USA > Connecticut > New London County > New London > History of New London, Connecticut, From the First Survey of the Coast in 1612 to 1852 > Part 43
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3 Parsons.
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HISTORY OF. NEW LONDON.
tion in his church disappeared, and those that had been on the point of separation from his ministry now "had their hearts wonderfully united to him."
Messrs. Owen and Croswell of Groton had also visits from the revivalist preachers, whom they welcomed with genuine sympathy. Mr. Croswell, in July, 1742, took up the pen in defense of the course pursued by Mr. Davenport, who had been severely censured in reso- lutions emanating from the associated churches of Boston and Charles- town in Massachusetts.1
The principal accessions to the church of Mr. Adams were in 1741 from May to September inclusive. In this period eighty mem- bers were received ; during the next three months only four. The Seceders, however, kept up the life and fervor of their zeal for two or three years : and their meetings continued to be marked "with great cryings out of many." The magistrates of the town some- times interfered with warnings and reproofs but in general they were allowed to conduct their worship in their own way.
Early in March, 1743, Mr. Davenport again visited New London ; sent hither with a message from God, as he averred, to purify the little company of Separatists from some evils that had crept in among them. His mind was in a state of fervid exaltation, amount- ing to frenzy. Bodily ailments and overstrained faculties had so dis- ordered his reason that he could no longer keep within the bounds of order and propriety. On Sunday evening March 6th, a strange scene was exhibited. This was the time of the burning of the books ; which has been regarded as the most conspicuous instance of fanati- cism which occurred in New England during this period of religious enthusiasm. Of this transaction unfortunately, no account has been left by an eye-witness.2
According to report, Mr. Davenport preached one of his impet- uous exclamatory sermons on the necessity of forming a pure church. In order to do this the candidates must cast away every kind of idol ; and as one species of idolatry, he denounced certain religious books which had been worshiped as guides, and exalted into standards of faith, but which, he said, contained false doctrines and misled men to
1 Great Awakening, p. 244.
2 Hempstead, whose diary has been so often quoted was at this time at Long Island. On the preceding Sabbath, (Feb. 27th,) he had heard Mr. Davenport hold forth at Southold and his description of the service prepares the mind to believe that he might reach any degree of extravagance. He says, "The praying was without form or comeliness."
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their ruin. He urged his hearers with great vehemence, to cast away, burn up, and utterly destroy every object which had been re- garded with idolatrous veneration. The power of Mr. Davenport over the sympathies of an audience, was very great, and at the close of his service when a call was made upon the people immediately to purify themselves by renouncing idolatry, the whole congregation res- ponded to the proposition. It was then proposed to repair to a cer- tain place, each with his idol and his heretical books, and there to make a bonfire and utterly consume them. This extravagant de- mand was acceded to with enthusiasm and alacrity. A fire was im- mediately kindled upon the open space near the town wharf, fronting the house of Mr. Christophers, where it is probable the sermon was preached, and thither in the dusk of night hastened a throng of in- fatuated people of both sexes, each with books, or sermons, or some article pleasing to the sight or engaging to the thoughts of its owner, which he, or she, with loud ejaculations of prayer or praise, cast vehemently into the fire.
Women, it is said, came with their ornamental attire, their hoops, calashes and satin cardinals ; men with their silk stockings, em- broidered vests and buckles. Whatever they had esteemed and cherished as valuable must now be sacrificed. Most of the articles were of a nature to be quickly consumed, but the heavy books lay long upon the smoldering heap, and some of them were even adroitly rescued by lookers on, though in a charred condition. A copy of Russell's Seven Sermons, which was abstracted from the embers with one corner burnt off, was long preserved as a memorial of this erratic proceeding.
This ebullition of misguided zeal appears to have operated on the troubled minds of those engaged in it, like a storm upon the moody atmosphere, dispersing the mists, calming the air, and cooling the temperature. From this period the New Light party in New Lon- don took reason and discretion for their guides and interpreted more soberly the suggestions of conscience and the commands of Scripture. Reports of what had been done however, flew abroad on the wings of the wind, and all the regular clergy were alarmed. The burning of books so highly esteemed in the country, works of eminent dis- senters and other evangelical divines, was almost considered sacrilege. On the 30th of March a council of ministers met at the house of Mr. Adams to solace him under his trials with their advice and sym- pathy, and to consult respecting "the disorders subsisting among those called New Lights." The ministers present were Edwards of
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Northampton, Williams of Lebanon, Lord of Norwich, Meacham of Coventry, Pomeroy of Hebron, Bellamy of Woodbury, Rosseter of Stonington and the younger Buel of Coventry. On the 31st Mr. Edwards preached a sermon very suitable to the times, as bearing witness against the prevailing disorders, caused by enthusiasm."1 After which a great concourse of people repaired to the court-house where the actors in the scene of burning the books were to have their trial; writs having been filed against them on the plea of pro- faning the Sabbath.
" At a Court held in New London, in the county of New London March 31st, 1743, and continued by adjournment to the 5th of April, 1743. Present J. Hempstead justice of the Peace.2
John Curtiss, Timothy Allen, Christopher Christophers, Daniel Shapley, Tuthill, and Sweasy being arrested and brought before this Court (upon the presentment of one of the grand-jurors of our Lord the King) to answer to the complaint exhibited against them, for that the persons aforesaid did on the 6th day of March instant, being Sabbath or Lord's Day gather themselves together with divers other persons unknown, (being some of them inhabitants of New London, and some of them transient persons) in the Town Street in New Lon- don aforesaid, near the dwelling-house of Edward Robinson of New London, and being so gathered together did there and then profane said day by kindling a fire in or near the street aforesaid and by throwing into said fire sundry good and useful treatises, books of practical godliness, the works of able divines, and whilst said books were consuming in the flames, did shout, hollow and scream, &c. (as per writ dated March 29th, 1743.)
" And the parties defend ; say they are not guilty ; and for plea say that they are members of a Society allowed by the Statutes of William and Mary in the first year of their reign to worship God according to their own consciences, in a way different from that established in, and by the laws of this Colony and were most of them qualified at the County Court in this County before the day aforesaid, according to said statutes, and the rest were by them then called to assist as teachers and persons to join in worship with said Society ; that on the day mentioned in the writ, they all with many others were assembled for wor- ship accordingly and that they in their consciences were then persuaded that heretical books in their custody ought publicly to be burned, that they accord- ingly burned those they thought to be such, that the same was solemnized with prayer, and singing praises to God, and that nothing in itself immoral was com- mitted by them therein-that in that burning, praying and singing in such their separate society, was what they then judged in their consciences Duty and agreeable to the word of God, Acts 19, 19, and is the same mentioned in the writ, and no other things were done, nor with other view or motive.
" The case is considered and it is the opinion of this Court that they are all
1 Hempstead.
2 Copied verbatim from a report of the case found among the papers of the justice who presided.
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of them severally guilty of the profanation of the Sabbath, or Lord's Day, con- trary to the laws of this Colony, and therefore give judgment that they the said John Curtis, &c. pay a fine of five shillings each and the cost of prosecution ; taxed at £1, 18s, 8d, to be proportionably paid between them being 6s, 5}d, each, Old Tenor. In Lawful money the fine for each is 15d, and the part of the charge to each 1 shilling 7}d."
" C. Christophers paid his part in Court, and John Curtis to constable Burch."
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It will be observed that here is not a hint given that aught was cast into the fire except books. This being the most heinous part of the offense, it was the only count mentioned in the indictment. We have Davenport's own admission that articles of apparel formed part of the heap. Nevertheless rumor and imagination have without doubt greatly embellished the scene.
One thing is certain-this little company of enthusiasts never ac- complished their favorite idea of forming a pure church under a divinely appointed teacher. They fasted and prayed, once it is said for three successive days, hoping that God by some sensible token would point out the man to preside over them; but no sign was granted, nor could they ever agree upon a leader. Mr. Allen left them soon after the burning of the books. In a few years the society ceased to exist, but several of the members united with a small com- pany of Separatists that assembled in the western part of the town under the leading of Nathan Howard.1
Mr. Davenport was ordered by the General Assembly to leave the colony and prohibited by penalties from returning. He subsequently recovered from his delusion, confessed his errors, and wrote a recan- tation, which was published in Boston in 1744. In this tract he particularly deplores and condemns the burning of the books and clothes in New London, an act which he admits originated with him, and in the execution of which he took a prominent part.
It is now allowed that Mr. Davenport was a man of piety and talent, very powerful and persuasive in his pulpit efforts, and setting aside these four or five years of enthusiasm in which he seemed transported into the regions of fanaticism, and in a manner beside
1 " A leading woman among these New Lights formed a small party whose distin- guishing tenet was celibacy and went so far as to separate man and wife; however she was the first to marry, and her little party mostly joined the Moravians. The leading lady becoming a widow turned to the Muggletonians of whom a small party was formed here, headed by one Champlin from Rhode Island, and now supported by Roger Gibson from Glasgow." [The above extract is from a manuscript of Rev. Henry Channing written about 1790.]
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himself, his life was passed in usefulness, peace and honor. Mr. Allen also, appears to have been carried through the storm without shipwreck and wafted into the pacific sea. He was a young man at the time that he presided in the Shepherd's Tent, and after that event officiated with acceptance in the sacred office for nearly sixty years.1
The historian of Connecticut, Trumbull, gives the following ac- count of the burning of the books.
" In New London they made a large fire to burn their books, clothes and ornaments, which they called their idols; and which they determined to for- sake and utterly put away. This imaginary work of piety and self-denial they undertook on the Lord's day and brought their clothes, books, necklaces and jewels together in the main street. They began with burning their erroneous books; dropping them one after another into the fire, pronouncing these words : " If the author of this book died in the same sentiments and faith in which he wrote it, as the smoke of this pile ascends, so the smoke of his torment will ascend forever and ever. Hallelujah! Amen !" But they were prevented from burning their clothes and jewels. John Lee of Lyme, told them his idols were his wife and children, and that he could not burn them ; it would be contrary to the laws of God and man : That it was impossible to destroy idolatry with- out a change of heart, and of the affections."
It is understood that the historian derived his account from tradi- tion and the detail is undoubtedly as accurate as could be obtained from that source, sixty years after the transaction. But the impre- cations said to have been uttered may be reasonably doubted. In that day such language would probably have been construed into blasphemy and made a strong point in the indictment, which, how- ever, under this head, charges the offenders with nothing worse, than shouting and screaming ; and they in their plea, admit only that they accompanied the sacrificial rite, with prayer and singing praise to God.
In the History of Connecticut, usually accredited to Rev. Samuel Peters, of Hebron, the chief agency in burning the idols is ascribed to Whitefield, who is represented as crying out from the pulpit :
1 In the year 1800, he was pastor of a church in Chesterfield, Mass .; aged eighty- five. One of the charges exhibited against him in the trying time, and for which he was suspended by the ecclesiastical body to which he belonged, was, that he had compared the Scriptures to an old almanac. This, which was spread through the land to his discredit, was not, according to his own explanation, made in his defense, a fair statement of his words. He had said, " The reading of the Holy Scriptures without the concurring influence and operation of the Spirit of God will no more convert a sinner than the reading of an old almanac." The manner of expression he himself afterwards lamented.
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" Repent-do violence to no man-part with your self-righteousness, your silk gowns and laced petticoats-burn your ruffles, necklaces, jewels, rings, tinselled waistcoats ; your morality and your bishop's books-this very night or damnation will be your portion before the morning dawn."
. " The people," says the historian, " rather through fear than faith, instantly went out on the common, and prepared for heaven by burning all the above- enumerated goods, excepting their self-righteousness, which was exchanged for the preacher's velvet breeches."
It is scarcely necessary to state that the association of Whitefield with this scene, is inaccurate, and that the whole account is a bur- lesque. Mr. Whitefield's first visit to New London county was in 1745, two years after the book-burning. Some minutes of his preach- ing and progress in this vicinity, may appropriately be connected with the subject of this chapter.
In the course of Whitefield's tour through New England, in the summer of 1745, he arrived at Norwich August 1st, and remained there several days. He preached in the North Parish of New Lon- don August 9th, and in New London town-plot, the 10th, taking for his text, 1 Peter, ii. 7, first clause of the verse. On Sunday, 11th, he preached twice in the open air, standing under an oak-tree, in his traveling chair, the horse having been taken from it. We are not informed where this oak-tree stood, but most probably it was near the old meeting-house, on some part of the present Town Square. His morning text was from Rom. xiii. 14, first part : afternoon, Rev. iii. 20. The assembly was large; people from Norwich, Stonington and Lyme, attended. The next day he went to Lyme, followed by crowds, who could not be satisfied without hearing more of his rich eloquence. His wife came through town toward night, on her way to join him. She was in a chaise, accompanied by two men on horses, and lodged at Solomon Miner's, on the way to the Rope Ferry. From Lyme, the whole party crossed over to Long Island.1
Before Mr. Whitefield again visited New London, his intimate friend, the Rev. Jonathan Barber, had been settled as minister in the neighboring town of Groton. Mr. Barber was born at West Spring- field, Mass., January 31st, 1712 ;2 graduated at Yale College 1730. In 1734, he was employed as a missionary among the Mohegans. In 1740, he met with Whitefield, and being favorably inclined to-
1 Hempstead.
2 From his grave-stone in Groton.
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ward him beforehand, became almost immediately his disciple, his admirer, his associate, his devoted, loving and beloved friend.1 Whitefield returned his affection with ardor, and persuaded him to take charge of the Orphan House, established by him in Florida. Here he remained about seven years. Returning to the north, Mr. Barber was ordained at Oyster Ponds, Nov. 9th, 1757, but not set- tled over any church.2 He was installed over the first or South So- ciety in Groton, Nov. 3d, 1758.
Mr. Whitefield again visited New London in 1763. He crossed the Sound from Long Island, Monday, Feb. 6th, and preached on Wednesday evening, in the Congregational meeting-house, from Phil. i. 21. The next day he proceeded to Boston.3 In June of the same year, he returned from Boston by way of Providence. He traveled in his chariot, and stopped in Groton at the house of Mr. Barber, where he was received as a welcome and much honored guest.
Notice had been given of his coming, and at ten o'clock next morn- ing he preached, standing on a scaffolding that had been extended for the purpose, on a level with the second story of Mr. Barber's house, and upon which he stepped from the chamber window. All the area around was thronged with the audience. Many people had left home the day before, or had traveled all night to be upon the spot. At the conclusion of his discourse, he entered his chariot and went on his way, a multitude of people accompanying him on horses, or following on foot to Groton ferry, four miles. After crossing the ferry he was received by a similar crowd on the Town wharf. He remained in town but an hour, and then proceeded on his journey to the south.4 This was his third and last visit to New London.
Mr. Barber's house, where Mr. Whitefield preached, is still stand- ing, in the village which is now called Center Groton. Down to the year 1832, when the house was occupied by a daughter of Mr. Bar- ber, an original portrait of the eloquent preacher, his own gift to his friend, still hung against the parlor wall.
Mr. Barber was an enthusiast : he had associated not only with Whitefield, but very much with Davenport. Many excellent men in
1 See an interesting account of the first meeting of Whitefield and Barber, in Tracy's Great Awakening, p. 85.
2 Prime's Long Island, p. 136 .;
3 New London Gazette.
4 Hempstead.
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that day, were believers in impressions, impulses and ecstacies.1 Imagination was trusted more than judgment, and transports of feel- ing were valued beyond the decisions of reason. Such a state of things naturally tends to destroy the equilibrium of the character. Despair, melancholy, mania, are but a step distant from the religious enthusiast. The last years of Mr. Barber were passed under a thick cloud ; his reason obscured ; the healthy tone of his mind destroyed. In this state of alienation, dark, distressed and melancholy, he sud- denly died Oct. 8th, 1783. He had not preached for nearly twenty years. The society record says, " he was taken from his usefulness in the last part of the year 1765."
1 Great Awakening, p. 100.
39*
CHAPTER XXVII.
Change of style .- A Spanish vessel long detained in New London and part of its cargo stolen .- Execution of Sarah Bramble .- Col. Washington in town .- Another memorial on fortification .- The French Neutrals .- Incidents of the war .- The Greens, a family of printers .- Issue of the New London Sum- mary .- Loyalty .- Lotteries .- Various articles of intelligence. Issue of the New London Gazette .- The British ship Cygnet .- Barberries .- Pope-day. Revenue oppression .- Trade.
IT is well known that in the month of September, 1752, an inter- ruption occurs in the dates, occasioned by the correction of the style. Hempstead's diary, next after September 2d, has the following entry :
" Sept. 14, 1752 .- Fair :- and such a day as we never had before ! By act of Parliament to bring Old Style into New Style, eleven days is taken out of this month at this place, and then the time to go on as heretofore."
On the 26th of November, 1752, a Spanish vessel struck on Bart- let's Reef, a little west of the harbor of New London, and sustained so much injury as to be rendered entirely helpless. Capt. Richard Durfey, in the custom-house barge, went out to her relief. She was found to be of that description of vessel called a snow ; of two hun- dred tuns burden ; with a crew of forty men, and named " the St. Joseph and St. Helena." On her voyage homeward from the gulf of Mexico to Cadiz, she had encountered severe gales, and was so much damaged that her commander had bent his course toward New London to refit, and was endeavoring to enter the harbor, when the accident occurred. She was richly freighted with indigo, and other valuable products of the Spanish colonies, and had on board sundry chests, boxes and kegs of gold and silver, in bullion and coin. It was necessary to lighten the ship, and Capt. Durfey brought away thirty- seven chests of dollars, and three of gold in doubloons, with other goods, which were stored in the cellar of Col. Saltonstall's dwelling-
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house in Main Street. All the forms of law were satisfied in the way of taking evidences, acknowledgments, and receipts, and a guard of six men was detailed to watch the money. The arrival in port of so large a treasure, magnified and varied by rumor, threw the town into a ferment, and the report of it ran like wild-fire through the country. . The violent and lawless part of the community were eager to get a portion of it, either by fair means or foul.
The snow being lightened, floated from the reef, and was towed up to the wharf, where she was unladen, and the remainder of her goods stored in Robert Sloan's warehouse, near the Town wharf, with a guard of four men to keep watch over them.
And now a controversy arose between the colonial and the custom- house officers, which party should have the custody of the treasure. The governor, having had prompt advice of the situation of the for- eign vessel, had commissioned Col. Saltonstall to act for the colony ; but the collector, Joseph Hull,1 Esq., claimed the whole cognizance of the affair. He and his assistant, Mr. Chew, proceeding to make an appraisement and examination of the cargo, were met by the re- fusal of Col. Saltonstall to deliver up that part of it which was in his charge. Violent disputes ensued, and a court of admiralty was called to decide the question. The session was held in the court-house, De- cember 18th, and the judge, deciding in favor of the custom-house, issued an order to Mr. Hull to have the Spanish effects appraised and taken into his custody.
On the 28th, Mr. Hull, with the judge's order in his keeping, ac- companied by a justice of the peace and a throng of followers, some armed with clubs, and himself flourishing a naked cutlass, proceeded to the house of Col. Saltonstall, and demanded the treasure. The latter, having received the governor's commands to keep the goods till further order should be given, was prepared to contest the point. They found his house surrounded by an armed guard, and two con- stables at the gate, one of whom read the riot act to the approaching company, and ordered them to disperse. Violent altercation, but no bloodshed ensued; the invaders gave up the point, and departed, though in great anger.2
The snow, upon examination, was condemned as unseaworthy ; and the severity of winter now coming on, the Spaniards abandoned all hope of departing till another year's sailing-time should come round.
1 Erroneously, Hill, in Trumbull's History of Connecticut.
2 " Much roiled," is Hempstead's expression.
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Early in the spring of 1753, a vessel was procured for them ; and no good reason seems to be given why they did not forthwith demand their goods and put to sea. At least, the cause of the detention is not now known. According to Trumbull's account, a part of the cargo was shipped on the 23d of April, and nothing appeared but that the whole was ready for delivery at that time.
It would have been a relief to the town to have them depart; for the business kept the authorities of the place embroiled, and collis- ions frequently took place between the Spanish crew, and the low part of the populace with whom they associated ; so that street fights were frequent. Delays, however, took place ; and when at last Don Joseph Miguel de St. Juan, the supercargo, was ready to receive the remainder of his effects, they were not to be found. A portion of the money, a large part of the indigo, and some of the other goods were missing. The injured foreigner demanded his property of the col- lector ; he knew nothing about it : of Col. Saltonstall; he was equally ignorant : no one knew aught of the matter; all were in the dark. The Spaniard was resolute, not to depart without his full cargo, or its equivalent. He spent the summer in waiting, soliciting, threat- ening and demanding, but obtained no redress. In October, he pre- sented a memorial to the Legislature, stating the facts, demanding indemnity, and throwing the case upon the colony for adjudication. It was his plan, since he could not obtain the whole of the cargo, to reland the remainder, deliver it into the hands of the authorities, dis- charge his crew, and go home to his sovereign with his complaints, leaving the colony responsible for the whole concern. The Assembly declined to interfere any further than to empower the governor to aid in a public search after the missing treasure.
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