History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 81

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

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Mr. Morse was married April 13th, 1851, to Melora, daughter of Whitford Whitney of Killingly, Conn. Their children are five sons and five daughters, as follows: Frances S., deceased; Ida A., wife of Charles M. Fenner; Augustus I., married to Anne G. Dyer; Stillman F., married to Emma L. Leonard; Milton S., married to Eloise H. Busiel; George Byron, married to Maud L. Alden; Hattie M., wife of Charles Albert Luke; Alice M., wife of James Eugene Taylor; Walter N. and Blanche P.

CAPTAIN ALFRED M. PARKER is a lineal descendant of Captain John Parker, who commanded a detachment of colonial troops at the eventful battle of Lexington during the war of the revo- lution. Among the children of his son Eben, who resided in Boston, was John, also a resident of the same city, who married Rebecca Young of Boston. Their children are: Horace B., a member of the firm of Parker, Holmes & Co., of Boston; Alfred M., and two daughters, Isabella L., wife of George J. Tufts, and Ella J.

Alfred M. Parker was born October 26th, 1852, in Boston, where he resided until the age of twelve, meanwhile attending the public schools and laying the foundation for a substantial ele- mentary education. The three succeeding years were spent in Medford, after which he removed to St. Louis, to familiarize himself with the boot and shoe trade. The firm with which he engaged managed two stores, and Captain Parker was connected in turn with both, finally transferring his relations to the more important, in which he was chief accountant. After a business connection of six years with this firm, he returned to Bos-

ARTOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

ton, and became travelling salesman for Messrs. Batchelder & Lincoln, a prominent wholesale boot and shoe house of that city. This engagement continued for a period of four years, when Putnam became his home. Here he purchased the business of Messrs. Houghton & Crandall, boot and shoe dealers, and has since that date been actively interested in this branch of trade. Under his judicious management the sales have largely increased, a wholesale and jobbing department having been added to the retail branch of the business.

Captain Parker has, since his settlement in Putnam, been identified with its improvement, and interested himself in the various projects having for their object the welfare of the community. He was a director and one of the original promoters of the Electric Light Company, and was chiefly instrumental in the erection of a drinking fountain in the center of the village. He is an active Mason, and senior warden of Quinebaug Lodge, F. & A. M. Of Putnam Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, he has been for two years the high priest. For four years Captain Parker has held the position of second lieutenant of Company G, Third regiment, Connecticut National Guards, located in Putnam, and received promotion to the office of aide-de-camp, with the rank of captain, on the staff of General Charles P. Graham, brigadier general, commanding the Connecticut Na- tional Guards. This promotion was the result of merit, so that he may be said in truth to have won his spurs, and with them the approbation and esteem of his commanding general.

Captain Parker is accustomed to seek relaxation from the cares of an increasing business in a hunting and fishing trip on the coast of Florida during the winter months, his own convenient and at- tractive yacht contributing greatly to this pleasure. He was married to Miss Anne M. Howard, of Bath, Me., who died in March, 1885.

CHANDLER A. SPALDING .- Obed Spalding married Margaret Ames. Their son, Eleazer Spalding, married Sarah Parks and resided in Killingly, now Putnam, where he owned a farm, and also during the winter months engaged in teaching. He had two children, a son, Chandler A., and a daughter, Mary Ann, wife of George W. Keith. Chandler A. Spalding was born April 24th, 1810, on the farm in Killingly, and in the residence occupied by him during his lifetime. Having the misfortune to lose his father when but twelve years of age, he began active

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labor at the age of fourteen, and such was his aptitude and judg- ment, that soon after, with his mother, he conducted the farm. He received a common English education at the district school, but was too much engrossed with the responsible duties thus early thrown upon him to afford much time for study.

On the 11th of February, 1835, he married Charity Gilbert, of Pomfret, whose children are : Caroline C., Albert, Emily, Lo- ren and Charles, all now deceased. Mrs. Spalding's death oc- curred January 4th, 1861. Mr. Spalding having already owned one-third of the estate, on his marriage purchased the remaining two-thirds from his mother and sister, thus becoming sole owner of the homestead farm, on which he settled. He married a sec- ond time January 27th, 1862, Emily, daughter of Wareham Wil- liams, of Pomfret, who survives him.

Mr. Spalding was in politics a republican, but not ambitious for office, and filled no other positions than those which enabled him to be of service to his native town. He was one of the in- corporators and a director of the Putnam National Bank. He was the projector and at one time sole owner of the Putnam Cemetery, which was platted under his personal supervision. On its organization as a corporation, he became the president and filled that office until his death, which occurred on the 2d of April, 1877. Mr. Spalding was a Christian man, giving with a cheerful and willing heart, and zealous in promoting the pros- perity of the Congregational church at Putnam, of which he was a member.

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CHAPTER XXXII.

THE TOWN OF WOODSTOCK.

General Description and Geology .- Aborigines .- Visit of Eliot and Gookin .- The Narragansett War .- New Roxbury Colony .- Incorporation as Wood- stock and Subsequent Events .- Indian Troubles .- Important Changes .- Final Division of Roxbury's Half of Woodstock .- Second Meeting House .- Ministerial Troubles .- Indian Alarms .- Land Divisions .- Worcester County Erected .- Early Schools .- Controversy with Colonel Chandler .- Settlement of West Woodstock .- Precinct Organized .- Building of Meeting House .- Organization of Church .- Woodstock's Revolt .- Contest between Massachu- setts and Connecticut .- Church Division .- Various Town Affairs.

T HE northwest corner of Windham county is occupied by the ample territory of Woodstock, eight miles by seven and a half in extent, comprising an area of nearly sixty square miles. It is the largest town in the county and retains, with least change, its original limits, its only loss occurring from a slight removal of its northern boundary. Woodstock ranks high among the farming towns of the state. Its soil is excel- lent, and the dearth of manufacturing privileges has helped to develop agricultural interests. A micaceous formation (gneiss), extending from Pomfret to its junction with a western branch of the same near Muddy brook, in the north of the town, fur- nishes a soil capable of great improvement. It is characterized by a series of smoothly rounded, detached hills, in which the rock is usually covered. Rocky ledges in other parts of the town have impeded cultivation, leaving extensive forest tracts, mak- ing the lumber interest of permanent value. A granitic forma- tion in the south of the town is well adapted for quarrying, hav- ing furnished hearth stones and building material to succeeding generations since the first settlement of the town. The west of the town is favored with a large deposit of bog iron ore, espe- cially in the neighborhood of Black pond, where it is said a sin- gle pit yielded a hundred and fifty tons of ore. Mineral springs, near the present residence of Deacon Abel Child, enjoyed a wide popularity for a season. Woodstock's variety of soil, nearness

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

to market, its wide-awake Farmer's Club, Grange and Agricul- tural Society, have stimulated culture and experiment and brought the general administration of farming affairs to a high standard. Attempts to utilize its small streams-Muddy brook, Bungee and Saw Mill brook-for manufacturing purposes have been less successful. Other manufacturing enterprises have met with varying success.

This Woodstock territory was first known to the whites as a part of Wabbaquasset, a country run over and conquered by the Mohegans, and subject to Uncas. Its name signifies "the mat- producing country," and was probably derived from some marsh or meadow that produced valuable reeds for mats and baskets. It included land west of the Quinebaug, north of a westward line from Acquiunk Falls, now at Danielsonville. The Indians living in this section were known as Wabbaquassets. They were ap- parently few in number and inferior in character, abjectly sub- missive to the great sachem Uncas, paying "him homage and obligations, and yearly tribute of white deer skins, bear skins and black wolf skins." The south part of what is now Woodstock is supposed to have been one of their favorite haunts. The smooth hills were burnt over every year to furnish fresh pasture for deer, and corn was grown there as far back as the first settle- ment of Boston. When news was borne through Nipnet to Wabbaquasset that Englishmen at the Bay lacked corn, and would pay a good price for it, a stout young Indian lad, Acquit- timaug, trudged through the wilderness with his father with sacks of corn upon their backs to sell to the Englishmen.

Apart from this incident nothing is known of the aboriginal inhabitants of Woodstock, until the Indian converts of John Eliot found their way there. Two of these youths, trained at Natic in a school of virtue and piety, inspired by the teachings and example of the reverend apostle, sought to carry "good tid- ings" to their benighted countrymen at Wabbaquasset. They were sons of Petavit, sachem at Hamannesset (now Grafton), and are described as hopeful, pious and active young men. The younger, Sampson, "an active and ingenius person," had been before conversion dissolute in conduct, "lived very uncomfort- ably with his wife," but the transforming power of divine grace had been made more manifest thereby, and his mission work at Wabbaquasset was remarkably successful. Laboring alone among these untutored savages, within four years he had gath-

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ered thirty families into an orderly community, had instructed them in the principles of religion, established divine worship and persuaded them to assume in some degree the habits of civ- ilized life. They cultivated the land, raised great crops of corn and beans, and built wigwams, the like of which were not to be seen in New England. The precise locality of this Indian set- tlement has not been ascertained, but it was in the south part of the tract, near the present "Quasset," or in the vicinity of South Woodstock. A fort was maintained westward on what is now Fort hill, which was called the "second fort in the Nipmuck country."

The report of Major Daniel Gookin, "magistrate over the Praying Indians," of Mr. Eliot's tour among these Indians in 1674, enables us to see them as with our own eyes. With five or six godly persons and a number of Indian guides and followers, they visited the new "Praying Towns " planted by Eliot's missionaries. After spending the night at Chaubun- akongkomuk (near Dudley), where Sampson's brother Joseph was teacher, they proceeded in the morning to Myanexet, " west of a fresh river called Mohegan" (now New Boston) where a village had been gathered. To these twenty families with others Mr. Eliot preached in the Indian tongue from the words, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, . and the King of Glory shall come in," words which a swift messenger bore with all speed to the king of darkness at Mohegan. John Moqua, a pious and sober person, was presented to the people to be their minister, and a suitable psalm read by him was sung by the assembly. After a closing prayer the missionary band pro- ceeded on their way, following the Connecticut Path, the main thoroughfare of travel between the colonies, for a part of the jour- ney, diverging thence by Indian trail to the Wabbaquasset settle- ment. "Late in the evening," September 15th, they reached the sagamore's famous wigwam, sixty feet in length and twenty feet in width. The chief was absent, but his squaw received them courteously, and provided liberally in Indian fashion for their followers. The "active and ingenius" Sampson, rejoicing in the fruit of his labors, must have given them a hearty welcome, and " divers of the principal people that were at home " came to the wigwam, with whom they "spent a good part of the night in prayer, singing psalms and exhortations."

" It was a scene that has been many times repeated in mission-

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ary experience, the grave and earnest men of God with the wild natives wondering and questioning at their feet, but one inci- dent on this occasion was of unique occurrence. A grim Indian among them, "sitting mute a great space, at last spake to this ef- fect-that he was agent for Uncas, sachem of Mohegan, who challenged right to and dominion over this people of Wabba- quasset. And said he, 'Uncas is not well pleased that the English should pass over Mohegan River to call his Indians to pray to God.'" The timid Wabbaquassets might well have quailed at this lofty message from their sovereign lord, but Mr. Eliot re- plied calmly, "That it was his work to call upon all men every- where, as he had opportunity, especially the Indians, to repent and embrace the Gospel, but he did not meddle with civil right or jurisdiction." Gookin, as magistrate, further explained and desired the messenger to inform Uncas, that Wabbaquasset was within the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, and that the govern- ment of that people did belong to them, yet it was not intended to abridge the Indian sachems of their just and ancient right over the Indians in respect of paying tribute or any other dues, but the main desire of the English was to bring them to the good knowledge of God in Christ Jesus, and to suppress among them their sins.

The morning following, September 16th, 1674, is one of the most notable in Woodstock history. The tidings of the progress of the missionary band had been borne far and wide, Indians from Myanexet, Quinnatisset and all the surrounding country, had come together to see and hear them, and at an early hour a public service was held. Tradition still points out the rock at the north extremity of Plaine hill that served as pulpit for John Eliot. Gookin and other godly persons stood beside him, and the throng of swarthy Indians pressed around their feet. Samp- son began the service, "reading and setting the CXIX P's, first part, which was sung." Mr. Eliot offered prayer, and then preached to them in Indian out of Matthew, vi. 33, "First seek the kingdom of Heaven and the righteousness thereof, and all these things shall be added unto you."

Prayer closed the religious exercises, and then a civil service was enacted. Law following the Gospel presentation on this occasion, Gookin as magistrate, representing the authority of Massachusetts Bay, laid down the rules of civil government, confirming Sampson as public teacher, and Black James of Chau-

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

bunakongkomuck as constable, charging each to be diligent and faithful in his place, and exhorting the people to yield obedience to the Gospel of Christ and to those set in order there. He then published a warrant or order, empowering the constable to sup- press drunkenness, Sabbath breaking, especially powwowing and idolatry, and to apprehend all delinquents and bring them before authority to answer for their misdeeds. Having thus es- tablished religious and civil ordinances, the visitors took leave of the people of Wabbaquasset and turned their footsteps home- ward with thankfulness and joy at what had been accom- plished.

The dreams and hopes of the good apostle, of Christianizing and civilizing the tribes that had long sat in darkness, seemed likely to be quickly realized. Churches and villages had been gathered and religious and civil institutions established. Min- isters and constables had been formally established in office, and all was peace and order. A few short months and all was deso- late. A ferocious war between whites and Indians obliterated the results of years of fruitful labor. The villages were de- stroyed, the churches vanished, the praying Indians relapsed into barbarous savages. Black James, Sampson, and other con- verts took sides with King Philip. The Wabbaquassets left their homes and planting fields and took up their abode at Mohegan. Captain Thomas of Providence, passing through Wapososhe- quash in pursuit of Philip, in August, 1675, reports "a very good inland country, well watered with rivers and brooks, special good land, great quantities of special good corn and beans, and stately wigwams as I never saw the like, but not one Indian to be seen." In the following summer Major Talcott, of Norwich, passed through Wabbaquasset, where he found a fort and some forty acres of growing corn, but no enemy. Demolishing fort and destroying the corn, they proceeded on their way. The Wabbaquassets during the war performed some slight services for Uncas, and were rewarded by the Connecticut government, and continued for some years afterward under his protection.

As soon as possible after the restoration of peace, Massa- chusetts arranged to take possession of the conquered territory. William Stoughton and Joseph Dudley were commissioned by the general court to treat with the Indian claimants and agree with them upon the easiest terms attainable. February 10th, 1682, negotiations were completed by which the whole Nipmuck

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

country, from the northern part of Massachusetts to a point called Nash-a-way, at the junction of the Quinebaug and French rivers, Connecticut-a tract fifty by forty miles in extent- was made over to the government of the Bay colony, for the sum of fifty pounds, a reservation of five miles square being also al- lowed the Indians. Colonization was the immediate result of this cession. Plantation in New England was quickly followed by emigration. The mother towns were not able to furnish homes for new comers, and the many children of the first plant- ers. The flourishing town of Roxbury was especially hampered in this respect, "its limits being so scanty and not capable of enlargement " that many families were forced to find other set- tlements. Eagerly its inhabitants welcomed the opening of the Nipmuck country as furnishing a wider field for their super- abundant population.

In October, 1683, its selectmen petitioned the general court for a tract of land seven miles square, " for the enlargement of the town and the encouragement of its inhabitants," the land to be laid out at Quinnatisset or thereabouts, if a convenient way may be found there. This prayer was granted on condition that previous grantees had the first choice, and "that thirty families be settled on said plantation within three years, and maintain among them an able, orthodox, godly minister." The town ac- cepted the conditions, and in the following year sent out Lieu- tenant Samuel Ruggles, John Ruggles, John Curtis and Edward Morris, "To view the premises and find a convenient place to take up her grant." With Indian guides they made their way through the wilderness and carefully viewed the premises. Quinnatisset (now Thompson), for which they had asked, was already appropriated, and farms laid out to English owners, but land adjacent at Senexet and Wabbaquasset they thought com- modious for a settlement.

The town accepted their information, October 27th, 1684, and chose a suitable committee, "to draw up, upon consideration, propositions that may be most equable and prudent for the set- tlement of the place." Inhabitants unwilling to assume the re- sponsibility of carrying forward the work had liberty to with- draw without offense, and be free from further charges. All others were to be held responsible for the settlement and ex- penses of the Nipmuck colony. The following year farther ar- rangements were made, the town agreeing to give to the actual

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settlers one-half the entire grant, and a hundred pounds in money, to be laid out in public works, but it was not till the third year that they proceeded to take possession. A number of pioneers having voluntereed to go in advance and prepare the way for' the main body, it was voted in town meeting, March 4th, 1686, "That such should have liberty to break up land and plant anywhere they please without being bound to accept it as their share of the grant." This advance guard, thirteen in num- ber, viz., Benjamin Sabin, Jonathan Smithers, Henry Bowen, John Frizzell, Matthew Davis, Nathaniel Gary, Thomas Bacon, John Marcy, Peter Aspinwall, Benjamin and · George Griggs, Joseph Lord and Ebenezer Morris left Roxbury about April 1st, and having surmounted the perils of the journey, made record that on April 5th, 1686, "Several persons came as planters and settlers and took actual possession (by breaking up land and planting corn) of the land granted to Roxbury (called by the planters New Roxbury; by the Antient natives Wapaquasset.)"

Through Senexet valley in the east of the tract they passed on southward, making headquarters at Plaine hill. In the vale eastward they planted corn fields and set up a saw mill on a small brook running toward the lake. The larger stream feed- ing the lake was given the name of their own Muddy brook in Roxbury. No curious natives disturbed their solitude. The Wabbaquassets were still sojourning in Mohegan. In May they were visited by a deputation from Roxbury, which came with Surveyor Gore to take a more formal survey of the tract, settle the south bound, and determine the length and breadth of the grant, so that the first "Go-ers" might make an intelligent choice. Eleven days were spent in exploring and surveying. Massachusetts' south bound, an unknown, disputed, almost imag- inary line, making much trouble between Massachusetts and Connecticut, could not be identified, but a substitute was devised by affixing a station about one and a half miles south of Plaine hill, and thence marking trees in line, east and west. The south bound thus obtained was nearly two miles south of the " Wood- ward and Saffery Line," claimed by Massachusetts and about eight miles south of the south bound finally established. Other arrangements were made and the committee returned in time to report proceedings, June 12th, at Roxbury.

A vigorous new colony " boom " had now set in and much in- terest was manifested. The prescribed quota of thirty planters

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was already full and others were pressing in. Men were known in town "under the denomination " of "Go-ers" or "Stay-ers ;" men from adjacent towns were craving admittance and permis- sion was granted to admit such with the "Goers," "if the select- men of Roxbury and other Go-ers do approve them." July 21st, an especial meeting was held for the more orderly settling the aforesaid village or grant, when the following agreement was adopted :

"I. That every man should take up what number of acres he pleaseth in his home lot, not exceeding thirty; and after-rights and divisions of land shall arise according to the proportion of his home lot, and all after-charges to arise proportionably upon the home lots for the first six years.

"II. That whoever shall neglect the payment of his rate two months after a rate is made and demanded, shall forfeit for every five shillings two acres of his home lot with all proportionable rights, and so, more or less, according to his failure ; always pro- vided that they take not his house nor orchard.

"III. If any meadows should fall out to be in any one's home lot it shall be accounted as so much of his proportion of meadow, and his home lot made up with upland.

"IV. That all persons that have planted in the year 1686 shall have two acres of his home lot free for the first three years, and shall enjoy the land they planted in 1687 and '88, though it fall out in any other person's home lot.

"V. That within one month they will go personally to their new plantation, and there make farther agreements, divisions and settlements."

The fifth article of the agreement was faithfully carried out. Within the specified month they set out upon their distant pil- grimage-the forty men who had enrolled themselves "Go-ers," and a fair proportion of their families. Of all circumstances connected with the fitting out, departure and journey of the col- ony we are wholly ignorant. On foot and horseback, with cart and cattle, they traversed the well-worn Connecticut path, or the newer way laid out by Major Pynchon through the Oxford grant, . to meet a joyful welcome from the waiting pioneers. In their five months' residence the thirteen planters had made a good be- ginning. Three distinct sites, suitable for villages, had been selected and on the northern extremity of Plaine hill a house or hall, intended for general use, had been put up. The first pub-

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 81

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