History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 84

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.

harmonious settlement contributed to further pacification. Colo- nel Chandler was again chosen moderator of town meetings. Twenty-five pounds was allowed him for twenty-six years' ser- vice as town clerk, and other demands conceded.

School divisions were confirmed in 1738. Captain John May, Deacon William Lyon, Jedidiah Frizzell, James Chaffee and Ben- jamin Bugbee served as committee in setting the bounds of schools in the several parts of the town, " so that one part may not send their children to any other part, and every part enjoy its own school without being interrupted by any other part." The " parts " thus assigned were the central school at Plaine hill, the southeast quarter, the northeast quarter, and the whole west side of the town. A fifth section was soon after set off at Wabbaquasset, in the south of the town.

The settlement of the western part of Woodstock had now made considerable progress. Its south half had been laid out to original proprietors, and was occupied mainly by their sons. Joshua, third son of Judge Chandler, was one of the first to take possession of his father's out-division, "Lot 23, third range," in the heart of the future village of West Woodstock. He was soon followed by other adventurous youths, viz., Thomas and John Child, John and Joseph Marcy, Nathaniel Johnson, John Perrin, Ebenezer Lyon, Benjamin Corbin, Samuel and Jesse Bugbee, Nathaniel Aspinwall, Ebenezer and Abraham Paine, children of first planters, eager to establish themselves in this pleasant and fertile section. No part of the town was settled under more favorable circumstances-a body of well trained young men, with friends at hand to help and encourage them. In 1731 a two months' school was allowed by the town. In 1733 it was voted " That the inhabitants dwelling on the west side of a due north and south line from the top of Fort hill to the dividend lines on the north and south bounds of the town have liberty to meet together and agree where a school house may be built." Improving this privilege, the western residents met together and voted " That the best place for a school house is north of Clay-pit Brook, between Joshua Chandler's and John Paine's lots."

This house being constructed, other needs were manifested. In 1736 it was found that thirty-five families had gathered with- in the limits of the west school who were exposed to great hard- ships and difficulties, especially in cold and difficult times of

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

the year in travelling to and from public worship in the distant Plaine Hill meeting house. Having borne cheerfully their part of public charges, these westward residents now asked the town to help them pay the expense of hiring a minister through the winter. The town granted liberty to have preaching at their own cost, but refused to afford any help toward its support. After five years' efforts and trials, the western inhabitants again most earnestly besought their friends and neighbors to take their remote and difficult circumstances into their compassionate consideration, and in order to settle the worship of God suitably among them, allow the western half to be erected into a separate town. Aghast at this presumption, the town positively refused to grant its countenance and consent to the western inhabitants. Again, in the spring of 1742, the petitioners pressed their suit, and succeeded by a majority of two in gaining permission to address the general court.

July 2d Benjamin Marcy and thirty-five others forcibly repre- sented "their inconvenience by reason of remoteness from public worship," and gained encouragement to hope that a pre- cinct might be allowed them. Another appeal was made to their obdurate fellow townsmen, not willing "to drive things to extremities," "the settlement of public worship the principal thing we aim at," but again were scornfully repulsed. With equal firmness the western inhabitants again preferred their request to the general conrt, showing their condition, the dis- tance which each petitioner and his family were obliged to travel to the crowded meeting house on Plaine hill, and begging hum- bly to be set off into a distinct and separate precinct. A very strong and forcible response from the old inhabitants of the town, headed by Judge Chandler, could not in this instance stay the march of progress. A committee appointed to repair to Wood- stock and view the situation reported in favor of the petitioners. September 15th, 1743, the report of the committee was accepted, and the " west half part of Woodstock erected into a separate and distinct township, and vested with all the rights and priv- ileges that precincts by law enjoy."

The first parish meeting was held in the one school house, September 27th. John Marcy served as moderator; Isaac John- son, clerk; Joseph Chaffee, Joseph Marcy and Ebenezer Lyon were chosen society committee; Joseph Chaffee, Moses Lyon and Isaac Johnson, assessors; John Marcy, treasurer. Ebenezer

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Smith, John Child and Nathaniel Johnson served as committee, with Captain John May, Jabez Lyon and Daniel Paine of the old society, in affixing the bound between the precincts by a north and south line through the center of the town. The new society assumed the name of New Roxbury, and at once devoted its energies to the establishment of public worship. A tax of two pence a year on all unimproved land, to be applied toward building a meeting house and settling a minister, was allowed by the general assembly. After discussion and delay, the "decisive spot for meeting house " was fixed upon by a committee from abroad, viz., Robert Knowlton, Joseph Leavens and Mr. Wal- bridge; Isaac Johnson, Joseph Chaffee, Ebenezer Paine, Thomas Child, Jonathan Bugbee, Ebenezer Corbin waiting upon them. After four days' deliberation "a dry knoll east of Bungee Hill" was selected, Mr. Joshua Chandler giving an acre of land for. building site. Equal deliberation was manifested in choosing a minister. The successful candidate was Mr. Stephen Williams of Longmeadow, Mass., the worthy son of honored ministerial ancestry. The meeting house was raised in 1746, and made ready for service the following year. A day of fasting prepara- tory to that of ordination was held in June, 1747, at which time Woodstock's second church was organized, and on June 24th the ordination was effected. Fifty acres of good land and a suitable dwelling house were provided for the young minister, and thus, after ten years' effort, religious worship was prosperously established.

The first meeting of the east half as a distinct parish was held March 6th, 1744. John Holmes was chosen moderator; Thomas Chandler, clerk and treasurer; Jabez Lyon, John Frizzell, Thomas Chandler, assessors; Richard Child, Benjamin Bugbee, collectors; Captain Jonathan Payson, Captain Joseph Wright, Captain Samuel Chandler, committee to call precinct meetings and take care of the prudentials, viz., to sweep the meeting house, mend the glass, etc., at the charge of the precinct. All matters rela- tive to ecclesiastic and school affairs were now referred to the two societies. Five schools were maintained by the first so- ciety, viz., Center, North, South, West and Wabbaquasset. New school houses were built " in the southeast part in the old spot," and at Wabbaquasset, sixteen feet square, beside chimney way. A more spacious and elaborate house was provided for the cen- ter at Plaine hill. The north 'district, after ten years' consid-

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

eration "agreed upon the spot where the highways intersect, east of Capt. Child's house," near the mill site on Muddy brook.

New families were now appearing, especially in the north part of the town. The old settlers had passed away. Deacon William Lyon died in 1742; Judge John Chandler, the most prominent citizen of Worcester county, died in 1743; the last survivor of the original proprietors was Thomas Bacon, who died in 1758, aged 96 years. With the passing away of the pio- neer generation and the introduction of new elements, the tie between the inhabitants of Woodstock and the old homes at Roxbury and Boston was greatly weakened. Massachusetts was at this date involved in many difficulties. Her debts were. heavy ; her currency demoralized. Connecticut was far more prosperous and in greater favor with the British government. Yet the movement for a transfer of allegiance was apparently sudden. Mr. Stiles indeed took care to remind his people of the burthens laid upon them as part of "a province groaning under sore calamities," yet the people in general submitted un- complainingly without thought of secession or rebellion. The rumor that other "Indented towns" were preparing to assert their claim to the charter privileges of Connecticut was the in- centive to action. There was apparently no very strong feel- ing in the matter, no sense of ill-usage or hostility to the Massa- chusetts government, but the change was desirable on the ground of absolute right and local convenience. The question was brought before the town March 31st, 1747, "' If a person should be chosen to join those chosen by Suffield, Enfield and Somers in trying to get off to Connecticut.' A large majority voted in the affirmative and chose Colonel William Chandler to lay the affair before the General Assembly of Connecticut. Fourteen persons dissented 'as not likely to prove successful and costing more expense.'"

The petitioners from the four "Indented towns" asked to be received under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, upon the ground that the territory of their towns was included in the original grant to that government, and that the boundary settlement of 1713, under which they were allowed to remain in Massachu- setts, had never received the royal sanction, and they did not believe that commissioners could transfer or alter the jurisdiction of lands given by royal charter, and that the doing of the same was an infringement on the rights of the subject. The assem-

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

bly appointed a committee of honorable gentlemen to confer with gentlemen from Massachusetts, who failing in this effort, were farther empowered to consider the affair, and reported in favor of the memorialists. After two years' delay and reiterated memorials, the Connecticut assembly decided that the boundary agreement of 1713 was made through mistake, that Connecticut had received no equivalent for the jurisdiction of these towns, and as the agreement had never received royal confirmation, so it never ought to receive it, and must be looked upon as null and void, and solemnly declared, "that the inhabitants south of the line fixed by Massachusetts were within and had right to the priv- ileges of Connecticut Government."

This decision was received with delight by a large majority of the inhabitants of Woodstock, whose interest in the matter had been greatly stimulated by two years' agitation. A warn- ing from a Connecticut justice soon summoned them "to the choice of proper town officers, of which they were destitute." This "notable meeting" was held in the first meeting house, Fri- day, 10 A. M., July 28th, 1749 (O. S.). Justice Joseph Leavens, of Killingly, a native of Woodstock, presided. Before entering upon the business of the day, a formal protest was entered by Samuel Chandler, John, Jonathan, Nathan and Asa Payson, John Frizzell, Joseph Wright, Zebulon Dodge and Joseph Griggs, declaring that the meeting was wholly unlawful and had a tendency to stir up the greatest confusion and disorder, if not rebellion. Deciding to take no further notice of this pro- test, John May was chosen moderator; Henry Bowen, town clerk and first selectman ; Isaac Johnson, second selectman ; Ja- bez Lyon, third ; Abraham Perrin, fourth ; John May, fifth ; An- drew Durkee and Ebenezer Paine, constables; Benjamin Bug- bee and Samuel Child, grand jurors; all sworn into office by Justice Leavens. William and Daniel Lyon, John Morse, Eph- raim and Benjamin Child, Henry Bowen, Thomas Chandler, Daniel Paine and Nathaniel Johnson were then approved to take the freeman's oath agreeably to the laws of Connecticut. At the following town meeting seventy-four additional residents were admitted freemen, and Thomas Chandler and Henry Bowen chosen representatives to the general assembly. Transference of allegiance had thus been practically effected, and Woodstock enrolled among Connecticut townships.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Massachusetts, meanwhile, wholly refused to accept the situ- ation. Spirited remonstrances were laid before the Connecticut assembly ; warrants and writs were served upon her revolted subjects ; commissioners failed even to agree upon terms of ne- gotiation. Both governments, after some years of bickering and wrangling, attempted to lay their claims before the crown, but owing to many hindrances and public disturbances did not suc- ceed in gaining a hearing. After the close of the French and Indian war another attempt was made to gain a decision from supreme authority in Great Britain, but the revolutionary troub- les again prevented its consideration, and the revolted towns were left to Connecticut dominion, according to the original grant of territory. The aggrieved memorialists of Woodstock continued to protest against this transfer, but were forced in time to submit to the will of the majority. In many respects the change was greatly to its advantage. The population of the town in 1753 was 1,336 whites, 30 blacks; value of estates £16,500.

Revolt from Massachusetts was soon followed by a protracted ecclesiastic conflict, resulting likewise in secession and separa- tion. Both controversies sprung from the same germ-the in- herent antagonism between the two colonies. Those citizens who favored Massachusetts government and ideas adhered faith- fully to the Cambridge platform and principles, upon which the first church in Woodstock was founded, while the especial friends of Mr. Stiles, advocates for the new departure, had imbibed some portion of his regard for the Saybrook platform and religious establishment of Connecticut. Mr. Stiles' request to attend the meetings of the Windham County Association of ministers, " purely for his own information and satisfaction," aroused sus- picion and uneasiness in the first years of his ministry. These difficulties had so increased that in 1752 a council was held, in which nine specific points of grievance were brought forward, discussed and carefully adjusted. Yet notwithstanding this amicable settlement, old fires were rekindled by the "amazing conduct " of Mr. Stiles in introducing a covenant, embodying as he claimed the substance of the Cambridge platform, and with- out proper warning or discussion, declaring its adoption upon the subscription of himself and a small number of the brethren. A large number of church members protested earnestly against this imposition, and positively refused to submit to it. Attempts

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

to compound the difference were wholly fruitless, and after a few months of wrangling the opposition withdrew from Mr. Stiles' preaching, and held meetings by themselves. In 1756 the aggrieved party-twenty-three brethren and twenty-one sis- ters-by the advice of an ecclesiastic council, formally "re-as- sumed in church state on the ancient basis of the church, whereof we stand members," and were declared by the council " a church in regular form, according to the usual method."

This procedure at once raised the question which of the two churches had the right to the tithes and property vested in the First society, and both parties carried their woes to the general assembly. Mr. Stiles asked for a council to hear and determine the differences ; his opponents prayed for "a distinct, separate society." A council was granted but could not agree upon terms of statement. Every day the breach widened. The old church party reiterated to the assembly " the inconsistency of the thing in its own nature," and " the violence that must be done to our consciences, in that we should be compelled to uniformity with a minister and his adherents, who have so far departed from the ancient order, and be made to suffer for abiding in conformity with the sister churches throughout the province in which we were first embodied," while Mr. Stiles adroitly insinuated charges of Separatism, irregularity and disaffection to the civil constitution of Connecticut. The condition of religious affairs at that date, the violence and disorders caused by the Separate move- ment, gave great weight to these insinuations, and undoubtedly warped the judgment of councillors and legislators. The minis- try of state and county sympathized mainly with Mr. Stiles, and the small body representing the original church covenant was sorely beset and hindered, and even refused the privilege of communion with the church in the West parish. A number of prominent ministers appointed by the general assembly in 1757, found the difficulties very great-" all peace, unity and gocd agreement wholly destroyed and gone from among the people of the society and members of the church," but found no prac- ticable way of accommodation.

The majority for a time apparently favored the Stiles party, which was thus enabled to lay taxes upon the whole society, but after some years the balance of power had shifted, the question assumed a more definite sectional character, descendants of first settlers in the south half insisting upon the old church covenant,

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the more varied population of the north adhering to Mr. Stiles and Connecticut church government. Conflicting votes were now passed at successive society meetings, whereby affairs were thrown into the greatest confusion. Rival committees refused to warn meetings in behalf of their opponents. The assembly, wearied out with their contentions, turned a deaf ear to all pe- titions. The old church party, in 1758, secured a vote to assess all estates in the society for support of their own minister, and proceeded to collect it. Windham courts declared the assess- ment unlawful, but had not power to grant relief.

Emboldened by success, the anti-Stiles party proceeded to lay hands on the meeting house. Richard Flynn was chosen key- keeper; Samuel Chandler and Colonel John Payson deputized to get possession of the key. Failing in this, Zebulon Dodge was directed to take off the lock and put on another, and deliver the new key to Mr. Flynn. Victory was finally achieved by a soci- ety vote: "I. That the society meet in the meeting house in said society on Lord's day for public worship for the future. II. That there be a committee chosen to supply the pulpit till farther orders, in the room of Mr. Stiles. III. That Mr. Samuel Chandler be a committee to supply the pulpit with some suitable person to preach, and that the clerk serve Mr. Stiles with a copy of the transactions of this society, that he may know the minds of the society, and so not presume to go into the desk on Lord's day to disturb the society in the public worship as he has here- tofore done."

In spite of this summary ejection Mr. Stiles did presume to en- ter the desk already occupied by the opposition minister, and was only ousted by a hand-to-hand contest. This battle cleared the air, and virtually ended the controversy. The northern belligerents withdrew with their discomfitted minister. A com- mittee appointed by general assembly arranged an amicable settlement. The society division besought so many years was at length effected-the old south retaining the meeting house, the young north carrying off the minister. Church property was divided between the two societies. Isaac Johnson, Parker and John Morse, John May, Nathaniel and Elisha Child signed the agreement July 20th, 1760. Church records were left in the hands of Mr. Stiles, society records with the clerk of the First or South society. The question as to which body could claim the title of "First church of Woodstock " was ignored as too delicate for contemporary discussion.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

In spite of these dissensions the town was gaining rapidly. Many new settlers purchased farms, especially in the north part of the town. Various business enterprises were set in motion; mill privileges and iron ore were utilized, trade and production stimulated. New men came to the front. At the town meeting December 1st, 1760, Isaac Johnson served as moderator. Thomas Chandler was chosen town clerk and treasurer; Isaac Johnson, Thomas Chandler, Nathaniel Johnson, Ebenezer Smith, Jr., Nathaniel Child, selectmen; Moses Chandler, constable and col- lector of colony tax; Moses Child, collector of excise; Samuel McClellan, George Hedge, Elijah Lyon, Abner Harris, John Chamberlain, Amos Paine, Matthew Hammond, Jonathan and Henry Child, Ebenezer Child, Jr., Ebenezer Corbin, Jonathan Morris, Hezekiah Smith, Captain Joseph Hayward, Joshua Chand- ler, surveyors of highways; Silas Bowen, Lieutenant Hezekiah Smith, grand jurymen; Silas Bowen, Moses Child, Hezekiah Smith, Moses Chandler, Upham May, Ebenezer Child, Jr., Sam- uel Child, Jr., listers; Nathaniel Child, Abijah Child, Samuel Bowen, collectors of rates; George Hedge, Josiah Hammond, Stephen Marcy, Asa Morris, Caleb May, Elisha Child, tithing men; Benjamin Bugbee, William Chapman, fence viewers; Dar- ius Ainsworth, Zebulon Marcy, Joseph Manning, Ezra May, Isaac Bowen, Nathan Child, haywards; Moses Child, receiver of stores; Jedidiah Morse, packer; Joseph Peake, gauger; Richard Flynn, Daniel Bugbee, branders. Ebenezer Smith was chosen town clerk in place of Thomas Chandler, removed to Vermont. Lieu- tenant Hezekiah Smith and other officers were excused to serve in the army.

Needful improvements were gradually carried out. Highway districts were set out in 1773-five in the First society, in charge of Thomas Baker, Jonathan Allen, Jonathan Lyon, Jed. Bug- bee, Matthew Bowen ; four in New Roxbury, directed by Dan- iel Paine, Benjamin Howard, John Perrin, Samuel Narramore ; four in the North society, under Caleb May, Ephraim Carpen- ter, Eliakim May, Stephen Tucker. New roads were laid out superseding the old range ways. A committee appointed in 1771 to examine the financial condition of the town, reported that the town's money for a number of years had been prudent- ly handled. In public affairs Woodstock manifested much in- terest, taking a prominent part in political discussion and de- monstration. A strong radical element was very forcibly called

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into exercise throughout the whole revolutionary struggle, lead- ing her citizens to go far beyond their proportion in supplies of men and munitions of war. With equal spirit she resisted all Massachusetts' attempts to coerce her into subjection, and gal- lantly entered the field in the contest for the shire-ship of Wind- ham county. The one-sided position of Windham town was a grievance to the north part of the county. The proposed change to Pomfret was still unsatisfactory. Woodstock met the dilem- ma by proposing that Connecticut should remove her northern bound some four and a half miles farther north, "agreeable to the manifest intent of the Province charter," and "then take a just view of the situation of Woodstock and its conveniency for a shire town;" a proposition which the Lower House did not deign even to consider.

In the discussion concerning the adoption of the federal con- stitution, Woodstock showed her wonted independence, indulg- ing in large and warm debate until the dusk of the evening and adjourning after much opposition. At the second meeting, which was very fully attended, Mr. Stephen Paine and Deacon Timothy Perrin were chosen delegates, and although it was al- leged that the vote was illegal, sundry persons presuming to vote who were not legal voters, they attended the meeting in Hartford, January 3d, 1788, and voted against the adoption of the constitution. Woodstock's native radicalism and the prev- alence of what were called " sectaries," developed a strong oppo- sition to federalism. The anti-federal or republican party found many supporters in town, and Baptist and Methodist radicals were occasionally sent as representatives.

Deacon Jedidiah Morse, long remembered as one of the strong men of Woodstock, now served as town clerk and treas- urer. Captains Nehemiah Lyon, Amos Paine and Ephraim Manning, Captains Daniel and William Lyon, Thomas May, Noah Mason, Shubael Child, Darius Ainsworth, Benjamin Hay- wood, Ebenezer Smith, Nehemiah Clarke, Silas May, Ebenezer Coburn, appear among town officers. Hon. Charles Church Chandler, grandson of Judge John Chandler and his successor in the old Chandler homestead at South Woodstock, the first lawyer in Woodstock and a man of wide influence, died sudden- ly in 1787.

Samuel Mcclellan, general of Connecticut's Fifth Brigade, was now one of the most prominent men in Windham county.

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 84

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