USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Norfolk > A brief history of the town of Norfolk [Conn.] from 1738 to 1844 collected from the public records of the town and other correct documents, with the dates accurately annexed. To which is added a description of the town, incidents, list of officers, and other interesting matter > Part 5
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School society divided into districts, 1798
Independence first celebrated in this town, 1798
A revival of religion occurred, 150 members were added,
1798-9
Families in town, 290-members in the church, 300, -
1799
Greenwood's turnpike completed, cost $19,500, 1799
Celebrated the birth of Washington, February 22, 1800
General association of Comneeticut met here in June, 1800
Independence of the United States celebrated, 1801
Annual town-meeting to be holden first Monday in November, -
1801
Course of road south of meeting-house established, 1802 Mr. Robbins' salary fixed, during his capacity to preach, at $300, 1806 Number of inhabi ants in this town, 1441, 1810
Mr. Robbins preached his half-century sermon, October 28, - 1811
An almost unanimous vote was given to build a new meeting-house, 1811 The present road to Goshen established, 1811
The centre of the town established by measurement, 1811
The site for the meeting-house agreed upon, 1812
Mr. Robbins died, October 31 .- Ecclesiastical society organized, 1813 Meeting-house completed, cost $6,000, David Hoadly, architect, - 1814
Meeting-house dedicated, August, 1814
Church clock presented by Rev. Thomas Robbins, -
1814 -.
Voted unanimously to call Mr. Ralph Emerson, - 1815 1
The three military companies were united in one, 1815
A revival of religion occurred, 122 added to the church,
1815-16
Mr. Emerson was ordained, June 12th, -
Ecclesiastical society fund was constituted, 1816
1817
Centre school-house and conference-room built, cost $1,000, 1819
Assessors and board of relief constituted, 1819
Number of inhabitants in Norfolk, 1422, 18220
Norfolk library company formed-number of vols. purchased, 142, 1822 Church organ procured, 1822
Eight hundred and thirty-three dollars thirty-four cents added to
ecclesiastical society fund-interest to support church music, 1824
A general vaccination for kine-pox ordered, 1824
Society for improving sacred music organized, 1826 -
A revival of religion occurred, 103 were added to the church, 1827
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49
TOWN OF NORFOLK.
Mr. Emerson invited to take the presidency of Hudson college, - 1828 Church and ecclesiastical society refused to dismiss him, 1828 Mrs. Elizabeth Robbins died, loved as an active Christian, - 1828 Mr. Emerson invited by theological seminary, Andover-dismissed, 1829 A temperance society formed, 1829-30
Tracts for each family, on the subject of temperance, purchased, 1830 Gave Rev. J. Albro a call, for our minister-failed, 1830 - Gave Rev. John Mitchel a call-failed, 1830
Gave Rev. Theophilus Smith a call-failed, 1831
A revival of religion occurred, sixty-three added to the church,
1831
The temperance society counted at this time 340, - 1831
Two stoves were set in the meeting-house, 1831
Gave Mr. Joseph Eldridge a call-ordained, April 25, 1832
Deaths this year, 30-one half of them over 70 years old, 1832
Mrs. Eldridge died, endeared to us as an active Christian, - 1833
A cold and late spring, but fruitful autumn, 1833
Procured a hearse, and appointed a keeper, 1834
An early spring, but expected fruits of autumn failed, - 1834
1835
A petition signed by 379 persons, against giving spirit-licenses, - General association of Connecticut met here, June 21, 1836
Academical school instituted, and company formed, 1839
Academy building erected and dedicated, cost $2,000, 1840
Methodist Episcopal society erected a house for worship, - 1841
Joseph Battell, Esq., died, November 30th, 1841
Independence celebrated, , 1842
Centennial address given by Rev. Thomas Robbins, D. D., 1844
John Strong bequeathed property to this town, said to be worth
$2,500, consisting mostly of real estate, not yet appraised, - 1846 The meeting-house was repaired and improved, cost $1,700, - 1846 The town purchased the lower room of the academy, and half the
ground attached to it, for a town-house, cost $725, - - 1846
1
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50
HISTORY OF THE
SITUATION, DESCRIPTION AND RESOURCES.
NORFOLK lies on the height between the Connecticut and the Hudson rivers, thirty-five miles west from Hartford, and forty miles east of Hudson; fifty-two miles north of New Haven, and sixteen miles north of Litchfield. It is bounded north on Massachusetts, and sixteen miles east of the state of New-York. Its length from north to south is nine miles ; its breadth from east to west ave- rages four and a half miles. It contains, by estimation, 22,336 acres of land ; a great proportion of which is suit- able for pasture and meadow, and feeds a great number of cattle and sheep. Its air is salubrious, and its water generally good.
The carly inhabitants of this town, placed by Provi- dence in a situation where industry was necessary in or- der to procure the comforts of life, were schooled in and inured to the practice of industry, and of steady habits ; and brought with them those habits, and put them in practice, when they became permanent residents. The fruits of these were soon perceived and enjoyed by them, and subsequently by their posterity, down to the present time. Very few political, civil, or ecclesiastical dissen- sions have occurred ; and its institutions and privileges, it is believed, are surpassed. or have been, but by few of its sister corporations in this state. From this statement and the foregoing history it will be seen that its pro- gress was slow, but sure ; it rose from small beginnings to its present respectable standing among the towns of its vicinity.
The management and internal resources of this town will be noticed in part by the following statement : the town was originally divided into fifty-three rights of lands, estimated to contain 400 acres each ; three of the rights were reserved by the State, when sold. One equal un- divided right for a parsonage ; one for a school, and one
51
TOWN OF NORFOLK.
for a minister's right ; this last right to be given to the first orthodox minister who settled in town. In 1780, the parsonage and school lands were, by proper autho- rity, leased, on security, for the term of 999 years ; the interest accruing, to be annually appropriated to the respective uses originally designed. In 1846, November Ist, as reported, the ecclesiastical society fund, town deposit, school society fund, bequests, donations, &c., (some recent bequests, value not ascertained at this time,) were estimated at $20,000. In 1818, the last offi- cial act of the listers, the land in town was divided as follows : 741 acres of plow land, 1024 acres of clear pas- ture, 8575 acres of bush pasture, 3791 acres of wood land, second rate, 8064 acres of wood land, third rate, 85 acres of boggy meadow, mowed, 80 acres boggy meadow, not mowed. In 1826, there were fed in its pas- tures and from its meadows, 201 horses, 2051 neat cat- tle, and 3162 sheep.
Its hills are generally covered, to their summits, with forest trees ; and most of them are accessible to the woodman, and help to furnish timber for building, and fuel for the fire-side. The great quantity of butter and cheese made in town, enables the inhabitants to procure their bread in abundance, which makes up the deficien- cy of arable land. The sugar-maple supplies a great part of their sugar, and its timber excellent fuel. Fruits, . both cultivated and wild, are found in sufficient quanti- tity and of good quality.
There are a great variety of soils in the limits of this town; of course most of the staple articles of food are produced by the industry of the farmer. The soil is con- sidered stubborn, and requiring extra labor to produce the necessary sustenance, yet the patient husbandman generally enjoys abundance as the fruit of his labor. If his fields do not wave with a luxuriant growth of grain- " the staff of life "-yet from the avails of his dairy he can easily procure a plentiful supply of flour, of excellent quality, and it may be said in truth, " his bread and his water are sure." On his pastures, and from his mea- dows and the produce of his fields, many cattle are fat-
...
52
HISTORY OF THE
tened for the use of the inhabitants, and for market. The dairies help to fatten great quantities of pork for the same use. The flocks of sheep which range their pastures, and speck the declivities of our hills, furnish improved and large supplies of wool ; and domestic in- dustry forms a part of it into cloth of handsome fabric, or of strong texture, for the use of the family or of the mechanic who makes their machinery and implements of husbandry.
Butter is made in great quantity, and the busy bee make us as much honey as we need. There is made in this town annually, an average amount of 200,000 lbs. of cheese. In 1826, the assessors placed on the grand list, $36,851, vested in bank, turnpike, and other secu- rities. The ecclesiastical society fund is accumulating. In 1815 it began to be legally used, that is, the interest of it. The public school fund does much towards sup- porting our schools.
In 1832, there were 4.11 children in the nine school districts who were benefitted by the public school fund ; the dividend for Norfolk that year was $154 35, which since has been increasing.
Notwithstanding the embarrassments and losses, both "of men and treasure, incurred by our ancestors, in conse- quence of their participation in the revolutionary strug- gle, and subsequently thie frequent emigrations to the new · settlements of our extensive country, it would seem for a time that they must be stationary as to increase of population and improvement ; yet at no time did they exhibit a retrograde movement, and especially as to their improvements. This town is very different from the new settlements at the west, where we meet with a dense population in the form of a village, and contigu- ous to them an extensive wild, pierced here and there with a passable road, and in some parts, at the distance of from two to twelve or even fifteen miles apart, a log hut is erected to cheer the lonely traveller, perhaps be- nighted, where he may enjoy the fireside and homely fare of its tenant. In this town the inhabitants are thinly scattered over its surface, occupying large farms,
53
TOWN OF NORFOLK.
bordering on each other, and separated by a division fence of stone or rails, or by a forest limited in extent, and reserved to supply the possessor with fuel. The following statement will give a brief view of the build- ings, families, &c., as to number, in 1828 :
207 Dwelling houses.
232 Families.
163 Families belonging to the first ecclesiastical society-permanent residents.
191 Residents' farms.
43 Non-residents' farms.
22 Building lots.
These numbers will vary somewhat since the above date.
The annexed statement is taken from the official document.
AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF EACH DESCRIPTION OF PERSONS IN NORFOLK. Census-June 1st, 1840.
MALES.
FEMALES.
Under 5
-
-
77
Under 5
-
62
5 to 10
82
5 to 10
71
10 to 15
-
91
10 to 15
61
15 to 20
83
15 to 20
82
20 to 30
112
20 to 30
113
30 to 40
76
30 to 40
93
40 to 50
66
40 to 50
70
50 to 60
49
50 to 60
57
60 to 70
27
60 to 70
36
70 to 80
27
70 to 80
14
80 to 90
-
3
80 to 90
4
693
663
COLORED MALES.
COLORED FEMALES.
10
-
5
10
-
-
3
10 to 24
4
10 to 24
-
7
24 to 36
-
-
-
2
24 to 36
-
1
36 to 55
-
-
3
36 to 55
-
2
55 to 100
-
3
55 to 100
3
16
17
-
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HISTORY OF THE
Agriculturists
376
Academy -
-
1
Commercial
9 Scholars
- 132
Manufactures and Trades
S7
Common Schools
- 11
Learned professions -
12 Scholars
- 371
Pensioners - -
9
Insane and Idiots
-
3
Cannot read nor write, over twenty years old
4
The general appearance of Norfolk is romantic ; and the first view to a stranger, in a fine season, peculiar- ly so. As he ascends from the valley to the rising ground, and winds his way along the serpentine road, a continual succession of objects, " new and rare," stand out in bold relief before him. From his elevated stand he takes a horizontal glance into a decent habitation, and turning partly around, he looks down on the roof of another ; and still turning, his view is extended to a dis- tant cluster of buildings, founded on an undulating sur- face, presenting here a front, and there an ornamented gable, some of which are painted by the patient process of the brush, and some appear in time's sombre hue. Here an abrupt precipice presents itself, and there a startling gulf ; the scene is continually changing. Un- like the monotonous view of the extensive plain, which tires the eye for want of an object within its ken to rest upon at the distance. The traveller passes along, inhal- ing our pure and salubrious air, and, on the whole, im- bibes a favorable opinion of our situation. Were he a painter, he might have thought it a rough sketch on na- ture's canvass, with a little too much foreground to ad- mit of a suitable extent of perspective. If a poet, he might say-it may be used as a good, though rough, stepping-stone in ascending Parnassian heights. The general student will not only find this town fertile with social enjoyments, but in his scientific researches will find it fertile as a miscellaneous chapter in the volume of nature.
The natural division of the town with respect to soil and productions may be thus described, with few ex- ceptions. A line drawn through the town, north and south, about where the road runs, will, in the eastern
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55
TOWN OF NORFOLK.
section, show a soil rather heavy, through the most part of its surface. Naturally moist and compact, it retains the manure spread upon its surface, and thus prepared, it produces heavy crops of timothy or herdsgrass, and some other valuable kinds of grass. The largest dairies are in this section, and so are the sugar-maple ; yet there are good dairies and valuable sugar-works in the west section. The maple, the birch, beech, hemlock and other timber of large growth, are seen on this side- large rocks, deeply embedded in the earth, here and there show their hard surfaces, and seem to defy the force of powder and human skill to remove them. On the west side, with few exceptions, the soil may be termed light, consisting, in many parts of its surface, of sand and gravel, mixed with decomposed vegetable sub- stances. Here is produced the red and the white clover, and some lighter grasses, in large quantities ; and with . proper manure and good cultivation, fields of English grain are sometimes raised, in waving beauty, which fully compensate the cultivator. The oak, chestnut, walnut, and other kinds of timber are indigenous to the soil. This soil extends, with few interruptions, from about a mile south of the centre, to the northerly extre- mity of the town.
Our mountains do not rise to a Pyrenean altitude. The precise heights have not been ascertained by actual measurement, except the Haystack mountain, which is said to be seven hundred feet ; but being based on an extensive and elevated ridge, that and the others must tower high above the Atlantic. They frequently do in- tercept and divert the course of thunder showers, which come from the north-west, turning them north or west of us, and in some instances divide them and leave us without a sprinkle of rain ; the fervid rays of the sun soon break through the mist and are welcomed by the beholder. The Burr mountain, and the one adjoining, south of it, are supposed to be the most elevated situa- tions in Norfolk, and they afford very extensive and grand prospects. We find through the whole extent of the town, a great variety as to its surface ; rising into
56
HISTORY OF THE
hills, and sinking into valleys ; few fieids are found which approach very near a level, being for the most part gently undulating, and of small extent. In the cen- tre of the town the sun is seen to rise and set, say a de- gree above an exact horizontal line, the surface being a little depressed. The general surface of the town may be considered, when compared with the surface of Canaan and Sheffield, and seen from that situation, as a kind of plateau, or table-land. But few naked and craggy cliffs appear, like those in the arid regions of the south ; a green hue appears, from a great variety of mosses, woodbine, and a species of alpine vine, and others ; but they are generally shaded by forest trees which stand at their base, cling to their sides, or tower on their summits, in some places impervious to the me- ridian sunbeam. The stroke of the woodman's axe is frequently heard echoing from their shallow caverns, and the fallen tree, stripped of its encumbering limbs, is seen making down the steep and winding descent, urged for- ward by the woodman's lever, or drawn by the patient and manageable ox, until it comes to a situation where it comes in contact with the sled ; there the axe gives it the right length for the sled, it is loaded, the team at- tached to it, and the woodman, freed from his anxiety and management while on its descent, flourishes his whip and whistles along the beaten path until it arrives at its destined wood-house. There is very little waste surface, as before noticed ; the soil, even of our thick- est forests, which is not occupied by its lofty tenants, is generally covered, either with shrubbery or plants, which botanists will show may be useful to man, although flour- ishing in the sombre shade. The marsh and the quag- mire are filling up with vegetable mould, and the earth washed down from the surrounding hills, and they are fast verging to a solid state. In instances not a few, the loose rocks which formerly covered a great part of some fields, have been reduced to a manageable size, and placed in a wall enclosing the once almost useless field ; thus cleared and defended, its soft and rich soil has be- come productive and paid the laborer for his extra toil.
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4
2
57
TOWN OF NORFOLK.
The agriculturist will find a sufficient variety in the . soil, to invite experiment in his very important employ- ment, and nerve the arm of industry, confidently expect- ing the reward of the diligent, which in many cases is realized. This, together with a vigorous frame and well-strung nerve, make it a desirable occupation. No- tice, also, the farmer's table, spread, liberally, with the " fruit of summer's brown toil," independent, in a good measure, of foreign supplies, which, if desired, he can easily procure in exchange for his surplus produce. He plants his fields and sows his summer crops, generally, from the 10th to the 20th of May. He commences his haying from the 1st to the 10th of July, and his harvest from the 20th of July to the 1st of August. This must vary, as the reader is aware, according to season and situation.
The gardener may generally put his seed into the ground from May the 10th to the 20th ; yet season, adap- tation of soil, and situation, are to be carefully noticed. The young plants, though watched with care, are liable to be injured by late frosts and the chilling effects of the north-east winds ; and as one writer remarks, "so of- ten has spring's primrose-crowned head been thrust back into the icy lap of winter "-and another, speaking of our winters, says, " see winter lingering in the lap of May," of course, in some seasons, which at first appear pro- mising, it will be prudent to wait a few days. A later planting is apt to produce more vigorous plants, and more and earlier fruit. Our crops of most kinds, in the fields, are rather late, when compared with those of Shef- field, etc., and so are our garden vegetables ; but on the whole, we enjoy them longer than do those who have a warmer soil, and have them earlier. It is found practi- cable successfully to cultivate many exotic plants as or- naments to our gardens, and for use as culinary articles. Several of the medicinal kinds are found to flourish, and may be cultivated to profit; such are tomatoes, senna, foxglove, and the castor bean, affording the useful oil.
The botanist will notice that the great variety in the species of vegetables, indigenous in this place, would be
58
HISTORY OF THE
expected, from the variety of soils interspersed over its surface. Its hills and dales, its mountains and rising grounds, its smooth though limited meadows, the mean- dering brook, and the shallow, dimpled water of the pond, all conspire to produce and cherish their peculiar species of vegetation, and help to vary the scene. The follow- ing brief memorandum, respecting garden vegetables, as to the time they are generally brought to maturity for use, may suffice to show the comparative temperature of our climate, one season and year with another, and check our unscasonable longing after summer fruits.
First Marrowfat Peas.
. 1824-July 21. 1825-July 21. 1832-July 28.
First Cucumbers.
1824-August 11.
1825-July 21.
1832-August 12.
First New Potatoes.
1824-August 11. 1825-July 29.
1832-August 8.
First Small Fruit, in
1825-Strawberries, June 7.
-Raspberries, June 28.
-Whortleberries, July 20.
" -Blackberries, July 28.
First Shell Beans and Corn.
1824-August 30.
1825 -- August S. 1832-August 30.
First Frost occurred.
1824-September 25. 1825-September 11, &c.
Vigorous shoots of the peach, cherry, and plumb will grow in the summer; but the rigors of winter destroy many of them, and in those situations where they survive the frost of winter, and become in a measure climatizcd, in a few years decay, having produced but little fruit. We can, however, obtain a comfortable supply of these precious articles from the warmer soil of Sheffield and Canaan. The apple trees yield a good supply, generally, for common use, though not early and of delicious fla- vor ;- those we must obtain from abroad. Ours are im- proving in quality by grafting and culture, which may for a time do well : but it is thought that in our elevated situa- tion they will degenerate and decay, and have to yield to the edge of the pruning knife, like their predecessors of
59
TOWN OF NORFOLK.
natural branches, and if the patience of the cultivator holds out, other more promising branches are inserted in their place. Pears do well, and a variety of grapes are found to bear the frost of our winters, producing plentifully if not checked with late frosts.
The geologist will notice, that although we are situated within the zone of rocks of primitive formation, yet we have specimens of secondary and transition. In the eastern section of the town, large masses of rock are found of primary formation, such as granite, gneiss, etc., and some interesting specimens of secondary formation, such as breccia, or pudding-stone, etc. In the western section, will be found large masses of quartz or flint, diminishing in size, to the pebble. Some fields are almost covered with them, of moderate size, between which the gravel and sand appear in sufficient quantity to produce good crops of corn, even where it is literally hilled with them. Among the great variety of stones, though not esteemed among the precious, some are very valuable for buildings and for walls, and where skill, patience, and funds permit, blocks and slabs may be formed from them, both durable and ornamental. Good beds of clay are found, and some of them have been opened and worked, and it is hoped they will be, in future, to a still greater extent.
The naturalist, when he turns his attention to the beast that roves the forest and the declivities of our mountains, and commences a research, will find no dens or lairs of beasts of wild and ferocious habits ; and it is believed that this town has never been a peculiar haunt for them. In the early settlement of the town, the timid deer, the bear, the wolf, the panther, and the wild cat, were occasionally seen ; their visit seemed, how- ever, like that of the wayfarer who turns in for the night, and their depredations extended generally no farther than to obtain a temporary meal, and they are away; either voluntarily, fleeing to regions more congenial to them, or urged away by the untiring vigilance of our fathers ; at any rate, they seem now to be exterminated, to a degree almost regretted by the hunter.
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HISTORY OF THE
For many years past, we have had the precaution, generally, at our town meetings, annually to offer a premium to him who killed a wolf, panther, or a wild cat ; but few have been killed and few depredations have occurred. Once in a while, the sly and cunning fox, as he passes along, takes a hen from the coop, or as she sits on her nest, attending to her business of incubation or nestling her young-thus satisfying his present hun- ger-or he may stop the gabble of a goose, in sport, and pass on. There are several dams noticed across streams which bear evident marks of the ingenious workmanship of the beaver, nothing, however, appears of recent operation, and the occupation of them must have been in years long gone by.
The ornithologist, if he will institute his researches in the summer season, perhaps will meet with as great a variety of birds as can be found in any region of our Jatitude, but they are mostly birds of passage, and emi- grate, some soon after the harvest is gathered in, and others later and in autumn, few remain through the win- ter ; the robin stays to pluck the latest fruit that serves him for food ; a few, with some others, are seen in situations, cheered occasionally with the rays of the winter sun, especially on the southern declivities of our hills. In the summer we are cheered with the notes of the bullfinch, thrush, mockbird, American nightingale ; the humming bird pleases the sight if not the car ; a long catalogue would be noticed by the ornithologist. The horned owl finds in our forests, recesses dark enough to afford.it a home, and a shade from the too bright rays of the sun until the curtain of night invites him forth, to disgust us with its nocturnal hoot and to visit our poultry-yards. Our birds, though not drest in as gaudy plumage as those of some other climes, yet we prize their songs and think of them in the dreary silence and tedium of winter, and impatienly wait for their return in the spring, fondly anticipating the pleasing transition from frigidness and silence to melody. Some of their notes hail the earliest vernal rays, and they climb the air in spiral flight to meet the first rays of the morning sun, or, at more perfect day,
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