USA > Connecticut > Tolland County > Tolland > The early history of Tolland. An address delivered before the Tolland county historical society, at Tolland Conn., on the 22d day of August and the 27th day of September, 1861 > Part 10
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Col. Smith commenced keeping a public house in Tolland soon after his first marriage, at the place now occupied by Ansel S. Barber, and continued in that business until his death,-a period of about fifty years. To say that his house
105
THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND.
was excellent-that he was a model landlord, and his good lady a princess among landladies-would not be telling the whole story, and would give but a faint impression of the comforts afforded by his mansion. His house was indeed the traveler's home, where a guest had every wish gratified with- out feeling that some extra effort had been put forth for his special benefit. The Colonel was always cheerful and familiar, without losing any of that dignity so essential to command the respect of others ; and without seeming to exercise au- thority, he always kept his bar-room in such order that one would as soon think he was sitting in a gentleman's parlor as in a place of public resort. The whole establishment was managed upon the plan of having a place for every thing, and every thing in its place ; and this general plan had few inno- vations. At this tavern, Gen. Lafayette, in his tour in this country in 1824, halted and had an interview with some of his comrades in the revolutionary war.
As a citizen, Col. Smith possessed many of those qualities that adorn human nature, and which make a man's society desirable and his life useful. He was once a member of the General Assembly, and as Colonel of the twenty-second regi- ment was a popular military officer. He was an affectionate husband, an indulgent parent, a kind and accommodating neighbor, and a sincere and constant friend. He was forward in all attempts to build up the interests of the town, active in works of benevolence and charity, and ever ready to relieve the poor and distressed. He took a deep interest in the wel- fare of young men, often aided them by his counsels, and encouraged them to hope for better prospects when angry storm-clouds seemed ready to dash upon them. The writer has too often experienced his kindness to let his name fade from his recollection so long as his own memory performs its office. Col. Smith departed this life May 24, 1847, aged eighty.
Hon. CALVIN WILLEY was postmaster from 1812 to 1820, when he resigned, and Luther Eaton was appointed in his place. Mr. Willey kept the post-office a part of the time in his own house, being the one now owned by James S. Kent,
14
106
THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND.
and a part of the time he had Joseph Howard as assistant, who kept the office at his own residence in the south part of the square roof house near the north end of the village street, now owned by Doct. Jeduthan C. Eaton.
Mr. Willey was born in East Haddam, Conn., September 11, 1776. His early advantages for education were very indifferent, being nothing more than the benefits of the com- mon schools as they then existed. He commenced reading law in the office of the late Hon. John Thompson Peters, afterwards one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Errors, in June, 1795. Mr. Peters was then a resident of Hebron, in Tolland County. Mr. Willey was admitted to the bar in Tolland county, in February, 1798, and first opened an office in Chat- ham, in the county of Middlesex, but in 1800 he removed to Stafford, in Tolland county, where he resided until the year 1808. While in Stafford he was twice chosen a representa- tive to the General Assembly, and was postmaster in that town from 1806 to 1808, when he removed to Tolland. He was Judge of Probate for the district of Stafford, then includ- ing the town of Tolland, from 1818 to 1825-seven years ; was six times elected a representative to the General Assem- bly from Tolland, and twice to the State Senate, upon a gen- eral ticket, before the State was districted for the choice of Senators. He was a candidate for the office of Representative in Congress in the year 1821, but was defeated by his own party because he had, in 1820, suffered his name to remain on a union ticket for State Senators, consisting of an equal num- ber of federalists and democrats. Mr. Willey was identified with the democratic party. In 1824 his friends brought him forward for the United States Senate, when the same objection was urged against him. There had always been some rivalry and a little ill feeling between Mr. Willey and some of the prominent politicians in the south part of the county ; and hence the strong opposition to Mr. Willey whenever he was a candidate for an office that called for their suffrages. He was defeated as representative to Congress by Hon. Daniel Bur- rows, a resident of Hebron. In the canvass for the United States Senate in 1824, the citizens in the south part of this
107
THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND.
county, brought forward as his competitor, the late Governor, John S. Peters, of Hebron. During the session of 1824, Mr. Willey was three times elected by the House of Representa- tives to the office of United States Senator, by very consider- able majorities ; and John S. Peters was as many times elected to the same office by the Senate. As the two Houses did not con- cur, the Assembly adjourned without making a choice. The friends of Mr. Willey were very active in the Spring of 1825 in securing a return of members of the legislature favorable to his election to the senatorship, and succeeded in electing a decided majority in the House of Representatives, which early in the session elected Mr. Willey to that office ; but the Sen- ate, as if to try the temper of the House, re-elected on their part Hon. James Lanman, whose term in the U. S. Senate had then expired, and whose place this election was to fill. But the House immediately returned the name of Mr. Willey to the Senate, who upon reconsideration concurred with the House, and Mr. Willey was thus elected Senator of the United States for six years. In this canvass, which had become very animated, Mr. Willey received the support of the remnant of the federal party, which then existed in some strength. They were conscious that much of the opposition to him arose from his conservative course in the election of 1820, and the gen- tlemen who sympathized with him then, manifested their gratitude by sustaining him for the office of U. S. Senator in 1825. Mr. Willey entered upon and discharged the duties of that appointment, and retired from public life at the close of his term in 1831, and at the age of fifty-five years.
He returned to his profession in 1831, but his absence for so long a time, and the changes in the course of business, had turned the current into other channels, and he was never able to regain the professional standing he enjoyed previous to his election to Congress.
Mr. Willey was a man of more than ordinary intellect, and his attainments as a lawyer were very fair. At one time he stood at the head of the bar in Tolland county. He was de- votedly attached to his profession, entertained strong views of the ennobling and elevating effect its practice has upon
108
THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND.
the mind of the honest practitioner, and maintained that in its benefits to community it stood second to no other. He was very successful before a jury ; he always entered into the cause of his client with his whole heart,-indeed, he often became so identified with his client as to make success a matter of personal feeling ; and he sometimes lost sight of the true interests of his client in his zeal to defend the claims he set up. At the close of his life, the bar of Tolland county noticed his memory by appropiate resolutions, which by or- der of the Superior Court were placed upon the Court rec- ords.
Mr. Willey was twice married. His first wife was Sally Brainard, of Chatham. They were married October 22, 1798. Their children were as follows:
Sidney Brainard, born March 14, 1807.
James Marshall,
66 December 27, 1811.
John Calvin, 66 June 28, 1814.
Sarah Jane,
June 29, 1816.
Elizabeth Mary,
December 24, 1817.
Asa,
September 7. 1819.
George Parsons, 66 July 27, 1821.
Sally Willey, the wife of Hon. Calvin Willey, died Febru- ary 25, 1827, aged 44. He married Nabby Brainard, sister of his first wife, April 25, 1827. The following are their children :
Harriet Maria, born April 28, 1828.
Mary Ann, 66 January 19, 1830.
Lucretia Green; 66 February 4, 1832.
Eliza Hall, 66 May 14, 1833.
Letitia N. 66 February 24, 1835.
Mr. Willey continued to reside in Tolland until the spring of 1854, when he removed to Stafford, where he remained until his decease, August 23, 1858, at the age of eighty-two years.
LUTHER EATON was postmaster from 1820 to 1845, when, upon his resignation, JOSEPH BISHOP was appointed to the office. In the spring of 1850, Mr. Bishop was removed, solely for political causes, and HENRY UNDERWOOD was ap- pointed in his place. Mr. Underwood removed from the town in the spring of 1853, and resigned the office, which in June, 1853, was filled by the appointment of OBADIAH P. WALDO, who held the office until July, 1861, when he was removed, for political causes, and WILLIAM KEITH appointed as his successor.
109
THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND.
Thus in sixty-six years there have been but seven post- masters in Tolland, three of whom have been removed from office on account of politics, the others having been permit- ted to hold the office until it was their pleasure to resign,- one of whom, Luther Eaton, Esq., held the office twenty-five years.
TOWN-CLERKS.
We have seen that a petition was presented to the General Assembly in May, 1716, praying for " the privilege to choose a town-clerk and other town officers," which was negatived. Whether any other petition was ever presented for this object does not appear ; but in the year 1717 the town was permit- ted to choose town officers, and in December of that year commenced the exercise of that privilege. The following are the names of the persons who have been town-clerks of the town of Tolland, with the dates of the commencement and termination of their terms of office.
Joseph Benton, elected Dec., 1717, held the office three years.
Shubael Stearns, 66
1720,
two 66
John Huntington,
1722,
one
66
Shubael Stearns, re-elected, 1723,
66
one
Jonathan Delano, elected,
1724, 66
twelve 66
Zebulon West,
66
1736,
60
thirty-four " six 66
Nathaniel West,
66
1770,
Eleazar Steel, 66
1776,
nine 66
Benoni Shepard, 66
1785,
66
eighteen 66
Ephraim Grant, 66
1803,
66
four 66
Samuel Ladd,
66
1807,
66
one
66
Daniel Kellogg, 66
1808,
two
66
Samuel Ladd, re-elected
1810,
five 66
Eliakim H. Williams, elected 1815,
66
one
66
Joseph Howard,
1820,
sixteen 66
Oliver K. Isham,
66
1836,
ten
66
Samuel Kent,
1846,
two
Luther Eaton, elected
1816,
66
four
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THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND.
William W. Brace, elected 1848, held to April 5, 1852, when Joseph Bishop was appointed by the selectmen upon the resignation of Mr. Brace, and held the office until the an- nual meeting in 1852.
Gurdon Isham, elected 1852, held the office two years.
Oliver K. Isham, re-elected 1854, 66 two
Gurdon Isham, 66 1856, and held the office until
his death, when Joseph Bishop was appointed by the select- men for the balance of the year.
Joseph Bishop, elected 1857, held the office three years. Joseph A. Dresser,. 1860.
I have already spoken of Joseph Benton, and have given such genealogical facts of the Benton family as I had been able to obtain.
SHUBAEL STEARNS, the second town-clerk of Tolland, was one of a family that had much to do in the early settlement of the town. He was one of the grantees in the deed from the committee or trustees, and was also one of the signers of the petition dated May 14, 1716, and May, 1718. He had land allotted to him in June and July, 1720. He was born in Lynn, Mass., August 9, 1683, and married Rebecca Sanford, at Saco, on the 28th day of December, 1704. The following are their children :
Shubael, born January 28, 1705.
Rebecca, 66 November 19, 1707.
Peter, 66 August 2, 1710.
Isaac, 66 March 22, 1713.
The record made by Mr. Stearns himself, shows that the children above-named were born before his removal to Tol- land. The following were born after his removal into this town :
Elizabeth, born August 30, 1715.
Hannah, 66 March 6, 1718.
Sarah,
February 29, 1720.
Ebenezer, 66 April 23, 1722.
Mary, 66 April 27, 1724.
Martha,
August 18, 1726.
Shubael Stearns was two years a selectman of Tolland.
Shubael Stearns, Jun., the oldest son of Shubael Stearns, Sen., was ten years old when his father removed to Tolland, in 1715. He married Sarah Johnson, of Lexington, March 6, 1726. He remained in Tolland until the year 1754, when he removed from New England.
111
THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND.
Between the years 1740 and 1745, the people of New Eng- land were electrified by the eloquence of the celebrated Whitefield, whose preaching was mainly instrumental in for- warding the great revival of religion that then spread through the land. The followers of Mr. Whitefield were called Neu- lights, and were not very favorably regarded by the more staid religious community. Their success, however, was so great, that many of the clergy who were then supposed to have permanent livings, were opposed to the revival, fearing that they might be deserted by their hearers, and be com- pelled to preach to empty seats. Many of them carried their opposition so far as to refuse the revival preachers the use of their pulpits, and actually procured the enactment of a law that under certain limitations confined all preachers to their own parishes,-an opposition as useless as unwise, and only encouraged the very thing it was intended to prevent. The minds of the people, having become excited by the fervor of the new teachings, could not relish the dry, formal services of the settled clergy, which they supposed were conducted by a set of graceless mercenaries, without any of that unction which characterized the performances of the New-lights. The town of Tolland shared the advantages, or disadvantages, of these movements ; but the innovators were treated with more favor by the then settled minister, Rev. Stephen Steel, than their associates received from the clergy generally ; and the wisdom of the course pursued by Mr. Steel, growing out of his forbearance, catholicity, and kindness, is evidenced by the fact, that in a very few years this sect entirely disappeared from the town, and left him in charge of a respectable con- gregation without any open dissension.
Among the persons in Tolland who adopted the New-light ideas, no one became so much distinguished as Slubael Stearns, Jr., above named. He united with them about the year 1745, became a preacher, and continued with them about five or six years. In the year 1750 or 1751, he became acquainted with the Baptist denomination ; renounced the tenet of infant baptism, and was himself rebaptized by Rev. Wait Palmer, in Tolland, in the year 1751. On the 20th day of May, in the same year,
112
THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND.
he was ordained to the work of the ministry by Mr. Palmer and Rev Joshua Morse. Several persons in Tolland attached themselves to Rev. Mr. Stearns, among whom were one or two by the name of Paulk. Mr. Stearns and his companions left Tolland in the year 1754, and fixed their residence elsewhere. It does not appear that he started with any particular place in view, upon which to settle. His biographer, from this point, remarks respecting him, that he "resolved to follow the guidance of the spirit, as it should be manifested to him from time to time. The first place at which he made any stay was in Virginia, on Opeckan creek, where there was a Baptist church under the care of the Rev. S. Heton, and where he met with Mr. Daniel Marshall, his brother-in-law, just returned from his mission to the Indian country. Mr. Stearns pitched at a place called Cacapon, not far above Winchester. Remain- ing there but a short time, and not finding that ministerial success which his impressions had lead him to hope for ; he and his company, now joined by Mr. Marshall and his com- pany, removed to North Carolina, and settled at a place called Sandy Creek, and immediately formed a church. He con- tinued to labor with great assiduity, aided by Marshall and Breed. So great was their success, that in a little time this little band swelled to more than six hundred. Mr. Stearns' impressions, respecting a great work in the West, seemed now to be verifying ; and considering subsequent events, he must be an infidel who doubts the origin of these impressions.
" He was a preacher of some doctrinal talents, but he was more remarkable for his zealous animating manner. He brought from New England the same tones, gestures, &c., which had distinguished the new lights of that country. He was of small stature, had a very expressive and penetrating eye and a voice singularly hamonious. His enemies, it was said, would sometimes be captivated by his musical voice. Many things are related of the enchanting sound of his voice; and the glance of his eyes which had a meaning in every move. Mr. Stearns continued to discharge his duties as a pastor of Sandy Creek church until a short time before his death, which took place on the 20th day of November, 1771.
113
THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND.
He lived and died faithful to the important truths confided to him. Mr. Stearns was an orator of the right sort, and the effects of his public speaking upon his hearers proved it better than if a thousand finished orations had been published from his lips."
It is not known whether any of the family of Shubael Stearns, Sen., remained in Tolland after the year 1754; it is certain, however, that several of them left at that time with Shubael Stearns, Jr., and settled in North Carolina, where their pos- terity is now very numerous; and where, as has been like- wise ascertained, within a few years, the Rev. Mr. Stearns left a very desirable reputation as a pulpit orator.
JOHN STEARNS was a brother of Shubael Stearns, Sen. This fact is verified as well by tradition as by the copy of a deed from Shubael to John, dated Jan. 16, 1720, on the town records, which deed is expressed to be for the consideration of five pounds in money, or its equivalent, in hand, paid by my brother, John Stearns, of Tolland, &c. This deed shows that John Stearns was a resident of Tolland before 1720. He married Elizabeth Barnes, of Tolland, Dec. 2, 1723. The following is their record :
Eleanor, born February 13, 1725, died October 2, 1737.
David,
December 14, 1725, died February 2, 1725-6.
Elizabeth, 66 May 26, 1728.
Ruth, 66 July 19, 1730.
Lydia,
July 25, 1732.
John,
January 11, 1736.
Elizabeth, wife of John Stearns, died April 19, 1737. He married Abigail Diggins, of Windsor, April 19, 1739, she died February 13, 1752; he then married Eunice Miller, July 29, 1754. Their children were :
Daniel, born January 24, 1756, died April 8, 1756.
Eleanor,
August 11, 1757.
Charles,
October 19, 1758.
Mary,
February 3, 1760, died August 15, 1787.
Sarah,
November 6, 1761.
JOHN STEARNS, the son of John and Elizabeth Stearns, was the Doct. Stearns who married a Miss Wills of Tolland, and was the father of Judge Elisha Stearns, of whom I spoke in my lecture on the History of Tolland County. It is only necessary for me to state here that the Stearns family is rep resented in Tolland by Mrs. Charles R. Hicks and her chil-
15
114
THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND.
dren ; also in Bristol, in this State, by Mrs. Leverett Griggs and Rev. Leverett Griggs' children.
I have before said that Doct. James Stimson married Han- nah, sister of John and Shubael Stearns. This relationship is verified by a record of a deed from James Stimson to John Stearns, dated Jan., 10, 1720, in which he sells to "his brother John Stearns of said Tolland." There were of course three families, where one of the united head was a Stearns, among the first settlers of Tolland.
John Huntington, the third town-clerk, has heretofore been described.
JONATHAN DELANO, town-clerk of Tolland, came from Dart- mouth, Mass., May 8, 1722. He was a resident of Tolland July 20, 1723, as appears by a deed to him of that date from Stephen Steel. He was twelve years-town clerk, and eleven years a selectman. To judge from his records he possessed a superior English education, and probably was a very useful citizen. His children, thirteen in number, are as follows ; the first nine were born in Dartmouth, Mass .:
Sarah,
born March 18, 1705, married Samuel West, March 30, 1732.
Joan,
66 December 16, 1706, married Joseph West, May 19, 1725.
Jabez,
66 January 12, 1708.
Nathan.
66 March 1, 1711.
Amy, 66
August 11, 1713, married Christopher West, October 25, 1732.
Jonathan, 66 December 2, 1715.
Barnabas,
April 11, 1718.
Sylvanus,
May 17, 1720.
Elizabeth,
May 15, 1722.
Susanna,
16 June 23, 1724.
Thomas,
66 December 24, 1726,
Timothy,
66
November 4. 1729.
Jethro, 66
October 29, 1732.
JABEZ DELANO, above-named, married Prudence Hobart, of Windham,-had five daughters, but no sons that survived infancy.
NATHAN DELANO married Ruth -, September 3, 1731, and had three sons: Nathan, born'January 5, 1739 ; John, born December 3, 1731; Jabez, born February 10, 1734, who removed to Coventry, and afterwards to Dover, N. H.
Jonathan Delano married Ann Ladd, October 8, 1754. Their children were :
Jabez, born July 1, 1755.
Jonathan,
August 10, 1757.
Anne, 66 August 11, 1759.
Philip,
June 15, 1761.
Esther,
August 13, 1764.
Zebulon,
February 19, 1767.
Clarinda,
June 10, 1769.
115
THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND.
BARNABAS DELANO had one son, Gideon, born November 27, 1742.
Sylvanus Delano married Elizabeth Peck, a widow, daugh- ter of John Abbot, Sen. Their children were :
Sylvanus,
born April 10, 1745.
Joseph,
August 21, 1746, died.
Amos,
August 2, 1747.
Sarah,
May 28, 1749, died.
Nathaniel,
May 27, 1751.
Elizabeth,
March 12, 1755, married Solomon Eaton.
Barnabas,
May 6, 1753.
Aaron,
November /13, 1756.
Anne,
..
April 17, 1760.
Moses,
June 15, 1762.
Jonathan Delano was a descendant of Philip De la Noye or De Laynaye, a French Huguenot or Protestant, who to escape persecution in his own country, fled to the puritan brethren at Leyden, and came to Plymouth in the second ship that came to that place, viz. : the Fortune, in November, 1621. From this Philip are descended all bearing the name of Delano in the United States. The descendants of Jonathan are very numerous and respectable, though mostly by female branches. Rev. Stephen West, the celebrated theological writer, was one of them. The representatives of this family now in Tolland, are : the children of Mr Joel West; the children of Mr. Ephraim West, and their descendants ; Mr. Luther Eaton and his descendants ; Mrs. Anna Johnson and her descendants.
ZEBULON WEST was town-clerk thirty-four years. He was a son of Dea. Francis West, who before the year 1720, was a resident of Stonington. This is verified by the record of a deed from Josiah Rockwell, of Windsor, to Francis West, of Stonington, dated November 29, 1718; also of a deed from Nathaniel Grant, of Tolland, to Francis West, of Stonington, dated March 1, 1720, both conveying land in Tolland. He was a resident in this town in January, 1721, as appears by the record of a deed from Jolin Huntington to " Francis West of Tolland." These records show that he then had over seven hundred acres of land standing in his name, lying principally in the south-east corner of the town. He had several sons whose names appear on the records of the town. Their names are Samuel, Joseph, Amasa, Zebulon, Pelatialı, and Christo- pher. Joseph and Samuel were in town January 14, 1720, on which day the ear marks of their cattle were record-'
116
THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND.
ed. Samuel's mark was a half-penny on the fore side of the right ear ; and Joseph's mark was a half penny on the fore- side of the left ear.
Samuel West was one of the original grantees in the pro- prietor's deed, and had land allotted to him with the other proprietors of the town. Francis West took a deed from Nathaniel Taylor, one of the original proprietors, of two lots of land containing one hundred and forty-two acres, " with all rights of division," which entitled him to an interest in com- mon with other proprietors.
SAMUEL, son of Dea. Francis West, married Sarah, daugh- ter of Jonathan Delano, November 4, 1724. The following is their record :
Prudence, born September 5, 1726.
Sarah,
March 21, 1729.
Samuel,
March 30, 1732.
Abigail, 66 July 22, 1734, died February 12, 1750.
Abner,
May 1, 1737.
Joanna,
December 2, 1739.
Eiisha,
66
September 14, 1742.
Anna,
September 16, 1745.
Sarah, wife of Samuel West, died November, 1752. He then married Abigail, daughter of Ichabod Lathrop, Novem- ber 26, 1754. Their children were :
Ann, born September 12, 1756.
Ruth, December 21, 1759.
Samuel, son of Samuel West, married Sarah, daughter of Ichabod Lathrop, March 25, 1756. Their children were :
Sarah, born November 19, 1757.
Tryphena,
66
January 21, 1760.]
Ichabod,
June 7, 1762.
Stephen,
February 15, 1765.
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