USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 63
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This settlement was soon followed by the dismission of Mr. Rowland, who had valiantly maintained his ground throughout the long contro- versy, bringing suits for the recovery of his salary down to the moment of agreement. It was supposed that he would continue minister of the first church and society now that the Separates were set off who had been thought the great cause of division, but upon the first meet- ing of the first society it was found that a large number of his former adherents favored his removal. "Not that Mr. Rowland had done anything unbecoming, but because of the unhappy uneasiness still subsisting," which it was feared could not be allayed without a change in pastoral relations. The church was at first very unwilling to part with a leader who had ministered so faithfully and fought so bravely for them, but finally passed a vote, with great reluctance, for his dismission, and called a council of ministers, which, considering the difficulties and
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deep-rooted prejudices, dissolved the relation-" having nothing against Mr. Rowland, and recommending him to other churches." In his fare- well discourse, which was thought worthy of publication, Mr. Rowland very touchingly reviewed the trials of his unhappy pastorate, which he attributed to that spirit of discord from the arch-enemy, censuring the constitution of the Government and the more common method of ministerial support, exclaiming against the churches as anti-Christ and Babylon ; rulers, as ruling for Baal ; teachers, as teaching for lucre. This spirit of rancour, bitterness and division had risen to great hight, he averred, in the days of his honored predecessor, and were the un- happy means of bringing his gray hairs with sorrow to the grave, and had since made most prodigious progress, so that there were few whose minds were not soured and become cold in their affections towards the ministry. His own support had been extremely difficult, no way to attain it but by mere dint of law, which he had been compelled to try many years with reluctance; had spent the prime of his life among them, and still there was no prospect of times being better, and he had consented to leave them. With great earnestness and affection, he adjured his people to avoid for the future "schismatic conventicles," and prayerfully unite in promoting the good of the church and the growth of Christ's Kingdom. Mr. Rowland removed to Providence after his dismission, ministering to the Congregational church in that town. The first church in Plainfield did not succeed in settling a pastor, and gradually wasted in strength and numbers, while the Separate church continued to increase under the ministry of Mr. Miller.
The general progress and prosperity of Plainfield were greatly marred by these religious dissensions. Town meetings were chiefly occupied with discussing rates and executions, and very little attention given to roads, schools and other public institutions. Certain French prisoners < billeted upon them in 1756, were not, however, neglected. These were some of the Neutral French, inhabitants of Acadia, torn from their homes and native country after the conquest of Nova Scotia by the English, and distributed among the towns of New England. Forty- three of these unhappy Acadians were assigned to Windham County by Act of Assembly, but only Plainfield appears to have made public provision for them. Loads of wood were allowed to Frenchmen ; money paid for going to Norwich for Frenchmen's beef; for doctoring the Neutral French and for keeping Pierre Meron's cow-showing that whatever their sufferings elsewhere, in Plainfield they were not uncared for.
In May, 1747, the towns of Plainfield, Canterbury, Killingly, Pom- fret and Voluntown were constituted one entire district for holding a Court of Probate, to be known by the name of the district of Plainfield,
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
and' Timothy Pierce appointed its judge. Upon the death of Judge Pierce, John Crery succeeded to this office, and upon his decease in 1759, Jabez Fitch of Canterbury was appointed. All the original settlers of Plainfield had now passed from the stage. Among the new inhabitants were John Dunlap, admitted to town privileges in 1759; Joseph Eaton, buying land of Smith in 1758, and Dr. Elisha Perkins, son of Dr. Joseph Perkins of Newent Society, Norwich, who com- menced practice in Plainfield about 1759. Plainfield was well supplied with physicians at this period. Dr. Edward Robinson was already established in practice, and Dr. Gideon Welles, a graduate of Yale College in 1753, administered to the wants of the sick both in Plainfield and Canterbury. Another son of Plainfield, John Shepard, was graduated from Yale in 1748, and died the following year. Josiah >Whitney, of the class of 1752, was now the settled pastor of Brooklyn Parish.
Voluntown, during this period, made little progress and was chiefly occupied with ecclesiastic controversies. Attempts were made to divide the town into two religious societies. In 1746, a committee was chosen to consider the difficulties in respect to pastor and church government and the manner of settling them, but effected nothing satisfactory. Liberty was, however, granted to the inhabitants south of Pachaug River, and, also, to those north of the Providence highway, to hire a minister for themselves through the winter, or for four months of the year. During the remainder of the year they were obliged, with other inhabitants, to pay assessments for the support of Mr. Dorrance. As a majority of the town were opposed to his ministry, they refused to allow for the depreciation of currency, and would only pay the hundred pounds originally stipulated, so that Mr. Dorrance, like Mr. Rowland, could only obtain his lawful dues . by legal process or appeal to the Assembly. In 1746, Robert Dixon was appointed agent to defend the town against the petition sent by Mr. Dorrance, but did not succeed in procuring release. Robert Dixon, Isaac Gallup, Robert Campbell, Thomas Kasson and others, were appointed on committees, year after year, to treat with Mr. Dorrance, answer memorials, and represent the town in various ways in this unhappy affair. In 1751, the town voted to give Mr. Dorrance three hundred pounds for his salary, if he would discharge the town from any further demand, and on some such basis the matter was finally adjusted. The predilections of the church were still strongly Presbyterian. In 1760, the question of church govern- ment was again agitated. Mr. Dorrance preached a sermon upon the divine authority for elders; their qualifiations, &c., after which, the
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church voted "to remain Presbyterian," and chose for elders, Samuel Dorrance, Esq., John Smith, Robert Dixon, Ebenezer Dow, John Kasson, Charles, James and John Campbell, Noah Briggs, James Dor- rance and Samuel Gordon. A council subsequently called pronounced the proceedings of the church at this time, " not illegal but too hasty," and advised a new election of eight elders. The unpopularity of the church was doubtless aggravated by this distinct avowal of Presbyte- rianism. A majority in the town were dissenters from the established church, either Separates or Baptists, and conscientiously opposed to the church and its aged pastor. According to Dr. Samuel Peters (whose testimony is, indeed, of very little value), the Voluntown Presbyterians met with as little Christian charity and humanity as Ana-baptists, Quakers and Churchmen, and sober Dissenters would not attend the funeral of a Presbyterian. The Voluntown Separates united, in 1758, with the church of Plainfield. Obadiah Rhodes and other Baptists were allowed to unite with the Baptist church in Stonington.
Very little can be learned of the secular affairs of the town. Schools were managed by committees in the south, central and north sections. A committee was also chosen " to remove obstructions so that fish can pass up Moosup's River." The vexations boundary and land disputes were now settled, and proprietors' meetings no longer needed. The un- favorable location of the town, its inconvenient form, poor soil and bitter religious dissensions, greatly impeded its progress and dis- couraged its inhabitants. The question of emigration was carly dis- cussed and considered, and many of its most valuable citizens were already preparing to remove to a more genial habitation.
Canterbury like its neighbors was very seriously affected by the Separate agitation, and its progress greatly retarded. After the with- drawał of the Revivalists and the ordination of Mr. Cogswell, the standing church (as it was called) increased in numbers, and enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity for many years. Mr. Cogswell, though so obnoxious to the Separates, was very acceptable to that part of the church and society which had put themselves under his care, and greatly respected abroad for prudence, piety and learning. In 1746, Stephen Frost was chosen deacon in place of Timothy Backus, who adhered to the Separates. Edward Raynsford, John Fitch and Captain Gideon Cobb were chosen a committee to go to Deacon Timothy Backus and others who had separated from the church, to relate to them the affairs of the church respecting church records and vessels. The records were retained by the Separate church, and the communion
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
service divided between the two bodies. During the ministry of Solo- mon Paine, members of the established church continued to fall away to the Separates, assigning as reasons :-
" 1. That the church denies the power of godliness.
2. That they call them out of the way of understanding and persecute them, who are of the true church.
3. That they don't love one another.
4. The pastor being unfaithful, particularly in not visiting enough.
5. The law of the Colony, that a minister should not preach over his parish line, without consent.
6. Texts of Scripture : Solomon's Songs i: 7, 8; Acts x : 13, 15; Nehemiah x : 13, 14, 15, and many others." .
These reasons appearing insufficient to the church, and the refractory brother and sisters refusing to make any acknowledgment, they were excommunicated after proper effort. By vote of the church, the pastor had liberty to invite any orthodox minister of the Gospel to preach in the place on any proper occasion. In 1747, it concurred with the printed articles, sent forth by Windham Consociation. In 1753, Dr. Watts' Psalms were allowed to be sung in public in the afternoon service.
After the death of Solomon Paine, the Separate church was unable to find an acceptable pastor, and diminished in numbers and influence. In 1757, Joseph Marshall of Windsor was chosen to be their pastor, and, in spite of some opposition, was ordained over it, April 15, 1759. " Deacon Obadiah Johnson made the first prayer; our beloved brother, Paul Parks, gave the charge; Bliss Willoughby, the right hand of fellowship ; Alexander Miller of Plainfield made the last prayer-all according to the rules of the Gospel, and with the aid and assistance of the Holy Spirit." One of the first acts of the church under the administration of the new pastor was to consider the case of a sister of the church, "found guilty of a breach of a Divine Rule, in that she had usurped authority over the church, in that she did in a church meeting, authoritatively teach and admonish the Lord's church, contrary to the Word of God: I. Tim. ii: 12. I. Cor. xiv : 34-for the which things the church did solemnly admonish her to repent of her sin, that she might be restored in the fellowship of the Gospel." But though so strict in discipline, the church itself did not escape censure. A number of its brethren, wearied out with fighting rate collectors, proposed to rid them elves of this intolerable burthen, by organizing as a distinct society. This admission that the Govern- ment of Connecticut had any right whatever to order church affairs, was entirely contrary to their proclaimed opinions, and called forth a storm of indignation from other Separate churches. Ebenezer Frothingham of Middletown, in particular, felt bound to express his great grief and astonishment, " that this Canterbury church, where there had been so
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PLAINFIELD. VOLUNTOWN. CANTERBURY.
much light shining respecting Christ's Kingly power and dignity, as the supreme and only Head of the church, and such knowledge of the abominable tyranny that the religious constitution of Connecticut held forth over the church of Christ, should bow to this iniquitous and un- godly constitution, and consent to that thief, that had robbed the church of her right and set bounds for all the churches in Connecticut, and would not allow any liberty but in those bounds, so that Christ himself must bow and be confined to parish lines." With great pathos and plainness, he reminded them of their former glorious position, and besought them not to seek relief from present burdens by bowing to an unrighteous Constitution, formed against the rule and Government of the Son of God. But the heroic spirit which once had animated the Canter- bury Separates had died with their early leaders, and no appeal or remonstrance could awaken their former enthusiasm and self-devotion. Yielding to the wishes of many of their fellow-townsmen, and their own yearning for peace and pecuniary relief, a number of the Separates united, in May, 1760, with other inhabitants of Canterbury, in asking for those society privileges which they had once so proudly spurned, and were exempted from farther payment for the support of Rev. James Cogswell.
In town affairs there were no especial changes. A committee was appointed in 1753, to view sundry private ways supposed to be needful for roads for people to pass and repass from place to place without trespassing on one another's property, " especially by the way crossing Quinebaug River, known as Shepard's fordway," passing through land owned by Shepards, Spaldings, Adams and Paines. Dr. Jabez Fitch, now a leading citizen, was appointed "to take care of ye cedar swamp in the south of the town." In 1755, a committee was appointed to receive and transport provisions of meat, grain, &c., brought in to pay country taxes. Joseph Woodward of Windham was allowed the privi- lege of a dam across Little River, on condition of erecting a good cart bridge over it, "so often as the same should be carried away by reason of waters being flowed by said dam." The Quinebaug River, which had given so much trouble to the early settlers, was not yet reduced to proper subjection. In the severe freshet of 1757, the bridge was par tially destroyed, and a serious casualty occurred in repairing it. David Nevins, an active and respected citizen, who had resided for ten years in Canterbury, while standing on a cross beam, giving directions to the workmen, lost his balance, fell into the swollen stream, and was swept away by the current. He left five young children, who afterwards settled in Norwich and its vicinity.
Very few new families were now arriving in Canterbury. Lands and homesteads were mostly occupied by descendants of first settlers. Of
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
the three branches of the Adams family which had settled in this town, Joseph Adams, Sen., died in 1748; Henry Adams, Sen .. in 1749 ; the second Samuel Adams, in 1742, and a third in 1760. Numerous scions of these three branches were now in active life. Jabez, son of Dr. Jabez Fitch, was now practicing as an attorney, was made justice of the Quorum in 1755, and judge of Probate in 1759. Dr. Gideon Wells of Plainfield, removed his residence to Canterbury, and enjoyed an extensive practice in both townships. Col. John Dyer was still active in public affairs. His son, Ebenezer, was graduated from Yale College in 1750, and died in 1757. John Felch of Canterbury was graduated from Yale in 1758, and remained at home, filling various public offices. John Felch, Sen., died in 1754. The aged parents of Mr. Cogswell removed to Canterbury after his settlement there, and died in a few years. Rev. James Cogswell married Alice, daughter of Dr. Jabez Fitch. Like many ministers of his day, he was accustomed to receive pupils into his family, fitting young men for college and the ministry. Naphthali Daggett, afterwards president of Yale College, enjoyed for half a year " the faithful grammar instruction of Mr. Cogswell." A later pupil was one Benedict Arnold of Norwich, then a bright little fellow, full of play and pranks-the recipient of many letters of counsel and warn- ing from his excellent mother. Rev. Josiah Whitney of Brooklyn Parish, completed his theological studies with Mr. Cogswell.
VII.
DISMISSAL OF MR. BASS. DISTURBANCES IN ASHFORD. .
A FTER the settlement of Mr. Bass, Ashford enjoyed a brief interval of peace and quiet. In 1747, a committee was appointed to view the meeting-house, and see what ought to be done. New doors, new clapboards, a new window-frame for side of the meeting-house, and much repairing of glass, was found needful. A penny rate was there- upon granted, and Robert, Knowlton empowered to employ men for that purpose. Mr. Knowlton was now one of the chief men in Ash- ford, serving as moderator at all town meetings, and contributing freely of his substance for the good of the town. He was especially interested in the improvement of its schools, and when chosen deputy to the General Assembly in 1751, begged the privilege of bestowing fifty shillings upon the school, instead of expending it in the customary
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" treat." In the spring following, he gave twelve pounds, old tenor, to the school. The Corbin land-claim still continued to harass the town. After the death of James Corbin, this land fell to his son-in- law, Benjamin Marcy of Woodstock. March 31, 1750, a vote was procured in town-meeting, "That all the land owners in Corbin's claim that have kept up their bounds that were laid out to them, shall hold all the land within said bounils, be it more or less." A large number of the inhabitants of the town-Isaac and Joshua Kendall, Robert, Daniel and William Knowlton, John Wright, Joseph Works, Thomas Tiffany, Nathaniel Eaton, John Chapman, Jacob Dana, James Hale, and many others-dissented from this vote :-
"1. Because the town had no right to convey the land without liberty from Assembly.
2. Because many of these bounds were so large that they infringed upon the town commons to a great degree.
3. Presuming against our legislator.
4. Many of the voters were inhabitants of Willington, allowed so by the memorialists, and yet allowed to vote."
This remonstrance did not, procure the annulment of the vote. Robert Knowlton, Nath. Eaton and Captain James Hale (son of the first pastor) were thereupon appointed to take care of the common land.
Mr. Bass continued for some years to preach acceptably to his people, and was apparently in good standing with his ministerial brethren, taking an active part in meetings of Association. That he was less tenacious of ministerial prerogatives than some of his cotemporaries may be inferred from the following " agreement " as to matters of discipline :-
" We consent and agree as to this method following-both Pastor and brethren to proceed for the future after the manner of a mixed administration, in which the concurrence of Pastor and brethren shall be necessary towards perfecting any Act; and whenever any difficulties arise in the church, which the church shall judge proper to refer to a Council, we will send for such a Council as we can agree in. March 10, 1747."
The orthodoxy of Mr. Bass, though established by Consociation, was still somewhat suspected by the more rigid of his hearers. According to his own statement, he was " of the Calvinsian class" at the time of his ordination, but was so imprudent as to examine anew the founda- tion of his faith, and so came into a new and different scheme or set of notions. Though careful at first not to speak of this change openly, his leaving out of his public performances those notions peculiar to Calvinism was soon observed by some of his eagle-eyed people, and new jealousy aroused. A sermon, advising them to a careful unpre- judiced inquiry after the will of God, as revealed in the Bible, and not to content themselves with a religion at second-hand, increased the
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
uneasiness. A church-meeting was asked for, to which Mr. Bass responded, " That as the people were generally in a ruffle, t'was best to defer calling them together till they were cooler, and so fitter for action." This displeasing the aggrieved, the following letter was presented :-
" Reverend Sir : These are to let you know that we, the subscribers, think you cannot but be sensible that there is great uneasiness among us on account of some principles that you and some others hold, as we think, which appear to us very dangerous. We, therefore, humbly desire that you would forth- with warn a church meeting to look into the affair; if not, you will put us under a necessity of taking some other course.
Theophilus Clark. Benjamin Walker. James Bicknell.
Jonathan Baker. William Watkins.
Zechariah Bicknell.
William Chub.
Nathaniel Eaton. Jacob Dana.
Jedidiah Dana."
In pursuance of this request, a church meeting was called, January 23, 1750, when Mr. Bass and his adherents made the subjoined declaration :-
" We, the subscribers, being desirous to maintain peace and concord in the church of Christ, and always ready to contribute, according to our power, towards the removing of such difficulties as arise among us, Do now say :
1. That we do really believe the Scriptures both of the Old and New Testa- ment to contain the truth of God -- and that therein are contained all that God requires of men to believe and do, in order to their enjoying his favor in this world and that to come.
2. As we apprehend our church-covenant to be agreeable to the Scriptures of Truth, we yet adhere to it, and to every article of it.
3. We esteem this to be a true Church of Christ, purchased by his own blood, and are really desirous of continuing in the communion of it.
4. We are sensible there be different sentiments among us about the mean- ing of some scripture passages, and different sentiments we are apt to think there always will be among men, while in the present state of frailty and im- perfection.
5. As we claim the liberty of judging for ourselves in matters of religion, so we are ready to grant the same liberty to every member in the church, and to every man in the world ; and while we impose not upon any one, we hope none will be so unchristianlike as to impose upon us.
6. We stand ready to converse freely with this church and every member of it, upon any article of religion whatsoever; and we hope every one in this church is open to conviction, and ready to receive truth upon real evidence, as we trust we are ourselves.
John Bass, Pastor. Timothy Eastman. Thaddeus Watkins.
Edward Tiffany. Nath. Spring. John Pitts.
John Perry."
This declaration, Mr. Bass reports, " was not in the least satisfac- tory ;" indeed, it was even " hissed at "-and these specific objections presented :-
" Rev'd Sir. These are to let you know the grounds of our uneasiness. In the first place. We think you are gone from what you profest to the Council that ordained you in the matter of Original Sin. Yon then profest to believe, That it was not only our infelicity, but our sin, that we fell in Adam ; and now you seem to hold only the depravity, and deny the Guilt; it appears to us by your preaching, praying and conversing; I. In your preaching you neglect to preach of the doctrine of Original Sin, and the necessity of the New-Birth, as we find recorded in John iii, where are Christ's own words; and you seem
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DISMISSAL OF MR. BASS, ETC.
to lay the chief stress of our salvation on our moral obedience, (we hold Obe- dience necessary, as the fruit and effect of Faith) ; but in the matter of Justi- fication to have no part. II. You don't preach up the doctrine of election as it is recorded in Romans ii : 5, 6, and multitudes of other texts that plainly point out our Personal, Absolute, Eternal Election; also the doctrine of Par- ticular Redemption, and doctrine of Perseverance ; which are doctrines plainly set forth in the Word of God, and necessary to be preached by every minister of Christ, as fundamental articles of the Christian Religion; in which we say you are very defective. Again, when some signified their uneasiness with one or two of the brethren for denying the above-said points, you seemed to justify them, by preaching from Acts v : 38, 39. Also a further confirmation of your holding the same principle is, When you baptize children you don't so much as mention one word of the child's being guilty of Sin, or of Christ's blood being applied to the mystical washing from Sin, or any other words, that represent the child being guilty of Original Sin. Again we say, that in your conversa- tion you discover the same principles, while you approve of and plead for Mr. Taylor's book, that so plumply denies the doctrine of Original Sin. Now from all these things, we think neither your preaching nor your principles are good.
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