USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Cornwall > Historical records of the town of Cornwall, Litchfield County, Connecticut; > Part 4
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Saul of Tarsus, the Philippian jailor, Lydia, and the numerous con- verts to christianity in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, are almost all, if not the whole number, of the instances of the operation of the Holy Spirit on the conscience, usually termed conviction, which are recorded in sacred history. These cases are stated in the briefest and most gen- eral terms, and without any recital of circumstances.
Such silence on this subject furnishes conclusive proof that the spirit of infinite wisdom regarded the holy example of good men, and the illustration of holiness by their conduct, and the emotions of their hearts expressed in their prayers and praises, as inexpressibly more instructive to us than any representation of the mode by which their souls were turned from the death of sin to spiritual life. Life and activity are unquestional proof of a man's birth.
So the fruits of the Spirit ; "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, temperance, faith, meekness," give the most conclusive evi- dence that all who possess these moral qualities are born of God. According to this rule of judgment, but very few of the professed disci- ples of Jesus Christ have given more decided evidence that they were the subjects of the new birth, than was seen in Mr. Daggett.
Having completed his studies in college, Mr. Daggett commenced reading theology, under the direction of that distinguished divine, the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Emmons of Franklin, Mass. The peculiar sentiments of Dr. Emmons, in connection with his umcommon clearness of intellect, and very perspicnous mode of writing, have made him a divine of great celebrity. His amiableness as a christian and his talents were held in high estimation by Mr. Daggett. But, however much he venerated the man, it is not to be understood that he, as a necessary consequence, adopted all the peculiarities of his instructor's doctrinal tenets. If Mr. Daggett did imbibe them, his preaching in the latter part of his life never indicated it. In his communications from the desk, and in his more private religious instructions, he was remarkable for an entire free- dom from any thing of polemical divinity.
Dr. Emmons ever held Mr. Daggett in high esteem; and this affection and friendship met in return with the cordial respect and gratitude of his pupil.
In October 1789 he was licensed to preach, as we learn in the following extract of a letter to an intimate female friend. He writes: " Wednesday 7 inst. I attended the Association at North Bridge; was examined, received recommendation, and last Sabbath I spent at Franklin.
"I feel in some measure the importance of that work upon which I have entered ; at the same time my insufficiency and unworthiness, and can say with the prophet-' Ah ! Lord I cannot speak, for I am a child.'
37
VISIT TO THE CHEROKEE NATION.
Yet necessity is laid upon me, and I must go forward, and with the apos- tle I know that through Christ strengthening me I can do all things. I do not wish to go back, but thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the minis- try .- My dearest Sister-will you give me your prayers ?"
Mr. Daggett was ever remarkable, as all his acquaintance will bear tes- timony, for simplicity and sincerity in what he said or wrote. Never would he use words without meaning, as some do. What he expressed, he believed and felt. Very deeply did he feel the vast responsibility of a minister of Christ-of an ambassador of the King of Kings, whose duty is to urge sinners to become reconciled to God. Were all, who enter upon this most solemn service of God's altar, to feel their respon- sibility to their final judge, as we believe this young candidate for the ministry did; and be regardless of mercenary and personal considera- tions as he appears to have been,-relying entirely on the Lord Jesus for righteousness, spiritual strength, and success in their work; what a glo- rious accession of energy would be seen in the church. How beautiful, and how strong, yea, how impregnable would be the walls of Zion !- Then the church would "look forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners."
May thousands of such ministers be brought forward, speedily, by the exalted head of the church.
During all his life, Mr. Daggett suffered much bodily infirmity. His lucid and sound mind was united to a corporeal system so frail that it was wonderful that he was so useful to society for so many years.
For about twenty years or more, he was able to preach for the most part, and also to instruct youth. For two years and a half he preached as a candidate very acceptably in various places ; but chiefly on Long Island. He went there, soon after he was licensed to preach, and with hope of receiving benefit to his health, by inhaling the mild and sahi- brious air of that island; and his health was improved. He spent a year at Southhold, a town on the north shore, where he received from the Presbyterian church and society a unanimous invitation to be their pastor. But for reasons, not now known, he did not accept it.
Col. Benjamin Gold and wife visited their daughter Harriet, who married the Cherokee, Boudinot, at her home in the Cherokee nation in Georgia, making the trip in a one-horse wagon, and writes thence to his brother Hezekiah his impressions. To get a correct view, we must look on all sides.
NEW ECHOTA, CHEROKEE NATION, Sth Dec., 1829.
DEAR BROTHER: We arrived here on the 27th day of October, 47 days on our journey-we might have performed the journey sooner-but we chose not to be in haste, and to give ourselves time to view the country and get acquainted with the people by the way, and moderately drive our horse, as a thousand miles is a pretty serious journey for a horse, and to carry as much of a load as we had. But by a merciful Providence we were upheld and wonderfully supported all the way-in good health and good spirits. We are now in good health, and can say with truth that now-nearly three months since we left home-has been as pleasant and interesting as any part of our lives. We travelcd through a very pleasant part of the country-from Newburgh through Orange county into New Jersey ; then into Pennsylvania, through Eas- ton, Lancaster, Reading, Bethlehem, and many other large and beautiful
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HISTORY OF CORNWALL.
villages in Pennsylvania ; then through a small part of Maryland, and over the Potomac, about 30 miles north of Baltimore; then into the great State of Virginia, four hundred miles; then into Tennessee about 200 miles; then crossed the Highwassey River at a place called Calhoon into the Cherokee Nation, where an agent of the United States resides to manage the Indian concerns of the Cherokee Nation. We put up at the house of Mr. Lewis Ross, one of the principal chiefs of the Cherokee Nation; being a very rainy day, we tarried there two nights. His house is an elegant white house near the bank of the river, neatly fur- nished as almost any in Litchfield county ; his family of four pretty children, the eldest a daughter of about 12 years, attending a high school in Tennessee, appears well as any girl of her age. Mr. Ross, a brother of the principal chief, has two or three large stores, no doubt independent; has negroes enough to wait on us ; made us very welcome; said he would take nothing of any one who had connections in the Nation. He is part Cherokee-his wife a white woman of the Meigs family, but you would not suspect him or his children to be any part Indian. We then traveled about 20 miles, and came to a Mr. Mc Vann's, a white man who married a Cherokee woman, sister of Mr. Joseph Vann, another Cherokee chief. He has a beautiful white house, and about six or seven hundred acres of the best land you ever saw, and negroes enough to manage it and clear as much more as he pleases; raised this year about five thousand bushels of corn; and it would make you feel small to see his situation. Mr. Me Vann lives in a large elegant brick house, and elegantly furnished. We staid there over night, and he would take nothing of us. We have considerable acquaintance with most of the principal men of the Nation. We were here two or three weeks while the Council were in session, and were introduced to all of them, and became familiar with most of them. We have traveled about 100 miles in the Nation, visited three mission stations, and are much pleased with the missionaries; have seen most of them and become acquainted. Mr. Boudinott has much good company, and is as much respected as any man of his age. His paper is respectable all over the United States, and known in Europe; has about 100 newspapers sent him from the different parts of the United States by way of exchange; so that you may perceive we have an interesting stand, where we have the news from all quarters of the globe. We are in good health, and likewise Mr. Boudinott and his family. They have two beautiful and interesting children ; would pass in company for full-blooded Yankees. My wife says she thinks they are rather handsomer than any she has seen at the north; am uncertain when we shall return to Conn. Har- riet says she well remembers the conversation with Dr. Gold, and he labored with her to dissuade her from her purpose, he supposing she was going to place herself in an unhappy situation ; but she wishes you to present her regards to the Doctor, and tell him that she has never yet seen the time that she regretted coming here in the manner she did, but has ever rejoiced that she placed herself here; that she envies the situa- tion of no one in Conn. She has a large and convenient framed house, two stories, 30 by 40 feet on the ground, well done off, and well furnished with the comforts of life; they get their supplies of clothes and groceries -they have their year's store of teas, cloths, paper, ink, &e., from Bos- ton, and their sugars, molasses, &e., from Augusta; they have two or three barrels of flour on hand at once. This neighborhood is truly an interesting and pleasant place; the ground is level and smooth as a house-floor; the center of the Nation-a new place, laid out in city form-100 lots one acre each-a spring called the public spring, about
39
CREAM HILL AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL .- ADELPHIC INSTITUTE.
twice as large as our saw-mill brook, near the center, with other springs on the plat; six new framed houses in sight, besides a Council House, Court House, printing office, and four stores, all in sight of Mr. B.'s house; but the stores are continued only during the session of the Council, and then removed to other parts of the Nation-except one, steadily continued. The stores in the Nation are as large as the best in our towns in Litchfield county-their large wagons of six horses go to Augusta and bring a great load ; and you will see a number of them together. There is much travel through this place. I have seen eleven of those large wagons pass by Mr. Boudinot's house in company. John Ridge* was clerk of the Cherokee Council, and is now clerk of a Creek Delegation to Congress for the winter, and likely will get his five or ten thousand dollars, as he did before. The Cherokee delegation has gone on to Congress again this winter. I could tell you many pleasant things about the country, but for fear you may not be able to read, or get tired, I must close by telling you that you must give our love to your family and friends, and accept the kind regards of your affectionate Brother, B. GOLD.
CREAM HILL AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL,
was established in May, 1845, by Dr. S. W. & T. S. Gold, at their farm on Cream Hill, and continued till April, 1869, twenty- four years.
At the beginning there were but four pupils, afterwards increased to twenty, the limit of the school. The object was to unite, with classical and scientific education, theoretical and prac- tical instruction in agriculture : to encourage a taste for the pur- suits of rural life, to develop and strengthen the body as well as the mind. The results of the plan were eminently satisfactory, and we look with pleasure upon our pupils, scattered everywhere, in positions of honor and usefulness, but especially in the record of those who, in the opening of their manhood, took up arms in defense of their country, is our especial delight and pride, while with tender hearts we recall those who were permitted to offer their lives a sacrifice that the nation might live.
THE ADELPHIC INSTITUTE.
Mr. Ambrose Rogers, a native of Cornwall, and a graduate of Union College, opened a family boarding school, with the above title, at North Cornwall in 1847, and continued there until 1860, when he removed his school to New Milford, where he taught till Sept., 1876, a total of thirty-nine years. His house was always full.
* The other Indian who married a Cornwall girl, Sarah Northrup.
40
HISTORY OF CORNWALL.
SCHOOL OF W. C. AND MISS L. ROGERS.
In 1852, Mr. Wm. C. Rogers, succeeded by his sister, Miss Lydia Rogers, opened a school for young ladies, with good prospects, at the residence of their father, near the church in North Cornwall. They had about one dozen pupils, but closed after two years.
NOAH AND BURTON HART'S SCHOOL.
In the spring of 1853, Noah R. Hart, assisted by his brother, E. Burton Hart, established a private boarding school for boys, on the place now owned and occupied by the latter, in West Corn- wall. Both had previous experience in the instruction of youth in the district schools of the town. Their efforts in the boarding school were crowned with success, being sustained by a choice and generous patronage from New York city, while from Maine to Texas and California nearly all sections of the Union were represented by pupils.
In the spring of 1857, Noah R. Hart left the school to engage in the mercantile business with his brother, Julius L. Hart, in West Goshen, Conn. E. Burton Hart, then twenty-three years of age, continued the school with unabated prosperity, and soon through the kindness of his friend and patron, Horace Webster, LL.D., Principal of the New York Free Academy, received the honorary degree of Bachelor and Master of Arts, from the Uni- versity of Vermont.
In the spring of 1863, he discontinued the school and gave his personal attention to the produce business, in New York City, in which he was engaged some five years in company with his youngest brother, George S. Hart. This enterprise has also proved very successful. The firm now, George S. Hart & Howell, with warehouses 33, 35, and 38 Pearl street, and 22 and 24 Bridge street, New York City, is second to no house in this country, in the magnitude and success of its business.
THE YOUNG LADIES' INSTITUTE (BIRDS' NEST).
Mr. Hopkins T. S. Johnson, an influential member of the fourth school district, feeling aggrieved at the action of the district in school matters, withdrew from all support of the public school, erected a commodious school building near his dwelling, in John- son Hollow, employed teachers and opened a school in 1852, mostly for young ladies.
41
THE ALGER INSTITUTE.
The first term began in May with twenty pupils, under the charge of Misses L. S. Kellogg and F. O. Sanford, with Miss M. J. Everest, teacher of music.
Mr. Johnson died December 22, 1852, aged thirty years, but the school was continued by his widow, Mrs. Sarah A. Johnson, till 1859, when her failing health compelled her to relinquish the charge. Mrs. Johnson died February 6, 1861, aged thirty-seven years.
Miss Mary J. Murdock, a graduate of Mt. Holyoke, afterwards wife of George R. Gold, Miss Sarah C. Bliss, Miss Caroline Went- worth, Miss Josephine H. Barton, Miss Clara Vaill, Miss Mary C. Cleveland, and Prof. G. D. Wilson, were valuable teachers em- ployed by Mrs. Johnson, and under their charge the enterprise enjoyed merited success.
The memories of "Our Birds' Nest," are cherished by many scattered here and there in our land, as among the brightest and happiest associations of their lives.
THE ALGER INSTITUTE,
located at Cornwall, was commenced November, 1847, and completed May 1, 1848, was built by subscription by Joshua Peirce, John Miles, Seth Peirce, Charles Alger, Frederick Kellogg, E. W. Andrews, B. B. North, D. W. Pierce, and E. F. Gold at a cost of about $5,000.00.
It was named the Alger Institute after Charles Alger, Hudson, N. Y., but with small endowment from him for its name.
The building was used for a boarding school by E. W. Andrews as principal, James Sedgwick of Great Barrington, Mass., and Oliver St. John of Easton, Pa., as assistants. It was a very successful school for several years, when it was sold by E. W. Andrews to Wait Griswold of Wethersfield, Conn., under whose administration it drooped. It was sold again to Rev. Ira Petti- bone of Winchester, Conn., who kept a flourishing school for four years. It was then sold to L. F. Dudley, who started a school, and after about one year it was given up, since which time it has been used as a boarding house for summer boarding.
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42
HISTORY OF CORNWALL.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE CHURCHES OF CORNWALL, CONN.
BY REV. TIMOTHY STONE.
Sketches of the Ecclesiastical history of Cornwall, commencing at the settlement of the town, and continued to 1849, are presented to the reader of the following pages. A continuous narrative of events will be necessarily and not unfrequently interrupted after the town was divided into two religious societies, so that it will be requisite at one time to advert to one of them and then to another.
Congregationalists have ever formed the mass of the population of Cornwall and of Connecticut; they therefore will be chiefly brought to view. The Episcopal, Methodist, and Baptist denomi- nations are also to be exhibited, so far as information has been re- ceived; much effort having been made to obtain it, but not so successfully as the writer desired. Of them but little is known.
Connecticut Congregationalists, who are not so democratic in their church government as those of Massachusetts, have been termed by many, Presbyterians. Some of the first ministers of this State, as the Rev. Samuel Stone of Hartford, the colleague of Rev. Mr. Hooker, were partial to Presbyterian church government; and the church of Hartford, the oldest in Connecticut, was regu- lated by ruling Elders, as some others were. But soon, all the churches adopted more democratic principles, and the majority of the brotherhood in a church, decided every thing in its internal concerns without such rulers. Still the churches generally (for there were some exceptions) were united in consociations, by which adjacent christian communities were so far amenable to each other as to be liable to public censure, in case of heresy, scandalous and unchristian conduct, and schisms. But no censure could extend farther than the declaration of non-communion with the offending church. Such are the principles of the Saybrook platform so often spoken of, which was formed 1708. The Massachusetts churches, according to the Cambridge platform established in 1648, are not at all consociated, but each individual church is regarded as entirely independent. Thus, the Congregational churches of this State in some measure approximate to Presby- terianism. The Presbyterians are governed by ruling Elders, and are united in Presbyteries, and Synods, and are subject to the de- cisions of the General Assembly that meets annually, to whom
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
appeals may be made from all inferior church judicatories, in all cases of duty and conscience, and whose decisions are final; ex- cepting, that a case may be referred to all the Presbyteries, the majority of whom may reverse any act of the General Assembly.
Without any attempt to show whether the Congregational or the Presbyterian church discipline is the most accordant with the word of God, it is obvious, that Connecticut Congregationalism is somewhat of a medium between these two forms of ecclesiastical polity. The Evangelical Congregationalists of New England, forming a large majority of the denomination, are united with the Presbyterian church in doctrinal sentiments, the Westminster catechism being, next to the Bible, the standard of their faith. Hence, Congregationalists have been often termed, though incor- rectly, Presbyterians, while in church government they are essentially different.
There is a class in our community, too large in number for the credit, and it is feared the safety of Connecticut, who ridicule the character and sneer at the opinions and conduct of the puritanical fathers of New England. Such are corrupt in principle, betray- ing great ignorance of facts, while they are chargeable with base ingratitude toward their ancestors. Very unnatural is such a disposition. Little do they consider their obligations to their ancient benefactors whom they vilify, to whom they are indebted for that peace, good order, and general prosperity which they enjoy. "But wisdom will be justified of her children." Not- withstanding some acknowledged defects, our fathers of Connecti- cut and of New England, were generally a noble, and even a superior race. They hated and ever frowned on vice. Their laws against every species of immorality were very strict, and they were enforced too. Demagogues had far less influence than in more modern days. A man who ardently desired office, and strove to gratify ambition was not often successful. The aged were honored, and magistrates duly respected, far more than now. They believed the Bible. They were not sceptical in regard to the fundamental principles of christian doctrines and morals. This was eminently their character. Like our great and immortal Father of the American republic, and the late excellent President Harrison, they were firmn in their convictions that christianity was the only basis of sound morals. Hence, our puritanical fathers laid the foundation of all that respect to law, good order, and regularity and peace in society, for which Massachusetts, Con-
44
HISTORY OF CORNWALL.
necticut, and the New England states have been distinguished. Their personal character, as for the virtues of fortitude, heroic constancy in duty, public spirit, and love to their country, was highly commendable, and has never been surpassed in any human community. In comparison with them, their descendants in these respects are, with few exceptions, no more than pigmies. In olden times, the laws of Connecticut and Massachusetts required that if the inhabitants of a new plantation, containing a certain number of people, did not support public worship, a gospel minister, and schools, the authority of the State would interpose, and enforce on them such institutions at their expense. But it is not known that such cases were ever brought to an extremity; they were at least very rare; the inhabitants of new settlements were like those of Cornwall, ready to anticipate the desires of their rulers. No per- son was obliged to make a public profession of religion; but every one was required to attend the public worship of God on the Sabbath, unless a reasonable excuse could be rendered. These laws were formed and executed by rulers chosen by the majority of freemen, who were led and guided by leaders of their own choice. The magistrates and religious teachers did not, as unprin- cipled demagogues ever do, attempt to blindfold the people by artifice; but on the contrary, they endeavored to open as wide as possible the avenues to knowledge, that all might learn and fully know what was the direct and straight road to their highest happiness. These leaders regarded schools of learning, the Sab. bath public worship, and christian instruction, of infinite value. It is true that our forefathers had less correct ideas of religious toleration than we have. At the same time, they were far less intolerant, and far less of a persecuting spirit than their enemies have represented them to be. They were much more tolerant than almost all the civilized nations of that period of time. There were those among our forefathers, who upon pretence of religious liberty, went through the streets naked, both men and women, who broke into public worship on the Sabbath, and were guilty of outrage. Ought not such to have been punished ? Should not such be severely punished now ? Such were whipped, as they surely should have been. They were banished from the Common- wealth on penalty of death if they returned.
Our fathers were not perfect men; but they were beyond expres- sion superior in moral character to their slanderers and very ma- lignant revilers.
45
-
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
The first settlers of this town were possessed of the general traits of the New England Puritans. They were bold, daring, and resolute men. It required no small share of courage and heroic fortitude to establish a permanent settlement among these moun- tains and deep valleys, all densely covered with heavy timber and thick underbrush.
There is not evidence of any permanent inhabitants in Cornwall until 1739, in the summer of which year several families came that remained through the succeeding winter. This winter was severe almost without a parallel. Throughout New England the earth was for many months covered with many feet of snow, and the cold was intense. This was called the hard winter. These new settlers had a few months before left comfortable habitations in the older towns, and entered the dense forest little anticipating so tremendous a winter. Their stores of provision were scanty, as they could not have produced much food the summer preceding, on their lands. They expected aid from their former homes, and from their friends there. But the huge snow-banks shut them in their log cabins for many weeks. It was impossible to travel to the towns adjacent but on snow-shoes. Several of the people were located far apart from each other. The exact number of families that continued through the winter of 1739-40, is not known. Probably there were not far from twenty or twenty-five. Had not deer been abounding, that could be easily caught by hunters on their snow-shoes while the animals were helpless and wallowing in the deep snow banks, many of these settlers would, in all proba- ability, have perished by hunger and privation. One small child died from want of the necessaries of life. In addition to the priva- tions unavoidably incident to the pioneers of a new settlement in the forests, our fathers were near the habitations of the savage dwellers of the wilderness, whose friendship could be, for the most, confided in no further than the Indians feared the superior- ity of their white neighbors. It is true that the aborigines at Kent, Sharon, and Salisbury, had been instructed by a few pious missionaries, which tended no doubt to furnish greater security to the first settlers here and in the vicinity. A few rods northeast of the mansion of the late Oliver Burnham, Esq., a palisaded fort was erected for a public storehouse of provisions, and a place of defense in case of a sudden attack, and where ammunition was de- posited. But Cornwall was never assaulted by enemies.
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