No. 6. Early Records of the East Windsor Church,..... 869 ERRATA, xiv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 1. Frontispiece, the old Allyn House, and Residence of Mr. H. S. Hayden, on Broad Street Green, Windsor. 2. Map illustrative of the Indian Purchases of Ancient Windsor, Conn.,. . . . . 3. Plan of the Ancient Palisado Plot in Windsor,. 4. Plan of Ancient Windsor, 1640-1654,.. 5. View of the Old Stone Fort,. 6. View of the Old Moore House,. 7. Portrait of Hon. John M. Niles,.. Page. .. 103 121 123 155 486 725 OLD AND NEW STYLE. Before 1752, the year began March 25th (called Lady Day); although in Catholic countries, after 1582, it commenced January 1st. Hence, between January and March, it was common to double-date. The difference between the Julian and Gregorian year in the 18th century, was 11 days; after 1800, it was 12, which is to be added to any date in the Old Style to reduce it to the New. 427, By an error of arrangement, three colored soldiers are entered under the head of the Prior family. " 798, "814, "817, "818, 66 43, "Haylas, read Hylas; p. 795, line 3, same. 66 3 and 4, for Gurdy, read Gowdy. 66 9, Mary Roberts, wife of John, jr. (1), was probably the wife of John (5), 23d 66 1, Nathem, read Nathan. Ann (line 5), Mr. Ebenezer (line 6) and Ebenezer, jr. (line 7), should properly come under the head of Wardwell; and the name of Abigail Warham belongs at end of Warham record below. The date of Jane, 2d wife of Rev. Mr. Warham, should be April 23, 1645; Mrs. Abigail Branker was his 3d wife. 36, read first female child that was born in Hartford. 824, 35, for No. 1, read No. 2. 823, "842, The heading of Appendix No. 1, should be Sir Richard Saltonstall's letter, etc. Frog Hall, mentioned in note to p. 112, was a strip of land about a mile in length, north of Ketch Mills, lying partly in East Windsor, and partly in Ellington, and is, or was, a distinct school district. Soil, originally low, poor and swampy, which probably gave it its name. HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR. CHAPTER I. FROM THE DISCOVERY OF THE CONNECTICUT TO THE SETTLEMENT OF THOU HAST BROUGHT A VINE OUT OF EGYPT; THOU HAST CAST OUT THE HEATHEN, AND PLANTED IT. THOU PREPAREDST ROOM BEFORE IT, AND DIDST CAUSE IT TO TAKE DEEP ROOT, AND IT FILLED THE LAND. THE HILLS WERE COVERED WITH THE SHADOW OF IT, AND THE BOUGHS THEREOF WERE LIKE THE GOODLY CEDARS. SHE SENT OUT HER BOUGHS UNTO THE SEA, AND HER BRANCHES UNTO THE RIVER.-Psalm, lxxx, 8-11. The commencement of our history dates back, more than two centuries, Two centuries back, when this fair State was wrapped In forests like a boundless leafy robe. When, "hither, to yon all uncultur'd vales, Where roam'd the Indian tribes in lordly state, The patient Hollander's exploring sails Furl'd the worn wing, and pour'd the living freight." For to the Dutch undoubtedly belongs the honor of the first discovery and occupation of the Connecticut Valley. In 1614, when Nieuw Amsterdam was but a feeble settlement of a few months uncertain growth, Adriaen Block, Hendrik Corstiaensen, and Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, all experienced captains in the Dutch merchant service, commenced an exploration of the Great River of the Manhattans. At the very outset of the voyage, however, Block's vessel was burned. But, nothing daunted, he speedily constructed, on the wild and rocky shores of Manhattan Island, a small yacht of 16 tons, which he named the Onrust, or Restless. In this vessel he explored the East River, which he named Helle Gat, established the insular nature of Long Island, and passing along the northern shore of the sound, discovered the Housatonic River, and the Norwalk Islands. Eastward of these, he came to the mouth of a large stream flowing from the northwest, which he ascended as high as 41 deg. 48 min. (about half way between the present towns of Hartford and Windsor), where he found an Indian village or fort, belonging to the Nawaas. Upon this stream, which he named the Fresh River, better known to us as the Connecticut, he seems to have made no further explorations; but returning to the Sound, coasted along to Cape Cod, where he met his friend, Captain Corstiaensen. Mey, meanwhile, had been exploring the Atlantic Coast south of Manhattan Island. 3 2 The discoveries thus made opened to the adventurous merchants of Holland large and inviting channels of trade, in beaver skins and furs, especially with the Indians of the north, which they were by no means slow to see and improve. The Dutch West India Company was formed in 1621, and as the settlement of Nieuw Amsterdam, under its fostering care, gradually increased in size and permanence, so their commercial relations expanded and brightened. Their traders traversed the trackless forests, or paddled their light canoes along silent rivers, and visited the redman in his wigwam. The little fort at Manhattan was never free from stately Indian chiefs, whom the desire of barter, and the fame of fair dealings, had tempted thither; while an 1 O'Callaghan, Hist. of New Netherland, 1, 73. 2 Probably an error of pronunciation and spelling. 3 In the Indian tongue Quonektacut-meaning as some say the long river ; but according to others the River of Pines, in allusion to the pine forests which once stood on its banks. |