USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Springfield > History of the town of Springfield, Vermont : with a genealogical record > Part 7
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25
Sylvester Burke & Co.
25
John White
30
Solomon Sauders
10
Sylvanus Blanchard (exclusive of freight by Coburn & Davis) 2
Jonathan Martin, for others
20
D. D. Winchester 25
Whelden & Randel 14
The Card Company (exclusive of freight by Coburn & Davis) .
3
70
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
Tons.
Wm. M. Messenger, livery
8
Forty farmers .
160
All other farmers
40
Edmund Lockwood
50
E. A. Knight & Co., paper mill
300
Total tons
. 1,483
The Quantity of Flour.
Barrels.
By Jonathan Martin
. 800
Daniel Cushing .
. 600
R. & N. Burke .
150
Abner Field & Co.
200
John White
Sylvester Burke
100
Jonathan Chase .
86
Total barrels .
. 1,936
Statement of Amount of Freight brought into and taken out of Springfield in one Year from Sept. 1, 1892, to Aug. 31, 1893.
IN FREIGHT.
Tons.
1892.
September
539.78
October and November
1,131.13
December
682.83
1893.
January .
542.70
February
536.61
March
800.13
April
710.52
May
589.18
June
433.11
July and August
1,178.93
Total brought in, tons
7,144.92
OUT FREIGHT.
Tons.
1892. September
147.53
October and November
344.12
December
122.05
1893.
January .
126.97
February
134.84
March .
152.26
April
140.19
May
139.05
June
115.23
July and August
183.80
Total carried out, tons
1,606.04
71
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
GROWTH OF THE TOWN IN POPULATION.
In 1771, by a census taken under authority of the State of New York, there were one hundred and forty-one inhabitants in the town. The first Constitution of the State, adopted in conven- tion at Windsor, July 2, 1777, provided that each town having eighty taxable inhabitants within a period of seven years after the establishment of the Constitution should be entitled to two representatives in the General Assembly, and all others to one. In 1781 Springfield had two representatives, Abner Bisbee and John Barrett, hence there must have been at least eighty taxable inhabitants at that time, and the population may be estimated to have been between four and five hundred.
In 1791, by the first United States census, the number was 1,097 and the town ranked twenty-second in the State.
1800, sixth in rank
2,032
1810, third in rank
2,556
1820, second in rank
2,702
1830
2,749
1840
2,625
1850
2,762
1860
2,958
1870 2,937
1980
3,137
1890
2,881
EXPENSE OF THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN IN 1850.
Russell Burke, treasurer
$6.00
Samuel Steele, selectman
13.00
Daniel Cushing,
. 14.00
John White, 5.00
John Perkins, overseer 29.50
John Perkins, trustee .
10.00
John Britton, lister
7.00
Parkman Davis, “
7.00
John Holmes, 8.00
Ephraim Walker, superintendent of schools 22.00
Auditors' services
7.00
$128.50
Population at this time was 2,762.
72
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
CHURCHES.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
RELIGIOUS meetings were held in town as early as 1773. Mrs. William Bragg, a daughter of Hezekiah Holmes, was eight years old when she came to Springfield, with her father, in 1772, and remembered that the people met for public worship in the frame house of Joseph Little, and that her father was called "Bishop" Holmes, because he read the sermons. At a town meeting in 1778 John Nott and James Dumphrey were chosen tithingmen, which implies that meetings for worship had been held previous to this time. A town meeting was called Dec. 16, 1779, to raise money to pay for preaching, and at this meeting they subscribed £62 10s., of which £56 was due the minister. This is evidence that there had been preaching the year before. At the same meeting it was voted to settle Mr. Treadway,* and a committee ; was chosen to confer with him as to terms. No record of Mr. Tread- way's preaching has been found, but it is probable that he was the minister, a part or all of the time, from 1777 to 1780.
At a meeting held May 22, 1781, it was voted that " money be raised by tax according to law to pay for preaching," and a com- mitte # was appointed to "secure a minister," " and likewise to agree upon a piece of ground to set a meeting-honse on," and to report at the next town meeting.
Now begins the great controversy over the building of a meet- ing-house, an account of which is given elsewhere in this book.
* Rev. James Treadway was brought up in Coichester, Conn. He was graduated from Yale College in 1759, and preached in Alstead, N. Il., from 1773 to 1777, when he came to Ver- mont, and probably to Springfield.
t Simon Stevens, George Hall, Roger Bates.
#John Barrett, Simon Stevens, Abner Bisbee, George Hall, and Nathaniel Weston.
---------
Geo.H.walker & Co.Bosion
THE OLD CONGREGATIONAL MEETING-HOUSE.
73
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
July 22, 1781, the town voted to raise eighteen pounds to pay for preaching, and also to "give Mr. John Foster a call to settle." The committee were instructed to extend the call to Mr. Foster, and " to agree with him for a certain salary." At an adjourned meeting it was voted to give Mr. John Foster forty-five pounds a year for two years, then to raise the salary five pounds each year until it reaches the sum of sixty-five pounds, and there to remain. A council was called to organize a church. The churches in- vited were the church in Rockingham, which was organized about 1770; in Charlestown, organized in 1754; in Lebanon, organized in 1768 ; and in Claremont, organized in 1770. Rev. Bulkley Ol- cott of Charlestown and Rev. Augustine Hibbard of Claremont, with their delegates, constituted the council, which met Oct. 3, 1781. Mr. Olcott drew up a covenant, and a church of sixteen members, eight men and eight women, was recognized by the council and. received into fellowship with the neighboring churches. It is not certainly known who these sixteen members were, but the following list is believed to be nearly correct :-
Lemuel Whitney, Thankful (Griffith) Whitney, Newcomb Bourne, Abigail (Joy) Bourne, Simon Stevens, Samuel Cobb, Ann (Steele) Cobb, Abigail (Gould) Barnard, Sarah Draper, Lucretia (Scott) Burge, Simeon Spencer, John Barrett, Asher Evans, Hannah Walker, Isaac Smith, Betsey (Stoddard) Tower.
Mr. Foster * did not remain long after the organization of the church, and from this time until 1788 the records of the town give very little information as to ministers or preaching. The contest over the location of the meeting-house and the stirring events of the war engrossed the minds of the people.
Mr. Abishai Colton ; was the minister in 1788 and 1789, and was given a call to settle, but did not accept.
Mr. Thomas Russell preached for a short time after Mr. Colton went away; and in July, 1792, Mr. Benjamin Stone came and stayed till November. Elder J. Watkins, a Baptist clergyman,
* Rev. John Foster was the son of Rev. Isaac Foster of West Stafford, Conn., and after- ward preached in Paxton, Mass., Taunton, Mass., and Stonington, Conn.
t Rev. Abisbai Colton was born in Longmeadow, Mass., May 4, 1761; graduated from Yale College, 1783; was pastor of the church in Stoddard, N. H., 1793-1795; he died Jan. 12, 1823.
74
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
followed Mr. Stone, and he in turn was followed in 1795 by Mr. Joseph Prince.
Mr. Stephen Williams * preached during the summer of 1796, and the next summer Mr. Archibald Campbell. ¡
Mr. Nicholas Bows Whitney # began to preach early in 1798, and was given a call to settle, but his terms were not satisfactory to the people. A Mr. Stoddard and a Mr. Remington each preached a short time during the year 1799.
In these years the salary of the minister was raised by a tax on the grand list, and was from £45 to £100 per annum.
In the year 1800 Rev. Robinson Smiley § began preaching as a candidate, and the following year he was called by the town to settle. The salary voted was £80 the first year, £90 the second, and £100 ever after during his ministry. The town also voted to give Mr. Smiley, by way of settlement, one half the ministerial right of land, he relinquishing the other half to the town. Mr. Smiley accepted, and was ordained and installed by council, Sept. 23, 1801, just twenty years after the organization of the church, seven of the original sixteen members being present at his installa- tion.
Previous to this time the financial business of the church was transacted in open town meeting, and every person was required by law to pay for the support of some religious denomination, and was considered as agreeing in religious opinions with the majority of the inhabitants of the town, and taxed accordingly, unless he brought a certificate from some legally authorized person to the contrary. In 1801 the laws were so changed that any person could relieve himself from taxation for the support of religious services by presenting to the town clerk a certificate, signed by himself, that he did not agree in religious opinions with a majority of the people of the town ; and in 1807 all laws giving towns the
* Rev. Stephen Williams was born in Woodstock, Conn .; graduated from Yale College, 1783; preached at Westminster and at Fitzwilliam, N. H .; died Sept. 6, 1822.
t Rev. Archibald Campbell, son of Rev. John Campbell, born in Oxford, Mass., Aug. 6, 1736; preached at Easton and Charlton, Mass., and at Alstead, N. H .; died July 15, 1818.
# Rev. Nicholas B. Whitney, son of Rev. Phinehas Whitney, born in Shirley, Mass., March 21, 1772; graduated from Harvard College in 1793; ordained at Hingham, Mass., June 1, 1800; died Nov. 26, 1835.
§ See sketch of Smiley family.
---
75
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
power to levy taxes for building churches or support of ministers were repealed, leaving these matters wholly to voluntary contri- butions. As this action of the Legislature released the inhab- itants from legal obligation, the support of Pastor Smiley became more difficult, and the arrearages on his salary annually increased until amounting to over six hundred dollars ; and in September, 1825, he resigned his pastorate, giving as his reasons, first, " the great deficiency in his support from the original contract "; second, " that some other person whom the Lord might choose to send to this people might be much more useful to them than he had been." He was dismissed by council, Oct. 26, 1825, more than twenty-five years after his ministry began. During this time two hundred and sixty-five persons were added to the church, most of them by profession, the largest number being in 1822, when fifty persons united on profession of faith, largely due to the labors of Daniel Fletcher of Chester .*
Father Smiley made his home in Springfield while he lived. (See sketch.)
The second pastor was Rev. Eldad W. Goodman, installed May 28, 1827. He was born at South Hadley, Mass. ; graduated from Union College in 1820. He was dismissed in 1831. Mr. Good- man was followed by Rev. Daniel Oliver Morton, father of Hon. Levi P. Morton. He was born in Winthrop, Mass .; graduated from Middlebury College in class of 1812. Before coming to Springfield he was for seventeen years pastor of the church in Shoreham, Vt. He was installed here May 22, 1832, and remained until Feb. 3, 1836. It was while Mr. Morton was preaching here that the present church building was erected and dedicated. A protracted meeting was held in connection with the dedication of the new house, and during this year occurred the noted revival under Rev. Jedediah Burchard, which resulted in the addition of a large number to the church, the whole number received during Mr. Morton's ministry being two hundred and ninety, nearly all on profession.
Rev. Henry B. Holmes was the fourth pastor. He was a son of Rev. Benjamin Holmes, and born at Stratford-on-the-Avon,
* See history of Methodist Church.
76
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
April 5, 1808. The work in these years immediately following the great revival was peculiarly arduous and trying, and Mr. Holmes's health failed, and he was obliged to resign in 1840. A sketch of his oldest son, who was born here, will be found in this book.
Rev. Calvin Day Noble, son of Rev. Calvin and Sophia L. Noble, succeeded Mr. Holmes. He was born in Chelsea, Vt., in 1811; graduated from Dartmouth College in 1834. There were two revivals under his preaching, in 1840 and 1842, and one hundred and eighty-one persons united with the church while he was pastor. Mr. Noble was of feeble constitution, and his labors proved too heavy for his physical powers. He died Aug. 23, 1844, deeply lamented by all his people. The largest member- ship ever attained by the church was during this pastorate in 1843, when five hundred and one names were enrolled.
Rev. Lothrop Taylor was called, and accepted the pastorate in the fall of 1845. He was the son of Barnabas and Hannah Billington Taylor, born in Buckland, Mass., Aug. 3, 1813; graduated from Middlebury College in the class of 1839. He remained six years, being dismissed Nov. 4, 1851, to accept a call to Francestown, N. H. It was during his ministry that the disciplinary period of the church occurred. Many were disci- plined, and some excommunicated.
Rev. Solomon Paine Giddings was the next pastor. He was. a son of Solomon and Marthia (Paine) Giddings, and born at East Poultney, Vt., Dec. 2, 1812. He graduated from Middlebury College in the class of 1838. There were sixty-nine members added during his ministry.
Rev. Nathan J. Haseltine, born in Chester, N. H., March 29, 1829, was next called. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1855, and from Andover Theological Seminary in 1858. He was ordained and installed over this church, Jan. 13, 1859, and died in a few days over one year from that time, having won the hearts of all the people by his beautiful spirit.
Rev. J. W. Chickering, Jr., was born at Bolton, Mass., Sept. 11, 1831. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1852, and from Bangor Seminary in 1860, and came from the seminary to
77
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
Springfield, his first pastorate. He was ordained and installed here Sept. 19, 1860, and resigned Nov. 29, 1864.
Rev. Asa Mann supplied the pulpit until April, 1866. He was a son of Dea. Elisha and Abigail Whitcomb Mann ; gradu- ated from Amherst College in 1838, and from Andover Seminary in 1842.
Rev. Levi H. Cobb was pastor from May 2, 1867, to May 3, 1874. He was born at Cornish, N. H., June 30, 1827; graduated from Dartmouth College in 1854, and from Andover Seminary in 1857. His pastorate of just seven years was one of the richest in blessings in the history of this church. Two hundred and sixty-nine persons were added to its membership. The church building was remodelled and enlarged, the audience-room re- seated, and the lecture-room improved; $14,000 were expended. Mr. Cobb had endeared himself to the whole community, and every department of public improvement had felt the touch and inspiration of his influence, especially the public schools. It was with great reluctance that his people accepted his resigna- tion.
Rev. Perrin B. Fisk was installed Dec. 29, 1874. He was a son of Dea. Lyman and Mary Spofford Fisk, and born in Waits- field, Vt., July 3, 1837. He graduated from Bangor Theological Seminary in 1863. He remained until Aug. 27, 1877. Thirty- nine new members were received during his ministry.
Rev. Thomas Mason Boss was installed pastor, March 6, 1878. He was a son of Charles Dickinson and Elizabeth Mason Boss, and born at New London, Conn., May 20, 1836; graduated from Amherst College in 1859, and from Andover Seminary in 1862. He was succeeded by Rev. C. S. Mills, who was installed pastor July 2, 1885, and dismissed Feb. 5, 1888. This was Mr. Mills's first pastorate. He went to North Brookfield, Mass., and later to Cleveland, Ohio.
Rev. W. O. Weeden was acting pastor from March, 1888, to 1890, and went from Springfield to Brooklyn, N. Y.
Rev. E. S. Pressy was acting pastor from February, 1890, to 1892. Rev. Thomas Bickford was installed pastor, July 14, 1893.
Deacons of this church and date of appointment: -
78
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
79
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
Lemuel Whitney
appointed in 1801.
Newcomb Bourne.
" 1801.
David Nichols
" 1807. .
Phinehas Bates
66 " 1811.
Joseph Selden .
.. " 1814.
Horatio G. Hawkins
66
" 1832.
Elijah Whitney
Arba Holman .
66
" 1837.
Nomlas Cobb .
66 " 1837
Isaac M. Lewis
66 " 1841.
Abraham J. Bourne .
$ " 1841.
William Davis
" 1841.
Ashbel Steele .
appointed second time in 1859.
George P. Haywood
appointed in 1864.
Amasa Woolson
" 1867.
Adna Brown .
66
" 1867.
George O. Henry
66 " 1880.
Gershom L. Closson
66
" 1884.
Frank J. Bell .
" 1889.
MEETING-HOUSE CONTROVERSY.
The early settlers of Springfield were a religious people, and long before a church was organized, when no man left home without being well armed, the hardy pioneers gathered on the Sabbath at private houses for religious worship. These meetings were usually held at Capt. Joseph Little's, afterwards owned by Lieut. Roger Bates (the Christopher Ellis place, now owned by H. M. Arms), and Lieut. Hezekiah Holmes, who lived on the Curtis place, since owned by the Hubbard family, used to read the sermons.
It was considered a duty of the government to provide for the support of religious worship. This is indicated by the reservation in both the original and confirmation charters of four hundred acres of land each, for the minister of the Church of England, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and for
" 1832.
66 " 1832.
Ashbel Steele .
80
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
the minister first settled in town. As early as 1778 tithingmen were chosen at town meeting, probably " to preserve order at public worship and enforce the observance of the Sabbath." In 1779 it was voted to raise money to pay for preaching by sub- scription, and in 1781 a town tax was voted for that purpose.
The majority of the voters being Congregationalists, that sect was supposed to constitute the established church, or " standing order," and all taxpayers were required to pay their share of the cost, the same as of other expenses of government; but any person who should procure a certificate of some minister, deacon, elder, or moderator of some other religious denomination, setting forth that such person was of the religious faith of the signer of said certificate, and stating of what denomination or religious faith, then such person should be exempt from paying town taxes for religious purposes.
The Baptists and Methodists made some efforts to have the town aid them from its funds, but little attention was given, and dissenters from the "standing order " could build as many meet- ing-houses as they pleased, and run them in their own way and pay the bills.
In the same year, 1781, after hearing the report of a committee on the subject, it was voted to build a meeting-house on Lieut. Roger Bates's pea ground. The house was to be twenty-eight feet by twenty-six, with fourteen-foot posts. The men were to have three shillings a day for their work. A committee was appointed to take care of the work, which was "to begin the 11th of the present September." Various preachers were hired to preach and invited to settle, but not settled, the services being at Lieut. Bates's, where most of the town meetings were held.
It now looked as if, after half a dozen years of strife over a location, the town was to have a meeting-house. But after the frame was up the work stopped. The funds were not forthcoming to pay the bills, and the bats and owls were left in undisputed possession of the naked frame on Bates's pea ground. In 1782 it was voted that the frame be sold to the highest bidder, and a committee was appointed to see it done; but it was not done, and the next year it was voted to divide the town into two
81
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
parishes, the Black River to be the dividing line, and to give the frame to the East Parish, provided they would finish it up convenient for use.
The East Parish had too much business on their hands to do anything of the kind, and in 1786 the town, having rescinded its vote of division, though it seems after a hundred years that they needed the cool waters of Black River to chasten their asperities, voted to build the meeting-house forty by fifty-six feet, on the vacancy between the county road and the burying ground near Martin's line, on Capt. George Hubbard's land (south of the corner below the Dr. Hubbard house). It is stated by old residents that lumber was brought on to this ground to build, but wiser counsels prevailed. Some of the most prominent of the men in that locality, who were most interested in building up their own section, foresaw that a more central location would be better for the whole town, and counselled delay, so no action was taken on that vote.
The state of feeling on the matter may be seen by referring to Rev. Abishai Colton's letter of May 5, 1789, hesitating to accept an invitation to settle as pastor. He says : -
"One reason why I give my answer in the Negative to the present Call is that there is such Strife among you where to build the Lord's House that you have neglected to build a House for public Worship in the Town, and have now no convenient Place for assembling together jointly to worship the King of Kings.
"Now, Gentlemen, if you can agree upon a Place to set the Lord's House, and will directly go on hand in hand as a people, to erect and complete it, if it is your general Wish and Voice, as a People, that I should be your Pastor and Teacher in holy things, and you do cheerfully and generally agree to give me annually from the Time of settling 65£ salary in lieu of the Seventy Pounds which you have been pleased to offer, with thirty cords of wood brought to my door and chopt up every year, - I would inform you, should you comply with these Conditions my Answer is in the affirmative."
It took one more of Mr. Colton's pungent letters to bring the people to their senses. Seven weeks later he tells them in polished sentences, which cut like a knife, that -
"It appears to me from what I can learn that there are many in Town who wish to have me settle here as your Gospel Minister, that are, notwithstand- ing all this, unwilling to comply with the conditions of my Answer relative to my taking the pastoral Charge of you as a Church and People. All that I
82
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
have now to request of you, Gentlemen, is, that you would pass no Vote with respect to complying with the conditions of the Answer relative to my settling here, but to accept of the Answer as it stands without the Condition which is in the Negative. For I shall not incline to settle here in the Work of the Ministry if you accept of the conditions of the Answer, since the matter has been treated with such indifference as it has.
" ABISHAI COLTON. " SPRINGFIELD, June 26th, 1789.
" What I have further to add is that the ministerial Committee may be directed to wait on me this Evening, and that an honorable settlement may be made with me for what is due from the Town to me, that I might part with you and you with me in honor and friendship."
The next September it was voted to build a meeting-house forty by fifty feet, and due proportion in height, on James Dumphrey's land (on the Common), and Col. Morris, Col. Thomas Barrett, and Dr. Simon Brown were chosen a building committee. It was also " voted that Said Committee Erect sd House, Kiver the outside, board, shingle and clabbord, glaze, lay the flowers and make the Doors, within one year from this day." A tax of one hundred and fifty pounds to be paid in timber, material, or produce by the first of May next was voted.
This committee went to work ; but that they found it as diffi- cult to keep within the appropriation, and had some annoyances which building committees of the present day could sympathize with, will appear by the report of a committee "to make a state- ment of the expense of erecting and Kivering the meeting-house." They say :-
"The expenditures already made and necessary to be made to complete what was allotted to said committee do amount to 358€, 1s., Std.
"We further add that the accounts exhibited to us were not so correct and intelligible as might be expected, considering the accomplished abilities of those worthy Gentlemen that Constitute the Committee, for which Deficiency we Humbly submit it to said Committee to apologize.
"DR. SAMUEL COBB, ASAHEL POWERS,
"SPRINGFIELD, Nov. 5, 1792."
Committee.
It appears that in all the twenty years that vain efforts were made to settle a minister, every time the town voted to invite a man to settle, it was stipulated that as quick as he was settled he should deed the minister's right of land to the town.
83
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
That the good people of a century ago were not quite free from the opinion that those who differed from them in religious belief must not only be mistaken and on the wrong road to get to heaven, but also morally delinquent, is shown by the following instructions given to the representatives chosen September, 1784 : " You are likewise to use your endeavor that an act be made in the Assembly that no person professing the tenets of universal sal- vation be allowed the privilege on an oath upon evidence or otherwise in this State "; which means, I suppose, that they could not be believed under oath, and ought not to be allowed to give evidence.
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