USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Suffield > Celebration of the bi-centennial anniversary of the town of Suffield, Conn. : Wednesday, Oct. 12, 1870 > Part 3
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lighted by one or two small windows, warmed by the huge fire- place, and furnished. with rude stools, and tables, and shelves, and compelled to answer all the various needs of the family. Ricks of meadow grass and stooks of corn were carefully reared adjacent to the still ruder shelters provided for the cattle. Around these comfortless abodes lay a few acres of half-elcared land, with the charred stumps yet standing and the green copse about their roots. And beyond this little clearing, and sur- rounding it on every side, lay the dark, threatening forest, rear- ing aloft its mighty trunks in defiant grandeur.
From the organization of the town in 1682 until 1749, a pe- riod of nearly seventy years, there is no event of sufficient pre- eminence to serve as a landmark in our history. At the begin- ning of this period we behold a few hundred people, dispersed in rude cabins, in the midst of a dense forest, with nothing but their own strong arms and brave hearts to depend upon. At first the settler was fortunate if by dint of hard work he suc- cecded in producing enough for the comfortable subsistence of his family and his cattle. And when, after years spent in clear- ing land of the heavy forest and preparing it for crops, he was enabled to raise a surplus for market, other difficulties had to be encountered. Markets were distant and to be reached by a la- borious and dangerous journey through almost pathless forests and over bridgeless streams. And when reached, it was more than likely that his produce must be exchanged for other com- modities instead of the money he so much needed. Thus almost every circumstance conspired to increase the difficulties and dis- . couragements of the early settler, and to keep him in well night hopeless poverty. Frequently the inhabitants were compelled to resort to the General Court and seek relief from the burden of taxation. And graciously the General Court listened to their prayers, granting sometimes an entire exemption from taxes, and sometimes permission to pay them in the produce of their farms. The exceeding scarcity of money is shown by the number and character of its substitutes. Thus, from time to time, corn, rye, wheat, oats, barley, flax, turpentine, and even iron were made receivable for taxes and passed eurrent in the town. As late as 1725, it was voted that "iron should be accepted as town pay,
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and should pass and be received into the town treasury at forty shillings per hundred weight." And so the history of this period is chicfly made up of the private struggles of each indi- vidual who found sufficient occupation in providing the absolute necessaries of life. And yet with patience, and fortitude, and Christian zeal they labored on, sustained by the consciousness of a noble work, and cheered by the hope of brighter days in the future.
The public business of the town during this period was much more varied than at present. Besides the ordinary superintend- ence of civil affairs, the town had charge of the ceclesiastical and educational interests of the settlement. Town meetings were more frequent than now, and in accordance with the no- tions of those days, all who were late or absent were subjected to a fine. At these meetings grants of land were made to new settlers, disputes between adjoining proprietors composed, the enlargement of swine, sheep, geese, and cattle regulated, the ex- tirpation of crows, blackbirds, and other supposed pests of the farmer encouraged by bounties, and many other curious sub- jects legislated on, all of which have long since ceased to be the objects of public action on the part of the town. New roads were continually being required by the expanding settlement. In 1726 the road to Taintor's Hill was established; and in 1736 the road over the Mountain. And while our fathers attended to the material demands of the growing plantation, and devised material ways to promote its prosperity, they were not neglectful of its higher interests. Morals, religion, and education, from the very beginning of the settlement, received their due share of attention. Votes relating to these vital subjects are scattered thickly over the records of the town, and plainly evince the deep interest which our ancestors felt in the spiritual welfare of the people. And no higher testimonial can be given of their character than the fact that in the midst of such severe phys- ical draughts upon their energies, and such depressing physical wants and burdens, they yet had time and spirit for deliber- ations, labors, and sacrifices in behalf of the intellectual and moral welfare of their being.
In addition to these internal activities, our fathers were also careful to assert their rights against the encroachments of sur-
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rounding towns. In these carly times it was impossible to de- termine the boundaries of towns or states with much accuracy. There existed no correct geographical idea of the country, in- struments were much more rude and imperfect, and men less in- structed in the science and art of surveying. It is not strange, therefore, that adjoining towns differed as to the precise location of the boundary line between them. From the earliest times these difficulties arose between Suffield and the inhabitants of Windsor and Simsbury. Many complaints were made against the people of these latter places, on account of depradations committed by them in what were claimed to be the forests of Suffield. The causes of the different parties were espoused by their respective colonies. Although the controversy was car- ried on with considerable acrimony at times, and formed thie subject of many exciting discussions among the people, and of some correspondence between the colonies, yet no serious col- lision is known to have taken place. A disputed boundary question between Suffield and Westfield, after much fruitless controversy, was finally settled by litigation. A more serious difficulty, however, relating to boundaries arose between the two colonies of Massachusetts and Connecticut, involving Suffield as part of the territory in dispute. It will be remembered that Suffield was settled under direction of the General Court of Massachusetts, and by the people of Massachusetts. But within a quarter of a cen- tury her right to jurisdiction was questioned. In 1713 the col- onics joined in a survey of the line between them, and Suffield, Enfield, Woodstock, and Somers were found to be within the chartered limits of Connecticut. But having been settled by Massachusetts, and being then under its jurisdiction, it was agreed between the colonies, but without consulting the towns themselves, that they should remain with the colony that found- ed them, and that Connecticut should receive in lieu thereof a tract of land in Western Massachusetts. This land was ae- cordingly set out to Connecticut, being the territory now mainly comprised in the towns of Pelham, Belchertown, and Ware, and was subsequently sold and the proceeds given to Yale Col- lege. In a few years the dissatisfaction with this arrangement broke out in open measures of denunciation and attack. In 1724 Samuel Terry, of Enfield, and John Kent, of Suffield,
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were appointed by their respective towns to draw up a petition to the General Assembly of Connecticut, setting forth the in- justice and illegality of the agreement under which their char- tered rights had been bargained away, and praying that colony to receive them under its jurisdiction. Other petitious of sim- ilar import, in some of which Woodstock and Somers also united, continued to be presented to the General Assembly of Connecticut from time to time. At last, in 1749, that body for- mally voted to receive them under its jurisdiction, and prepared to maintain their claims in whatsoever forum they should be im- pleaded. But Massachusetts, though making some threats of an appeal to England, quietly submitted to the choice of the towns, and never afterwards made any serious attempt to en- force its claim. It has been said that these towns, in thus en- dleavoring to come under the government of Connecticut, were influenced simply by a mercenary motive; that as Massachu- setts had a larger public debt and imposed larger taxes than Connecticut, they took this way to escape the pecuniary bur- dens laid upon them. It is sufficient answer to this charge to say that the towns took vigorous action on the subject more than twenty years before that debt was contracted, and before its burden could be felt. Their change of jurisdiction has also been stigmatized as a revolt and a secession. Let the facts an- swer. The towns were acknowledged by both colonies to be within the chartered limits of Connecticut. That charter con- ferred upon all the people embraced within its territorial limits equal and common rights and privileges, but did not give to one portion of the people power to alienate another portion. These towns had, therefore, so far as any power on this conti- nent was concerned, an absolute and inalienable right to be un- der the government of Connecticut, and any bargain between the colonies in violation of that right was utterly void and of no effect. Their claim rested on a substantial foundation, both of law and of justice. And while it is true that they had a motive in prosecuting their claim, it consisted not in any mer- cenary or disloyal feelings, but in a manly determination to ob- tain their rights, and in a laudable desire to enjoy the more lib- eral civil franchises which this charter secured to the citizen,
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and of which they were unlawfully deprived so long as they were under the government of Massachusetts.
Thus for more than three-quarters of a century Suffield was to all effects and purposes a part of Massachusetts. This fact adds many difficulties to the study of our history, for the rec- ords and documents relating to it are scattered over two States instead of one.
The period from 1749 until the outbreak of the Revolution is chiefly distinguished in colonial history by the French and Indian wars. Soon after the colonization of this country was begun, a struggle arose between France and England for supremacy in America. Several wars succeeded each other, in which the colonists were obliged to take the brunt of the bur- den. To these wars Suffield contributed her proportion of troops, and in them she was represented by Major General Phineas Lyman. He bore an active and honorable part in the various campaigns, and at the final close of the struggle, in 1763, he went to England to secure a grant of land for himself and other colonial officers. Having been successful in his ob- ject, he returned to this country in 1772, and soon after died in the region of the Mississippi, where the grant was located. General Lyman represented the town in the legislative assem- blies of Connecticut and Massachusetts, and took a leading part in its publie business and enterprise. Ile was the first of her sons who rose to eminence in the country at large, and is de- serving of a prominent place in our esteem.
. The close of Mr. Lyman's career marks very nearly the com- pletion of the first century of our history. From two little cabins on Stony Brook, with their lonely inmates, the town had expanded to a population of about two thousand persons, seat- tered over its entire area, and possessed of a property valuation of about sixty thousand pounds sterling. Patience, industry, and intelligence had received their reward.
About the beginning of the second century of our history those dissensions between America and England which led to the Revolution began to inflame the popular mind. Already
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the large cities were wild with excitement, and popular meetings for deliberation and action were frequent throughout the coun- try. A league, known as the non-importation agreement, was being voluntarily entered into by the colonists, in which they bound themselves to discontinue the importation of all articles not absolutely necessary to life, and united to encourage the do- mestic manufacture of all such goods as they had been accus- tomed to receive from England. In 1770, while this agreement was before the country, and the excitement over the troubles increasing, our fathers came together to deliberate on the state of the country, and to give public expression to their senti- ments. Would that we might look in upon that brave assem- bly, watch their carnest and determined faces, listen to the out- pouring of their patriotism and devotion, and breathe the noble spirit that pervaded their hearts. But a hundred years has drawn its impenetrable veil over the scenes of that day, and we must content ourselves with the final result of their delibera- tions. They adopted a series of resolutions abounding with patriotic devotion, expressing hearty approval of the non-im- portation agreement, and pledging themselves to perform and maintain it. The resolutions, in elosing, denounce those who shall violate the agreement in the following spirited language : "Let the goods of such single souled wreches that Regard noth- ing but their own interest, that Cultivate and Endeavour to promote the Same in a way evidently Ruinous to their own Country, lic upon their own hands. Let their Crime be their punishment, and Should the Deplorible Event of the Loss of American Liberty take place, may themselves be accounted as Ignominus, Disgracefull, and Selvish mortals, and unfit for So- cieti by Every brave, Noble Patriot and virtuous american, and may their Names Descend to the Remotest Posterity with all that ignominy and Disrespect they so justly merit and Deserve." They also voted to enter these resolutions among the records of the town, "as a moniment to be handed Down to Posterity wherein they may See and behold how Carefull the present Age have bin to transmit to them the inestimable Privi- leges of Liberty and freedom, and to Excite them to the Like Conduct on Similar Occasions." These are their words to pos- terity and to us, recorded that we might know how provident
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they were of our welfare. What a contrast between the gath- ering of to-day and.that of a hundred years ago! Now all is joy, prosperity, and peace. We are a constituent part of a mighty nation, celebrated for the liberty and beneficence of its institutions, and renowned for the intelligence and industry of its people. Then dark clouds rolled athwart the heavens, threatening danger, and tumult, and war. A frowning and mys- terious future lay before the people, into which they were braye ly marching in the path of duty, ignorant of whether it would lead them to glory or the grave. They were met on that oc- casion to give open and public support to a cause which, if not successful, might end in treason and in death. Oh, the noble daring! Oh, the unparalleled devotion and self-sacrifice ! Oh, the sublime faith in the potency of truth, and justice, and lib- erty that animated and sustained the hearts of our fathers in that dark hour of our history. Had they yielded or faltered then, who can tell how much we, how much humanity, would have lost ? But they yielded not until faith was changed to victory, and their brows received the crown of immortal honor.
Such deliberate and universal opposition warned England that she must desist from her odious and oppressive policy of taxing the colonies without their consent. But, fortunately for us and the world, she did not heed the warning. More oppres- sive and more insulting measures continued to be enacted by the British Parliament, and both parties waxed more and more exasperated, and more and more determined upon their re- spective lines of action. The Port of Boston was closed, and in consequence thousands of persons were thrown out of employ- ment and reduced to the extremes of want. This tyrannical act roused the whole country, embittering the opposition of the colonists, and calling forth the loudest denunciations. Again our fathers convened, and this time on a day that was soon after to become forever memorable in the history of civil liberty-July 4th, 1774. Resolutions were passed denouncing the policy of England, and expressing sympathy for the unfortunate people of Boston, and a committee was appointed to raise money for the relief of its suffering poor.
But the time was at hand which should demand something more of our fathers than resolutions and charity. The time
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was at hand when their stamina and patriotism were to be · tested. The time was at hand when the long contest of words between the colonies and the mother country was to issue in blood. Winter passed away, and the spring of 1775 was ushered in. The trees budding and blossoming under the gen- ial influences of the season, the grass springing in the meadows, the air resonant with the songs of returning birds, and the farmer preparing his ground for the reception of the seed, were all tokens of joy and of peace. But the beautiful picture is dissolved as Lexington sends its dreadful echoes through the country. There were messengers galloping in hot haste, and aların-fires burning on the hills. Everywhere there was hurry, bustle, and confusion. The husbandman left his plow, the smith his forge, and the mechanic his workshop. Arms were brightened, accoutrements improvised, farewells spoken, and then the face was turned towards Boston. All the avenues to the threatened city were filled with men thronging and converg- ing to the seat of war. What now of Suffield ! A few words heading a dingy pay-roll in the library at Hartford are the re- corded history of the town in that momentous period :- " Marched from Suffield for relief of Boston in the Lexington Alarm, April, 1775, Captain Elihu Kent and one hundred and fourteen men." The promptness with which this company was enlisted and started on its march to Boston eclipses anything done by the present generation in the late war.
The troops which poured into Boston in the uprising imme- diately after the battle of Lexington were an unorganized and undisciplined mass, enlisted for a few days or weeks, or perhaps without any definite enlistment at all. They soon returned, and their places were supplied by new and regular levies. Ac- cordingly within a month Captain Kent and his company were again in Suffield. In May of the same year, 1775, a second company was recruited in Suffield, under command of Captain Oliver Hanchett, who was also first lieutenant of the former company. This company consisted of one hundred and three men, some of whom re enlisted from Captain Kent's company. But making allowances for these re-enlistments, more than a hundred and fifty men entered the Continental service from Suffield within a month from the battle of Lexington. Captain
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Hanchet's company remained about Boston during the summer of 1775, and is thought to have participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. In September of this year it formed part of an expedition against Quebec. The execution of this enterprise required a long and perilous march through the wilderness to Canada. At the beginning of the march provisions for forty days were distributed to the various companies. In crossing streams, and forcing a way through swamps and forests, many accidents occurred, and many companies lost a part or the whole of their supplies. But it is recorded of Captain Hanchet that by his superior care and skill he preserved the provisions of his company from the casualties of the march, and was enabled to distribute a part of his supply to other companies, and to miti- gate thereby the extremes of their suffering. It is impossible to describe the horrors of that march. For thirty days they pursued their fatigning journey, amid cold, and rain, and fam- ine, through forests, and swamps, and rivers, burdened with their arms and equipments, and tortured by the pangs of hun- ger. In a memorial paper to the General Assembly, the origi- nal of which under his own hand is still preserved in the State archives, Captain Hanchet says : " Having arrived before Que- bec, in Endeavouring to take that City by Storm and by fortune of War, the Memorialist and Most of his Company who Sur- vived the Attempt were taken, Made Prisoners, and himself put in Irons, and Continued in Captivity until the month of Octo- ber, 1776." During this period of captivity he generously ad- vanced to his company nearly a thousand dollars in good money, and by his timely charity saved them from much trouble and privation. These prisoners were subsequently ex- changed, and the brave and worthy captain suitably remuner- ated by the legislature.
In 1776 a company was raised, partly in Suffield and partly in Windsor, by Captain Jolm Harmon, of this town. It con- sisted of eighty men, most of whom enlisted from Suffield. This company formed part of the regular Continental army, and was probably in the campaign about New York. Here, it will be remembered, the enemy in the summer of 1776 massed about thirty thousand men, with the determination to reduce that city to their possession. To withstand this powerful force, Wash-
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ington had an inferior number of troops, less efficiently disci- plined and provided. . To add to the peril of his situation and of the cause his little army was constantly being diminished by the return of soldiers whose terms of service had expired. In this emergency Washington had recourse to Governor Trum- bull, of Connecticut. And in compliance with his requisition, and by vote of the General Assembly, all the militia west of the Connecticut river were ordered to march forthwith to New York. This was in the early part of August, and in the busy harvest season ; but notwithstanding this, the call was respond- ed to by fourteen regiments, who immediately set out for the front. Three companies marched from Suffield, including all the militia of the town, and probably nearly every man in the place liable to military duty. Before these troops could return, the harvest must be completed and crops gathered for the win- ter's supply. Our mothers were adequate to the emergency. With hearts torn by the anguish of recent separations, and heavy with the dangers of their country, they willingly assumed the double labors of the farm and the household, and patiently completed the harvest while their husbands, and brothers, and sons confronted the enemy in the field. The women of the Revolution! What eulogy can exaggerate the importance of their services ? Who can estimate the value of their brave and encouraging counsels ? Who can tell how much their noble and patriotic devotion contributed to the final triumph of the cause of their country and of liberty ?
Two other companies seem to have been recruited, either wholly or in part, from Suffield, for the regular Continental army. One was commanded by Capt. Nathaniel Pomeroy, the other by Capt. Samuel Granger. Other calls were also made upon the militia when sudden emergencies arose and hasty levies were to be made. But these numerous and excessive de- mands of the army, and these great draughts on the physical energies of the people, after four or five years' experience, be- gan to grow wearisome. The rampant enthusiasm of seventy- six died away. War was found to be a terrible reality. Its dangers and hardships so long and so manfully endured began at last to blunt the ardor of the people. Voluntary enlistments became less and less numerous, and finally ceased altogether.
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In consequence of this, the authorities of the town, in 1780, were obliged to offer liberal bounties to induce volunteers to come forward. These bounties were increased from time to time, but proved ineffectual. Finally a committee was appoint- ed and authorized to hire recruits sufficient to fill the quota of the town, on the best terms they could make. During the year from 1780 to 1781, fourteen town meetings were held, nearly all of which were specially called to deliberate on measures to raise men and money for the war. This fact alone shows the serious straits to which the town was reduced, and the arduous efforts necessary to fill its quota of troops.
The people also suffered the most severe taxation. At this period the grand list of the town was about one hundred thousand dollars. Before the war began the amount raised to defray the ordinary annual expenses of the town was from five to seven hundred dollars. But in 1778 a tax of five thousand dollars was levied, and 'in the year following one of fifteen thousand dollars. We of this generation know something of war, and of the extraordinary demands incident thereto. But our exertions and sacrifices, when compared with those of our fathers in the Revolution, become insignificant. Were we called upon now to raise two hundred thousand dollars in one year by taxation, and to send every able-bodied man into the field, we might realize somewhat the travail in which this great nation was born.
The total number of troops furnished by Suffield in the Rey- olutionary war cannot be exactly ascertained. Judging from the imperfect data at command, and including all who served in the regular army or militia for whatever period of time, the number cannot be placed at less than four hundred. Of this number thirty-two are known to have lost their lives in the struggle. Almost a century has passed away, in which their descendants have enjoyed the blessings procured at the cost of their blood. A century ! and yet nothing has been done to per- petuate their names or to give public expression to our grati tude. The country is now at peace, and the town is rich and prosperous. We, in greater profusion than any previous gen- cration, are reaping the precious fruits of their sacrifice. And it is to be hoped that at a day not far distant an appropriate
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