USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Southington > Ecclesiastical and other sketches of Southington, Conn > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
Mr. Robinson was married to Naomi Wolcott of East Windsor, Feb. 8, 1780, and in the latter part of April he removed his wife to South- ington and occupied 3 the house now owned by Mr. Reuben Jones. In . August, 1782, he consummated a purchase of 45 acres of land that be- longed to the estate of Rev. Jeremiah Curtiss, and which joined his homestead. Here he built a house in which he lived4 till the end of his life. This house is now occupied by Mrs. Joel Potter. In subse- quent years he enlarged his domain until he became one of the largest landholders in the town. At the time of which I am writing, there were but few if any ministers in Connecticut, who lived upon their salaries. In 1790, President Stiles says there was not one. Some cul- tivated lands; some educated youth; and a few married wives that had property ample to supplement the meagre salary. Mr. Robinson, feeling this insufficiency of support, had a few youth in his family, but began early to depend on the cultivation of the soil. With habits of
1 This fact it is important for the reader to keep in mind, for it solves the subsequent business enterprises of Mr. Robinson.
2 So dilatory were many in this matter that the pastor really suffered from the neglect. A private diary of that day speaks of two cases where Mr. R. gave up his claim, although the parties were in good circumstances.
3 He had boarded with Dea. Timothy Clark on West st., before his marriage and here remained a little time after.
4 The ex pastors, Curtiss and Chapman, lived, the one a few rods north, and the otlier a few rods south of him.
116
HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
industry, order, and economy, such as are rarely exhibited, he acquired lands and money. Ten years after his settlement he had in possession a farm of 150 acres,-40 hives of bees-an hundred cows-6 or 8 yoke of oxen. He cared for his farm and chattels, but neglected nothing of the duties he owed his people.
During these very years of material prosperity, he grew in profes- sional stature. Dr. Stiles names1 him among nine men of the New Divinity School who were " struggling for pre-eminence."
It has sometimes been thought that because his "goods " increased he must have neglected his official duties. But I question whether any of his ministerial brethren were more faithful than he.
The Rev. Fosdick Harrison stated, that for two winters he roomed and boarded in a house a little north of Mr. Robinson, where he was often up at 4 o'clock in the morning, and that he never recollected rising when he did not see a light in the study windows. It is doubt- less true that he so divided his time that the attention bestowed upon his lands did not interfere with the graver duties of his profession.
There were, nevertheless, some in the parish, who thought their minister gave his attention too much to secular business, and neglected his pastoral duties, especially the visiting of the sick and afflicted. In December, 1801, the matter was brought up in a meeting? of the soci- ety; and a committee was appointed to confer with Mr. Robinson. The committee consisted of Timothy Clark, Esq., the Deacons Newell, Dutton, and Barnes. Timothy Lee, Heman Atwater, Roswell Moore, Stephen Pratt, and Maj. Hart. The society would appear not to have laid any great stress upon the complaint, as the committee was mainly composed of early and staunch friends of the pastor. The charge, in general, was, neglect of that part of the ministry which consists in " visiting the people in their distress. in sickness, etc." This charge Mr. Robinson denied3 in toto. At the same time he declared himself ready to give up all his secular business, if the society would pay him a salary sufficient for the support of his family and the education of his children. And further, since both he and his friends regarded the movement as arising, not from the motives alleged, but out of opposi-
1 See Memoir. p. 103. They were Dr. Edwards, Mr. Trumbull, Mr. Judson, Mr. Smalley, Mr. Spring, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Strong of Hartford, Mr. Dwight, Mr. Emmons.
2 Some private notes of this meeting now before me, indicate that a jealous and fault-finding spirit led to this action. This spirit was the occasion of almost constant grief to Mr. Robinson during his ministry. He had been driven by inadequate sup- port to engage in agriculture and teaching, and now that he had become " forehanded," some would trouble him with frivolous charges.
3 See Memoir, p. 119.
117
HISTORY OF SOUTHIINGTON.
tion to the doctrines1 which he preached, he expressed a willingness to be dismissed from his people, if such were the wish of the society. The society, however, were not ready for either alternative; nothing was done; and the matter died away. Similar complaints were afterwards heard among the same class of persons; but no further public notice was ever taken of them.
The truth is, that this town is indebted to Mr. Robinson for its mate- rial, no less than its spiritual prosperity. It was he, more than any other man, who advanced its agricultural interests. His advice was always sound, his example always safely followed, his help lent to many a man who was thereby started in a career of prosperity. For years, he was the business man of the town. His foresight was almost prophetic. When the canal through this valley was projected, he advised against it for reasons that now prove his superior business sagacity. But he advocated the turnpike. To other questions of busi- ness he brought a common sense and wisdom that none can fail to acknowledge.
In the early years of the present century, to which the memories of his children ? and surviving friends dimly reach back, his farming operations had become more systematized, and were more under his own control. He no longer let out bees; though he usually himself kept quite a number of hives. Nor did he let out cows singly, as for- merly; but, in the spring, farmers from Goshen and other towns in Litchfield county were accustomed to come and hire cows for the sea- son, and return them in autumn with a certain weight of cheese as the hire of each cow. In this way, for a number of seasons, Mr. Robinson obtained a supply of cheese for his family; though sometimes the dairy was managed at home. Butter sufficient for the family, and sometimes more, was always made within doors.
Mr. Robinson still continued to let fields to small farmers or me- chanics, to till on shares. But the chief amount of agricultural labor was carried on under his own supervision. He usually hired one or two men by the year, and others for the summer season. Some of these remained with him for several years. They all formed a part of his own family, and were always regarded and treated as such. His sons, till thirteen or fourteen years of age, were brought up to labor with them in the field. Much of his land lay at a distance from his house, from one mile to three miles; and of course much 'time was occupied by men and teams in passing to and fro. But wherever the laborers were employed, there was scarcely a day in which they did not receive a visit from Mr. Robinson, to inspect the progress of their
1 At this time the town was warmly discussing " Universalism."
2 Sce Memoir, p. 113.
118
HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
work. In the seasons of haying and harvest, he often labored with them; sometimes for the whole day. At other times, and especially early in the morning, before breakfast, he took great pleasure in the care of his garden. These habits of supervision continued until the , autumn of 1821, when his youngest son returned home from college, and took the principal charge of the farm.
The agricultural pursuits of Mr. Robinson were successful and pros- perous. He followed no visionary or impracticable theories; but if any real improvement was suggested, he adopted it at once. He was no great believer in labor-saving machines, yet he once purchased a washing-machine, which for a time promised well; but it proved a fail- ure, and was soon laid aside. His farming utensils were all of the best kind then known; some of them equal to any since introduced; while others, of course, were still far from the perfection which the subsequent lapse of half a century has now brought into vogue.
At that time there were no agricultural societies in the country, and few agricultural books. Whatever advances or improvements, there- fore, Mr. Robinson may have made beyond the farming of his neigh- bors, were mainly the result of his own observation and experience. He was the first in the town to practice a rotation of crops; and it was he, especially, who introduced the cultivation of clover, gathering the seed, at first, by a machine drawn by a horse. By these means, he made the partially worn-out plains of Southington, for the time, highly productive. In 1803,1 on a field of twenty acres on the lower plain, he turned in a stout crop of clover, much to the surprise of some of his neighbors, and sowed the field with rye. The next harvest returned to him such a crop of rye as had never before been seen in the town. He occasionally tried to raise wheat, and had sometimes partial success; but it did not thrive well upon that soil. Hence he was led to the pithy remark, which is still remembered and repeated, that "whoever in Southington wishes to eat wheat, must raise rye."
At the same time, too, he cultivated Indian corn extensively. Hence he was induced to try the efficacy of plaster of Paris, which upon that soil had a wonderful effect, both in respect to Indian corn and clover. He was thus led to urge the use of it upon his neighbors; though not without encountering much prejudice. He had let a field on the southern plain to a farmer, to plant Indian corn on shares, and he proposed to furnish plaster of Paris for the whole field, if the farmer would apply it. The latter declined. As Mr. Robinson was to have one-half of the crop, he then proposed that they should divide the field, each taking two rows of corn alternately. This was agreed to. He applied the plaster
1 Memoir, p. 115.
119
HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
to his own portion; and the appearance in favor of his rows soon became so striking as to attract much attention.1 About the year 1795, the manufacture of tin-ware had been introduced into Southing- ton; and being found profitable, had in a few years spread extensively.
In the general encouragement of manufacturing interests, which marked the beginning of the present century, several smaller and local manufactures were also established in Southington, such as wooden clocks to some extent, buttons, horn combs, wooden combs, spoons, brushes, bellows, awl-hafts, andirons, etc. Later, also, and on a more extensive scale, were establishments for making iron-bolts, lasts turned from a model, and the machines for manufacturing tin-ware now in general use. All these brought into the town, as workmen, a new class of inhabitants, trained elsewhere, not always very enlightened, and sometimes of loose habits and morals. Such persons, of course, did not usually attend the worship of the sanctuary, and could not be reached by a pastor's ordinary labors. The effect of all these circum- stances upon the modes of thinking, the habits, and the morals of a population wholly agricultural, and especially upon the young, were seen and deplored by all.
Mr. Robinson was not the man to neglect anything, whether in pre- cept or example, which could serve to stem this unhealthy aspect of things, and preserve among his people (so far as possible) their agri- cultural habits and pursuits. That the course which he followed, dur- ing those years, was adopted by him of set purpose to counteract those growing tendencies, it would perhaps be too much to affirm. But there can be no question, that it was the course best adapted to turn off the attention of his people from novel schemes, and confirm them in their inbred attachment to agriculture.
In connection with his mill, already mentioned, he purchased large quantities of rye; the flour from which was of a quality so superior, that the brand of his miller, L. Andrus, became celebrated. More largely, however, did he engage in preparing Indian meal for the West India market. In this way he benefited his people, and acquired, perhaps, the greater portion of his own estate. A market was thus opened to his parishioners for all their grain, at their very doors; and they were in this way stimulated to enter with energy upon the culture of Indian corn. Indeed, he used, in the spring, to engage the leading farmers to raise for him each a certain quantity, to be delivered in the . autumn; he often advancing, if necessary, part of the price. In this
1 One day Mr. A., a noted horse dealer and village wit, was riding by the field with some strangers. The latter were filled with wonder, and were curious to find out the reason of the difference. " Oh," said Mr. A., "I can tell you ; the large rows belong to our minister, and the small ones to his people." Memoir, p. 116.
120
HISTORY OF SOUTHIINGTON.
manner he encouraged the industry and efforts of his parishioners; and, of course, they too became more prosperous. The influence of his own successful agriculture, and of the encouragement he afforded to others, was apparent throughout all that region. It was the saying of Roger Whittlesey, the leading lawyer in the place, than whom there could be no more competent judge, that "it was Mr. Robinson, who taught Southington people how to live."
In all his own success, he was ever ready to help others. If a poor neighbor's cow was about being seized for debt, Mr. Robinson would say. "Here, I will buy your cow, and let you keep her for rent, ($4 a year,) and let you redeem her, whenever you can do it." He would possess forty or fifty cows in this way, relieving the men, encouraging their industry and frugality, and laying a foundation for them to be- come men of property. If a man were in debt for his house and land, and liable to a forced sale, Mr. Robinson said to him; "I will lend you money to pay your debt, take a mortgage of your farm, and let you redeem it just as soon as you can." Thus he saved many; while he might be obliged to hold the property of the inactive and improvident, who had not energy and calculation enough to work their way out, he put them into a condition to help themselves, if they had the reso- lution to do it.
In view of this habit of affording aid to others, it is not surprising that Mr. Robinson should have had many applications of the kind from various quarters; not unfrequently from farmers and mechanics, who, not content with their legitimate business, aspired to something higher and more profitable. Sometimes they succeeded in persuading him to aid them; but their speculations, perhaps in most cases, turned out un- successfully; and in this way Mr. Robinson suffered losses to a very considerable amount, especially in the later years of his life.
During all this period, his attention to the duties of his ministry was unremitted. Besides the regular exercises of the Christian Sabbath, he often made appointments 1 for preaching on week days in the differ- ent parts of the town, in school-houses or private dwellings. He was frequent and faithful in visiting his parishioners at their homes. His own regularity and punctuality led him to inculcate the same habit upon his people, and to expect it from them, especially in their attend- ance on public worship. It used to be related of him in pleasantry, that if any one were absent from his seat on Sunday, Mr. Robinson was sure to see him during the week. and usually met him with press- ing inquiries after his health. At any rate, although many of his people resided at the distance of three or four miles from the meeting-house,
1 Memoir, p. 118.
121
HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
they were all trained to a regular and punctual attendance on the Sabbath, such as is now found in few parishes. Indeed, here, as else- where, the remark was true that those who lived most remote were the most regular and punctual in their attendance.
The infirmities of advancing years had already begun to make in- roads upon the athletic form of Mr. Robinson.1 He had never spared himself in respect to exertion or exposure. Of late years he had become more corpulent, and of course less alert and vigorous. He had long given up riding on horseback, and now drove about the town every day in a light one-horse wagon, living much in the open air. When about the age of sixty years, his feet and lower limbs began to swell, so that he had difficulty in walking, and especially in standing long in the pulpit. These infirmities gradually increased, and ulti- mately dropsical symptoms supervened. with an occasional difficulty of breathing. From all these indications he could not fail to be impressed with the conclusion that his labors in his Master's cause were draw- ing to a close.
For several years before this time, these labors had been in no wise diminished, but rather increased. As years rolled on, and he had attained the object for which he first gave attention to secular pursuits; as his children were now grown up and mostly removed from him; as his early friends, the fathers of the parish, had passed away, and left him comparatively alone; it was natural that the claims of business, and worldly matters generally, should have less hold upon him; and that he should exercise the functions of his sacred office with even more delight and diligence, and in a more spiritual frame. For the last ten or twelve years of his life, he was evidently looking forward more and more to another and a better country; to a glory still to be revealed. His preaching was, perhaps, not less doctrinal, but more earnest and impressive. The fruits were seen in the large accessions to his church from about the year 1813, onwards; most of which were from those who had grown up under his ministry.
July 27, 1818, he communicated to the church and society the following letter,-
" To the Inhabitants of the Ecclesiastical Society established by law in Southington :
" GENTLEMEN, -My years, and growing infirmities in my feet and limbs, admonish me of my approaching dissolution. They render it impossible for me regularly to discharge the duties of my ministerial office. It has been with much pain and difficulty that I have stood in the pulpit for several years past. Your inconveniences in consequence
1 Memoir, p. 128.
16
122
HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
of my infirmities have not been inconsiderable. They will probably increase.
" It is therefore my request, that you will take regular measures to furnish yourselves with another preacher.
" I have spent my life in company with the ministers of Christ, as a member of an Association, and a pastor of a consociated church. I have seen one generation of ministers pass away, and another rise. I have enjoyed much pleasure, satisfaction, and peace, with them all. I have worn out my strength, and grown grey, in the service of you and your fathers. I think I may call God to witness, that I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God, and have kept back nothing that could be profitable to you. I have sought not yours, but you. It is my desire to close my life in the same company and employment.
" It is therefore my wish, that you would agree to place a colleague with me in the ministry; one who may take on him the active part of service; one with whom I may harmonize in sentiment and feeling; one who may serve with me as a son with a father in the Gospel. In that case, nothing that I can do, by counsel and advice, by occasional labors, or substantial assistance, for him or for you, will be left undone by me while I continue.
." Should it, however, be your choice, that I shall be thrown by as a broken vessel, that another may independently occupy the whole ground, I shall make no resistance. In either case I shall be content to agree on terms, against which reasonable men shall find no cause of complaint.
I am your friend and servant in the Lord,
" WILLIAM ROBINSON."
At a meeting held August 26, 1818, the church "voted unanimously to settle a colleague with Mr. Robinson.
Voted that Dea" Pomroy Newel, Dea" Benj" Dutton, Dea" Eli Pratt, Mr. Chauncey Buck and Mr. Moses Dutton be a committee to take measures accordingly."
The Society decided not to settle a colleague; as appears by the fol- lowing vote:
"At a meeting of the Ecclesiastical Society in Southington, legally warned, and held on the 5th day of September, 1818.
"Voted, that the Society are willing that the Rev. Mr. Robinson be dismissed from his clerical duties, provided he chooses such dismission.
"Voted, that. Benjamin Dutton, Roger Whittlesey, Roswell Moore, Ichabod C. Frisbie, Eli Pratt and Chester Granniss, be a committee to confer with Mr. Robinson, concerning the foregoing vote."
123
HISTORY OF SOUTHIINGTON.
Two months afterwards the following action was taken:
"At a meeting of the Ecclesiastical Society in Southington, held by adjournment on the 19th day of November, 1818.
" Voted, to appoint a committee to request Mr. Robinson to continue in the ministry, so far as his health will admit of, and if he wishes to be dismissed, to get his best terms, and report to this meeting.
"Voted, that Ichabod C. Frisbie, Benjamin Dutton, and Timothy Hart be the aforesaid committee."
No further action was taken by the Society for two years, when the. following votes were passed, Nov. 27th, 1820.
" Whereas the Rev. William Robinson, by age and infirmity, has become unable at all times to discharge the active duties of his clerical office without inconvenience to him:
"And whereas it is thought probable, from some suggestions of his, that he would be willing to relinquish his salary, provided the Society could unite in settling a colleague with him in the ministry:
" Therefore, Voted, by this Society, that we proceed to settle a col- league with the Rev. William Robinson, in the ministry in this place: -Provided he, the said William Robinson, will relinquish his salary from and after the first day of February next :- Provided however, and it is hereby understood, that the Society do continue to pay said min- ister the same salary as heretofore, for such part of the time as he shall supply the pulpit, until a colleague be settled as aforesaid.
" Voted, that Roger Whittlesey, Selah Barnes, Eli Pratt, and Phineas Pardee, be a committee to communicate the foregoing vote of the So- ciety to Mr. Robinson, and request an answer in writing, to report to the next meeting."
The committee waited upon Mr. Robinson ; and the result of the in- terview appears from the following communication from him to the Society, dated Dec. 11, 1820:
"To the Members of the Society of Southington:
"Your committee have performed the service assigned them, by com- municating to me your vote of Nov. 27th. It was their opinion, that they had no right, as a committee, to discuss any question with me. I have, therefore, only to answer to the vote. And I must say, that I cannot accede to the proposition made, without other conditions an- nexed to it.
"I will say, however, that I will make no objection against relin- quishing my salary, and giving up all claims on the Society on reason- able terms, at any time when they may wish it, either by taking a dismission, or by giving up the active part of service to a colleague.
124
HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
I think, however, I have a right to expect to be consulted, about what are reasonable terms, and to have some concern in deciding the point.
"I am your friend and servant,
" WILLIAM ROBINSON.
"N. B. I shall not insist upon it, as one of the terms above men- tioned, that the Society shall pay me anything at all."
At a meeting in the afternoon of the same day, Dec. 11th, the So- ciety appointed a committee to confer with the pastor on the subject of their former vote. This committee was composed of Addison Cowles, Stephen Walkley, and Timothy Hart. The Society held a meeting Dec. 18th, 1820, at which the following action was taken, " Toted, that the Society proceed to take measures to call a council to dismiss the Rev. William Robinson."
There is a secret and sad history in this dismission of the venerable pastor. His greatness of heart and absolute self control appear dis- tinctly in these last negotiations. Although his friends were in the majority in the Society, they stood by and permitted a small but res- olute minority to successfully insist upon conditions that must ever reflect discredit on this parish. Mr. Robinson had never received more than a pittance for his support. Through his own industry, economy, and business capacity, he had in his old age quite a fortune. This for- tune was vastly over-estimated,1 and some thought that if their ex-pas- tor was duly taxed, it would greatly diminish their rates. Mr. Robin- son's friends, as a matter of justice, claimed that the pew his family had always occupied should be assigned him for life; and that he should be exempted from taxation. He had renounced all salary. The So- ciety had never given him a full support. In fact justice would have returned to the pastor the large sum necessary to his comfortable sub- sistence while laboring in their behalf, and which he had been com- pelled to earn in other ways.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.