USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 45
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TOWN AND CHURCH AFFAIRS IN ASHFORD, ETC.
Bradbury Chandler-son of William and grandson of Colonel Chandler-entered Yale College in 1741; Joshua Chandler, Jun., in 1743 ; Stephen Holmes in 1748 ; Jeremiah Child in 1753.
Colonel John Chandler, the last survivor of the original proprietors and settlers of Woodstock, and long its most prominent and dis- tinguished citizen, died at his family homestead in South Woodstock, in 1743. His decease was thus chronicled in the Boston Gazette :-
" WOODSTOCK, August 12, 1743. After nine days illness, the tenthi instant, died, Hon. John Chandler of this town, in the 79th year of his age, and this day his remains were decently interred and accompanied to the grave by a vast concourse of people from this and neighboring towns. He was one of the first settlers, to whose wisdom and prudence the order and regularity of Woodstock was largely owing. He was in the Commission of Peace, forty years; one of the Council, seven years-which offices he served with much honor and acceptance. He was a gentleman greatly delighted with conversa- tion ; of a most generous and hospitable disposition, his doors being open to all, especially the faithful ministers of Christ of all denominations, whom he treated with great courtesy and respect. He loved to promote everything that was decent and orderly, and was strongly attached to Government both in church and state. He died with express resignation to the will of God, hoping in the divine mercy for eternal life through Jesus Christ."
Colonel Chandler was buried in the old burial-ground on Woodstock Hill, but by his especial request no tombstone was erected to his memory. He left several sons, already in active life. John had settled in Worcester, and now succeeded his father as judge, colonel and counsellor. Joshua was one of the first settlers of West Woodstock. William's residence was just east of the town line on Chandler Hill in Thompson Parish, but he was actively concerned in Woodstock affairs. Samuel occupied the family homestead in South Woodstock, be- queathed him by his father, "in consideration of his great prudence, industry and dutiful behavior and application in my business ever since he was twenty-one." Thomas, the youngest son, was much occupied with public affairs, serving with distinction in several military campaigns, and entrusted with many important commissions both in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
XV.
TOWN AND CHURCH AFFAIRS IN ASHFORD. DEATH OF MR. HALE. SETTLEMENT OF MR. BASS. WINDHAM COUNTY ASSOCIATION.
THOUGH Ashford suffered so severely from famine, drought and internal dissensions, she still persisted in her efforts to complete the minister's house and meeting-house. Farther exemption from tax-
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paying was granted by the Assembly, and other relief afforded-the old South Church of Boston voting, " That fifteen pounds be given to Mr. James Hale of Ashford for his encouragement in the work of the ministry." February 2, 1727, after six years' probation, " our beloved brothers, Isaac Kendall and Josiah Bugbee ivere ordained in the deacon's office with prayer and fasting and the laying on of hands.' The services were conducted with great formality and solemnity-the congregation being present as well as the church. Three senior breth- ren of the church-William Chapman, William Ward and William Snow-assisted in the laying on of hands, after which ceremony, "an agreeable sermon was preached by the pastor." At the same time, Deacon Bugbee's wife was received into the church by letter from Roxbury, "she penitentially renewing the covenant and covenanting with us and coming as with a spirit desirous of forgiveness from God and man." Joseph Works, Joseph Whiton and wife, Joseph Abbe from Windham, and Sarah, wife of Edward Sumner, were also admitted to the church ; Seth Lyon and Edward Sumner owned the covenant. During this year, an attempt was made to appoint a ruling elder, but after much agitation and discussion about the matter it was laid aside, as " not clear to the present light of the brethren." Mr. Hale reports, " That the great earthquake on the Lord's day evening, October 29, 1727, was in an awakening manner felt in this town, as also the terrible storm of wind and hail the September before."
The Ashford church was exceedingly strict in matters of discipline, and desirous to deal faithfully with all its offending members. The number of quarrels that had afflicted the community, made this duty very delicate and difficult. Mr. Hale was exceedingly careful and conscientious, fearful of doing any injustice, or injuring the feelings of any one, more anxious to lead the brethren than to exercise his own authority, and was often forced to apply to the Association for aid and advice in such cases. After the suffrage quarrel, charges brought by Arthur Humphrey against Philip Eastman and Thomas Tiffany, were laid before the Association, which decided, "That the case need not be taken into consideration by the church since Humphrey had not brought sufficient evidence to support his charge, while there was positive evidence against himself." A year later, 1728, Mr. Hale again represented to his brethren in the ministry, "That a brother of the Ashford church has withdrawn himself from the communion, which the church has judged groundless and disorderly, and voted to censure him, but have neglected to execute the same, lest it should have a threatening effect upon the peace of the church. The Rev. Messrs. Meachem, Gager and Clap were accordingly deputized "to assist and strengthen Mr. Hale in this affair," but were not, apparently, successful,
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as the following year Messrs. Fisk, Eleazer and Ebenezer Williams were sent with Mr. Clap, "to assist Mr. Hale in healing and accommo- dating difficulties "-especially with reference to a prominent member of the Ashford church, who having removed to Mansfield and fallen into scandal, was in great need of discipline. At a meeting of the Association in Ashford a few years later, a difficulty between two of the church members was laid before it, and after receiving their advice, " Mr. Hale did lead the brethren to the vote with counsel and advice . of leading brethren in presence of the Rev. Elders," but not himself voting. The following Sabbath, the decision of the Association and confessions from the offending brethren were read in the congregation, and the difficulty settled. Yet, with all their strictness, when it was put to vote, " Whether Ephraim Bemis was guilty of a confessable fault in selling strong liquor in small quantities upon a certain occasion, the church decided in the negative."
The town authorities seconded the church in their efforts to enforce wholesome discipline, erecting stocks before the meeting-house door on the green and prosecuting such individuals as neglected their families and threatened to bring charges upon the town. In 1727, "one mile in breadth to run cross on the west side of Ashford," was annexed to the town of Wellington, " so far as it relateth to parish charges," and two years later was fully annexed and confirmed to that town, and trans- ferred into the county of Hartford. Various improvements were accomplished in time. John Andrews, the school-master, received eighteen shillings for making three books of record. Great pains were taken to accommodate the town with suitable bridges. In 1728, voted, "That the town will butt the west end of the lower or south bridge over Bigelow River from the land part to the stream with solid work with stones, or logs, or both, and if the bridge over the stream be judged defective, then to build it all anew." All the inhabitants of the town were warned to assist in repairing this bridge. A cart-bridge over Bigelow River was also ordered "by Humphrey's sawmill ;" also a bridge over Mount Hope River on the Hartford Road ; another, " over the great brook by Daniel Bugbee's meadow," and also, a horse- bridge over Mount Hope River in Corbin's land. Benjamin Russel and others were allowed to build a pound on the meeting-house green, at their own cost and charge. As foreign cattle continued to trespass upon Ashford Commons, committees were appointed to drive them out, and in 1734, it was voted, " That any inhabitant of Ashford that shall take into possession, care, or oversight, any neat cattle that don't belong to an inhabitant of Ashford, other than his own proper estate, from the first of April to August, shall forfeit ten shillings to the town for each and every head of neat kine so taken." Jacob Parker received
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liberty " to build a stable and set it on the meeting-house green, near the brow of the hill west of the meeting-house." James Beekman, Joseph Whiton and Robert Knowlton were appointed a committee, " to lay out a quarter-acre of land for a burying-place at ye west end of ye town, where people have been buried." A burial-place was also ordered in the east of the town. In 1732, Ashford was sufficiently established to assume the payment of Colony charges, presenting a rate-list of £4,609 9s. Captain John Perry and Philip Eastman were now chosen to represent her in the General Assembly, and were con- tinued for some years. The latter was also appointed a justice of the Peace.
In 1734, the one school-master for the town was replaced by three " school-dames " for the three sections-" one school to be east side of Bigelow River ; one to sute the middle of the town ; one west side of Mount Hope River." Nine men were selected to hire the three dames, Captain Perry, Sergeant Wadkins and Joseph Work, east end ; John Smith, Thomas Corbin and Timothy Dimmock for the middle ; Deacon Bugbee, Elias Keyes and Benjamin Walker for west end-who secured the services of Mrs. Chapman, Ann Eaton and Sarah Bugbee, for four pounds each, for three months. In the following year, Samuel Snow, Edward Tiffany and Thomas Corbin were allowed to build a school-house at their own cost and charge, on the meeting-house green, south of Hartford, and west of Mansfield road. A school-master was hired to teach three months at each end of the town. In 1737, he was hired for nine months ; in 1739, for a year, finding house-room wherever practicable. Arrangements were now in progress for procuring suitable school-houses. A letter had been written to Mr. Stoddard, " to see if he would allow anything honorable for maintain- ing a school," and a gift of one hundred acres of land for the use of a school or the ministry promised, provided the town voted an acknowl- edgment of his right and title to all the land he claimed in Ashford. The town, after stipulating "That Mr. Stoddard should give a good quit claim in writing for the school-land, and settle fifteen or twenty farms within two years," agreed not to molest him, and acknowledged his legal title to 8864 acres of land in Ashford. January 1, 1739, the town voted, " That the two hundred acres of land received from Mr. Stoddard shall be sold, and the money sequestered to Jie upon interest for the use of a religious school in the town of Ashford, forever ; land not to be sold for less than four hundred pounds ; selectmen to return humble thanks to Mr. Stoddard for his bounty." It was after- wards voted, "To divide the town into three parts about schooling, each of the three parts to have their own money raised." The parts or districts thus set off were afterwards known as the societies of East-
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ford, Ashford and Westford. A rate of £150 was soon after ordered, to build a school-house in each division, after which, all school affairs were managed by the respective sections. Elijah Whiton and John Griggs are the first school-masters reported under the new arrange- ment-the former receiving thirteen pounds for two months' schooling, and boarding himself.
In 1735, Ashford paid her last wolf-bounty-twenty shillings to Joseph Russel for a wolf killed some time before. A large supply of ammunition was procured the following year, viz .: sixty pounds of powder, two hundred-weight of bullets and three hundred gun-flints. Captain Perry's account concerning the banners belonging to the com- pany and also the balance concerning fines and banners were accepted. Philip Eastman was now lieutenant and Zechariah Bicknell ensign, of the Ashford train-band. A committee chosen to examine into the land laid out to Mr. James Corbin and partners, reported in 1740, "That they have already taken up more land than was allowed them by the Court's committee, and still continue to lay out land sequestered for the town's commons." The town, thereupon, forbade all persons to lay out or receive any of the town's commons on account of said twenty five hundred acres, but it is doubtful if Mr. Corbin's encroach- ments were arrested by this interdiction.
In 1739, the meeting-house seats were repaired. All the seats in the front gallery were appropriated "for men to sit in ; pews allowed over the stairs ; hind seat in women's gallery made into a pew." The com- mittee were directed to make some other seats for children as they should think proper, and repair all breaches so as to make the house strong and comfortable. A hundred pounds a year were now allowed Mr. Hale. In 1734, the two deacons were empowered "to supply the pulpit with a good orthodox minister till the Rev. Mr. Hale is able to preach ;" in 1742, a committee was chosen to supply the place made vacant by his decease. Church and town were greatly afflicted by his loss, and long cherished his memory-the former voting in later and less prosperous times, to return to the same rules of order and disci- pline that governed them in Mr. Hale's day. Two hundred and fifty- eight persons were admitted to the communion of the church during his ministry. His tombstone thus commemorates him :-
" Here lies the remains of Rev. Mr. James Hale, the first Pastor of the Church in Ashford, and husband of Mad. Sarah Hale. He left earth for heaven (as we trust) in ye 58th year of his age. November 22, 1742. Here lies a friend of Christ and of his people's, the Rev. J. H.
Let all that loved the man these lines present,
Follow his faith in Christ and of all their sins repent."
The appointed committee-Robert Knowlton, Joseph Whiton and John Smith-were directed, first, "to pray the Reverend Elders of the
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County Association to preach each Sabbath upon the Widow Hale's account, and then to take advice and agree with a man that is likely to be our minister." The first and only candidate, apparently, was Mr. John Bass of Braintree, a Harvard graduate twenty-five years of age. Doc- trinal points were then exciting much interest and discussion. In April, 1743, a committee of five was appointed by the church, " to treat with Mr. John Bass about his principles and discipline." These were so far satisfactory that forty-four of the brethren voted to call him to become their pastor; twenty-one "wished a longer time to hear and be acquainted with him." The town, by a vote of eighty-three, united in the call given by the majority of the church, offering £200 salary, and £400-old tenor bills-in settlement. This offer was annulled, and salary stated as silver at 26s. 8d. per ounce. Mr. Bass accepted the call, and a day was appointed for ordination. A minority of the church, however, distrusted the orthodoxy of the candidate and applied to the County Association for liberty to have a hearing in these matters of uneasiness before the Consociation, but were advised to refer them to the ordain- ing council. On the appointed day-September 7, 1743-" a vast concourse of people" assembled. The day being warm and the meeting-house small, the services were held on the green. The ortho- doxy of Mr. Bass was established in the judgment of the council, by an examination of his sermons, though, as he afterwards said, some present "would have rejoiced in his overthrow." A sermon was preached by the Rev. John Hancock of Braintree " on the danger of an unqualified ministry." Mr. Stiles of Woodstock offered the ordaining prayer. Mr. Williams of Pomfret gave the charge ; Mr. Cabot of Thompson the right hand of fellowship-and thus Ashford received its second minister.
The Windham County Association, during these years, was a very influential body, wielding with much energy and ability the ample ecclesiastic powers with which it was invested by the Colonial Govern- ment.
Its stated meetings were usually attended by all the ministers within the county limits, and many doubtful questions of doctrine and prac- tice, of more or less importance, were settled by this tribunal. In 1729, it was called upon to decide-
" Whether a person refusing to sit in the place where he has been regularly seated in the house of God, and publicly jostling and interrupting others from sitting in the place where they be seated, be a censurable fault ?"
" Answer. That barely refusing to sit in the place appointed, although ordinarily a fault, is not a censurable one, but for one to publicly contend or
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jostle with others for a seat, is a fault that ought to be prudently testified against-and if after suitable efforts he continues obstinate, he is censurable."
Again they are asked-
" What method shall be taken with a person that has joined one of our churches in full communion, and turns Ana-baptist and is dipped. and refuses to come to communion in one of our churches, declaring them not true churches ?"
" Answer. Take pains to recover such from error, but if all prove inef- fectual, the minister is publicly to bear testimony against his errors and declare the church discharged from any particular relation to, or care of said person."
" Query. Whether a person scrupling infant baptism and apprehending the mode of dipping to be more agreeable to Scripture, be alone sufficient bar to communion in our churches ?"
"Answer. No."
"Query. Should confessions of public scandal be made before the whole congregation, or members in full communion only ?"
" Answer. Before the whole congregation."
" Query. If a number of Ana-baptists desire the settled pastor of the church where they live to give liberty to a minister of their own persuasion to preach to them, what shall be done?"
" Answer. It is prudence on such an application to allow such persons to have a minister of their own persuasion if he is satisfied such minister is orthodox except in the article of baptism, and of competent knowledge and regularly introduced according to the Baptist custom, so long as such Baptist preaches the great and important doctrines of religion and does not spend his time and discourses in making a party and turning people's minds from the belief in infant baptism and the mode used ordinarily among us-but if this appears to be his design, think it is not for the interest of religion nor the prudence of a minister, to consent to it."
With regard to its own ministry the Association was strict and exacting, requiring every candidate-"some time between his giving his answer to settle in any place and the fast before ordination "-to appear before it and give satisfaction as to his abilities and qualifications for the ministerial work, and allowing no minister to occupy any pulpit within its limits, or unite with its membership, without ample evidence of his ministerial character and standing. These precautions and watchfulness were not unnecessary. Its first licentiate, Seth Paine, was soon rebuked for improper expressions and suspended from preaching. Charges were next alleged against a minister of the Asso- ciation, " of drinking to excess and indecent jesting," and after repeated trials and warnings, he, too, was suspended from office " for drunkenness and breaking the Sabbath by vain and obscene discourse." Sentences of deposition upon the Reverends John Fisk and Samuel Wadsworth, for causes previously detailed, were also passed by the Association. Judgment in the case of a once-honored deacon of one of the churches, " suspended from the enjoyment of special ordinances on a conviction of excessive drinking," was referred to the decision of a " council of Consociation." These councils of ministers and messen- gers from the several churches were held whenever occasion called them, but no continuous record of their meetings and proceedings was preserved.
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
It is impossible to form even an approximate estimate of the growth of Windham County during its first twenty years. Its population increased steadily, and its resources were proportionably developed. New land was cleared and farms brought under better cultivation. In the social condition of the inhabitants there was probably a gradual improve- ment but no marked change, except perhaps in Windham Green and other favored localities. One township only was added during this period- the territory north of Ashford and west of Woodstock, incorporated in 1734, as the town of Union. Nineteen families had settled in this territory, mostly emigrants from other towns in Windham County. Other settlers soon followed them, and in 1738 a church was organized, not apparently connected with the Windham County Association. Religious societies were set off and incorporated during these twenty years in the east part of Windham, west part of Woodstock, south part of Pomfret, and north and south sections of Killingly, and churches formed in each society. The changes and divisions wrought in the churches of Windham County by the Separate Movement, developed in the latter part of this period, will be fully detailed in succeeding pages.
BOOK III.
THE SEPARATE MOVEMENT. 1740-60.
I.
GENERAL CONDITION OF THE CHURCHES. GREAT REVIVAL. GREAT EXCESSES.
THE early religious developments within Windham County were in no respect unusual or remarkable. The several towns " had settled the worship of God " according to the form and order prescribed by the Government of Connecticut. The parish system had been rigorously carried out. Every town comprised one or more religious societies ; every citizen of a town was a member of this society, assessed by law for the support of religious as well as civil institutions. Sober dissenters could be released from this tax by a certificate of member- ship from some accessible religious society of their own order, but only a few Baptists and one or two Quakers had availed themselves of this privilege. The great mass of the population of Windham County supported "the standing order " with apparent heartiness and cordiality. Quarrels touching parish bounds and meeting-house locations had often arisen, but in matters of doctrine and discipline there was apparently great unanimity. The Saybrook Platform, though distasteful to some of the churches, was not formally repudiated by them. The ministers were joined together in friendly and formal Association. The Con- sociated churches also walked together in peace and concord, growing in numbers with the growth of their respective towns, and enjoying for many years much outward prosperity.
Whether the inward religious life kept pace with this fair outward seeming it is impossible to determine. According to the universal testimony of historians, the early part of the eighteenth century was marked by great spiritual declension throughout the New England colonies. The religious zeal and devotion of the early Puritans had
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
given place to coldness, deadness and formalism. In giving up their independent self-government, the churches had lost much of their primitive life and fervor. Uniformity had been gained at the expense of spirituality. Religious institutions were more prized than religion. Unconverted men had been allowed to share in the privileges of believers. The outward form of worship was maintained by penal enact- ments, and true, inward spiritual devotion less practiced and regarded.
That the Windham churches with all their apparent prosperity, shared in the prevailing declension of the time, is quite probable. They allowed the half-way covenant ; they submitted to religious restrictions ; they quarreled shamelessly on matters of little import. Their very unity and harmony in religious belief and doctrine may have proceeded from a lack of vitality. Receiving without questioning "the traditions of the fathers," they may not have cared enough about these points to quarrel over them. But whatever the true state of religion in the days just reviewed by us, there is abundant evidence of a low state of morality. Within a few years, three Windham County ministers were deposed from the ministerial office on charge of scandalous offences ; a young licentiate was forbidden to preach because of improper con- duct and contumacy ; a deacon was suspended from communion with the church "on conviction of excessive drinking ; " a woman suffered the extreme penalty of the law for child-murder ; one prominent phy- sician was convicted of complicity in a kindred crime, and another walked the streets with a brand upon his forehead and a halter around his neck. Scarce a communion season was observed in any of these churches without the appearing of one, and often several, church mem- bers, to make public confession of some breach of morality. Scan- dalous charges against brethren of these churches were brought before every meeting of Association, and women were sentenced to fines, imprisonments and whipping at every session of the Court for gross and open immorality. That very close scrutiny was maintained, and very great severity exercised in those days is admitted, but it is equally true that there was great need of scrutiny and severity.
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