David J. Coss
1.Have students read the excerpt of Michael Wigglesworth's diary from Three Centuries of New Haven by Rollin Osterweis.
2.Have students complete the following worksheet.
Worksheet for Diary Excerpt
Answer the following questions:
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1.
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Why do you think Michael and his family were living in a cave?
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Why weren't there any houses available to them?
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Can you tell whether or not they were wealthy?
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2.
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Based on Michael's writing do you think he was a very religious person?
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How do you know?
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3.
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Do you think Michael's family could have used the help of the
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Quinnipiac Indians? How could the Quinnipiacs have helped them?
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4.
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Write an additional paragraph describing the cave in which Michael's
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family dwells. What does it look like? smell like? How many people
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live in the cave?
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Drawing exercise: Based on our study of early New Haven use colored pencils or markers to make a sketch of the cave that Michael lives in. Include as much detail as you can.
Although the focus of the unit is permanent immigration, there is one unique tale of a disgruntled immigrant whose dislike for New Haven resulted in the creation of one of New Haven's most treasured institutions, Yale University. Ann Eaton, the widow of David Yale, married Theophilus and dutifully followed her husband into what must have been a dramatically different lifestyle from the one his considerable wealth afforded her in England. Following the death of her second husband, Anne Eaton along with several family members, returned to the comfort of England. Years later her grandson, Elihu, was persuaded to donate money and books to the "Collegiate School" back in Connecticut. From these humble beginnings grew the institution which bears his name, Yale University. Although Anne Eaton was not the first or last immigrant to be disenchanted with New Haven, I believe students will find her story fascinating.
One of the most valuable contributions made by the Puritans of New Haven is their design plan for the city. During the early summer of 1638, under the direction of John Brockett, surveyor, the settlers staked out the town-plot in the form of nine squares. Reserving the central section for a market place, they allotted land in the other eight to the principal planters for home building. Since the entire half-mile square was insufficient to take care of the entire company, Brockett added two suburbs.4 It is interesting to note at this early stage New Haven's neighborhoods were already developing based not only on wealth and privilege but we also see the familiar pattern of immigrants seeking to live among those whom with they share some common traits, "Evidence points to the fact that, in the early years, people from the same part of old England tended to cluster in the same section of the town-plot, the sections becoming thus identified with the names of Yorkshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, and London."5 This original plan by Brockett still defines the downtown area of New Haven and thus makes it easy for students and teachers to walk literally in the footsteps of the founders.
Shortly after the founding of the colony, a revolution in England brought the Puritans to power thus making immigration to the New World unnecessary. Following the death of Oliver Cromwell and the restoration of Charles II, Puritans once again found themselves persecuted and unwanted. One of the most dramatic events in New Haven's immigration history occurred at this time when three men arrived seeking the protection of our citizens. Dixwell, Whalley and Goffe are all names that New Haven students are familiar with; they are also the names of three generals who signed the death warrant of Charles I and helped Cromwell rise to power. Now that Charles II was restored to power, he desperately wanted to seek out those responsible for his father's death. Thus these three men fled to a colony where they would be protected. For a time, they hid in a cave on West Rock now known as Judge's Cave. Whalley and Goffe continued to run from the King's agents, eventually settling in Hadley, Massachusetts. Dixwell was perhaps the most clever of these unique immigrants. He changed his name to James Davids and lived out the balance of his life in the colony. He was never betrayed and is buried behind center church on the New Haven Green.6
Suggested Activities for Puritan New Haven
One of the most unique aspects of New Haven is our city's design. We are fortunate to have the original plan for the colony still intact. The same nine square design laid out in 1641 occupies most of the downtown area today. There is no better way to illustrate the dramatic growth that has occured within and around these nine squares than to view old and current maps of the city. Copies of old maps can be found in the sources cited in the reading list. Current maps can be found at the library or even in the phone book. The first lesson below will help students to familiarize themselves with the basic design of the city. From this starting point they can move on to more modern maps in order to gauge the growth and expansion of New Haven as it grows from colony to city.
The second lesson deals with one of the most fascinating, yet little known episodes in New Haven's history. The story of the Regicides has been mostly forgotten in current studies of New Haven. I find this story amazing as do the students I share it with. I strongly suggest a bus trip up to Judge's Cave on West Rock. Then after viewing the hiding place of these fugitives, the students will be inspired to write about the feelings, motivations, and experiences of those involved.
