tlement of Milford and Stratford, in 1639, he was a chief of note among the western clans, his tribe at that time being the most considerable of them, and had a strong fortress on Castle Rock, whence the name to this day. His reign was a long one, being succeeded by Aquiomp, in 1662. Although the principal seat of this tribe was at the Pootatuck Village, on the east side of the Housatonic, about two miles above Bennett's Bridge, in the present town of Southbury, yet, from some cause, he chose to be buried by a large rock, on the west side of the main street, just south of Hon. N. B. Smith's carriage house. The Indians always laid out a trail, or path, from village to village, by the graves of their chieftains. [Pomperaug's Grave.] The Indians had a very beautiful custom of honoring their dead chiefs, when laid in their last repose. As each Indian, whether he was on his hunting expeditions or the war-path, passed the grave of his honored chief, he reverently cast thereon a small stone, selected for that purpose, in token of his respect and remembrance. At the first settlement of the town, a large heap of stones had accumulated in this way, and a considerable quantity yet remain, after the tillage of the field in its vicinity for the long period of two hundred years. These stones, thus accumulated, were of many different varieties, a large number of them not to be found in this valley, nor within long distances, showing clearly, that there was a purpose in their accumulation, and verifying the "tradition of the elders," that they were gathered there as a monument of respect and honor to a buried chieftain. There can be no doubt of the correctness of the statement as to where Pomperaug, Nonnewaug, Wecuppemee and Mauquash were buried. Pomperaug had been dead only about ten or twelve years, when our fathers came hither. Nothing is more natural than that his grave should be pointed out to them. Their first church was built within eight rods of the place, and the first minister's house was not more than twenty rods away. Nonnewaug lived for more than forty years after the first settlement, and Mauquash, the last sachem of the Pootatucks, died about 1758. K The latter was buried under an apple-tree, in the "old chimney lot," so-called, now belonging to Amos Mitchell, a short distance east of the old "Eleazur Mitchell House," and a short distance from the elevated plain on which stood the principal and last village of the Pootatucks in our territory, the last sad remnant of them having removed in 1759, and joined the Scaticooks at Kent, where there are still a few individuals, now (1871) remaining, on their reservations in the mountains, under the care of a white overseer, appointed by the State. There was still quite a mound remaining over him a few years since. His burial place is near "Tummaseete's old orchard." There are a dozen of these trees still remaining, seeming to flourish quite well, there being apples now (June 1871) growing on them. Several of them are more than three feet in diameter, and were disposed around the area or plaza of the village of wigwams. This orchard was called an old orchard,” in several conveyances, dated more than 150 years ago, and was no doubt planted by the Indians soon after the advent of the whites within the bounds of Stratford, in 1639. It is not known when the death of Wecuppemee occurred. He was a witness to a deed (p. 24) dated July 14th, 1673. His mark, or totem, was the representation of a snake-a pretty good imitation-and his name was spelled Wecuppemee, instead of Wee cuppeemee, the modern spelling. The former mode of spelling, used by Capt. John Minor in this deed, is believed to be the correct one, because he so spelled it, and because it truly represents the sound of the name as uttered to this day. Wecuppemee was buried on a little knoll, near the river called by his name, a little west of the residence of the late Willis Lambert. Several small mounds mark the spot to this day. In the adjoining meadow, numerous and quite perfect flint and quartz arrow-heads are plowed up yearly. The same is true of a meadow near the residence of Mr. Theodore Judson, in Harle Plain, a mile or two distant. The Indians were more particular than our fathers in the selection of their burial places. They always selected the most attractive places for their villages and burial grounds, and took great pains in arraying the corpse and preparing it for the necessities of the long journey before the deceased, on his way to the happy "hunting grounds." This chief, as was often the case, was buried at a place removed from the beautiful burial place on the plain below, by the murmuring waters of the Housatonic. From the village above, and the spot where the sachem was buried, is obtained some of the most delightful views, south and west. A series of hills, with vales between, and now and then a cultivated field, as in the early days, rise, one above another, in every direction, mellowed and softened by the varying tints of the ever-changing sky. Below, the noble river ripples on, in haste to join the ocean-tides. Uncultivated as was the savage, he had a mind to appreciate the loveliness of nature, and an eye to select the most romantic places. Said a young lady, while contemplating this enchanting scene, on a recent occasion, "the Indians found out all the most beautiful places." None need wonder that the poor native left this most lovely spot with sad, lingering steps, to make room for the steady advance of the pale-face. Nonnewaug, the last chief of the clan of his name, conveyed to our fathers the territory of Nonnewaug, belonging to his people, in 1700, and joined with others in a confirmatory deed in 1706. Though on friendly terms with his white neighbors, he had till then sternly resisted all advances towards the purchase of his lands, yet he now yielded, giving as one reason for so doing: "Ye desire yt is w th in us of a friendly correspondency w th ye English inhabitants of Woodbury." After the sale of all his possessions, reserving only the right to fish and hunt over all of the granted lands, his haughty spirit seems to have become humbled, and his ambition after any worthy object to have been lost. It could not be otherwise under the disheartening prospects before him-the waning of his race-the loss of his wealth and hopes in life. The Indians now remaining within the territory, after this sale, became fully amenable, with other inhabitants, to the laws of the whites. Without other solace, the dispossessed sachem occasionally wandered to the village, and partook too freely of the "fire-water," which was even, in those early days of apple-orchards, to be obtained, despite a somewhat rigorous law against the vending, or drinking of intoxicating liquors. On one occasion, being "overtaken in a fault" of this kind, he was arrested therefor, and taken before a magistrate. But he was so thoroughly intoxicated, his trial was put off till the next morning. He was then brought before the Court for examination. The magistrate informed him, that all the plea he could induce him to make the preceding day was, "Your Honor's very wise, very wise." "Is that so?" said the dilapidated chief, in true Yankee phrase of the modern stamp. The magistrate assured him he so said. "Then," responded the fallen, sagamore, "I must have been drunk, very drunk!" This was a somewhat unique way of pleading guilty, and the stern tribunal was so much pleased with the witty retort, that he dismissed him with an injunction to "sin no more." And Nonnewaug, too, at the appointed time, slept with his fathers, and the small remnant of his people buried him in the beautiful plain at the foot of the musical falls that are called by his name, where his fathers' people had been buried before him, true to their instinct of selecting the most beautiful places by the riverside, by the silvery cascade, or in the verdant plain. An apple tree was planted at the head of his grave, which still stands there, the faithful guardian of the ashes that repose beneath its grateful shade. It is a venerable tree, some 150 years old, but does not bear the marks of so great an age, though there are several decayed places in it, so perfectly shown in the accompanying cut of the grave and tree, taken by the artist on the spot during the last summer. When the writer first visited it, twenty years ago, there was a large hillock, or mound, raised over the grave, which remained, distinguishing the sachem's, by its size, from the other graves around him, till a few years ago, when the present owner of the field committed the sacrilege of plowing it down, saying he was not going to have such an old "hummock in his field," much to the regret of every true antiquarian, and lover of ancient things. The mound thus destroyed was some ten feet long, six feet wide, and four feet high, having been gradually formed, in the same way, as in the case of Pomperaug's grave. Two events will ever render the vale of Bethel Rock memorable; one, because it was the meeting place, or Bethel of our fathers during the first few years after the settlement; and the other, because it is the locality of a sorrowful legend connected with it. It is a tale of sad romance, told and believed by many from the earlier days of the town. The rock is situated in the bosom of the Orenaug cliffs, and is the point of much attraction. Beneath the overhanging crag, a hundred feet below, in the deep dell, is space sufficient to screen two hundred people from storm, and danger from a lurking foe. At its woody top is a delightful place, to which we may wander through the pine grove, at twilight hour, for contemplation, rest, peace. In the rapture of the moment, well may we exclaim, "How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank. Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears; soft stillness, and the night This legend of Bethel Rock is somewhat minutely told, and the reasons given why it may receive credence, on page 90, and is alluded to again here, to introduce the vivid conception of the scene by the artist, who has visited the place since the former account was written. The picture gives a very accurate view of the scene as related in the universally received legend. Referring to the former account for full details, a brief statement only will be inserted here. Some ten years after the return of the inhabitants to Woodbury from their enforced residence at Stratford during King Philip's war, it is related that Waraumaukeag, a young Pootatuck sachem, fell in love with Sarah Walker, a young girl of seventeen years, a niece of the venerable pastor, who was in Woodbury on a visit to her uncle, of some months duration. He was a youth of manly proportions, of graceful figure, and finely moulded limbs. He was far in advance of the other Indians in intelligence and in all the manly virtues, and, from their return from Stratford, an unwaver |