USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 59
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" It seems to us that Mr. Stiles has been guilty of imprudence in several instances, has treated some of the aggrieved with too much harshness and severity both in public and private. Brethren not to be justified for with- drawing. Mr. Stiles guilty of no offence disqualifying him for the ministry; advises Mr. Stiles to make some reflections upon himself for his imprudent conduct, and endeavor to avoid all occasion of offence in future by treating all his people as becomes a minister of the Gospel, with condescension and
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VARIOUS TOWN MATTERS, ETC.
respect; advises the aggrieved brethren to return to the communion of the church again. If Joseph Griggs will publicly own in presence of this council the confession contained in the result of a former council, the church will take off his censure and restore him to communion. Recommend pastor and breth- ren to live in the mutual exercise of forbearance and study things that make for peace. Mr. Stiles to say-' I freely own that in several instances I have been imprudent in my conduct towards my people, and have treated some of them with very unbecoming rashness and severity, and been wanting in the exercise of that meekness and gentleness which becomes a Gospel minister, which I desire may be overlooked and forgiven, and it shall be my care and endeavor to behave in a more unexceptionable manner for time to come, and to give no occasion to any to be offended with me.' But in case this advice does not attain the desired end, as the peace of a church is of great import- ance, and these difficulties have been of long continuance and appear to us very great, after waiting three months to see if peace cannot be obtained, they would advise Mr. Stiles to resign his office among the people as a means to promote their peace and edification. Advise all parties to avoid every- thing that may have a tendency to inflame the divisions or increase the alienation and use their utmost endeavors to promote a happy union.
Sept. 27, 1757."
This excellent advice, as might be expected, had no influence what- ever, and was almost unheeded. Mr. Stiles did not make the humble, little confession prescribed him, nor take off Joseph Griggs' censure, nor even read the Result of the Council to his congregation ; nor did the aggrieved brethren make any overtures of reconciliation. Only one attempt was made to effectuate accommodation. Though the Council did not formally pronounce judgment upon the rejected Stiles-covenant, they examined it in private, and " for peace's sake " drafted a substi- tute which they hoped might suit all parties, and accordingly near the expiration of the three months the following letter was sent to the committee "to communicate to Separates : " --
" Whereas, in your memorial you complain of our departing from the original constitution respecting discipline as the principal ground and reason of your petition, and whereas, an ecclesiastic council did publicly acquit us- notwithstanding, said council were pleased to draft a covenant for us. There- fore we inform you that we have examined the same and are willing to accept it, on condition of your returning to the worship and communion of the church, and upon your return promise to receive you. If you desire a con- ference, we are willing to attend it at any proper time and place.
ABEL STILES. Dec. 7, 1757."
This proposition was not even considered by the old-covenant party. They were now utterly opposed to reunion upon any terms whatsoever, and had Mr. Stiles signified his willingness to sign the Throop agree- ment, or even the Cambridge Platform itself, they would scarcely have gone back to him. It was not a question of Platform but of will and sections. The South fought for division and the North for union, and each section was fully determined to have its own way. A majority of the church members apparently favored Mr. Stiles, but in the society parties were nearly balanced. Three months having passed without the return of peace, according to the advice of the council Mr. Stiles was to resign his ministerial office, but that was agreeable neither to
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
him or his adherents. At a society meeting, December 12, the Stiles party, " by a bare majority," elected the committee, and proceeded to vote the usual sum for his support. The church adhering to him, also voted, December 17, " That it would not be for our peace and edifica- tion for Rev. Mr. Stiles to be dismissed, but the contrary." A request was immediately sent to the society committee to warn a meeting "that the minds might be known about Mr. Stiles' dismission," at which, after fair and open debate, it was voted, " That Mr. Stiles should resign, by a majority of more than two to one." Flushed with this triumph, the anti-Stiles party asked for another meeting to reconsider the vote of December 12, and take some care for supplying the pulpit, but the committee refused to warn it, whereby public affairs were involved in great confusion. In May, both parties again appealed to the Assembly, each giving its own version, and declaring, " That not we, but the other parties are the only cause that peace is not restored." The Assembly declined to remove Mr. Stiles, nullify the salary vote, or divide the society, but took no measure "to vindicate the Result of Council, and order the same carried into effect." Thus left to themselves, the strife waxed hotter and fiercer. The anti-Stiles party, embracing most of the inhabitants of Woodstock Hill and South Woodstock, gained upon their opponents. Their conventions for public worship on the Lord's day, but a few steps from the meeting-house, greatly disturbed Mr. Stiles and his diminishing congregation. At the annual society meet- ing in December, it was voted, by a majority of one, "That they would not grant any tax on said inhabitants for the payment of Rev. Mr. Stiles' salary." At their next meeting they went a step farther, and voted to assess all the estates for the support of a minister, and in spite of protest and resistance proceeded to collect it from all the inhabitants. The belligerents now broke out into open warfare. The Stiles party were in turn forced to pay for the support of their op- ponents. Collectors levied taxes from the whole society, and applied the same to " private use of majority." Appeals to the County Court were unsuccessful, that body judging the assessments unlawful, but that the Assembly only could give relief. Again, in December, 1759, the society refused to pay Mr. Stiles' salary, and granted a rate for society expenses. Gaining boldness with numbers, it now threatened to take possession of the meeting-house. Richard Flynn was chosen key- keeper, and Samuel Chandler and Colonel John Payson a committee to wait upon Mr. Flynn, and to desire Mr. Cooper to deliver up the key of the meeting-house-and if he refuses, demand the same. Mr. Cooper refusing both request and demand, Zebulon Dodge .was requested to take off the lock, and put on another, and deliver the key to Mr. Flynn, the appointed keeper of meeting-house. The friends of
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Mr. Stiles found it extremely difficult to maintain their footing, obliged, as they now were, to pay society rate and their own church expenses. The fiercest bitterness, rancor and enmity prevailed. Well might Mr. Stiles exclaim, " I sojourn in Mesheck and dwell in the tents of Kedar, . my lot is yet among the Amorites, encompassed with storms, and the Zanzummins, whose arms appear to be that of pricks in my eyes and thorns in my side. Nothing saves me from ruin but the horrid, iniquitous measures taken to destroy me." Yet, not- withstanding " the scourge of malignant tongues," Mr. Stiles " had no thought of attempting to leave his people, for in general they appeared friendly, and the better sort resolutely attached to him "-but unflinch- ingly maintained his ground, even when meeting-house and pulpit were invaded. At a meeting of the inhabitants of the first society of Woodstock, February 4, 1760, it was voted :-
"I. That the society meet in the meeting-house in said society on Lord's day for public worship for the future.
II. That there be a committee chosen to supply the pulpit, till farther orders, in the room of Mr. Stiles.
III. That Mr. Samuel Chandler be a committee to supply the pulpit with some suitable person to preach, and that the clerk serve Mr. Stiles with a copy of the transactions of this society, that he may know the minds of the society, and so not presume to go into the desk on Lord's day to disturb the society in the public worship as he has heretofore done."
This act of ejection was forcibly carried out. In the face of this injunction, Mr. Stiles did presume to go into the desk, already ap- propriated by the society's minister, and tradition reports a disgraceful collision-angry belligerents attempting to haul the rival ministers from the pulpit; a free fight raging through the contested meeting- house ; the women joining in the fray, exchanging cuff's, pulling off caps and bonnets, till the Stiles party, overcome by numbers, were forced to yield possession. This rencontre cleared the air and vir- tually ended the controversy. The friends of Mr. Stiles at length saw the folly of coercion, and reluctantly yielded to the will of the majority. In response to a petition asking for the annulment of rates, the ,Assembly ordered all farther proceeding suspended, and appointed William Pitkin, Jabez Hamlin and William Wolcot to use their best endeavors to accommodate and make a settlement. The committee met July 10, and fully heard the matters of difference. No prospect appeared that the whole society would be united in, or content with the present minister, but on the contrary, both parties were willing to facilitate division. Under any circumstances, this division could be deferred but a few years, and the committee judged it expedient to effect it at once, and arranged the following terms :-
"1. All that part of first society lying north of an east and west line
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
dividing between the north and southi proprietors, shall be a distinct ecclesias- tic society to maintain and support the Rev. Mr. Stiles during his continuing their minister. Inhabitants of north part pay to Mr. Stiles such of his salary after the expiration of the present yearly service, until the said north part shall be constituted a society, and then the inhabitants shall pay their tax to such society to which they belong, yet any such person to have liberty to attend divine service in the other society that they shall not be accounted dis- orderly therein.
2. That out of the money already granted by first society Mr. Stiles be paid his last year's salary.
3. As to meeting-house now standing in first society-said first society, south part, shall pay and refund to north part after constituted a society, a hundred pounds as their part and proportion of the meeting-house, viz., fifty pounds when north society shall have their meeting-house raised, and fifty more when meeting-house is covered and inclosed.
4. As soon as the Gen. Assembly shall constitute north part a society, the meeting-house shall be relinquished by north society to south, so that neither north part nor their minister shall have any further right or calling therein.
5. All the utensils belonging to church and communion table shall be equally divided between the two societies.
The subscriber, present pastor of said first church in Woodstock, hereby manifest my free consent to the division of said society on terms above expressed, but yet would not be understood to have the fornier covenant between me and society any way altered or vacated until such division be accomplished.
ABEL STILES.
We, the subscribers, appointed by first society, having considered the im- possibility of having matters of difference settled while we remain in our pres- ent situation, in order to have peace restored, and mutual love and friendship for the future subsist amongst us, come into the foregoing agreement.
ISAAC JOHNSON. PARKER MORSE. JOHN MAY. JOHN MORSE. NATHANIEL CHILD. ELISIIA CHILD."
Woodstock, July 20, 1760.
The report of the committee was accepted by the Assembly, and the north society of Woodstock duly set off and incorporated in the following October, and after so many years of strife the difficulties were adjusted. Apparently the settlement was as equitable as could have been devised. The north part had the minister and the south part the meeting-house ; the north took the church ; the south the society records, and both retained the title of the First Church of Woodstock.
IIJ.
ABINGTON SOCIETY. CONTEST WITH POMFRET. CHURCH ORGANIZATION.
DOMFRET, though happily unaffected by the spirit of Separation, did not escape church and society division during this stormy period. The unwelcome Mortlake was appended on the south, while the western section which she so valued was cut off. The growth of
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this section in numbers and wealth made this division needful. Old families had multiplied and new ones come in. The one meeting-house of Pomfret had become too small for the large congregation, and the western inhabitants, after weary miles of travel, could not find com- fortable seats in which to hear the Word of God dispensed to them. This difficulty was generally discussed in 1748, and many modes of relief suggested. During the winter, a number of inhabitants in the southwest were allowed to hire preaching for themselves. February 6, 1749, the society held its first public meeting to consider what should be done for the better accommodation of the church-goers. Very great difference of opinion was manifested. The western inhabitants gener- ally favored incorporation as a distinct society ; the eastern opposed
them, but were factious and divided among themselves.
Deacon
Holbrook, in particular, declared in the strongest manner against divi- sion, and dismally prognosticated " that every one would have to pay for building two meeting-houses ; property would be sunk two hundred pounds out of a thousand, and instead of the best of preaching which they then enjoyed, they should have nothing but a parcel of New Light stuff, while, if they would all join in supporting one another in their present rights and privileges, the gates of Hell should not prevail against them." After earnest and warm discussion it was put to vote :-
" 1. Whether we would build a house for public worship for the use of the society in the centre of the land contained in the society ? No.
2. Whether we would build within two rods of the place whereon the present meeting-house stands ? No.
3. Whether we would build two meeting-houses in the society for the society's use, still remaining one entire society ? No.
4. Whether we would divide and become two distinct societies ? No."
Unable to agree upon anything, the society adjourned to meet again March 20; Captain Leicester Grosvenor served as moderator, and the following questions were considered :-
"1. Whether we would divide and become two distinct societies according to the military-line ? No.
2. Whether we would divide into two distinct societies beginning south at the north line of Mortlake society and running north between the Purchase land and lands of Captain Malbone to Blackwell's Brook, thence to Mashamo- quet Brook and by said brook till it comes to a highway between Deacon Philemon Chandler and Eb. Hide, and thence north to the northeast corner of Mr. John Sessions, Hamlet Town, and thence due west to Ashford line? No.
3. Whether we would divide into two societies by the above line to the highway between Chandler's and Hide's, thence by Mashamoquet to Morey's lands? No.
4. Whether, there being a division of sentiments in the society with respect to its remaining one or becoming more societies, the society will be deter- mined in that matter by a committee to be appointed by the Gen. Assembly ? No.
5. Whether we will enlarge and repair our present meeting-house ? No.
6. Whether the society judge it necessary to erect a new meeting-house for the whole society ? No.
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
7. Whether the society would build a new meeting-house on the place where present meeting-house stands ? No.
8. Whether the society will build a new meeting-house on the most com- modious part of the place of Parade near the present meeting-house? No.
9. Whether the society will build a meeting-house for the whole society on the most convenient place on the highway between Nathaniel Sessions and Dea. Sam'l Sumner? No."
So adverse and unaccommodating was the temper of this meeting that even the customary convenient privilege of "allowing swine belonging to the society" to run at large, "being well-ringed and yoked according to law," was peremptorily denied. Unable to agree upon a single point, they adjourned. April 13, they again refused to refer the matter to a committee appointed by the General Assembly. The western inhabitants were meantime preparing to lay their case before that body. United by peril, the society now voted, April 25, " That the whole society should be measured and a centre determined by a north and south, east and west line." One affirmative led to another, and swine were now allowed their ancient privileges. Con- cession came too late to stop the tide of secession. As soon as possible after the session of the Assembly, a committee from the western inhabitants of Pomfret appeared before it, showing :-
" That some of them are six; some five; thirty of us, four; some more, three, and others two miles from the place of worship. Have questioned the first society to find some way to help us, and trial hath been made to make a line to set us off to be a society by ourselves. Meeting-house abundantly too small ; trial hath been made to build a new one, and when that failed, to add to the first, and again to build a new one-all of which have failed, and we are still under our burden of traveling, and in great and distressing difficulty in respect to the smallness of our meeting-house, and can't agree upon a method to help ourselves, and pray the Assembly to divide us in two societies, beginning where Mashamoquet Brook meets northwest corner of Mortlake.
Benjamin Stephens. Samuel Craft. Ebenezer Goodell.
Ephraim Ingalls. John Ward.
Edward Goodell.
William Preston.
Obadiah Lyon.
Nathan Abbott.
David Stowell. Joseph Philips.
Jonathan Lyon.
William Abbot.
Thomas Grow, Jun.
John Ingalls.
Beechem Goodell.
Solomon Sharpe. Joseph Craft. Richard Peabody.
James Ingalls.
Zechariah Goodell.
Rinaldo Borden.
Edward Paine. Albert Peabody.
Dan. Holt.
Joseph Ingalls. John Sharpe.
April 1, 1749."
James Ingalls appeared as agent for the petitioners ; Ebenezer Hol- brook, for the society. William Pitkin, Jonathan Trumbull and John Crary were appointed a committee to consider the circumstances of the town and pleas of the agents, and promptly reported in favor of division-whereupon the Assembly thus enacted :-
" HARTFORD, May 2, 1749.
Resolved by the Assembly, that an ecclesiastical society be, and is hereby erected in the west part of said township, and that the bounds thereof be as follows : bounded north on Woodstock, westerly on the line between said Pomfret and Ashford, and southerly and westerly on the line dividing between said town of Pomfret and Windham, so far south as to the parish already
William Wedge.
Nathan Griggs.
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ABINGTON SOCIETY, ETC
made partly out of said Pomfret, and partly out of Canterbury and partly out of Mortlake; thence by said parish eastwardly to Mortlake west side, thence by Mortlake to the southwesterly corner of the Rev. Ebenezer Williams' farm-saving also all the lands and persons that are west of said Mortlake to said parish, that hath been made as aforesaid, that are already granted to said parish; and from said Williams, his said corner, the line to run northerly to the southwest corner of Jonathan Dresser's land, from thence to run between J. Dresser's land and the land of Benjamin Allen to Masha- moquet Brook, from thence to run northerly so as to include the dwelling- house of Ebenezer Holbrook, Jun., on the west; from thence run northwesterly until it comes to the road which crosses the Mill Brook at one hundred and fifty-five rods distance, as the road runs easterly from said brook; from thence to run north nine degrees easterly, to Woodstock line-including those families that live within said town of Pomfret which were heretofore allowed by Act of Assembly to take parish privileges in the second society of Windham-and that the limits aforesaid be the limits of one ecclesiastic society, with all the powers and privileges of the other ecclesi- astic societies in this Colony. And that the said parish be called and known by the name of Abington. And be it further resolved by the Assembly that there be, and hereby is, annexed to the remaining part of the said town of Pomfret, the northerly part of that tract of land called Mortlake (which is not included in said parish made partly out of Canterbury, Pomfret and Mortlake) and that the said easterly part of said town of Pomfret, with the said north- erly part of said Mortlake, be, and remains to be. the first ecclesiastical society in said Pomfret, with all the powers and privileges of other ecclesiastic societies in this Colony."
The assigned limits, though in the main satisfactory to the peti- tioners, gave great offence to the other parties interested, viz., the principal owner of Mortlake, the transferred Canadians, and more than all, the old society of Pomfret ; but undisturbed by menacing murmurs, the new society hastened to avail itself of its privileges. The terri- tory assigned was more liberal than had been expected. Ebenezer Holbrook, Daniel Trowbridge, David Chandler, Caleb Grosvenor, Alexander Sessions, William Osgood, Ebenezer, Eleazer and Phineas Stoddard, though not among the petitioners, were included within the society limits. The Stoddards had apparently taken possession of part of the Stoddard tract. William Osgood of Andover had purchased land of Joseph Bowman and Benjamin Ingalls in 1747, and settled south of the Mashamoquet. Abington thus numbered about fifty families. The inhabitants met June 19, 1749, at the house of James Ingalls, " to form themselves into a society." Captain Joseph Craft was chosen moderator ; Edward Goodell, collector. It was voted, " To accept of the house of James Ingalls to have preaching in ; " also, " That the committee shall provide a good minister." The committee elected was Captain James Craft, Alexander Sessions, and Richard Peabody. James Ingalls was chosen clerk. As the Assembly had now deputed the duty of selecting sites for meeting-houses to the Courts of the several counties, it was voted, " That a committee come from the County Court to fix the place in the society, to build a meet- ing-house, or for public worship." At the second meeting, September 13, many matters were arranged. It was put to vote, whether they
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would grant one shilling on the pound to defray the charges of the society, and it was passed in the affirmative. Also, whether they judged it necessary to build a house for the public worship of God; and it passed in the affirmative, there being thirty-eight in. the affirma- tive and nine in the negative. Lieutenant John Ingalls, Richard Goodell and William Osgood were chosen a committee to provide inaterials to build the house. Voted, "That our society meetings for the future shall be warned by posting up notifications at the house of James Ingalls, at Josiah Wheeler's and at Esq. Holbrook's mill. That William Osgood apply to the County Court for a committee to fix a spot for the meeting-house to stand on. That there shall be nothing done in our society meeting but what is inserted in the warning. That the society committee shall provide a minister to preach the Gospel among us."
At the next meeting, affairs were less promising. Pomfret had appealed with her grievances to the General Court, and it was possible that their privileges might be curtailed, if not wholly taken from them. It was therefore voted, " Not to give the committee instructions about procuring materials for building a meeting-house." Deacon Ebenezer Holbrook was appointed agent for Abington society, with liberty to employ Major Fowler to assist him in answering the memorial of Nath. Johnson and others. . This memorial, signed also by Thomas Cotton, Nath. and Amasa Sessions, Samuel Warner, Philemon Chandler, Joshua Sabin, Joseph Philips, Samuel Sumner, Jonathan Dresser, Benjamin Griffin, Zachary Waldo, Benjamin Sawyer, and many other first settlers of Pomfret, reflected very severely upon Deacon Hol- brook, the previous agent of the first society, who, after strongly opposing division-when sent to the Assembly to negotiate, "found the duty of condescension very consistent with his own interest, and came into such free and generous measures and concessions as induced said Assembly, without any previous view-or report of a committee, to set off said memorialists with limits larger and more extensive than they seemed ever before to have thought of, and formed a new society called Abington, and in compensation for such curtailing had annexed a quantity of almost waste and refuse land in the town of Mortlake." This resolution was very grievous in divers respects to the first society, and also to some within the limits of Abington, who found themselves " disjoined by a very long, rough and almost impassable way from the most expected place of public worship " in the new society-" being also by a much shorter and better one able to meet in worship with the first society." As for Mortlake, in regard to what it had already cost, as well as the ills most probably consequential to its annexing, which would be very great-the seeming gift would be found a heavy loss.
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