History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 29

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506

USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut > Part 29

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).

The Reverend Stephen White died January 9th, 1793, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, closing with his life a pastorate of nearly fifty-three years, It is related of him that his gentle and lovely character, consistent Christian life, and faithful ministerial service, had won the regard of all "whose approbation was worth possessing." He was succeeded in the ministerial office by Eli- jah Waterman of Bozrah, who was ordained here October 1st, 1794. He at once devoted himself to his work with great earn- estness, and by his faithful labors and pungent exhortations soon aroused a new religious interest in his church, which soon received encouraging accessions to its membership. He, like his predecessors, found a wife among his own people, Lucy, daughter of Shubael Abbe. Mr. Waterman was prominent in progressive movements in religious, educational and literary matters. Among other enterprises in the latter directions he collected materials for a history of Windham county, which materials, unfortunately, were in subsequent years allowed to become scattered. His pastorate however, was not altogether a

287

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

peaceful one. As might be expected, his vigorous crusade against vice and irreligion aroused against him a spirit of oppo- sition, and some with whose unlawful sports he had interfered, and others whom his aggressiveness had offended, withdrew and organized an Episcopal society, thus evading the payment of rates for the support of Mr. Waterman. This weakened the finances of the society and made it difficult to raise the minister's salary. Added to this the society was still further weakened by the sud- den death of Sheriff Abbe, one of its chief supporters, which occurred April 16th, 1804. In view of the circumstances Mr. Waterman was dismissed, at his own request, February 12th, 1805. Eighty-nine members had been admitted to the church during his pastorate, and two deacons had been elected, viz., Samuel Perkins, Esq., and Captain Eliphalet Murdock. Deacon Samuel Gray died in 1787; Deacon Jonathan Martin in 1795 ; and Deacon Elijah Bingham in 1798.

Reverend Mr. Andrews was ordained pastor of this church August 8th, 1808. He was a very serious and devout Christian, and was distressed and discouraged by the lack of religious earn- estness among his people. To such an extent was he affected that he asked for dismission in 1812, and though at first opposed, he obtained it in the following year. He was succeeded by Rev- erend Cornelius B. Everest, who was ordained November 22d, 1815, and whose ministry happily allayed all storms and had a most invigorating and healthful influence. Many new members were added to the church. Mr. Everest was dismissed in 1827, after a peaceful and prosperous ministry. He was succeeded by Reverend R. F. Cleveland, whose ministry of three years was equally successful and acceptable. This church lost considerable of its strength by the withdrawal of members to form the church at Willimantic in 1828, among whom was Deacon Charles Lee. Deacon Thomas Welch was also dismissed about the same time, to unite elsewhere. Reverend J. E. Tyler of East Windsor, was ordained and installed October 11th, 1837. Abner Follet was chosen deacon in 1840.

Subsequent events have made it a matter of unusual interest that an additional word should be given to Reverend Richard Fally Cleveland, who was ordained here October 15th, 1829. He was a native of Norwich, Conn., and a graduate of Yale College. After remaining here three years he was dismissed in October, 1832. He was the father of ex-President Grover Cleveland, and

288

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

two of his children were born during his pastorate here. These were a daughter, Ann, now Mrs. Hastings of Ceylon, and a son, William, afterward a minister. During Mr. Cleveland's pastorate thirty-one persons were added to the church. He removed hence to Portsmouth, Va., and was also stationed at different times at Caldwell, N. J., and Fayetteville, N. Y. After his pastorate in Windham different ones occupied the field for short periods, but no pastor was settled until the installation of Mr. Tyler in 1837. He was the son of Reverend Bennet Tyler, D.D., presi- dent of East Windsor Seminary, also known as the Theologi- cal Institute of Connecticut. On account of failing health Mr. Tyler was dismissed at his own request December 2d, 1851. During his pastorate the church was removed from Court House square to the site at present occupied. The last sermon in the old church was given March 20th, 1848. The house was torn down and a new house built, some of the materials being used in the new building. Reverend George Ingersoll Stearns, a na- tive of Killingly, was ordained here September 22d, 1852, and after a pastorate of nearly ten years he died here March 13th, 1862. Samuel Hopley began serving this church January 21st, 1864, and was dismissed January 26th, 1866. Hiram Day, the eleventh pastor of the church, followed him. He was settled May 23d, 1866, and resigned, his resignation being accepted March 24th, 1869. The next pastor, Adelbert Franklin Keith, was ordained and installed October 26th, 1870. During his pas- torate the church was prosperous and the meeting house was en- larged by being cut in two and lengthened. A chapel was also built under his moving hand about 1874. He was dismissed June 29th, 1874. His successor, Reverend Frank Thompson, was in_ stalled June 8th, 1875. The church prospered during his pas- torate, a revival occurring meanwhile, and about forty members were added during his pastorate. He was dismissed November 23d, 1880. The church was then a little more than three years without any regular pastor, being served by stated supplies. Reverend Frederick A. Holden was here from the spring of 1883 one year. Reverend William S. Kelsey, the present pastor, a graduate of the Hartford Seminary, was ordained May 27th, 1885. During his pastorate thus far sixty members have been added, twenty-two of which were added during the year 1888. The present membership is about one hundred and twenty. A dis- astrous fire, originating in the store of William Swift, which ad-

289

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

joined the church, occurred May 5th, 1886. The church was burned down. It was rebuilt on the same site without delay. The present handsome and commodious structure was dedicated June 16th, 1887.

Thus the institution which in 1693 was an essential and co- ordinate part of the town, and then included members of the whole body politic, is now a local institution known as the Con- gregational Church of Windham. From this, which may em- phatically be called a "mother church," other churches have been formed as follows: Mansfield church, organized October 18th, 1710; Hampton church, organized June 5th, 1723 ; Scotland church, organized October 22d, 1735 ; "Chewink Plains " church, organized 1780, existed sixteen years, and after its dissolution thir- teen members returned to Windham church ; Willimantic church, organized January 22d, 1828, and South Windham church, or- ganized December, 1888. The following is a list of the deacons of this church from 1700 down to the present time, with the dates when they were elected : Joseph Carey, Thomas Bingham and Nathaniel Wales, 1700; Abel Bingham, Joseph Huntington, Ralph Wheelock and Eleazer Carey, 1729; Nathaniel Wales, 1741 ; Ebenezer Wales, 1748; Joseph Huntington and Nathaniel Skiff, 1754; Jonathan Martin and Elijah Bingham, 1765; Samuel Gray, 1777; Eleazer Fitch and Hezekiah Bissel, 1787; Thomas Tileston, 1790 ; Samuel Perkins, 1796; Eliphalet Murdock, 1802; Charles Lee, 1815; Thomas Welch, 1824; Abner Follet, 1840; De Witt C. Lathrop, 1853; William Swift and Eliphalet Hun- tington, 1862, and Joseph B. Spencer and Casper Barstow at later dates.

In the early history of the town schools received less attention in Windham than might have been expected in a town of such prosperity and intelligence. " A school to be kept in Thomas Snell's house " appears to have been for some time the only pro- vision made in that direction. The committee appointed to manage the schools may have ordered them in different neigh- borhoods, however. In 1711 the town voted to have no more school committees, but to leave the matter in the hands of the selectmen. In 1713 the town ordered two school houses, one to be eighteen feet square and set upon the Green, "not above twenty rods from the meeting-house;" the other sixteen feet square, to be set in the eastern part of the town. John Backus and James Badcock were chosen a committee to secure their

290

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

erection. The first was soon completed, but the other was de- layed a year or two. The first reference to schools which we find on the records of the town was made in December, 1702, when the vote of the town directed the selectmen to agree with a schoolmaster or mistress-" scollars to pay what the rate falls short."

Thus schools were managed in a very imperfect way, with but little improvement for many years. Soon after the revo- lution, however, some efforts were made to raise the standard of public education. For a time an academy was maintained, with the learned Doctor Pemberton as its principal. Though at a later period, for lack of permanent funds, it was unable to retain so popular a teacher, yet 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, each being designated, according to the custom of the time, by the name of some prominent resident. Thus they were num- bered and named as follows: 1, Frederick Stanley's ; 2, Solomon Huntington's ; 3, Jabez Wolcott's; 4, Timothy Wales's ; 5, Eliph- alet 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. Among other tutors who at times held sway in the academy were " Mas- ter" Abbott, Roger Southworth and Socrates Balcom. About 1825 the growth of Willimantic seemed to demand superior ac- commodation for its school, and a new brick school house was built. The heterogeneous collection of youthful representatives of different nations and ideas was, however, a hard school to govern, and the school committee, it is said, on one occasion sent expressly to Sterling for a schoolmaster with a will and a hand strong enough to keep the boys from cutting and marring the woodwork of the school house.

The town of Windham takes the lead in being the first in the county to send out that great modern educator, the news- paper. The first effort of this kind was made in 1790. During that year John Byrne, of Norwich, set up a printing press in the lower room of the court house in Windham Green, and early in the following year began the publication of The Phenix or Wind- ham Herald. His office was now removed to a location just north

291

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

of the court house. The first issue was dated Saturday, March 12th, 1791. It was a modest little sheet, printed on coarse, blu- ish-gray paper, but in most respects, if not all, fully equal to the average newspaper of its day. General and foreign news was furnished with customary promptness-foreign news three months after date, congressional reports in ten or twelve days, and full reports of Connecticut elections three weeks after they took place. These, with advertisements, short moral essays, humorous anecdotes and occasional casualties, made up the table of contents. But few items of local events were printed. Meager as was the paper, it satisfied the public. It was accepted as the organ of Windham county, and in a few years was sup- ported by some twelve hundred subscribers, being distributed in all directions by post riders.

We can hardly withdraw our gaze from the Windham of a century ago without noticing for a moment the taverns of the olden time, and some of the scenes of festivity and mirth for which they were famous. With the amount of business which came to the merchants and mechanics of Windham by reason of its prominent position, its taverns might well flourish. Nathan- iel Linkon, John Flint, David Young, John Keyes and John Parish entertained the public in different parts of the town; Nathaniel Hebard, John Staniford and John Fitch performed similar offices on Windham Green. The "Widow Cary," later the wife of John Fitch, brought to her new home the jolly im- age of Bacchus, occupying a conspicuous perch on the sign-post of the "old Fitch Tavern." Travelers, court attendants and fellow townspeople found agreeable entertainment beneath his beaming countenance, as well as in the other village taverns, famed as they all were for their flow of wit and liquor, as well as for their more substantial fare. Many revolutionary veterans who resided in the vicinity were habitual frequenters of these resorts, and here fought over their battles, telling marvelous tales of hair-breadth escape and harrowing adventure. There were quaint old characters, whose odd sayings and doings fur- nished exhaustless merriment. There was one of whom it was said that he could not go past Hebard's tavern without stopping to get a drink of rum. A friend remonstrated with him, and finally made a bet with him that he could not do so. The old man took the bet, and bracing his nerves and muscles to an erect and dignified bearing, he walked triumphantly past the tavern.

292

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

He then returned to the tavern, saying to himself, "Now I'll go back and treat Resolution." Once, when in a bewildered condition, he wandered off into the fields and went to sleep, and on rising forgot to pick up his hat. A boy found it and brought it to him. But instead of manifesting any confusion, he blandly asked where he found it. The boy replied "In Mr. White's pasture, near the bars." With patronizing dignity the reply came: "Well, boy, go take it right back. That is the place where I keep it." Another old wag had a turn for rhyming. Meeting one day a rough looking countryman with tawny hair and beard, and butternut colored coat, riding on a sorrel nag, he flung up his hat at the sight and exclaimed : "Colt and mare, coat and hair, all compare, I swear!" Staniford's house was a great place of resort, an exchange place for all manner of quips, pranks and witticisms, each one striving to catch or out- do the other in a joke or exaggerated tale. We can preserve here but a single specimen of these old-time tavern stories. This is in relation to the well-known cold winter of 1779-80. Snow lay on the ground three feet on the level, as the story runs. On a certain day it began snowing very hard, flakes falling some of the time as large as small birds. All day snow fell rapidly, but during an hour and a half of the time it made depth an inch a minute. It was related that on a very cold Sunday of that winter one family went to meeting, two miles away, leaving meanwhile the big dinner pot on the fire filled with vege- tables, boiling over a big fire of logs in the old fashioned fireplace. During their absence the kitchen door had blown open so as to let in a cold blast of air, and on their return they found the steam rising from the pot had formed a large inverted cone of solid ice upon the pot, while the contents were still boiling away within and the fire burning lustily below.

A large number of waiters, hostlers, drivers, purveyors and the like attendants, cccupied at court times, had little to do but lounge around and tell stories during the remainder of the year. They hung about the taverns and stores, and added to the gen- eral merriment. Negro men and boys were very numerous, and made much sport for all classes with their droll mimicry and endless tricks and capers. Change of status made little differ- ence to this class. A few went out into the world as freedmen,

293

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

but the larger number, even when set free, clung to their old masters and were always supported and cared for.

The great industry that has built up and given prosperity to the town of Windham is her manufacturing. The locality pos- sesses remarkable facilities for this in the Natchaug and Willi- mantic rivers, which are here considerable streams and afford abundant power. The power thus offered by Nature was soon recognized by the early inhabitants, and they soon began to utilize it for such purposes as they wished to serve, and to such extent as their means were sufficient to make it available. Special favors were granted to such as would undertake to es- tablish grist mills and saw mills in the early days of the set- tlement. In 1692 the grist mill was made a town charge throughout the town. Ginnings Hendee, Jeremiah Ripley and James Birchard were granted the privilege of the stream at Beaver brook for building a saw mill, with half a mile adjoin- ing for timber and pasture, provided the mill was completed within one year, and when the mill should be abandoned the land should revert to the town. In the following year Jona- than Ginnings and the Ripleys were granted liberty to set up a saw mill at "No-man's-acre brook." In 1700 liberty to build a saw mill on Goodman Hebard's brook, and the privi- lege of the stream for damming or ponding was granted to several petitioners, with the privilege of taking any other stream if that should not prove satisfactory. The town miller was required to grind for the inhabitants of the town every Monday and Tuesday, and if more grain was brought than he could grind in those days he was to keep on until it was fin- ished.

In February, 1706, the proprietors granted to Joseph Cary, John Backus, Joseph Dingley and John Waldo the privilege of the stream at Willimantic falls to build a mill or mills at one particular place, wherever they might choose, on the north side of the river, and to hold it as long as they and their heirs should maintain a good " sufficient " mill, with the privilege of raising a dam across the stream, also the improvement of forty acres of land near by, timber free, so long as the land should be left unfenced. This grant was not to exclude the proprietors from granting other sites to other parties for the water privi- lege, nor to obstruct highways, " nor damnify lots in ye Crotch."

Soon after the revolution Colonel Elderkin enlarged his or-

294

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

chard of mulberry trees, which he had started years before, and put forward the work of silk manufacture, turning out an- nually some ten or twelve thousand pounds of hosiery silk to meet the demands for fashionable long stockings. Handker- chief and vest patterns were also manufactured there "in con- siderable numbers." He procured a loom and weaver from Europe, and succeeded in fabricating sundry pieces of silk which furnished dresses for his daughters. He also expended much money and labor in constructing a dam and flouring works upon the Shetucket in South Windham. He also carried on a grist mill at the Frog Pond brook. Ezekiel Cary about this time carried on a tannery, which was supplied with water from the Willimantic river. Henry De Witt manufactured tacks out of such old scraps of iron as could be picked up about the town as of little value. The silk factory of Colonel Elderkin, after his death passed into the hands of Clark & Gray, and soon passed into the hands of Mansfield experimenters who were making great efforts to increase and improve silk man- ufacture. Machinery for picking, oiling and carding wool was erected at the mills of Clark & Gray, on the Falls of the Willi- mantic, by Cyrus Brewster. They were in operation as early as June 20th, 1806. The price then charged farmers and others for " breaking and carding, cash in hand," was seven cents a pound; for picking and oiling, two cents a pound, cash ; or one cent more in either case where barter was desired. Similar machines were introduced in other towns about the same time. A great saving of labor to the farmer in preparing his wool for domestic use was effected, and an improved condition of the wool was secured. The most niggardly farmer, accustomed perhaps to work himself and his family to the bone rather than spend a penny, found that it was to his advantage to pay out money or barter for wool carding, while women everywhere exulted in the beautiful white, soft, clean, fleecy rolls, which made spinning and weaving a positive enjoyment.

About the same time, or possibly a little later, a paper mill was established by Clark & Gray at Willimantic Falls. There were then the accumulated manufacturing industries at this point of a carding machine, a grist mill, a saw mill, a clothiery establish- ment, a blacksmith shop and a paper mill. The Spaffords and Allens at South Windham were experimenting in various direc- tions. Jesse Spafford and Amos D. Allen procured a patent for

295

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

an ingenious planing knife, making bonnet chip out of shavings. Joshua Smith carried on clothiery works at South Windham, as- sisted by his son-in-law, George Spafford, and made cloth for the army, the cloth having a high reputation for its indigo blue. · Amos D. Allen carried on furniture manufacture at the family homestead, employing many assistants and gaining a high rep- utation for superior workmanship. Hundreds of tall clock cases, embellished with many quaint and curious designs, were sent out from this establishment, and found a ready market, especialy at the South. The Taintor brothers, with George Abbe and Ed- mond Badger, formed a partnership for the manufacture of paper, about the year 1810. They. built a mill on the Natchaug, in the north part of the town, which was then called New Boston. They made writing paper in three grades, of strong texture but coarse finish. Elijah M. Spafford, in 1814, set up new clothiery works at Willimantic Falls, carrying on carding, water spinning and weaving, as well as cloth dressing and dyeing.

From this time forward the manufacturing industry became the absorbing interest of this town. The manufacture of cotton was soon after introduced, and about the close of the first quar- ter century, cotton factories had been built at Willimantic and unique manufacturing industries were developing at North Windham and South Windham. In September, 1822, Perez O. Richmond bought of Waldo Cary and Anson Young land and privilege on the Willimantic near its junction with the Natchaug, and soon built up a factory and a village. The brothers Jillson, of Dorchester, in 1824, purchased a site just above the old paper and grist mills, west of the Iron Works bridge, and put up more substantial buildings. The Windham Company was next in the field, led by Hartford Tingley and Matthew Watson, of Prov- idence, occupying a privilege farther westward. A small factory in the same vicinity was built and carried on by Deacon Charles Lee, of Windham. And from these beginnings have grown up manufacturing interests that have gathered together and main- tained one of the largest towns of eastern Connecticut, and gained for themselves individually reputations that are world wide. They will be noticed more particularly in connection with the localities to which they belong.

In the central part of the town and about three miles east of Willimantic, lies the peaceful village of Windham, known also as Windham Centre. This village exhibits but little of the ac-

296

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

tivity and business life characteristic of the modern village, but here was once the proudest center of business and social and political influence in Windham county. Here passed scenes of political and patriotic prowess, and events of wide-spread fame which have become famous in the annals of the state, and made the name of Windham immortal. This was in early days the principal settlement of the town, and it continued to hold its prominence until the new center of Willimantic came into prom- inence, when it was compelled to yield the balance of power. As Willimantic increased in size and prosperity this once prom- inent and influential village correspondingly receded. She yield- ed slowly to the demands of her aspiring off-shoot, but was forced to submit to the will of the stronger. Windham is a quiet, lux- uriant, well-preserved and attractive village, and a favorite sum- mer resort.

The old cemetery of the town of Windham lies on the west side of the road toward South Windham, about a half mile from the center of the village. It contains two acres or more, well filled with graves. The grounds are plainly but neatly kept. Some hemlock, pine and fir trees are scattered about in it. The old part of the ground has numerous old gray stones whose in- scriptions antedate the present century. The western part of the ground is more modern and contains several vaults and some granite monuments. A neat hearse house stands by the road- side. Among the family names conspicuously represented here, in the old part of the ground, are Allen, Ripley, Marsh, Hebbard, Manning, Webb, Elderkin, Huntington, Welch, Murdock, Fitch, Cary, Dodge, Young, Wales, Abbe, Bingham, Ginnings, Flint, Warner, Badcock, Follet and Tracy. Here we are pointed to the grave of the first settler of Windham, and besides the somewhat lengthy inscription to his virtues, a copy of which may be found in another chapter of this work, the monumental pile which rests over his remains also bears this legend-" Mr. John Cates, This Monument is Erected upon ye Towns Cost in 1769." One of the most fancifully carved slabs of the olden time contains this in- scription :- "This stone is erected in memory of Mr. James Flint, who died May 23d, A. D. 1788, in ye 66th Year of his Age. For 30 years he was a reputable Merchant in Windham, and always sustained the character of an honest man and a good citi- zen." One of the early ministers of the town church is thus represented on stone :- " Dedicated To the Memory of ELDER

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.

History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 29

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: New York, Preston Number of Pages: 1506

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506