USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Wolcott > History of the town of Wolcott (Connecticut) from 1731 to 1874, with an account of the centenary meeting, September 10th and 11th, 1873 and with the genealogies of the families of the town > Part 3
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From the first, Farmingbury Parish took supervision of the public schools; appointed the committees ; voted how much "schooling " they should have each year ; laid taxes for the support of schools, and directed how these should be collected, and appointed the collectors of these taxes. They appointed the "grave digger" and the keeper of the "key," and persons to take the " marks of stray sheep." In one instance only did they go to the Assembly for power to lay a tax, and that was for a church rate on all the lands "for maintaining the worship of God."*
* At a General Assembly of the Governor and Company of the Colony of Connecticut holden at New Haven, on the 2d Thursday of October, Anno Domini, 1771 :
Upon the memorial of the Society of Farmingbury, prepared by Joseph Atkins, Samuel Upson, and Daniel Alcox, agents for said Society, represent- ing to this Assembly that the list of said society is small and they unable to set up and maintain the worship of God among them without some fur- ther help, praying for a tax on all the lands within said Society, &c., as per memorial on file :
Resolved by the Assembly, that a tax of three pence on the acre for the term of four years, to be annually collected, be laid on all the lands within said Society which belong to the inhabitants living within said Society not being professors of the Church of England, and also on that part of the non-resident professors, which land is not put on the general list of such non-resident persons and subject to pay taxes in other societies and Towns ; and Stephen Barnes of Farmington and Daniel Alcox of Water- bury, are hereby appointed and fully empowered to collect the said tax of . the proprietors of such lands as aforesaid and the same to pay to the com-
II
FIRST SOCIETY IN WOLCOTT.
Thus was formed, organized, and put into effectual op- eration the First Ecclesiastical Society in Wolcott, which was as a tree in the wilderness and proved to be "a fruitful vine in the tops of the mountains." The fami- lies of the parish were very much scattered amidst the forests that then covered most of these hills and the small patches of low lands.
It is not certain that at the time of the formation of the parish, there was more than one house at Wolcott Center, that of Abraham Woster, all traces of whose family have disappeared from Wolcott long ago. He was a carpenter, and was "foreman " or "boss" carpenter at the building of the first Meeting house. His wife, Rebecca, united with the church on the 12th of January 1777, and on the 19th of the same month their son Lyman was baptized.
Mr. Joseph Atkins and his son Joseph lived in one house, a quarter of a mile west of Abraham Woster's house, or of the Center. Deacon Rogers lived half a mile west of the Center. Daniel Byington and his son Daniel lived at the "Mill Place." West of this were Mr. John Alcock and several of his children, settled on nearly one thousand acres of land. North of the Center on the " Bound Line" road there were no residents, except Mr. Talmage, nearer than Thomas Upson, the father of Charles, Esquire, and where Charles afterward resided. The Peck families lived further north-north-east. East of the Center less than half a mile lived Aaron Harrison (the first Deacon) with his father if then living. South- west was David Norton ; then Wait Hotchkiss, Isaac Hop- kins, the Sutliff family and Parker family. In Woodtick
mittee of said Society, to be improved to set up and maintain a Gospel min- istry in said Society, and that the Secretary of the Colony shall issue and sign warrants for collecting of said tax in due form of law.
A true copy of Record,
Examined,
By GEORGE WYLLIS, Secretary.
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HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
Judah Frisbie and others ; and further east and south, on Bound Line, Amos Seward, and south of him Capt. Sam- uel Upson on the Turnpike. On the road from Wolcott to Cheshire were the Halls and Lewises, and east of this on Southington Mountain, the Carters ; and further north the Beechers, Brockets, Plumbs, and others. John Bron- son lived in the hollow half a mile directly east of the Cen- ter, and west of Southington mountain. It is said that at that time Southington Mountain was the best cultiva- ted part of what is now Wolcott. And as the forests then consisted of "mighty trees" and the inhabitants were widely separated, it was in reality, "a church in the wil- derness." The wild beasts made night hideous with their howlings, and it is told as a true story that the mother of the Halls used to relate, many years after, how care- ful she was at first, before putting her children to bed, to go to the bed and feel over the top of it, and under the blankets to see if, during the day, the "big snakes" had crept into the children's places.
Another difficulty at this time and for some years after was in the fact that there was not sufficient land cleared to produce food to supply the people, and hence many went to Southington, in summer time, and worked to earn provisions which they carried up the mountain on their backs, so as not to "starve in winter." Much is said at the present day about farming being hard work, but if we were to walk three miles down a mountain, and work from sunrise to sunset and then carry up the mountain three-fourths of a bushel of rye as the reward of such a day's labor we might think farming harder than it now is. Now, a man laboring by the day earns between two and three bushels of rye, but a hundred years ago he received only three-fourths of a bushel. The necessity for summer work was increased by the fact that very little could be done in the winter by which to get money or provisions. If they cut down the forests to clear the land, there was no demand for the wood; this
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FIRST SOCIETY IN WOLCOTT.
must be burned in great heaps where it was cut. No me- chanical work of any extent was required. The first wag- on in Wolcott was brought in, in 1800, by Lucius Tuttle, and it marked a period of wonder and improvement. A little could be done by way of getting "logs to the mill " for lumber, but no great amount of work of this kind could be done, for there were but two "saw mills" in the town,-one where Mr. Pritchard's mill now is, and one at Woodtick,-and there was but little demand for lumber. In the house, the women were always at work. In the fall and beginning of winter they must make the clothes for the family for the year. As soon as "New Year's Day" was past they prepared to sit down at the "little wheel" to spin the "flax," and from New Year until April the "little wheel " occupied all the leisure time the mother and elder daughters could find. And in the latter part of spring and on into summer the "big wheel" usurped authority over the "little wheel " and the spin- ning of wool was the great extra work of the house.
Thus began the church in Wolcott.
CHAPTER 11.
BUILDING A MEETING HOUSE.
At the first meeting of the Society, Nov. 13, 1770, ac- tion was taken in regard to a Meeting house. We find the following votes :
" Voted to Build a Meeting House. At the same meeting Jo- seph Atkins was chosen Agent to go to the County Court for a Committee to stick the stake for said Meeting House. At the same meeting, Capt. Enos Brooks, Capt. Enos Atwater, and Col. Hall were nominated a committee to stick the stake for said House. At the same meeting voted to lay a rate Half Penny on the Pound to defray the Society Charges [in this matter]. At the same meeting voted to pay the said Half Penny rate by the first Day of February next, and Joseph Atkins and Jared Harrison were chosen Collectors to collect said rate."
The energy with which Mr. Joseph Atkins moved in this matter is seen in the fact that the next day after this meeting and after his appointment as agent, he pre- sented his memorial to the Court in Hartford, as appears from the following paper :
APPOINTMENT OF THE COMMITTEE.
" At a County Court held at Hartford, in and for the County of Hartford, on the first Tuesday of November, A. D., 1770 :
Upon the Memorial of Joseph Atkins of Farmingbury and the Rest of the Inhabitants of the Parish of Farmingbury in said County showing to this Court that at a Society Meeting held in said Society on the 13th day of November, instant, it was voted (wherein more than two thirds of the Inhabitants were in the
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BUILDING A MEETING HOUSE.
affirmative), to Build a Meeting House in said Parish, and there- upon appointed the said Joseph Atkins their Agent to apply to this Court, for the appointment of a Committee to repair to said Society to affix a stake in said Society, for said Inhabitants to Build a Meeting House upon, for Divine Worship, as per Memo- rial on file, dated the 4th day of November, 1770 :
Whereupon this Court appoint Col. Benjamin Hall, Capt. Enos Brooks, and Capt. Enos Atwater, all of Wallingford, in New Ha- ven County, a Committee with full power to repair to the Said Parish of Farmingbury, Notify the Inhabitants of said Parish, View all circumstances, and hear all Parties, and affix a stake upon some convenient spot of ground in said Society, for the Inhabitants thereof to Build a meeting House upon for the Purpose of Divine Worship, and make report of their doings herein to us at the next Court.
A true copy of Record,
Examined · By GEORGE WYLLYS, Clerk.
NOTIFICATION OF THE COMMITTEE.
To the Inhabitants of the Society of Farmingbury, Greeting :
Whereas, The Honorable County Court at Hartford in Their Sessions In November, Instant, appointed us subscribers a Com- ttee with instructions to repair to Said Society, Give warning to the Inhabitants, view their circumstances, Hear the Parties, &c., and affix a Place for said Inhabitants to build a meeting house upon :
These are Therefore to Notify said Inhabitants to Attend on said Comttee on The Last Tuesday of Instant November by Their Agents, Committees, or otherwise as They Shall Think fit in order to Enable said Comttee to Do The business assigned Them by Said Court, and Mr. Joseph Atkins of Sd Society is hereby Desired to Notify said Inhabitants accordingly. Dated at Wallingford the 23d of November , Anno 1770.
BENJAMIN HALL, ENOS BROOKS, Comttee.
ENOS ATWATER,
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HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
ORDER OF THE COURT.
At an adjourned County Court holden at Hartford, in and for the County of Hartford, on the fourth Tuesday of January, Anno Domini, 1771.
Whereas, upon the Memorial of the Inhabitants of the Parish of Farmingbury by their agent Joseph Atkins praying for a Com- mittee to affix a place in said Society for the Inhabitants thereof to Build a Meeting House upon, for Divine Worship, the County Court at their sessions at Hartford within and for Hartford Coun- ty on the first Tuesday of November, A. D., 1770, appointed Ben- jamin Hall, Esq., Capt. Enos Brooks, Capt. Enos Atwater a Com- mittee to repair to said Society of Farmingbury-hear all parties and view all circumstances, and affix a place for the Inhabitants thereof to. Build a Meeting House upon, for Divine Worship as by the records of said County Court fully appears.
The said Committee having Returned their report in the Premises therein setting forth that on the 27th, 28th, and 29th Days of November, 1770, the Said Parish before being Notified to attend them, did repair to Said Parish of Farmingbury and there heard all parties and viewed all circumstances, and there affixed a Place in said Society, and erected a stake thereon, with stones about it, viz. : on a Beautiful Eminence and on the line Dividing between the Towns of Waterbury and Farmington, a little North- erly of Mr. Abraham Worster's Dwelling House in said Society, near where the North and South Highways cross each other in said Society as per Report on file, Dated the 30th Day of Novem- ber, 1770, which said report this Court accept and approve of, and thereupon this Court Order and Direct that the Place mentioned in the said report of the said Committee be and the same is here- by Established as the Place whereon the said Society Shall Erect and build a Meeting House, for the Purpose of Divine Worship accordingly.
A True Copy of Record, Examined By GEORGE WYLLYS, Clerk.
The Papers containing the above action of the Court are still preserved, and are signed in the hand writing of George Wyllys, Clerk of Records. After being folded,
1
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BUILDING A MEETING HOUSE.
on one is written: "Copy of record for Mr. Joseph Atkins.
Court Fees 9 3
s d and Copying fee 6/ {0 15 3."
Mr. Atkins' name in these papers, and frequently in the church Records, is spelled Adkins. It is herein uni- formly written Atkins ; because when he signed the Deed to the Society, he wrote his name "Joseph Atkins."
This order of the court was given during the court term which began on the fourth Tuesday of January, 1771; but before the order was received by the Society, and probably before the court made the order, the Society took the following action on the report of the committee, in a Society meeting held on the Second Wednesday of January, 1771 : "Voted to confide in what the late Committee did in fixing a place for the Meeting house." On the 21st day of the same month, in another Society meeting, they again " Voted to confide in what the late Committee did in fixing a place for a Meeting house."
In the next April, 22d day, at a Society meeting, the following persons were chosen a "Meeting House Com -. mittee :" Lieut. Josiah Rogers, Mr. Samuel Upson, Mr. Stephen Barnes, Mr. Joseph Beecher, Mr. Daniel Alcox.
This was a choice committee. These men were reli- able, good men ; equal, under ordinary circumstances, to the work committed to them ; but the difficulties around and before them were peculiarly numerous. The Parish was new, not yet six months old, and had assumed nearly all the responsibilities of a Town, without the benefits. They had the work of dividing the parish into school districts, laying taxes for the support of these schools, providing school houses in some parts, and the ordering of the number of months school should be kept. They appointed a committee to survey the parish and fix the boundaries, and laid a tax to pay the expenses of sur- veying.
3
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HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
The Society meetings had voted, besides school tax and surveying tax, a tax for the committee to fix the stake for the Meeting house ; a tax of "one penny half-penny" to procure preaching, and the tax of three pence per acre granted by the Assembly, for "Maintaining of Divine Worship." Besides this, the country was new. Some of these men were born in Wolcott, but were the first gene- ration. Their fathers all, as near as we can learn, immi- grated to Wolcott. How were they to build a meeting house ? If the house could be built'at the cost of five hundred dollars, from whence was the money to come ? This committee doubtless consulted together, and with the people of the Parish, and much desired to see that Meeting house, but we hear nothing of it for six months.
There was but one thing unfortunate about that com- mittee ; the name of Joseph Atkins was not at its head. He never slept six months at a time ; when he moved others moved also. Whatever he touched seemed to rise to life, like the bones of the old prophet. As far as the record shows, he never failed but once, and that when sent by this parish as agent to the General Assembly in 1787 to secure town privileges. The united opposition of the adjoining towns of Waterbury and Southington was too strong for the energetic Joseph. Had he been on the committee there would have been some work done somewhere, and a report made at the next meeting ; but as it was, they came to the meet- ing on the 22d day of next November, made Mr. Joseph Atkins moderator, and the first business done is recorded thus : "Voted to go about building a Meeting house forth- with." Voted to build said house 58 feet in length and 42 feet wide. Voted to have said house 24 feet between joints. Voted to face said house to the south. Voted to board the body of said house. Voted to shingle said house with chestnut shingles. Voted to clapboard said house with 'drent' oak."
On the first Tuesday of the next December, about two
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BUILDING A MEETING HOUSE.
weeks after the above meeting, they met and "Voted to take 12 feet from the length of the house, and 8 feet from the width, and two feet from the height." Also, "Voted 'that Abraham Woster should be master builder on said house."
Another meeting was held on the first Tuesday of January, 1772, when it was "Voted to add to the length of said meeting house six feet, and four feet to the breadth." After these last votes there appears to have arisen some further discussion about the Meeting house, when they voted to "Reconsider all the votes taken in said meeting, respecting building a Meeting house, and dissolved said meeting."
This last vote seems to have referred to all the votes taken in all the previous meetings in regard to the build- ing of a Meeting house, for on the 20th day of the same month (January, 1772), they held another meeting, in which the only business recorded was concerning the Meeting house, as follows : "Voted to build a Meeting house 48 feet long and 36 feet wide. Voted to have the height of said house left with the carpenter. Voted to cover said house as the first proposed house was voted to be covered. Voted to give Mr. Abraham Woster 24 shil- lings for his services." From these records it appears that some work in making preparations, or estimates for building had been done by the master carpenter, and also by others, towards the building of the house. We are not informed as to the method pursued in building, except it appears that the work was not let by the job, but done by the day, as to the master builder. Whether work or lumber and materials were given by the parishioners, we are not directly informed, but the probability, from the facts mentioned, is that much was given in this way. *
* The frame of the Meeting house was, probably, raised about the first of April, 1772, but no record is found concerning it, except the following, which was written on the inside of the back cover of the Society Book, without date : "Capt. Hopkins, Ensign Beecher, Daniel Byington, Isaac
20
HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
On the first Monday in March next a meeting was held and further action taken. "Voted to lay the underpin- ning of the Meeting house in lyme mortar. Voted to have the window frames made of chestnut, and to have 24 panes of 7 by 9 glass in each window."
The next meeting was held on the first Monday of April, one month later, when they "Voted to lay a rate of two pence on the pound, to defray the Meeting house charges, and that said rate should be paid by the first of October next."
It is very probable that from the first Mr. Joseph Atkins agreed to give the land on which to build a Meeting house, but now that that house was in process of construc- tion, and probably the frame was standing in its place, and a tax was to be collected to pay for the building of the house, it was very proper that it should rest on a good title of land, so that no trouble should arise from this direction. Therefore Mr. Atkins proceeded to exe- cute the deed. And here again is seen the character of Joseph Atkins. Instead of giving a plot of ground one hundred feet by fifty, he gave two acres. This land was given, as is seen by the deed, from the noblest impulses and for the noblest ends. And when thus devoted to the publishing of "good tidings" to lost men, it is saddening to know that on one corner of this square was erected a " whipping post," and that at this post were whipped several persons, and among them one woman, for stealing.
THE DEED. *
" To all people to whom these presents shall come greeting. Know ye that I, Joseph Atkins, of Waterbury, in the County of New Haven, in the Colony of Connecticut, in New England, for the Consideration of the love and good will which I have and do
Twitchell, Joseph Atkins, Jr., Abraham Woster, Isaac Cleveland, Elijah Gaylord, to sell liker and vitels During the time of Raising the meting House, and any Body Else that is a mind to."
* The original deed is preserved.
2I
BUILDING A MEETING HOUSE.
bear to the Society of Farmingbury, part of which is in Waterbury aforesd, and part in Farmington, in the County of Hartford, do give, grant, convey, & Confirm unto David Norton, Amos Seward, Daniel Alcox, Stephen Barnes, and Joseph Beecher, as they are Society's Committee for sd Society and their Successors in Quality of Society's Committee, and to the rest of the Inhab- itants of the Society of Farmingbury aforesd, to be Used & im- proved for the only purpose of Building and continuing a Meeting House for the Public Worship of God thereon, and for needful and convenient accommodations around the same, Two acres of Land. That is to say, one acre at the Southwest corner of the forty-first Long lot in the West Division in the Township of Farmington aforesd, Eleven Rods & an half wide at the West end, and nine Rods & an half wide at the East End, Extending East from the Line between the Towns so far as to make one acre buting West on the Line of Waterbury aforesd, South on High- way, East and North on the Remainder of the said 4Ist Lot.
And also one acre of land in the Township of Waterbury aforesd, lying West from the above described land adjoining to the Highway between sd Waterbury & Farmington Twelve Rods wide, North and South, to extend West so far as to make one acre, Buting Northward on Highway, West and South on my own land, & East on Highway; which Land Described as aforesd, I, the sd Atkins, make over to the Society of Farmingbury aforesd, for their use and benefit as above sd, & for the Church to be gathered, & which shall or may Worship in the sd House to be Erected according to the Method, Doctrines, & Discipline now owned and practiced by the churches in the Colony, whether Called Presbyterian, Congregational, or Consociated by way of Distinction from Episcopalians, Baptists, Separatists, or other Sec- taries,-To have and to hold the above granted and given prem- ises, with all the Privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto them the sd grantees and to their successors forever, to & for the use aforesd. And also I, the said Joseph Atkins, do for my- self and my Heirs, Executors, and administrators, Covenant with the said Grantees and their successors, that at & until the Enseal- ing of these presents I am well seized of the premises as a good indefeasible Estate in Fee simple, and have good Right to give
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HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
and Convey the same in manner and form as is above written, and that the Same is free of all Encumbrances whatever. And fur- thermore, I, the sd Atkins, do by these presents Bind myself and my Heirs forever to warrant and Defend the above granted and given premises to them the sd Grantees and their successors against all Claims and Demands whatever. In Witness, whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the 8th Day of June, in the 12th year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Third of Great Britain, &c., King, A. D., 1772.
JOSEPH ATKINS. L. S.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of
JOSEPH HOPKINS,
LAURA HOPKINS.
N. B. The words Eleven Rods & an half Interlined in the 16th line, and the words nine Rods and an half Interlined in the 17th line, and the word eleven, Interlined in the 23d line, were wrote before the Deed was signed.
Waterbury, in New Haven County, the Day and Date above written, Personally appeared Mr. Joseph Atkins, Signer & Sealer of the foregoing Instrument, and acknowledged the same to be his Free act and Deed.
Before me JOSEPH HOPKINS, Justs. Peace."
On the Deed, after being folded, is written :
" David Norton & others, Inhabitants of Farmingbury. Deed of Gift of Joseph Atkins.
Recd. June 12th, A. D., 1772, & is Recorded in Farmington, 17th Book of Records, page 427. Pr Sal. Whitman, Regr.
Recd also to Record in Waterbury, July the 6th, A. D., 1772.
And Recorded in Waterbury Land Records, Book 15th, Page 312. Pr Ezra Bronson, Recorder."
While Mr. Atkins was thus doing his part, the Meeting house was rising to perfectness in its place, and the people seemed ready to do their part as the cause might need. They were not only ready to pay the tax already assessed in behalf of the Meeting house, but they met
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BUILDING A MEETING HOUSE.
again on the "Third Monday of August, following, and voted to lay a rate of four pence on the pound, to be paid the first of December next, said rate being to defray the Meeting house charges."
In order to know what an effort it was for the people to build this church, we must take a little survey of the parish. The territory was newly settled. The older, active men in the Society, such as Joseph Atkins, Sen., Curtiss Hall, and John Bronson, were born elsewhere, and had come into the community and settled as farmers. The younger men, like Aaron Harrison, Daniel Byington, Jr., Joseph Atkins, Jr., and many others who were active mem- bers in the Society, were born here, or a little time before their parents came here, and were just beginning in the world, having no fortune of money, or old homesteads left them. The sixteen thousand acres of land in the parish, with all other taxable property, amounted in the assess- ment on the tax list to about two dollars and fifty cents per acre, or forty thousand dollars, or £8,000. Some of this amount belonged to Episcopalians, and hence was not available to the parish. The parish proper contained about seventy-five families, and the $40,000 divided equally among them, gives them about five hundred dol- lars of farming capital each, in the assessment list.
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