USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Simsbury > A record and documentary history of Simsbury > Part 32
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latter, it was continued by his son Horace, for a few years, and then given up. Pecuniarily the business was very profitable.
For several years many persons engaged in distilling cider brandy. But since the War of the Rebellion, when a heavy tax was imposed upon the manufacture of spirituous liquors, the business has been carried on by only a few persons in the town. Of these, Watson, Holcomb and Phelps and Oliver Tuller, have engaged largely and profitably in the business. By the establishment of the wire and card factories employ- ment was furnished to a large number of the women and children of the town. Setting card teeth was an extensive and profitable business. Card leathers were cut and pricked by machinery at the factory, and sent out or distributed to every family who would take them, with the proper quantity of card teeth, cut and bent by machinery. These were all set by hand. Thus every woman and child had the opportunity of earning some money, though the compensation was small. Soon, however, a way was invented of setting card teeth by machinery, which at once put a stop to their employment.
Subsequently the factories at New Britain gave a similar employment to women and children of all the neighboring towns by sending out "Hooks & Eyes", to be set on paper cards, preparatory to sale in market. Miss Polly Tuller, an enterprising merchant, was the agent in this business for Simsbury.
About the year 1840, Dr. Guy R. Phelps, commenced the manufacture of "Tomato Pills", giving employment to a number of hands, in their manufacture and sale, by which he became famous, and acquired a handsome profit, in con- nection with a drug store, which for several years did a fair business in Hartford. In 1846 Dr. Phelps, with others in Hart- ford, obtained a charter for the "Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company". To this business he devoted the re- mainder of his life, and acquired a handsome fortune. He died in 1869.
It was not till about this time that tomatoes began to be raised and used as a common esculent.
During nearly the first half of the present century, Calvin
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Barber carried on the stone-cutting business in Simsbury. Having opened a quarry on Hop-brook, near the distillery, he furnished building stone, of every description, such as under- pinning, door and window sills, jambs, mantels and hearths for a large extent of country. In this business he employed a large number of men. It was by him that during the period above named most of the head-stones in the Simsbury burying ground, and many in the neighboring towns, composed of red sand-stone, were manufactured and erected.
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FIRST CHURCH BUILDING . 1683
XXXVII
Manners and Customs
From the first settlement of the town, the inhabitants of Simsbury have been a staid and moral people. During the first hundred years or more of the town's existence, they were required by law to attend upon the ordinances of the Gospel on the Sabbath and other appointed days. They were a conscientious, law-abiding people. Every able-bodied per- son within the limits of the town was expected to be, and was, present on such occasions. Though for most of them the distance was great, yet, summer or winter, they were in their accustomed seats. From Nod Meadow they came, and from Turkey Hill and Salmon Brook. They came on foot, they came on horse-back, a few in wagons. Commonly a man on horse- back, and his wife on a pillion behind him, with a child or two in their arms, was the mode of travel. The Sabbath exer- cises were long, sometimes tiresome. There were always two sermons on the Sabbath.
The exercises commenced at ten o'clock, with an inter- mission of an hour in winter and an hour and a half in summer. In winter, the children especially suffered with cold, but there was no relief for them. During the prayers, which were long - sometimes nearly an hour-it was the custom to stand, greatly to the fatigue of the worshipper. To sit during prayers was grossly irreverent, but to stand was fatiguing. To relieve this, it was customary to stand with one foot on the pew-seat, the elbow on the knee, with the hand propping the chin. This was usually the regulation attitude of the
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male portion of the congregation. An occasional change of feet afforded relief. "They stood a spell on one foot first. Then stood a spell on t'other".
When a missionary contribution was to be taken up, the minister previously read a proclamation, issued by the Governor, authorizing and directing such contribution, certi- fied by the Secretary of State. The hats of the Deacons, who officiated on such occasions, were used as contribution boxes, a handkerchief being spread over them, to make sure that none should slip under the lining.
A sense of dependence upon the Supreme Being, and of accountability to Him, seems to have had an abiding influence upon the minds and conduct of those men of the generations that have passed. They held communion with Him. They be- lieved in the efficacy of prayer. They looked upon it, not only as a duty, but a privilege; everybody seemed to recog- nize and desire the benefits of public prayer. Were they sick, a note was sent, to be read from the pulpit "requesting the prayers of the Church and Congregation, that God would bless the means used for their recovery, restore them to health, or prepare them for his good will and pleasure". When they recovered from sickness, they rose in their place in the meet- ing house, whilst the minister read the note or gave notice, that "they gave public thanks that they had been restored to health, and were again permitted to join in the Worship of God in the Sanctuary". If a person died, at home or abroad, the surviving members of the family sent a note or request to be announced from the pulpit, "requesting the prayers of the Church and Congregation, that the event might be sanctified to them for their Spiritual and everlasting good". The family rose and stood in their place whilst this notice was being given. On one occasion it is remembered, the minister requested the congregation to join in public thanks, that his wife had been delivered of a healthy and proper child.
Funerals
Great changes have taken place in regard to funerals, and the manner of conducting them. In the early part of
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the present century, and previously, the body of a deceased person was borne to the grave, no matter how great the dis- tance, on men's shoulders. At the close of the religious exercises at the house of the deceased, the bier was placed before the door and the coffin placed upon it. All who were willing to act as "bearers" were requested to form in procession, - two and two, - in front of the bier, whilst the "mourners" and other friends followed. Four men, two on a side, took up the bier, and lifted it upon their shoulders, and the procession started. Having proceeded with solemn steps, so far that those bearing the corpse were supposed to be fatigued, the four in front, at the head of the procession, separated and stood two on each side, till the procession, or those in front of the coffin, had passed between them. On its arrival, the bier, without being lowered, was transferred to their shoulders, and those who had just served stopped immediately in front of the bier. Thus a relay of bearers was provided for the whole distance to the place of burial.
Watchers were secured to sit up with the corpse, during the night, or nights, before the funeral. Liquors were pro- vided for the watchers, and for the clergyman and others in attendance. In case of sudden death, where the cause was not known, a jury was called, whose verdict usually was - "died by the visitation of God". Where the death was from accident, it was not uncommon to erect a monument at the place where the accident occurred, to commemorate the event. Such a monument stands by the roadside, northerly of the Bradley place, in East Wetaug, in commemoration of the death of David Russell, caused by falling from his cart neap, and being run over by the cart.
Marriages
Before the middle of the present century, no legal marriage could take place until the intention of the parties proposing to be united in marriage had been published by announcement in some public meeting on the Sabbath, or on some Fast, Thanksgiving or Lecture day, in the town or parish where one of the parties resided; or set up in writing on some post or
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door of the meeting house, there to stand at least eight days before such marriage. The "publishment" was usually an- nounced at the close of the afternoon services in the words following: "John -and Mary- intend marriage". This announcement invariably brought a smile upon the countenance of almost every member of the congrega- tion. The announcement was usually made by the minister. In 1786, it was "voted in Society meeting, and chose the two Deacons of the Church in sd Society to be the persons to Re- publish the Intentions of marriage between the Parties".
In 1854, the publishment of intention of marriage was dispensed with, and a license obtained by one of the parties, from the registrar of the town, was required, which law is still in force.
Weddings are always pleasant and joyful occasions. Dur- ing the last century though there was less culture and refine- ment; there seems to have been more of jocularity and merri- ment on such occasions than at the present time. Frolic and mirth and wild pranks were in vogue.
Stealing the Bride
It was a frequent custom often affording great amuse- ment, at wedding parties, for young men to engage in what was called "Stealing the bride". The sport was engaged in mostly by those who were not invited to the wedding. The following anecdote, related by Dr. Stiles, in his "History of Ancient Windsor" illustrates the peculiar manners of the times.
As it was a Simsbury frolic and participated in wholly by Simsbury parties, it seems not improper to transcribe it bodily in the felicitous words of its author.
"When a young couple were to be married, those of their acquaintance who were not invited to the wedding would some- times combine, go stealthily to the house where the ceremony was being celebrated, and watching for a favorable oppor- tunity, rush in, seize the bride, carry her out, and placing her upon a horse, behind one of the party, gallop off with her to some neighboring tavern, where music, supper, etc., had been
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bespoken. If the capture and flight were successful, and the captors succeeded in reaching their rendezvous at the tavern, without being overtaken by the wedding party, the night was spent in dancing and feasting, at the expense of the bridegroom. Mr. Elisha Griswold, of Simsbury, used in his later years, to relate with much glee the particulars of one of these bride- stealings, in which he was a principal actor.
It seems that a certain couple were to be married in Simsbury, and Mr. Griswold, with others of their acquaintance, who had not been honored with an invitation, resolved upon retaliation by stealing the bride. Accordingly, on the evening of the wedding, having first ordered a nice supper, and en- gaged the music, etc., very privately, at a tavern at Turkey Hills, himself with two or three others went into the neighbor- hood of the bride's residence. Here they reconnoitered; but as the party was large, and the rooms crowded, they were obliged to watch for some time before the favorable oppor- tunity presented itself. At length, however, the evening being warm and beautiful, the company gradually withdrew from the house and dispersed through the grounds and garden, which surrounded it. Through a window, they could see the bride, distinguished by her bridal dress, almost alone in the parlor. Now was their chance. One or two of the surprise party quietly entered the dwelling by a back door, to seize the bride and bear her out to where their confederates were holding the horses, and to place her behind one of the party on horse- back, was but the work of an instant. In another moment they were speeding over the road to Turkey Hills, with a swiftness which almost defied pursuit. But to their surprise the whole wedding party seemed also to have sprung to their saddles and were almost immediately in pursuit, as their loud voices and the clear ring of their horses' hoofs too plainly told. The race was exciting, their laboring horses seemed not to gain one inch of their pursuers; but at last they reached the tavern, dismounted, carried their fair prize into the hall, and had just time to arrange the dance when the wedding party arrived.
The music struck up - the dance began - but the as-
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tonishment of the gallant captors can scarcely be imagined when they discovered for the first time that the supposed bride had on her feet men's boots, and that her steps and movements were altogether too masculine and antic to comport with the dress and known refinement of the real bride. If then flashed upon them that they had been awfully sold; the whole wedding party now came rushing into the hall, laughing and exulting with the greatest glee.
It seems that the friends of the bride had suspected or learned of the attempt to be made upon her, and had pur- posely dressed up one of the young men, and left him exposed in the parlor, having their horses also in instant readiness for pursuit. The hilarious scene that followed the denoue- ment was amusing. The whole thing was taken in perfect good humor, the dancing and supper were very highly enjoyed, and the company broke up and dispersed at a very late hour - the kidnappers paying all expenses - who for years after had to bear the laughs and jokes of the neighborhood, for having the lobby turned upon them."
Results of the War
Prior to the war of the Revolution, there was a general and strict observance of the Sabbath. Sabbath breaking, by secular labor or amusement, or by travel, was looked upon as a heinous crime, and was strictly forbidden by law. The statute required all persons on the Lord's Day "to carefully apply themselves to duties of Religion and Piety, publicly and privately"; and "duly attend the public worship of God on the Lord's Day in some congregation allowed by law unless hindered by sickness or otherwise necessarily prevented" on penalty of a fine of fifty cents for every such offense.
And "no Traveller, Drover, Waggoner, Teamster, or any of their servants shall travel on the Lord's Day (except from necessity or charity) on penalty of forfeiting a sum not ex- ceeding Three Dollars and Thirty-four cents, nor less than one Dollar and Sixty seven cents". This with other laws to protect public morals had been strictly obeyed or enforced. But the War - as all wars do - weakened or blunted the
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moral sense, and thereby the restraints of law were relaxed. People began, here and there, openly to violate or secretly evade the Sabbath, and other kindred laws. As soldiers during the war were required to march upon the Sabbath, so after the war, travellers began to be seen prosecuting their journeys on that day. Many were arrested or stopped on their journey, but the practice was not stopped.
Noble Phelps, of Simsbury, an eccentric, fun-loving man, used to tell with glee the story of his journey from Providence to Simsbury.
About the beginning of the present century, Mr. Phelps had occasion, for business or pleasure, to visit Rhode Island, taking with him his wife and children. They made the journey in a "covered wagon", i.e. with hoops bent over it, covered with canvas, as was the fashion of the times. Having finished his visit there, he started for home. On his return it so hap- pened, or was so arranged, that he crossed the state line into Connecticut on a Sabbath morning. He had not proceeded far in the "land of steady habits" ere he was accosted by a good Deacon, whose house he was passing. "I feel it my duty", quoth the Deacon, "to stop you, in your journey on the Sabbath. Do you know, Sir, that you are breaking the laws of the State of Connecticut?" With a most lugubrious tone and look, Mr. Phelps replied, "Yes. I am well aware that I am breaking the laws of God and man, but I can't help it. I reside in Simsbury, I have been down to Providence, where my children were taken sick, and I started for home; and I am compelled to travel, for no one will keep us". "Oh", said the good Deacon, "rather than have you travel on the Lord's day, and especially as your family are sick, I'll keep you and welcome; drive right into the yard there". The face of the traveller was clad in smiles. After expressing his thanks for the proffered kindness, he remarked, "I have tried at most every house since I came into the State, but no one would keep us; my children in the wagon there were taken with smallpox, and" ... "Drive on, drive on", says the Deacon, rushing into the house, with his hand covering his mouth and nose. The smile on his face remained, as the traveller proceeded on
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his homeward journey, satisfied that with smallpox in his wagon, he had nothing to fear from the Sabbath laws of Connecticut.
Another sad result of the war was the vast increase and prevalence of intemperance, all over the land. Notwithstand- ing severe laws against it, drunkenness prevailed to an alarming extent. For nearly half a century after the war, the vice of intemperance grew and spread, so that abstinence from the use of intoxicating liquors was a rare exception. Almost every person acquired the habit of using them as a beverage. The temptation was constantly before them. Apples and grain were abundant and cheap. Cider-mills were erected all over the country. The cellars of the farm houses were stowed with bar- rels and hogsheads of cider. The distilleries afforded a ready market. Cider was sold there at fifty cents or less per barrel, taking in payment cider-brandy at twenty-five cents a gallon, so that with gin distilleries, cider-mills and cider distilleries, it is not strange that intemperance prevailed.
About the close of the first quarter of the present century, the public mind began to be aroused, and public attention to be called to the enormity of the evil. Public meetings were held, temperance societies were formed, and conventions called, to listen to addresses from the gifted orators of the land. Clergymen and laymen, lawyers and physicians were engaged all over New England in educating the public mind. Reason and moral suasion, with the signing of the pledge not to use intoxicating drinks as a beverage, were the weapons they used in their warfare against intemperance.
Success attended their efforts and the tidal wave was stayed and soon began to recede. Thousands signed the pledge and thus thousands were saved from a drunkard's life and rescued from a drunkard's grave.
The change in Simsbury was wonderful. Prior to this temperance revival, liquor drinking was universal. At the ordination of Mr. McLean was an "Ordination Ball" where the hilarity of the occasion was promoted by the flow of liquors. On funeral occasions, the spirits of sympathizing friends were sustained by the free use of distilled spirits, provided
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for their use. A wedding without wine was an anomaly. On all public occasions, for business or pleasure, liquors were pro- vided. At social visits, or calls, "a glass of sling" was the sign of welcome. The traveller on a journey as often called for a drink for himself as for a feed for his horse. Stage-coach pas- sengers never failed to "treat the driver" and themselves or one another at the bar of the hotel, for there was no hotel with- out a "bar".
The "Militia Training" was a school of intemperance. Every officer chosen, from corporal to captain, was expected to step forward, before the company, express his thanks for the honor conferred, and distribute pailfuls of punch among them. At eleven o'clock A.M. and at four o'clock P.M., me- chanics regularly took their grog. No farmer could reap his harvest, or finish his "haying", without a keg of rum. In winter it was warming and in summer it was cooling. Children were taught that a little "tansy bitters" was good to preserve health, or to restore it, and to give one an appetite. If a neigh- bor called, one of the children must draw a cup of cider. To draw the cider was a family-chore, usually put upon one of its junior members. Dinner without cider was unknown. But through the Temperance reformation, all these things were changed. Soon it became almost as unpopular and unfashion- able to drink liquor, as it had been not to drink. A prohibitory law was passed, by which intoxicating liquors could not be manufactured or sold as a beverage.
Then came the "War of the Rebellion", attended and fol- lowed by a sad relapse. The "prohibitory law" was repealed, and the "saloon" system adopted.
Under the old "Tavern system", the civil authority in each town were required by law to meet annually, and elect one or more persons, in their several towns, to keep a house or houses of public entertainment for the year ensuing. Such houses were designed especially for the benefit and convenience of the travelling public, and the keepers of them were required to keep on hand at all times, for the accommodation of travel- lers, "at least two spare beds for guests" and "sufficient stabl- ing, and provender or hay, or pasturage and grain for four
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horses". Minors and apprentices were not allowed by law to drink intoxicating liquors in such houses, nor was any tavern keeper allowed to permit any of the inhabitants of the town to sit tippling, or drinking to excess, in his house. In the ap- pointment of tavern keepers in the town, care was taken to make choice of men of high respectability and character. Such men as Col. Noah A. Phelps, Col. Jonathan Pettibone, and at a later day Judge Jeffery O. Phelps, Shubael S. Hoskins, and Virgil Pettibone, leading men of the town, kept taverns in various parts of the town for many years. Theirs were, literally, "houses of entertainment" for strangers and travellers.
Now, no such provision is made for the travelling public, but all over our State, except in those towns which vote to the contrary, drinking-houses are established by law, for the special convenience of the tipling public of the town or village. The town has no option but to allow or disallow their estab- lishment within its limits. With the character of the keeper of the house, the town has nothing to do, or the particular location. The State appoints three Commissioners, whose chief business is the appointment and licensing of rum-drink- ing and rum-selling houses, in all those towns which vote for license. Here collect together, day and night, laborers and idlers, old men and boys of the town or village to drink, fight, play or gamble. For the privilege of keeping such a house, and being protected by law, the town, county or state receives an immense revenue.
The appointment is sold for a sum of money and the Com- missioners may sell it to whom they please. Such is the law of Connecticut in 1887. An application endorsed by five free- holders and a personal bond are the only qualifications for the office.
Temperance Society
The first Temperance Society in Simsbury, and probably the first in the State, was organized here in 1805. Mr. Benjamin Ely, then a recent graduate of Yale College, from Guilford, came into the town and engaged in teaching. In this em- ployment he had been engaged several years, with success.
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He married the daughter of Dudley Pettibone, Esq., one of the most prominent men in the town, and settled down and became a permanent and influential citizen. Social in his manner, and genial in disposition, he seemed ever desirous of making those around him happy, and doing them good.
He saw the effects of intemperance around him, and en- deavored, by writing and conversation, to suppress it. At length, in the beginning of 1805, he proposed and succeeded in organizing "The Aquatic Society", pledging each member to abstain from all intoxicating liquors.
His views in regard to it, and his efforts to promote temperance, can be gathered from the following extracts from his letters and papers, written at the time, and still extant. He was in the habit of frequently writing to his neighbors, on whatever interested them or him.
In a letter to Asa Humphrey, dated 15th Jan. 1805, he says, - "What a pleasing, useful and lastingly beneficial So- ciety have we instituted, if we fail not in our rules and re- strictions. The good effects which naturally result from it are incalculable, and as lasting as life. I am at present far more anxious for a persevering resolution of the present mem- bers, than to augment our number. A strict, consciencious adherence to our rules will be as honorable as useful".
"Last Friday evening was instituted a club or Society which bids fair to be one of the most useful ever known. Nothing was wanting but numbers; that is, that it should become universal, and that the members should adhere to the regulations and restrictions required. In a pecuniary view, which, with most men, is their chief end, it would save more than 4,000 dollars a year to this town.
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