Morning journal and courier., 1888-04-24
OUR FoREFArHERs.
A Brief Sketch of New Haven,s Histo
 Appropriate For Founders, Dl

Tfmes-Facts About Our Forefathers.
 A widespread interest in the celebration of our 250th anniversary has been awakened not only here, but elsewhere. There being but few places in our country that can boast of greater antiquity than New Haven, gen. eral attention has been turned to the oeca- sion we observe next Wednesday. In order that our readers may have in mind some of the essential and important facts in our early history, we thought it best to present an 'epitomized story of our beginnings.
 New Haven was the direct outgrowth of a
 little meeting held in St. Stephens parish,
 Coleman street, London, October 6, 1894.
 On that day Rev. John Davenport, together
 with his truety friend Theophilus Eaton and
 several other sturdy followers, conceived the
 idea of seeking new home in new eoun-
 try, where they could thlnk and worship
 free from the bigotry and oppression of the
 established church. Naturally such notions
 were distasteful to the authorities, and they be-
 gan series of prosecutions, resulting first in
 8 departure to Holland and finally to Amer
 ica. So this respected and honored divine,
 whose memory each citizen honors and cher
 ishes, with his companions, made of just
 such stuff as Q new nation needs for it's
 pioneers, arrived in Boston on the 26th of
 July, 1887. In the fall of that year, notwith-
 standing the fattering inducements made
 by the infant Hub for them to remain there
 and enjoy the beans, culture and fishballs of
 a trip to Connecticut to explore the coun-
 try and select new site. Qninnipiac was
 reached, and pleased with it's fine harbor,
 surrounded by an amphitheater of rocky
 hills, they located. During that fall and
 winter they lived in small huts made in the
 bank of the creek, now filed in, near the
 corner of George and Church streets.
 In the following spring, on the 10th of
 April, the whole party set sail from
 Boston, arriving at the site of the new city
 Saturday evening, April 24th, 1888. The
 first thing Sunday morning the good parson called his people together under large tree which stood near the corner of College and George streets. Here was held the hrst ser,
 vice in our city, and it is an interesting fact to note that within fifty feet of this old tree stood the house in which that great preacher and father of preachers, Lyman Beecher,
 was born. The old white house is still stand ing and worth visit. But 8 short time be- fore the death of Henry Ward Beecher he and wife paid the spot visit; but time had made so many changes they were unable to verify their childhood remembrances only as to the interior of the home.
 Soon after their arrival the settlers began to build houses and in the latter part of 1888 mostsof them had homes. AS they were comparatively wealthy they built on large scale, tradition telling of some so spacious to as require from ten to twenty ire-places. Many of them were men of influence and made for themselves regulations which still live. One was the first master of Harvard; |; a second the founder of our grammar schools; another the father of Elihu Yale; Michael
 Wigglesworth, the first representative of American literature.
 kI,, l.
 under provisional government, each work
 ing fer the public good as we'll as private
 welfare. But during 1889 council was
 held and government adopted, one clause in
 the constitution of which read that ''no man
 shall be an elector who is not regular com-
 municant in some regular church." A treaty
 was made with the Indians, whereby for a
 few trinkets the whole region now
 included in East Haven, Woodbridge, Chesh-
 ire, Hamden, North Haven, Branford, Wal
 lingford and our own city was deeded to the settlers. By this treaty the Indians were to keep out of town. But on the day following it's ratification a straggier was caught in town. He was given a trial, which lasted for three days, thereupon convicted, his head cut off and hung on pole in the Green as an object lesson for his compan- ions.
 Previous to this time the city had been laid out @ half mile square, bounded by
 Grove, State, George and York streets. This
 plot was sub-divided, with nine squares, the
 center one being reserved for a market
 place and public ground. This is our pres ent Green.
 THE FIRST MEETING HOUSE
 Was begun in 1889. It was a wooden build ing fifty feet square, with door at each side The roof was pyramidal shape, upon whict was tower so arranged that a sentinel could be stationed there to watch lest the Indians disturb the services. The city militia were given seats near the door to be in readiness in case of an attack, while four of the sil pieces of heavy artillery owned by the city were stationed one on each side of the build l ing. At an early hour Sunday morning thes' pious people, at the call of the town drum mer, ventured out to church under arms. Int I Puritanic methods of these folks seem rather strange. As late as 1S19 they allowed ns stoves to be placed in the church. So up tt this time the gentlemen carried little "foo stovesn for the ladies'. Then during an inter \ mission in the long sermon all adjourned tt | the Sabbath houses," where they partool of lunch of bread, cheese and cider anG warmed themselves. After this they return ed to the church to shiver and hear the con. elusion and benediction. It would be rathe novel sight to see the gentlemen of the pres ent Center church carrying along Tith then 0 bucket of hot coals for their ladies to use as their forefathers did. The second ehurcl was built in 1868 on the lower half of thu Green; and third one in 1757 in front O Center church.
 The Green was used as a cemetery iron | 1888 to 1796. It was surrounded with high board fence, painted red. Here wer placed the remains of the men distinguished in church and State, ornaments to the strug gling colony, and whom now the natiol honors. The funerals were conducted in peculiar manner, it being thought necessar, ' to refresh the pallbearers, both before ana after their work, with little wine or spirits to calm their nerves, we suppose.
 GoFTE AND wHkLLRY AND ORWELL.
 .The story of the three regicide judges wht came to New Haven in 1861, after the deatl \ of Oliver Cromwell and the ascension O | Charles II. to the throne of England, is a ia ! miliar one. The interesting adventures hav' | beenItold and retold. Their concealment it cit \ izens' cellars, at Judges Cave and other place | in this vicinity was the cause of much anx \ iety to the British officers. A vast numbel of traditional anecdotes and stories concern \ ing them are in circulation. The exact place of their burial is not known. One story probably true, is that General Gofe wal buried in New Haven and that the ston, \ marked "W. G.,n back of Center church marks the spot where lie his remains. Gen. eral Whalley died at Hadley, Mass, and wRi ! probably buried in the cellar of Rev. MT hu6eell6 house, Wuefe no WAS III nlO1uB IOl a number of years. Colonel Dixwell died 1T ! New Haven, and itis very likely that the re maine of all three regicides lie near the mon ument in the rear of Center church.
 During the revolutionary period New Ha- ven was occupied by the British about twenty-four hours. They landed at Savir Rock July 5, 1779, and sent . detachment tc seize the town. After few skirmishee they succeeded. But during that night ar alarm was sent out and the country militis poured into the city. Next morning they attacked the red coats, who made nasty retreat to their ships. These times brought many brave men from our little city to ths front, among whom were General Wooster, Admiral Foote, Adjutant Campbell and oth. CTS.
 BENEDICT ARNOLD
 Was also citizen of ours. His home at the time of his detestable actions is now stand. ing on Water street, near the corner of Ol- i've. Here he lived for many years. His neighbors always disliked him, and were cool and uncordial toward him.
 Mr Haraca nav said fo q H0TTRTER m AT