The History of Middlesex County 1635-1885
J. H. Beers & Co., 36 Vesey Street, New York
1884
Pages 331-367

TOWN OF ESSEX.
BY Richard M. BAYLESS..

[transcribed by Janece Streig]

GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

The town of Essex lies on the west side of the river, and is bounded on the north by Saybrook, west by Saybrook and Westbrook, and south by Old Saybrook and Westbrook.

The soil of this town is composed of a mixture of sand and loam, in quality and proportions suitable to make for the most part a soil that is, without moderate fertilizing, very productive and favorable to cultivation. Several ridges of hills, founded upon rock ledges, extend in a general northeasterly and southwesterly direction across the town, and their intervals afford rich flats of arable land or spontaneous meadow.

The width of the river at Brockways, against the northern part of this town-the site of an ancient ferry-is 96 rods. The tide in its ebb and flow here varies about three feet. Nott's Island, lying southeast of the latter point, belongs to the town of Lyme. It was formerly called Eight Mile Island. Brockway's Island, lying opposite the north part of this town, also belongs to Lyme. Potapaug Point, is the low point of land upon which the principal part of the village of Essex is built.

Numerous localities are mentioned in the ancient records, some of which retain their names to the present time and some have been forgotten by their ancient names.

Scotch Plains, or Scott's Plains, was the comparatively level tract stretching away from the neighborhood of the railroad station southwest to Westbrook. It was of a good soil, and, probably having but little wood upon it was easily cleared. The land was fertile and very desirable as "plowable" land, and the proprietors all, or nearly all, had shares in it. The origin of the name is unknown, but it was in use among the earliest settlers.

KELSEY Hill is west and southwest of Deep River, about one and a half miles from the Connecticut. It is mentioned as early as 1702, when land was laid out on it for Rev. Thomas BUCKINGHAM. Land was also laid out at the south end of it for Benjamin LYNDE in 1723.

WHITTLESEY's Brook, mentioned as early as 1727, is a small stream about one and three-quarter miles south from Potapaug Point. John CLARKE jr. took up land on his £50 right where the brook crossed the country road.

Rocky Hill is on the west side of the turnpike, a short distance north of where the late Alpheus PARKER lived. Rocky Hill Plain lies east of it, beginning a little south of it, and extending north to the land of John CASE, a distance of about two miles. The "boyne tree," spoken of in the original description of the quarter lines, stood near it. The term "boyne tree" means bound tree.

Muddy River is a brook that drains Scotch Plains, and flowing northward near the railroad station empties into Falls River. Sites for mills of different kinds have been improved upon it.

VINEY Hill, named as early as 1709, is the hill eastward of where Jared C. PRATT now lives. The hill has from time immemorial have been covered with running evergreen vines, called ground laurel or running vine, which circumstance gave its name. The vines are in much demand for decorative purposes on festival occasions, and, beside the local use for this purpose, whole sloop loads have been carried to New York. A brook by the same name flows through it into Muddy River.

Book Hill is an elevation of about 200 feet, northwest from Essex village, near the north line of the town. Beaver Pond lies on or near the south line of the town. Beaver Pond lies on or near the south line of the town. It was once a beaver pond, and had a dam across it which was constructed by those industrious animals. In 1705, the proprietors granted John CLARKE liberty to dig out the stream that ran through it, the pond then being a sort of marsh. At that time, the dam was there, and the records show that it lay below or south of CLARKE's land. It has long been known as a quagmire, the ooze of which was of unknown depth. In olden times, cattle used to go astray, and sometimes never return or be found, and it was supposed that they had wandered into this marsh and sunk out of sight in its ooze. The Rev. Thomas BUCKINGHAM, one of the corporators of Yale College, settled on the border of this pond, and tradition says that he made something of a business of trapping beavers, which were numerous here then, and their skins were valuable.

His home was near the Porter GRISWOLD place. When the Valley Railroad was built, great difficulty was experienced in getting a foundation solid enough for its road bed. Piles, 70 feet in length, were driven down, and repeated attempts were made before the sinking of the road bed could be arrested. The pond now feeds the stream that furnishes power for a grist mill at Saybrook.

Walnut Hill was probably the hill to the west of the settlement of Ivoryton. It was noted for the growth of hickory wood which it bore.

Cedar Swamp, mentioned n the records as early as 1728, is in the western part of Chester, and is still known by its original name.

The Maple Tree, a well known locality at the time, was probably at Meadow Woods, near where Muddy River joins the Fall River.

Bushy Hill is a wild country north of Ivoryton. It was known by this name as early as 1727. Later a road let up to it through a pair of bars near the present school house in that vicinity.

Stone-pit Hill, which name has been contracted to "Stumpit Hill," by which it is familiarly known, is the hill to the west of the residence of Dr. B. H. STEVENS. It has quarries of granite on the north side. These quarries were known and utilized at an early date, and gave the name, which appears as early as 1750. The tradition has been handed down that General WASHINGTON and his staff passed through this region once during the Revolution. He was on his way from New London to Hartford, and his road lay over this hill. As he passed this point, several boys who were near the road were overawed by the military appearance of the party, but as they stood gazing with fear and wonder the General bowed to them. This incident was related by Wells DENISON and others, boys at that time, but who have now long since passed away in the ripeness of old age.

GRIDLEY's Cove was that now called South Cove, on the south shore of Potapaug Point. The former name was given to it in 1702, or before. A heap of rocks in the cove bore the name of GRIDLEY's Rocks.

Prospect Hill is the high hill now just south of Ivoryton, where George CLARK formerly lived. Samuel WILLARD had land on it in 1722. Its name appears in the original bounds of the quarter.

TILLIS' Point is now called Ferry Point. This bluff on the river, above the old ferry, is names in honor of a man by the name of TILLIS, who was killed by the Indians and buried here. This is a tradition that ante-dates any written record. Curbine Point, which lies just above this, is now called SILLS' Point.

ROBERT's Hill is situated about one-third of a mile north of the Congregational church in Centerbrook. In its side, and on the old Eli DENISON place, there is a quarry of steatite or soapstone, which was also sometimes called cottonstone. This lies about one half a mile northward from the railroad station, on the road Meadow Woods, and near the present residence of Richard DENISON. The existence of this bed of stone was known to the Indians. They used the material in making pots and mortars, some of which have been found in their graves, and about the fields in the vicinity. Soon after the Revolution, the owners of a furnace in Killingworth used the material in making an oven for baking steel. It is said to possess durable qualities, and to be capable of taking a very high polish. Efforts were made as early as 1815 to bring it into use in manufacturing, but it was found to be too hard for practical purposes, and nothing further than preliminary experimenting was done. A quarry of granite lying near it is now being worked.

Great Hill is a mile west of Essex village, on the right of the road going to Westbrook.

Long Hill is below the village, on the west side of the turnpike that leads to Saybrook.

Millstone Hill is on the north line of this town, about two miles above the village, and about one-fourth of a mile from the river. The name was applied to it previous to 1704, at which date land was laid out at the west side of it to John WEBB.

Pound Hill is the elevation in the back part of the village, on which the churches stand, and it received its name from the circumstance of a cattle pound being once located here. The old road from Saybrook to Hartford ran along under this hill, but above the present line of North street. This bluff is about 40 feet above the level of the village street on the point, which extends from its foot easterly to the river. It commands beautiful views of the embowered village beneath it, the coves on either hand, the winding river, and the opposite hill-sides.

The name Potapaug is variously spelled, but most commonly it appears in the old records as it is here spelled. It is of Indian origin, and is said to mean "bulging out of the land or jutting of the water inland." It was applied by the Indians to the point upon which the village of Essex stands, but was early applied by the white settlers to the whole region known as the Quarter, which then covered the land of the present towns of Essex, Saybrook, and Chester.

The list of Potapaug, which then did not include Chester, for the year 1814, amounted to $25,186.72. There were then 275 dwelling houses and seven merchants' stores. There was a library belonging to the Second Society of Saybrook, which in 1695 contained 30 volumes and had previously numbered 100.

Business began to thrive and the village to build up soon after the Revolution, at which time there were but few houses on the Point. The number of dwellings in the next 30 years had increased to 30, and within a mile as many as 100 could be counted, besides a few stores and mechanics' shops. These were mostly on Main street.

The expenses for maintaining the various departments of the town work for the current year, included in the last report of the selectmen were: for the almshouse, $11.92; for partial supplies, $612.80; for roads, bridges, &c., $2,346.68; for schools, including teachers' wages, $3,775.22; interest on the funded debt, $2,293.71; notes, $1,540.28; taxes, $1,875.80; sinking fund, $1,500; salaries of officers, $604.35; liquors, $1,278.55; small-pox $63.03; miscellaneous expenses, $623.39; making a total of $16,525.73; which was provided for by receipts from taxes, loans, and balance from previous year, and other sources, amounting to $19,610.29.

INDIANS.

By the treaty with Mr. WINTHROP and his associates in 1636, or about that time, the Indians gave to the English their right to the river and the bordering lands. A considerable Aboriginal settlement is supposed to have existed at AYRES' Point and along the shore from there to Potapaug Point. On the point nearly half a mile below the present village site, where an Indian burying-ground lay, remains have been found in a sitting posture, and Indian arrows, pestles, axes, and other implements have been found upon a sandy plain lying back from AYRES' Point, together with other indications of former Indian occupancy.

SETTLEMENT OF POTAPAUG.

After the abandonment of the original idea of the settlement of Saybrook, the territory appears to have been sold to a company of settlers, who, under the jurisdiction of the colony of Connecticut, founded the town and gained possession of the land. In order to give each of the different sections of the town a more complete control over its own local affairs, the territory was divided into three parts, each of which was owned and occupied by a company who were allowed to exercise in their respective sections all the propriety rights that were enjoyed by the inhabitants of the town with respect to the common land within the limits of their grant. These three sections were named the Oyster River Quarter, the Eight Mile Meadow quarter, and the East Side of the River Quarter.

The Eight Mile Meadow Quarter included the territory now occupied by the towns of Chester, Saybrook, and Essex. It was also called the Potapaug Quarter. The earliest record that can now be found indicated that the setting apart of the quarter referred to was about the mile of the 17th century. A memorandum of the proprietary records bears date January 4th 1648, and reads as follows:

"The town for the improvement of those out lands that lye remote have divided themselves into 3 parts according to the quarters as they are laid out." The Eight Mile Meadow Quarter was valued in the aggregate at £2,000, and its proprietorship was given to the following men, whose shares were as indicated: Master ELDRED, £250; John CLARKE, £200; William HYDE, £200; William PARKER, £200; William PRATT, £150; William WALLER, £150; Thomas BIRCHARD, £300; Mr. FENWICK, £250; John BIRCHARD, £100; John CLARKE, £100; John PARKER, £100.

The boundaries of this "quarter" were as follows:

"That is to say from the middle of Curbine point to a marked boyne tree, and from the marked boyne tree to the south side of Rockky-hill, and from the south side of rocky hill to the south corner of prospect hill, and from the south corner of prospect hill to run a north-wet line seauen miles and the tenth part of a mile, which said tract of land with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging, that is to say from the end of the northwest line to the great river together with all the meadow betweene Curbine point and TILLIS point doth belong to the proprietors of Potapaug."

The proprietors held occasional meetings for the transaction of their business. The meetings were not held regularly, but as occasion demanded, and to make them legal it was necessary to give notice to very proprietor. A committee was elected for this purpose, and empowered to call meetings of the proprietors in this manner whenever in their discretion it was necessary. These men were chosen as occasion dictated, without any stated term of service, and when they became tired of acting their places were filled by other selections. The first mention of the selection of a committee for this purpose was in February 1701, when at a meeting held at the house of Robert LAY, John PARKER sen., was chosen and empowered to call meetings of the proprietors at such times and places as he should deem expedient, and to preside at such meeting.

Two measurers of land were chosen, and authorized by the quarter to lay out parcels of land to individuals as they desired. These measurers were often paid for the service in land. In fact land was the most convenient thing that the settlers could use with which to pay for any service or make any gift. There was but little regularity about the layout of the land, and it was generally in small parcels of irregular shape, and frequently of indefinite and unstable boundaries. The lands were described as lying near some object or adjoining the land of another, and lines were marked by heaps of stones, rocks, trees, and very commonly by saplings, which they called "staddle." These parcels of land, granted either for some special purpose or consideration, or to satisfy proprietary claims in pro rata divisions, were frequently of not more than two or three acres in size, and rarely reached so great an area as 50 acres in a single piece. Oftentimes when a proprietor was entitled to so many acres he made choice of it in five or six different parcels, more or less, choosing a small parcel here and another there, as the custom allowed him to do, until the required amount was made up to him. As might be expected from such a condition of things, the systematic tracing of titles, or location of the original divisions is now almost beyond the realm of possibility. The following persons were measurers during the years indicated, and some of them perhaps for longer terms: Deacon William PARKER, 1703-14; Joseph PRATT, for some time previous to his death, in 1704; Nathaniel PRATT, 1704-26; John CLARKE, 1705-66; Samuel PRATT, 1714; Hezekiah BUCKINGHAM, 1724, to his death in 1752; Charles WILLIAMS, 1724-35; Samuel WILLARD, 1725; Thomas STARKEY, 1730-52; Jabez PRATT, 1730-52; Samuel WILLIAMS, 1738-49; Daniel WILLIAMS, 1752-70; David PRATT, 1768; Jabez DENISON, 1770; Gideon BUCKINGHAM, 1770.

On the 12th of December 1670, a joint meeting of the proprietors of Potapaug and Oyster River was held to consult in regard to the dividing line between the two quarters. According to the minutes this meeting was called for by the fact that "since the first foundation of these quarters, a people hath been planted at homanasak which is feared will entrench upon the quarter of Oyster River." The proprietors of Potapaug therefore by a "louing compliance," agreed to allow an enlargement of the Oyster River bounds from their lands so as to divide with them the contraction which they should sustain by the encroachment of Homanasak upon their western border.

"That is to say they shall have half the bredth of the land at the north end from Homanasak line to Connecticut river and then the line to run to the rock in the falls river, and from the said rock to prospect hill to reamine as already done, and that the Commons in each quarter shall be free without any trespass or molestation for the proprietors cattell to feeds upon, and upon the abousaid consideration it is agreed that the great Cedar Swamp ajoyning to the pond shall belong to both quarters."

Some dispute in regard to the line between the town and Potapaug Quarter had arisen, and Messrs. Matthew GRISWOLD and Thomas TRACY, of Lyme, had been called to determine it, but probably through neglect of proper marking and recording the line had again fallen into dispute, and the proprietors, September 1st 1684, determined to call Messrs. GRISWOLD and TRACY, again to decide the question in controversy, agreeing to abide by their verdict. The town agreed to the proposal, and accordingly the arbitrators met and gave their award on the 1st day of October 1684, in the following language:

"That the bounds between the town and potapauge quarter doth begin at the Southerd end of Prospect hill, at the Rock which lyeth at the head of the river the line doth extend to Beaver pond and from thence to rockie hill, and from rockie hill to the Boyne tree that is now fallen down, and from the boyne tree to a tree standing about the middle of Curbine point near the great river having stones laid up against it, And all the meadow and marsh lyeing between TILLIS' point and Curbine point with all the severall spongs and branches thereof beginning at the Creek that comes in at the great rock that runs in westerly about TILLIS' point doth belong to Potapauge quarter, And that which wee meane & understand to be TILLIS' point in the great bluff point above the fferry."

A misunderstanding appears also to have arisen between the inhabitants of the other part of the town and the proprietors of Potapaug in regard to the absolute rights of the latter to the use and disposition of common land within their limits. This conflict of ideas was harmonized by the agreement September 1st 1684, between the town and the quarter that the latter should act independently of the former in perfecting the first and second divisions of land which had begun several years before, and in laying out what "areable and mowable" land they should from time to time see fit, together with what pasture land they should deem necessary: while the privileges of timber, stone, wood, and feeding upon the lands thus allotted to the individuals should be considered as common until they were enclosed; and all other lands should lie common to the inhabitants of the town of Saybrook, and be disposed of only by order of the town in general.

The proprietors in this quarter in 1694 were John FENNER, John PARKER, John CLARKE, William PARKER, Joseph PRATT, Joseph PARKER, William PRATT, David PARKER, and Nathaniel PRATT. John CLARKE here mentioned was a lieutenant, and owned the £100 right of his father and the £200 right of his grandfather, that appear in the original scheme of 1648. He had also bought of John TULLY, who held it in 1670, the £250 right that Mr. ELDRED held in the original scheme. The £200 right held in that by William HYDE was sold by him about the year 1660 to Robert LAY, and in 1699 was owned by his son Robert LAY. In 1679, Joseph PRATT came into possession of a £100 right from the estate of Lieutenant William PRATT, deceased. In December 1709, Nathaniel PRATT owned a £100 right that had belonged to John BIRCHARD.

The line between this quarter and Oyster River was run out at different times. February 23d 1703, a committee was appointed for that purpose, and others were appointed January 13th 1728. May 6th 1730, January 23d 1731, and again in 1735. It was voted May 9th 1723, that a £50 right should be settled upon the first minister who should settle here, and this was given to Rev. Abraham NOTT September 7th 1739. March 16th 1738, the proprietors resolved to prosecute all trespasses in cutting timber upon any land that had been laid out.

At a proprietors' meeting, December 25th 1765, a committee was chosen, consisting of Lieutenant John CLARKE, Daniel WILLIAMS, Gideon BUCKINGHAM, and Jabez DENISON, to lay out to every individual the land that belonged to him in order to complete the last division of land that had been made. The committee were further authorized to sell all such small pieces of land as yet remained common; to remove all nuisances or encroachments upon the highways or common land, and to "Do all thing Relating to high ways as a former Committee was appointed to Do att a meeting of the proprietors of this quarter the third day of may a. D. 1738." The committee was further directed to call proprietors' meetings whenever any dispute or difficulty arose upon which they considered the judgment of the proprietors necessary or desirable. The committee thus appointed were discharged with thanks, February 6th 1786, and a new committee, consisting of Benjamin WILLIAMS, Deacon Josiah NOTT, Timothy STARKEY, Abraham PRATT, and Jared CLARK, were appointed to the same business.

As the settlement of the land progressed, frequent misunderstandings and difficulties arose concerning the bounds of individual owners of lands as well as between the quarter and its neighbors. The settlement of these difficulties was entrusted to the committees appointed for specific cases, to adjust matters in dispute. The unsystematic manner in which land was divided, and the carelessness with which surveys were made, were prolific sources of these disputes, and they frequently resulted in extended litigation.

The meetings of the proprietors, called "quarter meetings," were held at private houses in different parts of the settlement, and they generally convened at nine or ten o'clock in the forenoon. The opening and closing of highways was under the direct supervision of the quarter. These were originally ten or twelve rods wide in many cases, but about 1744 it was found desirable to narrow them down, an the land thus gained to the adjoining owners was counted to them in the subsequent divisions of land. The land measurers were generally charged with the duty of adjusting the highways. June 20th 1743, they were directed to procure an open highway through the land of Benjamin BUSHNELL and Ensign STARKEY to Lemuel PRATT's house, "and so to come out by the Cranbury Pond." About this time, the middle of the last century, nearly all of the land had been divided to individuals, and there remained only small and unimportant parcels here and there that had been omitted in the selections of the proprietors. There was, therefore, but little for them to do, and their meetings were but seldom.

The office of a "Recorder" was supplied as early as 1701, if not before, and subsequently the term "clerk" was substituted for it. This officer was required to take an oath of office before a magistrate. February 13th 1728, Hezekiah BUCKINGHAM took the oath as a proprietors' clerk, before Justice WHITTLESEY, of Saybrook. The following persons held the office of "Recorder," or clerk to the quarter; William PRATT, chosen in 1701; Hezekiah BUCKINGHAM, chosen in 1723; Daniel WILLIAMS, chosen in 1749; Danforth CLARK, chosen in 1768; and Felix STARKEY, who held the office in 1828.

A proprietors' committee was appointed to sell the excess of land in the highways, and the small parcels of common land that remained, and to look after the common interests of the proprietors generally. This proprietors' committee, consisting of three persons, stood for an indefinite length of time. But few meetings were called during the latter half of the last century. January 30th 1797, a proprietors' committee was chosen, composed of Abraham PRATT, John BULL, and William LYNDE. February 19th 1805, the proprietors met again, at the house of Danforth CLARK. Timothy STARKEY was moderator, and the following votes were passed:

"Voted, that the Proprietors' Committee be Directed to look up all proprietors Lands and dispose of them to the best advantage it was then Motioned that this meeting be Dissolved it was then Dissolved accordingly."

The next record of a meeting of the proprietors bears date December 8th 1828. Having been, as the record recites, legally warned, it was held at the house of Elizabeth CLARKE. John BULL was moderator, and Ezra S. MATHER clerk pro tem. A committee was appointed to inquire into the proprietors' rights about the Iron Works Pond, and to report to a meeting to be held on the 22d day of December following. At the meeting on the latter date John BULL was moderator, and Felix STARKEY clerk, and the committee were instructed to remove any nuisances that might be found on the proprietors' land, at or near the old Iron Works Pond. This is the latest record of a meeting of the proprietors.

DIVISION OF THE LAND.

The land of the quarter was divided in parcels and at time which suited the convenience or desires of the proprietors. They frequently sold, exchanged, and conveyed their lands among themselves and to others. Their proprietary rights were also transferred to other individuals at their pleasure. Lands were granted to individuals occasionally, for particular reasons, aside from the regular scheme of a general division. Certain customs appear to have been observed, among which was that of granting a quantity of land to a young man in consideration of his being the eldest son in the family.

The following is the earliest existing record of a meeting of the proprietors of the quarter:

"At a quarter meeting the 12th of ffebruary 1689-90, It was voated and agreed that there should be twenty acres laid out to the hundred.

"At the same meeting it was voated and agreed that that percell of land in the southwest corner of Scotchplaine should be the pattern to size all the land by that shall be laid out in the abovesaid division of twenty acres to the hundred pound Right, and that the men agreed upon to lay out this division shall pass a Judgement upon the land as to the goodness of the land and the Convenient lying of it, and what it wants in quality to make it up in quantity proportionable to the aforesaid Scotch-plaine land.

"At the same meeting it was voated and agreed that all those lands that lye between the falls river and the streame that runs into Samuell PRATTS field not already laid out and agreed upon shall for ever lye common except the proprietors of this quarter doe jointly agree otherwise."

A similar plan to that indicated in the second vote was adopted in other divisions of land. When a distribution was decided upon some specified parcel of land was taken as a standard in respect to quality, and the deficiency or excess was balanced by an inverse proportion in quantity.

The lands falling to each individual in a pro rata division were not surveyed and laid out to him at once, but the matter frequently remained with some an open account for months, and sometimes perhaps for years. But it appears to have been a settled principle with the proprietors to settle and complete one division before opening another. According whenever a division of land was decided upon, due notice was given that all who had unsatisfied claims in the previous division should present them and have the balance of land due them laid out before a given time, when the new division should begin.

February 27th 1701, it was determined that there should be laid out 30 acres to the 100 pounds.

A division of 40 acres to the 100 pounds was made January 18th 1714, at which time the proprietary rights were held by the following persons in the amounts designated: Deacon William PARKER, £50; Ensign John PRATT, £100; Major John CLARK, £300; Nathaniel PARKER, £150; Mr. BUCKINGHAM, £100; Robert LAY, £100; William PRATT, £100; Joseph PARKER, £100; David PARKER, £100; the DENISONs, £250; John FENNER, £100; Nathaniel PRATT, £100; "Nathaniel PRATT in Pardonship," £100; William PRATT jr., "with his Brother," £100; Samuel PRATT, £50; David PRATT £50; Thomas STARKEY, £50; Mr. LYND, £250.

A division of 40 acres to the £100 was drawn March 12th 1725, the following proprietors then being represented to the amounts attached to their names: Benjamin LYNDE, £200; Joseph PARKER, £50; John DENISON, £150; David DENISON, £50; Jabez DENISON, £50; Nathaniel PARKER, £150; Robert LAY, £100; John PRATT, £100; Lieut. Nathaniel PRATT, £100; Samuel WILLARD, £50; "in partnership to ye PRATTS, £100; Joseph GILBERT, £50; Jabez PRATT, £50; David PRATT, £50; Mr. Abraham NOTT, £50; Thomas STARKEY, £50; John FENNER, £100; Benjamin PRATT, £50; Mr. BUCKINGHAM, deceased, £50; Hezekiah BUCKINGHAM, £50; Joseph PRATT, £50; Charles WILLIAMS, £50; Major John CLARK, £150; Lieut. John CLARK, £50; Joseph CLARK, £50; Samuel CLARK, £50; William PRATT, £50.

A division of thirty acres to the hundred pounds was agreed upon October 14th 1730, and five men were chosen to lay it out. The following persons drew lots: Mr. LYNDE, Major CLARK, Rev. Abraham NOTT, Lieutenant Nathaniel PRATT, Charles WILLIAMS, Robert LAY, John FENNER, Lieutenant Benjamin PRATT, John PRATT, Samuel PRATT, Ensign Samuel WILLARD, Heze BUCKINGHAM, Jabez PRATT, Joseph PRATT, John PELTON, Captain Samuel DOTY, Nathaniel PARKER, Samuel CLARK, John CLARK, Joseph CLARK, Heze PRATT, Daniel DENISON, Jabez DENISON, Ensign STARKEY, Gideon PRATT, John DENISON, David PRATT. It was agreed that all of this division should be taken up on the west side of Muddy River.

At the same meeting it was resolved that "all the remaining land except onely for needful highways commonly called sequestered land shall be divided and laide out." The committee appointed for the purpose was directed to lay out the land in £50 lots, the quality of the land just south of Ebenezer HAYDEN's being given as the standard. This land lay south of Falls River. It consisted of 42 lots, some of which were regular in shape, and adjoined each other. The drawing of the lots was made November 12th 1730, the same names appearing on the list of participants as in the last division, with the addition of Samuel LAY, who drew one lot, and Joseph PARKER, and the estate of Deacon PARKER who together drew one lot. The others drew one lot each, except Hezekiah BUCKINGHAM, John PRATT and Mr. FENNER, who drew two each, John DENISON, Nathaniel PARKER and Major CLARK three each, and Mr. LYNDE five.

A division of 30 acres to the 100 pounds was made February 28th 1735. The following men drew lots in this: Deacon Nathaniel PRATT, John PRATT, heirs of John DENISON, Mr. PELTON, John KIRTLAND, Samuel CLARKE, Captain Benjamin PRATT, Captain Thomas STARKEY, William PARKER, Charles WILLIAMS, Abraham NOTT, Gideon PRATT, John CLARKE, Daniel DENISON, Samuel PRATT, Joseph PRATT, Jabez PRATT, Major CLARKE, Samuel WILLARD, David PRATT, Benjamin LYNDE, Mr. LAY, Hezekiah PRATT, Nathaniel PARKER, Jabez DENISON, Joseph CLARKE, Captain DOTY, Hezekiah BUCKINGHAM, and the heirs of John FENNER. Each proprietor had his choice in succession, as his name was drawn and was allowed four days in which to make his selection, and have the measurers set it off for him, and if he neglected to do so in that time, the one who stood next on the list should proceed with his selection.

March 16th 1738, a division was made of 15 acres to the 100 pounds, in which the following proprietors participated: John PELTON, Samuel WILLARD, John CLARKE, Gideon PRATT, Joseph CLARKE, Daniel DENISON, John PRATT, Society LAND, John KIRTLAND, Mrs. Sarah FENNER, Hezekiah BUCKINGHAM, Deacon Nathaniel PRATT, Samuel LAY, Elizabeth FENNER, William PARKER, Hezekiah PRATT, Rev. Mr. NOTT, Nathaniel PARKER, Ensign STARKEY, Benjamin LYNDE, Samuel PRATT, Samuel CLARKE, Deacon Ebenezer PRATT, Jabez PRATT, Jabez DENISON, Captain PRATT, Charles WILLIAMS, Captain DOTY, Joseph PRATT, David PRATT.

SOME EARLY SETTLERS.

A family by the name of AYRES settled at AYRES' Point about the year 1710, and gave name to that locality. Families by the names of LAY and PRATT, from Saybrook or Lyme, and John DENISON from Stonington, settled at Potapaug Point about 1690. Some time afterward the settlement was joined by John STARKEY, from New London, the HAYDEN's, from near Boston, and Charles WILLIAMS, from Rhode Island. Families by the name of PLATTS settled in the western part of this parish at an early period. February 26th 1701, Charles WILLIAMS, of Providence, was granted six acres on condition that he should become a settler here for ten years. Additional grants were made to him in the following year and at other times. Rev. Thomas BUCKINGHAM, the progenitor of a numerous family, settled near Beaver Pond, March 9th 1702. The quarter granted him 30 acres and a £50 right in the proprietorship, to draw only in future divisions, which was to be in full of all the claims he had on the quarter. This right was owned February 3d 1727, by Samuel DOTY, who in 1723 had been granted ten acres of land against KELSEY Hill, to build upon. Benjamin LYNDE, of Salem, Mass., had land laid out to him at the south end of KELSEY Hill in 1723. Edward BULL had land here as early as 1730. Robert LAY built the second house from the foot of Main street on the north side, (now standing there) about the year 1730. The family of that name were the early owners of most of the land on the north side of this street, while the PARKERs were the principal owners on the south side. The HAYDENs came here from Dorchester, Mass., in the early part of the eighteenth century. Tradition says that Lieut. William PRATT was the first settler who died in Potapaug Quarter. He formerly lived in Hartford, had served in the Pequot war, and on his return settled here. His house stood a little north of the site of the rope walk. He married the daughter of John CLARKE, and was the progenitor of a numerous family. He died October 19th 1698. He was a native of Essex, England, and it is supposed that the name of this village was adopted out of respect to him and the place of his nativity. His son, Nathaniel, settled upon Stone-pit Hill, where some of the foundation stones of his house are still visible. It is said that one of the PARKER's built the first house in the quarter.

EARLY HIGHWAYS.

Roads grew into use as the offspring of necessity, without any formal survey or definite layout. June 24th 1708 appears to be the earliest date at which any effort was made on the part of the proprietors to systematize the highways running though the Quarter. At that time they directed the measurers, who were William PARKER, John CLARKE, and Nathaniel PRATT, to learn what roads were necessary and what terms could be made with the individuals through whose lands they ran, and report at a future meeting, to be "warned" by the clerk when they should have accomplished their work and be ready to report.

In November 1709, the proprietors ordered a highway laid out form the Iron Works to Major CLARK's house at Muddy River. The land taken by this road was to be made up to the individual proprietors damaged thereby in equivalent land from the common land of the quarter. Some of the highways laid out at that time were described as follows:

"a highway from the south bounds of the quarter by rocky hill and so to run northly or as the path lyeth to the north bounds of the afors'd quarter or to the first of the two rivers below paticounk hill shall be a country road and be 12 rods wide in all the parts of it only whear thear was land layd out one either side of the s'd rood befor and in all soch plases it is expected that all shuch parsons that haf had land befor layd out as afors'd due keap to thear anchint bounds be the ways boroder or noroer.

"a highway from the afors'd country rood and lying one the north of Sargent Nathaniell PRATT land ouer mody river and to lead to the ioren work or to Charl WILLIAMS hous the sd hiway to be 12 roods wid.

"a high way of 12 rods wid leading from the last menshoned way ouer fols riuer whear the cart way gos ouer below the ioren works and so rong northerly between the hills and the brook and so untell it coms to whitlsy brook so coled and from theans to the country road in the playens.

We layed out a high way of 12 roods wid from Potapaug houses to the fols riuer and and to the head or upper end of eagght mile meado as the path called meado path lyes now in all the parts of it saving only against nort west cornor of Mr LAYs land and and adainst the northeast corner of Hezekiah BUCKINHAM land that his hous stand vpon and against the sovwest cornor of Mr. John DENSON desesed hes land and John GRAUS northeast cornor these two places the way wel not be 12 roods wid but it is expeacted that the aforemensened persons or thear eagens do comply with thear old bovnds one the weast side of the higway we marked two small tres or great standell standing 12 roods from the fence of the s'd DENSON land the soutermost of them is a whit ock and the other is a black ock which stands to the southword of that which is coled harford one rood both of which thes are marked with H W and all the land from the north sid of the s'd black ock tre or stadl to the fols riuer shal ly for higway for the acomidating of catell or what els going over [---] s'd riuer it is all ways to be understood that the hiway from the ould cosway to the [---] medo is but east rods wid and a part hiway.

"We layed out another or seacond highway which leads from the way that [goeth] to the upper eend of eaght mil meado this way begins about 16 rood to the north [---] of fols riuer and at a whit ock tree with a great boyne one the south side of the same and is marked with H W which tree stands on the weast sid of the way which lead northerly between the swamp and hill and so up the hill until it comes to two chestnot trees standing together the northernmost of them being the biggest and stoupeth tords the north from thess two tres the path running northly to the great riuer lefing Ensin John PRATT land to the west of it.

"we layed out a higway begening at or nere the two chestnot tres fefor mensoned which way runs north easterly vntel it coms ner to the southwest cornor of a pees of land formerly belonging to Joseph PRATT de'sed and so to the great riuer lefing the s'd PRATT one the East sid of it.

"another higway leads from the afors'd meado path or higway beyond that which is by the broad swamp begin'g about 16 rood from the south east cornor of som [land] blonging to the aiers Joseph PRATT deseesed and of a whit oack tree marked [with] H W and standing to the west sid of the s'd higway this way leads norwest [about] 40 or 50 roods then turning up the hill and so northerly and across the west [side of ] that which is coled mellston hill and between som land belonging to John [---] which land was formerly John WEEB and {--- --- ---] land formerly Joseph PRATT desesed and so over the [--- ---] the [--- ---] way that leads to the great river.

"a highway from the ioran works or from Charls WILLAIMs hous between the s'd Charls WILLIAMs land mr. Benjamens LIND land and William PRATT Senior land upon Scots playen hill so across the hill so to go ouer the swamp and between Joseph PRATTS land and Samuell COMSTOKS land and Mager John CLARKS land on the west sid of the s'd clarks land afors'd in all which highways are 12 rood wid vnleast it be whar the land was layed out befor the laying out of the higway or higways.

"a higway of 7 rood wid between the iorond work pond and mr. Benjamen LIND land which lyeth at the northwest corner of Scots playen and this way is to extend to the lin that divides between oyestriver and Potapaug Quarter Layed out by
          "Deaken William PARKER
          "Mager John CLARK
          "Sargent Nathanill PRATT."

The surveys of highways was accepted and approved by the proprietors at a meeting on the 10th of February 1710.

The following entry, as affording a peep into the dimness of that interesting period when the English settlement here was new, is worth transcribing from the fading records and preserving in this enduring form:

"Say Brook July ye 13th, 1725. "We William PARKER and John CLARKE of lawfull age doe testify yt the country road from Saybrook, to goe to Hartford went over ye brook yt Runs in at ye head of that which is called twelue mile island coue, and so on ye east side of ye place where John & Nathaniel KIRTLAND's barn did stand, and so along to ye place called ye old Riding place ouer ye Riuer called ye deep Riuer leauing ye sd Riuer on ye west of ye sd road or highway, and yt Mr Joseph PRATT late of Say Brook deceast, told us yt he was att ye laying out of ye two points calld ye deep Riuer points and also shewed us a tree standing on ye west of rnorthwest side of ye afore sd deep Riuer and easterly from sd Riuer which he sd Joseph PRATT tolde us that yt was one of ye corner trees of ye point called layes and ffenness point, the afore sd tree as we Remember was a black oak tree, and from thence ye Road or highway lead to the landing place att ye head of Patequonk coue where stands another tree which is well known and is called ffeners corner tree. We also testify yt there was no other roade or way as a roade ouer sd deep River where it is now for many years after ye afore sd points were laide out. The Road above mentioned that goes ouer ye deep riuer is at that Rockky place near the high Hill yt lyes on ye east side of ye riuer.
          "William PARKER
          "John CLARKE."

At a meeting, February 11th 1773, it was voted "that a Committee shall be chosen To Treat with mr. Hezekiah PRATT and Samll LAY In order To bye one Rod In weadth of land In order To In Large the highway leading Down to Capt. HAYDENs wharf." That highway was the present Main street of Essex village, which from the fact that it was first laid out across Mr. LAY's land, was once called "LAY's cart path."

PRICES OF SOME COMMON ARTICLES.

The following prices of common articles about here in Revolutionary times will afford opportunities for interesting comparisons: wheat, 5s. to 9s. per bushel; rye, 3s. 6d.; corn, 2s. 6d. to 5s.; salt, 12s.; port, 3 1/2d to 11d. per lb.; beef, 2d. to 2 1/2d.; wool, 1s. 6d.; flax, 6d. to 7d.; tallow, 8d.; wheat flour, 3d.; tea 12s.; sugar, 9d.; nails, 11d to 1s. 6d.; twine, 3s.; iron, 6 1/2d.; oakum, 9d.; ship rigging, 7d, to 10d.; marlin and spunyarn, 8d.; striped linen, 3s. 4d. to 4s. 9d. per yard; chintz, 5s. 6d.; oak wood, 9s. per cord; hickory wood, 10s.; pine boards, £6 per thousand feet; pitch, 20s. per bbl.; turpentine, 24s.' lamp black, 1s 6d.; linseed oil, 5s per gal.; bricks, 3s per hundred; line 2s. per bushel; glass, 5s. per square; chain cables, £3 6s. per hundred weight; sailmakers' and riggers' labor, 3s. 6d. per day; carpenters' labor, 6s.; ship work, 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d.; board, 6s. per week; rum, 2s. to 3s. 6d. per quart.

FORM OF INDENTURE, 1804.

The following indenture is interesting as showing how such papers were drawn up in the early part of this century:

"This Indenture witnesseth that Lucy SPENCER of Saybrook in the County of Middlesex Guardian to her son George SPENCER aged about sixteen years and six months, hath put her said son and by these present doth freely and voluntarily put him an apprentice to Nathan PRATT of said Saybrook goldsmith to learn the art of trade or mystery of a goldsmith and with him after the manner of an apprentice to serve from the day of these presents until he shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years; during which time the said apprentice his mater shall faithfully serve his secrets keep and his lawful commands everywhere freely obey.

"He shall do no damage to his said master nor see it to be done of others, but that he to his power shall let or forthwith give warning to his said mater of the same.

"He shall not waste the goods of his said master, nor lend them unlawfully to any.

"He shall not commit fornication nor contract matrimony within the said term.

"He shall not play at cards or any other unlawful game whereby his master may have any loss. With his own goods or others during said term without the license of his said master he shall neither buy nor sell. He shall not haunt taverns or play houses, nor absent himself from his said master's service day or night unlawfully but in all things, as a faithful apprentice he shall behave himself toward his said master and all his during said term. And the said master his said apprentice in the same art which he useth by the best means that he can, shall teach and instruct, or cause to be taught and instructed in every part thereof finding unto his said apprentice meat, drink, apparel, lodging and all necessaries during said term and shall instruct him or cause him to be instructed in reading, writing and arithmetic so that he may be able to do common business. And at the expiration of said term the said master shall furnish his said apprentice with two suits of clothes, one suitable for him to wear to meeting upon the Sabbath, or abroad at any time, the other suitable for common wear and also give to his said apprentice a good Bible and a gun and bayonet fit for a soldier. And for the true performance of all and every of the said covenants and agreements, each of the parties bind themselves unto the other firmly by their presents. In witness whereof the parties above named to their Indentures have interchangeably set their hands and seals the 1st day of May A. D. 1804.

          In presence of
                    Sam'l JONES           Lucy SPENCER.
                    Dan LANE,           Nathan PRATT.

THE RAID ON ESSEX-1814.

During The war of 1812-15, while the British fleet was cruising around Long Island sound for the purpose of blockading New London Harbor, it was suspected by the commander that a conspiracy existed among the ship owners of Potapaug to destroy these vessels and thus raise the blockade. Accordingly, on the evening of the 7th of April 1814, two or three vessels of the squadron anchored off Saybrook Bar, and dispatched two launches, each carrying nine to twelve-pound carronades, and 50 or 60 men, and four barges containing about 25 men each. These were under the command of Lieutenant COOTE or COUTTS, as different authorities spell the name, who had previously gained a familiarity with the locality and its surroundings by visiting in the disguise of a clam peddler.

The party were provided with torches and other materials for burning the shipping. Before midnight they were discovered by the keeper of the lighthouse, as they entered the mouth of the river, but as there were no American troops in that locality he could do nothing to aid the helpless inhabitants in preparing to offer any resistence. Some of the troops landed at the old fort at Saybrook, where finding no soldiers to oppose them, they cut down the flag and proceeded on their way. Owing to a strong northerly wind and the freshet, they did not arrive at their destination until 4 o'clock on the morning of the 8th. They landed at the point and formed into line, numbering 240 men, and being divided into squads proceeded to their work of destruction.

Very few of the citizens were appraised of their coming until a few minutes before they landed, and many of them knew nothing of it until the flames from the burning vessels, which lit up the country for miles around, awoke them from their slumbers. Fear and consternation seized the people. Aged women and little children hurried off to Centerbrook, taking such valuables as they could gather, expecting that their homes were to be burned and fearing that the men would be put to death or taken prisoners. Their fears, however, proved groundless, for there was no attempt to molest the people. A few houses were searched by the picket guards for arms and ammunition, while the main body of troops proceeded to burn the vessels at the different years and those anchored in the lower and upper coves, firing every vessel they could find, with a few exceptions for particular reasons.

A vessel belonging to Mr. Judea PRATT of New city, was saved through the mystic ties of free masonry. Lieutenant COUTTS had ordered the vessel to be burned, but Mr. PRATT met him and gave a Masonic sign of recognition, and after a few minutes conversation, it is said, the troops were withdrawn and the vessel saved. Jeremiah GLOVER, who had a sloop lying in the lower cove, begged the British to spare it, and they finally consented to do so on condition that he should pilot them down the river and back to their ships.

Several hogsheads of rum which were stored at the Point were destroyed to prevent them from falling into the hands of the marines. One man, desiring to conciliate the officers, brought out a waiter with decanters of rum and glasses. Many other incidents connected with this raid are preserved in the traditions of the locality, and would be interesting to the readers but the want of space forbids repeating them here.

About 10 o'clock in the forenoon the British called in their guards and proceeded down the river, with a brig, a schooner, and two sloops. But the wind shifting from northeast to southeast they set fire to all these except the schooner, which they anchored about a mile and a quarter below the Point, and there remained until evening.

During the day a number of the militia from Saybrook, Westbrook, and Potapaug had gathered on the shore, where they planted a nine-pounder, and about sunset opened fire with it upon the schooner, which appears to have grounded so that they could not get away with her. The British then took to their barges and pulled down the river, under cover of the darkness, except when betrayed, as they were at the start, by the light of a pier which they had fired on the opposite side of the river. They endeavored to maintain silence in their passage, but the militia were enabled to mark them with some degree of accuracy, and fired upon them from the shore as they went, doing, as is supposed, some deadly execution. The number killed is not known, but it is related by an aged man at Westbrook, that a year afterward he had occasion to go to Plum Island, and while there he saw eleven recently made graves, which the keeper of the light-house told him were the graves of men that were killed by the militia, and buried there by Lieut. COUTTS on his way from the raid on Essex back to the fleet. During this perilous passage, Captain GLOVER, the pilot, lay in the bottom of the boat for protection against the balls that were flying about them and now and then striking the boat. He escaped unhurt, and saved his sloop, being landed about a week later on FISHER's Island.

The burning of the shipping at this place was a wanton piece of destruction, and Lieut. COUTTS some years afterward stated to an American sea captain, who was a large owner in the vessels burned, that it was the most unpleasant duty he was ever called upon to perform, and that he undertook it he never expected to get away with his men. The loss occasioned by this raid was estimated to be about $160,000, sixty thousand of which fell on the people of Potapaug. The number of vessels destroyed is claimed by some to have been as high as 28, but the following list comprises all that the writer has been able to find any account of:

NAME.	TONS.	VALUE.	SAVED.
Ship guardian	319	$15,000	$1,500
A new schooner	140	4,000
Ship Mohola	50	1,500	200
Ship Superior	285	13,000	600
Ship Atlanta	270	8,500	1,300
A new schooner	160	7,500	1,000
Schooner Black Prince	315	13,300	1,300
Sloop Comet	30	1,200	300
Brig Felix	300	12,000
Sloop Thitis	76	2,500	200
Sloop Emerald	55	2,500	100
Sloop Washington	100	5,000
Brig Cleopatra	140	7,500	800
Brig Hector	374	15,000
Brig Amazon	310	12,000	1,000
Schooner Emblem	160	7,000	800
A new sloop	75	2,000	200
Ship Osage	344	8,500
Three sloops	225	6,700
One pleasure boat and a work shop

The hulk of one of the vessels, the ship Osage, was towed up the North Cove, where it still may be seen at low water, lying just below the grist mill at Meadow Woods.

The following letter from Capt. William Van DEURSEN, 3d Regiment United States artillery, commanding Fort Trumbull, at New London, written about a year previous to the burning of Essex, is of interest in connection with this affair. It will be remembered also that this same Capt. HARDY was with NELSON at the battle of Trafalgar, and as NELSON was dying he said: "Kiss me, Hardy; kiss me:"

"Fort Trumbull, July 15 1813. "I yesterday had the honor of dining with the celebrated Sir Thomas HARDY, on board His Brittanic Majesty's ship Ramilies, having been sent off as a flag officer by Brigadier-General BURBANK. When Sir Thomas first discovered the flag approaching he hoisted a white flag at his foretopmast-head, and a boat was dispatched with a lieutenant and ten men on the barge coming up with us. The officer presented the commodore's compliments, with a request that I would enter his boat, which I accordingly did. On coming alongside of the ship the sides were manned with six young men dressed in white. On entering the ship I was met by Sir Thomas in person, who welcomed me on board. I immediately introduced myself to him. He took me by the arm into his cabin. On entering I was struck with admiration at the style and grandeur in which it was fitted up. Everything appeared to be conducted on the most splendid and magnificent plan, and I think I may safely say I never have seen anything of the kind that compared with it.

"Sir Thomas himself appeared to be a man of great simplicity of manners, apparently a perfect stranger to everything like pride or ostentation. He is about 5 feet 10 inches high, of light complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and red whiskers, and is somewhat bald. He cannot be called a handsome man, but has a countenance which strongly bespeaks the greatness of his mind and the nobleness of his soul. He was very affable, had a great deal to say and many inquiries to make, and appeared unwilling to let the flag depart when it did. He took me all over his ship, and justice requires I should state that it is not in the high order of our frigates. His crew and gun decks were inexcusably dirty, his men generally much inferior to ours, and the discipline not to be put in competition."

THE BOROUGH OF ESSEX.

The Borough of Essex was constituted by an act of the Legislature of the State passed in May 1820. Its corporate name was "The Warden, Burgesses and Freemen of the Borough of Essex," and the boundaries given in the act were:

"Beginning at the most northeasterly part of a stone wharf or pier, owned by Jesse MURRAY and others, a little northerly of Pettipauge wharf, thence northwesterly in a right line to the northeast corner of New City wharf, thence southwesterly in a right line to a small appletree standing on George WILLIAMS' land, about six rods northerly of said WILLIAMS' dwelling house, thence southerly in a right line to a small oak tree, standing at the lower side of a ledge of rocks, about fifteen rods northwesterly of Dr. Gideon A. DICKINSON's dwelling house, thence southeasterly in a right line to a large button-wood or button-ball tree, standing in the highway near the dwelling house of Thomas TRIPP; thence in an easterly direction in a right line across the south cove, so called, to an old stone pier, owned by Benjamin H. MEIGS and others, situated a little southerly of the south cove channel, thence in a northerly direction in a right line to the first mentioned bound."

By its charter it was empowered to elect annually, in May, a warden, six burgesses, a clerk, a treasurer, and a bailiff. The latter officer was to perform the duties generally of a constable. The warden and burgesses, with the approval of the freemen of the borough, had power to levy taxes, to lay out and regulated streets and walks, to keep in order a public sign-post, to make by-laws regulating markets, wharves, moorings, trees, chimney sweeping, abating nuisances, and in relation to other local matters provided they did not conflict with any laws of the State. All such by-laws, after being approved by a public meeting of the freemen, were to be published at least three weeks in a some newspaper published in the borough, or if no newspaper was published here they were to be so published in some newspaper in Middletown; and were still further subject afterward to the ruling of the Superior Court. The warden and burgesses were also to form a fire company.

Joel PRATT Esq., in accordance with the appointment of the charter, called and presided at the first meeting of the borough, which was held at the Episcopal church on the 13th, being the second Tuesday of June 1820. This meeting elected Samuel INGHAM, clerk; Joseph HILL, warden; Ebenezer HAYDEN, Timothy STARKEY, Sala POST, Joseph PLATTS, Gurdon SMITH, and Gamaliel CONKLIN, burgesses; Samuel M. HAYDEN, treasurer; and Felix STARKEY, bailiff.

The borough meetings were held at the Baptist meeting house, with very few exceptions, until the annual meeting, May 31st 1847, which was held at Hill's Academy. Soon after this they were moved to the Union House, where they continued to be held until the suspension in 1855.

The first meeting of the warden and burgesses was held at the office of Joseph PLATTS, June 20th 1820. At this and subsequent meetings by-laws were passed prescribing the mode of warning the meetings of the freemen, and those of the warden and burgesses, and establishing a sign-post; prescribing the form of oath to be taken by the treasurer; restraining horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and geese, establishing a pound and the offices of haywards and pound-keepers; for preventing injuries by fire; relative to nuisances, and providing for the appointment of street inspectors; imposing a penalty for neglecting or refusing to serve in any office; empowering the warden and burgesses to settle and adjust all debts against the borough, and providing for their payment; name the streets and public grounds in the borough; and relative to the mode of taxation, locating a pound and altering the place of holding meetings.

Several streets were named in a by-law passed in May 1821. These were Main street, from the corner near Captain Hezekiah PRATT's to the wharf near HAYDEN & STARKEY's store, which was once called "LAY's cart path;" Hill street, from the corner above mentioned to the store of William PARKER; Public Square, that piece of ground that lay between Captain John PRATT's ship, John G. HAYDEN's store, and William PARKER's dwelling house and store, on the north and east, the lot and garden of Joseph H. HAYDEN on the north, and the dwelling house of Captain Henry L. CHAMPLIN on the west; West street, from the shop of Captain John PRATT, by the dwelling house of Dr. Gideon A. DICKINSON, to the western limits of the borough; North street, from Main street, by Abraham PRATT's dwelling house, and the then late residence of Captain Noah SCOVILL, deceased, to the northern limits of the borough; Church street, from John G. HAYDEN's store, by the Episcopal and Baptist churches, to North street; New City street, from North street, by the dwelling house of Reuben Post, to the North Cove; Little Point street, from North street, by the dwelling house of Captain Gideon PARKER, to the North Cove; New street, from the corner of Main and North streets, by the dwelling house of Gurdon SMITH, to the North Cove; Cross street, from Main to New street, by the store of George HARRINGTON; south street, from the corner near Captain Henry L. CHAMPLIN's store, by the dwelling house of Joseph Hill, Esq., to the southern limits of the borough; Spring street, from South street, southerly of the dwelling house of Nathan PRATT, to Hill street.

It may be interesting to review and locate by more recent descriptions, some of the points mentioned in the foregoing. Capt. Hezekiah PRATT's house still stands at the foot of the hill, in front of the Congregational church, on the east side of the road. The store of HAYDEN & STARKEY was the old brick building on the south side near the foot of Main street, now closed. The store of William PARKER stood on the lot now occupied by the residence of Mrs. STEPHENS, next west of the store of H. W. STARKEY & Co. Capt. John PRATT's shop was a blacksmith shop, the site of which is still occupied in the same way by his grandsons. The present shop is a substantial brick structure, standing a short distance west of the Episcopal church. Between the shop and the Episcopal church stood the store then occupied by others and finally as a soap manufactory. It was torn down a few years since. The lot and garden of Joseph H. HAYDEN is now occupied by the residence of W. H. PHELPS. The house of Dr. Gideon A. DICKINSON is still standing, on the north side of the road, under the hill, being the third house east of the crossing of the turnpike. Abraham PRATT's dwelling house was the house now owned by M. B. HALL. The Noah SCOVILL place is now occupied by Gilbert THOMPSON, the house having been burned and replaced by another. The dwelling house of Reuben POST was that now occupied by Capt. A. Judson PRATT, being the fourth house on the north side of New City street from the corner of North street. The dwelling house of Capt. Gideon PARKER is now owned by William KEYES, and is the second house on the north side of Little Point street. The dwelling house of Gurdon SMITH was that now occupied by Mrs. ARNOLD; that an the house of George HARRINGTON, now owned by Mrs. J. B. PRATT, where the first houses built on that street. The store of George HARRINGTON is the unoccupied building next below the post office, and belonging to the estate of Nehemiah HAYDEN. Capt. Henry L. CHAMPLIN's store stood on the southeast part of the lot now occupied by the residence of Mrs. H. L. CHAMPLIN. The dwelling house of Nathan PRATT is that now occupied by William H. PHELPS.

At a meeting, July 4th 1821, the borough elected four street inspectors, four fire inspectors, and four haywards, according to a by-law that had been passed establishing those offices. The number of haywards was afterward increased. Three assessors and three members of a board of relief were afterward chosen in conformity to a by-law which was approved by the borough June 12th 1845.

The office of warden was successively held by the following: Joseph HILL, 1820-23; Obadiah SPENCER, 1824, 1825; Ebenezer HAYDEN, 1826-29; Ezra S. MATHER, 1830-36; Gurdon SMITH, 1837, 1838; H. L. CHAMPLIN, 1839, 1840; Uriah HAYDEN, 1841, 1842; Ambrose W. POST, 1843; Elias REDFIELD, 1844; Nathan PRATT, 845, 1846; Gurdon SMITH, 1847, 1848; Cornelius R. DOANE, 1849; Gideon PARKER, 1850-52; A. F. WHITTEMORE, 1853; John L. PARKER, 1854; C. R. DOANE, 1855.

The borough clerks were Samuel INGHAM, 1820, 1821; William BULL, 1822; Joseph H. HAYDEN, 1823, 1824; Amasa PRATT, 1825, 1826; Samuel M. HAYDEN, 1827-29; Felix STARKEY, 1830; Joseph H. HAYDEN, 1831; Elias REDFIELD, 1832; Samuel M. HAYDEN jr., 1833-35; Uriah S. HAYDEN, 1836; George POST, 1838; F. W. SHEPARD, 1838, 1839; Uriah S. HAYDEN, 1840-43; Horace H. STARKEY, 1844; John G. HAYDEN, 1845-55.

During its existence, the corporation frequently considered such questions as providing fire engines, engine houses, and apparatus, building a steamboat wharf, and flagging the sidewalks on Main street; but beyond the appointment of committees of inquiry but little was accomplished. The last borough meeting was held May 28th 1853. The jurisdiction and limits of the town were so nearly like it that the borough organization was no longer needed.

THE TOWN OF ESSEX.

The town of Saybrook, as it then existed, extending from the sea north to the Chester line, was divided by act of the State Legislature in 1852, and the two towns of Saybrook and Old Saybrook formed from it. The present territory of Essex and all of the town lying south of it became the newly erected town of Old Saybrook, while that part which lay north of it retained the name and prerogatives of the original town.

Two years later the town of Old Saybrook was itself divided, and a new town formed of the southern part, which carried with it the old name, while the remaining part, which retained the records and honors of the old town adopted the new name of Essex. The act of 1854 constitutes and defines Essex in the following language:

All that part of the present town of Old Saybrook, which constitutes the second society of said town, and is bounded northerly and westerly by the town of Saybrook, easterly by Connecticut river, and southerly by the first school society of Old Saybrook, to remain an independent town, with the name of Essex, by which name it shall be hereafter called and known."

The division was enacted the first Wednesday in May 1854. By the act it was provided that the selectmen of the new towns should divide the paupers, according to their discretion; divide the deposit fund in proportion to the population of each; and divide all other property of the towns in proportion to their respective lists in the grand levy of 1852. The population of the town of Essex then was 1,519; while that of Old Saybrook was 1,036. By the grand levy of 1852 the assessment of Essex now was $22,475.71; and that of Old Saybrook was $15,350.31. Essex then had three paupers and its deposit fund amounted to $2,989.47. The almshouse and three acres of land connected with it was sold to Capt. Jabez PRATT for $1,150, and the proceeds were divided between the two towns on the basis of the grand levy of 1852.

By an act of May 23d 1859, an addition was made to the town from Saybrook, as follows:

"Commencing at a rock on Book Hill at or near the northwest corner of the town of Essex, thence southwesterly to a point where the south boundary line of the Second School District in the town of Saybrook crosses the Middlesex turnpike road; thence westerly to a point two rods north of the dwelling house of widow Thomas PRATT; thence southwesterly to a point where the east line of the Winthrop or Fourth School District crosses the main road leading from the village of Winthrop to Westbrook; thence southerly along said district line to Westbrook; thence easterly along the north line of the town of Westbrook to the town of Essex."

On the proposed amendment to the State constitution, in 1855, to the effect that "Every person shall be able to read any article of the constitution or any section of the statutes of this State before being admitted as an elector," this town cast 116 votes in favor and 97 against.

The town in 1882, voted on the license questions, 28 "for," and 238 "against."

Caring for the poor of this town is a very light burden upon its tax-payers. The town for several years had an arrangement with the town of Saybrook, by which its paupers were cared for in the almshouse of that town. An almshouse, with a garden of 90 rods of ground, in the southeastern part of the town, was purchased of Gustavus PRATT, November 29th 1854, for $650. It is located at the junction of an old road with the Middlesex Turnpike. Since its purchase it has remained much of the time unoccupied, the number to be cared for being too small to warrant keeping the house open.

The following list gives the number of votes cast for each State governor by this town since its organization as the town of Essex: 1855, William T. MINOR, "know-nothing," 161; Samuel INGHAM, democrat, 107; Henry DUTTON, whig, 17. 1856, MINOR, 114; INGHAM, 160; Gideon WELLS, whig, 6. 1857, Alexander H. HOLLEY, republican 121; INGHAM, 154. 1858, William A. BUCKINGHAM, republican, 137; James T. PRATT, democrat, 138. 1859, BUCKINGHAM, 172; PRATT, 127. 1860, BUCKINGHAM, 228; Thomas H. SEYMOUR, democrat, 162. 1861, BUCKINGHAM, 209; James C. LOOMIS, democrat, 158. 1862, BUCKINGHAM, 216; LOOMIS, 89. 1863, BUCKINGHAM, 223; Thomas H. SEYMOUR, democrat, 125. 1864, BUCKINGHAM, 207; Origen S. SEYMOUR, democrat, 105. 1865, BUCKINGHAM, 209; SEYMOUR, 92. 1866, Joseph R. HAWLEY, republican, 223; James E. ENGLISH, democrat, 144. 1867, HAWLEY, 244; ENGLISH, 170. 1868, Marshall JEWELL, republican, 253; ENGLISH, 168. 1869, JEWELL, 245; ENGLISH, 132. 1870, JEWELL, 232; ENGLISH, 121. 1871, JEWELL, 249; ENGLISH, 140. 1872, JEWELL, 243; Richard D. HUBBARD, democrat, 152. 1873, Henry P. HAVEN, republican, 214; Charles R. INGERSOLL, democrat, 134. 1874, Henry B. HARRISON, republican, 183; INGERSOLL, 150; Henry D. SMITH, temperance, 60. 1875, James Loyd GREEN, republican, 222; INGERSOLL, 175; SMITH, 36. 1876, Henry C. ROBINSON, republican, 213; INGERSOLL, 178; Smith, 24. The time for holding elections of governor was that year changed from spring to fall, and the gubernatorial term extended to two years, after which the returns show: 1876, ROBINSON, 299; Richard D. HUBBARD, democrat, 200; Joseph CUMMINGS, temperance, 6. 1878, Charles B. ANDREWS, republican, 219; HUBBARD, 169; Charles ATWATER, greenback, 11. 1880, Hobart B. BIGELOW, republican, 292; James E. ENGLISH, democrat, 207; George P. ROGERS, prohibition, 5. 1882, William H. BULKLEY, republican, 256; Thomas M. WALLER, democrat, 227; Rogers, 5.

Presidential electors have received the votes of this town as follows: 1856, republican, 131, democratic, 143; 1860, LINCOLN, 204, DOUGLAS, 66, BRECKENRIDGE, 57, BELL, 29; 1864, republican, 239, democratic, 136; 1868, republican, 248, democratic, 159; 1872, republican, 265, democratic, 127, temperance, 2; 1876, republican, 301, democratic, 196, temperance, 4; 1880, republican, 291, democratic, 216, temperance, 5.

CIVIL LIST.

The first town meeting in Old Saybrook was held in the new Methodist church in Essex the first Monday of October 1852. The officers of the town then were: five selectmen, a clerk, four constables, a collector, five grand jurors, ten tythingmen, six haywards, three pound-keepers, six fence viewers, two highway surveyors, nine wood inspectors, a town treasurer, a town agent, a treasurer for the town deposit fund, a registrar, two assessors, and five members of a board of relief. The selectmen elected in 1852 were: Richard P. WILLIAMS, William WILLARD, Ezra S. MATHER, William R. CLARK, and Stephen W. STARKEY; and in 1853, the same except WILLARD and MATHER, the number being reduced to three. Gurdon SMITH was clerk for these two years.

The officers elected by the town of Essex were two constables, four grand jurors, twelve tythingmen, five haywards, one pound-keeper, four fence viewers, five wood inspectors, a town treasurer, a town agent, a treasurer of the town deposit fund, an agent of the town deposit fund, a registrar, three assessors, three board of relief men, a sealer of weights and measures, a clerk, and three selectmen, and in 1855, three school visitors and a school fund treasurer.

Representatives.-The representatives to the General Assembly from Essex have been: Obadiah SPENCER, 1855; James PHELPS, 1856; William H. DOANE, 1857; Edward W. REDFIELD, 1858; Henry C. WOOSTER, 1859, 1860; Carnot O. SPENCER, 1861, 1862, 1878, 1879; Cornelius R. DOANE, 1863, 1864; Henry L. PRATT, 1865, 1866; William C. HOUGH, 1867, 1868; S. M. COMSTOCK, 1869; Giles POTTER, 1870-72; Edward W. PRATT, 1873, 1874; Selden M. PRATT, 1875; John I. HUTCHINSON, 1876, 1877; Charles KELSEY, 1880, 1881; William F. MCCRERY, 1882; Horace W. STARKEY, 1883; James MILNOR PRATT, 1884.

Town Clerks.-The town clerks have been: Gurdon SMITH, 1854; James PHELPS, 1855, 1856; John G. HAYDEN, 1857; John L. PARKER, 1858-60; Edward W. REDFIELD, 1861-74; Carnot O. SPENCER, 1875-78; James L. PHELPS, 1879; F. Augustus TIFFANY, 1880; James L. PHELPS, 1881 to the present time.

WAR RECORD.

The action of this town in regard to the late Civil war is gathered from its records in the following substance:

A special meeting of the town was held on the 28th of July 1862, and in appropriation of $2,000 made from the treasury of the town for the encouragement of enlistments for three years or during the war. A Bounty of $100 was then offered to those who should enlist under the recent call, before the first of September. The payment of this bounty was so arranged that those who had families should receive but one-fourth of it, while the remaining three-fourths was to be paid to their families at such time or times, within one year, as the judgment or convenience of the selectmen should dictate. At the same time a committee was appointed to solicit Governor BUCKINGHAM and others to address a mass meeting in this town on the subject of enlistments. The following committee was also appointed to encourage enlistments, and to superintend the business: Jared E. REDFIELD, George CONKLIN, Henry L. PRATT, H. B. PARMELEE, Richard L. PRATT, and Samuel GRISWOLD.

Another meeting was held on the 25th of the following August, when the bounty was raised to $150, that should be paid to residents of the town who should enlist before September 1st, for the term of nine months. The bounties were to be paid as before, except that the three-fourths paid to the family should be paid within the nine months. At a subsequent meeting on the 8th of September, the same offer of bounty was extended to the 10th of September, provided the quota should not be sooner filled. The acts of the selectmen in the payment of bounties were confirmed by the town at a meeting held on the 6th of October.

For nearly a year there seems to have been no effort on the part of the town, as a corporation, required to meet the demands of the Government for recruits. A special meeting was held September 14th 1863, at which it was voted that each drafted man, who should pass examination, from this town, should receive $300 for his bounty if he entered the service, or to assist him in securing a substitute if he chose to do so. This action was confirmed at a meeting, January 18th 1864.

CONNECTICUT VALLEY RAILROAD STOCK.

When the Connecticut Valley Railroad was built the town took stock in it, and the records show the following action in regard to the subject. In response to the petition of 157 voters or tax payers of the town a meeting was held on the 25th of September 1869, at which it was voted that the town should subscribe for 480 shares of the certified stock of the company, and Carnot O. SPENCER was appointed the agent of the town to subscribe for the stock and cast its vote in stockholder's meeting.

THE SECOND ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY.

This society was incorporated by the action of the General Assembly, May 10th 1722, on the petition of the inhabitants of the northern part of the town of Saybrook, which had been made the previous year but was not immediately granted because of their disagreement in regard to the bounds to be established. By the act of incorporation it was endowed wit such powers and privileges as were enjoyed by parishes in the colony generally, in the lawful settling and maintaining the public worship of God.

The bounds were set forth as follows:--

"Beginning at the southeasterly corner (by the brook) of Mr. Benjamin LYNDS farm, and keeping the line of the said farm on the southerly side thereof unto the country road; and from the southwesterly corner of said farm a west line until it intersects the dividend line between Oyster River and Potapaug quarters; and from thence to the northward of the west so as to fall four miles from the sea upon the dividing line between the towns of Saybrook and Killingsworth; then bounded west on Killingsworth, north upon Haddam, and East upon Connecticut River."

The act authorized the building of a meeting house by a tax upon the ratable estate within the bounds described, and in a similar manner sustaining on orthodox minister and meeting other parish charges. A proviso was inserted, however, that if the people of Pattaconk, now Chester, should afterward become a distinct parish, they should be reimbursed in the amount they had paid toward the erection of a meeting house and minister's house in the Potapaug Parish. In May of the following year, the Assembly directed that the people of the new parish should be exempt from paying any part of the minister's rate in the old South Parish.

The following list of inhabitants, made April 26th 1723, probably comprises all or nearly all of the heads of families residing in this parish at that time: John CLARK, Andrew WARNER, Benjamin PRATT, John CLARK jr., Joseph PRATT, Nathaniel KIRTLAND, Robert PRATT, Ebenezer PRATT, Phillip KIRTLAND, Joseph GRAVES, Thomas PRATT, Abraham ANDRUS, Nathaniel PRATT, Hezekiah BUCKINGHAM, John PRATT, William PRATT, John FENNER, Joseph CLARK, Thomas STARKEY, Daniel PRATT, Samuel COMSTOCK, David PRATT, Jabez PRATT, John GRAVES, Jonathan HOUGH, John DENISON, John WHEDON, Caleb PRATT, Daniel DENISON, Samuel PRATT, Samuel PRATT jr., Jabez DENISON, Samuel WILLIAMS, and Charles WILLIAMS.

The first meeting of the society was held on the 10th of September following its incorporation. At this meeting, Samuel PRATT was chosen clerk of the society, and Major John CLARKE, Lieutenant Nathaniel PRATT, Charles WILLIAMS, Andrew WARNER, and Samuel PRATT were made a committee to obtain an orthodox gospel minister for the parish. Ebenezer PRATT and Nathaniel KIRTLAND were appointed to give notice of parish meetings, whenever it should be necessary to hold them. At a meeting a month later, Lieutenant Nathaniel PRATT was chosen moderator, to stand as such until another should be appointed. John CLARKE was chosen his successor in the following February. It was at once decided to employ the Rev. Abraham NOTT for four months, after which service it was decided to give him an invitation to settle. He continued to serve the parish, receiving for his settlement 80 acres of land, 10 of which were to be cleared for a home lot; a house built for him, he furnishing the glass and nails; and a yearly salary of £50, and his firewood. The salary was to be increased as the estates of the society increased in value, until it should reach £70. It may be of interest to remark, that in the building of this house the carpenters were allowed three shillings and sixpence per day, and the scorers two shillings and sixpence per day for their work. Rates were laid upon all the estates for the minister's salary, and other expenses of the parish, and these rates were paid in labor, or material by those who preferred to do so. The minister's lot was enclosed, and the post and rail fence was valued at three shillings per rod, and Virginia fence at one and sixpence a rod.

The people evidently desired to have Mr. NOTT ordained as their pastor, but were in doubt as to his doctrinal position. They accordingly, at a meeting December 5th 1723, appointed a committee to request Mr. NOTT to state in writing "in what way he intends to lead the church in discipline if God in providence call him to be pastor of a church here." Whatever reply Mr. NOTT gave to this seems to have been satisfactory, for on the 20th of April 1725:

"It was voted by ye Inhabitance of ye North Parish in Say Brook yt they will send up to ye generall assembly for Liberty to ordaine ye Reverend Mr. NOTT."

The record further states that "Abram ANDRUS protested ye above written voat."

Previous to the erection of a meeting house public worship was held at the house of Charles WILLIAMS. In the early part of 1723 the society began to take steps toward the erection of a meeting house. Some differences existed in regard to its site, but April 26th of that year it was decided to place it on a knoll on the north side of the "cart path," near the southeast corner of the minister's house lot. Work upon it progressed slowly, and indeed for some time can hardly be said to have progressed at all. In January 1724, it was decided that the size of it should be 30 by 40 feet on the ground and 20 feet between joints. At that time work had probably been begun upon the frame. The society then agreed that Daniel and Jabez PRATT, who were probably skilled workmen, should have four shillings a day of their labor; while other laborers upon it were to be paid three shillings a day. The meeting house must have been nearly enclosed in May 1724, when the society directed the committee to finish the building sufficient to hold meetings in by three weeks from that time, which was the 13th of the month. They evidently considered it fit to hold service in during the summer at least, without a floor, for that was not laid until the following year.

In the spring of 1725, it was decided to lay the floor and have the sides plastered from sills to girths and have the underpinning pointed. Though it was not completed in several years, yet it was used for public worship, probably from the year 1724. The building cost £94, 7 shillings, and 8 pence. The society, in September 1726, directed the committee to go forward with the work, lathing and plastering, building a pulpit, and seating the room below the galleries. In 1730, it was lathed and plastered overhead, and seats were put in the galleries, in front of which was also finished plain, and with banisters. That year two pounds were paid for sweeping the meeting house. The item of glass was an important one in those days. Up to 1743, the glass in the windows of this building had cost nearly £11.

After the completion of the meeting house a committee was chosen annually to seat the people. Their scheme varied from year to year to suit the exigencies of the time. The first of these committees was appointed August 11th 1727. The parish at the same time voted that "men with their wives should sit together in ye Pues." The following order of seating shows something of the interior arrangement of the building as well as the people who attended public worship then, and pictures vividly that custom of a long by-gone period:

• "1. We desire and order Maddam NOTT, ye elder Deacon's wife and mr. FENNER to take their place in ye Pew next est of ye Pulpit.
• "2ly. Mr. LAY, mr. WARNER, mr. WILLIAMS, mr. John PRATT & their wives to take their Places in ye first seats in ye square together with widow Sarah PRATT.
• "3. The Pew nex west of the Pulpit Left, John CLARKE, Left. Benjamin PRATT, Serg't William PRATT, David PRATT and their wives with ye Jun'r Decons wife.
• "4. Capt. Sam'll PRATT, Jos. CLARKE & Nath'll CLARKE and their wives in ye middle pew fronting to The Pulpit.
• "5. Mr. BALWIN, Mr. BUCKINGHAM, Mr. STARKEY, Mr. Dan'll PRATT, Mr. John FENNER, Philip KIRTLAND and their wives in ye Pew at ye north est Corner.
• "6. Mr. Jonathan PARKER, Mr. Samuell COMSTOCK. Dea. ANDRUS, Jos. GRAVES, John GRAVES & their wives in ye north west Corner Pews.
• "7. Mr. Abner PARKER, Mr. Daniell DENISON & their wives with widow PARKER in ye estern Pew fronting ye Pulpit.
• "8. Mr. John PELTON, Mr. Nath'll KIRTLAND, mr. Jonathan HOUGH, mr. Jabez PRATT, and their wives in ye second seat in ye square.
• "9. Mr. Sam'll WILLIAMS & wife Samuell BUSHNELL, Will'm WILLIAMS in ye western Pew fronting ye pulpit.
• "10. Mr. GLADDIN, Robert PRATT, Sam'll LAY, Benjamin WATERHOUSE and their wives, and widow HAIDEN in ye third seat in ye square.
• "11. Mr. Jabez DENISON, Mr. Sam'll PRATT, mr. heze. PRATT, mr. Jos. PRATT and their wives n ye middle PEW att ye est end.
• "12. Mr. ANERIST, mr. abram WARNER, mr. Caleb PRATT, and Abraham WATERHOUSE and their wives in ye middle Pew at ye west end.
• "13. In fore seat in ye galiry faceing to the Pulpitt Mr. John WARD, Andrew WARNER Jun'r, Mr. moses BALDIN and John PELTON & their wives.
• "14. In the fourth sat in ye square Thomas PRATT, Jonathan SHIPMAN, Abraham SHIPMAN, Daniel WILLIAMS and their wives.
• "15. In the fifth seat in ye square Josiah FORNAM, John CORBITT, Nehemiah HAIDEN, Tit. SCOVILL and their wives.
• "16. Mr. John LYN, mr. Jos. SHIPMAN, mr. Geabe WARNER & John WILLIAMS and their wies at ye south west Corner.
• "17. Benjam' FOX, Gedion WEB, Leftis NEWILL and their wives in ye Pew att ye south est Corner Togeither with widow WEBB & widow SHIPMAN. "18. We Order Ye Young men Bearing Rate into the front seat in ye west gallery.