New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-27
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

This Is contribution TO the study OF To-
cal antiquities, in the highest degree creditabe TO
the zeal, fidelity, and good judgment Of its in ie-
fatieable author. Devoting several years Of pa
tient research to the subject Of his inquiries he has
succeeded in gathering an extensive mass Of his
tOrical information, which he has here presented,
in a compact and luminous, as well as a very at
tractive form.
With the exception Of one or two individual at.
tempts, mostly by Dutch farmers, the town Of
Newtown, then the Indian Mespat, was FIRST set
tied by company Of cOlonists from New Eng
land, under the guidance OF Rev. Francis Doughty,
who following the pilgrims Of the Mayhower to
the bleak coasts of Massachusetts,, failed of enjoy
ing the freedom of conscience, for which he had
left bis native country, and accordingly resolved
to remove to the Dutch territory in New-Nether.
land, as the trading colony was then called. In
l642, Doughty with his associates obtained tract
Of land, at Mespat, which embraced nearly the
whole Of the present town of Newtown. The
settlement soon became prey to savage warfare
and internal strife. Mespat was laid 10 ashes by
the Indians, and Doughty, after frequent collisions
with the authorities, left the country for the
English Virginias, in 1913. Thus declined the
promising municipality of Mespat its soil again
became the abode Of wild beasts it's prospects OF
civilization disappeared the hum of industry was
confined to the borders of the sea while the in
terror remained wild unbroken wilderness.
1t was not till 1862 that another attempt was
made toplant town on this spot. The new corners
were from villages along the Connecticut shore
from the Cape Cod and Massachusetts Bay set
Elements, and to some extent, had recently arrived
from England. The hamlet was begun on the
street, where the Presbyterian Church now
stands lots were laid out on each side a group
Of cottsges of the New England fashion and
rooted with thatch sprung up the virgin soil was
broken by the pillow; and in the summer of 1862
the first harvest was gathered in Middeburg, the
name given to the settlement, after place of
some note in the Netherlands, which had been the
asylum of many of the English Puritans.
The infant to wn suffered much from the hostili-
ty Of the savsges. The use of ardent spirits was
also source offrequent troubles. In 1869, the town
court prohibited the sale of any strong drink by re-
tai, which wholesome regulation contributed to the
peace Of the settlement. Great care was taken
to preserve good morals, by excluding all danger
GUS persons from the place. No one could find
residence there, except by popular vote. In some
instances, persons were threatened to be turned
out of the town for improper conduct. "The
town court was active and rigid in the imposition
of penalties against the vioators of law and good
order, and though the punishment inflicted was
often mild, it was humbling in its effects as it
was peculiar in kind This year. 1000, Capt. Cos
laid an Indictment against ali individual for fe-
loniously taking corn from bis mill, and being con-
besides making amends to Capt. Coe, to walk
from Mr.. Doughty's house, with two rods under
each arm, and the drum beating before him, until
he comes to Mr. Jessup's house, and then he is to
have his liberty and further, to refrain walk
ing ct unreasonable hours, for time to come, be-
cause it gives cause Of suspicion Other in
stances might be cited Illustrative of the manner
in which criminal Jurisprudence was administered
in those days, one of which sitting in the
stocks on the court days. Justice dispensed so
publicly must have had salutary efIe>t upon the
offender, or at least imposed a strong restraint
upon others inclined to similar practices"
Gradually throve the New Town. after the &C
cession of the English to the jurisdiction of New
Netherand until in 1923 it pre- sented the sub,tan.
tial features of one of the primitive Puritan vii
lagos of New England.
The state Of society In tho hip at this day was
characterized by honest planness The tolls OF many
years had brought comfort and plenty, but few luXuries
Their dwellings were low more spacious and Of sub.
santa build and the days of matched roofs were pass.
ing away The furniture was such as necessity, mo-.
fancy suggested. There were beds ia aoundaucs anl
good stUre Of homespun linen aud blankets; there
durable oak tables ana chairs of the mate.
nal and enaih aod there were massive walnut ward.
robes OF which some continue until now. aud may TOR
CENTURIES to FloOr-carpets a super luy al
most II not quite unknown The table with pew
ter platteTs aud plain carthenwarc Some few could
display china aud pieces Of silver plate but they
rare. And the simplicity In manners is showa ia
that until recently very few families used table forks but
ste with their fingers Tea Just beginning 10 he
known among the more polished and wealthy The
popular dress was h0mespun hnsey. wOosey, aud the
economy Of the times appears In the fact that
coat became the worse for wear It SEPT to the tai
lOTs To be turned A black gray coat of the above
mater ial light breeches aud hose, the former made
usually of heather and fastened with huge buckles the
knee; a cspacious beaver hat and shoes orna.
mentt with brass or silver plated buckles these, in
the main, composed the usual dress suit of the more
sluelt farmer But the major part of the Inhabitants
al that day singulary plain IN attire, In manners
aud In speech yet did they manifest for each other
degree Of genuine friendship now rarely observable
For instance when had his winter store of wood
his reehboIs stood ready TO aid with their in
caIlDe homei or II he needed help la his harvesting,
it cheerfuly given, and cheerluy recprocated
when there wss occasion. And the corn.husking aud
TIE spinning froc, evinced the mel shborly feeling
Al the latter, the wives and daughters attended with
their wheels and there was merry hum of spindles
and sng Of voices ill the fax wool Of the hostess
was converted into thread.
The quaint beauty of the picture is shaded by
Al Of mama al
The existence of slavery in this town, hitherto but In
ci6entaly mentioned demands a direct notice IL
originated in the scarcity and consequent high price OF
white labor It's introduction cUeva with the plant
ing of the town. and extended not only 10 the negro but
70 the feeborn Indian brought hither from the South
None seemed 10 view wrong, and slaves were found
even IN the ministers families. But while they were
bought and sold chattel, aud though several Ia