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 6
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The three families were engaged during the summer in doing what they could at clearing and in raising corn and other things upon which they could live. While some were working others carried their muskets and acted as sentinels to apprise of approaching danger. One day in October, two of the men having gone a short distance into the woods to their work, the other, who was acting as sentinel, went a few rods out of sight of the house to examine some traps. A party of Indians who had been watching their prey, with their horrid yells, rushed upon the defenseless women and children. At this moment, Elizabeth was a few steps from the door, in company with her mother, and in an instant an Indian rushed upon them and severed the mother's head with his tomahawk. The Indians -- twelve in number - then rushed into the house, where were the two elder females, one of whom and her daughter,
* Condensed from account published near the time these events occurred.
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aged 16, were confined to their beds with illness, the infant child of Mrs. Carter, and five other children. One of the In- dians seized the infant and threw it with such violence against the logs of the house that it was instantly killed. The two sick females were also put to death with the tomahawk. The man who had gone to examine the traps, hearing the shrieks of the sufferers, hastened to their defense, but had only time to discharge his gun once before he received his death blow.
The Indians, having selected such of their captives as they supposed could best endure the hardships of their mode of life and taken the scalps from those they had killed, collected the clothing and the utensils which they thought would best serve their use, set fire to the house and then hurried off to their en- campment, a short distance away on the bank of the river. Their captives were the three surviving Carter children, Mrs. Duncan, and two children belonging to the other family.
At the encampment were about two hundred Indians, principally warriors. Several large fires were burning, around which the Indians began to feast themselves with roasted corn and other refreshments which they had brought from the white settlement. After free indulgence in exulta- tions at their recent success, and night having come, they se- cured their captives with cords and stretched themselves around the fires.
Sarah Carter became utterly distracted by her painful sit- uation and continued to cry and call for her father to come and rescue her, which so enraged the Indians that several times they seemed determined to silence her cries with the tomahawk. At length, when they had become buried in sleep, Sarah got hold of a brand of fire and burned the cord with which she was bound, thus giving her freedom, and made her way to the smoking ruins of her recent home, where she gave way to the most violent lamentations. Though her cries were distinctly heard at the encampment she was not pur- sued until morning, when she was retaken.
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The next day the Indians commenced their journey through the woods, carrying their captives on horseback. After traveling three days in a westerly direction they halted and sent back a war party of twenty men. Five or six days later the party returned with several scalps, and among the num- ber were those of Mr. Carter and Mr. Duncan. These un- fortunate men, after seeing the desolation which the Indians had made, hastened to the nearest white settlement to obtain assistance, and returning with those who had volunteered to help them, they reached their old home in time to fall a sacri- fice to the war party, only five out of twelve being able to make their escape.
The Indians then resumed their march through the woods to the place where the tribe were residing. As nearly as Elizabeth could recollect, they traveled rapidly for several days in a northwesterly direction and at length arrived at their nation. Here, in dark and filthy huts, ornamented with the scalps of their parents and friends, and separated from each other, they spent the long and tedious months of winter, and many times were near a state of complete starvation. The Indians would never go for a new supply of food so long as one morsel remained, and then sometimes returned with little or no success. So indolent were they that nothing short of imperious necessity would drive them to the labor of hunting.
When the spring returned they left their winter quar- ters and journeyed towards the Lakes, and after several weeks arrived in the vicinity of Fort Niagara. Here, to the great joy of Elizabth and Sarah, the two were ransomed, and, being conducted under the escort of English soldiers, they at length reached their friends in safety. Most of the other captives were ransomed or given up at a later period, the war having been brought to a close.
The brother of Elizabeth never returned. Having be- come accustomed to the habits of the Indians he would not give them up. He married an Indian girl, by whom he had
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several children, and finally died in the Cherokee nation, about 70 years of age. One of his sons for a time attended the Foreign Mission School in Cornwall.
Elizabeth married Mr. Oviatt and after reaching the sev- enty-ninth year of her age peacefully closed her long life, which was in childhood so darkly overshadowed, leaving be- hind her not only the memory of her early sufferings but the legacy of her Christian character and example.
Her descendants are numerous, embracing all by the name of Oviatt in Connecticut and Ohio, the descendants of E. Marshall Humphrey, Elisha and Elijah Ellsworth, of Ohio, William Thompson, of Hudson, Ohio, Ira Hudson, Darius Lyman, Samuel Palmer, Leonard Carr, James Wadhams, and many others.
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CHAPTER VIII.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
The First Congregational Church.
The first meeting of which we have a record that was held by the settlers of this town was Dec. 6, 1739.
At this meeting it was " Voted, that the Selectmen should ascertain the places of holding the meetings for the publick worship of God."
This was the first business entrusted to the selectmen in the history of the town.
The next meeting was held Jan. 11, 1740. At this meet- ing it was " Voted, to hire a minister to preach the gospel in said town :- and the sd. minister to come among us as a pro- bationer: and Nathaniel Baldwin, Samuel Towner and Sam- uel Pettibone chosen a committee to go after a minister, and full power to agree with sd minister."
There was but little business transacted during the year except that pertaining to the settlement of a minister, and it may be well to give an account of it in detail.
" At a town meeting held in Goshen April the 21st day, 1740, lawfully warned: Mr. John Beach was chosen mod- erator for sd meeting.
" And at sd meeting Voted, that Mr. Stephen Heaton of New Haven be called to the ministry of the gospel, and to be a settled minister in sd town of Goshen, if the association shall advise thereto, upon the terms a's follows, Viz: that we will give him for his service in the ministry, for the first year after his ordination the sum of one hundred pounds; for the second year one hundred and ten pounds; for the third year one hun- dred and twenty pounds; and for the fourth year one hun- dred and thirty pounds; and for the fifth year one hundred
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and forty pounds; and for the sixth year one hundred and fifty pounds, all in the currency of the colony of Connecticut, ac- counted at the proportion or rate of twenty-eight shillings per ounce, Troy weight of silver money; and that after the expira- tion of six years of his ministry, that his annual salary shall be in the currency of the colony, reckoned at the proportion and rate aforesaid, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds annually; to be paid to him so long as he shall remain our minister according to his ordination: and that we will give him, sd Mr. Heaton for his further encouragement, the sum of one hundred pounds worth of labour, for clearing of his lands, or building of a house for him, which he shall choose; the one half to be done the first year after his ordination; the other half to be done the second year of his ministry: this labour to be done on his request in each year.
" And at the same meeting it was voted and declared it to be necessary to build a meeting house in sd town of Goshen, by more than two thirds of the voters then present; and also Na- thaniel Baldwin chosen an agent or attorney to prefer a prayer to the general assembly in May next, to have a com- mittee appointed to ascertain the place for said meeting house."
At a town meeting held September 30, 1740, the terms offered to Mr. Heaton were amended by adding and changing as follows: " and for the sixth year the sum of one hundred and sixty pounds, and for the seventh year the sum of one hundred and seventy pounds, all in the currency of the colony of Connecticut, accounted at the proportion or rate of twenty- eight shillings per ounce Troy weight of silver money: and that after the expiration of the seven years after his ministry, that his annual salary shall be the currency of this colony, reckoned at the proportion and rate aforesaid, the sum of one hundred and seventy pounds annually,. to be paid to him so long as he shall continue our minister according to his ordina- tion."
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" And at the same meeting aforesaid Voted that an agent be chosen to prefer a prayer to the general assembly in Octo- ber next, to lay a tax on the land in sd town that is already laid out, to him or them that holds the same or shall hold the same hereafter, for the term of four years, for to defray the charges of building a meeting house in sd town, at two pence per acre, exclusive of the land that is added by seizing; and Samuel Pettibone chosen to be the sd agent."
The reply of Mr. Heaton to the proposals of the town was as follows:
" Goshen October the 6, 1740.
In order to my settling with you in the gospel ministry, I shall expect that you will universally agree to these terms, as follows.
As for settlement, as you proposed; one hundred pounds in labour in the first and second years of my ministry, begin- ning from the date of my ordination; and as to salary, one hun- dred and ten pounds the first year, taking date from my ordina- tion, also, and for the second year one hundred and twenty pounds, and for the third year one hundred and thirty pounds, and for the fourth year one hundred and forty pounds, and for the fifth year one hundred and fifty pounds, and for the sixth year one hundred and sixty pounds, and for the seventh year one hundred and seventy pounds, to be my stated stand- ing salary so long as I continue your minister; and the pay- ments to be made all in the current money of this colony or neighboring governments equal to coined silver sterling alloy, at twenty-eight shillings per ounce.
Stephen Heaton."
" October the 6th day 1740.
At a town meeting lawfully convened, the above written proposals Voted in the affirmative.
Attest Samuel Pettibone Town Clerk."
" Voted at the same meeting aforesaid, that those persons [who] labour for Mr. Heaton shall be allowed five shillings
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pr day from the first day of October to the last day of Feb- ruary; and all the rest of the months six shillings pr day, to- wards the payment of his settlement."
" At a town meeting lawfully convened, held in Goshen December the 8th 1740, it was Voted in addition to our for- mer vote to Mr. Stephen Heaton, concerning the 100 pounds to be paid to the sd Mr. Heaton in labour; Voted that every person or persons shall have liberty to pay their several sums in the term of time limited in our former vote; and if not paid by said times, then to be paid in money, and a Collector to be chosen for that end. This was voted in the affirmative, and Amos Thompson was chosen to Collect and gather the abovesaid, and oversee men that labour, and to be allowed for the same."
The precise date of the organization of the church is not known; the records, from its formation in November, 1740, to September 7, 1791, are wanting. The records kept during the successive pastorates of the Revs. Stephen Heaton, Abel New- ell, and Josiah Sherman were never found after the departure of Mr. Sherman. The facts collected and recorded by Deacon Lewis M. Norton were obtained from the records of the town and of the Consociation, from papers left by Nathaniel Stan- ley and Deacon Ebenezer Norton and from the testimony of aged persons living 1754 - 1854. Deacon Norton had been collecting the facts for many years previous to the summary and record made in 1855. At the time of the settlement of Mr. Hooker in 1791, it was possible to make a very complete roll of those who had been members of the church, and this was done by him, so that the early history of the church may be relied upon as authentic and quite full and complete.
The following paper was found among the effects of Mr. Nathaniel Stanley and endorsed upon the outside as folded, " Goshen Church articles or agreement." Mr. Stanley was a committee appointed by the town, with others, to appear be- fore the Consociation of Hartford County, July 26, 1748, to
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procure the dismission of Rev. Stephen Heaton. It is pre- sumed that this copy was made by him for reference at that meeting. This document is also referred to on pages 11 -- 13 of the records of Litchfield Consociation, so that there is no doubt that it is what it purports to be.
" Heads of Agreement, concluded upon by the Brethren in Goshen, for Church Discipline.
"1. Visible saints are the only fit matter, and constitute the form of a church.
"2. That a competent number of visible saints, with their seed, embodied by a particular Covenant, are a true, entire and distinct Church of Christ.
"3. That such a particular Church being organized or furnished with such officers as Christ the glorious Head and King of the Church hath appointed, has all the power and privileges of a Church - 1st to admit members, 2d to deal with, and if need be reject offenders.
"4. That persons to be admitted to Church Fellowship be pub- licly propounded two Sabbaths, and give satisfaction to the Pastor as to their knowledge in the principles of religion.
"5. That any person shall have liberty to enter objections with the Pastor against any person publicly propounded; and that in case of objections made against any person propounded, he shall not be admitted to communion till those objections are considered by the Pastor and Select number of brethren, chosen by the Church, and consented to by the Pastor; to be Helps in Government.
"6. That these Select Brethren shall not be less in number than seven, nor more than nine, till the Church agree to increase the number, which shall be always uneven.
" 7. That no person against whom objections are made as above said shall be admitted to Communion unless the Pastor and a major part of the Select Brethren at a meeting of these shall agree on; or unless a council of neighboring churches judge the person duly qualified for Communion, and the objections made against him have not sufficient weight to debar him.
"8. That all matters of scandal and difficulty between brethren in the church shall be finally determined by the Pastor and a major part of the Select Brethren above mentioned; only reserving liberty of appeal to regular Ecclesiastical Council, according to the direc- tions and with the restrictions of the establishment of the govern- ment as to the members of the Council &c.
"9. That a meeting of . these Select Brethren or Helps in Government shall be by the Pastor appointed and when such meet-
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ing is publicly warned by the Pastor, the Pastor and the major part of them that meet agreeing, shall determine all matters proper to be considered by them.
"10. That in case objections are made against any of the Select Brethren, Helps in Government, it shall be in the power of the Pastor and the other Select Brethren to set the person or persons objected against aside, and to appoint another or more of the brethren to supply the place of him or them objected against, - to determine that case.
"11. That the Pastor and the church agreeing: the number of the Select Brethren may be increased.
" 12. That the Pastor in all cases to be determined by a vote, shall be reckoned as two of the Select Brethren.
" Before ordination it was agreed upon by the brethren, that all objections made against any person offering himself: or any charges or complaint against any communicant be seasonably brought to the Pastor in writing, signed by the objector or complainant; with the evidence to support the objection or complaint; and if the Pastor with the major part of the Select brethren judge that the thing itself objected or complained of be not a matter of scandal, or the evidence insufficient to support it; the objection or complaint shall not be esteemed any bar against the person objected against or complained of - and, that no objection or complaint shall be es- teemed seasonably brought unless it be brought as aforesaid at least five days before the sacrament, or the time of a person's admission to Communion.
" A true copy of Goshen Church Articles, or, the Constitution of Goshen Church."
The phrase at the commencement of the supplemental part of the preceding document justifies the inference that the church was formed by the proper authority at the time of the ordination of its first pastor.
The church was organized in November, 1740, at the log house then occupied by Captain John Beach. It has been un- derstood and believed for the last century, that this organiza- tion was effected and the ordination took place the same day. The house was situated on the east side of East Street, at or near the north corner where the road turns to Whist Pond. The spot has been marked by a tree planted in 1876.
In January, 1741, the town voted that the places to attend
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public worship on the Sabbath for the space of five months next ensuing shall be at the house of Ensign Joseph Hickox and Amos Thompson and the remainder of the year at the house of Mr. Heaton and that the public worship be eight Sabbaths in the five months at the house of said Hickox and the other Sabbaths in the five months at the house of Amos Thompson.
At the same meeting it was voted to build a meeting house fifty feet long and thirty-six feet wide, and twenty feet between the sill and the plate, the roof to be covered with eighteen-inch shingles and the squares with sawn clapboards. The Building Committee was Deacon John Beach, Mr. Gid- eon Hurlbut and Amos Thompson. The proposed dimensions of the meeting house were twice changed after this, and the Building Committee changed until the fifth committee was appointed in 1750. The house was finished in 1751, was forty feet long and thirty feet wide and eighteen feet high between sill and plate. It had two tiers of galleries, one above the other and the outside was painted yellow. It was located but a few feet from where the present meeting house is now stand- ing (1894) upon the spot finally decided upon by a committee of the General Assembly, the land having been purchased of the Rev. Mr. Heaton. It is impossible to determine the cost of the edifice. The first tax was two pence per acre on every acre of the land that had been surveyed; this was paid for four years. Later a tax of one shilling upon every pound as assessed in the list of 1750 and nine pence on the pound in 1752. A committee was appointed to seat the house according to the list, that is according to the amount of tax paid, those paving the largest taxes having the best seats. Encion Phelps was appointed the first committee to seat the meeting house and at the same meeting the next act recorded is as follows: " Voted, Deacon Baldwin, Deacon Thompson Samuel Nash and Sergeant Ebenezer Norton to be a committee to seat the meeting house."
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At the same meeting it was also " Voted to fill up the square body of the meeting house with pews,- all but one fore seat.
" Voted Deacon Thompson shall take the Deacon's seat."
During all these years the meetings for worship had been held in private houses, except that there had been a small struc- ture near the south end of Middle street, just southeast of the house now owned by Mr. Alanson Stoddard. It was a rude structure and could have been used only when the weather was warm and pleasant. The butt end of a large white ash tree, on which was placed a few logs, composed the wall on one side, and piles of logs with a covering of bark completed the sanc- tuary.
At a very early period in the history of the town the people who resided in its northern part were desirous that it should be divided into two parishes. This delayed the comple- tion of the meeting-house, and Sept. 13, 1743, it was " Voted to consider a scheme or schemes to have the town divided into two ecclesiastical societies."
It was at a meeting held a few days later that it was voted " that men of the Church of England principles shall not have the privilege of said meeting house in opposition or contrary to men of Presbyterian or Congregational principles."
From all the facts that the writer can learn, it appears that there were two families with preferences for the Church of England, and they united with those who were living in the north part of the town in delaying the building of the church edifice. There were but two men, Timothy Stanley, Sr., and Samuel Humphrey who were Church of England men, and there is no evidence that either of these were members of that church. In Dec., 1745, the town " Voted, that we are willing this town may be divided into Two Eclesiastical Societies, and that the line be in the middle of said town. running east and west, and that the north part may be a distinct society when they have 1500 pounds in the list."
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As early as 1745 there had come to be opposition to Mr. Heaton in the parish and in Jan., 1746, Deacon John Beach, Deacon Gideon Thompson, Deacon Nathaniel Baldwin, Lieut. Samuel Pettibone, Mr. Samuel Thompson, Ensign Moses Ly- man, and Amos Thompson were chosen a committee " to treat with our Revd. Pastor about some reasonable and loving terms of agreement, so that the door may be opened if he in his wisdom shall think fit to seek for an orderly dismission from the work of the ministry in this place ;- or to treat with him about making some suitable alterations."
When we take into account the character and standing of the men on this committee it is evident that the difficulties were serious, but Mr. H. declined to consider them, and in April the town voted to call a council for advice in the matter. There is no record that a council convened, and in June the town records read that a meeting was held the 12th and the following action taken, viz .: " We being greatly affected with the present state of this church, Therefore Voted, to have it recommended to our Revd. Pastor that he would join with " a committee of 14 "in calling a council of ministers and chhes to help in those difficulties that are among us, each party in- terested to choose one-half its members."
June 30, 1746, the record is as follows, viz .: " Whereas the Revd. Mr. Stephen Heaton has denied the request of the major part of the Church, in desiring him to call a church meeting to see if they could agree to call a Council to help us in our difficulties ;-- and since Mr. Heaton has also denied the request of the town, by their Committee, in desiring him to join with fourteen church members in calling an indifferent or free Council to advise and determine in the difficulties be- tween him and them, and other things in the Church ;- and, considering also Mr. Heaton's treating so many of the church members directly contrary to their articles of agreement - considering these things we look upon it, Mr. Heaton has broken Covenant with the Church - and, that they and we
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are free from all obligations to him as our minister; Therefore, Voted to desire the said Mr. Heaton to desist or lay down the ministry in this town."
" Voted, that if Mr. Heaton will comply with the mind of the town in this matter, we will submit to the judgment of four men what they shall judge is right about his settlement, salary, and all temporal matters: Mr. Heaton to have liberty to choose two of said men, and the town choose two. Voted that Amos Thompson, and Dea. Gideon Thompson be a committee to inform Mr. Heaton of the votes of this meeting."
This was of no avail, and in September Dea. Gideon Thomp- son was appointed a committee to pray the General Assembly to obtain a council. Mr. Heaton seems to have declined every proposition made by the town and church, and the next April the town voted to defray the entire expense of a council and forbade the selectmen to pay any money to him as salary until they should receive orders to the contrary. Deacon Thomp- son did not succeed in getting the order desired from the General Assembly. Mr. Heaton commenced a suit for his salary, in which he was successful. The matter was taken before the Hartford County Consociation, held at Farming- ton, July 26, 1748, but the records of the town do not show with what result. There was another society formed em- bracing the north part of the town and the parsonage right and school money shared with them; providing they should settle a minister and build a church. In October an effort was made to buy Mr. Heaton's real estate and to give him a bonus if he would release the town, which was unavailing.
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