Middlesex County CT Archives History - Books .....Early Settlement - Chapman 1887

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Book Title: The Old Chimney Stacks Of East Haddam

CHAPTER I.
EARLY SETTLEMENT—CHAPMAN.
A stack of stones, a clingy wall,
  O'er which the shadows cling and creep, 
A path on which no shadows fall, 
  A door-step where long dock-leaves sleep.
A broken rafter in the grass,
  A sunken hearth-stone stained and cold; 
Naught left but these, fair home, alas!
  And the dear memories of old.

  Descriptions of the ruins of Tyre, and Nineveh., and Thebes, and those other
ancient cities which flourished thousands of years ago, though often repeated,
are always interesting. Notwithstanding they existed in a time so remote that
the mind can scarcely fathom the dim distance, we love to contemplate their
broken pillars and crumbling walls: to muse over their fallen towers and
shattered hearth-stones; we love to unearth the buried secrets of their former
existence, and reflect that all these relics were once associated with other men
and women who had hopes, and impulses and asspirations like our own. The
treasures which the dead leave behind them are always precious in our •eyes, and
their handiwork, their inventions, the evidences of their daily pursuits, are
always full of interest. And it is with these facts in view that in a few
chapters upon the old landmarks that form the only connecting links which bind
us to our ancestors in whose footsteps we follow along the dim pathway of life,
the writer hopes to interest those who cling to the memories of their native town.

  East Haddam may be justly regarded as one of the oldest, as it is one of the
largest towns in the State. Its diversified scenery, its bracing atmosphere, and
its early historic associations have made the town ah object-of admiration to
travellers, and of love to her sons arid daughters. And she has reared many
worthy sons who have graced the "high pursuits of life; and of the virtue and
beauty of her daughters she may well be proud. 

  The tract of land of which East Haddam is a part, extending from Chatham line
to Chester Cove, and reaching six miles easterly and westerly from the river,
was purchased from four Indian kings, in 1662, for thirty coats of a value not
exceeding one hundred dollars. The tract thus purchased was taken up by
twenty-eight persons, mostly young men from the vicinity of Hartford, who
settled in the northern part of this land on the west side of the river.

  About six years after, the privileges of a town were granted the colony, and
the tract was called Haddam, from Haddam in England.

  This was about the twentieth town formed in the State. No settlement was made
on the east side of the river till some two years later, or about 1670. All the
inhabitants on both sides formed one society until 1700, when they formed two
societies, but it was not till 1734 that the town was divided agreeably to the
divisions of the societies; the west society retaining the name of Haddam while
the east took the name of East Haddam. The first settlement of East Haddam was
begun at Creek Row, about the year 1670, over two hundred years ago. The first
house, it is said, stood a few rods northeast of the site where Mason Gates'
house now stands. Quite a number of houses were erected in this vicinity, and
were occupied by the Gateses, the Brainards, and the Cones, and the same family
names are peculiar to this neighborhood. Fields, in his history, claims that the
settlement at the Creek Row commenced in 1685, which appears to be an error, as
from a document found in the colony records, it is certain that "Robert Chapman
had a dwelling-house in East Haddam north of the Creek Row, in 1675." It seems
to be conceded on all sides that the settlement at Creek Row was first; then it
must have commenced as early as 1670. Besides, as the land was purchased and the
settlement commenced in Haddam in 1662, it is hardly supposable that
twenty-three years would pass before any attempt was made to settle the east
side of the river.

  Among the earliest settlers of Saybrook was Robert Chapman. The name Chapman
is of Saxon origin, meaning "chap-man," "market-man," a monger or merchant. A
large class of surnames among the Anglo-Saxons is derived from trades or
occupations. Robert Chapman came from Hull, in England, in 1635, and was one of
the company sent over by Sir Richard Salsonstall to take possession of a large
tract of land near the mouth of the Connecticut River, under the patent of Lord
Say-and-Seal. He was then eighteen years old, and was one of the band of
adventurers who established the fort at Saybrook. He was a man of exemplary
piety. His parents were Puritans. That he was a person of influence in the town
of Saybrook is evident from the fact that he was for many years Commissioner of
Saybrook, and was elected as their deputy to the General Court, forty-three
sessions. He was therefore a member of the Legislature of the State at more
sessions than any other man from the settlement of Saybrook to the present time.
Mr. Chapman was likewise a soldier, as we find by the records of the General
Court at Hartford, Oct. 14, 1675 :

  Mr. Robert Chapman is by this Court appointed Capt'n of the Traine Band of
Saybrook during the present commotion with the Indians.

  Mr. Chapman was a large land-holder, not only in Saybrook, Haddam, East
Haddam, but in Hebron; there he owned forty-five hundred acres, which he
received as one of the legatees of the Uncas. This land was given by will, in
equal parts, to his three sons, John, Robert and Nathaniel. He settled on a
tract of land at Oyster River, which has descended in the line of the youngest
son of each family, and is now occupied by George W. Chapman, Esq., who is the
youngest of the fifth generation. Robert Chapman, Jr., second son of the first
settler, was born in Saybrook in 1646. He owned at his death over two thousand
acres of land in Saybrook, East Haddam and Hebron. Robert Chapman, 3d, was born
April 19, 1675, and was one of the first settlers in East Haddam. He was a large
land-holder. One of his daughters married a soldier of Haddam Neck, and received
two hundred acres of land as her portion, which has remained in the family to
the present time, the owners now being two brothers, W. C. and H. N. Selden.
Their farm is inclosed by over five miles of street fence—one hundred acres
being surrounded by highways. James Wilbur Chapman, grandson of the last named
Robert Chapman, and of the seventh generation from the first settlers, was born
August 8, 1802, and resided on, and was the owner of the farm which has remained
in the family ever since it was first taken up. It has been deeded but once, and
then to Robert W., .having heretofore descended to the heirs by will.

  Caleb Chapman was also a large land-holder in East Haddam. He gave his land to
his three sons, Timothy, Ozias and Timothy 2d. The latter settled on the spot
where Amasa Day now lives. The farm was subsequently sold to Phineas Gates, who
was related to the Chapman family by marriage. He sold it to Julius Chapman,
after whose death it was sold at auction and purchased by Mr. Day.

  Timothy settled where Robert Day now lives; Ozias where Wm. S. Gates lives.
Ozias had nine sons and six daughters. Joseph Emmons, and Mr. and Mrs. Daniel
Lord are among his direct descendants. Sylvester, the oldest of Ozias' sons,
acquired considerable property from his wife. He lived in the first house north
of the Congregational Church, which was then considered quite a stately
residence. He kept a store, which stood a few rods south of his house. He was
also a Justice of the Peace in the town for a number of years. John Chapman, the
eldest son of Robert, the first settler, settled at Goodspeed's Landing, his
home standing on the spot where the Gelston House now stands. He established the
ferry across the river at that place, which has always remained private
property, and until within a few years retained its original name of Chapman's
Ferry.


Additional Comments:
Transcribed from:

THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS OF EAST HADDAM, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, CONNECTICUT,
BY
HOSFORD B. NILES,
Author of Genealogy of THE NILES FAMILY.
NEW YORK: LOWE & CO., Book and Job Printers No. 210 Fulton Street.
1887


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