1

60 rods long. Its west line extended northward 69 rods, along the brow of the hill west of the burying ground. Its east line ran along the brow of the Meadow Hill, 80 rods northward; and its north line ran across from hill to hill near the present residence of Mrs. Giles Ellsworth, and was 50 rods in length.

When the first palisado was built, those who had their homelots within its limits, resigned their title for the benefit of the whole community. Matthew Grant, for instance, says that he originally had six acres, but resigned it all up except where his buildings stood. This was the case with others. The following plan of the palisado was drawn in 1654, by Matthew Grant, who

was at that time recorder. He thus discourses concerning it: "And seeing I am entered into the palisado, I will speak a little of the original of it; about 1637 years, when the English had war with the Pequot Indians, our inhabitants on Sandy

1 Along the south side of the passage leading from the meeting-house to the burying ground, are now to be seen the remains of a ditch, believed to have been a part of the south line of the fortification.

Bank gathered themselves nearer together from their remote dwellings, to provide for their safety, set upon fortifying, and with palizado, which [land] some particular men resigned up out of their properties for that end, and [it] was laid out into small parcels, to build upon; some four rods in breadth, some five, six, seven, some eight-it was set out after this manner.1

These building places were at first laid out of one length, that was sixteen rods, but differ [in breadth] as afores. Also on all sides within the outmost fence, there was left two rods in breadth for a common way, to go round within side the Palizado," to the rear of the building lots. This left an open space in the centre (marked W in the plan) nearly 20 rods wide and 30 rods long.

When peace was again restored, "divers men left their places [in the Palisado] and returned to their lots [outside] for their conveniences. Some that staid (by consent of the town) enlarged their gardens. Some had 2, some 3, some 4, plats to their own propriety, with the use of the two rods in breath round the outside, every one according to his breadth, only with this reserve concerning the two rods, that if in future time there be need of former fortification, to be repaired, that then each man should resign up the two aforesd two rods for a way only for common use. Note, that in the west corner of the aforesd plot there is reserved for a common Burying Ground, one particular parcel that is six rods in breadth, all the length on one side, and one end take it together, it is eight rod in breadth, and eighteen in length."

It will be recollected that this plan shows the division of lots and names of owners seventeen years after the Pequot war. We purpose to show its distribution and inhabitants previous to 1654.

Our plan of arrangement in the following chapter is as follows: 1st. The name of the first owner, so far as the records show, of each home lot. 2dly. The place of his nativity in England, and the date of his arrival in New England, as far as we can ascertain; together with the time of his arrival in Wind

1 Here in the record the foregoing plan is inserted.

sor. 3dly. Notes or memorandum relative to subsequent sales and purchasers of the same property.

Starting, then, from the Burying Ground in the south-west corner of the Palisado we find the lots of

FRANCIS GIBBS. Probably from Devonshire, where the name is common. Was a first comer at Dorchester.

THOMAS BASSETT. Came to Windsor with Mr. Stiles's party, 1635, afterwards removed to Fairfield.

WILLIAM HILL. An early settler at Dorchester, where he had land granted Nov. 2, 1635. He probably did not come to Windsor with the first company.

Lieut. DAVID WILTON. Probably came to Dorchester in 1633, thence to Windsor — from here he removed "from Windsor Church to go to Northampton to help to further a church there the beginning March 25, and now Feby. the 6, 1667 he was b[uried] here in Windsor, he died the day before" (Old Church Record). He bought out the lots of his neighbors, Hill, Gibbs and Bassett, prior to 1654, when his name appears as sole proprietor on Grant's Plan of the Palisado. He made a contract in 1651 with the town, to keep the burying ground properly cleared and fenced, &c. The present First Congregational Church, probably stands near the south line of his lot, a little east of the middle of it.

These lots cover the ground now occupied by the new part of the burying ground; the First Congregational Church; and the residence of Henry Sill, Esq. Next to them on the land now occupied by the road to the bridge, the residence of the Misses Stiles, &c., were the lots of

Sgt. WALTER FYLER. Probably at Dorchester in 1630. His well is still in existence on the lot occupied by the Misses Stiles.

THOMAS THORNTON. Was at Dorchester probably as early as 1630 was one of the keepers of cows for that town in 1635. Sold his lot to John Strong, who lived there in 1654. (See Palizado Plan.) This property is now owned by