USA > Connecticut > Tolland County > Coventry > Historic sketch of Coventry, Connecticut on the occasion of the two hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town and of the organization of the First Congregational Church > Part 1
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G 974.602 C83p 1770928
M. G
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01068 5359
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historicsketchof00pete_0
HISTORIC SKETCH
OF
COVENTRY, CONNECTICUT
PREPARED BY MAUDE GRIDLEY PETERSON
ON THE OCCASION OF THE TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN AND OF THE OR- GANIZATION OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
BICENTENNIAL POEM BY RUTH AMELIA HIGGINS
OFFICIAL PROGRAM
OLD HOME WEEK BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AUGUST 25-31, 1912
H ISTORIC SKETCH WITH VIEWS OF COVENTRY, CONNECTICUT
1770928
NATHAN HALE
ACAPTAIN
VWITH STATES
STATUE TO NATHAN HALE IN CITY HALL PARK, NEW YORK
OFFICIAL PROGRAM
OLD HOME WEEK BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 1712-1912
1:
F
Peterson, Mrs. Maude ( Gridley) 1871-
. 67
846084 Historie sketch of Coventry, Connecticut, prepared by Maude Gridley Peterson on the occasion of the two hun- dredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town and of the organization of the First Congregational church. Bicentennial poem. by Ruth Amelia Higgins. Official program, Old homo week bicentennial celebration August 25-31, 1912. Coventry? Con., 1912;
50 p. front. (fold. facsim.) illus. (incl. ports.) 21}em.
1. Coventry, Conn .-- Hist. 1. Higgins, Ruth Amelia.
13-5136
Library of Congress
F104 C75P4 .4
K 518
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JESSE ROOT.
Photograph from the painting of Jesse Root by Wheeler, now in the State Library, Hartford. Jesse Root was born in Coventry December 28th, 1736, was a member of the Second Continental Congress 1778-83, and Chief Justice of Connecticut 1796-1807.
PREFACE
On the occasion of the celebration of two hundred years of the existence of Coventry, Conn., it has seemed fitting to look back along the years and trace some of the steps in its development.
An attempt has been made to sketch from the early colonial and town records and other sources an account of the beginnings of the town. The advance during that time of its institutions and its industrial life is traced. Its share in the affairs of colony and nation is briefly tonched upon and abbreviated accounts of some of Coventry's prominent men are added. Circumstances have allowed the author but a week in which to classify and compile material for the pamphlet. An especial attempt for accuracy has been made, that the material may be of an authoritative nature. The limited time, however, makes many omissions of important matter probable. The accomplishment of the task allotted would have been impossible but for the helpful co-operation of my hus- band, Arthur Everett Peterson, and the valued assistance of many others. Dr. Wm. L. Higgins, President of the Town Committee, has been untiring in his aid. Mr. Curtis Dean, Secretary and His- torian, has shared with me valuable material. Mr. Addison Kings- bury contributed the list of present day manufacturers. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Woodworth have, from their extended memories of the older people and places, been most helpful. Among others who have contributed from their store of knowledge are various mem- bers of the Hilltop Home Club, Mr. and Mrs. John M. Wood, Mr. Patrick O'Brien, and Mr. Henry F. Parker.
To the State Librarian in Hartford I would offer sincere thanks for every possible courtesy and help in the use of the valuable manuscripts and texts preserved there. During Old Home Week, and even later, the Librarian will have on exhibition in Memorial Ilall at the State Library Building, manuscripts connected with the early days in Coventry. Any interested may inspect them there at will. Thanks are also due to the Connecticut Historical Librarian and to Frank D. Andrews of the Historical Library in Vineland, N. J., for further aid. The latter furnished the engraving for the print of Lorenzo Dow and the sketch of his life which accom- panies it.
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HISTORIC SKETCH MAUDE GRIDLEY PETERSON
Incorporation of Town of Coventry
LJ (Brand Mark)
O (TOBER 11, 1911, two hundred and one years ago, the legislative body of the colony of Con- necticut incorporated and named the town of Coventry. In this act provision was also made for procuring and settling a minister of the gospel in the best way and as soon as possible. A brand mark, as above, was fixed as the distinguishing mark for Coventry horses.
The Name Coventry
Comparison of a map of England and one of New England shows an interesting similarity of names of places. . "Coventry" is on both maps and we are surrounded by places bearing the names of those across the sea. Among those in the immediate locality are Andover, Bolton, Mansfield, Ashford, Canterbury, Hampton, Staf- ford. Enfield, Colchester, Woodstock, Norwich, and New London.
The following act of the Connecticut Assembly, 1658, in con- nection with the naming of New London so well illustrates the cus- tom of early nomenclature that it is quoted here :
"Whereas it hath been the commendable practice of the inhabi- tants of all the colonies of these parts, that as this country hath its denomination from our dear native country of England, and thence is called New England, so that planters, in their first settling of most new plantations, have given names to those plantations of some cities and towns in England, thereby intending to keep up, and leave to posterity the memorial of several places of note there, as Boston, Hartford, Windsor, York, Ipswich, Braintree, Exeter: this court considering, that there hath vet no place in any of the colonies, been named in memory of the city of London, there being a new plantation within this jurisdiction of Connecticut, settled upon that fair river Mohegan, in the Pequot country, being an ex- cellent harbor and a fit and convenient place for future trade, it being also the only place which the English in these parts have possessed by conquest, and that upon a very just war, upon that great and warlike people, the Pequots, that therefore they might
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thereby leave to posterity the memory of that renowned city of London, from whence we had our transportation, have thought fit, in honor to that famous city, to call the said plantation New London."
The name of the river Mohegan was also changed to Thames.
Old Coventry, founded it is said, in the eleventh century, is situated on an eminence in a valley, while to the south stretches a ridge of hills. From our own hilltops the bounding ridges of hills may be seen in all directions. It is thought that a similarity of landscape may have suggested the name for our town. An invita- tion from Coventry, New England, has gone over the Atlantic to Coventry, Old England, to participate in some way in the cele- bration which its namesake is enjoying at this time.
Aboriginal Inhabitants
The furrowing plow occasionally reveals traces of inhabitants previous to the time when the Coventry of now became Coventry. Abont Lake Wamgumbang, along the banks of the Willimantic River, and sometimes in scattered places over the hills, the upturned Indian arrow-heads are mute witnesses of the one time presence of the red man. Tradition says that the Indians used the land
A view of Lake Wamgumbang, taken from Nathan Hale Cemetery,
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hereabouts as a hunting ground, which they kept burned over to furnish good pasturage for game. With water supply in lake and river and good feeding ground, we can fancy the herd- of deer grazing about then as they do now. Indeed, years of protec- tion may mean that they are even more plentiful now than then. As many as fifteen have been seen together at a time and the gar- dens and crops sometimes suffer from their depredations. It is interesting to note that as early as 1718 attempt was made to pro- tect by law deer during the breeding season.
The burned-over grounds must have simplified for the early settlers the problem of clearing the land and made transportation in the vicinity much easier. It is said that at this time an ox-cart could be driven over most of the young timber growth which had started since the lands came into the hands of the white men and the yearly fires of the Indians had ceased.
The Mohegan Indians, a friendly tribe, held much land in this section and the white men's title to it was received by will from Joshua, sachem, the third son of Uneas. Records of the will are in the State Library at Hartford. It includes several legacies to different groups of men. Parts of Coventry seemed to be disputed territory between two of these groups, which was responsible for early difficulties over land titles.
Joshua made careful provisions for his children as regards property and their upbringing. "Further my Will is that my Chil- dren be brought up the first four years with Trusty and their mother to teach them English * * * and that the expiration of the said four Years I desire that my Children may be kept at the Eng lish Schoole." He wishes them kept apart from the "Connecticott" Indians. He asks to be buried at "Seybrook in a Coffin after the English manner" and disposes of personal treasures, giving his Guns to his two Sons, four to each of them, his Pistoll to his eldest son, and his seven Brass kettles and four iron pots to be equally divided to his three children.
Surveys and Settlements
About 1706, Win. Pitkin, Maj. Joseph Talcott, Win. Whiting and Richard Lord were appointed a committee to manage the lands of the legatees so as to promote their growth. Nathaniel Rust, who
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had settled on land here, was later added to the committee. In the earliest volume of Town Records in Coventry is a map as shown on folder facing page 1. The survey was made in March, 1708, with the lands set off in allotments and highways planned. Three reser- vation allotments were set off for use of church and school. On this map is noted the house and lot of one Samuel Burchard, abutting on the southwest shore of the "Big Pond." The value of the water power from the outlet of the lake for the location of a grist-mill was even then forecasted in the naming of the stream "Mill Brook."
The volume of town records previously mentioned has an inter- esting list of the allotments drawn by Joshua's legatees :
To Mr. Samuel Willis 15-20-42-51-61 To Coll john Talcott's heirs 7-25-15-59-72 To Mr. James Richards & his heirs 6-18-11-17-66 To Coll. John Allin his heirs 12-16-38-56-41 To Mr. William Pitkin's heirs 10-27-13-60-61 To Mr. Richard Lord's heirs 8-17-34-51-65 To Nathaniel Willit's heirs 14-21-14-57-70 To Thos Burnham's heirs 4-22-31-46-63 To Capt jos Fitch asigns 3-28-10-52-73 To Capt Nicholas Olmstead 11-26-32-55-62 To Capt Thomas Bull's heirs 5-23-33-19-67 To Barth Barnard's heirs 1-24-37-53-69 To Mr. John Hains his heirs 13-19-36-50-75 To Mr. Hinyry Howard-heirs 9-29-39-48-71 To Mr. Eleazor Ways heirs 2-30-35-58-68
Settlers for some of these various allotments were later sought.
The term settlers is such a substantial one aud prophetic of progress. For many hundreds of years the Indians had doubtless roamed these hills and dales, but with no appreciable sign of ad- vancement. The white man settled and the era of advancing civili- zation in Coventry started and has gone on with the intervening years, as the results of to-day show.
Copies of the following documents in possession of the State Library in Hartford give hints of the condition of the country here from 1700 to 1709 or 1710:
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COPY OF DOCUMENT IN CONNECTICUT STATE LIBRARY
(Towns and Lands, Vol. 5, P. 29)
Testimony. Benjamin Howard of full age Testifyeth that about 14 years ago I lived at Wungumbang now Coventry and I was Setled there by the proprietors of said Land Given by Joshua In- dian Sachem Viz. by Mr William Pitkin, Col. Whiting and the rest of the Committee Improved by the proprietor and that Sam! Birch- ard with his family lived there at the Same Time and I often heard him Say upon the Same Right. the wife of Benja Howard Testify- eth unto the above written. Sworn in Court, Auguft 17th, 1211.
A True Copy on file Test Hez Wyllys Clerk.
COPY OF DOCUMENT IN CONNECTICUT STATE LIBRARY
(Towns and Lands, V. 29)
The Testimony of John Meakins and Samuel Meakins both of Lawfoll age-Testify and say, that four or five Years ago at the Least : Last Michaelmas, Wee being out in the Wilderness, Looking for horfes, Took up our Lodging at a houfe in the Wilderness on the Southward Side of a Pond now called Coventry Pond, which houfe went by the name of Birchard's houfe and went Round sd pond and Saw no houfe there at that time besides that which Wee Lay in and having Occafion to go into the Wilderness that way the Last winter was two years since & Comming to the above sa Pond or place now Called Coventry and We Saw on both Sides of the pond houfes built and Land fenced and improved which land was reputed Joshua's right, and clanned by Mr Richards and Mr Pitkin and Sundry other Gentlemen of Hartford.
Hartford Aprill 14th, 1714-Sworn in Court Aprill 17th, 1211. Test. Hez Wyllys Clerk.
A True Copy on file-Test Hez. Wyllys Clerk.
A petition presented to the General Court in 1712 gives the number of families at about sixteen. Trumbull says that the carly families came principally from Hartford and Northampton, Mass.
About 1712 we get trace of an attempt ou the part of the pro- prietors to increase the population of the town. The wife of Richard Lord, after the death of her husband, sends a petition in May. 1112, to the Assembly that, whereas "the proprietors of Said Lands have Agreed to Settle about Sixty Families in the town your memoralist should settle ? AHlottments for the enconragement and Settlement
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of Said Town by Which the Other part of the lands My lait Hus- band was Ileir to will be more valuable for His children." She therefore asked for permission to sell these allotments, which was granted.
That the struggle for existence still continued, however, is indi- cated in a petition which was sent to the Governor and General Court in May, 1717. Here the "petitioners" pray that they may be "releaved" from their present difficulties. "Our charges to main- tain the worship of God are greate and heavy by the reason of the smallness of our numbers and wee increas very sloly. * * * A part of our Land is nott settled by any inhabitants so that the burden is Like to bee very heavy upon us unless we can have some releas." It is at this same time that the settlers ask that their "neighbors That Live between Coventry south line and Hop River may be joyned to our Town." It was not until 1723 that the territory asked for
and known as the Mile and Quarter was resolved annexed to Coventry.
Three years after the petition just mentioned, in the year 1720, Coventry is ordered to send their list to the Assembly as other towns do that they may bear their share of the "Pub- lick" charge. Let us hope they have received some " releas " from their previous "heavy bur- den" ere this is added unto it.
Development of Churches
The date of the establishment of the first church is uncertain. With the incorporation of the town, provision was made for the securing of a minister as soon as possible.
Gravestone standing in Nathan Hale Cemetery in memory of Rev. Jo- seph Meacham, first pastor of the First Congregational Church. For the reader's convenience, the in- scription is repeated in the text.
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Pastor Meacham was the one obtained and had one of the good old pastorates, remaining with his people until he died, in 1752, nearly forty years. He is buried in Nathan Hale Ceme- tery and his virtues are recorded AusolDeert Par ATCo que to Canada as follows on the stone which marks his grave: "The Rev. Mr. Joseph Meacham was near 40 years ye learned, faithful and painful pastor of ye church in Coventry. He was a man of God, fervent in prayer, zealous and plain in preaching, sincere in reproving, holy and prudent in conversation; a kind hus- band, tender father, sincere Gravestone of Mrs. Joseph Meach- am, also standing in Nathan Hale Cemetery. friend; a lover of Christ and souls. Tired with ye labors of ye World, his ardent soul bent its flight to Jesus, and dropped ye body to rest here till Jesus come. Sept. 15th, 1752, in ye 67th year of his age."
His wife, Esther Williams, of Deerfield, daughter of Rev. John Williams, had endured many hardships of pioneer life previous to her marriage. When but 12 years of age, her mother and the baby were murdered by Indians and the remainder of the family were carried captives into Canada by the savages. For two years she lived with the Indians. What tales she must have been table to tell to the four sons and six daughters who blessed her married life: They were the grandparents of Rev. Nathan Strong, of Hartford, and Rev. Jos. Strong, of Norwich .* Several other descendants were clergymen and one, Rev. G. M. S. Perry, a missionary.
The growth of the church during the first century was slow. In
*Cole's History of Tolland County, Conn.
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1811 there were but twenty-nine members, the women being in the majority-twenty-one to eight. Soon after that, a series of re- vivals under the pastorate of Rev. Chauncey Booth added nearly three hundred members to the church.
In the State Library at Hartford is the manuscript petition from which the following statements regarding a new church in 1766 are taken.
The Society wanted to build a new church and a committee was appointed by the Windham County Court to investigate and decide
The old Congregational Church in South Coventry that formerly stood on High Street opposite the Green. At the left old Academy Build- ing familiar to the childhood of the older residents.
on a location. The decision which it gave was not favorably re- ceived by the Society. A petition was sent to the General Court, asking that the location might be changed up near the school-house where the meeting-house can stand more commodious and "eligant."
The petition was granted, but it does not seem to be known whether or not a church was built at that time.
The old First Church shown in a remodeled form in the cut was in South Coventry on High Street, opposite the Green. Within the memory of present residents horse-sheds stood on either side of
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FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, SOUTH COVENTRY. Erected 1849.
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it and the old Academy was nearby. Within, were high box pews in the main part of the church and in the galleries which extended around three sides of it. These were later taken out and replaced by more modern sittings. The old church is now gone, having been destroyed by fire, but parts of the old pews are still in existence. These were used in finishing off rooms in houses on Ripley Will now owned by Rev. Robert II. Sherman and Mr. Frank B. Topliff. The bell in the church at Mansfield Center is the old bell which called to worship in the old South Coventry Congregational Church. The posts to the bell tower became unsafe and the bell
The street in North Coventry, showing at the left the church, chapel and Grange Hall, respectively.
and lumber were exchanged for shingling the church. Town meeting was formerly held in the ground floor room of the old church.
North Coventry Church
This is still the custom in the North Coventry Church. The North Coventry Parish was incorporated in October, 1740, and the Society held its first meeting in the following December. Previ-
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ously, in 1937, the town voted to raise one farthing on the pound for the expense of a minister there, who was to preach in the dwell- ing house of Noah Rust. In 1738, arrangements were made re- garding a school and burial ground.
Five years of trouble within the Society, from 1713-1748, re- sulted in the setting off at that time of still another parish, which was called Andover. Mr. Nathan Strong preached as a candidate in North Coventry in 1744 and was ordained October 9th, 1745. This, according to Cole, was soon after the meeting-house was in condition to use. This first meeting-house was the cause of much
The Second Congregational Church, North Coventry, erected 1847.
trouble. Two surveys were made to determine the center of the parish and a legislative committee chosen to locate the site. It was built a few rods west of the present church and was forty-five feet long and forty broad. It was ten years in process of construction and was never completed.
The church records show that bills for the erection of the church now standing had been paid during the first part of the year 1818, which would seem to make the year of erection 1812. Rev. Hollis M. Bartlett is the present pastor.
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Village Church
In 1848 a split occurred in the old First Church in South Cov- entry. About fifty of the members left and formed a new society. Meetings were held for about a year in a private hall before the present church, known at that time as the Village Church, was ready. The older members of the First Church died until few were left, and in 1866 the two societies again worshipped together. A permanent union of the two under the name of the First Congrega- tional Church of Coventry was effected January 6th, 1869, by a council. This church was received into the fellowship of neighbor- ing churches March 11th of the same year. Rev. Nestor Light has been pastor of the church for thirteen years.
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Methodist Church, erected 1867.
Methodist Church
Although Coventry is the birthplace of Lorenzo Dow, one of the carly ministers to spread the doctrines of Methodism, it was not until 1822 that the Methodist Church had a definite start. Mr. Gardner, of East Hartford, at this time conducted meetings in the South Street schoolhouse. The early converts were immersed in the
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lake. The new movement met with opposition and the use of the schoolhouse was denied them. A private house and an old store on South Street then served as places of worship, but interest waned, and in 1827 not even an organized class existed. Two years after, meetings were again held, this time in the East Street school. In 1839, when it was again attempted to forbid them the use of the building, effort was made to raise money for a church. One thousand two hundred and six dollars and ninety-one cents was collected, and with this a chapel was built. The present building on Main Street in South Coventry was built during the pastorate of Rev. S. S. Cummings. The old church was later used as a temporary church by the Catholics, then as a Methodist parsonage; later it was rented to Father Quinn while the present parochial residence was being built. It is now used as a dwelling.
Rev. Duncan Dodd is the present pastor of the Methodist Church.
Catholic Church
The Catholics at first gathered in private houses for worship. Father MeCabe said the first mass in Jeremiah Crowley's house,
St. Mary's Catholic Church, erected 1877.
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near the railroad station. This house is now occupied by Mr. Wright, who carries the mail between the postoffice and the trains. As has been previously noted, the old Methodist Church was used by the Catholics for service, beginning about 1863 and continuing for about fourteen years.
On Good Friday, 1877, ground was broken for the foundations of St. Mary's Church. The men of the congregation came in a body to help. The cornerstone was laid on June 10th, 1877, and the work of building was so expeditious that the church was dedi- cated on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 29th, 1877. The building was accomplished under the guidance of Father Shahan.
After many years of mission relationship, South Coventry was honored on January 2d, 1886, with Rev. J. J. Quinn as first resi- dent pastor. At the establishment of the parish about eighty-five families were included. During Father Quinn's years of service the present parochial residence was built.
Land for a cemetery in the lower part of town was blessed Sun- day, August 26th, 1894. Mrs. Carr's grave was the first one in the new cemetery. She was buried September 19th.
The parish includes a considerable territory outside of Coventry. There are two outside stations, one at Eagleville and one at Hop River. Rev. John F. Donahue is the present parish priest.
Schools
In the early allotments of land three were reserved for the sup- port of church and school.
The first school records were made in 1726, as follows :
"That ye representatives next May shall lay before the General Assembly ye sercomstances of ye schooll Lott & pray for Liberty to dispos of it for ye use of ye school."
September, 1728, it was "Voted that they would build a school House" and that "ye school house" should be set up within twenty rds. of the meeting house and should be 18 ft. w. and 20 ft. l. Peter Buell, Capt. Samuel Parker and Thomas Porter were ap- pointed a "Comety to carry on ye Building of ye school House."
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In November of the same year the salary of the schoolmaster was fixed at not more than eleven pounds for the winter quarter.
The present school in South Coventry village was built in 1873. It contains three departments. Schools are kept in eight other outlying distriets.
In the early days the minister of the town was accustomed to fit for college the few youths who aspired for a higher education.
Old Military Training Ground, looking toward the Lake.
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