USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 42
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3. That each proprietor have liberty to dispose of his right upon his decease, to any one of his heirs living in said towns.
4. That no member be admitted out of said towns.
5. That, inasmuch as the Library is diminished by ye division, the several proprietors shall take out books in proportion to their subscription, or else all shall be obliged to come up to what a twenty pound subscription paid ; which addition shall be expended for purchasing more books-and that the Rev. Mr. Williams, Mr. Avery and Deacon Holbrook be a committee to lay out the money that shall be paid for this end in such books as they shall see fit.
6. That a twenty-pound right shall take out two books at a time, though but one of them a folio.
7. That an octavo shall be returned in two months, a quarto in three months and a folio in four months.
8. That if any book be abused in the hands of any one of said company, he shall be obliged to make it good.
9. That that article in the covenant which speaks of three of ye same tenor being necessary to be kept, be revoked; one being kept by the scribe and recorded, being sufficient.
10. That Eph. Avery be scribe of said company till otherwise ordered; and shall call meetings on occasion agreeable to ye covenant
11. That the committee before mentioned shall have power to admit new members in the room of any old ones or such as were never members before, as they shall think fit; i. e., within the towns aforesaid; but no new member shall be admitted without paying equal to what a twenty-pound subscription paid.
12. That Mr. Samuel Sumner be keeper of said Library till the company shall agree otherwise-and that Mr. Williams accordingly deliver him the books, togetlier with ye case made to keep ym in."
" The United Society or Company for Propagating Christian and Useful Knowledge in the towns of Pomfret and Mortlake," now num- bered twenty-one members. Ebenezer Grosvenor, Nathaniel Holmes, Nathaniel Sessions and Joseph Holland had been previously admitted. Ephraim Hide now resigned his right to Abiel Lyon. The usefulness and popularity of the Library were greatly augmented by its restriction
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
to more convenient limits. New books were from time to time added, less theological and polemic in character, and many residents of Pom- fret gladly availed themselves of its privileges. The affairs of the Company were well managed by a faithful and efficient committee, and its membership in time embraced all the leading men of the township. Pomfret's Library became one of her most cherished institutions, and maintained and extended her reputation for intelligence and culture.
At the time of the formation of the United Library Association, that famous historical personage known as "Putnam's Wolf" was making much disturbance. No mythical phantom, like the she-wolf of Roman tradition, but a veritable flesh and blood denizen of Windham County-the story of her exploits, pursuit and capture is known to the whole civilized world, and her den in Pomfret included among the notable places in America. Part of her fame is doubtless due to the subsequent celebrity of her conqueror. Had Putnam remained obscure, his wolf might have been long ago forgotten, but she unquestionably displayed great prowess and tenacity, and has fairly won a place in historic annals.
Wolves had abounded in every Windham County town at their first settlement, but had gradually disappeared with advancing civilization. Indians Tom and Jeremy had routed them in Plainfield and Killingly .. Woodstock's last reported wolf was shot by Pembascus in 1732; Ash- ford's succumbed in 1735, leaving Pomfret's in sole possession of the field. A craggy, precipitous hill-range, bristling with jagged rocks and tangled forests, south of the Mashamoquet, and between the Newiche- wanna and Blackwell's Brook, was her favorite place of residence, where she enjoyed the privilege of entire seclusion and easy access to the richest farms of Pomfret and Mortlake. The grave and reverend seigniors who met with Mr. Williams to devise means for propagating Christian and useful knowledge, were but half a mile from the lurking- place of this surviving representative of barbarism, and doubtless dis- cussed the exploits of the wolf as well as the projected library. For years, this creature ranged and ravaged the country. There was not a farm or door-yard safe from her incursions. Innumerable sheep, lambs, kids and fowls had fallen into her clutches. Little children were scared by her out of sleep and senses ; boys and girls feared to go to school or drive the cows home, and lonely women at night trembled for absent husbands and children. In summer, she was wont to repair to wilder regions northward, returning in autumn with a young family to her favorite haunt in Pomfret. These cubs were soon shot by watchful
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POMFRET WOLF HUNT.
hunters, but the more wary mother resisted every effort. She evaded traps, outwitted dogs and made herself, in the words of her biographer, " an intolerable nuisance."
The great increase of stock, following the sale and occupation of Belcher's tract, opened a new source of supply to this enterprising and keen-sighted animal. Israel Putnam's farm was only separated by a deep, narrow valley from her favorite hill-side. This young farmer had devoted himself to the cultivation of his land with much skill and energy, and within two or three years had erected a house and out build- ings, broken up land for corn and g ain, set out fruit trees and collected many valuable cattle and sheep. This fine flock soon caught the fancy of his appreciative neighbor, and one morning some "seventy sheep and goats were reported killed, besides many lambs and kids torn and wounded." Putnam was greatly exasperated by this loss and butchery. He was not one to submit tamely to such inflictions. From his boy- hood he had been distinguished for courage and reckless daring. He was a bold rider, a practiced and successful hunter. He had a blood- hound of superior strength and sagacity. His stock was very dear to him, and he at once resolved to rid Pomfret of this nuisance. For books, at this time, young Putnam cared little. The " United Library Association " had no attraction for him, but he was very eager to enter into combination with others for the destruction of this "pernicious animal." With five of his neighbors, he agreed to hunt the wolf con- tinously by turns, till they had caught and killed her.
How long they watched and waited is not known. The final hunt is believed to have occurred in the winter of 1742-3. A light snow-fall the night preceding enabled the watchful hunters to trace the wolf far westward over hill and valley, and thence back to her lair in Pomfret. The report of their success in tracking the enemy had preceded them, and men and boys, with dogs and guns, hurried out to meet the return- ing hunters and join in the pursuit and capture. The track Jed onward into the heart of that savage fastness, never before penetrated by white man. John Sharpe-a lad of seventeen, grand-son of the first William Sharpe of Mashamoquet-ran, boy-like, in advance of the others, following the trail up the icy crag as it wound on between overhang- ing rocks, gnarled stumps and fallen tree-trunks to a small opening among the granite boulders of the hill-side-the mouth, apparently, of a narrow cave or passage, tunneling far down into the depths of the earth. A joyful shout from the lad announced the discovery of the wolf's hiding-place. The news soon spread through the neighborhood, bringing new actors and spectators. Great was the interest and excite- ment. The wolf was trapped, but how could she be taken ? The day was spent in fruitless efforts to force her from her position. Hounds
46
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
were sent in but came back cowed and wounded. Straw and brimstone were burned in the cavern's mouth without effect. Secure in her rock- bound fortress, the enemy disdained to parley or surrender. Night brought with it new fears nnd anxieties. The cave might have some outlet by which the wolf might steal away in the darkness. After all their efforts and anticipated triumph, it was possible that their foe might even now escape them.
It does not appear that Putnam had joined in the hunt or siege, or that his absence was noted or regretted. The future world-renowned General was then a person of very little consequence. He was a young man and a stranger. He was not connected with any of Pomfret's old families. He lived in Mortlake, with whose inhabitants Pomfret had as little concern as possible. He was not a member of the church, school-committee or Library Association. He was only a rough young farmer making his own way in the world, with a good eye for stock and a very superior blood hound, which in this moment of despondency was remembered and summoned to the rescue.
But the obscure young farmer of 1743, had every distinguishing characteristic of the brave "Old Put " of "'76." A crisis brought him, at once, " to the front." Emergency and peril proved him a leader. With dog and gun he instantly obeyed the summons. His coming changed the aspect of affairs. Doubt and fear vanished before his eagerness and impetuosity. Not a moment was to be lost. The wolf must be routed at once, whatever the hazard. If she would not come to them, they must go to her. The passage must be stormed, and its hidden citadel carried. If dog and negro " declined the hazardous service," Putnam himself was ready for the onset. Remonstrance and representation of danger were unheeded. Divesting himself of coat and waistcoat, with a rope fastened around his body and a blazing torch in his hand, he slowly crawled down the black, icy, narrow passage- "a mansion of horror," unvisited before but by "monsters of the desert "-and at its farthest extremity descried the glaring eye-balls of his terrified adversary. Drawn back by those without, he descended a second time with torch and weapon, and with one dexterous shot brought down the wolf as she prepared to take the defensive, " and the people above, with no small exultation, dragged them both out together." Pomfret's last wolf was destroyed, and her most famous hero brought to her knowledge.
Soon after the subsidence of the wolf-hunt excitement, a domestic tragedy occurred in Pomfret awakening a very deep and painful interest, but unlike Putnam's famous exploit soon sinking into oblivion,
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A POMFRET LEGEND.
or preserved only by dim local tradition. These whispered stories told of shame, crime and remorse in one of Pomfret's proudest old families ; of a poor little human waif prematurely forced into the world, and cradled within the blazing coals on the hearth-stone of its mother's chamber. A sister of the child's mother and the notorious physician, Hallowell, aided in the transaction, which was utterly unsuspected by any other member of the household. The young mother was soon after attacked by fever and died after a short illness. No deed could have been more completely hidden, or less likely to be discovered. Mother and child were dead, and the only persons cognizant of the facts had most vital interest in their concealment. But the Nemesis which avenges household wrongs was not to be averted, and supersti- tion proved more powerful than fear of exposure and punishment. Night after night, in her solitary chamber, the surviving sister was awakened by the rattling of the rings on which her bed-curtains were suspended, a ghostly knell continuing and intensifying till she was convinced of its preternatural origin ; and at length, in response to her agonized entreaties, the spirit of her dead sister made known to her, " That she could not rest in her grave till her crime was made public." The conscience-stricken girl hastened to make the prescribed repara- tion. Family friends were called together ; the birth and fate of the child revealed ; its father designated ; the physician denounced. The guilty tale was published to the world. Then, saith the legend, " Hallowell fled his country," and the ghostly visitations ceased.
This story, received in childhood from ancient grand-dames, uncredited and half-unheeded, is confirmed by very unexpected testi- mony. Records, which have proved baseless so many an old-wives' tale, substantiate this in the main facts. At the March session of the Superior Court of Windham County, 1747, John Hallowell, physician, was arraigned for procuring abortion upon a young lady, a daughter of one of the leading families of Pomfret, whose death had soon ensued. His plea, that the principal witness " was involved in the same affair," was not admitted. He was adjudged guilty and sentenced "to be returned to the common gaol till the first day of April, and then from ten to six, P. M., be caused to sit in ye gallows in some public conve- nient place for that purpose to be erected, for the space of two hours, with a rope visibly hanging about his neck, and that he then be whipt on his naked body twenty-nine lashes, and then remanded back to prison till the farther action of the Court at its next session."
" Moved by the law of self-preservation," the prisoner, by the assistance of friends, managed to escape from the gaol before the time appointed for the execution of his sentence, and fled to Rhode Island, from whence, "an exile, destitute of everything but want and misery,"
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
he sent-October, 1747-a most pitiful petition to the General Assem- bly, begging that his sentence might be remitted and he permitted "to return to an unhappy wife and seven unfortunate children, who not participating in the guilt had too deeply tasted of the punishment." Stephen Hopkins, Resolved Waterman, Obadiah Brown, Benjamin Wilkinson and other large-hearted and compassionate Rhode-Islanders, testified to the medical skill and standing of the unhappy refugee and begged that mercy might be extended to him. Their requests were denied. So heinous a crime could not in those days be overlooked and forgiven, and Hallowell never dared to return to Connecticut. An attempt to implicate and punish the " fast young man " involved in this affair-a representative of another of Pomfret's first and wealthiest families-failed for want of evidence.
XIII.
SETTLEMENT OF MR. THROOP. WORCESTER COUNTY ORGANIZED. DEATH OF MR. THROOP. DISAGREEMENT WITH COLONEL CHANDLER. SETTLEMENT OF MR. STILES.
THE people of Woodstock, though not usually inclined to una- nimity of sentiment, were now agreed in two particulars-dislike for their repudiated minister and regard for his newly-elected successor. Fifty-nine out of sixty had formally expressed their dissatisfaction with Mr. Dwight ; seventy-five out of seventy-six had voted in favor of Mr. Throop, offering him £300, for settlement, £100 salary, and £10 for firewood. February 20, 1727, Mr. Throop signified his acceptance of these terms, whereupon the town ordered its selectmen to send a noti- fication to Mr. Dwight, "That Mr. Throop's family are expected immediately, and that it is very necessary that the pew built by the town for the minister's family, in which Mr. Dwight and his family now sit, should be freed from encumbrance (by their not sitting there any longer) for the reception of Mr. Throop's family." This summary ejection was not calculated to allay the " resentments" of Mr. Dwight, or facilitate a peaceable settlement. A month later, the church requested the town's concurrence in calling a council to consider Mr. Dwight's dismission and Mr. Throop's calling. The town refused to consider the former question as "not for the honor of the town, would delay the ordination of Mr. Throop which was very needful, consider- ing that the ordinances had not been administered for nearly twelve
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SETTLEMENT OF MR. THROOP, ETC.
months, and children born continued unbaptized ;" but urged " the momentous affair" of ordination with all convenient speed, and offered all needful assistance. A serious obstacle intervened. As no council had yet formally dismissed Mr. Dwight from his ministerial office, he refused to give up the church covenant and records in his possession. The church thereupon drew up an agreement, " That the government and discipline of this church should in all respects and regards be managed and carried on after the Congregational way in which said church was gathered"-following the Cambridge Platform with other Massachusetts churches. This covenant was signed by Mr. Throop and the brethren of the church, and Mr. Throop ordained as pastor of the church, May 24, 1727. The ordination sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Thayer, was afterwards published, each person assessed for town rates having one book allowed him. Little is known of Mr. Throop, save that he was then twenty-six years of age, a native of Massachu- setts and graduate of Harvard College, and won at once the love and confidence of the people of Woodstock. The only drawback to their unwonted harmony was the continued residence of Mr. Dwight. Debarred from the ministerial pew and church privileges, Mr. Dwight repaired with his family to worship with the church at Pomfret, but it is said "that his former parishioners interfered to bar him from the Lord's table." After some years of bickering and recrimination, a council, convened November 16, 1729, succeeded in some adjustment. Mr. Dwight was accused of rashness of speech and temper, leaning's towards Saybrook Platform and dishonesty in land-dealing. The latter charges he denied, but signed "an acknowledgment of rashness, want of patience and meekness under provocations," whereupon he was restored to church-fellowship. Mr. Dwight soon afterwards removed with his family to Thompson Parish, then newly incorporated, and cultivated the wild land, whose purchase had so offended his people. In 1735, he was installed over the West church in Dedham, where it is said " his literary character was highly esteemed," but finally returned to spend a quiet old age in Thompson. The Woodstock church records retained by him were never returned.
Peace being at length restored, Woodstock was enabled to give more attention to public affairs and her own internal improvement. Though so remote from the seat of Government, this town was well apprized of what was passing at head-quarters and was ready to bear her part, or express her opinion, on all needful occasions. One of the most trouble- some and controverted questions in Massachusetts at that day, related to the salary of its governor, the amount and mode of raising it. Woodstock, in October, 1728, instructed her representative " not to come into a stated salary for governors for the time being, but left it to
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
his discretion whether to come into a salary for a limited time but not to exceed twelve months." They also voted, "To receive her propor- tion, viz., £240 of the £60,000, loan lately emitted by the General Court." February, 1730, the town agreed to pay £30, "towards enabling the agents of the House of Representatives to manage affairs entrusted them at the Court of Great Britain, relating to our liberties and privileges granted by charter-provided a considerable number of other towns come into some method."
Their own need of different county accommodations greatly inter- ested the citizens of Woodstock. A movement for this object was initiated as early as 1721, and efforts were renewed in following years. Colonel John Chandler was very urgent and persevering in pressing this suit. The town " saw no reason why it should not be made with other towns into a separate county." In 1731, their efforts were suc- cessful, and Woodstock, with many towns north of it, was incorporated into Worcester County. Colonel Chandler, as leading citizen, was now invested with its highest honors. Already colonel of its militia, he was now appointed judge of probate and chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas. His new position brought him yet more prominently into public life and made him the chief personage on all state occasions. In 1734, he presided at the opening of Worcester's first court-house. In 1735, he had the honor of welcoming and enter- taining his Excellency, Governor Belcher, when on "a tedious and difficult journey" to Albany, to hold a conference with the Six Nations. Though now much occupied with official duties and responsibilities, he still retained his interest and residence in Woodstock, and his counsel was sought in many cases of difficulty by neighboring Connecticut towns. John Chandler, Jun., now appointed clerk of Worcester County Court, removed his residence to the town of Worcester. The distinguished position held by the Chandler family, with the general prosperity and advancement of the town, gave Woodstock a very prominent place in Worcester County. In wealth it was only exceeded by the older towns, Leicester and Mendon; paying a tax of £32 for Worcester's Court-house.
Various town matters were now discussed and settled. Schools were as yet entirely inadequate, though provision had been ordered "for introducing children in reading English in divers parts of the town." At a town-meeting, June 8, 1730, it was voted, " To build a school- house for the accommodation of poor children, not hindering subordi- nate schools." Forty-two persons at once manifested their dissent from this vote. A new meeting was called, at which over a hundred voters were present. The new school-house was countermanded, and orders given to enlarge the old one. A school-master was hired for a year,
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SETTLEMENT OF MR. THROOP, ETC.
to keep six months in the school-house ; the other six, in three parts of the town. In 1732, it was voted, " To build a new school-house in the north part of Woodstock." The question of building one in the west part was next considered. The school-masters at this date were William Lyon, John May, Benjamin Griggs, Jonathan Morse and Thaddeus Mason .* John Stoyell of Pomfret was " dismissed from being school- master" in 1734. The first " practicioner of physic " of whom there is record in Woodstock, was Dr. Thomas Stimson, who appears to have been burdened with debt and not wholly reputable in character. " Dr. Perren " also appears as a medical practitioner. Captain Jonathan Payson and Joseph Wright were appointed tavern-keepers in 1734. Deacon William Lyon was sent as representative to the General Court for many successive years.
The meeting-house, so carefully built, required occasional renovation. In 1728, it " was finished with good lime-mortar." Steps and "ruff" were soon after "pointed," and leaking turret repaired. James Hors- mor and family were allowed to sit in the pew that was his father's- "not incommoding their mother, the relict-widow of the deceased." James Corbin's pew was assigned after his decease to Jonathan Bugbee. John May and Ephriam Child were denied the coveted privi- lege of building pews in the gallery. In 1734, the house was re-seated, under the supervision of Deacons Johnson and Chamberlain, Captain Payson and Lieutenant Morris ; rules observed-age, usefulness, and charges borne by taxes-the hindmost seat in the body to be reserved for negroes. Black broadcloth was ordered for a pall, and Isaiah Tiffany chosen coffin-maker. A sum of money was also allowed for fencing the burying-ground.
Woodstock, with other towns, was greatly incommoded by the demoralized condition of the currency. Massachusetts was flooded with paper bills of credit, many of them greatly depreciated in value or wholly worthless. To protect the church from loss in this way, it
* The following memorandum of scholars taught by this early teacher, was found among the papers of the Rev. Abiel Holmes, D. D., of Cambridge. As Darius Sessions of Pomfret-afterwards deputy-governor of Rhode Island-and some other non-residents appear among these pupils, it is quite probable that this was a select or private school-the precursor of the future Woodstock Academy.
" Schollers taught at Woodstock by Thaddeus Mason, Esq., in 1728:"-
" Names of Schollars I taught at Woodstock in ye year 1729, etc., viz. : From 10th of November, 1729, to Ist of April, 1730 ;-
John Chandler, Gardiner Chandler, Mary Chandler, Esther Chandler, Moses Lyon, Nche'h Lyon, Jolm May. Josh'a May, Caleb May, Steph'n May, Thos. May, Benj. Sanger, Jno. Sanger, David Holmes, Josiah Holmes, Caleb Johnson, Peter Jolmson, Nath'n Payson, Asa Payson, Joseph Bar- tholomew, Jno. Bartholomew, Sam'l Bartholomew, Jedidi'h Bartholomew, Dan'l Abbut, Jos. Abbut, Nehe'h Bugbee. Zeruiah Bugbee, Elenor Bugbee. Jos. Barnard. Samuel Barnard, Eben'r Barnard, Abner Barnard, Edw'd Morris, Isa'e Morris, Grace Morris, Beth'h Morris, Josh'a Tucker, Benj. Tucker, Jos. Willson, Jac'h Willson, Manasses Horsmor, Uriah Horsmor. Jos. Horsmor, Nath'l Child, Henry Child, Benj'n Child, Jesse Carpenter, Benj'n Carpenter, Jos. Carpenter, Dan'l Maseraft, Jac'b Mascraft, Darius Sessions, Josiah Cummings, Daniel Davis, Eben'r Smith, Nath'l Kenney, James Leavens, Silas Bowen, Oliver Barrett, Peter Morse, Nath'l Ainsworth, Isa'c Hemensway, Benj'n Thayer, Sam'l Lillie, Isaiah Tiffany, Eben'r Philips, Eunice Draper, Nath'n Sanger."
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