USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut, Volume II, 1760-1880 > Part 9
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"I. For publishing a defamatory paper containing divers misrepresenta- tions and railing words and expressions against the pastor.
II. For taking God's name in vain in said paper, against the third com- mandment.
III. For abominable deceit in asking their pastor to warn a church meet- ing to consider dealing with baptized persons, when their true object was to introduce this question of a Platform."
These charges were tried before the church, Mr. Mosely himself act- ing as moderator in spite of the protestations of the accused brethren. About forty members of the church were present. Seven voted in favor of censure and seven against it. Again the pastor asked if they should proceed to eensure, and adding his vote to the seven, pro- nounced the question carried, refusing to call the negative. Eight votes, including those of the pastor, his brother, and nephew, decided the case in a male membership of over fifty denied the liberty of ex- pressing their non-concurrence, an act of ministerial domination rarely surpassed in audacity. The negative power, according to Mr. Mosely, was solely intrusted to ministers. In accordance with this vote, Ebene- zer Hovey, Dea. Ebenezer Griffin, Jonathan Burnap, Capt. William Durkee, Jonathan Kingsbury, George Martin, John Clark, Jun., and William Foster were pronounced "guilty of scandalous violation of the third commandment, of publishing a false and scandalous paper, of
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abominable deceit, contemptuous abuse of the divine institution of dis- cipline, scandalous violations of gospel injunctions," &c., and it was adjudged that these offenders ought to make a public acknowledgment of their sins, or otherwise be proceeded with in a way of censure, and this charge and sentence were publicly read on the Lord's day before church and congregation.
Nothing but the sterling virtues and high Christian character of Mr. Mosely saved him from the storm that followed. The outraged brethren refused to submit to the censure, and insisted upon its retrac- tion. Public opinion and ministerial counsel sustained them in this demand, and in almost any church a rupture and separation would have been inevitable. But in spite of his wilfulness and arbitrary govern- ment, Mr. Mosely was greatly beloved and respected by the majority of his people. Many who disapproved of his conduct chose to retain him as their pastor, and by their conciliatory efforts both parties were brought to intrust decision to a council. The Reverends Solomon Williams, David Hall, Benj. Throup, Aaron Hutchinson, Aaron Put- nam and Levi Flint, with delegates from their respective churches, were convened in Windham Village, May 22, 1770, "to hear, judge and advise between the pastor and major part of the church and a num- ber of aggrieved brethren," and decided, " That the charges against the aforesaid brethren were not sustained; that they ought to be ac- quitted from censure ; and that the church should accordingly release them from the censure they had laid them under and restore them unto their charity." This advice was followed, and the brethren restored to fellowship. Still, the breach was far from healed. Violent reerimina- tions had been interchanged between the combatants. William Foster persisted in reiterating that " Mr. Mosely had lied," whereupon he was again arraigned before the church to account for his false and scanda- lous language. Foster offered to submit to trial under an impartial moderator unsubjected to the pastor's negative. The church voted to go on with their pastor for moderator according to their custom, upon which Foster " left the meeting, refusing trial." Mr. Mosely imme- diately led the church to vote him guilty of contempt of that authority which Christ had placed in the church, and proceeded to excommuni- cate him. The aggrieved brethren called another council, i. e., Dr. Hopkins and Dr. Stiles of Newport, Leonard of Woodstock and Fuller of Plainfield. These gentlemen "might have cleared them" on the same ground that the previous council had done, but disapproved of the severe and bitter expressions against the pastor, and deferred deci- sion. A second attempt was more successful, and a general concession and forgiveness on both sides agreed to, William Foster, the chief offender and sufferer, declaring :-
9
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
" That although in the time I did think I had occasion to think Mr. Mosely did in some measure evade the truth, yet upon a more mature deliberation I am sensible I preferred my charge against him with an undue temper of mind, and unnecessarily published the same, and especially in telling him, 'He knew he lied,' in his own house, but on a further consideration of the matter I would charitably hope and believe that Mr. Mosely was not guilty of wil- fully departing from the truth, and therefore ask forgiveness of Mr. Mosely and my offended brethren, and pray them to receive me into their charity.
Windham Society, Oct. 31, 1771."
In spite of these concessions and retractions the controversy soon broke out afresh. The root of the difficulty had not been reached. An explicit church covenant had not been secured nor Mr. Mosely's power restricted. A majority of the aggrieved brethren accepted the decision and walked in harmony with the church, but Capt. Durkee, Jonathan Burnap and William Foster still resisted and remonstrated. Each side accused the other of violating the agreement. The old charges were interchanged, civil suits instituted. After some years of strife and violence, the following complaint against Mr. Mosely was laid before the Windham County Association :-
" Whereas, I, the said William Foster, do esteem myself to have been grievously oppressed and injured for a number of years past by the arbitrary and unscriptural proceedings of the said Rev. Mr. Mosely in his church admin- istrations and otherwise; in particular, in his repeatedly entering processes against me in his own name, and judging in his own cause, as also in troubling me and other peaceable members of said church with unscriptural processes to the vexation of the church, and the disturbance of its peace and edification ; in his withholding copies of church votes that I had right to, and adding thereto such prevarications relative to the same, and such shifts and evasions as I cannot but esteem a breach of the ninth command ; in leading the church to pass votes concerning me in church meeting without notifying me to be present, and refusing to let me see the votes afterwards or to allow me copies of the same ; in his refusing a christian conference on matters of grievance, or to join in a council to hear and settle all matters of controversy; in his refusing to lay matters of church concern before the church ; in his wantonly dissolring church meetings in the midst of business of great concern to the church ; in his neglect of discipline to scandalous members in the church, and preventing the exercise thereof in the church by other members, and opposing all means used in the church for a reformation; in his refusing to administer baptism to my children for no justifiable reason, and while they have an indisputable right thereto; and it is a matter of grievance to me and I take it to be the spring of all the arbitrary proceedings above said; that said Mr. Mosely challenges a power over the church unknown in the Holy Scriptures; it is also a matter of grievance, that said Mr. Mosely has needlessly troubled me in the civil law when I was always ready to have all matters of controversy heard and decided in an ecclesiastic way according to the rules of the gospel, and whereas 1 have used every method in my power for the redress of the afore- said grievances and the removal of offences but to no purpose, the honor of God, the interest of religion, the peace and editication of said church, and my own as well as the good of the said Rev. Mr. Mosely, unitedly and most strongly oblige as well as necessitate me to lay this information and com- plaint and represent my grievances before this Reverend Association, that such order may be taken and measures may be directed to and pursued as WILLIAM FOSTER. may tend to the removal of the aforesaid grievances and offences according to gospel rule.
Sept. 23, 1778."
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These charges were considered, first, by a council, and afterwards, by the consociated churches of the County, Jan. 4, 1779. It was adjudged that neither party was guilty in manner and form as alleged. The Reverend pastor was entreated as a venerable and much beloved father to examine himself and labor after greater perfection of gentle- ness and circumspection ; the offending brother admonished to search his own heart and ways, and strive and pray that in future he might possess and discover a more meek and peaceable spirit, and show a more decent regard to the sacred ordinances of Christ, giving no just offence to his ministers or churches; and the people of God earnestly advised and exhorted, " never more to revive, nor suffer to be revived any of those matters of difficulty which had been under the consideration of the council, but to bury this long unhappy con tention in everlasting oblivion."
This excellent advice was apparently followed. No change in the administration of church affairs was effected during the life-time of Mr. Mosely, and with advancing years he became less arbitrary and exacting. That his people were not inclined to submit to over-exac- tions may be inferred from their choosing a committee to wait upon him to learn his reasons "why he took sixty pounds for his salary, when by computing silver at six and eight-pence per ounce it would be but tifty-nine pounds, two shillings and five-pence." Whether he was compelled to refund the surplus shillings and pennies is not recorded.
In thrift and activity Canada Parish kept pace with other sections of the town, and " Windham Village " on its fair hill top was hardly less a power than Windham Green in the southwest corner. The bountiful harvests gathering in Apaquage's beautiful valley incited the farmers to unusual efforts during the revival of commercial prosperity. Captain James Stedman owned much land and carried on extensive farming operations, and was greatly respected as a man of substance and business capacity. His. brother Thomas, the skillful builder of meeting-houses, was equally respected. Deacon Ebenezer Griffin, Captain John Howard, Jacob Simmons and many other men of weight and influence were actively engaged in business and public affairs. Jeremiah, fifth son of John Clark, was trader as well as farmer, buying up such produce as he could take to Newport or Providence on horseback. John Brewster of Scotland Parish, after studying medi- eine with Dr. Barker of Franklin, married a daughter of Captain William Durkee, and settled in Windham village, and gained an extensive practice as the first and only physician in the vicinity. The women of this parish were especially thrifty and notable, true help-meets to their husbands. Mrs. Jeremiah Clark and Mrs. Wil-
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
liam Holt were skilled in the art of making fine lace, as well as all needful domestic fabrics. The emigration to Wyoming carried away many of these energetic and valuable families. Captain Robert Durkee, cousin of John Durkee of Norwich, Stephen Fuller and John Holt were among these emigrants Captain Durkee was a man of great courage and distinguished himself in many daring exploits, while Mr. Stephen Fuller was equally useful in attending to the ordinary routine of town affairs.
Other sons of Canada Parish went ont into the world upon more peace ful missions. Ebenezer Martin, a Yale graduate of 1756, after preach- ing for a time among the wilds of Berkshire, returned to labor in the new parish of Westford, in his native county. Ebenezer, son of Rev. Samuel Mosely, was gradnated in 1763, and after preparatory studies was licensed to preach by the Brookfield Association, Massa- chusetts, June 19, 1765. Two years later he was ordained and sent out by that body to labor in the Indian Mission, established in 1762, among The Six Nations, at Onohoqnaga on the Susquehanna. "The mortification he must endure in a situation so remote from any Eng- lish settlements " was deeply commiserated by the missionary society which had charge of the enterprise, but perhaps the most serions danger which threatened the young missionary while among the savages was a matrimonial proposition from the principal sachem, " who offered and urged his daughter upon him for his wife." As a direct refusal of this flattering overture would give great offence and might endanger the lives of the missionaries, Mr. Mosely could only plead the necessity of gaining consent of his father, a plea whose validity was fortunately recognized by the Indian code of etiquette.
Voluntown was still in an unsettled and unhappy condition, the greater part of its inhabitants averse to the established church, and yet compelled to pay rates for the support of the aged minister. At- tempts were made by residents of each end of the town to procure distinct society privileges. A petition signed by Ebenezer Dow, town clerk and one of the principal inhabitants, together with John James, Joshua and Moses Campbell, Jeremiah, James and Moses Kinne, Hugh and John Wylie, Jonathan Minor, David Kennedy, Moses Fish and others, represented to the Assembly, September, 1762 :-
" That there was but one society in Voluntown, twenty miles long and four or five wide; list in 1761, £10,786; inhabitants settled at each end and dis- persed in almost every part, about one hundred and eighty families, some dwelling seven, some nine and ten miles from meeting-house; trouble of transporting ourselves and families very great and heavy ; town conveniently situated for division ; such burden of travel hardly to be found in any other town-and prayed for division."
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VOLUNTOWN, ETC.
In 1764, Roger Billings and others asked for a new society, "begin- ning where Pachang River runs out of Paweamuck Pond," and taking in the north parts of Stonington and Preston. A committee was ap- pointed and reported against petition, as the Preston people were already well accommodated. Voluntown they found more than sixteen miles long and three or four in width, occupied by two hundred fami- lies ; inhabitants much scattered ; many six and eight miles from any place of public worship; roads bad; yet inasmuch as a majority of them were against division, and were less able to bear great charges than usual by reason of drought and uncommon- public charges, they would not recommend it.
As Mr. Dorrance increased in years and infirmities, the town became more and more reluctant to pay for his support. A committee was sent to him in 1769, "to see whether he did not think there was a pro- per vacancy in the town, and that it was high time he should lay down his pastoral charge over the town in order that they may take some proper way more effectually to accommodate themselves on account of the Gospel," but Mr. Dorrance declined to listen to their proposals, whereupon the town withheld the stipulated salary. After two years wrangling Mr. Dorrance agreed " to join with the town and church in the most easy manner, call a council and be dismissed from the pas- toral charge, provided the town paid him the judgment obtained in Court for his salary in 1769, and £44, 6s. 6d. for 1770, and £25 per annum every year so long as he lives." A council was accordingly held March 5, 1771. Mr. Cogswell reports " that the affair was con- dueted amicably ; that Mr. Dorrance seemed to bear his age wonder- fully and was dismissed in peace." He survived his dismissal a few years, and died Nov. 12, 1775, aged ninety years. The Providence Gazette enlogizes him as "a zealous contender for the faith once de- livered to the saints, and an ornament to the religion he professed." His son Lemuel remained upon the homestead ; Samuel removed to Coventry, R. I. ; James to Brooklyn Parish : John and George emi- grated to Wyoming. His daughter, Susanna, married to Robert Dixon, resided in the north part of Voluntown.
Varions changes followed the dismissal of Mr. Dorrance. Isaac Gal- lup, Thomas Douglas, John Keigwin, Joseph Parke, Israel Babcock and others-" very desirous to enjoy public worship as we think right which is according to the Congregational platform "-now received liberty from the town and General Assembly to join in a society by themselves without being interrupted by any other society. A society called Nazareth was thereupon organized in the south part of Volun- town, and a church gathered there. Feb. 13. 1772, Mr. Levi IIart of Preston, preached a sermon and gave advice, and Jeremiah, James,
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
Moses and Ira Kinne, William Hewson, Thomas Stewart and Moses Fish were embodied into church orders according to the "Congrega- tional Independent platform." They agreed :-
" That no coercive measures be used for supporting the minister.
That it is the duty of every one to contribute of his worldly substance for the maintenance of the ministry, and every one of this church who neglects and refuses to do so shall be deemed an offender in the sin of covetousness.
That our minister shall have liberty to preach among the Separates.
That private brethren may exhort in public, provided they do not interrupt other parts of duty, and speak to the edification of the church."
April 18, Solomon Morgan of Groton, was ordained pastor of the Nazareth Church. It gained in membership and influence, but did not succeed for some years in building a house of worship.
In 1772, fifty-four persons north of Moosup River, including John James and George Dorrance, Robert, Thomas and James Dixon, Robert Montgomery, John Coles, John Gaston, Mark and David Eames, some of them six, seven, eight and nine miles from Voluntown meeting-house, and greatly impeded by bad roads and traveling, received liberty from the Assembly to organize as a distinct society or join in worship with Killingly. A number of these northern residents consequently united with the church in South Killingly, and after some years organized as a distinct society.
The mother church in Voluntown centre, weakened and crippled by these repeated losses, was unable to settle a pastor and could scarcely maintain regular worship. Its numbers and strength were still farther diminished by the large emigration to Wyoming. Many of the descend- ants of the Scotch Presbyterians joined in this exodus, and the char- acter of the church was so changed that after a few years it was thought expedient to reorganize upon the Congregational basis. June 30, 1779, a meeting was called for this purpose. The Reverends Solomon Mor- gan, Levi Hart and Eliphalet Wright were present. Those wishing to unite in the new organization related their experiences. A covenant was read agreeable to the Cambridge Platform under the Congrega- tional form of discipline, and signed by ten males and sixteen females, the remnant then representing the ancient First Church of Voluntown. The services of the Rev. Mr. Gilmore were then secured, and regular religious worship statedly maintained.
In town affairs there was gradual improvement. In 1762, John Gor- don was chosen grand school committee, "to take into his hands the school bonds belonging to the town, and to collect the interest on bonds, and to receive the proportion of money granted by Government to the town out of the Colony's rate, and to dispose of the same, and all other money coming from Plainfield, &c., and town's proportion of the sale of Norfolk." In 1766, David Eames, John Cole, Joseph Parke, Thomas
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VOLUNTOWN, ETC.
Donglas, John Gaston, John Gordon and John Wylie were appointed to set out school districts throughout the town. Thirteen districts were specified, each of which thenceforward managed its own school under the supervision of a "grand-school-committee-man," appointed by the town.
The financial affairs of the town were greatly embarrassed. The poverty of the soil exposed it to frequent losses by drought, so that many of the inabitants were unable to pay their proportion of public charges. The payment of the minister's salary, and legal expenses in- curred in prior resistance, added to their debt and burden. In conse- quence of this remissness, a heavy debt accrued to the Government for which the town treasurer, Mr. Robert Jameson, was held responsible. Having no funds to meet this demand, Mr. Jameson was arrested and confined in Windham jail. In 1771 a committee was appointed "to go to Windham in term of the Superior Court, and get the best advice concerning a trouble for which Robert Jameson is now confined in Windham jail." Isaac Gallup was ordered to take and have secured all said Jameson's estate for the use of the town in settling the debt for which he was imprisoned. This imprisonment lasted for two years, when Mr. James Gordon was appointed agent to settle with Robert Jameson, " now confined in Windham County jail for the colony tax due for said town," and soon effected his liberation. Mr. Jameson soon after his release removed to Wyoming, with his sons Robert, Wil- liam, John, Alexander and Joseph, who gained a permanent home in that beautiful valley, and were numbered among its most respectable and influential citizens.
VI.
RELIGIOUS SETTLEMENT IN PLAINFIELD. GENERAL TOWN AFFAIRS.
DLAINFIELD thongh still harassed by religious dissension was regaining her secular prosperity, having the good fortune to number among her citizens many strong and enterprising men willing to devote time and energies to publie service. Captain John Douglas was now one of the fathers of the town, and had sons of great promise. Major Ezekiel Pierce filled the place of his honored father, serving many years as clerk of the town and of the Probate office. Isaac, son of Rev. Joseph Coit was held in high esteem. Dr. Elisha Perkins, now married to the daughter of Captain Douglas, was con- tinually gaining publie confidence and popularity. Elisha Paine of Canterbury, son of the distinguished Separate minister, had removed
e
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
his residence to Plainfield, engaging in the practice of law, and marry- ing Elizabeth Spalding. Andrew Backus of Norwich, and Daniel Clark of Prestou, were new and helpful citizens. At the town meet- ing, December, 1765, Elisha Paine, Esq, served as moderator ; Isaac Coit, James Bradford, James Howe, Joseph Eaton and Elisha Paine, were chosen selectmen ; Major Ezekiel Pierce, town clerk ; John Pierce, Elisha Paine, Lient. John Douglas, Dr. Robinson, Azariah and Jedidiah Spalding, Ebenezer Kingsbury, Stephen Warren, William Cady and Timothy Parkhurst, highway surveyors ; Reuben and David Shepard, D. Perkins, Nathaniel Deane and Simeon Burgess, listers ; Captains Eaton and Coit, fence-viewers ; William Park and Azariah Spalding, leather-sealers ; William Robinson and Joshua Dunlap, grand-jurors; Samuel Hall, Joseph and Philip Spalding and Simon Shepard, tithing-men; Hezekiah Spalding, sealer of weights and measures ; Captain Cady, toller and brander of horses. Little was done at this meeting but to make provision for the support of schools, and a needy fellow-citizen. A subject far more important than schools or town's poor was under consideration. The religions status of the town was most unhappy. More than two-thirds of its inhabit- ants were avowed Separates attending upon the ministry of the Rev. Alexander Miller, but were still obliged to pay taxes for the benefit of a small minority, holding possession of the ancient town meeting- house. By earnest and persistent appeals they had wrung from the Assembly the exemption of one-third of the population from this rate- payment as a second society, but this still left upon them an " unrea- sonable burden." The remnant of the First church receiving this compulsory tribute had not sufficient vitality to supply their meeting- house with a minister. The Plainfield Separate church was a respect- able and orderly body, differing little from the orthodox churches of the day, except in opposing the support of the ministry by taxation. The ancient bitterness and party feeling had greatly subsided, and it was now proposed " that the inhabitants should try to come together and have but one meeting, or else be made into two distinct, inde- pendent societies." A town meeting was called early in 1766, to con- sider this proposition, which appointed Benjamin Wheeler, William Bradford, Isaac Coit and others-
" To take into consideration the difficulties subsisting in town, so as to unite in their principles, so as to all join together in the public worship of God in one meeting, or any other way."
This committee reported in favor of all joining together in one church, and worshiping in one meeting-house. The voters were again convened "to see which church they would join, and were almost universally inclined to join with the Separates." The Separate
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