Litchfield County CT Archives History - Books .....Newbury Society 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 23, 2005, 9:21 pm Book Title: HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF NEW MILFORD AND BRIDGEWATER, CONNECTICUT, 1703-1882 CHAPTER XV. NEWBURY SOCIETY (BROOKFIELD). NEW MILFORD contributed nearly one-half of the territory which was organized into, the town of Brookfield in 1788, and some account of the first settlement of this part of New Milford is here given. Some of these settlers resided in territory still in New Milford, but was included then in what was called "South Farms." John Noble, 2d, one of the first twelve settlers in New Milford, sold his house and lot in the village Nov. 6, 1730, to William Gillett of Milford, and soon after settled at Gallows Hill, on the plains,—the first permanent settler below Gallows Hill,—and resided there, an influential citizen, to the end of his life. Thomas Noble, his son, after about ten years, settled on a farm next north of Gallows Hill, where he resided to the end of his life, a prominent farmer of the town, and member of the Episcopal Church. Capt. John Warner was the first settler at the "South Farms." He came from Hadley, Mass., and bought of David Noble a half Right of land Jan. 20, 1724-5, twenty-three acres of which had been laid out between Three-Mile and Four-Mile Brooks, on the plain; and the same day of the purchase were laid to him twenty acres "upon a hill called Woodcreek Hill, northward of land laid out for the maintenance of a mill," and another piece at the same place. The next March one piece was laid to him on Woodcreek Hill, and one on the east side of Woodcreek Mountain, and another on the plain, "below the Common-field fence," a little north of Four-Mile Brook, and another on the east side of Danbury road. The next September more land was surveyed to him, "lying on the north end of Woodcreek Hill." After establishing himself on a farm of one hundred or more acres, he married Mercy, or Mary, daughter of Thomas Curtis, of Farmington, Conn., July 3, 1727, and made his home on this farm, which was a mile or more north of where John Noble, Jr., settled, or nearly a mile north of Gallows Hill. He was the first settler as far south as that, his farm being always in New Milford. He became very prominent in town, ecclesiastical, and military matters. He was made Captain of the second company of the train band in New Milford October, 1751; and Lieutenant of the fifth company in the Sixth regiment of the Colony in May, 1754, and Captain of the same in 1756. He died in December, 1762, aged 60 years. Judge David S. Boardman says of him: "John Warner removed to New Milford from Massachusetts, and was a large landholder in the town. He would often contrast his first coming (with nothing but his axe and gun), and his easy competence, the fruit of persevering industry. He had a large family." Joseph Warner came to the town with a family, and settled near his brother John, probably about 1728. He died in 1743, leaving quite a family. Joseph Waller was the third settler in South Farms. While of Woodbury, in 1717, he bought of Samuel Clark, of Milford, half a Right of land in New Milford, and settled here in 1728. He was a blacksmith, and held some prominence in the town, but was not so much so as his neighbor, Capt. John Warner. He died in 1788, in his eighty-eighth, year. Capt. Joseph Ruggles was the third or fourth settler at the Iron Works (so stated by his grandson Samuel), being located at the Halfway Falls, afterwards called the Iron Works, in 1733. He purchased considerable land, besides being a partner in the Iron Works; joined the Congregational Church by letter from New Haven, in which he was prominent about twelve years, when he began to take sides with the Separates, and with whom he finally joined. He removed to New Haven, where he became Deacon of the Separate Congregational Church, remaining there a number of years, then returning to Brookfield, where he was a deacon in the Congregational Church many years. He possessed decided intellectual ability, earnest Christian character, and faithfulness to it. His descendants were known as honest, good citizens, peculiarly attached and faithful to each other. If at any time one family became unfortunate, the others contributed their proportion to place it in the way of success and prosperity. The Ruggles families "always hung together, and helped each other." There was a large vein of wit, and humor, and good nature, as well as energy of character, in the whole family. The descendants of Joseph Ruggles, Sen., became noted in manufacturing and mercantile pursuits; as lawyers and judges in courts: as officers in the army and navy, and as politicians and scholars. These things will appear in the account of Lanesville and the Biographical Sketches. The sphere of action of the prominent members of this family was largely outside of New Milford. The Iron Works. "Aug. 12, 1732, John Noble sold to Samuel Hathaway, of Southfield, Mass., a certain piece of land and river at a place called the Halfway Falls, in the Still River, being half an acre, taking the river in and some land, so that there may be a way suitable to come at the Iron Works already set up, and also at the dam that is made across the river." Dec. 7, 1732, Peter Hubbell, of Newtown, sold to John Fairweather "one-third part of the Iron Works, dam, houses, and instruments in making iron, on the Halfway Falls, on Still River." On the 30th of June, 1733, John Noble bought, this same interest in the Iron Works that he had sold to Mr. Hathaway about one year before. On the 29th of November, 1733, Eleazer Hathaway, then of New Milford, borrowed;£100 current money of Elisha Williams of New Haven, Peter Hubbell of Newtown, Robert Walker, Jr., of Stratford, Jared Ellot of Killingsworth, Martin Kellogg of Wethersfield, David Noble and Joseph Ruggles of New Milford, giving a mortgage on twenty acres of land "just above the Iron Works;" but provided Eleazer Hathaway should furnish a certain amount of iron from the Iron Works for the grantees at certain prices for a certain number of years, then the mortgage to be of no effect. Mr. Hathaway was to "perform the work and business of a skillful Bloomer in the Iron Works built on the Still River Falls, in New Milford, belonging to the grantees above named, for the benefit and advantage of said grantees;" particularly that he should make twenty-four tons of iron from two forges yearly, or twelve tons if only one forge should be furnished to him. He was to make "shire moulds, cranks, gudgeons, the like such as are wont to be made in Iron Works." In October, 1734, the proprietors voted to sequester land fora burying-place at Gallows Hill, as may be seen on page 137, and soon after the following: "Dec. 9, 1734. Voted, that our Southward farms on the west side of the great river are to keep a school for six months beginning on the first day of April next, and to be freed from paying to the town school for said six months, or so long as they shall keep a school in said six months." "Dec. 9, 1734. Voted, that there shall be a pound erected at our South Farms on the town charge, and set on the highway west of Joseph Waller's house, and Joseph Waller, Ezekiel Buck and John Warner are chosen to see that the said pound at said farms is completed." The school at the South Farms was continued in a private house, probably, during the summer, the older children coming to the village or center in the winter,—until the following order was made: "Dec. 13, 1742. Voted, that there shall be a school set up at the South Farms in said town under the direction of the civil authority and the selectmen, and also that the said South Farms shall have their equal proportion of the money that is given to the schools according to their list of estate, so long as they shall keep the school." "Mar. 17, 1743. Voted,' that there shall be a school-house built at the South Farms on the west side of the Great River twelve feet wide, and fourteen feet long, upon the town's cost, and that Mr. Nathaniel Bostwick, Mr. Paul Welch, and Mr. Thomas Pickett shall be a committee to appoint the place where the said school-house shall be erected." Before this school-house, which was erected near Capt. John Warner's house, was finished, trouble arose, about its location, it being too far away to accommodate the families at the Iron Works and some who dwelt east of that place, and hence the following: "Dec., 1743. Voted, that the school-house that is already built at the South Farms in New Milford shall stand where it is now built and shall be deemed a school-house for said Farms. "Voted, that the South Farms shall be paid out of the town treasury the sum of twenty-six pounds and nine shillings, old tenor, for the building a school-house at the South Farms." At the same time, John Warner, Ezekiel Buck, Joseph Waller, Daniel Waller, and Thomas Noble did promise to pay to Mr. Joseph Ruggles and his neighbors near the Iron Works, the sum of eight pounds and sixteen shillings, old tenor value, provided the said Ruggles and the neighbors shall build a school-house within the space of two years next coming." This offer of Mr. Warner and his neighbors was a very considerate and neighborly act, and shows the equitable disposition of those times. The distance from Gallows Hill to the Iron Works was about two miles. In the summer of 1745, a committee was appointed to select a site for such a school-house, but they do not seem to have acted, and hence the following: "Nov. 12, 1745. Mr. Ebenezer Fisk and Mr. Samuel Canfield were chosen a committee to appoint a place to set up a school-house at the south farms, called the Iron Works." "Nov. 12, 1745. Upon the request of Joseph Ruggles and the rest of his neighbourhood, made unto us the subscribers, praying for the liberty to set up a regular school at our farms, and upon good reason, assigned, we allow and order a lawful and regular school shall be erected at a place appointed by said town. EBENEZER FISK, JAMES HINE, DANIEL BOSTWICK, SAMUEL BALDWIN, Selectmen. ROGER BROWNSON, SAMUEL CANFIELD, NATHANIEL BOSTWICK, Justices of the Peace This act established the school as one of the legal school districts of the town, and hence the school could be kept winter and summer, according to the law, without any further permit from the town. In the annual town meeting December 9, 1745, they voted to remove the school-house from near Gallows Hill further^ south, and on the next day the committee to fix the location reported: "We do affix the place to erect said school-house on the highway upon the top of the first rise of the hill, against Samuel Canfield's house-lot, where we have affixed a stake with stones about it, which is to be enclosed within said house." But this did not settle the matter, and two days later another committee fixed the place "near to Mr. Joseph Ruggles's house, northward of his house, near about the middle of the highway," and this was probably the site of the first school-house at the Iron Works." The first bridge at that place was ordered to be built at the expense of the town by the following action: "Aug. 20, 1745. Voted, that there shall be a rate raised to build the bridge at the Iron Works to be paid in money or in labor to the acceptance of the committee that shall be appointed to do the work; also voted, the abovesaid rate shall be one penny half-penny on the pound," and the committee were Ens. John Warner, Mr. Joseph Ruggles, Capt. Nathaniel Bostwick, and Lt James Hine. In 1748, Abel Barnum had a grist-mill a little way north of the Iron Works, for at that time a highway was laid out to the southeast corner of the mill, and hence, probably, it was then just erected. In 1742, John Bradshaw had settled on Punkin Hill, or what was afterwards for many years called Bradshaw's Hill, on the east road to Newtown, from New Milford. Newbury Society. The enterprise which finally resulted in the organization of the town of Brookfield, began by a petition to the General Assembly: "To the Honorable General Assembly to be Holden at Hartford May, second Thursday A. D. 1743: The memorial of us the subscribers, Inhabitants belonging— some to ye town of Danbury, viz.: being at the North End of the Township of sd Danbury, and others living in the township of Newtown att the North part of sd township and others living att the south part of the township of New Milford, Humbly sheweth the providence of God hath so ordered that your memorilers Habitation being thus att ye extream parts of Each township your memorilers are put to Great Difficulties for to attend the publick worship In the respective towns to which we belong the travil being so Long the least of us have about four miles travil and most of us five six seven eight and [word torn out by seal of letter perhaps] miles from the place of publick worship which Renders it [the same rent leaves out a word here] Difficult for us to attend with our famyleys many of us having large famyleys of small Children; and that more Especially in the winter season is our Difficulty Great yet are our situation such that we live tollerable well to be a Comidated by being made a Society—and the land where we live is Good and as we Concluded a Soficiancy that might be taken of Each town in the whole to make a Larg Society without much prediges to Either town—to which we Do belong whereupon we your Honours memorilers Humbly pray this Honourable assembly to appoint us a wise Juditious Comtee att our Cost and Charge to come and view our Surcomstances and like wise that if after they have viewed our Surcomstances as they shall think proper to Draw the Line in Each town in order for your Honours' approbation and to make Report to your Honours att your session in October next—whether it be convenient for us to be made a Distinct Society for the Carrying on the publick worship among ourselves or—whether at least we mant be admited the benefits of hyring preaching among us for the Extream Season in the year—as your Honours in your Great wisdom shall think fitt and att the same time be freed from paying anything to ye ministrey where we Respectively Do belong and we your Honours memorilers as in Duty bound shall Ever pray. Robert Bostwick, Benjamin Lyon, Beniamin Stevens, iun'r, [sic] Benjamin Duning, Richard Waring, David Duning, Jeremiah Northrup, Caleb baldwin, Junr., Henry Botsford, Jerem northrup, John Nearing, Daniel Barnum, John Noble, Isaac Barnum, Stephen Stockwell, Joseph Murry, John Noble, Josiah Bollit, Beniamin Stevens, Ebenezer bostwick, Joseph Ruggles, Abel Barnum, Joseph Smith, thomas pickit." [1] Stephen Hawley, [1] Ecclesiastical Book, State Library, vol. X., 21-22. The committee was granted, and they were instructed by the following act: "May, 1743. Resolved by this Assembly, that Col. William Preston, Mr. Noah Hinman, and Capt. Thomas Knowles, all of Woodbury, be a committee to repair to the memorialists' abode, at their cost, and after notifying all parties, and having -heard their pleas and views, their circumstances in respect to their being a distinct ecclesiastical society, or having liberty to hire preaching in the extreme season in the year, and if said committee think proper, to draw the line in each town for the bounds of said society; and make report of their opinion and doings thereon to this Assembly in October next." Before this committee reported, the town of New Milford passed the following: "Sep. 20, 1743. Voted, that the town consent that the inhabitants of the South Farms in New Mil-ford shall be set off for a Religious Society, according as the committee which the General Assembly appointed and hath sent to view the circumstances, according to the lines which said committee hath set." As indicated, the committee designated the boundaries and reported favorably, but the report was rejected, there being opposition from the town of Newtown. New Milford seems to have favored the establishment of the society all the way, but the territory furnished the disagreeing elements. In April, 1751, the petition was renewed, urging particularly that they lived remote from any place of worship, and many had large families, and hence there were great difficulties in attending meeting. Upon this Newtown voted to inform the Assembly that they had had no notice of the proceedings, yet a committee was appointed who reported the boundaries for a society in October, and the following December (1751) New Milford "voted that the Inhabitants below Thomas Noble's house, on both sides of Still River, shall be freed from paying to the minister in the town or to Mr. Taylor for the space of three months in case they hire a minister with them, or so much of said three months as they shall have preaching with them." But the petition was opposed by some within the proposed society, and the report rejected; yet another committee was sent, which reported the lists of persons within the proposed society: New Milford, £1,420 12; Newtown, £980 9; and Danbury, £746 12; additional £200, making in all £3,347 13. The list of the New Milford society of that year stood £13,102 5s. 1d. In April, 1752, the committee found the location suitable for a society, but the inhabitants few and divided, thirty-six heads of families and fifty other males above sixteen years of age, and they recommended no society at that time, and the report was continued. In October, 1752, notwithstanding ten signers in Newtown opposed the petition for winter privileges, they were granted. The lists reported are: Names of 31 in Danbury had lists £2,385 11; 22 in New Milford, £1,090 12; 20 in Newtown, £1,504 17 9. The agent of the petitioners said it was oppressive to be obliged to pay for building meeting-houses when they needed one of their own. At that time New Milford was making efforts to build one. After nine years of patient pleading they were allowed to have preaching among themselves at their own expense. How surprising such proceedings seem at the present day. Winter Privileges Granted. "October, 1752. Upon the memorial of Isaac Barnum, Joseph Murry, and others, living in the northeast part of Danbury, the southwest part of New Milford, and the northwest part of Newtown, within the following limits and bounds (viz.): Beginning at a place known by the name of Pond Brook where it enters into the great river, being in Newtown; thence running northwardly on the bank of said river until it comes to the northeast corner of Capt. John Warner's farm lying by said river, being in New Milford, which is a white ash staddle market with stones about it; then running westerly a strait line to the top of the hill called Gallows Hill; thence running a straight line till it intersects New Fairfield east line; thence running southwardly on said line until it comes to the southeast corner of New Fairfield township; thence running a straight line to a certain rock with- stones upon it near the lower end of Beaver Brook Mountain, on the west side of the road leading from Danbury to New Milford; thence running easterly to a certain rock with stones upon it, being in the line between Danbury and Newtown, being on the south end of a swamp known by the name of Bound Swamp; and from thence continuing easterly to the road leading from New Milford to Newtown, including Lieut. Joseph Smith's farm where he now lives, and then running a straight line to the mouth of the Pond Brook where it empties into the great river; praying for liberty to procure and have the preaching of the Gospel among themselves for five months in the year annually, as by their memorial on file: It is thereupon enacted and granted by this Assembly that the memorialists have liberty and power, and the same is hereby granted to the memorialists according to the bounds aforesaid, to procure and have among themselves the preaching of the Gospel five months in the year (viz.): from the first day of November till the last of March annually, from this time, separate from the towns to which they respectively belong as aforesaid; and during the time of such liberty shall be freed from all stated ministerial taxes in the towns and societies to which they respectively belong, as to said five months annually, and have authority to tax themselves, and carry on preaching among themselves according to law, provided they employ some orthodox preacher among them." In this form the society continued until May, 1754, when they petitioned for an ecclesiastical society, and the matter was laid over until the next September, when they again urged their claims, alleging that it was impracticable for many to attend worship, and that they could more easily support preaching among themselves; that a meeting-house was erected; but that the inhabitants were new settlers, and, on account of the war with France, taxes were burdensome; and since much of the land belonged to non-residents, they desired a land-tax of two pence on the acre for four years on unenclosed lands. Upon this the society was incorporated by the same boundaries as given in 1752, and a land-tax of one penny on the acre granted. It was in the next December (1754) that the town of New Milford voted to return the money which had been collected by tax from persons in the Newbury society, for the New Milford Congregational meeting-house, to the Newbury people toward their meeting-house, which they were then building. It was to this church that the First society of the town sent the pulpit from their old meeting-house soon after the above date. In 1755 an effort was made to raise a fund for the Newbury Society by the donation of undivided lands. Stephen Hawley gave thirty acres, Joseph Murry five, and John Noble two and a half, and in 1771 another effort was made, when Stephen Hawley gave seven acres more. In 1772, when the people were trying to secure the organization of a town, New Milford voted not to oppose them. The church was organized in this society, September 28, 1757, and their first minister, Mr. Thomas Brooks, was ordained at the same time. The society of Newbury was organized into a town in 1788, and named Brookfield. The Assessors' list for that part of Newbury society which was contained within New Milford township in 1787, the last year the assessment was made before the town of Brookfield was organized, contained the following names: Josiah Burritt, Albert Barlow, Amarillis Barlow, Francis Burritt, Mitchel Barlow, Thaddeus Baldwin, Edward Beech, Tibbals Baldwin, Samuel Baldwin's heirs, Jonathan Beecher, Robert Bostwick, Enoch Buckingham, Sarah Camp, Theophilus Comstock, Ephraim Curtiss, Dea. Abraham Camp, Achilles Comstock, Levi Camp, Thomas Gushing, Esqr., John Dunning, Isaac Hawley, Jr., Liverius Hawley, Clement Hubbell, Benjamin Hawley, Nehemiah Hawley, Isaac Hawley, David Jackson, Ralph Keeler, Jonathan Keeler, David Keeler, Isaac Lockwood, Andrew Lake's heirs, Samuel Merwin, Jr., Samuel Merwin, Nathan Merwin, Isaac Merwin, Andrew Merwin, Levi Merwin, John Morehouse, Isaac Northrop, Elnathan Noble, Wait Northrop, Joseph Nearing, Henry Nearing. John H. Nearing, William Nichols, Joshua Northrop, Andrus Northrop, Jesse Noble, James Osborn, Israel Osborn, Joseph Olmsted, Richard Olmsted, Henry Peck, Esqr., David Peck, Amiel Peck, Ammi Palmer, Joseph Ruggles, Jr., Comfort Ruggles, Artemus Ruggles, Benjamin Ruggles, Timothy Ruggles, Esqr., Ashbel Ruggles, Samuel Ruggles, Hezekiah Stevens, Jr., John Starr, David Smith, Joseph Smith, James Starr, Rufus Sherman, Samuel Sherman, Thomas Smith, Elijah Starr, Jehiel Smith, Joseph Tomlinson, John Veal, David Wakelee, Samuel Wakelee, Amos Wakelee, Martin Warner, Solomon Warner, Daniel Wheeler. 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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