Connecticut Historical Collections

" Tlie il^irlc brown years" have passed over it; slic sleeps alone far from tlie land of lier fathers, "at the noise of the sounding snrj^'e ! Her tunib is seen by the mariner as he passes by on the dark rolling wave." Saybrook fort, however it may be regarded at the present time, was formerly a post of great importance. A garrison was constantly kept here for a very long period, and the furt was usually well manned in seasons of war and danger, as it commanded the entrance of Connecti- cut river. It was first built of wood, in front or on the point of Tond) hill. I?ut as this in some unaccountable maimer took fire in the winter of 1617, and was consumed, with some adjoining buildings, the fort was rebuilt soon afier of more substantial materials, and placed a few rods further north, on what was called New-fort hill,:the place on which the remains are now standing. A few days jifier the first fort was be- gim, in \G:]o, u Dutch vessel arrived from New IVetherlands, wiih a view of taking possession of the mouth of the river and of laying the foundation of a settlement. The English having mounted two pieces of cannon, prevented their landing, and defeated the enterprise. This fort, also, about the time of the Pequot war, saved the inhabitants of Saybrook from being cut ot^by the Indians. " In the year 1G75, it was discovered that Major Andross was about to make a hostile nivasion of the colony, and to demand a surrender of its most important posts to the f,'ovurnnKMit of the Duke of York. Detachments from the miiitia were there- fore sent, with the utmost expedition, to New London and Saybrook. Captain Thomas Bull, of tiariford, commanded the party sent to Saybrook. •• About the 8th or 'Jih of July, the people of that town were surpri.sed by the appear- ance of Major Andross, with an armed force, in the Sound, making directly tor the fort. They had received no inlellip-ence of the affair, uor instructions Irom the gov- ernor and council how to conduct themselves upon such an emergency. Thty weie, at first, undetermined whether to make any resistance or not ; but they did not hesitate long. As the danger approached and their suprise abated, the martial spirit began to tTiikindle ; the I'orl was manned, and the militia of the town drawn out fur iis de- fense. Atthiscritical juncture. Captain Bull with his company arrived, and the mo.st vigorous exertions were made for the defense of the fort and town. On the llth. Major Andross with several armed sloops drew up before the fort, hoi.'^ted the kmg's tlaL' on board, and demanded a surrender of the fortress and town. Captain Bull 68 533 SAYBnooK. raised liis majesty's colors in the fort, aod arranf,'eil his men in the best maimer. They appeared with n good cuiinleuance, dett'imiiied and eager lur action. The Wajoi' did not like to fire on the king's colors, and perceiving that shonld he attemi>l to reduce the town by force, it would be a bK)ody afiair, judged it expedient not to hie upon ihe troops. He nevertheless lay ail that day, and part of the next, utf against the fort. The critical state of the colony had occasioned the meeting of the Assembly, ai Hait- ford, on the 9th of July. They immediately proceeded to draw up a declaration, or protest. * ♦ * • Which was sent hy an express to Saybrook, with instructions to Captain Bull, to propose to Major Andross the reference of the allair in dispute to commissioners, to meet in anyplace m ihis colony which he should choose. Early in the morning of the l'2th of .Inly, the Major desired that he might have admittance on shore, and an interview with the nnnisiers and chief olhcers. He probably imaerined, that if he could read the duke's patent and his own commission, it would make an impression upon the peofile. and that he shouhl gain that by ait, which he could not by force of arms. He was allowed to come on shore w iih his ^nlt. Meanwhile, the expiess arrived with the protest and ill^tructiuns lioni tlie Assembly. Captain Bull and his officers, with the olhcei:. and gentlemen of the town, met the Major, at his landing, and acquainted him that lln-y had, at that instant, iteeiveil instructions to tender liiin a treaty, and lo refer the whide matter in ihe contro- versy 10 commissioners, capable of determining ii according to law and justice. The Major rejected the proposal, and torihwiili commanded, in liis majoty's name, that the tluke's patent, and the commission wbieh he had leceived Iroiii his loyal high- ness, should he read, ('ajiiain Bull Cdinmnndod him, in his majesty's iiiinie, to tinlxar reading. When his clerk attempted to peisisl m reading, the Capiaiii repeated liis command with sucli energy of voice, and meaning in his counleiiance, as coiiviiieed the Major it was not safe to proceed. The Captain then acquainted him, that he had an address from the Assembly to him, and leail the |iiiiti'.>t. (lov. Andio.s.s, pleased with his bold and soldier-like appearance, said, " Whal'.^ your name .'" He replied, " My name is Bull, sir." " Bull," said the governor, '• it is a pity that your h(jriis arc not lipped with silver." finding that he ecnild m;ike no iuifire^^ion wyon the idlicers or people, and that the legislature of the culoiiv were determined to defend themselves, in the po.ssession of their chartered rights, he gave up his (le.>ign of seizing the fort. He represented the protest as a slendei anair,aiidan ill requital of his kinitness. lie said, liowever, he should do no more. The militia of the town guarded him to his boat, and going on board he soon sailed for Long Island.* Saybrook point is a peninsula, circiihir in ils fonii, nnd connectctl with the main land hy a nanow neck, ovcv which ihc tide soinctiities flows. From tliis |)lace to tlic fort, on the eastern extremity of the pe- ninsula, the distance is ahont one mile. On the nec|<, a paiisado was anciently formed iiom the river to the cove, to Secure Saybiook point Irom any stulden inclusion of the Indians. The soil on the j)eiiinsulii is lij^ht and sandy, and the elevation of (he lii'^diest i)art is about iwenly feet. Bein;; nearly destitute of trees and sliiubhery, it presents to the beholder a bleak iind naked as|)cct. The land on the Point was laid out with care, as it was expected to become the residence of ijreat men, and the center of threat business and wealth. It is said that Oliver Cromwell, with other men then equally distinguished, actually embarked in the Thames, to occujjyihis grountJ. Westward of the fort a square was laid otit, on which it was intended houses should be erected for Cromwell, Pymm, Ilasselriir, and Hatiipden, the most illustrious Commoners in the English annals, who were expected hom Europe ; while a square still further west was reserved for public uses. About halfway between the paiisado was erected the first building designed for the collegiate school, since named Yale College. This building was one story in height, and about eighty feet in length. Some TiuinbuU's History of Connecticut. S A Y B n O O K 39 remains of the cellar, "over wliicii ilic plouj;lishare lias passed," are still visible. Fifteen cominencenicnts were held at Saybrook. IMore than sixty youiii^ men were i,naduated, most of whom entered the min- istry, and some of them became characters of distingnished nsefidness and excellence. To educate young men of piety and talents for the ministry, was the leading design of this institution. It was desired by the founders and others, that the churches should have a public stand- ard or confession of faith, agreeable to which tlie instruction of the college should be conducted. This led to the adoption of the Sni/bvook l*latjbrm, after the commencement in 1703. The removal of the college from this place to New Haven, profliiced great excite- ment in the colony of Connecticut. The feelings raised in the towns most inii rested, may be gathered irom the circumstances attending the removal of the library. " An tuisiicccsst'iil appli<aiion having been made for this by some of the trustees, the Gov- ernor and coimcil convened in Saybrook at their request, in December, 1718; and issued a warrant to ilie sherilf to g(j and take the books. When lie got to the house wiiere they were kept, he found men collected to resist him; but calling assistance, he forcibly entered the house, look them, and hail them secured by a gtuird through the nighl. In the morning it apjiearcd that the carts provided (or carrying them to New JJaven were brcdien, and the horses turned away. New provision being made, they were conducted out of the town by the major of the county ; biU some of the bridges on the road were broken up, atid when they arrived in New Haven, it was discovered, on counting the books, that about 260 were wauling. These were disposed of by per- .^ons unknown, tuicether with some valuable pafiers, in the confusion which arose at the taking of tlie libiary, aiid no discoveiy was made of them afterwards." Names of the freemen in Saybrook, ICG9. (From the Wyllis JNISS.) Mr. Robert Chapuian, Mr, William I'laiie, Mr. Thos. Huckinghame, Mr, John Wassrull, nVancis Hushnell, William I'arker, sen. 'I'homas Dunkc, llobert Lay, William Hiamore, Richard Jo.ssland, William IJushnell, Alexander Chalker, William Lord, sen. John Clarke, Abiaham Posee, Samncll Joans, Jolin Parker, John Bushnell, Edward Shipman, .Foseph Ingram, John Chat)man, Robert Chapman, juii. Thomas Norton, Richard Raymond. The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the ancient burying ground on Saybrook point, near where the college building for- merly stood.