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HISTORIC GLEANINGS
IN
WINDHAM COUNTY, CONNECTICUT
BY
ELLEN D. LARNED
AUTHOR OF " HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY."
PROVIDENCE, R. I. PRESTON AND ROUNDS COMPANY 1899
. W7L3 Copy 2
COPYRIGHT, 1899 BY ELLEN D. LARNED WO COPIE , RECEIVED.
OFFICE *) !!
JUL1899
Perister
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Ja 12.99
PRESS OF E. L. FREEMAN & SONS PROVIDENCE, R. I.
43211 1.1 399,
HISTORIC GLEANINGS IN WINDHAM COUNTY.
I.
SPENT LIGHTS .*
There is nothing more surprising to the student of history than the apparent capriciousness of the chance by which human beings are remembered or forgot- ten. "Survival of the fittest " has been promulgated as the great law of the universe. Of the innumera- ble multitude gone in countless ages "to the pale realms of shade," only a few bright and shining lights have escaped oblivion. Only those of great ability or achievement, or associated by character or circum- stance with great and vital events, have won remem- brance. But when we apply this principle to recent periods, and especially to our own field of observa- tion, we are stumbled. We take, for instance, one of our Connecticut towns, study its civil and church records, exhume its lists of public functionaries in every department, extract from living sources every available item, and flatter ourselves that we have
* Read before Connecticut Historical Society.
17.1/1/1
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HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
gained exhaustive knowledge of every past resident connected with its development, and then stumble by chance upon some note-worthy personage who had somehow slipped out of present remembrance.
" Why have you robbed me of a grandfather ? " que- ries an aggrieved descendant. After all our care we are called to account for other vital omissions. Is this " survival of the fittest " an universal law, as ap- plied to those who have won or failed to win the boon of permanent remembrance? Is it not quite possi- ble that names are left out and forgotten as worthy of remembrance as many that still survive in text- book and history ? In a modern and carefully pre- pared " Cyclopedia of American Biography " we find many names once honored are missing. Froude has given us interesting pictures of "Forgotten Worth- ies " in the mother country. May we not with equal profit recall to memory some Connecticut worthies once prominent but overlooked and in part forgotten.
James Fitch, Junior, of Norwich and Canterbury, may be called in a certain sense the Father of Wind- ham County, owning for a time the greater part of the territory, selling the land and assisting in the organi- zation of several townships. The oldest son of the first, most honored minister of Norwich, son-in-law of the worshipful Major John Mason, with much na- tive shrewdness and force of character, no young man in the colonies had a better start or more hope-
CONTENTS
I SPENT LIGHTS
II WINDHAM COUNTY WOMEN OF EARLY TIME
III OTHER LIGHTS IV REVOLUTIONARY ECHOES
WINDHAM COUNTY AND PROVIDENCE
VI A LIFE'S RECORD
VIL DODGE, THE BABBLER
VIII OUR FIRST WOMAN ARTIST IX JAPHETH IN SEARCH OF HIS FOREFATHERS
INDEX
/
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SPENT LIGHTS.
ful prospects. Very early in life he engaged in public affairs, especially in relation to that very vital matter in a new country-land surveys and transfers. In military and political lines he was equally prominent, attaining in a few years the rank of major and office of county treasurer. Soon it appeared that he had even exceeded his honored father and father-in-law in influence over the Mohegan Indians, and had gained control of a large part of their territory. The drunken and flexible Owaneco-son of Uncas-in 1680 made over to his loving friend, James Fitch, Jun., " the right and title to all his lands to dispose of as he shall see canse," while the General Court of Connecticut constituted him the legal guardian of this Mohegan chieftain. The whole Wabbaquasset country, a traet extending forty-five miles west of the Quinebang river and north as far as Massachusetts would allow, was thus placed within his disposal and practical ownership. But just as Major Fitch was preparing to lay out this princely domain, negotia- ting for the sale of the future Pomfret and Brooklyn, he was compelled by the process of events, and the administration of Sir Edmund Andros, to observe a season of "innocuous desuetude." Fitch was far too shrewd a man to waste time and money in attempt- ing to secure confirmation of his land from that des- potic ruler, in whose eyes an Indian deed was " worth no more than the scratch of a bear's paw," but quietly
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HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
bided his time till that welcome Revolution which overthrew the power of James II and his detested governor-general. He immediately bestirred him- self in the re-instatement of colonial government, "travelling" it was said, "from Dan to Beersheba, to incite the freemen, and summon a General Court." " By whom was the Charter of the Government re- stored," sneeringly asks an enemy of Connecticut, " but by James Fitch, Nathaniel Stanley, and such like private men ?" A private man instrumental in such a public service is surely worthy of grateful re- membrance.
After the first general election Fitch appears as member of the council, and thenceforth figures as the most prominent and picturesque personage in east- ern Connecticut-a magistrate and military leader, as well as proprietor of a vast tract of country. Sell- ing out townships as if they were farms, surveying disputed lands and bounds, holding courts of inquiry, deciding vexed questions, he makes what seems like royal progresses through his domains, with his ac- companying retinue of Indians, soldiers, and land-job- bers. The jealous eye of a contemporary, who could not " see cause to acknowledge Capt. James Fitch to be Lord Proprietor of this Colony," enables us to see what power and authority he was exercising at this early stage of his career. A "Remonstrance," laid before the General Court by many of his majesty's
SPENT LIGHTS. 5
loyal and dutiful subjects, sets forth-" That Captain Fitch has laid claim to our established inheritance by pretences of grants from Owaneco has procured the Wabbaquasset, Mohegan, Quinebang and a great part of the Pequod country from Owan- eco and hath already sold out vast tracts of our land to some now in England, Rhode Island, and some to privateers as we have been informed. Let any man give an example of any of the King's sub- jeets in Europe or America since the times of William the Conqueror till to-day that ever engrost so much land as Captain Fitch hath done in this Colony which was before given and confirmed to other men under the great seal of England, and we cannot but declare and protest against these sales as illegal. We can- not but declare against Captain Fitch his being such a great land-pirate and selling so much of our land to strangers and hope the General Court and our people will consider how pernicious a man Mr. Fitch is to the rising generation, and what a scandal it is to this government and how gravaminous to many of the Queen's subjects that a person who makes it his business to sell the freemen's lands shall any longer continne in office in this Colony."
But however strong opposition and remonstrance, it had no effect upon the position of our monopolist during the wars known as King William's and Queen Anne's. His influence over the Indians made him a 1*
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HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
tower of strength throughout those stormy years- Massachusetts was forced to call upon him to defend her frontier, where the Wabbaquassets would not be ordered but by virtue of authority from Connecticut. His new plantation at Peags-com-suck-now Canter- bury-was made the rendezvous of many a military expedition-the scene of many a martial and legal conflict.
As Indian wars ceased Major Fitch was called to battle for his land titles. His first fight was with the heirs of Gov. John Winthrop, who claimed the Quinebaug country-now included in Plainfield and Canterbury-by an earlier Indian grant than that of Owaneco to Major Fitch. The General Court, loath to excite the ire of such spirited and powerful combat- ants, delayed decision. Both claimants proceeded to sell out farms and encourage settlement. A guerrilla warfare ensued between the Winthrop and Fitch settlers. Bounds and fences were removed; crops raised by one faction seized and carried off by the other; future respected citizens clinched and threw hatchets. Gay youngsters from Norwich, known in later years as sober magistrates and councilors, make raids upon the Indian corn-fields; scout the Major's writs, and run away from the arresting constables. Our friend, the Major, figures conspicuously in all this wrangling; now sitting in judgment, and then arraigned as offender. Great meetings of Courts and
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SPENT LIGHTS.
Commissioners were held at Peags-com-suck-meet- ings that brought in picturesque conjunction re- presentatives of old and new Connecticut, high of- ficial dignitaries, governors, ministers, magistrates, lawyers; Owaneco in royal state, with surviving Pequots, Nipmucks, and Narragansetts. After much sifting of conflicting testimony, the right of owner- ship was confirmed to Major Fitch, with reservations allowed to the Winthrops and other claimants.
During the administration of Gov. Fitz John Win- throp Major Fitch served at the head of the Council, and was entrusted with the revision of the colonial laws and other important public services. He was a friend of education-the first layman in Connecticut to offer material aid to her infant college ; a friend of religion, helping to build meeting-houses and sustain ministers in his several townships, even when laboring under church censure and suspension for excess in conviviality. Above all else he was a friend of the people ; an advocate of popular rights, con- tending as strenuously for the privileges of the Lower House in the General Assembly as previously against the domination of Andros. Unwilling, how- ever, "that any private prejudice should hinder public good," he did not hesitate to use his great political and personal influence to keep Saltonstall in power, though afterwards tauntingly reminding him-"That had I let you out of my hands know
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HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
assuredly yourself and Mr. Christopher had been next year at liberty."
The closing years of Major Fitch were embittered by dissensions and pecuniary embarrassment. His large landed possessions involved him in serious complications. The great "Mohegan Land-case" entailed endless expense and trouble. The Govern- ment of Connecticut challenged his claim to certain townships, and, when he proceeded to make sales of land and lay out allotments, Gov. Saltonstall issued a public proclamation forbidding plantation work therein. Suffering from gout and harassed by busi- ness perplexities, our Major was thrown into such a tempest of rage as to lose all sense of propriety and respect for Government, and, as if he were indeed " Lord Proprietor of the Colony," he immediately put forth a counter proclamation from "The Honored James Fitch, proprietor of a certain tract of land, east of Enfield," asserting his right to the land and his sovereign contempt for " a kind of proclamation lately come forth," and the authority that issued it.
This audacious proceeding called out an immediate summons to appear before the Governor and Council to answer "for its false and seditious expressions ;" but the culprit, lame with the gout, and unable to ride, refused to obey in terms scarcely less insolent than the original document. The matter rested uni- til the succeeding session of the General Court, May,
9
SPENT LIGHTS.
1717, when it was ordered that a warrant be sent "to arrest the said Fitch and have him before the As- sembly." But before its execution the impulsive Major, probably relieved from gout, and returning to his better judgment, sent a most humble con- fession of his fault, "being heartily sorry and con- demning himself therefor," and asking forgiveness of His Honor and the Honorable Assembly. Indeed, Major Fitch seems to have been thoroughly frightened, not knowing but that banishment or imprisonment awaited him. The Upper House upon consideration proposed to let him off by a €20 fine-"a slight punishment for so high a misdemeanor," but the Lower House, faithful to its champion, insisted " that the full and ingenuous acknowledgement was suf- ficient," and obtained an unconditional discharge.
With this exciting episode the Major disappears from public life, and after a few years was laid to rest in Canterbury churchyard. A blackened stone, overgrown with briars and sumacs, tells of " his use- fulness in his military and in his magistracy to which he was chosen and served successively to ye great acceptation and advantage of his country, being a gentleman of good parts and very forward to pro- mote ye civil and religious interests of it. Died Nov. 10, 1727, aged 80 years."
And yet this gentleman, so active, so useful, so prominently connected with public affairs, so master-
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HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
ful and picturesque in character and circumstances, has passed almost out of memory, his name omitted from our standard Biographical Cyclopædia, his ser- vices in great measure forgotten even in the section which he once owned and dominated.
As Major Fitch passed off the stage a young neigh- bor of his came into view, destined to even wider prominence in public matters of a very different na- ture. The questions that vexed the soul of our bel- ligerent major were to a good degree settled, or out- grown. Indian wars had practically ceased, Indian land titles had been made over to Government, the Indians themselves were fast passing away. Many questions of public polity had been settled. Some supposed to be settled were to rise again with inten- sified strife and bitterness. When Major Fitch as chairman of the Council in 1708 expressed his " great approbation" of the result reached by the reverend ministers of the colony in council at Saybrook, and assented to that " happy agreement" by which all the churches of Connecticut were to be "united in doc- trine, worship and discipline," and all troublesome re- ligious questionings silenced forever, he little dreamed that that young neighbor of his would strike such tell- ing blows against that "happy agreement " and church establishment.
Elisha Paine, Junior, like James Fitch, was early called into prominence. Sprung from a leading fam-
11
SPENT LIGHTS.
ily, with superior advantages of education, he entered upon the practice of law in his native town and was universally recognized as " having the best sense of anyone in those parts." But while in the prime of life, with every prospect of high eminence in his pro- fession and in public affairs, he was caught in the vortex of "the Great Revival," and thenceforth the current of his life was changed.
This remarkable religious movement swept with great power through Windham County. The settlers of these new towns had shared in the preceding spir- itual apathy. With the many labors crowding upon them in public and private affairs, they had gone for- ward "in settling the worship of God;" had built their meeting-houses, provided home and support for their minister, assisted in church organization. Their meeting-houses were filled with hearers; their chil- dren duly presented in baptism. But the living faith, the constant sense of divine presence and guidance that had so characterized their Puritan ancestors, was largely in abeyance. Under what was known as " The Halfway Covenant," men without religious ex- perience were in a certain sense connected with the churches and lowered the standard of piety. But a reflex tide was setting in. Spiritual men like Jona- than Edwards were considering the situation. Re- vival movements were reported from the Connecticut Valley, and then tidings of the wonderful effects of
12
HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
Whitfield's progress and preaching roused universal expectation and questioning. This general sentiment is best seen in the narrative lately brought to light of Nathan Cole, a plain farmer of Kensington Parish in the vicinity of Middletown. He writes :
""Now it pleased God to send Mr. Whitfield into this land & my hearing of his preaching at Philadel- phia like one of the old aposels & many thousands flocking after him to hear ye Gospel and great num- bers were converted to Christ, I felt the spirit of God drawing me .by conviction. I longed to see & hear him & wished he would come this way & I soon heard he was come to New York and the Jarsies & great multitudes flocking after him under great concern for their souls and many converted which brought on my concern more & more, hoping soon to see him but next I heard he was on Long Island & next at Bos- ton & next at Northampton, and then one morning all on a sudden about 8 or 9 o'clock, there came a messenger & said Mr. Whitfield preached at Hartford & Wethersfield yesterday & is to preach at Middle- town this morning at 10 o'clock. I was in my field at work. I dropt my tool that I had in my hand & run home & run through my house & had my wife get ready quick to go & hear Mr. Whitfield preach at Middletown & ran to my pasture for my horse with all my might fearing I should be too late to hear him. I brought my horse home & soon
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SPENT LIGHTS.
mounted & took my wife up & went forward as fast as I thought ye horse could bear & when my horse began to be out of breath I would get down & put my wife on the saddle & bid her ride as fast as she could & not stop or slak for me except I bad her & so I would run until I was al- most out of breath & then mount my horse again & so I did several times to favor my horse. We im- proved every moment to get along as if we were flee- ing for our lives, all this while fearing we should be too late to hear ye sermon for we had twelve miles to ride dubble in littel more than an hour & we went round by the upper housen parish & when we came within half a mile of ye road that comes down from Hartford, Wethersfield & Stepney to Middletown on high land I saw before me a cloud or fog rising, I first thought off from ye Great River but as I came nearer the road I heard a noise something like a low mumbling thunder & I presently found it was the rumbling of horses feet coming down the road, and this cloud was a cloud of dust made by ye running of horses feet, it arose some rods into the air over the tops of the hills and trees & when I came within about twenty rods of the road I could see men & horses slipping along in the cloud like shadows and when I came nearer it was like a stidy stream of horses, & their riders, scarcely a horse more than his length behind another, all of a lather and foam with
2
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HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
sweat, their breath rolling out of their nostrils, in a cloud of dust every jump, every horse seemed to go with all his might to carry his rider to hear the news from Heaven to ye saving of their souls. It made me tremble to see the sight how ye world was in a struggle. I found a vacance between two horses to slip in my horse & my wife said, 'Law, our clothes will be all spoiled, see how they look'-for they was so covered with dust they looked almost all of a color, coats & hats & shirts & horses. We went down in the stream. I heard no man speak a word all the way, three miles, but every one pressing forward in great haste & when we got down to the old meeting- house there was a great multitude, it was said to be 3 or 4000 of people assembled together. We got off from our horses & shook off ye dust & the ministers was then coming to ye meeting-house. I turned & looked toward the Great River & saw the ferry boats running swift forward and backward bringing over loads of people, ye ores rowed nimble & quick ; everything, men, horses and boats seemed to be struggling for life : ye land & ye banks over ye river lookt black with people and horses. All along the twelve miles I see no man at work in his field but all seemed to be gone. When I see Mr. Whitfield come up upon the Scaffil he looked almost angelical, a young slim slender youth before some thousands of people & with a bold undaunted countenance. And my hearing how God was with him everywhere as he
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SPENT LIGHTS.
came along it solumnized my mind & put me in a trembling fear before he began to preach for he looked as if he was clothed with authority from the great God & a sweet sollome Solemnity sat upon his brow, and my hearing him preach gave me a heart wound by God's blessing, my old foundation was broken up and I saw that my righteousness would not serve me." *
Such was the beginning of the "Great Awaken- ing." The chronicles of those days read like a sup- plementary chapter of the Book of Acts. Men with flaming hearts and tongues went everywhere preach- ing the word, and what seemed like the veritable out- pouring of the Holy Ghost fell upon their hearers. The revival impulse was felt in all the churches. "This religious concern did in many parishes run swiftly through most of the families, and there was scarce a sermon preached but was blessed to promote the work."
Among the first in Windham county to be brought into the spirit of the revival was our Canterbury lawyer, Elisha Paine. Of a speculative turn of mind and remarkably candid and catholic spirit, Elisha Paine had always manifested great interest in re- ligions questions and doctrines, "inquiring into all the different worships of New England with their principles and behaviour," and had sometimes feared
* This visit occurred Oct. 23, 1740. Some changes in spelling have been made in copying from the original manuscript.
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HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
" that the true religion was not in the land." But the living words of the great preacher wrought powerfully upon his own heart, and he was led to feel that however he might judge the religion of others his own "was of no value." Yielding himself to this new influence he received a new spiritual baptism, and religion became to him the one thing of importance in the land. His brother Solomon, his sister, Mrs. Josiah Cleveland, and her family, and other leading families in Canterbury, were also par- takers in the revival influence.
This town of Canterbury was at this time peculiarly situated. It had been for sometime without a settled pastor, and the brethren of the church had exercised an unusual degree of liberty in administering its affairs. Owing in some degree to the influence of Major Fitch and his carelessness in admitting in- habitants-some eren from Rhode Island as we re- member-it had a strong radical element. The "Platform" adopted at Saybrook for the "Permanent establishment" of church discipline in Connecticut, had given certain powers to ministers and ministerial associations that had been formerly exercised by in- dependent churches. The Canterbury church ob- jected to this Platform, but did not formally manifest dissent until after the revived interest in all matters pertaining to religious worship. A committee was then appointed-to search into the former constitu-
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SPENT LIGHTS.
tion of the church and make return. Meantime they went forward in their efforts to secure a minister, and carried on revival meetings in somewhat inde- pendent fashion. The journal of John Cleveland, a Yale student, while passing his vacation at home, gives pleasant glimpses of the situation.
His father's house is " a little Bethel ;" his parents, brothers and sisters filled with great joy. They go from house to house in all parts of the town, holding "very live meetings." "April 7. A meeting in the evening, many filled. 9. A meeting at grandmother Paine's. Christians useful. 12. This night went down into town. Mills preached. Had some of us a very live meeting. 13. Talked with Uncle Solomon about religion. He related his experience. This afternoon Mills preached. His words seemed to have a very great effect upon the audience. There was a great stir indeed. 21. A meeting at Uncle Elisha Paine's. My father relates his experience. Walk with Mr. Bradford among the hills to pray. 26. Spent the forenoon in the mill-house in prayer and reading the Scriptures. In the afternoon Mills gave a funeral discourse on Samuel Adams. The children of God were very live at the funeral. A spirit of exhortation was poured down upon them. Two persons were struck unto conviction. 27. Exceeding full of the spirit. People had a brave meeting. May 2. Mr. Avery preached. Widow Spalding came out full of
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