USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The history of Waterbury, Connecticut; the original township embracing present Watertown and Plymouth, and parts of Oxford, Wolcott, Middlebury, Prospect and Naugatuck. With an appendix of biography, genealogy and statistics > Part 21
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* Manuscripts of Bennet Bronson.
+ Manuscript letter of Darius Peck, Esq., Hudson, N. Y., from whom I have received interest- ing information concerning his ancestor. I am also largely indebted to Mr. Judd of North- ampton.
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yet, if he had authority, why did he not baptize the children of Waterbury, after he began to preach, and before his formal settlement? "No half-way covenant" question, it is believed, existed here, as there probably did in Greenwich. At any rate, the children were those of professors, and yet were car- ried to Farmington for baptism.
Again, it appears from the records of Greenwich that Mr. Peck performed the ceremony of marriage there as early as 16$1 ; but the statute permitted no one to do this except magis- trates, commissioners, justices of the peace and ordained min- isters.
Who the seven male members were I am unable to say with certainty, except that Isaac Bronson was one of them. Mr. Peck himself may have been another. There can be but little doubt that John Stanley and Thomas Judd, Sen. were also of the number. The other church members were Obadiah Rich- ards, Abraham Andruss, (cooper,) John Hopkins, (probably,) Joseph Gaylord, Thomas Judd, Jr., Benjamin Barnes, and Thomas Judd, son of William. All these, except Mr. Peck and John Hopkins, had belonged to Mr. Hooker's church of Farmington, the four last having been admitted within two years. There were no other known male members of churches.
Thomas Judd, the son of William Judd, or Thomas Judd the smith, was the first deacon of the Waterbury church. So says his tomb-stone, still standing, and there are not sufficient reasons for doubting it. Still, there are some circumstances which render it improbable that he was appointed at the or- ganization of the church, in 1691. He did not become a church member till March 22d, of that year, he then being under twenty-nine years of age, as shown by the Farmington records. It is not probable that a man would have been cho- sen for deacon who had been a member of the church but a few months, especially if he was young in years as well as religious experience. There were persons then living who had been long members, who were older and better known than Judd, some of whom, we may suppose, would have been se- lected in preference, had a deacon been chosen as early as 1691. John Stanley, Thomas Judd, Sen., and Isaac Bronson, for aught that appears, were every way qualified for a respon-
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sible place in the infant church. Why some one of them was not made a deacon at the outset, I am unable to say.
Thomas Judd, known as the son of William, or the smith, was thus called to distinguish him from his uncle, and his cousin of the same name. He is uniformly thus termed, whenever mentioned in the records, previous to 1696. Had he been deacon at an earlier date, he would most certainly, unless from carelessness, have been so denominated. Such an office, in those days, when titles were not so cheap as now, was no slight affair for a young man. It could not with decency have been forgotten or overlooked. For the first time, Judd is called deacon, on the town records, March 27th, 1696. This title was sufficiently distinctive, and afterwards, for many years, was applied to him with scarcely an exception, save in legal documents. At last, however, he won a more exalted honor. He became captain of the train-band, and the eccle- siastical was sunk in the military title.
It appears quite probable then that Dea. Thomas Judd was not appointed to his office in the church till about 1695, four years after Mr. Peck's settlement. Why the church should so long have neglected to make this appointment, I am unable to explain. Similar instances of delay, however, were occa- sional, and may have been common.
No sooner had Mr. Peck been settled in the ministry, than the want of a meeting house became painfully evident. The following is a petition, copied from the colonial records, pre- sented to the General Court for assistance. I am not aware that the petitioners got any help :
[May it] please the honourable General Assembly to take into their serious con- sideration the Condition and Request of your humble and louing sernants the in- habitants of Waterbury as to our Condition the prouidence of God and that in seuerall ways hath brought us low by losses of the fruits of the earth, losses in our liuing stock : but especially by much sickness among us for the space of the last four years: we liue remotely * our affaires cost us much Charge, pains and hardships, as to our Petition and that which we desirest is your encouraging and assisting of us we hope in the work : yet too heany for us : viz the building of an house convenient for us to assemble in for the worship of God such an honse we doe more and more find very great need of [&c.] much we could mention by way of persuasion : but we are preuented of time and we hope that a few words to the wise will be sufficient, it may be considered that we have been often at Charges in sending forth horsmen for the timely discouery of an approaching ene-
Ambrose Jies
e
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mie which hath been or might haue been some safeguard to our neighbours in other Townes, for this our Seouting we have had publique recompense, we also haue had farr more trouble than some other Towns in the Colonie by the Souldiers passing to and fro and their often entertainments with us which hath occasioned much expense of our time [&c.] We also are anformed that we shall not be the first that haue publique assistance in the like work in this Colonie we hope right worthy Sirs that you that are the Patrons of this Christian Commonwealth ; will be pleased to giue us further encouragement to build God's house-the encourage- ment which we doe particularly petition for is that our Publique rates may be giuen to us for the space of the four next ensuing years, we find in holy Writ that some whose spirit God hath Stirred up haue been famous in promoting such a work: as Dauid and Solomon, we hope and trust we shall haue a placid return fro- our Worthies upo- whom our eyes are: So we remain your humble and needy Petitioners and Seruants-From Waterbury Anno Domini-91, October. 7.
In the name and on the behalf of the rest of our inhabitants,
John: Hopkins } , Thomas Judd Townsmen.
Under the greatest discouragements, the Waterbury people went on with their enterprise of building a meeting house ; but they made slow progress. It was a serious work, and they were obliged to resort to various expedients.
May 17 1694 ye town by uoate agree to use or improue ye money yt now is or here after shall be due for wild horses yt are sould in ye town-we say to improue it for ye helping build ye meeting hous and to stand by ye oficers yt sell them and hereafter to a low thos yt bring in such horses ye one half.
The wild horses referred to in the preceding extract were those that were found running wild without known owners, and which were occasionally caught and brought in .*
I am unable to say when the new meeting house was finish- ed, or so far finished that it could be occupied ; but probably soon after the date of the town action concerning wild horses. It stood on the Green in front of the house marked on the map William H. Scovill, now owned by Dr. P. G. Rockwell, near the spot where the two next succeeding Congregational houses were placed. It was a small building without glass or gallery, suited to the humble circumstances of its projectors. It had doors upon the east, west and south sides, three in all.
Mr. Peck was an old man when he became the minister of
* The law required that every horse two years old should be branded with the town mark by the town barnder. The brand for Waterbury was R. Thomas Judd, smith, was the first record- ed town brander.
14
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
Waterbury. In a few years, his health broke down, and he was unable to preach. He was not well enough to officiate in baptism as early as June, 1697. Afterwards a minister was hired; but Mr. Peck continued the pastor till his death, June 7th, 1699, at the age of 77. But few memorials remain of him during his residence in Waterbury. Appearances, however, indicate that he was a man of worth, and devoted to his people. If a minister's success is measured by the ad- ditions to his church, his was not great. There were but few accessions during his life, and for several years afterwards. It was a time of embarrassment and distress, as already related. The peaceful virtues of religion are not wont to prosper when the state is in jeopardy and men are suffering in their material interests. As a general rule, it is not the tendency, however much it should be, of war and worldly calamity, of sickness and bodily suffering, to improve the heart, or mend the life.
Jeremiah Peck, according to Mather's Magnalia, was grad- uated at Harvard College, but his name is not upon the gen- eral catalogue of 1854. He was in Guilford, either preaching or keeping school, in 1656, (before which time, no trace of him has yet been found,) and married, Nov. 12th of that year, Johannah, daughter of Mr. Robert Kitchell, a prominent citi- zen of Guilford, (afterwards of Newark, N. J.) His son Samuel was born there Jan. 18th, 1659. In Jan. 1660, he was invited to take charge of the Collegiate School at New Haven, his father being at the time one of the trustees and the business agent. The following is an extract from the colonial record of New Haven :
June 26 1660 It was agreed that Mr. Peck now at Guilford should be school- master and that it should begin in October next when his half year expires there he is to keep the school to teach the scholars Latin Greek and Hebrew and fit them for the College and for the salary he knows the allowance from the Colony is £40 a year.
This school is now called the Hopkins Grammar School, in consequence of the bequest of Gov. Hopkins. Besides the £40, Mr. Peek had the use of a house and some land. Ile probably began to teach in Oct. 1660, and continued until the middle of the next year. May 29th, 1661, the colonial record of New Haven says, "Mr. Peck the schoolmaster propounded
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16 questions about the school which the Court answered and Mr. Peck seemed to be very well pleased."
In Sep. 1661, Mr. Peck was again in Guilford, and while there, in the fall of 1661, received an invitation to preach in Saybrook. He entered into an agreement with the Saybrook people, Sep. 25th, 1661, by which he was to have £100 settle- ment in lands in fee and £55 in a house and lot, the last to revert to the town, provided he removed within five years. He was also promised a salary of £60 per annum, two firkins of butter to go towards it, the rest to be paid in corn and flesh at current prices, his maintenance to be increased if necessary.
Some have supposed that Mr. Peck must have been ordain- ed at Saybrook. The agreement he entered into, bis £100 settlement and his building a house, look like arrangements for a permanent residence, and render the supposition plausible.
After a time, the Saybrook people became dissatisfied with their minister, and Mr. Peck addressed to them the following communication :
Anno Domini 63 feb. 2
Respected and loving ffriends the Inhabitants and planters of Seabroke I under- stand and that from divers [sources] that there is much Dissatisfaction with Reference to myselfe in respect of my proceding in the Ministry at least to a set- tlement and that there are desires in many to provide themselves with a more able Help: I do freely leave myself to the providence of God and the Thots of his people: and so far as I am any wayes concerned herein I doe leave the Towne wholly to their own Liberty to provide for themselves as God shall direct : and with respect to laying aside the future Term of years expressed in the Covenant as also of laying me aside from an Employment of so great a concernment I do desire that these Things may be duly considered and dealt tenderly in that I may not be rendered useless in further service for God : altho I am unworthy to be im- proved so I am yours in what I may as God shall please to direct and enable.
JEREMIAH PECK .*
The controversy with Mr. Peck was settled Jan. 30th, 1665, (1665-6,) the town confirming and " giving him full possession of his accomodation." He appears to have left soon after, the town purchasing the house which he had built, for his suc- cessor, Mr. Buckingham.
In 1664, Mr. Peck was concerned with others in the pur- chase of the Indians of a large tract of land between the Rari- tan and Passaic rivers in New Jersey, on a part of which the
* Stiles' Itinerary, Vol. III, p. 122, Yale College Library.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
city of Elizabethtown now stands. In the next year, 1665, the union of the Connecticut and New Haven colonies took place. Mr. Peck was one of those who perseveringly opposed the union. A party of dissatisfied persons, chiefly from Bran- ford, Guilford and Milford, headed by Mr. Pearson, determin- ed to remove. A committee was sent out to view lands on the Passaic, who made a purchase at Newark. A plantation covenant was entered into by the intended emigrants, which was " subscribed from time to time, until the removal, which happened June 24, 1667." The name of Rev. Jeremiah Peck, of Guilford, stands fourth on the list of subscribers.
Mr. Peck removed to Newark in 1666 or early in 1667. He does not appear to have officiated regularly as a minister at Newark, or anywhere in New Jersey. In 1672, he and others purchased of the Indians a tract of land, now the western part of the town of Greenwich, over the people of which town he was invited to settle as a minister. He declined the call, but in 1678, it was renewed, and he accepted. In the same year, he removed to Greenwich.
In consequence of Mr. Peck's poor health, the Waterbury peo- ple obtained, in 1698, the assistance of Rev. John Jones. He preached seven sabbaths, and for this service the town voted Nov. 14th, 1702, that he should have six pounds, to be raised by tax. From this delay of payment, we may infer that our ancestors, whatever other virtues they may have had, were not prompt in discharging debts.
After Mr. Jones left, Rev. John Reed preached, for a time. His performances pleased the people, and as Mr. Peck was not expected to recover, an invitation was given him to settle, as appears from the following town vote :
Febcurary : 8: 1698-9 the town hauing by a comity giuen Mr. John Reed a Call to ye worck of ye ministrey amongst us acsept what they haue don in it and do now renew our call to him in order to ye worck of ye ministrey a mongst us
Att ye same meeting the town granted to ye ministrey a salary of 50P by ye yeir prouition pay and 10P in wood and ye use of ye pasnage lands ye town for ye incuragement of Mr john Reed if he acsept promis to give him 20P ayeir for too yeirs to be payd in labor and Ift Judd deac Judd Ens Standly and srg brunson was chosen to present our proposals to sd Mr. Reed and treat him consrning ye same
Att ye same meeting ye town granted to ye minister yt should settell and be an ordained officer in ye church after he has bin ordained too yeirs ye whole
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of yt great lot with ye proprieti to be his own and to build him a hous 36 or 38 foots long and 19 foot wide [;] build two climbleys from ye ground a chamber chimbley [;] make or dig and ston a sellar elabbord ye hous and shingel it [;] make one end of ye hous fit to live in [;] which hous is to be ye ministers on ye same conditions ye land is
On the 15th of May, 1699, the town voted to give five acres of upland to the minister that should settle, and July 10th, following, renewed the call which had been given to Mr. Reed. At length, Mr. R. declined the invitation, thinking, probably, that he could " do more good" somewhere else. But the people persevered, Mr. Peck being now dead.
Att a town meeting august: 21: 1699 deae Thomas Judd was chosen a commity to indeviour by himself and ye best counsell he can take to get one to help us in ye worek of ye ministry and to bring a man amongst us upon probation in order to settellment if he can
Sep: 12d: 1699 John hopkins was chosen a comity with ye Deac for geting a minister
In the mean time, the people went on with their enterprise of building a house for "ye minister yt should settell." The old one had been given to Mr. Peck, and a new clergy- man would want suitable shelter. A committee, consisting of Deac. Judd, John Hopkins and Benjamin Barnes had already been appointed to superintend the work. The extracts below refer to this enterprise :
March 10d: 1699 [1698-9] ye town granted a Rate of 8ª on ye pound for Carry- ing on ye work of ye ministers hous to be Raysd on ye present leaney aesepted or proued at ye last october court in: 98: each man to do his proportion in worek and lie yt fayls haueing his worek appoynted or called to worek by ye commity shall pay in prouition pay or yt which is equeuilent
Iun: 20d: 1699: the town mad choys deac thomas Judd to procure nayls for ye clabord and shingling ye ministers hous and ye town ingag to pay for them in money or yt which is equiuelent where he byes them
Att ye same meeting deac Judd John Hopkins and benjamin barns was chosen a comity for ye carrying on ye worek of ye ministers hous to ye perfeting ye worek ye town has promised to do to it
October: 12d: 1698: ye town granted a Rate of a halfpeney on ye pound to be Rayed on ye new leuey which rate is to be payd in currant siluer money or yt which is equiuilent bareing its own charg to ye merkit for to bye nayls and glass for ye ministers hous*
* I find at the beginning of the first book of town meetings what appear to be copies of sub- scription papers to furnish in part the means to pay for the work and materials for the minis- ter's house. They bear no date, but they doubtless belong to the time of which I am writing, (1699.) John Bronson, Joseph Hickox, Samuel Hickox and John Scovill, subscribers, must have
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
At first it was proposed to place the new minister's house on the house lot which had belonged to John Carrington, deceas- ed, now owned by Green Kendrick, and to exchange for it the lot in the rear of Stephen Upson's house lot. Afterwards,, however, it was decided to set it on the " great lot," so called, which is now the corner of West Main and Willow streets owned and occupied by Mrs. Ambrose Ives. The following vote, relating to this subject, was passed April 10th, 1699 :
[The town agreed to] take of [off ] ye obligation yt was layed on yt hous lot at ye west end of ye town lying by Robard Scotts hous lot and giue ye sd lot to ye minister alotment and set ye minister on it.
I know not what the obligation was which is referred to in this vote, unless the lot spoken of had previously belonged to the school propriety.
been the sons of the original proprietors of the same name. Possibly the subscriptions for glass and nails may have been rendered unnecessary and void by the half penny tax. The names on it are not crossed, though those on the other are, (with the exception of Obadiah Richards and Israel Richason,) the cross indicating payment.
Wheat for ye mason to pay after harvest
Samll Standly half a bushill wheat
Serg brunson half a bushill
isriel richason one peck deac judd one bushill
john scouell half a bushill ben barnes half a bushill Ensign Standly half a bushill
tho warner half a bushill
john welton half a bushill
sam. hikcox half a bushill joseph hikcox half a bushill
thomas hikcox half a bushill isriel richason half a bushill
joseph gaylord jur half a bushill obadiah richards half a bushill wm hikcox half a bushill benjamin worner half a bushill
john welton half a bushill [altered to one bushell] setphen ubson half a bushell [altered to one bushell}
Wheat for nayles and glass to finish ye ministers hous
john Richards one bushill obadiah richards half a bus ensign Standly half a bus Left judd half a buss serg brunson half a busshill
john brunson half a buss john hopkins half a bush jeremiah peck john Scouell half a bushill
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
CHAPTER XIV.
ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS: MR. SOUTHMAYD'S MINISTRY.
THE committee chosen to procure a minister, after Mr. Reed left, were successful. They obtained Mr. John South- mayd of Middletown. As early as November 2d, 1699, he had satisfied the people of Waterbury that he was the man for them. He was not yet prepared for a settlement, but he continued to preach. He received several invitations before he yielded to the solicitations of the people. The progress of the negotiations is explained by the extracts below. The pro- vision made for his support may also be seen :
Nouembr: 2d: 1699: ye town mad choye of Left thomas Judd Ensign timo. Standly deac thomas Judd srg Isaac brunson John hopkins a commity to treat [with] mr. John southmeat furder in order to yt worck of ye ministrey a mongst us and for his incuragement in order to his settellment amongst us in ye work of ye ministrey to ofer him what ye town haue granted to ye ministrey
Att ye same meeting ye town granted to ye ministrey 40 pounds in labour with what is dun al ready for fencing and cleareing ye hous lot and other lands for ye aduantag of ye minister yt shal settell amongst us
December: 18d: 1699 ye Town granted to mr. John southmeat for his work in ye ministrey amongst us for what we haue had and if he continue amongst us till ye first of march next a rate of too penc on ye pound according to our gran leuey and grain to pay to him wheat at 5s pr booshill Ry at 3s indian corn 2s 6d poorck 3d pr pound beeff at 2d 4 pr pound all to be good and merchantable
Iun: 24d: 1700 Wheras ye town hauing had sum taste of mr. southmeets minis- trey declare themselves satisfied and are willing to acsept him as theyr minister to despene ye word of god amongst them and desire y' ye church in due season should settell him in gosple order amongst them
Spt: 23: 1701 samll hikcox and willyam hikcox was chosen a commity for to gather ye 20P granted to ye ministrey in worck out of which by ye town order they are to macke a well for mr. southmaid and any Refuseing to do his propor- tion when cal there to by this act ye town impour ye commity to distrain ye es- tate of such persons for ye payment of his just due they giueing men seasonable worning
Syt ye: 15 :- 1705 ye town granted mr. Southmaid his hous and lands and pro- priaty in lands to be his own when he is an ordained officer in ye church here onely on these conditions yt if he leafe ye town before ye too yeirs are out after
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
his ordination then to return to ye town again but if he dy here in ye time to be his heirs.
Octobr ye 7th: 1703 Serg Izaac brunson thomas Judd iun' and Edman Scott was chosen to prouide what was needful for ye entertaining ye elders and mesen- gers for ye ordaining Mr Southmaid [ * * ] they [to] keep a fayr account of it and giue it to ye townsmen that it may be payd in ye town Ratt
Early in 1704, there was unmistakable evidence that Mr. Southmayd was about to yield to the importunities of his peo- ple and consent to be ordained. Five pounds had been granted him "in speci," in addition to the salary which had been offered him; but now it was ordered that the vote which gave the five pounds addition should " be canseled," (a vote was canceled by crossing it with a pen,) and, at Mr. Southmayd's suggestion, that ten pounds should be given him in labor, "to be payd according to men's gran leauey annual- ly." Benjamin Barnes, Sen., and Stephen Upson, Sen., were added to the committee for "treating with mr. southmaid."
March: 19th-1704 ye town desired their commity chosen to treat mr. south- Inaid for a settellment amongst us in ghosple order to proceed to obtaine an ordi- nation of mr. southmaid as soon as may be with conueniencie
Mr. Southmayd was at last settled over a church of twelve male members and the people of the town. Dr. Trumbull gives, as the date of his ordination, May 12th, 1705, which is presumed to be correct. Why the ceremony was delayed so long may be perhaps conjectured. The truth is, Waterbury, at that time, was not a very inviting field of labor. The peo- ple were few in number and poor. Some of their best men had died. Others had run away. They had not yet recovered from the effects of the great flood. They were upon the bor- ders of civilization and in the midst of an Indian war. A gloom had settled over the prospects of the town. No wonder a young minister should hesitate and procrastinate. Besides, pastors, in those days, were "settled for life," or something ap- proaching it. They were not permitted to indulge in roving habits, or to seek frequently other and "wider" (more con- spicuous ?) fields of labor. They did not consider themselves at liberty to leave their flocks except for weighty reasons.
Mr. Southmayd was settled on a salary of £50 in provision and £10 in labor, the same which was paid Mr. Peck and offered
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