The Romance of Norwalk

Before going, however, on April 13, 1654, Ludlow as¬ signed to the inhabitants here, all his holdings in the settle¬ ment as follows : “Memorandum. That the sayed Roger Ludlowe, doth by these pressentes, assigne and sett over unto Nathaniell Eli and the rest of the Inhabitants of’Norwalke, all my title, in¬ terest, claims and demands whatsoever, to the plantation of Norwalke and every part thereof, and doe acknowledge my selfe satisfied for the same, Witness my hand the day and year above.” . Rd. Ludlowe. His last act before quitting the colony, was to leave the affidavits, prepared by friends, concerning his slander suit, in the hands of Attorney Alexander Bryan of Milford. It was not until a good deal later that the suit reached court in New Haven, at which time, Ludlow, who had left the colony a month previous, was fined several pounds. From Fairfield, Ludlow went to Milford where he char¬ tered a ship from Captain John Manning, to take him, his family and his effects to Virginia. More trouble followed. Just as the ship was about to set sail it was seized and Man¬ ning held for previous illegal trading. Ludlow exasperated, finally arranged through his lawyer in Milford to leave one hundred pounds as security that Manning would appear be¬ fore the authorities in England by October 22 of the same year to answer charges. A second time the ship was about to sail when the men mutinied, Manning was arrested, charged with inciting his men to mutiny and Ludlow was once more without a ship. EARLY PROBLEMS 61 April 2 6, Ludlow succeeded in getting safely aboard a ves¬ sel in New Haven. From here he sailed to Virginia. He resided there for a short time with his junior brother George. But, dissatisfied, unhappy, he could not stay and a few years later, abruptly left America for the old country. Ludlow went to England, visited his ancestral castle in Salop County, and then took boat for Ireland, where he commenced the practice of law again. He died in Wales. LUDLOW A BENEFACTOR Ludlow has many times been accused of being selfish, am¬ bitious, headstrong and conceited. He may have been all of these; he probably was. But in addition he was generous, kind-hearted, a great worker, brave and courageous, saga¬ cious, fair-minded, very intelligent and extremely capable. Where the Norwalk settlers were concerned, he certainly showed no greediness, giving far more than he ever received; acting always the part of counselor, adviser and gentle direc¬ tor, and imposing upon them only such laws as were best for their welfare. Ludlow was the first lawyer who ever came to the colonies and probably one of the most gifted men who lived in early America. Besides being the founder of Norwalk, which title is sometimes disputed, but to which none had better right, considering he was designer, beginner and originator of the settlement, he was also the framer of the first consti¬ tution of Connecticut. In the year 1639 drew up “Lud¬ low’s Code” or “Fundamental Orders” for the. government of the colony. This continued in force with hardly an alter¬ ation for 180 years and historians are unanimous in calling it “the first written constitution known to history which cre¬ ated a government,” and which made Connecticut absolutely a state. It was said that “it embodied all the essential features of subsequent states and gave to Connecticut a pre-eminent place in Constitutional history.” It was in the mind of Rev. 62 ROMANCE OF NORWALK Thomas Hooker of Hartford, that the idea first germinated, but it was in the brilliant legal mind of Roger Ludlow, that the idea took form and shape and it was the latter who made it the masterly piece of work which it turned out to be. Connecticut forced Ludlow’s banishment, Ludlow who had done so much for the struggling colony. Until time with¬ out end, the country should remain indebted to this intrepid pioneer, for his 20 years of service. In memory of the founder and his descendants, Mrs. W. K. James caused to be erected in Dec. 19, 1895, the Ludlow stone in East Norwalk on a parcel of ground, given for the purpose by Josiah R. and William E. Marvin at the junction of Gregory Boulevard, Fifth street and Marvin street. This handsome monument of Quincy granite bears the following words : “This stone, erected December, 1895, commemorates the purchase from the aboriginal inhabitants, made Feb. 26, 1640, by Roger Ludlow, deputy governor of the colony of Connecticut, framer of its first code of laws and founder of Norwalk, of all the lands, meadows, pasturings, trees, what¬ soever there is and grounds between two rivers, the one called Norwalk and the other Soaketuck, to the middle of sayed rivers, from the sea, a day’s walk into the country.” GROWTH OF TOWN Chapter VI Drains Made Through Lots — Corn Mill Built — Indians Looked After — Cockenoe the Convert — First Meeting House Erected — Used for Town and Church Purposes — Father of All Barnums in Country Lived Here. During the next ten years, 1654 to 1664, many things occupied the attention of the Norwalk settlers. Drains were made through all the lots, a corn mill which had proved un¬ satisfactory was discarded and a second built, provisions were made for minding the town herd, ladders were erected against all chimneys, two townsmen were appointed to look after the Indians, and the first meeting house was built. The corn mill in question, which had been erected almost immediately, was found to be unsatisfactory and was ordered in 1654 to be discontinued and “Leeiftenant Swaine,” who had been running it, was reimbursed for his trouble. For the next three years all corn was taken to the Stamford grist mill, or else pounded by hand at home. Then in 1657 Jona¬ than Marsh “does ingage to build a corne mill.” He later sold it to Nathaniel Richards. This mill answered for a while, at least until July 24, 1665 when “Henry Whitney hath agreed and ingaged with the Towne, to make, build, and erect a good and sufficient ground corne mill, and that at the mouth of Norwake River by the falles.” Selleck is of the opinion that the moving of the corn mill from East Nor¬ walk waters, where the first and second were built, up to Norwalk waters, had a great deal to do with the moving of the center of activity from East Norwalk to Norwalk. He believed that the mill was a sort of magnet, i. e., the 63 ROMANCE OF NORWALK 64 millwright drew the wheelwright, the carpenter, the black¬ smith and of course their families and shops and apprentices. As to the erection of ladders, mentioned above, the house¬ holders were ordered in meeting of January, 1655, to “sett up a good and sufficient ladder reaching up to the chimney above the house.” Chimneys in those days were of stupen¬ dous size and would often burn logs five feet in length, which furnished both heat and light for the family. Naturally, in midwinter, fires were fierce and roaring and frequently dan¬ gerous. Ladders were ordered by the town fathers so that the roof might quickly be reached in case of sparks or cinders falling on the top of the house. Sometimes the ladder was a fallen tree spiked for footholds. In addition to providing quick access to the roof in case of fire, these ladders were used by the “chimney viewers.” The latter were patrolmen whose business it was to see that the great flues were kept clean of soot and free of any debris which might start a conflagration. CARE OF INDIANS The two townsmen who were appointed to look after the Indians and to whom reference has been made, were Leeif- tenant Olmsted and Thomas Fitch. They were to see not only that the Indians were kept in their place but also that the latter were accorded their just rights and that the whites took no advantage of them. There were not many Indians in Norwalk at the time. Their leaders were : Ponus, sachem of Rippowams of Stamford and sagamore of Toquams, prior to 1650. He lived in west New Canaan. Ponasses Path led from his wigwam to this town. Catonah, a sagamore, also sachem of the Ramapo Indians of the province of New York. He too, really lived outside of Norwalk though he figured in Norwalk history as did Ponus. Piamikin, sagamore of Rooton (Five Mile River). GROWTH OF TOWN 65 Naramake, sachem of Pampaskeshanke (Belden’s or Wil¬ son’s Point). Mamachimons, one of the last Indian chiefs here. He assisted the settlers in establishing ancient bounds. Mama¬ chimons Island was named for him. Mahachemo, a sachem and hunter. He lived on the west bank of Saugatuck River. Runckingheage, ruler of Rooton. His realm overlooked Long Island Sound. Winnipauke, a sachem and owner of one of Norwalk’s Islands. He lived on the Winnipauk Ridge and was a great friend of the Rev. Hanford’s, to whom he bequeathed his island property in 1690. Tomakergo, Tokaneke and Prosewamenos, signers with Mahachemo of Ludlow’s 1640 deed. Aashowshack, Chachoamer, Annanupp and Anthitunn, mentioned in the Patrick-Goodyear “confirmation” deed, but with no certain Norwalk status. Compow, belonging to territory east of Saugatuck. Registered in 1667 also were: Annanup, Benhowonon, Cockenoe, Concuskenow, Cownefius, James, Jonas, Jovus, Joseph, Laxett, Magise, Maqushetowes, Matumpun, Mex- ander, Noxanowe, Pampaskeshanke, Pemanante, Pobheag, Pokesake, Poovawaugh, Popperg, Poronhum, Poxanowe, Prodax, Pumpowin, Runckemunutt, Sassakun, Shoakecum, Soanamatum, Sowasan, Sukering, Suwaxun, Tomatootuman, Towneton, Wampasum, Wawnton, Womasunne, Wonun- mon. The Indians, with their “-trappes, dogges and arrowes” were not very harmful. They were given certain land in the planting field, and as long as they tended to their beans and corn and kept inside their own fences everything went smoothly. As a matter of fact they often stood the settlers in good stead, especially in the defining of the boundaries on all sides of Norwalk, when disputes arose with neighbor¬ ing towns. Of one redskin in particular may Norwalk be especially 66 ROMANCE OF NORWALK