History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 108

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 108

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The ereetion of a ehureh being contemplated, on the 28th of November, 1836, on the application of Lewis Pennfield and others, Ira Ferriz, preaeller in charge, appointed the following persons trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Stepney : Lewis Pennfield, Abram S. Johnson, Elam Beard, Albert Johnson, and William Pennfield. Lewis Edwards, Esq., donated the ground on which to ereet the elureh.

An unoccupied barn belonging to the Pennfield brothers, in Lower Stepney, was used as a shop, in which were prepared all the building materials for the ehureh, but it was all consumed by fire. The Penn- field brothers, upon whom the loss mainly fell, eom- meneed again the ereetion of the church, which was dedicated in July, 1839. Rev. Geo. Coles preached the dedieation sermon ; Nathaniel Mead was the preaeher in charge.

The church, sinee its formation, has been blessed with not a few gracious revival seasons. Under the labors of Rev. Mr. Mead, during the winter follow- ing the dedication of the elturel, there was a great revival, which resulted in a large aeeession to the membership. In 1842, during the first pastorate of Rev. Mr. Stebbens, a revival oeeurred at Cutler's Farms, resulting in a large ingathering. During the pastorate of Rev. H. N. Mead, of 1855-56, there was a large aeeession. Mr. Mead was assisted in the

revival work by Rev. Elbert Osborn. There were also revivals under Rev. Mr. Lovejoy in 1865, and Rev. Mr. Laine in 1869; while more or less revival influence has attended the labors of all the pastors.

In 1856 the parsonage was purchased, during the pastorate of Rev. L. D. Nickerson, and in 1873, under the pastorate of Rev. D. Osborn, quite exten- sive repairs were made.

In 1870, under the administration of Rev. D. Nash, the church edifice was repaired and very much im- proved. The church property now consists of a pleas- ant and commodious house of worship and a neat and comfortable parsonage, both free from debt.

MINERAL DEPOSIT.

The following reference to the mineral deposit in Monroe is from Barbor's "Historieal Collections" :

" Monroo is much celebrated for its extensivo deposit of minerals. More than fifteen years since, a shaft was sunk a few fect on tho farm of Mr. Ephraim Lane. This rovealed a rich variety of interesting mineral substances. Among them were tungsten, tellurinm, native bismuth, na- tive silver, magnetic and common iron pyrites, copper pyrites, galena, blende, tourmalino, etc. It is greatly to bo desired that this locality should be further explored. Four miles south of this spot is a vein of flnorspar about two feet in width.

" Tho vein is much penetrated by quartz, mica, feldspar, and talc, bnt it has been hitherto examined only on tho surfaco. It is principally massive, and its structure foliated or coarsely granular, but it presents well-defined cubical crystals. Its colors vary from white to deep violet and purple, and aro principally various shades of the two latter. But tho most interesting circumstance relating to it is its splendid phosphor- escenco. Tho light emitted when it is thrown in a dark place upon a hot shovel is the purest emerald green ; pieces of an inch in diameter be- come in a few seconds fully illuminated, and the light is so strong and enduring that when carried into a room lighted by candles or by diffuso (not direct) light of the sun, they still continue distinctly luminons, and the light dies away very gradually as the mineral cools.

"Mr. Lane has also discovered on his land a locality of beryls, somc of which are very large. Native sulphur has been found near the surface of the earth."

CIVIL HISTORY.

The first town-meeting was held June 16, 1823, when the following officers were elected: Capt. Levi Edwards was moderator; Seleetmen, Daniel B. Hub- bell, Samuel Beardsley, and August Lewis; Town Clerk, Samuel Wheeler; Treasurer, August Lewis; Constables, Fred. Niehols, Asa B. Beardsley, Alonzo Chapman, Wm. Beach, and Roswell Wells; Grand Jurors, Win. Richards and Geo. L. Sherman ; Tytli- ingmen, Nathan Sherman, James Clark, Abel Haw- ley, A. Sherman, and Henry Lane; Haywards, Benj. M. French and Andrew Judson; Sealer of Weights and Measures, Jolın Curtis.

"Voted, That Abel Babbitt's pound be a lawful pound, and that the same Abel be Key Keeper of the same."

"l'oted, That Philip Nichol's yard bo a lawful pound, and that Philip Nichols be Kcy keeper."

"l'oted, That Ephraim Sherwood's yard be a lawful pound, and that said Ephraim bo Key Keeper."

"J'oted, That swino bo allowed to go at large on the common with a good and sufficient ring in the centre of their nose."

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1824 TO 1880.

1824, Ebenezer Beardsley; 1825-26, Cyrus H. Beardsley ; 1827, Levi Ed- wards; 1828, Henry Lum; 1829, Agur Lewis; 1830, Ezra Beardsley ; 1831, Cyrus 11. Beardsley ; 1832, William Wheeler, Jr .; 1833, Levi Edwards; 1834, Charles ('un tiss ; 1835, Levi Edwards ; 1:36, Cyrus H.

* Contributod by Rev. C. T. Mallory.

434

HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Beardsley; 1837, Charles Curtiss; 1838, Mark Leavenworth ; 1839, William Beach ; 1840, Roswell Wells; 1841, Judson Curtis; 1842, Samuel C. Beardslee; 1843, Agur Cable; 1844-46, Cyrus H. Beards- lee; 1847, Agur Beardsley (2d); 1848, James W. Beardsley; 1849, David Beach ; 1850, Eli D. Beardslee ; 1851, Charles Blackman ; 1852, Ephraim Leach; 1853, Stephen French ; 1854, David Beach; 1855, Giles O. Keeler ; 1856, Lewis Shermau; 1857, David Wells; 1858, Wil- liam Huhbell; 1859, Charles B. Clarke; 1860, Charles L. Hubbell; 1861, Waite Clarke; 1862, Burr Wheeler; 1863, Preston D. Peck ; 1864, Judson Curtis; 1865, D. F. Whitlock ; 1866, C. L. Bostwick ; 1867, Charles W. Curtiss ; 1868, Willis Turner; 1869, Eli D. Beards- ley; 1870, Burr Hawley ; 1871, James C. Johnson ; 1872, William H. Curtiss ; 1873, John Powell; 1874, Frederick W. Wheeler; 1875, David Warner; 1876, Henry C. Riker; 1877, Lucius D. Lane; 1878- 79, Charles B. Wheeler; 1880, Edward M. Beardsley.

MILITARY RECORD.

From records in the adjutant-general's office the following list is taken :

FIRST CAVALRY. Company D.

John Davis, enl. Dcc. 1, 1861 ; must. out Aug. 2, 1865.

Company H.

J. M. Turney, enl. Nov. 25, 1863; must. out Oct. 2, 1865.

Company L.

P. Foley, enl. Dec. 2, 1864; must. out Oct. 2, 1865.

William Brown, enl. Nov. 28, 1864.

J. Burke, enl. Dec. 12, 1864.

Robert Lce, enl. Nov. 28, 1864.

Thomas O'Neil, eul. Dec. 12, 1864 ; disch. Jan. 9, 1865.

MISCELLANEOUS.

William Riley, Co. C, Ist Art .; enl. Dec. 12, 1864.

G. A. Moses, Co. G, 10th Regt .; enl. Nov. 1864; must. out June 6, 1865.

C. Holmes, Co. C, 11th Regt .; enl. March 24, 1864; must. out Dec. 21, 1865.

George Sherman, Co. B, 13th Regt .; enl. Feb. 1, 1862 ; disch. July 5, 1862. John Lewis, 11thı Regt .; enl. Dec. 9, 1864.

M. Pryor, Co. A, 15th Regt. ; enl. Dcc. 1, 1864 ; must. out July 20, 1865. James Cook, Co. A, 15th Regt .; enl. Dec. 1, 1864; must. out July 20, 1865.

Thomas P. King, Co. H, 15th Regt .; enl. Nov. 30, 1864; must. out Dec. 13, 1865.

William Riley, Co. K, 13th Regt .; enl. Feh. 22, 1861; died June 8, 1865. John Dunn, Co. C, 5th Regt .; enl. Dec. 1, 1864.

James Ryan, Co. C, 5th Regt .; enl. Nov. 29, 1864.

J. P. Tomlinsou, Co. A, 8th Regt .; eul. Sept. 27, 1861; transferred to In- valid Corps, July 1, 1863.

Charles Holmes, Co. C, 11th Regt .; enl. March 24, 1864; must. out Dec. 21, 1865.

S. Knowles, Co. C, 11th Regt .; enl. Nov. 29, 1864.

H. A. Smith, Co. A, 8th Regt .; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Nov. 25, 1861.

H. Lake, Co. A, 8tlı Regt .; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; disch. Feb. 5, 1862.

A. Leavenworthı, Co. D, 17th Regt .; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; disch. Fch. 19, 1864.

Edward Nichols, Co. D, 17th Regt .; enl. Ang. 7, 1862 ; must. out July 19, 1865.

H. B. Nichols, Co. D, 17th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 9, 1862; transferred to In- valid Corps; dischi. July 1, 1865.

Ira Penfield, Co. D, 17th Regt .; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must. out July 19, 1865.

W. R. Smith, Co. D, 17th Regt .; enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must. out July 19, 1865.

John B. Waylan, Co. D, 17th Regt .; enl. Aug. 8, 1862; dischi. Oct. 8, 1863. W. Malloy, Co. E, 10th Regt .; eul. Dec. 15, 1864; must. out Oct. 25, '65. J. W. French, Co. A, 14th Regt .; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must. out May 31, 1865.

R. W. Whitcomh, Co. A, 14thi Regt .; enl. June 9, 1862 ; must. out March 1, 1863.

William Winn, Co. A, 14th Regt .; enl. Dec. 12, 1864; must. out July 20, 1865.

W. H. Adams, Co. D, 17th Regt .; enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; disch. March 13, '63. J. H. Saylor, Co. D, 17thi Regt .; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; disch. Dec. 23, 1862. W. P. Bradley, Co. D, 17th Regt .; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; killed July 1, 1863.

J. W. Booth, Co. D, 17th Regt .; enl. Ang. 11, 1862; must. out July 14, 1865.

W. S. Clark, Co. D, 17th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 7, 1862; died May 2, 1863.

J. W. Clark, Co. D, 17th Regt .; enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; disch. June 21, 1864. Eugene Hubbell, Co. D, 17th Regt .; enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; disch. Feb. 2, 1863.

G. B. Johnson, Co. G, 23d Regt .; enl. Sept. 8, 1862 ; died July 4, 1863. P. Parmelee, Co. G, 23d Regt .; enl. Aug. 27, 1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1863. W. H. Wheeler, Co. G, 23d Regt .; enl. Aug. 29, 1862.

J. N. Wheeler, Co. G, 23d Regt .; enl. Sept. 2,1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1863. C. E. Lyon, Co. D, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 5, 1861; must. out July 20, 1865. A. Downs, Co. K, 2d Regt .; enl. Jan. 5, 1864 ; died Sept. 18, 1864.

J. H. Taylor, Co. H, 2d Regt .; enl. Jan. 2, 1864; must. out Aug. 18, 1865. H. D. Burr, Co. H, 2d Regt .; enl. Jan. 2, 1864; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CHARLES B. WHEELER,

son of Eli and Cyntha (Banks) Wheeler, was born in the town of Easton (formerly Weston), Fairfield Co., Conn., April 11, 1821. His father was a farmer in Easton, married Cyntha Banks, and had a family of seven children, of whom Charles B. is the third. He died at the age of fifty years.

Charles B. remained at home, working at farming summers and attending the common school winters, until he was sixteen years of age, when he commenced to learn the boot-and-shoe business, which he has fol- lowed more or less ever since. In 1851 he began to manufacture for himself, and during our great civil war manufactured boots and shoes for the United States army, and had in his employ about seventy-five men. He is still engaged in the boot-and-shoe trade.

In politics he is an uncompromising Republican, and as such is the leader of his party in his town. He has twice been a member of the State Legislature, being the first Republican representative ever elected in Monroe, one term of which he was chairman of the committee on federal relations. In 1879 he was selected by the Legislature to be a commissioner of Fairfield County for the three years cusuing. He has been a selectman of Monroe, collector of the town taxes for twelve years, commissioner by appointment by the Su- preme Court, chairman of the Republican committee of the town for a number of years, besides other town offices. He was a candidate for the State Senate in 1872, and though defeated he ran far ahead of his ticket in many towns. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has held various offices therein. He married Parmelia, daugh- ter of Elam Beard, Nov. 19, 1851, and at the present time is living in Upper Stepney, town of Monroe, where he settled Sept. 5, 1850.

The Wheeler family is one of the oldest in this part of the county, having settled in Fairfield County with the first colonists. The mother of Mr. Wheeler is still living, and is in good health, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. She resides with her son Ezra B.

le.13 thuler

6. M. V Seardsley

435

MONROE.

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FREDERICK W. WHEELER.

Intimately connected with the early settlement and development of Fairfield Co., Conn., may be found the name of Wheeler, from whom have descended some of the best citizens of the county or State.

Frederick W. Wheeler is the only son of Chauncey Wheeler and Laura J. Lun, and was born in the town of Monroe, Conn., in August, 1841, at the "old home- , stead," which has been in the family for five genera- tions. "His great-grandfather was named Joseph Wheeler, his grandfather William Wheeler, and his father Chauncey (who died April 29, 1880, aged sev- enty-six), all of whom were industrions men and good citizens, and left the best of legacies, 'a good name.'"

His advantages for an education were sneh as the common sehools of his town afforded, which he dili- gently improved. At an early age he engaged in business, dealing in horses and cattle, which, added to farming, constitutes his chief business at present. He is one of the leading agrienlturists in the town, and his judgment is often sought in matters of busi- ness.

Very carly in life Mr. Wheeler took an active part in political matters, being both by choice and inherit- anee a Jeffersonian Democrat. He was elected in 1866 to the office of selectman, and continued in that position for five consecutive years. In 1872 he was eleeted town clerk, and held that position until 1879.

In 1874 he was chosen to represent his town in the State Legislature, where, by his genial disposition, rare integrity of character, and sound judgment, he made many warm friends.

He is a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church of Monroe, and has been warden for several years.

In 1861 he married Estelle R. Brewster, a lineal de- seendant of the "Mayflower" pilgrim, and five chil- dren are the fruit of this happy union.

DR. E. M. BEARDSLEY,

only son of Samuel B. and Abigail McEwen, was born in Danbury, Conn., March 5, 1823. He is a lineal descendant of Samuel Beardsley, who was born at Stratford, Conn., June 20, 1718. He was a farmer in Stratford. He married Anna French. They had a large family of sons and one daughter. He died June 20, 1790.

One of his sons was named Samuel, who was born in Monroe, Conn., May 14, 1760. Like his father, he was a farmer. He married Phebe, daughter of Silas Curtis. She was born Jan. 19, 1767, and died in 1857. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. and was several times a representative to the State Legislature. He was magistrate and selectman of his town for a great many years. He and his wife were esteemed members of the Congregational Church

436

HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

of Monroe. He died July 20, 1836, aged seventy-six years. They had six children, viz.,-Silas C., Elisha, Agur, Samuel B., Nancy, and Maria. Silas C. was a farmer, and died at seventy-six. Elisha was a farmer, and died at seventy-eight. Agur was a farmer in Mon- roe, and died at eighty-one.

Samuel B., the father of Dr. Edward M., was born in Monroe, Jan. 22, 1795, graduated from Yale Col- lege in 1815, and followed the noble profession of teaching for more than forty-seven years. He taught at Snow Hill, Md., from 1815 to 1819, then in Bridgeport for many years ; then he went to Danbury, Conn., and taught several years, then returned to Monroe and taught a select school until 1861. He was a very successful teacher, as hundreds of his pupils will attest. He was, as his fathers before him, a Jef- fersonian Democrat until the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, when he became a staunch Whig, and later a Republican. He married Abigail, daughter of Lemuel McEwen, Feb. 20, 1819.

They have two children,-viz., Edward M. and Elma A., who married John G. Stevens, now of Mon- roe, Conn.

Mrs. Beardsley was born in Monroe, formerly New Stratford, Feb. 27, 1798. She is still hale and hearty and living with her son Edward M. Samuel B. died Sept. 17, 1873.

Dr. E. M. Beardsley was educated by his father, and graduated from the Yale Medical College in 1844. During the time he was getting his education he was an assistant teacher to his father, and in that capacity made many warm friends. Soon after his graduation he was engaged in the drug business for some two and a half years in New Haven, when he returned to Monroe and followed the profession of teaching and the practice of medicine until 1861, since which time he has devoted himself to his pro- fession. His practice has been very extensive, reach- ing far into the adjoining towns, and many are the families in Monroe and elsewhere that look to him with gratitude for his wise and timely aid.

Of late he has retired from the active duties of his profession and devotes himself to agriculture. In politics he has always been a staunch Republican, but has never taken an active part in politics. In the fall of 1879 he was elected by the Republicans of his town to the State Legislature. He served as a member of the committee on foreign relations. He married Elizabeth A., daughter of David O. Gray,. of Monroe, April 22, 1855. They have seven chil- dren,-viz., Samuel B., Edward G., Charles M., Sarah A., Louis B., Elizabeth A., and Mary L.

JAMES C. JOHNSON.

The subject of this sketch is the only son and eldest child of Albert and Mary L. (Wheeler) Johnson, and was born in the town of Newtown, Fairfield Co., Conn., Dec. 8, 1833. His father was a son of Joseph

W. Johnson, and was born in Newtown, Conn., March, 1798, and died at his residence in the town of Monroe, Fairfield Co., Conn., on the 14th of Febru- ary, 1871. He was a farmer and cooper by trade, a man universally respected by those who knew him. In politics a Democrat, and in religion he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Mary L. Wheeler, and to them were born three children,-viz., James C., Mary J., and Huldah F. Mrs. Johnson still resides on the "old homestead" with her daughter, Mrs. Huldah .F. Edwards.

James C. Johnson was reared on the farm, and early learned those principles which have been the chief characteristics of his life. His advantages for an education were confined to the common schools of his town, except a few terms spent at an academy. During the time spent in obtaining his education he worked on the farm and in his father's cooper-shop summers, and went to school winters. He taught school two winters, and now recalls with pleasure the time thus spent.

On the 26th of September, 1855, he married Mari- etta C., daughter of Miles and Eloisa Beardsley, of Trumbull, Conn. She was born in Trumbull, Conn., June 8, 1834. They have four children,-viz., Miles B., Mary E., Seymour J., and Merwin W.

Mr. Johnson purchased his present farm of one hundred and thirty acres in 1856, built his house in the summer of 1857, and in September of that year settled where he has continued to reside, and where his children have been born. He has made nearly all the improvements on his farm, and is to-day re- garded one of the best men and farmers in this town. He is a man well proportioned, about six feet in height, and will weigh about two hundred pounds. He possesses great force of character and a vast amount of energy. Physically he has not his supe- rior in the town, and probably no man of his years in the town or county has done more hard manual labor. He enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow- townsmen, and he is generally regarded one of the leading men in the town. He is one of the leading Democrats of his town, and as such has been con- stable, magistrate, assessor, and a member of the State Legislature in 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are mem- bers of the Congregational Church of Monroe Centre, and he is one of the liberal supporters of the same. Very little is known of his early ancestors in this country, but it is well known that President Andrew Johnson and Hon. Jas. E. Johnson are descendants of the same Johnson in this country.

Photo by Wilson, Bridgeport.

James to lohnson

437

NEW CANAAN.

CHAPTER XLII. NEW CANAAN.

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS .- THE OLD PARISH.

Geographieal-Topographical-The First Settlements-Organization of "Canaan Parish"-The Pioneers-The First Meeting-Honse-The Primitive Dwellings-Revolutionary Incident-" Yo Old Training- Days"-Slavery-The Whipping-Post and Stocks-Pioneer Merchants -Early Physicians-Industrial Pursuits-Boot and Shoe Mannfac- turing, Ete.

THE settlement of New Canaan was doubtless commeneed soon after the year 1700 by inhabitants of Stamford and Norwalk, and the names of the ad- venturous settlers may be found in the history of those towns elsewhere in this work, as it formed a portion of the old parishes until its incorporation, in 1731.

New Canaan is first noticed in the Stamford records as a distinct parish Dee. 8, 1730, when John Bouton and others ask liberty of moving out of town to join with a part of Norwalk in order to be a society. The per- mission, however, was not granted; yet in the follow- ing year, under date December 14th, Ebenezer Seeley and Nathaniel Bouton are appointed tythingmen for the new society. In the following year, 1702, Ebenezer Seeley and John Bouton are chosen tythingmen for " Canaan Parish."

At a town-meeting in Stamford, held Dec. 27, 1733, it was voted that " the town agree that there shall be a committee chosen to agree with those men that have land lying where it may be thought needful for a highway for the convenience of Canaan parish to go to meeting, and to lay it out where they think it may be most convenient."

The first meeting of the New Canaan society was held July 1, 1731, with John Bouton moderator and John Betts, Sr., elerk. The following is a list of the Stamford settlers in New Canaan as appear in 1732: John, Nathaniel, Daniel, Eleazer, and John Bouton, Jr., John Davenport, John Fineh, Nathaniel Green, James Hoyt, Job Hoyt, Joshna Hoyt, Eliphalet Slason, Eliphalet and Ebenezer Seeley, Thos. Tal- madge, David Stevens, and David Waterbury.

The late Prof. Samuel St. John says,-

"The next year there were forty-seven members,-thirty on the Nor- walk and seventeen on the Stamford sido. The first question discussed by them was the oxpediency of building a meeting-house for tho public worship of God. Decided in the affirmative, twenty-four to one. They were unable to agree upon the place where the building should be erected, and they appointed a suitable person to represent them in the General Court to be held in October, to request the IIon. Assembly to appoint a committee to fix a place for the house. It was decided that the house should be built at the lower end of Haines' Ridgo, the houso to be thirty feet square and of a height suitable for one tier of gallerios. A bnikling committee was appointed, who wero either to let out the work ' by the great' or hire men by the day. They levied a tax of ton penco on the pound in the list. Then follows a list of members, with their assess- ments. In Febraary, 1732, they appointed a committee to make applica- tlon to the reverend elders of the county for advice and direction in order to the calling and settlement of a minister. They were directed to Rov. John Eells, of Milford, who preached among them nine months on pro- bation, and in June, 1733, was settled among them as their ministor, re- siding on Clapboard Hills. After this time the society's meetings were

devoted to such business as devolves npon It at the present day, with sev- eral items which are now managed by the town, such as taking charge of the schools, laying ont highways, etc. Their meetings were commonly warned to be held at 'sun two hours high at night,' Clocks and watches were probably not common, and we find an appropriation of two shall- lings nine pence to buy an hour-glass.

" At this time all inhabitants of the parish were members, and were taxed for its support; it is not strange that some should have been rentlve and sought relief. One member petitioned the Legislature to that effect, but met there a committee from the society, who successfully opposed the petition. They assessed themselves as high as nineteen pence on the ponnd, and collected it by 'stress' if necessary.

"The building of the niceting-honse was a severe dranght on thelr slender resources. As the expenses of the society were defrayed by tax, the seats were common property, but the society was accustomed to 'seat the meeting-house,' as it was termed, according to ' rate and dignity.' By vote, they gave Rev. Mr. Eells the seat next to the pulpit, on the women's side. Similar seatings of the meeting-honse appear in the records of Stamford and Norwalk. It was the castom to appoint some person to 'set the psalm.'"

SINGING BY RULE.

"In 1739 they voted to 'sing by rule,' or that which is called the new way ' in the congregation.' Huntington says this change from the old to the new way of singing had been introduced in 1721. Theeight or nine tunes brought over by the pioneers ' had become barbarously perverted,' and the Rev. Thomas Walter, of Roxbury, Mass., composer, in that year published ' The Grounds and Rules of Music Explained, or an introduc- tien to the Arte of singing by Note.' The book contained twenty-four tunes harmonized in three parts.

" After six years' 'experience' (as it was termed) with Mr. Eells, some began to be dissatisfied, and in 1740 the society appointed a committee to acquaint Mr. Eells and see if he would givo his consent to have a vote tried to see who is easy and who is uneasy with him. The test showed twenty-four uneasy. In 1741, Mr. Eells was dismissed. Tradition assigns to him ability, learning, and piety, together with certain eccentricities deemed inconsistent in a minister of the gospel. He continued to reside here nutil his death, in 1785.

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 108

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1572

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572