USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The town and city of Waterbury, Connecticut, from the aboriginal period to the year eighteen hundred and ninety-five, Volume I > Part 25
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A discontinued section of an old Farmington road ran southeast of Fort swamp. In 1788, a road was laid out, that is described as beginning at Farmington road a little east of Edmund Austin's, and as passing "Fort Swamp and brook, Tame Buck [a hill], and extending to the highway by Elnathan Thrashers and Ebenezer Frisbies." The latest mention of the swamp under its ancient name that has been met, is in 1812. It has been called in recent years Ford swamp and sometimes Frost swamp, the names having become associated with it through the ownership of lands in it, or, in its immediate vicinity.
In the line of Indian occupancy referred to, we find the follow- ing place names : "Patucko's Ring," a name that covered consider- able territory; Mantoe's House Rocks, and Wigwam Swamp, whose "west end lies at the north end of Burnt Hill." We also have "Kill" Plain, sometimes appearing as "Cill," and again as "Kiln" Plain; and the line being extended, we come upon Fort Hill (which may be of English origin). It is a sandy spur of the Mount Taylor range, and sometimes, from its peculiar outline, is called the Tray Orchard, while to the northward lies "Mount Toby." This is fre- quently written Mount Tobe, while Mr. Southmayd alone probably gave to us its correct name, in Mountobe, an Indian name, and
22I
FROM 1685 TO 1691.
easily corrupted by the early recorders (who evidently disliked "monotonous spelling") into Mount Toby. We also find a place called Potostocks, and sometimes Porterstocks, whose signification is not known, and Nonnewaug Hill,* and Nonnewaug Plain, and Race Plain, while in the west part of the township, now Middle- bury, we find the Wongum Road.
Taking the East Farms school-house as a centre, we find our- selves in a region that at a period beyond which our records extend, tradition notes, as a hog pound. It is not far from the ancient bound,line of Farmington, and may have been in use by the people of that town. Corroborating tradition, in 1689, when lands were granted thereabout, Hog Pound brook antedated the grants. South of the school-house, it is said, "lay the hog pound itself, and that the swine were permitted to roam the country at will, but were accustomed to obey the call that occasionally summoned them to the pound, where they were rewarded by a treat of corn." How- ever that may have been, in 1689, 133 acres in that vicinity were divided into nineteen hog fields of seven acres each. These are arranged in five groups, and were distributed to nineteen planters. The first three fields are described as "upon the hill eastward of the path from the longe wigwam upon the hill;" seven were "on the hill on the west side of Hog Pound brook," (this brook flows into Beaver Pond brook, west of the school-house);" three more were "on the west side of the Beaver Pond brook;" three were "on the hill on the east side of Hog Pound brook, and on the north side of the road that leads to Farmington," while the seven acres of the Rev. Jeremiah Peck's hog field are now covered by the waters of the upper "East Mountain" reservoir, he having received, together with two of his parishioners, allot- ments "at the southeast end of Turkey hill, to run both sides of the brook."
Certain well-known names, attached to lands, served to denote locality as unerringly as the lighthouse fulfills its mission. Bron- son's meadow was one of the number. It lay along the Mad river in the broad valley north, or northerly of the red house where Justus Warner lived, and which, together with the ruin of the house of his father, Ebenezer Warner, with its central chimney and corner fire-place in every room, is still standing. The path to Bronson's meadow lay over Long hill in 1686. A grant on that hill was described as "on the north side the path that leads to Bron- son's meadow."
* Nonnewaug Hill is between Steele's Brook and the West Branch, its southern end between Steele's Brook and Obadiah's Brook.
222
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
The year 1689 was notable for the many and special gifts be- stowed upon the young men of the town. There was wide scope for this generosity, for the spirit of departure was abroad. The reasons for this were ample. Two years later, in writing of the condition of Waterbury, Mr. Peck wrote that the people had been brought low by losses of the fruits of the earth, losses in their living stock, and especially by "much sickness during the space of the last four years." To add to the picture thus drawn, war was again, and through no act of the Colony, thrust upon the people. No more defenseless town existed than this one. To the north- ward, from whence the French and Indians might descend upon it, there was no habited place. Waterbury had but thirty-seven men to defend about two hundred women and children. It is not sur- prising that our records are at this time abundantly sprinkled by such gifts to the young men as the following, in order to induce them to stay : "To John Scovill, Junior, a piece of land butting on John Warner's three acre lot on the east, on a highway on the west and south, on Thomas Judd, Jr., on the north, provided he build a house according to original articles and coinhabit four years after." This was at the northeast corner of Pine and Willow streets. "To Jonathan Scott, a piece of land," with bounds. This was on Union square, between it and Bank street. Ephraim Warner received a "piece of land" on Willow street, between Pine and Grove streets.
Waterbury must have been a busy hamlet in 1690. We are in- debted to the new minister, Mr. Peck, for what we know of its part, humble though it was, in the war between France and England. He tells us that horsemen were often sent out in search of an ap- proaching enemy, and hints at timely discoveries that proved safe- guards to neighbors in other towns. It would seem that Waterbury was at that date in the line of march between Hartford and Albany, for he informs us that the town had "far more trouble than other towns in the Colony by the soldiers passing to and fro, and their often entertainments with us."
The Colony asked to borrow of the people in every town pro- visions, grain, or any other estate, upon the public faith of the Colony, to be repaid again in ten months. Every male person whatsoever, if sixteen years of age, except negroes and Indians, was compelled to serve upon the "millitary watches." Any inhab- itant, being absent, whether at sea or elsewhere, was compelled to furnish a substitute through the members of his family left at home, and even widows, worth fifty pounds, were required to pro- vide a man to watch in their steads.
223
FROM 1685 TO 1691.
This military watch was kept by walking or standing in the places where danger was apprehended from the enemy, and, from the charge given, it would seem that firing the woods was one mode of warfare adopted. If fire was discovered, the cry ordered was "Fire ! Fire !" If the enemy was at hand, the watchman cried "Arme ! Arme !" Who can say that our Burnt Hill does not date from that war? Waterbury was one of the towns exempted from listing men to join the "flyeing army of dragoones," and a special grant of twelve pence a bushel was allowed it for what of the country rate should be transported to Hartford or New Haven. Nothing has been learned regarding the earliest fortified house or houses here; but, as every town in 1690 was ordered to "complete the fortifications that had been ordered," although the order itself has not been found, it undoubtedly included the frontier town of Waterbury; and as no one house could have accommodated the population at that date, more than one must have been prepared. We find no mention of fortified houses until 1703.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE REVEREND JEREMIAH PECK - HIS PETITION TO THE COURT FOR PERMISSION TO GATHER A CHURCH IN WATERBURY-THE CHURCH ORGANIZED-ITS . DEACONS-MR. PECK PETITIONS FOR ASSISTANCE IN BUILDING A HOUSE FOR THE WORSHIP OF GOD-THE DISASTER OF 1691-DELAYS-MR. PECK UNABLE TO PREACH-HE CONVEYS HIS PROPERTY TO HIS CHILDREN-" THE PRESENT MINISTER "- THE TOWN BUILDS A HOUSE FOR ANOTHER MINISTER-ENTHUSIASM OVER JOHN READ-DEATH OF MR. PECK-BURYING-YARD AT THE FOOT OF HIS GARDEN - PROPRIETORS AT THE CLOSE OF THE CENTURY.
T HE exact date of the arrival in Waterbury of the Reverend Jeremiah Peck is not evident, but that it occurred prior to May 20, 1689, appears from a town act of that date : "The Town granted Mr. Peck and Edward Scott, Jr., an addition to the north end of their house lots-Scott to spring northwards three rods on the northwest corner, and Mr. Peck to spring a rod and a half from the northeast corner of his lot, and so a straight line from the above said corners to bound them on the highway, pro- vided they make and maintain a good and safe ditch to drain the land." This referred to the locality surrounding the site of St. John's Church. Edmund Scott, Jr., lived next west of Mr. Peck. Both house lots were between Church and State streets, and this land received the waters of the two streams that crossed West Main street near the corner of Church street.
A clergyman of the "Congregational or Established Church of Connecticut Colony " at the period in question, could perform the functions of his ministerial office, only when ordained over a special church and people. Therefore Mr. Peck, when he left Greenwich- where he must have been an ordained minister, for we find him filling the various offices connected with the position-could not perform the same duties in Waterbury until the organization of a church, and his ordination as its pastor. It was for this reason that the planters continued to take their children to the old church at Farmington for baptism, even after the arrival of a minister already venerable in the service. Sixty-three children (and per- haps a greater number) were born in Waterbury between 1681 and 1691. Forty-five were baptized in Farmington before the date of the organization of the church in 1691, and fourteen of the number
225
THE FIRST CHURCH OF WATERBURY.
after Mr. Peck came. The last child baptized there for the reason given, was Ebenezer Richardson, son of Thoma , the planter, on June 28, 1691.
The invitation on the part of the Grand Proprietors to Mr. Peck to " settle with them in the work of the ministry," was unanimous. The name of every one of their number then living and known to have been within the town, with the single exception of John War- ner's (whose name may have been-like that of Benjamin Judd from the list of original proprietors-an omission of the recorder), is appended to the agreement by which his salary of sixty pounds became assured. The following is the agreement :
In Considaration of settling the reuarant : Mr Jerimy pecke in the worcke of the menestry : amongst vs : in watterbury : we whos names : are vnder writen : doe ingage : to pay to the aforsaid : mr Jerimy Pecke acording to our yerly grand leuy ecth : of us : our proportions of sixty : pounds by ye yere : to be payed fifty : Pounds in Prouition pay : and ten pounds in wood and thus to doe : yerly
Robert Porter : John brownson
John newill
Thomus Judd sen
Samuel hickox
Abraham andrews Sen
John Standly
Obadiah richards Daniell Warner :
John wilton sen pilip Judd
beniamin barns
Edman Scoote sen
Abram Andrews Thomus richardson
Isaac brownson
Thomus Judd Ju
Timothy Standly
Joseph gayler
Thomus warner :
John hopkins :
Daniel Porter :
Edman SCoot Ju
steuen vpson
Thomus newell
Of the twenty-five men who signed the above engagement, which is without date, all are, or represent, Grand Proprietors. Robert Porter, whose name stands first on the list, would undoubt- edly have been deacon of the church had he lived to see its organ- ization. We miss six names from the number. John Carrington, Joseph Hikcox and Benjamin Jones were dead at the time of the signing of the agreement; William Judd and Thomas Hancox were removed to Farmington, and John Scovill, it is thought, was in Haddam. Several younger men, to whom lands had been granted were unrepresented.
In the then condition of the town, by reason of the disasters that were befalling it, Mr. Peck's presence must have been of the utmost importance and comfort to his people, for the minister filled a place in the life of the community at that date, that is not gen- erally understood. He was the reigning sovereign over his people, holding at the same time every office within his own government -being at once father, guide, counselor and deputy in all matters relating to the public weal, as well as revealer of the will of God to his children. His person and his presence were regarded with awe
I5
226
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
and reverence, and the numberless sacrifices that were made for the privilege of possessing a "Minister of the Gospel" testify to the deep appreciation of the luxury. However grim and severe the outline of the planter's own house, his minister's house must pos- sess a chamber chimney, and glass for the windows; and a well, even though his own wife and children dipped from the waters of the running stream. Accordingly, we have found a house already built, and ready for Mr. Peck when he arrived, (his family consisting of his wife, their daughter Anna, and sons Jeremiah and Joshua). One naturally thinks of Mr. Peck with a feeling of commiseration that he should remove to Waterbury, at nearly seventy years of age, to begin a new life in the wilderness; but he came into the vicinity of his kindred, and nearer to his old home in Connecticut. His aged father was living in New Haven. He also had a daughter, Ruth Atwater, and five grandchildren living there. Still nearer, at Wal- lingford, were his brother John and his sister, Elizabeth Andrews, and nineteen nephews and nieces.
It is said that Mr. Peck was born in London, England, or its vicinity, in 1623; that he came to America in the ship Hector in 1637, with his father, Deacon William Peck, who was one of the founders of New Haven. From the time of his arrival until he reached his thirtieth year, the only mention that has been found of him appears in the account books of the steward of Harvard Col- lege, where are found credits of Jeremiah Peck from 1653 to 1656. November 12, 1656, he married Johannah, a daughter of Robert Kitchell, of Guilford. He spent four years in Guilford, "preaching or teaching." In 1660 he was called to take charge of the Colony School at New Haven. When, two years later, New Haven colony came under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, Mr. Peck joined the band of devoted men who desired to found a new town and colony, in whose government no man might have part or lot, until he had acknowledged the government of his God by visible membership in church union. He thus became one of the first settlers of New- ark, New Jersey. In 1669 or 1670, he was settled as the first min- ister of Elizabethtown. In 1670 and again in 1675 he was invited to the church at Woodbridge, N. J., but the repeated invitations of the people at Greenwich at last won him back to Connecticut. Not- withstanding a "call" to Newtown, L. I., he removed in 1678 to Greenwich. It was while there, that he was desired to settle in the work of the ministry at Barnstable, Mass., and, as we know, at Waterbury.
We are no longer surprised at the escort provided by the town for the safe conduct of Mr. Peck and his family on their journey
227
THE FIRST CHURCH OF WATERBURY.
from Greenwich to Waterbury, when we remember the warlike condition of the country. It seems strangely out of place to write that a war between France and England delayed for two years the most important act that ever took place in the Naugatuck valley- the organization of the First Church of Waterbury. Minor causes may have contributed to that end, but we are forced to believe that the event took place at the earliest moment practicable. War's alarms were not soon allayed; in fact, the "flankers " about the Meet- ing-House at New Haven were not removed until 1693. It would be interesting to know how long the people of Waterbury resorted to their fortified houses at night, and to hear again the stories of adventure told by the scouting parties on their return to the town, but the records of the events of that period perished long ago, as they were thought not essential to the life of future generations.
In the autumn of 1690, the dragoons in the several counties were disbanded, to return to their foot companies, and certain steps were taken that gave evidence that the dangers of the war, although not over-passed, were greatly mitigated. In the spring of 1691, Mr. Peck prepared a petition to the General Court, in which consent was requested by "some of the Inhabitants of Waterbury " to proceed to the gathering of a Congregational church. Mr. Peck's desire to be strictly accurate in his statements is apparent in the expression " we, at least some of the inhabitants," which occurs in the petition, thereby implying that the desire was not entirely unanimous. Per- haps there were certain cautious persons who felt that the colony was not yet in a state of peace that would warrant so important a step, and perhaps the demands upon the town, by reason of the war, had been such as to make the cost of the undertaking a question of moment. There was much entertaining to be provided for, as the approbation of the neighboring churches was as essential to the for- mation of a church, as was the consent of the Court. The follow- ing is the petition which was presented to the General Assembly, May 14th, by Ensign Judd:
To the honored General Court our humble salutations presented: wishing all happiness may attend ye: we at least some of the Inhabitants of Waterbury being by the goodness of God, inclined and desirous to promoue [promote] the concerns of the Kingdom of Christ in this place by coming into church order: do find: which we well approue of: that it hath been ordered by the honoured General Court: that no persons within this Colony shall in any wise imbody: themselues into church estate without the consent of the General Court and approbation of the neighbour churches, we humbly request the consent of the honoured General Court now assembling: that we may as God shall giue us Cause and assistance proceed to the gathering of a Congregational Church in this place, and for the approbation of neighbour Churches we desire it and intend to seek it. So being unwilling too long
228
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
to prevent your Honors from other emergent occasions: we in breuity subscribe our- selues in all duty your humble Seruants in the name and behalf of the rest of our Brethren.
From Waterbury. 91. May. 12.
JEREMIAH PECK. ISAAC BROUNSOON.
The request met with instant favor in the subjoined response:
Mr. Peck and Isaac Brunson, in the behalf of the people of Waterbury, petition ing this Court that they might have the liberty and favour of this Court to enter into church fellowship, and to gather a church in that place: This Court do freely grant them their request, and shall freely encourage them in their beginnings, and desire the Lord to give them good success therein, they proceeding according to rule therein.
Therefore, in May, 1691, the inhabitants were legally entitled to church organization. Having secured the franchise, the people seemed in no haste to avail themselves of the blessing. They waited three months before taking action .*
If Mr. Peck kept a record of the church and its subsequent his- tory under his pastorate, it has disappeared from the knowledge of man. What we know in relation to it has come to us through the following agencies:
In 1729, the Reverend Thomas Prince, of Boston, received a letter (evidently in response to inquiries made by him) from the Reverend John Southmayd, of Waterbury, containing certain information regarding the town and church in that place. In 1772, extracts from Mr. Southmayd's letter were made (I do not know by whom), and the extracts were among the manuscripts of Benjamin Trum- bull, D. D., of North Haven, at the time of his death in 1820. Dr. Trumbull had planned in 1811, to write " The History of the Ameri- can Churches of every denomination of Christians within the United States of America," and had gathered much material in view of his proposed work. His historical papers and collections were be- queathed to Yale College. " All other books, manuscripts, pamph- lets, etc., were equally divided among the four children."} Justus Bishop, a son-in-law of Dr. Trumbull, was one of the executors of his will, and certain of the Trumbull manuscripts-extracts from Mr. Southmayd's letter being of the number-were brought to Water- bury by the late David T. Bishop, who was perhaps of the family of Justus Bishop, the executor. The paper in question is now in the
* Dr. Bronson makes the following statement: "At what precise time the church of Waterbury was organized I have been unable to ascertain. Dr. Trumbull says, August 26, 1669, and Mr. Farmer, in his Genealogical Register, gives this as the date of his ordination. Probably Mr. Farmer copies from Trumbull. I once supposed that '1669' was a misprint for 1689, and that the last was the true time of Mr. Peck's settlement." He then adds: "In all probability the installation or ordination, took place soon after, pos- sibly August 26th, as in Trumbull." Dr. Trumbull gives Mr. Peck's name as Joseph, instead of Jeremiah.
+ North Haven Annals. By Sheldon B. Thorpe, 1892.
229
THE FIRST CHURCH OF WATERBURY.
possession of Mr. James Terry, of New Haven .* It is not now known whether Mr. Southmayd gave the following facts from the then existing records, or from information given by participators in the interesting event, for Abraham Andrews and his wife, Ben- jamin Barnes, Mrs. Daniel Porter and Stephen Upson were still living, and Mr. Southmayd himself had been familiar with the field almost thirty years, having preached in Waterbury within five months after the decease of Mr. Peck. The following is a transcript of the extracts of 1772 made from Mr. Southmayd's letter of Novem- ber 18, 1729, as given by Mr. James Terry, and is the sole source of our information (as it apparently was of Dr. Trumbull's) regarding the age of our church. The portion of the transcript relating to the settlement, with which we are already familiar, has been omitted.
WATERBURY.
EXTRACTS MADE
FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE REV'D MR. PRINCE, AT BOSTON,
ANNO 1772.
*
*
*
*
*
* * *
The number of original shares [in the plantation] about 33. The first settlers about 28.
The. first Church in Waterbury was formed August 26, 1691-the number of male communicants 7, and in 1729, 46.
Mr. Jeremiah Peck was ordained Pastor of the Church the same day in which it was formed, viz. Aug. 26, 1691. He was after some years by a Fit of the Appoplex, disenabled for the work of the ministry, and some years after, June 7, 1699, left this world in ye 77th year of his age.
May 30th, 1705, The Revd John Southmaid was ordained Pastor in his Room. The number of males then was 12. This town was not at this day divided into precincts or societys. In February, 1691, There was a remarkable Flood in this town. The meadows were all under water and the ground so soft and the stream so rapid that it tore away a great part of the meadows, and almost ruined them.
The frost came out very quick and the rain fell apace, which made the ground uncommonly soft.
The town did not recover from the damage it received by this deluge for many years. Some of the inhabitants were grately discouraged, and many drew off, and the town was almost ruined.
There was a dreadful sickness in this Town, wh. began in October about the 15th 1712, and did not cease until Sept" 13, 1713. More than 20 persons died in this town within this time. 7 died in the month of March, and the sickness was so great that there were hardly enough well to tend the sick.
This from Mr John Southmayd, Nov" 18th, 1729. In a letter to the Revd Thos. Prince.
It is to be regretted that the extractor of 1772 did not give to us the letter in full, but the history of Waterbury meets with denials like this at every step in its progress. Inference and speculation
* The catalogue of the Prince manuscripts does not, I think, contain this letter, but it may have been among the papers that were destroyed, or carried away from the library of Mr. Prince at the time the British troops were in possession of the Old South Meeting-House, in whose tower the library was kept.
230
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
might be indulged in, almost without limit, in regard to the founda- tion of this church, without any increase of knowledge regarding it. It is, or seems to be, quite safe to make a few statements. The first is, that the usages and ceremonies of the Congregational church, as established in Connecticut colony, were carefully adhered to; the second, that the neighboring churches of Hartford, Farmington, Woodbury, Wallingford, Derby and New Haven were, or may have been, represented by their appointed elders and mes- sengers; that the organization and ordination ceremonies occupied two days; that the "laying on of hands" by duly ordained men, and the "right hand of fellowship" were ceremonially conducted; and lastly, that the "seven male communicants" extracted in 1772 from Mr. Southmayd's letter of 1729, were, in reality, referred to in the letter itself as the seven pillars of the Waterbury church, for that number of members was evidently considered essential to uphold the stately organization known as a church. We are not able to mention the "visible saints" who were considered "fit matter," or the special form of their confederation which established them into a "visible church;" neither do we know the particular cov- enant by which they became embodied into a "true, distinct and entire church of Christ;" but we may be and are confident that Mr. Peck was the central figure of the seven; that to him belonged the "power of guidance or leading;" while to the brethren, in full com- munion, was committed "the power of judgment, consent, or privi- lege," and that communion of the churches, and counsel from them in cases of difficulty, was to be sought and submitted to, " according to God." The foundation was firmly laid, and the superstructure rests to-day upon substantially the same basis-the fundamental question still calling through the centuries : What is, according to God ?
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