USA > Connecticut > Windham County > Historic Gleanings in Windham County, Connecticut > Part 11
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
179
A LIFE'S RECORD.
Uncle Gideon ; looks round ; but his heart fails him and he sneaks back home-" a long journey and no profit to anybody, but 'tis past and cannot be re- called." Dec. 27, pays his taxes ; owes fifteen shil- lings and has nothing in the world but his head and a cow. Gets very little work through the winter; neighbors sicken and die and there is "no one to assist in trouble." " A child found on Mowry's farm supposed to have been murdered." The fiddle is sold and frolicking comes to an end.
But there are brighter days in store for the young Republic. Willing and skillful hands will not always labor for a mere pittance. Those straggling, strug- gling, debt-burdened infant States are to be bound together into a compact Nation with central govern- ment and financial basis. Little Rhody, with all her intense individualism and assertion of State rights, has to submit to manifest destiny and overwhelming public opinion. Zeph chronicles the rejoicings " on account of the new constitution being framed and sent out," and the barbecue July 4, 1788, when "they roast a whole ox," but his sympathies are with the "Governor and Gen. West who are anti-federalists " -and anti-federal ideas stick to him through life.
With renewed hope he hires another farm this same spring, with two oxen, ten sheep, six cows; but after two years has to borrow money to square up accounts with his landlord. Perhaps the good condition of
150
HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
the family, as set down by statistical Zeph, March, 1790, has something to do with this failure. They must have consumed much store of Rhode Island pork and white corn meal. Zeph weighs two hundred pounds ; Mrs. Zeph, one hundred and ninety ; Pri- inus, seventy-nine ; Jack, seventy-three ; Dolly, sixty- seven.
After many failures and vexations he hires a large farm at halves and pitches into work more vigorously than ever. He has sixteen cows, four oxen, and other stock in proportion; hires two stout boys for six months for $38 each. Wife and children help in pick- ing up apples and other fruit, with one hundred and twenty barrels of cider and forty-six barrels of beer as the result of their labor. There is no hint of church-going and Sabbath-keeping, but the children go to school and are supplied with the new spelling- book-"Webster make," and busy Zeph manages to get time "to hear the scholars say their pieces." Fourteen men help about the fall husking, and six hogs are dressed, weighing 1,787 pounds. Free- handed Zeph pays his help forty shillings more than the bargain in return "for eight months faithful ser- vice." "Rafting thatch " for some of his buildings, Zeph has a narrow escape: loses his footing, goes down under the water, and sticks fast in the mud. Two men, clutching him by the arm, are not able to stir him till others pried him out with a haypole. "I
181
A LIFE'S RECORD.
did breathe three times while under the water," but got home alive, " thanks be to God," and we rejoice in this ejaculation.
" Work, work, work," goes on with unabated vigor. Another great crop of apples is transmuted into beer and cider ; and cheese, butter, and pork, turned out in heavy bulk. But with all this labor there is little real profit. The great fruit farm, so near to Provi- dence, draws a superabundance of company. Mar- ried sons and daughters of the owner flock thither in and out of season, and the house is filled with company and confusion. The children fall ill from lack of care and accommodations, and Zeph and his wife tire of their hard bargain.
And now old Father Jacob comes to the rescue. Doubtless his faithful old heart had long yearned over his Rhode Island prodigal, and now he opens home and farm to him. The other children are out in the world, and a place is ready for him-" Come back to the good land of yellow corn and steady habits, come back to church-going and town-meet- ing, come back from Egypt to Canaan!" and Zeph has sense enough to heed the call.
" April 1, 1796. Sat up all night and wife too, to fix things to move." He went out alone with his fid- dle-bow, and came back with a goodly caravan-wife, three children, household goods, and a small herd of cattle. Yet after years of hard toil he left debts be- 16
182
HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
hind him, and confides to his journal that he owned nothing but a small stock of furniture.
With old-time versatility Zeph adapts himself to the situation, attends town-meetings, school-meet- ings, trainings, ordinations, and funerals. For meet- ing-going he has lost his relish, and the Rhode Is- land wife " cares for none of these things." His energy finds outlet beyond the narrow farm routine ; he picks up ashes and experiments in potash-making, hires a saw-mill and gets out boards. With hard work he achieves 344 pounds of potash, which he carts to Providence and ships to New York, receiv- ing ninety dollars cash in return. Another venture brought him an hundred dollars. Yes, our Zeph is getting on at last and settling down into an order- loving, Connecticut citizen, with a little more snap to him than common. Soon he is made "school committee-man " for his district, and " went to Taun- ton and hired a schoolmaster for four months for forty-one dollars." Then, too, his politics are in his favor. These Bleakridge farmers sniff at the stiff- necked orthodoxy of the old Federal leaders, and welcome the new Jeffersonian doctrines as expounded by our breezy Zeph, and he leads the small minority that cast their votes for Thomas Jefferson.
He goes to Oxford to attend " the Artifillians Fu- neral," observed in honor of Gen. Washington, " that worthy general, who died December 14, 1799." Again
183
A LIFE'S RECORD.
and again he rides to Oxford to hear the noted Uni- versalist, Hosea Ballou, whose preaching suits him better than that of the plain-speaking Baptists and Methodists who are active in his neighborhood. More deaths than births are now recorded ; more funerals than weddings. Those old Bleakridge settlers are dropping off. Uncle Bijah "fell into the fire and died when there was no one in the room." Ten years later his aged widow found dead on the ground two rods from the house-all right the night pre- vious ; " got up and dressed and took her pail and staff and went out to the well ; slipt down, no one hearing her, and she perished in the cold snow and rain."
In spite of these inevitable shadows it is a happy time at the Breakridge farm. The old people are easy-going and cheerful, and the young folks merry and thriving. They go to school and church and singing-school, and have young company. The boys are getting helpful at farm-work. Dolly has grown up tall and comely-" A right smart girl," the neigh- bors say, "her father over again." "May 11, 1801. Dolly ketcht cold by wading in the river ; has pain in her side," and herb-drink does not seem to help her. Spring work is driving, but this illness is more than all. Early in June she is attacked with violent pain in her head-is light-headed and full of pain. Doctors are called from far and near. Wise old Dr. Eaton from Dudley; famous Dr. Hubbard from Pomfret
184
HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
each with his saddle-bags and train of "apprentices." Dr. Hubbard stays six hours with her but there is no relief. It is the height of the busy season; haying is coming on; the potash kettle breaks in the melt- ing; hail-stones fall as large as an ounce ball; but what are these things compared with Dolly's sick- ness ? "I stay in the house all day and only turn some hay : wife and I sit up all night. Dolly grows weaker and has no sense at all-a sorrowful spectacle to behold." "July 1. Very hot. Dolly grew weaker every hour. I was up twice before 3 o'clock and then O lamentable, at half past four July 2, the breath left the body of our daughter Dolly. This morn makes twenty-one days and nights that this poor girl has had such an extreme pain in her head and a fever almost burnt up. The Doctor calls it the Phrenitus and then the Pubmatick fever. 3. Elder C. did preach and the funeral attended this afternoon."
Work is resumed next day, hoeing and mowing. Poor Zeph sees Dolly in his dreams ; holds her in his arms, "looking just as she did when a baby," and then the name drops out from daily record. Primus goes to high school in Dudley for a term and then keeps school himself. Jack, our youngest boy, starts out in the world to work on the Boston turnpike.
" May 8, 1802. Snowed all the afternoon. 9. Froze hard enough to bear a horse; cold and dry; no grass." Zeph and his wife drive on with work all
T
185
A LIFE'S RECORD.
the same, and watch with their sick neighbors, for it is a sickly season, dysentery prevailing, and many clie. Jack comes home from his summer's work hearty and rugged, with a hundred dollars for his father, besides what he keeps for himself. Zeph sets out apple trees, improves his farm and helps on pub- lic occasions; takes both his boys to help raise a frame for the new Baptist meeting-house, where a hundred men gather, and they have dinner, supper, and liquor enough for all. Trainings are com- mon, too, where liquor flows in abundance. There is a " General Training " at Woodstock-a great pa- rade, ending in much confusion. The day being hot " many did near faint. Very dark night, with thun- der and lightning ; many rode off the road ; fell off and got hurt; horses could not see." Fortunately for Zeph "rum was most poisinous to him for some years," and he quit drinking.
Politics are very lively at the time of Jefferson's re-election, and Zeph proudly reports "sixteen Re- publican votes," with larger gains in prospect. Bap- tists and Methodists are coming out against the old Federalists and Standing Order. In 1806 Zeph is very active in carrying through a great Republican Fourth of July celebration at the Centre. He helps build a bower, arranges toasts, provides musicians. A flaming Methodist leads in prayer, and a fervent Baptist elder delivers the oration. Federals and 16*
186
HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
orthodox look glum enough at the parade, while Zeph goes home in triumph and reports ninety-six Republican votes at the next election.
Other public matters claim attention-" a new road to be laid over Bleakridge; schools to be looked after." Zeph hires a school-ma'am to keep school three months for five shillings a week, while Primus gets twelve dollars a month for his services. Here are some medical prescriptions for colds and swollen face-" a sirup of dogwood, marshmallow, barberry, tansy and wormwood boiled with rum and molasses -Substitute red-briar for dogwood and barberry and boil in spring water that runs to the north." Some- time during these years Primus marries, somewhat against the approval of the parents, and "has a daughter without much clatter," and Jack slips off to live with his Uncle Abel.
As the family lessens, work and business increase. There is progress in the air. The life and stir of the new century and republic are reaching this remote corner. The "factory " has come to stay. Great mills for working up cotton are going up within a few miles. Zeph hires a saw-mill to get out boards for the buildings. Scarcely has he begun work when he is caught in a freshet. "June 14, 1807. Rains all day. 15. A very great flood indeed; so high was never seen before by more than one foot; new bridge carried away "-but by working and watching day
187
A LIFE'S RECORD.
and night Zeph manages to save his mill. The next year the road-making is resumed. Over seventy men at work, with many oxen, plows, and carts. Zeph leads with six men and four oxen, and furnishes cider by the barrel, but again " contradiction and dispute " block the wheels of progress, and the needed road is left unfinished. With all his digging and driving he is ready to help in sickness ; attends the funeral of a neighbor's wife, and " the most peo- ple present I ever saw at a funeral." A little girl neighbor, four or five years old, "got up in a cart and jumped about, and fell over the foot-board, and cries, 'I have killed myself,' and died in half an hour." Zeph carries six to the grave in his big wagon.
"Sept. 15, 1808. Drove a wagon to Pomfret to Regimental training, and carried four men for three- and-sixpence each." Three days later and the big wagon takes a load of eight " to hear the Methodists at their first camp-meeting. They keep it five days and nights. Oct. 14. Carry wool to be carded at the Factory-Cut sausage meat and filled the skins with a tin on purpose-a great improvement upon stuffing it in by fingers."
" 1809, March 4. James Madison takes his seat as president. Sept. 4. Raise in all a hundred and fifty bushels of potatoes. Nov. 8. Father rather poorly. 12. Had a bad night, sat up in chair. 25. Father worse, rather more weak and faint; sleeps most of
188
HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
the day ; fails fast. 26. Some above 8 o'clock my father left this earthly tabernacle. 15. Rain ; Elder C. preaches ; funeral set at 11, went to the grave at 3 P. M." The aged mother soon follows-" May 11, 1810. Mother very poorly. 22. Mother seemed in m ore extremity, and left breathing a little after three. Four of her nine children attend the funeral, where Elder C. officiates as previously for Dolly and father."
And now Zeph is left with wife, work, and weather observations. "1810, Jan. 14. The coldest day that m ost ever was known," the "cold Friday " of mete- orologic fame. "March 12. A great snow fifteen inches deep." A school quarrel demands heroic treatment. Zeph is one of three men chosen by the district " to see what was to be done," and he " went to the school inspectors and brought eight of them down to the school house, where they heard all sides and corrected both parties."
A new era opens this autumn of 1810. "I take yarn from Pomfret Factory to weave." A great opportunity has come to these suppressed New England women. Weaving this smoothly-spun yarn into cloth they receive good pay in any kind of goods they fancy. How the tongues and shuttles rattle in many a farm-house. Our friend, Mrs. Zeph, is one of the first to improve the privilege. Everything else gives place to the cloth weaving; even neighborly calls and afternoon going-out-to-tea are suspended.
189
A LIFE'S RECORD.
"I hope you read your Bible," hints Elder C. in one of his pastoral visitations. "Gracious," was the quick reply, "I don't git time to look in the alma- nik." Four pieces of heavy bed-tiek are carried back to the Factory in December and broad-cloth taken in exchange. Then two tailoresses appear and exhibit for their week's work great coats for Mrs. Zeph and Jack, straight-body coats for Zeph and Jack, and two waistcoats, for which work each re- ceives one dollar and twenty-five cents. Yarn for seven hundred and fifty yards of bed-ticking is brought home for spring work, and while the " good wife plies the shuttle," her good man hires a grist mill for the season, and by help of fourteen oxen and as many men, set a new millstone. Anotherrebellion in the school-house is settled without outside inter- vention. "They could not turn out the master."
September, 1812. Zeph takes seven passengers for a dollar each to witness the brigade training at Brooklyn. He reports, "five regiments on parade, one of horse, twenty-five hundred troops, and four times as many spectators, something of a war-like appearance "-an exhibition calculated to rouse more interest in the war then in progress.
1813, June 21. Jack, now at home for the summer, is warned "to be at the Centre tavern complete in armor by twelve to go to New London as there were British there." Four neighbors' boys obeyed the same
190
HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
summons, "most of the infantry and all the militia that did not abscond," for this war is unpopular in New England, and even Administration men like Zeph and his neighbors have little enthusiasm. Those that stood fire were marched into the meeting-house, and treated to a spirited address from the minister before starting on their march. Communications with the outside world are still infrequent, and little was heard from the absentees during their three weeks service. The invasion was not accomplished, and the boys had a good time and brought back, instead of laurels, a list of false alarms, fizzles, and ridiculous sayings and doings that made sport for a life-time. Reports of naval victories enkindled war-like sympa- thies. "October 3. Hear that Commodore Perry hath taken six British vessels on Lake Erie."
Elemental disturbances receive more specific record. " February 10, 1814. Rains hard and froze on trees ; fore twelve at night trees began to break and split, and the dreadfullest cracking that ever I heard. They say it was like the report of heavy artillery. 11. The trees bowed their heads like weeping willows, a melancholy sight, and the fruit trees are broken as the oldest man never saw before."
"1815, Jan. 31. Exceeding cold, coldest morning for many years by the thermometer." The historic September gale came the same year. " Rained very fast; hard wind; between 9 and 10 A. M. began a
191
A LIFE'S RECORD.
tornado ; southeast wind blew very hard indeed; hath torn down thirty-seven large apple-trees, and upset many smaller ones; near all our fence torn down and timber lands most dreadfully turned up by the roots."
The cold summer of 1816, handed down by tradi- tion as the "starved-to-death " summer-is duly and daily noted. "May 7. Windy and very cold. 17. Very cold. 29, 30. Very cold and dry with frost. June 4. Frost. 6. Very cold night, ice froze as hard as window glass ; put up sheared sheep. 7. Very exceeding cold ; wore coat, jacket, surtout, and wig, and none too hot. 10. A very hard frost, ice as thick as half a window glass; corn cut close to the ground." This condition prevailed through the entire season-cold and dry with a few warm days. Very cold spells in July, August, and September. Zeph harvests five loads of corn, "two good-for- nothing but fodder, only two bushels fully ripe."
"1817, Feb. 14. Caught in Providence by a cold snap exceeding anything that hath been in fifty years by the thermometer-warmed four times coming home ; many froze some but I did not, coldest night most ever I see." Another cold spell came in May. "12. Cold night, ice on grass. 16. A very large black frost, exceeding cold. 20. Ice on grass-top like shot. 21, 22. Hard frosts."
These frost-bitten crops and war prices make hard
192
HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
times for the poor, but Zeph is fore-handed now and able to relieve needy neighbors, lending them money and helping in many ways. Meanwhile the loom is busy as ever, turning off great pieces of bed-tick, gingham, and " dimino." "War's alarms" do not disturb the peace of the old farm-house. Jack is living at home now with a brisk, young wife-a neighbor's daughter, very acceptable to the old folks, and grandchildren are making the house merry. Primus is plodding along steadily and has a houseful of stout boys and girls, some of them always stop- ping at "Grandpa's." And there are hired men at. work on mill and farm, travelers stopping to chat, townsmen discussing war and politics-a busy, cheer- ful, prosperous household, with Zeph for head and centre.
"Feb. 14, 1815. Hear news of peace, Peace! 28. Federalists celebrate P. E. A. C. E. between America. and England at the Centre, and there is a great ball in the evening. March 4, 1817. James Monroe takes the chair as president and David D. Tompkins as vice-president." The war is over now, but there is a battle going on in Connecticut ; a fierce fight for a new State constitution, and our Zeph is one of the foremost fighters. They say he is captain there at Bleakridge, and brings down loads of men in his big wagon to town meeting. "Sept. 4. Went to Free- man's meeting and the Republicans chose two Rep- resentatives to our liking ; farmers; a good day."
A LIFE'S RECORD. 193
" July 4, 1818. Went to town meeting to choose delegates to send to Hartford to frame a constitution for the State of Connecticut. Federalists had two votes most. Sept. 29. Heard Constitution read." A week later town accepted constitution by a vote of 174 versus 95, and Zeph is " well pleased." And now the Republicans have control in the old Federal town, and Zeph is selectman. His energy and ver- satility find ample scope in his new office. Now he is letting out the poor to be boarded for a dollar or seventy-five cents a week; or buying a new town hearse ; or laying out roads; or deliberating with officers from other towns where to set the new court- house. A special service is performed in perambu- lating the boundary line between Massachusetts and Connecticut, involving ten days labor. "July 5, 1819. See the blazing star."
With increasing years and honors, Zeph manifests greater zeal for public worship; owns two pews in the Baptist meeting-house, and helps on repairs for the same, and buying a farm for the minister. Ordi- nations, association meetings, baptisms, funerals, are duly chronicled. A great "revival season " excites much interest. Sees " Elder C. baptize seven of them young girls, and hears two more tell the travail of their minds ; staid to see them take sacrament, home at sundown." " April 5, 1820. See three dipt at Bap- tist meeting-house. June 14. Went to Baptist meet-
17
194
HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
ing-house and heard a woman preach from Vermont and she preached well, I thought too. 18. Went to meeting and Elder C. he whipt us smart for hearing a woman preach and I wish he had heard her him- self." [It is said that Elder C. referred to this woman preacher who had been allowed to occupy the pulpit in his absence "as a grievous wolf who had entered the fold."]
Common and uncommon casualties find place in the record. A small fire starting by the roadside " went up the hill as fast as a man could walk ; fought fire as long as we could see ; next morn, rallied early and fit fire to Alump Pond-thirty-four men. It ran north a vast ways, cutting all before it."
"April, 1821. Neighbor M.'s died this day about mid-day, sudden; fell over backwards in her chair ; taken up and said she was dying and it was so. June 20. Hard thunder shower, lightning struck powder house. This clap struck down H. C., flung him down lifeless, but he came to, was blue but full of pain. Sept. 1. As hard a shower as ever I knew, filled up streams like a freshet. 3. Strong S. E. wind and rain, many trees blown down, fences and most of our apples. 15. Down by the pond trod on a water- snake, and it bit my leg, and it swelled and was sore. Kept on working. 24. Leg no better, swollen more, pain some. 25. Had a hen split open and put on my leg three or four hours, then burdock leaves. 26.
195
A LIFE'S RECORD.
Put on more leaves and went to see the regiment per- form at the Centre. 28. Put meadow moss on leg and it looks more purple. 29. Set out for Franklin to see Dr. M. and he said he could cure the bite of a snake, had poultice. 30. Another poultice and physic, pills at night. Oct. 1. A wash and two pills. 2. Physic and water gruel. 3. Leg looks better. 5. Had bandage made and Dr. M. put it on. Paid Dr. M. ten dollars for attendance and nearly five dollars for board."
At home he resumes work, taking Dr. M.'s powders, but the leg does not heal. All winter he is doctor- ing and poulticing, and goes to see a man who had been similarly afflicted by the sting of a wasp, but gets no benefit. Finally he puts his case into the hands of a " woman quack doctor," who, by vari- ous washes and treatments, succeeds in reducing the inflammation, but he never regained his former strength. That he should have survived the poison and treatment shows great vitality. A neighbor, who while cutting wood was called to go down into his well for a bucket, was taken with great pain, shivery, cold sweat, and died in twenty minutes.
March, 1826. Work is laid aside, and Zeph is driving round buying store-cloth, a new hat and pair of boots, and finally a trunk. What does this mean ? We look back along the crumpled page, and there, half concealed by old-time hieroglyphics, we find the
196
HISTORIC GLEANINGS.
key to the situation. The crowning honor of his life has come-Zeph has been chosen town representa- tive and is going to the legislature! Little did he think when he tramped through the State fifty years before, driving team and swingling flax, that he should revisit those scenes in such honored guise and company, driving in coach and four with fellow legis- lators. But these fifty years of life and work have taken the spring and nonsense out of him, and it is a somewhat sober old fellow that now drives over the hills. "I feel neither smart nor courageous," is his meek admission ; in fact he is homesick and out of his element. He boards at "Widow Bishop's," and sees a steamboat and other new things, and we may be sure he never missed a roll-call, and voted the straight party ticket. But one permanent effect came from this New Haven sojourn. Among his fellow boarders there was a glib Methodist minister who walked and talked with our homesick legislator, and somehow made clear to him some things that had before puzzled him, perhaps those Calvinistic points that have bothered wiser heads than his. However that may be, Zeph joins a Methodist class after his return, and slipping down to the river is quietly bap- tized one Sabbath summer evening.
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.