History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 161

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 161

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"' On cherubim and seraphim Full royally he rode, And on the wings of mighty winds Came flying all abroad.'

"There was a bald-headed old gentleman, small in stature, with spindling limbs, who frequently took his

WATERTOWN.

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stand beside Mr. Gridley in the pulpit, or rather be- neath him, and held up in the direction of his face a large funnel-shaped ear-trumpet, to catch the words of wisdom as they fell from his lips. On one occasion he seemed rather dissatisfied with his trumpet. He removed it from his ear, applied its orifice to his lips and blew into it, as if to remove some real or imag- inary obstruction. The trumpet responded with a loud blast. The children had a great veneration for Parson Gridley. If he entered the school-room, we all rose en masse to show onr respect. If we saw his portly form advancing on the highway, we ranged ourselves on the side of the path and made him a low obeisance as he passed. The good man, with true civility, always returned the salute.'

" There was a building erected for the convenience and comfort on Sundays for those who lived at a dis- tance. They called it a 'Sabba-day house.' It stood on the ground near the present residence of Mr. Day Woodward. I think there was a shelter in the rear for their horses. In front was a room with a large fireplace, which in winter was filled with a roaring wood-fire, with hot, burning eoals on the hearth. Into this comfortable room the good people used to bring their luncheon, and, it is said, a small wooden bottle filled with cider, to refresh them at noon. They then left for church, some of the more delicate of the females filling little foot-stoves with burning coals. There was no smell of fire in any house of worship in those days, save what came from those little foot- stoves. No one thought of staying at home on that account, but our sufferings were at times almost un- bearable. It has always remained an unsolved prob- lem how the minister could perform the duties of the sanctuary with such frosty fect and chattering tecth.

" There was one worthy old pair whom no extremes of cold or heat could prevent attending public wor- ship. They were always to be seen at the regular hour, each mounted on a pacing horse. At length came the era of the one-horse wagon. The old gen- tleman procured one, together with a harness to fit his wife's horse, and after adjusting things to his own satisfaction, gave the whip and reins into her hands, after inviting a widow of the neighborhood to take a seat by her side. He then mounted his own pacer, and, with John Gilpin civility, rode 'on horseback after we.' They reached the church in safety, and passed a most enjoyable day; but on their return, just as they were passing our dwelling, the vehicle suddenly capsized and threw its occupants with much force on to the dusty pathway. They rose with smashed bonnets and garments filled with dust, and moved towards the house. We hastened to meet them, and soon discovered that the driver's nose was minus a large piece of skin, and the widow had sprained her wrist. The driver washed the blood from her face, procured a piece of white paper, wet it, and laid it carefully over the bruised member, then mounted her spectacles over the whole, and taking 43

up a Bible that lay near, calmly proceeded to read in it, while the widow, some hurt, but more frightened, could not suppress her sighs and tears. The gentle- man, after attending to the welfare of his horses, came to the house to ascertain the situation of his wife. In a state of high nervous excitement he kept crying out, 'You pulled the wrong rein : why didn't you pull t'other rein ?' The old lady, calm and serene as the surface of an unruffled lake, pursued her reading. She of the sprained wrist groaned audibly, while my young eyes opened widely that any man should speak thus testily to his wife, especially when she was smarting under the sharp twinges of such a skinless nose. But don't draw any wrong inferences. He was truly a good man. This little episode was the natural result of having passed through such a new and unlooked-for experience.

" My parents, in their more youthful days, were at- tendants at the Congregational Church. They con- formed to the Episcopal Church before my recollection. As the parish was small, and unable to support preach- ing but one-third of the time, we all went to 'meet- ing' (as it was called) the other two-thirds. This may be one reason, among others, why to this day I enjoy their services, and when present always feel myself to be among friends.

"My first recollections of the Episcopal Church is being led in one day before service to hear the choir practice music. The singers' scats were arranged very much like those at the other church. They sat in single file, extending round the gallery. They had the same formidable pitch-pipe and three tenor sing- ers beating time, to the imminent danger of disło- cating their shoulders. The treble sang alone. It sounded sweet to my childish cars :

"' From pleasant trees that shado the brink, The lark and linnet like lo drluk.'

Surely this poetry was not found in the prayer-book or hymnal. The Rev. Chauncey Prindle, rector, soon walked up the aisle in his clerical robes, and passed through the chaneel into the reading-desk. I recol- lect little except being awe-struck as he read the com- mandments. But never can I forget the impressions received as he passed through the old cemetery at the head of a funeral procession, reading the service for the burial of the dead. Surely never language fell on human cars so sublime as that. It seemed a voice from another world, and it seems so still. Indeed, all the prayers and services of the Episcopal Church have become, from lifelong use, a part of my being. They never tire, are ever fresh and new, and, as is said of old wine, the longer kept the richer the flavor. Par- don me, my friends, but if you place an old lady on this spot you must allow her to show her colors.

" My first recollections of the Methodists in this place is that of a few people who were peculiar in excluding all bows and trimmings from their dress, denied all necessity for human learning in the prepa- ration for the ministry, depending on immediate di-

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

vine inspiration, and were said to be loud and demon- strative in their manner of conducting public worship. Truth and candor compel me to confess that these peculiarities were then considered a fit subject for ridicule. But what a change hath time wrought ! They now have colleges and seminaries of learning all over the land to educate their ministers, and no out- ward garb or custom to distinguish them from others. In this town they have a neat little house of worship, a flourishing congregation, in whose male and female members are numbered some of our most esteemed citizens, and with a leader and guide at their head ' whose praise is in all the churches.' This confession is due to them from one who, in her thoughtless days, laughed with others at their peculiarities. She now wishes them all success in ' whatsoever things are law- ful and of good report,' but must confess to a lurking desire, a sceret hope, that they will yet return to the mother they have deserted, and, bringing their zeal with them, warm us all up to more zeal and devotion in the cause of the Master.

"There is an element in our society formerly un- known. In olden days we seldom, if ever, looked into the face of an Irishman, but now they swarm in all our borders. Like bees, they are industrious, loading themselves with honeyed sweets to carry home to their hives ; but, like bees, if trampled on or crowded into a corner, beware of their sting! Kind-hearted and sympathetic, they are true to their friends. They came from their mother-country to better their condi- tion, and, judging from appearances, they have found what they sought. Look at their nice church edifice, and at the large congregation of well-dressed people that attend their services. Look at the full employ- ment they all find, at the comfortable homes they own, and at the opportunity their children have for acquiring an education. The intelligent Irish child is not a whit behind the keenest little Yankee. They are rather exclusive in their notions of church fellow- ship, and are honest about it; but my faith looks for- ward to the day (either in this world or the next) when all who truly love the Lord Jesus shall see eye to eye.

"Our colored inhabitants, who a century ago had not the right to call themselves their own, now enjoy all the privileges of others, whether civil, educational, political, or religious. Must we not all thankfully exclaim, ' What hath God wrought !'

" A few words about our two cemeteries and I will close. The first record of an interment in the old cemetery was in March, 1741. It continued to be the only place until August, 1856. Perhaps as many persons lie buried there as are now living in Water- town. There repose in death the two first Congrega- tional ministers of the gospel, and with them nearly all their people; there sleep our ancestors, and many of the friends of our youth. They sleep the sleep that knows no waking. Not even the tramp of the iron horse, or the rattling roar of the cars dashing through

their midst, can arouse them from their slumbers ; but the last trumpet of the Archangel can, and will, and of what a rising that will be of priests and people ! The first interment in our beautiful Evergreen Ceme- tery was in August, 1854, of Miss Sarah B. Atwood, a few days before its dedication. It seemed sad to turn from her grave and leave her alone in that field ; but how soon is she surrounded by numbers! Most of our families can say, 'There lies one of our heart's chief earthly treasures.' There sleeps the kind phy- sician, Dr. Elton, who would cheerfully rise at mid- night and breast the storm to alleviate the sufferings of his poorest patient; and near him lies the good lawyer, Holbrook Curtiss, who was himself so averse to angry litigation that he trained our people to such habits of peacefulness that to this day they scarcely need a lawyer to settle their differences. And here rest from their labors three ministers of the gospel. The first of the three was the Rev. Frederick Hol- comb (Episcopal). He was the person that offered the opening prayer at the dedication of the cemetery. It becomes not his widow to speak of him in terms of unmeasured praise. She leaves the record of his long life of patient effort to advance the best interests of Watertown and its inhabitants to the memories of those who survive him. In the home which his love and kindness so cheered and gladdened there must, while life lasts, remain a sad vacancy, and a grief in the heart of the bereaved one, 'with which a stranger intermeddleth not.' The second interment was the Rev. Dr. Lewis (Episcopal). Who that ever listened to his godly teaching, or witnessed his truly Christian example, can ever cease to mourn his loss ? He was a teacher who convinced himself. The third was the Rev. Franklyn Tuxbury (Congregational). His so- journ amongst us was short, and as I was not a mem- ber of his flock, of course had few opportunities of listening to his preaching ; but he gave a course of scientific lectures which I attended, and came to the deliberate conclusion that no man had ever labored more earnestly to elevate the literary, moral, and re- ligious character of this people than did Mr. Tux- bury. It gives me pleasure to bear this public testi- mony of my appreciation of his worth of character, and am confident that many, with me, are thankful that his remains rest in our pleasant cemetery, where we can occasionally visit his grave."

CHAPTER LXVII.

WATERTOWN (Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

Congregational Church-Christ Church-Methodist Episcopal Church- Methodist Episcopal Church in North Part of Town.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHI.

THIS church was organized soon after the incorpo- ration of the society or parish of Westbury, in 1738, and among its founders were the following : Deacon

RESIDENCE OF BUELL HEMINWAY, WATERTOWN

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J. Garnsey, Daniel Scott, Lieut. Thomas Richards, Nathaniel Arnold, William Scoville, George Welton, Thomas Matthews, Deacon Thomas Hicox, Deacon Timothy Judd, Deacon John Warner, Ebenezer Por- n ter, Amos Hicox, Jeremiah Peck, Joseph Garnsey, Thomas Cole, Ambrose Hicox, Stephen Scott, Thomas Buckingham, Thomas Hammond, John Stoddard, Richard Seymour, Timothy Williams, Elnathan Judd, Thomas Fenn, Samuel Reynolds, Michael Dayton.

The first church edifice was erected in 1741, near the southwest corner of the old cemetery.

" The place for a meeting-house being determined, the Westbury people applied to the town to provide the ground and the necessary public green. Accord- ingly, the town directed their committee laying out highways at the northeast quarter (it should be north- west) to widen the highway, so as to accommodate said house with a suitable green, according to their discretion, and to award satisfaction to the owners of the land. This was the 24th day of December, 1739, and in the February following the committee, John Judd and John Scovill, laid out the land, as follows :

"'Beginning at the southwest corner, a heap of stones, then east ten rods to a heap of stones, then ten rods north to a heap of stones, then west eleven rods to a heap of stones, then south eighteen rods to a heap of stones, where we began, butting west on land left for a highway, north on Eleazar Scott's land, south on Stephen Scott's land, east on Eleazar Scott's land, or common land, as set out by us.'

" The land included in these lands amounted to nearly one acre, belonging to Eleazar Scott, and as a remuneration for the same the committee awarded him ' three acres of land, to lay out in the undivided land, or fifty shillings in money.'"

The first pastor of the new parish was Rev. John Trumbull, who was born in Suffield in 1715. He was very popular with the people, and acquired great in- fluence by generosity, hospitality, and kindness. It is said that " if one of his parishioners had lost a cow, or had met with a similar calamity, he would interest himself in the matter, head a subscription for his re- lief, and persuade others to sign the same."

It was also said of him "that if one of his people turned Episcopalian he would buy his farm." He was a wealthy man, and a large land-holder.

The following reminiscences nre related of him in Bronson's "History of Waterbury": "Mr. Trumbull was net a tall, but a stout, athletic man. He was sound, shrewd, and humorous. Horses he was fond of, and bought and sold them frequently with success. On this account he wns sometimes irreverently enlled 'Jockey Trumbull.' He loved innocent sports, and had once been a great wrestler. A story is toll of him which, though it may not be wholly truc, is prob- ably not a pure invention. At any rate it illustrates the manners of the times :

"The Waterbury and Westbury people were in the habit of meeting at some half-way plnce, in the long

autumual evenings, to contend as wrestlers. They met around a fire, and the sport was commeneed by the second-rate athletes. When one was thrown, the vanquished called in another from his own side, the objeet being to vanquish the victor. Then the experts were called out in succession, and he who re- mained last on his legs was the bully of the night. In several of these contests, at the time of which I am speaking, Waterbury had proven too much for Westbury. Mr. Trumbull heard of the defeat of his boys, and partook of their mortification. On occasion of the next contest he disguised himself, and went down unknown, except to two or three, to give ' mate- rial aid,' if necessary. The wrestlers were called in one after another till Westbury was again 'thrown out,' the Waterbury champion having grounded the last of the rival party. At this period, when the signs of exultation on one side and chagrin on the other were becoming manifest, a stranger was dragged in from the outer circle of the ring to con- tend for the Westbury boys. The parties placed themselves in position, and began, by 'playin' 'round,' to find each other's qualities. After a little time the stranger, watching his opportunity, caught his antag- onist's foot and threw him upon the fire. Shouts filled the air, and the victor disappeared. Great was the exploit, and great the mystery of the affair, but the secret finally leaked out.

" The story reached the ears of Mr. Leavenworth, pastor at Waterbury, and the next time he met his brother, Trumbull, he rebuked him for his levity, and censured him particularly for throwing his rival upon the fire, by which his clothes and flesh were scorched. Trumbull agreed that he had been guilty of levity, but as for the scorching, he thought it his duty to give his (Mr. Leavenworth's) parishioners n foretaste of what they might expect after sitting under his prenching !"

In his will he bequeathed to his widow his " negro wench Lemmon," and to his son, John Trumbull, of Hartford, gave his negro girl " Mabel," also his knee- buckles and powder-horn. To his daughter Sarnh, wife of Dr. Caleb Perkins, of Hartford, he bequeathed his negro girl "Peg," and another daughter, Lucy, wife of Rev. Mr. Langdon, of Danbury, received a negro girl " that was new in her possession."

Among the early deacons of this church were John Warner, Jonnthan Garnsey, Timothy Judd, Thomas Hickox, Samuel Hickox, Thomas Fenn, and Thomas Dutton.

The second church edifice was erected in 1772, and was located n few rods east of the present one, on lands purchased of Mr. Wait Scott. Services were held in the building until January, 1840. In 1839 the present church edifice was built on lands pur- chased of the heirs of David Woodward, and was dedicated Jan. 29, 1840.

The pastors from the organization of the church to the present time have been as follows : John Trumbull,

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

1739, died in 1787; Uriah Gridley, 1784, died in 1820 ; Horace Hooker, 1822-24; Darius O. Griswold, 1825- 35; William B. Deforest, 1835-37; Pluto R. Hurd, 1840-49; Chauncey Goodrich,* 1849-56; George P. Prudden, 1857; Samuel M. Freeland, Benjamin S. Parsons, Stephen Fenn, G. P. Gilman, Franklin Tucksbury, and C. P. Crofts.

CHRIST CHURCH.

The first movement towards the formation of an Episcopal parish in Westbury was in 1764, when the following persons agreed to hold public worship in Westbury on those Sundays when there was no preaching in Waterbury, and also to make arrange- ments to erect an Episcopal church in Westhury. They met in the house of James Doolittle in the winter, and of Ensign David Scott in the summer. Their names are as follows: Asahel Beach, Seth Blake, James Doolittle, Noah Judd, Joseph Prichard, Edward Scovill, Jonathan Garnsey, Samuel Brown, Daniel Brown, Jonathan Fulford, Asa Judd, Eleazar Prindle, Samuel Scovill, Joseph Hicox, Joseph Brown, Thomas Doolittle, John Judd, John Hicox, Gershom Scott, William Scovill. .

In 1765, under the agency of Capt. Scovill, the first Episcopal church was erected on a piece of ground donated for the purpose by Capt. George Nichols, of Waterbury, a few rods southwest of the first Congregational church, the business part of the town being then near the locality of the churches.

The second, in 1793, on a piece of ground pur- chased of Mr. Samuel Southmayd, south of Mr. Tim- othy Judd's, and near where is now the residence of Alanson Warren, Esq. It was consecrated Nov. 18, 1794, by Right Rev. Bishop Seabury, and last used for divine worship on Sunday, Oct. 28, 1855. Soon after it was purchased by George P. Woodruff, and removed to its present location. None of the con- tributors for the erection of said church are now living. In February, 1846, valuable real estate, which had been previously purchased by J. N. Blakeslee, Esq., was offered to and secured by this society, on a portion of which an academy was erected in 1846, a rectory in 1851, and in 1855 a new church edifice, the corner-stone of which was laid by Right Rev. Assist- ant Bishop Williams, on Monday, May 29, 1854, and the church consecrated by him on Thursday, Nov. 15, 1855.

The rectors of the church have been as follows : James Scovill, 1759-85; Chauncey Prindle, 1788- 1804; Russell Wheeler, 1805-14; Frederick Hol- comb, D.D., 1814-38; N. S. Richardson, D.D., 1838- 45; Frederick Holcomb, D.D., 1845-50; Horace H. Reid, 1850-57 ; Benjamin W. Stone, D.D., 1857; Wm. H. Lewis, D.D., S. D. McConnell, and James Stod- dard.

The church edifice was repaired and beautified

in about the year 1870, and few country churches are more pleasing than this in its proportions and style of architecture.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The first services according to the rites of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Watertown Centre were held May 29, 1853, in a room kindly offered for the purpose by M. Heminway, Esq., and in the fol- lowing July the church was organized. The chapel belonging to the Congregational society was their place of meeting from the winter of the same year until October, 1854, when they occupied the lecture- room of their new church, which had been erected during the previous summer ou an eligible lot pur- chased of Miss Lydia Woodward. It was dedicated Dec. 13, 1854, the sermon on the occasion being preached by Rev. Dr. Kennedy.

The pastors of this church have been as follows : Joseph Smith and Larmon W. Abbott officiated once in two weeks until May, 1857; Mr. Abbott remained until 1859; A. V. R. Abbott, 1859-60; Seymour Lan- don, 1861-62; A. C. Eggleston, 1863-65 ; T. A. Love- joy, 1866-67, till June; W. S. Bell, latter part of 1867; David Osborn, 1868-69; Benjamin Pillsbury, 1870-71; Thomas N. Laine, 1872-74; Horace Q. Judd, 1875-77; Sidney K. Smith, 1878-80.

There is an old Methodist church standing in the north part of the town, but was long since abandoned as a place of worship.

CHAPTER LXVIII.

WATERTOWN (Continued).

CIVIL AND MILITARY. .

Incorporation of Town-First Town-Meeting-Officers Elected-Extracts from Town Records-The Revolution-Division of the Town-Repre- sentatives from 1780-1881-Town Clerks-Probate Judges-Military Record, 1861-65.

INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.

THIS town was formed from Waterbury in May, 1780, and incorporated as Watertown, which included the present towns of Plymouth and Thomaston.

THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.

The first town-meeting was held, with Phineas Royce as moderator, in the present town of Water- town, June 19, 1780, when the following officers were elected : Town Clerk, Timothy Judd ; Selectmen, Thos. Fenn, Thos. Dutton, Stephen Mathews, Na- thaniel Barnes, and Jesse Curtis ; Constables, Samuel Hickox, Thos. Dutton, Noah Richards, John Fancher, and Samuel Lewis; Grand Jurors, Josiah Hubhard, Samuel Southmayd, Theophilus Baldwin, Thomas Cole, Joseph Curtice, Amos Dunbar, Samuel Sutliff, and James Warner ; Listers, Samuel Hickox, Samuel Southmayd, Jonathan Scott, Asa Porter, Jathan Cur-

* Father of the late Samuel G. Goodrich, familiarly known as " Peter Parley."

-1

RESIDENCE OF THE LATE ELI CURTISS, WATERTOWN CONN.

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WATERTOWN.

tice ; Moses Frost, Isaac Fenn, and Zachariah Hitch- cox; Tithingmen, John Merriam, Samuel Reynolds, Wait Smith, Timothy Tuttle, Benj. Upson, and Gid- eon Seymour ; Surveyors of Highways, Thos. Hickox, Jr., Amos Hickox, Jr., Allyn S. Judd, John Wood- ward, John Nettleton, Jr., Jehiel Saxton, David Foot, Jonas Hungerford, John Judd, Jacob Foot, Asa Darrow, Benjamin Upson, Jr., Moses Foot, Benj. Barnes, Edmund Todd, Jason Fenn, Lazarus Ives, David Bartholomew, Abraham Wheaton, Aaron Fenn, Abet Sutliff, Jr., John Warner, Jr., Thaddeus Baldwams; Branders, Amos Mathews, Thos. Fancher; Leather-Sealers, Jedediah Turner and Asa Darrow; Treasurer, Timothy Judd ; Collectors of Poor Rate, Job Garnsey, Samuel Seymour, Younglove Cutter, and Aaron Fenn ; Town Agent, Capt. Samuel Hickox ; Inspectors of Provisions, Lieut. Peter Welton, Capt. Isaac Merriam, Jonathan Scott, Joseph Foot, David Turner, Capt. John Sutliff, Capt. Jotham Curtice, and Capt. Moses Foot.

EXTRACTS FROM THE TOWN RECORDS.

Capt. Samuel Hickox, Edmund Lockwood, Col. Benjamin Richards, Younglove Cutter, Maj. Jesse Curtis, Capt. Stephen Seymour, and Lieut. Thomas Dutton were appointed a committee at the first town- meeting "to hire men to fill up the town quota in the Continental army."

" At the same Meeting Granted A Rate of two peoce on the Pound, to he paid by The first day August Next, and to be paid in hard Money or in Bills Emitted by this State Since February Last.

" At the sumie meeting made choice of Thos, Hickox, Jr., David Hickox, Capt, Benj. Richards, Israel Woodward, Jr., Thos. Foot, Youaglove Cut- ter, Samuel Todd, Lazarus Ives, Isaac Fenn for n Committee to Provide for the Continental Souldier's Families.

" It was also voted that Every Person Shall have n Suitable time to remove hie Mark from Waterbury Town Records to this Town Records.

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 161

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