The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 73

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 73

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The upper windows of this meeting-house were boarded np, only the lower ones were glazed, and the whole edifice finally became so dilapi- dated that the six months winter privileges were extended to eight months ; and by leave of the assembly, the warm season was substituted for win- ter, the people worshiping in the latter season with the Second Society, who invited them to do so, tør free. Their own old edifice was there- fore used only in spring, summer, and autumn ; and, finally, the " Wap- ping Barn," as it came to be called, was pulled down one night in the year 1799 by a party of frolicksome young men.

The first minister ascertained to have preached in Wapping was one MATTHEW ROCKWELL, who graduated at Yale College in 1728. He was a physician, and added a gift of preaching to his other accomplishments. He was a licentiate, and occasionally preached for the Rev. Mr. Edwards during the last year of the latter's life.

"WINDSOR, Nov. 4, 1763.

" Received, of Samuel Grant, the sum of £1 1s 3d for preaching at Wapping, in the year 1762. By me,

"MATTHEW ROCKWELL."

Tradition affirms that he preached in Mr. Grant's old house, before the building of the meeting-house, in 1765.

Mr. MOSES TUTHILL also preached here for three years. He was a Congregationalist, and a man of eccentric character, although of consid- erable talent. He graduated at Yale College in 1745 ; became the pas- tor of a church at Granville, Mass., at its organization in 1747; resigned his charge in 1753. Ile then came to (East) Windsor for a season. Ilis wife was Martha, the daughter of Rev. Timothy Edwards, to whom he was married in 1746, and who is represented as a woman of remarka- ble fine powers of mind, although, perhaps, with some peculiarities of char-

m' Grant, who his vote was for, told him for Lt. Smith, with that ye other Soldier pulled y" vote out of his Hand & destroyed it, and puta vote for m' Grant into his Hand, to Influence Him to vote against his mind, and by such unfair Practice only m' Grant was Chosen. We need not observe to your Ion" How ruinous & fatal it is like to be, to Said Company & ye Leaders too, to have such a Choice Established, and Pray your Hon's to take ye mater into your wise Consideration with ye Return of sd Choice, refuse to grant a Com- mission to sª Grant.and order said Company to be led to a new Choice by one of y" Field Officers of y" Regiment and due care be Taken, till that a fair Choice be made that Order and Peace may Subsist in said Company.

We are may it please this Honourble House your humble Petitioners. Dated at East Windsor, May yo 14 1771.

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

acter. It is related of them that, on the day appointed for their marriage, Mr. Tuthill was on the west side of the river, and the ice, just then break- ing up, rendered crossing impossible. As soon as he could cross he came to her residence in East Windsor, but she refused to see him. At last she was persuaded to give him a hearing. he being in one room, she in another, with the door closed between them, and the conversation was so carried on. In answer to her question why he had not come at the appointed time he told her he could not have come if his life had depended upon it; but the irate maiden told him he should have minded nothing about his life when he was going to be married. A reconciliation was finally effected. It is of this lady, also, that Stoughton ( Windsor Farmex, p. 67-68) relates the following : " It is related of Mr. Tuthill's courtship, that when he, after the custom of the time, requested of Mr. Edwards the privilege of soliciting Miss Martha's hand, the latter, knowing his daughter's propensities, expressed a fear that she might not be a suitable companion for the would-be-son-in-law. Mr. T. mis- understanding the reply, supposed it had reference to her spiritual con- dition, and anxiously inquired if " Miss Martha had not experienced the great change." "Yes, yes,' replied the father, 'she is a good girl, but. Brother Tuthill, the grace of God will dwell where neither you nor I could.' Despite this dubious warning, they were married; and many are the stories yet extant of Mistress Tuthill's strange doings. One of these, also given by Mr. Stoughton, is thus: " Upon one occasion, when a meeting of ministers had convened at the Wapping parsonage, as night drew on, he suggested to his spouse that, as the brethren were about to depart, he would like to have some repast made ready for them. . And what would you like, my dear?' said the amiable consort, who had not up to this time, paid the slightest attention to the guests. . 0,' re- plied Mr. T., overjoyed at the tractable disposition of his better-half. . Anything you please, something light, no matter about meats, only a light, wholesome meal, that is all.' In about half an hour Mrs. Tuthill announced supper and motioned her husband and guests into a room where a table covered with a snowy-white eloth bore upon it the . light' repast in the shape of a burning candle at the chair of each guest : and. it was not until the disappointed divines were about to leave in disgust that the mistress came forward with a very substantial and ' wholesome' meal which induced them to resume their seats. while she stood by and laughed merrily at their expense."

Their residence in Wapping was in a house on the lot north of Mr. Waldo Belcher's present place.

Mr. Tuthill is described as " an orthodox and faithful minister, and his short ministry in Granville was blessed with prosperity and peace."'

1 Rev. Dr. Timothy M. Cooley, pastor of the Granville church.

-- --

623

WAPPING CHURCH, EAST WINDSOR.

Hle died at Sonthold, L. 1., October, 1785, in his 78th year. His widow died in Wapping February, 1794, aged nearly 77 years.

Another meeting-house was built in 1801, about twenty rods south- east of the site of the old one. Its dimensions were 60 by 44 feet, and 24 feet posts. Its frame stood uncovered until the spring of 1802, when a subscription was raised for "covering, glazing, and roofing it." Its pulpit and seats were rough and unfinished, and a pillow with a clean case was carried to meeting every Sabbath and placed on the desk as a cushion. This edifice was erected by the different denominations then existing in Wapping on a union plan. The Congregationalists were to become the sole proprietors at such time as they should see fit, paying the other denominations what they had contributed towards its erection, " deducting decay." This church is the same now in use, but has never been consecrated except by usage. In 1816-17 Mr. Blakely (Bap.) preached here with much success, as also did Mr. Osborn ( Meth. ) in 1826. In the fall of 1829 a subscription was raised " for lathing and plastering its walls, erecting a breastwork around the gallery, and building a pul- pit." It was not finished until 1832, and was remodeled in 1848; at which time some strong members of the church became disaffected in regard to its site. When Mr. Thomas Robbins took charge in South Parish, East Windsor, in 1809, he records that " the people at Wapping show the want of gospel privileges."

Although the Wapping people had enjoyed preaching almost all the time since 1761, no formal attempt seems to have been made to organize a church. "In the years 1826 and 1827, however, the question was seriously discussed by a few individuals," say the Church Manual, " Must our children be brought up under a religious belief different from the one which we and our fathers embraced ?" Few in number, they resolved to make an effort to sustain Gospel ordinances among themselves, and secured for the period of six months the Sunday ministrations of Rev. Mr. Brinsmade, then teaching in the Mute's Asylum at Hartford. Rev. HENRY MORRIS labored in Wapping from the 10th July, 1829, till the summer of 1832 (one reliable authority says from 1826-31 ).

During his ministry a council of ministers, of which the Rev. Sam- nel S. Whelpley was moderator, convened at the house of Mr. Samuel Hall, Feb. 2, 1830, and organized a church of twenty-eight members ( of which twenty-three were females) from East and South Windsor. In the autumn of 1831 this church enjoyed a revival which resulted in about fifty conversions.

Mr. Morris was succeeded. July, 1832, by Rev. DAVID L. HUNN, from Sandwich, Mass. He was born in Coleraine, Mass., 5 Nov .. 1789; grad. Y. C. 1813, and was for some years the oldest graduate of that college. lle served at Wapping until May 1, 1835, and during his min-

624

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

istry twenty-seven were added to the church. He died in Buffalo, N. Y., 29 Jan., 1888, a. 98.

Rev. MARVIN ROOT first preached in Wapping 12 July, 1835; com- meneed as stated supply Aug. 10, same year, and was installed as pastor 29 June, 1836. He was dismissed, at his own request, 29 April, 1840. During his ministry twenty-three were added to the church (three hy profession), and the pulpit was for a while supplied by Messrs. William and Augustus Thomson, from East Windsor Hill Seminary, and by a Mr. l'aneray, and a revival in August, 1841, added twenty or twenty-five to the membership.

Rev. OSCAR F. PARKER was aeting pastor for two years, and was ordained pastor 3 Jan., 1844. Ilis resignation in October, 1848, was caused by ill health. From that date until 1854 the pulpit was supplied chiefly from the Theological Seminary at East Windsor, and from 1832 to 1859 the church was aided by the Connecticut Home Missionary Society.

Rev. WILLIAM WRIGHT, from Chicopee Falls, Mass., was ordained 22 Aug., 1854, and served until 1865.

Rev. WINFIELD S. HAWKES began 12 Nov., 1868; was dismissed 22 March, 1871, and succeeded by

Rev. CHARLES WESLEY DRAKE, who supplied the pulpit until 1875. Rev. HENRY ELMER HART, 1875-1878.

Rev. CHARLES N. FLANDERS, grad. Dartmouth College, and of An- dover Theol. Sem .; was in charge 1878 to 1886.

Religious Statistics. - Membership, 1830, 28; 1847, 126; 1868, 61; 1880, 116; 1881, 111.

Revivals. - Members added, 1830, 22; 1831, 50; 1832, 32: 1841, 21; 1846, 13; 1852, 15; 1869, 14: 1878, 20.

Standing Rule of the Church. - At a regularly organized meeting of this church, held December 12, 1831,

Voted, That it shall be a standing rule in this church, that no individual shall here- after be received into followship (or connection), who vends, distils, or makes an habitual use of ardent spirits.

Deacons of the Church. - EDWARD MINER was chosen first deacon of the church, December 12, 1831, and inducted into his office the 22d of the same month.

He afterwards removed to Hartford, and united with the Second Church there, but, having returned to Wapping again, was re-elected to the office of deacon February 8, 1849.

November, 1832, ANSON BISSELL was chosen and inducted into the office of deacon. In the summer of 1835 he removed to the West, con- sequently vacated the office of deacon.

June 12, 1836, WILLIAM VINTON was chosen deacon by the church.

625

WAPPING PARISH, EAST WINDSOR.

September 26, 1837, this church was consociated with Hartford North Consociation.

The first Sabbath-school was organized April 19, 1829.

The first monthly concert for prayer was held August 2, 1829.

The tax list of the church, in 1865, was $68,000; the exterior of church edifice was renovated 1871; horse-sheds provided in 1874: a parsonage erected, at cost of $3,000, in 1869.

Old Burial Place of Wapping, north of Congregational Church. The first person buried here was an Indian. " Molly Mohalk," whose inscription reads thus: " In Memory | of Molly Mohalk | who Died Desember | A.D. 1766 In the | 28 Year of ller | Age. A Squaw." ller grave was opened by Oliver Skinner, the first sexton of Wapping, who died August 31, 1777, a. 36 years. Hle was also a schoolmaster, and taught in the old brick school-house, which the oldest inhabitants affirm was the only one in the parish until 1775 or 1780, at which time Wapping formed one school district. The next burial here was that of Mr. Benjamin Stoughton, 1769. Among others we find the gravestone of another Indian: "In memory of | polly the Dangh | ter of John and | Esther Mohoek | who Died March | 29 A.D. 1777 | aged one Year | and 9 months."

Also that of a negro: "In memory of | Desire ye Daughter | of Christmas | Negro who | Died Sept. 3" 3d | 1774 in ye 9th | year of her age." Thatcher Lathrop succeeded Skinner as sexton; then came Alfred Grant, at whose death the service and the burial records passed to David Miner, and are now lost. He was followed as sexton by Mr. Warren Grant. The oldest person buried here is claimed to have been the widow of Abraham Foster and ancestress of the Wapping Fosters, who died in 1800, æ. 99: no stone. Many of the oldest gravestones in this burial place came from Slate Hill, worked by Mr. Drake.

The Baptist Church in Wapping parish (South Windsor) was organized 14th Jan., 1823. For its history see South Windsor Chapter.

Methodist Church in Wapping. A Mr. V. Osborn preached hore about two years, 1826-7, and did much good. His denominational prejudices, however, were very freely exhibited. It is even said that he onee took the Saybrook Platform and the Methodist Articles of Disei- pline into the pulpit, and commented strongly upon the latter, much to the disadvantage of the former. This so embittered the Congre- gationalists that they expelled him from the meeting-house; and this act was followed by the formation of a separate Methodist society, with eight members, who held meetings in the South District school-house

VOL. 1 .- 79

626

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

until a house was erected and dedicated by Mr. O. in 1833. Present membership, 70.

Ministers raised in this parish :

BARBER, Rev. ELDAD, a life-long minister in Ohio. CHARLES HENRY BARBER, minister in West. LEMUEL BARBER (D.D.). HENRY BARBER.

Revolutionary soldiers from this parish (see also Chapter V.) :

Barber, Capt. Noah,

Grant, Justus,

Barnes, Jomm (?),

Green, Asahel,

Drake, Simeon,

Hun, Tip,

Elmore, Daniel, Foster, Thomas,

Lathrop, Thatcher,

Munsell, Hezekiah,

Gay, Levi, Sadd, Thomas,

Grant, David,

Grant, Gustavus,

Stoughton, Jonathan, Stark weather. Thomas.

Soldiers of War of 1812 from this parish :

Barber, Warren,

Stoughton, John,

Green, Asahel (2d),

Wright, Jonathan,

HIall, Herman,

Munsell, Silas.

CHAPTER V.

EAST WINDSOR'S SHARE IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

BY RUTII T. SPERRY OF EAST WINDSOR HILL.

PREFATORY NOTE. - The Town Records of East Windsor, during the progress of the war, furnish no specific information as to the part borne by the town in that strug- gle. There is recorded, now and then, the vote of the town to concur with some Act of the General Assembly; or its compliance with some measure recommended or urged by the Governor and Council of Safety.

We had hoped to find some bundles or box of loose papers, such as we have seen in the Windsor Town Clerk's office, from which to perfeet our list of East Windsor soldiers. And such papers did, indeed, exist, until within the last five years. They were left by Dr. Leonard, who was at the time of his death town elerk, in the attie of his residence. Dr. Allen, who subsequently occupied Dr. L.'s house, called the atten- tion of the Selectmen of East Windsor to the box of papers; but, as they did not re- move it, he finally burned it and its contents.

We have thus been forced to depend upon State Records, mostly contained in thirty-seven folio volumes of manuscripts kept in the State Library, and designated as "State Archives - Revolutionary War."

The private papers of three of the Seleetmen of East Windsor during this period (viz., LEMUEL, STOUGHTON, EBENEZER GRANT, and BENONI OLCOTT), have fortunately been partially preserved; and we have also had access to private papers of Capt. Ros- WELL GRANT and Ensign ALEXANDER KING. Thus our chapter is not what we could wish it to be, but only such as we could make it, with diligent use of all that was left to us in the way of original authorities.

E AST WINDSOR, as a separate township, had been launched into existence during the stormy political period which preceded the Revolutionary struggle. The years 1764 to 1774 were years of great political excitement throughout the New England colonies ; and the same spirit which animated the men of Old Windsor stirred also the hearts of her children on the east side of the Connecticut.

1774.

From the Town Records we learn that " at a meeting of the inhabit- ants of the Town of East Windsor, on the first Monday of August, 177 1, to deliberate on the dangerous situation of the liberty of the American Colonies, and the distressed condition of the Town of Boston,' Erastus

1 See page 309 of this History.

628

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

Wolcott, Esqr., was chosen Moderator." After a full discussion the opinion of the meeting found expression in the following paper, which was passed unanimously :

" That the measures which the British Crown and Parliament of late years have thought proper to adopt in relation to the Colonies of America, in the opinion of this town, wear a very threatening aspect to their liberties and tranquility and deserve the most serious attention.

"The Act for raising a revenue for His Majesty, in America, to defray the ex- pense of the Administration of justice and the support of civil government and the de fense of His Majesty's dominions in America, was made not only on principles subver- sive of the darling privilege of the English Constitution, in taking away the property of the subject without his consent, but also with the further view to place it in the power of the Crown to support a government in America independent of the people, and His Majesty undertaking to increase and pay the salaries of some of the American officers who appeared most forward to favor the views of the Crown, out of His American revenue, that used to be done by the people without any expense to the Crown. affords ample proof of such a design, and that the court and government of Great Britain de- sign to have the government of the Colonies entirely in their own hands, The situation of our affairs is truly distressing, but in the opinion of this town it ill becomes the off- spring of those that have done and suffered so much in the cause of liberty to give up the most valuable blessings of life; but we ought to exert ourselves with great firm- ness, union and resolution to avoid the oppression that threatens us."

"In the first place most devoutly to look to Him, whose throne is in the heavens, for help and deliverance.

"2nd, that in the management of this unhappy controversy we ought to treat His Majesty, our rightful sovereign, and his parliament with a becoming conduet and ex- pression of loyalty and respect.

"30. We entirely approve and very much rejoice that there appears to be such unanimity of sentiment in the colonies.

"4th. That we judge it of the greatest importance that the several provinces, cities, towns and each inhabitant thereof, lay aside all party and selfish views and firmly abide by the decisions of our delegates about to assemble in Congress.

"5th. In the opinion of this town, every man that from hierative motives, preju- dice, or other mean and narrow views, shall counteract these measures, ought to be looked upon as a traitor to his country, and treated not with violence to his person, but with neglect and all the proper marks of disesteem which such a character deserves, and be made sensible of his ill conduct by denying the benefits of society, of commerce and the common advantages of civilized life.

" That we look upon it to be our duty tenderly to sympathize with and liberally to contribute to the relief of such as are, or shall be reduced to want in this struggle for liberty; and to do all in our power to encourage and strengthen those that appear for the support of it; and the inhabitants of this town do hereby agree, resolve and en- gage, to conduct themselves in this important crisis of affairs, agreeable to the senti- ments and duties set forth in the above-mentioned particulars."

A few months later a Committee of Safety was created by the fol- lowing action of the Town :

" At a Town Meeting on the first Monday of December, 1774, Erastus Wolcott, Moderator; Total, That this town accept and approve of the association of the Conti- mental Congress, and agreeable thereto, appoint William Wolcott, Erastus Wolcott and Charles Ellsworth, Esqrs., Capt. Ebenezer Grant, Dea. Benoni Oleott, Capt. Lemuel Stoughton, Messrs. Daniel Ellsworth, Jr. and Edward Chapman Grant a committee of

- -

629

EAST WINDSOR IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, 1775.

protection and safety, whose business it shall be attentively to observe the conduct of all persons in this town touching such association and endeavor that the same be in- violably kept and ohserved."

Under this appointment, the Assembly, at its session of Nov., 1776, assigned Justus Miles, a reputed tory, to the care of Mr. Chapman Grant of East Windsor, who was authorized to keep and govern him in such manner as he should think prudent.1

1775.

Early in the following year, in the correspondence of the Committee for the Relief of the Boston Sufferers by the Port Bill (see Note, p. 310), we find East Windsor thus promptly and eloquently responding to the dictates of patriotic humanity.

"East Windsor, March 220, 1775.

"GENTLEMEN. These are to inform you that the donations of the inhabitants of the town of East Windsor, in grain, are for the support of the poor of Boston, now suffer- ing under the operation of the severe oppressive Port Bill. The quantity, and on whom, and upon what conditions the same is shipped, you will learn by a copy of the master's receipt, which is sent you inclosed. We rejoice at the patience and fortitude of the Town and Province, under the extreme sufferings of such cruel and oppressive acts, and hope and most ardently pray, that Heaven will support you till in his righteous providence he shall see fit to appear for your deliverance and cloathe our enemies with shame, and in the meantime put it and keep it in the hearts of the inhabitants of this Town, and all the Towns of the continent, willingly and cheerfully to bear so small a part of the burthens unjustly brought upon you by these Acts, so threatening to us all, as to support the poor of your Town in so just a cause and so glorious a struggle for liberty. You will accept what this town has done, though far less than what some other Towns have, as a testimony of their sympathy with and concern for you, and an encouragement to expect further help, which the Committee of this Town will be ever ready industriously to promote. By order of the Committee, " WILLIAM WOLCOTT.

" TO THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR IN BOSTON."

Events were now hurrying on towards a climax. In less than a month from the date of this letter, occurred the fight at Lexington, which roused a nation to arms in vindication of its rights. Of this event and the commotion which it cansed in Boston, we have the following ae- count by one who was an eye-witness, and who after the close of the war, became a central figure in East Windsor - Rev. DAVID MCCLURE. We quote from his journal in possession of Miss Mary Tudor of South Windsor.

" 1775, April 19th. Wednesday in Boston at Brother W" at breakfast heard y' the Regulars had marched from Boston to Lexington & killed some of the Inhabitants - alarm'd by the report walke l out, but could obtain no certain accot, untill about noon. by an Inhabitant of Boston who had just return'd from Lexington with an account of " or S of our countrymen who he saw lying dead near Lexington meet'g. house. - The

' Hinman's War of the American Revolution, p. 396.

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

Inhabitants of B on this day were in y' utmost Consternation - paleness upon every face that walks the streets - not knowing what the consequence of the bloody tragedy at Lexington would be -

" About 9 or 10 o'clock this morning saw Lord Piercy march with a Brigade out of B". by the fortification - about 900 men & two field pieces .-

" The Soldiers had lost their wonted cheerfulness-saw tears standing in the down- cast eyes of many of them - & in the whole Brigade saw but one or two smiling coun- tinances- These we were inform'd were going to reinforce Colo. Smith's Brigade, who had marched silently from Bost". the last night, having eros'd Cambridge Bay from ye bottom of the common, & were now on their retreat from Concord .-

" The Enemy under Gen1. Gage to the number of about. 7 or 8000 having been in Bos- ton eight or nine Months & finding the Inhabitants of the [town] unwilling to commenee hostilities - bearing their unsufferable Insults & encroachments - by this manuevre had probibly two ends in view - to provoke the Americans to begin the war - & to de- stroy a quantity of military stores which had been collected at Concord - fearful of ye event of tarrys longer in Boston, the head quarters of the enemy, now the war was commenced - I determin'd to get my horse out & thought of returng & lodg" in town that night & leave it the next morns. Rode to Charlestown ferry - the boat had just set off crowded with people - The Ways of the ferry were also full of people desirous to get out of a place that was now full of terrors-a Barge from the Somerset Man of War that lay in Channel - was dispatch'd to order the boats back - they were oblig'd to obey. Rode thro' the town."

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The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I, Part 73

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