Connecticut Historical Collections

Sowheag was a powerful sachem. Ilis Ion or castle was on the high ground in the west part of the city of Middletown, still called, from this circumstance, Indian hill, about three fonrlhs of a mile northwest of the court house, where he was able, by means of his whistle, to call around him many warriors, it is said to the number of 500, whose wigwams were thick on both sides of the Connecticut eastward. His do- minion extended not only over these and other Indians in Middletown and Chatham, but over the Piqiiag oi Wethersfield Indians, whose sagamore, Sequin, was subject to him ; and as a part of the original township of New Haven was purchased of Mon- towese, Sowheag's son, it is probable that his dominion embraced some of the Indians m that town. ' Although Sowheag gave lands lo Gov. Haynes, he may be considered as a base and treacherous man. In April, IG37, .some of his Indians aided the Pequols in iheir in- cursion into that town, when they surjiiiscd and killeil six men. Sowheag ent.itained the murderers, and treated the people of Wethersfield in a haughty and insulting man- ner. It seems, liowever, that the people of AVelhersfield had previously offered him some provocation. On hearing of their dillereiices, the General (anirt were disposed to forgive him, and ajipointed a committee to compromise all dilfcrences with him. Hut he totally refused to give np the murderers, and continued his outrages against the English. The Court of Connecticut, therefore, in August, 1039, detemuued to send one hundred men to Mattabesett, and take the delinquents by force. They noti- fied their friends at New Haven of their determination, both that they might receive their approbation in an enterprise of such general concern, and that they inight make the necessary arrangements lor defending their own plaiiiations. Gov. Kaion and his <-ouncil viewed it important that the ;iiurdereis should be brought to justice, but in existing circumstances, deemed the measure proposed for doing it inexjicdieni, and dissuaded the Connecticut colony I'rom hostile measures. f, The following list is from the ancient records of the town of Middletown. It i: entitled, "The names of the proprietors of MidiUelown, with their estates, lakei March 2i,'d, 1070." The amount of their estates is omitted. Mr. Nathaniel Collins, Andrew Warner, Thomas Allen, George finbard, Thomas Wetmore, John Hall, sen, William Cornwell, sen. John Cornell, Samuel Cornell, Isaac Lane, William Lucus, John Ward, Mr. Hamlin, Daniell Harris, Edward Turner, William Cornel, jun. Alexander Bow, William Han is, Thomas Miller, Thomas Slow, James Tappin, William Ward, William f'heney, Richard Hall, Henery Coall, Mr. Samuel Stow, Obadiah Allen, Jasper Clcminents, Robert Warner, Nalhaniel Bacon, Anthony Martin, r3avid Sage, William Bigs, Isaac Johnson, Samuel Egleston, Samuel Collins, Joseph llubard, John Stow, John Hall, jun. Ensign White, Samuel Stc^cking, Thomas Ranny, John Warner, John Wilcox, John Huilbiit, Samuel Hall, John Savage, Thomas Hubbard, John Kirby, George Diirant, Edward Foster. v^ i03 M I P D I- K T OWN. I'LAN OK .-MAIN ri'lia:i;r, MlOm.I/l'OWN, i^IIOWINC; TIIK ItUILDlM;S AND OrcUI'ANTH IKDM AUOUT 17;U TU 177j. (Hy Ju.'^ui'ii ItAracATT, M. I)., MiilJUiuwii, Sept. 1S3C.) Raster WcUiicar, 7'«rfc/-;i.-.^:to q Basselt, h'lirtner. KuAU TO IIahti-ord. Juliii Huidii, Fanner aiiJ Conslalilc lluiiLUiiMucUirilii-e, Ilarier Capt. (Viltoii, .SV,/y; MciHttr Alexaiiil.T Ki.-lh, Ui^i-c .V,//.(.r.-E PhiUp Mori, I, Cal.l. (;|ras,)l ! HiipfwaU.-: ',ue Utaltr. r/f* utxiul ti'.if i-arner \V AS II I N l.TO> •Cul J.,h./. Ilaiuliii ■,/(/(u iinil M'.ir/iu CO iiiri' Kichaid Hall, Shij, Mu^ltr.'. J.Ioliii Slockcn, Jiuii ir^rAi.. Juscpli Kiiiil, S'ilversinilh.- PARSON A ok" Ely, Tanner and S/we MuUtr'. <;.lol,uWunl..g iiaiiMlVini.i, r,inri,. [Cal.lil-ull,'.-,... tliy U»iinluKm, ./,.i,uy.... /at- I'aiUlo.U Joiner Klislia OlaiK, ■J'ruiltr. - • Mniiiiiiir, Hope Maker. \l-oiuc ,./.',ii/lun irood trets. siiilnnl Tl ipscjii, iVi/p MuvitT ^iiiiiKl liiill, ,17f;-i7iaji/. O ■• NV.iitl'lii.ii, ./,./,/(/•. ■ — U.v.ale.'l I'i-U, 7'oi/w/ ClerkAy ■ -(-'aiii. Waril, .s/ii> .1/ui/t;. s I' 11 !■: r. T. ■ ^.la.Ml.S. h,,r, .l/,;i7/<i;!r ia--.lauusr,„uuall, FuimfV. B -•(.',.■,. rsi' l'liilli|i.s, Merchant. «....{. a(,s il:,ll, -SViu- .U(,W(7-. BI.-.-Ci.l. Miillln wTalcuU, .^terthant\ hWrmer B • Saiiuiel Julmson, S/me Maker. Ot—^'J'ii/ivlli;/ [iigeloxo's Tavern." BJ"N''pl' Soulliinayd, Fanner. B^Kichanl AlsMj., Merthunliy.S.'uu Owner. S'lKlOKl". BB-Cupl. Duuii, iyhip Master. ^--Ailiiui I'diiioidy, Tanner. B.. Ill, Walk.r, .S7.,r. Dfuler. ■ .-William S,.ull,iua) a, SuJdUr M.-i-s, Iln liiiAD TO Xi:w IIavkn. Jfe t.'lai-k, AiJul/ucuTi/. *. 'Upisccpal Churc/i. The township of IMicMletown is bounded north by Wcthersfield, \y<?st by ]>crHn and iMeridcn, east by Connecticut river, separating it from Cliathani, and south by lladdain and Durham. Its length from north to south is about nine miles, and it varies in breadth from four to ten miles. The surdice of the town is strikingly diversified, having the VVallingford range of the greenstone mountains on the west, and the Strait hills in the southeastern section of the town. The base and ' First iiiavor o( tin' city, 17S1. t Itiiilt by II Bruwn, a hattt r. 4 lluilt by Oiks Hall. ^ Built in 1078; iillerwaula occupiocl by Wcnsliy Uubby, the lirst po.st master in tlie town : thu- post olllce was Uepl wlioiu lie resideil. , :\Ir. Fuller was a sclioiiliuaster, minister, coiistable, storekeeper, iiuJ kept tavern about 6 months. r rhe olllce of town clei U of MiJaietown lu:. beeu in this family 1 M yeais ■■ Oeii. Washinnlon put up at tins tavern. 'I'lie letter u, at the lii-ad uf .Main street, sliow.'j the sput, or very iieur it, w here the fust meeting house w.is ereel-d. 0, town house. M I D D r. r T 0 \V N , r>09 loose stones of tlie Strait hills are granite, which is the prevalent stone found southward through the county. In the Upper Houses, north of the city, is Prospect hill, so named from the fine view of the surround- ing country, particularly of the windings of Connecticut river, of the city of IMiddletown, Chatham, he. Just below the city, the Connec- ticut turns to the eastward. Two miles and a half below Middletowii city, the river being compressed to 35 rods, passes wiili considerable lorce between the high and cragged fronts of the Strait hills. Besides the Connecticut, the township is watered by two small streams, called West and Little rivers. The former passes through Durham, and unites with the latter about two miles from the Connecticut, into which the waters of these united streams are discharged, between the city and the Upper Mouses. The soil in this township is favorable both for grain and grazing, is well adapted for fruit, and is generally rich and fertile. FubUc Buildings in the central part of Mkldletoivn. Middletown City was incorporated in 17S4. It is a port of entry, and the chief town of Middlesex County. Jt is pleasantly situated, in Lat. 41° 35' N. and Lon. 4° 15' e. of Washington, on the west bank of Connecticut river, 31 miles above its mouth, 15 miles south of Hart- ford, and 24 miles n. k. of J\ew Haven. The population of the city in 1830 was 2,9G5; including the town, (3,892. The site of the city is principally a gentle declivity, having a gradual ascent back from the river. It is built mostly upon eight streets; Main street, which is the principal one, runs north and south, and is about a mile in extent; it is broad and level, and contains most of the public buildings, stores, &:c. The above is a southeastern view of five of the public buildings in Middletovvn. The first building seen on the left is the court house, erected in 1832. The next building is the Middletown bank, incorpo- rated in 1785, with a capital of !gi 100,000, which was increased in 1812 to ^'500,000. The building with a steeple is the first Congregational 510 BI I n r> L R T O W N . church; tlic next building is the custom house, erected in 1835; the next buildinif north is the Central Motel and stage house. There are in the city 6 houses for public worship, 2 Congregational, 1 Episcopal, 1 ]\Iethodlst, 1 Baptist, and 1 African ; 2 banks, the Middletown bank, the Middlesex County bank, and the Wesleyan University. The streets and walks are shaded with elms and Linden or lime trees. Much taste is displayed by the citizens about their residences, in the collection of choice shrubs and plants. I\Iain street is elevated from 45 to 50 feet above the level of the river. The rise and fall of tide water is from 18 to 24 inches. Indian or Sowheag hill, one mile from the river, is 227 feet above its level. The base of the Wesleyan University Lyceum is 160 feet above the river, being distant five eighths of a mile. SuiUhcdstcni view of the 1Vtski/an i'nircrsihj, Middlctown. The Wesleyan University was founded in 1831, and is an institution of great jn-oniise, under the patronage of the IMethodist Episcopal church. The college buildings are finely situated, on an eminence, about half a mile from the river, commanding a view of the town, some of the neighboring villages, and a fine prospect of a most fruitful surrounding country. The college buildings were originally built for, and occupied by, the American Literary, Scientific and IMilitary Aca- demy, under the care of Captain Partridge. The Academy having failed in its operations, the buildings were vacated, and left on the bands of the proprietors. At this time, several annual conferences of the Methodist Episcopal church were preparing to establish a college under the |vatronage of said church, and were holding their privilege of location in the market, for the purpose of securing a liberal local sub-, scription. To secure this |)rivilege, llie proprietors of the ^Vcademy offered their buildings as a gratuity, for the use of a college or univer- sity for ever, on condilion that there should be an additional endowment raised, of ^40,000. The citizens of Middletown and its vicinity, with M I D D L E T 0 W N . 511