USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 32
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Ralph Wheelock and Samuel Manning were then added to the pre- vious Representatives-Joshua Ripley, John Fitch and Jonathan Crane.
Under this energetic discipline, the church in Windham was greatly enlarged and strengthened. Mr. Clap was by no means satisfied with outward decorum and conformity to law, but labored earnestly to pro- mote the growthi and raise the standard of piety. At least once in every year he visited every family in his parish and catechized the children, " noting the name and age of each member, that so he might have more knowledge and clear remembrance of every soul committed to his care and charge, and the circumstances and condition of each particular person." Though not "brilliant or eloquent," he was a forcible preacher, and greatly impressed the community by his earnest- ness and strength of character. Mr. Clap was married November 23, 1727, to Mary Whiting, the daughter of his predecessor. Though not fifteen years of age at the time of her marriage, she was already remarkable for loveliness of person and disposition, and by her winning sweetness and amiability softened the asperities of her somewhat arbitrary husband. She proved fully equal to her position, and greatly endeared herself to the church and people.
With all the pains taken to ensure good order and discipline- Colony and church laws, inquisitorial committee and local town enact- ments-Windham did not escape occasional outbreaks of rowdyism. Samuel Backus, though punished by imprisonment and hard labor for speaking " vile, ungodly and profane language " as before related, had the temerity, in 1730, to join with two other lads-William Backus, Jun., and Joshua Sawyer-steal the keys of the gaol and let out cer- tain prisoners, who effected their escape from justice. For this high- handed offence, Backus was bound over as apprentice or servant for three years to Mr. Zedediah Strong. Sawyer, for a less period, to John Arnold of Mansfield. A number of Windham citizens were concerned, a few years earlier, in a much more serious affair-the breaking open of Hartford Jail and release of Captain Jeremiah Fitch, and when the grand-jurors of the town attempted to arrest some of these rioters, Captain Fitch himself, William More and about twenty
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men came out upon them with great clubs or stakes, threatened, pur- sued, struck some of the company and threw stones and clubs at them. Presentment of this affray was sent to Mr. Justice Ripley, with direction to proceed against the actors as the law required, who returned that he could not take them without a deputy sheriff, and that "the said sheriff could not come into these parts, much more attempt to seize them, without danger of his life or having his bones broken." In 1733, Jeremiah Ripley, Jun., was guilty of the grave misdemeanor of declaring, at the Windham Court-house before a great number of freemen, met to give in their votes for the election of the governor and other officers, "That the Honorable Governor was a fool, and his friend and counsellor, Roger Wolcott, a knave, and that we will kick about the knave and turn out the fool." These reproachful and contemptuous words being duly reported to the General Assembly, Mr. Ripley was apprehended and brought before it to answer the mis- demeanor, and upon his confessing himself in great measure guilty thereof, it was resolved, " That the said Jeremiah Ripley shall be dis- franchised during the pleasure of the Assembly, and until they shall see cause to restore him to freedom again, and that he give bonds to the treasurer of this Colony to the value of £1,000, money, conditioned that he carry good behavior towards his Honor the Governor and Roger Wolcott, and all other his Majesty's subjects, for the space of one year next coming, and pay the cost of his prosecution, and stand committed till the same be performed." At the close of the year, he was discharged from bonds and restored to his rights and privileges as a freeman of the corporation.
II.
THIRD SOCIETY SET OFF. SCOTLAND PARISH. MEETING-HOUSE BUILT. CHURCH ORGANIZED. MINISTER SETTLED.
YTHE southeast section of Windham participated in the growth and prosperity of the mother township. These Scotland settlers had early taken a high position in town, and were actively concerned in all its church and secular affairs, repairing constantly to the Green for trainings, town-meetings and the various religious services. The Windham people greatly valued their Scotland neighbors, and were anxious to retain them within their church and parish. At the first, symptom of a tendency to disruption-February, 1726-the town voted, "That when the public list amounted to £12,000, they would build a meeting-house in the east part, and when they should agree to
35
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
settle a minister the town would go unitedly-Canada or Windham parish excepted-in supporting two ministers and repairing two meet- ing-houses." Notwithstanding this flattering eagerness to propitiate and retain them, the Scotland people soon manifested a preference for independence. In December, 1727, " divers of the inhabitants living east of first society," received liberty to employ "a suitable person to preach to them in the winter season." This service was continued several successive winters, Windham kindly granting leave "to hire a minister, provided they pay him and their just charges in Windham too." It not appearing "just " to the Scotland residents to pay for two ministers, agitation was kept up till 1731, when a petition was pre- ferred to the General Assembly for society privileges. Ebenezer West and John Woodward of Lebanon and Joseph Strong of Coventry, were thereupon " authorized to repair to said society and there to inquire into their circumstances ; and if they judge (all things considered) that there ought to be a new society set off on the east part, that then they state and affix a dividend line, to run across said society north and south." This committee reported in favor of division, and affixed a line, "beginning at the mouth of Merrick's Brook, where it empties itself into Shetucket River, and so running northerly to the south- west corner of the land of John Kingsley, where he now dwells;" thence to Beaver Brook at John Fitch's dam ; thence, a straight line to Merrick's Brook at a place crossed by the road from Windham's first society to the Burnt Cedar Swamp; then, running south on the brook to the southwest corner of Canada Society ; thence, easterly by the south bound of that society to Canterbury ; thence south by Can- terbury line to the dividend line between Windham and Norwich, and west by Norwich line to the mouth of Merrick's Brook. This bound included, probably, less than a third of the territory of Windham. In October, 1731, Nathaniel Bingham, Jacob Burnap, Eleazer and Samuel Palmer, Joshua Luce, Daniel Meacham, Isaac Bingham, Samuel Hebard, Seth Palmer, Timothy Allen, Charles Mudie, Benj. Case, John Waldo, David Ripley, Caleb Woodward, John Cary, Jonathan Silsby, Elisha Lilly, Jacob Lilly, Joshua Lasell, Nathaniel Huntington, Nathaniel Brewster, Nathaniel Rudd, Wilkinson, Carpenter and Samuel Cook asked for confirmation of these bounds and distinct society privileges.
As usual, at this period, these were not obtained without a struggle. Peter Robinson, John Kingsley and other leading men were opposed to division, and thus stated their reasons, October 12, 1731 :-
. " I. That we are about eight miles by six, all our highways laid out leading to our present meeting-house, and whatever alteration will be made will be very chargeable to the society and prejudicial to particular persons, as the best that can be thought of for the greater part of this proposed new society is to go upon sufferance through a multitude of gates and bars, that will
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render our passage to and from the public worship of God well nigh, if not altogether, as tedious as now it is.
II. As to our ability, we are humbly of opinion that, considering the small- ness of our list and the great number of heads that make the best half of it, together with the unprofitableness of our land that still remains uncultivated, which renders it highly necessary for us to be at great charge in subduing it without expecting any great profit for some considerable time, that in our apprehension renders us incapable of division for some time.
III. As to our inclination to divide, we have had considerable debate thereon, and find that well nigh if not altogether half-taking in the neuters- are very averse to dividing, and we are much afraid it will promote a great deal of strife and contention among us if your Honors do not interfere and prevent any further proceedings until we are better able :
Peter Robinson. Joseph Ford.
Benjamin Armstrong.
John Bass.
Daniel Ross.
Isaac Armstrong.
John Kingsley.
John Gray.
John Broughton.
Nathaniel Ford.
Thomas Armstrong. Widow Sarah Hebard."
This remonstrance delayed action till the following May, when both parties again presented petitions. Discussion had been very earnest during the winter, and some of the " neuters " now came out in favor of the new society, and begged " to have their names changed from the opposing memorial to the one asking division." Opponents of the measure declared the advantages small compared with the expense, that the cost of settling a minister and building a meeting-house would be not less than a thousand pounds, while their part in enlarging the present house would not be above forty pounds, that their list of property was so small that it seemed more like starving the gospel than promoting it, that more than one-third of the inhabitants opposed division, and begged not to be constrained to it. The inhabitants of the western part of Windham also remonstrated against the proposed division. Captain John Fitch declared :-
" That the committee had set off the new division about a third bigger than the residue thought they could possibly spare, yet many wanted a considera- ble part more; had not seen the allegations, but supposed the families were so numerous, and their indigency equivalent thereto, as to render them incapable of transporting them to meeting, but how much of an argument there might be in shortening the travel and enhancing the charge they might decide. Windham had already lost Mansfield and Canada, which rendered it very difficult for them to accommodate the memorialists. Attempt at division had caused great strife and divided the people into three parties, not quite so equal in their distribution as in their temper and disposition, which will prove very detrimental and you will see them better agreed if you proceed no further in the affair."
In spite of these remonstrances, the majority carried the day, and the east part of Windham was endowed with society privileges, May, 1732. The bounds ascribed were those recommended by the committee. The number of families within them was about eighty ; list of estates reported, £3,945. The first society meeting was held June 22, 1732, at the house of Nathaniel Huntington. Richard Abbe presided. Edward Waldo was chosen moderator ; John Manning, clerk ; Peter Robinson, John and Edward Waldo, society committee. September
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
20, the society again met at Mr. Huntington's, and " Voted, to have a minister for the month, and that the place of preaching be at the house of Nathaniel Huntington. Also, that we desire to set our meeting- house in the centre of our society, and if that prove to be an incon- venience in the next most convenient place, to build a meeting-house for the public worship of God. Also, Ensign Nathaniel Rudd, Mr. Samuel Manning, Lieutenant Peter Robinson, Sergeants Nathaniel Bingham and Edward Waldo, Mr. John Bass and Mr. John Cary, be a committee to provide us a minister to preach to us, and also to provide a place for him to diet in, and also to agree with him for what he shall have a day."
Mr. Flagg was the minister provided-diet-place and daily wages not recorded. December 25, a society meeting was held at Mr. John Waldo's. The dissensions arising during the discussions preceding division were not yet healed, and now broke out with renewed violence. Some thought that by the law of the Colony societies were required to elect their officers in December, others, that all chosen must serve a year. A majority favored the former opinion, and proceeded to appoint Lieutenant Nathaniel Huntington, clerk and collector; Peter Robinson, John Bass and David Ripley, committee-whereupon Messrs. Manning, Rudd, Bingham, Cary and Allen, at once ordered the clerk, "to enter their dissent against these proceedings of the meeting, for that it was not the work of the day and was not contained within the warning, and that the officers chosen in June were expected to serve a year." Much confusion followed, and the meeting was adjourned till December 29, at the house of David Ripley. The " difference " still continued. Attempts were made to quiet parties by adding two of the former committee to the present, but it had not that effect. A number were persuaded that the proceedings of the society were irregular, and that they were destitute of a lawful clerk and committee, and thus no business could be accomplished " without quarreling." They succeeded in appointing Joseph Meachem, John Cary and Jeremiah Ripley for school committee. Samuel Bingham, Zebulon Webb and Peter Robin- son were also employed " to provide a minister to preach to us for the space of two months," and nothing else effected during the winter. In the spring, both parties repaired to the Assembly with their grievances and difficulties, which were relieved by the enactment, "That the committee and other officers chosen December 25, should be good and valid in law."
At the same session, their meeting-house spot was confirmed to them. By the Colony law enacted May, 1731, inhabitants were to apply to the Assembly, who were to appoint, order and affix the place whereon each meeting-house should be built. Parishioners were to
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appoint a committee, grant and levy a tax ; clerk of society to keep account of disbursements and certify to the Assembly the doings of the society and progress of the house. For a society to build without referring to the Assembly was not lawful, and subjected them to £100 penalty. In compliance with this act, the lawful authorities judged the most proper place for Scotland meeting-house to be " a knoll, east side of Merrick's Brook, south side of the road from Windham to Canterbury." This land was included in a thirty-acre lot owned by Mr. Nathaniel Huntington, who promptly made over a quarter of an acre for a building-spot-a gift " thankfully received" by the young society. This important point being settled, all minor differences were laid aside, and all parties united harmoniously in promoting the work of building. June 25, 1733, it was voted, "To build a house forty- three foot in length, thirty-three foot in width, twenty foot stud, with a handsome jeyht to it suitable for such a house." Edward Waldo, John Bass and Joseph Meachem were appointed a committee " to agree with suitable men to build the house, so far as to finish the outside- glazing excepted-make all the doors, and lay the under-floor dubble." It was agreed, " That the roof shall be covered with chestnut shingles and chestnut clap-boards, sawed." Notices for society meetings were ordered " to be written on a peace of paper, to be sett at the tavern, by the door, so as fairly to be seen, and also at the corn-mill." October 2, Samuel Palmer, Samuel Manning, Peter Robinson and John Bass were appointed, "To take care of the provision and drink brought in for the raising of the meeting-house. The raising was accomplished and the frame covered so speedily that, November 20, a society meeting was held in the meeting-house. It was voted, " That the society accept of the said house, as in their estimation done as said committee was to do it." A committee was now chosen to agree with some man or men to glaze the meeting-house with good crown glass, and Mr. Seth Palmer employed to make some conveniency for a minister to stand by to preach. With this temporary pulpit, costing ten shillings, and rough boards for seats, the house was deemed ready for occupation, and twelve shillings allowed to David Ripley for keeping it swept.
Efforts were now made to secure a permanent minister. February .7, 1734, the society voted, "That we give a minister a call by dividing in said house. The minister thus selected was Mr. Robert Breck, a young minister of much ability and promise, in whom the society now united, offering £250 for settlement. This arrangement was frustrated by the interference of Mr. Clap, who still exercised ministe- rial authority over the new parish, and suspected the soundness of Mr. Breek's orthodoxy. He told the Scotland people that their chosen
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
candidate was inclined to Arminianism, and that they must have no more to do with him, and advised Mr. Breck to leave, which he did at once, without apparent demur or remonstrance. The dictum of Mr. Clap was not to be questioned. March 27, another meeting was held, and Isaac Burnap, David Ripley and Edward Waldo chosen " a ministerial committee to provide us a minister," and directed, "To go first to Mr. Barber to get him to preach, and if he fails to the Erector of New Haven. By the advice of this important personage, Mr. William Hart was secured, and received with favor. July 18, was set apart as a day of special fasting and prayer, before proceeding again to call a minister. The Rev. Eleazer Williams conducted the services, and Mr. Hart was called with due formality, but declining to accept, the society was constrained to appoint another committee, "to get us a minister."
During this interval, the meeting-house was progressing. In May, arrangements were made for building pulpit, deacons' seat and canopy, a gallery with stairs and pillars, and a body of seats. It was voted, "to joyne the body of seats of the men's and women's in the midst, and also that we leave seven feet of room round the sides and ends of the house for alleys and pews ; eight feet on the back for pulpit and deacons' seat-John Bass, Nathaniel Rudd and Samuel Cook to see it done." In August, it was decided, "To change the middle of the body of seats, and have am alley from the door to the deacons' seat, three and a half feet wide, and the seats to come up to the south side of the house, raising the hind-seat two steps and the next to that, one." This proving unsatisfactory, in October, it was determined "to new- model our meeting-house," but no particulars specified. December 17, 1734, John Manning was chosen society clerk; John Bass, David Ripley and Nathaniel Rudd, committee; Seth Palmer and Elijah Hurl- but, collectors ; John Bass, treasurer ; David Ripley, Isaac Burnap and Thomas Bass, school committee.
January 21, 1735, a special committee was appointed, to serve for three months, "to get a minister in order for settlement," and, happily, succeeded. The minister secured after so much pains and labor was Ebenezer, son of Rev. Ebenezer Devotion of Suffield-a young man of good abilities, pleasing address and unimpeachable orthodoxy-who had just completed his ministerial studies. He was graduated from . Yale College, in 1732, and just twenty-one years old when called to the Scotland pastorate. £300 settlement and £140 salary were offered him, with an additional thirty afterward, "he finding his own fire- wood." August 9, Mr. Devotion personally appeared before the society and accepted their terms. Preparations were promptly made for ordina- tion. Edward Waldo, Isaac Buruap and Nath. Bingham were appointed
3
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THIRD SOCIETY SET OFF, SCOTLAND PARISH, ETC.
to make provision for the elders and messengers ; Samuel Manning, Samuel Palmer and Peter Robinson to send for them. Oct. 22, 1735, a church was organized in the third society of Windham, and Mr. Devotion + ordained its pastor. The first and second churches of Windham, the second church of Pomfret, the churches of Mansfield, Lisbon and Canterbury were represented in the Council. Mr. Clap served as scribe. The brethren of the Windham church residing in Scotland Parish " appeared before the Council, and by a manual vote declared their consent and agreement to be a particular church by themselves, for the attendance upon and carrying on all the ordinances of the gospel in this place." Eighty-nine members were dismissed from the first and incorporated into the third church of Windham. Mr. Devotion was then ordained with the usual formalities. November 19, Edward Waldo and Nathaniel Bingham were chosen deacons.
After the happy settlement of an acceptable pastor, Scotland pur- sued its way for many years with great peace and harmony. A "reading and wrighting school, two months a-peace, in the upper and lower parts of the society," was established. The meeting-house slowly attained completion. In 1737, a pew was ordered for Mr. Devotion, " in the east side the pulpit, joining the pulpit, for his youce so long as he shall continue with us in the work of the ministry." In the following year, it was vote l to finish the meeting-house, "i. e., lay the gallery floor, finish the breast-work and build the first and second seats around it." In 1739, pews were erected. Twelve young men received liberty to build a pew the length of the front gallery, dividing the same by a partition of wood, taking one-half as their own proper seat to sit in and gallantly allowing the other to a certain number of young women. In 1740, Nathaniel Rudd, David Ripley, Nathaniel Huntington and Deacons Waldo and Bingham, had leave to build a pew, west end of the pulpit, next the stairs, for themselves and their wives. During this year, it was first voted, "To seat the meeting house," John Bass, Jonathan Silsbee, Jonathan Brewster, Nath. Huntington and John Cary, serving as committee. Bass, Silsbee and Brewster were assigned the fore-seat in the body of seats below ; Seth Palmer, the second seat next to the fore-seat. The " numerous " children in the early Scotland families necessitated continued seat-building. Pews were built in eom- pany, and only occupied by heads of families, so that the young people as they grew up were forced to provide for themselves. In 1741, Elizabeth Palmer, Jail Lassell, Welthe Cost, Lucy Carpenter, Phebe and Elizabeth Lillie, Elizabeth and Sarah Skiff, Ann Ripley and Abigail Huntington, had liberty to build a pew in the gallery. October 28, 1747, Jabez Kingsley, Samuel Robinson, John Bass,
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
Pelathiel Durham and James and Phineas Manning, thus petitioned :-
" We, the subscribers, petition .the third society of Windham to grant us liberty of ye floor in ye second seat of ye first gallery on the men's side, to be devoted to our own use to sit in. We desire liberty to raise the floor so much as to make it leavel, and to make a door and to set up bauisters, and we will do it at our own cost and charge."
This request was granted, on condition " that they pay the society for finishing the meeting-house against their pew, and let those that sit in the northeast corner pew have free liberty to pass and repass through their pew, and build in six months."
Even very young girls were stimulated to join in this pew-building, as shown by this memorial :-
" November 26, 1744. The humble prayer of your dutiful memorialists showeth to this society, that we, having onconvenient seats in our meeting- house in said society to sit in, we therefore pray our Fathers of said society to give us the liberty to build a pew in the east gallery, at our own cost and charge. Hoping our petition will not be denied, we subscribe ourselves your dutiful children till death :
Mary Mosely. Mary Wright. Mehitable Huntington."
Abigail Palmer. Elizabeth Kingsley.
III.
CANADA PARISH. DEATH OF MR. BILLINGS. CHANGES IN FIRST SOCIETY. FIRST EXECUTION IN WINDHAM COUNTY.
INTHE second society of Windham, having outlived the trials of its infancy, was now thriving and populous, many families having settled in Windham Village and the adjacent valleys. Thomas Marsh, Benjamin Chaplin and Samuel Kimbal of the south part of Pomfret, were annexed to this society. A new road, laid out from Windham Village to Pomfret in 1730, facilitated communication between these settlements. Thomas Stedman of Brookline purchased a hundred and fifty acres of Nathaniel Kingsbury, and settled in Windham Village in 1732. Ebenezer Griffin of Newton, the following year, settled a mile northwest of the meeting-house, on land bought of William Durkee, marrying Hannah, daughter of Deacon Philemon Chandler of Pomfret. A full military company was formed in 1730, with Nathaniel Kingsbury for captain and James Utley for lieutenant. The chief house of entertainment was now kept by Nathaniel Hovey ; the first store is believed to have been kept by Benjamin Bidlack. Of schools and the general progress of the society, nothing can be learned in the absence of society records.
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