USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Southington > Ecclesiastical and other sketches of Southington, Conn > Part 7
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1 Even at the present time will erop out in some of the old families' indefinite preju- dices for which the members cannot account. A trustworthy correspondent of another state writes, that in a town where branches of some of these families have settled there is still preserved a measure of these ancestral prejudices. Two branches of the Roots did not speak for years. The Harts and Woodruffs were "enemies ;" so, also, the Gridleys and Clarks ; The Lewis' and Woodruffs ; Barnes' and Gridleys, &c., &e.
2 The law reads " That where any Parish or religious society . . .... shall by their vote (wherein two-thirds part of the inhabitants qualified by law to vote, and present in the meeting of such Parish or religious society) deelare it to be necessary to build a Meeting House, &c.
8 Ecclesiastical Records, Vol. viii, p. 280.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
"To the Honorable General Assembly of the colony of Connecticut Convened at Hartford within sd Colony May second Thursday Anno Dom 1751.
The memorial of Jonathan Root agent for the inhabitants of ye Par- ish of Southington within the town of Farmington &c, Humbly Sheweth, that ye meeting-house for public worship in sa Parish is now and for many years now last past has been too small comfortably to entertain the inhabitants of sa Parish on Lord's days and other days of public worship, and not only so, but the same is so much impaired & decayed yt ye same is not comfortable for any person in times of Snow & Rains which come into sd house into almost every part thereof-that ye said inhabitants will by no means repair or enlarge the same but have repeatedly manifested their refusal so to do. That there is ye most manifest need that a new meet- ing-house should be built for ye public worship ye sª Parish. That for several years past it has been labored in sd society to obtain a vote for building of a meeting house, but it has so happened that altho there hath been always a majority for building of sd meeting-house in ye many meetings warned for that purpose yet the circumstances of sª Parish is such that two thirds parts of the Legall voters could never be found for building as aforesd, so that sª Parish have never been able to apply themselves to ye county court for direction according as is provided by the Laws of the Colony, & altho it is suggested there are not any of sa Inhabitants but think there is need of building, yet being Influenced by Dif- ferent views, and many of them having ends of their own more weighty than the enjoying a Decent and Comfortable meeting-house for Divine worship it is not likely we shall obtain such a majority as the laws require in order to build as aforesd-so yt in a little time we may be likely to have the worship of God rendered ridiculous and contemptible if not in a great measure neglected by us, & we may (rather than a blessing) incur the Divine displeasure upon us.
Wherefore your Honours memorialists Humbly entreats the special aid of this Honourable Assembly, and for as much as at our last meet- ing of ye inhabitants of sª Parish legally warned for that purpose it was by their vote Judged and Declared to be necessary to Build a meeting house in sd Parish & there was 42 in the affirmative but 23 in the Nega- tive. That your Honours would Direct therefore that ye County Court in the County of Hartford Do appoint & affix a place for ye building of a meeting-house in sª Parish, yt ye sd Inhabitant may grant a Tax & appoint a committee to carry on sª building, and to proceed therein according to ye Direction of the Law in such cases or otherwise order 8
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
so as to your Honours shall seem fitting and just, and as in Duty bound to pray &c., &c.
JONATHAN ROOT, Agent."
Dated May 10, 1751. (The memorial was not granted.)
I have made' emphatic in the above memorial what throws light upon the internal condition of the society. As will soon appear? there had arisen two strong parties in the society and church, whose exist- ence originated in matters connected with Mr. Curtiss' ministry. Those opposed to Mr. Curtiss were in the majority,3 and favored the new building; those who were his particular friends, felt the need of a new house, but would not vote for it. The latter, felt that they would submit to any inconvenience rather than permit the former to have their way. Among those foremost in the movement for a new meeting house, were Jared Lee and Deacon Thomas Hart. The former was elected deacon March 27, 1751, after a violent struggle in the church, so that now the two acting deacons were with the majority. The name of Deacon Samuel Woodruff I do not find in anyway connected with this or any other controversy. Neither in tradition nor records is he ever found in a quarrel. He appears to have been a man of peace, and discreet enough to keep out of church troubles. But as the matter now stood there was a decided majority of the intelligence and property of the society determined upon a new building.
The defeat before the General Assembly did not relax the purpose of the majority. The subject was agitated during the following year. The dilapidated condition of the old building, and Sabbath experiences of storms that the roof did not avert, became after a time convincing arguments to some of the minority. Another winter was coming on, and perhaps a wholesome dread of what might be in a cold winter's Sabbath had its influence. At any rate, a society's meeting held in the fall of 1752 had the requisite " two-thirds," and succeeded in pass- ing a vote that had been sought for years. A committee was appointed to apply to the County Court to have the site fixed according to law. This question of site had also long been a bone of contention. Four localities in the parish were struggling for the honor of being the rec- ognized center. At the beginning the north part, or Queen street, took
1 The author had collected the same facts from independent sources before examin- ing the records at Hartford. The traditions in various families are consistent as to the bitter and protracted struggle And there still live those whose Grand-parents were actors in these unfortunate troubles, and from whom they heard the facts.
2 In Chapter on the Ministry of Mr. Curtiss.
8 It should be said that probably a majority of the church was with him, but the society was strongly against him.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
the prize without resistance, and this claim was undisputed until the question of a new church was raised. Gradually the present center of the town grew in prominence, and then laid claims to the proposed new meeting house. Then the south end where Dr. Joshua Porter lived, and where Joseph P. Platt now lives, aspired to the honor. And finally West street put in a claim -- that part of it near where Mr. Wil- liam Andrus now lives, and not far from where Abel Carter had a Hotel. There is a very indistinct tradition that an effort was also made to locate the church not far from where Mr. Lewis Woodruff lives, and which would have been the geographical center of the pres- ent town. But the County Court was the final authority, and it is said that Jared Lee and Thomas Hart so influenced the decision that the site at the present center was determined on.
And then began another struggle which was kept up for years by local and personal differences, but finally it ceased when a new pastor was settled.
The following are the deeds of the land given for the new meeting house:
Know all men by these presents that I Jared Lee of Farmington in the county of Hartford and Colony of Connecticut in New England for the consideration of the sum of forty pounds money received to my full satisfaction of Jonathan Root and Josiah Cowles both of South- ington Parish in sª Farmington as committee apointed and impowered by the society aforesaid to purchase the land hereafter described to sit a meeting house upon for divine worship, do give, grant, bargain sell convey and confirm unto the said Jonathan Root and Josiah Cowles with the rest of the Inhabitants of said Society of Southington afore- said and to their heirs successors and assigns forever one certain piece or parcel of land lying in the township of said Farmington in South- ington Parish in the midle tier of lotts south of my dwelling house containing one acre and bounded as followeth west on a highway that runs northwardly and southerly across my lotts and to extend so far east as to include one acre and to ly in length 29 rods and six feet butting Northeast on my own land South upon Thomas Beach To have and to hold the above granted and Bargained premises with the apurtinances thereof unto them the sª Jonathan Root Josiah Cowles with the rest of sd Inhabitants of sª Parish to their heirs and assigns forever to their own proper use and behoof and also I the said Jared Lee do for myself and my heirs executors and adms covinant with the sd Jonathan Root Josiah Cowles and the rest of the Inhabitants of sd Parish their heirs and assignors that at and until the ensealing of these presents I am lawfully seized of the premises as a good inde- feasible estate in fee simple and have good right to sell the same in
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
manner and form as is above written and that the same is free from all incumbrances whatsoever. and furthermore I the said Jared Lee do by these presents bind myself my heirs forever to warrant and de- fend the above granted and bargained premises to them the said Jon- athan Root Josiah Cowles with the rest of the Inhabitants of said Southington, their heirs and assigns against all claims and demands whatsoever.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 10th day of November A. D. 1752.
JARED LEE, [Seal.]
signed sealed & delivered in presence of
NATHANIEL GRIDLEY JOHN WOODRUFF.
Hartford county the day and date above written, Cap Jared Lee who executed the above written instrument personally appeared and acknowledged the same to be his free act and deed-before me
THOS HART, Justis Peace.
Know all men by these presents that I Jared Lee of Farmington in the County of Hartford and Colony of Conecticut in New England for the Consideration of Twelve pounds old Tenor mony Recª of Josiah Cowles of the same Town County and Colony Do give grant, bargain Sell and Convay unto him Josiah Cowles one Certain piece or parcel of Land in sd Town Lying South of my dwelling House Butted as fol- oweth South on Land of Thomas Beach and to Run North 29 Rods and Six feet in Length one Rod in Breadth in bredth Butted west on my one Land and North and East on Highway one parcel more butted South on Land of Thomas Beach East and North on my own Land and west on that acre I sold to Southington Society Comtte and to be in Bredth one Rod and Eleven feet in Bredth East and west To Have & to Hold all the above given and Bargained premisses unto him the sd Josiah Cowles to him in Special maner for the preveledge of building of Sabath Housen on as his proper use only with the Rest of the Inhabitants of said Society to his and thire one proper. use. beni- fit and behoof forever. for the Building a meeting House. for Divine Worship to Lye oppen as Commons for sd use and the property not to be Chainged or alltered to any unless to Jared Lee or his heirs or Assigns Furthermore I the Said Jared Lee for my Selfe & heirs Cove- nant with him the Said Josiah Cowles his heirs with the Rest of the Society Called prisbeterians or Congregational that at and until the Time of the Ensealing & Delivery of these presents I am Lawfully Siesed of the above Given and Bargained premisses in my one Right
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
In fee Simple and have full power to Sell the Same in maner and form as is above written and that the Same is free of all Incumbrances whatsoever. furthermore I the said Jared Lee Bind by selfe my heirs and assigns to warrand & Defend all the above given and granted premisses unto him the said Josiah Cowles his heirs with the Society against all Lawfull Claims and Demands In witness here of I here unto sett my hand and Seal this 10th Day of November A. D., 1752, Signed, Sealed and Delivered in presents of
THOMAS HART NATHANEEL GRIDLEY JARED LEE
Farmington in Hartford County the Day and Date above written Capt Jared Lee who executed the above written Instrument personally appeared and acknowledged the same to be his free act and Deed be- fore me
THOS HART, Juse Peace.
Some confusion has followed the peculiar reading of the deeds in relation to the old highway through the village. An explanation is necessary in order to understand the boundaries of the first deed as given in the instrument. The old highway was in a straight line south from a point near where the old North centre school house stood to the south end of the present common. It then began to wind ; its west line passing through a corner of what is now the front yard of Mr. F. D. Whittlesey. At that time there was a large knoll of ground in front of the present Methodist church, and the road passed west of this knoll, and then followed the present road southward; but the beaten track came up fully to the yard-fences of Mr. Wyllys Smith, and Mr. Hial Woodruff. The houses just north of Mr. Whittlesey's were a store and tavern, and between these and the road bed, was a narrow, open space. If any one will stand at the Northeast corner of Mr. Whittlesey's door-yard and look Northward in a line with the school house, he will be able to trace the line of the middle of the old road.1 Now the deed of Jared Lee was for an acre of ground East of this road. The east line of this acre was along the west end of the present Hotel. The sites of the present church building and Town Hall were a hill-side, and the hill came down to the west side of the present com- mon. Those who can remember the church building on the common, will recall the fact, that while the east doorway was on a level with the road, the west side was on a foundation work of stone about four feet high, and above a terrace of at least three feet.2 An exchange was
1 The writer has taken great pains to ascertain these faets, and his authority aside from documents is the memory of several of the oldest residents of the town.
2 Mrs. Dr. Jones says that the road bed in front of her house was nearly if not quite two feet lower than the level of her yard. And the late Levi Hart always said that the road bed in front of his house was much lower than the level of his door-yard.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
made with the highway. Jared Lee then deeded two strips of land, each a rod wide, and on either side of the original acre. The road was thrown further east, and the building was placed on the west side, but the east line of the house was on the edge of the highway. Then in the rear of the church was a kind of lane that led from where the Post- Office now is, to the Hotel and store north of Mr. Whittlesey's. The church stood on an ellipse of ground corresponding to the present com- mon, and both the roads around the common were laid out after the site of the church was adopted. But precisely where on the common did the church stand ? Although it is not fifty years since it was torn down, and many live who distinctly remember it, yet scarcely any two can agree as to the exact location. All agree that its north line was from ten to twenty-five feet south of the public well, but whether ten or twenty five feet they don't agree. The Rev. Henry Clark remem- bers standing in the door of the old church when the steeple of the new was raised, and thinking at the time of the fact that the old church door (east side) was due west from the door of the new. As the old building was seventy feet long without the steeple, we have but to strike a line due west from the central door of the present church, and then measure thirty-five feet North and South, to fix the site in these directions.1 But others place it a few feet further north. The east line of the building was about on a line with the present common, and the west, forty feet to the rear. In 1813 the church lands were extended westward two rods, by additional deeds from Seth and Lydia Lewis. It will be seen then, that the original grants make the grounds of this society to cover about an acre and four-fifths, which territory is independent of the site upon which the present building stands.
The style of architecture was that common in New England in those days. The pulpit was at the west end, and galleries extended round on every side. The pulpit was high enough to gratify the loftiest as- piration. Ten or twelve steps led to this high retreat. And connected with it, and just in front, was the Deacon's seat. The last two Deacons remembered as seated here, were Benjamin Dutton and Pomeroy Newell.
Mr. Gad Andrus has in his possession a section of the pulpit against which these Deacons leaned their heads, and there is visible the very place, where from long resting of the head, the paint is worn off. The pews were the old fashioned box-pews with which the present genera- tion is unfamiliar. They were wainscoted, and then a narrow railing, six inches high, ran around the top. Of course nearly or quite half of the people were compelled to sit with their backs to the preacher.
1 Mrs. Dr. Jones, who has lived for so many years close by this site, agrees with this view.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
The building was completed1 in 1757, but we have no record of the dedication exercises if there were any.
No further mention is made of it until 1786, when at a society meeting Feb. 20th, it was "voted that the Society's Committee be Instructed and Impowered to Repair the Meeting House so as to Secure it for the Present as their Discretion shall Direct." At a meeting De- cember 4th, it was " voted to Timothy Lewis his account Exhibited for repairing the Meeting House amounting to the sum of £.0 - 8- 0 Voted to Amos Upson for Do. Do. 0 --- 4-0 0-10-0 Voted to Jacob Tyler for Do. Do.
Nothing further is recorded of repairs or improvements until 1794, when at a meeting Dec. 29th it was "voted to Repair the Meeting House. Voted-that Capt Jonathan Root, Lieut Samuel Hart, John Barnes, Asa Barnes, Thomas Stanley Day, Capt Silas Clark, William Barrett, Cap Timothy Newell & Timothy Clark Esquire be a commit- tee to get subscriptions for the purpose of building a steeple to the Meeting House." Although subscription papers were circulated, and a few pressed forward the matter with great zeal, there were enough who opposed the matter to cause it to drag along for more than two years. But finally the amount was subscribed, and the work pushed to completion. A large number would neither subscribe, nor vote to have the steeple erected. All kinds of excuses and obstacles were in- terposed, until a few of the more liberal and determined spirits came before the society at a meeting held Jan. 30, 1797, and secured a decided vote to allow them to proceed with the work; and pledging
that they would be personally responsible for the expense. The vote is as follows: "That the Society do Grant Liberty to any Number of the Inhabitants of sª Society to erect a Steple adjoining the Meeting- hous at their own cost without Laying a Tax on the Society at Large. * Voted that a Commity be appointed to Build a Steple to the Meetinghous of this Society From the avails of the Money Sub- scribed for that purpose." The committee appointed for this purpose was, Jonathan Root, Samuel Andrus, and Samuel Hart. They at once and energetically proceeded with the work, and had it completed be- fore the end of the year.
In 1801 further repairs were made upon "the steeple, doors and windows of the meeting house," and again in 1809.
In 1814, it was voted that the prudential committee "procure springs for the meeting house windows, and locks and bars for the
1 It is said, that in roofing the church, a carpenter was laying the last row of shingles when the scaffolding gave way, and he slid down the roof to the edge and there his buckskin " brecches " caught upon a nail. To that he hung until a ladder was brought to his relief.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
doors, and keep said house shut unless necessary to open it." In Sep- tember, 1821, a portion of the steeple blew down. It had often "rocked " in the winds and storms, and it was feared this accident might occur. It had been erected separately from the building, and probably had never been very firmly secured. The wind was blowing a gale from the southwest, and consequently it fell on the line of the highway running northeast. At the time it occurred, a large number were returning from "militia training," and the road had been filled with pedestrians. Although during this gale trees and chimneys were blown down, yet so far as known no one was injured.
At the time the steeple was built, a very fine toned bell' was put within it. Dr. Edward Robinson writing twenty years ago, speaks of the steeple "as tall and graceful," and says, "The sound of the fine- toned bell I still remember with pleasure." March 5, 1798, it was voted "that the prudential commity be Impowered to Fine some faith- ful person to Ring the Bell until the Next Decem" Meeting. Voted, to have the Bell Rung at Mid Day 12 o'clock." This office of bell-ringer was one of great honor for a number of years, and a " vacancy " was the signal for numerous applications. For many years it was also rung at nine o'clock at night. The tolling of the bell when a death occurred was practiced as soon as the bell was put up, and old people now speak of how they would pause in their work and count the strokes, and then " guess " who was dead.
The last services held in this meeting house were Sabbath August 23, 1829, when Mr. Ogden preached, in the morning from text Prov. iv. 23, and in the afternoon an appropriate sermon from text Ps. xxvi, 8. "Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honor dwelleth."
"The meeting house yard," as it was called, was enlarged in 1811-14 by the addition of land on the west two and three rods in width as the following deeds will show:
" To all People to whom these presents shall come Greeting Know ye that I Selah Lewis of Southington in the County of Hartford for the consideration of fifty dollars received to my full satisfaction of the in- habitants of the first ecclesiastical society in said Southington do give grant bargain and sell unto said Society one certain piece of land situ- ated in said Southington adjoining the meeting house yard, bounded northerly on highway or land laid open for a highway, easterly on said meeting house yard Southerly and westerly on land which I formerly owned and which now belongs to the heirs of Seth Lewis deceased, and
1 I have in my possession the subseription book containing the names of those who subseribed for the bell. The absence of certain names is significant and shows who opposed getting it.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
is fourteen rods long and two rods wide at the South end, and three rods wide at the north, or nearly that, containing about thirty five rods of ground, and is the same piece of land which I conveyed to the Town of Southington by my deed dated the 26th day of December A.D. 1797, and the said Town have by their agents this day released and quit- claimed to me. To them the said Grantees to have and to hold forever for an addition to their meetinghouse yard and for an open public high- way and for no other use forever and subject to the following condition viz that if the said Grantees or their successors shall alienate, sell, lease or in any way dispose of said land or any part thereof to any person or per- sons or any corporation, or if the said Grantees or their successors shall enclose said land or any part thereof or erect any building upon the same or appropriate the said land or any part thereof to any other use or pur- pose than that of an open public highway or meeting house yard then this deed shall be void and of no effect, and said land shall revert to the said Grantor or his heirs and he or they may lawfully take posses- sion of the same as his or their own proper estate. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 21st day of November Anno Domini 1814. SELAH LEWIS
Signed, & Sealed in presence of ROGER WHITTLESEY LUCAS CURTISS
Hartford County Southington Nov 21 1814. Personally appeared the above named Selah Lewis and acknowledged the signing and seal- ing of the foregoing instrument to be his free act & Deed before me
ROGER WHITTLESEY, Justice of Peace."
"To all People to whom these presents shall come Greeting Know ye, That I Lydia Lewis of Southington in the County of Hartford for the consideration of fifty dollars received to my full satisfaction of the in- habitants of the first Ecclesiastical Society in said Southington, do give, grant, bargain sell and confirm unto the said Inhabitants one piece of land situated in said Southington at or near the northwest Corner of the Meeting house of said Society, bounded on the North by highway, East by the Meeting house yard or land reserved by Jared Lee Esqr. to erect Sunday houses upon, South by land formerly owned by Selah Lewis and by him conveyed to the town or society of Southington and West by land of Ephraim Roper being in length about six rods and in width about two rods let the same be more or less.
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