History of the Town of Plymouth, Connecticut, with an account of the centennial celebration, May 14 and 15, 1895. Also a sketch of Plymouth, Ohio, settled by local families

Front matter

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PLYMOUTH CONNECTICUT WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE Centennial Celebration May 14 and 15, 1895. Also a Sketch of Plymouth, Ohio Settled by Local Families. ■*• COMPILED BY FRANCIS ATWATER. ->'_' Printed, Illustrated and Bound by THE JOURNAL PUBLISHING COMPANY MERIDEN. CONN. I895- PLYMOUTH TRAINING GROUND. From a Drawing loaned by George Langdon. PREFATORY WORDS. PHIS book is hereby taken possession of for the insertion of a few Prefatory Words, to be spoken, independently of him whose production it is, to you whom it cordially greets, as, honoringit with your attention, you are now about to turn its pages, and aided by the illustrations which embellish it, peruse with more or less care its record of the people and the times that have been in this ancient town. When residents of Plymouth made known their purpose to observe with appropriate celebration, upon May 14 and is, 1S9S, the first centennial ofthe setting oft" of the town, among many to whom this intelligence was of great interest was one, who, born and reared till the period of youth in the town, had then gone elsewhere, an orphan boy, to seek, or rather under God to make his fortune, and after varied experience in the remote West as well as in the East had at length won his way to become the head of a leading publishing house located in one of the cities of Connecticut.

Cherishing with fond and grateful affection the memories of his early years he recognized in the projected celebration an opportunity of rendering a tribute of filial regard to his native town. Hardly had the wish sprung up within him, akin to that which "heaved the breast" of the peasant poet of Scotland, "That 1, lor poor auld Scotland's sake, Some usefu1 plan or book could make," before it matured into the purpose, which at length materialized in the result of a Souvenir History of Plymouth, a quarto volume of ninety-one pages, which appeared fresh from the press on the day of the Centennial celebration, and was one of the most appropriate and pleasing features of that memorable occasion. It had been accepted in advance as the only authorized publication of the sort in connection with the day; and a thousand copies were donated to the town to aid in defraying the expenses incidental to the celebration.

But the compiler having collected much valuable information beyond what entered into the Souvenir History in its original form, could not be content with so limited a publication ; neither was he willing that a work which ot necessity had been hurriedly produced, with unavoidable errors detracting from its value, should be the finality of his endeavors to hand on to the future a volume which should be at once a contribution to the history of his native town, and a memorial of the first centennial celebration of its organization. It was in his purpose also that the book in its ultimate scope should include a full account of the centenary. Accordingly he regarded the volume issued at that time as a provisional publication pre paratoryto one more complete and accurate which should follow it at the earliest practicable date.

Introduction

. pHE history of the Town of Plymouth herewith presented is as near complete as can now be obtained. The early period is not as thoroughly covered as one could wish from the fact that the traditional circumstances handed down cannot at this late day be verified. The town recouls in the first vears were loosely kept and afford meagre information, while to go still further back to those of Watertown and Waterburv, of which towns Plymouth was formerly a part, it is impossible to define strictly the portions relating to Northbury parish as it was then known. The author, however, in the matter now presented, has taken great pains to have the details as near correct as it is possible to get them. The Souvenir History published as a feature of the Centennial Celebration of the incorporation of the town May 14 and [5, 1S9S, contained considerable here reprinted, but as it was accompanied with the request that any errors or omissions be corrected by those interested, it is pre sumed as the book now goes forth the facts can be relied upon.

It is to be regretted that only the fragmentary history of the ancient parish of Northbury in revolutionary times can be col lated. It is known that several of her loval sons gained honor able distinction of which mention is made, that many others participated of whom no trace exists, and that the material facts which would be of great interest to the descendants of these soldiers, have been lost sight of and are beyond recall. This parish can claim one honor, however, that no other is entitled to, in being the birthplace of the last pensioner of the revolutionary war. A feature of this volume which will be found interesting isa sketch of Plymouth, Ohio, settled by former well known residents of this town, the descendants of whom now number some 400 or 500, many of whom still reside there.

There are other towns in Ohio called Plymouth, and to designate one from the other the one referred to has been named East Plymouth by the post office authorities. The book is given up largely to biographical sketches and portraits, as it is due to the genius, skill and enterprise of the townspeople that Plymouth lays claim to such a grand historic career which every son and daughter may glorify and feel proud of. It was here that Eli Terry developed his wonderful inven tions which made American clock-making what it is to-day. The names of Seth Thomas, Silas Hoadlev, Chauncey Jerome, and Hiram Camp, all former residents of Plymouth, have since become famous in this line. In the past century the business has grown to vast proportions, and millions upon millions of clocks have gone forth from Connecticut alone.

Other names deserving ofthe highest praise are those of James Terry and Sereno Gay lord, who it is safe to say, were the successful founders of the cabinet and trunk lock business in this country. The local com pany, which has grown to be a vast concern, owes its prosperity entirely to their forethought, perseverance and integrity. The author, knowing of how much importance Plymouth has been to the country, has undertaken to preserve so much of its history as is now available, trusting, as the years go by that it will be appreciated and valued for its intrinsic worth.

Chapter I. The Town Of Plymouth

Act os Incorporation, Describing the Boundary Lines and the Stipulations to be Abided By— Disposition of the Poor of the Old Town— List of Incorporators— Grand List— First Officers-Full List of Representatives, Judges of Probate and Town Clerks. THE town of Plymouth was first made distinct as the societv of Northbury in 17S0, when it was incorporated with the society of Westbury under the name of Watertown, both societies being set oft' from Waterbury. In 1795 Northbury was set oft" as a town by itself, called Plymouth, under the following act of the legislature : At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, holden at Hartford, in said State, on the second Thursday of A/ar, Anno Dom., rygj : Upon the memorial of the inhabitants ofthe town of Water town, showing to the Assembly that the said town and the same as now incorporated, including the parishes of Westbury and Northbury, and a part of the parish of Northfield, extends from east to west, on the north adjoining on Harwinton and Litchfield, about ten miles and a half; and from north to south, adjoining west on Woodburv and Bethlehem, about eight miles ; and from west to east, adjoining on the south on Waterbury, about nine miles; and from south to north, adjoining east on Bristol, about five miles and a half; and that the same is so situated that it is very inconvenient to do this town business owing to the badness of the roads, length of the way, and other inconveniences, and also showing that the situation of said town and their amount in the list are sufficient to entitle them to be incorporated into two distinct towns, and that they are willing to be restricted to one representative from each town at the General Assembly, praying for relief as per memorial on file.

Resolved, bv this Assembly, that all the land lying in the limits of said Watertown, west of the river Naugatuck, and IIISTOKY OF PLYMOUTH. South Street, Plymouth. Main Street, Plymouth. Winter Scene. South Street. Plymouth. THE TOWN OF PLYMOUTH. 9 southwest of the west branch of said river, and the inhabitants within the said limits, shall retain the said name of Watertown, and shall have and retain all the books of records belonging to said towns, and shall have and retain all the privileges insistant to any other town in this State, except only that said town shall hereafter send but one Representative to the General Assembly ol this State, and that the said town of Watertown shall hereafter support all the poor who resided within its limits on the 15th day of May, A. D., 1795, except one Mable Ludington, of said Watertown — and that all the lands l)ing within limits of the original town of Watertown, east of the river Naugatuck and northeast of the west branch of said river, and the inhabitants living within those limits, be incorporated into a distinct town by the name of Plymouth, with all the privileges and under the same regulations of any other in this State, except only that said town last mentioned shall hereafter send but one Representative to the General Assembly of this State, and that said town of Plymouth shall hereafter maintain all the poor who resided within its limits on the 5th of instant May and also maintain the said Mable Ludington, and the now town of Watertown shall maintain all the bridges within its limits, and also all bridges across the west branch of said river Naugatuck, and that the said town of Plymouth shall maintain all the bridges within its limits except the bridges across said west branch.

And that the new town of Watenown shall pay to the said town of Plymouth, agreeable to stipulation by them heretofore made, the sum of eighty-seven pounds, ten shillings, lawful money, to be made in two equal payments, the one-half to be paid in four months from the rising of this Assembly, and the remainder to be paid in one year from the expiration of said four months, and the whole which remains unpaid at the end of said four months to be on interest from that time until paid, and that the said town ol Ply mouth shall have a town meeting on or before the lotli day of July next, to choose town officers for the said town, which said town meeting shall be warned by a warrant signed by David Smith, Esq., posted on the public sign-post in said town, at least five days before holding said meeting, and the said David Smith, Esq., shall be moderator of said meeting, and said town shall then and there proceed to appoint a Town Clerk and other town officers for said town, who shall continue in office until the 14th day of December, or until others are chosen in their room, and that all the debts and credits of said original town of Water town shall be equally divided between the said new town of Watertown and Plymouth, according to their respective lists in the A. D., 1794; and whereas.

Samuel Hickcox, Jr., and Boadice Williams, who now resides within the limits of the present town of Watertown. were not taken into consideration in the division ofthe poor of the original town of Watertown, it is to be understood that if said Samuel Hickcox, or both the said Samuel and the said Boadice Williams shall necessarily become chargeable to the respective towns to which thev belong, the expense of their support, while so chargeable, is to be paid by the said new towns in proportion to the respective lists of their polls and rateable estate, but if the said Boadice Williams shall become necessarily chargeable and the said Samuel shall not be so chargeable, then the new town of Watertown shall be at the whole expense of the support of the said Boadice Williams, while so chargeable. A true copy of records examined by George Wyllys, Secretary.

The foregoing is entered agreeable to an attest and copy of the records ofthe General Assembly by J. A. WRIGHT, Town Clerk. The list of incorporators were as follows, including a few female tax payers David Adkins. Timothy Atwater Ebenezer Ailing James Ailing. John Ailing. John Atwater. Solomon Ailing. Justice Andrus. Daniel Adkins. Ambrose Averit. Eli Barnes. Ebenezer Barnes. Joseph Barnes. Eliphalet Barnes. Isaac Barnes. Caleb Barnes. Dan Barnes. Zopher Barnes. Ambrose Barnes. Daniel and Isaac Bartholomew. Eliasaph Barker. (This person is probable the same as 'Ambrose Avery" in 1795). Samuel Alcox. Silas Booth. Abel Baldwin. Eli Baldwin. Amos Avery. Amos Blakslee. Moses Blakslee. Gad Blakslee Abner Blakslee Thaddeus Baldwin. Gilbert Beach. Asahel Bradley. Ebenezer Bradley, Sr. Zachariah Beckwith.

Noah M. Bronson. Abner Blakslee, Jr. Mica jah Blakslee. Asher Blakslee. Asher Blakslee, Jr. Samuel Blakslee. Jared Blakslee. Amos Bronson. Amos Bronson, Sr. Ambrose Bunnell. Hezekiah Bunnell. Titus Bunnell. Adna Blakslee. David Blakslee. Eli Blakslee. Joel Blakslee. Salmon Blakslee. Micah Blakslee. Jude Blakslee. Bela Blakslee. Nathaniel Barnes. Nathaniel E. Barnes. John Brown, Sr. Hezekiah Brown. Ebenezer Bailey. Stephen Brainard. Levi Baskets. Miles Curtis. Zadoc Curtis. Isaac Curtis. Jesse Curtis. Elihu Curtis. INCORPORATORS OF PLYMOUTH. 11 Oliver Curtis. Samuel Curtis. Benjamin Curtis. Arba Cook. Lemuel Cook. Abijah Fenn. Lyman Fenn. Elisha Frost. Elijah Fenton. Ebenezer Goss. Justice Cook. Samuel Camp. Ephraim Camp. Isaac Camp. Benajah Camp. Elam Camp. Riverus Carrington. Ebenezer Cowles.

Moses Cowles. Ira Gaylord. Cyrus Gaylord. Lemming Gaylord. Samuel Gilbert. Solomon Griggs. Paul Griggs. Hosea Gridley Benoni Hough. Zachariah Hitchcock- Reuben Culver. Daniel Culver. Amasa Castle. Abel Clark. Nathaniel Hall. Benjamin Hall. Jacob Hall. Zacheus How. Joseph Clark. Jehiel Clark. William Crosby. Jere Cooper. Dana Dunbar. Aaron Dunbar. Miles Dunbar. David Dunbar. Amos Dunbar. Joel Dunbar. Abraham Heaton. Abraham and Jacob wav. Heming- Benjamin Hickcox. Joel Hickcox. Asahel Hickcox. Seaman Hickcox. James Hill. David Humiston. Jesse Humiston. Ashbel Humiston. Jonathan Dunbar. Enos Dutton. Eliasaph Doolittle. Ebenezer Darrow, Jr. Asa Darrow. Seth Hungerford. Benjamin Hull. Ira Hull. Eliphalet Hartshorn. Gains Hills. Titus Darrow. Ezra Dodge. Ira Dodge. Elnathan Ives. Robert Jerom. Eldad Jerom.

Timothv Jones. Esther Johnson. Chandler Johnson. Harvey Judd. Elijah Jordan. Brainard Lindslev. Thomas and William Thomas Dutton, Jr. John Fancher. Ithiel Fancher. Ebenezer Ford Amos Ford. Enos Ford. Daniel Ford. Samuel Fenn. Lattin. Samuel Fenn, Jr. Jesse Fenn. Oliver Loomis. Isaiah Loomis. Samuel Lewis. Jason Fenn. Jacob Fenn. Aaron Fenn Eber Fenn. Isaac Fenn. David and Jonathan ton. Luding Joel Langdon. Benoni Moss. William Munson. Gershom Fenn. Old Graveyard, Plymouth. Thomaston Reservoir, on Plymouth Hill Falls at Greystom Plymouth THE TOWN OF PLY-MOUTH. 13 Obadiah Munson. Isaac Miller Samuel Sanford. Samuel Sanford, Jr. James Shelton. David Shelton. Thomas Merchant Thomas Merchant, Jr. Zebulon Mosier. Ziba Seymour. Abel Seymour. Stephen Sevmour. Amos Seymour. Gideon Seymour Selah Seymour.

Titus Seymour. John Sutlifl". Abel Sutlifl". Daniel Mead. Mead Merrills. Daniel Mills. Isaac Morris. Lydia Matthews. Caleb, Jr., and Simeon Matthews. Gideon Northrop. Joseph Northrop. John Osborn. Abner Osborn. Samuel Pardee. Stephen Pardee. Samuel Potter. Jacob Potter. Lucas Sutlifl". David Sutlifl". Samuel Sutlifl". Samuel Thomas. James Thomas. Edmund Thompkins. Edmund Todd. Samuel and Oliver Todd. Samuel Tuttle. Zenas Potter. Thomas Potter. Lake Potter. Ira Potter. Lemuel Tuttle. Bostwick Tuttle. William Tuttle. Eliakim Potter. Daniel Potter. John Painter. Thomas W. Painter. Lent Parker. Ozias Tyler and Ozias Tyler, Jr Victor}- and Beach Tomlinson Bethuel Turner. Jesse Turner. Amzi Talmage. Eli Terry. Noah Upson. Reuel Upson. Ashbel Upson. Anna Upson. Noah Warner. Lyman Warner. John Warner.

John Warner, Jr. James Warner. Chauncey Warner. Elijah Warner. Joseph Warner. Benjamin Warner. Aaron Warner. Jonathan Pond. Caleb Preston. Noah Preston. Jesse Penfield. Samuel Royce. David Royce. Jacob Royce. Samuel Reynolds. Daniel Rovve. James Smith. David Smith. Aaron Smith. Lemuel Sperry. Jesse Scovil Sele Scovii. Selden Scovil. Eleazer Scovil. Oliver Stoughton. Thankful Sanford. Anna Sanford Ozias Warner Thomas Way. Samuel Way. Eli Welton." Anna and Asa Welton. Aner VVoodin. Eli Sanford. Jesse Sanford. Joel and Eli Sanford. Jesse Woodin. Eri Woodin. Gideon Woodruff. John Williams. Obed Williams. Jesse Weed. Joseph A. Wright. Ambrose Ward. Antipas Woodward. Samuel Wheadon, Allyn Wells. The following persons are particularly mentioned as tax payers residing outside the town limits: Jonathan J. Truesdell, Bristol.

Abner Wilson, flarwinton. Widow Gaylord, Bristol. Watertown, August 20, 1794- A true Copy of the List of Polls and Rateable Estate, together with the Assessments of the Society of Northbury, as made out by us, the subscribers. Samuel Roy-ce, Lake Potter, r . , , ,, , o r Listers under oath. Aaron Smith, \ Chauncey- Warner, j Sum total of Northbury List, . . £i 1,072-12-3 Additions, ..... 273-1 2-1 Fourfolds, ..... 294 2-0 £11,640- 6-4 December 29, 1794. Sum total of Watertovvn List, . . £24,743-11-3 On the original List the above Certificate precedes the names. FIRST TOWN OFFICERS. Wednesday, June 24, 1795. At a town meeting held agreeable to the resolve of the General Assembly for incorporating the town of Plymouth, of which David Smith, Esq., was appointed Moderator, the fol lowing town officers were appointed, viz. : Joseph Allyn Wright, Town Clerk or Register; Aaron Dunbar, Joseph A. Wright and Abram Weston, Selectmen ; Ozias Tyler, Elisha Frost and Eli Barns, Constables ; Jesse Scovil, Amos Ford and Amzi Talmadge, Grand Jurors; Joseph Allyn Wright, Town Treasurer; Ashbel Upson, Miles Dunbar, Noah Miles Bronson, Robert Jerome, Tythingmen; Elisha Frost, Lake Potter and Chatincey Warner, Listers ; Elisha Frost, Collector of State Taxes; Antipas Woodward, Keeper of the Pound Key; Jude Blakeslee, Sealer of Leather; Antipas Woodward, Sealer of Weights and Measures; Ozias Tyler and Levi Bassett, Com mittee to Remove Encroachments from Highway ; Aaron Dun bar, Town Agent; Timothy Atwater, Jason Fenn, Elias Doo little, Elihu Curtiss, Amos Ford, Jesse Turner, Ozias Tyler, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OF PLYMOUTH.

Gorge. Devil's Backbone, Plymouth. Articles used to Seal Weights and Measures. Supposed to be ioo Years Old. Ephraim Camp, Selah Scovil, Edmond Todd, John Atwater, Noah Warner, James Smith, Eli Welton, Samuel Reynolds and Benjamin Hickcox, Surveyors of Highways; Timothy Atwater and Aaron Fenn, Fence Viewers. Voted, That the Selectmen be a committee to settle the account of debts and credit of the old town of Watertown between the present town of Watertown and Plymouth. Voted, That the time of holding the annual town meeting in this town be at nine o'clock in the morning of the second Mon day in December. Voted, That this meeting be dismissed. Test., J. A. WRIGHT, Town Clerk. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TOWN. While Northbury (now Plymouth) was a part of Watertown, it appears that one of the two representatives was from North bury.

The legislature held two sessions each year, one in May and one in October, and there were two elections in each year. The name of D;ivid Smith appears frequently in the list of representatives from Watertown. His titles on the record are Mr., Major, and Colonel. He is known bv tradition as General. He lived in the house Mrs. Curtiss now occupies, and had a store near by. David Smith, 1796, 1797. Lake Potter, 179S. Daniel Potter, 1799, 1S00. David Smith, 1S01. Elijah Warner, Jr., 1S31. Si his Hoadley, 1S32. Elijah Warner, Jr., 1S33. Eli Potter, 1S34-5-6. Sihis Hoadley, 1S37. Tertius D. Potter, 1S3S, 1S39. Apollos Warner, 1S40. John S. Warner, 1S42. Heman Welton, 1S43. Henry Terry, 1S44. Barnabas W. Root, 1S4:;. Silas B. Terry, 1S46. Levi B. Heaton, 1847, lS4$- John C. Lewis, speaker, 1849.

Sereno Gaylord, iS^o. Amiiii Giddings, 18=51. Edward Thomas, 1S52. Silas Hoadley, 18^3. Rollin D. H." Allen, 1854. Lewis F. Grant, 18^5. Animi Giddings, lS^6. Wm. E. McKee. 1857. Noah A. Norton. 1S58. George Langdon, iSs9- James Terry, iSbo. Hiram Pierce, 1S61. Samuel T Salisbury, 1S62. Lake Potter, 1S02. David Smith, 1S03-4-5. Lake Potter, 1S06-7-S. Daniel Potter, 1S09, 1S10. David Smith, 1S1 1. Lake Potter, 1S12, sp'g session. David Smith, iS 12, fall session. Lake Potter, 1S13. Calvin Butler, 1S14. Jacob Hemingway, 1S15. Calvin Butler, 1816, 1S17. Roderick Stanley, Oct., 1S17. Calvin Butler, May, 1S1S. Jacob Hemingway, Oct., 1S1S. Jacob Hemingway, 1S19. Jacob Hemingway, May, 1S20. Gideon Woodruff, Oct.. 1S20. Calvin Butler, 1S21, 1S22. Thomas Mitchell, 1S23, 18:4. Elijah Warner. Jr., 1S25.

Ransom Blakeslee, 1S26, 1S27. Calvin Butler, 1S2S. Samuel Guernsey, 1S29, 1S30. TOWN OFFICERS. Gains A. Norton, 1S63. Seth Thomas, 1S64. Henry Sturgiss, 1865. N. Taylor Baldwin, 1S66. Seth Thomas, 1S67. Aaron P. Fenn, 1868. Edward Dailey, 1869. Thomas J. Bradstreet, 1S70. Lyman D. Baldwin, 1S71. N. Taylor Baldwin, 1S72. George A. Stoughton, 1S73. Randall T. Andrews, 1874. Abijah W. Welton. 1S75. Walter H. Scott, 1S76. " Lyman D. Baldwin, 1S77. Rollin D. H. Allen, 1S7S. Lyman D. Baldwin, 1879. Jason C. Fenn, 1SS0. N. Taylor Baldwin, 1SS1. Enos Blakeslee, 1S82. Timothy B. McNamara, 1SS3. Homer E. Cook, 1SS4. Ira M. Bevans. 1SS5. Edgar L. Pond, 1886. Horace Fenn, 18S7. Willis G. Barton, 1SS9. Wilbert N. Austin, 1S91. Erastus Fenn, 1S93. Henry E. Stoughton, 1S95. JUDGES OF PROBATE. Calvin Butler, 1S33-1S41.

Elisha Johnson, 1S42, 1843. C. R. Butler, 1S44. Henry B. Graves, 1S45. Elisha Johnson, 1S46. Henry B. Graves, 1S47. Barnabas W. Root, 1S4S. Elisha Johnson, 1S49, ! S50. Ammi Giddings, 1S51, 1S52 Elisha Johnson, 1S53. Ammi Giddings, 1854. Aaron D. Wells, 1S55. Ammi Giddings, 1SS6-1S64. V. R. C. Giddings, "1S65-1S6S. Augustus H. Fenn, 1S69, 1S70. Geo. Pierpont, 1S71, 1S72. Augustus H. Fenn, 1S73-1S75. Geo. Pierpont, 1S75. Geo. W. Cole, 1S76. 1S77. Byron Tuttle, 1S7S-1S81. Abijah W. Welton, 1SS2. Byron Tuttle. 1SS4, iSSS, 1S91. Horace Fenn, 1S91. Jason C. Fenn, 1893-1895. TOWN CLERKS. Elisha Johnson, 1S53. Barnabas W. Root, 1S54. Ammi Giddings, lSs6. V. R. C. Giddings, 1865.* Augustus H. Fenn.f Joseph A. Wright, 1795-iSi^ Calvin Butler, 1S15-1S35. Edwin Talmadge, 1S3WS3S. Calvin Butler, 1S3S, 1S39.

Egbert T. Butler, 1S40. Calvin Butler, 1S41. Calvin R. Butler, 1842. Elisha Johnson, 1S43. Abraham B. Doolittle, 1844. Malcolm N. Butler, 1845. Elisha Johnson, 1S47. Ammi Giddings, 1852. Geo. Pierpont, 1S73. Augustus H. Fenn. 1S74. Geo. Pierpont, 1S75. Edwin M. Talmadge, 1S79. Frederick E. Beach, iSSS. Oscar D. Beach, 1S90. Jason C. Fenn, 1S91-1S95. * Resigned April 5. 1869. + Appointed to fill vacancy, 1S69 Pastoral Scene in Plymouth. Circular Dam, Pequabuck. Wooden Bridge at Thomaston, Recently Demolished.

Chapter II. Early History

The Wilderness of the Naugatuck Valley First Penetrated by a Hunting Party in 1657 -Tunxis Tribe of Indians Original Proprietors-Part of Waterbury, Later Parish of Northbury, and One Hundred Years Ago Incorporated as Town of Plymouth. THE Centennial celebration of the incorporation of the town of Plymouth, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 14 and 15, 1S95, may lead the reader unfamiliar with its history to believe that no settlement of its territory existed prior to 179s- If such an impression should prevail it would be misleading. The landing of the Pilgrims occurred at Plymouth, Mass., in 1620, and in 1634 the first settlement was made in Connecticut. This was at Wethersfield, Windsor and Hartford. In 1640 some of the inhabitants removed to Farmington, being the first in the state to go awav from navigable waters.

As early as 1657 a Pal'ty on a hunting excursion had penetrated the wilderness as far as the Naugatuck valley, making the first known discovery of this territory 24S years ago. The party found what they thought to be a mine of black lead, and applied to the Tunxis tribe of Indians, who were the original proprietors of the town, for the right to work it. which right was conveyed to them in a deed, now recorded in Farmington. This is believed to be the earliest title of the white men to the region. It embraces the entire territory of the town of Plymouth, the traditional site of the lead mine being a little north of the Haiwinton line, on the east side balsa mile back of the highway running past the house of Alfred Cleveland, in the woods. The marks are still apparent of rock-blasting, which could only have been for mining purposes.

There is a spring which from time immemorial has borne the name of the Lead- Mine Spring. No immediate settlement seems to have re sulted from this discovery. The anticipations of wealth to be derived from the mine were not realized and it was abandoned. The original settlement of the valley was begun down the river, at what was first known as Mattatuck, and afterwards as Waterbury. The interval on which that city stands seems not Main Street, Terryville Four Corners, Terryvill< Terry vi lie School Children,. 1860. to have been discovered by white men till some sixteen years after the lead-mine deed was given, the first recorded report of it bearing the date of October 6, 1673. The early history of the town of Waterbury, in which Plymouth was originally included, has been full}- written and need not be repeated here.

Suffice it to say that the General Court, upon the report of its "viewing" committee, granting the petition of the Farmington people, authorized "the settin of a plantation at Mattatuck," and appointed a committee "to regu late and order it." This the committee proceeded to do. Articles of association and agreement, bearing the date of June 6, 1674, were drawn up and signed by the proposed settlers. A site was selected for the village ; and after a delay of three years, caused by the great Indian war of New England, known as " King Philip's war," in 1677 a settlement was begun. At the outset, the committee ofthe General Court appointed to superintend the settlement ordered that, "for benefit of Christian duties and defense against enemies," the inhabitants of the new plantation " should settle near together."

Accordingly, prior to the year 1700, all the inhabitants lived in the town center or immediate neighborhood. But as the lands at the center were taken up the new settlers had to find room in the remote parts ofthe town. It is not till 1725 or 173° that there is any trace of settlers in the northern part, and here the history of Plymouth as a distinct community begins. The first settler of the town, so far as known, was Henry Cook. He came with a family about 172S and had a farm on the west bank of the river not far from the Litchfield boundary. He was the grandson of Henry Cook of Salem. Mass . before 1640. He had a grandson Lemuel, who was one of the last pensioners on the roll of the Revolutionary war, and who lived to be over 102 years old. John Sutlifl' appears to have been the next settler.

He came with a family from Branford about 1730 and built on the west side of the river on what is known as the West Branch. These two men are mentioned in a vote of the town of Canterbury, December 14, 1730, providing outside schools, as living at "Wooster Swamp," a term by which :ill the northern and northwestern part of the town was designated. Mr. Sutlifl" was a leading man in all the early history of the new community. After him came Thomas Blakeslee, North bury's first "captain," an office in that day second in rank and honor onlv to that of minister ; Isaac Castle from Westbury ; Barnabas Ford, the chief land owner, from Wallingford ; Gideon Allen from Guilsord ; John Humaston from North Haven ; Eben ezer Ricbason from Canterbury; Samuel Towner, Ebenezer Elwell, Jonathan Foot and others.

These were called "up river" or "northern people," by the inhabitants of the center of the town, and they soon began to organize as a distinct com munity. In all the early New England tjvvns the first movements toward distinct organization were in the direction of church Old Carriage Shop, Plymouth Hill. Plymouth Hill School House. rFirst'.Iron Bridge Over he Naugatuck privileges. The earliest organization was ecclesiastical. The first public body organized was the chinch. The first public building erected was the meeting house. The first public officer provided for was the minister. As an old writer says: " In the first settlement of New England, when the people judged their number competent to obtain a minister, they then severally seated themselves, but not before, it being as unnatural lor a New England man to live without the minister as for a smith to work his torge without a fire."

The earliest history of Plymouth therefore, is the history of the church. No sooner had the "northern" inhabitants become numerous and strong enough to do something independ ently for themselves than they began to move for independent religious provision, to which by law they were required to pay taxes for the minister's support. At first, in 1732, they joined themselves with the northwestern inhabitants, now Watertown, in the endeavor to obtain independent "winter privileges" — that is the privilege of hiring a minister to preach among them during the winter months, with exemption during the period from parish rates at the center. Soon after the settlement west of the river, settlers began to locate on the hills east, and before long the west side settlers found it for their advantage to combine with their east side brethren and the united sections began to act together as one community.

In 1737 they opened their campaign for independence. In October of that year, Henry Cook, Ebenezer Elwell and Samuel Towner, on the ground of their living so far from the meeting house, requested the town to allow them and others to hire preaching the ensuing winter and to abate their parish rates while they should thus hire. The town curtly voted "to do nothing in the case." Two years later, September 27, 1736, Thomas Blakeslee, Henry Cook, Jonathan Cook, John How, Jonathan Foot, John Sutlifl", Jr., Samuel Towner, Samuel Frost, Barnabas Ford, Ebenezer Elwell, Gideon Allen, Isaac Castle, Daniel Curtis, and John Humaston, fourteen in number, united in a touching appeal to the town. The appeal did not prevail. The petitioners did not give up. Indeed it seems from some after action that the town at this meeting did take some action in their favor.