History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 114

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532

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Eliezer Orvis, enlisted for three years io 1777, but died Nov. 15, 1778.

Nathan Sturtevant, also enlisted for three years in 1777, but died Oct. 1, 1777.

Daniel Hoskins, was in service four months.

Thomas Tibbals, first was drummer in Theodors Woodbridge's company, Wooster's regimeot, from Nov. 18, 1775, to Feb. 29, 1776; then was drum-major in the Northern Army, in Col. Elmore's regiment, from April 15, 1776, to April 27, 1777; afterwards re-enlisted more than once as teamster in the quartermaster's service, and was ont, in all, nearly four years ; spent oos winter at Fort Stanwix, one at Mount Independence, and ons in Canada.

Samuel Tibbals, an older brother of Thomas, was captain of teams in

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the quartermaster's service for a year from March, 1777, and was then discharged on account of broken health.

Elizur Munger was a teamster.

Reuben Munger was sergeant ; time of service unknown.

Arial Lawrence served two short terms in special calls on the militia; was nt Saratoga on n four months' term when Burgoyne surren- dered; was a man of great physical endurance; is ssid to have

walked from a point six miles beyond Troy, where he was dis- charged, to Norfolk in one day.

Daniel Canfield, pensioner.

Abiathar Rogers, pensioner. David Heady, pensioner. Jedidiah Richards, Jr.

Josiah Hotchkiss. Ebenezer Plumbly.

Jeremiah W. Phelps, a short term. Asher Smith.

John Besch.

Giles Gaylord, served in New York in 1782; also under John Watson, May to November, 1775, in Canada.

Lieut. Phelps, served in New York in 1782; possibly was the same as Elijah Phelps, mentioned below.

Simeon Mills, was in Burrell's regiment with Rev. Mr. Robbins in 1776 ; had smallpox, not properly cared for, and it became chronic, pro- ducing Iurge, fonl ulcers, which remained a long time; was sent homs in September, 1776, and was confined to his bed and chuir till autumn, 1779 : Assembly of Connecticut voted him then three hun- dred pounda to pay his bills, of which two hundred pounds was doctor's bill.

Isaac Butler, five months at llighlands, 1780, Swift's regiment. William Leach, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regiment. John Minor, five months at Ilighlands, 1780, Swift's regiment.

James Sturdivant, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regiment. Silas Seward, five and a half months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regi- ment.

Samuel Taylor, five and a half months nt Highlands, 1780, Swift's regi- ment.

Abraham Barden, four mouths at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regiment. Roswell Grant, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regiment.

Glles Thrall, four and a half months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regl- ment.

Luther Lawrence, four months and twenty-one days nt Highlands in 1780, In Philip B3. Brudley's regiment.

Arial Strong, five months, July to December, 1780, at Highlands.

Deacon Samuel Cowles, ensign, was in skirmish at White Plains, and perhaps also in the Canada campaign : he marched after Lexington also.

Noah Cowles, son of Samuel, entered service very young as musician, probably a drummer; was at Burgoyne's surrender at Suratogn.

Jared Abernathy, marched at the Lexington alarm ; was in Burrell's regiment, 1776-77, a full year in Canada; had hospital expenses, seven pounils eight shillings.

Ludd Gaylord, son of Justis, enlisted at the age of seventeen, in what portion of the army Is unknown; there were many who conspireil together to desert, nud in the paper drawn up wrote their names in & circle so that the lenders might not be known; the plot was dis- covered, and all were searched; one who had the paper slipped it Into Ludd's pocket ; he was offered pardon if he would reveal the lenders' names ; on hia refusal he was condemned to die; his friends obtained n pardon from Washington, which lind almost reached the boy when he was executed.

Ambrose Gaylord, unother son of Justis, was in the Continental line in the latter part of the war.

- Gaylord, n third son of Justis Gaylord, was with Ambrese at the same time.

Elijah Phelps, was In Northern Army in 1776.

Andrew Moor, lieutenant, went to Canada in February, 1776, and dled June 9th following.

Eli Pettibone, was In Col. Warner'a regiment in 1776.

Giles Pettibone, was captain of the Norfolk militia company when the war opened; besides his home-work for the service, he led his con- pany to Saratoga in the alarm of 1777 ; probably all those here men- tioned as present at that fight were nuder him, besides many ethers; with the same company he served one or two terms a little later under McDongal, on the Hudson below Weat Point, keeping a look+ out between the American and British Hines, n work requiring pech- Har vigilance and skill ; nt the end of his term he received public

approbation from his commander in the presence of the army; he obtained the rank of major before the war closed. Samuel Pettibone, served in Canada and other parts.

The following (besides those already mentioned) marched towards Boston immediately upon the Lex- ington alarm, in April, 1775. It is not known how far they went before they were sent back; the time during which some of them served would indicate that they reached Boston. Their pay was sixteen pence per day.

Captain Timothy Gaylord, fifteen days.

William Hewet, fifteen days.

Ephraim Parker, sixteen days; also in French war.

Elijah Pettibone, sixteen days.

Samuel Hotchkiss, Sr., sixteen days.

Jeffrey Murray, fourteen days.

Ebenezer Hoyt, five days.

Titus Brown, four days.

Brotherton Seward, forty-seven dnys.

Timothy Gaylord (2d), thirty-two dnys.

Phineas Norton, thirty-two days.

Benjamin Tuttle, thirty-two days.

David Orvie, thirty-two days.

Michael Mills, captain, at West Point, eleven days in June, 1780.

Joseph Jones, served from May to Nov. 26, 1775, and afterwards three years in the Connecticut line.

In October, 1780, Norfolk was required to furnish twenty-two more men for the Continental service, and in November following three men were sent as quota to cavalry company. It also furnished six recruits for the guard at Horseneck, in May, 1781. Capt. Michael Mills' company of Col. Hutchins' regiment was ordered to West Point in June, 1780, and re- mained there eleven days, of which company fifteen were Norfolk men. The names of none of these have been found, though some of them may be the same who appear above in other enlistments.

A boy, Stephen -, was servant to Mr. Robbins in the campaign of 1776, and was probably from Nor- folk.

With regard to the last war, it is of interest to note that John Brown, the famous leader of the Harper's Ferry insurrection, came from an old Norfolk family ; his grandparents lived in South End district, as also his parents, for a time. He was himself born in Tor- rington, but is said to have spent a portion of his early years in Norfolk.

The work done by the ladies of the church for the " Boys in Blue" was no slight item. It was done chiefly by furnishing or making shirts, socks, drawers, quilts, and sheets for the use of the Sanitary Commission. The whole amount done by them in the two years from June, 1863, to June, 1865, was valued at $680.18. Contributions in aid of the freedmen at the South have been regular ever since that charity came before the churches, and not seldom have the Indies sent boxes of clothing for them, chiefly through the Amer- ican Missionary Association.

LABOR REGULATION OF 1778.

In 1778 the General Assembly ordered each town in the State to appoint n committee vested with full power, and directed to establish a uniform price

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through the State for labor per day, the price of pro- duce, etc. The committee for this town consisted of Giles Pettibone, Michael Mills, Titus Ives, and Tim- othy Gaylord. Labor per day was fixed at 38. 6d., 48. 43d., and 58. 3d., specifying the different seasons of the year or the kind of labor; a good narrow axe and scythe, each 11s. 3d .; a good broad hoe, 78. 6d .; joiners, per day, 58. 3d. and Gs. 1} d. ; carpenters, 7s. ; masons, 78. 103d. ; tailors, 58. 3d .; tailoresses, 28. 2d. ; tavern-keepers, for a good meal of victuals, 18. 2d .; for a mug of cider, 7d .; good West India rum, per gill, 18. ; New England rum, 8d. ; a mug of flip, made of good West India rum, 28. 4d .; other rums, 18. 8d.

SCHOOLS.

In 1839 an academical school was opened in this town, with Rev. John F. Norton as teacher. In the following year a building was erected at a cost of two thousand dollars. It was dedicated Aug. 31, 1840 .*

THE FIRST POST-OFFICE.

The first postmaster in Norfolk was Michael F. Mills, who received his appointment from President Jefferson in 1812 or 1813. At that time the mail only arrived twice a week, and only two newspapers were received at the office; these were the Connecti- cut Courant and the Litchfield Monitor.

THE RAILROAD.

Norfolk was truly an "inland" town before the building of the Connecticut Western Railroad. Stage- coach drives of a number of miles were necessary to bring the people of the charming " hill town" into com- munication with the outside world. It was ten miles to the Naugatuck Railroad on the east, and ten to the Housatonic on the west. But the building of the rail- road changed all this, and Tuesday, Sept. 12, 1871, was a memorable day in the history of Norfolk,-the cele- bration of the laying of the track of the railroad to that place. A large concourse of people from adjoin- ing towns were present, and the event was celebrated in an appropriate manner. Addresses were made by the late Dr. Eldridge, John K. Shepard, E. T. Butler, the "father of the road," George H. Browne, of Dutchess Co., N. Y., and others. A happy event was the presentation, on behalf of the citizens, of a su- perb gold watch and chain to Mr. E. T. Butler. On the outside of the case was engraved the monogram "E. T. B." and a train of cars, while the inside of the case bore the following inscription : "Presented to E. T. Butler, Esq., by the citizens of Norfolk, in recognition of his services in the originating and completion of the Connecticut Western Railroad." Ten years previous to this time the idea of proposing a road through Norfolk would have been deemed Quixotic, but now six passenger-trains pass through the town daily.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

The rude cabin of the pioneer had scarcely been erected ere a movement was started for the purpose of securing the preaching of the gospel ministry. In the memorial asking for the incorporation of the town, Sept. 1, 1758, the one reason given for desiring town privilege was, "so that we may have power to set up the order of the gospel among us." Inasmuch as the history of the church for nearly half a century is largely a history of the town during that period, that of the Congregational Churchi will be given in extenso.

THIE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The Congregational Church of Norfolk was organ- ized Dec. 24, 1760, with twenty-three members, by the Rev. Daniel Farrand, pastor of the Congregational Church at South Canaan. Previous to this, however, Dec. 20, 1758, an itinerant clergyman named Treat preached the first sermon ever delivered in this town. The church had occasional preaching until Jan. 8, 1759, when they hired a Mr. Peck. On the 26th of the following November the Rev. Noah Wetmore was invited to preach on probation, and March 31, 1760, the inhabitants united in giving him a call to settle. For some reason, which does not now appear, he was rejected, and Rev. Noah Benedict, who was subse- quently called, was not obtained.

June 21, 1760, the Rev. Jesse Ives was invited to preach on probation, and December 24th of the same year he was called as their minister. He was offered the ministerial lot, with a salary of sixty-two pounds ten shillings annually for three years, and after that time seventy pounds per annum. Some trouble sub- sequently arose, and Mr. Ives was not settled.

In January, 1761, Mr. Ammi Ruhamah Robbins, a young man who had graduated at Yale College the year previous, and who had been studying at that fa- mous school of the prophets in Bethlehem, under Dr. Bellamy, was invited to preach here. He was in- vited, by unanimous vote, to become pastor of the church September 16th. On the 28th of October, 1761, the ceremony of ordination and installation took place for the first time in this town. Without doubt that was a great day here. However much the ceremony may have lost its meaning with some in our time, it had a great deal of meaning then. Not- withstanding the special difficulties of traveling, peo- ple came up from neighboring towns, and from those that were not so very neighboring. The meeting- house then was only partially finished, but it had on that day, we may be sure, a very deeply interested audience. Dr. Bellamy was present to help introduce his young student into the pastoral office in the new set- tlement. He offered the ordaining prayer, and gave the young pastor his charge. His relation made it eminently proper that he should take this part in the services, and he doubtless did his part well. Rev. Mr. Champion, of Litchfield, the youngest pastor officiat- ing, having been settled eight years, gave the right

* For present condition of schools, see Chapter VIII.

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hand of fellowship. The father of Mr. Robbins, pas- tor of the church in Branford, preached the sermon, which was published.

He was at that time twenty-one years of age, having been born in Branford, Aug. 25 (O. S.), 1740. His father, Rev. Philmon Robbins, was pastor of the church in that place from 1733 until his death in 1781. He entered Princeton College at the age of sixteen, but at the death of President Burr, about two years afterwards, he took a dismission from that institution and joined Yale College, where he gradu- ated in 1760, under the presidency of President Clapp. He evinced superior scholarship, which he found of good use to him in after-years, not only in his ministerial studies, but also in the instruction of young men, of whom he taught a large number; among them was the late Dr. McEwen, of New London. Of him, in early years, Dr. Lee, of Cole- brook, who preached his funeral sermon, says, "In the tender years of childhood he discovered that sprightliness of genius and sweetness of temper and manners by which he was distinguished through life." In October, 1811, he preached his half-century sermon, which was published. At that time all the ministers who took part in his ordination had died, and but two persons were living who were then members of the church. In this sermon he stated that the whole number of church members from the first was 549, that he had baptized 1277 persons, had attended 760 funerals (about 15 each year), had married 276 couples, and had preached about 6500 sermons. He had taken "texts from every book in the Bible except the Epistle to Philemon and the Second Epistle of John." That venerable warrior had looked the armory pretty thoroughly over for different weapons. If his experi- ence was like most, he was less at a loss for a text at the last than at the first. The more he gathered the more he found to gather from the wonderful treasury. Mr. Robbins preached a great deal out of town, and is reported to have preached in every town in the State except three. He also did not a little missionary work. In the years 1794-96, by the appointment of the General Association, he made five tours of mis- sionary service in the new settlements of Vermont and New York, two of them in company with his brother-in-law, Rev. Peter Starr, of Warren. In these he gathered three churches, assisted at three ordinations, baptized thirty-eight children and adults, and preached one hundred and forty-five sermons, besides doing a great deal of visiting. This was al- most at the very beginning of home missionary labor. He was a chaplain in the Revolutionary army in 1776, during the Northern campaign, where he en- dured hardships which undermined his health for a time, and compelled a resignation of his chaplaincy.

He began to grow feeble under the effects of age about the time he preached his half-century sermon, but continued his labors for two years. His last ser- mon was preached the first Sabbath in May, 1813,

when he administered the Lord's Supper for the last time. He was with his people again three weeks later. This (May 23d) was to be the last day for the occupancy of the old church. Not being able to enter the pulpit, he stood in his pew, and made an address to the people appropriate to the occasion of their leaving the sanctuary which had been so long their endeared place of worship. That night a tumor be- gan to show itself upon his face, which resulted in his death on the 31st of October, at the age of seventy- three.

Says Dr. McEwen, in an address upon the ministers of Litchfield County, given at Litchfield in 1852,-

" It would be difficult to select a minister iu Connecticut who has been more popular with his people, or has exercised over them a more com- plete and useful control, than Mr. Robbins."

He was a member of the corporation of Williams College, and greatly interested in education. He married, soon after his ordination, Miss Elizabeth Le Baron, daughter of Dr. Lazarus Le Baron, of Plymouth, Mass., and granddaughter of Governor Bradford. He had thirteen children, five of whom died young. His widow, with six sons and two daugh- ters, survived him. Three of his sons were educated at college, of whom two became ministers. One of his daughters was the wife of Joseph Battell, Esq.

It was nearly two years before his successor was secured. Mr. Ralph Emerson, born in Hollis, N. H., Aug. 18, 1787, a graduate of Yale College, with its first honors, in 1811, under the presidency of Dr. Dwight, and at that time a tutor in that institution, was unanimously called to the pastorate of this church in 1815. His grandfather was a elergyman, his father a deacon. His early life, as has been the history of so many other strong men, was spent upon the farm, which he left when he was nineteen years of age, when he fitted for college in one year's study. After graduation he became connected with Andover Theo- logical Seminary in the study of theology. After that he was tutor in Yale College two years. His ordination and installation took place on the 12th of June, 1816. At that time a revival of great power was in progress among his people, into which he en- tered with all his heart, and which resulted in an in- gathering of one hundred and twenty-six. In 1821 there was another season of especial interest, and one still more marked in 1827, the former adding fifty-five, and the latter one hundred and eleven, to the member- ship of the church.

It seems unfortunate that a pastorate which was being so greatly blessed should be broken off. In 1828, Mr. Emerson was invited to the presidency of Western Reserve College. To his acceptance of this appointment his people made earnest opposition, and the Consociation thought it best that he should de- eline it, which he did, and continued on in his labors here. The year following he was called to u profes- sorship in Andover Theological Seminary. The same unwillingness to release him from his pastorate here

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

was felt as before, and the Consociation declined at , that raise the meting-house," who were to " consult first to dismiss him, but afterwards yielded.

Mr. Emerson filled the chair of history and pastoral theology at Andover, Mass., for twenty-five years with great honor and usefulness. He then resigned, and removed to Newburyport, in the same State, where he remained five years, preaching occasionally, and occupying his mind with such studies as he was most interested in, growing old gracefully. He re- moved to Rockford, Ill., in 1859, where he remained until his death, May 20, 1863. Dr. Emerson was suc- ceeded by Rev. Joseph Eldridge. (See biography.) The present pastor, Rev. John F. Gleason, was settled Sept. 5, 1876.

Until 1814 there was no ecclesiastical society here, but, as was common then, the externals and finances of the church were managed by the town. Before preaching was established by the town the settlers attended church chiefly in Canaan, of which church some of them at least were members.

CHURCH BUILDINGS.

The heaviest financial burden these men had was, of course, the building of their meeting-house. We have seen that they voted to build in less than a month after the first town-meeting. At the same time they summoned a committee of the County Court to set a stake for the house. The carrying out of this vote was evidently delayed, or else failed altogether, for nothing appears to have been done about it till Sept. 18, 1759, when the following vote was passed, which is a curious illustration of the method em- ployed in those times to designate a spot of land :

"Voted, That we judge it necessary to build a meeting-house in said Norfolk, . . . and do agree that the place shall be at the east end of the Seventh Lott, in first Division, first going over, and that on the hill where Mr. SamIl Munross formerly laid up sundry loggs in order for a barn place, and said vote was had and obtained by more than two-thirds of the inhabitants assembled in public town-meeting."

This would seem to be a mere general locating of the house, for they immediately applied to the court to fix a stake at that place, and on October 8th ap- pointed a committee to ascertain the centre of the town, and lay the true state of the town before the committee appointed by the County Court in Septem- ber for this purpose. This was done, and the town accepted their decision in December, and then voted to build " a meeting-house of forty feet wide and fifty feet long, a suitable heighth for gallering."

The building committee were Abel Phelps, Isaac Holt, Samuel Gaylord, Isaac Pettibone, and Samuel Mills. The timber was prepared and drawn that winter and the following spring. On June 3, 1760, the town voted to move the location to a point about fifteen rods westward from the stake, because the town had bought a piece of land there convenient for the purpose, and they sent to the County Court to have the alteration indorsed. Only three voters ob- jected to the change. A committee of six was ap- pointed " to prouid victals and drink for the hands

among themselves and make so much provision as they shall think necessary, on the town's cost." The house was raised a few days after, and we can easily imagine with what enthusiasm and satisfaction . the townsmen must have gathered from far and near to do that work. Tradition speaks of some difference of opinion between the northern and southern sec- tions of the town as to the location, but after that point was settled there is no evidence that any ill- feeling prevented their hearty co-operation with each other ; therefore we may assume that the raising was a hearty and joyous occasion, and that the " victals and drink" were not deficient, either in quality or quantity. As this house was on the same spot with the present one, the original stake was evidently set in the eastern part of what is now the green.

A town-meeting of June 24, 1760, held a portion of its session at the meeting-house frame, and there voted that the committee " should go on to cover the same as soon as may be conveniently." This was done, but no entire session of town-meeting was held in it till a year later, June 29, 1761. Underpinning and flooring for the lower part were added about the time of Mr. Robbins' ordination, October, 1761, and apparently temporary seats were provided at the same time, and thenceforward the house was in use for public worship. The building committee was discharged, and nothing more was done towards com- pleting it for five or six years.

Up to this time one-half the proceeds of the land- tax before mentioned had furnished the means of building. This ceased, by limitation, in 1763, and the finishing, which was performed at intervals from 1766 to 1772, was provided for as follows: A vote would be passed in town-meeting specifying what work should be done, and laying an extra tax on the grand list sufficient for that purpose, and made pay- able "in good and merchantable pine-boards, or in good bar iron, to be delivered at the meeting-honse" by a certain date, and sometimes other "species" were allowed. The appointment of a committee would follow "to receive said boards and iron, and improve them for the above said use." In this way the gallery-floor was laid in 1767, the pulpit made, and the lower part of the house finished by building permanent pews in 1769, the galleries finished in 1771, and in the latter part of that year a final rate of "one half-penny on the pound" put on the last touches. April 8, 1771, it was voted "that the selectmen shall consult Mr. Robbins, and procure a sntable cushen to lye on the pulpit on the town's cost."*

There is no record or tradition that any formal dedication of this building took place, and that it was first occupied for worship in the autumn of 1761 is only a probable inference. Yet there is no doubt

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 114

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1532

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532