USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Cheshire > History of Cheshire, Connecticut, from 1694-1840, including Prospect, which, as Columbia parish, was a part of Cheshire until 1829; > Part 18
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I Clement Peck Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Cheshire do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the origl proceedings of court in the matter of the application of Deacon Ira Smith for a pension and I further certify that An- drew Smith Esq. before whom the accompanying deposition of Levi Hall purports to have been taken is a justice of the peace for New Haven County and that his signature to the same is gen- uine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of probate office this 21st day August 1832
Clement Peck Clerk
"Oaths of Fidelity. 1777. Oath of Freemen." "Brought from Wallingford Records."
*Enos Andrews
*Zealous Bristol
Elnathan Beach
David Curtis
John Beach
William Clark
Henry Brooks Jr.
*Samuel Clark
John Badger
Obed Doolittle
Reuben Bristol
Samuel Doolittle
Israel Bunnel
*Simeon Granniss
*Warren Benham
*John Beecher
*Benjn Beecher
C. Chauncey Hall
*Uri Benham
*Henry Brooks
*Edward Goodyear Isaiah Hall
Jonathan Hull Jr.
Andrew Hull Jr.
234
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
Jason Hotchkiss
*Alexander McKiegan
*Asa Hitchcock
*Ebenezer Hall
1791
*Reuben Hotchkiss
*Asa Peck
*Rufus Hitchcock
*Joseph Ives
*Merriman Hotchkiss
*Lyman Hotchkis
Zachariah Ives
Rufus Lines
1792
Barnabas Lewis
Nathaniel Brown
William Law
*Joseph Hitchcock
*Amasa Lewis
*Jesse Atwater
Isaac Bowers Moss
*Abel Matthews Jr.
1793
Thomas Nuton
Elias Nuton
*Samuel Andrew Law
G. Gift Norton
*George Hall *Joel Johnson
John Peck Jr.
Reuben Preston
*Stephen Parker
I794
David Rice
*Josiah Talmage
Reuben Rice
*William Clark Jr.
Samuel Talmage
*Amasa Hitchcock Jr.
Samuel Tuttle
*Ebenezer Hough
Ebenezer Tuttle
*Elias Gaylord
Ichabod Tuttle
*Jabez Parker
*Moses Tuttle
*Stephen Cook
Thomas Umberfield
*Joseph Twist
*James Upson
*Burrago Miles *Levi Peck
John Williams
*Samuel Williams
1790
*Jehiel Bunnel
*Levi Parker
*Jesse Humiston
*Silas Doolittle
*Oliver Parker
*The names marked * took Freemen's Oath.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
CHURCH DISSENSIONS-ESTABLISHMENT OF CHESHIRE ACADEMY-
BUILDING OF THE FARMINGTON CANAL.
At the time the town was incorporated nearly all the inhabi- tants were farmers, but the value of their property had been greatly reduced by the exigencies of the war, compelling many of the able-bodied youth to follow the army, where they en- dured hardships and privations unfitting some of them for steady labor at their previous occupations.
When these men returned to their homes and resumed active work upon their farms, they were unable (owing to the insuf- ficient supply of working animals) to much more than provide for their own necessities, and in consequence town affairs had to be conducted upon the most economical basis. It is probably for this reason that the records do not furnish any evidence of the improved condition they expected would result from having cut loose from the parent town of Wallingford. It is in evidence, however, that a necessity existed for "devising ways and means for supporting the town poor" and while we have no record of any previous action, the "Report" of a committee was accepted Dec. 29th, 1783, and we learn from subsequent votes that the "Selectmen are to procure some convenient house where the Town poor shall be supported, and shall provide some person or persons who shall take charge of them."
The poor being thus provided for and better times appearing at hand, on the 30th of March, 1784, a committee was appointed "for the purpose of procuring subscriptions for building a state house in this town; to hold the courts in one-half the stated terms," and at an adjourned meeting held May Ioth, 1784, it was "Voted, That the Representatives of this town be a commit- tee to prefer a Memorial to the General Assembly at the session in May ; for the purpose of having the Town of Cheshire a half
(235)
236
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
shire town with the privilege of holding the Courts Superior and County Courts-the one-half of their stated terms."I
The Connecticut Legislature did not act favorably upon this proposition, nor does it appear that any very large sum of money was contributed by the people of Cheshire towards the project of erecting the town into so important a place as the in- habitants believed it ought to be made.
IAs an evidence of the better times the following expenditures for schools is copied from the records :
The sum total of each one's Polemoney that sent to school in the Mill River District in 1782:
Capt. Ephraim Cook
x
£o.18. 4 Rate 4/I
Messrs Elam Cook
x
0.14. 4
·
Jason Hitchcock
x 0. 6. 9 X
5/9 4
Benjamin Doolittle
x 0. 2. 8 2/8
Joseph Hotchkiss
0. 0. 0 4
Ephraim Smith
x 0. 4.10 x
4
Benoni Plum
x 0. 7. 9 7-9
Ephraim Preston
x 0. 4. 6 4-6
Thomas Brooks
x 0.16. 2 X
II-2
Amos Doolittle
x O.IO. I x 13-7
Ezra Dodge
x I. I. O
16-111/2
David Brooks
x
0. 9. 3 0.0
Enos Brooks
x O.IO.II x 3.9
Joseph Doolittle
x 0. 7. 2 x I.6
Gideon Leavenworth
x
0. 0.6 0.6
Dan Hitchcock
x 0. I. 6 I.6
David Hitchcock
x I. O. 6
3.0
John Johnson
x
0. 5. 6
2.3
Amos Hitchcock
X
0. 2. 3
2.3
Pheebe Doolittle
x o. 2. 8
0.2.3
Amasa Brooks
0. 3. 9
0.3.6
£8. 2. 5
on the opposite page Amos Hitchcock Dr.
by Mr. Dodge £ 0.16.111/2
on last page-Cost of the School house £10. 8. 6
Raised on the pole £ 8. 2. 5
Out of the Rate £ 2. 6. I
£10. 8. 6
Josiah Smith
x 0. 6.1I x
237
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
They did, however, think they were entitled to some of the good things that were being distributed to other towns and so they Voted, That the Selectmen "signifie to the county court that a Work House may be built in this town for the use of the county." It was believed that if such a building was erected in Cheshire, the importance of the town would be enhanced, and many people induced to settle within its borders. Later on it became the settled conviction of the people of Cheshire that work houses were not required in this country, where every able- bodied pauper or criminal could be better employed in tilling the unoccupied land, or cleaning up the wilderness.
It soon became evident that more highways were needed, and so they were voted. One of these votes instructs "the Select- men to bargain with the owners for a road to the Northwest Corner, in lieu of the one laid out by the County Court."
All the highways and unemployed lands at this time were called "Commons." Cheshire did not own a public green, and it does not appear that the town had any land especially set apart for the grazing of animals in common. The highways were, therefore, the only real commons, and as such, the peo- ple from time to time regulated their occupancy. One year it was "Voted that geese well yoked, be free of ye commons." "Swine," also, "sufficiently yoked and ringed, except boars, shall be free commoners in this town." Boars over two months old were to be restrained from the commons under "penalty of 6 shillings" fine to the owner. Sheep were allowed to run at large, but rams were not permitted upon the commons. The follow- ing year this was amended, allowing rams to run with the sheep from November to August.I
IFeb. 26, 1799-"In the custody of Daniel Dutton one white, small horned Ram, the right Eye blind, marked with a half cross under side the Left Ear and a half penny underside the Right Ear."
Oct. 25, 1793-"In the Custody of Titus Atwater a yearling steer yellow Red with a large white spot on his pate & white Legs-marked with a half cross off the left Ear a half cross the supper side the Right and a half penny underside the same."
MARKS.
Jonah Webb's mark-"A Swallow Tail in the Right Ear and two half
238
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
It was also "Voted Liberty to have Small Pox by Inoculation, until the middle of May next" and the town granted "permis- sion to have a School District in the North West corner." There was also a vote providing for a "decent carriage and harness for conveying the dead to the Burying Ground."
While town matters were progressing more or less satisfacto- rily affairs in the Congregational church had not been so pleasant ; some members being dissatisfied with the Rev. John Foot's min- istrations, petitioned that a Consociation be called to hear and determine their complaints, being fearful that the church was in danger of being "broak to peases by its members going off to other Denominations" and deprecating "the Idea of sapperat- ing & setting up alter against alter."
This petition was signed by nine members of the society and sixteen members of the church. A little earlier, at a church meeting, "sundry members expressed dissatisfaction" with three of the signers of the above petition, "because they had absented themselves from communion, encouraged meetings at a private house and attended such meetings themselves and offered their children for Baptism."
A committee, viz. : Benjamin Hotchkiss, Abel Matthews, Henry Hotchkiss and Eliakim Hitchcock were appointed to "meet and converse" with them on these subjects. Their report says that although they viewed such conduct disorderly and contrary to the covenant, "yet nevertheless as it was a day of Difficulty, contro- versy & Temptation with them" and they, the committee, being willing to put the most favorable construction on their conduct, recommended to the church and every dissatisfied member that "they hereby do cordially Invite sd members to Return to their duty with sd church ; and accept their Return as an Implicit ac- knowledgment of their Error," so doing and taking part once
pennies underside the left."
Moses Tuttle's-"A half penny on the fore side of the left Ear formerly his father's mark."
Gaius Tuttle's-"A rounding crop off the right Ear."
Eldad Porter's-"A T underside the left ear and a half cross upper side the right."
Wm. Moss's-"Two holes in the Right Ear."
239
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
more in the ordinances to entitle them to be cordially received into their "christian fellowship, watch & care & overlook & forgive as we hope for forgiveness of our heavenly Father." This report was accepted, but as the preceding petition shows, was of no avail; and a Consociation for the County of New Haven was held and both sides fully heard. The decision of the Consocia- tion was that it could not be warranted in dismissing Mr. Foot, and advised the petitioners to exercise "patience and prudence " and try to bring about a reconciliation ; if this failed "to set up and maintain worship in a separate congregation."
Three years later these same men petitioned to the General As- sembly in behalf of themselves and the "Rest of the dissatisfied
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BUILT IN 1736.
Bretheren" in which they told of their former petition and the decision of the Consociation, and their acquiescence in that deci- sion to the extent of worshipping "in a seperate congregation," and asked for themselves and their adherents exemption from the payment of any taxes for Mr. Foot's support as "long as they keep a meeting among themselves," averring that they were still compelled to pay taxes for the support of Mr. Foot as well as their "own separate minister." The same date the sheriff of New Haven County, his deputy, or constable of Cheshire was commanded by order of the "Governor & Company of the State
240
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
of Connecticut" to summon the "Revd John Foot and Benjamin Hotchkiss of sd Cheshire and the Rest of the Inhabitants of said society to appear before the General Assembly" to show cause, if any, why the petition should not be granted. Reuben Roys as constable attests to the citation being "A Trew Coppy."
Evidently the General Assembly granted their request, and for a time this separate society held meetings, as did also a society in the northeast part of the town which called itself the "Street Congregation" but long before Mr. Foot ceased his ministra- tions both of these societies had ceased "to have even a name," and when Mr. Foot, in 1811. asked for a colleague the request was unanimously granted, and his death in 1813 was most sin- cerely lamented by an undivided church and society.
From this time on the society seems to have flourished and a new church steeple was built, a bell bought, which it was voted should ring at 9 o'clock at night, and it was also "Voted" to ring the bell "at 12 o'clock in the day from ye first of April 6 months." A few years later necessary repairs were made and the "meting house painted," while in 1795 a committee was appointed to pro- cure "a lighting rod for the steapel and put it up." The next year it was voted that the "Society Committy procure a decent vain for the meeting house and put it up," and also that said "Committy paint the stepel from the Beel to the Top."
Oct. 10th, 1796, the society voted to appoint Andrew Hull and Selden Spencer as agents to the General Assembly to oppose the memorial of Jared Burr and others, and in 1797 the names of George Hall and Stephen Ives were added to this committee. This memorial of Jared Burr and others prayed the General As- sembly to be set off from the town of Cheshire as a distinct so- ciety "over the next mountain" [Prospect].
While several members of the old society had joined the Epis- copal church (among them being Elnathan Beach), yet in Febru- ary, 1798, ten persons separated from the "society of Columbia" and joined the Ist Ecclesiastical society of Cheshire, thus keep- ing their numbers up.
Much interest seems to have been taken in the singing, for in 1801 we find that a vote was passed to devote $60 for the pur-
241
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
pose of promoting "Psalmody in said society." At this same meeting a committee was appointed to receive subscriptions for a "Public Clock" to be placed in the "steeple of the Meeting House."
In 1805 a large seating committee was appointed and it was "desired to Revise the old money that was formerly seated on in- to Dollars & cents & that the Meeting House be seated on the old money with the addition of two cents four mills on the dollar having Regard to age and decency to be seated on the List."
Some interest in the tenets of the Baptists seems to have been aroused among the members, for record is made of some half
1111
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 1826-1912.
dozen joining a society of that faith in Meriden, and later there was some talk evidently of a Baptist church being formed here, for a record in 1815 says that about a dozen of this society say "they mean to join." No further record is found concerning this proposed society, but the old society with undiminished vigor kept on its way, looking well after the spiritual and temporal
242
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
matters under its control. In 1818 members were requested to deliver stone for the "purpose of enclosing said burying groun"; later posts and 1,000 feet of pine lumber was purchased, and a fence marked out, which it was voted should be painted white ; still later it was voted to "Get the bell cast over or exchange it for a new one"; and finally it became necessary to build a new church, so it was voted that a "tax of 36 cents on the dollar be laid, for the purpose of building a meeting house" "on or near the publick square." Later it was definitely voted that it should be placed "on the ground which the association of persons have already purchased & offered gratuitously to the society," or on such part of land adjoining as shall be deemed necessary, be- longing to the heirs of Abijah Beach, deceased, or in part on each as expedient "provided a lease can be obtained & least to the so- ciety on same terms." It was also voted, March 7th, 1826, "to take down steeple & take out stone & use such parts of old church in the new one as wanted"; and the stipulation made that the basement be done for use the next winter.
The "seating of the meeting house," always a serious matter, was still of such moment that a committee consisting of "one from each school district" was appointed to prepare and re- port "a plan for seating the meeting house. The min- ister in charge of the society now was the Rev. Joseph Whiting, a native of Milford, who remained in charge for nine years, the longest period of any after the death of Rev. Mr. Foot in 1813. Mr. Perrine, Mr. Foot's col- league and successor, remained three years and was succeeded by different clergymen hired by the year, until September, 1820. when Roger Hitchcock was ordained (being then 53 years of age ), a native of Cheshire, joining the church in 1815, serving as dea- con, and being a devoted, active Christian. Unfortunately for the society his ministry was of short duration, his death occur- ring. Jan. 30th, 1823, when again the pulpit was supplied for sev- eral years by different persons until the installation of the Rev. Mr. Whiting. From a "Fast Day" Sermon of 1840 we quote the following: "In early times the Sabbath was very strictly ob- served, both at home and at meeting, the attendance almost uni-
-
243
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
versal, likewise there was scarce a single instance of the omission of family religious worship. Here was the secret of primitive success, the religion of the Sabbath and the religion of the family.
PETER HITCHCOCK'S HOUSE.
Built from material taken from the Congregational Churches, and the birthplace of David and Amasa Hitchcock.
When these fell into neglect the church declined, and became re- duced. Let retrospection and reflection, my dear brethren, bring you to that 'God who has been your dwelling place in all gener- ations.' "
Keen interest and discriminating judgment was shown by our former townsmen in all questions of the day and we find an in- teresting record of a town meeting held March, 1794, "for the purpose of taking into consideration the Act of the General As- sembly of Connecticut passed October last" relating to the sale of the Western Lands.
Four votes on the matter were passed as follows :
Ist-"That we entirely disapprove all measures for accomp- lishing a sale of said land at the present period. Because-the
244
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
present troubles in Europe, the probability of their continuance, the increasing emigration to America, the flourishing state of our own country, its prospects and growth of numbers, are causes that must infallibly increase the Worth of the Western District and render it far more valuable to the public at a future, than at the present time."
"Or granting an immedidate sale to be advisable."
"Voted, 2dly That we disapprove all measures for disposing of the whole territory together in an unlocated undivided State ; Be- cause a Sale of such a nature cannot but throw wide open the Door to speculation, injustice and fraud, by removing the pur- chase beyond the reach of ninety-nine hundredths of the people and leaving it accessible only to a few Rich, designing individ- uals and private powerful companies."-"Or finally, if a sale is at all Adventures to be accomplished, be the mode of Allienation as it may."
"Voted 3dly That we disapprove of the appropriation of the monies to be raised, at least as far as respects a maintenance for the Clergy; Because we believe that Such maintenance not im- mediately granted nor controulable by the parishioners, but created and perpetuated by the state, will eventually prove detri- mental both to pastors and people. To the people by weaken- ing, perhaps dissolving the Cement that arises from Dayly con- tributing to the support of the Pastor and the consequent care & controul over his conduct. To Pastors, by relaxing, perhaps destroying, their dependence on the people and the consequent motives to a faithful and conscientious discharge of their Du- ties ; and in these ways, by implanting in the state the seeds of religious, and perhaps of Civil Tyranny."
"And 4thly Voted that we will, with a patriotic firmness, make use of all prudent means for counteracting the measures that are laking to expedite the sale of the Lands alluded to and for ob- taining a repeal of the Act appropriating the avails: And 5thly Voted that Messrs. Elnathan Beech, Saml Andrew Law & Rufus Hitchcock be a Committee to confer upon the premises with such Committees as have or may be appointed by other Towns."
245
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
"Voted, That the Town Clerk cause the preceding resolutions to be made public."
Another town meeting held in December of the same year has the following record :
"By the Inhabitants of Cheshire legally convened in Town meeting on the Second Tuesday of December, 1794. The con- templated sale of the Connecticut Lands lying West of Pennsyl- vania and the appropriation of the avails arising under consid- eration-Voted, firstly, that we adhere to our sentiments publicly communicated in March Last, still continuing averse to all meas- ures tending either directly or indirectly to effectuate any imme- diate Sale of The Connecticut Territory westward of Pennsyl- vania ; Because the tranquility of the United States, the convul- sion of Other Nations, the increase of domestic populations, the influx of foreigners, the prospect of Peace with the savages, the probable surrenderry of the Western ports by The British, and the rise of landed property, especially of New Lands from New Hampshire to Georgia, form a concurrence of circumstances which force upon us a conviction that the unlocated Lands of Connecticut will be at a future period incomparibly more valua- ble to the State than at the present time."
They also voted that they were still opposed to the plan of sell- ing the "whole of our Western territory in a body" because they believed that "whenever strict Economy shall suggest the exped- iency of a sale" the "wisdom of the state" would be shown by dis- posing of lands in Townships or other small quantities, thus ren- dering purchases accessible to the general public and "prevent- ing the accumulation of enormous Wealth in the hands of over- grown land-jobbers & greedy speculators."
And again they reiterated their dislike of the proposed appro- priation of the funds "because we * ** believe the same ap- propriations to be an introductory step towards establishing a certain & permanent civil provision for a certain & peremanent Sacerdotal order. a provision which in other ages & Nation's has proclaimed that the downfall of liberty & pure Religion was hastening after, and of course a provision against which the experience of ages warns us to guard with a jealous eye."
246
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
They were in a special manner "Opposed" to the Bill passed by the upper house of the Assembly at the preceding session in October which directed an absolute division and distribution of the Funds to the several school societies "according to the sum of their Lists at the time of distribution" without making provi- sion for the inequalities which must inevitably arise, and, also opposed it because they feared the "principle" might "be finally Lost." Affirming that they deemed it the duty of the several towns in "their corporate capacities" to express their sentiments on the subject, they voted that Andrew Hull, Elnathan Beach and Andrew Hull Junr should be a committee to confer with commit- tees from other towns upon "prudent & proper measures" to pre- vent these measures from being carried into final effect, and voted also that the "Town Clerk procure the insertion of the pre- ceding votes in the Connecticut Journal."
This was a memorable year in Cheshire's history, for beside the question of the "Western Land Sale," which so excited our fore- fathers, came the project of establishing an "Episcopal Acad- emy" here.
On the 15th of February, 1792, at the Episcopal Convention at East Haddam, it was "Voted that several of the Clergy make en- quiry of their neighboring towns and see what can be done to- wards erecting an Episcopal Academy and report to the next con- vocation" and in 1794 the Convention appointed a committee to prepare an address pointing out the importance of establishing an Episcopal Academy. The progressive spirits of Cheshire had seen in this proposed school an opportunity for Cheshire, and un- der date of June 29, 1794, we find this :
"At a meeting of the subscribers for building an Academy in the Town of Cheshire Coln Reuben Royse was chosen Modera- tor and Eln Beach Clark
"Voted that a Committee be chose with full powers to contract with the Committee of the Episcopal convention to convene at Samuel Bellamys in Hamden on the first Day of July next-
"Voted That Messrs Andrew Hull, Willm Law Elnathan Beech, Andrew Hull 2 and Rufus Hitchcock be the said Committee &
247
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
that they be requested to attend upon the Committee of sd Con- vention & agree upon terms respecting said Academy.
"Test Eln Beech Clerk."
The Rev. Dr. Mansfield of Derby was chairman of the next an- nual convention, at which time the subscription papers were re- turned and proposals received from Wallingford and Cheshire. It was decided that a committee of nine should receive proposals until the first of July following, at which time they were "to meet at Maj. Bellamy's tavern, Hamden, and establish the Academy in that town they should consider most eligible." The Rev. John Bowden, S. W. Johnson, and Ashbel Baldwin were appointed the
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