The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 27

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Hartford, Conn., Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard company
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I > Part 27

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Where the real trouble was we may perhaps learn from the following: Job Drake, George Griswold, John Moses, and Timothy Thrall [all active members of the Second Society or Woodbridge faction] subse-

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ECCLESIASTICAL, 1063-1684.

quently presented to the governor and assistants a paper, dated July 5, 1650, containing sundry high charges, and the marshal was sent to bring them before the governor and assistants. They acknowledged the paper, and - did openly recognize the said scandalous and offensive writing, declaring themselves to be of the same mind." The court therefore bonnd them over in bonds of Elo, to appear before the court in October, " and answer for the defamation of authority in the said writing so avowed and justified as before, and contempt of anthority . . to the orderly and peaceable settlement of ministry in Windsor, according to lawful appointment." The court also did " farther enjoin and require the said persons, and all concerned with them, to carry peaceably towards their neighbors of the Church of Windsor, and not interrupt or discour- age the committee appointed by lawful authority to provide an able min- istry for the said Church of Windsor." See State Archives, Ecclesiasti- ral Papers, i. 74, 77, 78. Also, Col. Ree., iii. 72.

In May following a conneil was convened which gave the same advice as that of 1677.

In July the assembly again interfered and ordered the Second Society to suspend their meetings on the Sabbath and public days, and to unite with the First. "All actings contrary will be esteemed contempt of authority." They also advise the good people of Windsor to assist Mr. Woodbridge in the transportation of his effects to the Bay. Still the Second Church continued refractory. Meanwhile Mr. Chauncey had left Windsor, and a Mr. Stow' was preaching in his place to the First Church. Mr. Woodbridge still remained.

The assembly, finally, was obliged to issue another peremptory order, October 14, 1680 :

" This Court, having considered the petition of some of Windsor,2 and the sorrow ful condition of the good people there, and finding that, notwithstanding all means of healing afforded them, they do remain in a bleeding state and condition, do find it neces- sary for this court to exert their authority towards the issuing or putting a stop to the present troubles there; and this Court do hereby declare, that they find all the good prople of Windsor obliged to stand to, and rest satisfied with the advice and issue of the council they chose to hear and issue their matters; which advice being given and now presented to the Court, dated Jannary, 1677,3 this Court doth confirm the same, and order that there be a seasonable uniting of the Second Society in Windsor with the first, according to order of the council, by an orderly preparation for their admission; and if there be objection against the life or knowledge of any, then it be, according to the council's advice, heard and issued by Mr. Hooker and the other moderator's successor, and that both the former ministers be released. And that the committee appointed to seek out for a minister, with the advice of the church and the town collectively by their

1 Probably Mr. Samuel Stow of Middletown, who afterwards (tosh) preached at Simsbury for 4 years. Although never settled, he formed the First Church in that town.

2 State Archives, Towns and Lands, i. 77. See also same volume. Nos, 63 -68, 71 79. 3 Ibid., i. 63.

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major vole, do vigorously pursue the procuring of an alle, orthodox minister qualified according to the advice of the Governor, and Council, and ministers, May last; and all the good people of Windsor are hereby required to be aiding and assisting and not in the least to oppose therein or hinder the same, as they will answer the contrary at their peril."

Soon after a communication without date is sent to the assembly, hy the Second Society, complaining that the First Church would not receive them, and would not abide by the advice of council.'

"Our communicants, " say they, "are not entertained or objected against [if they had been objected against they could have obtained certificates of orthodoxy from Mr. Rowlandson and Mr. Hooker] neither we or our minister could enjoy communion in sacraments, nay the sacrament was professedly put by, that we might not. . Indeed we did enjoy the preaching by our minister, and maintainance by the whole [town] a little while, and then were jostled out of that too."

They furthermore profess their willingness that the First Church should call Mr. Channeey back again, or get another minister, but even if this is granted, " we are yet suffering that we had it not above two years and a half ago."

Tradition says, and it seems quite probabile, that the people of Windsor had, by this time, become so disgusted with their own wranglings, and so disatisfied with those who had preached to them, that they unwittingly found themselves united in one point, viz .: to seek a new minister. And at a town meeting held on March 11, 1680-81. " It was voted umani- mously, that Mr. Mather of Branford should be sought unto and endeav- ors speedily [made ] to secure him, if God shall succeed, in the work of the ministry, and to tender to him a salary of £100 per year."

In May following (1681), Mr. Woodbridge's connection with the Second Church was severed. That there was some difficulty in the mat- ter, and possibly some hard feeling, is evident from the fact that he com- plained to the assembly of injustice done to him by the Second Church. To this the assembly replied ( May 19, 1681) as follows :

" This court having heard Mr. Woodbridge, his petition, do find that it may be ditti- cult to come to a just issue of the case, and that it may be hazardous to the peace 10 enter particularly into the bowels of the case, as matters are circumstanced; therefore as a final issue of all matters of strife about demands by Mr. Woodbridge upon the people of Windsor for his labors there. This Court do grant unto Mr. Woodbridge the sum of 200 acres of land for a farm, provided he take it up where it may not prejudice any former grant to any particular person or plantation. And this court do recom. mend it to those of Windsor who have been engaged to Mr. Woodbridge, that now at his parting, they would consider their engagements to him, and act towards him as they are in duty bound ; and we recommend to Mr. Woodbridge as a friend to peace, that he would rest satisfied therewith.2

1 Probably the First Church still insisted on terms which the Second considered as unjustly rigorous.

2 John Word Down of Boston, thus writes to the author: " My ancestor, Rev. Ben- jamin Woodbridge, appears to have had opponents (and adherents too) wherever he

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Meanwhile the people of Windsor, with an unanimity which must have surprised themselves, were negotiating with Mr. Mather,' and a rall was extended to him, 11 March, 1680-81. - W. Records. July 27, 1681, the town voted to have the Town House (previously occupied by the Second Church ) "finished and made suitable for the entertain- ment of Mr. Samuel Mather, if God in his providence sends him amongst us." Also voted, to give him $100 upon his settlement, " and the use of the house and lands belonging to it." "

There was still some impediment in the way of the union of the two societies, viz. : some plan of union upon which both could reasonably and mutually agree. But the heartfelt desire for peace and quiet, which now possessed all minds, led them to make the following judicious and Christian resolution :

"August 25th, the Congregation being met, do jointly agree to present an invita- tion to Mr. Mather, and if it may be to obtain him, and leave the pursuanee of the union of the two societies, till such time as he is present among us; and we are unitedly agreed in this, that so far as Mr. Mather can be helpful to us, from the word of God, to effect onr union together, we shall readily attend. And wherein any person cannot concur with his apprehensions, we are willing to wait till God shall help us to see reason lo concur with him, and in the meantime not to make any disturbance, or ocra- sion any trouble."

But it was not until the following spring ( May, 1682) that the way was fully prepared for the much desired union. Then the Assembly.

" Upon application made by the Church in Windsor, respecting the difficulties they meet with in the settlement of Mr. Mather, all former orders and endeavors not being (fectual to remove the impediment that lies still in the way, that the matter of the union may be plainly stated, which is now mainly impedimenting unto them, this Court see cause to declare their ready owning of the said Church in the quiet practice of their professed principles in point of order; and so that the forementioned union be carried on in manner following, viz. : That Mr. Mather being in due time called and settled in office by the church of Windsor, thereupon such of the Second Society as desire follow ship with them in all ordinances (excepting those that were formerly in full communion with that Church, that are returned, or to return to the same standing in it), address themselves to Mr. Mather; and having satisfied him about their experimental knowl edge, and the grounds of that satisfaction by him declared to the Church unto their acceptance, with encouraging testimony given in reference to their conversation, they be thereupon admitted."

was. After he left Windsor, he preached at Bristol (now in Rhode Island) and after that in Medford. A curious circumstance concerning him has been communicated to me by Rev. Mr. Page of Cambridge. There was trouble between him and a portion of his tlock at Medford, and the matter was carried before the General Court, or Legisla ture, who ordered that the town should pay Mr. W. the (considerable) amount due to him, and that the church should then proceed to choose a pious and learned minister for their pastor. The money was paid and the church called together to choose a pastor. and the choice fell upon the Ree. Benjamin Woodbridge, the old pastor. There was some wincing, but his opponents could not deny that he was a pions and learned minister, and the General Court had not ordered the church to choose another man."

' Various correspondence between Increase and Samuel Mather and other parties about this matter may be found in Muss. Hist. Soc. Coll., 4th Series, xxxVIII. p. 95.

" This provision, for some cause, seems not to have been satisfactory, as in the suc

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The plan thus proposed by the court, and which gave the First Church all they ever demanded, seems to have reconciled the previous difficulties ; and a new spirit of harmonious enterprise at once infused itself throughout the town. Yet the task of softening the prejudices and fusing the discordant elements of the two churches, was a work which required time and patiener, as well as the exercise of sound judgment and consummate tact. All these qualities were in a high degree pos- sessed by Mr. Mather: and, probably in the fall of 1684 he was fully ordained and settled in the charge of the united congregations of Windsor.

We are aware that Trumbull and other authorities assert that Mr. Mather was settled at Windsor in 1682, but the following vote of the town, Dee. 28, 1684, " to give Mr. Samuel Mather 100 acres of land at Salisbury plains in case he settles in office amongst us : " and also the record of admissions to the church during his ministry ( as copied by Mr. Rowland from the original manuscripts of Mr. Mather - sce ('h. Records), beginning thus : " The following were admitted to the church the 1st year, 1685," lead us to the conclusion that 1684 was the true date of his settlement and ordination.

At a town meeting in December of that year,

" It was voted, that the town allow ten pounds per winter to be payed out of the town rate towards procuring wood for Mr. Mather; the money to be laid out yearly by the townmen, then in being, so as best [to] attain the end aforesaid.

Also that any man may have liberty to bring one load of wood yearly to Mr. Mather:

ceedling October we find on record the following deed : " Know ye, &e., that I. Tahan Grant, of Windsor, in the County of Hartford, and Colony of Connecticut, Blacksmith, for aud in consideration of the sum of One Hundred and Eighty pounds to me in hand. paid by the Town of Windsor and of the inhabitants of the same upon the account and for the use of Mr. Samuel Mather of Windsor, &c., do grant, bargain and sell unto him the said Mather one dwelling-house and barn with four acres of land adjoining, which I purchased of Lient. Whiting," te.

In December, 1684, " Mr. Samuel Mather hath granted from the Town of Windsor One Hundred acres of land at a place commonly called and known by the name of Sals- bury Plain." He also had two hundred acres granted him by the General Court, east of the Great River.

In January, 1684, " In consideration of One Hundred pounds to me secured to be paid by Capt. Benjamin Newberry and others as agents in behalf of Mr. Samuel Mather. Tahan Grant deeds to Mr. Samuel Mather one piece of land being partly pasture and part arable land, containing eight acres ; also one lot in the Great Meadow, five acres; also, one other parcel in the Great Meadow, three and a half acres." Mr. Mather bought various other pieces of land, some by himself and some in company with his brother, Atherton Mather.

The records do not give his annual salary until 1212, at which time Rev. Jonathan Marsh was bis colleague. In 1712, Mr. Mather's salary was $50. Mr. Marsh's, $114. In 1713, Mather's salary was 960; Marsh's 9121 15x 6d. In 1714, Mr. Mather was voted C45, annually, during his life. In 1711, by a division of the common lands, a lot con- taining eighty aeres was laid out to Rev. Sammel Mather's heirs. Detcon J. B. Wood- ford's Address, Quarter- Millenial, Windsor Church.

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ECCLESIASTICAL, 1663-1684.

and to be paid for the same out of their town rate, provided they bring it before the first day of February yearly, until the ten pounds be expended. Should there not be so much wood brought to Mr. Mather before the first of February as shall amount to the said sum, then any man may bring wood until the same be [made] up, and be paid as before said, the price to be three shillings and four pence the load."

" It is voled by the town that a new meeting house be built for the more comforta- ble carrying on the worship of God - and the form of the house to be according to the meeting house at Springfield, unless the committee chosen do see cause to make altera tion in height or breadth. The Committee chosen to carry on this matter and to pro- cure and agree with an able workman to do the work, are Benjamin Newberry, Mr. Henry Wolcott, Nath'l Bissell, John Porter, and Timothy Thrall.

" The Springfield house had been built seven years before, by au- thority of a vote which specified that it should be . 50 feet long and 40 feet wide, to be built so high, as it may be accommodated for galleries when the town shall see need.' This model was smaller than our esti- mate (see Appendix B,) of the first meeting-house of Windsor. But the Windsor Committee may have built higher and broader ; the house had dormer windows, and it is not unlikely that tradition is true that this second meeting-house, on Palisado Green, . had two tiers of galleries."" ' A part of the timbers of the old honse were used for building a barn, still standing, the property of Horace H. Ellsworth.

Mr. SAMUEL MATHER, the second pastor of Windsor, was in every respect a fit successor to the venerable Warham. Descended from a highly respectable and gifted ancestry, he was one, and by no means the least, of a circle of noble men whose varied talents and pions lives have rendered the name of MATHER distinguished among the families of New England, even to the present day. He was born Sept. 5, 1651 ; 2 his father, Timothy Mather of Dorchester, being a son of the Rev. Richard, third minister of that town," and his mother, a daughter of the excellent Major-General Umphrey Atherton. Thus highly connected, his earlier years were spent in the enjoyment of all the advantages which the best society of that day could afford. Graduating at Harvard College in 1671; he preached at Deerfield, Mass., in 1675 ; thence he went to Hatfield, Mass., and later to Milford, and to Branford, Conn. From thence he was called in the Providence of God, to Windsor, where the powers of his mind, the amiability of his character, and his piety, speedily won the esteem and love of his people, and composed the difficulties which existedamong them.

1 Dea. Hayden's Address at Quarter- Millenial of Windsor Church.

2 Upon his own statement, according to Samuel Sewall's Diary ( Muss. Hist. Soc. Coll., vi. 196): though it is given in the Mather Genealogy, as July 5, 1650.

3 He succeeded Mr. Warham, and had the charge of the new church which was formed at Dorchester, Mass., after the emigration of the old church to Connectient, 1635. It is a curious coincidence that his grandson should succeed Mr. Warham in the charge of the same old church in Connecticut.

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

" His ministry here proved to be a very fruitful one. It began with a revival which brought into the Church 28 during the first year and 36 the second ; more than doubling its members; for there were but 54 members when he came. The records of this time, in his own hand- writing, have such remarks as these at the close of the yearly entries ; after the first year, ' The Lord make the next year also a good year.' And at the end of the fourth, ' Not so much as one were added to the Church, but as many died out of it as was added the year before. The Good Lord awake and mumble us.'" '

He was then in the prime of his life, grave and dignified in person, faithful and consistent in his daily life, and benignant and winning in manner. He died 18th March, 1727-8, aged 77. His connection by mar- riage with the daughter of the Ilon. Robert Treat of Wethersfield, after- wards governor of the colony, was in itself happy, and served to increase the influence which his gifts of mind and heart had already seenred for him in the public estimation. Thus happy in his domestic and personal relations, his life was quietly passed in the faithful discharge of his pas- toral duties to this now happy flock. And it is pleasant to record that during the whole period of his ministry, not one shadow of complaint seems to have darkened his or their pathway. On the contrary, there is abundant evidence that he was the constant recipient of many marks of public and private respect and care.

He was not unknown as an author. At Boston, in 1697, he pub- lished "A Dead Faith Anatomatized"-a discourse (probably preached at Windsor, ) from James 2: 20, " on the Nature and the Danger, with the deadly symptoms of a Dead Faith .

In those who profess the faith of Christ." This was prepared with an introduction by his consin, the celebrated Cotton Mather, in which he says:

" This discourse is what was delivered to a popular andience. And such was the savour which it left in the minds of its hearers where it was declared, as that the notes thereof have here come abroad," and thus concludes: " The author is known throughout the churches of the famous and happy colony [ Connecticut ], to none of the least whereof he hath for many years been a faithful Pastor: known for his Piety, Gravity and Usefulness more than any recommendations of mine can render him: and my relation to him will readily exense me, as well as his modesty forbid me, for saying any more."

He also published a book entitled " Self-Justiciary Convicted and Condemned." The " Epistle Dedicatory," of 27 pages, is dated March 17, 1706. It was published, as a postscript informs us, at the cost and expense of "our good friend Nathanael Porter. Men who are at such Expence to Serve in this Way the Kingdom of our Glorious Lord. ought

' Rev. G C. Wilson.

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ECCLESIASTICAL, 1663-1681.

to have their Names gratefully Redeemed." The volume is of 92 ( and more ) pages, 12mo. Text, Romans x. 3. In Appendix to " Self-Justi- eiary," pages 83-92, written by Dr. Increase Mather (on page 91 ) he alludes to another of his works in a note, thus: "See my Epistle before Mr. Willard's Sermons: on 2 Timo. 3.5." This was written, he says, " with a design of being published in the Year 1698." ~ It is a time of much Degeneracy; our Transgressions are many, and our Backslidings are increased, as Jer. 5, 6. In great measure we in this Wilderness have lost our first lore, as it is said of them, Rev. 2, 4. Yet they had divers commendable things among them. We do not walk with God as our Fathers did, and hence we are continually from year to year under his Rebukes, one way or other: and yet, alas, we turn not unto him that mites us : these considerations call for the ntmost of our endeavours, for the reformation of what is amongst us, and for the uphobling and strengthening of what yet Remains, and is perhaps ready to dy. Consider then these few words. &c."

This year: 1688th yra Not So much as one were added to RRE church. but many dred out of it, us NUS added the year fafort the good cordonakon, as humorous. those lyed were. Dorcas mills: Nach Cook. Mary: Filly: Miclark Nath: Loomis. Jahn Porter Mary Porter, Beacon John Loomis. Sheph: Toyton. 2. Ai all.

Fuesimili OF AN ENTRY ON THE CHURCH RECORDS OF WINDSOR, MADE BY REV. MR. MATHER - See opposite page.

CHAPTER X. KING PHILIP'S WAR.

1675-6.

YOR nearly forty years the New England settlements had enjoyed a season of almost uninterrupted quiet and prosperity. Providence had smiled upon their labors, the wilderness had begun "to bud and blossom as the rose," and there was scarce a cloud upon the horizon of their condition. But suddenly the warwhoop of the Indian rang through the length and breadth of the land, and they awoke from this " sweet dream of peace" to find themselves involved in all the horrors and uneer- tainties of savage warfare. King Philip and his warriors had appeared on the eastern borders, and their course was marked by mangled corpses and burning villages. In the general consternation which followed, apprehensions were felt of a general rising of all the New England tribes.'

We, of the present day, can scarcely realize the terror which filled the hearts of our ancestors as they found themselves again on the eve of an Indian war. The erisis, however, was boldly and promptly met. A momentary blanching of the cheek there might have been, but there was no flinching of the heart among those brave men of Connecticut. The safety of their families, the preservation of their property, the hopes of religious freedom depended on them, and they bravely prepared to defend the trust committed to them.

Fortunately and unexpectedly to them, the war did not reach the lower towns on the Connecticut, Simsbury being the nearest approach that the enemy made. Yet From the suddenness of the war, as well as the exposed condition of Windsor, Hartford, and Wethersfield, those

1 In the better light which time and historic investigation throw upon this subject. we find that this apprehension was unfounded. King Philip himself inherited a strong friendship for the whites from his father Massasoit, the first to welcome the Pilgrims of the Mayflower -- and was faithful to that trust. He was hurried into the war by the rash and unauthorized acts of some of his young men, and being thus compromised and proscribed by the English, was obliged in self-defence to take up the hatchet. Few characters in Indian history are more worthy of study and admiration than that of the talented and brave but unfortunate King Philip.

The action of the different tribes in this war was by no means concerted or similar, and we cannot consider it as a general emente.

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KING PHILIP'S WAR, 1676.

Towns were in a continual state of dread and alarm. The inhabitants literally slept on their arms, in constant expectation of an attack. Windsor, particularly, from its widely extended limits, was more exposed than its neighbors; and from its situation on the great thoroughfare between Hartford and Springfield, was constantly alive with the hurry- ing " to and fro" of troops and munitions of war on their way to the aid of the less Fortunate towns above the falls. To all of the numerous ley- ies drafted during the war Windsor contributed a large proportion of troops ; having in the service at different times not far from 125, mostly dragoons. These dragoons, from their greater facility of movement and better adaptedness to the nature of the service, were constantly employed in rapid marches, bearing despatches and scouting parties. In an okl book of rates we find the following names of Windsor troopers who were in actual service, and received 6x. 84. each, "on war account."

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The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 27

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909 Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Hartford, Conn., Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard company Number of Pages: 1038

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Hartford, Conn., Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard company
Number of Pages: 1038