Mary Utter

Note: From "Colonial Connecticut Women"...

Mrs. Mary Utter: A beautiful tract of land directly south of Mashamoquet was purchased by Sir John Blackwell in 1686, as agent in behalf of a number of English and Irish Dissenters, with expectation of founding a colony upon it. Capt. Blackwell also received from Connecticut a grant for a township, including his purchase, which was to be laid out as a separate town or manor, by the name of Mortlake. King William?s accession in 1688, and the religious privileges now granted in Great Britain frustrated all these plans. Blackwell returned to England, and his purchase was left neglected till after his death in 1713 his son conveyed it to Jonathan Belcher, of Boston, who entrusted Capt. John Chandler, of Woodstock, with its survey and division. The tract was still in native wildness, save for one small clearing taken up by a squatter, Jabez Utter. To him Chandler granted at first a deed of premises for his labor and expense ?in building, fencing, clearing, breaking up, improving and subduing? the same. The probable reason why this bargain was not carried out, and for the non-appearance of Jabez in the subsequent expulsion is found in New London court records, wherein at just this date we find him arraigned for horse stealing, and sentenced to return the horse and pay the plaintiff ten pounds, also to pay the County Treasury forty shillings, or be whipped ten stripes on his naked body, etc

Mary, the wife of Jabez, was a woman of spirit and held on to her home with a woman?s tenacity. When the sheriff came to demand possession of the premises, she barricaded doors and windows and held on. All efforts failing to move her, young John Chandler was sent to effect ejection. The story of the siege is told by Mary herself in very vigorous English. She gives the names of some twelve or fifteen young fellows from the neighboring towns who aided in the raid, bringing with them drums, clubs, axes, and all needful implements. Upon her refusal to grant possession they proceeded to tear down her fences, batter the house with stones and clubs, set up ensigns of divers colors, drink to the health of King James, committing, she says, ?Many high and heinous enormities, treasons, profanities, and grievous wickedness.? After carousing all day they had an interval of quiet till towards morning, when ?they revived their noise, marching round the house, beating drums, and singing psalm tunes,? perhaps imitating the siege of Jericho, and then young Chandler made proclamation: ?now we have gotten the victory; now the day is ours,? and raising poles against the house, three of the leaders vaulted upon the roof, came down through the chimney, opened the door and let in the sheriff. Even then the resolute mistress refused to yield possession, and had to be violently dragged out and flung down backward out of the door; but at last, late in the afternoon, ?they drove me away from my home and drove my children with me into the wilderness, and set a guard about me, and left us there to perish without any shelter but the Heavens,?-but still with life enough to make her way to a justice, and make pitiful complaint as ?his Majesty?s distressed, forlorn subject.? Certainly no modern Brooklyn, Connecticut matron could use her tongue more effectively than this first woman resident.