USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Litchfield > The history of the town of Litchfield, Connecticut, 1720-1920 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
20
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
it to be wondered at, that some of the first proprietors should have fled from scenes so uninviting and hazardous, even at the risk of forfeiting the lands they had purchased?
"In the autumn of 1722, a war had broken out between the Province of Massachusetts and the Eastern Indians, and in a short time its direful influences were felt in Connecticut, some of which have already been adverted to. The savages on our borders, many of whom had previously manifested a peaceful and conciliatory spirit, gave evidence that their professions of friendship were not to be relied upon. In the spring of 1723, the Committee of War, in Hartford, sent a military corps to keep garrison at Litchfield. At this time, there were about sixty male adults in the town, a large proportion of whom had families". (See the lists of original pro- prietors and of first settlers in the Appendix).
"Such was the apprehension of danger from the Indians, during this period, that while one portion of the men were felling the for- ests, plowing, planting or reaping, others, with their muskets in hand, were stationed in their vicinity to keep guard". We cannot help thinking, however that the picture is a little exaggerated, when Kilbourne adds, "The yells of the Indians at the war-dance, an omi- nous sound, were heard on the distant hills, and at midnight their signal-fires on Mount Tom lit up the surrounding country with their baleful gleam". Be that as it may, in August 1723 the murder of Harris made the settlers keenly alive to their danger. A meeting was held immediately "to consider of and agree upon some certain places to fortify or make Garrisons for the safety and preservation of the inhabitants". At this meeting it was resolved to build four outlying Forts, to supplement the one on the site of the present court-house. Nearly two years later, at a Town meeting, May 10, 1725, "it was voted and agreed, that there shall forthwith be erected one good and substantial Mount, or place convenient for sentinels to stand in for the better discovering of the enemy and for the safety of said sentinels when upon their watch or ward; that is to say, one Mount at each of the four Forts that were first agreed upon and are already built in said Town, which Mounts shall be built at the Town's cost, by order and at the discretion of such men as the Town shall appoint to oversee and carry on the above said work. At the same meeting, Voted, that Joseph Kilbourn shall take the care of build- ing the Mount at the North Fort, and Samuel Culver shall take the care of building the Mount at the East Fort, and Jacob Griswold at the West Fort, and Joseph Bird at the South Fort".
A letter from John Marsh to Governor Talcott written at this time has happily been preserved. It will be noted that an exchange of letters between Litchfield and Hartford once in twenty months was taken as a matter of course at this time:
"Litchfield, June ye 1, 1725. To ye Hon'ble John Talcott, Gov'r. Sir: Knowing full well ye interest that you, our lawful governor, dothe feel and hath often exprest about our little settlement in this
21
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
wilderness, I am moved to write you about our affairs once more. Since I was honored by writing to you aboute twentie months ago, our four fourts or Garresons have been built, all but some mountes for the convenience of Sentinnels. The Garreson at the west our townes men have named fourte Griswold, and the north one fourt Kilbourn because of the godly men who helped most to bild them. The other fourts one at the south end of the town and on Chestnut Hill. These Garresons have done our settlers great good in quiet- ting their fears from the wild Ingians that live in the great woods.
"But we have been so long preserved by God, from much harm, and we praise his nam for it, and take hope for the time to come. Many of our people morne for there old home on the Great River, but they are agread not to go back.
"About the moundes at the fourtes. I am enstructed by ye select men to make known to you their desires that the Collony shall pay for them.
"With many and true wishes that God will preserve you and his Collony for the working out of his good pleasure, I am yours most truly, John Marsh, Town Clerk".
Of these forts, Morris wrote , p. 94, "Between the years 1720 and 1730, five houses were surrounded with palisadoes. One of these stood on the ground near the present court-house; another about half a mile south; one east, and one west of the centre; and one in South Farms. Soldiers were then stationed here, to guard the inhabitants, both while they were at work in the field, and while they were attending public worship on the Sabbath".
These forts, however, were not considered adequate to protect the settlement during these critical years. "On the 1st of April, 1724", Kilbourne, p. 39, "John Marsh was chosen agent of the town 'to represent their state to the General Assembly concerning the settlement and continuing of their inhabitants in times of war and danger'.
"In May, the subject of the Indian disturbances in this quarter occupied much of the time and attention of the Council of War and of the Legislature. The Indians on the western lands were ordered to repair immediately to their respective places of residence, and not to go into the woods without Englishmen in company with them, 'nor to be seen, contrary to this order, anywhere north of the road leading from Hartford to Farmington, Waterbury, and so on to New Milford'. They were warned to submit to this order on pain of being looked upon as enemies, and treated accordingly. Two hun- dred men from Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor, were directed to hold themselves in readiness to march at the shortest notice; and sixty more from each of the counties of New Haven, Fairfield and New London, with their proper officers, were called for to supply the garrisons at Litchfield and New Milford, when the soldiers then at those posts should be withdrawn. Friendly Indians were to be
22
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
employed in scouting with the English, and twenty pounds each were to be paid for the scalps of the enemy Indians. An effective scout was to be kept marching in the woods north of Litchfield between Sims- bury, Westfield and Sackett's Farm, (Sharon). The thirty two men, sent on to scout from Litchfield were directed to be drawn off in ten days". During the Legislative Session of May 1725, Nathaniel Watson, of Windsor, and Matthew Woodruff, of Farmington, each presented a petition for a bounty for having shot an Indian during the preceding summer, while in the King's service at Litchfield.
Among the papers on file in the office of the Secretary of State is the following memorandum made by Governor Talcott (Kil- bourne, p. 41).
"A brief account of the minutes of the Council of War Book, of men sent into the service this summer, from May 24, to October 6, 1724:
After the Assembly rose, ten men were sent to Litchfield. till June 24. June 25-Four men sent to Litchfield from Hartford.
June 30-Major Burr sent ten men, and Major Eles ten men, to New Milford and Litchfield.
July 27-Six men sent from Woodbury to keep garrison at Shepaug twenty days.
August 18-Fifteen men were improved in scouts under the command of Sergt. Joseph Churchill, at Litchfield and New Milford; have orders sent to the 5th instant of October to draw off and disband.
October, 1724.
JOSEPH TALCOTT."
At the General Assembly, in May 1725, Joseph Churchill, of Wethersfield, mentioned in the preceding paragraph, presented a Memorial, stating that he had served for fifteen weeks at Litchfield, but had received no pay for Sundays. He therefore asked pay for fif- teen Sundays. This was granted in the Lower House, but lost in the Council.
"By our Town Records it appears", (Kilbourne, p. 42), "that on the 15th of October, 1724, a Memorial to the General Assembly was agreed upon and ordered to be signed by John Marsh, in the name of the town, and sent to New Haven by the hand of Timothy Collins, to be delivered to the Court. This Memorial is not on record in Litch- field, but is fortunately preserved among the files in the Secretary's office in Hartford. It is an impressive and interesting document, and eloquently details the trials and perils encountered by our fathers :
"A Memorial of the distressed state of the inhabitants of the Town of Litchfield, which we humbly lay before the Honorable General Assembly now sitting in New Haven :
May it please your Honors to hear us in a few things. Inasmuch as there was a prospect of the war's moving into these parts the last year, the Governor and Council-moved with paternal regards for our safety-ordered Garrisons forthwith to be erected in this town. In obedience thereto, laying
23
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
aside all other business, we engaged in that work, and built our fortifications without any assistance from abroad, whereby our seed-time in some measure was lost, and consequently our harvest this year small. The seat of the war in this colony (in the whole course of the concluding summer), being in this town, notwithstanding the special care taken of us by the Honorable Committee of War, and the great expense the colony has been at for our security, yet the circumstances of our town remain very difficult in several respects. The danger and charge of laboring abroad is so great, that a considerable part of our improvable lands remote from the town lie unim- proved, whereby we are greatly impoverished, so that many of our inhabitants are rendered incapable of paying their taxes which have been granted for the settling and maintaining of our ministry and building a meeting-house, which we are yet destitute of, whereby that great work seems to be under a fatal necessity of being neglected.
Many of our Inhabitants are drawn off, which renders us very weak and unable to defend ourselves from the common enemy, and the duties of Watching and Warding are become very heavy.
By reason of the late war, our lands are become of little value, so that they who are desirous of selling, to subsist their families and defray public charges which necessarily arise in a new place, are unable to do it. Your humble petitioners therefore pray this Honorable Court would be pleased to take thought of our difficult circumstances, and spread the gar- ment of pity over our present distress, which moves us to beg relief in several respects :
I. That our deserting proprietors, who do not personally inhabit, may be ordered to settle themselves or others upon their Rights, which will not only be an encouragement to those that tarry, and render our burden more tolerable, but prevent much charge to the colony.
2. That our Inhabitants may be under some wages, that they may be capable of subsisting in the town, and not labor under the difficulty of war and famine together.
3. That some addition be made to the price of billeting soldiers, especi- ally for this town, where the provision, at least a greater part of it, hath been fetched near twenty miles for the billeting of soldiers this year.
4. That some act be made concerning Fortified Houses, that the peo- ple may have free liberty of the use of said Houses as there is occasion.
5. That there may be an explanation of the Act of the Governor and Council made the last summer, which obliges every proprietor of a home lot to attend the military, by himself or some other person in his room, as the law directs, in case a person hath fifty pounds in the public list; for many of our deserters have put off their home lots and some of their lands, so that many of them have not a whole Right or a home lot in this place, and so escape execution upon that act.
As to the Indians hunting in our woods, we submit to your Honors' ordering that affair as in your wisdom you shall think best for us.
All of which we humbly recommend to the consideration of this Honor- able Assembly, and ourselves your servants desiring Heaven's blessing to rest upon you, and that God Almighty may be with you, to direct in all
24
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
weighty affairs which are before you, and make you rich blessings in your day and generation, your humble petitioners shall, as in duty bound, ever pray.
JOHN MARSH,
In the name and by desire of the rest".
Another petition was presented by John Marsh and others at the next Legislative Session, May 1725; this and the Resolutions adopted as a result by the General Assembly are given at length by Kilbourne, pp. 43-46. It will be sufficient to reprint here the follow- ing Resolutions, passed by the General Assembly at the spring ses- sion of 1725.
"This Assembly, taking into consideration the difficulties of the Town of Litchfield in this time of trouble with the Indians, and that sundry per- sons claiming Rights in said Town are not resident in the same, have there- fore Resolved :
I. That each person claiming a Right or Rights in said Town, that shall not be constantly residing in said Town, shall pay and forfeit, towards defraying the public charges in defending the same, the sum of thirty pounds per annum for each Right he claims, and so pro rata for any time he shall be absent without allowance from Capt. Marsh, John Buel and Nathaniel Hosford, or any two of them; and by the same rule of propor- tion for part Rights. And if any such claimer shall neglect payment of the said forfeiture at the time and to the Committee hereafter appointed in this Act, the said Committee are hereby fully empowered to sell so much of the lands in Litchfield claimed by such non-resident person, as will answer the sum so forfeited; and all sales and alienations made of such Lands by the Committee, shall be good for the holding the same to the grantees and their heirs forever. And this Assembly appoint Major Roger Wolcott, Capt. Nathaniel Stanley, Esq., and Mr. Thomas Seymour, a Committee to take account of all forfeitures that shall arise by force of this act, and upon the non-payment of the same, to make sale of the Lands as aforesaid.
And it is further ordered, That all such forfeitures shall be paid to the said Committee at the State House in Hartford, on the first Monday in June, which will be in the year 1726; and the said Committee are to deliver all such sum or sums as they shall receive by force of this Act, unto the Treasurer of this Colony, taking his receipt for the same-the said Com- mittee to make their accounts with the Assembly in October, provided never- theless that the Right of Joseph Harris is saved from any forfeiture by force of this Act. And it is further provided, that if any such claimer shall keep an able-bodied soldier in said Litchfield, who shall attend duty as the Inhabitants do, such claimer shall be excused for his non-residence during such time.
2. And it is further enacted, That all houses that are fortified in said Town, shall be free for the use of the people and soldiers in the garrison.
3. That the Inhabitants of said Town shall be allowed five shillings and sixpence per week for billeting soldiers.
4. That Mounts shall be built in the Forts that are already made in said Town, at the public cost of the Colony. .
-
PRIMEVAL OAK
LITCHFIELD FROM
CHESTNUT HILL. FROM BARBER'S HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS, 1836
25
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
5. That all able-bodied young men that are dwellers in said Town and are eighteen years old and upwards, and have no right to any Lands in said Town, and shall constantly reside therein until October next, and do duty with the Inhabitants, shall be allowed three shillings per week out of the Public Treasury, until October next, unless the Committee for the War in Hartford shall order to the contrary for part of said time.
6. That every able-bodied man that is fit for service to the acceptance of the commissioned officers, that hath a Right in said Town, and shall constantly reside therein and do his duty according to the command of the captain until October next, shall be allowed out of the Treasury eighteen pence per week, unless the Committee for the War shall order to the con- trary for part of the time".
There was another side of the matter, which affected the incon- venience of the men drafted to help in the garrisoning of Litchfield, as we find from another petition submitted to Governor Talcott in May 1725:
"To the Honorable Joseph Talcott, Governor of His Majesty's Colony of Connecticut-Whereas, When your humble Petitioners were impressed to come up to Litchfield to keep garrison, we were encouraged by our offi- cers to come, because it was but for a little while we should be continued here, just till the Inhabitants could get their seed into the ground. That business being over, and our necessity to be at home being very great, we humbly pray your Honor to dismiss or exchange us by the beginning of June; whereby your Honor will greatly oblige your Humble Petitioners.
JOSEPH ROSE,
Litchfield, May 23, 1725.
In behalf of the rest".
"During the summer of 1725", (Kilbourne, p. 47), "the war with the Eastern Indians still continued, though it does not appear that the people of Litchfield suffered in consequence, except in being kept in a state of suspense and anxiety.
"It is not until a year later, October 1726, that the records give indication that any immediate danger was again apprehended by the people of this Town. At this date, 'upon news that the Indian enemy were coming down upon our frontier', it was resolved 'that there be forthwith thirty effective men raised in the towns of New Haven and Wallingford to march to Litchfield, to be under the direction and command of Capt. John Marsh, of Litchfield, for the defense of said town -- twenty of whom shall be raised in New Haven, and ten in Wallingford; and that a Sargeant march with them directly from each of said towns; and that the Major of the County make out his orders to the Captain in said town accord- ingly'.
"Twenty effective men were at the same time ordered immediately to be raised in Milford, and marched to New Milford, to be under the command of Capt. Stephen Nobles, for the defence of that town. Cap- tains John Marsh and Stephen Nobles were directed at once to 'send forth small scouts, to call and in the name of the Assembly to com-
26
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
mand all the friendly Indians to retire to their respective towns or places where they belong, and not to be seen in the woods except with English men'. The friendly Indians were to be employed for the defense of the frontiers and for scouting, and were to be paid eighteen pence per day while engaged in the latter service and twelve pence per day for warding and keeping garrison in towns. Five men were directed to be sent from Woodbury for the defense of Shepaug until the danger should be over".
This was the last serious alarm caused by the Indians, but (Kilbourne, p. 68), "Other Memorials, of a later date than those given, complain of the difficulties which the settlers still encountered, and asked for legislative interference in their behalf. Indeed for more than thirty years after the Garrisons were erected, they were resorted to with more or less frequency, by individuals and families. on account of apprehended danger. One of these Garrisons stood on Chestnut Hill and was remembered by Elisha Mason, who died in Litchfield on May 1st, 1858".
CHAPTER IV.
THE CHURCH ON THE GREEN.
The earliest records of the town of Litchfield are found in the Record Book of the Proprietors in Hartford and of the Town Meet- ings in Litchfield. This old manuscript covers all the ground from 1715 to 1803. The long narrow pages are often difficult to decipher from age and from the unusual characters of the ancient caligra- phy. It is without doubt the most valuable and curious single volume in our town. Through the wise forethought of our Town- Clerk, George H. Hunt, these old pages have been faced with trans- parent silk and strongly bound, and may be consulted by those inter- ested at the Court House. They should be examined by all who are curious about old Litchfield history.
The Proprietors' meetings occupy one end of the book and the Town meetings the other. Apparently the first entry of a town meeting is undated. "Deacon John Buel and Nathaniel Smith were appointed a Committee to hire a minister, and to 'make and gather a rate' to pay him for his services among us'. This Committee employed Mr. Timothy Collins, of Guilford, a young licentiate who had graduated at Yale College in 1718. At the next Meeting, held November 6, 1721, it was voted, 'that Mr. Collins be forthwith called to a settlement in this place in the work of the ministry'; and it was stipulated that he should receive fifty-seven pounds per year for four years, and thereafter, as follows: 'the fifth year, sixty pounds; the sixth year, seventy pounds; the seventh year, eighty pounds; and so to continue at eighty pounds per year' so long as he should remain in the pastoral office. It was also agreed to pay him one hundred pounds previous to the 1st day of July, 1722, and to furnish him with firewood". (Kilbourne, p. 28).
"The amount of his firewood for a series of years was by vote to be eighty cords per annum. This provision, very liberal for the times, was accepted by Mr. Collins on December 12, 1721; he entered upon his labors, was ordained on June 19, 1723, and continued to be the minister of the Congregational Society till the 15th of November 1752, when he was dismissed. He afterwards continued here, acting as a Justice of the Peace, and in the practice of Medicine, and died in 1776". (Woodruff, p. 21).
Timothy Collins is referred to as eccentric, but we shall never know what his peculiarities were. On the whole he does not appear to have been the right man to start the new colony. Dissension arose, first over pecuniary, and then apparently over personal, mat-
28
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
ters. His salary was liberal, as Woodruff says, but doubtless his expenditures were considerable also. He claimed that it was insuf- ficient; and a long and bitter discussion arose, which lasted for the greater part of his stay. Naturally the population did not want higher rates, and they were already burdened with many charges. The foundation of an Episcopal Society as early as 1745 was probably due in part at least to disaffection with Mr. Collins. It is at least noteworthy that in December of that year a Committee was appointed "to eject Mr. Collins from the Parsonage Right". The year before this, 1744, the Town voted "not to make any rate for Mr. Collins under present difficulties", and at the same time a Committee was appointed to treat with him respecting his salary and "absence from the work of the ministry". On two occasions, 1751 and in 1753, after his withdrawal from the ministerial office, charges were brought against him before the Consociation and in Town Meeting, for unfaithfulness in his office. Both were protested against, but the pecuniary troubles lasted for a few years longer. Mr. Collins had his supporters, as well as his detractors, as is shown by his subse- quent election to various civil offices, such as Lister and Selectman; and it should be noted that the only lawsuit brought against him was decided in his favor. In 1755, he was appointed Surgeon of one of the Connecticut Regiments in the Expedition against Crown Point.
"In April 1723, the inhabitants voted to build their first Church; and the house was finished within three years. It was built in a plain manner and without a steeple. Its dimensions were 45 feet in length and 35 in breadth .... At the raising, all the adult males in the whole township, being present, sate on the sills at once. In the year 1760, the inhabitants agreed to build their second church; and completed it in 1762. Some time after a bell was procured". (Morris, p. 96).
As George C. Woodruff says, p. 26, it was probably in view of the construction of the first Meeting House, that the town voted, December 9, 1723, that "whosoever shall sell or tranceport any pine boards out of the Town, shall forfit ten shillings per thousand".
The first church stood in Meeting-House Street, a little to the north of its center, and nearly opposite the northern extremity of Town Hill Street (South Street), as it now runs.
The second church was near the same site, and was 63 feet long and 42 feet wide. After its completion, the old church was sold at auction in November 1762.
This second church was the most justly celebrated of any of the two dozen or more church edifices that have been erected within our town limits. Here were enacted the most stirring home scenes of the Revolution; here Judah Champion preached for nearly fifty years; and here Lyman Beecher thundered against intemperance. Here the law students and the girls of the Litchfield Academy wor-
29
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
shipped; here were the pews of all the distinguished families of the town.
Inside, it was not at all a church such as we would recognise to-day. Of it Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote: "To my childish eye, our old meeting-house was an awe-inspiring thing. To me it seemed fashioned very nearly on the model of Noah's Ark and Solo- mon's Temple .... Its double row of windows; its doors, with great wooden quirls over them; its belfry, projecting out at the east [west?] end; its steeple and bell; all inspired as much sense of the sublime in me as Strasbourg Cathedral itself; and the inside was not a whit less imposing. How magnificent, to my eye, seemed the turnip-like canopy that hung over the minister's head, hooked by a long iron rod to the wall above! and how apprehensively did I con- sider the question what would become of him if it should fall! How did I wonder at the panels on either side of the pulpit, in each of which was carved and painted a flaming red tulip, with its leaves projecting out at right angles, and then at the grape-vine, in bas-relief, on the front, with exactly triangular bunches of grapes alternating at exact intervals with exactly triangular leaves. The area of the house was divided into large square pews, boxed up with a kind of baluster work, which I supposed to be provided for the special accommodation of us youngsters, being the loophole of retreat through which we gazed on the remarkabilia of the scene .... But the glory of our meeting-house was its singers' seat, that empyrean of those who rejoiced in the mysterious art of fa-sol-la-ing. There they sat in the gallery that lined three sides of the house, treble, counter, tenor and bass, each with its appropriate leader and supporters. There were generally seated the bloom of our young people, sparkling, modest and blushing girls on one side, with their ribbons and finery, making the place as blooming and lively as a flower-garden, and fiery, forward, confident young men on the other". (Autobiography, Vol. I., p. 211).
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.