USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut, Volume II, 1760-1880 > Part 44
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" That ye mode of singing for the future, that the deacon read the portion line by line in the forenoon; and in the afternoon to read a verse at a time ; except the Double verse Tunes; and them to be sung through without read- ing; and that to be the standing rule till ordered otherwise by the com- mittee."
November 17, 1785, also voted :-
" To repair the meeting-house on the whole of ye outside; To choose a com- mittee to prepare stuff to cover the meeting-house. The committee chosen are as follows, viz. : Nathaniel Marcy, Elijah Perrin, David Perrin, Ebene- zer Smith, Jacob Child, Henry Bowen, Noah Mason, Ebenezer Coburn, Jun., Eli Bruce, Asa Goodell, Amos Lyon, Ashael Clark. 3. To have ye body-seats below in ye meeting-house made into pews both on ye men's and women's sides-except ye two foremost seats on each side."
It was farther voted at an adjourned meeting to sell the appropriated pew-ground to the highest bidder, each buyer building his pew thereon within a year from date of purchase.
These votes were carried out with much difficulty. The "great separation " from the pastor and established church left "a very heavy burden upon a small number of people." Captain Nathaniel Marcy, Captain David Perrin and Stephen Paine, were deputized to inform Mr. Williams that notwithstanding he had considered his people sundry times with respect to his salary, yet remaining a broken people, and attempting to repair the meeting-house with other extra charges, would make it extremely difficult to pay him his full salary. Mr. Williams responded by remitting five pounds of his salary "in case the society will take speedy care to settle arrearages, and seasona- bly to get me a supply of fire-wood." Under these circumstances the society was compelled to reconsider its vote to prepare stuff for the needful repairs, and content itself with an assessment of forty pounds to be expended by Lieutenants Mason and Peabody, and Ensign Elijah Bugbee, in the best and most prudent manner. Pew-ground was sold to Captain Benjamin Howard, Zephaniah Lincoln, Sylvester 47
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Smith, Caleb Bugbee, William Pierce, Noah Mason, Jesse Cutler, Isaiah Perrin. In 1791, it was voted that the meeting-house shall be painted when finished fit-the roof with a Spanish Brawn: the sides and ends with a stone color so called, and money granted to complete the same, the former grant being insufficient.
Many other burdens oppressed these western residents. A vote to build a new pound upon Ensign Bugbee's land excited much opposi- tion. Upon petition from Thomas, Lemuel and Elias Child, Elijah Perry, Caleb and William Bugbee and other aggrieved parties, the question was reconsidered. A committee was chosen to discourse with the widow Lydia Morse, to see if leave could not be obtained to set the pound upon her land and not succeeding, asked the privilege of Rev. Stephen Williams, who " had no particular objections in his mind against it," and a vote was passed to build the pound upon his land fronting the road and adjoining land of Lieutenant Peabody. Noah Mason, John Goodell and Deacon John Morse were appointed a committee to procure or build a carriage for the decent burial of the dead. The regulation of the six school districts involved much debate and trouble. Each district had its one committeeman to hire its teachers and collect rates for payment, but the choice of this committee and the general ordering of affairs was referred to the society. After long delay and many fruitless efforts, the southwest district succeeded in accomplishing a school-house in 1790, receiving liberty to tax itself for that object-Ebenezer Stoddard, Daniel Perry and William Bugbee, committee. The West and Northwest districts, taking into considera- tion the importance and necessity of schooling and their disconnected situation, obtained leave to be united in one entire distriet in order that they might build a proper school-house in some suitable place to accommodate the whole of the inhabitants-but when immediately after the question was put if the united district should have liberty to tax itself for building such school-house, to the great bewilderment and disappointment of the petitioners, "it passed in the negative." Part of these inhabitants were afterwards reinstated into the North- west district. The east centre district was severely tried at the same date in the conduet of its committee :-
" 1. The mode and method he took to sustain his said office. 2. His not giving the district full warning as is usual for a district meeting in order to choose a schoolmaster, so that said district might get the knowledge where the moneys lay, and how much and in what position, that they might conduct these matters prudently. 3. His hiring a master without the consent of said district, and agreeing to pay the master in neat stock at a future day, and putting our moneys into his own pocket. 4. His not attending the school meeting though duly notified."
Notwithstanding these charges, "the reasonable request " of Elijah Bugbee, Elijah Perrin, William Ainsworth, Rhodes Wilkinson, Nathan
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Abbot and William Johnson, "that he might be dropped and another chosen in his room and stead," was dismissed after a "lengthy hear- ing." Thaddeus Gage, Amos Shumway, John Fox, Alfred Marcy, Peleg Corbin, Marvin Clark, Simeon Wight, Levi Perrin, Pardon Morse, Hannah Bugbee, Lois Ainsworth, Apphia Perrin, appear as teachers during this period.
Uneasiness respecting Mr. Williams increased the embarrassments of the society. "The infirmities by reason of advanced age of that venerable person who had ever been dear" to them, made his services less acceptable to the congregation, and new certificates daily came in till it seemed likely that few would be left to bear the burden of his support. Negotiations from time to time, conducted with rare courtesy and consideration on both sides, led to no specific result. Repeated deductions of salary were received with appropriate thanks for the kindness and condescension. In 1790, Mr. Williams agreed to take up with twenty-five pounds and half his fire-wood in case the society procured a suitable colleague ; four years later he sends the following letter :-
" Friends and Brethren :- Understanding by your committee that some appear desirous of introducing a young minister among us as an assistant to me in the ministry ; this is to inform that if yon see fit to introduce a young gentleman of good character, of the standing order, of a liberal education ; I consent to drop the salary for the term such supply shall be afforded; and wishing peace, truth and righteousness may be and abound among us, I sub- scribe your aged pastor. STEPHEN WILLIAMS.
March 17, 1794."
The society declining to act upon this suggestion, Mr. Williams continued in charge till his death in the following spring. Sustaining through life " a very amiable and worthy character," he died in a good old age, much esteemed and respected. "A good classical scholar, a serious practical preacher," he held a high position among his ministerial brethren. Mrs. Martha (Hunt) Williams had preceded her husband a few years. Their sons Stephen and Timothy were graduated from Yale College in 1783 and 1785, and both had studied for the ministry. The oldest son Andrew, after teaching school for a time in Cam- bridge, settled for life on the paternal homestead.
Several years passed before the settlement of a second minister. Arrearages due to the estate of Mr. Williams were made up after some delay and difficulty. Renewed attempts were made to procure the relinquishment of pew-ground so that a fund might be secured and the meeting-house thoroughly repaired. During this interval the pulpit was supplied by various licentiates, viz. :- Messrs. Timothy Williams, Daniel Dow, Averill, Witter, Thateher, Watson and Wight. The preaching of Amos G. Thompson was much liked by some while others made objections "on account of his professing to be of the
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Methodist order or principle." In 1799. it was agreed by nearly an universal vote to call Mr. Stephen Williams to settlement. Amos Lyon, Timothy Perrin, Elias Child, Ebenezer Smith, Jacob Child, Haviland Morris, Henry Martin, David Perrin, Philip Howard, in behalf of the society, offered suitable terms upon the express condition that the relation shouldl terminate upon six months notice from either party. Expressing "affectionate gratitude for this testimony of regard in requesting him to settle amongst so respectable and numer ous a people in the place of his nativity," and in the pulpit so long filled by his reverend and honored father, Mr. Williams felt con- strained to return a negative answer. More urgent entreaty and liberal offers failing to secure his acceptance, the society made choice of another fellow-parishioner, Mr. Alvan Underwood, a recent graduate from Brown University, who was ordained and installed to great public satisfaction, May 27, 1801, ministers from Woodstock and neighboring towns officiating in the services. John Fox, Elias Child, 20, and Philip Howard, represented the society on this occasion. John Austin, Parker Morse and John Paine served as committee "to attend on and see to seating people, and to keeping order and regular- ity in the assembly of spectators."
The meeting-honse question now obtaining more exclusive consid eration, a committee was appointed to look into the matter of owner ship and make a plan of the dimensions of pews to be built. Two pews on the ground floor and twelve in the galleries were laid down by committee, to be held on the same footing as the previous wall pews, agreeably with the original vote passed in 1749. After further delay and complications these pews were erected and formally made over to the subjoined lawful owners, viz .:- on the ground floor one to Luther Baldwin, one to Abraham W. and John Paine. Gallery pews. 1. Taken back by society. 2. Thomas Corbin. 3. John Howlett. 4. John R. Wilson, Benj. Lyon, 3d. 5. William Fargo, David Allen, 3d. 6. Andrew Williams. 7. Charles Smith. 8. Walter Bieknell. William Shepard. 9. Daniel Lyon. 10. Solomon Corbin. 11. A. Abbot Phillips. A. Perrin. 12. Walter Bicknell and William Shepard. A new pound was now built on land of John Fox, Esq. A four-wheeled carriage or hearse was next procured together with a good harness for the same, and a suitable building erected wherein to deposit said carriage. In 1806, Wareham Lyon was chosen sexton ; Abraham W. Paine, to have charge of carriage-house, carriage, harness and palls. Dr. Haviland Morris was now chosen clerk : John Fox, treasurer : Parker Morse, collector ; Alfred Marcy, David Perrin, Stephen Johnson, com- mittee. Darius Barlow, Danforth Lyon and Benjamin Lyon were also chosen to serve the society as choristers.
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The Baptist church in West Woodstock had meanwhile suffered many vicissitudes. " After a long day of desertion and heavy trials," the Lord was pleased to awaken some souls "by means of the uncom- mon darkness" in May, 1780,* which resulted in a general revival of religion, many converts, and a large addition to the membership of the church. Jesse Bolles, Thomas Bugbee and other newly received mem- bers were residents of the First society of Woodstock. David Bolles and John Morse, the active and fervent deacons of the church, had "come to a stand" about granting certificates in compliance with the law, and several of their brethren were thus included in the rate list of the above society and exposed to distrainment. The Baptist brethren, after largely debating the subject of giving certificates finally concluded :-
" That we could not give them, for we believe that no one body of people have right of jurisdiction over another in religions matters; and therefore cannot comply with the demands of our Pedo-baptist brethren and neighbors in demanding certificates as they say according to law ; but we are willing to do all that we can with a good conscience in the matter, and therefore passed the following vote, viz. : That we will send to our above described neighbors the names of our brethren and friends who belong to our society that live within the limits of their lined society, in order to take off their grand plea for taxing our brethren, as that they might know who they are, i. e., Chris- topher Whipple, William Earl, Paul Tew, Elijah, Isaiah and George Lyon, William Underwood, Green Rogers, William Spears, Thomas Bugbee, Zepha- niah Cole, Abner Harris, William Martin, Benjamin and Noah Chaffee, Jesse Bolles, John Green, Moses and Peleg Easterbrook, Prentice Chubb, William Apley, David Sprague, John Bolster."
Deacons Bolles and Morse, Jacob Leonard and Silas Corbin, were then appointed to inform the First society what they had done. That body had previously voted to exempt these Baptists from rates, pro- vided they would produce certificates according to law, and after long debate with the delegates the following form of a certificate was pro- posed and accepted :-
" It is hereby certified that the above-named persons statedly attend wor- ship with us on Lord's days and contribute to the support of the Elders in the
* Joseph Joslin of Thompson thus reports " the dark day " in his eotem- porary journal :- " 1780, May 15. Dull, thick air. 16. Sun red and dry and very thick air. 17. Very thick, close air, as it were to the bottom round, sun red and moon, very dry now, very smoky. 18. Cloudy and warm. 19. Now let not this day be forgot. In the morning it was cloudy and we laid a little wall. I see the sun in the morning. 8 o'clock, I guess, it rained a fine shower or two; then we went to work. Wind S. West. (Some say the wind was in every point, but not to my knowledge). About 10 o'clock it seemed to come up from the southwest and looked dark, and I expected it would rain in a minute or two, and it grew darker and darker. We worked, laid wall till we could not see to range the wall ten rods right. We went into the house, and it was about 12, it was reconed. The fire shined like night. They light a candle for to get dinner. The air or clouds looked like brass, yellow, and things too, I guess. About 12 was the darkest. About one it grew lighter. It grew lighter once and then was darker : rained a shower at night. 20. Last night was as much darker than usual as the day, but I see it not. Was asleep."
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Baptist society in Woodstock. Certified by us. JOHN MORSE, deacon. DAVID BOLLES, deacon."
This persecution, as it was called, increased the energy and zeal of the church, so that it reported to the Warren Association in 1781 a membership of a hundred and forty, and flourished greatly for a season. Embodying, however, many discordant and insubordinate elements, "a great fire of contention" presently broke out. Incited at first by a complaint lodged against one of the church members by a member of the Congregational church, it soon enflamed the whole church. There were difficulties and disputes between Eller Ledoyt and some of his members, and many councils and church meetings, until a number of the church withdrew, and "set up by themselves in an adjoining town and called themselves the church," and at the request of their pastor, April 24, 1790, proceeded to vote his dismis- sion and " recommended him to the charity of their sister churches in particular and the world in general as an able and faithful minister in good standing."* A council called the following July under the direction of Thomas Baldwin and Isaac Backus, failed to heal the breach. Elder Ledoyt removed with his family to Newport, N. H., "leaving his flock in a very broken and divided condition." A colored brother, Samuel Webster, fervent in spirit if weak in knowledge and wisdom, labored as an evangelist for a season and received many into the membership of the church. In 1796, the church reported itself to the Warren Association with Robert Stanton, a licentiate from Ston- ington, as preacher, and three years later he was ordained its pastor. A rough, ignorant man, his labors were not without some fruit. Nearly fifty were added to the church during his nine years ministry, and a movement made for replacing the barn-like meeting-house by a more suitable structure. This work was completed in 1806 after the return of Elder Ledoyt, who found a door opened by God in his providence, "whereby he must return and labor with the church of his youth." A testimonial from the church of Newport certified the value of his service in that vicinity and recommended him as a faithful brother and able minister of the New Testament. He found the Woodstock church still suffering from the evil effects of long dissen- sion, nor did his earnest efforts restore the ancient harmony. Nehe- miah Underwood and Samuel Crawford served faithfully as deacons of this church.
A Baptist church was gathered in the southeast part of Woodstock, June 29, 1792. Services were held in the house of Jesse Bolles. Representatives of the Baptist churches in Stonington, Thompson and
* Manuscript of Jedidiah Morse, Esq., 1798.
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Hampton, were present. Minutes of the conferences of the brethren who had summoned the Council, together with their Covenant and Articles of Faith, and a relation of their minds towards each other, were heard and approved, and they were received into the fellowship of Baptist churches. August 3, Brother Amos Wells was called to take charge of this church as a particular watchman or elder, and six days later " was regularly set apart by ordination." Mr. Wells was a native of Stonington, a man of piety and eloquence, much engaged in the establishment of religious liberty. Under his faithful administra- tion the church gained rapidly. A number of brethren from Brook- field, Mass., were received into fellowship. A decent meeting-house was soon made ready for occupation on land given by Mr. Bolles, and when the Stonington Association met with the church in 1795, it found a membership of seventy-six, and "it was a good time with them." This auspicious opening was not without its clouds. Some scrupulous members stopped going with the church, alleging as cause :-
" 1. Their taking in persons withont relating their experiences before the church. 2. Things being carried in the church by the major vote. 3. The restoring Brother upon the confession which he made."
The church after much deliberation and prayer for wisdom to direct, and long labor with the aggrieved parties, thus answered allegations :-
"1. As to receiving into our fellowship the Brookfield brethren, we think we did it upon good grounds, as they first came into covenant among them- selves, and then drew a petition to this church requesting our particular fel- lowship and as our Elder and a number of our brethren heard all of them give a relation of their experience, we thought, and still think, we were in duty bound to receive them as we did. 2. We think the church must of necessity govern by a majority. 3. As Brother - con- fessed all the church requested him to, we thought in all good conscience we ought to forgive and restore him."
Unable to satisfy the delinquents, the church "with sorrow of heart" was forced to withdraw from them the hand of fellowship. Other offenses demanded more summary "dealing" and punishment. Many young men were called to account "for forsaking the church and going into the world." dancing, playing cards, "assembling with the vain world in the ball chamber" and still more flagrant offenses. Some having seen the evil of such practices confessed and were re- stored, while others rejected admonition and were finally cut off. In 1802, the church after conference and deliberation instituted a com- mittee to act in behalf of the church in inquiring into scandalous re- ports, attend to difficulties between members, and settle them if pos- sible by gospel measures, and to hear and advise any member that might be at loss about his duty. Deacons Robert Baxter and Jesse
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Bolles. James, Jeremiah and Childs Wheaton, Charles Chandler, Robert Aplin, Artemas Bruce and Thomas Bugbee were appointed to serve for one year in this capacity. In 1801, the Third church of Ashford was received into fellowship as a branch of the church : brethren in Pomfret and Killingly were recognized in 1803 as a branch of this Second Woodstock church. Deacon David Bolles of Ashford was one of its early friends and counsellors, and often at- tended its service. In 1801, the church considered the propriety of setting him apart by ordination and appointed a committee to lay the matter before the next Association. That body "fell in with the request," and "accordingly Deacon David Bolles was regularly set apart to the work of the ministry by the Stonington Association, October 20-21." Deacon Jesse Bolles, soon after removing to Providence to fill the office of steward for Brown University, and Deacon Baxter requesting a dismission, it was thought expedient to supply their place. The brethren having brought forward their votes in writing, August 20, 1803, it was found that they had made choice of William H. Manning and Childs Wheaton. Deacon Manning was now elected church clerk in place of Thomas Bugbee, Jun. In 1806, the Pomfret Branch was recognized as an independent church. A committee, appointed to attend to all matter of labor with the Brookfield Branch, found " that the greater part of them had moved to distant parts, but a small number still remained steadfast," and were retained in membership. Deacons Baxter and Manning. Henry Wells, Edmond Chamberlain, Thomas Bugbee, Jeremiah and James Wheaton, Charles Chandler and Augustus Bolles, continued to serve as church committee.
The care of schools long borne by the located ecclesiastical societies was remitted to school societies about 1795. The south society met in the meeting-house, October 19, Jesse Bolles, moderator, Jonathan Morse, clerk. Thomas Bugbee, collector. Benjamin Lyon, Jun., Amos Paine, John Albe, Thomas Lyon, Jun., Jedidiah Kimball, were chosen committee. Elias Child was first clerk and treasurer of the North society. Ephraim May, collector. Although the character of the public schools was gradually improving with increasing outlay and more thorough oversight and inspection, they were still very inade- quate to the need. Teachers were poorly qualified and the range of instruction very limited. Occasional private schools maintained a few weeks or months in the several villages were no great benefit, and the cost of sending their children to the academies of Plainfield or Can- terbury was beyond the means of the great mass of the population. The successful establishment of such institutions in other towns incited the envy and emulation of the enterprising citizens of Woodstock.
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General McClellan and his sons, Mr. Lyman, Deacon Morse, David Holmes and other influential men, believed it practicable, to support a High School among themselves, and after careful discussion brought the question before the public. At a meeting of the proprietors of the south half of Woodstock, January 12, 1801, liberty was granted to the proprietors of an academy, to set a building on the common, north of the meeting-house, near Major Elijah Williams' land for said purpose. How to raise funds for an academy building was the next problem. There were no rich men in those days able to spare their thousands for such an object, but there was a deep sense of the need of the com- munity and an earnest spirit of self sacrifice. It was proposed that thirty-two men should each contribuie the worth of a hundred dollars. "Priest Lyman," having himself headed the list, rode on horseback all about the town and by persuasion and argument readily secured the requisite subscribers. An efficient building committee was ap- pointed and the work begun with much heartiness. As the spring opened farmers brought in their best white oak timber, many selling it for half its market value in their eagerness to help forward the academy. It was said there were boards enough brought in to build a shed from Woodstock to Providence. The corner stone was laid with appropriate rejoicing. The day of the raising was marked by one of the "notable meetings" for which Woodstock was ever famous. Men, women and children from all parts of the town, together with volunteers from Thompson, Killingly, Pomfret. Brooklyn, Ashford and even distant Hampton, flocked to this " Hill of Science," and assisted in the work. "So great was the crowd that a good slice of the common was filled with people, ox-teams and horses .* Old men, too feeble to do heavy work, kept their sons supplied with framing-pins," which were carried about by their grandsons. Major David Holmes particularly distinguished himself by coolness and dexterity, volunteer- ing to be raised up with the eighty-foot timber to adjust the frame of the steeple. The front door-sill being left some ten feet above the ground, the farmers turned out again in a few days with seventy ox teams, and labored all day gratuitously, hauling dirt in front of the building-men too old to shovel smoothing it with their hoes. Under such favorable auspices the building went on prosperously. An ample doorstep was dragged up from the old hearth-stone quarry and a bell of five hundred pounds weight carted from Norwich. A committee sent meanwhile to New Haven had secured for principal Thomas Williams of Pomfret, who was graduated from Yale College in 1803, with a high reputation for scholarship and acuteness. "The event of
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