Andrew Warde
Encyclopedia
Andrew Warde was a colonist, judge, and a farmer, and a founding father of Weathersfield, Stamford
, and Fairfield, Connecticut
.
, probably near the beginning of the seventeenth century, Warde emigrated to New England
with the Winthrop Fleet
about the year 1630. We first hear of Andrew Warde at Watertown, Massachusetts
, where he early assumed prominence as a man of affairs in the small colony there established. His name is recorded in the second book of inventory, as having "an homestall of 10 acres, by estimation, bounded, the east by the driftway and John Dogget, the west by Winifred Wolcott, and the north by the great Pond, granted him." He held this estate as late as the year 1642, some seven or more years after he had left Watertown.
He was made freeman May 14, 1634. "Under the first charter of the Mass, colony none were regarded as freemen, or members of the body politic, except such as were admitted by the General Court
, and took the oath of allegiance to the Government here established. This custom continuing in existence until by the 2d charter the colony was transferred into a province."
"This is a memorable occasion, and a notable gathering on a most historic site, and no better preparation could be made for the exercises of the day than to dwell for a few moments on that far off time when Andrew Warde dwelt almost under the shadow of this building (Fairfield Historical Society Building) and had for his neighbors one of the goodliest companies to be found in all the eastern colony. Imagine, then, that you are once more standing on this spot and gazing around you at the ancient settlement of 1651. But what a change! To the north, as a background, arises the rock, crowned with a growth of lordly pines. The scene reminds you of a western clearing fifty years ago. Stumps of trees are in evidence, and rocky grounds. There are well defined trails to the north, south, east and west, following the roads of the present day. On the left is a lovely pond seen through surrounding trees and on these trails around the pond are rude log structures one story in height. The northernmost house to the left is the first Fairfield home of Andrew Warde, and opposite we see the fine homes of Roger Ludlow
and Nathan Gold
. Facing us on the corner stands the first home of John Banks, the Surveyor of Fairfield, to whose skill we owe it that the squares of the town were laid out in such a regular manner. To our left, where Dr. Donaldson now resides, we see the home of Richard Lyon, and earlier of Thomas Wheeler, Jr., worthy ancestors of the good man who founded this library. Next to him stands the home of Thomas Pell, who later on was to give the name to Pell-Ham-Manor, and opposite (on the post office side) the home of Humphrey Hyde, who afterwards gave the name to the pond; and about where the depot now stands, the first houses in Fairfield of Joshua Jennings and Francis Bradley, the progenitors of families who for generations have stood for what was great and good in town and nation. On the site of what is now the library corner, there was at that time the homestead of Alexander Knowles, a man prominent in public affairs, and judge of the Gen. Court of Conn. Looking up the street to the right, stood the house of Philip Pinckney, ancestor of Gen. Charles Coleman Pinckney, of Revolutionary fame, and those distinguished men and women whom South Carolina is proud to call her own. Opposite Philip Pinckney (the Flint corner) the homestead of Henry Rowland ; opposite to him, Anthony Wilson, and to the southward, the home of Capt. Richard Osborn, hero of the Pequot War. There were no fences, the home lots being defined by stone markings, much uncleared land and dense forests on all sides. To properly people this wild scene, remember, that the period of Andrew Warde's sojourn covered that part of English history given up to the Cavalier and Round Head, the reign of Charles I, his execution, the Protector, the death of Cromwell, and the accession of Charles III, all proclaimed on these streets. The homes and household were of the simplest, but the keynote was Godliness. The Bible, but also the great and little gun and sword, were to be found in every household. Andrew Warde came to place on record the most memorable of God's passages in settling his people in this country. On or about the time that he moved his residence to what we are pleased to call Main street, many of his old neighbors moved with him—so we find in close proximity again the homes of Roger Ludlow, Andrew Warde, Nathan Gold, Richard Lyon, Thomas Pell, Thomas Sherwood, Robert Hawkins, Jacob Gray, Alexander Bryan, all his near neighbors, while from the Church corner south, reading right to left, were located John Banks, John Burr, Nehemiah Olmsted, Nathaniel Baldwin, Simon Hoyt, John Nichols, Henry Rowland, and opposite, the Pinckneys and Burrs, names identified with every phase of early colonial history. Mention has been made of the crudeness of the dwellings and the roughness of the surroundings. It was years after the time of Andrew Warde that the town assumed shape and comeliness. There were structures of stone as well as of logs, but the early settlers were of sturdy stock, hardened to toil.
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, and Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
.
Watertown
Born in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, probably near the beginning of the seventeenth century, Warde emigrated to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
with the Winthrop Fleet
Winthrop Fleet
The Winthrop Fleet was a group of eleven sailing ships under the leadership of John Winthrop that carried approximately 700 Puritans plus livestock and provisions from England to New England over the summer of 1630.-Motivation:...
about the year 1630. We first hear of Andrew Warde at Watertown, Massachusetts
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
, where he early assumed prominence as a man of affairs in the small colony there established. His name is recorded in the second book of inventory, as having "an homestall of 10 acres, by estimation, bounded, the east by the driftway and John Dogget, the west by Winifred Wolcott, and the north by the great Pond, granted him." He held this estate as late as the year 1642, some seven or more years after he had left Watertown.
Weathersfield
- "The first month and 24th day, 1640. Lands of Andrew Warde, lying in Wethersfield on the Connecticut riverConnecticut RiverThe Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
. One piece whereon his house and barn stand, containing fouer acres more or less. The ends abutt against the street west and Great Meadows east, the sides against the house lotte of Mr. Smith south, and John Reynolds north. One piece lying in the Great Meadows con : fourteen acres two roods. One piece lying in the Great Meadows. One piece lying in the Great Meadows. . . . foure acres. One piece lying in on backe lotte con: two acres 3 roods. One piece lying in the Dry Swamp ... 8 acres. One piece lying in the middle rowe of Wet Swamp ... 5 acres. One piece lying on Westfield . . . fifty-four acres. One piece lying on the west side of the Connecticut river, 274 acres. These lands abut against the Connecticut river west, the side against the lands of Mr. Smith and Jo. Reynolds, north. The lands across the Conn, river, opposite Wethersfield would be in what is now Glastonbury." — Watertown Land Records.
He was made freeman May 14, 1634. "Under the first charter of the Mass, colony none were regarded as freemen, or members of the body politic, except such as were admitted by the General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
, and took the oath of allegiance to the Government here established. This custom continuing in existence until by the 2d charter the colony was transferred into a province."
Fairfield.
From address of Henry C. Sturges, Esq., of Fairfield, at the unveiling of the Andrew Warde monument in Fairfield cemetery, June 13, 1907:"This is a memorable occasion, and a notable gathering on a most historic site, and no better preparation could be made for the exercises of the day than to dwell for a few moments on that far off time when Andrew Warde dwelt almost under the shadow of this building (Fairfield Historical Society Building) and had for his neighbors one of the goodliest companies to be found in all the eastern colony. Imagine, then, that you are once more standing on this spot and gazing around you at the ancient settlement of 1651. But what a change! To the north, as a background, arises the rock, crowned with a growth of lordly pines. The scene reminds you of a western clearing fifty years ago. Stumps of trees are in evidence, and rocky grounds. There are well defined trails to the north, south, east and west, following the roads of the present day. On the left is a lovely pond seen through surrounding trees and on these trails around the pond are rude log structures one story in height. The northernmost house to the left is the first Fairfield home of Andrew Warde, and opposite we see the fine homes of Roger Ludlow
Roger Ludlow
Roger Ludlow was one of the founders of the Colony of Connecticut. He was born in March 1590 in Dinton, Wiltshire, England. Roger was the second son of Sir Thomas Ludlow of Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire and Jane Pyle, sister of Sir Gabriel Pyle...
and Nathan Gold
Nathan Gold
Nathan Gold , was an American colonial leader and deputy governor of the Colony of Connecticut from 1708 until his death in 1723....
. Facing us on the corner stands the first home of John Banks, the Surveyor of Fairfield, to whose skill we owe it that the squares of the town were laid out in such a regular manner. To our left, where Dr. Donaldson now resides, we see the home of Richard Lyon, and earlier of Thomas Wheeler, Jr., worthy ancestors of the good man who founded this library. Next to him stands the home of Thomas Pell, who later on was to give the name to Pell-Ham-Manor, and opposite (on the post office side) the home of Humphrey Hyde, who afterwards gave the name to the pond; and about where the depot now stands, the first houses in Fairfield of Joshua Jennings and Francis Bradley, the progenitors of families who for generations have stood for what was great and good in town and nation. On the site of what is now the library corner, there was at that time the homestead of Alexander Knowles, a man prominent in public affairs, and judge of the Gen. Court of Conn. Looking up the street to the right, stood the house of Philip Pinckney, ancestor of Gen. Charles Coleman Pinckney, of Revolutionary fame, and those distinguished men and women whom South Carolina is proud to call her own. Opposite Philip Pinckney (the Flint corner) the homestead of Henry Rowland ; opposite to him, Anthony Wilson, and to the southward, the home of Capt. Richard Osborn, hero of the Pequot War. There were no fences, the home lots being defined by stone markings, much uncleared land and dense forests on all sides. To properly people this wild scene, remember, that the period of Andrew Warde's sojourn covered that part of English history given up to the Cavalier and Round Head, the reign of Charles I, his execution, the Protector, the death of Cromwell, and the accession of Charles III, all proclaimed on these streets. The homes and household were of the simplest, but the keynote was Godliness. The Bible, but also the great and little gun and sword, were to be found in every household. Andrew Warde came to place on record the most memorable of God's passages in settling his people in this country. On or about the time that he moved his residence to what we are pleased to call Main street, many of his old neighbors moved with him—so we find in close proximity again the homes of Roger Ludlow, Andrew Warde, Nathan Gold, Richard Lyon, Thomas Pell, Thomas Sherwood, Robert Hawkins, Jacob Gray, Alexander Bryan, all his near neighbors, while from the Church corner south, reading right to left, were located John Banks, John Burr, Nehemiah Olmsted, Nathaniel Baldwin, Simon Hoyt, John Nichols, Henry Rowland, and opposite, the Pinckneys and Burrs, names identified with every phase of early colonial history. Mention has been made of the crudeness of the dwellings and the roughness of the surroundings. It was years after the time of Andrew Warde that the town assumed shape and comeliness. There were structures of stone as well as of logs, but the early settlers were of sturdy stock, hardened to toil.