USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 33
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The church in Canada Parish was in the main prosperous, though greatly burthened with questions of discipline. Little is known of
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CANADA PARISH, DEATH OF MR. WILLIAMS, ETC.
Mr. Billings, or of his standing and success in the ministry, but it is evident that affairs were not entirely harmonious. In 1727, Mr. Billings applied to the Windham County Association for advice in accommodating differences in the church of Windham Village, and was recommended a mediation of ministers or a council of consocia- tion. A contemptuous fling at the preaching attributed to one of the brethren occasioned further disturbance. The offender refused to make proper acknowledgment. Mr. Billings, as strict in discipline as his cotemporary in old Windham, again applied to the Association, Sep- tember 11, 1729. A committee was sent, which prescribed the following confession :-
" I acknowledge before God and this church yt my saying, 'I had rather hear my dog bark than Mr. Billings preach,' was a vile and scandalous ex- pression, tending to ye dishonor of our Lord Jesus Christ and his ambassadors, as also of religion in general. I do hereby declare before God and ye church my sorrow and repentance for it, humbly asking your forgiveness, and resolve to have a greater watch and guard over my tongue."
This confession was probably satisfactory to neither party, as, two years later, the Association voted, "That Mr. Billings ought to accept confession," and in August, 1732, ordered, "That Mr. Billings do pro- ceed to read aloud -'s confession with all convenient speed." The matter was not settled till 1735, after the death of Mr. Billings, when the offender appeared before the congregation, owned the prescribed confession, and the church accepted it.
Indulgence in liquor involved auother brother in a course of church discipline.
" January 8, 1731. Rev. William Billings to - Greeting :--
Having been informed of your being over-taken with inebriating drink at sundry times of late, to ye great dishonor of Christ and religion, and danger of your own soul, you are required to come to my house and do what the laws of Christ's Kingdom require of such offenders."
This being disregarded, a second summons was sent, January 23, enforcing his appearance, or he " would add obstinacy to his former crime." The culprit then appeared, but denied the accusation. Farther investigation was decided upon. Elizabeth Crocker, Daniel Davis, John Clark, Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Hovey, William Durkee and Stephen Fuller, were summoned to give in their testimony. A formal meeting was held at the minister's, February 9, and the fact established that the accused had been overcome anl disguised with strong drink ; once when working on the highway, and again at the houses of Nathaniel Hovey and Benjamin Bidlack. A public confession was ordered. The young man demurred, and begged time to consider the inatter, but finally, March 28, 1731, came to the house of God and owned the following declaration, read by the pastor :-
" These are to confess that I have been overtaken some time since with strong drink, and particularly at the last day of working on highway last fall. I acknowledge I then drank too much strong drink, and have sinned before ye
36
282
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
Great Lord, and I have a jealousie of myself, whether I have not been overtaken or drunk too much strong drink some other times, for all which I desire to be deeply humbled, and take shame to myself, and to pray a pardon from the Great Lord the Christ, and ask forgiveness of the Church, hoping and resolv- ing, in the strength of Christ, to walk more watchfully for time to come."
From these older church members-Hovey and Bidlack-who had probably furnished the liquor thus " overtaken " and " overtaking," no confession was extorted. A brother, "guilty of railing and defamatory language," was also required to make a public confession. Elizabeth Mott, having "embraced anti-Pædo-baptistical sentiments to a high degree and denied them to be a true church," was "shaken off and given up," November, 1730.
An acute disease terminated the life and ministry of Mr. Billings, May 20, 1733. One hundred and seventy two persons had been admitted to his church during his ten years pastorate. A sermon, preached on the preceding Fast-day, was published after his decease, and gives, says Mr. Robert C. Learned, " a pleasing impression of his mental and moral qualities." The Rev. Mr. Hale of Ashford, thus testifies in the preface to this sermon : "I have discerned his sweet Christian conversation, not only among the ministers in our Association meetings, but also in some measure amongst his own people, and also very particularly in his own family, wherein he practiced in a very eminent degree and manner. In his last sickness, he gave tokens of finishing his course in a right Christian manner, though sorely oppressed with the distemper in the last week, even unto his being very delirious." Mr. Billings left a widow and four young children. His estate, though less than those of Messrs. Whiting and Estabrook, was not insufficient, as is evident from this inventory :-
£
s. d.
Clothes,
24
4 2
Books,
48 10
7
Horse,
.
22
0
0
Stock,
42
0
0
Furniture,
20
0
0
Cloth, yarn and flax,
20 0 0
Brass,
7
0
0
Pewter,
8
7
0
Iron,
10
4
0
Bedding,
51 10 0
0
Indian girl,
20
0
Farm and house,
600 0 0
.
.
.
Nine pounds for provisions were allowed to the widow during the settlement of the estate. In July, 1734, she represented to the Court that she was destitute of provisions-not enough for one week-and very scant for clothing, with four small children and not able to do anything for their support, under the afflicting hand of Providence by sickness and exposed to great difficulty, and begged to have the money due for her husband's salary allowed her, which was granted. She
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CANADA PARISH, DEATH OF MR. WILLIAMS, ETC.
soon after married, as was not infrequent in those days, her husband's successor in the ministry-Samuel Mosely of Dochester, the first candi- date recommended by the Association. Mr. Mosely was graduated from Harvard College, in 1729, and ordained pastor of the second church in Windham, May 15, 1734. No record is preserved of the services of the day or terms of settlement. Mr. Mosely was an able and earnest preacher, dignified in manner and strict in doctrine and discipline. In 1738, a number of brethren were chosen " to represent the church, with full power to draw up judgment and administer cen- sure in matters of church discipline with the pastor," and it was ordered, "That a judgment drawn up at any time by this representa- tive body should be publicly read before the church and congregation before they proceeded any further in a way of censure with the offender, and that satisfaction should be made by the offender in the same public manner." Deacons John and William Durkee and Thomas' Marsh, Captain James Utley, Thomas Stedman, Philip Abbot, Eleazer Crocker, George Martin, John Clark, Thomas Kingsbury, Samuel Kings- bury and Benjamin Chaplin, were chosen to this office. April 25, 1739, these powers were confirmed, and it was voted, "That the representa- tives before spoken of should continue in the office of ruling elders during the pleasure of the church." At the same meeting, the church also voted :-
" That 'tis the opinion of this church, that liberty of an appeal from the judgment of the Consociation to a Synod consisting of two or three ministers and as many messengers out of each county, properly chosen, all with equal power to vote in said Synod .
. is reasonable and convenient, and would have a tendency to promote the peace, purity and edification of our churches if they should introduce it into practice."
Though an active member of Windham County Association, Mr. Mosely was not at this time in sympathy with the ecclesiastic constitu- tion of Connecticut, as is manifest from this attempt to evade the power of Consociation.
The first society of Windham was now suffering many losses. Mary, the lovely wife of Mr. Clap, died August 19, 1736, before completing her twenty- fourth year. Few women have excelle 1 this young daughter of Windham. More than thirty years after her death, Dr. Daggett thus sketches her character :-
" She had a beautiful and pleasant countenance; was a woman of great prudence and discretion in the conduct of herself and all her affairs; was diligent, and always endeavored to make the best of what she had; the heart of her husband could safely trust in her. She was kind and compassionate to the poor and all in distress. She was adorned with an excellent spirit of humility and meekness; did not affect to put herself forward in conversa- tion, but chose to speak discreetly rather than much, but was always free,
284
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
pleasant and cheerful in conversation with every one. She exceeded in a most serene, pleasant temper and disposition of mind, which rendered her very agreeable to her husband and all her acquaintance; and though he lived with her almost nine years in the connubial state, yet he never once saw her in any unpleasant temper, neither did one unpleasant word pass between them on any occasion whatsoever."
So little is seen of women in the early days of Windham County history that it is pleasant to find so bright a model among them. Mrs. Clap left two young daughters, who lived to maturity, and adorned high positions in Connecticut.
Richard Abbe, the most prominent of the second generation of Windham citizens, died July 10, 1737, aged fifty-four. Half of his large estate, with the negro girl, Ginne, was bequeathed to his wife, and liberal legacies given to his brothers and sisters. He also left fifty pounds to Mr. Clap and twenty to the first church of Windhamn. He especially enjoined upon his executors " that no unjust advantage should be taken of his debtors, and that those against whom he held mortgages should have reasonable time to redeem them, even if they had been legally forfeited." . He had been constable, sheriff, justice of peace, judge of the County Court, and a man of influence in town, church and Colony.
Jeremiah Ripley, Sen., and his son, Jeremiah, both died in 1737. Joshua Ripley, Sen., after fifty years of active public service, died in 1739. His wife, Mrs. Ann Bradford Ripley, had preceded him a few years. He left sons-Joshua, Hezekiah and David-and one daughter. The greater part of his estate had been previously distributed among his children. Joshua, now, received his great Bible and wearing apparel-except such as he was buried in. Jerusha, for her care of him, had a cow and heifer above her proportion. A grand-daughter, Ann, one heifer, as designed by her grandmother. The flock of sheep was divided among the sons. Eight or nine religious books, and many sermons, composed his library. Much of the household furniture was " old " and "broken." A china platter was the most costly article. Eight "rugs," or coverlids, blue, yellow, orange and white, valued at over eight pounds, bore witness to the thrift and ingenuity of Mrs. Ripley.
Mr. John Backus, the last of the original settlers, died March 27, 1744, in the eighty-third year of his age, having " served his genera- tion in a steady course of probity and piety." One of his daughters had married Joshua Ripley, Jun. ; another, Colonel Thomas Dyer ; another, Hezekiah Lord of Preston ; and all were women of superior energy and character.
Mr. Nathaniel Wales, chosen one of the deacons of the church at its organization in 1700, " after he had served God and his generation
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CANADA PARISH, DEATH OF MR. WILLIAMS, ETC.
faithfully many years in this life, did with the holy disciple lean upon the breast of his beloved, and by the will of God mneekly fell asleep in the cradle of death on the 22d day of June, 1744, in the 85th year of his age."
He was followed in May, 1745, by Captain John Fitel, the last sur- vivor of the fathers and founders of Windham. For more than forty years he had held the office of town-clerk, was chosen captain of its first military company in 1703, and served as representative, justice, judge of probate, and in many publie capacities.
To these losses, was added the removal of Mr. Clap. After the death of his wife, he had devoted himself with redoubled earnestness to his pastoral work, bearing the name and circumstances of every one upon his heart, and endeavoring in every possible way to forward and promote the salvation of their souls-till called to the presidency of Yale College. Many prominent clergymen and public men of Con- necticut, confident of his peculiar fitness, urged his acceptance of this office, and Windham was reluctantly compelled to resign hier energetic and distinguished pastor. December 10, 1739, he was dismissed from his pastorate, and April 2, 1740, installed president of Yale College. A pecuniary compensation for the loss sustained by Windham was referred " to the judgment of the gentlemen of the General Assembly," who "considering that Rev. Mr. Clap had been in the ministry at Windham fourteen years, which, in their estimate, was about half the time of a minister's life in general, judged that the society ought to have half the price of his settlement." This was about fifty-three pounds sterling-or three hundred and ten pounds in the depreciated currency of Connecticut. August 20, 1740, the First Society in Windham voted, "That Mr. John Abbe, Nathan Skiff and Joseph Bingham, the present society's committee, or any one of them, in the name and behalf of said society, receive the three hundred and ten pounds money, granted to this society in May last by the General Assembly, on the account of Rev. Thomas Clap's removal from us to the Rectorate of Yale College."
The loss in influence and authority was less easily supplied. The Windham people were quite unsettled by the removal of their head and censor, and, it is said, " acted like boys let out of school." Much as they had admired and revered their late pastor, they were appa- rentły reluctant to re-subject themselves to such severity of discipline, and chose for a successor his precise opposite-a gentleman of great mildness and gentleness of character, quite deficient in administrative capacity-Mr. Stephen White of New Haven, a Yale graduate of the class of 1736. That Mr. White was acceptable to the people may be inferred from the pains taken to guard against his premature removal,
286
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
in the following vote: "Whereas, the inhabitants of said society, having had some considerable experience of Mr. Stephen White's ministerial abilities, to their general satisfaction, do now agree to give him a call to the work of the ministry and to continue among us in said work, as long as he lives, or is able to preach the Gospel." Six hundred pounds as a settlement and two hundred pounds salary were offered. These terms were accepted, and Mr. White ordained, December 24, 1740. The sermon on this occasion was preached by Rev. Solomon Williams of Lebanon. The Reverends Eleazer Williams, Joshua Meacham, Samuel Mosely and Ebenezer Devotion also took part in the services. The young minister found his parish in admirable order; all its affairs reduced to perfect system. Ecclesi- astical matters were no longer managed by town authorities, but by the lawful society officers. Every head of a household was con- nected with the church, either by profession of faith or by owning the covenant. Family prayer was observed in every household, and every child consecrated by baptism. Profane swearing was but little known, and open violations of the Sabbath were very rare. "The people, as a body, were fearers of the Lord, and observers of the Sabbath and its duties." The membership of the church was two hundred and eighty- seven. The deacons then in service were Joshua Huntington, Ralph Wheelock, Eleazer Cary and Nathaniel Wales. Mr. White was married soon after his settlement to Mary, daughter of Major Thomas Dyer.
The secular affairs of the town were also prospering. Men of energy and capital filled the places made vacant by death and emigration. Thomas Dyer was now actively engaged in public affairs, a shop "in the street against his house, with a sufficient cartway each side," serving for his office. When the militia of the Colony was reorganized, in 1739, and the military companies of Windham, Mans- field, Coventry, Ashford, Willington, Stafford and Union, constituted the Fifth Regiment of Connecticut, Mr. Dyer was made its major. His son, Eliphalet, after graduation from Yale College, in 1740, at the age of nineteen, studied law in Windham. In 1744, he was appointed justice of the peace and captain of a military company. After the death of Mr. John Fitch, he was chosen town-clerk, and, in 1746, he was admitted to the bar of Windham County. Jedidiah Elderkin of Norwich, a descendant of John Elderkin of Lynn, four years the senior of young Dyer, had gained admittance two years previous. These young lawyers entered with much zeal upon the practice of their pro- fession, and soon ranked among the foremost public men of the day. Law business was now extremely brisk in Windham and its vicinity, and a large number of cases were reported at every session of the
287
CANADA PARISH, DEATH OF MR. WILLIAMS, ETC.
several courts. In 1743, another story was added to the jail, under the supervision of Jonathan and Jabez Huntington. Penalties, at this period, were extremely severe. Heavy fines, whippings and imprison- ment were administered for slight offences. Those unable to pay fines and lawful debts were often bound out as servants. A year's service to John Ripley satisfied a judgment of £23. A debt of £50, doomed one unfortunate to three years' service for John Fitch, two years for Joshua Hutchins and six months for James Walden. Another was bound servant for eight years for a debt of £120.
The growth of the town made many public officers needful. In 1746, there were chosen a town-clerk and town treasurer, five selectmen, three collectors of town-rates, four constables, six grand-jurors, seven listers, four branders, three leather-sealers, six fence-viewers, eight tithing-men and ten surveyors. As, with all their thrift, highways were still wanting in many places, "to accommodate the town and many particular persons to travel to the several places of public worship,"-Isaac Burnap and Joseph Huntington were appointed a special committee to rectify it. The bridge crossing the Shetucket, between Windham and Lebanon, long maintained by private enter- prise, was consigned to the care of Windham in 1735, by act of Assembly. Robert Hebard, Jun., was chosen by the town to inspect and take care of it. Paul Hebard and Israel Dimock were allowed by the town "to set up a blacksmith's shop or coal-house on the King's highway." The chief annoyance of Windham in this period of growth and prosperity was her boundary quarrel with Canterbury, which broke out afresh from time to time with ever-increasing bitterness and violence. Various legal decisions adjudged the disputed land to Can- terbury, but were not recognized by Windham, who continued to retain it in possession, and kept an agent constantly in the field to defend the claim before the Courts and Assembly. Another alleged grievance was that of straitened limits. Large tracts of land were owned by individuals unwilling to sell at sufficiently low prices. An unsuccessful attempt was made to secure vacant land in Voluntown. Unable to find accommodations in their own neighborhood, a number of citizens discussed the feasibility of emigration, and, after the open- ing of new townships in the northwest of the Colony, thus memorialzed the General Assembly :-
" Windham, May 10, 1737. Forasmuch as we are sundry of us single per- sons, and others of numerous families, and have but small accommodations of land, and considering that it may redound to the good of ourselves and children and advantageous to the Commonwealth-we humbly pray, that your Honors would please to grant us a town in the ungranted lands in this Colony, lying east of Weataug [Salisbury]-the northwest town from Litchfield, or some other of the free townships-for such a sum of money, and under such regulations and restrictions as your Honors shall think fit."
1
288
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
This request was denied, though urged by over forty petitioners, representing the Ripleys, Backuses, Huntingtons, Binghams, Abbes, Cranes, Barnaps, Waldos, Robinsons and other old Windham families. Though not successful in obtaining a free township, many of these petitioners subsequently removed to the new country, and aided in the settlement of towns in Litchfield County.
The year 1745 is memorable in Windham annals for the first public execution in Windham County-a tragic event, awakening a very deep and painful interest in all the surrounding region. The supreme penalty of the law was inflicted upon a woman-a young girl-mother, charged with the murder of her child. Elizabeth Shaw-a descendant probably of William Shaw, who bought land on Little river in 1709- lived with her parents in Canada Parish, about two miles southwest from Windham Village. She is represented as a weak, simple girl, deficient in mental capacity. Her father was stern and rigid. Nothing is known of the preceding facts and circumstances until after giving birth secretly to a living child, the poor bewildered girl, fearful of exposure and punishment, stole away to a ledge of rocks near by, hid the babe in some nook or crevice, and left it to perish. Her father suspected and watched her, and-unable, perhaps, to force her to con- fession-himself, it is said, made accusation against her. She was arrested and examined. Search was made, and the poor little body found in the grim Cowatick Rocks. The grand jurors found her guilty of murder, and committed her to Windham jail to await her trial. This was held September 17, 1745, at the session of the Superior Court. Roger Wolcott sat as chief judge; James Wads- worth, William Pitkin, Ebenezer Silliman and John Bulkley, as assistants. Samuel Huntington, Edward Waldo, Nathaniel Holbrook, Nathaniel Hide, Benjamin Fassett, Samuel Rust, Joseph Williams, Nathaniel Webb, Ignatius Barker, Josiah Kingsley, Joseph Park- hurst and James Danielson served as jurors. The greatest interest was felt in the trial, and a large number attende.l. The grand-jurors presented, " That one Elizabeth Shaw, Jun., of Windham, a single woman, was on the 29th of June, 1745, delivered of a living male bastard child, in Windham, and did secretly hide and dispose of the same in the woods in said Windham, and there left it until it perished for want of relief, and did endeavor to conceal the birth and death thereof, so that it should not come to light whether said child were born alive or not, and did cause to perish said child." Details of the trial are not preserved. The prisoner pleaded, "Not guilty." The names
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CHANGES IN CANTERBURY, ETC.
and pleas of the counsel are unknown. The facts of the case were clearly proved. Extenuating circumstances had no weight. The jury judged that she was guilty of the murder, and the sentence was passed, " That she should go from hence to the common gaol, and thence to the place of execution and there be hanged till she be dead, December 18, 1745."
*
This severe sentence was duly execute l. In those stern days, a rigid enforcement of law was deemed the only safeguard of morality, and while there was the deepest commiseration for the unhappy victim, her mental incapacity and physical weakness were not supposed to mitigate her guilt. No public effort was apparently made to obtain a remission of the penalty. No Jeanie Deans was there to plead for an erring sister. If mild Mr. White counseled leniency, his sterner cotemporaries might have protested against it. A doubtful tradition reports that Elizabeth Shaw's father, repentant too late, went to Hart- ford and procured a reprieve from the Governor, but that on his way home was met by a sudden storm, the rivers became impassable, and his return was delayed till after the execution. On the fatal day, a gallows was erected on a hill a mile southwest from Windham Green. An immense concourse of people from all the adjacent country wit- nessed the mournful spectacle. Little children, too young to join in the procession, remembered vividly through life the long train, reaching from Gallows Hill to Windham Jail, following the cart which bore the hapless Elizabeth, sitting upon her coffin, crying continuously, "Oh, Jesus ! have mercy upon my soul !" through the dreadful death-march and the last harrowing ceremonies. Mr. White conducted the usual religious services. Jabez Huntington officiated as sheriff. No report of this tragic affair is found in the newspapers of the day. A single additional item is gleaned from the Court records :-
" Allowed Mr. Sheriff Huntington, for cost and expense of doing execution on Elizabeth Shaw, f29 5s. March 22, 1746."
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