The history of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Part 39

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton
Number of Pages: 956

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2 Henry A. Rowland's published sermons were :

1. A Discourse, delivered November 27th, 1800 ; a day observed as an Anni- versary Thanksgiving. By Henry A. Rowland, Pastor of the First Church in Windsor. Published by desire of the hearers. Hartford ; printed by Hudson & Goodwin, 1801. Text, Psalm cxlv, 10. p 20.

2. A Sermon, occasioned by the death, and delivered at the funeral of the Honorable Oliver Ellsworth, Esq., LL. D., who died November 26th, 1807, in the 63d year of his age. By Henry A. Rowland, Pastor of the First Church in Windsor. Hartford : printed by Hudson & Goodwin, 1808.

" To the bereaved widow and afflicted children, the following discourse, preached at their desire, and published by their request, is inscribed by their sympathizing friend,

Text, Psalm xxxix, 9, p. 15.

THE AUTHOR.

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ECCLESIASTICAL, 1776-1859.

preaching was plain, earnest, impressive - and, as a natural consequence, eloquent. Sin never passed him unrebuked, and repentance found in him a friend and guide.

During his ministry we find in 1802, the first mention on the society records of a singing master. And in 1804, the first mention of a bell, which was given to the church by Henry Allyn, Esq. Previous to this time the only bell in town had been one given to the school house on the Palisado Green, by Alexander Allyn, about the latter part of the last century.

He was succeeded by the Rev. CHARLES WALKER, who was installed March 9th, 1836. He was graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1823, and had been previously settled at New Ipswich, N. H. The society, however, were in a state of unrest, and his health being extremely delicate, he withdrew just one year after his settlement.

On June 12th, 1839, the Rev. SPOFFORD D. JEWETT, formerly settled at Griswold, Conn., was installed as the pastor of this church; he is now settled at Middlefield a parish in Middle- town, Ct.

The present pastor of this church is the Rev. THEODORE A. LEETE, who was ordained September 24th, 1845.

The first hearse in the society was purchased (together with a house for it) by a tax of five mills on the dollar, according to a vote of 26th September, 1814. A new hearse and house was ordered in October, 1844; and in 1847, one was ordered for Windsor Locks.

In 1844, the old church edifice was thoroughly repaired, and altered to its present appearance; and in 1852, a neat parsonage was built by the society.

Deacons .- The deacons of this church have been as follows : WILLIAM GAYLORD, 1 died 1673.

JOHN MOORE, ordained January 11th, 1651-2, died 1677. JOHN LOOMIS, died 1688.

JOSEPH SKINNER, died 1724.

1 The History of Dorchester, before referred to, says that William Gaylord and WILLIAM ROCKWELL were the first deacons of this church at Dorchester, Mass. The latter, however, does not figure as a deacon on the Windsor town or church records.

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

JOB DRAKE.

THOMAS MARSHALL, died 1735.

DANIEL MARSHALL, became a Baptist preacher and left town.

JOHN COOK, died 1751.

JOSEPH SKINNER, died 1756.

JOHN PALMER, died 1756.

SAMUEL ROCKWELL, died 1725.

NATHANIEL DRAKE, died 1739.

JOHN PHELPS, died 1777.1

WILLIAM COOK, died 1780.

EDWARD MOORE, died 1798.

NATHANIEL HAYDEN, died 1803.

ELISHA STOUGHTON, died 1823.

PHINEAS WILSON, became a deacon in the Baptist church, 1808. ELEAZER GAYLORD, 1820, left town.

JOHN SARGENT, died 1829.

ELIJAH MILLS, died 1831.

DANIEL GILLETT, died 1837.

JOHN B. WOODFORD.

ALVY ROWLAND, died, 1857.

ROGER PHELPS.

JASPER MORGAN.

Baptists in Windsor.

About the middle of the last century, during the Great Awakening which commenced in New England under the preaching of the celebrated 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 outcry without restraint," in dreams, and trances, and in the superior efficiency of "lay exhorters." This latter class 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.

1 Possibly a deacon of the Poquonnoc Church.

ECCLESIASTICAL, 1776-1859. 439

Marsh's last days were much embittered by their extravagancies and commotions. Trumbull, after mentioning the "fanatical spirit" which prevailed in certain counties in the colony, adds that " there was also something of the same spirit in the county of Hartford, in the towns of Windsor, of Suffield, and in Middle- town. 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 persecutions. The storm of op- position which overwhelmed them, only served to intensify their devotion to the peculiar principles which they espoused, and, together with the civil judgments which were brought to bear upon them, caused them to run to the extremest lengthis of folly and absurdity. Separatism was undoubtedly the legitimate re- sult of unwise and unwarrantable legislative interference with the rights of private conscience; and any odium which attaches to it, should not attach to the Baptist denomination. But the multitude as well as the law, in that day, made little or no dis- tinction betwixt the two classes. Mr. Ebenezer Frothingham of Middletown, in a book printed in 1767, and entitled, " A Key to Unlock the Door that leads in to take a Fair View of the Religious Constitution established by Law, in the Colony of Connecticut," after affirming that the opposition was not directed against the Separatists, says: " Young Deacon Drake, of Wind- sor, 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 relief, until at last the Assembly has given him a mark in his hand, 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 ears of a just God."1 This was evidently rather a hard case of treat-

1 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 denomi-

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

ment, but it will serve as a fair exponent of the spirit of the times. In the genealogy of the Marshall family, in another portion of this volume, our readers will find some interesting notices of some good and pious men, famous in the annals of the Baptist denomination, to whom old Windsor gave birth.

The Baptist church in Windsor has become extinct within the recollection of those now living. The Rev. Frederic Chapman was its last minister - a man well remembered for his peculiar- ities of manner as well as his piety and kindly disposition.

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

This society worshiped around, mostly in school houses, until 1822, when a church edifice was erected 42 by 37 feet, and two stories in height, where the present one now stands, on Broad Street Green. It was built by donation, some furnishing the

nation 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 attend- ed public worship with them under the ministry of a Baptist minister." The cause of the Deacon's trouble was that he refused to pay the tax which was levied on him by the Second Society, for the building of the new (orthodox) meeting-house in 1761. The constables distrained for the amount, and his troubles commenced .- State Archives, Ecclesiastical.

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ECCLESIASTICAL, 1776-1859.

material and others the labor, and its cost was about twelve or fifteen hundred dollars.

The first board of trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Windsor, was organized June 13th, 1823, at the house of Elisha Strong. At this meeting the following persons were chosen trustees : Elisha Strong, Eli Wilson, Ethan Barker, Abel Barber, and Hiram Phelps.

In 1845 the Society repaired their old meeting house, by moving it back, adding eighteen feet to its front, and erecting a spire, etc., at a total expense of about $2,200.

The present ministers are the Rev. Isaac Sanford and Jehu P. Ellsworth, who supply Windsor and Windsor Locks.

Episcopal Society.

The Episcopal Parish of St. Gabriel was organized December 14, 1842, and its original members were 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 church edifice was laid on the 6th of November, 1843, and it was consecrated January 15, 1845. The building is about 48 feet long by 28 feet wide, with transepts on each side. The posts are 20 feet high, and the body of the church is entirely free from any cross timbers, except short hammer beams; the roof is very steep and high, and its internal finish corresponds therewith, being lathed and plastered so as to show the plates, principal rafters, arches, curves, etc., which are of a mahogany color, in bold relief, and with a very pleas- ing effect. The cost of the church, exclusive of the organ, was about $2000, and is said to be unsurpassed for ease of speaking and singing.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE SCHOOLS OF WINDSOR.

1636-1700.

Nothing is more strongly indicative of the sterling character and aims of the first settlers of Connecticut, than their appre- ciation of the importance and claims of popular education. It was indeed inwrought with the whole fabric of their social and civil polity. They came to this land, not as isolated adventurers, entertaining varied opinions and aims, and kept together merely by the necessity of self-defence, or selfish interest; but as a body politic; and in the family relations which they brought with them, offered the best pledges, which man could offer, of the sincerity of their convictions and the permanence of the commonwealth which they sought to estab- lish. As men who expected to carve out their fortunes by dint of their own labors, they felt that the " true dignity of labor" was enhanced and established by the existence of a sound educational system.

The very nature also, of their civil organization, making all civil officers elective, and giving 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 whose better enjoyment they had mainly sought these shores, could only be firmly established and secured by the influence of education. The very corner stone of their religious creed was

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SCHOOLS.

a solemn and unalterable belief in the Bible as the only " authoritative rule of life," and of every man's right and ability to interpret that rule for himself. Therefore, schools were necessary to bring all persons to an intelligent "appre- hension and knowledge of the scriptures," and "of the main grounds and principles of the Christian religion necessary to salvation."

Nor can we forget, that the members of the Connecticut emi- gration 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 War- hams, the Ludlows and Wolcotts, men whose fervent piety, ripe experience of life and business, social position and wealth, gave them the controlling influence in the community, were men of refined and cultivated tastes, who had received in the free schools and even universities of England, the best education which that day afforded - God be praised for that - God be praised, too, that amid the trials and hardships of a new set- tlement, they did not forget the education 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 mutilation 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 evi- dence remains to show that there were probably schools here, and that its citizens were neither unmindful or 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 to the commissioners of the United Colonies, a proposition "for the maintainance of poor scholars at Cambridge," suggesting that each family " which is able and willing " should yearly contribute " but the fourth part of a

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

bushel of corn, or something equivalent thereto," the court approved the proposition and appointed two men in each town " to receive and seasonably to send in what shall thus be given by them." And William Gaylord and Henry Clarke were appointed for that purpose in Windsor. This contribution was continued for many years by the Connecticut Colony, for the "School of the Prophets" was very near to the hearts of the settlers.

In May, 1650, a Code of Laws, which has been previously alluded to, was completed. It contained, under the titles Children and . Schools, the following important enactments, which remained, with only such trifling modifications as contributed to their greater efficiency, until the act of 1792, and the revision of the school law in 1801.

Read them, ye Windsor men, with honest pride that these, with other enactments of the Code of 1650, were the work of Roger Ludlow, a Windsor father; read them also, we trust you will, with a sincere appreciation of that Christian wisdom, therein displayed, which the experience of two centuries hath not gainsaid. Read carefully, for every word is pregnant with truth.

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 negligent of their .

duty in that kind.

It is therefore ordered by this Court and the authority thereof, That the selectmen of every town in the several precincts and quarters where they dwell, shall have a vigilant eye over their brethren and neighbors, to see, first, that none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in their families, as not to endeavor to teach by themselves or others, their children and apprentices so much learning, as may enable them perfectly to read the English tongue, and knowledge of the capital laws, upon penalty of 20s for each neglect therein; also, that all masters of families, do, once a week, at least, catechise their children and servants, in the grounds and principles of religion, and if any be unable to do so much, that then, at the least, they procure such children or appren- tices to learn some short orthodox catechism, without book, that they may be able to answer to the questions that shall be pro- pounded to them out of such catechism by their parents, or mas-

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SCHOOLS - THE CODE OF 1650.

ters, 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 employ- ment, either in husbandry or some other trade profitable for themselves and the commonwealth, if they will not nor can not train them up in learning, to fit them for higher employments; and if any of the selectmen after admonition by them given to such masters of families, shall find them still neglectful ot their duty, in the particulars afore mentioned, whereby children and servants become rude, stubborn and unruly, the said selectmen, with the help of two magistrates, shall take such children, or apprentices from them, and place them with some masters,- boys till they come to twenty-one, and girls to eighteen years of age complete -- which will more strictly look unto and force them to submit unto government, according to the rules of this order, if by fair means and former instructions they will not be drawn unto it."1

Schools.

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

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

And it is further ordered, That where any town shall increase to the number of 100 families or 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, above one year, then

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

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

every sueli 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 Wind- sor, is on the town records.

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

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

In 1666-7, we must chronicle the erection of the first school- house in Windsor. Deacon Moore charged the town with " 8s. 4d for ironwork 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 establish- ment of a grammar school. For we find that, April 2, the Town of Windsor was fined £5, " for not procuring and maintaining a grammar school, said fine to be paid over to the Hartford grammar school.

" November 13, 1673. This day was a town meeting to read some orders ordered to be published by the General Court in October, and also diseourse about setting up a school in Wind- sor, and it was agreed to, and four men more [added] to the present townsmen, which [were] Corporal Marshall, John Bis- sell, John Porter and George Griswold. These with the towns- men [are] to meet on Friday, the 21st day of this month, and to speak with Captain Clarke, and to see what way to order for the setting up of a school."

Nov. 19, 1674, " the Town meeting consulted about the school proposed to be kept by Mr. Cornish." His terms were £36 per year; some wished the children to pay 5s per quarter, others wished the town to pay the whole expense. He was to keep

1 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 reputation, and the first schoolmaster of Windsor. He occasionally de- livered the " weekly lecture " before the church. He died May 29, 1662, and his widow Abigail married the Rev. Mr. Warham.

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

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SCHOOLS.

five months south and seven months north of the Rivulet. Two or three months later, it was decided " that the scholars shall pay Mr. Cornish."1

In 1675, at the time of King Philip's war, John Fitch of Windsor, being called out against the Indians, made the follow- ing will :2

"These may testify that I, JOHN FITCH 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 fol- loweth : first, that my just debts be paid out of it. The rest, both land and goods, I give for the promoting of a school here in Windsor, to be disposed of in the best way as the County Court and the selectmen of this Town shall see meet, for the end aforesaid.

In testimony to the abovesaid, I hereto set my hand this 30th day of August, 1675. JOHN FITCH.

He, with other Windsor men, fell 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 concerning John Fitch's will, that what of the estate after his death, and all his just debts be paid is to go the town of Wind- sor's use for the maintainance of a school, and therefore we propounded to the company that in case all his moveables of his estate should not reach to pay his debts, they would not allow something out of a town rate, and it was by all said a vote [that] they would [add] unto [the balance] the sum of 3 Pounds."4

In December, 1676, Windsor seems to have again been desti- tute of a school teacher, for "the town voted that they are will-

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

2 Probate Records, Hartford, Ct.

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

4 The inventory which accompanies the will, states his property at £40:1s, and debts at £11:15:8.

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

ing there shall be a schoolmaster be got and the townsmen were to get one and the children to pay as to Mr. Cornish, and the rest by the town."

February 18th, 1679, the town voted Captain Clarke to keep school in Windsor for a year, six monthis on each side of Rivulet, and he engaged also to attend to the town business in making out rates, lists, &c., for all of which he was allowed £40.

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

In 1690, the following enactment was made:

" This Court observing that notwithstanding the former orders made for the education of children and servants, there are many persons unable to read the English tongue, and thereby unable to read the Holy Word of God, and the good laws of this Colony, and it is hereby ordained, that all parents and masters shall cause their children and servants as they are capable to read dis- tinctly the English tongue, and that the grand-jury men in each town do once in the year, at least, visit each family they sus- pect to neglect this order, and sati, fy themselves that all child- ren under age, and servants in such suspected families, can read well the English tougue, or in good proceedure to learn the same or not, and if they find any such children or servants not taught as their years are capable of they shall return the names of the parents or masters of the said children, to the next Court, when the said parents or masters are to be fined 20 shillings for each child or servant whose teaching is thus neglected, accord- iug to this order, after the order of 1690, unless it appears to . the satisfaction of the Court that the said neglect is not volun- tary, but necessitated by the incapacity of the parents or mas- ters, or their neighbors to cause them to be taught as aforesaid, or the incapacity of the said children or servants to learn,"

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The history of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Part 39

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909 Publication date: 1859 Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton Number of Pages: 956

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton
Number of Pages: 956