Town Acts "Documentary History of Suffield, by Sheldon, 1879"

OF SUFFIELD.

*HIGHWAY BY GOODM RISINGS.

March ye 21st 1710, We whose names are underwritten laid out a highway over Stony Brook at the lower end of High Street, which was granted by the Town March the 7th, 1698-9, and entred in the 109th page of this Book, which highway was laid out by David Winchell Land Measurer, recorded in the 15d Page of this book: (see p. 136) and again laid out by us, but not in the same manner as he laid it out; But in manner as followeth: Viz: Wee began on the west side of the brook, over against where the way comes to the brook on the other side, on the South side of this way by the brook is a great stubb of a tree; which tree was the west bounds of John Risings land, & the north bounds of Serj Tho Huxleys land, two rod norward of this stubb is a stake and stones which is the bredth of said highway: from thence we run westward to a walnut tree which is on the South side, and is a north bound of said Huxley's land, where we marked a walnut bush with stones at the root of it. From thence we run westward about 20 Rods to stake and stones on both sides of the way: From thence it runs upon a strate line to the Country Road, or Road leading to Windsor, where it, is bounded on both sides of the way with stake & stones; the stake on the south side of the way. standeth about two feet from the norwest corner of Jarret Huxley's House. (Old Book, p. 169.)

Select Men
JOHN HANCHET.
JONATH TAYLOR
JOSEPH WINCHELL.
JOHN BURBANK.
JOHN AUSTIN.

HIGHWAY FROM IRELAND PLAIN, NORWARD TO BURLESON'S
BROOK.

March ye 31st 1710, Laid out a highway front ye West end of Ireland Plain Norwardly, turning out of the new road that leads out to the mountains; it parts from said road, against the North East Corner of Quinton Stockwell's ¥ Land wherestands a stake, a bounder thereof on the West side. It is eight Rods in breadth to ¥¥ Freegrace Nortons land, and then it takes its whole breadth in full namely eight Rods out of the West end of said Norton's Land, from the north of which it runs to a red oak tree markt on the four sides, which oak stands on the East side of the highway--thence turns and runs a strait course through Edward Smiths second division Land, to the Northeast corner of said Smiths first grant Land: Leaving said corner on the left hand--Thence it runs with a strait course through land now in possession of Edward Smith Junr, and
_________

*Here was a ford, before 1660, on the "Way" between Springfield and Windsor. No bridge was, ever built here. Here was the first fulling mill and clothier's works," (perhaps the first in Connecticut), in 1710, and in operation for more than a century. Also a cotton yarn mill, one of the first in New England. It, is yet an open highway, and the town's oldest landmark. Few of the " Town Folks " ever enter its portals. In summer the grass is green in its ancient roadbed, and what was a main thoroughfare two centuries ago, is now a solitary way, whose silence is seldom broken, except by the scream of the passing engine whistle. (See p. 8).
¥ This Land embraced all west from Collins B. Griffin's Land to the W. Suffield Hotel corner, and was 80 rods long, 40 rods wide and contained 20 acres.
¥¥ This " Norton Land " has been a part of the homestead of the writer since 1843.

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