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The History of Norwich, Connecticut

 

 

 

The standard reference on the history of Norwich, Connecticut is Frances Manwaring Caulkins’ History of Norwich Connecticut From Its Possession By the Indians, To the Year 1866 (1660-1866), published in 1874.  It can be found at most genealogical libraries, and is also available electronically from Digital Editions <http://www.digital-editions.com/NORWICH.htm> and on microfiche from Ancestor Spy  <http://www.ancestorspy.com/ct/fiche/0619.htm>.  An online version of the book (incomplete) can be found at Google Books.

 

For reference and links on the various surnames and families of Norwich, please see the Norwich Families page of this website.

 


 

The deed for the town of Norwich (originally “Mohegan”):

 

Know all men that Onkos, Owaneco, Attawanhood, Sachems of Mohegan have Bargained, sold, and passed over, and doe by these presents sell and pass over unto the towne and Inhabitants of Norwich nine miles square of land lying and being at Mohegan and the parts thereunto adjoyneing, with all ponds, rivers. woods, quarries, mines, with all royalties, privileges, and appurtenaces thereunto belonging, to them the said inhabitiants of Norwich, theire heirs and successors forever--from thence the line run nor north east nine miles, and on the East side the afores’d river to the southward the line is to joyne with New London bounds as it is now laid out and soe to run east two miles from the foresd river, nor norwest nine miles to meet with the western line.

 

In consideration whereof the sd Onbkos, Owanexo and Attawanhood doe acknowledge to have received of the parties aforesd the full and juste sum of seventy pounds and doe promise and engage ourselves, heirs and successors, to warrant the sd bargain and sale to the aforesd parties, their heirs and successors, and them to defend from all claimes and molestations from any whatsoever.

 

In witness whereof we have hereunto set out to our hands this 6th of June, Anno 1659.

 

Unkos

Owaneco

Attawanhood

Witness hereunto, John Mason, Thomas Tracy

 

 


 

The thirty-five original proprietors of Norwich, Connecticut:

 

 

Thomas Adgate

 

Robert Allyn

 

Stephen Backus

 

Lieut.William Backus

 

John Baldwin

 

Thomas Bingham

 

John Birchard

 

Morgan Bowers

 

Thomas Bliss

 

John Bradford

 

Hugh Calkins

 

John Calkins

 

Richard Edgerton

 

John Elderkin

 

Rev. James Fitch

 

John Gager

 

Stephen Griswold

 

Francis Griswold

 

Thomas Howard

 

Christopher Huntington

 

Simon Huntington

 

Samuel Hyde

 

William Hyde

 

Lieut. Thomas Leffingwell

 

Maj. John Mason

 

Dr. John Olmstead

 

John Pease

 

John Post

 

Josiah Read

 

John Reynolds

 

Jonathan Royce

 

Nehemiah Smith

 

John Tracy

 

Lieut. Thomas Tracy

 

Ens. Thomas Waterman

 

 

 


 

The Patent of the Town of Norwich:

 

Whereas the General Court of Connecticut have forever granted unto the proprietors and Inhabitants of the Towne of Norwich all those lands, both meadows and uplands within these abuttments (viz.) from the mouth of Tradeingcove Brooke the line to run as the Brooke to the head of the Brooke to a white oake marked N: and from thence west nortwesterly to a great pond to a black oake marked N: wich stands neere the mouth of the great Brooke that runs out of the pond to Norwich river, which is about seven miles from the said Tradeing Cove; and from thence the line runns North noreast nine miles to a Black oake standing by the river side on the south of it, a little above maumeagway, and from thence the line runs south southeasterly nine miles to a white oake standing by a brooke marked N: and then the line runs south southwesterly nine miles to a white oake neere Robert Allyn & Thomas Rose's Dwelling houses, which tree is marked N: and from thence westerly as New London Bounds runs to Mohegen river, the whole being nine miles square, the said land haveing been by purchase or otherwise lawfully obtayned of the Indian natives proprietors. -- And whereas, the said Inhabitants and proprietors of the sd Norwich in the Colony of Connecticutt have made application to the Governor and Company of the sd Colony of Conecticutt assembled in Court May 2th, 1685, that they may have a patent for the confirmation of the aforesd land, so purchased and granted to them as aforesaid, and which they have stood seized, and quietly possesd of for many years late past without interuption. Now for a more full confirmation of the aforesd unto the present proprietors of the sd Towneship of Norwich in their possession and injoyment of the premises, know yea that the sd Governour and Company assembled in Generall Court according to the Commission Granted to them by his magestie's charter, have given and granted and by these presents doe give, grant Rattifie and confirme unto Mr. James Fitch senr, Capt. James Fitch, Mr. Benjamine Brewster, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Lieut. Tho. Leffingwell, Mr. Christopher Huntington, Mr. Simon Huntington, Ensign Wm. Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John Burchard and Mr. John Post, and the rest of the said present proprietors of the township of Norwich, their heirs, suckcessors and assigns forever; the aforesaid parcell of land as it is Butted and Bounded toghether will all the woods, meadows, pastures, ponds, waters, rivers, islands, fishings, huntings, fowleings, mines, mineralls, quarries, and precious stones, upon or within the said tract of land, and all other proffitts and comodities therunto belonging, or in any wayes appertaining; and Doe also grant unto the aforesaid Mr. James Fitch senr, Capt. James Fitch Mr. Benjamine Brewster, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Lieut. Tho. Leffingwell, Mr. Christopher Huntington, Mr. Simon Huntington, Ensign Wm. Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John Burchard and Mr. John Post, and the rest of the proprietors, Inhabitants of Norwich, their heirs, successors and assigns forever, that the foresd tract of land shall be forever hereafter deemed, reputed and be an intire towneship of itself -- to have and to hold the said tract of land and premises with all and singuler their appurtenances, together with the priviledges and immunities and franchises herein given and granted unto the sayd Mr. James Fitch senr, Capt. James Fitch, Mr. Benjamine Brewster, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Lieut. Tho. Leffingwell, Mr. Christopher Huntington, Mr. Simon Huntington, Ensign Wm. Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John Burchard and Mr. John Post, and other the present proprietors, Inhabitants of Norwich, theire heirs successors, and assignes for ever, and to the only proper use and behoofe of the sayd Mr. James Fitch senr, Capt. James Fitch, Mr. Benjamine Brewster, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Lieut. Tho. Leffingwell, Mr. Christopher Huntington, Mr. Simon Huntington, Ensign Wm. Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John Burchard and Mr. John Post, and other proprietors, inhabitants of Norwich, their heirs, successors, and assigns for ever according to the Tenor of East Greenwich in Kent, in free and common soccage and not in capitto, nor are they capable according to the custom of the country, yielding, rendering and paieing therefore our sovereign Lord the king, his heires and successors, his dues according to Charter. In witness whereof, we have caused the Seale of the Colony to be hereunto affixed this twenty-first of May, 1685, in the year of the reigne of our sovereign lord James the Second, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the faith.

 

Robert Treat, Governor.

 

{SEAL} March 30th, 1687, pr order of the Govr & Compony of the Colony of Connecticut.

 

Signed pr John Allyn, Secrety.

 

Entered in the pub. records, Lib. D: fo. 138, 139, Novr 27th, 1685 pr John Allyn, Secrety.