USA > Vermont > Windham County > Brattleboro > Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont; early history, with biographical sketches of some of its citizens > Part 2
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* From Thompson's Gazetteer.
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descendants of Captain Thomas, we notice, have a boat which they now keep at the same place where he rowed the heroic Stark across the Connecticut River when on his way to use forcible, and, as events showed, fully demonstrated arguments at Bennington, to prove that the English troops had "got too far from Canada."
INDIAN RELICS.
Indian relics have been found near Fort Dummer, and we have in our possession an Indian pipe-bowl, flint arrow-heads, and a stone pestle for pounding corn. They were found by Mr. Holland Pettis, some 30 years since, when ploughing in "The Cove" near West River. His plough point threw up a human skull. It was clearly apparent, upon examination, that the individual (be- lieved to be an Indian chief) was buried in a sitting posture, and the arrow-heads, pipe and pestle were buried with him, that he might not enter upon another life with the same destitution of the means of pro- tection and defence as he entered upon this life. Articles of a more perisliable nature, long since decayed, were probably buried with him. A son of Mr. Pettis- W. H. Pettis-who gave us the foregoing information and the relics afore-named, gave vent to his emotions as follows:
" It was here th old chieftain once sailed his canoe, With his band of red warriors, so valiantly true, Upon the dark bosom of the slow-heaving wave, Till he passed from his wars to the shadowy grave."
In consequence of this and other evi- dences of the proclivitives or abilities of W. H. Pettis in this department of human expression, we have for many years called him the "Bard of West River."
Indian hieroglyphics can now be seen upon rocks in West River Cove, and, from location and circumstances, it is believed that this place was one of the favorite re- sorts of the wild red man of the forest.
About sixteen years ago Mr. Newman Allen, whose farm is on West River meadows, found two partially decayed human skeletons. In one of the skulls was found an old-fashioned lead musket ball, and there was a hole in the cranium where the ball entered. It is possible, and it seems quite probable, that these were the remains of Fairbank Moore and son, of Fort Dum- mer, who were killed on these meadows by the Indians.
FIRST CHURCH IN BRATTLEBORO.
For the following ancient papers, relating to the earliest religious history of this town, we are indebted to N. B. Williston, Esq., long and favorably known in this commu- nity, but more extensively as president of the First National Bank in this place :
[COPY]. " BRATTLEBORO April 18 1769."
"At a meeting of the subscribers of the agreement, relating to the settling of a Minister, on Tuesday the 18th day of April, 1769, regularly warned at one o'clock in the afternoon, after choosing *John Arms, Esq'r Moderator the following Votes were pass'd 1st Voted that those subscribers who shall move out of Town shall be released from paying any money's in consequence of their Becoming subscribers to the above mentioned agreement, except such monies as shall be assessed prior to their Removal. 2d Voted to chose Mess Sam'l Wells Esqr Jolin Arms and Henry Wells, that they be a committee to confer with Guilford com- mittee as to what proportion Each Town must Pay towards settleing a Minister, & towards his sallary & for what time to Join Together & make report of their Doings to the adjourned Meeting, that the subscribers may approve or Disapprove thereof. 3d Voted that this meeting be adjourned to Friday the 21st Instant, at 2 o'clock.
At the adjourned meeting of the sub- scribers on Friday the 21st of April at Two o'clock in the afternoon, after chossing Ben'n Butterfield Moderator in the Barn of John Arms who was so much Indissposed he could not attend, the following Votes were passed :
1st Voted that a Minisster be procured to preach for the Term three Months upon probation for settling him & The Town of Guilford to pay for one Month & and have. preaching one third of the Time. 2nd Voted that the Sum of Sixteen Pounds, York Currency, be raised, for the Purpose aforesaid, the one Half to be levied on the Polls & the Other Half upon the real & personal Estates. 3dly Voted that Sam Wells Esqr, John Arms & Henry Wells be assessors. 4thly Voted that Henry Wells be Collector. 5thly Voted Henry Wells be the Person to sue for & Receive the money that Shall be assessed. 6thly Voted that Capt Benjamin Butterfield, Sam Wells Esqr & John Arms be a Committee to pro- cure a Minister upon probation as Afore- said."
" At the Adjourned Meeting on Tuesday Dec'r 5th 1769 at 2, oClock P. M. Upon reconsidering the Vote Pas'd Nov'r 14tli 1769 it Was Voted not to Settle Mr Church."
" John Arms was grandfather to the late Doct Willard Arms, of this town, who died 3. years ago, aged 82 years.
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BRATTLEBOROUGH Feby 19th 1770
" We the Subscribers Desire the Town Clerk to Warn a Meeting of the Subscribers to the Agreement relating to the Settling of a Minisster to be held at Major Arms on the first Tuesday of March next at one oClock in the afternoon To act & Vote upon the Following articles Viz 1st to chusse a Moderator 2dly To Signify their Minds With respect to hiring a Minisster upon Probation for Settling, or otherwise, as they Chuse 3dly if they Chuse to hire, to Chuse a Committee to procure a Miniss- ter. "
Signed Danl Whipple Malachi Church Israel Field Jasper Patridge Sylvester Wright John Arms Saml Wells William Nichols Nathan Church Jonathan Church Israel Field.
BRATTLEBOROUGH July 5th 1770
" After Choosing Capt Butterfield Mod- erator the following Votes were Pass'd of the Notification Voted to Hire Mr Reeve to preach for Two Sabbaths upon Proba- tion for Settling. one at Guilford & one here.
Art 4. Voted that Saml Wells Esqr Henry Wells & Nathan Church be a Com- mittee to Agree with Mr Reeve.
7th Art Voted to Join With Guilford for three years in Settling Mr Reeve. Lastly Voted to adjourn this Meeting to July 1870, after choosing Capt Butterfield, Oliver Harris & Oliver Cooke assessors
Article 9th Voted that Timothy Church be the Person to sue those Who Neglect or refuse paying their proportion of any assessments. Voted that we will Join with Guilford for three years, they to Pay half the Salary & one sixth Part of the Settle- ment & Mr Reeve preach half the Time for them, they Loseing the Time when bad weather prevents his preaching There
Art 3 Voted to Settle Mr Reeve."
"A Copy of the Agreement of the Com- mittee with Mr Reeve"
" We the Subscribers being Duly Chosen a Committee to Agree with the Reverend Abner Reeve with Respect to his Settle- ment & Sallary, by the Subscribers, relat- ing to the settling a Minisster in the Town of Brattleborough, do hereby Agree in behalf of Said Subscribers, in Manner & Form Following. That if Mr Reeve Shall return to preach for us & Bring a Recom- mendation from under the Hand of Ten of the Members of the Church of Blooming Grove-that he has presided over, or from one of the neighboring Minissters Signify- ing that he has been in Good Standing as a Minisster of the Gospel & sustained a Good Character while he has resided there, We Engage to pay the said Mr .Reeve the Sum of fifty Pounds New York Currency towards his settlement, one hird part in cash yearly until Paid. Also the Sum of Thirty Pounds said Currency for the first years Sallary & the sum of Thirty Two Pounds of said Currency for the second Years Sal-
lary, also the sum of Thirty Four Pounds said Currency for the Third Years Sallary, Provided Mr Reeve Continues to Supply the Pulpit in Brattleborough half the Time for & During the said Three years, Sick- ness only Excepted. The Above said yearly Payments to be made one Third Cash-The Other Two Thirds in Merchant- able Produce at the Market Price to be Delivered at such Place as Mr Reeve shall appoint in said Brattleborough. Where- unto we have set our Hands this Day July 3d 1770 at Brattleborough "
Signed "SAML WELLS NATHL CHURCH HENRY WELLS"
"We the Subscribers desire the Town Clerk to warn a Meeting of the Subscribers to the Agreement relating to Settling a minister To be held at Esqr Wells's on Monday the twelvth Day of November Next one oClock in the afternoon to Vote and act upon the following Articles Viz 1st To chuse a Moderator. 2dly to reconsidered the Vote passed at the Last Meeting in order to raise money for Mr Reeves Settlement and Sallary. 3dly To pass a vote to pay the Collector for his Trouble of Collecting. 4tlily to Raise money to pay the Charge of bringing Mr Reeves Family & Goods from Hadley. 5thly To raise money to make up De- ficiency of Last Years rate."
Brattleborough Oct 25th 1770
Signed SAML WELLS BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD DANL WHIPPLE JOHN SARGENT NATHAN CHURCH JUNR ELIJAH PROUTY
We learn from the last document, in the foregoing, that the first settled minister in this town came from Hadley. We have many more ancient papers, similar in kind, but they are of no farther use than to find names of the early settlers which are signed to them. We give the names below, not given heretofore, as follows, 1769 to 1786:
Jacob Spaldin, Abner Scovell, Oliver Harris, Josiah Wheeler, Thos. Cumpton, Wm. M'Cune, Wm. Brall, Richard Prouty, Doct. Dickerman, John Houghton, Elisha Pierce, Eben'r Howze, Wm. Ellas, Benj'm Gorten, Joseph Whipple, David Church, Lemuel Kendrick, Seth Smith. Joshua Wilder, Ebenezer Hadley, Jonathan Her- rick, Silas Houghton, Joseph Burt, Eben'r Fisher, O. Cook, John Griffin, Sam 1 War- riner, Daniel Johnson.
The following was called forth in reply to a resolution or vote of the town, Sept. 23, 1774, as follows:
" At town meeting assembled voted, that
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the Rev. Abner Reeve be the settled min- ister of this town upon his acceptance hereof and relinquishing from this date the covenant, made by him with many of the inhabitants of this town for his support, for so long a time-and no longer-as he is able to supply the pulpit with preaching, on this condition, however, that the said Mr. Reeve by virtue hereof be not entitled to any land in this town given by public authority to the first settled minister."
The next vote states the amount of salary and how it shall be paid, in barter, &c., all showing sharp practice, and a disposition, on the part of the town, to obtain the gos- pel with the least possible expense. Mr. Reeve made in writing the following reply,
" GENTLEMEN: You have sent me a con- ditional vote, with which I cordially com- ply, if your meaning and intention be not to weaken or destroy my claim to the Lands in this town granted to the first settled minister of the Gospel, previous to passing said vote."
Upon receiving the communication of Mr. Reeve, the town acted upon the same in this wise:
" Voted that this town do not intend by the preceding vote to weaken or destroy any claim which the Rev. Abner Reeve heretofore had to the right of lands in this town, granted to the first settled minister, or to add any strength thereto."
Brattleborough Sept 24 1774
The foregoing are true copies of the record.
Attest,
SAML KNIGHT, Town Clerk.
It is an old saying, and became an adage, "Corporations have no souls." In dealing with another pastor in this town, some years later, we see another proof of the truthfulness of this old adage. With a package of bills paid to tlie pastor, by the proper officer of the society, were two counterfeit bills. The society refused to make the matter right, because the pastor was paid with the veritable money obtained from subscribers for his support, and the collector could not tell from whom the bad bills came. Every individual in that society knew better than to make so mis- erable a pretext, for such an outrage against a man who dug his potatoes or cut his wood. All knew the poor minister would
pocket the loss rather than appeal to the law. Though Mr. Reeve was the first settled minister in this town, there was, previous to his advent here, occasional preaching at "Fort Dummer," but we do not learn the names of the preachers, the denomina- tion, or frequency of their ministrations.
We learn Mr. Reeve was a graduate of Yale College, and father of Judge Tapping Reeve who founded the famous "Law School" at Litchfield, Ct., and was princi- pal of that institution as late as 1816. Rev. Abner Reeve was of the order called N. E. Calvinistic Congregationalist. Except- ing the foreign element, that denomination was the most numerous in this town up to 1845, if not at the present time, thius giving evidence that the influence of Mr. Reeve yet lives. He was settled in 1770, and closed his labors about 1794.
RENUNCIATION OF THE PULPIT, BY THE FIRST PASTOR IN BRATTLEBORO, IN 1792.
Among old papers presented us by Hon. LaFayette Clark, we have found, from the pen of Abner Reeve, his letter of resigna- tion in 1792. Though this document gives an idea of the situation of pastor and people eighty years ago, it needs but little, if any, alteration to adapt it to modern uses, or a description of the situation of the suc- cessors since that time.
COPY OF THE REV. ABNER REEVE'S RESIGNATION.
"There being unhappily, to my great Grief of Mind, differences subsisting in the Town of Brattleboro, with respect to my further preaching the Gospel to the Inhab- itants of said Town in virtue of a former vote thereof. For healing said Differences, & for uniting the said Inhabitants in broth- erly Love in the service of our common Lord & Master, & in full hope that these very important purposes will be answered, I do hereby disclaim for myself, my Heirs, Ex'ors & Adm'ors all pretence to any salary, by virtue of any vote of the Inhab- itants of said Town, in legal meeting assembled, to become due & payable after the date liereof.
Provided always & this writing is on this express Condition that all arrearages of Salary be settled, including the time to the date hereof, or paid to me my heirs Ex'ors Adm'ors, the one half on or before 3d of April next & the other half the 3d day of
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October next, and that I may have the priviledge of preaching in the meeting house as heretofore when no other preacher shall be employed by the selectmen of said town, or by a Com'e appointed for the pur- pose, upon such pay only as shall gratu- itously be given me by said Inhabitants or a part thereof. Given under my hand the 3d Oct'r 1792. ABNER REEVE."
Mr. Reeve died in 1798, aged 90 years.
We find the following inscription upon the headstone at his grave, near where stood the old meeting-house in which he officiated :
REV. ABNER REEVE, Died May the 16th, 1798, In the 91 year of his age.
"Farewell dear friends, We part in pain, But hope to live And meet again."
" About the time Mr. Reeve was sinking under the infirmities of age, Rev. William Wells settled in town. He was a native of Biggleswade in England, and had been for twenty-three years a dissenting minister at Brownsgrove in Worcestershire, Eng. He was at once invited to take the spiritual charge of the church and society, and entered upon his work in March, 1794." Cong. Manual.
Mr. Wells did not officiate in the first meeting-house, which stood close to the old cemetery on the hill, for in 1785, a new and spacious house was built, for the accommodation of the whole town, near the site of the present one at the West vil- lage. In March, 1814, Mr. Wells gave up his charge, the care of the whole town being too much for his advanced years and infirm health. He was succeeded by Rev. Caleb Burge, who officiated from 1814 to 1819. Rev. Jedediah L. Stark officiated from. 1821 to 1839; Rev. Corbin Kidder from 1839 to 1845; Rev. Joseph Chandler from 1845 to 1870. Present pastor, (1879), Rev. C. H. Merrill.
The large. spacious meeting-house, built at the West village in 1785, was destroyed by fire February 2, 1845, and the smaller one, now standing in the same place, was built in 1846.
Sometime previous to the resignation of Rev. Mr. Wells, the East village had com- menced a rapid, thriving growth. Mr.
Wells, whose residence was near by, at the place now owned by Charles A. Miles, had been in the habit of officiating two or three times a month at the East village, in the old school-house, then standing on the Village Common. The room was too small, and a proposition was made to build a house of worship at the East village, in which services should be held a part of the time without dividing the parish. This plan not meeting with general favor in the town, it was determined to form a new society, erect a house and invite Mr. Wells to be their minister.
Grindall R. 'Ellis, Esq., deeded to the society the land now known as the Village Common, on condition that the new edifice be located there. The new society acted in conformity with said conditions in 1815, but in 1842, lost all claim to the land by removing the house and neglecting to fence the grounds.
Rev. Mr. Wells accepted the invitation of the parish, and was the first minister who occupied the pulpit in the first meet- ing-house built in this village. He officiated here less than three years, thus closing his long ministry of sixty years, and died at his home in December, 1827, aged eighty- three years. His successors have been as follows:
Rev. Jonathan McGee, from Jan. 13, 1819, to Sept. 10, 1834; Rev. Chas. Walker, from Jan. 1, 1835, to Feb. 11, 1846; Rev. A. H. Clapp, from Oct. 14, 1846, to Nov. 15, 1853; Rev. George P. Tyler, from Nov. 16, 1853, to 1866; Rev. N. Mighill, from October, 1867, to 1875; Rev. George L. Walker to Jan. 1, 1878; Rev. George E. Martin, engaged for one year from July 1. 1878. Since has received an invitation to become settled pastor by ordination in July, 1879.
Rev. Mr. Wells was eminent in that department of ministerial duty in the olden time-visiting. The children were always glad to see the pleasant old English gentleman, in antique costume, and his inexhaustible fund of anecdote and story, his fine attractive social qualities, with much of the kindly and sympathetic in his nature, endeared him to the homes of joy or sadness.
His daughter, MISS HANNAH WELLS, established the first Sabbath school in this village, and employed much of her time
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in advancing the prosperity of that insti- tution. Another daughter, Mrs. Freeme, the widow of a Liverpool merchant, came here from England some years after the death of her father. A few years after she had made alterations and refitted the old residence of her father, the house burned in the night time, and she with her house, nice paintings, furniture, barn, horses, carriages, &c., were destroyed. At this fire, which occurred in 1849, we noticed in the air, high above the flames, a large collection of birds, drawn thither by the light from the surrounding dark- ness. This circumstance was happily alluded to by Rev. Mr. Mott, in a funeral sermon on this occasion, by suggesting that those little winged messengers might have come to escort her spirit to mansions of the blessed.
Most generally the finale to all sermons by Mr. Wells were in these words: "Con- sider well what lias been said and may God give you understanding." His laconic commentary upon "the Sermon on the Mount," reminds us of the brief defence by Patrick Henry of the dissenting minis- ters in Virginia. Mr. Wells, after reading the concluding words of the chapter, viz. : " And the people were astonished at his doctrine," &c., gave a general glance over the congregation, as he closed the Bible, and simply but impressively said, "and well they might be."
Among old papers left by Stephen Greenleaf, Esq., we are gratified to find the following letter from the pen of Mr. Wells. This letter was directed to Mr. Russell Hayes, but, judging from its con- tents, it was for the students of the old academy :
BRATTLEBORO, March 20, 1808. "MY YOUNG FRIENDS :- I am much pleased and comforted with your respect- ful address. Those lectures at the academy would have been begun many years ago, had not a series of bodily indisposition prevented. When it pleased God to favor me with returning health, I did not know any way in which I could be used more agreeably to myself, or witlı better pros- pect of success, than to have an occasional service in the winter season particularly suitable for young men and youth growing up into life. To find, therefore, that those
labors have been acceptable and useful, and, as I hope, cannot fail of affording me great satisfaction.
" Being considerably advanced into the vale of years, the shadows of the evening are growing long and the night of death fast approaching with respect to me. This, however, I do not in the least regret. But so long as I sustain my present rela- tion to the society in this town, and health and capacity for usefulness remain, be assured I shall, with great pleasure, con- tinue the services above-mentioned, well knowing that the sober, virtuous and religious character of young men is of infinite importance to themselves, to their friends, and to the community at large. That you, my young friends, may continue to be useful in life, the supports and orna- ments of religion when my head is laid low in the dust and my lips closed in per- petual silence, and that we may all at last have a happy meeting in the world above, never more to part, is the ardent prayer of your sincere friend and affectionate pastor, WM. WELLS."
FIRST CHURCH IN EAST VILLAGE OF BRATTLEBORO.
Fourteen members withdrew from the church at West Brattleboro, and July 15, 1816, the new church was organized, with Rev. Win. Wells as pastor, and John Hol- brook set apart as deacon. During the short ministry of Mr. Wells, the church was increased by the addition of seventy- eight members. The new edifice was. dedicated August 22, 1816. Rev. Samuel Willard, of Deerfield, offered the dedica- tory prayer, and Rev. Mr. Pratt, of West- moreland, the concluding prayer.
Tlie successor of Mr. Wells-Rev. Jona- than McGee-was a graduate of Williams College and of the Theological Seminary of Andover, Mass. At his ordination, January 1, 1819, the sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel Taggart, from II Cor. 4th chap., 5th verse. This was the first ordination that had taken place in Brattle- boro, although there had been stated preaching in the town for more than fifty years.
During the ministry of Rev. Mr. McGee of nearly fifteen years, 281 members were added to the church. During the last four years Mr. McGee remained in his charge.
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large additions were made to this church. From 1831 to 1833, there was manifested unusual interest on the subject of religion. In 1831, special efforts were made, in various parts of New England, to revive the churches by holding four-day meet- ings, and concentrating the ministerial ability of several towns to assist at such places as were deemed the most proper for such a purpose. These measures proved so successful that many thoughit four days a too limited time, and were loth to dis- continue these meetings so long as success seemed to attend them. £ Consequently they were extended and obtained the name of "protracted meetings," where was em- ployed, for weeks and months together, the most gifted eloquence and talented ministrations that could be obtained. The itinerant preachers demanded for these occasions were called "Evangelists.', Great powers of originality were expected of him, and lie must be able to bring for- ward old truths in a new, startling manner, so as to not only arouse "those that were asleep in Zion," but those who had ever been careless and indifferent to their spirit- ual interests.
Curiosity and the love of something new and exciting drew the attention of many to these meetings, who went home in sad- ness and despair. Old church members were made to feel
"But oh, this wretched heart of sin- It may deceive me still,
And while I look for joys above, May plunge me down to hell.".
Rev. Mr. Boyle commenced preaching at the Congregational church, on the Com- mon, in the month of November, 1832, and continued his labors almost every Sabbath and evening until late in Feb- ruary, 1833. In his addresses, lie wa solemn, eloquent and impressive, and the still, noiseless, crowded house betokened " no room for mirth or trifling here if life so soon is past." A revival, long con- tinued and of great power, followed or accompanied these exercises. Some old church members of to-day look back to this light of other days with heartfelt joy ; as then, old things with them then passed away and all things became new, and they felt confident that the smiles of heaven and an approving God rested upon these movements. Some good citizens and pro-
fessed Christians disapproved of so much excitement, though they rejoiced to see the attention given to religion by those hitherto averse to the subject. Others condemned the whole thing; with them it was "all emotional religion, an animal excitement, that would soon pass away, leaving the churches in worse condition than before." A theological or spiritual nutriment so highly stimulating, would render the former good gospel preaching distasteful or insipid, and the faithful old pastor, who had baptized us in our infancy and buried our fathers, would be graciously informed certain wise men in the parish beg leave to suggest, for liis consideration, the propriety of a change in his field of usefulness.
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