USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 46
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > East Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 46
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > South Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 46
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Bloomfield > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 46
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor Locks > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 46
USA > Connecticut > Tolland County > Ellington > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 46
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sonage valued at $2.500, a fund of 89,000 for support of the ministry, and one of 83,500 for insurance and repairs on organ. It contributes from $700 to $1,000 annually to benevolent causes outside of its own field.
This church has enjoyed the following revivals :
1683 -tlarty members added (-lmn. Quar. 1855 - thirty-four members added. I& rier, iv. 295-297). 1866 - eleven .. . 4
1735 -- "a very great ingathering " ( Tra- *y. 13). 1822-tơn ..
1867 -thirteen ..
1-34- one hundred and eight members
1876 -thirty -eight
1877-twelve .. added. 1941 - forty-seven members added.
1847-ninety
1883-one hundred and eighty six men- bers added.
No revivals since 1883, but additions of a more permanent sort than those of that year.
Ministers Raised in this Town.
Rov. Isaac Stiles, pastor at North Haven, 1724-1760, father of Pres. Stiles of Yale College.
Rev. Abel Stiles, brother of Rev. Isaac, pastor in Woodstock, Conn., 1736-1783.
Rev. Hezekiah Bissell, pastor at Wintonbury, Conn., 1738-1783.
Rev. Jonathan Marsh (son of the Windsor pastor), pastor at New Hartford, Conn., 1759-1772.
Rev. Jedidiah Mills (bro. of Rev. Gideon ), pastor at Huntington, (Ripton ), Conn., was probably a native of Windsor.
? Rev. Eliakim Marshall, pastor at North Canterbury, Conn., 1759- 1768.
Rev. Azariah Mather (son of Rev. Samuel), pastor at Saybrook, Conn., 1710-1732.
Rev. Allyn Mather, pastor at Fair Haven, Conn., 1773-1784.
Rev. Nathaniel Gaylord, pastor at West Hartland, Conn., 1782- 1841.
Rev. Solomon Walcott. pastor at Bloomfield, Con., 1786-1790. Rev. Henry A. Rowland ?
Rev. James Rowland.
See Genealogies.
Rev. Oliver Wolcott Mather.
Rev. Frank V. Mills (s. John Mills ), grad. Ham. Coll. : studied Union Theol. Sem. and Hart. Theol. Sem. : ord. in Windsor, 1882; m. Kate C. (dau. Dr. S. A.) Wilson, and has been seven years a missionary of the Presby. Board in Hong Chou, China.'
1 His classmate, Rev. Junius H. Judson, m. Jennie IT. (dau. Horace H.) Filley, a memb. of the W. Church, and for past ten years have been missionaries at Hong Chou, China.
392
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
Rev. William W. Levte, born in Windsor, 1854 ; graduated Amherst College 1877: Yale Theol. Sem. 1880: now settled over a church in Rockford, Ill. ; sve Genealogies.
It is probable that some ministers were raised in Windsor between 1635 and 1724 : also, that this list is incomplete.
Baptists in Windsor.
About the middle of the last century, during the Great Awakening which commented in New England under the preaching of the colo- brated Whitfield, several Baptist churches were formed. One of these was at Windsor. Of its history, however, we have no authentic records. There were two classes of Baptists at that time - one consisting of those who were " sober dissenters " from the orthodox form of worship in the colony : and the other of those who believed in the "indulgence of their inward frames, in noise and ontery withont restraint," in dreams and tranees, and in the superior efficiency of " lay exhorters." This latterclass were termed Separatists, and, from the fragmentary facts which have come down to us, we infer that they were numerous and influential in this town. Mr. Marsh's last days were much embittered by their extravagances and commotions. Trumbull, after mentioning the " fan- atical spirit," which prevailed in certain connties in the colony, adds that " there was also something of the same spirit in the County of Hartford, in the towns of Windsor, of Suthield, and in Middletown. The separations began, and principally prevailed. in these counties."
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 peen- liar principles which they espoused, 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- edly, the legitimate result of unwise and unwarran table 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 lends in to take a Fair View of the Religious Constitution established by Line, 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
303
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- nent 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 pious men, famous in the annals of the Baptist denomination, to whom of Windsor gave birth.
The Baptist church in Windsor has become extinct 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 District 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. Horace 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 ( et., 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 Deneon'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 Archives. 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, du !- ing which time the class at Windsor, from want of a proper leader, jan- 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 1897-s. 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 81,200 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 erecting a spire, at a total expense of about 82.200. Subsequently it was again remodeled, and is valued at 85.000. In 1890 the society renovated their church, and received from Hon. 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 Spalding, 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 Janu- 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 82,000.
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.
.
395
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL AND ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
REUEL H. 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 rectorship 4 July, 1870, but officiated until his successor, Rev. BENJAMIN JUDKINS, accepted the charge, 13 April. 1871. He resigned 6 January, 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 sinee 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 Conneetient 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 civil 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 Connecticut emigration were mainly of an intelligent better class. 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 school- 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
397
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 cach family " which is able and willing" should yearly contribute " but the fourth pari 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 continued for many years by the Connecticut 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 art of 1792, and the revision of the school law in 1801. Read them, ye Wind- sor men, with honest pride that these, with other enaetments 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 education of children is of singular behoof and benefit to any commonwealth; and whereas many parents and masters are too indulgent and neg- ligeut of their duty in that kind.
" It is therefore ordered by this Court and the authority thereof. That the selection 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 ninch barbarism in their families, as not to endeavor to teach by themselves or others. their children and app ren fees so much learning. as may enable them perfectly to read the English tongne, and knowledge of the capital laws, upon penalty of 204 for each neg. leet therein: also, that all masters of families, do, once a week, at least, chatechise their children and servant-, in the grounds and principles of religion, and if any be unable to do so much, that theu, at the least, they procure such children or apprentices to learn some short orthodox catechisin, 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. labor or employment, either in luisbandry 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 selectmien after admonition by them given to such masters of families, shall find them still neglecttul of their duty, in the particulars aforementioned, whereby children and servants become rude, stubborn and unruly. the said soleetmen, 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."!
' The same wise and careful forethought which devised this admirable Code, dit not neglect the interests of the poor Indian. As, however, it does not particularly con- cern the purpose of our history, we shall not discuss the matter.
995
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
SCHOOLS.
It being our chief project of that ofl de hunder Satan. to keep men from the knowl ulge of the scriptures, as in former tintes, 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 faise glosses of saint seeming deceiver-, and that learning may not be buried in the grave of our forefathers. in church and commonwealth, the Lord assisting our endeavors.
It is the report ordered by this tourt and authority the reef, That every township within this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of 30 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 towus.
And it is further ordered, That where any town shall increase to the number of 100 families or householders, 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, ahove 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 shonkl 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 " 04:10 to Mr. Cornish for schooling."?
In 1666-7, we must chronicle the erection of the first school-house in Windsor. Dencon Moore charged the town with " Sx. 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 net procuring and maintaining a grammar school, said fine to be paid over to the Hartford grammar school.
" November 13, 16:3. 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, Joun 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. Ile was for some time a resident of Windsor.
399
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 wty to order for the setting up of a s hoo !. "
Nov. 19, 1674, "the Town meeting consulted about the school proposed to be kept by Mr. Cornish." His terms were $36 per year. Some wished the children to pay as per quarter, others wished the town to pay the whole expense He was to keep hive months south and seventh months north of the Rivulet. Two or three months later, it was decided " that the scholars shall pay Mr. Cornish." !
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, Joux Free of Windsor, being to go forth and not know that I may return, do desire to commit myself to God. &c.
" 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 Find 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 abovesaidl, I hereto set my hand this 30th day of August, 1675. "JOHN FITCH."
He, 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 concerti- ing John Fiteh's will, that what of the estate after his death, and all his just delits be peid 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 debits, 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 be 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. Clark ; to keep school in Windsor for a year, six months on each side of the Rivalet, and he en- gaged also to attend to the town business in making out rates, lists, &c., for all of which he was allowed £40.
' 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 ont of what we have in hand of the town rate, which is in Dea. Moore and John Loomis' keep- ing. [He, Mr. C., is] to take it in the kind it is brought in."
2 Probate Records, Hartford, Conn.
3 He was probably mortally wounded there, but died after his return home.
4 The inventory which accompanies the will, states his property at $40 1x, and debts at £11 15: 8.
400
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
Nearly ten years later, Windsor could boast two teachers, for, " at , 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 JJohn Fitch's house for the two last years past, shall be paid to the two present schou !- 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 educ .. tion of children and servants, there are many persons unable to read the English tons te and thereby unable to read the Holy word of Girl, and the good News of this Colong and it is hereby ordained, that all parents and masters shall cause their children and or Fants as they are capable to read distinctly the English tongue, and that the grand-jury men in each town do once 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 sie pected families, can read well the English tongue, or in good proceedure to learn ils. same or not, and if they find any such children or servants not taught as their years ate capable of they shall return the names of the parents or masters of the said. chikleen. to the next Court, when the said parentsor masters are to be fined 20 shillings for each child! or servant whose teaching is thus neglected, according to this order, after the order ut 1690, unless it appears to the satisfaction of the Court that the said neglect is not volt ;. tary but ucce-sitated 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 servant- to learn."
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