USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 39
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"Gentlemen of the town of Killingly :-
These come to inform you that in July, 1746, I had strayed away from my house two creatures-an ox and a cow. The cow I bought of Mr. Jabez Lyon of Woodstock ; the ox I bought out of a drove. I know not where they came from, and notwithstanding I took a great deal of pains after said creatures but never heard of them till about a month ago, and then I found said creatures at Mr. Lee's in your town, and they had been strayed and are outlawed, and what they were prized at belongs to your town. But your Respondent is a poor man, not able scarcely to maintain his family, and entreats your favor that you, by a vote of your town, would give me up your right in said creatures, and you will greatly oblige your humble servant, SAMUEL WHITE.
Roxbury, November 3, 1747."
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
By vote of the town, the prayer of this humble petitioner was granted, an act of neighborly kindness quite brightening the dingy old records. A strayed heifer, which died on John Felshaw's hands, was also allowed him.
This corner town, bordering upon Massachusetts and Rhode Island, was also afflicted with strays of a different order, and many a fee was paid to selectmen and constable for ridding the town of disorderly tramps and vagabonds. Families of idle Indians still roved about, levying tribute of food and cider. The squaws Thwait : and Bliss are warned out of town, and a fee paid "for traveling after Hepzibah Mackintier, to warn her out of town." Douty Mighill and Hannah Maxman were also driven out of town, and Edward Stewart, forbidden to entertain one Sherrad at his house.
The church in the first society of Killingly was for a time very pros- perous. A season of special religious interest occurred in 1728-9, when sixty were added to its membership, more than making up the number dismissed to the new church in Thompson Parish. Eleazer Bateman, Jr., was chosen deacon in 1730 ; Haniel Clark, in 1733. The ministry to Mr. Fisk was acceptable and profitable to his people till a rupture occurred, from some cause not now manifest. " At a regular meeting of the first church of Killingly, July 8, 1741, after the meeting was opened by prayer, Mr. Fisk, upon the advice of neighboring ministers, moved to the church to dismiss him from his pastoral relations." His request was granted by a clear majority. The Windham County Con- sociation was soon after called, "To consider and determine the differences and difficulties between said Fisk and the church, arising from several scandalous reports spread abroad concerning Mr. Fisk." Deacon Bateman, Justice Leavens, Samuel Danielson, Ebenezer Knight and Gideon Draper were appointed a committee to represent the church and provide for the Council. No record of the result is given, but it probably confirmed the dismissal of Mr. Fisk. The nature of the charges against him is not declared, but a succeeding pastor, with opportunity of judgment, was of opinion that they were not of any flagrant immorality. The church, at this date, numbered over four hundred members. Mr. Fisk, during his ministry, performed 763 baptisms, admitted 254 into full communion, and 148 to the half- way covenant. Angust, 1741, the committee of the church applied to the Association for a minister, and were recommended to several candidates, but did not succeed in securing one.
The loss of the minister was soon followed by a protracted and violent controversy respecting a meeting house. The rude church edifice of 1715 was quite inadequate for the populous and thriving township of 1741, and the inhabitants of the south society were called
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together, September 13, to see if they would vote to build a new meeting house. Mr. Daniel Waters was chosen moderator, and eighty against five voted in favor of building. Samuel Danielson was then chosen agent to ask for a committee from the General Assembly to ascertain the place suitable. Jonathan Trumbull, Jonathan Huntington and Ebenezer Wales were appointed, who selected a spot two rods south from the old meeting-house, with the expectation that a new society would be set off in the south of the town. The residents of North Killingly favored division and the selected site; those of Killingly Centre and Chestnut Hill preferred a central site that would accommodate the whole society. Samuel Danielson, Captain Ephraim Warren, Gideon Draper and Boaz Stearns were the leaders of the latter party, and their representations to the Assembly that the spot fixed upon was two miles from the north end of the society and eight from the south, and that some place could be assigned which would be agreeable to almost all the inhabitants, procured the appointment of a new committee in May, 1742. This second committee-Deacon Eleazer Cary of Windham, Josiah Conant and Experience Porter- repaired to Killingly in August, and after due consideration selected for the meeting-house site "a bare hill belonging to Captain Warren," long appropriately known as Break-neck-a rocky, precipi- tous, almost inaccessible eminence, remote from the common thorough- fares of travel, whose only advantage was its position near the centre of the society. A meeting-house on this bleak hight would accommo- date, it was thought, the different sections, prevent further parish division and inaugurate a new business centre. To further this end, land for a training-field and burial-ground, and a quarter-acre for the meeting-house were at once offered to the society by Captain Warren.
This decision, and the spirit and determination manifested by the central party, threw the northern inhabitants into great excitement and consternation. The Leavenses, Cadys, Cutlers and other ancient and leading families vehemently opposed the removal of their meeting- house, and thus expressed their views to the General Assembly :-
" The memorial of the antient settlers in Killingly, inhabitants of the first society, sheweth :- That your memorialists and their ancestors, when their number was much below their present number, being granted a township, they with a small assistance granted by the General Assembly, built a meeting- house, called and settled a minister and have honorably supported and maintained him; That in process of time, the inhabitants increasing, a society was settled in the north part of the town, where a meeting-house is built, a worthy minister settled and duly supported; That for some years the town increasing southward, the inhabitants of that part have been a sort of winter parish, and have had preaching among themselves with a view of their being in convenient time a society by themselves; That the first or old meeting-house being exceedingly out of repair, there is a necessity that a new one be erected for the worship of God as soon as may be; That your memo- rialists inhabiting that part of the town which underwent or bare the burthen
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
and charge of the first settlement, cannot but look upon it as a very great hardship if they shall be obliged to assist in the building a new house for public worship to be set at a great distance from them, to gratify ye inhabitants of ye south part, especially since ye committee sent by ye Court directed said house to be built where very few can be accommodated, remote from settle- inents, environed with rocks and swamps, and will require a vast charge to purchase and make new ways through particular properties and enclosures or ye people be obliged to travel to and fro from thence in round-about ways, which will oblige many in both extremes to travel six or seven miles to meet- ing, and when they come there, nothing to shelter themselves, their horses and furniture from the inclemency of weather and stormy seasons, while many in both extremes will be nearer Plainfield or Thompson-or the society may be divided as that both may be accommodated. Your humble memorialists have taken a great deal of pains and care in considering their own circumstances and the consequences that might follow in continuing one society, or erecting a meeting-house where the late committee have placed it, and they esteem themselves happy in having a wise Assembly to resort to-and their prayer is, that they and their families may be made into a distinct precinct or another commttee appointed.
Joseph Leavens.
Joseph Cady.
Stephen Covill. John Knight.
John Fuller.
Stephen Cady.
Israel Proctor.
William Blanchard.
Andrew Philips.
Samuel Winter.
Eb. Wilson.
Samuel Winter, Jr,
Isaac Cutler.
John Felshaw.
John Winter.
David Robbins.
John Winter,
Samuel Cutler.
Nath. Coffin.
Nell. Alexander.
Isaac Cutler, Jr.
Samuel Sumner.
George Blanchard.
Joseph Covill.
James Leavens.
Benj. Cady.
Eseck Moffat.
John Church.
Noah Leavens.
Thomas Moffat.
Thomas Whitmore.
Joseph Cutler.
Thomas Mighill.
John Stephens.
Jonah Firman.
Matthew Allyn.
James Mighill.
Jonathan Cady.
Daniel Lawrence.
William Robinson.
Cyprian Morse.
John Brown.
Israel Shaw.
Samuel Whitmore.
John Marsh.
Benj. Leavens.
John Fuller.
Benj. Barret.
David Cady.
Joseph Robinson.
John Mighill.
Oct., 1742."
Though the policy of the times strongly favored church centraliza- tion, this petition was not without effect. The pleas of such prominent and influential men as Justice Leavens, Joseph Cady and others could not be disregarded. Action on the committee's report was delayed, and a third committee appointed, but " providentially prevented " from fulfilling its commission. Killingly, meanwhile, was left for a year in the most unsettled condition, with no stated pastor, no regular religious services and party spirit rising higher and hotter. A rumor that the third committee was about to report in favor of perish division called out, in September, a strong protest from Samuel Danielson and John Hutchins :- I. Because the whole list is only £8,024, which if equally divided, would not be able to set up and maintain public worship, and the division made as proposed would leave but £2,411 for the south society, and its inhabitants lived on the meanest lands in the whole society. II. If the society should be divided, the travel to meeting would be very little less, the second spot being as commodious as two houses would be." Influenced by these representations, the Assembly
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TOWN AFFAIRS IN KILLINGLY, ETC.
resolved, " That the report of the second committee be established, and the society proceed to build a meeting-house upon the spot affixed by them."
A society meeting was at once called, November 21, 1743, to act upon the order of the Assembly, and the question being put "Whether or no the society would now proceed to build a meeting-house on said place"-Break-neck Hill-it was voted that they would not by a great majority. At the annual meeting for the choice of officers, December 13, the northern party still predominated. Justice Leavens was chosen society clerk ; the same with Isaac Cutler and Levi Preston, committee ; Joseph Leavens, Daniel Waters and David Cady to supply the pulpit- all with great quietness, and the meeting adjourned. But when a week later, the society again met to resume consideration of the meeting- house question, a different spirit was manifested. The Break-neck party were out in great force and sundry persons that had no right by law to vote in such affairs presented themselves, and when challenged by the moderator, Justice Leavens, broke out into open clamor and contention. Attempts to bring the assembly to order were unsuccess- ful, and so great were the tumultuous noise and rupture, that, fearful of evil consequences, the moderator dissolved the meeting and went away with a great part of the people. The Break-neck party, thus left in possession of the field, proceeded to re-organize, chose a modera- tor, appointed a new society clerk and committee, and voted to build a large meeting-house on Break-neck Hill, as directed by the General Assembly.
This vote was immediately acted upon. The power thus usurped was held and exercised, and the triumphant Break-neckers seemed about to carry everything before them. Samuel Danielson, as clerk, warned meetings at pleasure, and the committee hastened with all speed to collect materials and prepare the ground for the new building. March 28, 1744, was appointed for the raising. A few days previous, a meeting was warned by Justice Leavens, to see whether or not to divide the society, which resulted in another triumph for the Break- neck party. Boaz Stearns was chosen moderator. Sixty-three were for dividing and sixty-seven against it-but seven of these latter votes were pronounced illegal. The greatest confusion and excitement now prevailed in the society. A special messenger was dispatched to the Governor and Council, reporting these irregularities and dissensions and the high-handed proceedings of the Break-neckites. On the day appointed for the raising, a large company gathered on Break-neck. One side of the frame was raised, and part of another, when Justice Leavens, Captain Isaac Cutler and others came upon the ground with a message from the Deputy Governor and Council. Silence being
43
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
enjoined, Mr. Joseph Cady proceeded to read in the hearing of Samuel Danielson, Daniel Waters, Gideon Draper, Boaz Stearns and others, the following " articles " :-
" To the Committee of ye prime Society in ye town of Killingly :-
Whereas, Mr. Justice Leavens and Mr. John Leavens have made a repre- sentation to us that there were a number of particular persons in said society carrying on ye building of a meeting-house for said society, without ye appointment or direction of said society, and without an act of ye General Assembly authorizing and empowering them or any other for building such a house, intimating that great disorder and confusion are likely to ensue there- upon, wherefore, being desirous that peace, unity and good order (which are ordinarily ye greatest means of ye happiness of societies) may obtain among you, we have thought fit to give you our sense and understanding of the law in this case, made and provided, and our advice thereupon, And as to the law, we are of opinion that, after the place on which to build a meeting-house is fixed by ye General Assembly, that then ye society must proceed to build said house, by a committee appointed for that purpose; which is very expressive, that no particular person or persons may, of their own heads, pro - ceed in this affair, and this is more strongly supported from this, that when any society shall refuse or neglect to proceed to build such house, ye General Assembly will take the same into their own hands, and appoint some persons to carry on and build said meeting-house, so that for any particular persons to take that upon themselves which the General Assembly have reserved in their own hands must be looked upon as a high-handed disorder, which naturally genders strifes and confusion. Wherefore. we advise your people, as friends and well-wishers to your public peace and welfare to stay all further proceedings in ye affair of building ye meeting-house till you can obtain ye order and direction of ye General Assembly thereon, and we desire you to communicate this our opinion and advice to those members of your society who are prose- cuting ye affair of building said meeting-house.
Roger Wolcott. James Wadsworth. Joseph Whiting. William Pitkin. Ebenezer Silliman.
Windham, 'March 23, 1744."
This opinion and advice, unaccompanied by any legal instruments, was insufficient to stay proceedings. The resolute Break-neckers heard the articles but " regarded them not," and boldly went on with their raising, and soon their meeting house was reported, raised and covered. At a regular society meeting, held on April 9th, "to choose a com- mittee to supply the pulpit," the Break-neck party were in the ascendancy. Boaz Stearns was chosen moderator ; Samuel Danielson, Boaz Stearns and Ephraim Warren, committee to supply the pulpit. It was then vote:l, " That the society was pleased and satisfied with the meeting-house frame erected on the place prefixt by the Assembly, and Samuel Danielson, Gideon Draper and Joseph Bateman, appointed a committee to carry on and finish said house. Justice Leavens and the northern party indignantly protested against these votes as not included in the warning, and refused to record them. Their opponents retorted that that was not their fault, for they had especially desired the clerk and that in a very public manner, to make the warrant comprehend the business of building. In May, both parties repaired to the
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TOWN AFFAIRS IN KILLINGLY, ETC.
Assembly. Fifty-one of the north inhabitants joined with seven from the extreme south in representing " their unhappy and miserable case, as they were then circumstanced, and must be forever without aid from the Assembly, not having the privileges of ordinances and in the utmost confusion, place affixt for meeting-house more than six miles distant from many of them, and difficulties everyway and unsupporta- ble, and prayed the Assembly to take the affair into their own hands, and either divide them into two societies or grant another committee, or do something." On the other hand, Warren, Danielson and Stearns, "on behalf of themselves and seventy four petitioners, representing the majority of the society, denounced the unreasonable and willful oppo- sition of some few members, clothed with the authority of committee and clerk, declared that Justice Leavens would not record their votes, and was unwearied in promoting and carrying out dissensions, that a majority of the society had voted their acceptance of the frame, but could not get a meeting warned, or if they did their votes therefor might not be recorded-committee and clerk all being in opposition-and, there- upon, with a serious concern for ye good and religious advantage of said society, prayed for a committee to build said meeting-house and lay taxes to defray the charges, and for some suitable person to warn a society meeting and provide a moderator, that so their votes might be made binding.'
The Assembly, unable to decide between the belligerents, resolved, "That the memorials be continued till October, and the meeting-house no further carried "-and thus the rupture and contentions continued through the summer. The northern party, who were the majority in the church, were resolute in their determination not to remove their place of worship to Break-neck-the southern party were equally determined to force them to compliance and to continue as one society. For a time, the work on the new house was suspended, but on August 24th a meeting was held, warned by Samuel Danielson, which voted to proceed with it, and levy twelve-pence in the pound for that purpose. Eleazer Green was chosen collector, Boaz Stearns agent to memorialize the Assembly in October, when both parties reiterated their grievances. The southern party reported, that, according to the direction of the Assembly, they had erected, on the spot appointed for that purpose, a meeting-house frame, and had procured boards, shingles, clapboards, nails and stuff for window frames, sufficient to enclose and finish the outside of the house. A fourth committee was then appointed- Colonel Huntington, Simeon Minor and Captain Joseph Adams, with instructions to consider the premises and divide the society if they thought best. This committee decided that division was not advisable, and that the new house at Break-neck should be established as the
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
meeting-house for the whole society, trusting that when public worship was once instituted on this hight, sectional differences would be forgotten, and the scattered inhabitants peacefully unite in their geo- graphical centre.
This expectation proved delusive. The triumphant Break-neckers proceeded joyfully to finish their meeting house, call a minister and establish religious services, but the expected reunion did not follow. Both the northern and southern inhabitants utterly refused to accept the situation. "Great and irreconcilable religious differences " now added their bitterness to the sectional feuds. Many members of the society had adopted the Separate principles in vogue after the Great Revival, and the combination of so many conflicting elements into one church was found wholly impracticable. After another winter of strife and wrangling, the major part of the church in Killingly most humbly prayed the Assembly, "That being long grieved with the contentions and injurious proceedings of their neighbors, and seeing no prospect of an amicable and legal division, and having been for nearly four years deprived of a gospel ministry and ordinances, and seeing no rational prospect of having the same, considering the different sentiments that prevail concerning preachers and hearers-they might be still esteemed the first church of Christ in Killingly, and protected and encouraged for the re-settlement of the gospel ministry." They were followed by a number of the southernmost inhabitants, representing, "that the society had erected a new meeting-house at a great distance from the old place, but however well their brethren in that vicinity might think themselves accommodated, the remonstrants found the difficulties and hardships of attending these exceeding great, owing in part to the great length and extreme badness of the way, and part to the great and irreconcilable religious differences between thein, and prayed for a new society, and that they might not be compelled to follow those who repaired to the newly-erected house for divine worship."
This double appeal from the north and the south, church and society was effectual. The Assembly was at last convinced of the folly of attempting to restrict the inhabitants of this large territory to one place of worship, and compel their acceptance of this bleak, exposed and inconvenient centre. The Break-neck party had won the day and built their meeting house, and no longer opposed a division of parish territory. In October, 1745, a dividing line was agreed upon, extend- ing from the east side of Quinebaug River to Rhode Island Colony line, " so as to leave Deacon Eleazer Bateman's dwelling-house ten rods north of said line, and all the inhabitants south of said line shall remain by themselves a distinct ecclesiastic society, and those who live north side shall be and by themselves become a distinct ecclesiastic society,
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AFFAIRS IN POMFRET AND MORTLAKE.
save only and except Thomas Bateman, Nathaniel Brown, Gideon Draper, Jun., Salmon Wheat and other citaters, who have liberty to join with said south inhabitants, and also John Firman, Deacon Daniel Lawrence, Benjamin Barret and Israel Proctor, who have liberty to join said northern inhabitants. Each society to take benefit of school money in proportion to estate."
Killingly was thus divided into three religious societies. The long controversy respecting Thompson's land was at last settled, and the north parish formally annexed to the township-Joseph Leavens and Shepard Fisk being empowered, in 1749, "To take the grant and patent of Killingly, and according thereto, with the help of the county surveyor, extend the line of our town from Plainfield's northeast corner to ye line between ye colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island." The taxable property of the north society was then £3,850; that of the middle society at £4,359; that of the south, £6,122. Vexatious and burthensome controversies were thus, after so many years, harmoniously adjusted, and a new era of comparative peace and tranquillity inaugurated. The inhabitants of the south society were not, however, entirely satisfied. Having with great magnanimity, for the sake of accommodating and compounding differences, refrained from opposing society division on condition that the meeting-house they had built should remain within their limits, they supposed they would remain and be acknowledged as the first society in the township, but to their consternation the middle society claimed that distinction. Once more, the south settlers repaired in great wrath to the Assembly, declaring that their neighbors ought not to be the first society, nor did the bill entitle them to it, but was so drawn that neither division was denominated, and praying " that they might be and remain the first society and be called by that name." An emphatic " No," from both houses silenced the petitioners and left the coveted title to the middle society-the inhabitants of Killingly Hill and vicinity, and "descend- ants of the antient settlers."
X.
AFFAIRS IN POMFRET AND MORTLAKE. PETITION FOR NEW TOWN. MINISTERIAL TROUBLES. SOCIETY SET OFF BETWEEN POMFRET AND CANTERBURY.
P OMFRET was now flourishing and prosperous, increasing rapidly in wealth and population. Its secular affairs were well managed by competent town officers ; its church wisely guided by its excellent
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
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