USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Canton > Genealogical history, with short sketches and family records, of the early settlers of West Simsbury, now Canton, Conn. > Part 9
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1779 .- Memorable for a very early and forward spring. It passed as a well-attested fact by credible men, that apple trees were in full blossom on the 15th of April; but there afterward came a severe and cutting frost that destroyed all the fruit.
1779 -- 80 .- This winter was remarkably severe and long, attended with excessive deep snows, which occasioned great hardships and sufferings in various ways to man and beast.
1780 .- Was noted for the dark day that occurred May 19th. It was probably occasioned by an accumulation of thick and dense masses of vapor and smoke.
1781 .- Was memorable for the burning of New London and the inhuman butchery of the garrison at fort Griswold, on Groton hill; but Connecticut was soon cheered with the joyful news of the capture of Lord Cornwallis, which put a brighter appearance on the pros- pects of America.
1783 .- Was blessed and the country with it, by bringing about peace between England and the United States; and the return home of officers and soldiers from the army. This year was also noted for the great revival of religion which commenced early in the summer and continued into the year 1784. There were a goodly number then added to the visible Church, who very generally through life, were an honor to the blessed cause which they professed, and so lived and died as to obtain a good report. The fruits of that revival have all been gathered in. Mr. Edmund Mills, nephew of the Rev. Gideon Mills, the former minister, was the preacher for a number of months, assisted by Messrs. Robins, Gillett, Mills, Miller, Smalley,
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and others, who were providentially sent there to preach and attend religious meetings.
1785 .- Was blessed by the ministerial labors and settlement of the Rev. Mr. Hallock, whose pious and useful labors with us con- tinued more than forty years.
1786 .- Was memorable for the appearance of the insect called the Hessian fly. It was among other events noted for an extreme high and destructive flood in October.
1787 .- Memorable by the promulgation of the new Constitution of the United States. Some in Simsbury liked it, while others hated it. The town of Simsbury instructed their two delegates, Gen. Noah Phelps, and Esquire Daniel Humphrey, to oppose its adoption by the State, and they obeyed their instructions, though Esquire Humphrey said it was against his personal inclination, but it was adopted in the State Constitution in January, 1788.
1788 .- Was a wet, cold unfruitful summer; grain of all kinds very poor. A very destructive wind or hurricane in August, which pros- trated the poor standing corn, made great destruction in the groves of wood, injured many buildings, and entirely destroyed some.
1789 .- Was a time of uncommon scarcity for bread, the staff of life, and almost a famine was occasioned by the previous unfruitful year. Many families who were termed good livers, and of middling property, lived on bran bread, while others ordered their rye ground without bolting, and in other respects, lived on food to correspond with it, while many were much troubled to obtain that coarse fare, for labor or money. In a word, it was a time of great scarcity and extreme suffering among the people, till the last of July, when the rye went to the grist mill, very soon from the hands of the reap- ers. In the spring of this year, blossoms and vegetation generally were backward, but the summer was fruitful. In October, appeared among us and through this region of country, the epidemic called influenza. It proved destructive to many, especially to the aged and infirm. It appeared again in April and May, 1790, with similar effect.
1793 .- Was a year of much sickness among children and youth; the disease was canker rash or scarlet fever, which sent sorrow and mourning into many families.
1794 .- The spring was uncommonly early and forward; apple blossoms were seen as early as the 22d of April, vegetation pro- gressed rapidly. blossoms fell off, and were followed by the young
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fruit, but on the night of the 17th of May, there came a destructive frost that killed fruit and vegetation, which was so forward that even rye was killed on some low land, and garden productions destroyed, all that could be hurt by the frost.
1795 .- Was termed a favorable year for farmers; English grain, corn, and grass uncommonly good; grain and live stock commanding a high price. But the seeds were germinating whereby in 1796, the American commerce was seriously annoyed, both by England and France, which annoyance continued till 1800. The Jay treaty set- tled the matter as it respected England, but it raised the jealousy of France in 1796, which eventuated in French depredations on Amer- ican commerce, which lasted till the conclusion of the Ellsworth treaty in 1800. During the four years previous to 1800, there were honorable politicians, who by looking through different glasses, saw the position of the different parties, and in this period the two great parties called Federalists and Democrats arose, and entered the polit- ical field in violent combat against each other, both of them claiming the honor of following the political opinions, and walking in the foot- steps of the great Father of his country-Washington. This party strife has passed through different shapes, assumed various names and enlisted and paid different partisans, for more than sixty years; but enough of these remarks. The great political campaign of 1800, resulted in a change of men and measures, as respected the national government; and there have been the ins and the outs, as respected power, at all periods, in the country's history.
1798 .-- Was memorable by a great and powerful work of the Holy Spirit, in awakening and hopefully converting many stout- hearted sinners, and among them some who had fortified themselves in infidelity. The reformation appeared to be notable, and was visi- ble through their after lives. See the notice of that revival as published in the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, for December, 1800.
1801 .- March was rendered memorable by the inauguration of President Jefferson in the chair of state. A notable event soon after followed, viz., the Jefferson flood, an event of great notoriety. It far surpassed anything of the kind within the memory of the oldest of the Fathers, and most of the high water marks yet remain unsur- passed for the last fifty-five years. It carried off the grist and saw mill belonging to Moses & Cleveland, (situated west of the house of Marvin Case,) and in it a boy and girl belonging to Mr. Josiah At-
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kins; the girl was saved but the boy perished, aged 16 years. His body was found in the meadows more than a mile below the mill.
The winters of 1801 and 1802 were uncommonly mild and open; but the winter of 1803-4; was remarkable in the opposite extreme. The winter commenced in earnest on the 24th of December, and con- tinued with increasing severity, and without material mitigation, until near the last of March. The snows were frequent, and very deep on a level, and were by the wind whirled into drifts of uncom- mon depth, so that most of the roads except the most public, and constant traveled ones, were wholly forsaken and untraveled for several weeks. There were deep snow-drifts, even in some sun- shining places till near the last days of May. It was at that time thought to surpass any winter that had been since 1780.
1805 .- Was in some respects notable for good to Canton in relig- ious concerns. There were appearances of an awakening in June At that time the vegetable world was to appearance, threatened with a severe drouth, especially the Indian corn. On the last sabbath in July, Mr. Hallock appointed a day of humiliation and prayer for the church and people, on the following Wednesday, taking into consid- tion the low state of religion, and the dependence of the people on the great Giver of all good. The day came and was observed by the religious community, with some degree of sincerity. But during the afternoon of that day the people were met by a plentiful supply of temporal rain, and an apparent increase of spiritual blessings. The weeks that followed were weeks of fruitfulness. The religious part of the community were wont to speak of that favor as a kind interposition of a merciful God.
1806 .- Was memorable for the incorporation of the town of Can- ton. With respect to the season, a severe drouth commenced in June and lasted till September. It killed the turf in many of the upland mow lots, but the summer of 1807, was so extremely wet and growing, as to restore the ground to its wonted greenness.
1808 .- Was memorable to Canton by the malady called the spot- ted fever, which in April, May and June, sent death, and sorrow, and mourning, into many of our dwellings.
1809 -- 10 .- The winter of 1809 -- 10, was noted as a remarkable open winter. It was literally true that people might, as respected the state of the ground, have plowed every month in the winter.
1810 .- Was very memorable for the sudden change from warm to cold, which happened on the 18th of January. The afternoon of that day was uncommonly mild and even warm for the season, but
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before eleven o'clock that night, the cold was intense, and the wind blowing a hurricane. The public journals of that period told of many strange appearances; of freezing high wind, upon agitated, freezing water. Many buildings were blown down, and many trees prostrated. The cold continued violent for three succeeding days; then the sudden changes from one extreme of cold or heat to the other, went on as it had done before.
1812 .- Was memorable by the breaking out of the war between America and England, which raged with great violence for nearly three years. Different politicians of the different beligerent nations, did, for the time being, express their different views respecting the call for the war, but both nations were extremely glad to be rid of it soon as possible.
1814 .- Was memorable to the Congregational church and society of Canton. The meeting-house having become too small for the congregation, and also dilapidated, it was almost unanimously agreed by the society to build a new and commodious house, provided the means could be raised by subscription to defray the expense. The papers were circulated, and the people mostly throughout the entire town, subscribed more or less, and many of the society very liberally, for the object. The necessary funds being raised, the society voted to build on the old site, and with great unanimity and strength re- moved the old house, reduced the hill on which it stood, and made a dry and pleasant site for the new house. The work of collecting materials for building was soon commenced, at which point Mr. Orange Case, one of the most enterprising and valuable members of the church and society was instantly killed by the falling of a tree, which tree was designed for a part of the frame of the new house. This solemn and unexpected event cast a gloom over the community that was not soon forgotten. But not withstanding this afflictive dis- pensation, the Lord gave the people strength and a united heart to go forward and build the house for his worship. The summer sea- son was remarkable for the frequent and powerful showers, accom- panied with unusual thunder and lightning, rendering the earth less productive than usual, yet there was a competency for the wants of the people.
1816 .- Was remarkable for a cold summer, so much so that the effects of frost were visible in every month except August, during the season. The Indian corn was almost entirely cut off, and the small portion that remained was materially injured. The rye harvest, though threatened by the frosts, was wonderfully preserved and re-
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markably good, furnishing for the people beyond their most sanguine expectations, the staff of life.
1821 .- Was a year of unusual interest on account of a revival of religion, by which the church was strengthened by numbers and graces.
1826 .- Was remarkable for the barrenness of the fore part of the summer, which caused a scarcity of food in the pastures, and a short crop of hay for the cattle, by means of which the price of stock was extremely depressed. About the last of August came one of the most powerful rains ever known in this vicinity, and occasioned one of the greatest freshets ever known by the oldest inhabitants, sweep- ing away mills, bridges, fences and roads, in a manner almost unpar- alleled. The rain fell principally between the hours of 10 A. M. and 1 P. M.
The latter part of the season was favorable for the products of the earth, which were brought to maturity and furnished the means of subsistance for man and beast. This year was memorable also, on account of the death of Rev. Jeremiah Hallock, the faithful and devoted pastor of the church. The important and interesting relation that had long existed between him and his people was dissolved by his death on the 23d day of June, 1826. His death occasioned the most intense feeling and deep interest, and spread an almost impene- trable cloud over the community; yet his pious and devoted life, and his peaceful death, carried the conviction to every reflecting mind, that he had exchanged this world of toil, and care, and pain, for that better and brighter world above.
His amiable and beloved consort closed her connection with earthly scenes on the 3d day of November, 1826. She was a bright exam- ple of industry, economy and piety, always ready to do all in her power to relieve the sick and suffering, and promote the spiritual and temporal welfare of the people. "The heart of her husband did safely trust in her, and her children did rise up and call her blessed."
Soon after the death of Mr. Hallock, the interesting and import ant question began to be raised, Where shall we go, and whom shall we find to fill the place made vacant by his death?
The committee of the church and society were directed to Mr. Jairus Burt, a licentiate then preaching in Colerain, Mass. He was accordingly invited to supply the pulpit for a time, and accepted the invitation. His labors being acceptable to the church and people, the society in a full meeting, all, with one solitary exception, voted to give him a call to become their pastor. After due consideration, the
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call was accepted, and in December following, the solemn relation was entered into by his ordination.
1827 .- Will be long remembered on account of the great revival of religion which spread over the entire town, and continued for some months causing great accessions to the churches and a moral refor- mation generally.
In 1831, the church was again blessed with a revival which resulted in gathering a goodly number, including several heads of families, into the church.
Soon after this a church was formed in the villige of Collinsville, by means of which a very important portion of the Congregational church and society chose to remove their relation to that church and society, on account of the convenient location, and accordingly the relation heretofore existing was mutually and peacefully dissolved. But notwithstanding the great diminution of members, the first church, and society are, by the blessing of the Great Head of the Church, yet favored with the ordinances of the Gospel, and with the disposition and ability to support them to the present time.
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