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 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29
Henry Baker's residence; the tavern kept by Zechariah Harwood, the late resi- dence of Perez Harwood, Sen., deceased; the State Arms House, kept by Jona -- than Robinson ; the Brush Tavern, where now stands the residence of Samuel Jewett; the Billings Tavern, in whose stables he has seen one hundred horses at one time, - not an uncommon occurrence, - belonging to people emigrating from Connecticut and Massachusetts to the different parts of Vermont and New Hampshire; it now stands on the side hill west of the residence of Mr. Nichols, near the Bennington and Pownal line.
t 1
T t t W
P
ad
0 1
t
67
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
and made his home in Bennington while within the territory, until he was taken prisoner at Montreal, Sept. 25, 1775. Col. Seth Warner came to Bennington to reside in January, 1765, and remained here until the summer of 1784.
In the regiment of Green Mountain boys which was raised under the advice of the Continental Congress in the summer of 1775 for service in Canada, the town of Ben- nington was represented by Seth Warner, its lieutenant- colonel and commandant, Samuel Safford as major, Wait Hopkins as captain, and John Fassett, Jr., as lieutenant, and by many others in different capacities. Among the important services rendered by this regiment was the de- cisive defeat of General Carleton at Longuiel, which pre- vented his furnishing relief to St. Johns and caused its im- mediate surrender, and also the abandonment of Montreal to the American forces under General Montgomery.1 In the next summer, July 5, 1776, the Continental Congress was so well satisfied with the services in Canada of these men, that a resolution was passed to raise a continental regiment of regular troops from this territory.
Of this regiment, which continued in service through the war, Seth Warner, the colonel ; Samuel Safford, the lieu- tenant-colonel ; Wait Hopkins, captain ; Joseph Safford, lieutenant ; Jacob Safford, ensign ; Benjamin Hopkins, adjutant, were from Bennington. In October of the same year, upon notice of an expected attack upon Ticonderoga, the militia of Bennington and neighboring towns turned out en masse and moved to its relief, and for their exploit were handsomely complimented by the commanding gen- eral, Horatio Gates.2
At the time of the evacuation of Ticonderoga and Fort
1 A brief manuscript letter of Mrs. Montgomery to a friend, alluding to the death of Gen. Montgomery, is preserved among the papers of Gen. David Rob- inson.
2 Vermont Hist. Mag.
68
MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
Mt. Independence, July 6, 1777, the convention for forming the constitution of the State was assembled at Windsor, but, on receiving the alarming news of the loss of these posts, they hastily adjourned, appointing a Council of Safety to administer the government until the meeting of the Legislature under the constitution. This Council of Safety met at Manchester July 15, and soon afterward adjourned to Bennington, where it continued in permanent session until after the close of the campaign by the surrender of Burgoyne in October following. . The room which this body occupied during this trying period is still to be seen in the ancient tavern-house of Landlord Fay, with the words " Council room," cut in olden time on the mantel-piece.1
Throughout the war Bennington furnished the full share of men and supplies for carrying it on.2 Bennington was for some time a depot for public stores belonging to the United States. To obtain possession of these provisions and stores was the principal object of Burgoyne in sending his expedition to Bennington.
The leading men in the town were leading men in the re- ligious community. The innholder at whose house the first town meeting was held, the moderator of the meeting, the town clerk then appointed, the first four of the selectmen, the town treasurer, the two constables and the two tithing- men, and indeed all but four of the officers appointed, were or became members of the church under Mr. Dewey. The first town meeting was held March 31, 1762, at the house of John Fassett, when the following officers were chosen :-
" Samuel Montague, moderator; Moses Robinson, town clerk; Samuel Montague, Samuel Scott, James Breakenridge, Benajah Rude, and Joseph Wickwire, selectmen; Deacon Joseph Safford, town treasurer; Samuel Robinson, Jr., and John Smith, Jr.,
1 Vermont Hist. Mag.
2 See journal of Council of Safety in " Vermont State Papers."
69
STIRRING TIMES.
constables ; Deacon Safford and Elisha Field, tithing-men; Peter Harwood and John Smith, Jr., hay-wards; Samuel Atwood and Samuel Pratt, fence viewers; Timothy Pratt and Oliver Scott, deer-rifts."
Of the first company of militia organized, October 24, 1764, all the officers were or became members of the church under Mr. Dewey.
Muster Roll of the First Company of Militia, etc.
Officers : John Fassett, captain; James Breakenridge, lieuten- ant; Elisha Field, ensign. - Warrant Officers : Leonard Robinson, first sergeant ; Samuel Safford, second do .; Ebenezer Wood, third do .; Henry Walbridge, fourth do. - Rank and File: Benjamin Whipple, first corporal; John Wood, second do .; Samuel Pratt, third do .; Peter Harwood, fourth.
Deacon Joseph Safford and Samuel Robinson, Esq., re- ceived from the proprietors' meeting and fulfilled the con- tract to build the first grist-mill and to keep it in repair ten years, that in the east part of the town. Samuel Rob- inson, Esq., was the first Justice of the Peace under the province of New Hampshire, appointed to that office within the limits of the State. In the summer of 1764, Esquire Robinson, as magistrate, came into collision with the New York officers in a controversy about jurisdiction in Pownal, and was arrested and carried to Albany jail.
In the time of Mr. Dewey's pastorate, though within two years of its close, the declaration of American Indepen- dence was adopted ; also that of the independence of the State ; also the State constitution, adopted in convention, and the officers elected and other necessary measures ex- ecuted by which Vermont became, in her own name, a sovereign and independent State. The time of Mr. Avery's pastorate here - the whole period from the decease of Mr. Dewey, to the settlement of Mr. Swift - was filled up with
70
MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
as much intense excitement of civil affairs as, perhaps, any other period of like extent in the history of the town. It is impossible duly to appreciate the church's position and career at such a time without understanding the contem- porary civil and military history of the town and of the State. It is evident the spirituality of the church must have been put to a severe test in the midst of such pro- found civil and social agitation, and so great and abound- ing worldly cares.
But in such a community and at such a time religion did not struggle doubtfully to maintain its foothold. It struck its roots deep into the hardy soil. The tree still flourishes. I speak not now of the First Church alone, but of all branches of Christ's church in the town. The tree of religion, which was planted in this soil at the outset of the gathering of a community here, took deep root amid all the struggles, commotions, and rude first essayings of public enterprise and of individual will. It still flourishes, and the vigor thereof is genuine and enduring.1
1 See, further onward in the volume, dates and statistics of the other churches, down to Jan. 1, 1863.
CHAPTER VII.
REVIVALS.
HE late Rev. Dr. Hawes, of Hartford, said of the church of which he was pastor (the church first organized in Connecticut) : -
" This church has ever believed in revivals of religion, and owes all its prosperity to those oft-repeated visita- tions of mercy." 1
The same remark may be applied to this the first church organized within the limits of Vermont. The operations of the Spirit of God in revivals are, to some extent, matter of human study, and have some general laws which appear to be discernible by human judgment; but at the same time they involve the profoundest, as well as the most momentous, of all the special exertions of the divine power of God in the world. It has been the sacred privilege of this church in repeated instances, and in no common de- gree, to witness these remarkable displays of divine power in the hearts of men and the assemblies of God's people.
Its Separate origin would warrant our ascribing to the Bennington church the approval of religious revivals. Samuel Robinson, Esq., was an attendant upon Whitfield's ministry while in London, and upon his decease was in- terred in the burying-ground attached to Whitfield's meet- ing-house. After Esquire Robinson's decease, Whitfield, being on one of his preaching tours in this country, sent
1 Cont. Ecc. Hist., Conn., p. 90.
72
MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
word to Bennington that he was charged with messages from Mr. Robinson, but could come no nearer than Albany. Moses Robinson, his son, afterward governor, went to Albany to meet Mr. Whitfield, and hear him preach ; his mother accompanied him, riding upon a favorite mare.
From the number, thirty-six, known to have been re- ceived into the church in 1765, there must have been a re- vival at that time. In 1784, while the church was without a pastor, and Messrs. Wood and Burton preached here tem- porarily, forty are known to have been received into the church, and that special awakening has received the name of the Wood and Burton Revival.
I. THE REVIVAL OF 1803. - Let us go back and en- deavor to recall somewhat of the revival of 1803. From June 7, 1801, to the fall of 1804, the church was without a pastor, and the state of religion and morals appears to have fallen surprisingly low. The reputation of the town for irreligion, both at home and abroad, must have become quite the reverse of what it previously had been. A Miss Eleanor Read was at that time teacher of a select school in the building, now occupied as a residence, first south of the old academy. She taught school in the upper story, a saddler's shop being upon the first floor. She enjoyed a high reputation as a teacher. In a letter to a friend, dated September 1, 1802, she says : -
" My first beginning in this place was peculiarly trying. I had to endure sickness and trouble, such as I never experienced before. In the midst of greatness and grandeur, every face was new, and seemed marked with haughty ostentation."
At length, as she says, she summoned all her fortitude, and met with marked success. Miss Read was one of the converts in the revival, and she published a narrative and
73
EDITORIAL IN THE " GAZETTE."
letters. - (Press of Anthony Haswell). In one of these letters we have an account of a singular circumstance as the incipient occasion of her awakening, and also a glimpse of the religious and moral state of the community immedi- ately preceding the revival. She mentions a letter she had received from a minister of Chelsea, -
"In which he observes that the degeneracy of Bennington was truly lamentable ; that their depravity, infidelity, and heaven-dar- ing wickedness had become a subject of lamentation to the friends of Zion." " He also observed that he thanked God . I was with them to lead the dear young people in the ways of piety and vir- tue. This expression struck me very forcibly and led me to reflect on my unworthiness, and insufficiency to teach them that which I had reasons to fear I was myself unacquainted with."
Whether the strong language of the Chelsea minister was warranted or not, there was doubtless some occasion for it.
The Indian, or Canadian, Gordon, was killed about this time (Aug. 8, 1802), and a notice of this affair in the " Ver- mont Gazette " of Aug. 16, gives us some glimpses of the state of society. Stephen Gordon was so injured by wounds received in an affray with two young men, named George Tibbets and George Whitney (on Sunday P. M.), as to die on Tuesday morning following, and on Wednesday his remains were interred and an affecting discourse was delivered to a crowded audience, from Psalm xix. 12, 13. The following is an extract from the notice referred to :-
" Never was greater solemnity observable in Bennington on any former occasion than prevailed during the exercises; at the close of which, Tibbets, one of the prisoners, in pathetic terms, warned the assembled audience, young and old, against the evil tendency of Sabbath-breaking, as exemplified in their unhappy situation.
In reflecting upon late occurrences in our vicinity, the contem- plative mind necessarily looks for an appropriate cause, and exer- cises its faculties to discover a remedy. But a few days have 7
74
MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
elapsed since the inhabitants of Bennington could say that the crime of suicide and murder never existed among them. The scene is now dreadfully reversed. "
The editorial recites a case of suicide which had recently occurred, then returns to the Whitney and Tibbets murder- ous affray, and proceeds thus : -
"Fellow-citizens, there is a moral and a natural cause for these things, and in the opinion of considerable numbers the moral cause is the declension of religion; the natural cause, the prevalence of folly, and the introduction of frivolous amusements, gambling and intemperance. Fathers of families, parents, consider the conse- quence of permitting your sons to attend unlawful games, cards, dice, and billiards, even within the restrictions of the licensing law of the last Assembly of Vermont, which was imposed upon us under pretence of interdicting such practices. At such places as card tables and billiard tables animosities are frequently engendered, and the trifling emoluments to the individual owning the table accrue through the debasement of numbers and the ruin of some of its attendants. Mothers, consider the consequences to your daughters : in proportion as gambling and irregularity engage the mind of a man, female attractions and virtue lose their charms, and lewdness and inconstancy become less odious than formerly in their eyes. Thus your sons become worse husbands and worse men, and your daughters more lonesome and unhappy women. A billiard table until within a short time past was as unknown in Bennington as suicide and the slaughter of man by man," etc.
This extract shows that the editor at least was a timely sentinel, and that the community had not yet become so familiar with scenes of gross immorality as to be unaffected with profound concern by the fact of their occurrence.
But so far as irreligion and immorality were becoming bold, we have illustrated more clearly the virtue of prayer, and the power of the grace of God, which triumphed over every obstacle. The affair, which called out the editorial quoted from, occurred in August, 1802; in the winter of 1802-3 came one of the most powerful revivals Bennington
-
75
OPEN-AIR MEETINGS.
has ever witnessed. Three members of our church survive who were added to it among the fruits of that revival : Mrs. Betsey Edgerton, Mrs. Celinda Henry, and Mrs. Lucinda Hubbell.1 There are not a few who recollect it. It made a vivid impression on the mind. It will be remembered by many with gratitude to God through eternity.
It was still the time of the old meeting-house. Those interested in the project of having a new meeting-house had been trying ten years, and in vain, to obtain a success- ful movement of the town to build one. In the winter of 1803-4 the movement under the new and less stringent law was successful. This was the winter immediately suc- ceeding the revival, and we may infer the one event had something to do with the other. At the time of the commencement and during the height of the revival the old meeting-house was standing. But it was not at all times adequate to hold the numbers that then pressed to hear the word of God. It was in vogue at that time to hold protracted meetings in the open air. There was a three- days' meeting here in the open air.
The Rev .. Mr. Davis preached here in that meeting, and at other places also in the town. A committee went down to Mendon, in Massachusetts, to obtain him. He was, ac- cording to the imperfect accounts we now get, an abrupt, uncultivated, ut earnest and successful, laborer here in that revival. A Rev. Mr. Nelson preached here also, who was more learned and methodical, " a very able man."
The Rev. J. Spaulding is remembered as preaching here. at that time, with great elevation and power of language, particularly upon the attributes of God, - the divine be- nevolence, - and in connection therewith illustrating with uncommon solemnity the obligations and guilt of sinners, as well as the blessedness of the heavenly state.
1 All these have since deceased.
1
76
MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
Elder Caleb Blood, minister to the West Church in Shaftsbury, near the burying-ground, came, with his dea- con, Jno. Downes. Elder Blood said to Mr. Haswell, " We have come down to warm by your fire, for our fire has gone out." Not that the church had become extinct, but its re- vival spirit had declined ; and, by coming to the meetings in Bennington at that time, his people were warmed anew. The Rev. Solomon Allen, of Pittsfield, was here at the three-days' meeting ; so also the Rev. Messrs. Jackson of Dorset, and Preston of Rupert, and the colored preacher the Rev. Mr. Haynes.
The three-days' open-air meetings were held on the side- hill, east of S. S. Scott's residence. At that time Gov. Moses Robinson was one of the deacons of the church ; and possibly the place of meeting being on the road to his house and in its vicinity may be accounted for by that fact. The cluster of houses on that corner, namely, S. S. Scott's, Mrs. Raymond's, and Mr. Moses Harrington's, were not then built. During the meeting, a staging for the min- isters and others broke down, - one of the few circum- stances recollected by persons now living. No one was seriously injured, though some were much frightened.
Daniel Smith, afterward the Rev. Daniel Smith, of St. Louis, was one of the converts. Another was the Miss Eleanor Read, as already noticed. She was .a consistent, happy Christian, and died a triumphant death. We find the spirit of the revival manifesting itself in the columns of the "Vermont Gazette," then published here ; among other ways, in original stanzas, of great spirituality and fervency. Two stanzas are selected from a contribution ,of this sort to the "Gazette" of July 12, 1803, and intro- duced in a note to the editor, signed William Kinnis : -
77
HYMNS.
"To meditate on heavenly things Gives to my thought an angel's wings, Bears my aspiring mind above, And fills my breast with holy love.
" My flesh and bones exult with joy, And holy zeal without alloy ; My inmost soul doth all rejoice, Absorbed in Christ, my only choice."
Some stanzas from another hymn, "occasioned by the present evidently awakened attention of the town to the things of religion," are inserted here, not so much for poetic merit as a witness to the revival. - Gazette of Nov. 15, 1802.
" Oh, art thou passing by ? And may we see thy face ? Let every blind Bartimeus cry, Lord Jesus, grant me grace !
"Let each Zaccheus flee To catch a passing glimpse ;
With zeal ascend the gospel tree, And baffle Satan's imps.
" Restrain reviling tongues : Be thou the convert's stay ; Sustain their hopes, avenge their wrongs, And wipe their tears away.
" Let Bennington rejoice, Her church with joy be filled, And every heart, and every voice, Exult in grace distilled."
The published account of Miss Read's conversion may not be interesting to all; but, doubtless, it reflects with considerable accuracy the spirit of the revival. For this reason, a somewhat lengthy extract is presented. Refer- 7*
78
MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
ring to her attendance at an inquiry-meeting, where were present anxious inquirers and young converts, she proceeds as follows : -
"An aged man came forward, and, in trembling accents, de- clared what God had done for his soul. Then a girl of ten years old, in a manner the most animating, related her remarkable ex- periences. I began to reflect on the assertion of Mr. Spaulding that God is good. Surely, thought I, these happy souls can attest the truth of this assertion. Their salvation is really as important as mine; and it is remarkable that I should rejoice in their happy deliverance from the bondage of sin. God has been long tender- ing me the same blessed deliverance. But I, fool indeed, with such a price to get wisdom, had no heart for it. Why, then, should I murmur?, How can I repine? I am forever lost; but God is just. Upon this most hearty confession my long-pent tears flowed; and, while bursting sobs almost tore my heart asunder, I reviewed my desperately wicked exercises toward him, whom I now saw to be just even in my eternal condemnation. Surely, thought I, of all the unreasonable wretches in existence, I am the most deserving of hell. Here I experienced such unusual convul- sions of body as induced me to take hold of a chair before me to enable me to keep my seat. I verily supposed that my soul was taking its final separation from my body. I attempted to arise, in order to go into another room, but found it impossible. I must expire, thought I, in the midst of this assembly, for an example of God's righteous displeasure. It is just that it should be so; and every one present must rejoice in this expression of his right- . eous indignation against such a vile worker of iniquity. Here I viewed myself a criminal, justly condemned to all the tortures of endless despair. No gleam of hope beamed on my benighted soul. No fond expectations from creature aid whispered consolation. Against God only had I offended, and done this great wickedness, and he only could afford me help. My soul seemed humbled in the dust in view of my condemnation, while I was constrained to cry out in spirit, 'Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.' At this view of my wretched, hopeless situa- tion, the following words passed sweetly through my mind, and with such delightful energy as thrilled through my whole soul, and filled me with rapture inexpressible : -
79
THE FRIDAY MEETING.
"' Jesus, to thy dear, faithful hand, My naked soul I trust.'
" At this most cordial disposal of myself into the hands of a glo- rious Redeemer, the thick cloud seemed to disperse, and give place to such a transporting view of the blessed Saviour as no words can express. With an eye of faith, I beheld his transcendent glory, more conspicuous than that of the natural sun in meridian splendor, when bursting from behind the thickest clouds. I could no more doubt of the being and divinity of Christ than of my own existence. He was presented to my spiritual view in such sub- stantial glory as caused me to adopt the acclamation of the aston- ished Thomas : 'My Lord and my God"' Here all my distress subsided, and all my anxiety for beloved self was cured. I was astonished that I could ever have felt such anxiety for myself. The greatness of God's character, and the glorious scheme of re- demption, filled me with wonder, admiration, and joy. I raised my head, and looked on Mr. Spaulding, who was zealously engaged in illustrating the righteousness of Christ; but, oh! how altered was his aspect! 'How beautiful,' thought I, 'are the fect of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth.'"
In conclusion of the account of this revival, the follow- ing anecdote of Ezekiel Harmon, familiarly told, but per- tinent, may be introduced. It is preserved as related by Mrs. Austin Harmon, third wife of Austin Harmon, grand- father of the present Austin Harmon, and sister-in-law of Ezekiel. " Ezekiel Harmon called at the door of our house as he was returning from the Friday meeting. I inquired of him if he had been to the Friday meeting, and if it was a good one. 'A glorious one !' said he. 'How many were there ?' I inquired. His reply was, ' Four, - Gov. Robinson, Mrs. Judge Robinson, -, and myself. We had a glorious meeting. We got the promise.' I looked, and I thought brother Ezekiel's face fairly shone." This was a short time, the summer or fall, before the great revival of 1803.1
1 This Friday meeting is noticed in two or three other instances in the vol- ume. "The Friday P. M. prayer-meeting went back to the formation of the
80
MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
The names of ninety-three are on the roll of the church as added to it at this time. But aged inhabitants have stated the impression that there were about two hundred hopeful conversions.
The moral and religious tone of society again became elevated. The new meeting-house was built ; considered, as doubtless it was, in advance of any other church edifice in this part of the country, it added to the new impulse which public worship had received from the great revival. The town was distinguished for the intelligence and influ- ence of its people. Hon. S. H. Brown relates some remi- niscences by Col. Hinman, of Utica, N. Y., who was a visitor here some few years since. Among other things, that gentleman remarked that he could recollect the time, say 1808-1820, when there was the best society in Bennington he ever saw, - men of a superior order of talent, gentlemen in their manners, of eminent influence and position in po- litical circles and in professional life.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.