USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > The memorial history of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1884, Vol. II > Part 62
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538
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
The Rev. S. Bradstreet, a contemporary writer, calls them the " Pres- byterian party ; " and the division indicates, no doubt, some diversity of opinion which prevailed at the time concerning church government. This secession of a part of the original body from the old church must have been exceedingly painful to Mr. Warham ; and very soon after it, in April, 1670, he passed to his rest. He was laid beside the beloved teacher who had gone before him, but the exact spot is now unknown.
Mr. Warham is mentioned by Winthrop as one of the four selected by the Court in 1634 to preach the regular "weekly lecture;" and Cotton Mather, in his " Magnalia," says of him, " The whole colony of Connecticut considered him as a principal pillar and father of the colony." Mr. Mather thinks he was the first minister in New England who used notes in preaching, and says : " Some faulted him for it ; but when once they came to hear him they could not but admire the nota- ble energy of his ministry. He was a more vigorous preacher than most of them who have been applauded for never looking in a book in their lives,"-by which he evidently means, looking in a sermon-book while preaching. Mr. Warham was one of the elders appointed by the General Court to attend the synod at Boston in June, 1657. This body recommended to the churches the Half-way Covenant system, and it was put in practice in this church at once. But seven years later Mr. Warham told his people that he had met with some difficul- ties concerning that way, and could not conscientiously practise until they were removed. His successor "set it on " again, however, three years later, and it continued in use in this church until within the memory of some now living. Several members of the church at the present time were baptized in infancy under the operation of that covenant, their parents not being "in full communion." Another interesting fact is mentioned by Cotton Mather. "Though our War- ham," he says, " were as pious a man as most that are out of heaven, yet Satan threw him into those deadly pangs of melancholy that made him despair of ever getting thither. . . . And the dreadful darkness which overwhelmed this Child of Light in his life did not wholly leave him until his death." In these seasons of depression he would some- times refuse to partake at the Lord's Supper when administering it to his flock.
After Mr. Warham's death the old church continued under the pastorate of Mr. Chauncey, and the church of the seceders under Mr. Woodbridge, though with little peace or harmony between the two. The Court ordered, May, 1679, that they " approve that both those Gent", Mr. Chauncey and Mr. Woodbridge, abide in their respective improvements as formerly, till such time as either there be a greater appearance of the settlement of their peace in the enjoyment of these, or some other orderly means may be used for the procuring of another minister, so as may be for the union and satisfaction of the whole." The troubles had assumed new shape at this time. The town-house, in which the Second Church worshipped, needed repairs, and the town had refused by vote to make them. This house was at first a private dwelling, and the town had bought it, together with lands which were intended "for the benefit and entertainment of a minister." Failing to secure a vote for its repair, the new society were willing at last to return to their old place and worship with their brethren, as at first ;
539
CHURCHES OF WINDSOR.
but now the old church refused to receive any who had joined them since the separation, except on a private examination of each. Re- peated orders of Court were disregarded, and the advice of a mutual council of fourteen failed to bring peace. This "bleeding state and condition," as it is described in an order of the Court, continued until both parties were weary of it. In the mean time Mr. Chauncey had left, upon a call from Hatfield, Mass.
But at last, on a unanimous call of all parties, the Rev. Samuel Mather, of Branford, was secured as a healer of the breach. Though called in 1681, he was not settled until March 3, 1685. In the interval between the call and settle- ment the town-house was renovated and fitted Samu Mather. for his residence. Mr. Woodbridge had left in 1681, without receiving satisfactory compensation from the party that he had served. On appeal to the Court, that body were so rejoiced at the prospect of peace in Windsor, that they refused " to enter par- ticularly into the bowels of the case," but granted Mr. Woodbridge a tract of the public land, with an appeal to both parties to adjust their differences without further trouble. Mr. Mather's coming resulted in a full and final agreement. He was practically the successor of Mr. Warham over the whole church, and he was a man worthy of the succession. His grandfather was Richard Mather, of Dorchester. His father, Timothy, was a brother of Increase Mather, who about this This year: 1688 1th yra Not So much as one were added to IRE church. buchas many Dred out of it, uswos added the year fafard the good lord awaken. " humorous. those dyed were. Dores mills; Nach Cook, Mary Filly. Muchas( Nath: Loomis. John Porter Mary Parler. Deacon John Loomis. Steph. Taylor. 2. Ai all. time became President of Harvard College. Ile and Cotton Mather, of Boston, were therefore cousins. He married a daughter of Hon. Robert Treat, afterward governor of the colony. Thus honorably connected, and at the same time endowed with learning and with the spirit of Christ, his labors were exceedingly fruitful, and accepta- ble to all. The number of church- members at his settlement was only fifty-six ; but it was more than doubled within the first two years. His ministry to this people con- tinued forty-two years, until March 18, 1728, when he died among them, at the age of seventy-seven years.
About the time of his settlement a new meeting-house was built on the old site, which stood for seventy-four years, and then it was pulled down. A part of its timbers were used for building a barn, which is still standing, the property of Horace H. Ellsworth. The great oak timbers and huge mortises testify of its strength and solidity, however it may have lacked the elegance of modern church edifices. Here for a time the people gathered to worship from a wide region of country reaching from Hartford to the Massachusetts line, and from Ellington to Simsbury, - a tract now supplied with at least twenty different houses of worship in seven different towns. During Mr. Mather's ministry, as the more remote settlements increased in size, one after
540
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
another was permitted by the General Court to become an independent parish, and at length to organize a local church. This was done first on the " East of the Great River " (now South Windsor), and about the same time at Suffield ; then at Poquonnock in 1724, and at Bloomfield (then Wintonbury) in 1736, after Mr. Mather had gone to his rest. Mr. Jonathan Marsh was chosen col- Jonathan Mark league with Mr. Mather in 1710. An old memorandum of Timothy Loomis, made Aug. 29, 1710, reads, "Mr. Marsh's first lecture." For eighteen years the two labored on together. Their salaries varied from year to year. That of Mr. Mather ranged from £60 down to £30 in the years just before his death ; while Mr. Marsh received from £70 to ££125 during the same years. All these latter sums were, however, in " money; " while Mr. Mather's £60 was " in Currant Pay or two thirds so much in Money."
The separate parish records begin Aug. 31, 1711. Previous to the division of the town into different parishes the society votes are all found upon the town records, since the whole town was one parish. Then, for a few years after, the east and west sides of the river voted separately in parish matters, both for the support of preaching and schools ; though separate books were not kept until the above date, -- Au- gust, 1711. Later still, when new divisions of the parish were ordered, each was simply one section of the town territorially separated from the others. It was not until near the beginning of the present century that men were allowed to " sign off," that they might support preach- ing of some other than the established order. Numbers of these notes which are recorded show how unwilling many were to be taxed for the support of a ministry in which they had no faith. One dated Novem- ber, 1808, reads : "This may certify that Martin Palmer, of Windsor, does not mean to uphold the Idea of Religion being supported by the civil sword ; therefore by this he certifies that the Baptist order are according to the apostolic plan, discarding the usurpation of the Pedo- Baptists or Presbyterians, and will not support them from this date."
The ministry of Mr. Marsh was a fruitful one, and ended with his death, Sept. 8, 1747. After a four-years interim, during which several unsuccessful attempts were made to procure a pastor, the Rev. William Wilen Russel. Russell, of Middletown, was called, and settled July 24, 1754. Mean- while a trouble had arisen about the location of a new meeting-house, which they found it necessary to build in place of the one erected in 1684; and the division of sentiment was as great and as uncompromising as that of the previous century. The question of locating the house - whether it should be on the north or south side of the Rivulet - was now the principal one at issue. The Rivulet, now called Farmington River, was then crossed by a ferry ; while the interval, which was annually overflowed, separated the two extremes of the parish much more than at present. At last, when all hopes of agreement failed, it was " voated," April 7, 1749, that, -
" Whereas ye first Society in Windsor are under Many Difficulties & Conten- tions Relating to their Meeting House, ye Place of Public Worship, settling a
541
CHURCHES OF WINDSOR.
Minister, & other Difficulties Subsisting amongst them, whereby ye Peace & Good Order of sd Society is very much interrupted, Therefore it is now Voated yt our Difficulties be Laid before ye General Assembly in May next, praying to
usted That Tape Thomas grisnow and Jorge
Iswell Sloten
John palmer
Should be
TheTed that arle Allen and doet makker
commitey tto feat the meting Rouse L' Cartor Shouts Signifie The seats
order Granted out to John allin for Beating The Drum on Saboth
00 =12:06 The sum of hetne shlugs
FAC-SIMILE OF VOTES PASSED.
542
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
them yt ye Wold Take our Circumstances under y' Wise Consideration & Send us a Wise & Indifferent Com" to hear us under our Grievances & Report our Circumstances io sª Assembly, & We [be] Directed and Obliged to some Rules of Order for ye Helth & Peace of yr Society, - or to Do for us as they shall in their Wisdom Judge Best."
This appeal resulted in favor of the party on the south side; and the meeting-house was built near the northeast corner of Broad Street, nearly opposite where the Union school-house now stands. Before coming to this decision repeated committees were sent, and careful measurements made from every separate house to each of the two sites suggested ; and a map was drawn which is now among the archives of the town. But the people north of the Rivulet would not acquiesce in the decision of the Court, and continued to agitate their grievances until allowed to withdraw and become a parish by themselves. A
church was organized, which in September, 1761, was recognized by the Consociation. In April, 1762, Mr. Theodore Hinsdale was set over them as pastor, and a house of worship was erected about one and a quarter miles north of the old site. These two churches went on independently until September, 1793, - thirty-two years, covering the whole eventful period of the Revolutionary War and settlement of a David Rowland permanent peace. Meanwhile Mr. Russell died, and in March, 1776, the Rev. David Row- land, of Providence, Rhode Island, was settled as his successor ; and in May, 1790, his son, Henry A. Rowland, was ordained as his colleague. At length an arrangement was made for the merging of the new church in the old, and the present meeting- house was built on a Henry ot Rowland site but a little to the south of the original one, and the bridge and causeway were made, to facilitate travel between the two extremes ; while by way of compromise the Union school-house was located on the south side of the Farmington. Later, in 1822, the Conference House also was built upon that side.
The successive ministers from the first have been : -
Rev. John Warham,
March 30, 1630, died
April 1, 1670.
John Maverick, teacher,
Ephraim Huit,
66 Nathaniel Chauncey, pastor,
Samuel Mather,
66 Jonathan Marsh, 66 August, 1710,
Sept. 8, 1747.
William Russell, 66 July 4, 1754,
April 19, 1775.
66 David S. Rowland,
March 17, 1776, 66 Jan. 13, 1794.
Henry A. Rowland, Charles Walker,
May 5, 1790, 66
1835.
66 Spofford D. Jewett, 66
June 12, 1839,
Oct. 31, 1843.
Theodore A. Leete,
Sept. 24, 1845,
Oct. 1, 1859.
Benj. Parsons, acting pastor, July, 1860,
ins. May 29, 1861, dis. 1865.
Gowen C. Wilson, March 1, 1866, installed Nov. 20, 1867.
March 30, 1630, Feb. 3, 1636. Dec. 10, 1639, Sept. 4, 1644.
1668, removed 1680.
March 3, 1685, died March 18, 1728.
March 9, 1836, dismissed 1837.
543
CHURCHES OF WINDSOR.
causes outside its own field. church contributes from $700 to $1,000 per year to various benevolent ministry, and one of $3,500 for insurance and repairs on organ. The It has a parsonage valued at $2,500, a fund of $9,000 for support of the The church is without debt. Its house of worship is in good repair.
A Congregational church was formed in Poquonnock Parish in 1724.
Its location was described as follows : -
frem paquanak meting hous to cornelius phelpsin hous one mile and Ralf, from cornelius phelplic hous to william phelpsir hous a quarter of a mile, from to williams pheye to its meting Rous one mile an quarter an #42Rods not meturing if viven
The society's clerk recorded himself thus : -
away the 18 1727 This Is io Signify That i the futterifix was Chosen Clock at a fociaty miting in y welt fociaty of winfor which meating was amay Other Grund 1926 But have not fine Sworn to That ofis Mathew Griswold
544
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
Its first pastor, the Rev. John Woodbridge, was settled in 1727 and dismissed in 1736. This church had two other pastors - the Rev. Samuel Tudor from 1740 to 1757, and Rev. Daniel Foster from June 11, 1771, to Oct. 23, 1783 - before it was disbanded.
For years previous to the formation of the present Congregational Church of Poquonnock, the Second Ecclesiastical Society procured preaching occasionally, sometimes by a Baptist, and sometimes by a Methodist ; but at last by a majority of one decided to sustain the Con- gregational order ; and June 2, 1841, a church was formed having thirty- nine members. It has been served chiefly by men who were hired from year to year without settlement. The only two settled pastors were the Rev. Thomas H. Rouse, who supplied from 1852, was installed in 1854, and dismissed in 1856 ; and the Rev. Silas Ketchum, who supplied from July, 1877, was installed May 1, 1879, and died in April, 1880. The Rev. Cornelius B. Everest supplied about nine years, from 1843; and between the two pastorates the church was served by the Rev's. Henry G. Lamb, Ogden Hall, Charles H. Bissell, Josiah Peabody, N. G. Bonney, and William H. Phipps, each serving two or three years.
The church edifice is a good brick building. The society owns also a very good parsonage, valued at $3,000, and has a fund of $600, with no debt. The present membership of the church is about one hundred. The Rev. William Howard has served it as acting pastor since September, 1880.
As early as 1790 a Methodist preacher, the Rev. George Roberts, preached in Windsor. Mr. Ethan Barker enters his certificate on the books of the First Ecclesias- Ethan Barker tical Society, Oct. 10, 1793, as follows : " Know all whom this concerns that I have joined a society of Method- ists in Windsor." Mr. Barker afterward formed a class, which was reorganized in 1808 by the Rev. Laban Clark. Worship was kept up in private houses until 1822, when they built a church edifice ; and in 1823 the following organized a board of trustees, consisting of Elisha Strong, Eli Wilson, Ethan Barker, Abel Barker, and Hiram Phelps. The membership numbers about 115. The Rev. David G. Downey is now preacher in charge. Mr. E. Spen- cer Clapp has served for many years as class leader. The church owns a neat and newly remodelled edifice, which is valued at $5,000.
Episcopal service was occasionally held in Windsor by the Rev. Arthur C. Coxe, then rector of St. John's Church, Hartford, now Bishop of Western New York ; and Dec. 14, 1842, a parish was organized in the town, with the following gentlemen as vestrymen : Isaac Under- hill, George Spaulding, Fitch Bissell, John Spencer, Alonzo M. Smith, Quartus Bedorthy, Samuel O. Loomis, and Henry A. Bliss. Their first church, whose corner-stone was laid Nov. 6, 1843, was the one now owned and occupied by the Roman Catholics, a little south of Broad Street, on the Hartford road. The name of the parish was at first St. Gabriel, but it was subsequently changed by act of the legislature to Grace Church Parish. For a while the church was cared for and
545
CHURCHES OF WINDSOR.
supplied by the professors of Trinity College, Hartford. Its first resident rector, the Rev. Reuel HI. Tuttle, was chosen in October, 1860. On the 25th of December, 1863, Mr. Tuttle made the society a thanksgiving offering of $500, upon the recovery of his daughter from a serious illness. This was intended for the improvement and beautifying of the church edifice. But the society at once moved to increase the sum sufficiently to build anew, and a beautiful stone church was erected on the south- east corner of Broad Street, costing $25,000. This house was conse- crated by Bishop Williams, Sept. 13, 1865, the corner-stone having been laid Aug. 2, 1864. The Rev. Mr. Tuttle resigned his office, July 4, 1870, but officiated until his successor, the Rev. Benjamin Judkins, accepted the charge, April 13, 1871. The Rev. Mr. Judkins resigned Jan. 6, 1880, and the Rev. James B. Goodrich, the present rector, succeeded him, beginning his labors the 1st of October. The present number of communicants in the church is about one hundred and twenty.
Sometime near the middle of the last century a Baptist church was formed in Windsor. Its house of worship stood near where the school- house of the Fourth School District now stands, upon the Poquonnock road. In common with their brethren of the early days they suffered persecution at the hands of the established order. During the first quarter of this century many " signed off" from the old Ecclesiastical Society and joined the Baptists.
A Baptist church was organized in the village of Rainbow, which was recognized by Council May 18, 1875. Mr. George L. Hodge had sustained a prayer-meeting and secured occasional preaching previous to his death, in 1867; and in that year public worship began, which was sustained by aid of the Second Baptist Church of Suffield, their pastor, the Rev. Dr. Ives, giv- ing his aid and encouragement. The Rev. W. F. Hansell, D.D., preached then for some time, and in April, 1870, became pastor of the flock. He died Nov. 26, 1875. The Rev. W. K. Dean became pastor in July, 1876, and served until June 6, 1878. The Rev. A. S. Burrows was chosen pastor Oct. 1, 1878, and served until June, 1881. The Rev. G. W. Hinckley succeeded him Nov. 1, 1881. A new church edifice, valued at $5,000, was dedicated, free from debt, July 8, 1880.
There is also a Baptist society which occupies a hall in the second story of the school-house of the First District. It has no church organi- zation, but is led in worship by the Rev. Horace E. Cooley.
The church building first occupied by the Episcopalians was bought by the Roman Catholics in 1865, and since then there have been regular services held in it by that church. The Rev's James Smith, Michael McAuley, Michael Kelly, James O. R. Sheridan officiate as priests, while residing at Windsor Locks. The membership is about one hundred and twenty-five.
Gowen @ . Wilson
VOL. II .- 35.
546
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
EARLY WINDSOR FAMILIES.
BY JABEZ H. HAYDEN.
THE following is a list of all the persons who can be traced to Windsor before 1650. Most of the names appear upon the land records of the town or in the genealogical record prepared by Matthew Grant, who prepared a list of the marriages and of the births "here in
EGGLESTON .
NOWELL.
TAYLOR. .
0
TOWN.
PARKMAN
GRANT.
COOKE
C
=
HUBBARD!
HUIT.
N.
PHILLIPS.
1
TRY.
MEETING
HOUSE
PALISADO.
TAIRES:
5
HUIT.
H.CLARKEO
BURYING
F. GIBBS.
BASSETT
HILL.
WILTON
FILER
THORNTON.
RIVULET
THE PALISADO.1
Windsor." The dates do not necessarily mark the coming of the families, but give the first time their names appear on the records. Doubtless some, who were among the first settlers, bear dates here later than 1640, through their neglect to " bring in" a description of their land to the recorder at that time. Those of earlier dates are found
1 Enlarged from the general map. See also page 504, note 3.
GROUND.
MASON
SENSION.
547
EARLY WINDSOR FAMILIES.
in Grant's " Genealogical Record," the " Colonial Records." Mason's " History of the Pequot War," and the list of the Saltonstall party. Removals are taken from the land records and from town histories. The " History of Dorchester" is the voucher for those " who came up" from thence.
The map shows where each person's house-land lay ; and the list, alphabetically arranged, gives a brief sketch of each settler, the breadth of his home-lot, whether it was set off to him by original grant or was bought by him, what was the size of his family, and other facts of historie and genealogie interest. The settlers were as follows : -
GEORGE ALEXANDER (1644) bought Jasper Rawlins's place, 1644, and lived there until 1655, when he sold to William Filly, and his name disappears. He married Susan -, 1644 ; had three sons and two daughters born here.
BENEDICTUS ALFORD (1637). Lot granted to him ten rods wide. He married Jane Newton, 1640 ; had four sons and one daughter.
ALEXANDER ALFORD (1645) bought a lot eighteen rods wide. He married Mary, daughter of Richard Voare, 1646 ; had three sons and four daughters. He sold his place to Josiah Ellsworth, 1654.
MATTHEW ALLEN (1638), from Hartford, bought the Plymouth Company's house and lands. He had two sons and one daughter, born before 1638 ; he died, 1670. His son John Allen (Allyn) remained in Hartford, or returned there, and became secretary of the colony ; had a family of daughters. Thomas, another son of Matthew Allen, married Abigail, daugh- ter of the Rev. John Warham, 1658. He lived in the Brancker place until the death of his father, when he removed to his father's homestead ; had four sons and four daughters.
SAMUEL ALLEN (1640) (" New England Historical and Genealogical Register" says, a brother of Matthew). Lot granted thirteen rods wide. Doubtless Allen's house stood on the east side of the highway, and probably all the houses between his and Mr. Warham's should have been represented as standing where the present highway is, with the highway running west of them. He died, 1648, leaving a widow and six children. His widow married William Hurlburt, and removed to Northampton, taking the Allen children with her.
JOHN BRANCKER (1640), first schoolmaster, had a lot granted to him twelve rods wide. He died, 1662. His widow married the Rev. Mr. Warhan. His homestead was sold to Thomas Allen, a son-in-law of Mr. Warham.
JOHN BANCRAFT (1647) was living, 1647, in Francis Stiles's house. He married Hannah Duper, 1650; had three sons and two daughters ; he died, 1662. He bought, 1658, the lot north of the Ferry road and built upon it.
JEFFREY BAKER (1642) bought Thomas Ford's house and lot. He had a lot granted him west of the highway nine and one half rods wide. He married Jane, daughter of William Rockwell, 1642. They had two sons and three daughters ; he died, 1655.
THOMAS BARBER (1637), of the Saltonstall party, had a lot granted to him twenty- two rods wide. He married Jane -- , 1640; had four sons and two daugh- ters ; he died, 1662. His son John removed to Springfield, Mass., and Thomas to Simsbury. Samuel remained on the homestead.
JOHN BARTLETT (1641) was living at Poqnonnock, 1649. His lot and honse were north of Thomas Holcomb's. He sold to Samuel, son of Mr. William Phelps, about 1651. In 1654 he owned and lived in a house on the mill highway, south of Daniel Clarke. He sold this place to John Case, 1669, and removed to Simsbury. He had three sons and two daughters born here. 1641-1651.
548
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
THOMAS BASCOMB (1640), from Dorchester, had lot granted him twenty-three rods wide. He sold it with dwelling-house to John Moses, 1656, and removed to Northampton, Mass. He had one son and two daughters born here, 1640-1644.
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