The Romance of Norwalk

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H o LO NO <U Pi M M CU bo P O <u Pi p O p H o b Pb o BOUNDARY DISPUTES 77 Owing to the hilly nature of the country and the variations of the compass, the dividing line was a crooked one and bulged into the state of Connecticut (see heavy black crooked line on map), instead of being straight from I to K as in¬ tended. Yet for the next 125 years there was no dispute respecting this crooked boundary line. The Oblong (that portion of territory marked on map between the two long dotted lines), according to the final agreement of 1731, was formally ceded to New York. From 1731 to 1750, all was quiet respecting the western boundary of Connecticut, but an argument then arose be¬ tween this state and New York, about the ownership of islands in Long Island Sound. New York claimed that the southern boundary of Connecticut extended along the shore and no farther. Connecticut argued that it owned part of the waters in the Sound and some of the Islands. An agree¬ ment was finally reached whereby Fishers’ Island off New London was given to New York and Calf Islands, at the mouth of the Byram river, to Connecticut. In 1871, a quarrel took place over Goose Island, near Norwalk Harbor. It was given to Connecticut. By 1855, most of the old landmarks, mapping out the boundary line between the states of New York and Connec¬ ticut had been destroyed and, as many people were evading the payment of taxes to both states, it was thought best to order a resurvey. The original 1731 Ridgefield angle was retained, but a difference arose about the line from the angle north to the Massachusetts boundary line. Connecticut wanted the line straightened so that the crooked bulges, as seen on the heavy black line on the map, would not dip into her territory so much. But New York would not agree to this. In December 5, 1879, an agreement was finally reached whereby Connecticut gave up her claim to the straight line (right hand dotted line, I to K, on map) and accepted the crooked one, as of 1731 (heavy black line). In exchange, her southern boundary line was extended into the Sound, as ROMANCE OF NORWALK 78 marked on map. The above agreement was ratified by the legislatures of both states and was confirmed by Congress in the 1 880-1 881 session. Thus ended a wrangle of 200 years standing, and Norwalk was saved to Connecticut. In considering the intense interest with which Norwalk viewed the 200 year struggle between Connecticut and New York states, over the western boundary line of this state, it should be remembered that Norwalk was once a deal larger than it is now, and a good portion of her territory was in jeopardy. At the time that this unending squabble was going on, 1650 to 1879, Norwalk included within its boun¬ dary lines, New Canaan and part of Wilton. The south¬ western corner of Wilton, then the northern part of Nor¬ walk, was lost to this town and to the state of Connecticut under agreement between Connecticut and New York in 1731. This was included in the “Oblong,” the lower corner of which was north of the present townships of New Canaan and Stamford and west of the Ridgefield line. In return, Connecticut gained the major part of Norwalk, when the I73I agreement was confirmed in 1879. Several years previous to 1731, Norwalkers who lived close by the lower corner of the “Oblong,” commenced mov¬ ing southward, farther into the town limits of Norwalk. Michael Lockwood and John Rusco of Norwalk were among the travelers. We also find that Alexander Ressigue of this town transferred his property rights from a corner of the “Oblong” to the center of Norwalk. This move fol¬ lowed a local town meeting in 1726 when Norwalk fathers granted liberty to such of its oblong citizens “that had lands taken away from them” . . . “to take up ye same in any of the unsequestered common lands in the township of Nor¬ walk.” A few years later, John Stewart of this town relinquished 3 and 1-2 acres of Norwalk property, “cut off nigh until York line on ye Pound Ridge.” Pound Ridge of course, now belongs to New York. Besides arguing with Fairfield on the one side and Stam- BOUNDARY DISPUTES 79 ford on the other, about boundary lines, and worrying as to whether it would come under New York jurisdiction after all, Norwalk was very busy right within its own town limits. Wolves were becoming increasingly bothersome and 20 shil¬ lings were allowed for each dead animal, provided the killer the “head and eares shewed.” The year 1670 saw the institution of a guard in the meet¬ ing house, five men being appointed “to procure a handsome and convenient seate made and sett up in the meting house, for a garde to sitt in, in the most suitable place, with all such conveyances for their Arms as they shall jug necessary, and the charg to be borne by the towne.” FIRST BRIDGE Until this time there had been no bridge across the Nor¬ walk river but in 1671, the townspeople voted to build some sort of passage from bank to bank, the charge to be borne according to the list of estates then on record. In other words, a special tax was to be levied for building the struc¬ ture. In addition, the selectmen were urged to find out what the surrounding towns might feel out of generosity, that they could subscribe to such a proposition. Last but not least, it was voted to send for “Serjent Andrues of New- haven, to git him to come over to give us advise about the bridg and the town will bear the charge of his coming and going.” Nine years later, the town had got as far as ap¬ pointing John Whittney, James Pickett, Thomas Bennidick, fr., to determine the place of erecting a bridge over the Norwalk river, they to decide “whither at the great rock be¬ low the lower cart path; or below the falls.” Just when the structure was finally completed or how solid an affair it was, is not known, but it evidently gave the authorities some little trouble and in 1694 a town meeting was called to consider the repairing of the said bridge or the building of a new one. Matthew Marvin, John Whitney and Thomas Betts were named a committee to decide the matter. FIRST INN— FIRST SCHOOL Chapter VIII Law Compels Sale of Liquor In Taverns — Madam Knight Arrives At Norwalk Inn — Local Men In King Philip’s JV ar — Saw Mill Erected — Schoolmaster Hired — Rev. Hanford Dies — First School Built. Permission for the erection of the first inn in Norwalk, a combined saloon and hotel, was given this town by the General Court at Hartford, in 1671. Christopher Com¬ stock was chosen and approved of “to kepe an ordinary for the entertaynment of strangers.” In those days there was no prohibition law nor ban on liquors of any kind. In fact the courts insisted that wine and liquors be kept on hand at all time for the refreshment of travelers. Otherwise the inn keeper would be subject to punishment by the General Courts. The Norwalker placed his tavern on the corner of East ave., on the crossing of the old Stamford to Fairfield road, very near the Founder’s stone, at Fitch st., and East ave., and right across from the meeting house. Curiously enough, the second tavern, kept by Matthew Sention, was also placed right near the meeting house, which happened to be the second meeting house. Now there was a cause for this: the law. When a man applied for permission to operate a tavern or “ordinary” he was allowed such only on condition that he place it near the meeting house. There were two reasons: first, so that the church officials might keep a weather eye open for any misdemeanors or loose drinking; and second, so that more of the early settlers might be induced to attend church meetings regularly. Of course, tavern keepers were warned 80 FIRST INN— FIRST SCHOOL 81 against allowing any loiterers to remain within the doors after services had started, or to admit customers before they finished, and there are cases on record where landlords were fined for so doing. To Matthew Sention’s Inn in Norwalk in 1704 there came one Madame Sarah Knight, Boston school teacher. Madame Knight made the trip by horse from Boston to New York. When Sarah Knight arrived in Norwalk, she found this place little to her liking and wrote an exceedingly uncompli¬ mentary piece about Matthew Sention’s Inn as follows: “About 9 at night we came to Norwalk, having crept over a timber of a broken bridge about 30 feet long and perhaps 50 to ye water. I was exceedingly tired out and cold when we came to our Inn and could get nothing there but poor entertainment and the impertinent babble of one of the worst of men, among many others, of which our Host made one, who, had he been one degree impudenter, would have out¬ done his Grandfather, and this I think is the most perplexed night I have yet had. From hence, Saturday, December 23, a very cold and windy day, after an intolerable night’s lodg¬ ings, we hasted forward, only observing in our way the town to be situated on a navigable river, with indifferent buildings and people more refined than in some of the country towns wee had passed tho’ vicious enough, the Church and tavern being next neighbors.”