USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Simsbury > A record and documentary history of Simsbury > Part 20
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239
Col. Rec. VII. P. 247
situated on the plain, westerly from "the Falls", and between the roads leading, the one to "Turkey Hills", the other to "Salmon Brook". The other fort was called "Shaw's Fort" and was situated near the extreme North part of the town, on the road to Westfield, near what was afterwards for a long time known as the "old Dibble Tavern". This map is highly, but not artistically colored, and represents the eleva- tion of the east mountain, with its several "passes", with great distinctness and accuracy. In the south-east corner is the loftiest summit, crowned with the name
"Mount Phylip"
The map is carefully preserved in the office of the Secre- tary of State, at Hartford, as a valuable relic of "ye olden time". In 1876, a beautiful "fac simile" was prepared by Dr. Henry C. Eno, of New York, and hung in the "Hall of Records" in Simsbury, - an object of great interest to the inhabitants of the town.
To ascertain the center of population, and to show the advantages or disadvantages of particular suggested or pro- posed sites, many surveys and measurements were made, from the residences of inhabitants in various parts of the town to those proposed sites.
In the meantime, while the General Assembly was send- ing out its Committees, and issuing its orders, the people of the town were endeavoring to settle their difficulties among themselves, only resulting in a wider separation and aliena- tion. Votes were passed only to be rescinded.
S. T. R. B. 3.
P. 44
"At a Town meeting of ye inhabitants of fimfbury November 21st 1728 It was voted by ye Inhabitants of Simf- bury to unite into one Society as formerly."
Ib.
P. 46
"April 29th 1729, it was voted to set off a Society from ye dugway to ye north and to Run a west north west point from ye River westward and ye River to be ye deviding line northward".
At its Session in May 1730, the General Assembly passed an order, providing for the payment of costs already accrued, in the fixing of places of meeting-houses, in the several So- cieties, which their Committees had decided upon and all
240
accounts and charges that have arisen in that affair, authoriz- ing the Committee themselves to levy a tax upon the in- habitants of the town for this purpose, and concluding as follows: "And this Assembly to desire the Honourable Joseph Talcott, Esqr Nathaniel Stanly, Esqr and Ozias Pitkin Esqr to warn, by some meet person or persons by them to be ap- pointed, the inhabitants of said town to meet at the Old meeting house in Simsbury, at such time as they, the said Joseph Talcott, Esq", Nathaniel Stanly and Ozias Pitkin, Esqrs shall think best, to consider and agree amongst them- selves at what place or places, and in what manner, to build for themselves a meeting-house or meeting-houses for the wor- ship of God, as they, or the greater part of them, by their vote in such meeting, shall agree, conclude and determine. At which said meeting the said Joseph Talcott, Esqr Nathaniel Stanly, Esqr and Ozias Pitkin, Esqr are desired to be present, and endeavor to perswade the people of said town to surcease their contentions and joyn as brethren lovingly to go on with this good work. And his Honour is desired to report to this Assembly in October next, in what manner they have suc- ceeded in this affair; and if the inhabitants of said town shall not agree by their greater vote to the building one or more meeting-houses, then to report to the Assembly, if it be best in their opinion whether they should be one or more societies; and if two, whether the places where the Committees have last ordered their meeting houses to be is not most commo- dious for them." Accordingly the governor caused a meeting to be called, and -
"At a generall town meeting of the Inhabitants of fimf- bury regularly convened July ye 28th 1730. His Honour ye Governour and Nath11 Stanly, Esqr being prefent thefe fol- lowing acts were paft: his honour Jofeph Talcott Esquire was chofen moderator of this meeting".
"2nd. At ye fame meeting, July ye 28th 1730, It was put to vote whether ye Town will abide by the decifion of ye Laft Comittee and their determination about building meeting houfes past in ye negative.
"31y. At ye fame meeting July 28th 1730, it was put
241
Col. Rec. VII. P. 286
S. T. R. B. 3 P. 49
to voat whether ye Town will unight and build a meeting houfe at hopmeadow at or near ye place wher ye old meeting houfe now ftands, and paft in ye Negative.
"Aly. At ye fame meeting July 28th 1730 put to vote - whether ye Town will unight & build a meeting houfe at Hill Gat, - pa ft in ye Negative."
"5ly At ye fame meeting, July 28th 1730 - It was put to vote whether ye Town will unight and build a meeting houfe on ye east of ye River at mile fwamp and paft in ye negative.
"6ly. At ye fame meeting July 28th 1730- It was put to vote whither ye Town will unight and build a meeting- houfe at Biffels Landing place and paffed in ye affirmative.
"At ye fame meeting July 28th 1730 - It was put to voat whither ye Town will chofe a Comittee to agree upon ye dementions of ye meeting houfe and to agree with ye former Comittee about ye old timber or else to get new. Voted in ye affirmative."
This action of the Town was reported by the Committee to the General Assembly, at its October Session, and was approved as follows:
"His Honour the Governour and Nathaniel Stanly, esq", having laid before this Assembly the votes and doings of the town of symsbury at a town meeting holden at Simsbury the 28th day of July last past, respecting their being one Society and agreeing to build a meeting house at Bissell's Landing Place, for the publick worship of God: This As- sembly do approve of said report, and order that said town do proceed to build accordingly." But like in former orders of the Assembly, this was disregarded or negatived by the action of the town.
"At a Town meeting Regularly Convened according to adjournment Januery ye first 1730/31, these following acts were paft.
S. T. R. B. 3 P. 51
"It was put to vote whether ye Town will do anything about building a meeting houfe at Biffels Landing place, and paffed in ye Negative.
"At the fame meeting January ye first 1730/31 Upon
242
Col. Rec. Vol. VII. P. 307-8
ye Report of ye Committee appointed by ye Town Having agreed to be voted in ye Town meeting (viz:)
"I. That ye East and fouth fide of ye River to be a diftinct fociety and the place of ye meeting houfe to be at wadsworth bufh north of mile fwamp.
"2. the west fide of ye River from farmington bounds to Run northward to the Higleyes Land fouth of Capt Hol- combs to be a diftinct fociety called ye first fociety.
"3. and famon Brook ye falls and Tirkey Hills to be excufed from paying any minifteriall Charge to ye forefaid focieties fo Long as they maintain ye gofpell amongst them- felves in ye whole or feparate but when faid famon brook ye falls and Tirkey hills fhall neglect to maintaine ye gospell as aforefd that then they fhall be obliged to pay their minif- teriall Charges to which of ye aforefd focietyes they pleafe in ye whole or parties.
4. that what perfon foever fhall or may own any Lands In any of ye aforesaid focietyes fhall be obliged to pay all minifteriall Charges arifing on faid Land or Lands to that fociety where he or they Lives".
"The above was voted in ye Affirmative January ye first 1730/31."
Again in 1732, March 3rd, the question was raised in town-meeting, "whether ye Town would do anything about building a meeting houfe at Biffells Landing Place"; and it was again "paffed by voat in ye Negative".
By this time the General Assembly seems to have lost all patience, and adopted an arbitrary measure.
At its May Session in 1732, the following resolution was passed. "This Assembly observing, (by the several memorials preferred to this Assembly by the several inhabitants of the town of Symsbury) that the several acts passed by this As- sembly for the promoting of peace and reconciliation of the people in said town, (in relation to their regular attending the publick Worship of God, and support of the Gospel amongst them) have not had the desired success of quieting the minds of that people and settling them in peace. Now, for promoting the peace, religion and good order of the several inhabitants
S. T. R. B. 3 P. 54
Col. Rec. VII. P. 395
243
of the said town, Resolved by this Assembly, that the place for publick worship in said town shall be the old meeting house in said town, and that all the inhabitants of said town shall duly resort to said meeting house and attend publick worship there at all proper seasons, for the space of three years now next coming, and until this Assembly shall order otherwise; saving to several of the said inhabitants the ease and privileges hereafter in this act mentioned, (viz) The inhabitants dwelling at the farms called Turkey Hills, in said town, shall have liberty to procure and maintain the preaching of the Gospel amongst themselves six months in each year, beginning with the month of November and terminating with the month of April; and for such time as they shall so maintain preaching amongst themselves, they shall be freed from taxes for the support of the Gospel in the other part of said town.
"And, considering the difficulty of passing the river, in said town in the winter season, the inhabitants dwelling on the east side of said river, (so many of them as shall see cause), shall have liberty to procure and maintain the preaching of the gospel amongst themselves for the space of four months in each year, beginning with the month of December and ter- minating with the month of March; and for so much time as they shall so maintain preaching amongst themselves, they shall be freed from taxes for the support of the gospel in the other part of said town."
But, notwithstanding the people were confined to the Old meeting house, "for the space of three years" - "peace re- ligion and good order" do not seem to have been promoted by this Act of the Assembly. The question of a division into separate societies continued to be agitated and memorials to be presented to the General Assembly.
S. T. R. B. 3 P. 57
In March 1733, a meeting of the town was held to con- sider and see if it was possible "to form themfelves into one two or more minifterial societies or parifhes". It was then voted "that the Inhabitants of Tirkey hills with the adjacent neighbours may have liberty to be a distinct minifteriall fociety or parifh" with defined boundaries. Also voted that "falmon brook should form a distinct fociety bounded north
244
on fimsbury north bounds, west on the west bounds of Sims- bury, fouth on the north bounds of John Saxtons Living and from thence to Run a west north point to the west bounds of faid Simsbury and East to Tirkey hills fociety".
In October of the same year, it was voted, "that the South part of the town be a distinct Society, bounded South by Simsbury and Farmington line, and extending North- ward to the mouth of Hop-brook thence east by and includ- ing Lemuel Roberts' house, to the Windsor line; and said Society to have all the land in the common field at Mile Swamp, and all the Parsonage land, within these limits."
Then again, May 13, 1735 a meeting was held, to con- sider and DO something in reference to their ministerial societies or parishes, and a division was proposed, with bound- aries different from the former, making the South Society to extend North as far as "Horskin's hill or the Dugway" (fo called) "thence east to Windsor bounds, and westward on a west north west point to fimfbury west bounds".
"And the meeting appointed a Committee to prefer a Memorial to the Assembly now sitting, asking for a con- firmation of the aforesaid line, and that a Committee might be appointed to come to sd fimfbury, and pitch the place where sd Society shall build their meeting houfe" - and also "unite them in one Society or divide them into two Societies as said Comitee shall think best". It was "also voted that the sd Comtee fhall be Entertained by Tavern Keepers or others as fhall be nefessary on the Towns coft".
From year to year, since 1732, memorials and petitions from the town, and from the several divisions of it, had been presented to the General Assembly, asking for their action, but no attention seems to have been given them during the three years' limitation, during which the people were ordered to Worship in the Old meeting-house.
Now, however, this limitation having expired, the As- sembly took the following action on the memorial last men- tioned.
"Upon the several memorials of the distinct parts of the town of Symsbury, praying that said town may be divided
245
S. T. R. B. 3. P. 58
T. R. B. 3 P. 67
Col. Rec. VII. P. 553
1735.
into several Ecclesiastical Societies considering the divided state of said Symsbury, and how often the Inhabitants of that place have in their town meetings altered and changed their votes, this Assembly do not think it proper to confirm the line prayed for in order to divide said town into distinct Societies without further enquiry, do therefore appoint and order Capt. Samuel Mather, Capt. John Marsh and Capt. Henry Allyn, a Committee to repair to said Symsbury and view the circum- stances of that place, and hear the several parties there in reference to their being made into distinct Ecclesiastical So- cieties; and the said persons shall direct and order the said inhabitants in reference to the place or places where they shall attend publick Worship until the rising of this Assembly in October next, to which order the said inhabitants shall conform, during said time; and if the said persons shall think it needful to divide said town into distinct Societies, then they are directed to describe and set forth the bounds of such division, and report their whole doings to this Assembly, in October next, that so said town may be settled in reference to their Ecclesiastical affairs, and peace gained there. To be done upon the motion and charge of said Symsbury."
This Committee reported, and the Assembly ordered, "that the said town of Symsbury shall be divided into two distinct Ecclesiastical Societies, with powers and privileges of Societies, and the dividing line between said Societies shall be as followeth, (viz:) To begin at Horskins's Hill or the dugway (as it is called) on the west side of the River, and from thence to run a west north west point to Symsbury west bounds, and from said dugway to run northerly, easterly and southerly, as the river runs, to Windsor bounds; including in the south society, all on the south and southward of said line, and on the east side of the river to the south bounds of said town; and all north of said line and north of the river to the north bounds of said town to belong to the north society."
But this order of the Assembly and act of the Committee was no more satisfactory than those which preceded it, and it shared the same fate. Memorials and petitions from the
246
Col. Rec. VIII. P. 12 1736.
different parts of the town were again presented to the General Assembly.
At its May session, in 1736, the Assembly took action on these petitions, as follows: "Upon consideration of the memorial of the Revd Timothy Woodbridge of Symsbury, the memorial of the inhabitants of the north society in Syms- bury, the memorial of the inhabitants of the south society in Symsbury, the memorial of the inhabitants of Turky Hills in Simsbury, the inhabitants of the north part of Symsbury called Salmon Brook, The Falls, and Higley's, the memorial of sundry persons living in Simsbury, Windsor and Farmington It is resolved, that Roger Wolcott, Esq", James Wadsworth, Esq' and Capt. Thomas Wells, be a committee, and they are hereby appointed a committee, to repair to Symsbury, upon the costs of the memorialists, and to hear the parties in said memorials, and consider the same, and make their report, how they find the true state of the matters laid in said memorials, with their opinion thereupon, to this As- sembly in October next. The said committee are to direct and advise the people of Symsbury, in what manner to defray the ministerial charges in said town for six months last past, and until the latter end of October next."
The number of memorials, and the parties mentioned in the foregoing resolution, are evidence of the intense and widespread interest in questions involved.
The report of this Committee, at the October Session of the Assembly, brought to a close the question of the division of the town into separate Societies.
"Upon the report of Roger Wolcott, James Wadsworth and Thomas Wells, Esqrs, relating to the affair of Symsbury societies with some part of Windsor and Farmington, accepted by this Assembly, - Resolved and enacted by this Assembly, That the inhabitants aforesaid at the southwest corner of said Windsor, with part of the inhabitants of said Farming- town and Symsbury, be and are hereby made, one distinct society, endowed with parish powers and privileges, as fully as other parishes already by law are allowed; (the bounds of
Col. Rec. VIII. P. 48
1736.
Col. Rec. VIII. P. 76
247
said Society are here described). And said parish is to be known by the name of 'Wintonbury Parish'.
1736.
"And it is further resolved and enacted, That there be a distinct society at the northwest corner of Symsbury, at the place called Salmon Brook; and the inhabitants thereof are hereby made one distinct society, and are endowed with parish powers and privileges, as fully as other parishes al- lowed by law are; and the bounds of said parish, is as followeth: To begin at the mouth of Salmon Brook, then bounded east by said brook to the place where the path near Capt. Hol- comb's crosseth it, from thence by a line drawn northward to the west side of the great marsh, and so to continue to Syms- bury north bounds; bounded north and west at the bounds of Symsbury, bounded south by Saxton's brook, excluding Sax- ton's lands, and the families of Higleys, and from Saxtons brook by a line drawn west-north-west to Symsbury west bounds.
"And it is further resolved and enacted That there be a society in the north east corner of Symsbury, at the place called Turky Hills; and the inhabitants thereof are hereby made one distinct Society, and are endowed hereby with parish powers and privileges as other parishes already allowed by law have; and is bounded as followeth: Bounded south by the little river, east by Windsor and Suffield bounds, north by Symsbury bounds, west by the lastmentioned society.
"And it is further resolved and enacted, That the remaining part of the inhabitants of said Symsbury be one distinct Society, endowed with parish powers and privileges as afore- said".
1736.
This brought to a close the long continued town-con- troversy, though the question of the location of the meeting houses remained to be transferred to the several Societies. The sites of the meeting houses in Turkey Hills and Salmon Brook were fixed by Committees appointed by the General Assembly, for that purpose, upon petition of the inhabitants.
Col. Rec. VIII. P. 127
In the Turkey Hills Society the people held a meeting on the 16th of June 1737, and "voted that it was necessary to build a meeting house in said Society for the worshiping
248
God in" and sent a petition "praying this Assembly that they would appoint a committee to affix a place in said Society whereon they may build said meeting house." The Assembly appointed for this purpose Messrs. James Church, Joseph Talcott, Jun', and John Edwards, of Hartford, with instruc- tions to report at the Session of the Assembly, in May next.
The Committee fix the site "in or against Samuel Clark's land, upon the highway which runs north and south through the said parish, and between two highways, the one leading from the west or the Copper Hills, eastward to said highway by Samuel Clark's house, and the other leading out of said north and south highway still eastward to Windsor by the house of Isaac Owen."
In May 1739 the inhabitants of the north-west society presented a like petition to the General Assembly, and Messrs John Chester, Joseph Talcott, Jun', and Nathaniel Hooker were appointed a Committee to fix the site of their meeting house. "The Committee pitched a stake at the north end of a broad street in said society, where two roads meet, one from the northerly, and the other from the westward, on the south east corner of a hill". This report was accepted by the As- sembly, at its session in October 1739, "and the said society are ordered to build their meeting house at the place afore- said. The sills of the house to include the stake pitched as aforesaid".
The first society having at the previous session of the Assembly presented a similar petition, for the appointment of a like committee, the General Assembly, at its session in October 1739, passed the following order:
"Upon the report of Messrs. John Chester, Joseph Tal- cott, Jun" and Nathaniel Hooker, a Committee appointed by this Assembly at their sessions in May last, to repair to the first society in Symsbury and view the circumstances of said society, and to affix the place where said society shall build their meeting house, and make report to this Assembly. Ordered by this Assembly, that the said first society in Syms- bury shall build their meeting house at the place where said committee pitched a stake, at a place called Drake's Hill,
249
Col. Rec. VIII. P. 175.
Col. Rec. VIII. P. 274
Ib.
1
on the west side of the highway that runs through said society on the west side of the river; and said society are ordered to build their meeting house at the place aforesaid. The sills of the house to include the stake pitched by said committee as aforesaid".
This order of the Assembly was concurred in, and subse- quently complied with by the Society.
Thus was brought to a close the most unhappy contro- versy ever carried on in the town, and probably unparalleled for duration and animosity, in the history of any other town.
For a period of fifteen years it destroyed social inter- course, interrupted religious worship and ordinances, and nearly broke up the church. The minister for a time left the town; the hearts of neighbouring ministers and churches were grieved; the North Association of ministers of Hartford County voted that without some antecedent reconciliation, "the brethren in Simsbury ought not to join in the communion." "From 1731 to 1733, inclusive, the General Assembly, on account of the excited state of feeling among the people, deemed it inexpedient to appoint, and during that period did not appoint any justices of the peace".
But there was and is some apology for this state of things. It was a general quarrel, evolved from local causes. Probably no town in the Colony was so peculiarly situated physically and geographically, as well as in regard to the settlements of its population, as this. As has been before stated, all the inhabitants of the town, except a few on the east side of the East mountain, were settled on two parallel roads, one on each side of an unfordable river; the settlements extending up and down the river, on either side, in equal numbers, a distance of ten miles or more, with no common center, each strove to secure to itself the advantage and convenience which it was evident the location and erection of the meeting house would give the winning side, for all time. This advantage, neither side could yield to the other without a struggle. It is not in human nature thus to yield. Hence the contest; hence the em- bittered feelings and the animosities engendered, - feelings
250
and animosities, which the fiat of the Assembly could not allay, nor time repress.
But while these Meeting House difficulties were in progress others arose in relation to the non-payment of the salary of Mr. Woodbridge. The hands of those who had sustained the preaching of the Gospel at the Old Meeting House had be- come weakened by reason of Turkey Hills and Salmon Brook's seceding, and setting up and maintaining preaching among themselves. Turkey Hills had hired a Mr. Collins, and "at a town meeting of the inhabitants of Simsbury January ye 20th 1729/30, it was voted that Tirkey Hills inhabitants their proportions of ye ministers Rate shall be payd to their own hired minister Mr Collins".
The inhabitants of Salmon Brook had likewise em- ployed a minister, Mr. Butler, during a portion of the year. It was a burden to support so many ministers. In the follow- ing year the troubles increased, and the people began to con- sider whether it was worth while to continue to worship at the old meeting-house. At a town meeting held March 12th, 1729/30, "It was propofed to ye Town and put to vote whether that they would yet Continue to maintaine and Carry on ye publique worfhip of God at our ancient meeting place, and to defire Mr Woodbridg our prefent minifter to continue with us and to officiate as formerly". "The above was voted in ye affirmative".
"At ye fame meeting it was put to vote whether we would Take ye advice of ye Affociation of ministers Con- cerning our prefent difficulties, whither Mr woodbridg fhould be Continued amongft us in ye work of ye ministry as formerly at our former or prefent meeting place or not. The above was Voted in the affirmative".
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