Territory of Woodstock, Connecticut
As soon as possible after the restoration of peace, Massachusetts
arranged to take possession of the conquered territory. William Stoughton
and Joseph Dudley were commissioned by the general court to treat with the
Indian claimants and agree with them upon the easiest terms attainable.
February 10th, 1682, negotiations were completed by which the whole
Nipmuck country, from the northern part of Massachusetts to a point called
Nash-a-way, at the junction of the Quinebaug and French rivers,
Connecticut-a tract fifty by forty miles in extentwas made over to the
government of the Bay colony, for the sum of fifty pounds, a reservation
of five miles square being also allowed the Indians. Colonization was the
immediate result of this cession. Plantation in New England was quickly
followed by emigration. The mother towns were not able to furnish homes
for new comers, and the many children of the first planters. The
flourishing town of Roxbury was especially hampered in this respect, " its
limits being so scanty and not capable of enlargement " that many families
were forced to find other settlements. Eagerly its inhabitants welcomed
the opening of the Nipmuck country as furnishing a wider field for their
superabundant population.
In October, 1683, its selectmen petitioned the general court for a tract
of land seven miles square, " for the enlargement of the town and the
encouragement of its inhabitants," the land to be laid out at Quinnatisset
or thereabouts, if a convenient way may be found there. This prayer was
granted on condition that previous grantees had the first choice, and
"that thirty families be settled on said plantation within three years,
and maintain among them an able, orthodox, godly minister."' The town
accepted the conditions, and in the following year sent out Lieutenant
Samuel Ruggles, John Ruggles, John Curtis and Edward Morris, " To view the
premises and find a convenient place to take up her grant." With Indian
guides they made their way through the wilderness and carefully viewed the
premises. Quinnatisset (now Thompson), for which they had asked, was
already appropriated, and farms laid out to English owners, but land
adjacent at Senexet and Wabbaquasset they thought commodious for a
settlement.
The town accepted their information, October 27th, 1654. and chose a
suitable committee, to draw up, upon consideration, propositions that may
be most equable and prudent for the settlement of the place." Inhabitants
unwilling to assume the responsibility of carrying forward the work had
liberty to withdraw without offense, and be free from further charges. All
others were to be held responsible for the settlement and expenses of the
Nipmuck colony. The following year farther arrangements were made, the
town agreeing to give to the actual settlers one-half the entire grant,
and a hundred pounds in money, to be laid out in public works, but it was
not till the third year that they proceeded to take possession. A number
of pioneers having volunteered to go in advance and prepare the way for
the main body, it was voted in town meeting, March 4th, 1686, " That such
should have liberty to break up land and plant anywhere they please
without being bound to accept it as their share of the grant." This
advance guard, thirteen in number, viz.,, Benjamin Sabin, Jonathan
Smithers, Henry Bowen, John Frizell, Matthew Davis, Nathaniel Gary, Thomas
Bacon, John Marcy, Peter Aspinwall, Benjamin and George Griggs Joseph Lord
and Ebenezer Morris left Roxbury about April 1st, and having surmounted
the perils of the journey, made record that on April 5th, 1686, "Several
persons came as planters and settlers and took actual possession (by
breaking up land and planting corn) of the land granted to Roxbury (called
by the planters New Roxbury; by the Antient natives Wapaquasset.)"
Through Senexet valley in the east of the tract they passed on southward,
making headquarters at Plaine hill. In the vale eastward they planted corn
fields and set up a saw mill on a small brook running toward the lake. The
larger stream feeding the lake was given--the name of their own Muddy
brook in Roxbury. No curious natives disturbed their solitude. The
Wabbaquassets were still sojourning in Mohegan. In May they were visited
by a deputation from Roxbury, which came with Surveyor Gore to take a more
formal survey of the tract, settle the south bound, and determine the
length and breadth of the grant, so that the first " Go-ers " might make
an intelligent choice. Eleven days were spent in exploring and surveying.
Massachusetts' south bound, an unknown, disputed, almost imaginary line,
making much trouble between Massachusetts and Connecticut, could not be
identified, but a substitute was devised by affixing a station about one
and a half miles south of Plaine hill, and thence marking trees in line,
east and west. The south bound thus obtained was nearly two miles south of
the Woodward and Saffery Line," claimed by Massachusetts and about eight
miles south of the south bound finally established. Other arrangements
were made and the committee returned in time to report proceedings, June
12th, at Roxbury.
A vigorous new colony " boom " had now set in and much interest was
manifested. The prescribed quota of thirty planters was already full and
others were pressing in. Men were known in town " under the denomination "
of " Go-ers " or "Stay-ers ;" men from adjacent towns were craving
admittance and permission was granted to admit such with the " Goers," "
if the selectmen of Roxbury and other Go-ers do approve them." July 21st,
an especial meeting was held for the more orderly settling the aforesaid
village or grant, when the following agreement was adopted
" I. That every man should take up what number of acres he pleaseth in his
home lot, not exceeding thirty; and after-rights and divisions of land
shall arise according to the proportion of his home lot, and all
after-charges to arise proportionably upon the home lots for the first six
years.
" II. That whoever shall neglect the payment of his rate two months after
a rate is made and demanded, shall forfeit for every five shillings two
acres of his home lot with all proportionable rights, and so, more or
less, according to his failure; always provided that they take not his
house nor orchard
" III. If any meadows should fall out to be in any one's home 'lot it
shall be accounted as so much of his proportion of meadow, and his home
lot made up with upland.
" IV. That all persons that have planted in the year 1686 shall have two
acres of his home lot free for the first three years, and shall enjoy the
land they planted in 1687 and '88, though it fall out in any other
person's home lot.
" V. That within one month they will go personally to their new
plantation, and there make farther agreements, divisions and settlements."
The fifth article of the agreement was faithfully carried out. Within the
specified month they set out upon their distant pilgrimage-the forty men
who had enrolled themselves "Go-ers," and a fair proportion of their
families. Of all circumstances connected with the fitting out, departure
and journey of the colony we are wholly ignorant. On foot and horseback,
with cart . and cattle, they traversed the well-worn Connecticut path, or
the newer way laid" out by Major Pynchon through the Oxford grant, to meet
a joyful welcome from the waiting pioneers. In their five months'
residence the thirteen planters had made a good beginning. Three distinct
sites, suitable for villages, had been selected and on the northern
extremity of Plaine hill a house or hall, intended for general use, had
been put up. The first public meeting was held August 25th, " at New
Roxbury, alias Wapaquasset," at the Wabbaquasset Hall, when the planters
voted to take the south half of the tract for their portion, and "that the
place where the home lots shall begin shall be upon the Plaine Hill."
Finding some difficulty in arranging plans of settlement, on the following
day the planters agreed to select seven men to state needful highways, and
a lot for the minister, and consider of land convenient for the planters
to settle on, and for a convenient place for a meeting house to stand on.
Each planter also specified the number of acres he desired in his home
lot, according as he was able and willing to carry on public charges, and
liberty was given for any one to select any particular piece of land he
might desire, otherwise it would be settled " as the lots shall fall by a
lot." The seven wise men selected for this service were the oldest, and,
inferentially, the wisest in the company, viz.: Joseph Griggs, Edward
Morris, Henry Bowen, Sr., John Chandler, Sr., Samuel Craft, Samuel
Scarborough and Jonathan Smithers. Assisted by the thirteen pioneers, and
the surveys they had already accomplished, the work assigned was soon
despatched, and on-Saturday, August 26th, 1686 (old style), the company of
emigrants met on Plaine hill, " in order to draw lots where their home
lots should be."
The seven wise men chosen for laying out and pitching the town, had
decided upon the three locations previously referred to the Plaine hill,"
the "Westward hill " adjacent, and the Eastward vale, now South Woodstock,
and laid out or assigned suitable home lots in each. They had also marked
out and ordered convenient highways, viz.: 1. A highway, eight reds wide,
running along the Plaine (hill'), extending to a brook at the north end of
the eastward vale, running by marked trees; thence southward along the
vale to another brook, six rods wide, with a cross highway four rods wide
about the middle, where it may be most convenient when the lots are laid
out. 2. From the north end of Plaine hill, a highway eight rods wide, to
the east side of the westward hill; thence northward four rods wide and so
on circuiting the hill: which were considered sufficient for present use.
They had also agreed that the meeting house should stand upon the Plaine
hill, and that the lots should begin upon the north end of Plaine hill,
adjacent to Wabbaquasset Hall.
The business of the day was carried forward with much formality and
dignity. It was no common band of emigrants that were laying the
foundations of Woodstock, but leading men from one of the most prominent
and prosperous towns in Massachusetts, whose people were the best that
came over from England. In troublous times, a narrow-minded Catholic bigot
upon the throne of Great Britain, the charter of Massachusetts taken away,
a royal governor imminent, they hoped to find in this distant settlement a
place of refuge from despotic extortion. Thus, with religious ceremonies,
as well as legal formality, they made their distribution. The place of
meeting was doubtless Wabbaquasset Hall. The seven seniors, who had served
as committee, occupied the place of honor. The settlers had ranged
themselves in three bodies, according to their choice in matter of
location, and each company in turn presented itself before the honorable
committee. " Liberty was given to those that desired to sit down on the
Plaine hill, to draw by themselves. Others desiring to sit down in the
eastward vale had liberty to draw for that by themselves," and those
wishing to sit down on the westward hill had the same liberty allowed
them. Four of the elder settlers, who had made choice of particular lots,
then stepped forward and manifested their choice, viz., John Chandler,
Sr., Samuel Scarborough, Samuel Craft, William Lyon, Sr. " Solemn prayer
to God, who is the disposer of all things," was then offered for his
guidance and blessing, followed by the drawing of lots by the three
companies in succession, "every man being satisfied and contented with
God's disposal." Thirty-eight persons received allotments on this
occasion, viz.:
Back to: Woodstock, Windham
County, Connecticut History
Source: History of Windham County, Connecticut,
Bayles, Richard M.; New York: W.W. Preston, 1889 Back to: Windham County, Connecticut
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