USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Simsbury > A record and documentary history of Simsbury > Part 19
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2ly That we wil give him the above mentioned Mr Woodbridge an hundred and Tenn pounds in provifion pay, the firft payment to be 55 lb. in the year 1715 the next pay- ment to be in the year 1716 - this to be payd in provifion pay according to the price of provifion stated by the General Court yearly he continueing in the work of the miniftry.
3 Article. We will give him faid Mr Woodbridge he taking office the firft four years 70 1b yearly and his firewood the pay provifion pay - this to be continued untill the firft four years be expired, and after the Expiration of this firft four years We wil give him an hundred pounds in provifion pay at the price the Court ftate annually for his yearly Sallery he finding himfelf fire wood. Annually during the time he shall continue in the work of the miniftry here in Simfbury, and if any perfon fhall pay his Rat in money or part thereof it shall be accepted at 33f. The abovefaid premifes voted in the affirmative January 3ยช 1711-12 in the town meeting."
"At a town meeting held on the 16th September 1712 Lt. Samuel Humphrey Sen', Andrew Robe, Thomas Hol- comb, Sergt. John Cafe, Richard Cafe are chosen a Com- mittee to set a time with Mr Timy Woodbridge for his ordina- tion and for to agree with him for the Entertainment of the Elders and meassengers, fhall affift in the management of that affayr, and alfo to provide upon the towns Cost, Such things as are necesfary for the fame". "The above named Commitee with Mr Woodbridge, shall have power to appoint a day of Humiliation in This Town of Simfbury before his Ordination".
S. T. R. B. 2 P. 113 Prior to his Ordination, at a town meeting held April 15th 1712, - it was voted, that "Whereas Mr Timothy Wood-
228
S. T. R. B. 2.
P. 155
bridge has an intention to go to the Bay or Bofton, and defireing yt the town would provid a man to go with him, and to accompany him on his Journey and to attend upon him until his return home the Town of Simfbury doe Grant to any man in fd town, fixteen shillings pr week pay during the time fd person is out upon fd service".
This action of the town shows with what deference, if not obsequiousness, the people treated the minister; and how the minister of the period was disposed to "magnify his office" and maintain its dignity. The minister of the present day who should suggest such a desire would be looked upon as too high-toned for a country parish.
The Ordination of Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, Jun", took place November 13th 1712. The term of his ministry was a stormy one. The congregation had so much increased in num- bers that the old meeting house was too small to accommodate them. The question of enlarging it, or building a new one began to be agitated. As is always the case in such circum- stances, there was a great difference of opinion. They ap- pointed a Committee to re-seat the Meeting-house, and "to remove some persons higher in the meeting-house to make more room below for other people", but this did not suffice. They must have more room. The controversy waxed warm.
"At a General Town Meeting of The Inhabitants of Simfbury Regularly Convened, febr 20 1715-16, depending upon the great affair of providing of acomfortable and decent houfe for the publick worship of God, and differences arifing amongst us which we defire may be healed and in order there unto propounded to put The management Thereof to a Comitee of three indifferent Judicious Men which fhall have power to determin of Three Matters of Things.
"First whether we shall Repair The old Meeting-hous and how.
"2nd. Whether we shall build a new one and of what forme.
"3rd. And to state and fettle The place where it shall stand if in cafe they determin that a New one fhall be built, and The Three Men That we Make choife of for faid work to
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S. T. R. B. 2. P. 132
,
determin as above said are Mr. Matthew Allyn Mr Jozeph Talcot Mr John Hooker"
A Committee from their own number was likewise ap- pointed "to lay before the Comittee The Sircumftances of the Town concerning the Meeting house affairs".
S. T. R. B. 2.
P. 133
In March 1715 or 16 following the referees made the following Report: "Whereaf we the fubscribers were, by a vote of the Town of fimfbury chosen to be a Commettee to determin whether they fhould Repair their Old Meeting houfe and how or whether they fhould build a new one and alfo ftate the place where it should stand as by a coppy of theire Records on the other (side) of this doth more fully appear having alfo heard their difficultys from the perfons appoynted for that end and confiderd the fame do determin as followeth (viz) That their old Meeting house fhall be by them Repaired: as to the maner we determin they fhall build an Addition of eight foote at each end of the whole breadth of the old houfe and they shall fhingle and clapboard the whole house and to doe what elce is Needfull to the Win- dows and to finifh the Infide so as to Make it Comfortable this we give af our determination at fimfbury this 7th day of March 1715 or 16 under our hands.
Mathw Allyn Joseph Tallcott John Hooker".
In accordance with this award of the referees, the town voted April 27, 1716, "a Levy of fiftey pounds as money to be put into the hands of the Comittee for repairing of the old Meeting house and appointed a Committee of three persons Le Humphris, Jofeph Cas and John flater to maniag and carry on the above faid affair fo far af the above faid money will go".
At a meeting held in 1718-19, the town appointed a Committee "to fill up the vacant seats in the metting house, where men or Wimin were dead, and their seats empty or, if their be any vacant place that is not yitt seated, and to folow
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S. T. R. B. 2. P. 134
the Rules that the former Committee did, - or acordin to their best Judgments".
Mr. Woodbridge probably was residing at that time on the place which the town purchased for him, at the time of his settlement, of Joseph Segar, before mentioned, - but in 1719 he desired the town to sell him the land, on Hop Brook, now owned and occupied by Mr. Horace Belden. "The Town having considered that the faid land was more convenant for Mr Woodbridg to build on a houf and faid land was nearer to the meetting houfe than his other land was, the Town Did Give the above said peice of land freely to M' Woodbridg if it be the Town to give". Here he erected a dwelling house, and the property remained in the Woodbridge family more than one hundred years.
About this time, in addition to his ministerial duties, Mr. Woodbridge was largely engaged in secular affairs. Before his settlement in the ministry, as has been elsewhere men- tioned, he, in company with Rev. Dudley Woodbridge and others, was carrying on and managing the coppermining and smelting works, - and now having married the widow of his predecessor, his interest in that business was largely increased, As well as being a good minister, he seems to have been a man of affairs, - ready to engage in any business specula- tion. In 1717, the town "voted in the afirmitive to chofe a comitee to dispofe of those pine trees what are in the fouth west corner of fimfbury Township to Mr Woodbridg at a reafonable price". This doubtless was for the purpose of, or in connection with, his turpentine business. Later, he em- barked in the project of manufacturing steel, in which business he was engaged at the time of his death. These works were situated on Hop Brook.
About 1720 began the second great contest in regard to the location and erection of a new meeting-house, more bitter and more lasting than the first. The old feelings of jealousy were aroused. There had been a calm for forty years. The question of the erection of a new House of Worship awakened all those latent and hereditary animosities, which during that period had lain dormant, and for fifteen years
23I
S. T. R. B. 3 P. 10
S. T. R. B. 2 P. 136
the town was again agitated, from center to circumference, so great was the disturbance at one period as to interrupt religious ordinances, and to threaten their discontinuance.
As on the occasion of locating the old meeting house, meeting after meeting was held, and vote after vote was passed, only to be rescinded. At a town meeting in 1725, October the seventh, it was voted as follows:
"Whereas by the providence of God we are grown to such a number of people in our Town that our prefent meet- ing houfe Cannot Conveniently Contain us and having had Town meetings Cannot agree upon any place for ye seting a new meeting houfe we humbly pray this honourable affembly now Convened at new haven october ye 14th-1725 to grant us a Comitee to come to fimfbury and take a view of our town and ye situation of it and what fetlements have been formerly made and to Give them advice where ye meeting houfe fhall be fet for ye Convenecy of ye whole Town and to make Report to ye Generall affembly in may next in order to a Confirma- tion. We defire that ye Honorable Jofeph Talcot esq", ye worshipfull mattw Allyn, and Roger wolcot Efquires should be ye Comitee. Ye foregoing voteed in ye Affirmative".
"Teft Nath'l Holcomb Clerk".
In accordance with the prayer of this petition, the General Assembly, then in Session, Oct. 1725, appointed the Com- mittee, as asked for: "Upon consideration of the petition of the town of Symsbury, shewing that they have had several town meetings, cannot agree upon a place for the setting a new meeting house: This Assembly do appoint the Honble Joseph Talcott, Esqr, Matthew Allyn, Esqr, and Roger Wol- cott, Esq., a committee, and they are desired to go to Symsbury and take a view of the situation of it, and consider their circumstances and what settlements have been formerly made, and to give their advice where the said meeting house should be set for the greatest conveniency of the whole town, and to make report to the General Assembly in May next, in order to a confirmation".
The members of this Committee were persons of the high- est consideration. Mr. Talcott was, at that time, Governor
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S. T. R. B. 3. P. 36
Col. Rec. Vol. I. P. 563
of the Colony. Mr. Allyn was a member of the Court of As- sistants, and Mr. Wolcott a judge and afterwards Governor of the Colony.
The Committee having made the required examination, reported at the October Session of the Assembly, that "Where- as the General Assembly, at their session in October last, did appoint us, the subscribers, to view the situation of the town of Symsbury, and to consider their former settlements and present circumstances, and give our advice where their meeting-house should be set for the greatest conveniency of the whole town: we have accordingly now met at Symsbury and viewed the situation, and fully heard the committee of said Symsbury informing us of the present circumstances and former settlements of said town; all which we have deliberately considered; and do thereupon declare it to be our opinion, that at Bissell's landing place on the west side the river, at the place where we have now set up a stake for that end, is the place where there meeting-house should be set for the greatest conveniency of the whole town; and we do advise the in- habitants of said town to proceed and set up their meeting- house in that place, in a Christian and peaceable manner, becoming such work. Dated in Symsbury, January 28th, I725/6.
J. Talcott, Mathw Allyn, Roger Wolcott, Committee."
"Upon consideration had in this Assembly on the above report of the Committee: Resolved, that it be accepted and approved, and it is hereby approved, and that the inhabitants of said town continue to be one Society."
Bissell's Landing Place was at or near the west end of the bridge, as it now stands, over the river, at Westover's place. The last clause of the foregoing order of the General Court is explained by the fact that after the Committee had made their decision, and "the stake was set" by them, but before their Report was returned to the Assembly, the town had held a meeting, and "Voted that ye Town will not build a meeting houfe at the place where ye Courts Comitty ordered (Viz) at Biffels Landing Place".
"At ye same meeting August 17th 1726 it was put to Vote
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1726. Col. Rec. V. II. Page 79
S. T. R. B. 3. P. 37
whether ye Town were willing to divide into two Societyes. Voted in ye Affirmative."
"At a town meeting Voted in ye afirmativc that ye Town would divide their Societyes by ye River onely ye East side to have ye land and people on ye west fide of ye River from farmington bounds to ye mouth of Hop brook and from ye sd brook on a line to ye west bounds". That is, the East Society was to have all that part of the Town on the east side of the river, and so much on the west side as lies south of the mouth of Hop-brook "on a line to ye west bounds", - the remainder of the town's territory was to belong to the other Society.
"At ye fame meeting feptember ye 13th 1726 Voted that we will leave it to a Comitty confifting of Mr James Infigne of Hartford, Deacon John Hart of Farmington & Joseph Barnard of Windsor, to determine where the devident Line between ye two focietyes shall be."
In the year following, another petition was presented to the General Assembly. "Therefore your petitioners humbly pray this honourable assembly that they would be pleased to appoint us one more Comittee to divide us into two focietyes and alfo to pitch ye places where faid focietyes shall build their meeting houses". Upon which, at their May Session, 1727, the following action was taken by the Assembly:
"Upon consideration of the petition of the inhabitants of Symsbury: Resolved by this Assembly, that Capt. William Wadsworth, Capt. John Shelding, and Mr James Church, they or any two of them, be a Committee to repair to Syms- bury, and consider the circumstances of the town, and to draw a line for the dividing said town into two societies, and also to state the place for the setting the meeting houses, and make their report to this Assembly at their present sessions, or at their sessions in October next."
Col. Rec. VII. P. 134
At the October Session of the Assembly, in 1727, this Committee made the following Report: "We, the subscribers, in compliance with an order of this assembly this present sessions, ordering us to divide the Town of Symsbury into two societies, in order to do said work, on the 17th of this
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S. T. R. B. 3.
P. 39
S. T. R. B. 3.
P. 41
Col. Rec. VII. P. 93
(607)
instant we met at Symsbury, in order to proceed on that af- fair, which some of the inhabitants seemed unwilling that we should proceed; but after many debates on both sides, we pro- ceeded to view the circumstance of the town, and have con- cluded for a division of the town into two societies after the following manner, viz: The south society to include all that part of the town on the east side the river, and on the west side so far north as to include John Sextons living, (John Sexton lived near where Jay Barnard Esq., now resides at Westover Plain,) and so to the west of said township as the lots run, being west north west."
"Nextly we viewed in order to fix a place for a meeting- house for said society, and something south of the bend of the river, on the east side of the river, near the north end on the mile swamp, so called, on the east side of the road, we set a stake and marked a white oak tree for the place of said meeting house."
(This was at a point in the highway leading from East Wetaug to Terry's Plain, North of the"Bradley place", and southwardly from the junction of the Wetaug and Hop meadow roads to Terry's plain.)
"Nextly, the north part of said town, or north Society, to include Turkey Hills and Salmon Brook, and so far South as to include all that part of the town to the north of said Sextons, including the Higleys into said Society."
"Nextly, we viewed in order to fix a place for a meeting house, for said Society, and on a hill west of a marsh called Higleys marsh, about sixty or seventy rods west of said marsh, we marked a small staddle, on the west side of a path, for a place for the meeting house, in case the land there can be had, but if not, we have marked a pine tree on a knoll about forty rods to the north east, for a place for said meeting house.
"Hartford May 22nd 1727.
"William Wadsworth, John Shelding, James Church."
"The above report read in this Assembly, and after debate and consideration thereon had; Resolved, that the said report be accepted, and that the said town be so divided into two societies, and the places therein respectfully assigned for the
Col. Rec. VII. P. 134
235
two meeting houses be the places for erecting them in ac- cordingly."
But with this the people were not satisfied. Again they petitioned the General Assembly:
"At a generall town meting of ye Inhabitants of Simfbury convened October ye 3rd 1728. To the General Asfembly held at new haven October ye Ioth 1728 the memoriall of ye In- habitants of fimfbury humbly fheweth that whereas we have had a great deal of difficulty about the building of a meeting houfe for ye town united and alfo for ye focietyes, and are ftill in our difficultyes Therefore as our Last Remedy your memorerialifts humbly pray this honourable Assembly that they would fend us one more Comittee and fully impower them to view and Consider all fircumftances and here ye argts of partyes and Either unite our whole Town or divide us into focietyes as they fhall think best and If said Comittee think it best to unite our whole Town then alfo to Determine where we fhall build our meeting houfe and also to Raise money to build faid meeting house If need be - if faid Comit- tee shall think beft to divide us into two focietyes then to determine where ye divifion line shall be and fetle ye places where faid focietyes fhall build their meeting houses and alfo to Raise money on ye Inhabitants of faid Societies to build their meeting houses If need fhall Require and that ye Comittee may be Deacon John Hart of Farmingtown, Mr James Infigne of Hartford and Mr Joseph Barnard of Windsor".
Whereupon the Assembly, at its October Session, 1728, passed the following order:
Col. Rec. VII. P. 197
"Upon the memorial of the town of Symsbury Resolved, by this Assembly, that Matthew Allyn, Esq", John Hooker, Esqr., Dea. John Hart of Farmington, Mr James Ensign of Hartford, and Mr Joseph Barnard of Windsor, be a Com- mittee fully impowered by this Assembly to repair unto the town of said Symsbury, where, upon hearing the pleas and Allegations of parties inhabitants of said town, and upon view and consideration of the circumstances of the said town, finally to determine thereupon, either that said town shall be divided into two or more societies, or that said town continue undivided
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S. T. R. B. 3. P. 47
and united in one as heretofore they have been; and to ap- point and fix the place or places in which the meeting house or meeting houses shall be erected in said town. And in case said town shall be by said committee divided into distinct so- cieties, that then they shall determine and describe the line of partition between said societies. And (in case said Committee shall judge it needful) they themselves shall assess the in- habitants of said town, according to the list of their rateable estate for this current year, and from year to year annually, thereby to raise monies in such quantity and manner as said Committee shall judge sufficient and expedient, to defray the whole of the charges that shall arise on the premises; and fully determine and transact in and about the whole of the premises as shall by them be judged most effectual for the accom- plishment of the whole of the matters submitted unto them; and to make return of such their doings to the Secretary of the Colony, there to be recorded in the Colony Records: which settlement of said Committee, made in manner above- said, shall be finally decisive and concluding to said town, and an utter end of controversy in and about the matters above mentioned. The said affair to be managed and deter- mined by the above mentioned Committee, or the major part of them, and at the charge of the town of Symsbury".
In obedience to the foregoing Order of the General As- sembly, the Committee, in November following, entered upon the prescribed duties, and reported, as follows:
"Report of the Committee"
"We, the subscribers, a committee appoynted, author ized and Impowered by the Honble General Assembly at New Haven, Oct. 10th, 1728. To repayer unto ye Town of Sims- bury, & after hearing ye pleas and allegations of parties, Inhabitants of ye Town of Simsbury, & upon view and con- sideration of ye circumstances of ye sd Town, finally to Deter- mine thereupon either that sd Town shal be Divided into two or more Societies, or that said Town shall continue un- divided & united In one as heretofore they have been, and to appoynt and fix ye place or places In which ye meeting-house
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Col. Rec. Ecclesiastical P. 240
or meeting-houses shall be erected In sd Town &c, all which, by ye Act of ye sd Generall Assembly on record more at large appears; Pursuant & agreeable to sd Instructions given us by ye sd General Assembly, we have repayered to ye sd Town of Simsbury & after hearing ye pleas and aligations of Town of Simsbury & after hearing ye pleas and aligations of ye sd parties, Inhabitants of sd Town, we do agree, Resolve & Determin that ye sd Town of Simsbury shall continue un- divided & united In one ministerial Society as heretofore they have been, and further, that sd place where they shall erect theyer meeting-house, shall be on ye West side of ye River, on ye South side of ye way or road leading up from ye River (where they ordinarily pass with ye Boat, and so up ye Hill commonly called Drakes Hill) and that one rood of Land Imediately after it ascends from ye low Intervale Land onto ye upland Bounding North with sd way or Road, and to Lye in ye most convenient form Be procured & assigned for the purpose, We being well assured that such a piece of Land at sd place may be easile procured.
Dated at Simsbury this 22nd day of November Anno Domini 1728.
Mathew Allyn
Memorandum. It was further
John Hooker
Resolved Before ye parting of
James Ensign
ye sd Committee and by them
John Hart
unanimously agreed, that ye sd
Joseph Barnard
meeting house shall be erected at ye aforesaid place where sd Committee have stuck down a stake & marked two small Bushes, and that ye Demenshuns of sd meeting house shall be fourty & five foot square, with height proportionable & Convenient for such a House."
The site here decided upon was about midway between the present Congregational Church and the river, on the south side of the highway, on the first rising ground from the river.
This report of the Committee, however, did not, as in- tended, "bring an utter end of controversy". The "finally" was not final. Against the decision of this Committee, almost
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the entire town remonstrated, and sent a memorial to the General Assembly representing the site selected, as altogether unsuitable for the purpose intended. They represented that the place was "miry, and subject to over flow in high water", "that the land designated was owned by a particular person, and could not be procured", and "that their families could not attend there, by reason of the distance, and their tender years, so that religion and the Interest of it seems to be in a languishing condition amongst us, and we and our children perishing for lack of vision."
In addition to this, the people of Turkey-hills sent in a petition to be set off into a separate Society, setting forth 'the difficulties of attending the site selected by the Com- mittee" and representing "that most of them would be com- pelled to travel seven miles, and all of them five miles".
A petition of the town was again presented to the General Assembly - asking that the Committee be again sent out for re-hearing. This was granted, with power "to determine ac- cording as they shall judge best for the benefit of said town".
For the information of the Assembly and of the Com- mittee a map of the town, carefully and accurately drawn, was prepared, showing the exact location of every house in the town at that time, with the roads as they then existed. As the settlement was confined to the vicinity of the river, with a few dwelling houses east of the "East Mountain" only this portion of the town is represented. The settlements on each side of the river were about equal, hence the difficulty. The main roads, parallel with each other, on each side of the river, with the other roads in the river valley, and over the mountain were then as they are now, with but slight change. Westerly from the main road, leading from Farmington to Westfield, only two or three buildings are represented. These are on Hop-brook, at the mills, and at Hanover, where the "Copper Works" were carried on, - the name now only sur- viving. Westerly from this there were no inhabitants. The number of houses is about one hundred and sixty. The two forts, - or block houses, built about 1707 or 1708, by order of the General Court, are laid down. The "Great Fort" was
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