The history of Waterbury, Connecticut - citizen hylbom blog

102 HISTORY OF WATEKBUKY.
ada, N^ew Brunswick and N^ova Scotia, and tlie eastern and
northern parts of Maine, were under the influence and control
of the French, Marauding parties of Indians, or French and
Indians, made^requent hostile expeditions to the infant settle-
ments of New England, destroying the crops, driving off the
cattle, firing dwellings, and massacreing the inhabitants, or
carrying them into captivity. The colonies, particularly the
weaker ones, were kept in a state of perpetual alarm. During
this whole period, Waterbury was a frontier town and much
exposed from the small number of its people, the want of fortified
places and its distance from efiectual succor. It was
not till 1720 that Litchfield w'as settled on the north, aflording
protection in that direction. With Woodbury and Derby on
the west and south, our fathers had little intercourse for many
years.
By an act of the colonial government, the people of Water-
bury, during much of the time of which I have been speak-
ing, were required to keep two men employed as scouts " to
discover the designs of the enemy, and to give intelligence
should they make their appearance." They performed this
duty in rotation. Elevated places which overlooked the vil-
lage and the meadows where the men labored during the
day were selected, w^here the sentinels were placed. Newel's
Hill, east of Willard Spencer's, was one of these places, and the'
high ground back of the house occupied by the late Daniel
Hayden {David Hayden on the map) was another. Tlie re-
cords show the preparations which were made from time to
time for defense :
—
April 9">, 1*700. The town voted [in consequence of apprehended trouble
from the Indians] to fortify Ens. Stanley's house and if it should proue troublesome
times and y« town see they have need, two more should they be able.
Att ye same meeting ye town agreed by uoate for y« building y* fort about
ensign Standly's hous that the town go abought it forthwith, al men and boys
and teams y* are able to worck and to begin to morrow, and he y' shall neglect
to go on with the worck till it be dun shall forthwith pay to the aduantage of y»
worck 2s 6d for a man and 6s for a team a day.
Aprill: IS*"", 1703 y* town desired y^ towns men to prouid a town stock of ami-
nition according to law as soon as they can conueniently and if need be to caus a
rate to be mad for to purchis s^ stock.
[At the next meeting in Oct.] the town mad choys of Left Timothy Standly for
to keep ye town stock of ammonition: for ye town. [Each town was required by