PATENT OF WESTENHOOK.

5

on both sides of the river; in Sheffield bounding east on the river and running west on to Mount Washington; to the north of Sheffield including four miles east of the river and stretching westward to Rensselaerwyck and Kinderhook. Its northern boundary, as described, the rift called Pack-wack-e (Pack-a-wack-ne-where a stream runs between high rocks) is evidently the fall at Glendale, or the limestone gorge just above, and the intermediate fall "Sasigtonack" (Sah-seeg-ton-ock, -water splashing over rocks,) we have no doubt is the fall at the north end of Great Barrington village. But the fall at Glendale was not, in fact, the northern limit of Westenhook, nor was it so understood by the proprietors.

In one of the deeds on which the patent was founded, Sank-hank, Cag-kan-is-seek, and Walleeg-na-week --for the value of sixty beaver skins-conveyed-September 3d, 1704-to Peter Schuyler, John Johnson Bleeker, and John Abeel, land on "a certain creek called Westenhook, beginning from a fall or rift in the said creek, by the Indians called Sasig-tan-ock, and so runs up northerly on both sides of the said creek to another rift on the said creek, called by the Indians Pack-was-che, (Pack-wack-e) from thence up along said creek on both sides until you come to ye places by the Indians called Squog-kan-e-kan-eek and Kapakagh, into ye woods eastward ye whole length of ye land bounds, four English miles deep, and westward by ye bounds of Kinderhook, and ye Colony of Renselaerwyck, containing ye same breadth to the said places called Squogkan-e-kan-eek and Kap-a-kagh." Westenhook, as we believe, extended a very considerable distance north of Glendale.

In 1774, a plan of subdivisions of part of the Westenhook patent was recorded in the office of the Secretary of State at Albany-(Land Papers, Vol. 34, page 75) from which it appears that the patent was then claimed to extend as far north as the North Mountain, -west of Lanesboro. As further evidence of the extent of this patent we cite the letter of Lieut. Gov. DeLancey to Gov. Shirley, February 17, 1755, relative to the disputed boundary between New York and Massa

chusetts, in which the writer states that the proposed temporary line "the west side of Housatanik River to 100 yards west of Fort Massachusetts "leaves to Massachusetts one-third of Westenhook Patent." Whatever its northern boundary; it is evident that this patent covered a very large part of the towns of Sheffield, Great Barrington, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, Mount Washington, Egremont, and Alford, and that the purchase made from the Indians, in 1724, by the Committee for settling the Housatonic townships, was -with the exception of that part of Sheffield lying east of the river-almost entirely within the bounds of Westenhook Patent. By the terms of the grant, the patentees were required--if the same had not already been done to clear and make improvements upon some part of the lands granted, within the space of six years, and also to pay an annual rent of seven pounds ten shillings, New York currency, to the collector of customs in New York.

We have no evidence that the Westenhook proprietors had made any improvements in the Housatonic valley previous to its occupancy by Massachusetts settlers; but an explanation of the troubles which arose between the earliest settlers of the Housatonic townships and the Dutch claimants from the State of New York, is found in the clashing of titles of those holding lands under Massachusetts grants on the one part and under the State of New York or the Westenhook patentees on the other.

These troubles, which were rife in 1726-7, and which were of serious importance at the time, are only briefly mentioned, but not explained, in the records of the committee which had charge of the settlements in Sheffield and Great Barrington. We know that the proprietors of Westenhook made grevious complaint, in 1726, of the occupancy of their lands by Massachusetts men, and that in one instance at least, one of the early settlers was arrested, and incarcerated at Albany as a trespasser upon Westenhook lands. The Letters Patent of this tract called Westenhook, granted under the seal of the Province of New York by our Right Trusty and well beloved Cousin Edward Viscount

66

PATENT OF WESTENHOOK,

7

Cornbury, Captain Gen'll and Governour in Chief in and over our said Province of New York and Territoryes Depending thereon in America and Vice Admirall of the same, &c.," are recorded in the office of the Secretary of State, at Albany, in Book No. 7 of patents, page 290. For the discovery of the record of this Patent we are indebted to the Rev. George Mure Smith, formerly pastor of the Congregational church at Lenox, now of Edinburgh, Scotland.

This tract of country, wild, forbidding, and destitute of roads other than the Indian trail, though it lay in the direct route,-via Springfield, Westfield and Kinderhook,-between Boston and Albany, and was occasionally traversed by bodies of soldiery in the early wars and by other parties on public business, was better known to the neighboring New York border, whose traders were accustomed to visit it for the purpose of traffic with the Indians, than to the more remote inhabitants of Massachusetts. That such traffic was carried on with the Indians by Dutch traders seems to be well authenticated,; and it is asserted that some Dutchmen were domiciled amongst the Indians when the settlers from Westfield established themselves here; but we have found no evidence confirming this statement.

CHAPTER II.

TALCOT'S FIGHT. THE HOUSATONIC RIVER-DERIVATION OF ITS NAME.

Talcot's fight with the Indians is, we believe, the earliest occurrence connecting this section of country with history. In August 1676 in the closing events of King Phillip's war, Maj. John Talcot, with a body of Connecticut soldiers, and Indians pursued a party of fugitive Indians into this region, and overtaking them on the banks of the Housatonic inflicted severe chastisement upon them.

The following narrative of this affair is transcribed from Hoyt's Antiquarian Researches. Major Talcot had taken post at Westfield: "Not long after his arrival at that place, the trail of about two hundred Indians, was discovered in the vicinity, shaping towards the Hudson. Talcot immediately took the trail, and pressed on to overtake the Indians, and on the third day discovered them encamped on the west bank of Housatonic river, in the most perfect security. Being late in the day, he resolved to postpone an attack, until next morning, and drawing back, lay upon his arms in the most profound silence. Towards the dawn of day, forming his troops into two divisions, one to pass the river below the Indians, make a detour, and attack them in their rear, while the other was to approach by a direct route opposite to their camp, and open a fire across the river the moment the attack commenced on the opposite side. The plan was partially frustrated. One of the Indians left the camp in the night, and proceeded down the river for the purpose of taking fish, and as the troops who had crossed the river, as had been ordered, were advancing to the attack, he discovered them and gave the usual cry, Awanux, Awanux! on which he was instantly shot. Talcot, now opposite

to the Indian camp, hearing the report, instantly poured in a volley, as the Indians were rising from their slumbers. A complete panic ensued, and they fled in confusion into the woods, followed by Talcot, and most who escaped the first fire made good their retreat. The division below was too far distant to share in the victory. Twenty-five Indians were left on the ground, and twenty were made prisoners, and among the former was the Sachem of Quaboag. Talcot lost but one, and he a Mohegan." This account was published in 1824, and a foot note to the foregoing says "this affair took place in the upper part of Sheffield, in Massachusetts, and the spot is still known to the inhabitants."

Hubbard in his narrative of Indian wars-written soon after the occurrence,-locates this fight on the "Ausotunnoog river in the middle way betwixt Westfield and the Dutch river and Fort Albany." Mr. Hubbard says a great party of Indians, judged to be about two hundred, were observed to pass by Westfield, "News thereof being brought to Major Talcot, he with the Soldiers of Connecticut Colony under his command, both English and Indians, pursued after them as far as Ausotunnoog River, (in the middle way betwixt Westfield and the Dutch River and Fort Albany,) where he overtook them, and fought with them; killing and taking prisoners forty five, whereof twenty-five were fighting men, without the loss of any one of his company, besides a Mohegin Indian. Many of the rest were sorely wounded, as appeared by the dabling of the bushes. with blood, as was observed by them that followed them a little furthur." * "It is written since from Albany that there were sundry lost besides the forty-five forementioned, to the number of three-score in all; and also that a hundred and twenty of them are now dead of sickness." Mr. Field, in Berkshire History, mentions an opinion that it occurred in Stockbridge, and cites the fact that Indian bones were found there, in preparing ground for the foundation of a meeting house in 1784, but this cannot be considered good evidence, as similar Indian remains are quite comRev. Joseph W. Crossman, in a New Year's discourse at Salisbury, Conn., in 1803, mentions a similar

mon.