USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Norfolk > History of Norfolk, Litchfield County, Connecticut, 1744-1900 > Part 13
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And now, my hearers, let us pause for a moment and con- template the condition of our venerable parents and pre- decessors at the period which we have reached. They were encompassed with difficulties, oppressed with burdens which their present descendants would feel too great to be borne. Such as would fill ordinary minds with dismay, and such as ordinary physical powers would be unable to sus- tain. Houses and barns must be built, roads opened and bridges made. Places where are now pleasant meadows were impassable swamps; mills to be erected; tall forests, the growth of ages, to be levelled and cultivated. Their few
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herds and flocks were exposed to the prowling beasts of the forest, and little help to be obtained from any places in the vicinity. In the former part of this period there was a disastrous war on their borders, by which the frontier set- tlements were peculiarly exposed, and at the latter part of this period, in 1755, a new war commenced, of which Can- ada was the principal seat, and heavy drafts of men and munitions of war were made upon the colonies of New England.
The few families we have contemplated were dispersed over this extensive town, yet a house of worship must be erected and schools provided for their children. But amid all these embarrassments they were steadfast in their pur- pose; they were devoted to frugality and industry, in har- mony with each other, and unchanging perseverance, they rested their hope on a faithful God and Savior, on that covenant God who for more than an hundred years preced- ing had continually sustained the successive generations of the Pilgrims through similar straits, afflictions and dan- gers. They were laboring for their future days, for us their posterity, for the glory of their Lord; and the God of their fathers did not forsake them.
The new lands of the town produced good crops; much wheat and corn were raised, and afterwards grass and pas- turage in abundance. At the beginning of the settlement the low meadows near the centre of the town were consid- erably open, and from them some of the settlers obtained their first hay. The sugar maple was for many years a source of much comfort and profit. Within my remem- brance, much grain was procured every year from the grain towns of Canaan and Salisbury, in exchange for the maple sugar. This town was distinguished for the quantity and quality of that article. Provisions to a considerable extent and some other articles of value were obtained by hunting in the forest. This exercise has been highly exciting and pursued with great fondness by all people and in all ages of our race. It has ever been a principal support of the rude stages of society, and the favorite amusement of the most refined.
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The inhabitants of this town were incorporated by an act of the Legislature in 1758. The General Assembly also authorized the town to lay a land tax of two pence an acre for four years; one-half to be appropriated to the erection of a meeting-house and the other half to hire preaching. The agent of the town to procure these objects, and also the second sale of the town, was John Turner.
Cornelius Brown, who was really the father of the town, sold his first place at an early period, and settled where Mr. Thomas Tibbals afterwards lived, about three-fourths of a mile south from the meeting-house. He afterwards sold that place to Mr. Tibbals and began again in the southwest part of the town, where he lived till his death.
Two families of the name of Meeker afterwards settled near Mr. Brown's, which gave a name to that part of the town.
I have not been able to ascertain at what period public religious worship began to be observed in the town. The first families attended public worship for some time in Canaan, but it was early introduced and generally main- tained in their own town.
The first sermon preached in the town was by a preacher of the name of Treat, and was a temporary resident. The meeting was at the house of Mr. Richards. The meeting- house was erected in 1760,-two years after the incorpora- tion of the town. As a considerable portion of the expense was defrayed by a land-tax, a part of it was paid by non- residents. I presume that the towns were released from the Colonial tax for two or three years, while building their meeting-house, as this was the common practice in the Colony. When the frame of the house was raised, they sang an hymn and prayed, and all persons belonging to the town sat down on the outward sills of the building.
The house was larger and was used longer than was common with the first meeting-houses in the towns of the state. It was 50 by 40 feet, with 20 foot posts, and stood 53 years.
The house was enclosed and well finished in the exterior
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the first season, and in the spring following it was painted a peach-blow color. It was not finished in the inside till the year 1769. It was painted white in 1793.
The first child born in the town was Stephen, son of Cor- nelius Brown. The first person buried in the town was the wife of Jedediah Turner, who lived a little west of the house of the late Jeremiah Phelps. Her grave, with two others, were at the place where Col. Phelps' house now stands. The next burials were in the present centre bury- ing-place. I know of no other burying-place till the one in the south part of the town, begun about the year 1790. The first grave was the aged Mrs. Cowles, widow of Mr. Joseph Cowles, and mother of the late Ebenezer Cowles.
Previous to the erection of the meeting-house, public worship was held in private houses, and several preachers of reputable character preached for a while in the town to good acceptance and profit. Measures were taken for the settlement of two or three of them, but for want of una- nimity it did not take place.
In the spring of 1760 my father, then recently licensed as a preacher, having graduated the preceding year at Yale College and studied divinity in the interval with Dr. Bel- lamy of Bethlehem, was invited to come to Norfolk to sup- ply the people. He came here in June, 1761. The church was previously organized by Rev. Daniel Farrand of Canaan, on the 24th of December, 1760, consisting of twenty-three members. Mr. Farrand had done much for the people here before the settlement of a pastor, as my father did in a like case for the people of Colebrook. After preach- ing a few months my father accepted a call of the people to be their pastor, and was ordained October 28th, 1761. His father, Rev. Philemon Robbins of Branford, preached on the occasion, and Dr. Bellamy, Mr. Champion of Litch- field and others assisted at the ordination. At the time my father came here there were about fifty families in the town, and some ten or twelve moved in during that year. He has often told me that the new meeting-house made a fine appearance among the trees, then new glazed and
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painted, the most of the trees on the Green still standing; the meeting-house not visible from the place where he built his house the following year. But for some years after this there was a good progress in clearing and cultivating the new lands. Yet no small portion continued within my remembrance. Now I suppose there is no more in wood than is desirable. In the north part of the town there was a good deal of valuable pine timber, and some in other parts, which ? conclude is now generally cut off. If a growth of different timber has succeeded, when that shall have come to maturity and be removed the pine will return.
From the time of the formation of the church, consisting of 23 members, to the settlement of the pastor, 15 members were added, mostly from other churches, making at that time 38. The first church meeting was holden November 19th, 1761. At that meeting Mr. Michael Humphreys was chosen to the office of deacon. He served in the office alone for about four years, when Mr. Abraham Camp was chosen to the same office. Those elected to the office since that time are, in succession, Joseph Mills, Abraham Hall, Jared Butler, Samuel Mills, David Frisbie, Edward Gaylord, Noah Miner, Sylvanus Norton, Amos Pettibone, Samuel Cone, Darius Phelps, Dudley Norton. To omit any remark on the living, those that are gone are men of gifts, faithful in the duties, the arduous and important duties of the office, and exemplary in the Christian character. The church has been uniformly sustained and enlarged in the rich mercy of their Lord, and has continued exactly 84 years, in great union and harmony, and by the divine power, in much prosperity.
It has had more discipline than most churches, but these measures have strengthened the church and increased its reputation with those that are without. There have been some difficult cases of discipline and the advice of ecclesi- astical councils has been called, and they have been bur- dened with the question, not uncommon, whether the mar- riage of a wife's sister or a brother's wife is to be treated as a disciplinable offense; a question which will not be set- tled till a more enlightened age of the church.
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This church and people have long continued in great har- mony among themselves, and with their ministers, for which it becomes us to rejoice, to commend the character and conduct of our fathers and predecessors, and especially to praise that holy God from whom cometh all peace and concord. There have uniformly been leading men, who were men of prudence, acting from a conscientious sense of duty. In these things the ministers and the civil au- thority have fully performed their due share. The faithful observance of gospel ordinances and the steady preaching of the true gospel of Christ Jesus, as I believe, has had as might be well expected, the special blessing of God.
It has pleased him in the riches of his mercy to accom- pany his own institutions with his ordinary blessing, and at various periods, to revive his work with the mighty influ- ence of his grace. The first period of revival under my father's ministry was in 1767. There was an uncommon seriousness and attention to religion through the town. As the result of this work ten or twelve persons united with the church. In the year 1783, sixteen years after the period just noticed, there was a great and good work of divine grace spreading through the town. This revival I well remember. It was soon after the close of the Revolutionary war. During that anxious period, when the minds of all were deeply interested in public events, there were, as might well be expected, few seasons of revival through the country. My father had poor health at that time, and he was much assisted by neighboring ministers, and some from a distance.
Meetings were numerous; conferences were often held without any minister. The population of the town at that time had become about as great as at any time since. This revival greatly enlarged and strengthened the church. The members added in 1783 were 33; in '84, 27.
After this period this church was spoken of for a number of years as among the largest churches in the state. Six- teen years from this period, 1799 and 1800, this people were favored with the greatest religious revival, as I suppose,
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that they have ever had. This was in connection with a very distinguished work of grace through this vicinity, and in other places. The preaching was mostly doctrinal, ex- hibiting in earnest manner the truths of the gospel and the only way of salvation through Jesus Christ. I think it proper to add that that revival was substantially the true source of the great modern impulse given to mis- sions. .
The monthly Concert of prayer, the lever by which the vast fabric of Mahometanism and Idolatry are to be over- thrown, commenced in 1795, but it did not become con- firmed and established till after these revivals. . . . My father says in his Half-Century Sermon, 'In consequence of the revival of 1783, fifty-two were added to the church, and of that of 1799, about one hundred and sixty.' There was a good work of grace among this people in the year 1815, when the people were destitute of a pastor. They were regularly supplied with preaching, and the brethren of the church were active and faithful in the important duties devolving upon them. This revival was followed with large additions to the church; twenty-two having been received in 1815 and in the following year, one hundred and three.
There was a revival during the ministry of Dr. Emerson in the year 1827,-a work of grace still and solemn, for which many will praise God forever. In the year 1831, while a great work of divine grace prevailed extensively through the land, this town had their share in the merciful visitations of the divine spirit. The people were at this time also destitute of a pastor, and this work of grace may well be considered as a blessing of God on the faithful labors of their pastor who had left them the preceding year. I supplied the pulpit for three months in the sum- mer of 1831, and after me was the Rev. William Mitchel, now of Rutland, Vermont. This time of awakening was connected with the faithful labors of Mr. Emerson. Though his pastoral connection had then been dissolved, he left the field and others brought in the harvest.
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The number added to the church at a religious attention in 1821 and '22 was sixty; in '27 and '28, one hundred and twenty-one; and in 1831 and '32, eighty-three. The first pastor of this church, as has been stated, was the Rev. Mr. Robbins, ordained here in October, 1761. Fifty years from that time, October 28th, 1811, he preached his Half-century Sermon, which was published at the desire of the people. In May, 1813, he was suddenly taken ill with a complaint which defeated all medical skill, and after some weeks was found to be a cancerous tumour. This malady continued its steady progress six months, to the 30th of November, when he died. He was 73 years of age, and had just 52 years in his ministry with this people." (The present writer has been informed that the first public use of the present church was the funeral of Mr. Robbins.)
"The people were not forgotten in their destitute state. Several worthy preachers were employed during a period of two years; their union and harmony continued unim- paired till they gave a call to Mr. Ralph Emerson, a tutor in Yale College, to be their pastor. After due deliberation he accepted of their call, and was ordained in June, 1816. The Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher of Litchfield preached on the occasion. Mr. Emerson continued in great harmony with his people, highly esteemed in his own and the neighbor- ing towns, much devoted to study in connection with his pastoral labors. In 1829 he was elected to an important professorship in the Theological Seminary at Andover, Mass. After much hesitation he informed his people that he considered it his duty to comply with that call, and his people with much hesitation and reluctance consented to his removal. He was dismissed in the beginning of the following year, and still continues in the services of that important Institution.
Mr. Eldridge, the present pastor, was invited to preach to this people in the former part of the year 1832, having been recently elected a Tutor of Yale College. He was or- dained April 25th of that year. Rev. Dr. Taylor of New Haven preached on the occasion. The long existing har-
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mony between this people and their minister continues, and the same divine Spirit who has succeeded the labors of his predecessors has added a blessing to his. There was more than a usual attention to the things of religion in 1838, and three years after, a work of divine grace which issued in the addition of thirty-five members to the church.
The first meeting-house was built in 1760. That house accommodated the people well, though for many years it was usually very full on the Sabbath. That house was taken down in the summer of 1813, during my father's last illness. He attended meeting on the afternoon of the Sab- bath in a feeble state, and at the close of the exercise he administered the ordinance of baptism. It was the last public service he performed and the last performed in that house. The new house, this house, of convenient size and chaste architecture, was erected that season on the site of the former, and in a few months made convenient for public worship. It was dedicated to God June the follow- ing year, and we renew the prayer we then made, that the glory of this latter house may be greater than the glory of the former.
The Ecclesiastical transactions of the town have gen- erally been conducted with great harmony. It was not found necessary for many years to organize an Ecclesias- tical Society. The business was done at the town meet- ings, and any persons professing to belong to any other denomination than the predominant one were left out of the tax-bill. Some time after my father's death, an Ecclesi- astical Society was organized.
A few other facts will be briefly noticed. The population of the town from small beginnings, continued to increase gradually and steadily till after the close of the Revolu- tionary war. The population of the town in 1756, two years before its incorporation, was 84. In the year 1774 it was 969. The population at the census in 1830 was 1485; in 1840, 1389. At about the year 1785 I think the popula- tion was perhaps as great as it has been at any time. From that period or a little previous, families began to emigrate
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to the new settlements. Many young men left the town for the same purpose. Early emigrations were made to the Susquehannah, then in considerable numbers for sev- eral years to Vermont. The course then turned to the Mo- hawk river, to Whitestown, and to various and more dis- tant parts of the state of New York. The next was to the Western Reserve, and to the farther west, as it still con- tinues. During a period of fifty years the population has not materially varied. My father often said there are near three hundred families. Generally the population has been near 1500. We generally had no occasion to be ashamed of those who have emigrated from the town. They have usually been industrious, reputable people. Good at- tention has been paid in this town to the education of chil- dren and youth. I believe there were more school districts in 1785 than there are now. Probably they were not as large. A good number have had a College education and have become highly reputable and useful in the community.
The schools were regularly visited and catechised, ante- cedent to the present school law in connection with the State School Fund, and I believe the youth in this state could read and spell as well, the most important parts of education, twenty years ago as they can now.
This town has generally been very healthy. Many of the inhabitants have lived to old age. My father observes in his Sermon, 'Many, both men and women, have lived to a great age; several above ninety years, and one above an hundred years.' Mr. Nathaniel Roys died a few years since in his hundredth year, and he lived with his wife, a second wife, more than seventy years.
The year 1777 was very sickly; the epidemic was the Camp-distemper, as then denominated. There were 56 deaths that year and 38 the year following. In the year 1774 a distressing accident took place near the house owned by the late Ephraim Coy. As they were digging a deep well the earth suddenly caved in and two men, Jacob Holt and Levi Cowles, were buried under the load of earth. Their bodies were taken out some hours afterward. In
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the year 1786, many people having had severe ravages in their flocks by wolves, several hunters having pursued them for several days found that they were on Haystack mountain. A large number of men were collected on Thanksgiving-day, surrounded the mountain, closed in upon them and four were killed. Thepeople were not much an- noyed by the fell destroyer afterwards.
The shade-trees on this Green were set out in the spring of 1788. They were Elms and Buttonwoods. The number set were 57. Numbers of them failed the first year, and many others afterwards for want of due protection. The green was ploughed up and levelled in 1809. I might mention various other reminiscences, and give a de- served account of individual persons if I had oppor- tunity for a collection of facts, and were it not that it is time to bring this discourse to a close. It is highly desir- able that every town should have its own history for the benefit of future generations, as such documents are always the most safe and important material for national history. We have now an Institution in the state where all such articles are thankfully received, either in print or manuscript, carefully preserved, and as far as human skill can go, secure from the ravages of fire.
And now, my respected audience, particularly my fellow townsmen, what shall we say in a contemplation of the scenes which have briefly passed in review before us? In the retrospect of a century we see what God has done for our fathers and for us. Here his gospel has been preached and taught in its purity and he has given it his blessing. Religious ordinances have been faithfully preserved, and God has taken souls to heaven. We are to praise him for their example and their prayers. Let not the precious legacy be lost or decline in our hands.
From small beginnings here is a respectable town, a harmonious congregation, a numerous church. All of the grace of God. Our fathers trusted in him in all their straits, and were not forsaken. We are called by all the blessings of Providence and Grace which we have witnessed to go and do likewise.
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Another century will gradually roll away, carrying on the high purposes of heaven, and advancing the day of the prosperity of Zion. Before its expiration we shall have passed to the invisible world. They that are wise will join the Spirits of just men made perfect, around the throne of the Eternal. The next meeting of this great assembly will be at the bar of Christ. The babe of Bethlehem, the victim of Calvary will be on the throne. They who joy in his presence will then meet to part no more.
I conclude in the words of Solomon: 'The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our father; let him not leave us nor forsake us, that he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.' "
Norfolk, December 24th, 1844.
XI,
NORFOLK ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY - SOME RECORDS OF THE DOINGS OF THIS SOCIETY FROM ITS FORMATION IN 1813, UNTIL THE CLOSE OF THE PASTORATE OF DR. JOSEPH ELDRIDGE, IN 1874.
The "Norfolk Ecclesiastical Society," formed December 13, 1813, of members of the Congregational Church and society of this town,-the only church organization here during a considerable part of the first century of the town's history,-has from the time of its formation been an or- ganization of no little importance in the affairs of the town. This Society manages the finances and all business affairs of the Church, somewhat as does the 'Board of Trustees' in the Presbyterian, and perhaps in churches of other de- nominations.
Some account of the work of this Society seems essen- tial in a history of the town. The Society, so far as the writer is aware, has never had a written Constitution or a
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Bye-law. None have ever seemed necessary. Any mem- ber of the congregation, by having his or her name pro- posed at any meeting of the society and being voted in at the next meeting, becomes a member.
The manner of raising money for the expenses of the church of every kind, not including its benevolences, was, until 1875, by laying and collecting taxes on the grand list of the town of all members of the congregation and church, whether ever voted in as members of this society or not. This was called the 'Society's tax,' and was for many years collected by a collector appointed by the so- ciety. This method of raising the money necessary to pay the pastor's salary and other expenses was continued every year until the first sale of seats in the church, in November, 1875.
The first officers of the society, elected upon the day of its formation, were Augustus Pettibone, Nicholas Holt and Deacon Edward Gaylord, Society's Committee; Auren Roys, Clerk; Joseph Battell, Treasurer; Thomas Curtiss, Collector. Those same offices, except Collector, have been filled by elections annually now for about eighty-seven years. The first Clerk of the society, Auren Roys, was re- elected annually and served in that capacity for thirty-nine years, and his successor, Elizur Dowd, served continuously for twenty-five years; the books of record of the Society as kept by these two men are models of neatness and care. In the earlier years the taxes of the society were paid in produce, and at this first meeting Jeremiah W. Phelps, Nathaniel Stevens and Elizur Munger were "appointed a Committee to apprize produce for the purpose of paying Mr. Robbins' salary last voted." Mr. Robbins, the first pastor of the church, had recently died, and the society at its first meeting instructed its Committee, "to draw ten dollars from the treasury and present to Rev. Chauncey Lee," (of Colebrook) and also "to return the thanks of the society to Mr. Lee for his sermon delivered at the funeral of Rev. Ammi R. Robbins."
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