History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

" His nauie stands among the earliest chun hmen of Stiatf.iid, whicli then iiH-lnded Ilnntingtun, and next to the heail <.f the list of those who petitioned the Ilishop of London, iu 17(»7, to aid them in the nlid^t of thts must rigiil I'le.sbyterians and Independents. Violent opposition antl threateued imprisonment lolluwed tlie ministrations of a church mis- sionary who had visited the town of Stratford ami ollictatdl and admin- isteied the sacraments of Itaptism and the Lord's Supper. These I'cti- *"Thfy (the Independents) still persisted with vigor to continue their persecution, and seized the body of Paniel Shelton at Ids habitation or farm, being about eight miles distant fruin the town, hurrying him away towards the town, in orrler to carry him to the county gaol. Piussing l)y a Imnse, he reijne.-ted of them that he might go in and warm him and take some refreslunents, which was granted ; but they, being in a liurry, bid him i-ome along, hut, he desiring a little hniger time, they barba- rously laid violent hanils on hisi>erson and tiling his hixiy across a horse's back and called for rojies to tie him on the hc)rse ; to the truth of wliich several peisons can give their testimony and are ready when tlu'ieiuito called; and, having brought him to the town, they immediately seized the bodies of Williain liowlinson and .\n liibald Diuila]) and carried them all three tu tlie county gaol, it being the Kith <lay of January. ITlH), and there confined them until such timt^ as they disbursed such sums uf money as the gaoler demanded of them, which money was bust in the hands of the Licutenant-tloveinor, Nathanitd (Joiild, Es-i., be promising them that the next (Jeiieral OonrI should hear and ditei niim* the matter and that the money left in Ids hands should bo dispnsed of as the coint should ordi-r; and they were at present leleased, being tho 17th day of the same inst." — Docmucntoyy JUstunj nf Connictuut, edited by the Iter. Dr. Haicka <ntd the liev. Mr. Perry, 410 HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. tionera capecliilly dosired of flie Wsbop thnt ho would Bend over, with a mir«ionftry allowance from the society, 'an exoniiiliiry man in converea- tion, fluent in prcacliing, and able in disputation, tliut Ito niiglit Kilcnco tliu cavils of their enemies.'*' The following were here in 17S0: Stiles Nichols, Abigail Reardslcy, Stephen Babbitt, Abial Babbitt, John French, Eli Smith, Daniel Bassett, Thadilcus Beardsley, Lemuel Beardsley, Curtis Toniliiison, Joseph Tonilin:<on, Bcnajah JIallory, Ebenczer Hide, Eluathan H. Bostwick, Nathan Clark, Eli^iha Mills, Capt. Ueodate Silliman, Maj. Agar Judson, Capt. David Judson, Joioph L. Woostcr, Abel Lewis, Eph- raim Lewis, Henry Curtis, Joseph Fairchild, David Thompson, Lewis Judson, Isaac Judson, Timothy Wilcoxson, Wells Judson, Capt. John Judson, Lem- uel Judson, Nehemiah Dc Forest, William Beardsley, Eli Blackman, Thomas Lattin, Daniel Leavenworth, Ephraini Blackman, James Dunning, E. Johnson, William Edwards, Joel Blackman, John Wooster, Nathan Fairchild, Capt. Ephraim Curtis, Levi Cur- tis, Daniel Shelton, Giilgon_and David Tomlinson, Capt. Beach Tomlinson, Capt. ZadianalfXewis, Abel Hawley, Hczekiah Beach, Samuel Shelton, Isaiah Nortlirops, Samuel Beard, S. L. Judson, William Blackman, Ebcnezer Beard, Everril Lewis, Nathan Clark, Josiah Whetmorc, Caleb, Benjamin, Thomas Whitmore, and Nathaniel Beardslee, Josiah and Nichols Wakelec, Lieut. Elijah Curtis, James Mc- Cuue, Nathaniel Lewis, Moses Piatt, John Gilbert. The following were here prior to 1793 : Daniel Shelton, Jr., Samuel Shelton, Andrew Shelton, Agur Shelton, Beach Tomlinson, Abraham Brinsmade, John Humphries, Thomas Darling. EXTR.ACTS FROM TOWN RECORDS. " Feb. 11, 178fl. Mr. Kbenezer Beacli ear-marlc, crop on the near ear and lialf-|K!nny, — tlie uper side of tlic same. Transferred to William Beach." *' Huntington, Jan. C, \'9o, pere.jnally appeared Ebenczer Beach, Esq., and declared that Amos, a negro 1)oy, was born in his house on the 20th day of August, Anno Dom. 1780." "Feb. 11, nyi>. Mr. Stiles Nichols' car-mark, two half-pcunys under the near car, anti n Imle in the same." "Fobmarj', 1780. Mr. .\l>ijah Ilcardsley car-mark, swallow Fork on the end of each ear, and a half-penny fore.*ido the near car." " I7t>0. Lieut. Curtis Tomlinson ear-mark, a slit In the end of the oir car, and a nick under the same, and a half-Tarmant under side of the near ear." "James IMinning ear-mnrk, swallow folk on the near ear" (a small piece of colored paper illuslrnling the said 'swallow fork' is pinnetl to the lutgc uf the old town book). " I7'J1. Sanniel 1,. Hurd's enr-maik, crop on the near ear, and a bi.'t.-iiMv r..n-si.li- IIh'<.IT ear." SL.^VERV. Un.kr date ul' 1791, Mr. Daniel Shelton "Declares that I'eter, a negro boy, was born on the loth day of September, a.d. 17S(i, and that a negro boy namtjd Tobc was born the 20th day of March, a.d. 1791." The following advcrtiacnicnt is from an old paper : "Ran away from the subsciiler eonietime la»t month, a negro slave, named Samiition. All pcrNins are forbid liArlM>iiug or trusting him, and all masters of vessels ate fisiiid carrying him away on penalty of the law. J.ilfLS Dl'NMNO. " IIl'XTINOTOK, O.t, 21, 1708." THE INDIAN WELL. The old Indian well is one of the attractions of this town, and is indeed, to those who love the strange and I curious in nature, a place well worth visiting. It is a secluded spot in the mountain-gorge where the rays of the sun seldom penetrate. " Silence reigns here supreme, broken only by the .soft murmur of the stream falling a distance of twenty-five feet. Tra- dition says the Indians fathomed the well to the ' depth of one hundred feet and found no bottom, and that they held some superstitious awe and veneration for the place. It is an enchanting s|)ot, and thousands of pleasure-seekers visit it in the summer to enjoy its romantic scenery and seek recreation from the busy routine of daily avocations." I CIVIL LIST. I Huntington was incorporated as a town in 1789, and included that portion of the old town of Stratford known as the parishes of Ripton and New Stratford. i The area of the town was decreased in 1S2.3 by the setting off of the parish of New Stratford, which was incorporated as the town of Monroe. REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1789 TO 1880. 1780, Daniel Bennett, Capt. Samuel Blackman, Elijah Curtis, Joseph L. Wooster; 1790, Eli<lia MiMs^ Ezra Cnrliss, Elijah Curtiis, Beach Tomlinson; __ 17'J1, Beach Tomlinson, Xyjiejidah De Forest. Elihn Curti.-*s, Agur Judsjiii ; 1752, 'j'^»seph~Y. Wooster, Elihu "CuT- lis, Klipbah't Corliss, Eli^lia .'Mills; 170.), David Judsun, Ebenczer Beach, Elihn Curtiss;"l7'.H, ElialiaJlills, David Nichols, Ellas Hawley ; 1705, El|sha _MiIls, Itavid Nichols, Ebcnezer Beach, Agur Judson ; 1700, Joseph Biidsi-y, Henry Curtiss, Stephen T5abbilt, TlTaddeus Beanlslcy ; 1707, Oeorge Ilealy, Ia! Grand M. Lewis, Henry Cuitiss; 170S, Olhniel De Forest, Le nrand M. Lewis, Ebcnezer Beach, Gideon Leavenworth; 1700. Agur JuiHin. Ilcnr?" Cuitiss, Ebcnezer Beacli ; ISOO, El-eneaer Beach, Agur Judwtn, llcnry Curtis.*, David Hawley; 1801, Othuiel Dc Forest, Henry Cuiti-, Lo Grand M. Lcnis, William .Shelton; 1802, Agur JucInju, Elijah ( iini.s. Elisha Beardsley, Daniel B.Newton; IStXl, Agur^Judwin, Elijah Cur- tis, L. M. Lewis, Olhniel De Forest ; 1801, Elijah Curll's, Agar Jud- son, Sauinel Beanlsle.v, William Shelton ; ISOo, Agur Judson, John Wilcoxson, ElUah Curtis, Agur Shele..n ; l.'i<lC. Samuel P. Mills, Nathan Wheeler, Le Grand 91. Lewis, Davit) Hawley; 18t)7, Sannicl Hawley, Samuel Wheeler, Timothy S. Wi lis, David Hawley ; ISOO, David Hawley, Abill Hawley, Abtd French, John Curtiss; ISOO, Samuel Juits4)n, Sleplien Biibbid, Kbenezer Beanl.-h-y, Jiwph Shel- ton ; IslO, Othuiel Dc Forest, Dcodale Sillluiiin, I'liib. Sherman, .'<ll«s "Wheeler; 1811, David Hawley, Ebenczer Beardsley, .Vndrcw I.<>aven- worth, Lemuel Juds>n; 1812, Elisha T. Mills, Stephen Babbitt, Gideon Beardslee, John Curtiss; 181^ Lemuel .Indson, Nelu-ndah Gray, Ephraim SherwcKxl, Juseih Shelton; 1814, Jidin Curlls^ Elislui Mills, Jr., Elisha Mills (2d), Joseph WiNWler; 181.1, Lemuel Judson, David B. Uubbell, Abel Frem h, Joreljli Sliellou ; 18ll>, David B. Newton, Isiucl A. Beardslee, David Shcrwmid, William Shelton; IS17, Clark Elliot, Wlllinni Claik, Kli L. Ha« ley. IL-le- klah Marks; ISl.^ -Muier Hyde, Siinoul Wheeler, Samuel IVanls- Icy, Nathan G. Birdsey ; 1810, Nalbau G. Blnlsey, John Teek; 1820, Samuel Wheeler, David B. Newton ; 18'JI, Nathan G. Binlsey. Andrew Leavenworth; 1.'''22, Samuel Beardsley, David B. Newton; 182:1, Abner Hyde, Levi Edwards; 1824, Lemuel Beardsley; 182JJ, Chrislopher N. Shelton ; 1820, Donald Judsin ; 1827, Nathan G. Bird- sey ; 1828, llezekiuh .^laiks; 182:1, Tlniiideus Beardslee, Jr.; 1830, Hezekiah Marks; 18.'>l, Tlinddeus Beardslet' ; 1S:;2, Eilwin Shelton ; 18;13, Sylvester I'lmt; |n:;4, Lewis Downs; DC!.'), Tliaddeus Beanhley, Jr.; 18.10, Liuius Gill^rt; 1837. William >I. Hubbell; 1S38, Thad- dens Beanlsley, Jr.; 1830, Elisha Shelton; 1840, William L. IleD- nelt ; 11^41, Elisha Beanlsley: 1842, Ebenezcr Wakelec; 1843, Peter Beardslee; 1844, William A. Judnon; 184.'>, Lemuel Beardslee ; 184(1, Thomas Burlock; U47, Stephen Beanlslee ; 1848, William A. Judson; HUNTINGTOX. 411 1840, Elly Lewis; lS.-.n, William A. .Tmlson; ISol, Elieiiozer Wakc- U-y; lS,-,2, Williiint L. Bcniu-tt ; ISM, Orville Biioth ; 1.S,-j4, William A. .IiiclBoo ; 1«M, Wells Hul>ln-ll ; ISOO, Jolin V. liiickiiigliam ; 1857, Daviil Lewis ; 1S5S, Juhll M. Beardslcy ; Uu'J, Kli .\. lialilu in ; ISCo, Samuel V. Buckingham ; Isol, .losepli E. Fieltl; 1N('.2, Z. L. Sheltun; ISc;!, Clnistoplier U. SlielUin; 1SC4, Eliem'Zev Wakeley ; ISCi, .Icitl Beanl ; IsCll-liS, William L. Beiiintl ; lsi;9, Charles Judson ; 187(1, James IJyiiigton; 1.S71. Smith Wlieelor; 187-', Erasliis Beiinelt; lS7:!-74, Sauilforil B. Cieks; 187.'., Ui.le.ui M. Wakelee ; 187i;, lloraec Wheeler; 1S77, Charles Beanl; 1S7S. lluraee Wheeler; 1870, Frcd- eriek G, Perry ; 18S0, gelali G. Blakeman. SELECTMEN. The record of the proceedings of the annual town- meeting cannot be found jirior to 1S4-'). The fuUow- iug is a list of the .selectmen IVoni tluit year to tlic present time :