1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
2David M'Clure and Rev. Dr. Belkamp, Settlement and Antiquities of the Town of Windsor in Connecticut, June 20, 1797 in Collections of massachusettsHistorical Society, VOL V; p. 166-172, internet. "Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society Vol. V - pp 166 - 172
East-Windsor, June 20, 1797.
Settlement and Antiquities of the town of Windsor, in Connecticut.
IN January, 1630, a Congregational church was gathered in Plymouth in England, with a view to a removal to New-England; and the Rev. messrs. John Wareham and John Maverick were ordained colleague pastors over it. They arrived at Nantasket the 30th of May following, and settled in Dorchester. Soon after their arrival, they received intelligence from the Dutch of New York, of a valuable tract of country upon Connecticut river. And the body of the people of Dorchester, and of the towns of Newtown (Cambridge) and Watertown, concluded to remove. In the summer
Settlement and Antiquities of Windsor in Connecticut.. 167
of 1635, they performed the dangerous and laborious journey across the wilderness to this river. At the time of their removal, the Dutch had extended their claim to the river, and made a settlement a few miles below Windsor. Some people from Plymouth had also set up a trading house at the mouth of Little river, in Windsor. The fortitude of those pious adventurers was truly wonderful. About one hundred men, women, and children, took their departure from the three towns before mentioned, to travel through an unexplored wilderness. They were fourteen days performing the tedious journey. The wilderness, for the first time, resounded with the praises of God. They prayed and sang psalms and hymns as they marched along ; the Indians following and looking on them in silent admiration.
They arrived at this river, the object of their ardent expectation, somewhere not far from the mouth of Scantic river, in East-Windsor. The Dorchester people, with Mr. Wareham their minister, began the settlement of Windsor, on the west side of the river. They suffered great hardships the first winter, and their cattle perished for want of food.
The Indians on and near the river were numerous. Three sachemdoms were in the vicinity. The seat of one was near the mouth of Podunck river, lying in the S. W. corner of East-Windsor. A second, at Middletown, 20 miles below; and the third, at Farmington, about 12 miles west of Windsor.
Some of the first settlers of Windsor were gentlemen of opulence and education, as were also those of Hartford and Weathersfield, which settlements were begun at the same time. The right of settling here, they purchased of the old Plymouth company in England, and they paid the Indians for the soil. They had sent some men the year preceding their removal, to make the purchase of the natives, whom they looked upon as the only rightful proprietors.
They soon proceeded to form a general system of laws, which were similar to those of the Massachusetts ; except that they did not make church membership a necessary qualification for civil office.
Those who were in full communion in the church at Dorchester, and came with Mr. Wareham to Windsor, were Henry Wolcott, Esq. William Phelps, John Whitefield, Humphrey Pinney, Deacon John Moore, Deacon William
Settlement and Antiquities of Windsor in Connecticut. 168
Gaylord, Lieut. Walter Filer, Matthew Grant, Thomas Dibble, Samuel Phelps, Nathan Gillet, Richard Vote, Abraham Randall, Bigot Eglestone, George Phelps, Thomas Ford.
In 1639, Rev. Ephraim Huit came from England, and was settled colleague with Mr. Wareham. And with him came Edward Griswold, John Bissell, Thomas Holcomb, Daniel Clark, Peter Tilton. The other settlers of Windsor, whose names are mentioned in the records of the town, anno 1640, were messrs. - Newberry, Roger Ludlow, Esq., Joseph Loomis, John Loomis, John Porter, William Hill, James Marshall, John Taylor, Eltwed Pomeroy, William Hoffard, Aaron Cook, Elias Parkman, Thomas Stoughton, Owen Tudor, Capt. John Mason, Matthew Allyn, Richard Oldage, Henry Stiles, William Hayden, George Phillips, Return Strong, John Hillyer, Thomas Barber, Nicholas Palmer, Thomas Buckland, Isaac Shelden, Robert Watson, Stephen Terry, Bray Rosseter, Thomas Dewey, William Hurlburt, Roger Williams, Thomas Bascomb, Nicholas Denslow, Thomas Thornton,
It is probable the greater part of these came the year after Mr. Wareham; some from Dorchester and some from Plymouth. Mr. Huit deceased in 1644. He was a man of superior abilities and usefulness. The following lines, expressive of his great worth, though in juvenile poetry, are legible on his tomb-stone :
"Who while he lived, we drew our vital breath: "Who when he died, his dying was our death: "Who was the stay of state, the church's staff; "Alas, the times forbid an epitaph."
Mr. Wareham saw the great increase of the little colony of Christians, with whom he had crossed the Atlantic, during 35 years of his ministry, and died anno 1670. . . .
The boundaries of the original town of Windsor were very extensive ; being about 46 miles in circumference, and lying on both sides of Connecticut river, the largest division on the eastern side. Eight Congregational societies have been formed within its limits, and it now contains three incorporated towns. . . .
Fear of the Indians retarded the settlement of the eastern side of the river, until the year 1680, before mentioned. The year after the settlements of Windsor, Hartford and Weathersfield begun, parties of Pequod Indians killed some people. And although the Windsor and River Indians professed themselves neuters in Philip's war, which broke out in 1675, yet numbers of their young men stole away and joined him, and never returned. After Philip's formidable league was broken, the English settlements began to extend east from the river. The captains Ludlow, Mason and Stoughton did valiantly in those wars.
There are but few remains of Indian antiquity in this town. Their rude implements of husbandry, &c. are sometimes plowed up in the meadows; such as stone axes, pestles, chisels, &c. A Mr. Mather, of Windsor, informed me that he found, some years ago, near his house, an Indian grave, containing the bones of six persons. They were in a setting, circular position ; and where their feet met, was a small quantity of wampum and some horn spoons. Human bones are sometimes washed out of the banks of the river. A small hill in the meadow is still known by the name of King's hill; having been the residence of the sachem of the Podunck Indians. In the sale of the land, the Indians reserved the right of hunting, cutting timber, and planting, wherever they pleased, forever. But none of their descendants now exist, to claim the privilege.
The first settlers, by their prudent management and kindness, conciliated the good will of the Indians; but the aged people among us say, that they could never learn that an individual Windsor Indian ever became a Christian. . . .
The above is derived from various sources of information, such as the public records of the towns and parishes-manuscripts--tradition of aged, respectable people, and printed histories. Should it afford you entertainment, or be of any service in the cause of historical and useful science, my labour will be well compensated. Whether the foregoing observations are of sufficient consequence to present to the Historical Society, I submit to your candor and judgment; and am, Rev. Sir,
your very obedient and obliged servant, David M'Clure
Rev. Dr. Belknap.".
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
2Olsen, Wayne, Griswold, EMail dated 29 SEP 2002. "see notes for Edward Griswold (b. 1578).".
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.