USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 61
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MORTLAKE DISENSTATED, BROOKLYN CONFIRMED, ETC.
also allowed to build a pew over the stairs, " if they finish it within a twelve-mouth."
After the formal addition of Mortlake, greater school accommoda- tions were needful. In 1752, it was voted, "To divide the society into four districts from the centre-the meeting house being the centre -- with north and south, east and west lines for the keeping of schools ; also, that a school be kept in five places ; at each place an equal part of the time for schooling, viz. : 1, at the Widow Cleveland's, or Benja- min Hubbard's, or near thereabouts; 2, at Leonard Cady's ; 3, at Mr. Dimon's, or near there ; 4, at Samuel or William Williams's ; 5, at the school-house." The glass of the meeting-house again becoming dilapi- dated. it was also voted for this year, " To board up the meeting-house windows."
The prosperity of Brooklyn Parish under the new regime was greatly checked by prevalent sickness and mortality. A pleuratic distemper in 1753, was followed in 1754 by a malignant dysentery, especially fatal to children. Scarcely a family in Windham County escaped the scourge. Two children of Rev. Abel Stiles; three of Rev. Marston Cabot, were among its victims. In Brooklyn, where it raged with great violence, about seventy deaths were reported. Mr. Avery, still apparently the only medical practitioner in the vicinity, ministered day and night to the sick and dying till he was himself prostrated and over- come by the disease. The death of this excellent minister was greatly mourned. The Rev. Ebenezer Devotion, in his funeral discourse, describes him, as " calm, peaceful, patient, open-hearted, free of access, sociable, hospitable, cheerful but not vain, capable of unshaken friend- ship, not a wit but very judicious, not of the most ready and quick thought but very penetrating." He left a widow and eight children.
The bereaved society, after voting to give the estate of their late pastor "in proportion to his ministry for the present year," secured the services of Mr. Josiah Whitney, a native of Windham County- born in Plainfield August 11, 1731; graduated from Yale College in 1752-who had just completed his ministerial studies with Rev. James Cogswell of Canterbury. After a satisfactory " acquaintance with his ministerial accomplishments," a call was extended, which was thus accepted :-
" To the society of Brooklyn in Pomfret.
Gentlemen,-Whereas on the 17th of Nov. last, you proceeded to give me a call to settle in the work of the Gospel ministry with you, and proposed a hundred and twenty pounds, lawful money, for a settlement, and sixty-five pounds, lawful money, for a salary-I do now hereby accept said proposal, and may the Lord bless us and lead us in the way everlasting.
Brooklyn, Jan. 7, 1756.
JOSIAH WHITNEY."
The church unanimously concurring in this call, Wednesday, Feb. 4, was appointed for ordination. The widow of their former pastor,
66
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
now married to Mr. John Gardner of Gardner's Island, was re- quested "to provide for the ordination council and other ministers and Mr. Whitney's friends, at the society's charge," receiving a hundred pounds for this service. The day being very fine and the congrega- tion much too large for the meeting-house, the ordaining services were held on the Green, ladies using their fans as freely as at Midsummer. All the neighboring ministers were present on this memorable occasion. Mr. Rowland of Plainfield opened the services with prayer ; Mr. Cogs- well preached from II. Timothy ii : 15; Mr. Stiles offered the ordaining prayer ; Mr. Mosely gave the charge ; Mr. Devotion the right hand of fellowship ; Mr. Cabot offered the closing prayer.
With the new minister, new church regulations were adopted. Say- brook Platform was accepted as the rule of discipline and Watts' Psalms allowed to be sung the last singing on Sabbath. Stephen Baker was chosen deacon. Major Holland and Thomas Migliill were appointed to join with Deacons Williams, Davison and Baker in hearing complaints, and were soon called to sit in judgment upon one of their own number, charged with drinking to excess in the house of Captain Putnam. The accused was acquitted but public opinion was not satisfied. It was scarcely decorous to decide such a case without ministerial counsel, and the Rev. Messrs. Mosely, Devotion, Cogswell, Rowland and Ripley were summoned to consider it, who pronounced the offender " not guilty of a censurable evil." A little excess of that nature among brother officers in time of war was not to be judged too harshly.
The old society of Pomfret was still dissatisfied and divided. Ere she had become reconciled to the loss of territory and church mem- bers, she was called to part with her excellent minister, who, on March 28, 1753, just one month after officiating at the ordination of Mr. Rip- ley, fell a victim to malignant pleurisy. Mr. Williams had occupied a high position among the clergy of his day and was greatly esteemed for strength of character and soundness of judgment-" a plain and faithful preacher of the great and important doctrines of Christ; a wise, judi- cious, sound orthodox minister." His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel Williams of Lebanon. The society assumed the charge of his funeral expenses and provided an appropriate monumental tablet. His pleasant homestead descended to his son Ebenezer, a man of worth and weight of character already intrusted with important public offices. His son Chester, settled in the ministry at Hadley, died in 1755. These sons showed their respect for the memory and wishes of their fathers, by petitioning the Assembly, that the will, not completely
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TROUBLES IN POMFRET, ETC. +
executed by reason of his sudden death, might be confirmed and carried into execution.
A new minister was now needed as well as a meeting-house. Dr. Mather, Deacon Holbrook and Joshua Sabin were chosen committee to provide for preaching. Breaches outside and inside the meeting house were repaired. The society also agreed to complete the fencing and cleaning the burial-place, ordered twelve years before, and directed its committee, "To take ye care of getting it fenced and cleaned, and let it out to some person to pasture for five and seven years." John Warner was appointed to dig the graves. Efforts were soon resumed for more permanent settlement. At a society meeting, March 21, Cap- tain John Daniels was chosen moderator, and the following questions propounded :-
" 1. Whether the inhabitants of said society will resettle the Gospel? Ans. Yes.
2. If said society will build a meeting-house for public worship, and set it on the centre of the present, or on the nearest common place thereto? No.
3. Whether they will settle any gentleman already heard? No.
4. Whether they will try any more on probation? Yes.
5. Whether to petition for removal of north half of Mortlake, and recover the line formerly prayed for between Abington and this society ? No."
At the following meeting, June 20, it was voted by a great majority, " That we did think it necessary to build a meeting-house, there being one hundred for, and but nine against it." Affairs now looked more promising. Thomas Cotton and Captain Daniels were appointed agents to ask for a committee from the County Court to affix the place. Captain Noah Sabin, Thomas Cotton, John Williams, Seth Paine, Jun., Captain John Grosvenor and Ebenezer Williams were chosen to wait upon this committee, which after due consideration set up a stake, "on the road leading from the old meeting-house to Woodstock, ten rods south from Zechariah Waldo's barn-the stake to be encompassed with the sill of said new meeting-house." A majority of the society refused to accept this site and the great question was still unsettled. In a ministerial candidate they had been more successful. Noadiah Russel, Jun., of Middletown, had preached through the summer, and October 16, was called to the pastorate by a great majority. £1,500 settlement, and £650 salary were offered him, stated at the rate of three pounds ten shillings a dollar. Mr. Russel, accepting these terms, February 26, 1755, it was voted, "To proceed to ordination." Ebenezer Williams offering to provide for ordination council and give the same to the society, the same was accepted with hearty thanks, but all these prepara- tions and provisions came to naught. The increasing dissatisfaction with the meeting-house spot led the society to defer ordination, and difficulties arose. Mr. Russel objected to the lack of an explicit church covenant, whereupon the brethren of the church, March 5, 1755, voted,
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
" That the Rev. Solomon Williams should draw a plan of church dis- cipline." The plan was drawn, read and accepted, but still matters were not settled. The society agreed to give Mr. Russel sixty-five pounds, lawful money, find his wood and cart it, but this was not accepted. Negotiations ceased, and Mr. Russel withdrew. Foiled in all its efforts, the society again sought relief from the Assembly, showing :-
" That we have considered the necessity of building a meeting-house, voted the same, and applied for committee from County Court, who fixed a spot not satisfactory. More than one half dissatisfied; does not accommodate equally as to distance, being only about a mile cast from the dividing line between us and Abington, and three and a half miles from east line of society, and many more inhabitants live east than west of said place. Place very iniry and wet and incommodious for a meeting-house; tried to get a new committee, but Court refused and determined to hold good and firm, and valid what the com- mittee had done. Greater part of the society uneasy, and cannot well proceed to settle any minister, but very much, if not altogether, on that account, a young gentleman that has been some time in probation and had a call, and society very unanimous in their good opinion and esteem, but by reason of their considering the place for meeting-house so unreasonable the ordination was put off, although before appointed, and thereupon he has left society, and refuses to settle among us unless matters should be farther settled. We, therefore, pray for relief and another committee, that the society may again hear the voice of peace and a settled minister.
May 12, 1755."
Dr. Thomas Mather acted as agent in presenting this petition, and secured for a committee Christopher Avery, Zebulon Webb and Joseph Spicer. John and Ebenezer Williams, John and Samuel Lyon, William Sumner and Eleazer May were appointed to wait upon this new4committee, who selected for a site, "the home-lot of Zechariah Waldo, near to highway." Still the people were dissatisfied. The northern and eastern settlers preferred a more central location, and again the matter of building was deferred.
Meanwhile, a minister was secured and settled. Aaron Putnam of Reading, a Harvard graduate in 1752, received a unanimous call from the society, Nove nber 17, 1755, and replied, February 8, in the words of Elihu, Job xxxiii : 6, "Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead : I also am formed ont of the clay." The terms of settlement were similar to those offered to Mr. Russel. The church concurred in the call, and voted, "To settle on Saybrook regulation for a rule of church discipline." A committee of five was chosen to go with Mr. Putnam to confer with the reverend ministers of the Windham Asso- ciation, and take advice about settlement. A fast was observed, Feb- ruary 25, when two sermons were preached and Mr. Putnam examined by seven ministers as to his ministerial qualifications. These proving satisfactory, despite the extreme youth of the candidate, who had but just entered his twenty-third year, the ordination day was appointed. Deacon Ebenezer Holbrook's offer to entertain the ordination council at his own cost, was accepted with thanks. Mr. Putnam was ordained
525
TROUBLES IN POMFRET, ETC.
March 10, 1756, just five weeks after the ordination of Mr. Whitney in Brooklyn. Twelve ministers were present, with their delegates. Rev. Solomon Williams was moderator ; Ebenezer Devotion, scribe ; Rev. Mr. Gleason of Dudley offered the first prayer; the sermon was preached by Mr. Mosely ; Mr. Rice of Sturbridge offered the ordaining prayer ; Solomon Williams gave the charge ; Mr. Devotion, the right hand of fellowship; Mr. Stephen Williams of Woodstock, the last prayer, and the sixty-eighth Psalm was sung in conclusion. So accepta- ble was the sermon that it was voted, "To have it published, each person that paid tax to have one copy."
A minister settled, it was voted in February, 1757, "To proceed to build a new meeting house." The Assembly accepted the report of its committee, and resolved, "That the place so fixed upon shall be the place for building meeting-house ;" but still the people murmured and lingered. Propositions were made to call out another committee, and even to divide the society, but were not supported. Again, in 1760, they repaired to the Assembly, declaring " That the inhabitants were not at rest ; thought that if the place could be removed some considera- ble distance farther north it would better accommodate the north and east inhabitants, and be more agreeable to the society in general, nearest the centre of travel and interest "-but their pleas were dis- regarded. Farther resistance was useless. June 16, 1760, the society voted, " Not to apply to the Assembly for another committee, but to proceed and build the house, and also to buy two acres of land on which to set the house." Deacons Ebenezer Holbrook and David Williams, Ebenezer Williams, Lieutenant Durkee and Ebenezer Grosve- nor were appointed committee for building; Ebenezer Williams, Nathan Frink, and Gershom Sharpe to purchase the land. It was voted, "That the house should be sixty feet long; forty-eight wide and twenty-four or twenty-five feet stud; also, to raise sixpence on the pound of the ratable estate, to defray expenses." Under these instruc- tions, the two acres specified were purchased of Zechariah Waldo, and a meeting-house frame successfully raised on this site, September 5, 1760.
In the matter of schools the society was now settled, having been divided in 1755, into four school districts, each providing its own school-house and master.
Pomfret, at this period, despite the trials of its first society, was a very thriving and prosperous township, with three well-established, self-supporting religious societies, and the once lawless and irregular Mortlake peacefully incorporated within her borders and made amena- ble to lawful rate paying and road-making. The inhabitants of the three parishes united harmoniously in promoting the general interests
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
of the town, and bore their proportionate share of public charges and services. Its position in the new Probate District, erected in 1752, increased the business and importance of the town. The towns of Pomfret, Woodstock, Ashford, Mortlake, Union and the two north societies in Killingly were made one District of and for a Court of Probate, to be called the District of Pomfret. Timothy Sabin of Pom- fret was appointed judge of this Court; Pennel Bowen of Woodstock, clerk. The original records and papers of this Court were unfortu- nately consumed by fire with the dwelling-house of Mr. Bowen, on the night following January 5, 1755. Nathan Frink, a young attorney, then just commencing the practice of law in Pomfret, was then appointed clerk, and the succeeding records retained in that town. A memorial from Judge Sabin and Attorney Frink represented their loss to the Assembly, whereby many people were likely to be great sufferers, and prayed it to grant relief and repair the want of said record and files. Ebenezer Williams was appointed judge of Probate in 1759.
The United Society for Propagating Christian and Useful Knowl. edge still retained its place in popular favor. As the fathers passed away, the sons succeeded to their rights and interest in this cherished institution. New members were received, from time to time, into the company. At a regular meeting, August 27, 1753, at the house of Samuel Sumner, John Williams was admitted in the room of Jacob Dana ; Ebenezer Williams, in the room of his reverend father, Ebe- nezer Williams, deceased ; Nath. Holmes, in the room of his father, Jehoshaphat Holmes, deceased ; Israel Putnam, upon his paying six- teen pounds, old tenor. Joseph Holland, Timothy Sabin, Thomas Mather and Seth Paine were also admitted to twenty-pound rights. It was voted, " That the Library be kept for the future by Mr. Ebenezer Williams till it should be ordered otherwise. That Timothy Sabin, Esq., be added to the committee. That the committee view the books and see what state they are now in, and get them mended if they judge needful, at the charge of the Company, and, hereafter, that the library-keeper, from time to time, do the same. That Doddridge's Paraphrase be purchased, if it can be had. That the committee lay out the rest of the money subscribed for books, at their discretion." The books thus obtained were less exclusively theological than the pre- ceding, embracing The Spectator, Young's Night Thoughts, Telema- chus, Potter's Antiquities, and a History of the World.
At a meeting of the proprietors of the Library, June 10, 1756, Mrs. Abigail, wife of Mr. John Parkhurst, of Pomfret, was admitted to their number. Rev. David Ripley, Captain Zechariah Spalding, William Prince, Seth Paine, Jun., Joseph Scarborough, William Sabin,
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TROUBLES IN POMFRET, ETC.
Josiah Chandler, Joshua Sabin, Joseph Chandler, Jonathan Waldo, Samuel Dana, Jun., James Ingalls, Rev. Josiah Whitney, Rev. Aaron Putnam, Thomas and Samuel Williams, Gershom Sharpe, Nathaniel Carpenter and Jonathan Dresser, were also admitted. Messrs. Ripley, Putnam and Whitney, the three young ministers of the three parishes, were added to the committee. It was now voted, "That those inclined to be admitted members of the society, upon their paying four dollars to the committee, should be entitled to a twenty-pound right and be admitted members." Abijah Williams and John Davison were soon afterwards received upon such payment. Major Holland resigned his right to Isaac Sabin ; Dr. Mather to Joseph Scarborough. The only non-resident received into the company was Rev. Noadiah Russell, admitted in 1758, after his settlement in Thompson Parish. Rollins' Ancient History in twelve volumes, Lowman upon the Civil Govern- ment and Ritual of the Hebrews, Roman History-Questions and Answers, Boston's Fourfold State, Evans's and Erskine's Sermons, and Hervey's Meditations and Dialogues were now added to the Library, with Thompson's Season's and Dampier's Voyage, for light reading. These various books, heavy and light, were thoroughly read and pon- dered, and aided not a little in diffusing knowledge and stimulating intellectual activity. Pomfret was distinguished at this period for general intelligence and cultivation. An unusually large proportion of her young men were led to seek a collegiate education and prepare themselves for professional life. In 1755, eight young men from Pomfret families entered Yale College, i. e., Ebenezer Craft, John Chandler, Ebenezer Grosvenor, Ephraim Hide, Joshua Paine, Abishai Sabin, Joseph Sumner and Ezra Weld. These students were accus- tomed to ride to New Haven on horseback in company, young Oliver Grosvenor going with them to take back the string of horses. Joseph Dana entered Yale in 1756, and John and Ephraim Avery, sons of the deceased pastor, the following year-so that eleven young men from this one township were cotemporary collegiates-an instance rarely paralleled in towns of its population. Nine of these young men became ministers and achieved very respectable positions. John Avery, crippled by disease, devoted himself to teaching.
The literary proclivities of Pomfret were not incompatible with military spirit. Her active participation in the French War and the notable achievements of Putnam, Williams and others, will be detailed hereafter.
Dr. Thomas Mather, first physician of Pomfret, is believed to have removed his residence prior to 1760. His place was filled by Dr. David Hall, son of Rev. David Hall of Sutton, so that Pomfret was now
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
served by young ministers, physicians and lawyers. - Mr. Putnam married Rebecca, sister to Dr. Hall. Dr. William Walton practiced at this date both in Pomfret and Killingly. Dr. John Weld is also numbered among Pomfret physicians, but at what precise date has not been recovered.
V.
PROGRESS IN KILLINGLY. AFFAIRS IN MIDDLE, SOUTH AND NORTH SOCIETIES.
NHE large township of Killingly was also occupied by three religious societies-Thompson Parish on the north, the old or first society in the centre, and the south society, with churches on Break-neck Hill and in the southeast quarter of Killingly. After the accomplish- ment of society division, the original church hastened to reorganize. During the long meeting-house controversy, its numbers had diminished, and its strength declined. No regular religious worship had been maintained, though baptisms had been occasionally administered by neighboring ministers. A son of one of the constituent members of the church now accepted a call to its pastorate. A public service was held, November 29, 1745, conducted by Reverends Ebenezer Devotion and John Campbell, and the scattered church members solemnly renewed their covenant, agreeing :--
" That we have taken the Lord Jehovali for our God, will fear him, cleave to him, and serve him ; bind ourselves to bring up our children in the knowledge and fear of God and in special by orthodox catechism; to keep close to the truth of Christ, taking the sacred Scriptures as the only rule of faith and prac- tice. Declare ourselves a church of Christ according to Congregational prin- ciples as laid down in Cambridge Platform, saving that instead of ruling elders, we will from time to time, choose two or more of the principal brethren to be helps and assistants to our pastor for the time being in managing the pruden- tial affairs of the church, and also to be present with our pastor at the exam- ination of candidates for our holy communion, which candidates being approved shall exhibit in writing or otherwise a relation of their experiences publicly on the Lord's Day before the church and congregation in order to their being admitted to full communion.
Joseph Leavens, Sen. David Roberts, Jun. Andrew Philips.
Joseph Leavens, Jun. Samuel Buck.
Ephraim May.
Thomas Moffatt. John Brown.
Benj. Leavens.
Daniel Whitmore. Ebenezer Brooks. John Leavens.
Joseph Cady. David Roberts, Sen. John Roberts.
Francis Whitmore.
Thomas Mighill."
This covenant was also signed by Rev. Perley Howe, pastor-elect, who was soon afterwards installed in office. He had previously been pastor of the church in Dudley, Massachusetts, and was married to
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· PROGRESS IN KILLINGLY, ETC.
Damaris, daughter of Captain Joseph Cady. No record is preserved of his pastorate, but he is said to have been " a highly respectable and useful minister."
Measures were at once taken towards building the meeting-house, the location of which had caused such contention and division. Captain Daniels, Jonathan Dresser and Penuel Deming of Pomfret, were appointed a committee by the County Court, who selected a site on the apex of Killingly Hill, about a fourth of a mile north of the old house, "east side of the country road, right against Noah Leavens' dwelling-house." This site being accepted and an acre of land given by Justice Joseph Leavens, the following request was presented :-
" To the gentlemen of the town of Killingly, assembled in town-meeting on the first Tuesday of Dec., 1745; especially the gentlemen of Thompson Parish, with the rest of said town-the memorial of the inhabitants of the First and Middle Society of the town of Killingly, humbly showeth :
That whereas the Hon. Gen. Assembly at their session were pleased to divide the old society into two societies, and we being the standing society wherein the old meeting-house is, and we being minded to build a new meeting-house for divine worship, and knowing that the old meeting-house was built by the whole town, and they always using said house for their public meetings-we therefore humbly pray that we may have liberty to pull down the old meeting- house, and use it to and for the finishing of our new frame for a meeting- house ; always provided, we make the said new meeting-house fit to meet in, and always allow the said town-meetings and freemen in said house, and any other town business they shall see cause to use said house for.
Killingly, Dec. 3, 1745.
It was then put to vote, whether they would grant the foregoing prayer and order the same to be put on record, and it passed in the affirmative."
The old meeting-house was accordingly speedily demolished and the new one erected, -a spacious, commodious edifice, probably superior to any in the County. It had three great double doors, opening east, west and south ; large square pews, furnished with lattice-work, a high pulpit and sounding board ; galleries, front and sides, with rising seats and wall-pews in the rear and two flights of broad stairs leading to them. With this elegant church edifice, and an acceptable minister, the first society of Killingly regained its former prestige and position. Joseph Cady, Hezekiah Cutler, Thomas Wilson, Joseph Richard, Samuel Bloss and other leading citizens included within the limits of Thompson Parish, now represented to the Assembly, "That the wor- ship of God was regularly attended at a convenient meeting-house which would be much less trouble for them than to go to Thompson, where the distance was so great and roads so bad that a great part of holy time must be spent in very servile labor to man and beast, and at some seasons it was impossible for themselves and families to be convened there, and begged to be transferred to Killingly "- which was granted. The church also increased in numbers and was apparently prosperous during the ministry of Mr. Howe, which was terminated by his sudden death, March 10, 1753, in his forty-
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