John BIRCHARD

John was born in Sussex, England. He was seven years old when his parents brought him to AMerica. The family first lived in Boston, later moved to Conn and then back to Mass. John Married Christyn Andrews and moved his family to Norwich Conn sone time before 1660. John's first child was born in Oct 1654 and this child and the next four children, besides on other son, all died in infancy or very early childhood. They did have eight surviving children. In Oct 1663, John was made a freeman, one of TEN then certified in Hartford, Connecticut He was one of the 25 freemen of Norwich in 1669. The General Court alone had power to admit a freeman in Connecticut The Court required a freeman to be resident within its jurisdiction and an inhabitant of one otf the towns or a householder. It also required frremen to swear to be true and faithful to the Govenment of Connecticut John was one of the original 28 proprietors of Norwich, and was the first town clerk, holding office from 1661 to 1678. In 1673 he was cleck of the Court, and Justice of the Peace in 1676. As Magistrate, or Commisoner of Peace, he was the one to whom the General Court sent a warrant to enforce payment of the Charter tax against Mystic, Connecticut It is worthy of note that at this time and for many years afterwards there were but one or two citizens at a time who bore the title of Equire, denoting a Justice of Peace. Mr. Burchard was the first Civil Magistrate mentioned. The deed of settlement that Uncas, Sachem or Chief of the Mohegan Indisans, and the town of Norwich, is signed by Thomas Leffingwell, William Backus, John Birchard and John Tracy. The deed was dated Oct 18, 1682. John's name is mentioned in the Patenet of the Town of Norwich written in 1685 and descibing the land boundaries of Norwich. He is listed as one of the eleven reciepients of land granted by the General court of Connecticut for the town of Norwich. The paper is signed by Robert Treat, Govenor. The earliest town record of Norwich are in Joh's handwriting and show wisdom and education. A map showing a plot of Norwich in 1660 indicates his property was near the center of the town and describes it as being 7 1/4 acres, 16 rods, and 11 feet front. His house was supposed to be the one at the entrace of Hammeerbrook Lane. It is no longer standing, but as one time was one of the oldest housed remaing in Norwich. It had several owners and occupents, but no lean-tos, additons or improvements of any kind changed it original outward form. According to tradition 'it was fortified in the time of King Phillips was; and a garrison kept in it, who made port holes under the roof through which to fire if atttacked. John taught the first school in Norwich mentioned in the records. He was hired in 1677 for nine months of the year at 25 pounds and provisions. In 1677 John was appointed guardian of the minor children of Samuel Hyde, and from time to time to care for may estates. These children were both girls, Elizabeth, who later marreid Liewtenant Richard Lord of Lyme, and Phoebe, who married the second Matthew Griswold, of Lyme. Christyn died in 1680, the same year their last child, Daniel was born. After her death John Married Jane Lee Hyde, the widow of Samuel Hyde. Jane was baptised in Rusper, England, Sep 12, 1640, and died at Lebanon Connecticut jan 21, 1723. The Indian Joshua, who was the third son of Uncas, the Mohegan chief, left in his will 48,000 acres of land to six teen legatees of whom John was one. This land was know as 'Joshua's Tract in Windham ', and lay along the Nipmuck Path, north of Norwich. The original deed conveying the land is now on file in the town clerks office in Willimantic. In 1678 the legatees possessed all right to Joshua's gift and on May 1, 1686, they received thier allotments. The legatees were all gentlemen of high character and standing; twelve were prominent and influential citizins of Norwich. The land was laid out in 48 shares, and comprimised a large part of what is now Windham, Mansfield, Chaplin, Hampton and Scotland Townships. John sold some of his portion to Honathan Ginning the second settler there, who took possession in 1690, and left other portions to his sons Samuel and James. In 1692, Oweneco, Sachem of the Mohegans and another son of Uncas, sold and conveyed to four proprietors a tract of land called 'The Five Mile Purchase' This was a tract five miles square adjoining the northwest of 'Mason and Fitch's Mile'. It was the policy of the General Court not to favor these large acquisitons by speculators from the Indian Chiefs, but a liberal policy of the court toward this land grant enabled the proprietors to retain their purchases and inheritances.

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