USA > Connecticut > New London County > Stonington > Old homes in Stonington : with additional chapters and graveyard inscriptions > Part 19
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We may suppose his pleasure and interest in meeting Thomas Stanton again, with the various members of his family who assembled to greet their temporary guest. Also his satisfaction at a resting place in this comfortable home after his journey.
During his brief stay, he rode about Southertown with his host vis- iting at the homes of those who were to be his people and seeing the little meeting house in which he was to preach. A day or two later, he was on his way home, planning to return the following month and preach for a while to the families of Southertown, between whom and himself, the first impressions had been most favorable. He did return and was welcomed as an old friend at the Stanton homestead, which housed the oldest married son, his wife and little girl, in addition to Thomas Stanton's younger children and wife. A lively household with young people and children ever about. Constant visitors, likewise, coming or going, the married daughters with their families and neigh- bors, friendly Indians and sea-faring men. Thomas Stanton's trading post was a little world of itself, and served to augment the already quite liberal education of the young minister, fast losing any feeling of strangeness in the kindly attentions of Mistress Stanton and her two little daughters, the elder one, Dorothy, having just the thirteen years of his sister Rebecca.
The records state that "Mr. Noyes did not at first make arrangements to remain for any given length of time." A flexible agreement was evidently formed by him and the town authorities who, then, were responsible for engaging the services of the preacher, by which he might be released from the duties he then assumed.
Time passed swiftly with the episodes in the lives of families and in the history of the town following in interest month after month.
In the first autumn long standing political unpleasantness was ended by representation of the town in the General Assembly at Hartford,
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by William Chesebrough, to whose persuasion the Court agreed to grant forgiveness and favor to all the settlers in his town except Captain Denison.
A year after, the General Court changed the town's name to that of Mystic. Still later it changed its mind both about the name and about Captain Denison. Stonington was the name then given, and so it has remained. Local politics, the election of selectmen, judges, deputies, new settlers, the death of the patriarch of the town, William Chesebrough, plans to build a new and better meeting-house and to form a church, all made absorbing items for thought and conversation for the minister and his friends at social gatherings, or between services on the Sabbath, or during visits to his parishoners. Occasionally he made visits to clergymen in neighboring towns. In this way four years passed.
In the summer of 1668, an unusually interesting Town Meeting was held, by which home lots were assigned to all the male inhabitants, to the number of forty-three, by a census then taken. This meeting per- haps turned the fate of James Noyes, for also, it was voted to contribute and help Mr. Noyes to build a dwelling house among them in order to his settling in the town and carrying on the work of the ministry among them, also voting to give him a salary of £50 currency for seven years. To him this action may have seemed to have brought the hour when he must choose his path into the future. His problem was whether to re- turn to his old home neighborhood, where there was often strife in church and town affairs; or seek another field of work nearer Hart- ford or New Haven; or stay permanently in this quiet place where peace and harmony prevailed, and where mutual affection and esteem were es- tablished. These years too, had added something else, not then by him realized, unless vaguely at the suggestion of a home of his own. His little friend, Dorothy, was growing up. He had noticed how tall she was now, how bright her answers in catechising time, how sweet her voice sounded singing the old psalms at meeting. He stayed.
The house was built for the parson, on the highway, at Anguilla. In three years his salary was doubled and more land given him. Also he bought from a friend in Hartford, more acres. In a few years the new meeting house on Agreement hill was built. A church was then for- mally organized in conformance with the Savoy Confession. Such an important event in the history of the colony was of course attended by the formalities and ceremonies connected with similar organizing, but the recorder of that red letter day left for us only the statement of what they believed, not what they did on his epochal occasion.
Likewise of two swiftly following events, the most important in all James Noyes life, we have only a few brief lines to convey them t ous. That summer, ten years after he first came to this town, was the most glorious of all his thirty-four. It held preparations for his ordination as the church's pastor and for his marriage. That summer Dorothy be- came his acknowledged sweetheart, and, in September his wife.
The records say, "The Rev. James Noyes was ordained on the 10 day of September, 1674, it being Thursday." Thanks for so much, It might
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have been less. The day of the week is not so important for us to know. We ask, what was the order of exercises? Who took part? Who formed the necessary council and witnesses? Our answers to these questions lie only on the assured knowledge that for such a well loved candidate for the important charge of the First Church of Stonington nothing that should or could be done on this all important occasion was lack- ing, for the reputation and pride of the town in their church and pas- tor. We can be almost positive that one witness was a person who was to act an important part in another ceremony the following day. This was Mr. Samuel Willis of Hartford, one of the assistants of the General Court of that date. The customary ordination supper, we may be sure, was a culinary triumph for the women of the town and many visitors did justice to it. Within the limits of probability, we can fancy old friends and relatives of the chief figure in the day's event having jour- neyed far to be present for this occasion and the one of the following day, probably the reason they were set in sequence.
The women of the Stanton family were doubtless exempt from much participation in the preparations for the minister's ordination feast, inasmuch as their responsibility and care came in connection with the festivity attendant on his wedding, Suppers of this nature were held either in the meeting house grounds, or at the nearest house or large barn. The pleasant scene of the one which interests us, now, must have been near our present location.
The day of the ordination must be classed as of rengious and civic interest, the next day's equally important happening (at least in the minds of descendants of that marriage) is a more personal one.
We may not hesitate to place this scene in the large front room with diamond paned windows, in the house of Thomas Stanton. Twelve years had passed since the elder daughters had been married there, so to parents and relatives the occasion was sufficiently novel, and pernaps more thrilling than the earlier ones, since this daughter was marrying a inan not only of the highest social rank in the colony (as all clergy- men were so accounted) but one who had long been regarded with as much pride and affection as their own sons.
The sweet scented breezes of that bright September day came through the open swinging windows to play softly about the bride and bride- groom as they stood before Samuel Willis, assistant, and were married by him according to the custom of the country and their faith.
The parsonage on the edge of the forest, some distance down the highway, was waiting to receive its master and mistress and to encir- cle them for many happy years. In the next September, Rev. James Noyes baptized his first baby, Dorothy.
These shining days, however, were set against a dark historical back- ground, formed of the exciting events which culminated in war with the Indians under Philip. Within a short time, James Noyes' wife was again at her father's home with their baby, having bidden farewell to her husband, who went with the troops, under Major Treat and Capt. Denison, as physician and chaplain.
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For many months dread of annihilation hovered over the colony, re- quiring heroic efforts from all the settlers and their families. Finally the ringleader of the Indian trouble was captured by a party, among whom was James Noyes. Canonchet disdainfully refused all effort for peace on the part of his captors, so there seemed no other way to end the peril but to shoot him.
After these depressing times came peaceful days again. The pastor's first son was born the following summer, the third James Noyes. The influence of Stonington's minister grew with each year of his service and spread far beyond the limits of the town; his friends were also counted in all the nearby colonies. Visitors frequented the parsonage, one, we may be sure, was Moses, next younger brother of our James, who married Ruth Picket of New London, before settling as the first minister of Lyme.
1667 brought sadness by the death of the wise and good Thomas Stanton, father-in-law and friend of James Noyes to whom he willed much land. His widow came to make her home in the parsonage, hav- ing the loving care of her daughter and son-in-law and the pleasure of her grandchildren, the number of whom were increased by four more boys and another girl, her namesake, Anna, who did not live to grow up. Some lines of a poem read at the 200th anniversary celebration of this church seem most appropriate to picture this family life:
"And so in rustic style, life wore away. Days, weeks, months and years went fleeting by,
The evening shade and morning twilight gray Darkened and lightened then as now the sky, Six days of toil; the Sabbath's quiet reign They rested, worshipped, and then toiled again. Their social gatherings were informal, free, Indrawn from homes and clearings far and near; An artless, simple hospitality, With lusty welcome and with huge good cheer. Children were born, and infancy's glad smile, With childhood's ringing laugh and sportive glee Makes this Arcadian life a cheerful page."
(Rev. A. G. Palmer)
Cheerful truly, with all that was needed to make a comfortable and happy home. In summer, gardening and bee-keeping, to say nothing of dozens of other activities; in winter, books and ruddy fires as reward of daily duties. These parents taught their children from their own knowledge and accomplishments, preparing the boys for professions and Dorothy for a home of her own.
On Sunday mornings, we may see the pastor on horseback, with his fond wife on a pillion behind him, riding to the meeting-house, and after the lengthy services, turning homewards in the evening shade. After a time, the town built a small house near the church, with a fireplace for Mr. Noyes to warm himself in cold weather between meetings. In the brightness from this fire we can picture the pastor and his wife
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cheerfully welcoming many to share the grateful warmth, and exchange pleasent greetings.
As the century ended, we notice several events that must have re- acted on James and Dorothy Noyes. One was the death of his mother, in Newbury; another that of hers, at their home. Then came the ac- cusation of withcraft of his sister, Sarah, who had married Rev. John Hale of Beverly. The witchcraft dementia had not touched Stonington, but how sadly must James Noyes have witnessed the utter subversion to it of his cousin, Nicholas, pastor at Salem, and other of his good friends. Sarah Noyes Hale, stands a prominent figure in that time, a victim upon whom the crest of this wave of unreason broke. Broke, leaving her unharmed, and receded to vanish forever. As the account says: "Her worth was so well known, her husband and all the people were convinced that her accuser had perjured herself, and reasoned if so in her case, why not in other cases! From that time they looked at things from a new side and the spell was broken." James Noyes mourned the death of this sister three years later.
Indian trouble again threatening, the Governor and Council desired him and Capt. Mason to raise a company of English and friendly In- dians, suitably equipped to protect sections of the country. Another responsibility.
At this time legal right to join persons in marriage was conferred upon ministers of the Gospel in the colony, which enabled him to marry his daughter to a young minister from another part of Conn.
The early years of the new century brought much of importance to James Noyes.
His cousin, Nicholas, in Salem, wrote for Cotton Mather's "Magnalia" the memoir of the first James Noyes, which must have gratified the second. His uncle, Nicholas, died in Newbury.
One year saw the issue of the first regular newspaper published in America; another, the establishment of the Post. Significent events indeed. But in greatest personal connection was the founding of the new college. " A movement had been on foot for some time regarding the establishment of another institution of learning, as Harvard was far from some portions of the settlement. At a gathering of Connecticut clergymen (each a graduate of Harvard) at Branford, to which the Rev. James Noyes was invited, this college was inaugurated under the name of the Collegiate School of Connecticut, later Yale College. He thus became one of the founders and was chosen to be its senior trus- tee. He is reported to have given the largest number of books towards the college library at that time.
Dr. Bacon has said of him in this connection, "Though living in a remote quarter of the colony, his influence was deemed essential to the success of the undertaking." "His influence was deemed essential to success." By these words, alone, a character, a personality stands be- fore us.
The college became his youngest child in pride and thoughtful care, We can fancy him talking joyfully about it on many occasions with his friends.
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He prepared his son, Joseph, in theology, saw him enter and graduate from the new college, hoping, perhaps that he would succed him in the church at home.
Another definitely important event was his being chosen moderator of the conference at Saybrook, and to him is credited the drawing up of that synod's Platform.
Again we hear descriptive words as: "He brought uncommon fervor and zeal into all his public performances. He was a distinguished preacher. In ecclesiastical controversies eminently useful . He was one of the leading ministers of the colony greatly respected for his wisdom and piety. He was everyone's friend and he went about doing good. God had given him considerable skill in medicine and he prac- ticed with wonderful success. He went to the poor as well as the rich by day and night, exposed to cold and heat, storm and tempest, and was content to take up with mean fare and hard lodging aftentimes that he might be instrumental to save life. When he came to sick beds, what tenderness and pity did he show, more like a father than a physician; how he could cheer up the drooping spirit." In his abundant charity, he demanded nothing for all this expense, time, skill, and medicines, but left everyone liberty to consider him or not. For liberty, civil and re- ligious, and for just authority he was a champion. But set for order and regularity in church and state. To the highest in rank as to the lowest, and to all ages he was a welcome guest. All thought he brought with him a blessing to their homes. He had the true spirit of the peacemaker. He had a happy way of engaging people to be good, by supposing them to be so, and treating them as such, for they would be ashamed to disappoint him. He carefully practiced those duties himself unto which he extorted others. He was a mighty man in pray- er."
Such sentences frame for us a glowing portrait of a distinguished ancestor which we do right to cherish. He had followed his eminent father in justly gaining the respectful consideration of his fellow men.
No wonder membership in his church increased. We have in his book the faithful records of baptisms, admissions and marriages, just as it left his hand. A valued, sacred touchstone, which, for us, is writ- ten in the oil of gladness. The strong paper and unfaded ink are symbol- ical of the strength and clearness of his influence reaching ever through the years.
In the first decade of the century, his son, Thomas, (who seems to have been most truly loving and appreciative of his father) married the sister-in-law of his brother, James, and brought his bride home to the parsonage. James, the namesake, who became a doctor, appears to have been somewhat of a trial to his father by reason of being constant- ly in debt.
Grandchildren began to enter the parsonage, and his interest in them we hope, alleviated his sorrow in beholding the departure from this life of relatives and dear friends, as the first and second generations of the original settlers and of those numbered in the first census, passed away.
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In the meantime, the adjacent country had become so populated that the bounds of his parish were considerably lengthened, and the church now called Joseph Noyes in New Haven, to become his father's assis- tant.
This young Joseph declined, as he just then received the invitation to become minister of the New Haven church. Pleasure in this excellent opportunity for his son, doubtless lessened the natural disappointment to the father in not having him return home, and so he continued his labors as bravely as ever, alone.
The last marriage he celebrated in his family was that of his son, John, afterwards a deacon in the old church.
Having bought many acres, and having many given to him, also be- coming blessed with considerable of this world's goods during the fifty years of his life in Stonington, he made his will while still in good health and active work.
A final anxiety was in the serious illness of his wife, from which she recovered to live many years, but in the next December his robust health gave way, and illness of about two weeks ensued. Our record closes with these words from the church book, "The 30th day of the same month he died. Having served in the public ministry in this place 55 years and six months. He lived much desired and died much lamen- ted." O, beautiful epitome!
The sense of loss felt in so many directions, then, to family, church town, college, colony, reverberates to us. The funeral services were con- ducted with all the pomp of devotion. The sermon preached by Rev. Eliphalet Adams, the minister of the church in New London, still may be heard throught its later publication.
The laying to rest of the gallant form of Rev. James Noyes was in the burying ground by the water of Weguetequock, where he had stood many times.
His son, Thomas, had made and sent from Old England the stone to cover this venerated tomb, cut with the family arms, then seldom thought of in practical New England life.
A verse from the funeral sermon says, "He being dead yet speaketh." Especially on commemorative occasions as the bi-centennials of the founding of Yale and moving to New Haven of 1901 and 1916 when in the great stadium before more persons than were in the whole colony in his time, the representation of Rev. James Noyes was given in the historical performances. Again in the Stonington battle centennial pageant, in 1914, he appeared to walk again the familiar roads in the person of his descendant, Dr. Ira Hart Noyes, of Stonington and Prov- idence.
Who can say that on moonlight nights when we were not present, the spirit of James Noyes does not pass along the road from Anguilla to Agreement hill? If it be for his happiness, it may be even so. But it is for our happiness and profit that we remember him, recall the roman- tic facts of his life, feel its influence, at one time and another ,on one occasion or the next, as at the present moment.
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References :
Noyes Genealogy, Vols. I. II. Chesebrough Genealogy Judge Wheeler's History of Stonington. Records of Biennial Celebration of First Church of Stonington. Church Record Book Sermon by Rev. Eliphalet Adams. Yale Weekly Burgess' Life of John Robinson.
ADDENDA
CUSTOMS AND FASHIONS.
The food which our ancestors ate was chiefly game and shell fish, with maize or Indian corn, which they planted, having put in each hill a fish, as the Indians had taught them. Then, there were bears, wolves and deer, also squirrels and rabbits, and many a dainty dish was served from this wild game. Their breakfast was often of salt meat and bean soup, seasoned with herbs, called bean porridge. For the dinner, which was at noon, they had boiled beef and pork, Indian pudding, wild game, potatoes and turnips. Pumpkins were cooked in various ways. Succo- tash (corn and beans) was made in the summer, and samp (corn bruised and boiled and eaten with milk) was served in the fall. At sup- per, the cold meats and vegetables, left from the dinner, with little cakes made from corn meal, rye or buckwheat was eaten. Their drink was usually what nature provided: milk, beer and cider, for as early as 1654, laws were made regarding the sale of strong beer and cider, and there was no tea or coffee during the seventeenth century.
Their table ware was plain; wooden and pewter platters, pitchers, plates, pans and spoons were seen, and sometimes wooden trenchers were used for plates, though some of the planters brought fron Eng- land silver plate, such as silver tankards, beakers, flagons, spoons, cups, knee and shoe buckles and buttons. A little later the "Silver Luster Ware" was brought over and it is now eagerly sought for. It looks as bright as silver but is made of platinum on pottery ware, probably in Newcastle or Shelton, England, and has not been reproduced in modern imitation (so says Mr. N. Hudson Moore). They also brought household furniture and wearing apparel and there are still preserved some spec- imens of rich lace ruffles, fine embroideries and ornaments of gold and silver, which have been handed down in some families, for many suc- ceeding generations.
1 Small clothes for men, made of coon, wolf, bear, deer and sheepskin, as well as cloth, were made to fit very closely to the person, and the long stockings worn with them which came to the knee, were secured by buckles, while shoes with silver or brass buckles completed the out- fit. The doublet, which was early used, was like a vest, worn double for greater warmth and the coats were long in front, below the knee, and fastened to the very bottom, the skirts of which were made very full and hung off by being stiffened with buckram. They had a nerrow hem at the neck instead of the broad collar and sometimes they were decorated with gold lace, which showed off to great advantage. The fine linen stock, was fastened with its large silver buckle at the back of the neck. Sometimes cloaks were worn, which were usually red, and hats were made of wool and beaver, high-crowned with the brims about six inches broad. This inconvenient width probably caused the fashion of turning them up at one side, and then on the other, till about 1730, when a third was turned up, thus making the three cornered, cocked hat worn by gentlemen at that time.
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Watches, rings, ear-rings and thumb-rings were also worn by the men. The wigs worn in those days were of various colors and sizes, they were made of horse and goat's hair and even the locks of children were cut off. Some wore them white and flowing, and others in long curls upon the shoulders. The women dressed in garments made from wool while hemp and flax produced lighter weight goods for summer. As their circumstances increased and became better, the richer fabrics brought from England were purchased, and silks and satins were in great demand. Trailing gowns from a half to a yard and a half long, trimmed with flounces, and often trolloped (fastened up) at each side were worn, while later hooped skirts that stood out at the bottom like a wheel were the fashion, but these were very inconvenient for passing through doors, both at home and at church, and was managed by a sleight of hand performance. Tall head dresses ornamented the head, having one streamer hanging down at the back, till the time of the Revolution, and later, smaller ones were made of crepe, lace or muslin. There were no wheeled wagons until the middle of the eighteenth cen- tury and but very few until after the Revolutionary war Chaises were first used, having only two wheels, and wagons painted red, made hea- vy and strong, came into use also. Men rode on horseback and even a bridegroom must carry his bride home on a pillion behind him.
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