Norwich bulletin., 1916-06-10
EARLY NORWICH IMMIGRANTS

ed by the emsgrants was named Fort Durkee.
 Against this aeantg band Of settIers the Pennamites, or Pennsylvania claimants to the valley. soon appeared in considerable force and an obstinate contest for popssession of the land followed Major Durkee was at one time carried to Philadelphia as a prisoner, but when released Nfith true 2Scrwtcn grit, returned to the site of
 After long and stormy experience the Connecticut party won out suffici- ently to keep possession of their eet- dement's.
 Wiikesbarret-e name eemp6unded from those of John VVfllues ana Col. Barre, English politicians who had es-s poused the cause of America in the days of the Stamp Act-was one of the towns founded by the Connecticut em- igrants. As John Durkee Of Norwich, had ,been 2 strenuous partisan on the side defended by 1lse English orators, besides being a leader of high au- tEority in the Connecticut party, it is probable that the town is indebted to him for it's name.
 At any rate. it Is a significant fact that one of the nephews of Durlxee who figured in the events of this per- iod had the given name of Barre.
 Major DurI<ee afterwards returned to Norwich, and the trouble with England increasing, tle gave up the idea of moving to the western wilder ness: His brother Robert remained in
 w wyoming, and was one of those who lost their lives in the fearful Indian massacre of July 8, 177S. His name I appears on the Commemorative mon ument erected in the Wyoming Valley.
 As time went on, Major Durkee was promoted to the con1Rnde of a regi- rnent, taking part in the battles of Hong Island, Harlem Heights, White Plains Trenton and Monmouth. He was also with General Sullivan in the l expedition against the Six Nations. His health gradually failed, and in 14S0, he resigned his command. He
 was succeeded by Lieut. Colonel Thomas Grosvenor, of Pomfret
 He died May 18th. 17S2, before the
 return or peace. He was only in his 54fh year.
 One of Major DurEeess sons, {
 youthful volunteer, aged IT, died 1T 1!77, of wounds received in fighting fol
 his country.
 t In this connection. it is a eignff.
 cant fact that webb,s Orderly Bool
 shows that out Of twenty recruits wht
 enlisted from Norwich in the compan1 Of Capt Nathaniel Webb, of Windhau
 (Durkee's regimentl from 1776 to TITS
 engaging to serve during the war
 only four were over twenty years o age.
 .I Another Norwich man who Wa } prominent among early enigrants wa
 Col Simeon Perkins, afterwards c Liverpool, Nova Scotia He was tn grandfather of J. Newton Perkins 0 1 Norwich. who has left a lasting me
 n1orial to his generosity and thought . fulness in the Newton Perkins medals awarded annually for excellence | various studies at Norwich Ere 5 Academy.
 ; Simeon Perkins moved from Nor 3 Wich to Nova Scotia in May, 1762, re maining thereafter a loyal subject C
 the British crown. In tEle course ( s a long life he held with honor t1l 9 various offices of justice, judge of pro bate, town clerk, chief justice of tn 5 county courts and colonel command member Of tine Provincial House (
 Representatives for nearly thirt a thirty years. The inscription on h e gravestone at Liverpqool states that h e was born in Norwich, Conn. Feb 2 u lI35, and died at liverpool, May v 1872.
 s After Eis death, tablet was frame n and suspended in the court-rool y where he had presided, containing a
 inscription of grateful tribute. ded
 eated to his memory, By the Justice THE DTCTAcRAPH.