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 20
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While in affliction's furnace,
And passing through the fire, Thy love we praise, That knows our days,
And ever brings us nigher:
We clap our hands, exulting
In thine almighty favor; The love divine, That made us thine,
Shall keep us thine forever.
Thou dost conduct thy people,
Through torrents of temptation; Nor will we fear, While thou art near,
The fire of tribulation:
The world with sin and Satan
In vain our march opposes; By thee we shall Break through them all,
And sing the song of Moses.
By faith we see the glory
To which thou shalt restore us; The cross despise, For that high prize
Which thou hast set before us;
And if thou count us worthy, We each, as dying Stephen, Shall see thee stand At God's right hand, To take us up to heaven.
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" The effect was electrical. Those young missionaries were looked upon as martyrs. Some pictured them as finding their graves in the bottom of the ocean; some as meeting with death at the hands of savages; some as the welcomed heralds of glad tidings to isles waiting for God's law, and for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Enthusiasm rose to the highest pitch. There are junctures when nothing but the voice of sacred song can either lift the soul to heights unattained before, or give utterance to its exalted emotions. Such a moment was · that. The whole occasion is spoken of, by those now living who were present, as one of thrilling interest. For this region, at least, it was altogether novel. The children of some who were there have caught enthusiasm as they have seen the coun- tenances of fathers and mothers almost transfigured with lofty feeling, while rehearsing that scene and noteworthy occur- rences at the Sandwich Islands.
" Nor was there wanting a touch of romance. Next to the singing of Melton Mowbray, the incident which lingered most vividly in the recollections of the people is one which they rightly regarded as a marked interposition of God's good providence. Oral traditions in regard to it have so many slight variations of detail, that I give what will be accepted as authentic and final, an extract from a letter written, at my request, by Mr. Bingham, many years since:
"' On leaving Andover, at the close of my course there, I took a rough journey to Goshen, and as the friends were gathering thickly there, in the afternoon previously to my ordination, Mr. Thurston and myself submitted to the requisite examination which was somewhat extended to meet the rising interest in the cause of our contemplated mission.
"'I was quartered at the Rev. Mr. Harvey's. He and others attended, in the evening, a Bible Society meeting; but fatigued with closing all up at Andover, my journey and ex- amination, I chose to stay quietly at the house of Mr. Harvey. In the course of the evening, a gentleman, Rev. Mr. Brown,
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called and asked for lodgings for himself and a young lady, whom he had brought with him from the valley of the Con- necticut. I stepped over to the meeting, and privately asked Mr. Harvey what should be done with them. He replied laconically, and with little interruption to the routine of Bible meeting business, "Take them to Deacon Thompson's." I offered, therefore, to accompany them thither. Mr. Brown went to the public house, and brought out the young lady, in- troduced her to me, and took us into his vehicle, and, at my direction, drove to Deacon Thompson's. I had taken cold by a night's ride over the mountains, and I wrapped a handkerchief about my neck, chin, and mouth, that cold evening, and this awakened ready sympathy in the sensitive heart of the young lady, who had for years been warmly interested in the mission- ary cause. Mr. Brown had introduced her as Miss Moseley, the name of a lady teacher at Canandaigua, N. Y., whom Rev. Levi Parsons had mentioned to me as a most amiable, and thoroughly qualified companion for a missionary. During the whole interview, the ride, and the call at your father's, my mind was intently querying whether this could be the very same. When introduced by your kind parents into the parlor, and seated by a hospitable fire, we sat and conversed for a few minutes. I measured the lines of her face and the expres- sion of her features with more than an artist's carefulness, and soon took leave of her, and Mr. Brown, and the family, re- ceiving some very generous cautions from her respecting my cold. The next day I learned that she was the young lady of whom Brother Parsons had spoken so highly. I saw her in the course of the next day most intensely interested in the missionary cause, and learned a good deal about her from Mr. Harvey, Brother S. Bartlett and wife, and Brother Ruggles and wife, about to embark for the Sandwich Islands. I men- tioned the case to Dr. Worcester, Mr. Evarts, and my brother, and asked their counsel. A prayer-meeting was arranged at Mr. Harvey's while I authorized Dr. Worcester to ascertain
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from her whether a private and special interview with me would be allowed. He saw her while prayers were offered for Divine guidance. He stated my case, held up the great work at the Islands with which her soul was already filled, and left her with the words, " Rebecca said, I will go." Returning to Mr. Harvey's, he told me I could see her. I gave her some ac- count of myself, put into her hands a copy of my statement to the Prudential Committee, in offering myself to the work, asked her to unite with me in it, and left her to consider till the next day whether she could give me encouragement, or not. The next day she said she would go with me to her friends, and, if they did not object, she thought she should not. It was arranged for us to ride in a chaise to Hartford. The result you know.'
" The ordination of those first missionaries to the Sandwich Islands, with its antecedents and results, furnished in no in- considerable measure the staple of conversation among re- ligious circles throughout the county, but more especially here. Hearts and hands before closed were then opened. It was a temporary Christian normal school, an effective missionary in- stitute. Goshen was that week one Bethel. The sentiments and feelings of the community were toned up to a level they had never reached before. It helped to make and keep this the banner town in missionary interest. In proportion to its num- ber of inhabitants and valuation, more was at that time con- tributed here to the cause, and had been for ten years, than. in any other town of the county, and perhaps of the country. In an address of the Prudential Committee of the American Board in 1818, occurs this sentence: "It seems particularly suitable that every church of Christ should, as a church, do something towards imparting the precious blessings of the gospel to the perishing heathen.' This church, so far as ap- pears was the first to respond, by formally entering upon such a course. One year later, the following published statement was made, that 'They purpose to meet once a year to consult
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for the glory of Christ, and the enlargement of his empire. At each meeting, they are to designate a sum, which they will, the ensuing year, pour into the treasury of the Lord; each member to contribute according to his or her ability.' "
So far from the valuable discourse of Dr. Thompson. It may be well to mention in this connection a semi-centennial celebration of this event, which took place September 28, 1869, on which occasion Dr. Thompson's address was deliv- ered. Letters of invitation had been sent to a large number of persons and among them to all who were living, and who had been present at the ordination, so far as their addresses were known. A large congregation assembled and, greatly to the joy of all, Rev. Mr. Bingham and wife were present. The exercises at the morning gathering were conducted as follows: Reading of the Scriptures, by the Rev. William T. Doubleday, then pastor of the church. Prayer was offered by Mr. Bing- ham. Historical address by Dr. Thompson. Two of the pieces and in the same tunes were sung that had been sung at the ordination, and an original hymn composed by Rev. Robert Norton. Benediction pronounced by the Rev. Frederick Marsh, of Winchester, aged 90.
In a large tent, furnished by Theodore S. Gold of Corn- wall, a bounteous collation was served and an hour of delight- ful social intercourse succeeded.
In the afternoon a less formal gathering than that of the morning was held in the church. Deacon Harvey Brooks, aged 90, was chosen to preside and occupied the place of honor; the duties of the office being performed by Willard Gaylord, Esq. Addresses were made by Rev. John F. Norton of Fitzwilliam, N. H .; Professor William Thompson of the Hartford Theological Seminary; Dr. A. C. Thompson of Bos- ton; Rev. Luther Beecher, D.D., of Boston; Rev. Robert Nor- ton of St. Catherines, Canada; all of whom were born in Go- shen. Rev. Mr. Bingham, with a Mr. Carter, who had been present as one of the singers at the ordination, sang the in-
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spiring hynın, " Head of the church triumphant," and Mr. Bingham gave a very interesting address with incidents of his work in the Sandwich Islands. The Sandwich Islands flag was raised above the tent, and at the close of the exercises was placed in the keeping of the pastor of the church to be un- furled at the Centennial in 1919.
From the Connecticut Historical Collections. Published 1836:
" The township of Goshen was sold at New Haven, in De- cember, 1737, and its settlement commenced in one or two years afterward. The first inhabitants were principally from New Haven, Wallingford, and Farmington. It is stated that the houses of Gideon Thompson and John Beach, who were among the first settlers, were palisadoed in, for a defense against the Indians. Mr. Beach's house was situated on East street, about 23 miles from the present South Congregational church; the house of Mr. Thompson, stood on West street nearly a mile southwest. Goshen was incorporated as a town in 1749. It is bounded north by Norfolk, east by Torrington and Win- chester, west by Cornwall, and south by Litchfield; it is 9 miles in length and 4} in breadth. The central part is 6 miles from Litchfield, 32 west from Hartford, and 42 from New Haven. It is the most elevated township in the state, but not generally mountainous; the surface being undulating, afford- ing an interesting diversity of hills and vales. The soil is a gravelly loam, deep, strong, and fertile, admirably adapted for grazing. This is one of the best towns for the dairy busi- ness in the state. Large quantities of cheese are annually made, the fame of which is wisely and justly celebrated, and the inhabitants are generally in prosperous circumstances. In neatness, in and about their dwellings, and in the appearance of general comfort and prosperity, they are not exceeded, if equalled, by any town in the state.
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" The above is a representation of the Congregational church and some other buildings in the central part of the town. The building seen on the right with a small spire is the Academy, where the higher branches of education are taught. The common district schoolhouse is of brick, the first building seen in the engraving south of the church. The other Congregational church in the town is 4 miles northeast from this. There was formerly an Episcopal church situated about 2 miles to the northeast. About the time of the Ameri- can Revolution, the Episcopal society, becoming very much reduced in numbers, sold their house to the North Congrega- tional society; but while they were endeavoring to draw it towards their section of the town, it was blown down by the wind. The first meeting-house in the town was built of logs; it stood about 80 rods below the church seen in the engraving. The elevated ground seen beyond the houses in the engraving, is called Ivy mountain. This is considered the most elevated point of land in the state. It affords a most extensive and interesting prospect in almost every direction; to the west is a
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
view of the Cattskill mountains for a considerable extent, their rugged features and high and disorderly hills; and to the east is a view of the elevated country east of Connecticut River. There is this rare and peculiar circumstance, with respect to what is called East street in Goshen: that the rain which falls on the front of the houses descends into the Housatonic River, and that which falls on the back side into the Waterbury River. About one and a half miles west of the central part, is a collection of several mills and some manufacturing estab- lishments around which is a cluster of houses; this place is called Canada village. The Methodist church is built in this place. The stream which passes this village is fed from a large pond in the vicinity, and it is admirably calculated for water-works, having an adequate supply of water character- ized by great uniformity, being neither affected by droughts nor heavy rains.
" The first minister in this town was the Rev. Stephen Hea- ton. He was buried about a mile south of the Congregational church. His monument, with a few others, stands at present in an open field, near the Litchfield road; the following is the inscription." (See Biographical Sketch of Stephen Heaton.) " This is a copy of another in the same place. "In memory of Moses Lyman, Esq., who died 6th of January, 1768, in his 65th year.
' Lyman so fam'd. so meek, so just and wise;
- He sleeps! in hope,
Then cease from tears, when Christ appears, his dust shall rise. '"
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
CHAPTER XVI.
SCHOOLS - YOUNG LADIES' SEMINARY AND ACADEMY. THE COMMON SCHOOLS.
In a text-book used in all our schools, some fifty years ago, we were taught that "Connecticut is noted for her common schools." However true this may have been, the chroniclers of Goshen did not find occasion or recognize the necessity of making note of but very little concerning them. From the records of the town we cannot learn where the school build- ings were located, the wages paid to teachers, or the names of the teachers. We learn that the Assembly enacted, October 13, 1737, that one of the 53 parts into which the town was to be divided was set apart "for the support of the schools."
From the Norton record, we learn that in 1812, Mr. David Humphrey and Mr. Daniel Baldwin, then aged men, told him that " the town was settled a good many years before there were any valuable schools." In 1742, before the town was in- corporated, the proprietors leased the school right for 999 years, and voted that the proceeds should be used to support two schools in the east part of the town, one in the south, and one in the west part of the town. In 1743 they appointed " Deacon Baldwin, Amos Thompson, and Daniel Richards a committee to hire a school-master or masters, or a school-mis- tress or mistresses, to teach school."
The first school seems to have been in East street, and upon Nathaniel Baldwin's books is found a charge to Ebenezer Norton, July, 1753, " For boarding the school-master 12 shil- lings." There was a schoolhouse at an early date, in the neigh- borhood of the Hills, Dibbles, and Buells. This was on the west side of the road, a little south of the red store, on the north side of the path leading to the Buell meadow. The
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probability is that this schoolhouse and that by the present brick house of Hiram Griswold were the first that were erected in Goshen.
Lois (Porter) Butrick, the daughter of Elijah Porter, of Farmington, taught the school in East street about 1786 or '87. Her husband deserted from the Continental army to the Brit- ish. She was a worthy woman, but after the desertion of her husband, suffered some indignities from the young people be- cause he was a tory.
Peggy Foot, who married Hunn Beach, and who taught after Mrs. Butrick, has recorded of herself, "She was much known liere as a school teacher." After Mr. Beach's death she married the Rev. Horatio Waldo.
Charity Mills taught the same school in the summer of 1781, and made her home at the house of Ebenezer Norton, Jr., whom she afterwards married.
Coming down to later times we make an extract from a letter of William Baldwin, Guilford Centre, N. Y., October 1873:
" We are in possession of a paper we have taken the liberty to copy and which reads as follows, to wit: 'This certifies that we have examined Mr. William Baldwin, and do hereby unan- imously approve of him as a suitable person to teach the school in the District by the North Meeting House the ensuing win- ter.
Chairman of the Board of Visitors.
Goshen, November 24th, 1823. Joseph Harvey.'
" We are still proud of this old Goshen relic and shall treas- ure it choicely till the day of our death. D. Hart was the committee man for that district and hired us to teach the school four months. The schoolroom was planked off from a portion of the lower floor of the old meeting-house, standing on a little eminence near the house then owned by Daniel Baldwin, afterwards by Collins Baldwin, now occupied and owned by Theron S. Ludington.
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" But the old schoolhouse we were speaking of, was not ex- actly air-tight. The stove pipe, which was a quarter of a cen- tury of age, passed through the planking and out at the east side of the room, and whenever the east wind blew, the con- tents of the old pipe went downward instead of upward, and the coals and ashes of a green beech fire were strewed over the floor. But notwithstanding all this, we worried through the four months, and, again, the next winter."
THE SEMINARY FOR YOUNG LADIES.
Perhaps this had better have been entitled, " Miss Nancy Thompson," its founder and principal teacher. She was the daughter of Jonathan and Anna (Lucas) Thompson, was born in Goshen, May, 1789. Her parents were among the earliest Methodists in the town and knew what it was to bear reproach for the sake of their belief. She was converted in early life and engaged heartily in all Christian work. When Sabbath schools were established, she gained more than a local reputa- tion as a teacher of infant classes, and was a welcome con- tributor to the Sunday-School Advocatc. She was engaged as a teacher in the district schools for several years, and wherever she taught she made her influence felt as a Christian.
In the fall of 1819, she was led to consider the duty and propriety of teaching school on a larger scale than she had been accustomed to, and her father offered to erect a building for that purpose. Realizing the necessity of further study, she went to the city of New York and spent some months in study. She was accustomed to rise at four in the morning and study until ten at night. The following year, September 1, 1820, she removed to her new building. It stood the oppo- site side of the road from the present residence of Mr. Darius Thompson. Her friend, Miss Ruth Munson, united her in- terests with her in the undertaking, and had charge of the boarding department. The school was soon full, having
Nancy Thompson Kant
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eighteen in the family, and many from the town as day scholars.
In January, 1822, there were twenty scholars in the family, and there was a deep religious interest and only three left the school unconverted. In the spring of that year, she found herself so exhausted by her labors that she was compelled to place the institution in the care of others, and not until Sep tember, 1824, was she able to take up her work again in the school. Several times she was compelled to give up her work and recruit her energies by needed rest. In 1828, she was rejoicing in improved health and a full school and the prospect of usefulness that was opening before her.
For some years she had been studying into the methods of the charity schools and infant schools, and had come to believe that the methods practised in the large schools in New York were adapted to all schools where little children were taught, and in the spring of 1831 she was placed in charge of an infant class of 30 scholars, assisted by Miss Lucy Wooster in keeping order. She continued to teach a large Bible class, which she had organized more than a year previous; she also conducted weekly select meetings at her house, and these duties, together with her teaching in the seminary and the care of a large family during the winter, so completely undermined her health that she was compelled to discontinue the Young Ladies Semi- nary.
In November, 1831, she organized an infant school in West Goshen village, fitting it up like one that she had vis- ited in New York, and appointed Miss Lucia Wade the teacher. The following spring the school, with all its appara- tus, was removed to her house, and for a term taught by the same teacher.
Miss Thompson was married to the Rev. Aaron Hunt, in April, 1832, with whom she lived until his death in 1858. In August, 1867, she removed to Leavenworth, Kansas, to reside
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with her nephew, Mr. Moses L. Thompson, and in three weeks after reaching her new home was removed to the home above.
GOSHEN ACADEMY.
Early in this century the leading citizens of the town were desirous of establishing a school of higher order than the dis- trict schools, and the Rev. Mr. Hooker, then pastor of the church, commenced such a school, in his own room. This was in the winter of 1802-3. We find no records that inform us as to the length of time this school was continued. In Janu- ary, 1807, a Mr. Joseph Edwards advertised himself as teacher of Goshen Academy, in the Monitor, Litchfield.
When Dr. Harvey became the pastor of the church, he soon took part in the establishment and instruction of a school of much higher grade than any which had preceded it. The information as to the establishment of this school is furnished by the Rev. Dr. A. C. Thompson. It was called a Grammar School, and its sessions were held in the Conference Room, in the second story of the building occupied by the district school. He had with him, as assistants, Mr. Hermon Landon Vaill, and a Mr. Hazen, whose son afterwards became pastor of the church. Both these men were afterwards ordained ministers, and it is safe to say that they were both students of theology at the time under his direction. There were others studying under Dr. Harvey's direction, with a view to the ministry, among them Abraham and Theron Baldwin, sketches of whom will be found in another place. The Rev. James Ely, an early missionary to the Hawaiian Islands, was another of his stu- dents.
Dr. Harvey was a man of extensive literary attainments and always labored assiduously for the intellectual as well as the moral and spiritual culture of the youth of his charge. He was the leading spirit in the establishment of the Academy and the erection of a suitable building, and was ably seconded
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by such men as Erastus, Moses, and Samuel Lyman, David Wadhams, David Beecher, Deacon Augustus Thompson, Sam- uel W. Gold, Abraham and Lewis M. Norton, and others of like character and influence.
The paper, of which the following is a copy, and which was the result of long deliberation, indicates the plan adopted as the enterprise took shape:
" Goshen, April 16th, 1823.
" The subscribers feeling the importance of making some suitable provision for the instruction of our Children and youth, and believ- ing that the present accommodations in this place are not such as to afford a prospect of a flourishing and profitable school, agree to pay the sums annexed to our names respectively, for the purpose of erect- ing and furnishing a suitable Building for the public Academic school, on the following conditions, (viz.)
"I. The stock of said building and apparatus shall be divided into 50 shares, and each share shall be twenty-five dollars.
" II. If it should be found that this sum is larger than the erection and furnishing of a suitable building together with the pur- chase of a building spot will require, the overplus shall be deducted in equal proportions from each share.
"III. In transacting the business of the company, each share shall entitle the owner to one vote.
"IV. It is understood that the Company shall apply to the Legislature of the state for an Act of Incorporation.
"V. When the sum of one thousand dollars shall have been sub- scribed the subscribers shall hold a meeting and appoint by ballot a Prudential Committee of three persons, who shall be empowered to pay out the money according to their discretion in erecting a suitable building, purchasing a suitable spot as site and in furnish- ing the building with necessary apparatus for the convenience of a school, said Committee shall also have the charge of the building and apparatus and shall see that all necessary repairs are made and that the building and apparatus are kept in proper state for use.
" The proprietors shall also at their aforesaid (or at some other meeting appointed for that purpose) appoint by ballot four persons who, with the principal Instructor for the time being, shall con- stitute a Board of Trustees, three of whom shall form a quorum for business (all having been notified). The Trustees shall have the superintendence of the concerns and instruction of the school generally, they may make bye-laws for the regulation of the school, shall provide and employ suitable instructors and shall inspect and examine the school as often as they think it expedient. It is how- ever provided that when there is no Instructor employed as princi-
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