The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 47

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 47

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The history of the Baptists in Windsor, as in every part of the colony, is mainly a record of persecution. The storm of opposition which overwhelmed them, served only to intensify their devotion to the poeu- liar principles which they expoused, and, together with the civil judg- ments which were brought to bear upon them, caused them to run into the extremest lengths of folly and absurdity. Separatism was, undoubt- oddly, the legitimate result of unwise and unwarrantable legislative inter- ference with the rights of private judgment: and any odium which at- taches to it should not attach to the Baptist denomination. But the multitude, as well as the law, in that day. made little or no distinction between the two classes. Mr. Ebenezer Frothingham of Middletown. in a book printed in 1767, and entitled, A Key to Unlock the Door that louis in to take a Fair View of the Religious Constitution established by Low, in the Colony of Connecticut, after affirming that the opposition was not directed against the Separatists alone, says: " Young Deacon Drake, of Windsor, now in Hartford prison, for the Minister's rates and building their meeting house, altho' he is a Baptist, · . . is accounted a harmless, godly man, and he has plead the privilege of a Baptist through all the courts, and been at great expense, without

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BAPTIST AND METHODIST CHURCHES.

relief, until at last the Assembly has given him a mark in his hand [a branding], and notwithstanding this, they have thrust him to prison for former rates, with several aggravations, which I shall omit. But as to what the Constitution does to relieve the poor Deacon, he may there die, and the cry of blood, blood, go up into the cars of a just God."! This was evidently a hard case of treatment, but it will serve as a fair expo- ment of the spirit of the times. In the genealogy of the Marshall family, in another portion of this work, our readers will find some interesting notices of some good and pions men, famous in the annals of the Baptist denomination, to whom old Windsor gave birth.

The Baptist church in Windsor has become extinet within the recol- lection of those now living. The Rev. Frederic Chapman was its last minister- a man well remembered for his peculiarities of manner, as well as for his piety and kindly disposition.

Their old house of worship stood upon the Poquonock road, near the site of the present Fourth Distriet school-house. In 1886, there was a Baptist Society in Windsor, which occupied a hall in the second story of the First District school-house, and was led by Bro. Ilorace E. Cooley : it had no church organization, but Sunday services and Sunday- school held regularly in School District No. 1, next to Hartford.

In this denomination in Windsor, there were raised the following Ministers:

Rev. Abraham Marshall.

Rev. Daniel Marshall. Rev. Joseph Marshall.

The Methodist Episcopal Society.

The Rev. George Roberts was probably the first Methodist preacher in Windsor, about the year 1790. Under his preaching was converted one Ethan Barker - a pious and devoted man ( who entered upon the books of the First Ecclesiastical Society of Windsor the following " cer- tificate," 10th Oct., 1793. " Know all whom this concerns, that I have joined a society of Methodists, in Windsor"), and who formed a class, consisting of himself, as leader, Jerusha Barker, Moses Mitchell, Miriam

'Dea. Nathaniel Drake, Jr., of (East) Windsor, 2d Society, in a petition to the Assembly, in 1763, testifies that he " is a sober dissenter from the way of worship and ministry established by the law of this Colony, and for more than six years last past hath so soberly dissented and been of that denomination called Baptists, living within the limits of the said Second Society, the whole time aforesaid he hath joined to a Society of Baptists, and hath attended public worship with them under the ministry of a Baptist minister." The cause of the Deacon's trouble was that he refused to pay the tax which was levied on him by the Second Society, for the building of the new (ortho- dox) meeting-house in 1761. The constables distrained for the amount, and his troubles commenced. - State Archirex, Ecclesiastical.

VOL. I .- 50

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

Bennett, a Mrs. Marsh, and Martha Mather. Two years after, Mr. Barker removed to Pittsfield, Mass., where he remained four years, dur- ing which time the class at Windsor, from want of a proper leader, lan- guished, and finally became extinet. Upon Mr. Barker's return to Windsor, he again gathered them together; and the little band, meeting regularly at his residence, increased in numbers until the year 1807-8. About this time they were re-organized. by the Rev. Laban Clark, into a class or society, consisting of Ethan Barker ( Leader), and Jerusha his wife, Moses Mitchell, Miriam Bennett, Martha Mather, Samuel, Nancy, and Delia Stiles, Walter Gillespie, Ruth Phelps, and about fifteen others.

This society worshiped around, mostly in school-houses, until 1822, when a church edifice was erected, 42 by 37 feet. and two stories in height, where the present one now stands, on Broad Street Green. It was built by donation, some furnishing the material and others the labor, and its cost was about $1,200 to $1,500. Its first board of Trustees organized June 13, 1823, at the house of Elisha Strong, comprised Elisha Strong, Eli Wilson, Ethan Barker, Abel Barber, and Hiram Phelps. In 1845 the church edifice was altered by moving it back, adding some eighteen feet to its front, and ereeting a spire, at a total expense of about $2,200. Subsequently it was again remodeled, and is valued at $5,000. In 1890 the society renovated their church, and received from Flon. E. F. Mather of New York city, and Frederick Drake, Esq., of the First Congregational Society, the gift of a fine bell, which was rung just before New Year's Day, 1891.

The Protestant Episcopal Society.

Religious services after the Episcopal form were occasionally held in Windsor by the Rev. Arthur C. Coxe, then rector of St. John's, Hart- ford, now Bishop of Western New York.

The Episcopal Parish of St. Gabriel was organized 14 Dec., 1842; its original vestrymen being Isaac Underhill, George Spakling, Fitch Bissell, John Spencer, Alonzo M. Smith. Quarles Bedorthy, Samuel O. Loomis, and Henry A. Bliss. The corner-stone for the first church edi- fice was laid on the 6th of Nov., 1843, and it was consecrated 15 Jan- ary, 1845. The building (which is the same as now owned by the Roman Catholics), a little south of Broad street, on the Hartford road, was about 48 feet long by 28 feet wide, with transepts. Its cost, exclu- sive of the organ, was about $2,000.

Later, the name of the parish was changed, by legislative enact- ment, to Grace Church; and for a while it was cared for and supplied by the professors of Trinity College, Hartford. In October, 1860, Rev.

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PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL AND ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.

REBEL II. TUTTLE became its first rector; on the 25th December, 1863, he made the society a thanksgiving offering of $500 upon the recovery of his daughter from a serious illness, for the improvement and beauti- fying of the church edifice. But the society at once moved to increase the sum sufficiently to build anew, and a beautiful stone edifice was erected on the southeast corner of Broad street, costing $25,000; and this was consecrated by Bishop Williams, 13 September, 1865, the corner stone having been laid 2 August, 1864. The Rev. Mr. Tuttle resigned his reetorship 4 July, 1870, but officiated until his successor, Rev. BENJAMIN JUDKINS, accepted the charge. 13 April, 1871. He resigned 6 Jannary. 1880, and was succeeded, October 1, 1880, to October, 1885, by Rev. JAMES B. GOODRICH. The present rector, Rev. F. W. HARRIMAN, came in May, 1886. This year (1891) the society are just completing a Par- ish House in the rear of their church.

The Roman Catholics purchased, in 1865, the church-building just occupied by the Episcopalians, and have since held regular services in it.

Revs. James Smith, Michael McAuley, Michael Kelley, James O'R. Sheridan (resident at Windsor Locks), officiate to an average member- ship of 125.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE SCHOOLS OF WINDSOR.

1636-1709.

N OTHING is more indicative of the sterling character and aims of the first settlers of Connectient than their appreciation of the importance and claims of popular education. It was indeed inwrought with the whole fabric of their social and civil policy. The very nature, also, of the eivil organization, making all civil officers elective, and giv- ing to every freeman the right of voting, rendered, as has been aptly said, " universal education identical with self-preservation."

But, above all, those deep religious convictions, for the better enjoy- ment of which they mainly had sought these shores, could only be firmly established and secured by the influence of education.

Nor can we forget that the members of the Connectient emigration were mainly of an intelligent better elass. Most of them could read, and, as the Windsor records testify, could write. And the leaders of the colony, the Hookers and Warhams, the Ludlows and Wolcotts, men whose fervent piety, ripe experience of life and business, social position and wealth, gave them the controlling influence of the community, were men of refined and cultivated tastes, who had received in the free schools and even universities of England the best education which that day afforded -God be praised for that - God be praised, too, that amid the trials and hardships of a new settlement, they did not forget the educa- tion of their children; and that here, in the scarcely cleared openings of a primeval forest, they established at a very early date public schools, and that too they not only entreated all, but made it obligatory on all, to send their children to school.

The lack of the Windsor records, prior to 1650, leaves us quite in the dark concerning the history of its schools during the first twenty years. But enough cotemporary evidence remains to show that there were probably schools here, and that its citizens were neither unmindful nor neglectful of this " nursery of church and state." Hartford had a school in 1642, and we cannot suppose that Windsor, with her wealth and intelligence, the home of Ludlow, Rossiter, Warham, and Wolcott, was behind her sister plantation in providing for the rising generation. We know that in September, 1644, when the Rev. Mr. Shepard presented

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THE SCHOOLS OF WINDSOR, 1636-1709.

to the commissioners of the United Colonies a proposition " for the main- tenance of poor scholars at Cambridge," suggesting that each family " which is able and willing" should yearly contribute " but the fourth part of a bushel of corn, or something equivalent thereto," the court approved the proposition and appointed two men in each town " to receive and sea- sonably to send in what shall thus be given by them." And William Gay- lord and Henry Clarke were appointed for that purpose in Windsor. This contribution was continned for many years by the Connectieut Col- ony, for the " School of the Prophets" was very near to the hearts of the settlers.

In May, 1650, a Code of Laws, which has been previously alluded to, was completed. It contained, under the titles Children and Schools, the following important enactments, which remained, with only such trifling modifications as contributed to their greater efficiency, until the act of 1792, and the revision of the school law in 1801. Read them, ve Wind- sor men, with honest pride that these, with other enactments of the Code of 1650, were the work of Roger Ludlow, a Windsor father, and with a sincere appreciation of the Christian wisdom therein displayed.

CHILDREN.

" Forasmuch as the good eduration of children is of singular beboof and benefit to any commonwealth; and whereas many parents and masters are too indulgent and neg- ligent of their duty in that kind.

" It is therefore ordered by this Court and the authority thereof, That the selectmen of every town in the several precincts and quarters where they dwell, shall have a vigilant eye over their brethren and neighbors, to see, first, that none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in their families, as not to endeavor to teach by themselves or others, their children and apprentices so much learning. as may enable them perfectly to read the English tongue, and knowledge of the capital laws, upon penalty of 20x for each neg- lect therein; also, that all masters of families, do, once a week, at least, chatechise their children and servants, in the grounds and principles of religion, and if any be unable to do so much, that then, at the least, they procure such children or apprentices to learn some short orthodox catechism, without book, that they may be able to answer to the questions that shall be propounded to them out of such catechism by their parents, or masters, or any of the selectmen, when they shall call them to a trial of what they have learned in this kind; and further, that all parents and masters do breed and bring up their children and apprentices in some honest, lawful calling, lahor or employment, either in husbandry or some other trade profitable for themselves and the common wealth. if they will not nor can not train them up in learning, to fit them for higher employ ments; and if any of the selectmen after admonition by them given to such masters of families, shall find them still neglectful of their duty, in the particulars aforementioned, whereby children and servants become rude, stubborn and unruly, the said selectmen, with the help of two magistrates, shall take such children, or apprentices from them, and place them with some masters, -boys till they come to twenty-one, and girls to eighteen years of age complete - which will more strictly look unto and force them to submit unto government, according to the rules of this order, if by fair means and former instructions they will not be drawn into it." 1

' The same wise and careful forethought which devised this admirable Code, did not neglect the interests of the poor Indian. As, however, it does not particularly con- eern the purpose of our history, we shall not discuss the matter.

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

SCHOOLS.

It being one chief project of that old deluder Satan. to keep men from the knowl- edge of the scriptures, as in former times, keeping them in an unknown tongue, so in these latter times, by persuading them from the use of tongues, so that at least, the true sense and meaning of the original might be clouded with false glosses of saint seeming deceivers; and that learning may not be buried in the grave of our forefathers, in church and commonwealth, the Lord assisting our endeavors.

It is therefore ordered by this Court and authority thereof, That every township within this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of 50 householdlers, shall then forthwith appoint one within their town, to teach all such children as shall resort to him, to write and read, whose wages shall be paid, either by the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general, by way of supply, as the major part of those who order the prudentials of the town shall appoint; provided, that those who send their children be not oppressed by paying more than they can have them taught for in other towns.

And it is further ordered, That where any town shall increase to the number of 100 families or honseholders, they shall set up a grammar school, the masters thereof being able to instruct youths, so far as they may be fitted for the university, and if any town neglect the performance hereof, above one year, then every such town shall pay five pounds per annum, to the next such school, till they shall perform this order.

The first direct allusion to the existence of a school in Windsor is on the town records.

February, 1656-7, " it was voted that Mr. Branker should have £5 paid to him out of the next town rate toward his maintenance of a school." 1

In an account of town debts, February, 1660-1, occurs an item of " £4:10 to Mr. Cornish for schooling." 2

In 1666-7, we must chronicle the erection of the first school-house in Windsor. Deacon Moore charged the town with " 8x. 4d. for iron- work for school-house." Probably up to this time school was " kept " in some private dwelling, or at the residence of the teacher.

In 1672, the town had so increased in population as to be liable under the provision of the statute requiring the establishment of a gram- mar school. For we find that, April 20, the town of Windsor was fined £5, " for not procuring and maintaining a grammar school, said fine to be paid over to the Hartford grammar school.

" November 13, 1623. This day was a town meeting to read some orders ordered to be published by the General Court in October, and also discourse about setting up a school in Windsor, and it was agreed to, and four men more [added] to the present townsmen, which [were] Corporal Marshall, John Bissell, John Porter and George

Mr. JOHN BRANKER was a resident of Windsor as early as 1640. We know but little about him, except that he was a gentleman of good education, estate and reputa- tion, and the first schoolmaster of Windsor. He occasionally delivered the "weekly lecture " before the church. He died May 29, 1662, and his widow Abigail married the Rev. Mr. Warham.

2 This was probably JAMES CORNISH, whom we find mentioned at different times and places along the river as a schoolmaster. He was for some time a resident of Windsor.

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THE SCHOOLS OF WINDSOR, 1636-1709.

Griswold. These with the townsmen [are] to meet on Friday, the 21st day of this month, and to speak with Captain Clarke, and to see what way to order for the setting up of a school."

Nov. 19, 1674, " the Town meeting consulted about the school proposed to be kept by Mr. Cornish." His terms were 936 per year. Some wished the children to pay 5%. per quarter, others wished the town to pay the whole expense. He was to keep five months south and seventh months north of the Rivulet. Two or three months later, it was decided " that the scholars shall pay Mr. Cornish." 1

In 1675, at the time of King Philip's war, John Fitch of Windsor, being called out against the Indians, made the following will : "

"These may testify that I, JJoux Firen of Windsor, being to go forth and not know that I may return, do desire to commit myself to God, &e.

" As for the small estate God hath given me, I dispose as followeth: first, that my just debts be paid out of it The rest, both land and goods, I give for the promoting of a school here in Windsor, to be disposed of in the best way as the County Court and the selectmen of this Town shall see meet, for the end aforesaid.

" In testimony to the abovesaid, I hereto set my hand this 80th day of August, 1675. " JOHN FITCH."

Ile, with other Windsor men, was at the Swamp Fight, in the attack on the Narragansett fort.3

The town records show that at a town meeting after his death (August 15, 1676), " it was propounded, to the company met concern- ing John Fitch's will, that what of the estate after his death, and all his just debts be paid is to go for the town of Windsor's use for the maintain- ance of a school, and therefore we propounded to the company that in case all his moveables of his estate should not reach to pay his debts, they would not allow something out of a town rate, and it was by all said a vote [that] they would [add] unto [the balance] the sum of 3 Pounds." 4

In December, 1676, Windsor seems to have again been destitute of a school teacher, for " the town voted that they are willing there shall he a schoolmaster be got and the townsmen were to get one and the child- ren to pay as to Mr. Cornish, and the rest by the town."

February 18, 1679, the town voted Capt. Clarke to keep school in Windsor for a year, six months on each side of the Rivulet, and he en- gaged also to attend to the town business in making out rates, lists, &c., for all of which he was allowed € 10.

' It is probable that the amount thus received was insufficient to defray expenses, as in May, 1675, " the townsmen agreed that Mr. Cornish should have something out of what we have in hand of the town rate, which is in Dea. Moore and John Loomis' keep- ing. [ Hle, Mr. (., is] to take it in the kind it is brought in."

2 Probate Records, Hartford, Conn.

3 lle was probably mortally wounded there, but died after his return home.

' The inventory which accompanies the will, states his property at $40 18., and debts at $11 15: 8.

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

Nearly ten years later, Windsor could boast two teachers, for, " at a meeting of the townsmen, December 20, 1685, it was ordered that the four pounds paid to the town by Tahan Grant for the rent of John Fitch's house for the two last years past, shall be paid to the two present school- masters: viz : to Mr. Cornish 30 shillings, and to Mr. John Loomis 50 shillings."

In 1690, the following enactment was made :

" This Court observing that not withstanding the former orders made for the educa- tion of children and servants, there are many persons unable to read the English tongue, and thereby unable to read the Holy word of God, and the good laws of this Colony. and it is hereby ordained, that all parents and masters shall cause their children and ser- vants as they are capable to read distinctly the English tongue, and that the grand-jury men in each town do oner in the year, at least, visit each family they suspect to neglect this order, and satisfy themselves that all children under age, and servants in such sus- pected families, can read well the English tongue, or in good proceedure to learn the same or not, and if they find any such children or servants not taught as their years are capable of they shall return the names of the parents or masters of the said children. to the next Court, when the said parents or masters are to be fined 20 shillings for each child or servant whose teaching is thus neglected, according to this order, after the order of 1690, unless it appears to the satisfaction of the Court that the said neglect is not volun- tary but necessitated by the incapacity of the parents or masters, or their neighbors to cause them to be taught as aforesaid, or the incapacity of the said children or servants to learn."

The next year the town of Windsor voted .£20 a year for a school.

But the town was enlarging, quite a settlement had sprung up on the east side of the Great River (now East and South Windsor), and they also had children to edneate. So in April, 1698, we find the town agree- ing to hire a schoolmaster ; and school was to be kept three months on the east side of the Great River, and nine months on the west side, half on the north and half on the south side of the Rivulet : each quarter of the town to provide a suitable school-house without any charge to the town. The master to receive £20, "besides that which is given of gift-money." The Committee were Lient. Hayden and Lieut. Matthew Allyn. They made (April, 1698) the following contract :

" Agreed with Mr. Samuel Wolcott to keep a reading, and writing, and cyphering, and grammar school for one full year, to begin on the twelfth day of this month [July]; to take none but such as are entered in spelling. His salary is to be thirty-five pounds in country pay or two-thirds of so much in money. The school is to be kept at the sev- eral places agreed on by the townsmen.

DANIEL HAYDEN, Selectmen. MATTHEW ALLYN,

SAMUEL WOLCOTT.

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SCHOOLS IN WINDSOR, 1700-1891.

1700-1891 !!

WEST OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER.

In the year 1700, the town of Windsor was represented by its worthy minister, the Rev. SAMUEL MATHER, at that memorable gathering of elergymen who established Yale College. Deeply imbued as they were with the importance of their undertaking, and with a prophetie assur- ance of its ultimate success, they could not then have foreseen the immense influence which it was, in less than two centuries, to obtain ; nor the position it now holds as the crown of Connecticut's educational system.

About the commencement of the last century (1701), the common school system of Connecticut embraced the following particulars :

1. An obligation on every parent and guardian of children, " not to suffer so much barbarism in any of their families as to have a single child or apprentice unable to read the holy word of God, and the good laws of the colony," and also " to bring them up to some lawful calling or employment." under a penalty for each offense.

2. A tax of forty shillings on every thousand pounds of the lists of estates, was collected in every town with the annual colony tax, and pay- able proportionately to those towns only which should keep their schools according to law.

3. A common school in every town having over seventy families, kept throughout the year: and in every town with less than seventy fam- ilies, kept for at least six months in the year.

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The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 47

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