USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
pastor, Mr. Williams, who was greatly respected at home and abroad and his counsel sought in many difficulties throughout the Colony. So highly was he esteemed by Governor Dudley, of Massachusetts, that he bequeathed him twenty shillings to purchase a ring, in token of his regard and friendship. The Rev. Mr. Estabrook entrusted him with the education of his son Hobart ; and Mr. James Danielson obliged his advice to be taken in the education of his grand-son. In 1731, he was chosen Fellow of Yale College. As a preacher, Mr. Williams was sound, logical and practical. Of the growth of the church during his ministry, no record is preserved, but in 1729, there were fifty male members. The listed inhabitants and proprietors of Pomfret in 1731, numbered over one hundred-thus distributed, as nearly as can be ascertained, in the different sections of the town :-
RESIDENTS OR PROPRIETORS OF MASIAMOQUET.
Major John Sabin.
John Parkhurst.
Joseph Sabin.
Mrs. Elizabeth Grosvenor.
Ebenezer Sabin.
Josialı Sabin.
Leicester Grosvenor.
Jeremiah Sabin.
Benjamin Sabin.
Edward Payson.
Deacon Benjamin Sabin.
Peter Sabin.
Joseph Griffin.
Capt. Joseph Chandler.
William Sabin.
William Sharpe.
Josepli Grosvenor.
Isaac Dana.
Zeckariah Waldo.
Edward McCoy.
Jacob Dana. Thomas Goodell.
Thomas Goodell.
John Weld.
Evenezer Truesdell.
Solomon Sharpe.
Abiel Lyon.
Timothy Sabin.
Nathaniel Sessions.
John Sharpe.
Joseph Tucker.
Joseph Dana.
Benjamin Griffin.
Samuel Sumner.
Humphrey Goodell.
Dea. Philemon Chandler.
John Shaw.
Zachariah Goodell.
Philemon Chandler, Jr.
RESIDENTS AND PROPRIETORS EAST OF PURCHASE.
Major Sabin.
David Howe. Thomas Mighill.
Noah Sabin.
Nathaniel Johnson.
William Short.
Samuel Paine.
James Sawyer.
Stephen Paine.
Seth Paine.
Jonathan Lyon.
Penuel Deming.
Jonathan Dresser.
Benjamin Sanger.
Isaac Bacon.
Samuel Perrin.
Samuel Gary. Daniel Bacon.
James Taylor.
Samuel Carpenter.
Matthew Davis.
William Gary.
Henry Taylor.
Noah Upham.
RESIDENTS WEST OF PURCHASE.
David Stowell.
Nathaniel Stowell.
Thomas Grow,
John Ingalls.
Samuel Kimball.
Caleb Abbot.
Benjamin Chaplin.
Daniel Allen.
Benjamin Allen.
Thomas Durkee.
Samuel Allen. Jonathan Stowell.
RESIDENTS AND PROPRIETORS SOUTH OF MORTLAKE AND PURCHASE.
Abiel Cheney.
Joseph Davison. Henry Bacon.
John Williams.
Samuel Williams.
John Hubbard.
Jehoshaphat Holmes.
Ezekiel Cady.
Ezekiel Whitney.
James Holnies.
Daniel Cady.
Daniel Bemis.
Joseph Holland.
James Cady, Richard Adams.
Joseph Spalding.
Nathaniel Woodward. Joseph Adams.
Zechariah Whitney.
William Davison.
Isaac Adams.
Zecharialı Spalding.
Ephraim Hide.
Isaac Leonard, Sen. and Jr.
Samuel Shead.
Daniel Adams. Jabez Spicer.
David Leonard.
Thomas Leonard.
Samuel Spalding.
John Adams.
Neliemialı Sabin.
343
AFFAIRS IN POMFRET AND MORTLAKE.
NON-RESIDENTS OR DOUBTFUL.
Samuel Holdridge. Joseph Phelps. Robert Bird.
James Danielson. Edward Houghton. Hammond.
William Burgess. Samuel Cole. John Wedge.
Population, it will be seen, had now diffused itself throughout the township. Thomas Grow's settlement was near the Windham line. A large tract of the wild land, west of the Purchase, was owned and - occupied by John Stowell, the " schoolmaster " so prominent in Volun- town controversies. A farm in this vicinity was purchased by Joseph Bowman of Dorchester, in 1731. His step-son, Daniel Trowbridge, a youth of twenty, helped clear up this land and make settlement, receiving six months of his time in payment. Three years later, Trowbridge bought of Abiel Lyon a valuable farm of a hundred acres bordering on the Mashamoquet. A substantial cart-bridge was built over this stream at the sawmill, and a highway laid out from it to Windham village. Benjamin Chaplin, Thomas Durkee and Samuel Kimball, residents of the extreme southwest of Pomfret, were allowed to attend worship in Canada parish. The western part of Mashamoquet Purchase was mostly occupied by sons of the first proprietors. David, the second son of Joseph Chandler, settled on second division land a mile west of Pomfret street. Younger Sabins, Sharpes and Goodells, also, cleared up and occupied farms in this section.
Along the Quinebaug valley there were fewer changes, the owners of this valuable land preferring to retain it. The point of land between the Quinebaug and Mill rivers, with the privilege of the Falls, begin- ning forty rods above the Falls, extending in a straight line northwest to Mill River, thence south by the river till it emptied into the Quine- baug,-now included in Putnam village,- was sold by John and Noah Sabin to David Howe of Mendon, clothier, in 1730. Howe imme- diately took possession of his purchase and put up a dwelling-house, grist-mill, and malt and dye-houses. The improved facilities thus afforded for grinding, malting and cloth-finishing soon attracted many customers, and Howe's Mills became a noted place of resort for all the surrounding country. The Eatons, a half-mile north, and the Perrins at the south, were the nearest neighbors, but communication was soon opened with other parts of Pomfret and adjoining towns. Sabin's bridge below the Falls was rebuilt, or repaired by Samuel Cutler of The Four-fanged Oak in Killingly, and a way trodden out over the hills to that neighborhood. A private road to this bridge from Perrin's and Gary's farms was thrown open to the public and a bridge constructed over Mill River, in 1732. The inhabitants of Thompson Parish were also, ere long, accommodated with a road to this new business centre. Noah Upham of Malden, brother of Ivory Upham of Thomp- son, purchased valley land of Joseph Sessions, in 1727.
344
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
The diffusion of population made more schools needful. As several families by reason of distance could have no benefit of the schools already established, it was granted by the town that upon the applica- tion of any number of families to the selectmen, they should at their discretion accommodate them with a school at any part of the town. In 1733, four schools were ordered : " one at the sign-post ; one at the end of Samuel Dana's lane ; one at Noah Upham's and one west of Mashamoquet Brook, just at going over the bridge by Lyon's mill." In 1729, Joseph Chandler was appointed captain, Nathaniel Sessions, lieutenant, and Noah Sabin ensign of the train-band. Its former captain, John Sabin, was now major of the Windham County troop.
The peace and prosperity of Pomfret during this period were only marred by its relations with Mortlake, which were in every way un- comfortable and unsatisfactory. The intrusion of a distinct, independent township within its borders was a great detriment and inconvenience, especially as the intruder was wholly without organization and proper government. Residents without rights and responsibilities were not always manageable and agreeable. Poor, witless Peter Davison gave them a deal of trouble, and brought a heavy charge upon them. The County Court of Windham decided that it had no authority in the case, and referred him to the Governor and Council. The Council sent him on to the General Assembly. That body ordered him to be carried again to Norwich, and placed in charge of a selectman or overseer of the poor till the case should be determined by the Superior Court of Windham County. This final trial was held in Windham, March, 1727, when the selectmen of Norwich brought an action against the town of Mortlake. Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, proprietor of that town, was represented by his attorney-William Williams-and judg- ment rendered in his favor, the Court deciding, "that defendants had shown sufficient reason why they ought not to stand charged with maintenance of said idiot." The cost of Court was allowed to Mort- lake. Pomfret's bill of expenses was paid from her own treasury.
The settlers south of Mortlake, between the original north bounds of Canterbury and south line of Pomfret, now numbered twenty-eight families, and were extremely anxious to be set off in a distinct town- ship. Canterbury manifested no opposition ; Pomfret expressed its willingness " that they should draw off as far northward as the south line of Mortlake and west to Windham line." A petition to the General Assembly, May, 1728, secured the appointment of a committee to look into their circumstances, which reported, "a tract of eight thousand acres between Pomfret and Canterbury, and thirty-two inhabitants settled thereon, with a rate-list of £2,000; five thousand acres in Mortlake and seven inhabitants ; inhabitants six and seven
345
AFFAIRS IN POMFRET AND MORTLAKE.
miles to respective meeting-houses ; land good and arable, sufficient to contain many more people." Encouraged by this report, John Wood- ward, Richard Adams, Daniel Cady, Isaac Allyn, Zechariah Spalding and others, again petitioned, in October, that in view of the exceeding great hardship, as well in attending the public worship of God on Lord's days, as encountering with other difficulties by their remoteness from the respective towns to which they belonged, " all the land from Canterbury's original north bounds, eight miles north and south, and west to Windham, and so to Pomfret's first ancient bounds, may be added to Jonathan Belcher's township, and be one entire town, with the powers and privileges of other towns." This petition was granted by the Lower House, but rejected by the Upper. Mortlake's manorial privileges might be infringed by incorporation into the proposed town- ship ; Belcher was too powerful a person to be molested.
Disappointed in their township, the inhabitants south of Mortlake sought consolation in hiring a minister-Pomfret, with unwonted generosity, allowing them their proportion of the minister's rate
- according to the, time they should be at the charge of procuring the Word preached. The first minister procured was a Mr. William Blossom, who apparently perambulated, like the schoolmaster, preach- ing whenever it was deemed convenient. This arrangement, though very convenient and agreeable to the people, brought them into new trouble. Before hiring their minister, they had neglected to ask leave of the Windham County Association, or make proper inquiries respecting his ministerial standing, and before long unfavorable reports were in circulation. The Association, hearing of their irregular proceedings, thought it their duty to inquire into the affair, and appointed a committee of ministers, with full power to do what they should think meet. This committee met at the house of Mr. William Williams of Mortlake, November 29, 1730, and cited Mr. Blossom to appear before them and present testimonials. The intrusive minister refused to obey the summons. Several of Mr. Blossom's hearer's then laid a paper before the committee, desiring that they would inquire into his qualifications for the ministry, alleging that he had at divers times and places spoken such contradictions that they could not reconcile them ; lay under the imputation and scandal of being guilty of lying; read sermons which they had good reason to believe were not his own, and that his abilities for the ministerial work were much questioned. After hearing the charges the committee agreed, "That Mr. Blossom was guilty of contempt of the ecclesiastic authority of Christ and the constitution of the churches in this government," and directed and ordered him not to preach within the bounds of Windham County Association, and the people not to hear him any longer.
44
346
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
In spite of this decree, Mr. Blossom continued to preach and the people to listen. The Association, indignant at this breach of ecclesi- astic discipline, reported in May, 1731, to the General Assembly, that Mr. Blossom still continued to preach under scandal, and that members of Pomfret and Canterbury churches went, in a disorderly manner, to hear him. The Assembly, " sensible of the great evil and disorder of such a practice," advised that those churches call these refractory members to account for it. This advice, if followed, only increased the disturbances. A part of the people still clung to the unlawful Blossom ; the remainder procured the services of a young candidate, Mr. Newell-still without leave from Assembly or Association. The little colony between Pomfret and Canterbury was evidently inclined to manage their own ecclesiastic affairs. Meanwhile, their numbers were increasing. The large tract of land, so long held by Governor Saltonstall, was sold in 1731, to Henry Cobb of Mortlake, who imme- diately sold out farms to Jabez Spicer, Ebenezer Whitney and Daniel Bemis. Daniel Tyler, probably a native of Preston, after purchasing land in several towns of Windham County, settled south of Saltonstall's land about 1730. In May, 1731, upon the memorial of Daniel Cady, Josiah Cleveland and others, dwelling between Pomfret and Canter- bury, praying to be made a township-Messrs. Jabez Huntington, William Pitkin and Ebenezer West were appointed by the Assembly, to hear and view the circumstances of said persons, who, in October, reported, "that considering the great difficulties the inhabitants on the said tract are under by reason of their great distance from the public worship of God, it would be an act of justice and for the interest of religion to grant unto them parish powers and privileges." It was, therefore, ordered that a society should be set off, "bounded east with Quinebaug River, west with Windham line, north with the ancient and first bounds of the towns of Pomfret and Mortlake, and from thence extending south to a line run and described by Mr. Josiah Conant, surveyor, September 4, 1731, . east and west across the bounds of said Canterbury, and parallel with Canterbury south line ; said line . . to be the south bounds of said parish." It was also ordered, " that, provided an orthodox minister be called and settled in the above mentioned parish, with the allowance of this government and by the approbation of the Association of Windham County," the south part of Mortlake, and also Joseph Holland and Joseph Davison- inhabitants of the south part of Pomfret not included within the specified bounds-should be annexed to said parish, and with the inhabitants of the south part of Mortlake, enjoy all parish privileges within it, until public worship should be regularly set up nearer to them in the townships of Mortlake or Pomfret.
347
AFFAIRS IN POMFRET AND MORTLAKE.
The new society held its first meeting, November 23, 1731. Henry Smith was chosen moderator ; Daniel Tyler, clerk ; Joseph Adams and Edward Spalding, committee. " It was then put to vote, whether they would employ Mr. Nathaniel Newell any longer in ye work of ye ministry "-and decided in the negative. The young society was already divided. A part of their number still favored their first choice, Mr. Blossom. The committee, as the lawful representatives of an organized body, now applied to the Windham County Association for advice in this important matter. The Association replied, that it could by no means advise them to improve William Blossom, but should oppose him. The reasons against him were more fully confirmed, while Mr. Newell was sufficiently recommended by Mr. Walter of Roxbury, and either he or Mr. Lovett might be properly improved, but had no desire to limit them. At the next society meeting, it was voted to hire Mr. Carker to preach four months. Mr. Blossom thenceforward disappears from the scene, and Mr. Newell is engaged to preach the following year, for sixty-two pounds-the society also finding him his board and a horse.
A minister having thus been secured with the approbation of the Association, the inhabitants of the south of Mortlake prepared to claim the promised annexation. Pomfret, which had only consented that the new society should be set off to the south bounds of Mortlake, strongly objected to this transfer :- " I. Because of our meeting-house being set to accommodate lands of Governor Belcher. II. We lie in such a shape as will ere long lay us under the necessity to be two societies ourselves. III. It appears evident, that they are better accommodated without Mortlake than we shall be with it." Major Sabin and Jonathan Dresser, the deputies from Pomfret, were desired to appear before the Assembly and enforce these reasons, and Ebenezer Sabin was chosen to carry these votes of the town to New Haven, and deliver them to the deputies-fifty shillings being granted him for his wages. Their repre- sentations proved ineffectual and in October, 1732, the south half of Mortlake, together with Joseph Holland and Joseph Davison, were formally annexed to the society made out of parts of Pomfret and Can- terbury-" the inhabitants to enjoy equal privileges in, and bear their equal and proportionable part of all parish charges with the rest of the inhabitants of said society with respect to the settlement and support of the gospel ministry, building meeting-house and the like."
348
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
XI.
MORTLAKE SOCIETY. ORGANIZATION OF SECOND CHURCH OF POMFRET. ORDINATION OF MR. AVERY. CHANGES IN POMFRET.
AVING thus secured the settlement of its bounds, the society was at liberty to provide a suitable place of worship. At a meeting, April 19, 1733, it was voted " To build a meeting-house, and there were twenty-eight for and eleven against it." This opposition was occasioned by a disagreement respecting the site. The training- field given by Richard Adams was the choice of the more southerly inhabitants ; a majority preferred a more central location. The latter party gaining ground, in August it was decided by a vote of thirty versus eight, "That the meeting-house should stand between Samuel and Zachariah Spalding's, and to establish the place by sending to the Assembly." Messrs. Daniel Lawrence, Ephraim Kingsbury and John Crary were appointed a committee to fix the place, and on November 27, 1733, they met with the inhabitants of the new parish at the house of Mr. Samuel Spalding ; heard the parties on both sides ; viewed the circumstances of the society, the greater part thereof; took the con- cessions of parties from the part they did not view, and on considera- tion of the whole affair, fixed the place to build the meeting-house upon : "on the plain eastward of Mr. Samuel Spalding's now dwelling- house, about twenty or thirty rods off of said Spalding's house." The place thus selected was a few rods northwest of the site of the present Congregational house of worship in Brooklyn. Two and a half acres of land-now included in Brooklyn Green-were soon after conveyed by Mr. Spalding to the society for a meeting-house spot and other uses. The work of building soon commenced under the supervision of the society committee. Mr. Daniel Tyler was "improved" as master- builder ; Jonathan Cady as collector. As Mortlake was not accommo- dated with public officers, the society received permission from the Assembly toappoint a "lister" for that part annexed to them, and in case any of its inhabitants should be over-assessed, relief could be procured by application to the selectmen of Pomfret or Canterbury.
On May 17, 1734, liberty was given to the society to embody in church estate, and settle and ordain an orthodox minister over them, but unfortunately they were unable to agree upon the minister. The early difficulties and differences were not yet healed. Part of the society favored Mr. Newell and attempted to give him a formal call to become their pastor, while others strongly opposed him. Proposals to
..
349
MORTLAKE SOCIETY, ETC.
accommodate differences were ineffectual, and in October, Mr. John Woodward was sent to the Windham County Association to ask advice respecting his settlement. A paper signed by twenty-eight of the society was presented, objecting to the ordination of Mr. Newell : " I. Because the proceedings of the society in calling him were illegal. II. We don't take him to be a man of such ability for the work of the ministry, as that 't'is likely his labors will be so profitable as they ought to be." Edward Spalding, Henry Smith and John Hubbard, opponents of Mr. Newell, appeared before the Association and agreed to leave the question of the legality of the call to Messrs. Richard Abbe, Jabez Perkins and William Marsh, waiving all other matters of controversy, so that in case these gentlemen considered the call legal they would proceed to the ordination of Mr. Newell, otherwise not.
Whether these referees pronounced the call legal does not appear, but in November, Mr. Newell and his adherents reported to the Asso- ciation : "That the differences still continued notwithstanding all the methods taken to issue them, that their opponents would not come into any agreement with them to choose a council by mutual nomination, and prayed for farther advice." The Association, thereupon, advised and directed Mr. Newell and his brethren to call a consociation council to determine the question of release or ordination. The result of their deliberations is not preserved, but as Mr. Newell thereafter disappears from the scene, it may be inferred that his release was deemed ad- visable. Measures for church organization were now in progress. Residents in Pomfret and Canterbury applied for dismission from their respective churches, and invited their former ministers to come and carry on the work of a Fast among them, and assist in embodying them into church estate. This Fast was held November 21, 1734, and appro- priate religious services conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Williams and Wadsworth, after which, "in testimony of their holy desires and religious purposes," a sound and scriptural church covenant and agreement were adopted. Its signers were-John Woodward, James Cady, Richard Adams, Benjamin Fasset, William Williams, Joseph Holland, Henry Bacon and Joseph Davison-dismissed from the churches of Canterbury and Pomfret-and Jonathan Parks, from the church of Sudbury. Their number was soon increased by the wives of the constituent members ; Joseph Leonard, Edward Spalding, Henry Sınith, John Hubbard, and their wives; Joseph Adams, Jr., and Isaac Leonard. William Williams of Mortlake and John Woodward of Canterbury, were elected deacons. The church now encouraged the society in its renewed efforts to seek for a minister, and pursuant to the advice of the ministry, it succeeded in securing Mr. Ephraim Avery of Truro, then residing in Cambridge, who was graduated from Harvard
*
350
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
in 1731. The difficulties and differences had now vanished, and all parties were satisfied " with the gifts and abilities together with the conversation " of the young candidate, and gladly united in calling him to settlement. Captain Joseph Cleveland, Deacon Williams and Henry Cobb were appointed by the society to treat with Mr. Avery, who in view of the fluctuations in currency then prevailing, agreed, "To pay him yearly six-pence upon the list of all the polls and ratable estate until it amounts to one hundred and twenty pounds in money or bills of public credit . to be fixed with respect to the following com- modities, viz. : wheat, rye, Indian corn, beef, pork, sheep's wool or flax ; or that the salary vary according as the price of them or any of them, shall rise or fall from the present year." These terms being accepted by Mr. Avery, the price of these commodities was thus settled, June 17, 1735 : wheat at ten shillings per bushel ; rye, seven ; Indian corn, five ; beef, four-pence per pound ; pork, six-pence halfpenny; flax, one shilling; wool, three shillings. The church con-
curred with the call given by the society. The work on the meeting- house was now hastened. It was voted, "To build a pulpit and to have pews all round the meeting-house, only the place for the pulpit, and the doors and the stairs excepted. Some years passed before these were completed. Meanwhile, a body of seats was set up, and the house made ready for the ordination of Mr. Avery, September 24, 1735. All the neighboring ministers participated in the services on this occasion. The Rev. Mr. Coit of Plainfield made the first prayer; Mr. Williams gave the charge ; Mr. Wadsworth, the right hand of fellowship ; Mr. Cabot the last prayer. The sermon was preached by the father of the young minister, Rev. John Avery of Truro, from II. Timothy, xi : 1. The ordination dinner was prepared at Mr. Jonathan Cady's, two miles westward over Blackwell's Brook, which, being still bridgeless, was forded on this occasion by all the ministers and messengers.
Thus, after so many delays and difficulties, religious worship was at length formally established in the " vacant land between Pomfret and Canterbury," and its much-tried inhabitants conveniently accommo- dated. The lack of a suitable name was now their greatest incon- venience, their legal title-The Society taken out of Pomfret, Canterbury and Mortlake-being as awkward and complicated as their territorial status. The society was commonly designated Mortlake, the church was known as the Second Church of Pomfret. After the successful settlement of their minister, they enjoyed several years of comparative peace and prosperity. The meeting-house was completed in time, with less legislation than was customary at that period, and pews distributed to Mr. Avery, Daniel Cady, Henry Cobb, William
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.