USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Goshen > History of the town of Goshen, Connecticut, with genealogies and biographies based upon the records of Deacon Lewis Mills Norton, 1897 > Part 13
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Mr. Chauncey Kellogg writes about the singing in the old church as follows: " While I was in Goshen, the singers sat in the front seats. Besides David Wooster, Ethan Walter, Philo Howe, Sen., and sometimes Alfred Walter led the sing- ing. When Uncle Alfred rose to pitch the tune, look out for 'old China.' A first rate tune, but not appropriate to every common metre hymn."
Melzar and Philo Howe were class leaders and devoted men of God.
GOSHEN CIRCUIT.
Up to this time, Goshen had constituted a part of Litch- field circuit, but this year, 1827, Goshen circuit was formed,
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including, at first, Goshen, Cornwall, Litchfield, Sharon, Canaan, Norfolk, Kent, Warren, New Preston, and New Mil- ford. Rev. Ebenezer Washburn, the Presiding Elder, re- moved his family from New York City to this town, and con- tinued to reside here for five years. The last year, 1821, he was the preacher in charge. He was a man of great ability, and esteemed throughout his long ministry for sound judg- ment, equanimity, and blandness of manners.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK COMMENCED.
In 1821, the preachers, Washburn and Dayton, requested all the children to meet at the church on Saturday afternoons, at three o'clock, to recite the Catechism and any hymns they might learn. This continued through that summer, and was the first dawning of Sabbath schools in the society. The first organized Sunday-school was in the spring of 1827. David Wooster was Superintendent. No other officers were neces- sary. The Superintendent called the roll every Sunday. The only books were the Bible, Catechism and Hymn book. There was no library or papers. Questions were given out to the older scholars, and they were expected to find the answers from the Bible; to find the Scriptural proofs of the Omnis- cience, Omnipotence and Power of God, etc.
In 1822, J. M. Smith, David Miller, and Julius Field were the preachers on this circuit. Miller was son of the David Miller mentioned at the beginning of this sketch. It was during this year that the parsonage was built by the sub- scription of private parties, and to be owned by those subscrib- ing. But Helmont Kellogg, "for the love he bore to the Methodist-Episcopal Church," bought up a majority of the rights, and gave a quitclaim deed to the society. Jonathan Thompson gave the corner upon which the schoolhouse stands, and which at that time was covered with a beautiful grove, to the society. There is a business relation between the Metho- dist Episcopal Society, and the School District, as follows:
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The Society owns the land upon which the schoolhouse stands. For the privilege of using it as a site for the schoolhouse, the District is obligated to permit the church or society to use the schoolroom for religious and church purposes, when not in use for school sessions. In this way the district is prevented from gaining possession. For many years a small pulpit was in the north end of the schoolroom which was used by the church. That schoolroom has been the place where many of God's people have received great power and rich blessings.
The following named ministers succeeded, in the years named. Daniel Brayton, Elbert Osborn, 1823; Osborn and Arnold Schofield, 1824; Eli Barnett, John Lovejoy, 1825-6; Ebenezer Washburn, F. Sizer, Asa Bushnell, 1827; Wash- burn, Smith Dayton, J. Nixon, 1828; Bradley Sillick, W. Wolcott, 1829. The revival of the fall and winter of 1829 will ever be remembered as one of the greatest revivals that has ever been enjoyed in this place. It was under the labors of Mr. Sillick. The church received an accession of more than fifty members as the result of this revival.
Bradley Sillick, L. C. Cheney, and D. Stocking were to- gether on the circuit in 1830; Luther Mead, Luman A. San- ford, 1831; Aaron S. Hill, Orlando Starr, 1832-3.
The first record of the Society which has been preserved is dated April 4, 1832. Rev. Luther Mead presided. Seth H. Kellogg was chosen treasurer; William Brown, collector; David Wooster, Charles Lewis, and Thomas Munson were elected trustees. " Thomas Crosby agrees to clean the house, tend the fires and lights for six dollars and fifty cents for the year. Dudley Brown agrees to get one cord of wood as he furnished last year. Voted, That we have preaching every Sabbath day. Voted, That we direct the Trustees to transact and negotiate the business with the schoolhouse building com- mittee, of, or with the Eleventh School District of this town as they may judge best, and tax a rent on said school district
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METHODIST CHURCHI, WEST GOSHEN - ERECTED 1836.
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for use of said land for school house site, sufficient to prohibit said District from gaining possession on the green."
In 1833 the first singing school in connection with the society was organized and taught by a Mr. Prindle. There were forty persons connected with it from the commencement and it proved a success. At its close four of its members were chosen as choristers; Birdsey T. Howe, Joseph N. Chapin, Lucius D. Allyn, and Marcus Lewis. One reason of its marked success was the fact that a new church was in contemplation, and they were ambitious to have the singing in keeping with other improvements.
GOSHEN BECOMES A STATION.
In 1834, Rev. Charles S. Pelton was appointed to Goshen, and it became a station. Albert G. Wickwire was pastor in 1835 and 6; and in April, 1835, a Building Committee was appointed to superintend the building of a new church, the present edifice. The meetings were held in the schoolhouse while the church was building. On the 25th of October, Lev- erett Kellogg leased to the society about twenty-five rods of land for the use of the society so long as it should be occupied by the Methodist Episcopal Church for church purposes. The new building was dedicated September 1, 1836. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. Professor Holdrich, of Wesleyan University, Middletown. Text: Exodus xl: 1, 2. About fifty persons sang in the choir on this occasion. Rev. John Luckey was pastor in 1837-8. Among the probationers received during his pastorate were Elijah W. Washburn, Caro- line E. Kelly, Leonard A. Kelly, Lucy Starr, Mary E. Woos- ter, Harriet E. Holbrook, Enos F. Richards, and Ezra H. Miner. It was just about this time that the church lost more than twenty of its most active and faithful members by re- moval. The Rev. David Osborn was pastor in 1839 and '40. In 1841 and the succeeding year, Rev. Thomas Ellis was pastor, and greatly useful and greatly beloved. In 1843 and
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'44, Rev. Joseph D. Marshall was pastor, followed the two succeeding years by the Rev. David L. Marks, Rev. Isaac Sanford, 1847; Rev. Rufus K. Reynolds pastor, 1848 and '49; Rev. David Miller in 1850 and '51. He was instrumental in securing the bell for the church. He was followed the next year by Charles R. Adams, and he by Daniel W. Lounsbury for two years. Rev. Henry Burton served in 1855, William Silverthorn in 1856, Alexander McAllister, 1857-8; Rev. Wm. Ross, 1859 and '60; Rev. George W. Allen, 1861; Rev. James D. Bouton, 1862 and '63. At the Conference of 1864 this church and Cornwall Centre were united as one pastoral charge, and, with this change, the Quarterly Conference rela- tions which had been with Litchfield ceased. Mr. Burton had the appointment to Cornwall Centre, but resided at West Go- shen as before, and for two years preached at Cornwall in the morning and here in the afternoon.
On September 19, 1864, Major James Q. Rice, a member of this church, was killed in the battle of Winchester. He had been the principal of Goshen Academy for several years, and under his management the Academy was prosperous. At a Quarterly Conference, held in December, 1859, he was licensed as a local preacher; and sustained that relation to the church until his death. In 1865 Rev. Samuel T. Johnson was ap- pointed to the charge and remained here three years. The death of Rev. James D. Bouton occurred at the residence of his wife's father, Ebenezer Wing. Ill health had compelled him to give up his work the preceding year, and he removed here, where, on November 27, 1867, he died peacefully, and was buried in the cemetery at the Centre. Rev. William H. Stebbins was pastor in 1868 and '69; Rev. William Brown, 1870-72; Rev. David S. Stevens, 1873-75; Rev. Cornell S. Dikeman became pastor in 1876 and continued in that rela- tion for three years. In the spring of 1877 he preached a historical discourse, from material furnished by Elbert S. Rich-
HISTORY OF GOSHEN. 1 169
ards and Birdsey T. Howe, which occupied more than an hour in delivery. On August 7, 1877, the church was called to part with one who had been a class leader and leader of the singing for about forty years. Birdsey T. Howe was converted at ten years of age, and his life was spent in the service of God. He died at the age of 65, in the hope of a blessed immortality.
The pastors since that time have been Frank M. Hallock, 1879-80; James Robinson in 1881-82; George Hughes in 1883-84. Mr. Hughes dies in Bridgeport at the home of his father, July 24, 1884.
The church was now without a pastor, and was placed under the supervision of Rev. Robert Warren of Litchfield, who preached in November, and once in two weeks thereafter, until the inclement weather and his illness compelled him to give up the work. The death or removal of those who had been interested in the church and the indifference of the com- munity generally, made the situation very discouraging, and at a Quarterly Conference held at Litchfield, January 5, 1885, Presiding Elder George P. Mains, and Rev. Robert Warren being present, it was decided to transfer the entire membership to Litchfield. This was done. But it did not remain. In Feb- ruary, 1885, some of the citizens began to realize what the result would be if the church were closed, and Mrs. Wilbur Wadhams and Misses Mary B. and Abby J. Landon can- vassed the community, and through their efforts sufficient money was raised to employ a preacher in connection with Cornwall, as before.
At the Conference in 1885, Rev. James Taylor was ap- pointed pastor, and the Sunday-school was soon re-organized and a congregation gathered. During the next year the church edifice was thoroughly repaired, painted outside and within, and made more attractive than ever before, the entire expense having been paid at the time of the re-opening, Sep- tember 1, 1886, just fifty years from the day of its dedication.
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Rev. Charles S. Wing, a Goshen boy, preached the sermon, and it was found that there were twenty-three persons present who were present at the original dedication.
Rev. Julius Nelson succeeded Mr. Taylor in 1888, and re- mained here three years; and was succeeded by Rev. Alfred E. Stembridge, who remained less than one year, accepting an invitation to the pastorate of a Congregational Church, at Kaukana, Wisconsin.
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WHO HAVE ENTERED THE MINISTRY.
William Silkrigg, Protestant Episcopal.
Ira Bonney, Methodist and later Baptist.
E. Woolsey Washburn, Local Preacher. James Q. Rice, Local Preacher.
Zophar B. Landon, Local Preacher.
Charles Sherman Wing, Methodist. Henry E. Wing, Methodist.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT NORTH GOSHEN.
The Society was organized in 1840, and the house of wor- ship erected. The Congregational Church, at North Goshen, at that time had preaching, but when the Methodist families who attended there announced their desire to build a church of their own faith farther north, the Congregationalists contributed liberally, and the needed funds were soon raised. The church flourished and the congregation at times filled the house to overflowing. Quite a number of able and eloquent men have been its pastors, viz .: Revs. A. D. Vaill, Wm. Robinson, Philip Gamond, Thomas Elliot, Charles Sager, Cyrus F. . Nixon, Jonas B. Cross, Wm. H. Vaughn, James Douglass, John Ferguson, Virgil Blackman, and E. H. Todd.
Among its first members and supporters were Ethan Pen- dleton, Jared Curtiss, Stephen Roberts, John Apley, Albert Beach, Junius Baldwin and their wives, and many others.
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The numerical and financial strength of the society has been greatly reduced, and the member who furnishes this short sketch adds: - " Of late years we have been very liberal to all sects, and Adventists, Unitarians, Universalists, Baptists, and Congregationalists have preached to us, but we like the 'good Old Methodists ' the best."
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CHAPTER XI.
AMONG THE FIRST THINGS.
Negro Slaves; Wild Animals; Dignifying the Pews; Sab- bath-Day Houses; A Bad Boy; The Spinning Match; Jus- tices' Docket, etc.
NEGRO SLAVES.
The Rev. Mr. Heaton was the owner of two negro slaves, called Gaff and Chloe. They were married. Chloe long out- lived her husband and died October 14, 1831, at the great age of 110 years, and probably older than any other person who has resided in the town. They were both native Africans. She was a regular attendant upon public worship so long as she could walk upon her staff, almost to the close of her life. She was small of stature, quick in her movements, and of a kindly disposition. The writer was told in 1892, by a lady who re- membered her well, that when she entered the vestibule of the church she would face the pulpit and make a low courtesy, and do the same when retiring at the close of the service. It is said that she gave evidence of personal piety.
James Thompson owned slaves, " Old Hess " and his wife, whom he liberated, gave them some land and a house, and cared for them as long as they lived.
Uri Hill owned a negro called Peter. He was a great writer of sermons; that is, he was accustomed to spend his leisure time in writing, or going through the motions of writ- ing what he called sermons.
Hugh Hughes, whose residence was near the Brooks place, and who was said to have been an officer in the British army, and who was a tory at the time of the Revolutionary War,
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caused the following advertisement to be printed in a paper published in New Haven.
" To Be Sold, at the Subscriber's in Goshen, a young, lusty, and very lively Negro Wench, that can cook, wash and spin either flax or wool.
July 27, 1780.
Hugh Hughes."
Abijah Holbrook, of this town, purchased in Woodbury, Jacob and Jenny Prince. They had a son, Jeremiah, who was born about 1796. When he was a lad the Legislature passed an act of emancipation. He attended school during his boyhood, with a number of old citizens, who speak of him as a bright, intelligent lad. He was fond of declaiming, and would commit to memory with ease, pieces of great length, and de- claim them before the school in a style that would excite the admiration of his schoolmates. His whole life was one of un- ceasing toil and perseverance. He owned at one time 150 acres of land, and at his death about 100 acres, and a comfort- able home. He was highly esteemed for his integrity, indus- try, and sobriety, and left behind a shining example of what may be accomplished, under the most adverse circumstances, by industrious habits and economy. He died in 1878.
WILD ANIMALS.
When the town was settled, deer, bears, wolves, raccoons, and foxes were plenty, and for a long time thereafter great trouble and loss was experienced on account of the damage done by wolves. The State, or Colony, paid a bounty for the killing of wolves, until they were exterminated or nearly so, from the earlier settled portions of the country, and then the bounty law was repealed. Wolves still abounded in Go- shen, and, in December 1776, the following bill was passed by the General Assembly:
" Upon the memorial of Jacob Beach of Goshen, showing to this Assembly that since the repeal of the late law granting a premium
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for destroying wolves they have increased and done much damage by killing sheep in said Goshen, and consequently he having expended considerable in time and money for that purpose hath since the first day of May last taken, killed and destroyed three grown wolves in said Goshen; praying for such sum of money to be paid him out of the public treasury of this State as he would have been entitled to receive had said act never been repealed; as per memorial on file; Resolved by this Assembly, that the memoralist have liberty to re- ceive the sum of twelve pounds lawful money, and the Treasurer of this State is hereby ordered and dircted to pay the same accordingly."
Upon a similar memorial from him, in October, 1777, he was granted eight pounds. In May, 1778, eight pounds.
Samuel Thompson built a mill on the stream east of Beech Hill and the dam was built where there had formerly been a beaver dam. At that time there were a considerable number of beavers in that locality. Their work in building is de- scribed as first "gnawing down Staddles, and then gnawing them off in cuts; and moving them by thrusting their tails under - taking the end in the mouth, and thus rolling the timber to the spot."
THE BEAR AND THE SOW.
Mr. Lewis M. Norton records :- " In January, 1840, I was at the house of Mr. Francis Beach, he being then in his 86th year. He took me to the door, and pointing to the hill southwest from his house, said to me; 'There is my father's barn, 80 years old. The old house stood a little west of it. I was a little boy, and my father sent me one morning to fetch the cows. It was a frosty morning and I was barefoot. I jumped on a log to stamp my feet, and look round for the cows. Near by was an old sow with nine young pigs, all com- fortable in their quarters. While I stood there I discovered a bear coming. The bear took the sow in her mouth, and car- ried her off, squealing bitterly; the pigs also squealing, and trying to follow. It was thought the sow would weigh 150 pounds. The bear with the sow went into the swamp. I
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thought no more of the cows that morning. It was about sun- rise, and I ran and let the folks know what happened, and they rallied John and Samuel Willcox, who lived near. Samuel was an old hunter, and had a dog well-trained to the business. They all got upon the track of the bear and followed on care- fully. Samuel held down his gun under his arm, and kept his dog back, for fear of alarming the bear. After following the track of the bear through the swamp, we came upon the hard land and found the remains of the sow, a part having been eaten. Samuel looked cautiously around for the bear, and in a moment drew up his long gun - POW - he had put a ball right through the head of the bear.' "
There were birds as well as wolves and bears. In the northeast part of the town, a little west of Hall Meadow, was a large hollow tree, which became noted from the fact that thousands of chimney swallows came out of it every spring.
On Burr Mountain, west of Hall Meadow, was a large chestnut tree, nearly 22 feet in circumference. It was cut down for raccoons, by Stephen and Jairus Foot. They se- cured but three, instead of thirty. The tree was straight, good timber, and made rails for seventy feet of its length.
DIGNIFYING THE PEWS.
Until within fifty years committees were appointed to de- termine how the people should be seated in church, and this was called " Dignifying the Pews." We may well believe that a position on this committee was an honor not to be coveted. The place in the church was usually determined by the age, amount of estate, and tax paid, and the official position of the person in the church and town. A militia captain had what was deemed a higher seat than a lieutenant. Wives ranked with their husbands, but usually were seated on the opposite side of the house. As time progressed, the " men's and women's seats " in the body of the house were displaced by pews, built by persons who had permission from the town or
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the ecclesiastical society, thus to occupy space, and the prac- tice of seating by committees gradually declined.
SABBATH-DAY HOUSES.
Deacon Moses Lyman, Jonathan Buell, Sr., Jeremiah Howe, and Jonathan Wadhams joined together in building a Sabbath-Day House, which they occupied for many years. This stood southwest of the present meeting-house, on the west side of the road as it then was (only four rods wide at that time), near the same ground where is now the traveled road and the sign-post. The building faced the east, and had two rooms, a chimney, built of stone, in the middle, and a stable for horses on the north and south ends. The south room was occupied by Deacon Lyman and Mr. Buell; the north room by Messrs. Howe and Wadhams. Three similar houses were built on the north side of the road, east of the meeting-house. These were owned by inhabitants living on East street. These houses were for spending the time of the intermission between the two services of public worship, and, as there were no stoves in the meeting-house and fire was something to rejoice in on the Goshen hills in the winter months, they were open to others besides the owners and their families, so far as convenient.
In the room of Deacon Lyman and Mr. Buell, the two fam- ilies, male and female, were all expected to spend the whole of the intermission. Deacon Lyman was accustomed to bring the dinner for his family in his saddle-bags on horseback. He had a small swing-table, for their mutual accommodation, and upon this was spread whatever their saddle-bags contained. Mr. Buell usually asked a blessing, and Deacon Lyman re- turned thanks. A wooden bottle contained what they wanted in the way of drink. Frequently one of the children was set to reading aloud a religious book, after dinner. In this way the intermissions were spent comfortably, and, to some ex- tent, agreeably. All rose when the blessing was asked and
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thanks returned. All rambling of the families, in the time of the intermission, was considered improper, and was by this way of spending the time prevented. The rooms were ceiled with boards. A fire was made in the morning, and, as the room was well-supplied with dry wood, the apartments were com- fortable at the close of the morning worship. In winter many of the women came in to fill their foot-stoves, before the two or three hours of the afternoon worship commenced.
MARRIAGE CUSTOM.
David Norton married Anna Bronson, of Southbury, and her youngest daughter, Miriam, the wife of Captain Timothy Collins, says that her mother told her that she was married on Thursday and the next day she rode from Southbury to Goshen. She rode upon a pillion, behind Nathaniel Baldwin, who stood up with them at their marriage. Jedidah and Mary her sisters, were also of the party. One rode behind Abraham, and the other behind a man by the name of Mitch- ell. On Saturday the four returned in the same manner to Southbury, and on the same Saturday, David Norton, the husband, commenced family prayer, and continued it until his death, which was November 2, 1769. The custom of those days was that when a newly-married couple commenced housekeeping, or the bride went to the home of the husband, she must ride behind the groomsman.
A BAD BOY.
The following is a copy of a loose paper found in the old account book of Nathaniel Stanley. The child complained of was his own grandson, Jacob Williams, about nine years old.
" I was at the house of Jacob Williams, Jne ye 2, 1761, and he complained of his son Jacob as followeth. He said he would lie and he would steel and he could not Curb him :- he would goe and take victuals of folks Cellars and he could not Curb him .- what says I, he wonte Commit Adultery too -
12
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will he; no says he I hardly believe he will doe that. But he will doe almost every thing else. Henry Walter and all his family are not comparable to him: he told me of his eating his breckfast at home and he Eate at it. Right's & at other places to ye number of :9: times he Eate that day and I counted after him ;- and if he sent him after Creatures he would get out of the way and he was faint to fetch them him- self ;- so that he represented him to be almost the worst of all flesh :
The above Written according to the best of my Remem- branc.
Nath Stanly."
Another entry. " Little Jacob son to Jacob Williams was born July 24, 1752 - and I question whether he has been to meeting since he was an infant."
In another place in the book is the following reference to his daughter. "Ruth Williams an object of pitty came to my house April 26." The year not given.
THE WOMAN WHO WHIPPED HER HUSBAND.
Thankful Ives married Elisha Catlin. In the early part of their matrimonial life, he became addicted to habits of in- temperance, to the great grief of his better half, and even to his own sorrow in his sober moments. She expostulated, but in vain; he was unable to resist temptation, and was again and again overcome. She at last proposed that she should punish him severely if he was ever found drunk again. To this he consented. The time came, the husband got home, and was put to rest upon the bed.
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