104- 
 
 H3"R8 
 
Glass. 
 Book 
 
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 ^c-^-iy. 
 
 a 
 
 P. REGK". in 1 525 
 
 By GURDON W. RUSSELL, M. D. 
 
 

p-B-ii 
 
 
 
"Up Neck" 
 
 IN 
 
 1825 
 
 BY 
 
 gurdon w. Russell, m. d. 
 
 HARTFORD 
 
 1890 
 
X s s 
 3 > ' 
 
 j = » 
 
 t S- ■? s 
 
 ® 
 
 
 
 
 R O 
 
 K D 
 
 T O 
 
 W 
 
 I 
 
 N 
 
 D 
 
 S 
 
 o 
 
 R 
 
 1 
 
 Gurdon Wads 
 
 o John H. Lur<l 
 Moses Burr 
 
 > Leonard Keni 
 Rope Walk, T 
 ■ Benj. Pratt 
 n I,. Kennedy's Sho| 
 
 o T. Belden's Storel 
 
 y. 
 
 g 
 
 TJ 
 
 H 
 ar o 
 
 D O D ST.\ Ml A.RSI S 
 
 o Thos. Marvin, Sh 
 a Old Alms House. 
 
 o John Goodwin. 
 o Button Factory, 
 o Wo. L. Church. 
 □ George Cook, 
 n Nathan Wadswor 
 
 o Julius Jor 
 
 
 
 3 
 X 
 
 
 | 
 
 c - 
 5' 
 
 D Wm Wadsworth. 
 
 ■j. Aimer Wadswortl 
 o Moses Goodwin. 
 
 c 
 
 rn 
 
 n 
 
 7^ 
 
 CO 
 

 THE CASE, LOCKWOOO A BRAINARD CO., 
 
 PRINTERS AND BINDERS 
 
 HARTFORD, CONN. 
 
INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 "I . /HEN this sketch was promised to Mr. Burr of the Hartford Times, 
 it was expected to consist simply of a map of the road from 
 the present Tunnel to the Windsor Line, with the location and 
 names of the dwellers there in 1825, together with a few pages of manu- 
 script. After it was more seriously considered, it became evident that 
 much more could be said than was at first anticipated, and properly 
 be said too, as being a part of the local history of the town. 
 
 A part of it was read at a meeting of the Connecticut Historical 
 Society on the evening of January nth, and the greater part was 
 published in the Times of January 18th and 29th, February 5th and 19th. 
 A few corrections and some additions have been made since then, 
 and a chapter on the North Meadow has been added. 
 
 G. W. R. 
 
 Hartford, May 15, 1890. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Preliminary, 
 
 II. 
 
 Why Up Neck, ........ 16 
 
 III. 
 
 The Tomlin, ........ 29 
 
 IV. 
 
 The East Side, ........ 33 
 
 V. 
 
 The West Side, ....... 6S 
 
 VI. 
 
 The District School, ....... 90 
 
 VII. 
 
 The North Meadow, 
 
UP NECK IN 1825. 
 
 1. 
 
 PRELIMINARY. 
 
 rTT is proposed to give in this paper a list of household- 
 ers residing on both sides of the road leading to Wind- 
 __ sor during the year 1825. There may be some errors,, 
 but it is believed to be essentially correct, for I knew most 
 of them at the time, except at the extreme northern sec- 
 tion, and have been pretty well acquainted with them 
 since. Valuable assistance has been given by Mr. Henry 
 Keney, Mr. Samuel Mather, Mr. A. E. Burr, Mr. Nathan 
 Starkweather, Miss Margaret Goodwin, and others ; and all 
 agree upon this list as now presented. 
 
 As far as I know there are not many of these people 
 living, and but few of their direct descendants in this 
 town. It is a striking illustration of the decay or removal 
 of families which will find its example elsewhere. We in 
 Hartford often talk of our old families, as if they were 
 still represented here with „us, but not many extend be- 
 yond three generations. If we go over the whole town, 
 the number will be found so small that we shall confess 
 our astonishment. A single representative or so may still 
 linger, but most of them are gone. Look at the old 
 public records, or even in the early newspapers, and there 
 will be found unusual or unfamiliar names. It is the 
 same all over the State, and new blood has come in, from 
 other towns or from abroad, to supply their places. 
 
8 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 While two-thirds of a century is sure to make great 
 changes, there must be some now living who can 'give us 
 Hartford as it was in 1825, in other sections ; the south 
 end, the west part of the town, Cooper Lane, and Albany- 
 Turnpike, should have its historians. It is hoped that 
 some will attempt this, for these reminiscences are always 
 interesting and valuable, as a delineation of our domestic 
 life and manners. 
 
 It has often occurred to me, and doubtless to others, 
 that there were more instances of decidedly personal 
 characteristics in former generations, than in our own. 
 The population was smaller than now, and communication 
 with one another was much less. There grew up in the 
 little republics of the Colony or State a race of men who 
 were obliged to think for themselves, and who did think 
 for themselves; and so they became bold, independent 
 characters, odd at times, and obstinate. There were no 
 newspapers, or but few of them, to formulate and estab- 
 lish their opinions as now ; they were resolute, and dis- 
 cussed their various matters with great freedom, in the 
 town, in the religious society, in the school district. Most 
 of them could talk with vigor, better than they could 
 write with elegance. If this .led to great diversity of 
 opinion, it produced an independence of thought and a 
 positiveness of expression ; their oddity was the natural 
 6utcome of their surroundings. 
 
 In 1825 the city line on the north extended no farther 
 than Belden's Lane ; the stone which marked this limit 
 was on the east side of the Windsor road, in front of 
 Belden's store. The road itself was the common highway 
 to the north, and was in the usual condition of most 
 highways at that time, very muddy at certain seasons, 
 and very dusty at others. The tax-payers brought gravel 
 from Blue Hills and endeavored to improve it, with about 
 as much benefit as usually comes when they are allowed 
 to " work out their taxes." Whenever I pass the gravel 
 pit, I never fail to remember the several loads procured 
 
Preliminary. 9 
 
 there and dumped just above the Arsenal. Though too 
 young- to load the cart, yet I could drive the oxen, and 
 see that it was carried where it was wanted. For this 
 purpose a boy of ten years was as good as a man of 
 thirty. 
 
 Although in this sketch, for the printer's convenience, 
 the road is represented as straight, yet this was not abso- 
 lutely so, for there were several small curves in it, and 
 the trend was to the east. While in general it held to 
 the high ground, yet it did not always do so, for there 
 was a low place opposite the "Pool" lot, which was 
 nearly reached by the spring freshet ; and another at the 
 entrance to the Meadow road which was covered by 
 very high water in the spring. This has now been raised, 
 but within thirty years I have been obliged to go over 
 the high ground in the lots on the west. 
 
 The first milestone was in front of the old almshouse, 
 nearly opposite the present gate of the North Cemetery ; 
 the second one was, and is now standing, just south of 
 the residence of Charles Mather ; the third is south of 
 the "creek" which crosses the road near the old Red 
 Tavern, which has lately been pulled down. The line 
 dividing the towns of Hartford and Windsor crosses the 
 road south of the house of Samuel Mather on the west, 
 and turning, runs just north of the old John Marsh house 
 on the east ; some say it passes through it. All distances 
 were computed from the State House, the present City 
 Hall, so that the route to be described is a little more 
 than two miles in length. It was pretty thickly settled ; 
 most of the houses were old, and a large number have 
 now disappeared. Some were painted white, and some 
 had been painted red, and not a few were perfectly inno- 
 cent of paint, having acquired that soft brown color 
 which Downing so much admired and did so much to 
 introduce some years ago. 
 
 This road was the great road to the north country ; 
 there was none other laid out or traveled between this 
 
io Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 one and the river on the east. To be sure, there was 
 the road in the meadow, beginning at the foot of Village 
 Street, where it crossed the creek bridge and ran north 
 through the meadows for two miles or more, until it 
 turned directly to the west and came out on the Windsor 
 road, just south of George Wadsworth's. There were no 
 houses on this road, unless it was a small, gambrel-roofed 
 one near the creek bridge, and a very dilapidated and 
 uninhabited one thirty rods or so north of it. This last 
 was used as a barrack or hospital for soldiers in the war 
 of 181 2. It stood just above the present ice-houses, near 
 the water, and was a terror to all little boys who came 
 out of the meadow alone, near sun-down, with a load of 
 hay. I can answer for one who whipped up the oxen 
 and drove past as rapidly as possible. The stories which 
 men told about it, that it was filled with devils and all 
 evil spirits, who were crowding at the windows and crawl- 
 ing in the chimneys, were enough to fill a small boy's 
 heart with terror. We had no doubt about the personality 
 of the devil then. 
 
 The farmers who owned land in the meadow were 
 obliged to take quite a circuitous route ; I know how this 
 was myself, for riding on horseback behind my grand- 
 father, 1 have been over the ground many times. A small 
 boy could not do much towards farming, but he was use- 
 ful in riding a horse in plowing out the corn. It was a 
 combination of business with pleasure, especially agreeable 
 to the boy and very acceptable to him in place of harder 
 work upon the farm, or harder work still in going to 
 school. A few farmers, whose land extended from the 
 Windsor road into the meadow, may have had a private 
 passageway through the swamp, and I think Captain Cook 
 had one, which could be used in dry weather ; but gener- 
 ally there Avas a long swale, mostly covered with wood, 
 and quite wet, called the "Swamp," which prevented much 
 crossing. 
 
 George Cook, the third of that name, tells me that 
 
Preliminary. ir 
 
 there are occasionally found in plowing a number of 
 large stones, of from eight to twelve inches square at the 
 top, which are set in a direct line through the meadow 
 toward Windsor, which are larger than the common 
 merestone used to mark the division of the lands ; and 
 these may indicate the layout of the road used -by the 
 first settlers for a few years, and before the present road 
 to Windsor was opened. If this line is prolonged it leads 
 into the present course of the river, which is annually 
 wearing away the western bank, which formerly was far 
 out in the stream. 
 
 The first settlers very naturally took this way to their 
 brethren in the north. In all probability it was not much 
 wooded ; a great open space must have been here, as 
 level as a western prairie, extending far up the bank of 
 the river, and as far as the swamp on the west, which was 
 thickly covered with wood, as it was sixty years ago. The 
 river bank may have been fringed with willows as at 
 present, together with the river poplar,* and in some 
 places must have been found the white maple and our 
 common elm. Some large specimens of the former were 
 standing not many years since, ancient and beautiful, es- 
 pecially when branching near the ground, and the light 
 under-surface of the leaf was turned upward by the fresh 
 summer breezes which flowed up the valley. But the 
 injury which came to them from the ice, upon the break- 
 ing up of the river in the spring, caused a decay of their 
 trunks upon their northern side, and they became almost 
 hollow, or were rendered wholly so by fires kindled within 
 them. A few may still be found, mere shells of their 
 former grandeur. 
 
 From the swamp on the west of this tract, the wilder- 
 ness must have extended an unknown distance into the 
 country. It was no easy matter to open a road through 
 it ; it was not only difficult, but the time could not then 
 
 * Populus Canadensis, Michaux : supposed by him to be identical with the Cotton- 
 wood of the Western States. 
 
12 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 be spared from work absolutely necessary for subsist- 
 ence, and so, as do the immigrants into any new country, 
 they took the way which was most easy, and which kind 
 nature had provided for them. These meadow lands were 
 used to some extent by the Indians in raising corn, and 
 were well suited to their imperfect means of cultivation. 
 It is not known whether they were burned over by them, 
 to keep down trees and shrubs, but naturally I think, 
 there was from the peculiar location, a tendency to an 
 open space, which seems to be common to many rivers 
 flowing- through a level country, and annually covering 
 their banks. The way was thus open to our fathers, and 
 they gladly seized upon it. Afterwards, when they found 
 that they were much incommoded by the high water for 
 a part of the year, they naturally looked for relief by 
 turning to the high ground farther west, about which 
 something will be said by-and-by. 
 
 On the west side of the Windsor road there was Bel- 
 den's Lane, with no dwelling upon it, now called Belden 
 Street ; it was the original road to the west country, and 
 I know nothing of its layout or history. There was a 
 pent road on the south line of the cemetery, extending 
 west as far as the land of Gurdon Wadsworth, and only 
 called, as I remember, "Nigger Lane," because there were 
 a few houses upon it occupied by negroes. It is now 
 more pretentious as Pine Street, and is also wider than 
 formerly. I don't remember that it was ever called " Ne- 
 gro Lane," or that it was ever said that "negroes" lived 
 there ; the word was not current in that region, and would 
 have caused a look of astonishment if it had- been used ; 
 a negro was an unknown being; a "nigger" was well 
 known. It may reconcile us somewhat to the position and 
 feelings of our southern brethren, who know him only by 
 the latter term, when we remember that we have held 
 them as slaves, bought and sold them, and regarded them 
 as an inferior race, not so very many years ago. I have 
 found bills of sale of them in the papers of my great- 
 
Preliminary. 13 
 
 grandfather, Samuel Wadsworth, and advertisements offer- 
 ing them for sale, or rewards for their apprehension, may 
 be found in the public prints of that time. I have heard 
 it said by the women, and am afraid it was not in a spirit 
 of humiliation, but rather of boasting, that such and such 
 an one of their ancestors had such and such a number of 
 slaves. They seem never to have had separate or distinct 
 quarters, but lived in the house with their masters, and 
 slept, " why, yes, slept on the kitchen floor, or anywhere 
 a place could be found." We need not blame our south- 
 ern friends too severely, but with them thank our God 
 that we are delivered from this most anomalous condition 
 in a nation of freemen, so repugnant to all our ideas of 
 liberty and to the very first sentence in our Declaration 
 of Independence. It may be said that with a great price 
 obtained they this freedom, and their descendants may 
 reply that now they are free-born. 
 
 When Hezekiah Bull sold to the town of Hartford, 
 January 22, 1807, his lot of eleven acres, three roods, 
 seven rods, more or less, for the purposes of a Cemetery, 
 it was described in the deed as being bounded as follows : 
 " East on highway leading from Hartford to Windsor ; 
 north on Ephraim Robbins's land ; west on Gurdon Wads- 
 worth's land ; south on a pent road lying between said 
 piece of land and Archibald Greenfield's land — and all my 
 right and title to said pent road which he received from 
 Samuel Goodwin, James Goodwin, George Goodwin, and 
 others." This deed is dated 17th July, 1795. The pent 
 road was originally laid out in 1705, as is shown by an 
 agreement between Samuel Goodwin, John Skinner, and 
 Daniel Lord, of May 22d of that year: "Know all men, 
 etc., that whereas we, Samuel Goodwin, John Skinner, and 
 Daniel Lord, having purchased several parcells of land of 
 Mr. Cyprian Nicholls, jun., of Hartford . . . finding it 
 necessary for the improvement of oiir sd parcells of land 
 that there be an open highway laid out by us upon the 
 highway leading from Hartford to Windsor through the 
 
14 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 southernmost bounds of sd parcells of land belonging- to 
 the sd Samuel Goodwin and John Skinner unto the begin- 
 ning of the sd Daniel Clark's land . . do mutually 
 agree . . to leave out one rod and a half wide of sd 
 land on the southernmost bounds of our respective par- 
 cells of land." 
 
 This was the origin of "Nigger lane," which was only 
 a narrow lane in my boyhood, but was afterwards widened, 
 taking for that purpose, I fear, a piece of the cemetery ; 
 and has been extended west to the present Vine Street. 
 
 At the western end of this lane, but a little to the 
 south of it, was a brick building, without windows, painted 
 white, or whitewashed, which was used as a powder-house in 
 the war of 181 2. This lane was the only means of access 
 to land belonging to G. W. The large lot of eleven acres 
 was used by him as a pasture and was quite familiar to 
 me ; a smaller one was an apple orchard, with some good 
 fruit ; boy-like I knew where the best trees stood, and 
 could find the "early apple," as we called it, even if it 
 was night. Perhaps you knew of this tree yourself. Mr. 
 A. E. B., for you resided on the Albany turnpike within a 
 stone's throw or so of it, and doubtless, like most boys, 
 had a proper sense of localities. 
 
 This lot of Hezekiah Bull became the Hartford Cem- 
 etery, and the present lines are now essentially the same 
 as when first opened, excepting upon the north, where one 
 or more additions have been made. The first interment 
 was that of Mrs. Anne Olcott in 1807, and is found in the 
 first road leading to the north, after entering the ceme- 
 tery. The inscription is as follows : 
 
 In memory of 
 
 Mks. Anne Olcott, 
 
 consort of 
 
 Mr. Jonathan Olcott, 
 
 who died Feb. 6th, 
 
 A.D. 1S07, 
 
 aged 71 years. 
 
 The first person buried 
 
 in this yard. 
 
Preliminary. 15 
 
 The stone is about four feet by two, of brown sand- 
 stone, and is somewhat worn by exposure. An urn, 
 slightly cut in the stone, with a willow drooping over it, 
 ornaments the top, and there is a border on the two sides. 
 
 The only other opening to the west, even as far 
 north as the town line, was through the present Westland 
 Street, formerly called the road to the Bhie Hills, but also 
 as Miss Margaret Goodwin says, "Abbe's lane." "Love 
 Lane " came in some time afterwards. I think there was 
 another name, but cannot remember it. It wound around 
 south of the present almshouse, over the hill into the 
 Blue Hills district. It was lined with woods on both 
 sides for a considerable distance. When driving cows 
 from the pasture after sundown, it was passed over as 
 rapidly as possible. The possible danger of injury to the 
 cows was not considered as of much importance as the 
 probable danger to me by delay. If there were no In- 
 dians in the woods, we still remembered the stories told 
 about them; and then the "painters" were expected to 
 jump out upon us from every clump of bushes. 
 
II. 
 
 WHY THE NECK. 
 
 WHY this region which I am endeavoring- to de- 
 scribe as it was in 1825, was called "Up Neck," 
 is a very interesting matter of inquiry. If we 
 speak of lands "in the Neck," instead of "up Neck," we 
 shall use the precise words which are found in the early 
 records and deeds of the town. Lying in the north part 
 of it, the word "up" instead of "in" came into use as 
 commonly applied to localities north of us. 
 
 The term " in the Neck " was early used by the town, 
 as is shown by the following : 
 
 " March 24, 1640. 
 
 "It is ordered y* if anie cowes or horse or other catell be found in 
 the necke or in the meadow after the 8th of Aprill they shall be liable 
 to be pounded," etc. 
 
 " 13th September, 1640, the north sid of the river* being met, 
 
 "It is ordered y l if any person bring out any hoges or piges y* 
 are above a month ould out of the meadow or necke the owners of 
 these hoges or piges," etc. 
 
 " 6th May, 1641. 
 
 "It is ordered that if any person bringe out any hoggs or piggs 
 that are above a month oulde out of the longe meadow or necke of 
 land adjoyning to it or out of the little meadow or out of the south 
 meadow," etc. 
 
 "At a Side meeting of the north side of the Towne Feb. 27, 1655. 
 Ordered by voat that what catle shall be found in the necke or 
 meadow with a keeper or without except upon a mans owne land shal 
 be liable to pounding and shall pay ther pt for all commoning charges 
 of the keeper." 
 
 "one parcell which he received of Mr. Thomas Olcott lying 
 
 in the neck of land contayning by estimation three acres be it more or 
 
 * That is, our Little, or Park river. 
 
Why the Neck. 17 
 
 less abutting on land now Barth : Barnards on the north on Thomas 
 Burnams south on the north meadow lotts east on the common fence 
 or Cowe pasture West." — June 28, 1671. 
 
 Mr. Starkweather informs me that in June, 1653, John 
 Allen received a " parcel of land of two acres more or 
 less, abutting upon the highway leading into the Neck on 
 the east " ; and about the same time he received seventeen 
 acres "lying in the neck of land," and in 1661 he received 
 from Mr. Kelsey another portion "lying in the neck of 
 land containing two acres more or less." Probably many 
 deeds of a later date may be discovered in which this des- 
 ignation is used. It was a part of the town well recog- 
 nized, and " Up Neck " was in common use until a late 
 date. Mr. Starkweather has handed me the following 
 minute : " Town records contain numerous deeds, describ- 
 ing land as situated 'in the Neck,' and from a very early 
 period ; showing that it was a locality as well known as 
 Rocky Hill, or Podunk, or Hockanum in East Hartford. 
 Gravel Hill school district, incorporated in 1835, is set off 
 from the other district as follows : ' Beginning in the east 
 line of the Hartford and Granby turnpike, in the center 
 of the road that runs from said turnpike to Hartford 
 Neck,' etc.; so it can be seen that the name has found a 
 place in the State legislative records ; but I have no idea 
 of its origin." 
 
 Mr. Wm. S. Porter, in his "Hartford in 1640," says: 
 "The ' Road to the Neck,' and to the 'Soldiers' Field' lay 
 on the west side of the North Meadow Creek, and prob- 
 ably extended to Windsor. Another ' Road to the Neck,' 
 on which Matthew Allyn's house lot lay, extended from 
 the bend in Village Street, bearing a little west of north, 
 obliquely to and over the hill, which has been entirely 
 closed within a few years." 
 
 " In the 'Divisions of the town,' he says, " the ' Soldiers' 
 Field,' an appellation given to a tract containing about 
 fifteen acres, lay on the west side of the North Meadow 
 3 
 
i8 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 Creek, about a quarter of a mile north of the N. M. 
 bridge." p. 26. 
 
 "Neck extended as at present, from the town to Wind- 
 sor, and from the Meadow Swamp to the hills, and 
 included about 400 acres. Each proprietor in the Neck 
 had two lots, one at the upper, and the other at the 
 lower end, as in the North Meadow lots." p. 27. 
 
 " Road to Windsor, at first, either passed through the 
 North Meadow, or lay on the bank in the Neck, adjacent 
 to the Meadow Swamp. Next, it probably passed up on 
 the east side the Neck to the Soldiers' Field, and then 
 crossed to the west side on the borders of the upland. 
 Afterwards it appears to have run from the northwest 
 angle of Village Street, obliquely to and over the hill, to 
 the west side of the Neck. It was many years before 
 the present road was located."* p. 32. By the "present 
 road " I suppose Mr. Porter means the present road to 
 Windsor. He was a patient investigator, and his " Map of 
 Hartford in 1640" is of great value. Mr. F. H. Parker, 
 who some years since read a valuable paper on the 
 " Soldiers' Field" before the Connecticut Historical Society, 
 says that it contained about twenty-eight acres. 
 
 Let us go down to the foot of Village Street, near 
 which lay the lot of Matthew Allyn. Standing here, we 
 can picture the direction which the road would naturally 
 take to avoid the freshets which made the first road 
 "through the Meadow" impassable. "Obliquely to and 
 over the hill to the west side of the Neck," would carry 
 it in the direction of the freight depot of the Consolidated 
 railroad ; then about the foot of Canton Street ; then up 
 a rise of ground, through " Patten's Woods " ; and then 
 nearly level to the Windsor road. As I remember the lay 
 of the land many years since, before it was built upon, 
 this was the route which would naturally be taken. It went 
 so far north, because some steep ascents were thereby 
 
 See note on p. 23 for ordering highway to Windsor in 1671. 
 
Why the Neck. 19 
 
 avoided, and there were no sloughs or wet points to be 
 crossed. It was just such a line as any settler in a new 
 country would take, because it was the most easy and 
 accessible. 
 
 I think it came out upon the roadway north, just 
 south of the old Alms House, which was a mile from the 
 present City Hall. The land all along this east side of 
 the street is now covered with buildings, and no accurate 
 judgment can be formed by one unacquainted with it, of 
 its former topography. But I have a very distinct recol- 
 lection of it, and there are some points which indicate 
 strongly that this temporary road, as it doubtless was, 
 debouched here. The old Alms House was on an eleva- 
 tion, but the ground sloped to the south, into an old worn- 
 out pasture. From the Windsor road, leading off to the 
 southeast, in the direction of Patten's Woods, was still 
 visible the outline of an old road, the object of which I 
 could not understand, as there never seemed to be a suffi- 
 cient reason for it, in the present sterile condition of the 
 land. When it approached the elevation on which the old 
 Alms House afterwards stood, the indications that it had 
 been formerly worked were very evident, for the side of 
 the hill had been plowed into, and the earth thrown up 
 in the form of a turnpike, with gutters on the side. Every 
 one knows that an old and unused roadway soon becomes 
 overgrown with grass, and when earth has been moved 
 upon an unfertile soil, that this roadway will be covered 
 with finer and greener grasses than can be found upon its 
 borders. It was not alone the outline of an old road that 
 attracted my attention, but the fact that its path was cov- 
 ered with white clover and fine grasses, quite green, and 
 in marked contrast with the brown and stunted ones 
 growing in the pasture. It was evidently an old road 
 which had been worked long ago, but for which there 
 seemed to be now no sufficient reason. 
 
 It was not until the account of Mr. Porter was read 
 lately, that I thought this was a part of the road which 
 
20 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 he describes as commencing about at Matthew Allyn's lot, 
 and extending obliquely up and over the hill. Premising 
 that it is true, that the first road north ran through the 
 lowland, and that the inconvenience attending it led the 
 settlers to seek higher ground, it is fair to suppose that 
 this was the route taken, and that this western termina- 
 tion of it was a part used for a few years.* 
 
 The road to Windsor was at first through the mea- 
 dow, for at a general court April 5, 1638, there is found 
 the following : 
 
 "Whereas there is a desire of o r neighbors of Hartford that there 
 may be a publique highway for Carte and horse vppon the upland 
 betweene the said Harteford and Windsor as may be convenient, it 
 is therefore thought meete that Henry Wolcott the younger and Mr. 
 Stephen Terr[e] and Will" 1 Westwood and Nathaniel Ward shall 
 consider of a fitting and convenient highway to bee marked and 
 sett out, and bridges made over the swamps, and then itt being 
 confirmed by the Courte, the inhabitants of Harteford may with 
 making a comely and decent stile for foote and fence vpp y vpper 
 end of the meadow; this to be done by Mun[day] seaven nights 
 vppon penalty of 10 s every default." 
 
 This would imply that there was already a road 
 through the meadow, which was to be fenced at its 
 upper end, when the one prayed for on the upland 
 should be opened. This view is confirmed by an order 
 of the General Court of June 11, 1640. 
 
 "That the highway betwixt Hartford and Wyndsor, as yt was 
 last sett forth vppon the vpland, shall be made sufficiently passable, 
 by ech Towne what lyeth w ll, in their owne bounds, w th in the 
 space of on month, and there shall be liberty granted to use the 
 highway through the meadowes vntill the said vpland highway be 
 so sufficiently mended, for horse and drifte, as yt shall be aproued 
 of by Mr. Plum, James Boosy, Henry Wolcotte, and Tho: Scotte, 
 and then the highway through the meadowe to cease." 
 
 * Possibly another road led from Matthew Allyn's lot to the upland near the 
 present Tunnel, for there was here a depression in the land which has been 
 wholly obliterated by the excavation for the railroad, and by filling in of the 
 highway. 
 
Why the Neck. 21 
 
 Thus it will be seen that in April, 1638, there was 
 "a desire" for a public highway in the uplands, and 
 that a committee was appointed to consider it, and 
 that in June, 1640, it was ordered to be made "suffi- 
 ciently passable," and liberty was granted to use the 
 highway through the meadow until that through the 
 upland be "sufficiently mended," when the "highway 
 through the meadow should cease." 
 
 In the order of 1638, the upper end of the meadow 
 was to be fenced. This was further directed at a meet- 
 ing of the townsmen held February 18, 1641, as follows : 
 
 1 ' The fence at the f arder ende of the north meadow is ordered 
 after this manner as followeth goodman Church is to fence from 
 the great river to the end of that which was John Marshs. 
 
 "Next to him William Phillips is to doe four rods. 
 
 "Next to him Thomas Scot hath 16 rods. 
 
 "Next to him Thomas Halles hath toe rods. 
 
 "From Thomas Hals fence to Thomas Lords fence is all William 
 Rescues the which fences meete at the outside of the swampe at 
 the north end of the necke lands. 
 
 ' ' These five men in consideration of several persls of ground 
 which they have received from the towne are to set a good sufi- 
 cient fence and them and ther eighrs forever are bound per- 
 petually so to maintein it for the defence of the north meadow. 
 
 "It is also ordered at this meeting of this side the day and year 
 • abov mentioned that William Rescue shall hau 30 akers of land 
 lying at the north end of the cow paster next to Winser line in con- 
 sideration of the fence abov mentioned. 
 
 "It is also ordered that Thomas Lord shall hau seven akers 
 added to his firder lot in the cow paster in consideration of his fence 
 in the necke of land." 
 
 So the fence was made at the north end of the 
 meadow for the exclusion of cattle, and safety of the 
 crops ; this being done, at a town meeting March 9, 
 1 64 1, an agreement was made between the townsmen and 
 Mathew Marvin, March 9, 1641, concerning a fence and 
 a common gate in the north meadow. He was to have 
 a portion of land in consideration of his maintaining said 
 
22 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 gate and fence, "and the towne is to be at the charges 
 of making of one new gate after this ould one is broke, 
 and if any cartor or others shall either brake the gate 
 or pule down any of the posts, the same parties are to 
 make it good ; also if any children shall be taken swing- 
 ing upon the gate by the said Mathew Merrill* he 
 shall complayn to ther parents or masters, and if they 
 do not restraine them the second time it shall be lawful 
 for him to them, and if they brake the 
 
 gate ther parents or masters shall make it good." 
 
 Any one who remembers the great pleasure and com- 
 fort which he enjoyed when a child, when swinging upon 
 a gate, must feel that our forefathers were rather hard 
 upon the children in forbidding them this luxury. Their 
 amusements were small enough then, and to curtail them 
 further seems cruel to us now, even if they did occasion- 
 ally "brake the gate." But the men of that time had 
 serious business in hand ; the land was to be cleared, and 
 the means of subsistence obtained ; the children must do 
 their part in this essential labor, and it was a waste of 
 time to spend it in swinging upon a gate. 
 
 These roads to the north, through the Meadow and 
 upon the upland, were important matters and not easily 
 adjusted ; evidently they were subjects of considerable dis- 
 cussion. At a Court of Election, held April 10, 1645, it 
 was considered again. 
 
 ' ' Whereas there hath bine much dispute about the highwaye be- 
 tweene Wyndsor and Hartford, w ch hath bine lately vsed in coming 
 through the meadowe of Hartford w th carts & horses, to the annoy- 
 ance and p r iudice of the Inhabitants of Hartford that haue lotts in the 
 said meadowe. It is therefore thought meete and so Ordered, that the 
 high waye, as for carts, catle, and horses, be stopped vppe, and that 
 the highwaye betweene the said Wyndsor and Hartford in the vpland 
 be well and passably amended & mayntayned for a continuance, by 
 Hartford as much as belongs to them and by Wyndsor as much as 
 belongs to them ; the said highwaye to be amended by ech p r ty by 
 six weeks or two months, vppon the penulty of twenty shillings p r 
 
 * Marvin and Merrill are one and the same person. 
 
Why the Neck. 23 
 
 weeke for that p r ty that fayles ether in the whole or in p r te, as long 
 as it soe lyes not sufficiently repaired and mayntayned ; and at the six 
 weeks end or two months end, Mr. Webster and Nat. Waird doe seri- 
 ously surueye that p r te w ch belongs to Wyndsor, and that Henry Wool- 
 cott the elder and Jo: Porter doe surueye that p r te w ch belongs to 
 Hartford, and certifie of the sufficiency of the said highwaye, to the 
 next pticuler Court, who are delinquents, and the penulty to be leuyed 
 vppon the delinquent p r ty w tb out any fauor affection, both for fayling 
 att the tyme aforesaid, as also for future the like penulty vppon the 
 p r sentment of the insufficient mayntayneing thereof."* 
 
 The fact that this highway was to be " passably amend- 
 ed," indicates that it was not very passable then, and that 
 the chief travel had been through the meadow. While it 
 may have been ordered, it is quite evident that it had not 
 been much worked, and it probably was only such a " wood 
 path " as may be found at the present time in the Ten 
 Mile woods, or in any of the woods near the city. 
 
 This highwa)^ now came into more common use, and 
 doubtless was fenced on both sides ; for there are deeds 
 of land lying in the meadow which are described as 
 bounded " on the common fence west." But that it was 
 not satisfactory is shown by the proceedings at a meeting 
 held June 2, 167 1, when "The Towne chose Capt. Tall- 
 cott and Mr. Allyn and Mr. Wadsworth and Daniel Prat 
 and Bartholomew Barnard as a comitty for the North Side 
 of the river to stake oute the highwaye on that side of 
 the river as they shall think most meete to be cleered fr 
 sheep pasture," &c. 
 
 The next year this committee reported as follows : 
 
 ' ' Wee the underwritten doe order that the highway which shall 
 
 lead to Windsor shall run by the common fence & bee seven rodd wide 
 
 and so continue the same breedth tils it come to Windsor bounds. 
 
 This agreed upon p us June 22, 1672. 
 
 " John Talcott, 
 
 " John Allyn, 
 
 " Will Wadsworth, 
 
 " Bartho: Barnard, 
 
 " Daniell Pratt." 
 
 * Col. Records, Vol. i, p. 125. 
 
24 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 This highway has been so encroached upon, and nar- 
 rowed by various efforts to straighten it, that it is now 
 much less in width. It however is pretty well preserved 
 above Westland Street and to the Windsor line. A recent 
 measurement between the fences at Thomas Gates' gave 
 one hundred and ten feet ; another in front of Timothy 
 Mather's was ninety-two feet, and this is now a fair average 
 width. But the end was not yet, and more legislation 
 was necessary, so at 
 
 "A Towne Meeting in Hartford Aprill 16, 1679. It appearing to 
 the towne that the highway layd out to Windsor by the common fence 
 as it hath been layd out by the committee especially from the towne 
 so far as the ditch* above Obadyah Spencer's now dwelling house is 
 very inconvenient and will be very chargeable to mayntayne by reason 
 of swamps, pulcks f and hoales that lye in the sd highway — which be- 
 ing now considered by the towne have nominated and appoynted 
 Major John Talcott, Mr. James Steele, Mr. Richards, and Capt. Allyn, 
 or any 3 of them to view the sayd highway and to take off so much 
 of those lotts as shall be necessary to make the highway good and 
 passable and to lay it to the highway from the town to the ditch 
 above-mentioned, and to appoynt so much land as they shall judg a 
 meet recompence for what they shall take off to be added to the west 
 lotts of those whose land they shall take off at the east end of their 
 lands out of the common, and what shall be taken off these lotts shall 
 remayn to the common forever." 
 
 There is a record of a deed January 3, 1653, of land 
 belonging to John Allyn (by gift from his father, 
 Matthew Allyn), which is described as follows: "One 
 parcell whereon the dwelling house standeth with out- 
 houses, gardens, yards, and orchards therein being, con- 
 tayn by estimation twelve acres, (more or less,) abutting 
 upon the highway leading into the neck of land on the 
 west, Nic Clark's land on the south, and Thomas 01- 
 cotes land on the north." In Mr. Porter's map of Hart- 
 
 * The ditch was not necessarily a wet ditch, for these were frequently of 
 artificial construction, and were intended as marks or boundaries, and not for 
 the purpose of drainage. 
 
 t Pulcks — a puddle or shallow pool. 
 Pulk or Polk — Norfolkshire. Wright's Diet. Archaic Words. 
 
Why the Neck. 25 
 
 ford in 1640, Nicholas Clark had land on the south of 
 Matthew Allyn, which it appears he still owned in 
 1653, and the highway which is described as bounding 
 Mr. Allyn on the west, can only be the one which we 
 have mentioned, as "leading up obliquely and over the 
 hill to the west side of the Neck." No other road will 
 satisfy the descriptions and the language of the deeds. 
 
 There are several other deeds of land belonging to 
 John Allyn, lying in the Neck, one of them "abutting 
 upon the Great River in the East, and on the Neck of 
 land on the West." One parcel lying in the Cow 
 pasture, bounded "on the little ox pasture on the west, 
 and on the Neck of land on the east." This would 
 indicate that the Neck was considered as land lying 
 east of the present road to Windsor. Another "parcell 
 lying in the neck of land abutting upon the swamp 
 belonging to the North Meadow on the East." 
 
 At the General Assembly held in May, 17 19, the 
 Court approved of a dividing line between Hartford 
 and Windsor, as "run and measured" "by James Wads- 
 worth, Esq., Mr. John Hooker, and Mr. Elisha Williams 
 on the east side of the 'great river'; and also on the 
 west side said river, to run according to the line of 
 ditches, beginning at a bound stone standing at the 
 place where the red oak tree mentioned in Windsor 
 patent, that stood in Thomas Butler's land in the Neck, 
 to Brick Hill swamp, to a walnut stub and ditch by it, 
 then north half a mile to a heap of stones," etc. This 
 shows that the Neck extended to the Windsor line. 
 
 I judge from the extracts which have been quoted, — 
 and they might be much extended, — -that there were 
 four sections of well designated land extending from 
 the North Meadow bridge and Matthew Allyn's house 
 lot towards and to Windsor. First, the Meadow, with 
 the river on the east ; second, the Sivanip, on the west 
 of this, which was at a lower level than the meadow ; 
 3 
 
26 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 third, the Soldiers' Field, west of the swamp, extending 
 from a quarter to half a mile from the bridge ; and 
 fourth, the Neck lying between the Soldiers' Field and 
 the road to Windsor, as far as the Field extended ; and 
 between the swamp and the road beyond it. 
 
 In showing further that the term "in the Neck" 
 was in early use, I quote from the records of the 
 General Court August 5, 1644. "Forasmuch as there 
 are certain parcells of meadow adjoining to the skirts 
 of ye upland in severall parts of ye neck, which belong 
 to sundry planters in the town, and thatt meadow can- 
 not be improved to the best advantage to the owners 
 without being inclosed, the Neck being now layd for a 
 pasture of cattell, it was ordered," &c. 
 
 This enables us to determine, as definitely perhaps 
 as we can, the location of the "Neck." It was a strip 
 of land, from half to a quarter of a mile in breadth, 
 and of pretty clearly ascertained length. Mr. Porter thinks 
 it extended to Windsor, and that it contained four 
 hundred acres. 
 
 Let us consider the topography of this strip. It lay 
 west of the swamp, in which the waters of the spring 
 freshets lay for a long time, as they have within our 
 remembrance. Covered with wood and uncultivated, 
 this land was not passable the greater part of the 
 summer, breeding myriads of mosquitoes. Rising grad- 
 ually from this swamp, we come to the hills, which 
 soon bring us to the Windsor road. This elevated up- 
 land is more marked in the southern than the upper 
 portion, though it is evident through the whole tract. 
 
 Why was it called the " Neck " ? There is nothing 
 in its configuration which would lead us to apply such 
 a term, but it was a designation as common as the 
 meadow, the swamp, the cow-pasture, the soldiers' field, 
 etc. ; everyone knew where it lay. It may have been 
 an arbitrary term ; it may have been in use, perhaps, 
 in England, applied to similar strips of land, composed 
 
Why the Neck. 27 
 
 of upland and lowland ; it cannot be compared to the 
 neck of land in Boston, nor to a similar one at Say- 
 brook, which are portions of land nearly surrounded by 
 water, with a narrow isthmus. Charles Wesley's hymn 
 describes this, 
 
 "Lo! on a narrow neck of land, 
 'Twixt two unbounded seas I stand." 
 
 Whatever water there is here, however, is only on 
 one side of it. 
 
 Perhaps if I had turned to Noah Webster, there would 
 have been found a definition of the word which would 
 have been satisfactory and saved me much research and 
 speculation. He thus defines "Neck" as "a long, nar- 
 row tract of land projecting from the main body, or a 
 narrow tract connecting two narrow tracts ; as the neck 
 of land between Boston and Roxbury." 
 
 "Neck-land, a neck, or long tract of land." 
 
 This answers to our case : " A long, narrow tract 
 of land" — "neck-land" — then "land in the neck"; then 
 "Up Neck"; and this ought to be and must be a 
 satisfactory response to the question, "Why was this 
 portion of the town ever called 'Up Neck'?"* 
 
 The early settlers in New Haven used this same 
 term. In the Colonial Records various lands are de- 
 scribed as "lyeing in the Neck." This was between the 
 Quinnipiac and Mill Rivers ; the greater part, however, 
 is mentioned as being meadow land, and then there 
 would seem to be land mentioned specifically as being 
 "in the Neck." Dr. Francis Bacon thinks this was on 
 the west side of the meadow, rising gradually into the 
 uplands, and would correspond to the topography of 
 our own "Neck." The location there is well known. 
 
 * Mr. Darius S. Skinner, of Putnam, writes to the editor of the Times, that 
 he formerly resided for many years in Providence, R. I. In examining- deeds 
 of some property belonging to his ancestors, he finds "a part of Providence 
 town, lying between that town and Pawtucket ; highlands to the east of See- 
 konk river were then described as Providence Neck, and those wlio^e residence 
 was farther north, or nearest Pawtucket, were living Up Neck." 
 
28 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 "State Street," he says, "in which is the Neck bridge, 
 used to be called, at least the eastern end of it, Neck 
 lane, and it figured by that name in the old maps." 
 
 Noah Webster obtained the definition of neck and 
 neck-land right at his own doors.* 
 
 * Extract from the New Haven Colonial Records : 
 
 "Jan. 4, 1639, at a General Court, Itt was agreed that every planter shall 
 have a portion of land, &c. * * * and in the neck an acre to every 
 hundred pounds." p. 27, Vol. 1. 
 
 April 3, 1640. "Itt is ordered thatt the gates att the end of the neck bridge 
 and the way to it be made convenient forthwith." p. 32. 
 
 August 23, 1640. " It is ordered that Mr. James shall have his meadow lott 
 att the lower end of the Neck," &c. p. 43. 
 
 "Itt is ordered thatt the causeway to the neck shall be made forthwith." 
 p. 44. 
 
 Jan. 10, 1641. "Itt is ordered that after 2 yeares next ensueing be expired, 
 the neck shall be layd for pasture, and thatt all who plant or sow corne therein 
 in the mean time shall secure itt themselves, whether there or elsewhere, 
 everyone are to secure their owne corne, provided yt none doe wilfully or 
 negligently trespasse wth their cattell, and it is further ordered thatt after 
 this yeare none shall plant Indian corne in the neck, butt onely sow itt wth 
 English." p. 48. 
 
 March, 1641. " Itt is ordered thatt every quarter thatt would fence their 
 land in the Neck, they may haue liberty so to doe, provided thatt they doe 
 itt att their owne charge, and leave out the springs for the cattle to drink at 
 whensoever any fall wthin the bounds of the neck." p. 52. 
 
III. 
 
 THE TOMLIN. 
 
 |~n HE old people used to speak of a certain place as 
 J i, being- " up in the Tomlin " ; and a few yet living 
 _ know of the locality. As near as can be ascertained, 
 it was the low ground on the east of the Windsor road, 
 just south of, or near to, the second mile stone. Although 
 inquiries have often been made, yet nothing very definite 
 had been learned of its origin. Miss Goodwin remembers it 
 perfectly, and thinks it was so called from a man of that 
 name, or Tombolin, who at one time lived thereabout. It 
 may be so, for the men of early days had a way of contract- 
 ing or mispronouncing names, which was rather • puzzling 
 to one not acquainted with them. Wm. S. Porter, in his 
 list of settlers in Hartford, between 1640 and 1700, gives 
 the name of Thomas Tomlinson, which first appears in 
 the record in 1665, and places his residence "in the Neck," 
 which very likely was in this particular locality, and would 
 thus account for the designation. 
 
 Since writing the above, an examination of the town 
 records shows that there was belonging to Thomas Tom- 
 linson, Sept. 8, 1673, "One parcell which he received of 
 Samuel Robinson containing the breadth of Nathaniel 
 Standleys lot lyeing in the neck of land which he sold the 
 said Robbins, and from the common fence to run the 
 whole bredth towards the east full thirteen rod — the land 
 abutts on the common fence West — on Wm. Callseys 
 (Kelsey) land North and on land now Samuel Robbins 
 south and on the East." 
 
3<o Up Neck. in 1825. 
 
 Also, " one parcell which he received of Samuel Rob- 
 bins lyeing in the neck of land it being- fower rodds wide 
 and thirteen rodd long- abutting on the common fence 
 west and on Stephen Callsey's land on the North, and the 
 sd Robbins same land on the South and East." 
 
 Also, March 14, 1675-6, "one parcell of land which he 
 received of Thos. Cadwell lyeing in the neck of land con- 
 taining by estimation five acres and twenty fower rod be 
 it more or less, abutting on the common fence on the 
 West, and in Wm. Westwoods land on the north, and 
 Bartholomew Barnards land on the South and on the long 
 meadow swamp on the east. He the sayd Thomas Tom- 
 lins and his heirs forever engaging to mayntayn the fence 
 on the West end of the sayd land," etc. 
 
 In these deeds Robinson appears to have been written 
 indiscriminately Robertson and Robbins ; and Tomlinson, 
 Tomlins. The transition to Tomlin is very easy and 
 natural. 
 
 Miss Goodwin says this has been commonly repeated 
 in the neighborhood : 
 
 " Tombolin and his wife and his wife's mother, 
 Were all going over a bridge together ; 
 The bridge having broken they all fell in, 
 ' We are going to the devil,' cried Tombolin." 
 
 This was in allusion doubtless to some occurrence in 
 the life of Mr. Tomlin and his family, and makes us 
 anxious to know more about him. Where was the bridge, 
 what was the occasion of his crossing it, and did the un- 
 happy exclamation prove true ; did he say this in refer- 
 ence to his family, or knowing himself better than others 
 knew him, did it belong to him alone ? He may be ex- 
 cused if in the excitement of the moment he spoke col- 
 lectively, and said " we," when if he had time for delibera- 
 tion he would only have referred to himself. It is in 
 strikine contrast to the last words of some who attain 
 
The Tomlin. 31 
 
 much eminence, who, before they are swung off, are very 
 sure they are going directly to heaven.* 
 
 * Dr. Trumbull sends me the following interesting- and valuable note : 
 My Dear Dr. Russell : 
 
 It just now occurs to me that, before you put it in more permanent shape, 
 and in full — you may care to have a note on "Tomlin's" or "Tomlinson's " lot, 
 or rather on the rhymes said to have been repeated in his neighborhood, in allu- 
 sion to him. 
 
 "Tombolin" is, I suspect, a modern corruption of the original "Tommy Linn" 
 or, earlier, "Thorn of Lyn." "Tombolin" was the subject of one of the best- 
 known sea songs of Charles Dibdin, who was born more than half a century 
 after Thomas Tomlin (or Tomlinson), of Up Neck, died. Fifty years ago there 
 was not a sailor in the British or American navy who didn't know the song, 
 
 " Here, a sheer hulk, lies poor Tom Bowling, 
 The darling of our crew!" 
 
 But the song from which the. verse you quote was taken, is, in some of its 
 forms, at least a hundred years older than Hartford, and "Tommy Linn's" name 
 could be made to stand for Thomas Tomlinson's with less violence than could 
 Tom Bowling's. The shape in which this verse came to me, more than fifty 
 years ago, was as follows : 
 
 " Tommy Linn, his wife, and his wife's mother, 
 They all fell into the fire together ; 
 'Oh,' said the topmost, 'I've got a hot skin!' 
 'It's hotter below,' says Tommy Linn." 
 
 This is the sixth verse of the song of "Tommy Linn," as given in Halliwell's 
 "Popular Rhymes" (1849); but I have heard the variation, as given by Miss 
 Goodwin, in nearly the same words — in my school-boy days. In fact (as Mr. 
 Halliwell remarks) "an immense variety of songs and catches relating to Tommy 
 Linn are known throughout Great Britain," and the air of "Thom of Lyn" was 
 known at least as early as 1549. 
 
 Now "Tommy Lin's" self, wife, and mother-in-law, might easily slide into 
 "Tomlin's" or "Tomlinson's," his wife, and wife's mother; but "Tombolin's" 
 or, as a sailor would write (though not pronounce) it, Tom Bowline's, would not 
 only mar the verse, but would transfer the scene from land to sea. 
 
 As to the Thomas Tomlins (or Tomlinson) in question, I only know that he 
 was in Hartford in 1655, and died here in 1685, leaving seven daughters, and so 
 far as can be ascertained, no son. Yours sincerely, 
 
 J. Hammond Trumbull. 
 
 Since the above was written I have found among Miss Goodwin's papers a 
 survey of land which belonged tc her father lying in the Neck, bounded on the 
 west by the highway to Windsor, and running east into the swamp. The survey 
 was evidently made long ago, and is marked "Tomlin Lott," and a portion of it 
 now belongs to Miss G. A section of the lot was re-surveyed by Nathaniel Good- 
 win, and there is found in one corner of the map this endorsement : " Calculated 
 from this survey, April 30, 1829, by N. Goodwin, and found to contain five acres 
 thirty-nine rods." The land lies south of the residence of Charles Mather, where 
 tradition has always placed it; so that it seems sufficiently established that the 
 name was derived from a former owner, Thomas Tomlinson, or Tomlins. 
 
 Mr. H. G. Loomis has called my attention to several other lots in this imme- 
 diate vicinity, surveyed by Capt. Aaron Cook many years since, and re-surveyed 
 by Nathaniel Goodwin. He thinks that one of them lay west of the Windsor 
 road, and may have extended nearly or quite to the present town farm. 
 
3 2 
 
 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 Opposite this locality was the " Pool lot" used chiefly 
 for pasturage. Its name came from a spring in a small 
 ravine, which was supposed to possess medicinal qualities. 
 It was visited by many who had faith in its virtues, espe- 
 cially for some diseases of the skin, as the popular idea is 
 that this numerous class are all resolved into two, viz., 
 " itch " and " salt rheum,"" and as no one is ever willing 
 to acknowledge that he has the itch, there remains only 
 the latter, which is very comprehensive and also very in- 
 definite. It was not disagreeably unpleasant to the taste, 
 being slightly impregnated with sulphuretted hydrogen, 
 and was qualified then and afterwards by some other 
 liquid, which was supposed to increase its 'hygienic prop- 
 erties. It compared very favorably with the spring or 
 well of Jonathan Hartshorn, on Asylum Street, whose 
 water much resembled it in taste. 
 
IV. 
 THE EAST SIDE. 
 
 ET us consider the occupants of the Neck, beginning 
 at the south, on the east side. The first house was 
 of wood, painted white, owned by Nathaniel Goodwin, 
 and occupied by Judge John T. Peters. He was a man of 
 some prominence, a native of Hebron, and a cousin of 
 Governor John S. Peters. The changes in politics about 
 the time of the adoption of the Constitution, brought him 
 to notice, and enabled the Republicans to place one of 
 their number upon the bench. It was commonly reported 
 that he was hard upon criminals brought before him, and 
 that he endeavored to administer justice to them as the 
 law allowed, and as he understood it. Upon one occasion, 
 being asked how long such an one had to serve in prison, 
 he replied, " Let me see, did he come before me ? If he 
 did, he was sentenced for as long a time as the law 
 would allow." His barn was fired some years after this, 
 as was supposed, by one who had felt his heavy hand. 
 He was pleasant and kindly affectioned, and by no means 
 as austere as might be supposed from the above incident, 
 but he had very decided ideas about justice and the 
 proper bestowal of deserts. He died in 1834. 
 
 His mind began to fail before the limit of his time 
 of service had expired, and he would fall asleep -upon the 
 bench. On one occasion, when Mr. Hungerford was argu- 
 ing a case before him he suddenly awoke, and rubbing 
 his eyes, said : " The learned counsel must instruct the 
 Court on that point." The opportunity was too good to 
 be lost, and so with that peculiar working of the muscles 
 4 
 
34 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 of his face for which Mr. Hungerford was noted, he 
 replied : " Your Honor is not aware how difficult a task 
 he imposes upon us." 
 
 The house is still standing - , and was for a long time 
 occupied by D. S. Brooks. There were no pavements 
 then, and the pathway was narrow. South of the house 
 was a large three-thorned locust tree, whose autumnal 
 pods were frequently gathered by the children, and called 
 "tamarinds." South of this, but outside of the foot-path, 
 was another large tree, an elm, which encroached upon 
 it, and caused frequent stumbling from the roots which 
 projected above ground. 
 
 A short distance above this was the store-house of 
 Thomas Belden. The building is still standing, and has 
 been occupied by several families for many years past. 
 
 Next was the shop of Leonard Kennedy, where joiners' 
 tools were made, and quite a business was carried on. 
 James Anderson, Melville Copeland, and I think Daniel, 
 his brother, were among the workmen. 
 
 Next was the house of Benjamin Pratt, farmer, which 
 was some distance back from the street. This had been 
 previously occupied by James Goodwin, a hatter, and a 
 very respected citizen ; he was the father of the late 
 James M. and Erastus Goodwin, and removed to East 
 Hartford, where he died. 
 
 Then came the rope-walk of Joseph Sheldon. This was 
 always a favorite place for boys to congregate, and for 
 men also, and was as convenient as a country store on a 
 rainy day. Hugh Waterman was one of the workmen, 
 and the assistance of the boys was often utilized in turn- 
 ing the big wheel while Hugh was spinning the yarn. 
 It was considered as enjoyable and rather in the nature 
 of play, and not of work ; there was a tarry odor about 
 the place which was gratifying. This occupied the pres- 
 ent Kennedy Street. 
 
 Very near to the rope-walk was the dwelling house 
 of Leonard Kennedy, then advanced in life, very quiet in 
 
The East Side. 35 
 
 his manner, a Universalist, amiable, and liked by every 
 one. He was very venerable in his appearance, and so 
 even-tempered that I never knew or heard that he was 
 angry. As money was not very plenty in those days, 
 merchants, mechanics, and others needing it were accus- 
 tomed to borrow from one another. If a note or bill was 
 to be paid, and the cash was not in hand, then the 
 anxious debtor would start out to borrow from his 
 friends, a few dollars here and a few dollars there, not 
 unfrequently going to a dozen places in a day. As the 
 money was loaned only for a short time, it became neces- 
 sary to borrow elsewhere, if enough had not been col- 
 lected, and so the borrowing went on week after week, 
 and year after year ; the accommodation was friendly and 
 the debt regarded as so honorable that failure to pay 
 rarely occurred. 
 
 Mr. Kennedy was a borrower ; though prudent and 
 economical, yet ready money was not always in hand 
 when needed ; accounts ran a long time before being 
 settled. That pernicious system of not paying as you 
 buy, was of common occurrence. " Charge this to me," 
 was the usual saying, and the bill might be paid at the end 
 of the year ; the first of January was the general time for 
 settlement, but the period was often prolonged. He was 
 accustomed to say that when he applied to Nathaniel 
 Goodwin he was always pleasantly received, though he 
 never obtained a loan ; but he went away feeling better 
 than he did when accommodated by his brother James, 
 for he was always harassing him for payment quickly. 
 
 On his way down town he was accustomed to call at 
 several stores to look at the newspaper, and to chat in 
 friendly acquaintance ; he was so quiet, even-tempered, 
 and undemonstrative, that he was always kindly welcomed. 
 His old iron-gray horse had so learned his ways that he 
 stopped willingly at every familiar place, and could always 
 be found where he was left ; the gentle spirit of the mas- 
 ter had thoroughly permeated the beast. Nat Eggleston's 
 
36 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 store, and especially that of Samuel Tuttle, were the prin- 
 cipal ones visited, and James Burr was a sympathetic com- 
 panion. Both had arrived at that time of life when the 
 desire for active labor had passed, and when the grass- 
 hopper was almost a burden. These places were a com- 
 mon resort for men of leisure, to while away an hour in 
 pleasant chat and harmless gossip. One day they were at 
 Eggleston's talking about matters which had occurred forty 
 years before. A young man who was passing heard one 
 of them say, " And what will there be forty years hence, 
 and where shall we be?" It was spoken with so much of 
 emphasis, and with so solemn a look, that he remembers 
 it to this day. Neither of them, nor any one for many 
 years afterwards, had any conception of the great discov- 
 eries of our time. Having endeavored to live a virtuous 
 life, they accepted with the blessed resignation which be- 
 longs to old age, the results in the wondrous future. 
 
 These little assemblages were probably quite as inno- 
 cent as our modern clubs, and certainly much less expen- 
 sive. They interfered little with the sale of goods, for the 
 proprietors attended to their own business, and "left the 
 company to take care of themselves. If it was a stormy 
 day, or the sales were not frequent, they might listen to 
 the stories, or tell one themselves ; but they were under 
 no obligation to join with the circle, nor was it considered 
 uncivil if they attended strictly to their own affairs. 
 " Well, I will go down to Tuttle's," said James Burr, 
 "they must have the New York papers by this time." 
 Though one was a Federalist and the other a Republican, 
 and both were positive in their views, they allowed no 
 differences of opinion to separate them. The wonderful 
 political revolution of some years previous had resulted in 
 more liberal feelings, and "Toleration," which had been a 
 prominent battle-cry, had produced its legitimate results. 
 There was more enterprise in the town, new buildings 
 were being erected, and business was increasing. The 
 general consensus of opinion was, that there had been too 
 
The East Side. 37 
 
 much of political intolerance, and too much of religious 
 bigotry. It was a long time in dying out with some, how- 
 ever, who are always mindful of the past, and neglectful 
 of the present. " Let me get a clip at him," said General 
 Terry to Alfred Smith and Joseph Trumbull, at a town 
 meeting, a dozen years later, after John M. Niles had 
 spoken; "let me get a clip at him;" and no bloodhound 
 could have been more fierce or confident. Neither of 
 them could restrain the haughty old man, and after he 
 had his say, he turned to them with a triumphant air, as 
 if he had said, "There, I have fixed that fellow." But 
 Mr. Niles would not stay fixed, and though he doubtless 
 fully reciprocated the feelings of Mr. Terry, yet he had 
 none of his impetuous spirit, and a much better command 
 of his temper. And he had also those other qualifications, 
 in a great knowledge of facts and power of logical rea- 
 soning, and practical acquaintance with the affairs of life, 
 which are sure in the long run to bring its possessor both 
 confidence and respect. No two men could be in greater 
 contrast than these : the one, elegant in his manners, 
 affable, polite, generous to a fault, autocratic, the repre- 
 sentative of a federalism which was nearly dead. The 
 other plain, undemonstrative, awkward, without the polish 
 which comes from intercourse with what is called " good 
 society," possibly with somewhat of the bitterness which 
 comes from continual opposition ; but with a thorough ac- 
 quaintance with the politics of the country, and the prin- 
 ciples of our government ; a learning which had been ac- 
 quired by hard study and under unfavorable circumstances, 
 and a sturdy defender of the Democracy now beginning to 
 be felt in the State. He was never what is called a 
 popular speaker, but my father said of him, " He has got 
 a head." 
 
 Separated from Leonard Kennedy by a narrow alley 
 only, was the house of Joseph Sheldon, the ropemaker. He 
 is well remembered by our citizens, for he was a man of 
 strong personality, and quite as much feared as he was 
 
38 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 liked. It is reported of him that he enjoyed calling- upon 
 persons with subscription papers, for said he, " I like to 
 see them squirm."* Moses Burr had been the previous 
 occupant. 
 
 Only a few feet distant lived John H. Lord, a descend- 
 ant of the early settlers. When I knew him he was tall, 
 thin, and in poor health ; a mild, inoffensive man, who 
 attended to his own little business and let others alone ; 
 which, when rightfully considered, means a great deal. 
 He owned a narrow strip of land, not much wider than 
 his house lot, which extended to the swamp. He had 
 been a trader in Burr Street, I have heard, and was now 
 living in a very prudent way upon a small income, and 
 what could be produced from his land. A small addition 
 of one story had been built upon the south side of his 
 house ; the entrance door was opened occasionally, and re- 
 vealed a miscellaneous collection of articles which would 
 have delighted the heart of a dealer in junk ; old account 
 books, scraps of iron, broken tools, and apparently the 
 relics of several generations of Lords. An only daughter 
 married a Mr. Maxon, who was toll-gatherer at the bridge, 
 but who was more fond of hunting than strict attention to 
 business. He removed to Mississippi, where it is under- 
 stood his talent found full gratification. A son had pre- 
 viously removed to Buffalo. 
 
 Living next to Mr. Lord was Gurdon Wadsworth, a 
 farmer, and lineal descendant from William Wadsworth, 
 one of the company who came here with Mr. Hooker. 
 
 *I am told that on one occasion he was soliciting aid for some object, and 
 made his plea to several persons who were in Mr. Tuttle's store. Major Isliam 
 was among them and did not respond, so Mr. S., feeling that this was a case in 
 which he greatly rejoiced, specially addressed him; but the Major, who was irri- 
 tated, cried out "I won't hear you." "I swear you shall," said Joseph. Now it 
 so happened that the Major was in a corner, surrounded by barrels, boxes, and 
 bags, and could only escape through a narrow passage which was occupied by 
 the stalwart Joseph, who was not to be pushed aside. "I swear you shall," said 
 he to his helpless prisoner, and then he opened upon him all his batteries of sar- 
 casm and imprecation— and they were heavy ones — and for ten minutes probably 
 had more real enjoyment, in his way, and of its kind, than would satisfy most 
 persons for a lifetime. When he had finished, the Major was allowed to depart. 
 
The East Side. 39 
 
 His father, Samuel Wadsworth, resided near the north 
 corner of the present Asylum Street, was a farmer, sea- 
 captain, and for some time also kept a tavern there. I 
 suppose his son resided there after his father's death in 
 1798, and until he bought the place where he lived at 
 the time of his death in 1826. A few years of my 
 early boyhood were passed there, and are remembered 
 even now with exceeding pleasure. I am not writing 
 an autobiography, but necessarily must say something 
 about myself, for it concerns the life and manners of 
 the people of the time ; and many of the incidents and 
 recollections are just such as might have belonged to 
 most of the boys of the neighborhood. Though living 
 so near to the city that the habits of the people were 
 modified considerably by its proximity, yet many of the 
 old habits and feelings still remained. It is hardly 
 possible for the present generation to understand how 
 primitive they were. Not a few of them had traditions 
 which extended backward for many years, when the 
 population of the town was small, and its outskirts were 
 thinly settled. My grandfather was born in 1748 ; his 
 father Samuel in 1 7 16 ; his father Jonathan in 1686; 
 and his father Joseph, son of the first settler, in 1648. 
 Now, as Joseph died in 1730, my great-grandfather must 
 have known and talked with him, being then fourteen 
 years of age. So that it was almost as if the very 
 early history of the colony, with its troubles and hard- 
 ships, its traditions and peculiarities, its remembrances of 
 families, its stories about Indians, always "great Indians, 
 six feet or more in height," its firm belief in ghosts and 
 witches, in signs and superstitions of various kinds, were 
 then presented to us living in Hartford in 1825. 
 
 I think our tribe were accustomed to think and act 
 for themselves, as much as those who lived around 
 them, and were probably as incredulous as any of their 
 neighbors. But the belief in the marvelous, and the 
 things unknown but suspected, has come down to us 
 
40 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 through hundreds of generations, with a strength too 
 great to be put aside by many, even of our own time. 
 A full share of it fell to me from Rufus Watrous, our 
 hired man. Such stories as he told me about witches, 
 Indians who were cruel, "painters,"* who were ferocious, 
 hobgoblins and "jack o' lanterns," were enough to 
 frighten any little boy, to say nothing of some of 
 larger growth. "And what is a jack o' lantern, Rufus?" 
 "It is a witch with a light, which will hurt you; don't 
 ever follow it Gurdon, it will always get you in 
 trouble." "Did you ever see one, Rufus?" "Yes, once, 
 it came across the road, just above Jerry Graves's, and 
 went down east into the swamp. I watched it." "Why 
 didn't you follow it, Rufus ? " " Because it would have 
 led me into the mud and water, and into the river, 
 and I should have been ' drowned." His perfect faith 
 in other like superstitions was equally strong. Is it a 
 wonder that such early impressions have often lasted 
 until manhood, and even then are recollected with some- 
 thing of fear, if not believed in ? Such a dogmatic and 
 strong-minded old man as Dr. Johnson would tread the 
 pavements of London for years and be careful never 
 to step upon the cracks. 
 
 The old kitchen was long to be remembered, with 
 its monster fire-place and enormous logs, so large some- 
 times that they were rolled in with " handspikes " ; its old 
 "settle," with its box under the seat filled with odds 
 and ends and curiosities wonderful for the investigation 
 of a boy ; its old furniture, which would make some 
 women happy now, and perhaps a few men ; and strings 
 of dried pumpkin, and apples, and sausages after hog- 
 killing time. It is a homely picture, but was a home of 
 enjoyment and contentment which many might wish for 
 now. On special occasions, a compound of home-brewed 
 beer, and nutmeg, and sugar, and probably rum from 
 
 * Panther or Cougar, Felfs concolor; at the early settlement of New England not 
 uncommon, but long since disappeared. 
 
The East Side. 41 
 
 the West Indies, was made, and rendered more pala- 
 table by the use of a flip iron ; if this was not handy, 
 the end of a fire dog was equally efficient, and always 
 ready for use. In the long winter nights, before it was 
 time for me to be put to bed, the settle being drawn 
 before the door to keep off the draught, and the fire 
 burning brightly, I listened wonderingly, seated on 
 grandfather's knee, to story after story, about early 
 times and the Revolution, and bears and wolves, and 
 whatever would occur to him that would interest the 
 infant mind. One was no sooner ended than he was 
 entreated to "tell another," and so it went on, until 
 he became tired, or I was called away. 
 
 And I remember, too, when I had grown older, and 
 he, tired and wearied with work, had gone to bed in 
 an adjacent room, and saying his prayers aloud, I had 
 been reproved by an indulgent aunt, for some thought- 
 less talk, doubtless of a thoughtless boy. And I remem- 
 ber it too with more pleasure now, for he had not 
 always been a decidedly religious man, and had not come 
 to the acknowledgment of divine obligations until old 
 age was near. He was one of the early Methodists of 
 the. town, and had been "converted" under Mafht, who 
 was a noted preacher and revivalist of his time, and 
 who was often at the house with presiding elder, cir- 
 cuit riders, and other preachers. There is no reason to 
 suppose but that he continued in the faith, though some 
 expressions might occasionally drop out which indicated 
 earlier habits. But, good man, he meant no harm, and 
 will be judged by the intents of his heart. There 
 were some words which he would use to a lazy boy in 
 his employ, which were not understood by me, but 
 naturally were remembered, which he rattled off when 
 provoked, with a peculiar motion of the arm, and pro- 
 longed trill upon the first syllable. 
 
 So one day 1 tried it upon the same subject. He 
 6 
 
42 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 being near at fcand, heard my feeble imitation, and 
 was doubtless self-reproved, and chided me. "What, 
 what is that, Gurdon, you must n't say that." Of course 
 the impropriety was not apparent to me, and I never 
 could imagine what "w-h-u-sbud" stood for, until some 
 years after, when reading Tom Jones and Roderick 
 Random, which my aunt said I ought not to read. 
 
 Mr. Maffit was a wonderful man, and possessed quite 
 an influence here at one time. He was an Irishman, of 
 fine appearance, really handsome, very fluent, and by some 
 would be called eloquent ; the women liked him. His 
 imagination was lively, quite lively, it may be said ; a 
 small fissure in the lip was no disfigurement, but gave 
 his words a slight lisp, which rather added to their im- 
 pressiveness than detracted from their effect. The sen- 
 tences came forth with so much rapidity, and with so 
 much ease, that one could not refrain from listening. His 
 exhortations and appeals to the sinner were sharp and 
 direct, arousing the sympathy and enforcing the convic- 
 tion. His language was beautiful, for the terrors of the 
 law even were clothed with words so delicate and sweet 
 that no one could be prejudiced by their harshness. The 
 gift of oratory he certainly possessed, and used it with a 
 force and delicacy which were in marked contrast with 
 many of his brethren. He was exceedingly tender and 
 pleasant in his intercourse, and swayed the people, for the 
 moment, as no other man did. These opinions are formed 
 more from what I saw and knew of him some years after- 
 ward, when the judgment of the young man was better 
 than that of the boy. There lingered in my mind, how- 
 ever, a certain distrust which I would not listen to, and a 
 fear of heartfelt sincerity in his labors which I endeavored 
 to put away. He aroused the attention of all by his 
 actions, by his burning words, and by his beautiful figures 
 drawn from a mind highly imaginative. The thoughts of 
 the prophet Jeremiah might be there, but the words were 
 the words of the Song of Solomon. While he was earnest 
 
The Easi Side. 43 
 
 in his pleadings, there was a certain apparent calmr 
 about him, which was denied by his utterances, and by all 
 his surroundings. But there remained in the mind a faint 
 suspicion, which was checked as soon as it arose, that all 
 this fervor, and these glowing- words, and brilliant sen- 
 tences, might be mechanical, and the delight of a man who 
 was well pleased with himself. I say "a suspicion " which 
 ought not to have been mentioned at all, because it was 
 only one of a thousand thoughts which will force them- 
 selves into the mind of a young man, without reason to 
 form or sound judgment to confirm them. My impression 
 is that he did not sustain the early promise which was 
 made of him.* 
 
 The Methodists held their meetings for some time in 
 the old State House, which had been removed to Church 
 Street. They built a meeting-house on the corner 
 Trumbull and Chapel Streets, in 1820, and moved into it 
 before it was completed. It was of the plainest construc- 
 tion, but was as dear to their hearts as the houses of 
 religious worship were to our first settlers. They were 
 poor in purse, but rich in spiritual devotion. Each one 
 contributed of his little means, and so the building went 
 on, brick by brick, and timber by timber, they rejoicing 
 
 * Since writing- the above, I have read the following from the HU* 
 American Methodism bytl '.L.D.: "John X. Maffit, an Irish- 
 
 man, joined the itinerancy in 1822, and for some thirty one of the most 
 
 extraordinary and anomalous pulpit orators of the nation. As an elocutionist he 
 may be said to have been perfect in voice, and gesture unrivaled. To the last, 
 his arrival in any city produced a general sensation ; and no preacher, not even 
 Summerfield or Bascom, attracted larger multitudes. His style was Osseanic ; 
 agant to be real, but sustained by his elocution, seemed natural, and 
 
 *.-ven fascinating in the desk, and his discourses were always wonderfully 
 effective. He was eccentric, simple, and indiscreet as a child ; ' a para 
 one of his brethren, 'of goodness, greatness, and weakness. - The Spartan-like 
 severity of the elder ministry was perplexed with wonder and doubt before his 
 singularit: . 1 men could not question his usefulness, and they re- 
 
 luctantly tolerated his Hibernian peculiarities, and received through his labors 
 thou- He drew them in great penitent 
 
 crowds to the altars for prayers and religious counsels, and v. -here 
 
 successful A cloud came over his eccentric career at 
 
 Checked in the northern church, he found refuge in the southern, and died in 
 
 !e, mourned by many, impeached by not a few, but the wonder if no: 
 admiration of ali." ;.; 
 
44 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 as did the Jews at the rebuilding of their temple. The 
 picture comes before me now as a reality ; the two doors 
 on the east end, the pulpit between them on the inside, 
 the floor rising gradually to the west, the long slips, and 
 all the woodwork unpainted, the shavings of the carpen- 
 ters even as they left them, hanging from the unfinished 
 gallery, the walls unplastered, and the whole house open 
 to the roof, with its rough rafters, its timbers and braces, 
 all exposed to view. This particular stick was pointed 
 out to me as having been given by Strong Mather ; that 
 large one, of oak, by my grandfather ; and so on over the 
 whole building. They were the joyful contribution of 
 humble and devout men, and we boys took pride in the 
 contributions of our families. 
 
 For a time the men were seated on one side and the 
 women on the other. The dress of all was plain ; it was 
 a religious duty to put off all gay apparel ; the bright 
 colors were discarded and the sombre black or dull gray 
 were worn as only consonant with their Christian profes- 
 sion. Some of the men wore shad-bellied coats, without 
 collars, and many of the women wore bonnets which con- 
 cealed the face and were like those of Quakers. If they 
 should go into the churches of our day, they would be 
 cut to the heart right speedily. 
 
 The noisy demonstrations of a prayer-meeting in the 
 evening, or at the time of a revival, very naturally pro- 
 voked a disturbance on the outside, of men and boys of 
 the " baser sort " ; and the impudent tramping in and out 
 of thoughtless people of both sexes, during service, was 
 an annoyance which often led to attempts to arrest it. On 
 the outside, in front, might be found a howling mob, 
 very like that which is gathered by the Salvation Army. 
 On one of these occasions, it is reported that G. W. went 
 out with the intention of stopping the noise and driving 
 away the crowd. Mr. M afrit, finding that he did not re- 
 turn, followed him, and, seeing the fruitlessness of the 
 attempt, said : " Brother Wadsworth, let us go in and 
 
 
The East Side. 45 
 
 pray for them." So -undemonstrative an action did not 
 suit my grandfather, and he replied : " Brother Maffit, do 
 you go in and pray for them, while I stay here and flog 
 the rascals ! " My authority states that he prefaced " ras- 
 cals " with an emphatic adjective commencing with d. As 
 I was not there, it cannot be vouched for by me, but it 
 is possible that an old habit had recurred for this once, 
 under great provocation. 
 
 " Where have you been ? " said Robert Turner, when 
 his nephew came in rather late one evening. 
 
 " To the Methodist meeting, sir," he replied. 
 
 " Who did you see there ? " 
 
 " Gurdon Wadsworth." 
 
 " And who else ? " 
 
 " Asa Rogers." 
 
 "I don't believe it," he said, and directed him to go 
 to his bed. 
 
 The " Camp meetings " were recruited largely from 
 this neighborhood ; their location is not remembered, 
 though the preparation for them, in the way of food 
 and necessary household articles, is quite distinct in my 
 mind. Chauncey Burr's large two-horse wagon was loaded 
 with beds and bed furniture, culinary utensils, and what- 
 ever else was necessary for. comfort and support for a 
 week or ten days. It was as if families were removing 
 to the Genesee country, or the Western Reserve, and was 
 regarded not merely as a holiday excursion, but as a 
 religious duty ; though as near as can be remembered, 
 when the youngsters talked about it some time beforehand, 
 it was associated with " Election," " Fourth of July," and 
 " General training." This latter term brings vividly to 
 mind the great "training" in West Hartford, in 1824. 
 We went, that is, grandfather and myself, in his ox-cart, 
 and though the sham-battle was a terrific sight, yet the 
 way homeward was almost as interesting as any part of 
 that wonderful day. Before sundown the review was over 
 and crowds filled the road, hilarious, shouting, and driving 
 
46 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 their horses at full speed. " Get out of the way, old fel- 
 low, get out of the way ! " they cried, as they came up 
 racing- ; " give us the road " ; but G. W. paid no attention 
 to them, and the oxen plodded on slowly, turning neither 
 to the right nor to the left. So finally they were forced 
 nearly into the gutter, as they dashed by at full speed. 
 The silence and perfect equanimity of that old man 
 showed that he was master of the situation ; a light 
 buggy was not likely to gain much if it came in contact 
 with an ox-cart ; it was too much of a one-sided affair 
 altogether. 
 
 Watches and clocks were not very common ; the al- 
 manac assured us of the rising and setting of the sun ; 
 and the " noonmark," on the sill of the pantry window, 
 was a sufficient guide for the middle of the day. These 
 three factors being given, the other hours could be ad- 
 justed with enough of accuracy ; there was no need of 
 examining a watch every hour to satisfy a curiosity, or to 
 see if it kept perfect pace with the bell, at noon. 
 
 There are certain things which come to mind every 
 little while, which are mentioned, not as personalities, but 
 as pertaining to the domestic manners of the time. Some 
 earned a little money by "sticking" card teeth; this was 
 done mostly by women and children, the strips of leather 
 having been pierced by machinery, and the teeth bent in 
 proper shape, both sent out by Almansor Denslow. Noth- 
 ing remained except to stick the teeth in the holes, which 
 was quickly and easily done, and then they were ready 
 for any use in carding which might be desired. The long 
 strips of leather and boxes filled with card teeth were to 
 be seen in many houses, and this work was useful in 
 forming habits of industry and cutting off too many hours 
 of idle play. Though never learning this art myself, yet 
 no one need ever be ashamed of any honest labor which 
 is pursued from choice or necessity. 
 
 We were well clothed, though not as abundantly as 
 
The East Side. 47 
 
 now ; but what boy would wear shoes in moderate weather 
 if left to his own choice. The subject began to be can- 
 vassed early in May, and the luxury of " going barefoot " 
 was looked to with pleasant expectancy. Of course upon 
 Sundays, and when we had "company," we were required 
 to be well shod, but ordinarily the shoes were laid aside 
 in warm weather, though with some remonstrances from 
 mothers and aunts. Even when a heavy frost was on the 
 ground we went in the morning to cut pumpkins for the 
 cows, creeping along with half-frozen feet, trying in vain 
 to get a little relief from the cold by treading upon the 
 sides, instead of planting them down squarely. What a 
 ludicrous picture that would make ! With these rustic 
 pursuits one gets some new ideas, and some new sensa- 
 tions. With the thermometer below zero, on a January 
 morning, before sunrise, and almost before daylight, one 
 learns, to his surprise, when foddering cattle, how much 
 of cold there is in a solid and well polished fork's-tail. 
 
 The culture of flax had not been altogether aban- 
 doned ; the "brake" was in the barn, and the "hetchel" 
 was in the garret. Pulling it was hard enough upon the 
 back, but the seed was valuable, and the fiber very useful; 
 the little spinning wheels were to be found in most 
 houses, and if the thread was not woven at home, it was 
 still valuable as material for many domestic purposes. 
 Sheep were still raised, I think, for the nicely carded rolls 
 were yet to be seen in our house. There are some events 
 which fix themselves so firmly in the mind that they are 
 never effaced, although received in very early childhood. 
 My mother was spinning with the great wheel ; the white 
 rolls of wool lay upon the platform ; and as they were 
 spun upon the spindle, she turning the wheel with one 
 hand, and with extended arm and delicate fingers - held 
 the roll in the other, stepping backwards and forwards 
 lightly, till it was spun into yarn, it formed a picture to 
 me, sitting upon a low stool, which can never be forgot- 
 
48 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 ten. Her movements were every grace, her form was all 
 of beauty to me, 
 
 — "who opposite sat, and was watching her dextrous fingers." 
 
 The evenings were not all spent in story-telling, or in 
 reading. There were no corn-shelling implements then ; 
 what was not threshed out on the barn floor was shelled 
 by hand. That long-handled instrument called " a slice," 
 or "peel," used for removing bread from the oven, was 
 placed upon a half bushel ; seated upon it, the ears of 
 corn were drawn upward against the flattened and sharp- 
 ened end. Soon the measure was filled. A bushel in a 
 bag, evenly divided, was thrown upon the back of a horse 
 and taken to Todd's mill. I waited while it was ground, 
 and was somewhat proud when it was taken home. It 
 was prboably only an example of what was often done, 
 all through the Neck, and is a fair specimen of the prim- 
 itive customs which had survived till that time. 
 
 The large bed of coals in the kitchen fire-place were 
 carefully covered upon going to bed, and usually were 
 preserved until morning. Sometimes, however, they gave 
 out, and then in certain families the children were sent 
 around the neighborhood to "borrow fire." A few coals 
 on a shovel were never grudged, for it was a kindly 
 assistance, which every one might need. Matches were 
 not in use, for I have no recollection of them until 
 some years afterwards, when father removed into the 
 city. The first ever seen by me were from Paris, in 
 long round boxes, covered with red paper. The matches 
 themselves were tipped with red, into which phosphorus 
 entered as a part, and were dipped in a small vial con- 
 taining an acid, in one end of the box. Before these 
 came «into use, and when "borrowing" was not resorted 
 to, we used the tinder-box, and I became quite expert 
 in making the matches, dipping them in sulphur, mak- 
 ing the tinder, and supplying the flints. Of a cold 
 morning, in mid-winter, with no fire in the house, and 
 
The East Side. 49 
 
 when the fingers were stiff with cold, this was not 
 always a pleasure, especially when by an unfortunate 
 strike with the flint upon the steel, the edge of the 
 box was hit, and the tinder sent scattering over the 
 hearth. If a boy was ever justified in saying "darn it," 
 that was the time. 
 
 Nathaniel Patten owned a little farm just next to us, 
 extending as far north as Miss Patty Goodwin's, and 
 eastward down nearly to the swamp. He was a mer- 
 chant, dealing in dry goods, and lived in a house about 
 on the site of the ^Etna Fire Insurance building ; the 
 store was in one part of his house. He often drove up 
 to his farm in a chaise painted yellow, with a large 
 horse, whose head was checked so high that it would 
 now call remonstrances from the Humane Society. In 
 his blue coat, with brass buttons, and with his shirt 
 ruffles, he was a well-appearing man, dazzling to our 
 youthful eyes. Seemingly he enjoyed his "gentlemanly 
 farming," but would occasionally scold us because our 
 hens trespassed into his corn. It was a great astonish- 
 ment to me then that so slight an affair should cause 
 such a disturbance, and was never fully understood 
 until in after years when I learned how a few hens 
 could demoralize a whole neighborhood. Near the street, 
 between the present house of Thomas Martin and that 
 of F. L. Burr, there was a large pond always filled 
 with water. In winter this ■ was a favorite place for 
 skating. How many nights have I lain in bed and 
 heard the joyful shouts of the boys, " Peel away, peel 
 away, pom, pom, peel away," as they glided over the 
 ice — a terrible aggravation to a boy whose father told 
 him he was too small to be out there at night. In the 
 lower part of Patten's farm there was quite a patch of 
 open wood, which was often visited for nuts. " Patten's 
 Woods " was for many years a noted place for picnics, 
 pleasant exceedingly in the summer days, when the 
 7 
 
5° 
 
 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 wind blew up from the south refreshingly, as it does 
 in this valley, near the river. So quiet was this wood, 
 that some years afterward I saw, in the autumn, our 
 wild pigeons among the trees. The ground sloped from 
 them to the south, and on a sunny day in early April 
 it was a famous place for snakes, lured from their 
 winter retreats by the grateful warmth. 
 
 Miss Patty Goodwin lived in a small brick house, very 
 near where the Arsenal School-house now stands. She 
 was celebrated as a teacher for small children, and so 
 it was very proper that her occupation should be con- 
 tinued in the same place where she had devoted so 
 many years of her useful life. She lived alone, almost 
 solitary, except when her children were there ; " the 
 front room " was rarely opened and we knew little of 
 the house, except the kitchen, or living room, where 
 six or eight little tots might be found, sitting upon low 
 benches. The limited housekeeping which went on in 
 school hours did not interfere with our instruction, and 
 the whole was so home-like and comfortable that the 
 usual restraint and necessary order of a common school 
 was not regarded. Here we learned our letters, and 
 abs, and ebs, b-a-k-e-r, etc., and here were learned also 
 the use of the needle, and made patch-work quilts, 
 which were the admiration of our mothers, and were 
 as fairly to be entitled " crazy " as any of the present 
 day. Mrs. Walter Keney remembers the good dame 
 well, and often visited her on Saturday afternoons, 
 and so does Mr. Henry Keney, for all the letters which 
 he learned there, for the teachings which he received 
 in the use of the needle, and especially for the thump 
 upon the head with a large iron thimble on Miss Patty's 
 substantial finger.* 
 
 * My sister writes : " So you are thinking up the ' Up Neck ' situation of our 
 younger days ; hope your memory will take it all in. I have not forgotten my 
 first experience in going to the school which Miss Patty Goodwin kept in her 
 kitchen, in her little brick house ; nor with what impatience we listened to hear 
 the old hen cackle, hoping we might be the favored one to go for the egg. And 
 
The East Side. 51 
 
 An open lot, of considerable extent, owned by I. 
 Lord Skinner, lay between this house and the one 
 north. The lot was used as a pasture only, at this 
 time. It contained about twelve acres, and was pur- 
 chased of John Morgan in 1815. There were several 
 small ponds on it, very small ones, and generally dry 
 in summer. All the surroundings are firmly fixed in my 
 mind, because it was here that I first saw a snake 
 endeavoring to swallow a frog. It was a pitiful sight, 
 and the poor fellow seemed to appeal for help, as he 
 was being very slowly drawn down into the cavern 
 where all captivated frogs go. Whatever remained of 
 him outside of the door showed so much of terror, that 
 he was quickly liberated with a few blows of a stick. 
 The one-story brown house, with a gambrel roof, which 
 was formerly the alms-house of the town, on the north 
 border of this lot, was now occupied by several families. 
 Directly in front of it was the first milestone. This 
 location was about opposite the present entrance to the 
 North Cemetery. 
 
 T/iomas Marvin built a house just south of the 
 arsenal, a year or two before 1825. He was a shoe- 
 maker, and was noted for the swing of his arms as he 
 went down town for supplies. 
 
 The State Arsenal came next, a very plain building 
 with none of its present famous ornamentation. This 
 was erected in 1814. Thomas Cooley was the armorer. 
 
 A narrow lane, which now forms a part of Pavilion 
 Street, led off to the east four or five hundred feet to 
 the fine residence of Ichabod Lord Skinner. He was 
 educated as a clergyman, but resigned his charge be-, 
 cause he gave an impudent fellow a sound and deserved 
 thrashing, and did not feel that he could face his con- 
 
 with what swelling pride I walked home when the huge old ribbon bow was 
 pinned on my shoulder — mind, it was to be returned the next morning. Neither 
 do I forget that ugly boy, John Knox, who was such a terror to us children. 
 I fancy I can now see our yenerable teacher, in cap and specs, performing her 
 household duties diligently and patiently, not over annoyed by us kids." 
 
52 
 
 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 gregation again. " Lie there, divinity," he said, throwing 
 down his coat, after great provocation, and displayed 
 such "muscular Christianity" that his opponent soon 
 cried "enough." He owned quite an extensive tract of 
 land in this neighborhood, was active, enterprising, and 
 earnest in his efforts to develop it. He endeavored to 
 enlist the aid of the town in laying out a new road, 
 starting from the southern end of Village Street, and 
 continuing in a straight line until it came to the road 
 to Windsor, a little below the second milestone, and 
 opposite the Pool lot. As he owned a large part of the 
 land through which the road would pass, he erected 
 fences upon both sides of it, which were pulled down 
 in the night, as was supposed by some parties who 
 were hostile to the proposed venture. This process of 
 erection and destruction was repeated several times, and 
 the project never eventuated in anything practical, save 
 that by it Windsor Street was ultimately opened.* He 
 had expectations that this would be the great avenue 
 to the north, and that the houses on the old road, on 
 the high ground to the west, would be almost deserted. 
 Which expectations were as likely to be realized as 
 were those made when Franklin Avenue was opened, 
 
 * This road projected by Mr. Skinner was never completed. I well remember 
 the erection and destruction of fences in the line of this road, which probably 
 so discouraged him that the effort was abandoned. For I find an advertisement 
 in the American Mercury, Dec. 21, 1822, giving notice that at a session of the 
 Hartford County Court, November Term, A. D. 1822, " Upon the petition of John 
 Goodwin, Jr., and Return S. Mather, showing that upon the petition of Ichabod 
 Lord Skinner and others, for a highway from the north side of Main Street near 
 the house of Joseph Talcott deceased, running north so as to intersect the Wind- 
 sor road, said Court at March Term, A. D. 1815, established a part of said highway, 
 praying the Court that said highway may be discontinued, as by petition dated 
 the 31st day of Oct., A. D. 1822. Ordered, that this case be continued to the next 
 County Court, to be held at Hartford, in and for the County of Hartford, on 
 the fourth Tuesday of March, A. D. 1823," &c. 
 
 The case was brought before the court at the time appointed, "and the parties 
 and sd remonstrants being fully heard with their evidence and exhibits and 
 Counsel, the Court do find the facts and petition stated to be true, and that sd 
 Highway has become unnecessary for public use, whereupon this Court do order 
 and declare that the said road be no longer a public Highway, and that the said 
 Highway be and the same is hereby discontinued." 
 
 And so the "New Main Street" from which so much was expected, came to 
 its death. 
 
The East Side. 53 
 
 and was to rival the road to Wethersfield. Mr. Skinner 
 was born in Marlboro. In 1794, he was settled in North 
 Coventry, where he remained almost four years, and until 
 his resignation. He erected a fine house for his resi- 
 dence, and was undoubtedly a man of much energy and 
 talent. After his removal the house was unoccupied for 
 some time, but with the land was purchased by David 
 Watkinson, who also became the owner of much more 
 land in this neighborhood. Mr. Skinner left the city 
 and afterwards lived in Washington, being engaged in 
 various land operations, and died in Brooklyn in i860. 
 On Sundays his two daughters were driven to the Center 
 Church, with great regularity, in a chaise, by a colored 
 man seated on the bottom, both legs hanging on one 
 side. Henry Pratt, the father of the late Henry Z. 
 Pratt, lived here afterwards, for a few years. When 
 Harvey Hibbard opened the house for billiard players, 
 refreshing drinks, etc., in 1835 or thereabouts, he called 
 it the "Pavilion," which designation has since been re- 
 tained, and has given the name to the street leading 
 to it. T. L. Wright had a private school here for a 
 time. The Rev. Mr. Bird occupied it for many years 
 as a school for boys, and a most excellent school it 
 was too. The cider mill which was there in 1825 had 
 disappeared long before. It was there that we had our 
 apples ground, and there that the boys made useful a 
 piece of rye straw about a foot or so in length. 
 
 In 181 1, I. Lord Skinner quit-claimed to the town 
 " a certain piece of land lying in front of my Neck 
 lots, bounded east on said lots, south on heirs of Ash- 
 bel Spencer, late of Hartford, deceased, and west on 
 the Windsor road so called, being a piece cut off from 
 said lots by an alteration of the road from that place, 
 and for the purpose of making said alteration, contain- 
 ing three roods and fourteen rods of ground, as by the 
 survey of Aaron Cook made by order of the selectmen." 
 
 The road at this time ran farther to the west, near 
 
54 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 the house of George Church, curving- still farther west 
 to the house of Jeremiah Graves and Henry Grew, and 
 then turning- to the east, passed north in the present 
 general direction. 
 
 This confirms my impression about the evidences of 
 an ancient roadway, which were observed a little below 
 here, and which, probably entering the early but not 
 much marked road to Windsor, curved gradually towards 
 the northwest, passed along near where the old resi- 
 dences which I have mentioned were afterwards located. 
 It is hardly reasonable to suppose that this old road 
 would turn north abruptly, at a right angle, but would 
 curve gradually in this direction, just as a man passing 
 through some of our forests to the north, would turn 
 hither and thither, avoiding small ponds or ravines, or 
 fallen trees, but still keeping generally to the northerly 
 direction. 
 
 In 1825, from the Arsenal north, to the extent of 
 the property of Mr. Skinner, a row of maple trees stood 
 by the street line. These trees were then of considera- 
 ble size, indicating that they had been planted some 
 years previously, and probably about the year 181 1, 
 when Mr. S. gave to the town the deed of land which 
 has been mentioned. 
 
 And this particular locality is especially remembered 
 by me, Mr. A. E. B., because there was a settlement 
 between us, of relations which had become somewhat 
 strained. It was a peaceful settlement, for I could not 
 refuse to accept your denial of a reported charge which 
 had been made against you. In its way it was about 
 as important as some of the differences which arise 
 among States. A small " water-wheel " which I had 
 established just back of Harris Olcott's garden, in a 
 small stream of melted ice and snow,, had ceased to 
 perform its revolutions, and was gone to parts unknown. 
 You not infrequently, on your way to school, came 
 across lots, in this very direction. How natural it was 
 
The East Side. 55 
 
 to suppose that you were instrumental in its destruc- 
 tion. I do not say that the circumstantial evidence 
 would carry conviction in our courts, for too often con- 
 victions do not lie in that direction ; lying is rather 
 among the witnesses. But now, after all, please confess 
 if there was not some truth in the charge ; a long 
 time has elapsed, and you need not fear a confession; 
 come now, tell the truth, say frankly that you did do 
 it; probably it has troubled you much, lain heavily on 
 your mind, disturbed your sleep o' nights, and made 
 your days miserable; come, now, I'll forgive you. What 
 — no? you will not confess? Why, you have the same 
 expression, the compressed lips, the clenched fists, that 
 you had sixty-five years ago, up in the Neck, in front 
 of Jerry Graves's, near to the maple trees, in the month 
 of March, when a crowd of boys were around and anx- 
 ious to witness the usual termination of a dispute. 
 You are not half as complaisant as most of the old 
 women, who were charged as being witches by our 
 ancestors, who began by denying positively that the}^ 
 were witches, but being rather pleased as the supposed 
 possessors of wonderful powers, and being also remorse- 
 lessly worried and teased, finally confessed just what 
 their tormentors desired. 
 
 At some distance was the house of Julius Jones, 
 which is still standing, a number of rods from the 
 street; his wife is said to have been "a notable mid- 
 wife." 
 
 Nathan Wadsworth, a brother of Gurdon, was the 
 owner of the next house. He had, some years previous 
 to this time, resided at or near the old homestead of 
 his father, Captain Samuel Wadsworth, near the present 
 Catlin corner; my aunt said that the barnyard extended 
 to Main Street. His wife told me that it had been 
 arranged that his brother Gurdon should move them, 
 but that the particular day had not been agreed on. 
 One fine Monday morning he appeared with his ox- 
 
56 
 
 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 team, ready to load the family goods, and though she 
 protested that they were not ready, and had not thought 
 of moving on that day, yet the sturdy farmer declared 
 that he was there for that purpose, and " that they had 
 got to go," and they went. " Law," said Aunt Sarah, 
 "what could we do!" 
 
 Above this was the house of Captain George Cook, 
 which held a large and happy family of boys and girls. 
 From father down, and I presume from their grandfather 
 Aaron also, they were famous for hunting and fishing, 
 and interest in all social gatherings and innocent sports. 
 On Thanksgiving Days, when it was customary to shoot at 
 turkeys and chickens in the lane near the old "Slaughter 
 House " lane, which lane I suspect was one of the original 
 " roads to the Neck," the father could be found with his 
 boys with rifles and shot guns, as interested as any of 
 them, commenting in his quiet way, with a little hesitancy 
 amounting almost to stuttering, which was decidedly pleas- 
 ing. A " fish fry " was not complete unless some of the 
 Cook boys were there, to handle that great frying-pan, 
 large enough to hold a platter of fish. And who should 
 draw the net in " Skinner's Hollow," down in the meadow, 
 unless Jo, or George, or Sam, or some of the long list, 
 were there to manage it? Alas, not one of them remains; 
 but blood will tell, and a George of another generation is 
 present, to show us what good things may come out of 
 the meadow, besides grass and corn. How many years 
 black Joan remained in this hospitable family I know not, 
 but long after the period about which this story is being 
 told, she was there, a most faithful servant, always ready 
 to help the children of the school-house when in crowds 
 they poured into the old shed, at their nooning, all clamor- 
 ing for water at once. 
 
 Next to the house of Williain Cook was the Button 
 factory of Cook cV Church, who were ambitious young men, 
 and in 181 2 began the manufacture of gilt buttons of vari- 
 ous patterns. When the war ended, they were compelled 
 
The East Side. 57 
 
 to stop, and the building was unoccupied in 1825. Some 
 years afterwards it was moved to the south corner of 
 Kennedy Street, where it is now standing, and has been 
 converted into a dwelling-house. Samuel Church was a 
 brother of Joseph Church, and the father of the late 
 Lorenzo Church, who is well remembered by many of our 
 citizens. 
 
 The small brown house next to the factory was occu- 
 pied by John Goodwin. He had two daughters, Esther and 
 Abigail ; the former married James Ruggles, a tall and 
 striking fellow, the son of Nathan Ruggles, looking-glass 
 maker and gilder. The father was located in the building 
 now occupied by T. Sisson & Co., and was interested in 
 horticultural matters, having a public greenhouse in the 
 rear of his shop, and Judge Adams tells me he was one 
 of the corporators of a horticultural society. His son 
 James was a different man, and was one of a band of 
 actors who played in the wooden building which stood in 
 the rear of the Hartford Hotel. This place is well re- 
 membered, because Rufus Watrous took me th^re one night, 
 when the admittance was twelve and a half cents, and I 
 stood outside for some time, kicking my heels in the cold, 
 having only six and a quarter cents in my pocket. As the 
 house filled, the heart of the ticket-seller softened, and 
 going in I saw "Jim" Ruggles in regimentals, in all his 
 glory, a very long man, with a very long sword, cutting 
 and slashing in a manner sure to captivate a boy's heart. 
 And I afterwards saw a wagon load of his companions 
 driven off to the jail for violating some ordinance for the 
 public good. The other sister married Joseph Wait, a 
 printer, a very handsome fellow, with black hair, black 
 eyes, and bright cheeks, which attractions captivated too 
 many women. But Abigail was a good woman, for whom 
 I entertained quite a boyish affection, because she was so 
 pleasant, and then for a time she was our "school marm," 
 in the summer months. She lived happily with a daughter 
 in New York, and only died a few weeks since. 
 
58 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 Mr. A. E. Burr has very kindly given me his impres- 
 sions of Mr. Maffit, and of the early Methodist movements, 
 as follows : 
 
 "John Newland Maffit, the celebrated revivalist, came 
 to Hartford in the year 1820. There were not many Meth- 
 odists here then. They had no church edifice, and Mr. 
 Maffit began revival meetings in the hall of the House of 
 Representatives, in the State House, now the City Hall. 
 Meetings were held there Sundays and week days, but in 
 the evenings the meetings were held in the old Carriage 
 factory which was formerly the State House and removed 
 to the south side of Church Street, half-way from Main to 
 Trumbull Streets, in the year 1795. Mr. Maffit was then 
 about 26 years of age. His piercing eyes were black, as 
 was his hair, which he combed straight and close to his 
 head. It was smooth and shiny black. On the right side 
 of his upper lip was a large scar. He was of medium 
 size and height, and was called a handsome man. He was 
 certainly a remarkable man. He was a good elocutionist, 
 had a soft, musical voice, sang sweetly, and as an actor he 
 had no fault. On the stage his success would have been 
 complete. He was magnetic ; in his sermons he at once 
 held his audience in silent and profound attention. He 
 appealed to the sympathies, the fears, and to the personal 
 welfare of his hearers, in an eloquent manner, and fre- 
 quently there was a vein of true poetry in his sermons. 
 Beginning his sermon in hardly a note above a whisper, 
 he commanded silent attention ; then raising his voice to 
 its rich full volume he poured out anathemas upon Satan 
 and his works ; he held up in vivid colors the torments of 
 hell, and did not hesitate to call it by name and to depict 
 its horrible flames of brimstone heat, where unrepentant 
 sinners were doomed to dwell forever, " without a drop of 
 water to cool their parched tongues." Of the agony of 
 Christ upon the cross and his yearning desire to save sin- 
 ners, even those who haughtily rejected his overtures, Mr. 
 Maffit spoke in eloquent and pathetic terms. His invec- 
 
The East Side. 59 
 
 tive was severe, and his soft musical tones when express- 
 ing sympathy and love for' those who were seeking a re- 
 generation, were magnetic, and touched the excited feel- 
 ings of his hearers, many of whom fell from their seats as 
 if in a swoon. They were ' struck with conviction ' he 
 said. Then calling to the altar all who desired prayers 
 for their, salvation, he appealed to them in tenderest lan- 
 guage, urging them to pray, struggle, ' agonize ' for for- 
 giveness — and suddenly lowering his voice he would begin 
 to sing in remarkably sweet notes some appropriate 
 hymns. Then he prayed earnestly. The effect was felt 
 all through the audience, and the converts were many. 
 
 "In 1821 the Methodists began the construction of the 
 'First Methodist Episcopal Church in Hartford,' on Trum- 
 bull Street, near Main. In December of that year the 
 walls were up and the roof was on. There was no plaster 
 on the walls, no ceiling to cover the bare rafters. Plain 
 pine board seats were put in. The weather was cold, but 
 there was neither furnace nor stove. Here large audiences 
 crowded in and the revival was great. The large circular 
 altar was filled every evening with applicants for* prayers, 
 and Mr. Maffit passed from one to another, whispering an 
 encouraging word. To the women, placing his face close 
 to their bonnets, he would say, ' Pray, sister ; don't yield; 
 cling to the Saviour, He will redeem you.' One night, as 
 he was passing out of the door, at the close of the ser- 
 vices, a stout man struck a heavy blow upon Mr. Maffit's 
 chest, and said, sullenly, ' Now keep your face from 
 under my wife's bonnet.' The man had no good reason 
 for this assault, but he was not arrested. 
 
 " At these revival meetings Mr. Maffit denounced 
 ' pride ' as a besetting sin. The fashions of society were 
 condemned, and young ladies with trimmed bonnets were 
 pointed out from the pulpit, and warned that ' those roses 
 and ribbons on your bonnets, and your worldly pride, are 
 carrying you down to hell, young women ; repent, cast 
 away your fashionable attire, and be saved.' Most of the 
 
60 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 Methodist women, ignoring pride and fashion, wore stiff 
 Quaker drab ' scoop ' bonnets, with no trimmings, believ- 
 ing that the pearly gates would readily open to that sign 
 of the true faith, while they would not turn on their 
 hinges in the presence of a velvet bonnet trimmed with 
 bright ribbon, a rose-bud, or the plumage of a beautiful 
 bird. 
 
 " Mrs. Maffit did not agree with her husband in his 
 religious views. She was light-hearted, loved fashionable 
 attire, and was not always respectful to her husband. She 
 took pains to adorn and curl her hair and dress in the 
 fashion. Mr. Maffit appealed to her to regard the plain 
 dress and simple manners that he had urged upon his 
 church, and begged of her to please him at least ' half of 
 the time.' The next day she appeared with one side of her 
 head in curls and dressed in fancy style, while the other 
 side (Mr. Maffit's, she said) was brushed down smoothly 
 and in the plainest manner. Mr. Maffit was beaten, and 
 he surrendered ' his side ' of his wife's head to the fash- 
 ion and # pride of the day, dangerous as it was. It was 
 proverbial that she loved to torment her husband, and 
 repeatedly she attended services and ' made up faces ' at 
 him while he was preaching. There were clouds in the 
 household of the Maffits, where all should have been 
 peaceful and sunny. 
 
 " The church was poor then. It was all the leaders 
 could do to get subscriptions enough to erect the walls of 
 their new edifice. Among the subscribers was Mr. Strong 
 Mather, whose dwelling was 'Up Neck,' near to the 
 Windsor line, where one of his sons now resides. Mr. 
 Mather was a man of considerable worldly means, a well- 
 known and respected citizen. At first Mr. Maffit's elo- 
 quence, song, and admirable acting had won his good will, 
 and he furnished material, in brick, for building the 
 church. Finally there came a misunderstanding, and Mr. 
 Mather joined the Episcopal Church. He then demanded 
 pay for the material he had furnished. The Rev. Mr. 
 
The East Side. 6i 
 
 Spicer, a shrewd man, had become pastor of the church. 
 He claimed that Mr. Mather had subscribed |i,ooo in aid 
 of the church edifice. Mather denied this and sued the 
 church. The case came before the Superior Court, and 
 Mr. Spicer offered prayer at the opening of the trial. Mr. 
 Mather at once rose and left the court-room, saying that 
 he could not consent to remain there and hear the man 
 who was trying to plunder him appeal to the Almighty to 
 favor the plunder. But Mr. Mather was beaten in the 
 suit. 
 
 "In 1822, Mr. Maffit left Hartford for Boston. It was 
 several years later when he returned and remained a few 
 weeks. His smooth, black hair, was now puffed at the 
 sides, and parted and turned at the forehead in fashion- 
 able style. The barber's curling tongs had done their 
 work. But this time he failed to get up a revival, and 
 he preached a farewell denunciatory sermon. He said : 
 ' I have brought you face to face with the Saviour who 
 suffered and died to redeem your souls. I have carried 
 you up to heaven and presented to you the joys of that 
 blissful home in the presence of your Saviour. I have 
 carried you down to hell, where the lurid fires and forked 
 lightning spread over its confines, leap to the skies, and 
 forever burn the sinners who will not repent, but who 
 must receive the awful sentence at the last day, " Depart, 
 ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and 
 his angels." I have urged and warned you : as cold stones 
 you sit and listen, but do not come forward for prayers 
 and repentance. I wash my hands of your blood and 
 sins, and leave you to your inevitable fate. Farewell ! ' 
 And then Mr. Maffit left Hartford never to return, and 
 finally died with a cloud resting upon a character that 
 should have been exceptionally pure ; died of a ' broken 
 heart,' it was said, protesting his innocence." 
 
 Passing over the low grounds at the present Sanford 
 Street, we come to the house of John Spencer, which was 
 pulled down when Elijah Mather built upon the place. 
 
62 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 He was a very worthy man, a farmer and cattle dealer, 
 who had been unfortunate in his business, and was some- 
 what indebted to Captain Aaron Cook. Isaac Toucey, who 
 boarded with Mr. S., and was often seen taking his daily 
 walk Up Neck, in his blue coat with brass buttons, was 
 employed by Mr. Spencer to endeavor to adjust matters 
 with Captain Cook. Interest had been charged upon some 
 loans, which he said were not legal, were usurious in fact. 
 This aroused the anger of the captain, who said he had 
 never been called a "usurer before." How the business 
 was settled I know not, but though this family of Cooks 
 were prudent and thrifty people, there is no reason to 
 think that they took unwarranted or illegal liberties with 
 their neighbors. Captain Aaron was a surveyor, and was 
 the possessor of much real estate, and the charge of Mr. 
 Toucey was probably only one of the many methods pur- 
 sued by members of his profession who assume to say, or 
 intimate, unpleasant things in court as a lawyer, which 
 they would hardly attempt as gentlemen out of it. 
 
 Though Captain Aaron was fond of field sports, yet 
 they were not allowed to interfere with business. His son 
 George came in one day and asked his father if any gen- 
 tlemen had called there inquiring for him, and was 
 answered "No." It seems that an appointment had been 
 made for a hunt with Mr. Elmer, who was to bring his 
 hounds, and George was disappointed that the engagement 
 had not been kept. Some time afterwards, finding that 
 the hunters had called for him but were told that George 
 was not at home, he approached his father, to obtain an 
 explanation. "Why," said Captain Aaron, "you asked if 
 any gentlemen had called for you ; no one called but 
 Elmer with his hounds ; do you call that fellow a gentle- 
 man ? I call him Hound Elmer ; " and so the son was 
 allowed to reconcile the statements as well as he could. 
 
 It was some distance to the next house, occupied by 
 Allyn Goodwin, a silver-plater and manufacturer of silver 
 spoons. A small shop, directly south of him, was also oc- 
 
The East Side. 63 
 
 cupied by a Mr. Wadsworth, from New York, where cloth- 
 covered buttons were made at one time for Wyllis King - , 
 who afterwards removed to St. Louis. The unoccupied 
 land, from Spencer's to Goodwin's, was farming land, be- 
 longing- to different persons. It was here that the pro- 
 jected road of I. Lord Skinner, called New Main Street, 
 entered the Windsor road ; and here was the Tomlin lot ; 
 and just north of it was the second mile-stone, a few rods 
 south of the residence of Charles Mather. 
 
 There was, in the upper part of the Neck, a region 
 called " Middlesex " ; the bounds were not very well de- 
 fined, but may be considered as extending from the second 
 mile-stone to Strong Mather's. There was quite a little 
 settlement here, and if a stranger asked where William 
 Wadsworth lived, or Moses Goodwin, the answer was, 
 " up in Middlesex." A neighborly, good-natured race lived 
 there, who were kindly affectioned to one another, and 
 who enjoyed themselves, in their way, quite as well as 
 those who resided farther south in the city; and the char- 
 acter of the region was not' injured, nor its genial spirit 
 impaired, when Joseph Pratt some years afterwards moved 
 into the house formerly occupied by William Wadsworth. 
 Miss Margaret Goodwin has told me of many incidents 
 pertaining to good fellowship in this neighborhood. The 
 peculiarities of each one were well understood, and some- 
 times repeated in personal " hits," as follows : 
 
 " Greeii drinks sling clean, 
 Goodwin winks his eye, 
 In comes Clapp, and hits him a slap, 
 Dickinson is always dry." 
 
 Goodwin had a habit of winking his eyes when talking; 
 the allusion to Clapp was to some occurrence in which 
 he was engaged ; and Green and Dickinson were remem- 
 bered for some peculiarities which were personal to them. 
 Moses Goodwin kept many swarms of bees, and made 
 much metheglin from the honey. It was so well known, 
 
Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 and so meritorious, that many citizens paid him frequent 
 visits. I refrain from mentioning the names which have 
 been given me, of gentlemen from the city who drove up 
 of a fine morning, to take a raw egg with their metheglin, 
 before breakfast. 
 
 We have now arrived at the buttonball trees which 
 seemed then to be almost as large as they are now. 
 Here Moses Goodwin resided ; the house was painted red, 
 and was a fair specimen of many of the country houses 
 of the olden time, with its huge chimney in the middle, 
 its "lean-to," and the roof running from the ridge nearly 
 to the ground on the east. The low ceiling in these 
 houses was very general, and was hardly seven feet from 
 the floor. Some were seen by members of the Historical 
 Society, in their late excursion to Deerfield, built by the 
 earliest settlers, which were less than this, which would 
 brush the hair of some of our tallest men in town if they 
 entered them without stooping. It was probably the 
 design of the builders to easily warm the house, and no 
 great harm was done, as the huge fire-place kept the 
 room well ventilated. Mr. Starkweather says that it is 
 reported this house was built in 1709, and it is still in good 
 preservation, with its new clapboards, and its new coat of 
 paint, and its cosy well-kept rooms ; it is a very neat and 
 comfortable place indeed. Miss Margaret Goodwin lived 
 here, having inherited it from her father, Moses Goodwin, 
 and it is one of the few instances in which house and 
 land have remained in one family for many generations. 
 From her I obtained much information ; though she was 
 86 years of age, yet her memory was remarkably good, so 
 that she could recall events, names, and dates, with a 
 readiness not usually found in aged people. She was 
 erect as a young lady in her teens, patient and cheerful, 
 though she had lost her sight, intelligent, and ready to 
 converse about the times of old, which seemed to her, as 
 is most natural, better than those of the new. And as 
 she spoke pleasingly of the men and women of the past, 
 
The East Side. 65 
 
 of the kindly, hospitable, and enjoyable manner in which 
 they lived, it was easy to realize that with less of rush 
 and show and glitter, there was still a great degree of 
 comfort enjoyed by our ancestors. If she expressed re- 
 grets at the loss of her sight, it was that she was unable 
 to read, to see the blue skies, and the beautiful flowers in 
 her garden. Since these sketches were written she has 
 passed away, gently and peacefully, so that it was almost 
 impossible to tell when she had gone. Though my 
 acquaintance with her was limited, it still remains as a 
 comfortable example of how a Christian need not fear to 
 die, and how happy one may be if he realizes that " con- 
 tentment is great gain." 
 
 Next to this was the house of William Goodwin, now 
 occupied by Thomas Gates. Then followed Abner Wads- 
 worth ; and next to him, on the corner of the road leading 
 into the meadow, William Wadsworth. There was in this 
 vicinity a small house occupied by Thankful Cook, " a mid- 
 wife, the best in those days." 
 
 George Wadsworth, a brother of Gurdon and Nathan, a 
 distant relative of his neighbors of the same name, lived 
 at the north corner of the meadow road. Benjamin Allyn, 
 the father of the late Richard J., married one of the 
 daughters, and Russell Wildman another ; the only son, 
 George, died in Baltimore and was never married. It is 
 with this family of Wadsworths, as with many others, that 
 there is not now living a single direct descendant in our 
 male line, through Samuel Wadsworth, though through the 
 female branches quite a family might be gathered 
 together. 
 
 North of him lived Return Strong Mather, always called 
 Strong Mather, a man of very marked character, and the 
 father of a large family, some of whom still survive. He 
 was an extensive farmer, and was in better pecuniary cir- 
 cumstances than some of his neighbors. It might not be 
 proper to say that he was obstinate, or self-opinionated, 
 9 
 
66 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 but every one knew that when he had a matter fairly- 
 settled in his mind, there was no possibility of moving him 
 from it ; and perhaps the same might be said of him, 
 when he, in the opinion of others of course, had not fairly 
 considered it. For, men of this mental formation are so 
 often the victims of their own prejudices, or suspicions, 
 that they come to conclusions without much thought of 
 justice or propriety. He was a Methodist, and contributed 
 liberally to the building of the church in Trumbull Street. 
 Whether he thought his aid gave him a claim to more 
 consideration, or what is more probable, that his opinions 
 were not universally regarded, is not known ; but he be- 
 came so offended that he left his brethren, and connected 
 himself with Christ Church. He was not the first man 
 who, finding that he could not " run " a religious society, 
 has gratified himself by running away from it. 
 
 The strifes and contentions about slight differences in 
 opini on which characterized the religious body from early 
 colonial times, and were continued through many genera- 
 tions, have not ceased in our day, and will not cease in 
 the future, until men have more tolerance for the opinions 
 of others, and insist less upon matters not vital to Chris- 
 tianity. When the hearts of men are thoroughly imbued 
 with the precepts of our Saviour, there will be found that 
 " unity " for which they have so long prayed. 
 
 But his children, whom I have known for many years, 
 and with some of whom I attended school, in the old 
 school-house yet to be described, have been most worthy 
 and patient people, whose acquaintance and friendship it 
 has been a pleasure to enjoy. 
 
 Thomas Wadsworth lived in the next house north ; and 
 perhaps Asa Rogers lived here also, or somewhere in the 
 neighborhood. He was a farmer, a Methodist, and 
 the father of William, Asa, Jr., and Simeon, all Methodists, 
 and all silver platers. The singing of Asa, Jr., with his 
 head thrown far backwards, his whole soul being engaged 
 
The East Side. 67 
 
 in it, was a sight to be remembered, and a song to be 
 heard. 
 
 The large house still standing next to this was owned 
 by John Marsh, a substantial citizen, who died at an ad- 
 vanced age not many years ago. The line between the 
 towns of Hartford and Windsor passes near or through 
 this house, but I have never known that any of this fam- 
 ily have ever found it convenient to take sudden advan- 
 tage of it. He was quiet and gentle, much attached to 
 old manners and customs, fond of his home, his land, and 
 all that he possessed. He was noted for the excellent 
 care which he gave to ■ his animals, so that if any were 
 offered for sale they were sure to be the fattest, the sleek- 
 est, and the best in the market. When he brought a fine 
 yoke of cattle down town, the admiration of all who saw 
 them, and was asked upon what they had been fed, he 
 would reply in his quiet way, " O, nothing." When the 
 railroad to Springfield was being surveyed he was much 
 disturbed because it was proposed to pass through his 
 land. Like our Southern brethren, he wished "to be let 
 alone." He had lived for so many years in the home of 
 his ancestors without change, that he could not be recon- 
 ciled to the rushing of railroad trains through his lots. As 
 no agreement could be come to, the land was taken by ap- 
 praisal, and the money tendered to him in payment. But 
 he refused to 'take it, and it lay for a few years in the 
 Exchange Bank to his credit. ' Finally, being urged by a 
 friend to withdraw it, who told him thafe he could still 
 entertain as much spite as ever against the railroad, and 
 after deliberation, he consented and took it. 
 
 The last house in Hartford on the east side of the 
 road, and which appears to stand off in the meadow, was 
 occupied by Hezekiah Marsh. 
 
V. 
 
 THE WEST SIDE. 
 
 "" ET us return to the south, and pass up the west side 
 f of the road. But first let us consider the topography 
 __] of the land about the Tunnel, which is quite differ- 
 ent from that of many years ago. A culvert crossed the 
 road just south of or near McRonald's greenhouses, and 
 the water flowed southwest through Samuel Marsh's lot, 
 and across the Albany road, into Norman Butler's large 
 pasture, and then into Little River. The culvert was from 
 four to five feet below the present road-bed ; this depres- 
 sion extended east, in the direction of the railroad tracks, 
 but the flowage of water was wholly to the southwest. 
 
 If we look south we see that the large and ancient 
 house lately occupied by Nathaniel Goodwin, stands upon 
 an elevation of at least ten feet above the road, which 
 anciently curved to the south, and the house was then at 
 right angles to it. This was before the Albany Turnpik 
 was opened, and standing as far down as Trumbull Street 
 we can see what a curve would be made if the line was 
 carried up so far as to meet the west line of the highway 
 to Windsor. The Goodwin house was originally entered by 
 but a few steps, and the ground sloped gradually to the 
 east on the Ely lot, and to the north also, where the culvert 
 was built. The southeast corner of the Normand Butler lot 
 was much lower than the highway, within my remembrance, 
 and the lot was protected by a common post and rail 
 fence. If we look at the three-story wooden house 
 formerly occupied by Wm. Ely, we can judge how much 
 
 
The West Side. 69 
 
 the street has been lowered there ; and this is shown also 
 by the old Daniel Moore and the old Keney house. The 
 ground gradually rose on the north after passing the cul- 
 vert. Thus we find that the surface line was originally 
 quite different from the present one, and that the Goodwin 
 house was on quite an elevation, which sloped gradually 
 to the east and north, as it did to the west also, across 
 the present Ann and High Street and school-house lot 
 into the pasture. 
 
 The store of E. & R. Terry stood at the corner of 
 Windsor and Albany roads.* It was of two stories, built 
 of wood, and surrounded by a number of storehouses so 
 that a large stock of goods was always kept on hand, to 
 supply their very extensive trade. That it was extensive 
 will be recognized when we state that their customers 
 came from as far north as Greenfield, Brattleboro, and 
 even Bellows Falls. There was quite a transportation 
 then in scows or flat-bottom boats up the river. When 
 the water was low their cargoes were unloaded and carried 
 in carts or wagons around Enfield Falls, Bellows Falls, 
 and Wilson's Falls. This was tedious and costly, and led 
 to improvements in after years. There was a large trade 
 also with the northern part of Litchfield County, and the 
 lower part of Berkshire County. Few of our citizens can 
 now realize the great number of country teams which 
 were pouring into town through the Albany road, from 
 early morning until afternoon. At that time they had dis- 
 posed of their produce, and, loaded with plaster, salt, and 
 groceries of all kinds, were wending their way homeward. 
 Much of this business was done in the winter, when there 
 was snow on the ground. It is said that there was a tav- 
 ern for every mile between the city and New Hartford ; 
 so calculating their time judiciously, they would stop at 
 
 * In a survey made by Aaron Cook, County Surveyor, in the interest of the 
 Hartford Bridge Company, October, 1814, this is called Church's Corner. I am 
 indebted to Mr. Thomas Martin for an examination of this map. 
 
70 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 one of these over night both in coming and going, because 
 they. were less expensive than those of the city.* 
 
 Eliphalet and Roderick Terry were brothers, and came 
 from Enfield about the beginning of the century. The 
 latter was the younger, and for a time acted as clerk, but 
 soon was taken into partnership, and the firm of E. & R. 
 Terry, which lasted many years, was well known all over 
 this part of the country. 
 
 They were both of them sharp and enterprising men, 
 well fitted for their business ; but they did not have all 
 the trade to themselves, for though being at the head of 
 the line, thus having the advantage of position, they had 
 active competitors farther down the street. The thrifty 
 and prudent countryman liked to run the gauntlet, and in- 
 quire the prices, before selling. The Terrys dealt in 
 plaster, salt, sugar, molasses, codfish, tea, coffee, spices, 
 rum, gin, brandy, and all that lot of miscellaneous articles, 
 which were needed for the country store, or for the fam- 
 ily. The use of alcoholic stimulants, while not greater 
 than at present, was much greater among a certain class, 
 
 * The following list of taverns between Hartford and New Hartford is given 
 me by Mr. Keney : 
 
 1. Joseph Pratt, just north of Asylum Street. 
 
 2. Joseph Pratt, Jr., afterwards kept by Daniel St. John. 
 
 3. Daniel M. Cooley, opposite Goodrich's drug store. 
 
 4. Samuel Moore. 
 
 5. James Goodwin, just west of Gully Brook. 
 
 6. Lemuel Howlett, corner Albany and Blue Hills roads. 
 
 7. Elisha Wadsworth, corner Albany road and Prospect Hill. 
 
 8. Barney Collins, West Hartford Four Corners. 
 
 9. Aaron Goodman, West Hartford Four Corners. 
 10. Major Whiting, West Hartford Four Corners, 
 ii. Erastus Phelps, at toll-gate. 
 
 12. Major Marshall, foot of the mountain. 
 
 13. Francis Woodford, Avon. 
 
 14. Obed Higley, opposite Woodford's. 
 
 15. Hosford, Canton. 
 
 17. Zenos Dyer, Canton. 
 
 18. Thomas Bidwell, Canton. 
 
 19. Samuel Merrills, near Satan's Kingdom. 
 
 20. Wilcox, Pine Meadow. 
 
 21. General Cowles, of New Hartford, a very noted place, where passengers 
 for Albany took breakfast, having left Hartford at 2 o'clock in the morning. 
 
The West Side. 71 
 
 who thought it was necessary to keep their generous stores 
 for the sake of hospitality and good fellowship. It was 
 thought especially necessary to lay in a supply "to go 
 through haying," for what farmer would venture to send 
 his men into the field without furnishing regular rations 
 of rum or gin ? Rum was upon the whole much preferred, 
 because it was so "cooling" in hot weather, and then it 
 was " warming " in the winter when the men went into 
 the woods "chopping." It was as great a discovery as 
 that made by the Arkansas quack, whose wonderful bark 
 would vomit if the wood was scraped upwards, and would 
 purge if scraped downwards. At these times a hogshead 
 of rum, placed upon the sidewalk, was sure to be pumped 
 dry before night, in filling kegs, jugs, and bottles. Now, 
 these bottles were not small affairs of glass, holding a half 
 pint, or quart, but were made of wood, hooped with iron, 
 sometimes with brass and of generous capacity, holding from 
 a gallon upwards. There was a hole in one side, with a 
 well-fitted stopper of wood, which kept its place well, until 
 the bottle was elevated in the air, and a pair of lips were 
 placed under it. Some of these bottles were very ancient 
 in appearance, and I have no doubt had gone down from 
 father to son, one generation after another, and very 
 likely the bottle triumphed at last. Cider brandy was 
 brought into the city in great quantities and shipped 
 mostly to New York ; apples were raised in abundance 
 and were made into cider ; it was a part of the farmer's 
 business and relied upon as one of his means of support. 
 After calculating how much would carry him through the 
 year — and he was generous in his calculations — the over- 
 plus was taken to the distillery, and made an article of 
 merchandise, and bought and sold by our merchants in 
 town, without a suspicion of wrong-doing, just as their 
 grandfathers before them had bought and sold 'men, 
 women, and children. It may surprise many to learn that 
 cider brandy was sold at as low a price as twenty-two 
 cents a gallon. It does not often come to any community 
 
72 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 to put their stamp of disapproval even upon a great evil, 
 at its first conception. It begins its life so insidiously, and 
 is linked in with so much "respectability," that it meets 
 with tolerance, or general approval, before men recognize 
 how dangerous it is. And we may pardon some of the 
 sins of our ancestors, and not hold them up to everlasting 
 reproof, when it is possible that our descendants will 
 blame us equally, for our degrading sin of drunnkeness 
 and the awful destruction of human life by violence. 
 
 There was a small sign nailed on the store, of " Cash 
 or Salt for Flaxseed." Flax was then in general cultivation, 
 and the seed was readily bought by our merchants. It 
 was no uncommon thing for 100 tierces, or 700 bushels, to 
 be shipped at one time ; it mostly went to New York, 
 and the farmer was glad to exchange it for salt which he 
 greatly needed. 
 
 The competition between buyers was great ; the 
 farmer was master of the situation, and though it was 
 supposed there was a standard price for flaxseed and for 
 salt, yet occasionally the merchant would drop into the 
 barrel or bag, a pint or a quart more of salt than some 
 of his neighbors, "just for the sake of a trade, you know." 
 The stories which have come down to us about some of 
 these men, all dead long ago, show that these lasted 
 longer than a lifetime, and also show the active com- 
 petition which then existed. 
 
 Eliphalet Terry lived in a house just north of and very 
 near his store ; it was occupied for several years after he 
 left it by different persons, among them Dr. J. L. Corn- 
 stock, and was finally removed to the corner of Brook and 
 Pine Streets, where it still stands. 
 
 The Terrys were men of note in the town ; though 
 somewhat different in temper, yet both were highly re- 
 spected, and were identified in various ways with interests 
 of importance. Eliphalet was president of the Hartford 
 Fire Insurance Company, and Roderick was president of 
 
The West Side. 73 
 
 the Exchange Bank, which positions they retained until 
 the time of their deaths. 
 
 It is related of Eliphalet Terry, that he pledged his 
 fortune in raising money to pay the losses of the company 
 by the great fire in New York in 1835. The losses were 
 promptly met and the insurance company was carried 
 safely through. His boldness and courage were rewarded 
 by a large increase of business and the establishment of a 
 reputation which the company has ever maintained. 
 
 He was very influential in obtaining subscriptions for 
 the theological seminary at East Windsor. When he ap- 
 plied to A. S. Beckwith he was told " that he would think 
 of it, but what security would he give ? " Mr. Terry re- 
 plied that " he would give him a draft upon the Lord." 
 Meeting him some time after, Mr. Beckwith said, " I have 
 been down to the bank of your brother, and find that the 
 Lord keeps no account there." 
 
 He was a strict observer of Sunday, and believed in 
 enforcing the law against ordinary labor on that day. 
 Living as he did so near the junction of the two great 
 lines of travel into the city, he could not avoid observing 
 many instances when, in his opinion, the law was broken. 
 Hartford was an important market for cattle and horses 
 and mules, for shipment to the West Indies. Not infre- 
 quently, being near their journey's end on Sunday, their 
 owners would endeavor to drive them to the slaughter- 
 house or stables, but they little knew the positive and 
 perhaps autocratic man they were to meet at the corner. 
 " Run down to brother Seth," said he, " and tell him to 
 stop this drove," and they were stopped. 
 
 Few of us now remember the great number of emi- 
 grants' wagons which passed through the town on their 
 way to the west. Large, heavy, and canvass covered, they 
 held the household goods, and gods, and goddesses, with a 
 large brass kettle swinging from the hind axletree. I have 
 seen just enough of these to understand the description, 
 
74 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 and to realize how this has been repeated by one genera- 
 tion after another, until the " prairie schooner " has passed 
 even beyond the Rocky Mountains. On one Sunday Mr. 
 Terry saw one of these huge wagons passing down the 
 road, violating the law in his opinion. It was the usual 
 order : " Run down to brother Seth, and tell him to stop 
 this wagon ; " and brother Seth, who was a justice of the 
 peace, felt bound to regard the complaint made to him. 
 But "brother Seth," who as an officer was regardful of 
 the law, doubtless entertained, and I feel pretty certain 
 that he did, very different opinions as an ordinary man. He 
 was wholly unlike his brother Eliphalet, was more liberal 
 in his views, had an excellent fund of common sense, was 
 wonderfully honest, and had that happy balance of mind 
 and judicious discernment which enables some men not 
 to observe some things which are not exactly right, but 
 whose recognition brings more of harm than of good. 
 And he had also that which neither of his brothers pos- 
 sessed, especially the elder, an infinite fund of humor, 
 which showed itself in expressions the most quaint with a 
 countenance and manner the most sober. Anyone who 
 knew the late J. G. E., and how highly he regarded Mr. 
 Terry, will realize how much he must have possessed of 
 kindness and good fellowship to have won the good 
 opinion of so reticent and eccentric a man. 
 
 And so the big covered wagon was turned into the 
 yard of the tavern below, to remain until the journey 
 could be resumed on Monday. Robert Turner heard of 
 it, and expostulated with his neighbor Eliphalet ; it was 
 a great trial to these people, who were probably poor, 
 and could not well bear this additional expense. " What 
 would you do ? " said Mr. Terry. " Do ? " said Robert, 
 " Do ? I would give them half a dollar and send them 
 along." 
 
 Anson Gleason, who worked in the tool shop of 
 Leonard Kennedy, and afterwards went as a missionary 
 among the Indians at the West, complained to Nathaniel 
 
The West Side. 75 
 
 Goodwin that his neighbor, Robert Turner, was making 
 hay on Sunday. Mr. G. was a justice of the peace, and 
 was therefore a proper officer to consider the matter, so 
 he said, " This is very wrong, Mr. Gleason, very wrong ; 
 it must be seen to," and sent him away. But with that 
 spirit of judicious liberality which characterized him, he 
 doubtless considered that his neighbor would do nothing 
 which could be considered as an infraction of the law. 
 
 So Mr. Gleason applied to Judge Peters, who replied 
 that he had not qualified as a justice, and besides, he 
 could not consent to act, as there were his neighbors 
 Sam Marsh and Tom Belden, who would work on Sun- 
 day, and he should be compelled to notice them. And 
 then, he was obliged occasionally to make hay himself 
 on the same day, so that he had better get another to 
 bring the action. 
 
 North of him was Samuel Marsh, who had been a 
 merchant, but had failed in business. The house was 
 of some pretension, with a wide hall and large stairway ; 
 the railing and balusters were of some dark wood highly 
 polished and carved, and would have delighted the heart 
 of any antiquarian. I only remember them when, as a 
 physician many years afterwards, I climbed the easy 
 steps, the treads broad and the risings low, and the 
 carved wood was as black as ebony. In early times, I 
 am told, that it was not easy to arrest one who was in 
 debt, if he kept within his own house. Unfortunate Mr, 
 Marsh happened to be in debt to the Cowles' of Farm- 
 ington, and they could not get their money, and so 
 closely did he keep himself that they could not arrest 
 him. Finally the sheriff, disguised as a peddler of rye 
 flour, made him a visit, and offered some of it for sale. 
 So honest a looking farmer was he, that Mr. Marsh 
 threw off his usual caution, and left his house to look 
 at the flour in the wagon ; and then the "honest far- 
 mer" at once became the ingenious sheriff, who arrested 
 and put him in jail. This was in the days when im- 
 
76 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 prisonment for debt had not been abolished, when a man 
 who owned no property by his own account, but was sup- 
 posed to have concealed it, could be put in jail. If he 
 swore that he owned nothing he could be let " out on 
 the limits," as it was called. These were well specified, 
 and rather narrow, but woe to the unfortunate debtor if 
 he went beyond them. So Mr. Marsh took the oath, 
 and was " on the limits " for some time ; it gave him 
 fresh air and exercise, and opportunity to roam about a 
 small part of the city, but he was not able to reach his 
 own house. I remember many times seeing men walk- 
 ing slowly about, who, the boys said, were " on the 
 limits." They were confined or restrained as long as the 
 creditor would pay the debtor's board, which meant as 
 long as he felt decidedly mad ; and the anger of some 
 of them continued for a long while. 
 
 There is a story current, that Mr. Marsh, while on 
 the limits, hired or bought, or procured to be purchased 
 for him, a small house just south of the old jail, where he 
 dwelt, and so escaped the confinement in prison. A 
 friend relates that being at one time in that neighborhood, 
 he saw Mr. Marsh in this house, rocking in his chair, as if 
 in perfect enjoyment. The expedients of some persons to 
 avoid payment of a debt would seem to be greater than 
 to pay the debt itself. 
 
 Farther north, where Warren Rowley now lives, was 
 Michael Olcott, a retired merchant, who had formerly been 
 engaged in the West India trade. He was tall, of good 
 appearance, gentlemanly in his manner, and a sound 
 churchman. He was one of the wardens of Christ church 
 from 1813 to 1818. He was also one of thirty-four per- 
 sons who in 1796 "agreed to join and associate themselves 
 into a religious society by the style and title of the 
 Episcopal Society of the City of Hartford, under the 
 direction and government of the Right Reverend Bishop 
 of Episcopal Clergy." The house in which he lived is 
 now standing in good preservation, on the corner of Main 
 
The West Side. 77 
 
 and Belden Streets, about 200 feet back from the road. 
 Formerly there were a number of large mulberry trees 
 about it, which furnished abundant fruit for birds — and 
 boys. He was at one time quartermaster-general of the 
 State, and major-commandant of the Governor's Horse 
 Guard. He had three sisters, one of whom married the 
 Rev. Dr. Barry of New Jersey, the father of the late Dr. 
 James W. Barry of this city ; the others lived with him. 
 He died in May, 1829. 
 
 Among the papers of Mr. Olcott was found the bill, 
 a fac simile of which is given (see page 78). 
 
 Thomas Burkett was, I suppose, the sexton appointed 
 by the town. Mr. Parker finds no mention of him "in 
 the records of the First Ecclesiastical Society from 1780 
 to 1820." The only reference to him that I discover, 
 after a not very thorough examination of the town 
 records, is the following, which would indicate pretty 
 clearly that he was the sexton employed by the town, 
 and had the care of the cemetery near the meeting- 
 house. At a town meeting January 25, 1803, Voted, 
 "That the sum of forty shillings lawful money be al- 
 lowed Mr. Burkett for ringing the Bell in addition to 
 the sum usually allowed him." Very likely "blax bets" 
 was, or had been a slave in Mr. Olcott's family ; the 
 spelling of words in the bill was not worse than that 
 of some of the clerks of the school districts. 
 
 Thomas Belden occupied the house on the north cor- 
 ner of Belden's lane. It was built for him by Colonel 
 Samuel Belcher about 1807 or 1808, and the reported 
 cost was $5,000. It is a stately mansion, still standing, and 
 is in wonderfully good condition, a credit to the builder, 
 who was one of the best workmen of his time. Mr. 
 Belden was originally a pump-maker, near the river, and 
 resided in Ferry Street, where he soon opened a store, 
 having got into the West India trade. He owned a 
 woolen factory in Agawam, and a distillery in Simsbury. 
 It is reported of him, or of his son, that he once asked 
 
78 
 
 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
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The West Side. 79 
 
 the late S. S. Batterson to deliver a temperance lecture 
 in his distillery, and the response came that he would 
 if allowed to choose the text, which was from Jonah, 
 chapter 2, part of the second verse : " Out of the belly 
 of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice." The 
 lecture was delivered. He was a man of very marked 
 character, positive, and outspoken. He possessed his little 
 peculiarities, and never had fear of manifesting them. 
 He was one of those Republicans who voted as he 
 talked, and was never afraid to talk. When the major- 
 ity for the Federalists was always great in the town, 
 and men of his party were derided and almost ostra- 
 cised, it required a will which was strong, and a cour- 
 age which was fearless, to "stand up and be counted." 
 This independence in thought and action was so marked 
 a characteristic, that it could not be expected to be lost 
 in the succeeding generation. When he requested a 
 thing to be done, he wished it to be done at once. During 
 his last sickness, lying in bed, he was irritated by a noisy 
 fellow, who created a great disturbance about the house, 
 by shouting, and beating upon the door. He requested 
 his nurse to go out and send him away, saying that he 
 was disturbing Mr. Belden, who was quite sick. The 
 request acted much like a red flag to an infuriated 
 bull, and only led him to pound the louder. So all of 
 Mr. Belden's energy came back to him, and, rushing 
 from his bed, he opened the door suddenly, and with a 
 well-directed blow sent the fellow sprawling down the 
 steps. He went back to his bed and never left it 
 again. 
 
 Mr. Belden was a liberal contributor toward the Uni- 
 versalist Church. Dr. Bacon could not be supposed to 
 look upon such a movement with more favor than his 
 pastor. " We have," said he, " a fire insurance company, 
 a marine insurance company, and now we have a hell-fire 
 insurance company." If Mr. Belden was a man of marked 
 individuality, so was Dr. Bacon. They were very unlike, 
 
80 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 for while one had great faith in the Center Church and 
 Dr. Hawes, the other had very little ; both, however, had 
 very positive opinions and little hesitation in expressing 
 them. 
 
 Mr. Belden was a wealthy man, and was influential 
 in securing a charter for the Farmers and Mechanics' 
 Bank ; a democratic legislature could not well refuse to 
 accommodate its democratic friends, even though they had 
 been clamoring against banks generally. The influence 
 which these could exert was supposed to be thrown against 
 their party, and as some of their officers were active party 
 men, there was probably foundation for this belief. In 
 the distribution of the stock the Democracy were remem- 
 bered, and the bank was known for some time as the 
 Democratic Bank. 
 
 An extensive orchard of apple and pear trees north of 
 the house lay upon the road, and extended to James Shel- 
 don's. Hugh Waterman also lived here. Between this quite 
 old brown house and that of Harris Olcott, there was a 
 small one-story building occupied by colored people. 
 Olcott had quite a large family of boys and girls, and 
 some of his descendants are yet livivg in the city. Next 
 was James Anderson, who worked in Leonard Kennedy's 
 tool shop. A son of the same name was working with 
 him, but after a "revival" he studied for the ministry, 
 and was for a long time and until he died a Congrega- 
 tional minister at Manchester, Vermont. Next north lived 
 Charles Church, who was a farmer and teamster in a. mod- 
 erate way. 
 
 Mr. Keney informs me that there was formerly a pond 
 near the present east end of Seyms Street, which extended 
 into the highway, so that foot passengers were obliged to 
 go into the street to get around it ; the water was clear, 
 and travelers were accustomed to water their horses here. 
 It must originally have had close connection with Patten's 
 pond. It had been filled in before the time of which I 
 write, for there was no water there then. In his chapter 
 
The West Side. 8i 
 
 on "Black Governors in Connecticut," Sceava (I. W. Stuart), 
 referring to Peleg Nott, who belonged to Colonel Jeremiah 
 Wadsworth, says : " When elected governor, a curious ac- 
 cident befell him. The place of election was on the Neck, 
 near the north burying-yard." The horse of Peleg ran 
 with him, and threw him into " a pond, which then lay a 
 little south of the cemetery mentioned." This, undoubt- 
 edly, was the pond of which Mr. Keney speaks, and the 
 one alluded to by Sceava, as it was near the place of 
 inauguration, and being partly in the roadway, it was very 
 convenient for the horse. I do not think that this partic- 
 ular spot, the precise location of this important historical 
 fact, the unfortunate accident to the last of the Black 
 Governors, would ever have been known, save for the ex- 
 cellent memory of our excellent friend. It now takes its 
 place with other notable cases of like importance, the 
 truth of which has been established by long and patient 
 research.* 
 
 John Bowles, a shoemaker, lived in the next house. 
 Then came Richard Wadsworth, and next Archibald Green- 
 field, whose house was on the south corner of the present 
 
 ♦These small ponds are numerous all over the town; the origin of them has 
 been a matter of curious speculation, but has not been satisfactorily explained. 
 They are mostly round, or nearly so, sometimes in a clay soil, and sometimes in 
 one of sand, but always, as far as I know, resting upon a blue clay, with more 
 or less of peat or peaty moss at the bottom and sides. Usually they are not sup- 
 plied by springs, but receive water from the drainage of the land, and rarely 
 become dry. A few rods in diameter would be the measurement of most of them. 
 These ponds are scattered Sill over New England, especially in the southern part, 
 some of them of large size, even lakes, or lakelets, but the majority are much 
 like to our own. How many can be found in Hartford I know not, but Prof. G. 
 F. Wright, in the " Ice Age hi North America? says that "the southeastern por- 
 tion of Massachusetts abounds in them in a special degree, as before remarked. 
 Plymouth county is little less than a ganglion of such glacial lakes, with their 
 inclosing deposits — Plymouth township alone being reputed to have three hundred 
 and sixty." p. 320. 
 
 It is his opinion that these ponds and lakes are due to the immense glacier 
 which, many thousand years since, covered a large northern portion of this con- 
 tinent, which, slipping down over this immense area, was driven into the ocean, 
 or melted by warmer air. The large lakes were produced by the damming of a 
 valley by the earth and rocks borne along and deposited by the glacier ; and 
 the smaller ponds by the masses of ice in great fragments driven into the earth 
 as it passed over them ; and also by the deposit of earth and rocks, which were 
 set free by the melting of the ice, or by currents of water running through or 
 under the glacier. 
 II 
 
82 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 Pine Street. A grandson, Archibald Greenfield Loomis, is 
 now cashier of the JEtna National Bank. 
 
 "Nigger Lane," and the present Pine Street, and the 
 North Cemetery have already been mentioned. North of 
 it stood the house of Joseph Cook, a very respectable col- 
 ored man, whose property was afterwards purchased by 
 Stephen Page, a former sexton, and is now included in the 
 cemetery. His gravestone may be found at the side of 
 one of the roadways, and reads as follows : 
 
 Mr. Joseph Cook, 
 
 A man of Colour, was born in Virginia, free, came to Hartford about 
 1802, and died March 25, 1832. 
 
 He had a sound mind, was industrious and honest, but more than 
 all he was a Christian, a much-esteemed brother of the Baptist Church. 
 In his life, especially in his last sickness, he exemplified the peculiar 
 power of Religion of Jesus to exalt and sustain the humble. Reader, 
 as you survey this spot and the regions of the dead around you and 
 raise your tho'ts above, and reflect on what Joseph now is, remem- 
 ber that it was faith in Christ that gave him the victory. 
 
 He was one day soliciting subscriptions for a church 
 for the colored people. "Why, Mr. Cook," said one, 'your 
 friends do not appear to have paid much themselves." 
 "No, sir," he replied, "our folks are good to 'scribe, but 
 poor pay." 
 
 At an accidental gathering in the north part of the 
 town, Cook introduced his project for building a church 
 for the colored people in Talcott Stivet. They listened, 
 and gave him encouraging words, but there was no pecu- 
 niary response. "Gentlemen," said he, "I don't doubt 
 your good 'tentions, but I had rather see your names on 
 this paper." 
 
 Then came in succession the dwelling of George Church, 
 Still standing between the cemetery and St. Thomas's 
 Church ; Jeremiah Groves, a carpenter and builder, who 
 was quite an enterprising man. He removed to Jackson- 
 ville, Illinois, about 1833-4. The Rev. Henry Grew was 
 next to him, who has been described to me as a "sort of 
 
The West Side. 83 
 
 Baptist," who was not in full communion with his breth- 
 ren, but had seceded and held service with a few followers 
 in different places. This report led me to inquire more 
 about him, for I only recollect him when he lived on the 
 east side of Burr Street, a short distance below the present 
 Pleasant Street. Mr. C. G. Munyan, the clerk of the Bap- 
 tist society, has kindly sent me the following", from the 
 records, June 1, 181 1 : 
 
 "After prayer took into consideration the case of our 
 elder, Henry Grew, who had withdrawn himself from the 
 pastoral care and fellowship of this church, on account of 
 some existing differences of sentiment respecting the Order 
 of Christ's House. 
 
 "The church labored to show Elder Grew that the 
 step he had taken would . . . expose him to the loss 
 of his usefulness in a great measure, if not altogether, 
 and desired him to retrace his steps and take his place in 
 the church, and then if he wished to remove his relation, 
 the church would give him a letter stating particularly 
 the ground of our separation, and part in fellowship on 
 those points in which we were in fellowship, for as he 
 now stood the church could view him in no other light 
 than as a disorderly brother, however much they respected 
 him for his piety and sincerity as a Christian, conse- 
 quently could not ask him to preach or administer to us 
 in any way while in this situation." 
 
 "But Mr. Grew persisted in justification of his proced- 
 ure. The church had frequent meetings to consider Mr. 
 Grew's case ; committees were appointed to labor with 
 him, and at last a council of churches was called which 
 gave good advice, but all to no avail. Grew persisted in 
 his course, and on September 29, 181 1, the church unani- 
 mously withdrew fellowship with him, and he was ex- 
 cluded from membership." 
 
 He was pastor of the church from 1807 to 181 1. 
 
 Luther Savage occupied a fine house north of him. 
 On the west was quite a forest known as " Savage's 
 
84 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 woods." This is now incorporated in the Spring Grove 
 Cemetery, but a number of the trees are still standing, to 
 the injury of many of the beautiful monuments. After 
 the death of Mr. Savage the property passed through the 
 hands of several owners, each one making a handsome 
 gain in price, it is said. 
 
 At an elevation above the road, and some distance 
 from it, lived Josiah Capen, a marked character, whose 
 slaughter-house was guarded by a brindled dog, a perfect 
 terror to me as I passed on the way to school ; you, too, 
 Mr. Burr, felt the power of his teeth. I do not wish to 
 say anything against this dog, for he has been dead these 
 many years, and has passed out of the memory of most 
 persons, probably. And I remember also what is told us 
 about speaking ill of the dead, or that we should main- 
 tain silence, if good cannot be spoken. But this particu- 
 lar dog cannot be forgotten or forgiven ; for why did he 
 run at me so often, as I was innocently on my way to 
 school, a little fellow with his little dinner basket on his 
 arm, and his little dinner in it ? And why did he keep 
 me on the top of the fence post, on a cold day in Novem- 
 ber, overcome with fear, and expecting every moment to 
 fall into his big jaws? 
 
 If ever a good Samaritan showed his humanity, it 
 was when the driver of a passing brick team drove off 
 the monster and kindly set me at liberty. I'll not forgive 
 the dog ! 
 
 Mr. Capen was accustomed to sell his meat from the 
 wagon, and so traveled up and down, accommodating peo- 
 ple who lived away from the market, and good meat it 
 was, too, and very particular he was about it. One day, 
 it is related, that Hez. Burr, commonly called "Ki Burr," 
 began inspecting and handling a nice leg of mutton, as if 
 he were anxious to purchase. The patience of Mr. Capen 
 was sorely tried at the delay, and the fingering, and so 
 he brought matters to a close by saying : " Mr. Burr, do 
 you mean to buy that mutton ? " Now Mr. Burr was not 
 
The West Side. 85 
 
 as expeditions in business as some persons, and he re- 
 plied, slowly : " No, I think not to-day ; " when Mr. 
 Capen, seizing the meat, threw it into the street, without 
 a word. 
 
 Occasionally he would at night drive his horse in a 
 sulky through the street at the top of his speed. Then 
 there were shoutings and roarings, which made me trem- 
 ble lying in bed. Frequently he would drive up to the 
 very door of some whom he wished to please, or more 
 likely to terrify. And on these occasions he would draw 
 out his jews-harp, a monstrous affair, the like of which 
 no boy ever saw, and playing a few tunes which could be 
 heard over the whole neighborhood, end his serenade with 
 yells which would excite the admiration of an Indian. 
 His house is still standing, with some additions, on the 
 south corner of Capen Street. 
 
 There was an old and unoccupied house near the 
 handsome elm tree in front of No. 933 Main Street, the 
 residence of the late L. B. Hart. It was owned by 
 Capt. George Cook, and had been occupied previously 
 by Harris Olcott, his brother-in-law. It has been told 
 me that some old residents remembered this tree when 
 it was as large as one's leg ; a very common object of 
 comparison, and only equaled in frequency when speak- 
 ing of snakes, by saying that "it was as large as my 
 arm." Miss Goodwin says that this house was formerly 
 known as "Stocking's Inn." I have found no one who 
 was aware of this, but within a few days George Cook 
 tells me that thirty-five years ago there was in the 
 barn of his uncle Moses a tavern sign, on which was 
 painted "I. Stockings Inn."* 
 
 *Note from John E. Marsh. 
 
 " The tract of country between Clark and Vine Streets was mostly covered with 
 woods. Where Capen Street now is there was only a private lane leading to and 
 ending at Capen's slaughter-house, which stood about where Mr. Robert Cairnes' 
 house now is, near the corner of Capen and Clark Streets. Just north of the 
 slaughter-house was a tract of two or three acres, more or less, called the "Sand 
 blow." Its surface was made up of patches of smooth, white sand, with here and 
 
86 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 We have now come to the School-house, which you 
 and I both attended sixty-five or more years ago. An 
 account of this, with a history of the district, will be 
 given hereafter. 
 
 About an eighth of a mile beyond the school-house 
 was the cooper's shop of Samuel Beckivith ; his dwelling- 
 house was near it. He was a deacon in the Baptist 
 Church from 1790 to 1833, when he died. I never heard 
 him called by any name but "Deacon Becket." If a 
 stranger had inquired for Mr. Beckwith in, that neigh- 
 borhood, he probably would have received as an answer, 
 "No such person lives about here." In the same way 
 Wadsworth was often pronounced "Wadsur," and Good- 
 win almost universally "Goodin." "Say, Wadsur," said 
 the deacon one day in the winter, as we were going 
 into the woods, "say, bring me some hoop-poles when 
 you come back, will you ? " 
 
 there a white birch, scraggy apple tree, bunches of tall, coarse grass, and masses 
 of low, running, blackberry vines. 
 
 The locality was also a noted habitat of black snakes — the common black snake, 
 Coluber constrictor; and his congener Coluber Aakgkaniensis, or racer, character- 
 ized by a white ring about its neck. A resident of the neighborhood (my father, 
 Guy C. Marsh), once attacked one of the latter of large size, and was in turn 
 attacked by the snake and driven from the field. He used afterward to say that 
 he never before believed that the black snake would attack a man, but this 
 experience had soundly converted him. 
 
 These stretches of clean, level sand afforded a favorite field for the larger 
 boys of the neighborhood for playing base ball and 'two old cat,' especially on 
 'Fast day,' when the weather was good." 
 
 [The common name of racer is applied to both of these Colubers. Probably 
 the latter is not found in Connecticut. Storer does not mention it in his descrip- 
 tion of the reptiles of Massachusetts. DeKay, in his reptiles of New York, says 
 that he has never seen it, though he has heard of it among the Highlands. Hol- 
 brook, our most exact herpetologist, says that "its probable range extends through 
 the Alleghanies." His description of the two reptiles shows very marked differ- 
 ences. DeKay states "that hitherto it has been confounded with the ordinary 
 black snake ; but it is at once distinguished from that species by the carinated 
 scales." Neither of them have a white ring around the neck, but both of them 
 have a white or yellowish white throat. We have no black snake with "a white 
 ring about its neck," except a small species found about stone walls, or in damp 
 woods, about twelve or fourteen inches in length. Both grow to a large size and great 
 length, and run with great rapidity : sometimes they will attack a man, espe- 
 cially Coluber constrictor, which is quite courageous. But the stories that were 
 formerly told in the Neck about our black snake were marvelous. The snake 
 attacks, the man runs, the snake follows with his head waist high, but never 
 succeeds in reaching his victim ; the procession passes, its members keeping at 
 the same distance from one another, until the snake, becoming wearied, drops 
 behind! R.] 
 
The West Side. 87 
 
 Next to him was Theodore Spencer, a blacksmith 
 whose shop was on the low ground at the corner of 
 the road leading- to Blue Hills, a very worthy man, a 
 good blacksmith, and a soldier — "artificer" — of the Rev- 
 olution. Benjamin Spencer lived next to him. These 
 three houses were on the high ground now occupied 
 by General Hillyer. 
 
 The road, which is now called Westland Street, 
 doubtless had a specific name, but is not remembered by 
 me. Miss Goodwin thought it was called Abbe's Lane, 
 from a man of that name who lived in a small house 
 on the west. I recollect " Deaf Abbe " very well ; he 
 was accustomed to travel through the Neck, stopping 
 for a day or so in a place, or more if there was rye 
 to be threshed. His wife had got the better of him in 
 a little affair, and knocked him on the head with an 
 axe, so that afterwards he was very nearly deaf, and 
 almost demented. I think the boys teased him some- 
 what, as is their nature with such poor creatures.* 
 
 There was no house farther north, until we come 
 to that of John Sheldon, a man of few words but of 
 strong opinions. One who knew him says that the boys 
 were all remarkable for their great strength. One day 
 Strong Mather, having had some difficulty with them, 
 came down and said to him that he was about to give 
 them a flogging. "Now look here," said John, "you 
 see that little fellow" — the late Henry Sheldon — "sit- 
 ting on that stool ; don't touch him, but you may tackle 
 the rest as soon as you please." And Mr. M. went 
 away. Next to Mr. Sheldon lived Asa Goodwin. Near 
 the north end were Timothy Marsh, John Millard, and 
 Edward Marsh. 
 
 * Mr. Thomas Sisson informs me, that he remembers Abbe well ; he traveled 
 through West Hartford helping the farmers in reaping, threshing, and dressing 
 flax. He was troubled with everted and granular eyelids, which led the boys 
 of the west division to ask him where he got such eyes. " Up to Grandison Bar- 
 ber's, picking up potatoes, and I got cow-lice in 'em." But the bad eyes were 
 more likelv due to hard cider. 
 
88 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 This completes the list of persons living on both 
 sides of the road to Windsor, from the present Tunnel 
 to the Hartford line on the north. There ma3^ be some 
 living who can, or think they can, detect inaccuracies, 
 but for the year 1825 it is believed to be essentially 
 correct. 
 
VI. 
 
 THE DISTRICT SCHOOL. 
 
 w 1 
 
 . THE SCHOOL-HOUSE OF 1803. 
 
 "E have now come to the school-house, a place long 
 to be remembered, and always of interest. Mr. 
 Hoadly tells me that in 1761 the town was divided 
 into two school districts, one north and one south of the 
 Little River, and this continued until 1798, when the North 
 district was divided into three separate districts. The act 
 which passed the Assembly May 28, 1798, specifies the 
 limits of this particular district as follows : " Beginning 
 at the point where the city line strikes Connecticut River, 
 then running due west to Brick-kiln Brook, and then fol- 
 lowing the brook north to the Windsor line." This was 
 to be called the First North School District, and was a 
 very large one, being about two and a quarter or two and 
 a half miles in length, from Belden's Lane to Windsor ; 
 and a very wide one also, extending from the Connecti- 
 cut River to the run now called Gully Brook. The people, 
 
The District School. 91 
 
 however, lived mostly on both sides of the road to Wind- 
 sor. Though you, Mr. A. E. B., resided on the Albany 
 road, yet, being east of Brick-kiln Brook, you fell into this 
 district, and so went to the school-house " Up Neck," 
 where the foundations of a good common education were 
 laid for you and many others. 
 
 The record book of the clerk, which is now before 
 me, commences as follows : " The Records and Entries of 
 the dooings of the 1st North Scool district, in Hartford, 
 November 12, 1798." A meeting was held on the 16th of 
 the same month, at which Captain John Cook was chosen 
 moderator, Roger Wadsworth, clerk, Captain James Good- 
 win, " Treashurer " ; and Captain James Goodwin, John 
 Sheldon, and Theodore Spencer, "Committy." A few days 
 later it was " Voted, that there be a Publick Scool kept 
 by a good able Teacher, or Scool Master to begin as soon 
 as may be from the present time (21st.) & End the 1st 
 of April 1799." 
 
 And it did begin, I suppose, about that time, for there 
 is an entry in the treasurer's book April 3, 1799, of cash 
 paid " Horris Hayden, Scool Master 46.00." and of "cash 
 paid for Boarding Scool Master, 28.00." 
 
 A temporary house had been used, but it seems to 
 have been difficult to fix upon a permanent location, and 
 so application was made to the selectmen ; for, at a town 
 meeting, April 8, 1798, it was " Voted that the Selectmen 
 be authorized to fix upon & set out a proper place for 
 a school house in the North School district in this Town 
 in the highway leading to Windsor where it will be least 
 prejudicial to the public Travel, with the consent & ap- 
 probation of the owners of the lands adjacent." 
 
 It does not appear that any action was taken by them, 
 or that the district could agree upon a location, for after 
 several votes that a school-house be built, and encounter- 
 ing the usual difficulties in treating the same, there is, 
 
9 2 
 
 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 upon record, the report of Joseph 
 Hart, John Caldwell, and Enoch 
 Perkins, who, living out of the dis- 
 trict, were supposed to be not inter- 
 ested in the matter, and they say, 
 December 21, 1799, that they "fix 
 upon the place herein after de- 
 scribed for the purpose aforesaid, 
 viz. : Beginning 4 feet north of a 
 Building erected by number of sub- 
 scribers for a school house in said 
 district, and thence extending south 
 ninety feet — The front of Isaac 
 Prat's lot to be the west line of 
 said place, and the east line thereof 
 to be at such distance from front 
 of said Prat's lot as may be found 
 convenient for the erecting said 
 school-house on distance not to ex- 
 ceed forty feet." Although the lo- 
 cation was thus established, it does 
 not appear that direct efforts were 
 made to build until April 14, 1803, 
 when the following vote was passed: 
 That " Aaron Cook, - Leonard Ken- 
 nedy, James Goodwin, James An- 
 derson, Samuel Beckwith, William 
 Goodwin, and Roger Wadsworth be 
 a committy to prepare a plan for a 
 Scool house and lay it before the 
 next meeting, with the necessary 
 Expense of Building." And on the 
 25th of April, it was " Voted, this 
 District Build a Brick vScool house 
 that will accomidate the district ac- 
 cording to the Further Directions of 
 Size & Heidth & form of Ruff." 
 And on the 3d day of May of the 
 same year it was 
 
 i 
 
 \ 
 
 > 
 
 U .1 
 
The District School. 
 
 93 
 
 The various votes passed at the different meetings 
 since the organization of this " First North School District " 
 specify that the school shall be kept by a "master" for 
 four or five months during the winter season, usually 
 four months ; and by a " mistriss " or "marm" during the 
 summer, usually for five months. Horace Hayden was the 
 first teacher, and was paid $46 ; $28 was paid for his board. 
 This was for four months. On the 28th day of March, 
 1799, it was 
 
 " Voted, that their be a Scool kept 5 months the Ensuing Summer 
 in the 1st North School district in Hartford, to begin the 13th day of 
 May next, to be kept by a Woman or Marm as Teacher of sd scool." 
 
 Elsey Hall was the "marm," and she was paid $40 in 
 different sums between December 11, 1799, and October 
 21, 1800. The furniture for the school — aside from desks 
 and benches, I suppose — was rather limited, for there is 
 found upon the treasurer's book only a disbursement of 
 39 cents for a " pail and dipper," and 20 cents for a 
 " Broom." 
 
 As the building stood in the highway, no land was 
 purchased for the site ; but I find that in November, 1807, 
 it was 
 
 " Voted, that George Wadsworth and Leonard Kennedy act as 
 agents for said district, and apply to the selectmen of the Town of 
 Hartford for a Deed of the Land on which the school-house now 
 stands." 
 
 Not unfrequently repairs were required upon the 
 building, and votes were passed providing for payment of 
 the same. It is not possible to ascertain what these were, 
 except in the matter of broken glass. In March, 181 1, 
 it was 
 
 " Voted, That if any Damage be done by the scholers to the 
 School House in sd District they or their parrants Masters or Guard- 
 eans shall Make it good." 
 
 This was the school which we both attended in 1825, 
 and where we both learned something, I hope, and believe 
 
94 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 we did, beyond the three " R's," "readin, ritin, and rith- 
 metic," and spelling. 
 
 I remember no other instruction attempted ; possibly 
 geography, but not to my recollection. When one finds 
 himself well founded in these elements of education, he is 
 well fitted for what may come afterwards. There was 
 one other item of a boy's education, however, not usually 
 learned so much in the school-house as out of it ; and 
 that should be included in the R's also, viz., "rastlin." It 
 well took its place among us in that day, and was as 
 valuable and creditable as are the various games of the 
 present time, considered necessary before a boy enters 
 college ; and to be prosecuted vigorously, boisterously, and 
 brutally afterwards also. If we did not make as much 
 fuss about our little exercises, neither did we consider it 
 necessary to learn about " rushers, half-backs, and full 
 back," nor to " paint the town red " after our contests. 
 
 Let us look at the record of the clerk at a meeting 
 held on October 27, 1825, and at an adjourned meeting on 
 November 1st. It was 
 
 " Voted, that Mr. John Russell be Moderator of this meeting. 
 
 "That the Auditor's doings of examining the Treasurer's Book 
 be allowed. 
 
 "That there be a School kept by a Master five months the En- 
 suing winter. 
 
 "That Richard Sheldon, Geo. Cook, Abner P. Wadsworth be a 
 Committee the Ensuing year. 
 
 "That the Master board around with the scholars. 
 
 "That each scholar furnish ten feet of ceasend hard wood or 
 green walnut or white ash to be inspected by the Master." 
 
 William Kirkham, of Newington, was the " Master." 
 It was a lucky time for the boys, when he came to the 
 house, in his " boarding around;" we were certain of re- 
 ceiving an extra allowance of cake and preserves. I judge 
 from conversation which was heard at that time, that he 
 had a preference for some families over others, in his 
 peregrinations. He went home on Saturday, but returned 
 
The District School. 95 
 
 on Monday morning, in time for opening the school at 9 
 o'clock. 
 
 The long blue camlet cloak which he wore must have 
 been but a poor protection as he came up past Cedar 
 Mountain, over Rocky Hill, through the city and into the 
 Neck, on some of the winter mornings ; for I suppose 
 that in earlier times, and even at that time, the people 
 generally were not as well clad as at present. He usually 
 opened the school with prayer, and was diligent in pre- 
 serving order at the same time. If any boy was unruly, 
 or did not pay sufficient attention, he did not hesitate to 
 remind him of his duty by a tap upon his head with a 
 ferrule, the praying being continued at the same time and 
 without hesitancy, as if no interruption had occurred. 
 
 I have before me a writing-book of some scholar 
 which afterwards belonged to him. At the top of 
 the page is written, in a neat hand, different sentences, 
 which have been copied, some down the full page, 
 others only partially so. The vacant spaces appear to 
 have been filled in with various matters which concerned 
 him, at different periods of his life. He was evidently a 
 professional school-master, for the entries mention New- 
 ington, Wethersfield, Farmington, and Springfield where 
 he taught ; and there is one district which is not specified 
 which I judge from the names of the pupils to be Gris- 
 woldville. There is an entry that he began keeping the 
 North District School in Hartford, November, 1824, '25, 
 '26, and '27, for the winter term of five months. He re- 
 cords the names of forty boys and forty-three girls for 
 the term of 1826. I recognize the names of the following 
 only as now living : Edward Waterman, Edward Church, 
 Charles Mather, Timothy Mather, and Ruth Olcott, who 
 married Lot Sheldon. There are some brief notes of a 
 diary, which show him to have been a man of a reflective 
 mind, and together with the various texts in the copy 
 books, possibly morbidly religious. There are charges for 
 various jobs which he did for his neighbors. He was evi- 
 
96 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 dently engaged in some work at the mill pond, in the 
 south part of the parish, for there are charges for repairing 
 the still, and for carding rolls, and occasionally for the 
 sale of brandy, at 12^ cents per quart. On one page the 
 pupil had written the line which had been set him to 
 copy, nearly to the bottom of the page, viz.: " Let us, while 
 blest with life and health, prepare for Death." There 
 was room under it, however, for the following charge : 
 
 "Dr. Archibald Hall to "William Kirkham, Dr. November 20, 
 1828, To 1 Gall. Brandy, high pf." 
 
 The price is not mentioned, but " paid" is marked 
 against it. 
 
 Roger Welles is charged September, 1826, "for the 
 use of the still 2 nights is pr night, .34." I am in- 
 formed that there was a distillery for cider brandy and a 
 woolen factory at the mill pond at one time. The book is 
 a curiosity. 
 
 Some years after the time about which I am writing, 
 when the Arsenal School District was organized, he was 
 negotiating with the committee, Timothy Sheldon and 
 Moses Burr, about being employed as a teacher. " Shall I 
 be obliged to board around," asked Mr. Kirkham. " Yes, 
 you will," said Timothy. " Well, I know what that means," 
 he answered, " I shall be obliged to live on squn all win- 
 ter." Now what is sgun, and what is the origin of the 
 word ? It was unknown to me, and never heard before, 
 though my authority for the anecdote said that it was 
 formerly in use up neck. Mr. Starkweather was familiar 
 with it, and so was George Cook, but many of whom 
 inquiries were made knew nothing about it. 
 
 When the farmer kills his hogs, it is customary to fry 
 on the same day, or the next, certain portions for the 
 family dinner, consisting of the liver, pancreas or sweet 
 bread, round robin, and perhaps the kidneys ; possibly 
 some of the thoracic viscera also. This was called SQUN. 
 All the hogs in the district would not be killed at the 
 same time, but would be kept and sacrificed one after 
 
The District School. 97 
 
 another, for the fresh meat for the master as he came to 
 board with the different families. So we can understand 
 how pathetic the exclamation of Mr. Kirkham was, as he 
 saw before him his daily winter ration. I think he did 
 not engage with that committee. It is possible to have 
 too much of squn. 
 
 Considerable attention was also given to spelling, the 
 book of Noah Webster being used ; and here, as well as 
 in reading, the girls were always superior to the boys. 
 The writing was from copy, furnished by the master, in 
 books of our own purchase ; some of them were blotted, 
 and more than slightly ; and in most of them the letters 
 were not gracefully formed. What could be expected from 
 boys who only attended for four or at most five months 
 in the year, and that, too, very irregularly ? For the ser- 
 vices of many were required at home, in helping their 
 fathers during the winter as well as summer, in different 
 portions of farm work. However desirous the parents 
 might be that their sons should acquire an education, 
 there was the counteracting necessity of provision for the 
 home ; and further, I do not think there was such a re- 
 gard for the constant attendance of the pupil as at 
 present. They had been brought up in this way them- 
 selves, and naturally thought it was sufficient for their 
 children. And in addition to all this, the distance from 
 the school-house was so great for many, that the mothers 
 were reluctant to send them out, on very stormy or cold 
 days. In deep snows, when the only pathway was the 
 traveled road, it was severe upon the little ones, and those 
 who were feeble, and there were feeble ones then as well 
 as now, though we are apt to say that the children of 
 those clays were " as tough as pine knots." Those who 
 survived their exposures were "tough," but too many went 
 down under the trial. As a consequence the school was 
 irregularly attended, and the scholars did not make the 
 progress which they ought. But upon the whole, the com- 
 mon school fulfilled its purpose tolerably well and gave 
 *3 
 
Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 the prime elements of an education, to be enlarged if 
 there was a desire, or future opportunity, and it may be 
 fairly questioned whether there was for the majority a 
 greater desire, or a further opportunity. There is this to 
 be said also, that there was no opportunity for complaint 
 of a multiplication of studies, and as far as I know no 
 injury to tender brains from undue mental pressure ; there 
 is something to be learned aside from what is learned in 
 books. 
 
 All writing was done with the common quill ; where 
 geese were kept, the home supply was sufficient. To make 
 a proper pen was quite an art, and the master was pen- 
 maker for nearly the whole school. His knife was small 
 and sharp, and so he was called upon, for the " nib " 
 needed repairs very often. The " Barlow " knife, which 
 every boy was supposed to have in his pocket, was too 
 large for this purpose, and then its edge was blunted from 
 frequent hackings of the desk or bench ; and, further, 
 there was great satisfaction in calling upon the master for 
 this service, and a great deal more of satisfaction if a 
 dozen called his attention at the same time. The copies 
 were the usual ones, simple letters, words, and sentences ; 
 " Contentment is great gain ; " " Children, obey your 
 parents ; " " Many men of many minds, many birds of 
 many kinds ; many fishes in the sea, many men do not 
 agree ; " which was especially truthful as regards the man- 
 agement of a district school. One day, taking home my 
 copy-book for the admiration of my father, I was surprised 
 to see that he did not examine it with pleasure, which was 
 a great disappointment, for it was clean ; only one blot 
 upon the page, and, as it appeared to me, fairly written. 
 It was not the writing, but the copy, which troubled him. 
 Good Mr. Kirkham had perhaps a disputation with some 
 perverse neighbor, on a Sunday night, before he came up 
 from Newington, and had eased his mind by giving me as 
 a copy a text from Proverbs xix, 29, slightly altered : 
 
The District School. 99 
 
 "Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the 
 backs of UniverscUists" 
 
 My father had that proper sense of justice which re- 
 volts at a misquotation of the Bible, and of the endeavor 
 in a public school to cast reproach upon those of different 
 religious opinions. For while it is impossible, and not 
 necessary in a common school, to teach the specific beliefs 
 of all Christians, it is yet possible and advisable so to in- 
 struct our children that they may have a general knowl- 
 edge of God our Maker and Christ our Saviour. Without 
 it, our common schools are verily "godless schools," and 
 we are subject to the reproach which is sometimes cast 
 upon us. Our courts of law are opened with prayer, and 
 so are our legislative assemblies, and without being con- 
 sidered an infringement upon personal rights. The child- 
 ren surely can bear a reminder of their duties, and are 
 not likely to be made worse by it. 
 
 On Saturdays we were examined in the " New Eng- 
 land Primer," and questioned on our knowledge of the 
 "Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Divines." I do 
 not know that it did us any harm, though I cannot now 
 measure the exact amount of good. Dr. Humphries, in 
 his preface to one edition of the Primer, says of the 'objec- 
 tion " that the doctrines are above the comprehension of 
 children at the tender age when it is used to be committed 
 and recited," proceeds upon the assumption that it is no 
 advantage to learn anything earlier than it can be fully 
 understood ; about which there are doubtless various 
 opinions. We were also required to learn some verses of 
 a moral or religious thought, and to copy them into our 
 writing-books. And I recall especially that glorious nine- 
 teenth psalm of David, which for years could be repeated, 
 which will do one no harm, but will be good to remember. 
 
 There were one or two negro boys who attended 
 school, and sat apart from the other scholars, in the south 
 east corner of the house. 
 
ioo Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 It was especially enjoined upon ns to "show our 
 manners" when we' met people in the road, especially 
 those who were riding. So, if a number of us were 
 gathered together, we were arranged by its side, to salute 
 by bow or curtesy those who were passing. Some years 
 since I saw the same custom in passing a school-house 
 where the children were at play, at noon, in England, 
 between Penzance and the Land's End. It has lasted 
 longer in the land of its birth than in the land of its 
 adoption. 
 
 An old English spelling-book once fell into my hands, 
 in which was this inscription : 
 
 "Steal not this book for fear of shame, 
 For here you see the owner's name." 
 
 This couplet was doubtless brought over by the early 
 colonists, and we of the First North School District felt 
 bound to make frequent record of the same. Whatever 
 necessity there may have been for this timely caution 
 may have arisen from the scarcity of books and the diffi- 
 culty of procuring them. But with us there were no such 
 reasons, for they were plenty and cheap. Noah Webster's 
 spelling-book could be purchased for a shilling ; for a 
 Connecticut shilling, remember. It was the following of 
 an ancient custom which often lasts longer than the occa- 
 sion for it exists. The spelling of this warning was often 
 different from the above, and capital letters were distrib- 
 uted indiscriminately through it. 
 
 The books used were the Columbian Orator, the 
 American Preceptor, and the " Introduction," as it was 
 called, for reading books. Occasionally the scholars would 
 read in the Bible, one verse at a time, one jumping up 
 as the other sat down, the sense and benefit of the read- 
 ing being wholly destroyed by the blundering and hesi- 
 tancy over the hard words. To some it was an easy task, 
 and as readily performed as by advanced scholars at the 
 present day ; but by others, what hagglings, and twistings, 
 
The District School. ioi 
 
 and shifting of position, from one foot to another, and 
 slow spelling of words before they were pronounced ! 
 Daboll's arithmetic was in general use, with its computa- 
 tions in pounds, shillings, and pence, as well as in dollars 
 and cents. A very common saying of the boys was — 
 
 "Addition is vexation, Subtraction is as bad, 
 The Rule of Three does puzzle me 
 And Practice makes me mad." 
 
 The discipline of the school was not what would be 
 called mild and paternal. Punishments were often and 
 severe, for trivial offenses, and for no offenses at all, as 
 you know, Mr. Burr. The ferule lay handy upon the mas- 
 ter's desk ; if it was never broken, it was because it was 
 of hard wood and did not become decrepit from age. An 
 apple-tree switch was also a favorite instrument, and a 
 good deal of service could be got out of it, if it was 
 green and supple. I never saw or heard of rattan or a 
 raw-hide being used here ; but afterwards in the Center 
 School, or "Stone Jug," in Dorr Street, — well, well, — 
 there are some unruly boys, and some cruel, very cruel 
 men. Nothing can be said in vindication of such treat- 
 ment, except that it was the custom. One day Mr. Kirk- 
 ham sent me out to gather some apple sprouts, for his 
 own use ; an orchard on the west afforded a good sup- 
 ply. But before they were delivered into his hands a 
 thoughtful consideration of the matter led to their being 
 half cut through, and thus very effectually weakened. I 
 did not know whose back they were intended to fit. 
 Upon the whole, however, I escaped very mildly, because 
 of my belief in obeying rules, and only whispering, or 
 laughing, or using pins upon my neighbor, when it could 
 not be helped. 
 
 There was one form of punishment which injured 
 the feelings more than it did the body, and that was 
 seating the offending boy among the girls. Why this 
 should have been so seriously taken to heart is not clear ; 
 
io2 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 the boy survives it, and desires to repeat it in his man- 
 hood ; so something- of good comes from early instruction 
 in the common school, besides a knowledge of the West- 
 minster Catechism. 
 
 The school committee were saving of the money of 
 the district, and so the boys in turn for a week or for a 
 few days were required to open the house, sweep it out, 
 make the fire, and put it in order for the day. As this 
 took some time, they were obliged to leave home early in 
 the morning, and the task was not a small one if they 
 lived at a distance and the weather was cold and stormy. 
 If none of the carefully covered coals of the previous day 
 were alive, it was necessary to "borrow" some from Cap- 
 tain Cook, who taught me it was better to put the coals 
 upon the wood, rather than under it. 
 
 If, as sometimes happens, this was not dry, and was 
 of poor quality, there was still more difficulty in starting 
 the fire ; and then there was necessary foraging in the 
 woodhouse of Nathan Wadsworth or Captain Cook for 
 kindling materials, which were readily furnished. The 
 wood question must have caused considerable debate in 
 the school meetings, for there are many votes about it, 
 both specifying that it shall be hard wood and that 
 the master shall measure and inspect it. Early in 
 the century ten feet was required from each scholar ; 
 afterwards eleven feet, and then twelve, to be brought 
 when the scholars began. It is evident that this method 
 was not satisfactory, and the contract system was tried. 
 Return S. Mather agreed, in October, 181 7, to furnish 
 eight cords, of two feet in length, at $2.50 per cord, 
 "being the loest bidder;" next year "sixteen shillings" 
 were paid. In 1829 eleven feet were required from 
 each scholar, " to be seasoned, and to be hard wood or 
 green walnut or white ash in Lue thereof, or forty cents 
 in Money;" and "that Each Scholer deliver his wood or 
 Money when they Commence the school." Originally the 
 wood was required to be three feet in length, and prob- 
 
The District School. 103 
 
 ably there was a chimney with a fire-place large enough 
 to receive it. But it is evident that a spirit of inquiry was 
 abroad, and that new methods of heating were being dis- 
 cussed, for in 1813 the committee were directed to " Enquire 
 & Report to an adjourned Meeting the Expense of a Stove 
 & chimney as proposed by them at the meeting." This 
 was on the 21st of October. It was a momentous ques- 
 tion, and must be grappled with at once; the district rose 
 to the occasion, and on the 25 th passed the following 
 votes : 
 
 " Voted, That there be a Chimney built to Receive the Stove 
 pipe. 
 
 " Voted, That there be a francklin Stove and pipe erected in the 
 sd School Hous this Ensuing fall. 
 
 " Voted, That the School Committee Buy a Stove and pipe and 
 have it Erected the Ensuing fall." 
 
 Very likely the stove was soon erected after this pos- 
 itive order, though there is no record concerning it on 
 the treasurer's book until January 16, 1815, when there is 
 an entry " Pade Ward & Bartholomew for a stove, $36.42." 
 This was, doubtless, the " francklin Stove " which was 
 there ten years later, when I learned how to build a fire. 
 This stove — the "francklin" — did good service, until 1832, 
 when it was 
 
 ' ' / 'oted, that the Committee Exchange the now preasent stove at 
 the School House & get a Box Stove that is Sutable for a School 
 House." 
 
 I must confess to quite an affection for this old stove, 
 and to a historical interest in the minute directions con- 
 cerning it. In 1833 there was received "from E. Marsh 
 2.87 for the old stove." 
 
 Previous to this time desks were placed against the 
 side of the house, and the scholars sat upon long benches 
 facing the wall. But at an adjourned meeting, October 7, 
 1824, it was 
 
 " Voted, That the sd school-house be made into Slips." 
 
104 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 And then there were desks on the east and west sides, 
 with a passageway of a few feet in the middle of the room, 
 at the north end of which was the desk of the master, and 
 at the south the door of entrance. Here and there, where 
 room could be found, were short and low benches for the 
 small scholars ; the " francklin stove " was in the middle. 
 
 The building stood in the highway, but abutted upon 
 " the front of Isaac Prat's lot " ; the exact location was 
 at the junction of Elmer Street with Windsor road, though 
 the present street line has been advanced to the east 
 from the former one. The dimensions have already been 
 given, thirty feet in length, twenty-two in width, and nine 
 feet in height. Not a very large school-house for so ex- 
 tensive a district, and for the large number of children 
 that were in it. There is nothing in the records which 
 indicates the number in attendance, but the house was 
 full, crowded beyond anything which would be allowed at 
 present. There must have been sixty at least, of boys 
 and girls, in about equal proportion. Mr. John E. Marsh, 
 who was a pupil some years later, thinks he has seen as 
 many as seventy-five there. About five feet of the south 
 end was partitioned from the school-room, and was used 
 for hanging caps, coats, shawls, etc., and occasionally for 
 storing wood ; this latter, however, often lay outside, to 
 be a torment to the boy who started the fire in the morn- 
 ing. Deduct the entrance hall of five feet, together with 
 the thickness of the walls and the partition and furring 
 and plastering, and we shall have a room of about twenty- 
 three by twenty feet. Now let any of the boys in the 
 Brown School, who are enjoying a paradise under Mr. 
 Barrows, calculate the number of cubic feet in the room, 
 and see how little air space each scholar had. The room 
 was kept extremely hot ; day after day I went home with 
 a headache, and, though a little fellow, thought to myself, 
 " Shall I always have these headaches, if I grow up to be 
 a man?" No one seemed to suspect that it was the viti- 
 
The District School. 105 
 
 ated air which produced it ; fortunately we had a recess, 
 and this helped us wonderfully. 
 
 In the summer the condition was much better ; there 
 were fewer scholars, perhaps thirty or forty, and the win- 
 dows were frequently open. A woman was the teacher, 
 and the term lasted for five months ; the big boys were 
 at home, so there were no rough sports, and we enjoyed a 
 quiet, comfortable, profitable school. Miss Abigail A. Good- 
 win was the teacher in 1824, and my recollections of her 
 are very pleasant; she died only a short time tince. At the_ 
 close of the season there was something attempted in 
 the way of examinations and speaking, very much after the 
 manner of our public High School, but not quite reaching 
 its standard. There was selected for me an extract from 
 Home's tragedy of Douglass, commencing, " My name is 
 Norval." It is doubtful if the performance had the full 
 force and spirit of the original. The district was not rich, 
 and so paid Miss Goodwin only thirty-three dollars and 
 thirty-three cents for her services. 
 
 I never knew or heard of any of those personal con- 
 tests between the teacher and the larger boys, of which 
 we sometimes hear an account. There were doubtless 
 difficulties occasionally at the school meetings, though of 
 this there is no positive record, except that the votes of 
 a previous meeting are rescinded without a seeming reason 
 to us. Perfect harmony does not prevail in our day, and 
 we can probably show as much obstinacy and self-will as 
 did any of our ancestors. The noisy and quarrelsome 
 time of a school meeting is proverbial. When Charles 
 Wells was in Washington and visited the House of Rep- 
 resentatives, he is reported to have said, that " he thought 
 he was in a meeting of the South School District." 
 
 I find that generally, the expenses were paid by the 
 
 public money, and by taxes laid by the district ; but it is 
 
 not a good indication that there are a few instances in 
 
 which the school was only " kept as long as the public 
 
 money shall last." 
 14 
 
106 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 The taxes of some persons, which were small in 
 amount, were frequently abated. In October, 181 2, it was 
 
 " Voted, that Cuff negro tax of 48-100 be abated in the hands of 
 Samuel Beckwith to collect." 
 
 There is a record of a curious matter which occurred 
 at a " School Meeting Legally Warned and held by the 
 Inhabitants, at the School House." The two votes have 
 but a few words, but they are suggestive. 
 
 " Voted, That the School Master read a paragraph before this 
 meeting. 
 
 " Voted, That the Master be dismissed from keeping a School in 
 this district." 
 
 If it is said that there has been unnecessary minute- 
 ness of description and personal history in this account 
 of the district and its school, it may be replied that it 
 is well to contrast the conditions of to-day with those 
 of sixty-five years ago. Though this school was on the 
 outskirts of the town, yet the inhabitants were in many 
 respects as primitive as those of the country. Money 
 was not plenty, and neither for themselves nor their 
 children could it be spent extravagantly. What little 
 they obtained made them careful in its expenditure, 
 and perhaps gave them as much happiness as its abun- 
 dance now gives to us. The men and women were to 
 be judged by the time in which they lived, not by any 
 standards or comparisons of our own. If we know much 
 more of many things, they knew quite as much of 
 a lesser number, and were most of them as well or 
 better satisfied with their condition in life. Without 
 doubt there was a greater respect for honest labor and 
 industrious habits than unfortunately now obtains. The 
 newer is not always the better. 
 
 As a part of the history of this district it may be 
 stated that the General Assembly in 1833 created out of 
 it the Arsenal School district, described as "lying south 
 of the south line of Josiah Capen, jr., and Henry 
 
The District School. 107 
 
 Capen's house lot, extending said line east to Connecti- 
 cut River, and west to the west line of the present 
 district." The old school-house was thus left very near 
 the southern boundary of the district, which was not 
 at all in accordance with the traditional idea which 
 would locate the school-house in the geographical center, 
 without reference to the convenience of the many. And 
 hence in many towns we may now see a school-house, 
 in an unsettled region in the highway, or perhaps in 
 a patch of woods, solitary and alone, desolate in appear- 
 ance, often battered and neglected, with not a single 
 habitation near it. But then it is in the center of the 
 district ; the knotty question is discussed again and 
 again, whenever and wherever a new school-house is 
 to be built. 
 
 So it was to be expected that the First North School 
 district would seek another location, which was very 
 proper here, and on the 26th of March, 1834, it was 
 
 " Voted, That Return S. Mather, George Cook, Joseph Pratt, 
 be a Committee to assart what the present School Housh in sd Dis- 
 trict will sell for, & what a New one Can be Built for, & what a 
 spot of Ground in or near the Center of sd District will Caust & Mak 
 thre report to the Nex meeting." 
 
 A new location was found up in Middlesex, and soon 
 the old brick school-house was torn down. If after 
 laboring for a third of a century it had accomplished 
 no more in education than is shown by the above 
 resolution, it was time to depart to other fields, in 
 sorrow perhaps, in indignation certainly. 
 
 It must be admitted that the writing of the clerks 
 of this district was very poor, and that the spelling was 
 exceedingly incorrect. It was perhaps a fair specimen 
 of the education of a majority of the men at that time, 
 and of all the time since the settlement of the colony. 
 Whoever examines the writing and spelling of many old 
 records, the account books which now occasionally fall 
 into our hands, or the bills against debtors with their 
 
io8 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 items, will see how imperfectly the common man was edu- 
 cated. He could speak better than he could write, and 
 could transact his ordinary business understanding^ and 
 with facility ; when it came to putting his words upon 
 paper, he too often failed in doing it in a scholarly 
 manner. The few months of schooling which he had 
 received in winter were not enough for that correctness 
 which comes from study and constant practice. The 
 early records of the Arsenal district show no improve- 
 ment of the records of the First North. The children 
 of our later days, doubtless, both write and spell words 
 better, but it is to be feared that many of them will 
 be found to fail in those very essential parts of a com- 
 mon school education. If the habit is not acquired 
 early in life, very likely it will not be acquired at all. 
 An opportunity for examining specimens of writing 
 from nearly all of the States in our Union, shows how 
 curiously words can be misspelled, even by men whose 
 penmanship is satisfactory. 
 
 Some of our old records are wonderfully correct ; 
 the ink retains its blackness — much better it is thought 
 than some of our own will a hundred years hence. 
 These clerks were generally educated men, scholars, 
 learned in business, and proficient in writing. When 
 such a man was found, he was retained in his office, 
 because he was useful to the State, to the town, or 
 the church, and too valuable an officer to be sacrificed 
 as a victim to political reward. 
 
 Talking this matter over with Judge J. H. White 
 the other day, he spoke particularly of the neatness 
 and correctness of the records as kept by some of our 
 ancient clerks, and handed me the following memoran- 
 dum concerning John Allyn, who held various offices 
 acceptably for a long time.* 
 
 * Capt. John Allyn was one of the most useful men in the Colony. He was 
 town clerk of Hartford 1659-1696, Magistrate 1662, Secretary of the Colony 1663- 
 1665, again from 1667 to 1695, Custodian of the Charter with Saml. Wyllis and 
 
The District School. 109 
 
 The result of all this discussion would seem to be, 
 that our children should be more thoroughly instructed in 
 the prime elements of education, so that in their future 
 lives, whether they become professional men or farmers, 
 or mechanics, they should be as well learned as time and 
 application and capability will make them. 
 
 It is necessary to add but little more. Society, which 
 which had been in a transition state for some years, was 
 beginning to settle down in its new forms. The limita- 
 tions of business, and the constrained habits of economy, 
 were giving way to more extended intercourse with the 
 world, and a greater diffusion of money. While it was 
 difficult to give up old and familiar customs, and habits 
 of thought, yet these were gradually disappearing under 
 more general education, under that happy foresight which 
 enables some men to discover that which is good in that 
 which is new ; and, perhaps, more than in all, in the 
 coming in of a new generation, with fresh ideas and im- 
 pulses, untrameled with too severe recollections of the 
 past. If in all this there is not as much of the austerity, 
 or outward demonstration of religion, there is probably 
 quite as much of true happiness and consciousness of 
 our duty to our fellow men and to our God. 
 
 In our increasing wealth lies a very great danger. 
 Forgetting our responsibilities, we are liable to the temp- 
 tation of thinking only of ourselves, and so neglect those 
 
 John Talcott, and the universal scribe or recording officer of his time, not only 
 keeping the' records of the colonial courts and of the town but deputized to keep the 
 records of an adjoining town until some competent person could be found to attend 
 to that business. His writing was very compact and somewhat cramped in style, 
 but always legible. In making up the records of the judgments of the courts, 
 especially in criminal cases, he sometimes indulged himself in a bit of grim 
 humor, as when a culprit had been committed to gaol, and also condemned to a 
 whipping, Capt. Allyn entered up the court record thus: "that the said A. B. 
 stand committed to the common gaol during the court's pleasure, and that he be 
 entertained with the accustomed welcome which in such cases are given, and 
 that the marshal and one of the constables are to see that it be severely given 
 forthwith." 
 
 He was buried in the center burying ground, and his epitaph, Here lies interred 
 the body of Honorable Lieut. Col. John Allyn, who served his Generation in the 
 capacity of Magistrate, Secretary of Colony of Conn., 34 years, who dyed Nov. 
 6. 1606. 
 
no Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 habits of labor and economy which have honored those 
 gone before us. If there ever was a nation in this world 
 whose conceptions of the dignity of industry and true 
 economy should be of the highest character, that nation 
 is ours. 
 
 This chapter cannot better be closed than by quoting 
 from a discourse of the Rev. Dr. Horace Bushnell on the 
 " Age of Homespun," delivered before the Litchfield County 
 Agricultural Society in 1851 : 
 
 "On thing at least I hope, that in these illustrations I have made 
 some impression on you all of the dignity of work. How magnificent 
 an honor it is, for the times gone by, that when so many schemes are 
 on foot, as now, to raise the weak ; when the friends of the dejected 
 classes of the world are proposing even to reorganize society itself 
 for their benefit, trying to humanize punishments, to kindle hope in 
 disability, and nurse depravity into a condition of comfort, — a distinc- 
 tion how magnificent ! — that our fathers and mothers of the century 
 past had, in truth, no dejected classes, no disability, only here and 
 there a drone of idleness, or a sporadic case of vice and poverty ; ex- 
 celling in the picture of social comfort and well-being actually realized 
 the most romantic visions of our new seers. . . . Your condition 
 will hereafter be softened and your comforts multiplied. Let your 
 culture be as much advanced. But let no delicate spirit that despises 
 work grow up in your sons and daughters. . . . Fear God and 
 keep His commandments, as your godly fathers and mothers did before 
 you, and found, as we have seen, to be the beginning of wisdom." 
 
VII. 
 THE NORTH MEADOW. 
 
 TTl HE Hartford North Meadow has always been noted as 
 .) \ being valuable for tillage and pasturage ; the owners 
 are many, and the parcels of land are generally small. 
 The farmers on the uplands are anxious to hold them, as 
 they are kept fertile by the annual overflow from the 
 river and are easily cultivated. The fences are few, and 
 the whole tract is quite level, and comprises about one 
 thousand acres. The river bank is being gradually washed 
 away on the north, towards Windsor, but land is added 
 lower down, and an island is forming on the east side of 
 the river just above the Great bridge. The bank was, 
 within the memory of many, near the middle of the river, 
 where the encroachment is the greatest, and yet here 
 great logs may be discovered in the bank at low water 
 mark, at least ten or fifteen feet below the land above 
 them, drifted there a long time ago, showing that the 
 river at one time ran much farther west than at present. 
 Most of the sand used in masonry in the city is brought 
 from the drift just above the New England railroad 
 bridge. Formerly the masons used mostly the yellowish 
 sand, found at the different places in the Neck, but the 
 brick-makers used generally, I think, that which was found 
 near their kilns, of a lighter color and purer silex. The 
 brick and mortar of a hundred years since were not at all 
 inferior to the present manufacture. If one attempts to 
 drive a nail in the mortar of our old buildings, he meets 
 with much more resistance than in most of our modern 
 ones. Possibly the composition of the mortar itself was 
 different, for the walls laid in it were not easily thrown 
 
ii2 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 down, and the bricks held together in great masses as they 
 were tumbled from their beds. It was no easy matter to 
 overthrow the old Jonathan Law house, nor the building 
 south of James B. Hosmer, nearly opposite. So thoroughly 
 were the bricks bedded, and so excellent was the composi- 
 tion of the mortar, that they did not become clean as soon 
 as they reached the ground. 
 
 After the crops in the Meadow are gathered, it is 
 "opened" for common use by the proprietors, for pastur- 
 age, for " Neat or Horned cattle " only.* A meeting is 
 called to set a day of "opening," usually about the twen- 
 tieth of October. A committee is appointed to examine 
 the amount of feed upon the land of each owner, and to 
 fix upon the number of " rights " to be allowed him ; but 
 every one, however small a piece of land he may own, is 
 entitled to one right. The number of cattle each one can 
 "put in " is governed by the number of rights he possesses, 
 and these rights by the number of acres belonging to him. 
 They must all be marked with the initials of the owner's 
 name two inches in length, which is generally done by 
 snipping the hair of each animal. The value of the rights 
 is one dollar each, and these may be purchased, but then 
 the cattle are to be marked with the letters of the owners 
 of the land, thus showing that these only are in enjoy- 
 ment of rights belonging to them. 
 
 At these meetings also a committee is appointed to 
 " drive the meadow," that is, to visit it several times in the 
 season to see that no cattle are there save those properly 
 belonging to the proprietors. If any are found, they may 
 be "pounded." The committee receive a moderate com- 
 
 * Although "neat and horned cattle" only are now admitted to the meadow, 
 yet this regulation probably did not always exist, for in October, 1795, it was 
 " wteef that no horse or horse kind Jack Ass or Mule be allowed to Run at Large 
 in sd Meadow from this time forward until the proprietors Agree Otherwise," 
 etc. This was repeated the next year, when it was " voted that all horses, 
 horse kind &c, shall be branded with the two first letters," etc. But in 1803 
 it was "voted that no horse kine be turned into sd Meadow the present Year," 
 and this restriction continued thereafter, with the exception of colts under a cer- 
 tain number of months of age. 
 
The North Meadow. - 113 
 
 pensation, either in money or by the gift of an additional 
 right. The time of " closing- the meadow " is about the 
 first of December. The crops are supposed to be all re- 
 moved before the "opening"; if they are not the possible 
 loss falls upon the owner. A proper consideration in a 
 short delay is sometimes given to any one who from sick- 
 ness or misfortune has not been able to gather them into 
 his barns ; but generally, the day having been known 
 long before, no trouble is experienced. A few slow mov- 
 ing men, procrastinators, are sometimes caught. 
 
 The proprietors hold two meetings annually, one in 
 March, and one in October, at which officers are chosen 
 and committees appointed. The secretary posts a call for 
 the meeting, together with the names of the owners of 
 "rights," near the entrance to the meadow, so that the 
 correctness of the list may be established when they come 
 together. The proceedings are supposed to be quiet and 
 harmonious, but I understand will sometimes rival those 
 of a district school meeting. The privileges are valuable, 
 and each owner naturally desires to secure all that belongs 
 to him — of course no more. 
 
 The expenses are not large, but the roadways must 
 be kept in passable order, and fences secured at the 
 upper and lower end, that is, at the Windsor line on 
 the north and at the track of the New England Rail- 
 road on the south. Formerly the lower bounds were near 
 the meadow bridge, but after the Providence & Fishkill 
 railroad was built, its northern line was regarded as the 
 southern boundary of the meadow. The high elevation 
 of the tracks was supposed to be as effectual a barrier 
 against trespassing as a fence. The former limits of 
 the meadow were narrowed somewhat when the rail- 
 road to Springfield was built. The east line of the 
 railroad is now the west line of the meadow, so that 
 a portion of the land, extending from the railroad to 
 the fences on the west, has been cut off, and does not 
 15 
 
ii4 U p Neck in 1825. 
 
 come into common use. This was arranged for, I under- 
 stand, by some compensation when the change was 
 made. The committee, as has been said, establish the 
 number of rights to which each proprietor is entitled. 
 If his field has been cultivated to corn or potatoes, the 
 value is much less than it would be if in grass ; and if 
 there is a good crop of rowen on the ground, the 
 owner is considered in the increased rights allowed him. 
 The feed is valuable, and brings the cattle into winter 
 in good condition. All this matter is probably not fully 
 understood by a great majority of our citizens, but it 
 is governed by legal enactments, existing from an early 
 period. 
 
 It is a beautiful sight, when driving through the 
 meadow on a fine day in October, to see the hundreds 
 of animals leisurely feeding, or quietly ruminating in 
 the shade of a large elm or maple. It is certainly so 
 in one of those glorious times of our Indian summer, 
 when the air is warm and still, and a moderate haze 
 is spread over the whole valley, partially concealing, 
 but not blinding all objects. The picture is one of real 
 enjoyment, to be appreciated by any who have the 
 least particle of love for natural objects ; its very quiet- 
 ness is comforting to a troubled spirit. Scarcely a sound 
 is to be heard ; the birds are mostly gone ; a few 
 crows, useful scavengers, are lazily flying about, and 
 here and there, perched on the topmost limb of a tree, 
 may be seen some of our hawks, watching for the 
 mice or other like game. Occasionally a blue jay, gar- 
 rulous fellow that he is, utters his hoarse scream, as 
 if complaining that the farmer had carried away his 
 corn. If you are near the " Hollow," you may hear 
 the rattle of the king-fisher, as he darts into its waters 
 for his finny food. It may be that you will hear the 
 discharge of a gun, which starts all the birds around. 
 and excites the anger of the owners of the cattle, for 
 fear of their beings wounded. 
 
The North Meadow. 115 
 
 Though this land can hardly be considered as 
 " lying in the Neck," yet it is so near to it, and mostly 
 belongs to the dwellers therein, that it would not be 
 proper to overlook it in this paper. A comprehensive 
 history of our meadows, north and south, would be a 
 worthy subject for some one who has the knowledge 
 and patience of research. 
 
 The Slaughter House, which stood at the end of 
 Slaughter House Lane, formerly called Soldiers' Field 
 Lane, ought not to be overlooked. This might be called 
 a continuation of Front Street north, passing on the 
 east of the brick house formerly occupied by Jerry 
 Cook. It is now mostly covered by railroad tracks, but 
 the ancient road kept on the edge of the high ground, 
 just out of the swamp, and terminated, when I was a 
 boy, at the slaughter house. From this building to the 
 land north of it, where George M. Way had a house 
 and barns, there was a low stretch of land, like the 
 break in a levee, which permitted the floods of the 
 river to pour through, and extend farther to the west, 
 on the lot of John H. Lord. I suppose that the early 
 settlers went up this lane, which was not always covered 
 by the floods, and having come to the break in the 
 high land, turned westward, going near the foot of 
 Russell Street, and then west and north through or 
 near the woods afterwards called Morgan's, and still 
 afterwards Patten's, and then came out on still higher 
 ground just south of the old alms-house, opposite the 
 North Cemetery. This is the route which any one 
 would naturally take. 
 
 As to the slaughter house, I cannot learn much 
 about it. It was probably erected many years before 
 1825, for formerly there was quite a large export from 
 Hartford of beef and pork. Droves of cattle and swine 
 came in from the surrounding country. Quite a business 
 was done there within my own recollection, and a very 
 extensive one many years before, I judge, from an 
 
n6 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 examination of the account books of some of our old 
 merchants. 
 
 For many years -this region was famous for its hen 
 and turkey "shoots," in Thanksgiving- week. The poor 
 birds were put up at certain distances, and were the 
 targets for experienced and inexperienced gunners, at a 
 sixpence or a shilling per shot, to be the price of the 
 one who killed or succeeded in so disabling it that it 
 could not stand. It was sometimes thought that they 
 were killed several times before they became the prop- 
 erty of the successful competitor. A Humane society 
 had not then objected to this sport, nor had it become 
 a custom, as lately, to raffle for these birds in a saloon. 
 It is quite possible that the whisky there found is 
 more destructive than the powder and lead used at 
 Slaughter House Lane; the latter was not "warranted 
 to kill at forty rods," and it is easy to see how the 
 whisky came to have this special recommendation. Great 
 is the Saloon, and powerful is its whisky. 
 
 A history of the Meadow would not be complete with- 
 out a notice of "Skinner's Hollow." This lies in a ravine 
 about twenty rods west of the river, and a dozen rods 
 north of the New England road. It may be thirty rods 
 in length, and six or eight in breadth. It is overflowed 
 by the annual freshets, and as the water subsides, quite a 
 variety of fish are retained in it ; even a few alewives 
 are sometimes caught when a net is drawn in summer. 
 A few springs in -the west bank give a partial supply of 
 fresh water, so that a small stream is usually running out 
 of it. It is continued into the large sheet of water be- 
 tween the "Island" and the meadow road, and empties 
 into the river near the ice-houses. A dam erected by the 
 ice cutters is a barrier to its easy discharge, and creates 
 a large pond which furnishes a bountiful supply of ice. 
 Many years ago, before these operations were commenced, 
 the strait between the main land and the Island was so 
 narrow that we could jump across it at low water, when 
 
The North Meadow. 117 
 
 we went farther up the shore, for the purpose of bathing. 
 No boy at that time, however, would use this word; it was 
 "going in swimming"; "bathing" was too tame to ex- 
 press the activity and hilarity of thirty or forty youngsters 
 in the water. 
 
 A small bridge at the southern end of the Hollow 
 enabled us to cross easily over to the river ; the road was 
 used by the farmers, and by those who drew sand from 
 the river bank. But afterwards, when the water was 
 caused to set back by the dam below, we were obliged to 
 go north, around the pond, in order to get to the river. 
 I have not examined the deeds of land lying around the 
 Hollow, but the prefix of Skinner came undoubtedly from 
 some former owner. It was quite well stocked with our 
 common fish, pickerel, perch, roach, etc., and afforded good 
 sport with the hook. But after haying, when there was 
 time for a " fish fry," and the Cooks, and Tim Sheldon, 
 and some others, had drawn their nets, there was but 
 little satisfaction left for the angler. 
 
 It was formerly a very pretty little piece of water, 
 lined on both sides by large trees, and was so quiet and 
 still that a contemplative man could spend an hour in 
 gazing upon its beauties. If a change was desired he 
 could stroll over to the river, and seated upon a log drifted 
 on the sand, enjoy the fine breeze which came up from 
 the south, cool and refreshing even on a hot afternoon in 
 summer. Looking east, a long stretch of the East Hartford 
 Meadow was before him. Turning south, the most con- 
 spicuous object was the " Great Bridge," little dreaming 
 of the elephant it was to become in after years ; the rum- 
 ble of wheels in crossing it was greater than the gentle 
 murmur which came up from the city. Not a noise was 
 heard as loud as the splash of the sturgeon as *he fell 
 back into the waters from which he so joyfully leaped. 
 Taking advantage of the wind, the white sails of heavily 
 loaded scows, or "Windsor brigs," as they were frequently 
 called, might be seen, slowly moving up the river. If 
 
n8 
 
 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 not as rapid or graceful as our modern yacht, they were 
 probably more profitable to their owners, and well fitted 
 for transportation of goods. A lull in the wind would 
 cause the two or three men aboard of them to spring to 
 their poles, and so, slowly and laboriously pushing along, 
 they broke the general silence by an occasional song, or 
 musical cries, which seem to be general the world over in 
 such labor. 
 
 There was a small pond on the southeast, a few feet 
 from the large one, but holding no communication with 
 it. This was surrounded by trees so thickly, that its 
 waters appeared to be almost black ; no fish were found 
 in it, except a few small bullheads. It was a gloomy spot, 
 in decided contrast with the greater sheet near it, espe- 
 cially on a sunny day, when the bright rays streamed 
 through the open branches of the maples, ashes, and oaks; 
 the surface then was almost like silvered glass. This was 
 quite true on a sunny afternoon in August, when there 
 was nothing to be heard but the chirping of numerous 
 insects, or the occasional voices of men at work in the 
 meadow ; the gentleness of nature itself was spread all 
 around. The myriads of mosquitoes sometimes to be found 
 here were kept at bay by the fresh breezes from the 
 south ; but if one went to the lower and wooded ground 
 on the west, he would see them in clouds, rising and fall- 
 ing in gentle undulations, with a humming noise like that 
 of a swarm of bees. In November, or before the closing 
 of the river, the wild ducks, on their way to the south, 
 would occasionally stop in the Hollow to feed, much to 
 the interest of the skillful gunner. 
 
 When it was visited a few weeks since, it was found 
 in a very different condition ; many of the trees had been 
 cut, so {hat now it was quite open to the sun and air, and 
 the extent of water was limited. The small pond now 
 communicated with the large one, for muskrats had so 
 mined the narrow barrier that it was nearly thrown down. 
 The carcass of an unburied horse, partly devoured by 
 
The North Meadow. 119 
 
 dogs and crows, added nothing to the beauty or pleasant- 
 ness of the surroundings. The odor was quite unlike that 
 which comes from the semi-resinous buds of the river 
 poplar or the young leaves of the neighboring willows. 
 
 This was the neighborhood of the famous " fish fry." 
 The day previous, nets had been drawn in the river and 
 in the Hollow; the fish nicely dressed, were kept for the 
 appointed feast. A lot of "jolly good fellows" had been 
 notified and were promptly on hand. The Cooks, and 
 Sheldons, and Goodwins, and other proper inhabitants of 
 the Neck were there ; and others also, farther south, 
 dwellers in the city, as Robert Turner, Nat Bunce, J. G. 
 Eggleston, Jo. Harris, Benjamin Bolles, Hugh Waterman, 
 Joseph Pratt, Gen. Hayden, Charles Olcott, Joseph Brad- 
 ley, Charles Fowler, as full of fun as an egg is of meat, 
 Harry Burr, and many others, occasional, if not constant 
 visitors. No one enjoyed these festive occasions better 
 than Benning Mann, who once set fire to a hay cock, by 
 whose side Sam Shipman was quietly resting. If Capt. 
 Aaron Cook could be persuaded to sing the " cow song," 
 the merriment was complete and the revelry at its highest. 
 One verse is given as a specimen, all joining in the chorus. 
 It w r as evidently not the poetical construction or arrange- 
 ment which put them in such good spirits. 
 
 " There was an old man, 
 
 Who had but one cow, 
 And how to keep her 
 
 He didn't know how ; 
 So he built him a barn, 
 
 To keep his cow warm. 
 Harm ! boys, harm ! 
 
 A little more liquor, 
 Will do us no harm ! " 
 
 It must not be judged that these occasions were times 
 of drunkenness, for they were not ; the men truly were 
 not total abstainers, but they meant to be temperate. A 
 drunkard was despised by all of them. Athletic sports 
 
were indulged in by the younger and more active, such 
 as running, jumping, and wrestling, while the elders sat 
 quietly by as became them, drinking their punch, enjoying 
 the fine afternoon, telling their stories, often repeated, 
 perhaps, as is the custom with these ancients. The fish, 
 with slices of salt pork as large as one's hand, were fried 
 in that venerable, long-handled pan, which has honored al- 
 most numberless such occasions. The potatoes and onions 
 were a savory mess, and the cucumbers cut into ice-cold 
 water, were warranted never to hurt anyone. The punch 
 was a compound upon which some of the guests prided 
 themselves ; practice had made them perfect. No water 
 was allowed in its composition, save that which came from 
 the melted ice ; considering that the only other fluid was 
 rum, we can realize which was the greater factor ; those 
 who partook of it could do the same also. This was not 
 a funeral occasion, but an unbending for once in a year ; 
 it was probably as quiet, and orderly, and temperately 
 conducted, as many other feasts which are now celebrated 
 under a roof, with brilliant gas-lights, popping of corks, 
 singing of songs, and merry speeches. 
 
 Some years ago, twelve acres of land, including the 
 Hollow, belonged to the estate of Richard Goodman. Na- 
 thaniel Goodwin and Henry Keney were appointed as 
 appraisers. • "You being the youngest man," said Mr. G. 
 to his colleague, "please state your opinion of its value." 
 " Ninety dollars per acre," said Mr. K. with the prompt- 
 ness of a business man who knows what he is about. 
 " No, no sir, too much, too much." Recovering from his 
 astonishment, he added, "Will you please tell me, Mr. 
 Keney, the reasons for your opinion." " Yes, I will give that 
 myself." " Oh ! oh ! I think we will go, Mr. Keney, I think 
 we will go ; " and the appraisement stood. Mr. Goodwin 
 was well acquainted with the meadow, had surveyed and 
 appraised many of the lots, and been engaged in the 
 settlement of many of the estates of the dwellers in the 
 Neck. If all that he did in the line of his business for 
 
The North Meadow. 121 
 
 the last forty years of his life could be recorded, with his 
 quaint sayings and sly humor, it would be a valuable ad- 
 dition to our local history, and a strong testimony to the 
 exceedingly good nature and integrity of this uncommon 
 man.' He probably never attended a "fish fry," for there 
 he would have been out of his element ; his brother James 
 willingly supplied his place on such occasions. 
 
 Probably no two men had gone over the land in the 
 north part of the town so frequently and minutely as 
 Capt. Aaron Cook and Nathaniel Goodwin. The division 
 of estates required their frequent services, and any one who 
 rummages among old family papers and maps in the sur- 
 veyor's office, will be astonished at the extent of their 
 labors. The maps of the town by Capt. Cook, with names 
 of roads and streets, and lines of lots with the owners' 
 names, are particularly valuable. The present preservation 
 of them may be safe, but a publication of them would in- 
 sure against a possible destruction. The same may be said 
 of our Town Records, whose loss would be a very serious 
 matter. So much is contained in them with reference to 
 our early history, that the volumes would be interesting 
 to read, and valuable to be kept. If the records are de- 
 stroyed or lost, their place would be quite imperfectly 
 supplied by the extracts which from time to time have 
 been published by individuals. The publication of our 
 Colonial Records by order of the State, from the organ- 
 ization of the first Court in 1636 up to the time of the 
 Revolution, is a fair example of what should be done by 
 the town of Hartford ; the sales would probably meet a 
 large share of the expense. Mr. J. H. Trumbull and Mr. 
 Charles J. Hoadly have done their work so well for the 
 State, that they are deserving of the highest commenda- 
 tion. It is not a matter for an individual to undertake at 
 his own expense and hazard, but is becoming to the dig- 
 nity and authority of the town. An assurance of correct- 
 ness and completeness would thus be given, which could 
 be obtained in no other way. 
 16 
 
122 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 Upon reference to page 11 of this paper, a statement 
 of George Cook will be found concerning certain large 
 stones found in the meadow, larger than common mere- 
 stones, set in a direct line, as though they marked the 
 boundary of some former road ; and as published in the 
 Times the suggestion was then made, that possibly these 
 were established by the first settlers, which conjecture is 
 doubtless incorrect. For upon reflection, we may consider 
 that these men had something to do beside planting stones 
 in an open and unsettled land ; no new squatter on a 
 western prairie wastes his precious time in such unneces- 
 sary labor, when the first aim is to obtain something upon 
 which to live, so he travels here and there, as convenience 
 suits him, until he is satisfied, or troubled with neighbors. 
 
 The true time of their establishment was in 1768, for 
 at the May session of the General Assembly in that year 
 a memorial was presented by " Samuel Wadsworth and 
 others, proprietors of the North Meadow in the town of 
 Hartford, showing to this assembly that the road or cart- 
 way from the north end of said meadow by the bridge, 
 up north through said meadow about three miles, to 
 Windsor line, etc., which cart-road having never been laid 
 out and recorded so that its width is ascertained, and that 
 it is necessary that said road be kept so wide as that 
 teams can pass and repass each other, and that by 
 encroachments said road is so narrowed that it is ren- 
 dered almost useless ; praying for a committee to go and 
 view the circumstances of said cartway and meadow, to 
 fix and ascertain the width of said road by meets and 
 bounds, and make report of their doings thereon," etc. 
 The assembly appointed "Thos. Hosmer, Esq., Messrs. 
 John Whitman and Benjamin Colton," and directed them 
 to "make return of their doings thereon." 
 
 At the October session of the General Assembly of 
 the same year, this committee reported " that on the 
 10th day of instant October they viewed said road, 
 heard all parties, and are of opinion that there is need 
 
The North Meadow. 123 
 
 of said road's being widened and staked out as prayed 
 for ; and accordingly said committee began at Windsor 
 line and laid out said highway or road two rods wide, 
 running southerly about thirty-seven degrees west, and 
 at the end of every forty rods erected bounds or mon- 
 uments, and in the lane near the bridge, the way not 
 being quite straight, they erected bounds every three 
 or four chains till they came to said bridge in said 
 meadow ; " whereupon it was 
 
 "Resolved by this Assembly, That said road or cart- way, as laid 
 out through said meadow by the committee aforesaid be, and the 
 same is hereby ordered and established to be and remain a road or 
 cart-way through said meadow forever, for the use of the proprietors 
 of said meadow." 
 
 By this report of the committee, it will be noticed 
 that the course of the road was direct from the Wind- 
 sor line, nearly three miles in length, to the meadow 
 bridge. Here there was a curve to the west, beginning 
 near the present ice-house, and continuing to the bridge, 
 as there is to this day. I find no other enactments 
 concerning the lay-out of a road through the meadow, 
 or the establishment of metes and bounds, except this, 
 in an examination of the printed Colonial Records. The 
 memorial specified that it had never been laid out or 
 recorded, and hence the action of the General Assembly 
 was prayed for and obtained. These "bounds or mon- 
 uments at the end of every forty rods," differing from 
 the usual mere-stones, are the ones, without doubt, which 
 George Cook says are now occasionally met in plowing ; 
 all being in a straight line, which if prolonged towards 
 the Windsor line would lead into the river ; showing 
 also that the course of the river has changed materially 
 at the north end of the meadow. 
 
 Near the Windsor line there was always less of 
 the swampy ground than farther south, and but little of 
 the wood is now standing. East of this, toward the 
 river bank, the ground is more elevated, and was found 
 
124 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 quite dry this second day of April. The farmers were 
 then carting- manure on their fields, with perfect ease 
 except through a slough near the meadow gate, and a 
 terrible piece of road between the gate and the road 
 to Windsor. It was only equaled by that stretch of 
 public highway about thirty rods in length, between 
 the bridge and the " Staddles," which is a disgrace to 
 the civilization of the towns in which it lies, and will 
 remain so until it is thoroughly underdrained. What 
 has been done south of this can be done here, and it 
 should be thoroughly done at once ; it is folly to cart 
 gravel upon such a soft clay bottom as exists here. 
 It is no excuse that this nuisance lies upon the out- 
 skirts of Windsor and Hartford ; every citizen has a 
 right to complain that this great highway to the north 
 remains, and has remained for many years, in its pres- 
 ent condition. We might refer to the ordinance of the 
 General Court in 1645, which directs "that the high- 
 way e between the sayd Wyndsor and Hartford in the 
 upland be well and passably amended and mayntayned 
 for a continuance, by Hartford by so much as belongs 
 to them, and by Wyndsor by as much as belongs to 
 them ; " and Hartford has nearly complied with this 
 order, for on its part it has mostly stoned the road 
 bed, so that its portion of the work is very comfortable 
 for travelers.* 
 
 In the meadow, near the division line of the two 
 towns, and not very distant from the river, there is to 
 be found seven or eight very old apple trees ; these 
 are ungrafted, and all that is left of a former orchard, 
 I understand. One of the largest measured eleven feet 
 six inches in circumference at three feet from the 
 ground ; and this was but a shell of its former greatness, 
 for it was much decayed, and one side of it was wholly 
 gone. The ice, in large cakes, floating down the river 
 
 * Since this was written I understand that the town of Windsor has deter- 
 mined to thoroughly repair its portion of this highway, 
 
The North Meadow. 125 
 
 in the high floods, had probably ground into the tree 
 in former times, and so led to its permanent injury. 
 Or possibly the farmers had hitched their horses to it, 
 and these, for want of hay or oats, or from a vicious 
 habit, had gnawed into its side, as we may see they 
 have done all over our city. It is impossible for us to 
 ascertain the age of these trees, but judging from the 
 size of the trunks, and the ample tops, and the size of 
 some trees of which we have knowledge, they are from 
 one hundred to one hundred and fifty years old. There 
 is no great bulging, or buttressing at the crown of the 
 trees, and apparently there has been a deposit of earth 
 around them, brought down by the floods in spring 
 time. Mr. Marsh tells me that this orchard formerly 
 extended to the river, and that some trees have- been 
 washed away within his remembrance. A large white 
 maple {Acer dasycarpuni), standing near, and much in- 
 jured, measures fourteen feet three inches in circum- 
 ference at three feet from the ground. In March, 1884, 
 I measured an old apple tree standing in the highway 
 to Windsor, west of these described trees, and near the 
 residence of George L. Deming, which was twelve feet 
 in circumference in the waist, at three and one-half 
 feet from the ground. Heavy winds twisted and broke 
 it in pieces, and it is now gone. It probably was as 
 old as those in the meadow, and the great buttresses 
 which supported it were all exposed to view, as they 
 were out of reach of the silt of the river. 
 
 Although the proprietors of the Meadow were required 
 to keep the bridges in order and the roads in repair, yet 
 complaint was made by those owning land in the north 
 part of it, that while they were taxed equally with others 
 for these purposes, their own section was neglected, and 
 that " they have no use or benefit by the way that leads in 
 at the south end of said meadow, and runs north through 
 the same, but have at their own cost been obliged to find 
 and repair ways for themselves, .... praying to be 
 
126 
 
 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 released from said taxes so long as they provide their own 
 ways, etc." This memorial was presented to the General 
 Assembly in 1756, signed by John Talcott, John Cook, 
 Joseph Wadsworth, Wm. Wadsworth, John Spencer, Ann 
 Dickinson, Ozias Pratt, Zebulon Goodwin, Wm. Goodwin, 
 Daniel Marsh, Daniel Wadsworth, Joseph Wadsworth, Jr., 
 and Moses Dickinson. Col. John Pitkin, Capt. Stephen 
 Hosmer, and Capt. Daniel Webster were "appointed to 
 inquire into the matters referred to, and to make report 
 to the Assembly at New Haven in October next." 
 
 The committee reported favorably, and it was resolved 
 " that the aforesaid report of said committee be, and is 
 hereby, accepted, allowed, and approved ; and the said 
 memorialists and each of them are hereby also released and 
 discharged from the aforesaid tax already granted by said 
 proprietors, and shall be exempted from any future tax 
 or rate that shall or may be by said proprietors granted 
 by the proprietors aforesaid, so long as the memorialists 
 shall at their own cost provide ways for themselves suit- 
 able for their need and situation." 
 
 This decision would seem to be perfectly just when 
 we consider that the meadow was nearly three miles in 
 length, and that the expenditures were made in the south- 
 ern part, greatly to the inconvenience of the proprietors 
 in the north. Perhaps this led to a better arrangement, 
 and might do the same in many towns where outlying 
 roads are sadly neglected. 
 
 The Swamp has often been referred to in this paper, 
 and it is frequently mentioned in the records of the Gen- 
 eral Court, of the town, and in old deeds. It was so much 
 lower than the meadow that it was unfit for cultivation, 
 but was covered with a heavy growth of trees, principally 
 of the black and swamp white oaks, white and red maples, 
 some ash and elm, and an occasional hickory. Over fifty 
 years ago I found nuts of the latter which fairly rivaled 
 the famous nuts from Windsor or Glastonbury meadows ; 
 and once a patch of the high blackberry, whose fruit was 
 
The North Meadow. 127 
 
 as large and luscious as any to be seen in our gardens. 
 And here too I found four varieties of our wild grapes, 
 very good of their kind, but not to be tolerated when bet- 
 ter ones can be so easily procured. The old area of the 
 swamp is now much diminished, and but comparatively 
 little of the wood remains. Before many years this will 
 be cut off, thus admitting the sun and air, and permitting 
 a quicker drying of the land. When this is done, the 
 winds which now have free course over the meadow, will 
 sweep over the old swamp, and if better drainage is pro- 
 vided, will give us less swarms of mosquitoes, and 
 improved chances for good health. 
 
 The Creek rises in the southwest part of the town 
 of Windsor, and receives the drainage from a large 
 area. It is crossed by the road which runs from the 
 Blue Hills to the Windsor road, about four miles from 
 the city, and running southeasterly crosses this last- 
 mentioned road just above the third mile stone ; turning 
 south it passes through the swamp, and enters the Con- 
 necticut river near the pumping house of our water- 
 works. Quite a body of water flows down it after a 
 heavy rain, but during the summer the amount is small. 
 There was a saw-mill on it, near the old red tavern 
 within my remembrance, but the building has been 
 destroyed, together with the dam, for many years past. 
 There was pretty good fishing in this stream, above 
 the meadow bridge, at one time, for small pickerel ; 
 but then more dead hogs, cats, and old horses were 
 put under ground, rather than committed to the water. 
 Neither was the region considered a free dumping 
 ground for all sorts of rubbish and filth, which is sure 
 to be found in a city, but which ought to be burned. 
 
 Since the south line of the common field is now 
 the embankment of the New England Railroad, the 
 way from the meadow bridge to said road has remained 
 in a neglected condition. Whether the proprietors gave 
 up their control of it is not clear ; the town does 
 
128 
 
 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 nothing toward its repair, and apparently the city does 
 not. It is much cut up by the heavy teams, drawing 
 sand from the bar near Skinner's Hollow, so that, we 
 might say, if it belonged to the city, that the city was 
 unmindful of its duty. It may be a matter of disputed 
 ownership and care, resembling much the uncertain 
 residence of an undesirable pauper, who is banged about 
 from one town to another, with no one anxious to 
 claim him as a lawful resident. 
 
 Towards the north of the meadow the road is not 
 as much traveled. While it is "passable," yet it is not 
 "convenient." The tread of the oxen and the wheels 
 of the cart have worn deeply into the soil, leaving a 
 ridge in the middle of the track, which is decidedly 
 objectionable to one who is driving over it in the or- 
 dinary one-horse buggy. Though the road is for the 
 proprietors only, yet the great comfort to travelers who 
 are permitted to use it, would seem to indicate that what 
 would not be granted as a right, might be yielded as 
 a favor. Perhaps the proprietors had this in mind, 
 when on March 1, 1872, it was 
 
 " Voted, That the proprietors have leave to take the balk* out of 
 the middle of the road against their own land, or at any other point 
 with consent of the committee." 
 
 In the latter part of August the swallows began to 
 collect in great numbers before migrating to the south. 
 Just before sundown they would settle among the 
 
 * Balk. The word is an old one, and is still in common use, and, as will be 
 seen, refers to a ridge of land left undisturbed by the plow. In none of the authori- 
 ties which have been consulted do I find any reference to a ridge of grass- 
 covered land in a road-way ; yet it is just as applicable and proper as if it was 
 an unplowed ridge in a field. Anyone will recognize this when he drives with 
 a one-horse wagon through the northern part of the meadow. Continuous use by 
 cattle with the ox cart have worn deeply two paths or ruts, in some places a 
 foot, or even more, below the level of the adjacent land. In the middle of the 
 track is a ridge of earth, grass covered, which is narrow, but as high as the mea- 
 dow, not wide enough for the tread of the single horse. He is in doubt, and per- 
 plexed about his footing, and not unfrequently the wheels of the buggy on one 
 side are so high above the others, by running upon the bank, that there is great 
 danger of an overturn. And the reflections of a traveler are, that the town is 
 very remiss in leaving a road in such a dangerous condition. We ought to be 
 much obliged to them for permission to travel through this field, and enjoy its 
 
The North Meadow. 129 
 
 willows on the Island,f the arrivals continuing- until dark: 
 the chattering for some hours was wonderful. After a 
 while there was silence, as if the programme for the 
 morrow had been discussed and agreed upon. If now 
 a gun was fired they would rise up by thousands, and 
 flying about for a while, would return to their resting 
 place, and soon were quiet again. It was very inter- 
 esting to watch them coming in troops to this gathering, 
 from all quarters of the horizon, as if this was under- 
 stood to be a general rendezvous for all swallowdom. In 
 the morning they were off, flying about all over this 
 region, gathering their food as usual in their graceful 
 sweeps and curves in the air, and at night returned to 
 the willows. This was repeated for a few days, and 
 then they were gone, to be no more seen until another 
 spring brought them back again ; the suddenness of their 
 departure was a surprise to all unacquainted with their 
 habits. 
 
 Formerly, it was supposed that they buried them- 
 selves in the water and mud, at the bottom of ponds 
 and rivers. It is astonishing what an amount of evi- 
 dence can be obtained that they do hibernate in this 
 
 beauties ; it is their own, and we are trespassers except by their consent. When 
 crowds flock to the meadow to play ball on a Sunday, or too many consider it a 
 fair place for filling their bags with corn, or potatoes, or apples, why, the farmers 
 still regard it as a trespass, but without any qualification or reservation. 
 
 Balk. A ridge of green sward left by the plough in ploughing, or by design 
 between different occupancies in a common field. — Halliroell. 
 " In agriculture, are ridges or banks between two furrows or pieces of 
 
 arable land. — E. Chambers Cyclopedia, 173s. 
 " A ridge generally; a dividing ridge; a bar. — Neiv English Dictionary, 
 
 Murray. 
 " A ridge ; especially a ridge left unploughed in the body of a field, or 
 
 between fields ; an uncultivated strip of land, serving as a bound- 
 ary, often between pieces of ground held by different tenants. 
 The latter use originated in the open air system (common in Eng- 
 lish and Scotch).— Century Dictionary. 
 " A ridge in one's path, a stumbling-block, check. — New English Dictioti' 
 
 ary. 
 " A ridge of land left unploughed between furrows, or at the" end of a 
 
 field. A ridge between furrows. — Webster. 
 
 t Though called "the Island," yet it was not truly an island, though probably it 
 had been one at some former period, when the river, or a part of it, had run through 
 the land at the south of Skinner's Hollow. 
 
 17 
 
130 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 manner. Sworn testimony can be found, that in great 
 flocks they have been seen diving- into the water, and 
 that they have been dug out of the mud in midwinter, 
 without any signs of life, but have returned to anima- 
 tion upon being brought into a warm room. The idea 
 is a very old one, and most of the evidence in favor 
 of this hibernation is quite ancient ; but there is some 
 testimony in its favor in the present century, and some 
 even in our own country. A few years since I pre- 
 pared a paper upon the "Hibernation of Swallows," and 
 was surprised to find how generally it was believed 
 that they spent the winter in the mud : a mass of evi- 
 dence was brought together which was wonderful in its 
 support. But it was not true; no such thing happens, 
 and cannot happen to these delicate birds ; it is a phys- 
 ical impossibility. All swallows held under water by 
 the hand are drowned in a very few minutes, and there 
 is no reason to suppose there would be a different re- 
 sult if they went under it of their own will. The whole 
 difficulty was this, that the migration of these birds 
 was not well known at the time, and the suddenness 
 of their departure led to the belief that they must 
 have gone to the bottom of the ponds and rivers, 
 especially as they were seen flying low over them, and 
 diving suddenly down to the water, were said to have 
 disappeared. The thousand upon thousands which I saw 
 years ago would fly in masses over and about the 
 river, wheeling and turning, and in the dusk of even- 
 ing were out of sight in a moment. Where were they? 
 in the mud ? no, in the willows, which hiding place was 
 revealed by their chattering. 
 
 There are other birds which assemble in the meadow 
 in the autumn time. At least fifty-five years ago I found 
 quite a resting place of the crow-blackbirds among some 
 young' soft maples and willows. About sundown they be- 
 gan to assemble, and before dark they appeared a black, 
 chattering mass among the trees ; the limbs were broken 
 
The North Meadow. 131 
 
 and the ground was covered with droppings and dead 
 birds. A gun fired at a venture brought down several, 
 and the whole flock rose a short distance above the trees, 
 only to relight in the same place. In a small way it was 
 a reminder of Audubon's description of a pigeon roost in 
 Kentucky. An inquiring turn of mind led to the dressing 
 and broiling of several ; the flesh was dark colored, dry, 
 and almost flavorless ; there was nothing repulsive either 
 in appearance or flavor, but one would prefer a woodcock 
 or snipe very naturally. 
 
 These two last-mentioned birds were formerly very 
 plenty in the meadow and swamp. The old hunters would 
 tell wonderful stories of the number which they had easily 
 obtained in a few hours ; and inasmuch as these stories 
 are not concerning fish, where a slight exaggeration is 
 considered allowable, and as the hunter is always a man 
 of a certain amount of veracity, why, his account is to be 
 received with so much of truthfulness as belongs to the 
 character which he has established. With this very clear 
 and explicit statement no hunter can complain. When a 
 very truthful man says that he killed one hundred wood- 
 cock in six mornings, years ago, when he was young, 
 why, he must be believed ; if he had said that he got a 
 thousand of them, we might entertain a doubt. 
 
 The wild pigeons also were plenty here, stopping for 
 a short time in the spring on their way to the north, and 
 also in the autumn, in great numbers, upon their return. 
 George Cook says that he has known of their nesting in 
 the trees of the swamp. 
 
 When this land is overflowed by the. spring freshets, 
 great numbers of muskrats are driven from their haunts, 
 and swimming about in the flood, fall victims to the 
 numerous gunners, who kill them for their skins ; nearly 
 a hundred have been shot by a party in one day. The 
 winter skins now bring from ten to fourteen cents, and 
 the summer ones from twenty to twenty-two cents each ; 
 
132 
 
 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 this good luck is generally confined to the first clay's 
 work. 
 
 A half dozen of mink were killed this last winter by 
 one young man. The skins now can be sold for about a 
 dollar, but the fur is not as valuable as formerly, for they 
 are not now fashionable. At one time, during the war, 
 they brought fourteen or fifteen dollars. Some years 
 since an otter was shot here, but none of late. A few 
 woodchucks are found, and skunks also. Of snakes the 
 common striped one is not uncommon ; an occasional black 
 one is seen. Among other animals are the usual field 
 mice, and rats in considerable numbers. 
 
 Before the Holyoke dam was built, and the pounds at 
 the mouth of the river were established, there were sev- 
 eral noted fish places for shad on the banks or flats east of 
 Skinner's Hollow. A hundred years since, I am informed, 
 that they were caught by the cart load and were sold 
 at two cents apiece. Within the remembrance of George 
 Cook, great numbers were still caught, and sold when he 
 was a boy at twelve cents apiece. I have had the pick of 
 them for twenty-five cents. Wm. Drake had a "fish place " 
 a half-mile north of here, and was quite successful. None 
 have been caught since the river was boomed for logs, 
 ten years or so ago, for the fish, fearing to pass under 
 the boom in shallow water, kept in the deeper places, 
 beyond the reach of the net. The fishermen were dis- 
 couraged at the small hauls, and gave up their nets. 
 These, and many other fish places on this river, now be- 
 long only to the past, due, as G. C. says, principally to the 
 pounds at the mouth of the river. The selfishness of a 
 few men has so shaped legislation that the people must 
 suffer for their benefit. Whatever fine-spun theories may 
 be allowed to prevail in favor of these obstructions, a 
 common-sense view of the subject would seem to be, that 
 the shad should be allowed to pass up the river at all 
 times, and thus give an equal chance to all the fishermen 
 upon its banks. Massachusetts would thus have no right 
 
The North Meadow. 133 
 
 to complain of the selfishness of Connecticut, and would 
 doubtless be more liberal and just to all, from the source 
 of the river to the river's mouth. 
 
 This meadow, while owned by individuals and culti- 
 vated by them like other lands, was yet subject to common 
 use at a stated period. It w T as fenced on the north and 
 on the south by the proprietors, in proportion to the 
 number of acres which they possessed, subject to a certain 
 deduction in the length by the "difficulty of setting-," or 
 the danger of it being carried away by the floods. Every 
 few years a committee was appointed to " New Moddle and 
 Lay out the Common" fence. The list for the year 181 8 
 commenced as follows : 
 
 "A distribution of the Common fence round the Common field 
 Called the North Meadow in Hartford to Each proprietor his just pro- 
 portion being 13^ Links to an Acre beginning at the great River at 
 the North End of sd Meadow and running Westerly on the south 
 Bank of the Drain Called Barbers Drain — as follows." 
 
 There is appended a list of the proprietors, one hun- 
 dred and one in number, w T ith the number of "links of 
 chain" assessed to each one, 75, 400, 762, 1,448, 27, etc. 
 
 The following vote passed at a proprietors' meeting, 
 October 2, 1820, shows the exactness with which the busi- 
 ness was conducted, and is a fair specimen of the votes at 
 the different annual meetings: 
 
 " Voted Said proprietors have Liberty to turn into sd Meadow no 
 more than one Ox or neat kine to 2 Acres of Land they are then 
 possessed of in sd Meadow that hath not been Inclosed by particular 
 Inclosure the present Year, and that all Creatures turned into sd 
 Meadow shall be marked or Branded with the two first Letters of the 
 proprietors name in whose Right they are turned in upon in Capitals 
 not Less than 2 Inches Long fairly and plainly made on the Near side 
 of every such Creature before they are turned into sd Meadow, and 
 Each proprietor Shall Lodge a Certificate with one of the haywards of 
 sd Meadow Showing the Number of Acres of uninclosed Land he hath 
 at that time in sd Meadow at or before the time he shall turn his 
 Creatures into sd Meadow and if any Creature or Creatures shall be 
 put into sd Meadow or found there running at Large Contrary to 
 
134 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 the Intent and Meaning of the above Order Every such Creature 
 Shall be Liable to be Impounded by the hayvvards of sd Meadow or 
 by the owners of the Land whereon Such Creature Shall be found, 
 and the owner or owners of Such Creatures so Impounded shall be 
 Liable to pay fifty Cents poundage for Every such Creature, three 
 Cents whereof Shall be for the turnkey." 
 
 " Voted that Creatures under the above regulation may run at 
 Large in sd Meadow 45 days after sd Meadow is Opened and no 
 longer." 
 
 In 1839, a vote was passed against turning into the 
 meadow "any Unruly Creature or Creatures," with direc- 
 tions that such shall be impounded if found. Frequent votes 
 are passed "that no one of the Committee have leave to 
 expend on the road more than two dollars without the 
 consent of the majority " ; this was afterwards increased 
 to five dollars. 
 
 The roads and bridges of this "Long Meadow or 
 Common Field" were to be made and kept in order by 
 the proprietors of the meadow, at their own expense ; the 
 town neither paid for them nor had control over them, so 
 they were naturally jealous of their rights, and careful 
 that no unwarranted or injurious use was made of them. 
 I suppose that the general public had the privilege to 
 pass and repass quietly through the meadow only by 
 sufferance, if no damage was done ; it is among the 
 many beautiful drives about our city at certain seasons, 
 and is much frequented by those who are pleased with 
 the long stretches of level land, the cultivated fields, 
 and bountiful crops. I have never known of any one 
 on such an errand being complained of, unless he left 
 the meadow gate open, which too many carelessly did.* 
 A boy often earned a small sum by attending to the 
 gate. The following vote, passed March 1, 1842, ex- 
 plains itself : 
 
 " Voted that no person or persons have right to draw through the 
 field any Brick wood or stone or anything else that is not the growth 
 
 *In 1851 it was "voted that notice be put on the Gate posts that it be One 
 Dollar fine for leaving either gate open during the time sd Meadow is open." 
 
The North Meadow. 
 
 '35 
 
 or production of the field without the leave of the Committee and any 
 person who does not Conform to this Act may be prosecuted by any 
 of the proprietors for the benefit of sd meadow." 
 
 So level a road and retired a place doubtless made 
 this a favorite track for the horsemen. The sport may- 
 have become so common that it interfered with the 
 farm work, or damaged the road, or brought together 
 too many undesirable people for their comfort. At this 
 same meeting there was passed the following : 
 
 " Voted that no person or persons be allowed to run or trot horses 
 for the purpose of trying there speed within the limits of the Hartford 
 North Meadow on penalty of two dollars fine one half to the corn- 
 plainer the other to the Treasury of sd field to be prosecuted by either 
 proprietor." 
 
 To guard against any possible deception or trickery 
 this vote was passed Oct. i, 1842: 
 
 " Voted, That if any proprietor after the assizers have vewed his 
 feed shall Mow rowen and carry it off or corn stalks or plow any grass 
 land within one week after sd meadow is Opened unless stated at the 
 time the assizers viewed it that such was intended to be done it shall 
 be the duty of the assizers to alter the number of creatures which had 
 been given in the Certifficate according to the quantity of fodder 
 carried off as to them shall seem fit." 
 
 In 1875 this vote was amended by changing "one 
 week to three weeks," and was so continued afterwards. 
 
 In 1794 there were ninety-five proprietors; in 1818 
 one hundred and one; and in 1844, seventy-nine. 
 
 Mr. Charles M. Andrews, in his account of " the 
 River Towns of Connecticut, a study of Wethersfield, 
 Hartford, and Windsor," published in the Johns Hop- 
 kins University studies 1888, has given a pretty accurate 
 account of this common field, but has made a mistake, 
 I think, when he says, "the cattle and cow rights, 
 which were formerly so important, and were bought 
 and sold, thus giving outsiders an entrance into the 
 meadow, have been given up within twenty years." An 
 
136 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 examination of the records of the proprietors' meetings 
 since 1792 shows nothing of this kind. And Mr. Thomas 
 Gates, the clerk, says that is not correct as applied to 
 Hartford. Mr. George Smith of Wethersfield, says there 
 has been no change from former custom there, and 
 that "when sold, prices ranged from 25c to 50c the 
 season, per head, to non-proprietors." Mr. H. S. Hay- 
 den of Windsor says "that the rights, which are worth 
 from one dollar seventy-five to two dollars twenty-five 
 cents each, according to the season, are still bought and 
 sold ; and that there has been no change in this respect 
 within the last twenty years." 
 
 And I think Mr. Andrews has made a mistake when 
 he says that "the practice of throwing open the meadow 
 about the middle of November, a date decided by the select- 
 men" etc. For, as I understand the matter of this par- 
 ticular common field, and am informed by a number of 
 proprietors, the selectmen of the town have nothing to 
 do with it. It properly belongs to, and is subject to, 
 the decision of the proprietors, as has been mentioned 
 before ; they vote upon the time of opening, and declare 
 when it shall close. If also, as he says, this time of 
 opening " was quite as often fixed in town meeting as 
 in proprietors'," there is no record or intimation of it 
 in the records of the meetings of the proprietors of the 
 north meadow, since 1792. I cannot go farther back 
 than this, for the book of records previous to this date 
 is lost ; at least Mr. Gates has it not in his possession, 
 and has never seen it. Possibly the book may yet be 
 recovered, as there is a rumor that it is still in existence. 
 
 There is but little remaining to be said about the 
 Hartford North Meadow, or Common Field. I have not 
 been able to discover the time of opening the road south 
 of Timothy Mather, from the highway to Windsor leading 
 into the meadow. Perhaps it is referred to in the follow- 
 ing vote passed in town meeting December 25, 1701 : 
 
 "That Capt. Nichols Ensign Tho: Bunce Mr. Joseph Bull 
 
The North Meadow. 137 
 
 Sergt. Edward Cadwell be a committee or any three of them, to goe 
 and view a conveniant or the most conveniant place for a highway, 
 from the ox-pasture hill to the river, and make return of their doings 
 thereon to the next town meeting." 
 
 There had been action previously directing this road 
 to be opened, but it was reconsidered December 19, 1700, 
 in consequence of disagreement or dissatisfaction in pass- 
 ing through the land of or exchange of land with Capt. 
 Joseph Wadsworth, so the above vote of 1701 was passed. 
 
 Only one item more and I have done. In endeavoring 
 to locate " Obadyah Spencer's now dwelling house," there 
 was found in his will dated June 22, 1709, the following: 
 " Item I give, grant, devise, and bequeath to Samuel 
 Spencer my son all that Messuage," etc., and then he 
 gives to Ebenezer, another son, " a lot of land in the long 
 meadow in Hartford aforesaid, at a place called Hobs 
 Hole,"* etc. Now, where was Hobbs' Hole? It had never 
 been heard of previously by me, or recorded, to my knowl- 
 edge, and it gave me as much anxiety as did the discovery 
 
 * Though discouraged at learning of this new appellation, at the very completion 
 of this paper, yet having something of the curiosity of R. C. to learn more, I in- 
 quired some days after of Samuel Mather, if he could tell me anything about it. 
 " Why yes," said he, " I hold deeds of several pieces of land, in which ' Hobs Hole ' is 
 mentioned. It is about as large as a small barn yard and is five or six feet deep, and 
 water is always standing in it." His daughter was familiar with it, and had gathered 
 strawberries near it, in summer, and grapes in autumn. "Why yes," said John E. 
 Marsh, " it is down there by the Creek, near the pasture where you see the bright sun 
 light." So on the 27th of May, on a fine afternoon, I went in search for " Hobs Hole," 
 and found it. It is but a few feet from the Creek, and surrounded by trees ; some 
 are growing in it which may be fifty or sixty years old ; a small stream of water 
 was running from it about as large as a pipe-stem. 
 
 There was nothing to make it particularly noticeable at present. It was probably 
 formed by the Creek, which had, in its windings in former years, left its ancient 
 bed, and turning to the west, .had made a large circuit ; a high bank on the west 
 and south had turned the waters eastward into its present course ; these had formed 
 an almost complete loop, wearing away the alluvial soil, and by their violence, after 
 a sudden and severe storm perhaps, had made such an excavation that it was digni- 
 fied by the name of Hole. But why " Hobs Hole " ? This is a mystery which I can- 
 not solve. "Skinner's Hollow" was so named, probably, from some ancient owner 
 of land in its vicinity. Very likely a similar reason would account for this hole ; 
 perhaps some notable event in which Hobbs was engaged, occurred here ; perhaps 
 poor Hobbs was drowned here, possibly in attempting to cross the creek in high 
 water ; possibly a tree which he was cutting fell upon him, and tumbled him into the 
 current ; possibly he tumbled in of his own will. The speculations might be endless. 
 
 But whatever might have been the origin of the name, it was early in the history 
 of the Colony, for, as had been seen, it was mentioned by Obadiah Spencer in his will 
 18 
 
138 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 of the footprints in the sand near the sea shore, by Robin- 
 son Crusoe. There comes up for investigation, at the last 
 moment, to disturb the peaceful completion of this paper, 
 this annoying question, and I shall not venture upon it. 
 Something must be left to those who come after us, as 
 Mr. Samuel Tudor used to say, when complaint was made 
 to him about the debt then existing for building Christ 
 Church. 
 
 in 1709, and had in all probability been well known many years previously, but no 
 mention of Hobbs has otherwise been found. 
 
 As if to complicate matters further, there comes at the last moment, just as these 
 proofs are being corrected, a note from John E. Marsh, in which he says, "in my 
 boyhood days the Up Neck folks used to speak of a place as " Bullerkin Hole'' (Bul- 
 lock in liolel) This place was owned by Joseph Pratt in the Swamp near the west 
 end of his meadow lot, nearly surrounded by trees, and in haying time was terribly 
 hot. The place was just about as far south of the meadow road as Hobbs' Hole is 
 north of it." It is very clear that the Hartford Long Meadow is not yet exhausted. 
 
INDEX OF PERSONS, Etc. 
 
 Abbe, Deaf, 87. 
 Adams, S. W., 57. 
 Allyn, Benjamin, 65. 
 
 John, 17, 23, 24, 25, 108, iog. 
 
 Matthew, 17, 18, 20, 24, 25. 
 
 Richard J., 65. 
 American Mercury, 52. 
 
 Preceptor, 100. 
 Anderson, James, 34, 80, 92. 
 Andrews, Charles M., 135, 136. 
 Audubon, John J., 131. 
 Bacon, Dr. Francis, 27. 
 
 Dr. Leonard, 79. 
 Barber, Grandison, 87. 
 Barlow Knife, 98. 
 Barnard, Bartholomew, 23, 30. 
 Barrows, Frederick F., 104. 
 Barry, Rev. Dr., 79. 
 
 Dr. James W., 79. 
 Batterson, S. S., 79. 
 Beckwith, A. S., 73. 
 
 Samuel, 86, 92, 106. 
 Belden, Thomas, 34, 75, 77. 
 Belcher, Samuel, 77. 
 Bird, Rev. James, 53. 
 Bidwell, Thomas, 70. 
 Black Governors, 81. 
 Bolles, Benjamin, 119. 
 Boosey, James, 20. 
 Bowles, John, 81. 
 Brooks, D. S., 34. 
 Bradley, Joseph, 119. 
 Bull, Hezekiah, 13, 14. 
 
 Joseph, 137. 
 Bunce, Nathaniel, 119. 
 
 Thomas, 137. 
 Burkett, Thomas, 77. 
 Burnam, Thomas, 17. 
 Burr, A. E., 3, 7, 14, 50, 5S, 84, 91, 101. 
 Chauncey, 45. 
 F. L., 49. 
 
 Burr, Harry, 119. 
 Hezekiah, 84. 
 James, 36. 
 Moses, 38, 96. 
 Bushnell, Rev. Dr. Horace, no. 
 Butler, Normand, 68. 
 
 Thomas, 25. 
 Cadwell, Sergt. Edward, 137. 
 John, 92. 
 Thomas, 30. 
 Capen, Henry, 107'. 
 Josiah, 84. 
 Josiah, Jr., 106. 
 Cairns, Robert, 85. 
 Church, Charles, 80. 
 Edward, 95. 
 George, 54, 82. 
 Goodman, 21. 
 Lorenzo, 57. 
 Joseph, 57, 82. 
 Samuel, 57. 
 Clapp, Mr., 63. 
 Clark, Daniel, 14. 
 
 Nicholas, 24, 25. 
 Collins, Barney, 70. 
 Colonial Records, 121. 
 Columbian Orator, 100. 
 Comstock, Dr. J. L., 72. 
 Cook, Aaron, 31, 53, 62, 69, 92, 119, 121. 
 & Church, 55. 
 
 Capt. George, 10, 55, 85, 102. 
 George, 10, 94, 96, 107, 122, 123, 
 
 i3 x > i3 2 - 
 Jeremiah, 115. 
 John, 126. 
 Capt. John, 91. 
 Moses, 85. 
 Thankful, 65. 
 William, 55. 
 Cooley, Daniel, 70. 
 Thomas, 57. 
 
140 
 
 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 Copeland, Daniel, 34. 
 
 Melvin, 34. 
 Cotton, Benjamin, 122. 
 Cowles, Gen., 70. 
 
 Messrs., 75. 
 Crusoe, Robinson, 137. 
 Cuff, negro, 106. 
 Daboll, Nathan, 101. 
 Dekay, Dr. James E., 86. 
 Deming, George L., 125. 
 Denslow, Almanzor, 46. 
 Dibden, Charles, 31. 
 Dickinson, Ann, 126. 
 Moses, 126. 
 Mr., 63. 
 Downing, A. J., 9. 
 Drake, William, 132. 
 Dyer, Zenos, 70. 
 Eggleston, Nathaniel, 35. 
 J. G., 74, 119. 
 Elmer, Mr., 62. 
 Ely, William, 68. 
 Ensign, Capt. Nichols, 137. 
 Episcopal Church, 60. 
 Fowler, Charles, 119. 
 Gates, Thomas, 24, 65, 136. 
 General Assembly 1833, IC| 6- 
 Gleason, Anson, 74, 75. 
 Goodman, Aaron, 70. 
 
 Richard, 119. 
 Goodwin, Abigail, 57, 105. 
 
 Allyn, 62. 
 
 Asa, 87. 
 
 Erastus, 34. 
 
 Esther, 57. 
 
 George, 13. 
 
 James, 13, 34, 35, 70, 91, 92, 
 121. 
 
 James M., 34. 
 
 John, 57. 
 
 John, Jr., 52. 
 
 Margaret, 7, 15, 29, 30, 31, 
 63, 64, 85, 87. 
 
 Moses, 63, 64, 65. 
 
 Nathaniel, 31, 33, 35, 68, 75, 
 119, 121. 
 
 Patty, 49, 50. 
 
 Samuel, 13. 
 
 William, 92, 126. 
 
 Zebulon, 126. 
 Graves, Jeremiah, 40, 54, 55, 82. 
 
 Green, 63. 
 
 Greenfield, 13, 81. 
 
 Grew, Rev. Henry, 54, 82, 83. 
 
 Halles, Thomas, 21. 
 
 Hall, Dr. Archibald, 96. 
 
 Elsey, 93. 
 Harris, Joseph, 119. 
 Hart, Joseph, 92. 
 
 L. B., 85. 
 Hartford Times, 3. 
 Hartshorn, Jonathan, 32. 
 Hawes, Rev. Dr. Joel, 80. 
 Hayden, Horace, 91, 93. 
 H. S., 136. 
 Gen. William, 119. 
 Hibbard, Harvey, 53. 
 Higley, Obed, 70. 
 Hillyer, Gen. Charles T., 87. 
 Historical Society, 3, 64. 
 Hoadly, Charles J., LL.D., 90, 121. 
 Holbrook, Dr. John E., 86. 
 Hooker, John, 25. 
 
 Thomas, 38. 
 Hosford, Mr., 70. 
 Hosmer, James B., 112. 
 
 Capt. vStephen, 126. 
 Thomas, 122. 
 Howlet, Lemuel, 70. 
 Humphries, Rev. Dr., 99. 
 Hungerford, William, ^. 
 Isham, Ephraim, 38. 
 Introduction, Reader, 100. 
 James, Mr., 28. 
 Johnson, Samuel, 40. 
 Jones, Julius, 55. 
 Kelsey, Mr., 17. 
 
 Stephen, 30. 
 
 William, 29. 
 Keney, Henry, 7, 50, 80, 81, 119. 
 
 Mrs. Walter, 50. 
 Kennedy, Leonard, 34, 37, 74, 80, 92, 
 King, Wyllis, 62. [93. 
 
 Kirkham, William, 94, 96, 98, 101. 
 Knox, John, 51. 
 Law, Jonathan, 112. 
 Litchfield Co. Agr. Society, no. 
 Loomis, Archibald G., 82. 
 
 H. G.,31- 
 
 Lord, Daniel, 13. 
 
 John H., 3S, 115. 
 Thomas. 21. 
 
Index of Persons, Etc. 
 
 141 
 
 McRonald, Thomas, 68. 
 Maffit, John N., 42, 43, 44, 58-61. 
 
 Mrs.^ 60. 
 Mann, Benning, ng. 
 Marsh, Daniel, 128. 
 
 Edward, 87, 103. 
 
 Guy, 6, 86. 
 
 Hezekiah, 67. 
 
 John, 9, 21, 67. 
 
 John E., 85, 104, 125, 137, 138. 
 
 Samuel, 68, 75, 76. 
 
 Timothy, 87. 
 Marshall, Major, 70. 
 Marvin, or Mathew, or Merrill, 22. 
 
 Thomas, 49, 51, 69. 
 Mather, Charles, 9, 31, 63, 95. 
 Elijah, 61. 
 R. Strong, 44, 52, 60, 63, 65, 87, 
 
 102, 107. 
 Samuel, 7, 9, 137. 
 Timothy, 24, 95, 136. 
 Maxon, Mr., 3S. 
 Merrill, Samuel, 70. 
 Millard, John, 87. 
 Morgan, John, 51. 
 Moore, Daniel, 69. 
 
 Samuel, 70, 75. 
 Munyan, C. G., 83. 
 Nichols, Cyprian, Jr., 13. 
 Niles, John M., 37. 
 Nott, Peleg, 81. 
 Olcott, Ann, 14. 
 
 Charles, 119. 
 
 Hams, 50, 80, 85. 
 
 Jonathan, 14. 
 
 Michael, 76. 
 
 Ruth, 95. 
 
 Thomas, 16, 24. 
 Page, Stephen, 82. 
 Parker, F. H., 18. 
 
 J. D., 77 . 
 Patten, Nathaniel, 49. 
 Perkins, Enoch, 92. 
 Peters, John S., 33. 
 
 John T., 33, 75. 
 Phillips, William, 21. 
 Erastus, 70. 
 Pitkin, Col. John, 126. 
 Plum, Mr., 20. 
 Porter, Jo, 23. 
 
 William S., 17, 19, 24, 26, 29. 
 
 Pratt, Benjamin, 34. 
 Daniel, 23. 
 Isaac, 92, 104. 
 Henry, 53. 
 Henry T., 53. 
 Israel, 91, 103. 
 Joseph, 63, 70, 107, 119, 13S. 
 Joseph, Jr., 70. 
 Ozias, 126. 
 Rescue, William, 21. 
 Richards, Mr., 24. 
 Robbins, Ephraim, 13. 
 
 Samuel, 29, 30. 
 Robinson, Samuel, 29. 
 Rogers, Asa, 45, 66. 
 Asa, Jr., 66. 
 Simeon, 66. 
 William, 66. 
 Rowley, Warren, 76. 
 Russell, Dr. Gurdon W., 31. 
 
 John, 94. 
 Ruggles, James, 57. 
 Nathan, 57. 
 Savage, Luther, 83. 
 Scaeva, (I. W. Stuart,) 81. 
 Scott, Thomas, 20, 2r. 
 Sheldon, Henry, 87. 
 James, 80. 
 John, 87, 91. 
 Joseph, 34, 37. 
 Lot, 95. 
 Richard, 94. 
 Timothy, 96, 117. 
 Shipman, Samuel, 119. 
 Sisson, Thomas, 87. 
 
 Thomas & Co., 57. 
 Skinner, Darius S., 27. 
 
 Ichabod Lord, 51-54, 63. 
 John, 13. 
 Smith, Alfred, 37. 
 
 George, 136. 
 Spencer, Ashbel, 53. 
 
 Benjamin, 81. 
 Ebenezer, 137. 
 John, 61, 62, 126. 
 Obadiah, 24, 137, 138. 
 Samuel, 137. 
 Theodore, 87, 91. 
 Spicer, Rev. Tobias, 60. 
 Stanley, Nathaniel, 29. 
 Starkweather, Nathan, 7, 17, 64, 96. 
 
142 
 
 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 Steele, James, 24. 
 Stevens, Rev. Dr. Abel, 43. 
 Stocking, I., 85. 
 Storer, Dr. D. H., 86. 
 Talcott, John, 126. 
 
 Capt. John, 23, 24, 108. 
 Eliphalet, 70, 72. 
 E. & R., 69. 
 Nathaniel, 37. 
 Roderick, 70. 
 Seth, 75. 
 Stephen, 20. 
 Todd, Ira, 48. 
 
 Joseph, 52. 
 Tomlins, Thomas, 30, 31. 
 Tomlinson, Thomas, 29. 
 Toucey, Isaac, 62. 
 Town Records, 121. 
 Trumbull, Joseph, 37. 
 
 J. H., LL.D., 31, 121. 
 Tudor, Samuel, 137. 
 Turner, Robert, 45, 74, 75, 119. 
 Tuttle, Samuel, 35. 
 Universalists, 99. 
 Wadsworth, Abner P., 65, 94. 
 Daniel, 126. 
 Elisha, 70. 
 George, 10, 65, 93. 
 Gurdon, 12-14, 38, 44, 45, 
 James, 55. [55. 
 
 Col. Jeremiah, 81. 
 Jonathan, 39. 
 Capt. Joseph, 39, 126, 137. 
 Joseph, Jr., 126. 
 Mr., 63. , 
 
 Wadsworth, Nathan, 55, 102. 
 
 Richard, 81. 
 
 Roger, 91, 95. 
 
 Samuel, 12, 39, 55, 65, 122. 
 
 Thomas, 66. . 
 
 William, 23, 38, 63, 65, 126. 
 Wait, Joseph, 57. 
 Ward, Nathaniel, 20, 23. 
 
 & Bartholomew, 103. 
 Waterman, Edward, 95. 
 
 Hugh, 34, 80, 119. 
 Watkinson, David, 53. 
 Watrous, Rufus, 40, 57. 
 Way, George M., 115. 
 Webster, Capt. Daniel, 126. 
 Mr., 23. 
 
 Noah, 27, 28, 97, 100. * 
 Wells, Charles, 105. 
 Welles, Roger, 96. 
 Wesley, Rev. Charles, 27. 
 Westminster Catechism, 102. 
 Westwood, William, 20, 30. 
 White, J. H., 108. 
 Whiting, Major, 70. 
 Whitman, John, 122. 
 Wilcox, Mr., 70. 
 Wildman, Russell, 65. 
 Williams, Elisha, 25. 
 Windsor Brig, 117. 
 
 Woodford, , 70. 
 
 Wolcott, Henry, Jr., 20. 
 Wright, Prof. G. F., 81. 
 
 T. L., 53- 
 Wyllis, Samuel, 108. 
 
INDEX OF LOCALITIES. 
 
 Abbe's Lane, 15, 87. 
 iEtna Bank, 82. 
 ^Etna Fire Insurance Co., 49. 
 Agawam, Mass., 77. 
 Albany, N. Y., 70. 
 
 and Blue Hills Road, 70. 
 
 and Prospect Hill Road, 70. 
 
 Turnpike, 8, 14, 68, 69, 90. 
 Alleghanies, 86. 
 Alms House, 19. 
 Ann Street, 69. 
 Arkansas, 71. 
 Arsenal School District, 96, 106, 108. 
 
 House, 50. 
 Asylum Street, 32, 39, 70. 
 Avon, 70. 
 
 Baltimore, Md., 65. 
 Barber's Drain, 133. 
 Belden's Lane, 8, 12, 77, 90. 
 
 Store, 8, 77. 
 
 Street, 12. 
 Bellows Falls, Vt., 60. 
 Berkshire County, 69. 
 Blue Hills, 8, 15, 87, 127. 
 Boston, Mass., 27, 61. 
 Brattleboro, Vt., 69. 
 Brick-kiln Brook, 90, 91. 
 
 Swamp, 25. 
 Brooklyn, N. Y., 53. 
 Brook Street, 72. 
 Brown School, 104. 
 Burr Street, 38, 83. 
 Bullerkin Hole, 13S. 
 Butler Lot, 68. 
 Button Factory, 56. 
 Canton, 70. 
 
 Street, 18. 
 Capen Street, 85. 
 Carriage Factory, 58. 
 Catlin Corner, 55. 
 Cedar Mountain, 95. 
 Center Church, 53, 80, 
 
 Center Burying Ground, 109. 
 
 School, 101. 
 Chapel Street, 43. 
 Christ Church, 66, 76, 137. 
 Church's Corner, 69. 
 Church Street, 43, 58. 
 City Hall, 9, 19, 58. 
 Clark Street, 85. 
 Connecticut, 86, 132. 
 
 Colony, 109. 
 River, 90, 107, 127. 
 Shilling, 100. 
 Cooper Lane, 8. 
 Cow Pasture, 17, 21, 25. 
 Creek, The, 127. 
 Deerfield, Mass., 64. 
 Dorr Street, 101. 
 East Hartford, 17, 34. 
 
 Meadow, 117. 
 
 Side, 33. 
 
 Windsor, 73. 
 Elmer Street, 104. 
 Enfield Falls, 69. 
 England, 100. 
 
 Episcopal Society of Hartford, 76. 
 Exchange Bank, 67, 73. 
 Farmers & Mechanics Bank, 80, 
 Farmington, 75, 95. 
 Ferry Street, 77. 
 First Ecclesiastical Society, 77. 
 
 North School District, 90, 91, 93, 
 95, 100. 
 Franklin Avenue, 52. 
 Front Street, 115. 
 Genessee Country, 45. 
 Glastonbury Meadow, 126. 
 Gravel Hill School District, 17. 
 Great Bridge, 11 1, 117. 
 Britain, 31. 
 River, 25. 
 Greenfield, Mass., 69. 
 Griswpldville, 94. 
 
144 
 
 Up Neck in 1825. 
 
 Gully Brook, 70, 90. 
 Hartford, 8, 9, 13, 20, 23, 24, 25, 29, 31, 
 39. 5 2 > 53. 61, 67, 70, 73, 
 76, 81, 82, 93, 95, 108, 121; 
 124, 135, 136. 
 Bridge Company, 69. 
 Fire Ins. Company, 72. 
 and Granby Turnpike, 17. 
 Hotel, 57. 
 Line, 88. 
 
 North Cemetery, 9, 13, 14. 
 Hebron, 34. 
 Highlands, N. Y., 86. 
 High School, 105. 
 
 Street, 69. 
 Hobs' Hole, 137, 138. 
 Hockanum, 17. 
 Holyoke Dam, 132. 
 Island, The, 128. 
 Isaac Pratt's Lot, 92, 104. 
 Jacksonville, 111., 82. 
 Johns Hopkins University, 135. 
 Kennedy Street, 56. 
 Kentucky, 131. 
 Lands End, Eng., 100. 
 Litchfield County, 69. 
 
 Agr. Society, no. 
 Little Ox-pasture, 25. 
 
 River, 16, 90. 
 London, 40. 
 
 Love Lane, 15. « 
 
 Main Street, 52, 55, 58, 59, 77, 85. 
 Manchester, Vt., 80. 
 Massachusetts, 81, 86, 132. 
 Methodists, 41, 43, 45, 58, 59, 66. 
 
 Church, 59. 
 Middlesex, 63, 107. 
 Mill River, 27. 
 Mississippi, 38. 
 Mobile, Ala., 43. 
 Morgan's Woods, 115. 
 Neck, 26, 29, 48, 63, 81, 95, in, 119. 
 
 Lots, 53. 
 New England, 81. 
 
 Primer, 98. 
 
 Railroad, 113, 115, 127. 
 Bridge, in. 
 Hartford, 70. 
 Haven, 126. 
 Newington, 94, 95, 98. 
 New Main Street, 52. 
 
 New York, 57, 63, 71, 73, 86. 
 Nigger Lane, 12, 14, 82. 
 North Cemetery, 9, 51, 81, 82, 115. 
 Coventry, 53. 
 
 Meadow, 6, 9, 13, 14, 25, in, 121, 
 127, 133- 135, 136-138. 
 Bridge, 18, 25, 127. 
 Creek, 17. 
 Lots, 18. 
 Side of River, 23. 
 Patten's Farm, 49. 
 Pond, 80. 
 
 Woods, 18, 19, 49, 115. 
 Pavilion, 53. 
 
 Street, 51. 
 Pawtucket, R. I., 27. 
 Penzance, Eng., 100. 
 Pine Meadow, 70. 
 
 Street, 12, 72, 82. 
 Pleasant Street, 83. 
 Plymouth, Mass., 81. 
 Podunk, 17. 
 Pool Lot, 9, 32. 
 Providence, R. I., 27. 
 
 & Fishkill R. R., 113. 
 Ouinnipiac River, 27. 
 Railroad Tunnel, 3, 20, 68, 88. 
 Red Tavern, 9. 
 River Towns, 135. 
 Road to the Neck, 17, 56. 
 Rocky Hill, 17, 95. 
 
 Mountains, 74. 
 Rope-walk, 34. 
 Russell Street, 115. 
 Roxbury, Mass., 27. 
 Sanford Street, 61. 
 Satan's Kingdom, 70. 
 Savage's Woods, 84. 
 Saybrook, 27. 
 School House, 86, 89. 
 Seekonk River, R. I., 27. 
 Seyms Street, 80. 
 Simsbury, 77. 
 
 Skinner's Hollow, 56, 114, 116, 118, 120, 
 128, 129, 132, 138. 
 Slaughter House, 56, S5, 115. 
 
 Lane, 115, 116. 
 Soldiers' Field, 17, 18, 26. 
 South School District, 105. 
 Springfield, Mass., 67, 95, 113. 
 Spring Grove Cemetery, 84. 
 
Index of Localities. 
 
 J 45 
 
 Staddles, The, 124. 
 State Arsenal, 9, 51, 54. 
 
 House, 9, 43, 58. 
 
 Street, New Haven, 28. 
 Stocking's Inn, 85. 
 Stone Jug, 101. 
 St. Thomas Church, 82. 
 Swamp, 10, 18, 25, 40, 126. 
 Talcott Street, 82. 
 Ten Mile Woods, 23. 
 Tomlin, 29. 
 
 Trumbull Street, 43, 58, 59, 66, 68. 
 Universalist Church, 79. 
 Up Neck, 16, 17, 31, 50, 60, 62, 91. 
 Village Street, 10, 17, 18, 52. 
 Vine Street, 14, 85. 
 Virginia, 82. 
 
 Washington, D. C, 53, 105. 
 West Hartford, 105. 
 
 Fi mr Corners, 70, 87. 
 Indies, 42, 73. 
 Western Reserve, 45. 
 Westland Street, 15, 24, 87. 
 Wethersfield, 95, 135, 136. 
 Wilson's Falls, 69. 
 
 Windsor, 7, 9, n, 13, 17, 18, 20-26, 31, 
 
 52, 67, 90, 124, 125, 127, 
 
 135, 136. 
 
 Line, 3, 60, 90, 119, 122, 123. 
 
 Meadow, 126. 
 
 Road, 8, 10, 12, 18-20, 29, 53, 
 
 54, 68, 69, 88, 91, 104. 
 Street, 52. 
 
 10 
 
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