USA > Connecticut > New London County > Stonington > Old homes in Stonington : with additional chapters and graveyard inscriptions > Part 20
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The preparation of fires was no light task, in these old stone fire- places. The foundation was a backlog, two or three feet in diameter, usually hauled to position on skids or rollers; in front of this was the "fore-stick," considerably smaller, both lying on the ashes; on them lay the "top-stick," half the size of the back-log, and all these were usually of green wood. In front of this pile was a stack of split wood,branches, chips and cobs. If fire-dogs were used, the smaller wood was placed on them. These logs lasted several days, were replenished when neces- sary, but the fire was not allowed to go out; should this happen, the fire-pan was sent to the nearest neighbor for coals, or the flint lock musket and wad of tow, was called into requisition.
Floors were of oak, ceilings left unplastered, with the oak summer trees smoothed and left bare. In the best room and chambers, these were covered with pine. The tables in common use were long, of pine wood and made without leaves. The chairs, wooden or splint bottomed. The best room had rush bottomed chairs with bannister backs. The trusty and useful fire-locks, with their powder horn, hung on the walls. The dresser (like an open cupboard) shone with silver and pewter. The tall clock and "chest of drawers" brought from England graced their respective corners, with an occasional chest of later date. The light stands were of the same shape, or oblong. The loom, the spinning wheel the big wheel, quill wheel, reel and swifts, all were kept near for im- mediate use. The flax-brake, swingling knife and coarse hackle were kept in the barn for the men's use in rainy weather, while the little wheel and cards were the grandmother's chief care.
The early public days were the Fast and Thanksgiving. The General Court issued an order in 1676 for a Fast to be held every month, but the regular one was not appointed till after the Revolution. The people
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met for public worship as on Sunday, no food was cooked or eaten till after sundown, but Thanksgiving was the grand festival of the year. The first appointed in Connecticut was on Sept. 18th, 1631, It was held on Thursday, and generally late in the month when it occurred. The days for several weeks previous, were full of work for all the house- hold, in anticipation of the return of all the children and grand-children of the family, and then families could boast of fifteen or seventeen children and as many as one hundred grand-children, who were all to be fed with the best the house afforded, and so the fatted calf was killed, the finest turkeys and chickens were picked, and the fairest pumpkins and vegetables, were gathered for the day's use, and when it arrived, great was the rejoicing as the dear ones gathered home. The first part of the day was spent in going to meeting, by all that could be spared from the preparations of dinner, which was served to them upon their return, and eaten with a relish, after thanks had been given. The afternoon was spent in games and stories of bear and wolf hunts, Indian wars, rattlesnakes and everything which had given variety to their lives the past year. In the evening, the old, well-worn family Bi- ble was brought and laid on the little stand, beside the one tallow can- dle, and the grandfather read and returned thanks to God, for His care during the year. Though this was the annual festival and feast, still there were other merry-makings, weddings, huskings, apple-parings, quilting parties, and neighborly gathering around the great winter fires, where games were indullged in, besides sleigh-rides, balls, and "Suzy Bentley's," where Fiddler Bill played for the dancers. The whole expense of the amusement was paid by the young people, and did not usually exceed a dollar or two, out of which the fiddler was paid, and yet the older ones declared, "They should be ruined by such extrava- gance."
The custom at funerals in those times was to give gloves, rings and scarfs. They were even distributed at the burial of the town's poor, and the expense was charged to the town.
In the wills of those early days we read in one, "There were mourning suits to be given to his friends." In another, the will of a young lady, only twenty-one years old, who was engaged to be married, in which she directed, "that at her funeral, my betrothed husband, John Morgan, be all over in mourning and follow next after me."
In 1820, we read in the bill of expense for a funeral the following items :-
5 yards Cambrick for grave-clothes, One dollar.
For digging grave, One dollar.
For one gallon of spirits for funeral, One dollar.
And so we get a glimpse of some of our ancestors, while of many others scarcely anything is known beside the meagre notice in the re- cords of birth, marriage and death.
REVIEWS AND TRAININGS.
The annual reviews and trainings which we have heard our fathers and grandfathers tell about, was to teach military tactics, and the year-
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ly review was in the fall, when all the campanies met together. On the first Monday in May occurred the yearly training, when one company assembled and the officers who had served three years resigned, and new ones were appointed.
The yearly regimental review was quite the event of the autumnal season and hundreds of people gathered to see the military display. Ten companies, consisting of eight militia, one artillery, and one rifle, as- sembled from Stonington, North Stonington, Ledyard, Groton and Vol- untown, with all their officers. The colonel, lieutenant-colonel, major, and staff of four men, all rode horseback, with feathers in their hats and epaulettes on their shoulders. The artillery, rifle company and officers were in uniform, but the men in the militia companies were not compelled to wear uniforms, but were required to have a gun, bay- onet, and cartridge box. The review lasted all day, and the men got their dinner at a hotel or under a tent that was sometimes used. The captain put them through the military drill, the loading and firing was quite an art, and took considerable time. The rule for orders were :-
Attention, every man in the position of a soldier.
Face to the left.
Prepare to load (drop the gun, muzzle up).
Open pan (open the pan in the gun).
Handle cartridge (take the cartridge out).
Tear cartridge (hold with the teeth and tear off the top).
Prime (put in the powder).
Shut pan (close up the powder in the gun).
Enter cartridge (put it in the gun).
Draw ramrod (pull up the ramrod).
Ram cartridge (push down the cartridge).
Return ramrod (put it up).
Ready (take up the gun).
Aim (point gun). Fire.
In these days of rapid action and self-loading rifles these preparations would seem most tedious, but with these old-fashioned flint-lock guns, it was all necesssary.
SCHOOLS OF YE OLDEN TIME
Through the kindness of Rev. H. Clay Trumbull, we have the follow- ing description of the "schools of ye olden time" in Stonington. Public schools, or common schools, were not known in Connecticut, as they now exist in every community, in the first quarter of the 19th century. Before that time schools with paid teachers were common. A man teacher usually felt it his chief business to be feared for severity and the use of the switch. He did little real teaching, although he heard children recite lessons, memorized from their books, while he punctua- ted imperfect recitations, with a box on the ear, or a blow from his switch. Women, no better qualified, had their "Dame Schools," where younger girl pupils went. I have heard my grandmother and mother tell of these schools in Stonington which they attended. "Master Niles" was a terror to his pupils, for he used his switch without mercy, and
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with little regard for their good. At last the oppresssed pupils deter- mined to teach him a lesson. One evening they entered the school room after school hours the boys, assisted by the girls, ripped open the cush- ion in the big arm chair of Master Niles; they then put in a good num- ber of pins, with the points upward, and the cushion was then arranged as before and the room was left. The next morning, when the punc- tual pupils were in their seats, Master Niles entered the room and set- tled himself in his arm-chair, but he came up quicker than he went down. With a yell he bounded from his chair, and used various irre- verent words. That, was a memorable day in this school. Master Niles was never, after that, quite so firm in his seat. He felt that he must be careful not to exasperate his pupils too much, and they felt easier in consequence.
A teacher in a "dame school" in Stonington used to tell her pupils to bring her sugar and eatables from their homes, and she threatened to punish them severely, if they told of it to their parents. This con- tinued until they learned the truth, and the teacher was dismissed.
It was about 1830 that "infant schools" were introduced into the coun- try from England. Children who had never before been deemed of a school age here, went to these schools. One of them, taught by Miss Grace Stanton of Wethersfield, was held in Stonington. I attended it when so young that after my lessons I would be laid on a pillow, on a bench in the school room to sleep, other pupils did similarly. This school was held in a room on Main street, above Harmony street, also in a room down Wall street, on the east side, which we used to call Dr. Palmer's lane, there was a choice select school, kept by a Miss Al- len. I attended that. It was held in the other half of a house occupied by Mercy Golden. Later there was a school-house built on the lower part of the lot or garden of my father's house (the "Thomas Swan house") which was burned. Miss Rider, danghter of Hiram Rider, of Willington, Conn., taught it for some time. Then Miss Frances Went- worth, sister of Rev. Dr. Erastus Wentworth, of Stonington, taught the school.
Mr. John Kirby, who married a sister of Elisha Faxon, Jr., taught a select school of high grade. My brother, James Hammond Trumbull, went there, as did Samuel Babcock, and others of that age. Messrs. Davis and Dawes succeeded Kirby as teacher there, and such a school was for a time taught in a room above Allen's tin-shop, on the corner of Main and Harmony streets. A select school for young girls was for a time taught by Miss Maria Hubbard, in a little room in the rear of Dr. George E. Palmer's house. After a while the old Stonington Acad- emy was occupied by Daniel S. Rodman, and then by William W. Rod- man, assisted at times by Nicholas Chesebrough, John Terrett, Freder- ick Denison, and Elias Hinckley. Again, L. L. Wild taught in the Courtlandt Palmer house. Later he taught in Lord's Hall, and some of my best training was secured in that school.
The educational influences in Stonington were good, and many of us have reason to remember that gratefully. Dr. David Hart trained many a young man for college, in the room above Dr. Hart's office, and Miss
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Lucy Ann Sheffield taught from generation to generation of the Boro children, and later kept her school on Pearl street, until too old to teach any longer. She is well remembered by many in the Boro, and the sound of her crutch coming was enough to bring the greatest rebel to his senses.
A reward of merit used there. "This may certify as an assurance that Miss Mary Wheeler has manifested much laudable ambition in her attention to the requirements of her teachers, also her progress in the studies of Geography-Grammer-Spelling and Arithmetic, for which she merits the commendation of her parents and friends in addition to this testimony with a premium from her instructresses." Signed by Selina S. Ash and Lucy Ann Sheffield. Stonington Borough, Dec. 18th 1829.
NAMING THE CROSS STREETS.
Rev. Mr. Trumbull also tells of naming the cross streets in Stoning- ton, which may be interesting to know about in days to come.
"The cross streets were named about fifty years ago by some of the young men of that day, in a spirit of fun, but they "stuck." Broad street was so called because it was wider than most. High, because that in front of the Wadawanuck Hotel was the highest part and sloped both ways, east and west, and towards the south. Pearl street was from a girls' school. kept there, possibly by Miss Lucy Ann Sheffield. Grand street was our finest street at that time. It swept from Mr. Sam- uel Denison's hill past the Academy, crossing both Main and Water streets, to the water. Along it were the houses of Mrs. Maria Babcock, Capt. Stiles Stanton, and Mr. Giles Smith, with the granite post sur- mounted by the bomb, as a memorial of the attack of 1814. Church street was from a colored family that lived on the corner of Water street, as it was before the day of the Episcopal church now standing on it. Union is a short street uniting Main and Water streets. Har- mony had referance to a family that lived on it. The father, when ex- cited by liquor, was very ill-natured, and my uncle J. F. Trumbull, told often of seeing the old man in the village store until late in the evening when he would say, "Well it is time I returned to my cottage of peace and contentment." An hour later you could go by that house and hear the wife screaming, while her husband dragged her around by the hair of her head; hence the name. Wall street was on account of the high bank wall, extending almost the whole way from Main street to Water; its continuation to the east shore was nicknamed "Shinbone Alley." What is now Cannon square used to be "Town Landing" where the farmers brought their stock and produce to those engaged in the West India trade. It was the busiest part of the town then. Diving street was so called from its fine place to bathe, and all the boys congregated there in the hot summer days. This was the last street in the village in 1850.
STONINGTON BATTERIES
(As given by Dr. George D. Stanton.)
A rough fort, or water battery, was erected during the Revolutionary
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was in the southern part of the village, on the east side of the Point, about where the fish market now stands. It had several long six and nine pounders and one twelve pound carronade. After the war they became dismantled and sunk in the ground. The old barracks stood between the present Baptist church and the Fanny Keen house, now moved away. They were altered into a dwelling house, which was after- wards burned. At a session of the General Assembly in New Haven, Dec. 14th, 1775, it was ordered that the battery at Stonington should have six cannon, two eighteen pounds and four twelve pounds. There was much delay in procuring them, and much dissatisfaction in conse- quence, and, in fact, some of them never did get here. They were used to defend New London and Groton, and when the fleet finally came here in 1814, they had only two eighteen pounders, which had been sent here in 1809, and one six-pounder and one four pounder. They carried part of these to the old fort on the east side, and the rest they took to a slight battery put up near the breakwater, just south of the present At- wood machine shop, and there, as we know, they did good work in keep- ing off the enemy. The earthwork was made somewhat in the form of a cresent, about ten feet long, six feet high, and twelve feet across, in a line as nearly east and west as the curved form of construction would allow. The guns stood upon a plank platform, and were worked into position after the recoil occasioned by firing, by means of tackles. The entire force that occupied the fort to work the guns was fourteen men. At every fire the wheel of the gun carriage was marked with chalk and also a mark on the plank platform. When we found the shot struck the brig perfectly, we kept the gun exactly on those marks, and I never, saw such accurate firing from cannon, said Mr. Silas E. Burrows.
POETRY COMPOSED UPON THE BATTLE OF STONINGTON
On the Seaboard of Connecticut (By PHILIP FRENEAU.) In an attack upon the town and a small fort of two guns, by the Ramilies, seventy-four gun ship, commanded by Sir Thomas Hardy; the Pactolus, thirty-eight gun ship; Despatch, brig, and a razee or bomb ship, August, 1814.
Four gallant ships from England came, Freighted deep with fire and flame, And other things we need not name, To have a dash at Stonington.
Now safely moor'd, their work begun, They thought to make the Yankees run, And have a mighty deal of fun In stealing sheep at Stonington.
A deacon then popp'd up his head, And Parson Jones's sermon read, In which the reverand doctor said
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That they must fight for Stonington. A townsman bade them, next attend To sundry resolutions penn'd, By which they promised to defend With sword and gun, old Stonington.
The ships advancing different ways, The Britons soon began to blaze, And put the old women in amaze, Who feared the loss of Stonington.
The Yankees to their fort repair'd, And made as though they little cared For all that came-though very hard The cannon play'd on Stonington.
The Ramilies began the attack, Despatch came forward, bold and black: And none can tell what kept them back From setting fire to Stonington.
The bombadiers with bomb and ball, Soon made a farmer's barrack fall; And did a cow-house sadly maul, That stood a mile from Stonington.
They killed a goose, they killed a hen, Three hogs they wounded in a pen- They dashed away,-and pray what then ? This was not taking Stonington.
The shells were thrown, the rockets flew, But not a shell of all they threw,
Though every house was full in view, Could burn a house at Stonington.
To have their turn they thought but fair,- The Yankees brought two guns to bear, And, sir, it would have made you stare, This smoke of smokes at Stonington.
They bor'd Pactolus through and through, And killed and wounded of her crew So many that she bade adieu To the gallant boys of Stonington.
The brig Despatch was hull'd and torn, So crippled, riddled, so forlorn,- No more she cast an eye of scorn On the little fort at Stonington. The Ramilies gave up th' affray, And, with her comrades, sneaked away. Such was the valor on that day Of British tars, near Stonington.
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But some assert on certain grounds (Beside the damage and the wounds),
It cost the King ten thousand pounds To have a dash at Stonington.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMANDER OF THE SHIP MINERVA
The following letter contributed by Mr. Thomas S. Collier in the "Collector" contains the instructions of the owners of the Minerva sent to the commander of that vessel before she sailed on the cruise that resulted in the capture of the British ship Hannah.
Boston, May 27th, 1781.
Sir: The private armed Brigt. Minerva, mounted with sixteen six pounders, which you are commissioned to command on a cruise against the enemies of the United States of America, being now completely equipped and ready for sea, you will embrace the first favorable wind to get out, taking every proper precaution to avoid the British Fleet, should they be off your port as here-to-fore. Your cruising ground we leave the choice of to you, only would observe that it is our wish, you should not cruise off either New York or Charleston, the danger appear- ing much greater than the prospect of advantage in that quarter. If you arc fortunate eno' to win any prizes, you will order them into this port. Should they by distress of weather arrive at any other port, you will direct the prize masters to give me information by express of their situation and follow such directions as I may think best for our inter- ests, with regard to such prize. With my best wishes for your success, victory and safety, I am, in behalf of the owners of five eights of the P. Brigt. Minerva,
Your most affectionate friend and brother, Adam Babcock.
P. S. On coming home off your cruise I would advise you to keep well to the eastward so as to come in thro' the Vineyard Sound, where you can get the needed information of the situation of the British fleet As soon as you get to New London, you will lose no time in clearing the vessel for a second trip.
Once more sincerely yours, A. B.
Dudley Salsonstall, Esq. Commander of the private arm'd Brigt. Min- erva, laying at New London.
DEATH OF THE INDIAN CANONCHET
On April 9th, 1676, Canonchet was found on the Pawcatuck or Black- stone River near the village of Pawcatuck. Hubbard's account of his capture is as follows: "One of the first Englishmen that came up with him was Robert Stanton, a young man that scarce had reached the twenty-second year of his age, yet adventuring to ask him a question or two, to whom this manly sachem, looking with a little neglect upon his youthful face replied, in broken English, "You much child, no under- stand matters of war, let your brother or your chief come, him will I answer." When told his sentence was to die, he said, "He liked it well,
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that he should die before his heart was soft or he said anything un- worthy of himself." He was shot under the eye of Denison, and the friendly Indians were his executioners," and the following are a part, of some lines written by Richard S. S. Andros.
On his conquerors he gazed With a proud and haughty air, And his eye with a flame of hatred blazed, Which shook the boldest there; And a bitter smile of scorn Around his dark lips played,
While his brow like a cloud by thunder torn, Wore a deep and fearful shade.
"Go bid your chief attend! I have no words to spare, No breath in idle talk to spend With children, as ye are, Though captive and in chains, Though fettered every limb,
While a drop of royal blood remains, I speak with none save him.
Ye say my doom is death! Strike, not a moment spare, I ask ye not for another breath! I have no need of prayer! Death! Death! I like it well! Ere my heart be soft and tame
Ere my breast with a thought or feeling swell, Unworthy of my name.
AN INDENTURE.
This Indenture, made this 26th day of April, in the year of our Lord 1830, between Joshua Yeomans of Stonington, father of Mary A. Yeo- mans, his daughter, a minor under the age of twenty-one years, of the one part and Joseph Robinson of said Stonington on the other part, witnesseth :
That the said Joshua Yeomans hath placed and bound his said daughter, Mary A. Yeomans, an apprentice to the said Joseph Robinson to be instructed in the art, mistry, trade and occupation of house wifery and spinning, sewing and knitting, until she arrives to the age of eigh- teen years, if she should live till that period, and that the said Joseph Robinson on his part doth covenent and agree to and with the said Joshua Yeomans, father to said Mary A. Yeomans, to instruct said Mary A. Yeomans in the art and trade aforesaid by the best means in his and his wife's power, and teach her to read and write an intelligible hand and to feed said girl with good wholesome food and comfortably clothe her and the said Mary A. Yeomans shall faithfully serve the said Jos- eph Robinson and obey him and his wife in all things that is lawful, and when she has served her time out, the said Joseph Robinsou shall
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give her two suits of good common clothes for every day and a good handsome suit and bonnet for Holy days, also a good pair of common shoes, and a good pair of meeting shoes and let her go free. It is fur- ther understood by said parties that if said girl does not stay with the said Robinson, or is hindered by her mother so that the said Robinson cannot be benefited by said girl, then this Indenture to be void and of no effect:
In witness whereof we have here unto set our hands and affixed our seals the 26th day of April, 1830.
EMANCIPATION.
Before the Revolution and even for some years after, slaves were owned by various families in Stonington, and many of them were freed by their desire and that of their masters. On the Records are found the legal proceedings which was necessary. The first names of the blacks were given but the last was usually that of the family to which they belonged, for instance, Zilph, freed by Hannah Avery, Flora freed by Amos York, Primus Noyes, freed or emancipated by Peleg Noyes and Rena, emancipated by Paul Wheeler, in this manner runs the legal doc- ument :
"Whereas Paul Wheeler of Stonington, County of New London, hath this day made application to us the Subscribers, Justices of the Peace, for said New London County and the selectmen of said town of Ston- ington, for the time being, for liberty to emancipate his negro wench, named Rena, and the said authority and selectmen having examined said Master and Servant, and find it to be the desire of the master to emancipate, and likewise the desire of said wench to be emancipated, and on examination, finding the wench to be about 34 years of age, well and healthy and capable of getting her own living, therefore give said Paul Wheeler liberty to emancipate, and he is hereby authorized to emancipate and make free the said Rena.
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