Litchfield County CT Archives History - Books .....Additional Settlers 1713-1720 1882 *********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ct/ctfiles.htm *********************************************** ************************************************************************ The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification. ************************************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 15, 2005, 8:09 pm Book Title: HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF NEW MILFORD AND BRIDGEWATER, CONNECTICUT, 1703-1882 CHAPTER IV. ADDITIONAL SETTLERS—1713-1720. DETERMINATION, with patience, application, and length of years, conquers all obstacles and makes all the attributes of nature pay tribute unto man. When the petition of the New Milford people was sent to the Assembly in November, 1711, they asked for a tax of seven shillings on each Right in the township, but it was soon found that that amount, 8s., would do but little towards building the minister's house after paying his salary, and they therefore petitioned the next May that the tax should be made twelve shillings instead of seven, which was granted. The names on this second petition were the same in number as on the first, and the same as the first except that Robert Bostwick was in the stead of Isaiah Bartlet. 13. Robert Bostwick, was the son of John Bostwick, Sen., second settler in New Milford, and was at this time (1712) just past 21 years of age, and therefore could sign such a petition which he could not do the previous October, although he was here in the place. He built a house on the site of the one that now stands next below the dwelling of Mr. Charles Randall, on Grove street, but in a short time after he removed to Bedford, Westchester county, N. Y., where he married, lived, and died, so far as is known. This land he sold to Samuel Canfield, with the dwelling-house, in 1723, after he had been in Bedford some years. Before this church was organized the New Milford people journeyed to Woodbury to meeting some of the time, and they may have gone to Derby some, for John Noble's wife united with the church at Derby. The following record is in Woodbury. "Admitted to Membership.—1710, Jan. 29, John Noble of New Milford. 1714, Jan. 3, Samuel Hitchcock of New Milford. 1716, Nov. 11, Roger Brownson of New Milford." As soon as religious privileges were secured, the settlement began more rapidly to increase, and some running account of the new families which came in before 1730, will be important. 14. Mr. Daniel Boardman, as he was always called while living, was "called to preach the gospel at New Milford," as he recorded, "March 17, 1712," having probably preached several Sabbaths before that date, and this arrangement was continued in view of his becoming a settled pastor. There were three terms used in those days as to securing a preacher,—one was to "hire him for pay," which meant for a few Sabbaths only; the next was to hire him "on probation," which meant that he was a candidate for settlement,—the third was a "settled pastor." For two or three years Mr. Boardman could scarcely be said to have had a salary, for during that time several votes were passed in town meetings to pay certain dues for him in view of supporting him as their minister, but no sum is mentioned as his salary, or settlement. When the plantation was granted liberty, in October, 1711, to settle a minister, a tax of seven shillings was allowed on each Right,—104,—and in the next May this amount was increased to twelve shillings on each Right; and in October, 1713, they were allowed to raise by tax on all Rights so much as was still wanting to complete the dwelling for the minister, and that "could not come out of the twelve shillings " after giving what support seemed necessary to the minister. This tax ran four years, until 1716, when another was allowed upon non-resident proprietors, in addition to the parish tax for Mr. Boardman— then a settled pastor. His dwelling-house, which, in October 6, 1713, was voted to be "forty feet in length, and twenty-one in breadth, and two stories high, and fourteen feet between joints," and his well and barn, were built largely without cost, by volunteer work. This house stood on the lot given to him by the proprietors, which was located on the Aspetuck Hill,— west side of the street, just after rising the steep part of the hill, going north. In view of his becoming a settled pastor the proprietors gave him a whole Right of land in the township, and on February 2, 1713, he purchased a whole Right of Wakefield Dibble of Dan-bury, and on April 28, 1714, he purchased another whole Right of Samuel Sanford of Milford, for which two Rights the town a few years afterwards paid. "Jan. 14, 1725-6. Voted that the town shall pay for the two rights that Mr. Daniel Boardman hath by purchase." He afterwards purchased another half right, and never sold any land of account. In the same year, (Dec. 7, 1726,) the town "Voted that the selectmen send to the committee for building Mr. Boardman's house to know whether they will finish the same or not." Up to this period the town had given him, instead of what was usually denominated a "settlement," three Rights of land (whole Rights, sometimes called), which amounted, with meadow lands, to eleven hundred acres of land, built him a house and well, and a part of his barn. Eight divisions of land were made before his decease and these for the three Rights, with meadow, amounted to 850 acres, making him as large a landholder, with a few exceptions, possibly, as there was in the town, at his decease. Also the following must be added to his land possessions: "Daniel Boardman, Jacob Griswold, David Griswold, Thomas Picket, and Benoni Stebbins, bought of John Noble, Sen., John Bostwick, Sen., Zachariah Ferriss, Samuel Brownson, Roger Brownson, William Gavlord, Samuel Prindle, John Weller, Benjamin Bostwick, Thomas Weller, John Bostwick, Jr., Samuel Hitchcock, John Noble, Jr., Stephen Noble, Robert Bostwick, the fourth part of a certain parcel of land containing about 130 acres, bounded east with the Great River, northerly with the said river to an elm tree on the river bank, then by a southwest line taking in Fort Hill with the graves, and then upon the top of the bank by the meadow to the Great River upon the South side of a brook that falls into the said river . . . Although Daniel Boardman is above mentioned as a purchaser, yet it is to be understood that his right is more of the nature of a gift; we, with the rest of the proprietors of the said [land] grant it to him on the condition that he become a settled minister here, at New Milford . . . Subscribed May 5, 1714." This arrangement made the owners of that field to number twenty, each having about six and a half acres. This deed although given in 1714, was not recorded until sixteen years afterwards. In 1715 he purchased a half-right of Samuel Orton of Woodbury, and in 1718 he bought that part of another half right which was then undivided, there having been taken out of it about 30 acres, leaving about 125 acres for him. These parcels of land, with several small pieces which he purchased:—one of his father containing ten acres, another of David Griswold containing twenty acres; and others, with his right in the North Purchase, made the amount of land which he owned to be more than fifteen hundred acres;—over ten hundred being divided to him before he died. The sales of land which he made were few and in small pieces; and he exchanged several small pieces. When he needed work done which he could not well secure otherwise, he parted with a piece of land, as indicated by the following: "In consideration of setting up and covering a lenetoe [lean-to] to my dwelling-house, which being performed is to my full satisfaction," he deeded "to Enoch Buck, carpenter," seven acres of land in 1729; and in the same year, "in consideration of 300 good chestnut rails," he sold to Theophilus Baldwin " one half of a meadow lot in Mount Tom Meadow." Also, in 1730, "in consideration of breaking up of ten acres of land upon the plain in the common field, near to Poplar Swamp," he sold to Isaac Deforest ten acres of land, west of Still River and south of Three-Mile Brook. It is a part of history to record that among the many pieces of land surveyed to him, there was laid, in 1726, "to Mr. Daniel Boardman five acres of land, being two islands,— .... the first against a place called Mary Land, . . . . the other being against the north end of said Mary Land," and in 1730 there was laid to him also "Spruce Island, between two islands of the above said Boardman's," at the same location. Thus early, before any inhabitants resided in that locality, was the place known by the name of "Mary Land." A letter is still in existence which gives the following information, the source of information being most reliable. Judge D. S. Boardman related to his niece, Miss Cornelia Boardman, that the Rev. Daniel Boardman had a slave called Primus, and for him Mr. Boardman built a hut at the farm at Boardman's bridge, at a large rock about seventy rods above where the pines used to stand, which had since been known as Primus Rock. This slave came from Mary Land, and he named that locality on the east side of the river, after his native state, and it is still known by that name. The land on that farm where the well-known pine trees stood so many years, was put under cultivation by Rev. Mr. Boardman, and so continued a number of years, Primus being the ploughman and residing in his hut; but, when for a time it was not ploughed, a few large pines that stood on the river-bank scattered their seed, and the young pines came up thick, covering seven or more acres. Sherman Boardman said he remembered going among those trees when his outstretched arms would pass over the tops of all or any of them. A few years since these trees were cut down, and some of them measured over four feet in diameter at the stump. Mr. Boardman’s Salary. As a part of his salary, the town furnished him with wood, for which arrangements were made at each annual town meeting; it being secured for a few years, at first, by voluntary offerings; each man pledging himself to deliver at Mr. Boardman's house so many cords; but in the execution of this method some were negligent, and the wood apparently did not arrive in time. In 1717, they voted "to give David Griswold four pounds to supply the minister, Mr. Daniel Boardman, with wood for the year ensuing:"—in 1718, "that those who signed a writing to fetch Mr. Boardman's wood shall be paid two shillings and six pence a load in case those that are absent will not do their full proportion," and in 1720, that, "The town agree to give William Conn six pounds to find Mr. Boardman with wood for a year, beginning at the 1st of January next, and they paying him three pounds this present year." In 1724 they agreed to give Benoni Stebbins " nine pound fifteen shillings " to provide him with sufficient wood for the year; and in January, 1726, that he should have "forty cord of good wood provided by the last of January next, and those that fail, to forfeit twelve shillings a cord." As to his salary, which was, apparently, always when he had any stipulated sum, less than fifty pounds previous to 1724; and there was difficulty in collecting it, and especially that which was levied on personal property. In May, 1719, the Assembly granted "that the inhabitants of said town, for the support of the ministry, shall annually, for the space of four years, pay a tax of four pence on the pound, to be levied upon all the polls and ratable stock in said New Milford." In October, 1721, much of this tax remained unpaid, and the Assembly gave authority .to proceed in law to collect it, or send the persons indebted therefor to gaol, according to the law in other matters of debt. In 1724, the Assembly granted a "tax upon each Right of lands in said New Milford, of six shillings and six pence for the support of the ministry;" and in the annual meeting of that year, Dec. 11, they "voted that Mr. Boardman's salary shall be advanced to sixty pounds." In 1725, the prices of grain advanced about one-third; wheat seven shillings per bushel, instead of four and five shillings in previous years, and corn at four shillings and eight pence instead of three shillings. But the day of relief and advancement began to dawn, for in the town meeting, Dec. 30, 1726, "there was a committee appointed to consult Mr. Boardman as to fixing his salary and the price of grains for a number of years, and the town voted to pay him as salary, ninety pounds a year for the space of six years, and to pay in grain six cents per bushel below the market price at Fairfield, yearly, or in money; and pork at one shilling per hundred below the above said market; and the time to determine the market price to be the middle of January, yearly. " Voted that the above said salary shall be the highest that they would bid." This proposition Mr. Boardman consented to accept provided his firewood should be in addition, but the town refused to add it. Upon this, after three days, an adjourned meeting was held and Mr. Boardman sent the following: "Jan. 2, 1726-7. This may give notice to the inhabitants of the town that I will for peace sake comply with the terms of ninety pounds and it may be so entered upon record for six years. DANIEL BORDMAN." In 1731, came the seceding of nineteen members of the church to the Quakers, but the relations of these persons were such as to affect the membership of the church much more than the financial interests of the society, for in December, 1732, the town made a proposition to Mr. Boardman, and the following is his reply: "Dec. 12, 1732. Being informed by the committee that the town have agreed to find me thirty cords of fire-wood, ninety-five pound salary with the wood, ten shillings per cord, species [grains] at the town's prices: I thankfully accept—and should more thankfully if there were a full compliance. You'rs to serve, DANIEL BORDMAN." In 1736, his salary was £120; in 1740, it was £135, and in 1742, £i55 "money according to old tenor." The last consultation with Mr. Boardman concerning his salary resulted in the following brief note which was quite characteristic of the man: "Dec. 1743. To the moderator or clerk of the town meeting: I have received by Lt. Hine and Sargt. Lemuel Bostwick, a paper that contains the several prices of Species and the vote for my salary, viz.: 145 pounds; this may signify that I accept and return thanks. DANIEL BORDMAN." The severest struggle through which Mr. Boardman and his people passed was the term of years from 1719 to 1724, while the first meeting-house was being erected and completed. The urgency of their petitions to the Assembly, and the repetition of them, indicate the greatness of the effort they found it necessary to make, in order to the success of the gospel in their community. It was in 1722, also, that the "North Purchase" was made, to add to the territory of the town,—a movement which, in all probability, was a damage to the town rather than an advantage, since, for many years, it drew capital out of the town, when most needed in it, instead of adding thereto, for it was no part of the town until it was annexed in May, 1741. The following is one of many receipts that Mr. Boardman gave to persons who had been collectors in his behalf. "Nathaniel Botswick's Acquittance. This may certify that whereas Nathaniel Bostwick of New Milford, was put in collector by the General Assembly to gather a rate of six shillings and six pence upon each Right in the township of New Milford, and to pay to Mr. Daniel Bordman, minister of said town, for the space of five years, which term of time is supposed to have ended at or before the year 1730; this may signify that said Bostwick has finished that work and is discharged by me. NEW MILFORD, Dec. 24, 1733. D. BORDMAN." More New Settlers. 15. Capt. Stephen Noble, son of John, Sen., settled in this town in 1713, for in a deed, Jan. 13, 1713-14, he is said to be "of New Milford," which signified that he was then residing here. His father deeded him half of his home-lot and as thus divided Stephen's part was the corner where Col. Charles D. Blinn now resides, including the lot next south to the corner;— his lot being 38 rods on the street, east; 54 rods on the street on the south (now Bennitt street) and bounded west and north by his father's home-lot. After his father's decease, he purchased the whole of his father's land and Right in the township, and became, and continued to be for many years, one of the most active men in offices and enterprises. He was the first Captain of the first military company in the town, and soon after that company was organized, about 1717, he was directed by the State to take charge of soldiers stationed here then, and several times afterwards, to protect the inhabitants from the reported coming of the Canada Indians. It is probable that it was his house that was stockaded or made as a fort at this time, and thus continued some years. He, with John Bostwick, Jr., represented the town for the first time in 1725, and afterwards he was representative 16 sessions. By trade he was a blacksmith, and his shop stood on the highway, now Bennitt street, some little distance west of the corner, as mentioned in a deed. He was selectman of the town many years, and was often appointed on special committees for this town, and in behalf of the church, and as a delegate for special public matters; and his name, with that of Zachariah Ferriss, stands attached to the certificates of surveys of hundreds of deeds on the town records. The amount of public work done by him and Zachariah Ferriss was never equaled by any other two men, unless by Samuel Canfield, Esq., and Col. Elisha Bostwick. The General Assembly, on the 13111 day of October, 1726, "upon the intelligence of the Indian enemy coming toward our frontier," passed the following: "Resolved by this Assembly, That twenty effective men be forthwith raised in the town of Milford, with a Sergeant, and march forthwith to New Milford, to be- under the command of Capt. Stephen Noble, to be improved for the defense of said town; and that the Major of the regiment of New Haven forthwith make out the necessary orders therefor." "Resolved by this Assembly, That Capt. John Marsh, and Capt. Stephen Noble, forthwith send each of them a small scout at their discretion into the woods, and in the name of this Assembly to command all our friend Indians to retire to the respective towns or places where they belong, and that they may not be seen in the woods except in company with the Englishmen." Day after day for some weeks was the Captain seen passing with his military scout out of the village in "various directions and returning, for the purpose of protecting the frontier plantation from surprise and massacre. On the Sabbath they marched in full military style to the church and entered, leaving a sentinel outside during service, causing the military array in the house of God to appear in strange contrast with the message of the gospel; especially so, when it is remembered that two Christian nations, England and France, were perpetually inspiring and hiring the Indians to do this terrible work of death. The Canada Indians were on the side of the French, and the Mohawks and Connecticut Indians on the side of the English, and there was no real release from this terrible fear until Canada was ceded to the English, it being largely accomplished by the New England troops in 1758 and 9. 16. Samuel Hitchcock, from Springfield, Mass., settled here in 1713, for his dwelling-house is named in laying out the street in January, 1713-14. His house was near Samuel Prindle's, at the south-west corner of the green, near the northeast corner of Mr. Andrew B. Mygatt's present dooryard fence, and his family took rank as first class. He was one of the solid men, with but little pretension in public office, a leader in introducing and raising cattle, as appears from several town votes; but his useful career was closed by his decease, Dec. 9, 1727, leaving a number of children, who were married into the foremost families. 17. Doct. Thomas Pickett came from Danbury a single man, and pitched his dwelling-house where Mr. Henry Booth now resides. He married, Dec. 13, 1716, Mrs. Miriam Mallery, the widow of Caleb Mallery, who died the August previous. He was not called Doctor for some years, but town clerk Col. Elisha Bostwick called him Doctor, being personally acquainted with him. He acted well his part in town offices, as a farmer, and probably .as a physician. His descendants were prominent in the town until within a few years of the present time. 18. Ens. William Gaylord came from Windsor in 1712, and became a very successful and influential citizen. His house stood on the corner lot on Main street and Elm, where Doct. Charles Taylor now resides, and was kept a number of years as a hotel, called in those days an "Ordinary," and afterwards a tavern. Mr. Gaylord had what the older people called a "faculty" to buy land and pay for it, piece after piece, which was located in nearly all parts of the town. This continued until about 1725, when he conceived the idea of emigration, and sold nearly everything he had except his farm on the West Aspetuck, on which he had settled his son Nathan, and pitched his tent or log-house above the straits in the beautiful locality now called Gaylordsville, where he took a new start in buying land, and kept at it until he seemed fairly in the way to rival Minister Boardman in that matter. Besides owning all Gaylordsville, he, with Capt. Stephen Noble, owned 350 acres in Wetaug, now Salisbury, and sold it at a good price. He held also a part of the Fairweather purchase on the east side of the Housatonic; and what more can only be known by reading the history of Gaylordsville. He was not a speculator in land, but bought "to keep," although sometimes he sold a little. He was a busy man, of immense energy and physical endurance, so much so that it almost makes one faint to think of his "drive-ahead powers," buying land, trading land (after he removed), but every time adding a patch above the straits on the Housatonic. A State House was wanted at Hartford. He took twenty pounds of the stock, and the General Assembly gave him 100 acres of land at Wetaug. He was a steady, upright, honorable man, but how he did reach out for land! And he obtained it, too,—he did not buy rocks, but the genuine black dirt that made the wheat grow most charmingly. Among other pieces of land he purchased, was that whereon stood the only Indian orchard of apple trees which stood in the valley of the Housatonic, so far as we have heard, except the one at New Milford. 19. Benoni Stebbins came from Northampton, Mass., a single man, in 1712, and while residing here, purchased in October, 1713, a Right of land of Benjamin Hurd of Woodbury, and his home-lot was laid afterwards next north of David Griswold, lot number eight in the Town Plot, on which he built his dwelling and became a prosperous farmer, buying all the land adjoining him for some years;—his farm and home being noted unto this day. He married Mary Kirby of Milford, Dec. 10, 1717. He had no children, but adopted a son and a daughter,—the latter being Rebecca Herrick of Milford, whose rather romantic history is told in the Giddings genealogy. The gravestones of Mr. Stebbins and his wife are in the New Milford Cemetery. 20. Samuel Beebe settled in New Milford in 1712, but was not a land-holder. He came from Danbury, took an active part in town affairs and offices, and removed to Litchfield, as one of the first settlers of that town, and to which place he and his wife took letters of commendation from New Milford church, upon the settlement of the Rev. Timothy Collins, the first pastor in that town. His grand-daughter Rebecca became the wife of Abel Hine of New Milford, in 1763, and as such constituted a prominent part of one of the prominent families of the town. 21. Jacob Griswold, from Wethersfield, came to New Milford in 1713, being made freeman here that year. He bought a Right of Hugh Gray, Jan. 11, 1713-14, but his home-lot was laid to him Nov. 17, 1713, next north of the ministry lot given to Rev. Mr. Boardman, which was the sixth one on the west side of the street in the Town Plot. This lot he sold to John Weller, in 1716. In 1720, he was residing in Litchfield, where he was one of the earliest settlers, in connection with Samuel Beebe. 22. David Griswold came with his brother Jacob, from Wethersfield, in 1713, and his home-lot was laid next north of his brother's, being lot number seven in the Town Plot. In 1722 he was residing in Farmington, and sold his Right in New Milford to Elnathan Brigham of Mansfield, Ct. 23. Sargt. Benjamin Bunnell of New Haven, with Caleb Mallery, bought of Richard Bryan of Milford a Right, May 20, 1714, and five days later, a home-lot was laid to them next north of Col. John Read's lot, but afterwards he sold to Mallery his half, and bought the lot next north of Benoni Stebbins. He was not prominent in town offices. He died in 1749. 24. Caleb Mallery of New Haven, came to New Milford in company with Benjamin Bunnell, in 1714, and built him a dwelling on the west end of his lot next north of the one called John Reed's, for when the first meeting-house was built, it was to "be set up in the highway in the most convenient place between the house that is called Mr. John Reed's and that which is called Caleb Mallery's house." Mr. Mallery died Aug. 20, 1716, having been here a little over two years, and hence the form of the reading above, which was made in 1719. 25. Jonathan Buck of Wethersfield, bought a Right of Richard Boardman of the same place, June 19, 1715, the date on the deed being as follows: "Dec decimo mensis qurti anno sululis millessimo septingentissimo et decimo quinto annoq. regni Georgii primo magna Brittianis Galiq. et Hibernii Riss." This read very well at Wethersfield, but not quite so well in the woods at New Milford, although Samuel Brownson, town clerk, recorded it in perfect style. His home-lot was laid on Aspetuck hill next north of the parsonage lot, east side of the street; his ten acres east of this, and his first forty acres on the plain west of the Great river. He had a family of five sons and several daughters after he settled here. His residence was on the west side of Poplar street. 26. Enoch Buck came from Wethersfield, in 1715, at the same time with and was probably brother of Jonathan, being a single man, and married here Mary Beebe, May 2, 1717. While in Wethersfield he bought of Joseph Peck of Milford, a Right for £20, Feb. 21, 1714-15, and on Feb. 27, 1715-16, being then of New Milford, he bought, of Thomas Weller, land in the Indian Field. He also purchased other pieces of land, and in 1719 bought Jonathan Buck's homestead on the west side of Poplar street. 27. Paul Welch, Esq., of Milford, inherited land in New Milford, from his father Thomas Welch, who was deceased, and his home-lot was laid to him before May 13, 1717, on Poplar street, east side, a mile north of the old burying-ground;— his first forty acres was laid in "Chestnut land." He was justice of the peace many years, and had an extensive acquaintance and a large .popular influence. The fame of Squire Welch has not ceased to this day. Probably there was not another man of so much influence in the town when Rev. Nathaniel Taylor was settled here as pastor. There is something about some persons that bears great weight of character, although they make no effort to that end, and so with Squire Welch;—his fame has force a hundred years after he is "gone, to be here no more." Roger Brownson, Jr., bought ten acres of land of him in 1727, in consideration of an "anvil," and therefore Paul Welch may have been a blacksmith. Tradition says his dwelling stood, in the later part of his life, where Col. William J. Starr now resides. 28. Samuel Camp of Milford, had a home-lot laid to him May 13, 1717, east side Poplar street, next north of Paul Welch's, and his first forty acres in "Chestnut land." He came probably in the spring of 1717. His descendants were not numerous, although they still remain in the town. He is said in one deed to be a mason, and as such, probably, did the mason-work on the first meeting-house erected in New Milford. 29. Samuel Guernsey, "weaver," of Milford, bought a half-Right of John Thompson of East Haven, Jan. 5, 1716-17, and settled in New Milford, probably, the next spring, and in the following autumn he bought the other half-Right. His home-lot was laid on east side of Poplar street, in what is now Park Lane;—and his first forty acres at Chestnut land. His descendants were few and did not long remain in the town. 30. Corpl. William Harris, from Wethersfield, was resident here a few years, but it does not appear that he was a landholder. His wife Elizabeth united with the church in 1717, by letter from Wethersfield. No account has been seen concerning the family, except the baptism of children and her name on the church record. 31. John Griswold, from Wethersfield, probably, and may have been a brother to Jacob and David Griswold; he came to New Milford about 1716 to build and conduct a grist-mill under an agreement with a committee appointed by the proprietors for the purpose. He, in connection with William Gould, built the mill, and a considerable amount of land was divided to them and their heirs, some years later, as their due after the work was completed. Scarcely had John Griswold established himself as the miller of the town, when suddenly he departed this life, Dec. 24, 1719. In 1724, the town, by a committee, laid out-over eighty acres of land to his heirs in fulfillment of the agreement with him. This land, lying on the east side of the Housatonic, east of the Long Lot,—or a little north-east,—and running back to Town Brook, was purchased by Roger Brownson, most, if not all of it, and constituted a considerable portion of his farm. Mr. Griswold's widow, Mabel, was the sister of Rev. Daniel Boardman. She married 2d Josiah Nichols of Danbury, but had several children by her first husband. 32. William Gould, who seems to have been the mill-wright in building the first grist-mill, appears to have come into the town with John Griswold, for several pieces of land were surveyed to him in 1717, and soon after, lying next north of Samuel Adkins;—that being in the vicinity of the place now called Wellsville, and it is possible that he selected that locality in view of erecting there some kind of mill. He is said to have been of Milford, when in March, 1717, he bought half a right of land in New Milford, of John Morris, for £20. He deeded half of "his land and housing" to his son William, for "love and good-will," in 1721, and died Feb. 15, 1730. 33. Samuel Adkins from Milford, but earlier from Wethersfield, the son of Josiah Adkins of that place, settled in New Milford about 1717. He bought of Ebenezer Bryan of Milford, Feb. 6, 1716-17, a Right of land, and his home-lot was laid out to him in New Milford, Dec. 31, 1717, and bounded south upon highway, east upon highway called Poplar highway, north upon Wm. Gould, and west upon his own land. The place has been known for many years as the John Turrill place, a little south of Wellsville. Mr. Adkins sold his land and interest in land in New Milford about 1755, and removed from the town. No children were recorded here, as his. 33. [sic] Dea. James Prime, Jr., had a home-lot and ten acres measured to him April 20, 1716, and the next June his father, of Milford, gave him half of his Right, and the next spring, being "of New Milford," he bought his father's half-Right; and his first land, 17 1/2 acres, was laid to him next north of Theophilus Baldwin's, on the east side of the highway, at what is now Park Lane, but then, probably a little south of Poplar swamp, which was a locality just south of the Park Lane school-house. He became a deacon of the First Church, and his family was among the prominent ones of the town for some years. 35. Capt. Theophilus Baldwin came from Milford, and settled in New Milford in or before the year 1717; a single man, and married Jerusha Beecher in 1722. His first land was laid to him in 1715 on Aspetuck Hill, which he probably sold soon after, and his second—a home-lot and ten acres—was laid on both sides of Poplar highway, bounded south by Jonathan Buck, and north by James Prime, which he sold to Hezekiah and Ebenezer Baldwin; it being not far from the present Park Lane school-house. His first 40 acres are said to have been laid out in 1713, "in Chestnut woods, northeasterly from the town-plat." He resided, probably, in the vicinity of Poplar swamp, east side of the street, until his early death, May 1, 1745, in his 51st year. When the second military company was organized in the town, Theophilus Baldwin was appointed captain of the first company, in October, 1738, and at the same time Joseph Bostwick was appointed lieutenant, and Samuel Canfield, ensign; and the boundary-line between the two companies was an east and west line across the town at the meeting-house. Hence, after this date, for many years the two sections of the town were known by the terms "North End " and "South End," and the term "North Farms" represented the farmers north of Poplar swamp, up to or above what is now Northyille; and "South Farms" represented those on the plain below what is now Lanesville, or in the vicinity of Gallows Hill, but soon after it. included those at the Iron Works. John Welch from Milford, received his home-lot on Aspetuck Hill next north of Theophilus Baldwin's, Apr. 8, 1715, and his ten acres east of Poplar highway upon which he dwelt. He died in 1732, aged 37. His son died in 1741, aged 21. In 1728, he received land surveyed to him "against Mount Tom eastward, east of East Aspetuck river, near to a place called the Thousand Hills." James Hine of Milford came to New Milford a single man, probably in the autumn of 1723, and became, and continued some years, an influential and successful citizen; a man whose judgment was often called into requisition on town committees and the like, as often as any one in his day. He came to the town upon agreement with a number of citizens, as seen by the following: "Dec. 16, 1723. That we in consideration that James Hine do become our smith, and do faithfully endeavor to do our work with reasonable satisfaction for the full term of four years next ensuing, do give him the several parcels of land hereafter named. Ebenezer Baldwin, 1/2 acre. Henry Garlick, 1/2 " Theophilus Baldwin, 1 " Zachariah Ferriss, 1 " Samuel Adkins, 1 " Gamaliel Terrill, 1 " Samuel Camp, 1 " Abraham Bostwick, 1 " John Bostwick, 1 " Samuel Hitchcock, 1 " David Noble, 1/2 " Paul Welch, 1 " John Welch, 1 " John Noble, 1 " Benoni Stebbins, 1 " James Prime, 1 " Enoch Buck, 1 " Thomas Pickett, 1/2 " William Gaylord, 1 " Samuel Brownson, 1 " Thomas Brownson, 1 " 19 acres. Afterwards the following were added: "Jan. 15, 1723-4. John Bostwick, Sen., 1 acre. Samuel Prindle, Sen., 1 " Nathaniel Bostwick, 1 " Mr. Daniel Boardman, 1 " Benjamin Bostwick, 1 " 24 acres. Twelve acres of this land was surveyed to him, Jan. 28, 1724—5, "near Town Hill brook on the northeast side of said brook," and the next year he bought ten acres adjoining these twelve; and from that time he continued to buy small pieces of two, four, and ten acres, and finally as high as one-fourth of a Right, until he became a large land-holder, and a very influential citizen. He was appointed to office in the military company and soon rose to be a lieutenant, and was always known as Lieutenant Hine. He came here with but little if any money, like many others in those times, but by indefatigable perseverance and care, he soon became an independent man, and his descendants stood among the first-class citizens for many years. He it was that won the heart of Miss Margaret Noble, daughter of the first settler, and married her in 1726, when she was twenty-two years of age; who lived to the age of 92 years, dying Sept. 2, 1796, and to whom the Rev. Stanley Griswold was so much indebted for much of the information given in his historical sermon. Two lives compassed the whole history of New Milford up to 1876, having twenty years cotemporary, within a short distance of each other's residence. Miss Sally Northrop, who died in 1876, over 100 years of age, was twenty years of age when Mrs. Margaret Hine died, and hence, since both of these persons retained great intellectual activity, the traditional stories and legends, as well as important history of New Milford, have been kept in very reliable forms. Such a transmission by personal knowledge and memory to so great an extent of time, may rarely occur; and the town that gathers such laurels or wins such golden harvests of years and self-knowledge may well boast of its honors. Lieut. James Hine the blacksmith, the much-honored lieutenant, was brother to the first Daniel Hine, and died Apr. 1, 1774, ae 77, at his residence which stood where Mr. Egbert Marsh now resides. William Conn was in the town a resident as early as 1720, but no land was laid to him, although he or his descendants were in the town some years. Nathan Terrill, of Milford, had a home-lot and ten acres laid to him in 1720, at what is now Park Lane, and was of New Milford when he married Ruth Buck of this town, June 7, 1721. In 1717 his father, John Terrill of Milford, gave him "for love and good-will" his Right of land in New Milford, which he, the father, had purchased of the heirs of Amos Northrop, and on this Right was laid his first forty acres "at the foot of Great Bare Hill," and his second forty acres were laid " southward of Great Mount Tom," March 22, 1722, He was one of the proprietors' in the north purchase, and therefore had already made his residence here, and he became an influential, successful farmer. Gamaliel Terrill and Josiah Terrill purchased a Right of land in New Milford of Enos Camp, son of Samuel Camp, Feb. 17, 1719, all the parties being of Milford. The record of their first land, which is like many others, is as follows: "Laid to Josiah and Gamaliel Terrill a home-lot seven and a half acres, butting west upon the highway or town street, south upon Joseph Garnsy's home-lot, north and east upon undivided land, twenty rods wide, sixty rods long. Mar. 3, 1720. At-same time a ten-acre division east of the above, twenty rods wide, eighty rods long." This was at Park Lane, east side of the street. Dea. Job Terrill, from Milford, bought, in 1728, Joseph Guernsey's home-lot and farm at Park Lane; became a deacon in the First Church, and was a prominent citizen many years. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF NEW MILFORD AND BRIDGEWATER, CONNECTICUT, 1703-1882, BY SAMUEL ORCUTT AUTHOR OF THE HISTORIES OF TORRINGTON, WOLCOTT, AND DERBY, AND THE INDIANS OF THE HOUSATONIC AND NAUGATUCK VALLEYS, CONNECTICUT. HARTFORD, CONN.: PRESS OF THE CASE, LOCKWOOD AND BRAINARD COMPANY. 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