History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 66

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

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

the charge, Elder Winsor of Gloucester the right hand of fel- lowship-all conducted with decency and order. The deacons were formally ordained, December 9th, the church having pre- viously decided that each had a gift of prayer and exhortation that ought to be improved for the benefit of the church, but that it ought to be "limited, viz., he ought not to rise up of his own head and open the meeting by prayer," but wait the suggestion of the elder; likewise the gift of exhortation should not be in- dulged in unless "he could see any point that he could advance any further upon in agreement to what had been said," and "if the church in general should judge that he did not advance any- thing forward, or give some further light," he should be gently reproved, but the third time he attempted and advanced nothing forward, he should be silenced. It is not surprising that upon reconsideration the church " disannulled that vote concerning Dea. Dike's and Dea. Green's gifts, and ordered that vote to be crossed out, but willing they or any other brother should improve according to the ability that God shall give at proper times and seasons as the church shall judge." A meeting house was built the following summer on land given by Benjamin Wilkinson, the large hearted proprietor of the old Red Tavern on Thomp- son hill, "in the fork of the roads where Oxford and Boston roads meet," Ezekiel Smith, Ebenezer Starr and Jonathan Mun- yan, building committee. " A vote was called whether we would allow this Baptist church the decisive vote in choosing her gifts to improve in the meeting house we are now about to build, and it was voted in the affirmative;" by which action the control of the house was given to the church. Many were added to its mem- bership, and public worship was largely attended. In 1792 Pear- son Crosby and Jonathan Converse were chosen deacons.

In 1796 Brother Solomon Wakefield had liberty " to improve his gifts and hold meetings, when the door may open at any time'or place, when he is free to do the same," and the clerk gave them " credentials to go forth to preach." Some serious difficulties had then arisen in the church, due mainly to dissatisfaction with the pastor, whose mind was somewhat unsettled with advancing years. A part took sides with the minister. September 7th, 1797, a council was held, which resulted in division of the church, " each individual, male and female, to have full liberty to join which party they choose." Twenty-seven members thereupon withdrew and set up worship for themselves in an obscure cor-

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ner, known as Oxford Gore, with Elder Martin for their minister, The majority remaining soon after united in choice of Pearson Crosby. Resigning himself wholly to the judgment of the brethren, a council was held November 7th, 1798, which unani-> mously voted, "Satisfied with the work of grace on his heart, his call to the ministry and system of doctrine." On the day following he was ordained and inducted into the ministry, " all of which was attended to with a degree of becoming solemnity." The faithful labors of the new minister were crowned with abundant success, and in a few years the membership of the church had largely increased. Thomas Day was added to the number of deacons.

Though so prosperous in the main it was found difficult to provide a support for the minister. After laboring more than two years, it was voted to pay Elder Crosby forty dollars for his past services. A legacy from Deacon Ebenezer Green, and lib- eral subscriptions from others, enabled the society in 1801 to purchase a farm "to provide a place of residence for our teacher or minister near our meeting house," which, with an annual salary of eighty dollars enabled him to provide comfortably for the wants of his large family. In 1803, a new meeting house was erected-Elder Crosby, Deacons Jonathan Converse and Thomas Day, Captain David Wilson, Joseph Dike, Abel Jacobs, building committee. A suitable site was purchased "on the great turnpike road from Boston to Hartford." May 19th, more than a hundred men assisted at the raising, "having dinner, sup- per and liquor enough provided," and the work of building was pushed forward so efficiently that in August the Sturbridge As- sociation of Baptist churches was held in the new house. Pews sold to ready purchasers helped defray the cost. The church continued to gain in numbers and its new meeting house was well filled with attentive hearers. It was very interesting on a Sabbath morning to see the people flocking thither by the old by-ways and "across lots " from all sections. Elder Crosby was a strong and eloquent preacher, particularly gifted on funeral occasions.

In 1805, a standing committee was instituted, consisting of the pastor, deacons and five brethren, to settle all mat- ters of difficulty between members without the knowledge or ac- tion of the church, called out probably by the great number of trifling complaints lodged against church members in those days,

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but hardly consistent with the democratic character of Baptist principles and usages. In other respects the church showed it- self remarkably conservative, particularly in " A Rule for the Management of its Temporal concerns" adopted in 1818, which provided "that all delegated power in things of a temporal con- cern shall be vested in the deacons except in such things as the church shall think proper to add other brethren." The minis- ter's salary was to be raised by an " everedge " upon each mem- ber, the deacons "to make out the Everage Bill," lay it before the church for ratification, receive payment, warn and report de- linquents, and if any should neglect to pay within a month of the time specified, church fellowship would be withheld till sat- isfaction was given-a method differing but little from the rate bill and "carnal sword," so repugnant to Baptists. So also with reference to women using their gifts of speaking in public, the church was severely censured for permitting a very able and fervent female preacher to occupy the pulpit in the absence of their pastor.

But in spiritual power the "Old Baptist church " exceeded. Between 1812 and 1815, a remarkable " revival " was experienced, bringing hundreds into the churches. The work was particularly sweeping in the newly-formed " Factory Villages " of the valley, " where for two or three years Satan had seemed to reign with almost sovereign and despotic sway. Vice and immorality were permitted to riot without control. The sound of the violin, at- tended with dancing, the sure prelude to greater scenes of rev- elry for the night." Here Elder Crosby reports-" Convictions of the most pungent and powerful character. Some wrought upon in the most sudden manner-one moment swearing, curs- ing and ridiculing religion ; the next, calling upon God to save their souls. In less than a week instead of the violin, the songs of Zion and preaching and conference every evening." Eigh- teen baptismal seasons, all characterized by the greatest solem- nity, were observed by Elder Crosby during this powerful re- vival. On a bitter cold day, January, 1813, he enjoyed "the glorious sight " of beholding thirteen young people in the very bloom of life following their dear Lord into the cold stream of Jordan, people traveling through the snow and cold eighteen miles to witness this impressive scene. Young people who went about town in ox sleds that tempestuous winter breaking out roads that they might attend these precious meetings, never forgot the

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joyful enthusiasm of the time. Many were brought in who became most valuable members of the. churches and preachers of the truth. Benjamin M. Hill, afterward secretary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, was licensed by this church in 1815 ; Lewis Seamans a few years later. John B. Ballard, one of the subjects of this revival, was afterward very active in min- isterial and mission work. Stephen Crosby was ordained dea- con in 1815. Three hundred and fifty-four were added to the church in the twenty years of Elder Crosby's ministry. In 1819 he followed his children to Fredonia, N. Y.

His immediate successor was Elder John Nichols, of West Thompson, received into the fellowship of the Baptist church and installed as its pastor May 19th, 1819, an eloquent and pow- erful preacher. Arthur A. Ross, a licentiate of the church, was associated with him, and served as sole pastor for a short period. In 1823 Elder James Grow, an experienced minister, already well known to the church, became its pastor. A man of deep spiritual experience and fervent piety, his labors were greatly blessed, one hundred and forty-five being added to the church during his ten years' ministry. Reverend Bela Hicks was called as his successor in 1834. At about this date the growing pros- perity of Thompson Hill village and the number of influential Baptists living there led to a separation in the church, a number of its members, with their pastor, Elder Hicks, removing their worship to a new meeting house built by them in the village.

Elder Grow resumed charge of the branch in the former meet- ing house and served acceptably till laid aside by increasing infirmities. Till his death in 1859, he held a warm place in the hearts of many, and his trembling voice was often raised in prayer and affectionate exhortation. Four hundred and seventy- six were baptized by him. With a small salary he gave with a willing mind, and sent Doctor Judson in the early days of for- eign missions fifty dollars with his own hand, which Doctor Jud- son answered in a letter, which brought more than twenty thou- sand dollars to the Burman mission. Elder James Smither, an earnest preacher, succeeded Elder Grow for two years, and was followed by Elder Nicholas Branch, a man of strong character and a vigorous and original preacher. An attempt was now made to unite in worship with the church at the Center, Elder Branch taking for his text the Sunday before leaving the old meeting house, "Ye have compassed this mountain long enough."

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But the words were not prophetic. Older people could not feel at home under new conditions, and returned in a few months to their old church home, and having still their ministerial farm, proceeded to build a new house of worship and make arrange- ments for permanent abiding. After careful thought and mu- tual conference, an harmonious separation was effected April 8th, 1846, each brother and sister present of the two churches signifying their assent to the subjoined resolutions : " Resolved, that the Baptist church in Thompson be, and the same hereby is divided, and hereafter constitutes two distinct bodies, the one body to be known as the East Thompson Baptist church, and the other as the Central Baptist church of Thompson. Be it further resolved, that each individual present answer for him- self or herself as to which body they wish to be connected with ; also, so far as they feel authorized to, answer for their friends."

The Eastern church, with its new meeting house and ample field of labor, has since enjoyed a comfortable existence under the guidance of successive faithful ministers, viz .: Elders I. C. Carpenter, L. W. Wheeler, J. B. Guild, Nicholas Branch, P. Mat- thewson, D. S. Hawley, W. A. Worthington, N. J. Pinkham. The one hundredth anniversary of the church was celebrated very delightfully by both churches, at the East Thompson meet- ing house, September 9th, 1873, when a very interesting history of the church was given by its pastor, Reverend N. J. Pinkham. Addresses were made by former pastors, Elders Carpenter and Matthewson, and by children of the church, residents in other towns ; also by Mr. James Hill, the oldest member of the church ; Captain John Green, a former member, and by ministers from other towns. A beautiful September day, a large and sympa- thetic audience, the number and variety of addresses, made it a day of rare interest and enjoyment. The present pastor, Rev- erend Samuel Thatcher, who has now labored some six years with the East Thompson church, has the happy gift of imparting his abounding energy to others, and the church enters upon its second century with cheering prospect of continued usefulness.

At the time of the migration to Thompson hill the Baptists in that vicinity boasted some very strong and influential men, such as Deacon Stephen Crosby and his son, Judge Talcott Crosby, Captain Vernon Stiles, Mr. Richmond Bullock. Under their oversight a comfortable house of worship was erected and opened for service in 1836. Elder Harvey Fittz succeeded Elder Hicks

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the following year. The congregation was large and influential, many sterling families from different parts of the town favoring removal to the village. A powerful revival soon followed, strengthening the membership of the church. During the suc- ceeding pastorate of Reverend Silas Bailey, a distinguished and able minister, afterward president of Granville College and other institutions, the church continued to flourish and received large accessions. Jason Elliott and George Davis were ordained dea- cons in 1840.

Great interest was felt at this date in temperance reform, and many very interesting meetings were held in the Bap- tist church-the commanding presence and sound judgment of Elder Bailey giving him much influence in this and other pub- lic movements. Union temperance meetings were held through- out one winter in the vestry of the church, greatly enlightening public sentiment. The loss of Elder Bailey, when called to wider fields, was much lamented by all. His successor, Elder L. G. Leonard, a man of culture and ability, was less successful. Elder Charles Willett was called to the pastorate June 4th, 1845, and continued some years in charge, assisting very effectively in the harmonious settlement of the two branches in 1846. A council of recognition was held May 20th, at which time Elliott Joslin and Valentine Ballard were set apart as deacons, an office which they worthily filled many years. Emigration was now depleting the church ; some influential families removed west, others be- came connected with the Baptist church of the present Putnam. Each pastor found the number of members decreasing. Elders Thomas Dowling, E. R. Warren and Moses Curtis succeeded Mr. Willett. During the pastorate of Reverend B. S. Morse, 1858- 1861, the meeting house was thoroughly repaired. Mr. Morse did good service in compiling a history of the Baptist churches, delivered before his people, and published in the minutes of the Ashford Baptist Association. Elder E. P. Borden supplied the pulpit for two years. Elders W. Munger, B. N. Sperry, Robert Bennett, William Randall are later pastors. For several years Baptists in Grosvenor Dale associated with this church, Messrs. Sperry, Bennett and Randall holding an afternoon service in the chapel of that village, and having pastoral charge of those at- tending the service ; but from the removal of Mr. Briggs and other causes it was discontinued. The present pastor, Reverend S. A. Ives, entered upon service in April, 1888. Deacons Valen-

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tine Ballard and Hiram Arnold serve as senior deacons. Charles Arnold and John D. Converse have been recently installed in service. The church edifice has been thoroughly repaired and refitted, absent ones of the church assisting in this work.

Methodists appeared in Thompson at an early date, zealous itinerants preaching in various localities, wherever they could find a hearing. Avoiding the hilltops so long pre-empted by the "Standing Order," they found a willing constituency in the neglected valleys, where population had slowly gathered about the mill sites. The first Methodist preachers remembered are John Allen and Jesse Lee, who gained a few followers. In 1793 a class of six members was formed in West Thompson, with Noah Perrin of Pomfret, for a leader. Joseph Buck, Shubael Cady and Jonathan Allen were prominent among these early Methodists. The Nichols family was a notable accession to their ranks. Captain Jonathan Nichols, the bridge builder and ship architect, became a Methodist, opening his house for the recep- tion of the New England Conference in 1796. This was the sixth Methodist conference of New England, the only one ever held in Windham county. Bishop Asbury, Joshua Hall and many distinguished Methodist preachers were present, and the services were marked by the most thrilling interest. Soon a Methodist house of worship was built west of the Quinebaug, under the direction of Captain Nichols, and religious services statedly observed. John Gore, Dyer Branch, Joshua Crowell, Elisha Streeter, Thomas Perry, were early preachers in this house, drawing many hearers from the west part of the town and adjoining sections of Pomfret and Woodstock. In time the rough house became too small for the congregation and was bi- sected and enlarged.

In the revival season of 1812-1815, many were added to the church, and an earnest brother, Shubael Cady, gathered the chil- dren into a class for instruction-one of the first reported Sun- day schools in the country.

The Thompson church became so powerful that its name was given to the circuit. It continued to increase and flourish under the care of zealous leaders and elders till, in 1840, a handsome church edifice was erected in West Thompson village. Judge Jonathan Nichols and his kinsmen, Messrs. Faxon and George Nichols, were very active and efficient in forwarding the Metho- dist interests throughout the town. So also was Reverend Hez-

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ekiah Ramsdell, who made his home in West Thompson while preaching in various fields with much eloquence and acceptance.

Thompson and Eastford were now united in a circuit embrac- ing a membership of seven hundred. So large was the field that a division was thought needful, and new societies formed in Fisherville and East Thompson. Soon after this division the mother society was further weakened by the establishment of worship in what is now Putnam, by which many valuable mem- bers were removed. The West Thompson Methodist church has, in spite of these losses, maintained a good standing, fur- nishing an acceptable church home for many substantial fami- lies, and also for aged ministers and their families. The vener- able Fathers Warren Emerson and John Case spent their last years with this people. Among its many faithful ministers may be numbered: Elders George May, William and Richard Livesly, Edward A. Stanley, Charles Morse, Phelps and Stearns.

A Methodist house of worship was erected in Fisherville in 1842, and a good congregation gathered. One of its first min- isters was the honored Father Daniel Dorchester, whose son, Daniel, now so widely known in the denomination, preached at the same time in East Thompson. This society was greatly benefitted through the thoughtfulness of Mr. Joseph Green, by which the debt upon the meeting house was cleared and money

left for a permanent fund. Captain George Nichols was one of the early benefactors and constant friends of this society. Situated in a thriving village, with a country around it unoc- cupied by other churches, this Methodist church has filled an important position and been productive of much good. Its well kept burying ground and continued improvements in the house of worship manifest much enlightened public spirit. The pres- ent pastor, Reverend George A. Morse, is completing his third year of service.

The East Thompson Methodist society, organized in a part of the town previously left out in the cold, had a hard struggle for existence in its early years. But the very difficulties in the way made its preservatien more important. With the opening of the New York and New England railroad, and its junction at East Thompson with the Southbridge Branch, population increased and the church felt a new impetus. For many years it has been a strong and active body, and enjoyed a succession of faithful and efficient pastors. Its Sabbath school has been kept up with

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much interest, its prayer meetings are lively and well attended, and the church and children's festivals are observed with un- usual spirit.

Miss Emma Shaw, a native of Thompson village, much esteemed as a teacher in the public schools of Providence, R. I., has won unique celebrity by her energy and enterprise in ex- ploring unfamiliar portions of the American continent. She was one of the first American women to explore our Alaskan terri- tory, and in successive visits has made herself very familiar with the topography and characteristics of that remarkable region. For six successive summers Miss Shaw has crossed to the Pacific coast, over the several trans-continental routes, making each year a special visitation and study of some almost undiscovered country, and describing her adventurous wanderings in graphic letters to many influential newspapers. Yellowstone Park, the Cascades of the Columbian river, the Winnipeg country, the Sas- katchewan river far into the territory of the Hudson Bay Com- pany, and other remote and unfrequented sections, have been thus visited and described. Miss Shaw has in a very marked de- gree the qualities essential for a successful traveler, and the in- teresting papers recounting her varied and unusual experiences have been greatly enjoyed and appreciated by many intelligent audiences.

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE TOWN OF THOMPSON .- (Concluded).

Manufactures .- The Swamp Factory .- Fisherville Factory .- Water Privileges. - Grosvenor Dale, Masonville .- North Grosvenor Dale .- Changes Wrought by the Manufacturing Interests .- Catholic Churches .- The Swedish Church of Grosvenor Dale .- Connecticut Manufacturing Company .- The "Brick " Factory .- West Thompson .- Mechanicsville .- Quadic Manufacturing Com- pany .- Brandy Hill .- The Northeast Section .- Wilsonville .- New Boston .- Thompson Village .- A "Boom" to Thompson Hill .- Old-Time Taverns .- Social Customs .- Railroad Opening .- Thompson Bank .- Fire Engine Com- pany .- Some Prominent People .- Summer Inhabitants .- The Sons of Thomp- son .- Thompson Grange .- Biographical Sketches.

T' HOMPSON'S manufacturing interests are of much value and importance, having been the main factor in its con- tinued prosperity and good standing. The opening of Mr. Smith Wilkinson's cotton spinning factory in 1807, near the southwest corner of Thompson, excited much interest, giving employment to many women and children, and furnishing a nearer market for farm produce. Mr. John Mason, at the ex- treme south of the town (oldest son of the former merchant, who had then removed to Providence), was the first to propose a similar enterprise in Thompson, and selected the site of the pres- ent Grosvenor Dale as the scene of experiment. Persuading Nathaniel, son of Elder Crosby, to associate with him, they at- tempted to negotiate for the upper privilege with Deacon Ste- phen Crosby, who had at that time a saw mill, grist mill and fulling mill in successful operation. Failing in this attempt, they invited Messrs. John Nichols, James B. Mason, Theodore Dwight and Rufus Coburn to unite with them as the Thompson Manufacturing Company in 1811, and succeeded in purchasing a suitable tract of land " near the old bridge place, below Ste- phen Crosby's mills." Here were erected, in 1812, Thompson's first manufactory or factory building, a wooden house 60 by 36 feet, three stories high, designed to run sixteen hundred spin- dles. Early in the following year it went into operation, draw-

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ing in the class of operators usual at that date, mostly embarassed men with small means and large families. Society in early mill villages was very chaotic, and according to Elder Crosby, “Sa- tan " gained the mastery in this case, "reigning with almost sov- ereign and despotic sway." An unfortunate rivalry between the Thompson Company and the "Connecticut Company " at the Brick Factory below helped to give a bad name to this Satanic stronghold. Occupying one of the "miry hollows" so vividly depicted by Samuel Morris a century before, it was considered a very unwholesome and undesirable location, and was derisively nicknamed "The Swamp" or "Swamp Factory " by mocking rivals-a name that clung to it for many years. The future Judge Nichols was the first agent of the company ; Rufus Co- burn sub-agent. Lacking in experience, and probably in the rare executive ability which had given such success to Mr. Wil- kinson's experiment, the first aspect was not favorable, but ere many months had passed a complete change of base was effected. " Land, water privilege, buildings, machinery, stock of yarn and cloth," in short, the whole establishment, was bought out by Gen- eral James B. Mason, for $12,500. August 11th, 1813, his brothers, Amasa and William H. Mason were admitted into the company, General Mason retaining sixteen-thirty-seconds for himself. Colonel William Foster, of Smithfield, R. I., was made the resi- dent agent, a man of experience and resolute energy. Under his efficient agency order took the place of chaos, and when under the great religious interest of 1814 unruly spirits were farther quelled, the character of the place was almost wholly trans- formed. Many good and substantial families removed to Swamp Factory, thrifty women welcomed the privilege of weaving the spun cotton into cloth, struggling farmers paid off mortgages by working for the factory, and the usual good results of such pe- cuniary aid were experienced in many directions. The little school house was soon crowded with native children and many religious services were held there by the different ministers of the town. Through the skillful management of Colonel Foster, the depression in manufactured goods, following the return of peace and the introduction of power looms and new methods of working, was tided over without loss to the company.

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 66

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