The Settlement of Fairfield, Connecticut

Transcription

1 The Settlement of Fairfield, Connecticut Roger Ludlow founded the settlement of Uncoway, which later grew into the town of Fairfield in Connecticut. He was born in England into an affluent and influential family. In 1630, at forty years of age, he sailed to the New Ludlow s signature. World as part of the Massachusetts Bay Company. He lived in Massachusetts until 1635 when the Pequot Native Americans invited him to settle in Connecticut. The Pequot tribe was having problems with the Narragansett tribe, who were allied with Dutch colonists. They wanted the English settlers in Massachusetts to come to Connecticut to help them. The Pequots offered the English whatever land they wanted in exchange for a trade agreement and help in establishing peace with the Narragansetts. Roger Ludlow and the other leaders recognized this excellent opportunity and signed an agreement with the Pequots. However, when Ludlow wanted to move to Connecticut, a problem came up. Other leaders thought it was too early to establish another settlement, but Ludlow was determined and decided to leave anyway. He helped to start the settlement of Windsor, Connecticut. Roger Ludlow first saw Uncoway (from the Indian word meaning place beyond and Fairfield s original name) during the Pequot Wars. In May, the English settlers attacked a Pequot encampment after they discovered a settler had been murdered. The Pequots were startled and upset because the English hurt women and children, too. As the Pequots fled their villages near present-day Mystic, a large force of men (including Ludlow) from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and some Mohegan tribesmen followed them. The Pequots sought refuge in the territory of the Sasqua Indians (present-day Colonial Fairfield Connecticut Page 1

2 Southport). In the Great Swamp Fight, Roger Ludlow and the other men were successful in overtaking the Pequots and many were killed or taken prisoner. As Ludlow looked over the land of Uncoway, he was greatly pleased. He realized that it was not just beautiful, but had many advantages for those who would be the first settlers. There were acres and acres of land already Signatures from the purchase of land from the Sasqua tribes. cleared by the Native Americans. This would save the colonists a great deal of time, allowing them to start farming right away. The area also contained an abundance of natural hay marshes, both salt water and fresh water, which were necessary for the livestock. Another benefit of Uncoway was its location near navigable bodies of water like Long Island Sound, which provided access to the Atlantic Ocean, harbors (Ship Harbor, now known as Black Rock and Mill River Harbor, now known as Southport), and rivers (Mill River, Rooster River/Ash Creek, and Sasco Creek). Also, Uncoway contained forests of Oak and Chestnut trees, both of which were resistant to insects and moisture as well as being important to settlers for A farmer in his field. building their homes and buildings. They were also useful as a cash crop when sold to Europe and the West Indies. Many footpaths already in existence would help early settlers find their way to these resources. There was also good soil for growing foodstuffs and grain for the animals. Uncoway s location provided it a relatively long growing season (about 190 days). Finally, the Native Colonial Fairfield Connecticut Page 2

3 people, primarily the Pequonnacks, were relatively small in number and quite friendly and helpful. Roger Ludlow himself was a welleducated, ambitious man with a strong vision of how he wanted Uncoway to develop. He purchased the land from the Pequonnock tribe in 1639 and with Thomas Staples, Thomas Newton, Edward Jessup, and Edmund Strickland, and perhaps 3 or 4 other The original four squares. families, began the settlement. They set up roads (Boston Post Road, Old Post Road, Beach Road, and South Benson Road today) which created the original 4 squares of Fairfield. Each of these squares was approximately 25 to 30 acres. As with all early settlements, life was difficult for those first families. Many people lived in cellars which were square pits six to eight feet deep, crudely lined with rushes or other vegetation and covered with some sort of improvised roof. First crops included corn, squash and beans. They raised beef and pork and caught fish in Long Island Sound. Clothing, household items, and material possessions were all hard to come by. Roger Ludlow was the leader of the community and its voice of authority. In January of 1640, Uncoway Colonial Fairfield Connecticut Page 3

4 was awarded its official confirmation by the General Court of Connecticut and thus became Connecticut s fourth town. The population grew at a steady and slow pace until 1644, when approximately 20 new families arrived from Concord, Massachusetts and settled in Uncoway. By 1650 the name Uncoway had been replaced by the name Fairfield. No one is certain how the name was changed, but there are several possibilities. Perhaps the name Fairfield reflected the advantages the town offered, such as cleared land, an abundance of hay and lots of trees. Another reason is that it may be a variation of far field after the Uncoway name place beyond. Fairfield may also have been named after a hamlet in England called Fairfield for its beautiful fields. Whatever the reason for its name, Fairfield, under the guidance of Roger Ludlow and others, continued to grow and prosper. The Settlement of Fairfield Vocabulary Word Bank Abundance a very large quantity of something Affluent - having a great deal of money; wealthy Ambitious having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed Approximately close to actual number, but not exactly accurate or exact Cash Crop - A crop that is not used by the farmer, but is grown only to sell for a profit. Cellars early makeshift homes of the settlers. Foodstuffs a substance suitable for consumption as food Hamlet a small settlement, usually one smaller than a village Livestock farm animals regarded as an asset Improvised to create or perform something spontaneously without preparation Influential having great influence over someone or something Resistant offering resistance to someone or something Navigable able to be sailed on by ships or boats Uncoway Fairfield s original Native American name which means, place beyond. Variation a different or distinct version or form of something Colonial Fairfield Connecticut Page 4

5 Some Words Spoken by the First Colonists in America a-home: at home anight: at night angling: fishing besmirched: soiled or dirty blockish: stupid, inept broider: to sew, embroider changeling: child (often wicked) comfits: sweets, treats fortnight: two weeks holla: hello hose: stockings Huzzah!: Hurray! Whoo-hoo! launder: to wash maize: corn mayhap: perhaps morrow: morning my lord and lady: my father and mother napkins: handkerchiefs noisome: filthy, unrefined passing fair: fine, just right ply the pipkin: use a cooking pot; "cooked" Poor John: salted cod popinjays: chatterers (popinjays are birds that make a lot of noise) prithee: will you please (it's a contraction of "I pray thee") saith: said scrap and tittle: bits and pieces, odds and ends supped: ate too too: very, very travailing: working or struggling verily: truly viands: food wherefore: why Source: Colonial Boy s Names Abel Benjamin Caleb Ebenezer Daniel David Edward Enos George James Jedediah Jesse John Jonathan Joseph Joshua Matthew Michael Samuel Solomon Thaddeus Thomas Timothy William Colonial Girl s Names Abigail Betsy Catherine Deborah Ellen Elizabeth Eliza Esther Eunice Jane Lucy Lydia Margaret Martha Mary Mercy Molly Phyllis Rachel Sarah Sybil Colonial Fairfield Connecticut Page 5