USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Durham > History of Durham, Connecticut, from the first grant of land in 1662 to 1866 > Part 16
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CHARACTER OF THE EARLY INHABITANTS. 177
northwardly, as Moses looked from Pisgah upon Canaan, upon hills rising into mountain ranges on the east and on the west part of the landscape, and between them upon that long swamp, Cog- inchaug, and the small stream working its sluggish way through it ; but he would have seen very little like a land of promise. The Metabesset or Middletown Indians ranged through the forests and swamps, in pursuit of the wild deer and the beaver; but they seem never to have made a settlement. The long swamp in the midst of the territory and occupying a considerable space in it, not only could not be easily brought into use, but it interrup- ted the communication from the east to the west side of it. And there is a tradition, that when some men explored the territory in order to learn its capabilities, they reported, that on the belt of land between the swamp and the eastern hills on the one side, and the bass tree hills on the other, there was space for about six farms. Think of that unbroken pathless wilderness, the abode of the wolf and the panther on the hills, a possession of the " bit- tern and the pools of water " in the swamps, guarded by the rat- tlesnake and the copperhead.
They must have been men of enterprise and energy, men of bold hearts and strong hands, who could undertake the task of planting their institutions, domestic and religious, social and civil, on this forbidding ground. But they performed their task no- bly and well.
Think, for a moment, of what Durham is, in contrast to what Coginchaug was. Think of this glorious amphitheater of culti- vated hills rising in successive ranges from the midland prairie as from an arena; these farms, long the abode of comfort, in- telligence and religion ; this beautiful and quiet village; and " these steeple towers and spires, whose silent finger points to Heaven." When you look around upon the beauty of your sum- mer landscape, on which the "power of cultivation lies," or as you sit in a stormy winter evening, in your warm houses, call to mind what Durham was when that solitary family, near the southern border, were in their rude cabin of logs, listening it may be to the howl of the gaunt wolf, or to the stealthy step of the Indian. And gratefully call to mind the privations and toil, the virtues and wisdom of your forefathers, which procured for you
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the public privileges, and private advantages, which you now enjoy.
The early inhabitants of Durham were strongly attached to the institutions of religion. As early as April 29th, 1699, in the original petition to the legislature, that the "tract of land called Coginehaug, may be granted and settled for a township," the pe- titioners represent the settlement of the place as entirely depend- ing on the fact whether the inhabitants could, with " convenient speed," enjoy "the ordinances of God," "the comfortable attain- ment of which they declare should be the greatest thing we should have regard to in our settling here in this wilderness." And having obtained the object of their petition on this ground, they proceeded to make allotments of land to the " first minister," and also to the "ministry " in perpetuity. Before the patent for the town was issued, and before a church was formed, while their members were limited, and their means scanty, they laid a gen- erous tax for the support of the " ministerial charge." And they not only like David had it in their " hearts to build the house of the Lord," but they actually contributed of their poverty and privations to build a house that for their means and numbers was a large and respectable one.
And in twenty years from the time the first was completed, they were ready to build a larger house, commensurate with the increase of the population. And that they might be at the house of God on the Sabbath, they erected "stables," as they were then called, for their horses, and "Sabbath-day houses," in which they might at once be comfortable, and spend the intermission in an appropriate manner. They were careful to obtain learned, and able, and devoted ministers, and then to pay them generously, and especially to attend regularly upon their ministrations. The Sabbath with them was the great day of the week, for which the evening before furnished a preparation ; and like God himself, they loved the place of worship better than any private habita- tion. Looking through more than a century of years, methinks I see the patriarchs of Durham, on a Sabbath morning, with their families leaving their habitations in the "West-Side," in the "South-End," in the "Quarter," "Up-Street," in the "Green," coming together at the beat of the drum, in that first meeting- house. Methinks I see them with devoted hearts and composed
CHARACTER OF THE EARLY INHABITANTS. 179
faces, taking their seats in their plain house, in which they could worship God in quietness in their own way, and with their own minister, as the puritans could not in the mother country. And as in their joy they were ready to cry out, " How amiable are thy tabernacles, O thou Lord of hosts," methinks they hung upon the lips of their first minister, as upon the lips of a man of God, who was wont to bring into the sanctuary on the Sabbath the fruits of his patient toil during the six days of the week. Methinks I see some with pen in hand, writing out for future use the divis- ions and subdivisions of a logical discourse.
And when they returned to their homes with hearts warmed and faces radiant, they were prepared to go six days in the strength of that spiritual food which they had received. And when severe disease confined them to their beds on the Sabbath, the prayers of the sanctuary went up for them from hearts in which they had often been in communion at the table of the Lord. And when they died, they died in the hopes which had been cherished and strengthened, and it may be originated in the house of God. And when they were buried, their children whom they had offered to God in baptism, and their kindred, on the next Sabbath repaired in their bereavement to the same house where the public prayer would be made on their behalf. Their conso- lations, their enjoyments, their rest from labor, their spiritual culture were found in the house of God; and why should they not be strongly attached to the institution of public worship, and those other religious institutions connected with it, and sustained by it, such as family prayer, and the religious education of chil- dren ?
2. The early inhabitants of Durham were men of deep reflec- tion. The range of their investigations was not a wide one, but they thought closely upon the subjects which engaged their at- tention, such as the doctrines of religion, and the external duties of morality, such as education and the laws of the land, such as the civil government of the town and its ecclesiastical concerns. These subjects of prime importance employed the earnest activ- ity of their minds in their intercourse with each other and in their solitary hours. The weekly and daily press did not as now bring before the public a vast variety of subjects to furnish at least a superficial knowledge. The eloquent lecturer before Ly-
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ceums, and the eloquent agent of some voluntary association before assembled congregations, did not as now exalt the claims of his favorite subject or society, calling in the aid of ridicule or fun. Conventions, and clubs, and mass meetings did not as now interest and agitate the public mind. The post office system had then no existence. The magnetic telegraph, which now commu- nicates intelligence with the speed of lightning to electrify us at times with its startling telegrams, was not dreamed of. They were comparatively isolated from the world. The newspaper press was not then a power to enlighten or deceive. But though the helps for moral and intellectual cultivation were not as great as we of this generation enjoy, still they most judiciously and perseveringly, used their scantier means. How careful were they to provide for the education of their children in common schools, thus laying the foundation of the institutions which we now enjoy ! In their civil affairs how careful were they to select the men best qualified for office ! The most available candidate then was generally the one best qualified. How enlarged were their views in the early establishment of a Town Library, which was done by the "Durham Book Company," as it was styled, October 30th, 1733, before any other Library was formed in the Colony. The books thus collected were in those times read. Furnishing as they did solid nutriment to the mind, and not that trash which stimulates the appetite, while it impairs the di- gestion, what strong men they made! The great principles of Civil and Ecclesiastical Government, the great doctrines of the Gospel, the great duties of morality, the cardinal virtues, the chief end of man, became, in their elements, so familiar to the leading minds of the town, that superficial views of truth or of duty would not satify them.
3. The early inhabitants of Durham were devoted to the public welfare. Closely connected by descent with the Puritan Fathers of Connecticut, they inherited their spirit. They came to this place not to enjoy the fruits of the labors of their ancestors, but to labor themselves for the benefit of those who should come after them. Forests were to be cut down, and the land brought into cultivation. Roads were to be made across the swamp, and elsewhere. A church was to be erected. Schools were to be established, not with money given by the State, or devised by
CHARACTER OF THE EARLY INHABITANTS. 181
some public benefactor. The ministry was to be supported. A burying-ground was to be set off, cleared and protected by a fence. These burdens they cheerfully bore. The love of money had not so seized upon them, that they were willing to neglect the public good for their private gain. The love of office had not so taken possession of them that each was inclined to have it in rapid rotation, rather than to confer it upon the one best qualified to serve the public. Witness their generous contribu- tions of men and means in the French war, and in the war of the Revolution; read their patriotic resolutions adopted in Town meeting, followed by patriotic actions on the field of battle; and you may have proof that the early inhabitants of Durham were devoted to the public welfare.
4. The early inhabitants of Durham were in their actions governed by fixed principles. They were not driven about by every wind of doctrine, whether in civil or ecclesiastical concerns. They were not of the number of those who are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; but having by the patient use of the means they enjoyed adopted their opin- ions, they retained them. We are now speaking of the leading men in the Town. Errors in opinion they may have adopted. Faults in conduct they may have committed. Imperfections and sins they must have had ; but instability in their opinions on im- portant subjects was not one of them.
Of the first settlers of Durham, a considerable number came from under the preaching of such men, as the Rev. Joseph Elliot, of Guilford, son of the Apostle John Elliot; the Rev. Mr. An- drew of Milford, and the Rev. Israel Chauncey of Stratford ; to both of whom was offered the presidency of Yale College ; the Rev. Solomon Stoddard of Northampton; the Rev. Abra- ham Pierson of Killingworth, president of Yale College. The enlightened principles derived from such men, they manifested in their own conduct, and transmitted to their immediate de- scendants. The same confession of faith, they used, it is be- lieved, for nearly a century. They continued faithfully attached to their ministers the same length of time. They were also true to their public servants; sending some of them many years in succession to the Legislature.
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INDIVIDUAL MEN.
Having described the general characters of the early inhabi- tants of Durham, would that I could bring out into distinct view each individual from the first to the present time who is entitled to our gratitude. But no. They are sleeping in their graves, some of them nameless, and forgotten or uncared for. But thanks to the omnipresent eare of God, their names and their works are recorded in his book of remembrance.
Of the few that I can notice, CALEB SEWARD has the first claim, as the first inhabitant of Durham. He was the son of William Seward the emigrant, and was born March 14th, 1662-3. He was the unele of John and brother of Joseph, both of whom came for a residence to Durham. He married Lydia Bushnell July 14th, 1686. He seems to have spent the winter, at least a portion of it, in 1698-9 in Durham, and he and his wife settled in Durham May 4th, 1699. He had seven children, Daniel, Lydia, Caleb, Thomas, Noadiah. After he removed to Durham, he had Ephraim, Aug. 6th, 1700, the first born white child of Durham, and Ebenezer the second white child born June 7th, 1703. He was the first Town Clerk; was a man in whom confidence was universally reposed. He was representative of the Town fifteen sessions of the Legislature. He died August 1st, 1728, aged 65. His wife died August, 1753.
Colonel JAMES WADSWORTH, born July 6th, 1675, in Farm- ington, was the son of John of the same place, who was born in England, and came to this country with his father William, in 1632. He was bred a lawyer, though it does not appear that he ever practised law extensively. The people of Durham gave him almost all the offices at their disposal ; and when his abilities and moral worth came to be generally known, he was honored by appointments from the Colony. He was the first Justice of the Peace, and he had the command of the first military com- pany at its formation. Upon the organization of the Militia in 1735, he was constituted Colonel of the 10th regiment. For a time he was Justice of the Quorum for the County of New Ha- ven. He was Speaker of the House in the Colonial Legislature, 1717, and Assistant from 1718 to 1752. The election to that office was by a general tieket; and such was the confidence of the people of the Colony in his ability and integrity, at a period
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when ability and integrity were the indispensable qualifications for office, that on the returns for the year 1732, he had the high- est vote of any one in the Colony. In May, 1724, he was ap- pointed with several other gentlemen, to hear and determine all matters of error and equity brought on petition to the Grand As- sembly; and from 1725 until he left the council, was one of the Judges of the Superior Court. At the October session of the General Assembly, 1726, a grant of 300 acres of land in the town of Goshen, was made to James Wadsworth, Esq., of Durham, John Hall, Esq., of Wallingford, and Hezekiah Brainard, Esq., of Haddam, father of the missionary David Brainard, for public services. It was called the Esquires' Farm, from its being given to these individuals, each of whom had the title of Esq. In ful- filling the public duties assigned him, ability and integrity were alike conspicuous; while an exemplary attendance upon the wor- ship and the ordinances of the Lord, gave a dignity to his char- acter. He exerted a salutary influence upon the Town, more so indeed than any one, except his "personal friend the minister." He died Jan. 10th, 1756, aged 79. His wife was Ruth Noyes. They had one son, James, who died July 21st, 1770, aged 87, whose wife's name was Penfield. He was the father of General James Wadsworth, and John Noyes Wadsworth.
Colonel ELIHU CHAUNCEY, the eldest son of Rev. Nathaniel Chauncey, was born at Durham, March 24th, 1710. He married Mary Griswold, daughter of Samuel Griswold, of Killingworth. He died April 10th, 1791.
He was a gentleman of a strong mind, of extensive reading and of much influence in the Town and the State. He acted as Colonel in the French war and was stationed on the Northern frontier ; and such was the confidence reposed in him, that he was always invited to sit with the officers of the regular army, in the councils of war with the British officers.
He was elected to the Legislature continuously, thirty-nine years, with the exception of the year when he was in the north- ern army ; in all seventy-six sessions. It is believed that there are some omissions in the record. Besides acting as the Chief Justice of the County Court, he was, in the early part of the Rev- olutionary war, one of the Committee who sat for the trial of persons suspected of being tories. He himself was suspected of
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favoring the tories, and as from a regard to his oath of allegiance to the British Government, which he was unwilling to violate, he would not take the " oath of fidelity " to Connecticut, he re- signed his place on that committee. During the war he held no public office, but lived respected as heretofore by the people. They knew that he was governed by high moral principle, and not by the love of popularity or by self interest. His children were, 1, Charles who died young; 2, Catharine the wife of Rev. Elizur Goodrich; 3, Sarah who died young; 4, Sarah who mar- ried first, Lemuel Guernsey ; second, Simeon Parsons. She died March 19th, 1723; 5, Charles, who has been mentioned elsewhere.
General JAMES WADSWORTH, the son of James Wadsworth, Esq., and grandson of Colonel James Wadsworth, was born July 6th, 1730, and received his degree of Bachelor of Arts in Yale College, 1748, studying law and settling in Durham, he was soon promoted to office in civil and in military life. On the death of his grandfather in 1756, he was elected Town Clerk, some of the duties of which office he had performed for his grand- father. In this office he continued until 1786. In 1775, being at that time a Colonel in the Militia, he was appointed with Erastus Wolcott and others a committee to provide for the offi- cers and soldiers and their families, who were prisoners of war.
In January, 1776, he was Colonel of the first regiment of the Militia of Connecticut in the army of the United Colonies, when the regiment marched to Boston. Under his command were Comfort Tays, Lieut. Col .; Dyer Troop, Major; Samuel John- son, Adjutant ; Thomas Lyman, Quarter Master; Robert Usher, Surgeon ; Elias Norton, Surgeon's Mate; Capt. John Willey and Company ; Capt. John Couch and Company ; Capt. Eliphlet Buckley and Company ; Capt. Joseph - - and Company ; Capt. Jeremiah Mason and Company ; Capt. Jared Shepherd and Company ; Capt. Jesse Moss and Company; Capt. Benjamin Richards and Company.
In 1776 he was appointed Brigadier General of the battalion raised to reinforce the Continental army in New York. In 1777 he was appointed second Major General, in the place of Major General Huntington. He was one session a member of the Con- tinental Congress. In 1777 he was a member of an important Committee appointed to revise the militia laws of the State for
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the more effectual defense of the country. In March, 1777, General Wadsworth was ordered to march one-fourth of his brig- ade to New Haven, to defend the coast. In April, 1778, the Council of Safety directed him to inquire into the state of the guards at New Haven, and to dismiss the militia there, in whole or in part, at his discretion. For a time he was member of the Committee of Safety in the State.
For some time, he was Justice of the Quorum, and then Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in New Haven County. In 1786 and 7, he was Controller of Public Accounts in the State, and from 1785 to 1789, he was member of the Council.
Between him and Colonel Chauncey, there was a strong and generous friendship. They were both men of the highest moral principle, which no office could bribe them to desert. Both of these were, to some extent, martyrs to their principles. When the Revolutionary war was impending, Col. Chauncey refused to violate his oath of allegiance to Great Britain. He, therefore, from high moral consideration, gave up public office. In his re- tirement from public life he enjoyed the confidence of his fellow men, because they considered him true to his principles of honor and moral obligation. When the new Federal Constitution was brought before the State Convention in Hartford, for adoption or rejection, General Wadsworth made the great speech against it. He thought that though the Convention that formed it, supposed that they had guarded the rights of the States, advantage would be taken of it, in times of popular excitement, to encroach on the rights of the States. And afterwards he always refused, on high moral grounds, to take an oath to support the Federal Con- stitution. His oath of fidelity to Connecticut he thought would be violated by taking that oath. He was offered office, even, it was said, the office of Governor of the State. But no, he must remain true to his "oath of fidelity " to the State of Connec- ticut. What would he say now with the experience of seventy- five years ? Would he consider himself a true, or a false prophet ?
In the year 1794, the General Assembly, notwithstanding he refused to take the oath to support the Constitution of the United States, appointed him "to settle the accounts between the State
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of New York and the State of Connecticut, and to receive the balance which may be due this State on such settlement."
The Library of the Durham Book Company was kept at his house for many years. He was very dignified but very courte- ous in his manners as I well remember. He sometimes had a word of encouragement in regard to reading certain books which I drew from the Library.
I remember too, that the boys of the Center School, often when they saw General Wadsworth coming, on his Narraganset pacer, with his large, erect military figure, with his broad brimmed hat, with his Olympian locks, would run across the Green to the road, to take off their hats and make a low bow. This courtesy he returned to each of us, taking his hat quite off, and bowing to each one. Thus he encouraged good manners, of which he was a model.
By invitation from his nephews, William Wadsworth and James, he spent a year or more at Genesco, N. Y. But though surrounded with every thing that he could desire, his heart still yearned for Durham. He died Sept. 22d, 1797, aged 87. His wife was Catharine Guernsey. She died Dec. 13th, 1813. Their two daughters Abigail and Catharine, died in childhood. The high position which General Wadsworth occupied, as well as the intrinsic excellence of his character, both intellectual and moral, render it desirable that a full history of his life should be given to the public.
" LEBANON, 10th December, 1777.
Sir,
In reply to yours respecting Major Williams of the Royal British Artillery, I have thought proper, in consideration of the ill state of health of said Williams, that you grant him a Flag to go into New York, together with Doctor Graham, and the other persons mentioned, upon condition that he procure an exchange for himself, namely, Major Otho Holland Williams of Maryland, or Licut. Col. Selah Hart, of this State, and for the other persons an equal number of equal standing; or in case of failure of exchange, his giving parole to return immediately in person.
You will please to cause some proper vessel to be procured at New Haven, with some suitable intelligent person to go with
CHARACTER OF THE EARLY INHABITANTS. 187
her, and do every other necessary requisite to effectuate this pur- pose. I am,
Sir, your most obedient humble servant, JONATHAN TRUMBULL.
P. S .- If Major Williams is obliged to return, there is no doubt that he may bring out a physician of his choice.
Major General Wadsworth."
DANIEL HALL, Esq., was for a long time a leading man in the town of Durham. He was often Moderator at Town Meetings ; was often sent as a representative to the General Assembly ; was a delegate to the Convention that adopted the Federal Constitu- tion ; often acted on trials as a Justice of the Peace; was a Dea- con of the Church, and is represented as exemplary in religion, strict in morals, and faithful in office. He was the son of Will- iam Hall and Elizabeth Johnson his wife, who was the daughter of Deacon William Johnson of Guilford, to whom the Gen- eral Court gave a farm in Durham, and sister of Samuel John- son the father of the Samuel Johnson, President of King's College, New York. Deacon Daniel Hall died December 17th, 1790. He lived in the house now occupied by John S. Camp. He previously lived at the Tuttle place in the West side.
SIMEON PARSONS was born in Durham, and was the son of Simeon Parsons, who was born in 1701 in Northampton, who was the son of Joseph Parsons, who married a daughter of Elder John Strong. This Joseph was the son of Joseph the brother of Benjamin, both of whom emigrated from England. Simeon Par- sons was well educated, was the brother of Noah Parsons, who was educated at Yale College. He was for a long period held in high public estimation; represented the Town for many ses- sions in the Legislature ; was a justice of the peace; was Cap- tain in the Revolutionary army ; was Town Clerk from 1786 to 1810. He died July 12th, 1819, in his 87th year.
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