USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Torrington > History of Torrington, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1737, with biographies and genealogies > Part 13
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1841.
Payson, Hiram, .
1847.
Mason, Mary Frost, 1867.
Perkins, Sanford H.,
1855.
Mason, Kate E. Jeffries,
Perkins, Adaline Barber,
1848.
Mather, Sarah Rowbottom,
1869.
Perrin, Ann Eliza Comstock, 1872.
Mawson, Mrs. David, 1868.
Perrin, Bernadotte,
McCarty, Wm. H.,
1874.
Perrin, Catharine (Lester),
McCarty, Jennie Johnson,
Phelps, Mindwell Scoville, 1849.
McNeil, Robert,
1865.
Phelps, Augusta E., 1851.
McNeil, Margaret Johnston,
Phillow, Charlotte, 1843.
Mills, Henrietta,
1835.
Phippany, Emily, 1833.
Millard, Helen Mott,
1852.
Phippany, William Jr., 1850.
Millard, Alfred M.,
1867.
Phippany, Louisa, 1848.
Millard, Agnes C.,
1875.
Phippany, Orpha R., 1855.
Mix, Chauncey, . 1867.
Pitman, Charles A.,
1875.
Mix, Abigail Jackins,
1863.
Mix, Willard,
1867.
Porch, William, 1842.
Preston, Eliza, Van Valkenburg, 1868.
Mott, Chloe, 1858.
Morse, Harriett Phippany,
1848.
Morse, Martha (Davy),
1869.
Roberts, Geo. P.,
Roberts, Annis Allyn,
Robertson, Daniel, 1852.
Munson, Lucretia Palmer,
1864.
Robertson, James, 1855.
Munson, David C.,
1867.
Robertson, Mrs. James,
Munson, Sarah Holcomb,
Robertson, Laura A.,. 1867.
Rose, Harriet Humphrey, 1876.
Newcomb, Mrs. Elizabeth,
.
1868.
Rynders, Garrett, 1872,
Mott, Chloe Coe, 1840.
Moses, Ellen E,, 1868.
Munson, Huldah, 1834.
Pitman, Sarah George, 1869.
Lowry, Martha,
1863.
132
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
Sage, Harriet, . 1834.
Stocking, Emma O. (Wier), 1867.
Sammis, Mary Huntington,
1836.
Stocking, Frank L., 1874.
Sanbourn, John,
1854.
Stocking, Charlotte C. (Pierce), 1858.
Sanbourn, Mrs. Huldah,
Stocking, Flora, 1852.
Sanford, Joel, . 1841.
Stocking, Philo H., 1858.
Sanford, Mrs. Charity, 66
Stone, Mrs. Mary A.,
1852.
Sanford, John T.,
1343.
Sturtevant, Samuel G.,
1860.
Sanford, Mrs. Sally,
Sturtevant, Mrs. Anna,
Sanford, Morris H.,
1860.
Swift, Solomon E.,
1841.
Sanford, Mrs. Elizabeth,
Scheurer, Katy,
1867.
Talcott, Wm. H., .
1864.
Scott, Leverette, .
1832.
Talcott, Emma Munson, 1853.
Scott, Mrs. Leverett,
Taylor, Abigail Austin, 1832.
Scoville, Amasa, .
1834.
Taylor, Emeline Scott, . 1843.
Scoville, Mrs. Lucy C.,
Thorp, Sarah W.,
Scoville, Mrs. Mary,
Thompson, Harriet Green, 1.874.
Scoville, Mrs. Chloe,
1849.
Tillinghast, Henrietta E., . 1859.
Scoville, John,
1852.
Todd, Wm. P., .
1866.
Scoville, Maria Catlin,
Seelye, Maria Gaylord,
1849.
Tubbs, Nathan, . 1841.
Seelye, L. Clark,
1852.
Tuttle, Catharine, 1849.
Settle, Sabrah Thrall, 1848.
Seymour, James H., 1867. Wadhams, Dothia, 1833.
Seymour, Florilla Hudson,
1839.
Wadhams, George D., 1832.
Seymour, Lura Taylor, 1850. Wadhams, Lucy Eno, . 66
Seymour, Charlotte (Church),
1867.
Wadhams, Eliza Thompson,
1855.
Skinner, H.,
1847.
Wadhams, Sarah Goodwin,
1873.
Smith, Rubama, .
1832. Walling, Catharine Foote, . 1863.
Smith, Albert H.,
1852.
Webster, Marilla M., 1848.
Smith, Phebe A.,
1842.
Weed, Willard, 1867.
Smith, Eliza,
1864.
Weed, Harriett Clark, 1869.
Slade, Eliza Green,
1852.
Weed, Mary, 1867.
Spencer, Henry C.,
Weed, Emma,
1871.
Spencer, Mrs. H. C.,
Welch, Susie Agard, 1874.
Squire, Samuel W., .
1841.
Wells, Margaret Johnson,
Squire, Mrs. Caroline A.,
Weston, Margaret Fleming,
1864.
Stearns, B. B., 1867. Wetmore, Lyman, 1832.
Stearns, Mrs. B. B.,
Wetmore, Mrs. Bessey,
Steele, William S.,
1839.
Wetmore, Lorrain, .
Steele, Caroline Jones, .
Wetmore, Frances Austin,
Steele, Elijah J., .
1867.
Wetmore, John, . 1869.
Steele, Hannah Skiff,
Wheeler, Asa, . 1843.
Steele, George B.,
Wheeler, Mrs. Kezia,
Stimpson, Cornelia W., 1834.
Wheeler, Ansel, 1869.
Stocking, Anson, 1833. Wheeler, Harriett Johnson,
Stocking, Mrs. Flora,
Wheeler, Martha Chidsey,
Stocking, Samuel,
Wheeler, Frank M.,
1874.
Stocking, Marcia,
Wheeler, Nellie M. (Holly), 66
Stocking, Samuel J.,
1851. Whiting, Mrs. Anna C., 1867.
Stocking, Mary Fellows, 1858. Whiting, Francis Hungerford, 1852.
Travis, Eliza Brooker, 1873.
I33
THE CHURCHES OF WOLCOTTVILLE.
Wilcox, Sarah,
1832.
Wilson, Mrs. Clarissa, 1839.
Wilcox, Harriett,
1833. Wilson, Caroline E., . 1850.
Wilson, Amos, . .
Wilson, Mary Wheeler, 1843
Wilson, Mrs. Eliza, .
66
Woodford, Isabella Siddell,
1875.
Wilson, Darius,.
1839.
Woodford, George E.,
1876.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Services were held, occasionally in Wolcottville, in accordance with the usages of the Protestant Episcopal church, previous to 1842 ; the ministers so officiating were the rectors of Christ church, Harwinton, and of St. Michael's of Litchfield. In that year the Rev. Henry Zell began to officiate regularly in one of the district school houses in the village, and to minister to the Episcopalian families residing in the town.
In February 1843, a legal notice was given to all persons desirous of organizing a parish to meet for that purpose, in the brick Academy. The meeting was held according to the notice ; the Rev. Dr. Frederick Holcomb in the chair, and the organization effected, and the following constitution adopted, I
The society took the name and title of Trinity church. Its pur- pose was declared to be the worship of Almighty God, agreeable to the forms, usages, doctrines, and discipline of the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States of America.
The following persons were the original incorporators of the society :
Samuel Bradley, James Gaunt, M. W. Fyler,
Henry B. Richards, Rodney Brace, James Ashborn,
Samuel Workman, Charles B. Smith,
Nelson Alvord,
I Article Ist. The officers of this society shall be two wardens, three vestrymen, a clerk, and a treasurer, to be appointed annually on Easter Monday or on some other day in Easter week, and the appointment of officers shall always be by ballot.
Article 2d. The names of the members of the society shall be registered in a book and this enrollment shall constitute the legal evidence of membership in the society agreeable to the provision of the civil law, which enrollment together with all votes, assertments and all other important transactions by this body, whether civil or ecclesiastical, shall be entered and properly attested by the clerk.
Article 3d. As the society is designed to be formed on the principle of voluntary contri- bution for the support of the gospel, no tax shall be levied on its members except at a special meeting, the object having been specified in the previous warning, nor then except by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at such special meeting, which shall always be more than one-half of the whole number of votes in the society.
Article 4th. This constitution shall not be altered except by a majority vote at an annual meeting, the alteration having been proposed in writing at least six months before formal action is had upon it.
134
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
James R. Coe, Edward Atkins,
Janna B. Phelps,
Benjamin H. Morse, Charles Cooper, James Ogleby, Allen G. Brady.
James H. Seymour,
Demas Coe,
The officers of the parish elected on the day of its organization were : James Gaunt and Benjamin H. Morse, wardens ; James R. Coe, Charles Cooper, Samuel Bradley, vestrymen ; Demas Coe, treasurer ; Benjamin H. Morse clerk.
This society continued to worship in the brick Academy during the summer of 1843, and until their house of worship was completed in 1844. *
In the latter part of the year 1843, it was deemed wise and proper to move in the direction of building a house of worship, and a sub- scription was circulated, dated December 20th, 1843, and the fol- lowing names and amounts were secured :
Demas Coe,
$125.00. Ralph Palmer,
5.00.
B. H. Morse,
125.00.
S. P. Burr,
30.00.
Charles B. Smith,
100.00. Edwin B. Webster,
20.00.
Charles Cooper,
125.00.
Solomon Marsh,
10.00.
Daniel Robertson,
50.00.
O. S. Seymour,
20.00.
Henry Coe,
50.00.
Mrs. Parmalee,
5.00.
Samuel Workman, .
30.00. William Payne,
10.00.
L. W. Coe,
30.00.
J. G. Beckwith,
10.00.
Charles Hollis,
25.00.
Wm. Phippeny, .
5.00.
Trumbull Ives,
25.00.
Wm .- ,
10.00.
Janna R. Phelps,
25.00.
G. P. Cowles,
5.00.
James Palmer,
25.00.
J. M. Thompson,
5.00.
Uri Taylor, .
12.50.
Wm. F. Baldwin,
3.00.
F. L. Taylor,
37.50.
Daniel B. Bulkley,
5.00.
Daniel Scoville,
20.00.
Charles Mansfield,
5.00.
Albert Bradley,
25.00.
Oliver S. Hills,
5.00.
Nelson Alvord,
50.00.
Cash,
26.00.
Eunice Taylor,
25.00.
C. & G. Mason,
20.00.
Albert A. Mason,
20.00.
Benj. F. Smith, 3.00.
F. M. Holley,
10.00.
Luther Bissell,
10.00.
R. F. Ensign,
20.00.
J. W. Cook,
10.00.
Robert Palmer,
25.00.
Wm. H. Webster,
5.00,
Benham Barber,
5.00.
Lyman Clark,
5.00.
James H. Seymour,
10.00.
Abijah Munn,
15.00.
Linus Johnson,
5.00.
Joseph Allyn,
3.00.
Lyman Wetmore,
10.00.
Alexander Gillett,
10.00.
Lucius Foot,
5.00.
Martin Brooker,
10.00.
Charles Scoville,
5.00.
Chester Brooker,
10.00.
Rodney Brace,
25.00.
Edward Pierpont,
5.00.
Collins Holcomb,
5.00.
Amos Gilbert,
5.00.
Edmund Wooding,
10.00.
Samuel Brooker Jr.,
10.00.
H. B. Richards,
20.00.
George Pond, 5.00.
I35
THE CHURCHES OF WOLCOTTVILLE.
Samuel Williams, .
5.00. Wm. S. Pond, . 5.00.
Edward Atkins,
10.00.
John W. Scoville,
5.00.
Daniel Burns,
3.00.
Willis Hubbard,
10.00.
Richard Henisee,
3.00.
Cash,
50.00.
Elkanah Barber,
5.00.
Besides the above amounts, six hundred dollars were obtained from other places, largely from Waterbury, making in all about two thou- sand dollars.
In 1844, the edifice of wood now standing on the corner of Water and Prospect streets was completed and consecrated by Bishop Thomas C. Brownwell, December 4th, 1844.
On January 6th, 1845, the Rev. Henry Zell was elected rector of the parish, which election he accepted with an annual salary of five hundred dollars a year.
When the House was consecrated there remained some debt against it, and to remove this an effort was made in the summer of 1846, which seems to have been successful. The same subscription book . was passed the second time and some of those who had given liberally, repeated the amount, some doubled the amount, and like other churches in Wolcottville, they received help from neighboring churches, for the following record is made :
Offerings at Stratford, $30.00. Offerings at Christ church Brooklyn, 97.00.
" Stamford, 20.00.
" Dr. Tyng, 30.00.
66 " Norwalk, 30.00.
" Trinity, New Haven, 110.00.
20.00.
" Bridgeport, . 10.00. " Ascension,
" New Milford, 32.00. 66 " St. Pauls, 58.00.
" Southport, 44.00.
Several subscriptions are donated by men of considerable fame, such as James E. English of New Haven and George D. Morgan of New York.
At Easter 1848, Mr. Zell resigned and during the succeeding year the rectorship remained vacant, the Revs. Enoch Huntington, Abel Nichols and George L. Foot officiating.
The Rev. David P. Sandford became rector on Easter day April 8th, 1849; there being then forty families in the parish, and eleven communicants. This relation Mr. Sanford held one year, when he resigned, and the Rev. S. V. Berry was in temporary charge of the parish a little more than a year. In August 1851, the Rev. J. S. Covell became rector and continued until October, 1855.
The Revs. Ezra Jones and C. B. Seymour, officiated nearly a year each, in succession, when the parish was united with Christ church, Harwinton, as one cure for one year, the Rev. James Mor-
" Dr. Lewis, 20.00.
136
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
ton being the rector. On the tenth of October 1858, the Rev. J. S. Covell was recalled to the rectorship and remained until 1863, when he removed to Huntington, Ct.
The Rev. David P. Sanford served his second term of office in this church commencing in April, 1864, and resigning September 13th, 1868. During this time the house of worship was considerably improved ; a recess, chancel and robing room were constructed, a vestry room was added, stained glass put into the windows and other improvements were made upon the building.
In 1868, the Rev. Benjamin Eastwood became the rector, and re- mained until 1874, when he removed to Rhode Island. In June 1874, the Rev. Henry B. Ensworth became rector elect, but re- signed in the next December, and removed to Brooklyn, N. Y. He is now pastor of St. Mark's chapel New York.
The Rev. Henry M. Sherman became rector of the parish Sep- tember Ist, 1876, and is laboring with much energy and success in all departments of his office. The house of worship has been re- modeled to some extent inside, and repaired so as to have quite a new and very agreeable appearance. Prophecy does not belong to history but it is quite evident that if the present energy and strength of this church are continued it will not be long before it will have a new house of worship.
The present strength of the parish, as represented in figures re- ported to the diocesan convention of 1876, is one hundred fami- lies, one hundred and one communicants, and one hundred and fifteen members in the Sunday school.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The first Catholic priest who preached in Wolcottville was Father James Fitten, a native of Rhode Island, who preached in 1835, in the brick building south of the bridge.
In 1842, the Rev. John Brady, who was then stationed in Hart- ford, began to visit the scattered families of the Catholic faith in this community, once a year, holding services in Richard Hennessey's house on the west hill. At that time there were only five or six families, and a few single persons, to whom he ministered. Father Brady has long since gone to his reward in a future life, having per- formed many missionary journeys, without the help of rail roads, to minister to his scattered parishioners. The Rev. Father Lynch stationed at Bridgeport, succeeded Father Brady and visited occa-
137
THE CHURCHES OF WOLCOTTVILLE.
sionally, this people about one year. He is also gone to his heavenly home. He died in Bridgeport, respected by members of all Christian denominations. During these first years of occasional visits of min- isters, parents frequently carried their children to Hartford to receive the sacrament of baptism.
During these periodic visits the priests usually made their home at Mr. Hennessey's house.
When the Catholic population had considerably increased the Rev. Father O'Neil of Waterbury was appointed to minister to them, and he continued so to do, about five years. When he first came, ar- rangements were made, and he thereafter held services in the brick Academy building in Wolcottville. This was the third denomination that held meetings in that old Union meeting house and graduated into commodious churches. Father O'Neil was the first who visited regularly, twice a year, the Catholic people of the town. He also is gone to his future happy home. The Rev. Father James Lynch of Birmingham followed him in the work of the ministry here. The Rev. Father Gillic, the first priest stationed at Winsted, ministered to the Catholics of Wolcottville, once a month, and held service in Wad- ham's hall. When he was removed Rev. Father Quinn took his place for a short time.
Rev. Father Thomas Hendrican, now bishop of Rhode Island, was next in charge at Winsted, and he visited Wolcottville as a mis- sion nearly four years. To him succeeded in the space of a few years, Revs. Richard O'Gorman, Michael Mangin, Daniel Mullen, Philip Sheridan, and Father Leo, each doing his work earnestly for the improvement of his people.
In 1851, Father Michael O'Neil purchased the lot opposite the Congregational church on Main street, as a site for a church build- ing, and although Father Quinn's labors intervened, yet Father James Lynch was the first to move in the matter of taking collections for the payment of this lot. He collected over four hundred dollars, and had the lot deeded to the Bishop O'Riley, as was the custom at the time, but that deed with all others in the state has been transferred to the incorporated body according to an act, authorizing the organ- ization of Roman Catholic churches.
Rev. Father Mangin commenced building the Church in the autumn of 1859, and completed it in July 1860, and paid all debts against the property, amounting to about three thousand dollars. This building was considerably enlarged in 1866, by Father Leo, at an expense of fifteen hundred dollars or more.
18
138
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
About the time the Church was built there was considerable preju- dice manifested toward the Catholics, and against the building of the Church, and whether there were threats made or not, the Catholic people felt it necessary for a time to station a watchman at the Church during the nights, to give the alarm if an attempt should be made to burn the building. This was a decided mistake, if any occasion was given for such fear, for if religious liberty is good, then it is as good for one as another, and it is not good unless it will apply to all the heathen even, as well as Christians. The Catholics are a Christian people. But all the disposition, if ever there was any, to hinder the success of the Catholic church in the town is thoroughly removed, all persons knowing that it is far better for them, as well as all other people, to go to church, hear the gospel and obey it, than to neglect such duty and privilege. It is also true that the Catholic people know that there is no occasion for fear, so long as they do as they hereto- fore have done, respect the rights of others as well as their own, and that they are now held in respect by those who differ widely from them, in religious belief.
Father Leo, O. S. F., attended this mission about thirteen years. He built an addition to the Church, and otherwise beautified it inside and outside. In 1870, he purchased from the Coe Brass company six acres of land, near the Redfield and Rice manufactory, on the east side of the east branch of the Naugatuck river, for the purpose of a cemetery. This cemetery was consecrated by the Right Rev. Bishop McFarland, while Rev. Father Anaclete, O. S. F., was pastor of this place, and superior in Winsted. The cemetery is well laid out and kept in proper order ; and the monuments of the Migeon, and Whealon families are very beautiful, and a noble honor to the departed, and ornament to the community. By way of incident it may be mentioned that Father Brady of Hartford, the first missionary to this place, baptized all the children of Mr. Henry Migeon, and that the first child that Bishop Hendrican ever baptized was Maggie Farrell, now Mrs. John Heeley of this village.
The first resident pastor of this church was Rev. Father Isaiah, O. S. F., and who still continues in that office. He was appointed by Bishop McFarland, and made his residence here in October 1874. He purchased the Patterson property on Prospect street, which is fitted up in good style and makes a very pleasant pastor's residence.
The parish now numbers one hundred and twenty families, seven hundred parishioners, six hundred communicants, and one hundred and fifteen children and youth in the Sunday school. The annual
139
THE CHURCHES OF WOLCOTTVILLE.
revenue of the church is about fifteen hundred dollars, which is all expended at home except five per cent for the bishop's salary.
The officers of the corporate body are the bishop, the vicar-general, the pastor and two trustees, elected annually by the congregation. The following laymen have been so elected : Edward Kelly, Andrew Harty, Richard Carroll and William Grant.
The corporate name is, St. Francis of Assisium church, and the by-laws, by which it is governed, were established by the vote of the trustees in 1866.
It will be seen by these items that this church has had a steady success according to the increase of numbers in the community of those who adhere to its faith. In 1842, there were five or six families in the town, or about thirty persons, now they number seven hundred ; an average increase of twenty per year. The industry and spirit of citzenship of this people, in this town, are recognized even by strangers. There are no Irish shanties or dirty looking houses in the village or town ; all live in good painted houses, with pleasant yards, and no stranger could guess, in which part of the village the Catholics live any more than which part the Methodists, or Congregationalists, or Episcopalians occupy. This is owing in part to the attention which the business men of the place give to this matter ; aiding all persons to have pleasant homes, and also, to the enterprise of all the citizens in securing this end. Hence Wolcottville is a beautiful vil- lage, with no dark spots on it, and this beauty is rapidly increasing to the great honor of all its citizens.
FATHER ISAIAH.
Father Isaiah, the present pastor of this church, was born April 24, 1842, in the village of Scanno, in the province of Acquila, Italy. His early schooling was obtained under the care of the priest of his native village. When fourteen years of age he was received upon examination in Latin, Italian, and other studies, into the Passionist congregation in the city of Acquila, for the purpose of devoting himself continuously to religious observances. When fifteen, he was received into the first order of St. Francis ; a ministerial order acknowledged by the Roman Catholic church. To this course of life his father never gave consent, but still did not impose severe obstacles. His christian name was Dominic Piscitelle, but on en- tering this order it was changed to Brother Isaiah, and the other name entirely lost, and he entered upon his novitiate year of study.
140
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
The next year he went to St. Angel, near the Adriatic sea, where he remained three years and finished his philosophical and classical course. He was then removed to the city of Salmona, or the city of Ovid, where he commenced his theological studies. After being there but a short time, he was drafted for service in the army of Italy, and escaped on foot one hundred miles to the city of Rome, which city still remained under the political power of the pope. Here he finished his theological course, but being under twenty-five years of age he was not eligible to the office of the priesthood except by special decree of the pope. This was secured by his superiors, and he was accordingly ordained. Consequent upon this ordination his name was again changed and became Father Isaiah, according to the order of the priesthood in that church. Four months after this he was sent by his superiors to America, and arrived in New York, in September, 1865. He went to Buffalo and entered upon the study of the English language preparatory to the exercising of his professional orders in this country. After one year he was sent to Winsted, Ct., where he remained two years, and thence to St. Bona- venture convent in the western part of Pennsylvania as superior for one year. After being engaged in that part of the country, in dif- ferent parishes, he was sent in October, 1874, to Wolcottville, and settled as pastor of this church. He is well accepted by the people of his own parish ; is exerting a beneficial and elevating influence over them, and is truly respected by the entire community.
.
CHAPTER XII.
EDUCATION.
HE first settlers located in the southwest part of the town, and in that part was the first school ; the School house standing on the Lyman farm near Mill brook, and near the Fort, and was built in or about- 1745. The settle- ment of that part of the town during ten years from the building of this house was quite rapid, so that in 1756, there were two hundred and fifty inhabitants in the town, and most of them were in that part of the town. Hence that School house was soon filled with boys and girls, who have since performed very important parts in the history of the town. Their descendants have since planted their homes in almost every part of the United States, and have honored education wherever they have dwelt. Two young ladies, descended from this district, kept a select school, of extensive reputation, in the city of Montreal, Canada, quite a number of years.
There is a School house still within twenty rods of the site of the old one, down by the side of the brook, where from twelve to twenty children study a far different series of books than were studied one hundred and thirty years ago; but the object is the same, fitting for life, and immortality. At this house attend the children of one of the Whiting families, the only representative of all the families who dwelt there in 1745.
The records of the first society of the town for fifty-five years are lost, and as that society had supervision over all schools within its bounds, during that time, the account of the efforts made for the education of that generation cannot be very complete.
The second school was, probably, that of the Brandy hill district, and the house (if any separate house was erected) stood near Dr. Hodges, store or Abel Beach's tavern ; most probably, some little distance north of Dr. Hodges. This school was removed to near the site of the present school house, a little north of Mr. Gillett's old homestead. Aunt Adah Gillett, still living, honored and esteemed by all, and in her ninetieth year, and the daughter of Rev. Father Gillett, informs that when her father settled there, that school was full of
I 42
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
young people, numbering seventy or eighty scholars, many of them grown up young men and women.
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