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 19
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BOWDEN HALL, 1796.
committee to frame the Constitution. Cheshire was decided upon and the proprietors pledged a building for the reception of the students.
It should be mentioned, however, that after the committee had consented to the propositions from Cheshire and decided to es- tablish the Academy in this place, the Rev. Mr. Bronson, after-
248
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
ward Dr. Bronson, then a young clergyman, opened a school pur- suant to the wishes of the Convention in a small building that stood opposite the residence of Dr. Elnathan Beach.
The cornerstone of the new building was laid with Masonic honors April 28, 1796, the Rev. Reuben Ives making the ad- dress. In June, 1796, the annual convention was held in Chesh- ire, when the Constitution for the Academy was adopted and a Board of twenty-one trustees elected. Dr. Bowden was unani- mously elected principal and accepted. The building completed in autumn, 1796, at a cost of £702 lawful money, was conveyed by the "Thirty" proprietors, with the grounds, "To the Trustees," who subsequently enlarged their lot by purchase.
The history of this venerable institution is so well known that only a brief resume need be given here.
Dr. Bowden, the new principal, was the son of Major Thomas Bowden, and brought to his new field his pupils from Stratford. From the first the school met with success; systematic attempts for an Endowment Fund were started, and in May, 1801, the Trustees' petition for incorporation was passed. It was report- ed in that year that the funds amounted to $3,000, and that the school "generally had in course of education about sixty persons."
The first hint of trouble came with Dr. Bowden's resignation in 1802 ; he was followed by Dr. Wm. Smith, and it was during his incumbency that the Legislature granted a lottery for $15,000, by which the sum of $12,000 was secured ; and also during his term that a petition for a charter was presented to the General Assembly. The school languished under Dr. Smith. and in 1806, his resignation was accepted and Dr. Tillotson Bronson was elect- ed his successor, remaining in charge until his death in 1826. Among Dr. Bronson's assistants were the Rev. Mr. McDonald and the Rev. Asa Cornwall.
It was during his term that young ladies were admitted as stu- dents, many coming from different towns to take advantage of this somewhat rare opportunity.
The failure of the "Eagle Bank," by which some of their precious funds were lost, and the refusal of a charter for a col- lege were noteworthy incidents during these years.
249
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
Other of the early principals were the Reverends Henry Mason, C. T. Cruse, Bethel Judd and Allen C. Morgan. Amid these many changes the school continued to hold its own unique place, partly a college, partly a theological seminary, and at all times sending forth into the world graduates who have become promi- nent and honored citizens of our common country, thus justify- ing the faith of those "Thirty Proprietors" who gave liberally of their scanty store that this good thing might come to their be- loved town.
We print herewith some interesting records concerning the Academy :
"Whereas, at a meeting of the Presbyters, Deacons & Lay del- egates of Protestant Episcopal church of Connecticut holden at St. Peter's church in Cheshire," a constitution was adopted for the "Episcopal Academy established at Cheshire."
Article first provides that it shall be known by the "Name of the Episcopal Academy of Connecticut."
Article second that the government of the Academy shall be "Vested in the Hands of twenty-one Trustees," of which num- ber were to be the Bishop of Connecticut and the "Principal" ex- officio ; the other trustees were to be chosen by the Convention, seven of whom were to be "Presbyters of the Protestant Episco- pal Church," the remainder "Laymen, and may be chosen from any denomination of professing Christians."
Article third provides that the trustees shall continue in office "during good behavior," and upon complaint may be "displaced by a vote of the convention."
Article fourth directed that "Nine of the Trustees shall form a Board" to meet at the Academy four times a year, "which shall be at the quarterly examinations," other meetings could be held if thought necessary when a "majority of the Trustees shall re- quire it"-public notice to be given in one or more newspapers of the state at least two weeks before said meeting by an "adver- tisement signed by the Bishop, who shall be President, or Princi- pal, who shall be Vice-President of the Board of Trustees."
Articles fifth and sixth provided for the filling of vacancies among the trustees and that the principal "who shall always be a Presbyter in the Protestant Episcopal church" was to be elected by the Convention and the assistants by the Trustees, with a proviso for their removal, if found necessary.
Article seventh provided that "The English Language, Philoso- phy, Mathematics and every other Science" usually taught in col-
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
leges should also be taught here, "likewise the Dead Languages" (Greek and Latin) ; and when the finances permitted an instructor in French was to be procured and a "Library and Philosophical Apparatus." "Female Education may be attended to under this Institution by such Instructors and under such Regulations as the Trustees shall direct."
Article eighth directs that the principal shall use his own judg- ment about the admission of pupils, the only stipulation being that none shall be admitted who cannot "read the English lan- guage intelligibly" and that any student wishing to pursue a cer- tain line of study, could do so without pursuing "any other studies of a different nature" ; lecturers eminent in Divinity, Law or Physic were to be procured "provided Funds be provided for that purpose."
Ninthly, "No Bye Laws of the Academy shall compel the Stu- dents to attend Public worship, but at such place or places as their respective Parents or Guardians shall direct."
Tenthly provided that the adoption of these articles by the Con- vention made the constitution of the Academy and that they were to be "Subject to no Alteration or revision, but, by a Vote of the Convention."
The twenty-one Trustees chosen at the convention which adopted this constitution were: The Reverends Richard Mans- field, of Derby, Abraham Jarvis of Middletown, Bela Hubbard of New Haven, Ashbel Baldwin of Stratford, Philo Shelton of Fair- field, Philo Perry of Newtown, Reuben Ives of Cheshire and the Honbl Jonathan Ingersoll of New Haven, Mr. John Morgan of Hartford, Samuel William Johnson Esq. of Stratford, William Heron Esq. of Redding, Eli Curtiss Esqr of Watertown, Samuel Woodruff of Wallingford, Wm. Judd Esq. of Farmington, Mr. Samuel Hull of Derby, Samll Andrew Law Esqr., William Law Esqr., Andrew Hull Esqr. and Colo Andrew Hull of Cheshire, the Bishop of Conn. and the "Principal of the Academy for the time being."
It was about this time that the deed of the land and building was given these trustees by the following gentlemen "all of Cheshire"-namely, Andrew Hull, Andrew Hull Jr., William Law, Elnathan Beach, Rufus Hitchcock, Gould G. Norton, Be- noni Hotchkiss, Selden Spencer , Lucius Tuttle, Israel Bunnel, Moses Moss, Thomas Atwater, Amasa Hall, Stephen Ives, Jared Bishop, Amasa Lewis, Jere Brooks, Dimon Barnes, Reuben Bron- son, Reuben Roys, Ezra Doolittle, Ebenezer Hale, Elisha Cowles, Abraham Ives, Israel Tyler Jur., Benjamin Hull, John Beach, Charles C. Hall, Edward Goodyear, Amos Doolittle, Zecheriah Ives, Hezekiah Todd, Caleb Todd, Isaac Moss, Samuel A. Law
251
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
and Asa Blakeslee, they being "deeply impressed with the im- portance of establishing Literary Institutions in particular of aid- ing, supporting, and carrying into effect the Institution Estab- lished by the foregoing Constitution and Influenced by other good causes & considerations."
CHESHIRE ACADEMY BUILDINGS ABOUT 1850.
The land and buildings were to revert to the said Grantors or their heirs were the trustees to appropriate said "Land, Building and appurtenances to other purposes," or "shall prescribe a mode of Instruction materially variant from that pointed out by the foregoing constitution" or "shall remove said Academy from sd Town * or shall cease to Occupy and Improve said Land and Buildings for the purpose of an Academy unless it be a tem- porary removal or cessation occasioned by the Invasion of a for- eign Enemy, a Civil War, an Epidemical Sickness or other in- cidental necessity" "And Furthermore" the said grantors re- served to themselves and heirs "a Right to use the upper room of sd Building for the purpose of singing or keeping a Singing School in the same."
"Mr. Amasa Hitchcock Senr to J. Bowden Dr.
To his Son's Tuition in English Grammar I qr. £0.18.0
To keep the Academy in Repair
I.
Cheshire, Decbr 5th 1798"
£0.19.0
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
Scheme of the Exercises at the Semi-Annual Exhibition of the Episcopal academy April 12th, 1815
I. Musick
2. Alfred A. Holly-McFingal
3. John A. Foot-On Peace
4. Edward A. Cornwall-Mason's Oration
5. Ambrose E. Doolittle-Cancer Quack
6. Musick
7. Henry A. Street-Spring
8. Frederick Ellsworth-Gen. Washington's Address to Con- gress
9. Edward Roe-President Mifflin's Answer
IO. John Le Brun-The Rape of the Trap
II Musick
I2 Jonathan D. Bradley-Gen. Washington's Circular
13. John L. Dox-President Madison's Address to Congress
I4 William S. Foot-Phillip's Oration
I5. Friend Cook-Translations
I6. Musick
I7. Oration on Industry by Origen Holcomb
I8. Matthew Mouldboards Courtship
A Dialogue by Samuel Andrews, Christopher N. Shelton, Origen Holcomb and Alfred A. Holly
19. Musick
The early history of the Episcopal church was so closely allied for a time with that of the Episcopal Academy that it seems quite fitting to insert here something of its later life and influence.
The Rev. Mr. Andrews, an openly declared loyalist, was in charge of Cheshire, North Haven and Wallingford during the decade preceding the Revolution and until the close of the war. "A man of estimable character, lovable in every respect, and an indefatigable worker." so it is no wonder that we read that the church grew in numbers and in strength-so much so that the church built in 1760 proved far too small and that in 1770 a new church was built. This was forty-two feet square with galleries "and so very high though without a steeple that it loomed up front a distance as if it were a cathedral," while close at hand it pre- sented "a very awkward appearance." At this time the congre-
253
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
gation numbered forty-seven families with sixty-four communi- cants, and eighty-six persons had been baptized by the Rev. Mr. Andrews. It is not recorded that Mr. Andrews' loyalty to his "King" or rather to the vows made at his ordination caused him to exert any undue influ- ence over his people, but it is known that Zachariah Ives was a most decided Tory as was also Amos Doolittle of this town. For a time Rev. Mr. Andrews was under bonds for good behavior and was practi- cally confined to his house. A man of his convictions could not, of course, feel like accepting the new or- der of things and so with his friend and neighbor, Mr. Scoville, of Waterbury, he removed to the British REV. REUBEN IVES. provinces, living until 1818 in charge of St. Andrew's parish, Nova Scotia. His place here was unfilled and only occa- sional services held until 1788 when the Rev. Reuben Ives (son of Zachariah) was called to be the rector here two-thirds of the time and "the other third to Bethany or elsewhere," his salary for both places being £75. At this time the parish also agreed to pay a "Propoarshanable part of £220 annually or more for the support of Bishop Sabre" and began to keep records of its par- ish meetings. Moses Moss and Ambrose Barnes were its first "wordings." David Badger was for a long time its clerk and usually there were four or five choristers elected. Alterations and repairs were made to the church, a pew built in each corner (slips occupied the rest of the building) ; then eighteen feet was added to the length of the building, a steeple built as high as the deck ; soon it was voted to complete the steeple with a spire and
254
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
"almost immediately to build a cupola instead of a spire and to finish the inside and to take out the side galleries ;" its external appearance was now much improved.
The establishment of the Academy caused several diocesan conventions and ordinations to be held here and the "scholarly men who were principals and assistants at the academy," took great interest in the church and to Dr. Wm. Smith with Mr. Ives we owe it "that this parish was one of the first places in the land in which the psalms and canticles were sung and anthems were rendered"; really "the original home of American church music."
ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AS BUILT IN 1839.
In 1820 a serious disagreement arose between Mr. Ives and his people (after thirty-two years' service) and he resigned. It was then that the custom began of inviting the principal of the Acad- emy or one of his assistants to serve also as rector of the parish, doing such work among the people as was consistent with the school duties. It is probably for this reason that the history of both school and parish show a decided backward step. This con- nection continued until 1835, when E. E. Beardsley assumed charge of the parish. Almost immediately a change was noticed
255
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
and so rapid was the growth and interest that in 1839 the corner stone of the third church, "a substantial brick edifice," was laid, and to him the parish owes its new inspiration of life and encour- agement to do the work set before them, that the patience and bravery of their forefathers might not be in vain.
It was in this notable year of 1794 that the town turned its at- tention to its own school districts and voted "That the doings of the School Committee in Dividing the school Districts be accepted & that the same be Recorded."
These "Doings" consisted in forming fourteen school districts and giving their boundaries, the report being signed by Asahel Hitchcock, Amasa Lewis, Bela Andrews, Lucius Tuttle, Ephraim Hotchkiss, Reuben Roys, Jonth Hall Junr, Josiah Talmage, Amasa Clark, John Williams, Andrew Hull Junr and Diman Barnes, and it was about this time or a little later that the high- way question again came up, and at a special town meeting called for and held on Sept. 21, 1795, passed the following : "Voted that the Selectmen be directed to oppose the opening a Road through the Southern part of Cheshire & to stand a Trial at Law if nec- essary." At this meeting Daniel Hicox was appointed "Surveyor of Highways for the Eastern District ;" and in March, 1796, a special Town Meeting appointed Andrew Hull, Jr., Wm. Law, Israel Bunnel, Andrew Hull, Stephen Ives and Lucius Tuttle a committee to confer with a committee appointed by the General Assembly to view and lay out a direct road from the court house in New Haven to the court house in Litchfield.
The town officers elected annually included Selectmen, Consta- bles, "Grandjurors," "Listers," "Tythingmen," Surveyors of highways, whose duties included the collecting of the highway tax of one cent on the dollar (usually) ; poundkeepers, who had liberty to erect "pounds at their own expense"; Sealers of Leath- er, Sealers of Weights, Sealers of Measures and the Collector of the State Tax, who usually also collected the Town tax. A vote of the town allowed the "rateable Inhabitants liberty to pay their highway tax in Labour."
It seems rather odd in these days to read that Andrew Hull,
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
Burrage Beach, Reuben Roys, George Hall, Israel Bunnell and William Law were appointed a committee by the town "to make a Draught of a bye Law or bye Laws for regulating or restrain- ing geese and swine from Going at large"; and that the "Bye Laws," reported by them to the town and adopted, covering quite two pages of legal cap size, were ordered to be "legally Pub- lished." In 1799 it was voted that the "Annual Town Meeting be holden in future, on the second Tuesday of November & that the Selectmen be authorized to warn the same accordingly."
A "Turnpike" from New Haven through Cheshire to South- ington was now being talked of, and apparently the project did not appeal to our town fathers for at a special town meeting held in September, 1800, "for the purpose of taking up the matter of the Turnpike Road" "on motion whether this Town will do any- thing respecting the Turnpike Road-it was Voted in the nega- tive." The promoters of this "Turnpike Road" were not dis- couraged by the action of Cheshire, for a company was char- tered in 1800 and was called the Cheshire Turnpike Co. and shares were taken by Cheshire people.I Roads and bridges were to be built by the company and maintained, assessed dam- ages to be paid. Two toll gates were erected, one between Ham- den and New Haven, the other between Cheshire and South- ington. Commissioners were appointed to inspect the road, and accounts were presented yearly to the General Assembly. When the company had received enough in tolls to repay the money spent with interest at 12 per cent. the road was to be discharged from tolls. The charter was not subject to revocation or amend- ment by the General Assembly. Tolls were not to be paid by those attending public worship, by funerals, those attending town meetings, military trainings (i. e., members of the companies), those going or coming from grist mills, or by persons going within one mile to or from gate to attend farm business. This turnpike gave great impetus to business; stage coach companies were
I"Cheshire July 25th, 1801
Received of Amasa Hitchcock Fifty dollars for a Tax on Ten shares of the Cheshire Turnpike Company payable July 20th, 1801
Burrage Beach Treasurer"
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
formed, which did a thriving business; and traffic so increased that the company was finally able to discontinue the toll gates, having received its stated interest, we suppose.
In 1803 a petition and citation from Columbia society respect- ing the laying out of a new highway came before the town, and Andrew Hull, Esq., was appointed agent for the town "with dis- cretionary powers"; and at another meeting Burrage Beach was appointed to act with Mr. Hull in the matter. Evidently the idea of having agents to represent the town with full powers to "in- stitute suits at law and to prefer memorials," etc., seemed a wise thing, for we find these same men appointed for that purpose at a town meeting held in November of that year. Committees were now appointed to remove "encroachments" on the highways and also to report on what highways might well be discontinued. In 1805 Ebenezer Hough, Jared Bishop and John Peck were ap- pointed "to view the Ground from the Turnpike road, near the meeting house to the highway which runs by the dwelling house of Joseph I. Doolittle for the purpose of locating a highway be- tween said Roads and to obtain proposals from the proprietors of Lands : and make report to the next annual Town meeting." The determination to keep these highways in proper shape is shown by the purchase soon after of twelve scrapers for work on highways "to be used for that purpose and for no other.".
"Floods of Water & Ice" caused much trouble in 1807, for at a special town meeting in February a tax of "one cent five mills on the dollar" was voted to be levied upon the "List of the Polls and Rateable Estate of the Inhabitants & non-resident proprietors of sd Town" for "repairing the Bridges, & other charges." Jo- seph Platt was the collector of the tax in Columbia Society. In 1808 some trouble arose regarding a highway near Mr. Lyman Hall's and a committee of twelve men was appointed at the an- nual town meeting to inquire into and report the facts "with their opinion thereon" to some future meeting. "The six last named persons on the aforesaid committee if called out to be at the ex- pense of Mr. Lyman Hall." The town in 1814 voted to lay out a road "from the notch of the mountain near Mr. Jesse Humis- ton's to intersect the Waterbury road near Mr. Enos Moss's"
258
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
but Henry Brooks and others petitioned for a special town meet- ing which was called when a motion was offered to reconsider the "vote passed at the Annual Town meeting" to lay out this new road. Gen. Andrew Hull, Jr., and Amos Baldwin Esq. op-
Hartford
Southington
Beckbanc Road
Wany Road
Wolcott
PIO
Middletown
file
Turnpike 1801
IMSwamp
ok
Cheantro
Mill River
Fresh Meadow
Brook
Bethany
Ham
Food
Pishife post Pond
Guil ford
Tracing of a Map published in 1812 By authority of the state of Connecticut
MIN EINEY
Quingibice Rings
Old Colony
Branford
North Heren
J.P. B. No, IT-1896
scale of Milas
S.S .- Oct 23 -1911
7 Waterbury
Bin Let
Columbia
Honey Pot Brock
Durham
posed the motion and after "considerable debate upon the ques- tion of order the motion was withdrawn." However, a second motion on the assessment of damages, and directing the select- men to "open said road in due time" was voted in the negative.
259
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
For several years a controversy concerning "the old highway from the Episcopal church * * to the Turnpike Gates," had been waged, and an appeal made by Wm. Law, Esq., to the county court of New Haven, who appointed Messrs. Aaron Brad. ley, Jared Ives and Russell Pierpont "a committee to examine the old highway and make such alterations," etc. Later this commit- tee reported verbally to the agents of the town that they had made "sundry alterations" in the road and assessed damages to certain individuals-all this was reported to a "special" town meeting which declared that in its opinion "neither public neces- sity or public convenience" required such alterations and directed its "agents" to remonstrate to said county court, and if necessary employ counsel in the matter. At this same meeting it was re- ported that some evil-minded person had committed a trespass upon the property of Wm. Law and the following vote was passed: "That this meeting condemn and reprobate the base con- duct of the person or persons whoever they may be, or what- ever may have been their motive * * * who did wantonly and wickedly girdle & thereby destroy a number of valuable apple Trees in the Orchard of Wm. Law, Esq," and ex- pressing their "most unqualified disapprobation and reprehen- sion of the atrocious deed" voted $50 reward for the discovery of the perpetrator. Later "Jared Ives & others, Reuben Page & others, Jared Burr & others, Stephen Parker and others," prayed for "sundry alterations & new location of highways ;" and finally in 1817 the great controversy regarding the changes made by the county court committee was settled by the following vote, namely : "That the Selectmen be impowered to make the road laid out by the county court from the Turnpike Gates to the Episcopal church in Cheshire, either by contract or in the usual method of repairing highways as they shall judge most conducive to the In- terest of the Town." Later the Town re-deeded to Lyman Hall land taken from him for a highway and peace reigned once more.
During the following years the road from the "Notch of the Mountain" to the Waterbury old road was widened and im- proved, a road from Joshua Ives' to Prospect Line laid out, and the highway from the notch of the mountain to Waterbury au-
260
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
thorized, and from time to time other highways were opened or the old ones repaired and improved as seemed most for the in- terest of the town, without very much discussion.
"Road taxes" were paid in money or "worked out," the fol- lowing scale of prices having been adopted :
For man and team 1.50 per day during spring Single man .75 per day during spring
Man and team 1.00 per day during fall season
Single man .50 per day during fall season
Other votes of interest passed by the Town during these years were: "That the Letter C be the sealing mark for the Town of Cheshire"; "That the SelectMen shall sell to the Inhabitants of the Town only, the several sets of the Statutes of this state and of the United States, now in their possession; for the benefit of the Town, with the exception of one set of each, to be reserved for the use of the Town Officers, and to be deposited with the Town Clerk."
The amount received from such sales seems not to have been recorded and a fair guess is that few, if any, were ever sold.
In 1817 the question of a "State" Constitution was the topic of the day, and as usual Cheshire was ready with its opinion, and at the annual meeting in November passed the following Resolu- tion : "Resolved, that our Representatives to the General Assem- bly to be holden at Hartford in May next be, and they are hereby instructed to use their influence to procure a reccommendation to the people of this state, to choose delegates to form a Consti- tution of Civil Government, to be submitted to the People for their consideration and adoption-and the Town Clerk is directed to furnish to each of them a copy of this resolve"-and at an- other "Special" town meeting held in July, 1818, in pursuance of a "Resolution of General Assembly" "Messrs. Andrew Hull and Charles Shelton, Esquires, were elected delegates to attend the general convention to be holden in Hartford on the fourth Wednesday of August next"; and finally Oct. 5, 1818, a special town meeting was held "in conformity to the direction of the gen-
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