USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 43
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
368
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
was accordingly voted, "That each member pay three shillings per anuum for the support of the Lord's table ; that no one give any money but what is current and passable ; and in order to know what each member pays, he shall put it in a paper with his name and the quantity of money." These currency fluctuations made it very difficult to arrange Mr. Throop's salary. The amount promised was soon greatly lowered in value. A subscription was ordered "from such persons as attend divine service here on Lord's day that don't belong to the town, all unpapered money to belong to Mr. Throop, exclusive of his salary." This proving insufficient, a committee was chosen to dis- course with the minister, but "he would not take anything if it came hardly." This moderation made the people more anxious to make up the deficiency. Colonel Chandler was requested to inquire of Hon. Thomas Hutchinson, Thomas Fitch and Edward Winslow, "the difference in value of paper money since 1726." The difference between paper and silver money in 1731, was found to be £44 7s. 6d., which was immediately inade up to Mr. Throop. Woodstock " enjoyed abundance of peace " during Mr. Throop's ministrations, which were unhappily terminated by his sudden death, September 10, 1735. The town assumed the charge of the funeral expenses, allowed Mrs. Throop thirty pounds for mourning for herself and children, continued the salary till the following March, and procured suitable grave-stones for the beloved anl lamented pastor. The deacons were directed to supply the pulpit "after the neighboring ministers have favored us." One hundred and sixty-eight boys and a hundred and seventy girls were baptized by Mr. Throop during this eight years" ministry.
The settlement of a new minister involved the town in fresh diffi- culties and dissensions, aggravated by personal feuds and jealousies. A serious disagreement had arisen between Colonel Chandler and his fellow-townsmen. For more than forty years he had served the town in various public capacities, with very slight pecuniary recompense, and he now refused to give up the town records in his hands till his demands were satisfied. His sons, now grown up, and many family and personal friends supported him in this demand, so that it was impossible to unite in choice of a minister, or any public measure. In January, 1736, the deacons were discharged from the care of supplying the pulpit, and Captain Jonathan Payson, Ephraim Child, Daniel Lyon, Lieutenant Morris and Deacon Carpenter appointed committee for that purpose. Three candidates had now been heard-John Hovey, John Cushing and Hezekiah Manning-and in case one of these could not be procured, the person who went for them was ordered "to take advice who to bring up, so that there may be no disappointment as to preaching, i. e., that we be not destitute any Sabbath day." At the
.
369
SETTLEMENT OF MR. THROOP, ETC.
town-meeting in March, in place of Colonel Chandler, who had long served as moderator in such meetings, "William Lyon was chosen by a great majority." Isaiah Tiffany was sworn in town-clerk in place of John Chandler, Jun .; David Holmes, town treasurer. The selectmen chosen were Captain Payson, Lieutenant Morris, Cornet Isaiah Tiffany, Sergeants Ebenezer Child and Isaac Johnson. Efforts to obtain possession of the records occupied the following meetings. Colonel Chandler refused to relinquish them, "because proprietor's concerns are mixt with ye town's." A committee was sent to wait upon him. Colonel Chandler did not desire to be his own judge, but was willing to submit to judicious, indifferent persons, what he deserved for past services ; thought it would be best to transcribe what belongs to pro- prietors from the town books, but could give no guess what it would amount to. The town deferred action and desired him " to set some certainness to his demand." Colonel Chandler replies, "That he has written two hundred and ninety-seven pages, worth twelve-pence a page, and considers twenty pounds a very modest demand, and is willing to submit it to others." The town demurred and offered ten pounds. Colonel Chandler thought it would be but trifling with the town to write more upon the subject. At a town-meeting, June 4, the question is put, "Whether the town would be at the charge of transcribing proprietors' concerns from town affairs," and answered in the negative. The selectmen were ordered, "To get and procure town books from Hon. John Chandler as speedily as they can by the most prudential ways and means as they shall judge best."
While this controversy was in progress, "the committee about supplying pulpit could not agree upon any method." Mr. Jonathan Bugbee making " a generous offer, that he would supply it for two Sabbaths at his own cost and charge, the town thankfully accepted." Soon after this, town and church concurred in calling Mr. John Hovey to become their pastor. William Lyon, John Johnson, Eliphalet Carpenter, Nathaniel Sanger, Benjamin Child, Joseph Lyon, John and David Holmes and Samuel Chamberlain were chosen in behalf of the church to make needful arrangements. June 29, the question of settlement was largely and stormily debated in town-meeting. Some irregularity in the proceedings called out a very strong op- position. A majority voted to give Mr. Hovey four hundred pounds settlement in three payments, and a hundred and fifty pounds, salary. Eighteen persons at once signified their dissent "from the election that had been made of Mr. John Hovey, especially the raising a .
settlement and salary they being so irregular and
47
370
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
contrary to law." The following letter was also sent by Colonel Chandler :-
"To the Town-clerk of Woodstock :-
Sir,-I desire my dissent from the votes of the town passed 7th and 29th of June, 1736, relating to Mr. John Hovey, may be entered in the records. I judge them to be altogether unlawful and injurious to the town for the follow- ing reasons, viz. : Because, as I apprehend, the whole of the proceedings both in church and town are the product of arbitrary or mobbish principles which will be easy to make appear, and the foundation being laid upon the sand, the superstructure cannot long continue, which I shall be ready to make manifest and explain when there shall be occasion. Matt. xii : 24-27."
On the receipt of this letter, a meeting was straightway warned, "to appoint agents to demand, sue for and recover the town-book of records." Deacon William Lyon, Captain Payson and Lieutenant Morris were chosen for this service. The proprietors also appointed agents to get possession of their records. Mr. Hovey declining the call, Mr. Whittlesey next came as a candidate, and soon received a call from the church. At a town meeting, November 18, 1736, it was agreed " to choose the moderator by the sign of holding up the hand. Then, Captain Jonathan Payson was nominated and chosen by a major vote and took his place accordingly." The town agreed to concur with the church in choosing Mr. Samuel Whittlesey to be their minister by a great majority. Vote decided by polling. It was also voted by a large majority to give four hundred pounds in bills of public credit for settlement, and one hundred and fifty pounds salary. "Though not so much as one person" entered their dissent at this meeting, many were dissatisfied and called another meeting at the close of lecture, December 29. Captain Payson was again chosen moderator. The law of the Province, and also the law relating to the Choice of Ministers, and the proceedings of the former meeting, were read. The warrant was read several times (being a full meeting). The moderator offered to the inhabitants, that they should give their objections to Mr. Whittle- sey in writing, signed with their respective names, in order to be laid before a council of churches, but though the offer was many times renewed, no person offered anything from first to last. Still the matter was not settled. Suspicions were afloat as to Mr. Whittlesey's "principles concerning church government," and a committee appointed to inquire into them. It found him unwilling to pledge himself to be governed by Cambridge Platform. After some debate and negotiations, it was referred to the town, " Whether it received Mr. Whittlesey's answer which he sent in his two last letters, to be in the negative ?- and it passed in the affirmative," to the apparent satisfaction of all parties.
Efforts for compromising the difficulty with Colonel Chandler were now resumed. The town had grown cool enough to see the justice of his demand and the folly of opposing it. At the town-meeting,
371
SETTLEMENT OF MR. THROOP, ETC.
March 7, he was again chosen moderator by a great majority. Twenty- five pounds for serving as town-clerk, twenty-six years, and four pounds for " waiting upon commissioners," were soon afterward allowed him. A deed of Rocky IIill in the rear of his home-lot, was also confirmed to him; and thus all differences between Woodstock and her most distinguished citizen were amicably settled. A mournful casualty occurring about this time may have had some effect in mollifying resentments and effecting a reconciliation between the parties. Sarah Chandler Wright, a cousin of Colonel John Chandler, with her son, eleven years of age, and a servant, were all consumed "in the dissolu- tion of their house by fire." This event was thus reported to the Boston Gazette :-
" March 24, 1737. On Wednesday, 16th, at night, a very sorrowful Provi- dence happened at Woodstock. A very fine house belonging to John Chandler, Esq., Jun., of Worcester, in occupation of Lieutenant Jos. Wright, catched on fire and was consumed with all the furniture and provisions, together with three persons-Mr. Wright's wife, son, and a negro servant. We hear that Mrs. Wright had got out and escaped the flames, but perceiving her dear child left behind, out of her tender affection and concern for him ventured in again to save his life, but in the attempt lost her own."
Peace being restored ; two hundred pounds voted for making and mending highways ; David and John Holmes allowed to work out their proportion of highway tax by mending and repairing the bridge near their house till the town should order otherwise ; the constable excused from paying Deacon Timothy Manning's rates because of his long sickness before his death, and freed from the responsibility of Benjamin Coggeshall's and Robert Wilson's, "by reason of their absconding themselves before he had a chance to get them"-the town renewed its search for a minister. March 28, 1737, voted, " To concur with what the church laid before the town, viz .: To send to New Haven to invite Mr. Abel Stiles to preach with them by way of probation ; and if he can't be obtained, to send for Mr. Hawes ; and if he can't be obtained, to send for Mr. Swift ; and if he can't be obtained, to send for Mr. Brown." Deacons Lyon and Johnson, Captain John May, Jonathan Bugbee and Lieutenant Morris were chosen a committee to supply the pulpit. Mr. Stiles was obtained, and made a favorable impression. Great una- nimity was now manifested and a desire that all persons might be satisfied. At a town-meeting, May 9, it was agreed, " That if there be ten that appear to desire to hear farther, the town are willing to oblige them." Ten not appearing, the question was put, " Whether the town is so well satisfied with the ministerial performances and qualifications of Mr. Abel Stiles, that they are willing the church should make choice of him for a minister ? and it passed in the affirmative" by fifty-one to four. Further acquaintance increased the popularity of the candidate. He was a young man of much ability and culture, son of John Stiles
372
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
of Windsor and brother of the Rev. Isaac Stiles, father of the distin - guished president of Yale College. In one respect alone, he was unsatisfactory to the people of Woodstock. He was a graduate of Yale, a licentiate of Windham County Association, and it was feared that his sympathies might be with Connecticut church government. He did not, however, explicitly refuse to sign the covenant adopted by the church in 1727, but presented a written statement of his own views and principles, which was deemed satisfactory. A town-meet- ing was called, July 4, 1737, when it was agreed, "that all that were of the mind to concur with the church in the ordination of Mr. Stiles, should move into the men's body of seats, and all that non-concurred into the women's seats." Thirty-nine moved into the former and eight into the latter, and the call was confirmed and accepted. Eliphalet Carpenter, Captain John May and Edward Morris were appointed by the town to join with the church com- mittee, Deacon Johnson and Nathaniel Jacobs, in making provision for the reception and entertainment of the ordaining council, "honora- ble but not extravagant." Mr. Stiles was ordained, July 27, and seven pounds soon after allowed Mrs. Throop, "for her trouble and charge in entertaining the ministers at lectures and fasts and ordina- tion." Five pounds was also granted Peter Garner, "for the frame the hour glass stands in." At the same meeting, September 12, "a horse or foot bridge over the river between the ponds," was ordered, and Isaiah Tiffany exempted from paying the rent of the school land, " by reason of Dr. Perrin's burning down the fence so that he could not have any profit from it."
In the winter of 1737, it was ordered that school should be kept eight weeks in the north school, seven at the west, seven at the south and four weeks at Wappaquasset. In the following spring, an attempt was made to settle and confirm these school divisions. Captain May, Deacon Lyon, Jed. Frizzel, James Chaffee and Benjamin Bugbee were. appointed a committee, "To set the bounds to the schools in the several parts of the town, so that one part may not send their children to any other part, and every part of the town enjoy their own school without being interrupted by any other." This movement excited some oppo- sition. "Deacon Lyon would not accept, and Lieutenant Wright dissented," but it was nevertheless carried out. The central school on Woodstock Hill was to have the children of Ensign Lyon, Jabez Corbin, Ebenezer Holmes, Jos. Wright, James Marcy, Henry Lyon, Lieutenant Morris, Captain Payson, Thomas Fox and Nathan Ains- worth. The north school included inhabitants north of these, with Joseph Belknap. The west school was according to bounds previously
373
SETTLEMENT OF WEST WOODSTOCK, ETC.
assigned, taking in Enos Bartholomew. Wappaquasset division to the south of Clay-pit Brook.
Public lands still claimed the attention of proprietors. Isaiah Tiffany succeeded John Chandler as clerk. The tracts left common when Roxbury's half of Woodstock was divided, were laid out in 1738. This division began with the most easterly meadows and extended westward, allowance being made for highways. The Great Cedar Swamp was still left undivided, and some small pieces of land-Captain John May, Eph. Child and Jos. Lyon being empowered to prosecute trespassers, and see that no one be allowed to cut but for his own use. One hundred and fifty acres of public land in the south half of Wood. stock, near its western boundary, were also sold in 1738, to John Chandler, Jun., Josiah Mills, John Dwight and John Heywood.
XIV.
SETTLEMENT OF WEST WOODSTOCK. PRECINCT SET OFF AND ORGANIZED. MEETING-HOUSE BUILT. CHURCH FORMED.
MR. STEPHEN WILLIAMS ORDAINED. UNEASINESS WITH MR. STILES. DEATH OF COL. CHANDLER.
THE western part of the south half of Woodstock was laid out in four ranges, and distributed among the proprietors soon after 1716, but its settlement was deferred for some years. After the ter- mination of the later Indian troubles and the distribution and occupa- tion of the north half of the township, settlement gradually extended to this quarter. Joshua, third son of Colonel John Chandler, took possession of his father's out division-" Lot twenty-third, third range "-in 1727. Thomas and John Child, Benjamin Corbin, Jacob Lyon, Nathaniel Aspinwall, Joseph Morse, Samuel and Jesse Bugbee, Abraham Perrin, John Marcy and other sons of original settlers and proprietors, also settled on farms in that vicinity. In 1731, a two- months school was allowed them. In 1732, the western boundary line of the town, which had never been properly defined, was ordered to be continued from the dividing line between north and south sections to the south bounds of the town. A school-house in the west part of the town was also considered. At a town-meeting, May 16, 1733, it was granted, " That the inhabitants dwelling on the west side of a due north and south line from the top of Fort Hill to the dividend lines on the north and south bounds of the town, have liberty to meet together and agree where a school-house may be built." In October following, the inhabitants reported, "That the best place for a school-house is north of Clay-pit Brook, between Joshua Chandler's and John Paine's
.
374
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
lots "-a site now included in the village of West Woodstock. This being secured, other privileges were soon demanded in a petition from the western inhabitants, November 2, 1736, showing :-
" That we are living remote from the public worship of God and exposed to great hardships and difficulties in cold and difficult times of year; have arrived to a considerable number of families-thirty-five in the limits of the west school-in which are many children and others who must either stay. at home or be exposed to hardships traveling to and from the public worship, inconsistent with their tender years and condition; have always borne our full proportion, and might reasonably be set off into a precinct, but are un- willing to defeat the town or withdraw our shoulders from the burden but beg for preaching four months at the charge of the whole town.
Joshua Chandler. Joel Chaffee.
Abraham Paine.
Thomas Child.
John Frizzel.
Joseph Morse.
Benjamin Corbin.
Joseph Wright.
Nath. Davenport.
Roger Crary.
Zebulon Dodge.
Joseph Chaffee.
John Goodell.
Joseph Griggs.
John Marcy.
Jacob Lyon. Ebenezer Paine,
Ebenezer Smith.
Nath. Aspinwall.
Ebenezer Lyon. John Payson.
Samuel Bugbee.
John Broughton. Jonathan Payson.
Jesse Bugbee.
John Child.
Nath. Jolinson. Thomas Allen.
Nathan Payson. Asa Payson."
The town, then much occupied with sundry difficulties, referred the matter to the next full meeting, and then deferred decision till July, 1737, when it refused to give the west inhabitants "ten pounds to encourage them to hire some candidate to preach to them, but gave them liberty to have preaching in the cold and difficult season at their own cost." A minister was procured for two successive winters, but did not remove the difficulty. The charge of supporting two ministers was almost as burdensome as the long ride to the cold meeting-house, already so filled " as to render it very difficult for many to get seats." Again, in 1739, the western inhabitants begged for preaching in the cold season at the cost of the town. The town acted nothing in regard to the former part of the petition, by reason of a former vote, wherein they had liberty, but positively refused "to afford any help towards the support of preaching." After waiting two years without further relief, the long-suffering western inhabitants thus addressed the town :
" Oct. 2, 1741.
Forasmuch as the western part of the town is now increased to a con- siderable number of families, and some of them are by the blessing of Almighty God grown numerous, and from the experience we have had in some winters past, cannot but apprehend it will tend to our religious interest, at least, to have the worship of God in a constant way settled amongst us.
We, therefore, make our application to you, our friends and brethren, with whom we have lived at all times in great amity, that our remote and difficult circumstances in attending the worship of God with our families at the pre- sent meeting-house, may be taken into your compassionate consideration, and that by some proper vote, to be passed after due time, we may obtain your countenance or consent to make our application by petition to the Gen. Court, at our own charge-that the west part or half of the town may be erected into a separate town. And we hereby request the selectinen to insert the substance hereof in the next warrant that shall be made out for calling a town-meeting, which will greatly oblige your brethren and fellow- servants."
375
SETTLEMENT OF WEST WOODSTOCK, ETC.
This presumptuous request called out a strong opposition, and after being debated at two town-meetings and an adjournment, was curtly denied. A division of the town was not to be suffered at any cost. Again, the persevering West-side people returned to the charge, declaring, " That the present meeting-house would in no ways accom- modate them, being so small and very much on one side the town," and pressed their suit for a separate town. Again, their request was refused, but only by a majority of two. Encouraged by this gain, they petitioned in April for liberty to address the Assembly, and received permission by a small majority-some publicly protesting. July 2, 1742, Benjamin Marcy and thirty five others from the west part of Woodstock, represented to the General Court of Massachusetts, " their inconvenience by reason of remoteness from public worship," and asked for a separate town or precinct. The petition was read, con- sidered slightly and dismissed. This refusal failed to discourage them in their efforts, but in August they thus appealed "to the selectmen of Woodstock : "-
" We, the subscribers, desire you would insert a clause in the next warrant for calling a town-meeting, the under-written request :-
That, whereas, we, the inhabitants of the westerly part of the town, having preferred a petition to the Great and General Court of the Province (by the consent of town), praying to be set off a distinct and separate township-and there seems to be a greater probability of being set off a parish or precinct than a town, and to drive things to extremities, we are unwilling. We do earnestly pray that the town would, as far as they can, vote that the west half part of the town, with the inhabitants, may be a distinct parish or precinct, that so we may have the public worship of God settled amongst us, which is the principal thing we aim at. That so we may apply ourselves unto the Great and General Court of Assembly for an act of incorporation. Herein you will oblige your friends and neiglibors."
This request was duly presented and dismissed, " by reason some objected against the legality of the meeting because the notification was not set up in the right place in the north half." Undeterred by this rebuff, Nathaniel Johnson and others ventured application :-
" To his Excellency, William Shirley, Esq., Captain-General and Governor- in-Chief, in and over his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England.
To his Majesty's Council and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, the 18th day of November, 1742.
The memorial of us, the subscribers, Inhabitants of the westerly part of the town of Woodstock, humbly sheweth :-
That your memorialists preferred a petition to the Honorable Court, in May last, relating to our being set off a distinct and separate township, which peti- tion was dismissed in Council, June 9, 1742.
Therefore our earnest prayer to your Excellency and Honors, now is, That our petition may be so far received as that an act may pass this Honorable Court to set off and incorporate the said westerly half-part of said town, with the inhabitants thereof, into a distinct and separate precinct only, and invest them with all such powers and privileges as other parishes by law do or ought to enjoy ; that so your petitioners may be excused from paying our proportion to the settled minister whilst we support preaching amongst ourselves, and
376
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
that we may have the worship of God settled amongst ourselves, which is the principal thing we aim at, and your petitioners in duty bound shall ever pray."
On the reading of this petition in the House of Representatives, November 24, it was ordered, " That the petitioners serve the town of Woodstock with a copy, that they show cause, if any they have, on the first Friday of the next sitting of this Court, why the prayer thereof should not be granted. April 5, 1743, Woodstock petition was again read, together with the answers of John Chandler, Esq., and others, and a further memorial from Joseph Chaffee and Samuel Chandler, and thereupon the Court ordered, "That Joseph Dwight, Nahum Wood and Captain Josiah Conant be a committee to repair to Woodstock and report next May." The town, foreboding the result of investigation, sulkily refused all aid to the committee. At a public meeting, May 9, warned expressly " to see if they will make provision for the committee appointed by the General Court," it flatly declined to make any pro- vision, or even to choose a committee to meet them. The committee viewed the situation and reported in favor of petition. The western inhabitants, after this long and arduous struggle, won the day. Sep- tember 15, 1743, the report of the committee was read and accepted, and the "west half-part of Woodstock erected into a separate and distinct township, and vested with all the rights and privileges that precincts by law should enjoy."
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.