USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > History of Norwich, Connecticut, from its settlement in 1660, to January 1845 > Part 18
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In a bookseller's shop in New Haven, he was intro- duced to Joel Barlow, who had just then acquired con- siderable notoriety by the publication of an altered edition of Watts' Psalms and Hymns. Barlow asked for a specimen of his talent ; upon which the wander- ing poet immediately repeated the following stanza :
" You've proved yourself a sinful cre'tur'; You've murdered Watts, and spoilt the metre ; You've tried the word of God to alter, And for your pains deserve a halter."
Oliver was also a sailor and a patriot, and cordially despised the course taken by his cousin Benedict, in betraying his country. Local tradition ascribes to him the following acrostic on the traitor's name, and it is even added that being on a visit to his cousin after the war, and called upon by him to amuse a party of Eng- lish officers with some extemporaneous effusion, he stood up and repeated these lines. The composition itself, however, contradicts such a report, as it bears no re- semblance to other short and unstudied efforts of the native rhymester, which have been preserved.
" Born for a curse to virtue and mankind, Earth's broadest realm ne'er knew so black a mind. Night's sable veil your crimes can never hide, Each one sogreat, 't would glut historic tide. Defunct, your cursed memory will live, In all the glare that infamy can give.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Curses of ages will attend your name,
Traitors alone will glory in your shame. Almighty vengeance sternly waits to roll Rivers of sulphur on your treacherous soul- Nature looks shuddering back, with conscious dread,
On such a tarnished blot as she has made.
Let hell receive you, riveted in chains,
Doomed to the hotest focus of its flames !"
ROGER GRISWOLD
Settled in Norwich when first admitted to the bar, in 1783. He married the daughter of Col. Zabdiel Rog- ers, and continued his residence in the place, until elected a member of Congress in 1794. He then re- moved to his native town, Lyme. It is an interesting fact that he came back to Norwich to die. He was elected Governor of Connecticut, in May, 1811, and re-elected the succeeding year. For several years, he had been afflicted with a discase of the heart, which at intervals caused him great suffering. It increased so rapidly, that in the summer of 1812, he was removed to Norwich, that he might try the effect of a change of air, and at the same time have the benefit of advice from Dr. Tracy, in whose skill, as a physician, he had great confidence. But neither air nor medicine could do more for him than alleviate the paroxysms of his distress, and he died Oct. 25, 1812. He was only fifty years of age, having been born in 1762-a man of great boldness and energy. He was the son of Matthew Griswold, one of the former Governors of Connecticut, who held that office during the period that intervened between Trumbull and Huntington. His mother was a daughter of Roger Wolcott, who was also a Gov- ernor of Connecticut.
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NORWICH CITY, FROM THE SOUTH.
CHAPTER XXX.
Episcopal Church and Society.
TRADITION is the only source, from which anything has been ascertained respecting the first rise of the Episcopal church in Norwich. From thence we learn that the first church of England men in the place were Thomas Grist and Edmund Gookin, who were " allowed as inhabitants" in 1726. They resided upon the town plot. Mr. Grist was born in 1700, and in 1721, married Ann Birchard. Mr. Gookin was about the same age.
The year 1722 is the date given to the existence of Episcopacy as an order, in Connecticut, though it was first introduced by the Rev. Mr. Muirson, a missionary from the " Society for propagating the Gospel in for- eign parts," at Stratford, in 1706. An Episcopal church was established at New London, in 1725, prin- cipally through the exertions of the Rev. Matthew Graves, who may also be considered as the founder of the churches in Norwich and Hebron. This gentle- man was a missionary from the "Society for promo- ting Christian Knowledge," formed at London in 1698. It is not known how his acquaintance with Mr. Grist of Norwich, commenced, but he frequently visited him. Gradually, and at first, privately, a little band of ten or a dozen persons were collected on such occasions, among whom the ordinances of the church were ad- ministered. In this part of the town they never had
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
a regular minister or a house for worship, but the Gookin and Grist family, until their extinction during the present generation, were faithful and devoted ad- herents of the church. Mr. Grist himself lived to be very aged,-his three daughters died unmarried, Anna in 1812, aged S8 ; Hannah in 1815, aged 86, and Molly, in 1824, aged 83. Anna, the last of the Gookin fam- ily in Norwich, was also a spinster, and died in 1810, aged 80.
About the year 1732, the Rev. Ebenezer Punderson, a Congregational minister of Groton, declared for the Church of England, and crossed the Atlantic to be re-ordained. On his return, he organized a church in Norwich, Long Society, at the village of Poquetanuck, which has ever since existed, though it has always been small, and seldom able to support a pastor of its own. This church was formed about 1738. Mr. Pun- derson and Mr. Graves frequently preached at private houses in other parts of Norwich, and by degrees, a respectable society was gathered in Chelsea. A regu- lar church organization took place about the year 1745. This infant church was founded and nourished by the united labors of Graves, Punderson and Seabury, of New London.
Jan. 7, 1746, a meeting was held at the Town- house, to decide matters relative to the erection of an edifice " for the service of Almighty God, according to the Liturgie of the Church of England, as by law established."
Rev. Mr. Punderson, Moderator. .
Capt. Benajah Bushnell, Treasurer. Capt. Isaac Clarke, Mr. Thomas Grist, Building Committee.
Mr. Elisha Hide.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH
Capt. Bushnell had previously presented ground for the site, "at the north-east end of Waweequa's Hill, near the Old Landing place," and a subscription was presented, which had been circulated, and contained eighty-seven names; the sum subscribed, £678. The greatest amount by one individual, was £50, by An- drew Galloway. The three gentlemen who formed the building committee subscribed £40 cach. Mr. Punderson afterwards collected in Rhode Island, £138, and Capt. Bushnell in Boston, £178. All this was probably Old Tenor money, or Bills of Credit, of redu- ced value.
The land and the church, when erected, were con- veyed by deed to the committee, in trust-
" For the use of the 'Society for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts,' and their successors forevermore, to be ap- propriated for an Episcopal church and church-yard for the benefit of an Episcopal minister and members of said church, and for no other use, intent or purpose whatsoever."
The consideration money was five shillings, and possession and seisin were given, by delivering to the Committee in the usual manner, "turf and twig."
In 1750, the church was in a condition to allow of public worship. The number of pew holders was twenty-eight. They built their own pews and held them as their proper estate. The first church officers were :-
Capt. Benajah Bushnell, N Wardens. Capt. Joseph Tracy,
Capt, Isaac Clarke, Thomas Grist, Vestry men.
Daniel Hall,
Elisha Hide, Clerk of the Church.
Phineas Holden, Society Clerk.
Mr. Punderson was the officiating clergyman.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
In 1760, a subscription was raised for Mr. John Beardslee, " towards his inoculation and going to Eng- land for orders, that he may preach in the churches of England, at Norwich and Groton." An engagement was at the same time entered into with him, to pay the annual sum of £33, towards his support, when he should become their minister, which he did in the spring of 1763. The number of male communicants in the Chelsea church was, at this time, about twenty.
The Groton church mentioned, is the one already alluded to in the village of Poquetannuck. That vil- lage lies at the head of a creek or cove, which runs out of the Thames about four miles below the Landing. It was early settled, being considered a fine location for fishing, building small sea-craft, and exporting wood and timber. It now contains about forty dwell- ing houses. A part of it lies in Groton, and it was within the bounds of that town that the Episcopal church was built. It has been generally dependent upon the Norwich church for the administration of the ordinances.
In 1767, a lot of land was given for a Glebe by Mrs. Zerviah Bushnell, and conveyed by deed to the " So- ciety for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts." A glebe house was built, but we soon afterwards lose sight of Mr. Beardslee. In 1768, an agreement was made with John Tyler, of Wallingford, Conn., by which £60 sterling money of Great Britain, was ad- vanced to him, to defray the expenses of a voyage to England to receive ordination ; he, on his part, enga- . ging to return and officiate as their priest, at a sala- ry of £30 per annum. The money was raised by subscription, and the list contains eighty names.
Mr. Tyler returned the next year, and became rec- tor of the church. This gentleman had been educated
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
in Congregationalism, but after embracing the doc- trines of the Church of England, he prepared for holy orders, under the care of Dr. Johnson, of Stratford.
The persecution of the Episcopalians in our coun- try during the revolutionary struggle, lies like a blot upon the bright shield of patriotism. Whether tories or not, they were all suspected of toryism, and the clergy in an especial manner were obliged to endure a thousand little domestic harassings, alarming threats and destruction of property. Most of them were forbidden to officiate as priests, either publicly or privately, and their churches were shut up by order of the magistracy. The church in Chelsea was closed for three years, through fear of popular excitement. In 1774, a subscription had been taken up for a porch, steeple and bell, to be added to the church ; but the project was suspended until 1780. No entry was made on the records of the church from April, 1776, to April, 1779. But it is remembered, that during this time, Mr. Tyler held divine service in his own house, and was never molested in the performance. He was per- haps treated with greater indulgence than others, on account of the well known benevolence of his charac- ter and the liberality of his sentiments. Family in- fluence likewise was in - his favor; his father-in-law, Isaac Tracy Esq., being deacon of the Congregational Church, and of unsuspected patriotism. Mr. Tyler was never once personally abused during the conflict, but he was frequently vexed with petty depredations upon his property. At one time, he was afraid to drink the water of his own well. The congregation at this period had dwindled to a very small number. Often the services were performed with an audience of not more than fifteen or twenty persons.
Whether the title of " Christ's Church in Chelsea,"
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
was held from the first is not known ; the designation does not appear upon the records until 1785.
In 1790, a new church was built upon land given by Mr. Phinehas Holden. This was conveyed by deed, not to the S. P. G. F. P. as the old one had been, but to Trustees, "for the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church of England."
One hundred and thirty pounds towards building the church were raised, besides subscriptions of labor. The building committee were-
Maj. Ebenezer Whiting, Barzillai Davison,
Benajah Denison, James Christie.
In 1791 the owners of the pews in the old church relinquished their rights, and here for the first time ap- pear the names of persons now upon the stage of life, viz : Christopher Vail and Cushing Eells. The pews in the new church were sold at public auction, and the money applied to parochial uses. There were thirty purchasers to the pews, of whom not one now remains alive.
May 19, 1791, the new church was solemnly " dedi- cated to the worship of Almighty God according to the liturgy of the Church of England, accommodated to the civil constitution of these American States," by the R. R. Dr. Seabury, Bishop of Connecticut.
Ebenezer Whiting, 3 Wardens. Ebenezer Huntington, S
Jabez Huntington, Society Clerk.
Mr. Tyler's salary was at this time £60, and in 1794 it was increased to £SO. He had, moreover, liberty of absence every fourth Sunday, at Poquetannuck, and received a small stipend from the church there.
With the exception of the political jealousy during
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
the Revolutionary contest, the Episcopalians and Con- gregationalists of Norwich have never exhibited any acrimony against each other. On the contrary, social intercourse has been generally maintained, irrespective of denominational bounds, and the two sects have in many instances interchanged civilities, in a truly cour- teous and Christian spirit.
At a very carly period we find that the Episcopal church employed the Congregational collector to col- lect Mr. Tyler's rates. Invitations have sometimes been cordially given to the Episcopalians to celebrate their festivals in the larger edifices of the Congrega- tionalists, which have been cheerfully accepted; and in two instances at least, when the latter have been by sudden disasters deprived for a season of a place of worship, the doors of Christ's Church have been freely opened to them. One instance from the records may be given.
" At a legal meeting of the Episcopal Parish of Christ's Church, in Norwich, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1794, Thom- as Mumford, Moderator,
Voted, that this meeting, taking into consideration that the Presbyterian church in this place, of which the Rev. Walter King is Pastor, are destitute of a convenient place in which to attend public worship, their meeting-house hav- ing been lately destroyed by fire, do consent to accommodate said Presbyterian society until Easter Monday, 1795, as fol- lows: the Revd John Tyler, our present pastor, to perform divine service one half the day on each Sabbath, and the Rev. Walter King, pastor of said Presbyterian congregation, to perform divine service the other half of said Sabbath, alternately performing on the first part of the day."
For this kind and considerate courtesy, the obliged party passed a vote of acknowledgment and thanks, which was inserted upon the records of both societies. The offer was accepted, and this amicable arrangement lasted for three months.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Mr. Tyler died January 20, 1823, in the eighty-first year of his age. He was an interesting preacher ; his voice sweet and solemn, and his eloquence persuasive. The benevolence of his heart was manifested in daily acts of courtesy and charity to those around him. Ile studied medicine in order to benefit the poor, and to find out remedies for some of those peculiar . diseases to which no common specifics seemed to apply. His pills, ointments, extracts, and syrups, obtained a great local celebrity. During the latter years of his life, he was so infirm as to need assistance in the performance of his functions. Mr. Clark was his colleague for three years, and Mr. Paddock the last year before his death.
Mr. Tyler was succeeded by the Rev. Seth B. Pad- dock, who officiated as Rector until the summer of 1844. Salary $800, together with interest on the sale of the Glebe house and lot, which was $100 more.
Mr. Paddock, after resigning his rectorship, took charge of the Episcopal Academy, in Cheshire.
The Rev. William F. Morgan was consecrated Rector in September, 1844.
In 1828 a new church was erected ; the old one hav- ing fallen into decay, and its dimensions becoming too limited for the increasing audience. The whole cost of the new edifice, together with the organ and furni- ture, was $10,500. More than half of this was raised by voluntary contributions. The most liberal donors were Mr. Richard Adams and Mr. Jedediah Hunting- ton. The former gave $600 and the latter $500. It stands a few rods west of the old church, between the middle and upper streets. It is built of stone, in the gothic style ; its dimensions sixty-five feet by fifty-two. It was consecrated by the Rev. Thomas C. Brownell, the diocesan Bishop, July 29, 1829.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
The deed of the Glebe houselot having been execu- ted in favor of the S. P. G. F. P., it could not be alien- ated without taking some legal measures to obtain a title. A petition was therefore presented to the Gene- ral Assembly, in 1835, who passed an act vesting the property in the Society.
Mr. Tyler is the only one who has died Rector of this church. His monumental stone bears this in- scription : -
" Here lies interred the earthly remains of the Rev. John Tyler, for fifty-four years Rector of Christ's Church, in this city. Having faithfully fulfilled his ministry, he was ready to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. His soul took its flight from this vale of mis- cry January 20, 1823, in the eighty-first year of his age."
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TA-ACALS
CHAPTER XXXI.
Population. Inoculation. Division of the Ancient Town. Franklin, Newent. Bozrah. Long Society. Hanover. Portipaug.
CENSUS OF NORWICH, JAN. 1, 1774.
Persons.
Families. Dwelling Houses.
First Society
1978
317
283
West do.
875
133
111
Newent
641
98
92
East .
1100
76
69
New Concord
932
146
130
Chelsea .
1019
127
104
Hanover
323
53
44
Eighth
453
74
68
7321
1024
901
Males under 10
1099
Females do.
1054
Males between 10 and 20
916
Females do.
749
Males between 20 and 70
1468
Females
do.
1574
Males above 70
78
Females do.
94
In 1779, number of families in First Society 367; persons 2184. In Chelsea 129 families, 1111 persons.
The whole population of the town as returned in the Grain Book of 1779, was 7187. In 1780, 6541. It is evident that these returns are very inaccurate. At the latter date the population of the nine miles square was probably about 8000.
It is said that at the annual election for Governor, in 1786, 900 votes were given in Norwich for one can-
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
didate, viz: Governor Huntington. This, if it be a fact, illustrates the harmony of opinion that pervaded the eight societies, and shows the increased population of the place. Even in the present day, of almost un- limited elective franchise, it is rare to find a larger proportion of the inhabitants of a town voters.
These societies had, nevertheless, many local jeal- ousies, and vehement disputes on minor subjects. The Mason and Mohegan controversy with the State, at one time ranged the citizens into two adverse parties ; conflicting opinions respecting points of ecclesiastical discipline, at various periods convulsed the churches, and almost rent them in twain : and one of the most bitter contentions that ever disturbed the town, was occasioned by a difference of opinion with respect to the regulation of swine, viz : whether they should be confined, or run at large. Elisha Hide Esq., then a young man, was very conspicuous in this controversy. He espoused the cause of freedom, and this eventually became the prevailing side. In 1760, a conflict was begun, with respect to inoculation for the Small Pox, which came very near being interminable. Individu- als had been agitating the question for many years, and it was now proposed to the town in this form, viz : Will the town approve of Dr. Elisha Lord's proceeding to inoculate for the small pox, under any regulations whatever. Passed in the negative. The subject was resumed again and again, with the same result. The popular feeling was excited, almost to violence, when- ever the faculty brought up the question. In 1773, we find Dr. Turner and Dr. Loomis opening a hospital for inoculation, on an island in the Sound, off Ston- ington, the citizens on the main land strenuously op- posing the erection of hospitals. In 1787, Drs. Marvin and Tracy made an effort to obtain permission to open
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
a hospital, somewhere in the purlieus of the town, but in vain. They afterwards selected a beautiful and re- tired situation on the banks of the Thames, in that part of the Mohegan lands called Massapeag, and thither people resorted from all the neighboring towns to be inoculated. Public opinion was, however, gradually changing, and in 1792, a special meeting was warned to consider the subject, under the expectation that a vote would be obtained, . to permit inoculation within the limits of the town. This expectation was disap- pointed ; the opposition was vehement; a majority were in favor of the motion, but the law required two- thirds of the voices present, and it was lost. The yeas and nays at this time were carefully recorded. The conflict continued three years longer, but in 1796, a vote was obtained to open a house for inoculation, pro- vided it be in some obscure and thinly peopled part of the town. After this there was no further controversy on the point.
The division of the town took place in 1786. This was accomplished in the most amicable manner. In full town meeting, on the question of petitioning the Assembly to have the town divided, there was but one vote in the negative. It was settled that the First and Chelsea Societies, should form the town of Norwich ; Hanover, Newent, and a part of Long Society, a new town by the name of Lisbon ; New Concord, Porti- paug. West and Eighth Societies, should form the two towns of Franklin and Bozrah ; and that East Society should be annexed to Preston, the middle waters of the Thames and Shetucket being the boundary. The division lines were harmoniously adjusted, and com- mittees appointed from each of the new towns, to meet with one from Norwich to settle accounts, assume a just quota of the debts, take their part of the
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
town's poor, &c. The ancient town continued to have an annual meeting for several years, to see to those affairs of general concern, which had not been fully distributed or settled.
This division of the town was undoubtedly a wise and salutary measure. But an historian who has hith- erto considered the nine-miles square as a beautiful whole, cannot but sigh to see the integrity of his prov- ince destroyed, and may be allowed to linger awhile over those relinquished societies which will hencefor- ward have a distinct history of their own.
SECOND SOCIETY : WEST FARMS, OR FRANKLIN.
In the year 1718, the Second Church in Norwich was formed in that part of Norwich then called the West Farms, or North Society. The settlements here were almost coeval with the Town-plot. Many of the sons of the proprietors removed to farms which by repeated divisions of land made by the town, fell to themselves or their fathers ; hence the names of Lathrop, Tracy, Abel, Gager, Hide, &c., soon became diffused through the adjoining societies. The Rev. Henry Wills was the first minister at West Farms. In 1721 the church was favored with a great revival which added sixty-eight members to it; a large proportion out of a population that did not at that time exceed 400. Mr. Wills was dis- missed in 1749, in consequence of a division in the church with respect to Church government. The Rev. John Ellis, his successor, was settled in 1752, and retained his charge about twenty-seven years. The latter part of the time he was absent from his people, having joined the Revolutionary army as chaplain, with their consent. Having decided to remain with the army, he asked and obtained a dismission from the church. After the conclusion of the war, he preached
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
awhile at Rehoboth, Mass., but returned at length to his former people, and resided among them till his death in 1805. In 1745, upon the question of erecting a new meeting-house, a schism took place in this soci- ety. A party withdrew, and a new society was form- ed, which settled the Rev. Mr. Ives. This church however soon dwindled away, and was merged in that of the Separatists, which also in a few years became extinct. Mr. Ives removed to Munson, Mass., in 1758.
The meeting-house alluded to above, is still extant, though unoccupied, asthe Society has recently crected a more modern and convenient edifice. It stands upon a high hill, looking out upon a rich and extensive prospect of forest and cultivated field. Within the walls, all is sombre, plain, and antique ; the pulpit is at the side ; it has an entrance in front and at either end; the pew frames and gallery resemble lace bob- bins; the sound-board, bearing in large figures the date of 1745, the pulpit and pulpit window are carved and painted in different colors ; the pulpit cushions are of gray velvet, with heavy black tassels, and when the wind comes in through the broken casements, they wave like a hearse pall. This description applies to it as it was in 1830. One must have seen it filled with its varied congregation, and surmounted with the thin and pallid face of its venerable pastor, and have heard his tremulous voice uttering the customary strains of exhortation and warning, in order to obtain the most striking impression of this old Puritan church.
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