The history of Waterbury, Connecticut - citizen hylbom blog

6 IIISTOKY OF WATERBUEY.
The meadow & plowing land above written a considerable part of it lyeth in two
peices near ye town plot, y« rest in smaller parcels, y« farthest of which we
iudge not aboue fower miles from y® towne plot ; and our apprehensions are that
it may accommodate thirty familyes
Thomas Bull
NicHo: Olmstkad
Robert webster
The " two jjieces near y® town plot " alluded in the above
report, are probably tlie level river lands on the east side of
the river afterwards called Manhan, or Mahan, Meadow, near
which a final settlement was afterwards made, and the tract of
meadow on the west side of the river near the mouth of Steel's
Brook. The most distant piece " not above fower miles " was
most likely the tract which at a later period was called Judd's
meadow, now a part of I^augatuck. These natural meadows
were looked upon with much favor by the early settlers, and
were regarded not only as convenient but necessary to the ex-
istence of a new plantation. On them they depended for fod-
der for their " cattell " during the long and severe winters.
Artificial meadows are prepared with difliculty and require
much toil and time. They absorb capital, and appear only in
the more advanced stages of society.
The foregoing report of the committee showed the reason-
ableness of the request of the " supplicants." The petition
was granted, "and the Court appointed Major John Talcott,
Lieut. Eobert Webster, Lieut. Nicholas Olmstead, Ens. Samuel
Steel, Ensign John Wadsworth, a committee to regulate and
order the settling of a plantation at Mattatuck." This com-
mittee was composed of men of note, who bore honorable
names, well known in the history of the Colony. Their titles
attest the high consideration with which they were regarded.
Major Talcott of Hartford was one of his majesty's justices
of the peace, and assistant from 1062 to 1688, and treasurer
of the Colony for nineteen years. He was distinguished for
his gallantry and success in King Philip's war, in 1676. He
commanded a body of five hundred and fifty English and
Mohegans in several successful expeditions in that year. He
died, leaving children, July 23d, 1688. The inventory of his
estate amounted to £2,272.