USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Durham > History of Durham, Connecticut, from the first grant of land in 1662 to 1866 > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36
The first Trustees were Dr. Chauncey Andrews, Curtis C. Camp, Zebulon Hale, L. W. Leach, Enos Rogers, Timothy El- liott, and Henry M. Coe. Alterations and repairs have since been made, and the church is now valued at $5000. The pres- ent Trustees, Jan. 7th, 1866, are Wm. II. Walkley, Alvin P., Roberts, Charles I. Haywood, Alexander Camp, Asa Fowler Phineas Robinson, Edward A. Thayer, Judson E. Francis and Henry Page.
The North Congregational Church was dedicated in June, 1847. The Sermon was preached by the Rev. Merrill Richard- son from the 77th psalm, 13. "Thy way, oh God, is in the Sanctuary."
The South Congregational Church was dedicated December 29, 1849. The Dedication Sermon was preached by Rev. Wil- liam C. Fowler.
It may not be out of place to say that the two Congrega- tional and the Methodist Churches have lately been repaired and are in good order. The Episcopal Church has been so recently built that it needs no repairs.
STABLES OR SHEDS ON THE GREEN.
Dec. 5, 1718, "Resolved by voate by the Town that all per- sons being inhabitants of the Town may have libertie to build stables for horses on the Meeting-House Green ; always provided that the place be first measured out and assigned to them by the Select Men before any such stable be erected on the green."
SABBATH DAY HOUSES.
" Dec. 1721, The Town by their major voate gave liberty to Deacon William Seward, Serj. Joel Parmely, John Seaward,
97
MEETING HOUSES.
Stephen Hickox and James Morris to build houses on the edge of the Meeting-House Green adjoyning Mr. Camp's North line, to be for the entertainment of sd persons and familys on Sabbath and other public days ; and the Select men are to lay out conven- ient places for sd persons to build sd houses upon.
This meeting is adjourned untill Friday next at sunset, at Thomas Stanley's house." Mr. Stanley kept a public house at this time.
These houses were from twenty to twenty-five feet in length, and from ten to twelve feet in breadth, and one story high with a chimney in the middle dividing the whole space into two rooms with a partition between them, for the accommodation of two families, who united in building the house. The furniture con- sisted of a few chairs, a table, plates and dishes ; some iron uten- sil, it may be, for warming food which had been cooked. Be- sides the Bible, there was sometimes a book on experimental rc- ligion, like Baxter's Saints' Rest, or Allein's Alarm. On the morning of the Sabbath the mother of the family with provident care, put up her store of comforts for the dinner, substantial or slight fare as most convenient, a bottle of cider almost of course. The family then set off from their home in a large two horse sleigh, or on saddles and pillions. They stopped at the Sabbath- day house, kindled a blazing fire, and then went forth " to shiver in the cold during the morning Services." At noon they hurried back to their warm room. After they had taken their meal and by turns drank from the pewter mug, thanks were returned. Then the sermon came under review, from the notes taken by the father of the family, or a chapter was read from the Bible, or a paragraph from some favorite author, the service concluding with prayer or singing. After again visiting the sanctuary, the family would return to the Sabbath-day house if the cold was severe, before they sought their home. The fire was then ex- tinguished, the door was locked, and the house remained undis- turbed during the week.
In time the custom of repairing to these houses changed; the houses themselves became dilapidated or furnished a refuge for the poor. They were better suited to those times when so much was thought of private family religion, than they would be to ours, when religion has become more of a public and social con-
13
98
HISTORY OF DURHAM.
cern. The last Sabbath-day house which I remember, stood on the land owned by the first minister. It was occupied by John King, a Hessian deserter from the British army. It was owned by one of the Nortons. The present writer can recollect as many as half a dozon of these houses. They grew up out of the type of religion which existed at that time. It was a family religion, rather than a public one.
PEST HOUSE.
" April 14, 1760. The Town resolved by a major vote that some House be forthwith built and erected in some suitable place, for the reception of such persons as shall be taken with infectious diseases." A committee was chosen to carry that vote into exe- cution. This committee made their report Dec. 4, 1760, "that they had built the house according to the direction of the Town."
This house was used for a number of years to receive persons taken with small pox, as well as for those inoculated. It was built on the Town lot, so called to this day, which lies north of Parke's Ledges, and northwest from Pisgah. There are several graves there with head stones to mark the spot where some of the victims of the disease were buried. The terror inspired by the small pox can hardly be understood in these times when vaccination has been substituted for the original disease. The subjects of it were banished from the abodes of men while liv- ing, and from the public grave yards when dead. The trees are growing up around these graves and striking their roots into them, as these tenants lie "in this neglected spot." But though unvisited as they lie under the forest trees, and unthought of by men, God will remember them and take care of their dust, as precious in his sight. Though, in that retired place, they will hear the voice of the Arch Angel and the trump of God, and will rise up as promptly as those who lie under marble monu- ments in the most popular grave yard. I have just visited the spot. The remnant of a cellar and of a chimney are there. The well is there. Five grave marks are there. One stone has the following inscription : "Timothy Hall died July 17, 1775, aged 50." In the "South West Side" near the Nathan Camp house, are three graves of victims of the same disease ; John Jones, who died of the small pox, Nov. 25, 1759, in the 47th year of hisage ;
99
MEETING HOUSES.
Hannah Jones, who died of the small pox, Dec. 4, 1759, in the 42d year of her age. Sarah, daughter of Mr. John and Mrs. Han- nah Jones, Nov. 28, 1759, in her tenth year.
In the year 1795, the steeple of the second church was built. The following story was current when I was young :
Mr. Jesse Austin was painting the steeple, on a long ladder. The ladder fell ; he was not only not injured, but he carried the paint pot, through the quarter of a circle which he described in falling, without spilling the paint.
On the 15th of December, 1793, at a Town Meeting, voted that the bell in the steeple, shall be rung on each day excepting Sab- baths at sunrise in the morning, at 12 o'clock in the day time, and at 9 o'clock at the night ; and on the Sabbath an hour before the beginning of the exercise, and at the opening of Town and Free- man's meeting, and also in the night season when it shall so hap- pen that any building be on fire. This bell was presented to the town by Mr. Elias Camp.
The practice of ringing the bell at these hours, contributed to give regularity to household arrangements throughout the town.
That bell at that time uttered a distinct voice, with a distinct meaning, to earnest listeners. It meant that all that were not up with the lark, should be up with the sun. It meant that the weary laborer in the field at mid-day should hasten home to his smoking board, ready to receive and refresh him. It meant that the evening visitors should hasten home to family prayers, and to sleep the sweet sleep of the laboring man with unbarred doors, and unshuttered windows, ready to receive his neighbor, or the sun.
SINGING SCHOOLS.
Before the year 1727 it appears that very little attention was paid to the art of singing. Those who sang in the House of God on the Sabbath, may have sung with the spirit, but not with the understanding. They learned the tunes by the ear and not from the notes. At that time Rev. Mr. Chauncey prepared a pamph- let, which was afterwards published, entitled " Regular singing defended and proved to be the only true way of singing the songs of the Lord." By "regular singing" he meant singing by rule. With reference to this, the General Association of Connecticut
100
HISTORY OF DURHAM.
passed the following: "At a General Association at Hartford, May 12, 1727. This Association having heard the Rev. Mr. Chauncey's Arguments for Regular Singing, do approve of them and vote them to be printed ; Recommending them to the pub- lick and hoping they may be of usefulness. As Attest, TIM- OTHY WOODBRIDGE, Moderator."
The question stated by him is " Whether in singing the songs of the Lord, we ought to proceed by a certain Rule, or to do it in any Loose, Irregular way, that this or that people have accustomed themselves unto?" The "arguments" in favor of "regular singing, as the only true way of singing," he states with logical accuracy and convincing power. In the course of his remarks he states that "the difference among towns in singing is very great, scarcely any two towns sing perfectly alike; and yet each town or person asserts they are in the right, and their neighbor is in the wrong."
The following he says are the objections made to regular sing. ing: "Objection 1. This practice leads to the Church of England and will bring in organs. Objection 2. The very original of this way was from the Papists. Objection 3. The way of singing we use in this country is more solemn, and therefore much more suitable and becoming. Objection 4. It looks very un- likely to be the right way because young people fall into it. Ob- jection 5. It is the cause of sore and bitter contentions." These objections he answers in a very satisfactory manner.
This pamphlet of fifty-four pages, published in 1728, must have had great influence in correcting the false taste and the loose practice not only in Durham but elsewhere. The argumentation was conclusive. It settled the question.
Before this, each singer seemed, in a certain sense, to sing his own tune though he sang with others ; just as a certain dancer who did not keep step to the music pleasantly said, "I always dance to my own tune."
In the first Meeting House it does not appear that any special accommodation was made for the singers. But in the second Meeting House they occupied the front slips on three sides of the Gallery. In this house for a hundred years singing was prac- ticed as an art. It was taught as an art probably before the con- gregation left the first house, in singing schools, and it has con-
101
MEETING HOUSES.
tinued thus to be taught ever since, with more or less success. These singing schools were formerly popular with the young people. Besides furnishing them with instruction they furnished pleasant occasions for intercourse.
A chorister regularly appointed, named the tune after the psalm was read, sounded his pitch pipe, and uttered two or three notes immediately after. When he rose, the singers, forty or fifty sometimes in number, rose on the three sides of the house, and sang generally with great animation. Sometimes there was a break-down, and then there was a good natured smile on the faces of the congregation. For a long time there was an inherited dis- like of instrumental music. A certain man in my own recol- lection, would go to the south door of the Meeting House and inquire, "Is the great fiddle there ?" On being told that it (the Bass Viol) was there, he would depart to his home. He was not willing to be present where there was such a "Dagon."
THE BURIAL GROUND.
The old Burying Ground, so called, which was given by the proprietors, was the only burying ground in the town until 1822, when the new one was laid out. The old burying ground was formerly much frequented. I have collected from it a number of striking epitaphs. But instead of printing them, I intro- duce the words of HOLMES.
" Go where the ancient pathway guides, See where our sires laid down Their smiling babes, their cherished brides, The patriarchs of the town ; Hast thou a tear for buried love ? A sigh for transient power ?
All that a century left above, Go read it in an hour."
102
HISTORY OF DURHAM.
CHAPTER VII.
EDUCATION.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
As in Connecticut generally the School Master has not been far off when the Minister has been settled, and the School House has been side by side with the Church, so in Durham, the very year that the first Minister was ordained, the town authorized the Selectmen to engage a School Master for six months, and soon after the Meeting House was finished, the Town appointed a Committee to build a School House on the Green. But one school appears to have been kept until December, 1737, when the people on the west side of Coginchaug swamp were allowed to have a School. One was set up soon after at the North end of the Town.
" At a Town meeting on the 25th of December, 1711, the Town by voate made choyse of the selectmen, who are now chosen, to hire a school-master as soon as may be (or the space of half a year) for the advantage of the children in the Town, that they may be instructed, to Write and Read, and the sd school-master to be paid as the law directs."
" At a Town meeting in Durham October 8, 1722. The town by their Major voate did agree to build a school-house, to be in length twentie six feet and in breadth eighteen feet, to be set upon the meeting-house Green; and the Town by their Major Voate made choyse of Ensign Joseph Coe, Serj. Joseph Seaward, and Noah Lyman to be their committee to pitch upon the particular spot, where sd house should be sett, and also to sett up and finish sd house and chimley with all convenient speed."
I have understood that the primer, and the psalter, were for a time, the only reading books in the school. Afterwards the New Testament was introduced. Later, Dilworth's spelling book was used, and afterwards Webster's and his Third part.
From the settlement of the Town to the year 1741 it appears that one half of the expense of the Schools was defrayed from the Town Treasury, and the other half was assessed on the pupils.
103
EDUCATION.
In 1741 the General Assembly granted to the Town of Dur- ham a certain sum derived from the Sale of five Townships of land. In 1765, certain sums of money from the excise on spirits, were appropriated to schooling, amounting to £30,14,4. These two sums now amount to $739.42, the interest upon which has been annually applied to schooling down to the present time. This is called the common bond money.
In 1775, Ebenezer Robinson deeded to Elihu Chauncey and his heirs in trust, a piece of land five rods square, on the "Cor- ner of his Green lot," for any of the inhabitants to build a school house. The Centre School House now stands upon this ground.
In 1780, Ebenezer Robinson, willed to the Town of Durham, about three acres of land for a Burying Ground, the profits of which were to be applied to the centre school, both before and after it shall be used for a Burying Ground. At the same time said Robinson willed to the inhabitants of the Town of Durham £100 lawful money for a school to be kept at the centre school house eleven months in the year.
In 1787 a portion of the donation, namely £39, was vested in Ohio lands. These lands were sold and the Report of the selling committee was made 1835, that the avails in their hands amounted to $892. This added to the other portions of the £100 makes the sum of $1152.18 the interest on which, $69.13, has been ap- plied to the Centre School agreeably to the will.
The third source from which money is received for schooling is the state appropriation, on the first of October about $147.00, on the first of March $314.00.
There is also received on the first of October annually from the Town deposite fund $171.90. The aforesaid moneys, in all $746.39, are annually divided on the scholars between the age of four and sixteen, amounting to about three hundred and twenty.
Select Schools have been kept in Durham from time to time in private houses, or in the Academy on the Green, and in the Acad- emy in the north part of the town.
THE BOOK COMPANY.
The BOOK COMPANY of Durham was instituted on the 30th day of October, Anno Domini 1733. This it is supposed, was the
104
HISTORY OF DURHAM.
first established in the colony. The original founders were namely, Col. ELIHU CHAUNCEY, Capt. NATHANIEL SUTLIEF, Mr. HUIT STRONG, Mr. SAMUEL SEAWARD, Capt. EBENEZER GUERNSEY, Lieut. NATHANIEL SEAWARD, Mr. THOMAS ROBINSON, and Capt. ROBERT FAIRCHILD. The formation of the company was by the following agreement made and subscribed by the founders and afterwards by their associates.
Articles of the Book Company of Durham, Oet. 30, 1733. " Forasmuch as the subscribers hereof, being desirous to improve our leisure hours, in enriching our minds in useful and profitable knowledge by reading, do find ourselves unable to so do, for the want of suitable and proper books. Therefore, that we may be the better able to furnish ourselves with a suitable, and proper collection of books for the above said end, we do each of us unite together, and agree to be coparcenors in company together by the name of The 'BOOK COMPANY of Durham,' 'united to buy books, and we do agree and covenant with each other; and it is hereby covenanted and agreed upon, by each of us, the subscribers hereof, that we ourselves and successors will be in future a society or company of eoparcenors united for said end, viz. to buy books, and we will each of us so often as we shall agree by our major vote, bear our equal parts in advancing any sum or sums of money at any time as a common stock to be laid out for such books, as shall be agreed upon by the major vote of the company, to en- large our Library, and in pursuance of said design, we have each of us put into one stock the sum of twenty shillings, which is already laid out according to our Direction in purchasing books, which books shall be kept as a common stock Literary for the use of said company, by some meet person, whom we shall choose, each member having one equal right in said Library, and the use of the same under such regulations, as we shall agree upon."
In addition to this were sixty by-laws, carefully and judiciously drawn up, which with the preamble was signed on the 30th of October, Anno Domini 1733, in the seventh reign of our sove- reign Lord George second, King, &c. In the order of subscrip- tion, the following names are signed."
1. Elihu Chauncey, 2. Nathaniel Sutliff, 3. Huit Strong, 4. Sam- uel Seaward, 5. Joseph Sanford, 6. Ebenezer Guernsey, 7. Na- thaniel Seaward, 8. Thomas Robinson, 9. Robert Fairchild, 10.
105
EDUCATION. .
Azariah Beach, 11. Ezra Baldwin, 12. John Parmalee, 13. Will- iam Johnson, 14. Samuel Fairchild, 15. James Curtis, Jun, 16. John Camp, Jun., 17. Job Wheeler, 18. Moses Parsons, 19. Itha- mar Parsons, 20. Richard Spelman, 21. Abel Beach, 22. Joseph Coe, 23. Daniel Merwin, Jun, 24. John Camp 2d, 25. Bryan Ros- seter.
In 1747, new by-laws, and articles of agrement were made, and new names were added, among which were, Israel Burrit, Noah Lyman, Thomas Lyman, Israel Camp, Benjamin Wells, Abraham Bartlet, and Elnathan Chauncey as possessing the right of Robert Fairchild. Col. Chauncey continued to be clerk and library keeper until 1782, when he resigned the office and Mr. Bridgman Guernsey was elected to that office. The number of rights at that time was sixty-three.
A standing Committee on the Library was appointed, namely, Rev. Elizur Goodrich, Capt. Elnathan Chauncey, Mr. Benjamin Picket and Mr. Thomas Lyman.
In January, 1787, Mr. Lemuel Guernsey was appointed Libra- rian in place of Bridgman Guernsey, resigned.
Nov. 25, 1788. The New Library Company was formed in connection with the old. A new constitution was formed under which Rev. Elizur Goodrich was chosen clerk, Elnathan Chaun- cey, Librarian ; General James Wadsworth, the Rev. Elizur Goodrich, Mr. Thomas Lyman, Capt. Medad Strong and Mr. John Curtis, Jun., were chosen standing committee.
In forming the New Library the rights of the Old were carefully respected, and half the money received for the purchase of books was appropriated to the Old Library.
Dec. 1, 1794, Capt. Elnathan Chauncey resigned the office of Librarian, and Gen. James Wadsworth was appointed Librarian.
On Death of Rev. Elizur Goodrich, Mr. Elnathan Camp was chosen clerk, Dec. 4, 1797.
Dec. 2, 1799, Rev. David Smith was chosen clerk in place of Elnathan Camp, resigned.
Dec. 1816, Charles Camp was appointed Librarian.
Dec. 1839, Worthington Chauncey was appointed Librarian.
Feb. 1856, the Book Company was dissolved, and the books sold at vendue.
The Durham Book Company was, as stated to Dr. Goodrich
14
106
HISTORY OF DURHAM.
by Col. Chauncey, the first of the kind established in the Colony, though many were established afterwards. It was patronized by President Clapp and the Fellows of Yale College, by Rev. Sam- uel Johnson, D. D., President of King's College, New York, by Dr. Sherlock of London, through Rev. Ichabod Camp. President Stiles was a member of the company. The most intelligent men in the town belonged to it. The number and character of the books reflected honor upon the town. For nearly a century the books were circulated extensively through the town, and being read in the families nourished, for two or three generations, strong men who understood important subjects, in the various elevated branches of human knowledge. It was this Library that helped to make the voice of Durham potent in the Legisla- ture for sixty or eighty years. It was this Library that helped to make the two first clergymen eminent. It was this Library that helped to refine the manners of the people, and which gave their high character to the emigrants from Durham. It was this Library that gave a high character to the schools, and which cre- ated a taste of a liberal education, which for a long time charac- terized the town.
But for the last twenty or twenty-five years of its existence it ceased to be attractive to the mass of the people. Newspapers, light reading and party politics, took the place of solid books, so that the Library was neglected, and Durham lost in some de- gree its high standing among the other towns.
THE ETHOSIAN LIBRARY.
About the time of the formation of the Federal constitution, 1787, a society called the Ethosian, was organized by some of the young men, and middle aged people of Durham and Middlefield. "The object of it was to obtain knowledge, encourage industry, and the moral virtues, and to make good members of society."
This it proposed to do by discussing questions, and reading books which it embodied in the Library, for circulation among its members who owned rights in it. In the discussions, and in some of the books, there was a good deal of freedom of thought, so much so indeed, that some well meaning men in Durham be- came alarmed. I have never learned that Dr. Goodrich or any of the intelligent and liberal minded men in the town expressed
107
EDUCATION.
any apprehension about it. Noah Talcott, afterwards a leading merchant in New York, was the secretary. The society was dis- solved in 1793. The Library company continued to exist, and books for twenty or thirty years were drawn from it by the mem- bers. It was kept at Mr. Bridgman Guernsey's, one of the most respectable 'men in town, and was afterwards removed to Mr. Thomas Lyman's. I drew books from it not unfrequently, as from the other Library, and with advantage. The discussions in the society were sustained by speakers on both sides of impor- tant questions in morals and religion as in Colleges. Books, too, on both sides of important questions were in the Library, some of which were supposed to be of a dangerous tendency.
After party spirit in politics and religion began to run high in Durham and Middlefield, some odium was cast upon the society and the Library, as if they were infidel in their character. Public opinion was divided, as may be seen in the "Report of the case of JOSHUA STOW vs. Sherman Converse for Libel." Like the other Libraries the books in it long since ceased to be read. When Libraries were in fashion at one period, the boys of six or eight years of age established a library. It was kept at Mr. Gillum's by Anson Gillum. He resided in a house just east of Mrs. Blatchley's house.
MEN LIBERALLY EDUCATED.
The first who was liberally educated from the town of Dur- ham, was the Rev. William Seward, son of Deacon William Seward and Damaris Seward. He was born July 27, 1712, and received his degree of Bachelor of Arts in Yale College in the class of 1734. He was ordained at North Killingworth, Jan. 18, 1738, and died 1782, after a ministry of 44 years. Possessing good natural talents, though he spent a portion of his time in manual labor, his acquisitions were respectable. As he preached without notes in the latter part of his life, his sermons may not have possessed all the correctness of written sermons. To all his people he was a father and a friend and from them he received continually the expressions of affection and esteem. And he had abundant reason to rejoice in the belief that the evangelical truth which he loved himself, took effect on the hearts and lives of the people of his charge, who in their turn remembered him with
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.