USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > A statistical account of the county of Middlesex, in Connecticut > Part 12
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The emigrations from this town have been numerous. Of the first settlers, the nine whose names are printed in italics, have no descendants here at the present time. Several families within a few years have removed to Bergen, in the State of New- York.
No inhabitant of Killingworth has ever been convicted of a capital offence : but a woman in the north part of the town, in a state of delirium, killed three of her children, Oct. 14, 1779, by cutting their throats with a knife ; and would have killed herself, in the same dreadful manner, had she not been stayed at the mo- ment, by the interference of her husband.
A forge was formerly improved on Menunketesuck river, in the south-eastern part of North-Killingworth. In this for a sea- son iron was made from black sand.
On this stream, within the same parish a woollen factory was erected in 1814. In this, wool has been consumed at the rate of 6000 pounds a year.
Shipbuilding was begun in this town about the beginning of the last century by Mr. Robert Carter ; and for many years this has been a leading branch of business. Three yards are im- proved, which are all on Indian river.
The inhabitants of Killingworth were encouraged to settle in church order by the General Assembly, in Oct. 1667. A church was formed among them soon after, and the Rev. John Wood- bridge ordained their pastor.
Mr. Woodbridge was dismissed in 1679, and re-settled the same year, in Weathersfield. Cotton Mather ranks him among the most excellent clergymen of Connecticut.
But the effect of his dismission was unhappy upon the people of Killingworth. They fell into divisions, and no minister was settled among them until 1694. At that time, the Rev. Abra- ham Pierson, afterwards rector of the College, was sent to them as an angel of peace. Under his ministry their divisions were healed, and they remained united and happy during his life.
Mr. Pierson was the son of the Rev. Abraham Pierson, for some time minister in Yorkshire, in England, then at Southamp- ton, Long-Island, then at Branford, in this State, and afterwards at Newark, New-Jersey. The subject of this sketch. was born
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Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
during his father's continuance at Branford, was educated at Har- vard College, and was settled colleague with his father in the church at Newark, where he remained sole teacher some years after his father's death. At Killingworth he was not only a great blessing, as a preacher of the Gospel, but as rector of the college. This he instructed and governed with general appro- bation : he also composed for the students a system of natural philosophy, which they recited for many years. But as efforts were made to induce him to remove to Saybrook, his people be- came uneasy on that subject, and were unwilling that he should act as rector. At a town-meeting, held Nov. 7, 1706, he sent to them a request in behalf of the trustecs, that they would allow the college to remain in Killingworth under his care. They voted they were not willing it should remain there as it had been. He dreaded a separation from them, as he had lived among them in love and harmony, and yet his heart was strongly attached to the college. Circumstances therefore, were prepar- ing the way for a decision of the question, whether he should be rector only and so remove to Saybrook, or remain in his pas- toral relation at Killingworth, when he sickened and died, in March 1707.
In regard to his person, he was above a middling stature, was fleshy and well favoured : as a Christian he was charitable and pious ; in preaching, he excelled; and by his talents and cha- racter, was excellently qualified for the station to which he was advanced. " He was a hard student, a good scholar, a great di- vine, and a wise, steady and judicious man in all his conduct."
The same affection which he had all along exercised towards his people, displayed itself in the closing scenes of life. While some of the elders of the church were standing around his dy- ing bed, he earnestly advised them to procure Mr. Jared Elliot. who had been educated under him, to be his successor, whom he judged likely to become a pious, steady and useful minister. The advice was followed, and Mr. Elliot was called to the pasto- ral office the next June, though from a diffidence in his abilities to discharge so great a trust, he was not ordained till two years after. How correct and how useful the rector's advice was, will be best illustrated by a sketch of Mr. Elliot's life.
He was the eldest son of the Rev. Joseph Elliot, a worthy minister of the neighbouring town of Guilford, whose pious and pithy letter to his brother at Roxbury, recently published in se- veral periodical works, has brought his excellencies afresh to re- membrance ; and grandson of the famous John Elliot of Rox- bury, whose holy evangelical labours, particularly among the In- dians, secured to him the title of the apostle John. The sub- ject of this sketch, possessed a liberal portion of those excellencies
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Town of Killingworth.
by which his ancestors were distinguished, while in some re- spects he evidently surpassed them.
His early progress in literature was not rapid, but what he once acquired he never lost ; and the solid rather than brilliant qualities of his mind, accompanied by the goodness of his dis- position and the regularity of his life, induced his sagacious in- structor to form the opinion of his future excellence, which has been related. As he applied himself more and more to study, his mind improved in quickness of apprehension as well as in strength, and he at length acquired a greatness and excellence rarely surpassed, at least in our country. He had the singular talent of applying himself to a variety of employments, to di- vinity, to physic, and to various branches of literature, without disorder, and though his acquisitions in nothing were as great as they probably would have been, if his attention had not been thus divided, yet they were very respectable and in some things eminent.
There are three points of light in which Mr. Elliot may be ad- vantageously viewed ; as a divine, a physician, and a scholar.
As a divine, he possessed enlarged views of the system of re- ligion contained in the Scriptures, and held the doctrines gene- rally believed by the divines of New-England. In his preach- ing he was plain and familiar, happy in allusions to Scripture, and abounding in original and laconic expressions.
As a physician, he was well versed in the science of medicine, and very extensively employed, not only in his own town, but for many years in the neighbouring places ; and such was his re- putation, that he was sometimes called out of the colony. In attending the sick, he was careful not to lose the character of a minister in that of a physician, but intermingled with prescriptions for the body, advice and instruction for the soul.
The standing of Mr. Elliot as a divine and physician, pre- supposes an extensive acquaintance with literature. In history, natural philosophy, botany and mineralogy he excelled. Nor did his knowledge rest in speculation : he was eminently a prac- tical man. By several small treatises, he laboured to improve the agriculture of his country. Some considerations had led him to believe that the black sand, which appears occasionally on the beach of the Sound might be wrought into iron. He made an experiment upon it in the year 1761 and succeeded. For this discovery, he was honoured with a medal, by the Society in- stituted in London for the encouragement of arts, manufactures and commerce.
Mr. Elliot was fond of society ; and by a pleasant and socia- ble temper, connected with his various talents, was eminently qualified to secure and entertain friends. His acquaintances and
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Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
correspondents were numerous. Among these were Dr. Frank- lin, and Dr. Berkley, Bishop of Cloyne. By his representa- tions, and those of a few others, the latter gentleman was led to make extensive benefactions to that institution, whose instruc- tion Mr. Elliot had shared, and with which for thirty-two years he was connected in the capacity of a trustee.
In charities he abounded. Much of his practice was perform- ed gratuitously. But while he scattered he increased. Wise in his calculations, he acquired a large landed estate, which laid the foundation for the wealth of a numerous family.
Notwithstanding his numerous avocations and employments, he was preserved by the blessing of God upon a firm constitu- tion to a good old age, steadily advancing the happiness of all around him. For more than forty years, he never failed of preaching at home or abroad a part of every sabbath. He died in 1763, and was succeeded in the charge at Killingworth, the next year, by the Rev. Eliphalet Huntington.
Mr. Huntington was strongly attached to the doctrines of grace, and a warm and zealous preacher. He fell a victim to the small pox, in 1777.
His successor was the late reverend and beloved Achilles Mansfield; a gentleman distinguished for mild and pleasant manners, for uniformity and sweetness of disposition, and for the patient endurance of afflictions. He also possessed a libera! share of ministerial gifts and graces. For several years he was a fellow of Yale-College.
The pastor of the church in Killingworth at this time, is the Rev. Hart Talcott.
The inhabitants of North-Killingworth, though several years contemplating it, were not formed into a distinct parish until May 1735. In Jan. 18, 1738, fifty persons who had been members of the first church in the town, were formed into a new church, and the Rev. William Seward was at the same time constituted their pastor.
Mr. Seward was the son of Dea. William Seward of Durham. His natural talents were good ; and though he spent a portion of his time in manual labour, his acquisitions were respectable. As he preached without notes in the latter part of his life, his sermons may not have possessed all the correctness they would, if they had been written ; but they were replete with sound evan- gelical instruction. Having a deep sense of the value of truth in his own soul, he laboured to bring his people to understand and practise it. To all these he was a father, and friend ; from them he received continually the expressions of affection and es- teem ; and had abundant occasion through life, to rejoice in their regular religious habits. After a ministry of forty-four years,
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Town of Killingworth.
he fell asleep, and entered, as there is good reason to believe, into the joys of his Lord.
The Rev. Henry Ely was ordained in this place in 1782, and dismissed in 1801.
His successor, the Rev. Josiah B. Andrews, was ordained in 1802, and dismissed in 1811.
Divisions growing out of events which attended the dismission of these two clergymen, both of whom are still living, rendered the prospects of this parish gloomy for a season. But the minds of the people became gradually tranquil, and they are now unit- ed and happy under the ministry of the Rev. Asa King, who was for some years settled in the town of Pomfret.
A few individuals professed themselves Episcopalians in Kil- lingworth 40 or 50 years ago ; but they kept up meetings only for a short period.
In 1800, an Episcopal society was formed in North-Killing- worth and the adjoining parish of North-Bristol, in Guilford, which includes all the Episcopalians in those two parishes. This had only two families at first, from North-Killingworth; but it has now thirty or forty. The society is a part of the cure of the Rev. David Baldwin of Guilford.
Some families from the two parishes in this town belong to the Baptists who meet for worship in the west part of Pautapoug. Some also in the village of Killingworth, who embraced the Baptist sentiments in 1806, connected themselves with the Bap- tists at Pautapoug Point in July 1811, as was noticed in the ac- count of Saybrook.
A few Methodist families in the northern part of the town, be- long to the Methodist Society in Haddam : a few also attend meet- ing in North-Bristol.
From a revival which prevailed in North-Killingworth in 1801 and 2, a very considerable addition was made to the church. From an extensive revival which spread through this town, and some adjoining places in the winter of 1809-10, about 40 were brought into the communion of the church in Killingworth parish, and 51 into the communion of the church in North-Killingworth.
A
STATISTICAL ACCOUNT
OF THE
TOWN OF DURHAM.
THIS Town is from 5 1-2 to 6 1-2 miles long, from east to west, and 4 miles broad, and comprizes about 15,360 acres. It is bounded by Killingworth and Guilford, on the south ; by Wal- lingford, on the west; by Middletown, on the north; and by Haddam, on the east. That portion of it, known by the name of Haddam Quarter, formerly belonged to Haddam; and the whole of it was supposed to belong to the neighbouring towns, until they were surveyed ; when a tract was found to be left. This was small for a distinct plantation ; and does not appear to' have been contemplated with that view for a long period: but many lots or farms in it, were granted by the Legislature to per- sons who had performed important services for the Colony. In this way, more than 5000 acres became the property of indivi- duals, before any settlement was made.
These grants proved unfavourable to the settlement of the town, for the grantees were widely dispersed in Connecticut ; and were so situated, most of them, that they could not remove and occupy their rights; or that they did not wish to alienate them. The large grant to Killingworth, in 1686, described in the account of that town, was still more unfavourable.
In 1698, however, David Seward from Guilford moved into the town, and some of his neighbours contemplated following him. The next spring therefore, a petition was presented to the Le- gislature, signed by thirty-one inhabitants of that town, that there might be a plantation at Coginchaug, the Indian name of Dur- ham. This was urged on the ground that Coginchaug was so far from other settlements, that the people could not go to them for public worship. The petition was granted, and soon after a site was selected for a meeting-house on a hill in the southern
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Town of Durham.
part of the town, which from that circumstance is called meet- ing-house hill to this day. But very few of the petitioners left Guilford, and no plantation was immediately formed.
In May 1704, the proprietors of farms at Coginchaug, be- sought the Assembly for some act, which should encourage a settlement at that place. In answer to this, the Assembly de- creed, or rather proposed, that the proprietors should give up one fourth part of their farms, and that the part thus given up, with the common lands should be laid out in lots, for such per- sons as should offer themselves for inhabitants. The Assembly also proposed to the people of Killingworth to do the same, with respect to the tract granted to them, (for the idea of annex- ing that to a settlement at Coginchaug had already occurred,) and it was provided, on condition of their consenting to this, that they should have the privilege of appointing from among themselves, their proportion of a committee to lay out the lots. At the same time it was enacted, that the plantation at Cogin- chaug should be called Durham.
These proposals were accepted, and settlers came in from various places ; who, in May 1708, were favoured with a pa- tent, confirming to them all the lands in the township. The number of adult male inhabitants at that time, was thirty- four, most of whom were heads of families. Their names were as follow, viz. Caleb Seward, David Seward, Joseph Seward, David Robinson and Joel Parmelee, from Guilford ; the Rev. Nathaniel Chauncey, Isaac Chauncey, Robert Coe, Joseph Coe, Samuel Fairchild, James Curtis, Jehiel Hawley and Benjamin Baldwin, from Stratford ; Richard Beach and Benjamin Beach,- supposed to have been from the same place; James Baldwin, Samuel Camp, William Roberts, Samuel Sanford and Thomas Wheeler, from Milford; Joseph Gaylord, Joseph Gaylord, Jr. John Gaylord, Joseph Hickcox and Stephen Hickcox, from Wa- terbury; Joseph Norton and Samuel Norton, from Saybrook ; John Sutliff and Nathaniel Sutliff, from Deerfield ; James Wads- worth, from Farmington ; Jonathan Wells, from Hatfield; Hen- ry Crane, from Killingworth ; Hezekiah Talcott, from Hartford ; and Ezekiel Buck, from Weathersfield.
Directly after they received their patent, these settlers pur- chased of the inhabitants of Killingworth, the jurisdiction of the tract granted to them, for which they gave them the fee of 60 acres of land.
They were very early joined by John Norton, from Saybrook, by the ancestors of the Lymans, Parsonses and Strongs, from Northampton; of the Newtons, Guernseys, Tibbalses, Mer- wins and Canfields, from Milford; of the Pickets, from Stratford ; of the Bateses, from Haddam ; and of the Hulls from Killing-
15
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Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
worth. In later periods, families have settled in the town, by the name of Hall, Hart, Bishop and Scranton, from Guilford ; of Smith and Johnson, from Middletown, of Chalker and Love- land from Saybrook, and of Butler, from Branford.
As early as 1723, John Sutliff, Nathaniel Sutliff, and probably some others from Durham, settled on Haddam-Quarter. Per- sons also from other towns settled on this tract. These had the consent of the people of Haddam, that they might attend public worship in Durham ; and in Oct. 1773, the Quarter was annex- ed to this town.
There is no evidence that the Indians ever dwelt in Durham in any considerable numbers, or for long periods ; but they re- sorted to it occasionally for the purpose of hunting. They were however regarded as the rightful owners of the soil, and their title was purchased by Samuel Wyllys and others, on the 24th of Jan. 1672, at the same time that a purchase was made of lands in Middletown.
This is a good farming township, and the inhabitants are em- ployed, almost universally, in the cultivation of the earth. They formerly raised wheat in large quantities for market. They now raise good crops of rye, corn, oats, flax, &c.
The town also is very pleasant. The principal settlement is on the road which runs through it from north to south, on ground moderately elevated, descending to the right and left. Imme- diately to the right, is a large tract of low land, and then a tract of higher land, extending to Wallingford Mountains. On the left is an interval, east of which, the land rises into hills, as it does also in the southern part of the township.
The tract of low land, was called by the Indians Coginchaug, or the long swamp, and from this the name was applied to the township. This is generally cleared, and yields a large quantity of coarse grass. The tract might be rendered valuable by more effectual draining.
The largest stream in Durham, is that which rises at the foot of Bluff- Head in Guilford, runs north through the swamp just named, and passes into Middletown; in the account of which it is described. This receives one or two brooks from the west on its passage through this place, and also Allen's brook from the east.
In the northeast corner of the town is Miller's Pond, a mile in circumference. This is the source of Miller's brook, which runs into Middletown. At the southwest corner, partly in this town, is Pistapog Pond. This is remarkable, as containing within its limits, in a single monument, the corner boundary of four towns, viz. Durham, Guilford, Branford and Wallingford. This is a mile long and half a mile wide, and sends forth a small stream, which runs through Branford and East-Haven, into the Sound. Both these ponds furnish small fish.
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Town of Durham.
There is a quarry of free stone in Haddam-Quarter, from which stone have been taken to a limited extent for 70 or 80 years.
The first white child born in this town was Ephraim Seward, son of Mr. Seward, the first settler, He was born Aug. 6, 1700, and died in 1780.
In 1756, there were 799 inhabitants in Durham, exclusive of Haddam-Quarter, in which there may have been 100 or 150 more. In 1774, there were 1076, and in 1810, 1101.
The reason that there has been no more increase of popula- tion for many years is, that individuals and families have re- moved almost perpetually to other places. Many of the early settlers of the town have no descendants here at the present time, or none who bear their names. Some of the people re- moved to Granville, in Massachusetts, about 1750, some to San- dersfield about 1765, and some to West-Stockbridge and Rich- mond, about 1786. Some removed to Durham in the State of New-York about 1788; some to Whitestown about 1796. and others at more recent periods have gone to New-Connec- ticut.
The inhabitants of Durham made early provision for the en- joyment of the worship and ordinances of the Lord; and it is a remarkable fact, that they are now enjoying, after the lapse of considerably more than a century, the labours of their third mi- nister. In May 1706, the Rev. Nathaniel Chauncey was pro- cured to preach to them. He remained with them as a candi- date until Feb. 7, 1711, when he was ordained their pastor.
Mr. Chauncey was the son of the Rev. Israel Chauncey of Stratford, and grandson of the Rev. Charles Chauncey, presi- dent of Harvard College. He received his education in Con- necticut, and was the first person on whom the honours of Yale- College were conferred, having never been graduated at any other seminary. Through the agency of a friend in England, he pur- chased a very large and valuable library, and thus provided the means of gratifying his love of reading and study, of enlarging his views, and of rendering himself more extensively useful. Through life he was regarded as a man of wisdom and pru- dence, as a good scholar, and as an able divine. His sermons were wholly written, but he never carried his notes into the desk, unless in quite the latter part of his days ; and of course he was in the habit of preaching from memory. His elocution was distinct, and his addresses grave and pungent. In his fami- ly and among his people, in all the relations and duties of life, his conduct was such as becomes the Gospel. After a ministry of almost fifty years, including the time of his services as a can- didate, he descended to the grave, greatly lamented. The Rev.
,
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Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
Mr. Todd of East-Guilford, preached a sermon on the occasion of his death, and drew his character with the affection of a friend, and the faithfulness of a historian.
The Rev. Elizur Goodrich, D. D. succeeded him in the autumn of 1756, and like him possessed a distinguished and excellent character.
Dr. Goodrich was both a graduate and tutor of Yale-College. After settling in Durham, he had the use of the important libra- ry of his predecessor. As this consisted of books generally written in Latin, he read extensively in that language. He was also well versed in Greek, and excelled in Hebrew. As a mathematician he had few equals, and probably no superiors in our country. He was indeed a sound and general scholar. As a minister of the Gospel, few understood better the evidences of Christianity, or were more able to defend the Bible as a revela- tion from heaven. In preaching he dwelt principally upon the more common subjects of faith and morals, because he judged them to be the most useful. In prayer his mouth was filled with arguments, especially on sudden and affecting occasions. In connection with his official and stated services, he fitted many young men for a public education, and superintended others in pursuing studies, preparatory to the ministry. In cases of diffi- culty he was abundantly consulted by his brethren, and by the neighbouring churches; and he uniformly employed his talents and influence in the promotion of order and peace. In 1776, he was elected a fellow of Yale-College, and ever after had an extended and happy influence in the management of the affairs of that important institution. On " Nov. 17, 1797, he set out from his house on an annual visit to the Collegiate lands in the county of Litchfield. The following Sabbath he preached at Litchfield, and on Monday rode to Norfolk. He lodged at the house of Capt. Titus Ives, and went to bed in his usual health and cheer- fulness. In the morning he rose early, and having partly dress- ed himself, fell upon the floor in an apoplectic fit and expired, in the 64th year of his age and 42d of his ministry. His remains were brought to Durham the succeeding Saturday, and followed to the grave by his family, church and congregation, and a nu- merous concourse of strangers." President Dwight delivered an appropriate and affecting discourse on the occasion, which is now in the hands of the public. The eldest son of Dr. Good- rich, was the Hon. Chauncey Goodrich, the late respected and excellent lieutenant-governor of this State.
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