The Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk, Conn.

Massachusetts furnished 527 men, Plymouth 158? and Connecticut 300 men, and 150 Mohegan and Pequot Indians. The Connecticut troops had marched from Stonington to Pettysquamscot. Here they expected shelter, but the Indians had burned the buildings and killed the inhabitants only a day or two before. This was on the 17th December. The weather was cold and stormy. The next day they marched, and formed a junction with the Massachusetts and Plymouth forces. Here again they were obliged to spend the night un- covered in the open field. The next morning, at break of day, the army marched towards the Narragansett fort, which was in a deep tangled swamp, fifteen miles distant. The snow was deep, and the weather extreme- ly cold. At one o'clock they reached the enemy's fort. It was on rising ground, in the midst of the swamp, surrounded"with palisades, and, outside of these, with a hedge of brush a rod thick. The only entrance which appeared practicable, was over a log which lay five or six feet from the ground ; and this entrance was defended in front by a fortress of logs, " and on the left by a flanker." The Massachusetts troops, who were in front, mounted the log and rushed on. A few entered the fort. The fire 'fiom the loghouse and flanker was so hot, that a sufiicient number could not force their way through to support them, and those who had entered were cut down. The deep snow, and the tangled thicket, rendered it impossible for the whole body of troops to come up at once ; and it was a con- siderable time before all could be brought into action^ 68 NORWALK. [1677. At length, tlie Connecticnt troops, who formed the rear, mounted over the log and rushed into the fort. Some others forced their way to the opposite side of the fort, and succeeded in making good their entrance, irhile the attention of the enemy was engaged in front. A long, bloody, and dubious conflict ensued ; hut the enemy were at length overcome ; and what were not killed in the battle fled to the swamp. Three hundred Indian warriors perished on the spot. Many were wounded, and perished from their wounds and from the cold. Nearly the same number were taken prisoners. It was a dreadful day. The victory was dearly bought. Six captains fell in the action, and eighty men were killed or mortally wounded. One hundred and fifty were wounded, who afterwards recovered. After burning the fort, and all that it contained, the little army, just at the setting of the sun, carrying about two hundred dead and wounded, marched j,back to their head-quarters. The night was cold and stormy. It was midnight before they got in» None could have their wounds dressed till they reached their head-quarters. Many died, who might otherwise have recovered. Many perished with cold and fatigue. Well might the fathers of this town call it " The dire- ful swamp fight. ''^^ The Watch. At a towne meeting November y® 9, 1677, it was agreed that y^ watch should be laied down, until such time as there is more danger apering ; and that we will stand by y^ constable if any trubble should arise upon that account. The Miller. At y^ aforesaid meeting, it was voted and agreed on between the towne and the miller, John Whitne, that the 1618.] TOWN RECORDS. townsmen are to carry their corne to tlie mill upon tlie third and sixt days of the weak, comonly called tus- day & friday ; which days he is to attend to grindin, & if the sayd John can clere the mill of the corne that is brought in the aforesaid two days or before, then the rest of the days of the week he may take to attend to his own occasions ; but if he cannot clere the mill of the corne then seasonably brought in, he must clere it before he leaves. Saw Mill Also at y® same meeting, granted unto Richard Holms liberty to erect, set up, and improve a saw mill upon five mile river, and liberty for timber one mile on this side of y*" sayd river ; onlly the sayd Richard is not to pass over y'' sayd grant to any but such as the town shall approve of; this saw mill is to be set up & finished within two yers after this date, or else it is forfit ; and the said Richard is to sell his boards and planks to the townsmen as the doe at other towns to their neighbors, and whcar their are saw mils. The School. At a towne meting May the 29th, 1678, voted and agreed to hier a scole master to teach all the childring in the towne to lerne to Rede and write ; & that Mr. Cornish shall be hierd for that cervice, & the towns- men are to hier him upon as reasonable terms as they can. New Meeting House. At a towne meeting Desember 17, 1678, it was voted and asfreed that the towne will leave the diference about where the meting house shall stand that is now to be erected, to three honest indiferent judisious men; 4* NORWALK. [1678. and thej are to vew the places in controversy, and to hear all Resons & arguments on both sides, & the towne ingages to sit down satisfied with there detar- mination, as to the place of its standing. And further it was voted and agreed, that the honered deputy Governor, the honered Major Goold, with the Reverend Elder Buckingham, shall be the men that the towne shall put this matter of difference too, respecting the place whear the meting house shall sta,nd. At the same meeting voted and agreed, that the meting house that is to be erected shall be forty foote square, & sixtene foote betwin joynts, & the Rofe of the sayed house to be built after the manner of Faierfild meting house. Tavern Keeper. At the same meting, Mathias Sention was chosen to keep an ordinary for the entertayning strangers, &c. Meeting House Committee. Also voted and agreed (Jan. 31st, 1678), that the six men that were formerly choosin to oversee the work aboute the meting house as a commite for that cervice, should now be named and recorded ; that is to say, Mr. Fitch, senr., Thos. Bennydick, senr., Nathaniel Hayes, John Bouton, John Piatt, Thos. Fitch, junr. Building the Meeting House. At the sayd meting, the towne by a vote doe give and grant unto the above sayd commite full power to let out the said meting house that is to be erected, according to their best discression ; & the dimensions formerly agreed on ; as may best advantage the sayd work ; and in the same to have respect to the inhabit- ants for to improve them, both hands and carts, as it3780 TOWN RECORDS, 71 they are capable of, so as may best advantage the work. And allso to set a prise of their work by the day, eyther in the labor of a man, or carting. Allso provided that what hands or carts are warned out to the work, & shall not attend to the work, having two days warning, by the committee or any one of them by appointment from the rest, the laboring man shall forfeit two shillings by the day, and a teme fewer shillings ; and what charges shall arise upon the sayd work, the town ingages to discharge it by way of rate. Allso at y® said meeting it was voted and agreed that it shall be left to the commite that is to overse the work, to take the next convenient seson to send for the Jentlemen y* is chosen to put an end to our diferences about the meting house, & to take care for their com- fortable and honorable entertainment ; and what chargis shall be expendid aboute it shall be defrayed by the towne. Beating the Dram, At a towne meting — February y* 18, 1678, Robbart Stuard ingages y* his son James shall beate the drumb on the Sabbath and on other ocations; is to have it for that cervice. Working at'the Meeting Hcuse. At a towne meetting held at Norwalk March 4th, 1678 or '79, it was voted that the Comitty Chosen By the Town, viz.: Mr. Fitch, Thomas Bennydick, senr., Nathaniell Hayes, John Bouton, John Piatt, Thomas Fitch, junior, should goe on with the worke Comitted to them, in refferance to the meeting house, and to goe on with the worke forthwith, according to their best Discression. 73 NORWALK. [1679. Cedar Shingles, At tlie aforesayed meeting it was voted and agreed that the Comittee shall and may gett or procure Ceader shingles for the Meeting House, if they can be procured upon Reasonahle tearmes. Site of the Old Meeting House, At the afore said meeting (23 April, 1679), it was voted and agreed by the inhabitants of the town of Nor- walk, that all the common land commonly known and called and improved for a meeting house yard, wheare the old meeting house now standeth. Bounded on the south by Mr, Hanford's Lott, on the North with Ma- thew Marvin, senior's Lott, on the east with Thomas Seamer's Lott, on the West with 'Mathew Marvin, Ju- nior's Lott, shall, as at this present it is, for ever be im- proved for that end and use ; namely of setting up a, meeting house there ; unless that every particular pro- per Inhabitant shall freely consent to any other im- provement thereof. At the same Meeting it was allso voated and agreed by the towne that all that Common Land, commonly known and called Goodman Hoyt's hill ; every part and parcel of it, shall, as heartofore, forever for the future, be common, and not be improved to any other use ; unless it be for the setting up of a watch house there ; without the consent and approbation of every Individual proper Inhabitant. Meeting^House Committee. At the same meeting it was voted and agreed by the towne that Daniel Kellogg shall be joyned with the comittee in the acting and transacting of the business and worke committed to them in carrying on of the worke of the meeting house, according to the former order of the towne in that case. 1679.] TOWN RECORDS, 73 The Committee strengthened. At a Towne meeting October tlie 4tli, 1679, it was voted and agreed that there shall be suitable persons chosen to strengthen the committee to carry on the worke of the now meeting house. At the aforesayd meeting, October 4th, 1679, voted and agreed, that Haite and Robbart Stewart are added unto the committee — as commit- tee men for the carrying on the worke of the new meet- ing house, and to have equall power with the rest of the committee that was formerly chosen for the aforesayed worke. Stray Horses.