USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Stamford > History of Stamford, Connecticut : from its settlement in 1641, to the present time, including Darien, which was one of its parishes until 1820 > Part 23
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BIOGRAPHIY.
ing the court and feigning a retraction, both of his seditious practice and also his corrupt opinions, and after denying it again." This letter put the Dover colonists on their good be- havior and led to the removal of Underhill. Underhill, himself, seems to have lost his spirits, and deseended to the humblest apologies and earnest entreaty for forgiveness.
But his offenses, extending even to repeated adulteries, as was then believed, were not to be borne, and his sentence was ban- ishment.
We find him next in England. While here he issues from the press, his history of the Pequod war, entitled "News from America, or a new and experimental Discovery of New Eng- land; containing a true relation of warlike proceedings these two years past, with a figure of the fort or palisado, by John Underhill, a commander in the wars there."
In 1639 he again appears in Boston, oeeupying literally " the stool of repentance," with the white cap covering his head, be- wailing his past insolence and erimes, and promising amend- ment. The church aceept his confessions, and the court restore him to their favor.
During the summer, in which our Stamford fathers were taking possession of their purchase, we find him again the sub- jeet of legal process in Boston, and this time, it would seem, without law or right. He was arrested by the order of the governor, without charge of any offense committed since he had been pardoned both by the church and the court. He is dis- missed. The same farce seems to have been repeated in the following year, and with a like result.
But the suspicions and persecutions which awaited him in the Massachusetts colony, rendered a home there intolerable to him. He had already made trial of onr Conneetient air and soil, and was not averse to them. The Dutch further to the west, despite his attachment to the loving damsel, who had followed him from his Holland campaign, hither, would have suited him well enough, had he not been compelled to own allegiance to the
286
HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
States General and the Prince of Orange; and for a s.milar reason he would not join the English settlers on Long Island. Refusing a handsome offer from the Dutch governor, who would gladly have secured his services in his incessant collision with the Indians in his colony, he decides to make Stamford his fu- ture home. Furnished with an outfit and a pinnace, by the church, this versatile man finds his way, with his family into the Stamford harbor; and in October of our second year he takes his place among the fathers of the new settlement.
How favorable an impression he made here, is shown in his appointment the next spring as deputy to the New Haven court ; and the opinion of his character held at New Haven appears in his appointment by the general court, with gentlemen Mitchell, Ward, and Robert Coe, as the local court, auxiliary to the general court, "for the more comely carrying on of public affairs." Thus, before the end of his second year in Stamford, he was fairly installed in citizenship and in high official posi- tion.
We have seen in the previous history how much the new colony were indebted to him for their safety in the midst of sus- picions and hostile savages. No one more than he held in check the inflamable passions of resident Indians ; and none in all the region had a name so full of terror to neighboring tribes. When, therefore, savage tribes stole down from the north and threat- ened the entire destruction of the Dutch settlements, to whom else should the endangered colonists look for help? And when the scattered settlements on the Island, from Manhattan to Montauk were in danger of extinction, who, if not he could be entrusted with the management of their defense ? And both the English on the Island, and the Dutch, both on the Island and on the main land, between Stamford and New Amsterdam, were loud in their praise of their great captain, who so signally wrought ont deliverance for them.
It was while engaged in chastising the Indians on the Island
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BIOGRAPHY.
that he seems to have formed the purpose of making it his future home ; and we find him as early as 1660, established in his new home in Oyster Bay, where he died in 1672.
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CHAPTER XIX.
STAMFORD IN 1800.
Connecticut, at this date, had more than quadrupled the num- ber of her towns reported in 1700 ;- from 27, having increased to 118. But Stamford, meanwhile, had gone forward in popu- lation, from the little scattered community of 585 souls, to the respectable township of 4465-a growth nearly eight-fold in the century, and the growth in wealth, had been even greater than in population ; while the advance in facilities for travel, and in all the arts which minister to the social well being of a com- munity, had been still more rapid than in wealth.
The territory had not yet suffered excision; though the eiti- zens of the eastern part of the town were beginning to think of caring for themselves. The northern end of that portion had already concerted a plan for speedy secession. But we find the town exceedingly loth to surrender a single foot of the territory, or a single vote of the subjects that for more than a century they had ruled and eared tor as inalienably their own. The citizens entered upon the contest with those portions of the town which asked permission to leave the old jurisdiction, and set up for themselves under new auspiees; and the struggle was long and earnest until the secession of a part of New Canaan and the whole of Darien was finally carried.
New York was not yet so accessible as to stimulate very noticeably the business longings, and educate the business talents of our young men. The days of the old stage-coach had indeed been for years wearing themselves out in the hum-
289
STAMFORD IN 1800.
drum style of those quiet and sober times; and Stamford was simply a well-to-do town, whose honest and industrious people were mainly content with such gains and show, as they could win from the soil, or as they could coin from the sobered prosecution of their varied handicraft.
In making up our estimate of the condition of the town at this date, let us first see who are occupying its varied offices of honor and trust. The list we shall report, without giving the offices assigned to the several names. Captain Isaac Lockwood leads our citizens, evidently, as appears from the uniformity with which, at this period he is called to preside in our public meetings; and with Nathan Weed, jr., he also represents the town in the state legislature. John Hoyt, jr., is still, as for the last twenty-five years, the faithful clerk of the town, and his large, fair, hand-writing will be easily legible, as long as the accurate records shall be preserved. Following these names, stand the long list of those who in one way and another were found worthy to serve the town of their nativity or adoption. The list is worthy of reservation. It reports to us the names of the fathers and grandfathers of the present citizens of the town, as they sought to do their duty here, sixty-eight years ago.
LIST OF TOWN OFFICIALS FOR THE YEAR 1800.
Jesialı Smith,
Isaac Quintard,
Jacob Scofield,
Cary Leeds,
Jeremiah Palmer,
John Davenport, 3rd.
Amos Weed,
Zadoc Newman,
Warren Scofield,
Isaac Penoyer,
David Smith, 3rd.
Rnfus Newman,
Stephen Bishop,
Jeremiah Knap. jr.,
Warren Hoyt,
Jesse Hoyt,
Josiah Dibble, ,
William Weed,
Samuel Hoyt, 3rd.
Ebenezer Webb,
Gold S Pennoyer,
Jona. Bates,
Nath'l Webb,
Elisha Stevens,
Stephen Selleck, jr.,
John Nichols,
Joseph Smith,
Samuel Whiting,
Thos. Lounsbury,
Nath'l Waterbury,
Nath'l Clock.
Thaddeus Hoyt,
Elisha Leeds,
Amos Lonnsbury, Smith Weed,
Jas. Buxton, John Louusbury, Bradley Ayers,
Nathan Seely, John Bell,
Robert Scofield,
Abishai Weed,
David Foster.
Isaac Smith, jr.,
Nathan Reed,
Ezra Lockwood,
Enoch Stevens, Epenetns Hoyt,
Nathan Bouton,
Charles Knapp,
Reuben Jones,
Josiah Smith,
37
John Waterbury, 3d.
John Wm. Holly,
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HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
John Nichols,
Sylvanus Knap,
Nathan Seely,
Joseph Bishop,
Isaac Lockwood, Israel Weed,
Jona. Brown,
Joseph Waring,
Benjamin Brush,
Charles Weed. 3rd.
Jesse Hoyt,
Samuel Mather,
Enoch Comstock,
Shadrach Hoyt, jr.,
Enos Waterbury,
Stephen Bishop,
Hoyt Scofield,
Gold Smith,
Benj. Weed, jr.,
Wm. Waterbury, 4th.
Abraham Davis.
So many and such are the names, recorded in 1800 to transact the busi- ness of the town.
Let us next see what were the religious condition and privi- leges of the town at this date. There were standing within the Stamford limits, in 1800, six church edifices. In the oldest, the first Congregational, Rev. Daniel Smith, a young man had just entered upon his long ministry, and both as preaeher and teacher was laying good foundations for his work. The Episcopal con- gregation were still worshiping in their first church, standing on the rocks, south-east from their present church on Main street. They were still in sorrow over the recent death of their first rector, Dr. Dibble, though hoping mueh from the opening ministry of Rev. Calvin White, who had come here to his aid in 1798. The Baptists were rejoicing in their new meeting- house, so upright and square, overlooking the Mill-pond on River street. The patriarch of their denomination, Ebenezer Ferris, was still with them and with the Rev. Marmaduke Earl, in charge over the congregation at the Bangall church, was providing for the spiritual training of both branches of the de- nomination. Two or three Methodist preachers officiated with- in the limits of the township, though as yet no church edifice had been built for their worship-the private dwelling of Mr. Isaac Reed, their pioneer, still accommodating all who wish to attend their meetings at the center of the town. In North Stamford, which by this time had outgrown the old title of Woodpecker ridge, a good congregation were edified by the youthful ministry of their third pastor Rev. Amzi Lewis. In Middlesex, (Darien), the venerable Moses Mather, D. D., the . same who for his revolutionary zeal was taken nineteen years before from his own pulpit and marched over the British lines into New York, was still doing good service in his ministerial work.
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STAMFORD IN 1800.
Thus instead of the simple church and its solitary pastor of 1700, the opening of this century gives us six church edifices with six settled pastors and the gradual preparation for at least three other places of worship.
Our schools were under the management of three ecclesiasti- cal societies ; and the whole territory had been divided into twenty-seven districts, and parts of three others so as to bring the school within convenient distance of all parts of the town. In parson Smith's house, still standing south of the Baptist church, and then the imperial mansion of the town, were thus early the rudiments of a town and boarding school, in which, for many years, many of the youth of the town and not a few from New York, received the finish to their preparation for col- lege or business. Another of these institutions was soon to be opened under the auspiees of a son of the town, Frederick Scofield, who graduated in 1801, and began here his career as teacher. The children of the center of the town in District No. one, which then extended from Mill river to the Noroton, were accommo- dated in that little square structure, with its slight cupola on its top, now standing across Bank street from the Congrega- tional church. Thr play grounds for these children were all that triangle now inclosed by Main, Atlantic and Bank streets, the school house being then the only building on the entire opening. Some of our oldest citizens of 1868, remember to have used those grounds for their mimic navies in summer and their ringing skate steel in winter. But that was before they were needed for the various business nses to which this last half century has wrested them.
Let us look now at the business of the village, that part of the town now in the Borough. We shall find here four little stores, in each of which we might have bought whatever the frugal habits of that day needed for nse, of dry goods or gro- ceries, not excepting even the " good creature," which then had not been voted contraband. These stores were standing, the first just east of where the Union House now stands, next to
292
HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
Smith Weed's house; the second, on the south-west corner of the lot where Mr. S. W. Smith's, new brick block stands, and was in the hands of that early woman's rights practicioner, Mrs. Munday, where some of our oldest citizens now living bought their first stick of candy and took their first lessons in commer- cial life ; the third, where our citizens Hurlbutt are now carrying on their tailoring business ; and the fourth, on the corner of south street, where Chas. Williams, Esqr., now lives. Where the Rippowam Woolen Mills stand, then stood the village grist mill, which for 158 years had been maintained as the chief and most important business institution of the town. On the cor- ner of parson Smith's lot, about where our jeweler Weed has his handsome front, stood what was called a hat shop, the age of factories not having yet dawned. The only other building used for business purposes, within the present borough limits, was the slaughter house of the town, standing then, where Dr. Trowbridge now lives, near the north-west corner of the old burying lot. Of the seventy-seven families then residing on this territory, only one remains in 1868, in actual occupancy of the same lot and residence, and that is our citizen Isaae Quin- tard. On all this territory, there are no signs of an " Algiers" or "Dublin," of canal or of railroad. Our thoroughfares were one street, east and west, nearly coinciding with our present Main street ; and one north and south where Atlantic and Bed- ford streets are now. Besides these, on this territory, was only a lane from the gate, then standing on the corner south-east of St. John's Park-leading over to the cove and down to Ship- pan point by the Indian Cave, which itself has disappeared in the progress of blasting ; and what was then called west south street, now south, from the bridge on Broad street, down to the Landing. Broad street, was opened castward, only to Atlantie street. All other parts of the territory from Norwalk to Green- wich were as well supplied with roads as the village itself, and since that date about one-half of the roads in the rest of the town have been opened. The business of the town was largely agricultural-the saw-mill, the grist-mill and the tannery being
293
STAMFORD IN 1800.
the extent, as yet, of our other business enterprizes. Darien, North Stamford, Long-ridge and "Bangall" constituted four business centers, each of which was no mean rival to the enterprize of the village itself. The old burying-ground of the first pioneers, still held sepulchral sway over the very ground where our main street now runs ; and but for the new era of steam, soon to dawn, the Stamford of 1868 would but little exceed the sketch which indicates its growth in 1800.
CHAPTER XX.
SEPARATE CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.
In this chapter we shall give such account, as the materials within reach will enable us to do, of all of the churches which have been organized on the territory, which down to about the first of the last century was under the spiritual care of the only church then in existence here. We shall commence this cata logue with our record of that First Church of Christ in Stam- ford, and at the point in its history where our seventh chapter leaves it.
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN STAMFORD.
The first known records of this church, distinct from the town records, were those begun by Mr. Welles, at his ordination, Dec. 31, 1746. He prepared the folio in which the records were to be kept, as if for a permanent depository of all the doings of the church in Stamford. Its title page, in large round hand, reads :
" Notitia Parochialis Stamfordiensis or. Stanford Church records,
Begun Jan. Ist, A.D. 1747.
By Noah Welles, who under the conduct of divine providence was called to office by the church and society in said Stanford, and by ordination fixed in the work of the gospel ministry there. The day of my ordination and solemn investiture according to divine institution, by fasting and prayer with the imposition of the hands of the presbytery, the elders of the churches of
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SEPARATE CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.
Christ in the western association of Fairfield County ; the Rev. Messrs. Noah Hobart, John Goodsel, Benjamin Strong, Jona- than Ingersol and Moses Mather, was Dec. 31. 1746.
N.B. In the following records the year begins with the 1st day of January, being the day after my ordination."
The first record made is that of all the names of those who were in full communion in the church at the time of his ordina- tion. That list, just as it appears on the third and fourth pages of the records is as follows :
Jonathan Hait, Esq., Deacon,
Zebulun Husted, Nathar Scofield-Bapt.
Samuel Hait, Esq., Deacen,
Abraham Hait,
Benjamin Hait,
Peter Knap,
Samuel Blatchley,
Benjamin Jones,
Samuel Scofield,
Ebenezer Scofield,
Benjamin Weed,
Charles Bishop,
Lieut. Daniel Weed,
Miles Scofield,
Stephen Ambler, Deacon,
Lieut. John Bates,
Joseph Bishop,
John Weed,
James Bishop,
Ebenezer Weed, jr.,
Benjamin Bunnel,
Timothy Curtis,
Jonathan Waterbury,
Josiah Holly,
Jonathan Clanson,
Joseph Judson,
Fbenezer Hait,
Epenetus Webb,
John Scofield,
Benjamin Hait, junr.,
Thomas Waterbery,
Ensign Charles Knap,
Miles Weed,
David Hait,
Nehemiah Bates,
Jagger Hait,
Abraham Davenport, Esq., Deacon.
(1760,) Joseph Scofield,
Captain Bishop,
Ensign Israel Weed,
E. Bishop,
Jonas Scofield,
Joseph Webb, Lieut. Nathanael Webb,
Jeremiah Hait,
Nathan Hait,
Gideen Lounsbery, Episcopal.
Nathan Bishop,
Capt. Amos Weed,
Benjamin Weed, junr., Esq.,
Nathan Lovusbery,
Daniel Weed, junr.,
Joseph Hustead,
Daniel Weed, 3rd.,
Nathanial Cressy,
Joshua Lounsbery,
Reuben Weed,
John Scofield, junr',
Joseph Finch,
Nathaniel Stevens,
Jonathan Garnsey,
Epenetus Lounsbery,
Lieut. Hezekiah Weed, jr.,
Charles Scofield,
Samuel Weed,
Reubeu Scofield,
Whole number 75 Males.
Israel Bordman,
Madam Davenport,
Hezekiah Weed,
David Bishop,
Thomas Potts,
Josiah Scofield,
Ezekial Roberts, Quaker.
Hannah, Dan, We of David,
Jon athan Maltbie, Esq.,
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HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
Sarah, wife of Nathan Scofield, Ruth Bishop, W'w of Deacon Hait, W'w Burnham,
Mary, wife of Lient. Eb. Weed, Elizab. we of Lieut. Danl. Weed, W'w Hait,
Mrs. Blatchely, we of Saml.
Elizab. W'e of Benj. Hait,
Millescent, W'e of Col. Hait, Experience, W'e of Sam'l Ferris, W'w Blatchely, W'e of Abr'm Hait, Rose, W'e of Joseph Weed. Mary, W'e of Sam'l Huit, Esq., Deborah. W'e of Stephen Ambler,
Wife of Lieut. Waterbury,
W'w Bishop, of Capt. Bishop.
W'w Blackman, w'e of Josian,
W'w Martha Leeds,
Azubah, W'e of Simeon June,
W'w Hannah Thorp
Sarah, W'e of Joua. Maltby, Esq., Mary, W'e of Chs. Sturges,
Elizabeth, W'e of Joua. Clanson, Mary Bishop,
Sarah, W'e of Josiah Scofie'd,
Deborah, W'e of Lieut. N. Webb,
Elizab. dan. of Lieut. D. Weed, Hannah Slason,
Mary, W'e. of Lieut. Ezra Smith, Elizabeth Jessup,
Mary, W'e of Josiah Scofield,
Joanna, W'e of Miles Weed,
Hannah, W'e of Jos. Lounsbury, Susanna, W'e of Nehem. Bates, Hannah, W'e of Abr'm Hait, Sarah, W'e of James Bell,
Rebecca, W'e of Samuel Weed, Sarah, W'e of Jno. Lock wood,
Hannah, W'e of Samuel Weed, jun., Esther, W'e of Dan'l Whiting, W'w Susauna Waterbury,
Mary, W'e of Benj. Weed, jun.
Marg. W'e of Ebeur. Hait,
Lydia, W'e of Seremiah Hait,
Abigail, W'e of Reub. Scofield, Sarah Hait,
Lydia, W'e of Reub. Weed,
Mrs. Sarah Slayd,
Abigail, W'e ot Divi.l Dibble
Wid. Abigail Clausou,
Kezia. W'e of Daniel Weed, 3d, Ruth, W'e of Nathan Brown, Anna, W'e of Nath'l Brown, Abigail, W'e of Zab. Hustead,
Mary, W'e of Peter Knap, Susanna, W'e of Dan'l Weed, Mary, W'e of Ebenezer Scofield,
Mary, W'e of Chris'n Sturgis,
Hannah, W'e of Sam'l Scofield, Rachel Lounsbury, W'e of J. Scofield,
Abigail Lonnsbury,
Deborah. W'e of Jonath. Garusey, Bethia Brown,
Sarah, W'e of Dan'l Lockwood,
Rebecca, W'e of Jos. Gales,
Hannah, W'e of Lieut. Sam'l Scofield.
Susanna. W'e of Timothy Curtis,
Sarah, W'e of Capt. Knap,
Mrs. Hannah Wright, Martha, W'e of Jos. Smith, now of
B. Weed, Esq.,
Mercy, W'e of Jona. Weed,
Mercy, W'e of Quinton Patcb,
Sarah, dau. of Jonas Weed,
Elizabeth Hunt, Eliz. W'e of Sam'l Scofield, Mary Holly,
Deborah Webb, now We of Dan'l Smith,
Mary, W'e ot Charles Buxton,
Abigail, W'e of Wm. Blanchard, Abigail, W'e of Richard Webb, Rebecca, W'e of Jona. Ayres, Deborah, W'e of Jos. Husted,
Kezia, W'e of Jas. Roberts, Thankful, dau. of Mrs. Weed,
Martha, W'e of - Waring,
Hannah, W'e of Jas. Scofiel t, Elizab. Bishop,
Mary Bouton, Bethia Scofield,
Mary Lounsbury,
Sarah, W'e of Gershom Mead,
Mary, W'e of Sergt. Juo. Scofeld,
Mary, Dau. of Sergt. Sam'l Scofield, Mrs. Hannah Mather,
Hannah Din, W'e David,
Miry, W'e Benj. Jones, Whole No. 99 Femates. Total 174.
The above list comprises probably all the resident members of this first church of Stamford in 1746.
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SEPARATE CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.
Dr. Welles continued here until his death in 1776. Under his ministry there was a steady growth of the church, withont any very marked season of revival; the largest number added in any one year being twenty, in the year 1769. In all, during his ministry, there were added to the church 173, of whom only 61 were males. He baptized during the thirty years of his ministry here, 1365. That no more additions were made to the church may be aseribed to the increase of membership in other churches during this period. We shall see in the record of the several churches established on the same ground, that while the parent church held her own, the cause of religion was ex- tending through the rapid multiplieation of churches, all of which were thoroughly evangelical. To estimate truly the progress which religion was making, therefore, during this pe- riod of the town's history, it will be necessary to examine the establishment and growth of the several churches of the same name and those of different names, which sprang up on the same ground occupied for about a century by this first church alone.
Very few incidents occurred during Dr. Welles' ministry, the entire records of the church for that period being found on eight pages of the church journal. These records are mainly those of cases of church discipline, about which there is nothing striking or instructive. They only serve to show us that the church of that day was not altogether remiss in her watchful- ness. If not yet perfeet, she had no little regard for the purity of her name, and the unworthy were not allowed, unwarned and undisciplined, to bring reproach on this fair heritage of the Lord.
The year after Dr. Welles' settlement, was made memorable by the advent of a bell for the church, the first of which our records make mention. The enterprising pastor, it would seem, started a subscription, to procure this aid to him in his work, and so far succeeded as to secure a vote of the society, in 1749, to make up the deficiency, and furnish all the means for hanging the bell and clock iu the meeting-house. The
38
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HISTORY OF STAMFORD.
three town notables of that day. Col. Jona. Hoyt, Capt. Jona. Maltby, and Mr. Abraham Davenport, were made a committee to "manage that affear." A few years later, 1762, the society add a hundred pounds of new metal to the bell, and have it run anew. The clock seems to have been a bill of expense and trouble to them, and it was soon removed.
Another innovation was introduced in 1747. The society, probably out of regard to the wishes of their new pastor, voted to change the form of their service of song in the sanctuary ; and this change took place, both in the first church at the Cen- ter and in the new church in Middlesex parish, now Darien. The vote of the first society is: "Per vote, the society agree to sing according to regular singing, called ye new way of singing, in ye public worship of God." The vote in the Mid- dlesex society was: " Yt Mr. Jonathan Bell, or any other man agreed upon to sing or tune ye salm in his absence, in times of publicht worship, may tune it in ye old way or new, which sutes you best."
This change from the old to the new way of singing had been introduced in 1721. The eight or nine tunes brought over with the pioneers " had become barbarously perverted," and Rev. Thomas Walter, of Roxbury, Mass., composer in that year, published " The Grounds and Rules of Music Explained ; or, an Introduction to the Art of Singing by Note " The treatise "contained twenty-four tunes, harmonized in three parts."
In 1750 one other innovation seems to have completed the changes which were deemed of absolute need. After due de- liberation, doubtless, "the society agrees that Doctor Watteses avartion of ye psalms shall be introduced into ye prisbeterian congration."
The following vote, passed Dec. 10, 1770, in society's meet- ing, is preserved, to show how lenient the society were towards those from whom legally they might collect taxes. That the allusion to names may be understood, it must be known that at
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