The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 70

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 70

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" At a meeting of the North Society of Windsor, legally warned,

" l'oted, To raise one hundred pounds, old tenor money, to hire preaching at Mr. John Prior's.

" Posted, That one-quarter of said hundred pounds, should be spent in preaching at Mr. Nathaniel Ellsworth's.

" l'oted, That Benjamin Osborn should go to hire a minister to preach to said so- ciety."

At the expiration of a year from the time of their first meeting for the purpose of erecting a house of worship, the difficulties attending the setting a stake at the place where it should be located were surmounted. and on the 220 of June, 1753, we find the following vote :

" Voted, That a person be appointed to go to the county court, now sitting at Hart VOL. 1 .- 75

594

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

ford, to get the place where the last committee set the last stake, as a place for a meet- ing house to be recorded.' And that Joseph Harper be their agent for that purpose."

At the same meeting it was also

" Voted, That Mr. Caleb Booth should go for Mr. Potwine to preach."

In August we find the following important resolutions :

" Aug. 20th, 1753. At a meeting of the north society in Windsor, legally assem- bled, Captain John Ellsworth being moderator,

" Voted, To give Mr. Thomas Potwine, of Coventry, a call to preach with us on probation, in order to settle with us, with the advice of the association.

" Toted, To build a meeting-house, the same length and breadth as the meeting. house in the second society, and twenty-one feet high between joints.

" Y'oted, Jonathan Bartlett, Samuel Allyn, and Ammi Trumbull, be a committee to employ men to get timber for said building."

After a trial of two months it was decided that Mr. Potwine should be called as their pastor. The meeting for that purpose was held on the 22d October, 1753.

" Totul, To give Sir2 Thomas Potwine a call to settle with us in the work of the ministry.

" Yoted, To give Sir Thomas Potwine, of Coventry, two thousand pounds in money, old tenor, as it now passes, as a settlement.

" Voted, To give Sir Thomas Potwine five hundred pounds for his yearly salary. Equal to grain, wheat at forty shillings per bushel, rye at thirty shillings per bushel, and Indian corn at twenty shillings per bushel, old tenor, and to add to it as our lists rise until it amounts to six hundred pounds old tenor money.

" Toted, That Joseph Harper and Mr. David Skinner be a committee to treat with Sir Thomas Potwine about settling with us.

" Yoted, To alter the shape of the meeting-house, that it should be forty seven fret in length, thirty-five in breadth , and twenty-one in height between joints.

1 The following record was made at the June term of the county court, 1753 :

" We, the subscribers, being appointed in November last, a committee to repair to the north society in Windsor, view their circumstances, hear all persons concerned, and atlix and ascertain a place, in our opinion, most suitable and commendable whereon to build a meeting-house for divine worship in said society, having reported to said court in January last, the said society having applied to us to review and further consider their case, did on the 6th day of May inst., repair to said society and review their circumstances and hear all persons concerned, and having advantage of a new plan of said society which gave a different representation from that which we before used, in reconsideration, have, in the presence of a large number of the inhabitants of said soci- ety, set down a stake in the lot of Lieutenant Samuel Watson, about 36 rods near south from the new dwelling-house of - Mr. Daniel Clark in said society, and are now of opin- ion that the place where we have now set the stake is the most suitable place whereon to build a new house for divine worship for said society, and will accommodate the in- habitants thereof.

NATHANIEL OLCOTT, ZEBULON WEST. STEPHEN CONE,

lune term, 1753.

Committee."

2 This appellation, in the antique and stately language of that day, had much the same significance as the title Mr. in the earlier New England generations.

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NORTH (SCANTIC) PARISH.

" Voted, That Ebenezer Bliss go to Lieutenant Watson and Daniel Clark, in the name of the society, to purchase of them and take a deed for the same, of one and a half acres of land."

This was designed for the spot on which the church should be erected and where the stake had been placed.

" At a meeting of the north society legally assembled on the first day of February, 1,54,

" Total, That if what we have already voted for Sir Thomas Potwine's salary should be insufficient for his support, that we will add to his salary as his circumstances call for and our abilities will admit of."

The reason which called for this resolution is not given, but the fact of its having been placed upon their records goes far to illustrate their character as men and Christians.

In 1758 a new agreement was entered into between the Rev. Mr. Potwine and his people, in which. at his request, the sum to be paid to him annually was to be sixty pounds so long as he should continue their minister. He had also the use of the glebe land, or minister's lot. and a yearly provision of wood. As this seems to have been an arrangement satisfactory to both parties, we may conclude that the sum. small as it appears to us, was sufficient in that primitive period of country, for its purpose.

When, at a subsequent period, in consequence of the high price of the necessaries of life during the terrible years when our young nation was in the deadly struggle for her independence - and upon an applica- tion by Mr. Potwine for assistance. we find the following record :

"27th Dec., 1799. Voted, To raise fourteen hundred and forty pounds money to be paid to the Rev. Thomas Potwine, in addition to his stated salary the current year, on account of the high price of the necessaries of life."

The actual value of the amount designated ( £1,440 ) is not now easily determined, but as they also raised €180 for the purchase of his wood for that year, which had usually cost five pounds, we can suppose it to have amounted to forty pounds - an addition to his regular salary of two-thirds. The salary of their minister was also paid promptly. Regu- larly as the year came round his receipt is attested as in full for the amount agreed upon.

.The following rules of church discipline were defined for settlement of Mr. Potwine, at a meeting of the society ou the first of April, 1754 :

" Voted. To settle Sir Thomas Pot wine in the following manner, viz .:

" Ist. The Word of God is the only infallible rule of church discipline.

"20. That the church will have a manual vote in this house.

"3d. That whenever we shall have occasion to send a messenger, that we will choose him by proxy.

" Ith. That whenever we shall have occasion for a council, that the church shall choose them.

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

"5th. We do agree to leave the examination of those who desire to join in full communion with the minister.

" 6th. We do agree that those who have a desire to join in full communion have liberty to make relation of their experience in the church and congregation. upon their admission to the church."

Mr. Potwine, having accepted the terms offered him as a settlement, it was concluded that on the 1st day of May, 1754, he should be solemn- Iy ordained as their pastor.

And the following votes were passed at the meeting held on the 1st April preceding :

" Voted, To ordain Sir Thomas Potwine at Lieutenant Samuel Watson's.

" Voted, That Captain John Ellsworth proceed for the ministers that shall ordain Sir Thomas Potwine, and the rest of the ministers that shall come to ordination, and the messengers.

" Voted, That Caleb Booth, Ezekiel Oshorn, Jonathan Bartlett, Samuel Watson, David Skinner, John Gaylord, Ebenezer Bliss, Benjamin Osborn, and Ammi Trumbull. provide for people that come to ordination."

No building had as yet been erected for publie worship, but the poo- ple, anxious to have the ministration of the ordinances and a servant of God as their leader and teacher, procured the use of a private house for that purpose, and the one most appropriate then on account of its size and capacity for accommodating a number of people was that which is now in possession of Mr. Joel Prior, situated in Main street. The ordi- nation of Mr. Potwine was celebrated Oct. 1, 1754, under the roof of a barn then newly erected and never as yet used.' Mr. Roe received an account of it from an old lady, who very distinctly remembered what her mother told her about it, who was present and with her habe in her arms. The ceremony was performed upon the barn floor. A table answered for a desk, and benches made of rough boards, with a few chairs for the more distinguished ministers, were their seats. Boards were laid across the bays as standing places for the women and older people, while upon the beams above perched the younger and most elastic. This barn is still (1882) standing on " the street."

We are unable to give partienlars of the ministry of Mr. Potwine, as unfortunately no records have been preserved that can throw light upon it ; nothing pertaining to church matters can be known except from tradition. How many were added through his long ministry can only be known now when the last great account shall be made up.

In about one year after his ordination, the house for worship was

1 This barn then belonged to Lient. Samuel Watson, later to Mr. John Prior.

597

NORTH (SCANTIC) PARISII.

completed,' and the congregation joyfully assembled together for the purpose of eonseerating it to its holy uses.

It was erceted as nearly at the center of the parish as could be agreed upon, although in the opinion of many, who lived on what was called the river road, " too far in the woods." The site chosen was the one occupied by the present place of worship. The building was after the fashion of many of that day, a plain, oblong building, of small size. as the dimensions already given testify, and without steeple or ornament. A door opened from the east and sonth. and with its galleries could probably accommodate from two to three hundred persons. Not long after the erection of the church a small building was put up near the present site of the dwelling-house of Samuel W. Bartlett, Esq., for the accommodation of those who lived too far from the place of worship to be able to return to their homes during the interruption of public wor- ship at noon, where they could take refreshment such as they had brought with them ; or, if the winter season, have the benefit of a fire, and re- plenish their foot-stoves for the afternoon service, a warm meeting-house being in those days an interdicted luxury. This building also answered a very useful purpose for those females who might have no convenience for riding to church, and were of necessity often compelled to encounter sand and dust if the season was dry, or snow and mud at other times - a change of the nether garments was necessary, and here it could be effected.

Going to church was in those days a matter of course. None staid at home but the very aged and the sick ; and they went in that way which happened to be most convenient, for the most part on horseback,? the husband and the wife, the brother and sister, the lover and his lass,

1 The house of worship was not probably in a finished state when first occupied. for we find on record the following resolutions in reference to it :

" Dec. 18th, 1759, Voted. That Joseph Allyn, Jonathan Bartlett, and Ammi Trum- hull, be a committee for finishing the lower part of the meeting-house.

" Voted, That the lower part of the meeting-house be finished with pews." Again at a meeting held 21st Dec., 1762 :

" Voted, To raise twelve pounds to glaze the meeting-house, to be paid in grain. viz : wheat at four shillings, rye at three shillings, and Indian corn at two shillings per bushel ; and the Society's committee to take charge of the glazing."

Again, at a meeting held 11th Dee., 1769 :

" Voted, To raise eighty pounds to be expended in finishing the meeting-house, to be paid in grain, wheat at four shillings, rye at three shillings, and Indian corn at two shillings per bushel ; and Lemuel Stoughton, Jonathan Bartlett, and Simeon Wolcott, to be a committee to lay out the money and see to the work."

2 Some of the roads were inconvenient even for that mode of conveyance. At the top and bottom of the long hill which ascends from Mr. Osborn's mill to what is now called Prospect street, horse-blocks were erected at which the riders could dismount and mount - the hill was so steep and rugged they were obliged to lead their horses going up or down ; and some persons now living remember well seeing these blocks.

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

each pair on the same horse, and often a little one in the arms of the mother or father. One hundred horses have been counted thus passing in line along one of the most frequented roads, of those who had been attending the house of God.

Weather did not then determine the numbers who should be in their seats in the Lord's house. Moreover, going to church was considered an indispensable duty, none turned their backs upon the house of God, and it was no uncommon thing for neighbors to question each other if for one or two Sabbaths any were absent from their place.

As the parish increased in numbers, we can readily understand how at the end of fifty years the house which had accommodated the fathers became too small for their descendants. The seats could not contain the congregation, and the stairs which led into the galleries, as well as the outer steps at the doors, were often filled with those who could find no other resting place.

Whether the spiritual condition of the people may be judged by this crowding to the house of God, cannot now be so clearly ascertained as we could wish. That there was a good degree of vital religion we may hope. Prayer-meetings were regularly kept up in different parts of the parish, and in these exercises the hands of the pastor were greatly strengthened by the energy and devotion of his venerable father who had removed to this town. ' He went from house to house and held meetings that were well attended, and was constant in his labors both in regular attendance through all weathers and in direct conversation with individ- uals. And so much was he esteemed for these labors of love, that the people of their own accord erected for him a small house in the center street of the parish. that he might have a permanent home among them.

The division between the eastern and western portions of the old town of Windsor. in 1768, made this parish The Second Church of East Windsor.

The needs of the parish seeming to demand a new meeting-house, a meeting of the society was held Dee. 19, 1796, to ascertain the feeling of the people regarding it : but that and a succeeding adjourned meeting in March following failed to gain their assent to the question put by the moderator, " Will you do anything respecting the building a new meeting house ?" Five years elapsed ; then, April 21, 1801, at a society meeting it was

"l'oted, To build an addition to the meeting house in said society of about 21 feet in length, and the same height and breadth with the body of said house, on the north part of said house ; to build a new roof facing the opposite way from what the old

John Potwine, a goldsmith, removed from Boston to Hartford, and thence to (North) Coventry, Conn., where he was admitted a freeman in 1751. From Coventry he came to Scantic. See Potrine Genealogy.

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BURNING OF SCANTIC CHURCH.

one now stands; to move the pulpit to a proper place; to till the new part with pews, excepting proper alleys; to move any pews that it shall be necessary to move; to plas ter all parts of said house that shall be necessary; to new cover the outside of said house and paint it: to underpin the said house decently with three tier of stone, includ- ing many of the old underpinning stone as can be used; and to procure suitable step stones; all to be done within twenty months from this date.

" Voted, That Messes, John Morton. Thomas Potwine, Jr., and Stoddard Ellsworth be a committee to carry the above vote into execution.

" Voted, To raise four cents on the dollar on the list of 1800, to enable said commit- lee to carry into execution the above described building."

But at the October meeting in the same year nothing had been done. except collecting the materials : nor was any action taken relative to it, except that a vote was passed permitting " the inhabitants of the society or any individuals " to " build a cupola or steeple to the meeting- house," provided it " be done entirely by subscription."

A difference of opinion, however, had arisen, and perhaps a little too much pertinacity was manifested on each side; the breach became seriously wider and wider, and the members on either side of the ques- tion were determined to stand by their expressed opinion. At the close of their meeting in April, 1802, in which many hard words had been sent back and forth, and in which it had been decided by a majority of voters that an addition should be made to their present house of worship, it was very evident that the minority felt sorely grieved, and one of them was heard to express the opinion " that the addition would never be made." Whether it was spoken under prophetic inspiration or otherwise is of little consequence now.

In the edge of the evening of that day, 20th April, 1802,' the church was discovered to be on fire, and within a few hours a heap of charred timbers and ashes alone remained to mark the spot where for half a century the Second parish of East Windsor had worshiped. To them its destruction seemed like the triumphing of the wicked ; like the tread of the demon of evil upon their sacred Zion.

But perhaps to no one was the intelligence " that the church was on fire " so heart-rending as to him who had administered at that sanctuary for the last fifty years. Mr. Potwine had now become an old man. He had reached the Farther shore of time, and the mists from eternity's vast ocean were beginning to gather around him. Advanced in life and weakened by disease, he was in no condition

That the date given by Mr. Roe (5 0cl., 1801) is incorrect, is proven by the fol lowing notice in The Botones and Columbian Repository, published at Hudson, N. Y., of date of 4 May. 1802: " PROGRESS OF REASON. A meeting-house in East Windsor, Con necticut, was burned on the 20th ult. by design." Mr. J. S. Allen of Broad Brook. Conn., who furnishes us this Item, says that Peter Parsons, an East Windsor boy. then employed in the Columbian office, was probably the one who inserted this notice.

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

to bear such a trial. To him. above all others, that old edifice was precious.

A period of darkness ensued.1 The minds of many in the society were sadly embittered. The daring and wanton aet which had been perpetrated by some rude hand could not be forgotten. More than one individual was suspected and openly charged with the crime, and at length a prosecution was commenced, which lasted some time, but the result of which is now of little consequence.

At the society meeting in April, 1802, it was

" l'oted, To build a meeting-house in this society, at a place where the Honorable General Assembly or County Court shall affix -by a majority of the whole except two-and that Caleb Booth, Esq., be agent in behalf of this society to proffer a me- morial praying said Assembly or Court, as occasion may require, to appoint, order and affix the place whereon said meeting-house shall be built, and also to apply to said As- sembly for their resolve appropriating the materials and money provided for repairing the old meeting house, lately burnt in this society, to the purpose of building a new

"Voted, To raise five mills on the dollar on the list of 1801. for the purpose of de- fraying the expenses."

The expense referred to was more particularly intended for carrying on the law-suit ordered to be commenced against those suspected of having fired the ohl meeting-house.

On the 26th day of May, 1802, a meeting was held - for the purpose of taking into consideration the doing of the Honorable General Assem- bly committee in alfixing the place whereon to build a meeting-house in this society, and for acting thereon."

" Voted, That provided said Assembly shall ratify the doings of said committee, we will build a meeting-house on said place.

" Ninety-one in the affirmative and twenty-three in the negative."

On the 31st May the society again assembled :

"Voted, To raise two cents on the dollar on the list of 1801, towards defraying the expense of building the new meeting-house, when the General Assembly have affixed the place, in addition to the four cent tax already voted and appropriated to the build- ing of said house, by said Assembly, payable on the first day of October, 1802.

"Voted, Messrs. John Morton, Thomas Potwine, Jr , and Job Ellsworth be a com- mittee to carry the building of said meeting-house into effect.

"Voted, To build said meeting-house of the following dimensions: fifty-six feet in length and forty-seven feet in breadth, and a proportionable height, to be determined by the committee appointed to build said house; and to erect the frame, and cover the outside, and lay the lower floor, by the first day of October, 1802, or as soon as may be."

The committee exhibited a very commendable degree of energy in carrying out these resolutions, for in one month from the date of their

' Out of this strife issued the formation of the Episcopal Church at Warehouse Point in 1802.

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601

DEATH OF REV. MR. POTWINE.

last meeting the house was raised, and in such a state of forwardness that at a meeting legally warned and hell on the 2d of July, 1802, they Felt it necessary to pass a vote and take measures for protection against any evil-disposed persons who might attempt to injure it. The following resolution speaks for itself :

" Voted, That Samuel Stiles, Jeremiah Lord, and John Felshaw be agents in behalf of this society, and they are hereby authorized and appointed to take care of the new meeting-house lately erected in this society, and to commence a prosecution or prosecu- tions against any person or persons who shall attempt or commit any trespass on said meeting-house, in any wise injuring the same, and to make presentment to proper au- thority for any breaches of law or for any threats that have or shall be uttered respect- ing said house, and prosecute the same to final judgment and execution."

The last vote for raising the yearly salary of Rev. Mr. Potwine was passed by the society at their regular meeting in October, 1802.

" Yoted, To raise two hundred dollars for the Rev. Thomas Potwine's salary for the current year.

" Voted, To raise sixteen pounds, sixteen shillings to get the Rev. Thomas Pot- wine's wood for the year ensning, to be paid to the following named persons, in pro- portion as they have undertaken to get said wood:

" To Daniel Osborn, Hezekiah Wells, 1

4 cords at 8 shillings.

Daniel Chapin, 1

Hezekiah Bissell, J. 8 Jonathan Clark, 2

Henry Wolcott, " Paul Hamilton, 2

2 16

David Bancroft, Mexander Vining, 6 . 0

.Joseph Button, Caleb Booth,

2 4

. 4

" Jonathan Button, 2 42 cords."

This method of supplying wood for Mr. Potwine had been adopted first at a meeting of the society in November, 1794, at which time an inspector of the wood thus to be provided was appointed.

Soon after this meeting in October, 1802, the society was left desti- tute of a pastor by the death of the Rev. Mr. Potwine, in November, 1802. about one year after the burning of the meeting-house. The fol- lowing record of his last hours of life was made at the time when the scene occurred :

"For more than ien days preceding his death, Mr. Potwine was exercised with great bodily distress, but patient and resigned to the hand of God. So great was his weakness that he was unable to converse in that length of time; but while the lamp of life was glimmering in the socket, and every moment expected to be his last, on the morning of the Lord's day, which was the day before his death, to the surprise of his mourning family and many people who called in to take a last and affectionate farewell of their beloved pastor, on the way to the place of public worship, at that moment he

VOL. I .- 76

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

was favored with a short revival, his departing spirit recalled, and with an audible voice he asked them to unite with him in prayer; and in the following words poured forth the desires of his heart :

"Almighty God and Heavenly Father! be pleased to be with us on this Thy holy day, to keep us from sin and all evil, and guide us in duty. Will God be with me, Thy servant, who is soon to be laid in the consuming grave. Merciful God! be with me in my dying moments, to uphold and support me. Put underneath me Thine everlasting arms of mercy; and support me by Thy free, rich grace; and receive my parting spirit to Thy blissful presence. Will God be with my dear and mourning wife in her great trials, and support her by Thy Holy Spirit. Will God sanctify my death to my dear children, for their spiritual and everlasting good. And may my death be sanctified to my beloved church and people, when I am laid in the dust. Unite them in one heart and one mind to serve the living and true God. Preserve them from Will worship; and may they in truth and sincerity love and serve Thee. May they be united in bar- mony and peace. Bless the whole Israel of God; and have compassion on the im- mortal souls Thou hast made; through the merits of Thy dear Son, our Lord and Saviour, and to Him, with the Father and Eternal Spirit, be ascribed everlasting praises. Amen."

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The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 70

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