USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 5
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Thence we travailed through Merrinak, a neet, though little place, wth a navigable River before it, one of the pleasantest I ever see-Here were good Buildings, Especialy one, a very fine seat, wch they told me was Col. Hethcoats, who I had heard was a very fine Gentleman. From hence we come to Hors Neck, where wee Baited, and they told me that one Church of England parson
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officiated in all these three towns once every Sunday in turns throughout the Year; and that they all could but poorly maintaine him, which they grudg'd to do, being a poor and quarelsome crew as I understand by our Host; their Quarelling about their choice of Minister, they chose to have none-But caused the Government to send this Gentleman to them. Here wee took leave of York Government, and Descending the Mountainos passage that almost broke my heart in ascending before, we come to Stamford, a well compact Town, but miserable meeting house, wch we passed, and thro' many and great difficulties, as Bridges which were exceeding high and very tottering and of vast Length, steep and Rocky Hills and precipices, (Buggbears to a fearful female travailer.) About nine at night we come to Norrwalk, having crept over a timber of a Broken Bridge about thirty foot long, and perhaps fifty to ye water. I was exceeding tired and cold when we come to our Inn, and could get nothing there but poor entertainment, and the Impertinant Bable of one of the worst of men, among many others of which our Host made one, who, had he bin one degree Impudenter, would have outdone his Grandfather. And this I think is the most perplexed night I have yet had. From hence, Saturday, Dec. 23, a very cold and windy day, after an Intoler- able night's Lodging, wee hastened forward only observing in our way the Town to be situated on a Navigable river wth indiferent Buildings and people more refind than in some of the Country towns wee had passed, tho' vicious enough, the Church and Tavern being next neighbours. Having Ridd thro a difficult River wee come to Fairfield where wee Baited and were much refreshed as well with the Good things wch gratified our appetites as the time took to rest our wearied Limbs, wch Latter I employed in enquiring concerning the Town and manners of the people, &c. This is a considerable town, and filld as they say with wealthy people-have a spacious meeting house and good Buildings. But the Inhabitants are Litigious, nor do they well agree with their minister, who (they say) is a very worthy Gentleman.
They have aboundance of sheep, whose very Dung brings them great gain, with part of which they pay their Parsons sallery, And they Grudg that, preferring their Dung before their minister. They Lett out their sheep at so much as they agree upon for a night; the highest Bidder always caries them, And they will sufficiently Dung a Large quantity of Land before morn- ing. But were once Bitt by a sharper who had them a night and sheared them all before morning-from hence we went to Stratford, the next Town, in which I observed but few houses, and those not very good ones. But the people that I conversed with were civill and good natured. Here we staid till late at night, being to cross a Dangerous River ferry, the River at that time full of Ice; but after about four hours waiting with great difficulty wee got over. My fears and fatigues prevented my here taking any particular observation. Being got to Milford, it being late in the night, I could go no further ; my fellow travailer going forward, I was invited to Lodg at Mrs. , a very kind and civill Gentlewoman, by whom I was handsomely and kindly entertained till the next night. The people here go very plain in their apparel (more plain than I had observed in the towns I had passed) and seem to be very grave and serious. They told me there was a singing Quaker lived there, or at least had a strong inclination to be so, His Spouse not at all affected that way. Some of the singing Crew come there one dav to visit him, who being then abroad, they sat down (to the woman's no small vexation) Humming and singing and groneing after their conjuring way- Says the woman are you singing quakers? Yea says They-Then take my squalling Brat of a child here and sing to it says she for I have almost split my throat wth singing to him and cant get the Rogue to sleep. They took
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GENERAL FACTS
this as a great Indignity, and mediately departed. Shaking the dust from their Heels left the good woman and her child among the number of the wicked. This is a Seaport place and accommodated with a Good Harbour, But I had not opportunity to make particular obervations because it was Sabbath day-This Evening.
December 24. I set out with the Gentlewomans son who she very civilly offered to go with me when she see no parswasions would cause me to stay while she pressingly desired, and crossing a ferry having but nine miles to New Haven, in a short time arrived there and was Kindly received and well accommodated amongst my Friends and Relations.
The Government of Connecticut Collony begins westward towards York at Stamford (as I am Told) and so runs Eastward towards Boston (I mean in my range, because I dont intend to extend my description beyond my own travails) and ends that way at Stonington-And has a great many Large towns lying more northerly. It is a plentiful Country for provisions of all sorts and its Generally Healthy . No one that can and will be dilligent in this place need fear poverty nor the want of food and Rayment.
January 6th. Being now well Recruited and fitt for business I discoursed the persons I was concerned with, that we might finish in order to my return to Boston. They delayd as they had hitherto done hoping to tire my Patience. But I was resolute to stay and see an End of the matter let it be never so much to my disadvantage-So January 9th they come again and promise the Wednesday following to go through with the distribution of the Estate which they delayed till Thursday and then come with new amusements. But at length by the mediation of that holy good Gentleman, the Rev. Mr. James Pierpont, the minister of New Haven, and with the advice and assist- ance of other our Good friends we come to an accommodation and distribu- tion, which having finished though not till February, the man that waited on me to York taking the charge of me I sit out for Boston. We went from New Haven upon the ice (the ferry being not passable thereby) and the Rev. Mr. Pierpont wth Madam Prout Cuzin Trowbridge and divers others were taking leave wee went onward without any thing Remarkabl till wee come to New London and Lodged again at Mr. Saltonstalls-and here I dismist my Guide, and my Generos entertainer provided me Mr. Samuel Rogers of that place to go home with me-I stayed a day here Longer than I intended by the Commands of the Honble Govenor Winthrop to stay and take a supper with him whose wonderful civility I may not omitt. The next morning I Crossed ye Ferry to Groton, having had the Honor of the Company, of Madam Livingston (who is the Govenors Daughter) and Mary Christophers and divers others to the boat-And that night Lodgd at Stonington and had Rost Beef and pumpkin sause for supper. The next night at Haven's and had Rost fowle, an the next day wee come to a river which by Reason of Ye Freshetts coming down was swell'd so high wee feard it impassable and the rapid stream was very terryfying-However we must over and that in a small Cannoo. Mr. Rogers assuring me of his good Conduct, I after a stay of near an how'r on the shore for consultation went into the Cannoo, and Mr. Rogers paddled about 100 yards up the Creek by the shore side, turned into the swift stream and dexterously steering her in a moment wee come to the other side as swiftly passing as an arrow shott out of the Bow by a strong arm . I staid on ye shore till Hee returned to fetch our horses, which he caused to swim over himself bringing the furniture in the Cannoo. But it is past my skill to express the Exceeding fright all their transactions formed in me. Wee were now in the colony of the Massachusetts and taking Lodgings at the first Inn we come to had a pretty difficult passage
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the next day which was the second of March by reason of the sloughy ways then thawed by the Sunn. Here I mett Capt. John Richards of Boston who was going home, So being very glad of his Company we Rode something harder than hitherto, and missing my way in going up a very steep Hill, my hors dropt down under me as Dead; this new surprize no little hurt me meeting it Just at the Entrance into Dedham from whence we intended to reach home that night. But was now obliged to gett another Hors there and leave my own, resolving for Boston that night if possible. But in going over the Causeway at Dedham the Bridge benig overflowed by the high waters comming down I very narrowly escaped falling over into the river Hors and all wch twas almost a miracle I did not-now it grew late in the after- noon and the people having very much discouraged us about the sloughy way wch they said wee should find very difficult and hazardous it so wrought on mee being tired and dispirited and disapointed of my desires of going home that I agreed to Lodg there that night wch wee did at the house of one Draper, and the next day being March 3d wee got safe home to Boston, where I found my aged and tender mother and my Dear and only Child in good health with open arms redy to receive me, and my Kind relations and friends flocking in to welcome mee and hear the story of my transactions and travails I having this day bin five months from home and now I cannot fully express my Joy and Satisfaction. But desire sincearly to adore my Great Benefactor for thus graciously carying forth and returning in safety his un- worthy handmaid.
The country suffered little from the ravages of King Philip's War, new settlers continued to arrive, the population grew, the new generation took up the tasks of clearing the land, tilling the soil, and carrying on the various crafts needed in a small community.
A list of the names of the original families of these towns will include many names familiar to students of American History-names prominent in the Colonial period, in the Revolutionary War, and in the development of our whole country as the pioneers spread westward to Pennsylvania, Ohio, and ultimately on to the Pacific. Under the history of each town will be found the names of early settlers.
Before 1710 New London county had furnished for Connecticut three Governors, and two Chief Justices of the Supreme Court.
Though the founders were closely allied, there seems to have been much rivalry between New London and Norwich in early days. The first and only magistrate of the county during his lifetime was John Mason, of Norwich, and he usually held his court at home. After his death, a New London man was appointed. There was for many years an effort on the part of Norwich to have sessions of the Superior Court held in Norwich half the time. The first county court house was located in New London in 1724. After the burning of New London in 1781, a new one was erected at the head of State street. Norwich became a "half-shire" town in 1734, and soon erected a jail with whipping post and pillory near by. Its court house of 1829 was burned in 1865, and replaced soon after by the present court house at the "Landing."
It is hard for the present generation to realize how closely knit were Church and State in these colonial days. Dr. Daniel Coit Gilman, later
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president of Johns Hopkins, at that time librarian of Yale College, delivered at Norwich in September, 1859, at the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Norwich, an address which is a mine of information on matters pertaining to the early history of New London county. We quote his words regarding religious conditions at the close of the seventeenth century :
I have already said that the first manuscript records of the church have perished. One curious printed document has lately been discovered, bearing date 1675, which is interesting in its bearing on the history of these times. The only complete copy with which I am acquainted belongs to Mr. George Brinley, of Hartford, who has kindly permitted me to bring it before you. It is an old fashioned duodecimo of 133 pages, printed in 1683, bearing on its title page the autographs of Increase Mather and of Mather Byles. It contains three distinct treatises; the first, "An explanation of the solemn advice, recommended by the council in Connecticut colony to the inhabitants in that jurisdiction"; and the third, "A brief discourse proving that the first day of the week is the Christian Sabbath." Both of these are attributed to Mr. Fitch. Appended to the former is "The Covenant, which was solemnly renewed by the church in Norwich, in Connecticut colony, in New England, March 22, 1675." The volume is introduced by a letter from Increase Mather, "to the reader," in which he says that "the reverend and worthy author had no thought of publishing these brief and nervous discourses until such time as others did importune him thereunto," and proceeds to comment on their scope and character.
The circumstances which attended this "renewal" are worthy of mention. The war with King Philip was then raging. Norwich, though much exposed by its situation on the frontier, had freely contributed more than its quota to the active army; so freely, indeed, that the General Court sent on from Hartford ten men, from New Haven eight, and from Fairfield eight, "to lye in garrison at Norwich," as a guard to the inhabitants. So great was the danger in those days that the watch in each plantation was ordered "at least an hour before day, to call up the inhabitants, who should forthwith rise and arm themselves, march to the fort, and stand guard against any assault of the enemy until the sun be half an hour high in the morning." Under these circumstances, on the 13th of March, Mr. Fitch writes to the council in Hart- ford. After acknowledging the receipt of a letter from the council, with their orders for a fast day, he continues :
"Blessed be the Lord who hath moved your hearts in so necessarie and seasonable worke. We intend, God willing, to take that very daye, solemnly. to renew our covenant in our church state, according to the example in Ezra's time, and as was sometimes practised in Hartford congregation by Mr. Stone, not long after Mr. Hooker's death. If other churches doe not see cause to doe the same, yet wee hope it will not bee offensive ; but doe verily conclude if y be rule for y practise, this is a time wherein the Providence of God does in a knocking and terrible manner call for it."
The covenant evinces the same spirit, and to some extent it employs the same phrases as this letter. After a general recognition of the displeasure of God, as displayed "by blasting the fruits of the earth and cutting off the lives of many by the sword, laying waste some plantations and threatening ruin to the whole," the covenant is renewed in seven particulars, which may be condensed as follows :
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I. All the males who are eight or nine years of age shall be presented before the Lord in his congregation every Lord's day to be catechised, until they be about thirteen in age.
2. Those who are about thirteen years of age, both male and female, shall frequent the meetings appointed in private for their instruction, while they continue under family government or until they are received to full communion in the church.
3. Adults who do not endeavor to take hold of the covenant shall be excommunicated.
4. Brethren shall be appointed to admonish those parents who are negli- gent of their children.
5. The Lord's supper shall be celebrated once in every six weeks.
6. Erring brethren are to be rebuked.
7. Finally, "seeing we feel by woful experience how prone we are soon to forget the works of the Lord, and our own vows; we do agree and deter- mine, that this writing or contents of it, shall be once in every year read in a day of fasting and prayer before the Lord, and his congregation; and shall leave it with our children, that they do the same in their solemn days of mourning before the Lord, that they may never forget how their fathers, ready to perish in a strange land, and with sore grief and trembling of heart, and yet hope in the tender mercy, and good will of him, who dwelt in the burning bush, did thus solemnly renew their covenant with God: and that our children after us, may not provoke the Lord and be cast off as a degen- erate off-spring, but may tremble at the commandment of God, and learn to place their hope in him, who although he hath given us a cup of astonish- ment to drink, yet will display his banner over them, who fear him.
Speaking of the religious awakening that took place in New London county in the earlier part of the eighteenth century, Rev. Mr. Northrop says :
The awakening took deep root in New London county, where the Separatist movement was pronounced, and the knell of dis-establishment began to be sounded. . New religious ideas come in, and the estab- lished Congregational Church of Connecticut undergoes dissolution and gives place to the rights of free worship. And with the freer and wider thinking begins a better thought of the outside world. Some of the most fruitful be- ginnings of the great modern missionary movement had their origin right here on this soil, and so it has come to pass that New London county has the distinction of having given more for the evangelization of the world than any other county in the United States.
CHAPTER II
THE BEGINNINGS OF EDUCATION
Education Recognized as a First Necessity-First Free School-Other Schools and Early Teachers-Contrasts Between the Old and New Systems of Education-The Norwich Tests-School Legislation-Provision for the Indians.
In view of the great importance of education in the development of New England as a whole, no less in our county than elsewhere, we interrupt our narrative history to insert a review of educational progress in New London county. In order that we may discuss this subject in a broad sense, we prefix a brief definition of education from the standpoint of history.
Education is the process by which an individual comes into possession of some part of human progress and thus fits himself to take part in the life of his own generation. This process, in a normal person, is taking place most of the time from birth to death.
We are all creatures of the past ; in physical appearance, in traits of body and mind, in desires, and in powers, we are the "heirs of all the ages" of human evolution. As there is abundant evidence that man has improved from his original condition, we may fairly say that the inheritance of each generation from the preceding one has steadily increased in value as human experience has covered new fields of action. Each generation progresses, first by acquiring the gains of former generations, then by new experiences of its own.
Somewhat after the beginning of written language the accumulation of records of the past became so great that specially trained men were needed to preserve and interpret these records. And so great has been the increase in the amount and complexity of human progress, that great institutions have arisen to secure for humanity the perpetual possession of its most valuable gains.
These gains may be grouped under two heads: first, gains in aims; secondly, gains in powers. Under these two topics may be grouped, I be- lieve, all the progress of every epoch of history as well as that of every individual in any epoch. Let us then briefly subdivide human aims and human powers.
In so far as man's aims are affected by a belief in the supernatural, we group them under the name of Religion. In so far as his aims affect his dealings with his fellow men we may group them under the head of Morality. The moral code has on the one side the sanction of the institution of Religion. and on the other side the support of the institution of Government.
Human powers may be subdivided into knowledge, or power in under- standing ; efficiency, or power in action; emotion, or power to feel and ap- preciate. It is evident then that the great institutions of mankind exist for the purpose of educating man in these aims and powers. The progress of
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humanity is the aggregate gain of individuals in spiritual inspiration, in moral desires, in respect for law, in power to enjoy what is best, in sym- pathy for others, in the virtues and habits that promote efficiency, in the understanding necessary to direct one's efforts intelligently.
The School is that institution which exists primarily for the distribution of knowledge. Now the mass of human knowledge has become so great that no one can hope to put into practice more than a very small part of it. It is necessary therefore that the individual choose a time when he will begin to put his attention on the details of his life work rather than on the broader understanding of human progress. This point of time marks the division between his liberal culture and his technical training.
When shall technical training begin? No one knows. The answer will vary with the individual's powers and opportunities. It is fair to say that liberal culture should be prolonged until its further continuance would inter- fere with the technical efficiency of the individual.
But even technical information will be of little use to an individual unless he has the personal virtues that make him efficient. Strength of will, tact, good habits, and many other qualities, are to be ranked even higher than understanding. In modern times, therefore, the school has become in minia- ture a world of itself, in which the right minded pupil may learn lessons of morality, lessons of personal power, as well as lessons in understanding and appreciation.
Besides the four great institutions there are other tremendous forces at work moulding the lives of individuals and communities; Literature, Paint- ing, Music, the Press, and too many other forces to mention have today a greater influence than ever before in the history of the world.
A full definition of education, then, in its broadest sense, would be some- thing like this :- Education is the process whereby the individual, through the Home, the Church, the State, the School, and through all the remainder of his environment, learns his own noblest capabilities, learns to obey moral law, gains power to do, and understanding to direct that power.
In treating those facts which it is most advisable that a man entering into life should accurately know, Ruskin says:
I believe that he ought to know three things: First, Where he is; sec- ondly, Where he is going; thirdly, What he had best do, under those cir- cumstances.
First : Where he is .- That is to say, what sort of a world he has got into; how large it is; what kind of creatures live in it, and how; what it is made of, and what may be made of it.
Secondly : Where he is going .- That is to say, what chances or reports there are of any other world besides this; what seems to be the nature of that other world.
Thirdly : What he had best do under the circumstances .- That is to say, what kind of faculties he possesses; what are the present state and wants of mankind ; what is his place in society; and what are the readiest means in his power of attaining happiness and diffusing it. The man who knows these things, and who has had his will so subdued in the learning them, that he
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is ready to do what he knows he ought, I should call educated; and the man who knows them not, uneducated-though he could talk all the tongues of Babel.
The men who settled Connecticut believed that every one should be able to read the word of God. Every church therefore had its teacher as well as its preacher. In advance of any Colonial legislation relating to common schools, almost every settlement had its teacher for part of the year at the most. The first laws did little more than guarantee the practice common in most towns. The settlers realized that the system of government dimly outlined in the "Mayflower Compact" of 1619, expanded in the Fundamental Orders of 1639, which to us of today stands forth as the "first written con- stitution known to history" and the foundation for republican form of gov- ernment, made universal education essential to self-preservation.
Connecticut was the first State in the Union to set apart and establish a fund for the support of common schools. This was done after the sale of the "Western Reserve" lands in 1795 for $1,200,000. By the Constitution of 1818, Article 8, Par. 2, this fund is forever set apart for public schools :
ยง 2 The fund, called the "School Fund," shall remain a perpetual fund, the interest of which shall be inviolably appropriated to the support and encouragement of the public or common schools throughout the state, and for the equal benefit of all the people thereof. The value and amount of said fund shall, as soon as practicable. be ascertained in such manner as the Gen- eral Assembly may prescribe, published and recorded in the Comptroller's office; and no law shall ever be made authorizing said fund to be diverted to any other use than the encouragement and support of public or common schools, among the several school societies, as justice and equity shall require.
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