A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 11

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 930

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In 1696 all energies were centered in building the minister's house. Settlers continued to come to Windham, as its natural advantages were many; land was cheap; it was free from savage Indians, and from wolves; it was near the Town of Norwich, where supplies and a market were found; and it was fairly near New London. The population was concentrated in three villages, and only foot trails and bridle paths led to outer parts of the town. In 1696 there was still neither meeting-house nor school. The two principal settlements were four miles apart, with the river between them, and it was difficult to find a location that would be convenient for both towns, where they might erect a meeting-house. The place selected was at the Crotch, now known as "Brick- top." The people of the southeast quarter, however, were much dissatisfied with this arrangement, as theirs was the largest settlement. After much con- troversy it was decided that instead of having one meeting-house serve for all three towns, each town should have its own, as soon as it could afford to do so; and that they should share their minister for seven years, and at the end of that time it might be possible for each community to have its own. In 1700 the south section started its meeting-house, and it was completed two years later. About that time the meadows west of the Willimantic River were an- nexed to Windham. Later these were settled, set off from Windham, and called Scotland.

In 1700 a tannery was established, a tavern opened, and another sawmill built. In 1702 Windham had its first school. In 1703 a definite separation came about between the north and south parts of Windham, and the northern part then became known as Mansfield. Windham then appointed surveyors and a town clerk, for with her territory smaller and more cohesive in every way, she was ready for improvements. There was much trouble over the east- ern boundary of Windham, as both Windham and the new Town of Canter- bury claimed it. Windham held it for several years and levied taxes, but had much trouble in collecting them. In 1704 the Indian war broke out again, and the people of Windham prepared for, any emergency, but remained un- molested. However, a full military company was organized at that time.

Two years later a sawmill was set up at Willimantic Falls, and 1710 the first house to be built in what is now Willimantic, was erected near it. A grist mill was put in operation in the same year, and another house built. A high-

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

.way was laid out, but nothing else was done, and no other settlers came there for some years. As there was to be no meeting-house at the Crotch to serve for the three settlements, there was nothing to stimulate the growth of that community, and things remained at a standstill. The northeastern part of Wood- stock's tract was divided into lots and distributed in 1706, and this later be- came a part of Hampton.

Windham Green was the most important settlement, as the leading citizens, the town clerk, constable and justices resided there. There was a meeting- house, a school and stores. The church prospered, and drew to it also the people of Willimantic and Scotland, and even the people of Mansfield until 1710. School was conducted in the house of Thomas Snell, but in 1713 a schoolhouse was erected on the Green, and two years later a second one was put up in Wind- ham. The old meeting-house not proving to be adequate in any way, a new one was built. The northeast section of Windham steadily gained in popula- tion, in spite of its remoteness from other towns, was made a parish in 1716, and was given the name of Canada Parish. For a time it had a hard struggle to keep its footing, owing to droughts, short crops, etc., but after a time com- menced to show signs of prosperity.

Meanwhile Willimantic was not growing as rapidly as it should have done considering the facilities afforded by its water power. A pound was built, one being built at the Crotch a little later. A bridge was built across the Shetucket in 1722, and in 1726 a company was formed for the purpose of manu- facturing iron. Windham Green continued to grow, and a probate court was established there in 1719, the main street was widened, a new pound was built, a store opened, and a tannery established. A second military company was also formed. The church, of which Mr. Whiting still continued to be pastor, was strong and prosperous. In 1720 and 1721 there was a revival, which, oddly enough, was limited to the Windham Church, and was compared to Gideon's fleece, which was filled with moisture while all around it was dry. In 1725 the beloved pastor died and was greatly mourned. Mr. Clap was called to the church the following year.

By 1726 Windham was the leading town in "population, wealth, cultivation, and political influence," to quote Miss Larned, and had every right to be the shire town. The first Court of Common Pleas was held at Windham Green June 26, 1726. Two months later the justices ordered a jail to be built, and the year following met to consider building a state house, which was probably put up the next year. Thus the growth of Windham Green was stimulated and new stores and taverns sprang up, a tannery and a large blacksmith shop were opened, and after some delay a grammar school was established. A dam was built across the Willimantic, but the iron works in the little village did not prove to be particularly successful. In the meantime Canada Parish thrived. A new road was laid out from Windham Village to Pomfret. A full military company was formed there. Mr. Clap, the minister of the First Society of Windham, was called to the presidency of Yale University. His successor was Mr. Stephen White of New Haven.

The practice of the law was carried on extensively at Windham Green. In 1746 the town was of such an extent that it was necessary to add greatly to the town officers. In 1735 the bridge over the Shetucket was turned over to the Town of Windham. At the time of the great revival Windham churches received numbers of new members, the First Church of Windham adding over

BRICK HOUSE BUILT IN WINDHAM, BY. COL. JEDEDIAH ELDERKIN, AN OFFICER IN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY, FOR HIS SON, AFTER THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

Torn down in 1912. The bricks were brought from Holland and the nails were hand wrought.

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

one hundred to its numbers, many of whom, however, later joined the new Separatist Church, and created much disturbance. In 1750 a new school was built at Windham Green, and a little later another church was built on the Green. A second meeting-house was built by the Second Society of Wind- ham, and in 1753 Canada Parish completed its meeting-house. There was much social life at that time in Windham, and the people of Windham Green were particularly noted for their love of fun. Between 1750 and 1755 a grand colonization scheme absorbed the people of Windham. Great interest was man- ifested in the plans to settle the fertile valley of the Susquehanna, but the French and Indian war for the time being put an end to their plans. The war came at a particularly hard time for Windham, for she had been so hurt by religious dissensions that the churches were weak, and disease had carried off many of their numbers. Just before the outbreak of the war Windham had its great Frog Fright, now famous in history. (See Theron Brown's "Epic of Windham.")

The demands laid upon the towns by the war developed their resources, and strengthened their citizens. By 1760 Windham was exceedingly pros- perous, and surpassed "every inland town in the colony . in trade and mer- chandise." There were four meeting-houses, a courthouse, a prison and jail, many stores and taverns and handsome private residences. There were four- well trained military companies. The public officers necessary for the good management of the county were very numerous. Windham was active in the revival of business and commercial enterprise. Foreign exchange of various articles between the West Indies and Scotland Parish stimulated enterprise in production throughout Windham. Hemp, flax and tobacco were produced, wheat and other cereals raised, and wool growing became quite an industry. There were great flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. Windham was finally compelled to give up her foreign trade, and turned her attention to manu- factures. On one farm potash was manufactured and saltpetre refined. Mul- berry trees were raised by Colonel Elderkin, and the silk spun and made into handkerchiefs and vests. There was also a tannery. New taverns sprang up to cater to the growing population.

It was again possible to take up the colonization plan, and in 1760 the Susquehanna Company renewed its efforts. It was not until 1771, however, that successful colonization was effected, and large numbers of people left Windham to try their fortunes in the new land. In that year every bridge in Windham County was carried away, Windham losing five, all of which had to be rebuilt, and which made the resulting expenses heavy. It was found necessary to build a poor house. Public schools were still deficient in Wind- ham, and nearly all young people received their early education from private instruction. The First Church of Windham was not as prosperous as it had been. Canada Parish was thrifty and very nearly as much of a power as Windham Green.

Then came the Revolution, in which Windham took a prominent part, and as business began to revive again after the war, agriculture took a prominent place in Windham's industries. So much stock raising was done that the great surplus of beef and pork was barreled on the farms for market, and so much cheese was raised "that a speculator could sometimes buy a hundred thousand pounds in a neighborhood." With a surplus of wool the women

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

began to knit stockings and mittens, and these were sold in the New York markets. The business firms of the town prospered, for they bought the home products, then retailed West India goods and a variety of merchandise. Colonel Elderkin's silk factory flourished. There was a flour and a grist mill; there were mills for grinding and sawing; factories for fulling and dressing cloth ; for the malting and distilling of liquors, etc. The village of the Old State Armory had made very little advance, and it was several years before Willi- mantic even had a meeting-house. In 1785 Canada Parish became a town, and was given the name of Hampton.

In 1790 John Byrne of Norwich set up a printing press in the lower room of the courthouse, and early the next year produced the first newspaper of Windham County. It was called The Phenix, or Windham Herald. In a few years it had some twelve hundred subscribers, and made itself felt throughout the county. It was the medium for the advertising of the first carding machine in the county, and was of great service during the War of 1812. In 1795 a postoffice was opened at Windham Green, and both news- paper and postoffice added to Windham's importance. Most of the county and public meetings were held in Windham, also the meetings of the Wind- . ham Medical Society and the Western Land Company. The court sessions brought judges, lawyers and witnesses to the town. An academy was opened soon after the war, and the public schools were improved. The Windham Turnpike Company was incorporated in 1799, and in 1806 the Windham and Mansfield Society was incorporated for the building of turnpikes. Important highways were built by these companies. Taverns were much frequented, and the minister, Elijah Waterman, who had succeeded Mr. White, worked un- ceasingly to put down the revelry and dissipation that was beginning to make itself felt in the community. Some of the offenders, whom Mr. Waterman had attempted to suppress, formed an Episcopal Society, in that way avoiding the payment of church rates, so that Mr. Waterman was finally obliged to leave the church in Windham. Baptists had already separated from the old church at that time, and formed their own societies.

In politics there was a strong radical element in the town, and many free- thinkers. These elements caused much disturbance, and their members after a time gained sufficient control to hold many public offices. Later the State Constitution was revised, and religious observances left to the individual con- science. Manufactures continued to increase, and business 'to prosper, in spite of the loss of 120 people through emigration, between 1790 and 1800. Scotland Parish also shared in this growth and prosperity. It was necessary to build a sixth bridge, for the use of the growing village around the paper mill, which had been built in 1810. A new poor house became necessary. Scotland kept its interest in public affairs, and one-third of the town meetings were held there.

In 1819 the county seat was removed to Brooklyn, although the people of Windham tried vainly until 1820 to keep at least half-shire privileges. After that time Windham commenced to decline in importance, but a new Windham was springing up and taking its place,-Willimantic, where cotton factories were being built, and a new growth springing up. New industries were being started also in North and South Windham. A succession of fac- tories were built along the river in Willimantic, new stores and houses fol- lowed in their wake. A stone schoolhouse was built. They had their first

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

preacher,-a young Baptist licentiate. The first public celebration was held in Willimantic, on July 4, 1826. There was much opposition to law and order among some of the townspeople of Willimantic, for with the sudden influx of settlers, many who came were undesirable citizens. There was a decided division in regard to religious matters, and great opposition to temperance. In 1829 a Congregational Church was built, and by 1831 a flourishing tem- perance society was reported. Willimantic Borough was constituted in May, 1833, and a building erected for town meetings.

By 1835 there were three churches, six cotton factories, a satinet factory and a paper mill. A postoffice was opened in 1827. The Willimantic Fire Engine Company was organized in 1830. In North Windham the paper mill at Badgers, to which the town owed its growth, did not prove successful. George Spafford, of South Windham, was so impressed by the English paper-making machine used by the second owner of the mill, that he and James Phelps, an experienced paper mill builder, set to work to construct a duplicate. Their machine proved to be an improvement over the English Foudrinier, and found such a ready market that a factory was put up at South Windham for their .manufacture. The company succumbed to the financial panic of 1837, but another firm took up the work the year following, and the factory soon had to be enlarged. . Other industries, too, started operations in South Windham. There was a factory at North Windham, and in 1838 a postoffice was opened there. Windham had the first fire engine in Windham County. Windham Bank was incorporated in Windham in 1832, and was moved to Willimantic in 1879. The Willimantic Journal was first published in 1848. The coming of the railroad greatly stimulated the growth of that town, and added to its manufacturing plants. The population increased, a large foreign element coming, and a substantial class of lawyers, doctors, manufacturers, etc. To meet the new demands, roads, school, churches, a theater, etc., were built up. All this meant that Willimantic soon outvoted Windham Green, and business interests were gradually removed thence to "Willimantic Falls," where several "falls" had been developed by the demands of manufacture. Today there are seven dams within Willimantic city limits, with a total fall of ninety-one feet, giving tremendous power to great manufacturing plants.

Windham Center, once the scene of the chief activities, remains today a beautiful quiet country village, with its Congregational Church, the one store, the library, and the minister's and doctor's homes all around the central green ; the Episcopal Church near at hand; while along old "Nipmuck path" are ranged the attractive homes, as of yore, and some of them still pointed out as once the homes of ancient celebrities. The old-time Indian trail is now a state highway, but shaded by stately elms.

The inhabitants are progressive ;- they have established a borough govern- ment and tax themselves liberally for "modern improvements" in the way of well-kept central lawns, fire-protection, good streets, and the like; but they rejoice in the fact that no railway or trolley reaches them, and not even jitney service, save only as "Uncle Jared" Fuller, now in his eightieth year, passes through the village twice a day, in an automobile, en route from Willimantic to Scotland, and carrying packages and passengers as may be required. Many summer visitors seek out this choice retreat, and it is altogether a place where it is a privilege to live.

MAIN STREET, SOUTH WINDHAM

90 .

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

BRIEF REVIEW OF WINDHAM'S HISTORY

By A. B. Cunningham

The real history of the Town of Windham dates from 1675 when on Feb- ruary 29th of that year Capt. John Mason bought from Joshua Attwanhood, a son of Uncas, the great chief of the Mohegans, a track of land eight miles square bounded on the northeast by Appaquoque Pond and bounded to the westward and southward by the Willimantic and Shetucket rivers. Previous to that time the early history of Windham was mostly Indian legend. The Nipmuck Indians, a small tribe of the Mohegans, occupied the tract of land later known as Windham County. They were wanderers but in the summer were usually found along the Willimantic and Shetucket rivers which then abounded with shad and other fish. Thick wood covered most of the tract but on the open land along these rivers they grew corn. They maintained a trail where the many traveling between this section and the headquarters of Uncas at Norwich wore a well-beaten track through Scotland and Hampton, known as the Nipmuck Path which today has lost its identity in the present main street of Willimantic.

The Indian grantor of this tract of land died while his father Uncas was still alive and the grantees who were sixteen Norwich men came into posession in 1776 on May 27th.

The sixteen original grantees included Capt. John Mason, Daniel and Samuel Mason, sons of Maj. John Mason, who settled Norwich, Rev. James Fitch and his son, Maj. James Fitch, John Birchard, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Thomas Ad- · gate, Simon Huntington, Lieut. Thomas Leffingwell, Dr. John Olmsted, Wil- liam Hyde, William Backus, Hugh Calkins, Capt. George Danison, Daniel Wetherell.

Subsequently, by the death of John Mason, the disposal of his personal interest by Samuel Mason and the purchase of John Olmsted's part by John Post, only thirteen of the original grantees were left. These fourteen specu- lators of olden times formed a sort of trust company, and, none of them wish- ing to settle the country himself, an agreement was signed February 17, 1682, whereby each owner obtained his tract according to lot-God's providence- and agreed to admit only such matters as the company should deem advisable.

At the time of actual settlement the far-seeing Masons and Fitches owned over half of the 60,000 acres named in the grant. Lieut. Thomas Leffingwell, Sergt. Richard Bushnell and Simon Huntington surveyed the land, camping, according to tradition, on a clearing opposite what is now the Willimantic Fair Grounds. Three lots of land were plotted out, one at Hither Place, one at the Pondes, the present Mansfield Center, and one at Willimantuck.

John Cates, who was suspected of being a refugee regicide, but whose past was always a mystery, was the first settler, and with his negro slave, Joe Ginne, erected a rude hut which, with the assistance of Jonathan Ginnings, to whom the first white child in this section was born, was made over into a comfortable home.

The first settlement being made, others followed rapidly. The woods were cleared away, sawmills erected on Merrick's Brook, the Shetucket and Willi- mantic grist mills and a tannery built. Cattle raising, spinning and weaving were carried on. Lieutenant Crane secured a hotel grant from the court of

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

Hartford. Settlers were constantly arriving from Norwich and the Massa- chusetts colonies.

In 1691 the General Court was petitioned for a town grant, which was accorded June 12, 1692. The names of the men who signed this petition in- clude many well known in Windham today. They were: Joshua Ripley, John Cates, Jonathan Crane, Joseph Huntington, William Backus, Jeremiah Ripley, Jonathan Ginnings, Richard Hendee, John Backus and John Larrabee. On the above date the first town meeting was held, at which Joshua Ripley was elected the first town clerk of the Town of Windham.

The succeeding period of Windham's history is a story of rapid growth out of all proportion to her geographical area. Highways were laid out; a militia organized; a public pound provided; a burying ground marked off at each settlement. The close of the French and Indian war marked a renewal of an activity which had fallen off during the struggle. Local merchants opened a commercial exchange with the West Indies. Great flocks of sheep grazed on the hills. Hemp, flax, and tobacco were raised; wheat and other grains were raised for the export trade. The Windham, Elisha Abbe's little craft, carried on a trade in the coast waters; Benjamin Dyer had the largest drug store in Eastern Connecticut; Colonel Dyer had built a dam over the Shetucket at South Windham and another at the Frog Pond and operated grist and saw mills there. A convict at the county jail had discovered how to make tacks out of old iron.

The exactions of the English put a stop to this, however, and started the town on its manufacturing career. Jedediah Elderkin, the pioneer in this line, planted a mulberry orchard, in South Windham, and made a coarse silk which was used for handkerchiefs.

Windham, including the borough and later city (1893) of Willimantic, has long been the foremost inland town east of the Connecticut River. The greatest contributory circumstance to this prosperity was the erection of Wind- ham County and its choice as a shire town. A court of probate had been es- tablished in Scotland in October, 1719. The first court was held in Windham, June 26, 1726, and forty-six cases tried. Jabez Huntington was the first sheriff. Until the building of the county courthouse in 1729 the jail was in a back room of Richard Abbe's mansion, by order of the town officials.

On December 18, 1745, the first execution in the county occurred, when poor sinned-against Betty Shaw, convicted of infanticide, was hung on Gal- lows Hill. Roger Wolcott was judge at the trial, and news of the execution traveled far and wide.

In 1810 the second manufacturing concern was established when a paper mill was built at North Windham by the firm of Taintor, Abbe and Badger, all natives of Windham, and after a series of vicissitudes was run by Foster and Post, but soon abandoned by them. Meanwhile a Foudrinier machine was sent to Windham from England by one Pickering. This man, under the firm name of Pickering and Foster, took possession of the old paper mill, which was used by him until 1829. It then went into the hands of Grant and Daniels, who operated it for two years. In 1831 Justin Swift bought the property, and converted it into a cotton mill, rebuilding it after a fire, and leasing it to Merrick Brothers, who made thread there. In 1872 E. H. Hall & Son bought the property and used it for the manufacture of cotton yarns,

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

producing a product worth $50,000 yearly, until the mill was a second time destroyed by fire in the winter of 1913-1914.

Several more or less successful manufactories were started during this period, one for making felts, one for making cabinets, which was run by Amos Allen for about 35 years, and a fulling mill on the site of the present Smith & Win- chester Co.'s plant, where much of the cloth for the army was made in the War of 1812.

In 1830 the first Foudriniers made in any quantity in this country were produced in this same building, and here the first dryers made in this country were constructed, superseding the old hand drying method. Here also was perfected the contrivance for cutting a continuous sheet of paper into sheets of uniform size.

Paper mills all over the state were built by Phelps and Stafford, and sup- plied with their own machinery. During the panic of 1837, the firm was forced to sell out their interest. The purchasers, Charles Smith and Harvey Win- chester, brother-in-law of George Spafford, in the year 1838, organized the new well known Smith & Winchester Company. On the death of his father, Guilford Smith, then only thirteen yars of age, assumed the responsibility of the business and proved himself equal to the task. The works have been en- larged several times, and two large reservoirs built. The company has always been prominently identified with the life and interests of South Windham, and have from time to time shown their public spirit by benefactions, the latest of which is the erection during the past year of a home for the South Windham Fire Brigade.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 11

Author: Lincoln, Allen B Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 930