 rods west of the South Congregational church. The settlers by the name of Judson set themselves down in what is 504 \v o o D 13 u 11 y . now called Judson Lane; the Shermans settled about one mile south- east of tiie Episcopal cliurch, now called Middle quarter; the Marlins located themselves about three fourths of a mile northerly ; the JNIiners placed themselves on tlie west side of the Pomperaug. The Rev. Zachariah Walker* was the first minister in the place. He was also the first minister at Jamaica, in Lonu; Island. He probably came from England before he was ordained, and it is supposed he preached at Ja- maica as a licentiate. It is believed that he removed to Stratford in 1068, and from thence to Woodbury .f Woodbury is bounded n. by Ijethlcm, e. by Watertown and Mid- dlebury, w. by Roxbury, and s. by Southbury. It is about 7 miles long from north to soutli, and averages nearly six miles in breadth. The soil is generally warm and fertile. The central part of tlje town con- sists of a village of 75 or SO houses, and is pleasantly situated in a level valley, near the confluence of a number of small streams, which form the Pomperaug. It is surrounded by high hills on every side, forming a kind of amphitheater. The hill lying immcdiaiuly east from the main street is of considerable elevation, and on its southern descent, fronting the west, the rocks descend perpendicularly, presenting a front similar to those of the East and West Rocks, near New Haven, though upon a much smaller scale. This is true to some extent on the eastern side of this range of rocks. They form a very striking feature in the land- scape, as you enter the village. There arc 4 houses of worship in the village, 2 Congregational, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Methodist. Woodbury is 25 miles from Now Haven, 3() from liartford, 15 south from Litch- field, and 21 from Hanbiu'y. 'J'here are in the town at present, 1 tin ware, 2 nail, and 3 satinet factories. The following is a representation of what is called Bethel Rock, be- ing it is said a place resorted to for religious meditation and prayer. It seems to have been brought into notice by the " Legend of Bethel Rock," published in the 1st vol. of the "Legendary," printed in Bos- ton in lS-28. This place is on the eastern side of the ledge of rocks ])arallel with the main road, as you enter the village from the south. It is situated about half a mile eastward from the Episcopal church. This rock (or rocks) is perhaps 30 or 40 feet in height, projecting over eastward three or four feet, and aftbrding a kind of shelter. About 80 rods southeast of this place, a few rods eastward of a road, a monument stands alone, a representation of which is given on the opposite page. * Wood's History of Lon^ Island. t Tlie Iblluwing: tradition is preserved respectin;? the occasion of Mr. Walker's coming to Woodbury. At tlie period of the lir.-,t settlement of Woodbury, there were two licentiates preaching in Stratford, Mr. Walker and Mr. Heed. As there vvas some conlrover.sy wlio should leave and go with the Woodbury settlers, the two licen- tiates were requested to deliver a discourse on the day when it was lo be deciiled, Mr. Walker in the lorenoon, and Mr. Reed in the afternoon. Mr. Walker took fur his text, " What went ye out into the wildeiness for to see a reed shaken with the wind'!" He enlarged upon the circumstance and propriety of a reed being found in the wil- derness, &c. Mr. Reed in the altenuxju tdok for his te.xt, " Your adversary the devil walketh about," &c. In the course of his observations, he staled that the great adver- sary of men was a great %vaU:er, and instead of remaining with the brethren, ought to be kept walking at a distance from them. ^\' () 0 D r, r u V o03 ^l»-x^^ >V%^4 Southtast view of Ucihcl Jlock, fl oodbunj. Grave of Ins/ier Jlartshoni, l\'oo(Mjunj. The followini; is the inscription — " This moniimenl is erected hy th(> Society of Hatters, to tlie memory of their broliier, Fisher Jlttris/iani, a native of Charlestown, Mass. who fell a victim to the small pox, and was burled in tliis jilace, Feb. 18:<J5, a^^ed 21 years. In this relired ami lonely giave, Tlie struni,'cr is ai ro-;i ; flis spirit Rone to him who irave, To dwell ainony the blcsi.' This young man came from New York. He had been in Woodbury but two or three days, when lie broke out with the small pox. He was removed to an old house, formerly standin<^ near the monimient, where he died. The civil authority of the town, fearing that the contagion might spread, refused to liave the body bm-ied in the common binding ground, although his brethren, the hatters, olTered to do it at midnii^dit. With a spirit honorable to themselves, and to ihe body of w Jjich they were members, the hatters buried the body of their brother, and raised a monument ic ' is memory.' 6\ 506 MIDDLESEX COUNTY. BIiDDLKSEx County Is bounded n. by Hartford county, e. by Hart- ford and New London counties, s. by Long Island sound, and w, by New Haven county. Its mean length from north to south is about !25 miles, and its breadth nearly 14 miles. The general surface of the county is uneven. The soil, adjacent to the Connecticut river, and much of the upland, is generally good. The county, being intersected by Connecticut river, possesses important commercial and other advan- tages. Much ship building is carried on, and formerly the foreign trade was quite extensive ; the coasting trade is still very great. Manufac- tures arc flourishing, particularly in and near Middletown. Great quan- tities of free stone are quarried at Chatham ; also considerable quantities of granite at Haddam. This business employs a considerable nundier of vessels to transport the stone to various places in the Union. The shad fishery in Connuciicut river, is an in)[)ortant branch of business. Considerable (|fianlities of wood have been exported from this county to the New York market. This county was incorporated in 17S5, previous to which it belonged to the counties of Hartford, New London and New Haven ; principally to Hartford. The following is a list of the several towns in the county, with their population in 1830. IMiddletown, . 6,892 Haddam, . . 3,025 Chatham,. . 3,646 Chester, . . Durham, . . LI 16 East Haddam, 2,664 Killlngworth, . 2,484 Saybrook, . . 5,018 Population of the county in 1620, 22,405; in 1830, 24,845. MIDDLETOWN. In March, 1650, a connnittee was appointed to explore the lands in Mattabesctt, the Indian name for Middletown. This committee re- ])orted that subsistence niight be obtained in them for fifteen families. In the course of the year a settlement commenced near the Connecti- cut, north and south of the Little river. A larger number of families than the committee contemplated was soon in the town, who were in- vested with town ])rivileges in September of the succeeding year. In November, 1653, the place was called Middletown. In 1654, there were probably about thirty families; in 1670, the number of families was fifty two. The principal planters were from England, Hartford, and Welhersfield. The greatest number was from Hartford. There was a considerable accession from Rowley, Chelmsford, and Woburn, in Massachusetts. The township embraces four divisions, viz. Middletown, North soci- ety or Upper Middletown, Middlefield and Westfield parishes, the last three of which appear to have derived their names from their relation M I Y) 1) L E T O W N 507 Vo the first. The settlement in the parish of Middlefield began about the year 1710: the earhest settlers there were Samuel Allen, Benja- min Miller, and Samuel Wetmore, who removed from the first society. Tlie first white inhabitant of Westfield was Edward Higby, a native of T^ong Island, who settled about 1712, at the foot of that blufl", whleh from him Is called Higby mountain. " A portion of the lands in Midilletown were j^iven by Sowheag, the great sacliem of Mattabesett, tu John Haynes, for some time governor of Connecticut, probably be- fore any settlement was made in the town. On tlic '_Mlh of January, lOtJvi, Se[Hninemo and oilier chiefs, knowing tlie gift of .St.wheag to Mr. Ilavnes, sold lo Samuel WvUis and otiiers, doubtless as agents of the colony or tmvn, all the remaining lands in ISlid- dlctown, including Chatham, extending six miles east ol'the river, and as far west as the Court had granted the bounds ol' tlie town; excepting 300 acres, whicli they re- served for the heirs of Sowheag and Mattabescll Indians, to be laid out east of the river; and a tract on the west side, previously laid out for Sawscan, to remain for his heirs for ever." A reservation also appears to have been in the neighborhood, now called Newlield, where ihe Indians held lands as late as 1713.