USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Bennington > Memorials of a century. Embracing a record of individuals and events, chiefly in the early history of Bennington, Vt., and its First church > Part 25
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In 1857-58 there was an extensive revival in the north- east part of the town, among the fruits of which were addi- tions to the several churches, and a chapel built, where preaching is more or less regularly supplied by the pastors of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and a flourishing Sabbath school maintained.
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X. For some years previous to 1850, Father O. Calli- ghan, residing at Burlington, held occasional Roman Cath- olic meetings in the court-house in this town. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Daley, who came regularly at stated times. He was succeeded, in 1855, by the Rev. Mr. Druon, who resided here, and under whose administration a convenient church building was erected the same year. He remained about two years. The Rev. Mr. Bayden, from Rutland, then officiated until January, 1859. Then the Rev- erends Messrs. Cloarce and Fitzgerald successively. Father Dennis A. Ryan is the present minister. At the close of 1862 his congregation numbered some one hundred and forty families in the town.
NOTE. - A Congregational church was organized in North Ben- nington in 1868.
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
HE celebration of the centennial anniversary of the church's organization, which in point of chronology would more appropriately have been held on Dec. 3, 1862, was appointed to the first Sabbath of Janu- ary, 1863, - (Jan. 4.)
SOME EXTRACTS FROM AN ACCOUNT OF THE CELE- BRATION, by Richard M. Green, M.D., in the " Bennington Banner," of a subsequent date, will not be deemed out of place among these records of the old church : -
" The weather was unusually fine, and it was in every way one of the most pleasant days that we ever have at this season of the year." It was so warm no fire was needed in the house, and some of the windows were a part of the time opened, -a remarkable circumstance for this latitude in midwinter. " Thus those who lived at a distance, -in par- ticular many of the aged, and others whom it might have been expected would be detained at home under ordinary circumstances by the rigor of the season, were enabled to be present on this most interesting occasion. An invita- tion had been extended to the other and younger churches of the town to gather at this old house and join in the ser- vices of the day. The different choirs, also, had been invited to take part in the singing, which they did under the direc- tion of Mr. John Fay, the beloved leader of the choir of the old church. For some time before the appointed hour the house was crowded to the extent of its accommodations,
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and it was soon necessary to make use of all the seats and benches that could be placed in the aisles. It was easy to see that no feelings of mere curiosity had gathered together this large assembly, or any part of it, but a deep interest in, and sympathy with, the occasion. At the appointed time Rev. Mr. Phillips, of the. Methodist Church, opened the exercises by asking the blessing of God on those pres- ent, and the object for which they had come together. 'Cor- onation' was then sung. After which, Rev. Mr. Hubbard, of the Second Congregational Church, offered a deeply im- pressive and appropriate prayer. After 'Old Hundredth' the discourse was delivered. . It was listened to by all with undivided attention from its beginning to its close, - a period of two hours and a half. .All present at the dedication of the present house of worship were asked to rise ; only thirteen stood up. · Prayer was offered by Father Beman, and the services were then closed by singing and the benediction. The members of the differ- ent religious bodies remained after the dismissal of the audience to celebrate together the Lord's Supper. Mem- bers of five different evangelical denominations were gath- ered about the table of their common Lord, and probably never before in this town had so large a number partaken together of the emblems of their Saviour's suffering."
II. CONCLUDING REMARKS OF THE CENTENNIAL DIS- COURSE. - " Even while I speak, how the scenes of the more recent past crowd upon my mind ! and if upon mine, how much more upon yours, respected friends, who are 'to the manner born ;' and whose profoundest emotions mingle to- day with cherished reminiscences of years recently, or long since, gone by. Venerated and beloved forms rise before you : actors and deeds when this church was still the only church in the town, and it was in the fulness and,
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I may say, pride of its strength ; the struggles in unscru- pulous controversy of powerful wills, when subjects of controversy, or projects of innovation, had stirred up the whole strength of the parish to array the same, part on the one side and part on the other ; individual events and transactions, assuming for some reason ineffaceable promi- nence in your recollections ; the commanding and graceful person of Governor Tichenor as he used to come in and take his seat regularly, and with dignified propriety, in the sanc- tuary ; the imperturbable regularity with which Deacon Calvin Bingham appeared over the hill with his sons and daughters, riding into the village street, and on to the house of God, to take their places in the pew and the singers' seat every Sabbath, in sunshine and in storm ; the strong and earnest tones of Governor Moses Robinson in public sup- plication to God ; the enthusiasm and power, and culture, too, with which sacred song has ever been maintained in this temple of God.
"Some of you will, to-day, I suppose, need not much assistance of mine to recall the feelings you have had while listening to the voices of leaders and other prominent singers who have occupied the seats in this gallery, - voices of exquisite melody and rare compass and control poured forth with the spirit and the understanding in the praises of God - alas ! hushed in death. Some, even since my brief sojourn among you, have passed away from us, who were important actors in the scenes and career of this church ; and than whom, if they were spared and were with us, there would be no more deeply interested participants in the exercises of this occasion, attached in bonds of endur- ing affection to this church of their ancestors and of their own intense care and unwearied labor ; fathers and mothers in this Israel, and laborers with a will in this vineyard of the Lord, striving, alas! with human passion, and yet
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where want of energy is treason to the cause, for these altars of their God. Venerated and beloved ones ! over whose graves the tears of affection are still shed, and whose vacant places we could easily pause to mourn over afresh at this time, we may yet thank God for what you were enabled to manifest of zeal for his house ; and we will pray that we may emulate that zeal, so far as it was worthy, ourselves each in the church, and in that sphere in the church where Providence has placed us.
" As a part of the more recent past of this church may be reckoned the organization of other churches in the town, in some more than others, I suppose, and yet in all instances more or less, embracing those who have been members of this particular communion. In the separation of members of a church to join other churches in the same town, or to assist in organizing such churches, there is apt to be a little disagreement as to the line of propriety and duty in such cases between those who go and those who remain. But all now, I presume, feel that the course of population into the valleys and plains demands there houses and means of public worship ; and all believe, too, that different denom- inations of Christians have a right, as to one another, to their own opinions and preferences.
" It is in this spirit we welcome you, friends of the different churches of the town, here to-day, and rejoice in the pros- pect of sitting down with you at the common table of our Lord. We doubt not that you are sharers with us in the interest we feel in the past history of a church of which many of you were once particular members yourselves, and, in the case of more of you, your ancestors were.
" Take the lessons of this occasion, if there is aught in them to guide us, that we may act our part that remains wisely and well ; and, when we separate, go to your own several fields of labor and privilege, leaving your blessing
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with us, and taking our blessing with you, and with renewed zeal give yourselves to the duties which the best welfare of your several churches calls upon you to perform. So may you for these churches help to make a history, which, when their hundredth anniversary shall come round, will make an occasion for their then living members as full of interest to them as this is to all of us who are here present."
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CHAPTER XXVII.
SUPPLEMENTARY.
HE TOWNSHIP IN THE OLDEN TIME. - At the time of the Bennington battle there were rude tenements. Large portions of the town were covered with pri- meval forest, - Mt. Anthony, base and sides as well as top down to near the meeting-house. The land was, however, highly productive, and largely cleared and planted. There was great agricultural pros- perity. The only village was what is now called Benning- ton Centre. There were also numerous frame dwellings.
Col. Seth Warner came to Bennington to reside in Janu- ary, 1765, and remained here until the summer of 1784. He was a near neighbor of James Breakenridge. Ellwells and Strattons came among the early settlers and bought lands in that part of the town, where those families still are. Dr. Jonas Fay resided in a house on the " Blue Hill." Drs. Gaius Smith and Medad Parsons resided in the west part of the town. Dea. Joseph Safford located himself on a farm near the present residence of Thomas McDaniels. The Bingham homestead was on the commanding and beautiful eminence south of and near the present village of North Bennington. Jonathan Lawrence, whose daughter Mary was the wife of Gen. Samuel Safford, settled in the south- east part of the town. Gen. Ebenezer Walbridge was joint proprietor with Joseph Hinsdill in the first paper-mill erected in the State, 1786, where is now Paper-mill Village.
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In Sager's City, now North Bennington, a saw-mill was erected in 1775. The mills, called "Samuel Safford Mills" as early as 1766, were built at the outset of the settlement of the town. Samuel Safford, afterward Gen. Safford, was the miller. It is related that on one occasion, when a com- mittee waited upon him to inform him of his appointment to some important office, the spokesman remarked that they had found him an honest miller, and they therefore trusted he would make a faithful public officer. He built and occu- pied the house now the residence of Mr. M. C. Morgan, in 1774. Benjamin Webb, Sen., deceased Feb. 12, 1812, came from Windsor, Conn., about 1770, and settled where Benja- min Webb now resides, with his wife, Electa, daughter of Gen. Safford, ninety-two years of age, - bright and cheer- ful, and taking a deep and intelligent interest still in remi- niscences of the olden time. Isaac Webster lived upon a farm west of Benjamin Webb.
Not until after the present century did the east and north villages gain much growth.1 The road from Boston came over the mountain at the "Elbow." The first frame house in town was built by Capt. Samuel Robinson, near where is now the " Safford Robinson house." The first in the Centre Village was built by Gen. David Robinson, partly in front of the site of the present residence of G. W. Robinson. The house now occupied by Dea. H. H. Harwood was built in 1770.
The population of the town at the commencement of the Revolutionary War was, probably, about fifteen hundred. There is in the possession of the Vanderspeigel family a picture of Bennington Centre as it was in 1796, - a large oil painting by Earle.
1 A particular account, by N. B. Hall, Esq., of the early progress of Ben- nington Village, and of the North Bennington Village, by Gov. Hall, will be found in Vermont Hist. Mag., pp. 136-142.
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II. EXECUTION OF DAVID REDDING. - He had been con- victed of " enemical conduct," and sentenced to be exe- cuted. The day of execution came, and with it a vast concourse of people. Ethan Allen had just arrived in town from his English captivity, which added much to the excite- ment of the day. In the mean time the fact, for fact it was, that Redding had been tried by a jury of six, contrary to the common law, was effectually employed by Redding's counsel to obtain from the governor a reprieve until Redding could be tried again. The throng of people assembled to witness the execution were much exasperated against Red- ding, and indignant that he should be so readily reprieved. Ethan Allen, suddenly pressing through the crowd, as- cended a stump, and, waving his hat, exclaiming, “ Atten- tion, the whole !" explained the reason of the reprieve, referred to the second day fixed upon by the governor and council, bade them return on that day, and added, with an oath, "You shall see somebody hung, at all events ; for, if Redding is not then hung, I will be hung myself !" 1
III. TIBBETTS AND WHITNEY.2-On Sunday, August 8, 1802, an affray happened on the farm of Roswell Moseley, residing about a mile south of the meeting-house (Benning- ton Centre), the Paige place, where several men were en- gaged in harvesting grain, in which a transient person by the name of Gordon, said to have been an Indian or Cana- dian, was so badly injured that he died the next day. His skull was fractured in several places, and trepanning, by Dr. Porter, of Williamstown, was resorted to, but without affording relief. The injuries appeared to have been in- flicted with clubs by George Tibbetts, of Pownal, and George Whitney, from Stamford.
1 See a particular account of this affair, Vermont Hist, Mag., p. 159. See, also, Slade's Vermont State Papers.
2 MSS. of Gov. Hall.
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They were arrested, and brought to trial for murder at a special term of the Supreme Court, holden for that purpose in Bennington in November following, when they were con- victed of manslaughter, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment, to pay a fine of four hundred dollars each, and to give bonds for their good behavior, each in five hun- dred dollars.
The trial excited great interest at the time, and the verdict and sentence appear to have created considerable dissatis- faction. Pierrepoint Edwards, of Connecticut, was sent for by the friends of the accused, and is said to have made a most eloquent and masterly defence.
The jury, on bringing in their verdict for manslaughter, were addressed by the three judges, Jacobs, Tyler, and Chief Justice Robinson, and sent back for a reconsidera- tion. They, however, adhered to their first finding.
Mr. Mosely was a prominent and respectable citizen, a Federalist in politics, and is believed to have taken an in- terest in the fate of the deceased. For this reason, or some other, in the then excited state of party feeling, both the judges and jury were charged with being influenced by po- litical bias in allowing the accused so easy an escape. It does not seem probable that the charge was well founded. It is more likely there were extenuating circumstances attending the occurrence which deprived it of much of its criminality.
IV. JEFFERSONIAN DEMOCRACY. - The country was divided into two great political parties, at the head of one of which was Mr. Adams, and at the head of the other Mr. Jefferson. The former were called Federalists, the latter Republicans. Gov. Moses Robinson1 was a political friend of Jefferson and Madison, and when in Congress united
1 Gov. Tichenor, Capt. Elijah Dewey, and others were Federalists.
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with them in their favorable views of the French revolution and government, and in their hostility to Jay's treaty with England.1 In June, 1791, Mr. Jefferson, then Secretary of State, and Mr. Madison, a member of the House of Rep- resentatives, in making a horseback tour through New England, stopped in Bennington, and spent the Sabbath with Gov. Robinson, who had then been recently elected to the Senate. Judge Jonathan Robinson occupied a lead- ing position in the Republican party of the State for many years. While in the Senate he was understood to have the ear and confidence of President Madison, and to have a controlling influence in the distribution of the army, and other patronage of the administration within this State, which, in consequence of the war with England, was then . very great.2
Previously to Jefferson's election, as President, and during Adams' administration, Mr. Anthony Haswell pub- lished, in his paper, an article in relation to the imprison- ment of Matthew Lyon, under "the Sedition law," and another on the conduct of President Adams in making appointments to office, which, though manifesting consid- erable warmth of feeling, would not now be noticed as pos- sessing a criminal character. For these he was indicted before the United States Circuit Court, and in 1800, at Windsor, was sentenced, by Judge Patterson, to two months' imprisonment in the jail in this town, and to pay a fine of two hundred dollars and costs. He was allowed to serve out his term of imprisonment, which term expired the 9th day of July. The celebration of the anniversary of the declaration of Independence was postponed until that day, when, his fine and costs being paid, he was lib- erated from jail amid the roar of cannon, and the acclama- tion of his neighbors and political friends. He was, by a
1, 2 See Vermont Hist. Mag.
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large portion of the community, considered as a martyr in the cause of freedom; and his prosecution, instead of strengthening the administration in this State, served greatly to increase the number and zeal of its opponents. The fine and costs have since been refunded to his descend- ants by Act of Congress." 1
Throughout Vermont, at that period, party political zeal almost outran itself. The determined spirit, and individual independence, of the Vermonters, missing now the New York State controversies, and the Revolutionary War, ex- ercised itself upon the subjects and measures in dispute between Federalists and Republicans. What was true of the State in general was certainly true of Bennington in particular.
The people read eagerly the newspapers of the day, dis- cussed earnestly and comprehensively the public measures of the government, were intelligent, determined, and spirited in their conflicting positions almost beyond what we can now conceive of. The writer has been permitted to see an interesting glimpse of this in the MS. diary of Ben- jamin Harwood, and will take the liberty to favor the read- ers of these pages with one or two extracts : -
"Oct. 18, 1808. - In consequence of certain intelligence being received in town of Mr. Tichenor being elected Governor of the State of Vermont, there was wonderful rejoicing among the Fed- eralists, which was demonstrated by firing the great gun, beating the drum, and playing the fife. Next year the Repub- licans will rally and defeat the Federal cause in this State,"- which they did.
Mr. Galusha, one of the former judges of the Supreme Court of Vermont, was chosen governor of the State. His election was supported by the Republican party, which had managed so successfully as to secure a majority over
1 See Vermont Hist. Mag., pp. 176, 177.
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the old governor, who, for years, had served the State with fidelity and applause.
" April 29, 1808. - Mr. Parsons came here this evening and brought a couple of newspapers, dated April 26, " Lansingburgh Gazette," and "Farmer's Register." The " Farmer" contains some most bitter complaints against the embargo; but, after all they can say about it, they have not proved that it is not a wise measure. · Mr. Parsons and I talk of taking a Federal paper between us, so as to see both sides, that we may the better judge."
V. PRESENT MEETING-HOUSE OF THE FIRST CHURCH .- AS early as 1792 the subject of a new meeting-house began to be agitated in town meetings. Every such attempt, how- ever, was unsuccessful1 until Dec. 12, 1803, then a vote was obtained,
" To build the meeting-house, and to tax the inhabitants to the amount of five thousand dollars for the purpose."
In 1801, a statute had been enacted requiring, instead of the certificate of belonging to a different denomination in order to exemption from the tax for religious purposes, only that persons should sign a simple statement of dissent. At the meeting which voted to build the meeting-house and tax the inhabitants, it was also voted,
" That the term of one month be allowed to the inhabitants to enter their dissent."
There were only a few who availed themselves of this provision. But, as appears upon the town records, one hundred and twenty-three persons, male and female, had signed such a dissent eight days before the warning pur- suant to which the above meeting was held.
1 See town records for March meeting, 1792-1803.
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The place for the new meeting-house was decided upon. David Fay, Esq., was chosen treasurer ; David Robinson, Andrew Selden, William Henry, Jr., Esq., assessors ; Jon- athan Wentworth, collector ; Isaac Tichenor, David Robin- son, Moses Robinson, Jr., Thomas Abel, and Jesse Field, the building committee. The work of building at once commenced, and was carried vigorously forward.
In the mean time only about two thousand two hundred and ninety dollars of the tax had been collected, and it was ascertained the house, according to the plan, would cost seven thousand seven hundred and ninety-three dollars and twenty-three cents. The taxing method became increas- ingly unpopular. Before the house was completed it was determined, in a meeting of the society, to surrender the plain of raising the money by tax; to refund to those who had paid their tax ; and to sell the pews on the ground floor for sufficient to defray all expenses, - which was accom- plished. In 1852 the square pews were removed and the church reseated with slips. A diagram of the pews of the house as it was dedicated Jan. 1, 1806, with the amount for which each pew was sold, and the names of the original proprietors of each pew, prepared by William Haswell, is in the keeping of the clerk of the society.
VI. ARTICLES OF FAITH OF THE BENNINGTON FIRST CHURCH. - The Cambridge Platform, with the exception hereinbefore mentioned,1 was their standard of doctrine and discipline. They had no other articles of faith until July 1, 1820. Then a summary of fourteen articles of faith was unanimously adopted by the church, the same having been recommended by a committee previously appointed, - Rev. Mr. Peters, Deacon Calvin Bingham, Deacon Jotham French, David Robinson, and Aaron Robinson.
1 See page 32.
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In the interval between the dismission of Rev. Daniel A. Clark and settlement of Rev. Mr. Hooker, the subject of printing the articles of faith having been introduced into a church meeting, a committee was appointed to revise them, - Aaron Robinson, Deacon Stephen Hinsdill, and Dr. Wil- liam Bigelow. This committee recommended new articles of faith, which were adopted unanimously Aug. 5, 1831, and are those still in use.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
INFLUENCE OF THE EARLY SETTLERS OF VERMONT ON FREEDOM OF PUBLIC WORSHIP.
AWS OF MASSACHUSETTS AS AFFECTING THE SEPA- RATES. - It is not denied that the civil power was, in Massachusetts, applied to the Separates to com- pel them to support the public worship of the stand- ing order. The principle, in the Cambridge Plat- form, that the civil magistrate was, when necessary, to enforce conformity in doctrine and worship to the word of God, was not repudiated. This principle made the civil power, in some sort, a judge of what doctrine and worship was agreeable to the word of God. But practically that was esteemed to be such which was then prevailing. And when the conformity to the word of God was not so convincingly seen, or its force as an argument so irresist- ibly felt, the consideration - shown by experience to be not always well founded - of the greater ease of supporting the minister, and building the meeting-house, and keeping it in repair, when all in the community united together in one way, was readily accepted.1 So late down as 1763 our immigrants from Massachusetts to Bennington showed that they understood the fourth paragraph in the eleventh chap- ter in the Cambridge Platform, in respect of using the civil power to support the gospel ; and also the ninth paragraph in the seventeenth chapter, in respect of the civil magis- trate's " cohersive " power, to be in force, and that they had
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