USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 62
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
third year. He left four young sons, who lived to maturity-Isaac Cady, Perley, Joseph and Sampson. His successor, Aaron Brown of Windsor, a graduate from Yale College, in 1749, was offered September 10, twelve hundred pounds, old tenor, in settlement, and forty pounds, salary, which was to be increased forty shillings a year till it reached fifty pounds. Mr. Brown accepted these terms, in consideration "of the unity and good agreement and the generous encouragement given for his subsistence," and after the usual prepara- tory service of fasting and prayer, he was ordained, January 19, 1754. David Rowland of Plainfield, offered the first prayer ; Marston Cabot preached the sermon ; John Campbell offered the ordaining prayer and gave the charge; Charles Gleason of Dudley, the right hand of fellowship ; Nehemiah Barker, the closing prayer. Mr. Brown soon after married the widow of his predecessor and occupying the pleasant homestead purchased by Mr. Howe, enjoyed a tranquil and successful pastorate. Mr. Fisk, the former pastor, was one of his constant hearers, having built himself a pew in the new meeting- house and bearing his part in all society charges. Joseph Cady, Samuel Buck and Ephraim May were society committee at the time of Mr. Brown's settlement. Peter Sabin served as collector ; Benj. Cady as clerk; Benj. Leavens, treasurer. The society was divided into three districts, each maintaining its own school. Killingly Hill
was now becoming a noted public centre, the appointed place for town meetings and "trainings ;" the head and heart of the large town with its three organized societies. Dr. Thomas Moffatt was still its practicing physician. John Felshaw kept its popular house of entertainment. . Justice Joseph Leavens, though advancing in years, was still active in public affairs. James Leavens, Peter Aspinwall, Isaac Cutler, Ephraim Warren, Nell Alexander, George Blanchard, and many others of the first settlers of Killingly, were now deceased, and their places filled by their sons and immigrants from other towns. The southern extremity of Killingly Hill, long held by the heirs of John Allen, was sold in 1746, to James Adams of Barrington, Rhode Island, for £2,500, and upon his decease soon after, reverted to Ebenezer, Edward and Michael Adams. Samuel Buck bought land of Ebenezer Adams in 1756, and settled upon it. The homestead occupied as a parsonage by Reverends Perley Howe and Aaron Brown, "near the old pound," adjoining Dr. Moffatt's and Noah Leavens', was pur- chased of Joseph Cady in 1746. Five hundred acres north of Chest- nut Hill line, were sold by the heirs of John Knight "to Ebenezer Larned, innkeeper," son of William Larned of Thompson Parish, in 1750. Mr. Larned was afterwards deacon of the church and an active member of the society. His wife, Judith, daughter of Justice Leavens,
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PROGRESS IN KILLINGLY, ETC.
was also greatly respected for intelligence and sound judgment. Six sons of Isaac Cutler occupied farms in this vicinity, living in gambrel- roof houses, all of the same size and style, built for them by their father. A grand-son, Hezekiah, had early settled in life, marrying Susanna, probably daughter of Hanniel Clark, a lady of great personal beauty and strength of mind, with education in advance of her time. Among other notable women of this generation in Killingly were eight daughters of Joseph Leavens, happily married in their native town. Four of these sisters married four sons of John Hutchins, and occupied contiguous farms between Killingly Hill and the Centre. After the death of his first wife, Judith Sabin, Justice Leavens married the widow of William Larned.
. The south society of Killingly, though exceeding the first in num- bers and ratable property, was less harmonious and prosperous. After the erection of its meeting-house on Break-neck, a' church was organized there, and Nehemiah Barker ordained its pastor. Mr. Barker had previously preached as a candidate in West Woodstock, and was married in 1746, to the daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth Chandler of that parish. Nothing can now be learned of the discipline or progress of this church, owing to the destruction of its records, but it is evident that it was never very flourishing, that the feuds from which it sprung were never healed, and that it did not succeed in gaining a permanent footing. This failure may be attributed, in part, to the loss of its chief member, Captain Ephraim Warren, who died in 1747, and, also, to the spread of Separate principles. A number of the residents of the south- east section organized as a Separate church, and others of Chestnut Hill united in a Six-Principle Baptist church. These secessions so weakened the church on Break-neck, that Mr. Barker was forced to complain to the Windham Association in 1749, " of want of proper support and influence." Councils and consociations were unable to suggest effective remedies, and after struggling a few years, Mr. Barker was dismissed from his charge, and removed to Long Island. The church in Killingly, after three years vacancy, united in choice of Mr. Eden Burroughs of Stratford, who was ordained its pastor, January 23, 1750. Mr. Burroughs was an eminently pious young man, greatly respected by his cotemporaries, but was unable to build up a church under such unfavorable circumstances.
The Separate church in South Killingly increased in numbers and influence, and though obliged for a time to help support worship on Break-neck, was able to build a meeting-house and maintain their own minister, Mr. Wadsworth. In 1755, twenty-three brethren of this church petitioned the south society for release from further rate-paying.
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
The answer to this request is, probably, the sole record of this society now in existence : --
" Voted. At a society meeting, June 23, 1755: That this society is free, and willing, and it is our desire, that the Honorable Assembly dismiss and discharge those and every one of those persons petitioning from any further charge in this society."
A copy of this vote was forwarded to the Assembly by the clerk of the society, with the significant endorsement, " When the above-written vote was passed, ye petitioners did not get my vote." As, notwith- standing this declaration, it appeared that the vote was "considerably unanimous and freely granted," the petitioners were "freed and pro- hibited from paying further rates in said society, and also from voting"-being the first Separates in Windham County, and probably in Connecticut, who obtained exemption from parish charges. The church, thus relieved from its " great and distressing difficulties," grew more and more prosperous, and was able to exercise and enforce all needful discipline. Its members were united in doctrinal views and regard for their pastor, although one sensitive brother was obliged to ask dismission, mainly on the ground, "That he had not a freedom towards Mr. Wadsworth, and if he had not a freedom had as lief support the old constitution." By vote of the church, communion was interchanged with the Separates on Chestnut Hill.
The general affairs of the town were apparently prospering. A new sign-post was ordered to be set up by the new meeting-house on Killingly Hill, whereon all warnings and notices were duly posted. Deacon Dresser was empowered in 1749, "to bye waits " for the town. The south bound of the town was perambulated and restated. Roads and bridges required re-viewing and repairing. A road was laid out in the south of the town, to accommodate the inhabitants traveling to the south meeting-house, beginning on Voluntown line, " near the road now laid to the sawmill. standing on Moosup," and extending to the bridge over Whetstone Brook. A bridle-road was also laid out from Daniel Waters' to the south meeting-house, and the road over the north side of Chestnut Hill leading " to where the old meeting house stood " was turned east of Enoch Moffatt's house, over a brook, to the new house of worship. A road was completed directly from Providence to the south part of Killingly in 1750, and a new bridge built over the Quinebaug, near Captain Samuel Danielson's. A committee was there- upon appointed to lay out a convenient road through the town from this bridge to the Providence highway. A road was also laid out from this convenient bridge northeast, to Five-Mile River ; also, one from the old burial-place to the new meeting-house on Killingly Hill, and others in different parts of the town. A committee was appointed,
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PROGRESS IN KILLINGLY, ETC.
Deceniber 1, 1754, " to view and survey our country roads, and take quit-claim deeds of all the persons who owned lands where the roads cross." The road from Plainfield to Massachusetts line through the town received especial attention. Quit-elaim deeds were received from Jolin and Joseph Wyman, Ezra and Silas Hutchins, Willard Spalding, Samuel Danielson, Daniel Waters, Boaz Stearns, Daniel Davis, and many others. The length of this road, as thus surveyed, was found to be seventeen miles 250} rods. The meeting-house in the first society was only 994 rods from the centre of the township.
In 1757, a road was laid out from Danielson's bridge to Voluntown line, near a saw mill called John Priest's. The bridge built by Samuel Cutler over the Quinebaug at the Falls, was next examined by the selectmen and found " rotten and defective, and not safe to pass over." It was then voted, "To build that part of the bridge that belongs to Killingly to build, Edward Converse to build it and proceed speedily to do the same." Pomfret's part was also accomplished in due time. Killingly was greatly disturbed in 1759, by the discovery of a gang of counterfeiters within her borders, engaged "in the vile crime of aiding in making counterfeit bills of credit." A son of one of her most re- speetable citizens was implicated in this affair, convicted, and sentenced to perpetual confinement. A large number of his fellow townsmen interceded in his behalf, viz .: Joseph Leavens, Jonathan Clough, Henry Green, Thomas Whittemore, Jacob Dresser, Nathaniel Brown, Penuel Child, Samuel Porter, John Leavens, Edward Converse, Josiah Mills, Lusher Gay, and Samuel Larned : showing, " that they had known him from a child, and known him to be honest and regular, and took care of his aged father and mother to as good acceptance as could be, and was in good credit among his neighbors, as little mistrusted as any young man in town, and were of opinion that he was over-persuaded by evil- minded persons." Through these representations, and his own declara- tion that he had been importuned by a certain Frenchman and others, the prisoner had leave granted him by the Assembly " to remove to Killingly and there dwell and remain."
Thompson Parish continued flourishing and prosperous, having increased to that degree according to the testimony of a non-resident, " that it was richer than both the other societies." Its fathers and founders were fast passing away. Deacon William Larned died in 1747. Deacon Jonathan Eaton, Simon Bryant and Joseph Cady, Sen., in 1748. The first minister of Woodstock, Rev. Josiah Dwight, also died this year. A very serious calamity befell his son, Captain John Dwight, February 18, 1750. His house was consumed by fire, the family escaping from their beds with only the clothes that covered them. One negro servant perished in the flames, together with all
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
their " household goods, clothes, corn, meat, books, bonds and notes of hand." A committee was appointed by the General Court to look into the case and grant relief, which ordered the payment of notes due Captain Dwight upon sufficient evidence. Even with this aid the loss was so heavy that Captain Dwight's estate was seriously encumbered at his death, in 1753. His widow removed to New Haven, where some of his children had previously settled. Theodore, the youngest child of Rev. Josiah Dwight, died the same year. He left two young sons, who retained possession of the Dwight homestead, west of the Quine- baug. Samuel Morris, Sen., died in 1745. His son Samuel occupied his homestead a few years, and in 1752, was released from paying rates to Thompson Parish and allowed to unite with the first society in Woodstock. In 1755, he sold a large part of his fine farm upon the Quinebaug, purchased of Governor Dudley, to Benjamin Wilkinson of Smithfield, Rhode Island, for £20,000, and removed from the town. Other well-known farms were changing owners. "The place called Nashaway," between the Quinebaug and French Rivers, long owned and occupied by Captain Sampson Howe, was sold by his son Sampson in 1746; the eastern part to Thomas Converse, the remainder to Ebenezer and Joseph Nichols of Middletown. Mr. Sampson Howe then removed to Middletown. Samuel Barrows bought land west side of French or Stony River, in 1752; Robert Prince, the same year, bought land east side the same river of John Stone. Joseph Ellyott of Sutton, in 1752, bought a large tract of land adjoining French River, bordering on Prince's and Nathaniel Crosby's-and divided it between his sons, Joseph and Francis. Samuel Narramore, at about the same date, gave a deed of " the land he lives on" to his son-in-law, James Dike. Progress had also invaded the Quinnatisset hill-top, so long left to the meeting-house and tavern. A blacksmith's shop was already in operation. In 1754, Samuel Watson of Leicester, purchased of Hezekiah Sabin for £160, "eight acres northeast from Thompson meeting-house on the Boston road-line running northeast to a swamp, with a road two rods wide passing through it." This pur- chase included the northern extremity of Thompson Hill, which was then in all its native wildness. Mr. Watson at once put up a small house and made some clearing, but so much of his land was still incum- bered with forest that Mrs. Watson is traditionally reported to have lost her way in the woods in attempting to go to meeting. The southern extremity of the hill was then occupied by John Corbin, who sold dwelling-house and barn, with thirty acres of land, to Colonel Hezekiah Sabin in 1757. Colonel Sabin and Edward Converse, a mile south- ward, still continued " to entertain" the public at their houses. .
The church in Thompson lost several of its members by defection
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PROGRESS IN KILLINGLY, ETC.
to the Baptists and Separates, but received numerous accessions from newly-arrived settlers. Jacob Dresser was appointed deacon in 1746; Simon Larned and Lusher Gay were chosen to that office in 1747. Deacon Dresser served for many years as clerk of the society. The meeting-house was still carefully cherished and re- quired for many years little alteration, save pews here and there in waste places, and windows cut to enlighten them. Better school accommodations were now demanded. In 1752, James Converse, Michael Adams, Henry Green, Samuel Porter and Jacob Dresser were chosen committee. Samuel Barrows, William Whittemore, Nathaniel Child, John and Samuel Younglove, in the west of the parish, were allowed to have a school among themselves and their proportion of school money. In 1757, Zechariah Cutler and the Widow Hannah Porter were allowed a school in the northeast corner ; line to begin at Ezekiel Green's, thence east to Rhode Island and north to Massa- chusetts line. Squire Hascall, David Alton and others were accom- modated with a school westward, bounds extending two and a half miles in breadth, and south " to, or near Luke Upham's house." That none might trespass for lack of proper knowledge of law, law- books were ordered to be lodged in ten houses for the use of the society. . A socond military company was now organized in the north of the parish.
The keeping up the credit of the ministers' salary, in the demoral- ized condition of the currency, was attended with some inconvenience. In 1751, five hundred pounds were found needful : four years later, another hundred pounds were added and sixty-five pounds allowed for firewood. Mr. Cabot's death occurred a few months afterward. While engaged in the usual public ministrations upon the Sabbath, he fell insensible upon his pulpit stricken with apoplexy ; was removed to his house, but died in a few hours, April 8, 1756. Mr. Cabot was a man of superior talents and learning, greatly beloved and respected by his people. He left several published sermons of much literary merit. More than three hundred members were added to the church during his ministry. The funeral charges were borne by the society, and "suita- ble gravestones" procured by them. Mrs. Cabot, with her nine children, remained for a time upon her homestead.
Jonathan Clough, Jacob Dresser and Hezekiah Sabin were com- missioned by the society to supply the pulpit. Of many candidates heard, Noadiah Russel was selected, who had previously gained such favor in Pomfret. July 28, 1757, the society called Mr. Russel "as their teacher, offering £165 settlement, and £65 salary, and a sufficiency of cord wood till he comes into family estate, and then thirty cords a year." Mr. Russel thus replied :-
" Gentlemen,-I was in hopes to have had the satisfaction of seeing you
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
together at your meeting and of giving you my answer by word of mouth ; but through bodily indisposition am unable to do that. And how Providence will deal with me is uncertain ; but what appears present duty we are to per- form and leave the event. I would, therefore, in the first place return you my thanks for that respect you have shown me in so unanimously desiring me to settle with you in the work of the ministry, and in offering so generously for my encouragement to and support in that important business. Secondly, I would signify to you that considering your unanimity, and consequently the prospect that there is of my being comfortable among and serviceable to you, if I should settle with you, I accept of your invitation and offer.
Aug. 30, 1757."
The preparatory fast was held, October 5, and ordination effected, November 9,-Mr. Russel's father preaching and giving the pastoral charge. His brother from Windsor, Putnam from Pomfret, and Gleason from Dudley assisted in the services. Mr. Russel soon settled "in family estate," marrying Esther Talcott of Middletown, and occu- pying the pleasant house on the brow of the hill, built by John Corbin and purchased of Colonel Sabin. Deacon Jacob Dresser soon after- ward settled near him, buying land of John Grosvenor, adjoining Daniel Russel's and Thompson's, in 1759, and building a capacious mansion on a rise of land, southeast from Mr. Russel's.
VI.
PLAINFIELD. VOLUNTOWN. CANTERBURY.
INTHE difficulties in Plainfield, occasioned by the separation in the church and settlement of Mr. Rowland, continued many years, to its great hurt and damage, "dividing and separating very friends and brothers." After the lamented death of Mr. Stevens, the Separate church was for three years destitute of a pastor, but continued to meet together and maintain public worship. A committee was then chosen to treat with the Separate church in Voluntown-then greatly "reduced by a mortal sickness, whereby several of the principal members were removed,"-with reference to the union of the two churches under the ministry of the Voluntown pastor, Rev. Alexander Miller. The Vol- untown church, about to lose other valuable members by emigration to Wyoming, readily complied. A day of preparatory prayer and fasting was observed ; the neighboring churches called together in council, and the Separate churches of Plainfield and Voluntown formally united-the Rev. Paul Park of Preston, preaching a sermon suitable to the occasion. The church thus enlarged, strengthened, and pro- vided with a faithful minister, was able to maintain its standing, and occupied a very creditable position.
PLAINFIELD. VOLUNTOWN. CANTERBURY. 537
The energies of the first church were mainly absorbed in collecting rates from the town and prosecuting its various lawsuits. A large majority resisted every effort to carry on the worship of God according to the laws of the Colony. The payment of Mr. Rowland's salary was persistently refused, and when, by some chance, a vote was passed to repair the meeting-house, the town refused to pay. for it, or even to appoint an agent to defend itself against the action of the committee. It was found very difficult to induce any person to serve as collector ; selectmen chosen also refused to serve, and all town affairs were thrown into inextricable confusion. After many years of strife and contention, Thomas Pierce and James Bradford were appointed, by a great ma- jority, agents for the town, to represent to the General Assembly, "our difficulty concerning Mr. Rowland." These gentlemen recapitulated the facts of the case ; the passage of a vote granting a salary to Mr. Rowland, when bat a small number of voters were present, and his settlement in opposition to a protest of the majority, so that the majority was obliged to pay their proportion of his salary when they never covenanted to do it, nor had they the least grounds to believe that things would ever be better, and prayed to have the vote voided- but their prayer was refused. Attempts to compromise with the church party were equally unsuccessful. Pierce, Bradford, Stevens, Wheeler and Marsh were delegated to confer with Mr. Rowland, an ecclesiastic council was called-but nothing effected. Again, in 1759, the persevering Separates appealed to the Assembly, declaring that they could not in conscience comply with the vote, nor with the ecclesiastic constitution of the Colony, which they thought not war- ranted by the Word of God or by the Charter of the Colony, and praying for relief and liberty to support the Gospel in their own way, or if not granted, liberty of an appeal to the King in Council. Again, their requests were refused, and new bills of costs allowed Mr. Row- land. Unable to gain relief from Government, they appealed with renewed earnestness to their fellow-townsmen, and were partially successful. Wearied out with strife and litigation, the minority con- sented to forego its claim and release the town from its obligation to maintain Mr. Rowland. At a town-meeting, April 7, 176), it was voted "to have two distinct societies." Benjamin Wheeler, Captain Thomas Stevens, James Bradford, James Howe and Captain Isaac Coit were appointed a committee to take town affairs into consideration, and the following memorial was prepared, "agreeable to every inhabitant."
" Whereas, a considerable number have dissented from the established wor- ship in town, and have gathered into church estate agreeable to Cambridge Platform: and have provided themselves a meeting-house and minister whom they have supported though they have never been exempt from ministerial
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
charges, which have occasioned great difficulties; inhabitants looked upon it as unreasonable that our dissenting brethren should be taxed to maintain the established minister-whereupon, we have mutually and unanimously agreed, if it shall please your Honors, to be two distinct societies ; that two-thirds of our ratable estate be continued to support the established worship, exclusive of what is paid by law as Baptists, and that the third part be appointed to maintain the worship of God amongst our dissenting brethren, and that the dissenting church shall be set off, and that such as appear constantly to attend said worship shall be set off by a committee-which, we apprehend, will be for our mutual tranquility, and both our societies will be well able to maintain the gospel among themselves, without infringing upon each other."
Upon the presentation of this memorial by Benjamin Wheeler and Captain Stephens, the Assembly ordered Jonathan Trumbull, Hezekiah and Jabez Huntington, to repair to Plainfield, inquire into the matter, and take a list of inhabitants. This committee found matters justly represented in the memorial, excepting that considerably more than one third of the inhabitants were opposed to the established worship, and supposed to have an equal right to the privileges of the new society. They therefore took the names of all such persons, and recommended that the amount to be raised to make up the two-thirds rate allowed to the first society, be raised upon them all, and in case the second society neglected or refused to pay demands of the first society within one year, they should forfeit their society privileges and be as they were before. This agreement was very unsatisfactory to the Separates, compelling them to pay rates both for their own and the town minister, but as it was doubtful if the Assembly would give their sanction to any other, they consented to it, " as the best they could do." The committee, thereupon, reporting in favor of division, Plain- field was divided into two ecclesiastic societies by act of Assembly, not according to territorial lines but ecclesiastic preferences, the first society to have two-thirds and the second, one-third of the ministerial rate.
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