USA > Connecticut > New London County > Montville > History of Montville, Connecticut, formerly the North parish of New London from 1640 to 1896 > Part 38
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Children.
1. Nehemiah, b. 16 Nov., 1794; died unm.
2. Joshua, b. 5 March, 1796; m. Abby (Richards) Moore.
3. Edmond, b. 21 Ang., 1798; m. Lydia Bolles.
4. Lyman, b. 26 May, 1801; m.
5. Christian, b. 21 May, 1805; m. Isaac Scholfield.
6. Isaac, b. 26 April, 1809; m. Maria Thompson.
7. Marvin, b. 31 March, 1812.
S. George, b. 23 June, 1815.
9. Josiah, b. 20 April, 1820.
SWADDLE FAMILIES.
William Swaddle was an inhabitant on the east side of the river, Groton, in 1689, where his cattle mark was recorded. He was impaneled on a jury of inquest May 31, 1703, to view the body of Edward Stallion, who was drowned by falling ont of his canoe on the 14th day of the same month. The name of his wife is supposed to have been Esther. She had a son, William, baptized in New London 5 March, 1692, and daughters, Mary, baptized in 1695, and Hannah in 1697. Their daughter, Irena, was baptized 10 Sept., 1704.
William Swaddle, Jr., was married 22 Jan., 1718, to Eliza- beth Crocker, and had James, b. 23 Dec., 1719; Samuel, b. 26 Jan., 1722; and Elizabeth, b. 23 March, 1724. Their births are all found on Groton records.
SAMUEL, b. 26 Jan., 1722, son of William Swaddle and Elizabeth Crocker; married Delight Bliss, b. about 1729, daughter of Pelatiah Bliss and Sarah Harris. He settled in Montville and lived on the road that runs from Chapel Hill to New London.
Children.
2. Theoda, b. ; m. Jedediah Chapel, 1st wife.
3. William, b. ; m. Jemina Chapel.
4. Delight, b. ; m. Guy Chapel.
5. Lucy, b. S March, 1753; in. Jedediah Chapel, 2d wife.
WILLIAM (3), b. , son of Samuel Swaddle and Delight Bliss; married Jemima Chapel, daughter of Richard Chapel and Jemima Comstock. He settled in Montville and lived on the farm now owned by Ulysses M. Comstock. He died in January, 1789. His death was caused by falling upon an auger that was fastened to his sled as he was riding
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SWADDLE FAMILIES.
home from New London. His widow afterwards married Congdon, and died 8 Feb., 1851.
Children.
6. James, b. 3 Jan., 1783; died 28 May, 1860, unm.
7. Sarah, b. 3 June, 1785; m. Silas Rogers.
S. Delight, b. 2 Jan., 1788; m. Zebediah Comstock. Their son, Ulysses M., married Maria Chappell, daughter of Sterling Chappell, and had 1st, Happy M., b. 2 March, 1852: 2d, Sarah Ann, b. 22 May, 1853; 3d, William S., b. 3 Dec., 1859; 4th, Tantha M., b. 10 Oct., 1855; 5th, Ulysses, b. 28 April, 1861; 6th, Anson W., b. 4 Jan., 1865; 7th, Lillian R., b. 19 Feb., 1867; 8th, Jemima V., b. 27 Aug., 1869; 9th, George W., b. 12 March, 1872; 10th, Maria B., b. 20 May, 1874.
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38
THOMPSON FAMILIES.
Isaac Thompson first appears as an inhabitant of the North Parish of New London about 17 , and came from Westerly, R. I., son of Isaac Thompson, who died at Westerly in 1738, and Mary Holmes, who died in 1751, daughter of Joshua Holmes and Abigail Chesebrough. From the Westerly records it appears that Joshua Holmes " sold to his son-in-law, Isaac Thompson, one hundred acres of land, with a dwelling thereon, situated at Westerly, R. I.," in 1694. This Isaac Thompson, Sr., was probably the son of Benjamin Thompson and wife Prudence, of Roxbury, in 1699 a physician.
Isaac Thompson, Sr., and Mary Holmes had the following children, born at Westerly: 1st, Mary, b. 1 July, 1697; 2d, Isaac, b. 26 Sept., 1698; 3d, Samuel, b. 29 July, 1700; 4th, Abigail, b. 1 Jan., 1701; 5th, Sarah, b. 3 March, 1703; 6th, William, b. 10 April, 1704; 7th, Nathaniel, b. 31 Dec., 1705; Stlı, Anna, b. , 1806; 9th, Elias, b. 14 Nov., 1708; 10th, Mary, b. 18 March, 1710; 11th, Abigail, b. 14 Oct., 1711; 12th, Susanna, b. 25 Nov., 1713; 13th, Joshua, b. 13 Aug., 1714; 14th, Prudence, b. 11 March, 1716.
Isaac Thompson, Jr., b. 26 Sept., 1698, son of Isaac Thompson and Mary Holmes, probably married in Rhode Island before removing to Connecticut. The name of his wife has not been recovered, but William and Samuel are supposed to have been his children. He settled on land located in the northwest part of North Parish, between Gard- ner Lake and Oxoboxo Pond; some of his descendants after- wards were located on the west side of the pond. His de- scendants in the first part of the nineteenth century were quite numerous, but very early in the century many of the families removed to other parts of the country, some moved to Nova
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THOMPSON FAMILIES.
Scotia, and others removed to the western states, so that as late as 1850 only a few families of the name remained. The line of connection between the families is not as clear as is desired. The dates of births are very hard to find, and the land records show but a meager evidence of facts relating to the family.
Samuel Thompson, who is known to have been a resident here, was supposed to have been the son of Isaac, Jr. In the year 1755 he was chosen a collector of the " minister's rates." He had sons, William, Samuel, and Nathaniel, and daughter, Anna, married Jeremiah Vallet. William married Lucretia -, and had sons, Elias, b. 10 Jan., 1772, and Jabez, b. 21 Feb., 1775, and daughter, Lovice, b. 6 April, 1769, she being the eldest child, and married Dea. Caleb Lyon. William, the father, died in 1834. Samuel, another son of Isaac Thompson, Jr., married Margaret Fox, daughter of Samuel Fox and Abigail Harris, and had a son, Samuel, who married Susanna Rogers, daughter of Jeremiah Rogers and Susanna Congdon, they had children, Sarah Ann, bap. S May, 1807; John, bap. 15 Oct., 1808; Margaret, bap. 9 Jan., 1811; Lucretia, bap. 2 July, 1814; Lydia, bap. 18 Sept., 1817; and Florimal Fox, bap. Sept., 1821.
NATHANIEL, b. about 1735, son of Isaac Thompson, Jr .; married Delight Fox, sister to Samuel's wife. He died 14 June, 1828, age 93 years. She died 4 Feb., 1815, age 75 years.
Children.
1. Alpheus, b. ; m.
2. Isaac, b. ; m. 7 March, 1799, Eunice Allen, and had George Stanton, b. 16 April, 1800, and Nath- aniel Allen, b. 17 June, 1804.
3. Gardner, b.
4. Burrel, b. ; m. Mary Bishop.
5. Abby, b. : m. Asa Manwaring.
6. Parthena, b. 22 April, 1776; died S Aug., 1860, unm.
7. Edna, b. 8 Aug., 1780; m. Hazzard Browning.
S. Achsa, b. 21 Nov., 1781; m. John H. Allen.
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HISTORY OF MONTVILLE.
ELIAS THOMPSON, b. 10 Jan., 1772, son of William and Lucretia -; married Rosanna Harris, b. about 1767, daughter of Ephraim Harris and Lydia Beebe.
Children.
9. Elias, b. about 1804; m. Sarah Williams.
10. Elisha, b. ; m. Jemima Gardner.
11. James, b. ; m. - Whitman.
12. John, b. ; m. Lord.
13. William, b.
14. Lucretia, b.
; in. Gardner.
15. Mary, b.
16 Annah, b.
JABEZ THOMPSON, b. 21 Feb., 1775, son of William and Lucretia -; m1. 1st, Eunice Harding; 2d, Sarah Morgan. He liven on the old Colchester road at the corner of the road leading from the old Colchester road to Oxoboxo.
Children by Eunice.
17. Abby, b.
18. Eunice, b.
; m. W. N. Clark.
Children by Sarah.
19. Nancy, b. ; m. John Crocker.
20. Maria, b. ; m. Isaac Richards.
21. Harriet, b. ; m. Ebenezer W. Beebe.
22. Sarah, b. ; m. Amos Bill.
23. William, b. ; m. Eliza Green.
24. Jabez, b. ; died unm.
25. Isaac, b. about 1809; m. Hannah Chappell.
26. Guy, h. ; m. Sarah Ann Mitchel.
ELIAS THOMPSON, b. about 1804, son of Elias Thompson and Rosanna Harris; married 24 March, 1822, Sarah Williams. He lived on the farm afterwards owned by Isaac S. Champlin, about 1830.
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THOMPSON FAMILIES.
Children.
27. James H., b. 17 Dec., 1823; m. Fannie Bill.
28. Elias, b. 6 June, 1825; m. Sarah Craig.
29. David F., b. 13 March, 1828; m. Hannah Williams.
30. Oremel W., b. 31 May, 1831; died 18 Sept., 1884.
31. Calvin Dwight, b. 28 May, 1833; m. Maria Dart.
32. Martin V. B., b. 24 Aug., 1835; m. Angeline Gardner.
33. Mary L., b. 2 Dec., 1838; m. George D. Beach.
34. George W., b. 26 Sept., 1842; m. Elizabeth A. Wool- worth.
TUTTLE FAMILIES.
Daniel Tuttle appears to be an inhabitant of the North Parish, where he married 24 April, 1728, Sarah Comstock, daughter of Samuel Comstock and Sarah Douglass. He settled at Mohegan, living on one of the farms rented by the overseer of the Mohegan tribe of Indians. He with his wife united with the Congregational Church on Raymond Hill the 8th day of June, 1729.
Children.
2. Ann, bap. S June, 1729.
3. Elizabeth, bap. 25 April, 1731.
4. Daniel, b. about 1733; m. Thankful Bliss, b. about 1733, daughter of Peletiah Bliss and Sarah Harris. They had a son (5) Peletiah, who married, 1st, Sarah Rogers, daughter of Thomas Rogers and Sarah Fitch. She died about six months after
their marriage. He then married Nov., 1783, Bet- sey Swaddle, daughter of Samuel Swaddle. Daniel the father died soon after the birth of his son, Peletiah, and his widow then married Gideon Baker.
PELETIAH (5), b. about 1757, son of Daniel Tuttle and Thankful Bliss; married. 1st, Sarah Rogers; 2d, Betsey Swaddle. He settled in Montville and lived at Mohegan.
Children, all by Betsey.
6. Joseph, b. 22 Oct., 1784; m. Hill.
7. Daniel, b. 30 May, 1786.
8. John, b. 18 May, 1788.
9. Sarah, b. 1 Ang., 1791.
10. Elizabeth, b. 26 May, 1794; m. Thomas Rogers.
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TUTTLE FAMILIES.
11. Sanford, b. 16 Oct., 1795.
12. Thankful, b. 14 Oct., 1797.
13. Mary, b. 27 Feb., 1800.
14. James, b. 9 Aug., 1802.
15. Peletiah, b. 20 Oct., 1805.
16. Charles, twin to Peletiah.
ALDEN FAMILIES.
The Rev. Abishai Alden, fifth pastor of the Congregational Church at Montville, was born at Stratford, Conn., the 28tl of January, 1765, son of Joseph Alden and Susanna Packard, and a descendant of John Alden, born 1599, who came in the Mayflower in 1620, through Joseph (2) 1624, Joseph (3) 1667, Daniel (4) 1691, Joseph (5) 1718. He graduated at Dart- mouth College in 1787, and his first settlement in the ministry was at Millington, Conn., where he was ordained in 1791. He continued in the faithful performance of his duties as a min- ister of the gospel at that place eleven years, and was dismissed in 1802.
He received a call from the church at Montville in May, 1803, which call he accepted, and was installed its pastor the 17th day of August following. There were present as the in- stalling council the Rev. Levi Hart, moderator; the Rev. Jo- seplı Strong, the Rev. Moses C. Welch, the Rev. Jonathan Murdock, the Rev. Henry Channing, scribe, and the Rev. Royal Tyler.
The Rev. Abishai Alden was a faithful, devoted pastor, a man of sound judgment, devout and dignified in his demeanor, sound and orthodox as a theologian, and quite acceptable as a preacher. His sermons were always appropriate to the time and occasion, that called for special themes. He was general- ly loved and respected by his parishioners.
Near the close of his ministry there were certain persons who thought a more popular minister ought to be obtained, a man younger, and of more animation when preaching, and bet- ter qualified to interest the young people of the parish. This feeling continued to grow stronger on the part of the younger members of the congregation, and shared by a few of the older ones, until the pastor was compelled to resign liis position as
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ALDEN FAMILIES.
pastor of the church, and was dismissed by council the 26th day of April, 1826, after a pastorate of nearly twenty-three years.
During his pastorate at Montville, he admitted into the church, on profession of their faith, one hundred and eighty- two persons, and baptized, by sprinkling, one hundred infants. He also joined in marriage ninety-four couple. After Mr. Alden was dismissed from the Congregational Church at Mont- ville, he preached at Grassy Hill, Lyme, twelve months, be- tween May, 1830, and May, 1831. He removed from Mout- ville to Dover, N. II., about 1832, where he died, 11 Oct., 1833.
The Rev. Abishai Alden was married to Elizabeth Parker 16 Aug., 1792. She was born 7 Nov., 1767, daughter of Dr. Jonathan Parker and Dolly Coffin of Litchfield, N. H. She died at Dover, N. H., 14 July, 1852. Mrs. Elizabeth (Par- ker) Alden was a descendant from James Parker, born in Eng- land about 1617, and who settled at Groton, Mass., through Josiah (2); Rev. Thomas (3); Dr. Jonathan (4).
Children.
1. Almira, b. at Millington, 6 July, 1793; m. Rev. David Root, and had children Elizabeth, Almira, Caroline, and David. She died 10 Aug., 1832.
2. Dolly Coffin, b. at Millington 22 Feb., 1795; died young.
3. Augustus, b. at Millington 26 Nov., 1796; m. Lampkin, daughter of Governor Lampkin of Geor- gia, and had Ann, Elizabeth, Morcella, Almira, Florence, Oscar, and Lampkin. He died 13 July, 1870.
4. Sophrona, b. at Millington 8 Sept., 1799; m. - Wil- son, and had Edmond and Lucilla. She died 1 April, 1836.
5. Elizabeth Parker, b. at Millington 1 April, 1802; m. Oliver Blockley, and had Elizabeth and Henry. She died 1 Feb., 1833.
6. Edward Parker, b. at Montville 17 April, 1805. He died 12 April, 1833, unmarried.
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HISTORY OF MONTVILLE.
7. William Hillhouse, b. at Montville 21 Nov., 1809; m. Har- riet B. Riley of Dover, N. H., and had 1st, Elizabeth Ann, b. 3 July, 1838; m. Dr. George M. Beard, son of Rev. Spencer F. Beard, a former pastor at Mont- ville. They had two children, Edith May, b. 7 Jan., 1873, and Grace Alden, b. 27 Sept., 1874. Dr. Beard died at New York, 23 Jan., 1883. She died 31 Jan., 1883. Edith May, their daughter, died 26 July, 1873.
2d, John Abishai, b. 10 April, 1840.
3d, William Henry, b. 28 Oct., 1843; m. Helen Milledolor; no issue.
4th, Mary Blockley, b. 13 Jan., 1846.
5th, Edward Augustus, b. 4 Sept., 1848.
6th, David Root, b. 20 Nov., 1851.
7th, Harriet Riley, b. 29 March, 1856.
Sth, Oliver Blockley, b. 16 Ang., 1858.
The following lines were written on the death of Rev. Abishai Alden soon after his decease, by J. Hill of Dover, N. H., and published in one of the newspapers of the city:
"Thou art gone, good old saint, thou art gone to thy rest, From sorrow and care set free, When happy forever among the blest Thou art there to spend thine eternity.
' Thou dwelt many years in this troublesome world, Where sorrow and conflicts arise,
But now, to thy sight bright heavens unfold, Thy spirit has flown to the skies.
' Death has knocked off the shackles that bound thy good soul To withering object below ; Thy spirit has flown to the heavenly goal, Where long it has fluttered to go.
"Thou didst come to a stranger's land to die, Thou art welcome to the sod ;
Thou art welcome among our dead to lie Till thou hearest the trump of God.
Then arise, noble saint, in triumph arise, And soar above the skies ; There thou shalt behold with unclouded eyes, And enjoy the well-earned prize."
LORENZO DOW.
Lorenzo Dow was born in Coventry, in this state, 16 Octo- ber, 1777. His father, Ephraim Dow, was born in the same town, and was a descendant from English ancestors, of the fourth generation. William, who was the father of Ephraim, came with his father and grandfather from Norfolk, England, and settled in America. William had four sons; one went to seek his fortune and was never heard from afterwards. One settled in Voluntown, Conn. Another settled in Plainfield. Conn., and Ephraim settled in Coventry. His wife was a daughter of Humphrey Clark of Ipswich, Mass.
Ephraim Dow, the father of Lorenzo, married a daughter of James Parker, son of Joseph Parker, whose parents came from England, and was murdered by the Indians. Himself, with the other children, escaped from the Indians by hiding in the grass and brush, though in sight of the savage foes. One of the children was an infant, which the sister dropped from her arms in her fright, and Joseph, the elder brother, picked it up. The child being very quiet, they were all saved. Joseph Parker settled in Coventry, and built the first house erected in that town. He died there at the advanced age of ninety-four years. The Parkers of this line are said to have been descendants from Lord Parker of Macclesfield, England, who is supposed to have descended from one of the natural children of King Charles II, who is said to have descended from William the Conqueror.
Lorenzo Dow was one of the most conspicuous characters in America at the beginning of the nineteenth century. He joined the Methodists when young. Having heard much said regarding that sect that did not impress him very favorably, and having the curiosity to see one himself, he, at a convenient
604
HISTORY OF MONTVILLE.
opportunity, went to one of their meetings. He says, "I went to the door and looked in to see a Methodist, but, to my surprise, he appeared like other men." He finally became a Methodist himself and ultimately a traveling preacher.
On making religious profession he says, "Having been sprinkled in my infancy, and not feeling altogether satisfied, I had the rite performed as a declaration to the world of my own voluntary dedication of myself to God and his service." He entered the ministry at the age of twenty-one and was first sent to Cambridge, Mass., where he remained one year. The next year he was stationed at Essex. The circuits em- braced all the countries north of Rensselaer to Canada line, but the field, wide as it was, did not suffice for his roaming propensities or his growing evangelistic ambition. He was dropped from the regular work on account of his eccentrici- ties, and for nearly forty years was wandering over the world. He traveled all over the United States and even crossed the ocean to Great Britain, visiting England, Ireland, and Scot- land. He was a ready writer, shrewd and often amusing. His dress and address were alike singular. He always wore a Quaker garb and had his beard and hair long, in a day when clean shaves and a close crop were in fashion, his beard falling over his breast, reaching nearly to his waist, and his hair falling over his shoulders.
Starting out on one of his annual tours for some distant point he would sing and pray and preach from his wagon in the public square of every city and village he passed through and would leave a string of appointments to be filled on his return, weeks and months, and sometimes one year ahead. He never failed to be on hand at the appointed time.
The first great object of his warfare, both with pen and tongue, was the fatalistic Calvinism, as he termed it, which was held to by many in New England a century and a half ago. The efforts of the advocate of the Calvinistic doctrine to re- concile freedom of will with predestination is described in the humorous lines :
.
LORENZO DOW HOUSE.
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LORENZO DOW.
" You can and you cant, You shall and you shant, You will and you wont, You'll be damned if you do, You'll be damned if you don't."
He acted independently of all ecclesiastical relations, making his own appointments and preaching when and where he chose. He usually preached in the open air, sometimes from his wagon and sometimes from the head of a barrel or box, and when closing would make an appointment to preach again in the same place some months ahead, and though, as was frequently the case, he had in the meantime been hundreds of miles away, vet, when the day and hour came, he was sure to be there.
In Stevens' History of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States is found an interesting description of the first church built in Mississippi. The historian says: "It was built mainly by the efforts of Randall Gibson, who had removed to the Mississippi territory, then in the hands of the Spaniards, about the close of the Revolutionary War."
The church referred to in the above was in the town of Washington, in the northwestern portion of the grounds on which Jefferson College, the oldest college in the Southwest, stands. The lot on which this church stood was donated by Lorenzo Dow, and the deed to it, with the signature of the eccentric, but generous, evangelist of the Methodist Church, and his noble Christian wife, Peggy Dow, are now, so it was said in 1878, among the archives of the college.
The convention which framed the constitution of Missis- sippi was held in this church, and the " Charter Oak " of Mississippi, under which was placed a field piece, from which was fired the first salute to the new-born state, stood about one hundred yards from the former site of the old church. In the year 1872-3 a severe storm prostrated the old church build- ing, but its location is still marked for a memorial both to the builders of the church and the donors of the lot.
His courtship and marriage were perfectly characteristic,
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HISTORY OF MONTVILLE.
and are related in his journal as follows: "I was resolved when I began to travel that no created object should be the means of rivalling my God, and of course not to alter the situa- tion of my life, unless a way seemed to open in the way of Providence, whereby I might judge that my extensive useful- ness should be extended rather that contracted." His court- ship and marriage, as related by himself in his autobiography, was as follows: He says, "Smith Miller (this man was a brother-in-law to Peggy, he having married her older sister, and had adopted Peggy, her parents dying when she was quite young) of Western came to a big meeting in the woods and heard that crazy Dow was there, and after some time sought and found me. He accompanied me to my appointments, consisting of about one hundred miles to travel. He kept what some would call a Methodist tavern, i. e., a house for the preachers. One of my appointments being near his house, he invited me to tarry all night, observing his daughter would be glad to see me. I asked if he had any children. He re- plied, a young woman I brought up I call my daughter. I stayed all night, but as it happened that not a word passed between her and me, though there were but three in the family. I went to my appointments, where we had a precious time, but whilst preaching I felt uncommon exercise (known only to myself and my God) to run through my mind which caused me to pause for some time. In going to my evening appointment I had to return by the house, he being still in company with me. I asked him if he would object if I should talk to his daughter concerning matrimony. He replied, I have nothing to say, only I have requested her, if she had any regard for me, not to marry so as to leave my house.
" When I got to the door, I abruptly asked his wife, who had been there and what they had been about in my absence. She told me, which made way for her to observe, that Peggy was resolved never to marry unless it were a preacher, and one who would continue traveling. This resolution being similar to my own, as she then stepped into the room, caused me to ask
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LORENZO DOW.
if it were so. She answered in the affirmative, on the back of which I replied, 'Do you think you could accept of such an object as me?' She made no answer, but retired from the room; this was the first time of my speaking to her. I took dinner; asked her one question more and went to my neighboring meetings, which occupied some days, but having a cloak making of oil cloth, it drew me back to it. I stayed all night, and in the morning when going away I observed to her and her sister, who brought her up as a mother, that I was going to warm countries where I had never spent a warm sea- son, and it was possible I should die as the warm climate de- stroys most of those who go from a cold country; 'but,' said I, ' if I am preserved about a year and a half from now, I am in hopes of seeing this northern country again, and if during this time you live and remain single, and find no one that you like better than you do me, and would be willing to give me up twelve months out of thirteen, or three years out of four to travel, and that in foreign lands, and never say do not go to your appointments, &c., for if you should stand in my way I should pray to God to remove you, which I believe he would answer, and if I find no one that I like better than I do you, perhaps something further may be said on the subject,' and finding her character to stand fair, I took my departure.
" In my travels I went to the Natchez country, where I found religion low, and had hard times, but thought this country one day would be the garden of America, and if the family would remove there it would prove an everlasting blessing (as its respects religion) to the inhabitants, consider- ing their infant state.
" It lay on my mind for some weeks, when I wrote to them on the subject, though I had no outward reason to suppose they would go, considering the vast distance of near two thousand miles. But now I found she was still single and they all willing to comply with my request, which removed many scruples from my mind. Knowing that it was a cir- cumstance that turned up in the order of Providence instead
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HISTORY OF MONTVILLE.
of by my own seeking, so our bargain was drawn to a close, but still I thought not to have the ceremony performed until I should return from Europe, but upon reflection, considering the circumstance would require a correspondence, my letters might be intercepted, and the subject known, prejudice arise, jealousy ensue, and much needless conversation and evil be the result, wherefore, to prevent the same, a preacher coming in, we were married that night; the only five were present, this being the third of September, 1804."
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