USA > Connecticut > Windham County > Historic Gleanings in Windham County, Connecticut > Part 9
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rustily through all the services. A deputation of worthies was sent to remonstrate with the offender. Mr. Wilkinson promptly denied the charge. "But we hear it now," persisted the complainants. "See for yourself," retorted the smiling landlord, pointing out to the committee a pair of Guinea fowl, the first brought into the town and yet untrained in the strict- ness of Connecticut Sabbath-keeping, whose doleful croak, aggravated by homesickness, had subjected their owner to such reproach and visitation.
It was probably through Mr. Wilkinson's effective influence that a new business interest developed in the north-east town of the county. The first public attempt to trade with Providence was through a pe- culiar local institution known as "the Butter-cart," which ran about the town from house to house like the later peddler's cart, picking up such small pro- ducts as housewives could spare, and bringing back in exchange those minor luxuries that husbands too often overlooked or refused to purchase. A small nutmeg cost a ninepence in those days, and as for pins, a single paper was considered a life-long supply. Stories are told of mothers bringing up a large fam- ily on four rows, and grandmothers exhibiting with pride the " great pins " that had formed a part of their bridal outfit. The " Butter-cart " was held in high esteem by wives and daughters, and its arrival and departure looked for with as much interest as if it bore the treasures of the Indies.
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In the hands of Mr. Wilkinson's son-in-law, Daniel Larned, and his partner, John Mason, this primitive barter-trade expanded into a great commercial en- terprise. A store was opened under the Great Elm, South Neighborhood, filled with all manner of tempt- ing West India goods and useful articles. Carts were sent all over the country, picking up marketa- ble products. Ashes were taken in for the extrac- tion of potash and pearlash, pork and beef were prepared and packed for market ; a shop was added for nail manufacture-all to be exchanged for West India goods in Providence-especially those most needful and desirable articles-rum and molasses. The arrival of the first hogshead of the latter article at "Larned and Mason's store " was made a day of special festivity-boys being allowed for the first time to revel unstinted in the favorite juvenile dainty of the period-hot roasted potatoes smothered in panfuls of molasses, and crammed all sizzling and dripping down the throats of the happy urchins. The candy of later days was far less positive in flavor.
The close of the French and Indian war was fol- lowed by a season of great commercial and maritime prosperity, shared alike by town and country. Busi- ness enterprises like this in Thompson were not un- usual. Samuel McClellan, of Woodstock, engaged in this domestic and foreign traffic. The country village was in process of evolution. Store and shop were
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added to the small knot of dwelling-houses cluster- ing about the hill-top meeting-house and tavern. The out-lying district first included within the lin- its of Providence township was now set off into the separate towns of Cranston, Glocester, Scituate, Smithfield. The great highways leading through them to Providence were more and more thronged with travelers and traffic. Substantial bridges over the Quinebaug had long replaced the primitive canoes. Taverns were in great force in those days of slow traveling and fast drinking. Eaton's tavern in Plainfield was now a famous place of resort and entertainment. The constant stream of travel made it very difficult to keep these roads and bridges in suitable repair. The need of better roads was vo- ciferously argued in town meeting and General As- sembly. Special orders relating to their renewal and maintenance were promulgated by both Governments. Plainfield and Canterbury were particularly bur- thened by highway demands and charges. In fact the road question was one of perennial agitation. The first mail carrier of whom we hear was Thomas Mumford, who carried the mail once a week on horse- back to New London. The first public conveyance passing through Windham County was a weekly stage coach running from Providence to Norwich, in the summer of 1768. Mr. S. Thurber reports the first chaise-jaunt in 1776, when, after all the labor
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bestowed upon it, the road was so stony and rough that he could not ride out of a slow walk, and was near two days in going to Pomfret. Dr. Stiles, of Newport, future president of Yale College, makes statistical notes of his many journeys over the Provi- dence road, which unfortunately give little more than date and distances. "From Uncle Abel's (Wood- stock) to Browns of Killingly, 8 miles: thence to Larneds' store, 2 miles : thence to Woodstock, 7 miles ; from Uncles' to Wilmots, 17 miles : from Woodstock to Providence, 34 miles : from Pomfret to Providence, 36 miles. Expenses at Prov. 3 shillings : at Foster's, 3s 3d : at Larned's, 5s 3d "-which shows that a great man may make a very dry record.
Among the reciprocal interchanges between Provi- dence and Windham County we have to include crimi- nals and refugees. The honored names of Stephen Hopkins, Resolved Waterman, William Rhodes, and other compassionate and large-hearted Rhode Is- landers, appear upon a petition in behalf of the no- torious Dr. Hallowell, who had " fled his country " upon conviction of criminal offence. An exile, des- titute of everything but want and misery, he begged permission to return to an unhappy wife and seven unfortunate children, "who not participating in the guilt had too deeply tasted of the punishment." Fine and imprisonment alone he could have borne, but to sit upon the gallows with a rope around his
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neck, suffer public whipping and further punishment at the pleasure of the court, was thought by Dr. Hallowell and his Rhode Island sympathizers to be more than the laws of God did, or those of men should, inflict upon human offenders. Providence sent a noted refugee in John Aplin, an Englishman of learning and good address, who acquired a hand- some estate by legal practice, but it being discovered that he had received fees from the opposing parties in an important case, "between two days fled his country " and found refuge in Plainfield. It need hardly be said that such refugees as were driven from home on charge of heretical or heterodox opin- ions, were received with open arms by the sister col- ony. The Rev. John Bass, who was dismissed from the Congregational church of Ashford "for dissent- ing from the Calvinistic sense of the quinquarticular points," was welcomed to the pastorate of the First Congregational church of Providence, upon the de- cease of its first pastor, Rev. Josiah Cotton. Rev. David Rowland of Plainfield, who had been made for a dozen years a bone of contention in that town, the church refusing to let him go and the town with- holding his salary, found peaceful anchorage in the same church after the death of Mr. Bass. In place of writs, attachments, and noisy controversy, we are told by the newspaper of the day, December, 1767- that "young ladies, daughters of Liberty and indus-
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try, met at Mr. Rowland's with their spinning wheels, and at night presented him with 1,020 knots of thread."
The troubles with England, the shadow of ap- proaching war, only made the intercourse between Providence and Windham County more intimate and continuous. Hitherto the tide of emigration had run eastward-now a reflex tide brought many worthy families to permanent establishment in Windham County. The Stamp Act excitement sent Godfrey Malbone, of Newport, to Brooklyn Parish, where he attempted something like the old Narragansett style of living with his three-thousand-acre farm, his scores of slaves, and church of his own order. But the great body of new-comers were families of moderate circumstances, who preferred to cultivate their farms and bring up their children apart from sea-board alarm and agitation. Chase, Congdon, Fisk, Bul- lock, Jackson, Hoppin, Randall, Thompson, Torrey, Tourtellotte, Wheaton, are among the many Rhode Island names thus engrafted. Others came as tran- sient residents.
But Windham County did more than furnish a wel- come refuge during this long period of distress and exposure. Perhaps her most noteworthy service was furnishing the colony a deputy-governor in full sympathy with patriotic sentiments and movements. Darius Sessions had continued to advance in influ-
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ence and position. In 1762 he was chosen assistant ; in 1769 he became deputy-governor and indirectly afforded much aid and comfort to those inclined to resist British oppression. His wilful blindness in re- gard to the "Burning of the Gaspee," called out much amusement as well as criticism. As the aspect of affairs became more threatening, Gov. Sessions purchased a country-seat in Thompson Parish-the " old Joseph Cady house" and farm. The recon- structed mansion became a famous place of resort during the war, entertaining many a noted historic personage. Pres. Manning, who, during college sus- pension made frequent visits in Windham County, speaks with admiration of Gov. Sessions' excellent farm and superior accommodations. The meander- ings of the good president give us glimpses of many of these new homes :
"Left Providence, Thursday, April 29, reached Col. Abraham Winsors, 10 miles ; 30. Traveled to John Brown's farm at Che- pachet 6 miles ; refreshed and proceeded to Capt. Corliss's, Kil- lingly 12 ; road extremely bad ; visited Mr. Jones ; set out after dinner and visited Gov. Sessions. After tea traveled to Benj. Thur- bers in Pomfret, 6 miles ; roads better. Sunday A. M. Preached at James Thurbers ; lectured at B. Thurber's at 5 P. M. house crowded ; audience very attentive and affected. Monday. Vis- ited Paul Tew at Woodstock, also at Mr. Cahoons, Thompsons, B. Lindsleys. Tues. Visited Col. Nightingales, Pomfret, dined. He lives most elegantly ; has a grand farm ; entertains hospit- ably. Thence to Jeremiah Browns and Captain Bowles's, Ash- ford."
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Pres. Manning does not report to us the lasting effect of his preaching in Pomfret. From other sources we learn that it aroused so much interest that the Congregational minister, Mr. Putnam, be- came alarmed lest it should lead to the spread of Baptist principles, and that he challenged the presi- dent to a public discussion of the points at issue. But the ponderous town minister was no match either in oratory or argument for the college president, and the whole affair resulted in many conversions to Baptist principles and the formation of a Baptist church-a permanent memorial of the Revolutionary exodus. The keen eye of President Manning recog- nized peculiar facilities in Pomfret, and especially its favorable position for "a boy's school," which he hoped to have established there as a feeder for his university.
But. Windham did even more than furnish farms and homes to her eastward neighbors. These were the days of Rhode Island's extremity. Her exposed position on the sea-board brought constant peril and invasion. Time and again the militia of Windham was summoned to her aid. Companies hurried down in the autumn of '76 on receiving news of an approach- ing fleet, but were too late to prevent the occupation of Rhode Island by a strong body of British troops. Windham County soldiers formed a part of the force retained for the defence of Providence, and aided in
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the several attempts to dislodge the invaders. In the stormy campaign of 1778 her services were es- pecially valuable. The prospect of naval coopera- tion through the agency of the French fleet en- couraged the patriots in their preparations for the recovery of Newport and Rhode Island by a strong movement on land. Powder, cartridges, provisions, everything that could be spared, were hurried down to Providence. Companies of militia and volunteers marched off with renewed spirit and hope.
Here are three Thompson brothers tramping along on the familiar road to Providence-stout young fel- lows who, having each served his lawful quota in Connecticut, are bound to seek their fortune in Rhode Island. They have packs on their backs, and the youngest carries somewhere an inkhorn and a roll of paper. Little Rhody is all astir these mid- summer days. Men are marching off from every hamlet and farm-house, and the women are getting in the hay and doing all the farm work. One grand effort is to be made to drive the British from Rhode Island, and our youngsters are quickly snapped up and drafted into service. Zeph's ready pen gives us his experience, and takes us to the scene of action :
"August 5, 1778, drafted to serve on Rhode Island twenty days ; got some cloth for a knapsack ; went to Jonathan Spragues & got a good gun and cartridge, & then Jesse, John and I set out together with some more from Job Angells 6. Did march to
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town and barrack in the Court House & so it goes. 7. As soon as light got up & see the Continentals march for Tivertown ; got some breakfast at Mr. Trips; very warm-I went to the New Light meeting-house & got a canteen, and about twelve we set out for Tivertown ; marched through Pawtucket, into See- konk or Rehoboth, and did lie in a meadow on the side of a fence. 8. Mustered about 2 or 3 o'clock, & marched into Swanzea & got a bowl of chocolate ; and then over States Ferry into Free- town & ate dinner & very hot, & then over Fall River into Tiv- ertown & I encamped by side of a haystack. 9. Had bowl of chocolate & went to Parade & fixed our guns for business ; then rode over the ferry & landed upon Rhode Island ; formed & marched up to the Fort & laid down in the great chamber 10. French did engage the English batteries with their ships and cannonaded very smart for 3 hours, and Jesse & John went to the lines scouting at night. I went upon guard to the bridge & did sleep on the road."
And that night came on that terrible Norther that drove the disabled French fleet far into the sea and blasted all the fruits of careful preparation-one of those fateful storms that again and again have changed the course of human history. Our poor Zeph gives his experience :
"11. Jesse & John fixed a little wall to break the wind & we have nothing to eat hardly. 12. Knocked about & built a stone house and covered it with hay and it rained very hard & the house leaked so we thought we could not stand it ; went about a mile & got wet to the skin and found a haystack & almost chilled to death we rolled off some hay & did lie by the stack &
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were almost dead in the morning. 13. Crept out & came to stone house, found John alive & after a while I got dry & had a boil on my eye & did feel very poorly ; our folks fixed up our barracks & got a little green corn & slept very well. 14. Got up and paraded & marched to the water & fired in platoons. 15. Not well, nor John either. All the brigades marched to the lines & we got our packs brought down & encamped in a huckleberry plain. I had a clean shirt and trousers & I felt very poorly ; blind with one eye & not any tents ; nor haint had but the Heav- ens to cover us. 17. Still very poorly ; ate nothing. In the late storm one or two died and several were chilled so that many in our regiment are very unwell ; cloudy & foggy ever since we came upon the Island.
19. A little firing on both sides. 20. They fire a little ; are all the time entrenching and building forts ; I wash my knap- sack & feel some better. 21. Set out upon fatigue down the lines ; had to dig in plain sight of the enemy ; the ground was but just broken when they began to fire upon us very bad but received no damage. 23. Enemy fired hot shells & we begun the breast work for the great mortar. Jesse & John & I worked till noon & placed the great mortar. 24. Constant firing. 25. All paraded and went to headquarters; went three miles for rum. 26. Six or seven men killed ; an 18-pounder split all to pieces & a brass mortar. 27. Paraded ; took our cooking uten- sils & went to head-quarters & delivered them up, & marched through Portsmouth to Bristol Ferry & went on board a vessel & there was but little wind & that was wrong & we got along slowly & beat along almost to Conanicut Point & cast anchor and lay till light & then struck for Warwick Neck and landed and came along and got a good breakfast of wheat bread and milk and came through Pawtucket to Providence and Warwick into Smithfield to old Father Job Angells & got some victuals & I
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feel very poorly. Camp Middleton, Aug. 18, 1788." "Dec. 30, was paid $69.00 for soldiering on Rhode Island."
With this service our friend's military service closes, but the continued diary gives very realistic pictures of every-day life in this transition period. Zeph re- mains in the vicinity of Providence, picking up work wherever it can be found, digging stone, laying wall, fiddling, and dancing. When work fails in the win- ter he and his brother tramp round the country like young troubadours, dressing flax at farmers' houses on shares, making brooms, splitting rails, and fid- dling. Again in Rhode Island in summer, working for Job Angell, Philip Sweet or Joseph Farman, run- ning a farm for John Jenks, &c. Times are hard and the value of money fluctuating. He buys a scythe for $25.00, which he breaks in hanging; gives £59 48s for winter suit of coat, jacket, and breeches of light- colored cloth, and receives $81.00 for fiddling all night at John Smith's raisers' husking. Work is di- versified by frequent frolic and dances ; have two fid- dles at some huskings, and drink without measure, for these were "high old times " in Rhode Island in spite of war and poverty.
As years go on our hero takes more note of public affairs. "March 6, 1781 Men gone to Newport for one month; news of peace: Reformation in the camp; Hear that fifteen tons of silver in French horn-pipes have come to Boston. March 14. Gen.
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Washington came into Providence from Newport. Sept. 14, 1782. This day died at Providence the Hon. Governor Cook (husband of our little Hannah Sa- bin.) March 31, 1783. A flag from New York says P. E. A. C. E; handbills say 'Peace ;' April 25. A proclamation of Peace this day."
Zeph takes to himself a Rhode Island wife and tries hard to gain a livelihood. "June 16, 1784. Buy fifteen dozen cakes and liquor for Ordination Went to North Providence for Ordination and sold liquor and cakes and they danced all night." He fiddles at huskings and dances, but profitable work is hard to find. Times are still hard, and currency unsettled.
"June 24, 1788. Great rejoicings to-day on account of a new Constitution being framed and sent out to see if it will be ratified by the people. July 4. A great feast at Providence, they roast a whole ox. There are two parties here Federalists and Anti-fed- eralists," and Zeph, a man of the people, sympathizes with the Anti party.
Intercourse between Providence and Windham County becomes more lively with development of the new nation. "Thurber & Chandler " return from Pomfret to reopen their store near Major Thayer's tavern with its appropriate sign-" The Bunch of Grapes." Here they not only dispensed West India and New England rum, and French brandy on the most reasonable terms, but " woolen and cotton hand-
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cards " of their own manufacture. It would be im- possible to give anything like a complete list of the young men from Windham County now seeking work and business openings in Providence. And at the same date one of its leading merchants, Col. Wil- liam Russell, is establishing a potash manufactory in Woodstock-buying up land, constructing extensive works, experimenting upon "Hopkin's Plan."
In educational matters there was equal reciprocity. As during the war Plainfield academy had proved a boon and refuge to many a Providence youth, num- bering among its graduates such future celebrities as Nicholas Brown, Henry Wheaton, Wilkins Updike, so now Windham County in turn sent her sons to enjoy the privileges of Brown University. The first Windham County name that appears on her lists is William McClellan of Woodstock, 1782. Other Windham County boys, graduating before 1800, are Wm. Wilkinson, Jacob Converse, James B. Mason, George Larned, Peleg Chandler, Joseph Eaton, Eras- tus Larned, Philip Hayward, Wm. H. Sabin, Alvin Underwood, Nathan F. Dixon, Judah Mcclellan, Lucius Bolles. Wm. Wilkinson while conducting a preparatory Latin school served as college librarian. Hon. Darius Sessions, John Mason, James B. Mason, Lucius Bolles, appear among the university trustees. A much respected citizen of Woodstock, Dea. Jesse Bolles, served faithfully as steward and registrar.
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The traditions of college life, as handed down by some of these early students, show full participation in the frolicsome spirit of the day. Everybody has heard how the president's cow was decoyed into the belfry, but how nearly the youngsters succeeded in hanging a negro boy after a mock trial is one of the stories that had better be left to Carlyle's " wise ob- livion." The standard of scholarship, as compared with that of later date, was extremely low.
Good fellowship and genial hospitality were char- acteristic traits of that period. The frolic element, so prominent in Zeph's circle, pervaded all classes. Between the families who had removed from Provi- dence and their town relatives, between new comers and country cousins left behind, were continuous social interchanges. Pomfret, with its historic "Pucker Street," became an early place of resort for Providence aristocracy, its Episcopal church and fashionable assemblies giving tone to its society. A future governor of Rhode Island, Nehemiah Knight, residing for a time as business agent at the Quine- baug Falls-now in Putnam-was extremely popular among the country belles, and is accredited with the honor of instituting the picnic in Windham County, and also of providing a place for it, laying out a walk on the tongue of land between the Quinebaug and Mill rivers, under the fanciful name of La Solitaire.
With all this skurrying to and fro, on horseback 14
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or with cart and chaise, the roads, according to Dr. Dwight, were in a very unsatisfactory condition, due to the unconquerable spirit of its inhabitants, who. insisted that free-born Rhode Islanders ought never to submit to the tyranny of compulsory church rates or turnpike fare. The sum grudgingly allowed by legislature only sufficed to keep the road repaired in the vicinity of Providence. But the law of pro- gress asserted itself in time and by 1805 roads were completed connecting with a number of turnpikes established in Windham County, and "free-born Rhode Islanders," says President Dwight, "bowed their necks to the slavery, of traveling on a good road." The Providence and Springfield Turnpike passed over Thompson Hill. Another in the south part of Thompson ran through Woodstock and Ash- ford to Somers, on the north line of Connecticut. Still another crossed over Killingly Hill to Pomfret. A very important thoroughfare-constructed by the Connecticut and Rhode Island Turnpike Company- passed through Killingly and Brooklyn, connecting with Boston and New York Turnpike. And the old road through Sterling and Plainfield was managed by another turnpike company.
Windham County could not have carried through all this road-making but for the simultaneous de- velopment of manufacturing interests. A wonderful spirit of enterprise dawned with the new century.
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Little Rhody led the race in manufactures, but her energy and capital surpassed the extent of her terri- tory. The fraternal intercourse with Windham County was now turned to good account, and Windham's convenient mill-privileges were quickly appropriated by Providence capitalists. The second cotton factory by date in Connecticut, and the first in character and influence, was the well-known Pomfret Factory, with Smith Wilkinson for manager. Other privileges were secured in Killingly, Plainfield, Sterling, Thomp- son, and later at Willimantic. The list of Windham County factory owners includes many of the promi- nent business men of Providence. Reciprocal bene- fits resulted from these interchanges. The stimulus to energy and invention, the demand for labor and farm produce, the remuneration offered to men, women, and children brought new life to the country town. Laboring men with large families hastened to avail themselves of this business opening. Chil- dren rejoiced to tend the shining machines and pro- nounced them "the prettiest things in the world." And as all that was done in the mills in those days was to spin yarn to be woven on hand looms, this opportunity to earn money for themselves was eagerly welcomed by thousands of country women, uncon- sciously taking the first step in woman's emancipation in receiving personal pay for their own labor. Wives and daughters of merchants, lawyers, as well as of
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