Connecticut Historical Collections

justly deserves to be remembered is, that the ancient slcill and spirit of ihti lirst plant- ers in husbandry has descended, and still continues among their posterity. There is a certain nieeness and delicacy, wherein the perfection ol' husbandry cui'isisls. Thi.s is conspicuously to be found among them. It would be looked upon as a piece of van- ity unsutferable, to say all the good husbandry in the country has been learnt from these skillful people. But it is no vanity to say, there is no wliere better to be found. All strangers and Europeans agree to say, there is no place in the country to be found where the husbandry .so nearly resembles the husbandry in England, especially in the fine piece of land called the Great Plain. "A.S the first planters of the town were, like Jacob, plain men, bred to tillage and keeping cattle: .so a great deal of the same temper, and spirit, and manners, remains among their descendants to this day, as it was in Israel among ihe Rachabitcs. Indus- try, labor, and frugality, are in general the reigning spirit of the inhabiianls. There is no such thing as tavern haunting, and little wasting of time in thinking and fruit- less diversions, the inhabitants are perhaps a.s little in debt as any town, and posscs.sed of as much solid estate: yet with grief it must be said, that of late yeais fashionable vices, by a flowing in of strangers, and a great inciease of sailors, and some other in- cidents, ate too sadly predominant. Thus evil communication will ever corrupt good manners. It is a tlisease, as catching, as deadly as the plague itself. Alas, what a pity is it, that the country in general is so much overspread with and polluted by luxury and its attendants; and these recommended by the fair character of politeness and good breeding! ." The harbor lies south of the town [of Guilford.] We go through tlie great plains to it. It IS a very poor thing, shallow, and encumbered with many rocks. But then about two miles westward from it is an excellent though small harbor. It is land- locked on all sides, but the southwest; the entrance or mouth narrow. It is well known by coasters. It i.s called Sachem's Head. It may not be unentertaining to mention the occasion of its taking this extraordinary name. After the-Pequod Indians were driv- en from their forts at Mystick river, they fled to the westward towards Fairfield, the English pursued them, antl though most of the forces went from the fort at Saybrook by water, a number of soldiers with Uncas and his Indians scoured the shores near the sea, lest any of the Pequods should lurk there. Not a great way from this harbor, they came across a Pequoil sachem with a few Indians, whom they pursued. As the south side of the harbor is formed by a long narrow point of land, the Peijuodswent on to this point, hoping their pursuers would have j)assed by them. But Uneas linew Indian's craft, and ordered some of his men to search that point. The Petpiods, per- ceiving that they were jiursued, swam over ilie uumih of the harbor, which is nai low. liut Ihey were way-laid, and taken as they landed. 'I'he sachem was sentenced to he sliot to death. Uncus shut him with an arrow, cut ort"his head, and stuck it up in the crotch ol'a large oak tree near the haibor, where the skull remained for a great many years. Thus from this e.xliaorduiary ineidentj the name \ias adopted to the haibor." [From Ike CunnectlcuL Juurnai] Guilfurd, Aug. 18, 17G9. In the town of G d, an under shepherd lately deserted or run away from liis flock without leave or license, either from his own or the flocks of the circuit with which he was consociated, having nothing to keep him in countenance but the advice of seven of his brethren, and the concurring yelps of four ut their spaniels. When he come to them, he had neither crook, shoes nor scrip, nor two coats; but soon clothed and warmed himself with their fleeces, and very soon became a listener to the bleatmgs of other ilocks, and nothing would stop their din from his ears, but to slulfthem with the fleeces of his own purchase. He may be found in the cool of the evening rolling in his chaise, with his charming shejiherdess, — had on when he went away, a large presbyterian cloak' somewhat soiled, with a full boUomed wig, and five or six hundred pounds of llecce from his flock. Whoever shall secure him, or set him over a herd of goats, till his master's will shall be known, no doubt when the flocks are gathered together, will meet with an ample reward. P. S. The reason why no inquiry has been made aftei him any sooner, was because he has made several rambles before, of a month or six weeks; it was not known but he would have returned again, and as there is no signs of it at present, it is likely there will be monthly some such inquiry made. H AMD EN. 217 The following appears in the next pape This may cenify a]l whom it may concern, that the arl ot harking is taught by Tobij Ramshorn, Bell wether uC the Hock uf (.' — / — d. It is iinnecessarv lo cxijuiiaie on the benefit arising Irom the nolile art, let it sulhce that the tiuck in ti— 1— d under the instructions and directions of old Tubij, iiave ri'gained tlieir liljeri\^ di iving away their shepherd, and are now barking ai hini alier he is gone. OKI Tuby insirncls at the lowest price, in all the various ways ol b.irking — leaches to bark by note both tre- ble, tenor, and bass, and is preparing a treaiise upon the subject of bailing. He pro- poses for ready money, to bark either lor religion or libei ly, or against them ; and will bark gratis, monihly, for public good. He at ])resent bears the bell in the liock at G — / — d, which is a fine flock, though we must confess very much hide-bound. A specimen of his skill ui barkingjiiay be seen in the last paper.' If any man, dog, wolf, sheep, or any other kind of ammal, ib>sires lo be instnicied in this nolile art, let iiini repair to aforesiiid T.'bn, who with all possible cheapness and diligence will teach him the exercise of the tviiidjiipc. Guilford, Mail 2i)//(, 1777. So. 502. General Parsons having received intelligeiu'e that the enemy had collected, and were collecting large quanliiies of foiage at Sagbarbor, on Long Island— last Fri- day about 200 of the conlinentai tioops who had previously rendesvous'd at Sachem's Head, in Guilford, embarked on boaid a number of -whale boats, commanded by Lieut. Col. Meigs, to destroy it; at about six o'clock, afternoon, they ariived ai the beach, this side of Plumgut, and transporied their boats about 50 rods, over the beach, when they again embarked, and landrd several miles from !Sag Haibor, where, (alter leaving a suitable guard to protecl\lie Ixjals,) ihey inarched wiih such secrecy, as not to be discovered till within a few rods uf the sentry; ihey soon set about destroying the forage, &c. As the enemy stationed there were eniircly olf their guard, our troops met with little opposition ; an armed schooner of 12 guns, which lay not far from the shore, kept an incessiint fire on them, but happily <lid them no damage. Our people returned the lire, with their small arms, but whether with elleci is not known; five or six of the enemy on shore, were destroyed, and three (jriour made their escajie; the others were made prisoners. Our people set fire to the hay (about 100 tons) which M'as on board transports, and on the wharves, which was entirely destroyed, with ten transport vessels, mostly sloops and schuoners, and one armed vessel of six or eight guns, two or three hogsheads of rum, &c. (Jiir troops are all relumed, having per- formed their expedition in 21 hours. Rrtuni of iiiisonrrs tahi II ,it Sa:; Harbor. 1 Captain, 2 Commissaries, 3 Serg.anis, ;'>:! Rank and file, 10 Masters of transports, 27 Seamen; in the whole, !)0. Our peojilr brought oil jO muskets. One of the com- missaries above meniioned, is Mr. Joseph Chew, formerly of Is'ew London. (luiiford.June'iUt, 1781. Last Monday morning, two armed brigs and a schooner of the enemy's came to off Leete's Island, near Guilford harbor, where they landed about 150 men, who immedi- ately proceeded to the dwelling house of Mr. Leete, which they set on fire, together with two barns, which were entirely consumed. They also set lire to another dwell- ing house, but the inhabitants of the town being alarnied at their first approach, ar- rived soon enoui.'h to extinguish the fiames. The enemy continued on the island about an hour and a half, in which lime a large body of the miliiia having collected, very spiritedly attacked them, and, it is supposed, killed and wounded six or seven, as about the same number of muskets were lelt by ihem in their llighi. Our loss was five wounded, two of which are since dead. The others are in a liiir way of recovery. H A M D E N . Hamden was originally incliit^ed within the limits of New Haven. It was made a distinct town in 1786. There are two societies, Mount Carmel, the northern section of the town, and East Plains, the south- ern. The church at Mount Carmel was formed Jan. 2Gth, 1764. It consisted of members from New Haven and North Haven. The Rev. 23 218 II A M D E N , Nathaniel Sherman was installed ^lay ISth, 17G3, dismissed August; 1771, and died at lilast Windsor. The liev. Joshua Peny was or- dained Oct. 15tli, 1783, and dismissed 1790. "The church at Kast Plains was embodied 1795, and the llev. Abraham Allen ordhineJ 179G." There are now four houses of woisbip within the limits of this town ; 2 Congregational, 1 Methodist, and 1 E|)iscopal.