USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Durham > History of Durham, Connecticut, from the first grant of land in 1662 to 1866 > Part 15
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The poor were disposed of at auction to individuals who would keep them at the lowest price, it being expected that the person so sold or disposed of, should work for those that bid them off. Thus in the town account for the year 1795, it is stated that "Sarah Allen was vendued by the week one month at a place, to certain persons named " for the twelve months commencing Dec. 15th, 1794. To Joel Parmalee one month, 2s. 5d., to Joel Parmalee the second month for 2s. 4d., to John Spencer the third for 2s. 5d. &c., to Eliphas Parmalee the last month for 1s. 4d.
In the town account for 1766, are the following items : Paid to Joseplı Francis for perambulating Killingworth line, 2s .; to Benjamin Picket for perambulating Haddam line, 2s .; to Wm. for keeping the middle school, £4,14.4; to Mr. Thomas Burgess for keeping the middle school, £12,13.2; Simeon Par- sons for keeping the North School, £2,19.1}; Charles Chaun- cey for keeping the North school, £4,10.10₺; Bryan Rosseter for keeping the south school, £3,19.6; Caleb Fowler for keep- ing the west side school, £5,5.8; Elihu Crane for a load of wood, 4s. 6d.
ARCHITECTURE.
After the inhabitants began to build commodious houses, the fashionable style for a time was the Lean to house, of which Frederick Parmelee's house is a type. This kind of house was two stories in front and one story in the rear, had at one end of the kitchen a bed-room, and at the other end a pantry. The next style that came into fashion was the Gambrel Roofed house, of which the house owned formerly by Dennis Camp, is a type. The next style that came into fashion was what was called the Upright house, sometimes with one chimney, and sometimes with
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two. The next style in order was the Half house so called, with one room in front, of which Mr. William Canfield's house is a type. The next style in order is that of the present time, which has in it a good deal of variety. Mr. Haywood's house may be taken as a type.
DOMESTIC CUSTOMS.
A characteristic of the houses built in the first half century after the settlement of Durham, was the large kitchen fire place, which in some cases was seven or eight feet in width, having sometimes one and sometimes two ovens in it, admitting back logs two or three feet in diameter, and three or four children into the " chimney corners." The large and steady fire on the hearth in such a fire place shone on faces of many a large family circle, gathered together on a winter's evening. To many a large fam- ily of eight or ten children the hearth-stone was a load-stone to draw them around it. There was knitting for the mother and the elder daughters. There were the slatcs for the older sons. There were apples and nuts for the younger children, or it may be a lesson in spelling. There were the two volumes from the Town Library for the father and others. There was story tel- ling and song singing. There was the mug of cider enlivened by red pepper against cold. There was the family bible, and there was family prayer before retiring to rest. In short there were family government, family instruction, family amusement and family religion.
" In what Arcadian, what Utopian ground Were warmer hearts or manlier feelings found, More hospitable welcome, or more zeal To make the curious " tarrying " stranger feel That, next to home, here best may he abide, To rest and cheer him by the chimney side; Drink the hale farmer's cider, as he hears From the gray dame the tales of other years ; Cracking his shag barks as the aged crone, Mixing the true and doubtful into one, Tells how the Indian scalped the helpless child, And bore its shrieking mother to the wild- Butchered the father hastening to his home, Seeking his cottage,-finding but his tomb ; How drums and flags and troops were seen on high, Wheeling and charging in the northern sky, And that she knew what these wild tokens meant ; When to the old French war her husband went ; How by the thunder-blasted tree, was hid The golden spoil of far-famed Robert Kidd ;
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And then the chubby grand-child wants to know About the Ghosts and Witches long ago, That haunted the old swamp-the clock strikes ten- The prayer is said, nor unforgotten then The stranger in their gates. A decent rule Of Elders in this puritanic school."-BRAINARD.
CLOTHING.
The inhabitants were generally clad in fabrics manufactured, that is made by hand, in the family. There was woolen cloth spun in the house but fulled and dressed at the clothier's shop. There was brown tow cloth, and streaked linen for the males, with bleached linen for shirts. In the summer they generally wore brown tow or linen trowsers and frock; the latter being a kind of over shirt. The fulled cloth worn in the winter time though often coarse was warm. It was sometimes very decent in appearance when made of fine wool, well spun and well dressed. The females were clad in streaked linen or checked linen, on week days, and in chintzes and it may be muslins and silks on the Sabbath. The wedding gowns if not muslin were sometimes of brocade or lutestring. Near the close of the last century silk was reeled and woven in Durham. For a consider- able time the women wore cloaks of scarlet broadcloth. In the year 1800 women might be seen on the Sabbath riding or walk- ing in the street, or sitting at church having on these cloaks; a very comely and comfortable article of dress.
Chaises were introduced into Durham about 1775 or 80. For some years there were only three chaises in the town. The peo- ple went to meeting on horse-back, the women sitting behind the men on pillions. While this fashion continued every house had a horse-block.
DIET.
For diet, bread and milk was generally used before tea and coffee had been introduced. After the land had ceased to pro- duce wheat, rye bread was commonly used. The present writer once heard an aged man say, that he remembered the time when turnips were the principal vegetable used, and that, generally, potatoes were planted in gardens, in such quantities as beets and carrots are now. Salt-meat broth was a standing dish in many
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families. This was made by soaking salt beef in water until sufficiently fresh and then boiling it and adding to the liquor fragrant herbs, with pieces of bread, and it may be onions. Be- sides hasty-pudding there was plain Indian pudding which was used almost every day, in some families at dinner, before the meat, with butter and molasses. This pudding was boiled in a bag; hence the proverb "the proof of the pudding is eating the bag." This does not mean that the bag itself is eaten, but only that the whole of the pudding in the bag is eaten, thus proving that the pudding is a good one. " A bag of meal," means the whole of the meal in the bag. Besides cider, beer was brewed in many families, after the fashion in England. This was done partly for the purpose of using the "emptyings" of the beer barrel, that is lees, for yeast. Hence the proverb, "as you brew, so you must bake." If you make good beer, you can make good bread.
In many families meat was eaten three times a day, though it was sometimes in the shape of dried beef. But the most of the population of both sexes were accustomed to labor actively, either in the house or on the farm. Even the females were much in the open air, either in milking or drawing water with the old . fashioned well-sweep, or riding on horse back, or gathering nuts or berries, or bleaching cloth, or in the case of an approaching thunder storm, raking or loading hay.
SOCIAL ENJOYMENTS.
The people of Durham like others of puritan descent in the towns of Connecticut, inherited the dislike of amusements of many kinds. Their aneestors in England had quarrelled with the king in their opposition to the book of sports, and it would therefore not be very consistent to engage in amusements like those mentioned in that book, after they came to this country. But they had their social enjoyments. The whole population here for several generations attended meeting together, where they felt that they had common interests and common enjoyment. Here they saw each other's faces every Sabbath, and in the inter- mission, heard of each other's welfare or misfortunes. Here they received impressions of each other which, not unfrequently, ri- pened into friendship or conjugal love.
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They had small supper parties at first, and tea drinkings af- terwards. There were weddings and quiltings, and huskings where the red ear had especial honor. There were sleigh-rides and barbecues sometimes, and plays in which the forfeits were paid with kisses; and balls which were considered as the school of good manners in opposition to clownishness and rowdyism.
The young men met together and appointed managers of the ball, usually four or six in number, who provided a room and refreshment, engaged music, sometimes sent out cards, sometimes assigned to the several gentlemen the duty of waiting on the several ladies, or assigning partners, preserved order, paid the bills by collecting the assessments on the gentlemen who attended. I do not certainly know whether there was an ordination ball when Rev. David Smith was ordained. When Rev. Aaron Dut- ton was ordained in Guilford there was an ordination ball. While daneing was fashionable, daneing masters taught daneing in schools from time to time, thus improving, as was generally be- lieved, the manners of the young people. Besides hunting and fishing, there was the wrestling ring on training days, when the champions showed their strength and agility in "side-hold," " back-hold," and "at arms length." When the present writer was a boy, Samuel Wright was the acknowledged champion, though he was sometimes laid on his back by a young Robinson.
Sometimes, as now, men amused themselves in making bar- gains, which exercised the skill of both parties as much as a game of chess, while they differ from that game inasmuch as both parties are often winners. Still it should be said that the passion for making bargains has in the progress of time grown stronger rather than weaker.
A man by the name of Penfield used to buy apples of Gideon Leete, who owned the lot opposite Mr. John Hickox, where they grew, and to make parties and invite the young folks. He would give a particular kind of apple to each girl, kissing her at the same time, much to the amusement of the young fellows. The apple thus got the name of the " bussing apple." He became old and poor, and the young men made up a subscription for him, and elothed him well, and invited him to a party, for the fun of seeing him give an apple and a kiss to each girl.
A Mr. Tuttle in Whitestown, N. Y., was in the habit of hold-
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ing a meeting every Sabbath in a barn and of asking each one to pray. William Handy, a loose, noisy man proposed to Will- iam Hinman and Asher Camp, two at least of the three being emigrants from Durham, that the first man that he asked to pray, should either pray or pay a bottle of rum. He was asked the first. He made a short, incoherent, hurried prayer, became thoughtful and serious, and afterwards a Christian, and Deacon of a church.
HOLIDAYS.
Election day, when the Governor, first of the Colony, then of the State, was inducted into office, was a holiday. The farmers endeavored to finish their planting of corn before this day, which came in the first part of May. This induction into office of the Gov- ernor and the meeting of the Legislature bore some faint re- semblance to a coronation, or the meeting of Parliament in Eng- land. The men laid down their hoes, or left their work shops, to enjoy a respite from labor. There were little gatherings about the town, and sometimes a great gathering. The women made election cake-raised cake; the young ladies prepared for a ball in the evening.
The fourth of July for many years after 1776, was kept as a holiday-sometimes in the spirit of party, and sometimes in the spirit of '76. In 1859, it was kept in this latter spirit, and noth- ing was said or done at which any political party could take offense.
Thanksgiving was a holiday, as now, and on the day before Thanksgiving, the young men hunted game in the forest, or shot at hens and turkeys, tied to a stake, paying a fee for the 'shot ; fourpence half penny a shot for hens, at the distance of eight rods, and ninepence a shot at a turkey at the distance of ten rods.
Owing to the old grudge against Episcopacy, not much was made of Christmas for many years, not so much as recently.
The children who attended school, had Saturday afternoon for a holiday. In the forenoon they recited the " Assembly's Cate- chism," and in the early part of the present century, after Epis- copalianism had been introduced, a portion of them recited the "Church Catechism " as it was called.
Fast days appointed by the Governor of the Colony or the
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State were for a long time honored, when "all servile labor and vain recreation on said day, were by law forbidden." In the preaching, for nearly a hundred years, on Fast days and Thanks- giving days, there may sometimes have been a little of the spice of politics, that all could relish ; but this spice was not turned into the pepper of party politics until more recently.
The schools were taught by males for a long time. The pre- cise time when females began to be employed in summer schools I have not been able to ascertain. A man by the name of Jones was a noted school master. He was a full believer in the doc- trine that "the rod and reproof bring wisdom." When he whip- ped a boy, his language was, "it comes tough but it is for your own good." To encourage his pupils to behave well he would lisp, "Boys, boys, if you will be good to me, I will be good to you."
EXECUTION OF THE LAWS.
When the laws of the Colony or of the State were few and simple, and before they had been tampered with for party pur- poses, or degraded by the chicanery of lawyers, the authorities and people of Durham were strict to enforce the laws. Indeed they became somewhat famous in the region round about, for en- forcing the laws, respecting the observance of the Sabbath, rival- ing the Jews, or at least the primitive puritans. Travelers were stopped on the Sabbath and sometimes fined, and sometimes de- tained until Monday. The " Whipping post," which like Ex- Presidents, retains its title after its occupation is gone, was for a long time thought to be a valuable auxiliary to good morals. In- stead of sending the criminal to the penitentiary, or letting him off without punishment for petty larcenies and crimes, he was sentenced to be whipped five or ten lashes or more. The pres- ent writer saw this punishment inflicted by the constable, both in Durham and in New Haven. In Durham the punishment was inflicted with a lash whip, with more parade and flourish than severity. In New Haven it was inflicted with a raw-hide whip, much to the satisfaction of the admiring students of the college who assembled to witness it.
The following will be sufficient to show the impressions for-
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merly produced on the minds of intelligent travelers, by the ap- pearance of Durham :
Extract from President Manning's diary during a journey from Providence to Philadelphia and back, April 29th-Sept. 29th, 1779.
" Wednesday, Sept. 22 .- Set out (from New Haven) at seven o'clock, having taken breakfast. Took the road to Durham, crossed the bridge, and the long causeway one half mile over the marsh. The first six or seven miles very sandy, then a good soil and well improved to and through Paug, (Northford) a pleasant village, nine miles. Mr. Williams, minister, invited me to his house, but we could only stop to oat. From thence to Durham, excellent land and husbandry, and the buildings uncommonly elegant. Durham, a considerable town, situated on a hill; the buildings good ; distance nine miles. Dined at Landlord Camp's. The people agreeable. After setting out was stopped by Gen- eral Wadsworth, and invited to call, but time would not admit." -GUILD'S " Manning and Brown University," page 285.
THE FIRST TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.
The first temperance organization in the town was formed, June 30th, 1828, with the following pledge or bond of Union :
"Believing that the use of intoxicating Liquors is for persons in health, not only unnecessary but hurtful ; that it is the cause of forming intemperate appetites and habits ; and that while it is continued the evils of intemperance cannot be prevented.
Therefore, we the subscribers for the purpose of promoting our own welfare and that of the community, agree that we will abstain from the use of distilled spirits except as a medicine in case of bodily infirmity ; that we will not allow the use of them in our families nor provide them for the entertainment of our friends or for persons in our employment ; and that in all suita- ble ways we will discountenance the use of them in the com- munity."
The foregoing was first and originally signed by
Rev. David Smith, Wedworth Wadsworth,
Nathan S. Camp,
Wm. A. Hart,
Abner Newton,
Silas Merriman,
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Roger Newton,
Allen Shipman,
Seth Seward,
Alpheus W. Camp,
Talcott Bates,
Dennis Camp,
David Johnson,
Chs. Lyman,
Peres Sturtevant,
Horace Newton,
David Harrison, M. D.
Joseph Chedsey,
Alfred Camp,
Abner Newton, Jun.
Wolcott P. Stone,
Samuel Newton.
After this society went into operation, additions were made to its members, meetings were held, addresses delivered, the pulpit spoke out, until the society in less than eight years numbered 377 members, many of them pledged to abstain from the use of all intoxicating liquors. Such was the success of this movement in favor of temperance, that the various temperance organiza- tions that have existed in the town since 1828, have at times, embraced more than half the entire population pledged to abstain from all intoxicating liquors as a beverage. The good effects of these early movements in favor of temperance on the morals and health and prosperity of the town were strikingly manifest. But while to the honor of the town this early movement in favor of temperance, and this early success are recorded, it may be proper to confess that the number of tobacco growers, chewers, and smokers has increased.
THE MERRIAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
The Merriam Manufacturing Company of Durham was organ- ized January 25th, 1851, with a capital of $15,000, for the man- ufacture of Japanned and Stamped Tin Ware, Tin Toys, &c. The first election for Directors was held February 14th, 1851, with the following result, Miles Merwin, Jr., L. T. Merriam, Samuel Newton, William Wadsworth and Enos Rogers.
MILES MERWIN, JR., President.
T. S. HUBBARD, Secretary and Treasurer.
The capital stock was increased Sept. 7th, 1853, to the amount of $25,000. The present board of Directors Dec. 25th, 1865,
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are Miles Merwin, Jos. H. Parsons, David Lyman, E. L. John- son, and Francis Hubbard.
MILES MERWIN, President. F. HUBBARD, Sec'y and Treasurer.
The success of the enterprise has been somewhat varied. Its productions are well known and appreciated, and the present state of its affairs is such, as promises permanency, and, as is believed, will add to the prosperity of the village in which it is located.
THE DEATH OF MR. ISAAC PRENTISS AND OF MR. JOHN T. PALMER.
"In passing through the town of Durham, the stage coach crosses a stream called Allyn's brook, usually small but with high banks. Over this stream was a wooden bridge, 94 feet long and 21 feet high. On the east, or above the bridge, at the dis- tance of 180 feet is a mill-dam. At the distance of 36 rods be- low, is a log for the convenience of foot passengers, supported at each end by a tree. The earth, at this time, February 21st, 1822, was covered with a large body of snow, and the streams were deeply frozen.
" Before the dawn of this memorable day, a warm and violent wind commenced from the south, accompanied by a heavy rain. The water did not however rise until about 10 o'clock A. M., or less than two hours before the stage arrived. But so rapid was the rise of the water, that, in one hour and a half, large cakes of ice were brought down against the trestles of the bridge, and one pier was carried away.
" A few minutes after this event, which was known to but very few, between the hours of 11 and 12, the great mail stage ar- rived, containing Isaac Prentiss, John T. Palmer, and Philip Gray, as passengers. In attempting to cross the bridge from the north, the southern part gave way, and with the exception of the lead horses, which had reached the abutment, the whole were precipitated into the torrent which carried them down together, till they struck the above mentioned log. Here the carriage was dashed in pieces. The driver seized the limb of a tree, and
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held till he was rescued. Mr. Gray swam for a fence, which ex- tended into the water, which he hardly reached and from which he was taken with difficulty. The two other gentlemen were overwhelmed by the torrent.
" The alarm was instantly given, and many were soon present, who used every possible exertion, even at the risk of health and life, to save the unfortunate sufferers. But all in vain, they had sunk to rise no more ! It was nearly four hours before the body of Mr. Palmer was found, which was then past resuscitation. The body of Mr. Prentiss was not found until early the next morning. Their remains were treated with marked respect by every class of citizens. On the day of their interment they were attended to the House of God, by a large concourse of people, from this and the adjoining towns, when the preceding discourse was delivered to a deeply affected and sympathizing audience."
The foregoing is from a note attached to the sermon delivered by Rev. David Smith, on the 24th, which was a very solemn and appropriate one, and which was printed. In that sermon the speaker said, "In regard to the elder, Mr. Isaac Prentiss, we know very little. From information by a passenger yesterday, it ap- pears that he was respectable, and has left a young family to de- plore his exit."
" In respect to the younger, Mr. John Temple .Palmer, more particular information has been obtained. If this information be correct, he was the son of Capt. John Palmer, a British officer in the Revolutionary war. His mother, Augusta, was grand daughter of the late Governor Bowdoin of Massachusetts, and daughter of Sir John Temple, Bart., who was, at the time of her marriage with Capt. Palmer, Consul General in the United States to the Court of Great Britain. The parents of the deceased re- moved from this country to Great Britain; but for some years past, have resided in the south of France. Having given their son a classical education in Europe, they sent him, about four years since, to pursue the study of the law in this country, in which he intended to settle. So far as I can learn, he has spent a part of this time in Harvard University, and part with Mr. Emmet, a distinguished attorney in the city of New York. He had many respectable connections in Boston, particularly the Bowdoin and Winthrop families. To these he had made a visit, expecting, on
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his return to New York, to embark for Europe on a visit to his parents and friends."
The following was written by JOHN G. C. BRAINARD, and en- titled "LINES SUGGESTED BY A LATE OCCURRENCE."
" How slow we drive !- but the hour will come, When friends shall greet me with affection's kiss ; When seated in my boyhood's happy home, I shall enjoy a mild contented bliss,
Not often met with in a world like this ! Then shall I see that brother, youngest born,
I use to play with in my sportiveness ; And from a Mother's holiest look shall learn A parent's thanks to God; for a loved son's return.
" And there is one, who, with a down east eye Will be the last to welcome me ; but yet My memory tells me of a parting sigh, And of a lid with tears of sorrow wet, And how she bade me never to forget A friend-and blushed-O ! shall I see again The same kind look I saw, when last we met,
And parted. Tell me then that life is vain- That joy is met with once, is seldom met again.
* *
* " See ye not the falling, fallen mass ? Hark ! hear ye not the drowning swimmer's cry ? Look on the ruins of the desperate pass ! Gaze at the hurried ice that rushes by Bearing a freight of woe and agony, To that last haven where we all must go- Resistless as the stormy clouds that fly Above our reach, is that dark stream below !- May peace be in its ebb-there's ruin in its flow."
CHAPTER X.
CHARACTER OF THE EARLY INHABITANTS.
The early inhabitants of Durham were enterprising and ener- getic. In the year 1698, when Caleb Seward of Guilford, the first pioneer of the unbroken wilderness, moved into his log- house in the south part of Cogenchaug, he might have climbed to the mountain top on the southern border, and have looked
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