USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Meriden > Historical sketches of Meriden Connecticut > Part 2
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
Next January, we find "the teastimony for Goo" foote being sevesente and axepted, he was admited a planter upon the lott that was Joseph eives."
Not only were those who wished to become perma- nent residents, necessitated to make application to the town, before they could receive an allotment of the pub- lic land, or be allowed to buy out a previous settler ; but even temporary residents must obtain permission to sojourn for a time, within the town limits. For we find on the records votes similar to the one here copied.
21
ADDITIONAL ALLOTMENTS.
*" Sep. 1678. The towne gave liberty to Isack Curtice to abide in the town as a sojourner."
ADDITIONAL ALLOTMENTS.
From time to time as families became larger, and individuals became able to bring more land under cul- tivation, additional allotments of the wild lands were made by town vote, to each planter. At various times there were " divisions," in this manner made, until the whole territory was occupied. In arranging these divisions, the whole population was classed into three "ranks," as indicated in the following vote, according to their ability to pay taxes. In all assessments, the first rank paid double the amount of tax charged on the " loest" rank, and one-third more than the middle rank, and in the divisions of land the allotments were. made out in the same ratio, as appears by this and other similar votes.
In June, 1673. Voted, " that there shall be alowed for the first division of lands to each planter taking in house lotts, river lotts, and all sorts of land, to the loest rank 40 acres ; to the middle ranke, 60 acres, and to the hiest ranke 80 acres, and so to keep for the present."
FIRST ACTS OF THE TOWN.
Arrangements having been made in the year 1669, in the spring of 1670, the emigrants commenced their settlement on the spot already described, being the,
22
1
FIRST, ACTS OF THE TOWN.
aite of the present village of Wallingford .* The company consisted of about one hundred persons, men, women and children. Instead of scattering themselves on farms, as is now usual in new settlements, they erected their humble dwellings in a compact village. This arrangement, though inconvenient for an agricul- tural population, was necessary for defence, and safety in those perilous times, when savage wars, and the irregular incursions of the Indians were so frequent.
With the true spirit of New Englanders, they at once secured for themselves religious institutions and public worship. Though necessarily pressed with the excessive labor of erecting their own houses, and clearing away a heavy forest, to procure some land for cultivation, and the great expense involved therein, yet this little band had from the first, the stated preaching of the Gospel. For two years, one Mr. Harriman preached on the Sabbath. He was not a regularly or- dained pastor, but was probably an "elder," a Church officer of that day who was appointed to discharge certain duties in the Church, and was authorised to preach, in case of the sickness or absence of the pastor. But they designed to secure the services of an ordained
* At that time, the whole population of the State was about 10,000 and settlements had been commenced in the following towns, Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, Farmington, Saybrook, Middletown, Lyme, Milford, Guilford, Fairfield, Norwalk, Stam- ford, New Haven, New London, Norwich, Branford, Greenwich, and Haddam. The rest of the State was a wilderness, inhabited by Indians. See the Map, representing the settled and unsettled parts of Connecticut, in 1670.
4
1
23
FIRST ACTS OF THE TOWN.
. minister, as soon as one could be found, and the first tax ever imposed in the town was for this purpose.
The vote stands thus : " April 21, 1671. It was voated for the incouragment of any fitt person whose hart god may stire up to be helpfull in the ministrey, that what some soever shall be Reqisitt to the attaining such a man shall be raysed for this present yeare according to every man's proportion of land allotted to him on the river : the twelve acre lotts to pay 30/ and the eight acre lotts to pay 20/."
This tax was not only a heavy one in itself to per- sons in their circumstances, but pressed still heavier from a fact, the nature of which we at this day, can hardly appreciate; the almost entire destitution of money, or circulating medium. So scanty was the amount of gold and silver, that even as late as 1706, Trumbull asserts that "the whole circulating cash [in the state] was not more than £2000." In 1670, there must of course have been still less : and all taxes and debts must have pressed therefore with almost intoler- able weight, except when payable in something else than gold and silver; Banks, then had no existence. We find on the early records accordingly very many votes, authorising payments to be made in various kinds of produce. As the New Haven people traded some with the West Indies, one common mode of raising funds was from hoops and staves, materials for which abounded in our woods and swamps, and for which there was then as now, a great demand, in the
24
SETTLEMENT OF MR. STREET.
islands. These were taken to New Haven, and sold to the merchants. Thus we find in relation to this first tax it was voted that
" John Mosse and three others, ingage to provide and deliver 1500 good Marchantable pipe staves and deliver them at the place called logmine wharfe," "and others to pay their proportion in the like manner, in some other good pay."
SETTLEMENT OF MR. STREET.
In the year 1672, Rev. Mr. Street, a regularly or- dained pastor, was invited to settle among them ; and complied with the request. It may help convey some idea of the state of things at that time to mention that after Mr. Street had consented to become their minister, two Committees were appointed ; one was to see that Mr. Street's goods were brought from New Haven and "landed" at some convenient place, the other to see that they were thence "carted" up to Wallingford. To us this seems to indicate a curious mode of intercourse between the two towns. But then owing to the state of the roads, it was no doubt easiest to send the goods from New Haven harbor, up the Quinnipiack river, as far perhaps as North Haven, and from thence by land to Wallingford.
It may serve also to convey some idea of the char- acter of the people, that in 1673, when their own poor dwellings were hardly erected, and they were strug-
25
FORMATION OF THE CHURCH.
gling with all the untold difficulties of a wilderness,
. and when their whole number, men, women and children, hardly exceeded one hundred, they voted to build a house for their minister and to pay him a salary of £50. If our western settlements now had as much courage and energy, we should have small need of Home Missionary Societies.
FORMATION OF THE CHURCH.
Although from the first week of their settlement, regular worship had been maintained, and a regular pastor had been supported by the people; yet no Church was organized. In this transaction they pro- ceeded with all the deliberation which the reader of our early histories will remember was characteristic of the original settlers of New Haven, and vicinity. In the year 1675, Feb. 3d after there had been ample time for the inhabitants to become acquainted with each other's religious views and feelings, a day of fast- ing and prayer was observed, with reference to the organization of a Church. On the 15th of the same month, the inhabitants again met ; designated thirteen of their number, to "lay the foundation"-that is, to constitute by the due mode of organization, the Church. These thirteen, thus constituting the Church, were then to admit others, by the ordinary course of exam- ination and profession.
The record of this transaction is worthy of insertion here.
26
FORMATION OF THE CHURCH.
" At a lawful meeting the inhabitants of the town of Wallingford and upon the 15th day of the 2d month, 1675, it was ordered and enacted by the town, that as there had been conference about establishing a Church of Christ, in the aforesaid town, and also a solemn fast set apart and celebrated by the town unanimously to seek God's guidance in so great a work, they have now also freely and unanimously concluded if it be the will of God, that there shall be a Church of Christ gathered to walk according to the Congregational way, and have also all freely and unanimously left the management of the same in the hands of the persons whose names are underwritten, that if it be the will of God to incline their hearts, so many of them as may be a competent number for that work, may in his time, lay the foundation.
" Mr. Moss, Lieut. Merriam, Eliasaph Preston,
Mr. Sam'l Street, Serg't Doolittle, John Hall, Sen'r,
Mr. Brockett, John Beach, John Hall, Jr,
Thomas Yale, Nehemiah Royce, Nathan Andrews, Benj. Lewis."
They had as yet no house of worship. They hardly needed one, for their numbers were so small that they could without much inconvenience assemble in a private house. For ten years they met on the Sabbath, in one of the houses of the village, and paid the proprietor forty shillings annually for the use of his dwelling. One reason however of this delay in erecting & "meeting house" must probably be found in the dan-
27
KING PHILLIP'S WAR.
ger, alarm, and the impoverishing effect of the famous Indian war of that period, usually called
"KING PHILLIP'S WAR."
A distinguished Indian Sachem of this name had formed a coalition of nearly all the Indian tribes in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, for the purpose of exterminating the white inhabitants. At that time they might hope to effect this; for there were only about 35,000 white inhabitants in all New England, and they were scattered over hundreds of miles of territory. The Indians were more numerous, very ferocious and warlike, and exasperated by the alleged encroachments on their rights. As the two races lived in close proximity, each man might expect the war at his own door. For a time, the conflict raged with terrible slaughter in the eastern parts of New England; great numbers of the whites were killed, towns burned and laid waste, and universal panic spread over the country. The war- terminated with the death of Phillip, in 1676. But the derangement of business, and the heavy taxation consequent on the expenses of the war, impoverished the population, and pressed heavily on the new settlement at Wallingford. Though no battle was fought near them, yet they were kept in a constant state of alarm, which greatly hin- dered their agricultural operations and were compelled to fortify and garrison their little village, as if actually
28
KING PHILLIP'S WAR.
in a state of seige. Their position may be inferred from the following votes.
"27 Aug. 1675. In respect of the present dainger of ye Indians itt was ordered that the inhabitants se- cure themselves and the principall of theyr goods by fortifiing about too houses."
" Also that evrie man bring his armes and amunition compleat on the saboth day that he may be able in a fitt posture to doe service if need reqire."
" That select gaurd serve as sentinells on ye Saboth, and ye rest of the town ward 4 men every Saboth and 2 every weeke day : that they begin to ward when the watch breaks up and hould on till ye watch be sett again : that they begin and end, at the dawning and shutting in of day."
"15 Oct. 1675. That those persons at the end of the town if they see cause to fortifie on of theyr hous- es which they can agree upon for theyr saftie in these times of dainger what theyr full charg is shall be de- fraied out of ye town's tresury."
" Also that any that are willing to be asistant to mak too flankers att Leftt Merriman's barne, shall have due recompens out of ye towne treasurie."
Their mode of "fortifying a house," appears to have been this. At a small distance from the house,-ten feet perhaps-and all around it a log wall was erected, with the ends of the logs dove-tailed into each other at the corners, and carried up to ten or twelve feet in height, with such openings as might suffice for pointing
29
A HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
muskets at an attacking enemy. Such erections, were ample protection against any strength which the Indians were able to exert.
A HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
Having recovered somewhat from the depression and impoverishment consequent on the war, we find them with true New England conscientiousness and public spirit, at work upon their Church and School. In 1679, they voted to build a "meeting house," twenty-eight feet long ; twenty-four feet wide, and ten feet high, a build- ing which now would be considered small for a district school house. But even this small house, they were not able to complete for several years, for in 1681, they voted to "go on and finish the house." Great must have been their poverty, when with all their high estimate of the value of religious institutions, and when we know that nothing but absolute inability, could have prevented the most ample accommodations for their Church --- we find their whole united means, inad- equate to build and finish a house, which now almost any single journeyman, could build out of his own
resources. But as their population and wealth increased, we find the house of worship grows also. For in 1690, they enlarged the house, and made it forty feet long by twenty-eight feet wide, as their pop- ulation had increased to seventy-three families. The next year, 1691, the inside of the house was completed, for at that date we find a vote for "ceiling the house,"
30
SETTLEMENT OF MR. WHITTLESEY.
the interior having remained twelve years, rough and unfinished. This same year, 1691, the town voted that "two pews, should be built," an indication of growth, and even of luxury : for hitherto, the whole area of the house had been occupied with long seats, where all persons sat indiscriminately, except that the men and boys were on one side of the house, while the females in the Congregation sat on the other side. It is quite likely that some of the good people of that day, were quite shocked at the extravagance, pride and degeneracy developed by the innovation of pews. But growth and change kept on their course, for under date of April 30, 1706, we find " the town chose Deken Hall, Samuel Roys, and goodman Culvert, a commetee to procure workmen to come and buld gallers for the In largment of the meeting hous."
SETTLEMENT OF MR. WHITTLESEY.
Mr. Street was pastor of the Church for about thirty- six years. But as he became unable to perform the duties of his office, it became necessary to provide a successor. The forethought and action of the people in the matter are set forth in the following votes.
"July 26, 1708. The town voted that they appre- hended it was their duty to take care and Lock out to geat an other minester.27
" The town voted that they would chouse a comme-' tie to seeke out and to take the advice for the procuring and bring in a minester to seatle in the place."
5
-
31
SETTLEMENT OF MR. WHITTLESEY.
Under these instructions the Committee invited Mr. Whittlesey to preach. The people being satisfied with his labors, invited him to become their pastor. The letter in which the call was communicated seems on various accounts worthy to be inserted entire. An exact copy of it is therefore given from the
Wallingford Town Records.
" Mr. Whittlesey, Sur. The subscribers hereof being a committe appointed and empowered by the town of Wallingford as may appear by their record bearing date April 4, 1709 ; to treat with yourself in order to a settlement with us in the ministry, and for your in- couragement to comply with us therein doe propose to make such grants of Lands and other incouragements following-first we doe give and grant to you the said Mr. Samuel Whittlesey, a six acar lott of land lying neare the meting house; and one acar and a half of the west end Deaken John Hall's home lott for a building lott, to be bought for you : also a peace of Land at south ward side the Leatel quarter one the hill on which the town stands fifteen acars ; and seaven acars of pasture land on the north side of Nath'l Ives home lott : also a meadow lott of land in the common field on the west side of the river of twenty acars and known by the name of the parsonage; and fore acars of plaine in the same field called the town lott, also a farm of one hundred and fifty acars of Land att
32
SETTLEMENT OF MR. WHITTLESEY.
Pilgrim's Harbor called the *town farm with all the un laid outt land adjoining, and one hundred pound right in commonage and in all undivided land, all which shall be to the said Mr. Sam'l Whittlesey, his heirs, executors and administrators and assigns for ever, as an estate of inheritance in fee simple : Like- wise the said committe do agree to build a house for the s'd Mr. Sam'll Whittlesey of forty-two feets in Length and twenty feets in breadth, tow stories hye, with a porch and a back kitching and finish it deasant- ly the said Mr. Samuel Whittlesey to provide glass and nales : which house is to be soe built within tow years : the s'd committe doth farther agree that the said Mr. Whittlesey shall have a Sallery of Seaventy pound a yeare for the tow first years and the thurd yeare eighty pound and One hundred pound a yeare ever after, soe long as he carrieth on the work of the ministry: which Sallery shall be paid in wheat at five shillings par bushel, rye at three shillings sixpence par bushel, indian corne at two shillings six- pence par bushel, pork at threepence farding par pound, and if it soe fall out that there doth not come a suply of fire wood yearly to the s'd Mr. Whittlesey by par- sons appearing to doe it gratis, then the town are
* This town farm, was set apart by the town about the year 1684. It lay on the north side of the river near Hanover, and on both sides of Pilgrim's Harbor brook, bounded west by a line on the ridge of the hill, now called " town rock," and east by the hill, which in the old records is called " milking yard hill :" the north line must have been near the southern boundary of the tarms of Mr. Calvin Coe, and Mr. Ezekiel Rice.
33
THE NEW HOUSE.
obliged to take the care, and find him his wood in some other way-but if the providence of God should so order that the said Mr. Sam'll Whittlesey dye leaving no male Hare that is a natural issue of his bodye, then the six acar lott by the meeting house, and the meadow lott called the parsonage to returne to the town againe, to the true and honest intent and parformans of the preameses we the before named committie have sett our names.
" Thomas Yale, John Hall, sr.
Samuel Hall,
John Meariman,
Thomas Curtis, John Hall."
John Parker,
Mr. Whittlesey accepted the call, and continued to be the pastor for many years.
THE NEW HOUSE.
The old house with its "two pews," and "gallers" could not well contain the growing population, for some of the hearers, had to put up with rather incon- venient Church accommodations. But of these they were cut short by the following peremptory and rather uncourteous vote of the town in 1716: "ordered that the alleys in the meeting house be cleared of chairs and stools, and the constable see that it be done." Where the occupants of these "chairs and stools" bestowed themselves after this unceremonious eject- ment we do not know : but it is quite probable that they agitated effectually the project of a new and
34
THE NEW HOUSE.
better house, for in a few months we find a new Church edifice in progress. In Jan. 13, 1717, the town voted " that they thought it was their duty to begin a new meeting house, and the form of the house to be like gilford meeting house." Preparations were going forward during the whole of the year, and in 1718, the house was raised, and it was " voted that the metting hous floure shall be layed with good single Boards well Rabbited,"-also " the town voated that the metting hous shall have pues maid all round it and ye rest of ye hous shall be long seats." This last vote indicates the further increase of luxurious habits, inasmuch as the ' two pews" of the old house were multiplied into a whole range of "pues," built all around the sides of the new house. The next vote illustrates what has been already stated of the mode of raising funds, for " April 28, 1719, the Town voated yt they wound git so many staves as will load a vessell and they chose Capt. Hall to make a bargain for ye town in ye Dispos- all of ye staves, they obliged themselves to git :- in buying glass and nales-and promise to indemnifie hall from any damages thereby if he shall nead to stand or give bonds." The house was completed and occupied in 1720 .. It was a large house with two tiers of galleries, one above the other, somewhat in the manner of a theatre, a mode of building Churches quite common during the last century. The upper gallery was of course very high, and as its occupants were almost entirely out of sight, in furnished an ad-
35
DIGNIFYING THE NEW HOUSE.
mirable place for boys to cluster together and play. Even in the old house it had been found necessary to " vote that Eliazur Peck be desired to looke to ye boyes on ye saboth that they keep good order at meeting." In the new house they found it necessary to deny the boys admission altogether into so tempting a place as the upper gallery, for in " April 25, 1721, voated that no young man shall go up into the uper gallery to sett there on the Saboth day under eighteen yeare old."
DIGNIFYING THE NEW HOUSE.
The present custom of renting the seats in Churches was then unknown ; and in the new house, there would be quite a choice between the " pues" and the "long seats." In order to arrange or prevent all disputes for precedence in the matter, a Committee was appointed " to dignify and seat the meeting house." In assigning seats to the respective individuals and families, this Committee were enjoined by vote "to respect the aged who had been serviceable to the town," and also, "to have respect to those who had borne commissions." After giving the best seats to these dignitaries, they were instructed to have "this general rule for seating the meeting hous, viz : the lists, on which the charges are raised." If a plan had been devised for creating and perpetuating envy, jealousy and pride, no more ingenious scheme could have been invented for that purpose, than this attempt to arrange people in the house of God, every Sabbath day, according to their
36
-
SINGING.
wealth and supposed rank. Many an individual, would probably form quite a different estimate of his " dignity" from the Committee. What feelings were engendered have been however forgotten, except we learn that one man to whom was assigned a position on "the long seats," having made known his grievance, had redress as follows : "the town by their voat gave Capt. John Hall, liberty to make him self a pew in the new metting hous, near the east Dore, on men's side on his own charge."
A belfry was built in 1727.
1127771
SINGING.
We find no allusion whatever to the singing in pub- lic worship. Itisalmost certain that the old puritanical custom of " Congregational singing,"-as it is called- was followed. All who were present in the Church were expected to unite in this part of worship, and all instruments and choirs, were utterly eschewed. But it is quite evident that the young people of that day, fond of novelty or improvement,-as it would be dif- ferently viewed-after getting into their new Church, began to think of other new things, for in 1731, the town had before them a petition of certain persons for the use of the meeting house, that they might there meet and learn to sing. After some demur, the ro- quest was granted. But alas the wedge of innovation, having entered, was fast driven in. Having learned to sing, the singers naturally wished to give the Congre
+
37
SCHOOLS.
gation the benefit of their. new acquisitions. This disturbed some old habits, and a town meeting was convened to hear the complaints of those who could not endure "the singing in the new way" as they termed it. The matter could not be settled : dispute arose, and the meeting adjourned. Another meeting was called-and after much debate, the matter was compromised by voting "that there should be singing on one Sabbath in the old way and on the next Sab- bath in the new way, and so on alternately, for six weeks." There the curtain drops : and how long the . controversy went on, we know not. We hope that the disputants are now together singing,
" Where music flows from countless harps, 1 Nor pause, nor discord knows."
SCHOOLS.
We find no allusion to schools, on the town records until 1678, eight years after the settlement of the town. That notice however, evidently shows that a school had previously existed ; it is quite probable that here as elsewhere, the school and the Church took root together, and grew up with the first log cabin in the forest. The vote in 1678 is, " the town leaves the matter of schools with the select men, to promote the same according to law," and the next month, the selectmen having report- ed their opinion ; the town vote "to allow for the encouragement of such a school master as the select: men shall approve of, ten pounds a year in general,
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.