Читать книгу History of Bridgeport and Vicinity, Volume 1 - George Curtis Waldo jr. - Страница 6

Although the history of the City of Bridgeport proper does not begin until 1708, when the inhabitants of the Village of Newfield, in the Town of Stratford, were recognized by the General Assembly in that they were granted the right to maintain a fire engine company, the founding of the community known as Stratfield must be recognized as one of the first governmental moves leading to the creation of the City of Bridgeport.

The locality when first visited by the English was the site of an Indian village, comprising four or five hundred inhabitants. As mentioned before, two families first settled west of the Pequonnock River. The heads of these households were Henry Summers, Sr., and Samuel Gregory. Their first houses were located near the junction of Park and Washington avenues.

At that time no highways were laid out in this vicinity. On the east side of the boundary line between Fairfield and Stratford there was a reservation four rods in width which had been made for a highway, but had never been surveyed properly. Also, an Indian trail traversed Golden Hill to the northeast; this latter was made a legal roadway in 1086. In 1087 the King's Highway, now known as North Avenue, was laid out and, sometime later, the Toilsome Hill road, now named Park Avenue.

Fairfield and Stratford had become communities of good size and naturally the short distance between them soon caused them to merge. It is said that they first met at a point now near the junction of North and Park avenues, where a new village was formed, later taking the name of Stratfield, using the first syllable of Stratford and the last of Fairfield. This community grew rapidly and in 1690, believing themselves of sufficient size to maintain a separate government, petitioned the General Assembly for a parish. This document follows:

"To the General Court of Connecticut (whom we honor), in their next session at Hartford.

"We, the inhabitants and persons of Pequonnock, do in all humility address and apply ourselves unto you in manner, method and form following:

"Manifesting unto this honored, representative body that this vicinity of Poquonnock aforesaid appertained part to the town of Fairfield, and part to the town of Stratford, unto which two townships it hath been fully responsible according to obligations, for meeting house and school dues, rates and assessments; we, the dwellers there, have to the towns we have been engaged to, ever punctually paid our acknowledgements, taxes and charges, as we have from time to time when laid under such bonds and indisputable engagements. Hut now since we are by the blessing and grace of Almighty God risen and advanced to somewhat more maturity and ripeness, and grown more populous than before, in capacity to stand within ourselves, without running for succor six or seven miles on one hand, and at least four on the other; we do make it our joint ardent request and passionate petition to this honored, esteemed Court, that you would in the greatness of your goodness, and out of your sincere zeal to the comfort of this part every way, so order it in your new convention that we, every one of us, that are settled inhabitants of and steady dwellers in Pequonnock. may be exempted and relaxed from any minister's rate or rates and school master's salaries, either in Fairfield or Stratford aforesaid, purposing (God smiling on and favoring our enterprises) to suit ourselves in time convenient with such meet instrument for ye pulpit and school, as may most and best serve the interest of our God, and do our souls and children most good; such as shall be most painful pious and profitable for these ends to which they were ordained and are improved. And your humble petitioners shall ever continue to pray for your long life and prosperity, subsigning this our address, dated 2nd May, 1690.

Richard Hubbell, Sr. John Bardsle, Sr.

Matthew Sherwood. Samuel Wells.

"Isaac Wheeler. "John Wheller.

"James Benitt "Thomas Wheller.

"David Reynolds. "Joseph Seeley.

"Nathaniel Knapp. "Closes Jackson, Jr.

"Will Barsley. "Samuel Jackson.

"Matthew Sherwood, Jr. "Ephraim Wheller.

"Isaac Wheeler, Sr. "Daniel Bardsle.

"Thomas Griffin. "Samuel French.

"Roburd Bishop. "Samuel Hubbell.

"Samuel Morhous. "Timothy Wheller.

"Jacobe Wakelen. "Thomas Benit.

"Samuel Bardsle. "Ed. Treadwell.

"Samuel Hubbell. "Jacob Joy.

"Samuel Bardsley, Sr. "John Odell. Jr.

"Samuel Hall. "John Benitt, Jr.

"David Sherman. "Thomas Morhous, Jr.

"Richard Hubbell. "John Sherwood.

"Samuel Gregory. "Joseph Joy.

"Samuel Treadwell. "Samuel Summers.

"John Odell, Sr. "Matthew Sherwood. Jr.

"Izhak Hall. "Moses Jackson, Sr."

The above list undoubtedly gives complete information as to the identity of the householders in Pequonnock community in the year 1690. The text of the petition shows the close relationship in these days between church and state, the former being practically the governing force of the community. Fairfield placed opposition in the path of the petitioners and their formal request to the General Court was not granted at this time, but in Mav, 1694, they renewed their request, which was then granted. However, in May, 1691, the Court granted the inhabitants liberty "to procure and settle an orthodox minister among them if they find themselves able to do so, and provided that those of Pequonnock that do belong to Fairfield Township shall pay their just proportion of rate toward the maintenance of the ministry in Fairfield till they can obtain freedom of Fairfield or from this Court." In the following October they were released from paying to the support of the Fairfield ministry, while they kept a minister among themselves. Rev. Charles Chauncey was a leading individual in this fight for the establishment of a separate parish. Documents prove that he had served the people as minister from 1688 until 1694. This first church organized at Stratfield was the parent church of the old First Church of Bridgeport and its history is closely identified with that of the Village of Stratfield and Bridgeport Borough, town and city. The first meeting house was located on Meeting House Hill on Park Avenue and was completed in 1695.

The name Pequonnock was changed to Fairfield Village, and permission given to organize a parish, in May, 1694. Later, in May, 1701, the name was again changed to Stratfield.

In 1691 a street was surveyed and laid out from the Fairfield line to Pequonnock Harbor. Two men from Fairfield were appointed "to view where it is most convenient for a highway to pass in ye Fairfield to Pequonnock Harbor and to treat with ye persons through whose land said highway should pass." This street corresponded with that which is now State Street. At the harbor there had not been any settlements made, but the laying out of the street undoubtedly paved the way for the community which formed the nucleus of Bridgeport at that point. Houses were soon afterward built along Division Street, now Park Avenue.

The church society having been fully organized at Stratfield, it then became territory for a military company. David Sherman was appointed ensign for the train band in Stratfield in October, 1703, and the next spring a complement of officers was filed containing the names of "Lieut. John Beardsley to be captain of the train band of Stratfield and Lieut. James Bennett to be their lieutenant." Beardsley had occupied a similar position at Stratford and Bennett likewise at Fairfield.

The second meeting house in Stratfield was built in 1716, during the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Cooke, who succeeded Reverend Chauncey. Further history of the Stratfield Church Society may be found in the chapters on religious history.

Ninety-six years after the laying out of State Street, or in 1787, the Fairfield County Court authorized the laying out of Main Street, then called "the road at the foot of Golden Hill. State Street was designated as "the road from the dwelling house of the Widow Eunice Hubbell, near the stores at Newfield, to the town line between Stratford and Fairfield." These official procedures occurred just at the time of the beginning of Newfield which lay upon the Pequonnock and formed the seed from which the city proper of Bridgeport grew.

The General Assembly in May 1787, passed a resolution which tended to show that the settlement in the vicinity of State and Main streets had become of considerable size and importance. This resolution read as follows:

"Upon report of a committee appointed in May last, which is now accepted and approved, Resolved by this Assembly that the town of Stratford be, and they are hereby empowered and allowed to keep and maintain a public ferry in said town across the Creek or Harbor called New Field Harbor, from the point of land called New Pasture Point, below Toby's wharf to the opposite shore of said harbor or creek, to and onto the land of Aaron Hawley about ten rods south of said Hawley's dwelling house, and that two sufficient boats shall be constantly kept, one on each side of said creek, plying from shore to shore as occasion may require, at the places aforesaid, during the pleasure of this assembly all subject to the same relations that other ferries in this state are by law subject to."

This ferry at the foot of Union Street was used but a short time, for in May, 1701, the Town of Stratford authorized the buildings of a bridge "across the Pequonnock River nearly opposite Cannon & Lockwood's wharf," and during the same month the Legislature gave authority to Robert Walker and others to establish a lottery for the raising of funds to build a bridge across Newfield Harbor. Stratford Town then petitioned that the expense of maintaining the bridge should not fall upon the town. The road was then changed from its end at New Pasture Point and made so as to conform with the new bridge. During the process of this action Stratford had to pay to one Asa Benjamin the sum of $380 for damages suffered by that gentleman during the change. Stratford set up a toll gate at Lottery Bridge in Newfield, for the support of the same and also Benjamin's Bridge. In 1797 Benjamin's Bridge was rebuilt and widened. In March, 1800, the town voted "to lay out a new road from New Pasture Point to Old Mill Road." This road became East Main Street.

THE FIVE PERIODS

From this time until the present the history of the City of Bridgeport may be divided into five parts, namely:

(1) Beginning with the year 1708, when the inhabitants of Newfield, within the Town of Stratford, living within certain limits, were authorized by the General Assembly to maintain a fire engine company and ordain by-laws for the protection of their property against fire.

(2) Beginning with the year 1800, when the General Assembly, by a special act, extended the territorial limits of Newfield. gave the inhabitants more governing power, and gave the corporation the name of the Borough of Bridgeport.

(3) Beginning with 1821, when the General Assembly of the state divided the Town of Stratford and bestowed upon the inhabitants living in the western portion thereof the authority to maintain a separate town government under the name of the Town of Bridgeport.

( 4 ) Beginning with 1836, when the General Assembly by a special act of incorporation extended the territorial limits of the Borough of Bridgeport and gave to the inhabitants more power of self-government under the name of the City of Bridgeport.

(5) Beginning with 1880, when the General Assembly of the state consolidated the town and city into one government, to be known as the City of Bridgeport, with territorial limits the same as the town.

These classifications are those of Mr. Franklin Sherwood, but their comprehensiveness and convenience render them the best means of presenting to the reader a survey of the city's government from 179? until 1917, a period of 119 years.

THE FIRST PERIOD

In January, 1784, the General Assembly of the state granted to the inhabitants of certain areas within the towns of New Haven and New London special acts of incorporation. These acts were designed to enable the people to better govern themselves as "cities." In the following May identical privileges were granted to certain inhabitants of the towns of Hartford, Norwich and Middletown. The Courts of Common Council of these several cities were vested with the power to make by-laws relative to certain matters of government, among the items mentioned being the sweeping of chimneys, preserving the city from fire, also "to inflict penalties for the breach of such by-laws, provided, however, that such penalties shall in no case exceed $34." The apparent insignificance of these restrictions, or by-laws, did not apply in those days. Such a thing as protection from fire was a very momentous question then, as the means of combating flames were few and small and a large blaze once started in a community thickly settled meant great destruction. The sweeping of chimneys undoubtedly was a measure to prevent fires starting from soot burning.

Although the power of protecting themselves from fire had been given to the people in these various cities, it seems as if there had been no provision made for regularly organized and paid fire companies, hence all such organizations were invariably of volunteer character, the members considering themselves of equal rank with the military bodies and claiming military exemption. It is probable that the people themselves bore all the expenses of fire engines, etc. New Haven and Hartford were both supplied with two each in 1784. In 1790 these two last named cities petitioned the General Assembly for adequate authority to maintain a lawfully organized fire department. The Assembly in reply passed a resolution giving full power and authority to the Court of Common Council of the two cities to nominate and appoint thirty men in the case of Hartford, and forty in the case of New Haven, as firemen, also to exempt them from military service. The Common Council of Norwich at the May session of 1794 made a petition to the General Assembly and was given permission to raise by voluntary enlistment two fire companies, to consist of twenty men each. That when raised the companies should be under the direction of the mayor, aldermen and common councilmen. The City of Middletown did not petition for a fire engine company until May, 1803, and New London was the last of the five cities in the state, October, 1804, to ask permission. All these facts make for a better understanding of Bridgeport's beginning.

THE FIRST COMMUNITY

Prior to 1798, as described before, that which is now the City of Bridgeport simply existed as a fractional part of the Town of Stratford. The small community on the west shore of the Pequonnock at its mouth, and at the extreme southwestern boundary of the town, was called Newfield; the territory immediately across the river was known as New Pasture Lots. About two wharves had been shunted out into the river for the accommodation of the packet boat which ran between Berkshire, the head of navigation on the river, and New York. In the vicinity of these wharves had located the small community of perhaps 200 people, where they built their houses and stores of wood. The need of fire protection became apparent immediately, but as they had no official recognition upon the state records, the method of procedure to get fire protection remained entirely among themselves. So it is that we find them procuring individual subscriptions among the small population in order to purchase a fire engine. In May, 1797, a committee of Newfield citizens went before the General Assembly with a petition asking that they might be incorporated with the privilege of maintaining an organized public fire department. The subscription paper so loyally made up in Newfield follows:

"We, the undersigned subscribers, promise to pay the sums put to our several names on demand to Daniel Young, John S. Cannon and Lambert Lockwood, who are a committee appointed by the people of this Port for the purpose of purchasing a fire engine, buckets, etc., for the benefit of said Port, said money to be applied to the above mentioned use as soon as may be after being collected.

"Newfield, 19th of September, A. D., 1796.

The citizens of the above subscription, who were probably the leading men in the community, promised all together the sum of $377.33. That the sum above subscribed was promptly paid and used for the intended purpose is proved by the fact that a memorial signed by Josiah Lacy, Thaddeus Benedict and others was presented to the General Assembly at its May session following praying that authority be granted to the village inhabitants to appoint twenty-five persons to operate their fire engine. This prayer was granted by the General Assembly at the October session.

However, owing to the indefinite status of Newfield the people enjoyed few benefits from their fire company. Unlike New Haven ' and other of the incorporated cities of the state, little could be done in the way of perfecting an organization.

NEWFIELD

At the May session of the General Assembly in 1798, a preamble and resolution was passed which remedied all the defects of the former one and which really created the Village of Newfield. This resolution follows:

"Resolved, By this Assembly that full power and authority be and hereby is granted to the inhabitants living within the following limits: Beginning at 'Welles Tongue' so called, thence northerly following the river up until it comes to the northeast corner of 'Indian Lot,' so called, thence westerly following the northerly line of said lot to the main Newtown Road, thence southerly down the same to the mouth of Golden Hill Lane and over said Golden Hill until passing the house of Zebulon Kirtland, thence across the fields to the stone bridge on the Fairfield road east of Capt. William Wordin's house, thence southeastern across the fields including the house of Nehemiah Allyn to the line began at Welles Tongue; or the major part of them, at a meeting to be held on the last Tuesday in June, annually, at the school house in said Newfield, to nominate and appoint twenty-five suitable persons, living within the aforesaid limits, to serve as a fire company, to work and conduct the fire engine within the same, and that they have liberty to enlist twelve of said company or number from the military company, who shall be exempt from doing ordinary military duty in the company and regiment to which they belong, so long as they do actually serve in the fire company — and the inhabitants have power to make by-laws for the regulation of said fire company and to preserve said village from fire and to enforce said by-laws by penalties not exceeding the sum of ten dollars — provided, however, that said by-laws are not contrary to any of the laws of this state."

This boundary description included practically all of the Village of Newfield, except a portion along the Old Line Road, or Park Avenue. The Welles Tongue was a point of land extending into the harbor east of the lower end of Main Street. The line from thence followed the west shore of the harbor and Pequonnock River. The north line of the Indian lot mentioned was in the vicinity of Meadow Street; the Newtown Road corresponded to what is now Main Street. However, at that time, it is said that the Newtown Road bent more to Ihe eastward, conforming more with what is now North Washington Avenue. Washington Avenue was then known as Golden Hill Lane, following Washington Avenue to a little beyond Courtland Street. The Zebulon Kirtland house stood on the corner of Washington and Courtland, southwest. The stone bridge was about one hundred and seventy-five feet east of Park Avenue on State Street. Several of the prominent homes were outside of the boundaries drawn, among them that of Capt. William Wordin.

THE FIRST MEETING

The first meeting of the inhabitants of the newly incorporated Village of Newfield was held in the brick schoolhouse on the Fairfield Road, which stood on the present site of 200-2 State Street. The official record states the business of this meeting as follows:

"At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Village of Newfield, incorporated for the purpose of instituting and regulating a fire company, and for preserving said village from fire, held at the schoolhouse in said village on the last Tuesday in June, A. D. 1708.

"Voted, That Josiah Lacy be chairman of this meeting.

"Voted, That Joseph Backus be Clerk of this meeting.

"Voted, That Lambert Lockwood, John S. Cannon, Amos Hubbell and Joseph Backus be a committee to digest and compose a body of by-laws for this corporation and report the same to this meeting for their approbation.

"Voted, That this meeting be adjourned to the 0th day of July next at 6 o'clock P. M."

This meeting was again postponed to the 23rd of the same month, when tile ordinance was presented and adopted by an affirmative vote. This ordinance was largely a copy of that held by other cities in regard to the regulation of the "bucket brigade," and was very lengthy in character. It provided for a clerk to be elected annually, for three fire wardens, a treasurer, and also for a foreman, engineer and sergeant of the fire company. All of the officers were chosen for the term of one year. All the dwellings and stores in the community were to be divided into three classes, each house in the first class to be provided with "three good leather buckets," those in the second with two, and those in the third with one. The wardens were empowered to make the classifications. Drills in passing water along the line from well to engine were held at stated intervals. This bucket brigade continued in existence for several years after Bridgeport was made a city, in the latter years becoming more of a tradition than a fact. The year 1840 is officially given as the date of its final appearance.

FURTHER FACTS ON EARLY HIGHWAYS

Prior to the year 1800 all the highways in the Town of Stratford, of which the Village of Newfield was a small part, were under the control of the selectmen of that town. The first road laid, except Golden Hill Lane, was Water Street, between Wall Street to about Gilbert Street. About 1750 the Stratford authorities laid out a highway from some northerly point, possibly Berkshire, along the west shore of the Pequonnock River and under the bank southerly to Welles Tongue. This road, owing to its winding course in following the river bank and other discrepancies, never became popular and it has all disappeared before the march of improvements. In fact, it is conceivable that only that part immediately fronting the settlements at Newfield was ever used.

This layout was apparently made to give the inhabitants a right-of-way along the river bank as against the right of private ownership and without disturbing the riparian rights which appertained to the adjoining property. It was sufficiently explicit, as at that time all below Berkshire and east of the Line Road, or Park Avenue, was a wilderness of rocky hills, alder swamps and creeks. This road being under the river bank, it was compelled to follow its shores, and as these were indented with coves and creeks, it became very inconvenient for highway purposes. However, in this section there was a gap of private ownership between Bank and State streets, and which was not obliterated until 1802, when Josiah Lacy deeded the same to the Borough of Bridgeport for a public highway forever. This private ownership evidently accrued from the fact that a creek originally extended from the river at Bank Street to a point some distance west of Water Street. It probably crossed State Street east of the old post-office building. By the original layout the highway had to follow the creek to the first point where it could be crossed and then to follow its southern shore back to the river.

On February 13, 1775, N. Wheeler, Joseph Curtis and Zach. Coe, selectmen of the Town of Stratford, laid out a highway, three rods wide, from the low water mark on Pequonnock River to the Line Road. Soon afterward another road was laid out from Golden Hill Lane south to the Fairfield Road, or State Street, and was then known as the Newtown Road, and later as Main Street. Both of these highways were improved in 1787. It was the opening of these two roads which probably brought into existence Bank Street. It was far more convenient to continue the travelled way through to the Newtown Road and thence down State Street to Water than to follow the old highway with its many turns. The latter was not abandoned below the lower portion of Water Street proper. The right of way under the bank of the road and along the beach continued to be used, and it followed the shores of the creeks as well as the upper harbor. It curved around Baker's Pond, so-called, where South Avenue was afterward located, extending westward to Broad Street. This latter street was laid out previous to 1800, the definite date not being available. It had its northern terminus at the Fairfield Road and the southern one at the outer harbor. The layout of this road opened a direct route to Welles Tongue and practically "drove out of business" the road along the water front. Wall Street was used as a public highway, although it had never been laid out by town authority, but was laid out as a public highway by the Borough. This constitutes all the highway history of the Village of New field, which leads directly to the story of Bridgeport when it became a borough.