USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Washington > The church on the green; the first two centuries of the First Congregational church at Washington, Connecticut, 1741-1941 > Part 4
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It was the custom in those days to have church services both on Sunday morning and in the afternoon. Many people lived at a distance and it was not possible to go home between sessions. The meeting-house was not heated and many people must have suffered from cold. Gideon Hollister conceived the idea of building a small house not far from the church where his family and friends were able to eat their lunches in comfort and keep warm. The question was put to the society and its approval was secured. The idea became popular and others were also given the privilege of building such Sabba- Day houses. The foundation of one of these houses was un- earthed about sixty years ago near the Brownley stables. With the building of homes near the Green, there was no further necessity for the Sabba-Day houses.
In the minds of the people, Sunday was perhaps the most important day of the week. Early in the morning boys ar- rived at the Sabba-Day houses to build fires. The families
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came later and were summoned to worship by the sound of a conch shell, blown by the sexton. The church was intensely cold and therefore the women carried huge muffs. Both men and women warmed their feet on heated stones in bags. Some- times there were dogs crouching in the pews but this was later forbidden.
Conditions of life were such that the church service neces- sarily had an air of informality. Clothing was simple and varied. Perhaps a farmer would enter eating an apple, whistle to his dog, and settle down for a nap. It is said that one of the Judea parishioners used to travel to church bare- foot, until his wife "made a fuss about it" and provided him with socks for the Sabbath day. On the next Sunday morn- ing the old man tarried at the door of the church to don the troublesome foot-wear, then followed his wife noisily to their pew.
The seating arrangement in the church required consider- able thought and planning. As early as 1761 there were ushers who seated the members in accordance with specific instructions. The married folk were separated from those who were unmarried. One resolution was as follows : "Voted that the Meeting-House be seated by age, and that James Logan, Samuel Baker and Jabez Warner be added to the present seaters, to collect the ages and determine the seats of inhabitants of the Society." The committee chosen to seat young married folks and newcomers consisted of David Royce, Ebenezer Pitcher, Joseph Calhoun, Robert Durkee and William Hopson.
In those early days the seats were square, like small box stalls. It is said that all seats were furnished with sawdust and there might be a strip of carpet here and there for women worshipers. We have heard that there was sometimes
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a little box at the bottom for the benefit of those who de- sired to expectorate during the service. There were not many negroes in the community but for those few who de- sired to attend church there was a special seat reserved. It is also said that during the early days there was a front pew reserved for bride and groom. Newly-wedded couples would be found there on their first Sunday at church.
A familiar phrase in use at that time was "dignifying the seats and pews." The people voted to dignify the seats and pews in the gallery, appointing Thomas Dutton, Samuel Dutton and Gideon Hollister for that purpose. Presumably they carried long rods and used them if necessary in order that every one might keep awake and attentive.
The music of the church for many years was under the direction of Esq. Increase Moseley who was empowered to "tune ye Psalms." Since no place had been assigned to a choir, it was voted "to give so much of the gallery to the singers as the singers think necessary for them to take in order for them to perform properly that part of the wor- ship."
From time to time there were improvements made in the church building. On such occasions the money was secured by taxing the people in order that the work might be done. The floors were laid and a railing provided for the gallery. Also arrangements were made "for decent steps to ye doors of said house." Money left over was to be used for a pall for coffins at burial services.
Mr. Brinsmade was a man of strong convictions and great strength of character. He preached Christian truth as he believed it. It was a day when the average church member also held decided views of a theological nature. It is not sur- prising, therefore, that Mr. Brinsmade had his differences
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GORDON HAYES MINISTER 1829-1851
SAMUEL W. POND
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with his people. Mr. Porter, who succeeded him in the pul- pit, writes as follows : "The want of union so common to new societies, and Mr. Brinsmade's conscientious and inflexible attachment to the doctrines of pure Christianity, occasioned him some difficulties early in his ministry." These difficulties must have continued through the years until, at the outbreak of the Revolution, we are told they reached a climax, when most of the congregation became dissatisfied with their min- ister. It is said, however, that "no heresy or scandal was alleged against him." Little is known of the true causes of these intermittent disagreements. No doubt the "Half-Way Covenant System" was one factor. This system was abol- ished in Judea a few years after Mr. Brinsmade's ordination.
The following incident throws some light on the periodic misunderstandings between pastor and people. At a church meeting on March 1st, 1753, a letter was presented to the church by Abraham Hurd, asking that he be allowed to resign from the church. On April 11th, the church replied that the members did not understand his reasons and re- quested him to appear before the church at a convenient time and explain them. A committee of two members was sent to him to discuss the matter and he expressed his willingness to come at any time. Nothing came of it for several months and then, on December 10th, he was cited to appear on the 19th of December and explain himself.
In his letter there were three criticisms of Mr. Brinsmade. "First, that Mr. Brinsmade says ye person before he comes to Christ has ye heart of stone taken away and ye heart of flesh given. Second, that Mr. Brinsmade says that there is no spiritual meaning to scripture. Third, that Mr. Brins- made denies a particular faith."
On December 19th, 1753, a church meeting was held at
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the house of Mr. Brinsmade. Mr. Bellamy of Bethlehem was present and was asked to act as moderator. Abraham Hurd appeared and explained the points raised in his paper. After the issue had been fully considered, the following resolutions were proposed and passed: "1. Does it appear that our brother Hurd has given up all ye objections alleged in his paper against Mr. Brinsmade's doctrines? Voted in ye af- firmative unanimously. 2. Does it appear that his objections respecting negative power in ye minister and ye want of a Church Covenant are wholly groundless ? Voted in ye affirm- ative. 3. Does it appear that he has any just reasons accord- ing to ye Gospel to desire a dismission from his church? Voted in ye negative unanimously. 4. Whereas Abraham Hurd is very desirous of a dismission from this church and it being a case very unusual, the church agree to defer ye matter to ye next Association of this County for their advice as to what is proper in the matter in such a case."
One of the most interesting of the papers that have come down through the years deals in detail with the controversy which broke out on April 26th, 1779. The following resolu- tions were drawn up at that time : "The Society of Judea be- ing many of them dissatisfied with their pastor, Rev. Daniel Brinsmade, had a general conference in which they appointed a committee to lay their grievances before him, which are the following: 1. They think he does not visit the people of his charge as a minister ought to do. 2. They think his time too much taken up with secular affairs to the neglect of his du- ties. 3. His insisting on a fulfillment of the covenant entered into between the society and their pastor with regard to his salary established on wheat, notwithstanding the great scarcity of it at this time. 4. They think it does not appear that he bears his equal proportion towards defraying the
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charges of the present war. 5. His retaining the whole of his interest in his own hands, notwithstanding his sons are of age. 6. Many think he requires a greater price for articles that he sells than is the common price in the society. 7. His preaching so much on political subjects which seems to indi- cate a great degree of worldly-mindedness. The above griev- ances the society in general think are great obstacles in the way of his being of much service to them and unless he can make them appear groundless, they think they have just reason for their dissatisfaction."
That Mr. Brinsmade had a mind of his own is evident from his following reply to the above resolutions : "I know of not one man in the society who will say that these articles are well grounded. So far as any of the church or society will appear to prove the fact alleged in the articles of grievance, I stand ready to join with them in calling a council to hear and determine by the Laws of Christ Jesus the whole affair, and if it shall appear that I have done amiss, I will confess and reform and the same shall be expected of you."
It is clear that Mr. Brinsmade had his supporters and one document, signed by several members, urged the society to redeem their pledge to their pastor. Among the points they raised were the following: "1. By the laws of God, we are bound to fulfill the covenant, Rom. 13 : 7. 2. If we revoke the covenant it will prove that we have acted hypocritically. 3. Because we are bound by the laws of this state to fulfill the contract. 4. Because by carrying on a controversy with our minister we shall spend more time and money than would pay his salary and after all we cannot avoid paying the whole of it anyway. 5. Because if we go on in this way no other minister can safely trust us or in prudence settle among us. 6. Because if we disqualify ourselves to settle a minister, we
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shall escape to be an orderly society and to avail a charac- ter that shall effect our ruin. 7. Because our present minister offers us what we may settle another minister."
Another member also wrote the society's committee on behalf of Mr. Brinsmade urging that the pastor be given his full salary. "A neglect from year to year to pay our minister is to his injury and to our dishonor. Let us without delay do justice to our minister that dishonor may not be fixed on the character of the inhabitants of this society."
These salary difficulties were evidently due to the fact that by 1770, Mr. Brinsmade's salary had dropped from seventy- five pounds to sixty pounds. Instead of firewood being a free- will offering, "it was voted that eight pounds be granted for to engage him to get his own firewood." Apparently at one time there was a thought of not paying him any salary at all. At one time when disagreement was acute, it was ar- ranged that if he would resign at the end of the year, a certain sum would be paid him. The money was paid but the minister refused to resign on the ground that the society still owed him a considerable sum.
The story is told that in a certain year of great difficulty, after very strenuous efforts, Mr. Brinsmade succeeded in col- lecting the whole of his salary. He had had to speak of the matter from the pulpit more than once. Having secured the salary, Mr. Brinsmade voluntarily returned a portion of it, saying that it was the keeping of pledged agreements and not the money itself that he had been working for.
The disagreements finally ended in a council, called in 1784, which settled all matters amicably. Rev. Noah Merwin of Torrington was invited to come and work with Mr. Brins- made as his colleague. Mr. Merwin was clearly a man of attractive personality and the two men became close friends,
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working together in complete harmony. Mr. Merwin was greatly loved by the people and in later years his family became closely connected by marriage with that of his suc- cessor, Mr. Porter. Mr. Merwin passed away in 1795, two years after the death of Mr. Brinsmade.
The Priest, for so Mr. Brinsmade was often called, built the house on Bell Hill which was northwest of Miss May Canfield's house and which was pulled down about 1890. It contained much fine woodwork and must have been a very attractive home in its youth. In addition to the house, Mr. Brinsmade owned considerable agricultural land in the town which he and his family farmed.
It was in connection with the various misunderstandings between the pastors and people of local churches that the Litchfield Consociation of Churches was organized. When the members of a local church desired advice, other churches were invited to send delegates for a joint meeting. Mr. Brins- made, Dr. Bellamy and others had rigorous theological views. By uniting the churches into a fellowship, it was a simpler matter to hold to the truth and avoid error.
Mr. Brinsmade's practical turn of mind is revealed in the terms of his will. He made definite suggestions about his wife's future. His two sons were commissioned "to pay to their mother, my beloved wife, ten pounds lawful money, each of them ten pounds, annually ; 440 weight of pork, one hundred weight of beef, 46 pounds of dried tallow, fifty of butter, and 200 of cheese, and firewood cut out and brought in, a good maid to live with her and do for her constantly. And it is my will that my two sons shall equally be at ye charge of keeping their mother's creatures winter and sum- mer." As Miss Mary Brinsmade remarks in her excellent account of the Brinsmade family, "we have every reason to
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believe that Daniel Nathaniel and Daniel Sherman carried out their father's behests and cared for their mother as long as she lived."
Whatever may be thought of the various issues that arose between Mr. Brinsmade and his church members, he must have had unusual qualities to have ministered to the church for forty-four years. It is the longest pastorate in the history of the church. He fought for what he believed in and did not hesitate to attack the views of those with whom he disagreed. It is said that he was a staunch Federalist. The story is that when Jefferson was being spoken of for President, Mr. Brins- made said that if Jefferson should be elected, a bonfire of all the Bibles in Judea would be kindled on the Green, and he would be deprived of his ministerial office.
During his long pastorate, Daniel Brinsmade saw many changes take place in the little parish of Judea. Many set- tlers arrived and new roads were built. Schools were opened and industries were started. Judea became a flourishing community.
CHAPTER FIVE
The War of Independence
I T WAS during the pastorate of Daniel Brinsmade that an Episcopal church was built in a northern part of the town called Davies Hollow and now called Romford. The name Davies Hollow was taken from the family which first settled in that area in 1735. John Davies and his family attended the meetings of the Episcopal Society in Litchfield, ten miles distant. It was through his efforts that St. Michael's Church in Litchfield was organized. At the age of 83, John Davies decided to build a church upon his own land because of the distance to Litchfield. He built a church upon the west side of the present small cemetery plot. He lived for three years to enjoy the worship in his own home church. The deed of gift of the church to the people of the Church of England in the town of Washington was made by his son, John Davies, January 22, 1794, in fulfillment of a promise made to his father.
His grandson, Thomas Davies, was educated at Yale and became a missionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. He began his duties in Litchfield County at the age of twenty-five and for five years lived an active life,
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traveling on horseback from town to town, preaching the gospel, consoling the sick, baptizing, marrying and adminis- tering the rites of burial. His arduous life resulted in an early illness and he passed away at the age of thirty, being buried in the New Milford cemetery.
Like other New England communities the Judea settle- ment played its part in the War of Independence. Mrs. A. L. Wanzer has written an excellent account of the contribution made by this town to the establishment and the defense of the nation. The services of Washington during the first half of the Revolution are included in those of Woodbury as Judea was a part of Woodbury until 1779. When the Boston Port Bill was passed in 1774 there was great indignation through- out the colonies. At a Woodbury town meeting on the 20th of September, a committee was appointed to receive gifts and forward them to Boston. Increase Moseley and Jona- than Farrand of Judea were members of the committee.
The thirteenth regiment of Connecticut militia was organ- ized at the outbreak of the war and was commanded by Colonel Hinman of Woodbury. Eight of the twelve compa- nies were composed of men from Woodbury, the seventh be- ing called the Judea Company and the tenth the New Preston Company. A good many Woodbury men took part in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, under the leadership of Ethan Allen. Eighty Woodbury men remained at Ticonderoga and Crown Point as a part of the garrison. It is said that at the battle of White Plains over 150 Woodbury men were killed or wounded.
In 1776 Colonel Hinman joined the Continental Army and Lieutenant Moseley became colonel of the Thirteenth Connecticut militia, remaining in that position for three years. In that same year a census of the town was taken,
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revealing that there were 5,325 persons in Woodbury. Those on the military rolls numbered 564. The number of able- bodied men between the ages of 16 and 45 not on the rolls was 318. There were also 248 men from the town in the Continental Army.
Time and again the Thirteenth Regiment was called upon for active service. Woodbury men were at the Battle of Bennington on August 16, 1776. On April 26, 1777, Woodbury men took part in the defense of Danbury, in which battle General Wooster was killed. During that sum- mer many soldiers were allowed to return home to work in the fields. But in the fall, when there was another draft of the militia, 300 men went from Woodbury. In 1778, 104 Wood- bury men were sent to the Continental Army to fill up gaps. In 1779, all the militia under Colonel Moseley were called to the defense of Norwalk. By 1780 the supply of men was not adequate and it became necessary to offer large bounties for recruits. Woodbury voted that each man who enlisted in the Continental Army should receive a bounty of 45 pounds in addition to the state bounty, provided he stay in the service three years. To meet the cost of these bounties a tax of four pence per pound was laid. Altogether it is thought that Woodbury furnished about 1500 soldiers for the Continental armies. The last call for soldiers was in 1782 and some of those who responded at that time were present at the surrender at Yorktown.
In addition to soldiers, the people of Woodbury supplied clothing and food in large quantities. Thus the women did their part as well as the men. After the people of Judea were incorporated in the town of Washington in 1779, they made their own decisions independent of Woodbury. For example, at a meeting in February, 1779, Enos Mitchell and Captain
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Hicok were appointed to supervise the raising and expendi- ture of money on behalf of soldiers and their families. On June 27th, 1780, the town voted to hire soldiers for a three- year enlistment, offering grain as a premium. It was also "voted that the treasurer of the town be authorized to give notes on interest, after they become due, to each soldier as aforesaid, he producing his certificate of his enlistment. Voted that the selectmen hire money for the town for the satisfaction of the premiums as aforesaid." Another vote Dec. 11th, 1780, was to the effect that "if any man in this town procure an able-bodied man to enlist into one of the Connecticut regiments for three years during the war, that he shall be exempt from any cost that shall arise in procur- ing soldiers, according to a late requisition of the General Assembly." A further vote, April 9th, 1781, was to "raise a tax of four pence in state money on the pound on the list of 1780, to be paid by the first day of May next to provide clothing for the army."
The most exciting event of the Revolutionary War for the Judea community was Washington's journey through Litchfield County to meet and confer with the French at Hartford. This meeting with Admiral Count de Fernay and General Rochambeau was to arrange a treaty between France and the colonies. Washington set forth from his headquarters in the Dutch settlement of Tappan on Sept. 18th, 1780. He was accompanied by his secretary, Alexander Hamilton, and five other aides, including Marquis de Lafayette. Twenty-two dragoons went with him as a bodyguard. It is probable that the party made forty miles a day over rough roads. It was his custom to dispatch a courier in advance of his departure each morning that all might be prepared for his arrival at the stopping points
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along the road. The first part of the journey was up the river to King's Ferry where the river was crossed, he and his aides crossing in the barge of Benedict Arnold. General Washing- ton and Arnold discussed plans for the campaign at that meeting, after which Arnold began immediately to plot the betrayal of West Point. Washington's party proceeded via South Kent, over New Preston Hill to Litchfield where he arrived on the 20th, reaching Hartford the next morning.
In all, Washington made three trips through this region. A second trip was in March, 1781, on his way to Hartford and Newport. A third trip was in May, 1781, at which time he took breakfast at the house of Squire Cogswell the morn- ing of the 25th. This incident was recorded in Washington's diary. In 1746 Edward Cogswell had settled in New Preston, and his youngest child, William, kept a tavern during the Revolutionary period. Major William Cogswell was a prom- inent leader in the community. The tradition handed down is that when Washington had breakfast at the tavern, he was in a jovial mood and, taking the Major's small daughter upon his knee, he sang to her the famous Darby Ram song. The tavern is now the lovely colonial home of Judge Walter M. Pickett and is one of the historic landmarks in Wash- ington.
The decision to incorporate the town of Washington was reached by the General Assembly after a petition had been received from 47 persons in Kent, 126 in Woodbury, 20 in Litchfield and 20 in New Milford. Thus the two church soci- eties of Judea and New Preston were incorporated into a town on January 7, 1779. The new town was named Wash- ington in honor of the Commander-in-chief. It was the first town to be incorporated after the Declaration of Inde- pendence.
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The first town meeting was held on February 11th. Enos Mitchell, Nathan Hickox, William Cogswell, Joseph Guth- rie and Thomas Parmelee were elected selectmen. Daniel Brinsmade became registrar and Jonathan Farrand the treasurer. David Calhoun and Michael Bryan were elected fence viewers. Matthew Logan, Brinsmade Gibson and Wil- liam Guthrie were appointed a committee to provide for soldiers' families. Ebenezer Clark, Jr., Perry Averill, O. Titus, David Whittlesey and Amasa Porter were appointed a committee to provide clothing for the soldiers. At a town meeting on April 12th, 1779, 120 took the oath of allegiance to the United States. There were 49 soldiers in the Revolu- tion known to have gone from Washington. David Judson was captain of the Judea Company and William Cogswell of the New Preston Company. Ephraim Kirby enlisted at the age of 19 and remained in service throughout the war, tak- ing part in 19 battles and receiving thirteen wounds.
At the close of the war, Ephraim Kirby studied law in Litchfield and soon made his mark as a lawyer. In 1789 he published the first volume of legal decisions ever to be pub- lished in this country. It contained the decisions of the courts of his state. He also held high positions in the Masonic Fra- ternity. General Kirby Smith, commanding the last Confed- erate army to be surrendered, was his grandson. Mr. Kirby was appointed by President Jefferson to be a judge of the newly organized territory of Orleans and died while proceed- ing there, on Oct. 2, 1804.
There was great tension in this area during the war years as in other parts of the colonies. There was extreme bitter- ness between the patriots and the Tories. This tension is well illustrated by the history of the "Red House" on the Wash- ington Green, built in 1772 by Abel Mott. During the war
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