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"The Indian name of this Town, was Bantam. It took the
name of Litchfield, when it was incorporated. The
first founders built log houses. The settlement
proceeded as fast as could be reasonably expected, from the
circumstances. During frequent wars between England
and France, the Canadians and Indians often
harrassed harassed our borders; and Litchfield,
being a frontier town, was exposed to their ravages.
Between the eyasr 1720 and 1730, five houses were
surrounded with pallisadoes. One of these stood on the
ground near the present court House, another about half a
mile south, one east, and one west of the centre; and one in
South Farms. Soldiers were then stationed here to
guard the Inhabitants, both while they were at work in the
field, and while they were attending public worship on the
Sabbath."
"In may 1722, Capt. Jacob Griswold, being at
work alone in a field about one mile west of the present
Court House, two Indians suddenly rushed upon him from the
woods, took him, pinioned his arms, and carried him off.
They travelled in a northerly direction, and teh same day
arrived in some part of the township now called Canaan, then
a wilderness. The Indians kindled a fire, and after
binding their prisoner hand an foot, lay down to sleep.
Griswold fortunately disengaging his hands and feet,
while his arms were yet pinioned, seized their guns and made
his escape into the woods. After travelling a small
distance, he sat down and waited till the dawn of day; and
although his arms were still pinioned he carried both the
guns. The savages awoke in the morning and finding
their prisoner gone, immediately pursued him; they soon
overtook him, and kept in sight of him the greater part of
the day, while he was making his way homeward. When
they came near, he turned and pointed one of his pieces at
them; they then fell back. In this manner he travelled
till near sunset, when he reached an eminence in an open
field about one mile northwest of the present Court House.
He then discharged one of
Pg. 24 -
his guns, which immediately summoned the people to his
assistance. The Indians fled, and Griswold
safely returned to his family.
The capture of Griswold made the inhabitants
more cautious for a while; but their fears soon subsided.
In the month of August following, Mr. Joseph
Harris, a respectable inhabitant, was at work in the
woods alone not far from the place where Griswold was
taken; and being attacked by a party of Indians, attempted
to make his escape. The Indians pursued him; and
finding that they could not overtake him, they shot him dead
and scalped him.. As Harris did not return, the
inhabitants were alarmed, and some search was made for him;
but the darkness of the night checked their exertions.
The next morning they found his body, and gave it a decent
burial. Harris was killed near the north end of
the Plain, where the road turns to Milton, a little east of
a scliool house now standing; and for a long time after this
plain was called Harris' Plain."* The place of
his interment remained unmarked for more than a century, but
rested in the memory of the older in habitants. He was
buried in the west burial ground, near the village of
Litchfield. In 1830 a suitable monument, with an
appropriate inscription, was erected at his grave by
voluntary contribution.
The summer of 1724, was a period of excitement and
alarm. The war between the English and the French, was
then prevailing, and the latter used great efforts to incite
the northern Indians, to attack the frontier settlements of
the whites. "The conduct of the Indians at the north
and west during this year, and especially their hostile
movements in the vicinity of Litchfield, induced the
government to take such precautionary measures as the
occasion demanded, in order to furnish protection to the
weak and exposed settlements. A line of scouts was
established, extending from Litchfield to Turkey Hills,
curving around the most northerly and westerly settlements
in Simsbury.
On the 4th of June 1724, Capt. Richard Case, of
Simsbury,
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*Morris' Statistical account of Litchfield.
Pg. 25 -
was directed to employ ten men on this scouting party, to
rendezvous at Litchfield. The men employed in this
service were sergeant Jonathan Holcomb, John Hill,
Nathaniel Holcomb, Joseph Mills, William Buelll, Samuel
Pettibone, Joseph Wilcoxson, Benajah Humphrey, Nathaniel
Westover, and Charles Humphrey; all belonging to
Simsbury. They continued in the service until early in
October."*
During these difficulties some of the more timid of the
Inhabitants deserted their posts, and the interposition of
the Legislature was deemed necessary and therefore the
following enactment was passed, viz:
A General Court holden at New-Haven, Oct. 11, 1724. -
Upon the Memorial of the Inhabitants of the Town of
Litchfield, Bee it Enacted and Ordained, by the Governor,
Assistants and Deputies in General Court assembled, and by
the authority of the same, that whosoever hath or ought to
have been an Inhabitant and is a proprietor of any of the
Lands within the said Town of Litchfield, or have deserted
and left said Town since difficulties have arisen there on
the account of an Enemy, and shall neglect for the space of
one month after the rising of this Assembly to return to the
said Town and there abide, or send some man in their room
and stead to perform and doe the necessary duties of
watching and warding and the like during the continuance of
the difficulties of the warr, shall loose and forfeit
all their right and estate in and upon any and all of the
Lands aforesaid, and their estate, right and interest
therein unto the Corporation of Connecticutt.
And further, it is provided, that if any other man being now
a proprietor and Inhabitant, or a proprietor and ought to
have been an Inhabitant in the said Town, shall hereafter
during the continuance of fear and danger of the enemy,
desert and leave the said Town, or neglect to repair thither
and there personally abide, without constantly providing
some other sufficient person in his room and stead, there to
perform all duties as before mentioned in the case of them
who have already deserted, shall likewise forfeit tlieir
estates in and on all the lands in the Town aforesaid unto
this Corporation. And further, it is pro-
---------------
* Phelps' History of Simsbury.
Pg. 26 -
vided that upon complaint made to the Committee of Warr at
Hartford of or against any such deserter, upon their Sattisfaction
of the truth thereof, the said Committee shall declare the
forfeiture, and the said Committee are enabled to admit any
other person who shall goe and abide there in the room of
the deserter and perform the necessary duties as aforesaid,
and that he shall hereafter receive a grant from this Court
of the estate escheated as aforesaid for his further
confirmation therein. And it is further, Ordered that
five shillings per week shall be allowed for billeting souldiers
in Litchfield for the Summer last past."
END OF CHAPTER V.
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CHAPTER VI - |
