USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut, Volume II, 1760-1880 > Part 11
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The enlargement of the meeting-house next claimed the attention of the society. After some ineffectual attempts to procure a vote for a new one, it was voted, Feb. 16, 1769 :-
" 1. To put in a piece of fourteen feet in the middle of the meeting-house, cutting the same in two, and filling up the same by lengthening the seats.
2. To finish the meeting-house by elapboarding the same.
3. That the money in Collector Hascall's hands should be forthwith col- leeted and laid out for stuff for the meeting-house.
4. Likewise the money in the old collector's hands to be forthwith col- leeted, and laid out upon the meeting-house.
5. Also voted and chose Jacob Dresser, Benjamin Wilkinson and Samuel Watson, a committee to take the money and do the meeting-house."
The committee proceeded to bisect the house as ordered, move one of the severed halves and insert the fourteen-foot strip. This feat being accomplished after some delay and difficulty, it was next decided " to culler our meeting-house," and, having perhaps seen the folly of following their own architectural devices, they resumed their ancient practice of copying their neighbors, and further voted, "that the culler- ing of the body of our meeting house should be like Pomfret, and the Roff should be cullered Read." The previous committee were em- powered to accomplish the coloring, and also to sell the refuse stuff that
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should be left and the old glass. The filling up the inserted strip with snitable seats was a work 'of great difficulty. Votes for pew-spots were passed and revoked. June 4, 1770, four pew-spots were granted : one east side the pulpit to Nathaniel and Stephen Crosby, west side to Ephraim Guile ; a spot west side the great or south doors to Deacon Jonathan Clough and his son Obadiah, east side to Samuel Watson- the grantees to build the pews, finish the meeting-house up to the gallery, maintain the glass and pay the parish ten pounds. Francis Elliott, William Whittemore, Jun., Asa Converse, Daniel Davis, Jonathan Firman, Calvin Gay, Davis Flint and Briant Brown, Jun., were also allowed to lengthen out the front pew in the men's gallery at their own charge for their own seat. Other pew-spots were obtained the following year by taking up " the two hind seats in the men's and women's side," and this process of demolition and reconstruction went on until the old "body of seats" was replaced by capacious pews, handsomely finished and surmounted by balustrades, the balusters of which were so wide apart that an investigating child could thrust its head between them. A broad alley extended from the great double south door to the pulpit, with cross alleys to the " men's and women's doors," on the east and west sides of the house, and little twenty- inch alleys meandered among the pews "for the people to go into the seats." In 1771, it was voted "to plaister the inside of said meeting- house and pint the under-pinning ; " Samnel Watson appointed to keep the key, and ten shillings allowed for sweeping. Two years later a special committee was chosen, "to take care of said meeting house, and to prosecute any person or persons that shall hurt or damage said meeting house, or open the same without leave or consent from said committee or the key-keeper." Jacob and Benjamin Converse and Ebenezer Gay were now appointed choristers, and Joel Converse and Thaddeus Larned-son of Simon-requested to assist the above "in tuning the psalm." The large meeting-house was ever well-filled with bearers. The various rough "ways " leading to Thompson Hill were thronged on Sunday with the multitudes coming up to worship-the older men mostly on horseback with their wives and daughters on a pillion behind them, and troops of young people on foot. Mr. Russel continued to preach to the acceptance of the church and people, and was greatly beloved and respected by all. In proof of this affectionate regard it is told of one good sister of the church that in treating her pastor to the rare luxury of a cup of tea she attempted to highten the favor by half filling the teacup with molasses. "Stop, stop, my good lady !" besought the alarmed divine. " Plenty, plenty, I assure you." " Ah," replied the worthy dame with another douse into the teacup,
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" Clear molasses an't too good for Mr. Russel," *- a saying greatly commended and handed down to succeeding generations as expressing the proper sentiment of a native Thompsonian towards his minister. Regard for this dignitary was indeed one of the fundamental articles of his creed at that period. He took him for life, for better or worse, and would as soon have thought of changing his religion. Jacob Dresser, Esq., Lusher Gay and Simon Larned, still served as deacons.
Other improvements followed the renovation of the meeting house. Sabin's " old red tavern " had passed to Benjamin Wilkinson, who after some ten years ocenpation of the Morris farm on the Quinebang, had been induced to make sale of it to Mr. John Holbrook of Woodstock. Making preliminary reconnoissance in the guise of "a shabby old traveler," Holbrook carelessly asked the price of the farm, and to the great astonishment of Mr. Wilkinson, appeared a few days afterwards " with a bag full of gold and silver," ready to bargain and take posses- sion. Amused at his promptness and ever eager for trade and change, Wilkinson yielded the farm and purchased the Sabin Tavern on Thomp- son Hill, where his energy and public spirit found ample exercise. Under his anspices the open broken land about the meeting house was transformed into a comfortable common and training-field. He cut down the brush, dragged off stones and dng ont the relics of aboriginal tree-stumps. The dilapidated pound was "rectified " and an extensive peach orchard set ont east of the common. Mr. Wilkinson was acens- tomed to plant a peach stone by every rock upon his premises, and also along the roadside, that boys, travelers and church-comers might have a free supply. Under his skillful administration the old tavern-stand became more popular than ever, and was a place of great resort for public meetings and merry-makings. In winter time it served as a " Sabba-day-house " for the shivering congregation, glad to find warmth by its glowing hearth, and perhaps something more stimulat- ing. On one occasion only its proprietor incurred censure. As a native of Rhode Island, his views of Sabbath-keeping were less strict than those of his neighbors, but he had never been detected in any overt transgression till one particular Sunday, when all through the service the congregation was disturbed by what seemed the creaking
* It should be said that this story is not peculiar to Thompson. Other old ladies in other Windham County towns boast a like lavishment of superfluous sweetness. A good story often finds so many claimants that it is difficult to decide upon the true author, but in this instance the credit clearly acernes to Thompson. Not only is the name and service of " old Miss Clutl" still held in grateful remembrance, but it receives farther corroboration from the acknowledged proclivity of the Thompsonians for both ministers and molasses. The arrival of the first hogshead of this favorite luxury was celebrated with public rejoicings, and all the boys of the vicinity were allowed a free treat in honor of the occasion.
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of a very rusty-handled grindstone upon his premises. Even Mr. Wilkinson could not be indulged in such an outrage, and proper offi- cials waited upon him at intermission and solemnly called him to account for it. The suspected culprit promptly denied the charge. " Why, we hear it now," retorted his accusers, as the long-drawn creak became more distinctly audible. "Come and see for yourselves," replied the smiling landlord, leading them into his dooryard and formally presenting to them a pair of Guinea hens, (the first brought to Thompson), whose doleful cries aggravated by homesickness had subjected their owner to so serious an imputation.
While so useful and active in the standing society Mr. Wilkinson was equally ready to extend his aid to other orders. The Six-Principle Baptist Church, so early established in Thompson, after many struggles and trials became extinct about 1770, upon the removal of its pastor and some leading brethren to Royalston. Most of the Baptists that remained were connected with the church of Leicester, Mass. Attend- ance upon worship at such a distance was found very burdensome ; Baptist sentiments were becoming more popular, the heavy tax levied for repairing the meeting-house on Thompson Hill excited much dis- satisfaction, and many persons declared their willingness to support a different worship. A number of persons accordingly came together, Nov. 17, 1772, and, " in consideration of the love and nnity" they had for the Baptist constitution and way of worship," declared their purpose by the help of God to make it their general practice of public worship, and their willingness to be helpful in building the cause of God in that way either by building a house for public worship or in settling a min- ister, and any other necessary charge according as they were able, and found in their minds to be duty according to Scripture record, not be- lieving that there ought to be any compulsion in such cases or carnal sword used." This agreement was signed by about seventy-five sub- seribers, many of them men of established character and comfortable circumstances. Mr. John Martin of Rehoboth, was then chosen to preach to them on trial, an earnest and "gifted " preacher, of such re- pute at this period that he had the honor of preaching the funeral ser- mon of Elder Thomas Green of Leicester, one of the fathers in the Baptist ministry.
Service was maintained through the winter in private houses, and in June a meeting was called, and it was found that they were ready "to settle into church state." It was agreed to meet in forenoon, June 17, " for public worship, and in the afternoon to tell of our experience of God's grace which he hath wrought in our souls to each other," and so much had they to tell that it occupied another summer afternoon. August 26, they agreed to send a petition to the church in Leicester to
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get leave to embody as a distinct church. James Dike was appointed to write the petition, and with Ebenezer Green carry it to the Leices- ter church. Their request was granted, and on Sept. 9, the petitioners, i. e., Widow Deborah Torry, Mary Green, Elizabeth Atwell, Sarah White, Widow Deborah Davis, Lydia Hall, Hannah Jones, James Dike, Ebenezer Green, Jonathan Munyan, Levi White, Thaddeus Allen, John White, together with John Martin, John Atwell, John Pratt, James Coats and Levisa Martin, " firstly gave ourselves to the Lord, and to each other, and signed a written covenant." The progressive and liberal spirit of these brethren is shown in the position accorded to the female members, who were given precedence in signature to peti- tion and covenant instead of coming in at a later date as was then ens- tomary among the standing churches, and also in their leniency towards those who still held to the practices of the Six-Principle Baptists, as manifested in the last article of their Confession of Faith, viz :--
" And since singing of Psalms, and the laying on of hands, and the washing of feet is practiced in some of the churches of the saints, and some there are that doth not practice two of these, to wit, the laying on of hands and washing of feet, which makes a separation between each party since some brethren are tender on these points and don't see so clearly.through that practice, we do unanimously consent and agree to bear with each other's judgments on that account, so that there may be free and full liberty without offence to each other to practice or forbear the same."
On the day of organization the church invited Mr. Martin to assume its pastoral care. On Sept. 21, the society concuried in the call with "not one vote to the contrary." After ascertaining that all previous difficulties were settled, and agreeing that if any church member should ever bring up these buried difficulties " he should be dealt with as a transgressor," Mr. Martin "gave his answer in the positive." James Dike and Ebenezer Green were chosen to serve the church in the office of deaeon, and in case enough should not be brought in to supply the wants of the ordaining council were to provide for the lack at the ex- pense of the church. Ordination services were held Nov. 3, 1773, under a large apple-tree near the Jacobs Tavern. Preparatory exami- nation of the candidate at the house of Deacon Dike was satisfactory. Elder Ledoit began the public service with prayer. " A sermon snit- able to the occasion was preached from Phil. 1: 18, by Elder [Isaac] Backns ; Elder Green [of Charlton] gave the charge, and Elder Winsor [of Gloucester] the right hand of fellowship. The whole was conducted with deceney and order." A brother was soon baptized into the fel- lowship of the church. Dec. 9, the deacons were formally inducted into office with appropriate solemnities. It had been previously decided that each of these worthy church officers had a gift of prayer and ex- hortation that ought to be improved for the benefit of the church, but
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
they were "not to rise up of their own head and open a meeting by prayer without invitation from the elder, and though they might with . ont offence after sermon if they saw any point that they could advance any further upon agreeable to what had been said improve such oppor- unity, yet if the church in general should judge that they did not ad- vance anything forward or give some further light they should be gently reproved, and if after repeated attempts and reproofs they failed to give light, they were to be silenced." In the face of such judicial scrutiny and requisitions Deacon Dike managed to exhort to such gen- eral enlightenment and satisfaction that in the following year he was formally licensed to preach, and still later the vote was "erost out "- the church expressing its willingness that they or any other brethren " should improve according to the ability that God shall give at proper times and seasons as the church shall judge."
The society meantime had carried out its purpose of building a house for public worship, having first voted "to allow the Baptist Church the decisive vote in choosing her gifts to improve in the meeting-house," or in other words granting its occupancy and control to the church. Half an acre of land "in the fork of the roads where Oxford and Boston roads meet " was given to the society by Mr. Benjamin Wilkinson, " for the love and friendship he has to the Baptist people of Killingly, .. . so long as they do use the same for a meeting-house lot." The society committee, Ezekiel Smith, Ebenezer Starr and Jonathan Mnn- yan, had charge of building the house which was ready for occupation in the summer of 1774. Many were added to the church in this and subsequent years.
Though Thompson was now sending men and families " to the new countries " her population was increasing. The influx was yet more than the outflow. Jonathan Aldrich, Abraham Tourtellotte and Josiah Perry removed to the northwest part of the parish soon after 1770. John Holbrook, Jun., and Jason Phipps occupied parts of the old Mor. ris farm on the Quinebang. James Wilson, James Rhodes, Thomas Davis, Simon Howard and Jeremiah Barstow settled in the vicinity of Brandy Hill. Andrew Waterman, Stephen Blackmar and Stephen Bates of Scituate, took up land on or near Rhode Island colony line. Issachar Bates of Leicester, in 1772, purchased a farm northwest of Thompson Hill, land first laid out under grant to Humphrey Davy. Jonathan Nichols of Sutton had now taken possession of the Sampson Howe farm, near what is now West Thompson Village. Stephen Keith had bought land on the Quinebang. The mill privilege at the upper falls of this river, first improved by Deacon Jonathan Eaton, had now passed to his sons, John and Marson, whose business enter- prise rivalled that of Captain Cargill at the lower fall, half a mile
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below. By their efforts a bridge was after a time constructed upon the site of the subsequent Rhodesville bridge, and a new road laid out to Thompson meeting-house. The old road winding about Park's Hill had hitherto answered all purposes, but with increasing business a more direct route was demanded. In response to petitions from Paine and Edward Converse and John Eaton, Jacob Dresser, Esq. and Daniel Russel were appointed a committee, who laid out "a road from Captain Daniels' land to another highway between Landlord Converse's and Martha Flint's " in 1763 .*
The brief interval of peace following the French and Indian War was marked by a general revival of business and commercial enter- prise. Trading vessels again traversed the seas bringing back foreign goods in exchange for colonial products. A great variety of useful and fancy articles were thus brought into market, and a furor for trade broke out in all the colonies. Even remote inland settlements like Thompson caught the infection and engaged in various business opera- tions. Its first achievement was a perambulating vehicle called the Butter Cart that roamed all over the parish picking up butter, eggs and all sorts of domestic products to be repaid in goods from Boston. Good housewives, hitherto restricted to a seant supply of absolute necessities, conld now indulge in a whole row of pins or a paper of needles, and even in beads, ribbons and finery for their blooming daughters, and many were the ventures sent out by the freighted Butter Cart whose return was welcomed as if it bore the treasures of the Indies. Daniel, oldest son of Samuel Larned, followed in the same line, merely picking up at first all the surplus produce of the South Neighborhood, but in a few years he was joined by Mr. John Mason of Swanzey, and the business was greatly extended.
*As roads have usually some definite terminus it is to be inferred that this road as laid out ran into and joined another road passing through " Captain Daniels' land," to Cargill's Mills, at the Great Falls of the Quinebang. There is no evidence of the laying out of this valley road, but many hints at its ex- istence, and it was probably " trodden out " at a very early date to meet the wants of travelers and incoming settlers. The absence of early town records in Killingly makes it impossible to determine the original laying out of many important roads. A way through Killingly from Plainfield to Boston must have existed as early as 1690, but when or how it was constructed has not been ascertained, but subsequent alterations in it prove that it was nearly identical with the present road over Putnam Heights and Thompson Hill. Allusions in old deeds show that there was a road from " Hartford to Men- don," west of the Quinebaug, extending north from the Great Falls in 1703, but this seems to have been superseded by another road east of the river, and also east of French River, which it followed closely, connecting with the Con- necticut Path in the north part of Thompson. That this road to Boston, " abundantly used," by many travelers, did not cross Thompson Hill is evident from the necessity of having special roads made to that locality. The south part of the road of 1763 has been discontinued, but the greater part of it is still intact and traversed as the " old," middle, or " mountain road," between Putnam and Thompson.
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Agents were sent far and wide, even up to the new settlements in northern Massachusetts and Vermont, buying up meat, grain, ashes and any marketable product to be exchanged for rum, sugar, molasses and other articles in Providence. Foreign goods and luxuries became comparatively cheap and abundant in consequence. Tea, once so rare that nobody knew how to use it, and after general consultation over the first sample, decided to serve it up as "greens " for dinner, now took its place as a grateful beverage on festive occasions. Ginger, allspice and cinnamon came into common use. West India rum flowed as freely as cider or water, and as for molasses-it became so cheap and plentiful that a poor old woman could treat her minister accord- ing to his deserts, and little boys indulge unstinted in the favorite juvenile dainty of the neighborhood,-hot roasted potatoes hastily soused therein, and crammed all sizzling and dripping down the throats of the happy urchins. The candy of later generations could scarcely furnish so toothsome and enjoyable a banquet.
This thriving business gave a new impulse to the south part of the town. New families were drawn there, farins rose in value, wild land was taken up and fine house serected. Daniel Earned purchased land west of the country road, building under the Great Elm set out by Edmond Hughes, the former proprietor. Mr. Mason's residence was southward on the line between the parishes. The homestead farm long occupied by Joseph Cady, Esq., was purchased by Darins Sessions, deputy-governor of Rhode Island, who made his summer residence here, and brought it under high cultivation. The farm adjoining owned by the first William Larned, was sold by his heirs with dwelling-house and farm to Isaac Park of Pomfret, in 1761. Land on Park's Hill as it was now called, and in other localities, was purchased by Daniel and Simon Davis of Killingly, who both removed to Thompson Parish. This increase of business and population made the parish restive. At its first organization it had asked for town privileges, and after forty years suspension the petition was renewed. At a general town meet- ing called "to see if it be the mind of said town to be divided, viz. : the middle and south parishes to be made into one town, and Thomp- son Parish to be made into one town," it was voted " that Thompson Parish be set off as a town, and that Jacob Dresser, Esq., be agent to prefer a memorial to the General Assembly that Thompson be made a town." This memorial represented :-
" That the town of Killingly was nearly sixteen miles long . . . . and divided into three societies. Thompson Parish not so large in dimensions but more on the list than the other two. Place for holding town meetings at the middle society -many have to travel ten and eleven miles, making their situation extremely burthensome. Petitioners knowing their burthens by experience at a legal town meeting voted to have the north society made a town by the name of Watertown, two south societies remaining Killingly."
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Although a majority of the voters favored division and were repre- sented in this memorial their request was denied. The petitioners were residents of the north and south extremities of the town. The inhabit- ants of Killingly Hill and Thompson's South Neighborhood, inelnd- ing many leading citizens, opposed division, and in the threatening condition of public affairs changes were deemed inexpedient. The Assembly deferred decision, and the town voted to delay farther action till times were more propitious.
Killingly's First or Central Society was influential and prosperous though not exempt from losses and annoyances. Its records having the misfortune to be "much damnified by fire," John Leavens, Barachiah Cady and Hezekiah Cutler, were appointed to consider the situation, who advised to buy a book for society records and transcribe the same, which was done at the cost of ten shillings. In 1760, Joseph Leavens, Jun., served as society clerk; Thomas Moffat, collector ; Ebenezer Larned, Benjamin Leavens, Hezekiah Cutler, committee. The great meeting-house demanded much attention. One brother was allowed to cut a window in his pew; others to take up seats and build themselves pews. Competent committees were chosen, in 1762, to consider what was needful for repairing and finishing the house ; the former found it needful to re-shingle the roof and stop the cracks with lime or bark ; "a burying cloth and cushing for ye desk " were suggested by the latter. School affairs also claimed the consideration of the society. "Squadrons " were out of date, and Deacon Larned, Benjamin Cady and Nathaniel Brown were appointed to divide the parish " into proper districts." Their report was accepted, five dis- tricts promptly set off, and ten men chosen for school committees, viz. : Benjamin Leavens, Ichabod Turner, northwest district; Benjamin Joy, Moses Winter, middle district; Joseph Torrey, Ebenezer Earned, northeast district ; Josiah Brown, Philip Whitaker, southeast district ; Nell Saunders, John Brooks, southwest district. Among other im- provements Landlord Felshaw was allowed the privilege of building a pound on his own land, thirty feet on the outside and six and a half feet high.
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