USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Winchester > Annals and family records of Winchester, Conn.: with exercises of the centennial celebration, on the 16th and 17th days of August, 1871 > Part 32
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As to my profession it is what is called, in this state, a strict congrega- tionalist : and my connexions are with the ministers and churches of that
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ANNALS OF WINCHESTER,
denomination, which appears to me the nearest to the rule given in God's word, of any within the compass of my acquaintance, - on which account I can by no means renounce my connection with them. Yet I could heartily wish the wall of partition between the different denominations was broken down, that all the true friends of Christ were united in one army, under the glorious captain of our salvation, against the kingdom of Satan, the prince of darkness. Wherefore, I think it my duty to maintain and cultivate liberal sentiments, and hold fellowship with all those who appear to practice and love the truth ; and if I was to receive an ordina- tion, I should choose to apply to a number of ministers of different de- nominations, not exceeding that of my own.
If the church and society in this place can receive me on these princi- ples, and there is a prospect of their being united so that I may be use- ful in this part of the vineyard of Christ, and at the same time promote the general good of mankind, it appears to be my duty to comply with your call. Otherwise, I have no desire to be received, by giving up my principles, or renouncing my connections. I close with subscribing my- self, yours to serve in the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
STEPHEN PARSONS.
Why this acceptance of the call did not result in the settlement of Mr. Parsons, does not appear. It may have been frustrated by a conflict of views between the candidate and the consociation, in regard to church order and fellowship. It only appears on record that the church and society, on the 18th of April, 1787, voted " to continue the call to Mr. Parsons to settle with us in the Gospel Ministry.
The Parsonage Lot, which, a few years after, became a subject of fatal contention, was purchased at this time, and a tax was laid to provide the first payment therefor, and a parsonage house was soon after erected thereon, and so far finished as to serve as a place of worship until a meet- ing house should be located and erected. It stood east of Barkhamsted line, at the intersection of road from the clock factory, with the Old Country road, was occupied successively, by Rev. Mr. Woodworth, Moses Haydon, Isaac Brown and others, and was torn down many years ago.
The location of a meeting house site was again attempted this year [1787]. A stake was pitched; and the society voted that they " be agreed to build," etc., but no building was built, and no further steps were taken in that direction until 1791.
The records during this interval show the progress of events and the nature of the business transacted. A better knowledge of the law of stake pitching and other ecclesiastical matters, was provided for by the purchase of a Society Law Book, and a quire of paper "to keep accompts
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on." The Law Book was ordered to be kept two months at David An- stus', two months at Nathan Wheeler's, two months at Othniel Brainard's, two months at Sergt. Jonas Weed's, two months at Enoch Palmer's, and two months at Zebina Smith's ; and other regulations were adopted for a general diffusion of legal knowledge. An application to the Assembly was voted for a Land Tax " to better enable us to pay for the Parsonage Lot, and to build a Meeting House," - and then a vote was passed "that we will build a meeting house if we can be agreed on a place."
In August, 1791, Rev. Ezra Woodworth preached in the society as a candidate, and a sharp negotiation soon followed, with reference to his settlement. No little diplomatic skill was found requisite to adjust the terms. Mr. Woodworth wanted an absolute conveyance to himself of the Parsonage Lot as a part of the bargain. A large portion of the society, on the other hand, were strenuously opposed to alienating the property to a minister, whose long stay with them would be very preca- rious. The minister carried his point, and on the 7th of November the society decided to make the conveyance in accordance with his demand, and the compact was completed. On the 15th December a committee was chosen to proceed with the ordination, and the 18th of January, 1792, was assigned for the ill-omened ceremony.
In the mean time, deep trouble in regard to the hard bargain of Mr. Woodworth with the society, was daily becoming more manifest. Six days before the ordination a meeting was called, and a committee appointed " to go and see if Mr. Woodworth will make any alterations as to his settle- ment or not," and another committee was appointed "to appear before the Ordaining Council, and oppose the opposition, if any there be, against his ordination." Four days after, another meeting was called "to see if the society will make any alterations as to giving our Society Farm as a settlement to Mr. Woodworth," and a committee of six was appointed to converse with him, and agree on some different plan of settlement.
The interview resulted in the following change of terms, committed to writing :
" Whereas, there is a dissatisfaction in some persons' minds in the pro- posals made to Mr. Woodworth in respect to his settlement, and in order to form a better union, propose to exchange the terms of the same as fol- lows, viz; to except of the yuse of said farm as a Parsonage with the house and barn, said farm to be appraised by indifferent men when he re- ceives tlie same, and also when he resigns the same, and the betterments, if any there be to be allowed to him or his heirs, and the property to be kept good, to be as a settlement in the room of receiving the property of said farm as in the former plan : the vallew of said former proposals of settle-
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ANNALS OF WINCHESTER,
ment being made equal thereto, to be determined by the judgment of in- different men, to be paid in neat cattle in the spring, or fat cattle in the fall, as agreed on, and the salary to remain as in the former proposals.
Dated Winsted, Jan. ye 16th, 1792.
Ezra Woodworth, Nath. Crowe, Elkena Phelps, William Moore.
This agreement removed all hindrance to the ordination, which took place on the day appointed. IIad the agreement been adhered to in good faith, it is more than probable that harmony would have been restored ; and that the faithful ministrations of a pastor valuing the souls of his flock more than their fleeces, would have strengthened the walls and en- larged the borders of this feeble Zion.
Mr. Woodworth, now invested with the pastoral office, had a field for eminent usefulness. An inviolate adherence to the terms of adjustment effected two days before his ordination, was a dictate alike of policy and duty : but he and his adherents seem to have thought otherwise. A meeting of the society was called, April 6, 1792, which voted to reconsider the prior vote of Jan. 16, by which the tenure of the society par- sonage lot was changed, and that Mr. Woodworth should be put into pos- session of the same according to the terms first agreed on.
The society, though hitherto divided as to the location of their meeting- house, seems to have acted harmoniously in other matters ; and nearly all were of the standing order: but this breach of faith on the part of the minister and his adherents produced irremediable discord. Certificates of withdrawal began to be handed in by seceding members, most of whom connected themselves with the infant Methodist and Baptist churches in the vicinity. Endeavors were made to recall members already withdrawn, and to prevent others from withdrawing, by an offer of the minister to relinquish a portion of his salary for the five coming years, but without avail. Secession went on until many of the best and ablest members of the church and society had identified themselves with other denominations.
Notwithstanding this debilitated and distracted condition of the society, the adhering members resumed the project of locating and building a meeting-house, as the only means of sustaining their position. They voted, Sept. 14, 1792, not to build at the stake established by law, where- ever that might have been, and "to see if the sosiaty will Be willing to Bild a meeting-house at the senter of the land of the sosiaty, allowing those things that ought to be considered to draw from the same its due and proper weight;" then followed a vote to build on "a certain nole of
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AND FAMILY RECORDS.
land at the West end of Mr. Woodworth's land, as near the town line as the ground will admit of; " and then a committee of nine men was ap- pointed to pitch a stake and apply to the Assembly to establish the same. The committee thus appointed reported to an adjourned meeting, October 2, as follows :
"To the Inhabitants of the Society of Winsted, convened at the usual place by us, the 2d day of October, 1792:
"Whereas, we, the subscribers, being appointed a Com. at the last special meting, to fix a Stake on a Sertain Spot of Ground near the town line, so called, on the Rev. Mr. Woodworth's lot, at the most convenient spot to erect a meating-house for the inhabitants of said society near the town line, in consequence of our appointment, we, on the above said 2d day of October, repaired to said place, and after taking into the moste mature and Deliberate consideration, all those matters and circumstances that ought to be considered according to the best information gained and our ability, we are of opinion that the Sartain spot of ground is situated near the heighth of said nele upon said lot, or near the south end to Beach Stake and Stones cast up, to be the most convenient and commodious place for the same, and have fixed the above said stake and stones, and marked the same on the particular spot of ground which we have estab- lished for said purpose, the day and date above certifyed by us, the day and date above."
This lucid report was, by vote, "excepted," and measures were taken to get the place established by the Assembly. Measures were also taken to ascertain the size and length of timber required, and to see how cheap they could get some man to build the house, and a tax of a shilling on the pound was laid.
The Beach Stake, now planted, marked, reported, and accepted, tras destined to stand. A day was fixed for the people to meet for the purpose of finding stone and laying the under-pinning. It was also voted that the . people will find cake and cheese by free donation for refreshment at raising the meeting-house.
At this stage of the proceedings, another attempt was made to conciliate " those of the society that think themselves agreaved as to giving away the society's farm," &c., by submitting the matters of grievance to arbitra- tion, but no conclu-ion was reached. The meeting house was raised, cov- ered in and floored in season for the Annual Meeting, Nov. 25, 1793. It stood on the south border of a grove near the east and we-t road, between the late residence of IIarris Brown, deceased, and the old country road. It was 50 feet long, 40 feet broad, and two stories high, without tower or steeple, a very nupretending and short-lived sanctuary. No traces of it now remain except a large stone horse-block. It was sold and taken
45
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ANNALS OF WINCHESTER,
down, when the present house of worship was first erected. Some of its timbers were worked into the original building of the East Village Hotel.
The doings of the Society have now been brought down to 1793, a period of fifteen years. It took twelve years of controversy to locate a meeting house, and it might have required a dozen years more had not the intervening contest about the settlement of a minister led to the withdrawal of some twenty members. The unfinished church opened its doors to a congregation, small in numbers, disheartened by long dissen- tions, and unable to sustain the burdens they had assumed. The records of the following seven years indicate the quiet of exhaustion rather than the prevalence of Christian graces. Taxes were more easily laid than collected. New names from time to time appear on the records, but the accessions brought no element of strength to the Society as then con- stituted and located, for the new comers were mainly from the Still River valley, now filling up with settlers interested in a transfer of the meeting house to their vicinity.
Patient endurance of the burden of supporting a grasping minister had its limit. At the annual meeting in 1797 it was voted " to choose a committee of five to treat with Rev. Mr. Woodworth, to see what measures can be come into on account of the burthen the Society is under as to paying his salary, and whether he is willing for a dismission or not." This vote was followed by another in December following, " to choose a committee, with power to agree with Rev. Mr. Woodworth on his dismission, and that said committee allow him no more than the Society's former contracts." This committee arranged with the pastor that the existing connection should be dissolved at the expiration of the year, and that the Society should pay and confirm all contracts with Mr. Wood- worth, and what should be found due him to be paid or secured by notes of hand on demand. It was also voted to call a dismissing council on the 9th of January, 1798. The result of this council is not recorded, but the dismission took place at or near the date specified. Mr. Wood- worth was afterwards settled at Whitestown, near Utica, N. Y., for several years. His subsequent history is unknown.
In January, 1799, Rev. Salmon King, after preaching as a candidate for settlement, received a call, which he declined, and in October follow- ing a call was voted to Rev. Noah Simons, but was not accepted.
About this time Rev. Aaron Kinney was employed and continued to supply the pulpit for four or five years.
Ilitherto the old north road had been the great thoroughfare of travel for the adjoining region, and a large portion of our inhabitants had settled along its borders, on Wallen's Hill, and northwestward to Cole- brook line, and the location of the meeting house best suited their con-
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AND FAMILY RECORDS.
venience. But near the close of the century the water power of the Still River and Mad River valleys began to attract manufacturers to those secluded and comparatively inaccessible regions. The Green Woods turnpike, a shorter and far more level line of travel than the old road over the hills, was opened in 1799. It at once diverted all the long travel from the hill road and opened a direct access to the valleys. Hamlets grew up around the Doolittle and Austin Mills. The Wallen's Hill meeting house ceased to be central, and it became apparent that the young and energetic new comers of the valleys were soon to assume the lead, and take the direction of Society affairs out of the hands of the dispirited and exhausted champions on the Old Country road.
In July, 1799, a vote was carried for building a new meeting house by subscription, in one year from the first of October then next, where Captain Charles Wright and others had that day pitched a stake, and on the 7th of October following, Colonel Hezekiah Hopkins of Harwinton, Esq. Elisha Smith of Torrington, and Major Jeremiah Phelps of Norfolk, were appointed to advise as to the location, and at the annual meeting following it was decided to build the house where this committee had put a stake and stones, if the county court should establish the same.
These brief votes embrace all the preparatory measures recorded in reference to building the present house of worship in the east village of Winsted, and the virtual extinction of the ancient regime on Wallen's Hill. New men, not identified with old controversies, took the lead, and effected an entire renovation of the Society.
The new meeting house, particularly described in the following chapter, was raised, covered in, and floored in 1800, and in this condition was used for worship until its final completion in 1805; the funds originally subscribed and contributed not being adequate for its comple- tion, application was made to the legislature for a lottery in aid of the enterprise. There were at the same time two other like applications from the societies of Preston in New London County, and Canterbury in Windham County, and a joint lottery was granted to the three societies. They were jointly represented in the management of this gambling scheme, and the details were so arranged that the two drawings were allowed by the Winsted Society to be made in Preston and Canterbury, in consideration of some equivalent advantages conceded to Winsted. As a result of these arrangements, the two eastern societies failed to realize any profit, while Winsted secured about six hundred dollars. With this sum, and additional subscriptions, the interior of the house was finished and the building painted in 1805.
The pulpit of the new meeting house was first supplied by Rev. Aaron Kinney, who had been for a few years previous the minister in
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ANNALS OF WINCHESTER,
charge at the first meeting house on Wa'len's Hill. He continued his labors two or three years, and then removed to Alford, Berkshire Co., Mass. Several candidates were then successively employed for brief periods, the last of whom was Rev. James Beach, who received a pastoral call, and was ordained on the 1st day of January, 1806, with a salary of $350 a year, and an advance of funds to purchase a dwelling, repayable in installments from year to year. His pastorate continued until his dismi-sion in 1842. His ministerial character and labors, as well as those of Rev. Mr. Kinney, are referred to in personal notices of them in their order as incoming citizens of the Society.
Mr. Beach was succeeded by Rev. Timothy M. Dwight, who, after supplying the pulpit until February, 1844, received a call for settlement, which he declined ; soon after which Rev. Augustus Pomeroy, after sup- plying the pulpit for two or three months, received a nearly unanimous call to the pastorate, and was presented to the consociation for approval and installation in June following. After a long and searching examina- tion on the question of approval, it was found, that there was a majority of one in the united body sustaining his examination, but on analyzing the vote, it appeared that there was a majority of two of the lay delegates sustaining, and a majority of one of the clerical members of the body non-sustaining the examination. By one of the rules of the body, in case of non-concurrence of either, the clerical or lay delegates - although there should be a majority of the whole - in case of a call for the appli- cation of this rule, the candidate should be rejected. The call was made by a lay member, and the synodal body refused to install the candidate.
Mr. Pomeroy continued to supply the pulpit for about a year after this result ; near the end of which the church dissolved its connection with the Consociation ; and the call for his settlement was renewed ou the 19th of November, 1844; but the majority in his favor being essen- tially reduced, he declined acceptance, and withdrew to another field of labor. We state the facts of this case in the briefest possible form, with- out note or commentary, save that the grounds of objection to Mr. Pom- eroy were doctrinal rather than personal, and that his Christian character was unquestioned.
After Mr. Pomeroy, several other candidates filled the pulpit, - the most prominent of whom, and the longest incumbent, was Rev. John D. Baldwin, - afterwards member of Congress from the Worcester District, Mass. After his departure, Rev. Ira Pettibone, from York Mills, N. Y., was employed, called and settled early in 1846. IIe continued his pas- torate until measures were taken for the formation of a Second Congre- gational Church in the West Village, when he resigned, and engaged in teaching at Cornwall. His resignation was not occasioned by discontent or dissention in the Congregation.
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AND FAMILY RECORDS.
In 1853, fifty-one members of the church, residing in the West Village, were regularly di-missed in order to form themselves into a new church. They were immediately thereafter organized as "The Second Congrega- tional Church of Winsted."
In February, 1854, Rev. Henry A. Russell, a graduate of Yale Theo- logical Seminary, was called and ordained to the pastorate of the first church, and continued his ministrations until his resignation and dismissal, Aug. 25, 1858.
On the 30th December, 1859, Rev. James B. Pierson was called ; and the call was unanimously renewed in May, 1860, and he was ordained Nov. 14, following. Ilis ministrations continued until his dismission in March, 1862.
Rev. M. McG. Dana, now pastor of the First Cong. Church, Norwich, supplied the pulpit from May 11, 1862, until Dec. 25, 1864; and during the intermediate time a call for settlement was tendered him, which he declined.
In January, 1867, a call to the pastorate was tendercd Rev. - Walker, and accepted by him, but was not consummated by installation. Ile sup- plied the pulpit until April, 1869. Rev. HI. E. Cooley afterwards supplied the pulpit for one year, ending Sept. 1, 1870.
On the 15th of October, 1870, Rev. Thomas M. Miles, the present worthy incumbent was called, and on the 10th of November, following, was installed as pastor.
The centennial of the First Congregational Church of Winsted will occur on the 17th day of March, 1878; when it is to be hoped that its birth will be suitably commemorated, and its interior workings, its periods of depressions and revival, - its diminutions and accessions of member- ship, -the merits and demerits of its pastors, office-bearers, and mem- bers, will be set forth in due order by a clerical hand.
*
CHAPTER XXV.
VILLAGES OF WINSTED .- EARLY ASPECT AND GROWTH.
UNTIL 1799, the territory now within the Borough lines of Winsted was mainly a wilderness, with fifteen to twenty families along its northern border. A road had been brought down from Old Winchester to Austin's Mill, near the outlet of the lake stream, and thence down the hill to the new forge immediately below. Around these establishments a small hamlet had arisen. From the east, another road came down to Doolittle's mill, on Still River, immediately south of the stone-arched bridge.
A bridle-path was opened near the close of the Revolutionary War running eastward down the hill from Austin's Mill to the depot grounds of the Connectient Western Railroad, thence crossing the Lake stream near Meadow Street Bridge, and Mad River, where the Rockwell tannery now stands, then following the line of Hinsdale street easterly to Still River, and then following its west bank northerly to Doolittle's Mill. Subsequently the traveled road diverged from the bridle path at the depot grounds, and crossed the river at the present Lake Street bridge, and thence, following the line of Main street northerly some fifty rods, turned northeasterly, crossing over the site of John T. Rockwell's house, and re- joined the original bridle path near the old school house of the Fourth District, and then followed its line to the Doolittle mill.
The school-house of the Fourth, or West Winsted, District was a cen- tral point where the Spencer Street road, then populated with nearly twice as many families as at present, joined the Hinsdale Street road. The Coe Street road, then largely populated, came down along the line of Indian Meadow Brook and Mad River to near the residence of Mrs. Samuel W. Coe, where it turned easterly, and passing below the house of Sarah Loomis, joined the Spencer Street road near the school house. From the Doolittle Mill a road ran southerly, east of Still river, towards Torring- ford, on which the Potters, Rogers, Wheelers, Rowleys, Porters, Knowl- tons, Brainards and others had settled. In 1799 the old Higley tavern, still standing, immediately south of Camp's brick block, and a gambrel- roofed house on the site of Moses Camp's residence, were the only build- ings on the line of Main street between the bridge crossing Indian Meadow brook, and the Green Woods turnpike bridge crossing Still river. With these exceptions, the whole area of the borough lying south of Hinsdale
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FAMILY RECORDS.
street, and bordered by Mad river and Still river, was without a habitation and without a road, except the part of Main street between John T. Rockwell's and the old tavern above mentioned. The only way of reach- ing Hartford or any of the other Eastern towns, from the Winsted valley, was. up Wallen's Hill, by way of the Doolittle Mill, and then by the Old North Road. There were no light wagons or carriages in those days ; and if there had been any, the roads were too rough for their use. White- wood lumber and white-ash oars and sweeps, nearly the only marketable products of the forests, were carried to Hartford, Windsor, and Wethers- field, on ox carts and sleds. Fat beeves and hogs for the West India market went on foot to tide water to be butchered and packed. Every farmer went to the Connecticut river in shad time, with a strong empty bed tick, in which to stow away his year's supply of fish, and bring them home loaded across his horse's back. From Old Winchester to the north end of New Hartford was a good day's journey. With a good horse, good weather, and good luck, the shad fisheries could be reached in another day. If the shad could be bought for a copper a-piece, and the journey accomplished in five days, the venture was considered a prosperous one.
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