USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > History of Norwich, Connecticut, from its settlement in 1660, to January 1845 > Part 20
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Mr. Whitaker was installed February 25, 1761. Mr. Lord preached the sermon. At this time, six other persons, previously members of other churches, signed the covenant, and united with the church,-viz:
Jonathan Huntington, Jabez Dean,
William Capron, Eleazar Waterman,
Caleb Whitney, Ebenezer Fitch.
Difficulties existed in the infant church with re- spect to the plan of discipline to be adopted; the major part were in favor of a Presbyterian govern- ment, others were for the Congregational form. ~ The plan at length drawn up and agreed upon, was thor- oughly Presbyterian, and after the model of the Church of Scotland ; but Messrs. Backus and Shipman expressed their dissent and recorded their protest, es- pecially to one article which gave a negative power to the minister. A council was thereupon called, which met the day previous to the installation and re- commended that the Presbyterian plan should be laid aside, and no human form adopted at present, but that they should take the word of God for their rule and directory, in discipline and manners, as well as faith, and not use any platforms of human composition, for
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their assistance in understanding this word until God should give them light, in a more explicit manner. Having settled a minister, immediate measures were taken to erect a meeting- house. Public worship had for some time previous been held at the tavern of Mr. Samuel Trapp; which was the house occupied by Benjamin Coit Esq., deceased. In the rear of this house the bell was fixed, being suspended from a scaf- folding erected upon a rock.
The first vote of this society respecting a meeting- house was in 1752, when they requested leave of the town to erect one " on the highway that leads from Col. Huntington's Crammer lot to the highway near Asa Peabody's house." At the same time they ap- pointed Benedict Arnold,* Jeremiah Clements, and Gershom Breed, a committee to attend to it. Funds were not forthcoming, and the project was at that time abandoned.
In 1760, Jonathan Huntington, Elijah Lathrop, and Ephraim Bell, were appointed a committee to build a meeting-house. It was with great difficulty that they obtained a convenient spot for a site. The streets and buildings had not then extended up the hill, and land was scarce and valuable. A small piece of ground was at length obtained of Jabez Huntington Esq., and the County Court ordered a stake to be erected on it as the Society's mark. This spot was considered too circum- scribed, and the committee gave notice that the adjoining proprietors, Samuel Bliss and Daniel Tracy, would not sell an inch. The Court therefore ordered the stake to be removed. A warm controversy ensued, which greatly retarded the building of the church, but in 1764, another lot was purchased of Mr. Isaac Hun-
+ Father of him who betrayed his country. He emigrated from Rhode Island, and took the freeman's oath in 1739.
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tington, for 70s. the square rod, and permission obtain- ed from the Court to set up the stake there. A memo- rial was then presented to the General Assembly for assistance in building, and a sum of money granted from the treasury of the Colony for this purpose. This church was erected in 1766, and stood on the spot. which Mansfield's row of brick building's now occu- pies. The front was to the south. The length thirty- seven feet, the breadth forty-one. The interior was divided into thirty six areas. A warm dispute arose whether the pulpit should be placed on the cast or south side, but the party for the south prevailed.
After the outside of the edifice was completed and the pulpit built, twenty-seven of the thirty-six spaces for pews were sold for the sum of £300. Two fami- lies were accommodated in each pew. These being finished, the bell was taken from its position on the rock and hung in the steeple. Joseph Smith was en- gaged to ring the bell and keep the house in order, for a salary of twenty shillings per year, and thus the church was made ready for public service. Two rooms were afterwards finished in the basement of the house, and let out for storage.
It may be interesting at the present day to read a list of the pew-holders, particularly to see who were asso- ciated in the same pew :
No. 1. The Minister and his family.
2. Seth Harding and William Rockwell.
3. Sybile Crocker and Jonathan Lester.
7. Thomas Trapp, Jr., and Stephen Barker.
9. Jabez Dean and Elijah Lothrop.
10. John Tracy and Peter Lanman.
11. Joseph Trumbull and Jabez Perkins.
12. Ephraim Bill and Hugh Ledlie.
13. Ebenezer Fillimore, Jr., and Timothy Herrick.
14. William Coit and Simeon Carew.
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No. 18. Nathaniel Backus and Nathaniel Backus, Jr.
19. Abel Brewster and John Martin.
21. David Lamb and Moses Pierce.
23. Benajah Leffingwell and Ezra Backus.
25 Benjamin Huntington and Nathaniel Shipman.
26. Joseph Smith and Isaac Park.
27. Stephen Roath and Stephen Roath, Jr.
The omitted numbers were allotted to the space which remained unsold, until Mr. Judson's ordination. At that time, the remaining pews were built and assigned as follows :
No. 4. Hannah Wight and Joseph Kelley.
5. Jacob De Witt and John M'Larran Breed.
6. John and Peter Waterman.
8. Benjamin and George Dennis.
15. Caleb Whitney and Joshua Norman.
16. Daniel Kelley and William Capron.
17. Prosper Wetmore and Ebenezer Fitch.
20. David and Samuel Roath.
22. William Reed and Zephaniah Jennings.
24. Joseph Wight and Lemuel Boswell.
In the mean time, Mr. Whitaker had become unpop- ular with a part of his people. In 1765, the dissatis- faction was so great, that a council was convened by mutual consent, to reconcile the two parties, if possi- ble. Charges were exhibited to this council, against Mr. Whitaker, by Ephraim Bill, Prosper Wetmore, Peter Lanman, and the two Backuses, accusing him of neglect of duty as a clergyman. He on his part, accu- sed them of violent language and unchristian conduct. The council came to no decision on any of the charges, and the breach was left as wide as before.
The same year the Connecticut Board of Correspon- dents for Indian affairs, made choice of Mr. Whitaker to go to Europe, in company with Occom, the Mohe- gan preacher, to solicit charities for the endowment of
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an Indian school. They offered to supply his pulpit during his absence, but when Mr. Whitaker laid the affair before his church, they refused to give their con- sent to his going, while he remained their minister. In the society meeting, the vote was a tie. The appli- cation was again repeated, and again refused. A council of advice was called, whose recommendation exactly coincided with Mr. Whitaker's inclination, viz. : that he should be allowed to accept the agency, without dissolving his relation to the church. This, the society refused-a strong party being unequivocal- ly bent on effecting his dismission. A second council was called, who proposed that Mr. Whitaker should go to Europe as the Pastor of the church, but that he should relinquish his salary during his absence ; his people to have the privilege of settling another minis- ter before his return, if they chose; and if such an event took place, he was to be considered as dismiss- ed. If he should return before the settlement of another minister, a council was to be convened, to decide whether he should continue with them, or be dismissed. This conciliatory proposition, which ema- nated from Dr. Lord of the First Society, was ac- cepted.
Mr. Whitaker was absent about a year and a half. He returned in 1768, and resumed his functions, to the great grief of the dissentient members. A council was convened the next year, that advised him to ask for a dismission, which he did. The society refused by a vote of twenty-eight to nine. The majority of the church declared themselves averse to a separation, as seeing no sufficient reason for it, and earnestly desir- ing his continuance with them. A second council was called, which despairing of his future usefulness in this distracted state of the society, dissolved the con-
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nexion. Mr. Whitaker was a man of fine talents and prepossessing appearance. He had manifested great interest in the prosperity of Mr. Wheelock's Indian school at Lebanon, and in the welfare of the Mo- hegan Indians, his neighbors. On these accounts he had been selected as a proper person to accompany Rev. Samson Occom, to England, to obtain funds for that school. They carried with them a printed book containing recommendations, and an exposition of the state of Indian Missions in North America. Mr. Whitaker's recommendation from his church is as fol- lows :
" The Church of Christ at Chelsey, in Norwich, in Conn : in New England, to all the churches of Christ, and whom- soever it may concern, send greeting :
Whereas it has pleased God in his Providence, to call our Reverend and worthy Pastor, Mr. Nathaniel Whittaker, from us for a season, to go to Europe, to solicit charities for the Indian Charity School, under the care of the Rev. Mr. Eleazer Wheelock, of Lebanon, and to promote Christian knowledge among the Indians on this continent :
We do unanimously recommend him, the said Mr. Whit- aker and his services, to all the churches and people of God, of whatever denomination, and wheresoever he may come, as a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, whose praise is in the gospel through the churches ; earnestly requesting brotherly kindness and charity may be extended towards him as occa- sion may require ; and that the grand and important cause in which he is engaged, may be forwarded and promoted by all the lovers of truth.
Wishing grace, mercy and truth may be multiplied to you and the whole Israel of God, and desiring an interest in your prayers, we subscribe
Yours in the faith and fellowship of the gospel,
By order and in behalf JONATHAN HUNTINGTON. said Church. ISAIAH TIFFANY.
Norwich, Oct 21, 1756.
The delegates were eminently successful in their mission, both in England and Scotland. A large sum
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was collected and deposited in the hands of trustees, part of it for a projected college at Hanover, and part of it for an Indian school. Some disagreement arose between Whitaker and his Indian associate before they left England, and they did not return togethi- er, though both reached home in 1768. Occom, in his confidential correspondence, throws out some hints with respect to Whitaker, which it is difficult to un- derstand. Perhaps he suspected him of embezzle- ment. Suspicions of his integrity appear to have been excited in the minds of many of the noble patrons of the charity in England. Whitaker was a worldly man, and his conduct frequently irregular. While he lived in Chelsea, he entered into trade, and attempted to monopolize the vending of wine, raisins, &c. in the Society. At least, this was one of the charges exhib- ited against him. It is said, that after his dismission, he went to the South and died in penury.
We next find Mr. Punderson Austin preaching in Chelsea : his perquisites were-his board at Mr. Ger- shom Breed's, paid by the society, [10s. per week,] and what he could obtain from weekly contributions.
Mr. Ephraim Judson, of Woodbury, Conn., was the next candidate, and after a short experience of his ministry, a vote was obtained to call him to the pasto- ral office, nem con. He was ordained Oct. 3, 1771. Sermon by the Rev. Noah Benedict. Mr. Judson was a man of pleasing aspect, and had a full and flowing eloquence at command, but he was greatly deficient in energy and variety. He seldom used notes, and his sermons were usually in the colloquial style of common conversation; frequently using such familiar illustra- tions as would only be necessary for the most illiterate audience. For instance, in a sermon upon the Brazen Serpent, fearing his congregation would not under-
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stand what he meant, he repeatedly called it the Brass Snake. His expressions were sometimes very quaint and whimsical. Preaching at one time on the excuses made by the guests who were invited to the wedding feast, he observed that one had bought five yoke of oxen, and civilly entreated to be excused, but the one who had married a wife, replied absolutely, he could not come. Hence learn, said the preacher, that one woman can pull harder than five yoke of oxen. Mr. Judson once preached in the first Society, a sermon particularly addressed to young women, which, con- trary to his usual custom, was written out, and elabo- rately finished in the style of Hervey's Meditations. To make it more impressive, he introduced a fictitious character of the name of Clarinda, expatiated upon her wit and beauty, and the number of her admirers, followed her to the ball-room, and other scenes of gaiety, and then laid her upon a death-bed with all the pathos of a romance.
In 1776, Mr. Judson was appointed chaplain of Gen. Ward's regiment, and with the consent of the society, was on duty with the army for several months. A dwelling house still standing on the burying ground hill, was built for Mr. Judson. An agreement was made, that if he remained with his people more than five years, the house wasto become his own property ; if he left them before the expiration of that term, it reverted to the Society. As soon as the five years had elapsed, i.e., in Nov. 1778, he asked for a dismission. The reasons he assigned were these : 1st, want of com- petent support : 2d, ill health ; 3d, negligence of the people in attending public worship. A council was called, who considering Mr. Judson's inability to study, and the great indifference which prevailed with regard to his ministrations, very few attending on public wor-
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ship, dissolved his connexion with the church. Mr. Judson afterwards deeply regretted his folly in leaving his people, and in a subsequent visit, made after the settlement of another pastor, he preached to them, and at the close of his sermon, asked forgiveness of the church. He confessed, with streaming eyes, that he had done wrong, and many of the congregation were also melted into tears by his frank confessions, his penitence and apparent humility. 'This, however might have been done, partly for effect, for Mr. Judson never preached many years in the same place, and at length grew rich by repeated settlements-settlements being then in vogue.
For several succeeding years, public worship seems to have been at a low ebb in Chelsea. Sometimes they had preaching and sometimes not. At one time, Mr. David Austin preached to them for 40s. per Sab- bath-subsequently, Mr. Zebulon Ely.
During this period also, they engaged the services of Mr. Nathaniel Niles, a licensed preacher, who occa- sionally exercised his vocation, although he never wished a settlement. He established in Norwich du- ring the war, a wire manufactory, but afterwards re- moved to New Hampshire, and became a civil magis- trate, a farmer, and a judge of some court. He is now chiefly known as the author of the " American Hero,"' a sapphic ode, which was circulated and sung in Nor- wich, in those days of enthusiastic patriotism, and still lingers in the memories of some old persons who have never seen it printed.
Mr. Niles left behind him in Norwich the character of a metaphysical preacher, fond of doctrinal points, and shrewd in drawing lines of difference. He was fearless, however, in denouncing popular sins, and calling upon men every where to repent.
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In 1786, Mr. Walter King labored among them, and was successful in his attempt to revive the decaying interests of religion. The church was re-organized, and the covenant solemnly renewed by Jonathan Hun- . tington, Ebenezer Fitch and twelve sisters of the former church. Seven others made a profession of faith at the same time, and these, with Mr. King, formed a church of twenty-two members, only seven of them males. Mr. King was called to office by a vote of the society, thirty-five against one, and ordained May 24, 1787. Sermon by Rev. Charles Backus. Mr. Judson, the former minister, then of Taunton, was one of the ordaining council. Mr. King's salary was £125 for the first year, and to be increased 40s. annually, until it should amount to £135, this sum to be the stated sal- ary afterwards.
No office seems to have been more irksome than that of collecting the society rates for the payment of the minister. It was difficult to find any respectable person who was willing to serve as collector. In 17SS, an agreement was signed by a number of gentlemen, and acceded to by the Society, that they would give in their names at the annual meeting, and one should be drawn from them by lot to execute this office, each engaging to serve whenever his name should be drawn. Another disagreeable office was that of Grand Jury- man. In 1746, Benedict Arnold being chosen to this office, refused to serve, whereupon the town imposed a fine on all who for the future should in like manner refuse. This fine was often incurred.
The Rev. Charles Backus, who preached the ordina- tion sermon of Mr. King, was born at Norwich, Nov. 5, 1749, and in early childhood was bereft of both of his parents, and with a patrimony insufficient for his edu- cation, was left to the care and generosity of his friends.
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They liberally supplied the deficiency, and educated him at Yale College, where he graduated in 1769. He studied Theology with Dr. Hart in Preston, was ordain- ed at Somers in 1774, and became eminent as an in- structor in Theology, although he declined the profes- sorship of Divinity, which was tendered to him by Dartmouth and Yale Colleges. He prepared between forty and fifty young men for the sacred desk, all of whom regarded their instructor with affection, admira- tion and reverence. He also sustained a high rank as a preacher. Dr. Dwight said of him-" I have not known a wiser man. He was excessive in nothing ; firm in everything ; pre-eminently upright and benev- olent ; always taking the direction of sound common sense ; superior to the love of innovation, and to the rejection of it, when plainly recommended by truth and utility." He died in 1798. He had but one child, a promising youth, who left the world before either of his parents, in the 17th year of his age. His nephew, Dr. Azel Backus, who was also a native of Norwich, was the first president of Hamilton College, near Utica, N. Y.
On the division of the town, only two Congregation- al societies were left in Norwich, and Chelsea, from that period has taken rank as the Second.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Schools. Books. Amusements. Gov. Huntington.
THE war had a demoralizing effect on all parts of the country. Neither the institutions of religion nor education flourished ; but with the blessings of peace a very general improvement took place. Education began to be valued. The school founded by Dr. La- throp overflowed with pupils. Here you might hear lessons from Dilworth's Spelling Book, and Curtis' Grammer-compositions read on the evils of land speculation, a hobby of that era as well as of some later ones, or the thirty-two points of the compass rehearsed by some tyro in navigation. Mr. William Baldwin was a noted teacher of this school. Other schools of a high character were soon opened in the town. A private establishment under the direction of Mr. Goodrich, called in boarders from abroad. The exhibitions of this school were deemed splendid, and great was the applause when Miss Mary Huntington came upon the stage, dressed in green silk brocade, a crown glittering with jewels encircling her brows, and reading Plato, to personate Lady Jane Grey, while young Putnam, the son of the old general, advanced with nodding plumes to express his tender anxieties for her, in the person of Lord Guilford Dudley.
Trumbull's book store and printing office continued to be the principal establishment of the kind in town. 'The assortment of books did not extend much beyond
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Bibles and school books; yet here you might find Perry's Dictionary, Baron Steuben's Military Disci- pline, The Principles of Politeness, and the Economy of Human Life. Also, "Gravity and Motion," a poem for 4d., and "Cleveland's Hymns," for 9d. These were indigenous productions, by one of the town's own.
The sports of men and boys were of a rougher char- acter than at present. Shooting at marks, horse-racing, wrestling, and ball-playing were favorite amusements. In the winter, sleighing parties innumerable kept the streets alive with bells, and the taverns gay with ban- queting. Strolling players were sometimes allowed to perform in town. An advertisement of 1794, gives no- tice of the arrival " at Mr. Teel's Assembly Room," of a party of Italian rope-dancers and tumbleis ; and the public were invited to call and see Clumsy the Clown dance a hornpipe blindfold over fifteen eggs. Elec- tions, training-days, and thanksgivings, were the cus- tomary holidays ; and at these times a great variety of athletic exercises gave vent to the restless spirits of an active and energetic race.
The most distinguished of all festivals in New Eng- land has ever been Thanksgiving. It is always a day of hilarity, though the first part of it is devoted to a sermon. Family re-unions, bountiful dinners, weddings, trials of skill in shooting, and evening bonfires, are expected to grace the festival. The bonfires, indeed, are only the work of boys, but the high hills in Nor- wich are a fine vantage ground, from which these tall and vivid volumes of flame send forth a flood of light over the woods and vallies, houses and streams below, producing a truly picturesque effect.
Accidents have sometimes occurred on these festive occasions. On the evening of thanksgiving day, 1792,
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a large beacon fire had been erected as usual on Wa- weekus hill, at the Landing. A swivel was also dis- charged several times, which unfortunately burst, and one of the pieces, weighing about seven pounds, killed a young man by the name of Cook. It is said that the piece passed through his body, to the distance of thirty or forty yards, carrying with it his heart.
A considerable lustre was thrown on the town-plot, by its being the residence of the Hon. Samuel Hunt- ington, Governor of the State. He was not a native of Norwich, but for the last twenty-six years of his life made it his home. After the war, he built a new house, and lived in quiet dignity. A lively and happy circle of young people used frequently to assemble in this house, as visiters to the Governor's adopted chil- dren, or attracted by the beautiful Betsey Devotion, Mrs. Huntington's nicce, and the belle of Windham, who spent much of her time here. After the social chat and merry game of the parlor had taken their turn, they would frequently repair to the kitchen, and dance away till the oak floor shone under their feet, and the pewter quivered upon the dressers. These pastimes, however, had little in them of the nature of a ball ; there were no expensive dresses, no collations, no late hours. They seldom lasted beyond nine o'clock. According to the good old custom of Norwich, the ringing of the bell at that hour, broke up all meet- ings, dispersed all parties, put an end to all discus- sions, and sent all visiters quietly to their homes and their beds.
Mrs. Huntington was an affable but very plain lady. It is still remembered, that in a white short gown and stuff petticoat, and clean muslin apron, with a nicely starched cap on her head, she would take her knitting and go out by two o'clock in the afternoon, to take toa
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unceremoniously with some respectable neighbor, the butcher's or blacksmith's wife, perhaps. But this was in earlier days, before Mr. Huntington was President of Congress, or Governor of Connecticut.
Samuel Huntington was born in 1732, and descended in a direct line from Simon Huntington, one of the thirty- five proprietors of Norwich. Joseph, one of the sons of Simon, removed to Windham, in 1687. Nathaniel, son of Joseph, was the father of Samuel, and by trade a clothier. He gave a liberal education to three of his sons, but Samnel he designed .for a mechanic. He accordingly learned the trade of a cooper, and after serving out his time as an apprentice, continued to labor for a short time as a journeyman. This is only one instance out of many in the annals of our country, of persons who have risen to eminence from the hum- blest stations. Roger Wolcott, a distinguished Chief Justice of Connecticut, rose from following the plow ; Roger Sherman was a shoe-maker.
Mr. Huntington's mind was naturally acute and in- vestigating, and his thirst for mental improvement so great as to surmount all obstacles. From observation, from men, and from books, he was always collecting information, and he soon abandoned manual labor for study. He was self-educated-went to no college, attended no distinguished school, sat at the feet of no great master, but yet acquired a competent knowledge of law, and was readily admitted to the bar. He set- tled in Norwich, in 1760, and soon became useful and eminent in his profession. He frequently represented the town in the colonial assembly, was active in many ways as a citizen, agent for the town in several cases, and forward in promoting public improvements. He was appointed King's Attorney, and afterward Assist- ant Judge of the Superior Court. In 1775, he was elected a delegate to the Continental Congress, and
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