USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut, Volume II, 1760-1880 > Part 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
209
SUFFERINGS OF SOLDIERS, ETC.
the bereaved widow attempted to gain relief by proseenting one " who had reaped the benefit of her husband's transaction as contractor," but only lost the little that was left to her. With one bed and the remains of her furniture she took her children to her husband's workshop and tried to support them by needle-work ; but even here the merciless creditors pursued her. She held her two youngest children by the hand while the constable sold at the door her andirons, chairs, bed, table, bedding, everything but the barest minimum prescribed by law. The children gathered chips out of the street, and with stones for andirons, and a spoke of a broken wheel for poker, they managed to keep a fire and preserve existence, though often redneed to extrem- ity of destitution. But the strong faith and piety of Mrs. Tinker supported her in the darkest hour, and her earnest prayers were often followed by relief from unexpected sources. One Saturday night when she had nothing to eat Deacon Samuel Gray brought a sacred offering, "the crusts of several loaves of bread prepared for sacra- ment " on the morrow, together with wood an I other supplies. Other good people interested themselves in her behalf and found homes for the children, and Benjamin Lathrop, the sturdy old Baptist who would take no hire for his preaching, then took the widow to his own house, and with his excellent wife became to her "mother, brother, sister, friend and physician ;" providing for her necessities, till her children were able to assist her. Eliashib Adams of Canterbury, Capt. Daniel Davis of Killingly, were among the scores of sterling men " who sacrificed all for their country during the Revolution." And when their own estate could not satisfy demands, others, like Joshna Elderkin, were "thrown into Windham jail and there spent many months." Many affluent families, once enjoying all the comforts of life, were redneed to poverty and destitution by the inability of the government to redeem its pledges.
Despite these remaining shadows there was great hope and buoy- ancy ; pride in the past and confidence in the future. A new spring and impulse was felt throughout the States, and while settling up their accounts and storing their military munitions the Windham towns were already preparing for development and expansion. Brook- lyn, Canada and Thompson Parishes asked for local independence and town privileges, and Pomfret renewed its efforts for a removal of the county seat. At a town meeting in Killingly, May 1, 1732, it was voted :-
" 1. That said town be divided.
2. That Thompson Parish be a distinct town.
3. That Col. William Danielson and Mr. Daniel Larned be agents to pre- fer a memorial."
27
210
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
Their petition was opposed by a strong minority, showing that division would be very detrimental both to State and town, increasing taxes already so large that the inhabitants groaned under the burden- and division was consequently deferred for three years. Brooklyn and Canada were also compelled to wait till affairs were more settled. An application to the General Assembly in 1786, for a new county " with Pomfret for shire-town," met with positive rejection, while Coventry and Union were incorporated into the newly-formed County of Tolland. Hezekiah Ripley. Shubael Abbe, Samuel Gray, Jr., and Hezekiah Manning, appointed by Windham for the examination and settlement of war accounts, had meanwhile agreed to pay the balance due by the town ; Ashford's selectmen adjusted the accounts of Ken- dall, Knox and Russ, for going to Boston for salt : Killingly appointed a committee " to examine affairs of soldiers that did a tour of duty at Ilorse-Neck," while Seth Paine, Major Israel Putnam and Nathan Witter of Brooklyn, staked out a piece of ground by the side of the common for the purpose of keeping their much prized field-piece, and Canterbury's firearms, " properly scoured, cleaned and oiled," were stowed away in a chest, and its " wooden bowls sold, and taken care of." Its selectmen were also empowered to sell as much of the stock of powder as they should think would be for the benefit of the town- the avails of such sale to discharge town debts.
The Courts of the County now resumed their wonted functions. Shubael Abbe was appointed sheriff after the death of Sheriff Hunt- ington. . Large numbers of tavern-keepers were appointed and a num- her of impost collectors, viz. : Windham, Ebenezer Gray ; Pomfret, Thomas Grosvenor ; Woodstock, Jedidiah Morse ; Voluntown, Benja min Dow. Benjamin Howard, John Parish, Moses Cleveland, David Young and others, were admitted attorneys. In 1782, it was ordered that a yard be erected around the jail twelve feet high, as soon as the money can be procured from the County. The limits assigned to cer- tain classes of prisoners included "Capt. Tinker's house, Samuel Gray's trading shop, Thomas Reed's workshop, Major Huntington's black- smith shop, then a straight line to the tavern sign-post belonging to the heirs of John Fitch, next to an elm tree in front of John Stam- ford's dwelling-house, and thence back to the jail." In 1785, a special meeting of associates and justices was held-Col. Dyer, Jeremiah Mason, Isaac Perkins, General James Gordon, present-who agreed to lay a tax of three farthings for repairing prison and administra- tion of justice. Ebenezer Gray, collector.
In the various important questions claiming the consideration of all good patriots during these experimental years, Windham was keenly interested. With her usual alertness she watched the signs of the
211
WAR SETTLEMENTS, ETC.
times, and was ever ready to speak her mind upon all needful occasions. Immediately upon the close of the war, October 3, 1783, Ashford commissioned Dr. Thomas Huntington to draft these formal " instruc- tions " to her representatives :-
" TO CAPTAIN SIMEON SMITH AND ISAAC PERKINS.
Gentlemen :- Although we repose the utmost confidence in your ability and integrity, yet at this critical conjoncture of our affairs, we conceive it will not be disagreeable to you to be informed of our sentiments with regard to several important matters.
1. Oppose all encroachments of Congress upon the sovereignty and jurisdic- tion of separate States, and the assumption of power not expressly vested in them by Articles of Confederation.
2. Inquire into the very interesting question whether Congress was author- ized by the Federal Constitution to grant half-pay for life, and five years full pay to officers-and if the measure be ill-founded, attempt every constitu- tional method for its removal.
3. Promote a strict inquiry into public and private expenditures, and bring to a speedy account delinquents and defaulters.
4. Use your endeavors that vacant lands be appropriated for the general benefit of the United States.
5. Pay particular attention to the regulation and encouragement of com- merce, agriculture, arts and manufactures.
6. We instruct you to use your influence for the suppression of placemen, pensioners and all unnecessary officers.
7. Also, to use your influence to promote the passing an act in the Assem- bly to enable Congress to lay an impost on the importation of foreign articles.
And, finally, we instruet you to move in the Assembly that the laws for the promotion of virtue and good manners and the suppression of viec, may be attended to, and enforced, and any other means tending to promote a general reformation of manners."
The deputies from Windham town were requested to urge "that effectual methods be adopted, that the yeas and nays upon every important political question taken in future in the General Assembly be published." Also, to oppose the resolve of Congress recommending five years pay to officers. As it became increasingly evident that the existing confederation was inadequate, and that farther consolidation and centralization were essential to the peace and permanence of the United States, the situation was discussed with greater earnestness. Committees were chosen in several towns to correspond with com- mittees of other towns in Connecticut, "on the subject of public grievances." The proceedings of the convention called to remedy their grievances by revising the Articles of Confederation, and strengthening the executive powers of the central government, were anxiously debated. The Federal Constitution when submitted for con- sideration and acceptance, was most carefully scrutinized. Canterbury, November 12, 1787, selected ten of her most competent citizens "to examine the new form of government made by the Convention at Philadelphia, and show to this meeting their arguments and opinions thereon." Dyer and Elderkin were chosen delegates the same day by Windham to attend a State Convention at Hartford, "to take into
212
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
consideration the new Constitution proposed by general convention." Public opinion was at first greatly divided. Many looked with sus- picion upon the new form of government as calculated to rob their State of its rights, and give too much power to the General Govern- ment. At Woodstock when called to the choice of delegates, the new Constitution was heard on motion, and "largely and warmly debated until the dusk of the evening," when the meeting was adjourned after much debate and opposition. A very full attendance but no choice. The Canterbury committee declared itself muprepared to report. Windham appointed a day for especial consideration, and, "after a very able and lengthy discussion, the town resolved by a large majority, that as the proposed Constitution was to be determined on by State Convention, it was not proper for the town to pass any vote on the subject." The young town of Hampton called a special meet- ing and appointed a large number of its leading citizens, viz. : Thomas Fuller, Elijah Wolcott, Philip Pearl, Ebenezer Hovey, Abner Ashley, James Stedman, James Howard, David Martin, Andrew and Benjamin Durkee, Thomas Stedman and John Brewster,-a committee to con- sult on matters concerning the country, reported by delegates assem- bled in Philadelphia, and draw up instructions for our delegates." These instructions were accepted a month later, December 17, and formally communicated to the delegate, Amos Utley, but for some unassigned cause Hampton is reported "unrepresented," by a State historian. Woodstock managed in adjourned meeting to elect repre- sentatives though "it was said, sundry voted not legal voters." At the State Convention assembled in Hartford, January 3, 1788, the following delegates appeared from Windham County :-
Windham .- Eliphalet Dyer, Jedidiah Elderkin.
Canterbury .- Asa Witter, Moses Cleveland. Ashford .- Simeon Smith, Hendrick Dow. Woodstock .- Stephen Paine, Timothy Perrin. Thompson .- Daniel Larned.
Killingly .- Sampson Howe, William Danielson.
Pomfret .- Jonathan Randall, Simon Cotton. Brooklyn .- Seth Paine.
Plainfield .- James Bradford. Joshua Dunlap.
Voluntown .- Moses Campbell, Benjamin Dow.
Lebanon .- William Williams, Ephraim Carpenter. Mansfield .- Constant Southworth, Nathaniel Atwood.
The strong arguments urged in behalf of the Federal Constitution by those great men, Ellsworth, Sherman and Johnson, who had borne so prominent a part in its construction, allayed the doubts and fears of many distrustful delegates. Windham's Samuel Huntington, now governor of the State, and Lieutenant-Governor Wolcott, addressed the convention in favor of ratifying the Constitution. Nine of the
-
213
ADOPTION OF FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
Windham County towns voted in favor of ratification. Pomfret, Woodstock, Mansfield and one of the Lebanon delegates were unable to consent to it. The great majority of the inhabitants of Windham County accepted the result with approval and rejoicings, and with great unanimity and heartiness proceeded to cast their votes for Wash- ington as president, and assume their various responsibilities as citizens of the United States of America.
II.
WINDHAM'S PROSPERITY. THE WINDHAM PHENIX. RELIGIOUS DECLENSION. POLITICAL AGITATION. GENERAL TOWN AFFAIRS.
W INDIIAM County's energetic shire town entered upon the new regime with great spirit and animation. Having borne so prominent a part in carrying forward the REVOLUTION she was equally ready to lead in building up and pushing onward the NATION. Those public men who had served State and country so faithfully in the long struggle were growing old, cautious and conservative, but young men full of life and courage were hurrying up to fill their places. Fore- most among the prominent men of the new generation was Zephaniah Swift of Tolland, now established in Windham town, and winning immediate success as a lawyer. Jabez Clark and Samuel Gray, Jr., had married daughters of Col. Elderkin. and engaged in legal practice. Col. Ebenezer Gray resumed the practice of his profession, and engaged in public affairs as far as his enfeebled health would per- mit. Timothy Larrabee and the older lawyers still continued in practice. Both old and new generations appear among town officers. Hezekiah Ripley succeeded Samuel Gray, Sen., as town clerk and treasurer in 1786. Shubael Abbe, William Rudd, Capt. Eliphalet Murdock, Ebenezer Bass, Capt. Zephaniah Swift. Majors Backus and Clift, were chosen selectmen ; Henry Hewett, Thomas Tileson, Jonathan Kingsley, Melatiah Bingham, William Robinson, John Walden, listers ; Jedidiah Bingham, Gideon Martin, Manasseh Palmer, Col. Thomas Dyer. Joshua Maxwell, collectors of town taxes : Elisha Abbe, constable and collector of State taxes ; Josiah Babcock, Elisha White, Sammel Kingsbury, Elijah Robinson. Nathaniel Huntington, Ashael Allen, William Cary, tithingmen ; Gideon Hebard, Jonathan Badger, Josiah Linkon, Jr., Dr. Pentel Cheney, William Robinson, grand-jurors ; Jacob Robinson, sealer of weights and measures.
214
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
Sixteen highway surveyors, four fence-viewers, two pound-keepers, and two leather-sealers, were also elected. Zenas Howes was ap- pointed to take care of the Iron Works bridge, near his residence on the Willimantic; Capt. Murdock had charge of the old bridge ; James Flint, Jr., the Island bridge. Town affairs required little atten- tion. The several societies ordered their schools ; the poor were let out to the lowest bidder. As there were many returned soldiers about town destitute of employment, and many idlers hanging about the village without regular business, depending upon jobs at Court ses- sions, the town enjoined upon its selectmen, "To attend vigilantly to the laws respecting idleness, bad husbandry and tavern-haunting, and see that the same be carried into effectual execution against such of the inhabitants of the town as shall in future be guilty of a breach of said law."
As business revived under the new ordering of public affairs this charge was less needful. With debt funded, credit restored, and a government to aid and protect them, the people of the United States began to reap the fruit of their hard struggle. Selfish laws no longer shackled their teeming energies. The world was all before them to feed and clothe, and no man willing to work was forced to remain idle. The various industries initiated in Windham before the war were now resumed with redoubled spirit. Agricultural operations were greatly extended. All kinds of farming produce were demanded, for home consumption or exportation. Shubael, Phinehas and Elisha Abbe and other solid men engaged in various " branches of husbandry." Grass on many farms had now taken the place of wheat, and great attention was given to stock raising and dairy manufactures. A large surplus of beef and pork was barreled on the farms for market, and cheese became so plentiful " that a speculator could sometimes buy a hundred thousand pounds in a neighborhood." The superabundance of wool developed a home industry-" the knitting of woolen stock- ings and mittens for New York market "-by which many women found pleasant and profitable employment and several thousand dollars were yearly brought into the town. Peter Webb, Henry Stanley, Jonathan Jennings, the Taintor brothers, Clark and Dorrance, Timothy Warren, and many other business firms successively established, were busily occupied in buying up these various prodnets, and retailing West India goods and great variety of merchandise. Commercial enterprise was by no means restricted to these mercantile houses. Elisha Abbe was one who claimed the privilege of shipping his own products without the intervention of " middle men," and built for his own accommodation " THE WINDHAM," a brisk little craft, with a huge frog cut in its bow for a figure-head.
215
WINDHAM'S PROSPERITY, ETC.
Manufactures were also progressing. Col. Elderkin trimmed and enlarged his mulberry orchard, and resumed work in his silk factory, turning out annually some ten or twelve thousand pounds of hosiery- silk to meet the demand for fashionable long stockings. Handker- chief and vest patterns were also manufactured there " in considerable numbers." He procured a loom and weaver from Europe and suc- ceeded in fabricating sundry pieces of silk which furnished dresses* for his daughters. Col. Dyer expended much money and labor in constructing a dam and flonring works upon the Shetucket in South Windham. He also carried on a grist-mill at the Frog Pond brook, and gave his son Benjamin a thousand pounds to start the drug busi- ness at Windham Green. Dr. Benjamin, as he was called, went to New York and expended his whole capital in one purchase, buying it is said a hundred and fifty pounds of wafers, and other things in proportion. The Windham people made much sport of it after their fashion, but his immense variety gave him the enstom of all the physicians in the surrounding country, and his advertisements claimed for him "the largest assortment of drugs, dye-stuffs, paints, spices, &c., to be found in Eastern Connecticut." He was accustomed for a time to import directly from London. The practising physicians of Windham at this date were Dr. Samuel Lee, Dr. Thomas Gray and Dr. John Clark. John Staniford followed the art of working in silver. An industry deserving notice was devised by Henry De Witt while confined within the jail limits. From hoops and refuse iron picked up in the streets by his boys he managed to fabricate headed tacks that supplied a need in the community, and by their sale was able to provide sus- tenance for his family. Mills for grinding and sawing ; establishments for fulling and dressing cloth, tanning leather, malting and distilling liquors, were in active operation in all parts of the town. John and Stephen Brown continued the manufacture of saltpetre and potash at their home farm on the Willimantic. The neighborhood of the Old State Armory had made no great advances. The fine privilege offered by the Falls was but scantily improved, running only a single grist-mill and saw-mill and supplying water for Ezekiel Cary's tannery. John Bingham " tended the grist-mill," and occupied an old house opposite built by Amos Dodge, an early resident of this vicinity. The red house built by Deacon Nathaniel Skiff, was occupied by his son Joseph, a bachelor with three maiden sisters. Bela Elderkin for a time kept tavern in the Howes House. These with the families of Stephen Fitch, Zenas Howes, David Young, and one or two others,
* Letter from William W. Campbell, Cherry Valley, New York, December 25, 1857.
216
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
made up the population of the "Old State." Yet notwithstanding the comparative insignificance of this part of the town, one of its resi- dents, little old Uncle Amos Dodge, " was impressed with the convic- tion that Willimantic Falls was destined to become a great place," and by his faith and eloquence so wrought upon the minds of his neigh- bors that they actually consented to go out in the woods with him and prepare timber for a meeting-house which he insisted should be made ready for the prospective inhabitants, but after raising a frame their faith failed them, and many years passed before Willimantic was favored with a house of worship. That the Falls should ever become a great business centre and the head of the town seemed as improbable to that generation as that Windham Green should ever lose its leader- ship. The efforts made by the northern towns of Windham County to effect a change of county seat excited for a time only derision, but the boldness and persistency of the leaders of the movement at last compelled attention. In 1797, Timothy Larrabee, Jabez Clark and Shubael Abbe, were appointed agents of the town to meet with gentle- men of other towns opposed to removal of county seat. So alarming was the prospect that these agents were authorized to consent, "that if a court-house and accommodations should be completed in any other town without expense to the publie, courts might be held half the time in them."
Business enterprises were stimulated by new facilities for advertising. In 1790, John Byrne of Norwich, set up a printing-press in the lower room of the Court-house, and early in the following year began the publication of Windham County's first newspaper.
THE Or, WINDHAM
VOL. I.] SATURDAY,
Windham : Printed by John Byrne,
CONABIMUR.
PHENIX; HERALD.
MARCH 12, 1791. [NUMB. I.
North of the Court House.
The journal launched upon the world under this portentous figure- head was a modest little sheet of coarse bluish-gray paper, bearing little resemblance to its illustrious prototype save in the progeny of county newspapers destined to spring from its ashes. Striving for success in conformity to his motto, Mr. Byrne achieved a very eredita- ble country newspaper, fully equal to its cotemporaries. Like them, it lacked " leaders " and " locals." Its editor made no attempt to lead or form public opinion. Windham's rampant politicians cared little for such guidance but only asked for facts from which they could draw their own conclusions. General and foreign news was furnished with
217
THE WINDHAM PHENIX, ETC.
all possible dispatch, viz .: foreign news of three months date ; congres- sional reports ten or twelve days old ; full reports from Connecticut election in three weeks. These, with advertisements, short moral essays, humorous anecdotes, and occasional casualties, made up the table of contents. Meagre as it was it satisfied the public. The Phenix was accepted as the organ of Windham County, and in a few years numbered some twelve hundred subscribers, and was carried about in all directions by post-riders. Jonathan Ashley of Hampton, was one of the first of these riders. Another was Samuel Farnham, who gave place in 1797, to Benjamin Hutchins, Jr., who would "take the usual route through Hampton, Pomfret, Woodstock, Ashford, and Mansfield." The eastern towns were visited by their own post-man. All other mail accommodations were supplied by Norwich till Jannary 1, 1795, when a post-office was opened at Windham Green-John Byrne, postmaster. Residents of all the neighboring towns now repaired to this office. Letters for Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Hampton, Mansfield, Killingly, and even distant Thompson, were advertised in the Windham Herald.
Newspaper and post-office added to Windham's importance and influence. Its superiority " to every inland town in the State in trade and merchandise," was reiterated with greater confidence. Its numerous stores, warehouses, taverns, and all places of public resort, were well filled and patronized on ordinary occasions, and on festive days its streets were thronged with visitors from all the surrounding country. There were the usual Training and Election days and mighty regimental musters. Most of the county convoca- tions and public gatherings were held in Windham, meetings of the Western Land Company, of the Windham Medical Society, and of other embryo associations. The sessions of the Court brought a train of judges, lawyers and witnesses. Soon after the close of the war an academy was opened, securing for a time the services of Dr. Pemberton, and though for lack of permanent funds it was unable to retain so popular a teacher, it maintained a respectable standing, and was well sustained by Windham and its vicinity. Public schools were yet poor, but efforts were made for their improvement. In 1794, thirteen school districts were set off, designated according to the fashion of the day by some prominent resident, viz. : 1, Frederick Stanley's : 2, Solomon Huntington's; 3, Jabez Wolcott's ; 4, Timothy Wales' ; 5, Eliphalet Murdock's : 6, William Preston's : 7, Zebediah Tracy's ; 8, Josiah Palmer's; 9, James Cary's ; 10, Joseph Palmer's ; 11, William Cary's : 12, John Walden's ; 13, Zenas Howe's. Private schools were often sustained in different neighborhoods.
Much consideration was now given to the improvement of high-
28
218
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
ways. Highway districts were instituted identical with the school districts, and liberty procured to levy a tax to keep them in order. Projected turnpikes called out much discussion. Jeremiah Ripley, Timothy Larrabee, Moses Cleveland, Luther Payne, James Gordon. and such others as should associate with them, were incorporated as The Windham Turnpike Company, in 1799, constructing a turnpike from Plainfield to Coventry, past Windham Court-house, which became the great thoroughfare of travel between Hartford and Provi- dence. Very great efforts were made by the town to compel this company to lay its road over the Shetucket, where the bridge was already standing. Elijah Selden, Capt. Abner Robinson and Dr. Pennel Cheney, were appointed in 1801, to negotiate for alterations in the new turnpike so as to avoid re-bridging the Shetucket. but were obliged to submit to the unwelcome necessity. After several attempts to keep up new and old town bridges, the latter was abandoned in 1806. Timothy Larrabee, Charles Taintor, Eleazer Huntington and Roger Waldo, were constituted a corporation in 1800, "by the name of The Windham and Mansfield Society, for the establishing a turn- pike road from Joshna Hide's dwelling-house in Franklin to the meet- ing-house in Stafford," connecting with a turnpike leading from New London and Norwich. The laying out a projected turnpike from Woodstock's north bound to the south bound of Connecticut at New London, passing through Scotland Parish, was very vigorously and persistently opposed by Windham, and the road was finally laid out farther eastward. She also successfully opposed a road from Wood- stock through Ashford and Mansfield to Windham Court-house, not only keeping the Courts but refusing to shorten the road to them. In her own roads and bridges she manifested due enterprise and liberality, assuming the charge of the Horse Shoe bridge at the request of Joseph Skiff and others, and advancing two hundred dollars for reducing hills and mending the road from Scotland meeting-house to Jared Webb's.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.