USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 78
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The foregoing was penned by a friend for Mr. Clark, as will appear from the follow- ing, which accompanied the same in Mr. Clark's own hand:
" MIDDLETOWN, CONN., Jan'y 30, 1867.
" DEAR SIR :- My hand is so paralyzed that it is difficult for me to write. I do not find the manuscript of the notice published, but have related some of the facts by the land of a friend. I never resided in the town of Middletown in Vermont, but travel- ing on a circuit preached there once a month for about six months. I had no acquain- tance with the Woods other than holding the Passover with them the 14th of January, 1801. By what I learned of them, I have no doubt that their movement gave origin to the Mormons, the vilest scheme of villiany and corruption that has ever cursed the country.
Yours, respectfully, LABAN CLARE."
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Mr. Clark says, "I ascertained afterwards that the eldest son of Priest Wood, called Capt. Wood, was the principal religious mov- er in sight, while Wingate kept concealed. Wood was Wingate's outside agent, and got up the religious excitement to aid the scheme." This Wingate and Winchell the name given me by Perry and others, are be- yond question, one and the same person. What we get from Mr Clark's letter, so far as it goes, of Wingate, is the same I obtained from Perry of Winchell in 1862-that is, that he was detected in counterfeiting, in Bradford, Vt., came here and was with the Woods in their movement, and kept himself concealed in the time. Perry told me that he changed his name after he came, to avoid discovery by the officers of justice. Wheth- er he did or not, I cannot be positive, but it is established beyond controversy, that a man came, first to Wells, then to Middle- town, introduced the hazel rod, and after- wards acted a part with the Woods which we have indicated ; and that Winchell, as given ine by Perry, and Wingate, the name in Mr. Clark's letter, both mean that man.
Was this wild and mysterious affair a movement to cover up a counterfeiting scherne? Such has been the opinion of near- ly all with whom I have conversed on that subject. The old folks who were here at that time, were very decidedly of that opin - ion. I never got the name of Winchell (so I shall continue to call him,) from any one until I got it from Perry, but many of them have said to me that the Woods had a man with them who understood counterfeit- ing, and they had no doubt about his being engaged with them in that business. I never have got hold of any evidence of counter- feiting in that affair, other than the facts I am giving you except this ; a large oven was afterwards discovered in an out of the way place, on the premises of one of the Woods, which bore marks of use for other purposes than baking bread. But it is quite probable, in my opinion, that counterfeiting was going on-that was Winchell's trade ; he was an old hand at the business-it was money that he was after, that was his end and aim in this affair, Was that the purpose of the Woods? Upon this question I find myself to differ from almost all others including those who were here at the time. That the Woods were in intimate and close connection
with Winchell in his concealment, there is no doubt, and if he was counterfeiting they must have known it: but it has always seemed to me as though they were aozzatei and borne on in that strange movement by their religious zeal. Nathaniel Wood bal been excluded from the Congregational Church some 12 years before, and hai go :- ton up a new system of religious doctrine, and seemed determined that it should prera:l at all events. The use of the rod was sot the beginning of it, but by the use of the roi many converts were added, and the zest of all greatly increased and continued to in- crease until it amounted to distraction. Taa conduct of those men does not seem to me like deliberate plotting and planning. bas more as though they were carried along 3? an irresistible current of fanaticism ; but this is an opinion, not history.
That Winchell availed himself of this "outside " movement to cover up asi afd his nefarious schemes, is very likely. He was cool and deliberate-he " could raise the wind and not be carried along with it." ac i turn the effects of it to his own advantage.
In the Wood families, and especially in Nathaniel Wood's family, were some of the best minds the town ever had. Jacob Mooi, the oldest son of Nathaniel, was elected one of the selectmen of the town at the first mest- ing after the town was organized, ami al- most constantly held. some town omice after that. He was more like his father chas bis other sons-more inclined to be a reg.sas agitator. Ephraim, the second son, was elected constable at the first annual meeting. and had several successive elections to tha: office. Heiand his brother, Nathaniel jr., a: first tacitly assented to their father's zelig- ious notions, but after the rod delusion coms- mnenced they were more drawn into it, though they never took a leading partas their brother Jacob did .! Nathaniel Wood, jr., was to- doubtedly the superior of all the Woods in point of ability and culture. He representei Middletown in the legislature 5 or 6 7+373 in saccession ; was for a long time the active justice of the peace here ; was town chers several years, and held other offices. He was the father of Reuben Wood, who studiei law with Gen. Jonas Clark, went :o C .: 7e- land, Ohio, about the year 1$17, got into an extensive practice there -- was made a juige of the stipreme court of that State, which
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position he held for 17 years, and a portion by Nathaniel Wood, and adopted by his fol- of that time was chief justice. He had the lowers in 1800, was the same, or "much the reputation of being one of the best jurists in the United States. He was afterwards made governor of Ohio, which office he beld, I think, 4 years. same," as the Mormons adopted on the start, is beyond question. It was claimed by the Morinons, so says a writer of their history, " that pristine Christianity was to be restored, Perhaps I ought to say this of the Woods, excepting Priest Wood, that up to the time this rod imposition commenced, no act of their lives has ever been mentioned in my hearing inconsistent with honesty, industry and good citizenship-but so much the more mysterious and unaccountable, their disgrace- ful conduct in the " rod scrape." The Wood families removed from Middletown as soon as they could conveniently after the failure of their earthquake enterprise ; they went to Ellisburg, N. Y., and it has been said, that ever after, they and their descendants have demeaned themselves as good citizens. with the gift of prophecy, the gift of tongues- with power to heal all manner of diseases- that the fulness of the gospel was to be brought forth by the power of God, and the seed of Isarel were to be brought into the fold, and that the gospel would be carried to the Gentiles, many of whora were to receive it." These were the doctrines of the Woods. The Woods were very fruitful in prophecies, especially after the hazel rod came to their use ; so were the Mormons in the beginning of their creed, and both the Woods and the Mormons claimed to have revelations, and sought for them and received them, as they pretended, not only in matters of religion, but in matters of business. They pretended to be governed by the Divine will as revealed to them on the occasion.
In connection with this Wood affair, I have one thing more to consider, which is perhaps more important as a matter of history than anything else connected with it.
Mr. Clark in his letter says : "By what I The question now arises, how came the Mormons by these religious doctrines of the Woods? Was it a mere accident, that the Mormons afterwards got up a system like that concocted by Nathaniel Wood, years before ? The Wood affair collapsed in 1801 or 1802, two or three years before Joe Smith was born, and they (the Woods,) and their followers were at once scattered in various parts of the country, and Mormonism did not appear to the world, until about 1830. It might have been purely accidental, but it seems to me hardly probable. have heard of them (the Woods,) I have no doubt that the movement gave origin to the Mormons." This opinion of Mr. Clark, I have no doubt will be received as a surprise, both in and out of Middletown. But Mr. Clark, is not the only man who has given the same opinion. I first got it from Jabez D. Perry, in 1862 It was a surprise to me then, and I examined and cross-examined him for hours together, to get all the facts I could bearing upon that point-since which time I have found others, intelligent men, of the same opinion. After receiving the foregoing letter I will give all the evidence I have been able to procure on that subject. from Mr. Clark, I wrote him again asking him for the facts to sustain his opinion. In In the first place, their religious theories being the same, would have great weight, and would be almost conclusive in the matter, un- reply, he refers me to a work written by Dr. Kidder of Chicago, Ill., which I have obtain- ed, but says that about 1840 he heard two less overcome by facts and circumstances, Mormon preachers in Connecticut, who held to the "same or much the same doctrines which the Woods did in Middletown." In this he is undoubtedly correct. I have no desire to give Middletown the honor of being the birth-place of Mormonisin, but { do desire to bring out facts, and if from these facts Mormonism may be traced back to this place, as a matter of history, and of curiosity, the people here, and throughout the {country, should know it.
That the system of religion promulgated
showing the contrary. This same Winchell or Wingate, the counterfeiter, who introduced the rod here, and was with the Woods in their operations, afterwards went to Palmyra, New York, the home of Joe Smith, when he (Smith) set on foot the Mormon scheme. What time Winchell went to Palmyra, I am unable to say, but he was there early enough to get Joe Sinith's father to digging for money, some years before Joe was old enough to engage in the business-but Joe was at it as soon as he was old enough, and if his biographers can
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be relied on, he followed it until about the | have ever seen, he has a statement purport- time he pretended to have found the golden ing to have been signed by 62 credible per- sons, residents of Palmyra, N. Y. In that statment, those men say of the Smiths, that " they were particularly famous for visionary projects, spent much of their time in digging for money, which they, pretended was hidden in the earth ; and to this day large excava- tions may be seen in the earth not far from their then residence, where they used to spend their time in digging for hidden treasures." In Dr. Kidder's work, the first Mormons are frequently characterized as " money diggers," as though that had been their principal avo- cation, as it doubtless was. bible. I have been told that Joe Smith's father resided in Poultney at the time of the Wood movement here, and that he was in it, and one of the leading rods-men. Of this I cannot speak positively, for the want of sat- isfactory evidence, but that he was a rods- man under the tuition of this counterfeiter after he went to Palmyra has been proven, to my satisfaction, at least. I have before said that Oliver Cowdry's father was in the " Wood scrape." He then lived in Wells, afterwards in Middletown, after that went to Palmyra, and there we find these men with the counterfeiter, Winchell, searching for money over the hills and mountains with the hazel-rod, and their sons Joe and Oliver, as soon as they were old enough, were in the same business, and continued in it until they brought out the " vilest scheme that ever cursed the country."
It appears from some of the Mormon histo- ries, that the Mormon organization first con- sisted of the Smith family, Oliver Cowdry and Martin Harris, the name of the counterfeiter, whether it was Winchell or Wingate, does not appear in any account that I have seen, un- less he had by this time assumed another name, but he had been at Palmyra for some years and went with them from Palmyra to Ohio. He was not a man who could endure the gaze of the public, but his work was done in secret ; that he was at Palmyra, acted the part I have indictated, and went off with the Mormons when they left Palmyra, has been fully proven by men who were here du- ring the Wood affair, and afterwards removed to Palmyra, and knew him in both places.
What I have now said of the Smiths, Cow- dry and Winchell, has been obtained from living witnesses, to which I will add a few quotations from authors.
Gov. Ford of Illinois, in his history of the Mormons, says of Joe Smith.
" That his extreme youth was spent in idle, vagabond life, roaming in the woods, dream- ing of buried treasures, and exerting the art of finding them by twisting a forked stick in his hands, or by looking through enchanted stones. He and his father before him, were what are called "water-witches," always ready to point out the ground where wells might be dug and water found."
In a work written by Rev. Dr. Kidder of Illinois, some 20 years ago, which is the best expose of Mormonisin and the Mormons I
I have perhaps already occupied more time upon this matter than I should, but I have thought it proper and important too, to give what evidence I have been able to obtain, to show that the Wood movement here " gave origin to the Mormons." I am fully convinced that the Rev. Mr. Clark has good ground for that opinion. It is not claimed that any of the Woods who were here in 1800, or their descendants ever had anything to do with Mormonism after it was known to the world as such, but their religion and their ways of deceiving the people by pretended revelations and otherwise, were brought along down by the Smiths, the Cowdrys, and the counterfeit- er. They used the rod, that is, the elder Smith and Cowdry, and pretended by that to obtain revelations, from the time the Wood affair ex- ploded here, and their sons Joe jr. and Oliver, the most successful imposters of modern times, commenced their education with the use of the hazel-rod or forked stick, in searching for hid- den treasures-though afterwards they used what they called enchanted stones. I ask no one to accept my opinion or that of any other person in this matter as the truth, but must say that it is my honest belief that this Wood movement here in Middletown was ore source, if not the main source, from which came this monster-Mormonism.
In 1801, there was again put on the records of the town " a roll of the freemen of Middle- town" viz.
Ephraim Wood, John Sunderlin, Daniel Haskins, Sam'l Sunderlin, Jacob Wood, Jon- athan Brewster, Benj. Haskins, Jonathan Haynes. Increase Rudd, Edmund Bigelow, Esq., Thomas Morgan, Jonathan Frisbie, Benj. Coy, Timothy Smith, Francis Perkins, Samuel Stoddard, Benj, Butler, Nathan Rec-
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ord, Jonathan Mehurin, Richard Haskins, Joseph Rockwell, Jesse Hubbard, Gideon MI - ner, William Frisbie, Azor Perry, Thomas French, Gamaliel Waldo, James Mc Clure, Phineas Clough, Nathan Walton, Silas Mal- lary, Nathan Colgrove, James Smith, Ashur Blunt, Luther Filmore, Nathan Ford. Eph. Carr, Rufus Clark, Baruk Rudd, Nathaniel Wood. Nathaniel Wood, jr., Nehemiah IIa- zen, Enos Clark, Theoplulus Clark, Solomon Rockwell, Orson Brewster, Lewis Miner, Ed- ward Corbin, Thomas Davison, Bela Caswell, Stephen Richardson, Joel Frisbie, Reubin Loomis, Joseph Chub, Joseph Bateman, John Burnam, Esq., William Downey, Jona. Davi- son, Sam'l Tracy, Jonas Clark, Nathan Col- grove, jr., Moses Leach, Dyar Matson, Gid- eon Miner, jr., Jos. Spaulding, jr., Caleb White, Russel Barber, Amasa Mehurin, Abel Hub- bard, Ezra Clark, Augustus Frisbie, Johnson Rudd, Eb. Wood, Eb. Bateman, Fitch Loom- is, John Barnam, 3d, Mosley Wood, Alexan- der Murray, Gideon Buel, Jonathan Griswold, David Griswold, Levi Skinner, Wait Rathbon, Joel Miner, Jacob Burnam, Roswell Clark, David Tracy, Ansel Shepardson, Jac. Harring- ton, Calvin Colgrove, Ambrose Record, Sam'l Northrop, Obadiah Williams.
The foregoing list does not contain the names of all the males over twenty-one-years of age in the town in 1801. Joseph Spaulding, Asa Gardner, Jonas Clark, jr., Zenas Frisbie, Philemon Frisbie, Elisah Clark, George and Eli Oatman, and a few others, were then in- habitants of the town, and over twenty-one years of age. There may have been other names omitted, or it may have been a list of those who voted at the election that year ; but it doubtless contains the names of nearly all the freemen then here.
Some of the persons, whose names are on that roll, were children of the first settlers, and came here with their fathers, and many others came here soon after the town was or- ganized, and after the first roll, before given, was made and recorded. Among the latter was Joel Frisbie, a brother of William and Jonathan Frisbie, who came here in 1786. He bought out Francis Perkins, the place where John Lewis now lives, and lived there until he died, about 1811. Joel Frisbie, as I have been informed by those who knew him, was a man of good character, good common sense, and a valuable member of the Congre- gational church. He had a family of 6 chil-
dren. Two sons and a daughter died young. His third son, Palmer, removed to Lysander, Onondaga Co. New York, about 1820. where he lived until he died, some 4 or 5 years since, aged 78. He left one son and two daughters, and a very good estate. One daughter mar- ried Deacon Warren White, andi resides in by- sander. The son and other daughter are un- married, and reside on the homestea i of their father.
BARKER, the youngest son of JOEL FRISBIE studied law with Gen. Jonas Clark ; was ad- s mitted to the Rutland County bar in 1814, and was in the practice of law here from that time until he died. Barker Frisbie was not called a brilliant man, but a man of good judgment, good habits, a very laborious stu- dent and good lawyer. He was elected town clerk in March, 1815, and held the office until his death in February 1821.
RUFUS BUTTS, native of Wells, was, for many years, one of the useful men of the town. At or before he reached his tuajority he became an inhabitant of Middletown, and was one of the first mechanics here; although confined to no particular trade, he was a rare mechan- ical genius, made ploughs, ox-yokes, rakes, baskets, tubs, or anything else the people needed. He removed to Cambridge, Vt., about 1841, and died but a few weeks since, over 80 years of age-his wife also recently died. His son, Harvey, survives him and lives on the homestead in Cambridge.
BELA CASWELL removed from Mansfield, Mass., to Middletown, in 1786. He was then nearly 50 years old, and had 4 sons and 6 daughters, all born in Massachusetts. Three of them preceded him in coming here, the re- maining seven came with him. He too brought his family and effects with an ox-team. He settled near where his grandson, Deacon J. Q. Caswell, now lives, where he lived until his death Nov. 22, 1823, aged 89. His family were perhaps the most remarkable for longevity of any family that ever lived in town. His fath- er and mother, who came with him from Massachusetts, lived to be very old and died in Middletown, and were among the first laid in our burial-ground. Bela Caswell's wife and 10 children survived, him : his widow was nearly 96 years old when she died. One of' his daughters, Mrs. Record, died not long since, at the age of 99 years ; another, Mrs. Barber, the widow of the late Russel Barber, died in Middlebury, N. Y., last summer (1866,) aged 93
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years and some months. Two other daughters | months in the time. His death was edifying lived to be very old, and two are still living : as his life. Mrs. Norton, whose age is now 89, and Mrs. The two daughters are dead, they both married John Gray, the youngest some years after the death of the oldest: each left children. Terrill, who is 81 years old. Two of the sons, Josiah and Ziba, lived to be 70 years old. Jesse was 69 when he died, and John died at 46. Of this numerous family, and of their nu- merous descendants, none are now living here except three children of John Caswell and their families, viz. Miss Violetta Caswell, Mrs. Cal- vin Leonard and Deacon John Q. Caswell.
JESSE CASWELL and his family exerted a marked influence in the Congregational church for many years. He had 3 sons and 2 daugh- ters. Menira, his oldest son, was for some years one of the deacons of the church, and a long time clerk. Like all of this family, he was constant in the discharge of his religious duties. Whatever might be the state of re- ligious feeling in the church, he was sure to attend its meetings and to be ready to perform his part. Deacon Menira Caswell now resides in Castleton. Jesse, the second son, graduated at Middlebury College. He was a man of fair abilities, and a thorough student. For some years before he was ordained, he seemed to be under the conviction that it was his duty to labor as a missionary among the heathens, and never, it seemed to me, did any man more unreservedly resign himself to convic- tions of duty, and throw his whole soul into the work. He was obliged to undergo trials and privations in his field in Siam; where after 10 years of laborious service he died, in 1848, at the age of 40 years, but his efforts, under Providence, were in a good degree suc- cessful. Rev. Jesse Caswell was the first and only missionary to foreign lands ever sent out from this Congregational church. While a missionary at Siam, he instructed the King of that nation in the English language. The King became much attached to him, and against the rules of the Siamese, attended the funeral of Mr. Caswell, and wept like a child. He has kept up a correspondence with the widow since her return to this country, and has sent her valuable presents.
ENOCH CASWELL, the third and youngest son of Jesse Caswell, sr., also graduated at Mid- dlebury and entered the ministry. He died at Bennington, N. H., in 1863, and was about 45 years old. The years of his minis- try were mostly spent in New Hampshire, though he preached in Middletown about 6 | here, and we can remember them all as peace-
RUSSEL BARBER, who married one of Bela Caswell's daughters, was among those who came here soon after the town was organized. He was among the active and useful men here, but had poor health the latter part of his life which kept him at home. He died in 1830, aged 62. He left a large family ; two sons and several daughters are now living. Jervis, the oldest son living, was for awhile one of the deacons of the Congregational Church, but has for the last 25 years resided in Granville, N. Y. Russel the youngest son, resides in Middlebury, N. Y. The oldest daughter living, married Rev. Beriab N. Leach, D. D., and lives in Middletown Ct .; another daughter married Phineas C. Orcutt, and now resides in Jersey City.
MOSES LEACH, was early here. He settled on the farm owned and, until recently, occu- pied by John P. Taylor. He was a member of the Baptist church, and noted for his hon- esty and sincerity. His wife was also a mem- ber of that church, and in her time was per- haps the most active and influential of the female members. They have been dead many years. They left several children. Rev. Beriah N. Leach, D. D., is the only son now living and resides in Middletown, Ct. He is a Baptist clergyman, and has been in the ministry about 45 years, 4 or 5 of which were spent in his native town, Middletown, Vt.
REUBEN LOOMIS was early here. He came from Connecticut and settled upon the first farm north of the village, now owned and occupied by Royal Coleman, Esq. Sylvanus Stone was the first man who settled there, but he did not remain in town many years. Reu- ben Loomis died Sept. 24, 1808, aged 62. He left a son, Fitch Loomis, who lived on his father's homestead until he died, Jan. 21, 1847, at the age of 74. The daughter married Joseph Spaulding, jr., and was the mother of a large family of children. She has been dead several years. Fitch Loomis left 5 children: Reuben, who has removed West, and Fitch, who died in Middletown in 1563 ; Mrs. Henry Gray, Mrs. Thaddeus Terrill and Mrs. John- son, were the daughters. The Loomis family exerted a very healthful influence in society
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ful, quiet and useful citizens. They were all members of the Congregational church, and that church is perhaps as much indebted to this family as any other for services, during the last 60 years.
EZEKIEL PERRY, a brother to Azor Perry, removed here before 1790. He was for a time in Bennington Co., before coming here. He was in the Bennington battle and severely wounded in one of his feet. He raised a family of 11 children, most of them still living. Mrs. David Thomas was a daughter of his, and died here in 1864 ; Mrs. Roswell Buel, another daughter, still resides here ; the remainder of the family mostly live in Western New York.
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