History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 160

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

USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > History of Litchfield county, Connecticut > Part 160

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).

1767 .- Negro child belonging to B. Richards, Jr .; Dr. Benjamin Hull ; child of Jumuea Doulittle; child of Noah Murray; Widlow Stow; child of Sumnel Strickland; Lucy, daoghter of Sammel Foot ; colored child belonging to Joshua Morse; child of Lot Osborn; John Andrus; child of Samuel Doolittle.

1708 .- Ebenezer, son of John Foot; Nathaniel Edwards; Mary, daughter of Samuel Foot; Lydia, third wifo of Stephen Judd ; Sheldon, son of William Judd; David, son of David Mattoon; child of Josiah Stow; Caleb Clark ; Dinun, daughter of Asn Judd ; child of Samuel Doolittle, child of Summnel Doolittle (twins) ; child of Asa Leavenworth; Widow Lydia Foot.

1760 .- Child of William Andrus, Jr .; twin child of Thomas Hammond; child of Amos Fenn; Esther, wife of John Foot ; negro child belonging to David Scott; Josiah, sou of Daniel Tyler; chikl of Wolsey Scott; Jumnes Purker; Stophien, son of Stephen Scott; Lucinda, chill of Benjamin Richards; Deborah, daughter of Jonathan Robbarts; child of Jacob Foot.

1770 .- Child of Abel Woodward; child, daughter of Thomas Dutton; child, daughter of Klub Purker : child, son of William Man- cer ; Agues, wife of Samuel Smith ; Benjamin Wetmore; Giles, son of John Judd, Jr .; John Edwards; child, son of Samuel Sontlimayod; child, daughter of Stephen Matthews.

1771 .- Child of Wolsey Scott ; child of Jeremiah Beard; child of James Doolittle; Gideon Richards; child of Joshua Morso ; child of Amos Fenn; wife of Daniel Tyler; Martha, daughter of Widlow Hannah Scott; Lucretia, wifo uf Gershom Scott, Jr .; Benjamin, son of Jonathan Robtarde; chill of Thomas Fenn ; child of Jonathan Robbards ; Surah, wife of Nuthan Woodward; negru chilid belonging to Joslah Stow ; Mercy, daughter of Ed- mond Tompkins, Jr .; child, daughter of John Merrinm ; child, daughter of Joseph Foot; Jack, colored man ; daughter of Jacob Dowie ; child of John Judd, Jr .; Reuben Smith; child of Sanı- uel Frost (3d) ; child of Joseph Brown; child of Amasu Welton;

Margaret, wife of Joash Seymor; wife and child of Joel Hun- gerford.

1772 .- Capt. William Judd; child, daughter of Daniel Hickox ; child, daughter of Joash Seymor; child, daughter of William Ilickox; child, son of Widow Eunice Smith; John, son of John Frost : Lydia Seymor; Jolin, son of Asa Leavenworth ; Rachel, wife of Jedediah Turner; Nathaniel Merrilla; child of Thomas Osborn ; Mercy Porter.

1773 .- George Welton; Asenath, daughter of Abram Andrus; James Otis; child of Ephraim Robbards ; child, son of Thomas Foot ; child of Eliphaz Scott; child of Samuel Stow; Lucy, daughter of Timothy Richards; child of David Bryan; child of Amos Beldee; Amos and Jacob, sons of Josiah Hubbard; Jeremiah, Bon of Jeremiah Peck, Jr .; Samuel, son of Thomas Hammond ; child, daughter of Thomas Hammond ; Content Peck ; Abigail, wife of Noah Richards ; Sarah Jemima, daughter of Jeremiah Peck, Jr .; Margaret, daughter of Barnabas Scott; Luther, son of William Andrus, Jr .; daughter of Joel Hungerford; Roger, son of Thomas Dutton; Uri, son of Joel .Judd ; Elizabeth, wife of Capt. Nathaniel Arnold; Hannah, daughter of Noah Judd ; Keziah, daughter of Thomas Dutton; Amy, daughter of Jona- than Robbards: Miles, son of Richard Seymor; Widow Eliza- beth Welton; child of William Mancer.

1774 .- David aod Elijah, sons of Isaac Merriam ; Elizabeth, daughter of William Scovill ; Abiah, daughter of Jacob Fout ; Amy, daugh- ter of Jooathan Robbards; David Scovill; Justin Daily (leg am- putated January 13tb) ; Abijalı Garusey (leg amputated Febru- ary 5th); child of Joseph Hickox ; child of Samuel Stow; child of William Mancer; Sybil, wife of Daniel Hickox; child of Daniel Brown (3d) ; Lorain, wife of Williami Mancer; Isanc, son of Thomas Buckingham; Hannah, wife of Eliphaz Scott; child of Joel Ilungerford ; child, daughter of David Manvil; David, son of David Manvil; Mary, daughter of Summel Doo- little ; Indian woman belonging to I. Woodruff; child of Jamies Doolittle; child of Brewster Judd; Obadiah Richards; children of Samuel Welton (twins); child of David l'underson.

1775,-Wife of Theophilus Baldwin ; negress belonging to Joseph Garn- acy ; David Mattoon; Wealthy, daughter of Ephraim How; Mary, danghter of Henry Wooster; Bethel, son of William Scovill; Lois, daughter of Nathaniel Edwards; Timothy Arnold; daughter of Ambrose Hickox; son of Elijah Wood- ward ; son of Titus Dufton ; Jonathan Robbarda.

1776 .- Mehitabel, wifo of Daniel Tyler, Jr. ; Hannah, wife of Darid Gard- sey ; Ablgail, wife of David Clap; child of William Hllckox, Jr .; Widow Frances Wetmoro; Samuel Foot; Deacon Jonathan Garnsey; child of Jucob Foot ; Ephraim Robbards; Abigail, daughter of Eber Scott ; Dr. James Elton, at Kensington; Capt. Michael Dayton ; Aaron, son of Eber Scott ; Widow P'hebo Mat- toon ; Surah, wife of Sammel Hickox (3d) ; Jonathan Williams ; Ellas Wetmore ; Isaac, son of Juel Hungerfordl ; Sena, danghter of Darius Scovill ; Abiram Stoddard ; Benjamin Peck ; daughter of Durins Scovill; Abigail, wife of Stephen Welton; son of Timothy Foot; Comfort Peck ; granddaughter of Thomas Mer- chant ; Lydia, wife of Timothy Williams; two children of Dan- lel Tyler, Jr. ; Dr. Thomas Fout.

1777 .- Sarah, second wife of Thomas Hammond; Elanthan Judd; child of Jusinh Hubbard, Jr., Mary, wife of William Judd; James Smith ; Sarah, second wife of Noah Richards; Ruth, wifo of Edward Scovill; Abel Doolittle ; Nathanlel Welton: Montgom- ery, son of Daniel Pouleton ; Surah, wife of Capt. Benjamin Richards ; Widow Margaret Edwards; Capt. Nathaniel Arnold ; child of Im Scovlll; Samuel, son of Samuel Brown; Capt. Thomas Richards ; Ebenezer Wetmore; son of Jolin Hendrick ; Putty, daughter of John Hendrick ; Eunico Mattoon; Daniel, son of Thomas Judd ; daughter of Joshua Morso; Ebenezer, son of Am Porter; SIlas, son of Asa P'orter; Abrahanı, son of Sammel Fout ; Ollvla, daughter of Brewster Judd ; Stephon Judd ; Sarah, wifo of Timothy Fout ; sou of Timothy Andrus; Rebecca, daughter of David Fenn ; Jonathan, son of David Fenn; Dla- demn, daughter of William Andrus; son of David Dayton.

1778,-Son of Samuel Strickland; l'ede, daughter of ('apt. Thomas Cole ; Gershont Scott, Jr .; colored man of Joshun Morse; child of Alexander Douglass; Edward Scovill, Jr .; child of Mir. Trend- well; chill of Thomas Merriam ; son of Elljah Woodward; two daughters of Daniel Pendleton (twins); John, son of Justin Dally; child of Daniel Seymor ; Rebecca, second wife of Joel Hungerford ; Samuel Hickux (3.1).

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

1779 .- Thankful, wife of Seth Mattoon; Elizabeth, wife of John Judd, Jr .; Benjamin, 800 of Ambrose Hickox, Jr .; child of Richard T. Reynolds; Asa, son of Asa Porter; Joel Judd; Susanna, wife of Sampson Stoddard; Grigg, colored man of Rev. Mr. Trumball ; child of Marilly Mallory ; Capt. Edward Scovill; child of Joel Hungerford; son of William Scovill.

1780 .- John Welton; child of Samuel Smith ; Merriam, wife of Deacon Thomas Ilickox; daughter of John Woodruff; Gershom Scott; wife of James Williame; child of Isaiah Jones; Esther, daugh- ter of Amos Garusey; William, son of John Trumbull, Jr .; Sarah, daughter of John Foot; child of Amos Garnsey, Jr.

1781 .- Son of Eldad Andrue; child of Eli Hickox; daughter of Amos Garosey, Jr .; child of Demas Jadd; Hanual, third wife of Noah Richards; Seth Blake.

1782 .- David Scott; first wife of Thomas Matthews, Esq .; Mary, fourth wife of Timothy Judd, Esq .; Eleazar Scott; Isniah Jones; Thomas Doolittle.

1783 .- Elem Brown; Abigail, wife of Jonas Hickox.

1784 .- Child of Samuel Seymor; Matthew Dutton; Isaac Woodruff; Comfort Woodruff; Hannah, wife of John Nettleton, Jr.

1785 .- Child of John Mattoon; child of Joseph Edwards; Samuel, son of Samnel Seymor; Mr. Johnson; Wait, Obadiah, and David Scott.

[ Watertown bell first hung in August, 1785, funeral tolls beginning as follows : ] 1785 .- Child of Daniel Hickox.

1786 .- Child of Eliphalet Smith ; Merriam Jadd; Jeremiah Peck ; Mary, wife of Sammel Judd; child of Stephen Scott; Chloe Kenny; Hannah Lockwood; Josiah Hickox ; Esther, wife of Ebenezer Stow; child of Ebenezer Stow; child of Joseph Nettleton, Jr .; child of Abijah Osborn; child of Eliphaz Scott; Polly Scott.

1787 .- Child of Widow Phwhe Hickox ; wife of Charles Collins, Jr. (L. FarmB); Rebecca, wife of Eliphalet Smith ; son of Gideon Matthews; child of Eli Osborn ; child of Eliphalet Smith ; child of John Wood- ward; wife of Samuel Judd, Jr .; Mercy, wife of Amos Hickox; Daniel Goodrich ; Widow Johnson ; Carrence, second wife of Samuel Garnsey ; child of Reuben Andrns; John Nettleton; wife of Amos Stillson ; Rev. John Trambull ; Sarah, wife of Simeon Peck ; Capt. Enoch Davis; Deacon Thomas Ilicox.

1788 .- Senalı, wife of Charles Dayton ; Widow Eanice Higgins; Polly Bassett; child of David Manvill; child of Isaac Scott; Eli Hickox; Sarah Southmiyd; son of Amasu Mattoon; Widow Joanna Porter; children of R. T. Reynolds, twins; Lucy Davis; Sasauna, second wife of E. Lockwood; Benjamie Richards (3d).

1789 .- Child of Simeon Peck; Jehiel Sexton ; Widow Childson ; child of Michael Judd; Widow Abigail Smith; Anne, wife of Eleazer Prin- dle; child of Joel Merriam; child of Josiah Ilabbard, Jr .; Joseph Frost; Joseph Foot; son of Chauncey B. Garnsey ; child of Ephraim Andrus; Widow Elizabeth Foot; child of Joash Seymor; Lydia Hickox.

1790 .- Peter Welton; son of Asnhel Merrille; child of R. T. Reynolds; Jonathan Johnson; child of Richard Treat; child of Samuel South- mayd; Widow Mary Buckingham; Anna, wife of Daniel Welton; daughter of Reuben Welton; Widow Rebecca Smith; Esther, wife of Jacob Foot; child of Simeon Peck ; daughter of T. Hotchkies (drowned); Abigail, wife of Gershom Fulford; son of Josiah Sey- mor; daughter of Samuel Judd, Jr.

1791 .- Charlotte, daughter of S. Reynolds, Jr .; Gershom Fulford; daughter of Abigail Northrop; child of R. T. Reynolds; child of Richard Frost; child of Joseph Whitmore; Widow Martha Scott; Dorcas Fulford; child of David IIull, Jr .; child of Abel Dayton; child of David Garnsey ; child of Hezekiah Hubbard; Mary, wife of Uri Scott; Anna, colered girl of Titus Hotchkiss; child of Jacob Bidwell, Jr .; Martha, wife of Daniel M'Donold; daughter of David Baldwin: Ilaonah Cook ; Chandler Judd.

1792 .- Widow Thankful Foot; Widow Elizabeth Robertson; child of Amos Titus; son of Thomas Fenn, Jr .; child of Huldab Perkins; child of Ezra Fields; Mercy, wife of Eben Beardsley ; Gideon Beards- ley ; Ambrose Hickox ; Hannah, second wife of T. Matthews; child of Isaac Edwards; Daniel McDonold; daughter of Samuel Rey- nolds, Jr .; child of Thomas Fenn, Jr .; son of Widow Molly Ilickox ; child of Joash Seymor ; Lilla, wife of Pomp Freeman; Mary, wife of Jonathan Scott.

1793 .- Child of Zadoc Osborne; child of R. T. Reynolds; Samuel Judd ; Uriel, son of Rev. Uriel Gridley ; child of Simeon Peck; child of David Prindle; Molly, wife of Ambrose Hickox; child of Pomp Freeman; Samuel Hitchcock; Mary, wife of Ebenezer Porter;

daughter of Demas Judd; Asahel Edwards; two daughters of Amasn Preston ; child of M. Robbards, Woodbury ; daughter of Ira Tolls ; Asaph Welton; Oliver Clark; James, son of Isaac Humphrey ; Nancy, daughter of Y. L. Cutler; daughter of James Williams; Margaret, wife of Richard Miles; Martha, wife of Ethel Porter; child of John Nettleton; Laura Woodward; sou of Enoch Davis; Hannah, daughter of Jonathan Robbarde; Isaac, son of Peter Bene- dict; child of Olive Bronson; John Judd.

1794 .- Rebecca, wife of C. Merriam ; child of John Eggleston ; child of Charlee Merriman ; child of Isaac Garnsey ; child of David Edwards ; son of David Hubbard; Elijah, sou of Elijah Birge; Rebecca, wife of Daniel Matthews; Jacob Bidwell; child of Pomp Freeman ; Rhoda, wife of T. Leavenworth ; Richard Miles; Hannah, daughter of Jo- seph Feon; Abigail Ferris; Polly Judd; Abigail Smith; James Fayette; child of Jared Bradley ; Widow Frances Peck ; Samuel Belden; child of Charles Merriman; Wolsey Scott; son of Noah Judd.

1795 .- Widow Desire Garnsey; Joseph Griffin; John Stoddard, of IIar- winton; child of William Scovill, Jr. ; child of Salmon Parker; Jerusba, wife of Thomas Davis; child of Edmond Lockwood, Jr .; James Foot; Mary Daily ; Widow Esther Merrills; Lydia Williams; Saralı, wife of Nathan Scott; child of R. T. Reynolds; Anna, dangh- ter of Nathan Kellogg; Capt. Joash Seymor.

1796 .- Mehetable DeForest ; Thomas Buckingham ; Ezra Howe, colored ; Huldah, wife of James McDonold; child of Demas Jndd; child of Pomp Freeman; Suennna, wife of Rev. U. Gridley ; Hannah, wife of Capt. S. Matthewe; child of Dr. R. S. Woodward; child of Stephen Scott, Jr .; Widow Sarah Bryan; Widow Jerusha Pitcher; Parthena Welton; Sethi Bartholomew; Voadice, wife of Samuel Williems; Abigail, wife of Josiah Habbard; Richard Seymor; child of Amos Griggs; Patty, wife of Ashbel Loveland; child of Joel Merriam ; child of Reaben Foot ; Harriet, danghter of Aner Bradley; Sarah, second wife of Thomas Merriam ; child of Eleazer Judd; Susauna, wife of David Manville; Eber Scott; Kesiah, wife of Jonathan Garnsey.

1797 .- Mary, second wife of Thomas Davis; son of Thomas Davis; Mar- tin Kellogg; Ethel Porter; Margaret Seymor; Abi Foot; John Judd; child of James McDonold; child of Daniel Garnsey; Mercy Edwards; daughter of William Watson ; child of Samuel Woodruff; Tabithie, wife of Henry Skilton ; Chester Dutton.

1798,-Children of Stephen Porter, twins; Jenny, Jonathan Scott'e col- ored girl; Sarah, wife of Stephen Porter; son of David Buonel, of Oxford; Olive, wife of James Merriam; Irena Ferris; Widow Ra- chel Prindle; Widow Mary Griffin; Widow Thankful Punderson; Pathene Merriam; child of Samuel Martin; Ebenezer Andras; Widow Mary Scott; son of Erastus Cadwell; Sam (colored man); David Andrus; daughter of William Scovill, Jr .; Thomas Matthewe, Eeq .; son of William Scovill, Jr .; Jared Bradley; Widow Martha Scovill.

1799 .- Samuel Ilough (Salem, N. Y.); Selah, son of Isaac Barns; Polly, daughter of Aner Bradley ; Heman Manson; Rebecca, wife of Thos. Foot; Sarah, wife of Eber Scott; Eunice, wife of Martin Kellogg; Saralı, wife of Capt. S. Reynolds; Merit N. Woodruff, drowned while bathing; Joseph Nettleton; Anadine, wife of S. Beardsley ; Capt. Israel Woodward; Thomas Merchant; Capt. Jolin Woodruff; child of Theodore Garnsey; child of James Garnsey.

In the ordinary course of events many of the citi- zens of Watertown have removed their residence to other places, but they carry with them pleasant and fragrant memories of past days, and take a just pride in the growth and advancement of their native place. To come back and revisit their old homes, to greet the friends and companions of youthful and maturer years, is an ever-fertile source of pleasure; to speak of changes that have come to each during days of separation fills the mind with sadness. The ceme- teries show where to find those who are missed among the living, and their ever-open and increasing vol- umes give a faithful record of familiar names. As a beautiful rural place for the repose of the dead, Ever- green Cemetery is seldom surpassed. The old ceme-

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WATERTOWN.

tery affords a cherished resting-place for those who desire to be laid beside kindred and friends whose graves were made long ago.

AGRICULTURAL.

As an agricultural town, Watertown stands among the first in Litchfield County. Its farmers are widely known for their thrift and enterprise, and the products of their farms are not often excelled. The Agricul- tural Association of the town, formed in 1867, is flour- ishing and increasing in interest, and offers at its an- nual autumnal fair as great attractions as those which have had a longer existence. The present officers of the society are as follows : Henry E. Scott, President ; G. S. Atwood, Wm. G. French, C. A. Warner, Vice- Presidents ; Alanson Warren, Secretary; George Woodward, Assistant Secretary ; F. B. Hand, Treas- urer; Executive Committee, O. B. King, C. T. Hiekox, C. L. Dayton, M. Hemminway, Jr., George Warner, Jacob Blakeslee, S. H. Peck, W. H. Atwood.

SUMMER RESORT.

As a healthy and attractive summer resort, also, Watertown has a just repute. Its fine and well-kept residences, churches, and other buildings form a prom- inent part in the landscape. The Warren House, which affords accommodations for a large number of guests, is an elegant structure, with fine grounds hand- somely laid out.

RAILROAD.

Railroad communication with seaboard and adja- cent places, which has long been desired, is now af- forded. A branch road, connecting with the Nauga- tuck Railroad at Waterbury, was opened a few years since.

We subjoin the following reminiscenees of Water- town, written by Mrs. Rev. Frederick Holcomb, and read at the centennial celebration, June 17, 1880.

"I have been requested by some friends whom I highly esteem to say a few words, through my pen, on this interesting occasion,-a strange request to make to one of my years, and to one so unused to address an audience. There is no conceivable reason for it, except it be that my memory reaches back through eighty years of the past century. Acting on this sup- position, you shall have some of my childish reminis- cences, for you can expect none other from one who has reached the years of second childhood. The first thing that I distinctly remember is being led across the street to look at the lifeless remains of Dr. John Elton. Ile was highly esteemed as a physician, but died in 1800, at the age of forty-five years, and leaving his son Samuel as his successor. He educated this son from early childhood to be a physician, and he commenced practice, in company with his father, at the early age of eighteen years. He soon won the confidence of the whole community, and his attend- ance and advice was sought from the adjacent towns. Perhaps his success may be attributed more to his na-

tive strength of mind, his ingenuity in devising ways and means to relieve distress, and his avoidance of powerful medicines except in extreme cases, rather than from knowledge derived from medical books. He said once in my hearing that medicine was good for nothing but as an auxiliary to assist nature in throwing off disease. He once told me that when he had nervous, fidgety persons who could not be paci- fied without some medicine when he thought they re- quired none, that he had manufactured seme pills of pure bread for his patients, specifying the number to be taken, and charging them not to take an overdose. He added that the patient would afterwards speak of the wonderful curative properties of those pills, and the sudden relief obtained from their use.

"I will next speak of the days of military exercise, called ' training-days.' On the morning of those days the children of the village were on the alert, watching for the hoisting of the national flag to the summit of the liberty-pole. This pole was erected a few rods westward of the residence of Mrs. Eli Curtiss. They (the children) made a hasty breakfast, and dressed in their Sunday suit, and, their pockets lined with cop- pers, were ready to proceed to the scence of action. These coppers were designed to purchase gingerbread of a venerable old lady who lived near the liberty- pole, and always kept in readiness for such occasions. Oh, the flavor of that gingerbread on youthful lips 1 methinks I taste it yet, and see the shining lustre of its glossy surface. The train-band were in readiness by nine o'clock to perform their evolutions, their marches, and countermarches, all the children fol- lowing in their wake to the music of fife and drum, unless the troopers appeared und scattered the little girls in wild dismay to find some place of security, for the troopers presented quite a formidable appear- ance, wearing fiery red coats, black bearskin caps, and riding furiously on praneing steeds, the musicians blowing vigorously on trumpets, and the others occa- sionally firing off their pistols. Oh, the tired little feet at the close of those days, and the welcome rest on the downy pillows !

" A vivid remembrance comes up before me. It was Saturday evening, just after sunset, and I was passing the residence of n neighbor, in which dwelt an aged pair. There was a little porch in front of the house, in which were seated this venerable couple. Oh, the silence, the stillness, the holiness that seemed to per- vade the atmosphere! Even the zephyrs dared not play with his hoary loeks. Their Sabbath had com- menced with Saturday's setting sun, and they seemed to be holding secret communion with their God. Awe- struck and silent, I passed along, but the impression remained. Had any one passed the house on Sunday evening at the same hour, possibly they might have found the people all astir making preparations for the labors of the following week, as their Sabbath ended at sunset.

"Some of you may remember the little red school-

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

house on the village green, surrounded by highways. There was a large fireplace at either end; there was a swing partition, which could be let down and form two rooms, or be raised, and, by the aid of a platform, make a fine place for the display of oratorical powers. Oh, those long pages in Morse's geography, without the aid of globe or map! One kind teacher used to carve apples in various devices to brighten our dull- ness about the division of the earth and the first prin- ciples of astronomy. But more distinctly than all is remembered the shape and size of his ferrule, and very vividly the peculiar tingle left in the palm of the hand when administered as a punishment for whispering. There were a class of young people older than myself who had the benefit of the instructions of Mr. William J. Punderson, who were said to be the best readers and the most intelligent, enterprising class ever raised in Watertown. Some of them emi- grated, and became distinguished in other places ; others remained to benefit their native place. Two of these persons I would briefly notice. The one was a lady of commanding form and presence with an intellectual and lovely face, pleasing powers of con- versation; in short, in her were combined all the loveliness of the female character. She died in 1862, at the advanced age of eighty-seven.

" You will anticipate that I speak of Mrs. Young- love Cutler. Oh, how I loved her while living, how I venerate her memory still! The other lady still lives, though now in her tenth decade. I make an annual pilgrimage to look into her gentle face and listen to her lively, interesting conversation, as she speaks of the happiness of the past, the mercies of the present, and the bright hopes in the future. I allude to Mrs. Deacon Allen Hungerford. I would not omit honorable mention of our worthy fellow- citizen, Capt. Merit Barnes. He resembles the sturdy oak which has breasted the storms and winds of nearly a century, still remaining hale and vigorous, imparting shade and shelter to all around it.

" You shall next have my recollections of the old Congregational church, then called the 'meeting- house.' It was situated a little north of the present post-office, the steeple end at the west, near the public highway. Drawing near, you would discover a huge stone horse-block for the convenience of equine wor- shipers. There was a little square room at the en- trance for the convenience of bell-ringing. Here might usually be found the stalwart form of Mr. Jere- miah Peck tugging at the bell-rope. It is said that this old gentleman for eight or ten years rang that bell every evening in the week, Saturdays excepted, precisely at nine o'clock, to warn the good people that it was time to be at home. Saturday evening being holy time, it was taken for granted they were at home and at their devotions. From this little room there was a door of entrance into the main building. There was also a door at the eastern extremity. The descent of land was so great that it required a very high un-

derpinning ; so they built a double flight of steps, one from the north, the other from the south, to bring them on to a platform on a level with the door of en- trance. Possibly to avoid all imitations of popery, or even of churchmanship, the main door or entrance was placed directly in the side of the building. The broad aisle led across to the opposite side, where was a flight of stairs leading up to an elevated pulpit, about on a level with the singers' gallery. There was a linge piece of architecture built on the wall behind the pulpit, projecting over the minister's head, called a sounding-board, said to assist the minister in making himself heard. Beneath the pulpit was the deacon's seat, a long, straight pew, with the back to the pulpit. The audience-room was divided into pews resembling pens, with the door of entrance on one side, and seats running around the other three sides. In these little pens the good people rose up to pray, and sat down to praise. The singers' gallery was composed of two straight rows of slips, extending around three sides of the building. The leader sat directly in front of the pulpit, with his tenor on his left hand, his counter on his right. The treble occupied the seats on the east side of the building, the bass on the west. They were arranged in single file. Behind the singers' seats there was an elevated platform, extending quite around the . gallery, and between this platform and the walls of the building was a row of pens, similar to those below, elevated one step. These were designed for the younger members of the society. They then had a tithingman appointed, whose duty it was to watch over the con- duet or misconduct of these youngsters, and woe be to them if they saw him marching towards them in all the pride of office. The Rev. Uried Gridley was the minister at that time. He was a man of more than ordinary size, and beautifully proportioned. I shall never forget, and language would fail me to describe, his majestic dignity. and easy grace as he walked, bowing reverently, up the broad aisle, ascended the steps to the pulpit, and turned his placid, benign face towards the andience. No doubt the good man enter- tained some of the prejudices of that age against forms of prayer, but some of his sentences are indelibly en- graven on the memory from their oft repetition. The minister then read a psalm or hymn. The choir rose; the leader produced an immense pitch-pipe and blew upon the key-note; every singer responded to bring their voices in unison. Then commenced the singing, the leader beating time the full length of his arm to keep them all up to the mark. They frequently sang fugue tunes, the parts responding back and forth till the walls seemed filled with melody. I remember how majestically it sounded to my infant ears when they sang

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 160

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