USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 141
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This, the first church in the town, the body of which was finished in 1729, was situated upon the site of the present Congregational church, and stood 100 years, be- ing torn down to make a place for the second one. It stood as a plain square building until 1795, 66 years after its building, when an addition and steeple were ad- ded to it. In January of that year, " a committee was appointed with full powers and instructions to build and annex a suitable and proper steeple to the west end of the Meeting House, and to procure a suitable bell, clock & spire to said steeple."
Previous to this people were called to meeting by the beat of the drum, "twice in the morning and once at noon on the Sabbath day."
In 1827, when the old church had withstood the storms of almost a century, the question of repairing it was agitated in the parish. At a meeting held in July, says the records, "all present excepting one person
Rev. J. A. Tomlinson was employed January Ist 1880, voted that they should prefer building a new Meeting House to repairing the old one."
In 1828, the sum of $3,000 was raised by subscription Rev. E. B. Sanford began his pastorate August Ist to be expended in building a meeting house, with the avails of the old one. The meeting house was to be 40 by 50 feet, built on the site of the first one, and " steeple and pulpit both to be placed on the southernmost end." This, the second Congregational meeting house, was dedi- cated June 17th 1829, and was torn down to make place for the present one in 1859.
For a half century or more before the establishment of the church connected with the ecclesiastical society in the parish, the inhabitants worshiped with the church in Saybrook, one of the oldest in the State, having been organized in 1646. Here they listened for a number of years to the preaching of the Rev. Thomas Buckingham, one of the founders of Yale College, and possibly to the Rev. James Fitch, earlier, who for a time was a land holder in this parish. The church, one of the " Presby- terian Blue Lights" in its origin, was very strict in its rules and regulations, and recusants were summarily dealt with by the society. At times the inhabitants were summoned to answer for non-attendance, or refusal to pay the ministerial rates.
METHODIST CHURCHES.
On a Sunday morning in the summer of 1807, a little party of believers in the teachings of John Wesley met at the house of Mr. Samuel Stevens, on the northwestern outskirts of the town, and organized a Methodist class. The Rev. Ebenezer Washburn preached a sermon, and thus was established the first Methodist church in town, and one of the first in the State. They called themselves, first, Episcopal, afterward Wesleyan Methodists; and . held their meetings for 10 years in school houses, or pri- vate residences, the class leader usually conducting the services, though at times they were favored with a clergy- man.
The memorable September gale of 1815 was an "evil not unmixed with good," as it felled the trees that furnished the frame for, and perhaps suggested the build- ing, the first Methodist church in town. This church, built in 1817, and situated about two and a half miles west of the " Congregational Church on the Hill," stood just 50 years. Its first minister was William Jewett, foi- lowed by Elijah Hibbard and Smith Dayton, though its pulpit was generally supplied by itinerants.
It was a furious breeze that disturbed the little church 25 years later, filling it with dissension and strife, that in the end led to the organization of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and the erection of its church edifice in 1841. The conduct that accompanied this disagreement would
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WESTBROOK-EDUCATION.
now appear ludicrous but that it is remembered that it took more than a quarter of a century to heal the diffi- culties.
Soon after the rupture in the First or Wesleyan Meth- odist Church the aggrieved members formed a new church and society, with the original name, that they had brought away with them, that of Methodist Episco- pal church and society. A quarterly conference, held at Clinton, in April 1841, at the request of the new church organization appointed a committee "to raise money to purchase ground and superintend the building of a House of Worship for the Methodist Episcopal Society in Westbrook."
: This, the present Methodist church building was raised in July 1841, and the first quarterly conference was held in it, December 25th of the same year.
Rev. Charles W. Carpenter, presiding elder at the time, officiated on the occasion. The Rev. Isaac San- ford was its first resident minister, being stationed over the church for the year 1842.
SCHOOLS.
The matter of a public school was agitated very soon after the set off of the parish, and in February 1726, a committee was chosen " to treat with the East Society respecting a certain legacy given and left by Mr. Edward Lay* to ye inhabitants of ye town of Saybrook for main- taining a free school for the children of ye inhabitants of said town, supposing ourselves to have a just right to a proportionable part thereof, and as we are a distinct society it ought to be improved in some other manner than has been formerly accustomed in order to attain ye end proposed by ye said donor they to do their best endeavor for obtaining ye said school to be kept in our society some part of each year;" also " to in- quire after and use their best endeavor to obtain a proportionable part of ye fifty pounds granted by ye General Assembly to ye town of Saybrook for ye use of a school, or at least some part of the interest for main- taining a school among ourselves." This was the first public school in town.
These matters were probably settled to the satisfac- tion of the parish, for January 26th 1727, it was voted " to set up a school forthwith or as soon as may be conveniently for so long a term in each year as ye law directs," and a committee was appointed " to take over- sight and management thereof, and to hire and agree with some suitable and meet person to keep ye said school for the ensuing year."
The Edward Lay, here mentioned, was a member of the Lyme branch of the Lay family, and the gift was probably Inspired by his indignation at the removal of Yale College from Saybrook to New Haven.
At the removal of the detnined books of the college by a sheriff's warrant, in 1718, this indignation was expressed so forcibly that Mr. Lay and Captain Samuel Chapman of this parish were brought before the governor and council " to be examined of threatening words spoken to the sheriff of the county relating to the executing of his office " and placed under bonds of £50 pounds each "for their good behaviour towards hls Majesties subjects, and especially to all his officers." Robert Bates, for many years afterward clerk of the ecclesiastical society in this parish, became one of the bondmen.
This school was under the supervision of a committee chosen each year by the society. In 1733, it voted " that ye school shall be maintained in manner follow- ing, viz., of what ye county money is wanting from time to time of a sufficient supply, the society shall be at one- half of ye charge and those that send their children to school ye other half." The committee were instructed the following January to employ a school master for two months, at three pounds per month, and a school mistress for the other four months, at twenty shillings per month and no nfore.
There seems to have been dissatisfaction in regard to the distribution of the public moneys, for it was repre- sented to the society, in 1740, that "Whereas there hath a difference arisen and is now subsisting in the town of Saybrook respecting the free schools in' said town, and after many debates thereabout the town hath voted to refer the decision of that matter to a commit- tee, this society, taking the matter into consideration, think it needful to raise a small sum of money to hire some meet and suitable person as a counsel for us in the case.'
One farthing on the pound was voted for that purpose. This action had reference to money realized from sale of Western lands, for in 1744 it was voted that a certain sum received " from the sale of Western lands, should be let out in sums not exceeding twenty-five pounds, nor less than fifteen to any one man, and for a term not exceeding five years."
Though a public school was established in Westbrook Parish in 1727, it was 14 years before a school house was built for its accommodation; the school in the meantime being kept in private houses, most likely much of the time at the parsonage. The question of building such a house was agitated in 1740. A meeting of the citizens was held at the house of Mr. Ephraim Kelsey on the evening of January 2d 1741, at which it was agreed " to erect a school house upon some convenient place be- tween the meeting house and the river." It was de- cided to locate it between the meeting house and Rev. Mr. Worthington's garden.
Its dimensions were to be 21 feet in length, 15 feet in breadth, and in height 612 feet stud. It was to be plank- ed and the roof covered with 18 inch chestnut shingles, and the sides clapboarded with rift clapboards. It was to have two good floors, one above and one below, and to be sealed round the inside.
There were to be in it three glass windows, the two larger ones two feet in length and 18 inches in width, and the smaller one 18 inches in length and 12 inches in width. The chimney was to be four feet between the jambs, at the back. It was to have one good door, well hung, and a hearth to the chimney, and to be well fur- nished with benches.
The parish contracted with Mr. William Divall to build the house for 54 pounds, 12 shillings, he giving bonds accordingly. Mr. Divall did not finish the work to the satisfaction of the committee, and his bondsmen were sued to recover.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
This, the first school house within the bounds and limits of Westbrook, stood at the foot of the hill west of the present Congregational church, and was used for school purposes nearly 30 years.
Until 1768, a period of 40 years from the time of the first school, Westbrook Parish constituted one school district and needed but one school house, but the increase of its population, especially in the north and west borders, made it desirable that school houses should be erected in those sections for their accommodation. Consequently, in 1768, the parish was divided into three school districts, and three school houses were built, the first house being sold and the site changed. The third, that was to be on Pond Meadow, in anticipation of the division, had already partly built one.
The lines of boundary of the districts, as per record, were as follows: The First District, "beginning at the southeast corner of the parish and extending northward in the parish line as far as Hornbrook; thence running westerly, including Ephraim Jones, Ephraim Jones Jun, and Benj. Jones and Simeon Lay; thence southerly to the sea. Second or western district to begin at the mouth of Eight mile river (Menunketesuc) running northerly, leaving out Simeon Lay, and to extend so far northerly as to take in all the inhabitants of Horse Hill and Mr. Daniel Lay; thence westerly to Killingworth line; thence by said line to the sea side, all the remain- ing part of the parish to be the third or northerly dis- trict."
The First District, by the division, comprised the present Center, East, Hayden, and the largest part of the North District.
The Second, or Western District, comprised the pres- ent Kirtland and Horse Hill Districts; and the Third, or Northerly District, comprised the Pond Meadow and the north part of the present North District.
The school house in the First District was to be set somewhere between the meeting house and Mr. Heze- kiah Post's dwelling. It was set on the ground occu- pied by the front of the present town hall. Its dimen- sions were 20 feet in length and 16 feet in width. That in the Second District, 16 feet long and 14 feet wide, was set " on Horse Hill, about 33 rods below the brook to the southward of Jeremiah Wright's house on the east side of the highway." The Third District was to go on and complete the house already begun. This was probably built on the site of the present Pond Meadow school house.
The parish levied a tax of two pence half penny on the pound on the common list to construct their build- ings, two pence in provisions or material, and a half penny in money.
The parish remained thus districted about nine years. In 1777, the wishes of the north part of the First Dis- trict were gratified by being set off from that district, to be a Fourth School District. The limits of the dis- trict are described as, "including Mr. Samuel Spencer and Mr. Gideon Denison, and all northward from thence,
that heretofore belonged to the First District, for a new and fourth district."
It was arranged to build immediately a school house, 18 feet long and 14 wide, for the district, "somewhere betwixt Wid. Prudence Bushnell's and Mr. Joseph Whit- tlesey's."
Through some difficulty this house was not built until 1784, at which time the parish, in school meeting, laid a tax of "two pence on the pound in provision or material, and two farthings on the pound in cash," for that pur- pose. This house stood on the ground occupied by the present North District school house, or very near it.
In 1787, the Second District was divided to form a fifth district. The.dividing line was " halfway between Josiah Wright's and John Lay's," the north portion, or present Horse Hill District, to be the Fifth.
The school house in the Second District, being within the limits of the Fifth by the set off, was retained by the Fifth, they paying to the Second its proportion of owner- ship according to its list of estates. A school house was built by the Second on the site of the present Kirtland District house.
The Sixth or Hayden District was set off from the First District in 1824, the dividing line being Pochoug River. A school house was built that year in the corner of the lot given by Mrs. Devotion to the First Ecclesi- astical Society. This house is still standing and in use.
The Seventh or present East District, was formed by a division of the First, and a school house built that is at present in use.
The second school house, built on the site of the present town hall, in the First District, in 1768-9, was burned about 1814. The third one, on the same ground, was built by proprietors in 1815, and rented to the dis- trict for school purposes. This building was sold to Jonathan Lay, Esq., and by his widow given to the First Ecclesiastical Society for a conference room. After the erection of the present church, with its chapel room, it was sold to the town for a town hall and used for that purpose until the building of the present hall in 1881.
This building, the old " Conference House," as it was familiarly called, was as well known, and it will probably be as long remembered as any in town.
Among its various vicissitudes it was pretty well torn to pieces in 1837, during an anti-slavery meeting. Thereupon the ecclesiastical society voted that they " would not have any more abolition meetings in their meeting house or conference house."
The fourth and present school house in the First Dis- trict was finished and occupied in 1839.
The Academy Association was formed in 1852, and the academy building was erected that year and occupied the following winter with about 80 scholars. Though this was the first building of the kind in town, a select school had been kept from four to six months in a year for a quarter of century, in various buildings.
Edward D. Rawson, the first principal, was a graduate of Amherst College. Under his preceptorship of two
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WESTBROOK-MISCELLANEOUS.
years the school probably enjoyed the greatest prosperity, though under his sucessors the school maintained its character and excellence for years. Many have gone forth from its teachings to make their mark in the world of letters, and those who have settled down to the more humble and quiet walks of life look back with pride and pleasure to their " Alma Mater."
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Westbrook furnished for the army, in the war of 1861-65, 55 of its natives and citizens. Of these, four were killed in battle, twelve were wounded, of whom two died in consequence, and sixteen died of disease or starva- tion. Several endured the miseries of Southern prisons.
The town was represented in many of the most severe struggles of the war. Its killed or wounded were on the fields of Antietam and Fredericksburg, at Cedar Creek, Port Hudson, and Gettysburg, and in the Wilderness.
Five from this town entered the navy, two of whom were lieutenant commanders, one acting master, and one master's mate. One was on board of the Tuscarora in her cruise after the Alabama and Sumter, one was with Farragut in the Gulf squadron, and one on board of the Ironsides in the attack on Fort Sumter, when that iron- clad lay for two hours, aground on a torpedo which did not explode, exposed to the fire of all the batteries in Charleston Harbor. One was severely wounded by be- ing blown up with his vessel, by a torpedo, in a South Carolina river.
T. Nelson Spencer entered the revenue service, and was promoted to the position of lieutenant, in which office he served during the war. He was afterward pro- moted to the position of captain, and died in the service, in 1874.
Twelve descendants of Captain Samuel Chapman, one of the first settlers, and Deacon Jedediah, his son, who commanded a company in the Cape Breton expedition, in 1745, well represented the family in the war of the Rebellion.
In addition to the citizens of the town who took part in the great struggle, about 30 non-residents enlisted and served to its credit. A few of these were substitutes, but most enlisted for the bounty offered by the people and military subjects.
The Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society was active through- out the war, and did much toward alleviating suffering and making pleasant the soldier's life in field and camp.
WESTBROOK AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The Westbrook Agricultural Society was organized January 4th 1879, and incorporated by act of the Legis- lature, March 3d 1882. From small beginnings it has become an important society, and its fairs have been some of the best in the State.
Its first fair was held September 29th 1881, at which there were go1 exhibits for premiums. The number of premiums awarded was 564. Amount awarded, $250.35.
The second fair was held October roth 1882, at which there were 1, 188 entries. Amount of premiums awarded, $349.30.
The third fair was held October roth 1883, at which premiums were awarded on 650 articles; amount, $337.09.
The fourth fair was held October 8th 1884, at which there were over 1,250 entries of animals and articles for premiums. There were 855 premiums awarded, amount- ing to about $360.00.
The object of the society according to its constitu- tion, is to awaken and promote an intelligent interest in agriculture and kindred pursuits, and it has succeeded in this object beyond expectation.
THE COLONEL WORTHINGTON FARM.
This place is situated about three-quarters of a mile from the Congregational church, eastward, on the main street, and is so called from having been long in the pos- session of Colonel Worthington of Revolutionary fame. There is an old house standing on the premises. Its age is unknown, but William Chapman, who died within a few years, at the advanced age of 95, remembered having carried dinner to carpenters who were repairing the building when he was a small boy. The structure was probably built over 200 years ago. This ancient house was used as a hotel in Revolutionary times, and it is said to have been the nearest to the Sound of any on the line of the old turnpike between New Haven and New Lon- don. Some of the first counterfeiters of silver coin formerly occupied this dwelling. They made their money on an island, and stored it in the northeast chamber of the house, in a cavity constructed in the case- ment so as not to attract attention. The paper on the wall of the southeast chamber was put on during the war of 1812. The ladies lit a lamp just at dark, where- upon the British fired at the house from a vessel on the Sound. One ball went over the building, three fell short of it. Near here is the site of one of the pox-houses so common in those days.
PROMINENT MEN.
Of the pioneer families of the town many, as the Grinells, Bates, and Duncks, have wholly disappeared. Of the Lays, Murdocks, Wrights, and Joneses, remnants remain, while the Chapmans, Posts, Stannards, Spencers, and Bushnells are yet representative families and nu- merous.
The Pratts and Kirtlands were later comers, though their ancestor, Lieutenant William Pratt, of Potopaug, and John Kirtland, the first tavern keeper in Saybrook, were settled but a mile or two away about 1640.
For nearly 200 years Westbrook was not without a Samuel Chapman, a John Stannard, a William Bushnell, and a Jared Spencer.
The name of Robert Lay and Ephraim Kelsey existed here for a century and a half.
THE CHAPMAN FAMILY.
The Chapmans were a race of thrifty farmers, located in the eastern part of the town, and were descendants of Robert Chapman, who settled in Saybrook in 163S. The
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
family has been identified with Westbrook from its earli- est permanent settlement.
Captain Samuel Chapman, a worthy inhabitant, and leading man in public affairs in this village, was the grandson of Robert Chapman, the first settler, and son of Robert jr., from whom he received an estate comprising a large portion of "Chapmantown " by gift or inher- itance. This farm has been cultivated by successive age, and a small piece of land lying east of the parsonage." generations of the family to the present time. Captain Chapman was one of the most active in the organization of the ecclesiastical society in 1724, and in the formation of the church connected therewith, of which he was one of the 14 members in 1726.
Jedediah Chapman, son of Capt. Samuel Chapman, born in 1703, was a lawyer by profession and a deacon in the Congregational church. Deacon Chapman was a man of distinction in the colony, probably being better known and more highly honored than any other citizen of the town in those days. He was a major of militia; a representative in the General Assembly for 20 years, alternating at times with Major Murdock; served on im- portant commissions to the neighboring colonies, and was for a number of years one of the auditors of public accounts. Deacon Chapman died in 1764. His two sons, Jedediah and Caleb, followed him as deacons in the old church, and every generation of the family have been represented in that capacity to the present time.
THE LAY FAMILY.
From the earliest settlement of the town the Lay fam- ily has been one of wealth and importance. Tradition locates Robert, the progenitor of the family, here before 1640.
Documentary evidence shows him to have been one of those to whom the " outlying lands " here were distribu. ted, in 1648. There is now living the sixth Robert Lay, in direct succession. The family increased rapidly and became the owners of real estate in almost every section of the town.
Among those of note may be mentioned Col. Asa Lay, who was born here in 1748, and died on the "old Lay homestead," in 1813. Colonel Lay was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and became a lieutenant, command- ing the body guard of Baron Steuben. At the time of the declaration of peace, in 1783, he was stationed with the Baron at Fishkill, on the Hudson. General Wash- ington's headquarters, at which he was a frequent visi- tor, were at Newburgh, on the opposite side of the river. He named his son after his commander, and Mr. Steuben Lay, who has been dead but a few years, was a man much respected in the town.
Judge Jonathan Lay, son and grandson of Jonathan Lay, and probably a great-grandson of Robert, the first, to whom and his widow, Nancy Elliot, the First Congre- gational Church and Society is indebted for many and
The family's connection by marriage with the influen- tial Lay family, and also with the Rev. Mr. Devotion, the lordly long-time minister in the old church, gave valuable benefactions, was born in town, in 1748, and it an additional prominence in public affairs. Peter, the
died in 1831. His widow survived him 21 years, dying in May 1852, at the age of 82. Judge Lay had three wives, but no children.
The present Congregational parsonage was a gift from him, as also 20 acres of woodland, the society coming in possession at the death of Mrs. Lay. The parsonage was first occupied by Rev. William A. Hyde.
Mrs. Lay gave by will, to the society, the building called the " Conference 'House " and "$50-to keep it in repair, the sum of $300 to keep in repair the parson- To this last gift she adds, " it is the will of the testator that the society to whom it is given, do not suffer any building to be erected thereon, neither to have it incum- bered in any way, but that they have it kept as an open space or green for the benefit of the public forever."
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