History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 42

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

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Francis Williams

ARTOTYPE, E BIERSTADT, N. Y

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examining committee in that institution. For several years he has been a director of the Connecticut Home Missionary Society and a trustee of the Ministers' Fund, and has never been absent from one of the meetings. For more than forty years he has been acting school visitor in the different towns where he has resided. In 1876 he was elected as a member of the legislature and was a member of the committee on tem- perance.

On the 22d of October, 1841, he married Miss Mahala R. Badger, daughter of Enoch Badger, of Springfield, Mass. She was sister of Reverend Norman Badger, a classmate of Stan- ton, the great war secretary, a professor at Gambia College, O., president of Shelby College, Ky., and died while chaplain in the army. She was also a niece of Doctor Milton Badger, long a distinguished secretary of the Home Missionary Society. They have had five children, four sons and one daughter. Two sons died in infancy. Edward F. graduated at Williams College in the class of 1868, taught for a short time, when failing health compelled him to return to his home in Chap- lin, where he died October 6th, 1869, aged 24. Charles H. graduated at Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., became a member of Haight's Engineer Corps, took a se- vere cold while at Rondout, N. Y., surveying the Hudson River railroad, had severe hemorrhage of the throat, and died in Chaplin, December 19th, 1874, at the age of 26. Mary Elizabeth, their only daughter, graduated at Mt. Holyoke Seminary in the class of 1871, taught select school after graduation, married Reverend William H. Phipps, October 10th, 1872. He has been pastor in East Woodstock, Poquonock, and Prospect, Conn., where he has been pastor for about eleven years, and where he still continues his labors.

Seven sermons preached by Mr. Williams have been printed in pamphlet form, and several in part or in full in news- papers.

1. Temperance Funeral Sermon of Francis Squires. At his own request preached, Text 2d Kings, 10, 9: “Responsible Agents of Intemperance." In American Temperance Preacher No. 4.

2. Funeral of Benjamin Bosworth, Esq., of Eastford.

3. Funeral of Reverend Asa King, pastor in Westminister, Conn.

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4. Funeral of Mrs. Asa King, preached in Westminster.

5. Funeral of two soldiers from Chaplin, killed in the bat- tle of Winchester, Earl Ashley and Anson A. Fenton, preached in Chaplin. Text, John 18, 36.

6. New Year's Sermon, January 5th, 1863, in Chaplin.

7. New Year's Sermon, January 3d, 1874, in Chaplin.

No ecclesiastical council has ever been called to adjust any church or ministerial difficulties, and no minister placed over this people has been accused of, or tried for any scandal or heresy while pastor here or elsewhere. It is a temperance town. No saloon, tavern or dancing hall is known to exist ; and probably a dancing school or hall has not been known in the town in the last fifty years, if ever; certainly not in the last thirty years. Many noted revivals have taken place, and the church has been in a vigorous state for a rural community.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

DAVID A. GRIGGS .- Nathan Griggs, the great-grandfather of David A. Griggs, married Elizabeth Sharpe and resided in Pom- fret. John Griggs, son of Nathan, married Ruth Ashley and resided in Coventry and Hampton, Connecticut. His son Dan- iel was born in Coventry, March 24th, 1779. He married Eliza- beth Hewitt, daughter of Robert and Abigail Hewitt of Hamp- ton. Robert Hewitt was a patriot of the revolutionary war. Daniel Griggs resided in Hampton, Brooklyn, Pomfret and Chaplin, where he died June 26th, 1862. He was a farmer and large owner of real estate. He had a family of eleven children, viz .: Elizabeth H., married Ephraim W. Day; Sophia S., mar- ried David G. Corey ; Daniel A., David A., Nathan, George M., Lucy P., Appleton M., John W., Edward G. and C. Edwin ; of whom four sons and two daughters survive and reside in Chap- lin

David A. Griggs was born June 23d, 1811, in Hampton, and during his minority lived in Hampton, Brooklyn and Pomfret (Abington Society). At the age of seventeen he united with the Congregational church in the latter place. At the age of twenty he became a resident of Chaplin, and soon after removed his church relation to the Congregational church in that town. From that time he taught school in winter and labored on his father's farm in summer until the year 1837, when he purchased a saw mill, grist mill and shingle mill which he still'holds. The farm

David of griggs

ARTOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y.

Pagar Bancoln

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

which is his present home he acquired in 1842, the residence having been erected in 1844. In politics Mr. Griggs was a whig, and has been a republican since the organization of that party. In 1841 he was chosen a justice of peace, which office he held until 1881, when age set a limit to his office. He was elected a representative to the Connecticut legislature in 1854. He has been frequently chosen to the position of selectman of the town; was especially earnest in his support of the government during the late war, and zealous in his efforts to furnish the quota of his town in that eventful crisis.

Mr. Griggs was married March 1st, 1837, to Damaris C., daugh- ter of Chester Storrs, of Chaplin. Their children are Clark Hewitt, Catharine Ferdon and two that died in infancy. Mrs. Griggs died in 1854 and in 1855 he married Sarah L., daughter of Phares Barrows, of Mansfield; who had one child that died in infancy. His son Clark Hewitt was born January 27th, 1839, and graduated from Amherst College in 1863. He entered the service during the late war as hospital steward, and after under- going a varied experience was discharged on account of illness, when he engaged in teaching. He afterward entered the patent office in Washington as clerk, and by his ability won rapid pro- motion. At the date of his death, November 11th, 1872, he filled the responsible position of principal examiner in that bureau. He married Mrs. S. S. Morris, a widow with two children, Emma and Ballard, and had three daughters, Kate P., Dora and Elise. Kate is the wife of William Robertson, of Washington, D. C .; Dora married Ernest I. Atwood, of Springfield, Mass., and Elise died in childhood. Catharine Ferdon married Edgar S. Lincoln, of Chaplin, and has two daughters, Lucy G. and Mabel S.

EDGAR S. LINCOLN .- Jonah Lincoln, the great-grandfather of Edgar S. Lincoln, was in his day a man of prominence in his town. He was for a long time judge of probate for what are now the towns of Hampton, Windham and Chaplin, and held various other offices of trust. He was the father of Dan Lin- coln, who in 1812 married Mehitable Flint. Among their eight children was a son Jared, born September 8th, 1823, in Wind- ham, from whence he removed to Scotland and later to Chaplin. He was in early life a teacher, and afterward engaged in mercan- tile pursuits in Chaplin. He has for years been prominent in pub- lic affairs, represented his town in the state legislature and held various town offices. He married Joanna, daughter of Darius

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Spafford, of Scotland. Their two children are Edgar S. and Clinton D., the latter having died in infancy.

Edgar S. Lincoln was born August 2d. 1847, in Scotland, where, upon the farm his youthful years were spent. Removing at the age of ten to Chaplin, he pursued his studies until the age of sixteen, and then entered Eastman's Commercial College at Poughkeepsie. After graduating he taught school several terms and finally entered his father's store in Chaplin as clerk. In 1871 he purchased the business which has since been success- fully and profitably managed by him.

Mr. Lincoln was on the 8th of January, 1868, married to Miss Catherine F., daughter of David A. Griggs of the same town. They have two daughters, Lucy G. and Mabel S. Mr. Lincoln is a republican in his political affiliations. He has studiously avoided all tenders of office, the only exceptions being the ac- ceptance of the position of probate judge and his election to the state legislature in 1880, both of which came to him unsought. He has taken no active part in the political contests of the day, finding his interests to center more directly in the field of busi- ness enterprise. He is a member of the First Congregational church of Chaplin and has been for ten years superintendent of the Sunday school.

WILLIAM ROSS .- The subject of this biography was the son of Elnathan Ross, who was born June 15th, 1772, and married Olive Storrs, whose birth occurred December 7th, 1774. The children of this marriage were eleven in number, as follows: Roxana, born in 1796; Harriet, in 1797; Ebenezer Storrs, in 1798; Olive, in 1800; Schuyler, in 1801; Earl, in 1803; Lydia Storrs, in 1805; Almyra, in 1806; William, November 24th, 1807 ; Caroline, in 1810 ; and Austin, in 1812. William, the fourth son in order of birth, was a native of Chaplin, where the chief part of his life was passed. He received no other advantages than those afforded by the schools of that early day in the town of his birth. When six years of age he went to live with his unele, Abel Ross, in Chaplin, living with him till he was twenty- one years old. He soon after went to live in Ashford with Gen- eral Palmer, with whom he lived two years.

In the spring of 1832, he married Miranda, daughter of John Hamilton Grant, of Ashford, a revolutionary soldier. The next day after his marriage he returned to Chaplin, having purchased the Avery farm, where he resided until his death.

William Ross

ARTOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y.

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This farm is now the property of his only son William. Mr. Ross was in his political principles a staunch whig and later a republican. He gave some attention to the affairs connected with his town and county, held the offices of selectman and as- sessor, and was in 1846 elected to the state legislature. He was an earnest and exemplary member of the Congregational church and a liberal supporter of the gospel. The death of Mr. Ross occurred on the 7th of August, 1885, and that of Mrs. Ross, May 22d, 1886.

CHAPTER XX.

THE TOWN OF PLAINFIELD.

Description .- Statistics .- Settlement and Settlers .- The Town Organized .- Con- flicting Land Claims .- The Gospel Ministry .- Division of Lands .- Indian War .- Settlement of Land Disputes .- Progress of the Settlement .- An Epi- demic .- The Separate Movement .- French Prisoners of War .- Town Officers, 1765 .- Facilities of Commerce .- Old Tavern .- The Poor and the Oppressed .- Emigration .- During the Revolution .- Revival of Business Enterprises .- Increase of Manufacturing .- Highways and Bridges .- The Ecclesiastical So- ciety and Church .- Congregational Church of Plainfield Street .- The "Sep- tember Gale."-The Separate Church .- Quaker Meeting House.

T HE township of Plainfield lies in the southeastern part of the county, adjoining Griswold and Voluntown in the county of New London. It is about nine miles long from north to south and four to five miles wide. It has Canterbury on the west, also Brooklyn on the northwest, Killingly on the north, and Sterling on the east. The Quinebaug river forms, most of the way, the western boundary, and receives from this town the waters of branches, the Moosup and Mill rivers, which afford sites for a number of manufacturing establishments. The town is traversed by about twenty miles of railroad, the Norwich & Worcester line running through it lengthwise, and the Prov- idence Division of the New York & New England railroad run- ning diagonally across it. Beautiful fertile plains stretching northeast and southwest between the rugged hills, early attract- ed the attention of settlers and land speculators, and these fertile plains gave name to the locality and to the town. Some atten- tion is given to agriculture, but the great industrial interest of the town is manufacturing. Several factory villages have grown up within its borders.

The town was settled in 1689. It was named and incidentally recognized as a town as early as October, 1700. It then included the territory of Canterbury. A division of territory into two ecclesiastical societies by a line following the Quinebaug most of the way was effected in October, 1702. The Indian name of

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the locality was Pantoosuck. The population of the town at dif- ferent periods has been as follows : 1756, 1,800 ; 1775, 1,562 ; 1800, 1,619 ; 1840, 2,383; 1870, 4,521; 1880, 4,021. The grand list of the town was in 1775, £14,216 ; 1845, $29,266.53 ; 1888, $1,735,640.

The territory of this town was a part of the Quinebaug country, the purchase of which from the Indians and something of its settlement having been already given in another chapter will not be repeated here. In October, 1697, the general court or- dered that the people inhabiting along the Quinebaug should be a part of New London county. The settlers on the east side of the river at the time of the town charter in 1699 were Isaac Shep- ard, Richard Pellet, Benjamin Rood, John Fellows, Samuel Shepard, John Spalding, Edward Spalding, James Kingsbury, Thomas Pierce, Thomas Harris, Matthias Button, Joseph Spald- ing, Jacob Warren, Nathaniel Jewell and Timothy Pierce. The area covered by the charter was " ten miles east and west and eight miles north and south, abutting southerly on Preston and Norwich bounds and westerly on Windham bounds, pro- vided it doth not prejudice any former grant of townships." The charter granted the "powers and privileges of a township, provided it doth not prejudice any particular person's prop- erty."

The inhabitants of the Quinebaug plantation met to organize town government May 31st, 1699. Officers were chosen as fol- lows : James Deane, town clerk ; Jacob Warren, Joseph Spalding, Stephen Hall, William Johnson, Samuel Adams, selectmen ; John Fellows, constable; Thomas Williams, surveyor. After electing town officers, the first vote was "To give the Rev. Mr. Coit a call for one quarter of a year for ten pounds." The invitation was accepted, and services were held during the summer, alter- nating between the east and west sides of the Quinebaug. The minister saw a lack of unity in the people, many of the settlers having little regard for religious matters, and refused to settle as pastor, but was retained as supply from quarter to quarter for some time.

Then followed a long controversy in regard to the conflicting claims of John Winthrop, Major Fitch, and the inhabitants of the town under the charter. This controversy lasted several years before a final settlement was reached, and greatly imped- ed the progress of the settlement of the town.

In 1701 the minister's salary, Mr. Coit being employed as be-

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fore, was raised to twenty pounds a year in money and thirty pounds in grain, one-third of the grain to be rye, and the valua- tions on different grains to be fixed at two shillings for corn, three shillings for rye, and four shillings for wheat, per bushel. Town meetings were held alternately east and west of the Quine- baug, at Isaac Shepard's on the east side and Obadiah Johnson's on the west side. In 1702 a pound was built on each side of the river. Nathaniel Jewell was appointed pound keeper on the east side and Samuel Adams on the west side. Thomas Williams, Edward Spalding and John Fellows were surveyors for the east side, and Richard Adams and Thomas Brooks on the west side. A committee was appointed to have the inspection of Cedar swamp, which was then held in common, and they were empow- ered to seize any timber they might find being illegally appro- priated therefrom. A meeting house was built on the east side of the river, on Black hill, which was convenient to a crossing place on the river. This first meeting house was begun in 1702, and completed so as to be accepted by the town in January, 1703. Meanwhile the town was divided into two ecclesiastical societies, the west society being relieved from taxation for this meeting house, but joining in support of minister until they were or- ganized and had a minister by themselves. This meeting house was a rude affair-a rough frame covered with boards, and fur- nished with a temporary floor and temporary seats. In Decem- ber, 1703, it was voted " To have the meeting house floored and a body of seats and a pulpit made, all to be done decently and with as much speed as may be, the ceiling to extend at present only to the girths." This order was probably soon carried into execution. In addition to what had been previously offered Mr. Coit, he was now promised equal privileges with other land own- ers in the purchase made of Owaneco for the benefit of the in- habitants.

The division of Plainfield territory into equal and regular allotments, and its distribution among such inhabitants as ful- filled the required conditions, were accomplished in 1704; the recipients throwing up their previous purchases into the com- mon stock and each receiving an allotment with rights in future divisions proportionate to his interest in the common proprietor- ship. A broad strip of land adjoining the Quinebaug, extending from the north side of Moosup river to the Cedar swamp, was reserved as a general field, the great plain for corn planting, for

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the use of all the inhabitants. Twenty-four proprietors received shares in this allotment, of one hundred acres each, which was completed in February, 1804. These proprietors were : Samuel Shepard, John Smith, Benjamin Smith, John Fellows, Ebenezer Harris, William Douglas, Thomas Stevens, Sr., Thomas Pierce, James Kingsbury, Edward Yeomans, Joshua Whitney, Stephen Hall, John Spalding, Edward Spalding, Benjamin Palmer, Na- thaniel Jewell, Thomas Stevens, Jr., Matthias Button, Jacob Warren, Timothy Pierce, Joseph Parkhurst, Thomas Williams, James Deane and Joseph Spalding. To these twenty-four pro- prietors others were soon added, the town having ordered forty lots of the same size, so as to meet the probable demand. A number of the inhabitants were at first reluctant to resign their. lands, but afterward came into the arrangement. Two or three individuals never did relinquish their individual ownership, and consequently had no share in the common proprietorship. New inhabitants who joined the settlement were granted an allot- ment on payment of three pounds into the town treasury.

The Indian war of 1704 subjected Plainfield to new restrictions and outlays. With other frontier towns, it was not to be desert- ed by any of its inhabitants ; guard houses and scouts were to be maintained, equipped, and supplied with ammunition ; a train band was formed, with Thomas Williams for ensign and Samuel Howe for sergeant. Guards were stationed about the meeting house on Sunday, and watch houses were maintained in exposed parts of the town. Great pains were taken to propitiate the fa- vor of the Quinebaugs, who continued as ever peaceable and friendly.

In the midst of all these distracting conditions the town looked well to the progress of ecclesiastical matters. The interior of the meeting house was completed, and the pulpit placed on the south side of the room. Mr. Coit accepted the pastorate and was ordained early in January, 1705, at which time a church was or- ganized consisting of ten male members. Its first deacons were Jacob Warren and William Douglas. The history of the church will be reviewed by itself further on, consequently notice of its progress will be omitted in this connection. We shall notice now the general progress of the town and its settlement and growth.

In 1705 it was voted that all the land except the "General Field " should be laid out into five equal parts. The proper care

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of the corn field called for frequent enactments. In April, 1706, the town voted " That there shall no cows, cattle or horses be suffered to go in the General Field, at liberty, from the first of April to the fourth of October, upon the penalty of six-pence a head, and if any cattle go upon the grain the owners to pay five-pence per head to the owners of the grain as they shall be found in."

A final attempt to settle the land title dispute between Major Fitch and Governor Winthrop was made in 1706. It was agreed at length that the Winthrops should give up all claim to Quine- baug lands and in place thereof should receive undisputed titic to one thousand acres each in the northern part of Plainfield and Canterbury. This settlement was confirmed by the interchange of quit-claims in October, 1706. At the same time the assembly granted to the proprietors and inhabitants of Plainfield a pat- ent, confirming to them the lands in their town. Henceforward divisions of land in small parcels, as the proprietors thought de- sirable, were made from time to time.

Now that Plainfield had come into full possession of her terri- tory she was deemed competent to bear her part of the public charges. The list of estates presented in October, 1707, amounted to £1,265. The free-holders of the town then numbered about fifty. John Fellows was sent as the first representative to the general court in May, 1708. Thomas Williams was now lieuten- ant, and Timothy Pierce, ensign, of the train band. Yearly in- crease in the town is shown by the fact that in 1708 the " grand list " amounted to £1,890, and the male inhabitants were fifty- five. In 1709 James Hilliard received a grant of several acres of land north of Moosup to encourage him to maintain a corn mill. Bounties were offered for killing blackbirds, a penny a head pro- vided they were killed before the 15th of May; also sixpence a head for crows, twopence a " tail " for rattlesnakes, and ten shil- lings a head for wolves. In 1708 a pound was ordered, " in the senter of the town, near the meeting house." A rate was then levied to pay for "the pound, stox and bords for meeting house." The meeting house was put in order in 1710, and it was voted that every householder in town should give to the Widow Samans " one peck of Indian corn a year in consideration for her to sweep the meeting house ; so long as she doth it, the corne to be carried to her." It was also agreed "That the place which has been for several years improved by the inhabitants for the

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burial of the dead shall abide and remain for that use," and a committee was appointed to designate the quantity and provide a way to get to it. The same committee were directed to appoint a place for an Indian burial ground. This Indian burying ground, which was urgently needed by the rapid decay of the Quinebaugs, was situated in the eastern part of the town, in a place where it is said chiefs and sagamores and many previous generations of the tribe had been deposited. For several years during the early part of the last century this town was engaged in many disputes in regard to lands adjoining. Efforts were made to secure additional land by enlarging the boundaries, first on the north side, then on the west side and then on the east side. But all these efforts were fruitless, as was also the at- tempt to deprive individuals who had bought lands of claimants holding the field previous to the town charter. The Plainfield proprietors at that period seemed to have a decided ambition to possess more land, but the tide of destiny seemed in no wise fav- orable to the gratification of that ambition. The difficulties with Canterbury were not removed, even when the question of fee was settled in Plainfield's favor, and both towns continued the contest over the part of Canterbury included between the Quine- baug river and the line which started at the center of the island of Peagscomsuck and ran a quarter of a mile east and then in a straight line south to the south bounds of the town. The con- test over this parcel of ground lasted for many years and devel- oped many instances of lawlessness. Committees were frequently appointed "to see persons that pull down or demolish Canter- bury fence," and numerous petitions vainly urged the re-state- ment and settlement of the boundary line. The management of the General Field was a matter of endless trouble and vexa- tion. Its fencing was maintained with great labor and difficulty, and its proper care and clearing necessitated the employment of from sixteen to twenty-three "field drivers," a public town office instituted about 1720. These land quarrels somewhat retarded the growth and prosperity of the town, and developed much recklessness and lawlessness among its inhabitants. Reports of many disorders and irregularities are found in the records of the New London county courts: In 1725 Plainfield was visited by a "very distressing sickness and great mortality," so that the people could not get sufficient help among themselves to attend the sick, but were obliged to rely upon other towns for aid.

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 42

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