USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > A statistical account of the county of Middlesex, in Connecticut > Part 3
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The formation of particular congregational churches, and the settlement of their ministers ; the rise and spread of other de- nominations, and the settlement of their ministers, will be articles in the statistical accounts of the towns. For the salaries of mi- nisters, see note N.
The congregational ministers of Middlesex, have generally been supported by a tax, laid on the lists of the inhabitants. While the people remained of one heart, and of one way to serve God, this method of support was attended with little diffi- culty, and excited little opposition. But as other denominations arose, it became somewhat embarrassed, and was made the sub- ject of much complaint. The consequence is, that resort is had, in many cases, to other modes of support. Lands reserved by the first settlers for the support of the ministry, have, in some
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Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
instances, become valuable ; and by being rented or leased, yield a considerable annual income. Several societies have received important legacies and donations. In other cases, subscriptions have been set on foot, for raising funds. All the societies have received something from the act of the Legislature, passed in Oct. 1816, appropriating a claim against the United States to the support of literature and religion ; and this has generally been applied by them to the increase of funds for maintaining religious institutions. In these various ways, most of the so- cieties are relieved partly or wholly from the necessity of raising any thing yearly for the support of the Gospel. What is neces- sary to be raised also, in sundry instances is raised by the rent of pews or by subscriptions.
Ministers of other denominations are generally supported by funds, by pew-rents, subscriptions, or contributions.
The amount of funds devoted in one way and another to the support of religion in Middlesex, exceeds $ 70,000; but some of it is not yet in a productive state. See note O.
We have no academy in the county. Our district schools are 112 ; in which about 6,000 children are instructed by men in the winter season ; a number, somewhat smaller, is instructed, generally by women, in the summer : by both from six to ten and eleven months annually. See note P.
The wages of men, exclusive of board, vary from ten to twenty dollars per month, and of women, from 75 cents to one and two dollars per week.
The kinds of knowledge generally taught, are reading, writ- ing, and arithmetic. In many schools in the winter season, and in those which are taught by men in the summer, some attention is paid to grammar, geography, and occasionally to other branches of science.
That there is now a gradual improvement in schooling, and that there has been a great improvement since the settlement of the county, is unquestionable. For a long period it was diffi- cult to obtain suitable elementary books for children, and persons suitably qualified to teach them. The first of these difficulties has long since been removed, and the only serious difficulty in the way of obtaining qualified instructors, lies in the unwilling- ness of districts to give the requisite wages.
In addition to the liberal provisions of the Legislature, for the promotion of schooling, some towns have funds appropriated to this object, which will be mentioned hereafter.
Besides the district schools, subscription schools are occasion- ally taught in the county. Many of the clergy also, instruct youth in the branches commonly taught in academies.
The number of paupers in Middlesex perpetually varies ;
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Introductory and General Observations.
though on the whole, according to the common complaint, it is supposed to increase. These are almost universally natives, as foreigners rarely reside with us long enough to become in- habitants. Some are supported wholly, and some partially or occasionally. Their occupations, (where they had any,) have been various, and the means also, by which they have been re- duced to want; some being poor from idiocy, distraction, and unavoidable calamities, and some from idleness, extravagance, and intemperance.
The mode of supporting them is different, in different towns, and in the same towns, at different times. Those wholly under the care of towns have sometimes been boarded out, one, two, three, or all in private families, for some given sum by the week or year; and in others, have been set up, unjustifiably I think, at vendue, and put out to the lowest bidders ; while those needing partial or occasional assistance, have been furnished from time to time, with fuel, food, and clothing at their own dwellings. The alms-house, recently erected in Middletown, is the only one in the county.
The expenses of the poor in 1814, were as follows, viz. in Middletown $ 1622 70; in Chatham $ 1440 17; in Haddam $ 500 ; in East-Haddam $ 936 31 ; in Saybrook $ 1720; in Kil- lingworth about $ 966 29; and in Durham $ 401 56; in the whole county, $ 7587 03.
What is the best mode of uniting humanity with economy, in the support of the poor, is a point difficult to be ascertained. The best mode in one place might not be the best in another, and where a wise plan is formed, the great difficulty lies in its execution. In large towns, where the poor are numerous, lit- tle doubt exists, that an alms-house establishment is matter of economy. In such an establishment, the various articles of con- sumption may be purchased in large quantities, and of course at reduced prices ; the services of those who are capable of labour, by combination and system, may be turned to the greatest ad- vantage : besides, the steward of an alms-house, feeling a degree of responsibility beyond the superintendent of two or three paupers, and giving himself continually to his business, may in nameless ways save considerable expense. Nor is such an es- tablishment incompatible with humanity. It may be so manag- ed as to afford the poor every comfort, which the community are bound to give them. The evils to be apprehended from bring- ing them into the same or contiguous buildings, may be avoided by placing them in separate apartments, giving a uniform pre- ference in circumstances, to those who are virtuous, over those who are vicious ; but encouraging in the latter every appearance of amendment. Such as are obstinate in vice, while they ought
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Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
to be kept from absolute suffering, should never have favours bestowed upon them so liberally, as to render an alms-house & temptation to improvidence, idleness, and wickedness, and the occasion of increasing the very evil, for the unavoidable occur- rence of which, it is intended to provide. An alms-house ought always to be located so near to a house of public worship, that the poor, who are able, may attend the stated ministrations of the sanctuary. They should also be furnished with bibles and tracts, and be required to read them, and should be visited and coun- selled, at no very distant periods, by ministers and private christians.
But the benefits of an alms-house will depend essentially upon the character, talents, and faithfulness of him, who has the imme- diate control of it. Every town, forming such an establishment, will find not only their poor benefitted, but their own interests promoted, by placing over it a man of respectable standing in life, a man, deeply skilled in the knowledge of mankind, and ca- pable of managing the various characters committed to his care.
Whether placed in an alms-house or elsewhere, no prudent and consistent means should be left untried, of advancing the real welfare of the poor, of curing their diseases, of promoting their vir- tue, and of exciting them to preparation for that tribunal, where, without distinction, the rich and the poor shall meet together.
Of many of these remarks, the alms-house in Middletown, al- ready mentioned, is an illustration. This stands in the south- western part of the city, near Pameacha river, and is a substan- tial brick building, 60 feet long, and 40 broad, two stories in front, and three in the rear, and at the ends; having in the lower story, a work-room, kitchen, cellar, and dungeon; in the second, two rooms for the steward, a victualling room, and a room to be used as occasion requires ; in the third, thirteen lodging rooms, four with fire-places ; having also a garret, suf- ficiently large for twenty lodging-rooms. This establishment cost $8755 ; viz. the ground, two and a half acres, $ 800; the alms-house, including wood-house, fences, &c. $ 7655 ; and the furniture $ 300. It was occupied by the poor in May 1814, and their expense for the twelve months following, was $ 1447 70. The town expended that year for the poor, who were not at the alms-house, about $ 175 more, making the amount already given. The expenses of the poor the year preceding, were $ 3465 68. If we add to the expense of 1814, $ 525 30, for interest on the cost of the establishment, making a total of $2148 ; the clear saving to the town that year from the alms-house, exceeded $ 1300 : and the poor, it is said, had a degree of comfort, bc- fore unknown to them.
But as it is easier to prevent, than to remedy evils, the efforts
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Introductory and General Observations.
of the community ought to be specially directed to the preven- tion of pauperism. To this end, all children, those of the high- er as well as of the lower classes of society, should be trained up to regular industry, economy, and temperance. These things should be taught in the family and in the sanctuary, as absolutely required by God; and the mischiefs and guilt of the contrary vices, should be constantly exposed, together with all the means by which they may be produced. Those who are in circumstances to employ such as are dependent upon their daily earnings for support, should be ever ready to furnish them with business. By these means, if pauperism would not entirely cease, it would be greatly lessened; the poor would generally find some among their immediate relatives, to provide for them, so that the community would not be charged ; and to the few in- dividuals, who after all, by the mere sovereign disposal of God, might be poor and destitute, it would be rather a privilege than a burden, for a virtuous community, to extend relief.
The number of blacks in this county is very small. In 1756 there were 384, in 1774, 441, in 1810 probably a few more. They are almost universally free. Some of them possess good moral cha- racters, and are laborious and faithful, when employed by others, but have little skill in setting themselves to work, and in husband- ing their earnings ; while a very considerable proportion are ad- dicted to low vices. The obvious reasons for their general de- gradation are, that their education is much neglected; that their companions are the low and vicious, the only class among the whites, who are willing to consort with them; and that the temptations to iniquity, are suffered to operate upon them with the greatest force.
Owing principally to the purity of the air, and the purity of the water, Middlesex is remarkably healthy.
Such diseases as are incident to children, and such as have had a general spread in the State and Country, have oftentimes prevailed. But in no instance, has a mortal sickness extended through the county, and the instances have been comparatively rare, in which a mortal sickness has extended generally, through any considerable section of it. In the " Life of David Brainerd," a mortal sickness is said to have prevailed in Haddam, in 1732, but what it was is not stated, nor how many were removed by it. The dysentery which is much the most common disorder in the fall season, prevailed in that town in 1758, and in a part of it in 1806 ; it appeared in Middletown Upper-Houses in 1742 ; thirty or forty died with it in the neighbourhood near Chatham quarry about 1758 ; it was on Haddam Neck in 1766; in East-Haddam in 1775 and 6, as an attendant of the throat distemper, and about the same time in Durham ; in Saybrook in 1805. A fever, com-
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Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
monly termed the long-fever, prevailed in North-Killingworth in 1751 and 2. The scarlet fever was in that society in 1784. This made its appearance at one period in Durham. In 1796 the yellow fever was brought from the West Indies to Knowles's Land- ing, of which eight persons died. The most common fever with us for some years past, has been the typhus fever. This has been most malignant in Middletown Upper-Houses, in Haddam, East- Haddam Landing, Pautopoug Point, and Durham. Consumptions are thought to be more common with us now, than formerly.
About 1761, a large miry marsh, in the northeast part of Middle-Haddam, was overflowed. The water became so putrid the year following as to kill the creatures which were in it. It produced a sickness among the inhabitants for a mile or more about it, which was called from its origin the pond fever. Of this, some died, and the inhabitants of the town were so alarmed, that the authority were under the necessity of pressing indivi- duals, to go and take care of the sick.
Respecting " remarkable instances of diseases and mortality among animals," I can give no information but what is contained in the following extract from a letter written in East-Haddam, and published in New-York, in the 7th volume of the Medical Repository. "For 10 or 12 years prior to 1797," says the writer, " a disease prevailed among cattle in East-Haddam, and in the neighboring places to a great extent, vulgarly called a mortification. It was most destructive to cattle under three years ; sometimes attacking cows over that period, but never oxen. Calves were most generally destroyed by it in autumn, and yearlings in May and June. Its commencement was indicated by a sudden listlessness, numbness, and disposition to rest, at- tended with small soft swellings on the legs, shoulders, flank, side, but more usually in the back near the kidneys, and it produc- ed death with feeble expressions of pain, within 6, 12, and 24 hours. Immediately upon death, the carcass became intolera- bly offensive, so that the hide was often left to rot with it : where it was taken off, the swellings were found to consist of jelly, and black blood. After tanning, the hide was often rotten over the swellings, and holes were made of their size and dimensions."
The cause of this disease was never satisfactorily ascertained, and the remedies which were applied, rarely if ever succeeded.
From all the parishes in Middlesex, registers of deaths have been received, excepting the first and fourth parishes of Mid- dletown. In the latter, no register has been kept, and in the former, none for the whole population. But going upon the sup- position, (which cannot be far from correct,) that the proportion of deaths to the number of inhabitants, is the same in these parish- es, as in other parts of the county ; the number of deaths yearly, in
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Introductory and General Observations.
Middlesex, from Jan. 1, 1805, to Jan. 1, 1815, will be, omitting fractions, 261. The average population of the county for this term, may be put at 20,723, as that was the actual population at the census in 1810. The proportion of deaths annually there- fore, is not quite at the rate of one to eighty souls. See note Q.
Twelve persons in this county have arrived to one hundred years of age, according to information communicated to me, and there may have been others as aged of whom I have not heard. A black woman died in Durham, at the age of 113 years, or as some supposed 118. She was grown up before she was brought from Africa, and was a slave in this country 95 years. Of 310 persons, who died in Haddam society, from 1805 to 1815, 31 ar- rived to 80 years ; of 520, who died in Middle-Haddam, from 1785 to 1815, 116 arrived to 70 years.
Those who have lived to a great age, so far as my observa- tion and inquiries have extended, have been persons of regular and steady habits.
A few weeks after the arrival of the English at Saybrook-Point in 1635, cold weather commenced. Connecticut river was frozen over, by the middle of November, and the winter following, was uncommonly severe and tempestuous. As the people had had little opportunity to provide themselves accommodations, their hardships were great; and their brethren in Hartford county, . only survived the season. The winters of 1637-8 and of 1641-2, were also very severe. In the former, the inhabitants, who had been able to subdue but little land, and who had ob- tained but small importations from abroad, secured themselves from extreme suffering, by purchasing corn from the Indians. Before the occurrence of the latter, considerable tracts were cul- tivated. But the summer immediately following it, was so wet and cold, that little corn was raised, and English grain was de- stroyed by multitudes of pigeons in the field, and of mice in the barn. Before another harvest, many families were destitute of bread, and were compelled to live on fish and clams. The win- ter of 1696-7, was as severe as either of the preceding, but no special calamities are known to have been experienced. On the 17th of February, 1717, the greatest snow fell, ever known in this country, attended by a dreadful tempest. This has been related by fathers to sons ever since, and is still referred to as the great snow. It covered the doors of houses, so that the in- habitants were obliged to get out at the chamber windows, and buried and destroyed many sheep. The winters of 1737-8, of 1740-41, and particularly of 1779-80, were uncommonly cold. A deep snow fell in Oct. 1781, which remained till the following April.
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Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
In July 1779, about the time of rye harvest, a storm of hail passed through the center of Chatham, destroying all the grain in its course, breaking the windows of houses, and leaving marks of violence on buildings and fences, which could be distinctly traced more than twelve months afterwards. The hail appear- ed to be broken ice, and many of the stones were half the size of a hen's egg.
In the latter part of February 1802, a snow fell, four feet deep. On the Sth of May 1803, a snow fell, sufficiently deep for sleighing, in some parts of Connecticut. Apple trees were in blossom, and their twigs were frozen as in the winter : notwith- standing which there was a tolerable supply of apples that sea- son. In a violent snow storm, which happened in the month of December 1811, many vessels were driven on shore, on the north- ern coast of Long-Island.
The wettest season, within the memory of the present genera- tion, was in the summer and fall of 1795, when it rained more or less for 35 days out of 50.
The most dreadful storm, since the settlement of Connecticut, occurred on the 22d of September, 1815. The wind was eas- terly in the morning, but soon shifted into the south, and blew a gale, or rather a hurricane. It brought in such a tide, that in some cases bridges near the Sound were removed. It pros- trated fruit and forest trees in vast numbers, particularly in Say- brook and East-Haddam ; and farther eastward, in Connecticut and Rhode-Island, did immense damage to shipping. When the wind lulled, the air was hot and suffocating ; and the rain, which fell at times in torrents, was so salt, that the leaves of many trees shrunk under its influence.
The spring, summer and autumn of 1816, were unusually cold and dry. Frosts occurred every month; and though English grain was good, there was not more than half the common quan- tity of hay, pastures were dried up, corn, which had been back- ward through the summer, was almost wholly ruined by frosts in the fall, and potatoes were much injured. People were unable to fat their beef and pork. Hence there was a greater scarcity of provisions the following winter and spring, than in any pe- riod since my remembrance.
The canker worm used to be very mischievous to apple trees in Middlesex, as well as in other parts of the country. To pre- vent their ravages, people were in the habit of tarring the bodies of the trees daily, during the time in which the millers ascend from the ground. But a hard frost, which took place about the 20th of May, 1795, was supposed to have completely destroyed them. They were scarcely seen for several years afterwards. But in 1808 they became numerous, and did much mischief.
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Introductory and General Observations.
The Hessian fly has been rarely noticed, for ten or fifteen years.
In 1817, in the spring and early part of summer, gardens were extensively injured by a small black worm, commonly called the cut-worm.
A sketch of distinguished characters, will appear in the ac- count of the towns.
The first settlers of this county, in common with the first set- tlers of New-England, were strict in their religious principles and practices. Attentive, as has been stated, to public and fa- inily worship, they caused their religion to appear in all their conduct. They were also distinguished by some customs, which owed their existence, either to their particular religious senti- ments, or to the circumstances in which they were placed.
United together for the purpose of enjoying the ordinances of the Lord, as they believed them to be taught in the Scriptures, and exposed to the same enemies and dangers, they settled in bodies, and abounded in mutual affections, and kind offices. A man of common standing, they called good-man, while the title of sir, was given to magistrates, ministers, and men of liberal education.
As they scrupled the lawfulness of calling the days of the week by names, derived from the idolatrous practices of the heathen, they always stiled the first day of the week, the Sabbath, or Lord's day, and distinguished the other days of the week by numbers. For the same reason, they frequently numbered the months of the year. They began the year on the 26th of March, according, as they supposed, to the direction of the Bible, and thus introduced the custom of double-dating, which appears in our ancient records.
Exposed constantly to attacks from the Indians, they were careful to acquire the use of arms. They spent six, and some- times more days annually, in military exercise. In plantations where there were 100 soldiers, 20 were required to serve on guard, on the Sabbath, and on other days of public worship, and in no plantation less than 8 with a sergeant: in times of war and special danger, guards were constantly kept in every town, and in some instances, several in the same town. The practice of keeping guard, on seasons of public worship, continued till May, 1714, when the towns were excused from it by statute, ex- cept in time of war.
This practice, probably produced the custom of assembling people for public worship, by the beat of the drum, which pre- vailed for a time in Middletown, Haddam, Saybrook, Killing- worth and Durham. Whether it was ever introduced into Chatham and East-Haddam, is unknown.
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Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
The circumstances of our ancestors were exceedingly strait- ened. They had sacrificed a large portion of their property by removing to America; were unacquainted with the business of subduing a wilderness; had no commerce, and scarcely any means for acquiring property. In the mean time, their fami- lies were to be supported, their children educated, and the in- stitutions of the Gospel established and maintained ; and these things were to be done, in the midst of enemies, whose motions they were obliged perpetually to watch, and against whose ap- prehended attacks, they were obliged to provide the means of defence. Necessity therefore, compelled them to the most rigid economy. Every thing about them, wore the marks of simplici- ty. Their houses were constructed in the plainest manner, their furniture consisted of a few indispensable articles, their dress was made of coarse cloths, wrought in the family, and their ta- bles were spread with the homeliest fare. Scarcely an article of luxury was used in Connecticut, for a century after the Eng- lish settlements began ; and very few articles were introduced for a considerable period afterwards.
But the trials of the early inhabitants were sanctified to them ; and conspired to the production of that simplicity of manners, and that Godly living, by which they were characterized.
As the circumstances of their descendants gradually improved, they gradually departed from their examples. They did not in- deed neglect the institutions and forms of religion, but the power of Godliness was diminished. Antecedently to the great revi- ยท vals, about 1740, the churches, very generally, had sunk into a lukewarm state. By those revivals, some of the Middlesex churches were visited and refreshed, and the things of religion became the subjects of general conversation and inquiry. But a declension soon succeeded ; which remained, with temporary and partial interruptions, till the close of the last century. The revolutionary war, occurring during this period, gave a shock to the moral habits of the people, from which they have not yet wholly recovered. From that time to the present, an unusual number have indulged in sabbath-breaking, profaneness and intemperance. At the same time, there is no reason to believe, that these shameful vices are now increasing. By recent out- pourings of the Spirit of God, and by the efforts of the virtuous, they have been evidently checked ; and taking a general view of the community, it is matter of joy and gratitude, that piety and virtue are advancing. While very many have become, in the course of twenty years, the hopeful subjects of grace, others have been led to think favorably of religion. Our churches are in most instances well filled on the Sabbath; and the taste and reading of the inhabitants generally, are assuming a more serious character.
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