Connecticut Historical Collections

The following is a representation of the spot, lookin^r towards the north where that devoted missionary, David Brainerd, T,rst dre\v his breath, llie house in which he was born, was probably built 100 or 170 years since. It was u one story building, 40 by 30 feet, with a portico by the south door. After this house was taken, down, another was budt on its foundatioas. This second house was taken down about H A D n A M. 517 Birlh-place of David Braincrd, Jladdain. fifteen years since, Tlie place remained in possession of the Brainerds till about the year 1S02. The cellar walls siill remain. The place is seen in the eni,Mavini,f oir the right, near hy which two persons are sta^(li^;^^ The house stood a short distance from the river, at an ele- vation of perhajis 100 feet from the water, and about 8 or JO rods from the turnpike road, commandin;,^ a fnie prospect of the river, both to the north and south. A sprini,' issues in the orchard near the road, and was formerly conducted to the back door of the house. This place is half a mile from Ilij^ffanum Landing', one mile and a half northeast IVom the court house in liaddam, and about 8 miles from IMiddletown. '• If ihc s^ivaUiexs ul" a cliaractei- is to be estiuuiicil hy iliu object it pursues, the tlaii- p.T it biavos, llie iliibnibies it ciiooiiiiiers, and ilie |iiiiily and enerj,-y of il.v iiiolives, David Ifiaineid is cino of the Kieaie.-,! ebaraeieis that ever ajipeared in tlie world. Compared wilb tbis Mundard ol' f^reatne.ss, wliat little ibinifs are the Alexandeis, the Cie.ars, the conquerors ol ibe whole earth. A nobler ubjeel no human or aji-elic niinil, could ever pro|'ose to itselC, ihan to promote the glory oC the f,'reat (ioveiiicjr oC ibe Universe, in studyint,' and laboring' to di/liise [uirily and iiapjunets amoii^' his un- hulv and miserable crealurci;." His life and diary amon;,' the Indian.^, savs a celebrared Eni^lisb divine, " exhibits a perfect pattern of the (pialiiies which should distinguish (he insirucior of rude and barbarous tribes; the most invincible patience and self denial, the proloundesi humil- ity, exquisite prudence, indel'ali^'able industry, and siicli a dcvotcdness to God, or ijithei such an absorjiiion of the whole soul in zetil for the divine ylory, and the .sal- vation of men, as is scarcely paralleled since the aj-^e of the Apostles His con- siiiulional melancholy, though it must be regarded as a physical imperfection, imparts an additional interest and pathos to the narrative, .since wc more easily sympathize with the emotion of sorrow than of joy. There is a monotony in his feelings, it must be nelinowledged, and consequently a frequent repetition of the same ideas, which M-ill di.sgusl a fastidious or snpcrlici'al reader, but it is the monvtoivj of mblimily." The ancestor of the Brainerds came to this country when a lad, and lived in the Wyllis family of Hartford. He afterwards removed to Haddam, and was one ot tlie tirst settlers of the town. David, the missionary, was the third son of Hezekiali Hrai- nerd, a man of piety and respectability, who for many years represented his native town in the General Assembly. Tiie Rev. David Hrainerd commenced his labors among the Indians in 17t3, at a place called Kannaumeck, southeast from Albany, 518 CHATHAM. near Kinderliook; from tliis place lie -vveiil to the Forks of the Delaware, near the line helween New York and Pennsylvania. His greatest success was among the In- dians at Crosweeksiiiig, near Freehold in New Jer<ev- Overcome by wearisome joarneyini;s and arduous hibois, in the work of llie mi"ni>try, he traveled into New England Cor the bcnelit of his health. He died at the house of the Rev. Jonathan Ed- wards, at Northampiou, Ma^s. Oct. lOlh, 1747, iu the lliirlielh year of his age. C IT A T II A i\I Chatham belonged to Middletown until October, 1767, at wbicb time it was made into a distinct town, and called Cliatbani, from the importance of its ship building, in allusion to Chatham in England. The lands in this town, opposite the city of INIiddletown, were early im- proved. " In 1675, do rights were laid out between Glaslenbury and Haddam lines, in lots 2i miles long, running from what tljon w as the eastern boundary of Mlddletown, towards the river; the remaining 12 rights owned in the town being laid out in Moromos. But not- withstanding these improvements and divisions of land, only two white families are known to have lived in Chatham, until after the com- mencement of the last century. James StanclilF had a house on the bank of the river, nigh the end of Chatham street, as early as 1690, and John Gill had another not far from that time. The next settler after these was William Cornwell, who settled back from Chatham meadow, about 1703. Ili 1710 there were only nine or ten families within the limits of Chathaiti parish." A family by the name of Goffe settled south of Knowles' Landing, about 1710, who wcfe the first in- habitants within the limits of JMiddle Iladdam." " The lands in this township were obtained from ihe Indians in connection with the lands in Middleiown. Dm a resmvalion. hud out pnrilv at Indian hill, and paiily a little east of Chatham nulling house, was ludd by liicm'iill iilu.ni I7G7; when having dwindled 10 a small number, lliey sold their right" and united wiih the Farmin;,'l()n In- dians. These liuii:ui\,h;ivc been someiinus caJK-d AVongonks or NVon^'iuns, but the reservauou w.is for ihe hciisof Siiulua^' and M.iiiabo.-^eU Indians, and lliey were doubtless of ihcsaine tnlie wiih ihe Indians on ilie WfSt side of the river. A little clan inhabitedfor fiequenud, ilic region about roeoiu|)ogiie ])ond, and had a place of rendezvcKis on ihe princi|ial island which tliat inclose>. These were also, probablv, a pari ol' the Maltabessetl liuliaiis. At Indian hill was a lainous grave yard, w here nionuineiils with inscripiions were set up over some of the graves, after the English .settled upon the river. Indian bones have been found also, "on the lel'l bank of Tay- lor's creek, as it enters the Connecticut." The town of Chatham embraces Chatham parish, (formerly East Middletown,) the greater part of INIiddle Iladdam parish, the parish of East Hampton, and part of the parish of West Chester. The town- ship is bounded N. by Glastenbury, w, by Connecticut river, e. by Marlborough and Colchester, and s. by East Haddam and Haddam Neck, belonging to Haddam. There are 6 churches, 3 Cotigrega- tional, 2 Episcopal, and 1 IMethodist. The township is about nine miles in length from north to south, and more than 6 in breadth. The interior part of the town is rough and broken, consisting of granite bills, interspersed with inconsiderable valleys. Upon the Connecticut, there is a considerable tract of alluvial. There are very extensive and valuable quarries of bTc^tone on the bank of Connecticut river, nearly CHATHAM. 519 opposite the city of Middletovvn, which are worked and sliaped with great facility. Ahout SOU workmen are employed, and large quanti- ties of this stone are sent to New York, Boston, Pliiladelphia, Charles- ton, and other places. Suitthcrri view of the Kphcopnl Church, Chatham. The libove k^■^L southern view of the Episcopal church in Chatham. It is constructed of stone from the quarries in the inn-nediate vicinity westward. The Episcopal society in Chatham parish was formed April 17th, 1789. The Kev. Sujith Miles may be considered as the first clergyman regularly settled over this society. His monument is in the new grave yard, and is of the same form as that of l\Ir. Ash- mun, seen on page 183 of this work : the following is the inscription. "Sacred to tlic iiKMiiory of Rev. Smiili Afilos; Ihhii in Derbv, March IDili IICG- ^'nutiiateii ?xl Vale (\>Ik-o, 17!)I, iiiul oniaiiuMl HOr. ; ollioiatodas Hector u( the E)>i.s' :J years. Died Jan. 31, IK\0: aged tit year.s— .Tliey that i.s id' the finiiaineiit, and tliey tliai turn many to oo|)al cliurch i 1 (.^iiatiiuiu :>:$ he wi.se sliall .s riglitcuiisncsi. ; line as the hri s stars lor eve The two principal streams in the tounship are Salmon river and Pine brook, balinon river cro.sses the southeastern corner of liie town. Pine Brook, a con- siderable mill stieam, rises in Pocotopogiic jiond, in the parish of East Hampton and alter a course of six or seven miles, unites with .Salmon river, three miles rrom Its mouth. Pocotopogue pond, or raiiier ponds, is about nine miles in circumference ■ U is in the form ot two ponds, nearly circular, united by a strait of no considerable width or length. Its waters are about ten feet in depth, and surround several islands one of two acres, formei ly the favorite resort of the Indians. It is fed by low spi ings' as rains do not alter its height. " Another jiond uithin the bounds of Chatham parish^ called Job's pond, is about two miles in circumference. TJiis has no outlet. It rises and falls as much as fifteen feet, from causes which cannot be easily explained ; for it is often the highest in the dryest season of the year, and lowest in the wettest season. When It begins to rise, ii rises regularly for six or twelve months, and then falls for about the same periods. This, in many places, is from 40 to &) feet deep. " On the banks of Connecticut river, half a mile northeast from Middle'town harbor, are noted and very valuable quarries of freestone. The rocks at the northern and principal opening, accor.ling to tradition, originally hung shelving over the river. They were used for building stone verv soon after Middletown was settled. At a meeting held in that town in Hit;.'-., it was resolved that no one should dig or raise stones at the rocks on the east side of the river, but an inliabitant of Middletown, and that 520 CHATHAM.