USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Bristol > Bristol, Connecticut : "in the olden time New Cambridge", which includes Forestville > Part 4
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When the French and Indian war broke out, Parson Newell urged his people to their duties in the field, and a small body of New Cambridge volunteers entered the British army and served during the war. The date of this war is so remote, and there is such a dearth of records in regard to it, that the names of the individual volunteers, or the part taken by them, have almost entirely passed beyond the reach of history. The Revolutionary war was of so much greater importance, and retained :so much stronger hold on the popular memory, that the part taken by the New Cambridge settlers is a little more possible of ascertainment.
In 1774, when the enrollment of "minute men" was made, sixty- eight Farmington men signed the compact to march to the relief of Boston at a moment's warning, armed and equipped. Among these, at least four-Isaiah Thompson, Obadiah Andrews, Samuel Peck, and Wise Barnes-were New Cambridge men. A count, somewhat con- jectural, and which doubtless falls below the real number, gives eighty-
*7 .
(December 28th, 1749.)
Voted, That all the Children that fhall enter the fchool whether maile or female fhall pay the ceuril* part of the charge of the fd fchool .
Voted that a. fchool fhould be kept in this fofiaty untill our fchool mony all Redy laid is fpent or Run out
*Several.
37
OR "NEW CAMBRIDGE."
nine New Cambridge men as having served in the Revolutionary war .* A Many families sent more than one member to the field. Of these the Allen family sent two; Andrews four; Barnes seven; Bartholomew eight, including Abraham Bartholomew with three sons, and Jacob with two; Gaylord three, one of whom shall be mentioned particularly hereafter; Hotchkiss three; Hungerford two; Hart three; Jerome two; Lewis four, of whom Lieutenant Roger Lewis left to his family his sword and canteen, the latter of which still bears a dent made at the battle of Monmouth Court-house; Lee two; Matthews three; Manross two, of whom Elijah, enlisting at sixteen years of age, acted as a musician and became fife- major; Norton two; Peck four; Roberts four, of whom Gideon, after- ward our first clock-maker, with Jacob Bartholomew, became a captive in the famous British prison-ships; Thompson three; Wilcox two; and Warren two, sons of Elisha Warren, who, visiting his sons in camp at Boston, contracted the small-pox, and was buried back of his house, where the fragments of a grave-stone still remain.
Many other families were represented in the army by a single mem- ber. One New Combridge volunteer, Ira Hooker, is known to have been a witness of the execution of Andre.
Aaron Gaylord and his family had a peculiarly distressing experi- ence of the horrors of war. In 1775 he removed to Wyoming county with his family. . At the beginning of hostilities he was elected com- mander of the fort, which was scantily guarded, most of the men being absent in the army. The fort was attacked by Indians, and against Gaylord's judgment a sally was ordered by a council of the soldiers. The massacre which resulted is a matter of history. The single soldier who escaped brought back the hat of Lieutenant Gaylord, and helped the women of the settlement to flee for their lives. Several weeks later the wife arrived at New Cambridge, exhausted, impoverished, and widowed. Two years later, however, she sent her only son, then fifteen years of age, into the army.
The great national struggle, which most of us remember so dis- tinctly, obscures in our mind the earlier and more desperate one, but our fathers made far greater sacrifices in 1776 than did we in 1861, and the enlistment and drafts almost stripped the hamlet of adult men.
In December, 1780, the first action was taken looking towards a town incorporation. Committees were appointed to, confer with the West Britain society as to terms of union, and to apply to the Assembly for an act incorporating the two societies as a town.
The people of New Cambridge meant to secure the precedence to which their greater size entitled them, and made it a condition of the union that New Cambridge should always be called the first society, and should have the town sign-post within its limits. This negotiation failed, and in 1781 it was voted "to make another trval with West Britan." This, was no more successful, however, and the matter was dropped for three years.
* A. This list of soldiers in the Revolutionary War, who went from Bristol, was pre- pared with great care by Mr. Roswell Atkins.
Abel Allen, Samuel Allen, Noah Andrews, Obadiah Andrews, Joseph Andrews, Gideon Andrews, Amos Barnes, Daniel Barnes, Thomas Barnes, Wise Barnes, Josiah Barnes, David Barnes, Simeon Barnes, Abraham Bartholomew. Abraham Bartholomew, Jr .. John Bartholomew, Jacob Bartholomew, Charles Bartholomew. " Isaac Bartholomew. Lemuel Bartholomew. Jacob Bartholomew, Jr., Joseph Byington, Daniel Curtis, Noadiah Clark, Samuel Deming, Oliver Dutton, Hezekiah Gridley, Samuel Gaylord, Aaron Gaylord. Daniel Johnson, Calvin Judd, William Lee, Samuel Lec, Josiah Lewis, Roger Lewis, Ale! Lewis, David Lewis, Caleb Mathews, Jesse Mathews. John Mathews, William Mitch .H. Elijah Manross, Theodore Manross, Timothy Mix. Joseph Norton, Ebenezer Norton Zebulon Peck, Lament Peck, Samuel Peck, Abel Peck, Moses Parsons.
William Richards, Stephen Rowe, Gideon Roberts, David Roberts, William Roberts, Samuel Roberts, Nehemiah Rice, Lemuel Gaylord, Josiah Holt, Stephen Hotchkiss, Lad- wick Hotchkiss, Samuel Hotchkiss, Samuel Hickox, Ira Hooker, John Hungerford, Mathen Hungerford, Benjamin Hart, Thomas Hart, Jason Hart, Daniel Hill, Enos Ives, Witham Jerome, David Jerome, James Stoddard, Joseph Spencer, Joseph Stone. Daniel Thompson. Josiah Thompson, Isaiah Thompson, John Thomas. Asa Upson, Elsha Warren, Abraham Warren, Benjamin Wilcox, John Wilcox, James Wilcox, Ehas Wibox, William Wheeler
38
BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT
HISTORIC OAK, ON PEACEABLE STREET, WHERE EARLY TOWN MEETINGS WERE HELD.
It will interest us all, I am sure, to know that a vital point of dis- sension was the building of a town building, which New Cambridge desired and West Britain opposed. Truly, history repeats itself .* 9
In 1784 negotiations between the two societies were renewed, and in February, 1785, a conference was had, at which the town-building plan was finally dropped, and a full agreement was reached. I think that this meeting, or some similar one, must have been held under the old oak on Peaceable street. It has long been tradition that our first town-meeting was held under this tree, but this certainly is an error. It seems natural, however, that some of the meetings of the two so- cieties in conference might have been held there, and that such a meet- ing could have been confused with the formal town-meeting in the popular memory.
A petition for incorporation was drafted, signed by committees . of the two societies, and sent to the Assembly which met in May, 1785. This petition was promptly granted, and the name of Bristol given to the new town. This name nowhere appears to have been suggested or asked for by the settlers; for all that can be learned to the contrary, it was selected by the General Assembly on considerations of convenience and euphony alone.
The first town-meeting was held, in obedience to the act of incor- poration, June thirteenth, 1785, in the New Cambridge meeting-house, a few hundred feet from where we now stand. This first board of select- men was then elected, consisting of Joseph Byington, Deacon Elisha Manross, and Zebulon Peck, Esq., of New Cambridge, and Simeon Hart, Esq., and Zebulon Frisbie, Jr., of West Britain.
It was voted that the selectmen should do the business free of cost
*9At the time of the delivery of this history, an animated contest between Bristol centre and Forestville, in which the former advocated, and the latter opposed, the erection of a town-building, had just been temporarily disposed of by indefinite postponment.
-
39
OR "NEW CAMBRIDGE."
to the town. This economy was given up the next year, however, and the selectmen were paid three shillings a day. Jacob Bartholomew was elected treasurer, Judah Barnes collector for New Cambridge, Abraham Bartholomew collector for West Britain .* 10
The grand list of the town amounted to £17,000, and of this about half belonged to each society. It was provided in the act of incorpora- tion that town-meetings should be held alternately in the New Cam- bridge and West Britain meeting-houses, and this arrangement was followed during the twenty-one years of the union. But the union . of two societies of so nearly equal size was productive of continual small jealousies, and as early as 1795 the town declared its wish to be divided. The troubles were patched up for a time, but soon broke out again. New Cambridge appears to have claimed the right to always have three of the five selectmen, and West Britain to have the majority of the board taken from each society alternately. The claims of West Britain *10.
EXTRACTS FROM THE BRISTOL TOWN RECORDS.
(June 13th, 1785, first town-meeting. )
In Compliance with, and at the direction of the General Affembly in their Bill in form incorporating the Town of Briftol : the inhabitants of faid Town being duly warned as ordered by the Bill to attend a Town meeting on the fecond monday of June : Ano Domi 1785 at the meetinghoufe in New Cambridge at 9 o' the Clock in the morning. And being fo met at Time & place, faid meeting proceeded to the choice of a moderator and Simeon Hart .Efor was Choofen Moderator to Lead in fd meeting at the fame meeting Jofeph Byington was Choofen Town Clerk - voted to adjourn fd meeting to 2 o' the Clock P. M. Meeting opened according to adjourn - ment- voted that the Selectmen Shall do the bufinefs for the Town free of coft To the Town - Voted that Jofeph Byington Den Elifha Manrofs Zebulon Peck Efq Simeon Hart Efq' and Zebulon Frifbie Jr be Selectmen for the prefent year -
voted that Judah Barns be Conftable & Collector to gather the State Tax and account with the State Treafurer for the prefent year -
voted that Capt Daniel Barns Zebulon Frifbie Jr and Seth Peck be Conftables for the prefent year
voted that William Lee Benjamin Willcox Nathaniel Mathews Thomas Brooks Stephen Hotchkifs Jr & Capt Ichabod Andrus be Grandjuriors for the prefent year
voted that Abel Lewis Jacob Hungerford John Gaylord Noah Andrus Samuel Smith Othnial Mofes Jr Ezra Yale and Ambrofe Hart be Tythingmen for the prefent year -
voted that Jofiah Holt Jacob Bartholomew Capt Jeffe Gaylord Amafa Hart Sam! Hecox Dan Hill David Lewis Reuben Ives Sam11 Brooks Jofeph Hayford Rice Lewis David Marks Timothy Woodruff Blifs Hart Joel Hitchcock Capt Titus Bunnel Ezra Cleaveland Lemuel Potter Samuel Warner Jr and Sam! Andrus be Surveyors of Highways for the prefent year -
voted that Capt Thomas Hungerford Jofeph Byington Jofiah Peck Capt Ichabod Andrus Capt Yale & Philip M. Farnfworth be Lifters for the prefent year - voted that Jofiah Holt Capt Afa Upfon David Newell Seth Wiard .Benjamin Belden and Seth Peck be a Committee to Exchange Highways & remove Neufances and to do it without Coft to the Town
voted that the Selectmen . . . be a Committee to agree and Settle with the Town of Farmington in all matters of Claim refpecting the Two Towns -
40
BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT.
MAIN STREET, LOOKING NORTH, IN 1873.
in this respect were generally successful, as they were able to carry the meetings held in their society.
The election of representatives to the Assembly was also a cause of rivalry, and the town tried in vain to obtain the right to send two representatives.
In 1804 the New Cambridge voters carried another resolution to have the town divided, which the West Britain meeting promptly voted to oppose. The General Assembly divided the town in May, 1806, giving the old name, Bristol, to, the New Cambridge society, and calling the northern society Burlington. The organization and limits of the town of Bristol have since been substantially unchanged.
One hundred years ago this hill-top had already become a public spot. A little to the northeast of the present site stood the Congrega- tional meeting-house, in which the town had just completed its organ- ization, radiant in "spruce yellow" sides, white doors and windows, and "Spanish brown" roof. Across the road was the still smaller Episcopal church building, with its cemetery in the rear. Farther south stood the "Sabba'-day" houses, a most necessary institution in those days of stoveless churches; little houses belonging to different families of the congregation, where each kept a Sunday fire, and during the noon inter- mission filled their foot-stoves, ate their lunch, and warmed themselves for the afternoon service. These were built in the highway, by per- mission from the town, as early as 1754, and were still standing in the present century.
Near the head of this green were the whipping-post and stocks, neither of which, I think, was often used. Close by the whipping-post stood a tree, on which the Whigs had hanged a Tory caught at one of
41
OR "NEW CAMBRIDGE."
the meetings at Chippin's Hill, during the stormy times of the Revolu- tion. The arrival of an early traveler, who cut down and resuscitated this man, saved the instruments of the law from being over-shadowed by the victim of popular violence.
On the east side of this green stood, probably, the school-house, then some thirty years old, which had originally served for the whole society except Chippin's Hill.
This ground itself had been already dedicated to public use, and was a militia training-ground. A company of "trainers" had been formed in 1747, of which Caleb Matthews was the first captain. Judah Barnes was afterward elected captain, and the trainings were held back of the Barnes tavern; but before the Revolution the members of the society bought this land for that purpose, and it has ever since been public ground. The principal distinction attained by the Bristol militia was a century later than the first organization, when the attempts of this company to evade training, by a succession of ingenious and suc- .cessful devices, made Bristol a terror to the state officers, and finally, it is said, led to the downfall of the state militia system.
The two roads inclosing this green were already laid out, but in what condition they were it would be difficult now to tell. The road- making was then done by special tax, which one might pay, or work out, at his option, receiving in wages, if he chose to work out his tax, three shillings a day in the spring, and two in the fall, and a like amount for a yoke of cattle. Until some time after the town's incorporation the roads leading out of town were hardly better than the Indian trails which had preceded them. When the Lewis family came to Bristol, Josiah Lewis was a week in traveling from Southington with his family and goods, having to cut his way through woods, and to find a ford
* 10-Continued.
voted that Jofiah Holt Gideon Roberts & Judah Barns be rate makers for the prefent year ---
voted that Rice Lewis & Zebulon Frifbie Jr be Key Keepers for ye prefent year -
voted that Capt Hezk Gridly & Hezk Weft be Sealers of Leather ye corrant year
voted that Luke Gridly Rice Lewis Juftice Webfter and Daniel Bunnel be fence viewers for the prefent year
voted that Cap' James Lee & Seth Wiard be Sealers of weights for the prefent year
1
voted that William Lee & Capt Ichabod. Andrus be Sealers of Meafures
voted that Jacob Hungerford be infpector & packer of pot afhes
voted that Judah Barns be infpector & packer of flour for prefent year
voted that Seth Wiard be infpector & packer for the prefent year
voted to Lay one penny on the pound on the Lift 1784 payable by the tirft day ot October next to the Town Treafurer for defraying the Charges of fd Town - voted that Jacob Bartholomew be Town Treafurer for the prefent year
voted that Judah Barns be Collector for that part of the Town rate that Belongs to New Cambridge & account with the Treafurer -
voted that Abraham Pettibone Jr be Collector to Collect that part of the Town rate that Belongs to Weft Briton and account with the Town Treafurer -
voted that the Sign Poft fhall .be Erected in the moft Convenient place Between the meeting houfe in N Cambridge & the Church.
voted that a white Oak tree by the pound in Welt Briton Shall be the Sign Pult thair
voted that the Swine Shall run on the Commons with a good futficient yoke on their necks & ring in their nofes
voted to adjourn this meeting --
42
BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT
or make a bridge across the brooks. The turnpike, which was laid out in 1805, taught people how to make roads for the first time. Before that, "corduroying" muddy places, and removing stumps and stones to some extent, as in our cart-paths, had been all that was attempted on most of the roads.
The opening of the Abel Lewis tavern, in 1794, in the house now occupied by Miss Stearns, completed the quartette of public buildings -meeting-house, church, school, and tavern-and made this green a well-equipped village centre.
The number of taverns which were then kept is one of the curiosities of the time. Ebenezer Barnes had very early begun to keep a tavern, and when the Pierce family bought the Barnes house in 1795, they con- tinued the business. About 1750, Zebulon Peck opened a second tavern near the old Brownson house. At the beginning of this century there were in Bistol, besides the old Pierce tavern, and the Lewis tavern just mentioned, one on Fall Mountain, kept by Joel Norton, one on West street, kept by Austin Bishop, a deacon of the Baptist church, one at Lewis's corner, by widow Thompson, one at Parson Newell's former residence, the Dr. Pardee place, by his son's widow, one on Chippin's . Hill, by Lemuel Carrington, one in the north part of the town, by Asa Bartholomew, and possibly others. Each one of these had its pole and sign, consisting of a tin ball with decanter, foot-glass and punch-bowl painted thereon. Their principal business was the supply of liquor . to the neighbors, and probably only one or two of them exceeded the lawful requirements for the entertainment of travelers, namely, one spare bed and stable-room for two horses.
They supplied in some degree the place not only of our hotel and eating-houses, but of clubs, newspapers, and postoffice, for not even a weekly mail came nearer than Farmington till 1800, and what little general news ever reached the town was circulated by the nightly gather- ings at the taverns. The Bartholomew tavern ("Barthomy tavern" as it was called), was the most important one, situated as it was midway between the two societies, and there the meetings of town officers were generally held, and much of the public business was done.
My limit of time and your limit of patience must greatly condense this sketch as to the history of the century which has elapsed since the town's incorporation. The building of the stage-route, and the estab-
* 10-Continued.
(November 12th, 1787.)
At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Briftol Affembled by fpecial Refolve of the General Affembly on the 12th day of November A D 1787 for the purpofe of Choofing a Delegate to fet in Convention in the City of Hartford on the firft Thirfday in January next to Ratify and affent to the Conftitution propofed by the Delegates of the United States Lately Affembled in the City of Philadelphia -
Simeon Hart Efq' Chofen Moderater to Lead in fd Meeting
Zebulon Peck Jr Efq' Chofen Delegate by the major part of the members prefent voted to Ratify the Conftitution propofed by the Convention of Delegates from the United States Lately Affembled at the City of Philadelphia by a Majority as Eight is to five nearly of the members prefent
(December 141h, 1789.)
Voted, that the Overfeers fhall alow three fhillings a Day per man for Labour in mending the rodes in the fpring & two fhillings per day in the fall of the year --
43
OR "NEW CAMBRIDGE."
MAIN STREET, LOOKING SOUTH, IN 1873.
lishment of a weekly mail, about 1800, which fixed the, business centre at the north side, the building of the railroad in 1850, which changed the business centre again to the south side, the establishment of the Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, Roman Catholic, and Adventist churches, the settlement and growth of the village of Forestville, and the estab- lishment and steady development of our clock and other manufacturing interests, have been the principal features of this history.
The Baptist church has the oldest continuous history of any except the Congregational. In 1791 the Baptists of Bristol, Wolcott, and Plymouth united to organize a church, and for eleven years meetings were held in the three societies alternately. Elder White Osborne was the first pastor, then Isaac Root and Daniel Wildman. In 1802 this church built a meeting-house on West street, forty-two feet by thirty- two. This building is now a part of the Barnes Brothers clock factories. The church still standing on the old site was built in 1830, and the hand- some brick one on School street in 1880.
* 10- Continued.
(April 811, 1793.)
Voted to Set up the Onockeolation * in Each Society of fd Brittol in the month of September next under the Enftruktion of the Civil Authority and Selectmen of Id Town they procuring Sufficient Bonds to prevent the Enfection Spreding among the Inhabitants of fd Town the naturel way -
44
BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT
THE DANIEL ROBERTS HOUSE, ON WEST STREET. THIS IS THE OLDEST HOUSE ON THE STREET, BEING BUILT IN 1783. SINCE REMODELLED
AND NOW KNOWN AS THE SETH BARNES PLACE. (See page 45.)
The early history of this church included a curious contest with the supernatural powers. A witchcraft excitement of very considerable extent broke out in the town, and Elder Wildman, Deacon Dutton, and others of that church became the especial victims of the evil deeds which tradition has reported. Elder Wildman boldly invited to his house, and tried to cure, a girl who had been afflicted by witches, and, as the story goes, was not only unsuccessful, but was grievously tormented himself. Deacon Dutton's ox was bodily torn in pieces before his eyes, after he had uttered some expression of unbelief, and others on West
10-Continued.
(April 13th, 1795.)
this meeting haveing taken into confideration a Bill Paffed in October Laft by the Honorable Upperhoufe directing that Application of the monies that fhall arife from the fale of the Weftern Lands belonging to this State which bill was continued and ordered to be printted by the Honorable General Affembly and having confidered the Great advantages which may be Derived to the community by promoting moral and religious Inftruction and a liberal Support of fchools of education - Voted unani- moufly that this meeting Do fully approve of the mode propofed in and by faid Bill for the Application of faid monies and in this Method do manifeft a Defire that the faid bill may meet the concurance of the Honorable Lower-houfe in may next
45
OR "NEW CAMBRIDGE."
-
REAL ESTATE BROKER
VICTOR FILE
-
SETH BARNES PLACE IN 1907.
street and Fall Mountain told marvelous tales of demoniac possession. This witchcraft excitement was begun and kept up by a young man named King, who was studying for the ministry with Elder Wildman. On his departure, the activity of the evil spirits ceased.
The present Episcopal society was organized in 1834 with twelve members. Services were held at first in the Congregational and Baptist chapels. In 1835 the Reverend George C. V. Eastman was settled, and a church built on Maple street. This was occupied until 1863, when they moved to the Main street church which they now occupy, and sold their old building to the Forestville Methodist society.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in April, 1834, and meetings were held for a while in the West street school-house. Great hostility was felt toward this church by the other religious bodies, and they could only buy land for their meeting-house by concealing the purpose for which it was intended. They, completed a meeting-house on West street in 1837, which they vacated for their present Summer street church in 1880. The Reverend Albert G. Wickware was the first pastor, and the church at organization had twenty-seven members.
* 10-Continued.
(May 5th, 1796.)
Voted, that the Treaty between the united States of America and Great Britton be put into full Efect by a unanamus Vote not a Defenting vote -
Voted to Prefer a memorial to Congrefs in favour of Retiting the Treaty between the Britannic Majefty & the United States of America - with but one Delentin . vote -
Voted that the Town Clerk Shall make a Copy of the memorial and Send it to Hartford to put it into the Publick Prints -
46
BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT
The Forestville Methodist church was formed in 1855, and in 1864 bought the Maple street Episcopal church building, which they still use.
The first Roman Catholic services were held about 1840, near the north copper mine, by missionaries from other parishes, to accommodate the workmen there. When the mine was abandoned, and railroad work began, many of the workmen moved to Bristol centre, and the services of the church followed them. In 1855 a church building was erected though the parish was still a missionary one. It was made an independ- ent parish in 1866, and the Reverend M. B. Roddan, who is still its pastor, began his labors.
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