USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Norfolk > History of Norfolk, Litchfield County, Connecticut, 1744-1900 > Part 12
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My brethren and friends, before I conclude this discourse I would ask your candid attention to a few words of advice and counsel from your aged pastor, who loves and ardently wishes your prosperity in your temporal, but more es- pecially in your spiritual interests. And this will be re- specting your future conduct in regard to your religious concerns, and those of your children, when my lips shall be closed in death. How soon that may be, or how soon I may be taken off from public service, is left with God, with ยท whom I desire to leave it. But as this may be a proper opportunity, I hope it may not be thought unseasonable, even though it should please God to continue me a little longer in the work whereunto I have been called.
In the first place, then, as much as possible labour to be at peace among yourselves, and that the uncommon union which has subsisted among you may be continued and in- creased. And as one mean to this important end let me suggest to you the propriety and duty of exerting your- selves to provide a more commodious and decent house for the worship of God. This house has stood more than half a century, and although that is not considered long for such buildings, this by its construction is evidently going to decay, and in some seasons of the year is very inadequate to the accommodation of the numerous assembly who resort here for public worship. On this subject I would inform you that this house, from the mode of its construction, is unusually hard and difficult for a public speaker. Having been favored through God's goodness with greater strength
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of voice than many public speakers, I have been enabled to perform the service. But many of my brethren in the min- istry who have spoken here have noticed the uncommon labor to which the preacher is subjected. Many instances have occurred in which ministers have been obliged to desist from public labours on account of the failure of their voice.
When I recommend to you the propriety and duty of building an house for worship, you cannot suppose I can have any personal interest in view, sensible that I shall not need any earthly house but a little longer. But will it not be for your benefit,-will it not be an important benefit to your children? Will not such a measure prove a bond of union, a means of continuing this people together in the worship and ordinances of the gospel?
I will not add, only to remind you that pious David met the divine approbation when it was in his heart to build a house for God. And I would invite your attention to the words of the prophet Haggai, "Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses and this house lie waste?"
Secondly. With respect to the call and settlement of a minister among you, whether it be before or after my de- cease, I pray you listen to my counsel. Your fathers and predecessors very early set up public worship,-viewing it an object of primary importance in respect to the present life and that which is to come. In their infant state, when few in number and straitened as to property, they hastened to erect this house and settle one who might minister to them in holy things, and by the help of a land tax, which continued four years, which was granted by the Legisla- ture, in which the non-residents, who owned a large portion of the land, were included, they were enabled to support the gospel, and at length to finish this house. I mention these things to you, their children and successors, because you cannot be informed from them, most of whose lips are closed in death. They thus taught you by their faithful example, and many of you were taught by their affectionate precepts diligently and constantly to remember the holy
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Sabbath, to attend on the worship and ordinances peculiar to that day, "not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is," alas of many, very many, at the present day. Therefore I counsel, I warn you not to neglect, but continue to remember the Sabbath; to esteem it, to prize it as one of the days of heaven. And I entreat you constantly and conscientiously to attend and improve the instituted means of grace, and as far as you are able, let your children enjoy the same privilege, at least such of them as are capable of understanding the nature, design and duty of public worship.
And inasmuch as I have advanced to old age and must soon be removed from public service, let me give you my parting counsel with respect to the qualifications of a suc- cessor in the ministry. Above all other qualifications (and many others are indispensable) be particularly cautious that you elect a man of apparently real piety; one who has experienced the power of religion, whose heart is warmed with love to Jesus Christ and to the souls of men; who appears to be cordially attached to the kingdom of Christ and to the advancement of its interests among you and through the world. See that he be not only of unblemished morals and exemplary conversation, but clear and distin- guishing in the fundamental truths of the gospel; that he be one who preaches and urges the soul-humbling, God- exalting doctrines of the cross of Christ. To these truths we are all naturally opposed; if we were not our Lord would not have declared as he did, "Ye must be born again." The decrees of God, his absolute sovereignty, his electing love, the total depravity of mankind, our entire dependence on the free and sovereign mercy of God, the nature and necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, justification on account of the righteousness and atonement of Christ alone, the certain perseverance unto eternal life of all who are truly united to the Savior, and the endless punishment of the finally impenitent, are doctrines which, though clearly taught in the holy scriptures, are by many denied and by more opposed. Yet let it be remembered, they are
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the great means, the powerful engine, in the hands of the Holy Spirit, of the pulling down of strongholds, of strip- ping the sinner of all his proud and self-righteous feelings, of abasing his soul before God, and bringing him to fall down at the foot of the cross. See that your minister be one who insists on gospel morality and holy conduct, ex- emplary in his walk, benevolent and compassionate, patient under trials, apt to teach, with a talent to communicate in conferences and private religious meetings, and especially that he be a man of prayer. But I will not enlarge, for I humbly trust that the body of this people will never consent to settle a minister of principles and practice essentially different from what has now been described. O, my friends, it is of the last importance to you and your children that you sit under a sound, evangelical, experimental minister of Christ, who may by the presence and blessing of the divine Savior, go before you and lead you in the narrow way which terminates in eternal glory.
Thirdly. You will suffer a word with respect to the sup- port of the minister whom you shall choose. You are told that the labourer is worthy of his hire. You will all con- clude that one who faithfully labours with you in the gospel ought to be comfortably and honourably supported. And you will readily expect that it will require more than you have been accustomed to afford. When I was settled here I was entitled to a considerable portion of landed interest reserved for the first minister in the town, by means of which, with some patrimony, together with what has been granted from year to year by the people, I have been en- abled through divine goodness to enjoy a comfortable and reputable living But you may have a minister destitute in a great measure of the helps which I have had. The burden, therefore, if it can be called a burden, may be greater than you have hitherto experienced. But you are sensible, and many of you have remarked that your ecclesi- astical expenses have been very light, and they have been defrayed with the utmost cheerfulness. And here I would remark that in the whole course of my ministry there has
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been only two cases of distraint for ministerial taxes that have come to my knowledge. In these instances the per- sons had turned to different denominations after their tax was due. But should the expense be somewhat greater than it has been, I earnestly hope you will not on that account divide and scatter, but strive for the continuance of your union and peace. I need not add, expecting that you will not see your minister in penurious circumstances, so as to embarrass and perplex him, obstruct his usefulness and bring trouble on you.
Fourthly. Let me on this occasion urge your attention to the duty of family religion and government. You cannot be too sensible of their importance for your own comfort, and of their incalculable benefit to your children, for the present and future life. By a little observation and reflec- tion we see, we realize the efficiency of that divine direction and promise, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
Would you wish your children to be respectable and useful in the world, especially that they may be happy when they die, begin to catechise and instruct them when quite young, and as they increase in years and knowledge, press on them the necessity of real religion. Teach them the plain doctrines and duties of the gospel, warn them against every vice, and inculcate the duty of attending to all the means of grace. Let not parental fondness prevent necessary restraints. Remind them of your duty and of their accountability at the awful tribunal of God. And to convince them of your solicitude for their best interests, let your precepts be enforced by corresponding example and prayer. And may God in great mercy accompany his blessing, that your dear offspring may be saved in the day of the Lord.
But it is time to conclude this discourse. I have given you a brief sketch of the history of this town and church, and of some of the dispensations of God's holy providence here before many of you were born. I have noticed the seasons of prosperity and adversity through which the in-
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habitants have passed. I have mentioned some of the tem- poral blessings which we have enjoyed, and the precious seasons of revivals of religion among us, all of which de- mand our solemn and grateful remembrance.
And now, my brethren and friends, I ask your prayers at the throne of grace, that my God would not forsake me now when I am old and grey-headed. That he would "cast me not off in time of old age, and forsake me not when my strength faileth." And if it should please the great Head of the Church to continue me a little longer in his vineyard, and enable me to serve you in the ministerial work, I shall attempt to do it. But my services must be attended with failings and infirmities which will call for your love and candor. But according to human probability, as the Apostle Peter saith, "Shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me." And may I be enabled to keep it in constant remembrance, and through grace be prepared to depart in peace when my Lord shall call. And may you, also, my people, and all who hear me this day, keep in mind that when a few days are come we must leave all mortal things and pass into the unseen world. There we must stand at the tribunal of God, and receive our doom for eternity. And oh, that by a vital union to Jesus, our dear Savior, evidenced by a life of holy obedience, we may through boundless mercy be accepted of our Judge, and enter with all the countless numbers of the redeemed into the joy of our Lord, and be employed through a never ending eternity in the sweet and delightful work of praise and thanksgiving to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Amen."
The following is given as an "Appendix" to Mr. Robbins' Half Century Sermon:
"The settlement of the town of Norfolk began in the year 1744. That, with several of the adjacent towns, was owned by the state, and they were all sold at public vendue in Middletown in 1742. Timothy Hosford of Windsor took a deed of one right of 400 acres, which he retained. All the other proprietors relinquished their rights and forfeited
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their first payment, forty shillings on a right. There were fifty-three rights, of which one was reserved for a parson- age, one for schools, and one for the first minister. Hosford sold his right to Titus Brown, who afterwards lived and died in Norfolk. Titus sold his right to his brother, Cor- nelius Brown, of Windsor (Pawquannock.) Cornelius Brown came to Norfolk soon after his purchase, in the spring of 1744. A road from Torrington to Canaan was opened, mostly by the Canaan people, the preceding year. In Sep- tember, 1744, Mr. Brown moved his family to Norfolk, and lived in a log house a little east of the place where Mr. George Ives now lives. He sowed no grain the first year, being much discouraged on account of the Indian and French war. The team which brought Brown's family was the first loaded team that came through the Green Woods. In the spring of 1745 Mr. John Turner, brother of Mr. Brown's wife, came with his family from Hartford and lived on the rising ground a little east of Brown's. In the fall of 1745 Mr. Jedediah Richards, brother to Mr. Turner's wife, came from Hartford with his family and lived in a small framed house built by him in the course of the summer, on the spot where Mr. Nathaniel Pease now lives. These families lived on Brown's right. They were pious and ex- emplary families, attending religious worship and ordi- nances in Canaan.
The town was sold at vendue at Middletown a second time, excepting Brown's right, in 1754, soon after which a number of industrious, worthy families settled in the town. At the north part the first settlers were Ebenezer and Ezra Knapp, who were soon joined by James Benedict, Samuel Knapp, Jacob Spaulding and Isaac Holt. The Knapps and Benedict were from Danbury. S. Knapp and Spaulding are now living.
In the south part the first settlers were Joseph Mills, Samuel Mills, Asahel Case and Samuel Cowles, all from Simsbury.
The most of these early settlers lived to old age, and were firm friends of religious order and vital piety.
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Three or four years after Brown's settlement, Samuel Manross came from Farmington, now Bristol, and built a log house where the meeting-house now stands.
Edward Strickland came from Simsbury a year or two after Manross and lived where Mr. Nathaniel Robbins now lives.
Samuel Gaylord and Benoni Moses were early settlers, before the second sale of the town, it is believed. They lived near the brook, a little above the centre mills. Joshua Whitney came from Canaan after the second sale of the town and erected a framed house where Linus Mckean now lives.
At an early period of the settlement Brown erected a saw-mill at the place of the present centre mills.
The first house in the north part of the town was a frame, built by Ezra Knapp where Mr. Martin Green now lives.
The present meeting-house was erected in 1760, two years after the incorporation of the town. The inner part was not finished for many years after. The land tax, mentioned in the preceding discourse, was two pence an acre annually for four years,-one-half to be applied to the erection of a meeting-house, the other half to hire preaching. The agent at the Assembly to procure the second sale of the town, --- the incorporation and the land-tax,-was John Turner. Brown, the first settler, sold his first place and settled where Mr. Thomas Tibbals afterwards lived. He sold that place to Tibbals and began again in the southwest part of the town, where he lived till his death.
The first sermon preached in the town was by one Treat, who had been settled in the ministry and was a temporary resident. The meeting was at Richards'. The first settlers got considerable by hunting, particularly deer. The low meadows near the centre of the town were mostly open, and supplied them with hay. The first burials were in Canaan. The first person buried in the town was the wife of Jedediah Turner, who lived a little west of Col. J. W. Phelps' present house. Her grave, with two others, were at the place where Col. Phelps' house stands. The next
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burials were in the present center burying place. The first child born in the town was Stephen, son of Cornelius Brown. The first militia was a Lieutenant's company, com- manded by Lieutenant Whitney. When it was made a full company Whitney was the Captain. The second Captain was George Palmer. .
The first Justice of the Peace was Joshua Whitney, who was in office in Canaan before he moved into the town. He was in office in Norfolk before the incorporation of the town. The second Justice was Michael Humphreys, ap- pointed in 1760. The next was Giles Pettibone, appointed in 1773. Col. Pettibone held that office, and after 1777 the office of Judge of Probate, till he resigned them in May, 1807. He died March, 1810, aged 75. Hosea Wilcox was appointed a justice of the peace in 1778. The next was Dudley Humphreys, appointed in 1780. Those since ap- pointed are Asahel Humphreys, Nathaniel Stephens, Eleazer Holt, Augustus Pettibone, Benjamin Welch and Joseph Battell. The four latter are now in office.
A Probate District, called the District of Norfolk, was established by the Legislature in May, 1779. Giles Petti- bone, Esq., was appointed the Judge. At his resignation in 1807, Augustus Pettibone, Esq., his son, the present Judge, was appointed.
The town was first represented in the General Assembly in October, 1777. The representatives were Giles Pettibone and William Walter.
May the posterity of the venerable fathers and first set- tlers of this town ever "stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths where is the good way, and walk therein, that they may find rest for their souls."
GILL ERG. CO. N.Y.
GYMNASIUM GROUNDS.
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X.
A CENTURY SERMON.
BY REV. THOMAS ROBBINS, D. D.
At a town meeting December 2, 1844, Amos Pettibone, Michael F. Mills and Darius Phelps were appointed a com- mittee "To invite Dr. Thomas Robbins to deliver a Cen- tennial Address to the people of Norfolk, between this and the first of January next, and that they make suitable prep- aration for the occasion."
December 25, 1844, in accordance with the above vote, Rev. Thomas Robbins, D. D., son of the first pastor of the church, preached in the church in Norfolk a sermon of an historical character, that year having been the one hun- dredth anniversary of the settlement of the town. The writer, then seven years old, distinctly remembers being present on this occasion, and the two things that made a lasting impression on his memory were the length of the sermon and the singing of the last hymn, which Dr. Rob- bins "lined" in the old-fashioned way, reading one line of the hymn and then pausing while the choir and the congre- gation sang that line, then reading the next line, and so on. The hymn as he recalls it was the one commencing "Be Thou, O God, Exalted High," sung to the tune of "Old Hundred."
This service and the delivery of this discourse was the celebration of the town's centennial. The discourse has never been published. The original manuscript is owned by the Connecticut Historical Society at Hartford, and through the courtesy of the Library Committee of the society a copy has been obtained for the town's history. Dr. Thomas Robbins was the founder and first president of the society. The historical part of the discourse is as follows:
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"My respected audience, my fellow townsmen, the sug- gestions that have been made with regard to the duties of the people of our state and country, to venerate their an- cestors and imitate their example, apply with equal force, though a more limited extent, to the natives and inhabi- tants of this town. I rejoice with you this day and praise the God of our fathers that he has preserved this our home in great peace and prosperity to the completion of an hun- dred years from its first settlement. This year completes a century since the echo of the axeman, the movement of the plowman, the prayer of the Christian, were first heard amid the tall forest with which it was overspread. This was among the later towns in the state in which a settle- ment commenced. Canaan, Salisbury, Goshen, preceded us a few years. The town was purchased of the state by pro- prietors and owned by them in fifty-three rights. One of them was reserved for a parsonage, one for schools and one for the first minister.
The first sale of the town was by public auction in 1742. Most of the purchasers afterwards relinquished their rights and there was a second sale a few years afterwards. Timothy Hosford of Windsor took a deed of one right at the first sale, which was the only one retained. This he sold to Titus Brown, who afterwards lived and died in this town. Titus sold his right to his brother, Cornelius Brown. These were sons of Deacon Cornelius Brown of Windsor (Pouquonock.) Cornelius Brown came to Norfolk soon after his purchase in the spring of 1744. A road from Torrington to Canaan was opened, mostly by the Canaan people, the preceding year. In September, 1744, Mr. Brown moved his family to Norfolk and lived in a log house a little east of the house formerly occupied by Capt. Titus Ives, now owned by Mr. E. Grove Lawrence. He sowed no grain the first year, being much discouraged on account of the Indian and French war. This was the year before the celebrated military expedition to the Island of Cape Breton, which re- sulted in the capture of the strong fortress of Louisburgh, one of the most memorable events in the history of New
I
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England. We are not to wonder at the tardy progress of the settlement. All men considered it a very doubtful ques- tion at that time whether the New England colonies would continue under the protection of the British crown or be transferred to France, the favorite object of the French ministry, and be annexed to Canada, an annexation for which our fathers had no relish.
The team which brought Brown's family was the first loaded team that came through the Green Woods. In the spring of 1745 Mr. John Turner, brother of Mr. Brown's wife, came with his family from Hartford and lived on the rising ground a little to the east of Brown's. In the fall of the same year Mr. Jedediah Richards, brother to Mr. Turner's wife, came from Hartford with his family and lived in a small framed house built by him in the course of the summer on the site long occupied by the late Nathaniel Pease. These families lived on land belonging to Mr. Brown's original right. They were pious and exemplary families, attending religious worship and ordinances in Canaan. The Browns were bred under the faithful min- istry of Mr. Samuel Tudor.
Three or four years after Brown's settlement, Samuel Manross came from Farmington, now Bristol, and built a log house where the meeting-house now stands. He ob- served when putting up his house that that would be the site for the meeting-house, which afterwards proved to be the case. The name of this early settler, of whom various anec- dotes have been told, was commonly pronounced Mo-raugh. Edward Strickland came to this place soon after Manross, from Simsbury, and lived where Mr. Warren Cone now lives. Samuel Gaylord and Benoni Moses were early set- tlers, supposed to have been here previous to the second sale of the town. They lived near the brook, a little above the centre Mills. The town was sold at public auction, except- ing Brown's right, the second time at Middletown, in 1754, soon after which a number of industrious, worthy families settled in the town. Joshua Whitney came from Canaan and erected a framed house where Major Shepard now
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lives. The first settlers in the north part of the town were Ebenezer and Ezra Knapp, who were soon joined by James Benedict, Samuel Knapp, Jacob Spaulding and Isaac Holt. Capt. Holt was from East Haven. The Knapps and Bene- dict were from Danbury. In the south part the first set- tlers were Joseph Mills, Samuel Mills, Asahel Case and Samuel Cowles, all from Simsbury. The most of these early settlers were firm friends of religious order and vital piety. At this time, say 1758, the settlement of the town may be said to have become established, consisting of about twenty-five families.
The first house in the north part of the town was a framed house built by Ezra Knapp, a little west of the present house of Major Bushnell Knapp. Cornelius Brown, early erected a saw-mill at the place of the present centre mills. I conclude a grist-mill could not have been long delayed. The first road through the town from Canaan to Torrington came on the north side of the main stream of the town, through what was called the Dug-way, over the hill north of the Burying-ground; thence south, and as- cended the north side of this hill, coming along on the summit of what we used to call the ledge, about where Mr. Battell's house now stands, passed to the south, crossing to the west of the bridge near the west side of my father's house, and went on to the south near the foot of the Burr Mountain. The road to Goshen was opened soon, but the eastern one, I suppose, was the first.
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