USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut. Volume I, 1600-1760 > Part 7
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" Resolved, that the several doors of the meeting-house be taken care of and kept shut in very cold and windy seasons, according to the lying of the wind from time to time; and that people in such windy weather come in at the leeward doors only, and take care that they are easily shut, so as to pre- vent both the breaking of the doors and the making of a noise."
In 1723, Deacon Morris was appointed "to look after the meeting- house, see that it be swept, keep the key and take care of the cushing, for twenty shillings a year." Its seating was not accomplished till 1725, when Colonel John Chandler and the two deacons were requested to seat the congregation in the body of seats below and the first and second seat in each gallery,-rules to be observed -- age, charge, useful- ness. The same committee was directed " to seat and let out the hind part of the galleries to such young folks as shall desire, and be thought proper to have, the privilege of building pews."
The cost of this elaborate and expensive church edifice weighed heavily upon the Woodstock residents, and as it was customary at that day to levy a tax upon non-residents for such purposes, a town-meeting was called, January 4, 1721, to consider the matter. Captain John Chandler was chosen moderator, and the following vote carried :-
" Upon consideration of the great charge of the town in building a new meeting-house, which lies very heavy upon the inhabitants, and forasmuch as there are more than one half of the home-lots laid out in said township never yet built upon or brought under any improvement, but are kept by the owners to grow in value, who bear no part of the charge arising in the town, nor will
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UNEASINESS WITH MR. DWIGHT, ETC.
be persuaded to contribute to ye charge of building said meeting-house, though they have been amicably invited to come into it, and although they are likely to reap much profit in time to come by its being built, wherefore, voted, ' That the representatives of this town (for the time being) be desired and impowered in behalf of ye town to address the great and General Assembly, at their next session, by way of petition, that the lands throughout the town, belonging both to residents and non-residents, may be taxed towards building and finishing said meeting-house, to the sum of £250-selectmen to lay it.'"
In pursuance of this vote, Captain Chandler, as representative of Woodstock, presented his petition with his usual clearness and eloquence, to which Roxbury, who felt that she had already dis- charged every obligation to her troublesome colony, thus indignantly responded :-
" To the Hon. Court now sitting at Cambridge, June, 1721, an answer of the proprietors of the north half of Woodstock to the petition of John Chandler, Esq., in behalf of the inhabitants of Woodstock, showeth :-
I. That they are glad to hear that the inhabitants of Woodstock have lately built a convenient and hansome building for the public worship of God, and are apt to believe such a work could not be carried on without considerable charge, but think four or five hundred pounds, at most, well laid out, inight have built a very sufficient meeting-house for Woodstock, and are surprised the petitioners should mention the sum of six hundred und seventy pounds, since many large meeting-houses in the country, especially in the remote towns, have been built for a much less sum, and it had better become the good people of Woodstock to have first sat down and counted the cost before they had undertaken so great and chargeable a work.
II. As to what is set forth of the placing of the meeting-house to accom- modate the lands of the proprietors of the north part, we answer :-
1. That they were never consulted or acquainted with the building or placing in the least before all was over.
2. The new meeting-house stands within about forty or fifty rods of the old one, and the removing it was only for the convenience of standing on higher ground and nearer the country road to Connecticut.
3. The new meeting-house does in no wise accommodate the land of pro- prietors in north half, being several miles distant, and the intervening land is very rough and not fit for a settlement.
4. Respondents desire it may be considered that the town was a grant from the General Court, near forty years ago, to the town of Roxbury, and the town gave the south half (which is much the best) to the settlers who now petition, reserving to themselves the north half to be a township whenever they shall see meet and their circumstances will admit of settling it, and in the meantime whoever settles in the north half are to do duty to Woodstock, &c., by which it is plain that the town of Roxbury, even from the beginning, designed to be at no other charge but what respects their one half.
5. The town of Roxbury, viz., proprietors of the north half, gave one hundred pounds in silver money, settlers paying no part.
6. As to the petitioners pretending they were influenced and encouraged by the proprietors of the north half-the respondents utterly deny it; for, as before observed, there was never the least application made to them, nor will it be of any service unless they will make another remove of the meeting- house a mile or two yet northward; if any particular persons should have made any promises to the petitioners, it is hoped they will make them good
7. The north proprietors have been at great charge already with respect to their half in laying out lots, highways, renting lands for public use, in all of which they have not been in the least assisted by the inhabitants of Wood- stock-so that, on the whole, your respondents hope and doubt not that you will be of opinion that their petition is without any foundation in law, justice or equity, and ought to be dismissed. PAUL DUDLEY.
In behalf of Roxbury proprietors."
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
This forcible response procured the rejection of the petition, and left the residents of Woodstock to bear their own burdens. An opportune distribution of public money among Massachusetts towns afforded some relief, Woodstock share-sixty-three pounds-being at once appropriated "to finishing the meeting-house."
During the summer of 1721, Woodstock, with many other New England towns, suffered from that terrible visitation, small-pox-six persons, including some of her leading young men, dying of that disease.
VIII.
MINISTERIAL TROUBLES. INDIAN ALARMS. DEATH OF ACQUIT- TAMAUG, LAND DIVISIONS. DISMISSAL OF MR. DWIGHT.
W HILE the meeting-house was progressing, other town interests languished. After the rejection of their petition for a rate from Roxbury, the town " begged to be excused from sending a repre- sentative on account of the expense of meeting-house." The meeting- house also kept them from having schools as the law provided and reduced them to one school-master, alternating monthly for four months between the north and northeast school-houses. The minister was, however, the greatest sufferer from the exactions of the meeting- house. The uneasiness between pastor and people was increasing. The small salary allowed Mr. Dwight was quite insufficient for the wants of his large family. Cut off from the ministry-land, he resorted to various devices for increasing his income, hiring and cultivating land in Woodstock, and speculating in the wild lands of Killingly-which excited much dissatisfaction and grumbling. In 1719, he petitioned for an increase of salary. The town, " complaining of great poverty and being affected with the common calamity in the general time of scarcity," allowed him ten pounds. In 1722, the town, still complaining of "great poverty, straitness and scarcity, yet being willing to do what they could for their minister," ordered a quarterly contribution to be taken for him. This proving insufficient, and the " uneasiness " on both sides increasing, a committee was chosen, May 22, 1723, to confer with Mr. Dwight, " who willingly submitted his case to the town, to do as they see cause, and for the future intended to be passive, but fixed in opinion that his salary ought to be enlarged, as it fell short of what he justly expected, which he attributed to the increased price to which things for the comfort and support of life have arisen, but
57.
MINISTERIAL TROUBLES, ETC.
expected nothing for deficiencies in time past and would give the town a full discharge."
The committee " took the premises into serious consideration " and in due time reported, "That as Mr. Dwight had been with them thirty- three years on sixty pounds salary, which he says is not sufficient for his honorable support, and the great stroke of husbandry under his management to which he has been too much necessitated in time past, takes up much of his time and thoughts, therefore, advised that his salary be increased to seventy-five pounds." The town accepted the report, and voted that the above sum be assessed for him and requested the selectmen to acquaint him with this vote, and "instruct him moreover to devote himself more especially to his sacred functions that they may be encouraged by his vigorous performance for the future, either to continue this said sum or to enlarge it." James Corbin alone dissented from this vote-"the covenant having been complied with and not seeing cause to exceed it."
Other town matters received but little attention. Roads and bridges were left unmended ; cattle and birds unmolested ; but either wolves or hunters were increasing and wolf-rates much more frequently demanded-now to pay " a wolf-bill " to Jonathan Payson and then for "three grown wolves to Joseph Bartholomew." To prevent charges from vagrants or chance residents the town voted, March 12, 1723, " That if any person entertain or hire any stranger or transient person, except for nursing or other inevitable occasion, they shall give good security to the selectmen of the town that they shall not be burthened or charged with them, or forfeit ten shillings a week for four weeks and then twenty shillings."
Town meetings at this period were conducted with much formality. The Colony laws against drunkenness, profaneness and immorality, together with the act for reformation of manners, were always read at the opening. Captain John Chandler-still town clerk and treasurer- was also moderator at its meetings. Training-days were observed with much hilarity and spirit, and military organization maintained in accordance with the laws of Massachusetts.
In public matters, Woodstock now was chiefly interested in the formation of a new county. Included in Suffolk County, all its land deeds had to be recorded, its wills proven in Boston. Captain John Chandler was the first to initiate a movement for a new county organi- zation, and in 1720 presented a petition to the General Court "for the erection of a new county in the south of Massachusetts, to be called Worcester." A bill to this effect was presented, "read twice, and ordered to be considered next session " and then indefinitely deferred.
8
58
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
In 1722, the peace of the country was again disturbed by the renewal of Indian alarms and hostilities, which continued some years. The senior John Chandler, first as major and then as colonel, served actively in successive campaigns. His son, William, also served as captain. Woodstock was not apparently exposed to attacks and was able to extend aid to the towns north of her. A company of scouts, raised mostly in Woodstock and Pomfret by Major Chandler, guarded the frontier from August to November, 1722. The Indians in the Reservation north of Woodstock occasioned some alarm and were not allowed to live in the woods by themselves, but were drawn in and placed under the conduct of one Englishman-and only allowed to hunt under his charge and permission. In the summer of 1724, the alarms and distress were very great. The infant settlement of Wor- cester was peculiarly exposed, and sent most urgent appeals for help to Colonel Chandler at Woodstock, "having an expectation that he would be a father" to it. July 7, he received orders "to impress twenty men, to be posted in Shrewsbury and Leicester," and Captain William Chandler's company was stationed at Rutland and Leicester.
Woodstock's Indian inhabitants apparently gave her no trouble during this disturbed period. The Wabbaquassets were fast fading away and soon vanish from sight. The first seen by us is the last of whom we have definite knowledge. John Acquittamaug was still living in the vicinity of Woodstock. Indeed, it is possible that in the diversity of spelling common to that age, he may have been the very "John Acquatticus " who so long occupied the school-land: A visit of this aged aboriginal patriarch to Boston is thus chronicled by the News-Letter of August 29, 1723 :-
" On Monday night last, at Judge Sewall's, and the night following at Judge Dudley's, was entertained one of the oldest Indians in New England-John Quittamog, living in the Nipmuck Country, near Woodstock. He is reckoned to be about one hundred and twelve years old. The English inhabitants of Woodstock remember him as a very old man for near forty years past, and that he has all along affirmed, and which he still affirms, that he was at Boston when the English first arrived; and when there was but one cellar in the place, and that near the Common, and then brought down a bushel and a half of corn upon his back.
Now, it being ninety-three years since the English settled at Boston, he cannot be supposed less than near 112 years old at this time. He says that the Massachusetts Indians sent word up to the Nipmugs that if they had any corn to spare the English wanted it, and it would be worth their while to bring some of it down, which occasioned his father and him, with some otliers, to come down. He is now in good health, and has his understanding and memory very entire considering his great age, and is capable of traveling on foot about ten miles in a day."
The News-Letter, of July 1-8, 1725, completes the record :-
" WOODSTOCK, June 30. On the 21st instant, died near this place, John Acquittimaug, aged about 114 years, but the Indians say (and he called liis own age) 123 years."
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MINISTERIAL TROUBLES, ETC.
In 1724, a final division of all the remaining land in the south half of Woodstock was ordered. Smith Johnson, William Lyon and Edmond Chamberlain were appointed a committee to oversee the work-John Chandler, Jun., surveyor. About seventeen hundred acres were then distributed among thirty-six proprietors. The fifty-two allotments were so arranged that those representing more than one need draw but once. "Ten acres in Honey-Pot Hole, where the hearth-stones lie," were placed under the regulations of a committee to supply the inhabitants with hearth-stones-timber growing in this lot reserved for public use. Twelve acres on Rocky Hill, adjoining the hearth -stone lot, southwest corner of Isaac Bartholomew's home-lot, were laid out to Colonel John Chandler, reserving to the inhabitants "the liberty of ingress, egress and regress to get stones from off said land as they may have occasion or chance, on the following conditions, viz., "That they fairly and friendly open and shut such gates or bars as lead into the premises by the way near Eliphalet Carpenter's house, which is the only way in which it can be come at, and that they don't presume to come on the premises for the getting and carting away stones but only in the months of November, December, January, Feb- ruary, March and April, without particular leave and license from said Chandler, nor suffer the stones they dig to lie dugg upon said land for more than nine months." Persons were required to draw their lots at the proper time. Very few of the original proprietors had survived to take part in this distribution. Ebenezer Morris died in 1718; Henry Bowen, March 13, 1724. John Marcy, Sen., and Benjamin Griggs had also died during that year. September 11, 1725, fifty-two lots were thus distributed :-
1. Isaac Bartholomew. 17. John Frizzel.
2. Colonel John Chandler.
3. Ebenezer Morris.
4. Moses Barret.
5. Edward Chamberlain.
6. Heirs of John and Peter Morse (lately died of small-pox).
7. John Child.
8. Samuel Perrin.
9. Morse's heirs.
10. Eliphalet Carpenter.
11. Heirs of Samuel Hemingway.
12. James Horsmor.
13. Henry Bowen.
4 14. James Frizzel.
15. William Lyon.
16. Heirs of Benjamin Griggs.
18. Nathaniel Sanger, Jun.
19. Smith Johnson.
20. John Holmes.
21. Heirs of Thomas Lyon.
22. Ebenezer Eastman.
23. Joseph Bugbee.
24. Colonel Chandler.
25. Samuel Paine.
26. Jonathan Payson.
27. David Holmes.
28. Heirs of Joseph Peak.
29. Jonathan Peak.
30. John Johnson.
31-34. Colonel Chandler.
33-35. Smith Johnson.
36. William Bartholomew.
With land divided, population increasing, Indian hostilities allayed and meeting-house completed, nothing seemed lacking to the peace and prosperity of Woodstock but pleasanter relations with the minister. Increase of salary had not diminished the difficulties. Mr. Dwight
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
had not the prudence needful for such a juncture and was constantly giving fresh offence by some bluntness of speech or eccentricity of conduct. His fondness for experimenting and speculating in secular matters aggrieved some of his people, and it is possible that his readiness to adopt an innovation in the form of public worship may have offended others. The question of "singing by regular tunes " was then agitating the New England churches. The few tunes brought over from England had been jangled together in inextricable discord and confusion. In 1721, the Rev. Thomas Walter, of Roxbury, pub- lished a treatise "upon the grounds and rules of music, or an introduc- tion to the art of singing by rote," containing twenty-four tunes, harmonized into three parts. This attempt to supersede the old Puritan tunes and restrict the liberty of individual singers met with great opposition and was long successfully resisted. Mr. Dwight was one of the first to favor the new method and, in 1725, preached a sermon in Framingham, intended "To silence the outcry that has been made in many places about regular singing," which was thought worthy of publication. Mr. Dwight, in this discourse, blamed the congregations severely for their ignorance and heedlessness "in sliding from one tune to another while singing or singing the same line in different tunes," and other reprehensible practices, and gave many forcible reasons for adopting the new method. He thought that the Saviour must have used at least one tune and David several, and recommended the use of a distinct tune and the naming it with the Psalm before singing.
Another cause of dissatisfaction with Mr. Dwight was his alleged leaning towards Connecticut's Saybrook Platform, which, to this Massachusetts church, was peculiarly offensive. The ill-will and jealousy from these various causes at length rose to such a height that, August 30, 1726, a ministerial council was convened in Wood- stock meeting-house. The Reverend Messrs. Estabrooks, of Canter- bury ; Williams, of Pomfret ; Fisk, of Killingly ; John Swift and John Preston, of Massachusetts, were present, and after due examination and deliberation reached the subjoined " Result : "-
" We, the subscribers, being desired by the Rev. Mr. Dwight and the brethren of the church in this place to hear their differences and essay in accommodation between them; after humble and earnest supplication to God for guidance and direction and a full hearing of their differences, we offer as follows :-
1. That it is a matter of great grief to us that we find such a general uneasiness among the people referring to Mr. Dwight's conduct among us, who hath for so many years been laboring in the work of the ministry in this flock and congregation of the Lord in this place.
2. That, in our opinion, the people or brotherhood above mentioned have reason to be dissatisfied, there being some articles in Mr. Dwight's conduct that have been exceptionable and justly grievous to the people.
3. That notwithstanding, we cannot but think, if suitable methods were
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MINISTERIAL TROUBLES, ETC.
used (with a christian spirit) by the Rev. Mr. Dwight and the people, they might accommodate the differences among themselves, which we earnestly exhort them to endeavor.
4. But in case the Rev. Mr. Dwight and the people, or either of them, decline essays towards accommodation among themselves, we judge it their duty to agree upon and call a council of churches to hear and determine upon the differences among them.
Finally, we exhort the Reverend pastor, church and congregation of the Lord in this place, in the fear of God and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Master of the Assembly, who will call all under shepherds and their flocks to an account, to labor conscientiously after a mutual love, care and faithfulness one to the other, that when the Great Shepherd and Bishop of souls (who standeth at the door) shall appear, their account may be with joy and not with grief."
On the following Sabbath, after dismissing the congregation, Mr. Dwight read to the church a declaration :-
" To my brethren and neighbors in Woodstock :
I have now, though with much weakness, as God has enabled me, stood it out with you in wants, wars and diversities of words these thirty-six years-pray God forgive my weakness and impatience shown-and now am so much dis- spirited and dis-fitted to go on with iny calling among you, and so much has been laid on me tending to defeat the end of my ministry, and my family so burdened and broken, that this was the result of iny thoughts, to ask at once my dismission from you in pursuit of a sedate and quiet life. But if I have before, I would not now do anything rashly like Jonah, to displease Him in whose hand my breath is and whose are all my ways, and so that which I had taken upon myself to determine, viz., staying or going off, either now or at the year's end-I will now leave with you to encourage or determine as you find your own temper and disposition in the matter. However, it seems not desirable on your side or mine that the parting should be in the midst of such a ruffle, for we must go on to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, or we had better live no longer, and of necessity become quiet in the grave in a little time, and wo to that servant that at his Lord's coming is found beating his fellow-servant. I am sensible that I have many faults and much to be forgiven, even of uncomfortable excrescences of corrupt nature and have had too angry resentments in a day of temptation, but hope to learn better by looking more upon that unparalleled Pattern of patience and meek- ness-ye holy Jesus-and by daily beseeching more restraining and renewing grace. Forgive me all the wrong done you, and help me to get this testimony of my own forgiveness in Heaven (the great thing I set my mind to, I hope), that I may cordially forgive all the injury that I think has been done me. As to myself, it is pacifying that I may need affliction more than I thought, for better men have seen darker hours; besides, the disciple is not above his Lord, and I will endeavor to take other blame more patiently as well as my own, lest I have been too partial to myself, and let not my extenuation be interpreted as if I could own nothing beyond infirmity, when I designed only to guard against the mis-imputation of avariciousness, for I hope I have not so preached with a conscience to allow sin with myself and disallow it with others, for then what should I do when He rises up that executes vengeance, and I will endeavor, by the help of God, to reform what has been grievous to my hearers. But after all, by the free grace of God, through the merit of the Great Redeemer, must we get to Heaven. But if we cannot unite in other things let us in the common Saviour, and if we can't longer agree together in this world let us look for the mercy of God to eternal life and of the free gift share together and eternal life. JOSIAH DWIGHT.
P. S. Had I my choice, it would be to finish my life and labors together in this place, where, when I had a prospect of, oft-times I have brought thie meeting-house and burial-place, that are in such a strict neighborhood with us, closer still together in my thoughts, that one may be quickening and awakening about ye care and zeal belonging to ye other and prophesying about the time of rest and reward, and should come into anything I can with a good con- science to finish after these meditations well-but desire not that any would
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
impose too hard upon themselves to admit this, for I hope for the future, by ye help of God, having seen the end of persecution, to engage my few remain- ing moments in such contemplation and apprehension of the inexpressible and inconceivable eternity as to make, not only the burdens of my peregrinations, but even the whole compass of time itself, shrink to the lowest point or nothing."
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